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AutoblogGreen reader Michael recently sent in a question regarding the about-to-start "Cash for Clunkers" program. Officially known as the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), the program allows owners of some older and inefficient vehicles to trade them in and get a rebate check worth up to $4,500 from the government to buy a new car. The simple version of the rules are that the trade-in can't be more than 25 years old, needs to have an official combined highway/city fuel economy rating of 18 mpg or less (on the EPA's new mpg scale), be in drivable condition and you have to have owned and insured the car for at least the year prior to turning it in. Michael's question revolves around what happens when a car has two fuel economy ratings - one for gas and one for ethanol. Turns out, no one really knows yet. Find out more after the jump.
Photo by iboy_daniel. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.
Michael's email read as follows:
We thought the answer would be no, the vehicle is not eligible, because CARS only counts the fuel economy number when using gasoline. The CARS FAQ page explains the qualifications this way:
Go to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm and click on the model year of your vehicle, the make, and then the model. Under the words "ESTIMATED NEW EPA MPG" in the red banner, there is a red number with the word "COMBINED" under it. That is the new combined city/highway fuel economy for your vehicle. You may then enter the make, model, and model year of a new vehicle you may want to buy and see its combined MPG for comparison.
When you follow the instructions, you see an image like the one above. For most vehicles, there is only one number that gives the gasoline rating. If that's under 18 mpg, then you're good to go. But, in Michael's particular instance, there are two ratings, one that would qualify and one that wouldn't.
We called National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the organization responsible for implementing CARS, to get to the bottom of the story. The NHTSA representative we spoke to told us - repeatedly - that, if you claim that you've been using ethanol in a trade-in car that has an E85 rating that qualifies for the rebate, then, yes, you can get the multi-thousand-dollar voucher towards the purchase of a new car.
The bill authorizing CARS is H.R. 2346, which President Obama signed in late June, and the text describing the program can be found here. In this legislation, there is no mention of ethanol or a particular fuel type. Instead, it reads:
Here's what the label looks like:
The EPA's regulations on how to come up with this number stipulate that it must "indicate the fuel economy of the automobile when operated on gasoline or diesel fuel." Therefore, we're pretty sure that CARS will only look at the gasoline number, and our friend Michael is out of luck if he was hoping to trade in his Taurus. Things could change, of course. The EPA told us that no one really knows yet what the rules are, because they are still being drafted. According to the Department of Transportation, the full rules of the program will be made public in late July. Stay tuned.


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Here are our best picks of the month. We hope you like them!
Bathing Girls Tea Set
Selfshelf Floating Book Shelf
Book Ends
Buffer Lamp
Rack Oh Deer Coat Hook
Great for both home and commercial interiors!
Leitmotiv Milk Bottle Chandelier
was £175.00
Salad Bunny Salad Servers Red
Leitmotiv Rope Table
Golden Egg Money Bank
Home Sweet Home Memo Board
was £35.00
Karlsson Delicate Round Clock
Eliptical Clock
Here are our bestsellers..
Bathing Girls Tea Pot
The perfect complement to our Bathing Girls Tea Set, designer Esther Horchner has playfully illustrated the inside of this white porcelain tea pot with bathing beauties. When the pot is filled, it looks like the girls are immersed in a tea bath or pool.
Indian Summer Planter Bucket
Open Air Cutlery Set 24 Pieces
Karlsson Delicate Round Clock
Book Ends
Tord Boontje Icarus Light
Rose Trivet
New to Dutch by Design....
Leitmotiv Barefoot Table Lamp
Karlsson Feathers Clock
Dimensions Karlsson Feathers Clock: Dia 65cm
Karlsson Mini Sunflower Clock
Freedom Bird Cup Set of 6
was £45.00
Leitmotiv Vixen Coat Rack
Funky Wire Cube Table Blue
Wine Glass Chandeliers Frosted
Leitmotiv Double Swivel Table
This great side table will look great in any interior.
Table mini double swivel w. steel chrome Tempered glass, 48 x 41 x 45cm

subset: commoncrawl


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Check out our comprehensive directory of Xilitla hotels with quality, independent reviews. Search for a Xilitla hotel by name, star rating, or user rating. Travel Library always lists the real direct contact details for every hotel in Xilitla including email, Web site address, telephone and location address.
Travel Library allows you to easily contact hotels in Xilitla directly and compare their prices with online offers.


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Book your room at Hotel Reconquista Luxor
Classic RoomMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 2 children)
Special RoomMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 2 children)
Junior Suite, 1 King BedMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 2 children)
Art Deco hotel in Buenos Aires (9 de Julio Avenue) near Obelisco
Located in the city center of Buenos Aires, this hotel is near the airport and within walking distance of Gran Rex Theatre, Sociedad Rural Argentina, and Obelisco. Also nearby are Teatro Colon and Plaza de Mayo.
Hotel Features
Recreational amenities at Hotel Reconquista Luxor include a health club and a sauna. Other amenities include a full-service spa and a bar/lounge.
Room Amenities
LCD televisions include cable channels. Guestrooms also feature beds with Select Comfort mattresses, complimentary wireless Internet access, and complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
At your hotel
At your hotel
Hotel Reconquista Luxor features a full-service spa, 2 spa tubs, a health club, and a sauna. The hotel offers a coffee shop/café and a snack bar/deli. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. A computer station is located on site and high-speed wired and wireless Internet access is complimentary.
Event facilities measuring 538 square feet (50 square meters) include a meeting room. This Art Deco hotel also offers a rooftop terrace, a terrace, and multilingual staff.
- Total number of rooms - 72
- Number of floors - 10
- 24-hour front desk
- Coffee shop or café
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Full-service spa
- Number of spa tubs - 2
- Computer station
- Free wired high-speed Internet
- One meeting room
- Multilingual staff
- Rooftop terrace
- Terrace
- Luggage storage
- Conference space size (meters) - 50
- Year Built 2009
- Conference space size (feet) - 538
- Snack bar/deli
- Sauna
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Bar/lounge
- Television in lobby
- Elevator/lift
- Health club
- Free Wi-Fi
- Porter/bellhop
Stay connected
Available in all rooms: Free Wi-Fi , Free wired high-speed Internet
Available in some public areas: Free Wi-Fi , Free wired high-speed Internet
In your room
- Air conditioning
- Climate control
- Soundproofed rooms
- Phone
- Daily housekeeping
- Private bathroom
- Complimentary toiletries
- Bidet
- Shower/tub combination
- Rainfall showerhead
- Desk
- Free wired high-speed Internet
- In-room safe (laptop compatible)
- Cable TV service
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Sleep Number by Select Comfort mattress
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
- Free Wi-Fi
- Room service (limited hours)
Eat and drink
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
2 spa tubs are on site. Other recreational amenities include a health club and a sauna.
Guests can indulge in a pampering treatment at the hotel's full-service spa.
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- In-room accessibility
The fine print for Hotel Reconquista Luxor
When you arrive
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
When you leave
Check-out time is noon
How you can pay
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- No onsite parking is available.
We should mention
Children 2 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.


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Tag: james cameron
Showing results 1-6 of 6
CBR TV: Gale Anne Hurd on 30 Years of "Terminator," "Walking Dead" Season 5
Producer Gale Anne Hurd spoke with CBR TV at Comic-Con about getting "The Terminator" made with a female lead and what's next for "The Walking Dead."
Cozzens Deploys "Aliens: Colonial Marines"
CBR News speaks with Gearbox Software's Brian Cozzens about the upcoming video game from Sega based on the Fox film franchise.
SPINOFF: Cameron Announces "Avatar" Sequels
Director James Cameron has settled on a deal with 20th Century Fox to direct back-to-back sequels to "Avatar," with Decembers 2014 and 2015 as the targeted release dates. SPINOFF has details.
"Avatar" Overshadows "The Dark Knight"
At a worldwide gross of $1.84 billion and a $533.3 million domestic, "Avatar," a 20th Century Fox Production, is now the second highest grossing movie domestically. A spot previously held by the "Dark Knight."
CCI: James Cameron & Peter Jackson
The hugely successful directors of such films as "Terminator 2," "The Lord of the Rings," "Titanic" and "King Kong," Peter Jackson and James Cameron met with fans at Comic-Con for a discussion of technology in film.
CCI: Avatar
James Cameron prepares to be "King of the Universe" with his film "Avatar," 20 minutes from which he previewed to thousands of fans at Comic-Con International in San Diego, and CBR News was there.
Archives: All | Comic Books | TV/Film | Video Games | Web Comics


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Police: Killer confesses, says he lived in apartment with mother's body
WATERBURY — A city man charged with murdering his mother told police he strangled her, then stayed in their home for days before her body was discovered.
Liam Dooley, 23, of 51 Eastern Ave., Unit 83, confessed to police that he killed his mother Friday morning, choking her until she died. He continued to live there until Tuesday, when he was arrested near the home, said Acting Deputy Police Chief Christopher Corbett.
Read more of this story and more!
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manifesto wrote on Jan 2, 2014 9:13 AM:
my condolences to the whole family "
Arroyom28 wrote on Jan 2, 2014 9:20 AM:
saints wrote on Jan 2, 2014 10:40 AM:
al.cap wrote on Jan 2, 2014 10:47 AM:
Below me wrote on Jan 2, 2014 12:29 PM:
Bete Noire wrote on Jan 2, 2014 1:15 PM:
ratsmik wrote on Jan 2, 2014 1:32 PM:
Where is the father? "
Question wrote on Jan 2, 2014 1:42 PM:
" Torture this animal and hang him.
Where is the father? "
2 Waterbury school custodians placed on leave
WATERBURY -- Two school head custodians have been placed on paid leave and police are investigating after allegations were raised related to time cards.
Robert Dooley, a maintainer II at Wilby High School, and Edward Kirley, a maintainer II at North End Middle School, were put on paid leave Sept. 23 as officials launched an investigation into "time clock irregularities," said Paul Guidone, chief operating officer and chief of staff for city schools. "
Clint wrote on Jan 2, 2014 2:56 PM:
Handle wrote on Jan 2, 2014 3:04 PM:
Shame wrote on Jan 2, 2014 3:50 PM:
astrogirl64 wrote on Jan 2, 2014 3:56 PM:
sorrow wrote on Jan 2, 2014 5:10 PM:
Dee wrote on Jan 2, 2014 5:39 PM:
mgalullo wrote on Jan 2, 2014 6:40 PM:
mgalullo wrote on Jan 2, 2014 8:09 PM:
KITTY wrote on Jan 2, 2014 8:54 PM:
KITTY wrote on Jan 2, 2014 8:58 PM:
Just Jack Far wrote on Jan 2, 2014 10:58 PM:
RG wrote on Jan 3, 2014 1:28 PM:
Condolences to the family "
CraigO wrote on Jan 3, 2014 10:28 PM:
conservative1 wrote on Jan 4, 2014 12:13 PM:
Pot smoking leads to cocaine, pain killers or heroin. Heroin turns you into an animal capable of anything to get your next fix.
This is why legalizing pot is bad and will be the final nail in the coffin of the US and why putting a meth clinic next to a school is insane. "
Just Jack Far wrote on Jan 4, 2014 4:08 PM:
My letter and Con1's were very similar. We both stated the same opinion of drug use in this country. Why did you decide to not print mine. Your supposed to be an editor not a dictator. I understand the opinions printed are only what the Rep-Amer decides it's opinions are, but come on, freedom of speech is also for us too. "
TAXPAYER wrote on Jan 4, 2014 5:16 PM:
conservative1 wrote on Jan 4, 2014 7:11 PM:
Walk into a school with a machete and decapitate 45 babies and we can't execute you. Malloy
Progressivism..... "
Below me wrote on Jan 5, 2014 6:51 AM:
Awakening wrote on Jan 5, 2014 8:51 PM:
conservative1 wrote on Jan 7, 2014 5:09 PM:
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- Words approved for controversial 9/11 plaque
- Turning back the tide
- Judge dismisses suit by gun group over new laws
- UPDATED 1 P.M.: Waterbury Police ID man struck by car in parking lot
- Engineer 'nodded off' No mechanical problems found in Metro-North crash
- B.B. gun issues flare up at Wallace
- Other cell tower sites eyed
- Suspect held in credit card theft
- Mayor has teacher proposal pulled
- Stabber claims self-defense


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I really like Kim a lot. I was helping the candidates with CPR, and they didn't have enough Resusi-Annie mannequins, so I wound up being her CPR dummy. Man, when she had to straddle me for abdominal thrusts, it took all the control I have over my retarded penis to not get excited. Afterwards I walked back to LincWash with her and we ate in the caf. I just felt really comfortable around her, like we had known each other forever. So yea, I like Kim :-).
|© 2002-2008. Blurty Journal. All rights reserved.


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Class Schedule
Course DocumentsSyllabus
Example Homework - your homework should be comparable to this in readability and clarity
Guide to Good Plotting Quick Reference - I expect your graphs, as any of your other work, to be of professional quality.
ABET Outcomes
PowerPoint Reference DemonstrationsSome of these powerpoints have audio recorded, so you can listen to/navigate explanations of different concepts.
Good Drafting Practices
Combined Stress
Stress Intensity Factors
Basic Fatigue
Goodman Diagram - Design Example
Fatigue - Design Example
Shaft Design
Supplemental Material/Technical DocumentationStrengths of Materials Recitation
NSK Bearing Catalog
DOT/FAA Materials Specifications Handbook
LinksUseful links to software, tutorials and other pertinent information:
FreeMat - a free, Open-Source analysis environment
OpenModelica - a free, Open-Source object-oriented modeling environment
SciDavis - a free, Open-Source plotting/statistics environment


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You've heard it before, but it's so important that I'm going to say it again.
What you do in the gym is only half the story when it comes to getting big. Without enough food, all your muscle-building efforts in the gym will go to waste.
However, that doesn't give you a license to go and eat anything and everything in sight.
Thats because there's an upper limit on the amount of nutrients you can take in and turn into muscle. If you're currently eating below this upper limit, then you'll build muscle faster by increasing your nutrient take.
But once you've "maxed out" your rate of muscle gain, simply adding more calories won't automatically lead to a faster rate of growth.
Let's say that your upper limit is 3000 calories per day. But you're only eating 2000 calories per day. In this case, taking in an extra 1000 calories will lead to a faster rate of muscle growth.
But just because those extra 1000 calories have helped you gain muscle faster doesn't mean that twice as many calories is going to result in muscle being built twice as fast. Any additional calories that aren't used to fuel muscle growth will just end up being stored as fat.
So if your main objective is to gain muscle mass, you have to eat more nutrients than you need to maintain your weight, but you shouldn't eat so much that you end up gaining more fat than muscle.
If you're trying to figure out how many calories you need to build muscle, the simple answer is that there is no simple answer.
Like most things, it depends on a few factors, most notably your training age, genetics, body weight and activity levels.
The greater your training age (i.e. the number of years you've been training with weights), the slower the gains are going to come.
Someone in their first year of training might be able to gain 2 pounds of muscle each month, and will need a calorie intake to support that rate of growth.
But if you've been training for 3 or 4 years, the rate at which you can gain muscle will have slowed down. So you'll need to adjust your calorie intake to compensate.
There's no point taking in a large calorie surplus designed to support a 2-pound per month rate of muscle gain if you've been training for 5 years and simply can't build muscle that quickly.
Of course, the big problem with training age as a variable is that it assumes you've been using a sensible program for the entire length of time you've been training. And let's face it, most people (me included) haven't.
Someone who's been following Arnold Schwarzenegger's 6-day, 30 sets per muscle group routine for the last 2 years (not a great idea by the way) and gained little in the way of muscle may have roughly the same potential for growth as someone in their first year of training when they start training properly.
Your calorie requirements are also linked to your bodyweight and activity levels.
All other things being equal, a guy who weighs 200 pounds will need more calories than a guy who weighs 150 pounds. And if you're very active outside the gym, you'll need to eat more to compensate for all the extra calories you're burning.
So how many calories do you need each day if you want to build muscle without gaining large amounts of fat?
- Firstly, calculate your lean bodyweight. For example, if you weigh 175 pounds at 20% body fat, you have 35 pounds of fat and a lean bodyweight of 140 pounds.
- Multiply your lean bodyweight by 20. Using a lean bodyweight of 140 pounds, that gives you 2800 calories per day.
If you find that you're not gaining any weight, increase your calorie intake by around 250 calories per day until the scale starts moving in the right direction.
I know that might not sound like much, especially when you compare it with some of the 5000 calorie "bulking" diets out there. But you can't force your muscles to grow faster simply by stuffing yourself with food. All that'll happen is that you get fat.
This level of calorie intake should allow you to gain 2-3 pounds per month, most of it in the form of muscle, which represents good progress for anyone with six months or more of serious training under their belts. For advanced trainers, gaining one pound per month is a decent rate of growth if you want to maintain a reasonably low level of fat.
If you enjoyed this post, there's a good chance you'll also like Truth and Lies about Building Muscle: 10 Muscle Myths Debunked By Science.
It's a FREE 20-page special report (PDF) I put together to debunk 10 popular myths that are still widely believed, despite all the evidence to the contrary. You can click here to download a copy.
About Christian FinnChristian Finn holds a master's degree with distinction in exercise science, is a certified personal trainer and has been featured on BBC TV and radio, as well as in Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Fit Pro, Zest, and Perfect Body magazine.


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Hypnotic Allure
Royal Limoges's Black Diamonds collection
By Laura Regensdorf
Black Diamonds, a porcelain pattern by the French firm Royal Limoges, brings mesmerizing optical designs to the table. The five-piece setting, $295, includes a teacup and saucer, a dessert plate, a bread-and-butter plate, and a dinner plate (not shown). Additional serving pieces include a charger, $150, top. The collection is available at Michael C. Fina. 888-908-9640; michaelcfina.com


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Non-surgical rhinoplasty
100 of 177
Was this photo helpful? 1 other found this helpful
This patient had Juvederm to her nasal dorsum for augmentation. The procedure took less than 10 minutes.
By uploading this photo, Kyle S. Choe, MD has agreed with RealSelf.com policy that they've secured proper patient consent.


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The Undesirables – November 2, 2012
The Undesirables
(please click on image for a larger view)
Opening Reception:
Friday, November 2, 2012 @Graffiti Gallery
FREE admission with a non-perishable food donation
On display until December 15, 2012
The Undesirables is a show of large-scale sculpture to be held at the Graffiti Gallery, opening Friday, November 2, 2012. It features five emerging Winnipeg artists, all recent graduates of the Sculpture Program at the University of Manitoba, and is curated by Sarah Anne Johnson and Meeka Walsh. While the works are diverse in form, ranging from a life-size dinosaur to an expansive installation inspired by religious architecture, all are portraits exploring disparaging circumstances, conditions, or states of being. A nursing home room gestures to a ship that's run aground, a kinetic hot air balloon continuously deflates, and a towering, bubbling cloud ghoul is engulfed by invasive parasites.
Contributing Artists:
Ben Bonner
Laura Magnusson
Sherrie Rennie
Josh Roach
Tamara Weller
This show has been generously supported by Michael Nesbitt, and also in part by the Winnipeg Arts Council.
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Sponsored Deals
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Community Deals
It's whatever you want it to be.
Pretty much, anyway. This is where you find the deals that wooters like you have ferreted out and brought to light. We're thinking it'll turn into a massive database of discounted products from around the Web, constantly expanding to absorb the newest deals from the very moment their prices are slashed, with each deal immediately rated by hordes of savvy voters to spotlight the very greatest deals in the world today. Hey, we can dream, right?
We use a fancy algorithm to determine which deals are catching the most buzz – they're under the Popular tab, which is the default view of this section. You can look for the most popular deals today, this week, or this month. The Fresh tab features the most recently submitted deals, so that's where to look for deals that everybody else doesn't know about yet. And the Search bar does what a Search bar does, only, uh, much wootier! Yeah! Right on!
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Organic bullets? Vegetarian haggis? Cheap tickets to Antarctica? The best high-performance sweatsocks for under $100? If you're looking for a deal that doesn't appear to show up in our Community Deals section, throw the question to your fellow cheapskates. Or answer a question for one of your fellow cheapskates. Or vote for your favorite questions, or your favorite answers, or… maybe we should call this section "Ask, Answer, Comment On, And Vote In The Community", but that won't fit on the page.


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Senator Chuck Schumer wants some of the country's major retailers to stop selling assault rifles in the wake of recent violence.
Schumer made the plea Sunday, saying the sales of the assault weapons have already skyrocketed since the Newtown massacre nearly a month ago.
He says businesses need to halt sales on their own until Washington can make changes to current legislation.
"I'm urging our country's major gun retailers, like Walmart and Sports Authority, to suspend sales of modern assault-style weapons until Congress is able to fully consider and vote on legislation to curb gun violence," said Senator Chuck Schumer.
Schumer said he fears sales may climb even higher during an upcoming "Gun Appreciation Day" organized by pro-gun activists.
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Current Articles
When it comes to surviving a forest fire, fish might seem like the lucky ones. After all, their habitat can't burn, right? Unfortunately, fish suffer, too—after the fire is over.
Trees, shrubs and other plants keep the soil in place with their root systems. But when these roots are burned, there's nothing to hold on to the dirt, and the first rain sends a load of soil and ash into the rivers and streams.
This sudden dump of dirt makes the streams shallower, and more easily warmed by the sun. The combination of warmer temperatures and more sediment can make the water more acidic. The ashy mess also makes the water darker and murkier, and harder for river plants to make energy from the sun through photosynthesis. None of this is good news for the fish.
But there's more. Bob Parmenter of the Valle Caldera Science and Education Center in Jemez Springs, N.M., notes that normally, the amount of ammonia in the water is kept in check by bacteria. But when these bacteria are killed in the fire, the ammonia level increases, and fish are often killed.
And it gets worse. Tony Jacobson, director of the Seven Springs Fish Hatchery north of Jemez Springs explains: "High sediment loads may impact the oxygen level in the water, irritate the fish's gills and overwhelm the fish's respiratory system to the point where they can no longer get the needed oxygen from the water."
After the massive Las Conchas wildfire near Jemez Springs in the summer of 2011, the hatchery stopped stocking the river with trout. They were able to stock in the winter, when freezing temperatures prevented the runoff. The spring thaw turned the Jemez River black, and stocking will have to wait until the water is safe.
Shallower rivers, warmer water, more ammonia, less oxygen, fewer water plants, and irritated gills are all the effects of a forest fire's aftermath. Some animals may be able to escape the fire and run or fly to unburned areas, but fish are trapped.
Although fish habitat doesn't burn, it becomes so badly damaged that many fish cannot survive. But nature recovers with time. Gradually, the runoff ends, the water quality returns, and the fish will once again thrive in rivers and streams.
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Biker killed in crash
Published On: Nov 04 2012 10:12:56 AM CST
Updated On: Nov 04 2012 10:14:21 AM CST
Updated On: Nov 04 2012 10:14:21 AM CST
A man is dead after his motorcycle crashed Sunday morning on the North Freeway.
The accident happened just before 3 a.m. on the North Freeway near W. Mount Houston.
Police said the driver of the motorcycle was speeding and he couldn't move around a car in front of him.
The motorcycle then ran into that car.
Investigators said they don't believe the man on the motorcycle was wearing a helmet.
The driver died at the scene.
The views expressed are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms Of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms.blog comments powered by Disqus


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On July 9th, the first student-designed and built hydrogen racing car was unveiled in The Hague. The hydrogen vehicle, called the Forze IV, was created by students at Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands and will be racing in the upcoming Formula Student; a race between 500 cars designed by students around the world. The Forze IV will be the first and only car powered by a hydrogen fuel cell in the race.
"We are the first team in this worldwide competition to race using a hydrogen fuel cell. That's a huge technical challenge in a racing car," says team manager Wouter Krul.
The hydrogen fuel cell provides electricity to the car and the only byproduct of the reaction within the engine is water. "This racing car is the first of its size to be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell," says Krul. "The hydrogen car has a maximum speed of 120 km per hour and accelerates just as fast as a Porsche."
The team of 50 students that developed the car have been working for 3 years with hydrogen fuel-cell powered automobiles, and their previous attempts have been more like go-carts than racing cars. This year they stepped it up a notch with the Forze IV which has a complex suspension, a race car-like body and a new hydrogen fuel cell designed completely by the students involved.
The team from Delft University has been participating in the Formula Student since 2000 and last year won the race with their ultra-light bio-ethanol powered racing car.
Via Science Daily
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Cal State students facing 10% tuition increase
Students attending California State University are facing a 10 percent tuition increase next year under a proposal previewed Tuesday by CSU Chancellor Charles Reed.
Reed has asked the CSU Board of Trustees to approve the increase amid a statewide "economic meltdown" and budget shortfalls that face the 23-campus system that stretches from San Diego State University to Humbolt State in northern California.
The increase would add $306 a year to tuition for undergraduate students and pump up the system's budget by an estimated $127 million. The board is expected to act on Reed's request at its meeting next week in Long Beach.
University administrators say the boost in fees is critical to maintaining the quality of education while critics say it will impose an undue burden on students.
During a news conference Tuesday, Reed said it is a recommendation that he did not make lightly but one of absolute necessity.
"Raising fees is a difficult choice but we have to make that choice to serve the 460,000 students and maintain as much of the quality as we can," he said. The increase, which was included as part of the 2009-10 budget adopted by the Legislature earlier this year, would raise fees for undergraduates to $3,354 per year, while students seeking teaching credentials would pay $3,894 per year. Graduate student fees would rise to $4,134.
Reed said CSU undergraduate and graduate fees continue to be among the lowest of all universities across the nation and suggested raising $153 a semester would not create a hardship for students.
"When you graduate with a bachelor's degree the compensation you earn over a lifetime is $1 million more than somebody with a high school diploma," he said. "It is one great investment on an individual's part."
Reed said one-third of the revenue or $42 million generated from the increase would be set aside for financial aid. The remaining revenue will be used to offset reductions in state general fund support to the CSU.
Scott Burns, associate vice president for financial operations at SDSU, called the increase, which will generate about $6 million for the university, vital to maintain educational excellence on the 102-year-old campus.
SDSU, which is the third-largest university in the state system with an enrollment of 35,832, struggled this year with a $12 million cut in its $341 million budget and, like all universities in the system, is looking at restricting enrollment by as much as 10 percent next year.
"Given the decline in state support (and) in order to continue delivering quality instruction we need we need this source of revenue," he said.
This would be the third fee increase in the last three years for CSU students. The board increased undergraduate fees $252 in 2008 and $276 in 2009.
It also comes at a time when students in the University of California system are facing a 9.3 percent fee increase, which amounts to $662 a year for undergraduate students and $750 for graduate students.
Lillian Taiz, president of the 24,000-member California Faculty Association, said Reed and other CSU officials should have fought harder in Sacramento instead of putting the burden on students.


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Youth Enrichment Services (YES) is a successful non-profit organization that serves urban youth and provides them with new outdoor experiences, confidence-building activities, and leadership programs.YES offers a year-round continuum of programs that promote physical activity and guide youth toward positive development, leadership training, community service, career programming, and college planning.
YES is seeking a part-time intern to join its growing development team. This position is responsible for a full range of activities related to fundraising, in particular individual giving and events. Activities include:
- Coordinating small-to-midsize fundraising events, in coordination with Development Committee members
- Supporting the coordination of the April 2013 YES Gala fundraiser event
- Partnering with organizational leadership to execute donor site visits and other cultivation activities
- Preparing and editing communications for donors (e.g. acknowledgement letters, thank you cards, etc)
- Assisting with other development projects as requested
For more information and to apply, click here.


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... John Burnell, former board chairman and director for Community Choice CU, has passed away. Burnell served Community Choice for more than 30 years with sincere and genuine enthusiasm for the credit union movement. He began as a volunteer on the board at Redford Township CU, one of Community Choice's founding credit unions, beginning in 1976. From 2001 through 2004 and 2006 through 2007, John served as chairman of the volunteer Board of Directors at Community Choice. "John battled cancer over the last couple of years, but you wouldn't know it from his enthusiasm and active interest in knowing how the credit union was performing and serving its members, said Community Choice board Chairman Gary Klotz. "I'm saddened by this great loss, but I know John's legacy and the positive work he did to improve the experience for members will live on." Rob Bava, Community Choice president and CEO, said Burnell was deeply involved in his community. "John was a strong family man and actively involved with his church as well as the credit union. Always looking out for the best interest of others, John epitomized the values of credit unions. He had boundless compassion and love for the people in his life." Burnell was the first inductee into the Community Choice Volunteer Wall of Fame. There will be visitation at the Charles R. Step Funeral Home in Redford on Friday, Feb. 15, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The memorial service will take place at Covenant Baptist Church located in West Bloomfield on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 11 a.m. The Burnell family has requested any donations in honor of John go to Crosspointe Meadows Church, 29000 Meadowbrook Road, Novi, MI 48377.
The Moon Chapter donated more than 9,700 pounds of food to Muskegon Rescue Mission Food Pantries.
…. Moon Chapter credit unions joined together for the fourth year to conduct a food drive and fundraising campaign to benefit the LOVE, INC. and Muskegon Rescue Mission Food Pantries. The credit union community collected more than 9,700 pounds of food donations, which went directly to the two local pantries. "The food collected during the Credit Union Food Drive is going to feed a lot of individuals and families," said Paula Scott, warehouse coordinator, at LOVE, INC. of Muskegon. Community members helped provide needy families with food by dropping off any nonperishable items to the following 14 participating credit unions of the MOON Chapter during November and December: Community Schools CU, Family Financial CU, First General CU, Harborlight CU, Lakeshore FCU, Michigan Coastal CU, Muskegon Consumers Power Employees FCU, Muskegon Co-op FCU, Muskegon Governmental CU, SB Community FCU, Port City FCU, Service 1 FCU, Shoreline FCU, and Tri-Cities CU. The partnering credit unions would like to thank the community for their outstanding support of the 2012 Credit Union Food Drive. Team members of each credit union enjoyed working together on this cooperative campaign to help feed adults and children in West Michigan.
… Through its ongoing Teacher Grant Program, Team One CU recently awarded ten $100 Teacher Grants to area educators. The purpose of these grants is to provide some financial assistance in helping teachers accomplish their goals or complete a special classroom project. Grant requests are varied—from requests for needed science department supplies to updated fiction and non-fiction reading books. Other grant requests include bringing updated technology into the classroom through the use of video cameras, purchasing graphing calculators and obtaining teaching materials to help students with learning disabilities. Recently, grants were awarded to teachers at the following schools: Arthur Hill High School, Arthur Eddy Academy, Millington Jr/Sr High School, Huron Area Technical Center, Deckerville Elementary, Central Elementary in Tuscola County, Swan Valley High School, North Huron Schools, Washington Elementary and John Glen High School in Bay City. "I will be using the Team One Teacher Grant funds to buy reading books and reading materials that are targeted toward my student's ability levels," states Wendy Wruble, special education teacher at Central Elementary in Vassar. "Thank you Team One, with this grant I can help to give my students the opportunity to learn and succeed and also spark excitement and interest in reading." Pamela Bays, an instructor at Deckerville Elementary, will use the funds to purchase a Web program to help her students learn about letters, letter sounds, reading and math concepts. "I really appreciate Team One's support of education," Bays said. "With the help of this grant money, the children will gain such great knowledge and at the same time build their computer skills using this new program." Throughout the year, educators at public, private, parochial, and charter schools in Saginaw, Bay, Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties are encouraged to apply for a Team One Educational Grant. To apply, teachers can visit teamonecu.org or submit an application in writing including teacher name, school name, address, phone number, grade level and purpose of the grant to: Team One Credit Union, Attn: Marketing Department, 520 Hayden St., Saginaw, MI 48607.
From left are Suzanne Greenberg, president/CEO of CAN Council; Brianne Fournier, marketing assistant for United Financial CU; Jessica Gwizdala, director of marketing for United Financial and Randy Roberts, program director for CASA.
… United Financial CU made the holidays a little brighter for the CAN Council and CASA of Saginaw County. The credit union raised $4,208 for its first-annual CASA Christmas. The money and items that were donated helped 120 kids who are currently in the CASA program. United Financial collected donations and wish list items at all six of its locations; and at the Saginaw and Bay City offices of the CAN Council. The CAN – Child Abuse and Neglect – Council Great Lakes Bay Region helps children who have been abused. CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocates – of Saginaw County are specially trained volunteers who provide a voice in the Saginaw County court system for children who have been removed from their home because of abuse or neglect.
… MSUFCU's new Sparrow Branch, located within the Sparrow Professional Building in Lansing, opened for business on Jan. 16. The branch offers a full suite of financial services including ATM access, teller services, loans, mortgages, and checking and savings accounts. In September 2012, MSUFCU and six other financial institutions submitted proposals at the request of Sparrow Health System to be considered as the financial services provider within the Sparrow Professional Building. A committee of Sparrow's management, union representatives, and Caregiver representatives selected MSUFCU and offered the credit union the opportunity to open a branch at the Sparrow Professional Building. "MSUFCU was honored to be selected as the financial services provider at the Sparrow Professional Building because of our longstanding financial education and community programs and our proven commitment to providing exceptional member service and high-quality products," MSUFCU President and CEO Patrick McPharlin said. "With more than 7,400 caregivers, Sparrow is a significant partner MSUFCU serves. We are thrilled to provide the added convenience of this new branch, and we look forward to working with Sparrow to strengthen our partnership and provide resources to help our local community achieve financial success and security."
… American 1 CU's Parnall Branch donated $100 to the AWARE Shelter in Jackson. The Mission statement of the AWARE Shelter is, "AWARE Inc., strives to eliminate domestic and sexual violence while promoting social change and empowering survivors by offering shelter and services. Visit www.awareshelter.org for more information about the shelter.
From left are Jim Dougherty and Ashley Gallegos of OMNI Community CU, and Amy Birdsall, Matt Lager and Dennis Yule of Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services.
… Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services has recently received a $3,000 OMNI "Gives Back" Grant from OMNI Community CU. The grant will be used to benefit low- to moderate-income families in Kalamazoo neighborhoods, focusing on those of the Six Community Development Block Grant. The program provides education, counseling, real estate development projects, alternative financial products and housing rehabilitation assistance while working to create vibrant and diverse neighborhoods. "KNHS appreciates the support of OMNI Community Credit Union," KNHS Executive Director Matt Lager said. "Without funding from committed partners like OMNI, we can't continue our work of fostering homeownership and revitalizing neighborhoods. KNHS is honored to be able to provide tools to help low and moderate income families responsibly achieve their homeownership dream." OMNI CEO Ted Parsons said KNHS provides an important service. "Being a financial institution and helping homebuyers, we are fully aware of the overwhelming amount of information this process can throw at people," Parsons said. "We think Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services is providing much needed home-buying education services and are happy to help provide the funding for that."
… American 1 CU was the presenting sponsor of the American 1 Paws & Claws Pet Expo at the Jackson County Fairgrounds. This event is a fundraiser for the Cascades Humane Society. Donations such as pet food, cat litter, animal treats, monetary donations, etc. were accepted on behalf of CHS. Events at the show included a Pet Fashion Show, where local vendors brought adorable pet outfits to compete for the coveted "Top Dog" award. Also featured at this event was a "Smooch the Pooch" kissing booth, a dog treat-making area and a catnip pillow decorating area. For a $1 donation per photo you can enter your favorite pet photo into our "Cutest Pet" Photo contest.
Astera CU has replaced its oldest branch with a new one on Saginaw Highway in Lansing.
… Astera CU opened its newest branch located at 5615 W. Saginaw Highway in Lansing on Jan. 22. The new branch represents a significant transformation of the member experience and market positioning for Astera. "From the ground up, this branch was designed to enhance the member's experience and to raise awareness of our full product offering," Vice President of Marketing Jeff Croff said. "The exterior was designed to take advantage of our high-visibility location and draw potential members, even when the lobby is closed. " The Saginaw Highway location replaces Astera's oldest branch, which was at Waverly and Michigan Avenue. It also allows Astera to expand its hours and services to include a three-lane drive-up, 24 hour ATM and Saturday hours. "We're most excited about the transformation of how our services will be delivered," President/CEO Margo Kleinfelt said. "We've moved from a traditional teller line to a concierge model. Now, the person helping members with basic transactions is the same person that can help them apply for a loan or credit card. Serving our members' needs has always been our focus. We hope the open and welcoming environment encourages the member to stay and possibly find out more about his or her credit union."
… First Community FCU in Kalamazoo is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a $2 million dividend payout to its members. The Member Advantage Dividend was paid on Jan. 28 to the holders of more than 60,000 member accounts, up to $500 each. The dividend equated to nearly half of the credit union's 2012 annual income. The calculation of this dividend was based on the member relationship, including all aggregate loan interest paid plus savings dividends earned throughout 2012 as well as their level of participation with using other services offered by the credit union. "Our members are the owners of our credit union," President and CEO Cheryl A. DeBoer said. "They play a direct role in the successes and growth we experience. The board wanted to give back in the form of a cash deposit to the members' accounts as an additional reward earned by choosing to use our financial services such as personal and business loans, savings, CDs, IRAs, checking and electronic services. This was a very exciting day for our credit union, and for our members." The credit union's not-for-profit financial services model encourages them to look for additional ways to give back to member-owners in the form of better dividend rates on deposits, lower loan rates, and significantly lower transactional service charges. "When talking to our members about our Member Advantage Dividend, they confirmed that this is one more reason why they love First Community FCU", Marketing Manager Nancy Loftis said. "We're hearing from so many members about how exciting this announcement was, and how grateful and surprised they were to receive a letter and phone call about the deposit being made into their account." During 2012, First Community FCU also took part in a major give back to members in more than $172,500 incentives tied to using its debit card, along with a loan transfer offer that calculated more than $5 million in interest savings over the life of transferred loans and high rate credit cards.
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… Community Choice CU has selected Simons Michelson Zieve as its advertising and marketing agency of record. "We are excited to begin a relationship with SMZ to help grow Community Choice Credit Union," said Rob Bava, Community Choice president and CEO. "SMZ will play an important role in communicating to the public the benefits of banking with and becoming a member-owner of Community Choice. Whether it's our charitable programs or our personal service, this is an excellent organization that provides total financial care for our communities." In October, MCUL & Affiliates announced that SMZ would be its agency of record. "Community Choice Credit Union is known and loved by its members for 'Giving Big,' "SMZ President Jamie Michelson said.
… Randy Smith, President & CEO of TLC Community CU, announced that Barb Rupley has been promoted to youth financial education manager. Rupley began her career at TLC in 1997 as a member services representative. Rupley has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Eastern Michigan University and a master's degree in organizational management from Spring Arbor University. She also completed her certification as a Credit Union Development Educator. Prior to working at TLC, Rupley taught elementary and pre-school education. Using her experience in member service and education, Rupley is working to promote TLC's youth financial literacy initiative in 16 student-run credit union branches located in Adrian, Clinton, Britton, Deerfield, Onsted, Tecumseh and Sand Creek communities, as well as teaching the senior class financial planning at Adrian High School. Her focus is teaching young members the importance of saving and having financial goals.


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CareerBuilder Unveils Game-Changing Tablet Experience For Job Search With Insights On Other Candidates Who Applied For The Job You Want
CHICAGO, June 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- CareerBuilder just launched an exciting new experience for tablet users that is redefining mobile job search ( tablet.careerbuilder.com). The highly personalized and intuitive experience enables tablet users to not only discover jobs, but insights about other candidates who applied for them and a host of other cool features.
Thirty-nine percent of the U.S. population now uses a tablet 1 and more than 9 million workers search for jobs via mobile devices today. 2
Organized in simple tiles, CareerBuilder's new tablet search technology understands the job seeker's preferences and instantly provides more relevant information in a slick, visual way. Key features include:
- When you pull up a job listing, you can instantly see how many other candidates have already applied. You can also see in aggregate their education level and years of experience, what companies they worked for, schools they attended, etc. You can assess how you stack up against the competition and if it's worth your time to apply.
- Job listings also have a unique GPS function that tells you how long your commute would be if you drove, walked, rode a bike or took public transportation.
- You can apply to jobs via your tablet with a resume stored on CareerBuilder in just two taps.
- When you're searching, you can choose from a host of company attributes that are important to you like company size, type of corporate culture, flexible schedules, whether it's a start up, etc. This helps the technology learn the type of work experience you're looking for.
- You also have your own customized content section with featured companies and articles that most closely match your job search behavior and interests.
"Touch is the new frontier for job search," said Hope Gurion, Chief Product Officer for CareerBuilder. "Tablet users expect to see jobs information in a visual way that reflects the visual approach of the overall Web. CareerBuilder's tablet technology brings a whole new dimension to the search experience. This is especially critical in a time when mobile job search is exploding and companies are missing out on talent because they're not mobile-optimized."Why is it so important to provide this type of mobile job search experience? Fact: Mobile job search is growing at an accelerated rate. According to comScore, 9.3 million workers searched for jobs via their mobile devices in March 2013, up from 2.3 million in March 2012. 2 Google's data indicates that 31 percent of searches for "jobs" come from mobile devices. 3 Fact: The vast majority of companies don't have mobile-optimized career sites. In a CareerBuilder study of the Fortune 500, the company found that only 99 of them (20 percent) had career sites with a mobile-friendly process to search for jobs. Of that 99, only 14 of them had a mobile-friendly process to actually apply for jobs; 64 will let job seekers email the jobs to themselves to apply later. Fact: It's not uncommon to see mobile job applications that are ten pages long. CareerBuilder recently audited a sample apply process for each of 686 different clients and found that the apply processes range from 1 to 22 pages in length. 5-plus pages: 348 (51 percent)
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Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Results: Adding Biologic DMARDs to JIA Treatment (Methotrexate Permitted)
For each study, outcomes of symptom/disease activity, health status, inflammation (as measured by ESR), and radiographic evidence of progression were reviewed, and a summary statement about the results was developed. These summaries of effects of treatment include mixed results (+/–), statistically significant improvement over the control group (+), no statistically significant difference (NSD), and not reported (NR). Effects of treatment on radiographic evidence of progression were not reported in these studies.
In the abatacept study, 60 patients received the DMARD and 62 did not (the control group). Symptoms/disease activity improved more in the abatacept group, with the exception of scores on the parent/patient global activity (GA) assessments, which showed no statistically significant difference. Health status improved more with abatacept, but inflammation (as measured by ESR) showed no statistically significant difference.
Adalimumab was studied in 68 patients and compared with a control group of 65 patients. Symptoms and disease activity improved more in the adalimumab group. Health status and inflammation were not reported.
Anakinra was studied in 25 patients and compared with a control group of 25 patients. No statistically significant difference between groups was noted for disease activity, but health status and inflammation improved more in the anakinra group.
Infliximab was studied both with and without the addition of methotrexate (MTX). Sixty patients received treatment with MTX and 62 patients did not receive MTX. No statistically significant difference in disease activity between groups was noted. Health status and inflammation were not reported.
Tocilizumab was studied in 20 patients and compared with a control group of 23 patients. No statistical analysis was reported for disease activity, which was shown be similar in both the treatment and control groups. The tocilizumab group showed greater improvement in both health status and inflammation than did the controls.
Two studies of etanercept included 32 treated patients compared with a control group of 31 patients. In one study, MTX was not permitted in the control group. In that study, improvement in disease activity was greater in the etanercept group than in the control group, but no statistically significant difference from the control group was noted when it was allowed MTX. However, in both studies, improvement in health status and inflammation was superior in patients treated with etanercept when compared with the patients in the control group.
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was examined in three studies. Their results were inconsistent, with no statistically significant difference between treated and control groups in either disease activity or inflammation in one study and superior improvement in disease activity with IVIG in one study. Disease activity was not reported in the third study, and ESRs were not reported in two of the three studies. Health status was not reported in any of the three studies.
Keywords: juvenile idiopathic arthritis | JIA | JRA | juvenile rheumatoid arthritis | JCA | DMARDs | disease-modifying | antirheumatic | anti-rheumatic | rheumatic | TNF-alpha blockers | biologic DMARD | nonbiologic DMARD | non-biologic DMARD | anti-inflammatory | polyarticular | pauciarticular | oligoarticular | systemic onset | etanercept | infliximab | abatacept | adalimumab | anakinra | tocilizumab | etanercept | IVIG | intravenous immunoglobulin | methotrexate | disease activity | health status | erythrocyte sedimentation rate | ESR
- Kemper A, Coeytaux R, Sanders G, et al. Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) in Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Comparative Effectiveness Review No. 28 (Prepared by the Duke Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. HHSA 290-2007-10066-I). Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; September 2011. AHRQ Publication No. 11-EHC039-EF. Available at www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/dmardsjia.cfm.
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- Model: Riva
- Color: Blue
- Year: 1988
- Acceleration: 7.8
- Time for quarter mile: No test
- Max speed: 120
- Engine: 1200 C.C., 60 BHP, No real modifications, just replaced each old part with a new part, so the motor is so soft and fast, that u wouldnt believe its a 1200 C.C. car, i dragged with a Peaugeout 206 1100 C.C. and i won, and with ford Focus too, and i won till the 3rd transmission.
- Transmission: 4 gears Manual
- Suspension: Lowered by 2 C.M. at front and back
- Brakes: Default
- Wheels: 15 Inch Alloys
- Tyres: 195/50 front & Rear
- Interior: Auto Gauge RPM, Auto Gauge Water Temp, Auto Gauge Oil Pressure, Auto Gauge Voltmeter, Type-R gear Knob, Type-R Wheel Hand, Type-R pedals,Type-R blue in black floor mates, Black in Blue leather covering front and back seats, blue Mirror, blue light for the speedmeter.
- Exterior: Purple Blue paitjob, two white lines on the whole car (just like the Dodge Viper), painted every mirrored part (Nickel parts) in black, rear sports spoiler of my design, tainted red back lights, two X lines over the front lights, moved the left and right flasher indicators more behind, some sports stickers on the bonnet, and on the left and right doors, and more comming soon...
- ICE (audio) & Security: Clarion ICE, and 2 Pioneer 200 WATT Speakers


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We don't operate within Downton Abbey-like social strata, and no impenetrable physical barrier (that we know of) seals off the library's first floor from the second. Still, top-floor reference librarians go for long stretches of time without speaking to first-floor youth librarians. And we like them! We just stay busy and fail to cross paths.When our schedules eventually coincide, we share reading suggestions. Staffers who work with grownups love a top-drawer children's book as much as youth staff relish an accomplished adult novel. Colleague David--he works on both floors--recommended a Bluebonnet Award winner to me last week: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger. Sure, I love a great title (so this story had me at "Origami Yoda") but of course what has impressed critics, judges, and readers about this tale is the self-empowerment achieved by a sixth grader who overcomes social ineptitude by crafting a paper Yoda puppet to dispense advice to fellow students.Brilliant. We may forget that everyone else finds interpersonal issues difficult, too, but a perfectly timed solution is a universally acknowledged prize.We don't label any particular section in the library as "SELF-HELP". At a bookstore, such a sign would guide you to volumes fostering higher earning power; discovery of the perfect life partner; acquisition of beneficial habits; clutter dispersal, etc. Our library offers those, too, along with databases that cardholders can use even when the library is closed; free tax filing assistance; free digital downloads; and many other options. Even fiction books (see above) can prove wonderfully life-enhancing.For libraries, SELF-HELP could serve as front-door signage.Some advice has held up admirably for centuries. Consider Polonius' tips on fashion investment in Hamlet: even Tim Gunn couldn't improve upon those. But lessons can become outmoded or at least suffer from that perception. Imagine basing your efforts to achieve teen social success on a 1950s popularity manual!
That's precisely what 15-year-old Maya Van Wagenen did. Intrigued by model Betty Cornell's Teenage Popularity Guide, Van Wagenen devised an experiment: try out some of those Eisenhower-era tips while keeping a detailed diary of the experience. Whatever social benefits Van Wagenen derived from the project, she can add a $300,000 book deal to the sum. Her manuscript, now titled Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek, is due out April 15. Even better, Cornell's inspirational volume is also being republished that day.No need to wait until April for newly released books offering all manner of guidance, though; here are a few titles I just spotted on the New Nonfiction shelf:Arduino Robot Bonanza
Decoding Your DogMan Up: A Practical Guide to Being a DadCompelling People: The Hidden Qualities That Make Us Influential200 Skills Every Cook Must HaveTimeless ChicSmart Tribes: How Teams Become BrilliantThe Religions Book: Big Ideas Simply ExplainedOnline, you can access expert tips--even videos--on a very timely topic. Produced locally with Round Rock concerns in mind, Water Spot, City Water Conservation Program Coordinator Jessica Woods' amazingly helpful blog, offers advice and strategies that none of us can afford to miss.
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ophelia's Blurty
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Tuesday, June 19th, 2007
so, since coming back to town i don't really have many friends. one that I've stayed close with is M. she's a night manager at my work. And today she told me that she and I aren't going to be working together anymore. when I asked her why she said it was because no one else listens to her because i don't. the funny thing about that is I'm the only one that stands up for her and explains why she tells us to go over all our aisles to make sure they are properly cleaned, I'm the one that stops them when they're bad-mouthing her. And now she's hinted at the fact that "my attitude" toward her means I might not get the promotion that my boss talked to me about already. I'm really hurt about this. she said that when she asks me to do things, i say no, but neither of us could remember a single time when that's happened. And she can't point out one time when I didn't get all of my work done. I guess what makes me the most upset is that she didn't try to talk with me about any of this, she just waited until I wasn't around and talked to our boss. so now my boss thinks I'm a slacker and rude and undeserving, and I'm not really sure what my friend thinks. But, you know what? I'm just going to have to work harder. I'll workharder and be better and be perfect and then no one will want to complain about me and no one will think anything badly about me and eventually I'll be happy again? I guess it doesn't really matter if i'm happy; I've made it this far right? and besides, I'm so good at faking it these days that my mom even thinks that I'm fine.I just really have to be perfect and then things will be okay. I wish I didn't always screw things up, and I don't even know what I did. I thought I was being a good worker and a good friend and now apparently, I haven't been either. So I'll just have to try harder.
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WASHINGTON -- U.S. employers added 163,000 jobs in July, a hopeful sign after three months of sluggish hiring. The Labor Department says the unemployment rate rose to 8.3 percent from 8.2 percent in June. July's hiring was the best since February. Still, the economy has added an average of 151,000 jobs a month this year, roughly the same as last year's pace. That's not enough to satisfy the 12.8 million Americans who are unemployed. The rate increased because the government uses two surveys: A survey of businesses showed job gains, but a survey of households showed fewer people had jobs. Economists say the business survey is more reliable. High unemployment could hurt President Barack Obama's re-election hopes. No president since World War II has faced re-election with unemployment over 8 percent.
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Fillies and gentlecolts, raise your bro huffs in the air if you attended the 2013 My Little Pony Convention. Oh, you didn't? That's not a problem because someone made a supercut video of the highlights for all you bronies who weren't able to make it. I hate to rub it in, but it looks like you missed A LOT of exciting times. There was unprecedented dancing, there were live performances, there were glow sticks (used as weapons) and, of course, there was cosplay. Oh well, there's always next year. Give it up for FANNING!!! [Huffington Post]
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Kathleen Tynan McKiernan
At a Glance
To prepare for a RAC audit, Yale-New Haven Hospital has:
Within four years, the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC)
demonstration program collected from healthcare providers in six states more than $900 million that auditors determined Medicare had overpaid as a result of inaccurate billing. The program also returned nearly $38 million in underpayments, but the former figure is what has hospitals across the country bracing for the national rollout of the RAC program in 2010.
It is widely assumed that large and high-profile organizations will be hit hard, and Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Conn.-the largest hospital in Connecticut, with 944 beds-qualifies on both scores. Yale-New Haven is a level one trauma and tertiary care center in partnership with the Yale University School of Medicine. The hospital records 53,000 discharges and 530,000 outpatient visits annually, and has a payer mix that is 26 percent Medicare and 14 percent Medicaid.
Determined to meet all RAC response deadlines so that cases would not automatically be lost due to missed deadlines, Yale-New Haven prepared for a worst-case scenario of 200 complex reviews every 45 days-which could potentially mean up to 2,000 requests for records, including all five levels of appeals, in a year. The hospital began its RAC readiness project in late 2008 with a focus on developing a multilevel team structure with clearly delineated roles, an efficient workflow design, and a software solution capable of providing both real-time and retrospective RAC tracking technology and tools to manage each RAC case from initial denial through final appeal.
As the RAC readiness project got under way, it quickly became apparent that a robust response process would require executive buy-in. The first step was to get the attention and support of members of the executive team to ensure the project would have the necessary resources for planning and implementation. Accordingly, RAC audits became a new agenda item for the executive team. A project steering committee was formed with members of the executive team and representatives from finance, compliance, care coordination, clinical documentation management, utilization review (UR), and health information management (HIM). The role of the two physicians on the steering committee-the UR medical director and the associate chief of staff-is to help develop RAC response strategies, based on the types of denials Yale-New Haven Hospital experiences, that define how the hospital should appeal, whether it does so, and if so, when.
In the meantime, the physicians have worked with the leaders of each service line (e.g., the emergency department [ED], cardiology, the hospitalist group) to help these leaders understand their critical roles in RAC readiness. These leaders are key to ensuring that Yale-New Haven's documentation is up to par, and that it has everything it needs to adequately defend a decision to hospitalize a patient.
In addition to the steering committee, two operational groups were formed: The Care Coordination/Access Group includes representatives from admissions, care coordination, UR, and other areas as needed (for example, representatives from the hospital's IT department, to ensure that the hospital's IT systems will capture the data needed to review cases); and the RAC Operational Group includes representatives from the hospital's care coordination, HIM, utilization management (UM), patient finance, access, and reimbursement departments. (The reimbursement department, in particular, was a key player in the initiative.)
Additionally, a manager from Yale-New Haven's HIM department was appointed RAC coordinator.
In line with RAC readiness recommendations from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the hospital performed an internal assessment of its own vulnerabilities, guided by data from a number of sources. These data were acquired from the RAC demonstration project results, analysis of denials from commercial insurers, internal compliance programs, information on other hospitals' experiences, and the Program for Evaluation Payment Patterns Electronic Reports (PEPPER), which contain hospital-specific Medicare data for 13 MS-DRGs that often have payment errors because of under- or overcoding.
Not surprisingly, medical necessity was identified as the No. 1 problem area that led to RAC reviews, followed by problems with coding accuracy and outpatient billing. Harry Nicholls, Yale-New Haven's director of HIM, explains that, thanks to quarterly reports from the hospital's compliance department, his department was able to quickly get started working on improving the accuracy of medical necessity documentation, coding, and outpatient billing.
"We have an active clinical documentation management program, so we're always working with our physicians on documenting and coding skills in general," he says. "In the same way, we always actively audit the quality of our coding and we do inservices on new coding guidelines. But we're probably paying a bit more attention now to problem areas such as surgical debridement, to make sure we're not overcoding."
The RAC project has afforded the hospital opportunities to focus even more intently on certain areas such as documentation of medical necessity. When ED physicians admit patients, they sometimes fail to write down the necessary documentation. This is the biggest source of denials for the hospital, and it has been the most difficult problem for the hospital to tackle in terms of denials management. In preparation for RACs, Yale-New Haven works even more closely with ED physicians on articulating their concerns about each patient than ever before, because the medical judgment of these physicians is what justifies an admission through the ED.
The search for software that would meet Yale-New Haven's requirements was made easier by the hospital's existing relationship with a vendor that has worked with the hospital to increase and manage patient volume over the past nine years without the need for additional FTEs. The hospital already has an interface between admitting and finance that captures all demographic and episode information. Using a product from the same vendor also ensures that information from any previous chart reviews is readily accessible as well. "We have all those historical data at our fingertips whenever a patient comes into the hospital," says Anna Cierpisz, the hospital's RAC coordinator.
The solution is a web-based application that provides reports, work lists, and alerts identifying current and past patient encounters at risk for an audit, based on diagnosis and procedure codes that RACs have been focusing on. The application also tracks the following fields for each level of appeal:
In addition, the system captures pre- and post-appeal length of stay (LOS); dollars pending, upheld, and overturned; and expected and actual reimbursement. Perhaps most important, it enables all members of the RAC team to see all the data at all points. The fact that the application is web-based offers many advantages over software programs that have to be loaded, maintained, and updated on hundreds of personal computers across the organization.
One of the benefits the software delivers is customized reporting. Nicholls expects that Yale-New Haven's RAC steering committee will receive monthly reports on the kinds of requests being received, the number of requests in different stages of appeal, and any trends and issues that emerge. In the operational areas, he says, "We'll be running weekly reports to ensure there's nothing in the queue that needs to be worked."
So far, training has consisted of a full-day session led by a vendor representative with key staff-including about 15 people in UR, HIM, finance, patient finance, and admitting-regarding how to use the system. Group education sessions were conducted first, based on the role the different departments will play. Then, the trainer worked with individuals to answer specific questions. Trainers will return to the hospital again for a refresher course.
RAC work processes have been designed to keep things moving smoothly and swiftly. Cierpisz explains that HIM will handle the "mail" process, including chart requests, denials, and appeals. "Everything will be scanned into the web application program so the whole team will be able to review the communication taking place," she says. "This will also allow us to easily reprint charts as needed for appeals.
"Because we have a large campus, with functions in different locations, we have also set up a P.O. box to get requests directly and quickly," she says. "We'll be using Federal Express to ensure timeliness and will set very aggressive timelines so that we won't have to worry about missing response deadlines."
To test the system, the hospital performed a dry run of one portion of the cycle, from receiving the request to the point of sending out the record. The initial test went smoothly.
Software may be the engine of RAC readiness, but front-end strategy and teamwork are its foundation. The ultimate goal, after all, is to get bills right the first time. With this in mind, Yale-New Haven has boosted the number of care coordinators in its ED to cover admissions 16 hours a day.
The key to RAC readiness is to review each case for medical necessity as patients arrive. Yale-New Haven has automated its utilization of level-of-care criteria, which has made it easier for the hospital to perform reviews and record them so they are available for all members of the team. This step has also made it possible for hospital leaders to monitor the reviews more closely.
In the same way, Yale-New Haven needed to give its hospitalists a better understanding of the different levels of care to avoid "condition code 44," a term Medicare uses when someone is admitted as an inpatient for what later is determined to be an observation level of care.
Tying in care coordination as part of the readiness package is one success factor in preparing for RACs. Another, says Nicholls, is building an effective team around the response to requests, which starts with making sure everyone understands what the hospital is trying to do-and why-and their roles in these initiatives.
"We've taken every opportunity to stress the importance and potential impact of RAC to gain across-the-board commitment to responding appropriately," Nicholls says. "For example, we've talked about it in departmental staff meetings and done special orientation with HIM."
As an organization, Nicholls explains, Yale-New Haven has always enjoyed success in having people work well together in teams. "But I think this project has brought together people who may not have interacted much in the past-people in access and information management, care management, and patient finance."
Thanks to a constant and consistent focus on effective communication, teamwork has generated something less tangible than the hospital's well-crafted RAC response process, but also just as necessary: trust. Trust is important because there are a number of different steps in the hospital's RAC response process, and no one department or person owns the entire process. "If we're not all on the same page, we will all go down together," Nicholls says.
"Although we're not sure what to expect from RACs, because we've never undergone anything like this before, we know that whatever happens, we're as ready as we can be," Nicholls says.
Kathleen Tynan McKiernan, RN, MSN, CPUM, is associate director of clinical effectiveness, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Conn. (firstname.lastname@example.com).
Getting Ready: Recommendations
Steps that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services suggests providers take to fully prepare for a RAC audit include the following:
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Scott Schmidt, vice president, Cerner RevWorks, LLC, shares insights on best practices for maximizing a revenue cycle management partnership.
Amy Amick, president, revenue cycle management, and William Davis, vice president, revenue cycle advisory solutions, both with MedAssets, share insights on the industry and techniques to drive sustainable performance improvement.
Eric Ward, president and CEO, Parallon Revenue Cycle Services, discusses key trends in revenue cycle management and factors providers should consider when partnering to advance their revenue cycle performance.
Dale Hockel, senior vice president of operations, and Jim Fanelli, CFO, TriMedx, share strategies for elevating clinical engineering through innovative management programs.
Rick Heise, senior vice president, revenue cycle, at Cerner Corporation, discusses the importance of integrating clinical and financial data to excel in health care's changing payment environment.
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The Tarot's Misfortune
Rosalie the fortune-teller has been put to sleep and tossed into a dangerous prison by a mysterious drifter in town! Search through the town to recover her stolen tarot card deck, while uncovering clues to help rescue the residents of Luzio. Follow the spirits of the tarot cards and use your Hidden Object skills to find slight differences in the tarot cards and uncover the mysteries of The Tarot's Misfortune!
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