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The government successfully launched the Amma canteens to ease the burden of spiralling food prices. It ingeniously intervened when vegetable prices soared, created special shops, and provided low-cost green produce. Recently, it spread its welfare programmes and offered a cost effective Amma mineral water.
In the same vein, can the government address the pressing problem of housing? Can it provide Amma flats at reasonable prices to the needy? Most apartments are beyond the reach of many.
With the market catering to people who earn more than Rs. 60,000 a month, a large section below this income level has no option but to live in cramped rental houses. Rental charges have exceeded the affordable threshold — 30 per cent of the monthly income.
This situation would not have resulted had the Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) delivered on its commitments. The TNHB did a commendable job until the 1970s and gave Chennai some of the best-planned residential areas in the city, such as Anna Nagar and Ashok Nagar. It helped many to acquire homes for the first time at reasonable prices.
However, in the recent past, TNHB has lost sight of its social objectives. It is functioning like a profit-driven real estate company. The new project in Indra Nagar is a case in point: a 650-sq. ft. apartment meant for the low-income group (those who earn about Rs. 2 lakh annually) is priced at about Rs. 49 lakh.
Government policies too have failed and the number of 'house poor' is increasing.
Those living in slums have some hope in the slum development board, but the lower and middle-income groups remain ignored. Amma flats can effectively address their needs.
There are two ways to go about this. One is to use the land with the TNHB and build only smaller units.
If the State finds TNHB inadequate to meet the challenge, private developers could build them on terms set by the government.
Second, the government can procure units from private builders on an agreed price and specification. These units can then be given to first-time home owners.
The flats can be priced based on universally-accepted guidelines for affordability: five and four times the gross annual income for middle and lower-income groups respectively.
A differential registration charge for second and third home buyers is an option to increase revenue.
The difference between the cost and affordability price would not be much and would not be difficult to absorb. Adjusting infrastructure charges, building fee and a host of other payments to the State could reduce the cash outflow.
The government, following some of the best practices abroad, can easily ensure benefits given through Amma flats are passed on to subsequent buyers.
For example, if the market rate in an area is Rs. 3,500/sq. ft. and the Amma flats are provided at Rs. 1,500/sq. ft., the deserving buyer saves about 60 per cent.
Tamil Nadu has been a pioneer in welfare schemes and providing affordable housing would be an extension of this legacy.
When he or she sells the flat after 10 years, the condition would be to sell it at 60 per cent less than the then prevailing market rate. If the market rate of the flat after 10 years, say, is Rs. 8,000, the beneficiary can sell it only for Rs. 3,200. This allows owners to benefit from the price appreciation, and the government ensures the benefits are passed on to others.
Keywords: Jayalalithaa, Amma flats, affordable housing scheme, Tamil Nadu Housing Board, slum clearance board


text:
FREDERICKSBURG >> Myerstown planned on rebounding Sunday morning with its rubber arm on the mound. The bounces just didn't go the right way.
Lebanon County's American Legion baseball champions bowed out of the Region Four Tournament with a 2-0 loss to Red Land in the second day of action at Earl Wenger Field in Fredericksburg.
Josh Snyder played the difference maker in the bottom of the eighth inning of a pitching duel by driving in both runs on an opposite-field single to right field.
Righthander Zach Newmyer registered the victory, fanning 11 hitters in a five-hit shutout. He outdueled Myerstown ace Conor Bawiec, who struck out 10 in a bulldog 150-plus pitch performance.
FINAL: Red Land 2, Myerstown 0. Myerstown's season ends at 19-4. #PALegionball pic.twitter.com/GvufdKmdJh— cfidsports (@cfidsports) July 20, 2014
Red Land returns to the eight-team, double-elimination bracket at 4 p.m. today. Myerstown's summer ends on a two-game losing streak following Saturday's 12-9 setback to Dauphin County champion Hummelstown in the opening round.
"We probably had the toughest draw in the Region with Hummelstown and (2011 champ Red Land)," said coach John Mentzer. "I can't take anything away from my guys and the way they competed against two good baseball teams. The fact is we are on the same level as them."
Newmyer, a hard-throwing righthander, whiffed at least one batter per inning while working around seven baserunners. The Bloomsburg recruit issued two walks and threw 136 pitches.
"He had good stuff — he was erratic, effectively wild," said Mentzer. "I think we were a little too patient. I wanted them to take pitches and make him work, but I think we got too far ahead of ourselves on that and took too many pitches."
Bawiec, headed to Elmira College (N.Y.), matched him pitch-for-pitch until a hiccup in the eighth inning. The recent Cedar Crest grad also tossed eight innings in Myerstown's county-title clinching win in a 13-inning Game Four played Wednesday and Thursday.
Red Land plates two runs on three hits and two walks in 8th, leads Myerstown 2-0. #PALegionball pic.twitter.com/nCzGlYJeYX— cfidsports (@cfidsports) July 20, 2014
"I actually felt really good today," said Bawiec, estimating his pitch count around 160. "I probably could have pitched one or two more (innings) and then I would have been done."
Red Land's Andrew Scarpelli started the eighth inning rally with a base hit to left, and University of Pittsburgh recruit Ben Snyder followed with a walk. From there, Newmyer, who had been 0-for-6 with strikeouts in the tournament, reached cleanly on a well-placed sacrifice bunt.
"We told him to bunt – our No. 4 hitter, who led the Mid-Penn League in home runs this year," said Red Land coach Brian Willoughby. "That's called team play."
Bawiec then got No. 5 hitter Kyle Searfoss to ground into a fielders' choice at home before Josh Snyder came to the dish.
"That kid's a good pitcher. (Bawiec) kept us off-balanced the whole time with his side arm, his over the top," explained Willoughby. "We tried to play small ball a couple of times, and it didn't work for us. We had plenty of opportunities and then finally – Josh Snyder again."
Red Land's right fielder sprayed the next pitch over second base to cross Ben Snyder and Newmyer, 2-0.
"It's a good baseball game. They got the one key hit in the eighth inning," said Mentzer. "We just didn't get it. We did everything else we should have done. That's just baseball, basically."
Myerstown put runners in scoring position in the eighth and ninth innings. John Gettle opened the eighth with a single but never got any further than second base after an Austin Douple sacrifice. Douple finished 1-for-1 with a double and walk.
In the ninth, Chris Kreider (2-for-4) cracked a two-bagger with one out before Newmyer retired the final two batters for the complete game. Jake Stager also collected a hit for Myerstown.
"It was like an all-star team that we put together," added Bawiec. "I'm good friends with a lot of the Elco kids and we have three Cedar Crest stars on the team. It's one of the better teams I've played with. We need to keep our heads up high and get ready next year when the kids come up from Junior Legion."
"There's not too many (teams) that go 19-4," Mentzer said. "That's definitely probably one of the better teams we've had in the county for a while."
American Legion
Region Four Championship
Losers' Bracket
Sunday at Fredericksburg
Red Land 2, Myerstown 0
|Red Land
W — Zach Newmyer; L — Conor Bawiec
SO-BB — M: Bawiec (8IP, 10K, 7BB), RL: Newmyer (9IP, 11K, 2BB).
2B — M: Austin Douple, Chris Kreider.
Starting lineups: Myerstown vs. Red Land. Region Four elimination game at Fredericksburg. 9:30 a.m. #PALegionball pic.twitter.com/ANZ4cUPuWb— cfidsports (@cfidsports) July 20, 2014

subset: commoncrawl


text:
As of Saturday, May 4, 2013
© Copyright 2015 Newton Citizen
NEWNAN -- Twenty-five pings and one mighty Bop sounded a sweep for Newnan's baseball team over Newton in the first round of the Georgia High School Association Class AAAAAA state tournament on Friday.
The Cougars (22-5) outhit Newton 25-6 over a two-game sweep while scoring in double-digits during consecutive 15-9 and 11-1 victories at Joe Pope Field.
Newnan never trailed in either game behind an explosive outing at the plate, pounding four Rams (8-20) pitchers for 15 hits in Game 1 to take a commanding 8-2 lead after two innings.
Four Cougars had multi-hit games in Game 1, including Corey Cox, who gave his team breathing room with a two-RBI single in the sixth after Newton closed to within a 12-9 deficit.
Newnan added 10 more hits in the finale, starting with a three-run outburst while batting in the top of the first, highlighted by Jonathan Swenson's RBI double.
While managing to extend Game 1 to nearly three hours with a six-run outburst in the fifth after Newnan starter Thomas Sumner left the ballgame with a comfortable 12-3 lead, the Rams were reminded how dominating Cougar right-hander Brandon Dawson could be in the nightcap. Newton was unable to get a runner past second base.
Better known as "Bop" to Newnan fans, Dawson breezed through five innings in a one-hit shutout to close the series victory, needing just eight pitches to retire the Newton side in order in the final inning.
Newton's Floyd Ellis broke up the no-hitter with a single in the top of the third but was immediately erased on a double play when Dawson dove to the left of the mound when a bunt attempt was sent back his way.
After a pair of two-out walks that followed consecutive strikeouts, Dawson fanned Rams freshman Alex Johnson to end Newton's only other threat.
He closed the game by retiring the side in order, starting with two more strikeouts on a combined seven pitches.
Ahead 3-0, Newnan put Game 2 out of reach with a five-run fourth inning capped off by Sam Buchanan's triple into the right-field corner. Jake Kneidel and Justin Groover opened the inning with back-to-back singles before scoring on an error and a wild pitch.
Newton starter Allen Bowen struggled to find the strike zone, walking three batters to keep the Cougar rally going before being relieved by Johnson.
Derrick Nelson's two-run single the opposite way to left had pushed Newnan to the run-rule limit in the top of the fifth.
The team had been in the same position in Game 1, but couldn't land the final blow despite a 15-hit performance. Newnan stranded 12 runners, including the bases loaded three times over the first five innings.
It allowed the Rams to battle their way back into the game despite being held in check by Sumner, who allowed three runs off two hits before leaving in the fourth inning.
By then, Newnan had built a 12-3 lead following six runs in the second and three in the fourth to finally force Newton starting pitcher Kenneth Glover out of the game. The Cougars batted around in the first, second and fourth as Newnan's top three hitters -- Will Dreggors, Derrick Nelson and Swenson -- all finished with two hits each.
An RBI double to deep-center by Groover in the latter rally was followed by a mammoth fly by Beau Shellnut to the fence for a long out. Will Dreggors then crushed an RBI double to end Glover's outing.
The Newnan reliever, Shellnutt, who had a two-run single in the second, struggled to get an out in the fifth as the Rams scored more than half their output over the two games in a single inning.
After scoring four times on Shellnut to pull within 12-7, fellow lefty Tanner Snellgrove gave up an RBI and a groundout that closed Newton's deficit to three runs before recording back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
Snellgrove struck out seven in just three innings' work while allowing just two hits.
More like this story
- Rams beat themselves against Stephenson ( March 6, 2012 )
- Newton gets 12-8, 10-5 doubleheader win over Lovejoy ( April 17, 2015 )
- Rams unable to get second win in AAAAAA playoff ( May 3, 2014 )
- Newton heads to state tournament as No.4 seed ( October 5, 2011 )
- Newnan bats too much for Lady Tigers defense ( October 23, 2013 )


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I agree that Brad will probably be like "Meh, the ending wasn't that bad, it's just not all that I hoped it would be." This will be almost as disappointing as the ending itself and will re-ignite the immense nerd rage I experience whenever someone tries to defend it as being good.
But no, I should give Brad more credit. Most people who genuinely like the ME series and have critical thinking skills understand that the ending to ME3 is awful. It's just not easy to sum up why, because there are so many things that go horribly wrong in the final moments of the game. There are some good videos on youtube that attempt to address this mess, however.


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Charlize Theron net worth: Charlize Theron is a South African-born actress, model and producer who has a net worth of $110 million. Charlize Theron was born an only child in Benoni, South Africa on August 7, 1975. She grew up near Johannesburg on her parent's farm, and began attending The National School of the Arts at age 13. After winning a local modeling competition she traveled to Milan, Italy on a one year modeling contract. This took her to New York City where she enrolled in the Joffrey Ballet School, but a knee-injury forced her to cut her dance career short. Charlize was discovered by her first manager at a bank, when she was yelling at a teller for refusing to cash a check. This got her noticed by other talent agents, and within 8 months she had a non-speaking role in "Children of the Corn". In the late 90s she landed more noted roles in films such as "The Cider House Rules" and "Mighty Joe Young". It was in 2003, when Charlize was cast in the film "Monster" that she won The Academy Award, as well as a Golden Globe and SAG Award. She earned her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005. Charlize is an active advocate for PETA and women's rights, as well as a large supporter of gay marriage. She dated fellow actor Stuart Townsend from 2001-2009.
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron is a South African and American actress, producer and fashion model. She rose to fame in the late 1990s following roles in the films The Devil's Advocate, Mighty Joe Young, and The Cider House Rules. Theron received critical acclaim for her portrayal of seria...
Actor / Model / Film Producer / Spokesperson / Film director
Date of Birth
- August 7, 1975
- Charlie
- White Africans of European ancestry
- Afrikaner
- 5 ft 9 in (1.77 m)
- 120 lbs (54.5 kg)
- United States of America
View Full Profile
- United States of America
Notable Appearances
- Snow White and the HuntsmanQueen
- PrometheusMeredith Vickers
- Battle in SeattleElla
- HancockMary Embrey
- Head in the CloudsGilda Bessé
- In the Valley of ElahDet. Emily Sanders
- Men of HonorGwen Sunday


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Just a few months ago Manteca seemed to be on the verge of turning into a daily shooting gallery for gang-on-gang violence.
Two dogs have been poisoned with anti-freeze in their own back yards on Trailwood Avenue over the last two weeks – one died, one is recovering.
LATHROP – Thomas Xavier Sayles, the husband of Lathrop mayor Kristy Sayles, is appearing in the Manteca Branch of the San Joaquin County Superior Court today on charges of felony child abuse.
LATHROP - It was the end of a long two days for Lathrop Mayor Kristy Sayles as she sat in her family room Wednesday night sorting out the trauma and its fall out after an altercation between her husband Tom, 57, and her 8-year-old son.
A PG&E worker was seriously injured shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday when an eastbound motorist struck him as he worked on the side of West Ripon Road near Fredricks Road – to the west of Ripon.
RIPON - A Ripon police officer on patrol called for backup Thursday morning after his was "flipped off" by a man standing in a garage on Ridge Avenue who was known to be on searchable probation.
Police believe they arrested a major supplier of heroin to the Manteca area Tuesday at 10:15 a.m. during a traffic stop.
A 30-year-old kidnap and rape victim can thank the professionalism of San Joaquin County Sheriff's dispatchers for finding her through an open 911 line in the predawn hours Saturday.
Eight Manteca Police officers set out Saturday morning to arrest 103 people who failed to otherwise respond to warrants connected with charges related to driving under the influence (DUI) charges.
A 56-year-old Manteca man was robbed at knife point during the noon hour Thursday as he was leaving the Mexican Market in the 200 block of East Yosemite Avenue after he had paid a utility bill at the store.
The two Escalon police cases that evolved Friday night and early Saturday morning have had something of a surprise twist – involving a Glock semi-automatic hand gun.
The beating of an Escalon police officer shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday during a traffic stop brought mutual aid from Manteca and Ripon police departments as well as the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department.
Two two suspects who were arrested for firing on their alleged car burglary victims Friday night as they fled from the Bass Pro Parking lot were jailed on multiple felony charges – one sent to county jail and the other to juvenile hall.
Units from five police agencies joined in a Friday night high speed chase of three car burglary suspects who reportedly fired two shots at their victims as they fled from the Bass Pro Shops parking lot located on the Highway 120 Bypass at about 9:30 p.m.
The burglarly of a Del Webb home in northwest Manteca Friday morning launched a series of events that eventually put one 26-year-old man behind bars.
Page 49 of 73
Serious crime continues to drop in Manteca.
Fence boards exploded in every direction in a Grant Avenue alley near Sutter Street at 5:20 a.m. Friday when the driver of a late model Hyundai allegedly ran down a 20-year-old man on foot behind his home and crashed through rear fences in three back yards.
Some $50,000 in small to half-grown marijuana plants were discovered in a Lathrop home Wednesday by police.
The following is a summary of the significant events handled by the Manteca Police Department during the past week:
Two men led Manteca Police on a high speed pursuit out of the Burlington Coat Factory about 9 p.m. Saturday with clothing they had allegedly taken from the department store on South Main Street.
Vigilant neighbors spotted a man and a woman cutting up copper wire and tubing in the 900 block of Yolo shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday and called 911.
Investigators from the Delta Regional Auto Theft Team are launching a county wide campaign aimed at reducing auto theft by distributing free anti-theft steering wheel locking devices to owners of the top nine most stolen cars in San Joaquin County.
The alleged theft of $100,000 in electricity used in separate homes in Lathrop and Tracy for growing marijuana led to an arrest by the San Joaquin County narcotics task force agents and sheriff's deputies.
A Manteca custom bike builder is offering a $5,000 no-questions-asked reward for the safe return of a one-of-a-kind custom motorcycle that was stolen Thursday afternoon from a RV Storage facility on Austin Road.
Manteca Police Sgt. Mike Sexon vowed to catch a brazen auto theft suspect and he did just that Monday afternoon.
Page 1 of 1
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Black Diamond Vapor Helmet
FEATURES of the Black Diamond Vapor Helmet
- Co-molded EPS foam with polycarbonate shell is lower profile than the Vector
- Geometric, open-air design provides unparalleled airflow
- Ratchet adjuster with molded push buttons
- Headlamp clips are removable for added weight savings
The SPECS for S/M
- Range: 21 x 23" / 53 x 59 cm
- Weight: 6.6 oz / 188 g
- Range: 23 x 25" / 58 x 63 cm
- Weight: 7 oz / 199 g
custy reviews
for the Black Diamond Vapor Helmet
Average Custy Rating:
(based on 6 reviews)
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This is by far the lightest helmet I have ever worn. I am amazed at the ratings it has received. When I am climbing the only reminder that I have a helmet on is the chin strap and the photos of a sweet looking helmet afterward. It fits great in my hood and perfectly over a skull cap on a cold day.If you are going to do something stupid wear a brain bucket. If you are going to wear a brain bucket wear one that looks cool, keeps cool and feels non existent. ***Don't go for the red. That's my color and I don't want to match everyone on the crag.
Far and away this is the best helmet I've ever worn, and I have a larger than average head (by a bit), and it still hugs just tight enough to stay in place. The straps don't cut off your ears either, which is great!I got this helmet as a summer/fall guide so I'm wearing it for hours at a time, and you forget it's there.The only thing I have to say is the forehead pad is a little abrasive, but my workaround was a folded bandanna/headband that doubled as a sweatband; problem solved!
Fantastic webbing and strap system and exceptionally easy to adjust. Been out three times and still have no dents on it. Hope it is as good as it looks and feels if the big one smacks it from above because someone forgets to scream ROCK, ROCK, ROCK!. It breathes really great in the heat, my buff neck gator fits under it perfectly, (I'm a bit sun shy in terms of UV damage and various types of skin damage) and I very quickly forget that I even have it on. My only frustration right now is that I bought a black one when they first came out, and now there are white and red available. When you make a powder blue, I'll upgrade. Seriously, this is one of those fantastic pieces of gear that is worth every farthing it costs. It packs well when I have to hike into a site, I bought the clips for it, they work great, I can put a shade ring or headlamp on it as needed. It goes well with my Infinity Pack. Another fantastic piece of gear that two of my climbing buddies have upgraded to.
I had it on all day and literally forgot I was wearing it. It's super light, has very low clearance over the top of my dome, and has great air circulation. The adjustments system on the Vapor is so quick and easy, you can ratchet it tighter with one hand while you're wearing it and not get your hair stuck in the system. I snugged mine down so tight it didn't budge. Even with it tight I had great circulation and didn't overheat. The chin strap is tight and easy to adjust. I can't speak to its longevity but one weekend at Red Rocks and I'm loving it. Despite the high price tag, I can honestly say I'm very impressed. This is definitely the Audi of helmets.
Ships FREE When will I get it?


text:
The Return of the Giant NYC Dance Club
By Steve Weinstein
July 4, 1976 Was a Ramones-less Weekend in NYC
By Bryan Bierman
LIVE REVIEW: Karen O at McKittrick Hotel
By Lindsey Rhoades
Remembering Dee Dee Ramone's Rap Album
By Chaz Kangas
Meet Lady Casa, America's Most Famous Raver
By Ben Westhoff and Sarah Purkrabek
Ridiculous Kanye West-isms, In Illustrated Form
By Jena Ardell
Casting Martin Scorsese's New Ramones Movie
By Jesse Sendejas Jr.
A Tour Around Ace Frehley's Bronx
By Katherine Turman
Still, he shines when he's askew. In the slightly deranged acoustic title track, Kweller's sweet loafing voice tells Ma about newfound affinities for burglary, murder by karate, and friendship. In "My Apartment," an ode to his tiny NYC abode, guitars burst like sunbeams through windows to illuminate this soft, safe place, but the jaunty hoopla and piano-bar skronk of "Hospital Bed" leave the air shaken and stirred. When Kweller flips up his collar in the badass street prowl "Ann Disaster" and sniffs, "You want a piece of me?" the dork's got sass to spare.
Sponsor Content


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Lorraine Feather
13,067 views
Never really a player but always an earnest listener.
From: United States | Profile Views: 530
Grew up in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; attended college in Durban, South Africa; lived in Cape Town till 1979; Manhattan till 1991; 50 miles north of Manhattan thereafter. I miss the music of the city very much sometimes.
In addition to my day job, I convert cassettes and vinyl to digital. I get projects via my web site: http://sbsinternet.com/audio.cfm


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Susie's Big Adventure Gives the Scoop About Why Saudi Women Are Now Boycotting Lingerie Shops in Saudi Arabia
February 26, 2010
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ — Saudi women have organized a boycott of lingerie shops in Saudi Arabia. Find out what prompted this unusual reaction from the generally reserved women of this religious Middle East country.
Exquisite colorful teapots and a graceful sculpture are in store for you at Susie's other blog, Jeddah Daily Photo Journal.
SOURCE Susie's Big Adventure
Source: newswire


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I am addicted to pizza
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I am addicted to pizza. That's all there is.
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|This volume offers a synthesis of findings from recent OECD studies undertaken as part of the three-year Health Project, an initiative geared towards answering many of the key questions facing today's health policy makers. It provides information and analysis on a wide variety of topics, such as new and emerging health-related technologies, long-term care, private health insurance, health-care cost control, equity of access across income groups, health workforce planning and productivity, and waiting times for elective surgery. Building on international experience and grounded in new data on cross-country differences, this report offers an up-to-date map of the road to performance improvement.
134 pages, 3 tables, 21 graphs
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Towards High-Performing Health Systems: The OECD Health Project - Summary in Japanese / 医療システムのパフォーマンス向上に向けて:OECD 医療プロジェクト - 日本語要約
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text:
A method and apparatus for calibrating a reference oscillator and use of a calibrated reference oscillator is disclosed. To gain cost reduction advantages, a less accurate reference oscillator is utilized in a wireless communication device. The cost benefit is gained at the expense of reference oscillator accuracy in that its inability to generate a signal with a highly accurate reference frequency inhibits acquisition of a carrier or pilot signal. To compensate, a correction factor is generated by minimizing the difference between the reference oscillator signal and a signal of known frequency, such as an external reference signal. Access to the reference oscillator signal, or a signal related thereto, may be gained via the communication device antenna or a test port. The correction factor may be stored in the wireless communication device for use in conjunction with the reference oscillator to thereby generate the highly accurate reference signal at the reference frequency.
1. A method of calibrating a reference oscillator in a wireless device comprising:
supplying power to the reference oscillator to thereby cause the reference oscillator to generate a radio frequency signal;
producing a measuring device reference signal;
comparing, using a measuring device external to the wireless device, the radio frequency signal to the measuring device reference signal;
producing a correction factor from the comparison; and
storing the correction factor in the wireless device.
2. The method of
3. The method of
4. The method of
5. The method of
6. The method of
7. A method of generating an offset value for use within a wireless communication device comprising:
generating an oscillator signal within a wireless communication device at an oscillator frequency, the oscillator frequency different than a desired reference frequency;
outputting an output signal from the wireless communication device, the frequency of the output signal related to the oscillator frequency;
generating an external reference signal with a signal generator;
comparing, using test equipment external to the wireless communication device, the frequency of the output signal to the frequency of an external reference signal;
responsive to the comparing, generating an offset value;
providing the offset value to the wireless communication device; and
storing the offset value in non-volatile memory of the wireless communication device.
8. The method of
9. The method of
10. The method of
11. The method of
12. A method comprising:
receiving, from a communication device, a signal having a frequency related to an oscillator frequency of a an oscillator within the communication device;
comparing, externally to the communication device, the frequency to a reference frequency of a reference signal generated outside of the communication device;
determining an offset value that when applied by the communication device reduces a difference between the frequency and the reference frequency;
storing the offset value in the communication device.
13. The method of
comparing the frequency to the reference frequency in an external testing device.
14. The method of
receiving a radio frequency signal transmitted from the communication device.
15. The method of
receiving the signal through a test port of the communication device.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 60/339,019, filed on Dec. 7, 2001.
The field of the invention is communication electronics, and in particular, the present invention relates to frequency tuning for wireless communication.
Demands placed on wireless communication devices are continually increasing. While consumer expectations require that the wireless communication device include more functions and a longer battery life, consumers are simultaneously demanding that devices also cost less, are lighter, and have talk times of greater duration than previous devices. As devices are developed which meet these needs, more users are utilizing wireless communication services.
Because each active communication device consumes a portion of a frequency band assigned to a communication system, it is important to efficiently utilize the available bandwidth. Moreover, it is desirable for each frequency band to accommodate as many wireless users as possible. Regardless of the particular method or standard utilized to achieve wireless communication, it is important that each wireless communication device accurately discriminate between the various frequencies, i.e. channels, upon which a base station transmits.
In many communication devices, an internal oscillator, known as a local oscillator (LO), is used to tune the internal systems of the communication device to a particular channel upon which communication is occurring. To tune to the exact carrier frequency for a particular channel, the local oscillator often utilizes a highly accurate reference frequency. In many systems, the local oscillator utilizes a highly accurate reference frequency generated by a precision reference oscillator to ensure that the local oscillator is oscillating at the correct frequency. Accordingly, known wireless communication devices use very expensive high-precision reference oscillators and associated precision circuitry to obtain the necessary accuracy and repeatability. The precision circuitry in the wireless communication device or mobile handset generally includes a voltage-controlled temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (hereinafter VC-TCXO). The VC-TCXO provides an accurate reference frequency, which is used by the handset to generate the various local oscillator frequencies which are, in turn, locked or tuned to the base station carrier frequency. In addition, depending upon the handset's current temperature, the VC-TCXO adjusts its tuning to maintain a constant reference frequency output.
Such VC-TCXOs are, however, relatively expensive, adding significantly to the cost of a handset. Moreover, despite a VC-TCXO's expense, its frequency output eventually drifts with age. In addition, VC-TCXOs typically have an indeterminate initial offset resulting from manufacturing tolerance that causes their actual frequency to be somewhat different from the desired frequency. This greatly complicates a handset's design.
One proposal to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art is to utilize low-cost reference oscillators. Unfortunately, the low-cost reference oscillators are prone to substantial initial error and a large individual variation between components. Further, these less expensive reference oscillators degrade in accuracy performance over time. As a result, less expensive oscillators have heretofore not been effectively utilized to generate an accurate frequency reference.
There is thus a need in the art for a method and apparatus to generate, in a cost effective manner, a reference signal for use in a wireless communication device.
To overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, the method and apparatus allows use of a less costly reference oscillator, also referred to as a local oscillator. The benefit of a less costly reference oscillator is achieved at the expense of less accuracy in the frequency of the signal generated by the reference oscillator. As described above, failure to generate an accurate reference signal may prevent acquisition of the carrier or pilot signal by the communication device. In one particular use, the wireless device is a mobile telephone handset configured to communicate with one or more base stations. In other embodiments the communication device may comprise a pager, PDA, GPS unit, text messaging device, or any other wireless device.
To overcome these challenges, the method and apparatus described herein utilizes an efficient and inexpensive calibration technique to determine the amount of error between the actual frequency of the signal generated by the reference oscillator and the desired frequency, which may be referred to as the reference frequency or the desired frequency. The error may be represented as a frequency or as a voltage or other numeric value that may be equated to a voltage that represents the error or an error correction factor. The calibration technique described herein generates a correction factor or offset value that is related to the difference between the actual frequency generated by the reference oscillator and the desired reference frequency.
While there exist numerous way to generate the correction factor, in one embodiment, the communication device is activated and the reference oscillator begins to generate a signal that may have a frequency that is different than the desired reference frequency. This signal may be exported from the communication device via an antenna, test port, or other means for analysis by test equipment and/or a spectrum analyzer. In one embodiment, the analysis comprises determining the difference between the frequency of the signal generated within the communication device and the desired frequency. This difference signal, which may be represented as a voltage or numeric value, is utilized to generate the correction factor. Thereafter, the correction factor is stored in memory or is otherwise available to the communication device. As an advantage of the method and apparatus described herein, a unique correction factor is generated for use with each oscillator. Consequently, individual variations between oscillators are accounted for and uniformity between each oscillator operation is not as important as in the prior art. This may increase the yield of acceptable oscillators, since those that do not meet the specified reference frequency requirements may now be utilized. As a result, further price reductions in oscillators may occur.
During operation of the communication device, the reference oscillator is activated to generate a reference signal at a desired reference frequency. The actual frequency of the signal generated by the reference oscillator may be different than the desired reference frequency. As a result, the reference signal generation system retrieves the correction factor from memory and utilizes the offset provided thereby to compensate the reference signal. The compensation, either prior to generation or after generation of the reference signal, modifies the frequency of the reference signal so that the reference signal is at the reference frequency. As a result, the communication device may utilize a low cost oscillator in cooperation with the compensation method described herein to generate a highly accurate reference signal at the reference frequency.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, tables and attachments.
In reference to
The duplexer 108 routes signals received via the antenna 106 to a receiver side mixer 111, which in turn downconverts the RF signal to either IF or directly to baseband (commonly known as zero-IF). The output of the receiver side mixer 111 may comprise a base band signal, which is provided to a frequency discriminator 114 and other downstream processing. The transmit side mixer 147 and the receiver side mixer 111 also receive an input comprising a signal at an intermediate frequency, carrier frequency, or any other frequency from a reference signal source 127. The reference signal source 127 is discussed below in more detail. The reference signal aids in tuning of the communication device 100 to a desired frequency.
The frequency discriminator 114 processes the base band signal from the mixer 111 as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art and provides its output to an AFC filter 117 that filters the signal and provides the filtered signal to a summing junction 120. The output of the summing junction 120 generates a correction signal that is provided to the reference signal generator 127. The correction signal comprises a signal, based on the frequency of the received signal and the desired frequency, that is utilized to correct or compensate for error in the reference frequency generator 138.
The reference signal generator 127 is now discussed. In one embodiment, it comprises a reference frequency generator 138 configured to provide a signal at a reference frequency to a phase lock loop 135. The phase lock loop 135 operates in conjunction with a filter loop 129 and a voltage controlled oscillator 132 to generate a reference signal that is provided to the mixers 147, 111.
The operation of the system shown in
The LO signal may be mixed with a base band signal that is derived from a base band ASIC 141. Alternatively, it may be mixed with an IF (intermediate frequency) signal (not shown). This produces an RF signal. Optionally, the LO signal may be mixed in more than one mixer (additional mixer not shown) with more than one base band signal (additional base band signal not shown) if used in a quadrature up-conversion transceiver. More specifically, as is well known in the art, the base band ASIC 141 may produce an I branch signal and a Q branch signal. These may each be mixed in their own mixers with the RF signal.
During transmission, the RF signal may be coupled into the transit (Tx) side of the duplexer 108. From there, the signal is coupled to an antenna 106. Optionally, the signal may be coupled to a test port (not shown), located between the duplexer and the antenna.
The test port may be used to couple the RF signal to a measurement device or the signal may be provided over the air from the antenna. In either configuration, the RF signal may be measured by the measurement device. In one embodiment the measurement device is a spectrum analyzer.
Generally, the initial calibration can be performed by measuring the reference frequency and accounting for that frequency during operation of the receiver. This includes measuring any frequency derived from the reference frequency, such as one or more LOs that may be used in the design. This may involve comparing the local oscillator signal to a known, external reference signal. The known reference signal may be a signal derived from an external signal generator such as a commercially available precision reference, or the reference frequency provided with standard test equipment, such as a calibration unit or the 10 MHz reference on a spectrum analyzer. The comparison may be performed in the handset or outside the handset.
If the comparison is done outside the handset, it may be convenient to measure the transmit RF signal which is derived from mixing the RF LO with an IF or base band signal. The RF signal is transmitted from the communication device over the air through the antenna or over a cable from a test point at the antenna. The transmitted RF signal is received by a test device with a known reference oscillator that generates a known reference frequency. In one embodiment transmitted RF signal is monitored in comparison to a signal having a known reference frequency. If there is a difference between the frequency of the transmitted RF signal and the reference frequency, then the voltage provided to the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) in the communication device is varied until the difference between the frequency of the transmitted RF signal and the reference frequency becomes zero or close to zero. This amount of voltage variance, that is provided to the VCO, is recorded and may be stored in memory in the communication device as a correction factor that represents a voltage value or numeric value. During operation of the communication device at a later time the correction factor may be recalled from memory and provided to the VCO to thereby achieve generation of a signal at the desired frequency.
In another embodiment the frequencies of the known reference oscillator and the transmitted RF signal are compared. The comparison results in an offset value or error term that represents a frequency. This error term is stored in memory as a correction factor which can later be recalled and used to calibrate the reference oscillator to a precise frequency.
In one embodiment, the measurement can be made without any external reference besides the spectrum analyzer. The spectrum analyzer has its own reference source that produces a spectrum analyzer reference signal, which is an oscillating signal. The spectrum analyzer measures the frequency of the RF signal transmitted from the communication device. The frequency error or difference can then be removed by adjusting the control voltage of the VCO, such as in a closed loop feedback system. The adjustment made to the control voltage is stored as a correction factor, such as in a memory in the communication device. A commercially available spectrum analyzer may be used for this measurement, though more accurate external reference signals may also be used.
The correction factor that corrects for the frequency error is stored in memory 123. The correction factor is then used when the REF 138 is operated to ensure that reference frequency is at the correct, optimal frequency. In one embodiment the correction factor is a numeric value that is translated into a voltage which is in turn provided to the VCO to change the frequency of the signal output by the VCO.
In one embodiment, the correction factor is used when the transceiver attempts to acquire a signal such as a pilot signal from a base station. To acquire the pilot signal, the reference signal generator 127 should provide a signal to the mixers 111, 147 that is at a frequency very near the desired frequency. However the REF 138 may not oscillates near its intended frequency. The compensation from the correction factor is utilized to make REF 138 oscillate at its intended frequency. Advantageously, this allows for the use of less expensive, poorer quality reference oscillator in the transceiver or communication device. Transceivers with less expensive reference oscillators 138 and the correction factor capability will still consistently acquire a pilot signal, whereas transceivers with less expensive reference factors and no correction factor will not consistently acquire the pilot signal.
Turning to
The difference may be monitored and the VCO voltage of the communication device adjusted to determine a voltage offset that is required to force the difference to zero or other small value. In one embodiment the adjustment mechanism may comprise the error signal of closed loop feedback system, such as for example an output of a AFC filter. An offset value other than zero may comprise an indication that the frequency generated by the internal frequency generator is too high or too low. Next, at a step 216, the operation generates the correction factor. In one embodiment the correction factor is a numeric value that may be related to a voltage that is utilized to correct an existing error in frequency of the reference signal generator. In one embodiment, the correction factor equals the offset value. At a step 220, the correction factor is stored in the communication device, such as in memory, register, or any other storage location. As a result, the correction factor is available for use by the communication device at a later time.
It is contemplated that this operation may occur within the communication device or external to the communication device. Further, any manner of comparison or processing may be utilized to generate the correction factor.
The method and apparatus allows use of a less expensive reference signal generation system without a sacrifice in performance. Accordingly, at a step 308, the communication device initiates operation of the low cost reference signal generator. The signal generated by this device may not initially be as accurate as required or desired, and hence at a step 312, the system retrieves a correction factor from memory. The correction factor is thereby utilized in conjunction with the low cost reference signal generator to generate a highly accurate reference signal. As a result of the correction factor, the low cost reference signal generator outputs a highly accurate reference signal having a frequency at the desired frequency. This occurs at a step 316. As a result, a pilot or any other type of signal may be received at step 320. Thereafter at a step 324, it is contemplated that the pilot or other received signal may optionally be utilized to make the reference signal or the modulation/demodulation process more accurate. Alternatively, the reference signal generators and the correction factor may be continually utilized.
It is contemplated that the method described herein may be used with any type reference signal generator to improve performance. Moreover, as it is contemplated that even the highest quality and highest prices reference signal generators may drift in output frequency over time, this method may be utilized at any time to correct frequency drift in any type signal generator.
It will be understood that the foregoing embodiments are intended by way of example only. It is to be understood that there are many ways of implementing the invention. In addition, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of this invention.
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text:
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports launched two new schemes on Friday targeting the youth and aimed at providing better sporting facilities at the grassroots.
The National Youth Policy-2014 (NYP) and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA) were inaugurated by Sports Minister Jitendra Singh and Rahul Gandhi in the presence of several sportspersons, including M.C. Mary Kom, Vijender Singh, P. Gopichand and Ronjan Sodhi.
The programmes were simultaneously launched at district headquarters and in universities across India.
The NYP has a five-point objective: developing the youth into a productive work force by providing them the right skills and promoting entrepreneurship, developing effective healthcare and promotion of a healthy lifestyle, promoting social values and spirit of community service, facilitating participation in governance process and inclusive policies to take care of disadvantaged sections.Rs. 9,000-crore plan
It will also suggest a framework for policy interventions by government and non-government stakeholders.
RGKA, a Rs.9,000 crore programme, is aimed at creation of sports infrastructure at the grassroots, promotion of sports, increased access to sports facilities and conduct of competitions. Under this, Integrated Sports Complexes costing Rs.1.75 crore each will be constructed in every rural block panchayat.
Every complex will have three trainers for 11 outdoor and five indoor games from among athletics, archery, badminton, basketball, football, handball, hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho, tennis and volleyball, and boxing, wrestling, table tennis and weightlifting. Provisions for training in self-defence have also been made.
Development of outdoor playfields will be done with funds from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act while indoor facilities will be funded by the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources, the Planning Commission, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
Interestingly, the country already has a huge programme for developing rural sporting talent under the Panchayati Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) since 2008 with a budget of several hundred crores.


text:
Williams to replace Harris in Pro Bowl
Updated: January 26, 2007, 4:21 PM ETAssociated Press
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams was named on Friday as an injury replacement for next month's Pro Bowl.
Williams will fill in for Tommie Harris of the Chicago Bears. This is the first Pro Bowl selection for Williams in his 10-year career. Helping Minnesota finish first in the league in rushing defense, Williams had 59 tackles, 11 for loss, 14 quarterback hurries and five passes defensed.
Williams will join three teammates -- center ...
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ELDIA Closing Conference: Maintaining Languages, Developing Multilingualism
Conference hosted by the University of Vienna, June 10–11, 2013. The conference is part of the official closing event of the EU-FP7 research project ELDIA (European Language Diversity for All).
The 9th International Symposium on Bilingualism
The International Symposium on Bilingualism (ISB9) invites proposals for presentations on any aspect of research on bilingualism.
Applied Linguistics Perspectives on Content and Language Integrated Learning (ALP-CLIL)
The conference theme addresses current applied linguistic approaches to content and language integrated learning. For the purposes of this conference CLIL will be defined as any educational approach in which the learning of content is combined with the learning of a language not used in the students' immediate communities.
Language and Super-diversity: Explorations and Interrogations
The aim of this international conference is to investigate the perspective and potential offered by super-diversity to language study – to, for example, linguistics, sociolinguistics, sociology of language, linguistic anthropology, applied linguistics, discourse studies, new literacy studies, pragmatics, ethnography and multi-modality.The conference provides a forum for researchers to explore the forms, processes, practices and effects of super-diversity and the multi-faceted challenge it poses to language study, calling forth a revision of some of its key tools – its theoretical apparata, methods of data gathering and analytic concepts.
ACSS 2013 - Fourth Asian Conference on the Social Sciences
The International Academic Forum in conjunction with its global partners is proud to announce the Fourth Asian Conference on the Social Sciences, at the Ramada Hotel, Osaka, Japan from June 6-9 2013.
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Face Work and Social Media
The University of Hildeheim organizes a conference 'Face Work and Social Media'. It will focus on communication in social online formats and investigate whether and how users develop specific linguistic strategies for the phatic – and in a broader sense pragmatic – aspect of communication, whether particular constraints of the formats necessitate a different handling of face work, and whether users apply new strategies, perhaps even in a reflected way.
Empirical Approaches to Multi-modality and to Language Variation
This conference will be the fifth international conference of the Association Française de Linguistique Cognitive. The conference's major foci are: multi-modality (in particular, co-verbal gestures and signed languages viewed as multi-channel communication systems) and linguistic variation (typology as well as intra-language variation).
International Workshop on Bilingualism and Cognitive Control
The first International Workshop on Bilingualism and Cognitive Control will be organized by the European Society for Cognitive Psychology and will take place in Krakow, Poland, from the 15th to the 17th of May.
Speaking in a foreign language: Psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic perspectives 2013
The conference will be devoted to various aspects of developing speaking skills in the foreign language classroom, as viewed from both a psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic perspective. The languages of the conference will be English and Polish, with all the plenary talks given in the former.
25-SCL - 25th Scandinavian Conference of Linguistics
The 25th Scandinavian Conference of Linguistics (25-SCL), organized under the auspices of the Nordic Association of Linguists (NAL), will take place at the University of Iceland, Reykjavík, May 13–15, 2013. Papers on a wide range of linguistic topics are welcome, including syntax, semantics, pragmatics, phonology, phonetics, morphology, child language, second language acquisition, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics and corpus linguistics. The conference language will be English.
LSB Linguists' Day (BKL Taaldag / Journée Linguistique du CBL)
On Saturday May 11, 2013 the Linguistic Society of Belgium is organizing its annual linguists' day. This year the event is hosted by the KU Leuven.
Translators as cross-cultural go-betweens/ Impliciter, expliciter: Le traducteur comme équilibriste interculturel
The cultural dimension has always been at the heart of the translating process. For the last two decades or so it has also emerged as central in translation studies. Indeed, in all fields in which translation is practised, awareness of changes called for by the shift from one language (and culture) to another has reached a level of theoretical modelling that makes structured comments possible. Coorganized by the University of Liege, the 'Haute École de la Ville de Liège' and the Belgian Chamber of Translators and Interpreters, our conference aims at exploring cultural resistance to translation, whatever the area (from poems to pharmaceutical documentation). This should highlight differences in the ways we approach texts and the various strategies that are called upon in front of allegedly untranslatable realia such as translators' notes, glossary, circumventing paraphrases, unfolding additions. Special attention will be paid to the implicitation and explicitation processes. The two working languages of the conference are French and English.
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Generative Approaches to Second Language Acquisition - GASLA 12
The University of Florida is proud to host the 12th semi-annual meeting of Generative Approaches to Second Language Acquisition.
Paper and poster proposals on any topic in generative second language acquisition (adult and child), L1 Attrition, L3/Ln acquisition, and childhood bilingualism are invited.
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Karaman Eyalet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other meanings, see Karaman (disambiguation).
|Eyālet-i Qarâmān
|Eyalet of the Ottoman Empire
Karaman Eyalet (Ottoman Turkish: ایالت قرهمان; Eyālet-i Qarâmān)[2] was one of the subdivisions of the Ottoman Empire. Its reported area in the 19th century was 30,463 square miles (78,900 km2).[3]
In 1468, the formerly independent principality of Karaman was annexed by the Ottomans; Mehmed II appointed his son Mustafa as governor of the new eyalet, with his seat at Konya.[4]
Organisation of the eyalet in the 17th century, from the accounts of Evliya Çelebi: "This province has a Defterdar of the treasury, and of the feuds, an Emin of the Defter and of the Chavushes a Kehiya of the Defter; and of the Chavushes an Alai-beg (colonel) and Cheri-bashi (captain)".[5]
Administrative divisions[edit]
The eyalet consisted of seven sanjaks between 1700 and 1740:[6]
- Sanjak of Konya (Paşa Sancağı , Konya)
- Sanjak of Niğde (Niğde)
- Sanjak of Kayseriyye (Kayseri)
- Sanjak of Kirshehir (Kırşehir Sancağı, Kırşehir)
- Sanjak of Beyshehir (Beyşehir Sancağı, Beyşehir)
- Sanjak of Aksaray (Aksaray)
- Sanjak of Akshehir (Akşehir Sancağı, Akşehir)
- ^ Commercial statistics: A digest of the productive resources, commercial... By John Macgregor, p. 12, at Google Books
- ^ "Some Provinces of the Ottoman Empire". Geonames.de. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
- ^ The Popular encyclopedia: or, conversations lexicon, Volume 6, p. 698, at Google Books
- ^ Imber, Colin (2002). "The Ottoman Empire, 1300-1650: The Structure of Power" (PDF). p. 179.
- ^ Narrative of travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa in the ..., Volume 1, p. 90, at Google Books By Evliya Çelebi, Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall
- ^ Orhan Kılıç, XVII. Yüzyılın İlk Yarısında Osmanlı Devleti'nin Eyalet ve Sancak Teşkilatlanması, Osmanlı, Cilt 6: Teşkilât, Yeni Türkiye Yayınları, Ankara, 1999, ISBN 975-6782-09-9, p. 93. (Turkish)
See also[edit]
|This Ottoman Empire-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.


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We want to ensure that making a return is as easy and hassle-free as possible! If for any reason you decide that your purchase just isn't for you, simply return the item within 30 days of receipt and we'll cover the cost of return shipping. Learn more about our Return Policy.
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Classic Fit City Sleek Ankle Pants 2 2
Perfect Travel Pants I ordered these in the teal and absolutely love them. They are wonderfully comfortable due to the slight stretch, wash and dry quickly, and look immaculate on.The quality is up to the usual TS high standards. What more could you ask? I'll be ordering another pair soon! September 12, 2014
not the usual great TravelSmith product The workmanship on these was substandard. They are shorter than I would have liked, and the slits at the ankle hang awkwardly. They do wash nicely. I would have returned them but left them at another residence. January 1, 2014
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What was that sound? Did you feel a little bump?
Nah… don't worry about it. Go back to your cabin and have a good sleep.
Just when things were going so well! With all that GDP growth! All those new jobs! We were all set to believe that the US economy really had recovered from the shock of '08-'09.
What does the stock market know that these happy numbers aren't telling us?
Yesterday, the Dow dropped more than 300 points. Gold fell $14. There may be nothing more to this than a case of the jitters. Or, could it be something more?
Remember, if we could just avoid our worst days, the ensemble of our lives would be much, much better. Think how nice Julius Caesar's life might have been if he had just stayed home on the Ides of March, as his wife, Calpurnia, advised.
Think how much better the passengers would have enjoyed their cruise if they could just forget the night the Titanic hit an iceberg.
As for investors, had they just stayed in cash for the ten worst days in the last 25 years, their annual rate of return would have been about 60% higher.
Don't worry. Yesterday was hardly one of the ten worst days. It wasn't a good day. But it wasn't terrible. Just a bump. Which makes us wonder. Are our worst days behind us, like icebergs astern? Or ahead? If so, where?
The news this morning mentions two proximate causes of the sell-off. The sanctions on Russia and the default by Argentina.
As to the default by Argentina, anyone who claims surprise must not be paying attention. Argentina has always been a poor credit risk. The gauchos have a whole different attitude towards paying their bills.
Down on the Pampas, when you stiff your creditors, you don't hide your head in shame and look for a loaded revolver. No, you go on TV and explain why you are a national hero. That's what Axel Kicillof did. He's the economy minister. And he's angling to become the next president of Argentina.
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the present office-holder, is desperate to help him. Because if she can get Mr Kicillof to fill her shoes, she can retain a bit of power herself. Maybe enough to keep herself out of jail.
The story is complicated by a report that suggests the default was more a result of incompetence than of political posturing. Mr Kicillof said he made the payment, as required. The transfer, however, was not received by the deadline, and has been blocked in the custodian bank, New York Mellon.
All of which makes us wonder if a single investor was really surprised by the default, and whether it really had anything to do with yesterday's stock market sell-off.
The same thing could be said for sanctions against Russia. Who didn't see that iceberg? Who thinks his US stock – IBM, GE, AMZN, whatever – is worth less today than it was yesterday, because Russian firms now face a less friendly world?
Our guess is that these news items have little effect on the real value of US stocks. Instead, investors are worried about something else.
Perhaps they fear that the outlook for the economy is not as bright as they had believed. Maybe they ask themselves why they pay so much money for companies whose profits must already be peaking out and whose growth is in doubt.
After all, even with ZIRP, TALF, the Twist, and every other stimulus measure the feds could think of, the real growth of the US economy has been only 0.9% per year for the last seven years.
What will happen when it is 'normalised?' And isn't normalisation on the way?
"If the labour market continues to improve more quickly than anticipated," says Ms Yellen, "then increases in the federal funds rate likely would occur sooner and be more rapid than currently envisioned."
In the White Sea? The South Atlantic? We don't know where the iceberg is, but we have no doubt that this market will find it.
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Trash & Treasures is Cross Plains' world-famous city-wide yard sale. Join us in downtown Cross Plains June 26-27 to find all those things you didn't even know you needed.
Interested in a booth? Contact the Cross Plains Heritage Commission.
Have you ever tweeted? Follow Cross Plains Community Chamber on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CrossPlains. Check out our following list to find others around our area you might want to follow. It's free, fun, and you can do it from your phone! You can also connect with us on Facebook.
"One Day in America" is a short film by Sasha Levinson. Watch it to get a glimpse of our town through the eyes of an internationally - known film director. Sasha also directed the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee "Raise Your Hand" spot that was shot largely in Cross Plains. Music by Pieta Brown.
We're always glad to have visitors. The Cross Plains Community Chamber has developed a brochure that is available at many local merchants as well as Tennessee rest areas. It has info on some of our local businesses and attractions including a handy map. If you would like to download your very own copy (PDF format) just click here.
Need to find your way here? We're glad to provide links to Google Maps and Mapquest.
Valid XHTML and CSS.


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Yes, it's true, the last line of Anthony Owen's article on "A Year in the Life of the Quick Trick Show" is missing in the current, March, issue of Genii.
Bummer! At least it took us 40 issues before making a boo-boo like this!
Richard,Originally posted by Richard Kaufman:
It's actually not caused by faulty proofreading. Three of us proofread the magazine and the final lines were where they should have been. An correction to an earlier sentence, made AFTER proofreading (that is, to fix a different error caught during proofreading) pushed the entire text down two lines. The art director forgot to check whether the end of the article had shifted.


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Foolproof Mother's Day Breakfast in Bed
Make It Pretty
Inspired to do this more than once a year? Pick up a few handy helpers (all shown).
To buy: Tray with built-in vase, $92, aplusrstore.com.
To buy: Two-in-one stacking milk-and-sugar set (shown separated), $18, sears.com.
To buy: Nonslip rubber-base coffee mug, $6, shopgrounded.com.


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As mortgage rates rise, homeowners antsy to refinance should do their homework before deciding whether it's worth it
For example, a borrower with an interest rate of 6 percent should aim for a refinance at 4 percent. A reduction of 1 percent to 1½ percent may be worth it, Espejo said, if there are no closing costs involved. If closing costs are involved, see how long it would take to break even.
Take the total closing cost of refinancing and divide it by the monthly savings to get the number of months it takes to recoup those upfront costs. Pianin's rule of thumb: Don't bother refinancing if the result is 18 months or more.
Q:What does a "zero-cost" refinance really mean?
A: It costs money to produce a loan, even a refinance, said del Rio, of Community HousingWorks. Mortgage companies make money off refinances in some way; it's just a matter of how. Those firms that promise no out-of-pocket costs from consumers are generally charging higher rates, which are figured out in the secondary market, del Rio said.
Another way to disguise costs is to roll them into mortgage balances. Lenders are supposed to disclose the annual percentage rate, or APR, which factors in all fees and costs, said Dee Sodano, vice president of lending with Community HousingWorks. If the annual percentage rate is higher than the existing mortgage rate, then it may not be worth it to refinance.
Q:What are rate locks?
A: See an attractive mortgage rate? Borrowers may be able to lock it in for a certain period of time. Lenders offer an array of terms, including 15 and 30 days. Ask if there's a cost involved. There may be a hidden cost even if the answer is no. Like rates, locks also are figured out in the secondary market.
Q:How do I find a reputable mortgage company?
A: It's important to find a mortgage professional who will explain the pros and cons of refinancing, said Espejo, of Housing Opportunities Collaborative. Getting referrals would be a good start. Once you have at least three possibilities, interview them.


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Panel calls for annual PTSD screening
WASHINGTON The Institute of Medicine recommended Friday that soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan undergo annual screening for post-traumatic stress disorder and that federal agencies conduct more research to determine how well the various treatments for PTSD are working.
Of the 2.6 million service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, it's estimated that 13 percent to 20 percent have symptoms of PTSD.
Federal agencies have increasingly dedicated more resources to screen and treat soldiers, but considerable gaps remain, according to the Institute of Medicine, an independent group of experts that advises the federal government on medical issues. Its recommendations often make their way into laws drafted by Congress and policies implemented by federal agencies.
Barely more than half of those diagnosed with PTSD actually get treatment, often because many soldiers worry it could jeopardize their careers. Also, when soldiers do get care, they're not tracked to determine which treatments are successful in the long-term.
The Defense Department provides medical care to active members of the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs cares for those who no longer serve. Sandro Galea, the chairman of the Institute of Medicine panel, said both departments offer many programs for PTSD.
"But treatment isn't reaching everyone who needs it, and the departments aren't tracking which treatments are being used or evaluating how well they work in the long term," said Galea, a professor and chair of the epidemiology department at Columbia University. "In addition, DOD has no information on the effectiveness of its programs to prevent PTSD."
The report concludes only the first phase of the Institute of Medicine study. The panel, which advises the government, is hoping to release a second report in 2014 that will provide more specifics about the number of service members and vets who have PTSD and the outcomes and costs of their treatments.
Nick Colgin, who served for 15 months in Afghanistan as a combat medic until April 2008, suffered a traumatic brain injury after a rocket-propelled grenade slammed into his Humvee. While he showed symptoms of PTSD upon his return to civilian life, he waited to get treatment until just last month.
"I just didn't want anyone to know I had that issue. I didn't want to know myself," said Colgin, 27, now living in New York City and working with the advocacy group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
Jason Hansman, the group's membership director, said the stigma of seeking treatment is even more prevalent among those on active-duty.
"A lot of people believe their career will end if they seek treatment," Hansman said.
In a recent speech to mental health provides, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said commanding officers must make it understood that seeking help for the stresses of war should be seen as a sign of strength rather than as a sign of weakness.
PTSD is triggered by a specific traumatic event, such as being in combat or witnessing death. The symptoms of the illness include a numbing of emotions, difficulty concentrating and exaggerated startled responses to events.


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Attorneys filed new paperwork in court to request the release from prison of the so-called, San Antonio Four. The new legal action asserts the four women were wrongly convicted during trials in the late 90's.
One day soon our names will be cleared, said Anna Vasquez. She hopes one day soon she will be able to erase a sex offender label from her record and reunite with three other friends who she says were are all innocent.
To be labeled as a sex offender is difficult for me to accept, said Vasquez. That restriction really broke me down.
But on Tuesday evening, Vasquez had new hope that soon her name will be cleared of the monstrous crime she was convicted of nearly 13 years ago.
We can never get those years back, said Vasquez. The other three women are still sitting in prison. That's a huge injustice, she said.
The four of them were convicted during two separate trials of savagely molesting a 7 and 9-year-old girl over the course of a week in the summer of 1994.
Tuesday, attorneys Mike Ware and Keith Hampton, filed writs requesting the release of the other three women, Elizabeth Ramirez, Cassandra Rivera and Kristie Mayhugh.
We are agreeable to a bond in reference to the writ, said Susan Reed, District Attorney Bexar County. This all has to go through the courts, added Reed.
To finally know they'll be home soon is an awesome feeling, Vasquez said.
Vasquez is the only one of the four that has since been paroled.
But labeled as a sex offender by the Texas Department of Public Safety, she still felt imprisoned and is still restricted from going near her nephews and nieces.
Now though she's hopeful one day soon she can be around them again and reunited with her three friends.
It's been so long since we've all four been together, she said. It finally seems like its coming to a closure, she added.


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FuelBelt 2012 Sahara 22oz Palm Holder Handheld Hydration
- Brand Name: FuelBelt
FuelBelt 2012 Sahara 22oz Palm Holder Handheld Hydration
- Item No.
- 42917_0_0
- Sale
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Evo Trumpetier Bicycle Horn
- Price:
- $6.99
Product Details
This is the big bad version of the Sprint. You won't find a more comfortable or handy way to carry a 22oz bottle in your hand. Popularized by the trail running and ultra scene, the Sahara is turning up at some of the biggest events in the world. The wide-mouth bottle makes refilling easy when you're on the go, and the hand strap is fully adjustable. The bigger, badder version of the Sprint, but a lawn wrangler in it's own right. 22oz bottle, adjustable strap, plus two pockets.
- Zippered pocket
- airmesh exterior pocket
- Velcro mini pocket
- Fully adjustable hand strap
- 22oz bottle


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9Lives' Scores
- Games
For 187 reviews, this publication has graded:
64% higher than the average critic
4% same as the average critic
32% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 3.8 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 77
|Highest review score:
|Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction
|Lowest review score:
|Astro Boy: The Video Game
Score distribution:
Positive: 118 out of 187
Mixed: 68 out of 187
Negative: 1 out of 187
187 game reviews
- By critic score
Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron, like the previous games, is plagued by lousy controls, boring campaign and sad graphics. The multiplayer is okay, but doesn't offer much novelty. The class system hasn't received much thought, making it useless. Only the Galactic Conquest is worth it, but that's only a small ray of light in an otherwise grim game.
- Critic Score
Despite EA's consideration of the previous title's flaws, the experience in SimAnimals Africa is coming short. First impression and atmosphere are good, but then boredom kicks in. Petting is a chore and there's not enough stimulus to keep going. A lack of depth and the repetitive nature of the minigames are to blame. There's a base to make a good animal sim, but that's all there is to say.
- Critic Score
At first, Lost Planet 2 seems to impress with wonderful graphics, huge bosses and 4 player co-op. The sub-par AI for both enemies as allies, the hampered controls and the lacklustre design really strangle the gameplay. Playing alone is enough to annoy you completely, but even in co-op it's repetitive and frustrating. This abomination is only good as therapy for casual gamers who crave graphics and online chat, but who don't care for decent gameplay.
- Critic Score
Buzz! Quiz World tries to offer an alternative for the console version. Unfortunately this game doesn't really succeed in bringing forth a real quiz feel, especially because of the limitations of the PSP. Its short lifespan – with all modes – will make you put down this game relatively fast.
- Critic Score
Indiana Jones and the Staff of kings is an average action adventure completely ruined by annoying controls. It remains fun to swing around with Indy and his whip, tackling opponents along the way. The levels are also varied enough, giving you some satisfaction. Best of all is actually the addition of Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, a game that every self-respecting gamer needs to play.
- Critic Score
It pains me to say that Scrap Metal hasn't turned out to be a good game. Mainly the lousy controls are to blame. Never do you get the sensation of being in control over your car and this leads to frustration which in turn leads to a lot of fun vanishing. All other upsides and downsides balance each other, but that doesn't salvage the game. Control is needed in a race game and Scrap Metal has slipped way off track with it.
- Critic Score
Astro Boy: The Video Game is a game that never should have been released. It's evidently been made to quickly cash in on the movie tie-in. Boring gameplay, bad controls and a confusing storyline are just some of the lousy aspects. Flying missions are head and shoulders above the rest, but are quality-wise nowhere to be compared with other two dimensional shooters. Astro Boy is astronomically bad and needs to be avoided at all cost.
- Critic Score
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VERGENNES - U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and employees of Goodrich Corporation's Sensors and Integrated Systems in Vergennes celebrated the completion of the plant's 2,000th HUMS diagnostic mechanical system, short for Health and Usage Monitoring Systems, and surpassing the $100 million milestone in HUMS sales March 8.
HUMS provides precise data that alerts crews to take small corrective actions to prevent future costly maintenance; in addition, it advises of unavoidable future maintenance tasks so the user can plan and minimize operational impact.
U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopters were retrofitted with the locally made system starting in 2000.
The program has been so successful that it is now a standard monitoring system on additional types of helicopters used by U.S. Armed Services.
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Today's Cardiovascular Issues-Millions of Americans today are interested in learning all they can about their heart and doing all they can to support healthy cardiovascular function. Modern technology has removed much of the mystery surrounding the heart' but our body still contains about 75'000 miles of blood vessels that we need to keep in good physical condition.
And many people who experience heart challenges have no previous symptoms or health concerns. Clearly' heart and blood vessel issues are a major concern today. It's vitally important to provide all the essential nutrient and adequate exercise required to have a healthy heart. Because after all' it provides the essential life-sustaining power that is so necessary for a happy' healthy life.
Highest Quality Nutrients for Heart Support-You can help support your cardiovascular function with the help of scientific studies about nutritional support for the heart and their definitive Guide to Heart-Healthy Living inside. New research reveals that the powerful antioxidants and natural ingredients in CardiAll provide powerful micronutrients specifically for the heart' neutralize damaging free radicals' and help support the heart and vessels as they age.
Product Highlights:
- Supports Healthy Heart Function.
- Promotes cardio health' Protects blood vessels.
- Maintains healthy circulation.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are not meant to diagnose' treat or cure any disease or medical condition. Please consult your doctor before starting any exercise or nutritional supplement program or before using these or any product during pregnancy or if you have a serious medical condition.
Serving Size: 2 Capsules
Servings Per Container: 30
Amount Per Serving / % Daily Value
Vitamin A (as BetaTab 20%) 5'000 / 100 %
Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) 120 mg / 200 %
Vitamin E (as natural d-alpha tocopheryl succinate) 200 IU / 667 %
Thiamine (B1)(as Thiamine HCl) 3 mg / 200 %
Riboflavin (B2) 3.4 mg / 200 %
Niacin (as inositol hexanicotinate)² 40 mg / 200 %
Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCl) 30 mg / 1'500 %
Folic Acid 800 mcg / 200 %
Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) 250 mcg / 4'167 %
Magnesium (as magnesium arginate) 25 mg / 3 %
Zinc (as zinc amino acid chelate) 15 mg / 100 %
Selenium (as selenomethionate) 100 mcg / 143 %
Chromium (as chromium niacinate) 200 mcg / 167 %
L-Carnitine 100 mg / *
Hawthorn Leaf & Flower Extract (1.8 % Vitexin) 100 mg / *
Taurine 100 mg / *
Coenzyme Q10 30 mg / *
Betaine (tri-methyl glycine) 10 mg / *
Turmeric Root Extract (95% curcumin) 10 mg / *
Proprietary Blend 350 mg / *
Hawthorn Extract (1.8 % Vitexin) *
L-Carnitine *
Taurine (Amino Acid) *
Coenzyme Q10 *
Betaine (as Trimethlglycine) *
Turmeric Root Extract (95 % Curcumin)
Natural mineral color.
*Daily value not established.
Other Ingredients: Capsule (gelatin' purified water' glycerin' and titanium dioxide).
As a dietary supplement' adults take 2 capsules daily. For optimal benefits' take 2 capsules twice daily.
Double-safety sealed: Clear product overwrap on inside bottle plus an inner freshness seal for your protection. Do not use if either seal is missing or visibly tampered with.
Allergy / Dietary Needs
- Artificial Color Free
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- Yeast Free
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By: Denise N. Fyffe.
Copyright © 2012, Poetess defy, Denise N. Fyffe
Jamaica turns 50 this year; not 50 years since it has been around, but 50 years since it has been independent as a nation.
Jamaica is nowhere near to being far from its problems. It is a poor developing nation that seems to be stuck in a constant spin cycle of increasing crime, violence and economic woes. Jamaicans wake up everyday and go to work everyday, just like everyone else. Jamaicans struggle to pay bills and put food on our table. But, you would think that we would be without hope. Not so!
Jamaicans are blessed. The most churches per square mile. The most talented people in music, arts, athletics and creativity. Jamaicans have a love for life and are blessed with a beautiful and luscious island paradise. Jamaica at 50, is good. High pristine Blue Mountains, un-spoilt Cockpit Country, good vibes and melody.
Everywhere in Jamaica, you can look and there are children playing and laughing, up to some Anancy mischief; but they are happy. They don't go hungry, because there are trees bearing food everywhere and most neighbours are willing to allow you to pick from their trees. Jamaican Mango, banana, ackee, pear, Jamaican sweet sop, sour sop, apple, june plum, hog plum, cherry and much more.
Jamaica is a paradise indeed.
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- Jamaica 50 (theislandjournal.wordpress.com)
- Jamaica, She is Royal (theislandjournal.wordpress.com)
- Brie & Chad Jamaican Wedding (theislandjournal.wordpress.com)
- Jamaica National Trials 2012: Slow Bolt, Fast Beast and Limping Asafa (Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell) (theislandjournal.wordpress.com)
- Jamaica National Trials 2012: Esteem for Jamaican Sprinter, Asafa Powell (theislandjournal.wordpress.com)


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Winter!: Prepare for holiday gaming!
Another Sonic one, this one from Sonic CD, one of the Sonic games I never played, then again, who actually owned a Sega CD? I didn't know anyone that did.
1 of the 24 pictures I use for desktop wallpaper.
It's done by Orioto from Deviant Art
He's awesome!
I use all 24 pictures in a slide show, each new desktop wallpaper comes up every 30 minutes.
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