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"La La Land" director wins top award
Damien Chazelle wins the prestigious Directors Guild of America award for his romantic musical ''La La Land,'' with President Donald Trump's travel ban dominating discussion at the dinner ceremony. Francis Maguire reports.
The critics seem to love it.... And now another sign that musical film 'La La Land' might be on course to win big at the Oscars. Damien Chazelle picked up the prestigious Directors Guild of America award over the weekend for the movie, which stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. (Soundbite) Director, Damien Chazelle, saying (English): "I just want to once again thank my fellow nominees and thank all the filmmakers in the room for being the reason I'm here today, for inspiring me since I can remember. Thank you so much." 'La La Land' is only Chazelle's third feature film and scored a record-tying 14 Oscar nominations last month. Another big winner on the night was Australian director Garth Davis. He picked up a first-time feature DGA honour for the Nicole Kidman drama 'Lion'. Ezra Edelman also won best documentary maker for "O.J.:Made in America". With all the political division in the U.S. right now awards season has already seen some fiery speeches. And the DGA's were no different. With the President of the Guild criticising Donald Trump's immigration policy. (Soundbite) DGA President, Paris Barclay, saying (English): "I think I'm going to go there. Yeah I think I have to go there. So I have to step away from my official podium and just talk about what's really on my mind. Now I would not personally be standing in this room on this stage, I wouldn't be here at all if not for immigrants. OK?" Political anger and success for 'La La Land' may be a sign of what's to come for the Oscars. Those awards will be handed out on February 26th.


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It seems likely now that Chelsea will win the Premier League, but the season still has a slight air of murkiness about it. There has been a generally muted and fudged response to the prospect of Chelsea as champions, a lack of the accustomed simplistic and broad-brush moralising. At this distance it's hard to know exactly what the story will be here. Something is missing. What could it be?
Of course, Chelsea winning the league doesn't have to mean anything. Perhaps they're just slightly better than every other team. This could simply be an example of how determined, talented men often triumph. But we do like a bit more of a story than this, and all sport works best when there is a sense of systems ranged against one another, or of character being put to proof.
Chelsea's first Premier League titles had an air of punkish billionaire's iconoclasm and a sense of high spec player-collectivism at work. What is the model this year? Endure. Luck out finally with the right manager. And have enough good players about the place who still aren't quite past it when the money dries up. In a certain light Chelsea are the Premier League equivalent of zombie movie survivors, the grizzled cartel who laid in slightly more tins of rhubarb and shotgun cartridges than everyone else for when the bad times came.
There have already been attempts to tack on a deeper narrative, perhaps a story of egos pricked and all-star mucking in. Much has been made of the "bollocking" handed out by Roman Abramovich a few weeks ago, but I don't really believe in this bollocking, which will surely have had all the impact of being beaten about the head with a cashmere-sheathed Toblerone bar full of money. Abramovich has given his players so much already. What can he really frighten them with now?
Perhaps we can fall back on tales of individual heroism. Didier Drogba has been brilliantly prolific and Chelsea have scored heaps of goals, proof if they do win the league that it will be deserved. At the same time, Michael Ballack has shown the vibrant mobility of a diseased tree stump. Mikel John Obi remains a tiny, plaintive child's face grafted on to the rippling neck of a frighteningly muscular human being and condemned to run unstintingly sideways. Even Joe Cole has become slightly embarrassing and overheated, like an un-neutered tom cat perpetually inflammed by chair legs and corner flags.
None of this is really it, though. If the real story of Chelsea's decisive surge has been insufficiently trumpeted, it is because its main protagonist is still cloaked beneath a media burqa. No one really wants to talk about John Terry. It all feels a bit too raw. But Chelsea have relied on resilience and vim and spirit, and while other players have performed better, and also shown leadership, this is really the captain's territory. When Tiger Woods played at the Masters people kept saying what a great comeback it would be if he went on and won it. Perhaps we should now be saying the same thing about Terry, the one person for whom Chelsea's title win does actually represent a compelling personal tale of defiance. And who will, in time, turn out to provide the defining image of the title race: specifically those recurrent shirt-less photos of him celebrating victory, always cropped at the waist and thus giving an impression of Terry playing out the late stages of the season entirely in the nude, still defiantly tumescent and horribly unembarrassable.
This is what has so far been glossed from the Chelsea story. Terry stumbled for a while and could have fallen. But he didn't. Instead he may well soon be lifting a trophy or two. We don't have to like him. But, in a peculiar and strangely apposite twist, I believe history will force us to admire his balls.

subset: commoncrawl


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LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was adamant on Friday (April 7) he was "here to stay" despite persistent rumours linking him with a move to Inter Milan after the end of the season.
The 47-year-old former Juventus and Italy head coach has impressed in his first season in England, which could yet end with Chelsea completing a Premier League and FA Cup double.
Conte signed a three-year contract a year ago before taking up his position with Chelsea last July.
He insisted Friday he was happy at the west London club, saying: "I stay here. I'm very happy to stay here.
"This is the most important thing. I don't like when I listen to other persons talking about me.
"I don't know why, but I think it's normal to try to involve my name in this situation.
"I worked in Italy. They want to come back for me in Italy.
"I have two more years of contract with Chelsea. This is the truth."
This week also saw talk that former Juventus and Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo could join Conte's coaching team after the end of the current campaign, when assistant boss Steve Holland joins England full-time.
Pirlo is currently playing for New York City FC in the United States' Major League Soccer.
"In this period I'm listening (to) a lot of things," Conte said. "This is very strange, for example: Andrea Pirlo is playing and he wants to continue to play."
Conte added his key aim now was for "a good season to become a great season for us".
The Blues have a seven-point lead over second-placed Tottenham Hotspur entering this weekend's fixtures.
Conte insisted that while Chelsea and Spurs are the main contenders, the title race was wide open, even though his table-toppers are 12 points in front of third-placed Liverpool, who've played a game more.
"This race is open," he said. "I think now I can see two teams, Chelsea and Tottenham, in this race. But anything can happen because there are 24 points (to play for) and other rivals can go in this race."
Chelsea travel to Bournemouth on Saturday having responded to a shock loss to Crystal Palace with victory over Manchester City on Wednesday.


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The current issue of the New York Review of Books features an essay by Garry Wills comparing Senator Obama's recent speech on race with Lincoln's great Cooper Union address of 1860. Wills draws comparisons between Lincoln and Obama throughout the piece, beginning with their youth (Obama is 46, Lincoln was 51 in 1860) and what Wills deems their common struggle to overcome prejudice (the gangly, awkward Lincoln was considered uneducated, while the exotically-named Obama seems un-American to some).
But, Wills argues, the essential connection between Lincoln and Obama is in their views of the Constitution:
In addressing the Constitution, [Obama] knew what he was talking about. Lincoln, while professing obedience to the Constitution, said that this did not preclude its improvement from "all the lights of current experience." Obama went further, saying that the preamble's call for "a more perfect union" initiated a project, to make the Constitution a means for its own transcendence. This was a view Lincoln articulated often.
According to Wills's narrative, the progressive Lincoln understood that the pro-slavey Constitution had to be transcended, that the country had to move past its racist founding and on to a brighter era. And Obama takes it one step further.
In the forthcoming issue of the Claremont Review of Books (subscribe here), Professor Harry V. Jaffa responds to the issues raised by Senator Obama, Reverend Wright, and Wills. The CRB introduces Professor Jaffa's essay with this editor's note:
Five years ago, at Barack Obama's church in Chicago, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright declared: "No, no, no, not God bless America, God damn America, that's in the Bible, for killing innocent people, God damn America, for treating her citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme." Shall we sing "God Bless America" or "God Damn America" then? Because Senator Barack Obama aspires to be America's president, and because his spiritual mentor happens to be Rev. Wright, the senator was obliged to make a speech in answer to this question. The speech was properly ambitious. It attempted to relate God, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, race, slavery, and the American cause. We offer here an alternative to the reverend's diatribes and the senator's speech.
Professor Jaffa explains that, Wills to the contrary notwithstanding, the concessions to slavery in the Constitution do not require us to reject it or the era that gave birth to it. Instead, Lincoln's achievement marks a return to the principles of the founding:
Slavery was lawful in every one of the original thirteen states. There was accordingly nothing remarkable in the fact that slavery was not abolished immediately on independence. What is remarkable is that a slave-owning nation would declare that all men are created equal, and thereby make the abolition of slavery a moral and political necessity.
That is, the Constitution itself, imperfect by necessity, contained within it the recipe not for its own transcendence, but its own completion. This completion comes not from Senator Obama's progressive vision of the future, but from the self-evident truths recognized in the Declaration of Independence.
Professor Jaffa recalls the intellectual history related to the growth of slavery in the antebellum period, from the common view of slavery as a temporary evil to the later (Calhounite) view of it as a positive — and permanent — good:
This changed attitude toward slavery was, however, part of a changed attitude toward morality in general that was sweeping over Western civilization. This change was marked by the apotheosis of "change" itself. What had heretofore been regarded as moral absolutes came to be regarded as merely relative to a particular time and placeto History or Progresswith no enduring claim upon our consciences. Lincoln praised Jefferson for embodying in the Declaration "an abstract truth applicable to all men and all times." But the idea of such truth, and of the correlation of such truth with justice, was increasingly repudiated by the most educated and influential minds in the Western world. Representative of this triumph of historicism and moral relativism was historian Carl Becker's assertion in a landmark 20th-century work that "To ask whether the natural rights philosophy of the Declaration of Independence is true or false is essentially a meaningless question."
To ask whether what the American people in the Declaration of Independence had affirmed as truth was in fact truth, was now said to be meaningless. But if History or Progress or "change" is to be our guide, if the truth of relativism is to replace the truth of the Declaration, then the cause for which the nation fought at its birth, and in the Civil War, was meaningless, too. White power, black power, the Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan, Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, are as justifiable as Jefferson, Lincoln, or the doctrine of the equal natural rights of all human beings. We may understand how the Rev. Jeremiah Wright could so awfully misunderstand the American political tradition, inasmuch as it has been so very misunderstood for so long in circles from whom a better understanding could be expected. But this misunderstanding is a cancer which can in the end prove fatal, not only to a political campaign but to our country.
If we are to have a foundation upon which to continue to build a more perfect union, we must return unequivocally, as Lincoln returned, to the source of our greatness in the American Founding.
Professor Jaffa's signal contribution to clarifying the issues laid before the public in the current campaign is "God Bless America."


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Monday, June 29, 2009
The Eternal Gratitude of Aliano
Aliano seems to bask in its infamy. Seventy years ago it had been a typical peasant village in remote southern Basilicata, scraping to survive, and ignored and derided by the central government. It would have remained hidden and forgotten in its lunar-like hills had it not been paid a visit by destiny.
When the Mussolini government wanted to silence the political writings and rabble-rousings of a Jewish doctor and anti-fascist named Carlo Levi, it could think of no punishment more severe than banishment from his northern city of Torino to the hinterlands of Basilicata. Modern communications and northern news filtered very slowly- if at all- from there, so Levi and his inflammatory activism would be safely out of their dictatorial hair.
Levi arrived in Aliano to find an abject poverty in stark contrast of his prosperous north, which seemed a world away. The remote locale was neglected and remained outside of time while resources were focused on northern industrial technologies and interests. Levi spent his two years of political exile acting as town physician while painting local scenes and characters and taking detailed journalistic notes which he would use to write his well-known book, Christ Stopped at Eboli. From his house on the edge of the village, Levi observed, interacted with, tended to, painted, and chronicled the life, hardships, and contrasts of a place within his own country that was foreign to him.
When he was released from his house arrest, Levi penned his most famous work, which shed light on the political, economic and social problems of the south, and would eventually bring attention and change to the region. And the town of Aliano could not have been more grateful.
Today, Aliano is still small and still remote, but the appearance, well-being, and status of the town is very different thanks to Levi, whose writings and presence continue to live on there. Many of the buildings have been spruced up and restructured, with more work obviously underway. The place looks tended to and cared for, unlike the descriptions of squalor that Levi chronicled upon his arrival. Inhabitants stroll the streets, gather in the piazza and coffee bars, smiling their friendly greetings at visitors. Tourists from across Italy come to see it, and cars bearing license plates from other European countries are parked in the municipal lot. The paese pays homage to their famous guest, who championed their cause, with numerous namings in his honor - a street, piazza, coffee bar, restaurant all bear his name. A statue of him stands at the entrance to town. Aliano is considered a "literary park," with placques affixed to buildings with quotes in Levi's words as he had described each landmark in his book, so visitors can tour the town and see it through his eyes and words.
The house of his interment has been turned into a museum. Many of his paintings are on display in the Museo della Civilta` Contadina (Museum of Peasant Culture).
It was Carlo Levi's request to be buried in Aliano and his grave lies in a panoramic spot in the cemetary, up above the village. It is sprinkled with pebbles left by visitors to show how beloved he was. Aliano is isolated on top of a hill with commanding views of the weirdly-eroded countryside and surrounding mountains. The town has come a long way since their illustrious guest came to stay, but the timelessness of their traditions and the splendor of their natural surroundings are unchanged. Nor is their affection for the man who served them so well and continues to impact their well-being.
All rights reserved. Valerie Schneider 2009
5 comments:
- Anonymous said...
Most interesting and informative.
Thanks Valerie!
Donna in SF
- nyc/caribbean ragazza said...
I saw the movie "Christ Stopped at Eboli". It was very, very moving.
I guess Il Duce's plan to shut Levi up backfired.
- Saretta said...
What a nice and generous post. You have obviously had a better experience at Aliano than my family did. Everything related to Levi was closed (on a weekday) and we were treated so badly at the restaurant (could only find one) that I ended up yelling at the owners "Aliano is a backwater hole and will always be one if you treat people this way. I'm going to tell everyone to avoid Aliano at all costs!" And, trust me, I am a peaceful, non-yelling type usually.
- Valerie Fortney-Schneider said...
Donna - Glad you enjoyed it!
Ragazza - It was a moving movie, huh? I think Il Duce would be shocked at how much it backfired.
Saretta - Wow, I'm surprised you had such an opposite experience! Yikes, that's terrible. How do you say "Aliano is a backwater hole" in Italiano? That might be a useful phrase for me to tuck away for future reference.
- Maria Valdemi said...
You cannot kill an idea with exile or a gun.
Christ did stop at Eboli in the guise of Carlo Levi.


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|This website contains attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The content of this website has been prepared by Joseph Bach for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The material posted on this website is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship, and readers should not act upon it without seeking professional counsel.
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Have a Merry Christmas holiday and wonderful New Year everyone! Happy modelling.
Have a Merry Christmas holiday and wonderful New Year everyone! Happy modelling.
I couldn't resist a quick post as I've had my first article published. The Partwork series that is Your Model Railway Village on reaching issue 19 has published my article about building Model Railway Dioramas and small layouts, based around my Long Logging Line Layout which is the On30 layout I've mentioned on here and the little wooden wagons a few posts down. Whilst it may not be in one of the big 4 magazines, not that all of them would entertain an On30 layout in their pages, its still a great feeling to know that some people will get to read your article and hopefully gain something from it. It takes you through the thought processes needed for a small layout, and aims to get across the message that it doesn't take long to build a small layout or diorama and that they can really help you refine your modelling skills if your aim is to build a large layout.
The partwork can be ordered from Hacette if your local shops no longer stock it. https://www.hachettepartworks.com/our-titles/model-railway/
Modvid is a Australian hosted website that contains an enormous amount of photographs mainly depicting modeling in 1/48 scale or US O scale narrow gauge ie On30 and On3. Although there is plenty of modeling in larger scales too by some of the most talented modellers from across the world.
Sadly the owner of the site may at any time remove the sites content.
This link is the current main homepage http://www.modvid.com.au/html/body_worldwide__miniatures.html
Please take a look there is some stunning modelling. There are hidden away some photos that show how to make scenery.
Although the site could disappear at any moment the owner Mario is currently offering for sale 2 CDs worth of photos and videos from the site and his personal collection for under $30! An absolute bargain for what is on offer. Check out the page above and then the link here to order now. http://www.modvid.com.au/html/body_modvid_photo___dvd_.html
I hope you enjoy looking through the site it truly is inspirational.
Well its been well over a year since I last posted. So I thought it wise to give the blog a make over and start over. I've decided to keep track of all my modelling projects and some real life railwayana on this blog, so your going to see a mix of US HO modelling mixed in with my British outline modelling to P4 and now my new endeavour US On30 Narrow gauge modelling!
More of all of these topics to come over the next few days and weeks.


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China's tax authority in 2016 issued guidance concerning the administration of related-party declarations and contemporaneous documentation, and recently issued an announcement clarifying that certain provisions of country-by-country (CbC) reporting will not apply for the CbC report for 2016.
The 2016 guidance is known as Announcement 42, and the 2017 guidance is known as Announcement 46.
The exchange of information measures were included as part of the CbC reporting measures in China pursuant to Announcement 42. In particular, the tax authorities may implement information exchange for CbC reporting pursuant to a treaty, agreement or arrangement between China and a foreign counter-party. Also, the tax authorities may, at the time of implementation of a "special tax investigation," require the taxpayer entity to provide a CbC report when the tax authorities are unable to obtain the CbC report through an information exchange mechanism.
China's State Administration of Taxation (SAT), International Taxation Department, made the following interpretations with regard to measures included in Announcement 46:
Read a December 2017 report prepared by the KPMG member firm in China
The KPMG logo and name are trademarks of KPMG International. KPMG International is a Swiss cooperative that serves as a coordinating entity for a network of independent member firms. KPMG International provides no audit or other client services. Such services are provided solely by member firms in their respective geographic areas. KPMG International and its member firms are legally distinct and separate entities. They are not and nothing contained herein shall be construed to place these entities in the relationship of parents, subsidiaries, agents, partners, or joint venturers. No member firm has any authority (actual, apparent, implied or otherwise) to obligate or bind KPMG International or any member firm in any manner whatsoever. The information contained in herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation. For more information, contact KPMG's Federal Tax Legislative and Regulatory Services Group at: + 1 202 533 4366, 1801 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006.
Request for proposal


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Formlabs - Resin Cartridge - Castable
Formlabs Castable Resin (1 Liter Cartridge) for the 3D printers Form 2, Form 3 and Form 3L.
Recommended print resolutions with Formlabs Resins
Formlabs Resins are designed for use with Formlabs 3D printers. The different resins has all been optimized to 3D print at specific resolutions.
|Standard Resins
|200 microns
|100 microns
|50 microns
|25 microns
|Clear Resin
|Form 1+
|White Resin
|Form 1/1+
|Grey Resin
|Black Resin
|Functional Resins
|200 microns
|100 microns
|50 microns
|25 microns
|Castable Resin
|Flexible Resin
|Tough Resin
|High Temp Resin
|Durable Resin
|Biocompatible Resins
|200 microns
|100 microns
|50 microns
|25 microns
|Dental SG Resin
|Dental Model Resin
Safety Data Sheets
- Black Resin SDS
- Castable Resin SDS
- Clear Resin SDS
- Dental LT Clear Resin SDS
- Dental Model Resin SDS
- Dental SG Resin SDS
- Durable Resin SDS
- Flexible Resin SDS
- Grey Resin SDS
- High Temp Resin SDS
- Tough Resin SDS
- White Resin SDS
Technical Data Sheets
- Castable Resin Burnout Process
- Clear Resin Datasheet
- Dental SG Resin Datasheet
- High Temp Resin Datasheet
- Flexible Resin Datasheet
- Tough Resin Datasheet
- Dental Model Datasheet
Note. We strive to always send the latest available version of Formlabs' resin. Please contact us before you place your order if you need a specific version of the resin, so that we can confirm the availability.


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A must for little ones and my parents who never miss this if over in December!
"Nightly Snow Falls at 6, 7, 8 and 9 PM. Photos with Santa, Strolling Holiday Carolers, an Ice Rink, Entertainment and more!!! A Celebration tradition! Join Celebration Town Center as they kick off 12th Annual Now Snowing event with a Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 27th from 5:30-9 PM."
Thanks for that Janey
Oh goody, we might be over for the 27th, doctors OK and Health/Travel Insurance permitting - first time in 12 months - so need a bit of cheering up!
If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first loginIf you are not already registered you must first register


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We're Not Buying It (WNBI) is an original, research-based prevention education program developed by NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc. to provide a media literacy program targeting middle school age students in grades 6-8.
It was developed with the goal of preventing or at least delaying the onset of alcohol, marijuana, and non-medical prescription drug use, and to prevent bullying.
WNBI capitalizes on the fact that today's middle school students have spent their entire lives surrounded by various types of media. The program takes the perspective that the media is a significant source of misinformation for young people, so WNBI uses the media to provide true information. Whereas previous media literacy programs relied solely on print media,
WNBI is the first to focus solely on digital audio/visual media. Multiple learning styles are incorporated into each lesson of the curriculum –just as the media uses multiple formats and techniques to sell their "product" to youth. WNBI is comprised of six lessons.
Each lesson is approximately 38-45 minutes in length to correspond with class times for students. Media and other spheres of influence are addressed in two sessions.
Topics on various types of substance use and bullying are addressed through the lens of a different form of media:
The program is grounded in Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior, a theory of health behavior change that has been well-supported by research spanning a variety of behaviors including alcohol and other substance use. The theory posits that behavioral intention is a critical determinant of behavior, and that behavioral intent is influenced by an individual's attitude toward a behavior, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control.
At its core, the rationale of WNBI is to help students understand how normative messages reach them, the truth behind the messages portrayed and how to make their own choices by being educated media consumers.
With a proper understanding of the marketing messages directed toward today's youth to engage in unhealthy behaviors, students are able to resist those messages and make decisions based on accurate facts and say with confidence, "We're not buying it!"
WNBI was accepted into SAMHSA's (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Service to Science Academy in 2012 and an additional technical assistance award was granted to NCADD by SAMHSA in 2013 to expand our evaluation capacity.
A preliminary evaluation was conducted by the Rutgers School of Social Work in March 2014 to analyze the impact of a WNBI implementation for 114 seventh grade students during the 2012-2013 school year. The evaluation identified several statistically-significant positive outcomes related to participation in the WNBI program.
NCADD CEO & Executive Director Steve Liga will be presenting research findings at the 27th Annual NPN Prevention Research Conference scheduled for September 15 – 18 in Hartford, CT.
Students developed more realistic perceptions of the number of peers engaging in substance use and bullying behavior, compared to self reports of actual behavior. Findings also indicated a statistically-significant reduction in the influence of peers on participants' substance use and bullying behavior. The third promising finding was an increased ability to identify a pro-use message in a popular song.
Finally, the most promising finding was that participants were more likely to react proactively to media messages promoting substance use and/or bullying after completing the program. Posttest responses showed that they were significantly less likely to not do anything, more likely to turn off the radio and more likely to refuse to buy a song if it contained a favorable substance use message. This suggests that students gained valuable skills that would help them to refuse media messages about substance use and bullying outcomes.
NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc.
152 Tices Lane, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
(Fax) 732-254-4224


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Abscess, Skin/Soft Tissue
- A localized collection of pus surrounded and walled off by inflamed tissue
- The collection may be classified as bacterial or sterile:
- Bacterial: most abscesses are bacterial with the microbiology reflective of the microflora of the involved body part.
- Sterile: more associated with intravenous drug abuse and injection of chemical irritants
Microbiology is related to abscess type:
- Dog/cat bites:
- Pasteurella species/anaerobes
- Usually polymicrobial
- Capnocytophaga canimorsus:
- Gram-negative rod associated with severe sepsis from dog bites
- Immunocompromised patients
- 25% mortality
- Orbital:
- Associated with paranasal sinusitis, hematogenous spread, or local skin trauma
- Organisms include staphylococci, streptococci, Haemophilus influenza, Escherichia coli.
- May be polymicrobial
- Breast: dependent on type of abscess:
- Puerperal:
- Classically occurs during lactation
- Located in peripheral wedge
- Caused by staphylococci
- Duct ectasia:
- Caused by ectatic ducts
- Periareolar location
- Caused by several organisms (polymicrobial), with a mix of staphylococci, anaerobic streptococci, bacteroids, and enterococci
- Hidradenitis suppurativa:
- Chronic abscesses of apocrine sweat glands:
- Groin and axilla
- Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus viridans common pathogens
- E. coli and Proteus species may be present in chronic disease.
- Pilonidal abscess:
- Caused by epithelial disruption of gluteal fold over coccyx
- Staphylococcal species most common
- May be polymicrobial with bacteroides and E. coli
- Bartholin abscess:
- Obstruction of Bartholin duct
- Mixed vaginal flora
- May include Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and E. coli
- Perirectal:
- Originates in anal crypts and extends through ischiorectal space
- Inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes are major predisposing factors.
- Bacteroides fragilis and E. coli most common pathogens
- Requires treatment in operating room
- Muscle (pyomyositis):
- Typically occurs in tropics
- Increasingly common in patients with human immunodeficiency virus or diabetes
- S. aureus most common
- Intravenous drug abuse:
- Most common pathogens staphylococcal species, Streptococcus milleri, and anaerobes
- Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) common
- Isolates often oral origin
- May be sterile
- Furuncle:
- Arises from infected hair follicle
- Most common on back, axilla, and lower extremities
- Staphylococcal species most common
- Community-acquired MRSA increasingly common
- Carbuncle:
- Larger and more extensive than furuncle
- Often multiple in honeycomb pattern on back of neck
- More common in diabetics
- Usually caused by staphylococci
- Community-acquired MRSA increasingly common
- Paronychia:
- Infection surrounding the nail fold
- Usually caused by S. aureus
- Felon:
- Closed-space abscess in distal pulp of finger
- Usually caused by S. aureus
Conditions associated with soft-tissue abscess formation include the following:
- Soft-tissue trauma
- Mammalian bites
- Bacteremia with hematogenous seeding
- Obstruction of normal drainage (i.e., sweat glands)
- Tissue ischemia
- Intravenous drug use
- Endocarditis
- Lactation disease
- Crohn disease
Signs and Symptoms
- Local:
- Erythema, tenderness, pain, heat, swelling, fluctuance
- Systemic:
- Ranges from absent to fever, rigors, hypotension, and altered mentation
- Regional lymphadenopathy and lymphangitis may occur.
- May be associated with surrounding cellulitis
Essential Workup
- History and physical examination:
- Identify subcutaneous air and involvement of deeper structures.
- Gram stain unnecessary for simple abscesses in healthy patients
- Wound cultures:
- Not indicated in simple abscesses unless MRSA is a consideration
- May help differentiate aerobic from anaerobic infections
- May be useful in confirming community-acquired MRSA in patients with recurrent abscesses
- May guide specific therapy in a compromised host, abscesses of the central face or hand, and treatment failures
- Glucose determination is a useful screening test for diabetics.
- CK if myositis suspected
- Blood cultures indicated if endocarditis is suspected or patient is systemically ill
- Plain films may reveal gas in tissue planes.
- Ultrasound, CT, or MRI helpful when diagnosis is in question
Differential Diagnosis
Pre Hospital
Caution: septic patients may require rapid transport with intravenous access and volume resuscitation.
Pediatric Considerations
Incision and drainage are painful procedures that often require procedural sedation and analgesia.
Initial Stabilization
Septic patient:
- Immediate intravenous access
- Oxygen
- Crystalloid volume resuscitation
- Central venous pressure monitoring
- Mixed venous sampling
- Blood cultures
- Early antibiotic therapy
ED Treatment
- Incision and drainage are the mainstays of treatment.
- Antibiotics are indicated for the following conditions:
- Sepsis
- Systemic illness
- Endocarditis
- Facial abscesses drained into the cavernous sinus
- Concurrent cellulitis (see Medication)
- Mammalian bites
- Immunocompromised hosts
Medication (Drugs)
- Augmentin (particularly mammalian bites): 250-500 mg PO q8h (pediatric dose: 40-80 mg/kg per day divided into three doses)
- Cephalexin: 250-500 mg PO q8h or 500 mg PO q12h (pediatric dose: 25-50 mg/kg per day PO in four doses)
- Clindamycin (MRSA): 150-450 mg PO q6h (pediatric dose: 10-20 mg/kg per day PO or IV in three-four divided doses)
- Dicloxacillin: 250-500 mg PO q6h (pediatric dose: 50-100 mg/kg per day in four divided doses)
- Erythromycin: 500 mg-1 g PO or IV q6h (pediatric dose: 40 mg/kg per day PO divided q6h)
- Gentamicin: 5 mg/kg per day IV q24h (pediatric dose: 7.5 mg/kg per day IV divided q8h)
- Levaquin: 500 mg IV q24h (contraindicated in children)
- Rifampin (MRSA): 300 mg PO q.i.d. (pediatric dose 10 mg/kg up to 300 mg)
- Septra DS (MRSA): one tab PO b.i.d. (pediatric 5 mL susp/10 kg up to 20 mL per dose)
- Unasyn: 1.5-3.0 g IV q6h (pediatric dose: <40>40 kg, adult dose)
- Vancomycin: 1 g IV q12h (pediatric dose: 40 mg/kg per day IV divided q6h)
Perirectal abscess requires treatment in the operating room.
In accordance with abscess type and severity of infection
Admission Criteria
- Sepsis
- Endocarditis
- Systemic illness
- Perirectal involvement
- Any abscess requiring incision and debridement in the operating room
Discharge Criteria
Most patients with uncomplicated abscesses can be treated with incision and drainage and close follow-up.
1. Benson EA. Management of breast abscesses. World J Surg. 1989;13:753-756.
2. Buescher ES. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pediatrics. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2005;17(1):67-70.
3. Canales FL, Newmeyer WL, Kilgore ES. The treatment of felons and paronychias. Hand Clin. 1989;5:515-522.
4. Chiedozi LC. Pyomyositis: review of 205 cases in 112 patients. Am J Surg. 1979;137:255-259.
5. Loyer EM, DuBrow RA, David CL, et al. Imaging of superficial soft-tissue infections: sonographic findings in cases of cellulitis and abscess. AJR. 1995;166:149-152.
6. Summanen PH, Talan DA, Strong C, et al. Bacteriology of skin and soft-tissue infections in intravenous drug users and individuals with no history of intravenous drug use. Clin Infect Dis. 1995;20(Suppl 2):S279-282.
7. Talan DA, Citron DM, Abrahamian FM, et al. Bacteriologic analysis of infected dog and cat bites. N Engl J Med. 1999;340:85-92.


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Allergens and mold can lurk in the home and cause people to feel sick and fatigued all year long. Extra dusting and vacuuming does not seem to help. These respiratory irritants are most likely still thriving within your venting system, bringing down the quality of the air you breathe inside.
Resolving Sensitivities to Allergens
Having family members that are always sniffling and suffering mild to severe allergy symptoms might signal a problem inside the home. Carpeting and drapes always tend to get the blame, when the real culprit in harboring allergens could be the venting system for your heat and air conditioning unit. You will know if most symptoms go away within a few days of having the vents thoroughly cleaned.
Reduce Possibilities of Mold
Mold is an issue in many parts of the country. All it takes is a little water condensation, darkness and humidity for you to have a real growing problem on your hands. You should have your vents cleaned more often if this tends to be a problem in the area you reside.
Eliminate Pet and Smoking Odors
Controlling household odors can be a hard task if there are pets and smokers inside. Pet dander and hair can get in the air, run through the heating and cooling vents. There will always be a certain amount that sticks to the inner walls and you then have a constant pet odor you cannot seem top get rid of. The same thing happens with cigarette smoke. That same brown substance that coats the walls will end up on the walls of the vents. A good frequent cleaning is needed if you have either one of these issues and struggle with lingering odors.
Check the Venting System for Needed Repairs
It is a the perfect time to check your venting system for integrity and wear while they are being cleaned. Have any worn out portions replaced. The more sound the venting is, the lower your energy costs will be.
How Often Should Vents Get Cleaned?
The vents for your heating and air conditioning should be every two to five years, depending on the situation. If you have members of the house that are suffering allergy symptoms, it is better to have the vents cleaned every two years.
Contact HVAC specialists like www.ccairandheat.com/cleaning/ for complete ductwork cleaning Yorktown VA.


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Schedule a Cornea Consult
To schedule a cornea consult call us at 919.967.4836 ext 115, or email email@example.com. We look forward to meeting you at your appointment.
The cornea is the eye's outermost layer. It is the clear, dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye. It can be described as being like a window into the interior of the eye. The main function of the cornea is to allow light to pass into the eye, so that it can reach the lens and then the retina. For this reason the cornea must be transparent. A second chief function is to help focus light, like a camera lens.
Health of the cornea depends on a number of factors, including the health of the conjunctiva and of the eyelids. The conjunctiva is the tissue which covers the front part of the eyeball (but not the cornea) and lines the back of the eyelids. Both the conjunctiva and the eyelids contain glands which make tear fluid. Tear fluid is an essential part of the systems which maintain the health of the cornea.
Diseases of the cornea can cause distorted vision or even loss of vision. Keeping the cornea healthy is a vital part in protecting your vision and the health of your eyes.
DSEK: The partial corneal transplant
DSEK is an acronym for Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty. Some disease like forms of Fuch's Dystrophy and select cases of corneal swelling after eye surgery, are due to dysfunction of the cornea's cells. This layer of cells, called the endothelium, can be replaced surgically with DSEK.
With DSEK, the bottom layer of the cornea is removed and replaced with a small disc of cells from a donor. The replacement of the malfunctioning endothelial cells allows the cornea to once again become clear.
DSEK is performed through small incisions and has a relatively fast recovery period. Usually, the cornea can be greatly cleared by 4 to 6 weeks after the procedure.
Like PKP, DSEK is a corneal transplant procedure, so a lifetime of eye drops and eye examinations are needed afterwards.
Advantages of DSEK as compared to standard corneal transplantation are:
- The eye is left much stronger and more resistant to injury
- There is minimal change in refractive error because the cornea is essentially intact
- Suture-related problems can be eliminated
- Visual recovery is significantly faster and better
DSEK is specifically suited for patients who have posterior corneal diseases with endothelial dysfunction. Patients with corneal conditions such as Fuch's dystrophy, bullous keratopathy or failed prior corneal transplants are surgical candidates who may benefit from the DSEK cornea surgery. If you are seeking a North Carolina DSEK eye surgeon please feel free to contact us at anytime.
Finding a qualified DSEK eye doctor can make the difference in a successful eye surgery.
Call (919) 967-4836 Ext. 115 or Email: firstname.lastname@example.com for a DSEK consultation today!
Understanding Keratoconus
With keratoconus, the shape of the cornea is altered, distorting your vision. Keratoconus can make some activities difficult, such as driving, typing on a computer, watching television or reading.
What are the symptoms of Keratoconus?
Keratoconus usually affects both eyes, however; symptoms in each eye may differ. Surprisingly, this is not an eye condition that affects the elderly. Symptoms usually start to occur in people who are in their late teens and early twenties and may include:
- blurring of vision
- distortion of vision
- sensitivity to light
- glare
- slight irritation
What can I do about treating Keratoconus?
When keratoconus is initially diagnosed by our ophthalmologists, eyeglasses or soft contact lenses might be used to correct some nearsightedness and astigmatism. In most cases this eye disease actually gets worse over time and the doctors may prescribe hard contact lenses. Other forms of treatment include: Intacs corneal ring inlays or in severe cases an actual corneal transplant. New research is being done with a process called corneal cross linking and is currently under FDA Investigation.
Call (919) 967-4836 Ext. 115 or Email: firstname.lastname@example.com for a keratoconus consultation today!
Dry Eye Syndrome
What is Dry Eye?
Dry Eye, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is a condition that decreases the eye's ability to produce tears. Tears help protect the surface of the eye and keep it moist and lubricated. Reduced tear production can lead to damage to the eye's surface. If the problem is chronic and left untreated, it can lead to eye infection and permanent vision impairment.
What are the causes of Dry Eye?
Dry Eye is caused by a problem in the tear-making glands of the eye. This results in fewer tears. Your risk factors for this condition increase with age, certain medications, menopause, and autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, lupus and Sjögren's syndrome or due to medical conditions such as diabetes or blocked tear ducts.
Can allergies and weather conditions cause Dry Eye?
Environmental factors such as dust, allergens, smoke, dry air, the heat or air conditioning, wearing contact lenses or reading for extended periods of time and computer use can aggravate Dry Eye, but they are not the cause. The cause of Dry Eye is a dysfunction of the tear producing glands which results in reduced production of tears.
How do I know if I have Dry Eye?
Your eye doctor can check your eyes for clinical signs of Dry Eye. He will look for dryness and damage to the cornea or conjunctiva (the membrane that covers the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelids) and may measure tear production or break up time. It is also helpful if you describe your condition in detail. Be sure to tell us if you experience burning, itching, the feeling of having "something in your eye," have difficulty reading for any length of time or have excessive tearing.
What treatments are available for Dry Eye?
In addition to over-the-counter artificial tears, the doctor may recommend a prescription eye drop, such as Restasis or have you try vitamins that contain flaxseed and fish oil. Contact wearers may have to decrease time worn or stop wearing them all together. Another approach is to insert a temporary or permanent punctal plug into the tear duct to prevent the drainage of tears.
What do artificial tears do?
Over-the-counter artificial tears can provide quick but temporary symptom relief and help lubricate eyes. Worse, most generic or store name brands have preservatives that can aggravate the condition, and can even kill corneal cells making your dry eyes worse. Tears that promise to "get the red out" will reduce circulation in the eye, decrease production of the tear film, and eventually make your eyes even drier. It's always best to make an appointment and ask your doctor before using any dry eye treatment on your own.
Call (919) 967-4836 Ext. 115 or Email: email@example.com for a dry eye consultation today!
Pingueculae are thought to arise as a result of the effects of environmental irritants such as wind and dust and are associated with UV-light exposure and aging. UV-light exposure, wind, dust, outdoor lifestyle and proximity to the equator, age, male gender, smoking, working outdoors, diabetes mellitus may increase the likelihood of pingueculae forming.
What are the symptoms of Pingueculae?
Most pingueculae do not present many symptoms, but may cause ocular surface irritation including foreign body sensation, tearing, burning or itching. Some patients may find these lesions cosmetically unpleasing.
What can I do about a Pinguecula?
Lubrication with artificial tears and ointment can help with ocular surface irritation. Surgical removal of a pinguecula may be considered if it becomes especially uncomfortable, if it interferes with contact lens wear or blinking, or if it is cosmetically bothersome.
Call (919) 967-4836 Ext. 115 or Email: email@example.com for a pinguecula consultation today!
Pterygium is also commonly called "surfer's eye," you don't have to be a surfer to get a pterygium. UV radiation, proximity to the equator, dry climates, outdoor lifestyle. UV radiation from the sun, dry climates, or an outdoor lifestyle can increase the risks of pterygium.
Pterygia are non-cancerous growths, but they can permanently disfigure the eye. They also can cause discomfort and blurry vision.
What are the symptoms of Pterygium?
Pterygia usually occur on the side of the eye closer to the nose, but they can also develop on the side nearest the ear as well and can affect one eye or both eyes.
Many people with mild surfer's eye may not experience symptoms or require treatment. But large or growing pterygia often cause a gritty, itchy or burning sensation or the feeling something is in the eye. These pterygia can become inflamed and cause red eyes.
What can I do about Pterygium?
Pterygia can be treated with prescription lubricants or mild steroid eye drops that can reduce swelling and redness. A topical cyclosporine may also be prescribed to counter the effects of dry eye. Pterygia should be monitored to prevent scarring that could lead to vision loss.
Call (919) 967-4836 Ext. 115 or Email: email@example.com for a pterygium consultation today!
See what you've been missing!
Stop struggling with your eyesight! Now is the time to schedule your free LASIK consultation with Dr. Bryan at Carolina Ophthalmology and find out if you're a candidate for laser vision correction. Why not take our Self Evaluation Test to get started?


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In our previous post we reviewed the newest Z-Wave Plus device from Fibaro - the Fibaro Swipe - and we mentioned that we'd worked our magic and managed to get the device fully functional in the VERA Z-Wave controller, both for gesture control and for sequence control.
We're now putting the final touches on one of our fantastic PDF guides that gives all the details on how to integrate the Fibaro Swipe into a VERA based Home Automation system.
Customers that buy the Fibaro Swipe and a VERA controller from us can request the guide here so if you're thinking of purchasing one then don't let the lack of out-of-the-box compatibility concern you - we've got you covered!
Don't delay, order yours today, you won't be disappointed!


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The partnership of Gawad Kalinga and the Angelo King Foundation started back in 2006 to build livelihood centers in different Gawad Kalinga communities all over the country. From there, the vision and advocacy of Gawad Kalinga and its battle of "Walang Iwanan" has been very close to Archie King's heart.
Last 2013, The Arch Angel Center for Arts and Culture in the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm was built in partnership with Victoria Court and Hotel La Corona to celebrate the Spirit of Bayanihan and the Miracles of Solidarity. Here, Gawad Kalinga holds various summits and talks about social-economic issues and provide talented speakers and professionals to share their knowledge.
October 4, 2014 marked the Inauguration of the Arch Angel Center for Arts and Culture. The formal ribbon-cutting ceremony was done by Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto, Top Model & Celebrity Host Georgina Wilson and Victoria Court CEO Archie King. During his speech, Mr. King congratulates Gawad Kalinga for the past 11 years and is very much inspired by the leadership and is amazed by the volunteerism of everyone who makes the village a reality.
As Gawad Kalinga embarks on its 2nd phase of development, the Arch Angel Center for Arts and Culture serves as a reminder of the sacrifice and Heroism of everyday Filipinos who contribute in nation building.


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Terrific Fluorescent Light Lumens 40 Fluorescent Light Lumens T12 Lumen Maintenance Curvesall
Fluorescent Light Lumens is another of the interior ideas, that you can use for your Fluorescent Lights. There are a many pictures, that have been posted on Saturday 18th, February 2017 07:57:50: AM, which you can ideas as a consideration in the content Gallery of Fluorescent Light Lumens.
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There are images in this Fluorescent Light Lumens digital imageries, click thumbnail below to view the large version of other photographs.


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Cempaka Tours & Travel
We have an experienced and knowledgeable staff dedicated to providing you with world class service. We pride ourselves on being able to offer unique tours tailored to your interests. We listen to every client and tailor-make their perfect vacation.
Day 1: Arrival - Bintan7.00hrs: Assemble at Telaga Punggur Ferry Terminal 07.30hrs: Taking ferry from Telaga Punggur to BandarBintan Telani ferry terminal 08.00hrs: Reaching at BBT ferry terminal, Transfer to Ria Bintan Golf Club 08.30hrs: Register at Pro Shop 09.00hrs: Tee off for 18 holes of golf 14.00hrs: Transfer to hotel for checking-in, Free and EasyDay 2: Bintan - Departure (B)07.00hrs: Having Breakfast at hotel 08.00hrs: Check-out and transfer to BBT ferry terminal 09.00hrs: Taking ferry heading to Batam 09.30hrs: Home Sweet Home or 09.00hrs: Having Breakfast at hotel 12.00hrs: Check-out hotel 13.30hrs: Transfer to BBT ferry terminal 14.30hrs: Taking Ferry heading to Batam 15.00hrs: Home Sweet Home
- Price Inclusive of :
- Round trip ferry ticket Batam – Bintan – Batam with all taxes
- Land transfer as per itinerary ( Ferry terminal – Hotel – Golf club – Ferry terminal )
- One night accommodation at Nirwana Resort Hotel (Superior ; Twin Sharing )
- 1 x Buffet breakfast
- 1 x round of 18 holes of golf at Ria Bintan Golf Course (Green fee, Twin shared caddy & buggy fee)
- Price Inclusive of :


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Goat Cam
The two web cameras mounted on a rooftop peak of Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant are pointed in slightly different directions, so they reveal 95% of the sod roof's surface. If you can't see the goats in one picture, look closely at the other…it's a rare day that you can't see the goats somewhere on the roof…unless it's night-time, of course, because the goats are brought down each evening and spend the evening in a peaceful barn on the outskirts of Sister Bay. Note that the goats are NOT on the roof in winter! They usually go onto the restaurant's sod roof at the start of each tourism season, in late May, continuing through mid-October.
Al Johnson's Goats on the Roof • Sister Bay • Door County


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The VMAs: How MTV makes the red carpet rock -- Ocean MacAdams, the show's exec producer, talks about outrageous entrances, the problem with stairs, and what he's most excited for this year
Here's the thing about that superstar known as the Red Carpet: Its threads will never go out of style, and it'll always be more adored than any one celebrity. At the avant-garde MTV Video Music Awards, where there's a spanking new setup every year, celebs would be lost without it: They'd have no place to make their outlandish statements, no place to ignite scandals upon arrival. Before Jack Black takes the mike as VMA host (at Radio City Music Hall at 8 p.m. on Aug. 31), executive producer Ocean MacAdams remembers highlights from red carpets past, and shares some details about this year's main attractions.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How much of an impact does the red carpet have on how good celebrities look?
OCEAN MACADAMS: Tons. A glamorous, fun carpet adds to the vibe. One of the things that I really like is the fashion of the VMAs carpet: It's not the Oscars, so it's not like you're trying to get that million-dollar outfit, but it's not the Teen Choice Awards — it's somewhere in between. People dress up and have a look that is very unique to the VMAs. The ultimate thing about the VMA preshow is that we were the first people to ever have a televised preshow. We spend a lot of time doing beauty shots, lots of head-to-toes, because we really know how important fashion is to these things. We can do all of these crazy things, but a portion of our audience wants to see what J. Lo's wearing. Or what Christina's wearing.
So when does everybody start hitting the carpet?
Our preshow starts at 6:30 p.m., and the carpet opens at 5:30 p.m. But you know the nature of celebs: Everybody wants to be last. The single most stressful thing in my existence is, It's 6:27, and there's not a lot of celebrities on the red carpet. Every year we try to book a big A-list celebrity, and we beg them to get there early. And some years it works out, and some years it doesn't.
Walk us through the red carpet — what's the publicists' path?
In the last couple of years, we have added a "shoot" that goes behind the step and repeat [photographing wall]. Inevitably, everyone who shows up with the celeb thinks they belong on the carpet. It's amazing the regard that a star's official dog-walker holds themselves in. The fantasy is that the celebs will break off and we won't have a carpet full of Turtles and Dramas.
Can you talk about wardrobe malfunctions?
I've seen way more of celebs than I really want to. Celebs seem to always forget that they actually have to walk in the outfits they choose — a long way. One of the more famous VMA moments is when Lil' Kim came with the pastie. I actually had my own Lil' Kim experience the year before… when getting out of the limo, she bent over a little too far and lost her dress. Luckily, for the most part, we see that stuff before it goes live. It's happened twice where there's, like, random wet spots on people's backs from the sweat in the limo coming over. You know, we're not there to embarrass people.
Has anything made it on air that you were finicky about?
One year [in] Los Angeles, Marilyn Manson and — what was her name? — [Rose] McGowan came. We [didn't] even know if we could actually interview Marilyn Manson because we didn't want to show his date. [McGowan's entire backside was peeking through her dress.] Whether or not that helped her career… fame or infamy, I'm not sure. The people who tend to dress the most scandalously are the people who are the least famous. Someone will come in nothing, and you're like, "Who is that?" And it's a nobody, praying that lots of people [photograph] them.
Any other memorable mishaps?
In 2003, we decided to build a catwalk over the Rockefeller [Center] gardens, with paparazzi and fans looking up at [celebs] like a fashion show. It was awesome. We kind of forgot, however, that this would mean that people would be looking up everyone's dress.
What about stairs?
We are always terrified of stairs. You can't exactly tell J. Lo to wear flats. We have stairs at the head of the carpet with escorts to give the ladies a hand up and hand down.
What happens when someone wants to make an extravaganza out of his or her arrival?
You name it, people want to arrive in it. We've had unannounced 18-wheelers, tour buses, motorcycles, vans. Beck always drives himself in a Town Car. People always ask about helicopters; it's literally the number one request. Everyone thinks they're the first person to ever ask for it. I always get a call: "Ocean, dude, we got a huge idea for you this year. Unprecedented. We're coming by helicopter." And I'm like, "Where do you think you're going to land a helicopter in the middle of Rockefeller Plaza? Do you understand the issues of that at all?" So no, there will be no helicopter arrivals this year.
What have been some of your favorite entrances?
Rob Zombie once came in a Munsters car; that was really fun. And obviously when Diddy showed up in the flatbed. It was amazing. And, by the way, we didn't know about it ahead of time. I think a lot of people believe in the philosophy that it's a lot easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission. Every year, there's a great Diddy story. Two years ago, we had the brilliant idea to have people arrive by boat in Miami. It was obviously a logistical nightmare. The competition to have the biggest boat was intense. 50 [Cent] wanted to land a helicopter on a boat. Diddy won, of course. In the end, I swear to God, the boat that Diddy came in literally looked like an oil tanker painted white.
When you all were in Miami that year, there was a white carpet, right?
When we first went to Miami [in 2004], we had talked about the "white party" look. So I met with my technical team and everybody was like, "Dude, we cannot have a white carpet — you get too much glare, it gets filthy really quickly." So we didn't do it the first year. Second year, Diddy's sitting in the press conference [he was the host in 2005] and goes, "Hey, we're having a white carpet this year." I remember going, Okay. We ended up doing it, and it was great. [But] we ended up having to rebuild the carpet in one day after the hurricane [Katrina, at the time a category 1, hit just north of Miami three days before the VMAs]. Our people were literally pulling the plastic off the white carpet as the show went live.
You mentioned having a story about Dave Chappelle in Miami; what was that about?
Dave Chappelle was supposed to be on the red carpet, we were waiting for him, the whole thing was timed out, and [his] publicist calls me: "Yeah, I'm here with Dave — he's got a really funny idea. Dave wants to show up, but before he gets off the boat, he wants to help 20 guys [out of the boat] that he pretended to pick up in the water who were Cuban refugees." I was like, "I don't know if the people of Miami appreciate a lot of Cuban-refugee jokes." Luckily, it didn't happen.
Tell us about the four different interviewing spots on the red carpet.
We do interviews in multiple locations. The "pod" is an island that puts you right in the action of the red carpet. The "cube" is a large, rotating MTV News cube that is the one thing we always have — it's tradition. One year we had it redone, but we didn't realize that… it's like escalators. When you build an escalator, they squeak for, like, five days. So we turned on the spinning cube the day of the show and it was a disaster. It wasn't spinning during the show. There's actually a location at the Top of the Rock [Rockefeller's observation deck]. And then there's home base. That's where we do a lot of our interviews. The most famous red carpet moment of all time was the Madonna-Courtney kerfuffle [which happened] at our home base [in 1995]. That was the compact-throwing, Courtney-falling-over incident. That's certainly the most famous one. But every year, there's tons of craziness.
What else is different this time around?
The multiscreen experience (14 cameras total) is what this year's show is all about. When you think about it, we're seeing a lot of things. What we're really excited about this year is Top of the Rock. It is just an unbelievable space. We're going to actually build a stage on the 70th floor overlooking the city, [and] have a kick-ass rock band. Opening the show is Fergie, who's going to be doing her hit, "London Bridge." We're actually going to shut the carpet down for five minutes, and she's going to walk up and down the carpet, performing in front of the fans and all of the press. She's psyched. It's going to be another amazing moment.


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Smith (West's Law Dictionary, 1993, etc.) breaks down the ins and outs of U.S. government and law.
Beginning with the foundations of the U.S government, Smith provides an accessible resource for understanding how American law originates and evolves. Each chapter is brief, covering the most pertinent data in what can often feel like an endless number of legal categories and jurisdictions. The book covers everything from how a bill is made into law, the hierarchies of the court system, and various types of law, such as bankruptcy and administrative. Fortunately, simple structure and prose make this a user-friendly reference guide. However, Smith sometimes makes blanket statements that can feel out of place, as when discussing executive power: "For good reason, the President of the United States is often described as the most powerful person in the world." This statement is never elaborated on, nor is his claim that those "who are eligible [for lawful permanent residency] would be well advised to consider applying." Elsewhere, a section on civil rights law is poorly served with its slim two-page coverage. Since Smith makes clear that this book is for beginners, each section is appropriately paced and best suited for aspiring law students in college or even high school, foreigners and curious readers looking for an introduction to legal issues. Yet readers unfamiliar with the material should take the author's more opinionated statements with a grain of salt. Readers can also jump to a specific section without feeling lost, making this guide useful as a desk reference, too.
A notable, brief overview of the state of American law, without the jargon.


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MEW Seminar: Women in Missions
This week promotes global awareness, relationships, opportunities, and service. Come and hang out with missionaries and find out what is happening around the world and how you can be a part of it.
Monday, October 15, 2018 at 3:30pm to 4:30pm
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It was the second week in a row that Tennessee State (5-5, 4-3) trailed double-digits, but found a way to pull out the victory. Last weekend TSU trailed by 14 to Eastern Illinois early in the fourth quarter before edging the Panthers, 18-17.
TSU took the lead with 6:34 left in the third quarter and never surrendered, despite UT Martin (5-5, 4-3) narrowing the gap on two occasions. The Skyhawks made it a 35-30 game with 2:55 left and recovered the onside kick.
However, Tennessee State used a strong defensive stand forcing a turnover on downs and earning a share of the Sgt. York Trophy for the first time since 2008. The trophy is battled out between the four OVC institutions in the state of Tennessee. If Austin Peay loses to Tennessee Tech next weekend, the Tigers will gain possession of the trophy.
The win also gave the Tigers their first winning record in the OVC since 2008.
The Tigers totaled 516 yards, reaching 500+ yards of offense for the third time this season. The offensive attack was balanced, totaling 263 passing yards and 253 rushing yards.
For the second consecutive week, tailback Trabis Ward set a career-high in rushing. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native carried the pigskin 26 times for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Ward also had two receptions for 20 yards.
Redshirt freshman Michael German threw for his third 250+ yard game this season. The quarterback completed 16-of-25 attempts for 263 yards and three touchdowns. Among his throws included a 77-yard strike to Travis James.
James caught four passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns, setting a new career high. Junior Devin Wilson brought in three catches for 72 yards.
Daniel Fitzpatrick led the Tigers in tackles for the fourth consecutive week. He tied a team-best nine tackles and a half tackle-for-loss. Senior linebacker Rico Council also had nine tackles and picked up 1.5 tackles-for-loss. Council is now just 5.5 TFLs away from reaching third all-time at TSU.
UTM struck first when Derek Carr connected to Quentin Sims on a 12 yard pass to put the Skyhawks up 7-0 with 10:16 left in the first.
On the kick return the Skyhawks recovered a TSU fumble to get the ball at the Tigers' nine yard-line. UTM capitalized on the mistake when Carr threw a 15-yard pass to Stephen Shiver, putting the Skyhawks up 14-0.
The Skyhawks tacked on a field goal when Cody Sandlin knocked through a 28-yard field goal at the 1:58 mark in the first quarter.
The Tigers bounced back with a six play, 74-yard drive. TSU used a flea flicker pass that resulted in 45 yards from German to Wilson. It culminated with a four-yard pass from German to James to make it a 14-7 contest with 8:30 left in the first half.
Just before the half ended, German threw a 52-yard pass to James putting the Tigers in the red-zone with just 34 seconds left. A few plays later, German finds tight end Wesley Samuels with a two-yard pass, making it 17-14 at the break.
Tennessee State took its' first lead in the game when Ward added a one-yard rushing touchdown. The redshirt sophomore accounted for 42 yards on the drive. TSU took a 21-17 advantage, taking 7:24 off the clock in the third quarter.
The offense success continued for the Tigers as German threw a 77-yard touchdown pass to James, putting the Tigers up 28-17 with 1:22 left in the third quarter. The pass gave James a new career-high breaking his previous best of 115 set against Jackson State on Sept. 10.
The Skyhawks weren't done as the quarterback Carr found Kenny Jones for a 26-yard touchdown to make it 28-24 contest with 14:13 left in the game.
TSU completed a nine play, 84-yard drive as Ward added a two-yard touchdown giving TSU the nine point edge.
It wasn't over as UTM responded with a 69-yard scoring drive. Carr completed an 11-yard pass to Corey Johnson, narrowing the deficit to 35-30. Carr finished 329 yards
UTM recovered the onside kick with 2:55 left in the game, but the Tigers regained the ball after turnover on downs to seal their fourth conference win.
Tennessee State closes out the season next weekend with Fan Appreciation and Senior Day. Kickoff with the Jacksonville State Gamecocks is slated for 2 p.m. at LP Field.
Notes: TSU won the toss and elected to receive...Linebacker John Jones returned to the starting lineup after missing last week due to an injury...Matt Moseley's 52-yard punt in the first quarter was his fifth of the season and his 13th inside the 20-yard line this year...TSU's second scoring drive of 7:24 was the second longest of the season, only behind a drive of 7:37 during last week's 18-17 win over EIU...Michael German's 77-yard pass was the second longest of his career, just three yards shy of his career-long set at Air Force on Sept. 24...TSU reached above .500 in the conference for the first time since the 2008 campaign...TSU legend and NFL Hall of Famer Richard Dent was honored at halftime as the Homecoming 2011 Co-Grand Marshall.


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The reasons why Muslims believe that God exists
In the Old Testament, the Egyptian ruler during the period of Prophet Ibrahim (as) and Prophet Yusuf (as) are named "Pharaoh."
However, this title was actually employed after the eras in which these two Prophets lived.
While addressing the Egyptian ruler at the time of Prophet Yusuf (as), the word "Al-Malik" in Arabic is used in the Qur'an: It refers to a ruler, king or sultan:
"The King said, 'Bring him to me straight away!"
[Qur'an 12:50]
The ruler of Egypt in the time of the Prophet Musa (as) is referred to as "Pharaoh." This distinction in the Qur'an is not made in the Old and New Testaments nor by Jewish historians.
In the Bible, the word "Pharaoh" is used, in every reference to an Egyptian monarch. On the other hand, the Qur'an is far more concise and accurate in the terminology it employs.
The use of the word "Pharaoh" in Egyptian history belongs only to the late period. This particular title began to be employed in the 14th century B.C., during the reign of Amenhotep IV.
The Prophet Yusuf (as) lived at least 200 years before that time.216
The Encyclopaedia Britannica says that the word "Pharaoh" was a title of respect used from the New Kingdom (beginning with the 18th dynasty; B.C. 1539-1292) until the 22nd dynasty (B.C. 945-730), after which this term of address became the title of the king.
Further information on this subject comes from the Academic American Encyclopaedia, which states that the title of Pharaoh began to be used in the New Kingdom.
"In this way We give you news of what has gone before and We have given you a reminder direct from Us. Those who turn away from it will bear a heavy burden on the Day of Rising."
[Qur'an 20: 99-100]
As we have seen, the use of the word "Pharaoh" dates from a specific period in history. For that reason, the fact that the Qur'an distinguishes between the different Egyptian titles in different Egyptian eras is yet another proof that the Qur'an is Allah's Word.
216. Elias Karîm, "Qur'anic Accuracy vs. Biblical Error: The Kings & Pharaohs of Egypt," www.islamic-wareness.org/Quran/Contrad/External/josephdetail.html; Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips, "An Aspect of the Qur'aan's Miraculous Nature," www.islaam.com/Article.asp?id=40.
1. From http://www.miraclesofthequran.com
2. To get more information about Islam http://islam-heart.blogspot.com/2008/09/info-about-islam.html
3. Anyone ... and I mean anyone (Muslim or not Muslim) who needs my help or wants to directly communicate with me about any matter in Islam … please don't hesitate to contact me on my personal e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com


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Dual Major and Minor
Some Cedar Crest nursing students pursue a minor or double major. The most common double majors are nursing/psychology and nursing/art therapy. You may minor in virtually any subject; the most common choices are psychology, art therapy and business.
You can also expand your knowledge and employment opportunities by completing a certificate program in addition to your nursing degree. Cedar Crest offers certificates in:
- Gerontology— A highly useful addition to a nursing degree for those interested in caring for the elderly. Older adults have greater health care needs and are a growing segment of the U.S. population. Click here for more information.
- School Nurse— This 20-credit program requires that you be licensed as an RN and have one year of practice. Click here for more information.
- Health Care Management— A program that combines online and on-site learning, this 18-credit certificate positions you for administrative leadership. Click here for more information.
- Nursing students can also participate in the Honors Program.


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Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Design Team Call!
16 comments:
- Aunty Sue said...
I would love to work with you ladies but as I am waiting on going into hospital i must pass this time but hopefully if you ask again i could try out and hopefully be picked. Have a lovely day Janet
- 3 August 2011 at 08:58
- Catherine said...
Hi I would love to try out for this and sent an email however it got returned saying that the email address was wrong????
- 3 August 2011 at 09:45
- Janet said...
Ooops sorry Catherinne.....missed the 's' off of the end of designs....try it now :)
- 3 August 2011 at 10:31
- snehal watwe welde said...
I would love to work with you ...will send you an email soon
- 3 August 2011 at 15:55
- Jennifer Scull said...
have sent my email to you. thanks for this opportunity! :)
- 3 August 2011 at 16:32
- Sandra said...
That's a great offer :) Sandra H
- 3 August 2011 at 18:52
- Cherbear said...
- 6 August 2011 at 22:40
- Trena in Naperville said...
Hello!! I just found you and downloaded one of your free images - what cute images you have!! I would like to be considered for a DT spot. Please visit my blog. You'll see that I love to color! :o)
Take care and STAY POSITIVE!
- 7 August 2011 at 19:50
- mamichelle said...
Thank you for the adorable reindeer stamp!
- 8 August 2011 at 15:08
Hi, i have downloaded one of your free digis. thank you so much for sharing. I look forward to playing with it.
- 8 August 2011 at 18:40
hi janet,
i hope peace is restored in your area. its been nasty here too.
i have sent you email about the DT place.
also wanted to say thanks for yet another gorgeous freebie.
suzanne2 x
- 11 August 2011 at 11:53
Thank you for sharing this cute digi
I wish you many more creative years of bloging!
have a blessed day
- 13 August 2011 at 21:06
Thanks for the freebie - it is soooo cute!
- 13 August 2011 at 22:08
- Patricia St Martin said...
I would of loved to of had your cut little bug. I could not figure out how to get him FREE. You make it so hard to figure it out so I guess it not worth it. I do not have any of you digi's and now I now why.
- 13 August 2011 at 22:09
Ohhhh, I'd love to be part of your DT - I'm new to the world of digis and have tons of calligraphy/graphic arts/lettering arts experience which I brings my fun ideas to my layouts & designs...
My blog is alos new but do check it out...
Have an awesome day!
- 13 August 2011 at 22:26
- Janet said...
It is very quick and easy to download our free digi stamps with just a few clicks and thousands of people have done this successfully.
Just follow the simple instructions on the Pink Gem blog or the Pink Gem Designs website.
- 14 August 2011 at 08:40


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How to Stay Motivated When You Feel Like Giving Up
When you were younger, you thought you could do almost anything.
You imagined not just becoming a doctor, but curing cancer. You didn't just day-dream about starting a business, but creating inventions that solved big problems. You didn't just see yourself as a poet, but the bard who reignited modern culture's interest in verse. (Okay, maybe that last one was just me.)
Over time, you reset your expectations of the possible. Why?
First, friends and family urged you to be "realistic." Then the self-doubt crept in. You became more cautious while also raising your standards.
After all, if you're going to do something amazing, you have to be amazing, don't you?
Finally, you realized the whole thing was taking a lot longer than you'd thought it would. You were tired and your motivation was quickly sapping.
Finally you told yourself: who needs those silly dreams anyway?
When I put together the self-study version of my No Regrets Career Academy last year, I tried to answer all the questions about how to choose a career that I could conceive of in the material itself.
But the most common question I got back wasn't about how to choose a new career at all. What most people wanted to know was: how can I stay motivated to keep going on my quest?
In trying to answer one of the most important questions of their lives, too many wanted to just give up.
The problems that caused them to give up on their dream careers the first time were the same issues that caused them to quit the second, third, or fourth time around. The problem wasn't that they couldn't dream big (though that got harder each time they gave up), but that they couldn't sustain their efforts on a project that felt so huge.
In this post, I discuss the simple solution that's helping my clients get over the hump, so to speak. And why I realized I needed a dose of my own medicine.
The surprising reason we quit
In trying to help my clients when they felt overwhelmed and inadequate, the answer seemed obvious: you need to create incremental rewards.
You must take the time to celebrate your small successes, your insights and a-ha moments, not just the end result.
You can't put the only prize at the end of a very long journey and expect that will be enough. It would be like asking yourself to cross a desert without a glass of water, with the promise of a lake at the other end. At some point, you'll say, "Screw the lake, just take away the pain of this parched throat … now!"
But as an ordinary human (and fellow over-achiever, as many of my clients are), I realized I made the same mistake, just with other endeavors and journeys.
If it hasn't been obvious from my posts, I've been on a bit of an emotional roller-coaster the last couple of months. Instead of celebrating my successes, I've used them to propel me further and faster.
Sounds great, and there were times my happiness soared. But riding what felt like momentum came with a cost, one that threatened to dissolve everything I'd built as well as my entrepreneurial self-confidence.
When you're tired and anxious and feel like giving up, it's easy to ask: what's wrong with me? Am I on the wrong path?
The relationship between success and celebration
This week I turned 40. Last week, Everyday Bright turned 2.
There's nothing particularly notable about turning 40 as opposed to 39, or a blog turning anything beyond the first 6 months, but it did feel like an important milestone. Instead of continuing to ask what was wrong, I used the turning point to ask: what am I doing right?
I realized I've done so many things that, just a few short years ago, seemed impossible or at the least, overly optimistic.
- I'm living overseas in Europe, probably the biggest item on my life's bucket list
- My business turned profitable in less than a year, despite a massive investment (too much really) in education and training
- I've built a community of people I love to interact with here on Everyday Bright
- I spend far more quality time with my daughter (around 15 more hours every week, plus 14 weeks of vacation a year)
- Recently, I made key friendships a priority, making time for friends near and far instead of always giving in to my introverted, workaholic nature
I succeed at resetting my potential and my view of what was possible.
What was wrong was that I failed to pause and enjoy it. I hardly ever took time to look back and say to myself, "Wow, look at how far I've come! What a view!"
Part of the problem, at least in my mind, is that the word "celebration" seems to imply more work in addition to the reward. I have to plan something or save some money to pay for the treat. And when I'm already busy, the last thing I want is more work.
As I'm trying to teach myself (and my clients), a simple celebration is nearly always better than a complicated one.
- Instead of planning a huge birthday party for all my friends, I'm having our personal chef make one of my favorite meals and a cake for the family
- Instead of buying something that feels good in the short term but just adds to the clutter, I'm buying books on my Kindle (and giving myself the time to read them)
- Instead of keeping myself up with worry by repeating "There's more that needs doing," I'm rewarding a day's work with a good night's sleep
These are small things that deliver bigger impacts to your quality of life … and work.
When you're busy, it's tempting to forget about the celebration and move on to working on the next accomplishment. But that would be a huge mistake.
We like to say "life is a celebration," but that's only true if we make time for it, on our calendars and in our hearts.
I have to be very deliberate about my revelry. I realized I take pride in telling people how hard I work and how busy I am–probably a hold over from a long career in corporate, where such traits are prized.
Turns out, I'd be a lot better off taking and talking about my celebrations. People get tired of hearing how tired you are. And the more you hear yourself say how tired you are, the more you'll feel it.
I said in my post Is Self-Improvement Ruining Your Life that I was going to embrace my over-achiever nature instead of fighting it.
That meant I had to see taking time to celebrate as a mechanism to achieve. And that's not hard to do.
Over the last few months, I've learned if you continually short change your celebration, you'll eventually hamstring your accomplishment.
I'm not giving up.
Instead, I'm going to nurture my potential by cultivating the habit of pause and reflection, by taking the time to enjoy those accomplishments as they're happening.
Which means sometimes a post will be a day late, so I can celebrate 40 years of good living with a fancy dinner out and a classic West End show.
And if I've done my celebrating right, when I come back to work, I'll feel energized, ready to chase my dreams, and darn lucky to have the opportunity to do so.


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The 2018 Honda Odyssey is available at Keeler Honda.
We serve areas near Latham, Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, and Clifton Park, NY, and areas nearby.
If the phrase "MOM, HE KEEPS POKING ME" means anything to you, you know how important it is to have a vehicle with plenty of space for the family. The 2018 Honda Odyssey is here to help with plenty of space, and a variety of technology options to keep everyone happy! As you travel around Latham, Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, or Clifton Park, NY travel hassles are a thing of the past. There are five trim level options to choose from including the 2018 Honda Odyssey LX, the Honda Odyssey EX, the Honda Odyssey EX-L, the Honda Odyssey Touring, and the 2018 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite. You are bound to find one that fits the needs of your family, so we invite you to head over to Keeler Honda to take a test drive in one of these exciting options. While you're there check out our lease and finance options that are sure to save you money and stress. So head on over and visit us here at 1111 Troy-Schenectady Rd. Latham, NY 12110 to get the space you and your family need. After, you can stop by Galleria 7 for a celebratory dinner!
2018 Honda Odyssey Performance Overview
When you hit the road in Latham, NY for family fun your 2018 Honda Odyssey will have no trouble getting you there thanks to its V-6 Aluminum-Alloy 24-Valve SOHC i-VTEC® Engine generating 280 horsepower with 265 lb-ft of torque and Six-Speed Automatic Transmission. Commanding the road will be no problem at all in your new, 2018 Honda Odyssey.
2018 Honda Odyssey EPA Fuel Economy Estimates
EPA estimated MPG for the 2018 Honda Odyssey is 19 city/ 28 highway/ 22 combined*.
2018 Honda Odyssey Safety Feature Highlights
Safety comes first, especially when it comes to your family. So when you're driving around Albany, Schenectady, or anywhere else the 2018 Honda Odyssey will have you covered with standard safety features like Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control*, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist, LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)* with Tire Fill Assist and Location and Pressure Indicators, Multi-Angle Rearview Camera* with Guidelines, Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™)* a Honda Sensing® feature, Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM)* a Honda Sensing® feature, Forward Collision Warning (FCW)* a Honda Sensing® feature, Lane Departure Warning (LDW)* a Honda Sensing® feature, Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure, Advanced Front Airbags, SmartVent® Front Side Airbags, Three-Row Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor, Driver's and Front Passenger's Knee Airbags, 3-Point Seat Belts at all Seating Positions, Front 3-Point Seat Belts with Automatic Tensioning System, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH): ( Lower Anchors (2nd-row All, 3rd-row outboard) and Tether Anchors (2nd-row all, 3rd-row all)), Driver's and Front Passenger's Seat-Belt Reminder, and Child-Proof Rear Door Locks.
2018 Honda Odyssey Trim Levels and Features
2018 Honda Odyssey LX Features
The first stop on our journey through 2018 Honda Odyssey trim levels is the LX. This trim will have you questioning if this is really the base Odyssey trim level as you drive around Rensselaer, NY with standard features like Automatic Climate Control System, Programmable Power Door and Tailgate Locks, Push Button Start, Cruise Control, Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column, Driver's and Front Passenger's Illuminated Vanity Mirrors, Map Lights (all rows), Front Bag Hook, Lockable Glove Compartment, Ambient Console Lighting, Beverage Holders (all rows), Capless Fuel Filler, Passenger-Assist Grips (front and 2nd-row), Garment Hooks (2nd and 3rd row, 4 total), Front Door Courtesy Lights, Rear Window Defroster, Rear-Seat Heater Ducts, Cargo Area Light, Rear Storage Well, illuminated Steering Wheel-Mounted Controls, Conversation Mirror with Sunglasses Holder, Multi-Reflector Halogen Headlights with Auto-Off, Active Shutter Grille, One-Touch Turn Indicators, Rear Privacy Glass, Security System, Taillights with Integrated LED Light Bars, Roofline Spoiler with Integrated Brake Light, Body-Colored, Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers, Rain-Sensing, Intermittent Rear Window Wiper/Washer, Remote Entry System, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®*, Bluetooth® Streaming Audio*, MP3/Auxiliary Input Jack, Radio Data System (RDS), SMS Text Message Function*, USB Smartphone Ports* (Front: Audio Interface 1.0-Amp Charging Ports: 2.5-Amp Center), and 5-Inch Color LCD Screen.
MSRP starts at $29,990** for the 2018 Honda Odyssey LX.
2018 Honda Odyssey EX Features
Directly following the Honda Odyssey LX is the 2018 Honda Odyssey EX which adds even more features like Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)*, Honda Sensing® feature, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)* a Honda Sensing® feature, Auto High-Beam Headlights, Blind Spot Information System (BSI)*, Cross Traffic Monitor, Lower Seatback Pockets (front row), Auto-Up Down Power Windows (Front and 2nd-Row), Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control System with Humidity Control and Air Filtration, HomeLink® Remote System*, 8-Inch Display Audio with High-Resolution (720P) Electrostatic Touch-Screen and Customizable Feature Settings, Apple CarPlay™*, Android Auto™*, SiriusXM® Radio*, HD Radio™*, and CabinControl™ Remote Compatibility.
MSRP starts at $33,860** for the 2018 Honda Odyssey EX.
2018 Honda Odyssey EX-L Features
The 2018 Honda Odyssey EX-L is up next and this trip builds upon the features of the previous Honda Odyssey trims and adds Body-Colored Power Side Mirrors with Memory-Linked with Reverse Gear Tilt-Down, One-Touch Power Moonroof with Tilt Feature, Power Tailgate with Programmable Height, HomeLink® Remote System*, Automatic-Dimming Rearview Mirror, Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel, and 3rd Row 12-Volt Power Outlets.
MSRP starts at $37,360** for the 2018 Honda Odyssey EX-L.
2018 Honda Odyssey Touring Features
The fifth trim level option we have is the 2018 Honda Odyssey Touring, and takes everything you loved from the Honda Odyssey EX-L and adds LED Headlights with Auto-On/Off and WiperLink, LED Fog Lights, Hands-Free Access Power Tailgate with Programmable Height, Body-Colored Parking Sensors (Front/Rear), Upper Seatback Pockets (front row), HondaVAC®, CabinWatch™ Rear Seat Monitor, CabinTalk™ In-Car PA System, Advanced Rear Entertainment System with 10.2" High-Resolution WSVGA (1024x600) Screen, Blu-Ray™* Player and Built-In Streaming Apps, HDMI Interface*, Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System® with Voice Recognition* and Honda HD Digital Traffic, HondaLink®*, HondaLink® Subscription Service*, Mobile Hotspot Capability*, 110-Volt / 115-Watt Power Outlet (front), Compass, Turn-By-Turn Directions, and Auto Idle-Stop Indicator.
MSRP starts at $44,510** for the 2018 Honda Odyssey Touring.
2018 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite® Features
The last trim level option is the 2018 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite® which adds even more high quality luxuries that will take your travels around Clifton Park, NY up a notch. These features include Rain-Sensing Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers, Blue Ambient LED Lighting, Heated Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel, 550-Watt Premium Audio System with 11 Speakers Including Subwoofer, Multi-Zone Audio, and Wireless Phone Charger.
MSRP starts at $46,670** for the 2018 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite.
Visit Keeler Honda Today! - Come Test Drive The New 2018 Honda Odyssey.
There's no need to make a tight fit in your old car when the 2018 Honda Odyssey has so much space to offer. Stop by Keeler Honda today and take the exciting, new, 2018 Honda Odyssey out for a test drive!
*Based on 2018 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.
**MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $940.00 destination charge and options. Dealers set own prices.


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Islamic scholars living in the West believe they could play a role in promoting understanding between the Muslim World and the West. A recent conference in Washington D-C examined the influence of American Islamic scholars on the intellectual activity in the Muslim world and found that the impact varies from country to country.
The conference, titled: "Muslims in the United States: Influence and Innovation," found that few works by Westerners have been translated into Arabic in recent years.
"Every year, fewer books are translated into Arabic in the whole of the Arab world than are translated into Spanish in Spain," says Philippa Strum, Director of U-S Studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars where the conference took place. She says only a small Arab elite reads and discusses new western works. Most other Muslims are confined to traditional Arab scholars, especially when studying issues pertaining to Islam.
"As a result," she says, "although many aspects of Western thought and culture are quickly sweeping across the Arab world, few Muslim thinkers outside of the Arab world have any real impact upon Arab Muslim intellectuals."
One of these few is Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Professor of Islamic Studies at the George Washington University and a renown authority on Islamic science and spirituality. Iranian scholar Gholamreza Aavani says Professor Nasr is widely read in Iran, to a large extent because he is Iranian-born and understands the spirit of that culture. Mr. Aavani says Professor Nasr is admired in Iran for teaching Iranian culture in the West as much as he is for teaching western culture in Iran.
"I think he has been very successful in conveying the spirit of Islamic culture, oriental culture, western cultures and so on. [Nasr teaches that] of course, man is a being, he is not God, but he has something divine in him. His spirit, no doubt, is divine. [God said:] 'I blew into him of my own spirit.' This is found both in the Bible and in the Koran and that is great," says Mr. Aavani.
Analysts say messages such as Professor Nasr's about the sanctity of human life could go a long way in deterring violence perpetrated in the name of Islam, especially suicide bombings. Other American Muslim scholars have found pluralism and equal rights for women to be part of Koranic vision, concepts that make Islam compatible with democracy. Unfortunately, most observers say these ideas do not reach many Muslims. Tamara Sonn, Professor of Humanities at The College of William and Mary, cites some of the reasons.
"Continued American military presence in Afghanistan and Iraq, reports of wide spread abuse of prisoners by U-S military personnel, continued stalemate in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, declining standards of living in many places in the Muslim world are the major factors contributing to growing hostility towards America and therefore are undermining the influence of all scholars, whether they are Muslim or not."
Tamara Sonn says that in Pakistan, a country gripped by poverty and illiteracy, only one percent of the gross domestic product is spent on education and the publishing business is in decline. "Obviously, people who cannot read are subject to the influence not of what is in the books, but of what they hear." Professor Sonn says that in Pakistan instead of reading, most people listen to and learn from their religious leaders. Cassette recordings of their sermons are distributed throughout Pakistan and parts of Afghanistan. Their message appeals to the impoverished.
"The most common theme in these popular cassettes is the suffering of the majority of the poor, contrasted with the condition of the elites. Interestingly, the theme is often articulated as a matter of human rights." Professor Sonn says western scholars who are hoping to reach Pakistanis with their message must consider the modes of communication most utilized by the masses: word of mouth and cassette recordings. And since the theme of human rights is already contained in many taped sermons, it could represent a good opening for American Islamic thinkers.
At the other end of the spectrum are Islamic countries where the works of western scholars are widely read and discussed, Indonesia and Turkey, for example. Ibrahim Kalin, Professor of Islamic Studies at The College of the Holy Cross, says the influence of American Muslims is a relatively new phenomenon.
"The influence has always been from the heartlands of Islam: from the Persian world, Cairo and partly the Ottoman world to the rest, that is the periphery of the Islamic world. In the modern period, you have a convergence of a number of influences coming from various sources, various corners of the world and, of course, Muslims in the West."
Professor Kalin says innovative Islamic thought can only come from the West where new ideas can be freely expressed. The United States, he notes, is a home to Muslims from some 50 nations, making it an ideal place for discussing Islam. Analysts say Islamic thinkers from the Muslim world must also be included in those discussions.
... Payvand News - 6/14/05 ... --