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European Forest Sector Outlook Study II, 2010-2030 (English, French and Russian language in preparation).
The European Forest Sector Outlook Study II (EFSOS II) is the latest in a series of studies, which started in 1952, to provide a regular outlook report for the European forest sector. All these studies have aimed to map out possible or likely future developments, on the basis of past trends, as a contribution to evidence-based policy formulation and decision making.
A reference scenario and four policy scenarios have been prepared for the European forest sector between 2010 and 2030, covering the forest resource and forest products. The scenarios are based on the results of several different modelling approaches, and in particular of econometric projections of production and consumption of forest products, the Wood Resource Balance, the European Forest Information Scenario model (EFISCEN), the European Forest Institute - Global Forest Sector Model (EFI-GTM), and competitiveness analysis.
The four policy scenarios (Maximising biomass carbon, Priority to biodiversity, Promoting wood energy, Fostering innovation and competitiveness) help policy makers gain insights into the consequences of certain policy choices. These choices are assessed according to their sustainability and recommendations are proposed based on the trade-offs facing policy makers. Decision makers are encouraged to reflect upon these analyses and to consider them when taking possible future policy actions.
Econometric Modelling and Projections of Wood Products Demand, Supply and Trade in Europe
Econometric Modelling and Projections of Wood Products Demand, Supply and Trade in Europe (English)
The current study provides a description of an econometric analysis of the forest sector in Europe and how the resulting models - together with assumptions regarding economic growth and price and cost developments - are used to produce country specific projections of consumption, production and trade of wood products in two baseline scenarios. These scenarios are based on IPCC scenarios A1 and B2.
Swedish Forest Sector Outlook Study (English)
In this study, international trends and major drivers of change for forest resources and wood use are reviewed and, together with projections of future developments in the use and supply of wood resources as well as wood-product market developments in Europe for the period 2010 to 2030, analysed as to their impact on the Swedish forest sector. Demand is foreseen to vastly exceed the potential supply of woody biomass in Europe, putting a tremendous pressure on the Swedish forest resource and possibly necessitating trade-offs between different ecosystem services.
NORTH AMERICAN FOREST SECTOR OUTLOOK STUDY (NAFSOS) (English)
Projections for the United States and Canada to 2030 have been made with a global model to account for concurrent changes in other countries. Three future scenarios were investigated: two IPCC-based scenarios assuming the rapid growth of wood-based energy, and one IPCC-based scenario without this assumption. The model, under the IPCC scenarios, accounted for trends in population, income and land use along with emerging technology and predicted changes to consumption patterns for wood products and bioenergy. Markets for wood products, which mainly are destined for the construction sector in North America, are projected to recover by 2015 under all three scenarios examined. Projections suggest that, in spite of declining use of paper for media, other paper and paperboard for packaging and miscellaneous uses will continue to enjoy strong global demand.
European Forest Outlook Study, 2000-2020 (English, French, Russian)
The European Forest Sector Outlook Study presents long term trends for supply and demand of forest products (roundwood, sawnwood, panels, pulp, paper, non-wood products) and services and outlook to 2020, in western and eastern Europe and four major CIS countries, including Russia. It reviews trends for the forest resource, trade, markets and recycling. It stresses the future shift in the balance of the sector to the east, and the importance of cross-sectoral issues, notably consequences for the forest sector of energy, environment and trade policies, which are examined in some detail.
The study is based on a major collaborative effort by experts in the countries covered by the study, under the auspices of the UNECE Timber Committee and the FAO European Forestry Commission. The study identifies a number of major policy issues and proposes some policy recommendations, as a basis for future debate.
Supporting Papers for EFSOS (2000-2020)
European Forest Sector Outlook Study, Trends 2000-2005 Compared to the EFSOS Scenarios, by Fabian Schulmeyer
Workshops and Meetings
Strategies for increased mobilisation of wood resources from sustainable sources workshop, June 2009
Estimating Potential Sustainable Wood Supply in Europe, March 2009
Potential Sustainable Wood Supply in Europe, October 2008
National Wood Resources Balances, Workshop, 31 March - 1 April 2008
Opportunities and Impacts of Bioenergy Policies and Targets on the Forest and Other Sectors: What is the Future Contribution of Wood Toward Meeting the Energy Needs of the UNECE Region? Workshop, October 2007
Mobilising Wood Resources, Workshop, January 2007
Wood Resources Availability and Demands - Implications of Renewable Energy Policies: a First Glance at 2005, 2010 and 2020 in European Countries, 2007


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I watched the first Dennen Brown program. Wow. Highly recommended. Simple minds are so easy for trained individuals to manipulate. (And, believe me, I have a simple one.)
Is it fair to assume the other two Derren Brown programs are more of the same?
I watched myself get brainwashed, using the classic tools, knew it was happening, but it happened anyway. (USMC boot camp, if you're interested.)
Well I ended up biting the bullet and investing the two hours to watch the other two programs. Worth it, but not to the extent of the first, Fear and Faith. I'm tempted to start up the old Movie Maker and extract the 15 or so minutes dedicated to the conversion of Natalie.
Sam, thanks so much for passing my question (essentially, "How COULD intelligent people believe this shit") on to your professor a few weeks ago. Their reply was the double-talk I would have expected. The Conversion of Natalie ANSWERS my question - it's all psychological tricks - apparently understood for centuries, maybe millenia.
No problem, always willing to find answers to important question. I agree that there are many psychological tricks being played, but I think they are more recent. Although our brains have not really evolved much in (lets ballpark 10,000 years), we have evolved in our culture (which gives us out current intelligence). These tricks are better made for use of now rather than in early civilization because it is easy to scare, perplex, deceive primitive man. Solar eclipses scared primitive people, lightning, thunder, volcano eruptions, etc. Clarke's third law is any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. However, we know it is not magic (we could fool our great great grandparents if they could see, say an iPad). Think about how we will see our great great grandkids when they are our age. They may appear to be gods. In order to fool a modern person (such as Natalie) you have to use very carefully worded phrases. I like that Derren explain what he is doing as he goes along with the conversion.
I don't agree that it's all modern. Brown demonstrated the psychological effects of body movements, hand expressions (joining different concepts, opening up to new ideas, all encompassing warm, protective love, etc.) all done, not with words but with manual manipulation of the space between speaker and listener.
About some conversations I've had with theists, I like to equate the experience to watching a magician, an absolutely astounding prestidigitator who just blows minds with his skills. Then, after the show, he explains, step by step, exactly how he's done each trick. Akin to religious thinking, some in the audience will say, "no, I don't believe your explanations. I believe it really was magic".
What can one say? We can only look for a way to bridge the gap to reason.
Oh the psychological effects are ancient, but the intentional use of these tricks in advertising and evangelical sermons is more apparent now. I agree with what you are saying. No matter how well (sometimes extremely slowly so your fundamentalist religious friend can follow and doesn't get confused) you explain the facts I think that they will just forget about it, in one ear and out the other. I have thought about using hypnosis to experiment with belief. I think it would be interesting.
Mike I have to take issue with you on your 'brainwashing' comment. Surely if you know you are being brainwashed then you cannot be being brainwashed can you?
I am ex-services, Royal Navy, and my new entry training was effectively 12 months. I undoubtedly changed in those 12 months; I learned about trust, teamwork, camaraderie, duty and discomfort. I matured and learned what respect really means. My parents saw that I had grown up. I had NOT been brainwashed, I was still me, I had just learned a new set of life skills that I still use every day.
I can't address Royal Navy procedures, Alan, but I know the policy of the US Army is to break you down and build you back they way they want you.
Now in many ways, that formula instills reactions in you that can save your life, and has mine, but of those so trained, some will never see combat, and of those who do, the duration is relatively short in terms of years, yet the conditioning that makes for good little followers and devotees of authority, lasts forever.
I think this actually comes close to the heart of this issue. I'll dance around it for a minute.
What IS "brainwashing"? To start with it's a highly pejorative term. People tend to see it as producing zombie-like creatures with an unbroken stare, mumbling, "must kill president".
"Surely if you know you are being brainwashed then you cannot be being brainwashed can you?"
Short answer, yes! In fact in the Korean War these techniques were used on POWs and, although they understood that their captors were attempting major shifts in their entire belief systems, some were able to resist - some were not.
Like you and Arch, my BW was based on military service. Although you both are describing the same process, note the difference in your perception of the outcome. Based upon that, it seems that your BW was somewhat more successful than Arch's. :-) MAJOR changes were made to your entire value set - and mine.
I don't know about the Royal Navy, but Marine Corps boot camp was very different from Army boot camp. We actually had two boot camps. The second boot camp was equivalent to army boot camp where you are taught how to be a soldier. The first, however, was almost nothing but drill and discipline. It was purely rebuilding civilians into Marines. Physically, at age 24, I gained 20 pounds and grew an inch and a half. Mentally the changes were far more profound.
Picture in the heat of battle with bullets whistling by, an Army sergeant gives an order, "take your bayonet and go chop down that tree." "What? Are you crazy? That would take hours. I'll never make it that long under this fire. If you want that tree down, let's get a big gun in here and blow it over with one shot." Meanwhile a Marine sergeant gives the same order and immediately the chips are flying. UNQUESTIONED obedience engendered by Marine boot camp. If you don't think this is brainwashing, I'd have to question your definition of the word.
Remind you of anything? How about rational, intelligent people who, despite ALL evidence cannot even bring themselves even to question the existence of a magic, invisible daddy in the sky.
In answer to the original question, "What do we do about this?", I maintain that calm, logical, rational discussion of the situation has as much chance of major changes that are required as cutting a steel beam with a feather.
Somehow we need to fight fire with fire. We need to knowingly employ the same techniques to undo the worldwide damage that God has inflicted upon humanity..
RE: "it seems that your BW was somewhat more successful than Arch's. :-)" - well, in my defense Mike, I'm not very susceptible to suggestion, which is why I rarely do what I'm told.
RE: "in the Korean War these techniques were used on POWs" - If you can find the movie, "The Manchurian Candidate," watch it.
"the movie, "The Manchurian Candidate," watch it"
The 1962 version is more relevant to this discussion than the 2004 version.

subset: commoncrawl


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We are certified with the most recognized trust mark in the Nordic countries, Trygg e-handel, which is managed by the Swedish Digital Commerce association.
All parcels are delivered by Bring or one of their external partners. The shipping charge is 7,90 € for orders of less than 100 €. We cover the cost of shipping for orders exceeding 100 €.
Hööks is happy to refund any items within 60 days, sale items 14 days. Please contact customer service if you would like to return an item.
Free shipping for order over 100 €
Take good care of your equipment. This makes the equipment last longer and be more comfortable for both you and your horse. Make it a habit to wipe all equipment clean after each session, then it won't take you that long.
All leather equipment; saddle, bridle, headcollar, leg boots, riding boots, or shoes should be wiped clean from dirt with a slightly damp sponge and saddle soap. When needed, you should also apply leather conditioner or oil, to protect and condition the leather. It is also good to use a cover for your saddle, to keep it free from dust. All leather is best kept in a place that is dry and not too hot. Never dry damp leather over a heater as this will cause it to dry up and crack.
Contains different oils and waxes. Makes leather soft and gives a slightly water repellent surface. Re-oiling is done after cleaning with soap.
Protects against water, damp, mould and salt/salt water (sweat). Keeps the leather soft and supple and makes it "resistant to tearing". Contains mineral oils, animal and vegetable fats. Good on leather that has become dry. You should not use too much along the seams as it can easily become airtight and the seams can "rot" and give. This generally applies to all leather oil.
Glycerine soap
Glycerine is also a preservative and softener for leather, and is especially good for light leather. It has a greater polishing effect and is therefore preferable if you want your leather to shine.
Lanolin soap
Lanolin is a preservative and softens leather. Use with very little water.
Tip - How to fit a bridle


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Forum: Find or Advertise Games in Your Area
If you are a GM looking for players for your campaign, you can post about your campaign here. Players LFG can find games posted here or use the Player Registry to find other players and GMs in your area. Additionally, posting a game in this section will give you a ranked list of potential players in your area who may be good candidates for your campaign based on availability, gaming style, etc.
Sub-Forums Threads / Posts Last Post
These are campaigns that were created before the Campaign Invitations section was enhanced and do not contain summary information, and are not searchable. Threads in this section will be deleted after January 31st.
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Is it better to give or to receive? For us crafters the answer is neither; the real joy comes in the creating! Embroidery is one of the most satisfying ways to share this joy. The mesmerizing rhythm of stitching both soothes and stirs as a once-empty cloth becomes a beautiful field of texture. Best of all, embroidery projects make wonderful gifts because they are truly one-of-a-kind heirloom treasures!
This year we plan to use our new 4 Seasons of Embroidery Packet as a starting point for all kinds of unique gifts, starting with this monogrammed 40 Minute Tote! Our master embroiderer, Erin, used our woodgrain alphabet transfers to stitch this lovely monogram on a cool gray linen-cotton background. The silvery tones of the delicate embroidery transform this simple tote into an elegant carry-all with a personal touch!
If you'd like to make your own version, the pattern for the 40 Minute Tote is right here, plus you'll need the following materials:
- 1/2 yard of Essex in Grey for the outside fabric
- 1/2 yard of Essex in Ivory for the lining
- DMC Embroidery Floss in color 3865
- Sangle Cotton Webbing in Natural
- 100% cotton thread in colors 1040 (to match the lining) and 4900 (to match the outside fabric)
- A 4 Seasons of Embroidery Packet
We also stitched up a lustrous wintery version of our autumn tree pattern, a November tree, if you will. This pearly gray motif is a beautiful way to embellish bags, pillows, tea towels, table runners, or anything else special; or for an equally stunning gift, frame your tree in a simple embroidery hoop! To make your own version you'll need:
- 1/2 yard of Essex in Grey
- DMC Embroidery Floss in colors 3865 (for the tree), and 3866, 3033, 762, 415 (for the leaves)
- A 4 Seasons of Embroidery Packet
- An Embroidery Hoop and needles
Here's to the simple pleasures of creating this holiday season!
PS: Our 4 Seasons of Embroidery Kit, which contains all the transfer patterns, a hoop, fabric, and thread, as well as our Packet, which is just the patterns, are also great gifts for the fellow crafters on your list!


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Dr. Kail Dhaliwal, MD
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420 34th St Bakersfield , CA 93301
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Accepting Patients
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(661) 327-1792 Fax: (661) 324-4095
Notice: "Find a Doctor" is provided by Dignity Health as a convenience to you. The information on each participating doctor is submitted to Dignity Health by each doctor and is not independently verified by Dignity Health. Each doctor is solely responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information listed about him or her. Dignity Health is not responsible for any loss or damages caused by your reliance on the doctor information contained on Find a Doctor. You should telephone the doctor's office in advance to verify the accuracy of the information.


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June 2016
Simple and fast programming of 3D parts for waterjet cutting using the ByJet Flex.
With the IGEMS Bevel Manager, users can program 3D waterjet applications for the ByJet Flex. The high-performance CAD/CAM software is a stand-alone solution that offers a simple and consistent programming process for creating cutting plans for parts with beveled edges.
In addition, users can also use the IGEMS Bevel Manager to import 3D CAD files of their parts that are to be cut. The software ensures the efficient definition of cutting technologies for all common geometries. User-friendly functions such as nesting, definition, and simulation of the cutting paths contribute toward the simple production of waterjet parts in outstanding quality.


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Ted Kennedy would approve. President Obama took down Mitt Romney the same way the late Massachusetts senator did.
In battleground states, it was all about Bain Capital. As veteran political analyst Charlie Cook recently explained, voters encountered an unending barrage of attack ads aimed at Romney's tenure there. The ads highlighted plant closures, layoffs, and outsourcing — the same themes Kennedy used to beat Romney in 1994. Like Kennedy, Obama turned Romney into a businessman with a heart of cold. Once tagged that way in America's heartland, it was hard for Romney to change minds, even after a much-lauded first debate performance.
Beyond Bain, Romney failed the larger trust test. At the end of the day, Americans need to believe in a basic reliability in the person they send to the White House. On Election Day, Americans still didn't know which Romney they would be electing. The Salt Lake Tribune put it best in an editorial explaining why the newspaper was endorsing Obama: There were "too many Mitts."
Would President Romney be the moderate Mitt who won the governor's office in Massachusetts or the "severely conservative" Romney of Republican primary days?
Romney promised to create 12 million jobs, but never explained how he would do it. What was his magic formula for cutting taxes and increasing defense spending? He never shared it. Would he repeal Obamacare or salvage parts of it? No one could be sure.
In the final days of the campaign, Team Romney ran an ad claiming that Jeep production would be outsourced to China. Chrysler and GM, which was similarly accused, angrily refuted Romney's charges.
The Jeep ad took special chutzpah, since Bain was criticized for acquiring companies that outsourced jobs to China. It underscored the Romney trust problem that Kennedy — and then Obama — exposed.
Joan Vennochi can be reached at vennochi@globecom.


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At Heather Bell Honey Bees we keep our prices as low as we can all year round so we do not have "sales".
The flower faithful honey bee is rewarded with nectar and pollen so we are happy to reward our loyal customers in different ways too.
These discounts are designed to benefit customers buying wholesale in quantity or as part of a club or group so, just like the honey bees, get social with some friends to combine orders to take advantage of the highest discount levels.
Discounts will be applied in the checkout process - they will show as deductions on the order confirmation page.


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New Fostex LR16Live Multitrack Recordings SuiteJanuary 28, 2009
Fostex has announced the LR16 Live Recording Mixer.
Here's all the details in their own words…
LR16 is 16/4/2 live mixer with built-in 16-track recorder at the most affordable price point in the market offering flexible use in the shape of regular MTR unit or separated I/O Box and Controller Box with just CAT5 cable connection being engineered by Fostex' superb HD recorder experience and state-of-the-art digital mixer technology.
Main Features
- Connector Box (recorder + I/O) and Controller (mixer section) can be flexibly separated via off-the-shelf CAT5 cable up to 50m. Just one cable from I/O box on the stage to the F.O.H. mixer controller instead of heavy and expensive snake cable.
- Intuitive analog-like mixer operation in digital domain with 16 inputs faders + 4 bus faders + master fader.
- Built-in 80GB HD for approx. 16 hours of 16-track uncompressed digital recording (16bit/44.1kHz) or 9 hours at superior digital quality of 24bit/48kHz.
- One hit of "REC" button starts 16-track recording immediately.
- Multitrack and Stereo Mix can be recorded simultaneously creating 16 x mono wave files plus 1 x Stereo wave file on the HD.
- Choice of MTR-like stand-alone integration or separated rack mounting.
- FAT 32 formatted HD can be mounted on PC or Mac via USB.
- Digitally controlled TRIM with LIMITER on all the 16 channels.
- 3-band EQ on all the 16 channels.
- Built-in Master Effects (Reverb/Delay)
- USB Host connector to dump recorded data to USB flash memory for easy data transfer to PC or Mac.
- 10 keys on the recorder panel for instant playback.


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Ground broken on Energy Efficient Buildings Hub headquarters
Ground broken on Energy Efficient Buildings Hub headquarters
PHILADELPHIA -- Penn State, with support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Economic Development Administration, celebrated the development of two buildings at the Energy Efficient Buildings (EEB) Hub during a groundbreaking ceremony on April 24 at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia.
The event celebrated the retrofitting of the 38,000-square-foot Navy Yard Building 661, renamed the Center for Building Energy Science, which will function as a living laboratory to showcase energy saving technologies; and the construction of a new, 25,200-square-foot building, to house the Center for Building Energy Education and Innovation. The buildings will facilitate public education and outreach on matters related to building efficiency, and will function as the headquarters for the EEB Hub.
"It is incredible to see how far the Navy Yard has come since the EEB Hub was established two years ago. Today, there are more than 120 companies prospering, a robust research enterprise, and a powerful education and outreach effort."
-- Penn State President Rodney Erickson
"It is incredible to see how far the Navy Yard has come since the EEB Hub was established two years ago," Penn State President Rodney Erickson said during the celebration. "Today, there are more than 120 companies prospering, a robust research enterprise, and a powerful education and outreach effort. Just how far we have come is a testament to the many talented, visionary and dedicated people who have collaborated in unprecedented ways."
Speakers at the event included Tom Corbett, governor of Pennsylvania; Michael Nutter, mayor of Philadelphia; Kathleen Hogan, deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency at the DOE; Matt Erskine, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Economic Development Administration; and Henry Foley, vice president for research at Penn State and executive director of the EEB Hub.
"Pennsylvania has been leading the nation in finding new sources of energy and today marks the moment we add to our independence by finding new ways to conserve the energy we already have,'' Corbett said. "This building will be a living laboratory where new ideas will be applied, tested and perfected."
Established in 2011 by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and led by Penn State, the EEB Hub's goal is to fuel research into energy efficiency, accelerate adoption of energy-efficient building technology and foster economic development through the creation of a new sector and industry.
"Penn State was honored to be selected to lead this project, and we are applying our full arsenal of expertise in energy research, education and technology transfer to the effort," Erickson said.
Through this work, and in collaboration with multidisciplinary partners including major research universities, global industrial firms and national laboratories, the Philadelphia region is poised to become one of the nation's leaders in energy-efficient building technology and will serve as a model for other metropolitan areas.
"The EEB Hub vision is to design and demonstrate, in Greater Philadelphia, scalable, market-proven solutions to reduce energy use in commercial buildings and deploy these solutions throughout the nation," Foley said. The goal, he said, is to reduce energy use in commercial buildings in Greater Philadelphia by 20 percent by 2020.
"The Energy Efficient Buildings Hub has provided significant momentum, expertise and support for the Philadelphia region's efforts to create a more energy efficient building stock," said Nutter. "The Hub is also focused on supporting the growth of the building technology industry in Greater Philadelphia. The Hub and the city working together can make our region a center of demonstration and deployment of these important technologies."
The total project budget for both buildings combined is $33 million, with $30 million funded by the state and $3 million from the Economic Development Administration.
Completion of renovation and construction is expected by spring 2014. In addition to the EEB Hub, several DOE-sponsored centers will share the space; Penn State's College of Engineering, Penn State Great Valley, Penn College and other educational institutions will offer programs at these locations, as well.


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Welcome to 4-Win.com, your zone to play all free online games. Usually you will need to download to play games. But we don't need it on our web-page. Just visit the game page to play the game online. The game is loaded automatically and starts. You can play without downloading that game.
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Joey Jihad & Quilly Millz Dissing Murda Mook & Loaded Lux! "You Dragonball Z Jeans Wearing Nicca. Murda Mook You Come To Philly Its Gonna Be A Problem"
Off of All Flammers 2 DVD
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Citizen communication will nourish e-gov, panel says
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Our election infrastructure is bending under the stress of multiple crises. Administrators say they are doing all they can to ensure it doesn't break.
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One of my favorite movies of 2012 is director/co-writer Drew Goddard and producer/co-writer Joss Whedon's The Cabin in the Woods. In fact, it's also one of the best "horror" movies I've ever seen. Without spoiling anything, let's just say the film turns "horror" on its head, and I loved every second of it. Make every effort to see this film!
Shortly after winning the Filmmakers Showcase Award at this year's Saturn Awards, I was able to speak with Goddard backstage. We talked about the success of Cabin in the Woods, whether it has led to a lot more meetings, his love of Daredevil (specifically Frank Miller's run), if he's interested in writing a superhero property, and he reveals that he's currently writing his next screenplay. In addition, with Goddard supposedly re-writing the end of the Brad Pitt-fronted zombie pic World War Z, I asked how he got involved in the project and what exactly he's been working on for the production. Hit the jump for more.
While we reported a few weeks ago that Goddard was re-writing the ending of World War Z based on an idea by Damon Lindelof, Goddard clarified things a bit:
"I think a lot of that got blown out of proportion. It really was like, they asked me to come look at the movie and give ideas on how to help, and that's what happened. That happens all the time, I don't know why this got blown up with World War Z and it suddenly became a big thing. It's the sort of thing that happens with screenwriters all the time where you give your ideas on what could help, you write some scenes for people… I feel bad for the sort of magnifying glass that that movie's under because this is just a normal part of the process, this is just what happens… My involvement was just watch the movie, give some ideas, write some scenes that might help, ADR, just sort of fill in stuff, which is what I did."
But before getting to the interview, if anyone at 20th Century Fox is reading this, you should really take a meeting with Goddard about Daredevil! He clearly loves the material and he's proven himself behind the camera. Let him take a crack at the character.
Here's the full interview broken down by time index.
Drew Goddard Time Index:
- Talks about the award that he won and how ambitious his directorial debut was.
- :56 Has the success of Cabin in the Woods opened a lot more doors for him?
- 1:19 The decision to release Cabin before The Avengers instead of capitalizing on Joss Whedon's success with the latter.
- 1:53 What's he doing next? Says he's writing his next movie now.
- 2:13 Talks about World War Z:
- 3:19 Talks briefly about his reaction to World War Z.
- 3:45 Steve mentions talking to Goddard before the release of The Avengers and Goddard saying that it was really good.
- 4:13 Is he interested in writing a superhero property? Says he had quotes from Daredevil on his walls growing up.
- 4:52 Says he definitely put it out there that he loves these comics characters. Talks about his favorite Daredevil storylines and Frank Miller.
- 5:52 He can't reveal the genre of what he's writing because he doesn't really know it. Says he still doesn't know the genre of Cabin in the Woods.
- 6:16 He doesn't stockpile scripts, he writes one thing and then moves on.


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On Friday, June 8, more than 2,000 guests gathered at Chicago's historic Field Museum for Wine Enthusiast's signature wine and culinary event, the 8th Annual Toast of the Town Chicago.
In the museum's main hall, where Sue, the world's best-preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex is on permanent display, attendees sipped more than 500 wines from 70 producers, including Wagner Family of Wine and Wines of Brasil, and indulged in delicious bites from 47 of the city's most notable restaurants.
Standout wines on offer included an earthy, robust Cabernet Sauvignon from the boutique Napa Valley producer PerryMoore. Bisol Desiderio & Figli poured its award-winning 2011 Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore Cartizze Cru, and other labels such as Duckhorn Vineyards, Rodney Strong Vineyards, Sterling Vineyards, Yalumba, Santa Rita and Concha y Toro offered highly coveted selections. Schramsberg's 2004 Brut Reserve was a guest favorite.
Of the participating restaurants, Japonais Restaurant served arguably the most innovative dish: Kaffir Lime Air, which guests sampled by pulling thin pastry strips through creamy white foam. Black Dog Gelato scooped watermelon and Greek yogurt flavors into bite-size sugar-waffle cones, and Metropolis Coffee Company satisfied caffeine-loving guests. Refreshing dishes designed to ward off the night's humidity included Lockwood Restaurant & Bar's Chilled Asparagus Soup with Crispy Prosciutto, and at the 676 Restaurant & Bar table, petite Mason jars stuffed with grilled lamb bacon and radishes, drizzled with honey mustard (made with honey sourced from the eatery's own beehives), went fast. Red Door, which just opened last month in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood, served Lamb Neck Terrine with Pickled Spring Onions, Mint and Rapini.
VIP guests added an element of surprise to the event. Chicago chef Rick Bayless, host of PBS's Mexico: One Plate at a Time and owner of three restaurants, including Chicago's Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, made the rounds, as did ABC's Castle actor Seamus Dever, with fellow Castle cast mate and wife, Juliana Dever. Seamus tweeted a photo of himself with a bottle of Hope Family Wines's Treana while at the event.
New this year was an expansion of the event into three tiers of the museum. Wines of Argentina took over the downstairs, with a dozen or so wineries showcasing diversity in Torrontés and Malbec. Jean-Charles Boisset, proprietor/owner of JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset, among other wines, chatted up guests in the intimate and glamorous Boisset Family Estates lounge located on the third floor.
Acoustic guitar music courtesy of Joey Edwin of The Vineyard Lounge Series permeated the elegant space and kept guests on their feet.
For more information on the upcoming Toast of the Town event in Washington, D.C., click here.


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So as you guys know, I'm on the hunt for the perfect dress for my engagement photo shoot at the beach. I bought the dress from Victoria Secrets, and absolutely hate it on. Fail. SO I went out shopping today and picked up two dresses. Mind you I want a white one just because the photos are going to be shot on the beach, so I think white would be perfect. So here's my options. I posted both of these photos on facebook and I'm getting more response from the white one, so what do you think?!
Option 1
Option 2
I apologize for the crappy quality, it's photos from my iPhone with awful lighting.


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Audio Jen
Today I received the script for an audio version of Jennifer Government. Yes, that's right: if you like to read books without moving your eyes, your prayers have been answered! It's an abridged version, which as far as I can work out means you get the whole plot but nothing but the plot. This may or may not be a good thing, depending on what you think of my writing.
I won't be reading it myself. Trust me, this is a good thing. You don't want to spend four hours figuring out my accent, no matter how sexy and authoritative I sound. And frankly, it's not that sexy and authoritative. So to hear me in person, you need to turn up at one of my bookstore readings next year. Or else get hold of my home phone number and make prank calls. But don't do that.


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WASHINGTON -- The largest U.S. gun-rights lobbying organization declared its unwavering opposition to any new gun regulations in the aftermath of the massacre at a Connecticut elementary school, accusing the White House of trying to undermine the constitutional right to bear arms.
Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the influential National Rifle Association, said Sunday that not a single gun regulation would make children safer. He criticized "a media machine" for blaming the gun industry for each new attack like the one at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
"Look, a gun is a tool. The problem is the criminal," LaPierre said, in a nationally broadcast television interview.
LaPierre hardly backed down from his comments Friday, when the NRA broke its weeklong silence on the Dec. 14 shooting rampage at Sandy Hook that killed 20 students and six adults. The gunman, 20-year-old Adam Lanza, also killed his mother at their home and shot himself as police closed in at the school.
LaPierre's assertion that guns and police officers in all schools are what will stop the next killer drew widespread scorn.
Democratic Rep. Chris Murphy, whose district includes Newtown, called it "the most revolting, tone deaf statement I've ever seen." A headline from the conservative New York Post summarized LaPierre's initial presentation before reporters with the headline: "Gun Nut! NRA loon in bizarre rant over Newtown."
LaPierre told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that only those armed guards and police would make kids safe.
"If it's crazy to call for putting police and armed security in our schools to protect our children, then call me crazy," LaPierre said. "I think the American people think it's crazy not to do it. It's the one thing that would keep people safe."
He asked Congress for money to put a police officer in every school. He also said the NRA would coordinate a national effort to put former military and police officers in schools as volunteer guards.
The NRA leader dismissed efforts to revive an assault weapons ban as a "phony piece of legislation" that's built on lies. He made clear it was highly unlikely that the NRA could support any new gun regulations.
"You want one more law on top of 20,000 laws, when most of the federal gun laws we don't even enforce?" he said.
LaPierre said another focus in preventing shootings is to lock up violent criminals and get the mentally ill the treatment they need.
"The average guy in the country values his freedom, doesn't believe the fact he can own a gun is part of the problem, and doesn't like the media and all these high-profile politicians blaming him," he said.
Some lawmakers were incredulous, yet acknowledged that the political and fundraising might of the NRA would make President Barack Obama's push for gun restrictions a struggle - particularly in getting new regulations approved in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives where many lawmakers have close ties to the gun-rights group.
"I have found the statements by the NRA over the last couple of days to be really disheartening, because the statements seem to not reflect any understanding about the slaughter of children" in Newtown, said Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Connecticut independent.
He said the NRA is right in some of the points it makes about the causes of gun violence in America.
"But it's obviously also true that the easy availability of guns, including military style assault weapons, is a contributing factor, and you can't keep that off the table. I had hoped they'd come to the table and say, everything is on the table," Lieberman said.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said LaPierre was "so extreme and so tone deaf" that he was making it easier to pass gun legislation.
"Look, he blames everything but guns: movies, the media, President Obama, gun-free school zones, you name it. And the video games, he blames them," Schumer said.
But Lieberman was less hopeful that lawmakers would approve new gun regulations next year.
"It's going to be a battle. But the president, I think, and vice president, are really ready to lead the fight," he said.
Obama has said he wants proposals on reducing gun violence that he can take to Congress in January, and after the Connecticut shootings, he called on the NRA to join the effort. The president has asked Congress to reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 and pass legislation that would end a provision that allows people to purchase firearms from private parties without a background check. Obama also has indicated that he wants Congress to pursue the possibility of limiting high-capacity magazines.
If Obama's review is "just going to be made up of a bunch of people that, for the last 20 years, have been trying to destroy the Second Amendment, I'm not interested in sitting on that panel," LaPierre said.
The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms.
The NRA has tasked former Rep. Asa Hutchinson, an Arkansas Republican, to lead a program designed to use volunteers from the group's 4.3 million members to help guard children.
Hutchinson said the NRA's position was a "very reasonable approach" that he compared to the federal air marshal program that places armed guards on flights.
"Are our children less important to protect than our air transportation? I don't think so," said Hutchinson, who served as an undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security when it was formed.
Hutchinson said schools should not be required to use armed security. LaPierre also argued that local law enforcement should have final say on how the security is put into place, such as where officers would be stationed.
LaPierre cited Israel as a model for the type of school security system the NRA envisions.
"Israel had a whole lot of school shootings until they did one thing: They said `we're going to stop it,' and they put armed security in every school and they have not had a problem since then," he said.
Democratic lawmakers in Congress have become more adamant about the need for stricter gun laws since the shooting. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California is promising to push for a renewal of expired legislation that banned certain weapons and limited the number of bullets a gun magazine could hold to 10. NRA officials made clear the legislation is a non-starter for them.
"It hasn't worked," LaPierre said. "Dianne Feinstein had her ban and Columbine occurred."
An armed sheriff's deputy was assigned to Columbine High School in Colorado the day of the massacre there in 1999, but was unable to stop the violence. Twelve students and a teacher were killed before the two student gunmen shot themselves.
There also has been little indication from Republican leaders that they'll go along with any efforts to curb what kind of guns can be purchased or how much ammunition gun magazines can hold.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, noted that he had an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in his home. He said America would not be made safer by preventing him from buying another one. As to gun magazine limits, he said he can quickly reload by putting in a new magazine.
"The best way to interrupt a shooter is to keep them out of the school, and if they get into the school, have somebody who can interrupt them through armed force," Graham said.
LaPierre also addressed other factors that he said contribute to gun violence in America, but he would not concede that the types of weapons being used are part of the problem.
He was particularly critical of states, which he said are not placing the names of people into a national database designed to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the dangerously mentally ill.
The American Psychiatric Association responded to LaPierre's comments by saying that he seemed to conflate mental illness with evil at several points.
"People who are clearly not mentally ill commit violent crimes and perform terrible acts every day," said Dr. James Scully, chief executive of the trade group. "Unfortunately, Mr. LaPierre's statements serve only to increase the stigma around mental illness and further the misconception that those with mental disorders are likely to be dangerous."
Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Adam Goldman contributed to this report.


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A shooting outside a Fort Myers, Florida, nightclub hosting a swimsuit-themed party for teens left two teens dead and 17 people wounded early Monday, authorities said.
It was not immediately clear what triggered the violence, but Fort Myers police Capt. Jim Mulligan said the shooting was not an act of terror. Police detained three people and were searching for others but said the area around Club Blu had been deemed safe, officials said.
The two teens killed were 14-year-old Sean Archilles and 18-year-old Stef'an Strawder, police said. Archilles lived about a mile from the nightclub, according to his father, Jean Archilles.
"He liked to make people laugh. He's a funny kid. He's always joking," Jean Archilles said.
He said he doesn't wish bad for the shooter.
"When he lays down in his bed, how is he feeling about what he did? A 14-year-old kid!" Archilles said. "Is he thinking about his family, his friends? Because everybody has family and friends. Does he feel good about himself?"
Authorities said in a statement, "the investigation is still very active as is the crime scene" and that investigators are working todetermine a motive.
Lee Memorial Health System CEO Lisa Sgarlata said four people remain hospitalized; two people are in critical condition, and two are in fair condition. Officials said earlier that the others wounded were treated and released Monday morning.
The patients' ages ranged from 12 to 27, Garn said.
"This is not something we're used to — not in this type of volume by any stretch," said Lee Memorial trauma surgeon Dr. Andrew W. Mikulaschek. "I have been here 17 years ... in terms of gunshot wound victims, this is the worse I've ever seen."
Police said they want to talk to some of the victims who were treated and released from the hospital and haven't yet spoken with investigators.
"It is imperative that all persons who were involved with this incident, come forward so that this incident can be properly documented and statements obtained from all involved," Mulligan said.
The shooting apparently occurred at a teen party, billed as a "Swimsuit Glow Party," according to a poster circulated online.
Jermaine Wilson told The New York Times the parking lot had been filled with cars as the teenagers were leaving the club. He heard gunfire erupt and saw a person lying on the ground, bleeding, he said.
"I saw everybody running," Wilson, 32, told the Times. He added that "a bunch of people were screaming names."
Club Blu said in a Facebook post written early Monday, and later deleted, that the party was a "middle school/high school event." It said the shooting happened after the party had ended and teenagers were leaving the club.
"There were older staff present as well as family members picking up teens," the club said.
In a new message, posted around 7:20 a.m., the club said: "We are deeply sorry for all involved. We tried to give the teens WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A SAFE PLACE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. Ages 12-17. There was armed security as well as full security, inside and out."
The club said, "It was not kids at the party that did this despicable act."
The club, about 120 miles from Miami, is in a strip mall that includes a daycare center and is across the street from a large apartment complex.
Law enforcement removed some of police tape by Monday morning, allowing the media and public to get closer to the entrance to Club Blu.
There were bullet holes in concrete planters and wooden support beams. Sheriff's evidence markers were still affixed to the holes. The letter "A'' was attached near a post, while nearby "L," ''M," ''N" and "O'' we're marked near a planter filled with scraggly foliage.
"It breaks my heart. No family should have to endure this kind of pain," said Sylvia Bargouthi, a mother who didn't know any of the victims. "Children should be able to enjoy their life without being brutally murdered."
Bargouthi carried a small stuffed animal with her and placed it near the club's entrance.
State records online show the alcohol license for Club Blu was revoked June 7. The records from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation say the license was revoked because of an incident that occurred a year ago, but there are no additional details available. The same records also show that a complaint was filed in 2014 for "criminal activity" and that the club was given an official notice.
Local police responded to the scene around 12:30 a.m. and found multiple people with gunshot wounds ranging from minor to life-threatening.
Sixteen victims were transported to Lee Memorial Hospital. Another victim was taken to Cape Coral Hospital. Officials said several others left the scene on their own to seek medical attention.
Another person was found injured five blocks away from the nightclub, police said, NBC News reported.
There were two active crime scenes — the club and a street in the area, which also remained closed as police investigated.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott canceled his scheduled events for the day to meet with officials in Fort Myers.
In a statement, Scott said he's spoken with Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson, Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott and Ft. Myers Interim Police Chief Dennis Eads to offer any assistance from the state.
"It's horrible when these things happen," Gov. Scott said at an afternoon news conference. He noted that the state is currently seeing a 45-year low in the crime rate.
Scott said they will continue to pray for the victims and their families.
The shooting comes more than a month after a nightclub shooting in Orlando that was the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history. The shooting at the Pulse nightclub on June 12 left 49 victims dead and 53 others wounded.


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On Sunday the judges, headed by Supreme Court President Asher Grunis, ruled that the outpost must be evacuated by August 1. The annulled compromise deal stated that the outpost's residents would voluntarily relocate to state-owned land situated on a nearby hill within three-and-a-half years. (ynet)The correct response to the Supreme Court should be:
"He who raises his hand against my home – I shall cut off his hand."
After all, where else could we learn such moral ethics, but from another Supreme Court Justice, Mishael Heshin...who was worried that the
Israel's government and the Migron settlers went through extraordinary lengths to reach an agreement, yet Peace Now is more interested in destroying than building, and the Supreme Court is not interested in the peaceful resolution (which was negotiated).
The Supreme Court has gone too far...
Visiting Israel?
Learn to Shoot at Caliber-3 with top Israeli Anti-Terror Experts!
Follow the Muqata on Twitter.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד


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Global Recession Hits Puerto Rico Hard
The island is paying nearly 10 percent interest on its bonds to attract reluctant investors. And some credit-rating analysts are saying Puerto Rico's bonds may soon get a downgrade. But optimists say they can help solve the island's problems from the bottom up.
Global Recession Hits Puerto Rico Hard
It's MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm David Greene.
And I'm Renee Montagne. Good morning.
The global recession hit Puerto Rico hard and left its budget in shambles. But some optimists say they can help solve the island's economic problems from the bottom-up.
Tim Fitzsimons reports from San Juan.
TIM FITZSIMONS, BYLINE: In the shadow of Castillo San Cristobal, a massive stone fort built by the Spanish in the 18th century, stands the Capitolio: Puerto Rico's seat of government. And on this December day, public school teachers were protesting on its steps.
FITZSIMONS: Why were these teachers protesting? Because Puerto Rico's economy is in the dumps, and the government must reform its teacher pension system to avoid a credit agency downgrade of its municipal debt, which is currently just one level above junk status. Here in Puerto Rico, the situation is dire: the unemployment rate is more than double what it is on the U.S. mainland, and many young, educated people are moving away for better opportunities.
But not everyone on the island is pessimistic. A growing movement of globally minded Puerto Ricans see a silver lining in this crisis and are planning for future growth.
SOFIA STOLBERG: Well, this is Piloto 151, so welcome to our headquarters. We're the first co-working space in San Juan, Puerto Rico - actually, the first in Puerto Rico, to be exact. And...
FITZSIMONS: That's Sofia Stolberg. Back in September, she started Piloto 151, a co-working office for small businesses. From inside a renovated colonial building in old San Juan, aspiring entrepreneurs can set up shop to work on freelance projects, tech startups, or whatever else. Piloto 151 will help them incorporate and take advantage of the island's various tax and business incentives. Her idea is to cultivate businesses that work and think globally.
Stolberg says part of Puerto Rico's economic problem stems from its geographic isolation, what she calls an island mentality.
STOLBERG: We fail, sometimes, as a culture to look beyond our borders and to what the rest of the world is doing, and to what the best practices are. One day, I hope we have companies that do what Skype did for Estonia. All we need is one company to make it really big, and Puerto Rico will be a completely different destination and landscape.
FITZSIMONS: Tackling the task of professionalizing and globalizing the talent that already exists in Puerto Rico is one of the main focuses of an organization across town, in the business district of Hato Rey.
JON BORSCHOW: I'm Jon Borschow, the chairman of the Foundation for Puerto Rico.
FITZSIMONS: Jon is one of Puerto Rico's most successful businessmen. He sold his medical supplies company in 2008 in one of the island's largest-ever business transactions. He made his fortune in the medical supply industry that helped modernize Puerto Rico's economy during its boom in the mid-20th century.
BORSCHOW: So I've actually seen, during the course of my life, the entire trajectory of Puerto Rico, from poverty to First World success. As a consequence of that, I was able to see when the winds began to change
FITZSIMONS: Borschow hopes his organization can act as a catalyst to reorient Puerto Rico from an inward-looking business environment to a more dynamic, global hub.
BORSCHOW: What had really happened is that, in a way the very success that we had, had so insulated us from a lot of the changes that were taking place around the globe - you know, as we call it, globalization and internationalization - to a degree that we were really kind of a little self-contained economy.
FITZSIMONS: Borschow's foundation is supporting the development of a new kind of organization for younger Puerto Ricans. It's called ConPRmetidos. One of its goals is to take the brain-drain problem and turn it into a brain circulation advantage. The organization runs workshops to bring educated and successful Puerto Ricans who have left back to the island to share their skills.
ConPRmetidos co-founder Cristina Sumaza says since Puerto Rico's economic problems are so deep-rooted, focusing on the youth will ensure a brighter future for the island.
CRISTINA SUMAZA: It's a long way to go. Its something won't be able to change, you know, in a year or two years. But I think that little by little, we could tackle that young, millennial generation coming up. They're going to be choosing whether they stay here or whether they go. You close the gap, that opportunity divide, as we call it.
FITZSIMONS: At ConPRmetido's one-year anniversary gala, I spoke to Christian Padilla. After finishing his studies in Puerto Rico, he got an MBA on the mainland and now works for IBM in New York.
CHRISTIAN PADILLA: We need to work for our island. And, in a way, it's a way of creating - we have a word in Spanish that is patria, you know, like, your homeland. So it's a way of creating patria.
FITZSIMONS: These groups have their work cut out to boost the economy and improve Puerto Rico's reputation with investors. The government will have to raise money again in the bond market early in this New Year.
For NPR News, I'm Tim Fitzsimons.
Copyright © 2014 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio record.


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Fully text-searchable, the Norwich 1983-84 phone book CD has 186 scanned pages of Residential and Business listings and 206 Yellow Pages including these communities:
All pages are fully text-searchable by any keyword - first or last name, business name, phone number, address, or partial name. You may also use it as a regular phone book and do alphabetical lookups.
This phonebook CD will provide the following information:
Residential, Business & Government Listings
Yellow Pages
SpyralSearch Archived CD's are protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and are only for the purchaser's personal use and not to be copied, distributed, or posted on a web site.


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Jenise wrote:Bob, what's your sugar tolerance? Every bottle of this I've tasted has been more than "a little sweet", but then my sugar intake is pretty close to zero. I don't even drink soda pop.
Never thought of it that way--can one judge their wine tastes, meaning sugar tolerance, according to how much sugar they have in their food diet? For someone that does drink a lot of soda or eat a lot of "junk food," it would be safe to assume they will enjoy the sweeter wines like YT? And, of course, vice versa??


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Woodworking Plans – Home Based
Woodworking is a popular profession all over the world. It is the art that focuses on constructing or making different useful things by using wood and some construction materials. These things can be an ordinary bench to sit or can be complicated furniture for houses. Woodworking is an enjoyable activity and also a serious business … Read more Hello world!


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|Oh, I thought it was something I cared about.
|~ Heath Burns
Heath Burns is a fire elemental and a student at Monster High. His head bursts into flame when he gets excited. He is first seen in the webisode "Substitute Creature". His cousin is Holt Hyde/Jackson Jekyll.
In English, he is voiced by Yuri Lowenthal in Volume 1, and Cam Clarke in Volume 2.
Heath is very flirtatious with the girls of Monster High, to the point of arrogance. While Draculaura liked him at first, she is seen in "Fur Will Fly" calling him conceited, and Lagoona tells him to "get over himself". He is a vainglorious, over-confident, loud-mouthed braggart and his behavior tends to be rather off-putting. He is not a very good listener because as seen in Lagoona's 'School's Out' diary he got attacked by lab equipment because he didn't listen to Mr Hackington. He has however shown some redeemable qualities such as being helpful, as he was willing to assist in protecting the Fearleading Squad from Nefera's cheating ways during Monster Mashionals. In "Fatal Error", Heath is seen crying when the girls think that they didn't make it to a million hits, showing his sympathy to them and that he does care for them.
Heath is extremely childish, and very easy led. His actions vary wildly depending on who he's with, for example under the positive influence of Ghoulia he worked for the greater good and helped repair Rochelle's family car in "Scaris: City of Frights", but when being led by Manny he behaves antagonistic and rude towards whoever Manny is targeting such as in "Friday Night Frights".
Heath is the cousin of Jackson Jekyll and his alter ego Holt Hyde. The exact way the two~three are related is fuzzy. Ghoul Spirit states that Heath's father is the brother of Jackson's and Holt's mother. However, Jackson Jekyll's 'Between Classes' diary states that it's Jackson's and Holt's father who is a fire elemental and it implies it's through him that the two boys are related to Heath.
In the Monster High books Heath is not related to the Jekylls/Hydes at all. Heath does, however, have an older sister, Harmony Burns. She is mentioned in Where There's a Wolf, There's a Way and owns a Toyota Prius.
Heath has a large social circle, but few people he can always turn to due to his impulsive and at times obnoxious behavior. He generally hangs out with the other boys he is on the track team or safety team with, which are Clawd Wolf, Deuce Gorgon, Manny Taur, and Slo Mo. Additionally, Heath gets reasonably along with Gil and Hoodude Voodoo, although the latter also is one of his easier bullying targets. Occasionally, he hangs out with the girls, of whom he best interacts with Ghoulia.
Heath's closest pal is Manny Taur, a bully like him, but more forceful. While Heath is not the best of companions alone most of the time, around Manny he tends to get worse. One example of that would be that in "Friday Night Frights" and "Ghouls Rule", Heath had no problem with girls in the SKRM team or girls saving him until Manny objected to either. Manny himself isn't always on the bullying path, and when he's reasonable, so is Heath. Essentially, while Manny is the most tolerant of all Monster High students towards Heath, he also has an amount of control over him that can do as much harm as it can good.
In the Monster High books, Heath also is friends with Brett Redding.
Heath Burns is a humongous flirt and on top of that convinced that he is hot in more than the literal sense. He is not necessarily wrong in that, as his looks do garner attention, but it's his general pushy, loud, and insensitive attitude that works like a repellent to most girls. This isn't to say Heath ís insensitive and ignorant of manners, but it is rare for him to show the side that does not turn off people.
Frankie Stein has been a victim of Heath's attention twice, both in "Date of the Dead" and in "New Ghoul @ School". In "Date of the Dead", Heath was pushy and disrespectful to Frankie's need for space. He was also ignorant of the fact the only reason she sat down next to him and stayed there was because she wanted to be near Ghoulia to help her and Slo Mo connect. In "New Ghoul @ School", Frankie was the new girl and Heath tried to hit on her with classy lines such as: "If you were a booger, I'd pick you first.". Before he could make Frankie thoroughly uncomfortable, Deuce stepped in and petrified him. Even as Deuce dragged him off, Heath still suggested that Frankie should call him.
Heath had a rocky relationship with Draculaura before she began dating Clawd Wolf. In "The Hot Boy", he showed a more gentlemanly side when he offered his arm, though that was after noting she looked horrible due to the way her makeup was applied. He was Draculaura's date to the dance in "New Ghoul @ School" too and an in-between flirt of Draculaura with another boy featured a guy who looked much like Heath. However, by the time of "Fur Will Fly", Heath's true colors had come out, resulting in Draculaura being no longer interested in his rude behavior. He tried to rekindle their relationship again in "Why We Fright", nagging Draculaura to go to the dance with him until she finally gave in to his persistance, and said yes. In "Fear-A-Mid Power", he made fun of the fear squad's latest cheer at a casketball game, and specifically, Draculaura herself. This led her to realize she didn't want to attend the dance with him, which made it all the more easier for Clawd to step up and ask Draculaura to be his date to the dance instead, intimidating Heath to back off permanently.
In "Fright On!", Heath tried to put the moves on two vampires from Belfry Prep, two zombie girls, and later even on Gory Fangtell, resulting in rejection each time.
Heath has been incessantly chasing after Scarah Screams, incidents of which occured in "Hyde Your Heart", "Ghostly Gossip", "Fright On!", and "Hoodoo That Voodoo That You Do". Scarah writes about her experience with Heath in her SDCCI diary, which reveals that while she thinks he's "handsome, his social skills are a mess" which leads her to be less than ideally attracted to him.
In "Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love?", a bug in Ghoulia's computer made her think Heath was her ideal partner, though much to her horror. Heath considered this news awesome and his special brand of obnoxiousness nearly doubled. When Ghoulia found out about the bug, she was elated, but still tried to break up with Heath with consideration to his feelings. Heath beat her to it, approaching her to tell her that he could not be tied down right now because it would disappoint other girls. Though he did try to break it off gently, he wasn't above immediately flirting with someone else once Ghoulia confirmed there would be no hard feelings. Ghoulia took it in stride, happy to be rid of him and knowing that Heath's just always going to be Heath.
In the Monster High books he dates Bekka's friend, Haylee. Since Heath was the cameraman for The Ghoul Next Door from the second book, he therefore was not exposed as a RAD, but Haylee does not mind because she is no longer part of Bekka's evil plan. (Heath was first discovered as a RAD when he sneezed out fire in the second book.)
In "Back-to-Ghoul", Abbey Bominable begins her time at Monster High. An impressive appearance, Heath immediately runs up to her and offers to carry her books for her, calling her "baby". Abbey corrects him, stating that her name is "Abbey", and accidentally freezes him. He attempts another flirt in "Abominable Impression", which involves calling her by her actual name, getting down on a knee and kissing her hand. He retreats because his mouth ends up frozen. In Abbey's 'School's Out' diary, Abbey mentions more flirts from Heath. She also reveals that she thinks he's "very annoying but...scary cute" and that she is not opposed to going on a date with him. However, she is waiting for "a properly asked for date", as his current antics only earn him a cold shoulder. In the "Ghouls Rule" movie, Abbey and Heath start to grow more affectionate for each other, and Abbey starts to 'warm' up to him, even going to the Halloween dance with him. Heath attempts a lot to impress her, such as learning to juggle and participating in winter sports with her.
In "Scaris: City of Frights", he seemed happy that Abbey admitted that she missed him a little. In "From Fear to Eternity", Heath flirts with Jinafire Long by impressing her with his fire abilities, although she doesn't show much interest and only finds him annoying, so far the attraction is very one sided


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Enough with the hearts and flowers, already
Meet the edgy anti-Valentines
Oh, Valentine's Day, how do we hate thee? Let us count the ways: In the Back Bay, the Gypsy Rose dance studio is planning a "Single & Bitter'' pole dancing class. On Massachusetts Avenue, Bristol Recording and Voice Studios is hosting a Black Valentine's Day open mike night. "No sappy duets,'' the rules instruct. And in Cambridge, "Breakup banana splits'' and "Bloody heart pizzas'' will be on the Feb. 14 menu at Area Four.
"Booooo Valentine's Day,'' the casual eatery's co-owner, Michael Krupp, cried. "Forget about what everyone else is doing, and do your own thing.''
But in 2012, "what everyone else is doing'' could be an anti-Valentine's activity.
The National Retail Federation predicts the average American celebrating the holiday will spend $126.03 - the most in the survey's 10-year history. Statistics on the counter-trend are hard to come by. But one thing's certain: With 32 million Americans living alone, according to the most recent census data, the singles market is too sweet to ignore. Companies big and small have come wooing.
Even the giant card company American Greetings is playing the other side of the field. Six of the 24 Valentine's Day cards available on its justWink e-card app carry decidedly nonloving holiday messages. "Blah blah love blah happy blah blah yuck,'' reads one card. "It's Valentine's Day. [@#$%].''
The Geek Squad, Best Buy's tech support and repair service, and not a firm traditionally associated with love, or hate, for that matter, is also flirting with the lovelorn.
For Valentine's Day, it issued a list of "technology tips for shake-ups and breakups.''
"Even in the midst of a sad breakup,'' the Geek Squad advises, "it's important to make sure that your personal data is safe and secure, especially if you share a computer with your ex-love. If you haven't backed up your data recently, it's time to do so now.''
Be still, my bitter, heaving bosom.
Negative Valentine's Day sentiments have also invaded FarmVille, the popular online game with tens of millions of users.
Last year's Valentine's Day theme included a few anti-Valentine's Day items - a black rose crop, a black swamp, and animals with broken hearts.
The darker side was so popular that the company has more than doubled the anti-Valentine's offerings this year, said Nate Etter, Farmville's general manager.
"A lot of players feel their farms are almost a representation of themselves, and they appreciated the chance to express their sentiments,'' Etter said. "A woman wrote in to say that her husband is in Afghanistan, and Valentine's Day is hard, but now I have some stuff on my farm that shows how I feel.''
With Valentine's Day looming, the hostility in some quarters is running so high it's as if a jilted billionaire were funding an anti-Cupid super PAC.
But why do some folks get so whipped up about a marketing holiday?
"It's the high school reunion you have every year,'' said Lauren Beckham Falcone, the sidekick on WROR's "Loren & Wally Show.'' "You're constantly faced with what you don't have.''
Valentine's Day timing, she adds, couldn't be worse. "It comes right after the holidays, when everyone's always asking, 'So, are you seeing anyone?' It's the pile-on effect.''
Acting out against Valentine's Day allows people to release stress, said Mark Schaefer, an adjunct professor of marketing at Rutgers University. "There's a certain amount of anxiety that always runs through our society, and a certain amount of rebelliousness, and we're in a period of time where there's not a lot of villains, so we strike out at whatever seems unfair. This is something to strike out at when there's nothing else to strike out.''
Rebelling is almost a rite of passage for younger people, said Kit Yarrow, a consumer psychologist at Golden Gate University. "Especially now,'' she said, "anything that smacks of commercialism seems phony.''
Never mind that the anti-Valentine's Day has become, its own way, equally commercial, Yarrow said; it still manages to be ironic. "And irony is in.''
Alas, celebrating anti-Valentine's Day is not without its own problems.
"If you toot your own horn about how much you hate Valentine's Day, people assume it's because you're lonely and unhappy,'' said Kelsey Labrot, 21, a junior at Boston University. "I am alone, but I'm not going to brag about it. I want to have some self-respect.''
But, she confessed, she couldn't resist a little anti-Valentine's Day spirit. "I pretty much spammed my [single] sorority sisters on Facebook with a [commiserative] anti-Valentine's Day card.''
The movement has already inspired a Nia Vardalos movie, "I Hate Valentine's Day,'' an "I Hate Valentine's Day'' song by Jewel, an antivday.com website, "The Anti-Valentine's Day Handbook,'' anti-Valentine's Day T-shirts, and, in some non-New England locations, "Dump Your X's Stuff'' Goodwill donation drives.
A dating company has named tomorrow the "official'' anti-Valentine's Day.
But perhaps the ultimate sign of the anti-Valentine's Day movement's success is this: It's spawned its own backlash.
As Theresa Woolverton, 55, of Chestnut Hill, shopped for a Valentine's Day plant for an elderly friend, she pronounced herself disappointed in criticism of the day.
"Don't you think it's a positive holiday?'' she asked. "Anything positive in our negative world is a good thing.''
Beth Teitell can be reached at email@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @bethteitell.


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Space Rocket Chalkboard Wall Decal
If you would like us to send you a color sample please contact us!
Space Rocket Chalkboard Decal
We like to go BIG! Unlike the competition, Alphabet Garden's vinyl wall decals are a cut above the rest by offering larger sizes so they actually look as good as they do in the picture! Don't be fooled by other companies, when Alphabet Garden's over 10 years of offering superior vinyl decals has never disappoint!
The sizing of the wall decal from the largest decal and is measured from the top of the entire design to the bottom.
Alphabet Garden Chalkboards are offered in a deep rich black vinyl which makes chalk pop! Chalkboard works with chalk and chalkboard pens. Make sure prime the chalkboard before use; it gives you a smooth surface that is easy to write on and easy to erase.
How do I Prime my Chalkboard Decal?
Use the side of a piece of chalk (not the tip) and rub the entire surface of the chalkboard. Rub the surface using horizontal and vertical strokes. After covering the whole surface let it sit for a few minutes. Use a dry paper towel, cloth or soft rag and wipe away any excess chalk.
Features of chalkboard decals by Alphabet Garden include:
- Chalkboard vinyl is washable and durable, just use a damp towel or eraser.
- Low-tack light adhesive will remove cleanly from most surfaces.
- Alphabet Garden designs are manufactured in the USA.


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Tuesday, October 30 at 2:00PM PST in the Off-Road Success Center, Booth #30147 in the Upper South Hall.
How Jeep® and truck dealerships win profit in the aftermarket.
Imagine creating increased consumer pull onto your dealership and converting a higher profit sale. Imagine creating consumer loyalty, so your customers return to you for profitable add-ons, accessories and aftermarket parts.
Owners are holding on to their cars and trucks longer than ever before, with the average length of ownership of vehicles purchased rising to a record 71 months in the third quarter of 2011. Aftermarket sales ensures your customers come back to buy from you sooner than this almost six years that they are waiting to buy a new vehicle.
Learn how to use aftermarket sales to ignite the enthusiast in your customers, building loyalty andpulling them to your showroom and enjoying increased sales and profits.
Facilitated by Omix-ADA Business Development expert, Ray Weaver with case study testimonials by Galen Fleming, Executive Director of Fixed Operations with the Adams Auto Group, an innovator and industry leading Jeep® dealership in aftermarket sales.
Galen Fleming, Executive Director of Fixed Operations with Adams Jeep® of Maryland, worked his way through the business from detail to dealer. Galen has been in the automotive industry for 18 yea, with 15 years of those at Adams Jeep. His degree is in Business Quality Management, is a Certified Quality Auditor, Certified Quality Inspector and has won recognition as Chrysler Mid-Atlantic Service Manager of the Year in 2005 and has served on the Chrysler National Service Manager Business Forum from 2007 to the present.
One of the top stand alone Jeep dealers in the mid-Atlantic, Adams Jeep was established in 1988 and owned by the Adams Automotive group. Adams Jeep is a leader in Mopar and aftermarket accessories, and customer satisfaction, sales and service. Adams Jeep of Maryland has been featured in Fixed Ops Magazine and Off-Road Business Magazine. The Adams Xtreme Motorsports business was opened in 1999.
Ray Weaver, Business Development Manager, is based in Pennsylvania and is responsible for sales and business development for Omix-ADA, Inc. in the northeastern portion of the United Stated and eastern Canada.


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Handheld Pencil Sharpeners
School pencil cases are nothing without portable handheld pencil sharpeners. The Bostitch Twist-n-Sharp line caters to kids and their sharpening needs both inside and outside of the classroom. Their mini, compact design allows them to travel on the go in any backpack or bag, coming in three bright colors for a fun, personal touch.
Choose between two different types of handheld sharpeners: the original Twist-n-Sharp or the Twist-n-Sharp Duo with two holes. While students are known for going through many pencils, each sharpener has tip saving technology, prolonging each pencil's life. With an adjustable knob for either sharp or blunt pencil tip preferences, Bostitch handheld sharpers are not limited to simply sharpening standard lead pencils, but also welcome colored pencils for all coloring needs.
Bostitch Twist-n-Sharp pencil sharpeners are as easy as twist and sharp, with a clean shavings tray adding to the convenience and portability. It's important that these travel pencil sharpeners are simple enough for kids to use anytime and anywhere. With our legendary and specially designed handheld pencil sharpeners, now there's no reason to fear broken tips!
Twist-n-Sharp™ Kids Pencil Sharpener
Known as the original Bostitch Twist-n-Sharp pencil sharpener, this unit is compact and colorful to successfully fit into any bag, drawer, or pencil case. It's also great for classroom environments and craft use at home!
- Ratchet Mechanism – Save time and wrist work with the ratchet mechanism. Offering fast and easier sharpening without having to let go of the pencil, it requires you to simply twist the sharpener back and forth to achieve the perfect pencil tip.
- Tip Saver™ Technology - Preventing you from wasting time, energy and pencil lead, the Tip Saver™ Technology is also a lifesaver. It automatically stops cutting when the pencil is fully sharpened, preventing the tip from breaking and over sharpening. This saves pencils overtime, limiting waste and saving money!
- Customizable Pencil Tip – Did you know you could ever achieve two types of pencil tips with just one sharpener? Well, with this handheld sharpener, you can choose between a pointed or blunt tip. Simply take advantage of the adjustable knob on the front of the sharpener. The pointed tip is great for writing or precise coloring, while the blunt tip is more suitable for smaller kids and lots of coloring.
- Easy-clean Shavings Tray – Never worry about creating a mess with pencil shavings everywhere. The shavings tray is easy to clean to keep your workspace tidy. Simply flip open the hinged shavings tray for quick waste disposal. The sharpener is also translucent so you can see exactly when the sharpener is full.
Twist-n-Sharp™ Duo Pencil Sharpeners
This duo pencil is the second version of the Twist-n-Sharp handheld pencil sharpener. What's the difference? There are two holes for sharpening! Why? Because sometimes two is better than one. Plus, it makes it suitable for kids of all ages, of course.
- Two Hole Design – This sharpener doesn't feature just one hole for sharpening, but two! Great for kids of all ages, this duo handheld sharpener sharpens both regular and jumbo sized lead and colored pencils. That means students just starting to learn how to write with larger pencils can use this sharpener.
- Ratchet Mechanism – The easy twist mechanism saves you time while working towards your sharpened pencil. Plus, no sore wrists!
- Tip Saver™ Technology - The Bostitch Tip Saver™ Technology prolongs pencil life. How? It simply stops cutting and sharpening once the pencil is fully sharpened.
- Customizable Pencil Tip – Choose between a blunt or pointed pencil top with the adjustable knob. Great for coloring or learning, having the option to customize your writing experience is always necessary.
- Easy-clean Shavings Tray – Keep your space clean and organized as the shavings tray captures all pencil fallout. Simply open the hinged tray to empty out waste once full.


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I sometimes wonder if the term "classical music" is a hidden barrier to new audiences. It sounds forbidding and not much fun. It suggests something that you need a degree in musicology to enjoy. Being a bit of classical music geek, it makes me think of music of the late 18th century and composers like Mozart and Haydn. Certainly classical music is more than Mozart, no matter how much you like his music.
The term "classical music" just doesn't reflect the wide variety of styles that give audiences so many choices. I don't have a better term to suggest. I've heard "art music" and "serious music" but that is insulting to other kinds of music that deserve respect. "Symphonic music" leaves out all small ensembles and "chamber music" leaves out orchestras. Anybody out there has a better idea?
This coming week is an excellent example of the variety of classical music presentations here in San Antonio.
On Sunday, October 4 you can enjoy three very different events:
The Symphony opens our Family Series at Trinity University at 1: 30 p.m. with Peter and the Wolf narrated by Judge Peter Sakai. The music starts at 2:30 p.m. and the first hour is filled with interactive activities for children.
San Antonio Chamber Music Society's season opens with the Lark Quartet and percussionist Yousif Sheronick. This concert begins at 3:15 p.m. at Temple Beth-El and combines the string quartet with world-music-influenced percussion.
Musical Bridges Around the World presents a free concert at the San Fernando Cathedral at 6 p.m.
Then just two days later on Tuesday, October 6 at 7:30 p.m. the Tuesday Music Club opens its Artist Series with an organ recital by Paul Jacobs. Three days later on October 9 & 10 the Symphony is at it again with Beethoven Symphony No. 7 at the Majestic Theatre. To round out a week of wonderful concerts Musical Bridges Around the World opens its subscription season with a performance on Sunday, October 11 at 3 pm with Carnival of the Animals.
The hidden gem in this wonderful week of music is Tuesday's organ recital by Paul Jacobs at Laurel Heights United Methodist Church. Look at these recent press raves:
"Paul Jacobs is a pipe organist, and better than almost any of his colleagues, he also has an instinct for programming memorable events….played it all with technical panache and deep understanding, it became clear Jacobs was an artist of boundless talent."
(Atlanta Journal Constitution, 2008)
"If there is such a thing as an organ prodigy, Paul Jacobs seems to be it …a major-league talent." (Gramophone)
"The 31-year-old virtuoso organist is said to have a 'fresh performance style that has reinvigorated the American organ scene.' Don't believe it? Well, New York Magazine name one of Jacobs' performances as one of New York's ten best classical performances of 2007."
(Salem Statesman Journal, Oregon)
"Jacobs is precisely what the organ scene needs right now: a dynamic young virtuoso who stands to further popularize this mighty, venerable and underexposed instrument."
(Los Angeles Times)
"Charismatic showmanship and unflagging exuberance."
(The Wall Street Journal)
Normally an organ recital is about the last thing that comes to my mind when I think of classical music. But I'm going to have to get over my pre-conceived notions and go see Mr. Jacobs. There are lots of great guest artists presented each year in San Antonio, but Paul Jacobs just might be the hidden gem of the season.
Jack Fishman
Twitter @SASym
Facebook: San Antonio Symphony
For more blogs by Jack Fishman visit: http://blog.mysanantonio.com/jackfishman/files/legacy/


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Yesterday we got 57 new users. Yeah, right. When you register for the board, you should get a confirmation email. When you confirm, you have posting rights.
If you do not get a confirmation email, you get basically nothing.
Email me sean at crazyfishdesign dot com and I'll set you up.
There is no longer ANY way to register since the spammer were killing me, every possible variation was being used to no avail. So send that email with your username and password request and I'll set you up.


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JBI Deployment Options
Recently, I have had multiple discussions with different individuals concerning possible JBI deployment options for their projects. Is Glassfish required? Do I need a JavaEE container? Do I need Netbeans? Is it packaged as a WAR? How big is the runtime footprint? If I am already using JBoss, how can I take advantage of JBI? Why is the OpenESB installer so large? Even with every project having its own specific needs, JBI has an array of potential solutions for each one. So if you are new to JBI or just curious how to use it, please contiue to read while I describe the various options.
First, I have fortunately had the pleasure of extensively using two of the most popular JBI containers currently available: Apache ServiceMix and Sun's OpenESB. The following is the landscape as I see it based off my experience.
Apache ServiceMix Options
- Can run as a standard J2SE application. To use this version download the container from here: http://incubator.apache.org/servicemix/download.html
- Bundled as a WAR, making it deployable to your existing JavaEE container. The WAR is also available for download from the same address above.
- Can run as a standard J2SE application. Although it's a little more untested than it's other options. Go here for a How-To Guide on where to download the container and run it.
- Comes bundled in an All-In-One install that includes the latest Glassfish, OpenESB, and Netbeans 6.0 for tooling support. Go here to download this version. Before you flip out on the download size (300+MB), let me provide an explanation as to the size because this seems to be the version receiving the most attention by Sun; and it's actually the version my team uses. Along with the items mentioned above, this bundle also includes all the Sun components and the latest Community Partner components. I believe the main benefit to having an All-In-One install is previously we had to download each project individually and usually the different versions where incompatible (the BPEL tooling support in Netbeans didn't match the BPEL Service Engine capabilities downloaded with OpenESB). It's important to note that with this option Netbeans is only required to compose Composite Applications and not to run OpenESB. Finally, the Glassfish and OpenESB combo is a little deceiving in that it's not like starting two applications. OpenESB is basically exploded out in one of the Glassfish domains, much like a WAR would be. So when you start a Glassfish domain, it handles starting OpenESB.
- There exists a WAR file for IBM Websphere located here and work has been done to integrate with JBoss (read here for more information).
Most projects fall into two categories: one that already has a JavaEE container and ones that don't. If you already have a JavaEE container, then you can use the ServiceMix WAR or run the J2SE standalone version of OpenESB. If you don't have one, then obviously you can choose among all the options. If I was forced to give a personal recommendation, I would recommend when possible using the Glassfish/OpenESB package. This gives you complete capability of building Composite Applications consisting of Web Services running in Glassfish and orchestrating them using OpenESB and the BPEL Service Engine and then integrating with other protocols such as RSS, SIP, UDDI, and XMPP. And the tooling support in Netbeans is well worth it.
For further questions please visit the FAQ on http://www.jbizint.org or feel free to drop me a comment. You can also subscribe to my shared JBI RSS Feed.


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If you're single and uninsured, the specter of a health crisis takes on an added dimension of anxiety. Not only might your very life be in danger but your livelihood as well. And unless you have wealthy parents, siblings, or grown children who can bail you out of impending financial doom, it may take you the rest of your days to pay back that doctor you owe your life to.
When you're an uninsured single, it's easy to fall into a pattern of resignation and daily prayer or crossed fingers. It may not occur to you that just because your job doesn't come with insurance doesn't mean you have to go without. Here are six avenues to affordable insurance that you may want to investigate:
1. Medicaid
Medicaid eligibility varies from state to state. For example, if you live in New York, like I do, and are single, you can't earn more than $700 a month or have resources totaling more than $4200. You'll need to prove your eligibility by meeting with a Medicaid counselor and completing an extensive inventory of your income and assets. This can take several hours, both in preparation and at your nearest Department of Social Services, so be sure you meet the requirements before you apply.
2. Low-cost State Insurance
If you're not eligible for Medicaid (insurance at no cost), you may still be eligible for a state-run plan for low-income residents (insurance at low cost). A handful of progressive states now offer policies with discounted premiums for those who can keep themselves out of a homeless shelter but won't own a McMansion anytime soon. These policies are usually the dreaded HMOs and may provide only basic, no-frills coverage, but they're better than nothing. For example, Health NY, the New York State plan for singles who make no more than $2,167 a month, regardless of their assets, covers diagnostic and treatment services, including surgery, for a wide range of medical conditions, but it doesn't cover dental, vision, mental health, or "preventive" care. Premiums vary based on the details of the chosen plan but are in the $200-300 range. Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Illinois, Washington, and Oregon are among the states with similar plans.
3. Catastrophic Coverage
If you don't qualify for a low-income plan, consider obtaining catastrophic coverage in case of a medical emergency. These bare-bones policies generally cover hospital visits only, but it's that unexpected trip to the ER that's most likely to bruise your bank account. Since you're only expected to use your benefits in a crisis, your deductible will probably be high, in the $500-2,000 range. Premiums are about $100 a month. Blue Cross Blue Shield and GHI are two insurance companies known for their popular catastrophic coverage, or hospital indemnity, plans. This PDF edition of Managed Care Week lists many more around the country.
4. Union Plans
Perhaps you're self-employed and are a member of a union. If so, your union might offer low-cost insurance options. The Freelancers Union, the National Writers Union, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, are a few unions for creative professionals through which members can access health insurance. Believe it or not, there's even a new National Singles Association promising medical benefits on the horizon! Whatever your line of work, if you're an independent contractor, check out Unions.org. It has a comprehensive list of unions in all industries. A reasonable annual or one-time membership fee could be your gateway to healthcare.
5. Small Business Plans
Or maybe you're an employee at a small business, and your employer can't afford the average $7,000-8,000 yearly cost of an individual plan. Your employer may be interested to know that a number of insurance providers have recently created plans for small businesses of two to 50 employees. Some low-cost state programs, such as Healthy NY, also allow small employer contributions. If your employer doesn't have the resources to pay for your premium in full, talk to him or her about sharing the burden 50-50 or 60-40. Use your irreproachable track record as leverage! Small business owners hate to lose good workers.
6. Short-term Insurance
If all else fails and you're getting desperate, short-term insurance can give you peace of mind while you plan your next move, especially if you're starting over after losing a job or a spouse. Your deductible will be sky-high, and you won't be able to participate for more than six months or a year, but your enrollment will guarantee that if this is the year you win the anti-lotto and lose your job and your health, you won't also lose your life savings. Short-term Health Insurance, eHealthInsurance, and ConsumerBenefits.net are a few of the sites through which consumers can purchase temporary insurance.
And then there are those who slip between the cracks of the system. The freelancer who makes too much for state insurance but not enough to purchase his own. The loyal sole employee of a mom and pop store that can barely break even, much less offer benefits. The laid-off worker whose temporary coverage ran out before a new job arrived. The cancer victim who gambled on a high-deductible policy and lost. What happens to these singles when the medical bills pile up?
Next time, Singletude examines alternatives to traditional health insurance. Check back here to find out where uninsured singles are turning to pay the guy with the caduceus!
Have you ever been insured through one of the above providers or known someone who has? If so, what was your/their experience with this insurance coverage? Can you think of any other methods for an uninsured single to obtain insurance (besides getting married, of course!)?
Fun Link of the Day
Singletude: A Positive Blog for Singles
Monday, March 3, 2008
Singles and Health Insurance, Part II
If you're single and uninsured, the specter of a health crisis takes on an added dimension of anxiety. Not only might your very life be in danger but your livelihood as well. And unless you have wealthy parents, siblings, or grown children who can bail you out of impending financial doom, it may take you the rest of your days to pay back that doctor you owe your life to.
Posted by Clever Elsie at 7:13 PM
Labels: benefits, health, health benefits, health insurance, healthcare, insurance, low-cost insurance, low-income, medical insurance, singles, singles insurance, uninsured, uninsured singles