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North Conway teen is missing
October 10. 2013 6:54AM
NORTH Conway - Conway police are searching for a 14-year-old girl who was last seen around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday leaving Kennett High School.
Abigail Hernandez was reported missing by her mother Zenya Hernandez, both of 86 Village Way. Police said when her mother returned home, the teenager was not there.
Abigail is described as Hispanic, 5-feet-four, weighing 118 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, and a light olive complexion. She was last seen wearing black yoga or stretch pants and a gray sweatshirt.
Conway police believe Abigail arrived home, based on a track found by a police dog from the New Hampshire State Police.
So far, the investigation has included witness interviews, a search of Abigail's home and the surrounding area and traces of phone calls. Her name was submitted to the National Crime Information Center as a missing person.
Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is asked to call Conway Police Department at 356-5715.


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SAS® Size Optimization: SAS® Size Profiling and SAS® Pack Optimization
An enterprise solution that affects both supply and demand
SAS Size Optimization uses powerful analytics to transform historical sales data into size-demand intelligence. The solution predicts future sales and inventory needs by size, and determines case-pack supply to optimally meet this demand. When integrated with existing merchant systems, it enables the application of this intelligence to purchasing and allocation.
SAS Size Optimization helps retailers improve profitability by identifying and supplying the right sizes to the right stores at the right time. The solution systematizes this level of planning and execution by matching packs to size-level demand for each store. The result is higher store-level margins, lower operating costs, fewer stock-outs and reduced end-of-season markdowns.
Because we are optimizing sizes, we will improve sales and margins, and reduce markdowns. These are the biggest benefits we are getting."
John Kubo
Vice President and CIO
The Wet Seal
Improve sales.
SAS Size Optimization assists retailers by more accurately identifying both size-level demand by location and determining pack-level quantities required to meet that need.
As a result, there are fewer stock-outs across the stores and higher overall sales without increasing inventory risk.
Increase margins.
SAS Size Optimization increases full-price early-season sales by better matching size profiles to forecasted demand. SAS Size Optimization also reduces the need for markdowns by reducing "stranded" inventory at store level.
The result is higher profit margins. Determining just the right number of each pre-pack configuration needed also allows retailers to control product procurement costs.
Decrease operating costs.
Determining just the right number of each available pre-pack configuration needed to economically meet demand helps maintain reasonable distribution costs.
Retailers using this solution also reduce the need for costly break-pack and piece-pick activities within their distribution networks by raising the percentage of product supplied in multi-item pre-packs.
Ultimately, this provides an opportunity to reduce labor requirements and improve distribution center throughput.
Improve planning team efficiencies.
Retailers today are always looking for ways to streamline their teams and increase throughput and effectiveness while constantly fighting competitive pressures that drive down margins.
SAS Size Optimization utilizes numerous automated processes and procedures to improve the efficiencies of planning teams, allowing them to play a more strategic role in the organization.
- Generate demand-based size profiles
- Build and use attribute-specific profiles
- Recommend pack portfolios
- Design multidelivery strategies
- Conduct what-if analysis

subset: commoncrawl


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Less than a month after pleading guilty to numerous child sex crimes, former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has been sentenced to 29 years in prison, with six years' probation.
The sentence was announced at Cardiff Crown Court in Wales today (Dec. 18), and hopefully brings at least some small degree of closure and justice to one of the most disturbing stories to emerge from the music world this year.
The Mirror reports that Mr. Justice Royal told Watkins, "You are a sexual predator. You are dangerous. The public, and in particular young females and children, need protection from you." He also said that Watkins "plumb[ed] new depths of depravity" while showing "evident delight" and "an almost complete lack of remorse."
Despite being visibly shaken during the sentencing, Watkins brushed off the horrific nature of his crimes, and reportedly told a friend he considered testifying on his own behalf in court by saying, "'Come on, it wasn't that bad, nobody got hurt." He also suggested that he was "going to put out a statement on the 18th now just to say it was mega lolz (i.e. very funny), I don't know what everyone is getting so freaked out about."
The two women who pleaded guilty along with Watkins for their roles in the crimes were sentenced to 14 and 17 years for their participation in Watkins' crimes, as well as their own actions. Watkins will be eligible for parole in 2033, after two-thirds of his sentence has been served.


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Watch this from across the room, or squinting, and you'll think it's Mario Kart. From the effects to the course design, it is literally Mario Kart Wii.
Only, it's not. This is a Chinese game called Mole Kart, and as far as shameless Chinese knock-offs go, it's right up there with Final Combat. Maybe even a little past it, what with the wholesale theft of entire levels.
Dreister Mario Kart Wii-Klon erscheint im chinesischen App Store [Ntower, via Go Nintendo]


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8 May 2014 07:47:09 AM
Anthony Johnson vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Booked for UFC on FOX 12
Fresh off his three-round domination of Phil Davis at UFC 172, light-heavyweight contender/inspirational comeback story Anthony Johnson has been booked to return to the Octagon on July 26th at UFC on FOX 12: San Jose vs. Stockton, Bitch (tentative title). As first reported by FOX Sports, Johnson will face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, one of the most frequently injured fighters currently "active" in the UFC.
Lil' Nog has only fought twice since his decision loss to Phil Davis in March 2011, TKO'ing Tito Ortiz at UFC 140, and out-pointing Rashad Evans at UFC 156 in February 2013. He's been sidelined since then due to a back injury.
The matchup seems tailor-made to give "Rumble" another high-profile win before he's launched into title contention. Or, to put it another way: This looks like a damn squash match. Sure, anything can happen in an MMA fight, but when you put one of the UFC's most powerful 205-pound contenders up against a guy whose body has been steadily disintegrating before our eyes, it's pretty obvious what the promotion would like to see happen here.
No other fights have been booked for UFC on FOX 12, which will take place at San Jose's SAP Center.Read More DIGG THIS


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Opening of the floodgates at the Ameren Missouri Bagnell Dam plant is one of those double-edged-sword scenarios.
Opening of the floodgates at the Ameren Missouri Bagnell Dam plant is one of those double-edged-sword scenarios.
The reason behind the need to open the gates is to manage the lake level after major rainfall in the Osage River basin and to prevent upstream flooding, dock damage and shoreline damage. Flooding downstream is always a concern as well, and Wednesday morning's toad strangler of a rain forced the evacuation of Camp Bagnell and the Riverview RV Park, which abut the river.
And, of course, there is damage to farmland below the dam, and the potential loss of livestock.
An upside to opening the floodgates is the spectacle of watching tens of thousands of gallons of lake water rush down the spillways into the Osage River.
Hundreds of people waited patiently Wednesday morning for the warning sirens to signal the opening of the gates. One woman said she and her husband had been there since 8 a.m. The first gate opened about 11 a.m. after emergency management officials were certain areas below the dam had been evacuated.
Cars and onlookers jammed both ends of the dam; spectators were lined up along the sidewalk on the dam and watched from the Ameren Missouri roadway above the river.
"I've seen it several times, and it's still an awesome sight," Bagnell Dam plant engineer Alan Sullivan said Wednesday morning.
The last time the floodgates were opened was May 20, 2011. While many area residents suffered damage to their homes, vehicles and personal belongings because of the flash flooding in low-lying areas earlier this week, Sullivan said the event isn't a major flood in terms of either lake levels or total outflow through the dam.
"The biggest issue was flash flooding when seven inches of rain fell between 2 and 6 a.m.," he explained. "The Osage River at the dam rose by six feet in three hours between 4 and 7 a.m."
And that was before the floodgates opened, which was expected to raise the river at least four more feet.
"We can handle flows as they are now with no major problem," Sullivan said. "However, we certainly recognize the serious flooding downstream resulting from the heavy rain on the river and outflow from the lake."
But the potential for more rain the remainder of the week has Ameren officials concerned.
"Wet grounds and heavy rain will result in more high flows into the lake and downstream," he said.
Bagnell Plant officials opened 11 of 12 floodgates between 11 and 11:30 a.m. Wedesday at only 10 percent capacity for a total increase in inflow into the river from 37,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 47,144 cfs as of mid-afternoon Wednesday.
That put plant officials in a holding pattern until they re-evaluated the situation later in the afternoon.
According to Ameren's website, the lake level was still peaking at 3 p.m. Wednesday at 660.74. Full pool is 660 feet above sea level.
What's the highest the lake has ever been?
Sullivan said records indicate the lake reached 665.45 in 1943, and 664.3 in 1986 which was after Truman Dam was built to help manage inflow.


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Corn: While the Delta is wet and has a forecast for more rain, it is far too early to talk delays for planting in the Midwest. There will be greater concern for Delta planting soon, but for the Midwest it will still be some time.
Bulls have full control over the technicals with corn still grinding higher. May corn is close to last week's high of 734-1/2 and then has next resistance of 747-1/2. December corn looks even better by taking out last week's highs already with next chart resistance at 596-1/2.
Monday's buying was certainly a larger push higher than expected ahead of such major reports. Thursday will still mean everything to how corn ends up trading for the week…Ryan Ettner
Soybeans: It was announced that Monsanto expects to roll out a new worm-resistant GMO soybean for sale to Brazilian producers next fall. The Intacta RR2 Pro was developed specially for Brazilian conditions. They expect China to approve the soybean in the coming months.
As for this year's crop, Safras e Mercado reported that 64% of the Brazilian bean harvest is complete vs. 58% a week ago, and 63% a year ago,. The five-year average is that 52% of the crop is in the bin. Soybean inspections came in at 18.458 million bushels, which was up from last week's disappointing 10.012 million bushels.
We look for the bean market to chop the next few days as the market awaits Thursdays report…Jim McCormick
Wheat: Trade is expecting prospective planting to see 56.442 million acres for total wheat planting 41.816 million acres of winter wheat, 12.459 million acres of spring wheat and 2.117 million acres of durum wheat. These numbers are slightly bearish when compared to the amount we planted last year, but we are not seeing a huge shift in acres to or from wheat.
Currently, the forecast continues to remain moist for a large portion of the plains and we need to see good moisture to help the wheat crop that is going to be moving out of dormancy in the next few weeks. Continue to watch weather forecasts moving forward…Cordon Sroka


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One thing about The Hockey News writer Adam Proteau: he never pulls any punches.
Today Bruins free-agent defenseman Tomas Kaberle received a sock from Proteau along with four other prominent UFAs about to hit the market Friday.
In a story entitled "Five free agents you don't want," Proteau gives an explanation for why teams should shy away from Kaberle, Tomas Vokoun, Simon Gagne, Sean Bergenhim and Raffi Torres. I think it's funny that four of the five players were key contributors to teams that reached the NHL final four.
Of Kaberle, Proteau writes:
Anyone who saw Kaberle meander around the rink after being traded from Toronto to Boston knows why I called him Bear Stearns on Twitter; like the now-disgraced Wall St. investment firm, Kaberle lost millions based on his performance with the Bruins. At age 33, he is a shell of what he was during his best days with the Leafs – and his physical play is about as tough as an empty shell.
Of course, as a puck-moving defenseman, Kaberle will receive a number of offers. But remember, whatever he giveth on offense, he taketh away in his own zone. If your GM winds up giving him more than three years and/or $3 million per season, you have every right to question your GM's judgment and/or sanity.
I can understand Proteau warning teams not to commit too much term and cash to Kaberle. At 33 (he'll be 34 by next year's playoffs), he's definitely on the downward portion of his career. However, I disagree that he would hurt a team defensively as much as he would help offensively. In a solid defensive system and playing with a solid goaltender behind him — think the Bruins, Devils, Kings, Penguins — Kaberle could succeed and be a much better contributor than he showed in his stint with Boston.
Nonetheless, there are probably better options for teams that don't want to be on the hook for Kaberle in the second half of a deal longer than three years or have the depth in their organization to go younger and take their chances (the Bruins might fall in this category).


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Roger Brown's First and 10: Christmas comes early for KeeneBy ROGER BROWN
New Hampshire Union Leader
October 26. 2013 7:49PM
Christmas came early for the Keene High School football team, and it came in the form of Nashua North's 14-7 victory over Bishop Guertin of Nashua on Friday night.
Keene, which knocked off previously unbeaten Nashua South 42-28 at home Friday, entered the weekend as a longshot to make the Division I playoffs. Now it will take some unexpected things to happen on the regular season's final weekend for the Blackbirds not to advance.
Keene improved its record to 6-2 and moved ahead of BG (5-3) in the Division I West standings. Keene can clinch a playoff spot by beating Alvirne of Hudson (1-7) at home next Friday.
"Right after we scored our final touchdown the PA guy announced the North-BG score," Keene coach John Luopa said. "The place went bonkers."
If Keene does beat Alvirne the Blackbirds will face Nashua South (7-1) in the conference championship game. The Panthers can secure first place in the conference - and home-field advantage for the conference championship game - by beating Winnacunnet of Hampton on Friday. Winnacunnet needs a victory over South and a loss by either Exeter (5-3) or Spaulding of Rochester (5-3) to qualify for the Division I East playoffs.
Keene is 5-0 since moving Alex Parenteau from running back to quarterback. The Blackbirds are averaging 34.4 points per game during that stretch.
Parenteau completed 20 of 26 passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns against Nashua South. He also ran for 116 yards and a TD.
"I told the kids to just focus on Nashua South," Luopa said. "Don't worry about North, just take care of what you can control. I told them good things happen to teams that continue to work hard."
- - - - - -
Two years ago Pelham was suffering through its second consecutive winless season, but how things have changed.
The Pythons remained the only unbeaten team in Division III by knocking off Campbell 48-13 Friday night in Litchfield, and can punctuate an undefeated regular season by knocking off Farmington-Nute (1-6) next weekend.
Running back Chris Medeiros ran for two touchdowns and passed the 1,000-yard mark in the victory, which raised Pelham's record to 7-0.
"I think every game we play this year is a statement game because of how much we've struggled in the past," Pelham coach Ryan Clark said. "Most of these kids played in the old (Division III) for two years and it was very hard for them, but they got that DIII experience with that DIII speed and caliber of play.
"Medeiros is the one everybody knew about coming into the season because of what he did last year, but we knew we had a lot of weapons and I don't think anybody saw our offensive line coming. It's a phenomenal group that gets better every single day, and the skill guys couldn't do it without them."
- - - - - - -
Manchester Central took care of business Friday night by beating Salem 32-20. Central's victory sets up a huge game between Bedford (7-1) and Central (6-2) in Bedford on Friday night.
The winner of that contest will secure a Division I playoff berth and will face Concord (8-0) in the Division I North championship game. The loser will be eliminated from playoff contention.
- - - - - - -
Things have been settled in Division I South, where Londonderry (4-4) will play at Pinkerton Academy of Derry (6-2) in the conference championship game regardless of what happens next weekend. Pinkerton beat Londonderry 35-14 in Derry earlier this season.
- - - - - - -
Spaulding running back Trey Scott ran for 248 yards during a 42-13 triumph over Alvirne on Friday. Scott, a senior, has run for 1,253 yards this season and has 3,114 yards rushing in his high school career. ... Somersworth's Elyjah Dejoie carried the ball 29 times for 317 yards in Friday's 33-27 overtime loss to Bow. Dejoie tied the game with a 6-yard TD run on the final play of regulation, but the point-after kick was blocked. ... Milford improved its record against rival Souhegan to 2-11 with Friday's 38-7 triumph.
Roger Brown covers high school football for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter: @603sportsmedia.


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Cayenne pepper, Grand Mariner or a dash of French salt spice up traditional faves
Looking for the freshest candies this Easter and upcoming Mother's Day? Steer clear of the drug store and hop on the Greater Niagara Region's delicious "Chocolate Trail," which features outstanding confections made the old-fashioned way by local chocolatiers and sweet shops.
Created with all-natural ingredients and crafted to perfection, Western New York's specialty chocolate shops produce quality freshness that cannot be found in the "big box" candy aisles with prepackaged confections. Many of these family-owned sweet shops are run by third-generation candy makers, and have been serving up sweetness for decades.
Another bonus to buying straight from the source is you can ensure your Easter basket includes some dark chocolate. Science Daily calls it a "super fruit," because of its rich source of antioxidants, while the Cleveland Clinic reminds us this does not apply to all chocolate, as "most commercial chocolates are highly processed."
Oliver's Candies in Batavia, circa 1932, manufactures its candy in small quantities to ensure freshness. With more than 200 varieties of Easter bunnies alone, you'll fill every family member's basket with a trip to Oliver's. Oliver's uses natural ingredients such as honey, butter and lemon zest. Vice President Jeremy Liles said spicy chocolate is an up-and-coming trend and Oliver's is hopping on it by making peanut butter and caramel corn with cayenne pepper. (https://www.oliverscandies.com)
Heading toward Niagara County, you'll experiencePlatter's Chocolates in North Tonawanda, founded by Carl Platter in 1938 in the basement of his home. Known for its orange chocolate and orange fudge, Platter's was purchased by Rodger Urban in 1972. He had been a neighbor of the Platter family. Under his guidance, Platter's added crèmes, caramels and jellies. His children, Sherry, Bruce and Joe, carry on his tradition, introducing iconic local shapes such as buffaloes, chicken wings and even pizza slices. (http://www.platterschocolates.com)
In Orleans County, Dan and Sue Fuller have been in business as Della's Chocolates in historic Medina since 2011. They specialize in handmade chocolates, including truffles and chocolate patties made with milk, dark, white, or sugar-free Chocolate. (http://dellaschocolates.com)
Another charming newcomer in the Village of Perry: Sweet Sarah's. Sarah Schmitter opened her store in July 2009. Specialties include sea-salt caramel, giant peanut butter cups, and sponge candy. If you're looking for some unusual shapes, Sarah's fits the bill. "Our shotgun and deer-head molds are very popular for the dads' baskets," she noted. (http://www.sweetsarahschocolates.com)
Erie County is home to several renowned chocolate makers, including Fowler's Chocolates, Watson's Chocolates, Choco-Logo and newcomer Oh Pour L'Amour Du Chocolat.
Joseph A. Fowler came to Buffalo to experience the Pan American Exposition. There, he sold a small variety of chocolate. He founded Fowler's Chocolates in 1910 and was an instant success. His chocolate shops have been a Western New York staple ever since. Fowler's is well known for its sponge candy -35,000 pounds is produced every year. Fowler's shops in the GNR stretch from Buffalo through Tonawanda, East Aurora, Cheektowaga and Hamburg. (http://www.fowlerschocolates.com)
Watson's Chocolates is another local favorite, dating back to 1946, and spanning three generations. Guaranteeing satisfaction and quality, Watson's makes everything from fudge to sponge candy and jelly beans. Its bunnies and chicks can be found in East Amherst, Kenmore, Buffalo, Orchard Park, Lancaster and Niagara Falls. (http://www.watsonschocolates.com)
Choco-Logo, operating for two decades, provides upscale chocolates and popcorn to some of the country's most sophisticated retailers, as well as charities and businesses. It boasts a wide variety of truffles, salty caramels, and other sweet/salty combos. In 2005, it opened its picturesque factory to the public. Choco-Logo has four- and eight-month "Perpetual Plans" that mom will enjoy after Mothers Day has passed. (http://www.chocologo.com)
Oh Pour L'Amour Du Chocolat on Main Street in Amherst makes artisan chocolates using local products and ingredients. Some of its chocolatiers have studied in Paris and others have gone to local culinary schools, but all have mastered making chocolate in their own way. Described as "a mix of Parisian style with a 1920s soda shop feel," Oh Pour L'Amour Du Chocolat will fill your basket with sophisticated treats like truffles filled with Grand Mariner and champagne, and classic Parisian macaroons. (http://www.ohpourlamourduchocolat.com)
So, this year, start a new tradition and visit the charming chocolate shops that dot the Greater Niagara Region. These shops offer a variety of tastes and shapes to please chocolate and candy lovers of all ages, and products are freshly made with natural ingredients and authentic family recipes.
The Greater Niagara USA Region offers unique agricultural features and diverse culinary destinations stretching through its five diverse counties. The GNR's bounty of farms, markets, breweries, wineries and restaurants provide both day-trippers and vacationers with unforgettable experiences. For a listing of what there is to do and see in Greater Niagara USA, visit www.greaterniagara.com or call 1-800-622-2686.


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|TidBITS#94 19911118
Of course by now you've all heard that Microsoft officially announced Word 5 last week after over two and half years, but that doesn't mean that you'll see it before January. We'll probably be doing an article about what is good, bad, and ugly in the new version sometime in the future, so keep an eye out.
I haven't heard too much about this subject recently, having moved away from Cornell and its public computer rooms, but at one point I was very interested in getting a Mac to boot to a network. Actually, my low tech solution was a cheap SCSI device that held a small storage device, perhaps EPROMs. That would then work with any Mac, rather than requiring a network. (And anyone who wants to use my idea can pay me royalties and I'll tell them the rest of the details :-)). However, a more logical situation for public rooms with Ethernet installed is to use something like Sonic Systems's recently-announced The Diskless Mac (TDM). TDM is a ROM chip that replaces ROM chips on popular Ethernet cards and includes software that loads an image of the System Software into a RAM disk on the client Mac. One of TDM's claims to fame is that it will work with a Unix server as well as with an AppleShare server, which increases its flexibility. I don't know if BootToob, the other remote booting package, supports this (see TidBITS-073 for more information on BootToob). The advantage of remote booting should be obvious - client Macs don't need hard disks, easier network administration, viruses having a harder time spreading, and simpler software protection. The only drawbacks to this sort of thing are that it requires an Ethernet network, which isn't as cheap or as common as LocalTalk networks, it requires extra RAM (my guess is that 4 MB would be the minimum after you devote 1 MB to the RAM disk and 1.5 MB for the System to use for normal operation; check your About this Macintosh... to see how much your System is using), and it costs an extra $149 per Mac. Still, for the protection and convenience it offers (I wrote the moron-proof instructions for rebuilding a public hard disk from backups at Cornell, and it would have been wonderful if those Macs hadn't required rebuilding all the time), TDM could easily pay for itself in no time.
Sonic Systems -- 408/736-1900
Connectix tells me that they've shipped version 2.2.1 of HAND-Off II, which adds compatibility for System 7.0.1, the PowerBooks, Quadras, and other 68040 accelerators. The upgrade is free to registered users, just call Connectix and ask. If you already own On Cue or the Now Utilities, you can get HAND-Off II for $35 directly from Connectix through December 31st, 1991. In addition to the added compatibility, Connectix's Roy MacDonald said that he felt the main benefits of the upgrade over Now Software's MultiMaster are application substitution, greater reliability, and a stronger Launch menu (it now includes a better interface, color and sound switching), and the ability to pop up the menu anywhere on the screen. HAND-Off II also includes the SuperMenu feature that makes the Apple menu hierarchical, a feat matched by Now's NowMenus, HAM from Microseeds, and the $10 shareware BeHiearchic. In this version of HAND-Off II, Connectix has optimized the SuperMenu feature for speed and memory usage, but having only used NowMenus, I can't comment on the difference. One final addition to HAND-Off II is the ability to have your menu drop automatically when you move the mouse over it, called "auto-drop," or to have the menu stay down once you click once on it, called "click-to-drop." I've found similar features irritating on 13" monitors, but Roy said that despite misgivings, he found it quite useful on a 25" monitor. Time will tell.
Connectix -- 800/950-5880 -- 415/571-5100
At the last dBUG meeting, Aldus president Paul Brainerd said that he wouldn't buy a PowerBook right away because he couldn't live in 40 MB. Luckily for him, CMS has announced 40 MB and 80 MB upgrade drives specifically for the PowerBooks, and has a 100 MB drive in the works for early 1992. These LDPB drives sport 15 ms average access time and a somewhat better throughput than Apple's models. I mistakenly said in our "Quadra Quirks" article that the hard drive in the PowerBook 100 was soldered on, which would have made upgrading the 100 quite difficult. Soldering the hard drive on to the motherboard was proposed as a way the next PowerBooks could get still smaller but got mixed up in my scribbled notes (I forgot the MiniBAT that night.). Thanks to Karl Seppala of CMS for setting me straight on that. So if you have any PowerBook and need a larger internal hard drive, these drives from CMS should now be shipping. They don't come cheap, with the LDPB 80 drive listing for $999 and the LDPB 40 for $699, but size is inversely proportional to cost these days. Needless to say, a dealer should install this sort of thing, especially considering how easy it is to mess up a PowerBook and its equally fragile warranty if you don't know what you're doing inside.
Here's an interesting new CD. Raynbow Software has searched far and wide for GIF (I believe it stands for Graphic Interchange Format and was developed by CompuServe) images and put them on a CD-ROM. They have about 5000 images of the G and PG variety, to use the Motion Pictures Association of America ratings. So those of you looking for the NC-17 GIF images should look elsewhere (X and XXX actually aren't MPAA ratings). The only catch is that GIFdb, the database software for searching among these 5000 images only runs under DOS. Ick. However, Raynbow has included GIF viewers, convertors, and manipulators for the Mac as well as the Amiga, Atari ST, and Sun, and when I asked, Louis Goldstein said that the disk was pressed in ISO 9660 format, which means that you can use it with a Mac. Without the search engine it might be a tad difficult to find any given image, but all the images will be accessible. Louis did say that they plan to create search engines for other platforms if this disc succeeds, so hope remains. The disc is being pressed as I write and should ship soon. Interestingly enough, since Raynbow has merely collected the GIF files and the utilities, those are included for free. The $50 cost covers only the media and Raynbow's DOS search engine. A penny per image isn't bad in comparison to the connect fees you would rack up downloading them, plus they're all on a single CD, a good place for space-hungry graphic files.
Raynbow Software -- 408/425-1154
Information from:
Connectix propaganda
Roy MacDonald, Connectix -- firstname.lastname@example.com
CMS propaganda
Karl Seppala, CMS -- email@example.com
Louis Goldstein, Raynbow Software -- firstname.lastname@example.com


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Description: 72.8GB Wide Ultra3 SCSI 10K Drive (1.6)Wide Ultra3 SCSI Hot-Plug Option Part# 177984-001
Overview:Today's distributed enterprise is seeing larger more complex applications an increase of mission-critical data moving to the server increasing demand for transaction processing and critical server consolidation.
In this environment storage has become a critical component of the information system significantly defining both the systems reliability and performance. This is why Compaq drives undergo an intense qualification process that eliminates data integrity problems firmware and O/S incompatibilities and other causes of data corruption or premature failure. All drives are proven to perform in the Compaq systems for which they were designed
CategoryHard Drive
Part NumberHP 177984-001
Product ID1207_HP_HardDrives
Access Time6.2 ms
Drive Capacity72.8 GB
Data Storage Device TypeSAS (Server Attached Storage)
Hard Drive Device TypeHard drive for server/storage unit (HP)
InterfaceUltra3 SCSI
Additional informationLVD - Low Voltage Differential
Rotational Speed10,000 rpm


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By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Writer
Cause for concern. Real Madrid claimed the result they were looking for by defeating Valencia 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, to move a step closer to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. But another poor performance left lasting doubts over their chances of success against the biggest teams at home and abroad. As things stand, Madrid would surely lose to Manchester United if the two clubs met currently. Luckily, Jose Mourinho's men have three more weeks to prepare for their Champions League clash with Sir Alex Ferguson's side. And they need them.
La Liga is already a distant dream for the reigning champions. Madrid trail Barcelona by 18 points in the Primera Division (with a game in hand) and must now focus their energies on the Champions League and the Copa del Rey. The worry, however, is whether the capital club can raise their game for the momentous meetings with the likes of Barca and United in the coming weeks. Their season's success will depend on it, but the early signs from 2013 have been far from encouraging.
Following the dire display at Osasuna last Saturday, things could seemingly only get better for Madrid. And they did, albeit only marginally. If the goalless game in Pamplona had provided nothing in the way of redeeming features, the win over Valencia had left little more.
|Valencia (a)
|La Liga
|Valencia (a)
|Copa del Rey
|Barca/Malaga (h)*
|Copa del Rey
|Man United (h)
|C. League
|Barca/Malaga (a)*
|Copa del Rey
|Barcelona (h)
|La Liga
|Man United (a)
|C. League
|A Madrid (a)
|La Liga
|*Must beat Valencia
Karim Benzema's goal just before the break had broken the deadlock, but Valencia could count themselves unfortunate with several dubious decisions, as Roberto Soldado was incorrectly penalised on three separate occasions for offside. The former Madrid man had also seen a strike ruled out for the same offence in similar circumstances at the Bernabeu in the sides' 1-1 draw back in August. And he was furious.
"Something always happens [to us] at the Bernabeu," midfielder David Albelda had told reporters after that result, but Valencia only had themselves to blame on Tuesday as they contributed to their own downfall. Madrid's second goal arrived via a clumsy challenge from Andres Guardado, who turned the ball into his own net via Gonzalo Higuain's hand. Although unintentional, it was probably the Argentine's most significant offering on an uninspired yet ultimately successful night for the home team.
Madrid now travel to Valencia in La Liga on Sunday and then face Ernesto Valverde's men for a third time in the space of a week as the two teams meet again in the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final tie on Wednesday. Play as they did on Tuesday, however, and there is no guarantee of success for Mourinho's men in either fixture.
In the end, a two-goal advantage should suffice in the cup, but a semi-final against either Barcelona or Malaga is likely to need a significant shift in gear from the capital club. Sub-standard showings like those of last Saturday or Tuesday are unlikely to cut it.
And thoughts of progressing past Manchester United in the last 16 of the Champions League can also be firmly extinguished if displays continue to be below expectations. Jose Mourinho's mind is no doubt now geared towards triumphing in that double date in February and March, but he has to get it right and that means much improvement between now and then.
Tales of dressing-room discontent persist, with Mourinho and Ronaldo recently clashing, while injuries are hardly helping, either, but these next few weeks could go on to define the 49-year-old's time in Spain. And if the coach and his under-performing players cannot club together to hit the heights in the remainder of 2012-13, an already unconvincing campaign could end in tears - sooner rather than later.


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NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partners. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Monday, July 4, 2016
Root Canals
Post Root Canal Pain
I just had a root canal/crown performed yesterday. It is now causing me severe pain. I was wondering what you thought may be the cause -- and possible remedy -- of this situation.
Having some discomfort or pain after a root canal is not uncommon. This is often due to an inflammatory process necessary for healing. Discomfort within the first couple of weeks can be well within the normal range. If you are having problems managing your pain, you should speak with your endodontist/dentist. If you continue to have pain longer than the normal range or if you have a change in your pain or new symptoms develop, it would be best to be reevaluated by your endodontist/dentist to rule out any potential complications.
Melissa McCartney Drum, DDS, MS
Assistant Professor of Endodontics
College of Dentistry
The Ohio State University


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WORCESTER — It came down to the country where Basque sailors in the 15th century established a whaling station on the Strait of Belle Isle.
Nicholas Rommel correctly identified Canada, and the seventh-grader from Diamond Middle School in Lexington won the opportunity to represent Massachusetts at the 26th annual National Geographic Bee in Washington, D.C., in May.
Nicholas was one of 100 youngsters from across the Bay State who competed at Worcester Academy Friday for state laurels and the chance to be crowned National Geographic Bee champion at the national finals next month.
His interest in the world began early, Nicholas explained. "When I was 3 years old, I got an atlas from my grandmother, and I liked looking at it," he said.
By age 4, Nicholas was drawing maps of his own, said his mother, Julia Sedykh, who originally is from Siberia.
Nicholas' father, Martin Rommel, who hails from Germany, added that his son's passion for geography has been heightened by a love of international soccer. "Now he knows every town with a good team," his father said.
In the final round of the day's competition, Nicholas correctly answered all three questions put to him, identifying the Belgian city often referred to as the capital of Europe (Brussels), the sea in the Arctic Ocean that separates the Taymyr Peninsula from the Novaya Zemlya archipelago (the Kara Sea), and the country in which the 15th-century whaling station on the Strait of Belle Isle was located.
In so doing, Nicholas edged runner-up Sam Wachman, an eighth-grader at Cambridge Friends School in Cambridge, who missed on Canada as the whaling site. Finishing third was Ben Kurland, an eighth-grader at Oak Hill Middle School in Newton.
For winning the Massachusetts competition, Nicholas received $100 and an all-expenses-paid trip to the national finals May 19-21.
The winner of the national competition receives a $50,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. Second- and third-place finishers receive $25,000 and $10,000 college scholarships, respectively. Additionally, the national champion will win a trip to the Galapagos Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavour.
Last year's Massachusetts winner, Sathwik Karnik of Plainville, went on to win the national championship. "I was really amazed — I never expected I would win," said Sathwik, now a 13-year-old eighth-grader at King Philip Middle School in his hometown, who was at Friday's competition to congratulate this year's contestants.
Worcester Academy, the competition venue, has historic ties to the National Geographic Society. An 1893 alumnus, Gilbert H. Grosvenor of Millbury, was a longtime president of the society and the first full-time editor of its magazine, National Geographic.
This was the second year in a row the state bee was held at Worcester Academy, where statues of classical muses looked down from their plinths in ornate Warner Theatre upon an impressive display of geographical knowledge by the gathered 11-, 12- and 13-year-olds.
School teachers, active and retired, volunteered their services to stage the geography bee.
Sarah Duncan, who teaches seventh-grade geography at Overlook Middle School in Ashburnham, was state coordinator. "It's so amazing to see what these young students know about the world around them," she said.
"Far too often, you hear very poor statistics (that) so many people can't locate Louisiana on a map, or Iraq or Afghanistan. Just to see these fourth- through eighth-graders participate at this level, and get question after question right, is amazing."
The road to this year's National Geographic Bee began in November with contests at nearly 12,000 schools across the United States, in which millions of pupils participated.
The 100 qualifiers for Friday's state competition included, from area schools: Sam Jankowski, Dudley Middle School, Dudley; Rahul Kumarasinghe, Bromfield School, Harvard; David Sozawski, Hillside School, Marlboro; Samuel Bond, Trottier Middle School, Southboro; Bharathan Sundar, Margaret A. Neary Elementary School, Southboro; Jason Borneman, Hawthorne Brook Middle School, Townsend; Bartosz Mamro, St. Joseph School, Webster; and Elizabeth Hopkinson, Sarah W. Gibbons Middle School, Westboro.


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
The Niagara Arts & Cultural Center is holding its annual poster contest for the Art of Beer 2013, which will be held on Feb. 22, 2013.
Advance tickets for the event are currently on sale for $30. Tickets will be $35 the day of the event.
Original artwork to be incorporated in the design of the poster for the Art of Beer 2013 is needed for the poster contest. Digital submissions must be received no later than Monday, Jan. 7. The winner will be awarded $100 in addition to having the artwork on the poster, menu and collateral material.
Submit entries and inquiries to Bob Drozdowski, NACC director of operations and marketing at [email protected].


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A number of surveys have indicated that many people don't have adequate savings to cover a financial emergency.
A number of surveys have indicated that many people don't have adequate savings to cover a financial emergency.
One, conducted by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, found that 17 percent of Americans said if they needed $1,000 for an unplanned expense, they would have to borrow it from friends or family.
I've been asking readers to share their experiences with mixing family and finances. Following is one such story about a family financial fight that yet again proves what Shakespeare wrote in "Hamlet" - "Neither a borrower nor a lender be, for loan oft loses both itself and friend."
The background: A young couple wanted to trade up to a more expensive home. But, as the woman's mother wrote to me, "in order to be able to buy it, they had to show they could afford it by having a certain amount of money in the bank."
I bet you can see where this is going. The parents were willing to help, but the lender required them to sign a "gift letter" stating the money was not a loan. "I had everyone mad at me because I did not want to sign it because it was a lie," the mother wrote. "It was supposed to be paid back when the (other) house sold."
As it turned out, the parents didn't get back the $30,000 they had intended to loan the couple. "When I inquired, I was told that it was (the husband's) money and that it was put in a mutual fund or some other fund," the mother said.
The conflict gets more complicated: The couple divorce. The husband tells his former in-laws some convoluted tale about taking his ex-wife to court to change paperwork. "Then he threatened to turn us in for mortgage fraud. We had no idea that we had broken the law."
The bottom line: I believe the mother when she says she and her husband didn't truly comprehend that they were committing fraud when they signed the gift letter.
I've seen this happen before. A home buyer doesn't have enough money for a down payment and/or closing costs and borrows it from a family member. They all agree the money is a loan, yet the family member signs a letter swearing that no repayment is expected or implied.
There's a good reason for the letter, and signing it shouldn't be seen as unimportant. The lender wants to be sure the down payment and/or closing costs aren't coming from a loan, because that would mean the buyers are deeper in debt than they otherwise would be. It messes with the debt-to-income ratios and could mean the buyers would have trouble paying the mortgage.
Unfortunately, the parents in this case don't have the moral high ground. By signing the gift letter, they helped their daughter and her husband deceive a lender. They put themselves and the couple at risk legally.
If you're in a similar situation, forget about the money. Move on with your life. It's not worth the aggravation.
Contact Michelle Singletary, a personal finance columnist at The Washington Post, at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Supply and Demand of Options
Editors note: This is the fourth in a six-part series. Click here to read part one, here for part two and here for part three.
The relative prices of options are constantly changing, reflecting the dynamic nature of market sentiment. In fact, relative option prices over time and strike are an excellent indicator of market sentiment as I'll discuss in a later piece. As in any fluid financial instrument, prices are dictated by supply and demand. The nature of sellers of options (supply) is very different from that of buyers (demand) of options.
Most of the supply of options (sellers) comes from longer term investors who employ a strategy called over-writing. When an investor who owns stock, which may have been owned for a while or just purchased, sells call options on that stock in an amount equal to or less than the number of shares he owns, the transaction is referred to as covered call writing. The seller of the call options is receiving income from the buyer in the form of option premium in exchange for giving away to the buyer the appreciation in the stock above the strike price of the calls. The strike prices of the calls sold in covered writing programs tend to be higher than the price of the underlying stock; such options are referred to as out-of-the-money. When the strike price of the option equals the strike price of the stock, such options are referred to as at-the-money.
An over-writer (seller of options) must have a longer term time horizon than a buyer of options to effectively capture the time premium of the options sold. There must be an underlying willingness to either retain the stock if the option expires out of the money or to sell the stock if the option expires in the money in order to realize the objectives of the strategy. The first objective is to lower risk (as measured by the variability of returns) by reducing the carrying cost of the stock by amount of the option premium sold. The following graph illustrates an example of selling a six-month at-the-money call option for 10 on a stock trading at 100.
Total Return Graph: Long stock at $100 and Short 100 strike calls at $10
By netting the slopes and options above and below the strike price, we arrive at the combined position represented by the dashed blue line of long stock and short call. The upside in the stock is sold away in exchange for the price of the option. The premium sold reduces the effective cost of the stock by 10 points to 90 and thus cushions the negative impact of declines in the share price. In exchange for this reduced risk, all the appreciation above 100 is surrendered to the option buyer. The second objective is to efficiently capture the time premium of an option, which is the portion of the total price of an option minus the intrinsic value (the amount the stock price exceeds the strike price). The time premium represents the amount a speculator is willing to pay for potential price appreciation in the stock and reflects the expected volatility of the stock over the life of that option. The price of at-the-money or out-of-the-money options consists entirely of time premium.
This strategy performs best in moderately appreciating markets with volatile trading ranges where the market tends to overpay for options. Covered writing returns should outpace those of straight equity positions during such periods and will also outperform in declining or stagnant markets due to the premiums that are being captured from selling the calls. In addition it's important to note that covered writing may outperform straight equity on a risk-adjusted basis in many environments, even in periods of high price appreciation if such periods are accompanied by high volatility. During such periods equity investors tend to act emotionally and make mistakes in timing that reduce their absolute returns. By allocating funds to a more conservative asset class such as a covered writing program, an investor can control risk and achieve a discipline that helps avoid such mistakes.
The objective of any investment portfolio is to achieve the optimal combination of return and risk. Return is in most cases indeterminate, as it is an independent variable of future performance, while risk is a dependent variable determined by an investor's tolerances and requirements. Asset allocation decisions are the most important in the investing process and too often they are made on the basis of uncertain returns rather than on manageable risk. A covered writing portfolio consists of equities along with a managed program of calls that are sold against these equities. This portfolio can be considered a separate asset class that normally exhibits truncated returns with lower risk than a straight equity portfolio. The portion of the portfolio consisting of the calls that are sold has a negative correlation with the stock portfolio and this is what reduces the risk relative to a straight equities portfolio. For example, if a stock declines from 100 to 90 over a three-month period, a six-month at-the-money call sold for 10 might decline to 4. So the loss from the 10-point drop in the stock is cushioned by the 6-point gain from the sale of the call. Introducing leverage into a covered writing program will increase risk and tends to negatively affect decisions in managing the process. The primary attribute of the asset class is lower risk and leverage is not recommended.
An effective covered writing program ultimately depends on an investor's ability and desire to own a stock outright at lower prices and to sell it at higher prices. For example, if an investor is long-term bullish on a stock at its current price of 100 with an ultimate price objective of 200 and the stock were to decline to 80, the investor may choose to refrain from writing (selling) calls against it until it rallied back toward 100. In other words, the strategy of "rolling down" and selling lower-strike calls on weakness in the stock can be a mistake unless the investor wants to sell the stock (if that is the case, the stock is not really a candidate for over-writing and should just be sold). Rolling down has the effect of over-trading volatility which manifests itself in the classic case where an investor sells 100-strike calls and when the stock declines from 100 to 80 he closes out his 100-strike calls and replaces them with 80-strike calls. The stock then rallies back to 100 and the investor has now lost money on his covered writing transaction on no net movement in the stock. On the upside, the investor should continue to sell medium correlation calls against an appreciating stock until at some point he is selling 200-strike calls and he ultimately sells his stock to the 200-strike call buyer as his price objective has been achieved.
A classic mistake made by covered call writers is to allow the calls they have sold to move too deeply into the money as the stock appreciates. Consider the 6-month, 100-strike, at-the-money call we referred to earlier, which we sold for a premium of 10. If the stock were to appreciate to 120 over the next month this option might be selling for 22, which means that it now has a mere 2 points of time premium (22 less its intrinsic value of 20). At this point we are no longer efficiently capturing time premium and this option has an almost total negative correlation with the movement in the stock. Any additional appreciation in the stock will be almost completely negated by appreciation in the short option and despite the stock being far from the target price.
One approach in such a situation would be to cover the 100-strike option position when the delta (defined in my earlier column) reaches .8 (only 20% chance the option will expire out of the money) and roll up by selling a higher strike call (the 120-strike or perhaps higher). Selling an at-the-money or slightly out-of-the-money option (with a delta of .5) would help optimize time premium capture and this higher-strike option would have a much lower correlation with the stock. The over-writer runs the risk that the stock price appreciates too quickly. The investor must ultimately be prepared to sell the stock at the current strike in these situations. Large debits paid in the rolling process determined by how quickly the stock has appreciated can be minimized and managed by the duration and strike of the new option chosen. These nuances have several variables and are dependent on the investor's risk profile.
There are several variables other than implied volatility that affect option prices. Lower dividend yields result in higher relative time premiums for call option prices; mathematics will illustrate this, but essentially a call option will become increasingly more attractive as an alternative investment to owning the stock. For example, a four-month call on a stock with a 1% dividend yield will trade 8% higher than it would if the stock yielded 4%. So the relative attractiveness of covered call writing has increased in the recent low dividend yield / high volatility environment.
The predominant source of demand for options comes from hedgers and to a smaller extent, speculators. Hedgers naturally want exposure to stock movement, but for some reason want limited risk of adverse movement for some specified period of time. The reason may be stock-specific (unsystematic risk); perhaps the holder of stock is concerned about a nearby earnings report, in which case they will buy an option on the stock itself. Or the concern may be for the entire market (systematic risk), in which case the investor may buy an index option on the market. In either case, the most important implication is the strike that these buyers normally purchase. Almost all option purchases for hedging or speculation are done on out of the money strikes. A holder of stock who is worried about a negative short term earnings surprise will tend to buy out of the money puts for protection. A speculator looking for a positive announcement on a stock will tend to buy an out of the money call option. This is due to the relative low premium level in relationship to the potential payoff; this results in high leverage or as the English call it, gearing.
By far there is normally a higher supply of out of the money calls from over-writers and a higher demand for out of the money puts by hedgers than anything else. Most mispricing of options occurs here and creates what arbitragers call "skew." Measuring the skew in options often provides insights into market sentiment. When the skew as measured by implied volatilities is dramatic, meaning there is a heavy supply of out of the money calls and heavy demand of out of the money puts, market sentiment is negative and the underlying stock may grind higher from a contrarian point of view.
Click here to read Part V: Futures, the Easy Derivative
For more on options trading, take a 14 day FREE trial to OptionSmith. Get access to veteran options trader Steve Smith's portfolio along with emailed alerts and strategy with every trade he makes. Learn more.
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STOCKTON - Edison coach Andre Horace praised his team's commitment and effort.
STOCKTON - Edison coach Andre Horace praised his team's commitment and effort.
St. Mary's coach Tony Franks instructed his players that practice starts at 8 a.m. today.
Given the coaches' postgame demeanor, one might think the Vikings ended the Rams' 26-game win streak against Tri-City Athletic League opponents. Well, not exactly. St. Mary's cruised 46-19 on Friday at Magnasco Stadium. But Horace appreciated how hard his outmanned team played.
"We have about 26 kids and every game I'm happy because they're willing to come out and practice to play when they know a team like St. Mary's probably will double their numbers," Horace said. "We played them tough."
The Rams (5-2, 2-0 TCAL) came out flat and bumbled their way through an uninspired first half that saw them fumble three times. St. Mary's fumbled four times in the first half earlier this season at Modesto-Central Catholic and lost, 28-21. Thought their mistakes didn't cost them Friday, they certainly didn't please their coach.
"Give Edison credit, but we have some work to do," Franks said. "And we figured we'd get an early start."
St. Mary's scored on its first possession of the second half, then Jalen Ratliff returned a kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown after Edison scored on a 47-yard screen pass from Julian Garcia to Malik McKenzie. The Rams didn't attempt a pass in the second half. Edison (2-5, 0-2) scored twice in the fourth quarter on an 11-yard pass from Garcia to Jimmy Taylor, and on a 10-yard run by Keyth Hart.
"I feel great," said Hart, who rushed 13 times for 75 yards in the second half. "Even though we didn't win, we didn't give up."
Contact sports editor Bob Highfill at (209) 546-8282 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Rod has taught at RTS-Charlotte since 2006, where he teaches Pastoral Counseling and Pastoral Ministry. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Institute for Reformed Campus Ministry at RTS. Rod has served in the Presbyterian Church in America for the past 37 years, having pastored three churches in WV, MS and SC. For the past 15 years he has served as the National Coordinator of Reformed University Ministries, the campus ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America. Rod studied at Covenant College, B.A., University of West Georgia, M.Ed., New Orleans Seminary, Luther Rice Seminary, D.Min., and Westminster Theological Seminary California, Diploma in Counseling and Preaching.
Rod is the co-author of, Things that Cannot Be Shaken (Crossway, 2008) and a contributor to Christ Centered Biblical Counseling (Harvest House, 2013)
Whether you're a prospective student, current student, alumnus, donor, or friend of RTS, we would love to hear from you.


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|PDF (Download Only)
|Tie Dye Diva
"So glad I found this pattern! Made the 0-3 month for my new granddaughter. Instructions were great and it fit! Easy dress to make. I'll be making these is all sizes!"
No more searching for the perfect A-line dress--this fully reversible baby dress gets a perfect "A" for style and fit! Easy and quick to sew with plenty of room for appliques and embroidery. You'll reach for it all year round to make as a sundress in the warmer months and in denim or corduroy to pair with a top and tights when it gets cool.
Sizes included: 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months and 18-24 months.
Sewing level: Beginner provided you know how to buttonhole, or use the sew-in snaps option.
As with all Tie Dye Diva patterns, step-by-step instructions, color photos and diagrams, and full-sized, computer-drafted pattern pieces are included. Stitching lines are diagrammed right onto the photos so you never need to guess where to sew.
No serger or seam finishing needed and only 3" or less of handsewing to complete (you can also machine sew the final step if you prefer). You can substitute sew-in snaps for buttons.
Tie Dye Diva patterns have been on You Can Make This since 2007.
Copyright Tie Dye Diva 2012. All rights reserved. This eBook and its contents are protected by U.S. and International copyright laws; any reproduction of this eBook or any portion thereof, including sale, trade, transfer, emailing, posting or otherwise sharing or duplicating this pattern in any manner is strictly prohibited. Items produced using the information in this eBook may be used for personal use, as well as for sale in limited quantities by in-home sewers. We request that items for sale state that the item is made with a Tie Dye Diva pattern.
Note: www.YouCanMakeThis.com provides this copyright & terms of use policy review as a courtesy to our site users and eBook authors. The copyright policy applies to the associated eBook and is specified and owned by the individual eBook author.
• Cotton quilting fabric, denim or corduroy for EACH of main and reverse:
Sizes 0-3 and 3-6 months; 1/2 yard; all larger sizes, 2/3 yard.
• Two or four ¾" or 7/8" diameter buttons
So glad I found this pattern! Made the 0-3 month for my new granddaughter. Instructions were great and it fit! Easy dress to make. I'll be making these is all sizes!
This is a great Pattern! Instructions are written very well and sized perfect. I have had many A-Line dress patterns through the years, and this is the best one I have ever used.
I bought this pattern when I bought the Reversible A Line Dress for girls so that all of my granddaughters would have matching dresses. The pattern is great to work with!
Great pattern! Perfect fit. I've made one and have material to make 2 more. It is very easy to make. 2 dresses in one.
Great pattern! Very easy instructions and loved the mini tutorial how to hand sew the open seam. Turned out adorable!
Love it
I love the simplicity of this pattern & the end product is so cute.
I highly recommend this pattern. The A-line dress/jumper is very cute and easy to make. Instructions are clearly written with plenty of pictures for beginners.
This pattern is awesome. I can't keep them in my shop. Everyone loves them. Instead of buttons and loops i used Snap Source snaps with a different pearl or matte snap on each side. Very cute. Directions are easy to follow and the reversible method is one that i will use again and again. Thanks, TieDye.
great pattern, easy to follow.
Excellent pattern, clear instructions and quick to make!!
Very easy. I used the pattern to make a Pebbles Halloween costume and it came together very easily. This is a very versatile pattern that can be used again and again.
Love it. sized perfeactly
very easy to make. instruction is very clear.
This pattern is excellent. It is well written and very easy to follow. I can make the pattern from cutting to trimming in an hour. I would highly recommend this pattern.
Very easy to make. I have made 2 of these. AWESOME pattern and instructions. Plan on making many more.


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Best and Worst Player
Best Player
Goal Choice
L. BrittonSwansea City Position: Midfielder
Worst Player
Goal Choice
Y. TouréManchester City Position: Midfielder
Team Ratings
Swansea City
M. Vorm
Had practically nothing to do in the opening half an hour as the visitors took the game at walking pace, but did well when finally called into action as he saved low from Silva. Despite City's second-half dominance, he was again rarely called upon but saved low from Dzeko late on.
Chico Flores
Solid yet unspectacular defensively, but showed some real finesse with the ball as he chipped a superb ball for Routledge which was cut out.
B. Davies
Didn't have much to do defensively in the first half and only had a couple of chances to stride forward, with most of the Swans' attacks focussed down the other wing.
Àngel Rangel
Enjoyed some space early on and was able to support Dyer down the flank as Swansea got behind Clichy several times but, like several of his team-mates, was able to do much less in the second half as City grew stronger.
A. Williams
Made tackle after tackle and block after block, leading his side by example with a typically resilient defensive display, keeping Silva out late in the first half and helping his side keep a clean sheet.
Pablo Hernández
Showed excellent movement early on, linking things well between Michu and the wide men, but wasted two good opportunities in the first half. He was a determined in midfield, though, and fired just over after the break.
L. Britton
An important role-player in the heart of Swansea's midfield, Britton looked for the killer ball at every opportunity and also helped out defensively, giving Aguero a tough afternoon and making some superb tackles.
N. Dyer
A bright start on the right flank as he linked up well with Rangel and set up a glorious chance for Hernandez, before swinging in an excellent cross for Michu. His pace was a constant danger and he found joy both on the wing and when he cut inside.
W. Routledge
Along with Dyer he was able to stretch the visitors on more than one occasion but drifted out of the game as City dominated the opening stages of the second half, and Laudrup brought on Agustien in his stead.
J. de Guzmán
Wasted a superb counterattacking opportunity as he failed to release Hernandez and got caught in possession, and looked a little slow in the opening period, but his delivery from corners posed a real threat to City's defence. Had a good chance from a free-kick but failed to test Hart.
Anyone who has seen Michu play knows how he can drift in and out of games. He was constantly involved early on, however, but wasted an decent chance as he volleyed Dyer's cross well wide. Was much less involved in the second half and eventually limped off after pulling up as he chased a ball over the top.
Manchester City
J. Hart
The England shot-stopper had a point to prove after his howler against West Ham and, although he wasn't tested much in the first half, he did very well under huge pressure to turn a corner away from Williams at the far post.
M. Nastasić
The young defender has been an absolute revelation for City this season, but wasn't as solid as usual today. Was lucky to get away with a reckless challenge on Michu in the area not long before the break and made a few sloppy touches.
V. Kompany
Caught out of position a couple of times, which Michu couldn't take advantage of, but it wasn't the most solid of displays from the captain. Thankfully for him he had nothing to do in the second half as most of the game was played in Swansea's half.
P. Zabaleta
We didn't see as many of his charges forward down the right flank as usual, and he failed to make life tough for Davies. He did play in a more advanced position in the second half, but couldn't make a real impact.
G. Clichy
Saw Dyer skip past him more than once in the first half and hardly got forward as Swansea dominated, but showed every inch of his pace on a couple of occasions as he stopped a couple of Swansea breaks.
David Silva
Like much of the City team, looked to be taking it fairly easy in the first half but as the visitors finished the opening period strongly he had two chances blocked in succession, and he continued to improve after the break as he set in motion a sweeping move forward and found space in dangerous areas before coming off late in the game for Rodwell.
S. Nasri
Has been on much better form of late, and the midfielder hammered the first shot of the match over the bar from 20 yards before producing a vital challenge to stop Routledge at the other end.
Y. Touré
The Ivorian looked well off the pace, taking the game far too easily and getting muscled out of possession more than once before being hauled off by Mancini at the break. Not one to remember.
J. Milner
Popped up on the left-hand side on his return to the starting line-up and looked dangerous from the off with a probing low cross, but drifted right out of the game as Swansea took control. Looked better in the second half but still failed to make a decent contribution to proceedings.
G. Barry
Set up a good chance for Nasri with a delightful chip over the defence and looked the most industrious of a lethargic midfield and, along with Silva, orchestrated City's much better second-half performance.
S. Agüero
Dropped deep on numerous occasions to collect the ball from midfield but surrendered possession quite often and was already puffing after half an hour's work, not looking up to scratch and failing to capitalise on a fine move forward before being replaced by Tevez just before the 80-minute mark.


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- Make sure that the voltages of the 2 batteries are the same. Most batteries and charging systems are of the 12 volt variety.
- Pull the jumping vehicle (with the good battery) into a position so the jumper cables can reach the dead battery and that vehicle's engine. Make sure that the vehicles do NOT touch.
- Place the transmissions of both vehicles in NEUTRAL or PARK , as applicable, then firmly set their parking brakes.
If necessary for safety reasons, the hazard lights on both vehicles may be operated throughout the entire procedure without significantly increasing the difficulty of jumping the dead battery
- Turn all lights and accessories off on both vehicles. Make sure the ignition switches on both vehicles are turned to the OFF position.
- Cover the battery cell caps with a rag, but do not cover the terminals.
- Make sure the terminals on both batteries are clean and free of corrosion or proper electrical connection will be impeded. If necessary, clean the battery terminals before proceeding.
- Identify the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on both battery posts.
- Connect the first jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery, then connect the other end of that cable to the positive (+) terminal of the booster (good) battery.
- Connect one end of the other jumper cable to the negative (-) terminal on the booster battery and the other cable clamp to an engine bolt head, alternator bracket or other solid, metallic point on the engine with the dead battery. Try to pick a ground on the engine that is positioned away from the battery in order to minimize the possibility of the 2 clamps touching should one loosen during the procedure. DO NOT connect this clamp to the negative (-) terminal of the bad battery.
Be very careful to keep the jumper cables away from moving parts (cooling fan, belts, etc.) on both engines
- Check to make sure that the cables are routed away from any moving parts, then start the donor vehicle's engine. Run the engine at moderate speed for several minutes to allow the dead battery a chance to receive some initial charge.
- With the donor vehicle's engine still running slightly above idle, try to start the vehicle with the dead battery. Crank the engine for no more than 10 seconds at a time and let the starter cool for at least 20 seconds between tries. If the vehicle does not start in 3 tries, it is likely that something else is also wrong or that the battery needs additional time to charge.
- Once the vehicle is started, allow it to run at idle for a few seconds to make sure that it is operating properly operating.
- Turn on the headlights, heater blower and, if equipped, the rear defroster of both vehicles in order to reduce the severity of voltage spikes and subsequent risk of damage to the vehicles' electrical systems when the cables are disconnected. This step is especially important to late model vehicles equipped with computer control modules.
- Carefully disconnect the cables in the reverse order of connection. Start with the negative cable that is attached to the engine ground, then the negative cable on the donor battery. Disconnect the positive cable from the donor battery and finally, disconnect the positive cable from the formerly dead battery. Be careful when disconnecting the cables from the positive terminals not to allow the alligator clips to touch any metal on either vehicle or a short and sparks will occur.


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The Marion County Sheriff's Office released a surveillance video Thursday in hopes of identifying to burglars who stole a safe and tried to steal an ATM from the Salt Springs Pit Stop at 13444 N. State Road 19 in Salt Springs early Sunday.
Surveillance video released in burglary
The Marion County Sheriff's Office released a surveillance video Thursday in hopes of identifying two burglars who stole a safe and tried to steal an ATM from the Salt Springs Pit Stop at 13444 N. State Road 19 in Salt Springs early Sunday.
The video shows the suspects wearing blue jeans, black hoodies, black masks and gloves, and using yellow crowbars.
They try but fail to lift the ATM off the floor and wall. One of them can be seen dragging the safe out the front door.
"We know it's has been a few nights since the incident, but we are hoping someone noticed two men in the area carrying yellow crowbars," said Sheriff's Office spokesman Judge Cochran in a news release. "Plus, you can clearly see the body makeup of both suspects."
Anyone with information about the burglary can call Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP.
Highway Patrol issues smoke and fog warning
The Florida Highway Patrol issued a warning Thursday that they are monitoring the areas of State Road 200 and County Road 484/Cedar Grove Road in Marion County for smoke and fog visibility issues.
A news release from FHP said that they had been advised by the Southwest Water Management District about a 170-acre controlled burn in the Withlacoochee area that was out, but some hot spots remained.
"Motorists are urged to use caution when traveling in these areas. Visibility may deteriorate quickly due to smoke/fog type conditions, especially during the night time and early morning hours. Motorists are reminded to reduce their speed and utilize low beam headlights in order to adapt to changing weather conditions," noted the release.
3 injured in crash are expected to recover
Three people involved in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday on State Road 200 are expected to recover from their injuries, according to Ocala police.
Veronica Marie Gilroy-Lough, 74, of Ocala, was flown to the Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Hudson, where she was in stable condition Thursday, officials said. Her husband, Donald J. Lough, 84, was taken by ambulance to Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He also was listed in stable condition Thursday.
Nicholas Ryan Hyatt, 28, of Leesburg, was taken to West Marion Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
Police said a 2010 Mercury Mariner driven by Donald Lough was on the west side of State Road 200 in the turn lane for Southwest 46th Court, while a 2001 Toyota Tacoma driven by Hyatt was heading east on SR 200 in the center lane. The Mariner made a left turn into the path of the Toyota, which struck the right side of the sport utility vehicle. Gilroy-Lough had to be extricated from the SUV by Ocala Fire Rescue workers using the Jaws of Life.
Man slumped over in car charged with DUI
A man found slumped over in the driver's seat of a car at a stop sign in the 8400 block of Southeast Baseline Road early Thursday was arrested and charged with DUI.
Deputy Daniel Barker was patrolling the area when he observed a purple car at the stop sign, which did not move forward when it should have. The deputy stopped behind the car and noticed a substantial amount of condensation on the back window.
The driver, later identified as Bryan Shaw, 35, was slumped over in the driver's seat, passed out, and the car engine was running and the radio was on, according to the report.
Barker said that after several minutes of knocking on the window glass, Shaw seemed somewhat coherent, but it took another four or five minutes to get him to open the car door. When the door opened, warm air was pouring from the vents and there was a strong odor of alcohol. Shaw said he did not have a license and was not driving, according to the report.
The deputy checked records and found that Shaw was deemed a habitual traffic offender on Dec. 16, 2009, and his license has been suspended five times since then.
Shaw refused to perform a field sobriety exercise and was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he declined to submit to a breath test.
Feaster family cane grinding this weekend
The Feaster family will conduct their annual cane grinding and syrup making event from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunda at Deerfield Farm, 22010 N. County Road 329, north of Flemington.
The event is free to attend. Syrup and homemade jams and jellies will be for sale. Other items, such as sausage biscuits, will be available for a donation.
For more information, call Fred or Barbara Feaster at 316-8520.
Furniture collection event begins Saturday at 7 a.m.
The Canal recycling center will hold a furniture collection event starting at 7 a.m. Saturday at 457 SE 110 St., Ocala.
Sofas, couches, beds, mattresses, box springs, bureaus, benches, chairs, lamps, end tables and other items will be accepted.
For more information, visit www.marioncountyfl.org/SolidWaste/SpecialProgramsFurnitureCollection.aspx or call 671-8465.
Books, craft events and more planned Saturday
- Forest Community Center community yard sale, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 777 County Road 314A, Silver Springs. Spaces available $5-$10.(438-2840 or email@example.com.
- Art and craft fair, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Spruce Creek Preserve, 13601 SW 115th Ave., Dunnellon. (854-9798)
- Munroe Regional Medical Center craft fair, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Auxiliary Conference Center, 1542 SW First Ave., Ocala. (402-5198)
- Christmas bazaar, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Forest United Methodist Church, 17635 State Road 40, Silver Springs. (625-1090 or 625-4004)
- Mega book sale to benefit Sheltering Hands Rescue, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Winn-Dixie, 8445 SW State Road 200, Ocala. (291-1962)
- Friends of the Library book sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, through Dec. 22, Dunnellon Public Library. 20351 Robinson Road, Dunnellon. (438-2520)
Free flu shots for youth up to age 18 begin Monday
The Marion County Health Department is offering free flu vaccinations from Monday through Friday, Dec. 7, for children up to age 18 who are uninsured or under-insured.
For more information, call 629-0137, ext. 2017.
Cuvee Wine and Bistro hospice benefit is Sunday
Cuv�e Wine and Bistro is hosting a benefit from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sunday at 2237 SW 19th Ave. Road, Ocala, to benefit the children's program at Hospice of Marion County.
The black-tie optional gala will feature gourmet food stations, champagne sangria and assorted wines. Tickets are $125 per person, available at Cuv�e and Hospice of Marion County.
For more information, call 854-5218.
Volunteer gift wrappers sought through Dec. 24
The Marion County Children's Alliance Family Violence Prevention workgroup is looking for volunteers to wrap gifts at the Paddock Mall through Dec. 24, during regular mall hours. The gift wrap booth is in the former Gause and Son Jewelers storefront.
Proceeds benefit victims of domestic violence.
Volunteers must be 18 or older or have gift wrapping experience.
For more information, call 438-5990 or visit www.breakthesilenceonviolence.org.
Reindeer Run sign-ups
The annual Reindeer Run 5K road race will be held along Silver Springs Boulevard at 4:45 p.m. on Dec. 8, just prior to the Christmas parade. The race will begin and end at Regions Bank, 612 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.
Pre-registrations are being accepted at Bruce Chiropractic, 2135 SW 19th Ave. Road, Ocala. The fee is $20 for adults and $15 for those age 18 and younger. Race day registration is $25.
For more information, call 804-7319 or visit www.facebook.com/pages/Ocala-Reindeer-Run-5k/178439886011.
FWC reminds anglers of Lake Griffin crappie limit
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reminds anglers that in Lake Griffin, they may only keep black crappie that are 10 inches or longer in length. The daily bag limit is 25.
FWC creel clerks will be on the lake surveying anglers through April so staff can evaluate the effects of the rule.
Based on models, the size restriction could provide increased numbers and average sizes of harvested crappie and reduce overfishing of younger fish.


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Moderators: Rev. Sylvanus, warman45
tahthing wrote:I see it as
structure level: how hard it is to damage
size rateing: how big it is, how easy it is to hit, how much of it there is to damage.
if you want a quick and dirty battle have the vehcles have 1hp each, causes so much chaos.
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New York to be hotter, wettier and buggier
New York will be warmer, wetter and buggier, new government report says
Welcome to the climate future of New York: warmer, wetter, with more disease-carrying ticks and mosquitoes and more allergy-causing pollen.
Those were some of the forecasts in the National Climate Assessment issued on Tuesday by the federal government that looks at how climate change is expected to affect the U.S. It is the third such national report since 2000, and the 860-page document is the work of more than 250 scientists and government officials.
Among the authors is David Wolfe, chairman of the Climate Change Focus Group at Cornell University, who helped write the chapter on the Northeast. Based on numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies, the report was also reviewed by the National Research Council and the National Academy of Science.
"A lot has changed since the U.S. government released their last report in 2008," said Wolfe. "Many climate impacts that were once projected for the future are happening now, like increased flooding events from heavy rainfall, more coastal storm damage due to sea level rise, summer heat stress, increased summer drought and forest fire risks in some parts of the nation."
He said New York's "agriculture, fisheries and ecosystems will be increasingly compromised by climate change impacts, including both too much and too little water, and expanding ranges of crop pests and invasive species. Farmers can explore new crop options with longer growing seasons, but adaptations will not be cost- or risk-free."
Average temperature in the Northeast has risen nearly 2 degrees between 1895 and 2011, accompanied by 5 more inches of annual precipitation, according to the report. Most of that extra rain has come since the 1950s; between 1958 and 2010, the Northeast had a 70 percent jump in so-called "very heavy" storms, defined as the heaviest 1 percent of storms.
More heat is on the way. If greenhouse gas emissions continue rising as projected, average temperatures could climb another 4.5 to 10 degrees by 2080. Even if greenhouse gas emissions are scaled back significantly, that increase would still be from 3 to 6 degrees.
"For our kids today and coming generations, climate change is going to be a part of their reality," said Wolfe. "For older people, historical records told us what kind of climate we could expect in the future. But that is not going to be the case for our kids and their kids."
For the Northeast, the report also predicted:
More Information
Read the National Climate Assesssment for the northeast online at >http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/regions/northeast>
— More heat waves above 90 degrees, which combined with petrochemical air pollution would produce more smog, which will pose health risks to the young, the elderly and the infirm. By 2050, areas near the Canadian border could have 15 days a year with temperatures topping 90, compared to fewer than five days a year now.
— Increased presence of ticks, the primary carriers of Lyme disease, because ticks thrive during late spring and early summer rains. Rising temperatures and more rain should also create more habitat for the mosquito variety that carries West Nile virus.
— Allergies could worsen. For example, the ragweed pollen season is becoming longer — rising from 13 to 27 days — at 44 degrees latitude, which includes New York above the Lake George region.
"We are already seeing a change in extreme weather events in our region of storms that drop 2 inches of rain or more at once," said John Garver, a professor at Union College who has been studying rainfall patterns in the Mohawk River valley. "Such storms are going to mean more and more of a challenge to the local infrastructure of roads, bridges and culverts. They aren't designed to take that."
Farming in the Northeast also will have to change, the climate report said. Wetter springs could delay planting, and drier summers could increase irrigation demands. Warm weather could also reduce New York's milk production by stressing dairy cows, which prefer cooler temperatures.
"We have not had the opportunity to review this report, but certainly agriculture in New York is dependent on the weather. Climate change and the impact it could potentially have on our growing season may present serious challenges that we must be mindful of," said Steve Ammerman, spokesman for New York Farm Bureau.
For example, in 2003 and 2004, unusually warm December temperatures in the vineyard country of the Finger Lakes kept vines from hardening for the winter, which then left plants vulnerable to frost damage when temperatures dropped to normal levels. Growers lost millions of dollars in grapes.
Officials from state Environmental Facilities Corp., which helps finance local infrastructure; the New York State Independent System Operator, which oversees the electrical grid, and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, which manages the massive Catskill reservoir system, could not offer comment on the report.
firstname.lastname@example.com • 518-454-5094 • @Bnearing10


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KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — Security forces fired at Sudanese protesters with bullets and tear gas Friday as thousands took to the streets despite a fierce crackdown that rights groups say has killed dozens of people this week. The regime of President Omar al-Bashir is trying to stifle public anger over fuel price hikes from turning into an Arab Spring-style uprising against his 24-year rule.
The marches in one of the world's poorest countries — where nearly 50 percent of population lives below the poverty line — have turned into the heaviest domestic challenge yet faced by al-Bashir, who has so far been spared the sort of anti-authoritarian popular revolts seen around the Arab world in the past two years.
Though he maintains a strong grip on the regime, al-Bashir has been increasingly beleaguered. The economy has been worsening, especially after South Sudan broke off and became an independent state in 2011, taking Sudan's main oil-producing territory. Armed secessionist groups operate in several parts of the country. And al-Bashir himself, who came to power as head of a military-Islamist regime after a 1989 coup, is wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes in Sudan's western region of Darfur.
The unrest began Sunday in the town of Wad Madani when the government cut subsidies on fuel and gas, causing prices to leap — a decision activist Sara Kamal called "the straw that broke the camel's back."
Protests quickly spread to the capital, Khartoum, and several other cities as opponents of al-Bashir's authoritarian rule worked to harness the anger over the economic woes into a wider movement.
Angry protesters torched police and dozens of gas stations and government buildings, and students marched chanting for al-Bashir's ouster.
Al-Bashir so far has shown remarkable staying power, backed by a vast security machine and a network of interests built on Islamist ideology, economic ties and tribal politics that have enabled him to quash previous efforts at rallying mass opposition.
Activists acknowledge they have no unified leadership or support from political parties but express hope the spontaneous nature of the current round of protests means they're gaining momentum.
"Yes people got out on the streets because of price hikes, but every family has been affected by the past 24 years, with a member killed in wars because of this government," local blogger and journalist Reem Shawkat said. "It's an accumulation of so much anger."
Protesters poured out of mosques and marched in several parts of Khartoum and in Wad Madani after weekly Muslim prayers. Security forces opened fire on marches on two streets in the capital, witnesses said, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons. At least one protester was shot to death, a doctor said, also declining to be identified because of the tense security situation.
One of Sudan's most prominent opposition leaders, Sadiq al-Mahdi of the National Umma Party, told worshippers at a mosque in the district of Omdurman that al-Bashir has been spending the state's budget on "consolidating power" and failed "to lift the agony off the citizens' shoulders."
After the sermon, protesters marched through the district, a longtime opposition stronghold, chanting "the people want the downfall of the regime," the slogan heard in Arab Spring uprisings that began in late 2010 and have led to the ouster of the leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen.
Security forces were deployed nearby in pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns, while residents barricaded their streets with rocks and t. Still, police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition as protesters tried to cross the Nile River into central Khartoum, witnesses said.
Lawyer and member of the opposition Umma Party, Nafeesa Hagar, said she was injured in the back by rubber bullets during the march. "There is no way people will retreat. We entered a new phase where the street is facing the regime that left us no option but confrontation," she said.
Interior Minister Ibrahim Mahmoud said Friday that 600 people have been arrested this week for "sabotage" and will stand trial, according to SUNA. He warned that "the safety of citizens is a red line." The state-run al-Sahafa daily proclaimed in a front-page headline that the government will "will paralyze the hands of vandals."
A number of newspapers were barred from publishing. The Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya satellite television station said Friday its Khartoum office was ordered shut by the government. Sudanese news outlets online have reported that photographers and cameraman have been barred from covering the protests.
The Internet was for almost 24 hours cut in Sudan this week and activists said Facebook was blocked Friday. Youth groups were using Facebook to post video of the protests recorded by residents on their cellphones.
Amnesty International and the African Center for Justice and Peace Studies accused the government of using a "shoot to kill" policy against this week's protests, saying they had documented 50 deaths in rioting on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Youth activists and doctors at a Khartoum hospital told The Associated Press that at least 100 people died since Monday. Sudanese police, in a statement carried by the official SUNA news agency late Thursday, put the death toll at 29, including policemen. A precise toll was almost impossible to obtain.
The subsidy cuts come amid International Monetary Fund pressure on Sudan to curb spending and repay debts. Similar IMF-backed austerity measures announced last year also sparked protests that were quickly put down. Al-Bashir justified the new measures, saying they would rescue the country from "collapse."
A gallon (3.8 liters) of diesel sprang from eight Sudanese pounds ($1.81) to 14 pounds ($3.18). A gallon of gasoline, once 12 pounds ($2.7), jumped to 21 ($4.7), while a canister of cooking gas that was 14 pounds ($3.2) is now 25 ($5.6).
Faisal Saleh, a political commentator in the daily newspaper Khartoum, said the new protests were significant because of their geographical extent, the variety of protesters and the bloody response by the security forces.
What remains to be seen is whether the opposition can formulate a united leadership. "The coming hours are very critical because they are a big test on whether the revolt will continue or fade away," he said.
Associated Press writers Geir Moulson and Aya Batrawy contributed to this story from Berlin and Cairo.


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Former 'Doctor Who' star Karen Gillan says a female Doctor 'would be cool'
It's time for an actress to play Doctor Who, according to the TV timelord's former sidekick Karen Gillan.
Gillan, who played Amy Pond on the series opposite Matt Smith's Doctor, says she has faith BBC bosses will make the right choice about current Doctor Peter Capaldi's replacement — but she'd like to see a woman in the role.
"I trust the BBC and their choices and they haven't failed us yet with the Doctor, but it would be cool to see a woman in the role one day because a woman could absolutely play that role," the Guardians of the Galaxy star says.
Capaldi is expected to step down as the Doctor after shooting this year's Christmas episode and Gillan isn't the first former assistant to speak up for a first female in the Tardis. Billie Piper, who played Rose Tyler opposite Christopher Eccleston's and David Tennant's Doctors, has also spoken out about the need for a sex change.
"I've always supported the original format but I don't know where they can go from here," the actress recently told the BBC. "I think it would be great (to have a female Doctor) given the spirit of the world at the moment. I think it would be timely."
Longtime Doctor Who executive producer Steven Moffat, who is also departing the sci-fi series this year, is another person eager to see a woman in the role.
"I think the next time might be a female Doctor," he said. "I don't see why not."
Early bookmakers' odds had James Bond star Ben Whishaw and Olivia Colman among the frontrunners to take over from Capaldi, while some fans have suggested Tilda Swinton would make a great Doctor.
Though, the U.K. Mirror reported on Sunday that Death in Paradise star Kris Marshall had been cast as the 13th Doctor, citing an unnamed source. It also said Capaldi would regenerate during this current season, which began airing last week, and not during the Christmas. The BBC has not confirmed those rumours.
– With Files from Postmedia Network