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The last musical of the official Broadway season comes into town like a huckster promising salvation. But it's the show itself that needs saving.
There's a strong musical somewhere in "Leap of Faith," which stars a soulful Raul Esparza and has some of Alan Menken's best songs.
But what opened Thursday at the St. James Theatre is sometimes confusing in its tone. Like its main character – the devious faith healer Rev. Jonas Nightingale, ready to scam residents of a down-and-out Kansas town – the musical is hard to pin down. There's too much misdirection.
The show is based on the 1992 film starring Steve Martin that was written by Janus Cercone. This time, she has teamed up with Warren Leight for a book that keeps the preacher's rhinestone jacket but plays up the romance.
"Leap of Faith" feels like many hands have tried to heal it over the years since it had its world premiere in late 2010 at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. It's both overwritten and yet underwritten. It breaks the fourth wall repeatedly and also pretends it hasn't.
It sometimes comments on itself and then falls back into being a conventional musical. It exposes the high-tech tricks that fraudulent preachers use – and then tries to pull its own magic tricks on us. It keeps tripping itself up.
"Do you even know when you're lying anymore?" the preacher is asked at one point.
"Not so much," he answers.
All that obscures a terrific Esparza and Jessica Phillips, who plays the widowed town official skeptical of Nightingale's motives. It takes away, too, from strong songs by Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater that include "I Can Read You," "Long Past Dreamin'," "Are You on the Bus?" and the thunderously good title tune.
The bones of a very good show are here if only the muscle was toned – or at least moving in one direction. Perhaps just too many layers accreted as the show passed over the years through directors Taylor Hackford to Rob Ashford to now Christopher Ashley.
The hard-sell starts as soon as the audience files into the theater, with a cameraman sweeping over the crowd and broadcasting his images on six screens. There are actors wearing red buttons that say "Rise Up" handing out fake dollar bills. At points during the performance, baskets are shoved into the crowd to retrieve the cash.
The revival meeting feeling continues with metal walkways connecting the stage and audience and even the loss of the theater's best seats to accommodate a ramp thrusting out into the crowd. Further blurring the boundaries, actors sit in the orchestra seats, waving their hands and shrieking with delight. The effect is, oddly, distancing – the opposite of the intention.
The play is mostly set in the drought-stricken town of Sweetwater, Kan., where Nightingale's traveling revival show has been stranded after their bus breaks down. Despite the threat of arrest and fines from the skeptical sheriff, Nightingale decides to put on a three-day event to pray for rain and wheedle money from the townsfolk.
Romantic sparks fly between Nightingale and the sheriff (Phillips), but she worries that her crippled son (Talon Ackerman) is being hoodwinked into believing that the preacher can help him walk again. Meanwhile, the preacher's sister (Kendra Kassebaum) warns him about losing sight of the payday.
In a secondary plotline, the traveling revival show's bookkeeper (Kecia Lewis-Evans) is visited by her son (Leslie Odom), a student at a Bible college who knows a scam when he sees one. He wants his mother and sister (Krystal Joy Brown) to walk with Jesus, not a crook.
Esparza throws himself into the role, finding the vulnerability and self-doubt in his sleazy character even as he prowls the ramps and slithers on his back to sell his lies. Phillips is a cool drink of water in her tight jeans and cowboy boots. She has a beautiful voice and the vocal skills of Lewis-Evans, Odom and Brown are also heavenly.
There are some nifty touches, including choir robes that descend on a rod for the quickest onstage costume changes in Broadway history, a killer duet between Brown and Odom, and the final thrilling scene. The connection between religion and love – leaps of faith, both – is nicely explored.
If only the show itself had enough faith to leap in one direction.
Jeez, even the climactic thunderstorm is a letdown in "Leap of Faith." You can see the water jets — where's the fun in that?
Sorry if that's a spoiler, but nothing happens in this frustrating and manipulative new Broadway musical based on a 1992 Steve Martin movie you don't see coming a mile away.
What is surprising is how infrequently songs by Alan Menken (music) and Glenn Slater (lyrics) make you sit up and take notice.
Is this the same duo that packed "Sister Act" with tasty disco-pop tunes The composer who wrote the memorable melodies for "Newsies"? It is.
There are some rousing, albeit repetitive, gospel numbers, each accompanied by Sergio Trujillo's gyrating dancing. And the sweet country-and-Western-flavored "Long Past Dreamin'" is a real keeper. Otherwise, the score is as striking as dust in a drought-ravaged Kansas town.
That's where phony faith healer Jonas Nightingale (Raul Esparza, of "Company" and "Arcadia") and his band of "angels" pitch their tent after a bus breakdown. They're soon fleecing poor local yokels in their revival meetings.
Enter sheriff Marla McGowan (a likable low-key Jessica Phillips). She's got Nightingale's number, but she's also a lonely widow with a disabled son, Jake (Talon Ackerman), turned on by Jonas and his many sleeveless T-shirts. "Smart Women, Foolish Choices" was a non-issue when Liam Neeson wore the badge on the big screen in 1992.
The sex change is one of several tweaks by Janus Cercone, who wrote the original screenplay, and Warren Leight. Now, Jonas has a sister, Sam (Kendra Kassebaum), and a boo-hoo childhood to lend a shred of psychological background. Unfortunately, there are also too many secondary characters and gaps in logic, such as Jonas' gang not knowing he's a con man. Huh?
Director Christopher Ashley has previously done fine work guiding "Memphis" and "All Shook Up." But he doesn't get a handle on this production, which he inherited after a 2010 Los Angeles tryout. It feels out of sync.
Ragtag "angels" look so slick that they could've come from blowouts and seaweed wraps at a spa. Even the always reliable William Ivey Long has fashioned costumes that are head-scratchers. Kassebaum's Stevie Nicks-style frock cries out for an exorcism.
As the flimflammer in the mirror-ball jacket at the center of all of this, Esparza is full of the devil. He pushes his vocals to the roof, sometimes squeezing his pipes into Patti LaBelle squeals. He stalks the stage with pursed lips and the look-at-me swagger of Mick Jagger. Esparza goes big, bold and a little buggy, but he's never boring.
While he's at it, he joins the roster of con men from better Broadway musicals, including "The Music Man" and "110 in the Shade." Esparza's not a miracle worker; he can't save the show. But he gives it his all, and that rates an amen.
Even if you haven't caught the movie it's based on, you can see everything coming a mile away in "Leap of Faith." The only surprise in this predictable, mushy new Broadway musical is how ridiculously fun it is.
The odds were bad, as the show arrived in a cloud of negative buzz: The original director was ditched in California, along with leading lady Brooke Shields. There were rumors that star Raul Esparza ("Company") was too sinister as Jonas Nightingale, the sham faith healer played by a convivial Steve Martin in the 1992 film.
And the truth is, he kinda is.
Bamboozling the citizens of a small Kansas town at a raucous tent revival, Esparza's Jonas, strapped in a stylish black suit, looks like Satan's little helper.
And yet you can also see why the good people of Sweetwater would so eagerly swallow Jonas' hooks: He's got some bright, snazzy lures.
First, our man does appear to have a divine gift for reading his marks. That's only because his Googling whiz sister, Sam (Kendra Kassebaum), secretly feeds him intel.
But the real reason for his success is that those traveling missionaries bring on some serious showmanship, snappily directed by Christopher Ashley and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo.
Esparza is a charismatic bandleader, and he tirelessly sells the peppy pop-gospel songs by Disney stalwart Alan Menken and Glenn Slater — the team that also brought us "Sister Act" and its freakishly similar inspirational numbers. A rousing backup choir called the Angels of Mercy helps.
Aside from stick-in-the-mud theatergoers, the only one who remains unconvinced by this high-energy roof-raising is the sheriff, Marla McGowan (Jessica Phillips).
This sexy heathen in skintight jeans also happens to be a widow with a young son, Jake (Talon Ackerman), who's in a wheelchair. Oh, and Sweetwater is experiencing a severe drought. There is zero suspense as to what's going to happen — Janus Cercone and Warren Leight's book never strays from the obvious — yet the show manages to be satisfying.
Marla quickly susses out that beneath his sparkly jackets, Jonas is a troubled soul. "Someone, somewhere hurt you bad," she sings with insight worthy of "The Mentalist."
Marla isn't the only obstacle Jonas and his Angels face on the way to their foretold redemption. Another is Isaiah (the fantastic Leslie Odom Jr.), the righteous son of Angels bookkeeper and star belter Ida Mae (Kecia Lewis-Evans).
Rest assured that everybody eventually comes around in one way or another. This isn't a Disney production, but it might as well be.
If there's a lesson in "Leap of Faith," it's that high-energy entertainment is the perfect sweetener: It makes everything go down, whether it's a rascally preacher or a Broadway musical with a clunky book.
Say amen, somebody. Or, better yet, just whimper the word. We've finally come to the end of a hard-run overcrowded spring on Broadway. And here, to sound the final trumpet, is one last musical, a show that appropriately expresses how many a dedicated theatergoer must be feeling right now: plumb tuckered out.
Praise the Lord, and pass the amphetamines. "Leap of Faith," which opened on Thursday night at the St. James Theater, uses the religious revival meeting as both its subject and its form. Yet reviving (or revivifying or inspiriting) is hardly the right adjective for it. Starring Raúl Esparza and based on the 1992 movie of the same title, "Leap of Faith" is this season's black hole of musical comedy, sucking the energy out of anyone who gets near it.
That includes its unfortunate cast. It's not that the ensemble members, directed by Christopher Ashley and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, don't work up a sweat, clappin' their hands and slappin' their thighs and raisin' their voices. But you can feel that the force isn't with them. As its title promises, "Leap of Faith" has a fair amount of leaping. The faith part is another matter.
Featuring songs by Alan Menken (music) and Glenn Slater (lyrics), with a book by Janus Cercone and Warren Leight, "Leap of Faith" tells the redemptive story of Jonas Nightingale (Mr. Esparza), a con-man evangelist who is forced to re-examine his wicked ways. (Well, maybe it's a redemptive story; it's typical of the show's bad faith that it hedges its bets.)
Jonas (who was portrayed by Steve Martin in the film) is a figure with a long and nobly ignoble ancestry in the theater, the irresistible charlatan. He's a type whose very existence depends on his ability to charm a crowd, to whip up emotions, to make us suspend disbelief. He is, in other words, showbiz incarnate.
Celebrated variations on this scam artist have been deployed for purposes sentimental (the title characters of "The Music Man" and "The Rainmaker"), cynical (the grandstanding lawyer Billy Flynn in "Chicago") and somewhere in between (the leading louts of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"). But wherever their hearts lie, these great pretenders can usually be relied on to raise the adrenaline in a room.
If they're really well portrayed, especially on the stage, they operate on several levels at once, as deceivers (that is, actors) playing deceivers who get caught up in their own deceptions. Such performances leave us dizzy, giddy and feeling darn lucky that we've been had.
Mr. Esparza would seem to be a natural for such a part. His onstage energy quotient is usually off the charts. He was terrific as the forked-lightning-tongued studio executive in the 2008 revival of David Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow" and, in a more introspective mode, as the commitment-fearing urbanite in John Doyle's 2006 production of "Company." Artfully mix traits from each and, in theory, you'd come up with Jonas Nightingale, a self-questioning seller of hope.
Yet here Mr. Esparza seems to keep a chilly distance from his character, and you realize the degree to which self-consciousness has always been a part of his performances. In "Faith" doubt emanates from his every pore, from his contemptuously curled mouth to his fast robotic line readings. This is not, to put it mildly, the right frame of mind for selling religion from a revival tent (designed by Robin Wagner).
The people that Jonas — aided by his manager and kid sister, Sam (Kendra Kassebaum) — is trying to dupe are the citizens of Sweetwater, Kan., a cornfed place crippled by drought and unemployment. Though the townsfolk don't have much money, Jonas is convinced that he and his choir, the Angels of Mercy (led by Ida Mae Sturdevant, played by Kecia Lewis-Evans) can induce them to pour what little they have into his collection plates.
One hitch, though. There's a skeptic in Sweetwater, a beautiful woman who has gone for too long without love. Shades of Marian the librarian! But Marla McGowan (Jessica Phillips, who looks and acts as if she has just been dry-cleaned) is no book tender but the town sheriff, who has the power to put Jonas in jail.
She also has a 13-year-old son, brave little Jake (Talon Ackerman), who has lost the use of his legs in the car accident that conveniently took the life of Marla's husband. Jake believes in miracles, and Jake believes in Jonas.
Say, you ain't buying this guff, are you? Well, maybe you would if anyone onstage seemed to. I still shed a tear or two whenever the 1962 film of "The Music Man," starring Robert Preston, shows up on television. But "Faith" recycles its clichés without a shred of true conviction.
Its jokes, its romantic scenes, its dance numbers, its interchangeable songs by Mr. Menken (also represented on Broadway this season by the hyper-peppy "Newsies the Musical" ) all feel as if they had been pasted into place the night before. (An example of what passes for wit in Mr. Slater's lyrics: "Honey, even Helen Keller could see through you.")
Even the pacing of the show is self-defeating. No sooner does a dance number start to get a groove on — as in "Dancin' in the Devil's Shoes" led by the appealing Leslie Odom Jr., and Krystal Joy Brown — than it changes direction and peters out.
Gospel is not Mr. Esparza's strong suit. When he belts out raise-your-hands invocations to divinity, he sounds like a second-tier Tina Turner impersonator. He at last comes into his own in the show's penultimate number, the ardently delivered "Jonas' Soliloquy," in which he begs, "Give me something to believe in."
The audience has been silently asking the same thing for the previous two hours. But in "Leap of Faith" that prayer remains unanswered.
Sociocultural theses may be written about the season when Broadway got dead serious about Christianity. Not only do we have earnest, grandiose revivals of "Godspell" and "Jesus Christ Superstar," but here comes a true-believing musical, "Leap of Faith," flat-lined out of the charming and touching 1992 Steve Martin movie about a con man preacher.
The show, which has been surrounded by an assortment of rumors and incarnations since 2006, has arrived in director Christopher Ashley's skimpy, hard-driving production, unsure of its tone and unable to figure out how best to use its star, Raúl Esparza.
The actor -- who has been riveting in everything from "The Rocky Horror Show" to Stephen Sondheim, from TV comedies to Harold Pinter -- is working very hard here. The effort shows. He glowers. He struts. He performs a few strenuous moves a bit too strenuously as Jonas Nightingale, the charlatan and babe magnet who dupes needy Americans with promises of miracles.
How strange that this most charismatic artist suddenly doesn't have the charisma to sell a rainmaker/music man/Elmer Gantry character. Esparza almost seems too smart -- or perhaps just too grown-up -- for the show.
If so, this is hardly his fault. Despite the credentials of the creative team, the country/pop/gospel songs by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater ("Sister Act") are repetitious and forgettable. We keep being exhorted to "Rise Up" and characters are asked "are you on the bus or off the bus" until the metaphor drives off the road.
When the bus breaks down, Jonas, his kid sister/manager (a nicely hard-edged Kendra Kassebaum) and their Angels of Mercy choir decide to set up tent in poor, drought-stricken, small-town Kansas. The adaptation -- by Janus Cercone, who wrote the book for the movie, and Warren Leight -- conflate Jonas' love interest and the sheriff (Jessica Phillips). She is also the mother of the boy in the wheelchair (the accomplished Talon Ackerman). But the ensemble has too many subplots, almost all of them about daddy issues.
The crisis of faith in Kansas is awkwardly framed with a revival meeting on Broadway a year later. In these scenes, Esparza jokes with the audience. There are live TV monitors and characters in choir robes running up the aisle amid much lapping of elbows. It's one thing for the plot to be about desperate, seedy people. But the show shouldn't feel that way, too.
In the musical production that opened Thursday at the St. James Theatre, a slick con man and serial seducer arrives in a small town, intent on swindling the local folk for all they're worth. He nearly succeeds, but ends up falling for the smart, lonely woman who's on to him.
No, it's not a revival of The Music Man; it's the new Leap of Faith (* * ½ out of four), based on the 1992 film of the same name. And while it's a more imaginative and entertaining film adaptation than another recent Broadway entry, Ghost the Musical, Faith hardly seems destined for the American musical-theater canon.
In the movie, Steve Martin played Jonas Nightingale, a phony preacher who gets stuck with his wily female sidekick in drought-addled Kansas. Conflicts emerge when Jonas and the sidekick develop feelings for, respectively, a jaded waitress and the disapproving town sheriff.
The musical — with a book by original screenwriter Janus Cercone and Side Man playwright Warren Leight— fuses the latter two characters into a female sheriff, Marla, whose son, confined to a wheelchair after a car accident, takes a shine to Jonas. (The boy was the waitress' younger brother on screen, and used leg braces.) The sidekick is now Jonas's sister, and thus shares the troubled family background that led him to a life of fraud; and we learn more about a few of the singing "Angels of Mercy" who abet them.
The show is also set in the present, and begins and ends with Jonas addressing theatergoers, narrating his own tale of sin and redemption. Revival meetings are reflected on TV screens as actors rush through the aisles, chatting and seeking donations. (Funny money is distributed in the orchestra section before the curtain.)
The result is an odd, uneasy mix of souped-up razzle-dazzle and earnest romantic drama, each of which can be affecting at points. Leading man Raul Esparza, one of Broadway's most naturally charismatic performers, gives Jonas a human side to juxtapose his cheesy stage persona; he and Jessica Phillips, as Marla, can actually seem like sensitive, intelligent adults.
Jonas and Marla's unlikely courtship is saddled with some too-cute touches, though. Glenn Slater provides winking, metaphor-laden lyrics for their duets. ("Even Helen Keller could see through you," she sings to him at one point.) The better songs showcase composer Alan Menken's enduring melodic savvy and ability to fold gospel and R&B textures into show tunes with relative grace.
Like many contemporary musicals, Faith ultimately works best as a showcase for its talented cast. The excellent players also include Kecia Lewis-Evans, who as one of Jonas' Angels brings dynamism and dignity to the stock supporting role of big-voiced earth mama. As her grown son and daughter, Leslie Odom, Jr. and Krystal Joy Brown both prove supple singers and fluid dancers.
Their contributions help lift Faith above its uneven aspects and become, if not a rapturous experience, a compelling curiosity.
"Here's the beauty part," brays charismatic evangelist Jonas Nightingale in "Leap of Faith." "If they don't get their miracle, it's their fault; they didn't believe enough." That sentiment handily describes the long-in-gestation musical -- first produced at the Ahmanson in 2010 -- that a motley clutch of producers has ushered into the St. James with a new director, book-writer, choreographer and leading lady in tow. Raul Esparza sizzles like a firecracker in this musicalization of the 1992 Steve Martin pic, but his wick is continually dampened by the pesky book, songs and staging.
While the familiar story could be compelling, as assembled here it's a mass of cliches. The plot tells of Nightingale (Esparza), an itinerant con man, and the small-town Kansas folk he decides to fleece. Mix in a sadder-but-wiser local lass, Marla (Jessica Phillips, in the role played in Los Angeles by Brooke Shields), who sees through him, but allows herself to be wooed, and her young, wheelchair-bound son, Jake (Talon Ackerman), who blindly puts his trust in the visiting ne'er-do-well.
The critical second-act confrontation -- in which the boy's unwavering faith forces Nightingale to confess he's a fraud -- is a close but inferior copy of a scene in "The Music Man" (with a row of tall cornstalks upstage, too). But then, a good deal of the proceedings seem to be ineffective borrowings from a clutch of superior stage musicals.
Alan Menken's score is strong on rhythm but short on distinction, so much so that you can't always tell which songs are reprises. The lyrics by Glenn Slater, Menken's collaborator on "The Little Mermaid" and "Sister Act," are problematic: Here we have Broadway's first known rhyming of "flux" and "sucks," and Slater also has a character describe the sickly Jake with the couplet "something's wrong in his attic; psycho -- what's the word? -- somatic."
Neither director Christopher Ashley nor choreographer Sergio Trujillo (both of "Memphis") adds much to the proceedings, which are overrun by singing and dancing revivalists running through the aisles, boxes and balcony of the theater, importuning audience members to smile for the closed-circuit videocamera, wave their arms and fill donation baskets. The sets and costumes from two of musical comedy's finest designers, Robin Wagner and William Ivey Long, are uncharacteristically ordinary.
All this leaves the admirably hard-working Esparza with a show that is impossible to carry. The few bright spots in the evening are provided by the cast: Phillips, as the lady sheriff who can't resist the bad guy, holds her own, while Ackerman is likable and sympathetic as her son. Singing honors go to Kecia Lewis-Evans (as the big-voiced bookkeeper), along with Krystal Joy Brown and Leslie Odom Jr. as her grown children. But for all that, this "Leap of Faith" never lands.


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VOYAGER 1 FACTS: - A signal from the ground, traveling at the speed of light, takes about 17 h
- 60 Minutes Australia - Official FB PageCategory: Tv show Likes: 74514 Talking About: 6911
- 60 Minutes Australia: VOYAGER 1 FACTS: - A signal from the ground, traveling at the speed of light, takes about 17 h
- A signal from the ground, traveling at the speed of light, takes about 17 hrs one way to reach Voyager 1.
- Voyager1 is currently 18 BILLION kms away from Earth.
- Voyager 1 is now travelling at 60,000kph - fast enough to travel from the Earth to the Sun 3.5 times in 1 year.
Are you fascinated by space?(Type: photo | Published: 2013-08-04T11:15:51+0000)
[rachel ✩ deuchrass] - Wooooooaaaaaah!!!
[ishmael yamo] - wow very interesting .
[ian anderson] - Totally amazing what a great story I remember when they were launched
[daniel lloyd] - Yeh, amazing story
[kel bunyan] - Very interesting unreal how fast it is going
[liz macdonald] - Wish they could talk to her forever
[lisa richardson] - you cant tell me nasa doesn't know we aren't alone with a space craft so far out
[jude groom roxburgh] - Unbelievably amazing
[rhiannon knaggs] - Amazing. My mind has been blown!
[lara lockett] - Tiff Charteris did u see this?? How amazing is that!!!!
[michelle sharp] - With voyager, nasa knows more than they are letting on... Maybe we will find out just what it is via wikileaks.
[ian schiller] - Yes there is just no end to space. Think about it
[chris padley] - Awesome! Hope im still around at 2025!
[brett djcandyb symons] - Simply amazing... This might sound crazy but its sort of like a step in the evolution of man when she enters deep space! A sad loss, but another giant step so to speak.
[jessica fuller] - I think it's amazing and mind blowing. Wonder what it will find with the 12 years left?!?!
[peter quodling] - A friend and Mentor worked on ground telemetry for Voyager and Pioneer Programs. Amazing what was done way back then.
[adam nipperess] - Funny interesting fact. The very first Star Trek Motion Picture was made in the early 70s and the story was about Voyager 1 becoming a space entity with so much knowledge and it wanted to know why no one had replied to it for so many years. Freaky! Gene Roddenberry the creator of Star Trek new that Voyager 1 would go far and beyond any human communication. Right back then in the 70s when it was first launched.
[annmaree theresa harris] - No. I'm fascinated by worms. They are all slimy and wriggly and stuff.
[mel sandford] - Really fascinated. I loved this story!
[josh owens] - 40 thousand years till it reaches our nearest star
[frances williams] - Handiwork of an awesome Creator.
[heidi mercieca] - Fantastic story how amazing my husband still can't believe it . Remember it going up !
[andrew boyter] - Blows my mind .... 18 billion Kms !
[tiff charteris] - No I didn't Lara Lockett what's it about?
[shell collins-dowd] - Love space and all its glory I wanna know more
[tiff charteris] - That is very cool info, but I have no idea what it is lol
[scottie tracey] - Definitely not on the Vodafone network
[dearne whitten] - Love astronomy, space and all things stellar... would take a ride in a heartbeat if I could afford it. VOYAGER is simply amazing!
[eloise purcell] - Hard to get my head around
[jeff drury] - Maybe they should let Telstra in on there service provider
[eloise purcell] - How is a machine talking to them and how is it moving by itself
[vanessa hodson] - Paul Flynn , Rod Reed, more food for thought ;)
[jules reid] - 'Man'kind can build such a thing and make it go so far and reveal so much but why can't they put the toilet seat down? :)
[geoffrey purupuru] - God had created something that is endless which man have come to call "Space".
[christine justcallmechrissy] - Wow !!!!
Awesome xxx
[steve chilton] - Its all photoshop..
[ken saville] - Voyager will be back! Didn't you watch Star Trek the motion picture
[michelle winstone-watson] - hopefully she will return with data from other life forms.........i remember this being launched 35yrs ago its good to see her still going......im 38 so im growing old with voyager.....great story 60mins.
[brian wright] - Crazy things come from the 70's, hope god sends a message back and says get back to earth you lsd, pot smoking,mushroom gooroos.
[andrew hunter] - Space is endless.
[belinda carroll] - Love it and love seeing the gorjuz real pics of space :)
[paul flynn] - Time is a great teacher, unfortunately it kills all of its students!
[george gray] - If only the human race spent the money they are wasting on the space program & spent it fixing our planet. We are freaking idiots.
[ben kapsley] - Not true Josh Owens The Sun is our nearest star so it won't take 40 thousand years it would have only taken about 15 weeks
[daniel moygannon] - travelling?? or traveling? lol
[xlii fortytwo] - @ken that was voyager 6, not voyager 1. i like your thinking though! hehe.
[nola pettett] - The human race is not wasting money with the space program. Every cent that is spent, is to help mankind learn to find a way to survive, by searching for a safe haven, in case of a disaster threatening this planet, whether it be man made or coming from off world. There are plenty of extremely wealthy people around the world who could save the starving, or fix anything that needs to be fixed in their own country. By putting their money towards their own country, and other countries woes, they could fix what is needed to be fixed. But, alas, they will not put their hands in their pockets, due to greed and selfishness they have.
[chris lardner] - I would like to see Voyager come back as V'ger.
[graham parker] - See they made things to last back then. If voyager was made and sent now it'd fail 3 weeks outside its warranty expire date
[natalie mila] - Tim Halls Clare Halls better get up to speed for the next space chat ;-) Trent Mila is obsessed60 Minutes Australia: VOYAGER 1 FACTS: - A signal from the ground, traveling at the speed of light, takes about 17 h - 50th Comments
[chris rigby] - even though i hate space things lol
[lynn perry] - George money won't fix our planet the greed of money has screwed our plant.there are plenty of ways to do things to help the planet.if you use the brain that you were born with that didn't cost a cent you will work it out. I agree with Nola we are greedy as people we expect everything to be made easy because people can't even turn a hair conditioner bottle upside down and squeeze because someone winged its to hard so now they make the bottles upside down. We have become lazy and dependent on people making our lives easy,could you survive without your mobile phone 35 years ago no one had one and people were thinking of how to survive if the worst had happened to us as a planet. Money and greed will destroy this planet it has already once the love has gone out of something it slowly dies.i just want my kids and generations to come to enjoy this world because its all we have at the moment ,no planet lives forever they die just like people time is ticking and we have to do something
[stefan caliaro] - This is impressive. It's amazing. Nuclear-power and Radio Frequencies. (y)
[tim halls] - Big fan of the voyager Natalie Mila. Better get my drunk face orn.
[oli miletic] - mr squiggle has had a long space walk.
[lisa leeloo] - I Love Everything Cosmos <3 in Our Big Universe. "The Voyager 1" 60 Minutres Story kinda had left me a tear in my eye, that "She" "The Voyager 1" as She was referred to in this story has left our Solar System, and now is entering our deep space Our Big Universe. Sending back up to date data to our Planet Earth-NASA about our Neighbouring Planets in our Solar System. "The Voyager 1" NASA's Space Probe will Voyage in Our Big Universe forever. A little Sad " l felt "Voyager 1" has left our Solar System, but Happy for her long deep space adventures in our Cosmos. Bon Voyage Safe Travels "Voyager 1".
[mason macdonald] - Cool. Little rubber ducky, out to sea.
[anna panozzo] - awesome science. I love it, I hope it keeps in touch for a few more years.
[darren ridley] - This is amazing I'd love to know what is further out in space
[michael maccaclean] - Theres a hoon in my street whos trying to beat that
[russell halfpenny] - Carly Nobesu will be a Star Trek fan before you know it. Dont resist, just let it happen.
[carly nobes] - Did I tag u in a comment last night? If not I was going to Russell Halfpenny and NO I wont be.
[russell halfpenny] - Resistance is futile.
[caroline jinga] - OMG...18 Billion km from earth at 35,000km/hr....travelling for the last 35 years and Voyager is just now at the edge of our solar system....unbelievable....and will only take 40000 years to be one and half light years from its closest star...I hope voyager before she says goodbye to us forever sends us a photo as she scuttles off into interstellar space...wow....unimaginable....!

subset: commoncrawl


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Magnolia Grove at Greensboro, AL (ca. 1840)
Magnolia Grove, an excellent example of temple-style Greek Revival architecture, was built around 1840 as a town house by Isaac and Sarah Croom, whose plantations were about 20 miles south of Greensboro near Faunsdale. The main house and three dependencies are preserved on 15 acres. The house is a two-story masonry structure, built with bricks that were manufactured locally. The front facade is stuccoed, including the pediment. The sides and rear were left with the brick face exposed. In 1879, the house was purchased by Sallie Pearson Hobson, a niece of Mrs. Croom. Her son, Richmond Pearson Hobson, became a naval hero during the Spanish-American War, and he later served in the United States Congress. In 1943, the Hobson family deeded Magnolia Grove to the state of Alabama to serve as a memorial to Richmond Pearson Hobson. The family members residing at Magnolia Grove at the time were granted a lifetime tenancy. Margaret Hobson continued to live in the house until her death in 1978. Magnolia Grove was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 11, 1973. It now serves as a historic house museum operated by the Alabama Historic Commission. For additional details, go to PreserveALA.org/MagnoliaGrove.
Magnolia Grove is located at the intersection of Main Street and Hobson Street in Greensboro, AL (GPS Coordinates N32.704167,W87.607500).
Source: Alabama Black Belt Nature and Heritage Trail (A publication of the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel)


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From our February 1 issue: Scientists...
IOM President Focuses on Noncommunicable Diseases,...
Illumina Moving 250 to Foster City;...
A Roundtable Discussion on Regenerative Medicine
(Page 1 of 1)
MediSapiens will provided Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals with a new cloud-computing application to analyze and visualize multidimensional genomics data. Bayer says that the software, called OncoGenomics Explorer, will provide it with centralized access to unified global genomics data for utilization across the entire research organization, from target discovery to drug repositioning.
"Big Data is becoming increasingly important in pharmaceutical research. Until now, the lack of software tools that can be adapted to various research environments has limited the full-scale use of this enormous reservoir of available data. OncoGenomics Explorer is our answer to this demand," says Tommi Pisto, CEO of MediSapiens.
Based on a large unified gene expression database, MediSapiens claims that its platform extends into highly tailored solutions to meet the exact needs of various demanding research environments.
How should public health advocates counter anti-vaccination sentiment?
Be sure to add email@example.com to your Address Book or Safe Senders List.
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You may also be interested in subscribing to the GEN magazine, an indispensable resource for everyone involved in the business of translating discoveries at the bench into solutions that fight disease and improve health, agriculture, and the environment. Subscribe today to see why over 60,000 biotech professionals read GEN to keep current in the areas of genomics, proteomics, drug discovery, biomarker discovery, bioprocessing, molecular diagnostics, collaborations, biotech business trends, and more.
© 2015 Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News All Rights Reserved


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Page 1 of 4
Buzz doing the rounds is that there will be a scintillating item number in Rajib's untitled next, which stars Prosenjit Chatterjee and Richa Gangopadhyay in the lead.
When CT asked Richa if she will be hipshaking to the item track, the actor said, "There might be a situational item song done by someone else but not me." The director, on his part, said, "I want someone on the lines of Rakhi Sawant or Malaika Arora Khan."
In the mean time, Rajib is having a tough time with his heroine. He explained, "We asked her to lose a little weight. But she is doing so at such a pace that her wardrobe needs to be revamped.
Stay updated on the go with Times of India News App. Click here to download it for your device.
Interest Network
itimes | Email


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Catching up!
January 30, 2013 in Uncategorized
Hi everyone,
Were you also caught offguard by the beginning of the year? One minute we were on holiday, and the next few weeks were a blur of back-to-school activities and meetings! Sorry to have left you all hanging around waiting for news.
I've decided to kill off my other Sprog Blog (this is Scott speaking!) as it's much easier to use one platform. If Robi or Zayaan need to use this blog, they'll let you know that it's them speaking. I hope that makes sense. This way I will have one less password to remember (who can ever remember more than one or two of those?) and one ID.
There's nothing I would have said on Squidlets that I wouldn't share here, too, so don't worry.
At Parent24 we're all looking forward to some awesome times ahead, and to sharing those moments with you. We all hope that you have the best possible year, and that by the end of it all you can look back with happiness.
All the best,


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It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Dodge Sprinter
minicoopers Posts: 26punter1:
Have you ever seen any other color besides white, silver, and now the blue that the dealer emailed me a photo of? I went to my local Mercedes dealer today to look at the auto colors that might match the Sprinter and had no success. Guess if I order a 2500,Graphite Metallic, 170", high top, gas, fully insulated with all the sunscreen glass and chromed factory aluminum wheels, I'll have the only one like it in the country? Lots of luck stealing it and getting away with it? -
kenbaker Posts: 239The dealers have no imagination, so WHITE is the SPEC color if they are just ordering to have some on hand... perhaps MB or DC has a say in such matters?
You've probably heard the term spec-home... built on specs (specifications) and to the common denominator of sell-ability. In the post-war years, it meant liberal amounts of particle board, cardboard wall panels, minimal insulation, even using manufactured housing parts in a supposedly craft-build home.
For automobiles, think vanilla... nothing to offend or keep the majority of buyers from considering the vehicle to buy... except, none of the really great options (no rear speakers in by passenger van? puhh-leasssse!). Also a safe bet that the dealer won't be stuck with a high-value product that they can't get sold off the lot. Not alot of call for safety-yellow vans (unless you really need one), so some colors are just not likely, but Arctic White only is pretty bad selection.
I get the feeling that this great van is an item for which the US market is competing against the rest of the world for availability and production volume... being across the big pond puts us at a disadvantage as well. Our one advantage may have been remaining on the second generation for a few months longer while the european union countries broke in the new version and our supply kept coming (probably from an existing factory line).
I am lucky to have wanted a white van... unlucky to have wanted rear speakers. Otherwise, the van I got had a good array of options for our climate.
Did you look at the MB dealer in your area for the colors (they should be MB colors, not Dodge colors).
KenB :shades: -
2000_valk Posts: 67Woodjoe,
I got it on ebay. Just type in backup camera and it should go to it. If not, It is by a company called Intercept Investigations. (1-425-313-1776) The 5 inch color monitor will accept 2 cameras. You only get one. It has sound and what I think can hook up to a DVD. It has night vision also and will light up real nice with your backup lights. I use it every day. The second best thing I got for the van except for GPS. I paid 247.49. Tom -
minicoopers Posts: 26
surlyoldbill Posts: 36Actually, more than 90% of these vans are sold for commercial use, and white is the standard color. I looked for 6 months to find a non-white used passenger van with low miles. Ended up buying a '03 140 shc 2500 with 20k for $26k. It wasn't my first color choice, but piedmont red is better than plumber white!
Ford has a VERY similar product that it sells in Europe called the Transit, and I'm surprised that they aren't testing it on the US market yet. Nissan and VW also have similar products. Look up UK vans and see what's available over there, you'll be shocked when you see that the Sprinter ISN'T the best thing going. -
purplehaze2 Posts: 2
altered3 Posts: 59FULL air suspension VB certified ISO compliant Mercedes Sprinter can be used .
The question is are you prepared to commit to approx six thousand dollars fitted.
Side ramp electronic available from the UK rear is too awkward to arrange for the US sprinters as too a major cut and shut of metal work on the Sprinters due too live axle rear ends, as opposed to Ford and Fiat which have front wheel drive. Rear air suspension involves spring changover as well this is the only unit that will enable you to have full ESP capabilty.
Richard -
purplehaze2 Posts: 2Thanks for the information. Who could I contact if I am willing to put the money into such a side lift system? I have resources in Germany, if I know what to ask for. Installing such an air/hydraulic system would eliminate the need for a lift, also costs about $6,000. Using a ramp with the kneel down system would also be safer. Yes, if you have a point of contact for such a system, please provide. Or give me a product name to search in Europe for a source. Thanks again.
altered3 Posts: 59The company is Euro based Vb air systems Denmark
they will export world-wide, but you need a certified ,or qualified person to install there are companies in the states that install air ride for local units ! so you need to find one who will take the project on as it needs to be certified for US roads, Installation that is.
The product has a full ISO rating, this exceeds local safety regulations and or is similar so there is no problem with this, it also is the only unit that Mercedes-Benz endorses.
You will have to join this link sprinter-source.com it's a US forum but has the faculty's for email and picture format that will clearly show what you would be purchasing
My suggestion is to join the forum and ask for Altered Sprinter! or start a separate thread, I would find this inside of 24 Hrs as to myself being in Australia, time frame differences.
Although there appears to be a link to place a picture in this forum , damed if I can work it out :confuse:
Richard -
minicoopers Posts: 26
2000_valk Posts: 67
mlk2 Posts: 3I'm trying to figure out the yellow. I thought they used to have two yellows. I'm not sure if the Calcite Yellow is safety yellow or a softer yellow. I just saw a banana-colored Sprinter on the road and thought that's the color I want. I also saw a picture of a Sprinter in that banana yellow on a Mercedes site but can't find it again, and the picture wasn't a true photo anyway. Does anyone know? Thanks!
kenbaker Posts: 239correct, In my estimation it is softer, but remember, that is a Lot of Yellow (a Sprinter covered in it)... LOL
They did have a darker yellow, but appear to have dropped it or relegated it to Fleet sales (some road-work and construction companies (and state road crews, for example) require safety Yellow in order to qualify for government jobs/contracts).
My wife's car was a Yellow Mazda 808 when we got married... not exactly banana yellow, but close.
KenB :lemon: :shades: -
cfpirate Posts: 1I have ordered an 08 and it is built and expected to arrive at Indian dealer the end of Oct. Started building 08's in Aug, 4 months delivery according to dealer. Incidently I will not be able to take delivery of this van, so if interested it is a 2008 Cargo Sprinter, 170 wb, 3500, Silver metallic, loaded many options,07 cost approx. $43,000.00, if interested contact email@example.com / cfpirate
sprintergod Posts: 5
punter1 Posts: 50If you can read German, you can see the options
for the Sprinter in its home country. What seems odd, besides the higher prices, is that the colors are not displayed the same even though they have the same name. Aquagreen in the USA is bluegreen. Aquagreen in Gremany is evergreen. They should have actual photographs of each color instead of just changing pixels so that you can tell what the real color actually is. ( If they want to actually sell them that is ).
http://mbks2.mercedes-benz.com/van_konfigurator_VAN_de1/vp.dll?session=092323263- 1308&country=de&lang=de&stid=GEW&evid=model&js=off&isf_INI=Gewerblich%253DJa%252- CAT_INI%253Dm&sequence=%2FINI
. -
punter1 Posts: 50here is a link to a 4x4 tested in africa,
of course, the USA market probably will not get it because
we are not given much priority and the way exchange rates are going even if we did get it it would be 50-60K.
But it is VERY cool - a 3500 extra long 4x4 would be fun.


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Avon • Glazewear Intense in Honey • Lip Gloss
(12 reviews)
Average Rating. | 3.0 |
Would buy this product again. | 50% |
Ingredients |
*TOP REVIEWER* sharee20 on 6/12/2009 9:35:00 PM more reviews by sharee20
Age: 25-29 Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Cool Hair: Red, Wavy, Fine Eyes: Brown
Great color for redheads! A medium terracota shade, the color is buildable without feeling like you have a ton of gloss on.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
*TOP REVIEWER* rickisyed on 6/18/2008 4:31:00 PM more reviews by rickisyed
Age: 25-29 Skin: Very Oily, Tan, Warm Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown
I actually like this color, its a true caramel orange-brown shade. Its one of the only browns that actually shows up on my medium skintone, most browns just blend in to my skin or make me look like i have dirt on my lips but this color works. This color would actually flatter red-heads too. Its pretty but not everyone can pull this off.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
busymama31 on 4/25/2008 3:29:00 PM more reviews by busymama31
Age: 36-43 Skin: Combination, Fair Hair: Red Eyes: Green
Love the feel and smell, but ended up being too orang-y on me. This is rare as most colors end up being too pink. Still not a match.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
*TOP REVIEWER* esmeraldas on 5/29/2007 3:57:00 PM more reviews by esmeraldas
Age: 19-24 Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium Eyes: Brown
Glazewears in general are great, good pigment, creamy and last an ok time, and MOSTLY are good colors, but WOW this one was way off what I thought it was. It looks like a browny-peach. Well it's not. It's more like a peachy-orange. It looks awful, I gave it away. I will buy other colors, just not this one.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
ginnyfaye on 12/27/2006 12:36:00 PM more reviews by ginnyfaye
Age: 25-29 Skin: Dry Hair: Blond Eyes: Blue
One thing that I have noticed about Avon's cosmetics, is that their product names do not aptly describe the color, which adds difficulty when buying from a catalog or online. I would call this medium terracotta, honey denotes an entirely color. This color looked horrible with my fair skin, but I like the formula, the price, and the stubby doe foot applicator, I would give those aspects a 5.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sonya_X on 5/22/2006 4:23:00 PM more reviews by Sonya_X
Age: 30-35 Skin: Combination, Fair Hair: Red Eyes: Green
Glazewears are great. They feel like a gloss and look like a stick. It's the best of both worlds IMHO. This is a super color that's a lot peachier and pinkier than it looks in the sample. I expected a nude and got a pale pink/peach. It's nice though, just not what I expected.
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*TOP REVIEWER* purpledream on 11/3/2005 12:42:00 PM more reviews by purpledream
Age: 30-35 Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral Hair: Brown, Curly, Fine Eyes: Hazel
Ok, this color is not great, but not horrible. It took me quite a few tries to decide I just don't like it on me. It is a bit too warm. It is a peachy brown...just shy of being orangey. Almost (but darker) a camel-color.
This would be great on someone who has very warm tones. The texture and scent are great. Would look fabulous with a warm-brown matte eye for a natural look. This shade is just not for me. Still, I give it a few props.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
osujen25 on 9/23/2005 4:34:00 PM more reviews by osujen25
Age: 25-29 Skin: Oily Hair: Red Eyes: Green
ok this color is great!! a nice sort of coppery peach. i think avon's lipglos are thicker in pigment (not as sheer) and less shiny than other brands. i did find it a little drying but maybe thats just me b/c i always have dry lips. i think the price is great too, 2.99!!
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Aries01 on 6/18/2005 12:15:00 PM more reviews by Aries01
Age: 25-29 Skin: Sensitive, Fair Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine Eyes: Blue
This colour was a total disappointment. It was shown on the Avon website as a shiny, honey-bronze colour. It is actually a pukey, brown-orange that looks GOD AWFUL on my face. It was GARISH. Absolutely did not match my skin tone. I love Glazewear but I am getting frustrated with Avon's colours, more often than not, showing up as something entirely different than what they picture in their catalogue and online. What a waste of money. If this colour was actually what they showed it was supposed to be, it would've looked great with my skin tone. I gave it to my mom, and it looked nice on her, but it still wasn't anything to write home about. I am a NC 15/20 so if you are the same skin tone as me, save your money and STAY AWAY from this colour!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
*TOP REVIEWER* vanillasugardream on 3/12/2005 7:39:00 PM more reviews by vanillasugardream
Age: 30-35 Skin: Combination Hair: Red Eyes: Green
Great honey-caramel shade. A nice neutral " nude" for those who arent into that look. Has a bit more *oomph*. It isnt sheer, but it isnt like " hey, look at how thick my lipstick is" either. and, as always, the scent is vanilly and pleasant. No shimmer.
Top Rated Lip Gloss
- 39 reviews
Dior DiorKiss-Snow Cherry
29 reviewsNYX Mega Shine - Tea Rose
36 reviewsLaura Mercier Violet Glace
35 reviewsChanel Glossimer - Giggle
162 reviews


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Clippings by timdeb |
Sort by: Last Updated Post Date Post Title Forum Name | |
RE: Need advice harvesting my honey and saving my bees. dallas tx (Follow-Up #4)
posted by: bandit_tx on 05.17.2006 at 04:01 pm in Bees and Beekeeping Forum You can place a bee hive on a rooftop. With the heat in Tx a little shade will help them. Email me if you want to chat further about it. I'm a beekeeper just east of Dallas.
NOTES: <none>
clipped on: 11.18.2009 at 06:29 pm last updated on: 11.18.2009 at 06:29 pm


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I had a paper towel roll over it but the top got sunburnt. I cut the top off because it was shriveled and hard, now what? Its a rooting cutting. No roots yet but its in the water bottle. Am I suppose to seal the top? Let it dry first?
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by houstontexas123 z9a (My Page) on Wed, Jul 18, 12 at 22:08
let it dry |
- Posted by loveplants2 8b Virginia Beach, (My Page) on Wed, Jul 18, 12 at 23:47
Hey Jackie, Like HT said, let it dry. I would also move it from the direct sun if it is suffering from this intense heat. As long as it is getting bottom heat and you can put it in a protected area out of the direct sun..it should continue to root. I know you said it hasn't rooted yet. Let the cut part of the stem dry out. You can always seal later. By cutting the top .. it will send out other branches when it starts to root. If you want, you could always seal the cut stem with waterproof wood glue (some use Dap Sealant), so you dont have any moisture getting into the stem and causing more problems. Sounds like it was in to much direct sun. I am so sorry about your Lani... It is one of My favorites. Simply Beautiful... Good Luck.. Laura |
- Posted by stormys_mom Md 7a (My Page) on Fri, Jul 20, 12 at 19:11
Thank you ht Laura, Take care |
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Seriously, this guy is probably the hottest guy i've ever seen and ever will see!
Seriously, this guy is probably the hottest guy i've ever seen and ever will see!
I sure wouldn't mind snuggling up with that dude. He's furry, beefy and cute.
The Quintessential Bear 10/10
That man should never be allowed to wear a shirt.
hERE HERE!
that guy is yummy!!! and he's got one heck of a smile
get your freak on!!!
That man is truly beautiful. Well chosen bastard wing!
gorgeous indeed. i would do anything to be his bitch.
Yep my type of guy. Grrr
Now there's the type of guy whose chest would be wonderful to snuggle against on a cold winter night!
The Three Musketeers... Bashful, Chrisglass, and Ronboy!
I agree that bostonirish guy is truly adorable but since i saw Visual Fur last night...i am wondering which one is hotter...maybe both..... pls check it out and respond!
Woofy baby
He needs to ditch the pants.
He is definately a keeper, can't believe someone has not made a warm bed to keep him in.
oooh DADDDDDDIE. my tongue would never leave his body
Nice Pic Like Hairy Guys Yummy
I like Both
just my type... I'll really like to sniff his panties


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This is a FREE DEMO of the full game.
Share another one of your favorite games with your little ones! Challenge and inspire kids to think for themselves in creative and flexible ways.
Watch out Thunder and Lightning, Pajama Sam is on his way!!
It's time to join Pajama Sam, the world's youngest superhero as he journeys to WorldWideWeather, the storm-stirring factory in the sky!
Sam's spent too many evenings cowering under the couch, so he sets out to conquer his fear of thunderstorms. It's amazing what he finds high above the clouds. Just as Pajama Sam begins to learn that storms aren't as bad as they seem, Sam accidentally sends the weather system into a frenzy. Now there's snow in Saigon and sunshine in Seattle! He'll need your child to explore this wonderful world so they can help Thunder and Lightning fix the weather back to normal before Mother Nature finds out!
Key Features:
• Each experience for your child lets them explore different ways to play, again and again
• iPad's interactive touch screen reveals hundreds of hidden surprises!
• Challenging puzzles
• Fun games
• Fantastic new friends
• Pajama Sam: Thunder and Lightning encourages creativity, helps teach spatial relations and sharpens problem-solving skills
• Feature-film quality animation and original music enhance the power of a child's imagination
• Integrated with Apple's GameCenter with exclusive in-game achievements


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Anchorage, Alaska, May 31, 2013 -- USDA-Rural Development (RD) Alaska State Director Jim Nordlund today kicked off National Homeownership Month and highlighted USDA-RD programs to help rural residents purchase, refinance and repair homes.
"USDA-RD Rural Housing programs have been an invaluable resource for rural residents across the state," Nordlund said. "On average USDA-RD invests $75 million annually in Direct and Guaranteed Loan Homeownership programs helping rural Alaskans buy homes."
In many cases, USDA housing programs are the only opportunity for rural residents to buy a home – their piece of the American dream. That dream remains the cornerstone for millions of U.S. families. For more information on Direct and Guaranteed Home Loan Programs in Alaska, please visit: www.rurdev.usda.gov/AKHome.html.
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack has underscored the importance of the Food Farm and Jobs bill being debated in Congress that would further boost the rural economy. The bill would enable USDA to create new opportunities for local and regional food systems; grow the bio-based economy; expand markets for agricultural products; and continue providing homeownership opportunities for rural Alaskans.
USDA, its federal partners, members of the housing community and citizens across the country celebrate National Homeownership Month each year to bring attention to the role housing plays in the U.S. economy. This year's theme, "USDA: Bringing Rural America Home," underscores housing's importance to halting the out-migration of rural residents.
USDA-RD Housing and Community Facilities Administrator Tammye Treviño will officially kick off Homeownership Month in Alaska next week with a series of events and activities across the Southeast area of the state. Treviño will visit USDA-financed homes and highlight ways in which USDA-RD housing programs complement the Department's programs and initiatives to help create jobs and stimulate rural economic activity.
President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has a portfolio of programs designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.
USDA has made a concerted effort to deliver results for the American people, even as USDA implements sequestration – the across-the-board budget reductions mandated under terms of the Budget Control Act. USDA has already undertaken historic efforts since 2009 to save more than $828 million in taxpayer funds through targeted, common-sense budget reductions. These reductions have put USDA in a better position to carry out its mission, while implementing sequester budget reductions in a fair manner that causes as little disruption as possible.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).


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Access Library Materials 24/7
The library gives card holders access to thousands of materials over the Internet through the Ohio eBook Project and the SEO Library Consortium. Materials include audiobooks, ebooks, musical CDs, movies and more.
E-books are now available on Kindle E-readers.
Once you Download Materials:
You can play them on your computer (PC and Macintosh compatible) | |
You can also either transfer e-books to your e-readers or download the app for Android or iPad and iPod devices. | |
Transfer them to an MP3 Player or portable devices (MP3 versions are iPod compatible) | |
Some materials also allow users to burn them to blank CDs so you can enjoy them time and time again. |
Begin enjoying these wonderful items by visiting the eBook site and using your library card to checkout and download materials.
Users will need to download and install the Overdrive Media Console to utilize this service. With OverDrive Media Console v3.2 for Windows®, most audiobooks can now be transferred to the iPhone™ and the iPod®! In just a few clicks, send audiobooks to your Windows-formatted iPod using the built-in Transfer Wizard! The 'Plays on' icons at this site indicate whether titles are compatible with Apple® devices.
Online Demo
If you need help, here's a quick guided tour created by OverDrive, the company that provides downloadable service for us and many other libraries. The guide walks you through the basics, from getting started to downloading to burning to a CD. In just a few minutes, even the newest user can be enjoying a downloaded book.


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Elephant Sanctuary donations reach £340,000
16th May 2011
Please Keep Donating!
Make a direct donation to the Longleat Elephant Sanctuary in the following ways:
1. Donate Online with JustGiving
2. Call our dedicated donations line on 01985 845 430
Thank you for your generous support.
Longleat would like to thank the public for the incredible support and generosity which they have shown Anne over recent weeks. So far donations for the "Longleat Elephant Sanctuary" have almost reached a staggering £340,000. This is just the beginning of a major campaign to help reach an ultimate goal of providing a safe haven for elephants like Anne.
The first concept drawing for the sanctuary has now been drawn up with the aim of accommodating up to five elephants including Anne. Over the coming months Longleat will be looking at other sanctuaries across the world as well as consulting with animal welfare bodies to come up with a more detailed plan.
Thank you for your support
Longleat are very appreciative of the support that people have shown from donations of pocket money and birthday money to lump sums from as far a-field as Dubai!
In addition to the donations Longleat has been delighted and somewhat taken aback by the number of Get Well Soon, Happy Retirement and homemade cards received.
Feel free to show your support by making a direct donation to the Longleat Elephant Sanctuary.
We (and we're sure Anne) thank you for your generous support.
Other Anne Stories
- Anne the elephant enjoys a walk - video and news
- Anne arrives at Longleat - video and news
- The plight of Anne the elephant


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Forums >Running 101>Pace and Considering a Marathon
Needs more cowbell!
• 6 duathlons (1 Olympic distance)
• 130#s (and stay there, gotdammit!)
madness baby
Nutrition for us slower runners is critical, so you'll have to work on that. We are out there about twice as long as the faster runners, and we need more calaries to keep going. I'm still trying to figure this one out!Go for it!!!
Imminent Catastrophe
"Able to function despite imminent catastrophe"
"To obtain the air that angels breathe you must come to Tahoe"--Mark Twain
"The most common question from potential entrants is 'I do not know if I can do this' to which I usually answer, 'that's the whole point'.--Paul Charteris, Tarawera Ultramarathon RD.
√ Tahoe Rim Trail 100M 20/21 July 2013
Boston Marathon 21 April 2014
Tahoe Rim Trail 100M 19/20 July 2014


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Updated Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 03:23 PM
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said Tuesday he has been assured he will get a chance to present the NBA's Board of Governors with a counter offer to a proposed deal that could move the team to Seattle.
It was the latest twist in a week of various rumors and reports since news first broke last Wednesday that the team's owners, the Maloof family, were in negotiations to sell the team to a Seattle group led by Chris Hansen.
Johnson, a former NBA All-Star, said he is continuing to develop a plan to keep the team where it has played since 1985.
That includes finding a local ownership group that can counter the $525 million that Hansen's group reportedly would pay as well as help build an arena in Sacramento.
The arena efforts appeared to get a significant boost when entertainment group AEG, which last year had agreed to be a partner with the city in building an arena, told The Sacramento Bee that it was still interested in the project.
AEG chief executive Tim Leiweke said Johnson and NBA commissioner David Stern had asked him to "re-engage on the issue," according to The Bee. He also told the newspaper that, "to the commissioner's credit, I don't think he ever forgot about Sacramento."
Johnson said a new arena is a must for the team to stay in Sacramento.
Johnson, in remarks reported by The Bee, also called "outrageous" the reported $525 million offer from Hansen, which would be the most ever paid for an NBA team. Johnson said he continues to work on putting together an ownership group that could counter the offer and has received permission from NBA Commissioner David Stern to present that directly to the NBA's Board of Governors, which is expected to meet in April.
A Sacramento offer would not have to include a relocation fee, that would likely be at least $30 million, or repay a $77 million loan the city gave the Maloofs.
The Sacramento ownership group would likely include Mark Mastrov, the founder of 24-Hour Fitness. He made a failed attempt to buy the Golden State Warriors in 2010.
As has been the case since reports first surfaced of a possible sale, there was no official comment from Hansen's group, the NBA or the Maloofs.
Johnson said he remains optimistic the team will stay in Sacramento.
"We want this to be the final act of a saga that's gone on for far too long," he said.
Johnson added, "I hope Seattle gets another team. They deserve another team. They didn't deserve to lose their team in the first place. It just won't be the Sacramento Kings if we have anything to do with it."
In what some in Sacramento also were portraying as a potentially significant breakthrough, Johnson also said he would not be opposed to the Maloofs remaining as part of the ownership group "if they want to remain a part of this team and this community."
The Seattle Times reported last week that one potential snag in the negotiations between the Maloofs and the Seattle group was that the Maloofs wanted to retain a small percentage of the team, which would allow them to remain involved in the operations of the franchise. That has been characterized as a potential "deal-breaker" between the Maloofs and the Seattle group.
A USA Today story, meanwhile, stated that Johnson's goal is to "force the NBA's hand" by showing that Sacramento also has a viable new ownership group and arena plan, with one option being for the NBA to consider awarding Seattle an expansion team while allowing the Kings to stay.
Stern has consistently said in recent years that the NBA is not interested in expanding, and it's unclear if the NBA's stance on that has changed.
The USA Today story said league insiders would "be eager to approve a move to Seattle." But it also reported that Sacramento is beginning a fight "that could turn ugly here."
Hansen is believed to want to complete the sale in time to meet the NBA's deadline of March 1 to apply for relocation for the 2013-14 season.
A Yahoo.com report Monday said the NBA's relocation committee was briefed last week on the outline of a deal between Hansen and the Maloofs.
Hansen has a tentative deal with the City of Seattle and King County to build a new arena in the Sodo District once he and his investment group secure a team.
Plans to build a $490 million arena were approved by the Seattle City Council and the Metropolitan King County Council last October, though the city remains in the environmental-review process to evaluate locations.
City council member Tim Burgess said Tuesday that the council hasn't been informed of any possible sale. He said the council's Central Staff, in meetings it has held in recent weeks related to issues resulting from the arena deal, had gotten "hints that something might be happening. But there were no specifics shared."
Seattle has been without an NBA team since 2008, when the Sonics were relocated to Oklahoma City by new owner Clay Bennett.
Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has Stern's ear.


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LED Respirator Gas Mask: Perfect for Raves – Especially With Tear Gas
This bizarre light-up gas mask is clearly designed for those late night parties that get REALLY out of hand.
Found hidden amongst the millions of items for sale over on eBay, Cyb3rBurn's "Cyber Rave Goth Trance LED light-up Halloween Gas Mask" will definitely draw attention the next time you're hanging out with your friends on the dance floor. And when the riot police show up and raid the place, perhaps you'll have a few extra seconds of fresh air before the tear gas gets to you.
And even if it doesn't protect you from serious airborne threats, at least you'll look cool while you're gasping for your last breath. This oddity can be found over on Cyb3rburn's eBay store for $39.99 (USD).
MORE:Geek Art + Craft | Strange + Wonderful | bizarre | gas | led | mask | rave | respirator | rgb | weird
Comments (8):
Love IT! Where were these when I was removing mold on the Gulf Coast? I would have had the coolest team of volunteers evah!
Miss you guys.
I know a store where one can purchase LEDs for really cheap.lolz
And wiring them into stuff isn't actually that hard once you get the hang of it. I learned in like 10 minutes from my friend, I kid you not. 40 bucks is definitely way over priced IMO.
O, awesome! That would look great at a party!
This is great, but just curious, will it still work and protect you like a standard 3M Respirator? I would love to wear this at work to freak everyone out.
easy to make and not that expensive
40.00 bucks is a little pricey -
hey do you guys know where can i buy it
i just saw a pair of these at a rave they are as bamfy as they look plus some :), im so ordering a pair when she gest back to selling them ^.^ they are def worth how much they're priced at


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Hellgate gets comic!
Dark Horse Comics to produce Hellgate comic books.
Namco Bandai today announced a partnership with Dark Horse Comics to produce a comic book based on Hellgate: London, the first original PC title from premier developer Flagship Studios.
The comic book provides the background story behind Hellgate: London. Issue "0" begins when MI5 service agent Lyra Darius discovers a human charnel house in London whilst investigating the affairs of recently resigned Home Office Minister, Lord Sumerisle. Soon afterwards, Lyra is entangled in a bloody conspiracy with the Knights Templar in the build-up to the Battle of All Hallows' Eve.
This exclusive Issue "0" comic is written by Ian Edginton, the critically acclaimed author of Scarlet Traces and the recent War of the Worlds web comic adaptation. Edginton teams up with Superman and Preacher artist Steve Pugh to explore this demon-ravaged metropolis in comic form. Issue "0" is to be given away at the E3 2006 tradeshow on May 10th – 12th.
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No Profile Found
Blog | Comments |
WoW | 3 Comments |
Recent Comments:
Breakfast Topic: What was your moment of awe in WoW? {WoW}
Sep 9th 2011 9:21AM In the Vanilla Beta:
After I got a few levels with my Dwarf Rogue I left Dun Morogh to actually see the rest of the world...with level 15!
So I got to all these magnificent places like Westfall, Stranglethorn Vale, Duskwood and the Deadwindpass, The Badlands, Redridge Mountains and finally to The Burning Stepps and the Blackrock!
The sheer variety of all these beautiful locations that had been designed with so much love make me really fall in love with this game.
Deathwing fight will feature a ride on his back {WoW}
Aug 17th 2011 11:20AM ok, they wrote that 4.3 is definitely the last patch of cataclysm and thats the case because the next expansion isn't far away
Patch 4.3: Deathwing, cosmetic armor skins, and armor storage {WoW}
Aug 17th 2011 7:34AM so there is room for an old God in 4.4...maybe
Like Kil'Jaeden...the tier that nobody expacted


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Foundation Application Trick: Wet the Makeup Sponge
Want your foundation to go on more smoothly and cover your skin better? (Is there anyone who didn't answer yes to that question?) If you do, try this trick tomorrow. Wet your makeup sponge (we swear by the Beauty Blender), and then wring it out so it's almost dry. Then put a small amount of your foundation on the back of your hand, and apply from there. You'll be amazed at how much better your foundation goes on and how many more, ahem, imperfections it covers. Just be sure to give your skin time to absorb the makeup and dry off. I use the same trick for my BB cream as well.
What's your best beauty trick? Tell us in the comments and find more of our favorite beauty secrets here.


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The Korean tech giant Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy s4 will be unveiled at its next Unpacked event.
On its invitation, Samsung tells us to get "Ready 4 The Show". It also tells us to "Come and meet the next Galaxy". Although it doesn't mention the device on the invitation, it's pretty obvious what device it is pertaining to.
The invitation also hints that there will be more Unpacked events for 2013. It is titled "Samsung Unpacked 2013 Episode 1", suggesting that we should expect more events and more devices to come this 2013.
Aside from suggesting the obvious, it also tells us the date of the event. According to the invitation, the Samsung Unpacked 2013 Episode 1 event will be kicking off in New York on the 14th of March. Furthermore, a Samsung executive confirmed this with CNET News.
The Galaxy S4 is rumoured to come with an Exynos octa-core (eight cores) processor, a separate GPU with eight cores, 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel primary camera, a 2-megapixel secondary camera, and a 4.99-inch Super AMOLED screen with full HD resolution (1080p). Knox, Samsung's new security feature, and Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) is said to be on board.
Can't wait for Samsung to lift the lid on the Galaxy S4? Let us know through a comment below.


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Credits: REUTERS/CHRIS WATTIE
OTTAWA — New billboards in Hungary tell residents not to bother coming to Canada to file an unfounded refugee claim because the rules have changed and they'll quickly be deported.
"People with unfounded claims will be deported faster," warn the billboards, bearing the Government of Canada logo and directing people to the Citizenship and Immigration website.
Late last week, the billboards were placed in Miskolc, a city in northeast Hungary that is home to many Roma.
Roma refugee claims had made Hungary the largest, single-source of refugee claimants in Canada, but their claims also had the lowest success rate and backed up the processing of other applications.
In December, the feds cracked down on bogus refugees by designating 27 countries, including Hungary, as unlikely places for legitimate claims.
Under the new system, claimants from those countries will get a quick hearing before seeing their deportations likely fast-tracked.


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Recent: |
Guide to Bars, Clubs & Nightlife - Van Andel Arena & Grandville Ave |
Van Andel Arena & Grandville Ave The B.O.B. - The Big Old Building houses three bars in addition to several restaurants and a comedy club in a restored, four-story warehouse across from Van Andel Arena. On the main level sits Crush, one of the premier nightclubs in the city, showcasing live DJs, plasma TVs and a large dance floor. On the second level, use your Cisco Sticks to play along with the live Caribbean style music, shoot some pool or play video games. Swing down to The Monkey Bar on the bottom floor for another dance floor and comfortable seating. $5 cover after 9 p.m. Margarita Grill
- Enjoy the cantina atmosphere of the Tex-Mex themed nightclub and restaurant located just west of the Arena. Wednesday through Saturday nights feature live DJs, dancing, drink specials and special hosts from MTV, movies and more. The party heads outside during the summer when the outdoor patio is opened and plenty of drinks are served up at the large bar. 18 and up are welcome on certain nights during the week. The Intersection - Catch your favorite local, regional or national band at downtown's second largest venue. The Intersection features both a front lounge with a pool table, games and munchies and the main show room which features quality entertainment, music, DJs and dancing. 18 and up welcome on college night. |


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You just reached a place in the internet where fun is all that matters.
The motto of this group is fun comes first. The site is powered by github serving the static files of the repository.
Steps to contribute
- Fork it like it's hot!
- Mess with source branch of your repository
- When you have everything tidied up you are just a pull request behind;
- Don't forget to add a little description to your pull request;
- See your stuff live here.
Hope you enjoy this group as much as we do.


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Allow God to reshape your attitude and perception about sharing your faith with the world. God is placing people in our paths each day who need to hope, peace, joy, salvation --- will you be God's willing vessel?
Major Truths from the Minor Prophets by Edna Ellison, Kimberly Sowell, and Tricia Scribner is now available as an Online Bible Study.
Chosen and Cherished by Edna Ellison, Joy Brown, and Kimberly Sowell is now available as an Online Bible Study.
Kimberly Sowell pours her passion, vision, and love for Jesus Christ into every message, allowing her to connect heart-to-heart with women from all walks of life. Kimberly challenges women to live beyond themselves to experience the joy of a surrendered life for Christ. Her warm stories and humor intertwine with profound truths from Scripture, allowing Kimberly to usher her audience deeper to the heart of God. Her love for God, His Word, and the women He has created is evident in Kimberly's personal walk with Christ. Learn More


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Go dog sledding on your vacation and experience the thrill of mushing. Our dog mushing in Kenai Peninsula Alaska is a sport of un-paralled adventure. View the excitement from the sidelines at our sled dog races. Cheer on your favorite dog sled team at our dog sled races. Our dog sledding lessons will show you how to handle the dogs and drive your own sled. Speed through the forests on a dog powered sled on our dog sled tours in Kenai Peninsula Alaska. Travel effortlessly over ice and through the snow on our dog sled trips. Our dog sledding tours will take you on the journey of your life. See Siberian Huskies or Alaskan Malamutes at their finest on our dog sledding trips. Our dog sled adventures will demonstrate the true bond that can be formed between man and man's best friend. Feel the frosty air rush past you on our dog sledding adventures. Our mushing tours offer an amazing arctic adventure. Browse our dog sledding in Kenai Peninsula Alaska and plan your adventure today!
Page: 1 of 1 | Sort By: |
Dog Sledding Kasilof, Alaska - Located in Alaska's Kenai Peninusula, we offer custom dog sled rides or tours, or give you the opportunity of a lifetime to compete in a mid-distance or long-distance dog sled race. Quest Champion Tim Osmar.
Dog Sledding Seward, Alaska - Your adventure begins with the history of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race -- The last great race on Earth and is followed by a two-mile dog sled ride through the pristine wilderness of South Central Alaska. After our ride, come meet our puppies!


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Use Urgent Detective to find out the TRUTH about ANYONE! Search through online databases and archives.
Good news is that Urgent Detective investigative help service could save you long hours, days or even weeks of hard searching, possibly in vain. Get helped by the Urgent Detective!
Urgent Detective operates under its own domain name HERE
Linkpendium > Genealogy > USA > Iowa > Humboldt CountyMilitary Records and Histories. Humboldt County Military Records (Source:. Humboldt County, Iowa World War II Casualties, Army and Army Air Corps.
Linkpendium > Genealogy > USA > Iowa > Wright CountyWright County Bible Records (Source: USGenWeb Iowa Archives). Wright County, Iowa World War II Casualties, Army and Army Air Corps (Source:.
Iowa Birth Certificate, Death Record, Marriage license and other .Index to Iowa County Vital Records Offices. Iowa prefers you get all Vital. Listing of 30000 Civil War veterans who served or lived in Iowa following the.


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About | Projects | Docs | Forums | Lists | Bugs | Get Gentoo! | Support | Planet | Wiki
On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 1:34 PM, Dale <rdalek1967@...> wrote: > Is this difference because 64 bit programs use more memory, maybe they are > larger than 32 bit programs? Just curious. I notice that Seamonkey uses > more and KDE's plasma-desktop uses more. Those are generally the biggest > users. How are you measuring memory-use? If your system has more RAM the system will tend to cache a lot more stuff - linux doesn't like to let RAM go to waste. Probably best to compare individual processes across archs - and not overall memory use.
Updated Jun 28, 2012
Summary: Archive of the gentoo-amd64 mailing list.
Donate to support our development efforts.
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This floss is easy to thread between your gums and dental appliances such as a bridge. The fat, spongy floss cleans the gap. The rest of the piece is regular floss for the rest of your teeth so one strand does it all. Good product.
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Product descriptions and images presented on the site are for representational use only and do not constitute or substitute for medical information from your health care or medical professional. Information on this site is provided for informational purposes only. You should read carefully all on correct product packaging and follow the instructions. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements on this site have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and may be for commercial. Image shown for reference only. Actual item you recieve may differ from shown.


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Captivating colors, Gorgeous glazes.
Only Cardell allows for so much individual flexibility with its large selection of captivating colors and gorgeous glazes in oak, maple, cherry, hickory, and thermofoil. With so many distictive options, Cardell inspires cabinetry designs of lasting quality and breathtaking beauty.
Cherry Finishes
available styles:
- Ashford
- Canterbury
- Chalet
- Classic
- Contempo
- Coventry
- Darby
- Devonshire
- Esquire
- Harrow
- Hastings
- Leyton
- Nantucket
- Newport
- Seaton
- Shaker
- Sussex
- Wyndham
Painted Finishes
* Requires
Plywood Ends.
* All Painted finishes on Cherry with Natural Antiquing only.
Glazing not available on Contempo.


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It is important to provide fast and high resolution conversion information when sampling industrial level signals. Traditionally, the highest resolution analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) available at sampling rates up to 500 kSPS were 14 bit to 18 bit. The circuit shown in Figure 1 is a single-supply system optimized for sampling industrial level signals with a 24-bit, 250 kSPS sigma- delta (Σ-Δ) ADC. Each of the two differential or four pseudodifferential channels can be scanned at a rate up to 50 kSPS with 17.2 bits of noise-free code resolution.
This circuit solves the problem of acquiring and digitizing the standard industrial signal levels of ±5 V, ±10 V, and 0 V to 10 V with precision ADCs having low supply voltages by using an innovative differential amplifier with internal laser trimmed resistors to perform the attenuation and level shifting. Applications for the circuit include process controls (PLC/DCS modules), medical, and scientific multichannel instrumentation and chromatography.
Figure 1. High Precision, 24-Bit ADC Driver for Industrial Signals (Simplified Schematic: All Connections and Decoupling Not Shown)
The industrial level signals are applied to the AD8475 precision differential funnel amplifier that attenuates the input by either 0.8× or 0.4×. Its integrated, trimmed, and matched precision resistors control the attenuation. The resistors allow single-ended or differential inputs up to ±12.5 V when operating the AD8475 on a single 5 V supply with a gain of 0.4×. The input has overvoltage protection up to ±15 V.
The linearity of the combined AD8475 and AD7176-2 is maintained when the input signal (using a gain of 0.4×) is within a ±10 V single-ended or differential input range, as shown in the limits of the measured INL in Figure 4 where the measurement endpoints are −10 V and +10 V. In this scenario, the output of the AD8475 swings between 0.5 V and 4.5 V.
By applying the desired common-mode voltage to the VOCM pin, the common-mode output is set. In the Figure 1 circuit, the common-mode voltage is set by applying the 2.5 V REFOUT voltage from the AD7176-2 ADC to the VOCM pin of the AD8475.
The AD8475 provides the attenuation and level shifting to drive the sampling capacitor input of the AD7176-2 and consumes only 3.2 mA.
The output of the AD8475 amplifier is connected to an RC filter network that provides differential and common-mode noise filtering and that supplies the dynamic charge required by the AD7176-2 input sampling capacitors. The network also isolates the amplifier output from any kickback from the dynamic switched capacitor input. The common-mode bandwidth (RIN, C1) is 59 MHz. The differential-mode bandwidth (2 × RIN, 0.5C1 + C3) is 9.8 MHz
The AD8475 can also be set up to accept single-ended signals. Ground the −IN 0.4× input and apply the single-ended signal to the +IN 0.4× input.
The AD7176-2 24-bit, Σ-Δ ADC samples the output of the AD8475 and converts it to a digital result. The rate of conversion and the digital filter characteristic are adjustable for output data rates from 5 SPS to 250 kSPS.
The AD7176-2 is configurable for two fully differential inputs or four pseudo-differential inputs. The ADC allows up to a 50 kSPS channel scan rate. The AD7176-2 noise-free bit performance is 17.2 bits at 250 kSPS, 20.8 bits at 1 kSPS, and 21.7 bits at 50 SPS.
Figure 2 shows the effective rms noise of the total system with the inputs grounded. At a data rate of 250 kSPS, the effective rms noise is approximately 30 μV rms. When keeping in mind that the linearity of the circuit is best with a ±10 V input at full scale, the full-scale input for the calculation was set to 20 V p-p.
Figure 2. RMS Output Noise vs. Output Data Rate
The effective resolution in bits, referred to a full-scale input range of 20 V, can be calculated as
Figure 3 shows the effective resolution in bits rms as a function of output data rate, measured with a shorted input.
Figure 3. Effective Resolution (Bits RMS) vs. Output Data Rate
Effective resolution can be converted to a noise-free code resolution by first converting the rms noise to approximate peak-to-peak noise by multiplying the rms noise by the factor of 6.6. This is approximately 2.7 bits that then must be subtracted from the effective resolution to get the noise-free code resolution. For the example calculated, 19.3 bits of effective resolution is equal to 16.6 bits of noise-free code resolution. This compares to the AD7176-2 specification of 17.2 noise free bits at a 250 kSPS output data rate with an unbuffered shorted input. Approximately 0.3 bits of this difference results from the fact that only ±10 V was used as the full-scale range vs. the ±12.5 V maximum.
Figure 4 shows the integral nonlinearity of the system expressed in ppm of the full-scale range (FSR) using the endpoint method.
Figure 4. Integral Nonlinearity (INL) in ppm of FSR vs. Input Voltage
Although the circuit is designed primarily to take dc inputs, low frequency ac inputs can also be converted. The distortion performance varies with the analog input amplitude. Figure 5 and Figure 6 show the performance with a −1 dBFS and −6 dBFS, 1 kHz sine wave, respectively. The sine wave input is applied directly to the AD8475 from the Audio Precision 2700 series audio source.
Figure 5. AD8475 to AD7176-2 FFT Performance, 1 kHz, −1 dBFS Input Tone, (16384 Point FFT)
Figure 6. AD8475 to AD7176-2 FFT Performance, 1 kHz, −6 dBFS Input Tone, (16384 Point FFT)
Excellent printed circuit board (PCB) layout, grounding, and decoupling techniques are mandatory for achieving optimum performance in high resolution systems. For details, see Tutorial MT-031, Tutorial MT-101, the AD8475 data sheet, and the AD7176-2 data sheet. Complete schematics and layout of the printed circuit board can be found in the CN-0310 Design Support Package.
In the Figure 1 circuit, the AD8475 0.4× gain option was chosen. If the 0.8× gain option was chosen, the full-scale range would reduce from ±10 V to ±5 V yielding twice the sensitivity.
A second channel using an additional AD8475 can be connected to the AN0/AN1 pins of the AD7176-2.
The ADR445 reference can be replaced with the ADR4550 reference, which has a 300 mV dropout voltage.
Equipment Required
The following equipment is required:
Software Installation
The AD7176-2 evaluation kit includes self-installing software on a CD. The software is compatible with Windows® XP (SP2), Windows Vista, and Windows 7 (32 bit or 64 bit). If the setup file does not automatically run, run the setup.exe file from the CD.
Install the evaluation software before connecting the evaluation board and SDP board to the USB port of the PC to ensure that the evaluation system is correctly recognized when connected to the PC.
After installation from the CD is complete, connect the EVAL-SDP-CB1Z (via either Connector A or Connector B) to the EVAL-AD7176-2SDZ and then connect the EVAL-SDP-CB1Z to the USB port of the PC using the supplied cable.
When the evaluation system is detected, proceed through any dialog boxes that appear. This completes the installation.
Setup and TestRefer to the UG-478 user guide for complete details of using the software and running the tests.
A functional block diagram of the test setup is shown in Figure 7.
The following minor hardware changes are required to test the circuit in Figure 1:
Figure 7. Test Setup Functional Diagram


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Twelve months ago at this tournament, Ai Miyazato began a run with the first of her five LPGA titles; a No. 1 spot in the Rolex Women's World Rankings would follow 11 months later, a position she lost to Cristie Kerr following the American's LPGA Championship win. Kerr and Miyazato are so close in the rankings now, that the Japanese superstar actually re-took the top spot at the beginning of this week purely through the ranking calculations, which work on a two-year cycle, meaning she will begin her title defense on top of the world.
At times all the players will feel on top of the world this week, quite literally. The lay-out sits on the mountain side affording gorgeous views of the lake and the towns which nestle on its banks.
The tournament provides its former champions with VIP treatment, so Miyazato and Paula Creamer along with five other previous winners (Helen Alfredsson, Laura Davies, Natalie Gulbis, Karrie Webb and Juli Inkster) will be enjoying the lap of luxury this week. Creamer won the U.S. Women's Open the week before last. And after a forced rest with the LPGA and LET inactive during the Open Championship week, the 23-year-old will look to add a second title following on from her 2005 success.
Our Golf Channel team arrived Tuesday to blistering sunshine, blue skies and light winds. The weather has made the course fast and running, but showers are forecast for the opening two rounds which will soften the going, and likely make scoring a bit easier.
The broadcast team here this week is Brian Hammons as host; Jane Crafter as analyst; Phil Parkin swapping the St Andrews fairways for those in Evian as our on-course man, and me as hole-announcer and interviewer. We'll be directed by our top-class producer, Beth Hutter, who this year has the help of an experienced European Tour Productions crew producing the main television feed. Unlike most LPGA events, Golf Channel is not the host broadcaster of the Evian Masters.
We'll see you for a preview on Wednesday's edition of 'Golf Central,' our tournament broadcast begins Thursday evening.


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1 to 5 (of 5 ) |
May 25, 2011
this pen is great- its...
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this pen is great- its silver for expect it to be hard to read unless you tilt
the white paper or something
but I love writing with its for fun! 1 person found this helpful
May 25, 2011
get this pen right now....
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get this pen right now. its awesome- it write like those old journal pages from
harry potter movies! :)
May 25, 2011
I love this pen! its...
I love this pen! its super pigmented and the color is gorgeous. The glitters are
a bit tinier than the copic spica ones but I like this pen more because its more
pigmented. love this pen! wish they came is more variety of colors
May 25, 2011
Hands down the best pen...
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Hands down the best pen for writing. period.
0.4 works the best. I usually wirte in script and htis pen is perfect for it. too bad its kind of expensive...... ;( |
May 25, 2011
I got these pens few...
Verified Purchase
I got these pens few days ago..and they were slightly different from what I was
- Its not super well pigmented, so most of the lightish colors come out reallyyyy light. - my favorite colors are the violets and turquoise. - some colors are very well glittered whereas some are not ;( (purple is the most glittered, while colors like emerald and yelow you can barely see any glitters) - compared to the wink of stella: stella pens come out much more pigmented, but will less glitter. Overall: - the biggest thing that disappointed me was the pigmentation- I wish they were more pigmented!! 7 people found this helpful
1 to 5 (of 5 ) |


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New Shree Shirdi Sai Baba Temple's Bhoomi Pooja was celebrated recently. The most awaited Shree Shirdi Sai Baba temple construction is about to start... Have a look at few of Bhoomi pooja photos... keep you updated.. Bhoomi Pooja Snaps.. Construction Snaps till 13-Sep-2012 ..
You can financially support the construction of Sree Saibaba Temple. The donate option will be available soon..! Meanwhile, you can donate the funds using online transfer facility using the following Seva Samajam Bank Details.. |


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June 26, 2007, 3:53 PM
By Anonymous
Your friend mentions a band he stumbled upon on MySpace. Or maybe you heard them on NPR. If you like iTunes' thirty-second free sample, you can immediately purchase it and their other stuff. (Or get it for free.) And their other other stuff. And their other other other stuff. Outtakes. Acoustic versions. The artists' home demos. Target's or Best Buy's exclusive versions. Whole live shows recorded by fanboys in the third row with state-of-the-art recording equipment. Music blogs--many of which are better at what they do than most music magazines--can get you as up to speed about the band or the music industry generally as a low-level record-label staffer. You can see the band at one of a handful of music festivals with mind-bogglingly great lineups--for really cheap. Thanks to camera phones, by the time you get home, you can relive the show from five different angles on YouTube.
The sublime problem is this: The music world would be a wonderful place if it weren't for all the noise. That's not to say dissonance. It's not discordant--unless you're into that sort of thing. It's just a Lot of Sound. The Age of Everything. How much great music is falling through the gaps? This guide--largely the efforts of our music critic Andy Langer--is about cutting through the morass enough to get your bearings. And most important, it's about songs. Good ones.
Best Live Band: My Morning Jacket
Best Character: Lady Sovereign
Best MC: Ghostface Killah
Best Sense of Style: Ben Kweller
Best Solo Debut: Albert Hammond Jr.
Best Potential Train Wreck: Paolo Nutini
Most Prolific Poet: Papoose
Best Drummer: Julian Dorio of the Whigs
Best Songbird: KT Tunstall
Best Group: The Raconteurs
Best Song-Writer: The Hold Steady's Craig Finn
Best Rookie: Cold War Kids
Best Advertisement for Indie-Rock Medical Insurance: Cold War Kids' Matt Maust
Best Heart-Breaker: Feist
Best Entertainer: Beck
Best Import: Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars
Best Business Cards: ZZ Top Guitarist Billy Gibbons
Best Outsider: Manu Chao
Best Country Artist: Jack Ingram
Best Real Live Blues-Man: Pinetop Perkins
Best Soundtrack for Getting Off Your Ass: LCD Soundsystem
Most Prescient Visionary: Danger Mouse
Biggest Agitator: James McMurtry
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