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My campaign this year is to improve my overall health while still managing severe psoriasis. So far, so good. I'm changing my thinking about both the bad that happens — seeing events as not permanent or catastrophic — and the good (believing more good can happen). I'm sleeping better and taking naps when needed. I'm taking time off from work to recover, such as yesterday's day off to rest.
Staying active remains an important aspect of my strategy. I am not a gym or YMCA kind of guy. My wife tried to encourage me to join memberships in the past, but I think too many bad experiences with psoriasis in public, along with too busy a lifestyle, kept me from going for it. But I still went jogging in my neighborhood, until my knees pained me too much in my new hilly locale. We bought an elliptical machine to put in our home a few years ago, which we use periodically. Recently, my kids started their school running club. I'm one of four dads who join the kids to run on Tuesday and Thursday mornings before school. We've played Wii Fit, gone swimming in the summer in our association pool, walked at the park, and played with the dog. I'm glad I came from such an active background, running track and cross-country in high school. Now that I'm a lifetime removed from high school, it is much harder to follow a regular exercise routine. But my family keeps me going, with my daughter now in varsity running sports and my son in club soccer.
So when I told the family we would participate in our local National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) Walk to Cure Psoriasis they got excited. We've marked the date, April 30, and started to get the word out. Check out our family picture at our Walk page.
The 1 or 5-kilometer walk will not be so challenging for us physically — I don't have psoriatic arthritis. My kids are active runners already. But consider the challenge to overcome psoriasis by researching a cure, educating new patients, bringing awareness, and supporting those who suffer daily: We need to get more active in these areas!
I encourage you to find a way to get and stay fit as spring approaches. Whether that means playing with your kids, walking the dog, or calisthenics in your living room, do it! If you're not sure what you're up for, you can always check with your doctor, or just start slow. You could always start by joining a Walk to Cure Psoriasis in your area too!
What are you doing to stay active? What obstacles do you need to overcome to do so?
Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health.


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OUTLOOK: Quick, skillful attacking player signed as homegrown player on January 19, 2011.
2013 MLS: Started in 2-0 win vs. Stoke City in Dynamo Charities Cup on July 24 ... Made second consecutive substitute appearance in 1-0 win vs. Philadelphia Union on July 6 ... Entered as substitute in 78th minute of 2-0 loss at the New York Red Bulls on 6/30, marking his first debut this season … Reserves: Has started six Reserve League games … Assisted on Brian Ownby's opening goal in 1-0 win at Columbus Crew Reserves on 6/2 … LOAN: Spent a month on loan with the Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL). Appeared in three games and scored game-winning goal in 2-1 win over Ft. Lauderdale on 4/27 … 12-13 Champions League: Did not feature … U.S. Open Cup: Played first 71 minutes in 3-0 loss at FC Dallas on 6/12 … Scored opening goal and played 90 minutes in 2-0 win over FC Tucson on 5/29 (first career Open Cup goal).
2012 MLS: Appeared in four games, making one start in 2012 ... Played 62 minutes in season finale at Colorado on 10/27 ... Came on in 88th minute of wild 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake (9/6) ... Played 16 minutes in substitute appearance vs. Portland on 5/15 ... Made 2012 debut at New York on 5/9, played 34 minutes as a substitute ... 2012-13 CCL: Appeared as substitute for final 19 minutes in 4-0 win over C.D. FAS on 9/20 ... Open Cup: Started, played 90 minutes in 1-0 third round loss at San Antonio on 5/29 ... 2012 Reserves: Started eight games, scored two goals and notched three assists as Dynamo won Reserve League division title ... Tallied goal and two assists in 3-0 win at Sporting Kansas City on 3/27.
2011 MLS: Made seven substitute appearances in league play and scored one goal in his rookie season ... Made professional debut in 1-1 tie at NY on 4/2 ... Also appeared in 2-1 loss vs. COL on 5/4 ... Played final six minutes and was on the field for tying goal in 2-2 tie vs. FCD on 5/28 ... Made next MLS appearance in 3-0 loss at CHV on 7/23 ... Also came on as substitute in 3-1 win vs. SEA on 7/30 ... Played a career-high 28 minutes in 1-1 tie at NE on 8/17 ... Came on as sub three days later and scored dramatic game-winning goal, his first as a professional, in final seconds of stoppage time in 3-2 win vs. RSL on 8/20, curling in left-footed shot from top of the penalty area ... Open Cup: Made first Dynamo start and played 120 minutes in midfield in 1-0 overtime loss vs. KC on 4/6 as Dynamo were eliminated in qualifying round ... Other: Started and played all 90 minutes at three different positions in 2-0 Dynamo Charities Cup loss vs. Bolton Wanderers on 7/20 ... Reserves: Started eight of 10 Dynamo Reserves games, three times at forward and five times in midfield, scoring one goal on the season ... Fractured finger in 3-0 loss at COL on 9/1 ... Returned to action as a sub in 3-0 win vs. CHI on 10/1 ... Scored opening goal with outstanding individual effort in 2-0 win at KC on 10/18.
INTERNATIONAL: Former member of United States U-17 national team residency program in Bradenton, Fla.
COLLEGE: Three-year contributor at North Carolina, helping the Tar Heels reach the NCAA College Cup all three years ... 2010: Notched one goal and three assists in 20 games despite injury ... Made terrific play to set up game-tying goal in NCAA semifinal vs. No. 1 Louisville, dribbling through four players before serving accurate cross for headed finish ... UNC lost 2-1 on last-minute goal … 2009: Ranked second on the team with eight goals, including three in the NCAA tournament, and also had one assist … Scored goals in three consecutive NCAA tournament games to help UNC reach the College Cup for the second consecutive season ... Netted hat trick in 7-0 win vs. Stetson, North Carolina's first hat trick since 2005 ... Added late goal on counter-attack in 2-0 win vs. Brown in second round of NCAA tournament... Beat two defenders to score game-winning goal in 1-0 win vs. Indiana in third round... Got behind defense for second goal in 2-1 win vs. Drake in NCAA quarterfinals ... Played all 110 minutes in 0-0 semifinal tie vs. No. 1 Akron, with UNC losing in a shootout … 2008: Ranked third on the team with five goals as a freshman, playing in 20 of 24 games as UNC lost in national championship game … Appeared as a substitute in two NCAA tournament matches as UNC reached the College Cup but did not play in the semifinal or championship game ... Ranked seventh among all North Carolina Olympic sports male athletes in the SuperRam competition, which measures overall performance.
DYNAMO ACADEMY: Joined Dynamo Academy in 2007 after leaving U.S. U-17 residency program ... Trained briefly with Dynamo first team in summer of 2008 ... Scored in Dynamo Academy Showcase in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
PERSONAL: Full name is Hugh Alex Dixon ... Son of Marisa Parks ... Has three brothers (Jerome, Anthony, Tre) and one sister ... Lists Michael Jordan as most admired athlete … Graduated from Atascocita High School in Humble, northeast of Houston, in 2008.

subset: commoncrawl


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PAXgene Blood DNA Kit
For purification of up to 500 µg genomic DNA from whole blood
The PAXgene Blood DNA system consists of PAXgene Blood DNA Tubes for blood collection and stabilization, and the PAXgene Blood DNA Kit for DNA purification in a single-tube procedure.
Buy Products
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostics procedures. No claim or representation is intended to provide information for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of a disease.
Product Details
DNA isolated using the PAXgene Blood DNA System has an A260/A280 ratio of 1.7–1.9. Fragments are 20–200 kb in size, with an average length of 50–150 kb (see figure "High quality and high molecular weight of genomic DNA"). Average DNA yields are 150–500 µg, depending on the number of nucleated cells present in the blood sample. Purified DNA can be used in PCR and quantitative, real-time PCR (see figure "Efficient multiplex PCR of 3 mitochondrial genes").
The PAXgene Blood DNA System is an integrated and standardized system for collection and stabilization of whole blood specimens and isolation of their genomic DNA. The system requires the combined use of PAXgene Blood DNA Tubes for blood collection and stabilization, followed by DNA isolation using the PAXgene Blood DNA Kit.
Blood is collected into PAXgene Blood DNA Tubes, which contain a proprietary blend of reagents that both prevents blood coagulation and stabilizes white blood cells. Blood samples can be stored in the tubes for up to 14 days at room temperature. DNA is isolated from the tubes using appropriate buffers supplied in the PAXgene Blood DNA Kit. Highly pure genomic DNA is obtained, suitable for use in a wide range of downstream applications.
The PAXgene Blood DNA procedure is shown in the flowchart "PAXgene Blood DNA procedure". Blood samples (8.5 ml) are collected in PAXgene Blood DNA Tubes, where they may be stored or transported. For DNA isolation, the blood is transferred to processing tubes (supplied already filled with cell lysis buffer), and the solution is mixed to lyse red and white blood cells. Cell nuclei and mitochondria are pelleted by centrifugation, washed, and resuspended in digestion buffer. Protein contaminants are removed by incubation with a protease. DNA is precipitated in isopropanol, washed in 70% ethanol, dried, and resuspended in resuspension buffer.
The DNA can be used in a wide range of downstream applications, including:
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A Toothache in Time
When he returned from his trip abroad to inspire Jewish communities Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman suffered from a severe toothache. After being examined by his regular dentist this great Rosh Yeshiva and Torah leader was informed that a tooth would have to be extracted. Since such a procedure is extremely painful the dentist told him that he would require a local anesthetic.
When the Rosh Yeshiva refused to take any pain killer the dentist told him that he never did such a painful procedure without an anesthetic, even for younger people. But the Rosh Yeshiva was adamant and the dentist had to go ahead with trepidation.
Throughout the procedure not one sign of pain was heard and it was impossible to tell from the patient's calm composure that he was experiencing any pain.
When it was all over Rav Shteinman explained his insistence on refusing any effort to prevent his feeling pain. During his visit abroad, he said, he was greatly honored wherever he went. Since he felt that he was not deserving of such honor, he was determined to seek atonement. The pain he would suffer from having his tooth extracted without an anesthetic, he concluded, would serve this purpose.


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Image via watblog
What's in a name?
For an app... everything is in a name. And although name squatting (the process of registering a name that profits or benefits from another person or business), is nothing new in the digital world, we've seen how "domain name squatters" have made life incredibly difficult for some business owners. The same thing, unfortunately, is now transpiring in the app development world, a situation brought up this weekend by Andrew Lim at Recombu.
"It turns out that squatters have moved into the app store. Theyre worse than domain name squatters though, because you cant even enter into negotiation with them. You dont know who they are, or where they are. They take advantage of the fact that a developer can pretend to submit an app, but abandon their submission at the last moment, avoiding the need to actually create an application, but keeping hold of the apps name. In limbo. Forever."
Squatting has become very sophisticated in recent years. I know several people who have registered film names and song titles before they became successful (as a result of someone else's hard work, of course) only to turn around and sell them at a ridiculously huge profit. As a business model, domain squatting can work. And it's also "fair" in the sense that there is a marketplace for domain names to be sold or traded.
This isn't true in the app world. As Lim pointed out in his article, good app names could remain "in limbo forever" at the hands of name squatters who "might do something with the name someday."
So there you have it, it seems that the Apple iPhone app store is open to abuse from app name squatters and encourages legitimate developers to squat in fear of losing out. We have sent an email to Apple asking for a comment and are awaiting a reply. We hope this unfair system is changed soon, otherwise iPhone developers will find it difficult to get good names for their apps.


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Rolf Harris was labelled "The Octopus" by a well-known Perth radio host, following an incident in which she says she and another female ABC colleague were "felt up" by the entertainer following an interview with him.
Verity James, who is now a freelance broadcaster and writer, said she "laughed off" the incident when it happened sometime in the late 1990s or early 2000s.
She is the second Perth radio host to speak about similar claims involving Mr Harris in the past 24 hours.
Jane Marwick told Radio 6PR that Mr Harris grabbed her breast while posing for a photo after an interview in 2001.
Ms James said she had just finished doing a pre-recorded interview in a studio when Mr Harris leaned in for a hug while pushing her up against a wall.
"He kind of pushes you up against a wall in a big hug, grabbing at the buttocks and rubbing on your breasts," Ms James said.
She said Mr Harris then went in to "hug" her colleague and says she has a "distinct memory" of her colleague "peeling his hands off her breasts".
Ms James said she and others in the media industry in Perth at the time referred to him as "The Octopus" following the incident.
She said she had no doubt they were not the only two women to have been subject to such treatment by Mr Harris but said hearing about the legal action against Mr Harris was a "game changer".
He is on trial in the United Kingdom, accused of indecently assaulting four girls.
Ms James said that unfortunately such behaviour happened in other situations with other men at different times throughout her career.
"There have been leerers and grabbers," she said.


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Speaking to Edge Magazine in an interview about his upcoming game, Command & Conquer 4, Producer Raj Joshi laments that real time strategy gamers get their kicks "entirely ... from smashing another human in a videogame."
The full Joshi quote as pulled by Gamerzines reads: "RTS players are great people but some of them have very little balance in their life. So their enjoyment is entirely derived from smashing another human in a videogame."
On the one hand, I want to disagree because I like RTS games and consider myself a level-headed person who enjoys all kinds of balanced things like butterflies and nail polish, etc. But, yeah, I enjoy smashing another human player in a competitive video game — that's kind of the point, isn't it?
On the other hand, I do agree with Joshi because I once watched a friend fling his expensive keyboard across a room during a total rout in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3. "Unbalanced" just about sums him up.
And on a third hand that I don't physically have, couldn't you say that by Joshi's logic all gamers who get off on crushing other players in any genre are unbalanced? Why pick on his own audience when there are so many other worthy targets to choose from (*cough* first-person shooters *cough*)?
Oh, but here's another Joshi tidbit to sink your teeth into: "Now the gameplay is no longer tailored to beating the opponent's base and having that be the source of victory. It's now about capturing objectives. So there's less of that head-to-head 'I'm going to crush you' mentality going on."
I'll let you handle the arguments behind that one, commenters.
RTS players "have very little balance in their life" - C&C4 Producer [Gamerzines]


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Book a lorry, bus or trailer annual test (MOT)
Find a test centre to book an annual test (MOT) for a lorry, bus or trailer.
Depending on the centre, you can book online or by phone.
Further information
You can book the test at a:
- private test centre, known as an 'authorised testing facility (ATF)'
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) vehicle testing station
All tests are carried out by DVSA assessors.
You can also download the full list of all test centres.
There's a different service to book a vehicle test in Northern Ireland.


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Why November 23 Is More Central to the Future of Labor Than Obama's Election Was
Now that the elections are over, trade unionists should be clear on one point: President Obama's reelection will have little effect on the long term future of unionism in the United States. This is not to say the election was unimportant or to even argue that labor's electoral strategy was misplaced. Rather, it is simply to say that the decades' long decline of unionism cannot be reversed (or even significantly impacted) by a Presidential election.
This is not to say that the recent election did not matter. The parties do differ on social issues, on issues of tax policy, and on limited issues of labor rights. Nor is it to discount Republican threats, such as right to scab legislation or measures attacking public employee bargaining. In the coming months, major battles loom such as the manufactured "fiscal cliff," important questions of taxation, and hopefully even a fight over anti-democratic Senate filibuster rules. All of these are important reasons for the labor movement not to simply ignore the political arena.
It is equally important, however, that unionists be clear that the decline in union density cannot be resolved at the ballot box. While this point may seem obvious, given labor's constant pull towards electoral politics reviewing the reason this is the case may be useful.
First, the long term decline of trade unionism has continued uninterrupted under both Democratic and Republican administrations over the last thirty years. Union density in the private sector dropped from 20.1% in 1980 to 11.4% in 1992 under the Reagan/Bush administrations. Over the next twenty years, density has declined at a steady rate during a mixture of Republican and Democratic administrations, dropping to 6.9 % in 2011.
If a change in party affiliation of the Presidency mattered significantly, one would expect to see a change in that trend line. This does not mean there is no difference between the parties on other issues, just that the differences are not ones which impact the key question of union density. So to the extent we value the continued existence of the labor movement, we need to focus on what can actually reverse the decline in union density.
Second, on the related issue of union bargaining power, there has been no difference in union strength under Republican and Democratic administrations. Strike levels dropped sharply with the employer offensive of the early 1980s and continued a fairly steady decline over the next two decades. Work stoppages slightly increased under the last two years of the Obama administration. That, however, is not necessarily an indication of increased union power as employer lockouts are at record levels and many of these stoppages were employer-provoked strikes ending in full or partial concessions.
Simply put, unions have been hammered at the bargaining table for three decades now. Changing political parties has not altered the dynamics of collective bargaining. Even appointing labor-friendly National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) members has not helped increase union bargaining power because, as discussed below, the rules that really matter are so well-entrenched the NLRB is powerless to change them.
Third, even when one takes a look the impact of policy initiatives directly contributing to the decline of unionism, it is hard to discern a clear difference between the parties. Policies of both parties directly contributed to the decline in union density. For example, the North American Free Trade Agreement pushed through by President Bill Clinton in the 1990s is credited with the destruction of hundreds of thousands of jobs, many of them union jobs. Even accounting for the positive initiatives such as the auto rescue, it's hard to make an argument that differences in government policy have significantly altered union density figures.
Finally, and most important, the major impediments to union revival are precisely those which are rarely discussed, even by the labor movement. The major "rules of the game" hamstringing the labor movement stretch back well over half a century. Since the late 1930s employers have been allowed to penalize striking workers by permanently replacing them with scabs, the restrictions on solidarity date back to Taft-Hartley legislation of the late 1940s, and the freeing of capital from the constraints of labor contracts occurred largely via Supreme Court decisions in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
None of these defining 'rules of the game' are remotely on the policy table nor are they items a pro-labor NLRB has the inclination or the power to change. With the labor movement unable to force even the very limited changes specified in the Employee Free Choice Act through Congress, there is little reason to believe the far-greater changes needed to revive the labor movement have any chance of passage any time soon. Yet, as I argue in my book Reviving the Strike, these are exactly the rules that must change for there to be any chance for labor to recover power.
The labor movement will continue the push-pull with the Democratic Party for the foreseeable future. Lacking an independent base of economic power, the remaining pockets of unionism in the private sector are dependent on what little government support they can garner. Realistically, despite labor's saber-rattling in off years, labor's dependable support for Democrats is not going to change.
What can change, however, is our perspective and what we do following the elections. Recognizing that the election cannot significantly impact union density should prompt a discussion of what actually could revive labor. Such a discussion should include an analysis of the legal impediments to effective unionism, the fundamental problems with union economic strategy, and the crisis of collective bargaining.
In conclusion, I will assert that most important date for the future of US trade unionism in the United States in 2012 will not prove to be November 6 but rather, November 23. On Black Friday, workers have announced a strike and boycott of Walmart on the busiest shopping day of the year. No-one expects these actions to actually shut down Walmart, or probably even significantly dent operations or sales. They do signal, however, a new and developing trend within labor—a strike-based, minority unionism approach to organizing the unorganized. Now that is change we truly can believe in.


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Oktoberfest 2010 — Beer Festival in Germany
On September 18th, with the tapping of the first keg by Munich Mayor Christian Ude and a cry of "O'zapft is!", Oktoberfest 2010 officially started in Munich, Germany. While this year marks the 177th Oktoberfest to be held, 2010 is the 200th anniversary of the very first Oktoberfest in 1810 (some years were missed due to war or cholera outbreaks). The Oktoberfest tradition started in 1810 to celebrate the October 12th marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The citizens of Munich were invited to join in the festivities which were held over five days on the fields in front of the city gates. This year, festivities will run until October 4, 2010.
We've collected a few images from the opening weekend of Oktoberfest 2010 and made a PowerPoint presenataion and a video slideshow. It is really a good chance to learn more about this traditional German festival, just enjoy!
|PowerPoint: Oktoberfest 2010 — Beer Festival in Germany
|Video: Oktoberfest 2010 — Beer Festival in Germany
|Download PowerPoint Presentation
|Watch on Youtube


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I've seen a lot of Star Wars-themed jack-o-lanterns and, frankly, never get tired of them. Noel Dickover of FantasyPumpkins.com is a master at capturing popular characters in the rind of a pumpkin, and his R2-D2 carving has me floored. Be sure to click the the handful of pictures in his index to see it from every angle.
Noel's Death Star pumpkin was carved a couple of years ago, but he's also included a step-by-step tutorial for how to make one yourself.
In all, if you start with a large pumpkin, you can expect to spend anywhere from 4 – 10 hours in making your Death Star. If you've never spent this long on a pumpkin, I can only tell you that if you're hoping for an awesome reaction, you will have a very hard time beating the Death Star. This thing is a HUGE hit with everyone. Even jaded teenagers are blown away
Indeed, I am blown away. I think my favorite part is the addition of Lite Brite pegs, especially the one strategically placed to indicate where Luke fired his successful blast that blew the Death Star to bits. [via NPR, thanks Niku!]
Death Star Watermelon
Death Star Cookie


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Pagan wants to be ironman for Giants
Center fielder's offseason focused on stretching, agility, upper-body muscle
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Angel Pagan has distilled his goals to the bare essentials. And for good reason.
Pagan missed more than half of last season with a strained left hamstring. That misfortune shaped his primary objective for this year: "To play as many games as I can," he said.
The Giants share Pagan's wish. Their record was 34-32 in games he started. That apparently modest .515 winning percentage is actually impressive when juxtaposed with the Giants' 42-54 mark without Pagan and their 76-86 finish overall.
San Francisco learned of Pagan's potential in 2012, when he accelerated the club's march to the World Series by galvanizing the offense and tightening the outfield defense. Even his injury-marred campaign a year ago has whetted the Giants' appetite for success.
For much of the season's second half, the Giants approached a standard for futility. They seemed bound to become the only team besides the 1998 Marlins to finish last one year after winning the World Series. The Giants occupied the National League West basement on Sept. 13, with just 14 games remaining.
Then they proceeded to capture 10 of their final 15 games to forge a third-place tie with San Diego. Pagan helped prompt this surge, batting .323 (30-for-93) after returning to the lineup Aug. 30. That 25-game stint, manager Bruce Bochy said, propelled Pagan with optimism into this season because it "[gave] him the confidence that he was fine."
Pagan acknowledged the momentum he generated from last year's finishing kick.
"I felt like I played better than people expected and I showed the speed that I normally have," he said.
Entering the second year of a four-year, $40 million contract, Pagan arrived here in apparently excellent physical condition. His offseason workouts consisted of stretching and agility drills to keep his legs limber -- and prevent more hamstring problems. He also added upper-body muscle to help him regain the pop that enabled him to amass 61 extra-base hits in 2012.
AngelVine #SFGiants #SFGSpring https://t.co/RJ65nhMUIZ- San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) February 20, 2014
Most other Giants reported to camp in excellent shape, which Pagan noticed.
"Last year should be a year of motivation for us," he said. "We don't want to be the ones watching the playoffs. We want to be in the playoffs. It was a bad year, but good in a way in that it should be a learning experience for us to go out there and get fired up from the beginning."
Getting fired up never has been a problem for Pagan, 32. Even during his shortened season, he stroked three walk-off hits in 2013, the most by a Giant since Andres Torres also had three in 2010.
One of Pagan's game-winners essentially defined the Giants' season. His two-run, inside-the-park homer off Colorado's Rafael Betancourt on May 25 lifted San Francisco to a 6-5, 10-inning triumph.
Pagan missed the next 84 games and required surgery to repair his hamstring. As was the case with the rest of the team, rarely were the good moments truly good.
It's a popular misconception that Pagan hurt himself sliding home. He said this week that he felt a tweak while pursuing a second-inning fly ball. He returned to the dugout and confided in Marco Scutaro, telling the second baseman, "I think I popped something in my leg." Scutaro quickly tried to alleviate the problem by taping Pagan's leg.
Scutaro offered further assistance in the 10th inning before Pagan headed for the on-deck circle. Recalled Pagan, "He gave me a bat and told me, 'Go ahead. You're going to win the game.'"
Pagan could have stopped at second or third base to preserve his leg or minimize the injury. But his competitive instinct took over.
"If I had to do it again, I'd do it again," he said. "I'm going to leave it all on the field for my teammates and I'm sure that they'd do the same for me."


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Hultzenian effort: Cavs one win away from Omaha
Severe thunderstorms delayed the start of today's hometown Super Regional debut for the UVA baseball team for two hours, but once play began the Cav made some of their own thunder.
Recent Atlanta Braves draftee Phil Gosselin gave notice of what was to come by blasting a home run over the left-center field fence in the bottom of the first inning. Later Dan Grovatt would hit a two-run shot in the sixth after a double from Keith Werman. Oh, center fielder Jarrett Parker made a spectacular diving catch in the top of the eighth for the second out...look for it on Sports Center!
However, like the passing storm, the Cav bats went quiet against Oklahoma Sooner pitching for the rest of the game. The Cavs also had a few rare errors, and a questionable decision to sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the eighth lead to a double play. But thanks to a gritty eight inning, six hit, nine strike out performance from Danny Hultzen, who threw 129 pitches–- and a much need save from Kevin Arico–-the Cav's managed to hold on for a nail-biting 3-2 win.
If the Cavs win tomorrow's 4pm game they will advance to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.


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Our Products
Process of Filing a Claim
Your protection plan will be automatically registered at the time of purchase. This service provides you with a shorter claim filing time if you ever need to report an accident. See below for how the process works.
It is not a question of if, but rather when. When an accident does happen, give us a call within 30 days from Discovery
Covered or Not Covered
If you would like to see the different coverages associated with our Protection Plans, please click here
Send Technician
We only send professional, licensed, insured and uniformed Service Technicians to your home
Repair or Replace
In the event that we cannot repair the damage, we will replace your damaged furniture. Please click here to review the replacement process.
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GBS Enterprises prides itself in providing "World Class" Customer Service. Please review some of our Customer Success Stories and Feedback
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I spoke with Karen regarding my claim, I like to say that Karen was very pleasant and helpful.
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Thank you for taking the time to speak to me about my situation. You were most helpful and extremely professional. Your knowledge about what you do really made my experience with your company a great one. You were very thorough and patient.
I wanted to take an opportunity to send you a message regarding the outstanding customer service I received today from Paula. She was very patient, kind and helpful. With service like this, I will gladly recommend GBS service warranties to my family and friends.
I am emailing to let you know of two people who provided the utmost customer service. Rashad and Ira. They were both pleasant to talk to and were so sincere and reassuring. You have two very outstanding employees who cared. They didn't just take down my claim but they went the extra mile.
I just want to comment on your agent Paula, I have talked to so many representatives and I've always gotten the run-around there but with her it was different she was patient, she listened, she cared, she did what I asked and in the end my issue was resolved. Karla is a good Customer Service Agent.


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Save interesting products in this list and find them quickly at any time.
Simply click on the watch list symbol
The Subway collection offers functional design with excellent value for money.
A urinal can fit in almost any bathroom and is a useful complement to your toilet. The attractive designs of Villeroy & Boch's elegant urinals enrich your home while providing maximum functionality. They are also perfectly suitable for public areas.
Our TitanGlaze shines when it comes to durability: Its modern matt look is both exceptionally attractive and extremely durable. Thanks to the high purity, crystalline aluminium oxide, TitanGlaze refines sanitary ceramics with an especially scratch and impact-resistant surface so your bathroom stays as flawless as the first day for years to come.
CeramicPlus - the anti-dirt surface for sanitary ceramics - simplifies bathroom cleaning. This innovative process causes water to immediately form droplets on contact, which then merge into beads and simply drain away, carrying dirt and limescale particles with them.
The toilets and bidets from Villeroy & Boch can be fitted with a concealed attachment. This leads to a uniform ceramics surface that looks great and is easy to clean.
Sanitary ceramic is the perfect material for washbasins, toilets and bidets. Sanitary ceramics from Villeroy & Boch are fired at 1200 °C and meet the highest requirements for durability and hygiene. Additional glazes such as CeramicPlus and AntiBac simplify bathroom cleaning with antibacterial protection and dirt-repellent surfaces. Sanitary ceramic is resistant to knocks and impacts.
The ProDetect 2 automatic flush from Villeroy & Boch integrates into the sanitary ceramics unseen. Fitted with the latest sensor technology, the urinal flushes reliably after every use. The flush volume can be set from 0.8 - 4.0 l. Ideal for urinals with high user frequency such as in gastronomy.
|285 mm
|315 mm
|16,82 kg
|Product designation
|Siphonic urinal
Sanitary ceramics. with fastening set for concealed fastening. EN 13407. Please order lid separately.
|Sanitary ceramics


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The Morenci school district has had more than its share of staff cuts in recent years. Now it's time for the city to consider trimming back on personnel.
It's not an issue of large budget deficits for the city, however, explained council member Keith Pennington. Instead, he told councilors Monday, it's an inability to save any cash for future needs.
That means revenue and spending should come out fairly even, but that, in turn, means the city will be unable to build any fund balance.
A lack of savings puts the city in a dangerous position for two reasons, Pennington said. It leaves no money for unexpected needs, and it also leaves the city short for unexpected opportunities.


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Washington Square by Henry James | In its Entirety
"Washington Square" by Henry James in a single .mp3.
This version of the free audiobook is NOT in the public domain as the single chapters are.This is released under a CC 2.0: Attribution, Non-Commercial-Share Alike License.
Moreover, I think you should spend something on it, if not on MY behalf, then certainly on the behalf of your local library or Project Gutenberg. I leave it to you to place a value on it.
Formats available: MP3 Audio (.mp3)
Tags: washington, square, henry, james, audio, book, audiobook, jan, mclaughlin


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HOUSTON – Brad Davis finally got his moment.
After years of producing elite seasons in MLS only to watch others get called to the US national team, the midfielder had a chance to show Jurgen Klinsmann in front of his home crowd that he belongs in the plans for World Cup qualifying.
While the 0-0 draw with Canada wasn't the performance or result he wanted, the Dynamo talisman is comfortable with the case he made.
"I hope so, that's up for the coaching staff to decide," Davis said of hid USMNT prospects going forward. "I know I'm a piece of that puzzle, but where I fit, I'm not quite sure yet.
"I think it's going to take a little bit more time to get integrated with everybody and get a few more opportunities to see how that goes. I think that other opportunity will be there down the road."
READ: How did Davis rank in Seltzer's US Player Ratings?
Davis split his 64 minutes between the wing and center of the pitch, getting on the ball and trying to drive the attack. While there were signs of missed cohesion between new teammates, he acquitted himself well by sending in several balls that only lacked the final touch.
But through the first 53 minutes, Davis was still hunting for his chance to put his imprint on the game. That's when Eddie Johnson opened things up as the forward put the service in less than 10 yards from goal.
Finally with a chance in front of goal, the circumstance seemed to go against Davis as his settled ball fell to his less favored right foot that he said postgame "never works for me right" and the shot went wide for a corner.
In the end, the Dynamo midfielder showed that he can be a cog in the US attack and help create chances. After three-and-a-half weeks of hard work in January camp, that was Davis' goal.
Was it enough to earn him a plane ticket to Honduras next week? According to Klinsmann, he didn't hurt his chances.
"I think he did well," the US boss said in the postgame press conference. "He tried to take the game upon him and, obviously, when you're playing in your home stadium, you want to do especially well. So in the beginning, it was a little bit hectic because he wanted to do everything right, but then he got into his flow.
"I think overall, he fit fine and, with a little bit of luck, he scores that goal."


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Dolphin Sands B&B
|Prices will be charged in Australia Dollars
|Full Rate
|Fri 30 Oct 2020
|Sat 31 Oct 2020
|Sun 01 Nov 2020
|Mon 02 Nov 2020
|Tue 03 Nov 2020
|Wed 04 Nov 2020
|Thu 05 Nov 2020
|Fri 06 Nov 2020
|Sat 07 Nov 2020
|Sun 08 Nov 2020
|Mon 09 Nov 2020
|Tue 10 Nov 2020
|Wed 11 Nov 2020
|Thu 12 Nov 2020
Garden Queen no breakfastPhotos Details
Twin Garden Room no breakfastPhotos Details
Sun Room no breakfastPhotos Details
|Move the mouse over the price for inclusions, occupancy and minimum stay
Property Information
Welcome to Dolphin Sands
Dolphin Sands is an idyllic, intimate Bed and Breakfast, situated in Huskisson at the heart of stunning Jervis Bay, NSW, well known for it's pristine white sand beaches and unique wildlife.
Exclusively for adults, Dolphin Sands is the perfect retreat for those wanting a break to recharge, celebrate an occasion or a memorable addition to your itinerary while visiting Australia. Set within peaceful private gardens, guests are welcome to enjoy the serene open-air dining and lounge area, where our locally sourced breakfast is served or choose to relax in one of our five spacious bedrooms.
The main street of Huskisson is within easy walking distance, where guests can explore the boutique shops and try the wonderful cafes and restaurants that Huskisson has to offer.
Dolphin Sands is the perfect base for those who want to enjoy all that Jervis Bay has to offer. From the famous white sands of Hyams Beach to paddle boarding, dolphin and whale watching cruises and walking trails of Booderee National Park, there are plenty of local activities to make your stay a memorable one.
We look forward to welcoming you to Dolphin Sands and sharing everything that beautiful Jervis Bay has to offer.
Property Features
- Free WiFi
- Free Parking
- Non-Smoking Property
- DVD Library
- Non-Smoking Rooms
Accommodation Details
Garden Queen no breakfast Book
Standard rates for this room
- Non-Smoking
- Queen bed
- Iron/Ironing board
- Linen and Towels Provided
- Television
- DVD Player
- Air-conditioning
- Tea/Coffee Making
- Mini Fridge
- Contemporary Interior
- En-Suite Bathroom
- Shower - separate
- Ceiling Fans
- Wireless Internet
Twin Garden Room no breakfast Book
Standard rates for this room
- Non-Smoking
- Air-conditioning
- Iron/Ironing board
- Television
- Mini Fridge
- 2 Single Beds
- Hairdryer
- Tea/Coffee Making
- Linen and Towels Provided
- Wireless Internet
- En-Suite Bathroom
- Shower - separate
Sun Room no breakfast Book
Standard rates for this room
- Non-Smoking
- Hairdryer
- Bathrobes Provided
- Ceiling Fans
- Wireless Internet
- DVD Player
- Shower - separate
- Spa
- Television
- Air-conditioning
- En-Suite Bathroom
- Heating
- Large Balcony/Terrace
- Linen and Towels Provided
- King Bed
- Queen bed
- Iron/Ironing board
- Tea/Coffee Making
- Mini Fridge
Terms & Conditions
Dolphin Sands Bed and Breakfast check-in is between 3.00pm and 5.00pm. If you plan to arrive later than this please email or phone ahead, with notice, so that easy alternative check in arrangements can be made. Ideally we would like to meet you at check-in so we can say 'hello' and share any local information you may need during your stay with us.
Our check-out time is 10.00am.
By making a booking with Dolphin Sands Bed and Breakfast you are agreeing to these Terms and Conditions.
Our Bed and Breakfast is not set up to cater for anyone under the age of 16 years. No pets are permitted.
Please note that each of our bedrooms sleep a maximum of two adults only.
Dolphin Sands Bed and Breakfast is a non-smoking property. This is for the comfort and safety of our guests and protection of our surroundings.
Car parking facilities are provided for guests. Guests are required to provide their vehicle's registration number on arrival. Dolphin Sands Bed and Breakfast accepts no liability for any loss or damage which may result from a guests use of the car parking facilities. All such use is at the guests own risk. The availability of parking spaces cannot be guaranteed. Parking spaces are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Please take care of our house. You are responsible and liable for any damages and breakages which you cause to the property or its contents. Please report these as soon as they occur so that we can undertake any maintenance and repairs quickly. We do not normally charge for damages, but we reserve the right to charge for repair or replacement if the damage is significant.
We reserve the right to charge for missing items.
Excessive cleaning requirements may attract an additional cleaning fee.
Lost keys will incur a fee for the replacement of the key and locks. Payment will be made by the credit card details provided.
We would like all of our guests to have an enjoyable stay with us. However, we do reserve the right to terminate your stay with us, without notice, if you act in a manner that is unlawful, causes wilful damage to our property or causes a nuisance to our neighbours or other guests. In these circumstances, no refund will be given and we will not be responsible for any losses you may incur.
We may use third-party service providers to process your personal information on our behalf for the purposes of this booking. For example, we may share some information about you with these third parties so that they can contact you directly by email (for example: to obtain post stay reviews about your travel experience).
Payment Policy
When making reservations guests will be required to provide identification information including but not limited to, name, address, contact telephone number and email address. These details will be required for all reservations.
A deposit of 50% of the total booking amount will be taken at the time of booking. The balance of payment is due on the day of arrival.
If your booking is made less than 7 days prior to your stay, payment in full will be required at the time of booking.
The following payment methods are accepted by Dolphin Sands Bed and Breakfast, credit card, direct deposit or cash settlement (balance of payment on arrival).
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations after the time of booking will incur a charge of 50% of the total booking amount.
Cancellations within 7 days of the arrival date or 'no shows', will incur a charge of 100% of the total booking amount.
Dolphin Sands Bed and Breakfast will use all reasonable endeavours to make any changes to booking dates requested, but gives no guarantee that all changes will be accommodated.


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Gojko (who wrote the Fitnesse book) has this interesting discussion on what makes a good acceptance test in Fitnesse.
His point seems to be that Fitnesse is a good tool for documenting specifications, and continuously automating their validation. When your Fitnesse tests become like "scripts" (which is how developers are trained to see the world), then Fitnesse is a pretty crummy test execution environment (just use a unit test runner!)
Interesting that alternate tools – http://www.concordion.org, http://wiki.github.com/aslakhellesoy/cucumber/, http://www.specflow.org/ have arisen that effectively try to limit the power of the "test description language" to prevent the acceptance tests becoming script like.
Interesting food for thought – I know that many of my Fitnesse tests exhibit this codesmell


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Attack of the Millennial Networks
Networks go after young viewers, all at the same time.
July 9, 2013 -- Hi, we're Alex and Jorge. We're young, bilingual and college-educated, and that makes us the prime target of cable TV business today. Never mind that we don't watch - or even own - television. That makes us even more enticing. Oh the possibilities! In fact, you're reading this story on the ABC News website as we gear up for the launch of Fusion, a news and lifestyle cable network that ABC and Univision are launching later this year.
Fusion's target audience are young people, specifically English-speaking Latinos in the U.S. By the end of the year there will be at least three entirely new media networks going after similar audiences that Fusion is targeting--young people ages 15 to 34, the generation dubbed "millennials."
The new network's executives say they're filling a void but they're also going after a group with extraordinary buying power. By 2017 millennials will have more spending power than any other generation.
Let's take a look at these new networks, what sets them apart from the others and their chances of survival in this incredibly crowded space.
Go Big or Go Home
The new networks are backed by big names and media powerhouses and in Fusion's case, two media powerhouses coming together to launch a joint venture. Next month on August 1st, Participant Media--the company behind the films "The Help" and "An Inconvenient Truth"--is launching a network called Pivot that targets millennials interested in inspiring change.
There's also El Rey and Al Jazeera America. And even Sean "Puffy" Combs has been tapped to curate the network dubbed "Revolt."
Fusion and El Rey, both Univision-supported English-language networks that seek to reach, inform, and entertain predominantly English-speaking Latinos and, more broadly, the millennial generation as a whole. El Rey will focus not on news content, but on "a mix of reality, scripted, music and sports programming, along with movies, with filmmaker Robert Rodriguez at its helm.
Huff Post Live and Vice aren't launching their own traditional TV networks per se but are a powerful force producing innovative video content across several different platforms that are already reaching young people pretty successfully.
For the purposes of clarity, this story will refer to the estimated 100 million individuals ages 15-34 in the U.S. as "millennials" but let the record state this group resists labels. That's why this group has been referred to an endless number of descriptors including Generation Y, Generation 9/11 and Generation Plan B.
Demographers and marketing executives haven't been able to pin down a label for young adults that has stuck around but what they have figured out is that millennials have tremendous buying power. And they're consuming media.
For every study out there that says millennials no longer watch TV, there's a study that says they are indeed watching a lot of TV. But one thing the studies agree on is millenials want their content wherever they are, whenever they want it. And the media giants are obliging.
The Kids Are Still Alright
Historian and demographers William Strauss and Neil Howe are widely credited for coining the term millennials. They use 1982 as the millennials' starting birth year and 2004 as the last birth year.
Millennials include individuals who grew up with MTV and who remember the terrorist attacks of September 11th vividly. Its a group that's been surrounded by more media and advertising than any other generation. This group is also highly attuned to when it's being marketed to and they've grown up with buzzwords and "viral" campaigns, without the curtain that previously divided consumers and those who would have them consume.
It's the generation that spans from people who were in their teenage years in 1994 when they watched a gay man living (not dying) with AIDS on MTV for the first time ever to those who were newborns when "The Office," "Grey's Anatomy," and "Lost" premiered ten years later.
It's the generation that is as diverse as the content they consume.
The millennial generation is more ethnically diverse than any other previous group. Fourteen percent of U.S. millennials were born outside the U.S., and 11 percent of those born in the U.S. have at least one immigrant parent. They care about equality and the environment. They buy things through their mobile devices. And they also consume their TV and music through a variety of devices.
A number of the networks launching this year are targeting young English-dominant Latinos (including us at Fusion, of course.) It's a demographic growing at an extraordinary pace and group that is becoming more educated by the day and as result a group with more buying power.
Fusion's main target are Latinos but the content will appeal to young people in general and will be serious and not so serious.
"Our audiences heads don't snap when they move from a high culture to a popular culture topic, they have eclectic interests and define those interests very much from their gut," says Billy Kimball, Fusion's senior vice president and chief programming officer. Kimball's resume include writing episodes of "The Simpsons" as well as the award-winning documentary "Waiting For Superman."
It's a similar model that MTV thrived on in the early years. At 10:00pm you could watch "The Real World" taking place in San Francisco that followed Pedro Zamora, the Cuban-born gay man living with AIDS and then minutes later viewers were sitting through "Beavis and Butthead."
Huffington Post's founding editor Roy Sekoff says that's really the way people consume media. He's the president of HuffPost Live which delivers streams original content online and through content streaming services including Boxee and Roku.
"When you come to the Huffington Post you may come to see what's the latest that's happening with the filibuster in Texas the you go and say wait a minute, what's the latest happening here with Kim and Kanye and you go to 12 ways I can save my marriage," says Sekoff.
The number of new networks launching will really let millennials pick and choose, just like we want it.
"There's a 100 million millennials in the United States and there's actually a lot of room and there's a lot of room for content targeted at that demographic," said Evan Shapiro, the president of Participant Television, the company launching Pivot.
"We're looking at the subset of them who are focused on two things: quality entertainment and socially relevant content," he told Fusion.
The Attack of the Millennial Networks
Here's a breakdown of the networks, we'll start with ourselves.
The ABC and Univision joint venture.
Primary Platforms: Cable TV, Online
Launch: Fourth quarter 2013
Target audience: Millennials, center of target is English dominant Latinos in that age group
Programming: News and lifestyle programming, including a primetime English language news show hosted by Jorge Ramos. Other on-air talent includes Alicia Menendez, formerly of Huffpost Live and Derrick Ashong, formerly of Al Jazeera's The Stream.
Participant Media's cable network.
Primary Platforms: Subscription cable TV and online streaming content
Launch: August 1, 2013
Target audience: Millennials interested in social change, a documentary series could be targeting Latinos.
Programming: Joseph Gordon--Levitt and Meghan McCain are starring in their own shows. Pivot has promised 300 hours of original programming in it's first year. Pivot is also partnering with Univision News and Latin World Entertainment to produce and market a series of ten compelling documentaries drawn from the headlines and produced in both Spanish and English.
(Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
El Rey
Robert Rodriguez's newest playground.
Primary Platforms: Cable TV
Launch: December 2013
Target audience: Millennials, center of target is English dominant Latinos in that age group
Programming: Entertainment -- scripted and unscripted, animation, film, music and sports programming. Set to debut with "From Dusk 'til Dawn" TV series as well as a take on a "Latino James Bond." So far, no casting info has been revealed.
(Photo by Jennifer Graylock/FilmMagic)
Primary Platforms: Cable TV, web
Launch: 2013
Target audience: Millennials
Programming: Entertainment -- music programming, interviews, cultural coverage. "We will not be doing a bunch of reality shows," Diddy has noted.
While Diddy has spoken about partnerships he's interested in forming with Revolt -- so far, he's namechecked YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify and Beats (by Dre) -- there's been no word on hosts or other talent involved with the network. However, Revolt's site has made it easy for those interested in joining to do so by clicking the "We Want You" tab. (Photo by Richard Bord/WireImage)
These networks and content providers have been around for a while, but keep re-inventing themselves, adapting to millennials' discerning tastes.
(formerly Si TV)
Primary Platforms: Cable TV
Launch: Launched as Si TV in February 2004, renamed and revamped on July 4, 2011 in bid to better reach bicultural Latinos -- especially since "si," in Spanish," can sound like "see" or "sea" in English.
Target audience: Millennials, center of target is English dominant Latinos in that age group Programming: Entertainment: lots of reality programming aimed at and starring bicultural Latinos like Mario Lopez, Anjelah Johnson, and Kat von D. Also on its roster of talent is Jennifer Lopez, who was named the network's Creative Officer this year. (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)
Network name: HuffPost Live
Primary Platforms: Online and television through set top boxes. Radio soon.
Launch: Currently streaming live content online.
Target audience: When asked Huff Post Live President Roy Sekoff says he's a "believer in doing best programming possible and letting the audience find it." However on screen talent on the network skews young.
Programming: Currently produces 12-hours of original content daily on weekdays that's delivered in segments and tied to the news cycle. HuffPost features a rotating team of host/producers, including: Marc Lamont Hill, Abby Huntsman, Alyona Minkovski, Nancy Redd, Mike Sacks, and Ahmed Shihab-Eldin.
Programming: Subject matter includes humanitarian issues, music, insider travel guides, and news. "We do music, we do books, we do magazines, we do online, we do mobile, we do television, we do film. We do what everyone else does. We do it weirder, and we do it younger, and we do it in a different way and in a different voice," Vice's CEO and co-founder, Shane Smith, told NPR earlier this year.
Telemundo's channel with programming aimed towards a young Latino audience.
Since it first came into being in 1993 as GEMS television before being acquired by Telemundo in 2001, mun2 has catered to a Latino audience in the U.S. Since 2001, this meant airing sports, music, and reality programming in English, Spanish, and in "Spanglish" in an effort to reach out to a younger, acculturated audience. One of the network's most popular and influential personalities was the late Mexican-American powerhouse Jenni Rivera, whose reality series "I Love Jenni" (and its various related shows, all executive produced by Rivera) proved a hit for the channel. Even after her death, Jenni's shows are still heavily promoted by mun2, alongside shows like "Alerta Zero," which follows former members of a Regional Mexican group as they form a new band, "Fugitivos De La Ley: Los Angeles," which focuses on bounty hunters in LA.
MTV has experimented with a Spanish-language station since 1998, ultimately settling on MTV Tr3s in 2006, now known simply as "tr3s." Emphasizing mostly on music programming and reality shows, Tr3s features content in both Spanish and English, not all of which deal explicitly with Latino-oriented content and personalities. For example, the network airs reruns of "The George Lopez Show" as well as "Teen Mom" and shows like "El Luchador." The network's "Unplugged" series has also served it well, offering its audience intimate televised concerts with stars who hold crossover appeal -- like Juanes, Zoe, and Julieta Venegas -- as well as the likes of Katy Perry, Adam Lambert, Trey Songz, and others.
Latinos Have Already Changed TV
Young Latinos are not only leading the most important demographic changes in the country today but they're also heavily influencing the pop-culture landscape and media companies alike. Take for instance, one of the most successful TV shows on air at the moment: NBC's "The Voice" hired Shakira as a judge and included more contestants who were singing in Spanish.
The networks launching will have to figure out how to seamlessly integrate content targeting Latinos with content that works for all millennials as well. Young viewers have grown up saturated with media and they have finely tuned senses. And young Latinos don't want "separate but equal" they want the same type of content everyone else wants that just so happens to be conscience of their experience and history.
Whether they know how to articulate it or not, millennials have the most critical eyes. They value production value --things have to look good and polished. They also value their time -- the story has to captivate them within the first few seconds, and it has to stand out amidst all the noise being hurled at this demo. Not only that, but the content has to work on screens of all sizes.
All daunting goals for the new networks as they compete to become a part of this generation's news and entertainment consuming habits. Not all will make it. And when the dust finally settles, the story may very well not be about networks attacking our airwaves and bandwidth, but millennials attacking the networks.
Our (humble-ish) advice? Don't create for millennials. Create with them.


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Holistic treatments, tea in downtown Westport
Arogya offers holistic treatments, tea in downtown Westport
The strength of Arogya -- a center for holistic healing, yoga and tea -- stems from a focus on philosophy over growth for profit.
"It's better to know what made you a success," said owner Wei Bertram, whose expertise from -- and connections with -- her native China bring Arogya unique retail opportunities from both its product imports and her own creativity.
"You have to have a culture of what you stand for," she said, and remember what drove you when you were small and starting out.
Centrally located downtown in Westport for over 15 years, Arogya, a Sanskrit word meaning "whole health," offers both healing and preventative Chinese medicine, including acupuncture and massage therapy. Simultaneously there's an inviting retail store in front that features unique artisan teas, herbs, skin care and other products.
"Wei is legitimate," he said. "She has this kind of wisdom and yet she's so contemporary," explained her husband and business partner, Gregor Bertram, an acupuncturist.
On her buying trips to China, Wei has developed strong relationships with the growers themselves, and has an extensive knowledge of the product.
Gregor extols the value of being centered in Westport, where a sophisticated clientele understands the value of investing in their own well-being. Along with the New York City influence, he said, many locals travel to China and have some firsthand knowledge of eastern medicine.
For Amy Nessel of Fairfield, the nurturing qualities of Arogya have, for four years, carried her through a difficult period involving recovery from stage four breast cancer. Originally a chance visitor through a gift certificate, she has since done weekly acupuncture treatment with Gregor.
"I am doing as well as I'm doing because he helps my body stay strong for treatment," she said.
Nessel, who calls Arogya a "complete part of my solution," partakes in the product lines as well, including tea. "It's a gift to myself," she said.
"I'm truly passionate about Chinese medicine," Wei said. "I live according to that principle and lifestyle."
Arogya, 131 Post Rd East, Westport; 203-226-2682; http://www.arogya.net/.
Jarret Liotta is a freelance writer. Follow him on Twitter @JarretLiotta.


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You can help by adding some relevant images or discussing changes on the talk page.
- "Those Yardie boys are having a little trouble holding their newly acquired turf in Newport. Seems now the Sindaccos want it back."
- ― Leon McAffrey
Night of the Livid Dreads is a mission in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories given to protagonist Toni Cipriani by corrupt LCPD police officer Leon McAffrey from Aspatria, Staunton Island, Liberty City.
Toni meets Leon in Aspatria where he is informed that the Uptown Yardies are struggling to hold on to Newport and are under attack from the Sindacco Family. Toni goes to the alleyway behind Ammu-Nation, where the shoot out is taking place. One of the Yardies leaves to get an Ambulance for Rudyard, who had been shot, whilst Toni kills the Sindacco Family gang members. Toni and the Yardies escape the alley, whilst Rudyard is taken to Carson General Hospital in Rockford.
Mission objectives
In order to complete the mission the player must:
- The Yardies are under attack in Newport. Take out the attacking Sindaccos
- Protect the Yardies until the ambulance arrives
- Go and meet the ambulance
After the mission
The reward for completing the mission is $2,000 and the Munitions Dump mission.
The Yardies will become hostile towards Toni, with no in-game explanation.
Post mission phone call
Toni Cipriani: Yeah?
Leon McAffrey: Cipriani? It's me, McAffrey. I've got some news that Salvatore might appreciate. Come see me up at the usual place.
- The name of the mission is a parody of the George A. Romero film Night Of The Living Dead.


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Rachel Bilson Interview at Tribeca Film Festival 2011-04-22 15:07:13
Rachel Bilson on Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, and Hart of Dixie
Last night, we caught up with Rachel Bilson at the premiere of her short film Photo Mood, directed by Karl Lagerfeld, at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. The Chanel couture-clad Bilson told us all about what it was like working with Karl and even gave us the inside scoop on her upcoming TV pilot, Hart of Dixie. To see the short film, click here. And watch our video now to see Rachel looking as lovely as ever on the red carpet!


text: The Johnson lap dulcimer brings the spirit of Appalachian mountain music to everyone at a low price. The 4-string lap dulcimer has a genuine mahogany body, decorative heart-shaped sound holes and includes a custom case for easy transport. This popular instrument has a traditional teardrop shape and features a melodious drone that appeals to anyone wanting to explore American folk traditions. The simplicity and easy playing action of the lap dulcimer make it perfect for novice musicians, music educators and the classroom.


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Marketers increasingly think about consumers in complex ways. It is understood that in a changing digital landscape, the context in which they learn and shop influences what messages we deliver and how we deliver them. But we rarely define "context". It is one thing to design a usable app that conforms to human factors and cognitive requirements, but it is quite another to design a stage in an environment when there are innumerable semi-autonomous devices mediating in a swirl of information.
Physical Context
Physical context refers to the notion of infusing devices with a sense of "place." In other words, devices can distinguish the environments in which they "live" and react to them. But this is difficult. Mapping out longitude and latitude is one thing, but reacting to features (political, natural, social, etc.) is much more problematic. Getting beyond the boundaries of identifiable borders and structures, means coming to grips with "place".
Think of a mall. There are hundreds of stores, each with hundreds of devices. The device now has to decode what information is relevant and how it will deliver information. What competing retailer apps get precedence over others? When you receive an offer, will the device "tell" other retailers in order to generate real-time counter offers? The digital landscape is continuous at all points throughout the day and getting design right means understanding the systems in which people operate.
Device Context
Just as various kinds of sensory apparatus (GPS-receivers, proximity sensors, etc.) are the means by which mobile devices will become geographically aware, another class of sensors makes it possible for devices to become aware of each other. This presents a series of problems that are different than those of physical context.
Technology is on the verge of existing in a world with zero-infrastructure networks that can spring up anywhere, anytime. Devices will exist in a constant state of discovery. Returning to the mall, imagine that you are with a friend whose device is communicating with yours. In the mall are a couple of thousand devices, all of which are discovering each other. What happens now? Assuming we've dealt with the problem of one friend's device communicating with the other friend's device while blocking out the other 2000 devices, you still have several thousand potential "identities" that may have useful information. How is it decided what to manage without devoting significant time to setting up the hundreds of variables?
Information Context
This is the realm of information architecture. Data no longer resides "in" our computers. Devices are extensions of the cloud and exist as something akin to perceptual prostheses. They exist to manipulate data in the same way a joy stick allows us to handle the arms of robot in a factory. This reflects a shift in how we use information because all information is transitory.
Storage issues are essentially removed from the equation. Content can leap from place to place and device to device in an instant. Content will be customizable and reflect the human-application interaction rather than shaping it. Devices will find themselves in the fourth kind of context of social interaction, with all its contingencies. Just as behavior is shaped by the moment, so too will the apps and information needed to adapt.
Socio-Cultural Context
Each person is unique to contrasting cultures, tongues, traditions and world views. A cultural context may exist on levels as diverse as a workplace, a family, a building, a county, a continent, a hemisphere. Cultural context provides a framework for what "works" for each consumer in the world.
It is at this point where a better perspective is gained on what will and will not be accepted in the mobile universe. Take a beer pouring app that mimics the pouring of a beer when the device is tilted. It serves no direct function and yet it has been successful because of the cultural needs it to which it speaks – workplace breaks, male-to-male bonding, etc. But in another context, say Saudi Arabia, the context shifts. Success lies in understanding the reasons behind the consumers beliefs and actions in the symbolic exchanges, and the ability to code and decode those exchanges. Marketing mishaps come from a lack of comprehension.
So What?
Our great technological leaps forward have also produced more complexity, leading to a greater need to make sense of insights. Without a means to categorize context, marketers will miss identifying trends that matter most. What to do?
- Rethink the problem. Frequently, "the problem" is a facet of something else. For example, when researching an eBook the problem to be solved isn't technology, it is understanding why people read different material in different contexts. It may be about displaying books as a means of gaining status. The point is the problem seen may not be the problem at all.
- Define the contexts. Defining the contexts helps articulate the range of possibilities for observation. For example, if the consumer behavior is drinking beer, all contexts in which beer is purchased and consumed need to be articulated.
- Think through the sample. Who is the marketing targeting? What are the social circles that will shape the event? It isn't enough to define a demographic sample, you need to think in terms of cultural systems.
- Make a plan that involves experiential information gathering, not just statistics. Develop a guide to navigate the data collection and a method for managing the data (everything is data). Don't just think about the questions to ask, but also include opportunities for observation and participation.
- Head into the field. This is the heart of the process. Meaningful insights and moments of "truth" are slow to get at. Low-hanging fruit will be easy to spot, but the goal should be to find those deeper meanings. Because everything is data, from attitudes to artifacts, it is important to capture as much as possible.
- Do the analysis. Analysis is the most difficult, but also the most rewarding. The goal is to bring a deep understanding of cultural behavior to the analysis process. This goes beyond casual observation and gets to the underlying structures of why people do what they do.
The process is more time consuming than traditional approaches, but it ultimately yields greater insight and reduces time and costs on the back end. The end result is that you create greater value for the client and for the company.


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Hot shop
Cold shop
Warm shop
Bead Making
Artist Links
In 1999 Greg Lueck
and Rebecca Seymour renovated the turn of the century Vancouver
National Bank Building to showcase Firehouse Glass, the Northwest's
Premier Glass Working Center. Firehouse Glass provides
community exposure to glass art as well as a collaborative forum for
artists working in the glass medium. Firehouse Glass provides
world-class equipment and facilities with a vision of community,
education and collaboration in the glass arts. Private lessons
as well as studio rentals are available in glass blowing, glass
fusing and slumping, kiln forming, cold working, sand blasting, and
torch working. Each First Friday night of the month from 6:00-10:00 there is a public
glass blowing demonstration in the Firehouse Glass hot shop which is
a wonderful opportunity to meet the artists and mingle with the
local and regional glass working community. Our world class
gallery space is used for exhibiting and selling artwork by artists
of all levels from students to professionals.
Glass Information Sheet Printable PDF


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The Lost Tales.
Would you rather get 4 hours of sleep and work an 8 hour day or get 6 hours of sleep and work a 10 hour day?
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NEA welcomes House committee work on ESEA reauthorization
Washington - February 23, 2010 -
The House Education and Labor Committee will kick off the process of reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Wednesday with a hearing on high-quality charter schools. The National Education Association welcomes the upcoming series of committee hearings and the opportunity to work in tandem with Congress on the entire ESEA reauthorization process.
The following statement can be attributed to NEA President Dennis Van Roekel:
"The National Education Association is pleased to begin working together with the Obama Administration and Congress in a bipartisan effort to reauthorize ESEA. The first hearing on Wednesday is an important initial step in kicking off this process.
"The 3.2 million members of the NEA are strong supporters of innovation and accountability in public education, and we hope the upcoming reauthorization of ESEA encourages, supports and rewards innovations that give educators and public schools the flexibility, creativity, opportunities and resources to adopt new approaches and practices to do things differently and produce better results.
"We look forward to working collaboratively with the Obama Administration as well as Congressional leaders and other education stakeholders on an ESEA reauthorization that helps our country move toward great public schools for all students."
# # #
The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, college faculty, school administrators, education support professionals, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.
CONTACT: Samantha Kappalman (202) 822-7823, email@example.com


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The proposed land exchange that would allow for the construction of Village at Wolf Creek, is not only a travesty of greed over public interest, but also a huge economic gift from the taxpayers to a billionaire.
The proposal is for a year-round resort development with 1,711 units, which may include two hotels with 200 units, 16 condominiums with 821 units, 46 town homes with 522 units, 138 single-family lots and 221,000 feet of commercial space, all situated near the top of Wolf Creek Pass, adjacent to the small ski area.
Part of the current round of this fight is the trading of Forest Service lands by the developer. This is necessary for the proposed Village to have access to the highway.
To proceed with the swap, the Forest Service had an appraisal done to establish the value of the now public land parcel. Clearly, the value of any parcel depends on what it will or can be used for. The value of five single-family home sites is clearly less than the value of the proposed Village.
The Environmental Impact Statement analyzes the impacts of the Village proposal, poorly, but that is what is being analyzed.
However, the appraisal that is being used to establish the value of the public land that would be traded used five single-family homes sites as the proposed use.
The Forest Service and the McCombs family the developer cant have it both ways. If the proposal is for the Village, then the land must be appraised for that use. Alternatively, the EIS could match the appraisal and should consider only five homes.
Is this merely an issue of money? Perhaps for the McCombs it is. For the public, which has repeatedly expressed overwhelming interest in having the meadows, wetlands and forest adjacent to the ski area remain as they are, it clearly is not.
The Forest Service argues in the EIS that the agency must allow year-round highway access, of the type needed for the Village, to allow for the reasonable use and enjoyment of the current private land parcel. The question becomes whether reasonable use and enjoyment necessitates the Village.
There are thousands of private in-holdings in the public lands of the West. Do they all have the right to the access necessary for 1,700 units? Is that a reasonable expectation for someone who buys an in-holding? The whole EIS is predicated on this absurd notion. The appraisal shows it to be absurd. The appraisal is based on the highest and best use of the parcel five homes rather than the dreams of the McCombs family.
Before the analysis goes any farther, the public has the right to understand why the Forest Service appears willing to trade the value of five home sites to facilitate a development of more than 1,700 units.
For a score of reasons, Wolf Creek Pass is not an appropriate location for a mega-development. Perhaps there is another location where a development could be located to be environmentally benign, a boost to a local economy and a feather in the McCombs familys hat.
firstname.lastname@example.com. Dan Randolph is executive director of the San Juan Citizens Alliance.


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The "Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado: Surprise and Challenge Amid Sere Beauty" travel poster was printed in October 1977 with its companion, the Southwest map. Part of the "Close-up: U.S.A." series, this poster highlights the tourist activities, historical sites, resorts, and scenic vistas to be enjoyed in this enchanting region.
Coverage Area: Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico


text: It's been said that laughter is the best medicine. I don't entirely know that it's true, but I figured it can't really hurt to try. Since Brade and I found a few giggles earlier today, I thought I'd share to see if the supposed best cure was contagious or not.


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Nixon to Army Corps of Engineers: to keep river levels up
Missouri governor, barge industry concerned about traffic
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and the barge industry are imploring the federal government to take steps to keep enough water flowing on the drought-ridden Missouri and Mississippi rivers to avert a potential "economic disaster."
Nixon sent a letter Friday to the Army's assistant secretary urging the Army Corps of Engineers to continue providing sufficient water flow from the Missouri to the Mississippi River. Current corps plans would reduce the amount of water released from the Missouri's upstream reservoirs starting next week.
"I urge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to avert potential economic disaster on this vital avenue American farmers use to get their goods into the world market," Nixon wrote to Jo-Ellen Darcy, assistant secretary of the Army.
Meanwhile, the American Waterways Operators and Waterways Council last week urged Congress and President Barack Obama to act or potentially see a halt to the transportation of millions of tons of essential goods up and down the Mississippi.
The corps' offices were closed Monday for Veterans Day, and messages seeking comment were not returned. That agency, the U.S. Coast Guard and other river interests have scheduled a news conference for Friday in St. Louis to discuss the current state and outlook for the Mississippi.
The corps said last week that the flow reduction to minimum winter levels is the first of several conservation measures necessary if drought conditions continue into 2013. The agency said precipitation levels remain below normal over the entire Missouri River basin.
Winter typically is a low-water period on the two big rivers, but the situation is more dire this year with many points along the waterways at or near historic lows. The Mississippi was at just over 9 feet in St. Louis on Monday, 16 feet below flood stage. It was at 1.5 feet at New Madrid in southeast Missouri, where flood stage is 34 feet.
The Missouri River was just over 5 feet in Hermann, Mo. (flood stage is 21 feet) and just under 5 feet at Leavenworth, Kan. (flood stage is 20 feet).
The low levels have been months in the making, fueled by the nation's worst drought in decades, which has turned soils bone dry throughout much of the Midwest. Any precipitation is quickly soaked up in the ground and doesn't make its way into the Mississippi or other key rivers.
"Some places have gotten a lot of rain, but those weren't huge runoff events to jack up the river," said Bob Holmes, a Missouri-based hydrologist for the U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Geological Survey.
To compensate, many barge owners now are required to carry lighter loads, costing them more per ton to move cargo but also reducing chances of running aground as crews hustle to dredge silt and other sediments from the river to clear passages.
The waterways association said the reduction in releases on the Missouri would have particular impact on the Mississippi River from St. Louis south to Cairo, Ill., the area between where the Missouri and Ohio rivers merge into the Mississippi. Association officials cite concern about rock formations near Thebes, Ill., and Grand Tower, Ill., that would threaten to stop barge traffic by around Dec. 10 if water levels drop as much as anticipated.
"The Mississippi River is an economic superhighway that efficiently carries hundreds of millions of tons of essential goods for domestic use as well as national export. We need to address this situation swiftly, cut through bureaucratic red tape, and prevent the closure of the Mississippi," said Tom Allegretti, the American Waterway Operators' president and CEO.
Allegretti's trade group said barges on those corridors carry 20 percent of the country's coal and more than 60 percent of its grain exports. A mix of other cargo - everything from petroleum products to lumber, sand, industrial chemicals and fertilizer - also gets shipped by river.
Because of the drought, the Mississippi has received as much as 78 percent of its water from the Missouri this year, compared with 60 percent in a normal year, according to Nixon's office.
"I know that alternative measures are being considered to maintain the Mississippi channel, including dredging and clearing of rock pinnacles along the river," Nixon wrote. "I urge you to fast-track and fully implement those efforts."


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Gym Teacher Wore the Same Outfit on Picture Day for 40 Years
This is Dale Irby, a recently retired gym teacher in Richardson, Texas, who would appear to only own one outfit.
40 years ago, Irby wore a pointy-collared polyester shirt and a brown wool sweater vest to school on picture day. 39 years ago he accidentally wore the same pointy-collared polyester shirt and brown wool sweater vest. It was, as they say, on.
Irby's wife, Cathy, also a teacher, dared him to do it a third time. The challenge grew to five years. After that, it seemed silly not to wear it for his annual yearbook photo. After 40 years, Dale Irby wore the ensemble for the last time. He and his wife retired, and plan to travel. Here are all his photos:


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When real estate values began to drop in 2007, hundreds of thousands of Floridians were evicted from their homes through foreclosures or short sales -- giving way to the deepest economic collapse in more than half a century.
Now those same delinquent borrowers who were seen as partially responsible for the prolonged slump will become crucial to sustain the real estate recovery into 2014 and beyond, a new survey suggests.
Like a boomerang, these recession-battered borrowers are re-entering the home market in droves after years of renting, nursing their credit and saving enough to buy again.
With investor and retiree purchases both generally expected to subside next year, these so-called boomerang buyers could become vital to propel housing demand and transition the market back to favoring middle-class families.
"Boomerang buyers have had a taste of homeownership, they have seen all of the benefits, and they're ready to get back in," said Jon Maddux, co-founder of LoanSafe.org and AfterForeclosure.com, websites designed to help distressed borrowers regain financial stability.
"We're seeing in markets all across the country," Maddux said. "These buyers will be the key to the recovery in 2014."
Based on a poll of 140,000 LoanSafe.org members, a desire to rejoin the housing market is growing rapidly among buyers forced to leave their homes during the foreclosure crisis.
With new government programs designed to assist those hardest hit, consumers with a bankruptcy or loan default will be able to buy a home sooner than they ever could.
Banks have tightened lending practices from the boom, easing the threat that these potential buyers will again find themselves in financial turmoil, experts say.
If these projections hold, the boomerang buyer trend could add a whole new buying dynamic to what has already become the most robust real estate market since the bubble of the mid-2000s.
"This is something that's going to be very important in Florida, with the number of foreclosures and short sales we had," said Jack McCabe, a Florida real estate analyst. "The government has really taken the lead role in this to allow people to repair their credit and enter the home buying arena again."
Roaring back
Across the country, more than 4.8 million foreclosures have been completed since the trough of the recession in September 2008, according to industry researcher CoreLogic Inc.
The crisis was perhaps worst in Southwest Florida, where home values plunged by almost two-thirds, joblessness peaked at about 12 percent, and the recession dumped more than 76,600 foreclosures into the local court system since 2007, records show.
Even after several years of recovery, 11,880 home defaults were still pending as of Oct. 31 in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court that includes Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties, according to a report from the Florida State Courts Administrator.
Those figures do not include short sales, bankruptcies, loan modifications or other financial scars that could disqualify consumers from obtaining new mortgages.
But these consumers have come roaring back.
Nearly 80 percent of those who lost their homes during the crisis are interested in buying again. Of those, 41 percent report that their income is higher than when they first purchased, and 63 percent contend that their other debt obligations are lower, according to the LoanSafe.org survey.
With values adjusting, boomerang buyers are also buying homes that more comfortably fit within their means.
Of those surveyed, 46 percent said they wanted to purchase in a lower price range than the home they lost. Fifty percent plan to make a down payment of 10 percent or more as part of their next home purchase.
That marks a vast shift from the days of the housing bubble, when buyers were putting down little cash on homes that they generally could not afford, losing equity almost immediately, the report states.
"If they have the credit score and down payment they can now get back into the market pretty quickly," said Marcus Vanzant, broker and owner of Marcus & Co. Realty in Bradenton.
"Sometimes, it was a good financial decision for these people to walk away from their homes. Now that prices have adjusted, it makes a lot more sense for some of them to buy."
Waiting periods
The resurgence of these buying groups has been fanned by government programs like the Federal Housing Administration's "Back to Work," started in August.
The national program allows participants to buy a new property in as few as 12 months following a foreclosure or short sale.
To qualify, a borrower must prove their prior default was the result of a financial hardship, or a 20 percent drop in income for six months or longer.
The program includes financial counseling and requires borrowers to have established a credit score of 620.
Without the "Back to Work" program, FHA typically requires a three-year waiting period before insuring new mortgages to borrowers who have lost a home to foreclosure. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac require seven years from the completion of a foreclosure until they will issue a new loan.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has not compiled any enrollment statistics for "Back to Work" because the program is still so new. But area closing attorneys said interest is rising.
"I started working with homeowners as early as 2005 to short sale their primary residences because of hardship issues," said Sarasota real estate attorney Anne Weintraub. "As early as last year, the same homeowners have been able to re-enter the market with the assistance of the FHA or with portfolio loans from local banks."
"One of the main reasons I encouraged homeowners not to roll over and allow the bank to foreclose is so they could buy in the future," Weintraub said.
The boomerang buyers come as real estate sales already are climbing to post-recession highs.
That demand, driven mostly by investors and retiring baby boomers, has helped prices in the Sarasota-Bradenton-North Port market appreciate by 18 percent over the year to reach a median of $194,900 in November, Realtor data shows.
Analysts expect the boomerang to add another layer to the recovery.
"I am seeing a lot of this," said Joe Adamaitis, a vice president at Insignia Bank and president of the Gulf Coast Mortgage Bankers Association. "There are numerous programs available but mostly with FHA and USDA. Fannie and Freddie have severe waiting periods."
BUYERS FAN RECOVERY REAL ESTATE: Having lost homes years ago, they're re-entering the market
When real estate values began to drop in 2007, hundreds of thousands of Floridians were evicted from their homes through foreclosures or short sales -- giving way to the deepest economic collapse in more than half a century.


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Holiday Cottages
Choose from a cosy country cottage, a romantic retreat just for two, a fisherman's cottage by the sea or a large holiday home for a family occasion. Browse cottages with hot tubs, castles to rent, pet friendly cottages and our popular cottages with pools page. These are just some of the properties in our selection of holiday cottages to rent in England, Scotland and Wales.
Or travel a little further afield… Cross the water to discover Ireland's stunning coastline, sample a pint of the 'black stuff' and experience the 'craic'. Or cross the Channel to France and choose from holiday cottages on the coast to traditional French gites in the famous wine making regions.


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Art Promos' diverse line of personalized Coolers include several different types of products, each offering your customers a way to keep their cold beverages and contents cold. They include:
* Wine refrigerators
* Ice buckets
* Insulated lunch bags
* Insulated fabric cooler bags
*Ice chests
* Rolling (wheeled) insulated coolers
* Insulated single can/bottle bags
Our custom Coolers and insulated cooler bags are just what you need for hot days in the park, on the beach or even in your own backyard. Make sure that your cold drinks are always at hand by placing them inside. They'll keep cold for hours so that you can enjoy them all day long. custom coolers and cooler bags are also ideal for taking on the road.