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Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
Volume 2013, Article ID 274245, 7 pages
Preparation of Modified Kaolin Filler with Cesium and Its Application in Security Paper
1Cellulose and Paper Department, National Research Centre (NRC), Dokki, Giza 11622, Egypt
2Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Ain Helwan, Cairo 11975, Egypt
3National Centre for Nuclear Safety & Radiation Control (NCNSRC), Egyptian Atom Energy Authority (AEA), Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt
4Research Counterfeiting and Forgery Department, Forensic Medical Authority, Ministry of Justice, Cairo, Egypt
Received 26 May 2013; Accepted 7 July 2013
Academic Editor: Wen-Hua Sun
Copyright © 2013 Houssni El-Saied et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
In this study, cesium was added intentionally during paper manufacture for protecting the papers against forgery and counterfeiting by sorbing cesium ions (Cs+) on kaolin, used as special filler in papermaking. The sorption of cesium from aqueous solution by kaolin was studied as a function of pH, shaking time, cesium initial concentration, and mass of kaolin using batch technique. The results showed that a solution containing 10 mg/L Cs+ and 250 mg of kaolin at pH 6 can be used to modify the kaolin. Paper handsheets were prepared containing various percentages of the modified kaolin. The mechanical and optical properties of paper handsheets were studied. The prepared paper handsheets were irradiated by gamma irradiation using different doses. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to study the effect of kaolin modification by cesium and gamma irradiation on paper handsheets properties. The results indicated that modified kaolin enhanced the mechanical and optical properties of paper handsheets. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) were also used. They provided rapid, sensitive and nondestructive techniques in differentiating between different questioned documents. This study presents a new concept in manufacturing security papers and anticounterfeiting applications.
1. Introduction
The examination of questioned documents is an ongoing challenge to forensic science to cope with the modern technology of document manufacturing and the increasingly sophisticated documents forgeries. The many facets of modern documents demand many areas of expertise from forensic specialists in order to identify and authenticate a questioned document. The counterfeiting of banknotes and other financial transaction documents as well as visas, passports, ID cards, and other official government security papers and the pharmaceuticals and brand name products is now becoming one of the world's fastest growing areas of criminal activity [1].
Many techniques have been developed for protecting the documents to prevent counterfeiting or fraudulent use. Techniques such as holograms on credit cards and magnetic coding on various articles have been in use for some time [2, 3]. These prior art techniques have been less than fully effective either because the counterfeiters have found ways to duplicate the label, or the apparatus for detecting the label and verifying its authenticity has been too expensive or unmanageable to be accepted for widespread use. Recently, ink tagged with rare-earth elements has been studied as a reliable method to identify sensitive documents and to extend the scope of age determination. This is due to the fact that the taggants act as a unique identification index to discriminate documents. Rare-earth elements were selected as taggants due to various advantages such as satisfactory sensitivity of analytical determination and their absence in normal varieties of inks [4, 5].
Fluorescence-active pyridinecarbonitriles were prepared and evaluated in the production of functionalized paper sheets, from nonwood pulps [6, 7]. Fluorescent nanoparticles [8] and Fe3O4 nanoparticles [9] were also used as successful methods for anticounterfeiting applications and documents' identification. Bracher represented a method for patterning solids in two dimensions within the bulk of sheets of paper—instead of only on its surface—by generating the solids as precipitates of reactions within the pores of the paper [10]. The method is simple, requires no specialized equipment beyond a color office printer, and should be amenable to scale up in roll-to-roll processes.
The objective of the current work is to tag the kaolin (used as filler in paper making) by cesium as a trace element. Fillers are added to papermaking furnishes to fill the spaces and crevices between the fibres, thus improving brightness, smoothness, and opacity of the paper sheet [11]. Selection of cesium as taggant primarily depends on the absence of natural kaolin from cesium and can be effective in discriminating between papers.
Kaolin is essentially a hydrated aluminum silicate, with the composition Al2Si2O5(OH)4. The most reactive parts of kaolin are the hydroxyl groups. It has been shown that it is possible to bring molecules in between the layers of a kaolin crystal, so called intercalation [12]. Numerous studies of the intercalation of various compounds into kaolin have been reported. Not all compounds intercalate directly into kaolin but are brought into the kaolin layers by displacement of a previously intercalated compound. Previous studies of isotopic exchange on kaolin have been performed using intercalated kaolin [13, 14].
The aim is also to irradiate the prepared paper handsheets by gamma irradiation; then Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR), and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) techniques were used to differentiate between paper samples.
2. Experimental
2.1. Modification of Kaolin with Cesium
2.1.1. Materials and Reagents
The kaolin (china clay) was supplied by Rakta, Alexandria, Egypt. It has a refractive index of 1.56, density of 2.62 g/cm3, and particle size of 3–8 μm. The kaolin was used as received without further purification. Standard cesium solution (1000 mg/L) was prepared from cesium chloride (Fluka, Germany) by dissolving 1.2670 g in 1-litre distilled water. All other reagents used were analytical reagent grade.
2.1.2. Sorption Experiments
The sorption experiments were studied by batch technique. In the experiments, kaolin was separately shaken with cesium solution at various experimental conditions. Separating of solid phase from liquid was done by centrifuging at 4000 rpm for 15 min. The pH of the solutions was maintained in the range 2–10 using drops of 0.1 M HCl and 0.1 M NaOH. After equilibration, the cesium concentration was determined spectrophotometrically employing atomic absorption spectrometer of type AA-scan-4 (Thermo Jarrell Ash, USA).
2.2. Application of Modified Kaolin in Paper Handsheets
2.2.1. Paper Handsheets Formation
The pulp used throughout the experimental work was bleached wood sulphite supplied from Quena Paper Industry Company, Egypt. Oxidized starch was used as a retention aid and was supplied from Quena Paper Industry Company, Egypt. The pulp was beaten to Schopper-Riegler 35 SR° in L&W laboratory beater, A2-66-1424 according to the Swedish Standard Method (SCA). Paper handsheets of basis weight 60 g/m2 were formed using Tappi standard (T205 sp-95). Native kaolin and modified kaolin were added at 5%, 8%, 12%, and 15% based on the dry weight of pulp.
2.2.2. Gamma Irradiation of Paper Handsheets
Irradiation of paper handsheets was performed with a dose rate of 0.817 Gy/s using 60Co gamma source cell located at the National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt [15].
2.2.3. Characterization of the Prepared Paper Handsheets before and after γ-Irradiation
Optical and Mechanical Properties. The brightness and opacity of the paper handsheets were measured using integrating refractometer, model JY9800, according to ISO 2470:1999 and ISO 2471:1998, respectively.
The tensile strength and burst strength were determined using Hounsfield H5KS tensile tester (Tappi 404) and Frank GMBH 1882 burst tester (Tappi 807), respectively. A tear tester (L&W 2404) was used according to Tappi 496.
Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. Infrared spectra were taken on a NEXUS-670 FTIR spectrophotometer (Iclet Co., USA), in the range of the frequencies from 4000 to 400 cm−1. Samples were prepared as a thin film with potassium bromide (KBr disc). The mean hydrogen bonds strength (MHBS) was calculated according to Levdik et al. [16] as the ratio of , where is the integral intensity of the stretching vibration bands of the subscript group. The mean hydrogen bonds strength (MHBS) also is the ratio of the absorption band at ~3400 cm−1 to the band at ~2900 cm−1.
The crystallinity index (Cr.I) can be calculated by the following equation provided by Nelson and O'Conner [17]: where cm−1 is the absorbance intensity at 1370 cm−1 band associated with symmetric C–H bending from methoxyl group and cm−1 is the absorbance intensity at 2900 cm−1 associated with the C–H stretching vibration.
Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) Spectroscopy. The system used in this study was an EMX-BRUKER system (Germany) supplied by a 9.5 QHZ Microwave (x-band) Gum-Oscillator Bridge with automatic tuning capability and a rectangular 4102 ST cavity operating in the TE102 mode. The standard EMX signal channel can be operated at any modulation frequency between 6 KHz and 100 KHz and has unsurpassed phase resolution and stability.
Laser-Induced Breakdown (LIBS) Spectroscopy. A typical LIBS experimental setup, described in detail elsewhere [18], was used throughout the present investigations. Laser-induced plasma was produced by focusing 60 mJ of a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser (Surelite I, Continuum, USA) operating at 1064 nm (pulse duration of 7 ns) on paper samples. An energy meter (Nova 978, Ophir Optronics Ltd., USA) was employed to monitor the shot-to-shot pulse energy at the National Institute of Laser Enhanced Science (NILES), Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Sorption Experiments
The parameters which may affect the uptake of cesium by kaolin, such as shaking time, pH, initial concentration of cesium, and kaolin mass were investigated. The results showed that the equilibrium reached to its maximum within 40 min of shaking. Therefore, the sorption experiments were carried out for 40 min. Uptake percentage () was calculated as follows: where and are the initial and equilibrium cesium concentrations in the solution (mg/L), respectively.
Figure 1 shows the influence of pH on the sorption of cesium. The data reveal that the sorption increased with increasing pH up to 6, then decreased. Consequently, in the subsequent work, the sorption experiments were carried out at pH 6. Increasing pH of solution resulted in a decrease in H+ ions leading to less competition for the vacant exchange sites of the kaolin, and hence more Cs+ ions uptake is occurring. At higher pH values, the dissociation of counter ions in the kaolin matrix may increase resulting in a lower percent sorption of cesium. In contrast, at lower pH values of hydrogen ion strongly compete for the vacant sites in the crystal lattice giving rise to a decrease in the uptake percentage [19].
The sorption of cesium as a function of cesium initial concentration was studied by varying the cesium initial concentration from 10 to 80 mg/L. Figure 2 shows that the uptake percentage decreased with increasing the concentration of cesium ions. This is due to saturation of active sites on kaolin surface with increasing cesium ions concentration. Accordingly, cesium solution with concentration of 10 mg/L was selected in the subsequent experiments.
Effect of kaolin mass on the sorption process of cesium is presented in Figure 3. The experimental results reveal that the sorption of Cs+ ions slightly increased with increasing the kaolin mass. Although the uptake percentage increased with increasing kaolin mass, 250 mg was chosen to avoid atomic absorption spectrometry problems of cesium determination in case of using large quantity of kaolin.
From the previous results, it can be concluded that solution containing 10 mg/L Cs+ and 250 mg of kaolin at pH 6 can be used to modify the kaolin which was used in preparing handsheets.
3.2. Effect of Kaolin Modification on Paper Handsheets Properties before γ-Irradiation
The mechanical and optical properties of paper handsheets loaded by both native kaolin and Cs-kaolin as fillers are summarized in Table 1.
3.2.1. Mechanical Properties
The strength properties (burst, tensile, and tear indexes) of wood paper handsheets having various percentages of fillers using both native kaolin and cesium modified kaolin (Cs-kaolin) are represented in Table 1. The greater the amounts of filler percentages the weaker the paper will be mechanically in respect to, for example, burst, tensile, and tear indexes. It is generally accepted that paper strength is attributed to the fiber strength and the number of inter fiber bonds. Kaolin particles in a handsheet interfere the fiber bonding, which reduce the strength and number of interfiber bonds [20, 21].
The percentage decrease in burst, tensile, and tear indexes reached to 26.8, 34.6, and 14.8 at 15% addition of native kaolin, respectively. The table also shows slight improvements in the mechanical properties of paper handsheets upon using modified kaolin (Cs-kaolin). The increases were 3.6, 6.7, and 6.5% for burst, tensile, and tear indexes, respectively, at 15% addition level of Cs-kaolin. Changing the chemical nature of the native kaolin by modification may lead to increase in kaolin positivity, consequently enhancing the filler-to-fiber bonds [22].
3.2.2. Optical Properties
Table 1 shows the effect of modification of kaolin on the brightness and opacity of the prepared paper handsheets. The results showed that the addition of fillers improved both two properties, increasingly in percentage of 8.04% and 3.1% at 15% addition level of kaolin. The same behaviour was obtained with using Cs-kaolin, and the increase reached to 11.02% and 4.04% for brightness and opacity, respectively.
The brightness and opacity of paper depend on the number of individual particles in the sheet structure, the grammage, the number of surfaces in the structure, and on the differences in refractive index between the particles and the surrounding medium. Adding fillers to paper sheet improves optical properties including both the opacity and brightness due to the higher light scatterings of filler than fibers, which has the linear relationship of the following form: where is light scattering coefficient and is the filler loading amount.
The results also indicated that the brightness and opacity improved upon using modified kaolin (Cs-kaolin) filler. This may be due to the adsorbed Cs on kaolin increased the particle size of the native kaolin, consequently increasing the voids between the fibres [23, 24].
3.3. Effect of Kaolin Modification on Paper Handsheets Properties after γ-Irradiation
Table 2 shows the effect of 60Co γ-irradiation by various radiation doses (3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 KGy) at a dose rate 0.817 Gy/s on the mechanical and optical properties for wood paper handsheets (without kaolin, 12% kaolin, and 12% Cs-kaolin).
3.3.1. Mechanical Properties
From Table 2, it is observed that with increasing γ-irradiation doses the mechanical strength (i.e. burst, tensile, and tear indexes) of wood paper handsheets is slightly decreased.
The percentage decrease in burst, tensile, and tear indexes reached to 8.7, 14.5, and 2.2% at a 15 KGy dose of γ-irradiation in the case of wood paper handsheets loaded with 12% kaolin, respectively. But in the case of wood paper handsheets loaded with 12% Cs-kaolin, the percentage decrease in burst, tensile, and tear indexes reached to 7.6, 11.8, and 2.6, respectively. It can be concluded that the effect of γ-irradiation on mechanical properties for prepared paper handsheets loaded with 12% Cs-kaolin was less than the effect of γ-irradiation on mechanical properties for prepared paper handsheets loaded with 12% kaolin.
3.3.2. Optical Properties
The effect of γ-irradiation on optical properties of wood handsheets is represented in Table 2. γ-irradiation slightly decreased brightness and opacity of the prepared handsheets. There is no significant effect on brightness and opacity of paper handsheets loaded with 12% kaolin and Cs-kaolin after γ-irradiation at a dose of 15 KGy.
3.4. FTIR Spectra
Figures 4 and 5 show the IR spectra for three nonirradiated paper handsheets: paper without kaolin, paper loaded with 12% kaolin, and paper loaded with 12% Cs-kaolin from wood pulps before and after γ-irradiation. Table 3 illustrates the mean hydrogen bonds strength (MHBS) and crystallinity index (Cr.I) for wood paper handsheets before and after γ-irradiation.
3.4.1. Effect of Kaolin Modification on Paper Handsheets before γ-Irradiation
Figure 4 along with Table 3 shows that the MHBS and Cr.I decreased upon the addition of filler, either native or modified kaolin (Cs-kaolin). The results also illustrated that Cs-kaolin had lower effect than native kaolin. This may be due to the modification of kaolin with cesium enhancing its cationic charge creating more and stronger bonds with anionic cellulosic fibres. The improvements in MHBS led to an increase in crystallinity of the cellulose.
It can be concluded that the increasing of MHBS and Cr.I can explain the improvement in the mechanical properties of wood and bagasse paper handsheets prepared with modified kaolin (Cs-kaolin).
3.4.2. Effect of Kaolin Modification on Paper Handsheets after γ-Irradiation
Figure 5 and Table 3 show that both MHBS and Cr.I decreased after γ-irradiation. The results indicated that the resistance of paper handsheets loaded with Cs-kaolin toward γ-irradiation at 15 KGy dosage was higher than the resistance of paper handsheets loaded with native kaolin. These results confirmed the high mechanical properties of γ-irradiated paper handsheets loaded with Cs-kaolin.
3.5. ESR Spectra
3.5.1. Effect of Modification of Kaolin on Paper Handsheets before γ-Irradiation
In order to study the effect of modification of kaolin with cesium, ESR spectra of three different nonirradiated samples: paper sample without kaolin, paper sample containing 12% kaolin, and paper sample containing 12% (Cs-kaolin) were determined. Figure 6 shows that in the case of addition of kaolin, large numbers of peaks appeared compared to peaks of paper without kaolin. It is also obvious that the effect of addition of cesium is very clear since the peaks are more sharper in presence of cesium and the peaks intensities are larger than those of kaolin without cesium as well. These results revealed that it is easy to differentiate between two papers containing native kaolin and modified kaolin with cesium, respectively.
3.5.2. Effect of Kaolin Modification on Paper Handsheets after γ-Irradiation
ESR spectra of three different samples: paper sample without kaolin, paper sample containing 12% kaolin, and paper sample containing 12% (Cs-kaolin) after irradiation exposing to γ-irradiation were determined. It is noticed from Figure 7 that the ESR spectra of the three samples are to some extent similar, the intensity of free common radicals and have maximum peak around 3460 G. The paper handsheet containing 12% modified kaolin (Cs-kaolin) slightly increased after the γ-irradiation than that of native kaolin. This is also noticed in ESR spectra for γ-irradiated wood paper handsheets loaded with 12% (kaolin and Cs-kaolin); some splitting peaks around 3220 G, 3310 G, and 3340 G disappeared in the γ-irradiated wood paper handsheets without kaolin.
3.6. LIBS Spectra
LIBS is a relatively new technique which offers significant advantages in speed, sensitivity, nondestructive, and cost effectiveness over other processes such as X-ray florescence (XRF), scan electron microscope (SEM), and mass spectrometry. It uses a high-intensity pulsed laser focused on the sample to create a tiny plasma of vaporized matter which emits an atomic spectrum of the constituent elements of the sample—providing a material "fingerprint." A database of emission lines provides automatic identification and labeling of elements present.
The LIBS spectra in Figure 8 show the presence of two prominent peaks for cesium around 438.3 nm and 440.5 nm in the case of paper handsheets loaded with 12% Cs-kaolin, but on the other hand there is no peaks in the case of paper handsheet with native kaolin indicating the absence of cesium in paper handsheets loaded with native kaolin.
4. Conclusions
This work represents a new concept and nondestructive methods in authenticating the documents. Kaolin (used as filler in papermaking) was modified chemically by ion exchange with cesium ion. The modification was carried out to change the nature of the native kaolin. The results of this study led to the following conclusions.(i)Sorption studies on kaolin proved that a solution containing 10 mg/L Cs+ and 250 mg of kaolin at pH 6 can be used to modify the kaolin which was used in preparing paper handsheets.(ii)Modified kaolin with cesium enhanced the mechanical and optical properties of paper handsheets.(iii)FTIR studies showed that MHBS and Cr.I increased upon the addition of modified kaolin compared to native kaolin, and the resistance of paper handsheets loaded with Cs-kaolin toward γ-irradiation was higher than that of those loaded with native kaolin. (iv)ESR spectroscopy and LIBS provided rapid, sensitive, and nondestructive techniques in differentiating between the paper handsheets containing native kaolin and those having modified kaolin with cesium. (v)The ESR spectra of γ-irradiated paper handsheets containing both native and modified kaolin showed slight difference.
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On this broadcast of Liberty Under Attack Radio, we hosted the 7th edition of the direct action series. In the first hour, we were joined by Derrick Broze from The Conscious Resistance to discuss agorism and spirituality. In the third segment, we were joined by Derick Caperton to discuss his two bands, King Conquer and WVRM. In the final segment, Kyle Rearden from The Last Bastille blog came on to discuss his newest article, regarding the efficacy of overloading the NSA's server with suspicious email keywords.
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Stephanie Atkinson is the founding partner of Compass Intelligence, a market research and advisory firm providing market intelligence services to the high-tech, mobile, and emerging technology industries. Ms. Atkinson is an executive-level consultant, specializing in market segmentation, technology adoption, trending and use case insights in the telecom, information technology, network infrastructure, mobility, IoT, and high tech industries. She is widely recognized as a market thought leader in how businesses and organizations adopt, consume, and implement technology within operations and the workforce. Ms. Atkinson has been quoted in numerous business and trade publications including Forbes, CNN Money, Network World, WSJ, CIO.com, CEO Magazine, and others. She serves as an advisory board member at nGage Events and Silverwood Partners.
Ms. Atkinson volunteers at the Center for New Ventures & Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M University, and is a member of the Women Wireless Leadership Forum, and Aggie Women. She has also been listed on the Top 100 Wireless Technology Experts 2014 by Today's Wireless World, Top M2M Influencer (#8) by Onalytica, and listed in The 50 Most Influential Women in IoT by ioti.
Prior to launching Compass Intelligence, Ms. Atkinson held positions in market research, B2B market advisory, information services, OSS/billing management, R&D, and engineering. Ms. Atkinson holds a B.S. in Industrial Distribution from the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University, and an M.B.A. with a concentration in Management of Technology from the University of Texas at San Antonio.


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Thoughts Made Words
Todd Hoff's Weblog.
Radio Home
Programming Weblog
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C++ Coding Standards
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Spam is the New Role Playing Game
Spammers must be getting out of work romance novelists to create spam. A lot of spam weaves wonderful little stories that invite you to play the lead role in an exciting other world. Often there is a comely damsel in distress and you are cast as the hero, if only you would open up your wallet and help. Not only will you get the willing damsel, but great riches await when you finally overcome your fear, climb the tower, kiss the princess, and collect your just reward.
You see, the princess lives in a place not like where you live at all. You live in a safe boring world where one day is much like any other. She lives on the frontier where risk takers can still earn great fortunes battling nature and striking smart deals. But the frontier is dangerous. And an evil doer is out to steal her families' fortune, a fortune carved out of nothing from years of back breaking work. You can save them! You can make a difference! You are a hero with untapped super powers. Now is your time! You can get the girl, the money, and live happily ever after.
This is wonderful stuff. It's like an email based Role Playing Game. The side of good is clear. Evil abounds, yet can be stopped by your heroic actions. You simply must roll the dice and play the game. My favorite example of the genre is
Cynthia Benson's game:
Good morning! I decided to use this opportunity to communicate with you on who I am and what I am looking for. Please I hope you don't mind the way I contacted you. How are you, your business and family? I hope all is well.
I am Cynthia Benson daughter of the late ENGR. FERICOH BENSON of Free town, Sierra Leone with my brother. I am a young girl from the family of two because my beloved mother died on the day my younger brother was delivered and my father refused to re-marry immediately because he is the only child of his parents and don't want anybody that will maltreat us due to the love he has for us. My late father Engr. Fericoh Benson was the Managing Director (MD) of BETAX PLC a Gold and Diamond Mining corporation company. During the time of his service he was a very devoted and God fearing person; this cause his fellow staff to hate him because he always refuse to collaborate with them in doing evil.
So one sunny Tuesday evening when I was coming back with my Dad from shopping in his own private car we ran into bandits who were totally armed, they traced us till we reach home; there they attack us. My father pleaded with them to take everything he has and spare his life, but they took everything and also shot him three times on his chest they also shot me but to the glory of God I survived the gun shots but my father died in cold blood. How I was admitted to the hospital I don't know but I found myself on the hospital bed after two weeks of the incident when I re-gain conciouse.
This happened eight months ago, as I am trying to gather my deserted life and that of my brother in place. Our father has being buried that was four months ago, the present problem we are facing is that my father's uncle that is the brothers of my grand father has took everything that our father left behind both money, landed properties and all his durable asset. They ejected me and my bother leaving only the sum of US$12,5M which my father deposited in a Financial Institution which they don't know about. They treated us badly also accusing us for the calamity that befall our family, now we are left alone in this world.
But why I contacted you is because we want to start a new life outside our country and also when I went to where my father deposited the money in west side of Africa they told me that my father deposited that money on behalf of a partner, so that the money should be claimed by my father or his partner, but for the fact that my father is nolonger alive that the partner should come for it.
As things is now I don't want to go and get any of my kinsmen as that will also give them the access to claim the money as I can see that it is now the only thing we have to start life again. If I have found favour in your eye I will like you stand as my father's partner as I don't have anybody so that they can transfer the money to you. While we will prepare to come over to your country and meet you there to start a new life again.
If you can help us please let me know.
Thanks and Remain bless,
Cynthia Benson
As you read the email it creates in your mind a truly dramatic action packed tale of woe. Can't you just see poor Cynthia's troubled life? Don't you just want to rescue you her and find the treasure? That's the genius of the email. It taps into all the usual story telling tactics used in myth, fairy tails, role playing games, romance novels, and fantasy novels. You know this story form and you immediately want to jump in and play.
Look at at all the colorful words just dripping with echoes of a game world: dearest, daughter of, Free town, Sierra Leone, brother, engineer, gold, devoted, father, God fearing, pleading, attack, shot him, survival, left alone, start a new life, rescue, Africa, kinsmen, found favor, transfer money, start a new life. And the spelling is off just enough that it suggests an educated person who may speak a different language and live in an exotic locale.
The fact that spam works on enough people that spammers keep spamming speaks to the power of greed and ego when backed by an internally consistent story that taps in to our years of well honed fairy tail inspired instincts.
Simply beautifully done. A sure winner for the Pulitzer Prize of Spam, if they gave out such a thing. They don't now, but they may in the future.
© Copyright 2007 todd hoff.
Last update: 4/18/2007; 7:53:34 AM.
March 2007


text:
Young composers write further letter to Sound and Music & ACE
Alex Stevens - 30 March 2012
Following the publication of a highly critical open letter sent to Sound and Music and Arts Council England from 255 composers, performers and other music industry figures, a second open letter will be sent today, signed by 90 young composers 'actively engaged in contemporary music in the United Kingdom'.
It says that the 'change in focus' since Sound and Music incorporated the Society for the Promotion of New Music, the British Music Information Centre, Sonic Arts Network, and the Contemporary Music Network in 2008 'disenfranchises many of the young composers who had previously benefitted' from the work of these organisations, 'to the extent that a large number of young composers have little or no dealings with Sound and Music'.
The letter is signed by 90 composers including Mark Bowden, composer in residence of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and music fellow of the Rambert Dance Company, Charlotte Bray, who held the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group/Sound and Music apprentice residency in 2009/10, and Steven Daverson, the youngest ever winner of the Ernst von Siemens Composer's Prize in 2011.
Sound and Music suffered a real-terms cut of nearly 50% in the last round of ACE portfolio funding – announced in March 2011 and taking effect from April – and is currently recruiting for the newly-created post of chief executive. It runs an annual summer school for 75 composers aged 14-19, runs a searchable online database of professional opportunities for composers and musicians, and hosts the Artists' Toolkit, more than 50 pages of practical advice for composers including sections on 'Making a Living', 'Promoting Yourself' and 'Funding', on its website.
Organiser Ed Nesbit told CM the letter was necessary 'because we are a group of people who are very seriously affected by the changes that the foundation of Sound and Music has brought about'.
CM will publish a full story in its 7 April edition.
An open letter to Sound and Music and Arts Council England
Before the foundation of Sound and Music in 2008, the organisations that would go on to merge to form Sound and Music provided a very large number of opportunities and resources for young composers. One of these opportunities was the Shortlist, which was run by the Society for the Promotion of New Music, and which provided many young composers with their first professional performances; another was the British Music Information Centre's New Voices and Contemporary Voices schemes, which were instrumental in promoting composers at various stages in their careers. Together the organisations provided an invaluable infrastructure whereby composers could be discovered, promoted, and given a great deal of help as they made the transition into a professional career. The absence of this is felt by young composers across the country.
Although Sound and Music stated that it would continue to provide the services which its constituent parts had previously provided, these two schemes, as well as a great many more, have been discarded in favour of the promotion of 'Sound Art'. This change in focus disenfranchises many of the young composers who had previously benefitted from such schemes, to the extent that a large number of young composers have little or no dealings with Sound and Music. Moreover, the change was made without any consultation with these composers.
We, the undersigned, all of whom are young composers actively engaged in contemporary music in the United Kingdom, call for the professional development opportunities which the constituent parts of Sound and Music previously provided to be reinstated. We further request that Sound and Music consult with the most active composers of all ages to develop further new resources for the nurturing and promotion of new compositional talent.
We suggest that this should involve both the organisation of performances of composers' work in the concert hall and the use of new technologies to raise awareness of that work.
Yours sincerely,
Jim Aitchison
Kim Ashton
Laurie Bamon
Marcus Barcham-Stevens
Stephen Mark Barchan
Joel Bell
Maxim Bendall
Tim Benjamin
Chris Birch
Natalie Bleicher
Darren Bloom
Mark Bowden
Laura Bowler
Charlotte Bray
Patrick Brennan
Tom Byrne
Ewan Campbell
Solfa Carlile
Jeff Carpenter
William Church
Jonathan Cole
Francisco Coll
Ben Comeau
Stephanie Conner
Phillip Cooke
Athena Corcoran-Tadd
Rupert Cross
Steven Daverson
Joseph Davies
Danyal Dhondy
Hannah Dilkes
Cimeon Ellerton
Paul Evernden
Noam Faingold
Gregor Forbes
Cheryl Frances-Hoad
Steven Frew
Benjamin Gait
Arne Gieshoff
Richard Harrold
Robert Haylett
Jane Hebberd
Stephen Hicks
Chris Hutchings
Thomas Hyde
Dan Jeffries
Matthew Kaner
Alison Kay
Laurie Kent
Anna Krause
James Lark
Maria Le Brun
Luke Lewis
Graham Lynch
Jamie Man
Ruaidhri Mannion
Elo Masing
Christian Mason
Iain Matheson
Simon Mawhinney
Sasha Valeri Millwood
Ryan Molloy
Lloyd Moore
Nicola Moro
Edward Nesbit
Yuko Ohara
Des Oliver
Samuel Pegg
Michael Picknett
Steve Potter
Jonathan Powell
Alastair Putt
Rhiannon Randle
Oliver Rappoport
Carla Rees
George Rimmer
Charlie Sdraulig
Sasha Siem
Blai Soler
Thomas Stewart
Lauri Supponen
Adam Swayne
Michael Taplin
Maggie Tate
Ian Vine
Tim Watts
Daniel Wilson
Elizabeth Winters
James Wise
Michael Wolters
Mihyun Woo
Raymond Yiu
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text:
as promised . . . here it is!
[note: in case anyone was wondering, i bought this planner myself and the company does not know i exist. okay, just wanted to clarify.]
iPhone shown for scale
i loved my tiny custom bound for anything planner, but as i wrote previously -- after just 3 months of use, it was stressing me out a little. the reason was simple: i needed more space! staring at the tiny pages crammed full of checkboxes made me hyperventilate a little bit. i felt that if i could s-p-r-e-a-d my thoughts and to-dos out, life would get just a little bit easier.
as it turns out:
it didn't, really. but it does LOOK more manageable, and that's almost as good! and one month into the erin condren planner that i ordered on a slightly manic impulse, i am happy to report that i really do love it.
a brief walk-through:
✩ the cover is shown above. i personalized it with a family photo, and while i realize i probably could have gone more stylish/professional, i have no regrets. seeing it make me smile every time i whip this book out [which is often].
✩ birthday/anniversay section. i don't really use this section all that much, and i'd rather have the space for other lists! but it isn't a huge number of pages.
✩ yearly calendar. a 2-page spread, which is useful for planning purposes.
✩ the weekly pages. i love, love, LOVE this layout:
it's hard to see in this photo, but each day is a column divided into three section for morning / day / night. i adore the 3 boxes, but i don't quite use them as labeled. instead, the top is for 'scheduled' events [ie, 3 pm -- conference], the middle is for daily to-do items [to check off] and the bottom is for meal and workout planning.
it's just enough space for my needs and things don't look so cluttered. there is also a weekly to-do / goals section which is a great place to put things that aren't specific to one day.
of note, the paper is decent. it's not ultra-super-smooth, but it has a nice weight to it. i haven't had issues with pens bleeding through at all.
✩ the monthly pages. i really like that these are spread on two pages, so that there is plenty of room. i use these for planning out big events -- trips, weekends away, and of course for coordinating our call schedules.
i also really like the suggestion to create some monthly goals.
✩ tabs + dividing pages. there are some colorful quotes dividing the major sections. a little cheesy, but it doesn't bother me. and the tabs on the right [colorful, laminated, labeled for each month] make me unspeakably happy.
✩ blank notes pages. ~10 lined and ~10 blank [with cute designs in the margins]. adequate list space is an essential part of any planner in my opinion.
✩ custom notepads. these cost extra but i just couldn't resist customized matching notepads. they are a bit pricey for what they are, but it's a cool idea.
✩ folder + extras. there's a handy paper folder in the back to stash tickets, shopping lists, and the like. i wish it was a bit sturdier, but it has held up just fine so far.
✩ stickers. not shown, but there are some colorful stickers to use. some are pre-labeled [date night, wedding, etc] and others are blank. it's a cute idea and fine, i admit it -- the repressed 10-year old inside of me enjoys decorating the 'special' days.
✩ vinyl pouch. this is a nice feature, though i haven't really used it. tucked inside were some custom labels, sent for free.
sooo . . . that's it!
let me know if you have questions. i would definitely recommend this IF you want a pretty sizable planner and if bright/feminine patterns are your thing. it's not the most elegant, but it's definitely fun to use -- and i find it extremely functional.
and speaking of functional
i need to work on making some goals. i've been in this sort of lax mode [re: work, running, life in general] and i am starting to feel ready to -- well, for lack of a better term -- kick my butt into gear. no matter what laura vanderkam there are definitely not enough hours in the day to do everything i truly want to do. but i want to make sure that i am using the hours i do have in the best way possible.
more on that later!
* * * * * *
of course, i'd love to know:
do you have your 2013 planner picked out yet?
any goals for the rest of 2012?


text:
2016 Renault Megane is a compact vehicle and a direct answer from French manufacturer to the VW Golf. This model was presented on Frankfurt Auto show this year and like the previous models it will probably be the best selling vehicle of the whole Renault line up.
It is the first fourth generation model for this car and because of generation change it comes with variety of new features inside and outside the cabin, as well as under the hood. Renault Megane is not going to be sold in the united States, but it is still one of the most popular compact vehicles in Europe and it is also sold in lots of countries around the world.
Exterior of Renault Megane
When it comes to exterior, there are more than a few changes that come with the new Renault Megane model. It comes with the newly designed headlights that have more sharp look and increase the sportiveness of the front end. In addition to this the whole front looks much more evocative than in previous model year.
In the front there's also a huge Renault emblem that is settled in the middle of the traditional radiator grile and there are also the new day-time running lights that stretch well into the bumper of the vehicle.
When it comes to design it is more than obvious than an inspiration for Renault Megane exterior came from Talisman model, that is another model of this manufacturer made to compete with VW Passat. Comparing to the previous model Megan also come somewhat wider and lower, but its proportions didn't change much for this model year.
Renault Megane 2016 Interior
When it comes to interior 2016 Renault Megane will definitely present some refined materials, at least in the higher trim levels. We are talking here about a four door hatchback model that can accommodate four adults an it traditionally comes with comfortable seating and easy to use controls.
In higher trim levels we can expect a little bit more luxury that will include leather upholstery, better sound system and maybe even a two or three zone climate control.
2016 Megane Performance
When it comes to performance, we still don't know exactly which engine is Megan going to be equipped with, but we assume that it will come with some piece from the Renault-Nissan power basket. This means three and four cylinder gasoline engines, as well as some diesel burning options. There's still no hybrid or electric options with this model and these engines will be able to achieve nice outputs that will go up to 200 horsepower with the GT version.
With the news that instantly destroyed VW reputation in the eyes of European buyers, Renault models will have much easier job in toppling VW influence around the continent. 2016 Renault Megane is one of the models whose popularity is definitely going to rise, after big VW disclosure.
2016 Renault Megane Price
When it comes to price we still don't have an exact information for 2016 model year, but we think that the price of Megan is not going to change drastically, comparing to last year, which means that it will cost less than $20,000 for the base version, which is very appealing especially comparing to VW Golf, that is more expensive than this.


text:
Judging by the Cover Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Hello Beautiful Book Blog.
Anyone can play along, just do the following:
- Search the web for the cutest cover you come across, ideally an unreleased book
- Don't read the synopsis
- Try to guess what the book is about
- Read the synopsis and see how close you came
- Make sure to link Hello Beautiful Book Blog as your host! ♥
Post in the comments the link to your own Judging by the Cover Tuesday post or share your cover in the comments below if you do not have a blog. Thanks! 🙂
♥♥♥Judging by the Cover Tuesday, where I score the web for the cutest cover I can find and try to guess what the story is going to be about before reading the blurb. All books are only judged by the cover and are not yet released.♥♥♥
I've been slacking on judging covers here lately so let's get right down to it! First up, we have a new book from the seasoned bestselling author, Staci Hart.
First Impressions: How freaking adorable is this cover! Immediate connection to the book for me. It's going to be a romance for sure, probably an angsty one. That's really all you need to know about this one!
I'm totally confident so let's read the blurb! 😉
Wasted Words by Staci Hart
Release date: May 19, 2016
Some universal truths refuse to be ignored.
Peanut butter and jelly are a match made in heaven. Spaghetti and meatballs are best friends forever. And guys like Tyler Knight don't go for girls like Cam Emerson.
She knew from the second she met him that he didn't belong on her bookshelf, the six-foot-six ex-tight end with a face so all-American, it could have sold apple pie. So she shelved him next to the supermodels and rock stars and took her place on her own shelf — the one with the flannel-clad, pasty-faced comic book nerds. Most of her boyfriends have existed between the pages of books, but rather than worrying over her own lacking love life, she puts all her energy into playing Cupid, using her job at the book bar, Wasted Words, as her stomping ground.
Tyler Knight always looks on the bright side. His career-ending injury turned into a job as a sports agent. A horrible breakup led him to Cam, his quirky, smart roommate who is far more beautiful than she realizes. She's made it perfectly clear she's not interested in him — not like that at least — but if she ever changes her mind, he won't hesitate. Because he doesn't see the lines she's drawn between them, as much as she insists that they're there. Deep down he knows that despite their differences, they're a match well made.
*A romantic comedy inspired by Jane Austen's Emma*
I'm not giving myself a rating on this one since I didn't go into detail, but I really want to read this. Hart's With A Twist: A Bad Habits Novel has been on my TBR for some time, so maybe I'll start with that one.
Secondly, we have another author who is no stranger to novels, Carmen Jenner.
First Impressions: This cover is AWESOME! When I first looked at it, it looked like something completely different and as you keep looking, it morphs into something else. I really love when covers aren't exactly what meets the eye. This is definitely going to be a book revolving around the military. A man in the military is struggling with something, whether it be war, a relationship, PTSD, etc. I would read this by the cover alone, I don't even need to read the blurb.
But, for fun let's read it anyway. 😉
Toward the Sound of Chaos by Carmen Jenner
Release date: May 18, 2016
Jake Tucker is broken. At twenty-two, he went in to the Marine Corps a naïve, troubled youth. Nine years and four tours later, Jake finds himself back on US soil, though his mind remains firmly planted in the sands of Afghanistan with the men he left behind.
Wounded, chewed up and spat out by war, Jake has only his dog, Nuke, PTSD, and survivor's guilt to keep him company. He's lived every day for nine years wondering when it will be his last, but there's little comfort in the fact that he's still standing when his platoon isn't.
Ellie Mason doesn't have time for broken. She's too busy trying to put food on the table. And keeping up with the demands of her autistic son, Spencer, is sometimes like fighting behind enemy lines. As if navigating the minefields of single parenthood isn't enough, Ellie finds herself drawn to the quiet Marine who's just as lonely as she is. But she's loved damaged men before, and it left her wounded.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Fairhope, Alabama, Ellie and Jake find themselves running toward the sound of chaos.
Love is war.
Only the strong survive, and surrender is inevitable.
Oh, wow, this sounds amazing! I just really, really want to hug Jake already and tell him it's going to be okay!
I did alright, but this one felt easy. 4/5 hearts! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


text: Hey there, I want to present you my new game: Qubic is a intelligent, clever and ingenious strategy game. You can play 3D-Tic-Tac-Toe against a challenging artificial intelligence as well as against your friends locally. WHAT IS 'QUBIC'? Qubic is the well-known game Tic-Tac-Toe in 3D. It is based on a cube-like playing field, which is divided into 4x4x4 similar fields. Two players play against each other. Both players alternately do their moves by green or red marks. The goal of the game is to have four marks of the same color in a row, column or diagonal. The winner is the player, who reaches this goal. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The first game mode is called "Player vs AI": the user starts the game (with a red mark) and plays against an artificial intelligence, which is based on heuristic. The AI tries to win and fight against the possible win of the user. With a skillful strategy you can beat the artificial intelligence. Since 1980 it is proven that the player, who begins the game, will always win the game (in case both players play in an optimal way). Any feedback is appreciated. Can you beat the artificial intelligence? Good luck!


text:
|09 Jan 2012
Can you disable (as previously) the IPv6 components on both, and then ping -4 again whilst gathering a network trace on "Prague" via wireshark? DNS appears to be working, but it'd be interesting to see what's happening on the wire. Is it safe to assume firewalls are currently disabled while testing right now on both ends?
|My System Specs
|09 Jan 2012
Thanks - will do that now. How would you like the trace sent to you? Shall I just upload it somewhere, or can I DM or email it to you?
|My System Specs
|09 Jan 2012
Zip and upload it somewhere, and link it here, if you would please.
|My System Specs
|09 Jan 2012
OK it's here for a short period of time. http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9379658/ping_request.pcap
Will remove it after you have taken a look.
|My System Specs
|09 Jan 2012
Indeed, no responses to ICMP requests, or even SYN requests to create a session. I do see that IP address sending broadcast browser messages and DROPBOX discovery protocol broadcasts, which is odd. Are you certain the firewall is disabled on 192.168.1.64?
|My System Specs
|09 Jan 2012
Firewall is disabled on 'London' (Laptop) for private networks (which it is on). Dropbox client was running in the background so that makes sense to see those broadcasts I guess. Anything else that I can run/test?
|My System Specs
|18 Jan 2012
Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
i had exactly the same problem (but i needed some frustrating hours to locate it.. first i only tried to find out why remote desktop doesnt work. None of the solutions worked of course because the problem was the IPv4 ping..)
The solution for me was quite specific: I had the program "Checkpoint Endpoint Security" installed. After i uninstalled it, pinging on IPv4 worked again. YAY!!
Just switching Endpoint Security of didn't work, because apparently Endpoint Security automatically installs a firewall which keeps running even if the program itself is switched off.
I then reinstalled the program with INSTALL_FIREWALL=NO from the command line. Now pinging and remotedesktop work, even if Endpoint Security is installed and running.
Don't know if this helps anyone, but if you dont have the program installed, maybe its another little program that blocks the pings, and not a problem in your network configuration.
|My System Specs
|18 Jan 2012
thyman - you are a star!
That only went and worked. I had Checkpoint Endpoint VPN client installed, and when I removed that it worked!
RemoteDesktop now works, as does ping!
Thank-you once again.
|My System Specs
|09 Mar 2012
Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
Hi there,
I had the same problem. Symantec Norton 360 was the problem. All I had to do was to tun Norton Removal Tool and all was good then. Download it from Symantec servers here:
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text:
Capuchin monkeys for sale really aren't that terribly hard to find. You'll find that they are often raised on farms for adoptions to new homes. These types of animals would make good pets. I guess that's why they are so popular. They're cute, snuggly, not too big, and remind us of ourselves, at least to some extent. How do I know if one of these pets is right for me? What are they? What do I need to consider? Let's take a look at some of the other things you need to think about when you are looking for capuchin monkeys for sale.
Amazon Price: $389.99 Buy Now
(price as of Aug 7, 2015)
Physical characteristics:
Capuchin monkeys for sale are always really cute, especially when they are babies. Most of the body is black or brown, however, the face, front of neck, and the chest are white colored. The heads are generally black at the cap. They will get up to two feet long, with the tails about as long as their entire body is, but generally fall somewhere between 15 and 20 inches when full grown. Capuchin monkeys for sale will grow up to about 9 pounds, but usually stay in the 4-7 pound range.
Capuchin monkeys for sale will be pretty intelligent and adaptive. This is part of the reason they make good pets. They are able to adapt to their surroundings.
Amazon Price: $149.95 Buy Now
(price as of Aug 7, 2015)
Capuchin monkeys for sale, just like the wild ones, will spend much of their time searching for food, it's just their natural instinct. When sleeping, they like to curl up in the trees, in between the branches. They are actually pretty adaptive, so they can be found in several different environments. Capuchin monkeys for sale are not stupid, they are actually an intelligent animal.
Even though you will feed your capuchin monkey for sale on a regular basis, it will continue to search for food throughout the day. This is consistent with many other pets. Even domesticated cats will spend much their awake time looking for something to hunt. This is instinct, and it won't be changed on capuchin monkeys for sale.
In the wild capuchin monkeys have several predators. The ones for sale typically will not face the same predators, but you will notice some similarities because of the animal instincts they will still possess. The predators include big cats like jaguars and cougars. In addition, coyotes, snakes, and even crocodiles will prey on them. Basically, any type of meat eater that could overpower them would be considered their predator. Capuchin monkeys for sale may not face the same predators, but you will see them act bizarre initially around dogs and cats.
What they eat:
Capuchin monkeys for sale will want to eat many of the same things their wild cousins do. You can get some commercial foods for them, and it is pretty convenient to do so. They are actually omnivores, so meat and plants are all fair game. In the wild, they will eat bird eggs, various inspect and bugs, and very small vertebrates. Of course, they are also more than happy with nuts, seeds, and fruits. You'll find that capuchin monkeys for sale, when made into pets, will scrounge around for food, and eat several of the bugs they happen to find.
How much do they cost?
The cost of capuchin monkeys for sale varies greatly. You can find them online for as little as $300. You will want to make sure you do plenty of cost comparison shopping, as you'll find they can cost up to $3,000 from very reputable sellers. This doesn't mean the higher priced sellers are trying to scam you. It really can mean that you are buying an animal that has been well cared for, in the best environment possible. Since the cost can vary so much, you may want to consider a few other things when you consider capuchin monkeys for sale.
Amazon Price: $89.99 $69.46 Buy Now
(price as of Aug 7, 2015)
Who do I buy from?
This is really more of a personal choice than anything else. You should make sure, above all else, that you buy from a reputable seller. Many would be pet owners have been known to send cash to a seller, with the promise that they would be shipped to them. This is a common scam. You should really buy the capuchin monkeys for sale directly from the farm that is selling them. This way, you can physically see the animal, and know exactly what you are getting. Exotic pets should be treated the same as your run of the mill pets. Few people buy dogs without actually ever seeing them, and then have them shipped. It just doesn't happen. This is not to say that all of those types of sellers will scam you, it's just something to consider when it comes to capuchin monkeys for sale.
You can find capuchin monkeys for sale in regular pet stores from time to time. This is generally a good place to look because you will physically see the prospective new exotic pet, and be able to ask some questions of a real person. This way, you can find out more information about foods available and things to expect from the capuchin monkeys for sale that you are considering adopting.
An internet search will yield a lot of results on capuchin monkeys for sale. If you are lucky enough to have a decent farm near you, it may be worth a trip to them, so you can buy directly. This way, you'll cut out some of the markup the pet stores have to charge. In addition, you will be dealing with very knowledgeable people, that will be willing to answer all of your questions. This option really makes a lot of sense for most people looking at capuchin monkeys for sale.
Did you know capuchin monkeys for sale would end up being a pet for a long time? Some will live up to 45 years, making this a major commitment. You need to think about this carefully. Will you still want the pet a few decades from now? If not, you should really consider leaving them in the wild. Just because there are capuchin monkeys for sale, doesn't mean they are right for everyone.
Amazon Price: $19.42 $11.99 Buy Now
(price as of Aug 7, 2015)


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Brand Label: Diane Von Furstenberg
40% ITEM DISCOUNT AT SHOPBOP! WAS Pin It
Fabric: Silk chiffon Leopard print Waist-length style Collared neck Long sleeves Point collar Lined Sheer Shell: 100% silk Lining: 82% polyester/18% spandex Dry clean Imported, China Measurements Measurements from size 4 Length: 26in / 66cm, from shoulder.
Shop other brand label items from Diane Von Furstenberg on FashionStylist.com.
This item was published for sale online by Shopbop on July 17, 2018 12:32 am and last updated by us November 26, 2018 6:12 pm.
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New promo codes and links offering limited time promotions, sales coupons, and special offers on Diane Von Furstenberg designer fashions and accessories will be posted on each designer label apparel page. For the latest up to date information on this Diane Von Furstenberg Long Sleeve Chiffon Blouse | Top And Clothing fashion item, including product specifications, ordering options, pricing, shipping details, high resolution pictures, shopper comments, and other sales media, visit the Shopbop Online Store.


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A concert harp in the purest French tradition, the Elysée is a vibrant homage to its ancestor, the great Erard harps, and to the legendary French instrument makers. In the tradition of and inspired by these Empire models, it also evokes them aesthetically, with ornaments in gilded bronze. Fashioned from an exceptional mahogany - figured Sipo mahogany - with all the expertise of Camac Harps, the Elysée´s magnificent musicality brings the legendary instruments of old once again to life.
Woods used: rosewood, spruce for the soundboard
Finish: natural figured Sipo-mahogany
Size: 73.5 inches
Weight: 86 pounds
Range: 47 strings from G00 (above 1st octave) to C45 (7th octave)


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Gigabyte P67A-UD7 & P67A-UD4 Sandy Bridge Motherboards Preview
With Intel's upcoming Sandy Bridge architecture right around the corner, motherboard manufacturers are obviously quite excited about showing off their supporting products. Unfortunately, we cant discuss price positioning or performance of the processors themselves but this will be the first of a number of quick articles detailing the functions and layouts of these boards.
As usual, Gigabyte will have a massive lineup of P67 products available right off the bat. Some will naturally cater to the upper crust of society with a rich feature set and a price point to match but there will be several other SKUs which will balance feature sets, performance and affordability. The P67A-UD4 falls into this latter category with dual card SLI and Crossfire support alongside USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gbps ports for ultra fast data access. Gigabytes higher-end P67A-UD7 meanwhile builds upon the expectations of enthusiasts by offering an overclocker-friendly BIOS, expanded power regulation and 3-way GPU support. Naturally, you can expect all of these features to come with a relatively high price as well.
Gigabyte has been known to release some of the best motherboards around but their P67 lineup will have things that set them apart from past products. To begin with, this is the first time we will see black PCBs in lieu of the usual cacophony of colours normally seen on their boards. Lets see what else Gigabyte is about to bring to the highly competitive motherboard market.
|Latest Reviews in Motherboards


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I start lampp on my server and messages say :
XAMPP: Starting Apache with SSL (and PHP4)...
XAMPP: Starting MySQL...
XAMPP: Starting ProFTPD...
XAMPP for Linux started.
unfortunately SSL does not work when i type https://realtorvn.com , it works normally with http , i wonder why SSL not work ? i didnt change any thing about SSL stuff i only changed in httpd.conf :
NameVirtualHost 126.96.36.199
<VirtualHost 126.96.36.199>
ServerAdmin firstname.lastname@example.com
DocumentRoot /www/realtorvn
ServerName realtorvn.com
# ServerAlias lists.*
# UseCanonicalName Off
# ScriptAlias /mailman/ /var/mailman/cgi-bin/
# Alias /icons/ /var/www/icons/
# Alias /pipermail/ /var/mailman/archives/public/
# <Directory /var/mailman/archives/>
# Options FollowSymLinks
# </Directory>
does this config cause SSL not to work in my site ? so what is about solution ? i want 2 domains parking on 220.127.116.11 and both sites should access via SSL ? or both sites should access via a common SSL address ? plz help me out ! much appreciated !
By the way , anyone knows to add (recompiled or whatsoever ) PHP callback handle extension for LAMPP which supports Upload progress event programming so that i can script to tracking how many percent being uploaded . By default PHP engine does not support this but someone has done a extension for it right ? i wonder who know the way to add it to lampp system ?


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This service is offered to members of the VisitKorea website and Facebook through account log-in.
Region : Gapyeong-gun Gyeonggi-do
Type : Exhibition & Memorial Halls
Chi-ong Art Hall is a cultural complex center, established to support local artists and citizens' various artworks. The center operates a variety of cultural pr...
Region : Gapyeong-gun Gyeonggi-do
Type : Temples/ Religious Sites
Baengnyeonsa Temple is surrounded by mountains, as it is located off Yongmunsan and Myeongjisan Mountains. On each side of the temple, one can also find Unaksan...
Region : Namyangju-si Gyeonggi-do
Type : Recreational Forests/ Arboretums
Opened in 1995, Chungnyeongsan Recreational Forest is located at Oebang-ri, Sudong-myeon, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, approxmately 1 hour drive from Seoul. The r...
Region : Gapyeong-gun Gyeonggi-do
Type : Ecological Tourist Sites
Located in Gyeonggi-do and home to the nation's largest scale of nut pine trees over 80 years, Jatyanggi Purunsup Resort is a special recreational forest comple...
Region : Gapyeong-gun Gyeonggi-do
Type : Tobogganing
Located in Deokhyeon-ri, Sang-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, Gapyeong Sledding Hills is close to Jojongcheon Stream and clean valleys. It operates water sled...
Region : Gapyeong-gun Gyeonggi-do
Type : Hanok
The Chi-ong Art Center is a hanok-style culture complex situated amid a clean and quiet environment in Gyeonggi-do Province. The head of the art center, potter ...
VisitKorea does not guarantee the quality of products or services introduced on its site and is not responsible for any direct or indirect losses resulting from use of said products or services.


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More efficient prostate cancer screening might result from strategies that employ higher PSA thresholds for older men and longer screening intervals for low-risk patients, a computer modeling study suggested.
Raising the threshold of biopsy referral for older men increased the risk of prostate cancer death by less than 0.1% versus a reference strategy but reduced the likelihood of overdiagnosis by a full percentage point, reported Ruth Etzioni, PhD, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, and colleagues.
Screening clinically low-risk men every other year instead of annually would increase the disease-specific mortality risk by about 0.1% (2.23% versus 2.15% for the reference), reduce overdiagnosis by almost 1% (2.4% versus 3.3%), and reduce test volume by 59% and false-positives by almost 50%, they wrote online in Annals of Internal Medicine.
"Varying incidence inputs or reducing the survival improvement due to screening did not change the conclusions," they said. "If we recognize that realistic screening strategies must achieve an acceptable balance of benefits and harms, as opposed to unconditionally maximizing benefits, we can improve on the effectiveness of existing PSA-based screening for prostate cancer."
Prostate cancer screening with PSA tests has a controversial history. Since the introduction of PSA testing in the early 1990s, diagnosis of prostate cancer has undergone substantial stage migration, such that most cancers are detected early. Some authorities have argued that PSA testing detects on "inconsequential" cancers that would never prove lethal.
A steady decline in prostate cancer mortality accompanied the spread of screening PSA tests, suggesting a benefit, the authors noted. However, studies have been unable to separate the contributions of PSA testing from improvements in prostate cancer therapy that might explain the decrease in prostate cancer deaths.
Last year the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against PSA screening tests for average-risk men, concluding that the potential harms associated with overdiagnosis and overtreatment outweigh the potential benefits. However, several professional organizations continue to recommend routine PSA testing.
In the published document related to the decision, the USPSTF panel cited a need for research to "evaluate the benefits and harms of modifications in the use of existing prostate cancer screening tools" and to identify ways to "optimize the benefits while minimizing the harms."
Consistent with the needs cited by the USPSTF, Etzioni and colleagues designed a study to determine whether alternative strategies to current routine PSA screening could strike a balance between the risks and potential harms, a goal they dubbed "smarter screening."
The authors developed a microsimulation model based on data from large, randomized clinical trials and several population-based data sets. They analyzed outcomes of almost three dozen computer-simulated scenarios, varying factors such as age at the start of screening, intervals between screening tests, and PSA thresholds for biopsy referral.
Investigators also modeled outcomes using screening strategies developed by the American Cancer Society, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and American Urological Association.
For each strategy considered, they calculated projected positive outcomes (cancer detection, lives saved, and months of life saved) and negative outcomes (test volume, false-positives, overdiagnosis, and prostate cancer deaths).
Assuming a strategy of no screening PSA tests, the resulting model projected a lifetime prostate cancer risk of 12% and lifetime probability of prostate cancer death of 2.86%.
The reference strategy was annual screening tests and a PSA threshold of 4.0 µg/L for biopsy referral. The resulting model yielded a lifetime risk of prostate cancer diagnosis of 15.3%, a 2.15% risk of prostate cancer death, and a 3.3% risk of overdiagnosis. In terms of efficiency (the balance between positive and negative outcomes), the reference strategy ranked eighth.
The simulations revealed insight into the relative effects of various alternative strategies for PSA screening tests versus the reference strategy.
Aggressive strategies, particularly those that lower the PSA threshold for biopsy, reduce prostate cancer mortality but may increase the risk of potential harms to unacceptable levels. Less frequent testing and a higher biopsy threshold in older men lead to substantial improvements in the risk-benefit tradeoffs.
The study has several notable limitations, which the authors acknowledged, wrote John Concato, MD, in an accompanying editorial. The microsimulation approach did not take into account race and family history, fine distinctions in disease stage and grade, and patient preferences.
"Even if these limitations were addressed, a question would remain about how analyses of this type inform the PSA debate," wrote Concato, of Yale University. "The model itself is mathematically meticulous and conceptually interesting, and the conclusions are reasonable -- but the corresponding clinical relevance is limited."
"The results, presented as tradeoffs and involving calculations that often differ by only a fraction of a percentage point, are not likely to change clinical practice," he said.
Analyses that consider the effects of various interventions would be informative, but still would not resolve the debate regarding the benefits and harms of PSA testing, he added.
"As of 2012, uncertainty still reigns about the effectiveness of screening for prostate cancer," Concato wrote in summary. "Therefore, patients should have considerable input into what happens, using shared decision making, an activity this is easier said that done."
The study was supported by the National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Neither Etizioni and colleages nor Concato reported any conflicts of interests.
- Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse Planner
Primary Source
Annals of Internal medicineSource Reference: Gulati R, et al "Comparative effectiveness of alternative prostate-specific antigen-based prostate cancer screening strategies. Model estimates of potential benefits and harms" Ann Intern Med 2013; epub.
Secondary Source
Annals of Internal MedicineSource Reference: Concato J "Probability, uncertainty, and prostate cancer" Ann Intern Med 2013; epub.


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From the publisher:
What Is "Dinky Dragons"?
It is a simple roleplaying game with a minimum number of rules, best used with comedy fantasy settings. It is a classic "beer and pretzels" system, perfect for groups of two to eight players, ages 12 and over. Is it as good as Dinky Dungeons? No way! Unfortunately, that wonderful RPG has been out of print for years and copies of it are extremely rare. Even if you were lucky enough to find it for sale, you'd spend a few hundred dollars just to buy the core system. Dinky Dragons will have to do until Doc makes his triumphant return.
These rules are available as a free download from the We Love Dinky Dungeons fan site, see the weblinks section for Dinky Dungeons. The rules document is available via a link at the bottom of the front page.


text: Oops. I have a issue. Love the ROM but don't know if it's the ROM. I can't boot to recovery. Can't installation v. 2. theme. When I try it get the M and it sticks there until I battery pull. same with start X. am I doing something wrong? Also, can't xfer files to or from my pc without unchecking debug. Any ideas? Sent from my Droid using DroidForums App


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Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast in late October this year. In storm terms, it was "only" a Category 1, but the damage was massive. The latest tally surpassed $65.6 billion and, unfortunately, several hundred people lost their lives. With that, Sandy is behind only Hurricane Katrina in its impact.
A native Detroiter was caught smack-dab in the middle of the storm and was one of those hardest hit. Having moved to the East Coast to start a business a few years back, Devita Davison lost everything when the huge waves swept through her South Freeport, Long Island neighborhood.
Her neighborhood was under a mandatory evacuation before the worst of the storm hit. So, she threw a few things in her car and headed back home … to Detroit. Talking to neighbors, she found out everything she owned, other than what was quickly put in her car, was lost, including her home and business …The Southern Pantry Company.
The Southern Pantry Company was a neighborhood store in Brooklyn that had become a part of building the community … filling the store with food produced by local artisans.
In an open thank you letter to the city she loves, she describes what happened and what it means to be back here, trying to rebuild her life.
When Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, the impact that my neighborhood, South Freeport in Long Island, New York took was devastating. Waves 20-foot waves pounded up, over and through my community and with great intensity rushed down our streets.
Houses were ripped from foundations, trees tumbled like toys and boats sailed through the flooded streets like ghost ships. Inside my home, everything floated – including the refrigerator, stove, washing machine and dryer. I suffered a great loss, but I'm thankful and I know I will recover.
There are times when all of us are challenged by events, and it is how we respond that shows the character and humanity of us all.
While I suffered some losses, I am grateful that neither I, nor my neighbors lost our lives. With so many residents left homeless after the devastation, I'm thankful I've been able to temporarily relocate back to my hometown and stay with my parents until I get back on my feet.
It's going to take a while to get everything back to normal; but I'm a DETROITER (born and raised) and if I know anything, I know how to work hard and fight back!
Since returning home, I've heard from motivated Detroiters who are taking action – not asking for permission and executing creative ideas that are redefining Detroit.
I'm seeing the reverse exodus back to downtown and that many neighborhoods are starting to even look similar to New York addresses like Chelsea or TriBeCa.
I'm feeling the love and sense of community of entrepreneurs, grass-roots organizations and socially progressive start-ups that have been exposed to the hardships of this city and refuse to let anyone come in that isn't sensitive to the city's context.
But most importantly, I'm understanding it's not necessarily about how hard you work, but where you put your effort that counts, more than anything else.
Since coming back, I've found inspiration and been embraced by D-Town Farm, The Green Garage, Detroit Nation, The Food Lab, The New MeCommunity, Women 2.0, Pony Ride, 2051 Rosa Parks and D:Hive.
I've surrounded myself by people with an authentic desire to build community and solve problems in Detroit. Their invention, innovation and efficiency have shown me that there are plenty of opportunities that exist in Detroit – opportunities you have to mold, build and create.
Detroit may not be for everyone, but for those artistic, handy, creative, self-starters, motivated and self-sufficient individuals, it is a great place to be and for me, a great place to start over!
Thank you Detroit for helping me to realize that life has so much to offer and to take each day as it comes. Because after every storm, there is a rainbow and every burden carries its own blessing.
Surely all will be well in time. Even birds sing after a storm and so will I! So will I!
Home again,
Devita Davison
While others have tried to move on back on the block in Brooklyn, Devita has come home and is determined to give it a go here. On her transition back to Detroit, she says, "I'm excited to be relocating to Detroit. I'm bringing my southern hospitality, my passion for food artisans and my commitment to the community all together."


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Check out #JetsGo, the latest from Curren$y. The track was released on Monday, April 25th, 2011. Curren$y's chances in this game are improving with each new release, and #JetsGo is no exception - quite the opposite, in fact. It's a nice addition to the impressive catalogue Curren$y has been building over the years. We're definitely anticipating the next move.
Have you heard Curren$y's She Dont Want A Man (Clean)? Check out Curren$y's profile page for the most recent info, news, songs, and mixtapes.
Can you dig it?
Quotable Lyrics
"Uhh, never will it stop
Crate motors with triple digit blocks
You wanna race I'll leave you by a couple blocks
Blow the doors off, break the mothafuckin' locks
Nigga you know my steez
Spitta Andretti, pedal foot heavy, you know I Speed
Minus the bus and Keanu Reeves