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Key Largo Reef Dives
July 25 - July 26| $85.00
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July 25 – 26, 2020
Join Scuba Outfitters for an Amazing Weekend of Diving or Snorkeling on the Beautiful Coral Reefs off Key Largo Florida!
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This is a great weekend for anyone needing to complete their PADI Open Water Checkout Dives!
Afternoon trips meet at 12:30 pm and Morning trips meet at 8:30 am.
Each (Two Tank) Boat Trip costs $85, which includes Boat Trip, Tanks, and Weights.
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During the eight years that the Congress-led coalition has been in office, the country has moved forward in many directions. It enjoys a greater stature in the international community than ever before. For the first time, India came to be looked upon as a budding equal of China. Many started talking of the phenomenon of Chindia--- China and India rising together to occupy their due place in the international community.
2.The positive "We Can" feeling generated by the achievements of the Manmohan Singh Government in its first term in office has since given way to a negative atmosphere. This has been due to leadership inadequacies, the weakening of the image and authority of the Prime Minister, moral and administrative permissiveness in the name of coalition compulsions giving rise to widespread perceptions of corruption galore and stalling in the introduction of the much-needed economic reforms.
3. The Prime Minister's televised address to the nation on September 21,2012, clearly indicated that he has realised the need for changing this negative atmosphere and projecting an " I Can and I will" image of himself to the people of the country. A brief address like this could not have been comprehensive. He focussed himself largely on the economic issues and did not touch upon other burning issues of the day like action to deal with corruption and improve governance through administrative reforms. Such reforms would have to be in the functioning of our anti-corruption and national security apparatus.
4. It is important for him to interact with the people again on the issues of action against corruption and administrative reforms. He could do so either through another address to the nation devoted only to these two subjects or through a televised live chat with distinguished journalists.------ either individually or with all of them in a group. The journalists should be given the freedom to decide the format of the chat and the issues that will be discussed. The Prime Minister's Office should resist the temptation to steer the chat in a direction favourable to the Government.
5. I would not say that the Prime Minister's address to the nation has made public perceptions more favourable to him, but it has at least placed before the people his view of the state of the nation and what he intends doing about it. Till now, the public was exposed only to the constant negative campaign of the opposition, particularly the BJP.
6. The failure of the Prime Minister and his party to realise the importance of an appropriate media strategy that could take advantage of the new technologies and new techniques of perception management has been exploited by the BJP and its NRI followers to assume their dominance over the new media in the virtual world and add to the negative image of the Prime Minister and his Government.
7. It is important for the Congress to break this dominance and establish a level playing field. The image of a Government which is all the time reticent, over-cautious and over-defensive has to be changed quickly. We need the image of a Government that is self-confident, self-assertive and forward-moving.
8. Policies and actions are important for achieving an image transformation, but a style of more accessible, more articulate, more responsive, more spontaneous and more forthcoming approach to interactions with the public and the media is equally important. We live in a world where style is as important as substance, but the Prime Minister and his Government have for too long neglected paying attention to the style of leadership.
9. There is a need for an urgent mid-course correction in the way the Prime Minister projects himself to public opinion and makes himself available for explaining the thinking and policies of his Government. He should not think that with his televised address to the nation he has done his job. He has only begun his new task. He has to press forward and transform the negative atmosphere into a positive one. (24-9-12)
(The writer is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai, and Associate of the Chennai Centre For China Studies. E-mail: email@example.com Twitter @SORBONNE75)

subset: commoncrawl


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In which issues concerning the profession of philosophy are
bitched griped about
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Advertising For Your Class, For Real This Time
As I mentioned yesterday, I have a tiny bit of experience with this sort of thing, from grad school and people I went to grad school with. However, it is not at all clear to me that the posters we were putting up were very effective. It seemed to me that there was no clear relationship between the posters and cancellations. One of my friends had the idea to aim his poster at people who'd failed [notorious professor X's] intro class and to suggest that the summer-school version would be easier, but this person was made to take the posters down after an uncomfortable discussion with the department chair. Although we didn't get to see how it worked, the suggestion of easiness is one potentially effective strategy.
Another thing I often see, mostly in the class-advertisement posters around my current campus, is that they try to make the class seem like it would be fun (in addition to being easy). These posters are for classes in other departments, though, where they can make up a class on the study of some pop-cultural topic that is marginally amenable to academic study. So, like, a class on Calvin and Hobbes as literature or anthropology or something. These classes seem like they'd be pretty fun, and also like they wouldn't be too tough. And you also sort of get the idea that this might be the only opportunity to take it. But they also seem like there's a better-than-average chance that the class is total bullshit--that it's not of any academic value whatsoever. And I guess I wouldn't be willing to make this kind of suggestion in order to attract students. I wouldn't want to be the guy who runs easy, potentially worthless classes for the sake of enrollment. And I wouldn't want to attract the kind of student who is attracted to easy, potentially worthless classes.
And I also don't have any hard data about these classes: I don't know anything about how full they get, how often they get cancelled, or whether the ads themselves are effective.
All this is a kind of long-winded way of saying that I don't know very much about how to make an effective ad for a philosophy course. It seems to me that some effective ways to increase enrollment might include making the class seem fun, easy, frivolous, and unique. But I'm not at all convinced that this is helpful in any way.
However, I can say that, in my somewhat limited experience, the best way to increase enrollments and to make sure your classes don't get cancelled is to make them required for something. In the departments I been associated with, the core gen ed requirements are very popular. Major requirements are somewhat less so, but still popular. Courses that serve as prerequisites for other popular majors and degree programs are also very popular. Straight-up electives can be a tough sell.
What say you, Smokers?
--Mr. Zero
10 comments:
One way to advertise, of course, is to plug your courses in other courses that you already teach. If you're a grad student, then as soon as you know you have a potential summer course on the table, start plugging it in your tutorials (e.g. relating subject matter to issues that you will teach in the later course and then telling students they can explore these issues in depth in your course, or defer certain questions by saying they'll be addressed in other courses, such as the one you're about to teach, etc.). If you're a prof, you can do the same during your existing courses. Remember that while your current students may not be taking any summer courses, they may well have friends who will.
- February 28, 2012 at 11:28 AM
Zero is right. Having a gen ed curriculum that has philosophy at its core is important to getting your classes filled. This requires leadership and vision in a philosophy department to go to curriculum meetings (which make you want to jab something in your eye), and defend classes that should be taken.
That is work. But it can be done. Most people don't think about their classes as products to be sold, so I suggest you think about the reasons students should take your class. The problem is that you have to be interested in teaching the class.
I suspect that very few people think about who, why, and how people take their classes. Understanding this is crucial for philosophy to flourish in the future.
- February 28, 2012 at 2:17 PM
- BunnyHugger said...
Every couple of years I teach an upper-level class in a niche area of particular interest to me. It doesn't serve as a requirement for anything or fulfill any distribution requirements. The first time I tried to teach it, only three people enrolled, so it was canceled. The next time, I took an approach that I have used each time since:
I posted flyers -- not huge numbers of them, but perhaps a few dozen in strategic places (in the building where the department resides, as well as in another building home to a department whose students are likely to share an interest in it). I also advertise it to a relevant student group by posting it on their Facebook page, and then send a friendly notice to the advisers of a relevant pre-professional program to ask them to suggest it to potentially interested students.
Since then the class has always gotten sufficient numbers to avoid cancellation; it generally gets an enrollment of 15-20. I always ask students how they heard about the class, and usually a significant percentage of the class (one third to one half) cite the flyers.
In short, my experience with this type and size of class is that advertising makes all the difference.
- February 28, 2012 at 2:37 PM
I suggest taking flyers to the advisors. Talking to advisors about your class and what it might do for students is a good way to get someone to pitch your class. But you need to talk to them in person!
- February 28, 2012 at 4:33 PM
I second talking up forthcoming course in your present classes. When I come to an interesting topic in one class that can't be dwelt on there but will be examined in much more detail in another class next semester, mention that class offering. Especially in courses that traditionally have low enrollments, it can make quite a difference.
- February 28, 2012 at 7:33 PM
As a general comment, I think it's very, very important to advertise your courses and advertise the major. At one of my previous jobs, the department met with the advisors for cake and coffee every semester to talk up our courses and to encourage them to encourage their students to take our courses and consider a major or minor in philosophy. Jobs are at stake. I would recommend posting fliers for individual courses and using things like facebook. I would also recommend regularly posting fliers about the benefits of majoring in philosophy and getting used to telling students who worry about the practical benefits of majoring in philosophy that many students these days double major or pick up a minor in areas that they enjoy studying. The APA does a terrible job selling the profession and explaining to students why they should study philosophy so it's been left to us. If we can get higher enrolments, it is easier to persuade administrators that there's a need for philosophy jobs. It's a tough sell otherwise.
- February 29, 2012 at 2:05 AM
- readingandphilosophy said...
@Bunnyhugger I just might try that for my undergraduate major class.
Too often we have to write a lot of letters to the university admin in order to justify the existence of some of our sections or courses.
- February 29, 2012 at 3:43 AM
The most effective advertising for my courses comes from: (1) plugging the course in my current courses, (2) sending a brief e-mail announcement to students from the last year or two (even if it's the same course - if they liked your course, they'll tell friends), (3) posting a draft syllabus on your faculty page (or perhaps Facebook) so people can get a sense of what you will be doing (and include the URL in your announcements/flyers/e-mails), and (4) getting to know academic advisors who advise students at your level. Flyers at the advising office(s) are worthwhile, as others have noted, but getting to know the advisors helps more. They pick up an enormous amount of word-of-mouth when they recommend courses, so put a face with a name.
- February 29, 2012 at 3:44 PM
I'm just an undergrad, but when I hunt for electives each semester, I'm always drawn in by the courses that list compelling questions they'll tackle in their descriptions.
The compelling questions in philosophy are or should be compelling generally, not just to professionals.
There are a lot of students out there who get fired up over these things, too, major and non-major alike.
- February 29, 2012 at 7:56 PM
Good titles, if you have any control over that. For example, perhaps "Sex and Gender: Biology, Neuroscience and Society" is a sexier title than "Feminist Philosophy".
- March 2, 2012 at 1:19 PM


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Aliens: Escape from Earth
- Date: 07/18/2019 4:00 PM
- Location: Walteria Library
3815 242nd St.
Torrance, California 90505
ScienceTellers use science experiments to bring an action-packed and educational alien adventure to life! It's totally out of this world! This program is free, sponsored by the Friends of the Torrance Library, and no registration is required. For more information, please call the Walteria Library at 310-375-8418.Return to full list >>


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The Sierra College ACTivATE project is training instructors to create applied critical thinking lessons and hands-on assessments.
(PRWEB) July 24, 2013
In response to the growing demand for graduates with critical thinking skills, the Sierra College STEM Collaborative established an innovative professional development program -- [Applied Critical Thinking for Advanced Technological Education (ACTivATE)
In June, faculty from Northwestern Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching trained 12 Sierra College and high school faculty to develop curriculum that incorporates applied critical thinking. Through a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, Enhancing Critical Thinking in STEM Disciplines: A Faculty Development Model, the Searle Center designed, piloted and studied a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) faculty development program focused on improving higher order learning outcomes of STEM students.
On many levels, Sierra College's approach is groundbreaking according to Denise Drane, Associate Director, Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching, Northwestern University. "Applied critical thinking has rarely been addressed in faculty development programs at the high school level," said Drane. "And students are rarely asked to demonstrate a deeper understanding of critical thinking in an applied setting. In addition, the relationships that Sierra College and high school instructors have with employers are uncommon in education."
Through the Sierra College workforce development programs, the need for critical thinking was uncovered, explained Carol Pepper-Kittredge, Director, Center for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT). "The strong ties that Sierra College has with employers will lead to the incorporation of current, workplace applications into critical thinking lessons. Faculty will be able to use real examples from local businesses," said Pepper-Kittredge, who manages the Sierra College STEM Collaborative.
For the next nine months, the ACTivATE project will support participants as they develop new approaches to overtly teach applied critical thinking in their classrooms. Instructors will also develop and pilot test hands-on demonstrations to assess students' understanding and align with the new Common Core State Standards.
"ACTivATE coaches will offer one-on-one support to faculty throughout the project," said Pepper-Kittredge. The Sierra College STEM Collaborative will hold two additional ACTivATE professional development sessions for participants in 2013-14. Findings and applied critical thinking lessons will be published at the conclusion of the project.
A pioneering aspect of the ACTivATE project is that it includes a mix of math, English and Career Technical Education (i.e. welding, media, pre-engineering and Mechatronics) instructors at the high school and college levels, sharing ideas to create lessons that stimulate deeper learning.
"Those who teach technical education courses seem more in-tune with critical thinking because so much trouble shooting is already part of what they teach," said Drane. "During training, the instructors demonstrated an eagerness to share ideas, challenges and feedback across their disciplines and institutions."
Drane explained that teaching critical thinking skills has been focused primarily at the college level and incorporated almost exclusively into theoretical courses. "Critical thinking should be developed across all disciplines and stages of education to better prepare students for college and careers," said Drane.
About Sierra College STEM Collaborative
The Sierra STEM Collaborative is funded by California Community College Chancellor's Office, to create a pipeline of students interested in technical careers. Students can pursue Welding, Mechatronics, Engineering, Energy Technology and Drafting & Engineering Support at Sierra College For information about the ACTivATE professional development project, go to http://www.appliedcriticalthinking.com or contact Carol Pepper-Kittredge, Sierra College at (916) 660-7801.


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28th Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals - Beyond The Dirt
Open Wheel Tech Inside the Bucket-List–Worthy Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals
How in the world do you put on the biggest non-sanctioned Midget race, in the country's largest indoor building, in January? For starters begin planning well in advance of the green flag. It's an event unlike any other around, 285 Midgets spend five days racing on a temporary banked dirt track nearly a quarter of a mile aroundinside a convention center. Eleven-second laps create a vortex of air much like an Oklahoma tornado. All the while a racing trade show runs every hour of the week's program. We are talking about the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma, now in its 28th year.
Tulsa is a perfect location for teams and fans to get to the event. It's centrally located in the country and the city opens its arms each year like it's the Super Bowl coming to town. The result? Throngs of racers and fans come out during the cold winter month.
The numbers of workers to host such an event is staggering. They have to handle 15 thousand fans each day for the five-day run. The amount of work to pull "all" the pieces together "seamlessly" is a year-long project for the management team directed by Donna Hahn Martin, Lanny Edwards and Emmet Hahn. "Every year we say there is no way it can get any better, but it always does. We are so blessed. Being a labor of love, it has become more than we ever dreamed," Donna said.
Bring your walking shoes because this event has something for everyone, young to old, first timers to veterans. The Chili Bowl is the grassroots racing super bowl fitting for any motorsports fan and racer alike. Competition is always stiff and this year racers from 33 of the 50 United States along with ones from New Zealand, Australia, and Canada made making the finals more difficult than ever. In addition to the non-stop racing action, fans have a busy day with the trade show and ability to wander through the pits.
Before They Start The Engines
Meeting fans, teams, vendors and racers is all invitingly casual early in the week and every day the number of people attending grows and slows the pace through the venue. By Saturday, its grid lock with people packed in for the Chili Bowl Midget National finals. It's a good thing they have giant screens located though out the Expo center—you can keep tabs on the races from anywhere. Not surprisingly the seats are packed full and people fill every standing place to view the action. Many fans opt for the lawn chairs or inflatable couches to view the mega screens from the pits.
Can't make it to Tulsa? Racinboys.com provides constant broadcast coverage both live and re-runs of the week's action through their website.
Racing Stars and Heroes
The Chili Bowl attracts a who's who of the past and present of racing, you barely have to keep your eyes open to see a big name racer. It seemed like NASCAR led the way this year with Kasey Kahne, J.J. Yeley, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. all racing while Stenhouse's girlfriend Danica Patrick cheered him on with her team owner Tony Stewart. Stewart who was still sporting a noticeable limp from that Sprint Car accident, had his own teams in the event.
While NASCAR stars abound, there were even more legends of open wheel, some competing and some like Johnny Rutherford and Al Unser Sr. just trolling the pits and taking in the action. Look to the right and you saw Sammy and Kevin Swindell, 2013 World of Outlaws champion Daryn Pittman, and Jac "Wild Child" Haudenschild. Look the other way and there is Joey Saldana, Chad Boat and P.J. Jones, who has made the A main six times but still looking for victory number one.
Over 28 years, the magic of the Chili Bowl has created 18 different winners. The Swindell family leads with nine total (Kevin has four and dad Sammy has five). There are only three drivers, Tony "Smoke" Stewart, Cory Kruseman, and Dan Boorse who have a pair of victories. Everyone else such as Rich Vogler, Scott Hatton, John Heydenreich, Dave Blaney, and Andy Hillenburg have but one. And for 2014 you can add to that list, Tony Stewart Racing's Bryan Clauson.
To Finish First, First You Must Finish
Only 24 make the big show on Saturday night. It takes four nights of 70 entries racing each night to cull the field down. The top three from each night make up half the A-main's field (12). Saturday's two B-mains take the top 6 drivers from 20 entrants to fill the remaining slots for the feature. The mind boggling action each and every race, means that drivers have to be on top of their game. After all, this is the best of the best and the smallest of miscues are nearly impossible to overcome yet some have. This year Kevin Swindell raced his way into the A featured main after a difficult start early in the week. The defending champion for the past four years (yes he's won from 2010-2013) worked his magic from far back in the alphabet to secure a back 12 in the "A" main Saturday.
Swindell's dad, Sammy, won in 2009, 20 years after his first of five victories at the Tulsa classic. To say the Swindell's aren't favorites would be an understatement. But this year, it was not to be. Kevin would finish in the runner up position some 1.5 seconds behind winner Clauson, while dad Sammy tangled with Kyle Larson early on but soldiered back to finish 14th.
Chili Bowl National Nuts and Bolts
Walking from the press room I ran into the "Lone Star JR," Johnny Rutherford and his beautiful wife Betty. Johnny's racing life was full of epic moments and Betty his wife was instrumental in allowing women in the pit's and paddock of auto racing. Johnny was the youngest driver to win the Daytona 500 NASCAR race driving for Smokey Yunick, besides the three Indy 500s. I have to say, Johnny and Betty show no age as they light up the room.
The Chili Bowl is the real deal for any racing fan and bucket-listworthy. Saturday morning when the doors swing open, it's a foot race to grab up the best general admission seats. "Quite the show in itself," said Chief of Security Bart. By main event time Saturday night, all the seats are full.
The Lucas Oil track crew handled all of the on-track issues with surgical precision. Moving the wounded cars right side up and away, yet keeping the show rolling allowing little time for repairs of the wounded. With the Saturday roll over count already more than 30 with dozens of races to come, the crowd saw many a star making the trip up the pathway from the track to the pits with the look, "only if that hadn't happened." Processing the looks on the driver's faces was from "How is my wife going to understand this?" to "I just spent thousands and now get nothing." The thrill of victory and agony of defeat was alive and well at the Chili Bowl.
Truly, with everything going on non-stop during any of the five days at the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals it is an over whelming hit for everyone in the house and the city of Tulsa. After the daily races, fans teams and drivers fill the local hot spots. The Chili Bowl generates millions to the Tulsa economy every day. Donna Hahn Harris said, "We have surrounded ourselves with some of the best help there is. The Chili Bowl, to us, is a labor of love. It has become more than we ever dreamed it could be."
The rumor is that Forest Lucas, owner of the event's title sponsor Lucas Oil, has been asking for a purchase price from Chili Bowl founder, Emmet Hahn. Emmet's answer? "It's not for sale."
From this author's point of view, this is one of the best racing events on wheels, any place on our planet. Make your plans now for 2015, tickets are already on sale and the coveted front straight reserved seats from 2014 have first choice to lock them in. People even leave the seats in wills passing on the passion of the Chili Bowl to the next generation. Bucket-listworthy? I'd say so!


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A young woman who was gang-raped on a moving bus in Delhi and left with severe internal injuries has been flown to a Singapore hospital for treatment that could last several weeks, officials said.
The 23-year-old student, who is in a critical condition, arrived in Singapore in an air ambulance and was admitted to the Mount Elizabeth hospital, renowned for multi-organ transplant facilities.
The hospital said in a statement that she was admitted to the intensive care unit "in an extremely critical condition". It said "she is being examined and the hospital is working with the Indian High Commission."
The 16 December rape of the woman and her brutal beating triggered widespread protests in New Delhi and other parts of the country and sparked calls for the death penalty for the perpetrators of rape. It is punishable by up to life in prison. All six suspects in the case have been arrested.
The rape has highlighted the extensive harassment that Indian women face daily in cities and towns, ranging from unwanted hands being placed on them to being blamed for causing the sexual violence. Even rape victims rarely come forward to complain because of the social stigma. Many women say they have structured their entire lives around protecting themselves and their children, and restricting their movements to avoid being molested.
The nearly daily protests in the heart of New Delhi following the rape have been frequently quelled by police using teargas and water cannons. One policemen died of injuries suffered in the clashes.
In a written statement, the Indian high commission said it has received "many offers to help" the woman, who is "receiving full medical attention". Her family was also being provided all assistance, it said.
Police said she was travelling with a male friend in a bus when they were attacked by six men who took turns to rape her. The men also beat the couple with iron rods, stripped them of their clothes and threw them off the bus on a road. They were found by bystanders before being rushed to New Delhi's Safdarjang hospital. The bus, which was empty except for the attackers and the couple, drove through the city for hours during the assault, even passing through police checkpoints.
The Press Trust of India quoted a hospital medical superintendent, BD Athani, as saying the woman suffered severe intestinal and abdominal injuries. She underwent three surgeries and parts of her intestines were removed, he said.
He said the Indian government, "based on the advice of a team of doctors," made arrangements for her to be shifted to Singapore's Mount Elizabeth hospital because it has state of the art multi-organ transplant facilities. Also, the travel time of 5.5 hours from New Delhi was considered less arduous.
"With fortitude and courage, the (woman) survived the aftereffects of the injuries so far well. But the condition continues to be critical," he was quoted as saying. "The treatment (in Singapore) might take longer."
The woman was on ventilator support during the 10 days she was at Safdarjang hospital.
The Press Trust of India said the Indian government will bear all expenses of the woman's treatment. Doctors have described her as "psychologically composed and optimistic about future".
It said her condition worsened late on Wednesday after her pulse plummeted briefly, and that periodic bouts of infection were also a source of concern.


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I mentioned this as a WIP (work in progress) a few weeks ago. It is simply a pillow print used as a medallion in the center of a sunshine and shadows layout. It is machine pieced and quilted. It measures 42 in square. I donated the finished quilt to the Alzheimer's Quilt Study Group.
Here is a closer view of the center piece
And here you can see the fabrics used in the sunshine and shadows area better
Here is the fabric used for the back


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Mmm hmm.Chernaudi wrote:.
I do have to say that I'm a big Kristen Stewart fan, and it's getting kind of irritating that people rip on her for every concivable indescretion they can think up(blinking, not enough emotion, etc-have these guys even read the books as they're in Bella's POV and Kristen has to interpret what Bella is feeling/saying/doing?!). I think that people are jealous of her for working with Rob and Taylor, and that she's so well liked as a person and friend by most of the cast and crew, all of whom have only have said good of her.
From an interview with Chris Weitz: -
"Do you think Kristen evolved as an actor in this movie?
I'm not sure she evolved as much as she had room to run. She's a thoroughbred as far as actors go. To me, she can do know wrong. The experience of working with her and the caliber of work she was doing was pretty extraordinary. Let's put aside girl in love with a vampire, her ability to manifest these emotions below the surface, above the surface just to get things right. She's extraordinarily exacting of herself and in those moments where I was able to give her the room to do that are things I'm very proud of. That's a high point."
And I think that ^ sums it up. Kristen is amazing. Some people were saying that she didn't cry in the movie, and your right, beacuse she did more than that. Anyone could just break into hysterics and make a scene. It takes a lot more to actually show the emotions of what she was feeling.


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Dear reader,
Defend the right to talk about boycott, divestment, and sanctions
Defend the right to talk about boycott, divestment, and sanctions
Following the publication of the article there has been a vehement and aggressive attack against Gordon in Israel that calls into serious question Israel's committment to academic freedom and the democratic right to free speech.
We now believe that "massive international pressure" will be needed to keep him from being fired from his job.
Tell Ben Gurion University and the Israeli Minister of Education to defend academic freedom.
Prof. Gordon's endorsement of economic pressure offers what Naomi Klein termed "the most effective tools in the nonviolent arsenal" to address the Israeli occupation (2).
And yet, Prof. Rivka Carmi, the President of Ben Gurion University, was quoted in the Jerusalem Post as saying that the "university may no longer be interested in his services." She added that "Academics who feel this way about their country, are welcome to search for a personal and professional home elsewhere." (3)
Is Prof. Carmi really calling on Prof. Gordon to leave his country?
Several Knesset members from the right called upon Carmi and the Minister of Education to sack Neve Gordon, while Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar called the article "repugnant and deplorable."(4) In the thousands of talkbacks generated by articles in Israel, hundreds of angry readers have called Gordon a traitor, a virus, cancerous, and have threatened to expel him from Israel and some have even called for his execution. Unsurprisingly Israeli rights-abusive policies, the occupation and how one might resolve the conflict are side-stepped, and the central issue becomes how to do away with the messenger.
In Prof. Gordon' words: "From the responses to the article it seems most people don't have the courage to discuss the main issues: Is Israel an apartheid state? How can the Israeli-Palestinian conflict be resolved? Is the settlement project good for Israel or will it cause the state's destruction? It's easy to criticize me while evading the tough and important questions." (5)
The dismaying response to Prof. Gordon's article is but the latest manifestation of attempts to silence dissent within Israel. In only the last six months, activists from New Profile have been arrested and investigated, Ezra Nawi is in danger of going to jail for non-violently defending the destruction of a Palestinian home, and just last week the Vice Prime Minister called Peace Now "a virus." Are these the actions of a democracy?
BDS is a legitimate non-violent strategy with a storied history, most famously in South Africa. It deserves honest, thoughtful appraisal, such as Dr. Gordon offered in his recent article. By supporting Professor Gordon, we are protecting the ability to talk openly about the Israeli occupation and about nonviolent options to address it, including boycott, divestment, and sanctions.
Write a letter to the President of Ben Gurion University and to the Ministry of Education in Israel to defend Dr. Neve Gordon's, and every Israeli's, ability to discuss political issues without fear of losing their jobs.
Sydney Levy (1) http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-gordon20-2009aug20,0,1126906.story
Jewish Voice for Peace
(2) http://www.naomiklein.org/articles/2009/01/israel-boycott-divest-sanction
(3) http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1249418674692&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
(4) http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1109492.html
(5) http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3765612,00.html
Sydney Levy
(1) http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-gordon20-2009aug20,0,1126906.story


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The County's Safety & Risk Management Department is dedicated to administrating the loss prevention activities, according to Federal and State law, in conformity with generally accepted safety and risk management principles. The Department continually analyzes loss trends and strives to provide the strategic planning and expertise required to reduce County losses and maximize savings.
Risk Management
The County's Safety and Risk Management Department is responsible for the assessment and control of claims, insurance and self-insurance programs and policies/procedures related to employee and workplace safety. The Safety and Risk Management Department consists of Employee Safety
Employee Wellness Programs
Workers' Compensation


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Does that imply Carlos Quentin is gone? Will Kenny try to get A.J. Pierzynski to waive his 10-and-5 rights, so he can trade him?
Other White Sox links:
- Chris Sale will join the Sox starting pitcher rotation. Hopefully Mark Buehrle is a piece of next year's rotation as well.
- James plays 'is he a starter or not' in his last recap of the year.
- J.J. talks about Kenny's 'Let the kids play' plan.
- Fangraphs' Tommy Rancel looks at the contract extension that Sergio Santos signed.
- Tony La Russa: "I've said when I'm done here [St. Louis], I'm done." Good.
- Michael Blanke will replace Josh Phegley, while Phegley gets his wrist checked, in the AFL's Mesa Solar Sox roster. BTW, the AFL starts tomorrow.


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Indian mega-star Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) wants to produce the company's most expensive movie ever, an untitled science fiction film about kids whose wishes start coming true. Khan, the star of international hit Om Shanti Om, was supposed to produce and star in S. Shankar's Robot, but bailed on the project. Now he wants to make his own movie to top upcoming Bollywood epics like Time Machine, Love Story 2050 and Robot.
SRK's movie will start shooting towards the end of the year, and in the meantime he'll be asking the world's greatest special effects technicians to help make it the greatest effects movie of all time. He tells Variety, "It will madcap, over the top. I want it to be as beautiful as Spider-Man in terms of effects." The movie will be about kids who wish for bad things, but "get a reality check when they come true." SRK reportedly jumped ship from Robot because he felt its storyline, about a companion robot that turns deadly, wasn't realistic enough.
Hollywood hasn't courted SRK yet, and he says he's waiting for the right opportunity for his quirky persona:
I'm waiting for someone like Steven Spielberg or James Cameron or some other great person like Ang Lee to make a film a film about a brown, thin, scrawny Indian guy who doesn't speak English too well. If they ever have a character like that and Google it, I'm sure they'll find me... Seriously, it would have to be character-specific. I'd love to do an action-comic film like Chris Rock and Jackie Chan.


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Thomas Lee Meighan Jr., convicted last year of hitting and killing a Johns Hopkins University student with his car, asked a Baltimore circuit judge Thursday to let him take back his guilty plea and go to trial, arguing that he did not know about some evidence in the case.
He said a forensic reconstruction of the 2009 accident shows that 20-year-old Miriam Frankl of Wilmette, Ill., was responsible for her own death, and that Julie Shapiro, his public defender, did not fully discuss with him the conclusions of the report.
"Had I seen this, I would never have pled guilty," Meighan, 42, testified at a hearing Thursday. "I don't think anybody would."
Shapiro testified that she had discussed the report with Meighan and had handed a copy to the judge at the time he entered his guilty plea.
"We went over this a number of times," she said.
Wrapping up the hearing, Assistant State's Attorney Paul O'Connor said that Meighan was "grasping at straws."
Meighan has a long record of traffic and criminal convictions and has asked for second chances after being locked up before.
"Alcohol has all but destroyed my life," Meighan wrote at one point in an undated letter to a judge.
He also wrote to The Baltimore Sun in May, saying that he was not drunk, high or speeding when he hit Frankl, and asking for an apology from the media who covered his case.
But prosecutors were prepared to call numerous witnesses who had reported seeing him causing havoc on the city's roads the day he hit Frankl as she crossed St. Paul Street near the university.
In addition to at least nine drunken-driving convictions, Meighan's criminal history includes convictions for marijuana possession, battery, disorderly conduct, theft and escape from a halfway house. At the time he hit Frankl, he was out on bail in another hit-and-run case to which he pleaded guilty as part of the deal over the student's death.
Judge Michael W. Reed said he will rule on the Meighan's request "relatively soon."


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Stefan Wermuth / Reuters, file
The investigation HSBC -- Europe's largest bank by market value -- has focused on the transfer of funds through the U.S. financial system from Mexican drug cartels and on behalf of nations like Iran that are under international sanctions.
British banking giant HSBC has agreed to pay more than $1.9 billion to U.S. authorities -- the largest penalty ever paid by a bank -- after failing to abide by anti-money laundering and sanctions laws, it said on Tuesday.
The investigation of the bank -- Europe's largest by market value -- has focused on the transfer of funds through the U.S. financial system from Mexican drug cartels and on behalf of nations like Iran that are under international sanctions.
The bank said in a statement that it had also "clawed back" bonuses from a number of senior staff, spent more than $290 million on "remedial measures" and taken steps to limit business in "countries that pose a high financial crime risk."
The statement added that the bank was also expected to finalize an agreement with the U.K. Financial Services Authority "shortly."
Stuart Gulliver, chief executive of HSBC Group, said in the statement that the bank was a "fundamentally different organization" now.
"We accept responsibility for our past mistakes. We have said we are profoundly sorry for them, and we do so again," he said.
Related content:
HSBC's group compliance chief to quit amid scandal
Banks' bad behavior may be scaring away investors
Chase, HSBC among 7 banks subpoenaed over rate fixing
NYT: HSBC said to near $1.9 billion settlement over money laundering
"While we welcome the clarity that these agreements bring, ensuring the highest standards wherever we do business is an ongoing process," Gulliver added. "We are committed to protecting the integrity of the global financial system. To this end we will continue to work closely with governments and regulators around the world."
The statement, which included a string of measures taken by the bank to address the problems, also said that an independent monitor would assess HSBC's progress over the five-year term of the agreement with the Justice Department.
The agreement with the Justice Department noted that HSBC Bank USA and HSBC Group had "provided valuable assistance to law enforcement," according to the bank's statement.
U.S. and European banks have now agreed to settlements with U.S. regulators totaling some $5 billion in recent years on charges they violated U.S. sanctions and failed to police illicit transactions, Reuters reported.
No bank or bank executives, however, have been indicted as prosecutors have instead utilized deferred prosecutions, the wire service said.
Analyst Jim Antos, of Mizuho Securities, said the statement on Tuesday indicates an extra $420 million for the settlement costs, calling it a "trivial" figure in terms of the company's book value, Reuters reported.
"But in terms of real cash terms, that's a huge fine to pay," Antos added, who rates HSBC a "buy."
U.S. justice department officials are expected to detail the settlement later Tuesday, according to Reuters.
HSBC's settlement comes a day after rival British bank Standard Chartered agreed to a $327 million settlement with U.S. law enforcement agencies for sanctions violations, a pact that follows a $340 million settlement the bank reached with the New York bank regulator in August.
CNBC's Eamon Javers reports the detail on an investigation of HSBC's lending practices.
Medicare fraud case
Such settlements have become commonplace. In what had been the largest settlement until this week, ING Bank NV in June agreed to pay $619 million to settle U.S. government allegations it violated sanctions against countries including Cuba and Iran.
Other banks that have reached settlements over sanctions violations are Credit Suisse Group, Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays and ABN Amro Holding NV.
In the United States, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Wachovia Corp. and Citigroup Inc. have been cited for anti-money laundering lapses or sanctions violations.
HSBC's failings date to 2003, when the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and New York state regulators ordered the bank to better monitor suspicious money flows.
In 2010, a consent order from the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) ordered HSBC to review suspicious transactions moving through the bank, Reuters reported. At the time, the OCC called HSBC's compliance program "ineffective."
In 2008, the U.S. Attorney in Wheeling, West Virginia, began investigating HSBC and how a local pain doctor allegedly used the bank to launder Medicare fraud.
Ultimately, that prosecutor's office came to believe the case was "the tip of the iceberg" in terms of the suspicious transactions conducted through HSBC, according to documents reviewed by Reuters and reported earlier this year.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More content from NBCNews.com:
- More graves found at notorious Florida reform school for boys
- Pentagon identifies SEAL killed during hostage rescue
- Fewer homeless vets expected; 'alarming' trend in young
- Aurora shooting suspect James Holmes' notebook at center of hearing
- Video:Troubling signs in paradise


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Quick Take
CNET did not review the LG LM6200 series, but we did review a very similar product, the LG LM6700 series.
According to LG's Web site, the main differences between the two come down to backlight technology and styling. The LG LM6700 we reviewed has an edge-lit LED backlight equipped with local dimming (more info), which LG calls "LED Plus." The LM6200 does not. While normally this feature has a positive impact on black-level performance, and hence overall picture quality, during our review of the LM6700 we noted poor black levels despite the presence of local dimming. For that reason, we don't expect this difference to have much impact on the comparative picture quality of both of these LGs.
The styling of the two TVs is also different. The LM6200 has a black bezel around the screen, compared with the LM6700's silver. The 6200's bezel is also quite a bit wider than that of the 6700, resulting in a less-compact, modern appearance.
The less-expensive LM6200 series is also available in a much wider array of screen sizes, from 32 to 65 inches, compared with just two sizes (47 and 55 inches) for the LM6700.
Otherwise, the two series have essentially identical feature sets, and we expect their picture quality to be similar as well. For more information, check out the full review of the LG LM6700 series.


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The Liberal government's speech from the throne's assumptions that it can raise billions through liquefied natural gas is raising questions about how well the government has thought out the plan.
It's not clear how the government intends to raise all the revenues it is forecasting, said Geoff Morrison, a spokesman for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
And that causes uncertainty, the one thing business doesn't like.
"I think it will cause industry to reflect on their business assumptions," he said.
The province intends to raise from $130 billion to $260 billion over 30 years through direct taxes paid by the LNG facilities and royalties from the upstream natural gas producers. Of that amount, $100 billion would be dedicated to a heritage fund.
"Of course, you can forecast resource rents to your heart's content. But these tend to be ephemeral because markets correct," said Mark Jaccard, a professor of resource management at Simon Fraser University. "The price differential between natural gas in North America and Asia will definitely not hold."
Jaccard also questioned the underlying logic of developing LNG.
"We can get really rich maximizing the flow of carbon pollution into the atmosphere, which is destroying our world at an accelerating rate. So let's base our economic development on this accelerating carbon pollution path.
"I wonder how this insanity comes to an end?"
Morrison's concerns were about how the government appears to be making its assumptions. It appears to be rolling upstream producers and downstream LNG plants into one bundle, something that neither the industry nor capital markets does. It would be akin to raising all oil royalties because one player develops a refinery.
He said the government has previously told the industry it intends to keep upstream royalties competitive.
However, a background document on the LNG cash bonanza that the government foresees is at odds with that. It states that the province can raise revenues from LNG based on an analysis showing Australia, the chief competitor, has a tax and royalty regime 30 per cent higher than B.C.'s.
"By introducing an additional tax applicable to LNG in B.C., we can maximize the benefits to British Columbians while still remaining competitive," the document states.
Whether the government intends to raise revenues because the volume of gas being produced is greater or whether it intends to raise royalty rates remains unclear, Morrison said.
He said the LNG industry is competitive, capital is fluid and despite price differences of $3.50 a unit in North America and $15 a unit in Asia, the margins, once all the costs of development are considered, are quickly whittled down to just a few dollars per unit.
"It's a much tighter proposal that people imagine."


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It does make a difference, make sure your running the right stuff! It is essential to use the correct oil for your outboard, especially if you have a fuel injected outboard.
Each engine manufacturer spends millions of dollars developing oils for their engines. With fuel injected engines, such as the Evinrude Ficht or D.I and E-tec, the oils are specially formulated to stop carbon building up on the fuel injectors. These oils are more expensive, but the extra cost is well worth it.
If you have a fuel injected motor, be it a Mercury Optimax, Yamaha HPDI or Evinrude E-TEC etc I suggest purchasing the oil designed for the specific engine. Carburettor engines aren't so critical when it comes to oils, however you need to use marine outboard TCW3 oil.
Personally I always run an outboard manufacturer's oil. I have found that these oils are superior in lubrication and corrosion resistance over many of the other oils available.
When filling up your oil bottle, be sure to use the same oil every time! Mixing oils may cause the different brands to react, causing a sludge build up at the bottom of the oil bottle. This will eventually block the oil pickup or pump resulting in Powerhead damage.
If you have just purchased the boat and don't know what oil is in it, it pays to run the oil bottle down low, then start running the oil of your choice from then on. As always please consult your local specialist prior to undertaking any changes. On a pre-mix engine it doesn't really matter about mixing oils. As long as you run the outboard on TCW3 oil.
The mix that I run and recommend to all my customers is 50:1. This goes for any two stroke premix outboard. If you run an old outboard like Seagull for instance you will need to get in touch with your dealer as they run a much richer oil mix.
You may notice that on some smaller motors there is a sticker recommending you to run 100:1. From experience 50:1, in my opinion, is much better for the motor and with the extra oil in the mix it tends provide superior lubrication and helps to prevent corrosion of the internal parts of the motor when it is not in use.
In my F3 race boat I run a mix of 20:1, I put 1 litre of oil into 20 litres of Av Gas and I have never had a problem with fouling spark plugs. I always run the highest octane fuel the petrol station has available. It doesn't cost much more and the engine will love you for it, especially if you don't use the boat often.
Outboards have a minimum octane requirement for the fuel you use. Petrol available in New Zealand isn't that great, if you imagine your engine requires a minimum of 91 octane. If you use 91 you would probably be lucky for it even to have a true 91 rating. After you leave it sitting for a few weeks or months it will have deteriorated to well below the minimum requirement.
So always go higher!
If you are using the boat frequently and you run a Japanese 4 stroke outboard like Yamaha or Suzuki, 91 octane will be fine. But in my opinion all carburettor 2 strokes and especially American motors require 96 or above. Always check your handbook or contact your local dealer.
When storing the boat it is best to have the fuel tanks filled right to the top. When the tanks are low there is a lot of air in the tanks. This creates a risk of condensation, so top them right up.
If the boat is going to be stored any longer than about 2 months, I recommend putting some fuel conditioner into the fuel to help maintain the octane level. This is available at most of your local outboard dealers. Simply fill the tanks and mix the conditioner in. Your fuel will last months longer!
If you want to buy car accessories online then you should but never be that lazy so that you did not check out the compatibility of your oil or lubricant with your motor.


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Call Now
Patented Technology
Fulgham's Inc. provides a unique, patented service and is a leader in the tree preservation industry providing precision and speed at a low price.
Consultation Service
Our ISA Certified Arborists can provide a tree preservation consultation. Call 1-800-316-6630 or contact your Regional Fulgham's Inc. Representative to schedule an appointment.
Our Company Overview
Fulgham's Inc. is a tree preservation service provider. Clients who have newly transplanted trees, trees in decline, and trees suffering from constructiond amage utilize our services. Our focus is on root restoration by correcting soil problems created by the urban environment. Our deep-rooted heritage in agriculture gives us a different outlook on root systems and soils. Our sole focus is preservation through addressing soil, root, and disease issues using our unique, patented treatment.
Why Choose Us
Fulgham's Inc.'s ISA Certified Arborists specialize in mature tree restoration, urban soil decline remediation, construction damage remediation, disease management, and tree preservation consultation.
The Fulgham Aerator Stimulator Technology process is based on a U.S.
Patent and enables us to provide our tree preservation service clientele an
industry low price while providing industry leading precision and speed.
Headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi, Fulgham's Inc. was founded in 1988 and
serves clients across the Southeast. Our clients include private
individuals, HOA's, businesses, cities, and universities.
"I wish to thank Fulgham's Inc. for its efforts in reviving the oaks located in the Flint RiverQuarium's plaza area. The Fulgham's Inc. applications are clearly working, as this spring the trees are greener and more robust. A real testament to your work is the fact that the trees are providing enough shade for schoolchildren to enjoy their lunches under them – this is a first!" Scott W. Loehn, CEO, Flint RiverQuarium
Latest Works
Here at Fulgham's Inc., our tree preservation specialists enhance the quality of our industry by blending agronomic science with our precision based technology to provide a quality tree preservation service to our clientele. Urban tree decline is experienced by many, and our industry has been restricted to offering higher prices derived from older, less effective technologies. Check out before and after treatment photographs of trees serviced by Fulgham's Inc.


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Item #5031
Perennial. Chives are super easy to grow, require little maintenance, tolerate drought, and come back year after year. Edible flowers are loved by bees, make a tasty chive vinegar, look and taste great in salads, and dry well for arrangements; foliage and/or flowers add a subtle onion flavor to many dishes. Great for containers; grow indoors for year-round harvest. Perennial in USDA zones 4-8. Deer resistant.
This packet sows up to 27 ft..
Seedling Image
Full Sun
12" tall
Days to Emerge:
Seed Depth:
Seed Spacing:
Row Spacing:
When to sow outside: 4 to 6 weeks before average last frost, when soil temperature is at least 45°F, ideally 60°-70°F; or as late as 2 months before first fall frost.
When to start inside: 6 weeks before average last frost.
Harvesting: FOLIAGE: Cut outer spears of chives when at least 6" long, and cut back to 2" above ground level. Once or twice a season, shear plants to 2" above ground. This will keep new, tender foliage available. FLOWERS: Harvest for dried flowers & consumption when in full bloom.
Artist: Carolyn Crawford
Item #5031
0.70 grams
Indoor gardens bring fresh herbs to your fingertips for everyday recipes-even when the snow is piling high outside. Below are some tips on the best…More…


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Product 4/8
Halloween Spider Webs
• Six (6) diffrent spider web Designs in PNG format
• One (1) layered PSD file witch includes each design on a separate layer
• Created & saved at 300 DPI
These creepy Halloween spider cobb webs are a GREAT designers or artist resource tool for creating digital scrapbooking or crafting products. However, the are also a perfect tool for personal use scrappers and crafters as well.
All images are high quality 300dpi and are perfect for high quality printing, printable paper craft projects and for digital, hybrid or crafting projects. Commercial Use (CU), Scrap for Hire (S4H), Scrap for Others (S4O) and Personal Use (PU) friendly.
Example of uses for this product are: digital scrapbooking kits, scrap pages, photo albums, stickers, educational school or teacher materials and classroom lesson plans, printable paper craft projects such as candy wrappers, tags, cards, birthday & party invitations and/or party favors and birth announcements.
When using image commercially, you are required to flatten the decorated template images before resell. All merged images MUST BE PACKAGED with other items or incorporated onto other designs.May not be repackaged and sold as clipart. or element packs using only these images.
These maybe use commercially however, this is NOT a CU4CU product! Meaning that you are not allowed to create commercial use products from them. In addition, you may NOT use these items for any type mass production items for which you sell.
For a detailed terms of use please read the TOU provided though a link on this website. All questions or concerns regarding this product can be emailed to: boopdesigns (at) gmail.com


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About us
Vocale Ltd is the parent company of both The SIP School and the WebRTC School.
We pride ourselves on our ability to provide first class education on SIP, VoIP and WebRTC along with industry recognized Certifications. Our main objectives are to teach not only theory and practice of these subjects but to help students gain a greater confidence so that as these protocols evolve students are not afraid to work with new functionality.
When it comes to other companies that manufacture SIP/VoIP/WebRTC enabled equipment and provide services utilising these technologies , then Vocale Ltd stands firm in its 'no favourite' policy as all of these companies are favourites. If you are working with SIP/VoIP/WebRTC then we are positive that by working with Vocale Ltd you can help your staff develop their knowledge to be better able to support your own clients with your own products and services. In fact, a lot of companies use our training to complement their own 'product specific' courses.
The Team @ Vocale Ltd.
Graham Francis
Graham has been working in IT and telecoms for 30 years and holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and Computing. Being a co-CEO of Vocale Ltd, Graham is chiefly responsible for the eLearning element of Vocale's product offerings which includes both The SIP School and WebRTC School.
Lynda Francis
Director of Operations
As co-CEO of Vocale Ltd, Lynda is responsible for Student management, Product portfolio development and Corporate strategy. She is currently working on company direction and new product development/rollout for 2017 to 2020.
Mike Robinson
Lead programming analyst
Mike's skills are in this little lot:
Programming: PHP, Python, Ruby, C, Javascript, HTML, CSS
Databases: MySQL, Postgres, Amazon RDS
Frameworks: CakePHP, Zend, jQuery, Bootstrap, LESS
Mobile Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows Phone
Hardware: Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Custom Electronics
Which ensures that our (in-house developed) eLearning delivery and management systems as well as our websites, look good and run well.
Joel Maloff
Course Development
Joel has joined with Vocale Ltd to co-develop the "SIP Communications for Sales and Marketing Professionals" training program. More than thirty years in the Telecommunications industry along with extensive expertise in the field of Sales and Marketing has ensured that this training program is without peer. You can contact Joel via personal website here.
Gary Audin
Content Development and Delivery + Press and Marketing.
Gary has more than 40 years of computer, communications and security consulting and implementation experience. He has planned, designed, specified, implemented and operated VoIP, data, LAN, WAN, and telephone networks. Gary's many articles and blogs can be found on www.nojitter.com, www.webtorials.com, www.telecomreseller.com,www.acuta.org, and www.searchunifiedcommunications.com
Fred Bovy
Content Development and Delivery
Fred has joined with Vocale to co-develop content on IPv6 which is critical to the future of communications as Billions of devices become connected. Fred has been working on IPv6 since 1997 and as well as being part of the Cisco IPv6 dev-test team for 8 years he is now an independant contractor and subject matter expert for a number of large organisations.
Alan B. Johnston
Course Development
Dr. Alan B. Johnston has over thirteen years of experience in SIP, VoIP (Voice over IP), and Internet Communications, having been a co-author of the SIP specification and a dozen other IETF RFCs, including the ZRTP media security protocol co-authored with Phil Zimmermann ZRTP. He is the author of four best selling technical books on Internet Communications, SIP, and security, and a techno thriller novel 'Counting from Zero' that teaches the basics of Internet and computer security. He is on the board of directors of the SIP Forum. He holds Bachelors and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering. Alan is an active participant in the IETF RTCWEB working group.
Alan is responsible for the content of the WebRTC Integrator program on the WebRTC School website.
Daniel C. Burnett
Course Development
Dr. Daniel C. Burnett has more than a dozen years of experience in computer standards work, having been author and editor of the W3C standards underlying the majority of today's automated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems. He has twice received the prestigious "Speech Luminary" award from Speech Tech Magazine for his contributions to standards in the Automated Speech Recognition (Voice Recognition) field. As an editor of the PeerConnection and getUserMedia W3C WEBRTC specifications and a participant in the IETF, Dan has been involved from the beginning in this exciting new field.
Dan is responsible for the content of the WebRTC Integrator program on the WebRTC School website.
Our Translation team
Ulrich Lamb
Ulrich is a certified instructor (CCSI) in Cisco Contact Center (UCCE, UCCX, CVP,CUIC, etc.) area and has been working in IT and telecoms for more than 16 years with his roots going back to Austria where he started his career in electrical engineering. Recently he started a new blog as UL360 at (http://socialmediamake.com/wp) where he blogs about many things that come into his mind.
Danny Dias
Telecommunications engineer, passionate for VoIP and SIP protocol. Experience with voip technologies from Alcatel Lucent and Cisco. SSCA, dCAP and OCP. Creator of www.asteriskvenezuela.net
Zacharie Saint-Georges
Zacharie is the Premium Support Manager with AstraQom Corporation, a leading IP communications solutions provider based in Ottawa, Canada.
And let's not forget....
Security and Company Mascot
Elsa with her good nose for business is a keen member of the Vocale family and is always happy to ensure that any 'Hack attack' on our system is responded to quickly and appropriately.
Vocale Ltd is proud to be a sponsor of the UK German Shepherd Rescue organisation who do amazing work in providing dogs that need rescuing a chance of a new and happy life. If you want to get involved or simply make a donation then please use this link to get in touch. http://www.uk-gsr.co.uk/donation.htm


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And the Effie goes to... Tums. For protecting people from being Tony Danza'd by their corn dogs.
Worst Performance by a Wallet as a Vulva
The Effie goes to PETA, who gave us this mental image:
Worst Sexual Exploitation of an Elderly Woman
Crosby's Molasses. Take your Effie.
Worst Idea for a Got Milk? Ad Ever
California Milk Processor Board, come and get what you deserve.
Worst Use of a Billboard to Stalk and Harass an Ex-Lover
Greg Fultz, you are a still phenomenal asshole.
Worst Photoshop Abuse of Animals
M-Wrap, of Thailand, come and claim your Effie.
And maybe we should cancel that gala dinner. I think everyone just lost their appetite.
Worst Typo in an Agency Self-Promo During an Awards Show
Grey Group? Grey? Are you here?
Worst Unintentionally Pornographic Street Team
Dr. Pepper, you old dog...
Worst Supporting Role by Teenage Underpants
Purity Panties... how many teen pregnancies and STIs have you prevented so far with these slogans?
Worst Performance by a Sex Doll in a Battery Ad
Gah, Bic! GYAHHHHH!
Worst web site
Ever. By the United States' National Suicide Hotlines.
Worst Infomercial
Poop Trap. Gross.
Worst Pretentious Fashion Ad Porn
There was really stiff competition for this one, but Agent Provocateur nailed it:
Agent Provocateur - 'Fleurs Du Mal' from Epoch London on Vimeo.
And The Lifetime Achievement Effie for Effing Infamous Effed Up Ads Goes to:
Brazilian CD Rodolfo Sampaio, who managed to cause a global shitstorm this year over his unsanctioned "pedo" KIA ads:
Not only did he win a silver at Cannes with this nasty little spread, but he managed to cause a global PR crisis for KIA Motors.
Two years earlier, at DDB, the same CD managed to pull the World Wildlife Federation into a world of hurt with this "award of merit" entry to The One Show:
To be that much of an awards whore, against the forces of taste, good judgement, strategy and client interest takes a truly effed perspective on advertising. I can hardly wait to see what Mr. Sampaio comes up with for 2012.
That's it for our inaugural Effies. Try not to get too fucked up on Saturday night.


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Timeshares re sellers may do time.
Just last week in the Sun Sentinel, Miami, I read that in a company named Mega Media, employees were being charged by the U.S. Attorney with criminal charges of wire fraud. The company was in practice of re-sales of timeshares. Some of the allegations are that the employee's of this company were claiming they had buyers lined up to purchase timeshare units that were for sale and in fact, did not.
The sellers of timeshares were told the closing dates had changed multiple times; the tactics according to the U.S. Attorney was to delay processes so that the sellers could not claim refunds of the monies they paid for the sales services. These Federal charges are serious and if each person involved is convicted they may be facing up to five years of prison time and fines of up to $25,000.00 each.
The Federal Trade Commission has also filed suit against the company with the implications that the company was fraudulently operating in the procedure of timeshare sales. In this economy no one can afford to be defrauded, yet we have brokers who commit securities fraud and lose investors' assets every day. Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach are prime locations for vacationers and many use the timeshares as a great investment, but you need to watch your investment and know who you are dealing with. Broker misconduct and mortgage backed securities are one of the many ways you can get scammed into thinking you own something and later find out you have lost it all.


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Aviso Legal
Pursuant to the Law on Information Society Services and E-trade (LSSI-CE), HOTELES PYR, S.A. hereby informs all website readers and users that the domain and subdomain content is the responsibility of:
Hoteles Pyr , S.A.
Calle Lamo de Espinosa, 10, 29640 Fuengirola
Telephone: 952 47 17 00/ Fax: 952 47 36 04
Administration: firstname.lastname@example.com
Technician: firstname.lastname@example.com
Registered at the Madrid Company Record office with the following details:
VOLUME: 4790, FOLIO: 175, SECTION: 8, SHEET M – 78675 on 27 January 1993
In compliance with decree 47/2004 HOTEL PYR FUENGIROLA is registered with the following details:
Numero RTA: H/MA/ 01184
Modalidad: PLAYA
1. Legal information and acceptance
These provisions govern the use of the Internet website service (hereinafter, the "Website"), made available by Hoteles Pyr S.A. (hereinafter, HOTELES PYR S.A.) to Internet users.
HOTELES PYR S.A. with a registered address at Calle Lamo de Espinosa no. 10, Fuengirola, Málaga, C.P. 29.640 e-mail:email@example.com, and C.I.F. A-28.129.500
Access t o the website is free of charge, with the exception of costs related to connections over the telecommunications network supplied by the service provider contracted by users. Certain services are exclusive to our guests and access to them is restricted.
Anyone using the Website becomes a Website user (hereinafter, the "User"), implying acceptance of all conditions herein. The duration of services provided by the website is limited to the time that the User is connected to the Website or any services provided therein. Therefore, the User must carefully read this Legal Notice every time they intend to use the Website, as this legal notice and its usage conditions may be amended at any time.
Some website services accessible to Internet users, or available exclusively to guests of HOTELES PYR S.A. may be subject to specific conditions, regulations or instructions that, if applicable, substitute, complement and/or amend this Legal Notice and that must be accepted by the User prior to when the provision of the corresponding service starts.
2. Intellectual and industrial property
All Website content, understood as including, but not limited to text, photographs, graphics, images, icons, technology, software, links and all other audiovisual or audio content, as well as its graphic design and source code (hereinafter the "Content") are the intellectual property of HOTELES PYR S.A. or of third parties; none of the Website usage rights acknowledged by current legislation on the subject of intellectual property shall be understood as being granted to the user, with the exception of those rights strictly necessary for using the Website.
All brands, trade names and distinguishing marks are owned by HOTELES PYR S.A. or third parties; the act of accessing the Website shall in no case bestow any rights over the aforementioned brands, trade names and/or distinguishing marks.
3. Website usage conditions
3.1 General
The User undertakes to use the Website correctly in accordance with the Law and this Legal Notice. The User shall provide compensation to HOTELES PYR S.A., or to third parties, for any damage or injuries that may be caused as a result of a failure to comply with said obligation.
It is expressly forbidden to use the Website for the purpose of damaging assets or interests of HOTELES PYR S.A. or of third parties, and in any other way to overload or damage the networks, servers and other IT equipment (hardware) or computer products and applications (software) belonging to HOTELES PYR S.A. or to third parties, or to render them unusable.
3.2 Content
The User undertakes to use the Content in accordance with the Law and this Legal Notice, as well as with all other conditions, regulations and instructions that may apply as applicable, pursuant to the provisions of clause 1.
Pursuant to current legislation, the actions that the User must abstain from include, but are not limited to:
Reproducing, copying, distributing, making available, publicly communicating, transforming or amending the Content, with the exception of those cases authorized by law or expressly permitted by HOTELES PYR S.A. or by any party holding the operating rights, as applicable.
Reproduce or copy for private use any Content that could be considered as software or a database, in accordance with intellectual property legislation in force, as well as the public communication of such Content or making it available to third parties, when these acts necessarily involve reproduction by the User or a third party.
Extract and/or reuse all of the Content comprising the Website, or a substantial part thereof, as well as the databases that HOTELES PYR S.A. make available to Users.
3.3 Data collection forms
Notwithstanding the provisions of clause 5 herein, as well as the provisions of any privacy policies that can be accessed from the Website and that may be applicable at any given time, the use of certain services or requests addressed to HOTELES PYR S.A. are dependent on previously completing the corresponding User registration.
All information provided by the User using the Website's forms, for the aforementioned effects or any other effects, must be true. To these effects, the User guarantees the authenticity of all data that they communicate, and the User shall keep any information supplied to HOTELES PYR S.A. fully up-to-date such as to reflect their real situation at any given time. In any case, the User shall be solely liable for any false or imprecise statements that they make, and for any injury caused to HOTELES PYR S.A. or to third parties by the information that they supply.
3.4 Insertion of links on the Website
Any Internet users wishing to insert links to the Website on their own web pages must meet the following conditions; lack of knowledge of these conditions does not waive their legal liability:
The link must only connect to the home page or main page of the Website, and may not reproduce the Website in any manner (online links, copies of text, graphics, etc.).
In any case, pursuant to applicable legislation in force at any given time, it is hereby forbidden to establish frames of any type to surround the Website or allow its Content to be viewed through URLs different to those of the Website and, in any case, that allow it to be displayed alongside content from outside the Website, such that: (I) it leads to, or could lead to errors, confusion or deception among users concerning the actual origin of the service or Content; (II) it represents an act of unfair comparison or imitation; (III) it is used to take advantage of the brand and prestige of HOTELES PYR S.A.; or (IV) it takes any other form that is prohibited by current legislation.
The page containing the link must not contain any sort of false, imprecise or incorrect statements about HOTELES PYR S.A., its partners, employees, guests or about the quality of services provided.
In no case should it be stated on the page containing the link that HOTELES PYR S.A. has given consent for the insertion of the link, or that it in any other way sponsors, collaborates with, verifies or supervises the services of the person or entity inserting the link.
The use of any word-, graphic- or mixed mark, or any other sign that distinguishes HOTELES PYR S.A. on the page of the person or entity inserting the link is forbidden, with the exception of cases permitted by law or expressly authorised by HOTELES PYR S.A., provided that, in these cases, a direct link to the Website is permitted in the manner established herein.
The web page that establishes the link must fully comply with the law and may not in any case contain or link to its own or third party content that: (I) is illicit, harmful or contrary to good morals and decency (pornographic, violent or racist content, etc.); (II) instil or could instil in the User the false impression that HOTELES PYR S.A. subscribes to, endorses, adheres to or in any other way supports any licit or illicit ideas, statements or expressions of the person or entity inserting the link; (III) is inappropriate or irrelevant to the activity of HOTELES PYR S.A. in terms of the location, content and subject matter of the web page of the person or entity inserting the link.
4. Liability waiver
4.1 Information
The act of accessing the Website does not imply that HOTELES PYR S.A. has the obligation to check the truthfulness, accuracy, suitability, appropriateness, exhaustiveness or up-to-date nature of the information supplied through it. The content of this page is general in nature and in no way does it constitute the provision of legal consultancy or any other type of service; therefore, said information is insufficient to allow the User to make personal or business decisions.
HOTELES PYR S.A. neither accepts liability for decisions made based on information supplied on the Website, nor for damages or injuries caused to the User or third parties by actions based solely on information obtained from the Website.
4.2 Service quality
The act of accessing the website does not imply that HOTELES PYR S.A. has the obligation to ensure the absence of viruses, worms or any other damaging IT element. In all cases, it is the responsibility of the User to ensure that appropriate tools are used to detect and disinfect harmful computer programs.
HOTELES PYR S.A. accepts no liability for damage caused to IT equipment of users or third parties during the provision of the Website's service.
4.3 Service availability
Accessing the Website requires third party services and supplies, including transport over telecommunication networks; responsibility for the reliability, quality, continuity and operation of said networks does not lie with HOTELES PYR S.A. Therefore, services provided through the website may be suspended, cancelled or may become inaccessible, prior to, or simultaneously with the provision of the website's service.
HOTELES PYR S.A. accepts no liability for damage or injuries of any type caused to the User, resulting from faults or disconnections in telecommunication networks that lead to the suspension, cancellation or interruption of the Website's service, either while such a service is being provided or prior to the service.
4.4 Content and services linked through the Website
The Website access service includes technical linking devices and directories, as well as search instruments that allow the User to access other Internet pages and websites (hereinafter the "Linked Sites"). In these cases, HOTELES PYR S.A: acts as an intermediation service provider in accordance with article 17 of Law 34/2002, of 12 July, on Information Society Services and Electronic Trade (LSSI in Spanish), and will only responsible for content and services supplied on Linked Sites to the extent to which they have effective awareness of their illicit nature and have to deactivated the link with due diligence. In the event that a User believes that a Linked Site exists with illicit or unsuitable content, they may inform HOTELES PYR S.A. of this in accordance with the procedure an effects established in clause 6, without this notification in any case entailing the obligation to take down the corresponding link.
In no case should it be assumed that the presence of Linked Sites means that agreements are in place with the owners or people responsible for these sites, or that HOTELES PYR S.A. recommends, promotes or identifies with the statements, content or services provided therein.
HOTELES PYR S.A. is not aware of the content and services of Linked Sites and, therefore, neither takes responsibility for damage caused by the illicit nature, quality, lack of updates, unavailability, error or uselessness of the content and/or services or Linked Sites, nor for any other damage other than that attributable to HOTELES PYR S.A.
5. Personal data production
Data collected through the Website's data collection forms shall be added to an automated personal data file, for which HOTELES PYR S.A. This entity shall process such data confidentially and only for the purpose of managing their relationship with their applicants. Similarly, HOTELES PYR S.A. shall cancel, delete and/or block any data that turn out to be imprecise, incomplete or that cease to be necessary or relevant for their purpose, pursuant to data protection legislation.
By clicking on the "send" button of the corresponding form, the User gives their consent to HOTELES PYR S.A. to send them information by email or by any other means. This notwithstanding, the User may object in writing to being sent these communications by sending a copy of their NIF to Calle Lamo de Espinosa no. 10, Fuengirola, Málaga, C.P. 29.640. Similarly, every communication that is send shall contain express indications of the procedure in place to object to successive communications being sent.
Fields of data collection forms marked with an asterisk are mandatory; therefore, if the User fails to provided the corresponding data, HOTELES PYR S.A. may at their own discretion refuse to provide the corresponding service.
Users may revoke consent that they have provided or exercise their rights to access, rectification, cancellation and opposition by writing to the address indicated in clause 1 to this effect.
HOTELES PYR S.A. adopts the security levels required by the Security Measures Regulations approved by Royal Decree 1720/2007, of 21 December, approving the implementing regulation of Organic Law 15/1999, of 13 December, on Personal Data Protection. Notwithstanding the foregoing, technical security in a medium like the Internet is not impenetrable and leaks may occur due to malicious actions by third parties.
HOTELES PYR S.A. may use cookies while providing the Website's service. Cookies are automatic procedures that collect information related to preferences set by a user while visiting a certain web page. This information is logged in small files that are saved imperceptibly on the corresponding user's IT equipment. Every time the user re-accesses the website in question, these files activate automatically such that the website is configured with the preferences set during previous visits. In short, cookies are physical personal information files stored on the user's own terminal and are associated unequivocally with this terminal. Cookies cannot read cookie files created by other suppliers.
The User has the option to configure their browser program such as to prevent the creation of cookie files, or to display a warning when cookie files are created. The Website can be accessed without it being necessary for options related to cookie files to be activated, although deactivating these options can prevent security mechanisms for exclusive services, or certain services that require greater security, from functioning correctly. As a general rule, the purpose of the Website's cookie files is to facilitate the User browsing experience.
The server that transmits and activates automatic collection procedures has a 12 month validity period, after which the cookie files are automatically deleted.
6. Communication of illicit and inadequate activities
In the event that the User or any other Internet user were to become aware that Linked Sites redirect to pages with illicit, harmful, degrading or violent content or services, or immoral services, they may make contact with HOTELES PYR S.A. to indicate the following information:
Personal data of the person making the communication: name, address, telephone number and email address; description of the facts that show the illicit or inadequate nature of the Linked Site; In the event of a violation of rights such as intellectual or industrial property, the personal data of the holder of the infringed right if someone other than the person making the communication. Similarly, they must provide a certificate to accredit that the holder legitimately holds the rights and, if applicable, holds representation to act on behalf of the holder if they are a person other than the person making the communication; Express declaration that the information contained in the claim is precise.
The fact that HOTELES PYR S.A. receives the communication envisaged in this clause shall not imply, pursuant to the provisions of LSSI, effective knowledge of the activities and/or content indicated by the person making the communication.
Similarly, they must provide a certificate to accredit that the holder legitimately holds the rights and, if applicable, holds representation to act on behalf of the holder if they are a person other than the person making the communication; Express declaration that the information contained in the claim is precise.
The fact that HOTELES PYR S.A. receives the communication envisaged in this clause shall not imply, pursuant to the provisions of LSSI, effective knowledge of the activities and/or content indicated by the person making the communication.
7. Legislation
All aspects of this Legal Notice are governed by Spanish law
Data protection by ACSILOPD


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Search and order online
ATV-3: Edoardo Amaldi:
Ugo Amaldi, son of Edoardo Amaldi, physicist at CERN, Geneva, English
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ARP Cam Bolt Kits
Install an ARP® cam bolt kit, and end your camshaft timing worries! ARP® quality delivers increased pre-load clamping force and assures positive timing gear register. Includes appropriate fasteners for your application. Increased material strength overcomes valvetrain harmonics and stress. Added features include oversized bolt head flange for cam button retention and reduced socket head size to facilitate easy installation and removal. Available in both High performance Series (170,000 p.s.i. strength) and Pro Series (200,000 psi strength).
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Yet something of the old media world is deeply missed. The serendipitous discovery of news and information, for example. We all now live in so-called 'filter bubbles', consuming information either curated by us, or for us. Some of this curation is human, which offers agency and choice to the few who wish to really engage with difference and divergent opinion. Some of this curation is technical, based on invisibly cultivated metrics of our online behaviour and web browsing habits. This is potentially more dangerous, because there's no off switch – we believe we are freely exposed to information, but in fact, the search results, suggestions, featured feeds, syndicated content and web highlights are all crafted carefully to match, inter alia, our socio-economic, political, religious bias and geo-location. Where it was previously the role of the journalist to craft the salient points of a story and the sole prerogative of the Editor to curate the day's news and its presentation, sophisticated algorithms snaking their way through the low monotone of server farms are the new, pervasive determinant in what we read.
That's an excerpt from my regular column published today that looks at how in my own life, the consumption of news has changed dramatically from when I was a child.
Read the full article here. I go on to note that,
Consuming and generating media almost purely in digital form has some advantages. You can't burn down a website. You can't kill a pseudonym, or abduct an idea that goes viral online. Our children are already part of one billion people on Facebook alone – nearly the population of India on a single online social network with a news economy beyond any one government to regulate or censor. Christopher Hitchens famously noted that he became a journalist because he did not want to rely on newspapers for information. Digital media platforms make this increasingly possible for lesser mortals.
But for those who grew up with it, the newspaper is missed, and always picked up.


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Early this morning, London was treated to an eerie scene, one familiar to anyone who has seen the 1964 Doctor Who serial The Dalek Invasion of Earth. It's all part of the upcoming TV drama about the history of Doctor Who, An Adventure in Space and Time. Warning: autoplay video within.
Mark Gatiss, one of the producers of the TV special, which will explore the early years of Doctor Who's production, submitted this video diary of today's filming, in which the team prepared to recreate on the show's most famous scenes:
Update: Kuriositas also has a huge gallery of photos of the recreation.
Also, Radio Times has posted the first image of actor David Bradley (whom Harry Potter fans will remember as Argus Filch) as First Doctor actor William Hartnell.
Dalek Invasion! [BBC via Bleeding Cool]
Doctor Who: Exclusive set picture from An Adventure in Space and Time [Radio Times via Blastr]


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Simply put, 30% of patients with breast cancer are not adequately represented. In the "pink room" of the breast cancer conversation there's an elephant being ignored -- we the 30% of patients with breast cancer who metastasize.
Our life expectancy is only 18-24 months. In the last decade, there have been some treatment advances, but not nearly as many as there could have been. Why? According to an analysis of cancer organizations from the Western world, of all the millions of dollars going to cancer research it is estimated that only about 5% goes toward any metastatic disease. We are the elephant in the pink room. We are ignored because recognizing us accepts the reality that a large number (30%) of patients with breast cancer metastasize and that almost all of us die. You don't like to think about it. Neither do we! But it is our reality and it could be yours. But there is hope.
Many researchers believe that they could develop treatments that could significantly help extend lives and possibly save lives if research were equitably funded. Our hope is that 30% of breast cancer research funds will go into metastatic breast cancer research to find solutions for the 30% of patients who metastasize.
METAvivor was founded almost four years ago to fill the metastatic breast cancer research gap. At the time, no organization was giving any significant percentage of funding to metastatic breast cancer research and there was no opportunity to donate directly to MBC research. We were founded to provide that opportunity. We are now a nationally recognized organization focused on awareness, support and research. We are making a difference and you can help. We invite you to join us in advocating for MBC recognition and research funding. Here are a few ways you can get involved:
Learn About METAvivor
Get Involved
Donate To Research
The Elephant in the Pink Room MBC Awareness campaign was sponsored by Eisai Inc. for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October 2012.
This campaign, established during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 2012, was made possible by Eisai Inc. This support was in addition to a multi-year pledge to help fund critical research for patients with MBC.


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10 January, 2013 | (01 hr)
Sign In to access this Webcast
Strategic Workforce Planning is the key link connecting and aligning HR strategy to business strategy. HR plays a crucial role, serving as a strategic partner to ensure the business has the right talent to execute its strategy and achieve its objectives. For SWP practitioners to be successful, both a framework and set of skills is essential.
This webcast offers a unique opportunity to interact with the Academy Director, Helen Roberts, who will delve into the agenda content of The Conference Board Strategic Workforce Planning Academy and highlight how this programme prepares senior professionals to engage with the business at a strategic level.
The curriculum focuses on identifying critical workforce segments, understanding internal and external forces impacting the workforce, workforce analytics, scenario modeling, prioritizing gaps and monitoring progress - with each participant developing a personal action plan that can be used after each Academy session. Participants will also gain valuable insight from The Conference Board and expert guest faculty.
Who should attend:
Those responsible for workforce planning – SWP VPs, Directors and Managers, Organizational Design & Development leaders, Talent Strategy leaders, and Senior HR Executives. The SWP Academy is focused on practical, action-oriented learning so those who have responsibility for workforce planning will benefit most – whether just starting out or seeking to build on current capability.
Helen Roberts
Helen Roberts is a Program Director for the Strategic Workforce Planning Academy at The Conference Board. With over 20 years of experience in human capital and executive management, Helen most recently led the strategic workforce planning consulting services for Aruspex...Full Bio


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Panasonic Lumix LX5 boasts longer zoom
Panasonic makes the Lumix DMC-LX5 official today. Replacing the LX3, this latest advanced compact point-and-shoot features a wide 24mm angle 3.8x zoom lens, 720p HD video recording, and a brand new, triple-CPU image processor.
The LX3 was limited to a 2.5x optical zoom range. The LX5 will get a boost in zoom power, but not by a whole lot. The new 3.8x Leica DC Vario-Summicron lens covers an equivalent focal range of 24-90mm. It's relatively fast with a maximum aperture range starting at f/2.0 at wide angle to f/3.3 at telephoto. It will focus as close as 1 cm in Macro and Intelligent Auto mode.
Performance Enhancement
The sensor appears to be carried over from the LX3 – they both contain a 10.1 effective megapixel 1/1.63-inch imager – but the LX5's image processor has been overhauled. The new Venus Engine FHD powering the LX5's image pipeline features three CPUs in an attempt to speed up camera performance and improve noise reduction. It will also allow for the use of Panasonic's new Intelligent Resolution technology.
Burst shooting is advertised at 2.5 fps at full resolution for up to five images in standard compression and three in fine. Even with the increase in processing power, the LX5's rechargeable battery unit boasts 400 shots per charge over the LX3's 380.
Maximum shutter speed has been increased to 1/4000 second from the LX3's 1/2000. The LX3 also sees an upgrade in stabilization incorporating Panasonic's latest version, Power O.I.S. system.
Keeping in step with Panasonic's latest Lumix cameras, the LX3 will offer 720p HD video recording at 60p in AVCHD Lite. Other resolution options include VGA, QVGA and WVGA.
Image quality options include standard and fine compressions as well as RAW image recording, RAW+Fine, and RAW+Standard.
Style Refresh
The Lumix LX5 didn't get a complete style overhaul, but Panasonic has made some improvements to keep it up to speed with the competition. It gets a retro-chic textured grip as well as a dial on the back panel thumbrest similar to the one on the Lumix GF1. The jog wheel will rotate as well as "click," and now handles manual focusing tasks.
The hot shoe accepts accessories such as an electronice Live View Finder and external flash units. On the back panel, the 3.0-inch LCD is of 460k-dot resolution with a newly adopted High CRI (Color Rendering Index) backlight LED. Panasonic claims that this will increase visibility in bright sunlight.
Pricing and availability
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 will become available in late August 2010 and will be introduced with an MSRP of $499.99.
Want more LX action? Read our review of the Panasonic LX3 or take a look at our Users Speak Out article featuring the LX3.