text:
Green Party's Jill Stein to run again for president
Green Party member Jill Stein is once again running for president.
Stein also ran for president in 2012, receiving 7,508 votes from Colorado voters. Democrat Barack Obama received 1.3 million votes to Republican Mitt Romney's 1.1 million votes, according to the Colorado Secretary of State. There are 8,832 active Green Party members in Colorado, the latest registration figures show.
She announced candidacy today on Democracy Now. Stein believes in a "deep system change" that moves from the "greed and exploitation of corporate capitalism to a human-centered economy that puts people, planet and peace over profit."
"Their endless wars are not our wars," she says in her video.
She said there are many similarities between her vision and Sen. Bernie Sanders' vision. The Vermont independent, who is seeking the nomination as a Democrat, spoke in Denver on Saturday.


text:
RMx White Series™ RM850x — 850瓦80 PLUS® Gold认证全模块化PSU
RMx White电源的电力输送效率超过90%,降低了能耗、噪音和温度,同时降低您的电费支出。
How do I make a warranty claim?
Prior to submitting your warranty claim, we recommend checking the Corsair knowledge base at https://support.corsair.com/ first, where you can find answers to commonly-asked questions. You can also receive troubleshooting assistance by clicking Ask a Question or proceed with product replacement by clicking Request an RMA.
Valid warranty claims should be processed through the retailer where the item was purchased during the first thirty (30) days after purchase. This period may vary depending on where you purchased your product; please verify the return policy with the retailer where you purchased your product. Any warranty claims that cannot be processed through your original point our purchased should be submitted to Corsair at https://support.corsair.com/
What are Corsairs replacement options?
Corsair offers the following Warranty fulfillment options:
Standard Replacement:
Through Corsairs Standard Replacement process, Corsair will issue an approved RMA number for the return and replacement of your defective product(s). Our Standard Replacement processing time from receipt of your product(s) to the replacement product(s) shipment is 1-3 business days plus transit time.
Express Replacement:
At Corsair, we understand the need to be up and running at all times! To minimize down time, we offer an Express Replacement RMA process. Through this process Corsair will ship your replacement product(s) prior to receiving your defective product(s). This process requires a valid Credit Card where a holding fee will be applied for the cost of the product until the returning product(s) are received by Corsair. To avoid being fully charged for the Express Replacement product(s), the defective product(s) must be received by Corsair within 10 business days from the date your Express Replacement order is shipped.
Accessory Product Request:
Experiencing a problem with a Corsair Component Product? Many of Corsair products have easy to install replacement accessories which will resolve the issue and prevent the need to return the entire product for replacement.
Where do I ship my items?
Corsair operates multiple RMA receiving locations worldwide. Your RMA confirmation will specify the specific return address you must use when sending your RMA package. This will be your standard return location and should not be changed without prior approval from Corsair. Any packages received at an unauthorized location may be refused and returned to the sender at the senders expense.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Welcome to IT-Libraries!
– Shared Experience –
500-254 Implementing and Configuring Cisco Identity Services Engine Exam
We want to encourage our users and visitors to share how they prepared for the Cisco 500-254 exam and what resources they found most useful.
What to post? Why doesn't my comment appear!? 🙁
In order to keep everything clean and tight so you can use this as effective as possible, please follow the following rules:
- Only post information and resources related to the Cisco 500-254 Interconnecting Implementing and Configuring Cisco Identity Services Engine Exam.
- Share your take with the exam and if you passed or failed what did you find useful from it.
- If you post a link, one of our moderators will have to review it before adding it to the page and publish your comment.
- Try to post full sentences and don't use the comment as a chat system.
- Don't use vulgar language
- Don't post exam dumps here, there is a dedicated section for it here
How should you use this?
Read through the below tips shared by exam takers, trainees and filtered by our moderators. We do our best to update this with anything useful shared by you.
Please share in the comment area what you found useful in preparing for the Cisco 500-254 Interconnecting Implementing and Configuring Cisco Identity Services Engine exam and we will make it available to everyone.


text:
What Will Change? Nothing, Really.Comments
Tomasky is pretty much correct that the initial Republican reaction to the defeat will be to couch the same unpopular, pro-plutocratic policies in language that sounds as if they care about poor people. Obviously, the "there's no dirtier pool than saying that a Republican candidate believes the stuff in the Republican platform and the Ryan budget" stratagem is one manifestation of this. I'm also reminded of the Bush years. You may remember Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson being talked about as the soul of a new conservatism, conscience of the White House, etc. Turns out what he meant by that was to talk about how upper-class tax cuts were great for poor people. That's the idea.
…wait, all the GOP's problems have been solved. Sarah Palin — tanned, rested, and ready!
Gay marriage? Palin opposes it. But she is also a strong advocate of states' rights, and I'm betting she'd be fine with letting states and their voters grapple with the issue on their own. Remember that all of America didn't swing toward approval of gay marriage on Nov. 6. Three reliably blue states and their voters did. If she were smart, Palin would recruit a member of her impressive gay fanboy base — yes, she has one — to help run her campaign. I nominate Kevin DuJan of the widely read gay conservative blog HillBuzz, a Palin stalwart since 2008.
Hard to see any flaws with this plan. "Sure, she wants to deny my fundamental human rights, but she likes neoconfederate rhetoric and hired a PUMA who's a dumbshit even by PUMA standards to run her campaign. Sign me up!"


text:
By Robert Mahoney
As Turkish nationalist resist European tilt, free expression is a victim.
As Turkish nationalist resist European tilt, free expression is a victim.
|Printer-friendly verison | Turkish-language version
ISTANBUL, Turkey
A run-down courthouse in a concrete gray, working class suburb of Istanbul has become a battleground for nationalists determined to stop Turkey's engagement with Europe from leading to political and economic marriage.
The battle became quite literal when the nationalists targeted five well-known newspaper columnists in a free expression trial in February. It is not often that police in full riot gear have to clear lawyers from a courtroom. But that's what the judge ordered security forces to do at the trial's February 7 opening, to the barely concealed satisfaction of the defendants and the amazement of foreign observers who packed the tiny courtroom.
The accused believe their prosecution, which will resume in April, could be a turning point in Turkey's debate about accelerating its sometimes glacial progress toward a fully functioning Western-style democracy complete with liberties such as freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
Opponents of European Union membership say the cost of joining the Brussels-based group of 25 states is too high for this predominantly Muslim nation of 73 million. Fearing a loss of Turkish independence and national identity, they have sought out sympathetic public prosecutors across the country to take the fight to journalists, writers, and academics who favor EU membership. The nationalists challenge writings or public comment they dislike, filing complaints based on loosely worded laws that criminalize the denigration of the Turkish state, its identity, and its institutions, journalists, human rights activists, and academics told the Committee to Protect Journalists.
The five journalists who sat quietly in the dock amid the scuffles between police and nationalist lawyers were Murat Belge, Haluk Sahin, Erol Katircioglu, and Ismet Berkan of the daily Radikal, and Hasan Cemal of the daily Milliyet. On December 2, 2005, they were charged under Article 288 of the penal code with attempting to influence the outcome of judicial proceedings through their writing. All except Berkan were also charged under controversial Article 301 of the penal code with insulting "Turkishness." If convicted, they could face prison terms of six months to 10 years. After more than two hours of uproar at the trial's opening, the judge adjourned the case until April 11.
Article 301 was the statute the nationalists recently used against Orhan Pamuk, the country's most famous novelist. The case against Pamuk--who spoke in a Swiss newspaper interview about the World War I killing of Armenians and Turkey's treatment of its Kurdish minority--was dropped in January amid a wave of protest from activists and lawmakers within the European Union and many of Turkey's NATO partners.
The charges against the five journalists stem from articles they wrote last year challenging the decision of an Istanbul administrative court to ban an academic conference on the mass killing of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1917. The Ottoman authorities, allied with imperial Germany, killed and forcibly relocated Armenians whom they accused of sympathizing with Russia.
The Armenian massacre is still taboo in public discourse in Turkey. Armenians contend that the killings constitute the first genocide of the 20th century, a characterization that Turkey rejects. The columns published in Radikal and Milliyet objected to the court's interference in academic freedom by preventing the conference from taking place at two Istanbul universities, in May and then in September. Organizers finally held the conference on September 24, 2005, by moving it suddenly to a third location, Bilgi University. Three of the five defendants teach at Bilgi.
"Turkey is going through a strong nationalist backlash," said defendant Sahin, a professor of journalism at Bilgi and a Radikal columnist. He said nationalist lawyers shop around until they find a prosecutor willing to take on such cases, which are typically filed under Articles 301 or 288. Such venue shopping, he said, led to the prosecution of the five journalists in the outlying district of Bagcilar rather than in a downtown court.
Hundreds of riot police ringed the Bagcilar courthouse for the February 7 proceedings to prevent nationalist protestors from repeating the jostling and egg-throwing that greeted Pamuk's emergence from court last year. Instead, the demonstrations erupted inside the courtroom itself beneath a golden mask of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern, secular Turkey, whose image adorns every public building. The prosecutor who brought the indictment at the prompting of the nationalist Turkish Union of Lawyers did not utter a word.
More than a dozen black-robed nationalist lawyers and their leader, Kemal Kerincsiz, who initiated the Pamuk case, tried to take over the proceedings, repeatedly ignoring the judge's warnings and instructions to be quiet. The lawyers had no formal role in the prosecution other than to answer the judge's questions about the complaint they had filed with the prosecution.
Kerincsiz jabbed his finger at foreign observers in the court, labeling them colonialists and calling for them to be thrown out. He singled out European Parliament member Joost Lagendijk, a Dutch lawmaker who had himself been targeted for recent prosecution. The nationalists had sought unsuccessfully to bring a case against Lagendijk for insulting Turkey's armed forces. He had suggested that after Ankara opened a dialogue with Kurds seeking autonomy in southeast Turkey, security forces provoked the rebels into action in order to enhance the army's importance.
Lagendijk, who monitored the hearing for Brussels, said that convictions of the five journalists would "have consequences for the EU accession process." That, of course, is what the nationalists want. "They think that the legal system is the soft underbelly of the state machinery. And if they want to stop the slide toward Europe, then that's the place for the brakes," Sahin said.
For 40 years Turkey has been forging closer political, economic, and social ties with Europe. But the opening last October of formal accession negotiations with Brussels has galvanized those who feel Turkey has gone far enough in reforming itself along Western lines to pass the EU membership test.
The opposition to the EU does not come from the moderate, Islamist-based government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan but from conservative, secular nationalist forces, the political heirs of Ataturk. Turks sometimes refer to these forces as the "deep state," or "the state within the state," the legacy of a centrally controlled social and political structure with roots going back to the Ottoman Empire. The elected government runs the ministries, but the deep state works as a permanent political force drawing support from sections of the army, security forces, and parts of the justice and interior ministries, according to political commentators.
The Turkish Union of Lawyers acts as the spearhead of the deep state's onslaught against journalists and writers. Its leader, Kerincsiz, is associated with the National Movement Party (MHP), a long-established right-wing Turkish nationalist party. The party won 8.3 percent of the vote in 2002 parliamentary elections, just below the 10 percent threshold needed to win a seat in the legislature.
"The nationalists are not strong, but they are radically driven people. They have shadow support," said Berkan, one of the five defendants, referring to the deep state. "The nationalists know they have a weak case. What they want is the publicity."
Sanar Yurdatapan, head of the human rights group Initiative for Freedom of Expression, said the deep state exerts considerable influence through the civil service and security forces, swaying appointments to key bodies such as those regulating state broadcasting and higher education. The chief of staff and the commanders of the army, navy, air force and gendarmerie also sit on the National Security Council alongside five to seven ministers. The council advises the government on virtually every aspect of national life, advice which the prime minister seldom ignores.
Journalists say the influence of the deep state makes it difficult to write critically about five major areas: Ataturk, the Kurds, the security forces, the Armenian killings, and the Turkish presence in northern Cyprus.
The scale of the nationalist assault on the press was on display in the Bagcilar courthouse for those who arrived early. On the same day that the world's press covered the opening of the trial of the five prominent columnists, another journalist, Nese Duzel of Radikal, was before the same court on charges of "disseminating terrorist propaganda," in part because of an interview she conducted with former Kurdish MP Orhan Dogan.
In all, 10 free expression cases were heard that day in Turkish courts, journalist and human rights activist Nadire Mater said after the hearing. Figures compiled in February by Mater's press freedom organization, Bia, show that since the new Turkish Penal Code went into effect on June 1, 2005, cases have been brought against 29 journalists under Article 301. Eight have been convicted, and some trials are still continuing.
Seventeen journalists who discussed human rights cases, the Armenian conference ban case, and torture cases, have been charged with attempting to influence court decisions under Article 288 of the penal code and other press law provisions, according to Bia.
"The most import thing about the prosecution of these five columnists is that they are important figures, and there has been a big fuss out there in Turkey and the world about them," said Turgay Olcayto, secretary-general of the Association of Turkish Journalists. "Other journalists are prosecuted all the time and go relatively unnoticed." Journalists are typically fined upon conviction, although CPJ has documented one Turkish journalist imprisoned for his work.
Mater contends that the onslaught of prosecutions has had an intimidating effect on journalism in the country. "These cases lead to self-censorship. Before you write about issues like the army or the Kurds you will think two or three times," said Mater, who was acquitted in a high-profile 2000 case of insulting the Turkish military in a book of interviews with former conscripts of the civil conflict in southeast Turkey.
The independent press itself, concentrated in the hands of four major conglomerates, is largely pro-EU and reflects the views of Turkish private enterprise, which sees its future inside the vast European market. "It's ironic," said Olcayto, reflecting on the growing gap between big business and the nationalists whom it once supported. "Twenty years ago we were defending journalists for going against the views of the newspaper proprietors. Now we are defending them for agreeing with the owners."
Last year, the Erdogan government, seeking to balance the opposing demands of nationalists and reformers, amended media provisions in the penal code that stood in the way of EU membership. Fikret Ilkiz, a lawyer and advisor to media companies, said the government could not scrap the laws due to nationalist opposition, so it hastily rewrote them to meet EU deadlines. The rush resulted in flaws and wooly language, he said, which the nationalist lawyers have been able to exploit. For instance, the government replaced Article 159 of the penal code with Article 301 as part of an overhaul that reduced punishments for certain offenses. But journalists and writers are still silenced under Article 301 as prosecutors interpret a range of political and social criticism as falling under the definition of denigration of the state.
"We tried to tell them that the amendments to the press laws that they were bringing in were vague and could be exploited, and they told us not to worry, no cases would be opened. But look what has happened," Ilkiz said.
Yurdatapan, the human rights activist, said the government hoped that prosecutors simply would not bring cases under the new law or, if they did, that judges would dismiss them before they went to trial. That has happened in some instances, but the statutes remain on the books and pose a threat to free expression. "Any official with bad intentions can still find a pretext to stop freedom of expression," Yurdatapan said.
The government in Ankara declined to comment on the prosecution of the Radikal and Millyet columnists. "When the judicial process is still going on it is not proper to comment," Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Murat Ozcelik told CPJ. "This government is determined to respect press freedom and freedom of expression. Let's wait and see. We respect the results of the judiciary."
Most journalists and rights activists are united in wanting Article 301 and similar statutes eliminated, believing that the judiciary is not strong enough to resist nationalists who are exploiting the law to make a political point. Sahin said international coverage of the Bagcilar trial had helped the effort. "Our case is a test case; we are glad this case has been brought," he said. "We may serve a good purpose and open the way for change in the articles of the penal code."
Journalists have also taken heart from the dismissal of the Pamuk case and an appellate court's February 24 decision to overturn the conviction of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink on a charge of insulting Turkishness. The appeals court ordered a new trial for Dink.
Journalists acknowledge that Turkey has come a long way since the military rule of the 1980s in unshackling the private print media. Yet there is distance in meeting Western European standards of press freedom. "This is a fight for democracy and the rule of law," said defendant Cemal, who was targeted, some journalists believe, because he comes from a prominent nationalist family. His grandfather was a senior military commander in the Ottoman Empire.
"The general trend has been for the better with the start of negotiations with the European Union because Turkey has been adapting to European law," Cemal told CPJ after the February 7 proceeding. "The events we have seen this morning indicated that the fight for these values takes time. In April I expect an acquittal."
Sahin said the nationalists may have taken on more than they can handle in this case-- but he urged caution as well. "There is a tug of war in Turkey right now between those who favor democratic and EU values and those who are afraid of losing their leverage--the hardcore nationalists who are willing to do anything to stop that trend.
"There will be relapses, but things are moving in the right direction. Now we have to move toward reform without playing into the hands of nationalists."
Robert Mahoney is senior editor for the Committee to Protect Journalists.


text:
about the projectpeopleSamuel Klein
back to list
Submitted by admin on Mon, 2010-10-11 23:15
Samuel Klein
Director of Outreach
Sam lives in Cambridge, and has experience in organizing multilingual communities around learning, and in working around the world. He previously served as OLPC's Director of Content from 2006-2008. He has worked on software planning, database design, and management of global education projects, including a collaborative multilingual dictionary, a translation software startup (later acquired by SDL), and an online school for computer science.
Sam has developed various Wikipedia projects since 2004, and serves on the Board of the Wikimedia Foundation. He is an affiliate at Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society, where he has run conferences about technology and collaboration.


text:
Difference between revisions of "What's new in TDM 2.07"
Nbohr1more (talk | contribs)
Nbohr1more (talk | contribs)
|Line 25:
|Line 25:
==

 '''Important CVARS''' ==
==

 '''Important CVARS''' ==
* r_useFBO: enables/disables FBO rendering. It is now ON by default.
* r_useFBO: enables/disables FBO rendering. It is now ON by default.
Revision as of 21:04, 4 January 2019
See the roadmap on our bugtracker.
The Dark Mod 2.07 Stability Release
Taking the bold new features introduced in 2.06 and improving stability
was the intended goal of the 2.07 release cycle.
With that said, 2.07 has a number of new tricks up it's sleeve
so you'll still get a few new features along with the bulk of the bug fixed code.
Important CVARS
- r_useFBO: enables/disables FBO rendering. It is now ON by default.
- r_fboResolution: coefficient for internal rendering resolution (takes effect only when FBO is on). 2 means double resolution. Works like SSAA. Very high performance cost.
- r_softshadowsradius: Determines how large the light center is for light sources. Negative value overrides emitter_size spawnarg. (partly configurable in video settings GUI)
- r_softshadowsquality: Determines how many gradients for shadows. Larger values produce smoother blending at more performance cost. (configurable in video settings GUI)
- r_ambientMinLevel: adds specified value to ambient light (linear correction).
- r_ambientGamma: applies specified gamma exponent to ambient light (gamma correction).
- r_shadows 2: enables new "Maps" implementation of shadows. (configurable in video settings GUI)
- r_shadowMapSize: defines resolution of shadow maps with "Maps" implementation of shadows. More = better, less = faster.
- r_frobhelper_active: 1 = Activate, 2 = Deactivate
- r_frobhelper_alpha: Opacity of the FrobHelper cursor
- r_frobhelper_ignore_size: FrobHelper is not shown for objects bigger than this specified size along any axis
- r_frobhelper_fadein_delay: FrobHelper is shown after a certain delay
- r_frobhelper_fadein_duration: FrobHelper is faded in over this specified duration
- r_frobhelper_fadeout_duration: FrobHelper is faded out over this specified duration
While the list of AI changes is a little short in the release, many of the fixes
were quite complex projects and have widespread impact on the immersive quality of missions.
- AI react properly to flashbomb attacks while seated
- AI properly return to seated coordinates after being interrupted from patrol routes
- Improved the way that AI respond to the player escaping to dark ledges
- AI can now handle bodies (ragdolls) obstructing door closure
- Fire Elemental deemed complete. Further changes are enhancement requests.
- AI think loops have been restructured to reduce anomalies with interrupted animation
By making "Framebuffer Objects" (FBO) the default rendering mode and implementing true
Multisample Antialiasing (MSAA), TDM 2.07 will now allow users to change nearly every
standard graphic quality setting without restarting the game!
Shadow quality inches closer to the Holy Grail of true physically correct penumbra behavior
with the arrival of Shadow Maps with "contact hardening" Percentage Closer Soft Shadows (PCSS)!
Shadow Maps also offer performance advantages in scenes that are normally CPU bound
when in Stencil Shadows mode.
(Due to having to do skinning and silhouette calculations on the CPU in Stencil Shadow mode.)
- Finished the move to FBO-based rendering and implemented proper antialiasing (MSAA).
It is recommended to reset config file, or at least set "r_useFBO 1" and "r_fboResolution 1" manually.
- Numerous FBO-related fixes: reloadImages now works, quickload no longer crashes, no more duplicate renders, etc.
- New experimental mode of rendering shadows ("Maps") --- can be switched on in Video/Advanced menu.
- Softness of soft shadows can be controlled by "emitter_size" spawnarg.
Beware: "Maps" and "Stencil" modes of rendering shadows treat it in absolutely different way!
- Added "soft gamma": implementation of gamma correction not subject to color banding.
See cvars r_ambientMinLevel and r_ambientGamma.
- Lanterns no longer flicker when climbing ladders
3D positional sound and reverb have been vastly improved in the release!
- Enabled HRTF by default for better positional sound: works properly only with headphones.
- New syntax for EFX files (Version 2): allows using presets from openal-soft.
( See syntax in http://bugs.thedarkmod.com/view.php?id=4815 (to be added to wiki page later) ).
- Sounds which should not be affected by environment are marked as no_efx.
- Fixed some sounds which had (incorrect) stereo encoding. Converting to mono fixed 3D positional behavior
- MANY Missing impact sounds added
- Added sound shader definitions for some previously unreferenced sounds, including ambient sounds and AI speech samples
TDM 2.07 goes further with the process to modernize coding standards in TDM.
More legacy OpenGL functions have been replaced with modern techniques.
C++ Library management and compiling have been improved.
Finally, performance optimizations have been applied to the rendering framework,
game code, and code base in general.
- Mouse sensitivity in the main menu should be similar to one in Windows.
- Precision fixes: dmap and collision-related gameplay are affected.
- tdm_update: probably improved VCRedist installation, built Linux 64-bit version.
- Moved closer to Doom 3 BFG Vertex Buffer management (better multi-core stability)
- More SIMD instructions used to improve performance ( 64-bit rendering now has performance parity to 32-bit )
- Lightgem is now defined in it's own "view" to better match native rendering conventions
- FFMPEG now utilizes SMP
- Envshot is fixed and can also capture the skybox
Many quality textures, models, and materials were added by both Team members and
community contributors over the 2.06 to 2.07 cycle.
- Epifire's Security Camera
- Springheel's Church modules
- Springheel's updated head models
- Springheel's particle effects
- Grayman's Grandfather Clock prefab
- Spooks light texture
- Rsoul's Chain models and Interior Module fixes
- Undetermined number of assets held back from the end of 2.06?
- "Frob helper" feature provides a small screen center indicator when frobbing small object
- Mission Download page now has a "Download All" button
- Softness slider for soft shadows
- Added a toggle for Stencil Shadows vs Shadow Maps
- Added "Look Up" and "Look Down" key configurations
- Splash screen aspect ratios corrected
- Remote listening support
- Prefab Traps (scripts and models)
- Inactivity Trigger script
- Doubled air regaining speed after dive (Full refill now takes about 8 seconds)


text:
I have never been a fan of the "progressive" income tax system - where the more you earn the greater the percentage of your earnings that are taxed. I favor a more flat tax system.
Is it fair that an individual with a higher level of income must pay a higher percentage of that income in tax? Obviously a person with an income of $1 Million should pay more taxes than one making only $50,000. But a taxpayer earning $1 Million who would pay a flat 20% tax would certainly be paying more tax than a taxpayer paying that flat 20% on $50,000 of earnings, although not proportionately so.
Is it fair that a large, and growing, segment of the American population are "non-taxpayers" – individuals who pay absolutely no federal income tax, although beneficiaries, perhaps even at a greater level, of government protections and programs?
The Tax Foundation has produced a "Fiscal Fact" report that shows just who pays what.
Foundation President Scott Hodge, responding to a recent joint appearance by Buffett and Hillary Clinton, has pointed out –
"A new report by the Congressional Budget Office shows that Buffett and Clinton have their facts quite wrong. Indeed, the 'super-rich', the top 1 percent of households, are now paying a record 27.6 percent of federal taxes (those taxes measured by CBO) and a record 38.8 percent of income taxes. By contrast, the bottom 80 percent of households—representing 90 million households—pay 31.1 percent of federal taxes and just 13.7 percent of income taxes.
In other words, the top 1.1 million American households pay a greater share of the income tax burden than the bottom 90 million combined."
A posting by TAX PROF Paul Caron led me to Greg Mankiw's Blog (Random Observations for Students of Economics), which discusses the same Congessional Budget Office report used as a source by the Tax Foundation Fiscal Fact in the post "Tax Rates: Current vs Historical Averages". Greg comments –
"Notice that all groups are paying lower tax rates than the historical average. But in contrast to some popular perceptions, the change is not concentrated among the upper income groups. In fact, the opposite is true."
As a fellow blogger (I can't recall whom) pointed out – if Warren Buffett thinks he should be paying more to the federal government he can always make a donation to the federal treasury!


text:
Motoman Customer-Service Score Reaches a New High
Motoman ties employee compensation to its annual customer-satisfaction rating. It assigns employees to personally follow up on any survey scores of 3.5 or lower to determine what actions will be required for the firm to obtain a higher rating in the future. The feedback drives immediate and future action items aimed at improving customer satisfaction.
See also: Yaskawa America, Inc.
Related Enterprise Zones: Automation


text: Sorry, your search: "corsets" returned zero results, please search again and use ONE or TWO words when search!! Fot better results first use one word for search and if you have much products on list then use TWO words! And if you after all don`t find for what you search you can use Google:


text:
Scientist, environmentalist, world sailor murdered near Aspen
Donald Allison was an accomplished biologist and oceanographer. His studies and reports were published in scientific journals and helped doom DDT spraying.
Donald had a wanderlust that tempted him to sail around the world. He wasn't so naive, though, that he didn't carry a rifle on the open sea during many voyages. He was sort of an Indiana Jones with a preference for environmental rather than archaeological treasures.
He was also loved traipsing across the continent, mostly to remote areas. His dream was to build a cabin in the wilderness and once bought 200 acres of forested land in Minnesota. His mode of travel was a faded blue Volkswagen camper bus, which held most of his possessions.
While on one of those trips, which led him through Aspen, someone shot Donald in the chest, stole his bus and, with it, most his identification.
Donald's body was found near an isolated village near Aspen in 1978. But no one knew who the itinerant scientist was.
His name would remain a mystery for decades.
Robin Allison, his daughter, went to college, married, moved from place to place 30 years without knowing what had become of her father. He had been so many things during his lifetime that it was difficult to guess what had become of him.
At different times in his life, Allison had been a surveyor, fisheries biologist, Environmental Protection Agency agent, miner, park ranger and oceanographer.
Although he was born in Toronto, Canada, Allison had dual Canadian and U.S. citizenship. He attended Pickering Prep School in Toronto before enrolling in the University of Toronto.
He registered for the U.S. military draft in 1950. While waiting to be drafted he worked as a miner just outside of Leadville for a season and then near Salt Lake City for another.
In 1951, Allison was drafted in the U.S. Army and became a paratrooper. He earned an Army commendation ribbon and medal after organizing food, medicine and supply drops in Holland following the February 1953 flood disaster.
He moved to Moscow, Idaho to attend the University of Idaho. He got married in Idaho in 1955 and the couple had three children. Donald graduated with a bachelor's degree in forestry with a fisheries management option.


text:
The Pakistan Test team are due to arrive in Johannesburg on Sunday night to take on world champions South Africa in a three-Test series.It is Pakistan's first visit to South Africa in six years and their biggest challenge could be to adapt to the pace and bounce of the pitches they will play on against a fast bowling attack generally acknowledged to be the world's best.
They will have a four-day warm-up match against a South African Invitation XI in East London, starting on Friday, but conditions in the coastal city are less pace-friendly than is likely when they play the Test matches in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Centurion.
In the past 15 months, Pakistan's Test series have been played in the Asian sub-continent or the United Arab Emirates, which has been their home base since visiting teams stopped touring Pakistan following an attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009.
In the year before that they had two high-scoring draws against South Africa in the UAE and toured New Zealand, West Indies and Zimbabwe.
Pakistan nevertheless have a Test squad which is likely to provide stronger opposition for South Africa than current tourists New Zealand, who were beaten by an innings in two Test matches.
"Pakistan will be a potentially tough series," said South African captain Graeme Smith after the New Zealand series. "They have an exciting bowling unit and some experienced batsmen."
The fast bowling attack will be spearheaded by the left-armer Junaid Khan, the tall Mohammad Irfan and the experienced Umar Gul, one of four members of the touring squad who were on the 2006/07 tour of South Africa.
Newcomer Ehsan Adil was a member of the Pakistan Under-19 team which played in a triangular tournament in South Africa in January 2012.
Pakistan have two top-class spinners in Saaed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman.
Younis Khan, who topped the Pakistan averages in 2006/07, is the outstanding player in a reasonable batting line-up, while Mohammad Hafeez and Faisal Iqbal also played in the 2006/07 series, which South Africa won by two matches to one.
In 18 previous Test matches between the two countries, South Africa have won eight, Pakistan three and seven have been drawn. Pakistan's only series win was in Pakistan in 2003/04.
After spending Sunday night in Johannesburg, the Pakistanis will travel to East London on Monday to prepare for their match against the Invitation XI, captained by former international batsman Justin Ontong.
Pakistan Test squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Azhar Ali, Umar Gul, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Ehsan Adil, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Haris Sohail, Faisal Iqbal, Taufeeq Umar, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk).
Tour itinerary:
25-28, SA Invitation XI, East London
1-5, First Test, Johannesburg
14-18, Second Test, Cape Town
22-26, Third Test, Centurion
1, First Twenty20 international, Durban (day-night)
3 Second Twenty20 international, Centurion (day)
6 SA Invitation XI (50 overs), Kimberley (day-night)
10 First one-day international, Bloemfontein (day)
15 Second one-day international, Centurion (day-night)
17 Third one-day international, Johannesburg (day)
21 Fourth one-day international, Durban (day)
24 Fifth one-day international, Benoni (day)


text:
All orders must have a valid Home or Business address. We do not ship to P.O. Boxes. Oversize items and Heavy Weight items, including but not limited to bumper components, body panels, engines, transmissions, require extra shipping charges; please email us for a quote before ordering. Please be specific as to what you want to have shipped and have the complete address to which it will be shipped. These items are necessary to give an accurate quote for shipping costs. If the actual shipping charges are more than what was calculated at checkout, you will be charged the additional shipping charges.
Discontinued Parts: Not all discontinued and/or older parts and/or accessories are available for immediate shipment. Please call or email to confirm availability on shipping of discontinued and/or older parts and/or accessories. There will be no returns or exchanges on discontinued and/or older parts and/or accessories. They are considered "Final Sale."
Core Policy: Some parts offered on our site have a "core charge" applied to them. This is a refundable charge that the manufacturer applies to ensure that the old part is returned to us. Customers are responsible for all shipping charges related to returning cores to us. Remember all core returns must be assembled, clean, complete with no missing parts, undamaged, and in the original packaging. If you have any questions about core charges please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to answer them.
Click on the link to create a new account. After completing your registration, you will be able to complete your order.
Please waiting, getting message.


text:
That story from earlier today about Watchmen director Zack Snyder doing a Seven Samurai-influenced Star Wars movie? It was just so much poo-doo. His reps tell the Hollywood Reporter that he's not working on anything Star Wars related, either part of the new trilogy or one of the spin-off movies.
Said Snyder's spokesperson:
While he is super-flattered because he is a huge fan, Zack is not involved in any way with the new Star Wars. He is currently in post on his two films, Man of Steel and 300: Battle of Artemisia.
Top image: Clinton Felker via Comics Alliance


text:
To be honest I don't really care for this product, for $40 I really feel like it should charge more, be more. There is good news though. Amazon has it for $20 and for $20 it is MUCH more reasonable.
So what it does is pretty straight forward. It's the i2+ so the 2 stands for how many adapter units plug into the top of the device. It's a charging pad so you plug the correct adapter in (it comes with a bunch) and then you plug your device on it. You can put two adapters in the top of the unit and the + is for the USB connection on the side which can be used to charge any device that charges ala USB.
It's a little hokey, it feels like something you get off an informercial, but it's handy and like I said for $20 it's worth it.
Send us a comment at the end of this article, and we will pick a winner at random to send our tester unit out to free by Father's Day 2011 (if you are reading this after Father's Day please note that this offer has expired)! Only one comment please, you will be disqualified if you submit more than one.


text:
France confirmed "with certainty" on Saturday that Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, one of al Qaeda's most feared commanders in Africa, had been killed in Mali last month in a French-led offensive.
The death of Abou Zeid, who raised millions of dollars kidnapping Western hostages, marks a heavy blow to al Qaeda's North African wing AQIM and to Islamist rebels battling French-led forces in northern Mali's Adrar des Ifoghas mountains.
The death of the ruthless commander - the trusted lieutenant of AQIM's elusive leader Abdelmalek Droukdel - was a major victory in France's nine-week-old campaign to drive al Qaeda-linked Islamists from Mali's desert north.
It raises questions, however, about the fate of several French hostages believed to be held by Abou Zeid's branch of AQIM.
"The president of the French Republic confirms with certainty the death of Abdelhamid Abou Zeid after an offensive by the French army in the Adrar des Ifoghas," the Elysee presidential palace said.
Previously France had said only that Abou Zeid was "probably" dead. Chad, whose troops are fighting alongside French forces in the Adrar des Ifoghas, announced in early March that the Algerian smuggler-turned-Islamist had been killed.
France had been awaiting the results of DNA testing - which finally confirmed Zeid's identity - before making an official announcement, a diplomatic source told Reuters.
French forces launched a ground and air campaign in Mali on Jan. 11, warning that the Islamist enclave in northern Mali controlled by AQIM and its allies presented a threat to international security.
The Islamists had hijacked a Tuareg rebellion which had driven Mali's demoralised army from the northern two-thirds of the landlocked country in April last year.
While the French-led offensive has pushed Islamists out of northern towns and remote mountain bases, militants have hit back with several suicide bombings in government-held areas.
A spokesman for AQIM said earlier this week it had beheaded a French hostage in retaliation for Paris' intervention, Mauritania's ANI news agency reported - a worrying development for France and its 14 hostages held in West Africa.
Abou Zeid is believed to have killed British hostage Edwin Dyer in 2009 and 78-year-old Frenchman Michel Germaneau in 2010.
Confirmation of his death will turn attention to the fate of fellow al Qaeda commander Mokhtar Belmokhtar, who was also reported dead by Chad.
Saturday's statement made no mention of Belmokhtar, the mastermind of a mass hostage-taking in January at the In Amenas gas plant in the Algerian desert in which around 60 people were killed.
Edouard Guillaud, the head of France's joint chiefs of staff, said this month he was "extremely cautious" about reports of Belmokhtar's death, noting that some militant websites had said the al Qaeda commander, nicknamed 'the uncatchable', was still at large.
(Reporting by Lionel Laurent and Elizabeth Pineau; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Stephen Powell)


text:
Peyton Manning picked the Denver Broncos to be his next team and is finalizing a contract, a league source told NFL Network's Michael Lombardi on Monday.
The Broncos still are working out contract language with Manning, league sources told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora on Tuesday, but a deal is very close.
The crux of the multi-year deal for Manning is done, sources told La Canfora, but the sides still are ironing out some details such as the wording of certain clauses, among other things.
The Broncos have tentatively scheduled a Tuesday news conference at 3 p.m. ET in the team meeting room of the Broncosâ training facility, according to a team release.
There is every expectation everything will be fully signed off and a contract will be executed prior to Tuesday's scheduled news conference, according to La Canfora.
After a jubilant Monday at the clubâs Englewood, Colo., facility, Denver salary cap director Mike Sullivan spent much of the evening working on details of the deal with Manningâs agent, Tom Condon, long after others had left, NFL Network's Albert Breer reported.
Like the other clubs vying for Manningâs services, the Broncos have known that theyâd be working off the parameters of the five-year, $90 million deal Manning signed with the Colts in August. But the structure is expected to vary, and protections will be written for the club in case Manningâs neck problems recur. The league also must approve the deal.
Manning called the Broncos on Monday morning and talked to Broncos executive vice president John Elway and coach John Fox, who communicated the word to the rest of an ecstatic organization, according to Breer.
The Broncos already have looked into a trade of quarterback Tim Tebow and currently are looking for a partner, a source told Breer.
Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker, who had 44 receptions for 612 yards with eight touchdowns last season, told La Canfora that he expects the offense to change with Manning now under center and that the quarterback would run the system from the line of scrimmage.
"More of the offense will be in Peyton's hands," Decker said.
The Broncos were one of three finalists for the four-time NFL MVP, along with the Tennessee Titans and the San Francisco 49ers. The Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins also were in the hunt and received meetings with Manning but ultimately didn't make the final three.
Manning and Titans coach Mike Munchak hit it off during the quarterback's meeting with the team. It was very hard for Manning to call Munchak on Monday and inform him of his decision to go to the Broncos, a source close to the situation told NFL Network's Michelle Beisner.
Manning personally called Titans owner Bud Adams, who had offered the quarterback a lifetime contract with the team, to let him know of his choice, according to The Tennessean. The newspaper reported that Adams was disappointed, but he was glad his team made a run at Manning.
"I was hoping we would win out," Adams said. "I thought we'd be ahead of Denver. I thought he'd want to stay in Tennessee."
Adams told The Tennessean that he jokingly told Manning, "He was going into high altitude, so he better start getting in shape."
The Broncos flew to Durham, N.C., last Friday to watch Manning throw at nearby Duke University. Their contingent included Elway, Fox, general manager Brian Xanders, offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, quarterbacks coach Adam Gase and medical personnel.
One team source told Breer on Monday that the team is very comfortable with the 20 to 30 minutes they spent watching Manning throw last week, adding, "He looked like Peyton."
The Indianapolis Colts released Manning on March 7, ending a 14-year relationship between the team and its franchise quarterback.
The Colts' decision to part ways with the four-time MVP, who has thrown for over 54,000 career yards with 399 touchdowns, didn't come as a surprise. Manning missed all of 2011 after undergoing neck surgery the week before the start of the regular season. He was scheduled to receive a $28 million roster bonus had he been with the Colts, a team currently in rebuilding mode with a new coach and general manager, after the start of the league year.


text: Megan writes: "It's Christmas themed! I tried to get both dogs in the photo, but they at least sat by the tree. Kit Kat is the Westie and Reese's Pieces is the rescue dog I almost named Michael Jackson (he also is from Gary, IN and received abuse there.) It was too soon and candy is so much sweeter! Although I should change their names to Timon and Pumba due to his meerkat posing." Images via email.


text:
All Items : Ethnic : Native American : Pre 1940 item #832319 (stock #safn-1737)
vintage skookum baby doll on a cradleboard. This was originaly a mailer.Measures 4" tall, made of composition and has a real blanket and tied with a rawhide tie.Very good condition with the exception of a paint chip on the nose. The mailing tag is gone from the string. On the back someone has written in pen "Bought at Union Station Kansas City, MO.


text:
Thank you for your interest. Inquires are generally answered Tuesday through Saturday 9:30 - 17:30. If would like to hear from us sooner, feel free to give us a call at:
Series: The Triumph of Maximilian I
Medium: Woodcut
Year: Date of block: 1522. This impression: 18th Century
Size: Approx. 15 x 15 inches
Stock Number: 48378
Price: $350.00
313 Occidental Avenue South, Seattle, Washington 98104(206) 624-7684Open Tuesday-Saturday 11-5:30


text:
We recommend that you use the latest version of a modern web browser to ensure you are able to access all of the features and functionality of our website. Continuing to use your existing browser may not allow you to take advantage of certain features.
Folders are an essential tool in your sales arsenal. Create stylish, professional folders and get your business recognized.
We offer high-quality, full-color offset and
digital folder printing on premium paper stocks. Choose from various sizes. Business card slits also available.
Fast and Easy!Upload your print-ready file(s) (.TIF, .TIFF, .EPS, .AI, .PSD, .BMP, .GIF, .JPG,
.PNG, .PDF) and choose either an instant screen proof or a manually processed proof and you're
ready to go.
Need a WOW factor?Create a custom look from scratch using our various design tools. Choose pre-designed templates or create your own design and layout by creating or adding images, text and your logo. Get an instant screen proof before approval.
Tired or Lazy?You've come to the right place. Our team of highly trained professionals
will create the ultimate design for your product.


text:
The Safety Choice: Choosing the Right Protective Equipment
Racers have an obligation to take the right steps to protect themselves from injury
The outcome is never certain when the green flag comes down. We don't know who is going to win, how that driver will get to the front, or what is going to transpire between the start and the ending. Along the way, there could be some circumstances that loom as threatening to the driver. Those situations have no element of predictability, but there are certain steps that can be taken to help determine the outcome.
Regardless of the kind of car, class, or racing, safety must be the top consideration. The selection of the fireproof racing suit and protective helmet is a decision that is basically automatic, though there are areas where the driver could stand to be a little more knowledgeable in plenty of cases. Once you get beyond the basics, the landscape goes from black and white to gray. In many cases, if the safety section of the rule book doesn't say you have to wear it, many drivers simply won't.
The excuses for omission are many. They range from concerns of comfort to concerns of economics. The economics argument is easy to defend but just as easy to dismiss. If you aren't prepared to do it right, don't do it at all.
Safety gear is designed for the purpose of protection--often protection from one's self. The idea that "it can't happen to me" is exactly why certain smaller aspects of safety should be used. In fact, it's the reason any aspect of safety should be selected.
As the '06 racing season unfolds, the latest innovations will be on display. Helmets have been carrying the latest Snell certification (starting October 1, 2005), and the idea of using one that was certified for racing in 1995 will no longer be acceptable in most cases (Those with the Snell 2000 standard generally remain acceptable). It forces a driver to buy a helmet every 10 years at a minimum, but helmet purchases should be far more frequent than that.
The helmet is one part of an overall safety package, and the smart racer thinks of safety as a grouping, not a collection of individual items with priority rankings. A protective item doesn't have to cost hundreds to work, but not having it can cost thousands.
Start at the Bottom
While there is a strong increase in the use of the protective racing shoe, it is still an afterthought to many racers, simply because the rule book doesn't say "must." The manufacturers of the modern racing shoe have done their homework. There is plenty of thought put into the product being offered, and safety remains the central focus of that thought.
"The shoe selection rests with the driver," says Debbie Bishop of Simpson Race Products. "We make shoes for all types of racing, and that's what the driver needs to look at. For example, we offer a shoe that is all leather, and then there's a style that is suede and leather. The leather is easier to clean at dirt tracks, which makes it popular with Sprint racers."
"We offer the mid-top or the high-top shoe, which is an issue of style," says Jeremy Curtis ofG-Force Racing Gear. "There has to be consideration of the foot space in the car."
"Our shoes are pretty basic," offers John Crow of Crow Enterprizes. "Comfort is the number-one consideration after safety. They are all manufactured to be protective. From that point, it becomes driver preference as to the style. The size of the footbox has a lot to do with it. For example, Formula guys, with their heel-and-toe style of driving, need a shoe like a mid-top so that it doesn't restrict ankle movement."
The use of materials such as fleece Nomex offers the protection inside the boot while the outer layers are designed to protect from heat and flame. Shoes are also designed with the thought of pedal feel, as non-slip soles allow the driver to keep control of the pedals without fear of slipping off the brake or accelerator.
The footbox is likely one of the hottest places in the cockpit under normal conditions. Under less than normal conditions, its proximity to the engine can turn the area from footbox to oven in a hurry. For this reason, some shoes are designed with additional protection in the heel area. If your shoes aren't, there are added steps you can take.
"We offer a heel boot that's popular with many," added Curtis. "It's a Nomex shield that slips onto the shoe. A lot of drivers wear them on just the right foot, but there are those who will use them for right and left. They're made from Nomex inside and out and are very protective."
While there is plenty of thought given to the design of the shoe itself, there can be no detail left to chance. For this reason, Simpson has made Nomex laces available on its Fusion shoe and made it an upgrade for any shoe sold.
While the companies take steps to keep the cost of items like shoes in the "affordable" range, the consideration should start with protection, followed by comfort. Style, while important, should be low on the priority list. Fortunately, unlike sports such as bowling, the idea of a gaudy specialized shoe is unwelcome. The protective shoe is generally stylish and appealing and a natural fit to a racing ensemble.
It wasn't that long ago that in-car cameras found drivers of major-league stock cars sawing on the wheel in their bare hands. Not anymore. You won't find that picture without a penalty of some sort these days, and wisely so.
The hands hold more than a steering wheel in our lives. For most, the same hands that grip the wheel are also the hands that are used during the week in the course of doing the job that brings food to the table and extra income to buy parts for the race car. Protecting your hands means protecting your future.
"When we look at a glove style, we consider natural fit and curvature as part of the design process," says Bishop. "We want to develop a product that molds easily to the grip of the hand. It's a driver preference when it comes to gloves. All drivers are not going to like all gloves. The decision is made on the feel and the material."
"It's safety first and comfort next," adds Crow. "Our Wings gloves have an SFI 5 rating. They have two layers of Nomex, and the palm area has one layer of Nomex. If you have a lot of material in a glove, it's hard to get the comfort because the material will bunch up. I put on every pair of gloves. I wear a large, so some are too small and some are too large, but I look them over and make sure the threads are right. A glove is the type of thing that you put on and decide. If it feels good, you'll buy it. If not, you'll ask what else is available."
"Gloves have gotten better now than they were a few years ago," says Curtis. "It's a better product, and it's being offered at a point where the average racer can easily afford them. We have our Pro RS model, which features reverse seams for greater protection and comfort by being stitched externally. The Pro 5 has an SFI 5 rating for protection."
SFI Rating
On a couple of occasions, we've made reference to an "SFI rating," so there needs to be an explanation of that.
The SFI Foundation, based in California, offers standards for performance automotive and racing equipment, which provide guidelines for manufacturers. Adhering to SFI standards is required by some sanctioning bodies, who use the SFI watermark as the determination for safety acceptance.
SFI started out as a division of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA). Now completely separate from SEMA, the SFI Foundation is a non-profit organization. Programs are funded by participating manufacturers who pay for development and administration of programs through license fees or provide grants and donations.
"The SFI certification adds credibility to the product," says Curtis. "They make sure that everyone is meeting the same specification. When it's Company A against Company B, you know that they're going to be close to the same with their own twists but still within the SFI standard. Then, for the buyer, it becomes a matter of cost versus quality."
"They lay down the rules and we meet or exceed them," said Crow. "It helps us to make our products the best they can be. If something doesn't measure up, we take it back and make it better."
"It's a tough process," says Bishop. "There's a lot of time and expense involved, but it helps get the products recognized. If you can meet or exceed the standards, you are protecting the drivers. That's what we want to do."
The manufacturer's involvement is voluntary, but the sanctions help force the issue to keep substandard equipment from entering the market. SFI encourages industry-wide participation in the drafting of specifications.
Arm Protection
It's almost a no-brainer for open-wheel racers, but it doesn't come without some resistance. The use of arm restraints is a good idea for many other forms of racing as well. There have been many pictures of old-time racers where the arms of the drivers were seen flailing outside the cockpit. Serious arm injuries can result in many cases, and taking protecting steps to prevent that is the right choice.
This safety feature is one that should benefit from its presence in junior racing. Quarter Midgets, Karts, and Junior Dragsters are among those who use arm restraints.
"We need to teach them from the ground up," says Adams. "You want to make sure it's safe. It's your child out there. If you teach them safety now, they will carry it throughout their racing, even throughout their regular driving. They will want their street car to be safe and secure."
"You want the racer to become familiar with the equipment," says Curtis. "The earlier they start using them, the better it will be. It's especially important in youth racing."
There are different types of arm restraints available, but proper use is the key element. Some drivers have been known to wear them on the wrong part of the arm, so following the manufacturer's directions is critical in making certain the best protection is being offered.
Save Your Neck
While many of the top sanctions are implementing the head-and-neck restraint devices, short-track weekly racers still view it as an expense that is too great, especially because it is not mandatory. There is a reasonable alternative that provides neck protection, and it's the simple neck collar. While a neck collar alone cannot provide the level of protection of the head-and-neck units, it's an option that a racer must entertain.
"A neck collar can work really well with some of the systems that are based on straps that attach to the helmet," says Adams. "The neck collar has to be properly fitted. To hear the driver say, `I can't move my head,' is kinda the point behind it. You want to have little movement to keep the neck stable."
Out of Body
Protection doesn't stop at the tips of the fingers and toes. There are plenty of steps that can be taken with safety equipment that can help keep the driver safe in the event of the unwanted accident.
As part of the car, items such as window nets, heat-resistant padding, rollbar padding, and shoulder belt padding are some of the steps being taken.
One product that is sure to catch on is the reverse-stitch shift boot cover that uses Simpson's CarbonX and Kevlar materials. The Kevlar lining reduces heat transfer. The reverse stitching keeps the unit intact as fire comes at it through the transmission tunnel beneath the vehicle. This allows the driver precious additional seconds to exit the car before flames enter the cockpit.
Rollbar padding is perhaps the most inexpensive insurance against driver injury. The simple padding, placed strategically, will lessen head, arm, or leg impact with 'cage components or other areas where the body parts shouldn't be.
Thermal barrier protection can be used to keep the driver from the distraction of excessive heat and protect the feet. It can also serve as a barrier to fire.
More sanctions are starting to address the use of window nets. For 2005, the IMCA mandated the use of window nets in all divisions. Many still use the word "recommended" if making reference to window nets.
There are different styles of window nets, and nets are subject to SFI standard 27.1. Most top companies who manufacture the nets have participated in the standard.
The advantage to a window net is obvious. It keeps material from entering the cockpit and striking the driver. With that thought in mind, some drivers use not only a left-side net, but have also installed a triangular window net on the right side of the car.
"Window nets are a great idea," says Crow, who is a racer. "There are more classes that have eyes outside the driver, so the argument of not being able to see isn't valid.
"We custom-make our nets. We don't do the mesh style. We only do the 1-inch ribbon, and they pass the SFI certification. The size of the net depends on the car and the seat being used. Some seats have bigger headrests. The triangular nets start at 10 inches wide and work down to 2 inches wide. They use a quick lever release for easy removal."
Crow says the nets have to be strong to get the SFI acceptance. "You can drop a 25-pound sandbag on it from 4 to 5 feet and it will hold."
The choice of style and material is usually a decision made by the driver. "We offer the mesh style and the ribbon style," says Adams. "We make as many custom nets as we do regular nets. We have a variety of installation rods, so there's something for everybody in window nets."
The Whole Picture
There is really no such thing as too safe. The inherent danger of the sport means that something can go wrong, but controlling the number of possibilities is the goal of the smart racer.
"These items aren't expensive when you look at it," says Adams. "A custom window net is maybe $40. That's not a lot of dollars, and it's certainly worth it to protect your arms and head. A neck collar is $30, and arm restraints are $30. A lot of fathers who were racers don't want their kids to take those unnecessary risks. They may realize they were lucky and don't want to take the chance."
"Having the safety gear is important, but making sure they use it properly is the key," says Bishop.
"Be ready," adds Crow. "You never know what's coming, but you can be prepared to deal with it."
And, you have to remember life beyond racing. "With racing, there could be permanent injury," Adams says. "It may be a minor injury, but it could be a permanent one as well. Pay attention to the detail. All of the safety equipment needs to work in conjunction with the rest of it. If it's not there, it can't do it. Each element alone can only do so much. Once you put it all together, you have the best chance."


text:
(Crocodylus johnstoni)
Freshwater crocodiles grow up to 10 feet (3m) long, but on average are about 1.5 metres long. They have a narrow snout, sharp teeth and webbed hind feet. The freshwater crocodile is generally brown in colour, however this will vary depending on their environment.
The freshwater crocodile is found throughout the northern regions of Australia, from Cape York Peninsular to the Kimberley's. They are found in both salt and freshwater billabongs, large river systems, lakes and swamps.
The freshwater crocodile feeds mainly on fish, crustaceans and insects. Being opportunistic they will also prey upon small mammals, birds and reptiles.
The females dig nest holes that are exposed on sandbars during the dry season from August through September. Mating occurs three to six weeks before laying. An average clutch is between 13-20 eggs and hatch after about 65-95 days. Egg laying usually occurs at night, and they are commonly eaten by monitor lizards and feral pigs. Eggs that are incubated at a temperature of about 31- 32C will produce males, and temperatures of about 28 - 29°C produce females. Temperatures of about 30 - 31°C will produce embryos of both sexes.
The nests of eggs are fiercely guarded by the female crocodile and at the end of the incubation period, the mothers will carry the newly hatched young to the water in their mouths. The mothers then stay close to the young and protect them for a short period of time. In addition to being hole nesters, they are also sometimes called "pulse nesters" because all females in a given population will usually nest within a brief three week period each season.


text:
'Selfie' leads to arrest in church burglary
California man left cellphone at the scene of the crime, police say
CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KSWB) – Police used a "selfie" photo found on a cellphone left at the scene of a church burglary to track down and arrest three suspects in the crime.
The break-in at Hilltop Tabernacle Church in South Bay was discovered on Feb. 10.
Someone broke into the building and ransacked the church, taking cash and a laptop computer, investigators said.
The thief or thieves also broke into a recreational vehicle parked on the property and stole several purses and watches. The total loss was estimated at $10,000.
Police found a cellphone left at the crime scene. On it, investigators found a "selfie" photo, and a detective recognized the location where the photo was taken as Harborside Park in Chula Vista.
Police took the photo to the park and showed it to people.
One of them recognized the person in the photo as 26-year-old Adam Howe and told officers where to look for him, police said.
The next day, police found Howe. They searched his belongings and found several items that had been taken from the church, according to police.


text:
Blackmore´s Night and Christmas Carols
|Post Reply
|Page 12>
Topic Search Topic Options
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 23 2006
Location: Brazil
Status: Offline
Points: 2537
Topic: Blackmore´s Night and Christmas Carols
Posted: September 19 2006 at 16:20
I just read that Blackmore´s Night plans to release an album of Christmas Carols!
Ritchie Blackmore says that as a child he would go around from doorstep to doorstep singing carols, now he says he can make more money by making an album of carols!
The album is to be called "Winter Carols"
I personally think he has gone too far! What an enormous waste of talent.
It was bad enough seeing him prance around in tights and boots!
What a waste...in fact what an absolute loon!!
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 21 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 407
|Posted: September 19 2006 at 17:16
He may as well go ahead and make a Christmas record. He's had his head up his you-know-what for many years now when it comes to music. Blackmore's Night is nothing more than a novelty act as far as I'm concerned. Candice Night is a no-talent and Blackmore's talent has completely gone to waste.
It's almost too weird to laugh at.....
Tony Fisher
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 30 2005
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 967
|Posted: September 19 2006 at 17:18
I disagree. We ignore our traditions at our peril. Making innovative, progressive music is fine, but there has to be a place for material from an earlier generation to be performed or else it dies.
After all, many great prog acts have drawn heavily on music from the past (ELP, Trace Mannfred Mann's Earthband to name a few) and turned it into prog by giving it a new approach.
Blackmore's album may not be prog, but if he does a good job of it, I won't complain.
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 08 2006
Location: Netherlands
Status: Offline
Points: 774
|Posted: September 19 2006 at 17:46
Blackmore's Night is great. And if Ritchie likes what he is doing, how can anyone be so selfish to say that he is wasting his talent?
Future prosperity lies in the way you heal the world with love
(Introitus - The hand that feeds you)
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 23 2006
Location: Brazil
Status: Offline
Points: 2537
|Posted: September 19 2006 at 18:19
A lot of people share my view. Shadow of the moon was a great album but lately his output is rather commercial and monotonous.
He has cut off his nose to spite his face.
I like some Blackmore´s Night (in fact I´m a big Blackmore fan), but what he will be remembered for is his fantastic guitar work in the seventies.
Edited by WaywardSon - September 19 2006 at 18:22
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 08 2006
Location: Netherlands
Status: Offline
Points: 774
|Posted: September 19 2006 at 18:30
Indeed, and so it doesn't matter at all what he's doing right know. Even if he'd rejoin Deep Purple (and I'm sure he won't), it will always be compared to what he did in the seventies. So let him do what he likes.
Future prosperity lies in the way you heal the world with love
(Introitus - The hand that feeds you)
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 23 2006
Location: Brazil
Status: Offline
Points: 2537
|Posted: September 19 2006 at 18:52
Sure, he can do what he likes, I can´t exactly stop him but I think he still has it in him to release a classic rock album.
I just find it a bit sad that they would release an album of Christmas Carols(That would be more expected from Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey, in fact I think they have done a Mariah Carey cover on one of their albums)
I´ve got nothing against Blackmore´s Night BTW , some of the songs I´ve heard are excellent.
Edited by WaywardSon - September 19 2006 at 18:52
Forgotten Son
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 13 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1337
|Posted: September 20 2006 at 00:53
There are plenty of Prog acts that have released Christmas albums. The Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, Mostly Autumn and Trans-Siberian Orchestra, all of which I really enjoy listening to at Christmas, so why shouldn't Blackmore's Night do the same?
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member
Joined: March 20 2005
Location: New Zealand
Status: Offline
Points: 2546
|Posted: September 20 2006 at 01:01
Here here Ritchie Blackmore is no "spring chicken". So why should he not indulge himself in what he likes doing best, with "Blackmore's Night." I still think he is one of Rock music's greatest guitarist but the man is simply not as interested in producing the heavy riffs as he did back in the 70's and 80's. Good on him for being up front with his Christmas project - whether we agree or disagree.
"Music is the Wine that fills the cup of Silence"
- Robert Fripp
mystic fred
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: March 13 2006
Location: Londinium
Status: Offline
Points: 4252
|Posted: September 20 2006 at 02:24
Mr.Blackmore has achieved more than most musicians in his life, he has worked with many legendary musicians, made some classic albums, led his own supergroup, lived the rock'n'roll lifestyle unscathed - he deserves to do what he likes and explore things he wants to - if he wants to make an album of Christmas Carols good luck to him!!
Prog Archives Tour Van
Eetu Pellonpaa
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: June 17 2005
Location: Finland
Status: Offline
Points: 4828
|Posted: September 20 2006 at 03:04
Fits the artistic line of their first album.
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 19 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 461
|Posted: September 25 2006 at 11:09
Has anyone seen the 'olde mill inn' video? just makes things worse. Still Music like deep purple and rainbow isnt my kind of thing so i can just laugh
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 25 2006
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 191
|Posted: September 25 2006 at 11:33
I enjoy Blackmore's Night, quite a bit! I also can relate to the story of caroling at doors at Christmas time...I'd love to hear Candice put a spin on some of these songs...she's quite the talented singer (and quite the cutie too)
I don't care how bad you think she sings, try looking at her and not say something...
It's got to be slow
Taking love the only way
It's got to just flow
Making love and taking time to let it grow
Sean Trane
Special Collaborator
Prog Folk
Joined: April 29 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 14786
|Posted: September 25 2006 at 11:52
I am torn between both of your stance.
People need to get over Blackmore's past. He does not owe anyone anything anymore, especially noyt the industry.
So Ritchie does exactly what he wants , fine for him and he's got a delicious babe to sink his teeth (and more) into. I read somewhere that he is really living out a fantasy as best as he can.
But let's face it, if the first two or three albums were acceptable, the formula has grown quite thin, and Candice, whose talents are pretty thin (on stage anyway, I will not judge otherwise), is now becoming increasingly irritating. she is not a good singer, just passable. And the show is actually held/run by Candice's mother who acts as their manager.
Fortunately no-one is forcing me to listen to their stuff.
But I think it is time Ritchie stopped before BN is becoming ridiculous.
Edited by Sean Trane - September 25 2006 at 11:53
Special Collaborator
RIO/Avant/Zeuhl Team
Joined: July 29 2005
Location: Alexandria, Va
Status: Offline
Points: 23141
|Posted: September 25 2006 at 12:02
Men.. Just because a woman looks nice, that can compensate for a lack of talent! And then you get angry when a woman listens to 'cute' male artists...
That said, I agree with Hugues about Ritchie having the right to do whatever he pleases, after decades spent dealing with the record industry. However, it's also true that the music BN produce is really not the best example of the genre, and that Candice's voice is far from the best I've heard. After having heard a couple of their songs, I just wasn't interested in finding out more - mind you, not because it's not DP or Rainbow, jbut ust because it's rather cheesy music, done much better by others.
Proudly driving people off prog forums since 2005
Forum Senior Member
Content Addition
Joined: April 10 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 3928
|Posted: September 25 2006 at 12:03
Well, yes, what I've heard of Blackmore's Night isn't terrible- far from it- it's just a bit 'hey nonny nonny' for my taste. I think it's a bit surprising that some people find his image change THAT startling- this is a man that used to play 'Greensleeves' and 'English Country Garden' in his lengthy guitar slots, and even did a song called 'Sixteenth Century Greensleeves'. Heck, his favourite band is Jethro Tull and has been for years, I believe. I will agree that the whole image is a bit dodgy- particularly something I read where people in medieval clothing get in cheaper- and the mother managing (I've read a horror story about her ripping up a Deep Purple fan's signed album with everyone's signature bar Blackmore's...) is like Spinal Tap, but he's doing what he wants, I guess.
Interestingly, I once saw a bizarre interview where Blackmore claimed he formed Blackmore's Night because Frank Sinatra didn't know who he was!!
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 23 2006
Location: Brazil
Status: Offline
Points: 2537
|Posted: September 25 2006 at 12:29
Salmacis - My father(a Sinatra fan ) who is well into his seventies, loved "Shadow of the moon" as did I. Then I bought him "Under a violet moon" for his birthday and he said "It´s just a repeat of the first one".
Has anyone heard Ritchie´s son play guitar? I think he has already released 2 albums and some of the songs are really impressive.
Jurgen Blackmore, really worth checking out.
Edited by WaywardSon - September 25 2006 at 12:31
Sean Trane
Special Collaborator
Prog Folk
Joined: April 29 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 14786
|Posted: September 26 2006 at 03:51
That's what I tried to say to Anthony about Mostly Autumn 's Heather Findlay. But he avoided the subject
Actually I find that the same cheap and cheesy "noney-noney" stuff is reigning on BN and MA albums .
I find both group just barely worthy of inclusion in prog folk , really!!! They should be both in prog-related.
The Whistler
Prog Reviewer
Joined: August 30 2006
Location: LA, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 7113
|Posted: September 26 2006 at 04:02
Indeed! Only dried up loser progsters record Christmas albums! Never catch one of my boys doin' that!
"There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 08 2006
Location: Netherlands
Status: Offline
Points: 774
|Posted: September 26 2006 at 04:07
*cough* You're not reading a word I write, do you? then I'll explain it to you one more time:
Yes, I DO love Heather, but that's not the reason why I'm a M.A. fan. The first tracks I've ever heard from there were INSTRUMENTALS, and so I thought they were an instrumental band, I didn't know Heather was a singer. And what I do with instrumental tracks, I focus on the guitar player and if he's good, I give the band a try. So, I became M.A.-fan, because I liked, and still like, what Bryan Josh does, and not just because Heather is a hot lady.
And no, good looks cannot compensate for lack of talent, but that doesn't automatically mean that a good looking lady doesn't have any talent, or that someone becomes a fan because of a hot frontlady without listening to the music.
Back to Blackmore's Night now...
Future prosperity lies in the way you heal the world with love
(Introitus - The hand that feeds you)
|Post Reply
|Page 12>
| Tweet
|Forum Jump
|Forum Permissions
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


text:
Lesson Plan Clip 2 | Midnight Traveler
Clip: Season 32 Episode 16 | 1m 52s
Due to continued threat from the Taliban the Fazilis must pay smugglers to get to Turkey.
Aired: 12/30/19Video has closed captioning.
The full episode is no longer available for online streaming. Why?
Please continue to enjoy extra(s) from this episode.
Problems Playing Video?
Major funding for POV is provided by PBS, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts and the Wyncote Foundation. Additional funding comes from The John S. and James Knight Foundation, Nancy Blachman and David desJardins, Bertha Foundation, Reva & David Logan Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Chicago Media Project, Lefkofsky Family Foundation, Sage Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee and public television viewers. POV is presented by a consortium of public television stations, including KQED San Francisco, WGBH Boston and THIRTEEN in association with WNET.ORG.


text:
WEYTWUT alone doesn't help.
It's not as good, but it works fairly well. You can easily sequester monsters for later consumption, and if you think ahead on where to place them you can set things up so that when you do kill them Rexx will appear in non-threatening locations. You will end up over-exploring, but it's a lot better than nothing.
Maybe I'll do a video of Labyrinth with a JJ prep to demo this... if I can get a nice video capture setup working.


text:
The C4[1] developer conference this weekend wasn't just a bunch of talks and panels. There was more happening than met the eye (no I'm not talking about the crazy programmer parties). While some were sleeping off hangovers on Sunday, others were finishing up their Iron Coder entries of which the theme and technology, this time around, had been e-mailed to them earlier in the week: "conspiracy and iPhone." The C4 Iron Coder had a small twist in that programmers had to show off their code live, and "Injection Technology" was fair game (Injection Technology examples, according to the website, are APE, SIMBL and mach_*).
Details at this point are fairly scarce, but we do know who won the competition as well as a few other final products. According to one attendee and former winner, other entries included a set of "screamingly funny" anagrams that had a "conspiracy theme" and a BASIC Interpreter coded in JavaScript. The winner? The winner was pretty ambitious. The winner created a video conferencing application for the iPhone. Some of the guys who program for Ecamm Network put together an application that does the following:
Our contest entry captures video from the iPhone's camera, compresses it, and sends it to a web server, where it's relayed to another iPhone, and vice-versa, resulting in a nice two-way video conference. Need audio too? That's not our department but simply make a phone call to the other person's iPhone and put them on speaker phone.
Since the iPhone's current API doesn't appeal to everyone, and because of the twist we mentioned earlier, the winners used the iPhone toolchain to create the application. All you need to run the winning app (besides the code that doesn't seem available yet) is a fancy mirror, an iPhone capable of running third party applications, a web server, and a friend with the same setup. If you meet all those requirements, you could be making video conferencing calls before the week is out!


text:
Valproic Acid and Radiation Followed by Maintenance Valproic Acid and Bevacizumab in Children With High Grade Gliomas or Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00879437
Recruitment Status : Active, not recruiting
First Posted : April 10, 2009
Last Update Posted : January 14, 2020
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Currently, there are few effective treatments for the following aggressive brain tumors: glioblastoma multiforme, anaplastic astrocytoma, gliomatosis cerebri, gliosarcoma, or brainstem glioma. Surgery and radiation can generally slow down these aggressive brain tumors, but in the majority of patients, these tumors will start growing again in 6-12 months. Adding chemotherapy drugs to surgery and radiation does not clearly improve the cure rate of children with malignant gliomas.
The investigators are conducting this study to see if the combination of valproic acid and bevacizumab (also known as AvastinTM) with surgery and radiation will shrink these brain tumors more effectively and improve the chance of cure.
|Condition or disease
|Glial Cell Tumors Malignant Gliomas Glioblastoma Multiforme Anaplastic Astrocytoma Gliomatosis Cerebri Gliosarcoma Brainstem Glioma
|Drug: Valproic acid Drug: Bevacizumab Radiation: Radiation therapy
|Phase 2
With the exception of patients with brainstem gliomas, all patients should have the maximal surgical resection that can be safely performed prior to study entry. Submission of frozen tumor is strongly encouraged. After recovery from neurosurgery, all patients will start valproic acid and radiation therapy.
Valproic Acid (VPA): VPA will be started at 15 mg/kg/day divided into three doses a day, ideally 48 hours prior to first day of radiation therapy, but no later than the first day of radiation therapy. Patients may also begin VPA sooner if they have post-operative seizures and require an anti-convulsant.
Radiation Phase: Radiation therapy should begin within 30 days of definitive surgery or radiographic diagnosis, whichever is the later date. Date of surgery or radiographic diagnosis is considered day 1, and radiation should start no later than day 31. VPA will be continued daily without interruption during radiation therapy. VPA doses will be adjusted in increments of 5 mg/kg/day every 3-5 days to achieve and maintain trough concentrations between 85 to 115 mcg/ml. During this time patients will receive standard radiation therapy.
Post Radiation Phase: Patients will continue to receive VPA as during radiation. If necessary, patients who had delays in radiation (e.g., secondary to schedule holidays or the need to have a new mask made) will complete their radiotherapy to the total prescribed protocol dose.
Maintenance Phase: Maintenance therapy will begin 4 weeks after completion of radiation or week 11, whichever comes first.
Patients will continue VPA daily during maintenance therapy. All patients will start bevacizumab, 10 mg/kg by vein every two weeks, at the start of maintenance therapy. Maintenance therapy will continue uninterrupted if all laboratory tests continue to meet on-study criteria. In the absence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression, patients will continue to receive protocol treatment for a maximum total duration of two years (including the radiation phase).
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Actual Enrollment :
|38 participants
|Intervention Model:
|Single Group Assignment
|None (Open Label)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|A Phase 2 Study of Valproic Acid and Radiation, Followed by Maintenance Valproic Acid and Bevacizumab in Children With Newly Diagnosed High-grade Gliomas or Brainstem Gliomas
|Study Start Date :
|July 2009
|Estimated Primary Completion Date :
|June 2020
|Estimated Study Completion Date :
|June 2020
|Experimental: 1
Drug: Valproic acid
Daily (pre-XRT, During XRT, Post-XRT and Maintenance Therapy) Started at 15 mg/kg/day divided into three doses a day as soon as patients have recovered from surgery but no later than the first day of XRT.
Dosage will be adjusted in increments of 5 mg/kg/day every 3-5 days to achieve and maintain trough concentrations between 85 and 115 mcg/ml
Drug: Bevacizumab
All patients will receive bevacizumab (10mg/kg iv) during the maintenance phase every two weeks for a maximum duration of therapy of 24 months.
Other Name: Avastin
Radiation: Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy will start within 30 days of the definitive surgical procedure. Primary brain malignant gliomas will receive a total dose of between 54.0 and 59.4 Gy in 30-33 fractions over 6-7 weeks. Total dose will be 54.0 Gy for completely resected tumors and brainstem gliomas. the total dose will be 59.4 if the tumor is located in the brain but not the brainstem, and the tumor was incompletely resected. Primary spinal cord malignant gliomas will receive a total dose of between 50.4-54 Gy in 28-30 fractions over 5-6 weeks.
- Event free survival [ Time Frame: 24 months ]To determine the efficacy of combining valproic acid (VPA) with radiation, followed by maintenance VPA and bevacizumab in children with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas and brainstem gliomas, as measured by EFS at one-year and two-years.
- To determine toxicities of VPA when combined with radiation and when combined with bevacizumab in the post-radiotherapy phase. [ Time Frame: 24 months ]
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|3 Years to 21 Years (Child, Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patient must be greater than or equal to 3 years and less than or equal to 21 years of age at the time of study enrollment.
- Patients must have histologic verifications of a glioblastoma multiforme, anaplastic astrocytoma, gliomatosis cerebri (WHO grade III or IV glioma with diffuse parenchymal and/or leptomeningeal involvement), or gliosarcoma at the time of study enrollment. Patients with newly diagnosed intrinsic brainstem gliomas, defined as tumors with a pontine epicenter and diffuse rather than focal involvement of th pons, with or without extension to adjacent medulla or midbrain, are eligible without histologic confirmation. Patients with brainstem tumors that do not meet these criteria or not considered to be typical intrinsic pontine gliomas will only be eligible if the tumors are biopsied and proven to be a grade III or IV glioma (anaplastic astrocytoma, glioblastoma multiforme, gliosarcoma).
- Patients must have Karnofsky Performance Score (for patients greater than 16 years of age) or Lansky Performance Score (for patients less than or equal to 16 years of age) greater than or equal to 50% assessed within two weeks of study enrollment. Patients who are unable to walk because of paralysis, but who are up in a wheelchair, will be considered ambulatory for the purpose of assessing the performance score.
- Patients must not have received any prior chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biologic therapy, or bone marrow transplant. Surgery and dexamethasone are permitted prior to study entry. In patients who require anti-convulsant prior to study entry, it is permissible to start VPA, but trough VPA concentration must be repeated within 48 hours of study entry.
- Patients must have adequate bone marrow function defined as: - Hgb greater than or equal to 8 gm/dL (transfusion independent) - Platelet count greater than or equal to 100,000/mm3 (transfusion independent) - Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to 1,000/ mm3
Patients must have adequate liver function defined as:
- Bilirubin (sum of conjugated + unconjugated) less than or equal to 1.5 times institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) for age.
- SGPT (ALT) less than or equal to 2.5 times institutional ULN for age.
- Serum albumin greater than or equal to 2 g/dL.
Patients must have adequate renal function defined as:
- Urine protein (albumin)/creatinine ratio of less than 1.0
- Creatinine clearance or radioisotope GFR greater than or equal to 70 ml/min/1.73m2 OR
A serum creatinine based on age and gender as follows:
- 2 to less than 6 years of age: 0.8 mg/dL for male and female
- 6 to less than 10 year of age: 1.0 mg/dL for male and female
- 10 to less than 13 years of age: 1.2 mg/dL for male and female
- 13 to less than 16 years of age: 1.5 mg/dL for males and 1.4 for females
- Greater than or equal to 16 years of age: 1.7 mg/dL for males and 1.4 mg/dL for females
Note: The threshold creatinine values in this table were derived from the Schwartz formula for estimating GFR (Schwartz et al. J. Peds, 106:522, 1985) utilizing child length and stature data published by the CDC.
- Amylase and lipase less than or equal to 2 times institutional ULN for age.
- Patients must not have a prolonged PT or PTT (greater than 1.2 times the institutional upper limit of normal), and the INR must be less than 1.5.
MRI ECHO gradient sequences are required to evaluate for the presence or absence of CNS hemorrhage. Patients with intra-tumoral and/or CNS hemorrhage are eligible for study entry if they fulfill the following guidelines:
- Patients with an asymptomatic intra-tumoral/intracranial hemorrhage measuring less than 1 cm in the widest dimension on MRI at the time of diagnosis, after surgery, and/or any time prior to study enrollment, are eligible; hemorrhage must not have progressed on MRI prior to initiation of protocol therapy; patients mut not have developed progressive symptoms thought to be related to the intra-tumoral/intracranial hemorrhage prior to initiation of protocol therapy.
- Patients with a greater than 1 asymptomatic intra-tumoral/intracranial hemorrhage but all measuring less than 1 cm in the widest dimension on MRI are eligible if they fulfill the guidelines described above.
- Patients with asymptomatic post-operative hemorrhage in and/or around the surgical cavity are eligible for study entry if they otherwise fulfill the guidelines described above.
- Patients with an intra-tumoral hemorrhage greater than 1 cm at diagnosis but who demonstrate minimal post-operative hemorrhage as described above after tumor resection are eligible for study.
- Patients must begin radiation therapy within 30 days of surgery or radiographic diagnosis, whichever is the later date.
- All patients and/or their legal guardians must sign a written informed consent. Assent, when appropriate, will be obtained according to institutional guidelines.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Females of reproductive potential must not be pregnant or lactating. Males or females of reproductive potential may not participate unless they have agreed to use an effective contraceptive method.
- Patients with active or history of cardiac (CHF, myocardial infarction, myocarditis) disease are excluded from this trial.
- Patients receiving any of the following medications are not eligible for study entry: a. Anti-cancer therapy or investigational agents b.Anti-coagulants (except for heparin to maintain the patency of central venous catheters). c.Growth factors for white blood cell, red blood cell or platelet support d.Aspirin (> 81 mg/day) e.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs f.Clopidogrel (Plavix), Dypiramidole (Persantine), or any other drug that inhibits platelet function g. Anti-convulsants: patients on any anti-convulsant with the exception of VPA are eligible for study entry. It is strongly recommended that a neurology consult be obtained to enable discontinuation of all anti-convulsant other than VPA, whenever possible.
- Patients who have an uncontrolled infection are not eligible.
- Patients with inadequately controlled systemic hypertension (SBP and/or DBP greater than 95th percentile for age and height)
Patients with a prior history of hypertensive crisis and/or hypertensive encephalopathy
If a BP measurement prior to registration is greater than 95th percentile for age and height, it must be rechecked and documented to be less than 95th percentile for age and height prior to registration. If a patient falls between the height or weight percentiles, site should average the value as appropriate. For patients greater than or equal to 18 years, use adult normal ranges for blood pressure. Patients with hypertension are eligible if their blood pressures become less than 95th percentile after anti hypertensive medications.
- Prior Ischemic Events: Patients with a history of stroke, myocardial infarction, or unstable angina within 6 months prior to registration are not eligible.
- Vascular Disease: Patients with significant vascular disease (e.g., aortic aneurysm requiring surgical repair or recent peripheral arterial thrombosis) within 6 months prior to registration will not be eligible.
- Patients with a history of hemoptysis, bleeding diathesis, known platelet disorder, or coagulopathy are not eligible.
- Patients with a history of abdominal fistula or GI perforation within 6 months prior to registration are not eligible.
- Patients with a known or suspected urea cycle or other metabolic disorder are not eligible.
- Patients with abnormality of the tibial metaphyseal plate on plain X-ray prior to study entry are not eligible.
- Patients with a history of a serious non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture are not eligible.
- Patients with any clinically significant systemic illness, including serious infection, pulmonary, hepatic, or other organ impairment, that would compromise tolerance and/or timely completion of protocol therapy.
16. Patients who, in the opinion of the investigator, may not be able to comply with the safety monitoring requirements and/or follow-up studies of this trial.
17. Patients with a known hypersensitivity to any component of bevacizumab are not eligible for this trial.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00879437
|United States, Oklahoma
|University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
|Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73126
|United States, Texas
|Children's Medical Center Dallas, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
|Dallas, Texas, United States, 75235
|Cook Children's Medical Center
|Fort Worth, Texas, United States, 76104
|Texas Children's Hospital
|Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
|Responsible Party:
|Jack Su, MD, Study Chair, Baylor College of Medicine
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Posted:
|April 10, 2009 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|January 14, 2020
|Last Verified:
|January 2020
brain tumor
valproic acid
radiation therapy
Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial
Neuroectodermal Tumors
Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal
Neoplasms by Histologic Type
Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial
Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue
Valproic Acid
Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
Antineoplastic Agents
Angiogenesis Inhibitors
Angiogenesis Modulating Agents
Growth Substances
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Growth Inhibitors
Enzyme Inhibitors
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
GABA Agents
Neurotransmitter Agents
Antimanic Agents
Tranquilizing Agents
Central Nervous System Depressants
Psychotropic Drugs