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The 2014 Ozone Frenzy Snowkite is known as a high performance freestyle kite created for the intermediate to advanced snowkiters who demand performance and versatility.
For the 2014 Ozone Frenzy Snowkite design we wiped the drawing board clean, working off of feedback from our team of pro riders we developed an outstanding kite. Riders that are looking for a do it all kite with performance, stability and safety for the ultimate Freeride and Freestyle experience. After a full winter of prototyping and development we have come up with a new planform, higher arc, new line layout and performance profile. The 2014 design has fulfilled this requirement and will take the potential of the sport to new levels. The Frenzy name is a classic, known and loved by many snowkiters. It has been the benchmark of snowkite design since it was first released to the public in winter of 2002/3 and helped kick start the amazing sport as we know it now. This year we are very proud of the design as we know that this is the best yet.
The total flag out option is extremely useful when landing the 2014 Ozone Frenzy Snowkite in extreme conditions. It allows you to completely kill the power to pack up safely. We still recommend that you land the kite using the webbing brake handle to cleanly stall the kite if conditions permit i.e. when taking a break or finished for the day. The 2014 Ozone Frenzy Snowkite has massive pop, tight turn speed and crisp responsive handling. If you are into fast mountain riding, carving massive tracks in the powder or boosting huge handle passes from snowy wind lips then this is the kite for you.
2014 Ozone Frenzy Features
2014 Ozone Frenzy Range of Use
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Special Price: $879.00
The HQ Montana VII Snowkite offers one of the most stable and progressive kites on the market. The new profile of the HQ Montana VII Snowkite redefines the standard for lift and hang time. The extreme versatility of the HQ Montana VII Snowkite and the precise handling is a perfect fit for riders who want to progress. A safe, but progressive way to play in the mountains.
The smaller kites in the range have a huge wind range and fly in much higher wind than ever before. The HQ Montana VII Snowkite is perfect for freestyle and big airs on the flats. It will also amaze you in the backcountry.
HQ Montana VII Snowkite Highlights
HQ Montana VII Snowkite Sizes
7 ~ 9 ~ 12 ~ 14m
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The 2014 Peter Lynn Lynx has been developed with the highest quality materials and state of the art production techniques as an "all-round" cruising kite that will have you ride comfortably for hours. The 2014 Peter Lynn Lynxs famous stability paired with a perfectly balanced Aspect Ratio results in a kite that is easy to control yet agile enough to keep you smiling for many sessions to come.
The 2014 Peter Lynn Lynx is rigged with incredibly strong frictionless Ronstan® Series 20 Orbit block pulley's, a comfortable self landing handle and a flag out safety system that keeps you safe in emergency situations The 2014 Peter Lynn Lynx depower foil is your ticket to endless fresh powder snowkite sessions and unlimited backcountry adventures. Its forgiving nature and ease of use make it the perfect snowkite for riders of all skill levels. Starters will appreciate the kites smooth & constant power delivery and superb stability. Intermediate flyers will enjoy its acceleration and snappy control through the bar and even advanced riders will be amazed at its performance in the more challenging conditions.
Peter Lynn Lynx Kite Characteristics
Peter Lynn Lynx Kite Features
Peter Lynn Lynx Kite Infographics
Peter Lynn Lynx Kite Colors
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With the 2014 Flysurfer Peak we are taking the next step and after 1.5 years of development, our young developer from Belgium, Reinhard Paelink who is the head of the PEAK project has finally realised his dream and created the first single-skin kite with a huge depower range.
We always have an open system to developing new projects to give kitesports more variety and opportunities to achieve the best possible product. Ever since our brand was founded kite landboarding and Snowkiting have been integral parts of Flysurfer's development outlook. This is why the development of strong performing land-kites is as close to our hearts as the development of kitesurf products. With the PEAK we are taking the next step and after 1.5 years of development, our young developer from Belgium, Reinhard Paelink who is the head of the PEAK project has finally realised his dream and created the first single-skin kite with a huge depower range. The PEAK sets new standards in regards to low-end power, pack size and weight. The extreme weight reduction accomplished by removing the bottom sail allows the kite to generate a lot more power. Creating a single skin kite with depower is an incredibly difficult and complex challenge. It has been achieved by combining knowledge from soft kites, inflatable kites and paragliding with creativity and a lot of fine tuning to create a completely new solution.
Added value
The PEAK is your personal lift to the summit of mountains. No pre inflating the kite or pumping – you are ready to go immediately. The lightest breeze and the PEAK will pull you to locations which previously seemed unreachable. The PEAK is super easy to handle even in extreme low wind conditions allowing you to get going earlier. However the PEAK is also easy to control in strong winds due to the direct and effective depower. To recap – you can have super easy control in light and strong winds with only one kite size and a super small pack size. For individual preference you can adjust the bar setup between freestyle or touring mode. Additionally we put a great deal into the PEAK's build quality giving the durability associated with Flysurfer products. Besides the super small pack size, the real showstopper is how quick to set up the PEAK is. In seconds the PEAK can be unpacked and ready to fly. It can be launched and landed from any surface without any assistance and quickly packed away in its backpack. The PEAK saves time and hassle and offers you absolute independence.
When it comes to safety – we do not compromise! The PEAK has incredible stability in gusty conditions and an effective and direct depower. The 4-line bar is lightweight and very compact. When activated, the frontline safety (FLS) makes the PEAK flag out downwind with minimal pull. The Infinity 2.0 quick release can be re-assembled within seconds so your PEAK is ready to fly again. Backstall landings for short snowkite breaks work even easier with single-skin kites.
Universal Application
The PEAK is available in 6.0m and 9.0m ready-to-fly including control bar and lines. The PEAK is ideally suited for backcountry touring, freeride Snowkiting, kite landboarding or buggying and of course for expeditions or teaching. With short lines it is also great for urban street kiting. The PEAK fits easily in any travel bag so you can always take the PEAK with you on your next trip. Super simple and easy handling makes it ideal for children or beginners. The PEAK can be ordered with a special kite bag which is a super light trekking backpack equipped with an integrated harness. Put your hydration pack in it and you are good to go. The straps are fixed around your waist and thighs and the chickenloop attaches through metal loops. This saves on packing a bulky and heavy harness when you want to travel light. The PEAK can be set up anywhere and is ready to go immediately, no matter where – on a snow plateau, in a field, on the beach, on asphalt or even in the dessert. Lift your game with the new PEAK by Flysurfer!
2014 Flysurfer Peak Features
Innovative single-skin depower concept
This is a first in the kite market! Compared to its ram-air double-skin cousins in our line-up, the PEAK has no bottom sail resulting in a huge reduction in weight and more performance per square metre. The power is controllable due to the efficiency of the PEAK's depower system. The PEAK definitely sets new standards in regards to low-end, wind-range and pack size.
Unbelievable low-end performance
No other depower kite will get you going as early as the PEAK. At 3 to 4 knots the PEAK is ready to go on snow or land and handles well.
Great depower range
The PEAK has a lot of power per square metre considering that it is a depower kite. Due to reinforcements on the trailing edge as well as the leading edge the PEAK keeps its profile when being depowered giving it a great wind-range. The PEAK 6.0m feels like a conventional 10m soft-kite or leading edge inflatable kite. It is usable from 3 to 4 knots up to 20 knots (even more with shorter lines). This can save you the purchase of additional kites for the same wind-range.
Minimalistic pack-size
Due to a super small pack-size of only 56x13x13cm for a 6.0m ready-to-fly PEAK – it fits easily in any travel bag. This can save costs on additional sports equipment charges. It is the perfect kite to squeeze into your bags when going on your annual family ski holiday and we are sure you will not be the only one to enjoy it!
Ultra light
The light weight of only 1.58kg (6.0m ready-to-fly) is one of a kind. When going on a skiing tour the PEAK is not an extra burden but a great toy that may even get you to spots you had not thought of before. It is light enough to carry when there is only a small possibility of a snowkite session on a mountain plateau or in the back-country. Due to its light weight the PEAK can be looped easily even in light winds making climbing mountains a breeze.
Ultra light bar-setup
For individual preference you can adjust the ultra light bar setup from freeride mode into touring mode within seconds. To do this simply re-adjust the trimmer knot.
No compromise on safety
The 4-line bar is lightweight and very compact. When activated, the frontline safety (FLS) makes the PEAK flag out downwind with minimal pull. The Infinity 2.0 quick release can be re-assembled within seconds so your PEAK is ready to fly again.
Quality of workmanship and durability
With the PEAK we remain true to our Flysurfer philosophy to make our products durable. As an additional service we offer the Flysurfer 6-month free repair warranty.
Fast and easy handling
No pre-inflating or pumping is necessary – the PEAK unpacks extremely quickly and is ready to go in the blink of an eye. The PEAK can be launched and landed on any kind of surface unassisted. Being easy to handle and quick to pack up after a session saves you time and a lot of hassle. This independence opens up a lot of possibilities.
Touring bag with integrated kite harness
This optional extra is a light trekking backpack with an integrated harness in which you can put conventional hydration packs. The straps on the touring bag attach around your waist and thighs and the chicken loop attaches via a special metal loops. This saves the need to bring a standard bulky and heavy harness. This bag is not a harness replacement, its designed for maximum weight savings for expeditions and freeriding.
Universal application
On land or snow, with a landboard or buggy, skis or snowboards, freeride to teaching purposes, adults or children, begginers or advanced. The PEAK is your ultimate travel companion and a lot more. We might even see the occasional PEAK out on the water…
2014 Flysurfer Peak Technicial Data
|Area (projected)
|Area ratio
|Change of the projected size when powering up
|Aspect Ratio
|Depth of the profile (cm)
|Span in cm (flat size)
|Line length (m)
|Weight Kite only (Kg)
|Weight "ready to fly" (Kg)
|Minimum packing size HxLxW
|56 x 13 x 13
|56 x 16 x 16
2014 Flysurfer Peak Windrange in knots
The Wind Range Chart is to be used as a point of reference. It is based on a rider who weighs around 75kg (165lbs.) Actual use will vary depending on your weight, skill level, board size and the wind conditions on the Water or Land. When choosing the Kite size always use common sense and always choose a smaller size if you are not sure, especially when using the kite on land.
6.0m = 3 -16 (max. 20) / 9.0m = 3 -12 (max. 15)
2014 Flysurfer Peak Size
6.0m - 9.0m
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The 2014 Ozone Access Snowkite was designed with the idea in mind of creating an entry level snowkite and making the learning process of Snowkiting as safe and easy as possible.
Even though the 2014 Ozone Access Snowkite was originally designed for entry level riders and teaching, it remains a firm favorite for experienced riders who require ultra stability in turbulent high mountain conditions. Most of our International team riders keep a 4m or a 6m in their quiver and would not be caught without it for those trips to the mountains. The Access has been a favorite for expeditions where it is essential to have safe and easy to use kites in extreme conditions. The 2014 Ozone Access Snowkite has been redesigned from the ground up, it has a newly developed profile, progressive arc and optimised planform. The latest design of this already classic kite has more stability even at low angles of attack due to a specifically created profile. The progressive arc means that the kite is rock solid in the air but still has a quick turning speed and responsive bar feeling. The low aspect planform ensures that this kite will work in the gustiest of conditions but still delivers constant power and progressive pull.
The 2014 Ozone Access Snowkite has a full Flag-out safety system which allows a beginner to land the kite easily in case of an uncontrolled situation. We still recommend that you land the kite using the webbing brake handle to cleanly stall the kite if conditions permit i.e. when taking a break or finished for the day. This has helped to make the Access a great teaching tool and has become the kite of choice for top snowkite schools across the globe. The design goal of the 2014 Ozone Access Snowkite is to allow total new comers to enjoy this sport on their very first session. We have made this possible by creating an incredibly stable kite which has a constant pull and a large wind range. If you are new to the sport or if you are an occasional snowkiter then the Access is the kite that you need to learn the basics of Snowkiting and progress to find out what this incredible sport can offer.
2014 Ozone Access Snowkite Features
2014 Ozone Access Snowkite Range of Use
Learn More


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Pastor's Intro to Social Media
Thank You for Stopping By -
All over the country ministry leaders and Pastors are trying to figure out how to maximize this new things called Social Media. Many have heard of the wonders of Facebook Twitter and Youtube. But the small question still remains.
How Do I Use It and Be Effective
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Wilkinson ponders Toulon future
ESPN Staff
December 10, 2012
Jonny Wilkinson has enjoyed a new lease of life since swapping the Premiership for the Top 14 © Getty Images
Jonny Wilkinson looks set to sign a new deal with French giants Toulon after revealing he has never been happier in his career.
The 33-year-old fly-half signed a one-year contract extension last year that will expire at the end of the current season but the former England talisman, who has been linked with a return to the Test match stage with the British & Irish Lions next year, has hinted that he is willing to extend his stay in the Top 14 where he has enjoyed a new lease of life since quitting the English Premiership in 2009.
"I have never been as happy as I am to play for Toulon," Wilkinson told Midi Olympique when asked about his plans beyond this season. "Wearing the colours of RCT, representing the region of Toulon is the most beautiful thing in my career. But my decision will be based on what is good of the team. The atmosphere within the group is fantastic, perfect and I am enjoying myself. Currently, Toulon is perfect for me. The coach, the team... everything is perfect."
Toulon, who were beaten in the Top 14 and Amlin Challenge Cup finals last season and are chasing both domestic and Heineken Cup glory this term, are unlikely to hesitate if offered the chance to re-sign Wilkinson, who has also expressed a desire to move into coaching, given his impact and continuing influence on their fortunes and despite the presence of France fly-half Frederic Michalak in their ranks. But they, like Toulon's passionate supporters, face an anxious wait in the next couple of months with a decision expected in February.
"Maybe, we'll see, it is hard to say," added Wilkinson when asked if a new one-year deal was in the offing. "It is a real pleasure to drive to Berg [Toulon's training base] every morning. But I'm 33 years old and will soon be 34. I can just tell you that the most beautiful thing that is happened in my Rugby life is coming to play for Toulon."
Wilkinson's immediate focus will be on Toulon's return clash with Sale Sharks this weekend having helped his side extend their unbeaten run in this season's Heineken Cup with a 12-point haul in their 17-6 victory at Salford City Stadium on Saturday. Beyond that there is also Toulon's quest for a first Top 14 title since 1992, with the big-spenders currently top of the table.
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
|Live Scores
Leinster favourites for three on the bounce
ESPN looks at the forthcoming season of the Guinness PRO12 and assesses how each of the 12 teams will do
"Like the Treaty of Versailles, despite all the promises, the new Participation Agreement is certainly not the final solution." John Taylor writes
The emotional rollercoaster of Kingsholm
"We know where we are going and we know where we want to get but how long that will take is anybody's guess." David Humphreys on his plans for Gloucester
The two sides of the Premiership coin
Jim Mallinder and Justin Burnell were sat on the same top table, but in different circumstances. Tom Hamilton reports on the Aviva Premiership season launch


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Finn Comfort uses premium quality leathers and natural cork and latex. Old world craftsmanship combined with orthopedic design produces exceptionally comfortable shoes, sandals and clogs.
Finn Comfort's Prevention Series is designed to help avert foot injuries by protecting your feet from friction and abrasion. The design and construction helps prevent simple problems from becoming more serious.
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Women's Pearl Izumi® Elite In-R-Cool Tri Race Short :: Designed for both training and racing, the Women's ELITE In-R-Cool® Tri Race Short is constructed with our innovative In-R-Cool® fabric technology. Superior cooling and sun protection combined with an anti-odor, thermal-regulating chamois offer exceptional performance. This short is for those who prefer a lower rise and shorter inseam than our Women's ELITE In-R-Cool® Tri Short.
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America has emerged bruised, bloodied and officially downgraded from its latest super-crisis, this one completely manufactured by a small band of radical Republicans in order to extort - yes, that's the accurate term, look it up - trillions of dollars in spending cuts they never could've achieved through normal legislative means.
The William S. Hart PONY League Mustang 10U All-Stars won the Mustang World Series in Burleson, Tex. on Saturday with a 7-2 victory over Puerto Rico.
A San Fernando Valley-area doctor announced Monday he is running for Congress in California's 25th District, which includes the Santa Clarita Valley.
COC golf tournament
A line of youngsters with their hands on each others' shoulders snaked through the grass laughing and swaying their hips.
It's just another Santa Clarita Valley Wednesday in July, if you ignore the clouds huddled together, painting the sky an ominous gray.
Senior lunch menu
With long, lazy summer months stretching their dollars, teens in the Santa Clarita Valley have saved and spent selectively, reflecting trends in teen spending nationwide.
I read the letter by Richard Myers ("Lunetta is wrong on illegal immigration," Aug. 2) and must comment on cracking down on the employers that hire them will not stop them.
An open letter to all who post comments at The-Signal.com:
What is going on with The Signal's attack on the U.S. Postal Service ("I'm just a man in search of my mail," Aug. 2, and "A Dear John letter to the post office," Aug. 1)?
In response to "Redevelopment vital to success," a very good article by The Signal Editorial Board in the July 31 opinion page:
I had just finished shopping for ammunition at Walmart. Uncle Earl loves the cheap shotgun shells, and I always try to pick up a box for him when I'm in the store.
Sheriff's deputies responded to a Canyon Country neighborhood early Sunday morning after receiving reports of a drive-by shooting on the 18000 block of Nearbroook Street.
The Whittaker-Bermite Citizens Advisory Group is due to meet Wednesday night for an update on the progress of the cleanup and on the spread of perchlorate.
Scott and Vanessa Wilk have made Santa Clarita Valley their home for nearly 25 years, and last year, he was honored to be elected to the 38th Assembly District.
Moazzem Chowdhury has lived in the United States for over 25 years and the city of Santa Clarita has been his home for over 20 years. Moazzem, Jeenat, his wife of 30 years, and his son and daughter all consider themselves blessed to live here.
Dear Santa Clarita friends and neighbors,
My wife Pamela and I moved to Santa Clarita in 1965. We raised two children and have five gorgeous grandchildren. Four generations of our family live in Santa Clarita.
This summer, the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce will host the third annual Patriot Luncheon on July 11 at the Hyatt Regency Valencia.
Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich will address the Santa Clarita Valley business and community leaders on May 1 at the fifth annual State of the County Luncheon.
We all know that perception often influences our decisions, yet we catch ourselves and become reminded that what we perceive isn't always what's really going on. With the constant barrage of information available in today's 24/7 world, it's important to not get caught up in the day-to-day market volatility and news headlines. That daily hype doesn't always dovetail with what Wells Fargo Advisors top strategists are observing in the financial marketplace.
Bayless is…
With everything from nationally ranked academic programs to effective career education opportunities and college placement services, Hart district students are afforded every opportunity to excel in an increasingly competitive academic environment.
Whether priorities are schools, recreation or convenience and friendly neighborhoods, home buyers are finding that Fair Oaks Ranch by Pardee Homes fills the bill.


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The release of "The Dark Knight Trilogy: Ultimate Collector's Edition" in stores today included Christian Bale's Batman screen test for "Batman Begins," a clip that went online over the weekend and I reported about here.
Now, photos have also come out of further screen tests included in the set including Anne Hathaway audition as Catwoman, Tom Hardy's wardrobe test for Bane, Aaron Eckhart's makeup test for Two Face, and Cillian Murphy's Batman audition in the Val Kilmer Batsuit. Check out the pics below:
There's also a slickly done ten-minute retrospective of the entire Nolan Batman trilogy which you can see below:


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Household Debt Fell by 3.6% in 2012
February 5th, 2013
According to data released by the Bank of Spain, household debt fell by 3.6% in 2012, reaching 835,342 million euros, compared with the 870,960 million euros recorded at the end of 2011, bringing household debt back to 2007 pre-crisis levels.
Family debt fell by 7,387 million euros in December over the previous month, as a result of the transfer of real estate assets and household loans to the so-called 'bad bank' (Sareb), said sources from the Bank.
Household debt was particularly affected year-on-year by the decline in consumer credit over the past year, which fell by 4%, to stand at 190,310 million euros.
Similarly, mortgage debt dropped by 3.5% year-on-year, and stood at 642,043 million euros, representing 76.8% of the total household debt.
El Economista reported that this ratio has been maintained for several years, since the fall in housing investment has paralleled that of the total debt, so that the amount that families spend on their homes occupies the majority of their savings.
Corporate Debt Fell More Than 5%
Corporate debt fell by 5.2% in 2012 year-on-year and totalled 1.155 billion euros, its lowest level since June 2007, while in relation to November it registered a drop of 3.4%, also due to the transfer of some real estate assets and company loans to the Sareb.
The year-on-year decline in this balance is explained by lower lending by resident credit institutions and off-balance securitized loans, which fell by 8%, to 736,192 million euros.
In contrast, debt securities grew by 12.5% year-on-year in 2012, to 73,100 million euros, while foreign lending fell by 1.6% compared to 2011, to 346,059 million euros.


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We all know that spring-training wins and losses don't mean much. Look at last year's, for example: The Twins went 20-12 in the spring, then lost 99 games during the regular season, and the Diamondbacks, who were 12-25, went on to win 94 games and the NL West title.
But the 1-10 mark the Atlanta Braves have posted so far this spring season has to be a cause for some alarm for the team and its fans. Everyone talks about the Red Sox' historic collapse in 2011, but the Braves nearly matched that with a collapse of their own; they had an 8½ game lead in the NL wild card race on Sept. 1, only to lose out, as did Boston, on the season's final day.
And though spring training stats also don't necessarily portend anything, Braves management has to be concerned about Jason Heyward, who is just 4-for-24 with one extra-base hit (a double) and eight strikeouts. Heyward, who is still just 22, was supposed to be The Next Big Thing in the National League, but after a strong rookie season got him a second-place finish in 2010 Rookie of the Year voting, he had an injury-filled and disappointing season in 2011.
And then there's Chipper Jones, who will be 40 next month. Dave O'Brien:
"I've said it a million times, it's hell getting old," said Jones, who'll be 40 next month and sounds as if he's leaning increasingly toward retirement after this season.
"The body is starting to tell me every morning when I wake up that it's getting close," he said. "I'm signed through the end of this year. If I play in a certain amount of games, I got an option for next year. I don't know what next year entails.
"I don't know if I can make it through this year."
Despite his age and the fact that, as he told O'Brien, "I've got no meniscus in the right knee", Jones had a pretty good year in 2011 at age 39: .275/.344/.470 with 18 HR in 126 games; his 123 OPS+ says he's still a good player, or was a year ago, at least.
Then there are some potential starting pitching issues:
Right-hander Tim Hudson, coming off back surgery, likely is out until at least May 1. Two other righties, Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens, remain physical questions, and another, Brandon Beachy, has pitched poorly this spring.
And will the huge workloads that Jonny Venters, Craig Kimbrel and Eric O`Flaherty put in a year ago -- and their failures in September were a big reason the Braves collapsed -- continue in 2012?
Couple that with the fact that in addition to the always-strong Phillies, the Nationals and Marlins have improved considerably over the winter and are expected to contend for a playoff position, and it's easy to see how the Braves could be set up for a big fall this year.
Or maybe it's just like last year's Diamondbacks, a team that struggled in games that didn't mean anything, and when the April bell rang, they were ready to go.


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For Your Consideration: Syria
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 04 September 2013 16:56
- Written by Super User
By CHARLIE ALLO
Contributing Writer
The potential involvement into the problems that are occurring in Syria is too important to ignore, so the series of Straight Talk will have to be put on hold for now.
The Nation is in the process of evaluating what, if anything, action the country should take in regards to the slaughter that is taking place in Syria.
The President took it upon himself to suggest that if the Syrian government used chemical weapons on its citizens, that they will have crossed a red line in the sand that our country could not tolerate, and we would take strong actions to prevent any further use of chemical weapons.
It is being reported that chemical weapons have been used at least three times since the President's statement was issued, and yet no action has been taken by this administration to back up the President's warning. Recent developments have called into question the rationale for doing anything involving the overt use of the military force to show the Nation's concern over the use of chemical warfare being employed in Syria.
There are a number of aspects that the nation should consider before it commits to the action that it is contemplating. The President is responsible for the position that the Nation finds itself in today; his statement went beyond saying that the Nation would find the use of chemical warfare unacceptable, he implied that we would take military action in the event of the use of chemical weapons.
The first portion of the statement most people would find acceptable, but committing the Nation to take an action that can be considered an act of war is not acceptable.
Make no mistake about the fact that we would be committing an act of war with the first missile that landed in Syria, even if it was only one projectile. This is not the same as firing a shot across the bow of a ship which lands in the water; if the missile were to hit the ship it would be an act of war, let's put things in the proper perspective.
There has been no support from the United Nations (UN) or NATO, the only support that the President has managed to receive is a tentative verbal commitment from France.
Most of our friends are suggesting that they would rather we don't take the action that the President is contemplating; there is a real and valid concern that the President's actions could lead to a broader conflict than the Present is expecting. The President has not laid out a clear plan to show what his objectives are and how they will be met.
The President has spent a good part of his time in office condemning the Nation's past actions, for doing what he is about to do, but with far less attention to the rules of the various bodies that he appears to be willing to ignore in this case. The motivation for this action must be called into question in light of his past statements and actions. Our military has been called upon, on almost a continual basis, to address problems around the world that don't directly impact this nation's security. We are about to involve the military in another action that does not impact us directly; this is being done during a time that the military is being hit by sequestration cutbacks, and with little or no support from those that have supported us in the past. No military strategist would approve of the President's plan given all the variables that would impact a decision to go or not to go, including the actions that the Commander-in-Chief has taken up to this point.
It should be clear to the President that the world does not look at the United States as being in a leadership role any longer; the President has accomplished yet another of his goals that he has suggest in the past.
It would appear that the President has managed to find a stone that can undo what the mythical Philosopher's stone is capable of, which is turning base metals into gold; his stone turns gold into lead.
It would seem that the Congress could call for a vote on the question of military engagement in Syria, without declaring war, this would let the President know where Congress stood on this question and it would give the electorate something to aid them in the selection of their representatives in the next election.
There will be repercussions if the President goes through with his current plan, and it would be nice to know what representatives are in favor of this ill-gotten plan.
Additional information, the President has called for Congress to take a vote on the actions he is proposing for Syria; this is an action that Congress should have called for as soon as the President pronouncement was made for military action in Syria.


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By Carol Ann Gregg/Staff Writer
Allied News
A New Jersey man accused of killing his father and stepmother and burning their bodies at their Slippery Rock-area home is still awaiting extradition.
On July 21, Colin Abbott, 40, waived his right to an extradition hearing in the Morris County Courthouse, Morristown, N.J.
Abbott, who resides in Randolph, N.J., has been charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of his father, Kenneth Abbott, 65, and stepmother, Celeste Abbott, 55.
According to a story in the Star Ledger--a newspaper that covers the town in which Abbott resides--Neill Hamilton, public defender, represented Abbott at a hearing July 21 before Superior Court Judge David Ironson. The public defender told the press on that day that his client said there would be no purpose in contesting extradition and that he wants to come to Pennsylvania to face the charges.
Tuesday, Abbott was still in the Morris County Correctional Facility, according to Corp. Scott Theriault, a correctional officer there.
Corp. Michael Mackey, a public relations officer with Pennsylvania State Police in Butler, said that state police have not yet finalized plans for bringing Abbott back to Pennsylvania.
Abbott is to be returned to Pennsylvania within 10 days of the hearing, or by Aug. 2.
According to an affidavit from Pennsylvania State Police, sometime between June 5 and 7, the Abbotts were killed at their residence. State police from Butler discovered what appeared to be charred human bones and a partial skull near two burn barrels and in one of the ponds on the Abbotts' property in Brady Township, Butler County. State police called in a forensic anthropology team from Mercyhurst College, Erie, to collect and inventory the remains. A call to the Butler County coroner's office inquiring whether the remains have been positively identified was not immediately returned on Tuesday.
Information in the affidavit submitted to District Court in Slippery Rock includes the story Abbott allegedly conveyed to relatives about their deaths.
According to the affidavit, Abbott had contacted relatives on June 11 and told them his father and stepmother were killed in a fiery crash. When Mrs. Abbott's daughter contacted New Jersey State Police to inquire about the details of the accident, she was informed that there was no such accident found in police records. New Jersey State Police then contacted Pennsylvania State Police to conduct a welfare visit at the Abbotts' residence. That is when the bodies were found.
According to Promise Gavel, a New Jersey criminal database, Abbott has a criminal record dating back to 1993.
In 1993, he was charged with two burglaries in Sussex County, which is adjacent to Morris County, N.J., where he lives. He pleaded guilty to both of them and was sentenced to three years' probation.
In 1996, Abbott was charged with attempted murder for allegedly running over a man with his truck in a bar fight at the Tidal Wave in Sussex County. The grand jury returned a "no bill," meaning it failed to indict him, according to the Sussex County prosecutor's office.
On July 2, 1999, he was arrested for resisting arrest following an altercation in which he hit a police officer in Sussex County. He pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to two years' probation, community service and incarceration in county jail for at least a year as a condition of his probation.
On other occasions, according to New Jersey court records, Abbott was charged with contempt and violating a court order with charges being downgraded and transferred to family court. Other charges included harassment, assault and forgery, with all charges downgraded and transferred to municipal court, reports state.
When Abbott is returned to Pennsylvania, he will be arraigned in district court in Butler County, a spokesperson from the Slippery Rock District Court office said on Tuesday.
The local community has been stunned by the couple's deaths.
Mike Bencic, owner of the Slippery Rock Sliders, and his wife Laura had become personal friends of the Abbotts prior to Ken Abbott becoming a partial owner of the team.
Bencic met Ken in 2010, the second season for the local baseball team.
"I had begun offering shares of the team to local businessmen in Slippery Rock," Bencic said. Someone had suggested that he offer shares to Ken, but had put it off for about 10 months. When Bencic finally considered Ken's offer, he sold him four shares of the team.
"When he came on board with the team, he took it very seriously and brought his expertise to our organization," Bencic said. Ken attended regular monthly meetings.
"His wife came to the games and she thought Ken would really enjoy them."
Ken Abbott had been an executive with Warner-Lambert, a pharmaceutical company, Bencic said. According to news stories from New Jersey, Warner-Lambert was purchased by Pfizer, also a pharmaceutical company, in 2000.
Bencic and his wife saw and talked to Celeste Abbott at the Sliders game on June 2. She told them that her husband and his son had gone to a car show.
"Ken was an avid car collector," Bencic said, noting that Ken owned an extensive car collection. He had also recently bought a few cars, locally. "The next game was on June 4 and they weren't there."
About June 5, a mutual friend of Ken Abbott's and Bencic's called Bencic to see if he had heard from the Abbotts, and mentioned that he had heard that they had been in an accident.
Bencic was shocked at the news.
"We decided not to announce their deaths at the ball park until we had more information," Bencic said.
The Bencics and other friends and family of the Abbotts have put together a car cruise and memorial tribute to the couple on Aug. 6. Mrs. Bencic has received word that Mrs. Abbott's sister, Barbara Hayes, is planning a memorial Mass at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Slippery Rock, on the same day.
Story was published July 27, 2011.


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Ray-Ban Mens Sunglasses
- In Stock
1 reviewColour: Gunmetal. Acetate.
- Delivery
- Next day delivery available
Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses
- In Stock
11 reviews
- Delivery
- Next day delivery available
Ray-Ban Gunmetal Aviator Mens Sunglasses
Providing the world with stylish sunglasses since 1937, Ray-Ban has revamped the eyewear game. A must have for any stylish man, they boast an impressive collection of sunglasses that mix their rich heritage with fashion and glamour.
The Aviator is one of Ray-Ban's signature pieces. Designed originally for pilots in the 1930's they have become a global phenomenon and are now worn by people from all types of backgrounds. These Ray-Ban Aviators feature the signature branding to the lenses and come in a buttoned protective case to ensure your new sunglasses stay scratch free for the season and beyond.
Ray-Ban's technical knowledge and experience ensures you'll be receiving the highest quality UV protection for your eyes whilst you catch them sunshine rays.
Useful info:
- Mens sunglasses by Ray-Ban
- Aviators
- Gunmetal appearance
- Ray-Ban branding to the lenses
- Includes protective Ray-Ban case
Oakley Straight Jacket Sunglasses
- In Stock
13 reviews
- Delivery
- Next day delivery available
Oakley Straight Jacket Mens Sunglasses
Oakley's sleek and ready style ensured they initially became an essential for all extreme sport enthusiasts, but they have also progressed into the fashion market by providing only the safest sunglasses to protect your eyes.
The Straight Jacket sunglasses achieve increased grip as you perspire. Featuring a modern, bold appearance and Oakley branding to the arms, these sunglasses are guaranteed to make an instant impression. Fitted with Plutonite lenses, they filter out 100% of all harmful UVA, UVB and UVC rays.
These Oakley sunglasses also include a Nylon case for protection, so your new sunglasses don't get scuffed or scratched!
Useful info:
- Mens sunglasses by Oakley
- Straight Jacket
- Plutonite lenses; filters 100% of UVA, UVB and UVC
- Glare reduction and balanced light transmission of Iridium lens coating
- Increased grip with perspiration
- Unobtainable earsocks and nosepads
Ray-Ban Mens Sunglasses
- Low stock, selling fast
22 reviews
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Ray-Ban Original Mens Sunglasses
It was back in 1937, when Ray Ban transformed the way the world saw eyewear. Their iconic status still stands today, and they bring these original sunglasses to the fore ahead of the new season.
A must-have of Hollywood celebrities and style conscious men, Ray-Ban blends together heritage, charm and effortless design - making them the most recognised and replicated brand of sunglasses.
These sunglasses tick all the right boxes image wise; they feature a dual nose bridge and signature branding to the arms and lenses.
Whether you're on the road, festival, or the beach, these Ray-Ban sunglasses give you ultimate sun protection in style.
Useful info:
- Mens sunglasses by Ray-Ban
- Dual nose bridge
- Signature branding to arms and lenses
- Tinted lens
- UV protection
- Includes protective case


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Groupon, a Chicago-based website that offers daily deals for local restaurants, cultural events and services, has filed a trademark and copyright infringement lawsuit against two Australian businesses, claiming they use "confusingly similar terms" to provide similar services, ChicagoBreakingBusiness.com reports.
According to the lawsuit, Groupon, which has used its federally-registered name since October 2008, alleges that the two businesses, Groupon Pty Ltd. and Scoopon Pty Ltd. were established this year and plan to provide identical services to the U.S. corporation.
The lawsuit, filed recently in U.S. District Court in Chicago, is seeking damages and Groupon wants the businesses to stop the use of the names.
According to the news provider, the website www.scoopon.com.au features discounts and coupons from various businesses, which is exactly what the Chicago-based company offers. In addition, www.groupon.com.au, which is not yet operating, claims to be "from the people behind Scoopon," the news source said.


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A Liberty soldier who was reported missing for nearly three days and left his home without his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder medication has been found, according to his family.
Liberty police said Zachary Hedden, 28, was reported missing on Monday. They said his last location was likely in the Highway 11 and Highway 26 areas and he could be in his 2007 maroon Suzuki Forenza.
Police said he had a gray in color Chinese hairless crested dog named Charlie with him.
Hedden suffers from PTSD from active duty in the military, police said.
Hedden is described has brown eyes, a military-style hair cut, brown hair, a goatee, is 5'7" tall and weighs approximately 250 pounds. Police said he has a nautical star tattoo on each side of his neck, a wrap around snake tattoo on his right wrist, an Illuminati (pyramid with eye) tattoo on his right arm, with wording tattooed on one of his hands.
On Wednesday, Hedden's wife Heather Hedden told FOX Carolina that he had gone camping and was on his way back home. Police confirmed his whereabouts a short time later.
Copyright 2013 FOX Carolina (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
Texas woman is suing Facebook over a fake profile.


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Students can now access Office 365 for free! Just follow the steps below.
- Go to the Office 365 Download Site linked here.
- Enter your full student email address as your username, and your student password to log into the site and access the download. (e.g. firstname.lastname@example.com)
- You must be a current student.
- Your desktop/laptop must be running a minimum of either Windows 7 or Windows 8 in order for Office 365 to install.
- You can install the product on up to 5 devices at a time.
In order to install Office 365 on your mobile device(s), you will need to go to the appropriate app store and download 'Office Mobile for Office 365'. This should be a free download.
If you have questions or need assistance, contact 1-800-MICROSOFT.


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"Whose Terms? A Glossary for Social Practice," Part 1/3
Lately, in the Department of Education, we've been considering how various indexes, particularly the glossary form, might be used to get specific about subjects that warrant further critical attention. Case in point is the recent collective glossary-building initiative "Whose Terms? New Perspectives on Social Practice." As a dual-platform program at the New Museum, the first round took place as a symposium on Saturday April 13; the second is an open call for short textual glossary entries (500… Read more


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Board of Governors
Established in 1967, Durham College has grown into a premier post-secondary choice for more than 9,000 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and nearly 1,400 apprentices.
The Board of Governors is our legal governing body and is responsible for the appointment of the external board members who sit as volunteer representatives from the local community. By virtue of office, the college president is a voting member of the board while four internal members are elected, one from each of the student, and support, academic and administrative staff constituencies. The Durham College Board of Governors is composed of 17 board members, including 12 externally appointed members, the president and four internally elected members.
Regulation 34/03 of the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act, 2002, has been amended by Regulation 169/10. On and after October 1, 2010, the external members of a board of governors shall be appointed on a rotating basis of one to three by the Lieutenant Governor in Council and/or the members of the board of Governors holding office at the time of the appointment. All members sit as volunteer representatives of the Board.
The Council also provides Board of Governors and Colleges as a whole with on-going:
- Guidance
- Support
- Oversight
The role of the Board of Governors includes, at a minimum:
- Establishing governance structures to enable the achievement of expected institutional outcomes with clear lines of communication and internal accountability.
- Setting the college vision, strategic direction and overall goals and outcomes within the context of the appropriate laws, government policies and local needs.
- Approving the college's annual business plan and budget and annual report.
- Hiring the president, delegating to the president accountability for the performance and operation of the college and evaluating the president's performance.
- Regularly assessing the attainment of corporate goals and outcomes by the president and the effectiveness of the board with respect to governance.
The above list is an excerpt from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities' Minister's Binding Policy Directive, Governance and Accountability Framework – Section 1.0 Governance and Accountability.


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In this edition of the Report, we check in on "The Battle of the Blues", take a look at possible buy low and sell high targets and talk about our Grizzly to watch.
Grizzly Bear Blues' Joe Mullinax went on with Phil Naessens to talk fantasy surprises, disappointments and "The Battle of the Blues" fantasy league. Give it a listen!
In this installment of the Grizzly Bear Blues Fantasy Report, "The Battle of the Blues" gets even more intense, players to pick up on the waiver wire due to injury and a Grizzly to watch.
How "The Battle of the Blues" is shaping up at the top early on, potential buy-low and sell-high trade targets and a Grizzly to watch the next two weeks.
The fantasy Thunderdome between Grizzly Bear Blues and Three Shades of Blue has officially begun! Who reigned supreme on draft night, and who overpaid for Tony Allen?
With "The Battle of the Blues" auction draft upon us, we take a look at who can help you out in later rounds and specific categories during your drafts.
The Battle of the Blues' draft is only 9 days away, and it is a certainty that multiple Grizzlies players will be up for auction. But who can you count on, and who will hurt your chances at fantasy...
Draft and League details on the ultimate Grizzly Blogger Smack-Down.
Who won the drawing to join GBB in fantasy basketball this season?
The Memphis Grizzlies Blogsphere is going Thunder Dome, and we need your help!
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Filed under: Twitter
Florida State University is the latest to learn that Twitter hashtag campaigns can go sideways quickly. Other examples: the NYPD, McDonalds, JPMorgan, Starbucks and the NFL.
Filed under: Twitter
Filed under: Twitter
"I call Twitter 'the microphone for morons'."
—Denver Broncos executive John Elway (@JohnElway), at the NFL's career development symposium this weekend.
Filed under: Twitter
In a word where consumers increasingly value transparency, Samsung's "Selfie Stunt, Part 2" is falling flat.
Filed under: Twitter
Filed under: Public Relations, Twitter
From Justine Sacco, Director of Corporate Communications at the publicly traded IAC/InterActiveCorp. If you are job hunting, there likely will be a position open there on Monday.
Filed under: Denver Broncos, Twitter
1. KMGH/Channel 7 vs. Fox31
2. Denver Broncos vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Filed under: Twitter
If you are looking for a quick way to follow Denver and Colorado media on Twitter, Eric Anderson at SE2 has put together a pretty comprehensive list.
Here's today's free PR tip: If you are drafting quotes for a client, make sure the client 1) reviews and approves the quotes and 2) agrees not to disavow them publicly.
That advice would have helped Campbell Levy of Aspen's Promo Communications. Levy reps Denver chef/restauranteur Frank Bonanno, who is engaged in a war of words Tweets with Westword over a Westword blog post that revealed his plan to open a new French-American restaurant and quoted Bonanno.
The problem is that Bonanno is claiming no knowledge of the information that lead to the blog post, which came from Promo Communications and included quotes from Bonanno. Here is the Twitter exchange so far:
Bonanno (@FrankBonanno):
@sarah_gore [The Westword blog post is based on] Bad information . . .I think there are even quotes in that story, which is odd . . .
@sarah_gore [Westword's Lori Midson] wrote what someone said I said. Thing is, I had a different deal working–but that blog [post] ended it.
Westword (@CafeWestword) responded:
LM: @FrankBonanno As you know, it was your PR person who e-mailed me with very specific info about your new place — with a quote from you.
Filed under: Twitter
From Mark Cuban, who apparently is unhappy with his current PR firm.
(Hat tip: PRNewser)
Paula Berg leaves Southwest Airlines to join Linhart, and then all (social media) hell breaks loose. Coincidence? I think not.
PRSA and Linhart are sponsoring a Tweetup on Thursday to welcome new PRSA members. Door prizes include two roundtrip airline tickets from Southwest Airlines. Details are:
5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 4
Cru Wine Bar, 1442 Larimer Street (in Larimer Square downtown)
Congratulations to Ef Rodriguez, who was named Westword's "Twit of the Week." In the accompanying Twitter interview, Rodriguez shares that he "was drawn to Twitter by the promise of high-fives and makeouts. While I have received neither, my incurable optimism spurs me ever onward."
Congratulations to CBS4, which posted its first 10 p.m. newscast ratings win in years. 9News GM Mark Cornetta blamed his station's second-place performance on "re-runs, specials and football (that) tend to skew the ratings results at this time of year," but we all know that the real reason CBS4 landed in first place is because of Misty Montano's twitter presence.
A digital billboard that combines an ad for the WPMI-TV news team with the station's live Twitter feed goes bad.
(Hat tip to Dan Welch)
PRSA Colorado is taking its PR Boost program for nonprofits to Twitter. A panel of local PR experts, including Gina Seamans, Bill Green, Lisa Cutter, Jane Dvorak and Kristy Bassuener, will answer questions from non-profits tomorrow (Wednesday), Nov. 4, from 11-11:45 a.m. MST. Click here for information on how to participate in – or just follow – the Twitter conversation.
Filed under: Cohn Marketing, Twitter
Cohn Marketing is sponsoring a Twitter Twongue Twister experiment. Details are at http://twonguetwister.com.
Filed under: Twitter
How important has Twitter become? From today's Washington Post:
"The State Department asked social networking site Twitter to delay scheduled maintenance earlier this week in order to avoid disrupting communications among tech-savvy Iranian citizens as they took to the streets to protest Friday's reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. …
" 'One of the areas where people are able to get out the word is through Twitter,' said a senior State Department official in a conversation with reporters, on condition of anonymity. 'They announced they were going to shut down their system for maintenance and we asked them not to.' "
Filed under: Twitter
Revolut!on Magazine compiles the list and the reasons:
- Amazon.com
- Hewlett-Packard
- eBay
- McDonald's
- Pepsi
- Vodafone
- EasyJet
- Gucci
(Hat tip to The Denver Egotist)
Filed under: Twitter
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Denver's Tennyson Center for Children will receive a $5,000 gift from Noble Energy if it can hit 1,000 Twitter followers by the end of today. So go to http://twitter.com/tennysoncenter and click on "follow." There are kids who desperately need your help.
Filed under: Digital Idea Media, HARO, Twitter
TrackVia, Digital Idea Media, Sarah Evans and HARO's Peter Shankman are jointly launching Media On Twitter, a powerful media database available to all Twitter users. The database — which is populated by Twitter users, vetted by editors and free to the entire community — allows users to sort media twitter IDs by beat, location, name or media outlet. (Disclosure: I am a partner in Digital Idea Media and TrackVia is a client).
Filed under: Denver Business Journal, Denver Post, Twitter, Wall Street Journal
Last week, it was the Wall Street Journal that discovered Twitter. This weekend, it was the Denver Post. And the Denver Business Journal is now on Twitter: http://twitter.com/denbizjournal.
Filed under: Twitter
Filed under: Twitter
Remember the old days when a spat between a reporter and PR or marketing person took place on the phone and only their friends and colleagues found out about it? Well, no longer.
(Hat tip to Sydney Ayers' Twitter account)
Filed under: Twitter
I'm sure the Vice President of Corporate Communications at FedEx takes some pride in living in Memphis, and I imagine he wasn't thrilled to have a high-priced vendor consultant denigrate it. But he probably also is wondering why his communications staff has such low self-esteem (and so much free time) that they find it necessary to write a formal (and catty) rebuttal and email it to all the bigwigs at FedEx and Ketchum.
And one last thought: Don't be stupid and tweet bad things about clients. You'd think a VP at a big agency would know better.


text: "As with other reviews on Classical Net of the Soli Deo Gloria Bach cantata series, Volume 26 is recommended. In this case recommended without hesitation. The singing is restrained yet committed; mention should also be made of the consistently fine singing of contralto Nathalie Stutzman; she manages to sing from 'on high' yet with a controlled immediacy that is very telling and totally at one with Bach's music. The chorus is clear and persuasive and John Eliot Gardiner's conducting of the English Baroque Soloists full of life yet also of respect. His familiarity with the works here presented graces and enhances with a lightness of touch matched only by its consistency."


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I would highly recommend this ring to any of my friends. .
I just wanted something to go with my other ring and this was just right amount of stones to shine enough. I haven't been disappointed by any jewelry I purchased at Overstock.
I bought this for my pinky finger. I love the way it looks it is very comfortable. If you are thinking about this ring it has alot of luster as long as you keep it clean
Usually leaves our warehouse in 1 business day. *
Items must be returned in new or unused condition and contain all original materials included with the shipment.
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** Most Oversize orders are delivered within 1-4 weeks. Some orders may take 6 weeks to be delivered.


text: Does anyone know if they are having one this year? I haven't heard when it will be. I think usually we have heard by now, but I haven't seen anything! Last year it was the week before the first game of the season, and we didn't go because we were already in Dallas, but this year we want to take the kids! I hope they are still doing it! If you have any info please share!


text: Please, help us reach our goal of 72! Wouldn't you love this shirt/hoodie? It's amazingly hilarious & quite stylish. If you order the hoodie/shirt but we don't reach our goal by the deadline, you will not, and I repeat, will NOT be charged, though you do need to enter your billing information to reserve the hoodie. Please, help us reach the goal! It's really an amazing product, such lovely word usage.


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Marie Stopes Procurement Officer Job in Nairobi Kenya (KShs 100K – 125K)
The Procurement Officer works in a team with the Stock / Warehouse Officer and reports to the Procurement Manager. S/he is part of a sub division of Corporate Services called Procurement and Logistics.
The purpose of this role is to support the process that ensures that all procurement of good and services in MSK across all activities and departments meets standards of quality, price, timeliness and volume.
Strategic Purpose of the Corporate Services Unit: Logistical, admin and HR support to all MSK staff and their work to ensure that it is supported to realise efficiencies, compliance and quality.
Job Title: Procurement Officer
The post holder commits to and is held accountable to Marie Stopes International global core values: mission driven, customer focused, results orientated, Pioneering, sustainable and people centered
Key Responsibilities
This role has three key responsibilities
- Prepares procurement plans for review and sign off and tracks and reports on progress to Procurement Manager
- Follows requests for purchases end to end ensuring efficiency and value for money on all purchases
- Provides training and support to field and other department staff
- Consolidated procurement plans.
- Cost effective / efficient procurement.
- Trained and well supported staff across MSK
- Analyses procurement requirements and selects the most appropriate methods based on interpretation and assessment of established policies, practices, and experience.
- Procurement plans in place and followed. Purchases of given volume showing value for money(cheapest, best, time)KAP study of staff
- Plans, organizes and leads the bid solicitation, requests for quotation, company profiles, and proposals, processes RFQ, RFP, developing bid evaluation criteria and guiding clients on stages of procurement.
- Drafts bid evaluation reports, ensures the integrity of the competitive process, facilitates bidder debriefings, and exercises appropriate judgement and tact while ensuring to protect confidential information.
- Monitors and reviews progress of contractual agreements, reviews and approves invoices for payment, resolves any problems that arise, performs post contract evaluations, creates and maintains procurement records, including electronic records in the MSK's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and other systems, ensuring accuracy and integrity of data
- Analyses, negotiates and drafts contractual agreements, ensuring appropriate terms and conditions are included to protect the interests of the MSK.
- Present accurate information to the panel and the bidders.
- Accurate analysis of the bids within 1 day upon receiving bids from the vendors
- RFQ/RFP processed within two working day upon receiving the request.
- Accurate and timely LPOs within one day after approval and sent to the vendors same day of approval
- Updated team members on procurement processes and policies.
- Bachelor Degree in Business Administration, Procurement or related fields from a recognised institution of higher learning or Diploma supported with equivalent experience.
- Professional qualification in supplies management.
- Membership of a professional supplies management body.
- The Candidate should have experience working with any ERP system.
- Minimum three years work experience especially in INGO
- Possess excellent IT skills
- Proven local and international procurement ability
- Ability to work with suppliers and build long term competitive supply relationships
- Good organisational skills
- Ability to influence and communicate effectively.
- Ability to work with minimum supervision.
- Thinking ahead and taking action to make the most of opportunities by finding the optimum solution
- Thinking creatively and outside of the box so that ideas generated create a positive outcome
- Communicating through active listening and good questioning techniques, using appropriate body language, ensuring information is clear and concise.
- Being responsive to changing priorities and demands
- Planning, prioritising and organising work to ensure work is accurate and deadlines are met
- Sharing information and knowledge whilst maintaining confidentiality
- Taking responsibility for keeping knowledge and skills updated and for seeking opportunities to develop further
- Awareness and understanding of goals, vision and values and how your role impacts on this and going the extra mile to meet role requirements
- Drive and determination to deliver results
- Taking responsibility for appropriate decisions that you make, and the actions and behaviour you demonstrate
- Openness to embracing change within the organisation and being able to adjust plans/activities accordingly
- Motivation towards achieving quality results to maximise potential
- Working as part of a team by being supportive, flexible and showing respect for each other
Applications quoting the position title with detailed CV, with contact details of 3 referees (1 of which should be immediate, 1 former supervisor and any other) should be submitted to:
[email protected]
Marie Stopes Kenya
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
NB: Please clearly indicate on the subject line as 'Procurement Officer'


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Divorce Busting
Divorce Busting:
A Step-by-Step Approach to Making Your Marriage Loving Again
Generic marriage-saving advice has no place in this book. Instead you will find a step-by-step, nuts-and-bolts approach to getting unstuck and making your marriage loving again.
In this ground-breaking book, Michele Weiner-Davis, MSW gives straightforward, effective advice on how couples can stay together instead of come apart.
Using case histories to illustrate her marriage-enriching, divorce-preventing techniques, which can be used even if only one partner participates, Weiner-Davis shows readers:
- How to leave the past behind and set attainable goals
- Strategies for identifying problem-solving behavior that works--and how to make changes last
- ìUncommon-senseî methods for breaking unproductive patterns
Inspirational and accessible, Divorce Busting shows readers in pain that working it out is better than getting out.
CLICK HERE to read the first chapter
Table of Contents:
Introduction: Love the One Youíre With
Chapter 1 ñ Divorce Is Not the Answer
Chapter 2 ñ Illusions Leading to Dis-solutions
Chapter 3 ñ What Solution-Oriented Brief Therapy Is and How It Can Help You ñ Fast
Chapter 4 ñ It Takes One to Tango: Change Your Marriage by Changing Yourself
Chapter 5 ñ Making a Habit of It: Identifying Patterns That Work
Chapter 6 ñ Breaking the Habit: Interrupting Destructive Patterns
Chapter 7 ñ Make Yourself Happy for a Change
Chapter 8 ñ Keeping the Changes Going
Chapter 9 ñ Is Working on My Marriage Working?
Chapter 10 ñ Parting Words
Comments and reveiws:
Bravo! What optimism! What level-headed good sense! What a gutsy book! Divorce Busting is a hard-nosed, direct, clear, readable survival guide that brings hope and direction. Weiner-Davis challenges all the flashy nonsense youíve been taught about how to either make your marriage ecstatically wondrous, or raise hell and run away and cry. This book will make you fall back in love not only with your husband or wife, but with yourself and your marriage.
-Frank Pittman, M.D., author, Private Lies: Infidelity and the Betrayal of Intimacy
Every so often a book comes along that is exactly what is needed to meet a specific social need. Divorce Busting is such a book. It meets the needs of people in a fast-paced society who demand efficient short-term problem-solving technologies in all areas of their life.
-D. Ray Bardill, Ph.D., past president, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
If youíve tried in vain to make your marriage work, and you prefer solutions to alibis, this is the book for you. Divorce Busting is chock-full of solid, practical advice for solving many of those vexing problems that creep into our marriages and break our hearts.
-Michael P. Nichols, Ph.D., Author, The Power of the Family and No Place to Hide
This refreshing approach for breaking relationship stalemates may be just the catalyst for change your relationship requires.
-Arlene Modica Matthews, author of Why Did I Marry You, Anyway
Divorce Busting is a brave new workóone that takes the critically important stand that most marriages are worth savingÖ.By focusing on the positive and the possible, Weiner-Davis offers couples hope and, even more important, some much-needed help in making marriage work.
-Claire Berman, author of Adult Children of Divorce Speak Out
Three weeks ago I felt my marriage of 17 years ago was over. My husband wasnít communicating with me, we were arguing all the time. My thoughts were that nothing has changed in 17 years, why would it now. My divorced friends were telling me to leave him and how much better I would be without him. I went and talked to a therapist because of my confusion and frustration. At the end of our session I asked her if she could recommend any books that could help me. She happened to have a copy of Divorce Busting in her office that she had purchased at a recent seminar. I cannot tell you how much that book has changed my life, and I am sure my husband would agree. I went from feeling very depressed, angry and hopeless, to realizing just how wonderful my marriage can be and is. Just by changing my reactions to certain situations, it has in turn changed his also. Since I have been more clear on my needs, that alone has solved a great deal of our fights, how hurtful misunderstanding can be. I know we will still have our disagreements and problems, but the changes being made now are wonderful and well worth it! (Itís too bad my friends didnít read this book before they gave up.) Thank you again for having such a wonderful tool for couples to share. I am looking forward to reading your other books also.
A revolutionary book. Definitely pro-marriage. One person can save marriage, even when partner isnít working on it. Principles upon which book is based are rock-solid. If you, a family member or a friend is having serious marital problems ñ GET THIS BOOK NOW!
In a day and age where one out of two people will get divorced, it is refreshing to hear the advice Weiner-Davis gives about staying together! The hurt and devastation that comes with divorce (for all concerned) is to be avoided at all costs ñ she debunks several myths about ìwhy I should get a divorceî as well as gives many peopleís personal testimonies. A must read!
Iím a marriage columnist and author of two books on marriage: Marriage 911 and Chocolate Chili Pepper Love. Iím not a professional counselor; Iím a humorist/storyteller and write as a friend to others who are hurting in their relationships. The #1 book I recommend to those ìstuckî in problem areas, the book that was most helpful to me during a time of darkness and confusion in my own marriage is Divorce Busting. When couples are hurting, they donít usually need a course in WHY (they are already experts at that) ñ what they need is HELP and RELIEF. Micheleís warm, practical, engaging advice is the medicine this writer/speaker prescribes for those who want to improve their marriage and maintain a sense of personal peace and dignity in the process. Thank you, Michele! Keep up the good work.
I had been talking with a close friend and shared that my wife and I were contemplating divorce. He gave me a copy of this book and The Romanticís Guide and two months later, we are happier than newlyweds. We know a lot more about our needs than we did when we were married so this time we are going to keep the happiness in our relationship.
Currently separated, I am reading several marriage and self-help books. This book truly stands out with its common sense approach. Half way through I sent a copy to my husband (who would never pick up a self-help book). I think heíll appreciate the authorís goal-oriented action approach. Weíve tried traditional therapy and analyzing our issues, and it has gotten us nowhere but more resentful of each other. We communicate less after a therapy session than we did prior. I think we are both ready for something different. I finished this book in less than a week and I feel so much more hopeful and positive about working on my marriage. Read this book if you have gone the traditional route of therapists and self-help books.
The book details what Solution-Oriented Brief Therapy (SBT) is about and offers step-by-step ways to turn failing marriages around ñ even if only one partner is seeking to save the marriage. The book is written in a direct, non-psychobabble language and is also entertaining. (I found myself chuckling and saying ìwowî quite often). SBT is designed to work far faster than traditional therapy ñ as many as 10 sessions but usually 4-6 sessions with only a couple of weeks between sessions.
The author wrote the book to get the information about SBT out to more people faster because SBT really works. She has received countless letters to this effect as well as having seen successes from her own practice. It is also enlightening to know that she was a ìtraditionalî marriage counselor before shifting to SBT.
Plenty of examples and ìhow toísî and it is designed to work fast. The author contrasts traditional therapy versus SBT and explains why SBT works and gives some good insight as to why long drawn out traditional therapy often fails ñ especially if one partner is not willing to reconcile.
Rather than psychoanalyze why husbands or wives are a certain way, she directs the reader to examine ìsuccessesî from earlier in the marriage. She then guides the reader towards seeking positive outcomes via short-term simple goals/objectives based on those things that ìworkedî in the past.
The book also provides insight as to how men and women interact in a marriage environment and how men and women view and react to things differently. It also provides tremendous insight as to how a husband and wife can both be ìworkingî at making a marriage successful, yet still be heading down the road to misery and possibly even divorce.
I would recommend the book to couples spanning the spectrum from newly engaged to those who have already divorced.
This book gives realistic tools to identify individual traits that a spouse finds unfavorable. It shows you how to identify the cause of marital trouble and make changes to repair the damage you and your spouse have endured. Good luck, donít wait to fix your marriage. I have already started to use the knowledge of this text to save my marriage which is currently at a 7-week separation. Tonight was the first time I communicated my feelings in years and I feel good even though I have little more hope than I did yesterday of reconciling.
In this ground-breaking book, Michele Weiner-Davis, MSW gives straightforward, effective advice on how couples can stay together instead of come apart.


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New day. New Daily Deals. Get them before they are gone!
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New day. New Daily Deals. Get them before they are gone!
Item: 283789 Model: 93584009M
QFX 450 W Battery powered Bluetooth PA speaker has FM radio and features a 10" woofer. Speaker includes 12 V 12 Ah rechargeable batteries and has carton has a dimension of 13.8" x 12" x 21".
This Web site is intended for use by US residents only. See International Sites. See our delivery policy for full details. Copyright 1998-2014, Staples, Inc., All Rights Reserved.


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The Big Island's volcanic underwater topography is a diver's wonderland. Lava tubes, bommies, arches and huge craters like "Au Au Crater," create a spectacular backdrop for Hawaii's many indigenous species of Butterfly fish. Photographers will delight in the many subjects like Spanish Dancers, turtles, mantas and frogfish.
Kona is located on the Big Island of Hawaii. The Kona Aggressor II operates out of downtown Kailua-Kona. The Kona Aggressor II offers a week of hassle-free diving along the western coast of the island at favorite sites like Paradise Pinnacle, Tubestria Tunnel, The Hive, Turtle Pinnacle and Rob's Reef. The yacht ventures far from the reach of day operators to beautiful South Point, the southernmost tip of Hawaii and the United States, weather permitting. With lava flows in the background, divers suit up for a week of spectacular diving. Excellent snorkeling is available for non-diving passengers.
Diving begins Sunday morning and ends Friday afternoon when the Aggressor returns to port. Sunday through Thursday there is unlimited scuba diving throughout the day and a night dive each evening. Friday a half-day of diving is offered.
A $200 deposit will reserve your space, and we will customize a payment plan for you. Rates include tax and are per person. Contact firstname.lastname@example.com or call toll free 800 621 8942.
We are always happy to put charters together, so if you have a group of divers with a particular destination in mind, we would love to put together a custom package for you!


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FASHIONISTA SPOTLIGHT: Lauren SkarrattFashionista Spotlight
This semester I haven't seen many students sporting the boho chic style — so I was thrilled when I saw this Fashionista. Instead, black has become a reoccurring color on campus because its popularity on High Street and it's overall versatility. This week's Fashionista decided … Keep Reading


text: Ok, we are all excited about our great draft, but we still need help at safety. Nate Allen is ok, but the Koleman-Jarrett combination makes me nervous. My first choice would be to somehow convince Brian Dawkins to play one more year. Let the guy do whatever he wants, coach player. Only practice half the time, play about 10 to 15 a game, even if just for his leadership it would help. Chances are that won't happen. I would like to get Jim Leonard, he is a free agent, we could get him for super cheap, and he has experience. I know he is not the answer longterm, but he plays super physical and would give us some much needed veteran depth at the position. I live in San Diego and watch the Chargers lose to the Jets every year in the playoffs or regular season, the guy plays hard. If we signed him it would be the last piece to make me at least feel really good about our defense.


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Willamette University
900 State Street
Salem, Oregon 97301
503-370-6300 voice
With classroom practice as its frame of reference, this course will explore strategies and methods of general music education in elementary and secondary school settings. Through active participation in classroom music activities, students will develop their own creative approaches to musical, pedagogical and critical thinking in addition to reflective skills with a view toward empowering the design and implementation of curriculum for music appreciation, history, theory, composition, and alternative performance topics. Special attention will be paid to the integration of music technology and the National Standards for Arts Education.


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Glenn Street is closed traveling westbound in between Craycroft and Swan due to a water line break.
The eastbound lane is open on Glenn, but the westbound lane is shut down between Cloverland and Sherry Avenue.
The reason for the 30 inch line failure is not known at this time, according to Tucson Water. A sinkhole formed in the area and it is about 3 feet in diameter and 18 inches deep.
Drivers should avoid the area and potable water in the area is not being affected, according to Tucson Water. Repairs are expected to last two weeks.
Copyright 2013 Tucson News Now. All rights reserved.
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Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner: Coffee Run Couple
Looking for an early morning boost, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner hit up a local coffee joint in Brentwood, California on Thursday (February 6).
Joined by their daughter Seraphina Affleck, the "Argo" star and his "Alias" wife looked cool and casual as they navigated their way up the sidewalk.
Ms. Garner recently told Detroit sports radio station 105.1FM that she'll be joining her hubby in Motown as he films "Batman vs. Superman" this summer.
Jen declared, "I'll be there this summer. Yep, all summer...Batman is shooting...or whatever it's called. I don't know what it's called. Superman with Batman, or whatever it is. But he is shooting this summer, so we'll be there."
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So apparently the new fetish video that will sweep the internet is one in which you:
A) Put busty girl in tight outfit in shotgun seat,
B) Drive fast,
C) Film her as extreme jigglage or even nudity ensues. Here's cam phenom Gisele (remember her?) test-riding a Cadillac CTS-V Coupe.
I don't know the Caddy is on miles per gallon but Gisele gets highly efficient bounce for the ounce.
For more Gisele, follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/gotgisele.


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USAID / East Africa U.S. Government's Feed the Future strategy for East Africa Support Programs Call for Application
Category: General Jobs in Kenya
Posted: Jan 16, 2014
USAID / East Africa is seeking applications from regional organizations in East Africa for programs to support the U.S. Government's Feed the Future strategy for East Africa.
An Annual Program Statement (APS), the African Institutions Innovation Mechanism (AIIM), is intended to expand and diversify the pool of partners USAID collaborates with by providing grants or cooperative agreements to regional indigenous African institutions, including the private sector.
Individual applications should be in the range of $100,000 to $1,000,000, with project length of a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 36 months.
Successful applicants must be operational in at least two of the following countries and legally registered in one: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and/or Uganda.
Applicants must have the experience, presence and organizational mandate to operate in a regional context and contribute to the regional goals and objectives of the East Africa Feed the Future strategy.
The strategy can be found at:http://www.feedthefuture.gov/sites/default/files/country/strategies/files/EastAfricaFTFMulti-YearStrategy.pdf.
Interested parties can locate the APS at www.grants.gov; search by the keyword "AIIM" to find the announcement and other supporting documents, or go to the APS directly on the webpage:http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=B3mnRwJbxBzSwHNhcZyz14gf3QZGQLQLgRJP6TV1nnGv3nC21X1r!-2128858829?oppId=230933&mode=VIEW
Submissions for the next review are due no later than 5:00 pm on March 1, 2014 and must be sent electronically to [email protected]
Applications must respond to the specific format, instructions and deadlines provided in the APS to be considered valid.
There will be two conferences for interested applicants: in Kenya on January 21, 2014, at The Lord Erroll Restaurant in Gigiri, Nairobi and in Tanzania on January 23, 2014, at the Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel.
The conferences will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Interested applicants that are not able to attend either conference in person have the option of attending the Nairobi conference on January 21, 2014, virtually through a webinar.
Conference participants must cover all personal costs of attending. Participation is limited to two individuals per organization.
To register for either conference or the webinar, or to submit questions regarding conference logistics, please e-mail [email protected]
Please indicate your name, contact information, title, and organization and specify the conference you plan to attend.


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For Every Negative There is a PositiveThere is a saying that expresses something along the lines of "For every negative, there is a positive." Honestly, I read so much, I cannot remember, at this moment, whether I learned that in 8th grade Algebra class or in general "Life!" Where I heard it first doesn't matter much, fortunately - it's the fact that I remembered it and I hope you remember it, too!
That torrid weather PROPELS us into moving to shelter, or at least SEARCHING for a 'covering' of some type (a coat, an umbrella, a hat), and that is how we should view negatives in our emotional and mental lives. Pain can be unbearable; it can also multiply quickly. We tend to dwell on anything bad that happens to us, no matter how short-lived it is, and we often do nothing to counteract it! It stagnates within our minds and bodies, and then begins to erupt into a full-blown depression, if we allow it.
Some of us do push it to the side and try not to think about it, and yes, that is one form of action. Unfortunately, the pain often rears its ugly little head later on, often in another form, but one in which causes us to react with panic, anger, and confusion, simply because we didn't take care of the prior pain. Therefore, we don't know HOW to deal with the current pain. TWO SLAPS IN THE FACE is more than we can accept!
Now, we have TWO NEGATIVES which, according to one of the Laws of Algebra (I DO remember that one!) SHOULD EQUAL a POSITIVE.....but, this is not usually the case when dealing with human energy. Before we realize it, we are actually whining, if only to ourselves, about our "bad luck" and asking ourselves, "Why do these things always happen to ME?" ....As if WE are the only one that "bad luck" happens to!
Bad Things Happen, It is a FactObviously, bad things happen to everyone at some point. That is a fact of life and there is no getting around it. But, to FOCUS on bad things in our lives means that we BELIEVE that LIFE IS BAD! Turn that thinking around and try to believe that LIFE IS GOOD, with the occasional "negative" occurring! If you look at the whole span of your life (or even a mere 10-year period in your life), how much time did bad things take up? If we look at life realistically, we see that "bad things" occur far more infrequently than we attune our minds and hearts to believe!
Staying PositiveWe've all heard the saying, "Try to look for the good in every situation", and while I try my best to do that, admittedly, it is very hard sometimes. There have been occasions where I WANT to scream, cry, throw things, have a temper tantrum...in short, I WANT to act immature, be unreasonable, and "be a crybaby." I think that is natural in all of us at times. We want to revert back to a time when SOMEONE ELSE took care of our problems for us. We want someone else to make the decisions, be in charge, and take over the situation. I hear people say, "She's acting childish!" when someone throws a fit, and I think, "...And YOU'VE never done that in your entire adult life?"
It is Ok to VentGranted, there are times when it is not "appropriate" to act as such, at least according to society's rules of conformity, but EVERYONE has had their moments of unease and insecurity, and they have acted as inappropriately as you have, at one time or another. It happens; get over it. It may just be the release you need, in order to begin anew. Scream, yell, jump up and down, punch a pillow, whatever it takes, just do it and get that negative energy OUT of your body and you WILL feel much better.
Take a Deep BreathThe next positive step would be to take a deep breath, and think of your options. What can you do to rid yourself of this pain and forgive those who inflicted it on you? Remember, the "inflicter" may even be yourself, so it may be doubly-hard to grant forgiveness in that case, but it IS POSSIBLE!
Nevermind Conflicting OpinionsWhatever conclusions you come to, they should be RIGHT FOR YOU. You don't need to feel guilty as long as you aren't HURTING someone else. If others give you their opinion, and say that it's not "right", tell them it is perfect for you, and THEY are not YOU, so they can't possibly realize how you came to this position. Even if they were in the exact same situation as you, they are bringing different viewpoints, different pasts, and different pains TO IT, so they STILL may not react as you are! (THAT is another FACT OF LIFE!)
Take Comfort in Your ShelterIn any case, "bad weather" got you where you are, but it also HELPED you to MOVE! It helped you to THINK of what you should do and it caused you to TAKE ACTION in one way or another. Now that you've arrived at your emotional shelter, put that coat on, or raise that umbrella over your head, OR better yet...go INSIDE and SHUT THE DOOR on the past! Keep the "bad weather" outside, where it belongs! Look around you and notice the BEAUTIFUL INTERIOR of this "shelter"! You can rearrange the furnishings in any way you want! It's not only comfortable, but it protects you, and it will be with you always!
If bad weather comes around again, or if a scary intruder knocks upon your door, simply tell them (mentally or verbally) that THIS IS YOUR SPACE and you WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO ENTER! Take any further action you need to take to keep them out, all the while knowing that YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE! One more thing- if you accidentally leave a window open, and the "negatives" start to come in anyway, get out your big guns and take aim!
About this Contributor Regina Mouser is a freelance writer. She has had four poems published in poetry anthologies and is ready to jump into a writing career.


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G. Manimaran, C. Siva Ram Murthy, "A Fault-Tolerant Dynamic Scheduling Algorithm for Multiprocessor Real-Time Systems and Its Analysis," IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems, vol. 9, no. 11, pp. 1137-1152, November, 1998.
@article{ 10.1109/71.735960,
author = {G. Manimaran and C. Siva Ram Murthy},
title = {A Fault-Tolerant Dynamic Scheduling Algorithm for Multiprocessor Real-Time Systems and Its Analysis},
journal ={IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems},
volume = {9},
number = {11},
issn = {1045-9219},
year = {1998},
pages = {1137-1152},
doi = {http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/71.735960},
publisher = {IEEE Computer Society},
address = {Los Alamitos, CA, USA},
RefWorks Procite/RefMan/Endnote
JO - IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems
TI - A Fault-Tolerant Dynamic Scheduling Algorithm for Multiprocessor Real-Time Systems and Its Analysis
A1 - G. Manimaran,
A1 - C. Siva Ram Murthy,
KW - Real-time system
KW - dynamic scheduling
KW - fault tolerance
KW - resource reclaiming
KW - run-time anomaly
KW - safety critical application.
JA - IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems
Abstract—Many time-critical applications require dynamic scheduling with predictable performance. Tasks corresponding to these applications have deadlines to be met despite the presence of faults. In this paper, we propose an algorithm to dynamically schedule arriving real-time tasks with resource and fault-tolerant requirements on to multiprocessor systems. The tasks are assumed to be nonpreemptable and each task has two copies (versions) which are mutually excluded in space, as well as in time in the schedule, to handle permanent processor failures and to obtain better performance, respectively. Our algorithm can tolerate more than one fault at a time, and employs performance improving techniques such as 1) distance concept which decides the relative position of the two copies of a task in the task queue, 2) flexible backup overloading, which introduces a trade-off between degree of fault tolerance and performance, and 3) resource reclaiming, which reclaims resources both from deallocated backups and early completing tasks. We quantify, through simulation studies, the effectiveness of each of these techniques in improving the guarantee ratio, which is defined as the percentage of total tasks, arrived in the system, whose deadlines are met. Also, we compare through simulation studies the performance our algorithm with a best known algorithm for the problem, and show analytically the importance of distance parameter in fault-tolerant dynamic scheduling in multiprocessor real-time systems.
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