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Improving economy, low interest rates cited as reasons
Judging by the development plans sitting on Stillwater Community Development Director Bill Turnblad's desk, it appears the local residential housing market is heating up again.
"I have nine developments on my desk in various stages of planning, in the concept, preliminary plat and final plat stages," Turnblad said. "Five are in the pre-application stage and four are upcoming."
Which means that there could be more construction in Stillwater very soon. It's a change from 2007, when Turnblad said most of development in Stillwater came to a standstill after the housing slump. He thinks developers have decided that now is the time to start building again.
"The interest in new construction is definitely up because the inventory of existing homes has diminished and people are looking for other options," Jon Whitcomb of Greystone Commercial, one fo the developers involved in the increase said. "Right now a lot of people are in a bidding war and for them, new construction is the way to go. For the last six years, there have been more options available for people and they weren't as drawn to new construction."
Whitcomb added that what's happening on the local and national building scene is that the need for developing lots has increased because there hasn't been development in five or six years. He added that 2006 was the last time a large number of lots were developed and the new economic atmosphere is helping create opportunities and inventories for new homes.
According to Edina Realty realtor Travis Peltier, there's currently about a four-month supply of inventory at this time.
"New construction really doesn't have an impact on a buyer or sellers market but right now we're in the balanced to slightly sellers market at this point," Peltier said. "We do have a lack of inventory right now in the Twin Cities metro area. Right now we have a 4-month supply of inventory. A 3.5-month supply of inventory is a sellers market and anything that's 8 or more months is a buyers market. New inventory can continue to keep the balance from shifting one way or the other."
Overall though, Peltier said addition of new housing is beneficial since it's good for the economy and impacts community growth and business and improves services.
Adam Nyberg of the Stillwater Coldwell Banker Burnett office said area home sales have increase "substantially" this year over the same period last year. Nyberg added that the local housing market starting picking up "steam" in 2012.
"Now is a good time to sell," he said. "It's also a great time to buy because interest rates are still low."
Jennifer Wagenius, director of Washington County's Department of Property Records and Taxpayer Services, said her department saw an increase in property-related filings in 2012 and is on pace to see slightly higher filings this year. She added that 5,833 deeds for residential and commercial properties were filed in the county last year.
"Right now, we're on target to have a similar number of deeds recorded that we recorded in 2012," she said.
Meanwhile, developers are deciding now is a good time to begin the tedious and sometimes risky process of getting developments approved and under construction.
"Typically developers enter the development process when they think the timing is right," Turnblad said. "Some of the lots are sitting in inventory but it's collecting interest and financially people have to look for a place and put money down to hold the land so the landowner can't sell it from under you. Then the developer meets with the city staff and engineer, city planners or others and works from there to come up with possibilities of what it looks like."
The next steps include going through various commissions, having neighborhood meetings, creating a preliminary plat, putting in systems needed to serve the homes and then doing a final plat review, when the land gets contracted to the developers and builders and construction can begin.
"It's a lot of hours and angst for the developers," Turnblad said. "They have to include roads, streets and sewer and water all up front before they can sell the lot and the banker needs to know they can sell enough. The developer needs to know that they can make a profit. What happens a lot is that a developer has a relationship with a builder who can work on the land and sometimes helps make ends meet. If they didn't have that they'd need to sell the land for more than they would so a lot of risk is involved."
Turnblad says that throughout the process, the city is concerned with the quality of the homes so some extra steps are added to the review process.
"(The process) varies from city to city. We try to be development neutral and keep it as quick as we can without sacrificing design quality. The developer is interested in creating a community and making a living out of it. The city's interest is more long-term. We're more cautious of quality and design which sometimes dissuades some developers," Turnblad said.
When it comes to the current projects on Turnblad's desk, he's pleased that they serve a variety of families and populations. The projects include single family homes, townhomes and senior housing units.
"It will be nice to have various options for life cycle housing in the city so I'm pleased with the mix," Turnblad said.
He added that there isn't expected to be a major population increase from the development plans.
"There will be some growth in population but it won't be dramatic. We'll cater to new younger families and empty-nesters and folks who want to see some growth will see some. It's not really a rapid development here either. We have 15, 28, 30 and one has 100 lots but that's a townhome population. There are nine but none are huge. What we have is a history of inventory and it's not a glut by any means."
Going forward Whitcomb said he hopes to see a healthy growth.
"I hope there's a healthy uptick in supply, healthy from the standpoint that some of what we had in 2003-2006 was too much speculation and speculation on developed lots supplying inventory aren't sure to sell. What I hope for moving forward is a healthy supply of product quality, consumers with few vacant lots, and little over-supply or lack of demand. If there's too much supply it effects the value and lowers prices like if you have too many iPhones on the market the price drops. What buyers need to know is that there will be an increase in offerings, options and locations with new places to build homes It's also a good time to sell now that we've reached that balance of inventory."


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Economic Effects of Indians Playoff Games
Dennis Roche, who heads the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland, says when the Cavs were in the NBA finals a few months back, $11 million poured into the local economy each night the game was in town. Now, with the Major League Baseball playoffs coming up, Roche is predicting another big boon for the city.
Roche estimates the local economy will get a $5.4 million boost each game. And, he says that's a conservative number.
Dennis Roche: I would be very surprised if it wasn't double the number I gave you.
The estimate only takes into account people parking, drinking, and going to the games. And, not, say, those funneling into area bars to see the Indians on a TV.
While the millions of extra dollars are nice, Roche concedes the economic impact is only temporary, but there can be less obvious benefits.
Dennis Roche: It greatly promotes this as a destination, as a place to visit, as a place that's exciting. It's very difficult to put a value on that, but it's very significant.
Roche says 800,000 more people than last year have visited the Cleveland area this year. He believes the NBA finals, and now the baseball playoffs, is a big reason why.

subset: commoncrawl


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April 1, 2007
Jurisdiction: DEKALB COUNTY
Wages: HEAD JANITOR: JANITOR:
$14.65/hour $13.63/hour
Health & Welfare: For individuals scheduled 4 or more hours daily:
Single: $ 483.02/Month
Family: $1,282.66/Month
Pension: 8.53% of gross for individuals in positions scheduled 600 or more
hours annually.
Vacation: Employees in positions scheduled 40 hours per week:
Completion of 6 months, 1 day for each full month of service up to 10 days.
Upon completion of 5 years of service, 15 days.
Upon completion of 9 years of service, 16 days.
Upon completion of 10 years of service, 17 days
Upon completion of 11 years of service, 18 days,
Upon completion of 12 years of service, 19 days,
Upon completion of 13 years of service, 20 days.
DeKalb County
April 1, 2007
Page 2 of 2
These wage rates and fringe benefits are determined by the Illinois Department of Labor to be conditions prevalent in the state of Illinois and shall be the minimum requirements for food service workers under the Illinois Finance Procurement Code. Retroactive reimbursement is required if less than the prevailing wage was paid at any time


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Mt Lion attack in Ca
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Pocono Lake , Pennsylvania
Posts: 3,173
Re: Mt Lion attack in Ca
Originally Posted by
I made a positive ID on a Mountain Lion at close range on September 19, 1982 in Cogan Station PA. I lived in a very sparsely populated area north of Williamsport and although between 82 & 87' I saw two other animals that were in all likelihood Mountain Lions I stop short of stating that they were. The date and animal I site stood in front of my 1982 Chevy in the high beams for about 2 - 4 seconds before bounding into the bush. I was at full stop because it literally walked out of the brush on the right side of my road and I was traveling slow. I braked and hit the high beam and it walked until it paused for the couple seconds I mentioned. Broadside at perhaps 30 feet, maybe 80 - 90 pounds. I never reported that incident and only shared with best friend and family.
Ard I believe it and I understand why anyone would share it with family and friends and no further. It's like your reporting Bigfoot. DEC has this notion that no one knows what they see and everyone is seeing a bobcat. When a full grown male got loose from the wildlife rehab center a mile from my house a neighbor called to report it and they told her she was mistaken. The next day it was captured by the wildlife rehab behind her house.
Personnally I have never seen one here but my fishing buddy's wife has seen one on multiple occasions kayaking up the upper Lehigh. DEC tells her she's mistaken on every report. The woman has a masters in biology and has studied animals on 3 continents.The guy who reported the most recent sighting is an experienced outdoorsman and no nonsense type of fellow.
The Pocono Record did a front page article on the many sightings and the DEC is oblivious.
Our area is overrun with coyotes with wolf DNA where less than 50 years ago there were none around. If they can repopulate an area no reason not to believe a few big cats can't find there way. Tons of food. The deer population as always is huge!
I guess it will take an attack or a road kill before they see the light !
"I was born to fish" Lee Wulff
"There's more B.S. in fly fishing then there is in a Kansas feedlot." Lefty Kreh
" It ain't over till it's over." Yogi Berra
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Saturday, July 14, 2012
Wasateh - Enjoy Coke
What the hell is wrong with this guy? Why is he giving out this rare gemm for FREE? how about a preview? http://www.mediafire.com/?90d7fv3mzk95z0f
Posted by Marsellus Wallace at 12:22 AM 41 comments:
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Dj Marsellus Wallace - Soundtrack Pro Mixtape
Yo yo what's good out there? This is a mix that I have been working on for the better part of 8 months. Yeah, I take my sweet time. I guess those that follow my blog can vouch for that also ha! But this mix was different. You see, if you didn't already know, I am a huge 70's record soundtrack collector. That and library have always been a passion of mine. So, what I wanted to do was make a mix that had that feel to it, but also in the style of many hip hop mixes that had influenced me in the past. There were many tracks/ost's that I wanted to put on here, but unfortunately the feeling was just not there while laying it down. It almost felt like I was arranging my own orchestra the more I got into it. That is why I added dialogue, action themes, and chase scenes. To give it that 1970's crime jazz feel! Hopefully my attempt to paint a picture in your head paid off, because it was a fun/difficult process. I hope this mix makes you feel happy, scared, sad, and even a little RANDY BABY YEEEEAH!!! FREE download http://www.mediafire.com/?zb2gs56rp228922
Posted by Marsellus Wallace at 9:57 PM 27 comments:
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Drogba: Blues learnt from 2009
Didier Drogba said he believes Chelsea have learnt lessons from their Champions League exit in 2009 after securing a 1-0 win over Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.
Drogba scored the only goal of the game - with Chelsea's only shot on target - on the stroke of half-time to give the Blues every chance of reaching the final at the Allianz Arena.
The hosts had to withstand heavy pressure and rode their luck on several occasions, but Drogba felt it was a more mature Blues side than the one eliminated by Andres Iniesta's goal at this stage three years ago.
"I think we've learnt," Drogba told ITV. "We've improved from three years ago. We didn't concede a goal.
"We are happy because the result is a good one. Now we'll go there to try to score another and qualify - 1-0 at home is a good result."
Captain John Terry added: "We had to be very patient. I don't think we touched the ball for the first 15 minutes but from Didi on his own up front, the midfield and defence, it was a great team performance. They're a great side."
Chelsea will face a real test of their mettle when they travel to the Camp Nou for Tuesday's return leg, but Terry is hopeful they can get a positive result and reach the final: "It's going to be tough going back there.
"They had chances, we cleared a couple off the line, and quite clearly they're going to have chances there, but we showed tonight we're not in awe of them. Another performance like tonight and we'll be okay."
Terry also had words of praise for Drogba, who impressed in the 5-1 FA Cup victory over Tottenham on Sunday.
"Didi is all about these big nights, the big occasions," Terry said. "He put fear into the Spurs defence at the weekend and he did that again tonight. He was up there on his own against some of best defenders in world and he did it brilliantly."
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Medical Savings Accounts in South Africa
Policy Reports | Health | International
No. 234
Thursday, June 01, 2000
by Shaun Matisonn
Table of Contents
Medical Savings Accounts
"MSA plans have captured half the market."
As noted above, Medical Savings Account (MSA) plans were introduced into South Africa only after deregulation in 1994. In the brief period since, they have captured about half of the private insurance market. [See Figure IV.] The plans have much in common with the Medical Savings Accounts in the United States, but they also have some important differences.
The U.S. Model: Uniform Deductibles. Medical Savings Accounts were introduced into the U.S. market rather recently, and their benefit design is restrictive. Essentially, MSA plans in the United States consist of traditional insurance with a single deductible across all benefits and a medical savings account to cover expenditures below this deductible.10 Health plans that seek to qualify for tax-free deposits and tax-free build-up in MSAs are required to implement this restrictive design.11
The South African Model: Differential Deductibles. In contrast to the United States, in South Africa insurers may design health plans that best meet their customer's needs. The result is a very different type of plan. The key features of the design of a typical MSA plan are:
- For nondiscretionary services, such as heart bypass operations and other inpatient hospital services, first-dollar coverage is provided.
- For discretionary expenses, such as visits to a general practitioner and other outpatient services, the deductible is about $1,100.
- The plan may also provide first-dollar coverage for medications required to treat such chronic conditions as diabetes, asthma and hypertension.
"MSA plans typically provide first-dollar coverage for inpatient hospital services and a $1,100 deductible for discretionary outpatient services."
The theory behind deductibles that vary with the type of service is straightforward. It makes little sense to ask patients to choose between health care and other uses of money under circumstances in which rational choice is largely impossible. This is typically the case in a hospital setting. On the other hand, most outpatient services are discretionary, and the insured can rationally decide whether a particular medical service is more valuable than any other use of the same money. Prescription drugs for chronic conditions are an exception to the latter rule; first-dollar coverage in such cases benefits both the insurer and the insured.
In general, South African individuals and employers have a great deal of discretion about contributions to MSA accounts:
- Individuals can contribute any amount to their own Medical Savings Account to cover expenses below the deductible.12 While a significant number of people choose an MSA deposit exactly equal to the deductible ($1,100), the average annual MSA contribution is $685.
- Thus, the average monthly contribution for a family is $57 for the MSA in addition to a premium of about $100 for insurance coverage that pays nondiscretionary costs and discretionary costs above the deductible - roughly a one-third, two-thirds division.
- MSA contributions may be made by the individual, an employer or a combination of the two.
Covered and Noncovered Services. The primary purpose of an MSA is to allow individuals direct control of medical expenses that are covered by insurance, but less than the deductible. However, MSAs also allow individuals to pay for health care not traditionally covered by third-party insurance. For example, corrective eye surgery in South Africa costs about $1,500. Since ordinary insurance does not cover the procedure, some people pay for it with MSA money.13
Tax Treatment. In South Africa, health insurance premiums are not tax deductible if paid by an individual unless the individual is over age 65. However, if the insurance is paid by an employer, two-thirds of the contribution is excluded from the employee's taxable income. Similarly, two-thirds of employee contributions to an employer-sponsored plan can be made with pretax money.14
The same rules apply to MSA contributions. That is, two-thirds of any employee MSA deposit can be made with pretax funds and two-thirds of any employer MSA contribution is excluded from the employee's taxable income. Thus MSA deposits and third-party premium payments are treated the same under the tax law.
"The tax treatment of MSA contributions and employer payment of insurance premiums is the same."
Withdrawals. The government's policy toward unused MSA balances has changed over the last few years. Initially, individuals could withdraw unspent MSA balances only after they had withdrawn from a health plan. Unspent MSA funds accumulated in an individual's account, although the account owner could partially offset the accumulation by reducing his or her MSA contributions in future periods. Under this system about 50 percent of
people had a positive MSA balance at the end of each insurance period (a year), and given an annual MSA contribution of $685, the average balance at the end of the year would be about $185.
Under newer regulations, insurers may distribute MSA balances to account holders at the end of every year. Two-thirds of these payouts are taxed as ordinary income.
Spending from MSA Accounts. In South Africa, most insurers negotiate fees for standard services with physicians and other providers. The rates are not binding on individual patients and doctors. If the provider charges the contracted rate the patient can pay directly, or the insurer will pay the fee to the provider. If the provider charges more than the contracted rate, the patient must pay the provider the higher rate and the insurer will reimburse the patient or the patient's MSA at the contract rate. Since providers who charge above the contract rate have to collect the entire bill, thus risking a cash flow and bad debt problem, they have an incentive to stick to the fee schedules.15
Managing Money Flows. A potential problem with an MSA is knowing the exact account balance. In general, at the time a medical service is purchased, both patient and provider want to know what portion of the cost will be paid from the MSA, what portion out of pocket and what portion by third-party insurance. Electronic funds transfers can give patients and providers this information on a timely basis and can allow automatic withdrawals up to the MSA balance - in a manner similar to cash withdrawals from ATM machines.
In South Africa, the insurer Discovery Health has made progress in implementing such a system for pharmaceutical purchases.
"MSA balances and prescription drug coverage can be checked electronically at the time of a drug purchase."
Case Study: Discovery Program for Drug Approval and Payment. At the time a prescription drug is purchased, the customer presents the pharmacist with a Discovery Health membership card. Information from the card is entered into the pharmacy computer along with the drug prescribed or requested. This information is then sent electronically to Discovery Health to determine if the drug is covered and what if any deductible applies. Simultaneously, the system checks the patient's MSA balance. Within 30 seconds the system responds, telling the pharmacist how much the MSA can pay and how much the member must pay out of pocket. Actual payment of Discovery's (the insurer) share of the bill occurs within at least 14 days.
Managed Care. Since many medical services are covered on a first-dollar basis, many health plans use various managed care techniques to control the cost of these services. These techniques include pre-authorization, case management, utilization review and retrospective analysis. The most successful methods of cost control are those that give providers financial incentives to control costs, particularly hospital costs. For example, general surgeons are typically paid on a fee-for-service basis. But under a contract with an insurer, every six months they receive a bonus based on actual generated hospital costs vs. expected costs. Very few HMO-type capitation arrangements exist, and these are largely confined to small communities.
"Diabetics can use their MSA funds to enroll in a diabetic treatment center."
Focused Factories for the Chronically Ill. To improve the management and cost of care for diabetes, Discovery Health has contracted with local centers of excellence to manage the care of diabetic patients in all major metropolitan areas. Under the contract, Discovery Health pays the diabetic center approximately R600 (about $80) per patient per month. In return the diabetic center covers all treatment costs, including medications; consultations with endocrinologists, dieticians, ophthalmologists, podiatrists and other specialists; even hospitalizations resulting from diabetic complications.
The arrangement gives the diabetic center an economic incentive to deliver services efficiently. If the center ensures compliance with the medication and appropriate treatment, fewer diabetics will be hospitalized and the center will be more profitable.
Discovery Health requires that each diabetic patient pay R150 (about $20) of the R600 monthly charge (again, a one-third, two-thirds division). This copayment gives the patient an incentive to fully utilize the program. Discovery Health benefits through lower and more predictable costs. The patient also gets low, predictable costs plus treatment through a center of excellence whose profits are tied to the quality of care it provides.
Because the diabetes program is so new, the data needed to assess it are not yet available. If the program is successful, it can serve as a model for treating such other chronic conditions as asthma.
Lending Programs. Under a typical MSA plan, individuals and their employers make monthly deposits to an MSA account based upon a contribution rate chosen at the beginning of every year. Health plans typically allow members to draw against up to 12 months of MSA deposits at any time during the year.
"MSA plans allow members to borrow up to 12 months of projected deposits for health care claims."
For example, an individual who selects an MSA deposit of R400 ($50) per month can "spend" up to R4,800 (R400 X 12 months; $600) from the account from the beginning of the year. If the individual incurs a claim for, say, R2,000 in February, it will be available to him. But since he or she has, at that point, contributed only R400 to the MSA the insurer must make a "loan" of R1,600 to cover the remaining balance. If the member leaves the plan before repaying the loan, the insurer will make efforts to recover the amount still owed.
In general, members repay their loans from their future MSA contributions. Discovery Health charges interest on loans at a varying rate of approximately 7.5 percent per year, which is roughly equal to the annual rate of consumer price inflation in South Africa. At the same time, all positive balances in the MSA earn 7.5 percent per year interest, payable monthly.
Information Systems. MSAs allow individuals to tailor their health care spending to their specific needs. Individuals require more and more information as medical services become more and more complex. Currently, information is available from various sources, including the Internet. Discovery Health also offers members easy access to clinical information through a toll-free telephone call answered by a nurse who uses a triaging system to give guidance.
Most questions relate to small medical incidents at home. Should the patient self-treat a problem and, if so, how? Or should the patient see a doctor or other health care provider? Depending on the severity of the case, the nurse will either answer these questions using the computer program, forward the call to a doctor or advise the patient to see a doctor.
This technology has also been used to help individuals entering, or considering entering, a hospital. When a patient calls to tell the health plan he or she is entering a hospital for non-emergency treatment, the call can be forwarded to the information hotline.
Bargaining with Providers. The South African medical community is well organized. This is especially true with regard to specialist services, which are in relatively short supply. Their level of organization gives providers a leverage in fee negotiations. To offset this advantage, all insurers negotiate collectively with providers to create the benchmark fee schedules discussed above.
Because the supply of pharmacists is relatively more abundant, insurers have been able to negotiate discounts of up to 20 percent on the cost of drugs. Moreover, since many insurers are slow in paying their bills, individuals paying cash at the point of service can obtain discounts of as much as 30 percent. So even in cases where the insurer is liable, many insurers encourage patients to pay from their MSA accounts and they then reimburse the patient's MSA.
"Patients use their MSA balances to get discounts for cash payment of up to 30 percent, reimbursed later by the insurer."
Incentives to Invest in Personal Health. Discovery Health has an additional program called Vitality, designed to encourage wellness and a healthy life style and costing about 5 percent additional premium. Vitality is a point system: individuals gain points by participating in such wellness-related events as getting mammograms and Pap smears and exercising at a health spa. For example, a mammogram would earn a woman over 45 2,500 points. An improvement in health status also earns points. The points can be used to obtain a variety of benefits. For example, members with no points can purchase round-trip domestic airline tickets on British Airways for 29 percent of the normal fare; members with 60,000 points or more can purchase the same ticket for 8 percent of the normal fare.


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Assessor explains latest round of property assessments
Property assessments, commercial and residential combined, are up one percent. The Marion County assessor says that's the first increase in four years and most of it comes from the residential side.
Colleen Ciampa, who lives in Meridian Kessler on the city's north side, saw her assessment jump eight percent.
"I'm concerned for everyone around here," Ciampa said, noting "some of my neighbors are up quite a bit more and we have a lot of young, single people. It's rough."
Assessed values rose an average of six percent in Washington Township, the highest in the county.
Maria Madar, like many in Meridian Kessler and Butler Tarkington, actually saw a double-digit increase. The assessed value of her home shot up 14.16 percent.
She paused before saying, "I guess it could mean good news, because real estate is going up again."
The new figures are part of a general reassessment required by the state that began two years ago. Assessors had to physically inspect each property, noting additions or changes.
So what is your home's assessment based on? Marion County Assessor Joe O'Connor said it's based mostly on what homes in your neighborhood sold for the last two years.
But this time, he said, they also had to factor in updated land and home replacement costs that hadn't been updated in ten years.
In 2007, higher assessments compounded by higher taxes prompted numerous protests. Those protests led to several new tax relief measures, including property tax caps.
O'Connor noted not everyone is seeing an increase in assessed values. Buddy Phipps' assessment is down almost 6 percent. In fact, just about everyone in his northeast side neighborhood has seen their assessments slip and that worries him.
Suggested Links
"I'd rather see it stay the same, because if I decide to sell, it will effect what I get out of my home," Phipps said.
Back in Meridian Kessler, Madar was torn.
"I'm going to take it as good news," she said. "But I just don't way to pay more in taxes, because we just got hit really hard."


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There were a couple of clutch points on Thursday in Golden Valley sophomore Elisa Pierre's day that led her to advancing to the WSCGA Foundation Tournament/Southern California championship.
There was hole 17, when she birdied after back-to-back bogeys.
And a 12-foot par putt on No. 6 with an extreme downhill slope with a huge break that she sank.
Pierre shot a 1-over 73 on Thursday at the CIF-Southern Section Individual Championship and WSCGA Qualifier at Talega Golf Club in San Clemente.
The cut was at 75.
The 15-year-old recovered quickly after being 2-over after three holes.
"It's time to pick it up and start concentrating. Not think about what the score or cut would be," Pierre said she was thinking after the bogeys on Nos. 15 and 16 (her round started on No. 14). "I took a step back from that and thought, 'You need to focus on your plan. What are you going to do on your next shot to put yourself in the best position."
Pierre's calm and smarts is no surprise, as she has been in big pressure situations on the junior golf circuit.
The reigning Foothill League Most Valuable Player made it to the Southern Section championship last year, but shot an 83 and missed the cut by three strokes.
Pierre said she never panicked on Thursday, even facing an intimidating putt on No. 6.
"You're not having a bad day. You can recover," she thought. "I saved par after being in a terrible position."
The top individual score on the day was 66 by Mission Viejo's Brittany Farrell.
The top 28 golfers, not including girls who qualified from team competition (which also took place on Thursday at the same course), advanced.
Pierre is playing the next round smartly.
She said she has no goals in mind, not wanting to put pressure on herself and not trying to set forth expectations that could possibly disappoint her.
However, she is one round away from making the individual state championship at Quail Lodge in Carmel.
The WSCGA Foundation Tournament/Southern California championship will take place Nov. 14 at The Golf Club at Rancho California in Murrieta.
Pierre has never played the course.


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CARSON, Calif. – Landon Donovan's appearance on the US roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico wasn't much of a surprise following his performance in the Americans' CONCACAF Gold Cup triumph last month, but it's another big step forward in the LA Galaxy star's renaissance.
Donovan, who returned to the US team after a nearly 11-month absence and scored seven goals with seven assists in seven games last month, figures to play a key role when the Americans play Sept. 6 in Costa Rica and take on Mexico on Sept. 10 in Columbus.
"I'm excited," Donovan said following the Galaxy's training session Thursday morning at the StubHub Center. "I want to be part of that team going forward, and I'm happy to be a part of the group. We have real work to do, and we have the potential in the next couple weeks to be qualified for the World Cup. That's always the goal, and I'm going to do everything I can to make that happen."
Donovan, who said he received "official" word he was on the roster on Wednesday morning, hasn't played in a World Cup qualifier since June 2012 – a span of 10 qualifying games – and hadn't been in the mix since taking a leave of absence following the Galaxy's MLS Cup triumph last December.
He returned to the field in March, played his first national team game since last August in the Gold Cup prep against Guatemala, then led the Americans to the tournament title, scoring five goals with seven assists to push his international totals to 56 goals and 57 assists, both US records, in 151 matches.
His inclusion for this roster seemed certain, but Donovan noted that "nothing's a slam dunk anymore."
"I'm not surprised [by the call-up]," said Galaxy coach Bruce Arena, who was in charge of the US national team for eight years and two World Cups. "I think a player of his experience and quality is certainly going to help the US."
The US has 13 points after six qualifiers and are atop the CONCACAF Hexagonal standings. Costa Rica (11 points) is second and Mexico (8) is third. The top three teams head to Brazil, and the fourth-place team faces a playoff for an additional berth.
"[Costa Rica and Mexico are] arguably the two best teams [the US is competing with]," Donovan said. "It's going to be two hard games. Our team is full of confidence. We're going to Costa Rica with expectations that we can get something out of the game. A win would be great, but even getting a point there would be huge."
That game will be played in Costa Rica's Estadio Nacional in San Jose rather than at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa.
"In my opinion, Saprissa's the hardest place to play in CONCACAF," Donovan said. "It can't hurt [playing elsewhere], that's for sure, but any time you play Costa Rica home or away, it's a very difficult game, so we expect the same."
The US is unbeaten in its last five home qualifiers against Mexico, dating to 1980, and they've beat El Tri in Columbus in 2001, 2005 and 2013 – all by 2-0 scorelines.
"Mexico will be fun," Donovan said. "We look forward to that. ... I think psychologically [Columbus Crew Stadium is] a big advantage for us. We love playing there, it's always a pro-American crowd. My guess is if you asked the Mexican players, they don't really enjoy going there. We want to make it a fortress and continue to win there."
How he'll be involved remains a bit of a mystery, however. The German said on Thursday that the US veteran represented "another really, really good option for us," but didn't elaborate on just what that might entail.
Donovan, for his part, says Klinsmann has not talked to him about his role for the two matches and that he has "no idea" what he'll be asked to do.
"We'll find out," he said. "We'll see what happens."


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For years, my family has vacationed in the same Florida town. In fact, we just returned home after spending a week of spring break there with our three sons.
Many nights, we take the same scenic drive to dinner at a favorite restaurant. As we travel along Gulf Shore Boulevard, we admire a combination of small beach apartments, swanky high-rises and spectacular homes.
A few years ago, we noticed that whenever we drive this particular route, there are always two men sitting in front of the same third-floor window of a low-rise apartment building that overlooks the road. All that is visible from the road are their two silhouettes. Even during off-peak months, they've always been there.
Over the years, we've had great fun speculating about who they are, whether they're having a drink, and if so, what they fancy, where they're from, and what they might be discussing. Our guesses have become a modern form of car bingo. Widowers? Retirees? Partners? We've run through the gamut of possibilities.
Eventually, I started beeping the horn as we passed. We'd wave. Our new friends would do likewise. There was something comforting in seeing them. In a world of constant change, it's been nice to look up and see that they are there, same as we remembered from our last visit.
And then last spring, we drove by and they were missing. The apartment was dark. No one was visible in the window. Funny thing, we grew worried about two people we'd never met. Where did they go? Was everything all right? A new round of the guessing game. Too bad, because we had started to joke about dropping in on them to fill in the missing pieces.
On our last trip at Christmastime, we were relieved to see them once again. We were driving past about 6 p.m., and there they were at cocktail hour. I told my wife that I suspected they were gin drinkers and said we should buy them a bottle. She said that if I bought it, she'd deliver it. I said, "Tomorrow."
So I bought a bottle of Bombay, and en route to dinner at dusk the next night, we speculated with our three boys as to their names and why they had disappeared during our last visit.
Approaching the usual stretch, we were pleased to see the light was on. This time, there were three images in the window, not two. Our friends were entertaining. I pulled over.
My wife, accompanied by our 10-year-old, boldly got out, clutching the gin, and headed toward the stairs to their door. I remained behind with the other two boys, and parked across the street. Then she disappeared from our line of sight.
In a scene reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, we watched as one of the men rose to answer the door. Then he, too, was out of the camera frame. After a few minutes, he returned to show his two friends the bottle that had just been delivered. Soon, another of the men went toward the door, presumably to meet whoever had paid them a visit. Then we saw both men return and show the bottle to their guest.
A few moments later, my wife and son returned to the car.
She said Phil and Helmut (one of the boys had guessed "Phil" correctly) were appreciative of the gift (and I was correct about their fondness for gin!). They couldn't have been nicer and encouraged us to stop next time for a drink. Yes, they'd seen our car and had heard the greeting of the horn. And while they appreciated our concern over their absence in the spring, they had just been away on vacation.
As we started the car and continued along the beach to dinner, my wife and I were happy that a throwaway line about delivering a bottle of gin to our Florida friends had yielded a lesson to show a little gumption and take some initiative. After all, you never know when you could become a comforting constant for somebody else.
Last week in Florida the apartment was dark. But we're not worried. I beeped anyway.
© 2011 Philadelphia Inquirer


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Big upset for BHS tennis: Jacks topple top-seeded Spuds, advance to 8-2A semifinals
BRAINERD — The Bemidji tennis team scored an upset victory over No. 1-seeded Moorhead to advance to the semifinals of the Section 8AA team tennis tournament next Tuesday.
The Lumberjacks, the No. 4 seed in the north bracket, defeated No. 5 Sartell 5-2 then knocked off the Spuds, the North's top team, 4-3.
"We beat them during the regular season last year but they knocked us out of the section tournament," BHS head coach Mark Fodness said. "We were able to reverse that situation this year."
The Lumberjacks used a doubles-team sweep and a win by Evan White at No. 4 singles to secure the victory.
"We knew that we had to sweep them in doubles and then one of our four singles players had to pull off a pretty big upset," Fodness said.
White came through for the Lumberjacks big time. After losing the first set 2-6, he won the second set in a tiebreaker 7-6 after being down 5-2 early in the match against Ethan Glidden.
"Then it came down to his third set and he came through under a lot of pressure to pull of a big upset and give us the victory," Fodness said.
White took the third set 6-3.
In doubles action, Gabe Heifort and Robert Truer also needed a dramatic three sets to defeat their competition at No. 1 doubles, Joe Cullen and Sam Schroeder.
"They battled back to go up 4-3 in the third set but Moorhead took the next two games," Fodness said. "Robert had struggled with his serve for most of the day and we had to have him step up. We won every point of his game, and he hit three overpowering first serves that game us all the momentum we needed to finish things off."
Kole Pankow and Garret Atteberry beat Eyan Anderson and Issac Dang 6-1, 6-1, at No. 2 singles, while Rocky Copiskey and Spencer Konecne also had relatively easy times at No. 3 singles, winning 6-4, 6-3.
"Kole and Garret won our first point and never really left any doubt as to the outcome," Fodness said. "Rocky and Spencer struggled a bit early on but then took control and we had our second point. "
The Nos. 1-3 players — Matt Hokanson, Noah Holter and Sam Howard — all lost.
In the early match against Sartell, Hoaknson and Holter won at No. 1 and 2 singles and the doubles teams also swept to give Bemidji its 5-2 win.
Bemidji will take on Becker, the No. 2 team from the South bracket, next Tuesday at St. Cloud Apollo.
The Section 8AA North individual tournament is set for this Thursday, again at Brainerd.
Section 8AA Tennis Team Tournament North Bracket at Brainerd Bemidji 5, Sartell 2 Singles Hokanson (B) def. Schuchard 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
Holter (B) def. Muntifering 6-2, 6-1
Forberg (S) def. Howard 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
Sura (S) def. White 6-4, 2-6 (10-5)
Doubles Heifort/Truer (B) def. Skoe/Fischer 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Pankow/Atteberry (B) def. Jemming/Erickson 6-0, 7-6 (7-2)
Copiskey/Konecne (B) def. Minnerath/Sinn 6-3, 6-3
Bemidji 4, Moorhead 3 Singles Steinwand (M) def. Hokanson 6-2, 6-0
K.Meyer (M) def. Holter 6-0, 6-2
W.Meyer (M) def. Howard 6-1, 7-6 (5-6)
White (B) def. Glidden 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3)
Doubles Heifort/Truer (B) def. Cullen/Schroeder 2-6, 6-3, 7-5
Pankow/Atteberry (B) def. Anderson/Dang 6-1, 6-1
Copiskey/Konecne (B) def. O'Meara/Laidlaw 6-4, 6-3


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Two European election candidates paid a visit to Lisburn this week and pressed the flesh in the market.
Ulster Unionist Jim Nicholson and TUV leader Jim Allister met voters in the city centre and both agreed they had received a very warm welcome from Lisburn residents.
Mr Nicholson, who has been an MEP since 1989, has said he has seen many changes in the EU over the past 25 years.
"When I started there were twelve member states and now there are 28," he said.
"There is a view that Europe is 'way over there' but it does make a difference. This election isn't a referendum about EU membership, it's about having representation in Europe.
"Europe has provided over £2 billion to Northern Ireland from peace funds, which has played a substantial role in our development."
Mr Nicholson is also encouraging local people to make the most of EU membership and accessing the funds available to the community.
"We still have a long way to go to match what other people draw down from Europe," continued Mr Nicholson. "We are getting better at how we do it.
"As part of Horizon 2020, €80 billion will be available and we need to get our share of that.
"As long as the UK is in the EU then Northern Ireland needs to have strong representation and the MEPs need to work together for the benefit of everyone."
TUV leader Jim Allister was also in Lisburn for market day and said the reception he had received was "very gratifying."
Mr Allister said people in Lisburn had been queuing up to shake his hand and wish him well in next week's European election.
"I feel there's an appetite to shake things up and the TUV are seen as the best way to do that with our distinctive stand in Stormont and that's appreciated.
"There is considerable unease about misrule at Stormont and people are anxious to have their voice heard."
Mr Allister said local people had the same feeling about the upcoming local council election and added that the TUV in Lisburn had a "totally new slate of candidates."
The TUV leader said it was important that people turned out to vote during next Thursday's European election.
"It is very important to vote as Europe is a massive drain on our resources. We would be better off out of Europe and should join the nationwide campaign to force a referendum and a vote for the TUV will send that out as a very clear message."


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Rolling Stone to post McChrystal story follow-ups
Huffington Post
Some of it could include information that was edited out of Michael Hasting's piece, says Rolling Stone executive editor Eric Bates. In an interview with Sam Stein, Bates blasts Politico for its copyright violation. "They posted our story on their site, which was inappropriate. We contacted them immediately and they took it down."
> Bates: People forget how much reporting is in the DNA of RS
> Yeager: There's a lot of good reporting in the story


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It's amazing how inanity can pierce through amplified sound. The whispers, and then the emboldened blah blah blahs must possess some kind of special audio frequency.
There was a time (back when I had to walk 15 miles to and from school uphill both ways in 3 feet of snow - you remember those days) that a turn of the head or sidelong look at Mr. or Ms. Chatterbox could invoke the zip-it-please clause in the social contract.
No longer.
And we're not talking about unwrapping hard candies at the symphony. This is full-on yammering in places where people have gathered - concerts, meetings, movies.
I won't subject you to the entire scintillating discussion that drowned out most of a live-music show earlier this week. Suffice it to say the pithiness involved biology and an anatomical explanation of why "intelligent design" couldn't have happened, because no intelligent being would design male humans this way on purpose.
Such insight must have been far too potent to remain confined to the land of the unsaid.
How did we get to this?
Maybe the onslaught of marketing that tells us that how we order coffee, burgers, cars or cellphones makes us unique and special - how are those for two empty adjectives - feeds the illusion that we live in a world where everyone else belongs to our supporting cast.
A more serious erosion is at work here, however. When sharing becomes foisting, what's missing is empathy - the ability to see situations from another's point of view and acknowledge that what we do as individuals affects other people.
We're all guilty of bubble-living to some degree. We all have those days.
But the transition from empathy to resilience to consideration must be nurtured along the way.
And that, it seems to me, is what parenting is all about. It seems fitting, then, a few days before Mother's Day, to send out a big gracias to my parental units for all the ways they made sure that my brother and I knew that we were - are - loved, but that we don't exist in isolation.
Thanks for not telling me that plaid pants don't go with a striped shirt, because when you like them, they do. Thanks for not getting mad when I put pantyhose on my head to pretend I had long braids like Laura Ingalls and space side-buns like Princess Leia.
Thanks for knowing that the best and loudest instruments are pulled out of kitchen cabinets.
Thanks for giving me your Beatles records and not getting mad when I drew a heart under George on the back of "Meet the Beatles." Thanks for Elvis. And Chuck Berry. And Beethoven and Mancini. And bagpipes.
Thanks for getting mad, but not too mad, when my broken arm didn't keep me from getting in the refrigerator box and go hurtling down the neighbor's back hill. (Common sense vanishes in the presence of a pristine fridge box, we all know that.)
Thanks for pushing us. To walk, to run, to do better. To not let anyone's nosiness or judgment keep us from knowing we all have a place in the world.
Thanks for not coddling. For letting me fend for myself, knowing I have a haven if I need it. Thank you for opening the world with the pile of newspapers that covered the kitchen table every morning.
Thanks for yanking the television out of the wall and throwing it away. I didn't need to see the end of that "Brady Bunch" episode anyway.
Thank you for helping me understand that words have gravity. That imagination is necessary. That kids must stand on their own in new places.
Thank you for letting us find out that failure is transitory, not a state of being.
Thanks for my little brother and for letting us be friends - or not, depending on the day, the hour, the minute.
Thank you for being interested in the world outside our house. For being engaged and living the example of helping others. For making sure that we knew that not everyone lived the same way, and that we were, and are, fortunate in ways we couldn't understand then and still don't.
So I say thank you - because some thoughts do need to be shared, out loud and in public.
Sarah Garrecht Gassen writes opinion for the Arizona Daily Star. Her column appears on Thursdays. Email her at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Stain Reviews
super moisturizinglove how moisturizing they are. I use the color 'charmed' EVERY single day. looks natural in pictures, the so called 'better than my lips' look and when the sun hits my lips, it's a popping pink color. lights up my face and makes me look incredible healthy — 5 years, 4 months agoFab_Nat | 7 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 8 of 8 people said helpful
Not sure it was worth the $$Good: it's moisturizing, it feels great on your lips, it looks awesome. BAD: my main problem with this is that it's supposed to be a stain/tint and it's supposed to stay on your lips 'all day' according to them but it DOESN'T. It was gone within the hour. Not sure it was worth the money, however, for that one hour it did look awesome! — 5 years, 4 months agojennymaria86 | 4 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 2 of 4 people said helpful
Review subjectI use the matte version of this stuff and I love it. I have trouble with regular lip sticks and lip stains, I must be allergic to something in them because my lips always peel when I use them. But this stuff is awesome! It stains my lips without smearing but it will somewhat come off if I wipe it. It's not glossy (which I like) and makes it look like it's your natural lip color and doesn't look like you're wearing lip stick. — 5 years, 5 months agosallysparrow | 4 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 1 of 1 people said helpful
Great productI love the lip stains because unlike some, it isn't the marker style of tip. The Tarte stains are more like lipstick mixed with gloss. They go on smooth, add color and sheen. It comes in great colors and also comes in luster and matte style as well. — 5 years, 5 months agoana_chesley | 5 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 6 of 6 people said helpful
Smooth and MoistThese have become a staple, like to layer them and all the textures and finishes moisturizing and pretty. The matte shade Exposed is very matte and lasting, great with the satiny and shiny shades layered over for moist, pretty pout. Wish there was more product for the price though. — 5 years, 5 months agoskinpro | 17 reviews
Feels Nice not into the MintyThis is my first ever Tarte product. It's creamy so it glides on your lips. Love that it's not sticky in the slightest. The color doesn't remain vibrant on the lips too long, but I've noticed that after it disappears I can still detect a hint of color. This will be my spring go to lip color. Reminds me of a sheer version of MAC's Candy Yum Yum. The draw back for me is the minty smell/taste...read more previously mentioned. It's more of a smell factor for me. It reminds me of bargain make-up kits my mother used to buy me when I was five. Despite that I wouldn't hesitate to repurchase. — 5 years, 6 months agoDizzyGirl | 3 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 2 of 3 people said helpful
Wonderful productI received this in my Birchbox for the month of March and I did not think I would love it as much as I do. The color I have is Joy, which is an orange stained gloss on its own but when applied to my lips it becomes a gorgeous coral. I find that the color lasts a long time without bleeding like other lip stains I've tried in the past. Also, it is very moisturizing so my lips do not feel or look dry...read more while wearing this color. One trick I learned is to exfoliate my lips before applying the lip color (this goes for any lip product you're going to use). I use a lip exfoliator but sugar or gently brushing your lips with a toothbrush works fine(: By doing this, it makes the application of the Tarte lip stain very smooth, AND it lasts longer in my experience! — 5 years, 6 months agoailykins | 2 reviews
I love this!!!!Today, I ventured out of my comfort zone and I am beyond glad! I purchased 'enchanted' and it's so moisturizing and has great pigment. It is the perfect marriage of lip balm and lip stick! A bit pricey- $24, but I do love and will re-buy!!! — 5 years, 7 months agoLaura51084 | 2 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 3 of 3 people said helpful
Staying PowerI love these, it goes on even and stays on. Plus the colors are more original than your average lipstick. I love Matte color, however if you don't like dry lipstick, don't get the matte stick. — 5 years, 7 months agoNanook | 3 reviews
My Favorite Lip ProductThis is nice for all skin tones, well the shade in Enchanted. I love it...adds just the right amount of color and is moisturizing like a balm. — 5 years, 7 months agoashley_cabell | 16 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 2 of 2 people said helpful
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- Products
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Borg Fleet gives businesses the upper hand with their maintenance scheduling requirements. We have developed patent pending algorithms that constantly analyze the utilization of the assets along with their health condition, which allows for maintenance planning up to 90 days in advance; therefore it removes the risks of over-maintenance, rush order of parts, expansive repairs due to missed maintenance and increasing assets availability.
Leveraging Telematic Systems
Borg Fleet has been designed to take full advantage of the information gathered by telematic terminals, from as simple as GPS to the more advanced CANBus. The information extracted is then analyzed by Borg Fleet to provide you with action items that need to be taken of in order to keep your fleet in top condition while controlling your costs.
Driven by utilization
Accurate automated maintenance schedules provided via the analysis of the asset utilization allows for the predictability of the maintenance requirements. Mosts maintenance systems use a linear time based system to identify when the next maintenance needs to be performed. Borg's patent pending algorithms learn from your asset's utilization to correctly forecast your maintenance needs up to 90 days in advance.
Resource planning
Borg's Austomated Maintenance Scheduling (AMS) system allows for the most effective planning of all the resources involved in performing the maintenance of the assets. The lead time provided permits, among other things, the ordering of the parts necessary ahead of time so that when the asset enters the maintenance window, the work can be performed in the most efficient and cost effective manner.
Borg's Automated Maintenance Scheduling (AMS) interlinks all the elements of your business that play a role in keeping your fleet running. Upon analysis, AMS recommends the maintenance required and with a single click, work orders are created, parts availability is assessed, quote requests are sent to suppliers if the parts needed are not in stock and employees are assigned. Some of the benefits of AMS include:
"Borg Fleet gives me a comprehensive tool to control my fleet, track my inventory, work orders, personnel and more. To me this is the biggest bargain available to our industry today!"
Robert Spooner, Director of Maintenance - Hecor, Inc.


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Top 10 Las Vegas Hotels
The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa
Henderson, Nevada
Retreat from the neon lights of "The Strip" and enjoy an extraordinary Las Vegas getaway when you plan your trip to The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa, the No. 1 pick in our list of the top 10 Las Vegas... read more
Retreat from the neon lights of "The Strip" and enjoy an extraordinary Las Vegas getaway when you plan your trip to The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa, the No. 1 pick in our list of the top 10 Las Vegas Hotels.
Named as one of the "World's Best Hotels" by Travel + Leisure, this 3,600-acre Lake Las Vegas resort offers luxury at every turn. Whether you are enjoying a revitalizing spa treatment, an energizing WestinWORKOUT, or just plan to see a show on The Strip, fun is never far away. Considered the ultimate activity destination, The Westing Lake Las Vegas provides and awesome list of outdoor activities. Your group will have the opportunity to try to world's fastest-growing water sport, stand up paddle boarding, or your can try kayaking or peddle boating around the picturesque lake. The resort also offers Pilates, yoga, mountain biking, zip lining, hiking trails, and other fun sports through their concierge service. When you are not enjoying the bright lights and shows of The Strip, you'll be able to enjoy the comfort of your luxurious accommodations. The resort offers options from traditional rooms to the Casbah Suite, the ultimate in luxury featuring a beautiful fireplace, patio area, and plenty of space for you entire family. Why wait to plan your next Las Vegas getaway? The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa is the perfect destination for your next trip to the Sin City.
101 Montelago Boulevard Henderson, Nevada 89011
The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa features the Riyada Beach just off the Lake Las Vegas Lagoon. Make sure to plan a family campfire at the fire pint on the sandy shores of the lagoon!
Fun facts
Since the beginning of 2014, The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa has been featured in numerous publications including Luxury Travel Magazine, Successful Meetings, Travel Pulse, BellasMagazine.com, TheMeetingsMagazine.com, and TravelChannel.com.close
THEhotel at Mandalay Bay
Las Vegas, Nevada
The allure, the luxury, the exclusivity – naturally we expected such indulgence from our No. 2 pick, a Las Vegas hotel daring enough to proclaim itself THEhotel – and in its name, no less. But when we heard... read more
The allure, the luxury, the exclusivity – naturally we expected such indulgence from our No. 2 pick, a Las Vegas hotel daring enough to proclaim itself THEhotel – and in its name, no less. But when we heard that this latest Vegas accommodation came with the backing of Mandalay Bay itself, well, let's just say we didn't waste any time in securing a slice of THEhotel heaven to call our own!
We think THEhotel at Mandalay Bay is the perfect solution for those who prefer the intimacy of a boutique hotel, but aren't willing to give up access to the dazzling dining, nightlife and more that usually accompany the average Las Vegas resort. Occupying the same stretch of Vegas strip as Mandalay Bay, this all-suite hotel boasts convenient access to its mega-resort neighbor, while understated luxury is the name of the game inside its designer suites. Italian marble floors, glass-enclosed steam showers and oversized soaking tubs are a few of THEhotel's finer points, and that's just in your en-suite bath. Sleek club chairs, contemporary décor and views of the hotel pool or glittering Vegas skyline complete your stay at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay! The ultra-hip Mix Lounge occupies THEhotel's top floor and plays host to a curvaceous bar, tempting small plates and an equally enticing wait staff. And come nightfall, pulsating hip hop, house and top 40 beats transform THEhotel's swank lounge into one of the hottest venues on the Strip!
THEgym's Precor equipment, traditional free weights and soft lighting make it easy to stay in shape, even in a city known for its indulgent tendencies.
Fun facts
Spa pampering becomes an ancient art in THEhotel's bathhouse spa. Here, cleanings and rejuvenation are achieved by harnessing the au natural healing powers of water, the elixir of life!
Related Onsite Offerings
Billiards lounge, lobby bar, coffee bar and café.close
The Venetian
Las Vegas, Nevada
The spirit of Venice meets the pulsating nightlife, exhilarating casino gaming and the devil-may-care attitude of the Vegas strip – that's the Venetian Las Vegas. Rich in Italian influences and rife with... read more
The spirit of Venice meets the pulsating nightlife, exhilarating casino gaming and the devil-may-care attitude of the Vegas strip – that's the Venetian Las Vegas. Rich in Italian influences and rife with opportunities for overindulgence, this stunning hotel captures the essence of all that is good in Sin City. And as for romance, well – we recommend letting The Venetian take care of that, too!
With some of the best restaurant s on the Strip located on site, The Venetian is a must-dine for any Vegas vacation. With its delectable cuisine – the work of culinary deity Wolfgang Puck himself – RIVA offers a decidedly upscale take on traditional poolside fare. Words like fabulous and exquisite hardly do justice to RIVA's scrumptious menu, and elixirs like the Watermelon Crush are certainly refreshing, especially after an hour or two in the scorching Vegas sun. The Delmonico Steakhouse, the culmination of celebrated chef Emeril Lagasse's considerable talents, serves up stylish design as pleasing to the eye as its Creole-inspired dishes are to the palate. And with Venetian mainstays like the Blue Man Group, Phantom of the Opera and the Jersey Boys at your fingertips, the post-dinner diversions are nothing to scoff at, either! There's nothing standard about these stylish Vegas hotel suites. The Venetian's all-suite accommodations play host to their share of luxuries –Egyptian cotton linens, Italian marble foyers and sunken Roman tubs, included. And with a living room, wet bar and media room for entertaining, the hotel's Renaissance Suites house a generous dose of fun within their considerable square footage.
Fun facts
TAO Nightclub plays host to eight private skyboxes, plush banquettes, go-go dancers, a stunning outdoor terrace and a 20-ft. tall Buddha statue.
Related activities
There's more than retail therapy to be had at the Grand Canal Shoppes. Stroll the cobblestone walkways that line the river, or take a more direct route on an authentic gondola ride!
The Venetian offers aerial views of the Grand Canyon, the Vegas Strip and other nearby landmarks, courtesy of Maverick Helicopters.close
New York New York Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada
Who knew you could tackle two of the nation's most celebrated cities in one Las Vegas vacation? With its sleek, metropolitan style and diversions that are nothing short of Sin City's best, New York New York... read more
Who knew you could tackle two of the nation's most celebrated cities in one Las Vegas vacation? With its sleek, metropolitan style and diversions that are nothing short of Sin City's best, New York New York Hotel and Casino brings a slice of the Big Apple to the other U.S. city that never sleeps.
Even those who've had the pleasure of staying in New York, the city, will be delighted by the New York New York Hotel and Casino's exquisite accommodations. With their chic brown and sage décor, the hotel's Park Avenue rooms live up to the luxe reputation of the Manhattan boulevard they were named for. The aptly-named Broadway rooms bring their share of drama with lush purple fabrics, warm wood furnishings and marble baths. The high-rise Penthouse Suite has all the urban sensibilities and indulgent luxuries – not to mention the fantastic views – of a Manhattan loft. Given its impressive rooms and suites, it's hardly surprising to discover that the New York New York Hotel and Casino even offers diversions on par with its namesake city. The New York New York's dazzling casino practically overflows with entertaining slots, table games and even a bar with absinthe service. And with everything from an Irish pub with dueling pianos to the head-turning ladies of Coyote Ugly all on site, Vegas nightlife is mere steps from your suite!
3790 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89109
The Spa at New York New York offers your choice of customized escape packages, including treatments designed with mothers-to-be in mind!
Related Onsite Offerings
Business center, shopping, pool, Regis salon, meeting spaces and a full-service spa.close
Flamingo Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
With its Art Deco-reminiscent style, our No. 5 spot lends Miami-South Beach flair to the already over-the-top Vegas trip. Sure, there are hotels bigger – and arguably more luxurious – than this. But as one of... read more
With its Art Deco-reminiscent style, our No. 5 spot lends Miami-South Beach flair to the already over-the-top Vegas trip. Sure, there are hotels bigger – and arguably more luxurious – than this. But as one of the first to open its doors, and the oldest to stand tall in modern times, we think Flamingo Las Vegas is still worthy of a mention!
Much of the Flamingo's appeal comes from its exceptional location; poised on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road, this Las Vegas hotel is close to literally everything worth seeing and doing on the Vegas strip. And while we've chosen to highlight the Flamingo for its more modern offerings, the updated GO rooms pay homage to the hotel's retro roots. Pink candy cane-striped walls, stark white furnishings and cocoa-colored blankets embroidered with the Flamingo crest adorn these nostalgic Las Vegas suites. And with 77,000 sq. ft. of video poker, table games and progressive slots, there's never a dull moment inside the Flamingo's freshly-remodeled Caribbean-style casino! GO Pool – the Flamingo's seductive poolscape – is an adults-only alternative to traditional Vegas pools. Au natural sunbathing is the name of the game at this discreetly hidden Las Vegas hotel, with chaise lounges and cocktail service providing the ultimate in leisure experiences.
Fun facts
The Flamingo is home to the Sin City Brewing Company's second location, where you can sip your way through the entire collection of Sin City microbrews!
Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville at the Flamingo offers multiple levels of island-themed entertainment complete with five bars, live entertainment and two outdoor patios overlooking the Strip.
Related Onsite Offerings
Workout room, full-service salon, spa, golf club, shops, boutiques and bars.close
Bellagio Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada
In a city where grandiose luxury is king, it's refreshing to find a AAA Five-Diamond Las Vegas hotel with a touch of finesse. Our No. 6 pick's delicate desert hues and European style are the elegant thread... read more
In a city where grandiose luxury is king, it's refreshing to find a AAA Five-Diamond Las Vegas hotel with a touch of finesse. Our No. 6 pick's delicate desert hues and European style are the elegant thread that places the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in such high esteem in the eyes of Vegas visitors.
Electronic drapes, marble showers with glass enclosures and ruby-rose bolster pillows atop cream bed linens adorn the Bellagio Queen. Upgrade to the unique Cypress Suite in the shape of an arc. The marble foyer, chocolate brown furnishings and his bath with steam shower and hers with a soaking whirlpool tub all flow together in this open floor plan. But what really caught our attention was a Bellagio villa. Exclusive villas offer the height of luxury, including dual fireplaces, a private terrace with a garden, pool and whirlpool, plus an in-suite workout facility, massage room and fully-stocked bar. If you find Bellagio's wedding chapels too opulent to pass up, partake in a Las Vegas tradition and get hitched! The Bellagio ensures that every detail from walking down the aisle to gourmet catering at your reception is well thought out to reflect the importance of your special day.
Fun facts
The Bellagio Las Vegas is home to nightly performances of the "O" Cirque du Soleil show. Written and directed by Franco Dragone, this intriguing performance features acrobatics performed above, on and in the water.
Related Onsite Offerings
Bellagio Hotel plays host to its own fashion row, where the latest creations from design's biggest names – Armani, Chanel, Dior, Fendi, Gucci and more – are at your disposal.
3600 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89109close
Caesars Palace Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Whether it's the 18 fountains and lines of cypress trees at the entrance, the sculpted statues adorning the grand staircase or the replica of David as the centerpiece of the Appian Way shopping complex, our No.... read more
Whether it's the 18 fountains and lines of cypress trees at the entrance, the sculpted statues adorning the grand staircase or the replica of David as the centerpiece of the Appian Way shopping complex, our No. 7 pick stands as one of Las Vegas' most iconic hotels.
Though it has made countless cameos in myriad movies, we'd like to argue that what's really silver-screen worthy is the experience you will have at the luxurious Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. Fit for the deities it pays tribute to, the Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis delivers a lavish swimming experience only rivaled by the cabanas that surround it, stocked with flat screen TVs, iPod docking stations, ceiling fans and furniture. You'll be treated just as well beneath the sun, especially with Evian face spritzers, frozen towels and body massages at your beck and call. Enjoy prime entertainment at The Colosseum, savor Roa's homemade meatballs or revel in your palatial penthouse. If you couldn't spring for a penthouse, indulge in your fantasy – Fantasy Suite, that is – whether it's the Absolut Vodka-inspired suite's dance floor or the Infinity spa tub overlooking the Strip in the Augustus Tower Spa Suite.
Related activities
You won't have to walk far to find world-class shopping and dining venues. The Forum Shops at Caesars boasts more than 160 shops and 13 restaurants and specialty food shops while Appian Way Shops specialize in fine apparel, jewelry, art and more!
Related Onsite Offerings
As if you weren't already pampered enough, Caesars Palace has Qua Baths and Spa on site with a fitness facility, Roman bath treatments, Laconium sauna, ice room and more – all can be paired with hot and cold beverages by the tea sommelier!
3570 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89109close
MGM Grand Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada
Envision everything you imagine Vegas to be: packed casinos, adrenaline-pumping shows and dazzlingly luxurious suites all on the infamous Strip. Now your Sin City fantasies can become realities at our No. 8 Las... read more
Envision everything you imagine Vegas to be: packed casinos, adrenaline-pumping shows and dazzlingly luxurious suites all on the infamous Strip. Now your Sin City fantasies can become realities at our No. 8 Las Vegas pick.
MGM Grand Hotel and Casino is the quintessential Vegas experience, offering all you'd expect from this famous Nevada city. On the Las Vegas Boulevard South – the Strip – MGM Grand boasts a variety of rooms and suites to suit your taste. If you've brought along that special someone, the Celebrity Spa Suite sets the tone for a sultry and soothing Southwest retreat. We wouldn't be surprised if it was a struggle to leave the Italian marble whirlpool tub, but much more begs to be explored! MGM Garden Arena is host to championship boxing, premier concerts and more. If you forgot tickets, astounding piano performances are to be found in West Wing Bar. MGM Grand continues to cater to Vegas dreams with its own onsite casino. Place bets on races, take part in one of 10 table games including blackjack and craps, or try your hand at poker. Thousands of slot and game machines are even available for a quick stop before your date at Nobhill Tavern.
Fun facts
Wet Republic is the sensational ultra-pool experience in Vegas with two saltwater pools, eight individual pools and whirlpools, a 2,500-sq.-ft. lounge and more.
Related Onsite Offerings
MGM Grand Hotel and Casino also houses a spa and health club, Cristophe Salon, Grand Pool Complex, wedding chapel and shopping boutiques with designer labels.close
Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Skip out on clanging slot machines, but still see the Eiffel Tower from your Strip suite. Our No. 9 pick is a non-gaming sanctuary, and while some may be disappointed at not having gambling and dining tables in... read more
Skip out on clanging slot machines, but still see the Eiffel Tower from your Strip suite. Our No. 9 pick is a non-gaming sanctuary, and while some may be disappointed at not having gambling and dining tables in the same venue, we'd be willing to bet the Four Seasons, Las Vegas is an exception.
It would be virtually impossible to forgo gaming pleasures in Sin City. Which is why Four Seasons, Las Vegas provides its guests with access to Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino – which also plays a role in casino fun for our No. 2 spot! And if it's tranquility amidst flashing neon you came to the South Strip for, Four Seasons' spa doesn't disappoint. With Zen lounges, steam rooms and signature treatments like custom perfume blending, you'll leave feeling purely refreshed. And we can think of only one place that would engulf your new scent: Verandah. Dine on classic American cuisine with an Italian twist on the outdoor terrace or inside the tan and chocolate-hued dining room. Don't forget to enjoy the Nevada rays beside Four Seasons' tropical pool with pillared roofs for shade or chaise lounges for sunbathing. Enjoy an Evian spritz, chilled water or fresh fruit!
Related activities
Horseback riding, sightseeing, 3-D movies, arcades, biking, the M and M Museum, roller coasters and theme parks, Mandalay Bay Shark Reef, fountain shows and more.
Related Onsite Offerings
Enjoying the Strip as a family is made easy with Four Seasons, Las Vegas kid-friendly amenities, including a chocolate puzzle, age appropriate toiletries, PlayStation upon request, complimentary high chairs and playpens, items to childproof rooms and more.close
Circus Circus Hotel & Casino
Reno, Nevada
Placing your offspring in a freak show has probably crossed your mind more than once. But before Betsy's screams pierce the air as Tommy steals her blanket, and before you make the hasty decision to pack them... read more
Placing your offspring in a freak show has probably crossed your mind more than once. But before Betsy's screams pierce the air as Tommy steals her blanket, and before you make the hasty decision to pack them up, consider a family getaway at our No. 10 Las Vegas spot.
Circus Circus Hotel and Casino captures the magical Big Top theme for unforgettable Nevada family fun. As you approach the front entrance, smiling neon clowns, a giant circus tent and high rise hotels engulf your vision. Your eyes will grow even wider inside Adventuredome. Don't let its swooping pink roof fool you. Inside are rides and attractions that require a serious desire for thrill. Feel the g-force on the Inverter. Zip around corners on the 65-ft. remote control car racetrack. Or, play a friendly round of tag in Lazer Blast! While the kids may not understand the thrill you get at the lever of one of 2,200 slot machines or in Circus Circus Casino's Poker Room, we're pretty sure that everyone will be excited by your Manor room. With the pool just outside the door, wireless Internet and cable TV, unwinding at the end of the day is simple.
Related Onsite Offerings
Bring your home with you! Your RV home, that is. Circus Circus Hotel and Casino has the only RV park on the Strip!
Related activities
It'd be a shame to stay at Circus Circus Hotel and Casino and not witness its breathtaking namesake show. Applaud daring performers like The Flying Poemas or Maria! Be dazzled by the magical duo Nikolai and Nina or the awe-inspiring Duo Joys!
2880 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89109close


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Reviews: AnonymousLocation Russia, Gender Male, Age 33
- Anonymous
- Russia, Male, 25-30
- Novice Nomad
Overcharged ~$100 upon arrival for no reason, overcharged the city tax, super-tiny room, no privacy in the room as there was a loosely shut/locked door with a nice slit (to voyeur the neighbors, huh?), very inadequate soundproofing of walls/doors/windows (in Gaslamp district!) - I could not sleep in the night. Intermittent wireless Internet - it is not possible to do anything because it works, and then stops, and then works and stops again. Overall, the worst hostel experience ever.
We wholeheartedly apologize for all the inconvenience you experienced during your stay with us. We refunded you the over charged amount while you were here, so that should be taken care of. The noise will always be an issue, and we highly recommend that anyone staying with us please call us and request a quiet room and we will do our best to accommodate. We will look into the voyeur door that you speak of, and the wifi needs a bandwidth increase at this point as we have seen a massive increase in users this year alone. All things we are working towards and should have remedied soon. Thank you for your candidness, as it will always help us get better. Thank you also for the business. -HI San Diego Downtown
- Anonymous
- Russia, Male, 25-30
- Novice Nomad
Very nice hostel, very nice people and fun crowd.
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"We are very excited to announce the opening of our 15th plasma collection center, as well as our new national training facility," said Jordan Siegel, BPC's Chief Executive Officer. "This is the first of four new centers we expect to open this year as we continue to expand our U.S. operations to address the global demand for this very important source material."
The plasma collected at BPC's plasma centers is used to manufacture critical care therapies that treat life threatening disorders in a variety of therapeutic areas, such as BPC's BIVIGAM®[Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human), 10% Liquid] and Nabi-HB® [Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human)].
BPC has invested approximately $2.0 million in construction of this facility, which is designed for optimal efficiency and incorporates the newest donor screening technologies. The center will also be the national training and development facility for all of BPC's plasma sites. BPC expects to add approximately 50 new jobs to Royal Palm Beach's local economy and currently has career opportunities available for LPNs, RNs, phlebotomists and various other professional and administrative positions.
In addition to supporting the local economy through employment opportunities, the plasma center is actively recruiting local residents to donate plasma. Plasma donors not only contribute the source material for these plasma derived therapies that save the lives of thousands of patients but also are compensated for their donations.
The Royal Palm center is the third new facility BPC has opened in Florida within the last eleven months. The BPC Orlando plasma center, located at 2501 Discovery Drive in the Central Florida Research Park and adjacent to the University of Central Florida, opened its doors July of 2013; the Melbourne center, located at 3110 Lake Washington Road, opened October of 2013.
About Biotest Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Biotest Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Biotest AG, a German global provider of plasma therapies, researches, develops and manufactures biotherapeutic products with a specialization in immunology and hematology. BPC is a leader in the collection of source plasma and is currently involved in the development of plasma protein products in the field of Primary Immune Deficiency (PID) and various hyperimmune (IG) products. The Company owns and manages fifteen plasmapheresis centers across the United States and a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Boca Raton, Florida. The Company employs more than 1,000 people in the U.S. To learn more about Biotest Pharmaceuticals and our Plasma Centers and the difference we make in the lives of patients and the healthcare community, please visit us at www.biotestpharma.com and www.biotestplasma.com.
SOURCE Biotest Pharmaceuticals


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SEEKINGSteel guitar, Fiddle, Banjo, Background Singer, Piano, Keyboard, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Guitar.
Six Gun Sons of the West is a concept country band. For those country folk who like to rock, it is an answer to the disappointing pop-country stars infecting the airwaves today. Six Gun Sons will feature heavy guitars, a darker sound, solid fiddle and lead solos, and even black powder revolvers as percussion instruments.
Six Gun Sons will be pursuing mainstream success. The band leader/frontman is an experienced performer and manager, adept at scheduling and marketing. While still in the forming stage, we are in the process of gaining representation and possible sponsorship. Many songs are already in the works, but we are seeking musicians from several different genres to create the heavy country sound we are looking for. Country angst, if you will.
Practices will be held weekly. Once the band is fully formed, local touring and recording will commence, with transportation provided.
*For those of you who are not of the country genre, please understand that rock is a heavy influence here. The music will be heavy, the beer will be free, and country chicks are hot, so keep an open mind!
If you are interested in auditioning, please contact Jacob Reeves at 970-595-0688 or via email at weevos81.
- Screen name:
- Six Gun Sons of the West
- Member since:
- Jan 07 2011
- Active over 1 month ago
- Level of commitment:
- Very Committed
- Years together:
- 1
- Tend to practice:
- 1 time per week
- Available to gig:
- 1 night a week
- Age:
- 36 years


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Three of the new Windows Live services officially shed their "beta" tag today.
Live.com is a personalized portal/RSS aggregator that allows you to customize your feeds and news as you like. Plus, you can add various Gadgets to the page, or build your own. Check out the Live.com blog for more info here.
Windows Live Local is the mapping/local search site based on Virtual Earth. Along with their official 1.0 release are a slew of newer features and an updated UI. You can read about those here at the WLL blog.
Finally, Live Search is the next evolution of the MSN Search engine. The Live search team has made numerous improvements and discusses them here. I've been using Live Search as my default search for a while now, and I haven't experienced much of the head banging of old days. That's a good thing, as I usually find what I'm looking for quickly with Live! Check out the Live Search blog here for more info.
One more thing... Back in June I posted how most of the new Live services are developer friendly! Don't forget to check out Windows Live Dev for more information on how you can build applications using the Live services.


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To start with my left breast was numb but from 6mths post op to now I am suffering massively from areas of hypersensitivity or neuropathic pain.I have seen various surgeons and doctors and nobody has been able to offer effective help.I have tried different drugs but none have worked in two years (ibuprofen,pregabalin,capsaicin cream,nortriptyline) Will the nerve damage heal or will the implants have to be removed to help? Nobody else seems to have the same problem.I feel so helpless and alone.
Neuropathic Pain / Hypersensitivity 2yrs Post Breast Augmentation
Doctor Answers 6
Pain with implants
Pain two years after having breast augmentation is extremely unsual. Assuming that you have seen your surgeon for possible implant related causes, you may want to consult a pain specialist.
Learn more: http://www.stevenwallachmd.com
Neuropathic pain
What you are describing is definitely a rare phenomenon from breast augmentation. I have seen patients with similar nerve complaints after other surgeries, particularly abdominal operations. In those cases, the neuropathic pain is from an entrapment of the nerve or scar tissue within a nerve. This is commonly known as a neuroma. The treatment often times involves resection of the offending nerve and placement of the cut end of the nerve into muscle or bone. This placement of the nerve ending results in a reduced risk of symptomatic recurrence. The tradeoff is the loss of sensation in the distribution of the nerve.
For this to occur in the breast after an augmentation is highly unusual. Regardless, I believe you would benefit from a referral to a peripheral nerve specialist for an examination. If you would like, please contact me via the email link on RealSelf.com and I would be happy to give you the name of a peripheral nerve surgeon that I have worked with and trust.
Learn more: http://www.drbogue.com
Neuropathic pain/hypersensitivity 2 years post breast augmentation.
When conditions such as these are suspected it is best to proceed with conservative management for 6 months. This may include massage, desensitization, and sensory reeducation techniques. Specialists in pain management are able to direct this type of care. If conservative treatment fails surgical intervention may be necessary. Sometimes sometimes the offending nerve can be localized with a nerve block. The nerve block is placed in the vicinity of the suspected nerve. If pain is relieved immediately it is likely the targeted nerve is the source of the problem. Following localization of the suspected nerve a surgical approach can be considered. If you have pain or sensory alterations extending beyond the expected recovery time it is best to consult your plastic surgeon so that he or she can thoroughly evaluate you and help direct the appropriate care.
You might also like...
Pain two years after breast augmentation
This is a difficult assessment to make. IF removing the implant would solve the problem, that would be an easy recommendation to make but it is impossible to know. I would consider that you seek pain physician consultations and possibly undergo diagnostic nerve blcoks to further localize the problem.
Learn more: http://www.bodysculptor.com/breast-surgery-chicago/
Breast hypersensitivity
You degree,length and level of pain are unusual following a breast aug.there are sensory nerves that are cut during the normal course of the operation but these usually return to normal.I would try a course of steroids if you haven't already.Also maybe a pain specialist could do some blocks and if all else fails I would consider removal,capsulectomy and reinsertion.
Hypersensitivity after breast augmentation.
This is extremely rare, but that doesn't help you at all. I don't have any good news for you, I am afraid. After two years this is probably permanent. And taking out the implants may not help. I am so sorry.
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.


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I'm sure they will be smarter than the students who entered college with me back in my freshman days. We hope they will be a more diverse group as well, reflecting the state's growing black, Latino and Asian populations.
Unfortunately for Georgia's future, there will be fewer of these students attending our public colleges than there were a couple of years ago.
After growing to a record level of 318,000 students in 2011, the combined enrollment at our public colleges declined to 314,000 in 2012 and to 309,000 in 2013.
As a business person, there is one economics lesson I learn over and over again:
The marketplace is essential but not perfect.
It is not perfect in a variety of ways, but a big one is that not everyone can be a winner.
I don't mean winner in the sense of Bill Gates or Warren Buffett. Rather, a winner in the sense of middle class – with access to some discretionary income.
There are a variety of ways to lose–and they're not all bad.
The marketplace creates losers of the inefficient or passé. Or the rich who make poor investments.
To the editor,
On behalf of the State Bar of Georgia, I would like to offer congratulations and appreciation to the judges and staff of the Office of Superior Court Judge of Columbia County, who raised the most food per capita among legal organizations during the third annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy.
Senate and House Democrats are outraged by the Supreme Court's decision in favor of Hobby Lobby in the firm's lawsuit seeking exemption from the Obamacare mandate that employers provide, free of charge, contraceptives to employees.
Senate Majority leader Harry Reid called the Supreme Court decision "outrageous" and Democrats have introduced bills in the Senate and the House to overturn the decision.
For those who have endured Georgia's longest runoff election ever, the July 22 finish line is finally coming into view.
Voters and candidates are learning there is a big difference between four weeks, which was how long these campaigns used to last, and nine weeks, the runoff duration ordered by federal Judge Steve Jones to give overseas voters more time to mail in their ballots.
The biggest race on the election ballot is the Senate Republican runoff between Rep. Jack Kingston and business executive David Perdue.
– New England maxim
When you live in no-man's-land as I do, and the closest handyman is either too busy or too expensive, you learn how to make do. Often, that means you learn to do.
Though I've never changed a flat tire or my car's oil, I can paint my own mailbox, trim a hedge and do a mean plumber impersonation when the alternative is half a month's pay. Or so I thought when I tried to repair a malfunctioning toilet.
"Easy. Just use pliers … then … and ..."
Dear editor,
Columbia County News-Times ©2017. All Rights Reserved.


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Hernandez Named Director of Global Compliance for RPM
April 16, 2013
RPM International Inc. recently announced that Arturo Hernandez has joined the company as director of Global Compliance. In this role, he will be responsible for managing the company's worldwide corporate compliance program.
Hernandez most recently worked for the U.S. Department of Justice as an assistant U.S. attorney. He was previously a deputy district attorney with the Denver District Attorney's Office from 1997 to 2004.
For additional information, visit www.rpminc.com.
Did you enjoy this article? Click here to subscribe to Adhesives & Sealants Industry Magazine.


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Title and statement of responsibility area
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Joe Little Chief's stories: Adventure of Crows and Blackfeet with Chief Moon
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GLEN glen-1469-iw-glen-697
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1 folder (16 p.)
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- The material is in English.
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Consists of a story recounted by Joe Little Chief of the Blackfoot (Siksika) reserve in southern Alberta. Includes both a handwritten version (pages 1-10) and a transcript (pages 11-16).


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President Barack Obama is willing to sacrifice Florida and other coastal states for a far-reaching energy bill. His call on Wednesday to vastly expand drilling for gas and oil off the Florida coast is an unreasonable concession in a bid to win congressional support for more responsible energy policies, from investing in clean-energy technologies to capping greenhouse gas emissions. Embracing more oil drilling sends the wrong message, carries too many environmental risks and will not make the nation much more energy independent.
Obama unveiled a sweeping plan to open up waters in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, along the south Atlantic coast (including Florida) and off northern Alaska to new oil and gas exploration. Administration officials said the plan was the first step toward a comprehensive strategy to move the nation away from its reliance on foreign oil. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the move would create jobs, diversify America's energy supply and strengthen national security. He insisted drilling would not occur in environmentally sensitive areas or affect military training. But drilling out of sight of the coastline does not mean out of mind or out of danger.
This is a political gamble by Obama to win more Senate support for a broader energy bill. The House approved a bill to cap greenhouse gas emissions last year, but that legislation is dead in the Senate. Drilling would be a carrot in a reworked emissions bill for Republicans who embrace the "Drill, baby, drill!" mantra. The president who refused to bend on health care reform is willing to compromise too much to win another big victory in Congress. But he is not likely to win much Republican support even if he agrees to ring the nation with oil rigs.
The proposal would require Congress to overturn a 2006 law that keeps oil drilling 234 miles from Tampa Bay and 125 miles south of the Panhandle through 2022. That compromise opened more than 8 million acres in the eastern gulf to exploration that has yet to begin. Obama's proposal would clear the way for exploration 125 miles off the entire gulf coast. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who was instrumental in pushing the 2006 law, was cautiously supportive of Obama's plan. He is being politically practical, but he should not back down after years of fighting the good fight.
Never mind that the eastern gulf has less oil than America consumes in a year. Any supplies would not make a dent in the price of fuel at the pump. But moving the boundary east would shift the next fight over drilling even closer to land. It certainly emboldens Republicans in the Florida Legislature to resume their rush to open up state waters to drilling.
Obama is to be commended for moving quickly after health care to reshape the nation's energy policy. But a strategy for the 21st century should not rise or fall on fossil fuel. The president gave up too much, too early, for bipartisan support he is not likely to win. He needs to plow ahead with the argument that matters: Clean energy, not more drilling, is the future for American jobs and security.


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Bella arrived at Friendship last month with a litter of pups. She and her puppies were immediately transferred to a wonderful foster home. Bella's five pups were later weaned and transferred to different foster homes to wait until they were old enough for vaccinations and surgery. Bella, too, has remained in a foster home. Her foster family reports that Bellea was a good mom and an excellent guest. Bella is fully house trained and knows basic commands. She was trusted to be left alone in the home during the day. Also, Bella lovesto play fetch and is very active once outside. She would make an excellent dog for an active family.
Bella is beautiful and very strong. She does not realize her own strength, so it would be best if she were in a family with older children. Bella gets excited around other dogs and needs to be slowly introduced. She will bark—but her tail is wagging. Bella is a wonderful pet for a family who loves to take long walks and play fetch everyday. She will bring one lucky family years of smiles and laughs.
If you have kids and/or another dog in your family and are interested in adopting a Friendship dog please bring them with you for a meet and greet. No appointment is necessary. Stop by anytime during regular business hours.
BREED/DESCRIPTION: Boxer mix
SEX: Female
NEUTERED/SPAYED: Yes, spayed; shots current
AGE: 2 years old
SIZE/WEIGHT: 70 pounds
ORGANIZATION: Friendship APL of Lorain County, 8303 Murray Ridge Road, Elyria, OH 44035
CONTACT: email@example.com or (440) 322-4321
WEBSITE: www.friendshipapl.org
For more pets seeking homes, check out the Critter Chronicles column every Sunday in The Chronicle-Telegram. If you work or volunteer for a nonprofit pet adoption agency and would like to see your pets included in Critter Chronicles, please email firstname.lastname@example.com