text:
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text:
This first-ever episode of severe chest pain was of sudden onset w/ radiation to the left side of the patient's face. No fever, vomiting, diarrhea. Pain has abated. PMH: Hyperthyroidism, hypercholesterolemia, depression. Meds: methimazole. Vitals: HR: 70 bpm; RR: 16; BP: 150/74 mm Hg.
Answer: Noncardiac chest pain.
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subset: commoncrawl


text: > Have you tried disabling the RTC driver? I think it's been known to cause > problems on ppc. Indeed, this is the "legacy" x86 driver, it doesn't work on Macs. You should use CONFIG_PPC_RTC and not CONFIG_RTC on those. In general (for the 10000nth time), use pmac_defconfig ! Ben.


text:
Cc-ckr-5 gene
Cc-ckr-5 gene
a gene which encodes a protein (also called CC-CKR-5) embedded in the surface of immune cells. The hiv virus (the virus which causes aids) uses the protein to invade the immune cells. People who have one mutated and one working copy of this gene take longer to develop aids after infection with hiv than people who have two working copies of the gene. People who have mutations in both copies of this gene are resistant to hiv infection.
Please contribute to this project, if you have more information about this term feel free to edit this page.


text:
CHUNTEX CC2422P Monitor SCHEMATIC Diagram Manual
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text:
Oracle Corp. begins legal battle to take over PeopleSoft Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Oracle Corp. began a pivotal legal battle Monday by depicting its $7.7 billion takeover bid for rival business software maker PeopleSoft Inc. as a competitive catalyst that will spur Microsoft Corp. and other major players to pounce on new market opportunities.
Greenspan won't rule out aggressive action on interest rates
WASHINGTON -- Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan says policy-makers probably can boost interest rates gradually to head off inflation, but he's not ruling out more aggressive action -- a strong signal the Fed is poised to raise rates this month for the first time in four years.
'Romance in Gardens' SABDA theme
A summertime "Romance in the Gardens" will be the theme Saturday for the June gathering of the St. Augustine Ballroom Dance Association at the Riverview Club.
Items being collected to send to Baracoa
A delegation has just returned to St. Augustine from Baracoa, Cuba, and reports that despite heightened tension between the U.S. and Cuban governments, the human ties linking the people of St. Augustine to the people of Baracoa are as solid as ever.
'Windrusher' author at PV library; book signing in city for 'Candlestick'
The Ponte Vedra Beach Public Library hosts local author Victor DiGenti at 7 p.m. June 16 for the Friends of the Library.
Neighbors: Cultural council awaiting state funds
Becky Williams, president of the St. Johns Cultural Council, along with her committees, couldn't be more relieved and excited. Through the news media, the council learned their application
Harbor tour being offered Tuesdays
A new tour that gives participants an on-the-water look at the history of America's oldest port cast off from the City Marina on Tuesdays.Developed jointly by the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum and the St
News Notes
Read about news, meetings and upcoming events in St. Augustine.
Neighbors: Lots of fun activities at the COA
Cathy Brown, executive director of the Council on Aging, is smiling and friendly to everyone at the Coastal Community Center, 180 Marine St.
SJA alumni group awards scholarships
More than 300 members attended the 130th reunion of the St. Joseph Academy Alumni Association the middle of last month. The reunion breakfast was held at the academy cafeteria.
Column of the Day: Bridge Results
It's time for summer school at the St. Augustine Duplicate Bridge Club, 10 Fairbanks St.
People: In "Harry Potter," Hagrid is a big softie
In the "Harry Potter" movies, Hagrid -- the gamekeeper at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry -- stands well over eight feet tall. However, fans of the books and films know he's a gentle giant.
People: Hasselhoff arrested on DUI charge in L.A.
David Hasselhoff was arrested over the weekend on suspicion on driving while intoxicated, police said Monday.
Dr. Donohue: Liver fat can lead to liver cirrhosis
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I had a diagnosis of "fatty infiltration of the liver" on a CT scan done for another problem. I was surprised and upset by this. Recently I had another CT scan, and the report made no mention of fatty liver. Would you discuss the implications of fatty liver and its treatment? -- C.R.
Dr. Donohue: Inflamed arteries can cause headaches
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I had a headache for more than a month. I used every headache medicine I could get my hands on, but none worked well for me. I have finally seen my doctor. He thinks I have temporal arteritis and has put me on prednisone. The headache went away in a matter of days. I am to have a biopsy of an artery. Please explain all this. Will taking the prednisone affect the biopsy results? -- B.W.
Thousands pay respects to Ronald Reagan
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. -- Waiting good-naturedly for as much as half a day in traffic jams and a parking lot, tens of thousands of people filed past Ronald Reagan's flag-draped casket in an outpouring that forced organizers to extend the viewing period Tuesday by four hours.
Army: Injury contributed to soldier's discharge
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- A military police officer was discharged partly because of a head injury he suffered while posing as an uncooperative detainee during a training exercise at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Army acknowledged Tuesday.
Scientists get surprise look at erupting volcano underwater
WASHINGTON -- Hoping to learn more about undersea volcanoes, scientists sent a camera-equipped submarine down to take a look. They got more than they bargained for, witnessing a deep-sea eruption.
White House seeks support for promoting Arab democracy in meeting of Group of Eight leaders
SEA ISLAND, Ga. -- The Bush administration, expecting a quick and favorable vote on a U.N. resolution on Iraq, turned Monday toward winning support at a summit of world leaders for a broader effort to promote democracy in the Middle East at large.
Groups, lawmakers seek end of gay marriages in Mass.
BOSTON (AP) -- A coalition of conservative groups and lawmakers asked a federal appeals court Monday to stop gay marriage in Massachusetts, arguing that the state's highest court usurped the Legislature's authority when it let same-sex couples wed.
Bush, Kerry to pull ads Friday in honor of Reagan
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush and Democratic rival John Kerry will pull their campaign ads Friday, the day of former President Reagan's funeral.
Pentagon planning to withdraw two Army divisions from Germany
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon has advised Germany that as part of a global shifting of U.S. military forces, it wants to withdraw its two Army divisions and replace them with fewer, lighter, more mobile troops.
Testimony from Laci Peterson's mother at Scott's trial
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- Scott Peterson avoided friends and family members as a frantic search got under way for his wife on the evening she was reported missing, and he didn't answer a question about where Laci Peterson might be, her mother testified Monday.
Lea Fastow ordered to serve year at detention center
HOUSTON (AP) -- The wife of former Enron Corp. finance chief Andrew Fastow was ordered to report to a federal detention center to begin her one-year sentence for helping her husband hide ill-gotten income.
58 senators ask Bush to relax restrictions on stem cell research
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Fifty-eight senators are asking President Bush to relax federal restrictions on stem cell research, and several said Monday that the late President Reagan's Alzheimer's disease underscored a need to expand the research using human embryos.
Administration lawyers argued Bush has authority to legally order torture
WASHINGTON -- A group of lawyers in the Bush administration argued in a paper last year that the president has supreme authority over the questioning of terrorist suspects, and can legally order interrogators to torture or commit other crimes against them.
Census: Spending, debt up for schools
WASHINGTON -- Debt for the nation's school districts rose 12 percent to $226 billion in the 2001-02 school year, according to Census Bureau data released Tuesday.
A passion for peace
Peg McIntire is 93 years old and fighting for what she believes in -- peace and justice.
School lunch prices will go up this year
Chicken nuggets, tater tots, fruit juice and milk will cost St. Johns County students more next year.
County accepts order from judge on Estuaries
Four years of litigation and costs surpassing $200,000 ended Tuesday as St. Johns County commissioners decided to end a legal fight against the developer of The Estuaries.
Students may get deported
More than 25 Russian university students stranded in St. Augustine and Daytona Beach are living here illegally and could be deported, according to an official with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Public pays respect to President Reagan
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. -- Nancy Reagan touched her cheek to the flag-covered casket, then made way for Americans by the thousands to pay respects Monday to Ronald Reagan before a cross-country journey to a state funeral in Washington.
School lunches may cost more this year
Due to increased food, fuel and benefits costs, the price of school lunches might increase next school year.
Police Report: FHP issued 6,590 citations during Operation Safe Ride
Operation Safe Ride was a 48-hour statewide enforcement operation conducted May 13 and 14.
Police Report: Sparking wires cut power
Power was out to three customers, including the Elks Lodge on State Road A1A, for slightly more than an hour Monday evening, according to Florida Power & Light. A fire on a powerpole was reported to FPL at 6:26 p.m. by the St. Augustine Police Department. A crew was dispatched and service was restored to the three customers affected by 7:40 p.m., FPL said.
For the Record
One lane southbound of Avenida Menendez between Hypolita and Treasury streets will be closed through late today for repair by the Florida Department of Transportation.
Record earns five journalism awards
The St. Augustine Record received five awards at the Society of Professional Journalists Sunshine State Awards.
Offers of aid, help pour in
ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH -- Mayor Frank Charles said Tuesday he is fighting to keep 18 Russian students from being deported after their international work exchange plans went awry.
Venus due for eclipse last seen 122 years ago
In a rare planetary alignment that has not occurred in 122 years, the planet Venus will appear to move across the face of the sun today -- an astronomical event known as the transit of Venus.
Summit opens on an upbeat note
SEA ISLAND, Ga. -- President Bush and other world leaders showcased a new harmony on Iraq on Tuesday as they met at their annual summit, but prickly issues remained over both Iraq and Bush's plan to promote democracy across the wider Middle East.
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Thomas H. Moore
Captain Thomas Hayes Moore, retired United States Navy, of St. Augustine, died June 5, 2004, at Flagler Hospital. He was 85 years old.
John Wylie Irwin
John Wylie Irwin, 51, of Port St. Lucie, died May 31, 2004, at St. Lucie Medical Center. He was born in DuBois, Pa., and was a resident of Port St. Lucie for one year, coming from Hollywood.
Carolyn Creamer Bedell
Carolyn Creamer Bedell, 74, of St. Augustine, died June 5, 2004, at Community Hospice, Shands Pavilion, Jacksonville. She was born in Bridgeton, N.J., and had resided in St. Augustine since 1980. She was a purchaser for DuPont Chemical Company. She was of the Presbyterian faith.
Grace Metzger
Grace Metzger, 92, of St. Augustine, died June 6, 2004, at Samantha Wilson Care Center. She was a native of Sterling, Ill., and had reside here since 1999. She was a secretary for a steel mill and she was of the Presbyterian faith.
Edward McLean Kinney
Dr. Edward McLean Kinney, O.D., 80, of St. Augustine, died June 6, 2004, at Flagler Hospital. He was a native of Granite City, Ill., and had resided here since 2000. He was an Optometrist and he served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Perspective: Believing in change and making it possible
SHANGHAI, China -- Ronald Reagan came onto my beat a half-century ago, not as a candidate for office but as a visitor. I was working at the Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph, my first new
Letter: Dislikes negativity in Cronkite's column
Editor: Question: Is anyone around who can recall a time when Walter Cronkite wasn't bad-mouthing our country? From the Tet Offensive when he didn't know "what the hell is going on" up until today, Cronkite seems to have a pathological dislike for any action this nation takes to bring order out of the chaos of leftist militarism and terrorists brutality unless we seek permission from the weak-kneed and moribund United Nations.
Letter: An overriding message
Editor: Bravo! Bravo! Limelight production of "Diary of Anne Frank" was perfection itself, from the stage setting, to the direction, to the ensemble work, to each individual actor's performance. There was no weakness! To add to this powerful experience was Temple Bet Yam's exhibit. So many lessons for us today!
Letter: High sheriff of Nocatee
Editor: I once called a talk show and asked the sheriff why his deputies didn't direct traffic, write up accident reports, etc. He told me it takes a special person to take care of traffic. Now I see why he said that.
Letter: Opposes changes at St. Augustine Village
Editor: I have just talked to Alison Martin on the phone, the past curator of St. Augustine Village.
Perspective: Opposing G8 imperialism with protests, walk
On June 8 to 10 the United States will host the 30th annual summit (G8) of nine major market democracies. The event will bring to Sea Island, Ga., the leaders of the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada, Russia and the semi-sovereign European Union.
Perspective: Then and now: Normandy invasion and Iraq war
It was refreshing recently to see a front page of the New York Times that was not full of editorials disguised as "news" stories, undermining the war and the president. However, it was a souvenir front page, reprinted from the New York Times of June 6, 1944 -- reporting on the invasion of Normandy that day.
Ronald Wilson Reagan
WASHINGTON -- Ronald Reagan's was perhaps the most personal of all American presidencies, in the sense that it derived from the firsthand experiences -- personal and tangible -- of the president himself.
Kobe, Lakers even thigns up
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kobe Bryant came through in the clutch, saving the Lakers at the end of regulation and carrying them in overtime.
Padres pick high school SS Matt Bush as No. 1
NEW YORK -- The San Diego Padres' decision to make California high school shortstop Matt Bush the No. 1 pick in Monday's draft came down to overall talent -- and more importantly, money.
Recruiting class finalized for Flagler men's hoops
Flagler College men's basketball coach Bo Clark has finalized his recruiting class for the 2004-05 season.
SAHS pitcher Aaron Jackson taken in 22nd round by Montreal Expos
Aaron Jackson was down on his luck after his phone stayed silent through the first day of the professional baseball draft.
Slam gone, Annika finds new motivation
WILMINGTON, Del. -- Goals are still hard to find for Annika Sorenstam. Challengers are not.
Florida State women's basketball player dies suddenly
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State basketball player Ronalda Pierce died early Tuesday, apparently from an aneurysm that may have resulted from a genetic disease that typically strikes tall people, police said.
Staying the course led to Lightning's surprise Stanley Cup
TAMPA -- For the last 10 years, there was no room for the little guys in the Stanley Cup finals.
Triple Crowns and Grand Slams hard to come by
NEW YORK -- In the realm of tough things to do in sports, capturing the Triple Crown of horse racing ranks right up there with winning the Triple Crown of baseball.
The Marlins, now Tampa: Who's next?
The Jacksonville Jaguars will win the Super Bowl. Bank on it.
Tipton hired to lead Flagler's women's soccer squad
After spending most of his adult life bouncing around from one city (and sometimes country) to another, Bob Tipton really didn't want to leave Ohio.
Smarty Jones: He'll be back
NEW YORK -- Smarty Jones is going on vacation. The small chestnut colt who captured the public's fancy has earned a rest after a grueling five-week stretch in which he came up one length short of winning the Triple Crown.
For now, it's 'The Bachelor' at quarterback for the Giants
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The No. 1 pick in the draft and the guy with two MVP trophies and a Super Bowl ring stood in the back when the New York Giants offense began its drills at minicamp Monday.
Lakers are loose after loss
LOS ANGELES -- Leave it to the Lakers to make light of a loss. Coming off their low-effort virtual no-show in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the Lakers all but laughed it off Monday and promised to try harder next time against the Detroit Pistons.
Sunshine Stanley
TAMPA -- No, Canada. The Stanley Cup not only isn't headed north, the Tampa Bay Lightning are taking it south.
Convict allegedly attacks prison librarian with razor
DAYTONA BEACH (AP) -- A convicted felon serving a life sentence allegedly sliced the face of a prison librarian with a razor, officials said.
Woman who confessed to killing kids indicted
SANFORD (AP) -- A Longwood woman who allegedly poisoned her three children last month was indicted Tuesday on three counts of first-degree murder.
Sheriff: Crime spree suspect likely killed DeLand boy, grandma
DELAND (AP) -- Investigators have found the skeletal remains of a 10-year-old boy who vanished with his grandmother three years ago, and authorities Monday named as the prime murder suspect an electrician who killed three people before killing himself last month.
Another close election: New voters, Iraq war undercut Bush
HOLLYWOOD -- Plenty has changed in Florida since the days of dimpled ch
AARP files new appeal in phone rates case
TALLAHASSEE (AP) -- AARP, the lobbying group for senior citizens, appealed to the Supreme Court on Tuesday to throw out a large phone rate hike approved by the Public Service Commission.
Divers recapture exotic fish seen as threat to Keys reef natives
KEY LARGO (AP) -- A pair of exotic batfish, feared as a threat to native fish, was captured by an underwater posse Tuesday in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary off Key Largo.
Mother of three fatally stabbed
TAMPA (AP) -- A young mother of three was killed when her ex-boyfriend broke into her house and stabbed her several times in the chest with a steak knife, police said.
NTSB: Crew to blame in 2002 crash of FedEx jet
TALLAHASSEE -- The crew of a FedEx plane was to blame for a crash at Tallahassee Regional Airport two years ago because the three men failed to maintain a proper path to the runway, the National Transportation Safety Board found Tuesday.
State responds to CNN lawsuit seeking list of names
TALLAHASSEE (AP) -- The list of approximately 47,000 registered voters who are potential felons is preliminary and should not be released publicly, the Florida Division of Elections argued in court papers Tuesday.
Cracks showing in GOP's Cuban-American base
MIAMI -- President Bush's policies toward Fidel Castro's regime and the war in Iraq are threatening to fray traditionally solid Republican ties to Cuban-American voters, the largest segment of Florida's fast-growing Hispanic community.
Biotech conference opens
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The opening of a global biotechnology conference here was a typical San Francisco event -- it featured greetings from a high-profile mayor and jeers from colorful protesters.
Internet statement warns of attacks on Western airlines
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- An Internet statement bearing the name of Al-Qaida warned Monday that Western airlines will be targeted for terrorist attacks and told Muslims to stay away from Westerners.
U.S., Afghan forces kill 21 suspected Taliban in southern mountains, Afghan commander says
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) -- U.S.-led troops backed by jet fighters and helicopters killed 21 Taliban militants Tuesday, after rebels attacked a convoy in the mountains of southern Afghanistan, an Afghan commander said.
Ecuador Indians protest against president
QUITO, Ecuador -- Small pamphlet bombs exploded in three cities and Ecuador's powerful Indian movement blocked the Pan American Highway on Monday as part of planned demonstrations to demand the resignation of President Lucio Gutierrez.
American working for U.S. defense contractor shot dead in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- An American who worked for a U.S. defense contractor was shot and killed Tuesday in the Saudi capital, the second deadly shooting of a Westerner in the kingdom in three days.
U.S. soldier killed in explosion, as Afghan violence spreads
KABUL, Afghanistan -- An American soldier was killed Monday and two were wounded when a bomb exploded near their patrol in southern Afghanistan, while warplanes pounded militants holed up in mountain caves nearby.
Police in Italy, Belgium arrest 17 militants
ROME (AP) -- In a coordinated strike across Europe, police arrested 17 suspected Islamic militants, including an alleged mastermind of the Madrid train bombings who authorities say was planning further attacks, officials said Tuesday.
Capture of top Mexico drug suspects confirmed
MEXICO CITY -- Authorities said Monday they captured two of the top leaders of one of Mexico's most feared drug gangs, men ranked among the most-wanted suspects on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
U.S., Britain promise to coordinate military moves with Iraqi government
UNITED NATIONS -- The United States and Britain submitted a new draft Monday of their U.N. resolution on Iraq, promising "close coordination" between multinational forces and the interim Iraqi government -- but not an Iraqi veto over major military actions as France and others want.
Iraqi government announces accord to dissolve nine militias
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq's new prime minister announced an agreement Monday by nine political parties to dissolve their militias, integrating some of the 100,000 fighters into the army and police and pensioning off the rest to firm up government control ahead of the transfer of sovereignty.
Renegade commander says fighting has resumed in eastern Congo
BUKAVU, Congo (AP) -- Renegade troops battled with government forces on the outskirts of this strategic Congolese city on Tuesday, despite U.N. efforts to end a crisis that threatens to derail the country's peace process.
U.S. plans to withdraw one-third of troops from S. Korea by end of 2005
SEOUL, South Korea -- A U.S. plan to cut the number of its troops in South Korea by one-third by the end of 2005 will force the South to shoulder more responsibility for defending itself against any North Korean military aggression.
U.S. special forces free four hostages
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- U.S. special forces freed four hostages in a raid Tuesday after staking out their captors' hideout for a day -- the first military rescue of foreigners caught up in Iraq's wave of kidnappings.
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text:
Sealant Equipment & Engineering: Servo Driven Micrometer System
October 1, 2003
Sealant Equipment & Engineering Inc.'s servo-driven MicroMeter III meter/mix system dispenses precision beads of mixed, two-component reactive resins (silicone, epoxy, etc.). The system is designed to dispense micro-beads whose total volume is from .02 to 3 cc's, depending upon the ratio. Dispensing precison beads with a servo system—including patterns with a complex bead path—is faster and easier with the system. The user can vary the dispense flow rate with a 0-10vDC signal to the servo controller, which readily interfaces with the automation.
For more information, call 734-459-8600, fax 734-459-8686 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com .
Did you enjoy this article? Click here to subscribe to Adhesives & Sealants Industry Magazine.


text:
Posted by Word Camel on July 16, 2004
In Reply to: Never Heard This One--"Some people are born on third base..." posted by Bob on July 16, 2004
: : Some people are born on third base and go through life thinking they hit a triple.
: It was said of Dubya.
Whoever said it, I like it. Chalk up another one for baseball.


text:
Family Law
Family Law Questions? Ask a Family Lawyer Online.
Hello there.
Hi, can you see this?
Great. Thank you for your question
I need clarification on just one point that you made in your question. You said "Mom owns a business and wants to hire my daughter at her place of business, essentially paying my child to violate the custody agreement." I'm not clear on how this would impose on your custody agreement. Would your daughter be on the job during your custody hours? If not, what's the problem?
Ok, I think that I understand the situation. Thank you for that explanation.
I notice that you take a bit longer than average to type. There is no rush, but that sometimes indicates that someone is writing from a tablet instead of a desktop or laptop... for example an iphone or ipad. Sometimes, people writing from tablets have technical problems leaving a rating for me when they are through, so if you would like to leave a positive rating for me once we are completely finished, I would very, very much appreciate it if you could just confirm that I was helpful, since it's the only way I can be compensated. That said, whether a minor works for compensation is a question of legal custody. You said that you had joint custody/visitation, and since is is unusual for either parent to have sole legal custody even if there is joint physical custody, I will presume that you have joint legal custody as well as joint physical custody. If that is a faulty assumption, please let me know.So where there is joint legal custody, a minor child cannot start working for compensation unless specifically ordered by the court or unless both parents agree.
Thus, if you have joint legal custody and if the court has not said that the mother can let the minor child work without the father's permission, then the permission of both parents is not necessary.
Furthermore, to be frank, it's pretty obvious what's happening in that sort of situation, and any court should be able to see right through it.
If "mom" wants to go to court and request a modification to the existing court order that permits the daughter to be employed by her 40 hours per week (which would ordinarily be a violation of state child labor laws if the child is under age 18), she can make that request, but it's pretty obvious what is really happening. Even if the court could somehow be persuaded that the child should be allowed to work, it doesn't have to consider that mom's custody time. If the daughter worked at Wal-Mart, it wouldn't be considered mom's custody time, so if the daughter is really working, why should it be considered mom's custody time if she is employed on dad's clock?
The child's wishes are a factor of consideration for a job, but that's true for physical custody and visitation as well. If the child wanted to just spend more time with mom even without the job, the court could consider that if mom made a straight visitation request. However, the child doesn't get to decide what is in her best interest---she just gets to provide her input.
Regardless, unless the court order allows one parent to make that legal custody decision, it takes the consent of both parents, and any change would require the mother going back to court.
Custody and support are decided in the same venue. It is all in the family courts.
If you contact the clerk of the family law division of your superior court, they can give you the forms that you need to request a change.


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This was one of the first race nights of the season. We were ahead at the time, but lost the start and never caught up
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NEW YORK (Mar. 12)
In the latest chapter on the fate of the site where the Third Reich murdered nearly 2 million people, Jewish and Polish officials have agreed in principle to a long-term arrangement for the preservation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death complex.
Advocates of the proposal, which was initialed March 5 in Warsaw, say they hope that it helps in resolving years of controversy involving the future of the former camps and their relationship to the nearby town of Oswiecim, where about 50,000 people now live.
Major points of the plan include:
physically linking Auschwitz with the Birkenau camp, which is not as well preserved and which Jewish leaders call the world's largest graveyard;
ensuring the enforcement of a U.N. protective zone around the camp;
better training for tour guides at the site.
The plan was signed in the presence of Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski.
All parties now have to officially sign off on the deal, in which case it will be brought back to Poland and officially signed, said Miles Lerman, the chairman of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council in Washington who headed the delegation of Jewish groups.
"The Polish government has advised me that it has looked with great favor upon my proposal," Lerman said, adding that there was "no serious discussion" of a dollar figure to carry out the plans.
Lerman spoke in a telephone interview soon after he returned to the United States from Poland.
In addition to Lerman and Polish federal and local officials, attendees of the meetings on the future of the area included representatives of the International Council of the State Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the American Jewish Committee, the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation and Yad Vashem.
The future of Oswiecim, the adjacent town, is also raised in the proposal, whose aims include "encouraging economic growth of the surrounding communities."
Lerman stressed that his delegation's sole concern is with the preservation of the camps and that any development of Oswiecim, a town of about 50,000 people, would be the responsibility of the Polish government.
But that aspect of the proposal has upset at least one Jewish official who has had an instrumental role in the preservation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camps.
Kalman Sultanik, vice chairman of the Auschwitz Museum Council, the body charged with protecting the integrity of the Auschwitz grounds, said in an interview that he is opposed to an agreement that has to do with the neighboring town.
"The Jewish point of view should be how to maintain Auschwitz," said Sultanik, also a vice president of the World Jewish Congress.
In addition, Sultanik took issue with the recent agreement's recognition that some issues, such as the controversial presence of crosses at the death camp, remain unresolved.
For his part, Lerman said the crosses had to come down.
UPDATE TO STORY: Following is a revised version of the story sent yesterday about Netanyahu's visit to Russia. This version includes Netanyahu's denial that he was linking expanded trade with Russia to an end to arms transfers to Syria.


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This FF Viewer opens 1.12 patches for mw2 and it opens cod4 and cod5 patches which have not been packzipped, it will error on opening a patch if it has been packzipped.
Also A Big Note:
When Editing a cod4,5 patch, make sure a offzip.exe is in the SAME folder as the patch your opening or you will get this error:
Buc-Shotz - For making the whole app
aluigi for all his tools and updating offzip per my buc-shotz request
EliteMossy for some treeview help and syntax checker on newest versions.
davidh72 for helping with jailbreak.
Sotg Caboose for some info on the patch timestamp.
iHc James for some old code that helped buc-shotz learn.
unkn0wn and hunter128 for forcing buc to learn the ff.
Nutty(me) - For helping buc-shotz build it on xp version for us xp users.
Video coming soon...
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Enjoy Guys =D


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Seniors and nurses oppose service cuts at Kaiser hospital in Manteca
The Modesto Bee, 11/21/13
By Ken Carlson
MANTECA — Kaiser Permanente's actions to consolidate more services at its north Modesto hospital are not sitting well with seniors and other residents in Manteca.
Retirees at the Woodbridge by Del Webb community in northwest Manteca have joined with unionized nurses to protest the disappearing services at Kaiser's Manteca hospital on West Yosemite Avenue.
Kaiser closed almost 20 patient rooms on the hospital's third floor. And cuts to emergency ultrasound, gastroenterology and other diagnostic services are diverting patients from Manteca to Modesto, said Amy Glass, an intensive care nurse at Kaiser's north Modesto hospital.
This year, almost 2,000 patients have been transferred from Manteca to Modesto, Glass said. News releases from the California Nurses Association claim patients needing more recovery time are often denied admission to the second floor subacute unit in Manteca.
"I don't see the logic of taking away services with the families moving in and the seniors who live here," said Karen Kuns, a former Bay Area resident who said she moved with her husband to the 700-home Del Webb because it was a few miles from a full-service hospital.
The Highway 120 and Interstate 205 corridor is positioned for growth. Residents noted that another 700 homes are planned at Del Webb and thousands of homes are projected for Lathrop near Interstate 5, west of Manteca.
Jackie Rudy, formerly of Fremont and Oakdale, said regional Kaiser officials advised people at a meeting to get used to fewer services at Manteca, as well as innovations such as remote monitoring of patients with chronic illness.
Rudy said she expects patients in outlying communities will be emailing their doctors more often. But her 73-year-old husband with multiple health conditions is on dialysis and often requires hospital care. Early this month, Rudy called 911 when it appeared her husband was suffering a stroke. He waited at the Manteca hospital for six hours before staff said he should be taken to Modesto, Rudy said.
"They should restore the services to Manteca," Glass said. "You have people who paid their premiums and purchased homes in Manteca because of the Kaiser hospital. The older people can't drive at night. It's hard for them to get to Modesto."
In a statement, Kaiser charged the California Nurses Association is spreading misleading information because it's embroiled in a labor dispute with the insurer.
"The CNA's tactics are alarming and using the most vulnerable groups – senior citizens and young families – as part of the union's Northern California bargaining strategy," Kaiser's statement said.
Kaiser said its "advances in clinical quality, prevention, and safety are keeping people healthier, often preventing illnesses and disease from occurring in the first place. As a result, we are seeing shorter and less frequent hospital stays, and fewer patients in our hospitals. At the same time, we are providing high quality care in other appropriate settings, such as medical offices, at home, by phone, and even online."
According to Kaiser, there is no intention of "shutting the doors on our presence in Manteca. We have no intention of leaving this community."
The Manteca hospital was called St. Dominic's when Kaiser acquired the facility in 2004. The Oakland-based health giant severed ties that year with Memorial Medical Center in Modesto and needed more hospital beds for its membership in the region. The Kaiser Modesto Medical Center opened in 2008, combining a full-service hospital with specialty clinics.
Del Webb residents marched last week with CNA members, but said they are mainly concerned about losing medical services. "The more they take away from this Kaiser hospital in Manteca, the more it will affect us," Kuns said.


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Silvio Berlusconi resigns as Italian MPs pass austerity laws
Italian Premier
Silvio Berlusconi resigned today after parliament's lower chamber passed European-demanded reforms, ending a 17-year political era and setting in motion a transition aimed at bringing Italy back from the brink of economic crisis.
Respected former European commissioner Mario Monti remained the top choice to try to steer the country out of its debt woes as the head of a transitional government, but Berlusconi's allies remained split over whether to support him.
Their opposition probably won't scuttle President Giorgio Napolitano's plans to ask Monti to try to form an interim government once Berlusconi resigns, but it will likely make Monti's job more difficult.
PICTURES: In pictures – Berlusconi resigns as Italian PM
Napolitano appealed Saturday for lawmakers to put the good of the country ahead of short-term, local interests – an indirect appeal to members of Berlusconi's party and the allied Northern League to work with the new government.
'All political forces must act with a sense of responsibility,' he said.
Berlusconi's resignation was assured after the Chamber of Deputies, with a vote of 380-26 with two abstentions, approved economic reforms which include increasing the retirement age starting in 2026 but do nothing to open up Italy's inflexible labor market.
The Senate on Friday easily passed the measures, paving the way for Berlusconi to leave office as he promised to do after losing his parliamentary majority on Tuesday. He chaired his final Cabinet meeting Saturday evening, after which he was expected to head to Napolitano's palazzo to tender his resignation.
Berlusconi stood as lawmakers applauded him in the parliament chamber immediately after the vote. But outside his office, hundreds of curiosity-seekers massed to witness the final hours of his government.
'Finally' read one of the signs held up in the crowd. 'Grazie Napolitano,' said another – an indication that, like financial markets, many ordinary Italians had come to the conclusion it was time for Berlusconi to go.
Earlier in the day, Berlusconi lunched with Monti in a clear sign the political transition was already under way, news reports said.
While members of his coalition and the euroskeptic Northern League remained opposed to Monti's nomination, some lawmakers suggested they could support a Monti-led government for a few months to enact the additional EU-demanded reforms before elections are held in early 2012.
Regardless, it's an ignoble end for the 75-year-old billionaire media mogul, who came to power for the first time in 1994 using a soccer chant 'Let's Go Italy' as the name of his political party and selling Italians on a dream of prosperity with his own personal story of transformation from cruise-ship crooner to Italy's richest man.
While he became Italy's longest-serving post-war premier, Berlusconi's three stints as premier were tainted by corruption trials and accusations that he used his political power to help his business interests.
His last term has been marred by sex scandals, "bunga bunga" parties and criminal charges he paid a 17-year-old girl to have sex – accusations he denies.
Italy is under intense pressure to quickly put in place a new and effective government to replace him, one that can push through even more painful reforms and austerity measures to deal with its staggering debts, which stand at (euro) 1.9 trillion ($2.6 trillion), or a huge 120 percent of economic output. Italy has to roll over a little more than (euro) 300 billion ($410 billion) of its debts next year alone.
Markets battered Italy this past week amid uncertainty that Berlusconi would really leave and questions over whether Italy's notoriously paralysed parliament could rally around a replacement.
But Italy's borrowing rates pulled back after Napolitano made clear he intended to tap the politically neutral economist Monti to try to head an interim government to push the reforms through.
The yield on benchmark Italian 10-year bonds fell to 6.48 percent Friday, safely below the crisis level of 7 percent reached earlier this week.


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SAN DIEGO • Josh McDaniels never hid his motivational tactic this week. He said repeatedly, his Denver Broncos had to fight back if they wanted to wrest the AFC West from the San Diego Chargers. The 5-0 start wouldn't matter as much if they just got blown out by the Chargers again.
Now there can be little doubt that the Broncos are in absolute control of the AFC West. Thanks to a historic performance from Eddie Royal, the Broncos took a three-and-a-half game lead in the AFC West with a 34-23 win at Qualcomm Stadium. No team has ever led a division by more than three games and not made the playoffs.
"We came and played the way we play,'' McDaniels said. "Not always pretty, but tough."
The Broncos had lost five of the last six meetings against the Chargers, including four losses by at least 20 points. The Chargers, who were heavily favored to win the AFC West, are a surprising 2-3. But perhaps no team in the NFL is as surprising as the 6-0 Broncos.
"We're a different team,'' Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. "They didn't know what to expect."
The Broncos needed a little magic against a desperate Chargers team, and Royal provided it. Because he had 91 catches last year, it's easy to forget Royal was drafted in the second round to be a playmaker for the Broncos' special teams. He had a 93-yard kickoff return in the first quarter and a 71-yard punt return in the second quarter.
On both returns, he went through the Chargers' special teams untouched.
"He can make some big plays,'' McDaniels said of Royal. "He made two huge ones for us tonight."
The Chargers controlled the first quarter. They held the ball for 11:32 of the first 15 minutes and outgained Denver 169-18. But the Broncos were in the game because of a stop inside their 10-yard line — San Diego fans were upset with three straight runs and a field goal that close to the end zone — and Royal's big plays.
Too bad for the Broncos they gave one of those special teams' touchdowns back. Darren Sproles took a punt that was near the Chargers' sideline but not out of bounds, and weaved through the Broncos for a 77-yard touchdown.
Denver's defense, which has been fantastic all year, was picked apart by Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers in the first half. Rivers was 11-of-16 for 172 yards in the first half.
He was able to find receivers downfield and was creative, throwing a chest pass to LaDainian Tomlinson for a 25-yard gain and floating a 21-yard pass over the defense to tight end Antonio Gates.
Still, the Broncos took a 24-23 lead on Tony Scheffler's nifty 19-yard touchdown catch, and then Denver got a big play from Elvis Dumervil near the end of the third quarter. Dumervil forced Rivers to fumble and the Broncos recovered. That set up a field goal that put the Broncos ahead 27-23.
In the fourth quarter, the Chargers got a 34-yard pass interference call on a long pass to Vincent Jackson, when cornerback Andre Goodman bumped him.
But the Broncos' defense held.
On fourth down the Chargers went for it, and threw incomplete to Malcom Floyd with 5:40 remaining.
Two plays later Scheffler broke free for a 52-yard gain to San Diego's 8-yard line. Brandon Stokley scored a 5-yard touchdown on third and goal to give the Broncos an 11-point lead.
Contact the writer at 476-4891


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Myrtle Beach mayor suggests partial summer vehicle closure to Ocean Boulevard
Thu, 09 Jan 2014 17:46:55 GMT —
A new proposal from Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes could close a section of Ocean Boulevard to vehicles this summer.
Rhodes proposed the idea on Wednesday at the Downtown Redevelopment Corporation's meeting.
City Manager Tom Leath says the idea stems from what is done in the French Quarter in New Orleans, where Bourbon Street and surrounding roads are open during the day for deliveries to restaurants and shops
but closed at night to allow pedestrians to easily walk around.
City Spokesperson Mark Kruea said that area is busy enough that it could, in theory, work out well.
"That's where people want to be. There's literally an activity every night of the week, and this would allow more people to enjoy that and not have a major road right separating them down the middle," Kruea said.
The idea is to get people out of their cars and into stores and restaurants.
"They can put kiosks in the middle of the street, festivals, all kinds of shopping," said Lawrence Cardella, who works on Ocean Boulevard.
While none of the details are final, the proposal would close Ocean Boulevard from near 7th Avenue North to Mr. Joe White Avenue from about 4
p.m. until 2 a.m. during the summer months.
Others say it could potentially hurt what the Boulevard already has in place.
"There is a lot of foot traffic here in the summer, but you get a little people driving back and forth that see the shops and then want to stop," said Jeff Johnson, who works on Ocean Boulevard.
The Downtown Redevelopment Corporation is looking into the logistics before sending a recommendation to City Council. Some of the issues they'll be working on are whether to close the Boulevard every night or just on weekends and when to start and end the closure.
If the city decides to pursue this option, Leath says the measure would go before the Myrtle Beach Planning Commission then City Council for approval.


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WASHINGTON (AP) -- A surprisingly optimistic outlook among younger Americans and a higher stock market pushed up a measure of U.S. consumer sentiment in February. Meanwhile, contracts for new homes barely budged in January.
The increase was small, but the harsh winter weather appears to have had little effect on Americans' confidence so far. That's a sign that spending might pick up in the coming months.
The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index ticked up to 81.6 in February from 81.2 in January. It's still slightly below December's figure.
"While the weather made trips to the store more difficult, the data suggest that purchases were postponed rather than canceled," the report said. For example, consumers' home-buying plans were largely unchanged.
The survey also found that Americans under age 35 have grown more optimistic that their pay will increase. On average, they expect income gains of 5 percent over the next 12 months, the survey found. That's the largest expected gain since November 2006.
Richard Curtin, director of the survey, said that is a welcome change for an age group that has been particularly hard hit by the recession and sluggish recovery. Unemployment rates for younger Americans have been much higher than for older workers since the recession ended almost five years ago. And their income gains have been weak. Anecdotes of college graduates living with their parents and working low-wage jobs are widespread.
The Michigan survey's finding provides some hope that such trends might be turning around. In a healthy economy, younger Americans usually anticipate solid income growth as they gain experience and become more productive, Curtin said. Optimism about future income may suggest that more people under 35 are finding jobs and that some who are working are getting promotions, he added.
Still, other surveys haven't found rising optimism among younger people. In an Associated Press-GfK poll in January, just 38 percent of those under 35 said they expected their financial situation to improve in the coming year, down from around half who said so through most of 2011 and 2012.
Among Americans as a whole, the expectation is that their paychecks will rise just 0.9 percent in the coming year. While that matches a six-month high reached in January, it's still below the inflation rate and is low by historical standards.
The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes was essentially flat in January, a possible sign of a softening real estate market.
The National Association of Realtors said Friday that its seasonally adjusted pending home sales index inched up 0.1 last month to 95. The index has fallen 9 percent over the past 12 months as sales momentum has faded.
Pending sales are a barometer of future purchases: A one- to two-month lag usually exists between a signed contract and a completed sale.
Higher mortgage rates, rising prices and a tight supply of homes have restricted sales in recent months. Snowstorms across much of the country also delayed purchases. The Realtors project that sales will total 5 million this year, down from 5.1 million in 2013.
Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Marcoeconomics, thinks home buying could slow further through March.
"The bad news is that existing-home sales need to fall a bit further to move fully into line with the pending-sales index," he said in a client note.
The rising costs of buying a home have contributed to a slowdown in signed contracts over the past seven months. Sales of existing homes plummeted in January to the weakest pace in 18 months, the trade group said last week.
Some of the price pressures will be eased if more homes come onto the market in the months ahead. One way to increase the supply is through the construction of new homes, a sector not measured by the Realtors' indicator on sales.
Purchases of new homes rose 9.6 percent in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 468,000, the Commerce Department said this week. That was the fastest pace since July 2008 and could lead to an uptick in construction.
More homeowners might also choose to put their properties on the market, a possibility suggested by a decline in underwater mortgages at the end of 2013, according to a report Friday by real estate data provider Zillow. Homeowners are considered underwater if they owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth.
A decline in underwater mortgages should enable more Americans to list their homes for sale because they would no longer be unloading their homes at a financial loss.
The share of mortgage holders with negative equity in their homes fell to 19.4 percent in the final three months of last year, down from 27.5 percent during the same period in 2012. Still, the negative equity rate remains four times the level of a healthy housing market.
So even if the supply of homes increases, it will be several years before the market returns to its usual conditions.
"Negative equity likely won't be back to normal levels for another five years," said Stan Humphries, chief economist at Zillow.


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Aussie Rules - or running Heineken UK the Orlowski way
Nine months into his stint as boss of Heineken UK Stefan Orlowski says he is delighted to be working in the domestic brewing and pub sectors, despite the well-publicised problems.
The 43-year-old who replaced Scottish & Newcastle stalwart Jeremy Blood last year says he relishes the intellectual challenge of working here. He says he finds the integral part that beer, cider and pubs play in British society "fascinating". It gives the industry a "special place in the community", he believes.
But last July the first day of his time as the managing director of what was then Scottish & Newcastle UK was not a great one for Orlowski the Australian cricket fan.
"The first day of my induction I went to Lord's. That wasn't so enjoyable," he says, leaving one to imagine his reaction at landing in a tough new market, only to watch his beloved Aussies lose the second Test against England by 115 runs.
Putting aside the thought that most of us would love to mark the start of a new job by watching a game of cricket, the former corporate lawyer-turned-marketer, with nine years under his belt at the Dutch brewer, will have put the defeat in perspective.
He has far bigger things to be getting on with, primarily growing Heineken's businesses in a market which has seen one of the biggest slumps in living memory.
Bitten off more than it could chew?
Did he appreciate those who observed rather drily at the time of Heineken's takeover of Scottish & Newcastle in 2008 that it couldn't have bought into the UK at a worse time; that it had bitten off more than it could chew?
"Jean-Francois van Boxmeer [Heineken's chairman and chief executive] is on record as having said that strategically it was absolutely the right thing to do," Orlowski says. "The timing was not the greatest, but things are easy to say with hindsight. They don't change the strategic rationale."
Heineken has a "fantastic track record" in marketing its brands, he says, plus the group "practices what it preaches", with increased investment in its pubs to enhance the consumer experience.
"When you walk into a pub you get the perfect product that cannot be replicated elsewhere," Orlowski says. "We've a role to play in that, in conjunction with our lessees and customers. We have that consumer touchpoint in the on-trade. We're not just selling 'stuff' somewhere; we're able to engage with consumers in a way that many other FMCG sectors simply can't."
Heineken says it does not report performance "below Western European level" but suggested its UK trading performance in 2009 was "notably ahead of the market and a significant improvement on 2008".
Going from a player with a three per cent share of the beer market to market leader in one fell swoop will have been quite a sea-change for the brewer, plus finding it has getting on for 2,000 pubs under management.
True, existing staff have allowed for a relatively seamless transition, although the economic landscape has meant the taking of some tough decisions - planned brewery closures at Dunston in Gateshead and Reading in Berkshire are to go ahead in the next couple of months.
Given the various nuances in the UK brewing and on-trade markets, what will Heineken's game plan be going forward? Orlowski is unequivocal. "We have a fantastic portfolio of brands and we can do a lot more with them. And we're absolutely committed to our pubs," he says.
Difficult decisions
Acknowledging the brewery closures were "difficult decisions to implement", Orlowski says the group has "no plans to anything else beyond what we've already announced. The aim is to get what we've got right. A bit of investment here and there. As a business who knows how things will play out over a period of years? Our priority is to optimise our network and make it as efficient as possible and the highest quality we can."
Orlowski is, perhaps predictably, an opponent of calls to implement minimum pricing for alcohol.
"We don't believe it will solve the problems it purports to be able to solve. Primarily because the vast majority of people are responsible drinkers whose consumption is part of their lives. There's nothing wrong with that," he says.
"Minimum pricing would just punish them. We should be intervening with the harmful minority.
"Plus there can be better enforcement of existing laws, on issues like under-age purchasing, anti-social behaviour, and the like. I'm not one who defaults to more regulation to solve our ills."
He also bangs another familiar drum, namely that society is changing and pubs, if they are to survive, need to reflect the changing needs of consumers.
"I was recently talking to a large part of the estate population. I think there is that understanding and a commitment to succeed. There's a real passion in that part of the business," he says.
"But we have to move on. We cannot dwell on what things were like 30 years ago. Things are changing and we have to change too. We have a responsibility to drive that change and bring it to the lessee.
"There's a tendency on the part of some lessees to look at their pub from the inside out. Not from the outside in. We have to help them change that perspective."
Boosting the bar
To illustrate his point Orlowski points to Heineken's new retailing initiative called Bar Boosters, which he describes as
"a very interesting programme designed to put the pub back at the heart of the community".
"Bar Boosters is about all the different ways that the location can be used to maximise the revenue for the lessee," he says.
Orlowski is aware that the tenant/landlord relationship has been hitting the headlines in recent months, notably with regard to the beer tie. His view echoes that of other defenders of the arrangement.
"Our view of the tie is it is still a model which enables people to enter the industry in a relatively cheap and effective way. If I look at how we operate it, we do so by concentrating on adding value to our lessees," says Orlowski.
"If our lessees are not successful, we're not successful. It's as simple as that. The right pub, the right location, the right lessee doing the right thing in the pub. The lessee is so important to that.
"I've been out to the pubs and I see the value we can add to ensure lessees can compete with everything else that is going on around them."
Noting Heineken's taking on of the 420-odd strong Globe Pub Company - the estate formerly owned by property tycoon Robert Tchenguiz which it has managed for several years - Orlowski says the brewer is "now at the stage of applying our operational excellence to make sure those pubs and the rest of the S&NPC estate are run as well as possible".
Still, at a £180m-plus cost to the brewer not a great house-warming present all the same.
Orlowski says the group's "absolute focus is going to be on our operational excellence is helping lessees weather the [economic] storm. It will ultimately pass, but we don't know when", he says.
"So it's about getting out there and saying 'OK, what do we need to do to attract as many consumers to this pub, drive footfall, get the service quality right, etc?' It's not about waiting for the sun to come out," he continues.
"If you've done the work, then when the sun does come out, you'll be set up better."


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American Idol Runner up [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Adam Lambert[/lastfm] has told the UK Daily Star today that he is the new singer for [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Queen[/lastfm].
Last November Adam Lambert wowed fans when he performed with original Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor at MTV's EMA's.
Adam told the UK Daily Star, "The intention is to pay tribute to Freddie and the band by singing some great songs. It's to keep the music alive for the fans and give it an energy that Freddie would have been proud of."
Get the full scoop here.
Check out the audio of Adam performing with Queen at the EMA's below.


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When visiting Tuscany, you don't want to show up without a hotel room or other accommodations set. The area is popular and has a limited number of rentals available, so you need to make sure you have yours booked before arriving. Of course, you don't want to select any old room just because it is available--you want to truly live like a local and experience the wonder of the Italian landscape and the best way to do that is to check out the Tuscan villa rentals. These locations give you anything you can imagine, allowing you to live in the lap of luxury for the duration of your stay. Whether you are vacationing on your own or checking in with a large group, there is a Tuscan villa rental that is perfect for you.
Many of the Tuscan villas available for rental purposes are actually owned by locals or expatriates and used by them while they are in the area. When they are not staying there, they help to pay the rent by allowing others to use the location. The further in advance that you reserve the rental the better off you are. By planning ahead, you have ample time to find a rental that will suit the number of people that you need to accommodate as well as the budget you have. When using our site, simply enter the time you are arriving and the duration you wish to stay. From there, the website shows you the specific amount of space of each rental and types of amenities available.
Nothing allows you to truly feel like a local better than living where locals live in the manner that they do. With Tuscan villa rentals from To Tuscany, you not only live like a local, but you get incredible amenities that really make you feel as though you are in paradise. So whether there is a pool overlooking a vineyard or olive trees, or a five minute walk into a historic village, you'll enjoy a life that you otherwise might not have even imagined.
Again, remember to book in advance so that you have the best possible options available to you before the trip.


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Fit October 2011 - unlike Fit October 2010 where I was a Health Ninja - was a bust. I'm big on giving myself enough time for things, and October was too close to the breakup/company's closing/new job trifecta of necessary adjustment. I could tell I needed more time spent relaxing and focusing on my new job, so I quickly let Fit October go to the dogs. I didn't want to get back on the health track in November or December, so Hello, January! (And Hello and Goodbye, Beer Belly!)
Welcome to the BuckleDown, which is up and running and already feeling good.
I toyed with doing South Beach Phase One again, and will *definitely* be monitoring Kalyn's Kitchen for South Beach Phase One recipes, but ultimately I decided to focus on portion control and Phase Two eating. In large part because I'm getting vegetable delivery from CSA California (my first box was very happymaking), and I'm going to be eating the fruits and potatoes. So no sugar/carb cleanse, just a return to consistantly healthy eating.
I'm using My Fitness Pal to track my eating, exercise, and progress. So far, it is very cool and works really well for me. And Vegetarian Times had a big article in the Jan/Feb 2012 issue about portion control. I may join their Portion-Control challenge which starts on January 15th. I'm aiming my daily calorie consumption at 1400 calorie's a day, but not being *too* militant about it.
In terms of fitness, which I seriously need to kick up a notch, I'll be continuing my mediation and yoga on Sundays, and adding 45-minute Firm workouts two mornings a week before work. I'm going to be rotating my Firm Basics tapes through January, and if I meet my workout goal, I'm going to reward myself with some new Firm workouts from Collage Video.
And I'll also be looking for opportunities to add in some biking or hiking.
But the BuckleDown is not just about fitness. It's also about my creative work. I have much to do! And I'm really looking forward to getting to it. This Saturday day will be my first personal work day of the year, and I can't wait! Really happy about my current choices and scheduling.
Also, with the dating. The dating is fun, and I expect to have a few new dates this month. If they involve exercise, movies, healthy food, and/or entertainment industry talk, all the better.
Now, this post was very with the linky, because I like to share what resources and products I use. None of these links were sponsored or requested in anyway.
January BuckleDown! WOOHOO! FTW.


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BWW Asks: How Should GLEE End?
As BWW reported earlier this month, Glee creator Ryan Murphy recently revealed just where the show's leading characters, Lea Michele's 'Rachel' and Cory Monteith's 'Finn,' would have ended up on the show's final season had it not been for the tragic and untimely death of Monteith this summer.
"Rachel was going to have become a big Broadway star, the role she was born to play," shared Murphy in an In Memoriam piece in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly. "Finn was going to have become a teacher, settled down happily in Ohio, at peace with his choice and no longer feeling like a Lima loser."
He added that in the final episode, the two would have been reunited after years apart. "Rachel comes back to Ohio, fulfilled and yet not, and walks into Finn's Glee club...'What are you doing here?' he would ask. 'I'm home,' she would reply. Fade out. The End."
Now that the loss of Monteith and his beloved character Finn took away the possibility of that trajectory, we turn to you, our readers, to find out what you believe is the appropriate conclusion to the musical dramedy. Should the sixth and final season neatly tie up all the loose ends of the McKinley High storylines, or should the focus remain on the futures of Big Apple denizens and long-time besties, Rachel and Kurt? Should Rachel become the next 'Barbra' to hit the Broadway stage? Should Kurt and Blaine have their quintessential 'happily ever after"?
Tell us know what you think!


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NMU Trying to Make Most of Second Chance
by Courtney Lewis/CHN Reporter
Northern Michigan is getting very good at midseason turnarounds. But the Wildcats had hoped they wouldn't need one this year.
After finishing strong last season and making a run in the CCHA playoffs, they were expected to build on that this season and have a good shot at an NCAA tournament bid.
But a dreadful start to the 2008-09 campaign has left them needing to win the CCHA Championship this weekend to make the NCAA playoffs.
"Going in, we obviously didn't want that to happen again. But it did," goaltender Brian Stewart said. "We knew if we just kept working hard and listened to (coach Walt Kyle), we would find ways to win. If we had done that earlier, we hopefully would have had an NCAA bid already."
Instead, the Wildcats (18-16-5), who sit tied for 22nd in the Pairwise, are out of contention for an at-large berth and have to knock off top-seeded Notre Dame on Friday just to reach the conference championship game. Michigan and Alaska will play the second semifinal contest at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The winner of Saturday's title game earns a spot in the NCAA tournament.
Northern Michigan's season started even worse than last year. Its 3-12-3 record through December included two seven-game winless streaks.
"The first half of the season, I think we were projected pretty high in the rankings in the league and (nationally), and I think we let that go to our heads," sophomore Mark Olver said. "Then we realized how hard it is to play against these teams, how hard you have to compete."
The Wildcats opened 2009 with a sweep of Wisconsin in Madison. They doubled their first-half win total in the first month of the second half, going 6-1-1, and then lost just two more regular-season games.
"It just kind of clicked," Stewart said. "Everybody has come together. We're working together; we're battling."
Olver, a 5-foot-11 forward, boosted the offense. It took him 11 games to find the back of the net, and he had just four goals and five assists by the end of December. But he had a four-point weekend at Wisconsin and now leads the team in goals (16) and points (35).
He was Northern Michigan's leading scorer as a freshman, and he said he put too much pressure on himself coming into this season.
"When things weren't going well, people said, 'You know how to score; the goals will come.' But they weren't," Olver said. "As the first half wound down, I realized things weren't going the way I wanted, so I really busted down doing the little things.
"When I came back for the second part of the season, I realized it's not about points. It never really has been with me, but it was just nice to finally feel that again, and things started to click after that. I haven't looked back since, and neither has the team."
The sixth-seeded Wildcats have stayed hot in the postseason. They eliminated Michigan State in two games and then upended No. 3 seed Miami in three last weekend.
Now that they're playing the way they're capable of, it's hard not to think about what might have been if they had pulled things together earlier.
"A bunch of guys have been talking about that the last couple weeks," Stewart said. "It's kind of frustrating, but there's nothing we can do about it now. We gotta get ready for this weekend."
Notre Dame, currently the top-ranked team in the country, skated all over Northern Michigan in the regular season. The Fighting Irish won all four meetings and handed the Wildcats their only back-to-back losses of the second half.
The Wildcats know their penalty kill has to be better Friday. It could hardly be any worse than the last time around, when Notre Dame scored 10 power-play goals in two games.
And Olver thinks that Stewart has been playing better in net than we was in February. Stewart, a junior, held strong against Miami last week, when the RedHawks outshot the Wildcats by almost a 2-1 margin every night. He made 39 saves in a Game 2 overtime win and 41 the next night.
"He has been playing really well for us," Olver said. "He was big last weekend; he made some huge saves. He's pretty much what we're riding on right now. The offense is kind of there, but Stewie has been phenomenal."
But Olver said great goaltending alone won't be enough against a team as strong as Notre Dame. And the Wildcats are realistic about their chances of upsetting Notre Dame and then also beating Michigan, which is ranked third nationally, or Alaska to secure an NCAA bid.
Olver said their best hope for today might be that "maybe Notre Dame will take us lightly after beating us up all year."
Otherwise, they know it will be a daunting task. But they're desperate to keep their season alive, and they have already surprised one team this postseason.
"We've had momentum going the past few weeks, going into the playoffs and with a good series with Miami," Olver said. "We're rolling on a little momentum right now, and hopefully we carry that into this weekend."


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I reviewed Dan Barber's new book, The Third Plate: Field Notes on the Future of Food, for the Times Literary Supplement. I'm very excited to be writing for the TLS and the book is full of great characters and great food.
Here's my piece on Luke Barr's Provence, 1970: M. F. K. Fisher, Julia Child, James Beard, and the Reinvention of American Taste. Needless to say, it was a pleasure to spend some time with each and every one of these people.
Bookforum is 20!! And to help celebrate, I wrote about twenty years of food writing. The good, the bad, the hip butcher.
Last summer I spent a lot of time on farms without ever leaving New York City, and then I wrote about them, urban farming in general, and the marvelous Five Borough Farm project, run by the Design Trust for Public Space. It's all in the November issue of Landscape Architecture Magazine, or just click here.
Alas, the New York Times Magazine has ended Who Made That with the launch of new features under a new editor, but it will live on here forever! In case you missed them, here are a few more of my columns: Ziploc bags, the Twitter bird logo, blue jeans, the cocktail shaker, and (last but never least, in print as in life) maraschino cherries.
If you like Laurie Colwin–or like me, feel that you might not have been able to grow up without her–please check out my latest Bookforum column. It covers her wonderful, often overlooked novels, as well as her food writing and is something I've been wanting to write for years.
Behold–a very short history of the reusable ice pack. But it might be long enough to cool you off just a little bit. Find out who made it and marvel at the NYT Magazine art department's mesmerizing accompanying image.
I'm now writing the New York Times Magazine's design/innovation column, Who Made That! Just in time for summer fun, I took on the origins and pleasures of the Slip N' Slide. Click here for instant refreshment.I alternate weeks with the smart, funny Dashka Slater, so be sure to check out her columns, too.
There is a wonderful book called Fictitious Dishes, which recreates meals from beloved books in photographic form. I wrote about it in my latest Bookforum column and still have it on my mind.
On Tod Williams and Billie Tsien's Lakeside Center in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. Ice skating in the winter, roller skating and a water park in the summer–all complete with restored Olmsted & Vaux landscaping. Hard to beat.
In which I ponder edible seaweed, making your own salt, and why buying your own cow isn't really a solution for most people who want to eat quality beef at low prices.
I'm a little late posting this one, but if you are a lover of automats, turn of the century New York, or food history, you might like it. It's in Bookforum (where there are many, many other great things to read, too).
Candy. Bookforum. My dream assignment. That's all I'm going to say.
Do you like bao? Or Emerson? Or basketball? Or hip hop? Or lions? Find them all, and even more I can't possibly begin to describe in my new Bookforum column on chef Eddie Huang and his memoir, Fresh Off the Boat. If nothing else you're going to find yourself very, very hungry. But he's pretty hilarious company, too.
Okay, yes, it's about fruitcake. But really it's about sending people food as a holiday gift and why you should (in my opinion) do it. Also, I threw in some Greek mythology to distract you from the fruitcake. Click here.
Go out and get Margaret Talbot's truly fantastic new book about her actor father Lyle and his journey through the byways and bright lights of American entertainment from carnival sideshows to Hollywood, Ed Wood, and Ozzie and Harriet. If you need more convincing than that, read my review in the hot-off-the-internet-presses new Slate Book Review.


text: Hi guys, I am taking my 8 year old brother to WDW in January for his birthday, and I am wondering about any tips, awesome photo spots, anything to make the trip even more magical. This is his 3rd time (first one he'll remember) and my 7th or 8th, but this time we're doing Disney alone with no parents (woo!) We are celebrating his birthday at the Magic Kingdom and all I know so far is to get one of the birthday pins. Lastly, I'm on a bit of a tight budget, as i'm a 19 year old. Thanks!


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BWW Blog: SCANDALOUS' Elizabeth Ward Land - The New Normal Part 3
What a fun weekend we had at SCANDALOUS! So many friends and family passed thru the doors of the Neil Simon. It was the start of the whole lead up to our opening night, November 15.
The press started attending performances on Saturday, so there was also a lot of "paper," which just really means comp tickets for friends to help get a positive vibe going, as well as filling the seats. I was so proud of our cast - no one seemed to buckle under the pressure, delivering clean, accurate, heartfelt performances.
We unfortunately had one BIG technical glitch on Saturday night. Some lighting instrument that was positioned in the house blew up and its fan starting whirling with a sound as loud as a Jack Hammer. It was right at the moment in the show where Aimee (Carolee Carmello) begins her traveling ministry in Baltimore, standing on a stool in the middle of the town square. The ensemble was all around her, trying desperately to hear the orchestra over the deafening sound that was coming from the audience. We kept looking for some sign that it was going to stop, or that we were going to stop, and they finally made the call to stop the show and fix it. It was so unfortunate, but really impossible to continue without it being fixed. The audience was so supportive - I am sure they were relieved not to hear the horrible noise!
Sunday's show was great - and SO fun to see so many friends over the weekend who passed thru. Time for Broadway shout outs - Molly Tynes, D.B. Bonds, Shannon Hammons Bonds, Daniel Watts, Sasha Hutchings, Sydney Morton, Preston Boyd, Michelle Duffy, David Engel, Timothy Shew, Rebecca Eichenberger, just to name a few - it was great to see you all.
Oh, and did I mention that we had a Nor'easter on Wednesday to add insult to our Hurricane Sandy ravaged community? I know I keep harping on the weather and all its effects on us, but these past few weeks have really been unusually terrible for the East Coast. It was snowing SIDEWAYS with 50 mmph winds much of the day on Wednesday, and we got about 6-8 inches of snow in New Jersey.
On the positive side, rumors abound that some New Jersey Transit Midtown Direct trains may begin to operate a bit over the next couple weeks, easing my hellish commute; Obama was re-elected, and the gas lines have begun to ease.
My plans for my day off? Clean my house, run some errands, and try to find SOMETHING to wear for opening night......
My Maplewood, New Jersey backyard on Thursday morning
Related Articles
From This Author Guest Blogger: Elizabeth Ward Land


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I received a fascinating e-mail this morning from Susan MacTavish Best of Best Public Relations. According to a study published by Lulu.com (a self-publishing site), the life-expectancy of a bestselling novel has been cut in half in the last decade.
The study looked at the average number of weeks that a new No. 1 bestseller stayed on top of the hardback fiction section of the New York Times Bestseller List. Here are the results by decade:
|Average Number of Weeks to Stay on
the No. 1 Spot
|21.7 weeks
|13.9 weeks
|7.2 weeks
|5.5 weeks
|2000s (so far)
|3.0 weeks
While this is bad news for established authors, it is potentially good news for authors hoping to hit the No. 1 spot. According to the same study, the number of novels to reach No. 1 per year, in each of the same decades was as follows:
|Average Number of Novels To Hit the No. 1 Spot Per Year
|2.8 titles
|4.4 titles
|7.6 titles
|10.0 titles
|2000s (so far)
|18.2 titles
According to recent statistics from R.R. Bowker, U.S. publishers released 113,589 new titles in 1995. In 2005, publishers cranked out 172,000 new titles—a 51.4% increase. Bottom line: more titles are competing for the same number of available slots.
Fortunately, title output dropped by 9% from 2004 to 2005. But I don't think this is enough to reverse the trend. "The genie is out of the bottle." Too many media options are competing for consumers' discretionary time. As a result, their attention span is decreasing. Somehow we have to factor this into our strategic planning. The world is changing rapidly!
Technorati Tags: bestsellers, books, publishing


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Aeros has completed its experimental rigid variable-bouyancy airship and accomplished the first of four tasks under its contract with the Pentagon's Rapid Reaction Technology Office. The 230ft-long Aeroscraft prototype, called Pelican, has completed a ground-handling demonstration showing the 36,000lb vehicle can move without assistance from ground personnel, controlled from the cockpit and using its air-bearing landing gear. The Pelican was heavier than air for the demonstration.
A first float test principally demonstrated the unique lightweight rigid structure conception and Control of Static Heaviness (COSH) system of this radical airlift vehicle and met a key Aeroscraft performance goal: operate without ballast, ground infrastructure or handling.
The Aeroscraft controls its buoyancy by pumping helium between lifting-gas cells and pressurized tanks inside the composite aeroshell. Compressing the helium makes the vehicle heavier than air for easier ground handling and cargo unloading. Releasing the helium displaces air inside the vehicle and makes it neutrally buoyant.
The buoyancy control system can vary the Pelican's "static heaviness" by 3,000-4,000lb, says Pasternak, enough to allow the prototype to take off vertically, yet be heavier than air for landing and unloading. All of the tests are taking place inside Aeros' airship hangar in Tustin, California, with the vehicle expected to reach a height of 10-15ft. Aeros wants to build a 450ft-long vehicle able to carry a 66-ton payload over a 3,000nm unrefueled range.
It uses one third of the fuel of airplanes. This type of vehicle could displace helicopters and some niches from trucks.
If you liked this article, please give it a quick review on ycombinator or StumbleUpon. Thanks


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About | Radford Furnishings
About us
Radford Furnishings, a 35-year-old Australian company, is based in Melbourne and specialises in the supply and distribution of fine furnishing fabrics, wallpapers, floor rugs, cushions, furniture and related products.
Radford services the interior design industry via Interior Designers, Architects, Decorators, Hotels, Furniture Retailers, and Manufacturers. We have showrooms and sales teams in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Radford is the sole Australian distributor for a number of international brands including Ralph Lauren Home, Designers Guild, Cole & Son, Today Interiors and Eco Borastapeter.
Radford also supplies its range of products for commercial projects throughout South East Asia.
Top Australian designers, decorators and architects specify Radford products for use in the home, hotels, shop fit-outs, nightclubs, restaurants, showrooms, office fit-outs and refurbishments.
Please take a moment to look through our Brands & Products area for more information about the products and services we have to offer.


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Philosopher (and FtB alum) Dan Fincke has written a good, concise piece on why atheists need to don a little more sense and humility when claiming Jesus didn't exist. In his article On Atheists Attempting to Disprove the Existence of the Historical Jesus, Fincke makes a sound case for two basic points: (1) amateurs should not be voicing certitude in a matter still being debated by experts (historicity agnosticism is far more defensible and makes far more sense for amateurs on the sidelines) and (2) criticizing Christianity with a lead of "Jesus didn't even exist" is strategically ill conceived–it's bad strategy on many levels, it only makes atheists look illogical, and (counter-intuitively) it can actually make Christians more certain of their faith.
I think his piece is a must-read. I'll only briefly comment on some of its key arguments here.
I quite agree with (1) and (2). I've made both points myself over the years. But Fincke lays out the reasoning well. He concludes, for example, that until "secular historians…at least become widely divided over" the matter of historicity (emphasis on widely and the minimal benchmark of divided), atheists who are not themselves experts in the field should not be "advocating for one side or the other routinely and prominently." (There is a growing division, BTW, but it's not yet wide…although I know other historians who privately confess they are willing to concede agnosticism about historicity but who won't admit it in public, so the division is wider than we know–but until more go public, we can't know how wide.) Meanwhile, Fincke explains, "we should either be agnostic on the issue," as Fincke is, or "defer to historical consensus," or, "if we really find [e.g.] Carrier's arguments compelling" then we should "still be cautious and qualified in our declarations, acknowledging that we are agreeing with a minority view (and one that even Carrier seems far from certain about)."
In aid of that last parenthetical, I can announce one spoiler: in my book On the Historicity of Jesus (at the publisher now and expected this February, if their production timeline goes to plan) I conclude that, using probability estimates as far against my conclusion as are at all reasonably possible (probabilities I believe are wildly too generous), there could be as much as a 1 in 3 chance that Jesus existed. When using what I think are more realistic estimates of the requisite probabilities (estimates I believe are closer to the truth), those chances drop to around 1 in 12,000.
Note that the first estimate leaves a respectable probability that Jesus existed–it's merely more likely that he didn't, not anywhere near certain. And that may well be correct, if my biases are strong and thus my a fortiori estimates (estimates against myself) more accurate. But even if we embrace the other end of my margin of error, we are still not looking at certainty. 1 in 12,000 sounds like certainty, but it's actually nowhere near. Just ask yourself: would you get into a car that had a 1 in 12,000 chance of exploding right then? If your answer is yes, then you are bad at math.
Supernatural miracles, and disembodied minds, and blood magic, have odds of millions or billions or even trillions or quadrillions to one against. So why would you hang your case against Christianity on a mere 1 in 12,000? You can make a far better case against that religion by granting historicity and then showing the odds against it are trillions to one. The additional reduction in the probability that Christianity is true that is added by calculating-in the possibility Jesus didn't exist is relatively so minuscule it's honestly not worth troubling yourself over (the more so as no Christian will accept estimates that get you to 1 in 12,000 without first having already given up their faith…so the most you can hope for is to get them to that measly 1 in 3, and even that won't be likely, and it's weak tea anyway).
As Fincke says, "the notion of a godman who performed miracles and rose from the dead is preposterous." You don't need to sandbag your own case for that conclusion by adding onto it the controversial and still largely untested possibility that Jesus didn't exist. That makes you an easy mark for straw man arguments. But worse, it activates an innate human cognitive bias in any Christian you might be trying to persuade: if a conclusion is defended with a weak argument and a strong argument, anyone biased against that conclusion will assume you only had a weak argument (the science of this is discussed in Long & Tarico's chapters in The Christian Delusion). The brain assumes, intuitively, that if one argument is dubious, then the other one must be, too, even if in fact it hasn't actually thought of a single honest reason it should be. That's how brains work. It's fucked up. But still. You have to work with the brains you are actually trying to persuade, not the imaginary perfectly rational brains you wish evolution had given us.
So please. Learn from science. Dump the strategy of arguing that Christianity (or the New Testament, or this or that teaching, or anything whatever) is false "because Jesus didn't exist."
Fincke elaborates on this point, in ways you seriously need to consider. He's right: first, "atheists should be properly cautious, disciplined, patient, and deferent to scholarship before committing strongly to beliefs one way or the other about the historical Jesus," and second, "there are overwhelmingly clear strategic reasons not to get into fights about [this] issue with Christians." He explains that last point even better than I do, and with more reasons and examples. Go take a look.