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Fast-forward to the late 1950s. There is now significant population in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, and anyone with a '57 Chevy Nomad could load up a few scuba tanks and tow a skiff down to the Keys to do whatever. Much of that "whatever" had to do with taking things out of the sea, whether it be grouper that were so abundant they piled up cheek to pec under ledges the locals called "grouper hotels"; or chunks of coral ripped from the seafloor with crowbars to decorate the yards and coffee-tables of South Florida's Weekend Warriors. There were even barges plying these waters with dynamite and cranes on board to more efficiently decimate these coral reefs for the curio trade. Gratefully, concerned ecologists, including newspaper editor John Pennekamp, prevailed. The marine sanctuary named in his honor, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, was established in 1960 to protect the offshore coral reef.
This is a story that has been often told, and I wouldn't bring it up here again except that it really established the mindset that made the Keys special, and protected the region even in the face of increased development and population. The marine conservation legacy was expanded with the creation of the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary (established 1975), Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary (off Big Pine Key, established 1981), and finally with the establishment of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) in 1990. Protecting waters on both Gulf and Atlantic sides of the landmass, the Sanctuary is massive, 3,674 square miles.
While the marine conservation initiatives under Sanctuary direction are diverse, including mooring buoys to avoid anchor damage, divers may benefit most from their concept of "zonation." As the Sanctuary plan was written, different areas of the FKNMS were earmarked for different marine recreation and commerce activities. In some places, for example, it is fine to spearfish; in others, hook-and-line fishing and lobstering are seasonally permitted. After all, not all our residents and visitors have the same things in mind when it comes to recreating in these waters; and sportfishing is a huge industry in the Keys, although much of it is catch-and-release these days.
To my way of thinking, the marquee bullet-point of the Sanctuary plan was the creation of "Sanctuary Preservation Areas" (SPAs), the 100 percent no-take regions that serve as replenishment zones for surrounding reefs. Gratefully, many of the most popular dive sites throughout the Keys have some level of SPA protection and it is truly amazing how productive these sites are for aggregating marine life. Often these were areas long protected from spearfishing anyway, but before the SPAs were put in place I don't think any of us really knew the impact hook and line anglers had on these core reef sites.
The mooring buoys that were installed to avoid anchor damage were too often occupied by fishermen who figured if it was good enough to dive, it should be good enough to fish. Making that illegal created a far superior underwater resource very quickly. In only a couple of years we began to see not only more fish, but greater diversity of species. Even sharks began to come back to some of these reefs.
Divers traveling throughout the Caribbean will see many places under continual pressure from sustenance and commercial fishing, destinations with beautiful reefs but no living creatures larger than the mesh of a fish trap. Yet, the marine life on many reefs in the Florida Keys is substantially better than it was two decades ago, a tribute to enlightened conservation and enforcement. For sure, a SPA can't protect against problems with water quality or diver impact or ship groundings. For sure, the coral cover is far less than it was even a decade ago. Those are issues no one can dispute and will be admittedly hard to reverse. But the resurgence of the once-threatened Goliath grouper is just one example of the balanced ecosystem that continues to thrive and, in some ways, even improve.


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As a CCW instructor, I was just curious about the number of people carrying revolvers versus semi-automatics. I figure the best place to start is here at Defensive Carry. So which is it for you?
This is a discussion on Simple Poll...Revolver or SemiAuto within the Defensive Carry Guns forums, part of the Defensive Carry Discussions category; As a CCW instructor, I was just curious about the number of people carrying revolvers versus semi-automatics. I figure the best place to start is ...
Both get equal time in my carry rotation
As a CCW instructor, I was just curious about the number of people carrying revolvers versus semi-automatics. I figure the best place to start is here at Defensive Carry. So which is it for you?
With guns, we are 'citizens'.
Without them, we are 'subjects'.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Semi auto for my CC, but I do enjoy my .357 revolver at the range
My EDC G27 gen. 4
Favorite range gun G23 gen. 3
NRA Life Member
M&P9c most of the time, but also have an LCR for pocket carry when the weather or dress code requires it.
I can't really answer, as it depends on the circumstances.
My own personal experience has led me to the revolver (LCR) when the situation calls for small, light weight, and discreet...with a micro semi auto (LCP) as a BUG.
When I don't need to be as concerned about discretion, then it's a semi auto (Glock 30)...with the revolver (LCR) as a BUG.
NRA Life Member; Range Safety Officer
www.armedcitizensnetwork.org - member
Glock 30, 19, 26; Ruger LCP (2), LCR, Mini 14; Remington 870; Marlin 336 .30-30
CT Lasers
All my carry guns are autos. I just like autos better for some reason. But I used to carry a model 85 taurus. And did that carry nice. I wouldnt hesitate to carry another wheelgun if I had it. But the autos are my cup o tea right now. Stay safe.
M&P compact.357sig, Kel Tec P11 & summertime around the house might find me with a 442 apendix carry in shorts or swim suit.
.357 revolver up N. in the woods.
If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.
Washington didn't use his freedom of speech to defeat the British, He shot them!
Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy." -- Ernest Benn
Used to be 100% revolver until the flashmob idiocy of the last year or so, figured 5 rds might not be quite enough. Switched to Glock 9's and recently to a SIG 40 and haven't looked back.
99% of the time my EDC and BUG are auto loaders and the 1% is a revolver just for a change.
US Army 1953-1977
We, the People are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution.
Abraham Lincoln
All my current handguns are semis. But I wouldn't hesitate to pocket a 442/642 if one were to appear in my inventory.
Retired USAF E-8. Avatar is OldVet from days long gone. Oh, to be young again.
Paranoia strikes deep, into your heart it will creep. It starts when you're always afraid... "For What It's Worth" Buffalo Springfield
Wow... I can't believe I was the first wheel gun vote! Anyway... My primary EDC is a LCR in .38. I have a G26 that I told myself I would carry in "higher threat situations" but in the six or so months since I have been EDCing the LCR I have only carried the G26. And that high threat situation turned out to be utterly hilarious but better safe then sorry.
-It is a seriously scary thought that there are subsets of American society that think being intellectual is a BAD thing...
J frame in right front pocket or snubby k frame appendix IWB.
I will rarely post, but will read (and hopefully learn) a lot
I prefer revolvers for carry though I do semis that get the nod once in awhile.
Last edited by rammerjammer; December 9th, 2012 at 06:38 PM.
"Was there no end to the conspiracy of irrational prejudice against Red Ryder and his peacemaker?"
Revolvers, more elegant weapons for a more civilized age.
Only have semi-auto's so far. Really need to get a wheel gun, prob a sp101. But not gonna be for CC.
The stupidity of some people NEVER ceases to amaze me.

subset: commoncrawl


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Published December 09, 2012, 12:00 AM
Reader's view: Tribes don't seem to have a tradition of deer shining
As a young, college-educated, Native man, I must agree with Judge Barbara Crabb's ruling against shining deer at night by tribes in Wisconsin. A St. Scholastica education student, I am receiving a well-rounded education and cultural perspective. I agree with those who question whether there's tradition behind shining deer.By: Vincent Patton, Duluth News Tribune


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The big switch of Steve Nash from Phoenix Suns to LA Lakers was not the only booming switch news in the world of sports. In the world of ice hockey, another major switch occurred when Chicago Blackhawks recently hired Jamie Kompon to seat on the team's bench next season as the Assistant Coach to Joel Quenneville. The two go a long way back when they were both with the Blues before. This hire happened after Jamie Kompon's contract with the Kings expired last June 30 and was not renewed. This news was announced last Tuesday, July 17 finalizing that Kompon will be replacing the fired Mike Haviland.
Before signing the contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, Jamie Kompon spent that last six seasons with the Kings and paved way for them to reach their very first Stanley Cup last June. With his track record of leading a team of players to success, Qeunneland is optimistic that he will be a great addition to the roster that guides the Blackhawks. Quenneland commends Kompon for his notable work ethics and a golden resume. He feels that hiring Kompon is a very great move for the future of their team and the perfect fit as well. He has known the guy for years and says that he is confident with what he can contribute to his team.
This regroup is a major reunion for since Kompon will be working on the side with another assistant coach Mike Kitchen who was also with them during the time with the Blues. The three surely has an unbeatable chemistry that will spark Chicago Blackhawks' success even further. According to Quenneland, Jaime Kompon will be a great replacement for Haviland who was fired last May 8 due to a "coaching ranks dysfunction" last season.
Today, the three are planning for a better game plan for the Blackhawks by repairing their special team units. The team can be recalled to finish 26th in the NHL with a 15.2% success rate on the power play and 27th on the penalty kill at 78.1%.
All in all, the Blackhawks are keeping their fingers crosses and holds their head up in the sky with this proud decision of theirs. The team is just ecstatic knowing that the coach with a Stanley Cup pedigree is on their turf now. Even the Blackhawks General manager Stan Bowman is impressed of Kompon's more than fifteen years of NHL coaching experience. They also regale on the outright familiarity of Kompon with the coaches of the team having been workmates with Joel Quenneland and Mike Kitchen. This makes the transition easily adaptable and the trust accessible for the rest of the team.
Are you a big fan of the Chicago Blackhawks? Support and cheer for them in their upcoming games this season and watch them live as they come back on the rink bigger, better and stronger with a new golden assistant coach on their bench!
To watch Chicago Blackhawks live, CLICK HERE to check our ticket availability.
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Whole Foods Market Durham is located in Old West Durham, directly across the street from the Duke University East Campus and nearby the Duke University Hospital System. Nestled in the heart of Durham near the 9th Street Corridor, Whole Foods Market Durham has been a well-known location for organic and natural foods and an active member of the local community since 1991.
Whole Foods Market Durham prides itself on selling only the highest quality natural and organic foods and providing execeptional customer service to every guest who walks through the doors.
You may email your local store, but please remember that our team is working throughout the store (not at computers) and emails may not be answered immediately.
Please use the dropdown below to help us direct your question or comment appropriately. After choosing a topic you will be directed to our comment form.


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Create a Coastal-Chic Holiday Table
Turn your beach vacation finds into a shell-themed Christmas table setting with tips from the entertaining experts at HGTV.com.
(10 photos)Holiday parties don't have to be complicated or expensive. With a trip to the grocery store and a little DIY elbow grease, you can pull off this sophisticated, modern cocktail party.
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Set the mood for your holiday cocktail party with a glitzy invitation. Start with our printable template, then add sparkling...
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ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jeff Fisher says officiating mistakes were the biggest reason the St. Louis Rams fell short in their bid for a second comeback victory in as many games.
The Rams (1-1) had seven penalties for 53 yards in a 31-24 loss at Atlanta on Sunday.
After reviewing tape Monday, their coach said he wasn't concerned about the penalties because only two made by referee Scott Green's crew should have been called.
"I was upset after the ballgame, but looking at the tape those are incorrect calls," Fisher said.
"There were some other instances where there should have been some things called against our opponent that were not called, that could have created some situations for us."
Among others, Fisher judged that twice-whistled rookie Stedman Bailey had proper technique on calls for illegal block above the waist and offensive holding on special teams.
The call Fisher disliked most came on the third play of the game when defensive end Chris Long was penalized for offside after tackle Lamar Holmes moved. Fisher said it was an example of "False Start 101."
Instead of third-and-17 and a chance to give rookie punt returner Tavon Austin a chance to take off, it was third-and-7.
Matt Ryan hit Tony Gonzalez for an 11-yard gain and eight plays later they had the game's first score on an 8-yard pass to Steven Jackson.
"You get off the field, get the ball back," Fisher said. "You're also talking about field position and a young punt returner that's not backed up with his heels on the 8-yard line.
"He's got a chance to put his hands on the ball."
Fisher also thought officials missed an intentional grounding call on the Ryan out of the end zone in the third quarter. The Falcons had seven penalties for 53 yards.
Two calls Fisher thought the referees got right were holding on center Scott Wells in the third quarter and an illegal motion call on wide receiver Austin Pettis in the second quarter.
Softening the critique slightly, Fisher added: "By no means am I placing blame. I have great respect for the officiating department and the officials and work very close with them, and we move on."
The first Bailey penalty pushed the Rams back to their 11 in the second quarter, and the second one pushed them back to the 13. Fisher said those calls drove home the point not to rush to judgment "unless I see the act."
The Rams erased an 11-point deficit against Arizona in the opener. They trailed 21-0 early at Atlanta and twice cut the gap to a touchdown in the second half after going to a no-huddle, spread offense.
"I think it made a pretty big difference," quarterback Sam Bradford said. "It seemed to just put them on their heels a little bit."
So, there's no quit.
"We just eliminated the mistakes," tackle Jake Long said. "We just calmed down and started protecting, Sam was flinging the ball around and it was a little too late."
Officiating was far from the lone culprit, with miscues canceling out big plays.
Austin caught two touchdown passes, but dropped two passes and missed some other reads.
"I could have had some big plays but didn't," Austin said. "So I blame myself for that. I will correct it, it is something that definitely will be corrected."
Daryl Richardson's dropped pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown and Janoris Jenkins got burned for Julio Jones' 81-yard score.
"I took my eye off of it," Richardson said. "I was looking to run and I need to make sure I eyeball that ball and catch it."
Fisher said he'd have more information Wednesday on the status of offensive tackle Rodger Saffold, who injured his left knee.
Backup safety Matt Daniels will undergo surgery this week for a fractured right ankle after kickoff returner Benny Cunningham rolled into him in the first quarter.
DENVER (AP) -- Todd Helton started his final homestand with a key single in the eighth inning that helped the Colorado Rockies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2 on Monday night.
Charlie Blackmon had three hits and drove in three runs for the Rockies, who prevented the Cardinals from taking over sole possession of first place in the NL Central. They remained tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who lost 2-0 to San Diego.
Matt Carpenter and Matt Adams had two hits each for the Cardinals.
Helton was playing in front of Colorado fans for the first time since he announced his plans to retire at the end of the season, his 17th. He received a standing ovation when he came to the plate in the first, and Cardinals starter Lance Lynn stood behind the mound and waited as the crowd saluted Helton.
The first baseman was given a loud ovation in each of his four plate appearances. His night started slow, but he had a big hit during the decisive rally.
Troy Tulowitzki led off with a walk against reliever Trevor Rosenthal (2-4), and one out later Helton singled to center to put runners at the corners. Wilin Rosario singled to give Colorado a 3-2 lead.
Helton was caught in a rundown between third and home for the second out, but Blackmon doubled to right to score Josh Rutledge from first to make it 4-2.
Pinch-hitter Ryan Wheeler's two-run single off John Axford gave the Rockies a 6-2 cushion.
Collin McHugh started for Colorado in place of lefty Jorge De La Rosa, who has a sore thumb on his pitching hand that forced him to miss his turn in the rotation. McHugh allowed one run on four hits, with the only damage coming on David Freese's RBI single in the fifth.
He left after throwing 75 pitches in five innings.
Lynn stuck around longer and got stronger as the game progressed. He scattered four hits through six innings and didn't let a runner past first after Tulowitzki's double before running into trouble in the seventh.
After Lynn retired Helton in a nine-pitch at-bat, Rosario singled and moved to third on Rutledge's bloop single to right.
Left-hander Kevin Siegrist relieved Lynn, and Blackmon lined an RBI single over the pulled-in infield to give the Rockies a 2-1 lead.
The Cardinals tied it in the eighth on Carpenter's RBI double off Chad Bettis (1-3) that scored pinch-runner Pete Kozma from second.
The Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the first on Tulowitzki's RBI double.
NOTES: Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez will see a hand specialist in Cleveland this week to see if he needs surgery on his injured right middle finger. "It looks like I'm going to," Gonzalez said. "I think that's what is best for my finger right now. I'm thinking about the future. I don't want to continue to deal with the same pain over and over. If that's what I have to do, I'm going to do it." ... The Rockies made a donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund as the area recovers from devastating flooding. ... Cardinals OF Matt Holliday entered Monday hitting .358 against his former team.
ST. LOUIS (AP) - A former suburban St. Louis mayor previously convicted of wire fraud has pleaded guilty to submitting false employment records while trying to get out of the halfway house where he was staying.
Keith Conway was sentenced in November 2011 to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud, theft from a federal program and witness tampering. He was also ordered to repay more than $62,000 to the city.
Conway was transferred May 1 from federal prison in Marion, Illinois to a St. Louis halfway house and was supposed to be working, but instead lied and submitted fake pay stubs.
The 49-year-old pleaded guilty Monday to four felony counts of filing false documents and will be sentenced in December.
NEW MADRID, Mo. (AP) - The family of an 83-year-old southeast Missouri woman missing since late August is offering a $25,000 reward in hopes of her safe return.
The Sikeston Standard Democrat reports the reward was announced Monday following another intensive search for Barbara Stoffer, of New Madrid.
Stoffer was last seen on the afternoon of Aug. 20. She drove a green 1993 Volvo, and friends said she visited the nearby Mississippi River daily.
Assistant New Madrid Police Chief Joey Higgerson says the reward is being offered for Stoffer's return or for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
Dozens of volunteers joined law enforcement officers from Missouri, Tennessee and Illinois in a renewed search Saturday. An earlier search included dive teams from the Missouri Highway Patrol.
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Gah. I'm not thrilled with the news of web apps being the application delivery method, but I don't think that web 2.0 is Apple's permanent answer to an SDK.
p> Web app functionality is something you talk about if either
Of course, both are a possibility. It's a possibility than an SDK was given the kibosh; it's an equal possibility that Jobs decided the market pressure dictate that he announce something at WWDC for the developers so they're not left out on launch day. It's, of course, always a possibility that the SDK is still being worked on. Jobs stated earlier that he intends to report the accounting revenue over two years so they can improve the iPhone on a regular basis over its product lifetime.
That said, there are still some vexing questions:
It's very clear to me that we still don't have all of the SDK answers yet; I don't think this issue will be resolved yet on launch day.
Also remember that google recently announced an "offline ajax" system, this could be the rumoured teaming up of GOOG and AAPL.
Also remember that google recently announced an "offline ajax" system, this could be the rumoured teaming up of GOOG and AAPL.
That's an excellent point, Phil. On the other hand, if that's the plan, it's odd that Jobs wouldn't showcase it at WWDC if it was ready to go. I hope there's *some* way to run offline apps, for the sake of 1) airplane mode or 2) boonies mode.


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Medicare Hospital Pharmaceuticals:
Survey Shows Price Variation and Highlights Data Collection Lessons and Outpatient Rate-Setting Challenges for CMS
GAO-06-372: Published: Apr 28, 2006. Publicly Released: Apr 28, 2006.
Additional Materials:
- Highlights Page:
- Accessible Text:
(202) 512-3000
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
In 2003, the Medicare Modernization Act required the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish payment rates for a set of new pharmaceutical products--drugs and radiopharmaceuticals--provided to beneficiaries in a hospital outpatient setting. These products were classified for payment purposes as specified covered outpatient drugs (SCOD). The legislation directed CMS to set 2006 Medicare payment rates for SCODs equal to hospitals' average acquisition costs and included requirements for GAO. As directed, GAO surveyed hospitals and issued two reports, providing information to use in setting 2006 SCOD rates. To address other requirements in the law, this report analyzes SCOD price variation across hospitals, advises CMS on future surveys it might undertake, and examines both lessons from the GAO survey and future challenges facing CMS.
Analyzing pharmaceutical price data collected from its 2004 survey of hospitals, GAO found that prices hospitals paid for SCOD products varied across hospitals. Certain factors--namely, whether the hospital had a major teaching program or not, was in an urban or rural area, and had a large or small hospital outpatient department--were associated with whether hospitals paid higher or lower prices for SCOD products. Major teaching hospitals paid prices that were an estimated 3.2 percent lower than those paid by nonteaching hospitals for drug SCODs; rural hospitals paid prices an estimated 4.4 percent higher than those paid by urban hospitals for radiopharmaceutical SCODs; and large hospitals paid prices an estimated 1.4 percent lower than those paid by small hospitals for drug SCODs and 3.1 percent lower for radiopharmaceutical SCODs. Combining these factors, GAO found that large, urban, major teaching hospitals--compared with other hospitals--generally paid lower prices, on average, for all SCOD products. From conducting its hospital survey, GAO learned a key lesson that CMS could use in the future: such a survey would not be practical for collecting the data needed to set and update SCOD rates routinely but would be useful for validating, on occasion, CMS's rate-setting data. GAO's survey produced accurate hospital drug price data, but it also created a considerable burden for hospitals as the data suppliers and considerable costs for GAO as the data collector. Nonetheless, the benefit of collecting actual prices paid by hospitals could make such surveys advantageous for occasionally validating CMS's proxy for SCODs' average acquisition costs--the average sales price (ASP) data that manufacturers report. CMS will face important challenges as it seeks to obtain accurate data on hospitals' acquisition costs for drug and radiopharmaceutical SCODs. Regarding drugs, CMS lacks the detail on manufacturers' ASP data needed to determine if rates developed from these data are appropriate for hospitals. Manufacturers report ASP as a single price paid by all purchasers, making it impossible to distinguish the price paid by hospitals alone. CMS instructs manufacturers to report ASP net of rebates but does not specify how to allocate individual product rebates when several products are purchased. Regarding radiopharmaceuticals, GAO found that the diversity of forms in which they can be purchased--ready-to-use unit doses, multidoses, or separately purchased radioactive and non-radioactive substances--complicates CMS's efforts to select a data source that can provide reasonably accurate price data efficiently. Efficiency as well as accuracy is a factor in selecting a data source because radiopharmaceuticals account for only 1.5 percent of Medicare hospital outpatient spending. GAO's experience suggests that the best option available to CMS, in terms of accuracy and efficiency, is to collect price data on radiopharmaceuticals purchased in ready-to-use unit doses, the form in which an estimated three-quarters of hospitals purchase these products.
Status Legend:
- Review Pending
- Open
- Closed - implemented
- Closed - not implemented
Recommendations for Executive Action
Recommendation: To ensure that Medicare payments for SCOD products are based on sufficiently accurate data, the Secretary of Health and Human Services should validate, on an occasional basis, manufacturers' reported drug ASPs as a measure of hospitals' acquisition costs using a survey of hospitals or other method that CMS determines to be similarly accurate and efficient.
Agency Affected: Department of Health and Human Services
Status: Closed - Not Implemented
Comments: CMS has no plans to implement a survey of hospitals to validate manufacturers' reported drug average sales price (ASP) as a measure of hospitals' acquisition costs. Instead, CMS has chosen another approach, using hospital claims data as a measure of hospital acquisition costs combined with pharmacy overhead costs. CMS compares aggregate expenditures for separately payable drugs and biologicals to the ASP-based payment rates (weighting these HCPCS codes by their OPPS volumes) to calculate an equivalent average ASP-based payment rate for drugs and biologicals provided in the hospital outpatient setting. CMS updates its ASP-based payment rates quarterly, if necessary, to reflect market changes. CMS was considering this approach when we drafted our report; our assessment at that time was that it might be a more efficient but less accurate means of obtaining price estimates than obtaining price data directly from manufacturers or from hospitals' invoices.
Recommendation: To ensure that Medicare payments for SCOD products are based on sufficiently accurate data, the Secretary of Health and Human Services should use unit-dose prices paid by hospitals when available as the data source for setting and updating Medicare payment rates for radiopharmaceutical SCODs.
Agency Affected: Department of Health and Human Services
Status: Closed - Not Implemented
Comments: CMS has continued to use cost estimates developed from hospital charges to pay for radiopharmaceutical SCODs, rather than following our recommendation to collect data on the prices paid by hospitals. (However, in response to this recommendation to use unit-dose prices, CMS noted that most hospital charges for radiopharmaceuticals are for a unit-dose, because most of the HCPCS code descriptors indicate that the code is per study or treatment dose.) In both 2006 and 2007, CMS paid for radiopharmaceuticals based on the hospital's charge for each radiopharmaceutical adjusted to cost using the hospital's overall cost-to-charge ratio. In 2007, CMS finalized a policy to package payment for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals in 2008 and to set separate prospective payment rates for therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals based on mean estimated costs from hospital claims -- the same general methodology used to pay for separately payable drugs and biologicals. Subsequently, in the Medicare, Medicaid & SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, signed into law on December 29, 2007, Congress delayed implementation of these prospective rates and directed CMS to continue using the "charges to cost" methodology to pay for therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals for the first 6 months of 2008. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act further delayed implementation of these prospective rates through December 31, 2009.
Mar 10, 2014
Nurse Anesthetists Billed for Few Chronic Pain Procedures; Implementation of CMS Payment Policy InconsistentGAO-14-153: Published: Feb 7, 2014. Publicly Released: Mar 10, 2014.
Mar 7, 2014
Defense Health Care:
Acquisition Process for TRICARE's Third Generation of Managed Care Support ContractsGAO-14-195: Published: Mar 7, 2014. Publicly Released: Mar 7, 2014.
Mar 6, 2014
Electronic Health Record Programs:
Participation Has Increased, but Action Needed to Achieve Goals, Including Improved Quality of CareGAO-14-207: Published: Mar 6, 2014. Publicly Released: Mar 6, 2014. -
VA Health Care:
Actions Needed to Improve Administration and Oversight of Veterans' Millennium Act Emergency Care BenefitGAO-14-175: Published: Mar 6, 2014. Publicly Released: Mar 6, 2014.
Mar 4, 2014
Contractors and Private Plans Play a Major Role in Administering BenefitsGAO-14-417T: Published: Mar 4, 2014. Publicly Released: Mar 4, 2014.
Feb 27, 2014
Electronic Health Records:
VA and DOD Need to Support Cost and Schedule Claims, Develop Interoperability Plans, and Improve CollaborationGAO-14-302: Published: Feb 27, 2014. Publicly Released: Feb 27, 2014. -
Internet Pharmacies:
Most Rogue Sites Operate from Abroad, and Many Sell Counterfeit DrugsGAO-14-386T: Published: Feb 27, 2014. Publicly Released: Feb 27, 2014.
Feb 19, 2014
Demographics and Service Usage of Certain High-Expenditure BeneficiariesGAO-14-176: Published: Feb 19, 2014. Publicly Released: Feb 19, 2014.
Feb 10, 2014
Drug Shortages:
Public Health Threat Continues, Despite Efforts to Help Ensure Product AvailabilityGAO-14-194: Published: Feb 10, 2014. Publicly Released: Feb 10, 2014. -
Drug Shortages:
Threat to Public Health Persists, Despite Actions to Help Maintain Product AvailabilityGAO-14-339T: Published: Feb 10, 2014. Publicly Released: Feb 10, 2014.
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Fraud Giroux, RIP to the former best player in the world for two weeks
So we went back and typed in " Claude Giroux, best player in the world," in Google:
Oh there is more. From Crossing Broad last playoffs:
Peter Laviolette took the praise just a bit further. Emphasis ours.
"Not only leadership but his game tonight was monstrous, it really was," said the coach. "When the best player in the world comes up to you and tells you, 'I don't know who you're planning on starting tonight, but I want that first shift', that says everything you need to know about Claude Giroux right there."
Should we go on?
Fast forward to this season...
Oh, Claude we missed you in the top 10 last week:
Oh that's right you weren't there.
In fact, since being proclaimed the "Best player in the world," Claude Giroux has scored 26 points ( playoffs included)
Sidney Crosby has 36 points.
And we just can't help but think Sidney Crosby is laying in wait for his revenge on that huge Giroux hit in the playoffs last year.
Either way, the only people searching "Claude Giroux, best player in the world," are either people trolling or Claude Giroux parents.
Claude Giroux could be the best player in the world someday. Whenever Sidney Crosby lets him.


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TI:ME watch tells, erm, the time?
January 17th, 2012Design submitted by Albert from the USA.
Albert says: I wanted to design a watch that would tell a visual joke, or at the very least, be amusing to the reader. Working from there, I decided to use the word "TIME" to tell the time. Read the rest of this entry »


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Kathy Cassidy
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
Nearly two thirds of 14 to 24 year olds illegally download music over peer-to-peer (p2p) networks, says UK Music.
According to research, which was carried out by the University of Hertfordshire on behalf of the music body, 75 percent of teens also admitted to sending digital music files by email, Bluetooth, Skype or MSN to friends and family, while 86 percent revealed that had copied CDs for friends.
UK Music also said that 68 percent of those surveyed said they listen to music on their computer and on average 14-24 year olds have more than 8,000 tracks on their PCs. Despite the recent popularity of music-streaming sites such as Spotify, 78 percent said they wouldn't pay for a music-streaming service.
"Have they got the message that there is a thing called copyright and there is a philosophy of copyright? Yup. They get it. They just don't care," said former Undertones member and CEO of UK Music Fergal Sharkey.
The research also highlighted that 85 percent of those surveyed think a music download service that allows unlimited tracks to be obtained for a fixed price is a good idea, with 57 percent claiming it would stop them illegally file-sharing. Just over half also said that artists should charge device manufacturers a fee to enable their tracks to be copied.
"If they're prepared to work with us if we give them an all-you-can-eat download service, well then, as an industry we may then well have to step up to the plate and try to provide them with that kind of service," Sharkey added.
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.
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I was reading back through an old post about Lent when it dawned on me I needed to pull the trigger on this year's Lenten resolutions. As I explained here there are 3 things that need to happen: I need to 1) stop doing something, 2) start doing something and 3) something that is kept private. (i.e. I can't give up potato chips and make that the "private" thing because it would become apparent very quickly as I'd be in the police notes pretty fast.)
So why after all these years do I still cling to making Lenten resolutions? For those not familiar with the Baltimore Catechism, I invite you to look over the following:
This is the "beginner" version of the Baltimore Catechism. Anyone who went through similar formation can still do the rapid-fire answers to questions like, "WHO MADE YOU?" and "WHY DID GOD MAKE YOU?"
After that you graduated to an expanded version, the St. Joseph's Baltimore Catechism. That contained more of the same on an expanded basis. More to memorize. More to stand up and parrot back to Here-Comes-Sister-Celestine-Riding-On-A-Jellybean. (Our idea of really giving the nuns a hard time.)
There is something to be said for using rote memorization to train the memory but when I look back at these images I don't feel so much proud of having a well-trained mind as horror at what kind of ideas we were trained with.
I have a dear friend who is my sherpa guide to hedonistic consumption. I like to tell him he is "an occasion of sin" because he tempts me towards all kinds of impurities like expensive linens and splurging on gourmet cheeses and wines. My knee-jerk reaction toward what I perceive as excess was based on the following:
Yeah, television is definitely an occasion of sin. "Bonanza" was pretty scandalous. Ed Sullivan? Don't get me started. Pure filth.
John would be considered a "BAD COMPANION!"
He's actually a pretty good companion. (We rarely sneak a cigarette.) He's taught me a lot about myself, including that we all deserve to have and enjoy nice things without beating ourselves up about it.
I'm all for a spring housecleaning of the soul but this year feels different. I've been sorting receipts for taxes and am appalled at the number of office visits, doctor visits, etc. that have piled up over the past year, and continue into this year. My health has really sucked for the past 18 months (BTW, I'd be happy to give up lumbar steroid spinals for Lent) and I never did buy in to that "all pain and suffering can be offered up…will strengthen your faith" BS. So what to do for Lent when I already feel quite full-up with the existing penances in my life? I think I'll flip things and make this Lent a time for feeding my soul instead purging all my "impurities" (like my lust for potato chips). I'm going to find things that nourish my heart, help me cope with my aches and strengthen my beliefs and values. I'm going to replenish my tool chest of life and faith skills. While that approach is not in sync with the Baltimore Catechism I believe if I can do that for 40 days I'll come out on the other end as a stronger, better, faith-filled person – and that is what I believe to be the purpose of Lent.


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We get hands on with the PS4 DualShock 4 controller to see just how it's changed from its PS3 predecessor.
Archive for the 'Eurogamer Expo' Category
We get hands on with the Xbox One controller to see just how it's changed from its Xbox 360 predecessor.
Dark Souls II is as brutal, relentless and unforgiving as its predecessors, so why are gamers so attracted to the series?
Beyond: Two Souls is another interactive cinematic experience from Quantic Dreams but is it an improvement on Heavy Rain?
An interview with the brains behind Surgeon Simulator 2013, Luke Williams and Jack Good, to talk multiplayer, Half Life 3 and Sonic fan art.
Dying Light is looking leaps and bounds from Techland's original zombie survival series, Dead Island.
A photo gallery of snaps from the StickTwiddlers Eurogamer Expo 2013 After Party featuring cosplayers, a caricaturist and a cracking raffle.
Here's the full list of the StickTwiddlers Eurogamer Expo 2013 Awards winners including the highly coveted Game Of The Show Award.


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Italy >
Lazio >
> Esquilino / Termini
Free Breakfast
Free High-Speed Internet
Ranked #1,275 of 2,485 B&Bs / Inns in Rome
Price Range (Based on Average Rates):
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- Città Eterna B&B is the ideal place to stay because it offers peace and quiet just a stone's throw from the city centre. In this completely remodelled facility you will find finely decorated rooms equipped with every convenience including air conditioning, TV and private bathroom. Guests have the use of a spacious kitchen for breakfast. Its location makes it perfect for a happy Roman vacation, thanks to excellent connections to the entire city: the underground is just 100 meters away, between Piazza Vittorio Emanuele and the Basilica of St. John Lateran, which is just 600 meters away ... more less
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Hotels.com, Venere, Booking.com, Expedia, Tingo and TripOnline SA so you can book your Citta Eterna reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.


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Food + Drink
Ruttger's offers a great variety of restaurant choices. We have dining choices for all tastes such as Ruby's Restaurant, Bear Pine Bar, and Zig's Restaurant located right on our resort. Stop in and take a look at our menus and see why Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge features some of the best restaurants in the Brainerd Lakes area. Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge, your destination for fine and casual restaurants in Northern Minnesota.
Auntie M's Kaffeehaus
Fall hours: Friday-Sunday 8am – 5pm through Oktoberfest weekend. Closed on weekdays.
Named after Auntie Mae Ruttger Heglund, Auntie M's is a great place to relax with a cup of our fresh-ground specialty roasted coffee. On the drink menu you will find a variety of beverages including fresh ground coffee, espresso drinks, smoothies and tea. Auntie M's also has ice cream, candy, pastries and unique gift options. Ruttger's guests can enjoy this out-of-the-way spot for playing games, relaxing with the morning news, or shopping for just the right gift!
Open daily Memorial Weekend through Labor Day and weekends spring and fall. Call 218.678.4670 for more information.
Ruby's Restaurant
Fall hours
Breakfast 7am-10am
Dinner 6pm-8pm (Dinner buffet only during the fall, exceptions may be made, please ask when making your reservation.)
Historic Northwoods elegance is what you'll find when you step into Ruby's. If these logs could talk they would tell rich stories of families, friends and memories being made on long summer days. Executive Chef Terry Dox carries on Josie Ruttger's delicious food tradition dating back to 1898 with tried and true favorites plus new spins on old classics. Enjoy the fabulous buffet or order from the nightly menu. Open to the public Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Reservations are recommended; please call 218.678.4644 for reservations and seasonal hours.
Ruby's Fall Breakfast Menu.
Ruby's Fall Dinner Menu. During the fall, a dinner buffet is usually served, depending on the number of guests staying at the resort. Please ask when making reservations if the dinner menu will be available.
Bear Pine Bar
Fall hours
Open Sunday-Thursday 4-9pm, Friday 4-10pm, Saturday 11am-10pm.
The Bear Pine Bar is nestled lakeside in the Main Lodge and offers spectacular views of Bay Lake. Enjoy cocktails, burgers, sandwiches and hor d' oeuvres inside or out on the sun-drenched decks. Don't miss the lakeside Beach Bar while at the pool and beach…a perfect place to kick back and take in the view.
Spring & Fall Bear Pine Menu
"Like" us on Ruttger's Facebook page and we'll keep you up to date with entertainment schedules and food and beverages specials!
Zig's Restaurant
Zig's will be going to fall hours beginning Sunday, Sept. 29.
Thursday thru Saturday, 11am to 9pm.
Sunday thru Wednesday, 11am to 2pm.
Zig's is named after Haas "Zig" Ziegler who developed the nine-hole golf course at Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge nearly 100 years ago. Zig convinced Alec Ruttger that a recreational golf course would be a fine attraction to the guests when the fishing on Bay Lake was slow . . . smart guy. Now, in addition to Alec's Nine, Ruttger's also offers an 18-hole championship course designed by the famous architect, Joel Goldstrand. You can bask in the beautiful scenery that Northern Minnesota has to offer sitting right on Zig's patio. Relax and enjoy some casual dining with a great menu including, juicy burgers, tasty sandwiches, fresh salads, mouth-watering steaks, fun cocktails and more!
Reservations for groups of 6 or more are recommended. Call 218.678.4678 for seasonal hours and food and beverage specials. View Zig's Menu


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2014 will start on 6 November and finish on 16 November and will be another eleven fun filled days with music, street dances, competitions, games, wonderful local food and drink, kids day, glittering parade, sports events for everyone, Heritage Days, pirate invasion and fireworks galore! There is just too much going on for you to miss out on. Pirates Week
We start our festival with a fantastic steel pan competition and kick-off party and on Friday night the festival goes off with a bang with a spectacular fireworks display that you will not want to miss! With the crowning of the Festival Queen and the opening Street Dance and Food Festival on that night there is no better place to be in the Caribbean.
On the first Saturday we have a mock 'pirate invasion' from the sea! Two old-time sailing vessels, loaded with pirates make a Saturday surprise landing at the bowl-shaped George Town harbour with the pirates capturing the Governor. Thousands of people line the streets to watch the spectacle and its all good-natured fun with a new twist every year. Families just love it. It's the only event of its kind in the Caribbean region.
Keep checking the website for updates and special offers throughout the year. You can also become a fan of the festival on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and if you want to be in the 'pirate invasion' or volunteer for the festival then please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
We hope to see you all in November, pirates and landlubbers alike with you all ready to have lots of fun with us in the Cayman Islands.


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DJ Steve Weeks (from the Slimelight club, London, UK and ebm/synth band Stok:holm) playing a mixture of ebm, synth-pop, industec, tbm, futurepop and alternative
INDUSTRIAL, ELECTRONIC, SYNTHPOP, GOTHIC MUSIC FOR THE MASSES Current Show-The Master & Servant Show-Classic Tracks! A Place Where Legends Live On And Songs Never Die!
Gothic Paradise Club Mix - The best gothic/industrial mix on the planet!
Homo Gotikus Industrialis. Companion broadcast for the Mercury nightclub in Seattle - Industrial/EBM/Synthpop/Goth
Mar. 1st - 15th, 2014: NEW God Module, Suicide Commando, Seabound, System Syn, Blak Opz, Clan of Xymox, Ego Likeness, Aesthetic Perfection, The People's Republic of Europe, Digital Factor, Mekanik Disorder, DJ Hidden, and more!!!
underground goth, deathrock, and dark punk...
The newest in industrial, EBM, elektro and synth--plus some old school--from DJ L.D. of Club Necropolis in downtown Orlando.
Radio For Rivet Heads, [Industrial] [IDM] [Synthpop] [Goth] [EBM] [Darkwave] [Electro] [New Wave] [Post Punk] (Updated Weekly)
The Best Of DARKWAVE/GOTH-ROCK/ELECTRO&co. - 41h Of Music From The 80s And 90s To Current Songs
Beyond Rock Radio- A constantly shifting playlist of industrial, metal, alternative & a little electronica. Features Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Soundgarden, Skinny Puppy, White Zombie, Nirvana, KMFDM, Rammstein. [EXPLICIT]
night song on radio twinight..pure goth, industrial, medieval, neo classical..
Gothic Paradise Ethereal Show
Best dark music mayhem that you never heard. Listen deeply to the latest evil music from US, Europe and Mexico. Go toward within and embrace the dark music experience. Goth, Industrial, Synthpop, EBM, Aggrotech, Darkwave and Goth Metal
5cl Experimental, 3cl Industrial, 3cl NeoFolk , 3 cl Military Pop, 2 cl Ritual & a slice of good old Gnosticism.... Served in a 24h/Day Broadcast ! TASTE THIS !
medieval, neo-classical, darkwave. 22 hours of no repeat enchantment


text: It's almost unfair to call American hazelnut (Corylus americana) a shrub. The word just doesn't do justice to this statuesque, intriguing woodland plant. Grow this North American native for its broad, spreading form (perfect for a living screen), bright spring catkins, fuzzy foliage, and striking fall color. Its nuts ripen in unique fringed husks in mid to late summer, providing food for birds, squirrels, and persistent humans. Common names: Hazelnut, American hazelnut, American filbert Botanical name: Corylus americana Plant type: Deciduous shrub Zones: 3 to 9 Height: 10 to 15 feet Family: Betulaceae Growing conditions · Sun: Full sun to part shade · Soil: Average, well-drained · Moisture: Medium; tolerates moderately dry or moist conditions Care · Mulch: Mulch to preserve moisture in the soil. · Pruning: Remove suckers annually unless you want a thicket to form. · Fertilizer: None needed. Propagation · By seed Pests and diseases · Possible diseases include fungal spots, blight, and canker. · May attract scale insects, bud mites, or caterpillars. Garden notes · Corylus americana looks good in woodland gardens or at the back of the border, where it can stretch out. Its mature size is too big for the middle of a flower bed. · Use this shrub as a privacy screen or a hedge. It will sucker and form thickets unless pruned back. · If you keep birds and squirrels away, you can harvest the edible nuts in fall. They're smaller than the hazelnuts you buy in stores. Cultivars · Corylus americana doesn't have cultivars, but its cousin, C. avellana, has many. Commerical growers typically use cultivars of C. avellana, a hazelnut originally from Europe and Turkey (not to be confused with the Turkish hazelnut, C. colurna). · Another native American hazelnut, C. cornuta, has growth habits very similar to C. americana. All in the family · The Birch family also includes alders (Alnus) and hornbeams (Carpinus)—and, of course, birch trees (Betula). All together Betulaceae contains about 130 species. (Text by Elizabeth Noll, photo of Corylus americana courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden's Kemper Center for Home Gardening)


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"For 45 years I have been privileged to minister in an urban context, working in partnership with a wide variety of community-based and religious coalitions concerned about the death penalty, criminal justice reform, public education, housing, community development, environmental racism, and anti-oppression training. It is this perspective that I bring to my teaching and my service to the wider Church."
The Rev. Canon Edward W. Rodman, John Seeley Stone Professor of Pastoral Theology and Urban Ministry, brings his experience ministering in an urban context with a variety of community-based and religious coalitions to the classroom. An advocate for social change, Rodman shares his skills in the areas of antiracism methods, social analysis, and theological reflection with students as they explore public policy toward people who are poor and marginalized, the ecumenical and interfaith dimension of the church's ministry, leadership, and organizational development.
During his 45 years of ministry he has held three primary positions in the church, including assistant minister at St. Paul's Church, New Haven, Connecticut; canon missioner for the Diocese of Massachusetts; and faculty at EDS. An active leader throughout the church, Rodman is a former member of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, one of the organizers of the Union of Black Episcopalians, a former urban hearings coordinator for the Urban Bishops Coalition, and the coordinator of the Episcopal Urban Caucus.
His publications include "Soul Sisters: The Emergence of Black Women's Leadership" in Deeper Joy: Laywomen and Vocation in the 20th Century Episcopal Church (Church Publishing); "Evangelism Among African-American Youth" in Disorganized Religion: the Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults (Cowley); and "Seeking to Hear and to Heed in the Cities: Urban Ministry in the Post-War Episcopal Church" in Churches, Cities, and Human Community (Wm. B. Eerdmans); and When the Prisoners Ran Walpole (Southend Press).


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As you can tell from the slide above, this card has 896 shader cores, a 1GHz core clock, 1GB of GDDR5 and consumes up to 85w. Additionally, it does support up to 6 displays, but that is dependent upon the OEM's output connector design as many will only fit 3 and some could theoretically build a card with 6 mini-DP connectors.
Some of the new features on the AMD Radeon HD 7790 are centered around power savings and 'boost' clocks. In the slides below, you can see where AMD has made the improvements to their card's clock speeds and power consumption based on GPU loads. The first slide shows the current states that AMD employs and the second shows the new states implemented by AMD in the HD 7790.
As you can tell from the slides above, AMD has doubled the amount of states and essentially created a stepping process from no power all the way up to boost power in order to properly clock based on load and need.
The card itself will ship at 1GHz and AMD appears to finally done away with the 1GHz edition naming scheme (amen) and decided that since everything is going to be at least a GHz that it's pointless to keep calling everything a GHz edition. Additionally, this card will be capable of a theoretical max compute of 1.79 TFLOPS and will have a 128-bit memory bus supporting 1GB of memory, however some vendors may release 2GB versinos of this card as well.
A nice spread of all of the offered AMD Radeon HD 7790 cards from the usual suspects: ASUS, Gigabyte, HIS, MSI, PowerColor, Sapphire and XFX. We currently have a Sapphire card in our possession and will be doing a review of it shortly.
Last but not least, let's not forget AMD's bundling strategy and all of the games that are optimized for AMD (below). While the HD 7790 may not come with the full never settle reloaded bundle, some retailers will be bundling this card with Bioshock when you buy the card. So, be mindful of that promotion and check to see if your retailer is participating in the promotion. A $60 game for free on a $150 card is a big deal, especially if you planned on buying the game already.
AMD has provided us with performance benchmarks, but we will not be publishing any benchmarks until we have tested the card ourselves. Look out for our review in the coming weeks. We're currently in the bay Area covering GTC and GDC next week, so watch for news from AMD out of there as well.


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Heidi Klum's Anti-aging Secrets
She shares her skin, diet, and body advice. For more, check out the April issue of Allure.
- Kristen Bell on the Veronica Mars Movie, Her "Tortured" Haircut, and Early-2000s Fashion
- View from the Red Carpet: Oscar Week, Trading the Arctic Vortex for Glamour and Mud Slides
- Not Even Food Poisoning Could Stop Hairstylist Adir Abergel for the Oscars
- Celebrity Hairstylist Chase Kusero on Prepping Jared Leto for the Oscars
- Lupita Nyong'o's Makeup Artist Nick Barose on Her 2014 Oscar Look
- Allure Exclusive: We Got the Scoop on Anne Hathaway's 2014 Oscar Makeup
- Giada De Laurentiis on Her Beauty Routine, Style Icons, and the Many Uses for Olive Oil
- Scandal Beauty Secrets From Kerry Washington's Makeup Artist
- Olympian Gracie Gold on Red Lipstick and Ice-Proof Makeup
- View From the Red Carpet: Front Row Hair for Fashion Week
- 10 Things You Need to Know About Megan Fox


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4:33 pm
Fri August 17, 2012
Governor's School for the Arts: 25 Years and Going Strong
By Brad Yost
Two-hundred twenty-five students from 43 counties across Kentucky make up the Governor's School for the Arts class of 2012. Students spend three weeks on Transylvania University's campus immersed in the study of one of nine disciplines, from architecture to musical theater. They start with performances at morning assembly and go until curfew, creating ensemble pieces, solo work and interdisciplinary projects.
Carrie Nath taught drama at GSA for three years before taking the reins as executive director last year. She's taught in nearly every state in the country, and she says GSA is among the strongest arts programs she's worked for. This summer marks 25 years for the program.
Nath speaks here with WFPL's Erin Keane on Byline.


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Cross Country results from Greater Louisville Classic
Carolyn Tegge highlighted the day for the Asbury women's cross country team by finishing her 5K run in 34th place out of 135 runners. Tegge completed the course in a time of 21:04.00. She was joined by Melissa Waterman who finished in 50th. On the men's side of the ledger, the team was led by Aaron Linard who finished in 102nd place of 143 runners in a time of 30:32.35 in the men's 8K.
The team will host their only home match of the year this Saturday during Homecoming Weekend. The race starts at 9:00 a.m. with a small reception being held for cross country parents and fans at 8:30 a.m. near the course start.


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American businessman set for Rangers takeover |
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) -- The American businessman on the verge of buying Rangers vowed on Thursday to end the culture of financial mismanagement that brought one of Britain's biggest clubs to the brink of closure.
Bill Miller, the chairman of a Tennessee-based towing and recovery equipment company, was named as the preferred bidder for Scotland's most successful team after weeks of negotiations with its administrators.
The takeover is reportedly worth $18.1 million and should prevent the 140-year-old club, which has won a record 54 domestic league titles, from being liquidated after years of overspending under previous owners.
"What Rangers, which includes supporters, players, staff and anyone with the club at heart, have been put through, particularly in recent months, is a travesty and from what I can see they have been badly let down by a number of individuals,'' Miller said.
"This will not happen on my watch should I become the custodian of this great club.''
Rangers' joint administrator, Paul Clark, said he hopes the sale will be completed "by the end of the current season,'' which finishes on the weekend of May 12-13.
"We believe that the structure of the bid from Mr. Miller provides not only the most deliverable outcome but preserves the history of the club,'' Rangers' joint administrator Paul Clark said. "Rangers Football Club will continue as the football club it has been for 140 years.''
Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are among 10 English Premier League clubs under foreign ownership but neither Rangers nor Celtic - the biggest teams in Scotland - have ever been bought by overseas owners.
Rangers has been under the supervision of administrators since February when it entered bankruptcy protection following a long-running dispute with the tax authorities.
Its future has been at stake after falling into tax debts of $14 million since the takeover of Craig Whyte last May. The Glasgow club is also awaiting the verdict of a tax tribunal over long-standing contested liabilities of up to $119 million.
"Under my stewardship, Rangers will be managed with fiscal discipline such that the club not only conforms to UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations but also such that Rangers will never have to suffer this kind of anguish again,'' the 65-year-old Miller said. "From now on, Rangers will live within its means - no excuses.''
Miller was competing with a supporter-backed consortium called the "Blue Knights.'' Singaporean businessman Bill Ng also made an offer but pulled out last month.
"His approach has been consistent throughout the process and on two occasions he has stepped back from the fray to enable other parties to submit an unconditional bid,'' Clark said of the American tycoon. "Mr. Miller's proposal can provide the opportunity for the club to return to success on and off the field.''
Rangers was last week placed under a transfer embargo, preventing the club from signing players for the next 12 months unless they are under 18.
Its already narrow hope of retaining the Scottish Premier League title were ended by a 10-point deduction that was automatically triggered by going into administration.
Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Canucks blow 3-0 lead as Isles score 7 in 3rd period to win
Kings beat Flames to win their eighth game in a row


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By Bill Kirk
---- — The non-stop snow plowing operations in cities and towns across the Merrimack Valley may have stopped on Sunday, but that didn't give public works crews any time to rest.
All day yesterday and last night crews continued working to clear snow away from sidewalks, bus stops, street corners and fire hydrants — as an icy mix continued to fall throughout the day.
With area schools scheduled to reopen today after a four-day weekend, public works chiefs and highway departments were focused on making sure streets and sidewalks were safe for children and staff alike.
"The widening of roads will continue for the next day or two," said Chris Cronin, acting public works director for Andover. "The sidewalks need to be plowed. We are going as fast as we can, and we are using all the equipment we've got, but it's very, very slow going."
The problem, he said, is that as they worked to get the snow off town streets, plow operators piled street corners higher and higher with mounds of snow. The sidewalk plows, meanwhile, are unable to break through that heavy, compacted snow. Instead, he said, the town has to send in backhoes and front-end loaders to knock down the street corners to expose the sidewalks.
"The problem isn't the 20 inches of snow," he said. "It's the corners. It's heavy and thick and our equipment has a problem going through it."
Meanwhile, the town continues widening streets, using those same backhoes and loaders, while also clearing downtown parking areas so that local businesses can reopen and customers can return to shopping.
"This wasn't the worst storm I've seen, but it's definitely in the top three," he said. "The extreme part is the cleanup afterwards."
He estimated that the town has already spent about $500,000 and may spend another $100,000 on clean-up operations over the next day or two. The storm may clean out nearly half the town's $1.25 million snow removal budget for this year, he said. "It's a big hit," he added.
If the state's emergency declaration is approved by the federal government, cities and towns may be eligible for reimbursement of costs associated with the storm. He said he wouldn't know the answer to that question for months. In the meantime, the city budget has to eat the costs.
Even with all the town's efforts, roads were slick yesterday. About 10:45 a.m. yesterday, a rubbish removal truck negotiating a winding, steep section of Porter Road near Woburn Street, slid head-on into a town sanding truck as it was coming up the hill the other way.
The driver of the town sanding truck was injured and police are investigating the crash.
John Isensee, public works director in Lawrence, said his costs are likely to be extremely high as well, although he was still tallying up the cost yesterday.
"I'm going to have to warn the finance director," he said, noting that he started at 7 a.m. Friday morning and was still on the job yesterday afternoon.
"I'm still here," he said. "But we are winding down the operation each night."
He said the focus of his crews over the next day or two will be to do corner clean-up and some street widening.
Safety is the big priority in Methuen, where public works crews were out in force over the last day or two "knocking down the corners" to reduce the size of snow piles at busy intersections, said public works chief Ray DiFiore.
"The visibility, when you pull up to these intersections, is extremely dangerous," he said. "People should proceed with caution."
He said front-end loaders are tamping down the corners and in some cases removing the snow so that drivers can see other vehicles and especially pedestrians.
Methuen School Superintendent Judith Scannell said her decision to cancel school yesterday focused on the city streets.
"It all comes down to the buses," she said. "With the roads so narrow and the banks so high, it was in everyone's best interest to delay one more day."
She said she was driving around with the city's facilities director looking at bus stops.
"I am going to check all the stops," she said. "Those mounds need to be cut down. It's all about safety. I don't want the kids out on the streets. That's why we needed another day."
She praised city and school workers for doing a great job getting streets, sidewalks and school grounds ready for reopening today.
"This was the storm of all storms," she said. "Everybody really chipped in. They did an exemplary job, and worked around the clock."
Haverhill School Superintendent James Scully said school was also scheduled to reopen today. He said the drains on school building roofs were cleared, schoolyards were "down to bare pavement" and "we are making sure the intersections are all clear."
"So far, so good," he said.
North Andover Public Works Director Bruce Thibodeau said that after crews focused on getting the areas around schools cleared, he would be sending them home for a much-deserved night's rest.
"The guys are really, really tired," he said. "We are just finishing up around the schools and I'm trying to get everyone home by their regular time today."
He said one of the senior foremen in the department worked 58 hours straight, taking short naps when he could and coming back on duty to continue working.
"This is the biggest storm in my five years on the job," he said. "What was good about it is that there was no snow on the ground to start" as in years past, when big snow storms fall on top of existing snow pack, making it even more difficult to move the snow.
"It was pretty light snow," he added. That said, it was a huge effort to keep roads opened and the snow plowed throughout the storm.
"There were two key things in this storm — that the superintendent calling school Friday and today so we could focus on snow removal, and the governor not allowing anyone to drive, so we were able to keep the roads open."
He said in the past, cars on the road have made it tough for plows to get through. If a plow can't get through, the snow builds up to a point that the smaller plows can't push the snow. Once that happens, they have to give up and call larger plows or, in some cases, backhoes and front-end loaders to remove the blockage.
"The worst thing is losing a road," he said. "Once you lose it, it takes a long time to get it open again."
Work continues Public works officials request people to: -- Clear storm drains -- Clear fire hydrants -- Drive slowly and cautiously, especially where corners have built up with snow. -- Parents must be patient as buses may run slow today because they are using extra caution in getting around snow-clogged streets. -- School children need to stay off streets as much as possible and use caution at bus stops. -- Clear flat roofs with a snow rake. DO NOT USE SNOWBLOWERS ON ROOFS as this can cause fire and roof damage.


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4 items-
Quartermaine's Terms
Susannah Clapp reviews a new production of Simon Gray's Quartermaine's Terms.
China's Silent Army
Rana discusses China's entrepreneurs who have invested in remote areas around the world.
Neil Shubin
Rana talks to Neil Shubin about his new book, The Universe Within.
Syrian Writers
Rana talks to Nihad Sirees and Malu Halasa about writing in Syria.
Quartermaine's Terms
Quartermaine's Terms is on at Wyndham's Theatre, London until Saturday 13 April 2013.
Neil Shubin
The Universe Within: A Scientific Adventure written by Neil Shubin is published by Allen Lane.
Juan Pablo Cardenal
China's Silent Army is written by Juan Pablo Cardenal and published by Allen Lane on Thursday 31 January 2013. -
2012 Costa Book Of The Year
Hilary Mantel has been awarded the 2012 Costa Book Of The Year prize for Bring Up the Bodies. Listen to Hilary talking about the novel in an edition of Night Waves broadcast in May 2012:
Night Waves: Bring Up the Bodies, 56 Up, Babel
BBC Radio 3Tue 29 Jan 2013 22:00 BBC Radio 3
Featured in...
Arts, Jazz & World
A selection of Radio 3's arts, drama, world music and jazz programmes.
Free download
Arts and Ideas
The best of BBC Radio 3's flagship arts and ideas programme Free Thinking - featuring in-depth…


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Found 8 additional ads in areas surrounding Blackley
Sponsored Links
Short Term Business Analyst Training and Coaching for a Job Change
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21 days agoSEO Services for local business in Manchester to catch up position at Google first page. Im SEO consultant with years of experience and proven results with white hat SEO. I serve business...Hulme, ManchesterSaveRemove -
BI Developer
1 month agoPermanent Salary £24-30K p.a DOE The Job An experienced BI Developer is required for our rapidly expanding MI department based in south Manchester. For this position you will need a...Northenden, ManchesterSaveRemove -
Graduate BI Developer
1 month agoSalary: £18k-£22k per annum (dependent on experience) Benefits: Performance related bonus, 2 pay reviews per annum and up to 33 days paid holiday Job Type: Permanent Hours: Monday to...Northenden, ManchesterSaveRemove -
IT commission Field-based sales assistants
1 month agoA leading socially responsible provider of IT support, resource and procurement consultancy services to businesses, organisations and individuals, are looking to create commission-only...Salford, ManchesterSaveRemove -
Graduate Business Analyst Required - A great opportunity for the IT graduates.
1 month agoWenso Solutions is a software/web development company based in heart of the Manchester, currently we are recruiting for IT graduate BAs with the complete understanding of software...Salford, ManchesterSaveRemove -
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Sponsored Links3
Blackley, Project Management, Business Analysis, Consulting Jobs (8 ads posted)


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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Pocahontas County Sheriff Robert Alkire's son was taken to the hospital after a Nov. 30 incident where the sheriff's deputy fired his department-issue pistol at his girlfriend's house.
Robert Alkire II got into a verbal altercation with his girlfriend Jennifer Miller at her Marlinton home that spilled out into the street, said Special Prosecutor Dan Dotson, who is handling the case.
It was in the street that Alkire fired his department-issued weapon, Dotson said.
Dotson said Robert Alkire II was charged Jan. 25 with one count of wanton endangerment for the incident. Bail was set at $3,000.
"It was not fired at anybody in a malicious manner," Dotson said.
Alkire then went into Miller's house, Dotson said.
Police were called and Sheriff Robert Alkire arrived on the scene, he said.
Sheriff Alkire did not return a phone call Thursday regarding this story.
"The sheriff responded to the scene in Marlinton. At that point in time [Robert Alkire II] was in a medical situation," Dotson said. "The sheriff and a deputy came to transport him to a medical facility. They were unsuccessful."
The sheriff couldn't get his son to go to the hospital, Dotson said. Dotson declined to specify the "medical situation."
Emergency workers arrived on the scene and were able to transport Alkire to Pocahontas Memorial Hospital, Dotson said. Alkire II was placed on administrative leave immediately, he said.
Sheriff Alkire then talked to Marlinton Police Chief Everette Tinney and prosecutor Walt Weiford and told them what happened and that he couldn't be involved anymore, Dotson said.


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The Finesse Titanium is the woman's version of the Swift. Its titanium undercarriage makes it the lightest leather saddle available.The Finesse is most appropriate for vigorous cyclists who set their handlebars somewhat lower than their saddles.
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Accessories | Bicycles | Parts | Specials | Tools |
Copyright © 2005, 2008, 2011 Harris Cyclery


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I worked at Médecins Sans Frontières as a contractor for less than a year
Pros – Amazing international experience where you KNOW you're doing good and helping people in need.
Cons – They are not always as organized as they could be. Communication tends to be hierarchically shared. Not everyone knows all they should know when they should know it.
Advice to Senior Management – Respect people on their first mission and learn to communicate better! Everyone would be happier and a happy team works better together!
Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company
I have been working at Médecins Sans Frontières full-time for more than 5 years
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text:
One of my most popular articles of 2012 was on Dividend Aristoricrat Investing. Dividend Aristocrats are stocks that have followed a policy of increasing dividends every year for at least 25 consecutive years. My article demonstrated that since Standard and Poor's first chronicled the performance of a strategy that held the stocks of these steady dividend payers at the end of 1989, the Dividend Aristocrats had outperformed the broader market while exhibiting less variable returns.
Cumulative Total Return: Dividend Aristocrats & S&P 500
Source: Bloomberg, Standard and Poor's
The article's popularity was likely driven by the large income investing audience on Seeking Alpha, the long duration of the study, and the raging debate on the relative valuation of dividend stocks. Many articles were written in that period about the overvalued nature of dividend stocks, and why future performance would trail the market. Since my first article on the topic was posted on May 10, 2012, the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index has produced a total return (including both price appreciation and dividends) exceeding that of the S&P 500 (SPY). The Dividend Aristocrats beat the S&P 500 by 3.2% over that time frame as seen below.
The Trade Historically
Recently, I have written several articles on the Low Volatility Anomaly, or the fact that lower risk stocks have outperformed the broader market and higher risk stocks over the last twenty plus years in markets around the world. The business model of Dividend Aristocrats must be inherently stable and produce continual free cash flow through the business cycle or these companies would not be able to maintain their record of paying increasing dividends for over a quarter century. The return profile of the Dividend Aristocrats is much more correlated to the S&P Low Volatility Index (SPLV, r= 0.90) than the S&P 500 (r = 0.74 ), which lends credence to the strategy's low volatility nature and stability through differing market environments.
This stability manifests itself in down markets, which has driven the outperformance of the Dividend Aristocrats over the sample period. Below are the annual returns of the S&P 500 and the Dividend Aristocrats.
The Dividend Aristocrats have outperformed the broader market by 274bp per year since 1990 (11.29% - 8.55%) while exhibiting only eighty percent of the variability of annual returns. There are three important points to be made from this historical return profile. First, this return divergence is explained entirely by the five years that the S&P 500 produced negative total returns in the sample set (1990, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2008.) Those three distinct time periods each coincided with the last three domestic recessions in the United States. The Dividend Aristocrats strongly outperformed in these years, besting the S&P 500 by 19.47% per annum. Secondly, outside of these three periods of negative returns for the markets, dividend stocks have not strongly underperformed when the market has been rising, trailing the average return of the broader market by just 190bps per annum on average. In the eighteen years in the sample period when the markets have produced positive returns, dividend stocks have outperformed the broader market in half (9) of those years, including every year post-2008. Thirdly, when the broad market has had its best relative performance versus the Dividend Aristocrats (1998, 1999, 2007), the market has corrected sharply in the subsequent year.
The Trade in 2013
Seeking Alpha readers have a wide range of expected market returns for domestic stocks, which stimulates a healthy debate in the community. I believe that you can extrapolate the historical performance of the Dividend Aristocrats in various market environments to your own expected market outcome. If you believe market performance is likely to be weak, then the Dividend Aristocrats will continue their relative strong performance versus the broader domestic equity market. If you believe that market performance is going to be very strong then Dividend Aristocrats will likely trail on an absolute basis, but likely not on a risk-adjusted basis. If Dividend Aristocrats dramatically underperform the broader market, readers should take this as a sign that perhaps it is the point in the cycle to be rotating out of stocks altogether.
Seeking Alpha readers should understand that dividend stocks are not a homogeneous asset class. As I wrote in The Dividend Sweet Spot, stocks with dividend yields above six percent have historically underperformed stocks with dividend yields of between three to six percent. If you sorted the S&P 500 constituents in descending order by estimated dividend yield (Bloomberg estimate), only four components would have an estimated dividend yield over six percent - Windstream Corp (WIN), Pitney Bowes (PBI), Frontier Communications (FTR), and CenturyLink (CTL). Over the last twelve months, each of these stocks has produced a negative total return despite the broad based market rally. One of my themes for 2013 is that in a low yield world, investments with above market yields will continue to generate risk-adjusted outperformance. This does not mean that investors should blindly buy yield. The two industries represented by the aforementioned four companies are wireline communications and mailing solutions - two secularly declining industries. Seeking Alpha readers seeking a continual income stream and lower volatility should buy companies that have a track record of continually increasing their dividend payouts.
Many dividend strategies are heavily overweight utilities and financials, but the Dividend Aristocrats' fifty-four members feature a nice mix of sectors as seen below. Some might contend that the lower variability of returns from the Dividend Aristocrats hides the lessened diversification inherent in the smaller population, but the number of constituents still creates a statistically significant sample. Others might claim that the equal-weighted nature and lack of rebalancing at least in part drives relative performance. A look at the Dividend Aristocrats constituents might give readers a better sense of the inherent risk:
(click to enlarge)
Source: Bloomberg; Dividend Yield is most recently announced net dividend, annualized based on the dividend frequency
Since my inaugural article on the Dividend Aristocrats last year, Abbvie (ABBV) was added to the index after its split from Abbott (ABT), oil and gas giant Chevron (CVX) made the list, flow control equipment manufacturer Pentair (PNR) hit its twenty-fifth consecutive year of increased dividends, and healthcare supply distributor Cardinal Health (CAH) was also added. The only company that fell from the list was the aforementioned Pitney Bowes, formerly the highest yielding component, which failed to meet the index's revised minimum float market cap of $2bn at the December rebalancing.
While the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats does not have a readily available ETF, State Street does administer an exchange traded fund, the SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY), that tracks the highly overlapped S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index. The Index is designed to measure the performance of the 60 highest dividend yielding S&P Composite 1500 Index constituents (current holdings 84) that have followed a managed-dividends policy of consistently increasing dividends every year for at least 25 consecutive years. The Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. Below is the historical returns of the S&P 500, the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index (began in 1999), and the ETF which replicates this index (began in 2006).
As you can see below, SDY has lagged the Dividend Aristocrats since inception. Part of this underperformance is likely attributable to SDY's focus on high dividend payers (PBI is the largest constituent), which have underperformed over this period, and the equal weight nature of the Dividend Aristocrats Index. While SDY has lagged the Dividend Aristocrats, it still has outperformed the S&P 500 while exhibiting only three-quarters of the volatility.
(click to enlarge)
Dividend Aristocrat investing has produced higher risk-adjusted returns over very long time horizons, and should be considered as part of your longer-term strategic equity allocation. Understanding the historical risk/return patterns of these steady dividend payers versus the broader market should help influence more tactical asset allocation decisions.
Links to Dividend Aristocrats constituents:
3M (MMM), Aflac (AFL), AT&T (T), Abbott Labs , Abbvie Inc , Air Products and Chemicals (APD), Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Automatic Data Processing (ADP), CR Bard (BCR), Becton Dickinson (BDX), Bemis (BMS), Brown-Forman (BF.B), Cardinal Health , Chubb (CB), Cincinnati Financial (CINF), Cintas (CTAS), Clorox (CLX), Coca-Cola (KO), Colgate-Palmolive (CL),Chevron , Consolidated Edison (ED), Dover (DOV), Ecolab (ECL), Emerson Electric (EMR), Exxon Mobil (XOM), Family Dollar Stores (FDO), Franklin Resources (BEN), Genuine Parts (GPC), W.W. Grainger (GWW), HCP (HCP), Hormel Foods (HRL), Illinois Tool Works (ITW), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Kimberly Clark (KMB), Leggett & Platt (LEG), Lowe's (LOW), McCormick & Co (MKC), McDonald's (MCD), McGraw Hill (MHP), Medtronic (MDT), Nucor (NUE), PPG Industries (PPG), PepsiCo (PEP), Proctor & Gamble (PG), Pentair , Sherwin Williams (SHW), Sigma Aldrich (SIAL), Stanley Black and Decker (SWK), Sysco (SYY), T. Rowe Price (TROW), Target (TGT), VF Corp (VFC), Wal-Mart (WMT), Walgreen (WAG).
Constituents in S&P HY Dividend Aristocrats and SDY Not Listed Above:
AO Smith Corp (AOS), Atmos Energy (ATO), Commerce Bancshares (CBSH), Carlisle Companies (CSL), Clarcor (CLC), Diebold (DBD), Energen (EGN), Eaton Vance (EV), Federal Realty Trust (FRT), General Dynamics (GD), Linear Technology Corp (LLTC), MDU Resources Group (MDU), Nordson Corp (NDSN), National Fuel Gas (NFG), National Retail Properties Inc (NNN), Old Republic (ORI), Piedmont Natural Gas (PNY), Pitney Bowes , Praxair (PX), Questar (STR), RPM (RPM), Roper Industries (ROP), SEI Investments (SEIC), Sonoco (SON), Telephone & Data Systems (TDS), UGI Corp (UGI), Valspar (VAL), Vectren (VVC), WGL Holdings (WGL), Aqua America (WTR).


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COUNTRY WESTERN DANCE: 6:30 p.m. Admission by donation. Music by Robert Triplett and his Starlight Band. Nitro Senior Center, 21st Street and Second Avenue, Nitro. Call 304-755-2385.
DON GIBSON AND THE VELVETONES: 7 to 10 p.m. Cover $8. '50s and '60s classic rock. The Bidder Barn, 38981 Coal River Road, Whitesville. Call 304-415-3807.
WEST VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: "A Late Quartet," 5:30 p.m., followed by music from the Montclaire String Quartet; "A Royal Affair," 7:30 p.m.; "Beasts of the Southern Wild" at 9:55 p.m. "Miracle Boy" will screen in advance at 9:55 p.m., Capitol Center Theater, 123 Summers St. Tickets are $8 each or six for $30. Student tickets are $5. Visit www.wviff.org.
PAJANIMALS MEET AND GREET: 11 a.m. Free. Picnic Place Food Court, Charleston Town Center Mall. Call 304-345-9526.
OSBRA EYE MEMORIAL WILDFLOWER WALKS: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration from 8:30 to 9 a.m. at the swimming pool area of Kanawha State Forest. The cost is $5 for adults and $2 for those under age 16. A variety of walks include focuses on wildflowers, medicinal/edible plants, trees, beginning and advanced birding, photography and more. Bring a camera and binoculars. Door prizes, a raffle and hot dog sale will also be featured. Presented by Kanawha State Forest Foundation. Call 304-558-3500.
AARON DOBSON AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: 2 to 4 p.m. Autographs and photo ops with the standout Marshall wide receiver and NFL draft prospect are $25 each. Collectibles Etc., 900 Nitro Market Place, Cross Lanes. Call 304-776-0020.
HEART OF APPALACHIA ROLLER DERBY VS. APPALACHIAN HELL BETTIES: 6 p.m. Adults $10, Ages 5 to 12 $5. Flat-track roller derby. Coonskin Armory. Call 304-206-8108.
EARTH DAY CELEBRATION: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Appalachian South Folklife Center in Pipestem. The 10th annual Music, Arts and Activism festival celebrating Earth Day. The free event features live music, a yoga class, a holistic fair and more. Call 304-425-6425 or visit www.earthdaywv.com.
PLAY AUDITIONS: 1 to 4 p.m. Alban Arts Center will hold auditions for "The Princess of Rome, Ohio." Parts are available for one male and female teen, two women age 30 and three men age 30-40. The play, a dark comedy by West Virginia playwright Jonathan Joy, will be staged June 28-30 and July 5-7. 65 Olde Main St., St. Albans. Call 304-721-8896 or visit www.albanartscenter.com.


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CD player, 2-speakers, good condition, $40 OBO. 213-992-1019
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1 Pair of Acoustic Research "The Edge" Indoor/Outdoor Speakers Price: $60 Specs: • Power output: 100 watts • Frequency response: 70-20,0...
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This is the apartment you have been waiting for. This new construction highrise in PRIME Hell's Kitchen has every amenity you could possibly dream of! Doorman, gym, laundry, lounge, and one of the best roof decks in all of Manhattan!
The apartment is a BEAUTIFUL corner unit with floor to ceiling windows that wrap all the way around the apartment! Off of the living room is a generous balcony with Expansive views all the way down to the statue of liberty! And when the fireworks come, you will have front row seats from your living room!
Contact Tyler right away to schedule a viewing!


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Published: Oct. 18, 2010
Updated: Oct. 18, 2010
After having an unsuccessful laminectomy at another hospital in December 2007, I was referred to Dr. Carlos Bagley at Duke.
From the first office visit, I knew I was at the right place. He immediately put me at ease and never once did I feel rushed when asking questions or voicing concerns. It was as if I was his only patient.
Before having surgery, Dr. Bagley exhausted all options trying to avoid fusion. He recommended physical therapy and when that didn't work, I tried spinal steroid injections. Neither relieved the constant pain. Therefore, the only other option at that point was fusion.
The morning of surgery in June of 2008, I was a nervous wreck. The entire staff in pre-op was fantastic and somehow managed to calm me down. Even after having CT scans, x-rays, mylogram, and MRI, my back still proved to have a few surprises for Dr. Bagley. I had a L2-L5 laminectomy, bilateral foraminotomies, and T10 to pelvis fixation and fusion. He still claims "it's the worse back he has ever seen." I am so thankful he was my surgeon.
While recuperating at Duke after the procedure, it felt like he was constantly at my bedside -- morning, noon and night. I swear the man never slept. His concern for me was overwhelming -- that is still the way I feel over two years later.
His team -- including Chandra Peoples, Delisa Smith, the nursing and support staff in Durham and Raleigh -- are perfectionists, caring, and very efficient.