text:
K-State Proud is here!
K-State Proud is a student-led, nationally recognized fundraising campaign for K-State. Guided by the leadership of Student Foundation, the campaign encourages students to show their K-State pride through philanthropy. All student campaign donations establish Student Opportunity Awards for fellow K-State students.
Everyone who donates a minimum amount of $20 receives a campaign T-shirt, which also promotes the K-State brand. Cox Communications, GTM Sportswear and the K-State Superstore provide important corporate sponsorship each year.
Since the first year of the campaign, students have established a culture of philanthropy by promoting the idea of "students helping students," through Student Opportunity Awards, more than 425 of which have now been awarded to students. Over the last eight years, the student-led K-State Proud campaign has raised more than $833,000! Learn more about the awards and meet some of the award recipients.
February 23-27
Visit us in the Union from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day
Monday, Feb. 23: Fiesta Monday
Help us kick off Proud Week with chips and salsa.
Tuesday, Feb. 24: Poppin' with Proud
Pop over for popcorn and learn more about K-State Proud.
Wednesday, Feb. 25: Purple Pride with Proud
Celebrate with Purple Pride ice cream.
Thursday, Feb. 26: Cats for Caribou
Enjoy free Caribou Coffee!
Friday, Feb. 27: Celebrity Day
Get your picture taken with Willie and other K-State celebrities.


text:
We invite you to join us
at First Baptist Church!
Coming this Sunday, March 8
Join us for Bible Study at 9:45 a.m.
Worship the Lord with us at 11:00 a.m.
Pastor Bill Drees will bring the message
"Worried and Upset Over Many Things"
Luke 10:38-42
(The story of Mary and Martha)
Turn you clocks
when you go to bed on Saturday,
March 7.
Where to Begin??
Life Groups!
Newest Group: Marriage Enrichment for
Couples: Sundays at 5-7 pm
Children are welcome.
Please call the church
office for location & directions.
Youth Life: Sundays at 5:30 p.m.
Please call the church office
for location & directions.
Single's Life: Wednesdays at 6:15
at the church
Ladies Life: Wednesdays at 5:15
in the Library
Pastor's Life: Sundays at 6 pm;
"Agents of the Apocalypse"
Are we living in the end times? Is it possible that the
players depicted in the book of Revelation could be out in force today And if they are, would you know how to recognize them? In "Agents of the Apocalypse" Dr. Jeremiah explores the book of Revelation through the lens of its major players —the exiled, the martyrs, the elders, the victor,the king, the judge, the 144,000, the witnesses, the false prophet, and the beast.
Join us on Sunday Evenings, in the chapel at 6 pm
as we walk through this study.
6:30 p.m.
If you could ask the first disciples, "What was the
Savior's secret to living in alignment with the
Father's will and with power to face life's challenges,"
they would have answered with one word, "Prayer!"
As we learn to talk with the Father, we grow strong
in faith and obedience.
The Lord's Prayer is much more than a collection
of words to be recited from memory. It is a
Jesus-given springboard to launch us into the
refreshing waters of God's wisdom and strength.
When we learn to pray with Jesus,
we become like him.
Will you join us Wednesday evenings as 6:30 in the
chapel as we echo the plea of the first disciples,
"Teach us to pray"?
Click here for free devotional readings

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A couple of days ago while doing a Laughter Yoga session in an apartment building with a small group of just five members, an 88 year old woman walked into the room by accident thinking it was a lecture meeting. I...
Meet new people and practice laughter yoga together
Become a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, Teacher & Master
Keep Up-To-Date with Latest News around the world
What Laughter Yoga can do for You and Your Business
Read articles on Laughter Yoga activities around the world.
Training DVD's, CD's, Books and audio-video downloads
Continued Education for Laughter Yoga Professionals
Find out more about worldwide Laughter Yoga events


text:
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Kara Rusnak & Erick Schwitters
Kara Elyse Rusnak and Erick Nelson Schwitters were married on Saturday, November 1, 2014 by Father Charles Mitchell of St. Mary Magdalen at Knowles Chapel. The reception was held at The Alfond Inn. Kara is the daughter of Richard and...
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Robert & Anna McConaghy
Robert John and Anna Elizabeth McConaghy celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on December 29, 2014. They were married in Bad Nauheim Germany on December 29, 1954. They have two sons, Patrick and Michael and daughter-in-law, Cindy. Congratulations Mom and Dad,...
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Robert & Patricia Arthur
Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Arthur, Orlando, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary with a trip to Parris Island, S.C., where they were married on June 19, 1959. They have four children, Diane (Patrick) of Washington D.C., David, Donna (Kevin) and...
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Dean & Lillie Wilson
Dean & Lillie Wilson 50th Wedding Anniversary. The children of Dean & Lillie Wilson wish to announce the 50th wedding anniversary of their loving parents on April 5, 2014. God blessed this union with five children and 15 grandchildren. A...
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Jonathan Everett Mayer & Brenda Cynthia Cohen
Carol and Marvin Mayer of Longwood, Florida joyously announce the engagement of their son, Jonathan Everett Mayer, to Brenda Cynthia Cohen, daughter of Joan and Gary Cohen of Valencia, California. Jonathan is a graduate of Lake Mary High School and...
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Eric Brule & Sarah Rife
Sarah Christine Rife, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey J. Rife of Enterprise, FL., and...
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Brittany Nicole Rucker & Joseph Churchville
Brittany Nicole Rucker and Joseph Michael Churchville joined together in matrimony on Saturday, January 3,...
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Kara Rusnak & Erick Schwitters
Kara Elyse Rusnak and Erick Nelson Schwitters were married on...
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Ariana Ferreira & Linzey Armstrong IV
Ariana Ferreira of Lakeland and Linzey Armstrong IV of Clermont were married on May 3,...
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Dominick & Marie Fazzolare
Dominick (Sonny) and Marie (Rita) were married February 27, 1955 at the Church of the...
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Sanford & Gail Chandler
Look at you. Still pretty as a picture. Look at me. Still crazy over you....
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Albert Dupre Sr. & Betty Dupre
Betty and Albert Dupre Sr. celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on January 25, 2015. Married...
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Jennie & Maurice Go
It's been 365 days since we said, "I do". I didn't think it was possible...
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Cathy Byrne
I know you've celebrated the last 21 with Jim and all your Grandparents, but you'll...
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Judy Pizzo
She's nifty! She's Swifty! She's wildly Adventurous! She let's no obstacles get in her way,...
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This year you are in the 6th grade at Tavares Middle School, enjoying academics and...
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Lydia Maile
Lydia celebrated her 95th with a surprise party at Buca di Beppo on Aug 14...
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Dr. Elaine Ross
Dr. Elaine Ross announces her retirement after serving the children and families of the Pine...
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NATHAN HARVEY (Tavares Elementary-Lake County) received the American Legion Distinguished Achievement medal, the highest honor...
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Kyle Mulvihill
The Delta Epsilon Iota (DEI) Academic Honor Society has selected Kyle Mulvihill for membership in...
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Kayla Rose Kent
With great joy and pride Ms. Raftery announces the graduation of her daughter Kayla Rose...
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Sarah Reich & Robert O'Linn
Sarah Reich and Bob O'Linn were engaged at Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine on...
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Allen Kupetz & Margareth Morales
Allen H. Kupetz and Margareth Morales of Orlando were engaged in Prague on December 24,...
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Hayley Rey Moorman & Christopher Patrick Circe
Jeff and Renate Merritt of Rockford, Michigan are pleased to announce the engagement of their...
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Territory Flags & US City Flags buy flags made in America, we sell only USA made flags
US State flags and US Territory flags are USA made, offered in both nylon and woven polyester extreme wear fabrics. (Annin Solar-Guard & Tough-Tex or Eder Flag SolarMax & Poly-Max) Outdoor nylon flag sizes - 12"x18", 2x3 ft, 3x5 ft, 4x6 ft, 5x8 ft, 6x10 ft, 8x12 ft, and 10x15 ft, plus 3x5 ft, 4x6 ft and 5x8 ft woven polyester flags for Puerto Rico and District of Columbia. Outdoor flags are finished with heading and brass grommets up to 6x10 ft. Outdoor flags 8x12 ft and larger are supplied with rope heading and metal thimble ends. Indoor flags 3x5 ft and 4x6 ft are finished with pole hem and optional 2" gold fringe fringe. Click flag links below to view and order US Territory flags, desktop flag lapel pins, decals & flag patches. |
Northern Marianas |
of US Territory flags: American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin
Islands, Northern Marianas. To buy or purchase US State flags, please use the navigation above. |
US City Flags / Municipal Flags available: City of Baltimore, City of Boston, City of Chicago, City of Cincinnati, City of Cleveland, City of Columbus, City of Dallas, City of Denver, City of Houston, City of Indianapolis, City of Jacksonville, City of Los Angeles, City of Madison, City of Minneapolis, City of New Orleans, New York City, City of Phoenix, City of Pittsburgh, City of Portland, City of San Antonio, City of San Francisco, City of St. Louis, City of St. Petersburg, Washington, DC, City of Wichita |


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No conditional pricing is available for this item.
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Set: 2013 Onyx Platinum Prospects Threads |
Player: Sano, Miguel |
Sport: Baseball |
Brand: Onyx Platinum Prospects |
Manufacturer: Onyx |
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scottklein | 1 | Near Mint/Mint | Start xChange |
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College Leaders of Western, Calgary, Alberta and Waterloo top $500k Salaries and benefits of 60 Canadian university presidents
College Why universities should consider pay cuts Students and parents don't see value in $400,000 salaries
College Big payouts to university admins aren't right Saskatchewan cuts millions while former execs get paid
College What students are talking about today (Sept. 12 edition) Uncomfortable washrooms, tuition, & angry naked folks
College What students are talking about today (Aug. 31 edition) Arcade Fire, James Holmes, professor pay and maple syrup
College Car allowances, tuition hikes and the Quebec election Will voters remember this at the polls?
Business Are CEOs finally due for a pay cut? Many shareholders, it turns out, belong to the 99 per cent
College Why I'm skeptical of the tentative deal in Quebec Provisional council will look for savings in the wrong places
College Professor pay ranked from highest to lowest What profs at 59 Canadian universities earned in 2010-11
College The world's highest paid professors—a surprisingly good deal U.S. salary stats highlight value of Canadian universities
College Nearly 14,000 Ontario university employees make six figures Many profs and admins in top one per cent
Most Popular The simple secrets to happiness The nine stages of Canadian cold Inside the RCMP's biggest crisis Why Justin Trudeau is suddenly the underdog
Subscribe To the magazine Print and digital editions Subscribe To the newsletter(s) Follow us Twitter Facebook Tumblr Instagram LinkedIn Google+ Share YouTube
Popular The simple secrets to happiness The nine stages of Canadian cold Inside the RCMP's biggest crisis Why Justin Trudeau is suddenly the underdog


text: Close Tweet0 Share0 Comment0 Share0 Share0 Stumble It0 Print0 More Audibles Felix Jones traded for Adrian Robinson, joins crowded Steelers backfield by Chris Burke Twitter Email Posted: Fri Aug. 23, 2013 Felix Jones was unimpressive in two preseason outings for the Philadelphia Eagles. (Brian Garfinkel/AP)Felix Jones's days as a Philadelphia Eagle appeared numbered with roster cuts approaching. His sagging career received at least a temporary reprieve Friday as the Eagles traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers for linebacker Adrian Robinson. The trade was first reported by ESPN's Adam Caplan.Jones, a first-round pick of the Cowboys in the 2008 draft, has struggled to stay healthy during his first five years in the league. He played himself out of Dallas with a quiet 2012, in which he finished with just 402 rushing yards despite picking up seven starts while DeMarco Murray battled injuries.The 26-year-old Jones has not looked much better this preseason for the Eagles. In two games he gained 45 yards on 12 carries, a 3.75 yards-per-carry average that barely bests the 3.6 he put up last season. Jones was well behind LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown in the Eagles' plans, and it appeared Chris Polk had bumped him from the No. 3 RB job, too.He's certainly no guarantee to stick in Pittsburgh either, with Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer, LaRod Stephens-Howling and Baron Batch all fighting for playing time while 2013 draft pick Le'Veon Bell deals with a foot injury. Redman may have the inside track on the starting gig for Week 1, though Dwyer stated his case with a strong 68-yard performance at Washington last Monday.Stephens-Howling, who sat out that game with a knee injury, could be the odd man out. Jones, who has 127 career catches, could push the former Arizona Cardinal for a job.The uphill battle for Jones will be insurmountable, though, if he cannot show a little more pop in Pittsburgh than he did in Philadelphia. Once a promising prospect, Jones's career really peaked in 2009 and '10. He put up 1,482 all-purpose yards in '09, including 678 on kick returns; the next season, he had 800 yards rushing, 45 receptions and 450 yards receiving, all career highs.GALLERY: Old faces in new placesRobinson, an undrafted signee by Pittsburgh last season, will add another body to the Eagles' thin and thus far overmatched linebacking corps. He was not really in the Steelers' plans, buried on the depth chart at outside linebacker by rookie Jarvis Jones' arrival. Robinson did see action on special teams last season, but he finished the year without a tackle.Whether he can stick in Philadelphia for a longer time than the rapidly-aging Felix Jones in Pittsburgh remains to be seen. Robinson is under contract through 2014 and may be able to sneak onto the Eagles' practice squad.Jones, meanwhile, inked a cheap, one-year deal with Philadelphia this offseason. He's in make-or-break mode on his career, and the ease with which Philadelphia opted to send him packing does not bode well for Jones' future. SI.com's Fantasy Football Roundtable Promoted Stories Comments


text:
That Oil Pulling Thing: Explained
There's been a lot of buzz about oil pulling lately, find out what it is and if it's worth the hype.
Read more
LifeThat Oil Pulling Thing: ExplainedThere's been a lot of buzz about oil pulling lately, find out what it is and if it's worth the hype. Read moreThe Beginner's Guide to a More Eco-Conscious Lifestyle10 simple ways to start living the green life. Read moreCouldn't Make It to Indio? See These Top Coachella Performances InsteadCouldn't make it to the California desert to catch one of the States' biggest music festivals this year? No sweat, Read moreSpring Cleaning! Spruce Up Your Home on a BudgetThe founder of Homepolish tells us what you can do NOW with minimum time and money to update your home or office. Read moreFacebook Stalking Your Ex? Hey Girl, We've All Done ItWhen it comes to Facebook stalking your ex, you're a pro. Read moreBloggers Share Their Top Tips for Living an Eco-Chic LifeDon't feel like you have to turn your life upside down to be eco-chic. Here are some tips you can easily integrate into your current life. Read more |


text:
when did you meet your DH, SO, BF ETC
I met my husband's family before my husband I were dating. My FIL passed away in 2007 before our first child together was born, I never had the chance to meet him :( My inlaws are seriously the coolest people in the whole work. My brother in laws are bad ass, my sister in law is super chill and my mother in law is awesome. She is an amazing woman.
I met my inlaws the night we went on our first date. We stopped at his house before he took me home, he wasn't expecting them to be home though, lol. My husband met my dad long before he met me. They worked together for 3 years before I met him. He didn't meet my mom until our first date though, when he picked me up.
I met hubbies parents before we started dating. I actually tried to hide from them when we did start dating.
Me and my DH met and married within 28 days. He proposed to me like 4-7 days after meeting me. That following weekend he met my mom and dad.
We got married and moved down to VA. I met his mom about a month after that.
The first time she came to our house was to watch my son who was 7 at the time, on NYE. I was 5 months pregnant. Well, we came home around 1am. The crazy bitch was in our (big jacucci tub) taking a bath with her dog IN there with her. I was so pissed. My son was downstairs eating king sized candy bars at 1am.


text:
How do we know we are not in exactly? Was sure it said we would hear no later than Wednesday 30th....
Redhead...shame you are not in ........after all the good work you have done it would have been good for you to do one for yourself
I was not wanted either..........can't think why
for those who aren't in go for the forum ones instead.that was great last time
I'm going to apply for this as it sounds like an amazing opportunity! Thank you Asics!


text: I booked as a treat for my husband a first class one way trip from Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon on Sunday 31st August. His face was a picture when she steamed through Snow Hill and what a wonderful site to see. I had booked a two seat table in the first class carriage for full English breakfast (you do have... More


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Designing the Web for Democracy
WebinarLearn about testing techniques for engaging online audiences and the results of four projects on how this can be done.
The New Ethics of Journalism: A Guide for the 21st Century
WebinarAs the practice of journalism has evolved dramatically, the language we use to describe our ethical values has remained static. Until now. Learn the new ethics of journalism for the 21st Century


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Bodiford Law, P.A.
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out of 5.0
Posted by a Private Individual on 03/01/14 Ā
In my first ever encounter with the legal system, Mr. Bodiford was exceptionally competent, professional, and reassuring. He devised a outstanding defense strategy that achieved the best possible results and minimized the long term impact on a family member. I am very glad that I hired him, and would highly recommend him.
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Posted by a Private Individual on 01/09/14 Ā
For the first time in my life I found myself in unusual circumstances. Mr Joe Bodiford was my life savior. I recommend him highly, you will be in the very best "of hands" possible.
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Posted by a Private Individual on 01/07/14 Ā
I had retained Mr. Joe Bodiford recently to resolve a criminal issue, which occurred in the state of Florida a few years ago. Mr. Bodiford resolved the issue in a prompt and very professional manner. Mr. Bodiford kept us well informed of his progress in the case and communicated frequently. He remained persistent in dealing with the Prosecuting Attorney, in order to achieve our goals and a satisfactory settlement. I highly recommend Mr. Joe Bodiford as he has gained my utmost respect.
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out of 5.0
Posted by a Private Individual on 11/07/13 Ā
Mr Bodiford was very efficient with all my dealings with him
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out of 5.0
Posted by a Private Individual on 07/14/13 Ā
Mr. Bodiford's professionalism, intellect, compassion for his clients, savvy in all areas of the legal system, overwhelmingly seem to be his forte placing him at or near the top of his chosen profession. His credentials speak for themselves. I can only add as a client that if you're searching for "the man" to represent you for your one day in court, do yourself a huge favor because only your future is at stake and take the time to "Meet Joe Bodiford". I can only close with a Ā
Mr. Bodiford's professionalism, intellect, compassion for his clients, savvy in all areas of the legal system, overwhelmingly seem to be his forte placing him at or near the top of his chosen profession. His credentials speak for themselves. I can only add as a client that if you're searching for "the man" to represent you for your one day in court, do yourself a huge favor because only your future is at stake and take the time to "Meet Joe Bodiford". I can only close with a sincere thank you!Ā
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Posted by a Private Individual on 07/08/13 Ā
I have never had the need for a criminal attorney before so when I found myself on the wrong end of a situation with TSA I had no clue where to begin trying to find legal council. I narrowed down my search for an attorney to 5 lawyers & of those five Mr. Bodiford clearly stood out as someone I would trust to handle my case. Attorney Bodiford managed to get the most favorable outcome I could ask for in my case, a dismal. If you find yourself in a situation & not sure where to being... start here!
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Posted by a Private Individual on 05/30/13
Joe provided sound legal counsel and is tenacious and aggressive in his representation of your case. Patience is definitely a virtue in going through the legal process. Thanks for all your help and support.
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Posted by a Private Individual on 05/27/13
Bodiford Law, handled my case in an efficient, professional manner.
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text:
Annie's Homegrown Bunny Cocoa & Vanilla Cookies (6.75 oz)
found in
Annie's Homegrown
manufactured by
Annie's Homegrown Inc.
ingredients (20)
Cane Sugar , Rice Flour , Corn Flour Yellow ( Non GMO ) , Palm Oil , Rice Brown Flour , Corn Starch ( Non GMO ) , Soy Flour ( Non GMO ) , Tapioca Starch Organic , Tapioca Syrup Organic , Cocoa Alkalized , Flavors Natural Chocolate , Flavors Natural Vanilla , Salt , Baking Soda , Soy Lecithin ( Non GMO ) , Xanthan Gum
ingredients color
• controversial • avoid • non-controversial
members, please sign in to view which ingredients are on your
personalized "avoid" list.
personalized "avoid" list.
things to know
Low in calories per serving
Contains moderate amount of added sugar(s)
Contains naturally occuring vitamins and minerals
Low in cholesterol per serving
Low in Saturated Fat per serving
This product contains a controversial ingredient
Low in sodium per serving
Contains fiber
Contains Soy
nutrition facts
Serving Size: 27 Cookies (30g)
Servings Per Container: 6
Servings Per Container: 6
amount per serving:
calories from fat: 35
total calories per container: 720
total calories from fat: 210
% daily value* (DV)
recommended (DV)
total fat 3.5g
trans fat 0g
polyunsaturated fat 0 g
monounsaturated fat 0g
potassium 0mg
total carbohydrate 22g
protein 2g
Weight Watchers Winning Points® Value* = 2
Weight Watchers PointsPlus® Value* = 3
Weight Watchers PointsPlus® Value* = 3
*Weight Watchers® and Points® are registered trademarks of Weight Watchers International, Inc. The number of Points provided here were calculated by Food Facts, Inc. based on published Weight Watchers International, Inc. information and do not imply sponsorship or endorsement of such number of Points, Food Facts, Inc., or the above product by Weight Watchers International, Inc.


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Leadership doesn't have to be about changing the world…
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In the past, there were quite some 'rules'like these. And, they still apply, but for the older lenses, lacking detail. Beginning with certain 4x5" optics, detailed images became available. And this is not a theoretical approach; most of our information stems from the details. After all, the photographic firms had a good reason to develop those optics! But the lenses with other properties, makes us to change our development procedures and film choices. It is not difficult to see that an edge effect has a completely differnt effect on details or on large forms. And a HD image is very different from a low definition image. Course grain differs from fine grain. And even grain size may vary, depending on the shape of the grain.
The modification of development procedures is best done, using MTF, but that is not the favorite of many APUG members. I think a practical approuch is to look at other photographs, made under similar optical conditions you are using, or make a few comparisons yourself.


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Physician Search Made Easier
To find a doctor, search our physician directory by name, location or specialty. For further assistance, you may also call Consult-A-Nurse®, our free healthcare referral service, at 1-888-359-3552.
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#1 Romney and Obama Debate: Bad lip reading style10-10-2012, 11:51 AM
This is one of the best I've seen.
Gun Control: The theory that a woman found dead in an alley, raped and strangled with her panty hose, is somehow morally superior to a woman explaining to police how her attacker got that fatal bullet wound - Unknown
The problem is Empty People, Not Loaded Guns - Linda Schrock Taylor
- Join Date
- Mar 2010
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- 3,269
10-10-2012, 12:06 PMOh, Hilarious!
I feel like I'm watching one of those Japanese monster films!
My God but that's funny!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sic Hacer Pace, Para Bellum.
Before you can do things for people, you must be the kind of man who can get things done. But to get things done, you must love the doing, not the people!
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Item | Buy Qty | Low | High |
Material | start qty | $341.94 | $412.03 |
Labor | start qty | $485.66 | $590.39 |
Supplies, Tools | $126.15 | $145.95 | |
Total | $953.75 | $1148.37 |
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Hoard Review
Greed is good.
Hoard was one of the best multiplayer games released on the PlayStation 3 last year. Now it arrives on the PSP, but the multiplayer component – what Hoard is all about – has been ripped out. It's still fun to terrorize the countryside and compete with computer-controlled dragons, but the loss of multiplayer is disappointing.
Hoard puts you in the wings of a fire-breathing demon. Like all dragons, you love treasure, and your one goal in life is to amass as much of it as you can before time runs out. By burning towns, castles, and crops, you'll reveal piles of gold that can be carried back to your nest. Getting in your way, though, will be archers protecting the towns, knights out to impress the princess, and other dragons that have their own hoards to build. It all makes for a great multiplayer game – on the PS3. Hoard PSP is a solitary affair. There aren't even Leaderboards to post your scores to.
Standard games of Hoard last 10 minutes and the dragon with the biggest hoard at the end of that 10 minutes is the winner. There are a few variations on this basic premise like a survival mode and a cooperative game, but, again, you're cooperating with computer-controlled dragons.
Without multiplayer, some of the incentive to keep playing Hoard is lost. The game isn't ruined by any means, though, and there is still enjoyment to be had here. Dragons can attack each other, steal gold from enemy hoards, and bully towns into sending them regular offerings. There are a few strategic options available to players: do you go on the offensive and interfere with other dragons or just mind your own business and try to claim as much gold as you can? This is a clever little game.
Every piece of gold you bring back to your lair will give you experience points that can be spent to level up your dragon and make it faster, stronger, and more powerful. There are a handful of stats you can choose to boost -- another strategic decision for you to make -- but no need to stress over it because your dragon will be back to Level 1 at the start of the next game.
There's nothing persistent about Hoard except for some stat tracking and no campaign to work through – everything you gain in a match will be gone the next game and there is no story to follow. It's designed for quick skirmishes that are definitely fun, but as such, it's a somewhat limited experience. It's also not much to look at, with a pretty bland board game presentation that lacks personality.
Hoard is a refreshing little game that lets you be the bad guy for a change. Originally designed as a multiplayer affair, it's disappointing to see it reduced to a single-player experience. But burninating the countryside is still a lot of fun.
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Category:Recipients of the Order of Saint Stanislaus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Order of Saint Stanislaus (Imperial House of Romanov).
Recipients of the Order of Saint Stanislaus.
This category has the following 3 subcategories, out of 3 total.
Pages in category "Recipients of the Order of Saint Stanislaus"
The following 118 pages are in this category, out of 118 total. This list may not reflect recent changes (learn more).


text: COMMON BOOLEAN SEARCH COMMANDS Many databases use these common commands as the required syntax for inputting keywords. However, always check the "help" screen in case of variations. Search intention "Boolean" Operators (NB as a rule of thumb, type operators in upper-case letters) To look for one word and another word in your cats AND dogs results To look for either one cats OR dogs word or another (or both) To exclude a word from a dogs NOT cats search To search for a phrase These words must appear next to "black death" (use quotation marks) each other in this sequence To retrieve variations of a Will find: economic, economics, econom* word (truncation) economical, economist etc. To retrieve variations of a Will find: organisation (English), and word by replacing one organi?ation organization (US) letter with a "wildcard" NB – not available on all databases To separate search commands into a logical (dogs OR cats) AND pigeons sequence, use parentheses To search for both upper Use lower case and lower case letters Internet Search Engine Equivalents Use these if searching Altavista, Excite, Yahoo etc. (NB – Not Google) To look for one word and another word in your +cats +dogs results To look for either one cats dogs word or another (or both) To exclude a word from a +dogs -cats search TIPS – COME UP WITH A SEARCH STRATEGY Use some scrap paper, and take the time to jot down what you are looking for. A bit of thought in advance will save you more effort in the long run, particularly if your literature search is likely to be complicated and involved. Identify keywords and phrases that describe your topic Start with your essay question or project title. Break it into the main concepts, and try to identify relevant keywords or phrases that describe what you need to look for. If the project is a large one, you may have to do this process for each stage of your research. Consider whether alternative synonyms or terminology could be used in place of your keywords. E.g. Qu. Social comparison processes seem to infiltrate many group and intergroup phenomena. Why is this and how may they be exploited for practical ends in the work- place? Keywords: work AND place group AND phenomen* "social comparison processes" work-place intergroup AND phenomen* employment Start with the most relevant database for your subject area Always begin your search with the most relevant resource for the subject area. Search it thoroughly before moving onto another database. Begin with a "narrow" search Try and get straight to the results that you want: Search using the most obvious keywords or phrases to describe your subject If the database has a thesaurus, use that to help you pick more specific terms for your search Make correct use of Boolean operators (mainly the use of "AND") to structure your search query If you don't find anything, "broaden" your search Cast your net a bit wider: Have you identified and searched using alternative phrases and synonyms for your keywords? Make correct use of Boolean operators (e.g. truncation and the use of "OR") If the database has a "search history", use that to create larger and more complex searches Move onto the next most relevant database if you cannot find what you want. Repeat your search there Tips . . . Use help screens to assist you They will tell you how to construct your search, and what features the database has Use a thesaurus to help you select the most apt terms and keywords Thesaurus terms accurately describe the subject content of a reference Use "truncation" or "wildcard" symbols (commonly an * ) Pick up variations in spelling or plural forms of a word If you still have too many search results Try using a "limit" function to restrict the references (e.g. to English language, or last five years of publication)


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Buy flats in Middle Lane, London N8 - 4 bedrooms
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Mindy Farabee
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6:30–33 The person driven by hunger to steal is still subject to the law, but people can understand such need. By contrast, adultery has no such extenuating factor and brings utter disgrace. The law required restoration of four times the theft; "sevenfold" exaggerates this for emphasis (Ex. 22:1).


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Why Meg Whitman's Ascent to Chairman of HP Signals New Beginning
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- If there was ever any doubts as to who's running the show at Hewlett-Packard (HPQ - Get Report) they were put to rest Thursday when CEO Meg Whitman added the title of "chairman" on her resume.
Whitman replaces Ralph Whitworth, who stepped down due to health issues.
Hewlett-Packard continues to be one of the best stories on the market in 2014. Shares are up 33% over the trailing 12 months and are up 24% year-to-date, outperforming the tech sector's 9% gains. The stock closed Thursday at $34.43, just 2% away from its 52-week high.
How Apple's Big Deal With IBM Hurts BlackBerry and Microsoft
Google Surges: What Wall Street's Saying Taiwan Semiconductor's Ties to Apple Are a Double-Edged Sword Meg Whitman has been the reason for Hewlett-Packard's resurgence. That she was chosen for chairman is a much-deserved vote of confidence. The company has kept both the CEO and chairman roles separate ever since the departure of former CEO Mark Hurd in 2010. Shares are still down 36% from their 2010 high. But it's time to look forward. With Whitman now fully entrenched in HP's fabric, investors should expect continued improvements in both the company's revenue and profits. The new title is nice to have. But it doesn't change anything with respect to Whitman's vision of efficiency and finding new growth areas. Operational expenses will continue to be trimmed and Whitman does not plan to rest until Hewlett-Packard plants its flag in more profitable areas such as software and services. With the recent enterprise partnership forged between rivals Apple (AAPL) and IBM (IBM) Whitman's vision of enterprise services growth is only going to get harder.Check Out Our Best Services for Investors
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18 posts tagged with guns and gun.
Displaying 1 through 18 of 18. Subscribe:
To the mom I used to be.
"What They Left Behind" is a 35 minute documentary produced by Sandy Hook Promise. Today, the families and community of Newtown, Connecticut honor the lives of the twenty first graders and six adult helpers who lost their lives in that school shooting. No public events will take place today in Newtown. [more inside]
Reconciling the Second Amendment with Public Safety Concerns
Gun Wars: the struggle over gun rights and regulation in America, in the aftermath of the Newtown school shootings and the ongoing congressional stalemate over federal gun legislation. An investigative report from "29 students from 16 journalism schools, as well as an experienced staff of editors" for Carnegie-Knight News21. [more inside]
The Agony of the Liberal Gun Lover
"For a long time, being both liberal and a gun owner didn't seem like a big deal. 'Guns were certainly an issue,' Robinson says, 'but owning firearms wasn't enough to get you tossed out of the movement.' After Sandy Hook, though, that changed 'with a speed that was truly breathtaking.'"
"My life has been reduced to nothing by an intolerable insult."
The Simple Facts About Mass Shootings Aren't Simple At All
The first step in stopping future mass shootings is figuring out what we know and working from there. Unfortunately, the real first step is getting rid of a bunch of stuff we "know" that turns out to be wrong.[more inside]
Bearing Arms: [New York Times] Articles in this series examine the gun industry's influence and the wide availability of firearms in America. [more inside]
Grenades, Bayonets, and Tasers. Oh My!
The TSA has started an Instagram page showing confiscated items from TSA checkpoints in airports around the country.
The gun of the fearful
The AR-15 is more than a gun. It's a gadget. It's an addiction and the future of firearms manufactures. It's the most wanted gun in America and more than anything it is a symbol of the cycle of fear that drives assault weapon sales.
"they did not know or expect that the evidence would point to Tehran."
A Trail of Bullet Casings Leads From Africa's Wars Back to Iran. Iran's Cartridges & Their Quiet Distribution to Brutal Regimes and Many Wars. [more inside]
The long strange trip of a Singaporean assault rifle
The long strange trip of a Singaporean Cold-War-era assault rifle into the hands of Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, and what it reveals about the unintended consequences of the global trade in small arms and ammunition. [slnyt]
The (lego) Lee Enfield sniper rifle
"10 millimeter explosive tip caseless. Standard light armor piercing round, why? "
UnNerfed - the Nerf dart blaster overclocked to 500 rounds per minute.
CRACKED and Loaded
I apologize in advance for linking to Cracked.com, internet leader in lame lists, but this 3-minute video sketch works for me: The Real Reason Guns Are Dangerous. [more inside]
Everybody here go BANG!
Gun for the whole family. A Scanning Around With Gene article about historic gun ads.
More fun with Gene Gable: Cigarettes, diving, winter fonts, red white and blue, and so much more.
An average of 81 people die of gunshot wounds in the US each day. Most of them aren't who you'd expect.
Act quick! Your chance to own an important piece of history may be passing you by. You'll show the TV who the king is!
Firearms exempted from Consumer Product Safety Commission. Why?
Firearms exempted from Consumer Product Safety Commission. Why? Erik Zenger lost consciousness for only a few minutes when his black powder gun misfired on a Utah County shooting range, burying a 3-inch steel spring bolt in his cheekbone. . .
There is no national agency or organization either man could have consulted to find out if a rifle or handgun had been recalled. Firearms are specifically exempted from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, said agency spokesman Ken Jiles, and no other federal agency is empowered to gather information on safety hazards of weapons.
Neither the National Rifle Association nor the National Sports Shooting Foundation tracks such information or has lists of gun recalls. Consumers must rely on retail stores and manufacturers to determine if weapons have malfunctioned or injured anyone.
In a major policy reversal, the Justice Department has officially endorsed an individual right to bear arms. In doing so, the Justice Department has abandoned its long-held position that the second amendment is limited in scope to protecting militia activities. Does this mean the Justice Department will stop enforcing federal laws that it sees as violating the 2nd amendemnt? Should it? If there is a individual right to bear arms, how far should it extend?
'Invastion' [sic] of Army recruiters unnerves jittery Austinites
'Invastion' [sic] of Army recruiters unnerves jittery Austinites I guess we're just lucky that none of our fellow residents who (legally or illegally) carry concealed handguns took matters into their own hands!


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California Attorney General Sues State Street Bank for Massive FraudQuicklink submitted by Margaret Bassett Permalink,
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"In 1867 Lisa See's great great grandfather arrived in America, where he prescribed herbal remedies to immigrant laborers who were treated little better than slaves. His son Fong See later built a mercantile empire and married a Caucasian woman, in spite of laws that prohibited unions between the races. And Lisa herself grew up playing in her family's antiques store in LA's Chinatown, listening to stories of missionaries and prostitutes, movie stars and all Chinese baseball teams. Out of these stories and years of research she has constructed a sweeping chronicle of a Chinese-American family on "Gold Mountain". Encompassing racism and romance, entrepreneurial genius and domestic heartache, secret marriages and sibling rivalries. On Gold Mountain is a powerful history of two cultures meeting in a new world, beautifully written and abounding with intimate recognitions."
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The New Chilean CPI Mariana Schkolnik, Francisco Ruiz, Gunter
The New Chilean CPI Mariana Schkolnik, Francisco Ruiz, Gunter Hintze, Francisco Meneses, Paula Jara, and Cristóbal Videla-Hintze. Chilean Institute of Statistics (INE) August 1998. Abstract This document presents the new Chilean Consumer Price Index (CPI). The application will begin in January 1999. In the first section, we present an introduction, in which are described the main characteristics of the new Chilean CPI. The second section contains the main definitions of the index, its objectives and the definition of consumer expenditure. Next, in the third section, the structure of the new basket is discussed. In the fourth section, the Household Budget Survey and the Point-of-Purchase Survey are described. In the fifth section the formulae used in the calculation of the CPI are described. The last section enumerates the tasks of the Permanent Improvement Program of the CPI. Introduction The document presents the main characteristics of the new Chilean Consumer Prices Index (CPI). The design, discussion and construction of the CPI began in 1995 with the Household Budget Survey. This survey was conducted in from July'96 until August'97. It is the basis for updating of the basket of the CPI. However, the calculation of the new CPI will begin in January'99, including several methodological improvements. Among these improvements we can mention the classification of the items, the introduction of new varieties, the annual revision of the weights of items, the formulae of calculation of the index, the procedures for collecting prices, and the treatment of the seasonal adjustment. With these improvements we are looking for a better statistical quality of the index. The new index will set higher requirements of research and a continually updating of the databases. These will be the tasks of the Permanent Improvement Program of the CPI. Among the most important improvements of the new CPI we can point out: It presents an updated structure of the expenditures of the Chilean households. It considers a larger number of varieties and of outlets than the previous one. It permits the introduction of new goods and services of the market. It includes the effect of the substitution in the consumption between varieties, by means of the use of the geometric mean. 1 It has a higher level of accuracy of the variations of prices, because for the month to month calculations of the price variations it uses only comparable pairs of "varieties- outlet". It represents appropriately the changes in the purchase habits, updating the sample of outlets with yearly Point-of-Purchase Survey. In the earlier version of the CPI this was carried out only every ten years, together with the Household Budget Survey. It considers the research of the effects of the technological change and the adjustment of quality of the items. It incorporates the seasonal changes of the consumption of fruits and vegetables, not only enlarging the basket to those that have a permanent presence along the year, but to those that have high participation in the consumption of the households, in at least two months of the year. 2. Main Definitions 2.1 Objectives of the CPI The Chilean CPI is an index to measure the evolution of the prices of goods and services of consumed by the households; hence, it is a deflator of the consumption expenditures. Its main objective is to quantify the change, between two periods of time, of the prices of a certain basket of goods and services. This basket corresponds to the consumption pattern of the households, and therefore it reflects the consumer's preferences. The Chilean CPI reflects the variations of prices of the goods and services acquired by the households. In the calculation of the new CPI we have introduced several methodological innovations that allow modifications or substitutions in the consumption, caused by changes in the relative prices. These will be apprehended through a larger number of varieties for products and the use of geometric mean. The CPI will measure approximately the evolution of the cost of life of the families. The CPI is used for many purposes, for example, as a deflator of nominal wages (to estimate the evolution of its real value), and as an index for physical and financial assets. By construction the CPI is not similar to the deflator of the GDP, neither is an index of the evolution of the purchasing power of the poor or of the wage earners. The Chilean CPI is an index that reflects the evolution of the retail prices of a basket of goods and services. This basket is assumed to be representative of the consumption of the households. 2.2 Definition of Expenditure in Consumption The expenditure concept used for the elaboration of the basket of the new CPI corresponds to the expenditure in final consumption of the households. The criterion to measure the expenditure is the acquired consumption. This corresponds with the cash price of the goods or services bought by the household in the period of reference. That means, that the credit price, in general, is not collected. 2 The CPI does not consider the investments (acquisition of real state, securities, bonds, and stocks, etc.), neither the savings of the households (social security payments and others). Initially, the new CPI will not include the homeowners' equivalent rent. The expenditure of the households includes: 1. Final consumption of households bought with their income. 2. Payment of health insurance includes only the voluntary share of health insurance that some households pay above the legally mandatory health insurance. The payment of the legally mandatory health insurance will not be included as a product of the basket, but rather its weighting will be distributed in the health expenditures. 3. Housing Insurance payments. 4. Payment of services, indirect taxes (VAT), and specific taxes (alcohol, tobacco, etc.). It excludes the direct taxes, as the personnel revenue tax and taxes for personal certificates of the Identity Service. 5. Financial expenditure in payment of mortgage and consumer credits. 6. The games of chance included in the calculation of the CPI are those whose prices do not vary with the prize; otherwise, a change of the price will be related with a change of the prize. 3. The new basket of the CPI 3.1 Structure of the new basket. The information for the structure of the new basket is obtained from the Households Budget Survey (HBS). The changes made in the groups and subgroups of the basket correspond to an updating of the behavior of the Chilean households. As it is observed in the following figure, the weight of the group Food and Beverages falls from 33% in 1987 to 27% in 1997. The weight of Housing presents an increment from a 25 to 28% (including Communication). In this case, the group is divided in two groups: Housing (20%) and Household Services and Furnishings (8%). The weight of the group Apparel grows from 8% in 1987 to 9% in 1997. The group Transportation changed from 9% in 1987 to 13% in the new CPI. Finally, the expenditures represented in the group Others that weighted 16% of the expenditure of the households, would reach in the new CPI 22%. For this reason, it was split in the groups Health (9%), Education and Entertainment (10%), and Others (4%). 3 GROUPS AND WEIGHTS OF THE CPI: 1987 – 1997 Groups 1987 Weight Groups 1997 Weights Food and Beverages 33 Food and Beverages 27 Housing 25 Housing 20 Household Services and Furnishings 8 Apparel 8 Apparel 9 Transportation and Communication 17 Transportation 13 Medical Care and Upkeep 9 Education and Entertainment 10 Other goods and services 17 Other goods and services 4 Total 100 Total 100 The aggregation of the items in the new CPI has been modified. The "articles" will be fixed in the CPI, as well as their weights; so long there is not another Household Budget Survey. The weights of the "products" (at least one in each "article") will be subject to changes on the base of market studies to be carried out annually. The new terminology of the CPI is as following: CPI Group "...." Group "...." Subgroup"...." Subgroup "...." Article "...." Article "...." Product 1 Product 2 Product n Variety Variety Variety 3.2 Criteria for the Construction of the Basket. a) The first criterion is the weight that each product had separately in the expenditure in consumption, according to the Household Budget Survey. The minimum weight to be included is 0.025% of total expenditure of the household. In 1987 it was 0.0325%. This change could reflect the diversification in the consumption of the households, product of the increment of the incomes in the last years. b) The second criterion is to consider the weights of groups and subgroups. It means it that if inside a group or subgroup no product fulfills the requirement of the minimum weight, but the whole group or subgroup does it, a representative of the group or subgroup is included in the basket. 4 c) The following two general principles from 1988 continue to be valid: (1) A product whose price is not possible to be break down into P (unit price) * Q (quantity) will not be included, for example, the donations. (2) The weight of the products that were not included is distributed proportionally among the selected products. 3.3 Treatment of seasonal fresh products. The seasonal price movements of fruits and fresh vegetables are a natural phenomenon. Their special productive cycles and their essentially perishable character cause these price variations. In general, the selection of a fixed basket yearly of products and their weights to represent the variations of prices, in the case of fruits and vegetables, can not be representative, since it is normal that along the year the consumption varies. For example, in the case of fruits, while in winter the number of available products in the market is rather reduced, in summer there is a large number of products. Moreover, for the group of fruits and vegetables is evident that along the year there is a cycle with initial prices that are very high and later, with an abundant offer, they begin to decay, and finally, they disappear of the market. To treat adequately this seasonal price movements, in the new CPI the "articles" "fresh fruits" and "vegetables" are represented by a very large selection of fruits and vegetables. These articles will have fixed weights along the year. Their annual weights are obtained from the Households Budget Survey. The articles are made up of 15 fruits and 27 fresh vegetables, respectively. The criterion used to include an item in these products was to select all those fruits and vegetables that fulfill the bench mark minimum 0.025% of the total expenditure, in at least two successive months. 4. The Household Budget Survey and the Point-of-Purchase Survey. 4.1 The Household Budget Survey. The Household Budget Survey collects data relating to household expenditure for goods and services. These data are used to define what is consumed, and to calculate the weights of "articles" and "products" in the total expenditure of the households. The sample of households was selected from a database of housing areas constructed by our Institute in 1995 for Santiago- de-Chile. The sampling method was a two-stages-random-sampling, with independent samples inside each one of the three strata in which the database was divided. The Household Budget Survey was realized in Santiago-de-Chile's private households. The sample includes 8.300 households, which are distributed in three socioeconomic strata. The units of the first stage were blocks of 200 housings each one. The house is the unit of selection in the second stage. The Survey begins selecting the houses, and later, the blocks were updated. That allowed to identify and to register all the houses occupied by private households in the period immediately previous to the beginning of the realization of the survey. The unit of analysis corresponds to the particular household and to the persons that constitutes it. The total sample was distributed in 24 under-samples. Each under-sample corresponds to a two-week- period for the year of reference of the survey (from August 1996 to July 1997). 5 4.2 The Point-of-Purchase Survey The purpose of the Point-of-Purchase Survey is to determine the main types of outlets where the households carry out their purchases, specifically of those products selected for the basket of the CPI. The survey included 1.360 households of Santiago-de-Chile. The criterion to select the types of outlets was defined according to the expenditure proportion of the households. In previous Point-of-Purchase Surveys the criterion of selection of outlets was according the frequency of purchase. Therefore, the selection of a representative outlet (as source of information for collecting prices of products) will depend where the households carry out the largest proportion of expenditure of that product. The Point-of-Purchase Survey is used to select a sample of outlets: This sample will be the set of sources of information for the collecting of prices. The outlets selected were those that informed the largest sales of the products of the grouping to which it belonged. A complete sample of outlets was produced, including 30% more outlets, for cases when a replacement is necessary. The Permanent Improvement Program for the CPI includes annual Point-of-Purchase Surveys, in order to maintain updated the Outlet Sample. 4.3 Type of price used and frequency of price collecting. The type of price used corresponds to the sale price to the final consumer. This price corresponds to the cash price, including VAT and other taxes. The period is the month. The frequency of collecting prices will be monthly, with the exception of the group Food and Beverages, and some fuels of high variability, for which the prices will be collected weekly. The group Food and Beverages has a weekly frequency of collecting prices (to reflect especially the price variations of prices of perecibles). In the new CPI almost all prices will be collected on a monthly basis. In some special cases the frequency of the expenditure differs from the month; in these cases the prices will be calculated as the expenditure is carried out; for example: university registrations, city rights. 5. The Calculation Methods for the CPI 5.1 The Laspeyres Index The current CPI is calculated as a "pure" Laspeyres index. That supposes fixed weights for the products of the fixed basket for all the lifetime of the index. This methodology is adequate to the calculation, in a single index, of the variations of a heterogeneous group of prices. However, it has some limitations, for example, as indicator of the variations of cost of life, because it does not consider possible substitutions among products that impact the well being of the persons. From a practical point of view, it is impossible to have all the benefits of a pure Laspeyres, without regretting this limitation. For that reason, the new CPI incorporates some technical refinements that allow balancing the coherence of the measurement of well being with those of variations of prices. It achieves in this way two objectives that do not coincide a priori. 6 The principal methodological modifications are the following: A) The new CPI maintains the structure of Laspeyres to calculate the general index from the price variations of the articles. But, to avoid the eventual loss of representativeness of the expenditure structure through the years –due to the fixed weights- we will carry out Household Budget Survey for updating of the basket with a higher frequency (up to day, they are carried out every 10 years). This is more necessary than in previous periods, since the structure of expenditures has become more variable and dynamic, because of technological reasons, globalization of the economy and of growing incomes of the Chilean households. B) The weights of the "articles" calculated from the Household Budget Survey will remain as long as it is not carried out a new survey. Because this structure will be more lasting in the time, the "article" concept that will be used in the new CPI is wider and more generic than that of the current one. Specifically, from a structure of 368 articles in the previous CPI, the new CPI will have only 156 articles, whose weights will stay fixed. A new concept is introduced, "product", of which the CPI includes 477. C) The articles of the new CPI are the aggregates of "products". The "products" are aggregates of varieties. Variations of prices will be calculated for each variety. The price variations of the varieties will be added to build the variation of the index of the "products". D) The aggregation from products to articles will be the arithmetic mean of the variations of prices, for the groups: Housing, Apparel, Transportation, Health, Education and Others. In the case of the group Food, the geometric mean will be used for the aggregation from product to article. It is assumed, (a) that their elasticity of substitution is nearer to 1 than to 0; (b) that the consumer behavior changes in the short term; and (c) that it is a high frequency substitution. In the case of the products that are included in other groups, it can exist or not a certain substitution degree in the consumption, but like it was pointed out in (C) the weights will be modified when appropriate statistical evidence exists. Geometric mean will only be used in the cases of the products from the articles "Fuels" and "Communications" in the group Housing, and for the products from the article "Automobile" and "Urban Transportation." The weights of the "products" will be revised annually. This revision of weights should be understood as a partial updating of the pattern of consumption of the households through the time. It will be carried out on the base of market studies and reflects important changes in the offer or demand for certain products. E) The aggregation for all the "varieties" to the "product" will be carried out by the geometric mean. In this case, substitution exists among all the varieties of the products in the new CPI. In this case, the varieties represent different of marks, sizes or flavors, basically of "one and the same" product. The elemental level is the combination "variety-outlet". At this level, the price variations of one variety through all outlets are aggregated with the geometric mean. In this case, it is supposed that a variety (same article, same mark) in an outlet is a perfect substitute for that same variety in another outlet. 7 5.2 Use of comparable units for the monthly calculation of the CPI. The calculation of the monthly variation will be carried out at the "variety-outlet" level. This increases the comparability of the prices between two months, and eliminates possible price variations due to the absence of data in some outlets in a particular month. Indeed, it will be operated on the base of the comparison of the prices of the "variety- outlet" that are collected in both months (obviously, it is strictly comparable). Thus, the problems associated to quality variation, dependent on the outlet, are eliminated. 6. Permanent Improvement Program. The new methodology of the CPI supposes a permanent updating process. This can be done if a Permanent CPI Study Team is setup. In the previous CPI a major limitations was the impossibility to substitute specific varieties of goods or services. The products were maintained fixed for 10 years, even after they were obsolete. The sample of outlet after some years was outdated, too. The outdating of the sample is a major limitation. The recovery of lost outlets was carried out in by price collectors, looking for outlet of the same type, size, location, and with similar prices. However, the changes in the structure of the market would have made advisable studies that would probably have revealed the necessity to substitute small outlets for supermarkets or chains, and not for similar business. The actual methodology supposes to realize Point-of-Purchase Surveys biannually. Another important issue is the quality adjustment. Due to the speed of the technological change, the variations of prices of some products can be, partly, the result of improvements in the technical capacity of these, and partly net increment of prices. When there is a quality improvement due to technology, it should be considered when estimating the price of the variety and this quality adjustment should be reflected it in the CPI. Finally, an issue that requires research, is the calculation of substitution elasticity of certain products. Especially, if we suffer impacts in critical situations (fuels, perecibles, etc.) the effect on the household expenditure should be foreseen. The case of tomato in 1997 was an example: when the tomato price increased dramatically, due to some plague, a consumption reduction should have been produced and a substitution by other vegetables. However, we do not know if the total expenditure of the households in tomato was increased or not. The Permanent Improvement Program of the CPI should, at least, include: 1. Annual market studies in order to update the weights of the varieties and products. These will be the basis for changing the specifications of the varieties. 2. The change of weights of articles, subgroups and groups should be more frequent. It is suggested to realize the Household Budget Survey every 5 years. 3. The sample of outlets should be updated every two years. For that is necessary to carry out with that frequency the Point-of-Purchase. 8 4. The quality adjustment treatment should include: - Definition of criteria to carry out quality adjustments when collecting prices, with special emphasis in the group Apparel. - Definition of procedures in case of changes in measure unit, containers, marks or other. - Methodologies of adjustments of quality should be developed (Hedonic Method and other) for some goods that suffer strong price changes (automobiles, computers). 5. A methodology to calculate the homeowners' equivalent rent. 6. Studies of substitution elasticity (historical) of consumption, and possible incorporation of a CES Index that considers the automatic substitution in cases of price changes, at the level of varieties' index. 7. Treatment of price shocks in cause by economic, climatic, or other type of shocks. 9 References: Aguilar R., "Error de Estimación de Precios Indices", Mimeo. Santiago de Chile. Abraham K. (1996), "Statistics in the Spotlight: Improving the Consumer Price Index", Mimeo. Bascher, Jérome and Thierry Lacroix (1998), "On the Use of Hedonic Methods in the CPI: An Application to Consumer Durables and Apparel". Ottawa Group Conference. Boskin, Michael J., Ellen R. Dulberger, Robert J. Gordon, Zvi Griliches, and Dale W. Jorgensen (1998), "Consumer Prices, the Consumer Price Index, and the Cost of Living", en Economic Perspectives, Vol. 12, Nr. 1, Winter'. Boskin R., "Estimation of Variance Components for the US-CPI via Gibbs Sampling", BLS Working Papers, Mimeo. Bureau of Labor Statistic, U.S. "The Experimental CPI Using Geometric Means", Mimeo, April 1997. "Research Issues Related to Geometric Mean Formulae for Elementary Indexes", Mimeo. "Measurement Issues in the Consumer Price Index", Mimeo, June 1997. "Handbook of Methods", April 1997. Dalén, J. (1994), "To New Functional Form for Price Indexes Elementary Aggregates", Journal Official Statistics. Dalén, Jorgen (1998), "On the Statistical Objective of a Laspeyres' Price Index", Ottawa Group Conference Central Statistical Office, United Kingdom. "A Short Guide to the Retail Prices Index", 1987. INE (1975), "Metodología del IPC", Santiago de Chile. Lefort, F. (1996), "Sesgos de Medición en el IPC", Mimeo. Santiago de Chile. Liegey, Paul R. Jr. (1994), "Apparel Price Indexes: Effects of Hedonic Adjustment", Monthly Labor Review, May. Lowe, Robin (1998), "Televisions: Quality Changes and Scanner Data", Ottawa Group Conference. Mcclelland R. (1996), "Evaluating Formulae Bias in Various Indexes Using Simulations". Menéndez P. "Notas sobre el Uso de Fórmulas en los Indices de Precios", Mimeo. Moncada, J. (1997), "Aspectos Metodológicos y Operacionales del Indice de Precios al Consumidor Colombiano", Bogota. Moulton, Brent (1996), "Bias in the Consumer Price Index: What Is the Evidence?" 10 Moulton, Brent R., Timothy J. LaFleur, and Karin E. Moses (1998), "Research on Improved Quality Adjustment in the CPI: The Case of Televisions", Ottawa Group Conference. Reinsdorf, Marshall, Paul Liegey, and Kenneth Stewart (1996), "Avoiding Downward Bias from Linking in the U.S. Consumer Price Index", U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Reinsdorf, M., P. Liegey, and K. Stewart, (1996), "New Ways of Handling Quality Change in the U.S. Consumer Price Index". Reinsdorf, M. and A. Dorfman (1996), "The Sato-Vartia Index and Monotonicity Axiom". Reinsdorf, M. (1998), "Improving the Chilean CPI". Santiago de Chile. Ryten, J., (1998), "El Mejoramiento del Indice of Precios al Consumidor de Chile". Informe de Consultoría. Santiago de Chile. Shapiro, M., and D. Wilcox, (1996), "Mismeasurement in the Consumer Price Index: An Evaluation", National Bureau of Economic Research. Statistics Canada (1997), "Selected Issues in the Seasonal Adjustment of Consumer Price Index Series", in "The Consumer Price Index". Turvey, R. (1989), "Consumer Price Indices", International Labor Office, Geneva. 11


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About Us
New for 2015/16 The Creative Academy will be offering bursaries for various students more information will be provided ONLY to successful applicants
Open days for AY14/15 are: 08/10/14 (FULL), 05/11/14 (FULL), 19/11/14, 18/02/15 and 11/03/15. Apply directly on our website or call 01753875400 to book a place (numbers are limited).
Auditions for entry 2015 16/12/14, 16/01/15, 28/02/15, 14/03/15 & 14/04/15
Recall 18/04/15
Year 3 entry audition 21/02/14
Year 1 & 2 FdA Dance (W500)
Year 3 BA(Hons) Dance (W501)
*The BA(Hons) is a one year top up
Creative Academy is a not-for profit organisation which is managed through Slough Borough Council. It aims to become a Community Interest Company by September 2016. The Creative Academy has successfully positioned its course as an affordable alternative to University and Vocational School dance training with a strong industry focus and a minimum of 30 contact hours practical training a week. The Ba (Hons) and FdA Dance courses are validated by The University of West London (London College of Music). The BA (HONS) Dance provided by Creative Academy is endorsed by the Council for Dance Education and Training and has approved centre status from Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.
Creative Academy currently works with AVA Dance Company, British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat, DanceFusion, Dancers Inc., London College of Dance Network, London College of Music, Lost Dog Dance Company, Pilates Precision (Multi-Trax UK), Rambert Dance Company, Random Dance Company, Rifco Arts and StopGap Dance Company.
Creative Academy aims to create confident, knowledgeable, technically proficient, versatile, strong, independent, passionate and talented performers/teachers ready for the diverse dance industry by:
• offering industry relevant, affordable and innovative vocational dance training
• creating an inspirational and inclusive learning environment
• ensuring students are treated as individuals
• supporting students to reach their full potential
• engaging high profile industry partners
• being wholly committed to developing and maintaining the highest quality standards
• creating employment and performance opportunities
Creative Academy underpins its BA (HONS) Dance with Foundation Degree (Validated by UWL) with additional qualifications including ISTD Grades, Pilates Matwork & Stage Combat (DDI/DDE are optional at additional cost and dependent on student numbers). The Creative Academy has small class numbers to ensure students receive the individual attention required to understand and achieve in the diverse dance industry. The Creative Academy BA (HONS) Dance splits into 2 streams in year three - Education and Performance.
During 2015 Slough Borough Council will be developing a new Theatre within the exciting Heart of Slough regeneration programme to replace the current Theatre at The West Wing Arts Centre.
The Creative Academy charges £40 for an audition. Creative Academy fees are available through Student Loan Company (SLC). The fees are £6,200 (per annum) £6,000 from Student Loan Company and a non-refundable deposit of £200.00 (to secure place once offered). SLC Codes W500 (course code) Creative Academy (institute code)
Students will be required to pay £200 studio fees which include chiropractor, iSTD, BASSC, Active IQ and DVD fees. (Any monies remaining are refunded at the end of the academic year)
The QAA review and report can be found
What industry says........
"Loads of talent and energy!"
Christina Andrea
"The electricity delivered on to the stage from the Creative Academy dancers for the final numbers was palpable. I understand the eight dancers were only 1st & 2nd years – and wow there is some energy and talent to watch there. It is not a school I have heard of before. I will be making sure casting and choreographic colleagues have it on their radar. They were a tribute to their school in terms of professionalism."
Chris Grady
"Creative Academy dancers are always professional and great to work with. The training they receive equips them for working within the professional creative world. When hiring dancers for our shows they are always our first port of call."
Louise Rogers (Producer Rifco Arts)
"Throughout the performance the professionalism of the performers was evident and the range of dance material extensive. The work chosen and produced by the dancers demonstrated the range of technical ability and the artistry and creativity produced by Creative Academy."
The Council For Dance Education and Training
"I have seen first hand how this degree transforms the lives of the young people and it is a joy to witness such talent being nurtured. The degree is inspirational; creating young dancers ready to join the industry. I have, and will, continue to employ graduate dancers from this degree as I can rely on a high standard of delivery, which is a testament to the excellent vocational focus of the degree."
Kristiina Smith (Managing Director of Future Culture)
"The student numbers in each cohort is considerably lower than most HE Dance degrees and the student staff ratio is excellent and on a par with Conservatoire status vocational institutions, which indicates an extremely good student experience, well managed by the small staff team, as preparation for the professional graduates the students will be. There is rigour and professional attitudes applied to the teaching and learning which give students a sense of reality about the professional commercial dance industry. This is balanced by good provision in terms of workshop leading and teaching preparation afforded by the Community Dance element of the programme."
Kate Flatt (Royal Ballet School)
The Creative Academy has undergone a Review for Specific Course Designationby the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and is awaiting publication of its final report.


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US 20050111855 A1 Abstract The invention describes a transmission system with transmitter, transmission line and receiver, where the transmitted signal is modulated by a diffential phase shift keying modulation scheme. This is realized in a differential coder and a phase modulator. The diffential coder comprises an EXOR circuit, with a time delay of at least 2 bit in the attached feed back loop.
Claims(5) 1. Optical transmission system with transmitter, transmission line and receiver, comprising a filter adopted to the modulation scheme, where the transmitted signal is modulated by a diffential phase shift keying modulation scheme using a differential coder (203) and a phase modulator (202) characterized in that the diffential coder (203) comprises an EXOR circuit, with a time delay of at least 2 bits in the attached feed back loop.
2. Optical transmission system according
3. Optical transmission system according
4. Optical transmission system according
5. Optical transmission system according
Description The invention is based on a priority application EP 03292928.3 which is hereby incorporated by reference. The invention is related to a modified DPSK optical transmission system with a modulator and the corresponding demodulator . Differential phase-shift keying (DPSK) is a special phase-shift keying format that is used for digital transmission in which the phase of the carrier is discretely varied (a) in relation to the phase of the immediately preceding signal element and (b) in accordance with the data being transmitted. Phase shift keying is used in digital transmission, comprising an angle modulation in which the phase of the carrier is discretely varied in relation either to a reference phase or to the phase of the immediately preceding signal element, in accordance with data being transmitted. In a communications system the representing of characters, such as bits or quaternary digits is realized by a shift in the phase of an electromagnetic carrier wave with respect to a reference, by an amount corresponding to the symbol being encoded. For example, when encoding bits, the phase shift could be 0� for encoding a �0,� and 180� for encoding a �1,� or the phase shift could be −90 for �0� and +90� for a �1,� thus making the representations for �0� and �1� a total of 180� apart. In PSK systems designed so that the carrier can assume only two different phase angles, each change of phase carries one bit of information, i.e., the bit rate equals the modulation rate. Actually installed WDM systems for transmitting optical signals use intensity modulation for optical transmission. However, phase modulation allows using a balanced detector at the receiver end, and improves the OSNR sensitivity by 2 to 3 dB, therefore increasing the system reach. For example the use of a balanced detector is described in an article by Eric A. Swanson, Jeffrey C. Livas and Roy S. Bondurant, entitled �High Sensitivity Optically Preamplified Direct Detection DPSK Receiver With Active Delay-Line Stabilization,� in IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, Vol. 6, No. 2, Feb. 1994. This article describes an optical communication system that modulates digital information onto transmitted light using differential phase shift keying (DPSK) and then demodulates this information using an actively tuned unbalanced Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer that is tuned using an apparatus and a method known in the art. The unbalanced Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer has an additional optical path length in one leg that provides a propagation delay duration of one data bit. The imbalance in the Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer enables light in one data bit to be optically interfered with light in the data bit immediately following this data bit. The relative state of optical phase between these two DPSK data bits determines in which of the two output legs of the interferometer light is produced provided that the unbalanced Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer is properly tuned within a fraction of a wavelength of the light. Light produced from one leg constitutes digital �ones� while light produced in the other leg constitutes digital �zeros� in the transmitted digital information signal. This article also describes an apparatus and a method for using optical amplification to improve receiver sensitivity that utilizes a doped optical fiber amplifier to boost the signal level and a Fabry-Perot narrow band filter to remove the out-of-band amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) introduced by the fiber amplifier. The apparatus described in the article includes a laser and a phase modulator for producing an optical DPSK signal at a preselected wavelength, a 10 GHz tunable fiber Fabry-Perot filter and an automatic controller for dithering the pass band wavelength of the filter so as to keep the peak of the filter at the optical signal wavelength, a tunable unbalanced Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer, a dual balanced detector and a feedback electronic circuit coupling the signal developed across one detector of the balanced detector to one leg of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Two different approaches are described for tuning the optical path length in the unbalanced Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer. In the first approach, the interferometer is made of optical fiber and one leg of the interferometer is wrapped around a piezoelectric transducer (PZT) that enables an electronic signal to stretch the fiber; thereby increasing the optical path length. In the second approach, the interferometer comprises a silica integrated optical waveguide with an integral thermal heater that enables an electronic signal to increase the temperature of one leg of the interferometer, thereby increasing the optical path length. To tune the Mach-Zehnder interferometer a small electronic dither signal is applied to the actively tuned optical path length to provide a feedback signal for the electronic controller. This enables proper adjustment of the optical path length. The path length is adjusted around 1 bit delay, with a precision of 2 Free sprectral Ranges FSR, i.e., 20 GHz. Electronic synchronous detection techniques on this dither signal are used to provide the appropriate corrections to the optical path length, enabling the error in tuning to be below an acceptable level. DPSK is actually considered as a good candidate for future 10 or 40 Gb/s systems, where it has enabled record transmission distances at 40 Gb/s above 10 000 km in the lab. However, DPSK needs a precoding stage at the transmitter. This function is realized electronically, and needs typically an EXOR function with a delay of one bit-time, as shown in In actual solution the pre-coding function in a differential coder can be performed at lower bit-rate (10 Gb/s), after demultiplexing the 40 Gb/s signal into 4 tributary channels. This solution arises some problems, because the 4 tributaries at 10 Gb/s have to be synchronized for coding and recombined without jitter. The invention solves the problem by using a modified modulator for the DSPK format with a differential coder that has a delay in the feed back loop longer than one bit period T. One example is a 2T instead of T (T being the bit-time). In this case the time delay between the output and input of the EXOR function needs only be below 50 ps at 40 Gb/s, and the external �feedback line� can be fabricated with a delay of 50 ps. As a consequence, the fabrication tolerance of the differential coder is relaxed. The invention is explained in the figures and the description of the figures as follows: Short Description of the Invention A block diagram of a possible DPSK transmission system is shown in The light transmitted to the receiver side through an optical fiber 205 is fed to a Mach Zehnder Filter 214 at the receiver side. The transmitted data are filtered in the Mach Zehnder filter 214 before they are converted from the optical to the electrical signals. The detector 215 is for example a dual balanced detector as described in the prior art. The feed back loop the detector 215 is connected to the Mach Zehnder filter via a control mean 216 that apply a signal for stabilization of the unbalanced Mach Zehnder filter. A dithering technique is useful for the electronic stabilization of the filter function. is For higher bit rate system an optical filtering is advantageous. Mandatory for the use of the DSPK in a WDM system is the optical filtering for channel selection. In a common DPSK system a differential coder 203 changes the input electrical data into a different data stream. With conventional DPSK, this differential coder 203 needs a delay line 212 of exactly one bit-time T between the output of the EXOR function and its input. This means the EXOR is performed between the current bit of the original signal and the previous bit of the new signal. The resulting signal is applied to an electro optic phase modulator 202, which transforms it into a phase-coded optical signal. For example, the �0� bits are coded with a phase of π, the �1� s with a phase of 0. The signal is transmitted over a fibre link consisting of optical fibre spans and amplifiers. At the receiving end, the optical phase-coded signal is transformed into an amplitude-coded signal by a Mach-Zehnder (MZ) filter 214. The principle of the filter is the following: one of its arms is delayed by one bit-time delay in the delay line 213 with respect to the other arm; therefore, at the output of the filter, the interference of the signal with itself, delayed by one bit-time, is detected. If the two bits have the same phase, constructive interference gives maximum power (�1�). If the two bits have opposite phases, destructive interference gives minimum power (�0�) According to the invention, a DPSK format with 2-bit delay is proposed. The differential coder 203 then needs a loop of 2T 212, and is easier to fabricate. However, the MZ filter also needs a 2 bit delay 213 in one arm see Referenced by
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