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Italy repeals property tax in bid for stability
ROME (AP) — Italy's government agreed Wednesday to repeal an unpopular property tax that ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi has long campaigned to abolish, a crucial deal for the survival of Premier Enrico Letta's unusual left-right coalition.
The Cabinet, which is made up of both Letta's Democrats and Berlusconi's center-right ministers, decided to cancel the payments through the end of the year and institute instead a local "service tax" starting in 2014, Letta told reporters.
Hawks in Berlusconi's party had warned that if the tax weren't abolished, the party would withdraw its support for Letta's government. As a result, Wednesday's decision to repeal the tax gives Letta's government some breathing room as it presses ahead with measures to revive Italy's moribund economy.
"This is good news," said Angelino Alfano, Berlusconi's political heir and the vice premier in the hybrid government. "For us it has the value of 'Mission Accomplished.'"
Details of the decree were still being worked out late Wednesday, and it wasn't immediately clear what the substitute "service tax" would mean in real terms for Italians struggling to make ends meet amid Italy's two-year recession and 12.1 percent unemployment rate.
Abolishing the property tax creates a 4 billion euro ($5.3 billion) annual shortfall. Officials declined immediately to give specific details of how that money would be recovered, though Letta stressed that the new "service tax" wasn't a property tax in disguise and that Italy would maintain its international commitments to keep its public debt in check.
Berlusconi had made abolishing the unpopular tax a cornerstone of his campaign before February's inconclusive elections, and the issue gained importance as his own political future was thrown into doubt following his definitive tax fraud conviction earlier this month.
Italy's high court on Aug. 1 upheld Berlusconi's conviction, four-year prison term and a ban from public office.
A Senate committee on Sept. 9 begins deliberating how to implement the public office ban given Berlusconi's current Senate seat. Some of Berlusconi's more hawkish allies have warned that a vote to strip him of his Senate seat would spark a government crisis.
On Wednesday, Berlusconi's lawyers presented their written arguments to the Senate committee arguing that the public office ban for the three-time premier would be unconstitutional. Rome daily La Repubblica posted on its website the opinions of six legal experts that were submitted as part of Berlusconi's case.
Berlusconi is seeking to suspend the Senate committee's work pending a review by Italy's Constitutional Court of the 2012 law behind the ban, Repubblica said. The law stipulates that anyone convicted to prison terms over two years is ineligible to run for office for six years.
Constitutional scholars have been debating for weeks how and whether the law can be applied retroactively to Berlusconi given his current position in parliament.
Berlusconi is also seeking recourse with the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that the ban violates European norms by applying a heavier penalty on him than was applicable at the time of his crime, news reports said.
While some analysts saw Wednesday's deal on the tax as a sign of reconciliation between left and right, others suggested that Berlusconi might actually have been weakened. Winning the property tax fight actually deprives him of an excuse to eventually make Letta's government fall and call early elections, some analysts said.
Now, if his allies make the government fall as a result of the decision on whether he can keep his Senate seat, Berlusconi will be seen as having created a government crisis purely because of his own judicial woes.
"Berlusconi is weaker in front of the Democrats with respect to his personal issues, he's got a card less to play," said Giovanni Orsina, deputy director of Rome's Luiss University School of Government. After this deal, Orsina said, "Berlusconi's game is much more difficult."


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By: Mark McGrouther, Category: Science, Date: 25 Mar 2011
Thank you to Gavin Gatenby for putting together this impressive movie about 'Ellie' the
As Gavin says in the commentary, the freshwater eels are known for their impressive spawning migrations. Four species of Anguilla are known from Australian waters.
Tags fishes, ichthyology, Ellie, Longfin Eel, Anguilla reinhardtii, Anguillidae,

subset: commoncrawl


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PHOENIX (AP) — Four small airports in Arizona are on the Federal Aviation Administration's list for potential control tower closings under the automatic budget cuts that took effect this month.
Glendale Municipal Airport, Phoenix Goodyear Airport, Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport in Bullhead City and Ryan Field in Tucson are among 238 small airports under consideration nationwide with low traffic volumes and control towers operated by contractors.
The FAA is scheduled to decide by March 18 on closing about 170 of the towers.
If they close, the FAA says the airports will remain open. However, pilots would have to coordinate takeoffs and landings themselves via radio and visual contact, as they do now at night when the tower isn't open.
The FAA has to cut $600 million under the automatic budget cuts that took effect March 1. Other savings will come from furloughing FAA employees and other actions.
A letter sent Tuesday to airport managers from FAA officials said the decision would be based solely on the national interest and won't take into account local community impacts.
The FAA said it will close 173 contract towers nationwide on April 7, while 16 others will close by the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. The agency also is considering closure of 49 FAA-staffed control towers.
Airport officials have until March 13 to submit arguments to the FAA for keeping their control tower open.
David Gaines, airport director at Laughlin/Bullhead International, said Thursday that he's drafting a request for exemption for the airport on the Nevada border in northwestern Arizona.
"We have lots of aircraft in and out of our airport — flight schools, students in the air, people going to the casinos," Gaines said. "The burden for a lot of the safety will fall upon the pilots" if the control tower closes.
"I'm hoping there will be enough pressure on Congress that they will find a fix and not create a safety issue for the public," he added. "I hope they adopt a resolution that will run to the end of the fiscal year and provide funding to keep the towers open."
The Tucson Airport Authority, which runs Ryan Field, is planning to send a letter Monday to the FAA and Arizona's congressional delegation.
"The Arizona Army National Guard conducts training exercises at Ryan as well as U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the U.S. Air Force," said Danette Bewley, the TAA's senior director of operations and maintenance. "Locally, the closure of these facilities would result in significant job losses for controllers, for on-airport business operations and for businesses that rely on a local airport to access the national and international aviation system."
Officials with Glendale Municipal Airport said in a statement that "an ongoing, sustained closure of the tower would have negative impacts on airport operations and sustainability. Being that this is an unforeseen situation, the city has not budgeted to fund the contracted air traffic controllers. We are evaluating all options and awaiting more information from the FAA."
Officials with Phoenix Goodyear Airport didn't immediately return calls seeking comment.


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Product Description
Uncle John has proven once again that he is in tune with our legion of loyal readers. This 516-page musical masterpiece dedicated to all things noteworthy ranges from silly one-hit wonders to culture-changing musical milestones. You'll get a glimpse into the future of music and go back to the days when prehistoric man first started communicating in song. So plug in your amp, turn the dial up to 11, and have a blast reading about all things music.
Also available in print book format: Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into Music.


text:
Hu's laughing now?
Democracy Dies with Dignity
Friday, October 19, 2018, 08:00:59 (UTC)
• Newsroom • Audio (staff) • Foolitzer Prize
• Indexes • Random story
7 August 2008
Hu's Laughing Now? Edit
==== The US president has hit out at China's human rights record on the eve of the Olympic games. George Bush issued a blunt rebuke of China's repression of dissidents and called on Beijing to grant its people greater freedom. ====
Speaking in the Thai capital, Bangkok, on Thursday just hours before heading to Beijing to attend the Olympics opening ceremony, Bush said "Amerca stands in firm operation to China's dissention of political dissidents, human rights avocados and religious reactivists"
"We speak out for a free press, freedom of assembly lines, and labour rights not to agonise China's leaders, but because trusting its people with greater freedom is the
american only way for China to develop its full potency."
"And we press for openness and justice not to impose our beliefs in jesus and the almighty free market, but to allow the Chinese people to express theirs, in the lord christ. Us and the China men share many commonalities, many Chinese Indians also enjoy freedom."
Chinese officials have responded defensively to Bush's criticisms.
Johan Spangerletz'n Official spokesman of Chinese President Hu Jintao, has said that initially the Chinese premier found the comments quite amusing – "most likely the imperfect translation of Bush's speech made it seem to President Hu, that Bush was sharing a very good joke with the Chinese government," Mr. Spangerletz'n told us, "he was laughing for quite some time. The moment when he realised the American President was serious… his face, it just dropped. It was heartbreaking."
President Hu's shock was swiftly replaced by anger. The word leaked from the news taps in China has suggested that Hu cursed the American President, who he had previously played golf with. It is thought that Hu felt he and Bush had an affinity in their battles against dissidents.
There have been several unconfirmed reports that the Chinese army has been mobilised by the President.
American political aide Paul Wolfowitz added fuel to the fire of tension. "We have certain knowledge that certain Chinese senior officials may have, or may not have, issued the order to set at ready the missiles over which they have control, or may not have control. At this stage however we cannot be certain, and thus we must be in a state of high readiness to react." Wolfowitz said. He further recommended that defence contractors would require urgent funds to prepare for this impending possibility of a possible threat which could exist.
The Chino-American war is expected to begin sometime next week, analysts have suggested next Friday seems likely.
Sources Edit
- Agencies "Bush rebukes China on human rights". Al Jazeera English, 07 07, 2008,


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Ecuador is reviewing Edward Snowden's asylum request and will make a decision on the former U.S. intelligence contractor "in due time" based on human rights considerations above all, Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said Monday.
The South American nation's leftist government is in "respectful" contact with Russia but also taking into account the U.S. government's position on the case, Patino told reporters during a visit to Vietnam.
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"We will consider the position of the U.S. government and we will take a decision in due time in line with the (Ecuadorean) constitution, the laws, international politics and sovereignty," Patino said.
At the start of his news conference in Hanoi, Patino read the formal asylum request from Snowden and compared his case with the "persecution" of U.S. soldier Bradley Manning, who is accused of giving secret U.S. data to the WikiLeaks website.
Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor, is accused by the United States of espionage and is thought to be in Moscow.
Patino questioned the treason allegations against Snowden and said apparent U.S. surveillance of foreign nations was in fact a rights abuse against the whole world.
"Human rights principles will always be placed above any other interest," Patino said.
"Ecuador's government has maintained respectful contact with the Russian government and has said that it is considering the asylum request ... Of course, we are considering the consequences of our decisions, but we act on our principles."
Snowden, whose exposure of secret U.S. government surveillance raised questions about intrusions into private lives, was allowed to leave Hong Kong on Sunday after Washington asked the Chinese territory to arrest him on espionage charges.
Patino said Ecuador had received a U.S. request relating to Snowden via the U.S. envoy to Quito, and would consider it. He did not give details of that request.
Only Russia could say where Snowden was currently, the minister said. Reports that the 30-year-old would fly to Cuba on Monday were put in doubt when witnesses could not see him on the plane, despite heightened security.


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Lorna Mitchell recently attended the cicon2010 conference in Bristol (a CodeIgniter-centric event) and has written up a summary of her time there.
I spent the weekend in Bristol so I could attend cicon2010 - a volunteer-organised first-edition conference around the CodeIgniter PHP Framework. [...] I saw two talks, both of which were actually really good, which is pretty impressive when you're going on stage to a rather fed up audience! Kudos to Kevin Prince and Joel Gascoigne for their talks.
She also mentions talks from Phil Sturgeon and Adam Griffiths but notes that, despite the good content of the talks, the actual event wasn't run all that well. As a result (of both her comments and experience in event organizing) she'll be posting advice for conference organizers to not have some of the same issues.


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Marion Cotillard - Golden Globes 2010 Red Carpet
Nine star Marion Cotillard walks the red carpet at the 2010 Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday (January 17) in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Marion, 34, strutted her stuff in Christian Dior, Jimmy Choo "Drake sandals" and Roger Vivier "Navette" clutch in Black Crocodile.
Nine is up for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. (500) Days Of Summer, The Hangover, It's Complicated and Julie & Julia are also nominated for the award.
Don't miss the 2010 Golden Globes at 8/7c on NBC!


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USA Eagles to play New Zealand Maori All Blacks
BOULDER, CO – USA Rugby President & CEO Nigel Melville traveled today to Philadelphia to announce that international rugby is coming to Philadelphia. The USA Eagles will play the New Zealand Maori All Blacks in the inaugural match on November 9, 2013 at PPL Park. American International Group, Inc. (NYSE: AIG), Official Sponsor of both USA Rugby and New Zealand Rugby, will be title sponsor of this historic competition, uniting these prestigious global rugby brands on North American soil.
The announcement came at a press conference held at the Global Rugby Forum, a forum that brings together domestic and international business and sports media executives meeting to discuss the growth of rugby and international sports in North American markets. As the fastest growing sport in the world, rugby is on the radar screen of international businesses that are looking to reach new markets amidst the exponential growth of rugby throughout the United States. Currently, there are over 1.13 million rugby participants living in the United States and currently 115,000 active members of USA Rugby with over 700 senior club teams, 850 college teams, 900 high school teams and 500 plus youth teams across America.
Nigel Melville, said: "The Maori All Blacks have a proud rugby tradition that makes them one of the most iconic rugby brands in the world of rugby. It is our goal to increase the quality of opponents for the Eagles and to expose our domestic fans to world-class international rugby events. We are extremely thankful for the partnership and commitment AIG has made to grow and develop rugby in America – this is truly a unique opportunity for us all."
The Maori All Blacks promise to bring the highest level of competition. New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Steve Tew said, "These games represent an exciting opportunity to take a special New Zealand team to North America."
"The Maori All Blacks have a unique history in rugby combined with a rich cultural identity. We had a wonderful taste of the style of rugby played by both Canada and USA when they played here in Rugby World Cup 2011. New Zealanders got behind both teams during that tournament, which really added to the experience of players." The Maori All Blacks will also face Canada's National Senior Men's rugby team one week before the USA on November 3, 2013 at Toronto's BMO Field.
Robert Schimek, President and Chief Executive Officer of AIG Property Casualty's Americas region said of the announcement, "the meeting of these two teams for the first time in the Northeast represents a tremendous milestone for the sport of rugby, and is an embodiment of AIG's ongoing global commitment to the sport. We are proud to stand behind both teams, and are thrilled to partner together to support the advancement of the sport of rugby around the world."
Philadelphia is centrally located in the Mid-Atlantic region with nearly 6,000 active rugby players (and growing) from Washington, DC to New York. PPL Park in Chester, PA was built for the Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer franchise with rugby in mind and has played host to national collegiate invitational rugby tournaments as well as youth and high school rugby.
According to Melville, "Philadelphia is unquestionably a passionate sports town and our decision to bring this first, of hopefully many, international matches to Philadelphia made good sense. PPL Park is a great place to play and watch rugby – fans will see fast paced action, hard hits and our national team at its best against one of the world's best."
The press conference and luncheon were co-hosted by Rugby Pennsylvania, USA Rugby's partner for youth and high school rugby across the state. Board Chairman John McNichol commented, "AIG is doing great work in promoting not just the highest level of rugby competition but also in growing the game from the ground up. AIG's sponsorship of USA Rugby's Rookie "Rugby in a Box" program allows us to reach thousands of young athletes – many of them from disadvantaged communities. On the importance of the USA Eagles coming to town, McNichol added "The USA Rugby Eagles playing in the back yard of our Philadelphia Eagles presents an amazing opportunity for us to introduce the game to thousands of new fans and reward our passionate rugby community for their years of commitment to the sport they love."


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Here is a link to George's free video that should help you.http://mulita.com/training/hns-r/
Thanks, interesting video. Good info about Highlights and Shadows vs. Whites and Blacks, but he doesn't touch the Contrast (with one exception), which seems to reinforce my notion that you can't set the Contrast before setting the four sliders beneath it. I realize this video is specifically on Highlights, Shadows, Whites, and Blacks, and that he may use Contrast in a different video, but I'm still confused about how one could possibly know where to set Contrast if you're then going to go on and adjust the next four controls.
As Rand47 says, the result (to the image) should be the same whichever order you alter sliders. LR renders the adjustments in its own order, irrespective of your order. Since LR4 and "Process 2012", I'm sure I've read that the Process 2012 basic panel generally makes a better job of tone adjustment than tone curves. I can't say I've done enough tests to prove that myself, but I have found that since Process 2012, I've rarely needed to use tone curves.
I might be wrong on this, but my understanding is that Contrast spreads out the middle tones (adding contrast to the middle) whereas Blacks and Whites deal with the extreme lower and upper tones and leave the middle tones less affected.As a quick and easy test - I uploaded a 21 step wedge to LR5 (21step_.jpg)I then adjusted Blacks to -50 and Whites to +50. Note the significant change in the ends of the step wedge with a slight change in the mid-tones (21step_B-50_W+50.jpg)Then, I reset all values and adjusted Contrast to +50 - note the increase in contrast in the mid-tone values, but only a slight change to the lower and upper ends (21step_Contrast+50.jpg)You can see the difference more markedly if you download the three of them and open the three together in Quick View (Mac or Win equivalent) and use your cursor keys to navigate between the three.Thanks to inksupply.com for the original (albeit 8bit) image.
To summarize the points made in several posts above:Exposure for midtone density (lightness/darkness). Contrast for midtone contrast - it applies a symmetric S-curve that does not affect black point and white point.Highlights and Shadows to taste, primarily for making detail more visible.Whites and Blacks for white point and black point.Curve Editor because it allows you to make a non-symmetric curve.Generally, but not engraved in stone, I start with Auto-Tone and then override it. Exposure almost always needs revision, Contrast only occasionally, Highlights and Shadows to taste and very dependent on the photo, Whites clips slightly - I reduce it so that my brightest highlight is 248-250 in soft proof, Blacks is usually pretty good - inspecting with Alt I want to see a few black specks. Finally the Curve Editor to counter the flatness that can be caused by Highlights or Shadows in their respective zones and the shape of the curve is therefore connected to how much of them I have set.
Auto-Tone. Possibly the worst slider in LR. Why use it and then have to undo the "damage". It is the photographers image and he/she should be making the decisions.
The starting point should be the defaults and what is in the photographer's head with regards to vision. The defaults are already "auto toned" and if you use that slider then that is twice the auto tone has been invoked. The defaults can de made "neutral" but not completely flat which is undesirable in Adobe's thinking.
My question is about the sequence in which one should use the sliders in Develop. Jeff and Michael state quite clearly in the LuLa Lightroom video that Thomas recommends updating the sliders in order, i.e., Exposure, then Contrast, etc. My question is, how can you have any idea how to set the Contrast slider before setting the White and Black points, because setting Whites and Blacks drastically changes the contrast?


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My Favorite Flirts is a feature that lets you reach your favorite Flirts easily from My Account or on 1-800-TO-FLIRT.Manage My Favorites
(0 Reviews)
Hi, I'm your new neighbor, Haley. You may have seen me sunbathing in the nude -- I hope I didn't offend you. I actually kind of meant for you to see me... I love being watched, especially when I finger my perfectly trimmed pussy. Your wife's not home, why don't you come in for awhile?
Do you like my soft, smooth, satin skin? Why don't you come run your hands over it... mmmm, that's it... Now take my puffy nipples into your mouth, yes, just like that... Oh, God, that feels perfect. Don't mind me as I push my fingers into my cunt, it's so wet that I just can't help touching it... will you touch it for me? No, not with your fingers, silly...
I love to be fucked from behind -- there's nothing better than a man's hands on my waist as he pushes his cock deep into my wet, silky snatch. I know it's tight -- I've only been with a couple of guys -- so I guess you'll have to teach me how to fuck. You'll find I'm a very willing student. Just slide that cock deep into my glistening pink sleeve and make me your fucktoy... then fuck my ass deep and hard. You know you want to!
I want to feel your cock swell and throb when you're exploding in me, and I want every last drop of your ivory man-syrup. I love to feel the warm trickle of cum dripping down my aching thighs after I've been fucked hard. Once you cum in me, put your cock in my mouth and I'll clean you up with my eager tongue. Since I live right next door, feel free to cum... oops!! I mean come by anytime. I have ZERO taboos, and I have some very naughty thoughts that I'd love to share with you. I suck and fuck all ways and any way, so be a good neighbor and call me now...
Tit pics
Ass Pics
Doggy Set 1
Doggy Set 2
Doggy Set 3
Doggy Set 4


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trapTuesday, September 25, 2007
Yesterday, I was speaking on the phone with my friend Betsy, when I mentioned how aggravating those darn fruit flies were. She then proceeded to tell me how to build a trap.
Take a small water bottle fill with about two tablespoons apple cider vinegar. Make a small funnel with a piece of paper insert it into the top. The fruit flies go down the funnel, and can't get out. Trapped! You then can either take the water bottle outside and let those little flies go, or you can put the lid on the bottle and throw it away. Amazing!
It took everything I had not to decorate my bottle and funnel. How about making a cozy for the bottle?
Really, try this, it really works.
30 comments
Works like a charm and, of course, is beautifully photographed :o)ReplyDelete
Awesome idea!! It took us weeks to get rid of them last year! I *hate* refrigerating my fruit!ReplyDelete
Very clever and I can attest to the fact that it worked. It takes removing all other more attractive foods, but still some of the slower fruit flies got caught. Although I did put my bananas in a cloth bag and that helped a lot to keep them off the fruit.ReplyDelete
I love your chevron too by the way. I really liked the length. The colours are really fun and so are the ways you photographed it. Excellent!
Wow, cool! Thanks for the tip!ReplyDelete
We got lucky and had a caterpiller in a jar. Apparently the fruit flies were attracted to him and then got stuck in the jar, so I took it outside. I will try to remember this awesome tip though because I bet it will happen again!ReplyDelete
Thank you for sharing the tip!
what a great idea! I can use this tip...those little fruit flies make me crazy.ReplyDelete
and I am so with you...I would decorate it all up, too.
A great tip, those pesky little devils are no fun! And of course you wanted to decorate your trap!ReplyDelete
I will have to try that. I hate them too.ReplyDelete


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Friday, July 01, 2011
Happy Birthday
99 comments:
Happy, Happy, Birthday to your sweet and beautiful Lampstres. I loved all of the pictures.ReplyDelete
happy birthday sweet baby girl. You are so precious and I've loved stalking this blog to watch you grow. You are just beautiful and I pray that you always face life challenges with that sweet smile on your face.ReplyDelete
Thanks Linda. You're comments are always so kind and welcomed!ReplyDelete
Lauren--Thank you!
Vicky--Australia! Wow...thanks for saying hi.
Heather--Another Cincinnatian! Thanks.
Brent and Abigail--Thanks for the love!
I probably won't get to comment on each and every message but thank you! It's fun reading them already.
I love you Baby Lamp. You don't know me, and I don't know you, but your amazing mother has opened the door for so many people with limb differences, and opened the eyes of so many people. You are a beautiful baby and you must be incredibly strong to have agreed to such a unique challenge. Happy Biirthday. You are lovely and special and in one year made such a huge difference to so many people. I can't imagine what amazing things the rest of your life has to offer.ReplyDelete
Wow a year already! Happy Happy Birthday to Lamp!ReplyDelete
Happy happy birthday, Miss Lamp! Your smiling face makes me grin each and every time I see it. I hope you and Princess Sparkled have a wonderful, fun-filled day!ReplyDelete
De-lurking to say happy birthday and welcome to Texas! I just moved to Dallas a few months ago and I look forward to reading about your adventures in San Antonio.
i've been a fan of your blog for years, but seldom comment (sorry!) i found you from your tents on etsy ages ago.ReplyDelete
but i have to wish sweet lamp a happy birthday! what a special girl.
i was pregnant at the same time as you, and my little guy will turn one in a few weeks. he screams, too. a lot, and it is so peircing that it makes my ears ring. but that is about as far as i can relate. however, i really appreciate your honesty and openness and hope to learn more empathy and acceptance despite my ignorance. thank you.
Happy ONE to sweet Lamp!ReplyDelete
Love, Bree from UT
Happy Birthday Lamp! :) You have a beautiful life ahead of you and you are loved!ReplyDelete
happy birthday little lamp! you are so special. your purpose in life is one we may not fully understand yet, but is incredible and beautiful and deep. thank you for lighting up everyone's life with your smile and your soul. i hope you always know that you are a special daughter of heavenly father.ReplyDelete
Happy Birthday little Lampy! I have learned much from you and your Momma over this past year. You are the cutest of the cute!! (not to exclude your big sister....she's pretty off the charts too!)ReplyDelete
Happy birthday sweet little one! Her smile is perfect and your photos overlooking her first year made me tear up. She is lovely and obviously thriving in her own little way. The possibilities are endless for her, coming from such an obviously loving family.ReplyDelete
I started reading just before you had her, and I am so happy you are sharing her amazing story.
Hey - I have a possible book suggestion for you mama, The Boy in The Moon by Ian Brown. Its a beautifully written book about the challenges of parenting a child with a significant disability. Though very different from Lamp, the challenges he writes about are common to many parents, and life in general. If you are interested, email me your mailing address and I will send the book to you when I am done. :-) Shannon
Been following little Lamp for a while. I have 4 brother with severe disabilities and I want to tell you that I am beyond impressed with you. I know what it can be like some days to think about the future of your little one, and your strength and hope are inspiring. What a sweet family, and what a sweet Lamp!ReplyDelete
I have been following Lamp's story for a while now. I have 4 brothers with severe disabilities and I want you to know how impressed I am with you. I know how disheartening it can be some days to think about the future of your little one and I want you to know that your hope and faith are inspiring. A sweet family and a sweet Lamp! Happy birthday!ReplyDelete
happy birthday lampy!! love and big hugs to you and to your amazing mom, pops and sis. hope to see the whole family this summer. please say it's going to be so! love ya miggs.ReplyDelete
Happy, happy birthday, little Lampy! Hope your special day was terrific, and the next year even better. Sending you lots of love from Richmond, Virginia!ReplyDelete
Happy Birthday, sweet little Lamp! Found you through Reagan's blog and me and my 22-month-old little boy have been big fans ever since. All the best to you from Delaware. :-)ReplyDelete
Happy Birthday Lamp :)ReplyDelete
One day, you'll look back on all of these stories that your mother has recorded for herself, your daddy, and you and your sister, and you'll see how apt the nick name 'Lamp' is.. you really are one of the lights in the darkness for many people.
Keep shining brightly!!
Hey Beautiful Lamp!ReplyDelete
I didn't want to go to bed yet so I was surfing and stopped on mommy's blog. I had forgotten today was your birthday!
I love your gift to me... your lovely photo with your sister that is my bulletin board at work. You are such a beautiful baby, inside and out!
Thank you for letting me be part of your first year of life!
Your favorite OT, Amy K.
- Anonymous12:53 AM
Dearest Lamp,ReplyDelete
Happy, Happy Birthday! There are angels masquerading on this earth as people, and you are one!( I suspect your Mom is too!)
We LOVE you and you inspire us every day!
We are thankful you belong to us... how lucky are we! Love, hugs and prayers to you!
"Happy to you!"
All our love,
PaPa & G.G.
happy birthday sweet baby.ReplyDelete
you are beautiful and oh so special.
Happy Birthday to Lamp! She is soooo beautiful. Love all the pictures in this post!ReplyDelete
Happy birthday gorgeous girl!!!ReplyDelete
Loved all the pics!
Happy birthday sweet Lamp! You are a gorgeous girl and I am happy to "know" you and see your amazing progression. :)ReplyDelete
I'm a fan of the lampster! Happy Birthday Lamp-y girl! You are amazing and extraordinarily cute. :)ReplyDelete
Happy Birthday Miss Lampy! I just found out I'm moving to San Antonio, from DC, in the spring, so maybe I'll see you there? Thanks for sharing your beautiful life (I found you from Reagan)ReplyDelete
Happy Birthday Lamp! You're a lucky girl to have such a fabulous mom and dad and sister!ReplyDelete
I can't get enough of your little Lamp! She warms my heart and reminds me of the daily miracles we are all blessed with! I have 2 babies who are just two days older than Lamp and I feel extremely empathetic about your story and situation. You are all amazing and beautiful examples. Much love and happy birthday to sweet Lamp!ReplyDelete
Happy Birthday little lampy! Your smile is so contagious! Stay beautiful.ReplyDelete
Happy Belated Birthday little Angel Girl!ReplyDelete
~from a fan in Boise, Idaho!
HapHappy Birthday Lamp!!!!ReplyDelete
You are so cute. So precious.
Happy Birthday Big One Year Old Girl!!
happy happy birthday sweet sweet girl!ReplyDelete
(and what a beautiful tribute to her first year.)
I will add to the hundred comments... literally! Check this girl, LOVED by so many who don't even know her! I am FINALLY catching up on your blog! I can't believe all that is going on in your life! So even though I am late, Happy Birthday to sweet Lamp, happy travels to you guys, I hope all is well! Sure love you and admire you woman!ReplyDelete
i know i'm a little late to this party. but i just discovered your blog! my extra awesome baby girl was born a year ago on sunday. she went without oxygen at birth and thus has a brain injury. it's been a rough first year. and the 1st bday wasn't much better as we spent it back in the same hospital where she was born. we are still here actually, she's battling RSV and the flu. but she is doing better. anyone, i'm going to continue to catch up on your blog. i'm completely captivated by your story, your gorgeous girls, your outlook and writing style. just wanted to stop by and say hello.ReplyDelete


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42 U.S. Code § 10108 - Applicability to transportation
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§ 10108.
Applicability to transportation
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect Federal, State, or local laws pertaining to the transportation of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste.
(Pub. L. 97–425, § 9, Jan. 7, 1983, 96 Stat. 2206.)
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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Call us FREE from UK landlines
Existing customer? Call us on
0845 761 6263
or visit our online support area >
We're part of Worldpay UK, a multi award-winning company who support payments in over 120 currencies and 200 payment types. With 450 new customers and 26m transactions per day, you'll feel secure knowing that you're getting expert advice to help you take secure payments, minimise fraud and grow your business. Whether you're new to card payments or switching from another provider, we'll make it easy for you to get started
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JC Penney shares surged on Friday, after investing titan George Soros disclosed a 7.91 percent stake in the company. Investors are reading this as an influential vote of confidence in the troubled company.
(Read More: JC Penney Jumps on News George Soros is Shareholder)
Early option trading was bullish, with traders shorting volatility in the name. After the first hour of trading, the biggest trade was the sale of 1,000 June 15-strike puts for $1.36 each. This is a bullish trade that will allow the trader to collect $1.36 in profit if the stock remains above $15 through June expiration.
If it doesn't, then this trader will buy the stock for an effective price of $13.64 per share. Soros is likely long the stock somewhere in the mid-$14 range, so getting exercised on this put would give the trader an average price that is lower than Soros'—and history has shown that trading on his coattails is a profitable strategy.
JC Penney will report earnings on May 17,and right now, the options markets are predicting a 7 percent move in the stock. Some of this is time premium, since earnings are still a few weeks away, but compared to JCP's historical median move of 4.4 percent, option prices may be on the expensive side right now.
As JCP burns through cash, it reduces the amount of time it has to make a comeback, which makes each earnings announcement more important than the last. Therefore, investor nervousness could remain high in this name, so you need to be tactical when it comes to selling options.
(Read More: JC Penney Offered Second Loan on Real Estate: Sources)
I would look at this trade as an opportunity to trade alongside Soros and Bill Ackman, and to either make a quick $1.36, or to buy the stock near its 52-week low for a longer-term turnaround trade.
(Read More: Was Ackman's Plan for JCP Too Big to Succeed?)
I have no positions, because I personally don't like the stock. However, seeing that people are selling puts makes me want to search around and see if I can pick up some high-yield corporate bonds on the name.


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Lloyd Chambers has a terrific guide to choosing and using SSD drives
Anand found that halving overprovisioned space had less than a 3% effect on performance under heavy utilization:http://www.anandtech.com/show/3690/the-impact-of-spare-area-on-sandforce-more-capacity-at-no-performance-loss/2Leaving free space on the drive adds to this overprovisioning, but given his numbers, I wouldn't worry about it.
Ive been trying to load a new ssd, so far struggled but due to great customer service im being provided a new 1. I think i know where i went wrong.Q have you noticed a big speed difference, or apart from lightroom is thaere a performance boost. What has improved in lightroom? Develop and import i assume


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State Department replacing online country profiles, highlighting Obama policies
The State Department has started to replace its just-the-facts online profiles of foreign countries with new ones that appear to largely highlight U.S. relations since President Obama took office -- a move that comes on top of efforts to update the official profiles of past presidents with Obama-themed factoids.
The agency has so far swapped just a fraction of the nearly 200 country profiles. The new versions are hardly sensational in their promotion of Obama administration policy objectives, but do appear to put more of an emphasis on them. Several now highlight Obama initiatives like pursuing "strategic" talks with China and South Africa, and ending discrimination against transgendered individuals in Brazil.
The changes were discovered by the Heritage Foundation's Jim Roberts. Roberts likened the changes to the move by the White House to tack on Obama accomplishments at the end of the online bios of past presidents, which drew ridicule earlier this year.
"We're seeing the same sort of modus operandi," said Roberts, an editor at the conservative Washington-based think tank and a former State Department employee. "It seems pretty shameless to me."
The detailed overviews on foreign countries known as "background notes" are being replaced by what the State Department is calling "fact sheets." The fact sheets are generally shorter, and focus more on modern developments.
For example, the previous State Department profile on Brazil was 4,100 words and included a litany of facts about the country's history and demographic details.
It has since been replaced with a 2,100-word version that no longer includes such analytical information as the country's size, population and gross domestic product. However, the new U.S. embassy-written version twice mentions Obama by name and cites several of his initiatives.
"Education cooperation continues to thrive as President Obama's '100,000 Strong in the Americans' goal and Brazilian President Rousseff's 'Science without Borders' initiative create opportunities for new academic and research partnerships," the new profile reads in part.
The State Department, though, disputed the idea that politics played a part in the changes.
"There's no merit to the idea there's a political motive," an agency spokeswoman told FoxNews.com. She also pointed out the new profiles include links to the old ones and said they provide a resource for people interested in "the state of U.S. relationships."
It's not uncommon for even the older State Department pages to mention the policies of the president at the time. But the new versions at times play down other administrations' contributions.
The new profiles for at least five sub-Sahara African countries make no mention of the program started by President George W. Bush in 2004 to fight the AIDS epidemic in that region. The previous profile for Tanzania, for example, noted Bush's efforts and that the program -- called the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief -- had through 2011 helped provide $1.8 billion for HIV and AIDS care and prevention.
However, the new profiles for Tanzania and Uganda mention only "the president's efforts" to combat AIDS.
Over at the South Africa page, though, the Obama administration's movement on the anti-AIDS front is prominent.
"In 2010, Secretary Clinton and South African Prime Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane signed a Partnership Framework, creating a five-year plan to tackle HIV/AIDS in South Africa through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)," the site says.
Roberts called the revisions to take out Bush's efforts "egregious."
"And does this set thing up for future revisions? The profiles should show an interest over many decades, as opposed to political immediacy," he said.
He called the changes "yet another taxpayer-subsidized campaign commercial for the Obama administration."
Most of the new country profiles start with a brief history of origin and include links to more analytical information. But Roberts claims researchers and others have lost a useful, one-stop site for information about other countries.
The new pages don't always include prominent references to Obama policies. But they are shorter.
The page for China, the world's most populous country with a history dating back to early civilization, was slimmed down considerably and is now roughly half the size of the old one.
It begins with: "The United States seeks to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship with China by expanding areas of cooperation and addressing areas of disagreement, such as human rights."
The page then highlights the "economic track" of a May 2012 economic forum, including "measures to enhance macroeconomic cooperation, promote open trade and investment, enhance international rules and global economic governance, and foster financial market stability and reform. "


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- Rise: 8" (20 cm)
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Rated 5 out of 5 by Angie from Love them! They fit great and the built in boy short is an added perk!
Date published: 2013-01-24


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Using the Command Box
The Logos "Command" box, located top-center of the main Logos window, is designed to execute specific commands in Logos. It can perform searches, open resources, change settings or execute tools. We'll discuss a few of these options in this article.
Search Commands
By entering a "Search" followed by a Word or Topic in the Command box, Logos will open a Search panel and perform a Basic Search for that word. You can also perform other types of searches. Try entering "Bible Search" followed by a word to search your Bibles.
To learn more about searching, click here.
Opening Books and Tools
The "Open" command will open resources and tools. Try "Open" followed by a Bible, like ESV. You can even select your passage, for example: "Open ESV to Prov 1:1" will open directly to the first verse of Proverbs. You can also open "Bible Facts" or "Timelines" if you own these datasets.
Executing Tool Commands
The Command box can also execute commands to change settings in the application, or check for updates. If you want to check for application updates, use the "Update Now" command, or check for new resources and resource updates with "Update Resources". (These updates occur automatically by default. The commands are only used when troubleshooting or using non-standard download settings.)
To see more commands, type "Show Help" in the command box, then choose "Command Box" from the list of topics.


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Check Out the New Reservation System!
The new reservation system is online and working! You may now book a room, two or the entire house for a gathering, event, wedding, reception or your paranormal excursion. All from the privacy of your own home with no time contraints. Whether it is 2 o'clock in the afternoon or 2 o'clock in the morning, you can make your reservation before some one else does. Need instructins on making a reservation at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast Museum, Follow This Link.


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The Gambia is a least developed and low-income, food-deficit country with a predominantly subsistence agrarian economy. It is ranked 155th out of 177 countries in the 2006 United Nations Human Development Index with 69 percent of the population living below the poverty line.
Poor households have limited access to basic food commodities and domestic food production meets only 50 percent of the national food requirements.
The latest national nutrition survey (2005) by the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA), rated acute malnutrition at 7 percent and stunting at 17.8 percent; micronutrient deficiencies are a severe problem especially amongst children.
Crop harvest have experienced two years of decline with the 2007- 2008 harvest representing a decline of 35 percent from 2005- 2006, and the price for the staple food, rice, has increased by 39 percent from January 2008. In addition, fuel prices have been increased by ten percent in May 2008.
The Government is committed to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) but has significant resource constraints and is highly indebted.
Overall WFP provides guidance and assistance on issues related to hunger nation wide. It assists in identifying those who are most vulnerable and in developing actions to reduce it and mitigate against future vulnerabilities.
Current activities include working with the government in responding to the food and financial crisis, the operation of a nation wide food for education program and in providing emergency assistance to Senegalese refugees and their host communities.
The food for education project 'Support to Basic Education in Rural Vulnerable Regions' provides a daily nutritious meal to children in rural primary schools and early childhood development centers in food-insecure rural areas of the country. Apart from providing meals for children the aim is to contribute to increasing both enrolment and completion rates, and maintain attendance and reduce drop out rates in targeted schools.
It also aims to improve the learning environment in schools and to strengthen the government's capacities to effectively manage and sustain a school feeding program in the future. WFP also helps in the improvement of essential school infrastructure, in health and nutrition education, the development of school gardens and the greater involvement of the community.
Under this Food for Education project, run through the Department of Education, food assistance is provided for up to 120,000 children in 128 Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDCs), 308 Primary Schools and 27 government recognized Madrassas. This current program of support is from August 2007 until July 2011.
The government widely recognizes the significance of the Food For Education project in boosting enrolment, attendance and retention rates in rural schools. It is also being seen as a vital national wide safety-net intervention for rural areas during these periods of heightened food insecurity.
WFP is also currently initiating an emergency support operation 'Assistance to Senegalese Refugees and Host Communities in The Gambia'. The operation was launched in February 2007, as a follow-on project from a rapid emergency response initiated in October 2006. The project aims to prevent food insecurity amongst Senegalese refugees as a result of being displaced, as well as to protect and prevent deterioration of host population's livelihood due to the refugee influx.
This operation is providing support for up to 7,000 refugees through general food distributions meeting their daily food needs and though support to the Gambian hosting populations, around 6,000 persons, during the lean season via food-for-work activities.
The refugees come from the Casamance region of Senegal and have sought refuge in 47 host communities in the Gambia. Frequently reported clashes between the Senegalese army and rebel factions within the Casamance region and along the border continue to prevent the refugees from returning home. The insecure situation and dangers also prevents those Gambian farmers living along the Senegalese border adjacent to the Casamance from working on their lands.
In addition, the crop harvest for the previous two years have been the worst in 5 years and, together with the problems due to the rising food prices, this has overstretched the coping mechanisms of the refugees and their hosts who live in some of the most vulnerable and food insecure areas.
Food for work on community asset development activities started in June 2008 in for the 47 host communities to provide support to them during the period in which food is most scarce. A variety of agricultural activities, environmental sanitation and infrastructure projects such as communal farms site clearing establishment of woodlots, reforestation, digging of pit latrines and construction of refugee houses are currently being supported under this intervention.


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TC Helicon Harmony Singer With Free Mic
TC Helicon Harmony Singer On Offer!
On offer from now until the end of June the Harmony Singer comes with the MP-75 microphone free. That's everything you need to get superb stage sound in one bundle, from mic to crystal clear preamp and effects processing. Then with the MP-75 you can control switch Harmonies on and off by hand when needed, leaving the reverb intact. Simply tell the sound man where to stick it (the XLR cable that is) as you've got the everything you need for a great vocal sound all ready.
If you want to know more about Vocal Effects Pedals and how to get creative with harmonies and looping, check out our article.


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There are numerous opportunities for you to come spend time with your student on our campus in Terre Haute. Below are the links to the various calendars and schedules of important dates, campus events, and visit opportunities.
Come join us for any of these celebrations or stop by sometime just to say "hello" to your son or daughter!


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Street hockey tournament helps underprivileged youngsters
Former Habs president Pierre Boivin, right, head of the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation, and former Habs defenceman Patrice Brisebois play some ball hockey in the hall where the NHL was founded on Nov. 22, 1917. The pair are promoting a street hockey tournament to benefit underprivileged children in Montreal next month.
Photograph by: Allen McInnis, The Gazette
MONTREAL — It's unclear exactly when Patrice Brisebois's boyhood career as a street-hockey goaltender came to an end. But the former Canadiens defenceman vividly recalls the circumstances.
"I always was in nets because I was younger than my brothers, and one time I took a shot in the forehead and then another one (just below the belt)," Brisebois remembers with a laugh.
"And that was it for my goalie days. From that day, I played up front. And I was Guy Lafleur. Always."
Brisebois, a 1993 Canadiens Stanley Cup winner who is back in the Habs family as the club's player development coach, is honourary chairman for the second annual Hockey de Rue — Together for the Kids street-hockey tournament, organized by the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation and YM-YWHA for the benefit of underprivileged youngsters.
The separate adult and youth tournaments, three age-groups in the latter, will be played over the May 19-20 holiday weekend on five outdoor rinks built on Westbury Ave. in Côte-des-Neiges in front of the YM-YWHA, with two more set up inside.
Through sponsorships and the fundraising entry-fee efforts of participating teams, the inaugural tournament raised more than $305,000. The goal this year is $450,000.
Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban agreed this week to be a spokesperson for the event and give it his enthusiastic support.
"It's a really fun event, one that raises money and sends out the message to kids that it's important to live healthy lifestyles, to be physically active and to watch what you eat," said Pierre Boivin, the former president of the Canadiens who still sits on the club's board and chairs the Canadiens Children's Foundation.
"It's something that, as a society, we need to preach all the time, especially in underprivileged neighbourhoods."
In 2005-06, the Canadiens Children's Foundation refocused its efforts toward sharing the message of a healthy lifestyle with youngsters. An extension of that has been its creation of five state-of-the-art outdoor rinks in underprivileged parts of the city.
The Hockey de Rue tournament came to be on the suggestion to the foundation a few years ago of Montreal businessman Steve Stotland, whose rich hockey pedigree includes a nearly victorious bid in 2000 to buy the Canadiens.
"Steve had played in a tournament in Toronto and told me how it had included so many teams, was so much fun and raised a ton of money," Boivin said. "No one was doing anything like this in Montreal, a city of hockey where every kid plays the game on the street."
The natural connection between the foundation and YM-YWHA's efforts for youth — the latter is focused on the N.D.G.–Côte-des-Neiges district — created the tourney, chaired by Stotland, which was played for the first time last year in glorious weather that organizers would love to have again next month.
"The weekend is a carnival," Boivin said of the event that features music, Canadiens mascot Youppi! and the participation of Habs alumni.
Organizers hope to attract 40 adult teams and 20 youth squads.
Last year, Brisebois sponsored a team from St. Michel. Next month, Canadiens defenceman Francis Bouillon will back a team from Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, where he does much community work.
Championship adult and youth teams will win a night in a Bell Centre loge for a Canadiens game, provided by Joel Leonoff of Optimal Payments; Subban recently greeted the inaugural Hockey de Rue tournament winners after their loge night.
As well, there will be a contest rewarding teams that raise the most money through sponsorships and donations beyond their entry fees.
There's an increasing entry by groups of both adult and youth teams, making the tournament almost a family weekend.
Street-hockey is a galvanizing force in this country, almost part of the national fabric. Who doesn't have both joyful and painful memories of their road-hockey games that ran from morning until after dark, lunch and dinner serving as intermissions?
"For Christmas, you'd always ask for goalie equipment," said Brisebois, who in nets caught with his right hand — the "wrong" one — because that was the baseball glove a brother offered him.
Brisebois also remembers using the nylon Cooper Superblade that you'd jam onto the bottom of a stick shaft and, over the burner of a stove, bend a wicked curve into it.
"Wooden sticks were too expensive to use on the road," he said.
On asphalt, the Superblade eventually would wear down into a toothpick, making it a weapon that produced vicious lifters that chased many a terrified goalie out of his net, almost decapitated.
"For nets, we'd use garbage cans and chunks for ice," Boivin said. "And nets — they were white plastic tubes you'd glue together. But you had to web the mesh on the frame first, and how many people glued the posts together first?"
Boivin, now president and CEO of the Montreal-based equity firm Claridge Inc., recalled joyful boyhood days honing his slapshot on the streets near home as he emulated a hero, Canadiens legend Bernie (Boom-Boom) Geoffrion.
"We say Quebec drivers can be a little bit reckless, but if there's one thing that all drivers respect, it's when they see a street-hockey game," Boivin said. "They stop, like they're behind a school bus. It's automatic. The kids pick up the net, move it to the sidewalk and wave as the driver slowly goes by."
There will be no cars on Westbury Ave. on tournament weekend next month. Specially constructed "rinks" with excellent exposure for sponsors will allow adults and kids to play while raising a princely sum for a great cause without getting frostbite or being whacked in the shins by that rotten puck-hard orange ball whose welts you'd wear for months.
There is still room in the Hockey de Rue tournament for more teams and sponsorship opportunities still remain. For more information and to register, visit hockeyderue.com. On Twitter: @hockeyderue
Twitter: @Dave_Stubbs
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette


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If you are listed on this site and wish to change your information (if you did not add it yourself), then please submit a new fresh copy and your old one will be removed when activated.
To have a listing removed please use the contact page to make a request.
This site, and any information contained within, is purely for entertainment purposes only, E&OE.
Totnes self catering holiday cottages, bed and breakfast, campsites


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USAF asseses root cause of AEHF thruster failure
Editor's note: This story was originally published on September 6, 2010
The U.S. Air Force's newest protected satellite communications spacecraft, worth more than $2 billion, will likely reach operational status 7-8 months later than planned after a liquid apogee engine failure.
This problem in orbit is the latest in a series that has plagued the Lockheed Martin-led Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite program. It also experienced cost overruns and is late because of problems with unreliable parts that needed changing out and delays developing cryptographic keys from the National Security Agency. The failure is a disappointment for the Air Force, which has struggled with management problems of its space programs.
The AEHF program was born out of an upper-stage mishap in 1999 that placed a Milstar satellite in the wrong orbit, rendering it useless. The program was thereupon quickly assembled to avoid a gap in protected communications, required for connectivity with nuclear weapon-equipped forces during a crippling attack.
The setback is another high-profile slip-up for Lockheed Martin, including a $600-million award fee withholding for poor performance in delivering test aircraft for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. Last month, Missile Defense Agency Director Army Lt. Gen. Patrick O'Reilly also opted to withhold approval for production and acceptance of Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) system interceptors when a single part failed qualification testing.
Lockheed Martin "is performing on more than 4,000 programs for customers throughout the world, most demonstrating an impressive track record of on-schedule, on-budget performance reflective of our relentless focus on quality control and customer commitment," says company spokesman Jeffery Adams. "We are in the business of developing cutting-edge systems and . . . issues sometimes arise. With regard to Thaad, AEHF and JSF, we have identified areas that warrant additional attention, and we continue to commit the resources . . . [and] workforce to ensure the success of these critical programs."
The Aug. 14 launch of the Atlas V carrying the AEHF was nominal. But the liquid apogee engine (LAE) on the spacecraft failed during two firing attempts, one each on Aug. 15 and 17. This system, which was to provide 100 lb. of thrust, is useless for the journey 22,000 mi. into orbit.
The first AEHF satellite was expected to reach its testing position at 90 deg. W. Long. in geosynchronous orbit in November, three months after launch, says Dave Madden, director of the Air Force's military satellite communications program office. Now, however, a series of engine burns will be required and it will not reach position for 10-12 months, Madden says.
The LAE was to be burned three times, raising the orbit from 230 km. (143 mi.) to 19,000 km. six days after launch. The Hall Current Thrusters (HCT), xenon-fueled electric thrusters producing 0.6 lb. of thrust and designed for in-orbit station-keeping and maneuvers, were to be used for about 90 days to reach the test position.
Now Air Force officials plan a four-phased orbit-raising strategy. First, they will increase the satellite's perigee to reduce drag on the spacecraft from the Earth's atmosphere.
For this phase, which began Aug. 29, the Air Force is using the third propulsion system on the satellite, a reaction engine assembly (REA), which has six 5-lb. and 12 0.2-lb. thrusters. This system was designed for use in maintaining yaw attitude control and for in-orbit operations. The goal is to reach an intermediate "parking" orbit of 950 km.
"Satellite performance before, during and after this burn was nominal," Madden says of the first 40-min. firing.
In the next three phases of the orbit-raising plan, more REA apogee burns will be conducted to better than double the current perigee. HCTs will then be used at apogee and to conduct continuous maneuvers to reach the final orbital slot.
Madden says he expects no impact to the satellite's planned design life of 14 years. The satellite's design allows for the RAE to tap into the LAE's hydrazine fuel store, Madden says. "We basically got lucky," he says. "We put enough fuel onboard to pretty much fire those thrusters continuously. We [will] optimize the burns to only fire them when it is most effective in orbit-raising."
So far, the Air Force will not have to tap into fuel for on-orbit station-keeping or maneuvers to meet operators' needs. "They may be willing to give up life to get there faster, and then there are some things we can do differently," Madden says. Air Force Space Command chief Gen. Robert Kehler says the Milstar constellation "is still in good shape, [so] it doesn't much trouble me that it will take a little bit longer to get to orbit."
It is unclear how this will impact Lockheed Martin. The company is on a cost-plus-incentive-fee contract, originally a $2.9-billion deal for the first two AEHF satellites and a ground system. Northrop Grumman is the primary payload provider. The contract was amended to include a third satellite and overruns incurred by poor government management in developing cryptographic equipment for the satellite. Cost was added, too, when a second round of thermal vacuum testing was required because a faulty set of reaction wheels was installed initially on the satellite. The contract's current scope is estimated at $4.8 billion, but Lockheed Martin's estimate at completion was $6.5 billion, before the recent in-orbit mishap.
Madden would not state a penalty amount. "There is nothing worse than beating someone up while they are helping you to try and fix a problem," he says. "[Lockheed Martin officials] are in it with us, full stake. They have accountability to get it to orbit and make it fully operational." USAF officials decline to identify the manufacturer of the LAE.
AEHF 2, which was to be launched in February, is undergoing testing at Lockheed Martin's Sunnyvale, Calif., facility. It is not yet known how much of a delay, if any, to launch will occur.
A root-cause investigation is expected to be finished in two weeks. "We could have a bad valve in the system [or] the propulsion wasn't being cooled or heated properly . . . or we could have a bad engine," Madden says.


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As the title description indicated, "The Chernin Group, the media company headed by former News Corp. exec Peter Chernin, announced Monday it has acquired a majority stake in anime video-streaming site Crunchyroll — which TCG will use as an anchor to expand into different genres.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but sources said the investment values Crunchyroll at less than $100 million. Chernin Group had been in discussions for the last several weeks to acquire a controlling stake Crunchyroll, as previously reported by Variety.
Crunchyroll's senior management will maintain a stake in the company along with existing investor TV Tokyo, a Japanese media company. Crunchyroll has offices in San Francisco, L.A. and Tokyo.
"We couldn't be more excited about the future," Peter Chernin said in a statement. "Our plan is to continue to grow the anime vertical as well as launch new channels in different genres. Online video is growing faster than any other sector within media, and we feel that with Crunchyroll, we have a fantastic, anchor platform."
Kun Gao, founder and CEO of Crunchyroll, called Chernin Group the perfect partner. "We decided to work with TCG based on their passion for the online video space, expertise in media, understanding of creative content and strong track record of growing businesses," Gao said in a prepared statement. "This investment from TCG will allow us to provide an even better experience and service for anime producers and fans worldwide."
Crunchyroll raised $4.05 million in first-round funding in 2008 from TV Tokyo and other investors including Venrock, the venture-capital arm of the Rockefeller family. "We welcome The Chernin Group to the Crunchyroll family and look forward to working with them and Crunchyroll management to continue this fantastic ride," Yukio Kawasaki, general manager of the animation division of TV Tokyo, said in a statement.
Chernin Group's assets include Chernin Entertainment, which produces feature films and TV programs; a majority stake in Hong Kong-based media and entertainment company CA Media; and several strategic investments in digital media companies, which have included Pandora, Fullscreen, Base79, MiTú, Tumblr, Flipboard and Scopely.
Currently, Crunchyroll hosts more than 25,000 episodes and 15,000 hours of anime, Korean drama and live-action titles licensed from top Asian media producers, translated into multiple languages. The service is available on Crunchyroll.com and other platforms including iPhone, iPad, Android, Apple TV, PlayStation3, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Roku"
What's your though on this? As long it doesn't hinder CR from getting as many shows as licensing agreements allow, i don't really see an issue. However, there is something to be said about
Hopefully, with more ownership being put into it, it would allow for CR to get more ATX-version fan service simulcasts. Also, it might help get certain hows (looking at you, Infinite Stratos II) to have fewer delayed streaming schedules.
Unrelated note: in the CR Jobs section, it says that that CR gets the monthly viewing equivalent of 950.663 years of anime. Sheesh, to say our 200,000+ subscribing population really loves anime is an understatement.
I like him already. No worries here!
Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the Emperor
Mafianking wrote:
I like him already. No worries here!
Very nice. I approve of this and hope that it makes things better for everyone.
So each subscriber watches an average of 1.387 hours of anime per day? Not including non-subscribers.
Assuming a $5 per month subscription, they only get revenue of 12 million per year too. I wonder what they get from advertising and merchandise sales.
They're valued at 100 million? Crunchyroll must have some serious costs, or I suppose they could have been valued at a high interest rate. Wait, this could be seriously complicated.
This should be good though. Its in the best interest of venture capitalists to make sure their companies do as well as possible. I guess this isn't really venture capitalism though, considering that they're already gone through one or two rounds of selling ownership.
I am, thus, chocolate cake.
I'm surprised there isn't a news post about this. It's kind of a big deal.
I would like to see some assurances from the staff that the way the site is run will not be negatively impacted by this sale.
If they grow vertically enough they start making content. That would be interesting.
Edit: It is odd that in the company overview and the company press release, the number of videos and hours of anime, Korean drama and live action titles are different though.
I am, thus, chocolate cake.
I hope that this is a sign of CR growing via outside investment, and not a sign that CR is running an unmaintainable business and needs a cash infusion to stay afloat.
as long as ads remain away from my videos as a premium member i have nothing to complain about, just don't pull a hulu, that's all im asking.
When they say "launch new channels in different genres." does that mean that they are going to add other types of shows other than anime here?
It's kinda hard to parse this.
On the one hand, he was a part of News Corp (highly reviled).
On the other hand, he left it and founded his own thing. And if you care about political leanings, he was a big proponent and fundraiser for the US Democratic Party and the President. So the typically conservative NewsCorp doesn't really figure for me. Of course, big media types tend to be huge anti-piracy people regardless of politics.
He made a play for Hulu with a half billion dollar offering earlier in the year, so it could mean Crunchyroll was his plan B and he intends to carve out a niche with CR or seek become an international version of Hulu.
So yeah, there's a lot of possibilities and nothing concrete at this point. This could be really good or this could be problematic or not really change anything.
"as well as launch new channels in different genres."
new channels?
Different genres?
no idea what that means, but as long as I have Anime in HD, I'm a happy camper... mostly
Goremonger wrote:
When they say "launch new channels in different genres." does that mean that they are going to add other types of shows other than anime here?
That is what I'm wonder, I don't watch anything if it's not anime or Korean or Japanese Drama
let's not ruin a good thing
johnlathorp wrote:
It's kinda hard to parse this.
So yeah, there's a lot of possibilities and nothing concrete at this point. This could be really good or this could be problematic or not really change anything.
Hopefully it's the first one or last one
I've been playing too much Kotor
I think he wants to make it like netflix, with adding tv, and movies? maybe we can get Japanese/korean Tv shows etc. I just hope no one loses their jobs.
I already like crunchyroll from the get-go and even more when they went legit.
One thing I miss though is the flourished community base activity that the last couple of years lacked after getting legit. Right now, it's not even 1/16 of the intensity of what the forums and groups used to be. I wish that this move does wonders to the staving off crunchyroll socializing thingy.
En Español, las chicas llamanme "El Tigre Negro Chino Cabrónisimo". "LÀWL"
For a lot of praise this gets, I just get the feeling the opposite will happen.
Remember this post in a year from now after the changes took effect. I might be right.
Squirrel3D, "The Independent Human"!
The only change I like to see is what most peeps made mention of, better vids after that CR should stay the course, I honestly don't think CR is too bad outside the odd video problem. Otherwise why would I pay right? (Though more weeaboo/otaku terms in the translation wouldn't hurt...like cowlick and ahoge ^_~)
"It's just that I prefer....smaller tits." -Best last words


text:
Robbery just before Manchester police seminar for small business hammers home safety recommendationsBy TIM BUCKLAND
New Hampshire Union Leader
November 14. 2013 11:04PM
MANCHESTER — Take the advertising out of windows. Keep the cash in registers to a minimum. Greet every customer. And never, ever try to confront a robber by pulling out a weapon.
About 30 convenience store owners and employees were given these tips, and more, as part of a seminar hosted by the Manchester Police Department Wednesday night that aimed to help convenience stores lessen the chances of being robbed.
Community Policing Officer Paul Rondeau said most robbers are hoping to end the robbery quickly and get some cash or something they can easily sell to purchase drugs.
"They're typically conducting the robbery to feed some kind of chemical dependency," he said. "You and the robber have something in common. You both want the ordeal to be over with as quickly as possible."
Rondeau told the store owners and employees that one of the biggest mistakes they can make is to pull out a gun or other weapon. He said that doing so turns a quick robbery into a life or death situation for the robber, who is likely already nervous and agitated.
"Is that pack of cigarettes, is that six-pack of beer, is that $30 really worth somebody losing their life over? What's most important is that you get home safe," he said.
Rondeau said convenience stores can also take several steps to deter would-be robbers from considering their stores. They include wide aisles with low shelves for better visibility, surveillance cameras, greeting every customer so a would-be robber knows that their face has been seen, time-lock safes and bright lights. But, he said, the "most important" thing convenience stores can do is clear windows of advertising that blocks the interior view from the street.
Detective Sgt. Joseph Mucci said Crosstown Variety on Bremer Street was robbed shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday, about an hour before the seminar, and the robber was caught coming out of the store because someone passing by the store saw the robbery happening and called 911.
Police charged Nicholas Meuse, 27, of Manchester, with one count of robbery in connection to the incident.
"All those signs that are in your windows are a detriment to you and to us in sometimes stopping robberies," Mucci said.
Rabi Thapal, owner of the S&R Westside Market on Kelley Street, said he found the seminar informative.
"It will be helpful to protect ourselves and our employees," he said.


text:
Durant shouldering heavy load for Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Kevin Durant insists he can carry as much as Thunder coach Scott Brooks wants to heap onto his shoulders with Russell Westbrook injured and out for the rest of the playoffs.
The Memphis Grizzlies are testing that theory.
The Grizzlies were able to largely neutralize Durant's supporting cast in Game 2, pulling out a 99-93 victory Tuesday night to tie the Western Conference semifinals at 1-1.
Durant nearly did it all for Oklahoma City. He led the team in scoring (36), rebounds (11) and assists (nine) and also blocked a shot and came up with one of the Thunder's three steals. What he couldn't do was finish off a superb performance after Memphis went ahead in the final 2 minutes.
Instead of calling on his teammates to pitch in, Durant is demanding even more of himself.
"I always can do more," Durant said. "I've got to put my teammates in better positions to score. I turned the ball over some where I thought I could have made better passes, shot some shots I should have drove or should have got closer. But I always can be better."
How much more the Thunder can lean on one man remains to be seen.
Oklahoma City made it through the first round without Westbrook, getting 25 points from sixth man Kevin Martin to win at Houston in Game 6. But after scoring 25 again in the opener against Memphis, Martin made just 2 of 11 shots and had six points as the Thunder handed over home-court advantage to the Grizzlies.
Game 3 is Saturday in Memphis.
"We know what Kevin Durant is going to do. Our whole thing was just trying to come here and stop Martin," said Tony Allen, who had five of Memphis' 13 steals. "We keyed in on Martin (Monday) in the film, but Derek Fisher got it going. So when we go back to the drawing board, we're going to have to scout Derek Fisher more and see how he was killing us."
Fisher, the 38-year-old veteran who asked out of his contract with Dallas so he could be with his family before signing as a free agent with Oklahoma City, was about the only Thunder role player who came up big in Game 2. He scored 19 points — with 14 in the first half and a 3-pointer at the final buzzer — while the rest of Durant's crew went 13 for 40 from the field.
Serge Ibaka had his third straight off game, although he improved on his dreadful 1-for-10 shooting in Game 1 to make 5 of 12 shots and score 11 points. Nick Collison, often the team's most dependable reserve, had this unsightly stat line: no points, no rebounds, four turnovers and six fouls.
Perhaps even more than the scoring load, Durant needs more help on the boards. Memphis had a 43-35 rebounding edge in Game 2, turning 16 offensive rebounds into 23 second-chance points.
"We have to rebound the basketball. This is a rebounding series, and they understand that. We've talked about it enough," Brooks said. "But you have to be able to do it every possession."
Brooks' counterpart, Lionel Hollins, wouldn't take much credit for scheming to marginalize Martin's impact. Just as he said Ibaka simply missed nine open jump shots in Game 1, Hollins said Wednesday that Martin "had some wide-open shots he didn't make."
And it's not as if the Grizzlies are willing to let Durant do whatever he wants as long as no one else hurts them.
"You still can't let him go and get 50," Hollins said. "You want him to take a lot of shots. If he had 36 (Tuesday) night and he was 11 for 15 and had a few more free throws, it's trouble. But we don't want to put him on the free throw line and we want to make him work and take a lot of shots.
"It takes a lot of energy to be an offensive player, regardless of what people think, especially when you have the ball in your hand the majority of the time. We want to work him on that end. We want to work him on the defensive end."
During the three-day break between games, Durant said he planned to look at film of his playmaking abilities for his teammates and "see how I can get some of these guys going."
"I'm a leader. Guys are looking at me. So, if I hang my head, they're going to hang their head and that's never good," Durant said. "My individual game really doesn't matter if we lose."
AP freelance writer Clay Bailey contributed to this report from Memphis, Tenn.


text:
I grew up wanting to be an astronaut. Or a baseball or basketball player. I don't think rally car driver was amongst them. And after Sunday, it still probably won't be.
As I was returning to Hood River Sunday night I passed through a snowstorm between Corbett and Multnomah Falls. Then the snow gave way to clouds, and the clouds to clear skies as I traveled east of Cascade Locks.
I was thinking to myself how easy this trip wound up being considering I was expecting snow the whole way.
Then as I came down the hill just west of Mitchell Point, I looked down at my odometer. I was speeding up, and I didn't have my foot on the gas. Nor did I seem to have much control of the car.
I was on black ice.
I slid toward the ditch on the right side of the road, corrected, and then hit another patch.
The result of that was a 540-degree spin. I just missed the center divide once, and then missed it again on the next spin around and wound up facing the wrong way on the freeway.
It's funny what goes through your mind as the world spins. My first thought was to wonder which way you turn in an ice skid, with it or against it (go with the skid). Then as I saw the center divider slide past my windshield my next thought was: "Oh come on, I just paid to have the windshield replaced; can we not do this today?"
Thankfully, the oncoming semi was far enough away that it was able to go around, as were the three cars behind it. I was able to pull a three-point turn, remove myself from the cloud of burned rubber smoke, and get home.
I saved any thanks to my guardian angels until after I was already home; I figured anything more than a brief "Thanks" while sitting on the highway would be inviting another semi to come along.
At least now I?can say I've done a spinout in my car. It may not have been in victory lane, but hey, we take what we can get.
I have now driven alongside an actual rally car driver, Ken Block, and done a semi-decent ice impression of it myself.
Now about that professional baseball contract, or astronaut training ...
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text:
There is no way around it. Obama will get a bump from this. But he is winning most of these states already.
Outrageous: Labor Department May Delay Jobs Report
by John Nolte 29 Oct 2012, 9:19 AM PDT
This morning on a campaign conference call, Obama chief strategist David Axelrod pre-spun the release of the upcoming Friday jobs report. According to some reports, Axelrod predicted the numbers would not give Romney a boost. There was also a prediction released by a major pollster today that predicted a bad jobs report could be a game-changer and tip the race to Romney decisively. And then what happened ? Well, lo and behold, the U.S. Labor Department releases a statement stating the hurricane might delay the release of the jobs report:
The U.S. Labor Department on Monday said it hasnt made a decision yet on whether to delay Fridays October jobs report, the final reading on the labor market before next weeks federal elections.
A Labor official said the agency will assess the schedule for all its data releases this week when the weather emergency is over.
This would likely be an unprecedented move on the Bureau of Labor Statistic's part and is only more outrageous in the wake of an artificially low jobless claims report released earlier this month that was missing tens of thousands of jobless claims from California, one of the most populous states in the country.
That's correct: just a few weeks before a presidential election, Obama enjoyed headlines he had not earned, claiming that weekly unemployment claims plunged to a four year-low. Except that report was based on wildly incomplete information. Moreover, upon the release of that report, the BLS did not inform the public that the entire state of California was missing.
The BLS also raised suspicions after a September report was released showing a counter-intuitive drop in the unemployment rate that would only be possible if 800,000 jobs had been created in a single month. That same report showed that the number of jobs created was about 700,000 short of that.
Not releasing October's unemployment numbers just a few days before a presidential election would be absolutely outrageous and only further erode trust in our public institutions.
It also reeks of desperation.
Follow John Nolte on Twitter @NolteNC
Chicago politics at it's finest......
There is no way around it. Obama will get a bump from this. But he is winning most of these states already.
The Government is Closed today.
It's almost surely going to be closed tomorrow.
Of course it will be delayed.
No conspiracy theory required.
Libs now controlling weather.
Speaking of weather, remember when Hurricane Isaac was bearing down on and threatening to interrupt the Republican convention? Libs thought that was hilarious. Called it divine intervention.
Now we have one bearing down and threatening early voting, which will hurt Obungler...
Who's laughing now?
Karma b*tches..... LOLZ
hard to figure why a Paulistinian would obsess over someone's religion or enable the destructive rat-eared OBowMao...some of 'em are as disturbed as they come
Conservative Pats Fans >>>>>>> Crypto-Liberal Jets Fans any day of the week
Last edited by Jungle Shift Jet; 10-29-2012 at 08:47 PM.
I'm sorry this Romney thing is about to flush our party down the toilet again JSJ
Don't blame me though for supporting a principled candidate who could have won. I wasn't one of those who allowed Koch Bros and Rove billions to buy the nomination for a John Kerry-like flip flopping Massachusetts lib-con empty suit who stands for nothing.
I'm doing the right thing next Tuesday and writing in Ron
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Nobody bought my vote, kid. I voted for a guy who knows who to run a business as well as a gubmint, who can turn the economy and a country around the way the destructive SCOAMF-TOTUS can never do without the baggage of the other GOPers especially the Israel-hating, Anti-American Stormfront-loving "Republican" Herr Doktor
Oh well, another dumbaZZ vote for B. Hussein.....check...every prison camp has its kapos...that's what (L) is to (D)
Last edited by Jungle Shift Jet; 10-30-2012 at 12:00 PM.
Seig Heil
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NSFW /Impressionable Crypto-Liberals
As I said...
Sorry you are a moron
Nothing much I can do for you.
Enjoy your cross burnings
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You're even more of a know-nothing than I thought, Skippy. Or is that less of a know-nothing.
Ron Paul: Conspiracy nut, Pro-Islamokook, Anti-Semite, Goldbug, Anti-African American, Anti-American...too many crazy things to list even in an Excel spreadsheet
Good thing your throwing away a vote on an insignificant Liberal gadfly won't mean a thing where it counts..why not come out of the closet and vote for the Marxist...same difference
Last edited by Jungle Shift Jet; 10-30-2012 at 01:52 PM.
Ron could have won
Flip flopping Massachusetts Libe-Con
Not getting my vote
Writing in Ron
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