text:
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Add this to the list of things some people are thankful for: stores open on Thanksgiving Day. That's how Janet Guerrero, 24, felt when shopping on Thursday afternoon at a Wal-Mart in Westbury, Long Island, because she had nothing to wear to dinner. "It's an emergency," she said.
This year, Target Corp has joined Wal-Mart and Gap Inc in being open at least part of the day, and some retailers will be open throughout the day, a trend that began to take hold in 2011.
Walmart's U.S. discount stores, which have been open on Thanksgiving Day since 1988, will offer some "Black Friday" deals at 8 p.m. local time and special deals on some electronics at 10 p.m. Target has moved its opening from midnight to 9 p.m. on Thursday and Toys R Us is opening at 8 p.m.
"It's a recognition that retailers need to be more aggressive and want to show their physical stores are important," Moody's senior analyst Charles O'Shea said.
While he didn't see enormous crowds out in Vauxhall, New Jersey, he did see about 15 people lined up already at a Best Buy, which opens at midnight. At a Target in Westbury, only two lone shoppers were in line for a 9 p.m. opening. Still, for retailers, any crowd could make the effort worth it.
"It's a finite pie - if you can get a bit more by being open, then do it," O'Shea said.
Other retailers, such as J.C. Penney Co Inc, are holding out and will not open until Friday morning, so shoppers trying to get all the deals will need a lot of stamina.
"The retailers are taking what was a very plannable sport that was four or five hours where you can get things done and turned it into a marathon," Trutina Financial Chief Investment Officer Patty Edwards said. "I think the retailers have diluted the sport."
Even some higher-end retailers had select stores open on Thursday. But crowds were thin at the flagship Lord & Taylor on 5th Avenue, where workers voluntarily signed up for holiday shifts for an extra compensation day and holiday pay.
At other stores, workers were not so happy to have early openings encroach on their Thanksgivings. A petition asking Target to "save Thanksgiving" had 371,606 supporters as of Thursday afternoon.
But shopper Pamela Herman, 54, who works in marketing at Mt. Sinai hospital, was drawn in by the extra discount of 50 percent on already reduced items and said she would not have bothered to come in without the sale.
Traditionally, retailers enticed shoppers with "doorbuster" deals early Friday morning. Then they shifted to midnight following Thanksgiving. But many shoppers lured into stores by earlier openings on Thursday may just be window shopping.
More than 50 percent of consumers will do some form of "showrooming" during the Black Friday weekend, said Kevin Sterneckert, vice president of retail research at Gartner Group.
"They will buy things because they looked at it in the store. They will touch and feel what they are interested in and then buy it online on Monday, either from the same retailer or a different online retailer," Sterneckert said.
At the Kmart on 34th Street in Manhattan, Charles Montague, a 55-year-old mover, was browsing the aisles just to kill time. "I don't holiday shop," he said emphatically. "I buy stuff all year long, not during some man-made holiday."
That window shopping has not put a crimp into online sales, however. Online Thanksgiving 2012 sales are already up 16.4 percent over Thanksgiving 2011 for the same period, which measured through 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT), according to IBM.
The stakes are high for U.S. retailers, which can earn more than a third of their annual sales in the holiday season. Investors hope holiday sales will help retail stocks cap a strong year. The Standard & Poor's retail index is up almost 27 percent this year, compared with a 10.6 percent increase for the broader S&P 500.
The National Retail Federation, an industry trade group, forecast a 4.1 percent increase in retail sales during the November-December holiday period this year, down from the 5.6 percent increase seen in 2011.
Consumers heading into the holiday shopping season remain worried about high unemployment and possible tax increases and government spending cuts in 2013. Also, lasting effects of Sandy, the storm that lashed the densely populated East Coast in late October, could cut into how much shoppers can spend on the holidays.
According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, two-thirds of shoppers said they were planning to spend the same amount as last year or were unsure about spending plans, while 21 percent intend to spend less and 11 percent plan to spend more.
"My family decided not to buy (Chanukah) presents this year - only for the kids. It's too expensive," said graduate student Danielle Slade, 29, from Jericho, Long Island.
Reporting by Phil Wahba and Beth Pinsker Gladstone in New York; Additional reporting by Brad Dorfman and Nivedita Bhattacharjee in Chicago, Jessica Wohl in New York, and Ilaina Jonas in Westbury, New York; Editing by David Gregorio and Dale Hudson


text:
Fishing Adventures
Fish Big Green Lake, the deepest lake in Wisconsin.
We make it simple.
Arrange your charter by deciding on the date and time of your trip and make reservations as far in advance as possible.
We make it productive.
Four generations of fishing experience are combined with the most sophisticated electronic gear and tackle available.
We make it enjoyable.
We invite everyone to enjoy sport fishing. We understand the importance of providing your family, friends and clients an adventure they will remember. No prior experience is necessary. Mike enjoys watching newcomers catch their first fish.
Hunting Adventures
Pheasants By The Fox offers quality pheasant hunting in South Central Wisconsin
We make it affordable.
Enjoy game bird hunting without the expense of membership fees.
We make it worthwhile.
Visit the outdoors and experience pheasant hunting at its finest.
We make it relaxing.
Enjoy time alone with your dog or bring family and friends.
We make it memorable.
We provide you with an unforgettable adventure for your first hunt. For experienced hunters, we offer a more challenging hunt than you've had before.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton will headline the annual steak fry for retiring Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, making a big return to the leadoff caucus state as the former secretary of state considers another presidential campaign.
Sam Roecker, a spokesman for the Harkin Steak Fry, said Monday that both Clintons will speak at the fundraiser in Indianola, just south of Des Moines, on Sept. 14. It will be the former first lady's first appearance in Iowa since 2008, when she finished a disappointing third in the caucuses. She is the leading Democratic presidential contender, and the event is among her first campaign appearances before the 2014 midterm elections.
This will be Hillary Rodham Clinton's second Steak Fry appearance and Bill Clinton's fourth time at the event.
Clinton has said she intends to campaign for Democratic candidates this year. Iowa is the home of a key Senate race, with Democrat Bruce Braley opposing Republican Joni Ernst. Iowa's presidential caucuses will begin the 2016 nomination process.
Democrats said she is expected to appear at campaign events for the four major Democratic fundraising committees but details were still being determined.
For Clinton, the campaign appearances could serve as an unofficial start of a presidential campaign, should she decide to run, and will allow her to appeal to Democrats looking for a successor to President Barack Obama. Clinton has urged Democrats to mobilize for the midterm elections and try to maintain a Senate majority, which would be crucial for Obama's final two years in office.
"If I decide to run, I will have a very specific agenda about what I think we should be doing. But right now, we have a big election, midterms 2014, that could determine the control of the Senate," Clinton said in an interview in July. "And I'm not going to, you know, jump the line and start talking about 2016 right now."
The steak fry, which will be Harkin's final as a sitting senator, is expected to be a tribute to the veteran lawmaker, who has longstanding ties to the Clintons. Speaking at the event is coveted among national Democratic figures and it raises money for the state party, which will help Democratic campaigns up-and-down the ballot. Last year, Vice President Joe Biden headlined the event.
"Secretary Clinton is an extraordinary force for our values and will relentlessly fight to jumpstart the middle class," said Rep. Steve Israel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "We're thrilled and grateful that she is lending her support to our shared goal of electing a Democratic House of Representatives that will put a stop to the endless cycle of dysfunction and shutdowns from this Republican Congress."
In October, Clinton is expected to appear at a fundraiser in San Francisco for female candidates with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
Iowa has had few visits from Democrats considering a 2016 presidential run. Biden came last year and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has visited this year, campaigning for Democrats. Though Clinton has not been in the state, the Ready for Hillary organization has been working her on her behalf.


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I dont give a fuck about anybody
I need a bag of dope need a bag of dope
I'm birdman bitch I'm Birdman
[Verse 1: Lil B]
You can fuck my bitch
It's happy hour
Two pistols on my side I'm a fucking coward
Bullet proof vest
I'm the police
100 bitches on my dick bruh, you know it's me
AR-15 get a life sentence
If I do the crime, I am not the witness
Don't sleep on the pretty bitch
Ho's in my bed, they sucking on my dick
AK on my side and I bust the bitch
Glock 9 bullets..hit the cooking dance
Rep Waterfront, 700, ask about me
My whole city hate me, because I'm so pretty
Jealous niggas, go tell em go get money
That's like telling an asshole to get funny
Bruh I feel like black Jesus
Think I'm a bitch? I'll give you a black Caesar
Thank you
Oh my god hand me, hand me the napkins
And hand me my FUCKIN' water
I'm the FUCKIN' best in the rap game
Lil B, get the FUCK away from me
You don't deserve to talk to me
BasedGod, oh my god (thank you)
(Ha-Happy Merry Christmas MERRY christmas)
Where's my bitches?
Where's my grapes?
(Happy New Year)
Red Flame nigga I dont give a fuck about shit
(Happy new year bitch, merry christmas)
[Verse 2: Lil B]
30 on my wrist (swag)
5 on my neck (swag)
Nigga I don't give a FUCK about that fuckin' respect (swag)
Fuck the game nigga, and fuck everyone
30 thousand on my wrist bitch I'm fuckin' hung
10 carats on me neck bitch you rung?
Blrrrrr, hello bitch
I rang
Yeah bitch, I'm going to China mayne
10 carats on my wrist nigga I'm blang
Blang blang like Hot Boys
Nigga I do my FUCKIN' thing
Young BasedGod nigga with 10 g's on my rang
Young BasedGod nigga with 30 carats on my wrist
All these ho's can, suck my mother fucking dick
Nigga you know who the fuck this
Ahahaha (suck my dick) (merry christmas)
I'm, I, You know who the fuck (happy new year)
This is BasedGod (thanksgiving)
30 thousand best in the rap game nigga
I don't give a fuck who you listen to
These niggas talkin 'bout *clears throat* all these muh fuckin' mixtapes
Niggas tying to be serious, shut the fuck up
Ahaaha, shut up
Red Flame
Red Flame


text:
A modern foundation that combines a natural matte finish and medium to full buildable coverage with broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15/PA++ protection. Applies, builds and blends easily and evenly. Comfortable and long-wearing, it helps minimize the appearance of pores and imperfections, giving skin a smoother, more flawless look and finish.
Shop with confidence at World Duty Free
World Duty Free offers exceptional year-round value across its entire product range, so its promise to you is that if you purchase anything from World Duty Free and then find the identical item cheaper on the UK high street within the next 28 days, it will happily refund the difference.
World Duty Free regularly surveys the prices of its fragrance, cosmetics, skincare, spirits, wine and champagne range on the UK high street. An independent company travels the country to find the brands stocked in its airport stores in the shops you typically buy from week-in week-out. It uses these observations to create an Average UK High Street Price; this is the comparison price it shows its savings against.
Typically you will enjoy 20% off the Average High Street Price (where surveyed) on all of World Duty Free's fragrance and non-vintage champagne. You can save up to 50% off selected spirits and you will save the equivalent of VAT on cosmetics, skincare, sunglasses*, watches* and jewellery* (*savings compared to RRP)


text:
United Kingdom
United States
World English Go to Usborne.com
Usborne Quicklinks
Quicklinks for internet-linked books
Choose a page number to see the recommended websites and downloadable pictures.
Websites to visit
Dive down to the deepest place in the ocean, the Mariana Trench
In 2012, James Cameron dived to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in an underwater rocket ship called the Deepsea Challenger.
Watch a video clip about the Earth's continents and oceans
Find out how creatures survive at the bottom of the ocean
More about ocean wildlife
Scroll down for a video clip and an activity.
Watch an undersea volcano erupting
Children, make sure you follow these three simple rules when using the internet:
For more tips, see Internet safety for children.
Adults - we recommend that children are supervised while on the internet. The content of a website may change at any time and Usborne Publishing is not responsible for content on sites other than its own.
For more on internet safety, see Internet advice for adults.
Websites with interactive content may not work on your tablet or smartphone, but you can view them on a computer. Find out more…
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Little book of seas and oceans
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text:
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) Jamal Crook had 25 points and nine assists to lead Western Kentucky over IUPUI 77-57 for a nonconference victory Saturday.
The win was the sixth straight for the Hilltoppers (8-2), who are off to their best start since beginning 2006-07 8-2.
Crook was 11 of 17 from the field and also had a pair of steals. George Fant added 13 points for the Hilltoppers, and Brandon Harris had nine points on three 3-pointers and eight rebounds as Western Kentucky outrebounded the Jaguars (3-8) 35-28.
Ian Chiles and Jordan Shanklin led IUPUI with 13 points each, with Shanklin hitting 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
The Jaguars shot 36.4 percent (20 of 55) from the field against Western Kentucky, which entered leading the Sun Belt in defensive shooting percentage at 39.2.
The Hilltoppers shot 55.8 percent (29 of 52) from the field and 38.1 percent (8 of 21) from 3.


text:
I've wanted to do this for a long time. Real world comparison of staple items that I always buy and have on hand. The 5 items were selected ahead of time, not knowing what the prices would be at all three places and without prejudice as to what I thought might be cheaper at one store or another.
The 5 items are Granny Smith Apples, Chobani Yogurt, Store Brand Almonds, Store Brand Plain Soy Milk, Store Brand Peanut Butter.
Round 1: Chobani Yogurt-
Stop and Shop $4.99
Market Basket $4.99
Shaws $6.49
Round 2: Granny Smith Apples
Stop and Shop $1.69 Lb
Market Basket .99 Lb
Shaws $1.17 Lb
Round 3: 40 Oz Store Brand Peanut Butter
Stop and Shop $5.19
Market Basket $4.99
Shaws $5.69
Round 4: Almonds Store Brand
Stop and Shop $8.98 Lb (On Sale) Normally $9.98 Lb
Market Basket $5.05 Lb
Shaws $10.87 Lb
Round 5: Plain Soy Milk Store Brand
Stop and Shop $2.79
Market Basket $2.50
Shaws $3.49
Again remember I did not pre-scout these items to select things that would have outrageous price differences but picked them before I entered the first stop.
My guess that Market Basket was most often much cheaper was confirmed and confirmed by a mile.
If you bought one unit of each of these items at each of these stores your total would be
Stop and Shop $23.64
Market Basket $18.52
Shaws $27.71
The difference of $9.19 more money for the five items at Shaws over Market Basket is ASTOUNDING. That is nearly 50% more money. It would cost you 27% more to purchase the same items at Stop and Shop over Market Basket.
I don't know about you but when the banks pay you what amounts to negative returns on your money after fees, 27% or 49% savings on your money is HUGE!
This took a while to compile and label each image, I hope it helps you make informed decisions on where to shop.


text:
World Robot Chess Championship
Moscow, Russia, 19/05/2012..The German-built KUKA Monster chess robot plays Russia?s CHESSka robot for the title of Absolute World Robot Chess Champion. The Russian robot, developed by chess coach Konstantin Kosteniuk, comprehensively defeated its opponent, created by KUKA Robotics, one of the world?s largest manufacturers of industrial robots.
Copyright © Jeremy Nicholl 2012. All rights reserved..Tel: +7 495 360 0870 / +44 1263 firstname.lastname@example.com
Date: 19 May 2012
Size: 5616x3744 / 3.8MB
Restrictions: COPYRIGHT © JEREMY NICHOLL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS IMAGE MAY NOT BE STORED, COPIED, DISTRIBUTED OR PUBLISHED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER. CONTACT firstname.lastname@example.com FOR ALL RIGHTS PERMISSIONS PRIOR TO ANY USE.


text:
0 items
Our Rochester 2G rebuild kits are updated for use with today's common pump gasoline that contains alcohol.
Rochester 2G rebuild kits contain the parts and gaskets needed to tune up your carburetor.
Flange gasket
Throttle Body gasket
Bowl Cover gasket
Venturi Cluster gasket
Accelerator Pump Assembly (alcohol resistant cup)
Accelerator Pump Check Balls
Inlet needle and seat assembly and gasket
Fuel inlet gasket
Float height setting tool
Assortment of clips
Illustrated instructions included
Detailed specification included
Not sure which rebuild kit is correct for your carburetor?
Use the "Search for your Rebuild Kit" search on the 2G Rebuild Kits main page, just enter in your 2G carburetor number.
Picture Information:
Picture showing rebuild kit components is an accurate representation of the style of gaskets and parts you will receive. However, there may be slight differences in materials due to parts availability. These differences will not affect performance of the rebuild kit.
Rochester 2G carburetor applications:
Two Jet (2G) carburetors serviced with this rebuild kit:
7043100, 7043101, 7043103, 7043105, 7043105, 7043120, 7047300, 17054614, 17055002
Not sure where to find your carburetor number? Click here to read article on Carburetor Number Identification.
Twojet Carburetor Rebuild Kit Instructions, Specifications, & How to Information:


text:
Nightclub in Trouble for Putting Two-Way Mirror in Women's Bathroom
There are two sides to every story.
And sometimes there are two sides to every mirror.
In a story that, ahem, reflects poorly on the establishment, a new Scottish hot spot called the Shimmy Cub has found itself in hot water for installing two-way mirrors in the women's room, without telling anyone.
As you can see, many men in private rooms have noticed the mirror and taken pictures with unsuspecting women in the background.
The club claims the mirror was "created as a bit of fun, an interactive feature which we hoped would act as a talking point."
Cops are now investigating the club.


text:
Nov 11, 2009
In this podcast George and Joan talk about the concept of place - not just library as place, but the very basic idea of locality and how we develop a sense of community - and of course, how it ties into libraries. This conversation was prompted by their experience at the Eureka! Leadership Institute where they had the opportunity to hear a talk by Richard Rodriguez.
Blog Categories:
Wed, 2009-11-25 16:43
FYI: A short while into the Richard Rodriguez talk, it cuts to another podcast for awhile.


text:
California's high school dropout rate is not a new problem.
But new data shows the dimensions of the problem -- one-fifth of would-be members of California's Class of 2010 didn't graduate -- and offers this unpleasant insight: the dropout problem begins before high school.
The data, which is being closely watched because it is based on a new system with individual codes for students, shows that about 17,000 members of the Class of 2010 dropped out at the eighth grade level.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
That's frightening, and not only because of the diminished life prospects for those who drop out. California badly needs to produce more college graduates -- we could be short one million college graduates for our expected 2025 economic needs, according to the Public Policy Institute of California -- and it's an awful long way from the eighth grade to college.
Bridging that gap will require policy changes and money, and California's broken governing and budget systems aren't adept at producing either.


text:
President Barack Obama is bullish on big data, announcing last March the "Big Data Research and Development Initiative," along with a $200 million investment in R&D efforts related to the technology.
But while the implications of big data on government are just starting to be felt, the 2012 presidential election gave us a sneak peek. According to Siddharth Taparia, senior director of Portfolio and Strategic Marketing at SAP, last year's race for the White House between Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney was fueled largely by big data technologies. Specifically, massive amounts of voter data from phone calls and surveys, coupled with top-notch analytical engines, allowed the candidates to "micro-target" the individual voters that were most likely going to vote in their favor.
Taparia said this micro-targeting approach "upended traditional methods of running campaigns," which were based on estimates from smaller samples of voter data.


text:
Columnist Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. is right about one thing. Voting is the "most sacred right possessed by an American citizen." ("Facts and opinions from the campaign," Sept. 9.)
However, the voter ID laws that he and his Republican colleagues support are the most recent example of a sad history of denying people that right.
IDs issued by state universities aren't accepted under the Wisconsin law. The League of Women Voters ended its voter registration efforts in Florida to avoid criminal prosecution under the burdensome provisions of a new statute. Several research studies have found that the poor, the elderly, and minorities are most likely to lose the franchise because of these requirements.
What is a reasonable alternative?
In Maryland, if your right to vote is challenged, you can use the following forms of identification: your voter's card, Social Security card, or Maryland driver's license; any identification card issued by the federal, state, or local government; an employer-issued photo-ID; or a copy of a current bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name or current address.
Where did we come up with this list? It's copied from the Help America Vote Act, passed with bipartisan support by the Congress in the wake of the Florida election debacle in 2000.
Our law strikes the proper balance between preventing voter fraud and denying people their fundamental right to vote.
Sen. Lisa Gladden and Del. Samuel I. "Sandy" Rosenberg, Baltimore
The writers, both Baltimore Democrats, are the sponsors of Maryland's voter identification law.


text:
Today, I have heard of a news regarding a serious threat from an unknown group. They are actually trying to threat one of the most successful social networking site which is Facebook (FB).
According to the said threat, they aim to 'kill' FB on November 5th. They claim that FB are becoming seriously invasive and that the company sells information that could be used for other purposes to the government agencies. Due to this, they have threatened to shut down the said social networking site.
A few weeks ago, a blog posted a letter from a guy claiming that he is closing down all his social networking accounts for the sake of privacy. His point is that these kind of sites are starting to get most of his private information and so it is needed to be stopped. Now, does FB really does that with our accounts?
A transcription of the announcement* and the original video are below.
Operation Facebook
DATE: November 5, 2011.
TARGET: https://facebook.com
Twitter : https://twitter.com/OP_Facebook
Irc.Anonops.Li #OpFaceBook
Attention citizens of the world,
We wish to get your attention, hoping you heed the warnings as follows:
Your medium of communication you all so dearly adore will be destroyed. If you are a willing hacktivist or a guy who just wants to protect the freedom of information then join the cause and kill facebook for the sake of your own privacy.
Facebook has been selling information to government agencies and giving clandestine access to information security firms so that they can spy on people from all around the world. Some of these so-called whitehat infosec firms are working for authoritarian governments, such as those of Egypt and Syria.
Everything you do on Facebook stays on Facebook regardless of your "privacy" settings, and deleting your account is impossible, even if you "delete" your account, all your personal info stays on Facebook and can be recovered at any time. Changing the privacy settings to make your Facebook account more "private" is also a delusion. Facebook knows more about you than your family. http://www.physorg.com/news170614271.htmlhttp://itgrunts.com/2010/10/07/facebook-steals-numbers-and-data-from-your-iph....
You cannot hide from the reality in which you, the people of the internet, live in. Facebook is the opposite of the Antisec cause. You are not safe from them nor from any government. One day you will look back on this and realise what we have done here is right, you will thank the rulers of the internet, we are not harming you but saving you.
The riots are underway. It is not a battle over the future of privacy and publicity. It is a battle for choice and informed consent. It's unfolding because people are being raped, tickled, molested, and confused into doing things where they don't understand the consequences. Facebook keeps saying that it gives users choices, but that is completely false. It gives users the illusion of and hides the details away from them "for their own good" while they then make millions off of you. When a service is "free," it really means they're making money off of you and your information.
Think for a while and prepare for a day that will go down in history. November 5 2011, #opfacebook . Engaged.
This is our world now. We exist without nationality, without religious bias. We have the right to not be surveilled, not be stalked, and not be used for profit. We have the right to not live as slaves.
We are anonymous
We are legion
We do not forgive
We do not forget
Expect us
Now what are these people thinking? Yes, they may have a point in there, but my stand is people who uses these sites are the one being responsible with their accounts and so FB should not be accused for this.
To be honest, as a programmer, I'm really looking forward to this event. I wonder how on Earth are they going to shut down such a big company like FB... and consider that they have the nerves to threatened them like this. Could there be an inside job (I mean a bug, not a person, that is already on the system) that is just waiting to explode? I can't wait.. :p
* Announcement source was from http://my.opera.com/portalnews/blog/2011/08/10/anonymous-threatens-to-kill-facebook


text:
Search: Advanced search
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|Contact Us
What is the correct sound of taa?
What is the correct sound of ? Does it sound like sort of a 'z' or a heavy dhal?
Thank you for your time.
Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
The does not sound like the , and it is a common mistake that some Muslims make in pronouncing this letter when they pronounce it like a heavy . That is incorrect and changes the letter, so is a major mistake in recitation.
The letter shares the same articulation point as the letters and , and has some of the same characteristics of the letter , such as running of the sound and imprisonment of the breath. The however, has the characteristics of and that differentiate it in sound from the . It has tafkheem (caused from ) and compression of the sound (from the ) and the other two letters that share the articulation point have neither of those characteristics.
It is best to listen to the known mastered reciters of the Qur'an to determine the correct sound of a letter. Sheikh Abdullah Basfar and Sheikh Mahmood Al-Husary are good ones to listen to.
You are welcome.


text:
August 25, 1927 - September 8, 2013
Plattekill, NY
John Barbatsuly, 86, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family with his loyal dogs on his lap. After two years without her, John is finally dancing again with Georgia, his wife of 60 years.
John was born August 25, 1927 in Plattekill to Theodore and Katina Barbatsuly and helped his family run Brookside Farm where he met the love of his life as a young teenager. As one of the early families of Plattekill, John attended the local one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Wallkill High School, which was housed in the current middle school building. John proudly served in the US Army in Germany in 1944, graduated from Cornell University, and taught at New Paltz High School. He married in 1951 and lived locally for four years. He changed to a career of large-scale construction, managing projects including building the NYS Thruway, Idlewild (JFK) Airport, the 1964 World's Fair grounds, and many city highways, bridges, and parks. He made friends everywhere he went, including when they moved to Queens, and then West Hempstead, Long Island, yet he always kept ties to his childhood friends. When he retired, they returned to Plattekill in 1987 and built their dream home uphill from the farmhouse where he grew up. Two daughters made their homes on the "Barbatsuly Compound" as well.
John loved his enormous vegetable garden, always sharing his abundant bounty with all his friends, and virtually everyone who stopped by. He had a large collection of tractors for the property, but more often could be found giving tractor rides to all of the children who visited through the years. He was an avid sportsman and a charter member of the Plattekill Rod and Gun Club. He loved nature so much that he donated land to the Hudson Valley Wildlife Fund so that it would be preserved for generations to enjoy. He shared many hours fishing and hunting with his children and grandchildren, and those catches provided many feasts at the dinner table. John was a lifetime member of the Plattekill Fire Police and participated in every parade. He volunteered at church whenever possible and donated a Christmas tree from his property every year. He went above and beyond to help people, always looking for ways to share his knowledge, skills, time, and tools he might have had in his vast basement stash. If there was a need, John jumped in. He will forever be remembered for his sense of humor, his generous spirit, and loving heart.
Surviving him are their children, Kathrine Gregory and husband Paul (NYC); Parise Northrop and husband John (Plattekill); Ted Barbatsuly and wife Annie (Long Beach, Long Island), and Denise Ackerly and husband Eric (Plattekill); adored grandchildren, Christopher Northrop and John and Elizabeth Ackerly (all of Plattekill); siblings Peter Barbatsuly (Albuquerque, NM) and Helen Paulson (Plattekill); and many loving nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Friday, September 13th from 5-8pm at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Ave., Newburgh. A Trisagion service will take place at 6pm. Funeral service will take place on Saturday, September 14th, at 11:45am at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 19 Fullerton Ave., Newburgh, followed by burial at Friends Cemetery, 386 Old Mill Road, Plattekill.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Plattekill Fire Department, the Plattekill Rod and Gun Club, or your favorite charity.
To send a personal condolence or for further information, please visit www.Brooksfh.com or call 845-561-8300.


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- It is compatible for both iPhone 7PLUS (NOT IPHONE 7 )
- Liquid can move freely,just like the stars floating in the water, will make much fun to you and your friends or children & old.
- Made of hard plastic which is safe and protective, light weight which fits your phone perfectly.
- Humanized design makes our case more useful, you can access all buttons with the case, and the size is comfortable for you to catch.
- A screen protector will come with the case.
This case is very unique and cool. The glitter and hearts float around as the phone is moved around. The case is a bit on the bulky side but it's because it needs to allow room for the liquid inside of it. The buttons work and the camera slot is where it needs to be. The case protects the phone well.
This case is made of a nice hard plastic material so it adds great protection and the clearness is like looking through glass, not at all cheap looking it looks very well designed.


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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas' coaching staff is on the road trying to put the finishing touches on its 2014 signing class.
Meanwhile, one more member of coach Bret Bielema's first Arkansas signing class has left the program.
Wide receiver Melvinson Hartfield revealed on Twitter early Thursday morning he was "no longer a Razorback. But it was fun while it lasted." Arkansas confirmed Hartfield's departure, but didn't provide any specifics about the situation.
Hartfield could not be reached for comment Thursday.
"On with my life I got little ones that looks up to me," Hartfield said via Twitter.
The 5-foot-11, 192-pound receiver was a member of Arkansas' 2013 signing class, but was the last signee to make it to campus. His arrival was delayed for two weeks while he waited to be ruled academically eligible by the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Once Hartfield was cleared, he made an impression on coaches with his speed.
However, it was not enough for Hartfield — who attended South Oak Cliff High in Dallas — to make an impact on the field last fall. He redshirted the 2013 season.
Hartfield became the fifth player to leave the program during or after the 2013 season, joining linebacker A.J. Turner (transferred to Arkansas State), running back Nate Holmes (McNeese State), cornerback Ray Buchanan Jr. (Northern Iowa) and linebacker Myke Tavarres (Incarnate Word). Hartfield and Tavarres were members of Bielema's first Arkansas signing class last winter.
Bielema, who was not available Thursday, said after Buchanan's departure in November other were in the works.
"Those guys are going to leave our program just because depth-wise they're not where they want to be … or being in a program that we're going to hold accountability to the highest level in so many different ways," Bielema said. "If they can't meet that standard, it's best for them to move on."
Hartfield also became the 10th player departure since Bielema's arrival.
Wide receiver Mekale McKay (Cincinnati), quarterback Brandon Mitchell (North Carolina State), receiver Keante Minor, safety Defonta Lowe and defensive end Austin Flynn were released from their scholarships before the 2013 season.


text: myself and two friends are looking for a willing DM in the Worcster Massachusetts area who would be willing to asist us in a campaign. The three of us have very specific characters we would like to create and play. If you are a DM and are interested e-mail me. In the subject line put "DM for your campaign." the only thing we have is our characters, the rest of it would be all your own ideas, we just want to play these characters.


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Academic Honors
Beta Gamma Sigma
This national honor society recognizes the top business and management students in the upper 20 percent of the graduate class. Beta Gamma Sigma recognition is only given to students who attend AACSB International-accredited schools. Beta Gamma Sigma encourages and rewards scholarship, promotes the advancement of high-quality education in business, and fosters integrity in the conduct of business operations. The Dean's Office contacts nominees in April.
Financial Management Association National Honor Society
The Financial Management Association National Honor Society rewards the scholarship and achievement of graduate students who are studying in Finance. To be eligible for membership, a graduate student must have completed one-half of their program and hold a 3.6 or better overall cumulative GPA, and specialize in the financial area. Selection is made during the first month of the fall and spring semesters.
Pi Alpha Alpha
Suffolk has a chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha (PAA), the National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. PAA recognizes and promotes excellence in the study and practice of public affairs and administration. PAA membership identifies those with the highest performance levels in educational programs.


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VV Brown Teams Up With PS22 for New Performances
The acclaimed children's choir at PS22 have given their unique spin on a massive catalog of pop favorites, and teamed up with superstars like Katy Perry and Kylie Minogue for live performances — and now they can add another star to their list of collaborators: British pop act VV Brown.
Brown, who achieved minor stateside success in 2009 with her infectious pop single 'Shark in the Water,' lent her considerable vocal prowess to the kids of PS22, covering that single (from her 2009 album 'Travelling Like the Light') as well as some more recent material. Brown's latest single, 'Children,' which features Chiddy Bang, was a fitting track to get the PS22 take — and they also took the opportunity to perform Brown's new track, 'Famous,' an as-yet-unheard song from her upcoming LP, 'Lollipops and Politics.'
As with all of PS22′s performances, these are heartwarming — but seeing Brown's obvious joy and good-spirited sentiment about teaming up with the kids, and how well her doo-wop pop sounds gets appropriated by the PS22 sound, makes it an unusually fun treat.
Watch VV Brown & PS22, 'Children'
Watch VV Brown & PS22, 'Shark in the Water'
Watch VV Brown & PS22, 'Famous'


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text: You've already picked out the tree wood slices for your centerpieces, but do you know what will go on top? Place a candle inside Kate Aspen's rustic-themed frosted glass votives, which can double as party favors, and you have your answer. These opaque beauties are classically designed and vintage-country chic, blending perfectly into a rustic theme. Choose from the simple but bold arboreal design with a single initial and wedding date, the chalkboard-inspired "Mr. & Mrs." pattern, or the enchanting floral wrap-around with your monograms in a poetic cursive. Facts and features:


text: Lovely Japanese babes with big boobs, hirsute vaginas and all that stuff are presented in great amount in movies on the Hot Japan Porn. These well-stacked babes are extremely obedient, and know what to do in order to be adored by you. Those first-class HD movies are all for free, updated on the constant basis and can be watched 24/7 online. See what miracles Japanese hustlers can work about their bodies, and what effect it has upon their worshippers. First-rate sex oaters with Japanese harlots will be a welcome surprise for you!


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No announcement yet.
ATI R700 Series Gain ALSA HDMI Audio
new posts
What I saw on the Windows forums was that the pre-hotfix drivers worked fine for some folks and badly for others. The change was definitely more than IDs.
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Originally posted by Swoopy View PostAs far as DirectX issues, I'd like to see a list of apps. that trigger that error
As for games it didn't affect all of mine
working -
ETQW, HL1 (and other opengl games I guess)
BF2 was OK - didn't think that was GL
didn't work -
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I installed Catalyst 8-2 for Windows XP 32-bit with my HD 2600 XT AGP and have yet to experience any of the described problems with it. My mobo has a VIA K8T800Pro chipset and 4 GB of RAM.
I have been using the so-called "PCIe-only versions" with my HIS IceQ Turbo HD2600XT AGP 512 MB GDDR3 since release 7-11 (needed to force-install them each time) and apart from some display artifacts in Crysis with version 7-11, have not seen a single DirectX issue.
And I do try.
Of course it's possible that the last supported install, the 7-10 build that came with my card, left some files there that do not get overwritten by the PCIe installs, thus continuing to keep my card working.
I did do a couple of full clean-ups in between driver upgrades though, making that scenario increasingly unlikely.
As far as DirectX issues, I'd like to see a list of apps. that trigger that error (preferrably ones that provide a downloadable demo from a cost-perspective) so I can test whether I really don't have the documented issue.
Regardless of what the devs have said about 8-1 and this hotfix I am still convinced MY (so not "the") only real issue with the Catalyst 32-bit XP drivers is that the inf-file was missing the PCI-IDs of the AGP-based HD2xxx cards.
Interestingly, the "no compatible card found" error also didn't pop up with the Catalyst 8-2 driver, making me believe that it inherited the INF-file entries from the 8-1 hotfix.
A forced driver install solves that missing INF-file bit already in WinXP.
I've seen none of the mentioned "failed to init DirectX" errors pop up with any of the Catalyst drivers I tried in XP, but a sample of one doth not a statistical analysis make, others may have had real issues.
I benchmarked my system thoroughly using 3dMark 2006 with each new driver installation, am convinced any of the Catalyst XP 32-bit drivers work more or less okay with the HD2xxx AGP cards since release 7-10.Last edited by Swoopy; 02-17-2008, 04:04 AM.
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Interesting. One of the posters here (fred ?) seemed to think that his HD2xxx AGP card worked great with Cat 8.2 under Windows. I haven't been paying a lot of attention to the Windows releases recently
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I am aware of the hotfix. The Catalyst 8.2 for Windows (080122), which has a more current codebase than the Catalyst 8.1 Hotfix (080116) does still have the same problems with AGP. But I am sure that the fix will be included in the Catalyst 8.3 release, at least for the Windows one.
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I believe the RV6xx IDs were added back in November. The same new version of ALSA that enabled 600 should also work for the RV6xx parts.
re: AGP, legume is correct. There was a few months of work that resulted in the hotfix for Windows in January, and now we are doing similar work for the Linux driver.Last edited by bridgman; 02-16-2008, 02:36 PM.
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Probably not a fglrx issue, because the Windows driver has huge AGP problems for some months, too, like DirectX applications not working at all etc. as far as I know. But I am not 100% sure about this one.
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Too bad that there products are behind Intel/NVidia :/
AGP support
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Most of all I like (NOT!) the attention that the RV6xx cards aren't getting, such as similar ALSA support (none available afaik), or AGP support (woops, sorry, we 'forgot', be back with you in a few months or so ....)
Did anybody including their manufacturer just forgot the R6xx chipsets they released?
I realise they've got to put some backing behind the new cards being released but come on ATI/AMD, don't forget the stuff you churned out just 6 to 12 months ago!!!
-note to self: there is ALSA support for R600. RTFR!!-Last edited by Swoopy; 02-16-2008, 08:16 AM.
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I really like what AMD is doing lately OpenSource wise. Too bad that there products are behind Intel/NVidia :/
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Robson header enough for Cumbrians
A second-minute goal from Matty Robson was enough for Carlisle to beat Coventry 1-0 at a snowy Brunton Park and end the Sky Blues' record run of six away wins in a row.
Carlisle spent much of the second half defending their lead, although Robson almost had a second in the six minutes of added time when he hit the crossbar with goalkeeper Joe Murphy struggling to get back in position.
Carlisle's first attack saw them take the lead as Jon-Paul McGovern's cross from wide on the right was met by Robson and his header from eight yards looped past Murphy into the top right-hand corner - the winger's seventh goal of the season.
John Fleck missed a clear chance to put Coventry level when he fired across the face of goal from well inside the area, then Franck Moussa was unlucky to see his deflected 25-yard strike beat Mark Gillespie but bounce back off a post.
However, Carlisle had their share of attacking in a lively first half and it took an instinctive save from Murphy to deny Brad Potts when the Carlisle midfielder was put through one-on-one by an adroit Liam Noble pass.
Carlisle were down to nine men for a time after the break, with debutant Sean O'Hanlon and Chris Chantler off the field having treatment for head cuts, and the home side were forced to defend ever deeper as the Sky Blues applied late pressure.
Leon Clarke had their best chance in the 80th minute when Blair Adams picked him out at the far post, but the unmarked striker got in a tangle with his header which he put wide from inside the six-yard box.
Source: PA
Source: PA


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With The Amazing Spider-Man getting released on Blu-ray/DVD November 9, earlier today I was able to sit down with director Marc Webb for an exclusive video interview. Webb recently signed on to direct the Spider-Man sequel and news broke this morning that Jamie Foxx is going to play the villain Electro, so the timing of this interview couldn't have been better.
During our wide ranging conversation we talked about his appreciation for Jamie Foxx, his thoughts on the financial success of the film, why he cut out certain scenes, how Peter Parker's parents will be a serial element over the course of the trilogy (he said "I need to leave some juice for the second movie"), what kind of deal he made with 20th Century Fox to get to do the Spidey sequel, and more. In addition, with Webb hard at work on the sequel, he revealed why he wanted Electro as the villain, how Oscorp plays a big role in the Spider-Man universe, how they're revising the Spider-Man suit, that they're shooting entirely in New York City, they may use some new techniques for the 3D, but no matter what the sequel will be released in 3D, he is in a "testing phase" with IMAX, and I tried to find out how many villains will be in the film and how large a role Mary Jane Watson plays. Hit the jump for more.
Since many of you like to read transcripts rather than video, here's a few choice quotes followed by the time index of the interview and the video. If you have the time, I strongly suggest watching the video, as you can hear me attempt to get a lot of sequel news.
How Peter Parker's parents are important to the grand arc of the trilogy:
"[The story with the parents] is the long shadow that's cast over the three films. I want these films to have a serialized component, and there's a slow burn to that. I need to leave some juice for the second movie. That was one of the more exciting things about creating Spider-Man, was that I could create more than one and there was a serialized component to it."
What he learned from making the first movie that he'll bring to the sequel:
"We're taking it one at a time. I think one of the things I've learned… There are a lot of things that are harder than it seems, like designing the suit, for example. We're doing some revising on that. We're making some cool improvements on the suit. Just how it was surprising to me when I made (500) Days of Summer it was completely under the radar, you know what I mean? There were no paparazzi around snapping pictures of the set. As we were shooting the movie, you realize just how big and curious the audience is for Spider-Man, how everybody feels a sense of ownership. And it's really wonderful! That curiosity is pretty fantastic and inspiring, just to see how much people care about the character. It was staggering. It was overwhelming."
Why Oscorp is important to Webb's Spider-Man universe:
"When I was thinking about the universe as a whole—and I talked about this with [screenwriter] Jamie Vanderbilt way back in the day—that all crazy stuff in this universe emerges from Oscorp. Oscorp predates Spider-Man and Peter Parker. His parents were involved in some way. And Oscorp represents… The building itself, there was something iconic about it. To me it's like the Tower of Babel, which is this testament to man's hubris. Peter's relationship will evolve with it over time. That was really one of the central components, one of the pieces that tied all these stories together, this relationship with Oscorp."
So why Electro?
"I think Electro is an incredibly visual, exciting, dangerous villain. There is a lot of appealing stuff that is going to happen as the world emerges."
Where they are at in production:
"The script's done. We're doing little tweaks here and there for characters and locations. But it's done and it's fantastic. I feel really, really good about it."
- Talks about his appreciation for Jamie Foxx from In Living Color up to Django Unchained
- 1:00 – Webb focuses on telling the story, but financial success is nice because it gives you more leeway with the studio.
- 2:10 – Says the editing process is a continuation of writing. He cut some scenes because they were redundant or no longer fit what he wanted from the film, including the scenes that delved deeper into Spider-Man's origins.
- 4:00 – Talks specifically about how the story with Peter Parker's parents will be a serial element over the course of the trilogy. "I need to leave some juice for the second movie."
- 4:40 – Explains his deal to make another Spider-Man for Sony when he owes Fox at least one movie.
- 5:00 – Right now he's just working on Amazing Spider-Man 2 with the likely option to come back for another sequel. They are revising the suit from the first movie.
- 6:20 – Webb likes how "all the crazy stuff in this universe emerges from Oscorp." He likens Oscorp Tower to the Tower of Babel.
- 7:30 – Why Electro? "I think Electro is an incredibly visual, exciting, dangerous villain."
- 8:00 – Webb declines to talk about how many villains will be in the sequel or how big of a presence Mary Jane will have.
- 8:30 – The script is done. They will shoot in entirely in New York. They may use some new techniques for the 3D, but no matter what, the sequel will be released in 3D.
- 9:00 – He is in a "testing phase" with IMAX. He won't shoot with IMAX cameras, but wants to reach for that visual and audio experience with non-IMAX equipment.


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On rare birds.
Sydney: UNSW Press, 2011. Octavo, colour and black and white illustrations, dustwrapper. In this illustrated book, Anita Albus recounts the sad histories of several extinct bird species, including the Passenger pigeon, the Carolina parakeet, and the Great auk. She gives a detailed account of six rare birds: the Hermit ibis..... More


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(Pocket-lint) - The headphones that come in the box when you get your iPhone are all well and good, in that they work at least. They're not really much kop though. What you need is a decent pair of buds, that still have the remote and microphone functions you'll need to operate the iPod aspect of your device. And that's exactly what Scosche has produced with the IDR655m earbuds.
The buds are of the in-ear variety and in the box you'll get six different sized silicone tips - small, medium and large in both single and dual flanged styles. Chances are then, that you're going to get some inserts that fit your lugholes nicely - the medium single flanged ones worked best for us.
The IDR655m buds come with Scosche's Tapline remote control, with its multi-function button (MFB) along with dual volume buttons. The MFB is pretty straightforward to get the hang of - one tap to play or pause, a double tap to skip forward, triple tap for previous track and so on. The MFB is also setup for the iPhone's multi-call features and a long hold will also activate the iOS voice control.
So, it's got a decent remote control, but hey - that's a feature you'd expect for some earbuds at a fraction of what you'd pay for the IDR655m. So what are you paying for then?
Well, it's the audio quality. Scosche claims that these buds are: "Increased Dynamic Range earphones that accurately reproduce brilliant highs, silky smooth mids and powerful bass for all musical genres. These audiophile grade earphones have been designed by audio enthusiasts for audio enthusiasts that want to get the most out of their music".
So do they? In a word yes. The quality is clear as soon as you start playing your favourite tunes. The sound is rich, with a nice fluid feeling to it, plenty of definition and very little (if any) tinniness. There's very little distortion when music is played at loud levels. In fact, the big drum intro to Bloc Party's Banquet was handled very efficiently with a very crisp sound.
We tested how it handled bass using a few Kutt Calhoun tunes and we weren't disappointed. The bass was booming - so much so on full volume we could almost feel the vibration on the seat we were sitting on.
For acoustic tunes, we tested the IDR665m buds on a couple of Jack Johnson tunes. For a straight up acoustic-song like Banana Pancakes, with little bass, the sound was crisp and the mid-level vocals sounded good. However, Inaudible Melodies, which does have a heavy bass-line, suffered with vibration at high volume. Although this was improved slightly by altering the iPod's EQ settings, it didn't handle a mix of bass and treble levels as well as we would have liked.
Looks wise, these buds are very stylish. They have a minimal, silver and black finish and the cable is a 52-inch black, nylon covered one that makes a nice change from traditional cabling. In the box, you'll get a nice little brown leather pouch to keep your Scosche earbuds in - and there is also a crocodile clip to keep the microphone in place and reduce cable movement.
Overall, we were generally impressed by the IDR655m headphones. They performed as well as similar priced earbuds from the likes of Sony and Sennheiser and, when you consider you are also getting the Tapline remote functionalities as well, then you're looking at a good deal.
The most important feature of any earphones is how they perform in the sound department though, and these buds from Scosche performed well. Nearly all songs sounded as the music technicians would have intended - the only problems we encountered was that some acoustic songs did suffer with some vibration at loud levels when there was too much bass.
Overall, if you're looking for a high-quality replacement to the standard Apple offering, without paying more than your device is actually worth, then you could do worse than to consider the Scosche IDR655m earbuds.


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Today's device manufacturers face conflicting demands: Get the product out the door. Minimize development cost. Meet ever-changing customer requirements. Certify your device. The list goes on. Add the fact that most development organizations are constantly in flux with staff (in-house or contracted developers), development tools and processes, number and complexity of projects, requirements, and standards they must meet, and you can almost taste the stress.
If your company is typical, you can see the usual "fight or flight" reaction at all levels of your organization. A poignant Dilbert cartoon pictured one manager pointing his finger at his team and dictating that his engineers "just code while he goes out and figures out the requirements." Unfortunately, this rush to market is a common driver for poor code quality.
Some managers give lip service to quality code, but when push comes to shove, they're willing to sacrifice quality for time to market. The pressure on developers can cause problems from the other direction, where they feel they have to shortcut their development or testing process to meet a schedule. To heck with coding standards, requirements traceability, or testing -- finish coding.
Either way, the result is disastrous.
Today, the pressure is on for software organizations in safety- and security-critical markets to ensure their software does not fail. No security vulnerabilities. No hazards due to poor coding practices or insufficiently tested code. And, depending on your sector, you may now also need to certify and/or qualify your code under safety standards such as DO-178 (aerospace), IEC 61508 (industrial), EN 50128 (rail), IEC 62304 (medical), or ISO 26262 (automotive).
How can you manage all of this on top of meeting requirements, budget, and schedule? Effective requirements management and verification is key. Gone are the days when you could manage requirements and verification manually.
We're all tired of hearing how system complexity is skyrocketing. It's not news. Most engineers in these critical markets want help taking care of the mundane but important "stuff" so they can do a better job of architecting and implementing the right solution. Give them affordable and easy-to-use tools that help keep track of -- and trace -- requirements to design, code, verification plans, procedures, and results. Automate the process of checking code against coding standards, generating test cases and harnesses, executing regression tests, recording results, and generating documentation.
Let the engineers focus on what they do best, engineering safety- and security-critical solutions, so we can depend on those medical devices, our industrial control systems, military systems, smart grids, automobile adaptive cruise control systems, and the avionics and flight controls in planes that take us on vacation.
Just a thought. What do you think? Tell us in the comments section below.
Jim McElroy, vice president of marketing at LDRA Technology, is focused on expanding LDRA business in the embedded software verification market by improving developer productivity and software quality in critical application development.
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The Second Committee of the 48th session of the UN General Assembly considered the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of UNCED and other environmental matters on Friday, 19 November, Tuesday, 23 November and Wednesday, 24 November 1993. The Committee reviewed the report of the Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (A/48/479), which contains a summary of the progress made to date and a copy of the Chair's negotiating text. Jean-Pierre Levy, Director of the Office for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, presented the report on the two sessions of the Conference. He noted that the results of the Conference should fit within the context of the Law of the Sea. He summarized the work during the Conference's substantive session.
In the debate that followed, Argentina, among others, reiterated the belief that the Conference should be consistent with the Law of the Sea Convention. Ecuador, Tunisia, and the Republic of Korea all spoke on aspects of regional considerations. Canada supported a legally-binding regime that sets out conservation and management measures for conservation of fish stocks, surveillance and control of fishing practices, an enforcement regime and compulsory binding dispute mechanisms. Papua New Guinea said there is a need for fisheries reform and ecologically sound conservation within EEZs and on the high seas. Trinidad and Tobago, on behalf of Caricom, along with China, said that there can be no effective global network to preserve fisheries resources without the full participation of developing countries. Cape Verde called for a timely response on the issues of mechanisms for international cooperation, flag State responsibility, port State enforcement and compatibility and coherence between national and international conservation measures for the same stocks.
[Return to start of article]


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The wait is almost over -- "Boardwalk Empire" will debut Sept. 19 at 9 pm Eastern, says the press release that just hit our in-box.
"Boardwalk Empire" stars Steve Buscemi getting a too rare lead role as Nucky Thompson, the notorious 1920s gangster/county treasurer who built Atlantic City, for good or ill. The first episode was directed by a young upstart named Martin Scorsese.
Buscemi leads a cast as good as you'd expect from a show with Martin Scorsese serving as executive producer (he also directed the pilot), with Kelly Macdonald ("No Country for Old Men"), Michael Shannon ("The Runaways"), Michael K. Williams (Omar from "The Wire"), Dabney Coleman and Michael Stuhlbarg ("A Serious Man") among the supporting players.
U.S. & World
Former "Sopranos" writer Terence Winter developed the series based on Nelson Johnson's book "Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City.
Watch the trailer and get stoked with us.


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Today we backup Font Book Fonts.
This episode will only take 1 minute and 45 seconds of your time.
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AT&T urging all runners and spectators to take pledge never to text and drive, and experience AT&T's "Txtng & Drivng: It Can Wait" in-car simulator
BOSTON, MASS., APRIL 8, 2013 — AT&T* is making it easier than ever to stay connected during Boston Marathon weekend, offering a host of free features to help athletes and spectators experience the 2013 Boston Marathon. AT&T is once again proud to be the Official Wireless Provider of the 117th Boston Marathon.
AT&T will also educate runners and fans on the importance of using their smartphones safely by urging everyone in Boston for marathon weekend to take a pledge never to text and drive. This is all part of AT&T's ongoing "Txtng & Drivng: It Can Wait" campaign to educate drivers on the dangers of texting while driving.
AT&T will bring its in-car texting simulator to City Hall Plaza on Sunday, April 14 from 4:30 to 7 p.m., during the Boston Athletic Association's annual pre-race dinner; and to the family meeting area on Marathon Monday, April 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (The family meeting area is located on St. James Avenue and Stuart Street, from Berkeley to Clarendon Streets.) The car simulator allows participants to sit in the driver's seat of a real car, put on a virtual-reality headset and attempt to text while "driving."
"AT&T is making it easy for marathon runners and fans to stay connected throughout marathon weekend, whether that means tracking your favorite runners during the race or calling your friends and family from the finish line," said Steve Krom, vice president and general manager, AT&T New England. "We're also excited to share our 'It Can Wait' message with runners and fans, and hope that everyone in Boston will take the pledge never to text and drive."
AT&T will once again offer a host of free features to help keep runners and spectators connected during Marathon weekend. This will include:
· AT&T Athlete Alert: Marathon fans who want to track the progress of their friends and family, or their favorite elite runner, can get updates sent to their mobile phone or email, in real-time. AT&T is once again the Exclusive Sponsor of the AT&T Athlete Alert Program. Signing up is easy. Simply text RUNNER to 345678 and get signed up to receive course updates on your runner. AT&T will also provide tablets at the AT&T Athlete Alert Station at the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo during race weekend for those who want to sign up for the alerts. You can also sign up for text or email alerts online at www.baa.org. Program sign-up is available now. Online registration closes on Sunday, April 14 at 6 p.m., but AT&T is providing registration via mobile phone throughout the marathon duration. Updates will be sent when your runner reaches the start, 10K, half marathon, 30K mark, and from the finish line. (Normal text message rates apply.)
· *NEW THIS YEAR* Marathon mobile app: Runners and fans can use the B.A.A.'s new mobile app – the Official Boston Marathon App, powered by AT&T – to learn about the race and competitors. App users can select up to 10 runners to track and receive updates as those runners reach the 10K mark in Framingham, the 13.1-mile mark in Wellesley Center, the 30K mark on the Newton Hills, the finish line – or any combination of those four markers. Text APP to 345678 to receive a link to download the app. Plus, show your download on race weekend at the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo and receive a complimentary 2013 Boston Marathon Skin for your mobile device, courtesy of AT&T (while supplies last).
· *NEW THIS YEAR* Commemorative Sunday finish line photos: Runners and spectators alike can head down to the Boylston Street finish line on Sunday, April 14 from 1 to 5 p.m. to have a commemorative photo taken, courtesy of AT&T. Photos will either be texted or emailed, and fans will also receive a free photo magnet frame to showcase their snapshot.
· AT&T Text 2 Screen: Friends and family can also cheer on their runner with AT&T's Text 2 Screen. Just text a message to 567890 and your message will appear on screens along the course and at the finish line.
· Free calling stations: AT&T will offer three free calling stations for finishers in the family meeting area to help runners contact their loved ones after the race by phone or text. The calling centers will be on Clarendon, St. James and Stuart streets.
· Free Wi-Fi: AT&T will provide free Wi-Fi to its customers at the start line of the 117th Boston Marathon in Hopkinton and at the finish line on Boylston Street.
Plus, marathon spectators will be able to call, tweet, text, and upload photos from the course on the nation's – and New England's – largest 4G** network and the nation's largest Wi-Fi network***.
AT&T's blazing-fast 4G LTE wireless network was recently singled out for speed by the Seattle-based mobile research and testing firm RootMetrics® (4G LTE Performance Review, March 2013). Additionally, AT&T was named winner of the combined RootMetrics RootScore® Award for overall call, text and mobile Internet performance in Boston in October, 2012.
* AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
** Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Claim based on a comparison of U.S. national carriers' average 4G LTE download speeds for Android™ and Windows smartphones and iPhone 5. 4G speeds not available everywhere.
**** A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.


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This article is from the archive of our partner .
Healthcare.gov, the struggling federal healthcare startup, finally cleared 1 million users in the month of December, federal officials announced Sunday morning, acknowledging a milestone that falls short of original goals.
Over the last three months, from October 1 to December 24, more than 1.1 million people enrolled in a new qualified healthcare plan using Healthcare.gov, Marilyn Tavenner, the head of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, announced Sunday. The numbers break down probably won't surprise you if you have followed these stories closely: more than 975,000 enrolled in December alone. Part of that surge in sign-ups — only 27,000 enrolled in October, or 137,000 in November — can be attributed to the now (mostly) functional website, and the panic to sign up before the first coverage deadline.
The administration originally planned to have 7 million people registered for federal healthcare by the end of March. That goal seems lofty now, as they may not even clear half of that at the rate registrations are going.
Of course, there's always a catch. The numbers announced Sunday don't include those signed up through the 14 state-run exchanges, so we don't know if Oregon still sucks. (We're pulling for you, Oregon!) But now the administration has to process a flood of new applications before January 1, when the first registration deadline kicks in and the actual coverage begins. All things considered, the odds of this going smoothly are slim.
This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to email@example.com.


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Retro Racing for iPhone and iPad: New Top-Down Formula 1 Racer from Veteran Amiga Developer
If a racing game is defiantly old school, can it still work in the era of intense visuals and hi-def realism? That's a question Retro Racing sets out to answer, with 16-bit graphics, responsive controls, and fiendish AI opponents. Coded by veteran Amiga developer Mr. Qwak (Nitro, ATR), it's a zippy little number and no mistake.


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Busted stuff: Some broken things in town
Yeah, yeah, Charlottesville is pretty great, and it won't be long before every last man, woman, and child in the nation knows it, thanks to all those darn Best-Place-to-Live lists that keep putting our town on top. So, sure, it's great. But it's not perfect– and we've dug up a bunch of busted stuff to prove it. So if you're reading this article out in, like, Akron, or something, and you're one of those supposed millions thinking about moving to Charlottesville, you might want to think again... after all, we do have a Hardee's with boarded up windows, you know. And there's that little naked boy statue that's been broken, like, forever. (Poor little guy!) And how about those buckling bricks on the Downtown Mall? Unbearable! So quit your packing and keep on reading... Akron's starting to look pretty nice, doncha think?
Empty burger barn
It's been nearly a year since the Hardee's on Ivy Road fell upon, uh, hard-ee times. Jennifer Riner, night manager at Hardee's Route 29 location, reported last summer that the chain had decided to close the Ivy Road location because "the price went up." So what's going on with the plywood-covered windows and the weeds, which could earn the owner a citation if they surpass 18 inches?
That's a little hard to say. The owner of the building, Esther Coopersmith, is a well-known Washington, D.C. philanthropist and staunch supporter of Israel. (She has even given deluxe kosher dinners in her home for countless international figures, including former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.)
Coopersmith, reached at home, could not provide information on the vacant Hardee's space, and referred the Hook to Gerry Franklin, of the D.C.-based management and leasing firm, Holladay Corp., which manages the property.
Franklin reports the building has been leased to a restaurant, though she didn't know what the name would be. She promised a call from one of the new restaurant owners, but that call did not come in by press time.
On Friday, June 11, the logo of Bodo's, Charlottesville's home-grown bagel micro-chain, suddenly appeared on the plywood. Charlottesvillians know better than to raise their hopes on speedy Bodovian arrivals. A sign went up on the UVA Corner in the spring of 1995. Nine years later, the shop is outfitted– but unopened, despite this year's widespread April Fool's joke proclaiming it open. Could this be another ruse? Despite that fact that it's a restaurant building that seems to fit the Bodo's formula: accessible parking-rich, with no drive-thru window, Bodo's owner Brian Fox pleads his innocence.
"It's really a riot," says Fox. "It's crazy– people go to so much trouble."
Oh, well.
Sand storms on Main Street
When Gabe Silverman and partner Allan Cadgene announced they were going to purchase the Amtrak property back in 1993, four years before actually buying the site, they had big plans for the dusty parking lot. In a joint venture with the city, Silverman and Cadgene hoped to add six additional buildings along the south side of the street.
Using part of a nearly $763,000 federal transportation grant– called ISTEA – Silverman says they completely revamped the infrastructure of the property, adding drainage lines and electrical systems to support the planned construction. Then, in 2001, the plans with the city soured, and, Silverman says, additional federal transit grants were redirected to plans for a new transit center close to Coran Capshaw's planned downtown amphitheater project.
Though the Amtrak site is for sale, says Silverman, he and Cadgene are planning to go ahead with a $200,000 paving job. "We're waiting on approval from the city," says Silverman. "It's going to happen."
As for his relationship with the city, Silverman claims there's no animosity. "It was just a business deal that didn't work."
Flooded house bankrupted him
When a collapsed storm drain caused a flood in Ken and Heidi Vanderford's North Berkshire Road house last summer, they were left with two major problems: The city wasn't responsible for the crumbling infrastructure, and the water that poured into their house left major mold.
Nearly a year later, the house has been condemned, the storm drains have not been fixed in a neighborhood with a history of flooding, and Ken Vanderford is bankrupt.
Charlottesville will pay up to 75 percent of the drain repair– if all the affected neighbors agree to pony up for the remaining 25 percent. Three have, but the new storm drain won't go in until the Vanderford house is demolished.
City Building Maintenance Code Official Jerry Tomlin condemned the house as a "public nuisance" because of the mold. "It's structurally sound but definitely constitutes a health hazard," he says. He wants City Council to approve its removal.
As for the Vanderfords, they lost everything in their pursuit of the American home ownership dream– and have to be out of the rental they've been in on Ellerslie Farm– recently purchased by Patricia Kluge and Bill Moses– by the end of this month.
The incredible shrinking reservoir
The area's major water supply is in big long-term trouble. Because of sedimentation, the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir is losing 15 million gallons of capacity a year. When constructed in 1966, its 1,700-million-gallons seemed more than ample.
Its location, soil, and the streams coming into it make it "very susceptible to erosion," says Jennifer Whitaker, chief engineer at Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority. "Over the next 50 years, if it continues to lose 15 million gallons a year, that's substantial." RWSA is looking at several options: watershed protection, dam bladders to increase capacity, and– the biggie– dredging.
The dreads about dredging are that it's very expensive, and one good storm could quickly re-silt an already dredged area, according to Whitaker.
There's another option certain to be controversial: an alternative water supply. That could mean expansion of the Rivanna Reservoir, and authorities are sure to dredge up the Buck Mountain reservoir, which is sort of like the western U.S. 29 bypass. It may be on the books, but many doubt it will ever be built.
Perhaps there's one consolation for future generations who will have to grapple with finding water: "An alternative water supply is not as much money to maintain," says Whitaker.
The South Fork Rivanna Reservoir is filling up– and not with water.
Half-pipe at skate park
It was the centerpiece of the skate park, and now, says Freestyle skate shop's Duane Brown, "there's a big hole."
The "mini-ramp," which was actually the largest feature of the skate park at the corner of McIntire and 250 is "a little bit beyond broken," says Brown. Because it was made from donated materials that weren't pressure-treated, Brown says "it became non-repairable."
As for a replacement, Brown says that's up to the city's recreation department, which handles upkeep of the park.
"They have some things in the works," Brown says. "I put together a proposal for them, but it all depends what they want to do." According to Brown, there's a willing ramp donor, but the city would have to eat the expense of getting it moved.
Johnny Ellam, in the city's recreation department, could not be reached. But Brown says he hopes something happens quickly.
"Attendance is down," he says.
US 29 Bypass
It's been well over a decade since the Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization, in conjunction with VDOT, inked the final plan for the Route 29 bypass. But despite the fact that Governor Warner just signed a bill that would require Charlottesville to either build the road immediately or return the estimated $40-60 million the state has spent planning and acquiring land, it seems like the bypass is so unlikely to happen in our lifetimes that it might just as easily be called Meadowcreek Junior.
While our neighbors to the south– Lynchburg and Danville– are hoping against hope that the bypass is built to keep trucks streaming north to south, some local residents think the project should be buried permanently– even if the money has to be repaid.
Perhaps none feel quite so strongly about it as do residents of Squirrel Ridge, an Earlysville neighborhood that abuts the Rivanna Reservoir, and that has suffered under the impending bypass.
"It's affected the neighborhood dramatically," says Paula Keeney, who moved there 15 years ago when the final bypass route was one of 11 possibilities.
"We figured it was the least likely to be picked," says Keeney, "because it did the least amount of good for the traffic situation."
But picked it was, and since then VDOT has purchased fully one-third of the 21 or 22 homes in the neighborhood. Those houses, once owner occupied, are now rental units, as are several others.
Henry Damgaard was one of the VDOT's first tenants, moving to the neighborhood about seven years ago. VDOT is a "great" landlord, says Damgaard who expresses no concern that the bypass will be built anytime soon. "It's decades away, if ever," he chuckles. "At 40 million dollars a mile, the government has better things to spend its money on," he says.
As for the recent bill that would require the county to pay back any money VDOT has spent on the project, Damgaard says he thinks that may be "somewhat of an idle threat," since real estate values have soared since VDOT had to purchase right-of-ways.
Keeney, whose husband Ron is the president of the Squirrel Ridge Neighborhood Association and sits on the MPO's 29 Bypass Committee, says with the project still a possibility– however remote– it's impossible to sell a Squirrel Ridge home without taking a financial hit.
"You feel like you're being held hostage," she says.
Chiang House going to the dogs
When Teppanyaki hot spot Chiang House became a real hot spot, burning to the ground back in March 2002, owner Jong Chiang vowed to rebuild as soon as his insurance money came through. Two years have come and gone, however, and there's not a sign of construction to be seen at the now paved-over site.
So what gives? Will the koi swim again? Will the flashing knives slice and dice once more?
Jong Chiang could not be reached– in fact, the Sevierville, Tennessee, Chiang House is under new ownership, and there's no answer at the Harrisonburg Chiang House. But according to Joe Klodzinski in the Albemarle County zoning department, there may be food served once again– just not for humans.
Stanley Jacobson, of the Michigan-based PSP Ventures (dba Pet Supplies Plus) has filed an application with the Architectural Review Board for a new location for Pet Supplies Plus, which is currently located at the corner of Hydraulic and Route 29 next to Blockbuster. The company has more than 180 locations in 21 states.
And while he may no longer be proprietor of the business on his land, Chiang shouldn't be shedding any tears: he's sitting on paved-over gold. In just two years, the assessed value of the 1.072-acre property rose from $671,000 in 2001 to $894,700– and that's without the building.
Naked boy statue: MIA
The "naked boy" statue, as he was affectionately known, became a fixture of the Downtown Mall after he was commissioned in the mid-1980s. Damaged by vandals in 1998, he is still missing from the Mall.
Charlottesville sculptor Steven Strumlauf earned around $10,000 for making the bronze sculpture, and after the vandalism, the City paid him to restore it. He even lined up a benefactor to buy a new stone base.
But then the City dropped the 250-pound bronze like a heavy hot potato. Apparently no one wants to pick it up again, either. "There's nobody there who considers it their job to work on it," says Strumlauf.
"At various times," says Strumlauf, "various people have attempted to get through the City bureaucracy."
Strumlauf says he was told several years ago that the impending renovation of the pedestrian Mall's bricks made the City reluctant to bring the naked boy back downtown.
"So he's just happily sitting in my yard," says the artist.
City Republicans lose big
For a brief instant in recent Charlottesville history, it looked like the Democratic headlock on City Council was broken when Republican Rob Schilling was elected to Council in 2002.
It was a fluke.
Republicans fielded two candidates this year who got trounced. Maybe it didn't help that candidate Kenneth Jackson had four convictions for assault and battery, and newcomer Ann Reinicke flubbed a forum question that made her appear to support teaching creationism as part of science classes.
Perhaps the real root of the problem is that the Republicans ran a last-minute, poorly organized campaign, while the Dems, stung by the Schilling victory, got the machine well oiled and back on track. It showed in the final tallies. The Democratic candidates each pulled in over 3,000 votes; Reinicke was the top Republican vote getter at a distant 1,782 votes.
Ann Reinicke
Kenneth Jackson
Antebellum Birdwood needs a lift
Built between 1819 and 1830 for gentleman farmer William Garth, Birdwood has been home to other notables including Hollis Rinehart, the man who built the Wachovia building and the Paramount Theater back in the 1930s. Now owned by UVA, Birdwood is on the National Register for Historic Places. But, as a recent visit revealed, it might also make a National Register for Rundown Places.
The sad condition of this magnificent antebellum home is apparent in the paint peeling from the doric columns that grace the entrance, and in wallpaper lifting up in great waterstained flaps. The roof needs replacing, and, according to a building inspector on site the day of the Hook's visit, the floors may need some work as well.
That may or may not happen, says Ken Stroupe, executive director of the Larry Sabato-founded Center for Politics, which would like to make its home there.
"It's a dream, a goal for the center," says Stroupe, who explains that the center is "actively working" with the university to raise the necessary funds.
That fund raising is no small task, however. Stroupe says that the last estimate on the property– conducted in 1996– placed the expense of bringing it into the 21st century at a whopping five to seven million dollars. Add inflation and the increased cost of construction in the past eight years, and Stroupe says "it would be upwards of seven million to get it to be used as an office space."
Donations, anyone?
Café No Problem: under contract?
Since 1995, the site of the former Galerie restaurant at U.S. 250 west and Route 240 outside Crozet has been a gutted eyesore. Richard Cooper's dream of a Southern coastal-style restaurant west of town collided with county regulations– after he'd torn apart the building– and the shell has sat like that since.
Cooper battled the county for three years before finally getting his permits for Café No Problem. Unfortunately, by that time, he'd run out of money to start what by then was dubbed "Café Big Problem." The property has been on and off the market since, most recently last fall.
The spot, zoned commercial, and just outside of the Crozet growth area, would seem an ideal location for an eatery.
The Hook caught up with Cooper while he was on the golf course at Birdwood. "Praise God it's under contract," Cooper says, but otherwise remains mum about details such as closing date, buyer, and plans for the site.
But surely those who drive by the derelict corner on an Albemarle County entrance corridor everyday will also be thinking, "Praise God."
Downtown Mall bricks a-poppin'
Why would the builders of the Downtown Mall use a flawed system– mortared bricks to create a pedestrian paradise?
"People thought it looked cleaner," says Peter Farrell, a local stone mason.
It didn't stay cleaner. Nearly thirty years after its 1976 opening, the Mall has a brick surface that is cracked, buckled, and facing a repair bill that could top a million dollars.
Farrell explains bricks and mortar walkways will eventually fail because they're too rigid to expand and contract without damage. Moreover, they ride on top of a concrete slab that traps water.
"Bricks, mortar, and concrete– you have three separate elements that you're trying to make one," says Farrell. "But the freeze and thaw cycle allows water to get in. The water has incredible force when it freezes and will pop the bricks up."
By 1994, Charlottesville planners seemed to understand this physics lesson when they rebuilt a short stretch of Third Street, SE, between the Mall and the Water Street Parking Deck. This time they used the "dry-laid" method and swept sand between new concrete pavers.
Is it ever okay to do a wet-laid sidewalk?
"You could get away with it in Florida and maybe up to Georgia," says Farrell. "In Virginia, we have a wide and varied range of temperatures."
Ivy Rest Stop
For travelers heading over Afton Mountain toward Charlottesville, the Ivy Rest Stop is the first bathroom for the eastbound. But for almost two years, it's been closed– leading, perhaps, to a lot of bulging bladders.
Heavy rains in November 2002 damaged the sewage system and the building that houses it, says VDOT spokesperson Jim Jennings. A firm called Versar Inc. has a $100,450 contract to repair the damage and reopen the rest stop by late fall.
What won't change, Jennings says, is the novel waste-treatment system that has been operating the toilets for at least 15 years.
In that rural area, far from the urban sewage treatment facilities, the Ivy Rest Stop (which is located closer to Crozet than Ivy) is the only one in Virginia using a system that circulates mineral oil instead of water. Another in New Kent was converted to a conventional system.
Robert Claunch was an aerospace executive with Chrysler Corporation when the Navy asked him to find a way to keep waste from destroyers from fouling harbors and rivers. "You've got 1,000 people on board, and that generates a lot of waste," says Claunch.
Now 76 and living in Diamondhead, Mississippi, Claunch says he was working at a NASA facility near New Orleans in 1969 when someone spotted a barrel of leftover mineral oil. "We'd shake it up and see how it separated," says Claunch. "Of course, we'd use coffee grounds and water before we graduated to human waste."
With a patented system featuring carbon and clay filters, a few hundred gallons of mineral oil can handle about 10,000 toilet users per day, says the inventor. So how does it work?
"You know that old story," says Claunch, "that oil and water don't mix."
Quirk, not angst
By now, fair reader, you have noticed that this list of broken things is an assemblage of quirky, mostly physical afflictions in our community. It's not meant to say that there is no social injustice in Albemarle. Anyone trying to buy a house knows how difficult it is to acquire Charlottesville real estate on Charlottesville wages. Many times, the Hook has published stories about allegations of racial profiling, pricey real estate, and education issues. This is not one of those times.–editor


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How Your Kids Can Have a Global Scavenger Hunt Without Leaving Home
Do your kids like scavenger hunts?
Would you like to take them around the world without the cost?
Get ready for a scavenger hunt like no other.
Your kids discover fascinating facts about places like Antarctica, the Seven Wonders of the World or a real castle!
Looking all over the globe for unique and unusual places is as easy as a few clicks of the mouse or a few taps on the touchscreen.
In this article I'll show you how to "visit" some of the world's most famous and beautiful landmarks with your kids using Google Earth, keep a personal travel journal of your discoveries and make a tasty international treat to celebrate the return from your "travels."
Why Use Google Earth to Teach Kids About the World?
The world is a wide and varied place. Media and technology are making it smaller, bringing people together like never before. It's important for kids (and adults, too) to learn about the people, places and cultures that are now so accessible to them.
And there are so many incredible places to see!
It would take a lifetime (and a whole lot of money) to visit them all, but Internet sites like Google Earth make it possible to see real sights around the world that even the most experienced travelers may never visit.
If an around-the-world vacation isn't in your plans or budget, the great Google Earth scavenger hunt is a fun alternative—a way to use technology to expose your family to places far and wide and have an international adventure together from your own home.