text:
• 6 slices pancetta
• ½ cup plain flour
• ½ tsp caster sugar
• Pinch of sea-salt flakes
• ²⁄³ cup milk
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp vegetable oil
• Extra vegetable oil, to grease
• 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 2 Packham pears, cored, thinly sliced
• 300g creamy blue-vein cheese, thinly sliced
• 180g baby rocket leaves
• ¼ cup roasted hazelnuts, finely chopped, to serve
Honey mustard dressing
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tsp wholegrain mustard
• 1 Tbsp white balsamic vinegar
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• Sea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to season
Preheat oven to 200°C. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Put pancetta in a single layer on prepared tray. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden and crisp.
Meanwhile, sift flour into a large bowl. Add sugar and salt, then stir to combine. In a large jug, whisk together milk, egg and oil. Make a well in centre of flour mixture and add milk mixture. Slowly stir from centre, gradually mixing in more flour as you go until a smooth batter forms. Strain mixture through a fine sieve into a large jug.
Brush a large 20cm non-stick frying pan with extra oil and heat over a medium heat. Pour 2 Tbsp of the batter into pan, immediately swirling pan so batter spreads to create a 15cm crepe of even thickness. Sprinkle over a pinch of the black pepper. Cook for 30 seconds or until bottom of crepe is light brown. Flip and cook for 10 seconds, then set aside on a plate. Cover with foil to keep warm. Repeat process with remaining batter, oiling pan between each crepe, to make a total of 12 crepes.
Meanwhile, to make dressing, put all ingredients in a small lidded jar and season, then shake well until combined.
Put pear in a large bowl and pour over dressing. Toss to coat. Break pancetta into shards. Fold each crepe in half, then roll up to form a cone shape. Divide pancetta, pear, cheese and rocket among cones. Arrange in a serving bowl and scatter over hazelnut to serve.


text:
Posts Tagged grammar
Bilingualism has cognitive benefits unless you are Latinx
Posted by Elizabeth D. Peña in assessment, bilingual, bilingualism, child bilingualism, vocabulary on July 12, 2016
This popped up on the habla.lab facebook page today and I shared it there, but I thought I'd share it here too.
GRRRR is of course my first reaction. We've talked about this so many times in the past but these myths persist. The one that is currently in vogue is that bilinguals are delayed in both languages (which is basically what this is) but that is not, in fact the case. It depends on the domain and the language being tested (and how it is being tested).
What we find for bilinguals is that often they show what we term "mixed dominance" that is for one domain (e.g., semantics) an individual child will show dominance in one language (e.g., English)– and that is well within normal limits, but in another domain (grammar) they may show dominance in the other language (e.g., Spanish). If you look at only one language they may look delayed, but if you look at the stronger language in each domain they do not (we developed the Bilingual English Spanish Assessment to derive a language composite based on the strongest performance by domain).
I think that this happens also when you test groups of bilinguals, average scores are lower than average in each language (AS A GROUP), but if you look at the HIGHER language, individual children are performing well. Actually, they may be performing better because they know MORE (they know the vocabulary and grammar and discourse style of at least TWO languages)== that's more not less.
A few years ago I was talking with an assistant principal of a bilingual school. He cited research about the cognitive benefits of bilingualism as a primary rationale for his school's bilingual approach. Yet, he also lamented the fact that many of the Latinx students at his school were "lost in translation" in that they didn't have full competency in Spanish or English. I was left wondering how it was possible for bilingualism to be positioned as leading to cognitive benefits while actual bilingual children were positioned as linguistically deficient.
This deficit perspective of the bilingualism of Latinx students is certainly not new, though its framing has changed over time. Prior to the 1960s researchers argued that bilingualism led to cognitive deficiencies. These alleged cognitive deficiencies were used to explain the low IQ scores of Latinx students. The basic argument was that bilingualism confused Latinx students and inhibited their cognitive development.
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Bilingual Assessment and Language Dominance: We need to MOVE ON
Posted by Elizabeth D. Peña in assessment, bilingual on March 26, 2015
A long time ago (about 25 to 30 years ago) I learned that bilingual children should be tested in their dominant or home language. The prevailing view then was that if you tested in the weaker language you wouldn't be letting the child demonstrate what they knew. I think that this part is true. The other part of this perspective is that there wouldn't be anything in the weaker language that wouldn't be represented in the stronger language. I don't believe that this part is true. It's the 21st century… we know better. Read the rest of this entry »
BESA Research
Posted by Elizabeth D. Peña in child bilingualism, research on June 24, 2014
I've been meaning to post some information about the Bilingual English Spanish Assessment and we have. Here, we respond to some FAQs. And here, I provided an overview of what it does, how it works, and its specificity/sensitivity data. In addition to this information and what is in the manual, we have written a number of papers over the years that led directly to what we included (and excluded) from the BESA. So, below I will provide some of the links to abstracts of papers we've written about earlier versions of the BESA. These are the studies that we conduced to refine the items and the test so that the final published version has a high degree of classification accuracy.
More on Proficiency
Posted by Elizabeth D. Peña in adult bilingualism, child bilingualism, grammar, language impairment, vocabulary on February 5, 2009
The issue of language proficiency is often of central concern in working with a bilingual population and I've written about it before. Here, I want to continue that discussion and invite comments from both research and practical perspectives. So, the questions are:
What is proficiency?
How is it defined (or how should it be defined)?
How should it be measured? Read the rest of this entry »
How to measure proficiency: More questions than answers here
Posted by Elizabeth D. Peña in grammar, vocabulary on January 18, 2009
In research as well as in educational and other settings the question of linguistic proficiency is critical. This question is something that I continually struggle with in working with children. How proficient is proficient enough? What does it mean? What should we measure? I've been influenced by my own clinical background and the work of other researchers in this area. Read the rest of this entry »

subset: commoncrawl


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The last time John Fullbright was in Norfolk, five years ago, he played a private house concert in a garage for about 80 people.
To say his career has taken off since then would be like saying Bob Dylan has written some pretty good songs.
In 2012, Fullbright, then 24, self-released his studio debut, "From the Ground Up." Among fans of great songwriting, it quickly found devotees. NPR called him an "Artist You Should Know," comparing him to Townes Van Zandt and Randy Newman. The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and other heavy hitters extolled his talent.
Then his little record earned a Grammy nomination for Best Americana album. The other nominees? Bonnie Raitt, The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, and Mumford & Sons. Not bad company.
How did that Grammy nod happen?
"I think about that all the time," Fullbright says on a call from his grandparents' house near Okemah, Oklahoma, where he lives part of the time. "I still can't come up with why or how that came to be."
Fullbright will be the headliner for the Sea Level Singer/Songwriter Festival on April 2 at The Roper Performing Arts Center in downtown Norfolk. The festival benefits Tidewater Arts Outreach, an organization that arranges for local musicians to play for people in assisted living homes and other places who can't get out to hear music.
Fullbright attended high school in Okemah. If the name sounds familiar, it's the birthplace of Woody Guthrie. Though Fullbright grew up near there, and not right in the small town, media outlets nonetheless seized on the connection.
When he last played in Norfolk, a crowd member called for a Woody song. "Woody who?" he joked. "That hack." He explained he didn't know who Guthrie was until he was almost out of high school and came to him through Bob Dylan, the way so many people do. The only picture in his high school was of Larry Coker, the former University of Miami football coach. Not Woody.
Fullbright's second album, the cleverly-named, "Songs," came forth in 2014 and earned more plaudits. The disc represented Fullbright's maturing and challenging himself to go deeper. The years after the Grammy nod, he notes, were not always easy.
"It's been strange, kind of difficult at times," he adds, "but I'm pretty satisfied with the whole thing. I just didn't expect any of it. It all just happened quick. "
He still seems surprised to be playing alongside artists he's a fan of. Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Ashley Monroe, and Jimmy LaFave, among others, are fans. Songwriters like Kevin Welch and Sam Baker, who he played with the first time he was in Norfolk in 2010, are good friends.
Recently, he opened and then played Guthrie's "Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos) with Steve Earle. "It was a full circle kind of thing for me," he says. "He was a really big deal. That seems to happen now. I'm in the green room with guys I hold in such high regard from when I was learning to write songs. It's really a strange feeling. I have to stop sometimes and say if I could go back in time and show this snapshot to a 16-year-old version of myself, I don't know how I would handle it."
He didn't know he was going to be on the road for so long and so hard. He's happy to have cut back in the past year, splitting his time between the country house and a small apartment in Tulsa.
"All the adulation and stuff, I just didn't expect. I appreciate it, but it's been kind of a learning process how to handle that stuff," he says. "I've been a very shy person and I think having to learn how to not be a shy person was a little bit of a big step."
Growing up in Oklahoma, there were two outlets — "play football or good luck," he says — so he took up music. There was always a piano at home. His mother knew chopsticks, but not much more. So he taught himself, then started lessons at nine that lasted eight years because his mother would not let him quit. It was a very religious household. His mother listened to pipe organ Gospel music. "The worst kind of Gospel music," he says. "Drove me nuts. No words."
He was into rock and roll and eventually got into Gospel through Mississippi John Hurt and the Elvis Gospel record.
When it's suggested some of his songs sound a little like hymns, he demurs. "I don't know why," he says. "I didn't grow up with Gospel. I hated Gospel."
Fullbright grew up playing in small bars and restaurants around his town, sometimes for up to four hours at a time, however long his voice lasted. But he says he's still had to learn how to tell a joke on stage and how to play a set and then drive three hours after the show.
He's also shifted his artistic view. "I feel like I probably have something to say now whereas then I just kind of drank from other artists' cup, which I still do, but it seems like I have a lot more to say as an individual than I used to," he says.
Fullbright is a scholar of songwriting. Talk about yodeling in a song and he will name a Mickey Newbury track. Talk about Townes and he has his favorites. On down the songwriting lineage. "I've never been scholarly about anything except songwriting," he says. "I really studied technique and different approaches and stuff. You can do down that rabbit hole a little too far at times. It can almost get stale. Hopefully, I haven't gone too far. I'm an athlete instead of a sports historian."
One songwriter he says he returns to again and again is Jackson Browne, particularly "Late for the Sky." "I kind of obsess about a record for a long time and try to learn all the tricks and the sounds and the grooves form it. Hopefully, later on I try to use it."
His go-to records for listening are the Stax and Muscle Shoals stuff.
For "Songs," Fullbright changed things up a bit. He says he often writes songs that he can't sing night after night. "There's an urgency I really like on tape," he admits. So he tried to write melodically smarter and more economical.
He also challenged himself to go deeper, to find the truth. If he's telling a story, he relies on his imagination. But when he's saying something specific and personal, he works to be open and truthful.
"Saying what you mean, meaning what you say. That whole thing," he says. "Telling the whole truth instead of telling some of the truth, then relying on artistic license to get you the rest of the way. It's really hard to do, but it's really gratifying to be able to say I'm not going to pussyfoot around. This is actually what I mean."
Why the change?
"Touring. Singing the same songs night after night it may be fresh to the audience, but it's certainly not fresh to me. If you're going to sing a song over and over and over, presumably for the rest of your life, you need to say something with a lot of meaning," he says. "Try to tell the whole truth. Truth never changes, never goes out of style."
The catalyst for the change was ""Very First Time," the last cut on "Songs." It's an unabashed love song.
He sings:
Don't answer the phone
Don't answer the door
Pretend nobody lives around here anymore
No need to get up
I brought the wine
And I feel alright
For the very first time
And I believe I'm protected
By the things I can't see
I don't believe in Jesus
I'm told he believes in me
And I think that's good
Cause it's a long hard climb
And I feel alright
For the very first time
Fullbright isn't afraid to be happy on "Songs." The opening cut, "Happy," asks "Tell me what's so bad about happy" noting the usual songwriters default to sad.
"It's very easy to write that pity party song," he says, "because then you get a lot of sympathy. I've done that. I'll probably do that forever. I'm conscious of that now. What that actually is and what it means and what I get out of it. It's less appealing now than it used to be."
So is he maybe happier these days?
"Guaranteed," he shoots back.
For tickets, go to http://www.tccropercenter.org/events/event/122-sea-level-fest-presents-john-fullbright


text:
Why Choose Brightstar?
With Brightstar, you can rest easy knowing your business' data will always be safe and secure.
Full Redundancy
By securing your data in 2 or more separate facilities, you know your data will be safe and protected.
Customized Configurations
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Managed Firewall
Protect your business with effective firewall management.
Virus Protection
Antivirus and malware protection is a key component that aids in the security of your company's network.
Data Backup
An important aspect to your business' data security is the ability to back up and store your critical data to a secure, offsite location.
Dissaster Recovery
Be prepared. No data loss, No time lost.
PCI DSS Compliance
Detect and stop attacks against your information by properly implementing and maintaining PCI standards.
Our Security Services
Managed Firewall
Our Managed firewalls start with a security audit that determines the needs of your business in regard to its firewall. Once the audit identifies your business' security needs, the firewall is built and installed using the latest technology, and an off-site analyst monitor to manage all areas of the firewall, including troubleshooting and software updates. The firewall always monitored and any security issues that arise are immediately addressed.
Virus Protection
With Brightstar's Data Security Services, you can be confident your entire business is protected, safeguarding your most important assets. Our team of expert technicians are always available to ensure that your network is equipped with the latest and most secure virus patches and updates. The cost-effective solutions we provide for Virus Removal and Network Security gives your business the certainty of being completely protected.
Data Backup
Your data is critical for running your business. When any problem arises, or even worse, your data is compromised, you need to know that your business will continue to operate with little interruption. At Brightstar, our specialists ensure you have the correct data backup solution, which mitigates the risk of interruption for your business should your data be compromised.
Disaster Recovery
Data loss can be catastrophic to a business. At Brightstar, we have a variety of different recovery options that will give you peace of mind by ensuring your important data will always be safe. We provide you with the recovery plan necessary to get your business back on track should disaster ever strike.
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The PCI DDS applies any company that accepts credit card payments. With Brightstar, your business can be better prepared to detect and stop attacks against your information by correctly implementing and maintaining PCI standards. We help you boost your security and comply with the latest PCI DSS mandates.
Face Tomorrow With Confidence.
Quick Links
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Physical Address:
BrightStar Communications
4501 Ford Ave. Suite 1301.
Alexandria, VA 22302
Phone: (202) 525-7724
E-mail: email@example.com
Mail Address:
BrightStar Communications
Address: 1350 Beverly Rd
Suite 115-257
McLean, VA 22101


text:
November 16, 2010
Dear Samarpan Friends:
Mother Antonia came to Samarpan Spiritual Leadership on October 23rd and shared her unique mission and ministry with the prisoners in Tijuana and their families. In order to spiritually transform drug traffickers, thieves, murderers, and unfortunate children caught in between criminals and the legal system one needs to have special courage and determination. That was the story Mother Antonia shared with us at our center. This unbelievable story will linger for a long time in our minds and inspire us to our own mission in life.
Mary and I are also blessed with Mother Antonia's presence on our 25th wedding anniversary. Samarpan friends shared our joy and blessings during our get together. Thank you so much for your kindness in sending a donation to Samarpan. As you well know, we continue our clinic in India, giving free medical care to hundreds each week.
We also continue to give retreats to the homeless several times a month at the Samarpan Spiritual Leadership Center in Alpine, CA. The people who come to these retreats tell us that it is very significant in their ongoing healing process. It gives them an opportunity for prayer, meditation, quiet, and guidance.
Indeed, it is through the help of you and all of our benefactors that these people can be served. We thank you so much and reassure you that your donation will go directly to the people.
With much gratitude,
Alex and Mary Kodiath


text: Rachel Cusk: Biography 08 feb 1967 Rachel Cusk is an award winning British novelist and writer. Her most recent novel, Outline (2014), was shortlisted for the Folio Prize, the Goldsmith's Prize, and the Bailey's Prize. Saving Agnes (1993) won the Whitbread First Novel Award, and The Country Life (1997) won the Somerset Maugham Award. Her novel, Arlington Park (2006) was shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction (2007), and The Lucky Ones (2003) was shortlisted for the Whitbread Novel Award (2003). Born in Canada, Cusk is the daughter of parents who left England to escape postwar Herfordshire for an adventure. Their family moved to California where they lived until she was eight. When she was eleven, they moved back to England where they continued to move often. Rachel Cusk's health suffered in England due to asthma and allergies. She completed her education at St. Mary's Convent School in London and read English at New College, Oxford. In 2003, Cusk was nominated by Granta magazine as one of 20 'Best of Young British Novelists'. In addition to her novels, Cusk has also published non-fiction books, and most recently, a modern twist on Shakespeare's Medea (which was performed at the Almeida in London in fall 2015). Cusk draws upon personal experience for all of her work. Her non-fiction work encompasses the joy and mystery of early motherhood, through her tragic divorce. It includes A Life's Work: On Becoming a Mother (2001), The Last Supper: A Summer in Italy (2009), and Aftermath: On Marriage and Separation (2012). Rachel Cusk is divorced from her second husband, photographer Adrian Clarke. They have two daughters.


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Lake Lough Ree in Shannon River, Ireland
Lake Lough Ree, Ireland
The island of Inchcleraun (Inis Cloithreann) in the northern part of the lake is the site of a monastery founded by Saint Dermot in the early Christian era and contains the remains of several ancient churches.
Celtic Crosses in Castledermot ancient Monastery of St Dermot
Saint Dermot (Diarmaid / Diarmis)
Abbot and founder of a monastery on Inchcleraun (Innis-Closran) Island
of Lake Lough Ree, Ireland (+6th ce.)
January 10
Saint Dermot the Just (also known as Diarmaid Diermit, Dhiarmuit, Dermod, Diermedus, Diermetus, Diermitius, Diermitius) was a abbot of Inis Clothrann (Inchcleraun), Lough Ree, County Longford and of Faughalstown, County Westmeath and a famous Irish confessor of the late-sixth century.
He was of princely origin as he was seventh in descent from Nath Í, King of Ireland, who died 428 and a member of the Hy-Fiachrach family from Connacht. His father was Lugna, son of Lugad, son of Finbarr, son of Fraic, son of Cathchuon, son of Aengus Becchuoun, son of Nath Í son of Fiachrae son of Eochaid Mugmedon. His mother was Dediva (also called Editua or Dedi or Deidi or Deighe or Deidiu or Deaga or Mediva), daughter of Tren, son of Dubhthach moccu Lughair, who was a Chief Ollam of Ireland and royal poet of King Lóegaire mac Néill. Dediva's other children were Saint Senan of Laraghabrine, son of Fintan, Saint Caillin of Fenagh, son of Niata, St.Mainchín of Corann, son of Collan of Corann, Saint Felim of Kilmore son of Carill, Saint Daigh of Inniskeen son of Carill, Saint Femia daughter of Carill and Senchán Torpéist, a later Chief Ollam of Ireland. Saint Diarmaid was the youngest of Dediva's famous children.
About the year 530, he founded the great monastery of Inchcleraun on Lough Ree, in the Diocese of Ardagh. Wishing to found an oratory far from the day-to-day distractions of civilization.
Here his fame soon attracted disciples. He was a good teacher and also a distinguished writer and poet. On the island seven churches are traditionally said to have been erected, and the traces of six are still in evidence, including Teampul Diarmada, or the church of St. Dermot. This oratory, eight feet by seven feet, is said to have been Derm own church. The monastic school he founded kept up its reputation for fully six centuries after his death, and the island itself was famous for pilgrimages in pre-Reformation days. An ivory statue of the saint was removed from the island during the Reformation to avoid destruction. He also founded the monastery of Caille-Fochladha, Lough Derryvaragh, Co Westmeath, where there is a holy well dedicated to him.
St. Dermot's nickname was '`Ghjermot the Just'; he is sometimes confused with an earlier St. Justus who was both baptizer and teacher of St.Kieran of Clonmacnoise. He was a friend of St. Senan, Abbot of Iniscathy and he composed metrical psalters, among which is "Cealtair Dichill".
Saint Dermot died on 542 at Inchcleraun Island and his feast is celebrated on that date. His Feast day is on Januia
Source: Wikipedia
Celtic Crosses in St Dermot's Monastery
in Castledermot, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Castledermot, Ireland
St Dermot's ancient Chapels
on Inchcleraun (Innis-Closran) Island, Ireland
Lake Lough Ree, Shennon River, Ireland


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Clinical Specialties
Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a multi-disciplinary, 30 bed, Level 3 facility. The unit is staffed with specialised Intensive Care nursing and medical personnel who treat and care for approximately 1,200 Intensive Care patient admissions per year.
The skills of our experienced, dedicated staff combined with our well-equipped unit featuring state-of-the-art technology provides for optimal management of patients with life-threatening or potentially life-threatening conditions.
The ICU unit has a major interest in cardiothoracic surgery, but more recently the case mix is split between general surgical and medical patients requiring intensive and ventilatory care.
Other specialties catered for include:
- Gastroenterology
- Urology
- Renal
- Obstetrics
- Oncology
- Neurology
To optimise the services provided by the ICU, the department is located close to the Operating Theatres and Diagnostic services.
The department has 24-hour Intensive Care medical coverage by qualified Intensive Care Specialists and Registrars.
Nursing staff to patient ratio of 1:1 exists for critically ill patients and 1:2 for others.
The department is well supported by the hospitals chaplains, social workers, speech therapist, diabetic educator and dieticians.
Visiting Hours
Visiting hours are 10am - 8pm. Because of the special treatment needs of patients in Intensive Care, we ask that immediate family only visit with a limit of 2 visitors at a time.
Contact Details
If you would like more information about the unit please phone (02) 9480 4761.
The Intensive Care Unit is located on Level 7 of the Clark Tower. Click here for a printable site map and directions.


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CEDAR RAPIDS — Bruce Braley and Ben Lange have a lot in common: they grew up in small Iowa towns, love baseball, went to law school and each have three children.
And they want the same job.
Braley and Langer are locked in a rematch for the 1st District seat in the U.S. House — the seat Braley, a Waterloo Democrat, has held for the past six years.
Two years ago, Lange, an Independence Republican, surprised Iowa political observers by coming out of nowhere to come within less than 2 percentage points of defeating Braley.
The playing field has changed since 2010. Redistricting expanded the district from 12 counties to 20. The 1st District now includes Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls-Waterloo and Marshalltown. The district stretches from the Mississippi River and Minnesota state line south to Iowa and Poweshiek counties.
A third of the active voters are registered Democrats, 28.5 percent are Republicans and the remaining 38 percent are registered as "no party."
The biggest difference, Lange says, is Linn County, where 28 percent of the district's registered voters live.
"I think it's (an) advantage for us because voters there don't see Braley as the incumbent," he says. Overall, 52 percent of the district is new territory for the candidates.
Braley has countered that "by getting out early and as often as possible to talk about his work on behalf of the district," according to campaign manager Jeff Giertz.
The other difference, Lange says, is that people saw how close he came to defeating Braley two years ago with virtually no resources.
"We don't have to battle the idea that I can't win," he says. "They know I can win."
But he didn't win two years ago, Giertz said.
"(Lange's) approach didn't work two years ago and we just need to remind voters of his out-of-step positions," he said.
Like two years ago, there's little the candidates agree on, and even when they agree, they're at odds.
For example, they're both calling for a balanced-budget amendment as a way to control federal spending. Lange calls Braley's recent support an election-year conversion after opposing the measure on the floor of the House. He points to Braley's six votes to raise the debt ceiling to make the case that the incumbent supports spending that will put the United States on a Greece-like debt trajectory.
Reining in spending is the make-or-break issue in the campaign, Lange says. "It's the decisive factor."
"Either we are going to put people in office to solve this or we will be the next Greece," he said. Noting the national debt has nearly doubled while Braley's been in office, he says the incumbent "has failed on every aspect of it."
Braley, however, touts his bipartisan effort to control spending, pointing out he has signed on to a balanced-budget amendment proposal offered by a Michigan Republican after he opposed earlier plans that "would tie our hands if we faced a threat like World War II."
The deficit Lange rails against, Braley argues, is the result of fighting two wars on the country's credit card.
So he favors the plan to balance the budget over 10-year window with exceptions for war and unanticipated natural disaster.
Neither candidate likes the approach Congress has taken to dealing with the federal budget. Lange calls the Budget Control Act, which Braley opposed, "Chicken Little's way out of making a decision."
Congress is passing off $16 trillion in debt to future generations, Lange says.
"You know where I come from in Quasqueton, there are so many zeros it's hard to relate to," Lange says, referring to his Buchanan County hometown. "When you boil it down to every man woman and child, it's a little over $50,000 in debt per person. My three daughters are $50,000 in debt before they can ride a bike."
Braley voted against the Budget Control Act because "it was going to be a train wrack and keep us from addressing the serious challenges of getting to targeted spending cuts and new revenues that we're going to need to get the budget deficit reduced."
The problem with the act and the budget sequestration it will require if Congress doesn't act before the end of the year, Braley says, is that it will force across-the-board cuts to defense spending and domestic programs without getting to the heart of the problem.
Defense spending has to be addressed, he says, pointing out the United States spends more on defense than the next 10 largest countries combined.
Defense spending cuts, whether through sequestration or other means, could have an impact in the 1st District. Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids already has announced defense spending-related job cuts.
"It's difficult to get rid of programs because they become jobs programs," Braley says. "So I would be a strong voice for my district because these cuts would have a profound economic impact for communities like this one."
Perhaps the area of biggest disagreement is over health care. Braley, a champion of the Affordable Care Act, says it's "almost shocking" to hear Republicans talk about repealing Obama-Care.
Lange calls for repeal, but says Republicans lose the argument if they don't have a plan to replace it.
"Repealing Obama-Care is going back to status quo and that puts people in the same position of 18 percent premium increases every year," Lange says.
Realistically, Lange ads, depending on who controls the Senate, it may not be possible to repeal ObamaCare. Then the question becomes how to implement reasonable changes without starting over.
Braley defends ObamaCare. The changes already implemented — coverage of pre-existing conditions and allowing young adults to stay on parents' insurance, for example — "are proving to be wildly popular."
Braley also defended congressional spending on farm programs, including subsidized crop insurance. It's a good trade-off, Braley said, eliminating direct payments to farmers without over-burdening taxpayers.
"Everybody who farms in Iowa knows they are one bad year away or one change in policy away from seeing prices fall, profit margins disappear and farm sales start to appear the way we saw them in the 1980s," he said.
Farmers will accept the loss of direct payments, Lange says, as long as they have the ability to protect themselves against years like 2012.There always will be a need for a farm bill, he says, because of the "national security interest in making sure that a food source is there."


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Preservationists worry about MGM building in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY (AP) — Preservations are concerned about the fate of a Kansas City building that was home to a movie distribution operation for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios.
The old brick building used to house film reels and movie salespeople. It's currently a vacuum warehouse in the Crossroads district of Kansas City.
It once was one of several buildings along what was known as Film Row, which included facilities belonging to Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Universal Studios
The Kansas City Star reports that the current owner hasn't planned a sale or a teardown. But advocates with Historic Kansas City say the building is neglected, which could lead to its condemnation and demolition.
The group is looking for a strategy to protect the building and the entire Film Row area.


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Approaching wedding day and comescrucial moment of choice of the bouquet for the bride. The bride must necessarily take part in the preparation of the composition of the wedding, because only she knows what colors she likes, and what does not. Coming up with a bouquet of options, selecting them for along sometimes undeservedly overlooked tender plants - verdure. If before it was added to the composition for the pomp or contrast, the modern bride are increasingly willing to in a solemn day to keep in the hands of a wedding bouquet of baby's breath.
The meaning and symbolism of baby's breath in a bridal bouquet
Every plant, every flower has itsvalue. Verdure in the explanatory dictionary of flowers represents caution, timidity. In mixed compositions that flower bears no semantic load, and is a kind of accessory. Florists and psychologists argue that this option is more likely to choose a girl with delicate emotional kind, modest in appearance, with a rich inner world. Associate with purity, innocence, chastity means flower in the broadest sense of values. It is more suitable for young girls.
Variants of wedding bouquets of baby's breath
Gypsophila is a gentle, airy and veryfeminine plant. No wedding bouquet can not be imagined without openwork lace of small white flowers. The combination of bright roses or tulips lends stylish composition. If the bride wants to choose a more gentle option, then create monobuket with this plant, adding a base composition decor. The highlight of the jewelry can be a scattering of small white pearls attached to the top edge of the composition.
The combination of roses and freesias
The most traditional is considered a combination of baby's breathwith a rose. Whichever shade may be buds, white flower lace would be appropriate. Fiery red roses speak about love, passion; yellow, radiant sunshine, warmth; delicate pink; unusual color from purple to green - they are diluted with white branches buds will be in perfect harmony in a classic bouquet. Supplement composition try gentle freesia, which will decorate the colorful and betray.
Composition with orchids
Combining two gentle creatures of nature - and orchidverdure - Easily Get chic wedding composition, which is impossible not to admire. Intentionally shortened stems of orchid, taken as a basis, allow a small bouquet to give a rounded shape. In the hands of the bride look beautiful cascading floral arrangements, in which the height of orchid reaches a minimum of forty centimeters. Small sprigs of small white inflorescences loose discernible between the petals of an orchid, making full perfection in design.
With tulips
Bouquet for spring weddings can be madebased on the buds of tulips that will harmoniously overlap with a scattering of white baby's breath. Tulips - not very resistant flowers, florists so they are treated with a special solution, which will not allow them to wither in the heat of celebration. Against the background of white bride dress red, white, yellow or pink tulips will look delightful with gentle gently green frame.
Mono bouquet of baby's breath
Although this plant is often used as a supplementto flowers, the trend of recent years show us something else: florists offer monobukety for a wedding, where only the flower is present. The compositions are very similar in appearance to the white fluffy clouds that decorate any wedding ceremony. Graceful small blossoms will add to your festive day a touch of romanticism. Make the wedding bouquet of baby's breath is very simple, this task is easy to manage on their own, collecting plant stems into a bundle and tightened their silk or satin ribbon, decorated with additional décor.
How to keep flowers fresh
Since the baby's breath - a flower that is resistant tolong without finding water, especially its preparation for the wedding day is not required. If the weather is too hot, song for celebration decorate portbuketnitse or in a special bowl, which has a damp sponge, but even with a very long-term dehydration or zasushivanii plant does not change its qualities, shape, and therefore, still looks elegant and weightless.
Photo Wedding bouquet with roses
Verdure - amazing flower, asattribute it is suitable for celebrations of different style and level, becoming an elegant decoration. Sometimes, for an air of weightlessness and lightness it is called the "veil of his wife," or "the breath of a child." The big advantage of a bouquet with this plant will be its ability to maintain a good appearance for a long time, low cost. A skilful combination of baby's breath and tulips, roses, orchids make a floral arrangement for a truly luxurious. Wedding bouquet on the basis of the air flower - is a universal solution for the bride.


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Banyumas Airport Charter Flights and Air Charter Service
International Air Charter is able to handle all of your air charter services to or from Banyumas Airport. We will make sure that the flight you pick is the right one for you. The staff we use has years of experience in the air charter industry and will be sure that the flight you choose to or from Banyumas Airport is the right one for you.
Banyumas Airport Information
Location: Banyumas-Java Island, Indonesia
Type: Small Airport
Scheduled Service: No
GPS Code: WIAP
Elevation: 92 Feet
Latitude: -6.4648
Longitude: 105.969
Chartering a Private Aircraft
There are numerous advantages when it comes to using private jets as oppose to commercial jets. Hiring your own air charter service gives you an unforgettable experience. You can hire private jets for you and your group when going on special adventures. Air charter service and private flights are available just about everywhere. No matter what part of the map you are traveling have a jet charter will surely make your trip much better. You will be taken to places that most cannot go, see the unseen and much more. So, if you are looking for an unforgettable vacation to airportit is worth looking into an air charter service. You can look for private flights online depending on the destination your are visiting. You will be able to get private planes that go to and from your destination. Going with private jets will truly make your trip worth taking, as you will have nothing but time to enjoy the spot of your choice.
There are various types of people that use a jet charter service. There are movie stars that prefer to take a private flight. Private flights for a movie star offer the movie star a more relaxed flight. Movie stars like to have their privacy and a lot of stars use a private jet because they get the privacy they want. There are private jets that have rooms on them so the movie stars can be alone. There are sport teams that use air charter services. Sport teams travel often and they can't be held up at an airport waiting to check in for their flights. Sport teams also have a lot of workers and players for the team. There are a lot of big name businesses that use air charter services for their corporate employees. There are rich people who use jet charter services. Anyone can use a jet charter service as long as they have the money to pay for it.
Many people love having their own private plane but simply hate the cost of storing them. Some people are finding new and innovative ways to make money on their jets while they are not using them. Due to the advent of "enhanced pat downs" and "x-ray imaging" in countries, more people are starting to look into chartering planes. They want to avoid the hassle of dealing with the lines and violation of personal space. An owner could offer services over online classified ads to find "customers". Another option is to sell advertising space on the side of your plane to businesses. Either way you are having space on your plane hired out. Brainstorm different ways that you can rent out your plane and you will be surprised how fast you will see those expenses vanish!
Private plane rentals also coincide to the biggest safety laws of the FAA. Private aircraft carriers actually go beyond their FAA safety rules. Each U.S. private plane is certified under FAA laws and each and every pilot is veteran, maintaining a minimum of 5,000 flights hours, which exceeds the FAA requirements. A lot private jet rentals also can carry from 4 to 400 passengers. In many cases, travelers for a business or private aircraft charter, can walk or are driven directly to the jet's doorway. They are permitted to board their flight without experiencing being patted down or needing to go into a metal detector.Although, the airline market statistics stress that private aircraft security has an awesome record, due to running its own tight security rules.


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Establishing your core needs and providing a bespoke solution for your business with a wide range of services that can be tailored to meet your specific requirements. Fees that are fair and reasonable and reflect the value they provide to the individual company


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(a) Find, in terms of , the x coordinate of the point A and the x coordinate of the point B.
The finite region S enclosed by the curve and the x-axis is shown shaded in Figure 3. The region S is rotated through 2π radians about the x-axis.
(b) Find, by integration, the exact value of the volume of the solid generated.
where λ and μ are scalar parameters.
(a) Given that l1 and l2 meet, find the position vector of their point of intersection.
(b) Find the acute angle between l1 and l2 giving your answer in degrees to 1 decimal place.
Given that the point A has position vector 4i + 16j – 3k and that the point P lies on lthat AP is perpendicular to 11
(c) find the exact coordinates of P.
The rate of change of the temperature of the water in the bottle is modelled by the differential equation,
dθ/dt = (3 - θ)/125
(a) By solving the differential equation, show that,
θ = Ae–0.008t + 3
where A is a constant.
Given that the temperature of the water in the bottle when it was put in the refrigerator was 16 °C,
(b) find the time taken for the temperature of the water in the bottle to fall to 10 °C, giving your answer to the nearest minute.
Rotate to landscape screen format on a mobile phone or small tablet to use the Mathway widget, a free math problem solver that answers your questions with step-by-step explanations.
We welcome your feedback, comments and questions about this site or page. Please submit your feedback or enquiries via our Feedback page.


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kidzsearch.com > wiki Explore:images videos games
Tibet, also called the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR),[1] is a province-level autonomous region of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Its capital is Lhasa.
Tibet's religion is Buddhism. Their traditions make it a place of interest to many people. The local monks are sometimes said to have special, superhuman abilities.[2] Whether or not this is true, the writings of Tibetan monks are sometimes shared with outsiders, and are known for their insight. The Tibetan Book of the Dead contains rituals for the dead and dying, somewhat similar to the Catholic last rites.[3][4]
The religious leader of Tibet's Buddhists is called the Dalai Lama. He was forced to leave the country when the Chinese Army took over. The Dalai Lama presently lives in exile in India, but often visits other countries.
Tibet becomes part of China
Tibet was independent until the 1950s.[5] Earlier Tibet had been part of China since the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty.
Political divisions
Tibet is divided into 2 municipalities (地级市) and five autonomous prefectures (自治州).
- Lhasa (拉萨)
- Xigaze (日喀则)
- Ngari Prefecture (阿里地区)
- Nagqu Prefecture (那曲地区)
- Chamdo Prefecture (昌都地区)
- Nyingchi Prefecture (林芝地区)
- Lhoka Prefecture (山南地区)
Influence outside Tibet
Tibetan culture also influences other regions nearby, such as Nepal, Bhutan, parts of eastern Kashmir and some regions in northern most Republic of India, most notably Sikkim, Uttaranchal and Tawang . China claims part of the Indian province of Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet.
There has been some protests in Tibet since China took control in the 1950s.[6] Most of them have been because of social or economic problems. Some of them have been because there are people who believe Tibet should not be a part of China. To show their resistance, many Tibetans set themselves on fire to put the Chinese government under pressure to become independent again. In 2011, 19 people killed themselves.[7] A railway line, the Qingzang railway, has been built, linking China to Lhasa. Also, rising prices of food, and difficult access to higher education have angered many people.[8] The railway line also raised fears about more migration.[9] This situation has led to some violence against people from outside Tibet. Some of this violence occurs outside Tibet.[10] When it comes to assigning government posts in Tibet, more Chinese seem to be assigned, and fewer Tibetans.[11] The Chinese Government claims that if Tibet became independent again, its economy would suffer.
Other pages
- ↑ Xizang Autonomous Region (Tibetan: བོད་ ; Wylie: Bod-rang-skyong-ljongs; Simplified Chinese: 西藏自治区; Traditional Chinese: 西藏自治區; Pinyin: Xīzàng Zìzhìqū, literally: "western depository" coming from the Chinese name for Ü-Tsang (simplified Chinese: 卫藏; traditional Chinese: 衛藏; pinyin: Wèizàng)
- ↑ Journal of Religion and Film
- ↑ Last Rites
- ↑ The Tibetan Book of the Dead
- ↑ "China becomes Red" by Claude Arpi
- ↑ Tibetan Resistance by the Khampa Guerillas
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/06/world/asia/3-tibetan-herders-self-immolate-in-anti-chinese-protest.html?_r=1&ref=tibet
- ↑ Savetibet.org - The International Campaign for Tibet
- ↑ Train heads for Tibet, carrying fears of change
- ↑ "Ethnic unrest continues in China, International Herald Tribune, April 8,2008". http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/04/asia/04china2.php.
- ↑ Personnel Changes in Lhasa Reveal Preference for Chinese Over Tibetans, Says TIN Report
Other websites


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How Do you Keep Track?
Our days are filled with dates and appointments that we value! To each his own and there are as many ideas for staying on track as there are people to invent those ideas. Your method(s) for being on time or remembering special dates more than likely adapts to your personal pursuits and sense of structure that meets within your discipline capability.
As such, I NEED many ways to import the production of my day. My smart phone debuts most of my planning, navigating, list making and so on. The added value of a historical footprint has come in handy on many occasions and should a detective ever be involved...well their work is done! Save for a drop of water my life would forever be extinct!
I still treasure a kitchen calendar so that at a glance that moment in time has relevance. This year I used many photos that were taken by a very talented artist Karina Beagley. Sadly our youngest daughter woke up too ill to participate the morning we were scheduled so lucky for us we get to do another take!
Many thanks to Graphic 45 for their beautiful papers with which I created each month.
Oh and speaking of calendars, please make sure to schedule routine home maintenance. If you are contemplating a remodel or renovation you might want to review this Cost vs. Value Report to determine how much you should invest in your project.
The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever his is.
CS Lewis


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Laverbread is a Celtic delicacy which is produced from a particular type of seaweed very similar to the seaweed which is used by the Japanese – Nori. It is mainly found on the West Coast of the British Isles and Southern Ireland.
For this special product, the seaweed is rinsed and cooked until it becomes soft and paste-like. The result is something very nutritious and low in calories. It is rich in protein and contains iodine and vitamins A ,B, B2, C & D.
Traditionally eaten as part of a Welsh breakfast – either in scrambled eggs or oats, but equally scrumptious with cheese on toast, it truly is delicious.


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Hyperbolic Surfaces in Crochet
There are many things you can make with yarn and the simplest crochet stitches – crocheted afghans, crocheted sweaters, crocheted scarves, crocheted toys – but did you ever think about making crocheted art?
All the photos in this post are examples of hyperbolic surfaces. Overly simplified, a hyperbolic surface is one that is constantly curving – there are no flat or level planes in the entire piece.
Some of these crocheted art pieces – like this one – appear to be made entirely with single crochet stitches. The shapes could be set with either a lot of starch or fishing line running through the edge – or a combination of both.
Others including double crochet stitches, such as this one. See the open stitches near the edges?
Not all hyperbolic surfaces have to be so twisty. Check out this simpler one.
I love the blues in this one!
Check out the way each tier of the spiral is connected by the striped tubes.
Hyperbolic surfaces can be combined to make beautiful sculptures.
Here's a photo of four similar pieces together. Notice how the shapes go together, even though the colors in each are different.
Many different shapes are possible with hyperbolic surfaces!
This one even looks like a gorgeous flower!
These are only some of the beautiful work that has been done with crocheted hyperbolic surfaces. You can find more great pictures here and here and here.
Hyperbolic crochet is often used in the making of Crochet Coral Reefs.
Despite how complicated these pieces may look, they are relatively simple to make. Crochet a chain of any length (I suggest you start small – maybe 10-20 chains.) You can choose to work in single, half double, or double crochets. Pick any number that's less than the number of chains you have and crochet that many stitches then increase. Say I picked 3 and was doing single crochet – I would single crochet in the second chain from the hook, then single crochet in each of the next two stitches. In the next stitch I would work 2 single crochets, then repeat (single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches, 2 single crochets in the following stitch) across. Don't worry if you aren't able to finish the repeat at the end of the row. Then chain 1 and turn, repeating the pattern across. We are working on a video tutorial on hyperbolic crochet, so be sure to check back for that soon!
Maggie loves Dreamz wooden crochet hooks for nearly every project. They'd work great for hyperbolic crochet!
Worsted weight yarn is a great choice for this project. Premier Home Cotton Yarn comes in solid and variegated colors, so there's plenty of choices to mix and match.
For a more delicate look, you might want to consider a size 3 crochet thread, such as Lizbeth which comes in 45 solid colors and 45 variegated colors.
DISCLAIMER: All images are copyrighted by their respective owners. Links/Credits are provided via click-through link or caption. Clicking the link of the image will lead you to its source. While effort was made to credit the original source of these photos, it is sometimes difficult to determine where a photo originated. We would be happy to credit you for your image if you will provide the original link. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.
Maggie's Crochet is not responsible for the content of third party websites.
re: Hyperbolic surfaces in crochet ….
Do any instructions or patterns exist which result in one of the hyperbolic forms? I watched one of the first explanations on film of how these forms were first tried. They mimic not only sea shells, but also many delicate forms in our bodies and other parts of nature. At that time, only needlework was able to duplicate the hyperbolic forms.
Please answer (by email) Thank you.
Would love to learn how to do that!!!
I love all these beautiful creations and would like
to learn more about how you made them.
Thank you.
Judy Cushman
I love these, I would love to try and make a flower. is there instructions on how to make them. Georgous.
Thank you for answering.
Where can I download photos of crochet about which I have questions? I posted 2 to your FB, but that got no direct reply. Where can I post them …. need to know what I did wrong!
Can send me the instruction for white hyperbolic surface? I had tried the pattern myself but look like not similar with the post photo.. Thanks
me gustaria un video tutorial de la flor. gracias !! hermosos los trabajos.


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Recommended releases
|Download 1.x-1.1.0 (84.96 KB)
The FileBrowser module displays contents of a given directory as a node on your Backdrop site.
It is a direct port of the Drupal 7.x-3.x module.
- Introduction
- Tested
- Known Issues
- Special Thanks
- Requirements
- Installation
- Coming From Drupal?
- Usage
- License
- Credits
- Maintainers
Working perfectly in Backdrop 1.2+.
Amazon S3 hosting is not ported/tested yet. Contact if you would like this functionality.
This module port has been sponsored by VR Sites. (http://beta.vrsites.com) Special thanks to them!
Install this module using the official Backdrop CMS instructions at https://backdropcms.org/guide/modules
This module requires no other libraries or special server configuration.
nothing substantially changed.
yes, this module installs permissions for your roles to use
Allows site administrators to expose a particular file system folder and all of its subfolders with a fancy FTP-like interface to site visitors. File meta information (via descript.ion and files.bss) is supported. The module also allows these metafiles to store special content, which can be parsed with a callback. If no callback is specified in the file, only the description will be fetched.
This module tries to protect your files outside of the public folder from being listed, as well as trying to protect version control metafiles (CVS and .svn folders) from being listed, but there is no guarantee as usual, that this will never happen. If you find a bug, feel free to submit a bug report.
The FileBrowser module displays contents of a given directory as a node on your Backdrop site. The node will display a list of the files and folders the same way it is listed on the server. Folder and files can be up- and downloaded by users with proper permissions. The module provides all sorts of permissions. Node settings can be such that certain files types are excluded from display and/or transfer.
One of the most obvious use cases for the FileBrowser module is a file sharing functionality or personal file directories for site users.
To actually use the module, create a node of the content type "directory listing" (supplied by this module). Make sure you fill out correctly the field "The system file path to the directory". For some examples, if you were to provide public access to a pdf folder with this, put /files/pdf in the system file path field. Then, users could upload and view pdfs to that folder. If you were to provide access to each user a personal folder with this, put /files/[username] in the system file path field. Then, each user could upload and view certain filetypes to their folder.
One general idea would be to allow users to view each Filebrowser node at its node page.
This project is GPL v2 software. See the LICENSE.txt file in this directory for complete text.
This module is based on the Filebrowser module for Drupal, originally written and maintained by a large number of contributors, including:
Clivesj https://www.drupal.org/u/clivesj
Nicolas-georget https://www.drupal.org/u/nicolas-georget
Yoran https://www.drupal.org/u/yoran
Susurrus http://drupal.org/user/118433
Arnumeral http://arnumeral.fr/
This module port has been sponsored by VR Sites. (http://beta.vrsites.com)
- biolithic https://github.com/biolithic
Ported to Backdrop by:
- biolithic https://github.com/biolithic


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Two-Way Jabs on Medicare Recast Races for Congress
By CARL HULSE
WASHINGTON — In one tight Florida House race, a hastily assembled TV commercial to begin airing Wednesday takes aim at a top target of Democrats, highlighting his votes "to end Medicare as we know it."
Republicans in Montana are advertising on behalf of their Senate candidate, noting his stance against a Republican plan "that could harm the Medicare program." House Republican strategists are advising their lawmakers to try to stay on the offensive over Medicare and steer clear of words like privatization.
The fight over Medicare, the popular federal health care program for older Americans, is rapidly intensifying in House and Senate races around the nation after the selection of Representative Paul D. Ryan as the Republican vice-presidential candidate. Congressional Democrats and some analysts say that development could transform the fight for control of Congress, given his role as the author of a House-approved budget plan that would reshape Medicare.
"A House budget plan is a House budget plan," Senator Patty Murray of Washington, the chairwoman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said Tuesday. "But all of the sudden the architect and definer of that has the potential of sitting in the White House, and that is really frightening to people."
Despite political anxiety expressed privately by some Republican strategists about Mitt Romney's choice of Mr. Ryan, other top Republicans say that they welcome the fight over Medicare and that they believe they can win a national debate over the future of entitlement programs. They intend to paint the Democratic Party as the one putting Medicare at risk by failing to come up with a plan to keep it solvent as a wave of baby boomers approaches retirement age.
Mr. Romney said Tuesday that he would, if president, restore Medicare cuts that both President Obama and Congressional Republicans have backed and unveiled a new campaign advertisement trying to drive home that point.
"Paul Ryan and Republicans are the only ones who have stepped up with proposals," said Senator John Cornyn of Texas, head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. "These issues were going to come up anyway, and you might as well have your best and most articulate spokesman on the field making the case for it, and that is Paul Ryan."
Mr. Ryan's new prominence has abruptly thrust Medicare into the top tier of issues, but it was always going to be a theme in the 2012 House and Senate elections and was already playing a role in advertising.
Democrats had long intended to assault Republicans who voted for the Ryan budget in 2011 and 2012 and were trying to find a way to figuratively put Mr. Ryan on the ballot with his colleagues. Now Mr. Ryan will literally be on the ballot, and top Democratic strategists say that in picking him, Mr. Romney has given Medicare a huge boost as a driving issue that could lift Democrats in dozens of close races.
"Mitt Romney has given us a lot to work with," said Representative Steve Israel of New York, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "It was becoming challenging to try to nationalize the Ryan budget, and Mitt Romney just handed that to us."
House Democrats moved quickly on Tuesday to try to cash in. In a high-profile South Florida race, the Democratic candidate, Patrick Murphy, prepared a new ad against the Republican incumbent, Allen B. West, that highlighted Mr. West's two votes for the Ryan budget while asserting that Mr. Murphy would "fight for seniors, protect Medicare."
While the new commercial does not specifically mention Mr. Ryan, strategists said it was fashioned to capitalize on his joining the race for the White House. It is also the leading edge of what is likely to be a flurry of ads, Web activity and aggressive political advocacy as the two parties compete to shape the narrative on Medicare.
In addition to helping bankroll Mr. Murphy's ad, the Congressional committee began automated phone calls in the districts of 50 Republican incumbents who voted for Mr. Ryan's budget, which would turn Medicare into a voucher program for future retirees. In Nevada, a labor group is buying online ads that say the Romney-Ryan ticket would drive up costs for older Americans.
As Democrats pushed the idea of a political windfall, top Republicans say they believe the worry about Mr. Ryan is overheated. They say they were already bracing for a Medicare line of attack and are more than ready for it.
"We'll take any opportunity to talk about Obamacare and the Medicare cuts that were included in it," said Paul Lindsay, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, who said that Republicans had learned how to contend with the issue after having debated it for more than two years already.
In a private message to candidates, House Republican leaders sought to allay any concern by providing material on how to respond to inquiries on Medicare, suggesting that candidates make the case that Democrats have their own lightning rod of a running mate: the new health care law.
The message also advises Republicans to choose their words carefully and emphasize "strengthen" and "protect" over phrases like "every option is on the table."
Despite the Republicans' confidence in their ability to counter the Democrats, the Senate race in Montana offered evidence that some party leaders recognize that the Ryan budget could be a liability.
The state party there paid for an advertisement on behalf of Representative Denny Rehberg, a Republican who is in a close race with Senator Jon Tester, a Democrat. It lauds Mr. Rehberg for his votes against the Ryan budget, a stance that the advertisement said showed his independence in partisan Washington.
The ultimate impact of the Ryan pick on Congressional races will become clearer in the days ahead.
"Certainly more Democrats are more enthusiastic than they were last week," said Jessica Taylor, a senior analyst for the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report. "But whether it moves a ton of races, we are going to have to wait and see."
Michael D. Shear and Sarah Wheaton contributed reporting from New York.


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Skip to Content
Home > About CentraCare Health > News & Publications > News > Heart Center Receives Accreditation for Pediatric Transthoracic and Fetal Echocardiography
Published on June 02, 2014
St. Cloud, Minn. – CentraCare Heart & Vascular Center has been accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) for its pediatric transthoracic and fetal echocardiography program. It is one of only a few sites in Minnesota to hold this distinction. IAC grants accreditation to facilities that provide quality patient care in compliance with national standards through a comprehensive application process and detailed case review.
"Being granted this accreditation is indicative of the quality of our physicians and staff," said Bob Johnson, executive director, CentraCare Heart & Vascular Center. "They are passionate about providing the best care to patients, going above and beyond the services of an average heart center, to bring specialized heart care to Central Minnesota."
Each year more than 35,000 babies in the United States are born with congenital heart defects, making it the most common type of birth defect. Over the past few decades, diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects have tremendously improved with tools such as echocardiograms. An echocardiogram is a noninvasive ultrasound used to evaluate heart structure and function.
Two pediatric cardiologists at the CentraCare Heart & Vascular Center specialize in diagnosing and treating congenital heart disease, abnormal heart rhythms, chest pain, fainting spells and heart murmurs in children. For more information about their services, call 320-656-7020.
Communications Department
To contact:Dial 320-251-2700 and ask to speak to a Communications representative.
Get the latest news on the health topics that matter most to you — delivered straight to your inbox every month.
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Uncanny X-Men #276, page 22
Jim Lee may be Co-Publisher of DC Comics now, but his work on Marvel's mutants in the 90s propelled him to prominence in the industry. In the first panel above, Deathbird, Storm and Banshee listen to Forge (second panel) as he questions the death and destruction on a world the X-Men had hoped to save. One might say that Forge has always possessed a pessimistic outlook. His attitudes resulted in his recent madness and subsequent demise in Astonishing X-Men #30. Many of Jim Lee's X-Men redesigns are among my favorites, especially the short hairstyle he gave Storm. I like how the cut frames Ororo's eyes and gives her a new wave/punk look. It's a shame it didn't last very long.
Uncanny X-Men #267, page 4
Above, Storm (de-aged to a child thanks to the villainous Nanny and the Orphanmaker) and Gambit fight off servant hounds of the Shadow King. Gambit first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #266.
Uncanny X-Men #256, page 16
Psylocked struts her stuff while pondering life's hard questions with Storm.
X-Men #9, page 2
In the adjectiveless X-Men title, it was only a matter of time before the X-Men had a crossover, this time with Ghost Rider. Writer Chris Claremont had been forced off the title by this point (he left with issue #3) and it shows in the dialogue, characterization and plot.
X-Men#2, page 29
Jean Grey and Storm watch a Danger Room simulation from the control room, attempting to find a way to beat their brainwashed teammates. I miss the days of Storm and Jean having these kinds of conversations. Or just having on panel time together. Or Jean being alive.
Jim Lee X-Men 271, page 24
Havok, brainwashed into thinking he's a Genoshan magistrate, (this brainwashing stuff is a total X-Men trope) tussles with fellow X-Man Wolverine. I've always found Havok to be a visually interesting character with his all black costume and concentric circles. Jim Lee's decision to slash the page in half is a fun design choice and I especially like the panels done entirely in silhouette.


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Poster session: a walk through European Research
LET'S 2014 poster session will show cutting edge research results, ongoing research projects and innovative work in progress. A best poster award will be presented based on the quality of research work and the quality of poster presentation.
LET'S 2014 Call for posters is closed
Instructions and rules
The list of posters is available here


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2019 VRMA International Conference Call for Proposals
Submission period now closed. Please stay tuned for future opportunities!
VRMA invites you to submit a proposal to present at the 2019 VRMA International Conference, October 13-16 in New Orleans, Louisiana! Last year, we re-named and re-branded our Fall Conference to more accurately reflect the international event is has become. Now bigger and better, with expanded educational offerings for all attendees (including an international track), the VRMA International Conference has something for everyone!
This is an opportunity for you to share the knowledge and expertise you've gained through your daily experiences with other professionals in the vacation rental industry.
All accepted speakers will be notified by the end of June. If you have any questions, please contact our education team by email.
Conference Education Tracks and Member Requested Topics
As always, we are looking for presentations that showcase best practices, innovative strategies, and lessons learned. This year, to help guide your presentation submissions, we've compiled a list of the most requested education topics. This list was created from numerous sources of member feedback to meet the education and training needs of our membership.
Review our list of conference tracks and suggested topics:
- Finance and Legal Operations
Sessions in this track help participants learn best practices to manage their organization's financial and legal responsibilities, as well as staying current on important topics and regulations specific to the vacation rental industry.
Member requested topics include:
- Owner and guest agreement guidelines
- Compliance with ADA guidelines
- Guidelines and restrictions on emotional support animals
- Advanced financial management
- Minimizing chargebacks
- Debt financing
- Industry standards for refunds
- The future of the vacation rental industry
- Taxation and compliance
- Business Strategy
Sessions in this track focus on equipping you with the decision making skills, proven strategies, and knowledge of industry trends needed to develop and achieve your company's short and long-term objectives.
Member requested topics include:
- Scaling your business effectively
- Strategic planning
- Family dynamics, progression and succession
- Small company management
- Luxury rentals and guest expectations
- How to start a VRM company
- New VRM company development (including operations and VR industry terminology)
- The future of the vacation rental industry
- Navigating the OTAs
- Utilizing vacation rental data analytics
- Human Resources
Sessions in this track help participants learn how to successfully hire, manage, train, and engage employees or potential employees to fit their businesses needs and culture.
Member requested topics include:
- Customer service interactions (including greeting guests, first impressions and body language)
- Communication skills in the workplace
- Managing remote employees
- Company culture and accountability
- Recruiting top talent
- Time management
- Organizational skills
- Marketing
Sessions in this track dive into various channels, new tools and innovative strategies being used to market vacation rental properties to guests and owners.
Member requested topics include:
- How to approach negative reviews
- Techniques to differentiate your company
- Utilizing social media to engage guests and increase bookings
- Targeting specific guest and homeowner demographics
- Creative revenue generators
- Improving your company's website
- Property Services
Sessions in this track provide a detailed look at standard housekeeping management, training and safety practices needed to maintain an effective housekeeping program that provides a safe and secure environment for both employees and rental guests.
Member requested topics include:
- Interior design concepts
- Improving back office operations
- Sales
Sessions in this track will help participants learn how to hire and train successful sales and reservation teams. Participants will gain ideas on how to apply effective strategies and processes to achieve revenue and business growth.
Member requested topics include:
- Improv/interactive sales training
- Guest Relations
Sessions in this track provide participants with recommendations and new ideas for streamlining guest management processes and providing excellent customer service to vacation rental guests.
Member requested topics include:
- Owning and enhancing the guest experience
- Customer loyalty programs
- Concierge services
- Satisfying the unhappy guest
- Technology
Sessions in this track provide participants with insights on the newest digital solutions in the industry to help gain a competitive edge.
Member requested topics include:
- Selecting a property management software system
- Implementing smart home technology
- Impact of artificial intelligence in vacation rentals
- International
Sessions in this track include hot topics, best practices, and lessons learned from around the globe. Attendees will learn how to make their mark in holiday rental markets throughout the world.
Member requested topics include:
- Expanding into the global market
- Key differences between the US and European and Asian holiday rental markets
In addition to the member requested topics outlined, we welcome and encourage session submissions on other critical issues in the vacation rental industry.
Who Should Submit Proposals?
All vacation rental industry professionals are encouraged to submit presentation proposals. The Education Committee is especially interested in receiving proposals from those who work for/own vacation rental management companies. As a vacation rental management professional, you work every day to find innovative ways to increase revenue, improve homeowner satisfaction and keep guests coming back. Attendees value your efforts, and we hope you will consider sharing your hard-earned insights. We encourage vendors and suppliers to partner with vacation rental managers when submitting proposals.
What Should Be Included in Proposals?
All submissions must be educational in nature and should not include promotions for products or services. Sessions are evaluated and selected strictly on educational content; sponsorship of VRMA or the conference have no impact on the committee's selection preferences.
Submissions should be as detailed as possible to allow the Education Committee to make a final determination on your proposal. Specifically, we want to hear what makes your presentation unique and the value it can bring to conference attendees. We highly encourage all speakers and companies to give thoughtful consideration to all proposals submitted. All submission must include all applicable session details at the time of submission, including speaker and panelist names, a full session description and learning outcomes in order to be considered for the program.
While there is no maximum on the number of submissions any one company or speaker can submit, we are only able to offer a limited number of sessions to any one company or speaker, due to a finite number of speaking opportunities available and to ensure a diversity of companies and speakers on the program.
Review our article in Arrival for detailed instructions for submitting your presentation proposal and tips for creating a proposal that stands out.
Login Required
You must log into the VRMA website to submit your presentation.
- VRMA members will use their normal login credentials. Click here to log in and make sure your profile information is up-to-date.
- Non-members must create a non-member speaker account. Click here to start the process.
Apply to Join a Panel Discussion
If you don't wish to lead a breakout session, we still want to hear from you! Click here to fill out a short questionnaire and our staff will follow up with information on becoming a panelist!
Complementary Vacation Rental Manager Registration and Speakers Dinner
NEW This Year! Vacation rental manager presenters who provide property management services are eligible for a complementary registration. VRMA will send out the unique codes to register after a presenter's submission has been accepted.
Additionally, all accepted speakers are invited to participate in a Speakers Only Dinner at the International Conference in New Orleans.
Questions on proposal submissions can be directed to firstname.lastname@example.com


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This activity features interactive flashcards covering key topics from Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting – Can We Make It a Thing of the Past?, a prIME Oncology symposium held in Denver, Colorado, United States.
0.4 Contact Hour
Release Date
Jun 16, 2017
Expiration Date
Jun 16, 2018
The proposed educational activity is specifically designed to meet the needs of oncology nurses and other healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of patients with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).
After successful completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Describe the physiologic principles underlying CINV and radiotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
- Identify current guideline-based treatments and the unmet medical need for further improvements in CINV management
- Evaluate the most current clinical data on prevention and treatment of CINV, with an emphasis on long-acting neurokinin 1 (NK-1) receptor antagonists
This educational activity is supported by grants from Helsinn Oncology and TESARO, Inc.
Continuing Education
This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the ONS, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's COA.
A maximum of 0.4 contact hour may be earned for successful completion of this program.
Content in this learning activity is applicable to meeting individual requirements for certification renewal through the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation's Independent Learning Needs Assessment (ILNA) renewal method. Visit www.oncc.org for complete details on oncology nursing certification.
This activity is provided by prIME Oncology.
Disclosure Information
Method of Participation
There are no fees for participating in and receiving CME credit for this activity. In order to receive credit, participants must successfully complete the online posttest and activity evaluation. Your participation in this CME activity will be recorded in prIME Oncology's database. However, upon request, your CME credit certificate will be emailed to you. Technical requirements may be found under the Terms of Use.
Links to the posttest are available on the video player pages.
In order to receive credit, participants must successfully complete the online posttest with 75% or higher.
Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships
Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships
prIME Oncology assesses relevant financial relationships with its instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of CME activities. Any potential conflicts of interest that are identified are thoroughly vetted by prIME Oncology for fairness, balance, and scientific objectivity of data, as well as patient care recommendations. prIME Oncology is committed to providing its learners with high-quality CME activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial entity.
The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouses/life partners have with commercial interest related to the content of this activity:
The employees of prIME Oncology have disclosed:
- Robert Coleman, MBBS MD FRCP, FRCPE (medical director content reviewer/planner) – receipt of research funding from Amgen and Bayer
- Zach Hartman, PhD (clinical content reviewer/planner) – stock or stock options in Advaxis, Inc. and Ariad Pharmaceuticals
- Brooke Balun, NP (nurse planner) – no relevant financial relationships
- Christi Gray (editorial content reviewer) – no relevant financial relationships
Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patients' conditions and possible contraindications or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer's product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.
Disclosure Regarding Unlabeled Use
This activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the US Food and Drug Administration or European Medicines Agency. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product discussed for discussions of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.


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Scanning with the ssltest on my webiste causes the apache server to crash and the website goes down
I have to restart the apache server to make it work again.
What does this mean? Could it be a problem in the configuration of my server?
What kind of tests does qualy scan applies, that could bring it down?


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Mounting & Cutting Tools
Everything you need to cut mountboard and present your prints at their best!
Choose from our high quality selection of paper trimming tools and creative devices for mount cutting intricate shapes and styles covering all popular sizes.
The products are sourced from two of the World's long renowned specialist manufacturers, Rotatrim & Longridge. The solid construction, well thought out design and long product life, make these tools a well worthwhile investment!
Longridge MountCutters
British Design - British Engineering -British ManufactureLongridge Mountcutters are synonomous...
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Rotatrim have always applied the most exacting engineering standards to the design and...
Paper Creaser
This manually operated desktop creasing solution allows you to easily produce personalised...


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New Channel Update
Posted by Amy Pirozok on Friday, 8 June 2018
For those of you eager to watch your Christian television free over the air, it probably feels like it is taking forever!
Please keep praying as we are still working toward this goal! We have had the engineers putting together the antennae, and we were recently notified that our other equipment is finally packed and ready to ship so we should be receiving it soon! Eric has been working with three separate vendors to coordinate them to all work together to get the new equipment delivered and installed. This has been quite the process! Please pray with us that the new equipment can be installed in a timely manner. The sooner all of this is done, the sooner RLB will be back on the air in the Tri-Cities and then in Walla Walla!


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A short time ago a friend of mine asked me for some help with some of her cone 1 glazes. Having always dealt with only high fire and atmospheric glazes in the past I was a bit stumped at where to begin with cone 1 glazing. I did a little research and asked around quite a bit to see what my peers knew of glaze behavior at this temperature and found that a huge gap in the information available on the subject. Now my interest and curiosity had been piqued. This is the second step in my research to develop a body of cone 1 glazes and slips. The first was to set up material melt tests which then led me to these triaxil blends.
There are so many things that are different in these cone 1 oxidation glazes than in the cone 9-1o soda fired glazes that I have been using for the last few years. There is a substantial shift in the roles of materials in these glazes and I have found, as I am sure many others have, that the choice of clay body seems to have so much more of an effect on the end product than in the higher fired clays. Dealing with clays that are fritted or have high talc contents can change a glaze so much. Also when dealing with a terracotta which even when finished is not vitrified and will then swell when exposed to water thus cracking the glaze has frustrated me even before I began testing. Even now as I look forward to the next step of finding colorants for these glazes I am astonished at how the approach to colorants is different. The notion of being able to pull your color from a selected palate via mason stains direct from the bag is foreign to me still.
While this research is not intended as a shift in my body of work I can see it opening new doors for me in regards to access to more limited facilities than I have now. During graduate school I had always talked about developing a body of low-fire work in case I ended up soda kiln-less. But I think that many more people are considering the cone 1-3 range lately. Why have they not gone for cone 04 or cone 6? Is there something visually different that happens at cone 1 than at the other standard temperatures or is it just that they are doing something different which can then be marketed under that different label? Is there interest in going to a lower temperature for to minimize firing cost and is that balanced out by the higher costs of fritts and mason stains? I have found that the firings are much easier time wise and physically but having started off doing my undergrad in wood fire and now in soda I am not sure that if I don't labor hard for it that it will taste as sweet for me. Anyhow, I shall continue down this road and see what I have to discover.
I may potentially share recipes as my research develops. So if you are interested in what I am doing then stay with me for a while longer.


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Successfully closing on a home in Cape Coral requires more than looking at the property, creating a contract and showing up at the title company to exchange funds and sign paperwork.
The 5 steps to a successful closing
- Mortgage pre-approval – before looking at any home with your agent the first step is getting a pre-approval letter. Why this first? The market is moving quickly. It takes several days to gather documentation the lender needs to issue this important letter in order to move forward. As a buyer, having your pre-approval letter means you know how much you can afford and roughly how much a payment will be based on your approval amount. As a homeowner, having a pre-approved buyer through your home shows motivation and commitment to the process, not to mention a higher likelihood of the buyer actually obtaining financing.
- The hunt – Now that you have your pre-approval letter in hand, set up an appointment with your agent to view homes that meet your criteria. If you are obtaining FHA or VA financing there are certain minimum conditions the home must meet in order to finance. Your agent should discuss these things with you in detail in order to avoid wasting time and money on inspections if at all possible.
- Formal loan application – Once you have found "the one" and a contract is in place, your lender will meet with you to make your formal loan application. At this appointment interest rates and rate lock agreements will be discussed.
- Underwriting – Your formal loan application has been completed and submitted to processing for underwriting review. The processor will order your appraisal, verify employment, work with the title company and request tax transcripts from the IRS. Over the course of the next one to two weeks additional documentation may be requested as needed. The processor also ensures all of these items are submitted to the underwriter for review to obtain your clear to close.
- Closing – Congratulations! You have received clear to close! The underwriter has now released your file to the closing department to prepare your closing documents that will be sent to the title company. As soon as the title company receives the closing package they will work on calculating the final figures on the settlement statement for both buyer and seller. The settlement statement will be submitted to the lender for approval. After lender approval a copy will be sent to the real estate representatives for their approval and finally to both buyer and seller to review. A time and day for closing will also be set at this time.
You made it!! Hopefully your experience was a smooth and uneventful process from start to finish. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like clarification about the process.
© Danielle Sharp | Sharp Homes Realty | firstname.lastname@example.com | 5 Steps To A Successful Closing


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via CullmanSense:
Senior Night for High School student Elizabeth Randau and her sister, 7th grader Lilly, will be one the two girls will not soon forget. The girls' dad, Sgt. Major John Randau, made a surprise appearance while Elizabeth was standing center field with her mother.
"It's great, just great," exclaimed Elizabeth just moments after embracing her dad.
Sgt. Major Randu has been deployed to Afghanistan with the 115th ESB Alabama Army National Guard, stationed out of Florence, Alabama for the last year, leaving behind his four children, Elizabeth, 17, Lilly, 13, Reagan, 8, and Alex, 18, in the care of his family and friends.
"It is good to be home," said Sgt. Major Randau while hugging his two girls.


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This week on Cabeza de Vaca and Scanner FM we preview a mix of Spanish and international artists/labels who all purvey their own distinct take on the dub techno sound. We range from the deep atmospheres of Exium from Asturias and Refracted's forest gloom to the heavy industrial malaise of the mysterious Subjected and the moody dubstep of Berlin's Freund der Familie.
Please follow and like us:


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Posted by Samantha Horn on 12 July 2010 07:49 PM
Dear customer:
We have to inform you that in order to provide you better payment experience, Alipay will be performing maintenance during July 15th 23:30 to July 16th 05:30 Beijing time. During the maintenance, all Alipay services will shut down. Therefore, you are not able to purchase our products or service via Alipay.
Mainly customers from China will be affected as you will not able to buy our products or service with Alipay. However, you can always sign up with Hostease by other payment methods, Paypal,Moneybookers and 2CO(2CheckOut). We are sorry for the inconvenience. Alipay will be available to you after they complete the maintenance.
Sorry for the inconvenience and we expect for your continuous support!
HostEase Technical Department
July 12th, 2010
Comments (0)


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New Delhi, August 14: The government is preparing a bill which would accord IIMs the status of institutes of national importance, parliament was told Wednesday.
"The central government is in the process of preparing a bill under which the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) may be accorded the status of institutes of national importance," Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
She added that consultations on the subject had been done with the IIMs. "Based upon inputs received from various stakeholders, a first draft of the bill has been prepared," she said adding that the bill may be introduced as soon as it is finalised and approved by the union cabinet.
An institute of national importance is one which serves as a pivotal player in developing highly skilled personnel within the specified region of the country/state.


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With a dull flambeau, we now descended some narrow stone steps, to view Oh-Oh's collection of ancient and curious manuscripts, preserved in a vault.
"This way, this way, my masters," cried Oh-Oh, aloft, swinging his dim torch. "Keep your hands before you; it's a dark road to travel."
"So it seems," said Babbalanja, wide-groping, as he descended lower and lower. "My lord this is like going down to posterity."
Upon gaining the vault, forth flew a score or two of bats, extinguishing the flambeau, and leaving us in darkness, like Belzoni deserted by his Arabs in the heart of a pyramid. The torch at last relumed, we entered a tomb-like excavation, at every step raising clouds of dust; and at last stood before long rows of musty, mummyish parcels, so dingy-red, and so rolled upon sticks, that they looked like stiff sausages of Bologna; but smelt like some fine old Stilton or Cheshire.
Most ancient of all, was a hieroglyphical Elegy on the Dumps, consisting of one thousand and one lines; the characters,—herons, weeping-willows, and ravens, supposed to have been traced by a quill from the sea-noddy.
Then there were plenty of rare old ballads:—
"King Kroko, and the Fisher Girl."
"The Fight at the Ford of Spears."
"The Song of the Skulls."
And brave old chronicles, that made Mohi's mouth water:—
"The Rise and Setting of the Dynasty of Foofoo."
"The Heroic History of the Noble Prince Dragoni; showing
how he killed ten Pinioned Prisoners with his Own Hand."
"The whole Pedigree of the King of Kandidee, with that of his
famous horse, Znorto."
And Tarantula books:—
"Sour Milk for the Young, by a Dairyman."
"The Devil adrift, by a Corsair."
"Grunts and Groans, by a Mad Boar."
"Stings, by a Scorpion."
And poetical productions:—
"Suffusions of a Lily in a Shower."
"Sonnet on the last Breath of an Ephemera."
"The Gad-fly, and Other Poems."
And metaphysical treatises:—
"Necessitarian not Predestinarian."
"Philosophical Necessity and Predestination One Thing and The
"Whatever is not, is."
"Whatever is, is not."
And scarce old memoirs:—
"The One Hundred Books of the Biography of the Great and
Good King Grandissimo."
"The Life of old Philo, the Philanthropist, in one Chapter."
And popular literature:—
"A most Sweet, Pleasant, and Unctuous Account of the Manner
in which Five-and-Forty Robbers were torn asunder by
Swiftly-Going Canoes."
And books by chiefs and nobles:—
"The Art of Making a Noise in Mardi."
"On the Proper Manner of Saluting a Bosom Friend."
"Letters from a Father to a Son, inculcating the Virtue of Vice."
"Pastorals by a Younger Son."
"A Catalogue of Chieftains who have been Authors, by a Chieftain,
who disdains to be deemed an Author."
"A Canto on a Cough caught by my Consort."
"The Philosophy of Honesty, by a late Lord, who died in disgrace."
And theological works:—
"Pepper for the Perverse."
"Pudding for the Pious."
"Pleas for Pardon."
"Pickles for the Persecuted."
And long and tedious romances with short and easy titles:—
"The Buck."
"The Belle."
"The King and the Cook, or the Cook and the King."
And books of voyages:—
"A Sojourn among the Anthropophagi, by One whose Hand was
eaten off at Tiffin among the Savages."
"Franko: its King, Court, and Tadpoles."
"Three Hours in Vivenza, containing a Full and Impartial Account
of that Whole Country: by a Subject of King Bello."
And works of nautical poets:—
"Sky-Sail-Pole Lyrics."
And divers brief books, with panic-striking titles:—
"Are you safe?"
"A Voice from Below."
"Hope for none."
"Fire for all."
And pamphlets by retired warriors:—
"On the Best Gravy for Wild Boar's Meat."
"Three Receipts for Bottling New Arrack."
"To Brown Bread Fruit without Burning."
"Advice to the Dyspeptic."
"On Starch for Tappa."
All these MSS. were highly prized by Oh-Oh. He averred, that they spoke of the mighty past, which he reverenced more than the paltry present, the dross and sediment of what had been.
Peering into a dark crypt, Babbalanja drew forth a few crumbling, illegible, black-letter sheets of his favorite old essayist, brave Bardianna. They seemed to have formed parts of a work, whose title only remained—"Thoughts, by a Thinker."
Silently Babbalanja pressed them to his heart. Then at arm's length held them, and said, "And is all this wisdom lost? Can not the divine cunning in thee, Bardianna, transmute to brightness these sullied pages? Here, perhaps, thou didst dive into the deeps of things, treating of the normal forms of matter and of mind; how the particles of solids were first molded in the interstices of fluids; how the thoughts of men are each a soul, as the lung-cells are each a lung; how that death is but a mode of life; while mid-most is the Pharzi.— But all is faded. Yea, here the Thinker's thoughts lie cheek by jowl with phrasemen's words. Oh Bardianna! these pages were offspring of thee, thought of thy thought, soul of thy soul. Instinct with mind, they once spoke out like living voices; now, they're dust; and would not prick a fool to action. Whence then is this? If the fogs of some few years can make soul linked to matter naught; how can the unhoused spirit hope to live when mildewed with the damps of death."
Piously he folded the shreds of manuscript together, kissed them, and laid them down.
Then approaching Oh-Oh, he besought him for one leaf, one shred of those most precious pages, in memory of Bardianna, and for the love of him.
But learning who he was, one of that old Ponderer's commentators, Oh-Oh tottered toward the manuscripts; with trembling fingers told them over, one by one, and said-"Thank Oro! all are here.—Philosopher, ask me for my limbs, my life, my heart, but ask me not for these. Steeped in wax, these shall be my cerements."
All in vain; Oh-Oh was an antiquary.
Turning in despair, Babbalanja spied a heap of worm-eaten parchment covers, and many clippings and parings. And whereas the rolls of manuscripts did smell like unto old cheese; so these relics did marvelously resemble the rinds of the same.
Turning over this pile, Babbalanja lighted upon something that restored his good humor. Long he looked it over delighted; but bethinking him, that he must have dragged to day some lost work of the collection, and much desirous of possessing it, he made bold again to ply Oh-Oh; offering a tempting price for his discovery.
Glancing at the title—"A Happy Life"-the old man cried—"Oh, rubbish! rubbish! take it for nothing." And Babbalanja placed it in his vestment.
The catacombs surveyed, and day-light gained, we inquired the way to Ji-Ji's, also a collector, but of another sort; one miserly in the matter of teeth, the money of Mardi.
At the mention of his name, Oh-Oh flew out into scornful philippics upon the insanity of that old dotard, who hoarded up teeth, as if teeth were of any use, but to purchase rarities. Nevertheless, he pointed out our path; following which, we crossed a meadow.
Return to the Mardi: and a Voyage Thither Summary Return to the Herman Melville Library