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Haydn Shaughnessy, Contributor
I write about enterprise innovation.
A month or so back I published a list of ten social media power influencers. I've been developing the research since then and now have about 150 social media writers and experts in my power list. Below are the top 50.
The list was compiled using PeekYou's social pull metric – which, roughly speaking, measures the number of people in your second degree networks who are identifiable and active (see an explanation and some of the criticism of it in this post about the top 10 women influencers).
Last time out there was criticism of the metric – i.e.the list does not depict influence, at best it shows only popularity. I know PeekYou are adapting the algorithm behind their metrics so this list will change in a few week's time. However this is my list, as of today, the list I am using for the study that I explain briefly below.
In addition I don't think you can separate popularity from influence in this new media world. To suggest that one is better than the other or to suggest that popularity does not reflect influence seems to me a tricky claim.
I have excluded from this list writers where we have not been able to identify a minimum of 50% of followers as real people. This seemed like a reasonable response to the quality criticism. Everyone on the list has followers who we can identify more often than not, and their followers' followers similarly have real identities.
This time round the list also excluded people who are only curating content. All the people on this list create content, and the reason is I needed content to analyze. Why?
Because I am doing a study of what the top social media influencers say – asking, what do they actually talk about?
The study is supported by PeekYou who have given me free access to their software, Leximancer, who have allowed me to use their semantic analysis platform for free, and Global Dawn who have met some of my wages while I do the work. Thanks to all.
That analysis is nearly ready – the report is almost done and it's with an infographic's specialist so we can do the visualisations before publishing.
In the study I have taken 40 of the top 100 to analyse and collated their blog material up to a total of 50,000 words each dating from December 2011 backwards.
I'll hopefully have some results ready next week or the week after.
Finally this list excludes people who have very close cross-over, i.e. writers who, by and large, follow people who follow them.
I have also extended the scope of the list by including people whose mission is clearly social media marketing and not just social media as a topic.
Here are fifty social media writers who have very substantial online followings.
#1. Chris Brogan @chrisbrogan - Chris, President of Human Works, has a social pull of 3,019
#2. Ann Handley @marketingprofs. Ann manages the contributory blog at marketingprofs and has a social pull of 2,962
#3. Guy Kawasaki @guykawasaki, former Apple Apple evangelist, with a social pull, 2,651
#4. Gary Vaynerchuk @garyvee, video king, with a social pull of 2,332
#5. Scott Stratten @unmarketing with a pull of 2,218
#6. Robert Scoble @scobleizer, long term blogger and trend setter, pull of 2,216
Note how over the course of 6 writers we've already descended from 3,000 to 2,000. The next 14 all fit into the 1,000 + band. So there are fewer people in this exceptionally well connected band than in the one to come.
#7. Glen Gilmore @glengilmore of Gilmore business network, with a pull of 1,944
# 8. Liz Strauss @lizstrauss, of Sucessful Blog, social pull 1,827
#9. Jason Falls @jasonfalls, Social Media Explorer, social pull 1,822
#10. Mari Smith @marismith, Facebook expert, a social pull of 1,806
That's the top ten. There's a separation, on average, of approximately 120 points per person at this level. The next ten that gap declines to 45 per person, so a much denser band.
#11. Scott Monty @scottmonty, Ford's social media champion, with a social pull of 1,776
#12.Renee Blodgett @magicsaucemedia, founder of We Blog The World and other sites, 1667
#13. Pam Moore @pammktgnut of Zoom Factor, with a pull of 1,583
#14. Jeff Bullas @jeffbullas with a pull of 1,568
#15. Paul Barron @paulbarron, pull 1,470
# 16. Ted Coine @tedcoine, author of the switchandshift blog, with a pull of 1,468
#17 Brian Solis @briansolis, one of the most respected names in social, with a pull of 1,439
#18. Chris Voss @chrisvoss, of The Chris Voss Show, social pull 1,434
#19. Eve Mayer Orsburn @linkedinqueen, LinkedIn expert, social pull 1,405
#20. SusanCooper @buzzedition with a pull of 1,325
So that's the top twenty on my list. As we go down further the density increases, as you might expect. For the next ten the gap is only 23 on average.
Wow, number 19! Holy smokes – Im blushing and honored. @LinkedinQueen Thank you so very much!
So you're saying that these are the top 50 of the people YOU follow and not on Twitter as a whole?
Thank you so much for including me, but their seems to be a small typo for my twitter link. Should be http://twitter.com/buzzedition
Again, what an honor to be included among these amazing friends.
Susan Cooper
Thank you again.
Looks like the link is fixed, yet the @ name is still a bit off. Should be @BuzzEdition ;-)
I agree with some, but have done my own "digging" with analytics (since Social Media and analytics reporting is what my company does) and some of these are honestly not what I would consider "Social" Media power users. That would imply they were social, right? Or that they actually drew real engagement and conversation from posts on Twitter.
This is just my opinion, but I think lists like this can be completely misleading.
I agree with some, but have done my own "digging" with analytics (since Social Media and analytics reporting is what my company does) and some of these are honestly not what I would consider "Social" Media power users. That would imply they were social, right? Or that they actually drew real engagement and conversation from posts on Twitter.
This is just my opinion, but I think lists like this can be completely misleading.
kim, I have to say I agree. And many of these are not producing their own content. They have ghost writers.


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Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has backed a nationwide competition which aims to find the best self-employed people operating in the UK and boost their businesses with a grant, business support and financial advice worth tens of thousands of pounds.
PCG member, Lindsey Fish has recently started her event management business in Hertfordshire. After a couple of months of being a self-employed professional, Lindsey takes us through her journey so far.
For anyone getting started in business, setting up a business account will be a crucial stage. Even as a contractor, it's important to address this early, as it can be a complicated process and come with time delays.
Last night Impact Hub Westminster, a growing co-working space at New Zealand House in Central London was used for the second Women's Freelance Networking event, writes George Evans, Events Executive at PCG.
HMRC have today announced their intention to target independent professionals, contractors and consultants who have used what they describe as a "particularly aggressive" type of tax avoidance scheme.
PCG, the representative body for independent professionals and the self-employed, has responded to today's accusations that HMRC have poorly managed an IT project costing the taxpayer over £10 billion.
Andy Chamberlain, Senior Public Affairs Manager at PCG, said:
PCG, the representative body for independent professionals and the self-employed, has today welcomed the news that senior Government Minister, Esther McVey, is backing self-employment as a positive choice for young people.
Shadow Business Minister, Ian Murray MP, has backed a nationwide search for the UK's best self-employed professionals.
The 18th of July saw PCG hold their second Freelancer Moneybox event at the elegant One America Square, writes Nathan Onraet-Wells, Marketing Intern at PCG.

subset: commoncrawl


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A little while ago Rhonda had a 100th post giveaway and I WON!
Isn't it an amazing bunch of stuff? Rhonda took more detailed pictures over here.
I'm searching for a pattern to use all that wonderful red, white, and blue fabric on as we "speak".
Thanks Rhonda! Love it!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
How lucky am I?
A little while ago Rhonda had a 100th post giveaway and I WON!
posted at 7:48 AM
11 comments:
- nicolette said...
Wow, that's a great package of gifts! Love the red, white and bold fabric!! Enjoy your gifts!
- June 18, 2008 at 8:17 AM
- wyndesnow said...
I love the fabric. Especially the red and white with the butterflies. Have fun finding a fabric! I can't wait to see the finished project!
- June 18, 2008 at 8:17 AM
- Pieces said...
- June 18, 2008 at 8:57 AM
- Lil D said...
Lucky you!
That fabric is gorgeous. I've never seen a needle case like that.
- June 18, 2008 at 10:24 AM
- Mama Urchin said...
What a great giveaway and lucky you for winning!
- June 18, 2008 at 12:37 PM
- Rhonda said...
That photo looks great!
I'm glad you like it... can't wait to see what you'll make with the charm packs. :o)
- June 19, 2008 at 7:02 AM
- Nanette Merrill and daughters said...
I got a lucky ducky giveaway yesterday too! Fun stuff.
- June 19, 2008 at 8:14 AM
- amandajean said...
wow! lucky you. what a perfect time of the year to make a red white and blue quilt.
- June 19, 2008 at 6:36 PM
- Natasha said...
That is some beautiful fabric-love teh butterflies!
- June 19, 2008 at 7:56 PM
- Lynn said...
I was visting your blog for the first time today and came across your grandmother's flower garden. I love yours - the colors are so bright and pretty. I'm working on one in 30's fabric - may have to make it smaller and start a bright one now that I've seen yours.
- June 23, 2008 at 6:37 AM
- Chara Michele said...
Lucky you! That fabric is lovely :)
- July 6, 2008 at 8:52 PM


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Kidney Disease Research Updates
Spring 2012
Possible Cause of FSGS, Devastating Kidney Disease, Discovered
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a common cause of kidney failure, affecting both children and adults. FSGS is marked in its early stages by proteinuria and can be found in both native and transplanted kidneys. Treatments for FSGS have been limited as the causes of the disease have not been fully understood. However, a team of researchers supported in part by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) has made a discovery that might yield new treatments and help assess risk in transplantation.
Jochen Reiser, M.D., and colleagues at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine published a paper in Nature Medicine that may shed light on the pathogenesis of FSGS. Researchers have long known that FSGS recurs in about one third of patients who receive a transplant, a sign that the cause of the disease resides in the blood circulating through the kidney rather than in the kidney itself. With funding from NIDDK, Dr. Reiser and colleagues discovered that about two-thirds of people with FSGS have elevated blood levels of a substance called serum soluble urokinase receptor (suPAR). The elevated levels of this factor are not found in people with other glomerular diseases.
FSGS affects kidney function by attacking the glomeruli, the tiny units within the kidney where blood is filtered. There are approximately 1 million glomeruli in each kidney. Each glomerulus includes blood vessels with specially modified walls which serve as the filter. Podocytes are the cells in the vessel wall that regulate which elements of the blood pass through the filter membrane into the urine. When the kidneys are healthy, protein remains in the blood while wastes and salts pass through the membrane.
Using mouse models and a bank of patient samples, the research team found that circulating suPAR activates a protein on the surface of the podocytes. This disruption causes protein from the blood to pass through the membrane into the urine. The kidneys become scarred and an FSGS-like disease develops in the mouse. Dr. Reiser and colleagues speculate that reducing the amount of suPAR in the blood by plasmapheresis— a process that filters protein from the blood—might prevent FSGS from developing in the transplanted kidney. The research team also noted that another treatment strategy might be to interfere with the interaction between the suPAR in the blood and the protein on the surface of the membrane cells.
"This is an exciting discovery," said Reiser in an online video, "because it allows us to track the levels of suPar in the blood of patients with FSGS. This work shows convincingly and for the first time the existence of a circulating FSGS factor. The discovery allows us to potentially derive new therapies that are aimed at removing this protein from the blood, which will give rise to better therapies very soon. Overall it will help us to better stratify risk in transplantation cases and will also help us to engage in more and better research in the future." As with all research, additional work is necessary to confirm and further understand the findings before they can be applied to patient care.
The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, part of the NIDDK, offers fact sheets and easy-to-read booklets about the kidneys, kidney disease, and treatments for kidney failure. For more information or to obtain copies, visit www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov.
NIH Publication No. 12–4531
June 2012
Page last updated June 26, 2012


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Tekla's workforce roams free with everyday mobile solutions
Efficient information security enables safe use of Windows Mobile devices
Tekla Corporation, an international software company, has turned to modern mobile technology to help its employees stay in touch with each other and to improve the accessibility of its sales and customer service. Windows Mobile smartphones have proven to be useable, efficient and user-friendly devices. Tekla takes security very seriously: efficient information security solutions provided by F-Secure also guarantee the continuity of business and risk-free handling of sensitive information outside of fixed networks.
Tekla has gained experience and know-how in mobile technology through developing the company's own software products. Since 2006 Tekla has increasingly started to use mobile tools. In the first phase of deployment the objective was to empower the mobile workforce with the same communication tools they already had at their disposal on their workstations. The company decided to concentrate on Microsoft's newest mobile technology. The solution selected was Windows Mobile 5.0 with a device platform of HTC smartphones and handheld devices.
– "Windows Mobile provided us with all of the services we needed, ready to use. The solution was also seamlessly integrated into our Microsoft platform with no need for any extra software or investments," Tekla Oyj's Information Management Director Harald Lundberg explains.
Familiar Communication Devices in Mobile Use
Between 2006 and 2007 several new smartphones and handhelds have been introduced to the system. Over half of the 160 cellular phone users in Tekla's Finnish organization have already made the switch to the Windows Mobile platform. Deployment of the devices and software has gone well, thanks to an existing process for user-specific customization and user guidance.
– "Being able to use familiar Microsoft applications has ensured smooth deployment from the viewpoint of both users and IT management," Lundberg says.
The same software is available on both the handheld devices and the more phone-like smartphones. The communications tools of the mobile devices and workstations have been seamlessly integrated. This means that calendars and e-mail work the same way and equally well in both environments. Microsoft Office Mobile includes the mobile versions of the familiar and popular Word, Excel and PowerPoint applications.
– "E-mails will actually reach the mobile devices faster than the workstations," Lundberg notes. Operational business applications can also be imported into the mobile platform. Another possibility being considered is using Microsoft Dynamics CRM to later manage customer relationships with mobile devices.
Information Security also Important in the Mobile Environment
As the mobile use of office, communication, and business applications becomes more common, companies will be faced with new information security challenges. At Tekla, there can be no compromise regarding information security: mobile devices are protected as stringently as servers and workstations. Authenticating users is the first step in ensuring a safe work environment. Under Windows Mobile, users can be authenticated without user IDs or passwords by using certificates. However, it's worth bearing in mind that the smaller the device, the bigger the risk of losing it. Revealing sensitive information to outsiders is a threat that can fortunately be countered effectively with operating system features.
– "Should a smartphone be lost, we have the option of automatically resetting the phone to its factory settings. This way, when a phone gets lost, we're simply losing a device, not its content ," Lundberg explains.
Tekla uses F-Secure solutions to protect its whole IT environment, including mobile users, against malware. So far viruses have not caused any significant problems to Windows Mobile users. It is, however, prudent to prepare for future threats early on to avoid the type of problems currently plaguing the PC world.
– "Efficient malware protection helps to avoid cutouts that threaten business continuity and productivity. Mobile devices are an increasingly important part of corporate IT environments. There is no reason why the safety of mobile devices should be less important than the safety of other information systems," says Information Security Expert Erkki Mustonen from F-Secure Oyj.
Goals Were Achieved
Tekla's mobile solutions have succeeded in cutting down communication response times. Communications devices that are easy to use, always switched on and connected to the network make sales and marketing people more accessible. This also improves internal communication, the results of which can be seen especially well in a global organization that operates in multiple time zones.
– "I'm satisfied with our mobile solutions both as a user and as a member of IT management. Further development should also be quite easy, thanks to the compatibility of our software and Microsoft's ongoing product development," Lundberg concludes.
Download the case study as PDF:


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I get the feeling "The Adjustment Bureau" was created by an improv group
soliciting a mishmash of ideas from its audience: It's a thriller! And a
romance! Plus science fiction! And it has hats with magical powers!
Instead, its genesis lies in a short story by sci-fi author Philip K. Dick. For some reason, Hollywood keeps raiding his bibliography, although his material has clicked on the screen arguably three times: "Blade Runner," "Minority Report" and "Total Recall." The rest of the time, it doesn't: "Paycheck," "Screamers," "Impostor" ...
The difference between the two groups is the skill level of the director — guys experienced enough to understand Dick was on a lot of great drugs and, therefore, prone to writing a lot of hoo-hah that has no business on a big screen — and "The Adjustment Bureau" marks the first time at bat for George Nolfi, screenwriter of the second and third entries in the "Ocean's Eleven" and "The Bourne Identity" franchises, respectively.
Matt Damon is idealistic New York politician David Norris, whose past campaigns have been haunted by the party days of his past. Despite his high profile, he's utterly alone in the big city, but feels fate has pushed him into a men's restroom, literally, where he meets the fetching modern dancer Elise (Emily Blunt), and falls hard.
Problem is, their relationship is not part of The Plan, so they're being chased by members of the titular shadowy organization who want to right the wrong so the future can play out as intended. Says who? Doesn't matter; again, Dick could trip with the best of 'em. The bureau's agents stick out like sore thumbs because they're dressed like "Mad Men" background players (allowing that series' John Slattery to get maximum use out of his wardrobe). Oh, and because their hats allow them to disrupt the space-time continuum or something by hopping from one remote location to another simply by going through doors.
It all looks nice, as the story unfolds (too slowly) among not the grit and grime of the Big Apple, but amid its Art Deco architectural treasures, lending it a feeling that it could take place half a century ago, rather than in the now. Its elements, however, are not as constructed so skillfully. Thomas Newman is an excellent composer, but his score — quite nice on its own — does not match this material. Blunt is a fine actress, but pushed so far to the margins, her second billing seems unearned.
Nolfi's freshman effort doesn't glide along on confidence, but takes careful, uneasy steps. Only in the last 30 minutes does it realize it's time to start sprinting (and to the tune of a hopped-up remix of Sarah Vaughn crooning "Fever," no less). Too little, too late. I didn't dislike the film, but its high points are so underwhelming, so lacking in energy, I'd adjust your schedule and wait for home video. —Rod Lott


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Portable Document Format (PDF) is a file format used to represent documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems
Light blouse perfect for the summer
burda style magazine patterns FAQ
Lightweight blouse fabrics with or without elastane.
140 cm (55 in) wide silk chiffon with crosswise stretch:
1.80 – 1.80 – 1.85 – 1.90 – 1.90 m (2 – 2 – 21/8 – 21/8 – 21/8 yds).
Vilene/Pellon G 785. 2
fab¬ric-covered buttons.
6 small sew-on snap fasteners.
This pattern doesn't include seam allowance
Produced by burda style magazine
Produced by burda style magazine
Produced by burda style magazine
Sewing & Techniques
Our popular swimsuit sloper is now available in PLUS size!
Member Project of the Week
Carlotta-Stermaria's ruffled dress is ready for wedding season.
Web Seminars
Check out this sneak peel of this Thursday's live web seminar
Featured Instructor
Chat sewing inspiration with the instructor behind our mood board and fashion design course!
Enter to win weekly drawings and a fabulous grand prize!
You must allow our "request for permission" request to login to Burdastyle with Facebook.


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Police are trying to determine why a car crashed into a Sioux City creek early Sunday morning, killing three of the five people inside.
The vehicle crossed a residential yard and crashed into Perry Creek shortly after 3 a.m. Neighbors say they awoke to a loud scraping sound and a bang. Police say the car landed upside down and was partially submerged in the creek.
The two survivors got out of the creek on their own. The other three were pulled out by rescuers, but later died.
Neighbor Beth Bowman says she said many prayers while she watched emergency workers try to help those in the vehicle.


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Rogers Announces iPhone in Canada!
We're number 7! We're number 7! (OMG 7!!11)
During their Q1 Press Conference Call this week, Rogers Mobile announced that they had finally (finally!) finalized a deal to bring the iPhone to Canada:
"We're thrilled to announce that we have a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to Canada later this year. We can't tell you any more about it right now, but stay tuned."
This would make Canada the 7th country to officially announce an iPhone deal, after the US, UK, Germany, France, Ireland, and Austria. (Whether they launch 7th will be another matter...)
Now, I can't say Phone Different bringing attention to this matter just last week played any role in the big announcement (El Jobso, are you reading us right now?), but it is quite a coincidence, n'est ce pas? ;)
In any event, if this pans out, I'll be ecstatic. Heck, I might even sing! (mercifully after the break...)
{clears throat}
O, iPhone!
Is finally coming to this land
True Apple love, but what about data plans?
With glowing heart, Canadians dare to hope
For rates cheap and cap free
Though only later this year,
O iPhone, we will see!
Jobs struck the deal, Ted heard my plea
O iPhone, please, oh please, let it be!
O iPhone, but will it be... 3G?
There are 4 comments. Add yours.
Best. Song. Ever.
I just want to know what kind of back-room deal Rene struck to make this happen? Kinda scary knowing someone wields that kind of power just north of the border ;)
I called them into a Job-style pod and just went ballistic, is what I did. Pure El Stevo unleashed style. Then I fired all of them.
Then I woke up : (
The track reminds me of some track by other atrist that I very much liked . I can't recall which one is it :-/ does anyone know which track I am talking about?


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For Mike Cox, leading a good business is all about the people he leads.
As the owner of Haywood Sales & Service, Cox relies on customers who are willing to travel out into Barren County to get to the shop on Finney Road. He gets those customers not because they know him, but because the customers know Wayne Mesker, Jerry Reece and Larry Mesker, the men who work on the vehicles, mowers and small equipment for the shop.
"It wasn't really me, I was smart enough to put good guys around me," Cox said.
Cox wasn't in the mechanical business at first, but he gave up his dairy business five years ago after a health problem made life dangerous for him to keep up the fast pace of the dairy life.
The comment of his 3-year-old granddaughter was what made him pack up his barns.
"She just said 'I love these cows, but I'd rather have you around,' and that's when I decided to get out," Cox said.
When he was out of the dairy business, former owner Walter Mansfield called Cox asking him to come work for him.
Read more of this story in Monday's print and e-Editon of the Glasgow Daily Times


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Spring Open House: Friday, April 19, 2013
Excellent academics. Gorgeous campus. Supportive and close-knit community. JSC is a great place to get your college degree!
Join us for Johnson State College's Spring Open House!
- Meet with professors and students
- Learn more about our academic programs
- Ask questions about college admissions and financial aid
- Check out student work, clubs, and more at our annual Extended Classroom Experience showcase
- Take a tour to see one of the most beautiful college campuses in Vermont!
Planning to Visit Campus for Spring Open House?
For more information about this event, call or email the JSC Office of Admissions at 1-800-635-2356 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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One local resident says there aren't enough Hanukkah songs, so he wrote his own.
Daniel Brenner, 42, recently posted a video of his new song about Hanukkah, titled "A Minor Holiday," which he hopes will bring major attention to the traditionally lesser festival.
"I've been, let's say, recovering from a certain kind of secret jealousy of Christmas my entire life," said Brenner with a laugh.
Brenner, who is a rabbi, recalled that he was one of the only Jewish kids in his community growing up in Charlotte, N.C., and the yearly Festival of Lights would be drowned out by the ubiquitous Christmas season.
That is where the opening lyric of the song, "In a forest full of Christmas trees, we lit candles for the Maccabees," comes from, said Brenner.
At the encouragement of his friends, Brenner posted the song on Youtube soon after he played it at a recent Hanukkah party.
"There is a lot of shtick around Hanukkah," said Brenner. "There are a lot of parodies and that kind of thing, so I wanted to write a song that had a little more of the emotional nuance of the festival and that celebrated the festival in a positive way."
On Tuesday, the song already had about 500 views on Youtube. It was also made the list of featured Hanukkah videos on a national Jewish newspaper's website, The Jewish Daily Forward, and the more local New Jersey Jewish News website.
Since he posted it online, Brenner said he has been getting a lot of positive feedback. He was even asked to play the song during a Hanukkah celebration at his temple, B'nai Keshet, this week.


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> Newsroom > News
Aquarium Plays Matchmaker with White-blotched Stingrays
Chattanooga, Tenn. (February 12, 2009) - The love life of a freshwater stingray can be tough. When amorous males come courting, they sink their teeth into their partner. "Courtship for most ray and shark species is pretty frenzied with little time for wine and roses," says aquarist Kathlina Alford.
With romance in the air this Valentine's Day, the Tennessee Aquarium is going to play matchmaker with a pair of white-blotched river rays. The Aquarium currently has four of these relatively rare animals. One male was imported from South America, while the other two males and one female were aquarium born. Aquarists like Alford will be busy playing referee when they see love at first bite. "Male freshwater rays leave bite marks all over the female during breeding and can often do real damage to her throughout the process," says Alford. "For this reason, when we put two stingrays together for breeding purposes we watch them carefully."
Romantic Rays? White-blotched river rays at the Tennessee Aquarium
According to Alford, if the pairing is successful, the expectant mother's appearance won't change much. "Usually around three to three and a half months, a pregnant female starts to look fatter than normal. But since the babies are so thin and flat themselves, there is not much bulging as would be typical for other pregnant animals."
White-blotched river rays usually give live birth to one or two pups in a litter, but sometimes octuplets occur. The young are tiny duplicates of their parents, measuring just five to six inches across. Each newborn stingray has a unique spot pattern.
This particular species, Potamotrygon leopoldi, are native to the Xingu and Fresco rivers of South America. While not that rare in the wild, the Brazilian government controls exports of these stingrays. As a result, there are only about 80 of these animals living at North American aquariums and zoos, only 17 of these rays came from their native waters in South America. "These animals are the most important to the overall health of the breeding population because they have the most genetic diversity of the rays currently living in aquariums and zoos," Alford says.
Right now the white-blotched rays are in the Tennessee Aquarium's quarantine room with a "do not disturb" sign on the door. But visitors can enjoy the big-tooth and tiger rays which can be seen in the freshwater ray pool on Level four of the Ocean Journey building. Guests may also choose to feed or touch southern, Atlantic or blue-spotted rays at the nearby "Shark Island." Divers can be seen in the "Secret Reef" with larger southern stingrays. Cow-nosed rays appear to fly gracefully over even larger southern stingrays in the "Gulf of Mexico" exhibit inside the River Journey building.
Learn more about courtship in the natural world throughout February at the Tennessee Aquarium, or see the amazing underwater cuttlefish courtship rituals shown in the new IMAX film, Under the Sea 3D.
The Tennessee Aquarium inspires wonder and appreciation for the natural world. Admission is $19.95 per adult and $12.95 per child, ages 3-12. Each ticket purchased helps support Aquarium conservation programs. The IMAX® 3D Theater is next door to the Aquarium. Ticket prices are $8.50 per adult and $6.00 per child. Aquarium/IMAX® combo tickets are $25.95 for adults and $17.95 for children. Excursions aboard the new River Gorge Explorer depart daily into Tennessees Grand Canyon. Advance tickets may be purchased online at www.tnaqua.org or by phone at 1-800-262-0695. The Aquarium, located on the banks of the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, is a non-profit organization. Open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Aquarium and IMAX® are accessible to people with disabilities.
ONLINE press kits & downloadable images: http://www.tnaqua.org/Newsroom/Newsroom.asp
[ Home
| Plan Your Visit| IMAX
Theater | Contributions l Membership | Events &
Travel l Meet Our Animals l Conservation
[ Education |
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Gift Shop | NewsRoom | Links
| Privacy Policy | email@example.com ]
The Tennessee
Aquarium is a non-profit institution. See
how you can help support
our many education, conservation
and research programs.
One Broad Street • Chattanooga • TN • 37402 • 800-262-0695


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It's critical for the state Legislature to finalize the budget by the end of the month to avoid a government shutdown. As a home care provider, I know that not meeting the July 1 budget deadline would have real impacts on my clients and thousands of other vulnerable Washington residents.
People's need for lifesaving care cannot be put on hold until the Legislature gets its work done. I hope that any compromise to reach a budget agreement doesn't sacrifice the state's reasonable investments in health care services or the commitment to expand Medicaid.
These have been prioritized so far in the budgeting process and should remain secure.


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2006-07: Swam personal bests in three events at the ACC Championships (Feb 14-17)...earned an 8th place in the 100 breast (1:03.91) and finished 12th in the 200 breast (2:19.51)...posted an NCAA "B" cut of 2:02.67 placing tenth in the 200 IM... took a pair of second place finishes against LSU (Jan. 12) in the 200 IM (2:07.02) and 100 breast (1:04.72)...contributed to the victory over Florida (Nov. 21) with a second place finish in the 100 breast (1:04.72)... finished second against Miami (Oct. 27) in the 100 breast (1:04.78).
HIGH SCHOOL: Was a four time All-American after her freshman year as she earned the honor in the 100 breast (1:05.29), 200 IM (2:04.83), 200 Medley Relay and 400 free relay...placed second in the 200 IM and third in the 100 breast at the Illinois High School State Championships...as a sophomore, won the State Championships in the 100 breast (1:04.29) and 200 IM (2:03.39)...went on to win the 200 IM and 400 IM at the 2003 YMCA Long Course National Championships...after under going heart surgery her junior year, she bounced back and helped her club team to a second place finish at the YMCA Long Course National Championships...swam the lead-off leg of the winning 800 free relay, took second in the 200 IM, fifth in the 100 fly, eighth in the 200 back and seventh in the 100 breast...made the honor roll throughout high school.
PERSONAL: Born March 29, 1988...majoring in nutrition...daughter of Christine and Gary Stratton.


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Expecting visitors for meetings, training sessions or office parties? Be sure to have plenty of folding or stacking chairs on hand. Whether you choose a seat that's fabric, plastic, vinyl or metal, folding chairs offer the comfort and function your guests need. Is your storage space limited? Choose stacking chairs with or without arms and wheels. Multiple colors are available in finishes that resist scratches, chips and abrasions so your office chairs look new for many years.
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Materials-Fabric office chairs come in a wide range of colors and patterns and are very popular. However, vinyl and leather resist spills and stains more effectively. Durable leather and bonded leather desk chairs create a more professional look but usually cost a little more. Work in a hot climate? Choose a breathable mesh chair to help keep you cool all day.
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September 18, 2013
Alan Michael Flowers
Alan Michael Flowers, born on April 20, 1988 in Amherst, NY, passed away, suddenly, Tuesday, September 17, 2013. Alan was currently a student at Niagara County Community College, where he was pursuing his dream of becoming a Physician Assistant. He also worked full time as a Certified Nursing Assistance at Beechwood Continuing Care Facility in Getzville, NY, where he was loved and accepted by all staff and residents. Alan was a Certified Personal Training Audio Technician and an excellent musician, an accomplished saxophonist, pianist and drummer. He was a member of Friendship Baptist Church in Lockport, New York which he joined at the age of ten. Alan was known for always having a big smile on his face. He was loved and accepted by everyone and could even make a stranger smile. He had a loving and gentle heart and was always willing to give a helping hand whenever needed.
Alan leaves behind to cherish his memory his parents, Howard and Gloria Flowers; a sister, Ashley (Alex) Bundy; a niece, Zakia Flowers; fianc, Holly Tester; a special brother, Tarrence Owens; grandparents, Nadine Doctor and Ella Wiley; along with a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Relatives and friends may call on Saturday, September 21st from 10-11 AM in Christ Community Church, 140 Genesee St., Lockport, where funeral services will immediately follow at 11 AM. Interment will be in Cold Springs Cemetery.
Visit www.pruddenandkandt.com.


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Rare opportunity ladies, to own this rare piece from the Chanel 2008 Mobile Art exhibition.
Chanel's candy-apple red, patent leather 2.55 quilted flap bag signed by Karl Lagerfeld will be available to purchase for $9,989 in a special "Editor's Luxury Pick" sale over on BillionDollarBabes. Only 50 of these bags exist! The handbag will come wrapped in a limited edition white Chanel duster bag in a specially crafted wooden box lined in linen. Included with it are Chanel Mobile Art press books from places around the world such as Hong Kong, Paris and New York and a CD featuring the making of the 2.55 bag.
The private sale will be up and running starting tomorrow Monday, March 14 at 9 am PST at BillionDollarBabes.


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Robert Griffin III underwent reconstructive knee surgery Wednesday and faces a challenging rehabilitation if he is to return for the start of next season.
The Washington Redskins quarterback had his lateral collateral ligament repaired and his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee reconstructed for a second time. The surgery was performed in Florida by orthopedist James Andrews, who was optimistic that Griffin would be back on the field this fall.


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The sharp eyes and quick action of Granby Police Chief Carl Rosensweig foiled a bank robbery at late Tuesday morning. The chief saw the fleeing suspect from his unmarked car as he was patrolling Hartford Avenue and followed the suspect's get-away vehicle into East Granby, where two arrests were made.
A lone male wearing a mask, gloves and hooded sweatshirt didn't brandish a weapon, according to Granby Police Captain William Tyler, but hopped the bank's counter and stole a significant amount of cash before running away on foot to a vehicle containing a driver who was waiting for the suspect near Shattuck Avenue.
Rosensweig saw the suspect, still wearing gloves, fleeing the area on foot before entering the get-away vehicle and radioed for backup before the bank could even report the robbery, according to a report from the department. Rosensweig kept his eyes on the car, a 2005 Toyota Camry, and got its registration information as he followed it onto Route 20, headed toward East Granby.
"A marked Granby unit joined the unmarked unit, and the suspect vehicle engaged them in pursuit when signaled to stop," the report said. "The suspect vehicle continued on Route 20 to Kripes Road in East Granby, where it was stopped at Nicholsen Road by Sgt. Gary Charette and Rosensweig."
The two suspects were then taken into custody by Granby police without any serious resistance, according to the report. Units from the East Granby Police Department as well as Connecticut State Police provided mutual aid at the stop.
Police recovered all $11,720 taken from Windsor Federal Savings Bank from the vehicle.
Police identified Gregory Orton, 25, of Hartford as the man suspected of entering the bank and taking the cash. He was charged with second degree larceny and third degree robbery.
"[Orton was] held in lieu of [a] $100,000 surety bond," the report said. "Orton was convicted of robbing a different bank several doors from this location in an identical manner in 2009."
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Jack Britton, 40, of Danbury. He was charged with larceny in the second degree, robbery in the third degree, operating a vehicle under suspension, reckless driving, engaging police in a pursuit and interfering with a police officer. Britton is also being held in lieu of a $100,000 surety bond.


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Best Cheap Hosting USA has recently compared many professional web hosting suppliers and announced that InterServer, Certified Hosting and InMotion are the best dedicated server hosting suppliers in 2014.
(PRWEB) July 02, 2014
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The latest news and views about music in Milwaukee and beyond
Sources confirm Paul McCartney to play Miller Park this summer
UPDATE (7:25 p.m. April 11): Multiple sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, have confirmed that Paul McCartney will be playing at Miller Park this summer.
The date will be McCartney's first Milwaukee show since 2005, and is taking place 20 years after he performed at the old Milwaukee County Stadium.
More information to follow.
Let the speculation begin.
A marketing representative from Live Nation issued a press release late Thursday afternoon saying that a major concert announcement will take place at 10 a.m. Monday at Miller Park.
The Journal Sentinel gave a call to the marketing rep, who naturally was tightlipped about Monday's announcement. We can of course assume the concert will take place at Miller Park, but who will be playing is anybody's guess.
So start guessing. There are only a handful of acts headlining stadiums this summer, including Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z, and Bon Jovi. And of course there's that (very) outside chance that the Rolling Stones could chose to play one of its 18 committed dates at a stadium like Miller Park. Possible that it can be one of them? Or maybe a special event like Farm Aid?
Or, just maybe, it will be Paul McCartney? There's some McCartney gossip on Twitter that he'll play Miller Park, and McCartney is headlining baseball stadiums this summer.
Or, hey, maybe Wilco's playing?
UPDATE (6:28 p.m. April 11): Comments below have directed me to Mark Belling's website, where the 1130 WISN-AM radio host has stated that sources have told him it will be McCartney performing at Miller Park. We'll find out for sure on Monday.
Tags: Live Nation : Paul McCartney : Miller Park : Milwaukee Concert : Taylor Swift : Rolling Stones : Jay-Z : Justin Timberlake : Bon Jovi
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If it isn't Herman's Hermits it ain't 'MAJOR'!!!
Belling already broke who it was - come on, why don't you just ask him to do your job.
It's McCartney. Thanks to Mark Belling. www.belling.com I know. That's hard work.
At least give Belling credit for breaking the story. Where is your journalistic integrity?Hide replies
They have to know what it is first to have it.
(Referring to the JS)
Have always wondered why they didn't do more of this!Geeting a major wrestling event like Summer Slam or Royal Rumble would also bring in some major cash.Maybe then taxpayers could eventuly be let off the hook for this stadiumHide replies
You know, that's a good point. There has to be a market for it here. Miller Park as a venue for the WWE has a lot more potential than the stale old Bradley Center. Excuse me. The BEEMO HARRIS Bradley Center.
The Rolling Stones and Wilco mentioned in the same breath? Lame.
Taylor Swift is playing a stadium tour??....Isn't that one of the signs of the apocalypse??..
JS scooped by Belling once again.


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Floor stands and other accessories are available.
Excalibur 5000 63-in.


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Editor's note: The following analysis comes from a First Command Financial Behaviors Index release.
While Americans are celebrating the last-minute deal to avoid the fiscal cliff of higher taxes, military families are bracing for the looming defense cuts that still lie ahead.
"The decision to delay sequestration by another two months gives lawmakers some breathing room, but it also extends the indeterminate financial state that has been hanging over military families since 2011," said Scott Spiker, CEO of First Command Financial Services, Inc. "Regardless of the resolution of the approaching sequester, our men and women in uniform understand that major military cuts are coming. The longer-term efforts to shrink the armed forces may well deliver a financial blow to many active-duty families. Military households are preparing for defense downsizing by making meaningful changes to their family finances."
Related: Fiscal Cliff Means Major Cutbacks for Military Families
Recent survey results from the First Command Financial Behaviors Index reveal that middle-class military families (senior NCOs and commissioned officers in pay grades E-6 and above with household incomes of at least $50,000) expect sequestration will affect their financial lives in a variety of ways. They anticipate defense downsizing will mean:
- Reduced retirement benefits (50 percent)
- Increased responsibility for healthcare costs (47 percent)
- Reduced personal expense benefits, such as housing, clothing and food (40 percent)
- Reduced education benefits (32 percent)
- Decreased discretionary income for non-essentials (31 percent)
- Reduced likelihood to be promoted (28 percent)
- Increased likelihood of early separation or not serving to full retirement (28 percent)
- Forced relocation due to Base Closure and Realignment (21 percent)
Active-duty families have been taking action to prepare for these changes. They have been shoring up their personal finances in a variety of ways, including:
- Cutting back on everyday spending (48 percent)
- Increasing the amount they are saving (28 percent)
- Decreasing the aggressiveness of their investments (20 percent)
- Moving investments to cash (9 percent).
- Starting to work with a financial planner (5 percent)
Notably, these efforts are helping military families feel more optimistic about the months ahead. The Index reveals that 43 percent are extremely or very confident their own financial situation will improve in 2013. This compares to just 26 percent of the general population.
"Military families are responding to an uncertain future by spending less, saving more and paying down debt," Spiker said. "By making positive changes in their financial lives these families are finding the peace of mind that comes from feeling more secure and confident in their financial future."


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Driving through Northern Virginia, it's quite rare to see yards with signs revealing that a homeowner plans to vote both Republican and Democrat on Nov. 6.
Even if they don't openly proclaim their split-ticket status, they're out there, according to polling.
These "split ticket voters" plan to step into the polling booth on Election Day to vote for a Republican and a Democrat: voting for President Barack Obama and Republican Senate candidate George Allen, or for Republican presidential candidate Gov. Mitt Romney and Democratic Senate candidate Tim Kaine.
"It is a real possibility that Romney could win Virginia while George Allen loses," said Mark Rozell, professor of Public Policy at George Mason University. "Some polls have shown that Tim Kaine runs slightly better than President Obama in the state, suggesting that there is a small but notable percentage of potential split-ticket voters."
Part of the reason, Rozell said, "may be that George Allen's image still suffers from the events of his unexpected loss in 2006. Also, Tim Kaine has been running a bit to the right of Obama on some issues and has carved out some swing voter support that the president may not be getting right now. It may be a small percentage, yet enough to carry Kaine, even in an Obama loss in the state."
"It is hard though to imagine a combined Obama and Allen victories scenario," Rozell said.
Overall, voters have split their ballots in presidential and U.S. Senate races less than 30 percent of the time since popular vote senatorial races were introduced about a century ago, doing so in just 245 out of 829 elections (29.6 percent), according to the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
Kaine told The New York Times this summer he thought he could appeal to Romney supporters.
"There will be thousands of Romney-Kaine voters," Kaine said in the story. "Whether it will be 2,000 or 50,000, I don't know."
Kaine campaign aides told the newspaper that they would find Romney-Kaine voters in the suburbs of Washington and Richmond, where voters might see Kaine and Romney as pro-business technocrats, and Allen and Obama as partisan flag carriers for their parties.
The National Journal puts it this way: "...in the Northern Virginia suburbs, voters who care about transportation issues as much as anything else, might be inclined to register their disapproval of Obama — especially with the pending budget sequester threatening defense industry jobs — but also to stick with Kaine."
More than six in 10 ticket-splitters are younger independents, according to polling, National Journal says:
- under 50 years old (while the electorate as a whole is split evenly between those over and under 50)
- self-identified independents, with whom Kaine outperforms Obama.
University of Virginia's Larry Sabato says the presidential and Senate races across the country are not related. "Right now these [Senate] contests are running on different tracks," he told the Washington Times earlier this month. "Sometimes you have [presidential and Senate races] on parallel tracks. I don't think these are right now. But they will be to a greater extent on Election Day."
In previous years, here's how Virginia voted:
- 2000: Virginia voted a straight Republican ticket, voting for candidate George Bush and Republican candidate for Senate, George Allen, according to Virginia State Board of Elections records. Fairfax County voted for Bush and Democrat Chuck Robb, according to SBE records.
- 2008: Virginia and Fairfax County voted a straight Democratic ticket, voting for Obama for president and Mark Warner in a Senate race.
In 2006, with no presidential race, Jim Webb bested Allen, 49.59 percent to 49.20 percent for the Senate seat.
For complete election coverage of both state and national elections from a Northern Virginia perspective, click on the elections tab at the top of the page.


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DURHAM — Typically the Duke Blue Devils view their regular season in terms of energy cycles, smaller segments spanning a few games. That mindset has been tweaked, though, for Dukes current four-games-in-eight-days stretch.
Saturdays 69-67 win against Maryland will be followed by a Tuesday trip to Georgia Tech (13-12, 4-8 ACC) for a 9 p.m. tip. Thursday will bring the rescheduled game at North Carolina, and the week concludes Saturday with the highly anticipated rematch against No. 1 Syracuse.
If you start looking at it as a series, then theres a tendency to rationalize during the sequence, coach Mike Krzyzewski said after the Maryland game. Over the years, to me, one of the great enemies of success is rationalization.
Like you can get to the Final Four and rationalize, Boy, weve made it, and then not be as on edge to win a national championship. Things like that. So, were just going to talk about the next game.
Krzyzewski elaborated on that during the weekly ACC teleconference Monday.
You can get ahead of yourself with the build-up that people will give for the Thursday night game and the Saturday game, he said. You can have a tendency of not giving each game its value of emotion, of mental, physical and emotional preparation thats needed, so thats why were trying to look at it that way.
Playing is a far better option than the idleness that last weeks snowstorm brought. Duke canceled classes starting midday Wednesday and all day Thursday and Friday. The game against North Carolina that was originally scheduled for last Wednesday at 9 p.m. was postponed at around 5:45 p.m., when it was clear the Blue Devils would not be able to make it to Chapel Hill.
You get out of a rhythm of doing things, Krzyzewski said. Like, were in February, youre in school, you play two games a week, and all of the sudden we have this disaster in the area, and we dont play a huge game that were ready to play and theyre ready to play. Then the next two days, we dont have school. Theyre out of a disciplined way of doing things, and everyone around them is laissez// faire.
I didnt think we practiced well on Thursday. We had a really tough, emotional practice on Friday to try to right the ship, to try to get them back. Remember, were playing games now, were not just shoveling snow and having time away from class.
I actually think the next week, even though you have all these games, at least were playing and going to school. Come on, how can that be bad? Its got to be pretty good.
The Blue Devils were able to weather another sort of storm against Maryland the barrage of their own misses. Duke started the second half 2-of-19 and shot a season-worst 23.1 percent in the final 20 minutes, the worst half of the season. Despite that, it was able to come from behind and win.
The constant stream of misses would have gotten to the Blue Devils earlier in the season, Rodney Hood said.
At the beginning of the season, I think that was the attitude, he said. But now we just have to mature, we just have to get stops, and I think we did a good job in the last couple of minutes.
Hood came up with the final key defensive stop, going straight up to contest Charles Mitchells final shot that rolled off the rim. He shook off early foul trouble he had three fouls before the 7-minute, 30-second mark of the first half and collected his fourth within the first four minutes of the second half and was able to come up biggest when his team needed him most.
Those types of plays are what will get Duke through this stretch.
It energizes us but it also gives us something to work toward, freshman Jabari Parker said after the tight win. Were not complete yet. This is just going to get harder from now on, so if we want the end result to be good, then we have to go twice as hard.


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From 1978. For the last few albums, Karoli and Liebezeit were joined by Rosko Gee and Reebop Kwaku Baah, from Traffic.
Communism, Anarchism, Nihilism… bit more of a mouthful.
Mostly pre-1974 kosmiche prog and artschule psych from Eckart Rahn's Kuckuck label.
Moebius and Roedelius post-Kluster (with the departure of Conrad Schnitzler): deeply impressive, a massive but minimalist 'cosmische' landmark.
Blissed out crossings of their refined electronica with synths, piano and guitar, from 1976.
Moebius and Roedelius in 1981, reviving basic founding principles, back when Cluster was spelt with a K — stripped-down, intent spontaneity.
From 1974, after the move from Berlin.
Beautifully simple, open-minded ambient electronica from 1976, with Holger Czukay playing bass on the opener.
The 80s recordings of Matthias Becker and co in Cologne, 'joining the dots between Cluster and Tangerine Dream; D.A.F.; Cabaret Voltaire and Human League; outwards to Giorgio Moroder and Daniel Baldelli.'


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Amid all the holiday-season hoopla this month, a new Napa retailer quietly opened for business downtown.
Boom, formerly a barber salon owned by Paul and Leilani Slack of nearby Bloom Creative Hair Design and Art Gallery and the cooperative Slack Collective Art Studios and Gallery around the corner, has been reinvented as a candy shop where customers can find classic wrapped sweets like Charleston Chews, Pop Rocks and Blow Pops.
Other nostalgia brands like Mary Janes (10 cents) are also among the merchandise assortment, but Paul Slack said he'll also carry 21st-century candies, many of which are shipping to the Napa store this week.
What candy brands would you like to see for sale at the new store? Tell us in the comments.
Vital Stats: Boom, 968 Pearl St., Napa: (707) 287-5988. Open daily except Monday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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The second of our walks for Easter Weekend 2010 was to Taranaki Falls.
I have no idea why its called this when its hours away from Taranaki but anyway, just so were clear this is actually in Tongariro National Park and begins just behind the Chateau at Whakapapa.
Brilliant Walk, I would do this one again in a heartbeat - it says it takes two hours, it took us about that long including all the stopping we did and we did that quiet a bit!
I plan to go back and do this one when there is some snow on the mountain, perhaps after the ski season because I think it would look amazing as you can see all three mountains - Mt Ruapheu, Ngarahoe & Tongariro - apparently on a clear day you can also see Mt Taranaki in the distance - it wasn't that clear when we were there so we didn't see it - maybe this can be my excuse to go back?!
To start this walk head to Whakapapa then when you reach the Chateau turn down the street to the left just behind the Chateau continue down this until you get to the end, this is the carpark and you can start the walk from here.
The track is actually a loop track so you can choose which way you walk, we decided to start right where the carpark ends rather than just below the carpark and I think it was a good choice as we didn't have too many hard uphill parts whereas I think it would have been a little harder the other way.
You can also start a number of other walks from here at the same time as seeing the falls, you can go to Mangatepopo Hut (3-5 hours depending on the weather - from 30 mins into the track - if starting from the lower end of the carpark), you can also do a the tramps to Upper & Lower Tama Lakes & another walk which is about 4.5 hours from the falls - I forget the name of it and a quick search isn't bringing much up.
This track is harder than the Spa Road one, you walk on small rocks alot of the time and sometimes larger rocks - ok for the older children, young children will be ok if your prepared to take your time - no strollers here though the steps would be a pain in the butt!


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Release O'Plenty
Wow. What a release! If you haven't noticed already, we've just pushed out one of the biggest releases in Zazzle history. Not only are we now doing real embroidery, but we've packed this release full of candy-coated goodness! Unfortunately, we've hit a couple performance snags, but we're getting those resolved very quickly – keep your eye on the Zazzle Forums for updates on that front. For a quick overview, read our main blog post entitled Embroidery AND New Features. In this post, I'm going to get into some detail on some new features of the Zazzle Design Tool.
I'm such a tool(bar)
One of the first things you might notice is the look of our toolbar. We've reorganized it to show more options in a familiar menu style.
There are now Select, Edit, and Align options in the toolbar. These features help you select design elements, copy and paste them, and align them relative to each other. Next time you create something, check them out!
Also, if a product contains more than one design area (front and back of a t-shirt, multiple areas of a shoe, etc.) an Area selector appears on the left. This is a quick and easy way to select the different areas of a product to design on. And the best part is that now they contain easy to understand icons.
Oops, I messed up again
One thing a lot of people do is customize an existing design. You see a cool design and want to add your name, or you want to nudge the image a bit higher. If a contributor has allowed customization, anyone can do these things.
Of course, when you start messing around with a design, you may end up with something that doesn't quite look like you pictured it. What to do?
REVERT! Yes, now there is an option to revert any design to its original state before you started changing things. Revert is located just under the Post for Sale button.
Templates made easy
So here's the big one. The top banana. The Big Kahuna. El Jefe. Yes, ladies and gentlecontributors, we now have an easy way to make templates! Zoinks!
"You mean we don't have to double-click somewhere and add cryptic brackets anymore?"
Correct. There is now a template UI!
You can make a product become a template by simply defining which image(s) or text object(s) can be replaced by the buyer.
Add an image to a product. You will notice an "Advanced options" link on the image object.
Click the Advanced options link to show all advanced options.
One of the options is a checkbox labeled "Make this a template object". Checking that box will display all the options available for defining this template image placeholder.
When you select "Make this a template object", you have access to four options:
- Product page label – This is the label that the customer will see on the product page. Use something descriptive here, like "Your picture" or "Your logo".
- URL parameter name – If you are using the Zazzle API to pass data to this product from an external source, this is the parameter name the API will use. Avoid spaces or special characters. You can safely ignore this field if you are not working with the API (see the Zazzle API documentation for more information).
- Inner fit/fill mode – For images.If your template allows the buyer to replace your placeholder image with one of her own, this setting determines how the buyer's image replaces yours. The options are none, fit, or fill.
none – If you set Inner fit/fill mode to none, the buyer's image simply replaces your placeholder image, and may be larger or smaller than the placeholder.fit – Selecting fit will resize the buyer's image to fit inside of your placeholder image object's dimensions. This will ensure that their image is not cropped.
fill – Selecting fill will resize their image to fill the entire dimensions of your placeholder image. If the buyer's image is wider or taller than your placeholder, this may result in zooming and cropping of the customer's image.
- Allow editing on product page – Keep this checked if you want to enable EZ Templates on your product page. Unchecking this option is usually only done when working with the Zazzle API.
Once you have filled out all the options, click Post for Sale. You are then presented with the normal Post it for Sale page. Notice the checkbox labeled "This product is a template". This tells you that the product contains template objects, and that it will be posted for sale as a template. Only uncheck it if you decide at this point to not allow customer personalization of this product; otherwise keep it checked.
Congratulations! You have just created a template product!
Lock it up!
Sometimes, you may want to create a template product but have items that are not changeable by a customer. Now you can simply check the box labeled "Lock this image" or "Lock this text object". This will essentially lock the item and not allow any editing of it whatsoever (can't delete it, move it, resize it, etc.)
That's all there is to it, folks!
Tags: design tool, embroidery, templates, Zazzle


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Grant Program: State Partnership Grant Program to Improve Minority Health, FY 2005-2009
Organization Name: Texas Health and Human Service Commission, Office for the Elimination of Health Disparities
Organization Address: 4900 North Lamar Blvd, Mail Code 1910, Austin TX 78751
Phone Number: (512) 424-6509
Fax Number: (512) 424-6537
Title of Project: Texas State Partnership to Address and Eliminate Health Disparities
Project Director: Kimberly McCoy-Daniels
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Description of organization:
The Office for the Elimination of Health Disparities (OEHD) was established in 2004 to bring greater focus to statewide health disparities across many service systems. OEHD's primary objective is to optimize the health and wellness of Texas residents by developing and strengthening systems and services to monitor, analyze, and assess the health needs of underserved populations throughout the state. With the passage of House Bill 1396, during the 80th Legislative Regular Session, the Texas Legislature transferred OEHD from the Texas Department of State Health Services to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The relocation to HHSC afforded OEHD the opportunity to apply an integrated approach and partner with other health and human services agencies. This consists of partnering with HHSC agencies, including the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
Description of project:
The goal of the Texas State Partnership to Address and Eliminate Health Disparities (TPAHD) is to reduce health disparities among special or underserved populations across Texas. In Texas, reducing and eliminating health disparities requires the efforts of a multidisciplinary team of researchers, community and organizational stakeholders to investigate and provide a better understanding of the role of behavioral, biological and socioeconomic variables. To achieve this goal, OEHD created and supports a state collaborative of stakeholders addressing health disparities. In addition, OEHD also supports HHSC programs by providing a link between state and local levels to address health disparities, strengthening the infrastructure to address health disparities and emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention. The major TPAHD activities focus on the following three core areas:
- Conducting a needs assessment to determine barriers to public health and health care and potential solutions,
- Enhancing and supporting the community-based collaborative to recommend, test, inform and reform proposed strategies and
- Creating and supporting a process for diffusion of ongoing technical assistance regarding health disparities information, research and strategies.
To ensure these outcomes and provide guidance, the project contracts with an external evaluator to provide an assessment of the process, determine the effectiveness of proposed interventions/policies and estimate the impact on health disparities in Texas.


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Narrow your search
Sharon Vaknin, Donald Bell, and Eric Franklin tackle DIY projects and tech makeovers.
Noiseware does a very good job of reducing color noise in iPhone and iPad photos, but it's only worth using if you'll be displaying them on larger screens.
Pricing not available
Fan TV is the latest box promises to unify cable TV, streaming video and movies, but it faces an uphill battle to get cable companies on board.
Pricing not available
The new digital camera has a built-in Zink printer for instant 2x3-inch prints.
In a statement about fixing an iMessage bug, Apple doesn't say exactly what the problem is, but it might have to do with some Android users missing text messages.
At least three of the software giant's updates address power consumption issues, but another Wi-Fi update is planned next week.
iPhone running slow? Here are quick fixes for some of the most common problems in iOS 7.
Version 2.2 is only a couple weeks old, so it's good to see Pebble keeping the updates coming.
Microsoft releases a minor update to Office for Mac 2011, but there's no word on when the next version will be available.
Sprint says it's on the comeback trail. And it's putting its money where its mouth is with a new 30-day money-back guarantee if consumers try its service.
The long, involved process of fixing a bike flat gets a simple solution with a gadget that patches punctures in a fraction of the time.


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A Fort Dodge barber has been found guilty of selling drugs from his shop, which prosecutors say was a front for the drug deals.
Benjamin Clement was found guilty of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and failure to affix a drug tax stamp.
The charges are punishable by up to 10 years and 5 years in prison respectively.
The Messenger says Clement is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 18.
Prosecutors say authorities seized a package containing marijuana mailed to Clement's barbershop from a phony address in Fresno, Calif. They also say they observed people coming and going from the shop during hours not posted on the door and for short periods of time.
Clement's attorney, Joe McCarville, says he and Clement are disappointed in Wednesday's verdict.


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DeepResearchReports.com adds 2014 Deep Research Report on Global and China Refrigerators Industry report to its research database.
Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) July 02, 2014
"2014 Deep Research Report on Global and China Refrigerators Industry is a professional and in-depth research report on refrigerators market. The report introduces refrigerators, basic information, including its definition, classification, application, and industry chain structure and industry overview. This research covers the international market analysis, including Chinas domestic market as well as global industry analysis covering macroeconomic environment & economic situation analysis, the influence of refrigerator industry (http://www.deepresearchreports.com/111725.html) policy, plans for borax product specification, manufacturing process, product cost structure and more.
This report provides statistics on key manufacturers in China and Globally along with their refrigerators capacity production, cost, price, profit, production value, gross margin and other information. At the same time, information on these manufacturers also includes customer's application, capacity, market position and company contact information details. The report also lists refrigerators market, upstream raw materials & equipments as well as downstream clients alternative products, survey analysis, information on marketing channels as well as industry development trends and proposals.
Key manufacturers included in this study are Whirlpool, Siemens, Sumsung, Electrolux, LG, Panasonic, Haier, Midea, Hisense Kelon, Meiling, Xinfei, Hualiang, TCL .
This report presents a new refrigerators project analysis covering SWOT, investment feasibility analysis as well as investment return analysis with related research conclusions and development trend analysis of China and Global refrigerator industry. Buy a copy of report at http://www.deepresearchreports.com/contacts/purchase.php?name=111725.
Table of Contents (http://www.deepresearchreports.com/111725-toc.html)
Chapter One Refrigerators Industry Overview
Chapter Two Refrigerators International and China Market Analysis
Chapter Three Refrigerators Manufacturing Bases and Capacity Analysis
Chapter Four Refrigerators Development Policy and Plan
Chapter Five Refrigerators Manufacturing Process and Cost Structure
Chapter Six 2009-2014 Refrigerators Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast
Chapter Seven Refrigerators Key Manufacturers Analysis
Chapter Eight Up and Down Stream Industry Analysis
Chapter Nine Refrigerators Marketing Channels Analysis
Chapter Ten Refrigerators Industry Development Trend
Chapter Eleven Refrigerators Industry Development Proposals
Chapter Twelve Refrigerators New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis
Chapter Thirteen Global and China Refrigerators Industry Research Conclusions
List of Tables and Figures
Related Reports:
2014 Deep Research Report on Global and China LED Backlight Source Industry at http://www.deepresearchreports.com/111722.html.
2014 Deep Research Report on Global and China Vacuum Circuit Breaker Industry at http://www.deepresearchreports.com/111721.html.
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Silence of the Web: A Few Effective Ways to Use Audio in Online Marketing
Directory : Faculty : Intellectual Contributions
Intellectual Contribution by Mahmood Hussain
Contribution Title
Silence of the Web: A Few Effective Ways to Use Audio in Online Marketing
International Academy of e-Business 5th Annual Conference
This paper is accomplished through interviews with Internet experts, review of extant literature on consumer behavior and marketing. The two main benefits that sound adds to the Internet are: the emotional responses it generates from the users and the memorability of the brands. Marketers are now beginning to consider audio as a tool to add value to a Website and to promote brands. This paper develops a set of recommendations which Internet marketers may find useful as a starting point. They also provide a basis for future academic experiments aimed at understanding the impact of sound on the Internet.
Complete Citation
Hussain, Mahmood, William Perttula, and Myl
See Faculty: Mahmood Hussain


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Narrow your search
The cheaper price represents a major shift for Microsoft, as does a decision to drop the $60 annual fee to access streaming content such as Netflix and YouTube.
Packed with the best specifications of the three Pop S LTE handsets in Alcatel One Touch's lineup, the Pop S9 is the likely the one you're looking for.
Pricing not available
The Xbox One Media Remote is a must-have accessory that makes it much easier to accept a gaming console as the hub of your living room.
The update has been seeded to developers, but has yet to be made available to the public.
The Hero 9.1 is a suitable choice for shoppers who need a capable multifunction imaging device with acceptable performance, apps that bring workflow into the cloud, and dual paper feed trays.
The Archos 101 G9 (8GB) delivers a complete Android experience, but its rough design, low-quality camera, and awkward button placement make it feel rushed to market.
The cheaper, no-Kinect version of the Xbox One gives buyers a better deal by eliminating the one part of the console they probably didn't want to begin with -- but the PS4 remains a compelling alternative.
The smaller, 11.6-inch version of Samsung's excellent Series 9 laptop is thin and light, and has a few features the MacBook Air lacks, but it's more expensive and doesn't trump the competition where it counts.
The company's results got a pick-me-up from an after-tax gain stemming from adjustments to its pension and benefit plans.
Google is spending £1.9bn to snap up Nest, a company that connects your home to the Internet.


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Patsy R. Elmore, 85 of Muskogee passed away Monday, June 17, 2013. She was born October 3, 1927 in Idabel, OK, the daughter of George Earl and Effie Mae (Leonard) Lewis. Patsy married Lawrence (Larry) E. Elmore October 28, 1950 in Van Buren, Arkansas. She worked for Dept. of Public Welfare in Durant, OK, Beneficial Finance in Muskogee and retired from the V.A. Hospital in Muskogee as a Medical Transcriptionist. Patsy will be remembered by her family and friends as the Proverbial woman who loved God and His Church. She adored her husband and family and enjoyed crossword puzzles.
Patsy was preceded in death by a son, William Earl (Bill) Elmore and a brother Bill Lewis and is survived by her husband, Lawrence of the home; three grandchildren, Mitchell Elmore and wife Cassie of Newalla, OK, Kelli Perry and husband Brad of Albuquerque, NM, and Heather Elmore-Casbarro of West Melbourne, FL; five great-grandchildren, Kye Collins, Logan Elmore, Jacob Elmore, Kostyn Perry and Camryn Perry; and a host of extended family and friends.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 21, 2013 at the Westside Church of Christ with Don Readhimer and Frank Morgan officiating. Graveside services will follow at the Ft Gibson National Cemetery at 12:00 noon. The family has entrusted Bradley Family Funeral and Cremation Service with the arrangements. Friends may send condolences to the family can be sent www.bradleyfuneralservice.com.


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Health Insurer Sues Maine for Guaranteed Profits
Adam Thompson on October 8, 2009 - 1:40pm
A story from Maine offers up another reason why we need the choice of a public health insurance option, and it's a doozy. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine, a subsidiary of the insurance giant Wellpoint, is suing the State of Maine because the insurance commissioner refused to approve its request for a rate increase of 18.5% for its individual products, which included a guaranteed 3% profit. Commissioner Mila Koffman found Anthem's request "excessive" and approved a 10.9% average increase in premiums.
Anthem, of course, is not being denied a profit. As a lawyer in the Attorney General's office pointed out, the company can still earn a profit in its individual line by trimming its corpulent waistline, "if they reduce administrative expenses". As a hint for how they could do this, the nine highest-paid Anthem administrators in Maine made more than $4.3 million in 2006. The Attorney General, which is representing the Commissioner, noted that Anthem averaged a 3.2% annual profit in its individual line in the nine years since it bought the non-profit Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine and that going a year without a guaranteed profit would not drain the company.
Indeed, despite the economic downturn and the financial strains being placed on families and small businesses, it's as if health insurers like Anthem never have a down year. Since purchasing the non-profit Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Anthem has raised individual premium rates 8 out of 10 years, and often in double digits. Across all its business lines (individual, small and large group), Anthem's profits ranged from a low of 5.4% to a high of 9.4% from 2004 through 2008. For its part, Wellpoint is doing very well by its subsidiary. From 2006 to 2008, Anthem has paid its parent company $152 million in dividends.
Anthem dominates the insurance market in Maine, with 78% of the entire market. As the state's largest daily newspaper, the Portland Press Herald, editorialized, "Because [individuals] have no market clout, they are vulnerable to rate increases that could price them out of coverage, like the ones at issue in the Anthem case." To that end, absent a single-payer program, the only way to bring choice and competition to a market like Maine's, which is similar to 35 other states, is to offer up a public health insurance option. You can be sure that a non-profit public option will not be suing its creator, the public, for a guaranteed profit.
Progressive States Network - Federal Health Reform and the States
Progressive States Network - Priorities for Reform
SickforProfit.com - Wellpoint Sued an Entire State to Increase Profits


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Designer: Rock & Royalty™
Be inducted into the Rock & Roll Royal Court.
Rock & roll is your one true love. Your reason for breathing, your desire to live, love and rock. It's a passion that crowns you a king in the world of rock & roll, and reminds you that music and style will forever rule the land.
Style: Men's Tee
Shirt Details: Silver, 100% cotton, slim fitted American Apparel Summer Tee.
* 100% Cotton
* Machine wash gentle. Tumble dry low.
USPS Parcel Post
Shipping Cost ($): 3
Shipping Cost Outside US ($): 10
We will gladly exchange or refund all unused merchandise within 30 days of purchase. For more information please send email to: firstname.lastname@example.com. Subject: RETURN
$ 27.00
Welcome to UsTrendy, the best place on the internet for cute indie clothing and so much more. At UsTrendy, you will find women's clothes that can't be found anywhere else. Our selection of women's clothes were created by up-and-coming designers from all over the globe. Because our designers come from around the world, they create a wide array of cute indie clothing, so that everyone can find the perfect clothes to match their sense of style.
Our selection of women's clothes include phenomenal vintage clothes. These women's clothes offer some of the most exciting designs in fashion today. If vintage is a style that intrigues you, be sure to check out the vintage section of our website. You will find some of the most stylish women's clothes on the planet, on those pages. Our customers are tired of the cookie cutter fashions that are available everywhere. We only provide cute indie clothing that breaks free from the chains of traditional fashion standards.
We appeal to trendsetters. All of our cute indie clothing can instantly start the latest trends, because your friends and family haven't experienced such exciting fashion. They are sure to want to know more about our unique trendy clothes. We encourage our customers to interact with our designers. The more feedback they provide, the better the finished products will be. We don't believe that your only options should be the clothes found in your local stores. We believe our customer's voice should be heard. This belief is shown every day in our selection of unique trendy clothing. If you're ready to join the fashion revolution, enjoy our selection of cute indie clothing today.


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Mill Asset Database
Comprehensive coverage of pulp and paper mills, machines, and mill projects
This text will be replaced
RISI's Mill Asset Database was built in partnership with our clients to deliver comprehensive mill and market equipment, consumption and investment information to pulp and paper industry professionals around the world. The Mill Asset Database offers the information you need to develop a more competitive sales and marketing strategy.
Strengthen Your Business Intelligence
Make stronger, more strategic sales and marketing decisions by better understanding what's happening in mills across global markets.
Maintain Your Competitive Advantage
Stay abreast of changes in the competitive landscape with detailed and current mill equipment, input consumption and project data.
Save Time and Resources with an Intuitive Platform
Quickly and easily customize, save and export the information you need to identify new business opportunities and threats from competition with this easy-to-use, intuitive platform.
Contact us for pricing information and a walk-through of the Mill Asset Database by completing the form below.
*RISI respects your privacy and will not share your information with anyone.
Strengthen Your Business Intelligence
Maintain Your Competitive Advantage
Save Time and Resources with an Intuitive Platform
Coverage of Grades and Regions
The new Mill Asset Database includes coverage of 3,800 mills and 13,000 projects across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, Oceania and North America producing the following grades:
RISI's Mill Asset Database Methodology
RISI employs a global team of news editors, economists, and process engineers who collect and update data used in the Mill Asset Database on a daily basis. Sources of these data include: