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Northern Power Sports
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PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS WEBSITE. All users of this site agree that access to and use of this site are subject to the following terms and conditions and other applicable law. If you do not agree to these terms and conditions, please do not use this site.
The entire content included in this site, including but not limited to text, graphics or code is copyrighted as a collective work under the United States and other copyright laws, and is the property of ODES INDUSTRIES. The collective work includes works that are licensed to ODES INDUSTRIES. Copyright 2003, ODES INDUSTRIES ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Permission is granted to electronically copy and print hard copy portions of this site for the sole purpose of placing an order with ODES INDUSTRIES or purchasing ODES INDUSTRIES products. You may display and, subject to any expressly stated restrictions or limitations relating to specific material, download or print portions of the material from the different areas of the site solely for your own non-commercial use, or to place an order with ODES INDUSTRIES or to purchase ODES INDUSTRIES products. Any other use, including but not limited to the reproduction, distribution, display or transmission of the content of this site is strictly prohibited, unless authorized by ODES INDUSTRIES. You further agree not to change or delete any proprietary notices from materials downloaded from the site.
All trademarks, service marks and trade names of ODES INDUSTRIES used in the site are trademarks or registered trademarks of ODES INDUSTRIES
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This site and the materials and products on this site are provided "as is" and without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. To the fullest extent permissible pursuant to applicable law, ODES INDUSTRIES disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. ODES INDUSTRIES does not represent or warrant that the functions contained in the site will be uninterrupted or error-free, that the defects will be corrected, or that this site or the server that makes the site available are free of viruses or other harmful components. ODES INDUSTRIES does not make any warrantees or representations regarding the use of the materials in this site in terms of their correctness, accuracy, adequacy, usefulness, timeliness, reliability or otherwise. Some states do not permit limitations or exclusions on warranties, so the above limitations may not apply to you.
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ODES INDUSTRIES shall not be liable for any special or consequential damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the materials on this site or the performance of the products, even if ODES INDUSTRIES has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Applicable law may not allow the limitation of exclusion of liability or incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
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In the event that a ODES INDUSTRIES product is mistakenly listed at an incorrect price, ODES INDUSTRIES reserves the right to refuse or cancel any orders placed for product listed at the incorrect price. ODES INDUSTRIES reserves the right to refuse or cancel any such orders whether or not the order has been confirmed and your credit card charged. If your credit card has already been charged for the purchase and your order is cancelled, ODES INDUSTRIES shall issue a credit to your credit card account in the amount of the incorrect price.
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These terms and conditions are applicable to you upon your accessing the site and/or completing the registration or shopping process. These terms and conditions, or any part of them, may be terminated by ODES INDUSTRIES without notice at any time, for any reason. The provisions relating to Copyrights, Trademark, Disclaimer, Limitation of Liability, Indemnification and Miscellaneous, shall survive any termination.
ODES INDUSTRIES may deliver notice to you by means of e-mail, a general notice on the site, or by other reliable method to the address you have provided to ODES INDUSTRIES.
Your use of this site shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the state of California, U.S.A., without regard to choice of law provisions, and not by the 1980 U.N. Convention on contracts for the international sale of goods. You agree that jurisdiction over and venue in any legal proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to this site (including but not limited to the purchase of ODES INDUSTRIES products) shall be in the state or federal courts located in Los Angeles County, California. Any cause of action or claim you may have with respect to the site (including but not limited to the purchase of ODES INDUSTRIES products) must be commenced within one (1) year after the claim or cause of action arises. ODES INDUSTRIES's failure to insist upon or enforce strict performance of any provision of these terms and conditions shall not be construed as a waiver of any provision or right. Neither the course of conduct between the parties nor trade practice shall act to modify any of these terms and conditions. ODES INDUSTRIES may assign its rights and duties under this Agreement to any party at any time without notice to you.
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Harassment in any manner or form on the site, including via e-mail, chat, or by use of obscene or abusive language, is strictly forbidden. Impersonation of others, including a ODES INDUSTRIES or other licensed employee, host, or representative, as well as other members or visitors on the site is prohibited. You may not upload to, distribute, or otherwise publish through the site any content which is libelous, defamatory, obscene, threatening, invasive of privacy or publicity rights, abusive, illegal, or otherwise objectionable which may constitute or encourage a criminal offense, violate the rights of any party or which may otherwise give rise to liability or violate any law. You may not upload commercial content on the site or use the site to solicit others to join or become members of any other commercial online service or other organization.
Participation Disclaimer
ODES INDUSTRIES does not and cannot review all communications and materials posted to or created by users accessing the site, and is not in any manner responsible for the content of these communications and materials. You acknowledge that by providing you with the ability to view and distribute user-generated content on the site, ODES INDUSTRIES is merely acting as a passive conduit for such distribution and is not undertaking any obligation or liability relating to any contents or activities on the site. However, ODES INDUSTRIES reserves the right to block or remove communications or materials that it determines to be (a) abusive, defamatory, or obscene, (b) fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading, (c) in violation of a copyright, trademark or; other intellectual property right of another or (d) offensive or otherwise unacceptable to ODES INDUSTRIES in its sole discretion.
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless ODES INDUSTRIES, its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors and suppliers (collectively the "Service Providers") from and against all losses, expenses, damages and costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, resulting from any violation of these terms and conditions or any activity related to your account (including negligent or wrongful conduct) by you or any other person accessing the site using your Internet account.
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In an attempt to provide increased value to our visitors, ODES INDUSTRIES may link to sites operated by third parties. However, even if the third party is affiliated with ODES INDUSTRIES, ODES INDUSTRIES has no control over these linked sites, all of which have separate privacy and data collection practices, independent of ODES INDUSTRIES. These linked sites are only for your convenience and therefore you access them at your own risk. Nonetheless, ODES INDUSTRIES seeks to protect the integrity of its web site and the links placed upon it and therefore requests any feedback on not only its own site, but for sites it links to as well (including if a specific link does not work).
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I, as Rider, acknowledge and agree to be above 18 years of age. I, as Rider, acknowledge and understand that riding an all-terrain-vehicles, Utility Vehicle, Side By Side, MUV, UTV is a dangerous activity that requires strenuous exercise and various degrees of skill and experience for individual riders. I, as Rider, understand that these activities can result in serious injury or even death to the person and damages to property and voluntarily assume any and all risk associated with loss, damage or injury while riding the vehicles advertised on our website. I, as Rider, am aware of the risks, hazards and dangers of personal injury, death and disability inherent with the specific use of these vehicles as well as the inherent risks, hazards and dangers of personal injury and disability increase with inexperienced riders. I, as Rider, agree to release and forever discharge ODES INDUSTRIES or its parent company and their agents, servants, employees, officers, directors, trustees and all other persons or entities acting on their behalf and the manufacture from any and all claims, actions, damages, liabilities, cost or expenses and attorney fees which are related to, arise out of, or are in any way connected to your participation or use of these vehicles, use of equipment or property supplied by ODES INDUSTRIES or its parent company or your presence upon the premises , whether or not such claims, actions, damages, liability, cost or expenses are caused by the negligence of the Rider, manufacture or distributor. By this Agreement, it is my intention as Rider, to surrender and waive any rights to sue or exercise any legal rights to seek damages from ODES INDUSTRIES or its parent company and their agents, servants, employees, officers, directors, trustees and all other persons or entities acting on their behalf. This Agreement shall be affecting and binding upon my heirs, agents, personal representatives and assigns. I, as Rider, hereby certify that I am over the age of 18 years of age. I, as Rider, have carefully read the foregoing and acknowledge that I understand and agree to all the above Terms and Conditions. I, as Rider, therefore release all liability and waive all rights I may have in regards to my activities with ODES INDUSTRIES products, company, employees, associates, or parent company.
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I, as Rider, agree to read the user's manual carefully before operating an ODES INDUSTRIES vehicle. I, as Rider, agree to inspect my vehicle to be sure all nuts, bolts and chain are tight and the vehicle is safe for operations. I, as Rider, agree to wear a helmet when riding. I, as Rider, acknowledge that it is my responsibility, to ascertain and obey all local, state and federal laws in regards to the possession and use of any items ridden by ODES INDUSTRIES and its parent company. ODES INDUSTRIES and its parent company will not be liable for the misuse of any products ridden by ODES INDUSTRIES and its parent company or any of its distributors or agents. I, as Rider, have read this waiver of liability, assumption of risk and indemnity agreement, fully understand its terms, and understand that I, as Rider, am giving up substantial rights by agreeing to this waiver and have brought it freely and voluntarily without any inducement, assurance or guarantee being made to me. My signing this document is to be considered as a complete an unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law.


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Logo Design for East Coast Test & Balance, Inc. (ECTB)
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subset: commoncrawl


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Latest Westport property transfers: $24.5M total
The Town Clerk's office reports the following property transfers took place June 3-7:
122 Harvest Commons, sold to Margaret Yingling by Barbara W. Culp estate, $725,000.
1701-1715 Post Road East, sold to 1701 Post Road East LLC by Greens Farms Centre Association, $4,850,000.
9 Ferry Lane East, sold to Bret and Britt Sheiber by Paul E. and Wendy White, $3,300,000.
9 Boxwood Lane, sold to Glenn and Rhonda Payne by John F. Lynch, $2,950,000.
55 Valley Road, sold to Kenneth Lametta by Alicia Vallado Ogilvy estate, $320,000.
7 Brookside Park, sold to Beth S. Gould by David I. and Kate E. Grange, $785,000.
201 Bayberry Lane, sold to Aranzazu Mateo and Sergio Nusimovich by Kim L. Condon and Cary R. Zateslo, $725,000.
121 Imperial Avenue, sold to 121 Imperial LL by William F. and Patricia T. Abbott, $700,000.
19 Partrick Lane, sold to Xianguo and Xiaoyan Wang by Erin M. Christie, $705,000.
517 Harvest Common, sold to Benjamin and Mary L. Paulino by Michael O. Opettee estate, $895,000.
5 Sherwood Farms Lane, sold to Artem N. Vinkour and Julia S. Motorina by Michael and Alison M. Nevitt, $1,475,000.
5 West Branch Road 93.4 percent interest, sold to Gonzalve E. Bich by Heine Development Corporation, $2,800,000.
55 Washington Avenue, sold to Michael T. and Anne E. Ford by Andrew M. Feller, $695,000.
264 Bayberry Lane, sold to Kelly Schnabel and Andrew L. Lee by Ana E. and William J. Fenton, $1,427,500.
8 Overlook Road, sold to Brett and Jennifer M. Katzner by Alan D. and Tracy B. Schanzer, $1,100,000.
1 Greenbrier Lane, sold to Jonathan and Christine M. Okeefe by James A. and Elizabth F. Schultz, $1,130,000.
Total value of the properties sold is $24,582,500, generating conveyance taxes of $60,994,25.


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By MARC KOVAC
Dix Capital Bureau
COLUMBUS -- Four years ago, the last time a full-term as Ohio's Attorney General was up for grabs, a crusading Democratic state senator named Marc Dann convinced the electorate to give him a shot at cleaning up state government.
A little more than a year later, Dann and a handful of office mates were swept out following a sexual harassment scandal that led to criminal convictions and embarrassing details of an extramarital affair with an underling.
Two years ago, then-Treasurer Richard Cordray convinced the electorate to give him a shot at cleaning up the mess left behind by Dann's administration and only partially settled by an interim Attorney General appointed by the governor.
Now running for his first full term in the position, Cordray said he has done just that, addressing human resources, financial, legal and other issues in the process.
"It took many months to clean the office up and get it to where I could sleep at night," he said. "And now I think we're operating at a high level, smoothly, and I think continuity is what the office needs more than anything. They don't need to go through yet another transition and start all over again when we've made as much progress as we have."
But Cordray's Republican challenger, former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, says the Democratic incumbent has not done enough to improve the Attorney General's Office.
"The standard should not be, 'Is he doing a better job than Marc Dann,'" DeWine said. "He's doing a better job, but he's not fixed, to me, the biggest problem that we have, and that is the crime lab. And I think the priorities are misplaced."
Cordray and DeWine are the two major party candidates in next month's general election. Others running for the seat include Robert M. Owens (Constitution Party) and Marc Allan Feldman (Libertarian).
Cordray said he has made steady improvements since entering the office 21 months ago, including beefing up the computer crimes unit, increasing the use of websites and other technologies to improve communications with local law enforcement and consumers, and launching a human trafficking commission to tackle related crimes.
"Under my watch, we've done quite a lot in the last year and nine months in law enforcement," he said.
If re-elected, he said he would continue to push for more improvements, with goals comparable to those he ran on in 2008: restoring order and professionalism in the office, supporting local law enforcement and protecting the financial security of Ohioans.
"I think our momentum and our accomplishments now are at a faster pace than they were the first few months in office, when we were really trying to dig out of a mess," he said. "And I think that that will continue."
But DeWine countered that Cordray has not done enough to improve the office in the time he has headed it.
"I run for Attorney General because I know I can do a better job than the current Attorney General," he said.
DeWine said his goals include improving turnaround time for evidence in the state's crime lab, joining the legal challenges against federal health care reform and working to improve the state's business climate.
"I think we file too many lawsuits in society today," he said. "I think the government files too many lawsuits. ... My job will be to say, 'Look, aren't there other ways we can solve this?'"
Another goal: conducting an audit to determine ways to make the office more efficient, given the economic realities of the coming budget cycle.
"Everybody who gets elected this year and everybody who takes office in January is going to have to look at their department, their agency, their office and say, 'What are we going to cut? What are we going to do?'" he said. "And it is a question of priorities."
BCI lab
One of those priorities, for DeWine, will be improving the turnaround times at the state crime lab. He said the delays in processing DNA evidence are unacceptable.
"The current attorney general, in all fairness to him, did not create this problem," DeWine said. "He inherited it. But he's not fixing the problem."
If elected, DeWine said he will "bring in experts. I will bring people from other crime labs. We will bring in management experts, we will do an audit and we will start working to fix this problem."
Cordray downplayed DeWine's comments, saying he has not heard from "any local law enforcement officials" who will back up his opponent's criticism.
"It's a lot of empty claims," Cordray said. "... I keep asking him, 'Who's complaining?' The sheriffs, the police and the prosecutors, I think they're very happy with the work we're doing. You can ask your local sheriffs. Ask your local police chiefs. See what they say."
Cordray did acknowledge the state crime lab needed improvement when he took office -- it was an issue he and his Republican opponent campaigned for two years ago.
But he said he has made improvements, including implementing the use of robotics for DNA processing.
"Over the course of my 20 months there, the response times in the DNA lab have fallen from an average of 100 days when I took office, which is too long, to 71 days, which is still longer than I'd like. But we're making steady progress."
Pension funds
DeWine also criticized Cordray's handling of a recent public records request made by a group of Ohio newspapers to state pension groups.
That request sought information about pensions, but without names, addresses or any other information that would enable individuals' private information to be identified.
Cordray advised the pension funds not to release the information, citing a specific state law. And he said he has encouraged the pension funds and the newspapers to sit down and determine whether the information could be released lawfully.
"If not, then maybe it will have to go back to the Legislature and get the law changed," Cordray said. "I mean, the Legislature struck that balance. I didn't strike it, I have to enforce it. .... (DeWine has) never addressed the wording of the statute, which is what the attorney general has to do."
But DeWine said Cordray's interpretation of the law is wrong, and he would have advised the information be released.
"What (the Ohio Supreme Court has) said is very simple: If it's a close call, the doubt goes clearly to open records and the information coming out," he said, adding, "I've looked at the cases. I've looked at the law. My advice to the (pension funds) is you must release this information."
Health care reform
Both candidates also differ on the role Ohio should play in legal challenges to the federal health care reform bill signed into law by President Barack Obama earlier this year.
DeWine said the changes will be "very destructive of the jobs in the state of Ohio, particularly with small business" and "I think the bill's a disaster."
He said he would push for Ohio to join other states that have filed legal challenges.
"No one likes a lot of things that are going on in health care today," DeWine said. "But this bill went too far, and it is simply counterproductive."
Cordray called his stance on the issue and Dewine's a legitimate difference of opinion.
He doesn't agree the law changes are unconstitutional.
"I think that's out of step with 75 years of U.S. Supreme Court precedent, which has said that Congress can legislate on any matter 'substantially affecting interstate commerce,'" he said. "I think health care clearly does."
Cordray added, "So the question is, can Congress legislate and address health care? For years, Mike DeWine was in the Congress and the Senate, and they had health care bills that they moved forward with, and nobody thought they were unconstitutional. So this is kind of an interesting notion."
Cordray said he has opted to focus his office's resources on other matters and let the federal challenges move forward without Ohio.
Marc Kovac is the Dix Capital Bureau Chief. E-mail him at firstname.lastname@example.com or on Twitter at OhioCapitalBlog.


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Sending PMs
Please post your thoughts, questions, bugs, etc here. I will post announcements here.
Moderator: Moderators
2 posts • Page 1 of 1
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2011 8:25 pm
Sending PMs
Sorry, I'm being a bit thick here, but I have written a PM and it has gone as far as the outbox but I cannot figure how to send it? What am I missing?
- The Iron Dwarf
- Post Knight
- Posts: 1335
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:05 pm
- Location: Northants
Re: Sending PMs
you are not missing anything, when the person you sent it to reads it it will go from your outbox to the sent items instead
forges, fireboxes tools and more.
new stuff inc chainshot + grenadoes.
visit my place and have a go
new stuff inc chainshot + grenadoes.
visit my place and have a go
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Darius Rucker's Wife Forbids Him From Christmas Shopping
Don't expect to see Darius Rucker making any late night runs to Walmart in the coming weeks to do any Christmas shopping for his kids. Not that he's done with his Christmas shopping — he's just not allowed to do any shopping for the holidays himself.
"My wife and I have been together for 12 years," Rucker tells Taste of Country with a grin. "We've had our ups and downs and everything, and we've got rules. One of the rules is I don't Christmas shop … because if I did, the list would be 10 times bigger than what it should be [laughs]! I'd go and get everything!"
"I do shop for [my wife]," he says of the one exception to the rule.
And what about the gifts that Rucker wants for Christmas this year? "I believe if you want it, go get it," he says with a laugh. "I live that way. If I want it, I just go get it. I'm not going to say, 'Hey, honey, this is a cool Christmas present you can get me.' So we only give each other gifts on our anniversary. But it's cool … she buys all the gifts and I get her a gift."
Rucker will be giving his fans a new musical gift some time after the the first of the year. Stay tuned to Taste of Country for more from our exclusive interview with Rucker about what's to come in 2012.


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How do i mesh foam particles that have been snapped to a displaced hybrido mesh. After I run the script the foam particles lays nice on my displaced mesh Surface, but when i try to mesh them with particles mesh they jump back to its "unsnapped location". What am i doing wrong? Have tried to add a mesh from inside simulation flow but doesnt seem to work. Any tips?
Thank you
how to mesh snapped foam particles?
Discussion about scripting with Python
2 posts • Page 1 of 1
Re: how to mesh snapped foam particles?
I figured it out. By simply adding a particlesave and naming it the same as foamparticle rpc.
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KABUL, Afghanistan, July 1 (UPI) -- While operations led by Afghan security forces increased last month, so did the number of causalities suffered, an Interior Ministry spokesman said Monday.
Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said that in June, 299 soldiers and police were killed in fighting militants and 618 were wounded, a 22 percent increase from June 2012, Stars and Stripes reported.
Afghan forces conducted 387 operations in June, Sediqqi said.
"This is our answer to the Taliban's spring offensive," he said. "We have police officers present all over the country now, so this is one of the reasons" for the casualty count.
Sediqqi said 753 insurgents died and 300 arrested during the same period, while 180 civilians were killed.
Casualties among the NATO-led international force are down overall in June. Last month, 27 foreign troops, including 17 Americans, died, casualty tracking website iCasualties.org indicated.
"The fact that ISAF casualty numbers are down is a result that our Afghan partners are now in the lead and they are the ones confronting the enemy," said Brig. Gen. Heinz Feldmann, spokesman for the international coalition.
International Security Assistance Force said Monday Afghans forces thwarted a would-be suicide bomber outside the national security headquarters in Kabul, Stars and Stripes reported. The attacker, wearing a military uniform, was shot and killed by guards outside of the main office.
The country's capital has been the target of multiple attacks in the past few weeks, most recently at the presidential palace, and the main airport complex before that.
ISAF troops will withdraw from Afghanistan at the end of 2014.


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Designed by Thomas Bai, New York 10520, USA. All rights reserved.
Thomas Bai Designs offer custom design services and volume overseas productions. Our manufacturing capabilities include fully customized clocks, watches, weather stations, timers and silicone products. For more details, please contact us via email at email@example.com.
Our clients have included: BMW, Coca-cola, Conran's, The Container Store, Crate & Barrel, Daimler Chrysler, Estee Lauder, Honda, Habitat, Indigo, Mondo, MTV, Marshalls, The Museum of Modern Art, Next, Nivea, Origins, Pfizer, Polder, ProMinent, Reader's Digest, Restoration Hardware, Schenker, Sony, Target, TFA, TJ Maxx, Tumi, ViceVersa and Winners.


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Health and Lifestyle Evaluations, with individual medication health checks.
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The right supplements, in the right amounts, based upon your individual health status and other important factors.
Highest-quality, evidence-based vitamin formulas designed to work harmoniously in an integrated program.
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Factis Extra Soft Eraser
by General's
The extra soft quality of this eraser is suitable for use on all types of paper without abrading the surface. Its improved absorbtion power on graphite and charcoal makes it ideal for shading - a superior substitute for kneaded erasers by keeping shape and cleaning deeper. Eraser color does not transfer or smear onto paper.
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The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor
When Edward VIII was still Prince of Wales some of the worst arguments he had with his father George V were over jazz, cocktails, painted fingernails, use of the telephone and - trouser turn-ups. Extraordinary as it may seem, when other countries were involved in existential struggles or assassinating their leaders, nothing inflamed the King of England more - where his son was concerned - than his determination to be modern and his love of all things American.
Ms Wallis Simpson, the American woman he loved so obsessively that he gave up his throne to be with her, was also well known for her style. Even when she was an impoverished Baltimore debutante she wanted the latest fashions but with a twist, something that would mark her out from the crowd, so she and her mother used a dressmaker to copy celebrity gowns she had seen in magazines. And once Ms Simpson came to Europe with her second husband, Mr Ernest Simpson, she took to visiting Paris couture houses that she could ill afford. It was no coincidence that when she met the Duke for the first time she happened to have one or two new Parisian outfits ready in her wardrobe. But he, in spite of his pursuit of whatever was modern and American, also loved the tweed and tartan of his native land, often mixing them in wildly flamboyant combinations and kept serried rows of kilts in a wide variety of cloth in his wardrobe. According to that arbiter of taste, Ms Diana Vreeland, the Duke "had style in every buckle on his kilt, every check of his country suits". Ms Simpson did not much like the country look and commented in her memoirs on the Duke's "very loud checked tweeds" when they first met. But he never stopped wearing them. When photographer Lord Lichfield, the Queen's cousin, photographed him in the 1960s wearing a checked overshirt and tartan trousers with paisley cravat and argyle socks, one fashion writer called this "an audacious mix"; eccentric might be more accurate. His ties, however, were fairly plain but it was for these that he is famous. The Duke had them made with extra-thick inner linings in order to achieve a fatter knot, thus giving rise to the sartorial invention with which he is still today associated - the Windsor knot, although this may in fact have been named not after him, but after his grandfather Edward VII. One of his less noisy fashion choices was an ink blue, double-breasted dinner jacket with black satin lapels for formal eveningwear instead of the stiff shirts and tail coats of an earlier era.
After the abdication in 1936 and subsequent marriage, looking glamorous and expensively dressed became something of a mantra for the Duke and Duchess. It was their armour
But after the abdication in 1936 and subsequent marriage, when the couple were granted the title of Duke and Duchess of Windsor and lived abroad, looking glamorous and expensively dressed became something of a mantra for them both. It was their armour. From 1937 onwards Ms Simpson regularly appeared on lists of the world's best-dressed women. It was her way of showing up her sister-in-law, Elizabeth, the new queen - who she blamed for causing so much ill feeling towards the Duke - as a dowdy, frumpy dresser and saying to the rest of the world "look what you missed". This was especially important at a time when the royals did not give interviews, so clothes had to do the talking for them.
The Duke, equally furious with his family for refusing to allow Ms Simpson to style herself HRH, determined to do whatever he could to make up to her what he believed she had been forced to give up. So they became important collectors and connoisseurs of modern jewellery and the clothes were usually simple and elegant in order to show off the magnificent jewellery.
The gifts had begun in 1935: "not many pieces but awfully nice stones", Ms Simpson had explained to her aunt. Once they were married the gifts intensified. The Duke even visited Cartier in Paris just before the fall of France with all the terror, privation and dislocation that was surrounding him, bearing pockets full of stones and instructions to make up a very special piece, apparently oblivious that his requirements for the production of such a jewel in wartime might strike some as insensitive. The bold diamond flamingo clip, with startling tail feathers of rubies, sapphires and emeralds, was made in Paris in 1940 according to his specific instructions for the brooch to have retractable legs so that Ms Simpson could wear it centrally without a leg digging into her ribs if she bent down. Wearing this magnificent three-dimensional flamingo with its brilliant plumage would have been audacious at any time. Ms Simpson, who used jewellery not simply as a display of wealth but to express her bold style and above all her personality, wore it as she set off on her controversial 1941 visit to the United States with the Duke. She also had some magnificent jewelled powder compacts "and was always making up at table, which of course is very sexy," commented decorator Mr Nicholas Haslam. It was certainly modern in a brash kind of way.
The most lasting modern contribution Edward VIII made during his brief reign as king was to make acceptable the search for individual or personal happiness
Ms Simpson's desire to be modern occasionally led to some ghastly faux pas. Although both of them dieted ferociously, her broad shoulders did not suit the so called "new look" of Dior in 1947 with big skirts and strapless bodices. Nor did a later experiment with hot pants. But she did make acceptable the short cocktail dress that showed off her slim legs to good advantage.
Ultimately the most lasting "modern" contribution Edward VII made during his brief reign as king was nothing to do with clothes but was to make acceptable the search for individual or personal happiness, something for which his mother, Queen Mary, never forgave her daughter-in-law. Nor did she ever learn to use the telephone.
That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor by Ms Anne Sebba (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, £20) is out now. W.E., the biopic about the couple directed by Madonna, has just previewed in Venice


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American Institute of Professional Geologists
Georgia Section
AIPG Georgia Section is a co-sponsor of the 2nd SouthEastern States Vapor Intrusion Symposium - April 28-29, 2016. As a co-sponsor we get a reduced conference registration cost for AIPG members.
Ronald J. Wallace, CPG, P.G.
AIPG 2016 Georgia Section Scholarship Winners
Jacob Lindsey - Georgia Southern
Mark Allen Bair - Columbus State
Nolan Edge - Georgia Southwestern State
Emily Purcell - West Georgia
Joshua Hoynes - University of North Georgia
Chelsea Bush - Georgia State
On February 22, 2016, Susan Kite and Ron Wallace presented the newest AIPG Georgia Section Student Chapter at the University of North Georgia a plaque, poster and a check from National for $100 and $300 from the Georgia Section.
AIPG 2016 Georgia Section Longevity Award
The following members were mailed our longevity award:
40 years - Thomas Jones
30 years - Conrad Stephenson and Anthony Robert
20 years - John Raymond and John Salvino
20 years - Robert White and Kevin Strumpler
We would like to thank these members for the commitment to AIPG.
AIPG Georgia Section: "Innovative Environmental Assessment and Remediation Technology"
Kennesaw State University Continuing Education Building
Kennesaw, GA
Tuesday September 29 and Wednesday September 30, 2015
5th Conference: Innovative Environmental Assessment and Remediation Technology
AIPG Georgia Section -
April 23 & 24, 2014
Kennesaw State University |
Continuing Education |
Kennesaw, Georgia
Speaker Schedule
Exhibitors and Sponsors
4th Conference: Innovative Environmental Assessment and Remediation Technology
AIPG Georgia Section -
September 12-13, 2012
Kennesaw State University |
Continuing Education |
Kennesaw, Georgia
Rabun County Waterfalls and Other Places of Interest
BLACK ROCK MOUNTAIN STATE PARK (See Map1):
Highest State Park in Georgia. Great overlooks, camping.
From Clayton, GA: Go 2.9 miles north on Highway 441 to Mountain City. Look for the State Park signs on your right. Follow the signs to the state park (entrance will be on your left). The signs and entrance come up quick so pay attention!
PERSIMMON CREEK/TALLULAH RIVER AREA (See Map 1):
Tallulah River, also known as Persimmon Creek in this area, is a very beautiful fast moving stream west of Clayton, GA. It is great for fly fishing, photography, scenic driving, and camping.
From Clayton, GA: Go west on Highway 76 for approximately 8 miles and turn right onto Persimmon Road. Follow Persimmon Road for 3 miles and turn left onto Forest Service Road 70 (Tallulah River Wildlife Area). This forest service road follows along Persimmon Creek for several miles. There are several pullouts allowing access to the stream.
CROW CREEK FALLS (See Map 1):
From Clayton, GA: Go west on Highway 76 for 7.3 miles until you reach Charlie Mountain Road (a boat shop will be on your left). Turn left on Charlie Mountain Road. Follow Charlie Mountain Road for 3.6 miles until you reach the stop sign. Turn right onto Bridge Creek Road. Follow Bridge Creek Road until reach another stop sign. Turn right onto Burton Dam Road. Follow this road for 0.7 miles and then turn left onto the unpaved road (immediately past the bridge). This is Crow Creek Road. Follow Crow Creek Road for 2.9 miles and turn right onto Forest Service Road 27A (unmarked). The Forest Service Road sneaks up on you so pay attention-if you pass by a Georgia Power Recreation Area on your left, then you have gone too far. Follow up the service road for approximately 2/10 of a mile. The trail leading to the falls is on the left hand side. The trail is unmarked, however by the entrance are jeep blocking mounds. It is approximately 250 feet from the service road to the waterfall.
MINNEHAHA FALLS (See Map 1):
From Crow Creek Falls: Turn around from Crow Creek Falls and go back to Crow Creek Road. Turn right onto Crow Creek Road and follow it until you reach a stop sign. Bear left to stay on Crow Creek Road. After a few hundred feet, turn right onto unpaved Bear Gap Road. Follow Bear Gap Road for approximately 1.6 miles to the marked entrance of Minnehaha Falls. Parking is limited. Allow 5-10 minutes to reach the waterfall.
PANTHER FALLS (See Map 1):
From Minnehaha Falls: Turn around from Minnehaha Falls and go back on Bear Gap Road. Continue going straight crossing the one way bridge. At the stop sign, turn right onto Lake Rabun Road. Follow Lake Rabun Road for 1.7 miles until you reach Lake Rabun Recreation Area #2 on your left. Enter the camping area and follow the main road for just a few hundred feet to the entrance of the hiking trail. Panther Falls is just 1/2 mile from the entrance of the hiking trail. A second falls, Angel Falls, is just another 1/2 mile past Panther Falls.
BECKY'S BRANCH FALLS (See Map 2):
From Clayton, GA: Go east on Warwoman Road from Clayton for 3 miles. Turn right into the Warwoman Dell Recreation Area. Park here and follow the Bartram Trail (which crosses over Warwoman Road) 0.25 miles to the falls.
HOLCOMB CREEK FALLS AND AMMONS FALLS (See Map 2):
By far, I think Holcomb Creek Falls is one of the most impressive waterfalls in North Georgia. It is a very massive and tall waterfall.
From Clayton, GA: Go east on Warwoman Road for 10 miles. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 7 (Hale Ridge Road). You'll see a sign for Hale Ridge Cemetery just before Hale Ridge Road. Follow the forest service road for 6.5 miles to the junction of Forest Service Road 86 (Overflow Creek Road). Park your car here and follow the marked trail for about 15 minutes to the observation deck to Holcomb Creek Falls. Following the trail for another quarter of a mile will lead you to Ammons Falls.
AIPG Georgia Section Display at the Atlanta Geological Society
which was sponsored at Fernbank Museum on September 30, 2004.
Georgia Section Officers
Ronald J. Wallace
3650 Garrard's Crossing
Roswell, GA 30075
Work: (404) 362-2589
Vice President
Eric F. Lowe
S&ME, Inc.
3380 Town Point Dr., Ste. 140
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Work: (770) 919-0969
Fax: (770) 919-2360
Susan Kite
Kite Consulting Services, LLC
4280 Laurel Grove Trace
Suwanee, GA 30024
Work: (770) 614-4670
Ronald J. Wallace
3650 Garrard's Crossing
Roswell, GA 30075
Work: (404) 362-2589
Screening Board Chairman
Ronald J. Wallace
3650 Garrard's Crossing
Roswell, GA 30075
Work: (404) 362-2589
go to top
http://www.sos.state.ga.us/plb/geologists/ - Georgia PG Board
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis -
http://www.gawponline.org/ - Georgia Water & Pollution Control Association
http://www.epa.gov/region4/ - EPA Region 4
http://www.gadnr.org/ - Georgia Department of Natural Resources
http://www.atlantageologists.org/ - Atlanta Geological Society
http://www.skio.peachnet.edu/ - Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/sasinfo.htm - US Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/ -USGS Water Resources of Georgia
http://ga2.er.usgs.gov/coastal/index.cfm - Coastal Georgia Sound Science Initiative


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Science Friday® is produced by the Science Friday Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Science Friday® and SciFri® are registered service marks of Science Friday, Inc. Site design by Pentagram; engineering by Mediapolis.
Reporting in Science, researchers write of discovering four radio bursts from outer space. Physicist Duncan Lorimer, who detected the first such explosion in 2007, discusses what could be causing these radio signals, such as evaporating black holes, an idea proposed by Stephen Hawking in the 1970s.


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We're bringing our Anything Goes Card Challenge to the blog today with 3 fabulous prizes and lots of fabulous inspiration from our Design Team
First prize: Papers from Maja Design, Sweden - the prize will be sent directly to the winner
Second prize: £10 voucher towards a shopping spree at The Ribbon Girl
Third Prize: A stamp of the winner's choice from LOTV
The challenge runs for 2 weeks until 9pm on Saturday 18th March, just use the InLinkz button at the bottom of the post to link up your project. The prizes are non-transferable and must be claimed within a week of being announced
Mary used Maja Design 'Sofiero' 6x6 paper pad, pale pink faux silk ribbon, off white organza rose trim, 6mm white flatback pearl, 25mm and 20mm pale pink open roses, miniature white blossoms. The leaves are diecut and chalk-inked from ordinary and vellum paper
Magnolia Pink Mix Flowers, Ballerina Blossoms Ivory White,Forget me Not Fabric Flowers, 3mm Pale Turquoise Satin
Andrea used: Pion 'pink fabric' 12x12 paper, white opal liquid pearls, pink organza rose trim, octagonal irridescent f/back trim, 5mm s/a pearls, pink twinkle ribbon, pearl teardrop pin, crystal pin, pearl cluster effect flatback.
Katie used: Maja Design paper 'Summer Time' 10mm miniature pale peach and ivory blossom flowes, Ivory button twine, 25mm natural colour faux hessian ribbon, red tiny Ric Rac , 38mm white Phoebe Guipure lace, red Poppy flowers,
Stacey used: Maja Design 'Coffee in the Arbour', 5mm Pearls, Ivory, Mesh Scrapiniec Chipboard, 38mm Ivory Silky Crush, Diamante Heart Top Loop Charm, Ivory Button Twine, Orchid Antique White Vintage Style Lace, Miniature Ivory Cream Blossom, Satin Rose Leaf, 3mm White Pearl Bead String, Lilac Lily Assortment, White Beaded Stamen, Ivory 30mm Wild Roses, Round Head Pastel Small Pins on Wheel
Tracy used: Beaded Berries Lilac/Purple, Hemp Natural Twine, Bird Cage with Heart, Sky Mauve Lilac Seam Binding, Vintage Mid-Violet (Purple Plum) 15mm Roses, Ivory 10mm Open Rose, Rose Leaf Mulberry Paper Green
Gina used: Galeria 'As if in a Dream' Retro Paper, Ivory White Ballerina Blossom, Large Yellow Rose Buds, Beaded White Stamen, 4mm Pearl White Trim, 6mm Flat Back Pearl, Oval clear Diamante Embellishment, 25mm Pale Lemon Satin Berisford Ribbon, 12mm Leah White Scallop Flat Lace, Diamante Silver Butterfly Gem, 38mm Charlotte Elizabeth Vintage White Lace, Cosmos Daisy Flower White, Small Lemon Blossom.
Jane used: 55m Emma Ivory Guipure lace, cheesecloth, Big Branches Scrapiniec chipboard set, 50mm Diamante No. 9, Antique Blue cherry blossoms, pale pink roses, white button twine, 25mm Deborah fine cluny lace, bronze butterfly charm, Stardust Stickles.


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Like it is for you, and everybody else, email is a challenge for me.
So I was super excited to hear about Mailbox - a new iPhone app that was supposed to make getting to "inbox zero" much easier.
Lots of people were.
When I joined the waiting list to download it, there were 600,000 people in front of me. In the hour before I finally got it, there were 700,000 people waiting behind me.
So, it was pretty disappointing that, after two weeks of waiting to use Mailbox, I deleted it two days after downloading it.
There's one reason why it didn't work for me: Mailbox makes you deal with one email at a time.
You have to open or swipe (to the left, further to the left, to the right, or further to the right) each individual email.
I get several hundred emails a day.
I have received 5 emails since beginning to write this post.
I do not have the time, nor the energy to make hundreds of individual decisions about email every day.
I believe Dr. Oz, who, during our Ignition conference last December, said that people have the capacity to make about 15 decisions per day before they start to get exhausted - and start making mistakes.
When I go through my email - which I do about 3 times per day - I go into the iPhone's default mail app, tap "Edit" on the top right, and then quickly tap every email I don't need to ever read (most of them) and then tap the bright red "archive" button.
It feels like one decision, an answer to a single question: "Are there any emails I need to see?"
Then I go back over the emails that remain and respond to the ones that need immediate attention. I flag the rest - emails I need to respond to, but not right away. I always get to them eventually.
When I'm doing email from my desktop, it's the same process, but even better, because in Gmail I can shift-click to select multiple emails to archive or delete at once.
Besides the "edit" button on my iPhone or shift-click in Gmail, there is one more feature that saves me when it comes to email - the iPhone app's "VIP" list.
You can set it up so that emails from a select group of people set off a push alert that vibrates your phone and makes a noise. I use this function for emails from my bosses, my family, and my most important sources.
Mailbox - who needs you?


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As long-time readers are aware, one of the things I enjoy most is baking (see my earlier post on Strawberry Cupcakes here). Well, to be frank, I enjoy food in general. So for this evening's open house at work, I baked an easy and delicious fruit pizza.
This is the easiest dessert ever and a HUGE hit with kids! The recipe is, I believe, from an old issue of Woman's Day.
1 16 oz package of ready to bake sugar cookie dough
1 8 oz pack of cream cheese (you can use light or regular)
1 container strawberries
2 kiwis
2 bananas
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup apricot preserves
1/4 teapoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons brandy, separated
*make sure you have a basting brush handy!
1. Preheat oven to 365* F. Take chilled cookie dough and cut into 1/2" slices. Layer in a well greased pizza pan, overlapping slightly.
2. With your hands, shape the dough into a circle that is at least an inch away from the edge of your pan. The dough will expand in the oven.
3. Place into oven and bake for 8 minutes (or until golden brown).
4. While the cookie is baking, you can chop your kiwi, strawberries and bananas into 1/4" slices.
5. Combine cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and 1 tablespoon brandy. Mix until smooth and spread on your giant cookie.
6. Cook preserves and remaining 2 T brandy on low until the mixture is smooth. Don't worry about apricot lumps.
7. Now is the fun part! Add your fruits!!! Kids will LOVE to help with this part. Let them go crazy. You can switch out your fruits as you like, but this combo has always been pretty popular (and is a part of the original recipe).
8. Baste the top of the pizza with preserve mixture. If you are serving immediately, you can skip this step - but if you will be eating it several hours from the time of preparation, definitely use the mix. Don't glop it on. A slight sheen will suffice. Be sure to keep your creation chilled!
I hope you all enjoyed the post. I LOVE sharing recipes with you guys and thought this was a good one. :D


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Supermodel Carol Alt Has a Raw Food Book and the Title Made Us Almost Pee Ourselves
Carol Alt knows that eating healthy is important. That must be why the former supermodel published this book of raw food recipes called 'Easy Sexy Raw.' Yup, that must be why.
Easy Sexy Raw is full of 130 raw food recipes, tools and tips to make you feel "gorgeous and satisfied." I just snorted.
I mean, clearly she's in on the joke -- which is hilarious, and I salute her. Follow her on Twitter and check out her website to see what else she's been up to. You know, besides easy, sexy and raw things. Those are on there too, though.


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Monza Pilota Watch Limited Edition
The texture of asphalt, the lines of a single-seater, and renowned performance: this is the exclusive watch dedicated to the legendary Monza circuit.
A true celebration of Scuderia Ferrari's Italian racing roots. The personality of this accessory, a must-have for fans, can be seen in its black dial, trimmed in the colors of the Italian flag, and the word ʺMonzaʺ along with the iconic Ferrari Shield. The watch's design is finished with a silicone wrist strap that guarantees extra comfort. The Monza Pilota watch is the perfect accessory for your trackside outfit. Its box features a metal plaque and certificate of authenticity.
- Silicone wrist strap
- Certificate of authenticity
- Composition: 100% Stainless Steel
We offer both Standard and Express shipping: choose the service that best meets your needs at checkout.
We provide an easy return service: just ship your items back to us with a shipping service of your choice within 30 days of delivery.


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If your kids like Star Wars but you like your walls/furniture/kids' skulls/wallet too much to get one of those stupid overpriced light-up light sabers from the toy store, might I suggest this thing?
I think it's actually a party favor, but it's essentially a white foam tube--the consistency is similar to those foam pool noodles, only smaller--wrapped around a series of different colored LED lights. There are five settings, so you can have the light saber flash red (Darth Vader), blue (Obi Wan), green (Luke Skywalker circa "Return of the Jedi"), slow rainbow (in which it cycles through all the colors, including all the in-between colors like purple and pink and turquoise), and Cal's personal favorite, ULTRA-KINETIC RAINBOW STROBE (likely not recommended for epileptics--it is kind of intense).
They are cheap and they are blunt and they are foam so even if someone gets hit in the face with it...several times...no one will be the worse for wear. Also probably a nice party favor for your next Star Wars-themed birthday party-slash-rave.
(I remember, back when Cal was wee, when I used to have this blanket rule that we wouldn't allow any kind of mock weaponry in the house on the basis that it would promote aggression or something. I WAS SO YOUNG THEN. Later I realized that basically everything could become a light saber, including the cardboard core of gift paper wrap. Not very sturdy, those, and oh, THE TEARS when they eventually bent and unravelled.)
(I still have a "no toy gun" rule, though. Not even water guns. Unless they are shaped like a non-gun, like, I don't know, a dolphin that squirts water. I don't like guns.)
(You heard me, Charlton Heston. Yes, yes, from your cold dead hands, I know.)


text: Gorgeous sculptures that uses mirrors to force nature into interrupting itself. I see tons of art on Flickr sites that do the same thing but with Photoshop and Googled nature images, (don't get me wrong, I like those too) but this the real thing! I can't find very much information on the artist duo- I'm assuming they were husband and wife or something… Wiki search rewarded me this: Francisco Infante-Arana formed an artists' collective known as the Movement Group & continues to be one of the premier Russian avant-garde artists. "Nonna Gorunova" yielded me results only in the context of Francisco. It would be great if any of you readers can shed more light on them! You can find more of their work on this LiveJournal photo community.


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Product Details
- design led product
- neon tube glass
- designer
- Country of Origin: Italy
Product description
A transformer is required to power these lamps - please select from the menu: 2kV: 1-3 lamps; 6kV: 4-9 lamps; 10Kv: 10-14 lamps.p>These individual letters, numbers and symbols easily combine to make a profound statement and allow you carte blanche. Typography is the look of the moment and these lights are the most original way of subscribing to it. Make it your writing that is on the wall! Put your thinking cap on now!
Questions about the Neon Alphabet Lighting - S
Do you have a question about this product?
If your question isn't answered below, drop us an email using the form on the left. We'll respond to you personally by email and may also post the answer here to help others.
We're here to help! Fire away.


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Metabones Nikon G Lens to Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera Speed Booster
I Want My Rental
I Want My Rental
Days RESET DATES
Rental Price: $41.00
Retail: $489.00
Add to Cart
New: In the SF /Bay Area? Same Day Delivery may be available at checkout! (Learn More)
The Metabones Nikon F-Mount G Lens to Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera Speed Booster allows for Nikon lenses to be attached to the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera. Details from the lens are transferred faithfully to the camera sensor. This adapter increases field-of-view and increases lens speed.
Autofocus is NOT retained when using this adapter. This adapter comes with a 1/4-20 thread socket in the foot for mounting stabilization (not included) onto the adapter to take stress off of long lenses. This adapter is NOT compatible with with Nikon F-Mount AI-s or AF-D lenses that have an aperture ring.
There is no manual for this product.


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As Mobile World Congress fast approaches, we're expecting more handset rumors and announcements to crowd the newsroom. On the Android front, rumor has it that HTC will launch the successor to the Droid DNA, and we're already seeing leaks of this so-called M7 handset crop up on enthusiast blogs across the Web.
At HTC's year-end party in Taipei, CEO Peter Chou walked up on stage to thank the M7 team for their devoted diligence on getting all of the inner workings of the device finalized. Chou played with the handset on stage, snapping a picture of the crowd in front of him as a "great opportunity for testing." All of this was recorded by a very shaky camera (clip available below), but it could be an indicator that the M7 is HTC's next venture.
The Android handset has been rumored to have a March 8 release on multiple US carriers. It will allegedly feature a 4.7-inch 1080p full HD Super LCD3 display, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and a 12 megapixel rear camera. It may also contain a 1.7GHz quad-core processor, though it's unclear whether it will be a Tegra 4 or a new Snapdragon 600 series SoC. The M7 will likely also feature HTC's upcoming Sense UI 5.0, as well as a 2300 mAh battery.
Be sure to join Ars for coverage from the official HTC event in New York City on February 19, where we'll be in attendance to see what the company has in store and whether or not it will announce the M7 handset.


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Moonrise Kingdom
Benjamin Britten's operatic interpretation of the 15th century play Noye's Fludde (Noah's Flood) was written to be performed in a large hall by a cast of amateurs, often calling on the audience to sing along. It's a rousing piece of music and a perfect fit as the foundation of Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom. Like the opera, the spirited tale of young love is whimsical and bold, juxtaposing a group of unknown young people alongside a handful of professionals: Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand and Bruce Willis. Even more so than his previous work, Anderson's design and camera choices are overt and self-aware. The result is an endeavor closer to theater than film, a living storybook with the emotional depth to boot. That doesn't quite work for his adult costars, but when the action hones in on the central duo, two outcast children smitten with one another, it's a touching portrait that mesmerizes both the eyes and the heart.
Sam (Jared Gilman) is a down-on-his luck orphan, sent off to Khaki Scout camp on the verdant New England island of New Panzance. Suzy (Kara Hayward) is a misunderstood teenager with aggressive tendencies, who bides her time on New Panzance by reading fantasy books and hoping one day to escape. When the two eventually cross paths at a performance of Noye's Fludde! it's love at first sight. After a snail mail correspondence, Sam and Suzy run away together, their adventure sparking everyone on the island to gather for a search party. Anderson treasures an ensemble, and cuts between Sam and Suzy's personal journey and the ragtag team of desperate adults: Suzy's lawyer parents (McDormand and Murray), police captain Sharp (Willis), bumbling Khaki Scout leader Scout Master Ward (Norton) and an island expert (Bob Balaban), who's also on hand to narrate the escapades from an all-knowing perspective.
The script, co-written by Anderson and Roman Coppola, feels perfectly in tune with the wonderfully weird kids the auteur has assembled for his lead roles. The dialogue is honest and raw it sounds like what kids might say. In a stretch during the middle of the movie, Anderson slows down the pace of his madcap mission movie to settle in with Suzy and Sam on a scenic cove beach. There, they spend time reading, dreaming and thanking their lucky stars to be away from the rest of the world. Shot with a stunning, earthly palette, the sequence is one of Anderson's best. When the adults factor back in, the movie loses its vivid innocence, diluted by characters that don't go anywhere and jokes that feel happenstance.
There's a lot to chew on in Moonrise Kingdom, and a lot to love. Norton stands out among the older crew, his Scout Master nutty, neurotic and less mature than his teenage troop. Murray and McDormand provide a necessary humanity to the whole affair, as Suzy's kooky but tangible parental figures. There's no time to dwell on any one character, so they all feel like sketches albeit ones you'd love to see in a movie all their own. Anderson's piles on more and more and more as Moonrise Kingdom scales the cinematic mountain, even managing to squeeze in a scene of destruction worthy of Roland Emmerich. He presents the smorgasbord of ideas in a low-fi fashion that's all his own certain moments even recall the animation style of Fantastic Mr. Fox but the visual and comedic chaos only coalesces when the kids are on screen. Moonrise Kingdom is a coming of age movie that I hoped would never come of age.


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The purpose of this trial is to (a) determine the ability of KC706 to prevent the appearance of new blisters and heal existing blisters, while maintaining stable doses of corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants, in patients with pemphigus vulgaris (b) to determine the safety of KC706 and (c) to access the plasma levels of KC706.
This study, sponsored by Kemia, Inc., has been completed.
KC706 is a new class of agent that could offer hope to patients in healing and preventing pemphigus lesions. Patients with PV have antibodies directed against proteins called desmogliens, which serve as a "glue" between the layers of skin. The study will assess the effects of the experimental drug KC706 to interrupt the activity of these antibodies, thereby preventing the skin from forming blisters.
Current treatments have multiple side effects therefore there is a high unmet medical need for treatments with fewer side effects. Dr. Rubinstein's, from UNC Chapel Hill has developed an animal model of pemphigus vulgaris. When used in this animal model, KC706 prevented the occurrence of blistering.
Enrollment Criteria
Patients must be at least 18 years of age, with active PV skin, scalp or mucosal lesions and a diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris confirmed by skin lesion biopsy. The patients must be taking and require either stable doses of corticosteroid therapy or immunosuppressive therapy or both. Pregnant or nursing women are not eligible to participate in the trial. All potential participants will have a screening visit which will include a review of their medical history, and a blood draw to determine their eligibility to participate in the study.
Study Conduct
3 months of treatment, assessments of efficacy and tolerability every two weeks, with a four week follow-up.
Contact Information
If you are interested in participating in this trial or referring a patient, please contact:
University of Pennsylvania
Principal Investigator: Victoria Werth, M.D.
Clinical Coordinators:
Joyce Okawa, R. N.
215-898-0168 or email@example.com
Matt Rose
215-898-0108 or firstname.lastname@example.com
New York University School of Medicine
Principal Investigator: Bruce Strober, M.D. Ph.D.
Clinical Coordinators:
Elizabeth Camacho or firstname.lastname@example.com
Florida Academic Dermatology Centers-Cedars Medical Center
Principal Investigator: Francisco Kerdel M.D.
Clinical Coordinators:
Ray Guevara
305-324-2110 or email@example.com
Harbor UCLA Medical Center
Principal Investigator: Michael Kolodney, MD
Clinical Coordinators:
Rattapon Thuangtong, MD
310-222-1845 or firstname.lastname@example.com
University Hospitals Case Medical Center
Principal Investigator: Neil Korman, M.D.
Clinical Coordinator:
Kelly Jeffords
216-983-0861 or firstname.lastname@example.com
University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center
Principal Investigator: Amit Pandya, MD
Clinical Coordinators:
Christina Carrigan, R. N.
214-645-8968 or firstname.lastname@example.com
University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill
Principal Investigator: David Rubenstein, M.D. Ph.D.
Clinical Coordinator:
Trevor Presler
919-966-1406 or email@example.com


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Family Travel: Richmond, VA
By Bekah Wright
"Give me liberty or give me death!" No, it's not the cry of a toddler attempting to get out of their parents' clutches. Rather, it's the edict proclaimed by Patrick Henry in 1775 at the start of the Revolutionary War. The site of the memorable speech – St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia.
Because of its ideal proximity, many people consider Virginia's capital city a base camp for visiting amusement parks like Busch Gardens or King's Dominion, historical destinations such as Williamsburg or Jamestown or The Smithsonian Institution in nearby Washington, DC. Richmond has its own treasures to behold, though, from a deep-rooted history to a rich arts and culture scene. Best of all, the city's many gardens, museums and theatres welcome families of all ages.
Byrd Park & Maymont
[caption id="attachment_13147" align="alignright" width="210" caption="The Fairy Chase at The Maymont Mansion"][/caption]
These two recreation areas are directly beside one another, making visiting both on the same day a possibility. Not to miss at Byrd Park are the peddleboat rides on Fountain Lake. There are two other lakes on the 287-acre property as well, including the aptly named Swan Lake with its many feathered inhabitants. There are plenty of trails to explore, as well as a playground for swing time. Hear the Carillon's 56 bells note the hour and the urge to hear live music may come on. Lucky for visitors, the park's Dogwood Dell amphitheatre has a full summer schedule with music, dance and theatrical performances.
Byrd Park is located at 600 S. Boulevard. For information about Dogwood Dell performances phone 1-804-646-DELL.
Visit the historic Maymont for both a glimpse back in time and to get in touch with nature. From 1893 to 1925, the 100-acre grounds were home to the Dooley millionaires. Their Victorian mansion is available for touring for a look at daily lives that included regular tea parties, card games and entertaining. Kids will especially like Sallie Dooley's opulent swan bed. Down in the servants' quarters, visitors get a realistic viewpoint of what it took to accomplish all that lavish living.
Strolling through Maymont's gardens, it's easy to imagine the fairy chases that take place on property. There are other gems to be stumbled upon as well from a 45-foot waterfall and idyllic gazebos to a Butterfly Garden and bamboo forest. A great way to get an overview of the area is via a horsedrawn carriage ride. Once having met the resident horses, there are other creatures to visit at the Children's Farm, Nature & Visitor Center and Outdoor Wildlife Exhibits. The place to spot black bears on a hot day – treading water in their private pond.
Maymont is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Maymont Mansion, Nature & Visitor Center are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. To learn more, visit www.maymont.org or phone 1-804-358-7166.
Children's Museum of Richmond
Proof that Richmond is a city that believes in the power of play are its two Children's Museums, the Central Location (CMor Central) on Broad Street and the newly-opened Short Pump facility (CMor Short Pump).
For those families fresh from the Science Museum of Virginia next door (another of Richmond's family friendly activities), more science can be had via Central C-Mor's Cave Exhibit filled with stalagmites and stalactites. Visitors can turn paleontologists in the Dinosaur Exhibit and dig for fossils and meet a Stegosaurus or baby Triceratops. Dramatists can play with the puppets at the Playhouse or build their own magic kingdom out of blocks.
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CMor Short Pump is a smaller facility, but has numerous displays that will keep little ones entertained for hours. Here it's possible to don a pirate hat and commandeer a crew from the giant pirate ship, ride aboard the Wild Safari Train or make like fishes in the Whale of a Tale Water Play area. Children (or parents) still having fantasies that require playing out can head to the Enchanted Castle and work on their fairy godmother skills or be king for a day.
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For information on both Children's Museum locations visit www.childrensmuseumofrichmond.org or phone 1-804-474-7000.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Think all gardens are the same? Not in Richmond and definitely not the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. At first glance, the Conservatory may look both inviting and austere. Enter its doors, though, and whimsy abounds with the current Frabel exhibit with glass clowns, lizards and, yes, aliens mixed amongst the plants. They've even taken over the thatched-roof cottage in the Conservatory's West Wing.
There's magic to be found throughout the expansive property with frog fountains and butterfly chairs to be discovered in the Central Garden, a Tea House just outside the Rose Garden and a humongous pestle and mortar in the Healing Garden.
Perhaps the most fascinating garden of all, though, is the Children's Garden. Giant wind chimes welcome from the treetops. Speaking of trees, there's a tree house with views of Sydnor Lake for playing house. Other toddler-sized houses are in the area, too, signifying types of shelter found in different cultures. There are also trees to be climbed, arts and crafts to be made and a WaterPlay area for cooling off. For those not visiting in summer months that bemoan water fun, the winter holds an equally exciting venture – checking out the gardens transformed by holiday lights.
To learn more about Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden visit www.lewisginter.org or phone 1-804-262-9887 ext. 300.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts & Virginia Historical Society
Dashing preconceived notions that museums are stuffy are the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) and Virginia Historical Society. Next door to one another, both hold treasures to behold. Introducing youngsters to fine art is VMFA's one-hour gallery walk geared for families. On the tour are a series of objects used for carrying people and things from a Faberge egg that holds a mother's special photo to animals that guarded an Indian king. After the tour, there's more to be discovered from an Egyptian mummy to a flying rabbit.
To learn more about the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts visit www.vmfa.museum or phone 1-804-340-1400.
The Virginia Historical Society never says "shhh" and believes exhibits are there to be handled. Just ask them. Beyond a healthy children's program that includes arts and crafts, games, story times, camps, teas and tours, there are exhibits for checking out like various modes of transportation (how did they get that trolley car in there?) and a log cabin the pint-sized can appreciate. As for dress-up, sure, parents can try on the hats, too.
To learn more about the Virginia Historical Society visit www.vahistorical.org or phone 1-804-358-4901.
Theatre IV: The Children's Theatre of Virginia
Located within the historic Empire Theatre. Bring beloved children's books to the stage like Ferdinand the Bull (10/1-10/17/10) and The Velveteen Rabbit November 26, 2010 - January 9, 2011 (at the Willow Lawn location). The Big Friendly Giant February 18 - March 6, 2011 and Honk! April 29 - May 15, 2011
To learn more about Theatre IV visit www.theatreivrichmond.org or phone 1-804-282-2620.
NEXT: Where to Stay


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n. a small, fingertip vibrator,possibly created in Japan. There is also a five-fingered glove available for the ultimate in stimulation. The vibrator may be small, but it is relatively powerful. There are also several different sleeves for the device that can be added in order to create new sensations.
'Fukuoku' is not a real Japanese word.
'Fukuoku' is not a real Japanese word.
by stainmenow September 28, 2004


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A young Vallejo woman stumbled upon a macabre scene Wednesday when she came home to find her uncle dead with a severed hand.
Vallejo officers were called to the house in the 2200 block of Garnet Drive at about 3 p.m. and found the 44-year-old Vallejo man dead at the scene, police said. Officers described the scene as "grisly."
The man had a history of being put on mental evaluation holds and lived at a care home across town, police said.
For an unknown reason, he went to his brother"s house on Garnet Drive and finding no one home, grabbed a butcher"s knife, police said.
The man then attempted to cut off his left arm before succeeding in cutting off his let hand, police said.
He died of blood loss, police said.
The incident remains under investigation.


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Save $25.00 on Pest Control with a new service contract when you schedule a free inspection or buy online.
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If you want excellent service look no further!! Truly Nolen offers flexible hours, will work around your schedule, and wonderful customer service!! They have serviced our home since they first opened! Quinton is great, and will get rid of your bugs!!!! They also have the coolest bug car!!
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Truly Nolen of North Atlanta, GA provides an innovative solution to ongoing household pest problems. Our Four Season's Protection Plan combines advanced, proactive treatments with pests' seasonal behavior to keep your North Atlanta home protected year round. More on North Atlanta Pest Control.
Bed Bugs can be a real problem in North Atlanta, GA. Let Truly Nolen of North Atlanta, GA provide a free inspection to determine the scope of the problem. We utilize an integrated treatment approach addressing sanitation, material application and exclusion for your North Atlanta home. More on North Atlanta Bed Bug Control.
Truly Nolen of North Atlanta, GA combines a variety of termite control techniques into one comprehensive treatment program. Our Total Termite Protection Plan "TTP" protects your North Atlanta home from all termites under one contract backed by a $1M Guarantee. More on North Atlanta Termite Control.
Truly Nolen of North Atlanta, GA rodent control "CRC" program focuses on trapping and removing existing rodents and preventing new rodents and mice from re-entering through exclusion. Ensure your North Atlanta home is protected from rodents. More on North Atlanta Rodent Control.
Bees and Wasps in North Atlanta, GA can become a serious pest. Let Truly Nolen of North Atlanta determine if you have an infestation through a free inspection ensuring bees and wasps are removed safely from your North Atlanta home. More on North Atlanta Bee & Wasp Control.
The Truly Nolen Atlanta's Total Package approach to pest control attacks your pest population with a customized plan and the highest quality materials to get the best results for you and your family. We are pest control professionals who protect your health, family, and the environment from pests and the damage they can cause. We specialize in pest control, termite control, rodent control, mosquito control, and insulation for residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Truly Nolen Atlanta keeps your home and family safe and pest-free. Our professionally trained technicians will inspect your home and develop a customized treatment strategy. Our targeted pest control treatments focus on the exterior and perimeter of your home, limiting the use of chemicals within the home. We want to be your best pest control and exterminating company. Customer satisfaction is our goal and your satisfaction is guaranteed - we offer our 100% Money-Back Guarantee.
We are in the know! Since 1938, Truly Nolen has been serving you with effective home pest control solutions, local expertise, and continued innovations. Our residential pest control plan is designed to keep the critters out of your home. Whether you need a free pest inspection in the city or a termite solution in the suburbs, Truly Nolen Atlanta has you covered. Our knowledgeable team of qualified experts can safely and effectively help you maintain the peace of mind you deserve.
Think like a bug. Pests can carry disease, cause physical damage to your home's infrastructure, and pose a danger to your family's health. We understand how Atlanta insects and other pests operate - their patterns, feeding habits, and even where they try to hide. Our science-based team of pest control specialists uses an Integrated Pest Management approach to achieve a long-term solution to your pest problems.
Four Seasons. Truly Nolen Atlanta's Four Seasons Protection Plan keeps your ATL home protected throughout the year. This unique solution combines the most advanced chemistry for a season-specific approach with regular treatments from our professionally trained staff. We ensure that your home will remain pest free no matter the season. We set up your customized treatment based on seasonal changes in pest behavior to proactively address any pest control problems early on. You can relax knowing that your long-term preventative pest control protection will save you the damage and headaches from any future pest problems down the road. Truly Nolen Atlanta will use proven methods to safely eliminate pests from your home.
We live where you do. Truly Nolen Atlanta offers you the best of both worlds… We are a locally based and independently operated franchise backed by a national network of pest control experts. When pest activity increases in Georgia, homeowners will report similar pest issues to our Truly Nolen Atlanta team. This real time reporting lets us know about local pest trends in your community, as it is happening. You can rest easy knowing that we have the expertise and national resources to deal with your toughest pest control needs. This makes us perfectly suited for any job - anything from a routine residential maintenance to eradicating a full blown infestation in a commercial or industrial facility. We are here to serve your pest control needs, no matter how big or small.
Get Truly protected today and enjoy these benefits of our Truly Atlanta Pest Control Plan:
When it comes to pest control in the Big Peach, trust your Truly Nolen Atlanta trained professionals. Call Truly Nolen Atlanta today at 678-561-2847 for a free inspection or schedule an inspection online.
Atlanta welcomes millions of visitors each year, over 40 million per year in the past few years with over half staying overnight. With those kinds of numbers it is clear that the residents of Atlanta must be very precautious when dealing with the health and safety of their families concerning bed bugs. Bed Bugs have become a growing problem in Atlanta in recent years, and have been turning up in hotel rooms plaguing travelers. Bed bugs have also been reported in Atlanta universities, apartment buildings, senior homes, and residential homes.
Be Informed
The good news is that bed bugs do not transmit disease and you have Truly Nolen Atlanta on your side. The best way to prevent bed bugs is regular inspection for signs of an infestation. Visitors that are infested can bring their bed bug problem into your home. Bed bugs easily travel on your clothes, inside your suitcase and even move between rooms and apartments using the wall voids and the plumbing and utility access points causing property loss, expense, and inconvenience. Truly Nolen's comprehensive and specialized products detect and eliminate bed bugs, while a monitoring system ensures the problem doesn't persist.
Truly Nolen's Total Termite Protection Plan combines a variety of control methods into a comprehensive and effective treatment program that keeps your Atlanta home termite free. The main species of termites that affect Atlanta homes are: termites that live underground (subterranean termites). Since many Atlanta homes are built with wood, termites are a major issue. Truly Nolen combines above and below ground treatments to provide you with the most complete protection in the industry. Treatment areas include attics, eaves, walls, windows, doors, plumbing pipes, foundations, and slabs.
Be Informed
Wood-framed homes like those in Marietta, Roswell, Alpharetta and Woodstock are highly susceptible to termite infestations, particularly for older homes.
Experts estimate Georgia residents spend between $200 million and $300 million each year to control and repair damage from subterranean termite infestations.
According to Termite Infestation Probability Zones (TIP Zones), Atlanta is located in TIP Zone #1 (very heavy), which means the potential for termite damage is considered significant.
Termite swarms (development of new colonies during high season) usually occur in Atlanta from the end of March through July.
Subterranean termites are known to damage homes in Georgia and are the most common type found here.
Signs of infestation include mud tubes running up walls and hanging from ceilings.
Termite Control Services
In Georgia, where termites are very active and widespread, it is essential to maintain effective termite prevention and control program. Left untreated, termites can literally eat up the equity in your home. In Atlanta, the average homeowner can expect termites to cause $7,900 in damage before they are detected. The good news is that we can help you win the battle. Prevention is the key. Regular Truly Nolen inspections can bring you early discovery and provide a head start to solving the problem. Enjoy the peace of mind in knowing that you're covered against all termites today and tomorrow. Sign up for Total Termite Protection Plan today. Call Truly Nolen Atlanta at 678-561-2847 for a free inspection or schedule an inspection online.
Rodents are known carriers of many diseases and are a health hazard to humans. In addition, rodent infestations can cause structural damage to infested homes. Rodent populations grow quickly and steadily. In order to protect your Atlanta home, garden and health from existing rodent infestations, professional customized solutions are necessary. Every property has a different and unique problem. Newer homes may only have a few entry points, while some older homes may need to have the entire property sealed. All holes must be sealed for rodent control to be permanent.
Be Informed
A 2009 study found that Atlanta was the second most rodent-infested city, beaten out only by New York City.
People assume that rodent infestations are a direct result of poor housekeeping or filthy living conditions. In truth, rats and mice can infest anywhere they find an entrance and suitable conditions.
Rats and mice seek refuge from the outdoor elements in your home. They will nest in your garage, under your house, in your attic insulation, and anywhere else they feel comfortable.
Rodent Control Services
Truly Nolen's Complete Rodent Control Program is warrantied for one year. If your rodent problem is not completely resolved to your satisfaction, just give us a call at no additional cost to you. We specialize in the removal of Norway rats, house mice, and roof rats that are most problematic to Atlanta homeowners. Our trained technician will inspect your home once a year to check for rodent activity and make sure that they can't get into your home. The first step to prevent rodents from entering your home is to eliminate any holes, crevices, or gaps that are 1/4 inch or larger. An ongoing monitoring program makes sure the rodents stay out. Our professional technicians routinely check and promptly remove the rodent(s) as they are trapped. Call Truly Nolen Atlanta today at 678-561-2847 for a free inspection or schedule an inspection online.
Stinging insects like bees and wasps start appearing during the warmer months in Atlanta. The dangers associated with bees and wasps make them a priority when discovered especially if one is allergic to the sting. Bees and wasps like to build their nests outside the home, in attics, on bushes, trees, sheds, playscapes and even in the ground. The climate in Atlanta is very favorable for their populations to thrive and remain active through most of the year. Treatment of these nests is usually recommended to be done by a professional due to the dangers of disturbing them.
Be Informed
Unfortunately, bees and wasps can be a threat to human health. Each year, 50 to 100 people die from bee and wasp stings. Most die from an allergic reaction to venom within one hour of the sting. About 1 percent of the population is allergic to bee and wasp venom. Truly Nolen's Bee and Wasp services help you through identification, removal and prevention.
Note: Not all services are available at all locations.


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INTERVIEW : Building national commitments to sustainable palm oil in Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK
Posted on 21 June 2013
A number of initiatives have taken hold in several European countries to promote the sourcing and use of sustainable palm oil, whether certified by the RSPO or other schemes. In this article, Patricia Ghyoros (Belgian Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil, BASP), Eddy Esselink (Dutch Task Force on Sustainable Palm Oil), and Richard Mitchell (UK Statement on Sustainable palm oil) have shared experiences and plans with their respective "national commitments" to sustainable palm oil.A number of initiatives have taken hold in several European countries to promote the sourcing and use of sustainable palm oil, whether certified by the RSPO or other schemes. In this article, Patricia Ghyoros (Belgian Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil, BASP), Eddy Esselink (Dutch Task Force on Sustainable Palm Oil), and Richard Mitchell (UK Statement on Sustainable palm oil) have shared experiences and plans with their respective "national commitments" to sustainable palm oil.
What companies or organizations are included in your group?Since June 2013, the Belgian Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil (BASP) represents the entire palm oil supply chain, from plantation, refineries, various processing sectors in the food industry, the feed Industry, non-food industry to retailers. For BASP's Ms Ghyoros, "all companies are invited to join BASP, either to be inspired by those who are already using and sourcing sustainable palm oil or to inspire those who have not yet joined."
The members of the Dutch Task Force on Sustainable Palm Oil are the Dutch Association for Convenience Food Industry (AKSV), Association of Dutch Margarine Producers (BNMF), Dutch Central Food Retail Association (CBL), Federation of the Dutch Food and Grocery Industry (FNLI), Dutch Feed Industry Association (NEVEDI), Dutch Potato Processors' Association (VAVI) , Dutch Association for the Bakery and Confectionery Industry (VBZ), Association of Dutch Producers of Edible Oils and Fats (VERNOF), and the Product Board for Margarine, Fats and Oils (MVO, chair and secretariat).
The UK Statement on sustainable palm oil mainly includes trade associations representing UK sectors covering oil processors and distributors, food and drink manufacturers, retailers, animal feed manufacturers, hospitality, renewable energy production, cleaning products industry, speciality chemicals sector, together with WWF and the UK Government.
Each of these initiatives welcomes new members.
What are the commitments of the initiatives?The Belgian, Dutch and UK initiatives share the goal of 100% use of sustainable palm oil by 2015 in each country.
For BASP and the Dutch Task Force for Sustainable Palm Oil, palm oil refiners, food and feed manufacturers and retailers have committed themselves to the goal that all palm oil destined for the Dutch food and feed market should be sourced through one of the 3 RSPO supply chains: Segregated, Mass Balance, or Book and Claim.
The UK Statement is different in that it draws together new and existing specific commitments on the sourcing of sustainable palm oil (RSPO is the main reference standard, but not the only one), which have been made by organisations representing businesses within the palm oil supply chain in the UK. The "100% by 2015" commitment covers the use of sustainable palm oil and palm kernel oil, and relevant sectors are also working to encourage sustainable sourcing of palm oil fractions and derivatives.
"The commitments and actions of individual members vary," admits Richard Mitchell of the UK Statement. "All are steps on the way to the shared end target of all palm oil being used in the UK coming from sustainable sources (mostly RSPO-certified) by 2015. Some organisations have already committed to only using sustainable palm oil by 2015. Others have made commitments to explore the issues, and encourage and support their members in the switch to sustainable sourcing. Those in the renewable energy industry have legislative requirements that govern their use of palm oil."
What are the challenges in implementing the initiative?A common concern by these initiatives is supply chain traceability. For the UK, Mr Mitchell highlights that "supply chains can be very complicated and traceability is difficult. Some sectors are relatively new to the palm oil agenda, whilst others have been working on it for much longer."
Mr Esselink goes on to say that "RSPO Supply Chain Certification can be a stumbling block for many players in the chain. This is especially true for smaller end users and this will remain an important priority for the Task Force for the coming year." These concerns are echoed by Ms Ghyoros, who highlights the fact that "small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are currently facing difficulties to become RSPO certified as the certification process can be quite costly for individual companies."
Equally challenging is the gap between the supply and demand for RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) and certified sustainable palm kernel oil (CSPKO). Ms Ghyoros stresses the need to "make sure suppliers and buyers can find each other on the market place to balance supply and demand for CSPO and CSPKO."
There is also the ongoing matter of awareness. "There is still a lack of awareness of sustainable palm oil, which BASP aims to address by organizing various activities for its members and providing them with tools and materials to spread the word about sustainable palm oil," emphasizes Ms Ghyoros.
What concrete actions do you have planned for the coming year?In 2014, the Dutch Task Force will be approaching other sectors to see if there is any interest in joining the Task Force in order to drive more growth in sustainable palm oil production and use. Also on the plantation side, a considerable effort will be necessary—according to Mr Esselink, "the 'low hanging fruit' has, in all probability, already been harvested, and especially small plantation owners will have to be supported in the near future to achieve sustainable production. This will be done in the next few years by on-going projects and other new projects to be started."
BASP will also be extending efforts in the same direction, with workshops planned for the whole palm oil supply chain in the Autumn of 2013, facilitating RSPO Mass Balance and Segregated Group certification for SMEs, and supporting other national initiatives. They also plan to undertake a pilot project from plantation to retailer, and to encourage Belgian companies to adopt and use the RSPO Trademark to enable consumers to identify products that contain sustainable palm oil and help them make an informed choice.
For the UK, Mr Mitchell is planning to issue a progress report in November 2013 with estimates of the UK's consumption of sustainable palm oil and updates from each of the participating organisations explaining their progress over the past year, and new commitments from any additional organisations wanting to join.
What resources do you offer members or companies?All 3 initiatives play the role of an information clearinghouse, and also for networking between their members. The Dutch Task Force organises meetings at companies and industry associations to inform them about developments in the field of sustainable palm oil (e.g. information on how sustainable palm oil can be purchased, which claims may be made, and current developments within the RSPO).
The Product Board of MVO publishes 2 newsletters in which sustainable palm oil is discussed; the newsletter on Sustainable agriculture and "Vette Feiten" (in Dutch). In the UK, the Central Point of Expertise in Timber (CPET) was expanded to include providing information and advice on sustainable palm oil. CPET helps both UK businesses and government procurers to source sustainable palm oil through a website, helpline and a quarterly newsletter. Similarly, BASP provides a platform of discussion for all stakeholders, information material on RSPO supply chain certification systems, and cases studies.


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Submit Your Adorable Crimson Tide Fan into our 'Bama Babies' Contest!
With Alabama football coming off of its 15th national championship and gearing up for another incredible year, there has never been a better time to be a Crimson Tide fan. As we move into the new season, we wanted to feature some of the youngest and cutest fans to wear the crimson and white, which is why we've created the 'Bama Babies' contest!
Here's how the contest will work. Every week (15 weeks total) of the 2013 college football season beginning on August 26, we will feature a new set of 'Bama Babies' on our website and Facebook page and let our listeners vote on their favorite. Voting will begin every Monday morning and end every Thursday night. The baby that receives the most votes during the week will be the featured 'Bama Baby' for that game weekend and also be entered into the grand prize pool at the end of the season, where a vote will decide our first 'Bama Baby' grand prize winner!
The grand prize winner will receive a one-hour, on-location photo shoot as well as three 8" x 10" photos from Skip Baumhower Photography (a $250 value)!
You have until Friday, August 23 to submit your baby dressed in Alabama clothing to guarantee yourself a spot in one of the first 14 weeks of voting.
After August 23, you can still submit your baby at any point during the football season and give yourself a chance to be randomly selected for voting in the final week of the season, week 15.
The complete list of contest rules can be found here but please make sure you meet the following criteria:
- Only the baby's legal guardian can submit a picture for use in the contest.
- The baby's 3rd birthday has to come on or after the start of the contest on August 14, 2013.
- Your baby has to be dressed in Alabama Crimson Tide clothing.
- Failure to meet any of these guidelines will result in disqualification from the contest.
Please use the form below to enter your baby into the contest. After the August 23 deadline passes, we'll send you a confirmation email telling you which week your baby will be up for voting.
Update: The first submission period is complete, and we'll be sending all of our entries a confirmation letter before Monday. For anyone that wants to get into the contest later, we will be offering up another day to get a complimentary photo from Skip Baumhower. Stay tuned for more details.
Roll Tide!!
The grand prize will be announced in the near future.