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Art classes for NYC kids
Children can exercise their creativity with these after-school programs.
Mon Jul 18 2011
Beginning Digital Photography at the JCC in Manhattan
In this weekly after-school program, shutterbug shorties learn the technical and aesthetic elements of good photography through a variety of indoor and outdoor assignments. You'll have to invest in a digital camera for your tween—but there's also a chance you'll never have to worry about red eye again. JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave between 75th and 76th Sts (646-505-4444, jccmanhattan.org). Sept 13--Jan 24, Tue 4:15--6:15pm. $550, members $500. Ages 8 to 10.
Joan Mitchell Foundation Art Education Program
Children in grades three through 12 can pick up a paintbrush (or a pencil or clay, for that matter) and learn techniques from the pros in these free studio art classes. Sessions are held on Saturday afternoons in five locations in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan. (212-524-0102, joanmitchellfoundation.org). Free. Fall classes start in mid-October; call for schedule. Ages 8 to 18.
Manga at HiArt!
In Manga Madness, illustrator Yali Lin (Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet: Manga Edition) leads kids with a yen for Japanese comic books through the fundamentals, covering figure drawing, plotting and page design. On Saturdays, HiArt! offers Zoe's Mangathon, an intro to the kid-friendly Japanese manga of the 1960s and 1970s. HiArt!, 227 W 29 St between Seventh and Eighth Aves (917-318-9499, hiartkids.com). Starts third week in September. Manga Madness: Thu or Fri 4:30--5:45pm, Sat 1:30--2:30pm; $825 for ten weeks. Zoe's Mangathon: Sat 1--2pm; $500 for ten weeks. Ages 6 to 14.
Loop of the Loom
When she invented her Saori handweaving technique in 1969, Misao Jo intended to break free from the constraints of traditional weaving. The result? A pattern-free, improv-based program that welcomes weavers of all skill levels to create without fear of messing up. After a quick loom tutorial, even tots who have no prior experience can start forming one-of-a-kind tapestries, clothing and accessories. Loop of the Loom, 227 E 87th St between Second and Third Aves (212-722-2686, loopoftheloom.com). Tue--Fri 4--5:30pm. $300 for eight sessions. Ages 8 to 14.
Supermud Pottery Studio
The center offers sessions well suited to smaller hands, with a focus on glazing and pottery-wheel basics (instructors, of course, handle firing in the kiln). Groups of eight students work on a different project each class, from functional wares to decorative pieces. (Apparently, face masks are a perennial favorite.) Supermud Pottery Studio, 2744 Broadway between 105th and 106th Sts (212-865-9190, supermudpotterystudio.com). $360 for 12-week session. Ages 5 and up.


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Our Official Weekly Weigh-ins are on Sundays:
Names .... SW ..... 08/23 ..... 09/01 ... 09/08 ... 09/15 ... 09/22 ... 09/29
Sophie ... 254.4 ... 243.0 ..... 237.8
Stacie .... 293.5 ... 293.4 ..... 291.4
Diana .... 312.0 ... 299.0 ..... 300.0
Sammi ... 253.0 ... 252.0 ..... 252.0
Fonda .... 298.0 ... 298.0 ..... 297.0
Baglady .. 277.0 ... 262.0 ..... 260.0
Laura ..... 203.6 ... 203.6 ..... 203.4
Jazlyn .... 251.2 ... 246.6 ..... 251.6
Gina ...... 201.8 ... 200.8 ..... 198.5
Burlesml. 250.0 ... ?????? ..... ?????
Raphaela 208.0 ... ?????? ..... ?????
We are open to new comers who are willing to weigh in and report weight at least once a week (Sundays) and you can be on any food plan or diet you want.
We are here to support each other on this journey to lose the extra weight and keep it off.
Looking forward to hearing from you all soon.
Good night now :hiya:
Sophie :heart:
Here goes September ladies.... let's get losing!!!
I'm feeling very positive about my official weigh in tomorrow... is it OK if I use my Wednesday weight for my Sunday weigh in? I'm trying to avoid the scales in between!
In my opinion, if you're only weighing on Wednesdays, Gina, that will be fine. I hope everyone else feels the same way. I probably shouldn't weigh every day because it does get me down, but right now, I'm still obsessed, and I feel like I physically have to. I went up again yesterday, but not by much.
Weight today, 292.8.
I'm running late for work. I am exhausted. These relaxing days off have got to stop, I never get any relaxing done at all. LOL.
I know what you mean Stacie, this is the first week since the beginning of April that I haven't weighed everyday. I'd got so obsessed with the numbers!
Hi Everyone,
I love our new name! Everyday I wake up and do what ever I need to do then I read all these posts. It really starts my day off in such a good mood. I am still at 252 , but in a few minutes I will walk three miles. It seems like my weekends I struggle with lowcarb eating.
Gina you are doing so good with our weight loss. I am so sorry you do not feel well. Could you get a note from your doctor explaining why you call out from work? I worked at a hospital (until I moved out of state) doing payroll and staffing the nurses. I had one nurse who called out once every two weeks because of migraines. She had a doctors excuse and the union behind her so it was all legal and no one complained. Could maybe something like this help you?
Sophie, your weight loss is fantastic. Your posts are so encouraging. By the way could I move in with you too? Your house and all the cooking you do sounds like heaven.
Stacie, I know what you mean when you fell off the wagon. Each day is a new start though. We are strong. We can do it.
Diana,Fonda and Baglady you guys are doing great! :jumpjoy: Good job.
I will check in again later. Have a wonderful day.
well, just got back from doing my WA for 45min..(when I go with my sister she never wants to stay as long as I do :sad: - I like to stay at least for a hour or more..oh well) and feel really good...
plus good news I am finally back down to 299......I ate really clean yesterday..and will also eat very clean today... going to the movies and will NOT have some popcorn... way too many carbs.....
going to have a big bowl of my homemade chicken veggie soup and some of my homemade cheese crackers.... will fill me up before I go to the movies...
and then will come back home and do my walking tape.....
everyone have a great day......:)
I've just majorly messes up food wise today, how does everyone stay on track? I can do it for a few weeks then do something stupid!
My planned lunch for today should have been around 400 calories but I just worked out what I actually ate and its around 1260 :dunno:
Oh well... just toast for dinner tonight I think and a longer than normal walk after dinner might make up for it before my weigh in tomorrow!
Everyone else is doing so great... need some of your motivation to rub off on me!!
Just checkin in real quick before bed. I'll post when I get up and can see straight. :lol: Have a great day everyone!
I agree with Gina, I think something we all have in common is the "Obsession" in general. And that's why we lost control with food. We need to find our balance so we can ground ourselves.
In the beginning it's fun to weigh in every single day and see the big drops on the scale. But then, specially when the weight loss slows down, we will stop weighing ourselves so often.
Sammi, I just love your enthusiasm :jumpjoy: You're too funny :hyst:
You can come and visit me any time. But I am seriously thinking to downsize. My house is too big just for DH and I. The problem is, we have too much (in my opinion) and I'm getting the urge of simplifying life now. We always have company staying with us. But I think I'm getting too old for this :laugh:
Have a wonderful day too, :hugs:
Sophie :heart:
Diana, you are so good with your exercising ... I just found my walking DVD and will do some today just because of your inspiration to me. You go girl! :clap:
Sophie :heart:
[QUOTE=Genie80;16587340] I've just majorly messes up food wise today, how does everyone stay on track? I can do it for a few weeks then do something stupid!
My planned lunch for today should have been around 400 calories but I just worked out what I actually ate and its around 1260 :dunno: ... need some of your motivation to rub off on me!!/[QUOTE]
Gina, I really think you are getting too anxious for your weigh in tomorrow. And not knowing where you are (weight wise), is making you lose control of your eating. Relax, take a deep breath and jump right back on the wagon. Drink lots of water and you'll be surprised with your new numbers tomorrow. Then you'll wish you had not eaten those 1260 cals for lunch today. Just think you were shocking your system, like Stacie likes to do with herself. :hyst: Maybe tomorrow, your body will release more weight thinking you'll feed it more food again :hyst: who knows.
Look at me, no cheating and no weight loss today. Well, not going to the bathroom for 2 days UGH, it's driving me crazy :mad:
Gotta go out now. Talk to you ladies later!
Have a great one everybody. ;)
Sophie :heart:
Good afternoon ladies! Love the new name. It has been a busy day at work, so no personals - but eating was good again yesterday. Today is my long day at work, so I am hoping I brought enough to eat!
b- ham/cheese omelet w/lc tortilla
l- stuffed chicken breast
d-frozen chicken strips w/cheese or stuffed chicken breast
s- sunflower seeds and hard boiled egg
Well got ok sleep today. Finally got to talk to my boyfriend after 3 days of missed calls. The next 2 weeks are gonna be rough getting through. He is coming here but has to wait for the license plates to get there. GRRRRRR....Today is gonna be another day of working. Thought I'd get Friday off but nope doesn't look like it.
Genie80 not sure how I stay on track. I guess it helps that I experiment with things in the kitchen to make what I'm hungry for. Anymore I really don't get hungry for off plan foods too much.
pawleys14 hope the movie went well. What did ya go see?
Stacie - Relaxing days? I want a relaxing day... where do I sign up?
Gina, once I'm clean from the bad foods, about 3 days, (refined foods, sugars, flour, soy, dairy, etc.) all the cravings disappear. It gets much easier to stay away from them or resist them and to stay 100% on my program! If you try that 100% you'll know what we are talking about. If you are clean and still jump off the wagon, I have a few questions for you: HALT
1. Are you eating when you're too "Hungry"? Or;
2. Are you "Angry" or upset over something when you eat? Or;
3. Do you feel "Lonely" when you jump off the wagon? And or;
4. Last but not least, are you getting too "Tired"? (Doing too much)?
These are some of the reasons I used to jump off the wagon before. I was either doing too much and burning myself off with work that I turned to food for energy. Or I was waiting and waiting to sit down and have a meal until I was so hungry, that I felt I could eat he whole cow, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, watch for these signs, you can see they coming and you can prepare yourself better by always having the good foods available to you. When I was doing Atkins, I always had chicken, egg and or tuna salad ready in my fridge in glass containers. I would just scoop out some, wrap it with a lettuce leaf and eat it like a Burrito. Or I would wrap 3 or 4 Asparagus with ham and cheese and a leaf of lettuce and that could hold me until the next meal.
You just need some good strategies. We know you can do it. :hugs: let me know if I can be of any help.
Laura, I hope your boyfriend gets his license plate soon! You need to slow down a bit, my friend. Don't you ever get a massage or a pedicure/manicure? I find them to be very relaxing! I get one of them at least once a week ;)
Diana, what movie did you see? Did you get to pass on the popcorn? I hope so. How did it go?
Stacie, you're too quite, what's going on?
Fonda, you are doing great, keep it up.
I hope the other girls find us over here. Going to check the older thread and then, I'm going to bed.
Good night :hiya:
Sophie :heart:
I can't find our old thread ... :hyst: too tired, I guess! Going to bed now? ZzzzZZZ
Sorry for my absence yesterday. I work for a large auto insurance company, and it seems everyone in the United States buys cars on Labor Day -- SO -- when I got to work yesterday we had over 450 calls in que -- I was literally exhausted when I got home. I sat on the couch and semi-watched America's Got Talent, and fell asleep as soon as it was over. Today promises to be just as hectic.
I'm still hovering at 292.2 this morning. I'm going to have to say that my shock did not work. In the past, the second day is when I see the massive drop. I'm not going to work out at all this week -- I think I'm going to wait -- we're going to the beach on Friday, and I'll be home on Sunday. I'm almost certain I won't be eating clean while I'm gone, so I really want to give these next few days 100% effort without the workout to see if anything changes. I've basically been the same weight since I started so it's obvious that the workouts are not helping in my favor right now. I am certainly not quitting, just taking a brief pause from the gym. I think I need to find exactly what will work for me and I think the best way to do it will be to strip it down to one facet at a time -- if the diet aspect isn't working, then I will get nowhere with the workout.
I'll keep weighing in every day, and I'm definitely staying low-carb until at least Friday -- after that, we'll see what, if anything, I'll be changing. :)
I was really good yesterday and gained 1.2 lbs. I'm not going to let that discourage me though. (kinda)
Good Morning Gang,
I don't know why, but I feel so great today. I have been going to bed at 9 recently and sleeping almost through the night. If I have a good sleep, it affects my whole day. I have not been sleeping good for the last three years and I think it was my very stressful job. I had to deal with the staff vrs patient ratio in the hospital daily. I had to answer from management each day if we were over or understaffed. Stress makes me eat more. My poor co worker smoked non stop. This is why I am taking a year off. I must get healthy!
Stacie, I know exactly how you are feeling. It is a struggle everyday to keep on track. I keep trying to say to myself, food will not control me!! It is so hard. What helps me is to first get my eating under control, then later add the exercise
Going on vacation is difficult I know. It's like your taking a vacation from the diet. Been there done that. If you need any help just keep posting. We are all in the same situation.
Sophie you are so inspirational. Thank you for all your posts. We can do this.
I love to get manis and pedis... just havent' since my nails got screwed up... MY toes still look great! They filed my gel polish off with a damn dremel at the place I tried in the town close to me. This is what I get for not going to the place I know does a good job. So it's pointless to get them done until my nails get healthy again and grown past the filed down area. Almost there so it should be just a few more weeks before I can get them done. Hope to have them done before John gets here so I'm lookin all cute and stuff.
good morning/afternoon. Eating is still going good - super yea!! I did drink some diet pepsi yesterday because I wanted something sweet.
b-ham/cheese omelet w/lc tortilla
l - McDouble w/o bun (I known not the best choice - but running late this morning and today is my 1/2 day at work!)
d - ?
I saw the movie "The Butler" it was really - I lived through most of the show's history.. forgot a lot of it... and the movie was sad... but the actors were great.... but...... the best part is that I did not eat any popcorn....
really tried to eat clean yesterday.... I have not gone to do my WA yet today (will go later this afternoon) but when I eat clean the next day my blood sugar is low... and it was 107 today...... so I am happy... and hope that I will be down a pound today... we will see later today.
Jazlyn - I know it can be rough when you eat clean and then you gain what a bummer :sad:
sophie - I know that I eat when I am bored - or sometimes I just really need to drink some more water.. but I think that I am hungry.....
sammi - so glad that you feel great and are sleeping better....
my worst time is in the evenings... I tend to be a night eater... but I am getting better..... if I am hungry I try to drink more water or have a cup of hot tea....... or have something like celery with some cream cheese or something like that..... and I am trying to talk to myself... saying that I want to get healthy and feel better... and that food will not make me feel better....
if y'all have any other tricks that work let me know... oh, I have one more...
I brush my teeth after I eat anything.. and I really do not like to mess up my fresh mouth with food....:lol:
Had a WHOOSH today down to 201.2!:jumpjoy::jumpjoy:
laura - that is great congrats......:jumpjoy:
Congratulations, Laura, tha'ts awesome! :clap::up:
I also was down to 236.6 today. The scale keeps moving south for me and that feels great. Had to cook for 9 people again tonight and I just finished putting away all the. I'm exhausted.:doh:
My sister did something to my computer last night and it's not working now. Needed to ask for help from the Administrator. Hope they can help us.
No much time to write individual notes to everybody, but I promised to do it tomorrow. I need my rest now.
Waving hello to all the girls in here :hiya: My eyes are crossing in front of me, gotta go to bed now! Good night, ladies!
P.S. Congrats Diana for being strong and not caving into the popcorn. You've definitely made the right choice, so proud of you!
Sophie :heart:
Morning everyone, just catching up as wasn't online much yesterday.
I stayed the same at my weigh in, the nurse said something which made me laugh 'your body doesn't know it's 10am on a Wednesday and that it's supposed to have lost weight....' so simple but it's true and at least I haven't gained!
Had my cheat day yesterday and still only went 100 over my calories but that was only because I didn't manage to get a walk in!
Sophie - when you talk about eating clean and eliminating dairy etc,. do you cut out milk too? I have to drink tea in a morning... it's my lifeline (although I don't have much milk in it) Going away next weekend but will try cut those things after that & see how I get one!
Jazlyn - Don't be discouraged.... you'll see that drop soon!
Diana - I'm the same, when my other half used to work shifts he'd be out till 11pm and between getting home at 6 and him getting home I could have eaten the entire contents of the kitchen!!
Laura - Well done on the whoosh... I think we could all do with one of those right around now!
Hi Ladies,
Finally my scale moved? 251 this morning. I am tracking every single carb that goes into my mouth.
Laura , I am so happy for you. Isn't it exciting to see the numbers go down? Love it.
Jaz, hang in there. I know it can be discouraging, but keep trying. You are such a beautiful person.
Sophie you are doing great. I wish I had all your energy. I used to. I don't know what happened to me. I am promising myself by December to volunteer in a soup kitchen. I must get involved in something besides losing weight .
Stacie , I know this is so hard. Keep positive thoughts and have a wonderful vacation.
Gina, Your nurse is too funny. I am so happy the scale stayed the same.
Fonda you are doing so good with your eating. YAY!
Diana, I want to see The Butler too. I like all the actors in it. Maybe this weekend. Way to go not having popcorn.
Have a great day ladies.
Gina - yes, I almost have to "lock up" my kitchen in the evenings :lol:
Sammi - WTG girl... 251 :jumpjoy:
Sophie - congrats 236.6 good job :clap:
back from my WA... did 50 min and then hit the hot tub.. I reward for doing my WA..... felt really good...
had a breakfast of eggs and bacon and hot tea.... going out with my BFF to shop at Sams and Cosco - and will do lunch.. usually if I am doing lunch out I do not eat breakfast... but my B/S was 99 today... and I know that it would drop lower if I did my WA and did not have something tg eat..... plus walking around those two big box stores.....
still at 299 :sad::( I need a whoosh........ maybe tomorrow...... will eat clean again... but I know that I am doing a good job... for my B/S numbers to be sooooo good....... that really does count......
everyone have a great day..love ya all
Still unable to access my account in here thru my computer, ugh. My sister was trying to find us in here, she wanted to join us, but now neither her nor I can log in into our accounts thru the computer. Very frustrating. She forgot her password and I forgot mine and w tried so many different ones that they locked us out :rofl::hyst:
Maybe we can ask the Administrator to close our old ones and we'll open a new one and this time write down our passwords. As we get older, we don't remember what we had for dinner the night before :rofl:
Anyway, it must be the heat ... 102 here in California today. Just awful hot for me. Can't wait for the Fall. I envy Gina's weather right now.
Gina, I don't drink milk anymore. But you may be safer over there in the UK. Here, they give too much growth hormones, antibiotics and God knows what else to the cows to keep them producing milk in abundance. And that is so harmful to us.
Sammi, you are almost out of the house of the 50s ... Woohoo :jumpjoy:
Diana, keep eating right and you'll have a woosh pretty soon.
Stacie, don't work too hard.
Fonda, I'm just curious, don't you ever eat a fresh salad? I only see ham and cheese, chicken, bacon and more cheese on your menus. I could not live without my greens ... Love my salads!
Laura, you're doing great! When is boyfriend arriving?
My weight went up this morning to 237.? Can't remember. But I know it's water retention, because I did not cheat.
Still coughing and expectorating a lot. I'm tired of this cold, ugh.
Hitting the sac now. Good night my friends!:hiya:
Sophie :heart:
|All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:53 AM.

subset: commoncrawl


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swtsacrifice 36-40, F 10 Answers 0 Jan 23 in Community
Ah the Midwest wintertime overcast. Makes everything look like a scene from an apocolyptic movie. I'm headed south next week to get some rays. Screw this.
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Only 6 Hrs ago

sad :)
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? .. I see it every time I think of her
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Are you in Alaska? The sun in shining in my window right now.
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We're sunny everyday for this past few days!
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Visit to Florida
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why and how is that?
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Gear Review
Goathead Proof
Member since
I rode over 15 miles with a goathead stuck in my front tire too scared to pull it out in fear I'd let the air loose. When I got home I pulled it out and the tire held air. After about 150 miles the rubber has worn to a nice grippy tread that rides better than new.
View More Details on Continental Gatorskin Tire - Clincher


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Millgate (25th November 2013)
@Millgate - Cheers Luke. Quick response as always and its all sorted. Cant believe I tried 3 other companies first who couldnt be arsed to respond. Should have come direct to you!!
Millgate (25th November 2013)
We use PRM Green Technologies (www.prmgreentech.com)
We tried to have a containers worth of old equipment removed by other recyclers, but they refused to take what we had.
I emailed firstname.lastname@example.com on 03/12/13 to enquire about PRMs services and received an email response in 5 minutes!!!
The collection was arranged within 24hrs (the only delay was me estimating the number of items for recycling).
A collection was offered for the next day but I could not take advantage, so as a result, the whole process took 4 days!!!
Never have I worked with someone who is as efficient as Michelle the Bookings Manager, she made the whole process a pleasure.
This is why I am more than happy to post here on Edugeek, to let everyone know.
+ 1 for PRM, used them once and will again hands down.
As everyone else said, we've had a pleasant experience from PRM. Gave them a call last Friday, they've come collected it today. Good service, friendly driver and a couple of free mugs!
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Daniel Ratliff, of Bay Shore, arrested in Great Neck home invasion
Police have arrested a Bay Shore man in connection with a home invasion in Great Neck.
Daniel Ratliff is accused of pretending to deliver flowers in Great Neck Plaza in June and then smashing a vase over a man's head. The victim was also shocked with a stun gun.
Ratliff is accused of stealing cash, jewelry and passports.
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Junior Member
Which Champion contains most AS/AD at the start of a match?
I am trying to develop a champions ability based around Attack Speed (AS) and Attack Damage (AD), both starting and building as they level up utilizing there ability as a safeguard to cause extra damage.
I'm not saying, ability power isn't a source of strength and dominance, because on many fronts it's proven to be a very viable factor in the slaughter of enemies.
I'm saying, does there exist a champion out there who mostly has to rely on attack speed, attack damage, or both to become victorious in battle rather than ability power limiting there basic attack to no more than a love tap.
If you know this answer, where did you find your information at; online webpage (address please), suspect rumor, or knowledge of gaming by experience.
Not sure about the champions with the highest AD/AS early game, but i think that Kog'Maw is a prime example of a champion that needs a good combination of AD and AS because of his percentage based damage on his bio arcane barrage and the fact that he needs to get in as many shots as he can while his caustic spittle is in effect.
Senior Member
Almost any AD carry would fit this description.
Look at the champion info section on this site.
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Historical Paper Dolls: 1920s
Learn all about history of women's fashion with fun, collectible paper dolls! Fashion can be fun, but also quite telling of the times. So teach your child a bit about the roaring twenties in the U.S., and color this fabulous flapper girl.
Topics: Second Grade, Paper Dolls, History
Updated on Aug 22, 2011
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The Global Intelligence Files,
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The Global Intelligence Files
On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
Re: [latam] [EastAsia] DISCUSSION - China's loan to Venezuela
Released on 2013-02-13 00:00 GMT
|2010-04-19 15:23:40
|email@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com, email@example.com
out of Chinese press. the chinese have the money and are accelerating
outward investment this year, even more than last year. they are always
looking to diversify. but the problem with Vene crude is well known, and
this is a problem. but it is one that the US has overcome, and there are
one or two refineries China is having built by PDVSA to process it, if I
remember right
Reva Bhalla wrote:
Have you guys seen any more details from your end on the terms of this
massive 10 yr, $20bn Chinese loan to Venezuela? Venezuelan crude is
already crappy, and you have to ship it a long way just to get it to
China. Does this make strategic economic sense for China or is there
something more to it?
Begin forwarded message:
From: Clint Richards <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Date: April 19, 2010 8:13:53 AM CDT
To: The OS List <email@example.com>
Subject: [OS] CHINA/VENEZUELA/ENERGY - China, Venezuela to Cooperate
in Heavy Oil Exploitation
Reply-To: The OS List <firstname.lastname@example.com>
China, Venezuela to Cooperate in Heavy Oil Exploitation
BEIJING, Apr 19, 2010 (SinoCast Daily Business Beat via COMTEX) --
Bo Qiliang, Vice President of PetroChina Co., Ltd. (SHSE: 601857;
NYSE: PTR | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating; SEHK: 0857), lately
signed a MOU (memorandum of understanding) upon cooperation in the
Junin 4 oil block with the general manager for Petroleos de Venezuela,
On behalf of China, the company and China Development Bank (CDB)
entered into a long-term financing cooperation agreement with
Venezuela's four representatives, including PDVSA, Venezuelan Economic
and Social Development Bank, as well as the financial and energy
mineral authorities.
China is willing to loan a lot of money to the long-term financing
plan of Venezuela within the ten years to come, on the premise of an
oil supply agreement inked between PDVSA and PetroChina. Foreign
sources said that Venezuela would earmark loans of USD 20 billion it
gains from China for expressway building and other projects.
Measuring 325 square kilometers, the Junin 4 oil block owns an
8.7-billion-barrel recoverable reserve, and its annual production
capacity is expected to hit 20 million tons. Upon the MOU, a new
entity jointly founded by PetroChina and PDVSA will yield around 2.9
billion barrels of heavy crude oil within 25 years.


text:
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It Only Took America Half a Century to Ruin Waffles
Fifty years after Belgian waffles debuted at the 1964 World's Fair, we've got Eggos that come in microwave bags.
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The restaurant tries to change conceptions of the Belgian waffle, using them as buns in sliders and as crust for pizza.
Rounding up the region's restaurant reviews.
Trans-Atlantic African cuisine is delivered from a former nightlife promoter and L.A. loses a Japanese stalwart and one link in a Brazilian chain.
A look back at the late, great Waffleizer blog.
Strange takes on the Belgian breakfast favorite are coming to Santa Monica.
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Plus, Aunt Jemima's bacon pancakes.
A recipe for the Publican's Belgian waffle.
Syrup Desserts has opened to satisfy Downtown L.A.'s sweet tooth.
Yet another disappointment for downtown Brooklyn.


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main index
THEY WERE *CRUCIAL* TO THE JOKEA silent panel in sequential art. Usually the next-to-last panel in a serialized comic strip, since it approximates the comedic pause before a punchline. Particularly efficient comic artists may copy and paste adjacent panels, since the point of the Beat Panel is usually that the characters are frozen in contemplation. Another variation is to have two beat panels, with just a quizzical change of expression in the second to show a character's confusion (more likely to happen in a four-panel strip than a three-panel strip). It can also be unusually long to indicate a long beat. Compare Silent Scenery Panel. A Beat is the (un)spoken version.
— Yelling Bird, Questionable Content
open/close all folders
Anime and Manga
Comic Books
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text:
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. Reports Results For 2013 Second Quarter
Liquidity and Financial Position
For the six months ended June 30, 2013, cash flow provided by operating activities was $104 million, cash flow used for investing activities totaled $72 million, cash flow used for financing activities was $192 million, and the effect of exchange rate changes on cash was $4 million, for a net decrease in cash of $163 million.
Capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2013 totaled approximately $80 million compared to $131 million for the same period in 2012.
Consolidated leverage ratio, defined as total debt divided by EBITDA (as defined by the Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings ("CCWH") Senior Notes indentures) for the preceding four quarters was 6.2:1 at June 30, 2013, and senior leverage ratio, defined as senior debt divided by EBITDA (as defined by the CCWH Senior Notes indentures) for the preceding four quarters was 3.5:1 at June 30, 2013. As required by the definition of EBITDA in the CCWH Senior Notes indentures, our EBITDA for the preceding four quarters of $796 million is calculated as operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization, impairment charges and other operating income (expense), net, plus share-based compensation, and is further adjusted for the following: (i) costs incurred in connection with severance, the closure and/or consolidation of facilities, retention charges, consulting fees and other permitted activities; (ii) extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses or expenses; (iii) non-cash charges; and (iv) various other items.The following table reflects a reconciliation of EBITDA (as defined by the CCWH Senior Notes indentures) to operating income and net cash provided by operating activities for the four quarters ended June 30, 2013:
|(In Millions) Note: numbers may not sum due to rounding
Four QuartersEnded
|June 30,
|EBITDA (as defined by the CCWH Senior Notes indentures)
|Less adjustments to EBITDA (as defined by the CCWH Senior Notes indentures):
Cost incurred in connection with severance, the closure and/or consolidation offacilities, retention charges, consulting fees, and other permitted activities
Extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses or expenses (asreferenced in the definition of EBITDA in the CCWH Senior Notes indentures)
|Non-cash charges
|Other items
Less: Depreciation and amortization, Impairment charges, Other operating income(expense), net, and Share-based compensation expense
|Operating income
Plus: Depreciation and amortization, Impairment charges, Other operating income(expense), net, and Share-based compensation expense
|Less: Interest expense
|Plus: Interest income on Due from Clear Channel Communications
|Less: Current income tax benefit
|Plus: Other income (expense), net
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net loss to net cash provided by operatingactivities (including Provision for doubtful accounts, Amortization of deferredfinancing charges and note discounts, net and Other reconciling items, net)
|Change in assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed
|Net cash provided by operating activities
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text:
GaRN1982's Activity: Topics
By GaRN1982
Joined Oct 15, '13 - from 'Ga, US'. GaRN1982 is a RN. She has '1' year(s) of experience. Posts: 1 (0% Liked)
In Activity: Topics, you will find a list of every topic submitted by GaRN1982.
- by GaRN1982 Oct 15 '131 RepliesLast post ruralgirl08
- Forum: Operating Room Nursing


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main index
Forward is a Doorstopper-length Original Flavor Continuation Firefly fanfic written by the same author behind Tiberium Wars and Renegade. It is partially an alternate universe fic, as it RetCons several major character deaths in Serenity, but otherwise remains true to the ending of the movie. The story follows the crew of Serenity as they continue on, and have to struggle with the enemies they've made and new ones that appear, while the Alliance struggles to remain in control.Notable for strong characterization, believable character development, and a wide, overarching plot arc. General consensus among the reviewers has that the story captures the Firefly essence very well, with many of the reviewers comparing the writing favorably to Joss Whedon's own.The story is separated into episodic story arcs, to emulate the series' episodes. The fic starts off very dark, particularly with regards to River's madness and Mal's more ruthless tendencies, but lightens as the story progresses. As the series has progressed, it has gradually revealed an overarching plot relating to the Academy and the Alliance's more shadowy operations.The primary characters of the story are Mal and River (the latter of whom the author admits is his favorite character), and the story spends a great deal of time exploring both of their mindsets, pasts, and moral quandries. The story does not yet involve a non-canon pairing, though the author has confirmed that the story will have a later pairing involving River and as-yet-unnamed character.Notable also for its....unusual....take on River's mental processes.The story currently consists of nine story-arc "episodes" and five brief "interludes." In order:
Provides Examples Of:


text:
Winter won't let go.
Uptown, Minneapolis
Warehouse district, Minneapolis
Jump into my way back machine and say happy St. Patrick's Day from the Chicago river in 2007
I found these boots last spring just sitting all by themselves with no owner in sight. I hope somebody came and picked them up, they look pretty nice.
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At a Glance
Hospitals and health systems today risk falling victim to purchasing kickback schemes, a form of fraud that causes organizations to pay more than fair market value for a product or service. Internal controls are required to avoid this risk.
The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) found instances of purchasing fraud in more than 30 percent of the healthcare industry cases analyzed as part of a 2012 study, making this type of fraud a very close second to billing fraud in terms of prevalence. The ACFE estimated that the average cost of corruption for healthcare entities in 2012 was $250,000 for each case of fraud.
The risks associated with purchasing fraud go beyond monetary losses; fraud allegations also put an organization's reputation at risk. Although kickbacks and purchasing fraud are not directly related to clinical quality, they can diminish public confidence in an organization's ability to provide high-quality health care. For hospitals and health systems that receive federal or state grants, the grantor could choose to initiate investigation based on allegations of fraud. If the organization falls out of compliance with grant requirements, it could be required to return funds to the granting agency.If the hospital or health system itself is charged with fraud, legal sanctions, including fines, could ensue.
The ACFE defines a kickback scheme as the giving or receiving of anything of value to influence a business decision without the employer's knowledge and consent. Kickback schemes, which involve collusion between employees and vendors, typically include submission of invoices for goods or services that are either overpriced or completely fictitious. Once the healthcare entity pays the vendor for the invoice, the vendor provides something of value to the individual who arranged everything. Vendors may send purchasing agents on extravagant vacations, buy them cars, or simply make cash payments to them.
Kickback schemes may originate at any level within the organization with the ability to influence purchasing decisions, including—but not limited to—purchasing agents. Recent examples of alleged purchasing fraud, as described in the sidebar below, show how costly this type of fraud can be.
Purchasing fraud can be very difficult to prevent and detect. If a vendor is simply increasing the price of each item purchased by a small amount, it could go unnoticed for many years. If an employee with a high level of control over the purchasing process is involved, it could go unnoticed indefinitely.
The cornerstone of preventing and detecting fraud is an effective control environment, which should start at the top. Executive leaders and the board of directors should be committed to designing effective processes and procedures to reduce the risk of fraud. At least once a year, the organization's executives should perform a risk assessment that includes a discussion about "what could go wrong," covering topics such as how employees could steal money, how financial statements could be misstated, how the overall control environment could affect the work environment, and other potential areas of concern.
Once concerns are identified, leaders should determine what types of controls are in place to mitigate these risks and should arrange to have their organizations' internal controls reviewed independently on a periodic basis; for larger organizations, controls should be evaluated annually and for smaller organizations, at least biannually. An independent review can highlight the areas in which internal controls are not designed appropriately or are not being followed. Even the best-designed controls are not effective if they are not being followed.
The following controls can reduce the risk of purchasing fraud that is committed through kickback schemes.
Employee code of conduct/code of ethics. Expectations about honest and ethical employee behavior should be codified. A written code of conduct sets guardrails for employees, letting them know what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. The code of conduct should be all encompassing, including items such as ethics, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, intellectual property, sexual harassment, and fraud. Consequences of violating the code of conduct should be addressed. Organizations should include their employees in the development and review of the code of conduct to improve "buy-in." All new employees should be required to certify that they have read and understand the code, and all employees should be required to renew this certification at least once a year. Also, organizations should keep in mind that a code of conduct can be effective only if it is enforced.
Vendor code of conduct. In addition to an employee code of conduct, hospitals should have a code of conduct for vendors, addressing areas such as legal compliance, conflicts of interest, gifts, gratuities, kickbacks, privacy and confidentiality, accuracy of records, fair competition,discrimination, government contract-related policies, and reporting of misconduct. As a prerequisite for being added to the hospital's approved list, each vendor should certify that it will act in accordance with the code of conduct.
Gift policy. A gift acceptance policy helps protect employees from developing a conflict of interest with a vendor. The policy should detail gifts that are acceptable and gifts that are not, with specifics about the value of acceptable gifts.Gifts of cash or cash equivalents (e.g., gift cards) should be strictly prohibited, with possible exceptions for cash equivalents with minimal value. The policy should also describe how employees should decline the acceptance of a gift and how gifts should be reported so they can be tracked properly. All employees should be required to certify that they have read and understood this policy at least once a year.
Purchasing control. All hospitals should have a detailed and well-documented purchasing process. Purchase orders should go through multiple levels of review, depending on the size of the purchase. Purchasing cycle duties should be segregated appropriately. For example, the individual preparing the purchase order should not be allowed to approve the invoice. A second employee should compare the purchase price with the approved purchase order. Receipt of the goods or service should be documented by a third employee who does not have the authority to approve a purchase order or an invoice. In small organizations, it may be necessary to get individuals outside of the purchasing department involved. For example, an administrative employee can assist in receiving or a C-level officer may need to approve purchases of certain amounts. Overall, it is imperative that controls be designed to prevent any one person from having the ability to process and approve a purchase.
A bidding/proposal process that includes at least three employees should be used for purchases that exceed a designated amount. Organizations should have a detailed policy documenting the process for each level of purchasing. For example, purchases in excess of $10,000 may require a bidding process; purchases of less than $1,000 may use an expedited purchasing process.
Controls over the approved vendor listing are an important element of a fraud risk reduction program. Initially, vendors should be required to go through an intense vetting process that may include financial statement analysis, interviews with employees, site visits, and certification of the vendor code of conduct. Hospitals and health systems should analyze and review the approved listing at least once a year to identify vendors listed more than once under different names and vendors the company no longer uses. This step helps reduce the risk of having fictitious vendors in the organization's database.
Healthcare organizations also may opt to rotate purchasing duties. Whether purchasing agents are assigned to particular vendors and/or products or there is only one purchasing agent for the entire organization, a good rule of thumb is to rotate purchasing responsibilities at least every six months. In smaller organizations, it may be possible to rotate duties within purchasing and other accounting functions. This policy adds another layer of control to the purchasing process and facilitates cross training, which may also be useful in the event of employee turnover.
Whistleblower hotline. Employees and others should be able to report suspicions of malfeasance to management anonymously. The easiest vehicle for this is a whistleblower hotline that is advertised and available to all employees, volunteers, patients, visitors, and vendors. In 2010, the Antifraud Programs and Controls Task Force of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants developed a series of questions for audit committees to consider when assessing the effectiveness of a whistleblower hotline, which were published in the Journal of Accountancy .
Internal audit. An internal auditor can be a powerful control in preventing and detecting all types of fraud by conducting vendor research, performing surprise audits, interviewing employees, making price comparisons, and implementing continuous auditing procedures. Continuous auditing procedures may include analyzing purchasing trends (e.g., always purchasing certain products from a single vendor), comparing vendor addresses with the personnel database, and analyzing the inventory database for unnecessary purchases. The internal auditor should be a key player in developing a risk assessment program and implementing responses to risks.
Fraud training for employees. Organizations should train employees on how to recognize fraud and what to do if they have suspicions. This training should occur at least annually and should include information about types of fraud, behavior traits that could indicate someone is committing fraud, and controls that are in place to mitigate fraud (so employees can recognize when someone is attempting to circumvent the controls). Fraud training also is a key component of organizational culture, as it shows that management is committed to doing business in an ethical manner.
Budget-to-actual analysis. Budget-to-actual analysis may help expose malfeasance. A department with continual budget deficiencies should be scrutinized. All too often, organizations explain away budget deficiencies rather than investigating the reasons for them. It also is important to keep in mind that projects should have an approved budget. Any budget changes or deficiencies should be investigated prior to incurring the actual expense.
Insurance coverage. Organizations should maintain insurance coverage, known as fidelity insurance, to cover employee dishonesty. This coverage may limit the damage to an organization in the event of fraud.
Purchasing fraud causes significant losses for healthcare entities and damages the reputation of the industry. Designing and implementing an effective internal control environment helps reduce the risk of such fraud. Healthcare leaders should emphasize the importance of ethical behavior while providing adequate resources to ensure that an appropriate internal control environment can be implemented.
Lance Mann, CPA, CFE, is associate director of assurance services at Dean Dorton Allen Ford, PLLC, Lexington, Ky.
Recent Indictments Related to Hospital Purchasing Fraud
Purchasing fraud can take a variety of forms, as is evident in three recent cases In New York and New Mexico.
International "clinical partnership." In September 2012, the former CEO of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York was arrested and charged in a $1.4 million kickback scheme that spanned more than a decade. He is accused of receiving approximately $420,000 in kickbacks from hospital vendors, $298,500 from a hospital employee, and roughly $670,000 from a British-based healthcare organization. In exchange for these payments, this CEO allegedly approved a clinical partnership between the hospital and the British-based organization. The funds received from the hospital employee were allegedly received in exchange for negotiating payment of that worker's annual bonus. The amounts received from hospital vendors were allegedly received for approval of purchase orders and/or services that were either overpriced or unnecessary. If convicted, the CEO faces up to 20 years in prison for racketeering and making false statements to the federal government.
Improper awarding of construction contracts. In October 2012, two former facilities employees of New York Presbyterian Hospital were convicted of defrauding the hospital in a kickback scheme related to awarding of construction, maintenance, and service contracts for asbestos abatement, air monitoring, and general construction to a co-conspirator's company. The vice president of facilities received over $2.3 million in kickbacks, which were funneled through a company owned by the vice president's relative and then eventually paid to him. Sadly, the company through which the kickbacks were funneled was set up in the conspirator's mother's name. In the end, 17 individuals and six companies were convicted of or pleaded guilty to charges arising out of this federal antitrust investigation of bid rigging, fraud, bribery, and tax-related offenses.
"Bogus" IT system updates. In December 2012, the former COO/CFO of St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe, N. M.—now called Christus St. Vincent Medical Center—pleaded guilty to conspiracy and two counts of fraud over $20,000 in a plea bargain agreement. It is alleged this employee awarded contracts to a co-conspirator and five companies owned by the co-conspirator for work related to updating the hospital's information systems. According to the original indictments, the COO/CFO received at least $678,000 between 2005 and 2008 in exchange for approving more than $3 million in payments to his co-conspirator. The indictments state that "St. Vincent largely received no or minimal work product" for payments authorized by the COO and the work was "frequently unnecessary, of poor quality or completely bogus." The indictments further state that the co-conspirators worked as a team to bilk the hospital of the money, creating false letterheads for companies that "existed largely on paper only," overriding the hospital's administrative protocols, and staging displays to mollify other employees and "prevent detection of the scheme." According to court documents, the co-conspirators used the funds received to purchase a luxury vehicle, make payments on credit cards, buy country club memberships, and fund the construction of a home. The plea agreement requires five years of supervised probation, court-ordered restitution, and assistance in resolving other criminal and civil matters still pending. In March 2013, the co-conspirator pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud and conspiracy. Sentencing in this case is scheduled for September 2013.
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Grinder's Switch Winery sits atop a 110-acre estate flourishing with vineyards that produce a variety of palate-pleasing wines. Inside a hand-built log cabin set against a backdrop of efflorescent countryside, Grinder's tasting room welcomes sophisticated sippers to sample such wizened grape juices as the 2009 Pearl—a sweet wine derived from niagara grapes ($10.93)—and the Blondy ($12.75), which boasts aromatic scents of apricot and peach. Swirling fragrances of golden apple tickle the noses of Honeysuckle Rose ($13.67) drinkers, while the lightly-oaked 2009 chardonnay ($13.67) proffers a finish as crisp as dollar bills made out of Granny Smith apples.
Laser devices fill every loop in Syracuse Laser Spa's tool belt. Manager Chris Marin and his staff of licensed laser technicians reach for them during noninvasive LaserFast hair removal and LaserLiteTx skin-tightening treatments. They bolster their work with LaserLiteTx and LaserFast certifications and a two-year hair-removal guarantee that keeps skin smooth until you finish reading two calendars.
Hendersonville Produce stocks its aisles with fresh fruits and veggies delivered each day, grass-fed beef, and seasonal favorites sourced from local farmers and vendors, such as Southern Artisan Chocolate and Sweetwater Cheeses. Customers can fill a basket with vine-ripe tomatoes ($2.59/lb.), juicy fillets ($12.99+/lb.), and gourmet cheeses ($6.99/lb.) to give homebrewed cuisine a fine-dining vintage. Mouths catch the fall spirit by sinking chompers into nutrient-rich squash ($1.99/lb.) and lit-candle-rich pumpkin ($2.99+). Hendersonville Produce also provides decorative seasonal items, including gourds and mums, as well as an arsenal of everyday essentials, such as half gallons of milk ($3.57), avocados ($1.99/each), jam ($3.99–$4.59), and solid-gold turnips. Shoppers can stop by to indulge in complimentary samples and refreshments on select days.
Thorntons independently distributes gas while keeping clean convenience stores filled with snacks to help drivers stay awake, nourished, or quenched. Power depleted, flex-fuel-friendly cars, trucks, vans, or tail-finned Zeppelins with E-85 Flex Fuel, a renewable fuel source that minimizes earth-detrimental emissions.
Dr. Derek Renfroe draws from his award-winning experience at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry and from his years spent as an active-duty dentist in the U.S. Army to protect and enhance smiles inside a new, contemporary office setting. Preventative and general treatments come in the form of checkups, cleanings, fillings, and dental implants. Cosmetic services improve the look of toothy grins with porcelain veneers, teeth-whitening treatments, and strategically placed mirrors. Warm yellow tones cloak the modern office, where TVs rest beside cushy treatment chairs, and sleek white furniture reflects off a meticulously shined floor.:
Whether retooling the body's hormone levels or removing tiny impurities from its pores, there's no treatment too big or small for the staff at Solutions Wellness. On the spa side of things, hair-removal expert and aesthetician Cassee Young uses wax to eradicate unwanted fuzz and save her clients from the burden of regular shaving. For solutions of a more medical nature, advanced practice nurse Cristina Moore helms a clinical team that specializes in bioequivalent-hormone replacement therapy and medical weight-loss strategies.
While awaiting treatment, guests can relax and enjoy a warm or cool beverage in the welcoming reception area, whose golden walls are accented by red- and orange-toned prints and bright-red leather chairs.