text:
Having problems with your Nikon Coolpix 3200 Digital Camera ?
I dropped my camera into the toilet. It was in the case so it was not soaked but it did take in some water. What do i need to do to be sure that it is thoroughly dried out?
Answers :
Above all...DO NOT TURN IT ON!!! Remove the card and battery and try to dry those compartments as best you can. Bury the camera in a bowl of dry rice for a week, turning it occasionally. Then, with your fingers crossed, you can try it.\012
Repair Help & Product Troubleshooting for Nikon Coolpix 3200 Digital Camera
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I dropped my camera into the toilet. It was in the case so it was not soaked but it did take in some water. What do i need to do to be sure that it is thoroughly dried out?
Above all...DO NOT TURN IT ON!!! Remove the card and battery and try to dry those compartments as best you can. Bury the camera in a bowl of dry rice for a week, turning it occasionally. Then, with your fingers crossed, you can try it.\012\012 ... Nikon Coolpix 3200 Digital Camera
Need to take photos outside but it is overcast. I need to make sure the details of the subject is absolutely clear. What would be the best setting? I have an OptiE10 6MP. It takes great pictures outside in the sun but this is new ground for me.
Taking pictures with maximum level of details while it is overcast weather is much easier than in sunny weather, where you need to look for so-called "open shadow" to limit overexposure.\015\012\015\012Depending on your taste, the best possible ... Pentax Optio 30 Digital Camera
When i take a picture it works fine..but then i try and take another picture and it appears the whole functions of the camera is locked up..cant do anything..however the screen still shows a image.. to take another picture i need to turn off and turn on the camera again and then it will only allow me to take one picture then i have to turn it off and on again.. please help with this problem...im sure its something simple but it is very frustrating thank you
Firstable go on to your camera settings try looking around for the problem if this does not work get it repaired hope you have warrenty if you don't itll be a little expensive so goodluck:) and please rate this solution...\015\012But if this do ... Digital Cameras
I've had this camera for over a year, an lately when i take into the water the screen will turn black, it will turn on and take one or two pictures but i cannot see them. Today however it did that, but after letting it dry off, i tried to turn in on, it just sounded like it was turning on, then beeped a few times, The door is open, and it turns off. If i take the battery out it still beeps, Not sure what is going on here, Can anyone help? thanks
Are you taking it more than 10 feet underwater? It is only waterproof up to 10 feet underwater. It is also possible that there is a crack or hole somewhere in the case; a hairline crack could leak water in there. Let it sit a day without the battery ... Olympus Stylus 850SW Digital Camera
Can I take semi full memory stick out, replace with a new one, & deal with saving & printing those pic's later? I am not sure what I am doing & going on vacation & need to beable to take more pic's??
Hello,Absolutely! That is the wonderful thing about digital cameras. You can buy as many memory cards as you like and if one gets full, put in a new one. Usually when you buy a new memory card it comes in a plastic lock casing. These are great ... Akai Digital Cameras
I dropped my camera in water, the lense got moisture in it but was working right away. I had opened the inside of the camera to make sure nothing got wet. I set it out to dry. The lense is dry of moisture but the buttons wont work and the camera wants me to input the date. But, since the buttons won't work I can't, and now I can't take picutres.
Get a new camera - you will have other problem besides the obvious ones. Liquid will produce corrosive material after it drys and remain in the camera and will be difficult to remove later. ... Fuji FinePix F20 Digital Camera
I have a vivitar telephoto lens for the camera, but not sure how to mount the lens. If I take the outer ring off, I dont know if the lens that came with the camera is suppose to also unscrew, or if there are other actions I need to take to use the new telephoto lens
None of these Canon Powershot cameras have a lens which will remove. The ring is only for a special kind of add on lens for either wide angle or telephoto, which will only fit this camera or possibly a few other models.Never try to ... Canon PowerShot A540 Digital Camera
I have a Panasonic Lumix digital camera model DMC-TZ3. It fell into a toilet 8 months ago. I know gross. Fell when the water was still clean.Camera seemed dead. Found it in my garage the other day and stuck the battery in it and it came to life and takes pictures. Problem is that the inside of the lens needs to be cleaned as the water dried inside and left it smudged. Camera shop wants $161.00 to clean it. A new camera of this model is on Amazon for same price. How do I get inside the len
For reparing estimates cost of camerahttp://www.advancecamera.com/repairthe link will help you to ... Digital Cameras
Is there a owners manual online for the fuji finepix f20? i'm trying to figure out how to set the resolution and find out how many pics my camera will hold at different resolutions and how to use the 512 mb memory card if needed; i'm taking a cruise vacation and want to make sure i have enough memory card and/or camera space for lots of pictures; how many will it hold?
Http://www.fujifilm.co.uk/media/dContent/385/productFilesManualsFile.pdfthis is the manual u r looking for... ... Fuji FinePix F20 Digital Camera
Need help troubleshooting problem with my daughter's new NIKON Coolpix S3000 dig. camera. She purchased this brand new 3 weeks ago and took on her study abroad trip...currently in Brazil, the camera has this problem: "i turned it on to use it today and the screen just has lines through it like black, white, yellow colors and you can't see what you're taking a picture off. not sure what it's from but if they have any hints that would be helpful." She is devastated right now as this device is he
Let's see...Brazil...heat...humidity...probably affected the sensor. The camera needs either service or replacement. Some cameras cannot handle the heat and humidity. ... Nikon Coolpix S3000 Digital Camera
Batteries need replaced constantly. I am using 2 AA alkaline as instructed. As soon as I put them in it says batteries are low and shuts off. This is happening with all brands of new batteries. What's the problem? Occasionally I may get to take 1 or 2 pictures before this happens, usually none. Seems to be a prevalent problem with this particular camera. This is my 2nd Canon and I'm pretty sure there won't be a third. Canon should recall these cameras and either fix them or give a reduction on a
Canon actually has recalled some serial numbers for your model camera for the problem that you're experiencing. Some of The Canon Powershot A530 and A540 cameras are subject to an advisory recall. Seems that a small spring on the battery compartment ... Canon PowerShot A540 Digital Camera
My Cannon Powershot A1000 IS does not review pictures, zoom in, or register that I try to change the menu settings (or the flash, macro, ISO, or display setttings). My husband was taking video near the ocean and some of the water got onto the camera. There was only a little on the surface - just enough to warrant needing to be dried off with a towel. What can I do to get the camera working properly again?
ISO buttons or zoom on power shot A1000 IS image stabilizer camera just stop working Help!!! ... Canon Powershot A1000IS 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
LCD display on my Nikon Coolpix S51c is broken. The camera still takes pictures and I am able to download pictures from the camera, so I'm 99.999% sure all I need is the LCD replaced.
Talked to someone that doesn't charge $14.95. ... Nikon Digital Cameras
I need to make sure date and time shows up on each picture i take and upload to the computer, is there a setting on the camera or do I do that when I upload them?
The date and time (and a lot more) are stored with every picture in its EXIF metadata. Any photo viewing/editing program should be able to display this data. To print this data, please consult the documentation for whatever program you're using to pr ... Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital Camera
When turned on lense would only retract partially and then turn off. took it apart. I have it to where the camera will now go on, am able to take a photo (all normal) except I cannot get the lense to "attach" to the camera properly. Cylindrical lense. three screws protruding from it. not sure if the lense mounts on a black ring on the front or under the ring. The "in out" mechanism works but it will not grab the lense (cover?) to move out then retract. Seems to need to attach under the ring but
Good day,This is a common problem and sometimes can be fixed.Please see details on my tip on how to fix this error here:http://www.fixya.com ... HP Photosmart M415 Digital Camera
I take a few shots and get the Error message 30 on my 50D- Always need to shut it off and then back on. Since I did soe net surfing, and since the camera makes a clear noise whn it goes into error mode, I am thinking it is surely a shutter problem. Anyone there confirm that it is a shutter problem? Note I was using a Sigma Lens at the time, so the little boys at my local shop are saying it is "not" the camera...of course it is still in warranty. I am looking for any HELP or ADVICE! Tony C
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Camera shuts off almost immediately after I turn it on. I might get one picture taken and then it just shuts down. Sometimes I need to turn it off and on a couple of times just to be able to take a picture. I have 2 batteries and have charged both of them fully to make sure it wasn't a battery problem.
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Pictures When I take pictures and delete the picture from my camera and my SD Card. the camera says the memory disc is full. This started a few weeks ago and I have been trying to figure out what is wrong. What can I do to make sure the pictures is deleted and I can use the camera and it will go to the SD card and delete when needed.
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I have an Olympus U850SW camera which I purchased on board a Thompson cruise ship in the Medditeranian in April 2008 The battery is a rechargeable type but I am having difficulty recharging The camera will not switch on I am not sure if the battery may be fully charged and the camera is faulty or the battery is not being charged and therefore the camera is not getting the power it needs I seek your advice. Is there somewhere local I can take it to for an opinion I look forward toyour advic
The camera was repaired by Olympus under warranty and is now operating OK\015\012Thank you for your interest\015\012Sam Wilkinson ... Digital Cameras
While taking pictures this weekend my wife got a memory card needs formtting message. If you format the memory card you lose all the pics. Not sure what to do...
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The lens on my camera will not close, when i cut it off, but I still here a noise like its trying to close is there a away to fix it without taking it to a shop and the thing it will do; is take videos and it won't take stills, plus it won't download with the USB cord, whats wrong, I just took it out the package. And by the way I'm in school and I need it for my graphic design class, without it I will fell the class and I need this class to stay in school I'm on academic probation and if I fell
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Blurry Images i have recently purchased an Olympus C-700 Ultra Zoom, and i love it...but i need some help. when i'm taking pictures outside, at night, like...let's say at the moon, it's blurry. and when i take pictures, like at a concert, where flash is not allowed, it's also blurry. is there something i can do to change the shutter speed to where it will take crisper, cleaner pictures, or what needs to be done??? also, i just ordered a telephoto lens and a wide angle lens. what are these goo
If there's not enough light your camera can't invent any. Well, normally it can, which is what a flash does, but as you've said, no flash allowed.\015\012\015\012Your photos are blury because you're not mounting the camera on a tripod or you are usin ... Olympus Camedia C-700 Ultra Zoom Digital Camera
I need help setting my Canon EOS Rebel XSi. I was taking photos of my son's soccer game last evening and most of them came out blurry. What setting/s should I set my camera on to get great night shots of his soccer game? Help - as I need to take more pics for tomorows game! Thanks, Tammy
First of all, don't use the flash...it's only good for a short distance. Obviously, you need a fast shutter speed to stop the action. To get this to happen while in auto mode, you will need to set the ISO to a higher number such as 800 or 1600. You w ... Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS / 1000D IS Digital Camera


text:
From Hiroshima to Fukushima: Bargaining with the Devil
by H Patricia Hynes
Submitted to portside by the author
on July 30, 2012
The saturation firebombing of German and Japanese
cities during World War II seasoned the US government
for dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
After the first blast on August 6, 1945, which killed
100,000 residents of Hiroshima immediately, the
grievous radiation sickness of Japanese survivors was
not anticipated, nor was it believed when reported.
Without any reconsideration, a second bomb - this one
plutonium - was dropped on Nagasaki three days later,
killing 70,000 people outright. The American military
censored all documentation and photo images of the two
bombs' unparalleled human devastation,[1] sheltering
Americans from the horrors of what our government
perpetrated on mainly Japanese civilians: women, men,
and children instantly reduced to ashes. Likewise, the
post-war US occupying authority forbade Japanese
citizens, under penalty of law, to own pictures of the
atomic bomb destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
American military leaders from all branches of the
armed forces, among them Generals Eisenhower, Arnold,
Marshall and MacArthur; and Admirals Leahy, Nimitz, and
Halsey strongly dissented from the decision to use the
bombs - some prior to August 1945, some in retrospect -
for the following military and moral reasons. Japan was
already defeated and in peace negotiations with Russia;
surrender was imminent. Moreover, Russia was willing
to enter the war against Japan, if necessary. Bombing
dense human settlements was barbarous, immoral and
would shock world opinion; and a demonstration bombing
away from residential areas (also suggested by some
atomic bomb scientists) could be used instead to force
immediate surrender. The top military commanders
concurred that the decision to use the atomic bomb was
political, not military.[2]
Dropping the atomic bombs in World War II launched an
arms race in nuclear weapons, now spread to nine
countries, with the ever-present specter of their use.
In the May 2012 Vienna meeting on the Non-Proliferation
Treaty, the nuclear-armed countries explicitly stated
their intention to maintain a nuclear arsenal for
security. The same month, NATO countries convening in
Chicago pronounced, "Nuclear weapons are...essential...for
defense and dissuasion."
Of all post-war presidents and leaders of any country,
Eisenhower - who as Supreme Commander of the Allied
Forces in Europe was repulsed by the atomic bombs
dropped on Japan - fast-tracked building the world's
largest arsenal of nuclear weapons and recklessly
threatened their use when conflicts arose in Korea, the
Suez, and elsewhere. In 1960 he approved a plan for a
simultaneous Sino-Soviet strike in the event of war,
with a projected death toll of 600 million. By the
early 1960s, authorizations he had set in place filled
the US arsenal with more than 30,000 nuclear weapons,
the equivalent of nearly 1.5 million Hiroshima bombs.
To divert the attention of a world terrified by our
arms race with the Soviets and to dispel the resultant
taboo around nuclear weapons, Eisenhower's
administration devised the "Atoms for Peace" program.
Nuclear power was fraudulently marketed as the
peaceful, beneficent, safe and clean counterpart of
nuclear weapons, even though it was well-known in
government that
uranium mined for nuclear power reactors and the
reactors' spent fuel could be re-processed to make
nuclear bombs. This bargain with the devil has led us
to Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima; an
estimated 150 significant radiation leaks at nuclear
power plants across the world even before Chernobyl;
and the current threat of war with Iran.
The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant explosion in
March 2011 was caused by a trifecta of risk inherent in
every nuclear power plant: unplanned for natural
disaster, defective technical design, and failed
industry and government oversight. Fukushima opened a
Pandora's box of ills and risks for the country of
Japan and the world. Radioactive iodine, cesium and
plutonium were carried by air masses across the entire
Northern Hemisphere. And the worst may yet happen.
Extremely radioactive spent fuel rods at Fukushima are
now exposed to the outside environment. According to a
recent geological study, another similarly strong
earthquake could strike the area again in a reactivated
fault nearer to Fukushima and cause the meltdown of the
exposed fuel rods, releasing immense amounts of
radioactive contaminants across the Northern
H Patricia Hynes is a retired Professor of
Environmental Health from Boston University School of
Public Health and author and editor of 7 books. She
chairs the board of the Traprock Center for Peace and
[1] A History of Bombing. Peter Wyden. 1984. Day One:
Before Hiroshima and After. New York: Simon and
[2]Gar Alperovitz. 1995. The Decision to Use the Atomic
Bomb and the Architecture of an American Myth. New
York: Knopf.
Portside aims to provide material of interest to people
on the left that will help them to interpret the world
and to change it.
Submit via email: [log in to unmask]
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subset: commoncrawl


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'Course, this show stands lower in priority than The Expanse and Game of Thrones.
'Course, this show stands lower in priority than The Expanse and Game of Thrones.
Danger 5 is fucking great. It's on Netflix. You should watch it. Have no expectations.
Rating: A-
ASV Villainy Rating: WF for We're Fucked
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a man of many talents, and he demonstrated them exceedingly well in Don Jon (2013) as director, writer, and actor. It's a hat trick I was initially wary of regardless of my admiration for his work in both 50/50 (2011) and Inception (2010)–not from any doubts in what the man can do, but from this movie's subject matter.
Don Jon is a 90-minute film that definitely earns its R rating from the get-go. Lots of cussing, lots of pornography. No, not X-rated, people, (whoa there slow down) but the viewer cannot doubt what's going on if they've eyes and ears. The story focuses on a young man named Jon, who's famed among his friends as "the Don," for his ability to seduce the sexiest girls every night. And yet his activities cannot touch the feelings he receives from porn.
Well, enter Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), a voluptuous New Jersey vixen (and damn, hearing that accent from both actors was so odd), who snares Jon's senses and demands that he gives up his internet fixations. See? On the surface, the movie sounds none too special, and prone to cliches. Fortunately, Gordon-Levitt excels at pulling you in with witty charm, snap-fast story-telling, and genuine emotion. He explores addiction and that pesky human tendency to deny its existence to our own detriment.
Don't worry, though. All this sounds like a basis for heavy drama, but Don Jon is told with so many quick cuts and satirical musical stereotypes that you can't help but be entertained.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Nintendo and Netflix are collaborating on a potential live-action Legend of Zelda TV series. It's basically just a rumor at this point, but my two cents? Excuuuuuuse me, Princess, but this has got to happen!
[UPDATE] Turns out, this was just a rumor. Apparently Netflix and Nintendo are NOT working on a Legend of Zelda series . . . or are they?
Satoru Iwata, President of Nintendo, told Time magazine that "As of now, I have nothing new to share with you in regard to the use of our IPs for any TV shows or films, but I can at least confirm that the article in question is not based on correct information." [Source: GameSpot]
Not an admission, but definitely not a denial either. Only time will tell!
Today, I am embarking on a journey of indeterminable length. A journey of great good average importance to my overall television and movie consumption. I dub it "Alphabet Cinema."
What is it? A dual attempt at expanding my TV/movie viewing pool and catching up on recommended shows, a.k.a. a semi-ambitious project for my days off a.k.a. becoming more eccentric than I already am a.k.a. I needed a hobby and a goal; this is it.
I will NOT fail you, ASV-ers.
I expected a somber documentary-style film about a contemplative cellist-turned-mortician, a cerebral movie intended to question and disturb. When the very first scene elicited a burst of surprised laughter, I knew I was screwed. The next 125 minutes were going to impact me more than I had prepared.
Such was the skill of director Youjirou Takita (When the Last Sword Is Drawn) in provoking and guiding one's emotions in the 2009 Academy Award-winning Japanese film Departures, originally titled Okuribito. Takita, along with an A+ cast, take the viewer into one of Japan's taboo professions: a nokanshi, which translates into an embalmer of sorts, or an "encoffiner," not a mortician (a.k.a. funeral director), as I had previously believed. Continue reading Departures Review: Your Last Ceremony
I'll just, uh . . . I'll just put this here . . .
Looks like Netflix finally came to its senses and added more episodes of Pokemon: Indigo League, and Digimon: Digital Monsters. I'm positively electrified (ha!) by the news. That's right, you can now relive your childhood by wasting away countless hours watching two
of the best shows ever made of the best shows ever made (not a mistake). Nostalgia, you are one sexy beast.


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Looking to up your bloody mary game? This 5 Pepper Bloody Mary with Grilled Jalapeño Shrimp is a weekend brunching thrill!
It's this time of year when I especially like to make bloody marys. School is out and our schedule is more relaxed. We have those beautiful Minnesota weekend mornings to sit outside on the back deck, soaking in that precious sun that left us longing all winter long.
And it's this time of year when I usually have a fresh batch of homemade pickled peppered asparagus on hand, waiting for its moment of glory in a loaded bloody mary.
I've recently been working on upping my bloody mary game and am super thrilled to share with you my 5 Pepper Bloody Mary with Grilled Jalapeño Shrimp. It is AWESOME good!
* This is a sponsored post, created in partnership with Master of Mixes®.
A really great bloody mary is loaded with all good thinks pickled and peppered.
And grilled?!
Oh, yes. Grilled.
I marinated a dozen jumbo-size shrimp in a fresh jalapeño mixture and then threw them on the hot grill for this 5 pepper bloody mary with grilled jalapeño shrimp. The little bit of brown sugar in the marinade helps to caramelize the shrimp's exterior, giving wonderful flavor and beautiful char marks.
I wouldn't blame you one bit if you doubled the grilled jalapeño shrimp portion of this recipe, just so you could sit and nosh on shrimp. Actually, I highly recommend it. It's what I do.
I find the process for preparing the garnishes and bloody mary rim salt to be both creative and fun. I'm looking for color and flavor and texture, and there is an endless variety of options out there.
And when it comes to the bloody mary mix itself, you simply cannot go wrong with any of the bloody mary mixes from Master of Mixes. Created by three-time James Beard Award nominee Chef Anthony Lamas, each of these chef-inspired mixes delivers a little something different:
I personally prefer a little kick with my bloody mary and knew that the 5 Pepper Bloody Mary Mixer was the one for me. It's loaded with tongue-tingling pepper warmth. LOVE.
If you're looking for more cocktail inspiration using these bloody mary mixes, MixologyPro.com is a great resource —> just type "bloody mary" in the search bar on the lefthand side, and you'll be greeted by a nice assortment of bloody mary drink recipes.
Happy Weekend Brunching!
Yield: enough shrimp for 6 drinks
Prep Time:15 minutes + 2 hours to marinate
Cook Time:6 minutes
Calories per serving: 120
Place shrimp in a wide shallow bowl and set aside.
In a small bowl with high sides, combine all ingredients from olive oil through black pepper. Using an immersion blender, completely process until there are no sizable pieces. Or use a food processor or blender. Pour marinade over shrimp and gently stir to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.
Heat grill to medium-high. Make sure grates are clean, and then oil them well. Set shrimp on hot grates and grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or just until shrimp are no longer opaque and have some nice char. Remove from grill.
Run the cut edge of a fresh lemon wedge around the rim of your glass. Invert glass and dip rim into a small plate of prepared bloody mary rim salt. Turn glass upright and add 5 Pepper Bloody Mary Mixer and vodka. Give a little stir. Carefully add ice cubes to nearly fill glass. Top with freshly ground black pepper. Hook a couple of the grilled jalapeño shrimp on the side of the glass. Then garnish with a stalk of fresh celery, pickled peppered asparagus, peppadews, and stuffed green olives. Or any of your own favorite garnishes. I like to use little bamboo skewers to thread on garnishes.
from a farmgirl's dabbles©
For more than 40 years, Master of Mixes has hand-crafted authentic cocktail mixes that allow you to enjoy beautiful, quality cocktails at home. By staffing a full-time Food Scientist, who travels to 15 countries and more than 20 fruit farms every year, they are able to ensure the very best products.
This post was created in partnership with Master of Mixes. All text and opinions are mine. Thank you for supporting the brands that help make this site possible.


text:
Jan 30, 2017
'The Learning Curve Podcast - THE
Podcast for Women Entrepreneurs in the Middle East.
Meet Assia Riccio - Smith, the founder of Evolvin' Women. A platform designed to help the women of the hospitality industry connect, grow, learn and excel. A platform where knowledge experts can help the women of the hospitality industy evolve. Assia recognized that as women in the hospitality industry climbed the ladder there was less and less of them. She recognized there was a gap and a disconnect between women in senior hospitality positions and those in junior positions so she decided to create a space where there could be a space to exchange learning, insight, experiences and advice.
Assia has this awesome quote which says 'if you are not sitting at the table then you will be on the menu'. Its a phrase that can reflect anyone in any industry. She's basically saying if you are not present, focused and engaged in your company's business goals then you could miss out not only in opportunities but in personal growth and connection.
Assia is a natural communicator and people person, I can totally see why she's found herself in the hospitality industry and nurturing people's talents and skills. Evolvin' Women is a reflection of that. She wants women to own their development by seeking out trainers, coaches, mentors and industry experts through her platform and give them the space to connect and own their futures. She wants women to embrace their talents and build on them. She wants women to recognize their failures, learn from the feedback and grow.
In this episode Assia takes us on her entrepreneurial journey from career hospitality girl to a woman driving a new initiative. She gives us insight into what she has learnt and how she plans to help women own their futures and their plans to grow within the hospitality industry.
Her bubbly personally shines through in this episode and it was a delight to share the space with a woman keen to put women firmly back at the table with the tools and techniques to help them evolve their careers. Thanks Assia.


text:
Bruce Campbell talks Burn Notice movie
Story by Jack Foley
THE third season of Burn Notice may just have come to an explosive finale on F/X in the UK, but news is emerging from the States of a fifth season and a one-off TV movie focusing on Bruce Campbell's Sam.
Entertainment Weekly has recently been chatting with Campbell about the movie, which will focus on Sam's last CIA mission in the mountains of Colombia.
The film will be directed by Burn Notice star Jeffrey Donovan and it will introduce viewers to the "more mature side of Sam" via an "emotion-heavy mission".
Says Campbell: "[Sam] sees some events go down that change the initial plan, and he takes matters into his own hands at great risk to himself and others with a small group of misfits to try to right a bad situation."
He added: "[People] should watch it because that's the only way they're going to get the whole [season 5] story. There is possibly a character and story elements that will linger forward — and not in a good way."
The Burn Notice movie will air in the US in the spring, ahead of the show's fifth season. But UK viewers will have to wait much longer, given that the show is now on hiatus following its third season.
To read more, follow this link or read our review of Burn Notice: Season 2


text:
Gaming - 2/2 - AZ Tech Beat
A friendly alien and a gravity diaper – Hot Salsa Interactive releases Zander's World game for kidsJuly 23, 2014 | Tishin Donkersley
While this isn't Area 51, there are aliens lurking around the desert-luckily I found one of them to be friendly. Hot Salsa Interactive, a perfect name for this Scottsdale-based gaming company, released today a continuation of their game Zander Your … Read More
UAT almnus teams up with Adult Swim Games to release video game Super CombomanJuly 8, 2014 | Carlene Reyes
Coming July 11, a new game from Interabang Entertainment will make you happy to pay your bills.
Co-founded by CEO and Creative Director Justin Woodward, an alumnus of Arizona's University of Advancing Technology, Super Comboman is taking video games back … Read More
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The Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen
The Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen recognizes that many people who want reduce their exposure to pesticides in produce cannot find or afford an all-organic diet. With the Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen, shopper's can decide which foods are best to buy organically.
Dirty Dozen - a list of produce that most likely contains pesticide residue and generally should be purchased organic when possible.
Key findings:
- 99 percent of apple samples, 98 percent of peaches, and 97 percent of nectarines tested positive for at least one pesticide residue.
- The average potato had more pesticides by weight than any other produce.
- A single grape sample and a sweet bell pepper sample contained 15 pesticides.
- Single samples of cherry tomatoes, nectarines, peaches, imported snap peas and strawberries showed 13 different pesticides apiece.
Clean Fifteen - a list of produce that is least likely to contain pesticide residue and don't necessarily need to be purchased organically.
Key findings:
- Avocados were the cleanest: only 1 percent of avocado samples showed any detectable pesticides.
- Some 89 percent of pineapples, 82 percent of kiwi, 80 percent of papayas, 88 percent of mango and 61 percent of cantaloupe had no residues.
- No single fruit sample from the Clean Fifteen™ tested positive for more than 4 types of pesticides.
- Multiple pesticide residues are extremely rare on Clean Fifteen™ vegetables. Only 5.5 percent of Clean Fifteen samples had two or more pesticides.
For more information and your very own copy of the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen visit : http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php
We at Omaha Spine and Sport hope you make wise food choices with a diet high in fruits and vegetables. We are here to answer any nutrition questions you may have as we recognize how important a healthy diet is to overall well-being.
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Google My Business 4+
Connect to your Customers
Google LLC
- #57 in Business
- Free
Every day, millions of people search on Google for businesses like yours. Make your Business Profile on Google stand out for free and turn those searches into your customers with the Google My Business app.
More than just a local listing:
- Make edits to your Business Profile on your phone and see those changes online on Google in real time.
- Easily add special hours, your website, and phone number to keep your Business Profile up-to-date.
Easily connect to customers on the move:
- Respond to reviews, message your customers and see your followers in the Customer Tab.
Share with customers what makes your business unique:
- Upload photos and add filters to attract customers who search and find your Business Profile.
- Post offers for your product or services, upcoming events and deals.
Get insights on your business:
- See insights on how customers find and engage with your Business Profile online on Google Search and Maps.
- Receive real-time notifications and updates to keep track of your customers on Google.
More features on Google My Business:
- Create a free, mobile-friendly website that works hard for you in the app.
What's New
Version 3.27.0
In our latest version, we have improved the reliability of business messaging.
Ratings and ReviewsSee All
- Provider
- Google LLC
- Size
- Category
- Business
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 11.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
- Languages
English, Afrikaans, Amharic, Arabic, Basque, Bengali, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Filipino, Finnish, French, Galician, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Kannada, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malay, Malayalam, Marathi, Norwegian, Norwegian Bokmål, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Simplified Chinese, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, Zulu
- Age Rating
- 4+
- Copyright
- © Google Inc.
- Price
- Free
Family Sharing
Up to six family members will be able to use this app with Family Sharing enabled.


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Adobe Sneak Peak: Content Aware Fill revision
Adobe has released a sneak preview of a new content aware fill workflow that will be released in a Photoshop CC update soon. A new interface allows users to choose where the content aware fill is sampled from. In addition, the fill can be added in a new layer, creating a non destructive option. Lastly, the film can be rotated, scaled or mirrored to suit a particulate image's needs.


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Sports, Turkey
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Newsletter published 50 times a year covering the business of sports and news of major companies in athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and retailers. Expert
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Online version of magazine serving the sporting goods industry. Also archive of previous issues.
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Sports Information Resource Centre (SIRC)
Producer of bibliographic databases of sport, fitness, and sports medicine information.
Specialises in a range of jobs within the football (soccer) industry, including coaching, catering, and matchday.
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Apple's iPad is ruling the tablet market worldwide. iPad Apps have provided a way to learn, play and work in a more powerful way. The latest iPad advancements have brought these apps to life like never before. And it is due to their big screen layouts that iPad apps are providing better user interaction.
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Instead of a mouse-click, your applications will now respond to multi-finger gesture.
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With our artwork applied to iPad app development, your apps get breath-taking visuals in form of pictures and videos.
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Today the Huffington Post carries a story by USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah describing a new approach to tackling – and solving – development: identify "game changers" through "grand challenges." What this means is, USAID is actively seeking out innovative scientific research and technological innovation that hold significant promise to reduce large-scale barriers to human well being around the world. By way of illustration, the authors lead with a celebration of microbicide trials. What they fail to point out is that in U.S., women's AIDS activists have been pushing for greater access to microbicides for years; politics has been the principle barrier to widespread access in the past, not technological shortcomings.
I fear the same dilemma will play out for many of the technological innovations that could help us make headway in other areas identified by the administration:
- How tosustainably provide electricity to rural and hard-to-reach communities in the developing world;
- How to make education available anytime, anywhere, for anyone;
- How to better manage and coordinate responses to humanitarian crises and conflicts;
- How to create resilience in staple grain crops to environmental change and variability; and
- How to provide high-quality, affordable, primary health care in rural communities.
So while the administration, and readers of the Huffington Post, will likely take it as a given that the public "goods" described and promoted through the "grand challenges" will be well served through ongoing innovation (what isn't?), much more daunting will be the necessary political will to ensure that research and deployment occurs within a lasting political framework for widespread adoption. To complicate the landscape further, the success of political action will turn on good amounts of social, cultural, and individual acceptability and behavior change – domains that have proven surprisingly selective in terms of technological uptake.
Research carried out by economists like Esther Duflo at MIT's Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is exciting in this regard. It has long been said that "economics" is as much about good guess work as it is about hard science. Working to understand the behavioral and environment conditions under which economic well-being does and does not flourish, Duflo and her colleagues are revolutionizing the field. For the "grand challenges" to work, it will be important to better understand the conditions under which "solutions" can be implemented successfully. Through the information collected over the years in fields such as health, finance, and agriculture J-PAL is developing an unparalleled – and often myth-busting – view of what works and what doesn't work when it comes to technological adoption.
A "disruptive" technology is hard to forecast; a "game changer" is even harder to discern. USAID's strategy to shift the global development needle toward positive outcomes for more people would be well-served to champion not just the technologies but the political and social barriers that will inevitably impede the widespread adoption necessary for success.


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Car Tech Autos has been providing quality auto repair and outstanding customer service throughout London and surrounding areas for commercial and private customers since 2003, specializing in German cars.
We are a complete service and repair facility, equipped with the most up-to-date, specialized tools and computerized diagnostic testing equipment needed to perform the most accurate repair and maintenance on your car.
The company aims to supply professional service to both businesses and individuals and takes pride in its fully equipped workshops (with reception areas) and highly trained qualified staff that ensures cost effective vehicle repair with minimum downtime.


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The fresh water tank (the only tank in the COMET – no grey or black water tanks) lives underneath the rear couch/bed. Originally it was under the dinette bench on the port side, but that meant that there was about 15 feet of tubing wrapping around the entire trailer to get from the tank to the faucet on the other side. We moved it to underneath the rear bench to be closer to the faucet. The fresh water tank is 15 gallons and I refill it about every 3-4 days. You don't really use a lot of water when you have to pump it by hand. And the hot water is just one of those black bag camp showers that I hang up outside.
Here's how we installed the new fresh water tank.
Now, we actually installed the kitchen before attaching the water tank and hooking everything up, so that's where I'll stop for now. Basically, the tank got put into it's spot under the bench, it fit very snugly. We hooked up the fill line to the appropriate fitting that we had installed in the side of the tank, and the air vent line to the appropriate fitting. We put the fitting (barbed) into the bottom for the faucet line as well, but didn't hook it up until the kitchen was finished. So we'll look at the kitchen then get back to finishing up the water tank. Photos to come!


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After belting out the moody opening song of her new musical, "A Ride on the Irish Cream," Erin Markey, her long hair swaying across a microphone stand in the rehearsal room, paused to give her band notes.
"I want it be sexier," she said, less than a week before previews begin at Abrons Arts Center on Wednesday. Then she turned to Emily Bate, who, besides playing guitar, wrote the score with Ms. Markey and Kenny Mellman, to discuss the cue for her to start strumming.
"I will give a flash of a wide eye," said Ms. Markey, 34, then specifying that this will not be enough. "I need to do a sustained wide eye. There are subtleties."
No performer in downtown theater has done more to prove that point than Erin Markey, whose penetrating blue eyes have become her signature. In a fevered glance, she moves between seduction and terror, and with the rise of an owlish eyelid, she pushes gentle vulnerability into cartoonish ridiculousness. In an interview later that day, Ms. Markey explained that her burning gaze was born from insecurity.
"I popped my eyes when I didn't trust a note I was about to sing," she said about her breakout performances in "Our Hit Parade," a popular showcase, now defunct, where performers delivered eccentric versions of songs at the top of the pop charts. About six years ago, Ms. Markey started earning notice for frequently combustible interpretations of bubble gum songs that turned, say, the Taylor Swift hit "You Belong With Me" into a satanic morality tale. "I felt like I was tricking everyone," she said, soberly. "Then I started singing a lot and got better."
Along with charismatic turns in adventurous plays, portraying roles ranging from a flamboyant football player in a show from the Half Straddle troupe to a sultry heroine in an obscure Tennessee Williams drama, Ms. Markey has developed a cult following as an alt-cabaret star with swaggering confidence and off-kilter sense of humor. Her shows are rooted in her life, often mixing jokes and songs with stories about her childhood and her relationship with her Midwestern family.
Last year she performed a cabaret show at Joe's Pub that was, among other things, an oddball love letter to her father, the kind that described the four times she made him cry. At the Duplex, she mounted "Deleted Scenes from Fun Home," a production that mixed stand-up comedy with reflections of seeing that hit Broadway musical.
"It was so strange to see the marriage of lesbian content and musical theater form," said Ms. Markey, a lesbian whose work often explores sexuality and identity. "Part of me was like, I didn't know you could do that."
Yet here she is, doing her own musical, a term she doesn't seem entirely comfortable with. "I think a lot of musical theater is boring and unsurprising," she said. Thinking of "Irish Cream" "as a musical makes me sad, even though I know that's what it is."
"Irish Cream" is, however, far from your typical Broadway show. The culmination of two and a half years of development, it's as hard to pin down as she is. She describes it as a memory play about growing up in Michigan, but it is just as much about her current life. Ms. Markey portrays a woman named Reagan who has an intimate relationship with a pontoon boat (which her dad bought when Ms. Markey was 2), played by the performer Becca Blackwell, who has been in a relationship with Ms. Markey for five years.
The musical moves with a dreamlike logic, and, as is the case with all of her work, features jarring shifts in tone and an embrace of paradox. "It's a show about crazy, deep intimacy, but it's not only that," Ms. Markey said. "It's anti-romance and pro-romance at the same time."
Some of Ms. Markey's earliest memories of musical theater were from her father, a marketer in telecommunications who, for years, would loudly play the cast album to "The Phantom of the Opera" every night after work. Her mother worked part time as a medical assistant.
Ms. Markey announced that she wanted to be a performer, not a veterinarian, during her senior year in high school. The response was not encouraging. "She was really mad," Ms. Markey said of her mother. "But they came around."
At the University of Michigan, Ms. Markey found inspiration in a class taught by Holly Hughes, the performance artist of N.E.A. Four fame. Ms. Bate, who met Ms. Markey in college, recalls one performance in which she portrayed a wailing baby. "She played it sexier than a normal baby and with those big, old dangerous eyes," she said.
Once Ms. Markey graduated, she worked for five months in a strip club called Déjà Vu, a stint that she called a "master class," helpful in developing her confidence and stage presence. She would return to those experiences in several shows, including the 2010 "Puppy Love: A Stripper's Life," whose title, like so much of her work, mixes sexuality with an oddly earnest childlike quality.
Such incongruities come easily to Ms. Markey, who veers from scary intensity to a strange plastic prettiness that makes her seem like a character out of a lost Disney cartoon that the company decided not to release to the public. Tina Satter, the Half Straddle company's leader, who has directed her four times, describes her stage presence as "very alien, like Barbie from outer space."
That otherworldly quality makes her hard to categorize, particularly when she's working in so many different genres. "Some people think I'm a cabaret person. Some think I'm an actress or comedian. Others see me as a performance artist," she said. "This makes me hard to sell."
But Ms. Markey, who says she sees Bridget Everett, who has deftly straddled comedy and cabaret, as a possible career model, doesn't appear too bothered by that. Her new musical is less a departure than a culmination. "It puts it all together," she said. "It feels most indicative of who I am as an artist."


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November 19, 2008
What is a Nation?
Today's column at the Nut Graph:
By Tricia Yeoh
MY recent trip to the US was to primarily observe their historic presidential election, but it triggered a deeper question about what a nation really is. A Polish immigrant to the States shared an intriguing anecdote with me, saying, "America is the only country where you can convert a new migrant into a full patriot within five years."
Is there some secret ingredient that gives such deep meaning to the concept of citizenship in some countries, while in others migrant communities exist for hundreds of years but are still rejected? Both America and Malaysia are multiracial countries — what makes national identity so strong in one yet so weak in the other?
Malaysia is a multiplicity of factors, and to comprehend it one must be a careful purveyor of religion, ethnicity, culture, language, history and economics. The same goes in analysing any reactions, verbal or otherwise, to events taking place away from our shores.
African American voters rejoice at the result of the
US presidential election (Pic by Tricia Yeoh)
For example, there has been a flurry of responses to Barack Obama's victory as the first African American president-elect of the US. While some lamented the impossibility of Malaysia ever selecting a racial minority as prime minister, others were criticised for getting carried away by American fervour.
In addition, Dr Chandra Muzaffar said it was precisely because Obama had assimilated into American society that he could succeed, not because he genuinely represented the typical African American citizen. He said a Malaysian equivalent would be one who assimilates into Malay culture, implying that only this would make such an individual suited for the top position in the country.
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad then said that anyone who is "bangsa Malaysia" could be prime minister — what characterises bangsa Malaysia was not elaborated upon.
Other recent events include attacks against Datuk Zaid Ibrahim's comments about the need to discard ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy), and the appointment of a non-Malay to head the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS). Both issues dealt with ethnicity.
In sum, these reactions belie a nation that does not quite understand what it means to be a nation.
Read more here.
November 14, 2008
Bleak Times Ahead – CPPS forum
The Nut Graph, present at the recent CPPS forum, reported on it with a gloomy title (understandably so). Still, with all the pessimism coming up, one must still hold onto some glimmer of hope for self, family and country. Tighten the belt and pray hard, it seems to be the case.
By Deborah Loh
YES, we are staring at the gathering clouds of an economic crisis. Sure, economic fundamentals are strong, as government ministers keep saying, but that's only half the picture.
The other half is the financial scenario, as economic and financial principles are two different things. The sub-prime crisis that began in the US and western countries is essentially a financial problem. But in an interdependent world, a financial crisis in one place could result in an economic crisis in another.
To illustrate, if US consumers buy fewer cars from say, Japan, Japan slows production and therefore imports less steel and rubber from say, Malaysia. Faced with low demand, Malaysian factories may be forced to downsize by cutting wages or workforce. That would be the worst-case scenario.
Which begs the question: how well is Malaysia positioned to face an "imported" crisis we had no hand in starting?
No new revenue
To a panel of experts at The Global Financial Crisis and Implications on Malaysia forum on 12 Nov 2008 at Universiti Malaya, Malaysia is taking a practical, albeit predictable, approach by spending its way out of a crisis.
It is typical of most governments to respond to a crisis by injecting funds to keep the wheels of market and business turning.
Spend, but prioritise, is the panel's advice. (From left) Sieh, Syed
Amin, moderator Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, and Denison Jayasooria, the experts at the Centre for Public Policy Studies-organised forum also wondered, where was the money going to come from?
Already, the government has revised the national deficit for 2009 to 4.8%, up from the originally projected 3.6%.
Malaysia has had a budget deficit for the last 11 years. With earnings from commodities like crude oil and palm oil falling, the question is whether there will be enough money to pump-prime the economy.
The RM7 billion package announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on 4 Nov is not new money. It is sourced from the savings made from reducing fuel subsidies following the drop in oil prices.
But while low oil prices may mean lesser government subsidies, hence more money in the government's coffers, it also means less revenue because Malaysia is a net oil-exporting country. Indeed, national oil company Petronas contributes over 40% to government coffers.
Read more here.
Malaysia eases race-based ownership rules
I talked to Reuters about my responses to Najib's recent announcement about easing the 30% requirement for companies that want to list publicly on the stock exchange. When I said that he is a pragmatist, I meant that this decision was made not necessarily because he was guided by any moral compass, but because it was a necessity to enhance the country's competitiveness. In a way, the financial crisis reverberating in our own country may give ourselves a few timely wake-up calls. Protectionist policies that hinder international viability (and ironically, do not even really help the Bumiputera per se) to be ebbed away with, in time to come? Perhaps this is a foretelling of the future. But it may be still premature to think that all affirmative action policies will disappear, depending on how Malay leaders react over other "seemingly revolutionary" decisions. The best option will be to ease them away bit by bit, like chipping away at old rust, until the new metal shines again.
Malaysia set to ease race-based ownership rules
By David Chance
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia is set to ease ownership rules that are the cornerstone of its decades-old, race-based economic policy favouring ethnic Malays so that companies can raise more money on the stock market.
The move, announced by Najib Razak, the country's prime minister in waiting, comes during a global economic slowdown and after Malaysia's main stock market fell almost 40 percent this year, dampening investors' appetite for shares.
It also inches government policy closer to that of the more economically liberal opposition that wants the whole panoply of race-based education, housing, employment and company ownership rules to be abolished.
"It is a relatively bold move coming from him (Najib)," said Tricia Yeoh at the Centre for Public Policy Studies.
"I think he is a pragmatic man who delivers on things needed for (economic) efficiency."
Najib said non-Malays would be able to buy shares not subscribed to by ethnic Malays in a move political and economic analysts said showed he was ready to take tough decisions to boost the economy and rebuild the ailing ruling coalition.
The issue is very sensitive in a Southeast Asian country of 27 million people where 60 percent of the population is ethnic Malay and there are also substantial ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.
Malaysia's entire political system is based on race. The main ruling party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), represents the interests of the majority but needs the support of ethnic Chinese and Indian parties to remain in power.
US-Malaysia Political Parallels
By Tricia Yeoh
BARACK Obama's presidential victory has been celebrated around the world, from Kenya, to Indonesia, to Japan. Democrats in the United States are obviously elated, and are hopeful for a new future. Indeed, this has been one of the most historic and highly anticipated elections in the US.
Multiple parallels can be drawn between Malaysia and the US as both continue to go through incredible political upheavals in 2008. Having been in the US for the past week observing the presidential elections under the International Visitors Observe the Elections (I-VOTE) programme, a number of comparisons spring to mind.
Historic elections in 2008
Both countries have gone through one of their most momentous elections in recent history. Malaysia's March 2008 general election is already considered a watershed event. The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition lost two-thirds of its parliamentary majority and an unprecedented five state governments to the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance.
Read more here.
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November 12, 2008
Bank Negara Reserves Fall by USD7.4bn
Where will Malaysia stand in the next few years? This is from Singapore Business Times, something I'm not sure our local papers would report:
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — Malaysia's international reserve position shows a further US$7.4 billion decline to US$100.2 billion as at Oct 31, according to latest figures released by Bank Negara. The amount, said the central bank, was "enough to finance 8.1 months of retained imports and is 3.7 times the short-term external debt position".
For the whole of October, the central bank's reserves fell by US$9.5 billion compared with US$12.8 billion the previous month. In fact, Malaysia's reserves have fallen by US$25.5 billion since it peaked at US$125.7 billion in June this year. The sharp falls illustrate the growing risk-aversion of foreign investors as they flee emerging markets before the fallout from the global financial turmoil begins to seriously affect countries like Malaysia. It also mirrors the central bank's bid to maintain the stability of the ringgit.
Most analysts attributed the fall in reserves to the outflow of short-term capital because the exit of capital coincided with a contraction in the capitalisation of the local bourse which declined to RM655.3 billion at end-October from over RM719 billion on Oct 15. The ringgit fell from RM2.51 against the greenback to RM2.55.
Even so, some analysts drew comfort from the figures. Arab-Malaysian's research house, for instance, said the steep reserve drop from June suggested that "almost all the hot money that came in the first half of 2008 had left, leaving behind the long term investment in the system".
The securities house said this was reflected in the "narrowing" of short-term debt which was reduced to 3.7 times the short-term external debt position. Meanwhile, it said that the 8.1 level of retained imports that the reserves covered was well over the international norm of three months and that was enough to maintain ample liquidity estimated at RM254 billion at end-September.
Going forward, these sentiments would seem to vindicate fund manager Tan Teng Boo's assertion two weeks ago that the Malaysian market had bottomed out. Arab-Malaysian agreed, saying that there would be "positive capital inflow going forward". It pointed out that the stock market capitalisation had edged upwards to nearly RM680 billion while the ringgit remained steady at RM2.55 to the US dollar.
Tonight, the CPPS held an open forum on "The Financial Crisis and Implications on Malaysia" at UM. We'll be writing a short review of what took place, but in short, everyone (both panelists and audience alike) seemed to be very pessimistic going forward. There was some criticism of the economic package recently released by Government, and views were exchanged on the role of government. This sounded repetitious of arguments made in the States, with some agreeing in economic liberalisation whilst others stated the role of unions and social democratic stances were appropriate. The irony lies in the need for liberalisation combined with good regulation (if not necessarily more regulation per se). With limited resources, Government needs to be selective in how it spends its money, in order to optimise it and not let it go to waste again. With this, transparent mechanisms are necessary to ensure that the money spent is reaching their rightful intended places.
In the meantime, KLIA receives subsidies for its operations yearly:
The 10-year-old Kuala Lumpur International Airport has come under criticism from lawmakers for relying on a government handout of RM1 billion each year to fund its operations. As a major regional aviation hub, the KLIA should be self-sustaining and be able to meet its operational costs, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, the PKR MP for Bandar Tun Razak, was quoted as saying.
Also erstwhile, the Government's EPF is going to inject RM5billion to ValueCap, amidst lots of dissension.
"This is part of its mandate, for example, through the bonds offered by the corporate sector," said Nor Mohamed. "Valuecap is not for raising the Bursa Malaysia index or to shore up the market," he emphasised. He clarified that Valuecap was a long-term investment institution and would only invest in shares listed on Bursa Malaysia and not in any foreign portfolio.
"It would be used for investments in companies where the share prices are low but have strong fundamentals and potential," he said, noting that now was a good time for Valuecap to invest.
What makes of the Malaysian economy? Fear, trials and tribulation?
November 11, 2008
Yes, He Did!
Barack Obama is the 44th President Elect of the United States of America. It was rather difficult to contain my excitement and happiness at this outcome, although I am after all supposed to be "independent". A week ago today (how quickly time flies), the results were flying through the air and all across the US groups of people gathered to celebrate – or sit in resigned silence – the results of the 4th November elections. Friends in Chicago were particularly fortunate to be in the largest city-party to listen to Obama's acceptance victory speech.
It has been an overwhelming experience for those of us who were part of the I-VOTE (International Visitors Observe The Elections) Programme over the past two weeks. Travelling to four different cities & states, it was the first time I experienced firsthand real America. It is difficult to outline in full the range of experiences, emotions and observations of this valuable time, but suffice to say it was those actual conversations on the ground that counted most. And the thoughtful, vibrant reflection and discussion of these thereafter, with the group of people from all around the world.
These are some of the reflections of a Malaysian girl in big America during its election period:
- Democracy is not a Spectator Sport. Democracy is a value held up in such tremendous esteem in America. Democracy and freedoms are used by both campaigns to craft their respective messages. All citizens seem to naturally detest a particularly strong government, preferring to make decisions from the bottoms-up. They perceive democracy is theirs to claim, and they are reminded of this over and over again. Malaysians don't experience this to the full, perhaps because we as a nation never had to truly fight for our independence – a fairly bloodless battle to achieve Independence in 1957 – hence don't claim democracy or freedoms for ourselves. Democracy is not a spectator sport, and everyone participates.
- Freedom is Not Free. Similar to the previous point, it is only when people work on their own freedoms that they can be assured of it. By default, leaders and authorities should be held to a healthy skepticism by their people because – it is precisely because leaders are given certain powers that they can be (and are) abused easily. Americans know this. They exercise their rights to fight for it.
- Dis-United States of America. America is a lot less united than I'd thought – they are a country of numerous "states", each with their own opinion and system of doing things. There are major splits in society, and some have extreme views. It is truly a diverse country with no "one America". Multiplicities. Liberals vs. Conservatives, and the differences are very very stark, sometimes scarily so.
- Parallels between US and Malaysia. There are many parallels to be drawn between America and Malaysia, in terms of the extreme bigotry on one end of the spectrum and a more liberal view on the other end. The difference though, is that whilst racism still exists there, there are laws that protect minorities from being discriminated against. There are institutions present, which are strong enough to guarantee against the violations of fundamental human rights. As long as these institutions of a country do not stand up to racism or discrimination, a country is doomed (and its people therein).
- Pedestal Thinking. America, despite many of its citizens' criticisms of its actions in Iraq and elsewhere, still considers itself to be a country above all countries. Campaign messages (especially on the Republican front) stress on the fact that America has to constantly come from a "position of power" and higher than the rest in many respects. I do hope that Obama's philosophy and upbringing will slowly change this. If not, then he risks having the American public run his show instead. (like the lapel pin issue, when Americans accused him of not being patriotic enough, earlier on in his campaign).
At the Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, there were lessons to be learnt from analysts present. We trooped into the hall to learn about the statistical breakdown of voters and how they voted.
- There were 198,000 poll stations all across the country.
- 20% of the polling booths didn't have handicapped-abled facilities.
- More than 52% of the vote went to Obama.
- Gay marriage is banned in California (is this a move to the centre right? or how is this juxtaposed against Obama's win?)
- Obama lost the white vote, by 55-43
- Whites under the age of 30 voted Obama
- Jewish Americans voted for Obama, but not the other religious white.
Alex Castellanos, Media Consultant to the Republican Party – specifically McCain's campaign – came to speak to us, amongst others. He said that the Republicans didn't offer a candidate of transformation this year. America in the 1960s was a hippy era, in the 1980s the "me generation", and then finally in this decade people want their lives to "count for something" – to live a "meaningful life". Obama eventually had a cause and not a campaign. He successfully built a community of belivers, using certain symbols and rituals through the efficient use of technology to build his campaign.
The interesting question for me though, was whether the Republicans would be moving to the Centre or stay in its Right, on the political spectrum of ideologies. I am reading presently the "Millennium Makeover", which is an amazing analysis of the next American generation, and how the "Millennials" born between 1982 and 2003 will revolutionise American politics and social consciousness. The YouTube, MySpace generation.
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November 5, 2008
Obama Wins! Democrats in Tulsa
Jubilation at the Democratic Party Watch in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after Barack Obama is officially announced as the 44th Elected President of the United States of America 2008.
The Republican and Democratic Party Watch environments were completely different. Republicans had suits on, women with pearl necklaces, whilst Democrats had people of all sorts – green hair, playing with balloons.
Obama's unprecented win, 2008 🙂 More to come..
November 4, 2008
US Voting Step-by-Step
Early voting in small little Creek County is in full gear. Their polling stations are a far cry from the schools that we use. Instead, it is housed in a cozy little office of the County Creek Election Board. Oklahoma has the advantage of having a unified voting system, which means all 77 counties use the same method. The next series of photos shows how a person actually votes in this particular State.
Voter Registration can run all the way up to 24 days before the election.
They bring their voter cards, sign up at the desk to collect their respective ballots and pencils.
They then fill out their long ballot sheets in little booths like these.
Oklahoma uses a machine that will read the ballots immediately. If there is a mistake in the ballot, the machine will shoot it out to be redone, or for the voter to take a fresh ballot. Mistakes in other candidates does not mean the correctly filled out items will be disregarded. The information is captured in a data pack, which is uploaded onto a computer, and sent to the State Election Board, the coordinating body of all County Election Boards.
Again, important to note that all States have their respective Election Boards. There is a Federal Election Commission, but they play a minimal role. In the past they have ensured that the principle of non-discrimination is lived up to, within the State Election Boards (especially in the Southern states where blacks were not allowed to be registered in the 1970s).
One problem that needs to be resolved is the inconsistency of voting rules across the country. There would be major resistance to the introduction of a consolidated methodology, however, since states value their jurisdictions and changing would symbolise greater Federal power. Laws also stipulate that Social Security numbers cannot be used in conjunction with electoral rolls – Social Security is controlled Federally, whereas electoral rolls are held by the State. As a result, there may be some confusion, even in this election.
As a result of the 2000 Florida confusion, it is even more imperative that systems are better sorted, especially in important swing states. Important swing states to look out for: Ohio, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, New Hampshire, Indiana, Minnesota. Coming up tomorrow..
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NST: Change not for the sake of Changing
Amidst all this talk about "Change" in the United States, here is an opinion article in today's New Straits Times (Malaysia) about changing times in Malaysian politics. I am quoted somewhere inside, at the article here.
OPINION: Change not for the sake of changing
(From left) Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim, Tricia Yeoh and Dr Chandran Jeshurun
At first, it captures our imagination. But the change mantra will quickly lose its lustre and appeal if real change does not occur soon, writes YONG HUEY JIUN
AMID the pulsating theatrics in the political battlefield, one theme stands out in the cacophony of dissenting voices. Call it reform, shift or renaissance, they all have one thing in common: they symbolise change.
Spellbound by United States Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's stirring speeches on hope and change, Malaysians are joining in the clamour for change. Before long, opposition and ruling party politicians alike are wangling support by adroitly declaring themselves as apostles of change.
Ironically, the chorus of chant, which transcends party affiliations, only threatens to widen the stark gulf between rivals as each tries to trump the other with their promises. But this climate stems not so much from Obama's magic as the resounding clamour of the electorate in the March 8 general election.
In 1969, the Alliance (now Barisan Nasional) suffered a similar electoral setback as the one last March. The resulting blow led to a bloody race riot that forever altered the course of the nation's history.
Nearly 40 years later, the same election results, again, fuelled racial tensions, but this time creating a tense equipoise that seemingly verges on political fragmentation and implosion.
Tricia Yeoh, director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies, attributes the calm after the political storm to the choice of parties available during these two very different periods.
"In 1969, the alternative to the ruling government was the single-race party DAP. Today, the alternative is a multiracial party — Pakatan Rakyat — and perhaps this is one of the reasons it did not ignite a similar kind of emotive response."
Unlike the prevailing period of what some term as the "awakening", the violence in 1969 was a "revival of ethnic antagonism", which was rooted in the past, says Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim, a history professor at Universiti Malaya, who is also a survivor of the 1964 and 1969 race riots.
In 1964, Sino-Malay riots broke out in July and September, which eventually left about 40 people dead. The race riots were blamed on the Indonesian and communist provocateurs at the time.
As history has shown, anything can happen in politics and changes do not necessarily follow a natural sequence of events. On the continuum of change, some ascribe the present development as engineered change.
"It's more or less a fait accompli that he's been faced with," says Universiti Malaya's former academic Dr Chandran Jeshurun, referring to the pressure on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi to step down.
Change is unavoidable but perhaps this is nowhere more true after 22 years of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's rule. A centralised top-down approach during his reign inevitably means that the transition to greater openness won't be a smooth one.
Against this backdrop and a rapidly globalising world and wide access to information means the public will demand greater transparency and accountability.
"A more open and consultative approach… the whole new language of rights and freedom" is going to set the tone for change, says Yeoh.
With young voters making up more than half of the electorate in the March election, politicians who ignored them did so at their own costs.
"The younger generation is going to be looking for reform and they will be listening to the messages that can capture their imagination," says Yeoh.
No longer struggling to be independent, many agree that it is time the country set itself higher goals. But racial polarisation threatens to backslide the country and reverse the progress already achieved.
"In 1969, we had just been independent for 12 years. Today, expectations are going to be greater because you can see all around you how change is taking place elsewhere," says Chandran.
Beyond the conviction for the need to change, few leaders have outlined clear policies on where they want to move the country and how they want to move it. Instead of addressing the quagmires facing the country, efforts are expended on circumventing the opponent, unwittingly deflecting attention from reform goals.
At present, issues calling for immediate attention are in no short supply, from the current global economic crisis — still with no end in sight — to a deepening racial polarisation in the country, all of which are towering challenges requiring a sustained focus.
At a time when most of the world is embroiled in war and financial crisis, change offers hope to those who envision a better future. But Yeoh cautions the people against unrealistic expectations.
"We shouldn't be too enchanted with it. I hope politicians are not using it as a catch-phrase."
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Operating in Hostile Territory: Democrats in Oklahoma
Being in Tulsa, Oklahoma means being in Republican-territory. Which made the trip to the Democratic Headquarters of Tulsa all the more interesting, as we explored the strategies employed by them in convincing citizens to go Blue.
Strangely enough, Oklahoma – officially becoming a city in 1907 – was originally a populist state, without political leanings on either end. It then became a straight Democrat state, although these were still conservative. It was only in the late 1960's that the socially conservative message was claimed by the Republicans. Some rather strange features of Oklahoma are that it has more registered Democrats than Republicans, Democrats tend to vote Republicans for the top ticket but Democratic in the lower tickets. The biggest battle to watch here is whether the Democrats can regain control of the State Senate. Being one of the most conservative States in America, this will be a fair indication of the country's political leanings.
Jed Green, Oklahoma State Director of the Democratic Party, spoke to us in what I considered one of the most impassioned mini-speeches I had heard on the trip. The Democrats have had a fair share to deal with in Oklahoma, with yardsigns being burned, torn up, the words "Anti-Christ" painted on them. He spoke with deep conviction about how some consider themselves to be part of a moral majority, many Republicans genuinely believing (without necessarily stating it) they are part of a holy war. An extremely down to earth guy on the street, he had well-developed views, asking questions of us and perceptions of the Middle East towards the States.
Operating in hostile territory, they had to adopt a strategy of visibility. The more signs the better. The "Pick The Winner" effect: the escalation of Obama supporters based on their belief that others are also voting him in.
The last time Oklahoma voted for a Democratic Presidential candidate was in 1964. It is highly doubtful they'll do so this time, but analysing its popular vote after tomorrow will be interesting. Republicans don't even have an office in the entire Oklahoma State, which shows how confident they are of winning.
I'll be stationed first at the Republican Party Watch, and then proceeding to the Democratic Watch during Election Night! Watch out for a Radio interview I'm doing in KL, probably around the time the results are out. Wednesday morning Malaysian Time, at 89.9FM.


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Request a brochure for more information on our wide range of adventure holidays.
Grand American Adventures is now part of Exodus Travels.
Anybody out there?
Hi Gee, my brother and I are on this. I leave from Perth on Sept 6th and after picking up Daryl (coming from Ballarat) in Sydney, will arrive in Cuzco very early on the 8th. There maybe some jetlag involved at this point.
First time we've travelled together since we were about 10! We're also doing the Lake Titicaca extension after.
So good to hear from someone doing the same trip. I leave from Heathrow on 8 Sep and arriving in Cuzco on 9 Sep (PM), no running away from jetlag for most I guess.
I am only doing the Inca trail this time round, would have loved to do more, perhaps next time.
Not heard from anyone else in the UK doing this trip, seems I will be staking out at the bag drop in Heathrow on the day looking for the "exodus travels" soft bags and introducing myself, to the person not the bag :-).
Hi Grace / Trev,
My friend and I are also doing this trip from the UK. Starting to get a bit worried about the jet lag now! Hopefully we wont' be too grumpy! Looking forward to meeting you guys! x
Good to hear from you. Looking forward to meeting you guys as well. Nearer to the date we can plan to meet up in heathrow for a meet and greet before departure.
How are the preparations going? Boots, walking poles, bags, getting fit :-) etc.
Hi Lois an Grace, if its ok we might give the Heathrow meet and greet a miss :)
I have boots broken in, ready to go. I have a set of walking poles somewhere and was going to see if they fit in my bag as the last thing, otherwise will hire them there.
Getting fit, we've still got time right ?
My last travel vaccination this weekend, then will be ready to go, just a few short weeks away!
Uh oh - do we need vaccinations?! I haven't had any! Boots are ready to go, poles should fit in the luggage so i think im almost there! My friend is on a cycling holiday this week with Exodus so no doubt she'll be fitter than all of us on her return! Never mind - take things at your own pace is what I've heard!
Trev you guys are missing out on the party of the year re Heathrow meet and greet, we might save it for Cuzco, who knows :)
Guessing it's better prevention than cure on vaccinations. I have not had any as well but will arrange for some. Wondering if we are required to have any paper work on vaccinations e.g. yellow fever, etc - will check with the organisers.
On fittness, I hope the Saturday 5k parkruns I do will count for something when it comes to digging deep :). Good to see that Exodus have partnered with parkrun UK as well!!
Boots - check, walking poles - check, better get cracking on the other 99 items on the list!
Just getting an update on my hep A and b as it's been a while since I've travelled to somewhere that actually needs it. My last holiday travel outside of Aus was just before the birth of my now 7yo, so everything has expired.
As far as I know there is nothing compulsory. As my GP said "mosquitos don't fly that high"
I had a friend who went to Peru with work and was told to get yellow fever, but when he was there they said it wasnt required.
how cool is it that we get to chat to people on the trip before we get there. This is my 3rd exodus trip but the first time I've been on the community.
Went into the travel clinic today for some jabs, four in total. They recommended: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk, for more information on the vacs needed.
The GP said the same thing about the mosquitoes not ascending that high, the ones we meet might be high on something else in these South American regions, and capable of anything :)
Thanks Grace! If i can get to the docs in the next month I'll see what they say :)
How is everyone feeling? Excited? Nervous? Can't wait? Vaccs all sorted and sore arms now ok? :-)
No time for docors so no jabs for me! Let's just hope i have some residual immunity!
Excited - tick
Nervous - tick
Can't wait - tick
Just need to get through another week at work first!
Are you guys all set?
Hi everyone, two days of work then 40 or so hours of flying to go. If we're not ready now, we never will be !
see you all soon :)
Safe travels Trev+brother.
Lois+ friend - fancy a heathrow meet? I gather we are both on the 10 p.m. on Friday night from Heathrow to Sao Paolo?
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SCOTLAND'S 32 councils should be cut to 19, according to a report today.
Think-tank Reform Scotland say merging local authorities will make them stronger and bring power "closer to the people".
Under their plans, North, South and East Ayrshire would become a single authority.
Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Stirling and West Lothian would also be merged.
The report says councils should be able to levy a range of local taxes.
Reform Scotland chairman Ben Thomson said: "It is clear from the recent disappointing local election turnout that we have to take action against the erosion of local democracy.
"Britain is heavily centralised. The Scottish Parliament has reversed devolution by sucking up council powers."


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My visitor does not have an embossing machine so I tried using just crumpled wax paper and created the paper on the left - wrinkled wax paper (left) and the resist paper on the right. You can create all sorts of patterns in wax paper - fold, draw, etc - that can be used for wax resist.
Thanks for asking!!
The two following scans are of the tissue I used as a paintbrush for the application of colour in the above experiment and the two sheets of copy paper I used to dry them with the iron. I did not expect the colour to transfer.
Everyday is a good day to play!! I may use these later today when I am working on challenge cards!!


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My Facebook feed yielded gold today and that's particularly rare considering I only have 30 "friends". This made me laugh and tear up not just because of my own deeply held insecurities but because of its humor and honesty. The video didn't explain anything I didn't already know but I think it's important that people understand that while consistent and intentional neglect by your partner can create insecurities that were not originally there, most people bring these into a relationship, they are not created because of it. And if this bothers you and seems to you to be excusing disrespectful male behavior think about that the next time he doesn't want you to go out for a girls' night. What would be the result if a snapshot was taken of you on the dance floor? And if he got upset about it would that be your fault?
And if you don't care about any of this, forget the video and look at the hair on these guys!


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Ukraine's first president calls on Yushchenko to step down
"You are not giving most of your attention to Ukraine`s problems..."
Ukraine`s first president Leonid Kravchuk has urged the current president, Viktor Yushchenko, to step down as head of the country on Ukrainian television, RIA Novosti reported.
In a live address to Yushchenko on the Ukraina TV channel on Tuesday, Kravchuk said: "The true patriotism of a president... also means understanding the situation from within and making a responsible decision to step down. Such a step could stop the avalanche of problems, calm society and give hope for a real way out of the crisis."
Kravchuk was elected Ukraine`s first president in 1991 with 61.6% of votes.
"Until recently I thought the presidential elections should be held according to law. But today I have a different opinion. I have seen clearly that you are not giving most of your attention to Ukraine`s problems, instead you are thinking of how to stay in power," Kravchuk said.
The first president of the ex-Soviet republic also accused Yushchenko of betraying the nation`s confidence and support, and destroying both the government and the parliamentary coalition.
"The power has been almost destroyed. And it is impossible to overcome the crisis without the government`s effective participation," Kravchuk said, adding that the only way out would be to hold early elections.
Parliament speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn told another TV channel on Tuesday that he did not think that early parliamentary elections would be held in Ukraine and said Kravchuk`s comments could "provoke another spiral of political confrontation in Ukraine."
Yushchenko has been at loggerheads with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko for several months as the former allies in the "orange revolution" jostle for position ahead of presidential elections due next year.
The country is struggling amid the global economic crisis and had gas supplies from Russia cut off for much of January after failing to agree a new gas contract. Although a 10-year supply agreement was signed barely a month ago, Ukraine`s state-run Naftogaz has already warned Gazprom that there may be problems paying for deliveries due to non-payment by local utility companies.


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VSU hosts Visayas Council of HRMPs FGD
- Details
- Written by Jesus Freddy M. Baldos
Published: 13 February 2015
The Visayas State University served as the venue for the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) core members of the Visayas Council of Human Resource Management Practitioners (VCHRMPs) on January 21-23, 2015 at the VSU Pavilion. Facilitated by Dr. Lourdes B. Cano, VSU's Director for Administration and Human Resource Development who is also the VCHRMP Interim President, the activity sought to pave the way for the revival and operationalization of Visayas Council of HRMPs; come up with the Council's Constitution and By-Laws, strategic plan, work and financial plan; and iron out plans in preparation for the Visayas Congress of HRMPs which will be held at VSU.
In his message during the opening program, Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, VSU President, mentioned that despite the fewer number of participants [maybe because of the recent typhoon "Amang"] who came all the way from Siquijor, Danao, Bohol, and Maasin, he was elated by their presence since it manifests their commitment to the Council. He wished that the participants would have a worthwhile experience and enjoyable stay at the campus during the next two days of the activity.
Aside from the brainstorming sessions, the participants were acquainted with VSU's best practices on PRIME-HRM and operationalization of the University Strategic Performance Management System which they can emulate.
With Dr. Cano as the Interim President of the VCHRMP, the other participants included: Ms. Josephine S. Resus, Division Manager of Maasin Water District; Ms. Rinelyn S. Onac, HRMO III of Bilar, Bohol; Ms. Dana Vanissa M. Canson, OIC-HRMO of LGU-Danao City; and Ms. Pilar M. Cabanlas, HRMO IV of the Province of Siquijor. JFMBaldos


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The Blackhawks put forward Daniel Carcillo on injured reserve and recalled forward Brandon Pirri from the Rockford IceHogs today.
Carcillo has been out with an upper-body injury he sustained last week in the Blackhawks' victory over the Minnesota Wild.
Pirri has 13 goals and a team-high 31 points this season for the IceHogs. His recall comes a day after Blackhawks center Marcus Kruger missed the final two periods of the team's 3-2 loss in Pittsburgh.


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Founded in 2003, Radius Consulting Ghana has evolved to become a leading IT Solutions Provider & Hw/Sw vendor in West Africa. Through this brief Introduction, we hope to start a process which shall be greatly beneficial to you and to your Information Technology service offerings within and outside the organization. The following is a summarized list of services & solutions that we offer:
In terms of our in house skills set, we have Cisco Security Experts, EMC Storage EMCP, EMCIE, VMWare VCP, DELL Storage Certified, Novell Certified Engineers (CNE), Microsoft MCSE, Microsoft MCT, Cisco CCNP, Cisco CCVP, Cisco CCSP, Cisco CSE, Linux GNU CLA, HP Openview Certified Consultant, Symantec Netbackup Certified, Veritas Sales Professionals and numerous other recognized IT certifications in our ranks.
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Does your entertainment or hall have TV Screens and/or projectors? If so, instead of just an ambient and/or you and your fiance's names on the screens, put together a photo montage. DJ Companies like Jam Music Events (http://1800jammusic.com/), make the photo montage for you, all you
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