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According to the television series "Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles", Skynet computer system began its attack against humanity on April 21, 2011. Luckily that hasn't happened (or has it?) but on that very day another predominant computing system provided us with a painful reminder on how much humanity relies on computers to run the world.
A couple of weeks ago, on April 21, the IT world experienced a tsunami: Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud went down in the US East Region for over 3 days (!!), and took down with it numerous systems and services that rely on AWS such as HootSuite, Reddit, Foursquare, Quora and many more, with a damage estimated at 2M$. The affected services were EC2 and RDS and Amazon provided a detailed technical summary of the event.
This tsunami was a wake-up call. This wasn't the first outage in the cloud arena, and not even the first of Amazon (in fact this is their second outage this year). But its impact was so vast that it finally brought the realization that cloud is not a silver bullet. Those who counted on the generic cloud's provision of scalability and resilience did not survive the AWS outage. The resilience of your application (as well as scalability) does not exist unless you take care of it.
So how do we achieve this resilience in our application?
Why not learn from the experience of those who survived the outage?
As a cloud evangelist, I was intrigued by the history of the outage as it occurred. There were great posts during and after the outage from those who went down. But more interestingly for me as architect were the detailed posts of those who managed to survive the outage relatively unharmed, such as SimpleGeo, Netflix, SmugMug, SmugMug's CTO, Twilio, Bizo and others.
In this post I'd like to summarize the patterns, principles and best practices that emerge from these posts, as I believe we can learn a lot from them on how to design our business applications to truly leverage on the benefits that the cloud offers in resilience and scalability.
Patterns, Guidelines and Best Practices
Design for failure
The first and fundamental principle in building robust architecture is to design for failure. As SmugMug states:
… we designed for failure from day one. Any of our instances, or any group of instances in an AZ [Availability Zone], can be "shot in the head" and our system will recover …
This principle should be prevalent during design, development, deployment and maintenance stages of the system. SimpleGeo presents an excellent work practice:
… At SimpleGeo failure is a first class citizen. We talk a lot about it in design discussions, it influences our operational procedures, we think about it when we're coding, and we joke about it at lunch …
Some companies even embedded random failure simulation in their work procedures, such as SmugMug:
… once your system seems stable enough, start surprising your Ops and Engineering teams by killing stuff in the middle of the day without warning them. They'll love you …
Netflix even automated random failure simulation using a designated Chaos Monkey service to get their engineering team used to a "constant level of failure in the cloud".
Stateless and autonomous services
If possible, divide your business logic into stateless services, to allow easy fail-over and scalability. Netflix explained the fail-over benefits:
… if a server fails it's not a big deal. In the failure case requests can be routed to another service instance and we can automatically spin up a new node to replace it …
Twilio aggregates their stateless services into homogeneous pools, which provides them both fail-over and elasticity:
… The pool of stateless recording services allows upstream services to retry failed requests on other instances of the recording service. In addition, the size of the recording server pool can easily be scaled up and down in real-time based on load …
To contain the ripple effect of the failure, make the services well-encapsulated, as SmugMug states:
… Make your system divided into well-encapsulated components that can fail individually without failing the entire system …
Redundant hot copies spread across zones
By replicating your data to other zones, you insulate your service from zone-wide failure, as SmugMug, Twilio, Netflix and others describe. As Netflix explains:
… we ensure that there are multiple redundant hot copies of the data spread across zones. In the case of a failure we retry in another zone, or switch over to the hot standby …
Twilio also emphasizes the configuration of timeout and retry to avoid delays in failing over to another copy:
… By running multiple redundant copies of each service, one can use quick timeouts and retries to route around failed or unreachable services …
Spread across several public cloud vendors and/or private cloud
Most IT organizations avoid depending on a single ISP by having another ISP as backup. Even Amazon is using this strategy internally to ensure high-availability of their cloud by using a primary and a backup network. Similarly, you would like to avoid dependency on a single cloud vendor by having another vendor as backup. This holds true even if the vendor provides a certain level of resilience, as we saw with Amazon's multi-AZ failure on the recent outage. Many of the companies that survived the recent AWS outage owe it to using their own datacenters, to using other vendors, or to using the US West Region of AWS. SmugMug for instance kept their critical data on their own datacenter:
… the exact types of data that would have potentially been disabled by the EBS meltdown don't actually live at AWS at all – it all still lives in our own datacenters, where we can provide predictable performance …
and also recommends to "spread across many providers", although admitting that
… This is getting more and more difficult as AWS continues to put distance between themselves and their competitors …
When considering using different regions of AWS for resilience, it's interesting to note Amazon's statement about the effort required on your application's side to work with multiple regions, which makes you wonder if it's that much easier than working with a different vendor altogether:
… if you want to move data between Regions, you need to do it via your applications as we don't replicate any data between Regions on our users' behalf. You also need to use a separate set of APIs to manage each Region. Regions provide users with a powerful availability building block, but it r
equires effort on the part of application builders to take advantage of this isolation …
Automation and Monitoring
Automation is the key. Your application needs to automatically pick up alerts on system events, and should be able to automatically react to the alerts. As SimpleGeo architect states:
… Everything needs to be automated. Spinning up new instances, expanding your clusters, backups, restoring from backups, metrics, monitoring, configurations, deployments, etc. should all be automated …
Interesting to see that even Netflix that took pride in surviving the failure, admitted that the manual responses their engineers used this time will not work in the future, as they grow to a
… worldwide service with dozens of availability zones, even with top engineers we simply won't be able to scale our responses manually …
Detailed alerting mechanisms are also essential to the manual control of the system, as Bizo states:
… we have our own internal alarms and dashboards that give us up to the minute metrics such as request rate, cpu utilization etc. …
Avoiding ACID services and leveraging on NoSQL solutions
The CTO of SimpleGeo recommends avoiding to rely on ACID services, as it inhibits the distributed nature of the cloud. In order to achieve that, Twilio recommends to "relax consistency requirements". Netflix implemented that by
… leveraging NoSQL solutions wherever possible to take advantage of the added availability and durability that they provide, even though it meant sacrificing some consistency guarantees …
Load Balancing
Use dynamic balancing, regardless of the zone. When balancing equally by zone, like Amazon's Elastic Load Balancer (ELB) does, if a zone fails this can bring down the system.
… Netflix uses its own software load balancing service that does balance across instances evenly, independent of which zone they are in. Services using middle tier load balancing are able to handle uneven zone capacity with no intervention …
Recent AWS outage serves as an important lesson to the IT world, and an important milestone in our maturity in using the cloud. The most important thing to do now is to learn from the mistakes made by those who went down with AWS, as well as from the success of the ones who survived it, and come up with proper methodology, patterns, guidelines and best practices on doing it right, so that Skynet will not take down humanity.
In a future post I will discuss how GigaSpaces platform can help you employ these patterns in your application easily. Stay tuned …
*This post was originally posted in http://horovits.wordpress.com/
· Netflix, http://techblog.netflix.com/2011/04/lessons-netflix-learned-from-aws-outage.html
· Joe Stump, SimpleGeo, http://stu.mp/2011/04/the-cloud-is-not-a-silver-bullet.html
· SimpleGeo, http://developers.simplegeo.com/blog/2011/04/26/how-simplegeo-stayed-up/
· Ted Theodoropoulos, http://blog.acrowire.com/cloud-computing/failing-to-plan-is-planning-to-fail
· http://stu.mp/2011/04/the-cloud-is-not-a-silver-bullet.html
· SmugMug, http://don.blogs.smugmug.com/2011/04/24/how-smugmug-survived-the-amazonpocalypse
· Twilio, http://www.twilio.com/engineering/2011/04/22/why-twilio-wasnt-affected-by-todays-aws-issues/
· Bizo, http://dev.bizo.com/2011/04/how-bizo-survived-great-aws-outage-of.html
· Heroku, http://status.heroku.com/incident/151
· http://groups.google.com/group/cloud-computing/browse_thread/thread/e8079a54e6a8c4b9/72756bf9e587869d?show_docid=72756bf9e587869d
· Amazon, http://aws.amazon.com/message/65648/
· Amazon, http://aws.amazon.com/architecture/


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Whether you love the company or hate it, it is hard to deny that Nintendo is currently the king of gaming systems. Arguments can be made against them, especially when it comes to pushing the boundaries of the industry, but it is hard to overlook the insane amount of success the company has had recently with the Wii and the Nintendo DS.
The DS family of portable systems is the best-selling gaming system of all time, with over 146 million units sold worldwide, so to say that its replacement has been somewhat anticipated is akin to saying that James Cameron's Avatar was something of a box-office success. Beyond just the obvious addition of glasses-less 3D, the Nintendo 3DS is more than just a DS with a neat screen, it is new hardware that supports new software. And for the most part, the changes are very welcome. For the most part.
The new Nintendo 3DS has its good and bad features. In general it is a welcome addition to the Nintendo family, and one that gamers will eventually flock to. But a handful of launch day omissions and an underwhelming battery life paired with a low resolution camera might make it worth waiting for the promised updates. Find out more in our full review of the 3DS below.
The look and design
The design of the 3DS is slightly bulkier than the original DS by necessity, in order to fit the new 3D cameras on the front as well as the 3D screen. To be fair, the previous DS wasn't the most comfortable device ever made, and it was never really a good fit to throw in your pocket. It could be done easily enough, but the square edges and overall width of the device made it easer to carry in a bag. The 3DS is worse.
The 3DS is just a larger device. It's still light weight, and it isn't really an issue to stick it in your pocket, but it is uncomfortable, and should be done only with baggy clothes, or you risk damaging the device and possibly your poor, unprepared leg. The hardware jammed inside makes this a necessary evil, but rounded corners would have been a nice addition. Still, no one is going to pass up a 3DS just because it is an awkward fit in the pocket.
Along with the added size, there are a few new improvements, though. The first is the inclusion of sliding bars that control the 3D image strength, another for the volume, and one for the Wi-Fi. The slides are easy to use, and well located. Another addition is the analog circle pad. The D-Pad has always been a source of pride for the DS, and the 3DS builds on that with an analog stick that reacts well and encourages smooth movements. It makes complicated moves in games like Street Fighter IV fairly easy, and the slight resistance is a perfect balance for movement.
The shoulder buttons — once a source of annoyance on the DS — have been raised and make a click to indicate that they have been pressed. It sounds like a minor addition, but it transforms the shoulder buttons from an irritation into an integral part of the DS.
The touch screen is something of a mixed blessing, and Nintendo designed the device to require a stylus. That isn't a bad call, especially for some of the games and software coming out for the 3DS, but in a world that is going more and more touchscreen crazy, most gamers will simply use their fingers. The 3DS will usually be alright with that, but it's not designed for it, and that occasionally shows. The touchscreen also comes with a start, select, and home key, all of which are good to have, and yet all of which require an odd amount of pressure to activate. That is a minor quibble, but it could lead to the keys wearing down sooner than they should.
The 3D in 3DS
The first thing most people will want to know about the Nintendo 3DS is simply "How well does the glasses-free 3D work?" The answer in a nutshell: It works very well, but you have to be prepared for the realities of it.
The 3DS uses what is called autostereoscopy, which is a style of 3D similar to the 3D you see on printed 3D images. DVD and Blu-ray covers, for example, use stereogram 3D, which is similar in the sense that if you move from side to side, the 3D image disappears.
When you are playing a game on the 3DS, especially one that requires a lot of movement, you will frequently move the device just enough that the 3D effect will disappear. It just happens, and it is inevitable with the technology. But putting that aside, the 3D can also be awesome at times.
A lot of the success of the 3DS will come down to the games themselves, but the technology is there and ready. Sometimes the image can be overwhelming, reminiscent of the old 3D images made of dots, which forced you to star at the center and relax your eyes to see the full image. The same is true with the 3DS, but the sliding bar that controls the intensity of the 3D can help with that. The system also recommends that you rest your eyes for 10 minutes for every 30 minutes of gameplay, and it is a warning you should heed, or risk eye strain and headaches. It isn't something that will always happen, but it will happen now and again.
The 3DS has a Wi-Fi option that is better than the DS. Along with a more streamlined friends software setup, it makes gaming with friends much simpler. However, the range seems limited to about 20 feet away at most, and for a strong signal you should be within 10 feet. With no 3G connectivity options, this may turn off some gamers, but that is more a limit of technology in general than a problem with the 3DS. That might sound slightly like an apologist's approach to the 3DS, but the Wi-Fi connectivity generally works extremely well, and offers a lot of potential for the device, even if its range puts it on a short leash.

subset: commoncrawl


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Home & Garden
Pet owners can decorate stylishly
It's a question that comes up frequently for interior designers: How do you create a stylish living space when a dog who sheds or a cat who scratches is part of the mix?
"Many people are incorporating their pets into daily life," designer Mallory Mathison says, yet they don't want to sacrifice style. Designers are often called on to camouflage litter boxes, keep pet gear organized and create stylish sleeping arrangements for dogs and cats. Today, Mathison says, pet-focused design is "much more that just the old standard 'doggie door."'
We've quizzed Mathison and designers Janine Carendi and Brian Patrick Flynn about their favorite strategies for designing when pets are in the picture:
Sofa scratching, chair chewing and seat staining
All three designers mentioned using indoor/outdoor rugs and fabrics in homes with pets. Flynn especially likes the velvet-like durable fabrics made by Sunbrella, which he says feel wonderful and can be washed with soap and water.
"You can even clean a milkshake off it," he says.
Carendi points out that regular indoor fabrics can be treated to make them similarly durable and stain-resistant.
In homes with a new puppy or kitten, Flynn suggests putting the most fragile or treasured pieces of furniture in storage during the early months to protect them from damage and accidents. Retailers like Crate and Barrel's "CB2" have attractive coffee tables for as little as $200 to $300, he says. Use an inexpensive piece until the pet is trained, then sell it on eBay and go back to your original furniture.
Wood is most at risk from scratching and chewing, so remove temptation by using furniture with metal legs or bases in the rooms where the pet spends most of its time.
Are snags or stains on upholstery a potential problem? Choose a sofa with seat cushions that are upholstered on both sides, so they can be flipped over to hide damage. Also, pick a sofa with several large pillows across the back, rather than one long cushion. Individual pillows can be recovered much less expensively than an entire sofa.
Carendi mentions one other secret weapon: safety gear designed for babies. She has used the protective corners made to protect unsteady toddlers from sharp edges to keep pets from chewing on the corners of furniture. And "baby gates," she says, may be the best way to keep a pet - and any damage it can do - contained in one area of your home.
Hairy homes
Many pets shed, leaving hair on furniture and floors. There is no easy or one-size-fits-all solution, but each of the designers has ideas for combating the problem.
It helps to choose colors that blend with the pet's hair color, though that can be tough in homes with more than one pet. Flynn generally loves decorating with bold hues, but his new dog's white hairs would be very visible on, say, a deep purple sofa. In his new home, he opted for upholstery in neutral shades ("Stick with the gray and taupe family," he says) and saved the bolder colors for walls and floors.
With textures, Flynn points out that woven and nubby fabrics may show less pet hair than smoother surfaces. But there also could be a greater risk of damage; pets may be drawn to scratching nubbier weaves, or tiny nails may get caught on them. Mathison's suggestion: "Ultra suedes, cotton velvets, heavy weight cottons, chenille are good choices," as long as they are treated with a stain guard.
Vacuuming and lint-brushing definitely help with pet hair, says Carendi. She has one client who uses a Roomba automatic vacuum during the day to battle pet hair. Also, training pets to stay off certain furniture can help, though it may take a lot of time and effort.
One last strategy that's simple and effective: If your pet has adopted a particular piece of furniture as a napping spot, keep a blanket draped over it. Remove the blanket just before guests arrive. The opposite also works - keep a stylish throw handy and drape it over the hairiest spots when guests are due.
Gathering the gear
To wrangle pet gear, Mathison says, "pet centers" are becoming popular. These pieces of furniture include pull-out shelves that can hold the pet's food and water dishes, and drawers for things like leashes, brushes and dog sweaters.
"Another idea is a cabinet that looks like a drawer front, and when you pull it out there is a food and water bowl," says Mathison. "When company comes, just slide in the drawer and the food is cleaned up."
Such pieces also can conceal a litter box, a popular idea these days. Carendi also likes ceramic planters with a litter box hidden inside.
For sleeping, all three designers suggested buying an inexpensive pet bed and recovering it with fabric that matches your living room or bedroom decor. You can have it reupholstered or just have a slipcover made, or even do it yourself. Ideally, have it match your sofa or bedspread fabric exactly.
Some people, Flynn says, want a replica of their own sofa. He has designed mini-sofas and other custom beds for his clients' pets; Carendi has done the same.
If you prefer simplicity, Carendi says, nothing beats a large dog pillow covered in a fabric that coordinates with your home.


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Idézés: bonyi86 - Dátum: 2005 Dec 06, 03:06
Kinek mit jelent a C64 a mai Pentium 4-esek, és a mega/giga/terra Hz-ek/Byte-ok világában?
Hi thanks for your valuable and very informative post. You have gave many information about the treatment of women. This will help those women very much who are actually suffering this problem.


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Andrew Tyler of the London Evening Standard recently told me that the National Health Service pays a substantial bonus to physicians with documented vaccination rates over 70%, and a still higher increment if the figure tops 90% (13. His drift seemed to be that the overly civilized British need only informal pressures and inducements to obey authority, while the more rebellious, outspoken Americans have to be coerced with laws and penalties. If that is true, I can understand why you wanted to fetch somebody from America, and I shall try not to disappoint you.
My interest in vaccination arose out of a "gut" feeling not to do it that I have devoted a considerable part of my career trying to clarify. In this as in so many other ways, the study of homeopathy has helped me to articulate what my heart and soul already seemed to know. To recognize the organism as a totality of symptoms already implies that any more narrowly defined standards of vaccine effectiveness cannot possibly be adequate. Other glaring inconsistencies include enforcing compulsory vaccination laws in the absence of any public health emergency, and waiving the rules of scientific inquiry in their honor.
These special privileges give some measure of the reverence accorded to vaccines in what can on]y be called the "religion" of modern medicine (2). Its theology was admirably summarized by the French physiologist Claude Bernard well over a century ago:
What we call the immediate cause of a phenomenon is nothing but the physical and material conditions in which it exists or appears. The object of the experimental method and the limit of every scientific research is therefore the same for living as for inanimate bodies. It consists in finding the relations which connect every phenomenon with its immediate cause, or, putting it differently, defining the conditions necessary for the appearance of the phenomenon. When the experimenter succeeds in learning the necessary causes of a phenomenon, he is in some sense its master. He can predict its course and appearance; he can promote or prevent it at will.
As a corollary to the above, neither physiologists nor physicians must imagine it their task to seek the cause of life or the essence of disease. That would be entirely wasting one's time in pursuing a phantom. The words "life" and "death," "health" and "disease," have no objective reality. Only the vital phenomenon exists, with its material conditions. That is the one thing that they can study and know (3).
Precisely as Bernard foresaw, the search for identifiable components of human structure and function and for powerful technologies to control them has obscured the need for and even the possibility of any unifying concept of life or health against which to judge them. To be considered effective by present standards, vaccines need only satisfy two statistical criteria, i.e., reducing the incidence of the corresponding acute diseases as low as possible, and demonstrating measurable titers of specific antibodies in the blood.
Vaccines have become sacraments of our faith in biotechnology in the sense that 1) their efficacy and safety are widely seen as self-evident and needing no further proof; 2) they are given automatically to everyone, by force if necessary, but always in the name of the public good; and 3) they ritually initiate our loyal participation in the medical enterprise as a whole. They celebrate our right and power as a civilization to manipulate biological processes ad libitum and for profit, without undue concern for or even any explicit concept of the total health of the populations about to be subjected to them.
I therefore want to reexamine and update the major concerns of my original article from this theological standpoint. Now as then, I have mostly a lot of questions to offer, questions so thorny and difficult that decades of careful investigation will be needed to disentangle them. But they seem so basic and important that it would be reckless indeed to require vaccination of every newborn child without adequate measures being taken to address them. Until then, my position remains simply to make vaccines optional and freely available to all at the discretion of their parents, as is now the rule in the UK and other European countries.
I want to begin with a brief history of the measles vaccine, because its dramatic career highlights so many of the issues pertaining to the others as well.
In its natural state, the measles virus enters the body of a susceptible person through the nose and mouth and incubates silently for about 14 days in the lymphoid tissues of the nasopharynx, the regional lymph nodes, and finally in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and the lymphocytes and macrophages of the peripheral blood. The illness known as the measles is the process by which the virus is expelled from the blood, through the same orifices that it came in, and involves a concerted and massive effort of the entire immune system. Once specific antibodies have succeeded in targeting the virus, the ability to synthesize them on short notice remains as a coded "memory" of the whole experience, a virtual guarantee that people who have recovered from the measles will never get it again, no matter how many times they are re-exposed.
In addition to conferring this specific immunity, the process of recovering from the natural disease also "primes" the organism nonspecifically to respond promptly and efficiently to other micro-organisms in the future. A crucial step in the maturation of a healthy immune system, the ability to mount a vigorous, acute response to infection unquestionably represents a major ingredient of optimum health and well-being in general.
Finally, measles is about 20% fatal in populations exposed to it for the first time. It has taken us many centuries of adaptation and "herd immunity" to convert it into an ordinary childhood disease, such that, when I first encountered it at the age of 6, nonspecific mechanisms were already in place to help me deal with it effectively. In that historical sense, the permanent immunity acquired by recovery from the natural disease represents an absolute net gain for the total health of the race as well. However the vaccines act inside the human body, true natural immunity or any other qualitative benefit cannot be ascribed to them: their effectiveness is a mere statistic, and the resulting "immunity" a narrowly defined technicality.
Thus, in contrast with the natural disease, the vaccine virus produces no local sensitization at the portal of entry, no incubation, no massive outpouring, and no acute disease of any kind. It can elicit long-term antibody production solely by surviving in latent form in the lymphocytes and macrophages of the blood. But then the vaccinated individual would have no way to get rid of it, and the technical feat of antibody synthesis could at most represent the memory of this chronic infection. Nobody would be foolish enough to argue that vaccines render us "immune" to viruses if in fact they merely weakened our ability to expel them and forced us to harbor them permanently instead. On the contrary, such a carrier state would tend to compromise our ability to respond to other infections as well, and would have to be regarded as immunosuppressive in that sense.
The laws mandating vaccination against the measles were enacted in the early 1960's, when the disease was limited almost entirely to children in elementary school, and both deaths and serf us complications had already reached an all-time low. There was very little public debate, and the decision appears to have been made purely as a matter of policy, almost as soon as the vaccine became available. With very few people requesting exemptions, the compliance rate averaged well over 95 per cent. From an average of over 400,000 cases annually in the prevaccine era, the incidence of measles in the United States dropped to less than 5000 in the early 1980's (4), and it looked as though the disease would soon be eliminated.
In the 1980's, however, this comforting mythology began to unravel, as measles began to reappear even in fully vaccinated populations, and public health authorities began to grapple with the mysterious phenomenon of "vaccine failure."
Thus in 1984, 27 cases of measles were reported at a high school in Waltham, Mass., where over 98% of the students had documentary proof of vaccination (5). In 1985, 157 cases were reported over a 3-month period in Corpus Christi, Texas, and the surrounding Nueces County, despite a vaccination rate of over
99% and significant antibody levels in over 95% (6). In 1989, an Illinois high school with vaccination records for 99.7% of the students reported 69 cases over a 3-week period (7).
In all of these outbreaks, the authors concentrated on the documented vaccination rates of the target populations, and curiously neglected to mention the number of actual cases that had not been vaccinated. But they all implicitly refuted the hypothetical "reservoir" of the disease in the unvaccinated, an argument still popular with health departments for frightening wavering parents into compliance.
As the data from these various outbreaks were collected and analyzed, tentative generalizations were made and new strategies formulated. A survey of over 15,000 Canadian cases in 1985-86 indicated that 60% of the patients had documented vaccination records, with 28% "unvaccinated," and the status of the other 12% "unknown" (8). Since the "unvaccinated" group would also have been identifiable only by their own statements, the category "unknown" presumably refers to those who claimed to have been vaccinated but could no longer prove it.
A comparable American survey (9) of 152 separate outbreaks comprising over 9000 cases in 1985-86 yielded similar results:
1) A large majority of cases (69%) were children of school age, i.e., 5 to 19 years of age.
2) Of these, 60% had been "appropriately vaccinated," i.e., at 15 months or more (the schedule then currently in vogue), and another 20% "inappropriately vaccinated" (at 12-19 months, the schedule recommended before 1979), with the number of unvaccinated cases again omitted.
3) A significant minority of cases (26%) were children less than 5 years old, most of them unvaccinated and belonging to black, Hispanic, or other indigent minorities in urban ghettos.
All of these data indicated a resurgence of the disease mainly in older children and adolescents of high-school and college age, groups with much higher rates of serious complications. The usual explanation was that vaccine-mediated immunity was time-limited, and "wore off" with increasing age, presumably leaving the child otherwise unaffected and susceptible as before. This usually unstated assumption also formed the principal rationale for mandatory revaccination at a later date.
Unfortunately, this assumption had already been disproved by an earlier study, which demonstrated that previously vaccinated children with declining antibody titers responded minimally and for an unacceptably short time to booster doses of the measles vaccine (10).
Another refutation came from a sustained outbreak of 235 cases in Dane County, Wisconsin, over a 9-month period in 1986, although the authors of the study declined to take it seriously. As in earlier studies, they found that the vast majority of the cases were in the school-age group (5 to 19 years), but that only 6% of these had not been vaccinated (11). Their most unexpected finding was that "mild measles," with typical rash but minimal fever, was much more likely in children who lacked vaccine-specific antibodies than in either the unvaccinated or those whose vaccinations had "taken" properly. This apparent reversal suggested some kind of inapparent or latent activity of the virus that had not been suspected before and did not show up on routine serological investigation.
Yet, despite these warnings, none of these investigators dared consider the possibility that the "immunity" conferred by the measles vaccine might not be genuine. Much as in the peak years of the Vietnam War, or the chemotherapy of advanced cancer patients after the initial round has failed, the purely quantitative redefinition of immunity cleared the way for the simple escalation of force as needed to approximate the desired goal.


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Aurora Shooting Suspect James Holmes Can Face Trial
(CENTENNIAL, Colo.) -- In a ruling that comes as little surprise, the judge overseeing the Aurora, Colo., theater massacre has ruled that there is enough evidence against James Holmes to proceed to a trial.
In an order posted late Thursday, Judge William Sylvester wrote that "the People have carried their burden of proof and have established that there is probable cause to believe that Defendant committed the crimes charged."
The ruling came after a three-day preliminary hearing this week that revealed new details about how Holmes allegedly planned for and carried out the movie theater shooting, including how investigators say he amassed an arsenal of guns and ammunition, how he booby-trapped his apartment to explode, and his bizarre behavior after his arrest.
Holmes is charged with 166 counts, including murder, attempted murder and other charges related to the July 20 shooting that left 12 people dead and 58 wounded by gunfire. An additional 12 people suffered non-gunshot injuries.
One of the next legal steps is an arraignment, at which Holmes will enter a plea. The arraignment was originally expected to take place Friday morning.
Judge Sylvester indicated through a court spokesman that he would allow television and still cameras into the courtroom, providing the outside world the first images of Holmes since a July 23 hearing. Plans for cameras in court, however, were put on hold Thursday afternoon.
"The defense has notified the district attorney that it is not prepared to proceed to arraignment in this case by Friday," wrote public defenders Daniel King, Tamara Brady and Kristen Nelson Thursday afternoon in a document objecting to cameras in court.
A hearing in the case still will take place Friday morning, but since it will no longer be an arraignment, cameras will not be allowed.
Holmes' attorneys have said in court that the former University of Colorado neuroscience student is mentally ill. The district attorney overseeing the case has not yet announced whether Holmes, now 25, can face the death penalty.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio


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The Gifts of the Spirit
Today's passage is an important text on the priesthood of all believers. Paul does not mean to deny the roles of elders, teachers, and other officers in the church; rather, he tells us that every Christian is to be involved ...Read More
The Outpouring of God's Spirit
We receive the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit by faith when we place our trust in Christ. Thus, no Christian should think that he is without the help of the Holy Spirit or that he needs to do something ...Read More
Gift-giver and Protector
"The body they may kill: God's truth abideth still" is the cry of the believer's confidence in the protecting work of Christ. We may suffer in this world, but in Jesus we are kept from everlasting destruction. We ...Read More
Every Member Ministry
Do you consider yourself a minister in the church? Although you might never be ordained to a church office, your gifts are critical to the healthy functioning of Christ's body. Determining your specific role may not be easy, but ...Read More
Sovereign Gifting
Christ bestows gifts upon His people as He sees fit, guaranteeing that all of us have an important part to play in the advance of His kingdom (1 Cor. 12:1–11). As Christians, then, we must truly appreciate the ...Read More
The Pastor's Progress
John Calvin writes, "To neglect a gift is carelessly to keep it unemployed through slothfulness, so that, having contracted rust, it is worn away without yielding any profit." Some of us know what our gifts are but are not using ...Read More
Investing God's Gift
John Calvin says, "There will be no excuse of the indolence of those who both conceal the gifts of God, and waste their time in idleness." Far too many professing Christians are content to sit around and not use their ...Read More
Serve One Another
Peter does not give us an exhaustive list of gifts here; he gives two broad examples that encompass many of the specific ones listed elsewhere in the New Testament. What are your spiritual gifts? Do you have particular talents that ...Read More
Lust for Power
Simon wanted spiritual powers for his own exaltation. We are told to "earnestly desire the best [spiritual] gifts" (1 Cor. 12:31), but only for the edification of the church. Furthermore, any gift the Holy Spirit gives us must be ...Read More
The Origin of Simony
In a lesser way, simony is still a problem in the church. All too often those who are elected elders, deacons, or vestrymen in the church are voted in almost entirely because they are successful at business or have important ...Read More


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(BlackNews.com) — Riding the wave of their success as entrepreneurs, Atlanta's ultimate power couple, Robert and Nicola Jackson has now moved into the realm of reality television as stars on the new reality docu-series, Amateur Millionaires Club. The show, which premiered on July 7th, at 9.00 P. M. EST on the BET-owned cable network Centric, featured the lives of ten (10) African-American millionaires, who made their fortunes using the multi-level marketing business model. The show offers a fresh and exhilarating behind-the-scenes look at these self-made millionaires, and tells the stories of their rise to affluence and the challenges of maintaining their new status.
Robert and Nicola, along with their Amateur Millionaires Club co-stars Stormy Wellington, Chyna Bethley, Dorothy Cook, Kenny Lloyd, Twiler Portis & other cast members heated up the red carpet at the 2012 BET Awards. Robert Jacksons swag level was turned up with his flashy tailored suit from his upcoming Robert Jackson fashion line, while Nicola's dress from her Nikki J signature line was described as "just stunning" by a top fashion media outlet.
Robert and Nicola Jackson are doting parents of four sons, while also leading a multi-million dollar sales force of over 200,000 people in more than 30 countries across the globe, as Platinum Presidents of Ardyss International, one of the world's fastest growing health and wellness network marketing companies. In addition, the super couple is each involved in several other business ventures. Robert manages a successful construction company in the Atlanta area while Nicola, a former hair stylist, has launched her own hair line, the Nikki J Hair Collection and is a savvy real estate investor, author and sought-after motivational speaker. Following on the heels of Nicola's successful book, "Inside the Millionaire's Vault", Robert is preparing for the release of his new book on how to be a healthy, wealthy man. As parents of a 15-year-old son with cerebral palsy, Robert and Nicola are also actively involved with many charitable causes and non-profit organizations, promoting research on cerebral palsy and offering support and encouragement for families of children with special needs.
The Jackson story however, is not a one of being born into extravagance. The Jacksons have emerged from a history of health and economic challenges. Just a few years ago, Robert had a typical 9 to 5 and managed his own small business while Nicola worked long hours in her hair salon to provide for their family. "You can't expect to do the same thing and achieve different results," says Robert Jackson. "My wife and I decided to try a different approach to becoming wealthy" adds Jackson.
Amateur Millionaires Club provides viewers with an intimate look into the busy, sometimes crazy lives of Robert and Nicola as they balance marriage, parenthood, their religious faith, their businesses and all the trappings of fame and fortune. They are not a perfect pair but in Nicola's words, they're "keeping it family." Their stories are potent but relatable, motivating and inspiring as this power couple spreads entrepreneurial fire across America, using their life stories and lessons to coach ordinary people on creating wealth.


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Job Description
It takes special people to make others feel special and to help them be at their best.
Agency work is perfect for those who simply wish to 'top-up' their existing income. However, H1 Healthcare are the sole employer for many of our staff, most of whom work the equivalent of full-time hours week-in week-out. We have a variety of shifts available.
We are working with a number of well-established Care Providers in Edinburgh and are looking for dedicated, warm-hearted Support Workers to join our team. This role will see you supporting the team in providing dedicated, expert care to residents of all ages and abilities.
To be considered for this post you must match the following criteria:
- 6 months of paid experience as a Support Worker, gained within the last 12 months, within the UK
- A genuine interest in providing high levels of care.
- A Satisfactory Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check
- Excellent communication skills
- Flexible
- Must be willing to travel up to an hour from where you live
- Full driving license - (ideal, but not essential)
Here's why you'll love working for H1 Healthcare:
- Enhanced pay rates - paying more than our competitiors
- Full flexibility with picking and choosing your shifts, we will book you in advance for work, allowing you the flexibility to plan your diary
- Continuous shifts on site with the best healthcare providers in the market
- Pay rates from £8.49 to £16 per hour
- Weekly pay, without exception
- Free training - we are committed to your professional development
- Regular incentives and giveaways
- You will be assigned a dedicated Recruitment Consultant - your one point of contact within H1
- Referral scheme - £600 for nurses & £300 for care assistants
If you have the unique qualities required for this exciting role and want to work with an organisation that provides the type of care you'd expect for your loved ones, we would welcome your application.
Apply today or get in touch with Victoria to discuss everything in more detail on 0141 212 7904.
H1 Healthcare pride ourselves on being a specialist recruitment company who provide temporary relief staff to healthcare services in the UK and internationally.


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FAR STATESMAN Owner, Manager, Shipyard
Maritime News
Strait of Hormuz: Ships urged to alert Navies before Sailing Through
Shipping associations have called on ship owners to inform Britain's navy of their movements before sailing into the Middle East Gulf and Strait of Hormuz because of the escalating international crisis in the region.About a fifth of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz and shipping companies are already deploying more unarmed security guards as an extra safeguard.However, in a joint note issued by the leading trade associations on Monday, ship captains were requested to register with the Royal Navy's liaison body, the United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations, and to provide their transit plans 24 to 48 hours before entering the region.
Pirates Rob Korean Bulk Carrier
Pirates attacked a South Korean-flagged cargo ship in the South China Sea early on Monday, stealing thousands of dollars in cash and even the sailors' shoes, South Korean authorities said.Two people sustained minor injuries when seven pirates boarded the CK Bluebell and made off with $13,000 and belongings including mobile phones, clothes and shoes from the 22-strong crew, officials from the oceans and fisheries ministry said.Tougher policing has made piracy less frequent on the strategic shipping route in recent years.
World First: High-Wave Floating Solar Park
A Belgian consortium has launched a project in high-wave offshore solar technology with the aim of building floating solar parks in the North Sea.Large maritime market players Tractebel, Jan De Nul Group, DEME, Soltech and Ghent University formed a consortium and announced the launch of an innovative project in the field of marine floating solar technology.The consortium strongly believe that solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in offshore waters are one of the essential future green energy sources. Combined in the same location with aquaculture and offshore wind power, this innovative technology allows for a more efficient use of available space.
Iran: British-flagged Tanker Seized in Gulf
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday they had captured a British-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf after Britain seized an Iranian vessel earlier this month, further raising tensions along a vital international oil shipping route.Britain said it was urgently seeking information about the Stena Impero after the tanker, which had been heading to a port in Saudi Arabia, suddenly changed course after passing through the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf.The Revolutionary Guards said they seized the tanker at the request of Iranian maritime authorities for "not following international maritime regulations," state television reported.
Interview: Fredrik Johansson, Tillberg Design of Sweden
Tillberg Design of Sweden has been a central player in the six-year quest to envision, design, build and launch The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection brand. It has had a hand in all design aspects, from vessel exterior and interior, down to the service organization and the crew uniforms, as Fredrik Johansson, MA, Partner, Executive Project Director, explains."Everything was designed from scratch with one thing in mind: the guest experience," is how Fredrik Johansson neatly summarizes the quest to deliver the Ritz-Carleton brand to the water. The ship, when delivered from Hijos de J. Barreras Shipyard in Vigo, Spain, later this year, will measure 624 ft.


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High Moon Over the Amazon with Patricia Chapple Wright main content.
by AMNH on
From New York City in the 60's to the depths of the Amazon in the 70's, relive one woman's path to becoming an accomplished primatologist, anthropologist, and conservationist.
Before Patricia Chapple Wright became the world's foremost expert on lemurs, she was enchanted by another primate: Aotus, or the Owl Monkey. Along her journey to discover the behavior of these unique nocturnal animals, Wright found more than she expected about family, human nature, and herself.
This lecture took place at the Museum on October 15, 2013.
Podcast: Download | RSS | iTunes (1 hour and 10 mins, 84 MB)


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A tribute to the mountains in a jacket featuring Moncler's world renowned laqué fabric and its unique sheen when hit by the reflections of the sun on the snow. With high-tech elements, studied to deliver high-performance even on the coldest days of winter, and colour contrast details, the Bady is a fusion of technology and style.
- Product details
Product details
- "Mini Me" carry over jacket in lacquered nylon with down padding
- Detachable hood with colour contrasting black tape
- Front and pockets fasten with black die-cast zips
- Hood, breast pocket and cuffs with colour contrasting black enamelled press-studs
- Elastic cuffs
- Felt logo
- Short length
- Composition & Care
Item Composition & Care
CompositionEXTERIOR: 100% Polyamide / Nylon; LINING: 100% Polyamide / Nylon; PADDING: 90% Down, 10% Feather
Wash max 30°C - Mild process; Do not bleach; Do not tumble dry; Do not iron; Do not dry clean; Professional wet cleaning - mild process; Dry flat; Wash separately; Remove detachable accessories before washing; It is advisable to wash with the garment on reverse.
- Product Advice
Product AdviceOur style advisors are available for tips and information about this item from Monday to Friday, from 10am to 7pm CET
- Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
We offer both Standard and Express shipping: choose the service that best meets your needs at Checkout. We also provide free pick up for your returns: you have 15 days from delivery to follow our quick and easy return procedure. For further information visit the Returns and Refunds section.
Dark blue
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Shy and scientific-minded Melissa is the polar opposite of Sweetie, who finds magic in all she sees and possesses boundless energy and courage. In Sweetie (Bell Bridge Books, 2010), Kathryn Magendie chronicles the adventures and tragedies of these two girlhood friends as they come of age. Melissa's mother simply doesn't know what to make of her daughter's new friend who seems to pop in and out of the thicket near their mountain community on a whim. Wondering about the girl's seeming lack of supervision, never able to grasp the fact that her name is Sweetie not "Sweet Tea," Melissa's mother is unsure if her daughter should continue her friendship with the unusual girl. The devotion Sweetie and Melissa feel for each other, however, outweighs any limits that test their bond. Since Melissa's mother insists upon calling her daughter's new friend "Sweet Tea" throughout the book, I chose Sweet Tea Rosemary Grilled Chicken as the dish to accompany Magendie's Sweetie. It's sweet and zesty, just like the little girl, and just as woodsy, due to the addition of fresh rosemary sprigs.
Sweet Tea Rosemary Grilled Chicken
1 whole fryer, portioned
4 black, single serve tea bags
2c. water
1 whole lemon cut in slices
1/2 c. turbinado sugar
1 medium yellow onion, julienne
3 cloves of garlic, peeled and stem end removed
1 tsp. pink Himalayan salt
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 – 3 fresh rosemary sprigs
Bring the water to a boil, then steep the tea bags in it for five minutes.
To make the marinade, combine the lemons, onions, salt & pepper, sugar, garlic, and rosemary in a shallow baking dish.
Pour in the steeped tea.
Allow the ingredients to meld until the tea has cooled completely.
Place the chicken pieces into the marinade. Add enough water to come 3/4 the way up the chicken pieces.
Marinate in the refrigerator for at least thirty minutes, turning the pieces often to ensure that they are absorbing flavor on all sides.
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Grill chicken pieces on a hot iron or barbecue grill.
Transfer the grilled pieces to a baking dish and finish them in the oven.
Roast until the center of each piece reaches 165 degrees.


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Sundstedt Animation Selected for Top 10 Best Explainer Videos!
We are proud that Sundstedt Animation has been selected as one of Easy Explain Video's Top-10 list …
music video
book trailer
free quote
skin retouch
2.5d parallax
t: +44 7531 800 711 Sundstedt Animation 22 Auldlea Gardens Beith KA15 2EP Scotland, UK
Contact Us Frequently Asked Questions Wistia Agency Partner
Sundstedt Animation proudly builds handcrafted animated explainer videos and demo videos near Glasgow, Scotland.
Are you looking for an explainer video that tells your company's story and gets your customers to take action? Then let's work together! Turn ideas into reality.
Video Blog Our Work Explainer Videos Animated Music Videos 2.5D Parallax Photo Effect Medical Animations Whiteboard Animations Corporate Videos Production Process Testimonials


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Ben Affleck receives honorary doctorate
BEN AFFLECK donned a traditional cap and gown on Sunday (26May13) as he was handed an honorary doctorate from one of America's most prestigious universities.
The Oscar-winning Argo director beamed with pride as he was awarded a fine arts degree from Rhode Island's Brown University in recognition of his acting and filmmaking career.
Affleck punched the air with delight as he received the honour and gave a speech to his fellow graduates.
Bruce Willis' daughter Scout, by ex-wife Demi Moore, also graduated from the establishment on Sunday, and the actor's wife Emma Heming-Willis took to her Twitter.com page to applaud her stepdaughter.
In a post, she writes, "Congrats to Scout who graduated from Brown today. Proud day!"


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How ADORABLE! How CUTE! How LOVING! How GREAT to have CREATED different beautiful CREATURES! For HUMANS to LOVE? Or to MURDER? Every creature has a SOUL and they LOVE their loved ones too! REAL humans would have LOVE, EMPATHY, COMPASSION, HUMANITY & KINDNESS in their HEARTS for our precious animals on earth! Lets keep them in our DAILY PRAYERS!
With a grateful heart, I THANK YOU for your beautiful heart & soul for SUPPORTING our precious animals and I send BLESSINGS, BEST WISHES & LIGHT for a SAFE & PEACEFUL NEW WEEK filled with Health, Harmony & Happiness to you, your loved ones & your pet darlings! Take care and God bless! Smiles from Doris & her fur babies


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Ninja Coffee Bar Reviews
The Ninja Coffee Bar Brewer with Thermal Carafe is the coffee machine to have at home when you crave your favorite coffee shop coffee. This amazing coffee bar lets you select your cup size, choose a brew - from classic to rich and even over ice and specialty drinks, and features a glass carafe...
Best Drip Coffee Makers for the Perfect Cup of Coffee
Some of the best drip coffee makers are the hardest to find. Many people have different preferences when it comes to their coffeemakers, and it's nice to have a one with automatic timers that actually match your kitchen decor.
Ninja Coffee Bar Brewer with Thermal Carafe
Descaling your Ninja Coffee Bar™ Clean your Ninja Coffee Bar periodically from the inside out using a vinegar/water solution or descaling solution. Learn more about the Ninja Coffee Bar™ at https://ift.tt/1PKdMih.... Introduction to the Ninja Coffee Bar™ Choose a Size, Choose a Brew-the Ninja Coffee Bar is the best coffeehouse in town right on your counter.
Best Nespresso Machine
With the Nespresso VertuoLine Coffee and Espresso Maker, you have simple one-touch brewing. Create exceptional freshly brewed Coffee or authentic Espresso at the touch of a single button. The capsule is automatically ejected after brewing, with only 15-20 seconds of pre-heating time. The cup support is adjustable to three positions to accommodate different cup sizes.
Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Digital Coffee Maker
Easy-access design for fast, easy filling Adjustable brewing with bold, regular and 1-4 cup options Programmable clock with 2 hour automatic shutoff Swing-out brew basket with release button Wheeled base for fast, easy access to the water reservoir The Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Digital Coffeemaker has an easy-access design for fast and easy filling so you can enjoy the perfect cup of coffee in the morning.
Mr. Coffee TF5GTF 4-Cup Switch Coffeemaker
On/off indicator light lets you know when your coffeemaker is on or off Removable filter basket lifts out for fast and easy filling and cleaning Brewing pause 'n serve lets you pour a cup of coffee while the coffeemaker is still brewing Dual water window shows the amount of water in the reservoir for accurate filling Gold Tone Filter Perfect for apartment living or at the office, this coffee maker features Mr. Coffee's Pause 'n Serve so you can fill a cup whenever.
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Need Help?
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Saturday 08/10/2013, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Skill LevelIntermediate
Class Hours3
TeacherDaniel Yuhas
View Daniel's profile
Knitting in the Round — On Two Straight Needles! with Daniel YuhasPicture yourself stranded on the most luxurious desert island imaginable, where you find a lifetime supply of cashmere-infused sock yarn, the complete Barbara Walker treasuries, but — alas! — only straight knitting needles, and no tapestry needle to be found anywhere. How will you make socks? In this class we'll learn to use single-strand double-knitting to knit a pair of socks seamlessly, toe-up, and in the round — using straight needles and our wits. The result looks identical to a sock knit circularly, but the bragging rights are beyond compare.
Note: Students must have knit at least one pair of socks in the conventional manner, whether top-down or toe-up.
SuppliesYarn in any weight from sock to bulky in a light colorway, wool is recommend (bring something you are comfortable learning with); one pair of straight, single-pointed needles sized appropriate to your yarn.
Sharp scissors, notebook, pen or pencil with an eraser, stitch markers, blunt tapestry needles (large and small), flexible tape measure, small calculator, and needles & crochet hooks of various sizes.


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snosho1 on Family Tree Circles
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Gibsons in southeast Ohio
Looking for relatives of George Washington Gibson,born 04 July 1816 in Marietta,Wasington Co Oh. Son of John Gibson and mother unknown.. Mother died when he was vary small,and was raised by Timothy and Elizabeth Hiett at Browns Mills Ohio. George Married Nancy Travis ,and was the father of Charles,William, and Timothy Hiett Gibson,my greatgrandfather. Any help would be great. Thanks, Gary D. Gibson
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The weather is great in Mumbai right now... and we are planning to make the most of it!
From tomorrow, I shall take a break from this space for a few days , and chill at our home in Alibag.
Catch you soon.
And have a wonderful X'Mas, blogdosts!
Great manoj Bajpayee.
Sethji is on(now that i am done with my exams),i have a song on my lips straight from sethji...i just loved it...it makes me laugh..the song...My body....your body ....no need for anybody...wah De what lyrics...superhit!
looking good in the pic,Manoj neat...professional!
Get Tech Updates at TechTantrik
Enjoy Funer Side of Life at TheRoyalPoke
A truly motivational and life changing book
This book is really a good book which shows us right path. but i read
one more book named "ONE BOOK FOR LIFE SUCCESS" which is truly
motivational and life changing . .The writer has described in PlainEnglish with lot of examples which is easy to understand...For More
Please watch the videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biORjS8ngv0
YouTube video


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Topic: THX-1138 in Starwars
I know that George Lucas uses the the letter - number combo THX-1138 (title of Lucas's first movie) in Star Wars. One scene is when Luke and Han are getting Leia in the prison block of the Death Star and someone says "cell number THX-1138".
Post if anyone knows of more scenes where THX-1138 is used or would like to comment.


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Published in the Oct. 16, 2012, Tomahawk Leader:
This hasty wolf season (Act 169) is based on fraud – not science – and should be scrapped.
The federal government named "Tribes" and "wildlife professionals" (scientists) to manage wolves. Legislators Suder and Rivard are neither – yet authored the "Wolf Management Act." An expert said, "We were not consulted by the authors of Act 169 or during secret drafting of the rules" that "risk an unsustainable harvest."
In surveys (in and out of wolf range), the majority accepts a "season designed to reduce depredation," targeting problem wolves in farm/wood areas – satisfying farmers, the public, experts and tribal leaders. Careful and selective population reduction is right and honest.
But no. Wisconsin chooses to satisfy a small fraction of hunters.
Politicians (ignorant of species' preservation) prefer bear hound hunters (hostile to wolves) as consultants, writing inferior legislation. Threatening hunters who will "not harass wolves" in exchange for "dog payments" for hound depredation claims. Taxpayers are forced into this "agreement," paying almost 1/2 million dollars so far. Favored legislated payments the public opposes.
Indiscriminate statewide killing does nothing to help farmers and everything to help "frustrated" hunters, eager to kill a wolf for no valid reason except for fun, a wolf hat or wall hanging – or revenge for being protected.
Wolves are separate, a unique valuable species. Expert involvement was imperative.
Suder and Rivard claim Act 169 addresses depredation. False.
To support this hasty season, depredation is deceptively exaggerated. Verified livestock depredation involves a small amount of farms and wolves, costing only $15,500 last year. The only compensation payments the public supports. But we also paid $191,000 for "missing calves" (alleged, requiring no evidence of wolves). Lax compensation rules enable fraud –rules that "concern" the Department of Natural Resources. Last year, an unbelievable 257 calves "disappeared" (higher than all missing calves since 1985). Normally the number ranges from 0 to 25. The DNR told me "two farms had skewed the numbers." This suspiciously bloated wolf damage year comes right before Suder and Rivard introduce a wolf season bill.
Human threat is deceptively exaggerated. It actually is almost nonexistent. …
Wolves' impact on deer is misperceived or actually lied about. Wolves have a scientifically proven positive effect on deer. Fact: deer have more than doubled since wolf migration. Wolves suppress disease and eliminate weaklings – strengthening the deer herd. Wolves eat a meager amount of deer (800 wolves eat about 14,000 deer annually). They keep deer moving, avoiding over-browsing, maintaining biodiversity. Some hunters need to stop blaming wolves for unsuccessful hunts when they are not willing to look harder to find deer that are there – 1.14 million of them.
In the recent Kroll Report (ordered by Gov. Walker), Wisconsin hunters were criticized for wanting more deer, so many the herd would destroy the landscape. (The governor and legislators don't mention this admonishment.)
Key legislators acted secretly, dishonestly and undemocratically to achieve this harsh, aggressive season and do not deserve public office. Public trust has been broken.
Shirley Clements
Fond du Lac
(Vacations in the Tomahawk area)
Wolf season based on fraud
Letters to the Editor from the Tomahawk Leader.
2 posts • Page 1 of 1
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Re: Wolf season based on fraud
I am sure they personally appreciate you so much that maybe if you met one in the deep woods after dark, the wolf would so appreciate you that it would bypass you for a deer, perhaps, or someone elses' PET.
On second thought, I DID hear that a wolf mauled a St. Bernard, actually killing it. Given the comparison in size, perhaps you ought leave off ever trying a wolf hugging and thus should leave the opinions on this topic to those that actually understand wolves and wild animals. I personally believe in preservation of species, but I am not crazy in loving them enough to foolishly wish to ever meet one directly. There are some encounters that best never occur, if you understand what I mean.
On second thought, I DID hear that a wolf mauled a St. Bernard, actually killing it. Given the comparison in size, perhaps you ought leave off ever trying a wolf hugging and thus should leave the opinions on this topic to those that actually understand wolves and wild animals. I personally believe in preservation of species, but I am not crazy in loving them enough to foolishly wish to ever meet one directly. There are some encounters that best never occur, if you understand what I mean.
"The measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he never would be found out"-Macaulay
"To conquer a nation, first disarm its CITIZENS"-Hitler
"To conquer a nation, first disarm its CITIZENS"-Hitler
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+359 700 12 110 (at the price of a standard phone call) 8:30-17:30 Mon - Sat
Location of the Hotel and nearby facilities:
Hotel "Kaliakra" is known as the "jewel in the crown" amongst the beach hotels in Albena resort. It is situated on the sea shore itself, with picturesque hills on the back side of the hotel and a wide beautiful beach in front of it. The hotel is a ten-storey building with 5 elevators plus one panoramic. All the rooms and apartments reveal a wonderful panoramic view to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Free of charge primed mini bar once per stay and daily replenishing of coffee and tea are available for the guests of all rooms. Hotel "Kaliakra" follows an active policy of environmental protectaion. It receives a part of the required energy from renewable sources through installed solar collectors.
Kaliakra Restaurant:
Breakfast 07:30 - 10:00h
Lunch 12:30 - 14:30h
Dinner 18:30-21:30h
Thematic evenings: Bulgarian national, Balkan cuisines, Italian, Seafood, Mediterranean, Chef's Dinner, special selection of cheese, sausages, smoked and marinated fish delicacies.
Healthy buffets: smoothie drink "opening your senses" and freshly squeezed juices during breakfast, 100 % natural apple juice - own production, fresh fruits and vegetables, rough nuts and oatmeal.
Barbeque: every day during dinner
Snack bar Kaliakra 15:00 - 17:00h (salt, sweet, fruit, ice cream)
Lobby bar Kalikara 10:00 - 23:00h
Pool bar Kaliakra 10:00 - 23:00h
Bar restaurant Kaliakra 10:00 - 23:00h
Lounge bar Kaliakra 10:00 - 23:00h
Beverages: Bulgarian alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, Bulgarian rakia, Bulgarian wine, Bulgarian sparkling wine, Bulgarian draft beer, juices, soft drinks, mineral water, coffee (espresso and from coffee machine) and cappuccino. Imported alcohol drinks, cocktails and coffee "Lavazza" are against additional payment.
Daily replenishing of tea and coffee in the rooms.
Animation and entertainment program: six-days animation program for adults, teenagers and children(3-6 years old and 7-12 years old), night variety show programs. New sport activities like beach golf, beach volleyball and football, nordic walking, dance aerobics, aquasplash, stretching, table tennis, water gymnastics, darts, chess, backgammon, mini disco, interesting activities for teenagers like break dancing course, DJ workshop and much more.
Ideally located in the center of the resort overlooking the sea, the newly built 5* hotel offers the highest comfort and standards of quality in every amenity. Perfectly combining space and style, all 233 double rooms and apartments are designed to infuse an everlasting holiday mood. The A-la-carte and Buffet restaurants offer an exceptional cuisine prepared with a wide variety of ecologically clean products, while the hotels' bars and nightclub set the mood for relaxing afternoons and vibrant evenings.
The hotels' grandiose outdoor swimming pool has a splendid view towards the sea and it's perfect for lounging and relaxing. Modern sunbeds and umbrellas are offered free of charge to the guests. The SPA & Wellness Center within the hotel offers unique and innovative programs and pampering SPA treatments.
A multifunctional conference hall with 500 seats and a wide set of facilities make it perfect for events, such as seminars, corporate and incentive meetings, team buildings, as well as dinner parties and cocktails.
Features: 24h reception desk, free internet connection, library, lobby bar, pool bar, night club, main buffet restaurant, a-la-carte restaurant, wide terraces, SPA & Wellness center with indoor swimming pool and fitness hall, outdoor swimming pool, baby pool and kids pool with water attractions, internet corner, multifunctional conference hall, private beach with 2 sunbeds and 1 umbrella free of charge, underground parking, kids club and animations scene, room service, laundry & ironing services, rent-a-car, currency exchange office, hairdresser.
Deluxe rooms & Apartments: The 233 luxurious rooms and 1-bedroom apartments are disposed along the 9 floors of the hotel. 11 of them are swim-up rooms, while all other offer either sea or park view. The elegant design and meticulous attention to detail aim to meet the guests' highest expectations. Features: flat screen TV, cable TV connection, safety deposit box, phone, Internet access, minibar, air conditioning, coffee and tea set, bathroom with bathtub and shower cabin, hairdryer, balcony.
Maximum accommodation: 2 adults and 2 children / 3 adults and 1 child.
Pet policy: Pets are not allowed.
With a length of 3.5 kilometers and a width of 150 meters, crystal clear waters, fine golden sand and magnificent natural surroundings, Albena's beach is one of the largest and most beautiful beaches in Europe. For season 2017, two sun-chairs and one umbrella will be offered free of charge for all our guests, no matter the hotel in which they are accommodated.
Albena Group is dedicated to supporting and promoting eco-friendly business activities, demonstrated in the adoption of a unique business model for sustainable development. Our ultimate goal is to achieve Zero-Waste tourism operations, which translates into detailed plans for the elimination of refuse, based on the principles of efficiency, economics and ethics. Thus, we not only aim to protect the environment, but also to enhance the regional infrastructure and the welfare of the local population.
We have already demonstrated our commitment to environmental protection by preserving the natural vegetation within the resort and the pristine waters of the Black sea. Our efforts have been recognized with multiple 'Blue flag' awards, whilst guarding the unique wildlife of the Baltata reserve has been integral part of our policies over the last nearly 50 years. Furthermore, we also ensure that 50% of the fresh fruits and vegetables, served in our restaurants, are of bio-origins, produced by our subsidiary Eco Agro. In 2014, we have established the first 'certified organic' farm in Bulgaria for grass-fed cattle of the well-known Angus breed. It is the highest quality beef known worldwide.
Our 'green' ideal has driven us to take additional bold steps in perfecting our business operations to further enhance the experience of our guests. Hence, we have also established a biogas plant to process the organic waste, accumulated by the tourism activities. The biogas plant produces clean green energy along with a high-quality organic fertilizer that we utilize within our farming activities. It is a circular economy leaving no waste behind.
Our quest for efficient usage of resources also refers to investments in facilities generating renewable energy - we have constructed 1235 sq. meters of solar panels, primarily used for water heating in the hotels. We have also taken firm steps towards upgrading the cooling systems within the resort with the introduction of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) innovative technology that protects the ozone layer, implemented in 14 of our buildings. These efforts have been acknowledged with the RELACS award for usage of renewable energy, ensuring 12 of our hotels that are part of the 'Green Hotels Association'.
We are now about to extend our policy of Zero-Waste tourism as we plan to expand the operations of our biogas plant, as well as the area of the solar panels up to 1500 sq. meters, thus increasing the usage of renewable energy. Our plans for limiting the emissions of fossil-fuel gases are to be achieved with the construction of funicular railway and the investment into an electric-driven train, serving for transportation of tourists around the resort - from the peaceful park-zone to the sandy beachfront and crystal-clear waters of the Black sea.
In order to achieve our goals, we are now appealing to our dear guests who share our passion for the unique ambience of high-class and low-impact service provision in the resort. To succeed in accomplishing our mission of providing excellent environmental-friendly experience, we are introducing increased parking fees, as well as a new Eco tax in our price policy for season 2017, thus giving everyone the opportunity to join and support the common cause.
The guests accommodated in Complex Orhideya and Magnolia hotels will now have the possibility to serve a light lunch or a late snack by the beach, in Slavianski Kat restaurant. The menu will include cold and hot snacks, salads, fruits, ice cream, coffee, soft drinks and draft beer.
HOTEL GERGANA 4**** - Riverside Suites & Deluxe Suites Sea view
The newly built part of the hotel will offer 24 riverside suites & deluxe suites sea view. All suites are stylishly furnished and consist of one big premise with a living area and separated sleeping area. Features: flat screen TV, cable TV connection, safety deposit box, phone, Internet access, minibar, air conditioning, coffee and tea set, bathroom with shower cabin for the riverside suites, free standing bathtub in the deluxe sea view suites, hairdryer, balcony. The guests accommodated in the newly built suites benefit of the private VIP area on the beach with high-end chairs and umbrellas. A new restaurant with a wide terrace will be built on the top floor of the hotel with fantastic views over the sea and Albena resort.
Maximum accommodation: 2 adults and 2 children / 3 adults and 1 child.
Pet policy: Pets are not allowed.
Since 2014, all guests accommodated in Albena Resort benefit of free of charge Wi-Fi. The wireless Internet network covers all outdoors and public areas (lobbies, terraces, pool areas, main streets, the beach), all rooms in Flamingo Grand, Flamingo, Kaliakra, Primasol Ralitsa Aqua Club, Slavuna, Mura, Sandy Beach and Amelia Superior and more than 90% of the rooms in Laguna Beach, Laguna Mare and Laguna Garden hotels.
For season 2017, the free Wi-Fi network will also cover the rooms in Gergana, Boryana, Dobrotitsa, Kaliopa, Vita Park, Panorama, Villas Magnolia, Arabella Beach, Oasis and Primasol Ralitsa Superior hotels.
By 1st of June 2017, Albena Resort will inaugurate 13 new tennis courts reaching a total of 26 courts within its 7 locations:
All tennis courts comply to the International Tennis Federation requirements for organizing international tennis tournaments and due to favorable climatic conditions and good maintenance of the facilities, the operation period of the outdoor tennis courts lasts until late October.
For an easier and more convenient transition between Medica Albena located in Dobrudja Hotel to Elements SPA located in Flamingo Grand, a connection will be build between the two hotels. The connection will be in form of a bridge, covered with large windows and will be equipped with modern ventilation and heating system. The bridge will thus facilitate the crossing for all guests, which are attending various procedures in both locations, no matter the season.
The sea shore of Albena resort (almost 3 km long) is a "Blue Flag" award holder for years for the high standards in maintenance of the beach and the quality of the sea water.
Beach - the beach for the guests of hotel "Kaliakra" is situated right in front of the hotel. 2 sun beds and 1 umbrella per room are free of charge. Beach towels shall be received after showing a special card given you from reception. The Lifeguard's working time is from 8:30 till 18:00. After that the beach remains unguarded. Please follow the instructions of the Water Life Saving service and the flag signalization.
Pool - There are 2 outdoor pools - one for adults and one for children. Working schedule of the pool is from 8:15 to 18:00 and in July and August from 8:15 to 19:00. Outside these hours the pool is unguarded, therefore we kindly ask you not to use it. One umbrella and 2 sun beds per room free of charge. Beach towels shall be received after showing a special card given you from reception.
On the beach you will find a new beach library which offers at your disposal a large number of books for adults and children on different languages.
Free of charge services: 24 hour reception, information, wake-up call, calling up a taxi, post services, currency exchange, 2 sun beds and 1 umbrella per room on the beach and by the pool, beach library, animation, outdoor pool, children's pool, main restaurant with a terrace, lobby bar, lounge bar, snack bar, pool bar, free of charge primed mini bar once per stay, daily replenishing of tea and coffee in the room. Free of charge Wi-Fi internet connection in the lobby and on the beach with a maximum speed up to 1 Mbps.
Extra paid services: rent a car, excursions, taxi, massage , beach towels, laundry and ironing, mini bar, rent a bicycle, PC internet corner in the lobby, copy and fax services, pets(upon initial request), International and Bulgarian press, safety deposit box(the hotel is not responsible for loss of personal valuables and belongings, which are not properly deposited in the safe deposit boxes), sport facilities, water sports, mini golf, horse riding, diving, rickshaws, ride with a phaeton, amusement park. Special drinks as per Menu, crisps, Haribo, nuts and tobacco are subject to an extra charge.
Dine Around concept will be valid through the season. It is applicable for all the guests with a minimum stay of 7 overnights in the period until 30.06 and after 02.09 on all inclusive or all inclusive plus basis. This exclusive opportunity provides an experience of one lunch and one dinner choosing from the wide variety of International dishes in any of our A la carte restaurants:
The Dine Around menu includes a salad, an appetizer, a main course and a dessert. One glass of water is also served on complimentary bases. All the other drinks are upon extra charge. A preliminary reservation should be submitted on reception not later than 15.00h of the previous day.
Free yourself from everyday stress and tension, forget cares and troubles, indulge deserved pleasure and relaxation to restore the inner harmony and balance of your body and soul and to find your way to good health, beauty and vitality.
We aim to ensure our guests a healthy and smoke-free holiday. According to the Bulgarian legislation, smoking in hotel rooms, as well as indoor restaurants and bars is not allowed.
Hotel "Kaliakra" follows a sustainable policy and plan for protecting the environment. On the roof of the hotel are installed solar panels with main purpose of heating water for domestic use. Energy-saving bulbs are being used and there are cells which detect movement in the corridors. The main objective is to be minimized the consumption of electricity. There are aerators installed in every shower and sink which lower the consumption of water and of course - the energy needed for heating this water. There is a practice of separate garbage collection in the hotels and restaurants.
Information about actual prices:
+359 700 12 110
(at the price of a standard phone call)
or your rating:
Rating: (4.5)
Which of the following is the most important for you when you choose hotel in Albena ?


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While the rest of the NFL throws the ball all over the field, the Seattle Seahawks keep winning with running and defense. While the rest of the NFL zigs, Pete Carroll and crew zags.
Seattle survived a strong test by the New Orleans Saints on Saturday to win 23-15 to advance to the NFC Championship Game. The Seahawks will host the conference title for the second time in team history, facing either Carolina or San Francisco next Sunday.
This was an ugly game, but that's what Carroll likes. The Seahawks battled all season to earn home-field advantage for a game just like this is in windy, rainy conditions. Russell Wilson was spotty throwing the ball. Unlike most teams, the Seahawks don't need to throw the ball to win.
Marshawn Lynch rushed for 140 yards and two scores, including the decisive 31-yard score with 2:48 left in the game. Wilson struggled all day, but connected on a gutsy 24-yard toss to Doug Baldwin on a late third down. Talking about the Seattle offense seems beside the point.
The Seahawks have one of the best defenses we've seen in many years because they have playmakers at every level. Defensive end Michael Bennett forced a pair of fumbles, recovering one. Linebacker Bobby Wagner had a monster day, blowing up multiple screen passes and tracking down defenders.
Safety Kam Chancellor destroyed a number of running plays, and Earl Thomas limited tight end Jimmy Graham to only one catch. We didn't hear from cornerback Richard Sherman much because Brees was afraid to throw at him.
This wasn't the blowout we saw when these teams faced off in Week 13. New Orleans had the ball, down only one score two different times in the fourth quarter, including after they recovered an onside kick with under a minute left. The Saints outgained Seattle by 132 yards, but the Saints' offense couldn't finish drives. Brees missed too many passes all day in the rough conditions.
This is Seahawks football. Carroll and general manager John Schneider have built such great depth over the last four seasons that any number of players can win the game for them. Sunday was the culmination of Carroll's vision when he first took the job.
The record-breaking offenses and the high-flying quarterbacks still rule in the AFC, but the Seahawks are the symbol of the NFC's different style. One more "ugly" win at home, and the Seahawks are headed to the Super Bowl.
The "Around The League Podcast" is now available on iTunes! Click here to listen and subscribe.


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Diabetes sometimes damages kidneys so badly that they no longer work. When kidneys fail, one option is a kidney transplant. There are also pancreas transplants, as well as islet cell transplants.
Islet Transplantation
Researchers hope that islet transplantation will help people with type 1 diabetes live without daily injections of insulin.
Pancreas Transplantation
Find out more about type 1 diabetes and pancreas transplantation.
Kidney Replacement Therapy
Dialysis, the more common form of kidney-replacement therapy, is a way of cleaning the blood with an artificial kidney.


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I am searching for John William Hyde and Rosanna Morgan Hyde. They are listed on the 1880 US Federal Census in Wood County, TX. Their children were all born there. My Grandfather, Jefferson Davis Hyde and son of John William Hyde and Rosanna Morgan was the youngest child. I have been told that John William Hyde died before he was born and that his mother, Rosanna Morgan Hyde died when he and his sister Margaret were little.
I'm pretty sure that they lived in Quitman as that is what I have always heard but also have heard Rock Hill or Yantis. If he died before my Grandfather, Jefferson Davis Hyde was born that would have been in 1883 as Jefferson Davis Hyde was born January 21, 1884. Rosanna Morgan Hyde sometime after that.
John William Hyde B. abt 1842 in Missouri
Rosanna Morgan B. abot 1847 in Georgia
McDonnel Hyde B. abt 1867 Wood Co,TX
James Bulger Hyde B. abt 1871 Wood Co, TX
Pheobia Hyde B. abt 1875 Wood Co, TX
John Louis Hyde B. abt 1876 Wood Co, TX, D.in Nolan Co, TX
William Hyde B. abt 1879 Wood Co, TX
Margaret Hyde B. 1881 Wood Co, TX D. October 31, 1920 – buried in Rockhill
Cemetery, Yantis, TX
Jefferson Davis Hyde B. January 21, 1884 D. Sweetwater, Nolan Co, TX
December, 1955 – Buried Slaters Chapel – Nolan, TX
I have searched all the records I know how to including the cemeteries that are online to no avail. I am hoping you can shed some light on this.
I am also searching for Ruth P. Hyde, first born of Jefferson Davis Hyde. She was born October 31, 1906 in Wood Co, TX She died in 1913. I have heard that she was buried in the cemetery in Yantis.
Thanking you in advance for your help.
Aundrea (Hyde) Saunders
Filed under: Queries | Tagged: Hyde, Morgan, Quitman, Rockhill, Saunders, Yantis | Leave a comment »


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Carpet Cleaners Edendale / Amega Cleaning
Do you want the guaranteed best carpet cleaning ever?
Then you've come to the right place!
We clean:
Working hours:
Residential Clients:
Monday - Friday 8:00 - 16:00
Saturdays 8:00 - 13:00
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Monday - Sunday 8:00 - 16:00
Clean carpets are the cornerstone of a healthy home. Allergens, chemicals, pet dander, pesticides, mold, bacteria and other pollutants are tracked into your home every day. Just like hard surface floor coverings, carpets need regular cleaning too.
No one cleans carpets more thoroughly or protects your investment better than Amega Cleaning. Our residential and commercial carpet cleaning services flush out soil and contaminants leaving your carpet looking, feeling and smelling clean and health
Do you want the guaranteed best carpet cleaning ever?
When it comes to abuse, your carpets see the worst of the worst: kids, guests and pets in your home, your carpets withstands a lot of wear and tear. Even vacuuming daily can not reach the dirt that settles deep into your carpets.
Amega cleaning are proud to come to your house or office and provide you with quality carpet cleaning and removal of stains service. We use only non toxic chemicals to clean carpets and offer an environmentally safe cleaning process
Carpet cleaning is an important routine that you must never miss - Dirt hides in the deepest fiber of the materials and is an important contributor in the shelf life of your investment. Because constant changing of your carpet is expensive, you have to take care of it to save money.
Setting new standards for healthy indoor environments
Terms & Conditions
Get in Touch:
Our clients includes
Cheap work is not good & good work is not cheap. We do excellent work for reasonable prices.
Carpet Cleaners Edenvale, Carpet Cleaning Dowerglen, Dunvegan, Eastleigh, Edendale, Edenglen, Edenvale, Elma Park, Greenstone Hill, Harmelia, Highway Gardens, Hurlyvale, Illiondale, Isandovale, Klopperpark, Marais Steyn Park, Modderfontein, Sebenza, Thornhill Estate.


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We've been avoiding writing this message for some time now, but we must face reality. As you have probably figured out by now, TileStack.com is no more. Over the course of three years, we built some cool technology, reverse-engineered some old technology, made some friends, had a lot of fun, and learned some valuable life and business lessons.
There are many factors that contributed to the eventual shutting down of this site. Some things were simply out of our control, others were things that perhaps we should have done differently. The bottom line is that we are no longer able to continue hosting or developing TileStack.
To those who supported us during our run by signing up and creating stacks, by emailing us with thoughtful and encouraging comments, or by paying to have your stacks published to the App Store, we can't thank you enough. You're one of the big reasons that this has been so difficult for us to let go and move on, but as we started out saying, we must face reality. It's time for us to move on with our lives and our careers.
Finally, we'd just like to say thank you for your support.
Joshua Gertzen
Ted C. Howard


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New York, NY, September 10, 2007 – A new survey, conducted by Columbus, Ohio based Industry Insights on behalf of the Physicians Coalition for Injectable Safety, demonstrates that when it comes to cosmetic injectable treatments, consumers who visit a plastic, facial plastic or ophthalmic plastic surgeon are more likely to have their procedure performed by a highly trained and qualified doctor rather than a physician's assistant (PA), registered nurse (RN), or licensed nurse practitioner (LPN) where permitted by law.
As evidenced by the data, the vast majority of plastic, facial plastic or ophthalmic plastic surgeons —94.6% of those surveyed personally perform cosmetic injections on patients. This suggests the acceptance by the cosmetic surgical specialties of the value of injectables as a contemporary, proven cosmetic treatment. Plastic surgeons are trained in a range of cosmetic treatments and tend to see cosmetic injectables as tools to use before a patient needs plastic surgery and/or to enhance the results of surgical procedures. "Many patients want to start the rejuvenation process early, or want to put a toe in the water with injectables before deciding that surgery is an option," says Roger A. Dailey, MD, Coalition spokesperson and Chief of Ophthalmic Facial Plastic Surgery at Oregon Health and Science University. "The choice between an injectable or surgery should be decided by the surgeon and patient together, based on what can safely, realistically and most positively be achieved for the patient and her or his goals and anatomy."
With proper education on safety protocols, questions to ask, and risk/benefit information, consumers can feel empowered to let a doctor know their comfort level with injectable treatments and plastic surgery and select a procedure that can both accomplish one's goals and meet one's personal preferences for treatment. Consumers should feel confident in telling a physician, "I want to try cosmetic injectables first to see if I can achieve the look I want; I'll consider plastic surgery should injectables not wholly achieve the restoration of youth I desire."
Consumers should be aware of the following basic tips for choosing a cosmetic injector whether that injector is a physician or a physician extender, such as physician's assistant (PA), registered nurse (RN), or licensed nurse practitioner (LPN) where permitted by law. Complete tips and educational materials are available at www.injectablesafety.org:
1. How to choose a qualified doctor/provider of cosmetic injectables.
What defines board certification of injectors?
There is no recognized medical board that specifically defines injectors. Certification by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties refers to a doctor who has taken an accredited residency and fellowship in a defined medical specialty, and has been tested through written and oral exams for competency in that specialty. The following Boards are recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties:
- American Board of Plastic Surgery
- American Board of Otolaryngology (Facial Plastic Surgery)
- American Board of Ophthalmology
- American Board of Dermatology
Is it safe for nurses to perform injectable treatments?
A licensed Registered Nurse (RN) or a licensed Physician's Assistant (PA) can be an appropriate provider of injectables depending on your state's regulations. The following conditions should be met:
- The nurse or PA is under the supervision of a qualified doctor who has prescribed the injectable treatment appropriate for you.
- The nurse or PA can demonstrate appropriate medical education and training specific to the delivery of injectable beauty treatments.
- The nurse or PA follows all of the appropriate steps in performing your injections, including informed consent about the risks and benefits of the injection process.
- You have the option to request the doctor perform your injections.
Are injectables safe?
When injected by a properly qualified and trained clinician in an appropriate medical setting, U.S. FDA-approved injectable treatments are safe.
2. Information to know before any cosmetic injectable treatment, such as:
- Recognize that injectables are medical treatments and belong in the hands of a qualified doctor.
- Choose only U.S. FDA-approved injectables for a use that is specifically cosmetic and an application that is similar to your condition.
- Accept that there is no such thing as a "generic" or "substitute brand" for U.S. FDA-approved injectables.
- Do not accept bargain prices or deep discounts, as you may not be getting a U.S. FDA-approved injectable or an appropriate dosage.
- Do not accept treatment at a party, public gathering, spa, salon or other non-medical setting.
- Do not act on impulse when you choose injectables. Follow proper procedure by learning about your doctor and the treatment you will have.
- Understand that fat injections require a two-step surgical process; first your fat is extracted and processed, then it is reinjected into appropriate regions.
The independent study conducted by Industry Insights of Columbus, Ohio, surveyed physicians from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery together comprising over 5,700 physicians in the United States. The survey data has a standard error of +/- 3.14 percent at a 95 percent level of confidence.
About Us
The Physicians Coalition for Injectable Safety is an alliance of specialty physician organizations including the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The mission of the Group is to provide the public with unbiased and necessary information on injectable cosmetic treatments, appropriate injectors and where to safely access cosmetic medical procedures. Our goal is to promote treatment supervised by properly qualified and trained, board-certified doctors and to promote only the use of U.S. FDA-approved, appropriately administered product.
Information, tips for consumers, and statistics on injectable therapies and the Coalition can be found at www.injectablesafety.org.
About ASAPS
The 2400-member American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), founded in 1967, is the leading professional organization of plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who specialize in cosmetic plastic surgery. With 2,100 members in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries, ASAPS is at the forefront of innovation in aesthetic plastic surgery around the world.
About AAFPRS
The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is the world's largest specialty association that represents over 2,700 facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons throughout the world. The AAFPRS is a National Medical Specialty Society of the American Medical Association (AMA), and holds an official seat in both the AMA House of Delegates and the American College of Surgeons board of governors. AAFPRS members are board certified surgeons whose focus is surgery of the face, head, and neck.
About ASOPRS
The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery represent surgeons qualified in plastic surgery of the eyelids and surrounding facial structures. Fellows of the Society are board certified in ophthalmology, have completed fellowships in oculoplastic surgery (currently two years), and perform aesthetic, plastic, and reconstructive surgery of the face, orbits, eyelids, and lacrimal system.


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Your independent evaluator must be someone who does not stand to gain personally or professionally from the project results.
The outside evaluator that the project director hires is responsible for the following activities:
Attending the first Project Directors' Meeting with the project director in order to attend the session on evaluating a FIPSE grant.
Assisting the project director in completing the initial evaluation plan/chart, due three months after the start of the grant. This includes:
- Assisting the project director in fine-tuning the main goals and objectives for the project.
- Offering advice as to which project objectives would lend themselves most readily to measurement and evaluation.
- Offering advice as to which baseline data should be collected.
- Offering advice on the type of measurement instruments that could be used – e.g., surveys, student journals, standardized tests, interviews, focus groups, analysis of e-portfolios or capstone projects, cost-benefit analyses, etc.
- Offering advice about data collection from a possible comparison or control group.
- Offering advice as to the timing of data collection.
- Assisting the project director in designing a plan so that initial results feed back into the project design as the project matures. At what point should the project administrators review preliminary evaluation findings and make decisions about whether to modify program activities? What project activities could be modified midstream if necessary?
- Offering advice on how project directors might disseminate evaluation results to interested parties.
Assisting the project director in designing the evaluation instruments. Ideally this would include making the project director aware of applicable evaluation instruments that others have used which could serve as models or bases of comparison.
The outside evaluator writes the Evaluation Reports. Annual and Final Evaluation Reports are sent to the project director who attaches them to the Annual Project Reports as separate documents.
The project director and the outside evaluator should work jointly on:
- Analysis of the assessment data that are collected.
The project director is responsible for:
- Baseline evaluation data collection.
- Project evaluation data collection.
- Implementing any changes in the project as a result of preliminary evaluation findings.
- Submitting the Annual and Final Evaluation Reports that the outside evaluator has written.
- Disseminating evaluation results to interested parties on and off campus.