text:
Regular EFW contributor Andy Hudson hooks up with the Black Army of AIK.....
Sweden – the country of cold winters, yellow football shirts, England World Cup opponents, beautiful ladies and expensive beer. Now, pick out the reasons why this fine country makes, for me at least, the perfect location for a European Football Weekend. You've all said the beautiful ladies, haven't you? Now come on, I'm not that obvious. Honestly….I'm not.
This was my first trip of the year to Sweden, a country that I visit as often as I can (including every Midsummer – second only behind Christmas in the Swedish celebration list and a time when everyone spends the whole day amongst friends and family drinking far too much alcohol and eating far too much herring) to see friends, spend time with my Godson and to cram in watching football. OK, it helps that some of my friends are beautiful ladies and I get to spend Saturday nights out in their company, but there's more than that behind my trips. One of those reasons is the greatest club in the land, the club with the greatest football fans in all of Sweden: AIK.
The reason I follow AIK, and for that matter Swedish football, can be traced back to the evening of Monday 2 June, 2003 and the Stockholm derby at Råsunda. With the final minutes being played out and AIK three goals adrift of their rivals Djurgården, they mustered the strength to score the three goals needed to equalise the game. I was standing behind the goal amongst the Black Army, AIK's vociferous and fearsome supporters. With the noise they were making it was to be expected that the Gnaget players on the pitch would never give up. From that moment, jumping around in that Swedish stand whirling my top around above my head with the rest of the delirious fans, I was hooked.
My five day Sweden trip was to take me from Stockholm to Gothenburg, coast to coast, with the main event being a Sunday trip for the match between IF Elfsborg and AIK – my first away game after many visits to AIK's home stadium, Råsunda. With the (expensive) trains booked, we had an early start on the Sunday morning to travel from Örebro to Borås. An early start being more to do with the late night the previous evening.
Of course, this wouldn't be EFW without some kind of beery story-telling, right? So here goes. After too many ales in the fantastic Wirströms Pub (located in Gamla Stan, Stockholm), where I had left sober friends to go to the Djurgården match and returned to find them caned drunk, we had ventured to the edge of Gamla Stan and Slussen to another pub. The pub, that shall remain nameless, was one of those bars where the old ladies go to pick up younger, much drunker, guys. I wasn't that drunk (or maybe the ladies were too fussy…whatever, I'm sticking with the former). Getting to bed after 3am and being out of my friend's apartment by 8am meant that I had tiredness and a hangover to fight throughout Saturday. Bravely I ventured on.
A Saturday evening out in Örebro was the perfect antidote. True, the town may be a little on the quiet side, but given my numerous visits there it does feel like a second home to me. An early evening Easter Dinner Party (serving 'herring cheescake' – sounds awful but it tasted fantastic, as did the rest of the food) before hot-footing it to the pub to meet more friends in time for the El Classico kick-off. I really should be telling you about going clubbing with the very beautiful Ida and Emelie, but I shunned loud music and gorgeous girls in order to talk football with other friends (not that Johan, Niklas and Mats are ugly, they just aren't female and in their twenties). Anyway, Emelie would have the pleasure of my company at Örebro SK on the Monday night! But yes, I know, it's a poor excuse and I do feel slightly shamed!
So, Borås. Located over towards Gothenburg, it's a quiet town. We were one of the first of the AIK fans to arrive. We grabbed some food and looked for a pub. And looked for a pub. And then found one…that was full of Guligan (Elfsborg fans). We decided against going in, not because we had AIK tops on and thought that there might be trouble, but because I wasn't going to travel all this way and not have a beer with a load of Gnaget fans – so off we went looking for a bar that would have the travelling Stockholm fans in. We needn't have worried – they would soon find us.
We followed the noise of fire-crackers and the sight of flares up Allégatan, where we could see some of the supporters' coaches arriving, beyond the line of Polis (or, in English, Police – though if you're a Geordie you don't require the translation). We decided to grab a beer just before the Polis line and grabbed a table in the outside area of Torget. The barman wore an AIK top and the beer was the cheapest I can remember in Sweden for at least four years – what could go wrong?
Well, the sight of about fifty staggering youngsters is what could go wrong. Swedish football has a problem within society of certain people attaching themselves to clubs in the same way that English football had in the 80s. This is something I have only read about (including a mass organised fight last year involving fans from all three of the main Stockholm clubs), and one incident at the Stockholm Derby aside, is not something that I've observed before. But as pissed Swedes, buoyed by cheap alcohol from the System (the state owned off-license where you buy alcohol), filled the small square the atmosphere quickly turned tense, the air of imminent trouble enveloping and then suffocating. This wasn't because of all of the fans, merely a small percentage of those present. The Polis carted one fan away, and then when one of his mates ventured down to their van to remonstrate he too was bundled into the back. Arguments flowed as to why the second lad had been allowed to go down, his friends letting him through instead of pointing out what would obviously happen. Arguments continued and then one guy took an absolute pasting – people rushing out of the way as fists flew under a parasol.
But then the singing started back up and we headed to Borås Arena for kick-off. Amongst the fans walking up were a few 'civil' Polis – polite and also in plain clothes so as to ensure that there was no trouble. An example of their work being that as we stopped at a rail crossing and a lad started banging the barrier, the officer was straight in telling him off. As we approached the away end it became glaringly obvious that the right decision to leave early had been made. Airport style security awaited us. As the queue eventually deposited us at the front, I had to empty my pockets of all contents: coins, notes, phone, voice recorder, camera, cigarettes, lighter, snus, assorted train and bus tickets and handkerchief. Once I had been frisked for the first time I walked through the detector and set it off having forgotten to take my belt off. Another deeper frisk down later and I was loading my pockets back up and heading to the back of the stand with only minutes to spare before the teams came out of the tunnel. I looked back down towards the long queues snaking around behind the stand as those who had left the pub after me were still minutes away from the security. The Elfsborg fans just walked straight up to their turnstile, had their ticket scanned and were inside.
As the AIK fans filtered in, flags were dished out like hamburgers at a McDonald's kids birthday party (or it might be better to use Max instead – the Swedish equivalent and also the reason why this stadium was not used for the Euro Under 21 Championship in 2009; Max refused to close the restaurant at the stadium following an internet poll completed by local residents and so due to the sponsorship deal Ronald has with UEFA, games were moved elsewhere) and before me suddenly resembled a carpet of yellow and black, with the AIK fans again proving why they are the best in Sweden as they sang and waved these flags for the full game.
Other notes to make about the fans, and the source of a longer list compiled between me and Johan during the course of the day, were different things you can do at football instead of watching the match. Number one was the Black Army guy who spent all day making sure the fans were OK. This went from telling everyone where they had to go for the bus, clearing up any problems people had, getting people inside the stadium who were too drunk to walk, setting up the t-shirt stall, selling the t-shirts and just about everything else that prevented him from watching the match. Respect, sir. Number two on the 'things to do at football' list (and please, feel free to add other examples in the comments box below) was the guy who spent almost the entire match standing behind the away stand arguing with people. Number three belongs to the sleeping beauties – those fans that just had to sit down (or in the case of one, lie down on the terracing) and sleep the booze off.
The match was the age old tale of two halves. AIK bossed the opening 45 minutes with Mohammed Bangura scoring twice, the second being a sublime finish from 25 yards out catching the 'keeper off-guard as there seemed little chance of him getting any kind of shot away, never mind one of such quality that pierced the bottom corner. Elfsborg, through Niklas Hult, got a lucky goal back just on the stroke of half-time. The home side came out for the second half and pushed Gnaget back, the visiting defence creaking under the pressure, and then David Elm scrambled an equaliser in just after the hour mark. The away supporters responded with more songs.
The loudest singing to strike up came just after the equaliser with the sight of London's finest player, Kenny Pavey warming up. Ganget fans talk of the AIK spirit and in Pavey this is firmly represented. AIK highlights of recent times include Pavey going berserk when scoring a vital goal to beat Hammarby in 2009 and then the way he celebrated the winner, scored during the final minutes of the Allsvenskan winner-takes-all game that same year in Gothenburg against IFK. With every away fan singing "There's only one Kenny Pavey" his first act when getting on the pitch was a crunching tackle to win the ball. If Andreas Alm had introduced him earlier then AIK might have got back on top; if he had have been introduced later then AIK might have found themselves behind. As Elfsborg pushed forward Pavey was a constant outlet on the right and cut-off the home attacking threat down his flank. AIK also had their 'keeper, Ivan Turina, to thank for keeping them level as he made a number of top class saves.
With the final whistle came a quick exit. As the AIK players applauded the brilliant support, we slipped past the line of Polis and coaches that were blocking the away end. Fans were quickly transported away from the stadium in a controlled environment as we walked back into the centre of town to kill time before catching the train back to Örebro. For a while we struggled to find a pub that was open and then when we returned to the train station we found plenty of away fans still in great voice. AIK – I still haven't seen you win a game during my visits but you are the best in Sweden.


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Arts & Business - www.aandb.org.uk
"Arts & Business is delighted to support this major public art commission for Portishead through our New Partners investment scheme. We applaud the partnership between Crest Nicholson and North Somerset Council, and welcome the involvement of a wide cross-section of the local community in realising the project."
James Taljaard, Business Manager, Arts & Business
Arts Council England / Public Art South West - www.artscouncil.org.uk / www.publicartonline.org.uk
"Public Art South West promotes the engagement of artists in the creation of built and natural spaces and champions the role of artists working as 'visual engineers' within multidisciplinary teams, enabling them to be involved in the conceptual thinking and design of new places. The way in which North Somerset Council has encouraged new development to work closely with artists and leave space for them to think creatively with regard to public art opportunities, it to be welcomed and we are pleased to be able to assist and support this growing area of expertise within the Council."
Maggie Bolt, Director, Public Art South West
Continuum Arts.....
"We support the notion that Public Art can contribute to and enrich local distinctiveness and identity, ensuring a cultural and historical legacy for future generations.
By engaging professional artists, designers and craftspeople to demonstrate their skills and vision to respond in a site sensitive way, we aim to improve and enhance the quality of social space (public realm) making it integral to the living experience. Central to this strategy is the interaction of the community with the arts to engender a sense of ownership. Dialogue is at the heart of the process with a Steering Group made up of stakeholders playing a key role in inclusivity and participation. Through this approach we aim in a real sense to create unique and visually stimulating places.
Continuum Arts Consultancy seeks to advise on and take responsibility for the organisation, integration and management of all aspects of the Public Art Strategy, extending our commitment to creating quality artworks integrated into public spaces at Portishead Quays.
People not Public / Homes not Houses / Place not Space"
Stuart Clamp, Continuum Arts.....
Crest Nicholson - www.portmarine.co.uk
"Crest Nicholson (SW) Ltd is committed to the regeneration of brownfield sites and has demonstrated this in urban renewal schemes throughout the SW. The importance of public art has grown to become a major element in our urban design strategy and an essential ingredient in place making. It has promoted a better understanding of our developments with local communities and stakeholders assisting the fusion of old and new. It has created very positive press to help with the promotion of these flagship developments."
Paul Talbot, Design Director, Crest Nicholson
Knightstone Housing
"As part of the new developments at Port Marine, Knightstone is providing 81 homes to rent and 33 for sale. We were delighted to hear about the public arts project and keen to ensure that residents and shared owners alike have the opportunity to contribute towards and enjoy the art in their community."
Adrian Oldman, Commmunications and PR Manager, Knighstone Housing (Arcadia Housing Group)
Lovejoy Landscape Architects - www.lovejoy.uk.com
"Lovejoy has thoroughly enjoyed working with a broad spectrum of artists on the design of the public realm at Port Marine. Early collaboration and an inclusive approach has resulted in Public Art that is greatly enhanced by its sympathetic setting and a high quality public realm that is enhanced by the quality and appropriateness of the art. This a successful working model that we are looking to replicate on other projects."
Matthew Wigan, Associate Director, Lovejoy Landscape Architects
North Somerset Council - www.n-somerset.gov.uk
"The public art programme associated with the regeneration area in Portishead is one of the most significant in the South West. Public Art is an integral part of the development process and is contributing positively to the establishment of a new but very special area within the town.
The public arts programme and particular works have not only provided 'iconic' images for the developers marketing purposes but also greatly assisted in delivering very distinctive spaces which define the development itself.
The Public Arts Steering Group has provided the ideal platform for a collaborative approach to the selection, briefing, commission of artists and the community outreach programme. The fact that all the key stakeholders are represented on the steering group has enabled the arts programme to move forward with confidence."
Kedrick Davies, Urban Designer, North Somerset Council
Persimmon - www.persimmonhomes.com
"The development of this project is giving Portishead the ability to expand into a 'designation location' within the South West. All aspects of the urban desgin have been considered to give a rich and varied collection of homes, leisure and employment around a vibrant new marina.
We see the public art as a valuable contribution to this integrated approach contributing to both the design and function of the many public spaces being created around the marina, sea front and nature reserve, alongside the open spaces within the development itself."
Richard Briggs, Managing Director, Persimmon Special Projects Western
Portishead Town Council
"The rapid expansion of Portishead due to the development of one of the largest brown-field sites in the country brings exciting challenges and opportunities. Although the town has a flourishing community of artists, there is very little tradition of public art.
The creation of public art can have an important role in the integration of 'old' and 'new' residents. A shared experience, which is new to all, can be a major influence in the development of social cohesion. Art is ideal for this, as it can reflect so much history and culture, while stimulating us to view life in a different way.
The Town Council has a responsibility to foster a sense of well-being, and therefore felt it was a good use of its resources to sponsor the programme, in particular the Fragments and Traces project, which has involved community groups and featured in the recent North Somerset Arts Week."
Leader of Portishead Town Council
University of the West of England (Bristol School of Art Media and Design) - www.uwe.ac.uk
"The University of the West of England's Faculty of Art, Media and Design sponsored a number of activities ranging from project support, research and documentation to evaluation through their creative urban space research programme. As part of the collaboration, an MA Fine Art student, Sally Corney, used one of the newly built vacant homes as a venue for her final show, about memory becoming part of / and being contained within place; a PhD student, Sandra Symes, undertook a review and evaluation of the ongoing Public Art programme, interviewing all the stakeholders; Elizabeth Turrell the Director of the Ceramics and Enamelling Research Centre led a project with Mencap."
Iain Biggs, Senior Researcher, UWE
This website was written and edited by:
Stuart Clamp, Continuum Public Arts ConsultancyFiona Matthews, Freelance Arts Consultant
Thanks also to to phd student Sandra Symes for her in-depth interviews with artists, members of the steering group and community representatives, contributing tremendously to the content of this website. Ongoing evaluation of the public art programme was conducted by independent researcher Cathy Mackerras.
Brochure Design and Completion Document by Quantock Design: www.quantock.com
Website design and development by Iconography Ltd: www.iconography.co.uk

subset: commoncrawl


text: Product Information epT.I.P.S. Motion can be used with epMotion® 96 or integrated into your workstation as a reload system when combined with the tip holder. The high-quality reload tips are delivered in a PET thermoformed tray with sealed lid. Upgrading to the autoclavable, aluminum tip holder, which replaces the disposable box, provides waste reduction of up to 40 %.


text:
Time Crisis 3 - Platform: Playstation 1
Infinite handgun ammunition:
Complete the story mode in Arcade using only the Handgun throughout.
This will unlock Infinite Handgun Ammunition in the Arcade Menu "Bonus Options" screen.
You can get the infinite shot bonus if you take your machine gun and shoot
everyone (works best with Bosses) without missing.
Infinite sub-weapon ammunition:
Complete the arcade story mode in under 30 minutes. The "Infinite Sub-Weapon
Ammo" bonus option will now be unlocked. It allows you to use the special
weapons (machine gun, shotgun and grenade launcher) infinitely, without any set limit.
Max Life Increase andFree Credit in arcade mode:
Successfully complete the story mode in Arcade. The Life Point quantity can now
be increased to a maximum value of 9, and Credits are free (set to Free Play).
Alicia Winston title screen:
Successfully complete the Rescue Mission, and the Time Crisis 3 title screen will show Alicia.
Boss title screen:
Complete all Crisis missions with a "Gold" rank to unlock a new screen featuring all the Bosses.
Crisis missions:
Successfully complete the Rescue Mission, and the Crisis Missions will be unlocked at the main menu.
Rescue mission:
Successfully complete the game to unlock the bonus rescue mission.
Trial stages:
Successfully complete a stage in arcade mode to unlock the corresponding trial mode stage.
Extra continues:
Intentionally fail during game play and you will eventually unlock more continues per game.
Eventually, you will get unlimited continues. Note: This can be done in both arcade and
rescue modes.
Mirror Mode:
Play through the story mode in Arcade without continuing to unlock Mirror Mode in Arcade.
Play through the Rescue Mission story mode without continuing to unlock Mirror Mode in the
Rescue Mission.
Beginner character selection:
It is recommended that beginners play through as Alan, as Wesley has a tougher path to get
used to. Experienced Time Crisis players who have not used Wesley should also be aware that
it is generally more challenging than Alan's route.
Collecting Ammo Packs:
Ammo Packs for the Special Weapons are carried by the yellow troops. Be sure to shoot them
quickly and as many times as possible.
Rescue mission:
Press Action (L1 or R1) to go to your aiming mode with the sniper. When the screen turns
red or beeps, release to dodge an incoming hit. Note: Some enemies hide behind trees and
Special Weapon selection and limit:
You change weapons by hiding and pressing the trigger a certain number of times, depending
on the weapon you wish to use. The following is the order of weapon selection if you start
with the handgun selected:
Pull trigger once : Machine Gun
Pull trigger twice : Shotgun
Pull trigger three times: Grenade
Note: There are also limits to the Special Weapon ammo, and additional special ammo is
acquired in specific increments for each weapon, as below:
Machine Gun : Ammo Pack; 15 per increment, limit 200
Shotgun : Ammo Pack; 5 per increment, limit 50
Grenade Launcher: Ammo Pack; 1 per increment, limit 5
Note: The Grenade Launcher is the slowest firing gun (and as such requires precise aim
for moving targets), followed by the Shotgun (due to its pump time).
All special weapons do not have to be reloaded.
No-Miss streaks scoring:
Every time you get 10 No-Miss Shots as part of your streak, your score will increase by 500.
For example, a 20-Streak is 1,000, 30-Streak is 1,500, etc.
Extra points:
In order to get extra points, you have to find objects that explode if you shoot them.
In the first level, there are a few bonuses. When you get to the tower, shoot it with the
grenade launcher. It should fall in a few seconds. When you are facing the stone bridge,
shoot at the barrel in the bottom right corner. It should blow up the bridge.
When you are in the ship, after the first fight in the fuel room, shoot at the tank
you are facing (or the one in the background if you are player one) and it should blow up.
Also, any jeeps you shoot will also result in more points.
Defeating Wild Dog and Wild Fang:
They both have special abilities. Fang can do kung-fu kicks and flying kicks. He can even
kick ten foot bars, monster truck tires, and a tractor. He is also the sneakiest of the two.
Dog's aiming is great. He shoots out rockets, has a gattling gun, and can be a flamethrower.
His life is greater than Wild Fang and is more difficult because he does not have to get up
close to kill you.
Health status:
When an enemy's life bar is red, it means that it is a vehicle, and once it depletes it
will not return. Blue indicates that the enemy still has some more rounds of beating to do.
Green indicates that this is their final confrontation with you.


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Say I have a series of tubes (not the internet) looking like this, where
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text:
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text:
by Ryan
Black Spiderman Costume Photo 3 of 10
Rate this costume:
34 votes
|14 comments · add a comment
More views: (click to enlarge)
|Costume type:
|Costumes for Men
This homemade costume for men entered our 2012 Halloween Costume Contest.
A word from Ali, the 'Black Spiderman' costume creator:
in the the photos its me who's wearing the costume, i used fabric paint on the spandex to make the webs look shine.
Similar costumes:


text:
Dope: Deshawn Stevenson's Lil Wayne Tribute In His Studio! "His Favorite Rapper" (Buys 20 Copies Of Carter 4 & More)
World Champion DeShawn Stevenson Lil Wayne Tribute
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Long Term Treatment Interruptions
|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: NCT00433056
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : February 9, 2007
Last Update Posted : April 25, 2008
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
LOTTI study Centers
This a multicenter, multinational study.
Clinical phase: III
The primary objective is to compare efficacy and safety of continuing a conventional HAART in chronically infected HIV patients with a therapeutic strategy based on long term, immunologically driven treatment interruptions.
Secondary objectives are:
- To verify the risk of developing viral resistance
- To verify the effect of the two strategies on metabolic parameters
- To verify the possibility to steadily discontinue antiretroviral therapy in patients who started it with baseline immunological values higher than those currently recommended by international guidelines for HIV treatment
- To identify predictive variables of the possibility to safely discontinue antiretroviral therapy
- To verify the dynamic of CD4+ cell loss and HIV replication after treatment interruption
Number of Patients: A total of 320 patients.
Study design:
Controlled, Randomized, Open study The study will last 5 years
Treatment arms:
Patients will be randomized in a ratio 1:1 to one of the two treatment arms Control group continuing the ongoing therapy STI group performing long term CD4 guided structured treatment interruptions In the STI arm patients will stay off therapy until their CD4 count will drop < 350 cells/mcL (one measurement will be considered sufficient). At that time point patients will resume the HAART regimen they were assuming before STI and will continue HAART until they CD4 count will raise > 600 cells/mcL (at least 2 consecutive measurements 2 months apart) and their HIV-RNA will drop below the detection limit of 50 copies/ml (one measurement will be considered sufficient). When both the CD4 count and the viral load will be within these pre-set values they will stop therapy again. There is no limit to the number of interruptions and re-start cycles during the study period
End points:
The primary end-point for the evaluation of the main objective of the study will be clinical. The primary outcome measure will be based on the occurrence of a clinical end-point defined as: disease progression (occurrence of any AIDS defining event), death for any cause or the occurrence of clinical events requiring hospital admission
The secondary objectives of the study will be evaluated on the basis of:
- Mean variation of blood cholesterol and triglycerides from baseline values.
- Development of lipodystrophy or modification of a pre-existing lipodystrophy
- Time off therapy.
- Variation of CD4 counts and HIV-RNA levels
- Genotypic tests to be performed in the case of HIV-RNA > 1000 copies/ml while on therapy for at least 4 months or one month after each treatment interruption.
The study is powered to evaluate equivalence between the two strategies under the assumption that, in the control arm, the primary end-point would be observed in a proportion of subjects < 7% and that the same proportion in the STI arm would not exceed 10% with a maximum allowed 95%CI of 12%. 320 patients will be needed for alfa = 5% and 1-beta = 80%. The primary analysis will be made according to the intention-to-treat approach and therefore no correction for eventual drop outs is needed. In addition, a secondary per-protocol analysis will be performed.
|Condition or disease
|HIV Infections AIDS
|Other: STI Drug: stable HAART
|Phase 3
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Estimated Enrollment :
|320 participants
|Intervention Model:
|Parallel Assignment
|None (Open Label)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|Strategic, Long Term, Immunologically Driven Treatment Interruptions in Patients on Effective HAART: A Controlled, Randomized Study
|Study Start Date :
|January 2004
Experimental: 1
Other: STI
CD4 guided treatment interruption
Active Comparator: 2
stable HAART, Any registered regimen containing NRTIs (AZT or D4T or 3TC or TDF or DDI), NNRTIs (EFV or NVP) or PIs (RTV-boosted ATV; IDV; LPV, fosAPV, SQV; unboosted ATV or NFV)is allowed according to international guidelines
Drug: stable HAART
continuous therapy
- The primary outcome will be clinical response: Death, ADE, pathology requiring hospital admission [ Time Frame: 5 years ]
- Mean variation of blood cholesterol and triglycerides from baseline values. Development of lipodystrophy or modification of a pre-existing lipodystrophy [ Time Frame: 5 years ]
- Time off therapy, variation of CD4 counts and HIV-RNA levels [ Time Frame: 5 years ]
- Genotypic tests to be performed in the case of HIV-RNA > 1000 copies/ml while on therapy for at least 4 months or one month after each treatment interruption. [ Time Frame: 5 years ]
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:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age > 17 years
- Informed consent signed
- Effective ongoing treatment (HIV-RNA < 50 copies/ml). Treatment must be based on any triple drug therapy. Patients must be on the same steady therapy for at least 3 months.
- Current CD4 cell count above 600 cells/mcL and nadir of CD4 cell count > 200 cells/mcL
Exclusion Criteria:
- Childbearing or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential will be asked to adopt effective contraceptive methods or behaviors
- Any ongoing grade 4 (WHO) AE or laboratory abnormality with the exclusion of cholesterol, triglycerides for which a grade 3 (AHA) level will be considered an exclusion criteria.
- Previous diagnosis of AIDS
- Patients with HBV coinfection on active anti-HIV treatment with either lamivudine and/or tenofovir
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): NCT00433056
|Ospedali Riuniti
|Bergamo, BG, Italy, 24128
|Principal Investigator:
|Franco Maggiolo, MD
|Ospedali Riuniti, Bergamo
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Posted:
|February 9, 2007 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|April 25, 2008
|Last Verified:
|April 2008
HIV Infections
Lentivirus Infections
Retroviridae Infections
RNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral
Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes
Immune System Diseases


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Honored: Harris, Chrysler Exec.
"Chrysler is proud of Kim's achievements, contributions and outstanding leadership," said Nancy Rae - Senior Vice President - Human Resources, Chrysler Group.
Business Executives' Honor
Kim Harris Jones, Vice President Product, Procurement Cost Management
Finance - Chrysler Group, was honored with this year's Peter C. Thorp
Corporate Leadership Award by The Consortium for Graduate Study in
Management during their 41st Annual Orientation Program and Career
Forum in Indianapolis on June 12.
The Peter C. Thorp Corporate Leadership Award is presented annually to
individuals who have demonstrated evidence of support of MBA
fellowships, leadership as a corporate champion of ethnic diversity,
supporting innovative approaches to solving problems related to equal
employment opportunities and being recognized by peers as a leader and
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"Chrysler is proud of Kim's achievements, contributions and outstanding
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the workplace."
Harris Jones has been Vice President Product, Procurement Cost
Management Finance - Chrysler Group since May 1, 2006. Prior to this
position, she served as Vice President - Finance. In this
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and sold by the Chrysler Group meet financial requirements, including
cost, investment and profitability, with additional responsibility for
procurement and supply, materials cost management and source planning.
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Development budgets and capital investment strategies. She also serves
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- Beijing Benz DaimlerChrysler Corporation.
The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management is the country's
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- Ann GarrisonFebruary 22,2018 @ 08:03 PM
I think you have "Filtered HTML" turned on here. If you switch to "Full HTML," it will probably...
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text:
|Plan Search | My COOL Plans!! | Desktop Site
|Plan ID: chp-16670
Order Code: A101
Plan ID: chp-16670
Front Elevation
Plan ID: chp-16670
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Plan ID: chp-16670
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Plan ID: chp-16670
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|To order, call 800-482-0464 or ORDER ONLINE using mobile website.
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Heated Sq Ft: 2382
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.5
Width: 83 feet x Depth: 56 feet
Foundation Type(s):
Crawlspace *
Basement *
|1 Set of Blueprints: $1,155.00
|1 set of Blueprints is a complete set of construction documents (blueprints) and is usually (depends on the designer) stamped not for construction because, by copyright law, it is illegal to make copies of blueprints.
|5 Sets of Blueprints: $1,280.00
|8 Sets of Blueprints: $1,355.00
|PDF Files: $1,055.00
|PDF File order includes UNLIMITED BUILDS license.
|CAD Files: $1,350.00
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|A Materials List is NOT available for this particular COOL House Plan.
|Readable Reverse: $195.00 per order
|All sets will be Readable Reverse copies. Turn around time is usually 3 to 5 business days. Not Available for Review Sets.
|2x6 Ext. Wall Option: $195.00 per order
|Turn around time is usually 1 to 2 business days.
|* Crawlspace: $195.00
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|* Basement: $195.00
|Please call for turn-around time. Total Living Area may increase with Basement Foundation option.
|Additional Sets: $30.00
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The blueprints for most home designs include the following elements, but the presentation of these elements may vary depending on the size and complexity of the home and the style of the individual designer/architect:
Exterior Elevations: show the front, rear and sides of the house, including exterior materials, details and measurements.
Foundation Plans: All necessary notations and dimensions are included. (Foundation options will vary for each plan. If the home you want does not have the type of foundation you desire, contact COOLhouseplans.com of your plan.)
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Detailed Floor Plans: show the placement of interior walls and the dimensions for rooms, doors, windows, stairways, etc., of each level of the house.
Due to regional variations, local availability of materials, local codes, methods of installation, and individual preferences, it is impossible to include detail on heating and plumbing work on your plans. The duct work, venting, and other details will vary depending on the type of heating and cooling system (forced air, hot water, electric, solar) and the type of energy (gas, oil, electricity, solar) that you use. These details and specifications are easily obtained from your builder, contractor, and/or local suppliers.
Plan modification is a way of turning a stock plan into your unique custom plan. It's still just a small fraction of the price you would pay to create a home plan from scratch. We at COOLhouseplans.com believe that modification estimates should be FREE! We provide a modification service so that you can customize your new home plan to fit your budget and lifestyle. Simply contact the modification department for Plan ID: 16670 at...
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text:
Behind The Scenes: Mark MK Mclaughlin & Papoose Video Shoot For The New Single White & Brown [StreetHeat Submitted]
"Mark MK McLaughlin &
Papoose behind the scenes
video shoot for the new single
"White & Brown"
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text:
Hello to all Polish fanaticisms and fans, I from Ukraine, from Kyiv(I am a fan Kievskogo Dynamo), call me Vitalik =) Long enough I found your site, that your forum, and to me dosi' it is heavy to communicate, tomuscho translators are not
on Polish, that is why as heavy as lead it was to be registered!=)
Above all things interestingly enough me to be on this forum !!!
I was such happy, that we won a tender on conducting of Championship of Europe of 2012
I from Ukraine, Pol'schya very likes me, When Championship of 2012 will take place I will try to visit one match of the Polish combined team even, and think that much enough Poland will arrive on Ukraine!!
It would be not bad if I would meet with someone from Poland, and we would have friendship, And on Championship of Europe we would be able to meet
Whew here
That is why arrive to us, Will together Luptsyuvati Russian trestles and dibiliv, which so us obsirayut', humiliate(how many were appearance in our side, you does not imagine, they also talked that they all will going on Championship and beat us and you!!! But we in the state, and also you on Ukraine can be as for itself at home)) because we to take !
We have Clubs such as Dynamo(Kyiv) of -Дніпро(Dnepropetrovsk) -Карпати(Lvov), it is three commands - three to take, unas with them friendship, that is why we together will not give Russian pogantsyam, fanaticisms, hooligans, and others like that, will not give together with your support to feel as though for itself at home !!! Will set them a heat
!!! That they these Russian trestles forgot a road to us (Ukraine) and your Good Poland
That is why I created this theme, that we together communicated about all Events of Euro of 2012
A large request is to Administrators of Forum :
Bud'-laska not delete my theme I wrote so much (Banter)
Large you Hello from Ukraine, Together we will win over all and each
Expect your reports...


text:
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An elegant yet perfect finish to your table, Maxwell & Williams cutlery is the ideal complement to Maxwell & Williams tableware.
Maxwell & Williams cutlery is manufactured from the finest quality 18/10 stainless steel and will give you the utmost satisfaction for a lifetime.
- Dishwasher safe
- Maxwell & Williams cutlery and serving require minimum maintenance.
- Stainless steel resists staining corrosion and rust as long as proper care is taken.
- Always separate knifes in the dishwasher from the rest of your cutlery to avoid sparking and rust spots.


text:
We are all equally valuable and able to create change in the fight against HIV stigma, regardless of our own HIV status. If there's one message Project Runway star and HIV-positive advocate Jack Mackenroth wants to convey with his latest endeavor, HIV Equal, it's that one -- and he's got a celebrity photographer and a bevy of photogenic community members to help him get the ball rolling.
Launching on Oct. 26 in partnership with World Health Clinicians, the multimedia campaign fights stigma by focusing on each person's individuality and value -- not their HIV status.
Because this is a social media campaign, it is heavy on the visuals, and the initial crop of photos is stunning. Like the NOH8 campaign, meant to raise awareness around marriage equality, HIV Equal will feature photos of people with the words "HIV=" body-painted on them. Participants who sign up to take a photo will also take an HIV test with an on-hand health professional as part of a greater effort to help end the fear around HIV testing.
Jack designed the campaign's concept in collaboration with renowned photographer Thomas Evans, while the testing portion will be headed up by World Health Clinicians cofounder and chief medical officer, Gary Blick, M.D. Regarding his involvement with the campaign, Dr. Blick said: "Approximately 26 percent of all new HIV infections are among youth ages 13 to 24 years; and of that group, 60 percent do not know they are infected. As a result they do not seek treatment which drastically increases their chances of illness and transmission of HIV to others. HIV Equal ... will change the way they think about getting tested. Knowledge is power."
Jack hopes to utilize social media platforms to disseminate the photos and gain national recognition around the stigma that he and many others living with HIV have seen firsthand. Jack was kind enough to answer some of our questions regarding the campaign, its aspirations, and what goes into getting such a huge project off the ground.
How did you come up with the idea for HIV Equal?
When I was brought on board at World Health Clinicians, media director and photographer Thomas Evans already had the idea of doing an anti-stigma photo campaign that involved an HIV testing initiative and eventually a PSA series. I came up with HIV Equal after thinking about how we are so stigmatized and judged by the labels "HIV positive" and "HIV negative," and I wanted to create a term that fights the stigma and illustrates that we are all equally valuable regardless of personal HIV status.
I collaborated with Thomas on the look of the photos because we wanted a very signature look that was recognizable but had not been done before. First, we designed the magenta "HIV=" logo and we loved the color on a black backdrop. Thomas was experimenting with different lighting and, when we tried the magenta glow in the background, we were both like, "That's it." Our tag line on every photo is "Everybody has an HIV status. We are all HIV Equal." And then, as a play on the word "status," an individualized caption at the bottom which reads "Status: ______"; each model picks a descriptive word that exemplifies part of their personality, illustrating that who we are as people is much more important than an HIV status.
It seems you built a message around HIV-negative and HIV-positive people working together. Can you talk about that?
Yes! We want to photograph everyone and anyone who believes in equality and fighting HIV stigma regardless of their own HIV status. HIV Equal is not about labeling individuals as HIV positive or HIV negative. The important thing is that we all know our status so we can fight the spread of the disease and get treatment if necessary, but we should [not] be judged by it. Everyone who is photographed also takes a confidential mouth swab HIV test. So, when other people see the photos, they will know that that individual cares about themselves and their community, and hopefully that will inspire others to follow suit. Many of the people photographed for HIV Equal are HIV negative; and I'm sure some are HIV positive, as well.
You call HIV Equal a "social art" campaign. What does that mean?
Well, it means a couple of things. We want our message of equality to spread though all types of social media as people share their photos on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and many other places. So that's one social element of the initiative. We also know that as HIV Equal grows, we can change the way society thinks about HIV and HIV testing and reignite the national dialogue. As we chip away at the stigma and more and more individuals bravely step forward to support equality and knowing their status, we can actually change the course of the epidemic.
By the way, you can follow us on Twitter @HIVequal and Facebook, or visit HIVequal.org for all the latest HIV Equal photos and behind-the-scenes photos and videos.
HIV Equal will start with celebrities. Is the idea that everyone will eventually be able to participate?
Of course. We reached out to some recognizable people at first just to get some traction for HIV Equal, and so others might recognize them and want to participate. We live in a culture of celebrity and flashy imagery, so we want to capitalize on that -- especially since the highest rates of infection are in young men from 13 to 24. We really want to appeal to that demographic.
How did you start working with World Health Clinicians?
I actually spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of their new facility in Norwalk, Conn., this summer. Their chief medical officer, Dr. Gary Blick, pulled me aside afterward and expressed interest in working with me long term. So, I am now officially the director of public relations and special events.
After Project Runway, I spent four years as a spokesperson for an HIV education campaign. When it ended, I really had to decide which way I wanted to take my career. In the end, I decided that HIV education and outreach is more important than fashion design, so I wanted to continue in that field. World Health Clinicians is a nonprofit organization that really gives back to the community and is creating great programs domestically and in Africa. I was elated to be a part of such a great team.
How did you get a hold of the first few celebrities for the campaign?
Honestly, I went through my contacts and reached out to friends and people I've worked with in the past. After competing on Project Runway, I became an instant D-list celebrity, so I still have a few connections. [Laughs] Some of the other people we photographed are night-life personalities and friends of Thomas Evans; and others are people I know from my work in HIV, like activist Peter Staley.
What role do you think stigma plays in the lives of HIV-positive people?
I think stigma is the real problem in the fight against HIV today. The current medications allow an individual to live a "normal" life if they are diagnosed early and treated early. However, the stigma fills people with shame and can make them feel dirty or unlovable. Positive people often blame themselves, as if they did something wrong. I reject all that thinking. Unfortunately, many people internalize it and then they are not honest with their partners or potential partners, their families or even their physicians. Holding onto a secret that you believe is shameful is very stressful. That's why we need initiatives like HIV Equal.
How do you think we can best fight stigma?
I think honesty and visibility are key. When we go back in the closet about any issue, the stigma only grows. It's just like the civil rights movement or the LGBT and marriage equality movements. It would be great if everyone who was HIV positive would come out and stand as a role model for others. But that's a tall order to ask when the stigma is so strong. We need to keep reinforcing the truth: that there is no shame in being HIV positive, and that you are actually showing self love by getting tested and getting treated if you are positive.
The CDC estimates that over 20 percent of the gay male population in urban settings is HIV positive, but very few people will talk about it. That is crazy! Until we can all feel confident enough to be open and honest, we need campaigns like HIV Equal where everyone can fight the stigma regardless of personal HIV status.
What is your ultimate goal for the campaign?
We formally launch the campaign on Oct. 26 from noon to 5 p.m. at World Health Clinicians (618 West Avenue, Norwalk , Conn. 06850). It's an LGBT wellness event with an exhibit of all 30 of the original photos -- including Tony Award-winner Billy Porter from Kinky Boots; Congressman Jim Himes (D-Conn.); activist Peter Staley, cofounder of Treatment Action Group; drag superstar Bianca Del Rio; and many other fabulous people. Thomas Evans will also be shooting for HIV Equal at the event, so people can come and get tested and be part of fighting stigma. Check out our Facebook event page!
Mathew Rodriguez is the editorial project manager for TheBody.com and TheBodyPRO.com.
Follow Mathew on Twitter: @mathewrodriguez.


text: USA Curling is currently in the process of developing resources to assist clubs in the various stages of growth, from starting a club to building a facility. While the section is still under development, it will never truly complete. We are always learning about ways to assist curling clubs in their growth process.


text:
The new A-class is a new type of car. That might be stating the obvious, but what we mean is that while it's kept the name of the model, Mercedes has fundamentally changed the concept of its smallest car.
The A-class used to be a packaging marvel – a family-friendly, mini people-carrier. It's now a sportily proportioned, regular five-door hatch that cribs the format of BMW's 1-Series and Volvo's V40. Just in case you're in any doubt, this is no longer a short-but-tall car, so there won't be any roly-poly action when this A-class gets put through an Elk test.
Mercedes is hoping that what you lose in packaging genius will be more than made up for by the new, super-sculptural body and a massive up-tick in sense of quality. If you're after a premium, compact car (probably on a company car scheme), this instantly needs to go on your list next to that BMW and Volvo and Audi's new A3.
Should it be at the top of your list though? It'll depend primarily on three things: how much you want a car with the three-pointed star on the front; how much space you need; and what you think of the way this thing looks.
We'll tackle this last point, first. The A-class follows Mercedes's recent design language approach by etching huge, sculptural creases into the body side, to really draw your eye around the car. We think they work rather better here on the A-class than they do on the E-class and CLS and give the car a good measure of distinction.
It's a little try-hard though with that aggressively diving beltline - which also makes life in the back a little claustrophobic - and all the sharp slashes and creases. It doesn't have the restrained elegance of some of its German competition and is available in some very bling, very un-Merc-like trim colours and finishes. However, it is alternative, different and new. With Audi's "blink and you'll miss it" evolutionary design and the fact many people we talk to seem to think the BMW 1-Series is wilfully ugly, Mercedes may be on to something if you're bored of what's already out there.
And with that big grille and massive three-pointed star - you'll need to stump up for the engineered by AMG model to get the trendy pixellated grille pattern, by the way - you'll never be unsure of what car's approaching in the rear-view mirror. It's only at the back that we think the whole thing falls apart and isn't very obviously Merc.
Space-wise, if you're currently in an Audi A3 Sportback and are happily ferrying you and your family's clobber round in it, the A-class is going to feel like a step down in size. The A-class isn't a small car - it's the same size as a Golf - so if you've not got two kids or the need to carry four people around regularly, space isn't going to be a problem and up front it's great. It's just no longer cleverly packaged and Tardis-like.
We drove two versions, the A250 petrol and the – likely to be big-selling – A220 CDi diesel, both with an auto box. Both cars have different strengths but fundamentally do most things well.
Considering they are front-wheel drive, they turn in and steer with a good deal of sharpness, and when you're really pressing on you can trim your cornering line with the throttle pedal, which is fun. The steering is light but way more talkative than in an Audi and, despite 18-inch wheels, the little Merc rode comfortably on all but the craggiest moorland roads.
The diesel is punchy if a little agricultural-sounding for this day and age, while the petrol is nearly hot-hatch quick, with corresponding fuel consumption if you give it a work out. The twin-clutch, 7-speed gearbox comes with a column stalk gear selector and paddles on the back of the steering wheel and works better mated to the diesel, but changes snappily and smoothly most of the time - only moving out of junctions and when asked to give two quick downshifts did it feel that it lagged behind VW's latest DSG or the ZF 8-speed fitted to the latest BMWs. Of the two cars, we felt the diesel engine suited the A-class more - it even managed to be fun and lose an Audi TT when we were in a hurry and running late for our next appointment on a dash across a (very twisty) moorland road.
Mercedes prides itself on leading in technology and prioritising your safety, so every A-class comes with a pre-safe system as standard, which warns you when you're too close to the car in front, beeps at you to alert you if it thinks you're about to crash and then helps you brake with maximum force when you begin to apply the brake. That's all great, but don't expect it to brake for you, if you've taken your eye off the ball completely. Hopefully, it won't come to that though, because on the A-class you also get attention assist, which knows when you aren't looking at the road or are falling asleep. And that's just the start, because you can add radar cruise control, lane-keep assist and all manner of safety systems to an 18 grand A-class. It even recognised a speed-limit change in a very new section of 50mph average speed camera roadworks on the M1, which we thought was impressive. And it's all the kind of stuff that wasn't even an option on the S-class 15 years ago.
Inside the cabin you can have Mercedes's command interface system and get a tablet-like screen fixed on to the top of the dash, available in 5 or upgraded 7-inch versions - both of which have screen graphics which lag behind BMW and Audi. Overall, it's okay and nannyingly safe, but the cabin isn't the brilliantly simple but tech-smart space the new A3 is. Nor does the overall interface and display have the crisp, intuitive qualities of BMW's iDrive. But that's not to say it's not a nice place to sit. The steering wheel feels great, the seats on the Sport models are superb and the materials are mostly high quality and soft touch.
If this makes the A-class sound a mixed bag, then it's probably because this car doesn't have one truly standout element, but rather does most things very well. While it's easy to nitpick individually, spend time with it and it's a very well-judged coherent whole. We're not 100 per cent sold on the looks or the tech but you might disagree, and we would fully understand if you went for an A-class simply based on its being a new and different car in a class of same-agains.
If you do, not only will you be getting that three-pointed star on the front, but also a car that's a fundamentally nice place to sit, one of the best in the class to drive and which - you just know, regardless of spec and engine - comes with that engineering depth that few besides Mercedes are capable of achieving. It goes on sale shortly, starting at £18,945 - which realistically becomes about £25-27,000 for a moderately well-specced diesel in Sport trim.


text:
"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." (Isaac Newton)
This post is dedicated to my giant… Dr. Floyd Mizener.
Eight years ago, this exceptional person looked up my phone number after reading about me in the American Optometric Association News. It was my lucky day!
During the summer of 2002, I learned my eldest daughter's first eye exam diagnosed a significant vision problem missed by vision screenings.
I wrote a letter to the American Optometric Association sharing my passion for better children's eye care. That letter was featured by editor Bob Foster in the AOA NEWS August 26, 2002 issue, "From Blurry Chalkboards to Grateful Parents."
When Dr. Mizener read about my mission, he wasted no time and called me: "Janet, I've been trying to get eye exams for kids for over 50 years. Vision screenings have misled parents for decades. I can help. I will give you all the ammunition you need!"
That's when I began learning about lenses, prisms, and the marriage of two eyes working as one!
Dr. Mizener also led me to his great friends Dr. Larry Vogel, the late Dr. Floyd Woods, and the late Dr. Irving Kernis.
Together they formed the "Optometric Four Horsemen" and rallied beside me as we created the the first Vision First form and passed Amy's Vision Law and required eye exams for children starting school.
Dr. Mizener, if I could reach up and hold a star for every time you made a difference in someone's life, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand.
Thank you for taking me under your wing and being my giant!
In addition to being co-founder and vice-president of Vision First Foundation, Dr. Mizener is also past president of the Illinois Optometric Association, past president of the Downers Grove Noon Lions Club, and a recipient of the prestigious Melvin Jones Award.
Dr. Mizener is known for his outstanding service and dedication to the Lions Club for over 50 years.
Copyright © 2010 Janet Hughes. All rights reserved.


text:
Jewell pledges balanced approach on energy
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's nominee for interior secretary pledged Thursday to take a balanced approach to energy that would expand and diversify production on public lands while protecting the environment.
Sally Jewell, president of Recreational Equipment Inc., told a Senate committee that she supports Obama's "all-of-the-above" energy strategy, which embraces fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal as well as renewable sources such as wind and solar.
Jewell also said she will work to achieve Obama's goal of doubling renewable electricity generation by 2020 and vowed to use the Interior Department's scientific resources to combat climate change.
"From energy development to grazing to logging, tourism and outdoor recreation, our lands and waters power our economy and create jobs," Jewell told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at her confirmation hearing. Jewell, who has never worked for the government, cited federal statistics showing that the Interior Department generated more than $12 billion in revenue from energy production last year, and that visitors to national parks generated an estimated $30 billion in economic activity.
"These are impressive numbers. They underscore the important balance that the Department of the Interior must maintain to ensure that our public lands and waters are managed wisely, using the best science available, to harness their economic potential while preserving their multiple uses for future generations," she said.
Senators from both parties were generally cordial toward Jewell, but several Republicans, including Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, questioned her service on the board of directors of the National Parks Conservation Association, an advocacy group that works to protect and enhance national parks. The group has filed dozens of lawsuits against the government and has sought to block a federal law allowing firearms in national parks and to stop development of coal mines and other energy production.
Barrasso called the sheer number of lawsuits "unsettling" and said Jewell's status as vice chairman of the NCPA's board posed potential conflicts of interest on a host of issues, including a looming rule to regulate hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, on public lands. Fracking is a type of drilling in which water, sand and chemicals are in injected underground to break up dense rock that holds oil and natural gas.
Barrasso called on Jewell to recuse herself from any action that involved an NPCA lawsuit. Jewell responded that she played no role in deciding what lawsuits the group filed but that she would approach the Interior Department's ethics adviser on a case-by-case basis.
NPCA President Tom Kiernan said in a statement that Jewell's nomination as interior secretary "validates her leadership abilities and commitment to stewarding our nation's public lands."
While Jewell has been a long-standing board member of NPCA, "it's important to clarify that Sally Jewell had no involvement in determining or approving NPCA's lawsuits," Kiernan said. "As a nonprofit advocacy organization, NPCA's primary goal is to work with agencies, stake holders and American citizens to protect and preserve our national parks."
Kiernan called lawsuits "an unfortunate consequence of disputes" over federal policies and "a last-resort strategy" for the group.
Obama nominated Jewell last month to replace Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who is stepping down this spring.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., chairman of the energy panel, said Jewell's experience as a petroleum engineer, a corporate CEO, banker and conservationist should suit her well at Interior.
If confirmed, Jewell's biggest challenge "will be striking the right balance between the secretary's dual roles of both conserving and developing our resources," Wyden said. "We want to have jobs and protect our scenic treasures, and obviously that can be easier said than done."
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has threatened to hold up Jewell's nomination unless the Obama administration agrees to a land exchange that would allow construction of a gravel road through a wildlife refuge to provide access to an all-weather airport for the remote community of King Cove, Alaska.
Murkowski told Jewell she hoped she would not have to deal with the issue, and that Salazar will allow the land exchange before he leaves office.
Follow Matthew Daly on Twitter:
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


text:
Military, Services
By By Andrew Drwiega, Military Editor | October 5, 2012
Send Feedback
When Andrew Strachan, chairman of the Royal Aeronautical Society's Flight Test Group, said that every politician and journalist should hear Society Fellow David Gibbings' lecture on "The Helicopter Development Process: from Concept to Service," he was right.
People on the outside of an aircraft development program rarely get an insight into the sheer volume of work that is involved in an aircraft's development journey. Gibbings' lecture covered all the bases, from the initial procurement dilemma of what to buy all the way through to the aircraft's introduction into service. The creation of the specification documents resulted in a very complex matrix with project compliance at the heart across all areas: from design through to rig demonstrations and flight demonstrations. Any non-compliant features will have to be thrashed out although this may lead to mutual agreement.
Gibbings is an ex-Royal Air Force (RAF) navigator whose career began in the late 1940s. On leaving the service he held positions with Fairey Aviation as a flight test navigator and propulsion development engineer, latterly working on the tip jets of the Rotodyne British compound gyroplane. He even got to fly in it as a flight engineer.
When Fairey became part of Westland (now AgustaWestland) he worked on the military Scout and Wasp helicopters, as well as the Gannet AEW aircraft. In 1967 he was appointed flight test engineer for the Lynx and flew on the prototype's first flight. Subsequently he became icing trials manager then in 1980 was promoted to deputy chief flight test engineer in 1980 and chief flight test engineer in 1989, retiring in 1993.
Gibbings has much sympathy with those whose job it is to procure equipment. "One of the things you quickly learn is that the new requirement won't match the one you want to build them," he said.
Flying rate, said Gibbings, was not necessarily a true measure of progress as some tests are weather dependent (icing, hot and high)—and the right conditions need to be waited for or sought out elsewhere.
Almost a necessary evil are the marketing requirements involving the prototypes putting on demonstrations and displays at air shows. "They say they want it for a week, then something breaks which we have to fix and it invariably costs us another two weeks to put it back to how it was," he recalled.
By the time the tests have progressed to the avionics, the feeling is "the toy has grown up" into an aircraft. At the first flight we expect the whole factory to turn out—and so they should. One of the key factors should be the telemetry display: "We need to read at a glance what is happening." Gibbings went on to point out that the design of the test aircraft crew stations was important, as well as a conceived allocation of test parameters to individual test aircraft.
The vehicle flight tests take between 100-150 hours then again the same with the systems tests. "Never design a new aircraft with a new engine," was a Gibbings' observation. In terms of testing the avionics he advised using a mature aircraft with the highest available standard of equipment. "Eventually you end up with the mission system tests on the whole aircraft. This is where you have three pilots with 10 opinions between them."
Deck landing tests are some of the most difficult to run in a good sequence. "Ideally you want a calm day at the start and end up with a force 6 gale to allow for gradual progression in difficulty. That never—well, rarely—happens."
For most involved directly in testing, Gibbings stated that the "design freeze" usually comes too early for those intimately connected to the program and nearly always causes problems. To the outsider it must be a decision akin to buying a computer—then is never a perfect time, although in this case the customers are waiting. He added that international collaboration can easily double the timescale of any development program: "Everyone wants the lead technology and there is a need to allocate the new/high technology tasks as well as establishing ownership of the design authority."
I got the chance to ask his impressions of the ever-increasing impact of better computing power and whether, as a test pilot, he considered that the community in general would benefit from greater openness. He answered by saying that technology creates its own problems while solving others, and that sharing testing results would be valuable but he still didn't see how this could be done without each developer losing their hard and recently won competitive edge.
The final irony, he said, was that when all the testing had been completed and the aircraft was entering service, the process to identify its replacement had usually already begun—at least in theory.


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Deal Breaker is a multiplayer co-op mission in Grand Theft Auto IV, and is available only in ranked matches. The mission consists primarily of the players killing scores of gang members and seizing their merchandise in the process. Supporting up to four players, participants, who appear as Russian mobsters, are personally instructed by Kenny Petrovic to intercept and disrupt a meeting between unspecified Mafia members and the The Angels of Death biker gang, who are smuggling drugs into Liberty City from Canada.
Like other four player co-op missions in the game, each player is only given three to five lives (depending on the difficulty), and can no longer play further when all lives are exhausted. If only one player remains alive, the game ends.
Reaching the meeting
Players begin in the compound of the Pegorino Family mansion in Westdyke, north Alderney, where a Cognoscenti on the driveway and two "modified" Schafters parked in the mansion's garage are available to be driven. Players are required to reach a multistory industrial structure in Acter Industrial Park, where the meeting takes place; the fastest route by road is via the Plumbers Skyway, which is accessible not far from where the players begin. An alternate tactic is to have half of the group take a helicopter on a private helipad in Westdyke (see Maverick Locations), fly to the top of the structure and make their way in from the roof whilst the other half begin making their way up from the bottom.
Disrupting the meeting
Upon reaching the meeting, players are required to kill everyone in the meeting, each marked by a red marker on the map. The members are typically armed with pump action shotguns, micro SMGs and a handful of SMGs, allowing them to inflict serious injuries in close quarters. In addition, rocket launchers and grenades are available as pickups on the upper floors of the building.
In the process of killing certain groups of the targets, drugs, marked by green markers, will be dropped and must be obtained by the players. Once done, players have to hunt down escaping gangsters, who will either flee by boat or by bike. The amount of gangsters escaping can vary depending on which difficulty (Easy, Medium and Hard) was chosen. If the targets are on a boat, a player may use a rocket launcher that they picked up earlier to quickly destroyed the boat and kill its occupants. Once the drugs are collected and all the participants of the meeting are dead, they must all make their way back to the Pegorino mansion. The mission is complete when all players are present there.
Each kill by a player awards them $100, but drug pickups do not have any monetary reward. Upon completion of the mission, remaining players will be awarded $4500.
- Completion of the mission within 7 minutes and 4 seconds is one of three requisites to obtain the "Fly The Co-op" achievement.
- The 5th level in the building has no enemies. It's more like an ammo floor.


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Best of Summer: Burgers
Summer is finally here and with it comes the sizzle and aroma of grilled burgers wafting through the air.
Sure, it's fun to make them yourself while on a camping trip or at a backyard barbecue. Other times, you'll want to pass the spatula off to one of the region's many burger masters.
This installment of our "Best of Summer" series focuses on burgers. More than 300 readers voted on their favorite place to get them, and here -- drum roll, please -- is the winner: Sycamore Drive-In Restaurant in Bethel.
The place: Sycamore Drive-In Restaurant, 282 Greenwood Ave., Bethel
The history: Pulling up to Sycamore is like entering a time warp. From the vintage neon sign to the French-style steakburgers, little has changed about this roadside institution since it opened 60-plus years ago. Patrick Austin, who owns Sycamore Drive-In with his parents, Gene and Christine, and his sister, Kathy, points to its namesake, a 600-year-old sycamore tree, as a symbol for both the restaurant's longevity and unique place in the region's culinary landscape. "You have all these chains, which are fine, but there's only one of us," Austin said. "You can try to duplicate what we have here, but it can never be the same."
The vibe: Think Mel's Drive-In from "American Graffiti" or Lou's Cafe from "Back to the Future." Sycamore harkens back to the heyday of drive-in restaurants, boasting black-and-white tile floors, buzzing neon signs, old-school memorabilia and an antique jukebox that plays hits by Elvis, Fats Domino and Nat King Cole. There's even a Ms. Pac Man arcade game.
The crowd: Families, mostly, with a smattering of teens, 20-somethings and retirees.
Best seat: Booth No. 5, the seat on the far left hand side of the front dining room. "You can see everything that goes on, especially during lunch time," Austin said. "You can see the waitresses coming off the line and everybody bustling during rush hour." Also, try a seat on a swivel stool at the counter, which gives you a view of Sycamore's open kitchen.
What I tried: The Dagwood Burger -- five ounces of ground steak topped with a slice of American cheese, mustard, ketchup, pickle, onion, tomato slices, lettuce and a touch of mayonnaise slapped on a toasted, buttered bun. The burger is built around two pancake-thin, spatula-smashed slivers of fresh ground round steak (courtesy of Danbury's Omaha Beef Co.) that are crispy around the edges and soft and juicy in the middle -- the perfect marriage of textures. The price is right, too: a mere $6 and change, and that's the most expensive burger on the menu.
Must-have burger: The Dagwood. "It's got everything you'd want on a burger," Austin said. "It really hits the spot." Bacon lovers might prefer the Double Bacon Burger, which is five ounces of fresh-ground steak with cheese, mustard, ketchup, pickle and a slice of plump Hormel bacon. Also, try the crispy sweet-waffle fries.
Must-have drink: Homemade root beer. The recipe, which includes "lots of sugar," is "somewhere between straight root beer and cream soda," Austin said. Rich and creamy, it comes from a secret recipe that has been passed down from owner to owner for 40 years. You can enjoy it straight up, but I recommend having it as a root beer float.
Bonus: Summer Cruise Nights. Every Saturday night from 6 to 9 p.m., classic car owners pull up to the Sycamore and show off their wheels. Once again, Mel's Drive-In comes to mind.
Second place: Five Guys, Brookfield/Shelton/Newtown/Westport/Norwalk/Stamford
Third place: Plan B Burger Bar, 230 Tresser Blvd., Stamford, and 1638 Boston Post Road, Milford
Other top vote-getters: Black Duck, 605 Riverside Ave., Westport; Danny's Drive-In, 940 Ferry Blvd., Stratford; Lake Zoar Drive-In, 14 Roosevelt Drive, Monroe; Flipside, 1125 Post Road, Fairfield; Burgers, Shakes & Fries, 302 Delavan Ave., Greenwich, and 800 Post Road, Darien.
firstname.lastname@example.com; Twitter: @scottgarg


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GIB:Games for the next-generation consoles and PCs will come with suitably next-generation price tags. In a keynote address at the Montreal International Game Summit today, attended by GamesIndustry International, Epic Games chief technology officer Tim Sweeney said he expects Epic to be able to build next-gen titles for "only about double the cost" of games from the start of the current generation.
Let's see how eager developers are to want to work on the 720 or PS4 knowing that they may have to spend twice as much on costs.
The much smaller studios might need to make use of digital only releases next gen
Well that would mean almost no new big ips and two big sides to gaming. The smaller download side and the big AAA games (this isn't a bad thing)
In that case developers that ignore Wii U can enjoy bankruptcy. Anyone being realistic knows this will have a terrible impact on consumers.
As I have said all along. A stop gap generation is what is best.
It benefits manufacturers for maximum profits.
It benefits consumers for prices of consoles, games and DLC.
It benefits developers who want to earn back money they lost due to the new engines they built several years ago.
Forget power. I don't want companies sinking just because a minority of customers want massive power increases.
Something tells me a whole bunch of "please bring games to the WiiU" posts are about to flood in.


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Can DrapeStyle make very long curtains and drapery? Extra wide curtains and drapes? Blackout curtains? The answer, of course, is YES! We really need to do a better job of letting everyone know that DrapeStyle makes each drapes from scratch. We don't bring them in from India or China, we actually unroll the fabric, cut them and make the drapery the old fashioned way. Making drapes here in the US went our of fashion about five decades ago but we still make them here. Manufacturing in the US – California no less, is certainly not the least expensive way to make drapery but it does allow us to make the very best quality in the business. Luxury and quality custom made drapery is what we have been about for well over a decade.
So, the short answer is, yes – DrapeStyle can make your extra long drapes, extra wide drapery and blackout curtains for your home theater room! If you don't see exactly what you need on our website just give us a call. Our Team of Designers (Yes – they really are Designers) can help you create the perfect drapery to your exact specifications and measurements. And we can probably make them for less than what you would think. Just give us a call!


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Explore Your AreaRestaurants Nightlife Shopping Events Things to Do Jobs Real Estate Photographers Travel Recreation
Health & Beauty
About Community
We're here to offer some health and beauty tips with content we'll feature from local writers as well as sharing news, photos, and videos from nationally popular fitness and beauty bloggers. The Health & Beauty Community is here to help you find new ways to navigate your mind, body, and spirit.
Our goal? To be a resource for your health and beauty needs and to help you feel like your best self. We'll give you ideas for fun new workouts, seasonal beauty trends, and provide suggestions on creating new looks and new goals all year long. We want to be your resource for happy, healthy, and effective routines to keep you motivated and on trend.
Please connect with us by joining this community page. We hope you'll like articles you connect with and will share some of your own too! We love questions and want this to be an opportunity to learn from others.
Welcome to the MyArea Network Health & Beauty Community!
This is a really insightful article!


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Twice in the last month you've identified cars involved and hit-and-runs, including a quick I.D. that was "critical" to solving a case.
Now a pedestrian in Chicago's Ukranian Village been struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver sometime around 2:30 AM on Wednesday. Police have a surveillance camera image of what they believe is the car. Now they need your help identifying it.
Please look at the photo above and see if you can't help narrow down what vehicle it is. We spoke with Chicago Police this afternoon and said they aren't sure of the make/model/year.
Provide your theory and the best answers in the comments and we'll let them know what you've come up with.
And if you're in Chicago and you happen to know this specific vehicle used in the crime please leave a message in the comments or call investigators at (312) 745-4521. As always, do not attempt to apprehend anyone. Leave that to the authorities.
UPDATE: This is a tough challenge. Below are the best guesses so far.
1993-1994 Pontiac Grand Prix SE Coupe
1996-1999 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
Anyone else have a guess?
(Hat tip to Dan!)