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Comics > Attention Span
|Attention Span ARCHIVES
|More Film Stories
Backlot (9/22/2010)
The family guy (8/18/2010)
Backlot (8/11/2010)
|More from Norene Cashen
Ceramic vistas (11/26/2008)
Handy qualities (11/26/2008)
Scrap city (11/5/2008)
Published 10/18/2000
McFarlane toys has been a leader in freezing pop culture icons and characters in its detailed plastic molds. Now the same company that brought us action figures of Alice Cooper, the Beatles, the South Park gang, Janis Joplin, Edward Scissorhands and Rob Zombie, among others, is coming up with some Japanese anime figures intended to explode with the same burst of popularity the actual animation has enjoyed in recent years. McFarlane started with characters from the film Akira, which brought Japanese anime to mainstream American audiences. The company has also released an action figure called Vash the Stampede from the TV series Trigun. The collectible figures are available from various retailers including Spencer Gifts and most toy stores. Prices vary. Check out www.mcfarlane.com to learn more and to browse a complete online catalog.
Norene Cashen pays attention here every other week. E-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Legacy is an epic game of Starfleet combat covering the entire Star Trek Universe. Players become the Admiral of a task force of warships and must lead their fleet to victory in large-scale battles. As the Admiral of the Fleet you choose the ships, equipment, and captains that you will lead into battle. The game is designed to provide an immersive strategic and tactical experience by emphasizing the dramatic excitement of large-scale battles without the hassle of complex starship management.
Star Trek: Legacy is an Action/Adventure video game for Xbox 360 developed by Mad Doc Software and published by Bethesda Softworks on November 21, 2006. It's rated Everyone-10 by the ESRB and 22 of our users have voted it 4.0 out of 5 stars.
Our newest cheats for Star Trek: Legacy were added October 21, 2008. We also have the game available on PC, in addition to Xbox 360.
This works best with a ship that has two or more phasers, like the Excelsior class for example. During a battle, very quickly double tap the right trigger and hold it down, if done correctly, your ship will fire double phasers.
Chain Reaction (20 points): Deliver the killing blow to more than one ship with a single torpedo.
Antique Collector (20 points): Start a mission in the Next Generation era with a fleet containing a Enterprise era ship.
Autonomous Operator (20 points): Complete the final mission without the use of support craft.
Allied Commander (20 points): Be a team player in "Generals".
Savior of Aurelia (20 points): Protect your ward in "Anger and Mercy".
Sword of Aurelia (20 points): Take a swing at the bully in "Anger and Mercy"...
Guerilla In The Mist (20 points): Spill no blood in "Ambush".
Custodian of Phidian (20 points): Save the sensor relays in "Revelations".
Spirit of Kahless (20 points): Strike only at the heart of the enemy in "Omega".
Champion of the Fleet (20 points): All allies must survive in "At the Gates".
Scourge of Kathra (20 points): Roll like a wave of destruction through the Kathra system...
Hero of Kathra (20 points): Don't allow your allies to perish in "FireStorm".
Brazen Warrior (20 points): Never hide from your enemy in "Behind Enemy Lines".
Agile Predator (20 points): Complete "Behind Enemy lines" unscathed...
Pacifist of Makus (20 points): Complete "The Squeeze" without spilling any blood...
Liberator of Makus (20 points): Secure all enemy strongholds in "The Squeeze".
Lone Wolf of Makus (20 points): Complete mission objectives in "The Squeeze" without the aid of starbases.
Tyburn Shockwave (20 points): During "Stirring the Hive", knockout as many of the enemy fleet as you can in one blow...
Protector of Encaria (20 points): Keep the poisonous spore count low during "Poisoned Well".
Guardian of Epsilon Theta (20 points): Protect all the medical ships in "Be My Shepherd".
Riker Award (40 points): Complete the Next Generation era without losing a single ship.
Spock Award (35 points): Complete the Original Series era without losing a single ship.
T'Pol Award (30 points): Complete the Enterprise era without losing a single ship.
Starfleet Admiral (100 points): Complete the single player campaign on "Admiral" difficulty.
Starfleet Captain (75 points): Complete the single player campaign on "Captain" difficulty.
Starfleet Ensign (50 points): Complete the single player campaign on "Ensign" difficulty.
Admiral Kirk Award (50 points): Complete all missions in the TOS era.
Captain Archer Award (50 points): Complete all missions in the Enterprise era.
Starfleet Academy Graduate (25 points): Complete the Tutorial Mission.
The Wrath Of Khan (25 points): Destroy 10 Federation ships in a single online battle.
Anonymous Red-Shirt Award (5 points): Be the first to go down in a 4 fleet multi-player game.
Legacy Captain (20 points): Unlock the USS Legacy.
Glorious Victor (20 points): Test your mettle in battle against opponents.
Keeper of Gre'thor (25 points): Send 10 Klingon vessels to Sto'Vo'Kor in one online match.
Avenger of Surak (25 points): Destroy 10 Romulan ships in one online battle.
Resistance Was Useful (25 points): Eradicate 10 Borg ships in a single online match.
Successfully complete the game, then load the cleared saved game. When you purchase three Sovereign class ships, the U.S.S. Legacy will be the final ship.
If you were looking for Star Trek: Legacy for Xbox 360 cheats, then you might also want cheats for:


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DENVER, CO - JULY 9: Irving Falu #1 of the San Diego Padres steals second base before second baseman DJ LeMahieu #9 of the Colorado Rockies can receive the throw during the sixth inning at Coors Field on July 9, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Content engaging our readers now, with additional prominence accorded if the story is rapidly gaining attention. Our WSJ algorithm comprises 30% page views, 20% Facebook, 20% Twitter, 20% email shares and 10% comments.


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1/2 bowl rice + 1/2 cup rajma + 1 katori mattar mushroom + 1 katori Cucumber raita
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Hidition NT-6PRO
"Months ago I believed the JH13Pro Freqphase to have the most clarity when it came to Custom In-Ear Monitors, but I was properly blown away by the Hidition NT-6 Pro with its death-defying clarity and resolution. Introduction After spending a lot of time with my JH13Pro I decided to seek another CIEM to possibly challenge or even defeat it. After browsing the ever-beloved head-fi.org, I..." --VisceriousZERO
Hidition NT-6
NT-6 with six each in charge of the area by providing a balanced armature transducer, can actually hear the sound while listening to an interesting pitch to provide the best environment for. Passive network that is responsible for each area to the outside environment by considering the number of the listening environment and accordingly the allocation of frequencies, the output and give it...
Sonomax EERS PCS-250 Custom Fit Dual Driver In-Ear Headphones with Inline Microphone
Premium dual drivers provide a faithful reproduction of the original audio recording


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Remember the Diane von Furstenberg Stephanie Hobo, as soon as it hit the retail shops the interwoven leather slouch bag was a popular item by fashionista's and celebrities alike. When a designer has such a success with an amazing item, they tend to expand that particular style and line to fit the convenience of all their fans. Introducing the Stephanie Bracelet Clutch by Diane von Furstenberg, the little sister to the popular hobo. I can't get over how adorable these bracelet clutches are, their suitable for date night, dinner, club wear or any other social event where you don't necessarily need to carry much to.
This might appear to be heavy mesh from a distance, but it's in fact heavy woven metallic leather. I love the sheen, the suede lining at its sides, and of course leather tassel décor always adds some fun to any piece. The simple concept of adding suede banding as a top handle creates a hassle free wristlet or bracelet-like way of carrying this little pouch.
Black and armor Silver are the two versions the Stephanie Bracelet arrives in, and as I compare both side by side, I can't decide which of the two would make my pick. Give your Stephanie hobo a rest and shop the Bracelet Clutch online through: Shopbop
The Chat: stephanie!


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Dating by DNA Photos
Do you want better sex, increased fertility and the greatest chance of a long-lasting relationship? These are the most convincing arguments on a new site called GenePartner.com. The website offers to find…[More]
52 Tips for Husband Hunters
52 Dating Devices
42 Exciting Dating Sites
100 Obscure Dating Services
45 Innovations in Dating
15 Unusual Places to Meet People
50 Biometric Innovations
28 DNA Innovations
32 Modern Innovations in Dating
25 Dating Innovations
23 Online Dating Sites
50 Dating Innovations
Dating Sites For Cheaters
Derogatory Dating Ads
40 DNA and Genome Finds
Wheat-Free Dating
Mac-Only Dating Sites
Dating for Eco-Sexuals
DNA-Inspired Designs
Rockstar Genome Mapping


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The geodesic dome was invented in 1954 by Richard Buckminster Fuller. U.S. Pat. No. 2,682,235 was granted to Buckminster Fuller in 1954 for geodesic domes. He also received U.S. Patent 3,197,927 for an improved geodesic dome issued on August 3, 1965.
Images 1-8 of 8
- Graphic Index
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Gosh, John Riley really made my day. I knew Merle Knight quite well--have not seen or heard from her since leaving GPK. Buster Tombs lived across the street from us on Third Street--so that too brought back memories. The news articles were also great. Thanks to John for sharing!!
Thanks JoAnn
It's amazing that PC's & Mac's have brought so many back together
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
John Riley really warmed someone's heart
Posted by Marty North at 2:30 PM
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When we pulled into the parking lot my sister wanted to leave. There were 3 young guys that looked like drug dealers laying on the stairs to the second floor, another guy was sleeping in a car. The door to our room only had one lock on it. The dead bolt had been remove and paper was stuffed in the... More
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Tartan East Golf Course
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Message Board
Donna Tartt Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Tartt has written!
Author Tartt's Book Reviews
The Goldfinch
Theo, the main character, lives with his mother, who is taking him to the MOMA to kill time before an important meeting at his school to discuss his recent suspension on unfair grounds. His attention is caught by a young girl about his own age, with a man Theo supposes is her grandfather. Unbelievably, his mother leaves him momentarily to run to the gift shop while he continues to look at the art, and at that moment a bomb goes off, killing several peopl...
The Secret History
Richard Papen flees a loveless California home for an arts college in New Hampshire, only to fall into a murder plot with his fellow Greek classics students. No love is lost between Richard Papen and his parents in California. To escape them, he must flee to Hampden College in the Northeast where he becomes enchanted by a charismatic classics professor and a tight-knit group of attractive, odd-ball intellectual students. Richard falls hard for the bea...


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X-Ray Specs (novelty)
X-Ray Specs are an American novelty item, purported to allow the user to see through or into solid objects. In reality the glasses merely create an optical illusion; no X-rays are involved. The current paper version is sold under the name X-Ray Spex; a similar product is sold under the name X-Ray Gogs.
X-Ray Specs consist of an outsized pair of glasses with plastic frames and white cardboard "lenses" printed with concentric red circles, and emblazoned with the legend "X-RAY VISION".
The lenses consist of two layers of cardboard with a small hole about 6 mm (.25 inch) in diameter punched through both layers. The user views objects through the holes. A feather is embedded between the layers of each lens. The vanes of the feathers are so close together that light is diffracted, causing the user to receive two slightly offset images. For instance, if viewing a pencil, one would see two offset images of the pencil. Where the images overlap, a darker image is obtained, supposedly giving the illusion that one is seeing the graphite embedded within the body of the pencil. As may be imagined, the illusion is not particularly sustainable.
Novelty value[edit]
X-Ray Specs were long advertised with the slogan "See the bones in your hand, see through clothes!" Some versions of the advertisement featured an illustration of a young man using the X-Ray Specs to examine the bones in his hand while a voluptuous woman stood in the background, as though awaiting her turn to be "X-rayed."
The claim is untrue, of course; besides the unlikelihood of a safe and functional X-ray device selling for about a dollar, X-ray detectors require an X-ray source.
Part or even most of the novelty value lies in provoking the object of the wearer's attentions. These subjects, if unable to be entirely sure that the device did not indeed allow the wearer to compromise their modesty, were liable to respond with a variety of amusing reactions.
The principle behind the illusion was first patented in 1909 by Fred J. Wiedenbeck (Patent #914904)
X-Ray Specs were improved (Patent# 3592533) by Harold von Braunhut, also the inventor of Amazing Sea-Monkeys.[1]
A previous product called the Wonder Tube worked in a similar way. Instead of glasses, the device was in the form of a small telescope.
Their name was used as the inspiration for the UK punk band The X-Ray Spex.
Actual see-through devices[edit]
- Thermal imaging goggles are used by various military and police organizations. They are intended for night use, but the longer wavelength of infrared light allows the user to see images through some materials that are impervious to visible light.
- Devices currently in development for airport security are able to see through clothing quite well. These are true X-ray devices, using backscatter X-rays. The devices are not portable and use a typical X-ray display screen, not goggles.
- Cargo scanning, includes the use of X-ray radiography, Dual-energy X-ray radiography, Backscatter X-ray radiography, Muon radiography, Muon tomography, Neutron activation systems, and Gamma-ray radiography.
- Terahertz imaging uses electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz or far infrared range to see through objects in a similar manner to X-rays. It is currently a very expensive new technology, and is being tested for use in customs inspection, firefighting, search and rescue and medical imaging.[2]
- Some video cameras have a night mode that gives an IR image under the right conditions.[3] Digital cameras can also be used.[4]
See also[edit]
- ^ Brott, Tamar (1 October 2010). "The Sea Monkeys and the White Supremacist". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
- ^ Leake, Jonathan (March 9, 2008). "Strip search: camera that sees through clothes from 80ft away". The Times. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ "Why Sony NightShot". Kaya Optics. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ Best, Jo (25 October 2004). "Peeping Tom filter lets phones see through bikinis". silicon.com. Retrieved 7 January 2011.


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Virginia Howes's book The Baby's Coming - A story of dedication by an independent midwife was published this week, just as the Department of Health announced that the government would not support independent midwives' proposed insurance solution, which means that when new EU legislation is implemented later this year independent midwives will become illegal. To anyone who has had any involvement, however remote, with independent midwifery - even if they've done no more than watch Virginia on TV in ITVs Home Delivery - this must seem like total madness: independent
midwives are highly skilled and offer choice and high-quality care to women with a wide variety of needs, relieve the pressure on an over-stretched NHS and save £13 million per year in costs to maternity services. You can read more about the situation facing independent midwives in this article in the Express, this blog by Angela Horler on the Huffington Post, or on the Independent Midwives UK website.
Reading The Baby's Coming this week, then, means that I have read it with an eye on the wider picture too. And, having read it, it couldn't be clearer to me that if independent midwifery is outlawed then we will have lost something of immense value, and outcomes for the women who would choose independent midwifery if they could will be less favourable as they are forced to birth in circumstances they wouldn't have chosen - either within the NHS or alone and unsupported.
Although the book is in many ways an entertaining read, packed with wonderful birth stories, moments of humour and everything that birth junkies like me love to read about - it's also profoundly political, stuffed full of clear demonstrations of where there is room for improvement in our maternity services. In a climate where choices in childbirth are becoming limited within the NHS, due to the suspension of home birth services, the closure of stand-alone midwife-led birth centres and fear of litigation - and all this despite a European law that enshrines a woman's right to choose the circumstances of her birth - it seems to me that we need independent midwifery more than ever.
I'm involved with the Positive Birth Movement, and at meetings we share positive experiences of birth and discuss how women can make their own choices and work with their caregivers to ensure their needs are met; in the process we often hear how difficult this can be and debrief previous experiences. Virginia's book, it seems to me, could be seen as almost a manual for mothers and their caregivers for how respectful, woman-centred maternity care should be delivered, whether in home or in hospital, within the NHS or outside it. There are 'scripts' in its pages that mothers (and midwives) could use to great effect and that's a real strength of these stories - they are an antidote to the 'am I allowed'/'will they let me' position that so many women find themselves in and they show how, even in difficult circumstances, you always have a choice about your care and your informed consent should always be sought.
I had all three of my children at home - with NHS midwives - and I love how the book, again through real-life birth stories, gives a truly realistic picture of what home birth can be, both when all goes well and when there are complications. (I absolutely loved the story of the parents who planned a home birth, went into hospital for monitoring, found all to be fine, then dashed back home again to have the baby in the pool as planned!) Parents considering home birth can read the book and get a sense of the 'back up' that's in place, whether the care is independent or NHS, and feel reassured. On the whole the book is immensely reassuring; it's a long way from the 'drama' of birth on television shows like One Born Every Minute. Even through the (admittedly very unusual!) story of a breech birth that took place in a moving ambulance in a snowstorm there is never a sense of panic, more a sense of wonder that birth can often unfold spontaneously even in the strangest of circumstances. I also relished the moments where traditional (yet evidence-based!) birth wisdom - so easily overlooked in more medicalised births - was in evidence: Virginia describes how something as simple as getting out of the pool could slow down labour enough to give her time to arrive to be with a nervous father worried about having to catch the baby, and how labours that are progressing well can be stalled by people coming in and out and talking to the mother, or turning on the lights. She often talks about the subtle signals women give about what is happening in their labours, without the need for vaginal examinations or calculations of 'rates of progress'. There's valuable knowledge here that we would all do well to take note of.
It's probably clear by now that I loved this book (I've ordered a few copies for my mobile book stall so I'll be spreading the word...) And I'm with Virginia in hoping that it doesn't become a historical document in the near future: if you can join in the campaign to save independent midwifery, please consider doing so. You can go to the IMUK website and take it from there - lobby your MP, donate to the fighting fund, sign the petition.
Finally, I wouldn't be an editor worth my salt if I didn't flag up the fact that there a few proofreading errors in the book, and that some of the dialogue sounds a bit clunky (that's down to the fact that someone decided not to use any contractions - strange, given the subject matter! - so instead of 'I'll' 'I'm' or 'We're' these are spelled out in full). These are minor niggles, didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book and can no doubt be corrected in future editions (of which I hope there are several, revised and updated to include many future birth stories!)
I received a review copy of the book from Headline; my opinion of it is, of course, my own!
Lonely Scribe
Books, birth, breastfeeding
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
Making the case for independent midwifery: The Baby's Coming by Virginia Howes
Thursday, 27 February 2014
New breastfeeding research: approach with caution!
this article in the Daily Mail, with the provocative headline:
"Breast milk is 'no better for a baby than bottled milk' - and it INCREASES the risk of asthma, expert claims". Having done some digging, including reading the abstract, extended abstract, press release and the full text of the scientific paper (Colen, C.G., Ramey, D.M., Is Breast Truly Best? Estimating the Effects of Breastfeeding on Long-term Child Health and Wellbeing in the United States Using Sibling Comparisons, Social Science & Medicine (2014), doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.01.027. - available via ATHENS, or to purchase online) that this article is based on, and other reports, it's clear that the findings of this study should not be dismissed out of hand simply because they appear to contradict what we think we know about the long-term impact of breastfeeding on child health.
"Breast milk is 'no better for a baby than bottled milk' - and it INCREASES the risk of asthma, expert claims". Having done some digging, including reading the abstract, extended abstract, press release and the full text of the scientific paper (Colen, C.G., Ramey, D.M., Is Breast Truly Best? Estimating the Effects of Breastfeeding on Long-term Child Health and Wellbeing in the United States Using Sibling Comparisons, Social Science & Medicine (2014), doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.01.027. - available via ATHENS, or to purchase online) that this article is based on, and other reports, it's clear that the findings of this study should not be dismissed out of hand simply because they appear to contradict what we think we know about the long-term impact of breastfeeding on child health.
I recently heard scientific research described as 'like a jigsaw puzzle, except that there are no straight edges, and no picture to follow on the box' and thought that this was a useful way of thinking about it. Each new piece of research fits in somehow, but the how and where of it can take a long time to unravel. What's interesting, and what moves our understanding forward, is continuing to delve deeper, and, instead of dismissing results that we instinctively feel are 'wrong', asking 'How did the researchers obtain these results? Are their methods sound? Why did they get the outcomes they did? Are there clues in their work about other things we need to know before we can draw a sensible conclusion? Should we be acting to alter our recommendations or behaviour based on this research, or not?'
Of course, the above has nothing to do with the poor reporting of the research in the media (for interest, compare the Daily Mail article with this one for an illustration of how different two reports based on the same press release can be). My hackles rose at the line 'The NHS recommends that mothers breastfeed for around six months' - it doesn't, it recommends exclusive breastfeeding for around six months and continued breastfeeding alongside other foods after that, with no maximum duration specified. That the most basic of fact-checking hasn't been carried out makes me suspicious of reading too much into the Mail's slant on the story (that, and past experience of the Mail's anti- breastfeeding/anti-breastfeeding supporter agenda). Looking closer at the piece it follows the press release fairly closely, except that in certain telling ways it exaggerates the impact of this study, despite the authors taking care in their discussions to take a fairly moderate view. Something as simple as the Mail choosing to include a bullet point beneath the headline that reads "Dr Cynthia Colen says the benefits of breastfeeding are exaggerated", when in fact the press release says "A new study comparing siblings who were fed differently during infancy suggests that breast-feeding might be no more beneficial than bottle-feeding for 10 of 11 long-term health and well-being outcomes in children age 4 to 14." (my italics) serves to overstate the importance of this one study in the context of all the research into breastfeeding, artificial feeding and maternal and child health that is currently being carried out. Characterising Dr Colen as a generic 'expert' is another case in point; she's a sociologist, and an assistant professor - but what does this tag of 'expert', as applied by the Mail, mean? That she's more expert than other breastfeeding researchers? That she's the 'best expert' on breastfeeding that there is? There are plenty of other intelligent, committed, qualified researchers into breastfeeding currently working on research that may or may not support the findings of this paper - but the way the Mail uses the term 'expert' here suggests to the reader that this particular paper is somehow more important than others. I've talked before about the danger of believing that each new research paper moves everything 'forward' and it's helpful to remember it here - there are countless blind alleys and twists and turns in the quest for knowledge, and avoiding hyperbole when reporting new research would be a good start in making this more generally understood.
I've read the full paper and, I've got to confess, I am no statistician, so I am not best-placed to comment on whether the methodology is robust. At first glance, as an interested lay-person, it seems like a useful study, carefully designed to address some of the difficulties of previous studies, with some interesting results. The questions that immediately sprang to mind as I read it, which I would love others to examine in more detail, were the fact that the sample size of the differently-fed siblings was small - could it be that the numbers aren't sufficiently powerful to show statistical significance? I also wondered about breastfeeding duration - the researchers asked whether breastfeeding was initiated, and how long (in weeks) it went on for, but I couldn't find any numbers for this in the paper - what was the mean duration of breastfeeding in these families where one child was bottle-fed and one child was breastfed? If we are talking about the difference between two months or less of breastfeeding and bottle-feeding from birth, I would expect the results to show less of a difference than if we were comparing six months, or a year of breastfeeding against bottle-feeding from birth (based on the research I've read that shows a dose-response effect of breastfeeding on infant health). I found myself wondering about the scenarios in which one child in a family is breastfed and the other bottle-fed and how those might appear in these statistics - a common scenario in our culture of infant feeding in the UK, which I come across regularly as a breastfeeding peer supporter, is that a mother tries breastfeeding with her first baby, stops early due to a lack of support, then doesn't 'put herself through all that again' with subsequent children. I also wondered about whether the results of this study could be extrapolated to the UK or other Western cultures - the Mail certainly seems to think they can, as it was very unclear in their article that this was actually a US study (despite it being clear in the title of the paper itself). Differences in the racial and socioeconomic profiles of our respective societies might be important (indeed, the researchers note that one of the features of the differently-fed group is that the racial profile is different from that of the other two comparison groups, with the highest proportion of black/Hispanic families - although they urge caution in attaching too much significance to this).
Something else that was interesting to me is how the authors of the paper position themselves in terms of the research and debate surrounding infant feeding. In the introduction the authors write:
"Scientifically, disparities in infant feeding practices raise the critical question of the degree to which unobserved heterogeneity between children who were breastfed and those who were not may be driving the frequently noted positive association between breastfeeding and a wide variety of childhood outcomes. If this is the case, a well-intentioned, narrow emphasis on breastfeeding promotion would, at best, fail to realize positive benefits and, at worst, be a source of oppression for women who do not nor cannot breastfeed." (my italics)
This all sounded familiar to me and there's a reason for that, which becomes clear at the end of the paper:
"A truly comprehensive approach to increasing breastfeeding in the U.S., with a particular focus on reducing racial and SES disparities, will need to work toward increasing and improving parental leave policies, flexible work schedules and health benefits even for low-wage workers, and access to high quality child care that can ease the transition back to work for both mother and child. Hopefully, this multifaceted approach will allow women who want to breastfeed to do so for as long as possible without promoting a cult of "total motherhood" in which women's identities are solely constructed in terms of providing the best possible opportunities for their children and the risks associated with a failure to breastfeed are drastically overstated (Wolf, 2011)." (my italics).
I think this at least sets the paper in context (for more, see my previous post about Joan Wolf). I should have guessed from the clue in the title of the research paper, 'Is Breast Truly Best?', which itself echoes the title of Wolf's book.
Let me be clear - I'm not dismissing the results of this paper. But just as its authors urge caution about overstating the benefits of breastfeeding in order not to oppress women, I urge caution about the importance we attach to the findings reported here, and suggest that we view them instead as one small piece of a very large jigsaw, and as a point of departure for asking further important questions.
Labels: academic, breastfeeding, daily mail, joan wolf, media, research, science
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
Doctors and breastfeeding - a follow-up post
Sometimes blogging completely takes me by surprise. Last week I posted about GPs and breastfeeding. Compared to some of my posts, hardly anyone read it - which is, of course, fine - but those who did then engaged in such fascinating and lengthy debate, on Twitter, on Facebook and by email, that a follow-up post is the result. I guess sometimes you just have to put things 'out there' to get to the heart of the matter.
(I should probably say that I was in two minds about even posting last week's piece. I have enormous respect for doctors, the standard of their training and the work they do in tough times for the NHS. On the other hand, I think that when we're considering an issue as thorny as how to raise breastfeeding rates in our society, we have to look critically at everything that might be having an impact and wonder about how changes can be made. Sometimes we'll be barking up the wrong tree. Sometimes new insights will come.)
One point that I don't think I made well enough last week was actually about breastfeeding supporters (I include myself) and how we respond to articles in the media or comments by individuals. While I think it's right that misinformation be challenged, I can't help feeling that there's an irony in the fact that we can Tweet and blog up a storm - in what is sometimes quite an aggressive way, if only due to the sheer volume of complaints - in response to a media doctor's quote in a magazine, but have no meaningful way of addressing the same misinformation when it's dished out to women one-to-one by a GP or other health professional.
Some of the comments by doctors in response to my post took me to task - rightly - for calling for more training for GPs when their time and budgets are so sorely stretched, and when every other 'single-issue' group thinks the same about their area of interest. It was pointed out to me that if a GP must do 50 hours of CPD each year, and the breastfeeding training takes half an hour, then that means that breastfeeding must be in the top 100 things the GP considers that year (and that's assuming they all take half an hour; some will obviously take longer. Some topics GPs are contractually obliged to cover). When you start to consider the list of things that GPs need to be abreast of (!) you can see why breastfeeding doesn't automatically push itself to the top of the list, particularly in areas with low breastfeeding rates where GPs see very few breastfeeding women, or in areas where there are reasonable breastfeeding support services away from the GP.
Something that came out of this discussion for me was the idea that there is work to be done in increasing awareness among GPs, possibly via representation to the Royal College of General Practitioners, of the public health aspect of increasing breastfeeding rates and the potential beneficial impact on GPs - the cost implications of fewer appointments for ear infection, gastroenteritis and lower respiratory tract infection are outlined in this UNICEF report. I would love to see a case study showing this in practice.
Another point that was raised, and which I found fascinating, was the degree to which GP services vary across the country. I mentioned some of our local frustration with tongue-tie referrals via GP - and discovered that in North London tongue-tie referrals can be made by a midwife or IBCLC at a drop-in group, rather than by the GP, and that in Bristol, although four people across the city can snip tongue-ties, one is off sick and thus waiting times are around four weeks (a long time in the context of a troubled breastfeeding relationship). In some GP practices in the south-east parents can self-refer to an in-house GP for tongue-tie cutting, although the long-term availability of that service can't be guaranteed. Is there anything that can be done about this variability? It was suggested to me that breastfeeding supporters engage with CCG pharmacists and educationalists to discuss issues of prescribing for lactating mothers and best practice in treating breastfeeding women and infants, and I wonder if there's an opportunity - somehow, for someone - to do that work.
Finally, some really interesting ideas surfaced from the discussion. These included finding ways to have more IBCLCs working in or alongside the NHS, perhaps in larger GP practices or rotating between several practices, and the idea of increasing the numbers of peer supporters by offering them a £200 voucher incentive (as opposed to the mothers themselves). I also loved this link about innovative ways in which breastfeeding training is being delivered to busy doctors and nurses in the US.
In the end, it's a problem with no easy solution. But another common theme of the discussion was frustration with the way things are - on both sides. Perhaps we (and by we I mean anyone with an interest in breastfeeding) can start by broaching the subject with our own GP practices - we might at least open a dialogue that could be beneficial. Some great resources for doctors are Wendy Jones's book Breastfeeding and Medication and Dr Thomas Hale's Medications and Mother's Milk. The Breastfeeding Network's factsheets are another excellent source of information for GPs.
Thanks to all those who contributed to the discussions of the original post.
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text:
By Rev. Jeffery J. Noble
---- —
Virtually every day in our community, and sometimes several times a day, we see an ancient ritual happen before our eyes. The questions I ask are: Do we see it? Do we honor it? Does it make us stop and reflect?
We join the rest of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Rust Belt as a "graying," aging demographic. Deaths outnumber our births. We experience this in the number of funerals we have, nearly every day, often several times a day.
The funeral culture is changing, like many aspects of our society. There are cremations and there are deaths without a service of any kind. Still, we frequently see the time-honored funeral procession taking the body of someone who has died to its place of rest.
Clergy frequently travel in these processions. Often – and I do say often – people hurry to get in front of the procession when they see it coming ahead of them. Quick turns are made, if necessary, and sometimes red stop lights are ignored. Also, procession lines are interrupted by travelers who would rather get in line and break up the procession than wait a few minutes. Mind you, very few processions are really that lengthy. There aren't that many people who come to the funeral and join in that final tribute. So, the procession passes by in about two minutes, literally.
Unsafe and dangerous decisions are made which disregard the safety of all involved. Intersections and narrow roadways make for pretty scary moments. All of this in spite of flashing lights, flags on the cars marking their purpose and, of course, the careful pace of the procession.
Some years back I was part of a unique funeral procession. A state policeman was being honored and taken to the cemetery. It was remarkably different to see motorists' response to a procession that involved countless police vehicles. People stopped. They pulled their cars out of the way, even onto the berm on the opposite side of the road. And, the puzzled expressions on those who saw only the tail end of the procession were precious – they saw dozens of police cars but did not know there was a hearse at the front end of this long line.
Do we really see what's happening when we come upon a funeral procession? The loss of the life of a fellow human being should catch our attention, any time, every time. The car lineup is not a parade. Inside these cars are people in mourning, sometimes terribly so. Do we see that this is not just a traffic nuisance to be overcome?
Do we honor what's happening? A member of our community is being posthumously honored. We are a small enough community that this person likely had some impact on your life. This funeral procession should help us honor a life that has been lost.
From a deeper point of view, do we stop and reflect? This person's death is a reminder of our own mortality. This is an opportunity to ponder my own respect for life – anyone's life. From the Christian perspective, he or she was the face of Christ Jesus in this world. A moment of silence and a moment of patience recognizes their contributions to this world. I might consider saying a prayer of thanksgiving for their life, or a prayer for their eternal salvation or a prayer for those who miss them. The safety and well-being of every person in this procession needs to be a concern to me, a fellow citizen who happens upon this significant event.
May we never come to a point where we fail to recognize this final tribute and all that it represents.
Almost every day, one of the cemeteries of our community opens its gates to bring in a family who is saying good-bye to a loved one. This after several days of preparing, going through visiting hours, a service of some kind and, lastly, a final drive through the community they call "home."
Can we show them that we care? Can we show them respect? Can we show them for one last moment that we, too, took time out for them?
The Rev. Jeffery J. Noble is pastor of Church of Notre Dame, Hermitage.


text:
In response to past questions about the feasibility of providing late buses for Lynbrook students who attend private schools, the Lynbrook Union Free School District revealed the results of an economic study during Wednesday night's board of education meeting at Lynbrook High School.
Currently, the district does not provide late bus services for students who attend private schools, the board said.
According to the study presented by Lynbrook Administrator for Personnel and Student Support Services Denise Nystrom, the district currently pays for the regular transportation of 118 students to attend 19 different non-public schools. A large amount of those students attend Chaminade, Kellenberg, Sacred Heart, Brandeis or St. Raymond's.
Under current busing prices, it would cost the district $193,110 per year to send late buses to those five schools. That figure does not include the cost of sending buses to the other 14 non-public schools that Lynbrook students currently attend, according to the presentation.
Supplying late buses to private schools would require them to be provided within the district as well, a service that is not available to current Lynbrook UFSD students.
Using the current YMCA after-school program as a model, Nystrom determined that providing late buses to both the five private schools and Lynbrook public schools would cost $260,890.
Given that her calculations only included the five most populated private schools and the YMCA program public school students, Nystrom said that the final cost would most likely be higher than her original figure.
The district could also choose to combine private school routes with neighboring districts and pay for the transportation on a "per pupil" basis -- this would expose the districts to costs in the $500,000 range, according to Nystrom.
With mounting concerns about the 2-percent tax cap and how it will affect the financial well-being of the district in coming years, the board expressed that the cost of instituting late buses may be prohibitively high.
The recently approved budget was $11,000 shy of the state mandated cap, according to Assistant Superintendent Dr. Melissa Burak.
"I think the financial exposure is just too great," Board President Catherine Papandrew said.
But the board's reasoning for not providing late buses was not acceptable to some.
"We're asking for a very reasonable thing that 75 percent of school districts on Long Island provide to [students]," a Kellenberg parent said. "I'm really disappointed."
Following the board's busing discussion, Superintendent Dr. Santo Barbarino revealed that, due to lack of interest, the district's summer evening playground program is in serious jeopardy.
After releasing a survey assessing public interest, the district set a price of $162 for each interested student to have access to supervised playground time on summer evenings. The response after releasing this figure was far below expected.
The district, which does not intend to use funds to pay for the program, is unable to pay staff under the current enrollment, according to Barbarino.
"At this point, it's tough to go forward with this," Barbarino said. "We can't spend that kind of money, we need the money from the public in order to go forward with the project. I don't think we're going to get the participation at this point."
Those who already paid for the program will get their money back, according to the board.


text:
DURHAM — The five Republican U.S. Senate candidates who spoke at a Durham County GOP barbecue on Sunday all touted the importance of defeating incumbent Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan, repealing the Affordable Care Act and reducing the federal deficit.
The Republican primary is less than a month away, and state House Speaker Thom Tillis was the only candidate to compare himself to his Republican opponents.
Greg Brannon, Mark Harris, Ted Alexander and Edward Kryn didnt mention each other as they delivered five-minute speeches to about 75 people at the Redwood Ruritan Club.
Im in a unique position as a politician of saying every single promise we made to you, we fulfilled, Tillis said, referring to tax and regulatory reform efforts in the state General Assembly.
Tillis pointed out that hes also the only candidate the Democrats have attacked in television ads.
All these other candidates in the primary are good people, he said. The reason I believe I represent the best opportunity for the U.S Senate to be under Republican control is because the Democrats believe it. ... Theyve been attacking me nonstop for the last four months.
Brannon, an obstetrician from Cary and self-described history buff, is Tillis closest rival in polls. He delivered a speech laced with references to the Constitution and said he wouldnt waver in defending it.
The Constitution has three crimes: treason, piracy and counterfeit. The Fed does all three, Brannon said.
Harris, a Baptist preacher from Charlotte, talked about his life record.
Harris said he volunteered for Ronald Reagans presidential campaigns, held signs at anti-abortion rallies and was leading the fight for the marriage amendment.
Amendment One, passed in 2012, defines marriage as one man and one woman in the North Carolina Constitution.
Alexander, the former Shelby mayor, said he lowered crime and increased jobs in his Western North Carolina town.
He referred to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as criminals and said he would work to clean up Washington and improve the economy.
I did what I said I would do. And thats what I plan to do as your United States senator, Alexander said.
Kryn, a retired physician from Clayton, emphasized the importance of states rights.
With Medicaid, the states have proven they are all individual and have their own requirements that are best met at the state level, Kryn said.
Durham County Republican Jim McKenzie said he hasnt decided whom to vote for in the primary.
The candidates speeches didnt sway him one way or another. Regardless, he doesnt want them to get too aggressive.
People are tired of negativity, McKenzie said.
Thats fine with Tillis.
As he walked to his Toyota SUV, Tillis said he hopes the attacks on him dont get too personal for the sake of the candidate who emerges from the primary.
Specht: 919-460-2608; Twitter: @AndySpecht


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text:
Baltimore Ravens
Terrence Cody - #62 - NT
|6' 4"/ 341 lbs.
|Fort Myers, FL
|Years played
|2010, 2nd round, 25th pick by Ravens
AFC North Spin cycle: Bengals primed to rally?
The Bengals started the second half with a huge win. Now, can they make a run? We explore in the AFC North "Spin cycle."
Ravens set club record with 55 points in blowout win
Joe Flacco threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns, and the Ravens set a club record for points in a 55-20 rout of the Raiders on Sunday.
Week 11 Patriots-Colts game flexed
The NFL announced Monday that the Week 11 game between the Colts and Patriots will be flexed to a late-afternoon time slot.
AFC North Spin cycle: Ravens, Steelers separating from pack
At the season's midpoint, it's business as usual in the AFC North.
Ravens beat Browns for 10th consecutive time
Joe Flacco threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Torrey Smith with 4:26 left as the Ravens beat Cleveland 25-15.
Key matchup: Browns running game vs. Ravens run defense
If the Ravens want to sweep the season series with Cleveland, they will need to be stronger against the run than they have been of late.
Ravens using Rice less, but not that much less
Ray Rice is on pace to touch the ball less than in any of this other seasons as a starter, but his workload isn't much different from a season ago at this time.
AFC North Spin cycle: Here comes Pittsburgh
Here come the Steelers. And hey, look, the Browns won! We recap how the two AFC North teams in action fared in Week Eight.
Ravens fined for not disclosing Reed's injury
The Ravens were fined $20,000 for not listing S Ed Reed on their injury report with a shoulder injury.
AFC North Spin cycle: Steelers impressive in key win
The Steelers, in a much-needed strong performance, won at Cincinnati and took a step forward. The rest of the AFC North? Not so much.
Texans rout Ravens in battle of AFC's best
Matt Schaub threw two touchdown passes and the Texans dominated a showdown of the AFC's two teams, routing the Ravens 43-13 on Sunday.
Ravens activate Suggs, cut Kindle
The Ravens activated OLB Terrell Suggs and cut former second-round pick Sergio Kindle on Saturday.
Depth, technique issues to watch on Ravens' 'D'
The Ravens' depth and technique are areas to monitor on their injury-hampered defense.
Ravens' Lewis placed on I.R. with designation to return
The Ravens placed LB Ray Lewis on injured reserve with a designation to return. Lewis tore his triceps muscle in Sunday's win over Dallas.
Week Six Players of the Week
This week, PFW selects Aaron Rodgers, Antrel Rolle and Jacoby Jones as its Players of the Week.
Cody has had surgery on his left his left knee and will be sidelined for two weeks.||||||| The procedure, performed last week to repair a torn lateral meniscus, leaves the nose guard questionable for the Ravens' season opener against the New York Jets on Sept. 13. Ravens coach John Harbaugh says there's a chance Cody could be back for the opener, but says "for the bigger guys, sometimes it takes a little longer." Cody had said last week that he didn't think he would need surgery to address swelling in his knee.


text:
By Dennis Clark
TERRE HAUTE — College bowling has returned to the Wabash Valley bowling scene.
If you guessed Indiana State University, you would be dead wrong. They have NOT resurrected their once-storied program that disbanded with a whimper a few years ago.
Followers of this column might recall that the ISU women's team was national collegiate champion in 1984, and national runner-up in 1983 and 1985.
If you guessed Rose-Hulman, you can move to the head of the class.
While the early returns haven't been dramatic in terms of high scores and tournament victories, the fact the Engineers are fielding a team for the first time since 1986 is dramatic enough.
Since this school year started, Rose has competed in four collegiate tournaments in Indianapolis (finishing 11th of 12 teams), Beaver Creek, Ohio (35th of 40 teams), Fairview Heights, Ill. (41st of 44 teams) and Lafayette (18th of 18 teams).
Competing in all four tournaments have been Ryan Pepmeier (Vincennes), Chris Iverson (Anchorage, Alaska), Ryan Mitchell (Fishers), Paul Grande (Warrick, R.I.) and Jeff Stuart (Cincinnati). Chris Huizenga (Schererville, Ohio) has competed in three of the events.
Iverson has led the team individually in three of the tournaments, with averages of 196.75, 189.2 and 181.67.
A female team member of the co-ed team — remember, Rose is a co-ed school — is Ally Cross, who bowled one game in the Brickyard Classic in Indianapolis.
Rose's intercollegiate bowling team is a byproduct of the Rose-Hulman Bowling Club, which was formed in the 1998-99 school year as a campus/community activity through the Student Government Association.
The competitive team was the co-brainchild of Rose-Hulman Bowling Club President Matt Gildea and Pepmeier. Gildea secured the seed money for the team through the SGA, while Pepmeier set up the competition aspect with the United States Bowling Congress.
"[The Bowling Club] was set up for Rose-Hulman students. To get them off campus, get them away from homework and have a good time. Because of the [SGA], they can bowl three or four games for free," Pepmeier said.
The club — which has about 30-40 participants each week — meets every Thursday that school is in session, except for final exam week, around 8:30 p.m. at Imperial Lanes.
Last year, the club conducted a quarterly no-tap tournament (Pepmeier won) as well as a faculty vs. student tournament (the team with Pepmeier as a member won). This year's club events planned are the faculty/student, eight-pin no tap (both in the winter quarter) and a nine-pin no tap tournament (in spring quarter).
The Club is well-organized and even has a mission statement — "Encourage participation in the sport of bowling; to promote a competitive environment; to provide a means for improvement; and to maintain integrity and respect between all participants" — plus a constitution and bylaws.
The intercollegiate team members, 14 in all according to Pepmeier, practice from 9 p.m. to midnight on Tuesdays, from 2-5 p.m. on Sundays, with practice bowling donated by Imperial Lanes.
Like most of his Rose teammates, Pepmeier maintains a hectic schedule.
Besides the already-demanding academic load, plus practice time and traveling on weekends to tournaments, the computer engineering major also works on the school-sponsored Homework Hotline, the Student Alumni Association and is "involved with the [Bowling] Club as much as I can."
One last note, the Rose bowling team is planning to host a collegiate tournament at Imperial Lanes on Dec. 2-3.
"We're hoping to get anywhere from six to 10 teams to compete," Pepmeier stated.
Vigo Bowl and Imperial Lanes reported several honor scores for the past week.
At Vigo Bowl, Marc Pruett had a pair of 300 games in the Union Hospital League (Nov. 6) and Davison Service Electric League (Nov. 9). A.J. Wilson also had a 300 game in the Bell Welding League on Nov. 3. Ryan "Bam Bam" Nichols recorded an 811 three-game series (278-279-254) in the Davison League, also on Nov. 9.
At Imperial Lanes, Larry Collier, Tom Jones and J.C. Dressler had 300 games in league play. Bob Acree had a near-miss 298 game, while Dressler parlayed his 300 game to a 801 three-game series.
In the Greater Terre Haute — I assume it's the Men's Tournament slated for Oct. 28-29 and Nov. 4-5 — Men's Association Tournament, Crystal Sullivan recorded a 300 game.
We'll attempt to post the final results of that tournament in the next Kegler's Korner in two weeks.
Allen Breshears continues to impress in his freshman season for the men's bowling team at Vincennes University.
Breshears had the second highest score of his school's bowlers on their two teams competing in the 44-team Illinois BPA Classic in Fairview Heights on Oct. 28-29.
Playing on the VU "Blue" team which finished in 25th place, Breshears knocked down 1,694 pins in nine games for a 187 average. He also had the high game of 247 and three-game series of 601.


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Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia Houses on Manhattan's Lower East Side has nine buildings, 15 and 16-stories tall with 1,093 apartments housing some 2,596 residents.
LaGuardia Houses has a $79 million unmet need for capital building improvements over the next 5 years.
Proposed Development on Land Lease Site(s)
Madison Street Site
Rutgers Street Site
Note: 20% of proposed residential units will be available to household at or BELOW 60% of Area Median Income (AMI)**
Current Uses on Land Lease Site(s)
Note: NYCHA will continue to provide parking spaces for all NYCHA residents with a current legal parking permit.
Benefits for LaGuardia Houses Residents
Submit Your Comment on NYCHA's Land Lease Plan
*Figures for proposed floor area and residential units are estimates only and are subject to revision.
**Area Median Income (AMI) is a statistic that the federal government uses to determine how much a household can make in order to rent an apartment. AMI is regionally specific meaning that all of New York City has the same levels of what is affordable. Family size also helps determine AMI. The more people in a household the higher the income threshold is. In this case, 60% of AMI is the threshold level (as determined by the federal government). That means that for a household of four must make LESS than $51,540 total in order to qualify for this specific apartment.
Resident Engagement


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|Irish water spaniel
|a breed of dog used to hunt duck and having a dense coat of a purplish-liver colour that falls in tight ringlets covering the whole body except for the face and tail
irish water spaniel
breed of sporting dog developed in Ireland in the 1830s for retrieving game; its ancestors were other curly coated water retrievers. The Irish water spaniel has a distinctive liver-coloured (brown-red) curly coat that covers everything except its face and "rat" tail and forms a characteristic topknot that falls over the top of its head and ears. The coat sheds water and protects the dog in cold weather when swimming to retrieve waterfowl in lakes or in marshy areas. The Irish water spaniel stands 21 to 24 inches (53 to 61 cm) and weighs 45 to 65 pounds (20 to 29 kg). The breed is known for its playful disposition and trainability. It was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1878.
Learn more about Irish water spaniel with a free trial on Britannica.com.


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(NEW YORK, January 11 2013) – Around December 2011, Britney and Jason confirmed that the two were engaged and how they would prepare for a wedding in the close future.
After a year, fans can't help but wonder when Miss Spears will walk down the aisle. According to People, Britney and Jason have split and the engagement is now off. "Jason and I have decided to call off our engagement," Britney says in the statement to PEOPLE. "I'll always adore him and we will remain great friends."
Along with the split between Britney and Jason, Spears has also confirmed that she is taking an exit from X-Factor. She is currently in the studio preparing for album #8.
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The bedrooms are all air-conditioned. However, most guests are likely to be content with the ceiling-fan and the cool sea breezes. Direct-dial telephone and safety deposit box are standard, but the bedroom feature that attracts most attention and comment are the huge multi-coloured tiled shower rooms -- 'stall' would be a misnomer -- and the lookout lounging rooms attached to each suite.
The living room opens onto the wooden pool deck with lily pond, barbecue area and the villa's two swimming pools. A footpath leads from the lower pool deck to the sea. The covered jetty on the sea shore is already a popular wedding spot; a wonderfully private and romantic place to exchange vows, with just a few close friends and family as witnesses, and the sea as accompaniment.
The utmost thought and care goes into every aspect of making guests of Soleil feel special. The accommodation, facilities and furnishings offer the very highest standards of comfort and luxury, while retaining a real 'at home' ambience
Villa Soleil is about a 20-minute drive from both the airport in Crown Point and the ferry dock-site in Scarborough. It is located in Arnos Vale, which is a town in Plymouth, where there are a few groceries and shops to fulfil all your self-catering needs.


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Recent Barnard Reviews
We stayed at Heidi's house over our winter break and I can't say enough about it. The house is stunning and lovingly cared for. It is tucked away in the woods at the end of a long, winding driveway. Inside the home all of the rooms are incredibly comfortable. The bedrooms are large, cozy and peaceful. It was the perfect size for our two families – my brothers and mine – with one of the bedrooms sleeping the kids. The living room has a beautiful wood-burning fireplace and the most comfortable easy-chairs and sofa. And the kitchen and dining area are great for entertaining. We tried to spend as much time as possible at the house given how magical it was. We played outside sledding down the driveway and building a family of snowmen and a snow igloo. We spent a lot of time as a family together just relaxing by the fireplace – playing games, chatting and reading. We also enjoyed cooking some lovely dinners together in the well-stocked kitchen. Heidi had everything you needed from sleds to games to extra blankets. And then of course there is Heidi – so warm, kind, dynamic and welcoming – just a really great person. I would definitely recommend this house to anyone and would love to plan another vacation there. It is a home away from home, built for relaxation.
Before I even get started, let me just say that it hasn't even been a month since my boyfriend and I stayed at this house and we're already planning our next trip! Everything about this house was just incredible and from the moment we walked in, we felt right at home. The house itself is massive and would be a perfect place to bring a large family on vacation! There are two beautiful bedrooms on the first floor, a lovely bathroom, access to a handicap elevator, a spacious separate dining room with lots of seating, a large kitchen with all the amenities and a living room with a huge (and comfy) sectional couch. In the dining area there is a gorgeous wood burning fire place that, along with the exposed wood beams in the ceiling, gorgeous hard wood floors and rustic decor, really gives this space the country feel that you would expect from a house in this location. On the second floor there is another beautiful bedroom, a nook that houses the washing machine and dryer and the master retreat. In the master bedroom, there is an incredible overlook down to the living room area, and there is also a picturesque view of the amazing (and private) property behind the house. Not to mention that the on-suite master bathroom has a great jacuzzi tub which would be perfect to soak in after a long day of snowmobiling, skiing at a near-by resort…or just because. Aside from all of this, there are plenty of windows scattered across the entire home, so plenty of natural light makes its way in in the morning. All of these windows really showcase the incredible and breath-taking views from virtually every direction. Honestly, the views from this house are what really made mine and my boyfriends' trip so incredibly memorable (I was lucky enough to see an owl land on the back porch in the middle of the day…how often does THAT happen?). And perhaps the best amenity of all is access to your own private lake right in the back yard! It was frozen over when I was there, but it was still a very pretty sight! I can't wait to go back in the warmer weather so I can really take full advantage of the lake and the rest of this gorgeous property! Don't miss out on renting this house! Seriously- if you're looking for a quiet and quaint country get-away, this is the vacation house for you. This town was the best of both worlds, it gave us the quiet vacation that we were looking for but still had shopping and restaurants only a few minutes away.
My family and I enjoyed our stay at the Barnard Lodge. It is comfortable, spacious. well-equipped, and perfect for a mixed age group. The property is beautiful...my grandchildren liked climbing in the apple trees. We appreciated the inner tubes that the owner provides for drifting down the river or floating on Silver Lake. Highly recommended for a large group.


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Recognition at Graduation
Graduation marks the culmination of your achievements as a student at Kent State University. Completion of the minimum academic requirements in the Honors College recognizes you as an "Honors College Scholar." Students who complete a Senior Honors Thesis/Project add Kent State's highest academic designation to their academic record.
In addition to the distinction earned, Honors College students are recognized in the following ways upon graduation from Kent State University and the Honors College:
Special Honors Notation on Transcripts
Students graduating from the Honors College receive a notation on their final academic transcript. University transcripts identify all Honors coursework as Honors.
Graduation with Honors
Students who are in good standing at graduation, complete their minimum Honors requirements, and complete a Senior Honors Thesis/Project will have their graduation distinction (University, General, or Departmental Honors) noted on the final academic transcripts. In addition, students receive an official thesis certificate in the mail after graduation.
Honors College Scholar
Students who are in good standing at graduation and complete their minimum Honors requirements earn the notation "Honors College Scholar" on the final academic transcript.
Commencement Program
The Kent State University commencement program at the graduation ceremony identifies all graduates of the Honors College.
Honors Medallions
Honors College graduates receive a special medallion to wear at Commencement.
Medallions are distributed at the annual Senior Honors Luncheon. Students who cannot attend the luncheon may pick up their medallions at the Honors College office after the event.
Senior Honors Luncheon
Graduating seniors are invited to a special event on in April to celebrate graduation. Students are recognized individually and presented with an Honors medallion.


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Middlebury College softball player Geena Constantin (Pelham, N.H.) has been named District I Academic third-team All-American by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors Association). The first-team All-NESCAC selection recently completed her softball season, where she helped lead the team to a solid 18-12 record.
Three members of the Middlebury College softball team earned All-NESCAC honors when the league announced its post-season team. Junior Geena Constantin (Pelham, N.H.) earned a spot on the first-team, while junior Megan Margel (Ridgewood, N.J.) and first-year player Jessa Hoffman (Golden Colo.) earned a spot on the second-team.
After dropping game one of a key three-game NESCAC West series, Wesleyan bounced back on Saturday with 10-7 and 6-4 wins over Middlebury. With the victories, the Cardinals (20-15, 8-4) advance to next weekend's NESCAC Tournament, while the Panthers end their season with an 18-12 mark, 7-5 in league play.
Middlebury took game one of a key NESCAC West series with Wesleyan by a final score of 5-0. The teams return to action on Saturday at noon with a doubleheader, with the winner of the three-game series advancing to next weekend's NESCAC Tournament.
Middlebury took one of two non-league games against Union on Wednesday, winning game one 1-0, while dropping the night cap 10-6. With the spilt, the Dutchwomen (17-7) hold a 10-2 lead all-time against the Panthers (16-9).
Middlebury took game two of a double-header 7-6 from visiting Castleton (15-18) on Saturday, earning a split of the two-game series after dropping the opener 1-0. Middlebury (17-10) travels to Plymouth State on Wednesday before hosting Wesleyan in a key three-game showdown with NESCAC playoff implications on Friday and Saturday.
Middlebury earned a split of a NESCAC West doubleheader at Williams on Friday afternoon. The Ephs moved to 8-17 overall and 3-2 in the NESCAC West while Middlebury is now 15-7 overall and 6-2 in divisional play. The two teams will meet again Sunday at 2 p.m. in the rubber match of the three-game series.
Merrilee Weston's one-out, two-run single in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted Williams to a thrilling 7-6 conference win over Middlebury. The Ephs improve to 9-17 on the season, 4-2 in the NESCAC West, while Middlebury falls to 15-8 overall, 6-3 in the West. With the win, the Ephs take the series, 2-1.
Middlebury College softball player Geena Constantin (Pelham, N.H.) has been named the NESCAC Pitcher of the Week. The junior threw 10 scoreless innings last week vs. Hamilton, including a perfect game in a 6-0 win on Saturday. She followed that up with three scoreless innings in game two, allowing just two hits and four strikeouts with no earned runs on the day.
Middlebury completed a three-game NESCAC West sweep over Hamilton with 6-0 and 7-0 victories on Saturday. The Panthers outscored the Continentals 21-0 in the series, improving to 14-6, 5-1 in NESCAC play. Hamilton falls to 2-14, with an 0-6 mark in NESCAC contests.
Middlebury blanked visiting Hamilton 8-0 in six innings on Friday, taking game one of a three-game NESCAC West series. The heart of the Middlebury order went 8/14 from the plate, scoring seven runs, while knocking in four RBI.
LiveStats are expected to be available for a majority of the remaining home baseball/softball games this season. CLICK HERE to see the schedule.
The Middlebury @ Rensselaer softball doubleheader scheduled for April 6th has been postponed. No make-up date has been announced.
Middlebury moved to 1-0 in NESCAC West play, taking game one of a three-game series at Amherst by a score of 4-0. The Panthers improve to 10-5 (1-0 NESCAC West) on the year, while Amherst dropped to 8-6 (0-1) with the loss. The two teams will meet again tomorrow at noon for a doubleheader at Amherst.
The Middlebury softball team earned a split in Wednesday's non-league doubleheader, falling to Skidmore 4-1 in the opener, before taking the second game, 7-4. The Thoroughbreds are now 8-8 on the season, while the Panthers improve to 9-5.
The Middlebury College women's softball team split a pair of games with Amherst on Saturday afternoon, 8-2 and 0-3. With Friday's 4-0 victory, the Panthers take the NESCAC West series with the Jeffs, 2-1.
The Middlebury College softball team had a solid spring trip, winning 8 of 12 games with an 8-4 mark in Florida. Junior Geena Constantin (Pelham, N.H.) led the team at the plate, hitting .462 over 10 games, while also going 2-2 with a 1.77 ERA. Junior Ali McAnaney (Northbrook, Ill.) earned a 3-1 mark with a 1.73 ERA on the trip, while sophomore Ashley Higgins (Ridgefield, Conn.) was 3-1. Junior Megan Margel (Ridgewood, N.J.) hit .421 at the plate, followed by first-year player Jessa Hoffman (Golden, Colo.) at .387, sophomore Kira Gordon (Scarborough, Maine) hit .345, while junior Emily Burbridge (E. Greenwich, R.I.) came in at .343.
Middlebury College softball player Ali McAnaney (Northbrook, Ill.) has been named the NESCAC Pitcher of the Week. McAnaney went 3-1 for the Panthers during their spring trip last week, recording a 1.73 ERA and holding opponents to a .252 average at the plate over 28.1 IP. She struck out seven batters while walking just three over five appearances in the circle.


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It's Official: Democrats and Republicans Are Fighting Over Nothing Blog Home More Bad News for Gingrich, May Receive Trump Endorsement
The Daily Show on Mitt Romney's Big Win in Florida
I think we all learned something very valuable on Tuesday. If a bunch of elderly Jews, rollerblading gay dudes and crocodile-wrestling mulleteers can put aside their differences and settle for the tasteless inevitability of Mitt Romney, I think we all can.
Coverage continues with Jason Jones and John Oliver on the very rich and the very poor after the jump.
The Daily Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11/10c.
Tags: Florida, Jason Jones, John Oliver, Jon Stewart, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Poverty, Primaries, Republicans, The Daily Show, Video
About Us
Comedy Central's Indecision is the network's digital hub for news, politics and other jokes: we're here, we're everywhere. We're not affiliated with any television show. We're affiliated with ourselves.


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Food and Wine Tour to Tuscany
Tuscany, Italy Cultural Experience
This small group tour will make you feel as if you were staying in a home of good friends. The all inclusive week includes visit to food artisans, Tuscan wineries, Cheese farm, Exploring picturesque towns and cooking family recipes....
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societa dante alighieri in siena has a prestigious reputation . It welcomes students of all ages and nationalities that can attend courses of italian language art, culture or gastronomy . rich program of activities and accommodation service,...
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Learn Italian in Genoa (Italy) by the sea
Genoa, Italy Language Schools
Scuola Tricolore is specialised Italian language school located in Genoa.Besides the languages courses, Scuola Tricolore offers many additional activities as well as accommodation. Studying at the school is about studying Italian with lots of fun....
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Tuscan cooking lessons
Florence, Italy Cooking Schools
Our chefs will guide you in a fine dance around flavours and tastes, offering an introduction to preparing-and eating-traditional dishes along with the appropriate wines. Menus are flexible and follow seasonal products....
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Italian cooking classes in Siena
Siena, Italy Cooking Schools
Our hands-on courses have a thematic flair which includes special seasonal recipes as well as traditional Italian and Tuscan cooking. Encounter the culinary arts like never before. Attend our italian cooking classes!...
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Cooking school & wine tours in Italy. Cook with many chefs, home cooks on the tour, visit wineries & food producers, markets, art, walks. Meet an amazing variety of local people in places off the tourist track & get immersed in real Italian life...
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Genoa, Italy Language Schools
We offer short/long terms programs, Italian and Cooking/Diving/Sailing, CELI CILS certifications, many free time proposals. Skilled teachers, a professional staff and a comfortable and well furnished school. The right choice to spend a study holiday!...
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Florence, Italy Cooking Schools
Good Tastes of Tuscany, a cooking school situated in a romantic villa just 15 Km's outside of Florence, Italy. We offer single and multiple day courses and also a weekly culinary program. All classes are taught in english by our italian chefs. ...
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Learn Italian in Tuscany @ Il Sasso
Montepulciano, Italy Language Schools
Learn Italian in Montepulciano, Tuscany, the country of art and wine. The Italian Language school Il Sasso is recognized by the Ministry of Education and ISO certified. Since 30 years it offers courses in Italian language, culture, art & cooking....
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B&B Sigismondo Castromediano
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The B&B 'Sigismondo Castromediano' is located in a newly built house, where you enjoy a warm welcome and a home away from home atmosphere. All our rooms have private entrance, private bathroom, TV, DVD and air conditioner. 'Sigismondo Castromediano...
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Missing Colorado woman has ties to Southwest Florida
A Colorado woman missing now for a week has ties to Southwest Florida, where she lived and worked as an interior designer for eight years.
Friends and family of Amy Ahonen, 38, have taken to TV, Facebook and Twitter in hopes someone knows where she may be. They will hold a candlelight vigil in Denver tonight — a week after she was last seen.
CLICK HERE for full story, video report and more photos from NBC2.


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Locals: Jacob
I went out on an adventure at White Rock Lake this evening and who do I run into but Jacob ! I met Jacob when I bought my Bianchi Pista Concept from him, thanks to Transit Bicycles Company, who connected me with him. It was awesome riding with you, even for a little bit. Until next time, my friend. : )
2 Comments to Locals: Jacob
One more cyclist, that's great! The more the better!!
Ingenuity is important for our existence. When you notice an incredible artisan pass in to the higher realms,it's as if a part of us has gone together with him. So is the situation with renowned graffiti writer Case 2 The self annointed "King of Style", he encouraged a whole generation of creativeness. Not only in the realm of Graffiti art, his power infused youngsters who would eventually one day grasp many manners of disciplines. This is the basic hip hop graffiti clip.
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Surrounded by snowy mountain peaks in Himachal Pradesh, Manali, India, is a popular tourist destination for both Indians and adventurous travelers. Locals come to Manali for the fresher air and to ski while Western travelers use the mountain town as a base for trekking and outdoor sports.
Manali is situated along the Beas River in the Kullu Valley at an elevation of 6,725 feet (2,050 meters).
Tourist buses and minibuses usually arrive at a private bus lot around 200 meters south of Manali. Public buses arrive at the bus lot in the center of town. You can easily walk north on the main Mall Road to town or grab one of the waiting autorickshaws; always agree on a price before getting inside!
The wide,busy strip through Central Manali is known as 'The Mall'. Although there are several grungier hotel options along the main drag and on side streets, most travelers prefer to stay just outside of town in either Old Manali or across the river in Vashisht.
Old Manali
Many travelers escape hectic Central Manali by walking north up the leg-burning hill to peaceful Old Manali. The single strip through Old Manali is dotted with plenty of budget and midrange accommodation options. Tourist-oriented restaurants serve Indian, Tibetan food, and lots of Western favorites; you'll even find Mexican food and sushi on some menus!
Old Manali is an excellent choice for escaping the busy Mall but staying within range of town. Walk north on Mall Road then continue north on Circuit House Road to the steel bridge. Cross the river and turn left; numerous signs indicate where to go.
- Consider checking out the Drifter's Inn, an excellent place to eat, sleep, and hang out in Old Manali.
A little less accessible but more on the budget side, Vashisht is strung out along the hill across the Beas River and highway opposite of Old Manali. Unfortunately, you have to cross the bridge just north of Central Manali then walk north along the busy Naggar Highway to get there. You can turn right and continue walking along Vashisht Road or take a small, steep trail through a hillside community to Vashisht. Otherwise, an autorickshaw from Central Manali will cost around Rs. 100.
The vibe in Vashisht is laid back but in a different way than Old Manali. Plenty of low-budget backpackers head to Vashisht for the cheap accommodation and good views from balconies and rooftops.
- Compare prices on guesthouses in Manali.
Things to Know About Manali
- Internet access is comparably excellent in Old Manali; many cafes and guesthouses have free Wi-Fi, however, speeds vary. Check to see that the connection is working before you commit. See how to protect your privacy in internet cafes.
- There is no ATM in Old Manali or Vashisht, however, you'll find two in Central Manali around the northern end of the Mall.
- Many shops and restaurants in Manali close down around mid October; many of the owners move to Goa for the winter months.
- An autorickshaw between Old Manali and Vashisht should cost between Rs. 100 - 120. Securing a ride after dark is sometimes more difficult.
- Although hash and marijuana are smoked fairly openly, particularly in Vashisht, both are still illegal.
Things to Do in Manali
Aside from the usual shops dotted around town and a multiplex cinema, Manali is an epicenter in Himachal Pradesh for outdoor and adventure sports. From rock climbing and multi-day treks to paragliding and even zorbing, Manali is a place for adrenaline seekers. Numerous agencies around Vashisht and Old Manali can arrange exciting activities.
Two hot springs, one in Vashisht and one in Kalath, are famous for their mineral-rich water purported to have health benefits. Skiing is available during the winter months in the Solang Valley, just eight miles north of Manali.
- See more exciting things to do in Manali.
Weather in Manali
The weather in Manali varies greatly throughout the year. Even in October you'll sweat in a T-shirt on sunny days then shiver at night when temperatures dip sharply. Summers can bring temperatures around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but the mercury can drop well below freezing from October to April. Most guesthouses do not have central heating, but personal heaters can sometimes be rented for an additional charge.
- Read about the monsoon season in India.
Mountain weather is unpredictable; always plan for rain or quick temperature changes when setting out on an adventure. See how to counter 10 potential threats on your outdoor adventures.
Getting to Manali, India
From Delhi to Manali: Bhuntar in Kullu (airport code: KUU ) is the closest airport but flights are intermittent. See more about finding the nearest airport to Manali.
Alternatively, you can take the 14-hour Volvo nightbus from Delhi to Manali. Buses do not have an onboard toilet, however, they make frequent stops; plan on a very bumpy, winding ride!
From Dharamsala to Manali: Volvo tourist buses from Mcleod Ganj -- home of the Dalai Lama -- and Dharamsala leave nightly at 8:30 p.m. and take around nine hours; don't plan on much sleep along the bumpy ride.


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UFC newcomer Francimar Barroso has stepped up on short notice to fight Ednaldo Oliveira at UFC 163 in Brazil. Barosso is a solid prospect sporting a 15-3 record and were it not for a loss to Baga Agaev in 2011 he would be undefeated since 2008.
Tatame had the news, after Robert Drysdale was forced out of his UFC debut with a reported staph infection. It should make for an interesting fight as both Edinaldo and Bodao like to strike, but possess entirely different ranges for doing so. At 6'7" Edinaldo is not only the tallest light heavyweight in the UFC, but one of the tallest fighters in the promotion at all. He's not a technical wizard standing, but his lanky frame allows him to generate a decent amount of power on the end of his strikes.
Bodao on the other hand, is a more of an athletic phenomenon. He's big and strong and looks the part of a great talent. He's also the author of one of the fastest head kick KO's you'll ever see. It will be interesting to see if he can get in on Oliveira and muscle him around in the clinch or work inside to land hard shots. UFC 163 takes place on August 3rd in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. It will be headlined by Jose Aldo defending his featherweight title against Chan Sung Jung.
Here's a look at the complete card:
Main Card
Jose Aldo vs. Chan Sung Jung (featherweight title fight)
Lyoto Machida vs. Phil Davis
Cezar Ferreira vs. Clint Hester
Thales Leites vs. Tom Watson
John Lineker vs. Phil Harris
Preliminary card (FX)
Vinny Magalhães vs. Anthony Perosh
Amanda Nunes vs. Sheila Gaff
Sergio Moraes vs. Neil Magny
Ian McCall vs. Iliarde Santos
Preliminary card (Facebook)
Rani Yahya vs. Josh Clopton
Viscardi Andrade vs. Bristol Marunde