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Artist Appreciation
You don't have to love me
You don't even have to like me
But you will respect me
—Kelis, "Bossy"
If you're a Kelis fan, you might be frustrated with the mixed reviews of Kelis' music. Ever since Kelis raged onto the scene with her Neptunes-produced debut, Kaleidoscope (1999), it's been a wild and interesting ride. No matter the album—whether it's Kaleidoscope, the non-USA released Wanderland (2001), Tasty (2003), or her latest, Kelis Was Here—it seems like somebody's always talkin' trash about Kelis. If it's not a critic, it's another music lover.
Now, don't be intimidated by the naysayers. You just have to be ready. Conversations about music can take place when you least expect it, pitting your love of music against someone else's, or a music reviewer's, at any time. You must be sharp, resolute, and steadfast so you can launch your counterarguments at the slightest provocation. If not, you and your favorite musician could be headed for a downward spiral into obscurity. It's up to you—the fan, the music lover—to explain why the artists you love are the best. Who's going to do it? A record company? Don't bet on it.
To help you along, I've done some of the legwork for you by collecting comments from the Kelis haters. For your artist-defending pleasure, I've listed a few below and I've taken the liberty of developing counterarguments to get you started.
Argument 1: Too Many Gimmicks
The haters may assert that Kelis uses gimmicks to boost record sales. With "Caught Out There", they'll say, "She used body paint and that screaming thing." On "Milkshake", the big hit from Tasty, she played the vixen, using food imagery in the song, as well as in the accompanying video, for sexual suggestiveness. Sometimes the naysayers will punch this last observation by sounding like Denzel Washington in Inside Man, but instead of "This ain't no bank robbery," it'll be, "C'mon, that ain't no Milkshake!"
"Bossy", the lead single for Kelis Was here, continues the "Milkshake" trend, this time with emphasis on bling (with lines like "Diamonds on my neck, Diamonds on my grill"). The song even pays homage to "Caught Out There" and "Milkshake", as the chorus chants, "I'm bossy / I'm the first chick to scream on the track / I brought all the boys to the yard". Referred to as a "Boss B*tch" by guest rapper Too Short, the haters will assert that Kelis is long on gimmicks, but short on substance.
Hold your ground. Be firm when you explain that Kelis is far from a one trick pony. However, you'll have to concede the commercial nature of records like "Milkshake" and "Bossy". Feel free to express your displeasure at a recent television commercial in which a man shakes a cow while Kelis' "Milkshake" plays in the background. Repeat how silly you think the commercial is, but note that Kelis can't help the way people respond to a song. We let the haters destroy MC Hammer with that "it's popular, so he must be selling out" crap. We can't allow it to happen again.
Sandbag your opponent with generalities like, "Hey, if you're not interested in record sales, why would you get into the music business", and follow that up with, "Songs like 'Milkshake' and 'Bossy' are designed to generate interest in the album by getting radio play". Mention the song "Circus", from the new album, and how it presents this big top view of the recording industry. This will imply that Kelis has become hip to the music game and is in control of what she's doing. Throw in a Madonna parallel, if you like, but if you think that's too ambitious, compare Kelis to '80s R&B singer Cherrelle. Nobody attacks the '80s anymore. Even Boy George is getting his props.
It's also a good idea to mention that Kelis Was Here, like Tasty, showcases other tunes that are diverse in sound and subject matter, notably the groovy "Till The Wheels Fall Off", the sexy "Blindfold Me", dance floor numbers like "Weekend" and "Trilogy", and identity-affirming tunes such as "Lil Star" and "Appreciate Me". You've also got an '80s pop rocker ("I Don't Think So"), a hip-hop joint ("Aww Sh*t"), and some Latin flavor ("Have a Nice Day").
This will leave you open for the criticism, "With so much diversity, the album's not cohesive. Her genre-hopping technique is just another gimmick". The part about cohesiveness will probably be true. The songs are individually good, but don't really sound like they should have been grouped together on an album. Kelis Was Here is almost like a mixtape. That's okay, though. Go on the offensive with, "So what? That's what people said about Prince and Sign "O" the Times or Tupac's All Eyez on Me." I also like to add, "You might want to consider reading more reviews at PopMatters.com," but that's just me.
Argument 2: Vocals
Skeptics are likely to attack Kelis' singing ability. Although this can be refuted with a mere glance at her discography and her guest appearances (remember the hook she did for Ol' Dirty Bastard: "Hey, Dirty—Baby, I Got Yo Money"), go ahead and concede that she's no Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, or Rachelle Farrell. For one thing, it's the truth. She's no Aretha. Period. But, then again, only Aretha is Aretha. Big deal. It's not the end of the world.
Kelis does an excellent job of using what she's got. She plays to her strengths by layering her vocals, experimenting with her range, and using studio effects. Also, the huskiness of her voice is appealing, which explains why the reliance on repetition in her songs generally works for her. Convince your opponent of these counterarguments with samples of "Game Show" or "Get Along With You" from Kaleidoscope or snippets from "Rollin' Through the Hood" or the grossly underrated "Attention" from Tasty. Kelis Was Here has some vocal highlights as well, namely "Trilogy", "Goodbyes", "Lil' Star", and "Appreciate Me".
At the same time, freely admit that there could have been less rapping on Kelis Was Here, although she excels with her rhyme schemes in "Blindfold Me" and "Aww Sh*t". "Circus" might have benefited from omitting Kelis' rap completely. Be sure to mention the contributions of the guests, especially Too Short's spot on "Bossy", Smoke's verse on "Aww Sh*t", Cheryl Evans' vocals on "Like You", and the choir's backing vocals on "Appreciate Me".
This is the part where I also mention that PopMatters.com has an awesome mp3 page, a media page, and a media player. "If you still don't like Kelis' vocals," I say, "maybe you'll hear someone you do like."
Argument 3: Where Are The Neptunes?
True Kelis fans saw this argument coming after the Neptunes' involvement was downsized on Tasty, so there's no excuse for being unprepared. The argument goes like this: since the Neptunes didn't produce a single track for Kelis Was Here, Kelis tried to compensate with a mixture of producers. As a result, the album is muddled with a mess of beats and sounds, causing it to lack direction and focus.
Do not fall for this. The sucker answer is to say, "Well, Kelis doesn't need the Neptunes". You can't win that argument since, after all, the Neptunes produced Kelis' biggest hit, "Milkshake". More importantly, she seems to have developed a rapport with the Neptunes, along the lines of Janet Jackson's relationship with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis or the way Aaliyah sounded like she was born to sing over Timbaland's quirky instrumentals.
To escape this argument relatively unscathed, you'll have to play up the talents of the producers she does employ on Kelis Was Here. Nobody's seriously going to challenge the credibility of these producers: Scott Storch ("Trilogy"), Cee-Lo Green ("Lil' Star"), Cool & Dre ("Goodbyes"), Shondrae "Bangladesh" Crawford ("Bossy", "Aww Sh*t", and "Handful"), and Raphael Saadiq ("Living Proof", "Circus"). Will.I.Am also appears as producer on "What's That Right There", "Till The Wheels Fall Off", and "Weekend". You'll have to admit that "What's That Right There" sounds like a rough draft of the Black Eyed Peas' "My Humps" and it shouldn't have made it to the album. This will make you seem more objective when you say, "Will.I.Am's work on 'Till The Wheels Fall Off' and 'Weekend' is topnotch."
You can also mention that Will.I.Am contributes synth and drums on "Till The Wheels Fall Off", along with Keith Harris and George Pajon, Jr. on guitar, and Chuck Prada on percussion. And those contributions are damn good. Say "darn good" if it makes you more comfortable, but be emphatic about it.
That's not the only song featuring live instrumentation. For instance, Raphael Saadiq plays bass and guitar on "Living Proof" and "Circus", while Keith Harris handles keyboards and bass on "Weekend". I mention this because someone told me Kelis Was Here was a failure because there were no "real" instruments used on the album, as if that's been a prerequisite for a good pop song. Sometimes, it seems like we haven't heard a real instrument in a song since Earth Wind & Fire. Anyway, the point is this: never argue for or against an album you haven't even listened to.
Argument 4: Too Much Filler
I guarantee you'll hear this, "Kelis Was Here is too long and contains too much filler", or some variation thereof. There's not a whole lot you can do to counter. After all, the album goes on until the wheels fall off, and maybe the hubcaps as well (almost 73 minutes). Amel Larrieux's Morning got in and got out in less than 40 minutes and it's nearly a masterpiece.
We're vulnerable here because "What's That Right There" embodies the definition of "filler", while it's easy to see how Kelis' rap on "Circus" could be annoying. To make matters worse, it's been reported that Kelis didn't want the hidden track included on the album because of its lyrics (see Jim Farber's article, entitled "Which Kelis Was Here?"). I thought the track was pretty good, but she's not helping us defend the album against argument number 5.
If you've diligently defended Kelis against the first three arguments, then the "too much filler" argument should be a last ditch effort to throw Kelis off her game. More than likely, it means your opponent is probably getting ideas from another source. Let's face it, music reviewers are the only ones who really use the word "filler". That's not the problem, though. The problem is your opponent is lady hating on Kelis. By now, you should know where I'm going with this: politely recommend that your opponent spend more time reading reviews at PopMatters.com, starting with the archives. That should set 'em straight.
Universal counterargument: If you find you're hopelessly outmatched, and the Kelis haters have gotten the best of you, don't hesitate to use the universal counter. Just say, "Hey, stop hatin'!" and walk away mad. Then go and enjoy your favorite Kelis song. It works every time.
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Jean Caffeine "Winter of Hate" (video) (premiere) // Music
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// Sound Affects
"On the elusive yet clearly existential sadness that adds layers and textures to music.READ the article


text: Analyst Coverage IR Home Corporate Governance Management Board of Directors Section 16 Filings Recent Insider Transactions Press Releases Events & Presentations Financials & Filings Quarterly Results Annual Reports SEC Filings Key Ratios Stock Information Historic Stock Lookup Investment Calculator Dividend History Analyst Coverage Investor FAQs Contact Us Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. is covered by the following analysts. Bank of America Merrill Lynch Research Gregory Francfort email@example.com CL King & Associates Michael Gallow email@example.com Longbow Research Alton Stump firstname.lastname@example.com Maxim Group Stephen Anderson email@example.com Suntrust Robinson Humphrey Jake Bartlett firstname.lastname@example.com Telsey Advisory Group Bob Derrington email@example.com Well Fargo Securities Jeff Farmer firstname.lastname@example.com Please note that any opinions, estimates or forecasts regarding Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.'s performance made by these analysts are theirs alone and do not represent opinions, forecasts or predictions of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. or its management. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. does not by its reference above or distribution imply its endorsement of or concurrence with such information, conclusions or recommendations.

subset: commoncrawl


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LONDON (May. 22)
The annual conference of the British Zionist Federation today appealed to the British Government to cooperate with other governments to safeguard the religious and racial minority rights of Austrian and other Jewish communities. A resolution adopted at the closing session also called on the Government to facilitate establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine . The conference announced opposition to any policy not providing for adequate immigration and imposing a minority status on the Jews in Palestine.
Welcoming the possible inclusion of the proposed Palestine Jewish State in the British Empire, the British Zionists demanded that the Palestine Jews be armed for self-defence and that the absorptive capacity standard of immigration be restored.
The 400 delegates last night heard an appeal for Zionist unity before the Palestine Partition Commission and for resistance to assimilation of Jews. The Rev. J.K. Goldbloom, chairman of the federation's executive committee, who presided, declared "we sincerely trust that it (the commission) will realize that a solution must envisage a firm and rapid policy compatible with the solemn pledges to the Jewish people."
"Whatever the outcome of the inquiry, we appeal from this conference to the Government to open wide the gates of Palestine," the chairman said. "As loyal British citizens we have always urged our collaborators abroad to trust Britain, and hope they will not be disappointed."


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Some people are born believers. Fake surgeries have been shown to relieve traumatic knee pain; "dummy pills" have wiped away migraines. A new report from Harvard University describes how certain genes predispose people toward believing placebos, or experiencing the "placebo … Continue reading
Antidepressants must now have a "black box" warning after researchers linked the drugs to increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and adolescents, the Food and Drug Administration announced Friday. Continue reading
People on certain popular antidepressants should be monitored for signs of suicidal thoughts, the government warned Monday as it asked pharmaceutical companies to highlight a suicide warning on the labels of ten drugs. Continue reading


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He is FIV/Feleuk negative, neutered, and is up-to-date on his shots.
Zorro is a great cat. He loves to play and is lap friendly.
If you would like to set up an appointment to meet him or have any questions, please email firstname.lastname@example.com. ADOPTION FEE and HOME VISIT apply. When contacting us, please give us your best contact phone number so we can have a volunteer call you.
Thank You!
Your message has been sent to VIP Rescues and Adoptions.
You'll receive a copy, too, at to help you keep track of which pets you've inquired about, and which shelters and rescues you've emailed.
NOTE: Some shelters have physical locations you can visit; some of these shelters may only have pets for a limited time, so please do not wait for a reply—just go visit the shelter! Other organizations are rescue groups run by busy volunteers who may take a while to reply. You can find information about the shelter or rescue group caring for this pet, and their adoption procedures, on the pet's details page on Adopt-a-Pet.com.


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The Port Authority of Papeete is proud to announce the development of a marina to be operational from March 2015, located in the heart of the capital city. A specific area, including a two hundred meter dock, will be dedicated to superyachts. It has been developed in compliance with the ISPS code. An area will be devoted to crew members offering, among others, free WiFi and the opportunity for crew to meet at the marina. Marina Taina, close to Tahiti International Airport, has a capacity to welcome 20 yachts up to 60 meters. Any yacht beyond that size will now have the opportunity to have appropriate berthing in town in a separate area than cruise ships. Yachts will not be charged anymore for the additional cost of security guards as in the past when they were berthed along the same dock as cruise ships.
The marina is part of an urbanization development project led by the Port Authority to renovate Papeete's waterfront. It will include a pedestrian area and a bike path as well as a park with a tropical fish pond. The area is meant to become one of Tahiti's favorite places to practice outdoor sports and relax throughout the year.
The Port Authority would also like to stress that, for any yachts interested in staying long term in French Polynesia and be registered in the country, the import taxes have dramatically decreased to 8% of the vessel's value.


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Resonance Sound SOR Clicks and FX Vol 1 MULTiFORMAT-KRock | 148MB
Oliver Schmitt aka SOUNDS OF REVOLUTION (SOR) continues his successful "SOR micro series" with "Clicks & FX Vol. 1", distributed through Resonance Sound.
Resonance Sound SOR Clicks and FX Vol 1 MULTiFORMAT-KRock
Free 300 GB with Full DSL-Broadband Speed!
You know the story: Your next track is almost ready and you`re searching for that one sample to throw your mix into new dimensions to get the crowds pumping, but your current library of sounds lack enthusiasm?! This is where this sample pack comes into play!
Clicks & FX Vol. 1 will spice up any electronic music production instantly and effortlessly. Being part of SOR`s Micro Series, this selection of contemporary elements delivers loops and single sounds that will enhance your production instantly while matching seamlessly. Add sounds like trendy clicks or exceptional FX-samples to sharpen up your tracks and make them more inspiring.
All 75 click-loops have been produced with 127 BPM. In addition with 354 loopelements and 75 FX-sounds, Clicks & FX Vol. 1 makes the ideal solution for up-todate Minimal, Techno and Tech House tracks.
The library is delivered in a choice of established formats and therefore immediately ready to use. A particular feature of Clicks & FX Vol. 1 is the Loop-Elements - loop fragments, ready to be effectively triggered from your sampler to create animated effects. Real enrichment for any groove!
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WOOSTER -- Would you rather pay $89 to a Columbus company for a history and copy of your deed or 10 cents a page from the county recorder's office for the deed and get some of the history free from the auditor's office?
Wayne County Auditor Jarra Underwood said a man came in recently to inquire about an official-looking document sent to him by Local Records Office, an outfit with a North High Street address in Columbus. While the letter states the service is to obtain a copy of the deed and other information, it is not associated with any governmental agency.
Underwood and Wayne County Recorder Jane Carmichael both said the document appears to be misleading.
After looking at the document, Underwood speculated the $89 was for a copy of the deed.
A call to the Local Records Office confirmed Underwood's suspicions. A person who identified herself as Gaby Sanchez said the fee was for a history of the property and a copy of the deed.
People should get a copy of their deeds when they purchase a home, Carmichael said. If not, then they can get a copy at her office for 10 cents a page, but only if the document has been scanned into the office's computers. Otherwise, there is a $2 per page charge.
A typical deed will be around two pages, so a scanned deed will cost just 20 cents. If the legal description is lengthy, the document could be up to 10 pages. Either way, the public records from Carmichael's office are cheaper.
On the Auditor's Office website, there is some information about prior sales. While not as complete as the Recorder's Office files (which are not online), the information about prior owners and sales prices is available at no cost on www.waynecountyauditor.org.
"Someone is trying to make a fast buck and take advantage of a taxpayer," Underwood said.
"I hate to see this," Carmichael said. "It's a misrepresentation. They're telling you you need to get a copy of your deed. Hopefully no one has paid $89. It's unfortunate this happens."
Reporter Bobby Warren can be reached at 330-287-1639 or firstname.lastname@example.com. He is @BobbyWarrenTDR on Twitter.


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How Bills Become Laws in Virginia
The General Assembly creates and changes the laws of Virginia. It is made up of two groups:
- The Senate of Virginia (40 Senators)
- The House of Delegates (100 Delegates)
The General Assembly meets every year beginning on the second Wednesday in January. They are in session for 60 days in even-numbered years and normally lengthens the 30-day, odd-numbered years to 46 days.
A bill becomes a law through several steps:
1. A delegate or senator has an idea for a bill, usually from a constituent. This usually either changes the current law, adds a new law, or deletes an existing law.
2. The delegate presents the idea to the Division of Legislative Services and requests that it be drafted into a bill. The member who introduces a piece of legislation is called the patron or the sponsor. The bill is signed by the patron, introduced, and printed.
3. The bill is referred to an appropriate committee. The committee is a group of legislators organized for the purpose of considering and deciding upon the disposition of a bill or resolution.
4. The members of the committee consider the bill and decide what action to take. At this point the public can speak on issues related to the bill. Any citizen of the Commonwealth has the right to attend a committee meeting and speak about legislation. The committee has several options for action. These include:
- Report – The majority of the committee approves of the bill and it is reported to the floor or to another committee.
- Pass by Indefinitely (PBI) – This action allows the committee to reconsider the legislation.
- Defeat – The committee rejects the motion to report the bill and they take no further action.
- Continue/Carry over – A bill introduced in an even-numbered year session may be continued to an odd-numbered year session for further action or study. A bill may not be continued from an odd-numbered year to an even-numbered year.
- Pass by for the day – The committee is not ready to act on the bill. If the bill is not taken up before the deadline, then it is considered "Left in Committee" or "No Action Taken".
- No Action or Leave in Committee – No motion is made on the bill and it dies at the time of the committee action deadline.
- Incorporate into other Legislation – The bill is incorporated, or included into another bill.
5. If the committee decides to decides to report the bill the Virginia Constitution requires that the title of each bill be read three times or appear in the printed Calendar on three different days.
- First Reading: The bill title is printed in the Calendar or is read by the Clerk, and the bill advances to the second reading.
- Second Reading: The next day the bill title appears in the printed Calendar on the second reading. Bills are considered in the order in which they appear on the Calendar. A bill on second reading is amendable, and therefore this is referred to as the "amendable stage". A bill that has passed second reading with or without an amendment is "engrossed". If an amendment is adopted, the bill is reprinted in its final form for passage.
- Third Reading: The next day, the engrossed bill title appears in the Calendar on the third reading. By recorded vote, the bill is passed. These votes are a matter of public record.
6. Communication: When passed, the bill is sent to the other body (either the Senate or House of Delegates), either by the Clerk in a communication or by a member in person, informing the other body that the bill has passed.
In the other body: The bill goes through essentially the same procedure as it did in the house of origin. The bill title is printed in the Calendar or is read by the Clerk. The bill is referred to a standing committee, considered, and reported by the committee. The title is read a second and third time before passage. If the other body passes the bill without amendment, it is enrolled and sent to the Governor.
7. Conference: If there are changes by the other body, the bill and the changes must be communicated back to the originating body for consideration. If these are agreed to, the bill is enrolled and sent to the Governor. If the changes are not agreed to, a Committee of Conference (usually three members from each legislative body) may be formed to resolve differences. If a Committee of Conference is not formed, the bill fails to pass.
8. Enrollment: After being passed by both houses of the General Assembly, the bill is printed as an enrolled bill, examined, and signed by the presiding officer of each chamber.
9. Governor: The bill is then sent to the Governor for his/her approval. The Governor has three options:
- Sign
- Veto
- Offer amendments to the bill
The Governor may also veto one or more items in a appropriation bill. If the Governor does not act on a bill, it becomes law without his signature. If the Governor signs a bill, the bill is sent to the Clerk of the House (Keeper of the Rolls of the Commonwealth) and is assigned a Chapter number. All Chapters of a session are compiled and bound as the Acts of Assembly.
Bills that become law at a regular session (or the reconvened session that follows) are effective the first day of July following adjournment, unless otherwise specified.
** The following are ways to express your opinion on a legislative issue, find out whom your legislators, or are to research bills related to Aging or Long-Term Care:
- Go to the Virginia General Assembly web site http://virginiageneralassembly.gov/ and click on "Who's My Legislator"
- During the session: call the Constituent Viewpoint operators line 800-889-0229
- When not in session:
- House of Delegates Legislative Information Office 804-698-1500
- Senate Legislative Information Office 804-698-7410
The Virginia Legislature web site has provided the summary information. For more information, please contact Legislative Information at 804-698-1500. For information on laws being enacted, go to http://lis.virginia.gov/


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Services on Demand
Related links
Revista de Saúde Pública
On-line version ISSN 1518-8787Print version ISSN 0034-8910
MENDES, René. The impact of occupation on worker's health: II - Mortality. Rev. Saúde Pública [online]. 1988, vol.22, n.5, pp.441-457. ISSN 1518-8787. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89101988000500009.
An attempt to estimate the impact of occupation on worker's health was made as part of the rationale for the progressive integration of Occupational Health into the Health Sector. In this second study, based on a critical review of the literature, the repercussions on mortality are discussed on this basis analysis of the Brazilian data on deaths directly related to occupation (fatal occupational accidents and acute poisonings), as well as on those indirectly so related. The analysis of the major causes of adult deaths - cardiovascular diseases, cancer and violent deaths - compared with the proportion of "work-relatedness" according to several epidemiologic studies carried out in developed countries, make possible an estimation of the influence of the contribution of occupation on mortality. The size of this contribution is the main argument for an active involvement of the health sector in Occupational Health issues, because of the heavy toll in terms of adult morbidity and mortality exacted on industrialized societies.
Keywords : Occupational mortality; Working risks; Occupational health; Health surveys.


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Greenspan Doesn't Want To Wait
The tinkerer-in-chief is at it again. Worried that a combination of economic factors is putting keen upward pressure on inflation, Fed chairman Alan Greenspan is expected to ask the Federal Reserve Board to raise interest rates for the first time in two years at its Open Market Committee meeting Tuesday. Even though inflation has been low so far this year, at 2.3 percent still cruising well below last year's 3.3 percent level, Greenspan has made it unmistakeably clear that he believes it's better to act now to counter the pressures of taut labor markets, high demand for raw materials and other consequences of continued economic growth, rather than wait for what he views as inevitable hikes in wages and prices. By raising rates a bit, the Fed would hope to slow economic growth slightly and create some slack in demand over the next several months. The tactic worked when Greenspan used it in 1994, slowing growth and containing inflation, while setting the stage for another surge of growth in 1996. While such hikes can be particularly painful for small businesses in need of capital and workers seeking jobs (or hoping for raises), Greenspan believes it is better to slow the train a bit so that it can regather strength than to wait for the chemistry of growth to sour.


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SAN FRANCISCO -- The last team standing in 2012 has been the first one to hit the ground running this offseason.
The Giants, after a disappointing and failed title defense, head into the winter with a pair of items already crossed off the shopping list. The front office pulled a rare move, locking up two priorities -- Hunter Pence and Tim Lincecum -- in the weeks before they were set to test free agency.
Where do the Giants turn next?
You can start, even after Lincecum was given a two-year, $35 million deal, with the rotation. Long dependent on strong starting pitching, the Giants ranked 13th in the National League last season in starters ERA (4.37). In wrapping up a 76-86 season, general manager Brian Sabean said upgrading the rotation would be a priority.
"We need to add depth," Sabean said. "I don't know how the market will play out, but we have another starter on the wish list, with or without Timmy."
The top name on wish lists around baseball is Masahiro Tanaka, a 25-year-old Japanese right-hander who went 24-0 in the Japan Pacific League. Rival executives have noted the Giants' increased presence in the international market and expect the club to make a push to bring Tanaka across the Pacific Ocean. But the Giants are unlikely to win a bidding war that could make Tanaka the most expensive import in MLB history.
The Giants are not enamored with the majority of the free agent pitching class, one reason why they moved quickly to keep Lincecum off the market. But there are options for a team that needs a stopgap until a wave of talented minor leaguers starts arriving in 2015. Matt Garza, Ervin Santana and Bartolo Colon are among the veteran arms available. One player often tied to the Giants has been Cincinnati Reds right-hander Bronson Arroyo, who had a 3.79 ERA last season and has a 3.27 career ERA at AT&T Park. Arroyo, 36, fueled the fire late in the season.
"I love San Francisco," he told USA Today. "I love the whole vibe of the city."
Assistant GM Bobby Evans said the Giants would explore all avenues while trying to fill out the rotation and the front office has been aggressive in identifying potential trade targets.
The lineup is set at every position but left field, where the Giants paid dearly for a Gregor Blanco-Andres Torres platoon. Jacoby Ellsbury and Shin-Soo Choo head the free agent list, but the Giants avoided the so-called "big-ticket" outfielders last offseason and have since committed $130 million to Pence and Angel Pagan.
Nelson Cruz, Chris Young or Michael Morse could come at a lower price, but the best option may be a trade. The months before the 2012 season provide a blueprint; deals for Pagan and Melky Cabrera didn't make many waves but ultimately helped the Giants win a second title in three seasons.
While fans have clamored for a bigger bat in left field, the recently concluded postseason was a reminder that October isn't about the best lineup, but rather the best pitching staff. Toward that end, the Giants hope to re-sign Javier Lopez, one of the best left-handed relievers in the game.
"He's so reliable," manager Bruce Bochy said. "What I love about him is he's so well prepared and so professional about how he goes about his business."
Lopez made it clear late in the season that he would like to return to San Francisco, and Ryan Vogelsong did the same. The Giants hold a $6.5 million option on Vogelsong but could offer him a buyout and then try to come to terms on a smaller deal. A decision on the option is expected Monday.
For more on the Giants, see Alex Pavlovic's Giants Extra blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/Giants. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/AlexPavlovic.


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PRZOOM - /newswire/ -
Sunnyvale, CA, United States, 2009/11/05 - Palo Alto Networks PA-4000 Series next-generation firewalls enable Fortune 500 energy company to regain visibility of users and applications, improve productivity. NYSE: PANW
Palo Alto Networks, the leader in next-generation firewalls, today announced that DTE Energy has deployed PA-4000 Series next-generation firewalls for improved visibility of network traffic and for the ability to manage non-business applications running on its network.
DTE Energy is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include Detroit Edison, an electric utility serving 2.2 million customers; MichCon, a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers; and other non-utility, energy businesses focused on gas pipelines and storage, coal transportation, unconventional gas production, and power and industrial projects.
Prior to Palo Alto Networks, DTE Energy lacked full visibility into the traffic on its 14,000-user network, and attempting to gain visibility and correlate information from disparate log files was a time consuming and fruitless task. Other solutions DTE Energy evaluated could not deliver the visibility its IT department required, and lacked useful reporting across limited data. Now, DTE Energy can see the applications on its network for improved security, and knows which users are employing which applications. With this information, they can enable appropriate policies to facilitate productivity, and engage in remediation where needed.
With Palo Alto Networks we found the visibility into our network we were seeking, said John Townsend, Manager, Information Protection and Security at DTE Energy. Now we get better visibility into whats going on inside our network and into the applications attempting to access our network. From a bandwidth perspective, we dont want to be too restrictive, but we do want to ensure appropriate resources for our business traffic.
DTE Energy, like many enterprise IT leaders, recognized the need for application visibility and control, and chose the only firewalls that can deliver Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewalls, said Larry Link, Palo Alto Networks VP of sales. Not only does Palo Alto Networks enable the visibility into applications, users, and content that DTE Energy needs to best secure its networks, but also presents that information in a comprehensive, actionable manner which greatly enhances the productivity of the DTE Energy infrastructure and security team.
Over time, DTE Energy sees expanding the role of the PA-4000 Series to consolidate the functionality of other security devices, improving security with enhanced application control while simplifying their infrastructure and reducing operational costs.
Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewalls are the industrys most powerful firewall products, enabling enterprises to see and control applications, users and content not just ports, IP addresses and packets. This is a critical need for enterprises management of risk as industry studies continue to show enterprises lack visibility into and control of application traffic due to the outdated functionality of legacy security technology.1 Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewalls enable enterprises to create granular, business-relevant security policies and safely control new enterprise and consumer applications as business enablers instead of the block-or-nothing approach offered by traditional port-blocking firewalls.
About Palo Alto Networks
Palo Alto Networks (paloaltonetworks.com) is the leader in next-generation firewalls, enabling unprecedented visibility and granular policy control of applications and content by user, not just IP address at up to 10Gbps with no performance degradation. Based on patent-pending App-ID technology, Palo Alto Networks firewalls accurately identify and control applications regardless of port, protocol, evasive tactic or SSL encryption and scan content to stop threats and prevent data leakage. Enterprises can for the first time embrace Web 2.0 and maintain complete visibility and control, while significantly reducing total cost of ownership through device consolidation.
Note 1 Application Usage and Risk Report, Palo Alto Networks, April 20, 2009.
Palo Alto Networks, the Palo Alto Networks Logo and App-ID are trademarks of Palo Alto Networks, Inc. in the United States. All other trademarks, trade names or service marks used or mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.
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JP Morgan report backs LevelUp's QR code strategy
A new report from JP Morgan says that QR codes, the black and white checkerboard-style UPCs favored by local company LevelUp, are likely a winning tactic, since mobile payments will become a $545 billion global market by 2015.
MediaPost's Mark Walsh wrote about the report, highlighting the find that "simplified checkout without sacrificing security is a fundamental value proposition built into most mobile commerce models.''
LevelUp has been working on making its system more intuitive. Currently users load an app on their smartphone, which presents a QR code that gets scanned by another mobile phone at the merchant.
The company revealed a revamped scanning mechanism at SXSW, made possible through a low-cost MakerBot 3D printer that allowed quick, in-house prototyping.


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The Home Buying Process and What to Expect
The time between your loan application and closing and move in can vary. A variety of delays can occur, including:
- If your inspector finds problems with the property, often the loan is held until the problems are fixed.
- The lender may have issues with the home appraisal and the original appraisal put under review.
- Problems with the title can create unforeseen setbacks.
There is no set time frame for how long a mortgage takes. Knowing more about the process and what to expect though can help you monitor your progress and understand what still needs to happen.
Know More
- Inspection and appraisals
- Purchase contract
- Closing (funding)
- Moving (utilities)
- Your mortgage
- Mortgage servicing and recording


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The Many Benefits of Swim Spas
Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise for staying fit, without traumatizing the body. Even if you know that, the chances that you will swim every day are not very high, unless you have a pool at home. When you don't have enough space to accommodate a regular pool, or if you live in an apartment, a swim spa can be a great alternative for a normal pool. It can be used for exercise, relaxation, and also for therapeutic purposes.
When you want a pool at home, choosing a swim spa over an outdoor pool can be beneficial. A benefit of these pools is that they occupy lesser space. While the regular pool measures around 18×36 feet, a swim spa measures 8×16 feet on an average, with a depth of just 52 inches. The smaller size makes it easier to install it anywhere you want – in a room, on your terrace or in the backyard.
The cost of a swim spa is much lesser than the cost involved in installation and maintenance of a standard swimming pool. Not just that, these indoor pools are easy to maintain, are energy efficient and use less water. As they can be placed indoors, swim spa provides year-round rehabilitation and relaxation for the user. Come rain or shine, you can always go for a swim in your pool without worrying about the weather.
Some of these pools are specially designed for therapeutic purposes and can help in alleviating ailments like arthritis, with specific aquatic exercises. Examples of swim spa exercises include underwater biking, kickboard resistance training, and water weight exercise. Swim spas are also great for swimming practice in the comfort of your home.


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Click on the headline (link) for the full text.
Many more articles are available through the Energy Bulletin homepage
Urban Farming Takes Hold in NYC
Matter Network
New York City may not have a lot of extra space for farms, but it's got plenty of rooftops that fit the bill just fine….
On top of a 6-story warehouse in the borough of Queens sits the world's largest rooftop farm – at almost an acre in size, the Brooklyn Grange has been growing 40 kinds of vegetables since it opened in spring 2010. Now, it's gettting ready to double in size as it expands to a second roof, this one in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Ben Flanner co-founded Brooklyn Grange after opening Eagle Street Rooftop Farm in 2009, the first rooftop soil farm in NYC.
He's got plans for more rooftop farms to make locally grown, organic food widely available, while employing urban farmers. Brooklyn Grange is financed by a combination of private equity, loans and grassroots fundraising.
(12 February 2012)
View related report The Potential for Urban Agriculture in New York City
Key findings in brief
- Urban agriculture can play a critical role as productive green urban infrastructure. There is signifi cant potential for urban agriculture to provide critical environmental services to the city through stormwater runoff mitigation, soil remediation, and energy use reduction. At a time when municipalities are straining to address complex infrastructural challenges with limited budgets, productive urban green spaces will be increasingly important in their capacity to function as a cost-effective form of small scale, distributed green infrastructure.
- Urban agriculture can play an important role in community development. The benefi ts of urban agriculture are not limited to the provision of food, with many advocates citing community empowerment, environmental justice, public health, and education and training as primary goals. Urban agriculture can be a means of transforming underutilized or neglected space into a public resource, providing opportunities for social interaction, greater community cohesion and self-suffi ciency, and engagement for young people in underserved neighborhoods.
- There is a substantial amount of land potentially available for urban agriculture in NYC. We have identifi ed almost 5,000 acres of vacant land likely to be suitable for farming in the fi ve boroughs, the equivalent of six times the area of Central Park. In addition to this land, there are many other potential sites, including over 1,000 acres of NYCHA green space, underutilized open spaces, and Greenstreets. There are also many other potentially suitable sites and properties that are not included in these designations that would greatly expand the total amount of land available for agricultural production. Each of these different types of sites would demand different approaches and strategies if they are to be deployed for agriculture. In this regard, existing data on land availability and suitability is inadequate to understand true capacity, and information on public (municipal) land is insuffi ciently accessible.
- Intensive growing methods adapted to urban spaces can result in yields per acre which greatly exceed those of conventional production techniques. More land under fruit and vegetable cultivation will be needed if the population is to shift to a healthier diet. Employing high-yield or "biointensive" production techniques characteristic of urban agriculture can contribute to this goal. Widely-practiced intensive farming techniques for small sites in urban areas, such as intercropping, intensive soil management, or hydroponic cultivation can convert underused or neglected urban space into a highly productive community asset.
- While urban agriculture cannot supply the entire city with all of its food needs, in certain neighborhoods it can signifi cantly contribute to food security. There are a number of neighborhoods where a confl uence of factors makes urban agriculture a particularly attractive and effective means of addressing multiple community challenges. These factors include low access to healthy food retail, high prevalence of obesity and diabetes, low median income, and comparatively high availability of vacant and other available land. These issues are all correlated, and it is in these areas where urban agriculture could have the greatest impact on food
- There is a need for c ost/benefi t analyses that refl ect the full complexity of the city's social and environmental challenges. Unlike other forms of green infrastructure, urban agriculture has the potential to generate revenue and provide long-term employment as well as to provide environmental benefi ts such as decreasing stormwater runoff (both by harvesting rainwater and by increasing surface permeability). Conventional cost-benefi t analyses that consider complex problems in isolation often miss potential synergistic solutions that address multiple problems at once. Urban agriculture clearly has the potential to provide such solutions for NYC.
- NYC's rooftops are a vast, underused resource that could be transformed for food production. NYC is one of the most advantageous places in the nation to establish rooftop agriculture due primarily to density, but also to public interest and support, access to capital, a robust transportation network, adequate infrastructure, proximity to institutions of higher education, and consumer demand. Existing green roof incentive programs have not been designed to support rooftop agriculture. Rapidly changing technologies and the skills and experience being developed by today's rooftop farming pioneers will likely make wider adoption much more feasible in the near future.
- Bureaucratic challenges are a major barrier to the expansion of urban farming. Uncertainties over land jurisdiction and management remain a major hurdle to prospective urban farmers. City agencies, already stretched by budget cuts, often don't have adequate capacity to provide oversight for this type of activity on their properties. Additionally, there is the added complication of using public land for commercial ventures (for farms intended as for-profit operations). Though not without precedent, these issues will need to be comprehensively addressed if more of our available public spaces are to be used for urban agriculture.
- Existing infrastructure has the potential to support the expansion of urban agriculture. There are substantial opportunities to take advantage of underused existing refrigeration, food processing, and distribution infrastructure within NYC, which are all critical to delivering food from the urban farm to the consumer. Churches, schools, and other institutions often have kitchen and refrigeration facilities that are not always in use, and assessing such resources and developing alternative networks for their use would assist in the expansion of agricultural activity in the city.
- Urban farmers are establishing viable businesses by taking advantage of multiple revenue streams. While farming in cities remains a challenging and low-profi t margin activity, enterprising urban farmers are developing multiple-revenue stream models to adapt to urban conditions. In addition to selling food directly to the public, farmers have developed direct marketing relationships with restaurants and institutions, initiated revenue-generating education and training services, and can profi t from the environmental services they are providing, such as tipping fees for collecting compostable waste.
- Urban agriculture is part of a broader horticultural approach to urban greening that encompasses more than fruits and vegetables. The capacity of the city for agricultural production includes the cultivation of non-crop food products to take advantage of the diversity of environments and urban fabric types that exist in NYC, including such products as honey, chickens, and fi sh. All of these approaches have proven successful in urban areas and can be symbiotically incorporated into more conventional fruit and vegetable production methods. Additionally, the production of non-food crops such as fl owers and raw materials could allow for the economic and environmental benefi ts of urban horticulture to be more widely distributed to sites that are not suitable for food production.
- Urban agriculture functions as a catalyst for larger food system transformations. Urban farmers are developing vital connections between urban and rural communities. Already urban farms in the city are providing such linkages, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, by doing such things as inviting rural farmers to participate in and supplement their community-based farmers markets, providing a customer base for both the urban and rural farms simultaneously.
Sydney is buying back the farms at last
Vikki Campion The Daily Telegraph [Australia]
For decades, development has been eating away at Sydney's farmland but for the first time new land is about to be rezoned for urban farmers, with three leases out for commercial farms, market gardens, live stock and orchards.
The Western Sydney Parklands Trust is calling for farmers to return to the city. It wants experienced farmers to lease three sites at Horsley Park as it proposes to change its planning policy with the state government to build more sustainable agriculture.
The trust has already signed two new farms, one for traditional market gardens and a $24 million glasshouse project which will create 110 jobs.
"This is about agricultural jobs in the city," trust director Suellen Fitzgerald said.
"As we see the next phases, we would like to establish a thriving market garden precinct, farm gate sales, pick and pay and even, in the longer term, a farmers' market."
(10 February 2012)
Breaking through the myths: New book seeks to redefine urban farming
Twighlight Greenaway, Grist
In 2010, Grist ran a series of posts chronicling a road trip across American by a team of young men looking to document our nation's urban farms for a book called Breaking Through Concrete (you can see a list of the posts over on the right of the page). Sponsored in part by WHYHunger, David Hanson (writer), Michael Hanson (photographer), Charles Hoxie (videographer), and Edwin Marty (farmer and writer) drove across the country in a biodiesel-fueled, internet-enabled short bus.
This month, the book, Breaking Through Concrete: Building an Urban Farm Revival, finally hits the shelves. To mark the occasion, we caught up with David Hanson to get the lowdown on the book and hear his observations about this moment in urban farming.
Interview at Grist
(14 February 2012)
Urban ag before it was hip
Rosa Ramirez, HealthyCal.org
Texanita Bluitt has lemon, plum and orange trees in her backyard. In raised beds, she grows mustard greens, curly mustards, cabbage, carrots, turnips, onions, celery and potatoes. When she wants to make strawberry pie for her granddaughter, she goes to her backyard.
"About 95 percent of my fruit and vegetables come from my food garden," she said…
Some have called urban agriculture the quiet revolution that's being fueled by food insecurity, childhood obesity, diabetes, and malnutrition. The movement that has taken root in cities across the country and has generated everything from how-to online classes and lectures to DVD's and starter kits, and bestselling books.
But as it turns out, urban farming isn't a new movement after all. City blacks, Latinos, Asians, and immigrants have been planting vegetables and fruits for years in bustling cities like New York City, Detroit, Atlanta, and the greater Los Angeles, more specifically in Crenshaw and Compton.
"They did it out of the need to feed themselves," said Ralph Paige, the executive director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. Paige, who has dedicated his life to improving opportunities for black-owned family farms, said blacks were working city soil before it was considered trendy.
(13 February 2012)
New urban farming structure breaks ground
Developers of a new concept in urban farming, the Plantagon Greenhouse, broke ground for the first structure in Sweden this week. The new type of greenhouse for vertical farming in cities provides a way to use excess heat and CO2 from industries while growing crops.
The greenhouse is being built in Linkoping, Sweden and is expected to be completed in 12-16 months, according to a statement released by Plantagon International. The plant will produce vegetables from the recycled resources.
Plantagon video
(10 February 2012)


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Skip to comments.Chinese Man Runs Amok at Saudi Airport
Posted on 12/01/2012 11:39:58 PM PST by nickcarraway
A Chinese man ran amok and attacked employees and a mosque at Riyadh international airport in Saudi Arabia after he missed his flight home.
The man, who arrived late at the airport, was told by airline staff that the aircraft had already taken off and that he must rebook his flight.
He instantly went mad and attacked the airline staff with his jacket and bag he then went into the airport mosque and began spitting, Sabq newspaper said.
Some passengers at the airport who saw the man insulting the mosque grabbed him out and gave him a good smack before airport security came and arrested him.
I hope the 'smacking' part gets a lot of press in China.
Blame Fodor's. When you miss a plane in a Muslim nation, in Chapter 2... it says, "Go spit in the mosque."
Too bad they didn't serve ice cream there.
He could have turned 42 cones upside down on the mosque floor.
BTW - How did they know the mosque was "insulted?" Did they ask it?
Soon it will be said, "Chinese man lost his head over a missed flight".
Slowly, I think the word is getting out that if you act like a dork in an airport or on a plane, you are going to get thumped. The typical air traveler is fine with this, and will likely lend a hand when it is thumping time.
I read one suggestion that airlines could install titanium "floor coffins", so that a troublemaker could be put in the box, and the lid locked, until landing. Then the entire box could be hefted from the floor and replaced with an empty.
Some nice person observed that it would be the humanitarian thing to put some air holes in the coffin.
Was there a fire drill?
They had a suspicion when the mosque said, "I'm rubber and you're glue..."
an interesting point is that the clash between Islam and China is going to heat up. It is inevitable...
Some Muslim on Chinaman action!! Kind of joking I respect the Chinese capabilities but not any one who buys in the Islamic false prophet
I have my doubts. The Chinese aren't gonna bother Islam as a whole. Their whole philosophy appears to be "don't bug me and I'll return the favor". They seem to get along with the troglodyte Pakistanis on their border, who haven't (even though they'd probably like to) shipped small arms to their co-religionists in Chinese-run East Turkistan (Xinjiang), who are staging an insurgency using weapons like axes and knives.
East Turkestan is the fire that I was thinking would start the conflict. With this, the rest of the turkic peoples would be involved.
I think the issue with this is that Arab donors - who are wealthy thanks to oil deposits - are mainly willing to fund insurgencies involving Arabs. Based on the intensity of the Iraqi insurgency (1/10 of Vietnam, but serious compared to what you get from the typical Muslim country), and our 4400 dead there, I'd say they got a ton of money from Arabs. Compare that with Afghanistan, where seasoned Pathan warriors who enjoy fighting have inflicted half as many casualties against our troops over a longer period of time. Bottom line is that without Arab money, an East Turkistan revolt is a minor irritant for China.
The problem for China's Turks is that they look distinct from the Chinese and can't really blend in, which is important for sizing up potential targets and getting weapons in. The Chinese also have this practical approach to extinguishing security threats by implementing collective punishment in ways that involve imprisonment and/or execution of male relatives. In a majority Muslim and religiously pious country like Egypt, collective punishment against Islamists can lead to a national insurrection. In China, the majority Chinese public is critical of the government for being too soft on the rebels.
Bottom line is that China is not Thailand, and will employ every measure up to and including expelling the Uighurs to keep East Turkistan. Because the situation there is such a mismatch in terms of manpower and resources, I seriously doubt that any critical mass of Uighurs will stage some kind of mass revolt - it's a forlorn hope with no prospect of success. I think there are two situations in which the Uighurs have a hope of getting out of the Chinese empire: (1) another Chinese civil war involving multiple protagonists breaks out and the carnage is significant or (2) China mounts a Japanese-style invasion of its neighbors, is beaten back and partitioned. Given the low likelihood of either of these events, I'm not holding my breath.
In your list, 2 seems unlikely, but perhaps 1 is an outside chance.
The problem for the Uighurs is that they are outnumbered 150 to 1. If a 4 way civil war breaks out among the Chinese, the Uighurs are still - on average - outnumbered almost 40 to 1. And the Chinese faction that controls East Turkistan would be more strapped for financing than the current unitary government and therefore inclined to carry out savage reprisals against any Uighur attempt to rebel, due to that faction's existential need for the funds to be derived from extracting the province's mineral resources. IMO, the best deal they can get is to be incorporated into that faction's forces, which is pretty much what they've done in prior civil wars. Long term, I don't think they can escape assimilation.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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ASK A QUESTION what does "képasá" mean?
i need to know!!!!
3 Answers
2 Vote
¿Qué pasa? What's happening?
1 Vote
I am pretty sure that it is "que pasa". Which means what is up, informally.
If the last syllable "sá" is indeed accented, could that be "¿qué pasó?" - what happened?
Answer this Question


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Republicans worried over attacks on Romney
Republican insiders are increasingly venting their frustration as Mitt Romney continues to come under withering assault from the Obama campaign over his ties to private equity firm Bain Capital.
Mr Romney's team is trying to fight back after the release of papers filed before the US Securities and Exchange Commission which show he was still named as Bain's chief executive and chairman after he says he left to run the 1999 Winter Olympics.
The Obama camp alleges Mr Romney was still involved in running Bain Capital between 1999 and 2002, when the private equity firm chose to lay off US-based workers and "outsource" those jobs to plants in Mexico and China.
The Republican campaign is looking to neutralise the attacks by framing his decision to leave Bain Capital to save the Salt Lake City Olympics as a bold act of patriotism.
Senior aide Ed Gillespie branded allegations that the White House hopeful oversaw the shipping of American jobs abroad as "baseless" and accused president Barack Obama of demeaning the office of the presidency through such attacks.
"They weren't his decisions, he wasn't there at the time that those decisions were made," Mr Gillespie said.
"He left a life he loved to go to Salt Lake City to save the Olympics for a country he loves more.
"In classic Chicago-style politics, the Obama campaign is trying to make this something sinister. It's not. It's patriotic and it's leadership."
Former Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel says the Republicans should "stop whining".
"He has made Bain Capital his calling card for the presidency and when you look at it, it doesn't measure up to what he claims," Mr Emanuel said.
Insider attacks
Some Republicans are worried about a lack of fight in their candidate, and former Bush advisor Karl Rove says there is no evidence in the polls that the Bain row is hurting Mitt Romney - yet.
"For example Virginia has tightened up, Florida has gone from Obama with a lead outside the margin of error to essentially dead even," he said.
"The national polls have essentially showed this race dead even, and if there was going to be a big effect we'd see it.
"Now I do think that this is not something that should be dismissed."
But it is not just perceptions of crony capitalism that are a problem for the wealthy White House hopeful.
Several senior Republican commentators are exasperated at his refusal to release more of his tax returns.
The one year he has provided showed his tax rate was roughly half that of most middle income Americans.
Conservative commentator Bill Kristol wants Mr Romney to get on the front foot and talk about his successes at Bain and the value of his private sector experience.
"Here's what he should do - he should release the tax returns tomorrow," he said.
"It's crazy, you've gotta release six, eight, 10 years of back tax returns. Take the hit for a day or two.
"He has to give a big speech in defence of capitalism and that will elevate, I think, this race above this tactical back and forth which I do think he is on the margin losing."
Former Republican political operative Matthew Dowd, the chief campaign strategist for the Bush/Cheney ticket in 2004, senses a problem.
"There's obviously something there because if there was nothing there he would say 'Have at it'," he said.
"So there's obviously something there that compromises what he's said in the past about something," Mr Dowd said.
"It's arrogance. Many of these politicians think: 'I can do this, I can get away with this, I don't need to do this because I'm going to say something, and I don't have to do this'."
Mr Rove agrees the Romney camp needs to do more to define its candidate.
"What they're trying to make a decision about is how much do they hold back and lay out later, and how much do they lay out now?" he said.
Some Republicans even want Mr Romney to announce his running mate to change the subject.
Others say the Olympics, which Mr Romney will attend as well as a trip to Israel and Poland, will achieve the same outcome.
Topics: us-elections, government-and-politics, world-politics, united-states
First posted


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Wednesday, September 1, 1999 Published at 15:32 GMT 16:32 UK
Fox Hunting: Fighting for the fox
The battle against fox hunting has been waged in the field, in parliament, on the stage - and most recently, in cyberspace.
The anti-bloodsports movement
The history of the hunt is fairly well recorded. Here BBC News Online takes a look at the history of the anti-field sports movement.
Sabotage - on both sides
Hunt saboteurs scent victory after three decades of trying to get between the hounds and their quarry. But they aren't the only ones who employ sabotage techniques.
Parliaments prepare to vote
Why has Prime Minister Tony Blair chosen now to put hunting with hounds back on the legislative agenda?
Fox hunting and the famous
All sides of the fox hunting debate have been keen to recruit the rich and famous to promote their arguments.


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Spann (GNIS FID: 509101) is a populated place located in Wayne County at latitude 36.852 and longitude -84.771.
The elevation of Spann is 1,401 feet. Spann appears on the Monticello U.S. Geological Survey Map. Wayne County is in the Eastern Time Zone (UTC -5 hours).
Wayne County: Cities & Towns | ZIP Codes | Features (airports, churches, hospitals, etc.)
BIG Map |
Driving Directions |
Data Source - USGS GNIS FID: 509101
BOUNDARY MAPS: Gregory Division | Wayne County
Monticello, KY
(4.5 miles WSW)
Burnside, KY
(13.3 miles NE)
Steubenville, KY
(3.1 miles NW)
Betsey, KY
(3.9 miles NNE)


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It is a video of a CO teacher describing her experience at a round table with Mitt Romney. According to the teacher, Romney was going on about schools failing and how we need a voucher system. When she said she had an answer for that he told her "I didn't ask you a question."
Romney to teacher "I didn't ask you a question"
Current Status: Published (4)
Seeded on Sun Sep 23, 2012 4:24 AM
keyboard shortcuts: V vote up article J next comment K previous comment


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What Do Kids Think About Plastic Surgery?
K. Mathews on 25 Oct 2011 at 9:00am
Whenever we write about kids undergoing cosmetic surgery, it generates a lot of discussion amongst adults. But how do kids feel about it? That's exactly what journalist Linda Ellerbee sought to find out when she hosted the Nick News special "Minor Adjustments: Kids and Cosmetic Surgery."
Over the years, Ellerbee has dared to address a variety of weighty issues with kids, with subject matter ranging from global warning to HIV. With plastic surgery attracting increasingly younger patients, it makes sense to involve kids in the discussion on beauty ideals rather than pretending they aren't subject to the same peer and media pressures that adults are.
The program profiled a handful of kids who turned to cosmetic surgery for a variety of reasons. For one girl, her motivation was aesthetic, choosing to have a nose job (as did her mother and grandmother before her) to gain confidence. Another teen boy had breast reduction surgery to counteract a hormonal imbalance that gave him an embarrassingly large chest.
And then things get extra complicated with a girl who at 12 had liposuction to slim down her 225 pound body, and at 15 received breast implants to look more like Barbie.
If you're looking for any firm conclusions, however, look elsewhere. While kids interject their opinions on plastic surgery between the segments, Ellerbee points out that "saying who's right and who's wrong is tricky," instead deciding that the topic is one where there's "more than one right answer."
To see the show yourself, head on over to Nick.com. Or you can download a free podcast of the show on iTunes.
What's your opinion on underage plastic surgery?
Vote in our poll about underage surgery for bullying:


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White Sox try to avoid first sweep
White Sox try to avoid first sweep
Contreras will go for his 10th win of the season against Curt Schilling, who is going for his 11th win.
Schilling may have some anger to take out on the White Sox, since manager Ozzie Guillen, who will manage the AL All-Star team on Tuesday, did not pick Schilling for the team.
Guillen reasoned that he did not pick Schilling because Schilling would only be available to throw a limited number of pitches on Tuesday after his start on Sunday. Guillen also had to worry about making sure every team had at least one representative on the team.
Contreras, on the other hand, will be making the trip to Pittsburgh for Tuesday's All-Star Game after going into Sunday's game 9-0 with a 3.31 ERA and the aforementioned 17-game regular-season winning streak.
Because of Contreras' status as a former Yankee, Schilling has seen a lot of Contreras, and has noticed vast improvement.
"He's just matured into a good pitcher," Schilling said. "He's not even remotely what he was in New York. I think a lot of that is confidence, the way he pitches, his mound presence is better and it's showing."
If the Sox get swept, it will be the first time this season -- a negative note to end the first half on.
"If we get swept, the earth will end I guess," first baseman Paul Konerko said with a smile. "We'll have to regroup. We'll need the whole All-Star break to put ourselves back together. We'll go out and play hard, that's all you can do."
"Tomorrow's game is going to be the biggest it can be," Guillen said. "Going into the All-Star break, hopefully, we win tomorrow and then get a little refresher."
The Sox return to action after the All-Star break with a three-game series against the Yankees in New York.
BOS: RHP Curt Schilling (10-3, 3.63 ERA)
Schilling threw seven innings, but allowed three home runs against the Rays in a 4-3 loss Tuesday. The outing marked just the fourth time in 18 starts that Schilling has allowed four or more runs. Still, the 39-year-old has gone deep into games consistently, recording less than six innings just twice this year. He's 2-0 at U.S. Cellular Field, with a 0.90 ERA in three career appearances. Overall, Schilling is 3-1 against the White Sox with a 4.01 ERA in 10 career games.
CWS: RHP Jose Contreras (9-0, 3.31 ERA)
The streak of consecutive regular-season winning decisions has now reached 17 straight for the big right-hander, after pitching 6 2/3 scoreless innings during the White Sox 13-0 victory over Baltimore on Tuesday. But the true test for Contreras to extend that streak comes against the Red Sox, a team which he struggled mightily against while with the Yankees. Contreras' regular-season run does not include a victory over Boston, and he has a 2-4 record with an 11.67 ERA lifetime against the Red Sox.
Player to watch
Coco Crisp is batting .357 against Contreras in 14 at-bats. Crisp snapped an 0-for-23 streak Friday, going 2-for-4 with a home run and then 2-for-5 Saturday.
On the Internet
Gameday Audio
Official game notes
CSN Chicago
On radio
Monday-Wednesday: All-Star break
Leslie Parker is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Glove Cats & Blaze Tripp photo gallery
Ashley Mar
Glove Cats
Blaze Tripp
Tony Why & Toddy trix ft MC D-Tech
Glen Darby
Daniel Berti
Digit & Jumes
Loose Tee
Friday may 18th Chinese Laundry will be 2 sweaty rooms of pure party, as Bass Mafia residents Glovecats headline a smoking hot all local line up!
Glovecats are one of the hardest working artists the Aussie dubstep scene, after mixing One Love's #1 selling "Dubstep Invasion" CD last year they are now busy finding the best tracks around for the highly anticipated follow up 2nd edition of the compilation series, meanwhile, thanks to this knack for finding the best tracks and mixing them quickly and flawlessly the boys have become hot property, headlining clubs & festivals all over the country…
Rounding out the Bass Mafia bill is bassline production monster BLAZE TRIPP, already responsible for numerous bigroom club bangers, Blaze has recently collaborated with Sweden's Peo De Pitte for his upcoming single. As the man well known around town for his sole destroying dj sets, Blaze Tripp will have you dancing harder than ordinary shoes can handle, so make sure you dress correct!
Two rooms of dubstep, drumstep & bassline electro PLUS $5 drink specials from 10 pm!
Ashley Mar
Sun, 24 Sep 2017
14 attending
Fri, 29 Sep 2017
44 attending
TBA - Warehouse Location
Sat, 30 Sep 2017
215 attending
Sat, 30 Sep 2017
80 attending
TBA - Sydney
Sat, 30 Sep 2017
68 attending
Sat, 30 Sep 2017
58 attending
Sat, 30 Sep 2017
20 attending
Sun, 1 Oct 2017
30 attending


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Blog: Wake school board candidates meet for forum
Posted September 8, 2011
Raleigh, N.C. — The first in a series of five Wake County Board of Education candidate forums kicks off Thursday night at Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh.
The forums are sponsored by WakeUp Wake and the League of Women Voters of Wake County.
Thursday's event features candidates from District 6. Carolyn Morrison currently represents this district but announced she will not run for re-election. There are four candidates running for her seat: Christine Kushner, George W. Morgan,
Mary Ann Weathers and Donna Williams.
Although school board races in Wake County are technically non-partisan on the ballot, this race has become highly politicized after a Republican majority took majority control of the board in 2009. The Wake County Democratic and Republican parties are actively involved in endorsing, supporting, and promoting candidates for this election, which will be held Tuesday Oct. 11.
For more details on all school board candidates visit WRAL's school board elections page. Have a question for the candidates? Submit it here.
Marian Lewin from the League of Women Voters of Wake County is the moderator for the district six forum. Each of the four candidates get two minutes to make an opening statement that must answer the following questions:
What do you hope to accomplish when you serve on the Wake County Board of Education?
What specific skills and qualities would you contribute to the Board of Education?
Serving on the Board of Education is an extremely time consuming commitment to the community. It can also be very stressful, Why do you want to take on this challenge?
After opening statements the moderator will ask a series of questions, followed by audience questions, and then each candidate will have three minutes to make a closing statement.
Here are some highlights from portions of the forum, beginning with parts of each candidate's opening statements:
George Morgan's Opening Statement:
I would push to require academic coaching at all grade levels.
I would push to increase the number of required math and science units as well as health and physical education classes.
I was employed by Wake County Schools in various teaching and leadership roles all of which require knowledge of school board policy and processes.
Christine Kushner Opening Statement:
We must restore confidence in the board of education and put the focus back on students and teachers, by putting politics aside.
I have been a parent of Wake County students for the past 11 years. Worked as a tutor and PTA leader.
I have been attending board meetings for the past two years.
I want to move forward, not go back to any past policies.
Donna Williams Opening Statement:
As a mother of four and grandmother of seven I understand needs of Wake County students.
We need a stable assignment policy to ensure student achievement.
We need to utilize test scores, teacher feedback, and parent involvement to better place students in advance courses.
Parents should have a choice of where their children go to school.
I will take a non-partisan approach
Mary Ann Weathers Opening Statement:
I am Raleigh native, with 40 years of experience as an educator.
Deadly indifference lead to current school board we have in place. The school board is broken and teachers and students are the victims. We will have apartheid if we continue down this path, where white majority will be making all the decisions for the minority students.
I have a 4 step plan to fix the mess.
Thoughts on a student assignment plan:
George Morgan:
Concern about transpiration logistics and the number of seats that will be available at each school. Morgan would like to see all details worked out before a plan is presented to parents.
Mary Ann Weathers:
I am glad the magnet schools are being kept in tact.
We need to be careful about making sure the plan will work before its rolled out, because we can not afford to waste resources on a plan that does not fit.
Donna Williams:
The new proposed plan offers choice and stability which we have not had before.
Encouraged parents to give more feedback before a plan is final.
Kristine Kushner:
The current proposed feeder patterns in the new plan does not offer the proximity and stability that district six expects.
We need to ensure we are using school capacity wisely under the new plan.
Would you support a bond that would increase taxes to pay for new school construction needs?
Donna Williams:
We must have bond money to keep up with construction needs, but I don't think we should raises taxes to get there. I think we should look at wasteful spending in the school system first.
Christine Kushner:
We need a bond to fund the number of new schools that will be needed. I think we need to get a board that can work together to rally the community to support such a bond. We must make sure we use our resources wisely.
George Morgan:
We are just finishing up with the bond money approved in 2006. We still have money left from that bond being used on projects now. I would need to know exactly where all the leftover money is going before I could vote in favor of a new bond.
Mary Ann Weathers:
We need to do a careful, internal audit before be talk about another bond or raise taxes again. I would be reluctant to ask for any more money until we become good stewards of the money we have now.
Why should someone with no children in the school system vote in this election and why should they vote for you?
George Morgan:
You should be concerned because we have a crisis coming. We are getting a bad deal from state legislatures with the amount of money coming in for schools.
Mary Ann Weathers:
Taxpayers have an investment in public schools because they are the foundation of the community. We have to be good stewardship of tax payers money.
Donna Williams:
If you own property in Wake County, most of the taxes you pay go toward schools. What happens in our schools impact the entire community. When a business looks at relocating to our county they look at the school systems before making that decision.
Christine Kushner:
We need to make sure public education stays the economic driving force of our community. We need an end of divisiveness of the board. We need board members who will strengthen the public education system.
Closing Statements From Each Candidate:
Mary Ann Weathers:
I am proud to be a graduate of this school system.
My education has served me well. That's why I am so sad to see what's happened to this school board. I want this to be a school system where every teacher wants to teach and every student can learn.
I am worried about the influence of special interest groups.
Donna Williams:
I have never run for office before, but my entire life has been about serving. I was nervous about stepping into this race, but I have thought and prayed about it a lot. My son who was serving his country as a Marine inspired me to get more involved in serving my community. I want to do what is best for our school children.
Christine Kushner:
I am proud to be endorsed by the teachers and teacher's association. I will hit the ground running in December as an informed board member. I have been paying close attention over the past two years and understand the school board role. I am not bringing a personal or political agenda to the board. I want to represent the entire county. We need to end divisiveness of the school board.
George Morgan:
I will works to imporve the achievement level of all students in Wake County.


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I had an open rhinoplasty 2 months ago. I had a columellar strut put in using cartilage from my septum. I have been experiencing headaches, congestion and a foul odor coming from one nostril. Could this be an infection of the columellar strut put in? I have read a lot about artificial implants getting infected and having to be removed but could this be the case with a cartilage graft from my septum? thanks
Concerned I Have an Infection 2 Months Following Rhinoplasty?
Doctor Answers 4
Possible Infection 2 Months After Rhinoplasty
Dear Leo,
An autologous cartilage graft should not cause an infection but synthetic grafts would but at a very low percentage. However, what is interesting is that you are at 2 months post-surgery and the rate of infection due to the rhinoplasty should be almost none.
That being said, the foul smell could be a result of an infection due to a possible sinus infection or other unrelated causes to your surgery.
Inflammation is often detected by swelling, tenderness and redness depending on how advanced the inflammation is.
I recommend that consult with your surgeon so your nose be examined and the cause of what you have experiencing be detected.
I hope this helps.
Thank you of your inquiry.
Best of luck to you.
Dr. Sajjadian
Learn more: http://www.DrSajjadian.com
A foul smell is a bad sign.
A foul smell is often a sign of infection. Your collumellar graft may have gotten infected especially if your having some tenderness or purulent discharge in the area. If not, then maybe you just picked up a sinus infection. Either way you need to be seen, evaluated, and treated.
Infections after rhinoplasty are always possible, so please see your surgeon immediately and allow him to take a good history and physical.
You might also like...
Nose infections
A cartilage graft will not get infected at 2 months after surgery. They can re-absorb, that is, disappear, but this does not involve odor or discharge.
Artificial implants can get infected at any time (about 3% of them). This would include non-dissoving stitches.
You should check with your surgeon and have your nose looked at. There are other causes of a foul odor/discharge from the nose that might not be related to your surgery.
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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May 29th, 2015 By: Ash
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Productive Insights (PI) offers valuable productivity related content to busy people who want to win back a few hours each week. It also discusses mindfulness in daily life which is aimed at creating a deeper sense of purpose and meaning in everyday activities.
If you are a looking to reduce your stress levels or create more free time in your day then you've come to the right place.
140. Andre Chaperon — Email Marketing Genius And Creator of Auto Responder MadnessSeptember 12th, 2017 | no responses
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TWO top spellers from Salisbury's South Wilts School will be going to the national final of the Foreign Languages Spelling Bee.
Marie Huckstep took first prize the regional round of the German competition, while fellow Year 7 pupils Alice Mawdsley came fourth.
They will be going on to the national final in Cambridge later this month.


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What day is it today? Tuesday! Which means it's a great day for a taco. What's your favorite taco? We've got ton of recipes for tacos, we also have a guide on How to Host a Taco Party, and, now we have a list of the Ten Best Tacos Across the U.S. according to critics from the Chicago Tribune, The Village Voice, and San Diego Mag. Tell us about your favorite taco recipe! And your favorite taco spot!
- share
Taco Tuesdays!
by Carolina Santos-Neves
on 04/10/12 at 03:22 PM
Tagged with: Restaurants, Travel
03:40:27 PM on
03:40:27 PM on
Mmmm... Tacos... The carnitas recipe on this site (posted about a year ago) is a go-to when we're feeling the need to abandon all reason and consume mass quantities without regard for waist expansion or arteriosclerosis. Or we hit R&R Taqueria for the tacos al pastor (had two right out of the fridge for breakfast the other day). We'll go old school and do the ground meat, crunchy tacos we grew up on. Almost anything in a tortilla pleases me. But I'm really, really happy with a lunch of avocado, spinach and black bean tacos with lots of cilantro, onion, Sriracha and lime. Good and good for me.
06:17:37 PM on
06:17:37 PM on
It's a chile relleno!
04:31:26 PM on
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Um, what exactly is that filling?
main categoriesbaking books chefs cooking drinking entertaining family fare healthy news & gossip recipes restaurants seasonal travel vegetarian
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Please contact Marcie directly if you can help [email protected] (@co.gaston.nc.us)
Tag #789
This is the dog that was found yesterday on Little Mountain Rd. with one eye. She is Tag # 789 at Gaston County Animal Control. She is described as very timid yet friendly. She jumped in the car of someone yesterday and lay down quietly. She is a black & white collie mix she had some sort of collar but no tags. She weighs about 20 lbs. She will probably be considered unadoptable because of the eye, so after her 72 hours are up she would be scheduled for euthanasia. An ad is supposed to run in tomorrows paper two of us called vets offices yesterday hoping someone would recognize her but with no luck. She is posted on the County Missing Animal Site.
Please let me know if anyone would be in a position to foster or rescue her if she is not reclaimed within the 72 hours that should be either Thursday or Friday morning.
Marcie Bonar
ALGC Volunteer


text: How about a 100000 row table and doing for all in select * from mytable loop insert commit every time That would be an interesting test. It should be faster in 10g because of automatic bulk inserts, but would show that the same code across different versions is implemented differently. -- http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l


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According to People Magazine, Whitney Houston's daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown may be engaged to Nick Gordon — the 22-year-old man who Houston raised as her own son.
Several photos of the couple holding hands and kissing in public have surfaced recently.
In the most recent photos, Bobbi Kristina is wearing a diamond ring on her left hand.
The Houston Family confirmed that they are engaged, but the family is trying to coax her away from it.
Houston, who died on the 11th of February took Gordon in over a decade ago.
Although there is no evidence that Houston ever legally adopted him, he has been living with Bobbi Kristina in Houston's house for years.


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Discussion in 'Forum Games' started by karandpr, Mar 27, 2012.
My half hour meeting lasted 3 hours, I blame Yeahha
I had no meetings today, just a desk full of someone elses backlog.......blame Yeahha!
I've got a meeting on "how to text" tomorrow...I blame me
...what thu....? Blame Yeahha!
That is what I was thinking when I got the notification, I blame me
Because of T H A T meeting AT&T announced they are now throttling Top 5% Texters!....
and their warning text to you count against your allotted 10 texts per billing cycle!....blame YEAHHA!
Stupid coworkers talking loudly about politics in the office, I blame yeahha.
Yeahha just got blamed, I blame Yeahha
It's over 9000,I blame Yeahha
My head hurts...I blame beer me
I so blame yeahhaw for my low IQ of 5...
Heh-heh no kiddn?....mine would hurt too........
...if I did the Ponyboy-Shuffle all day with a head this size!..
Yet, still.....i blame YEAHHA!
I just loled a little...I blame me
Stinky Stinky just lied about his IQ. He is a natural born genius!....for that, I blame Yeahha!
I'm still bad at the bass. I blame Yeahha
I'm bad at bass too I blame me
And i am a BAD BASS!!.. you can blame Yeahha for that! ;D
^^lol^^FFF...I blame me
I can't get my newest themed rom booting for some reason... I blame Yeahha.
Time for a break, I blame me
I made a rare appearance in Forum Games only to find this thread, forcing me to read every reply. Without question, I blame Yeahha.
I think iowabowtech should check out the longest thread and read every reply...I blame me
I just got spam filtered in the longest thread, I blame Yeahha
I'm offering how to spam classes, I blame me
Got suckered into checking out the longest thread. Guess why? Yep, Yeahha. Due to my ADD, I couldn't get past the first post. Ended up getting sucked into a revisit of the Gnex pre release thread!! At work...lost productivity...my boss and I would like to formally blame Yeahha.


text:
You can find other products like this 'Northern Illinois Huskies 3/8" "Huskie Head" Charm - 10KT Gold Jewelry', by clicking on the following links:
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|Northern Illinois Huskies
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|Leaves the warehouse within 3 - 6 business days.
|Overall Rating
I bought this item because I wanted a husky head for a charm bracelet. Other charms I found just didn't look like a husky. This one was near perfect. Looks just like a husky. I only wish it would have been a little bigger. Otherwise it is absolutely beautiful.
(Posted on 9/23/2010)


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Hyderabad Outer Ring Road, India
In an effort to reduce the frequent traffic jams in the major arterial roads of Hyderabad city, the Government of Andhra Pradesh unveiled a plan to construct the Outer Ring Road (ORR) around the twin cities. The ORR is a well developed and planned road cum area project as it improves both roads and urban settlements around the metropolitan area.
The 159km long ORR encircles Patancheru – Shamshabad- Hayatnagar- Medchal- Patancheru providing connectivity to various National Highways, State Highways, MDRs and other roads.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh created a new department, Hyderabad Growth Corridor Ltd (HGCL), to develop and operate the ORR project in Hyderabad under the Companies Act, 1956 on 26 December 2005.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh also proposed to develop 33 radial roads connecting the ORR. Out of these, it decided to develop six radial roads. Various parts of the city can be connected to the ORR via radial roads based on the traffic congestion. Since the Hyderabad Metropolitan Urban Development Authority (HMDA) is facing financial crisis and working hard to raise funds for PVNR expressway, construction of the remaining 27 radial roads has been put on hold for now.
Around INR7.5bn ($161.49m) is required for completing the entire 33 radial roads development. The dead line for completing the construction of three radial roads is December 2010. The construction of remaining three roads is yet to begin.
The first four lanes under eight lane Phase I, connecting Gachibouli to Shamshabad, were officially inaugurated in November 2008. The inauguration enables better connectivity to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) via Narsingi, Andhra Pradesh Police Academy and Himayatsagar. The remaining four lanes are yet to be completed.
The PV Narasimha Rao (PVNR) Expressway flyover was inaugurated on 19 October 2009. It was built as a part of the Phase I of the ORR project.
The Phase IIA will be operational by June 2010. The Phase IIB which will begin after completion of Phase IIA, is targeted to be completed by February 2013.
The ORR project is being implemented in three phases namely Phase I and Phase IIA and Phase IIB. Work on the Phase I includes construction of 4/8 lane, 22km expressway, which connects Gachibouli Junction to Shamshabad NH 7 Junction via Namakrama-guda, ORR link road Junction and Andhra Pradesh Police Academy (APPA). The total cost of the Phase I has been estimated at INR5bn ($107.75m).
The PVNR expressway, which connects Sarojinidevi Eye Hospital to Aramgarh Junction and to Shamshabad Airport was also undertaken as a part of the Phase I. The PVNR Expressway is India's longest 17.2m wide four-lane flyover. It has been developed by Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) at a cost of INR6bn ($129.305m). Commuters can drive at a speed of 90-100 kmph on the PVNR expressway, which saves around 30 to 40 minutes of travel time to the Shamshabad airport (RGIA). It is one of the routes connected to the ORR. The length of the expressway is 11.63km.
The Phase II was split into Phase IIA and Phase IIB. The scope of work in Phase II will encompass construction of a 137km eight-lane expressway. The expressway connects Narsingi-Kollur- Patancheru- Medchal-Shameerpet-Peddamberpet-Turkayamjal-Shamshabad. The Phase II will cost around INR25bn ($538.79m).
The Government of Andhra Pradesh borrowed a long-term loan of INR5bn ($107.75m) from a consortium of banks including the Bank of Baroda, Andhra Bank, Indian Overses Bank, Vijaya Bank and the Central Bank of India by mortgaging HUDA's lands. The loan was availed to execute the Phase I.
The remaining funds for the entire Phase II were provided by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The Government of India borrowed INR41.85bn ($901.93m) from the JICA on 10 March 2008 for executing the Phase II of ORR project successfully.
The acquisition of the Phase I contract for the ORR commenced in January 2006. The work was divided into two contract packages, namely Supervision Consultancy contract and Civil work contract.
The HGCL has selected the bid of M/s BCEOM – Aarvee (JV) consultants for Phase I Supervision Consultancy out of those submitted by nine consultancy firms. The contract was worth about INR145.63m ($3.13m)
The civil works of Phase I were divided into two contract packages, namely Package-I (0 to 11km) and Package II (11 to 24km). Package I contract connects Gachibouli to Andhra Pradesh Police Academy (APPA), while Package II links APPA to Shamshabad. Around ten contract firms have submitted their bids for both contract packages.
The High Level Committee, however, has decided not to award both packages to a single firm in order to avoid delays in the project's time scheduels. Based on the lowest bid, two companies M/s Corporation Transstroy OSJC, Russia and M/s Continental Engineering Corporation, Taiwan were selected as the first and second lowest respectively in both contract packages.
M/S Corporation Transstroy was awarded the Package I contract (approx. INR2.197bn or $473.48m) while the Package II contract (approx. INR2.950bn or $635.77m) was awarded to M/S Continental Engineering Corporation. (CEC).
Design and construction
The land acquisition of Phase I was completed and Detail Project Report (DPR) preparation was undertaken by M/s BCEOM-Aarvee Associates (JV) consultant in December 2005. The joint venture (JV) was formed between two engineering consultancy companies BCEOM India Pvt. Ltd. and Aarvee Associates, both based in India.
The project received MOEF (Ministry of Environment & Forests) clearances. In April 2006, land acquisition for Phase II was completed. The DPR was completed in August 2006 and contracts were awarded in April 2007.
The land required for Phase I of the ORR project is 750 acres, of which 500 acres is private property. Similarly Phase II requires 5,500 acres, of which 4,500 acres is private land. The Indian government approved a compensation package of approximately INR360.55 m ($7.76m) to the affected families who were losing their houses in the project development. The land for Phase I was acquired in 4SDC's, while the Phase II in 3SDC's.
Around INR2.5bn ($538.23m) has been approved by the Government of India as compensation package to families who lost their lands in the Phase II development of the ORR project. The package is under active implementation. The total private land for the ORR project is acquired in seven SDC's.
The work under Phase IIA was divided into five contract packages. Due to delay in the payment of compensation to farmers, the commencement of Phase IIA construction is delayed until December 2009. Currently the work between Narsingi and Patancheru is progressing, upon completion of which the Pedda Amberpet-to-Shamshabad work will commence.
The 71.3km Phase IIB, which connects Patancheru to Pedda Amberpet via Medchal, Shamirpet and Ghatkesar is categorised into six packages.
The construction of three radial roads including Tippu Khan bridge to Andhra Pradesh Police Academy (APPA), Nanakramguda to Tippu Khan bridge via APPA and Narsingi to APPA have commenced. The work on the radial road development includes widening the roads to four, six and eight lanes. It also encompasses construction of footpaths and, central median with lightening.
Traffic management systems
The Outer Ring Road is developing an advanced Intelligent Traffic Management System at a cost of INR1.5bn ($323.27m). The new system is equipped with Cross-Coupled Televisions (CCTV), alert sytems, weather updates and can transmit road accidents information to travellers.


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Doug McNaught wrote: > Tom Allison <tallison(at)tacocat(dot)net> writes: > > >>How would I specify a field that's to be updated to current_time >>everytime the row is created/altered? > > > Create a trigger. There are some good examples in the PL/pgSQL docs. > > >>Is there some way to put this 'update' property into the table instead >>of running some query to do it? > > > Triggers are the way to go in Postgres. > > -Doug > Thanks for the pointer. That should be enough.
Next: From: Wei Shi Date: 2004-05-26 01:46:03 Subject: Re: About table schema Previous: From: Larry Rosenman Date: 2004-05-26 01:14:30 Subject: Re: timestamps