text:
A method and system for menuing on a voice response unit (VRU) or the like that avoids creating customer confusion on low volume calls that results in customer service representatives having to spend time clearing up that confusion without otherwise adversely affecting the system. For example, a menu for non-bankruptcy reaffirmation account and the like is included in the menus of a credit card VRU system. The menu and its sub-menus eliminate the options of balance transfers and credit limit increases that are inapplicable to those customers and result in an inordinate number of lengthy conversations.
1. A menuing method for a voice response unit system comprising:
receiving an identifier associated with a caller;
identifying the caller and an associated account based on the identifier;
determining whether the identifier caller has demonstrated financial difficulty including
determining an account identifier associated with the account, and
determining whether the identifier account is at least one of a non-bankruptcy reaffirmation account based on the account identifier and an account that is at least a predetermined number of days in arrears based on the account identifier; and
automatically presenting a menu to the caller, the menu excluding at least one menu option that would be presented to another caller not demonstrating financial difficulty, if it is determined that the caller has demonstrated financial difficulty,
the at least one menu option including an increasing credit limit option or a transferring balance option if the account identifier is associated with the at least one of the non-bankruptcy reaffirmation account and the account that is at least the predetermined number of days in arrears.
The present invention relates generally to menuing methods and systems that include low call volume menus and high call volume menus and, more particularly, to menuing methods and systems that provide an additional menu for low call volume non-bankruptcy reaffirmation and related kinds of accounts among a plurality of high call volume menus.
Voice response unit (VRU) systems enable callers to access information using a conventional telephone or another communication device. The interaction between the callers and the VRU system includes various voice prompts output by the VRU system and responses thereto, for example, via the telephone keypad, by the caller. VRU systems are used by service providers, such as banks and credit card companies, to fully or partially automate telephone call answering or responding to queries. Typically a VRU system provides the capability to play voice prompts including recorded voice segments or speech synthesized from text and to receive responses thereto. The voice prompts are generally organized in the form of voice menus invoked by state tables. A state table can access and play a voice segment or synthesize speech from a given text. The prompts are usually part of a voice application that is designed to, for example, allow a caller to query information associated with their various accounts.
Further, VRU systems are used in a variety of applications today to resolve customer problems and questions in conjunction with customer service representatives. In a financial service industry, such as the credit card industry, VRU systems often provide callers general information via one or more automated messages about a credit card account. Usually, the user is also given the option to either bypass an automated message or after the automated message has concluded to interact with a customer service representative in order to receive more detailed information tailored to an account of the user. This is achieved through the use of menus that provide a list of options for selection by the caller. The VRU system menus are organized such that high volume calls are handled so as to minimize costs associated with customer service representatives and to increase customer satisfaction. Naturally, there is a continuing desire to improve VRU systems to improve cost performance and to enhance customer satisfaction.
An aspect of the invention is to provide a menuing method including entering an identifier, and selecting a menu from a plurality of menus based upon the identifier. The plurality of menus includes at least one low call volume menu and at least one high call volume menu.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide a menu driven system including a menu selector that selects a menu from a plurality of menus based upon an identifier. The plurality of menus includes at least one low call volume menu and at least one high call volume menu.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide a menuing method for a voice response unit system including entering an identifier, and selecting a menu from a plurality of menus based upon the identifier. The plurality of menus includes at least one low call volume menu and at least one high call volume menu, and the at least one low call volume menu excludes an increasing credit limits option and a transferring balances option if the identifier is associated with non-bankruptcy reaffirmation accounts.
FIG. 1 is a prior art VRU system;
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a portion of a prior art VRU system;
FIG. 3 illustrates a prior art High Response Main Menu that can be used in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 illustrates a prior art Automated Options Sub-Menu of the High Response Main Menu of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a portion of a VRU system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the NBR Main Menu according to the present invention; and
FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the NBR Modified Automated Options Sub-Menu.
FIG. 1 is a prior art VRU system 100 including one or more Callers 15 a . . . 15 n, a Response Unit 20, a Processing Unit 25 including Account Type Identification Unit 30 and Memory Unit 35. In an exemplary embodiment, Callers 15 a . . . 15 n are individuals using communication devices, such as wired or wireless telephones and/or network connections, for example, Internet connections, via a wireless or wired transmission link to transmit information to and to receive information from Response Unit 20. Other communication devices can be used by Callers 15 a . . . 15 n as well. The Processing Unit 25 can be a server, a computer processing unit or the like. The Processing Unit 25 includes the Account Type Identification Unit 30 that can include a look up table or the like. The Account Type Identification Unit 30 receives an account number or similar information from the Callers 15 a to 15 n and determines which predetermined menus should be presented to those Callers 15 a to 15 n. The Account Type Identification Unit 30 determines this by, for example, matching account information with the account number, checking historical account information and the like. The Memory Unit 35 can include various types of memory storage devices, for example, one or more databases. Memory unit 35 can store, for example, information associated with menus and the like. The components of FIG. 1 may be implemented through hardware, software, and/or firmware. Further, the number, presence and organization of components in the VRU system 100 is not limited to what is illustrated. Rather, any VRU system 100 of any configuration may be used.
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a portion of the prior art VRU system 100 known in the credit card industry. In VRU system 100, a caller enters an account number or other identifier that exists or is converted to exist using a data base, a look up table or the like to an account type identifier in an Identification Of Account Type For Caller step 102. Account type identifiers could include the credit type of the caller (e.g., low risk, high risk, secured, and young adult), whether there is a charge off on the account and how much (e.g., dollars charged off and ratio of dollars charged off to credit limit), whether the caller is a skip (e.g., valid phone number or no valid phone number) or any other appropriate information.
The account type identifier is then used by Processing Unit 25 to select what menus are to be provided to the caller via the Response Unit 20 in a Menu Selection By Account Type step 104. The caller is then directed into the Selected Main Menu 106. The Selected Main Menu 106 provides the caller with certain options that can be selected, for example, by pressing a number on the telephone keypad or through a spoken command using voice recognition software. Based on the caller's responses, the caller will be directed into one of several Sub-Menus 108-1 to 108-N+1. The Sub-Menus 108-1 to 108-N+1 will provide the caller with further menus or may direct the call to a customer representative or the like.
The available menus are organized such that high volume calls are handled so as to minimize costs and to increase customer satisfaction. Low volume calls are grouped with the closest associated high volume call group that includes all of the desired menus. The caller typically ignores any extraneous menus.
Additional menus are not set up for low volume calls for several reasons. First, the need for additional programming to set up the menus increases cost of the VRU system 100. These costs include identifying the need for a new menu, creating the menu and implementing it on the VRU system 100. Second, implementation of low call volume menus would slow the handing of calls because of the increased processing time. Third, the low volume of low volume calls means that small increases in efficiency for the low volume calls do not produce much in the aggregate for such calls and any deleterious effects upon the overall VRU system 100 could actually be counter-productive in terms of cost or customer satisfaction. Fourth, every menu represents an additional risk that the VRU system 100 may crash or have other problems. For example, frequent changes introduce increased risk to platform stability. These risks occur during including development and testing. The result of a risk realizing itself as a problem may be the lose of the entire platform or may cause inconvenience to the customer in some way. Fifth, the VRU system is complex system which may be required to handle over one million customer calls a day and over a quarter billion calls per year. This call volume makes interaction with databases and call routing a complicated technical challenge due to the interdependency of the systems. During the entire process of changing the VRU system, the corporate image, presentation and usability of the interface must be maintained. Thus, every change made to the VRU system carries enormous potential impacts and must be carefully weighed and considered.
The extraneous menu items confuse some of the low volume callers and results in customer representatives spending time with the customers to clear up the confusion. This has been considered de minimus since the low call volume can be cheaply and easily handled by customer service representatives. What was previously unrecognized was that some times these extraneous menus create a pervasive confusion that requires substantial amount of customer service time to correct. Thus, the presentation of certain options to certain customers has a disproportionate impact on efficiency and customer satisfaction.
This situation occurs with non-bankruptcy reaffirmation (NBR) accounts, accounts that are greater than 30 days in arrears, similar accounts or other accounts unrelated to accounts in to default. In the prior art VRU system 100 of FIG. 2, the Main Menu 106 can be, for example, a High Response Main Menu 200 as shown in FIG. 3. The options that can be selected on the High Response Main Menu 200 include, but are not limited to:
1: Automated Options;
2: Credit Limit Increase;
3: Lost/Stolen Cards or Close Account;
4: Customer Relations Questions;
5: Repeat Options; and
6: Change Messaging to Spanish.
Customers in financial difficulties such as those with NBR accounts or those with accounts in arrears immediately see the possibility of additional credit as something they want and need (e.g., access to more credit). Thus, a larger percentage of such callers attempt to increase their credit limits, for example, by selecting option 2. However, the financial difficulty experienced by those customers likewise disqualifies them from credit limit increases. This must often be explained at length (e.g., often taking 10 minutes or longer—several times a typical customer service phone call) and may upset the caller.
To further complicate the problem, the Sub-Menus 108 of the High Response Main Menu 200 of FIG. 3 may include a balance transfer option. Again, those callers with NBR accounts see Balance Transfers as something the callers want and need (e.g., getting rid of other creditors or avoiding late fees and interest). For example, as shown in FIG. 4, an Automated Options Sub-Menu 300 of the High Response Main Menu 200 might include, but is not limited to:
1: Balance Inquiry;
2: Current transactions;
3: Balance Transfer;
4: Statement Request;
5: Repeat Options; and
6: Return to NBR Main Menu.
Thus, a larger percentage of such callers attempt to balance transfer. However, the financial difficulty experienced by those customers likewise disqualifies them from balance transfers. Again, this must often be explained at length (e.g., often taking 10 minutes or longer—several times a typical customer service phone call) and may upset the caller.
FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a portion of a VRU system 400 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. This VRU system 400 operates substantially the same as the VRU system 100 of FIG. 2 except that NBR accounts and the like are associated with separate menus. For example, the Menu Selection By Account Type step 104 is similar to step 104 shown in FIG. 2 and has at least one additional choice, a NBR Main Menu 402. NBR accounts are identified by the VRU system by using various account attributes/identifiers such account status (e.g., open, closed, closing, charged off), account type (VIP, secured, deceased, restricted, bankrupt), billing hierarchy, bad rate scores, available credit, the date the account opened, the language of account holders and others. The exact attributes/identifiers used to identify an NBR account will depend upon the particular VRU system/service. If the account is not an NBR account or similarly classified account, an appropriate Non-NBR Menu is automatically selected by the VRU system 100 according to the account type from the available Non-NBR Menus 106 in Memory Unit 35. The Non-NBR Menus 106′ can be identical to the Selected Main Menus 106 of FIG. 2 or could be modified. If the account is an NBR account or similarly classified account, the NBR Main Menu 402 is selected and provided to the caller via VRU system 100.
FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the NBR Main Menu 402 according to the present invention. The NBR Main Menu 402 includes the options of the High Response Main Menu 200 of FIG. 3 except that the credit limit increase option has been eliminated. Alternatively, other options may be included.
FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the NBR Modified Automated Options Sub-Menu 404 provided to the caller via VRU system 100 upon the caller selecting option 1. The NBR Modified Automated Options Sub-Menu 404 includes the options of the Automated Options Sub-Menu 300 of FIG. 4 except that the balance transfer option has been eliminated. Alternatively, other options may be included.
The exclusion of the credit limit increase and the balance transfer options from NBR accounts or similarly classified accounts help reduce or eliminate customer confusion. This eliminates the associated customer dissatisfaction and reduces costs. The cost saving is greatly disproportionate to the number of these calls because of the inordinate amount of additional time these calls mandate.
The present invention may also be applied to any other types of calls having similar problems. The present invention may also be applied to accounts other than credit card accounts and also may be applied to any other VRU systems. For example, bank cards, brokerage accounts, cable TV, airlines, insurance companies and the like. The options of the menus described in the present invention may include any type and number and are not limited to those discussed herein.
Although several embodiments of the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that changes, substitutions, transformations, modifications, variations, permutations and alterations may be made therein without departing from the teachings of the present invention, the spirit and the scope of the invention being set forth by the appended claims.
Patent Citations
Referenced by
Legal Events
Original Image


text:
Chris Paul on If He Loves Sterling: "I Don't Know About All That"
by Robert Littal | Posted on Tuesday, May 13th, 2014
Donald Sterling said the Clippers player still love him.
Here was CP3's reply to that.
CP3 on Donald Sterling saying the Clippers players still love him: "I don't know about all that."
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) May 13, 2014
Powered by Sidelines
CP3: "I love my wife, my kids, my family and my teammates."
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) May 13, 2014

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- Webinar: How to Find the Perfect Startup Co-Founder
- These Innovative Startups Are Re-Inventing The Hiring Process
- How Alan Colmenares Became a Startup Ecosystem Leader in Latin America
- Better Weekdays receives $175K from State Gov., Zirtual listed as Top 25 Outsourcing Businesses, and more Grad News
First Republic Bank is a full-service bank and wealth management firm built in a distinctive way – with client service at the forefront and a solid commitment to responsiveness and action.
The Health Extension community is committed to collaborative action to extend healthy and happy human lifespans to 123 years and beyond. Our members are scientists, entrepreneurs, and social influencers dedicated to fixing the degenerative cellular processes that cause deadly human diseases.
SVHealth Meetup is a hub for enterprises, organizations and investors to present opportunities, provide mentorship and engage in conversation with Silicon Valley's developer the entrepreneur community.


text:
Norpro's ingenious Silicone Baking Mat is a reusable tool that promotes even baking and keeps food from sticking—without greasing cookie sheets or pans. And with the Three-Tier Cooling Rack, you can save counter space and cool cookies faster. This Baking And Cooling Set includes both, so what else do you need? Ready, set...bake!
Mat is high heat resistant to 450°F/230°C.
This product has no reviews yet. Be the first to review this product. Write a review
Enjoy 10% off your first order*


text:
Draft Punk Pro
5,000 - 10,000 downloadsAdd this app to your lists
+ By Josh Clemm
Not only review fantasy rankings on the go, but use this as your offline draft helper.
Track over 820 players to see the best left. Don't make the mistake of drafting a player already taken!
With this app, you can create a draft with your custom league settings including PPR. The rankings update based on your league settings. You can also have multiple drafts for each league. As you draft you can mark players as drafted or interested. Any progress you make gets automatically saved so you can pick up where you left off. Finally, view player profiles including info, stats, and player news. *No IDP support at this time*
*Note* there is a free version of this app - try that first to see how you like it.
* Make sure to upgrade if app force closes upon entry. You may have updated the depth charts when there was a data problem. It's been fixed since.
Tags: draft punk pro, vbd fantasy football 2012, draft punk 2012, 2012draft punk, draft punk pro 2012, draft punk pro apk, draft punk 2012 rankings, draft punk fantasy football, draft punk 2012 pro reviews, draft punk.
3.0.8, team reordering, bug fixes, fixes issue if you updated the rankings and now it force closes
3.0.6/7, added more scoring settings, bug fixes
3.0.5, Deeper depth charts, customized team names, injury icons, team by team view, bug fixes
3.0.4, Depth charts added
3.0.3, Better results tab
3.0.2/1, Updated ranking logic to use your specific scoring settings, and bug fixes.
3.0.0, First of 2012. Updated rankings using Fantasy football nerd. Improved pre-ranking, news feed, and more.
(75 stars)
Great App.. I have tired many and this is my Fav one... Love how it works offline too...
Keep up the good work.. I will use this App every year...
Add a Injured Tab...


text:
Todd Mattox, 9, of Poteau spent Monday afternoon at the Poteau Skate Park. Area schools were closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Day. With a free day from school, several children spent the day perfecting tricks on skateboards, skates and bicycles.
Special Olympics supporters will hold their 15th annual trivia night fundraiser March 2.
This year's theme will be M*A*S*H.
The event will start at 7 p.m., with registration beginning at 6 p.m. in the Bob Lee Kidd Civic Center.
Entry fee is $125 per team of six to 10 members.
Checks should be made payable to Special Olympics Oklahoma Area 10 and mailed to 801 South Blvd., Poteau OK 74953 before Feb. 25. Entries will also be accepted at the door on March 2.
For more information, contact Randy Weaver at (918) 647-9231 or (918) 983-0611.
A house fire Saturday morning took the lives of three people - Paul and Levunia Helton, both 73, and their 2 year-old great grandson Riley Metzker.
According to the State Fire Marshal's Investigator, Tony Rust, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
LeFlore County Sheriff Rob Seale said the fire began around 9:30 a.m. When firefighters from Shady Point, Latham / Dog Creek, Panama and Poteau arrived, the home was fully engulfed.
The bodies of the three victims have been sent to the Oklahoma Medical Examiners Office to determine the exact cause of death.
A call about a possible drunk driver resulted in a K2 arrest in Poteau Saturday night.
Sean William Frier, 21, of Poteau, was arrested by Poteau officer Jerimy Emmert following a traffic stop at approximately 11:20 p.m. Saturday night.
According to the police department, a call was received about a possible drunk driver and Emmert stopped a vehicle matching the description. The driver, identified as Frier, was arrested for city warrants and possession of a controlled dangerous substance-K2.
Frier is being held in the LeFlore County Detention Center in lieu of $1,700 bail.


text:
common type of distillation used on ships. The ships typically operate MSF with two- to six-stage flash distillers. The ratio of product water to feed water is about 1 gal of product water per 10–20 gal of feed water. MSF distillation units on Navy surface ships range from 6,000 to 100,000 gal/day (Rankin et al., 1975). Distillation will reject almost all dissolved species, but distillers are sensitive to volatile contaminants that may evaporate from the feed stream. Few or no data exist to verify the contaminant load in the potable water onboard Navy ships; if there is a need to understand the concentration of contaminants in potable water, experiments or models would have to be used to reconstruct the distillation process and offer some clarity.
In 2002, researchers at the National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (NRCET) and the Queensland Health Scientific Services in Australia conducted a study designed to investigate the potential for exposure of Australian sailors to phenoxy herbicides (such as Agent Orange) contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) through potable water (Muller et al., 2002). The goal of the study, titled "Examination of the Potential Exposure of Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Personnel to Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans via Drinking Water" (hereafter the NRCET study), was to determine whether polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were codistilled during distillation of estuarine waters to produce potable water. Experiments were designed to mimic distillation procedures aboard RAN ships and used a simple rotary evaporator to simulate MSF.
The distillation portion of the study comprised three different stages: (1) reverse osmosis1 (RO) water spiked with PCDD/Fs (polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and furans; TCDD was spiked at 40 ng/L) and DMA, (2) RO water spiked with contaminants and salt (15 g/L and 30 g/L, respectively), and (3) RO water spiked with total suspended solids (TSS) (0–1.44 g/L TSS). Results were generally presented as percentages of distilled water versus relative retention time of


text:
Using a Small Telescope to Detect
Variable Stars in Globular Cluster NGC 6779
pdf ps
Jerry D. Horne
Lynview Drive, San Jose, CA 95148
at the 94th Spring Meeting of the AAVSO, March 26, 2005; received April 5,
2005; revised May 19, 2005; accepted June 14, 2005
Abstract The nominal feasibility of utilizing small
instruments, in near-urban environments, to detect variable stars in globular
clusters is demonstrated through the use of modern CCD cameras and commercially
available image processing software. A 0.25-meter telescope and a camera with a
550 ´ 752 CCD array were used to detect and perform
photometry of six of the twelve known variable stars in NGC 6779 (M56). Two
commercial image processing and photometric analysis software packages were
utilized, and multiple variable detection techniques were examined. The periods
of five variables were derived and color magnitude diagrams for the entire
cluster were developed.
Link to ADS abstract, article and citation information


text:
Designed to meet the freshwater needs of most vessels with a water heater, shower and up to three faucets. Features include soft rubber mounts, corrosion-resistant design, run-dry ability and screw-less diaphragm that eliminates possible leak paths. Quick-connect fittings are included for ease of installation.
The West Advisor articles have answered boaters' questions and provided solutions to boating problems for more than 20 years. West Marine has compiled one of the Web's most comprehensive collections of technical boating information articles.
Reviewed by 2 customers
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Comments about Freshwater System Pump, 2GPM:
The exterior of the pump is all plastic, nothing to rust. The quick disconnect fittings make it easy to install. The main reason I chose this pump is the low water pressure switch, 25 psi. This puts less stress on the plumbing in my 32 year old trawler. But mainly, the lower pressure limits the amount of water folks use.The pump has worked flawlessly since I installed it six months ago. It is very quiet.
Best Uses
Comments about Freshwater System Pump, 2GPM:
Replaced a jabsco unit that required a belt. This pump is much quieter and at 25 psi, it saves on water. It came with extra fittings that adapted it to my system (metric) easily.


text:
Almost half of all young people in the UK reported being bullied at least once a week in 2014.
DEFINITION: Change blindness is the failure to notice a major visual change in our field of view...
Get up early, work hard, strike oil. Chris spoke at a leadership dinner we held in Hong Kong. Here he was interviewed by our vice-chair of Asia, Guy Parsonage.
Widely regarded as a pioneer of sustainable business, Sir Ian was group CEO of the Kingfisher Group from 2008 to 2015. Join us to eavesdrop on a fascinating conversation.
We are delighted to annouce that the next in our Legends series will feature Dave Trott, one of marketing's most talented creative thinkers. An Audience with Dave will take place on Thursday 16 July, at the Royal College of Physicians.
In an advertising career that has spanned five decades, Dave has worked for many of the world's top brands and has created some of our industry's most iconic campaigns.
Following three successful dinners in Asia, we were delighted to have Chris Clark, HSBC join us for the fourth one in Hong Kong.
This year our party was held at exclusive members club The Library, with special guest speaker John Bird, founder of The Big Issue.
A legendary jazz vocalist and composer joined us to talk about creativity and inspiration in a quirky London venue.
We hosted an insightful evening with the England Rugby Head Coach in conversation with Kevin Murray
Marketing Leader of the Year 2013 Sarah Warby gives her personal perspectives on the nature of marketing leadership.
We enjoyed panoramic views of London from the top floor of the Gherkin while we toasted our new Fellows with a glass or two of Champagne.
What's the secret to award-winning marketing? We heard secrets behind BT, easyJet, Sainsbury's and Paddy Power's award-winning campaigns.
On 17 July we started another new chapter in Asia, with an exclusive invitation-only dinner to soft launch our Singapore hub.
Earlier this year we hosted an event at the Marina Bay Sands ArtScience museum, where executive director...
Modern Singapore was founded in 1819 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles as a trading post of the East India Company. The British obtained sovereignty over the island in 1824, and Singapore became one of the British Straits Settlements in 1826.
We asked the Leaders of the Year shortlist about being brave and secrets.
'City Guides' is a resource for members travelling to a new place on business – a way of sharing insider tips in order to make the most of a city.
A few years ago, when I was the marketing director of the society, I was the voice of one in a meeting.


text:
Serve a daily dose of information
When tackling something complex, such as a foreign language or Vim commands, digesting small bits of knowledge might be more effective than consuming a super-sized meal of information. This month's Perl column gives you a method of serving up knowledge snippets by email.
No matter how good your command of English might be, there is always room for improvement. Or do you already know what "cynosure" or "exonym" means? Because I subscribe to "A.Word.A .Day" (AWAD), I receive a new word every day by email. Figure 1 shows how the service describes the daily word in simpler terms and provides examples of the word in action. A Tip a Day Because this approach is so effective, I thought of extending it to other fields. If there are daily tips for the Vim editor, why not have them for Perl? Or for the Java pitfall of the day? All it would take would be a script that stores the tips, and a cronjob that sends the tips to a list of subscribers every morning.
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Code.org and College Board Team Reach Out for Talented High School Coders
New partnership will bring more and better CS training to US schools
A Peek Inside TeslaCrypt Ransomware
Criminals offer online help over Tor network
Mumblehard Still Spams
Sophisticated malware is still present on Joomla and WordPress sites around the world.
Launchpad Gets Git
Future versions of Ubuntu's code service will support the popular Git version control system used with Linux and other open source projects.
AMD Posts Code for Linux GPU Driver
New release marks the arrival of AMD's unified driver strategy.
30 Percent of New Server Equipment Goes to Cloud Infrastructure
A new study by IDC charts big changes in the big hardware market.
Windows Might Go Open Source
Azure CTO says Redmond has already considered the unthinkable.
Linux Mint Will Stay with Ubuntu
Lead developer quells rumors that the Debian version is slated for center stage.
Microsoft Frees Code for .NET Build Engine
MSBuild is now just another GitHub project as Redmond continues its path to the light.
Researchers Demonstrate Hack by Heat
Malware could pass data and commands between disconnected computers without leaving a trace on the network.


text:
Phoenix Suns v Golden State Warriors
Similar imagesView all
Jared Dudley of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against Stephen... News PhotoBasketball - NBA Pro,Basketball - Sport,California,Drive - Ball Sports,Golden State Warriors,Harrison Barnes,Jared Dudley,Making a Basket,Oakland - California,Oracle Arena,Phoenix Suns,Sport,Stephen Curry - Basketball Player,Taking a Shot - Sport,USA,VerticalPhotographer Rocky WidnerCollection: National Basketball Association 2013 NBAEOAKLAND, CA - FEBRUARY 2: Jared Dudley #3 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against Stephen Curry #30 and Harrison Barnes #40 of the Golden State Warriors on February 2, 2013 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)


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religion was at its best when it emphasized spiritual experiences rather than received dogma. "The juice goes out of Christianity when it becomes too based on faith rather than on living like Jesus or seeing the world as Jesus saw it," he told me. "I think different religions are different doors to the same house. Sometimes I think the house exists, and sometimes I don't. It's the great
he intuitively appreciated the simplicity of Atari's games. They came with no manual and needed to be uncomplicated enough that a stoned freshman could figure them out. The only instructions for Atari's Star Trek game were "1. Insert quarter. 2. Avoid
The musician Bono, who later became a friend of Jobs, often discussed with him why those immersed in the rock-drugs-rebel counterculture of the Bay Area ended up helping to create the personal computer industry. "The people who invented the twenty-first century were pot-smoking, sandal-wearing hippies from the West Coast like Steve, because they saw differently," he said. "The hierarchical systems of the East Coast, England, Germany, and Japan do not encourage this different thinking. The sixties produced an anarchic mind-set that is great for imagining a world not yet in
you should never start a company with the goal of getting rich. Your goal should be making something you believe in and making a company that will
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20 September 2013 05:49 [Source: ICIS news]
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--India's Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) has sold by tender an 11,000-tonne naphtha cargo for early October loading from Haldia, traders said on Friday.
Trading firm Glencore was the buyer of the cargo, which contains 300 parts per million (ppm) methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), they said.
The loading dates for the MTBE-rich cargo are 6-10 October, traders said.
The deal for the cargo was done at parity against Middle East quotes FOB (free on board) pricing, they said.
($1 = €0.74)
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Asian Chemical Connections


text:
Diverse MHC IIB allele repertoire increases parasite resistance and body condition in the Long-tailed giant rat (Leopoldamys sabanus)
1 Department of Animal Ecology and Animal Conservation, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
2 Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 24306 Plön, Germany
3 Institute of Experimental Ecology, University of Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany
4 Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Postfach 601103, D-10252 Berlin, Germany
BMC Evolutionary Biology 2009, 9:269 doi:10.1186/1471-2148-9-269Published: 23 November 2009
Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) code for key functions in the adaptive immune response of vertebrates and most of them show exceptionally high polymorphism. This polymorphism has been associated with the selection by diverse and changing parasite communities. We analysed MHC class IIB diversity, gastrointestinal parasite load and body condition in the wild ranging tropical rat Leopoldamys sabanus (Thomas, 1887) under natural selection conditions in a highly variable rainforest environment in Borneo to explore the mechanisms that maintain these high levels of genetic polymorphism.
Allelic diversity was determined via SSCP and sequencing, and parasite screening was done through non-invasive faecal egg count. The detected alleles showed expected high levels of polymorphism and balancing selection. Besides a clear advantage for more diverse MHC genotypes in terms of number of alleles, reflected in better body condition and resistance against helminth infection, our data also suggested a positive effect of MHC allele divergence within an individual on these parameters.
In accordance with the heterozygote advantage hypothesis, this study provides evidence for an advantage of more diverse MHC genotypes. More specifically, the potential negative relation between individual allele divergence and number of parasite species is in line with the 'divergent allele advantage' hypothesis.


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After a long day on the court or the field your baby will drift off to sleep wrapped in this CoCaLo Sports Fan Soft & Cozy Blanket surrounded by his favorite sporting themes plus a bold pennant which complements the Sports Fan Crib Set and other accessories. This baby blanket features a soft yet masculine color palette of burgundy and orange. Large, soft and comforting, the perfect blanket for baby to snuggle. Makes a great gift!
Product Features
- Soft & Cozy Blanket (36" x 40")
- 78% Acrylic/22% Polyester
Additional Information
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Melissa & Doug Best Friends Magnetic Dress-Up


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This is a split board - You can return to the Split List for other boards.
IYO: What was the biggest downer of this generation?
akuma634 posted...
Whiny gamers on the internet who can't find one nice thing to say about how great we have it.
Oh give me a break, a Game hipster? You only like those games because it would be ironic to do so.
Go rub your weewee on your iphone you bundle of sticks.
UkichiTachibana posted...
Oh give me a break, a Game hipster? You only like those games because it would be ironic to do so.
ok, that's enough GameFAQs for the day.
[This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]
Touch controls
The death of turn-based
FPS domination on consoles
The crappy console ports of crappy first person shooters. We need more originality, more strategy and RPG style games.
I was playing Hidden & Dangerous 2 last night with my bros and we were wondering why the hell they just don't make games like that anymore. Instead they turn them into these PvP based fast shooters. Don't we have enough PvP shooters!?
Give me some games that require some brain power for a change! I miss those. DEPTH please!!!
Don't lie to someone who trusts you.
Don't trust someone who lies to you.
wyansas posted...
lovbbws posted...Plaz412 posted...Garhinder posted...Ninja Gaiden 3.
oh is ninja gaiden sigma a remake of black? i didnt know that or were u just sayin black and sigma both were good sorry about the confusion ty :)
UkichiTachibana posted...
akuma634 posted...Whiny gamers on the internet who can't find one nice thing to say about how great we have it.
i loved duke nukem forever it wasnt earth shattering but was a nice fun FPS and thats all i ever expected and wanted im sorry everyone loathes it so much and we will probably never see another duke game again :(
If you think shooters don't require brain power you're doing it wrong.
If they asked how I died tell them: Still angry.
Duke Nukem Forever
My name is Ivan I like you
Bump it up.
Oh no! Private_Noob posted!
I'm the noobiest noob you'll ever see!


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Save the dolphins ! END the dolphin hunt!
Save the dolphins and END the dolphin hunt! Dolphins and humans can live together!
i am a researcher by profession. i hope for the world to be a better place and being an integral part of Causes makes me so proud.
Save the dolphins and END the dolphin hunt! Dolphins and humans can live together!
I pledge to raise awareness for a WORLD WIDE problem with people/corporations/agencies mistreating people with special
Facebook needs a report function that is specific to reporting "child sexual abuse"
I will believe victims of child abuse and domestic violence and strive to protect them from their abusers
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is just around the corner.
To spread human rights,harmony, Love, Peace and care among mankind. We support human rights activities and will stand


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Researchers Find Evidence Of Early Domestication of Turkeys In Mayan Culture
April Flowers for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online
Turkeys were domesticated more than 1,000 years earlier than previously believed, says a new study from the University of Florida, published online in PLoS ONE this week.
Turkeys are one of the most widely consumed birds worldwide, and the discovery of turkey bones in an ancient Mayan archaeological site in Guatemala provides evidence of domestication and the earliest evidence of the Mexican Turkey in the Maya world.
Domestication is usually a significant mark of civilization and the Maya did not use a lot of domesticated animals, making this find significant. While they did cultivate domesticated plants, most of their animal protein came from wild resources.
"We might have gotten the timing of the introduction of this species to the ancient Maya wrong by a significant chunk of time," Erin Thornton, a research associate at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the UF campus and Trent University Archaeological Research Centre, said. "The species originates from central Mexico, outside the Maya cultural area. This is the species the Europeans brought back with them to Europe — all domestic turkeys originated from Mexico."
With the use of archaeological evidence, comparisons of bone structure and ancient DNA analysis, the research team determined that the turkey fossils belonged to a non-local species, Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo, which is native to central and northern Mexico. Mesoamerica's only indigenous domesticated animal, the Mexican turkey is the ancestor of all domestic turkeys consumed in the world today.
South of the turkey's natural range, the discovery of these bones shows animal exchange occurred from northern Mesoamerica to the Maya cultural area during the Late Preclassic period from 300 B.C. to A.D. 100.
"This research has consequences for understanding Maya subsistence because they would have had access to a controlled, managed resource," Thornton said. "The turkey bones came from right within the ceremonial precinct of the site, so these are probably the remains of some sort of elite sacrifice, meal or feast."
The bones were recovered from the El Mirador archaeological site, one of the largest and most developed Preclassic locations found in the Maya lowlands. The site, which flourished from about 6th century B.C. to the 1st century A.D., contains massive temple complexes, some of the largest Maya architecture ever constructed. While the fossils were originally excavated in the 1980′s, they were displayed in the Brigham Young University Museum of Peoples and Cultures until being sent to Thornton for identification in 2004.
"Plant and animal domestication suggests a much more complex relationship between humans and the environment — you're intentionally modifying it and controlling it," Thornton said.
Scientists assume turkey bones previously recovered from Maya sites belonged to the native ocellated turkey, Meleagris ocellata. The new evidence means researchers may need to re-examine previously recovered bones.
"This study is extremely significant and I think it opens up a whole new perspective on the Maya and animal domestication," said Florida State University anthropology professor emeritus Mary Pohl. "I find it especially interesting that these turkey bones are in this very special pyramid context because people often think of turkeys as something to eat, but they were probably making some sort of special offerings of them, which would go along with the fact that they brought them in from a long distance."
A new, $185,000 grant from the National Science Foundation will help answer some of the questions the study has raised about the history of turkey rearing and domestication in Mesoamerica, Florida Museum researchers hope.
"The turkeys were brought in, they weren't local, but we don't know if they were brought in and then killed shortly after, used as a trade item or bred on-site after an even earlier introduction," Thornton said. "The El Mirador study is really just a tantalizing piece of the puzzle and we still have a lot left to learn and explore."


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32 CFR 887.7 - Persons separated under other than honorable conditions (undesirable or bad conduct) or dishonorable discharge.
Those persons whose character of service was under other than honorable conditions or dishonorable are not eligible for CILs. However, an official photocopy of the report of separation or certificate of discharge (DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, or equivalent form), if available, may be sent on written request of the member.
(a) On the DD Forms 214 issued before October 1, 1979, the following items will be masked out before a photocopy is sent out:
(b) For DD Forms 214 issued after October 1, 1979, send one copy with the Special Additional Information Section, and one copy without it.
(c) If a report of separation is not available, furnish a brief official statement of military service. Use the letterhead stationery of the issuing records custodian. File copy of the statement in the master personnel record (MPerR).
(d) If (obsolete form) DD Form 258AF, Undesirable Discharge Certificate, has been issued, it may be replaced with DD Form 794AF, Discharge Under Other Than Honorable Conditions.
Title 32 published on 2014-07-01.
No entries appear in the Federal Register after this date, for 32 CFR Part 887.


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Trucking Logistics
Harbor drayage companies on the U.S. West Coast feared that a provision in the new International Longshore and Warehouse Union contract mandating longshore inspections of chassis would cause uncertainty and delays for truckers, but they didn't imagine that it would happen so quickly.
Freight broker Total Quality Logistics added voice search technology to its Carrier Dashboard smartphone app, letting drivers talk, not type as they search for freight.
The truck leasing arm of Paccar plans gradual expansion across Australia as shippers and carriers replace the nation's aging heavy trucks and 'road train' tractors.
If harbor trucking companies and marine terminal operators hope to survive in the cutthroat port environment, their numbers must be reduced. The industry needs fewer, larger, better-capitalized companies, according to a Southern California trucking executive.
If marine terminal operators had their way, the days of individual truckers entering their facilities in search of specific containers would be over, replaced by a model in which containers are peeled off the top of a stack and delivered to truckers without regard to consignee or destination.
A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would set national standards for shippers and third parties contracting or hiring trucking companies, complementing legislation in the House. Shippers and brokers want clarity, especially in courtrooms where they face negligent hiring claims.
Old Dominion Freight Line promoted veteran executive Greg C. Gantt to president, while David S. Congdon remains CEO and takes on added responsibilities as vice chairman of the company's board.
Contract truckload rates are defying economic gravity, rising in April when truck tonnage and spot market rates slipped. The cause: capacity. Shippers apparently are willing to pay more to secure it for the long-term.
The Harbor Trucking Association of Southern California has formed its own chassis pool to ensure its member companies will have access to the equipment they need even when terminals in Los Angeles-Long Beach are experiencing equipment shortages or dislocations.
Demurrage and per-diem detention fees at gridlocked U.S. ports have turned into a multimillion-dollar hot potato. Cargo interests, truckers, ocean carriers and marine terminals are locked in noisy, seemingly nonstop argument over responsibility for the fees. It's a complex problem with no easy solution — but plenty of finger-pointing.


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Davide Marcato
Understanding The True Semantics of C++
Stanley Lippman is a very popular name in the C++ community, in particular because the author of this book has also written the bestselling C++ Primer now in its third edition, which I consider one of the best companions to Stroustrup's The C++ Programming Language, and because of his activity as the editor of the well-respected C++ Report magazine.
In this text, Stanley analyzes the language from a very different perspective compared to his other excellent book: The reader is supposed to possess a good working knowledge of C++ and have some real practical experience in his/her curriculum before approaching the first page. From this level s/he is taken to real mastery of the semantics of the complexities of the language, which reserves a lot of surprises and hidden dangers to even the most skilled engineers. Almost all of the fundamental building blocks are dissected, put in a historical perspective, and explained with precision in a surprisingly easy-to-follow way.
I am convinced that much of the clarity evident even in the most intrinsically complicated passages is due to the author's choice of giving very little for granted prior to starting a thorough discussion around a tough point. This manual will surely be of little help to a neophyte, but just as surely one needs not belong to a panel of experts to benefit from its observations, because the level of complexity never gets too deep without having spent some pages of prior accessible contextual information to get everyone up to speed.
Inside the C++ Object Model is aimed at those developers who routinely use C++ but feel the discomfort of not really knowing the underlying weight of many common operations they perform or constructs they peruse. A particularly fit subset of these programmers is made up of the hardcore plumbers who pay their bills writing C++-based programming tools and libraries, or those who assume the uneasy role of the "official code optimizer" in a medium-to-large development team. Each of these programmers are going to immensely appreciate the intensive coverage of the object-oriented features offered by the language, their run-time overhead in terms of execution time and binary size, and their influence in compilation times. This knowledge constitutes a major aid when it comes time to decide whether a certain language feature fits your needs without breaking your requirements. Moreover, along the way the text is sprinkled with interesting anecdotes explaining why certain common myths regarding C++ are nothing more than unfounded rants.
The topics and comparisons filling up the chapters are always concrete and never exceedingly academic. For example, the old C-style data manipulation is compared side-by-side with the modern encapsulation methodologies promoted by OOP, which involves inline accessors and mutators. Another chapter deals with the tricky semantics of construction and destruction, dedicating a fair amount of room to the exact circumstances that trigger the execution of constructors, destructors, copy constructors, and conversion operators. This leads to the treatment of the delicate topic of the automatic creation of temporary variables by the compiler.
Moving on, of particular interest to me are the sections focusing on the cost of virtual functions to achieve polymorphism compared to static-bound methods, as well as the section discussing various facets of multiple inheritance.
There are very few aspects of this book that do not deserve praise. One of them, by far the least important, is the design, which I would have preferred to be more dynamic, thereby simplifying the jumps from one point to another which makes sense considering the typology of the contents.
The real drawback of Inside The C++ Object Model is that it is dated. Most of what Stanley says still holds true and is informative, but the language has evolved a lot since its 1996 incarnation, when the manuscript was first sent to the printers. Consequently, many of the newer features, despite their undoubted load of semantic insights and potential misconceptions, are not even touched. Namespaces are entirely forgotten, and even such crucial relatively recent elements like exceptions, templates and run-time type information receive far less coverage than they deserve. Now that the ANSI/ISO C++ committee has agreed on a final standard, I really hope Lippman will decide to take the time to update and expand his already admirable work.
— Davide Marcato, Dr. Dobb's Electronic Review of Computer Books


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Gas line severed, repaired in Thousand Oaks
A gas line that was severed by a semi-truck in Thousand Oaks on Thursday evening was repaired by 10 p.m.
The incident was reported around 6:25 p.m. at 50 Cunningham Road. The rupture was in central Thousand Oaks near where Highway 23 meets Highway 101 and was south of Thousand Oaks Boulevard.
Authorities ordered the evacuation of nearby businesses as they waited for workers from the Southern California Gas Co. to turn off the gas in the line.
No injuries were reported, authorities said.
The line was apparently severed after the truck drove over a subterranean vault connected to the line. Investigators said the truck's weight apparently was too much and the line was severed.
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DCT/CVT - Budapest Greens Vaci Office Park - Hungary
- Published: June 2012
- Region: Hungary
This product is currently not available for purchase.
This book examines the diversity of political aspects of public art in Budapest, Hungary, and especially the different socio-spatial consequences implied by the various practices of erecting and placing (anti-)heroes within the city-text. Accordingly, Júlia Székely have devised a model where the categories of "official", "personal" and "commercial" intend to reflect to a basic disparity between public and private (either in the sense of privacy or in its most important manifestation, that of the logic of market) perspectives, however these categories are intentionally built upon a curve suggesting a dual tendency: on the one hand, from national to global levels, and on the other hand, from politics to commerce. Moreover, during the analysis, this simple opposition between the public and private sectors becomes more tinged by applying theories regarding the interpretation of public space(s) and accessibility of art, which reveal and set up other, new (dis)connections as well.
Julia, Szekely.
Júlia Székely is an art historian and critic who has taught at Eotvos Lorand University (Budapest, Hungary), Humboldt University (Berlin, Germany) and Central European University (Budapest, Hungary).


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Sydney, Australia
My Rating
Very nice day trip from Sydney. We didn't have the best weather but even then we enjoyed it very much and would recomend it to anybody.
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DoD to pilot automated network intrusion detection
Tuesday - 3/22/2011, 8:30am EDT
The Department of Defense is working with private developers to create a system that automatically detects and prevents network intrusions. Pentagon officials tell Congress Defense will conduct a 90-day pilot of the system with around 30 defense companies. Infosecurity.com reports, the program would be similar to the Einstein 3 system being developed by Homeland Security for the federal government.
This story is part of Federal News Radio's daily Cybersecurity Update brought to you by Tripwire. For more cybersecurity news, click here.


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Ingrid Croce talks about opening a restaurant before downtown became a hot destination
Q: Many successful restaurateurs eventually will open many more places in other locations. Why have you not chosen to go that route?
A: So many people have asked, why don't you open in Las Vegas, Philadelphia, New York? But I don't think Croce's would have been the success it is if I wasn't there. It's important to listen to people, to hear what Jim Croce meant to them, how the experience here carries on that memory.
Q: You've been very involved in the local Restaurant Association and helped launch the successful Restaurant Week program several years ago. What would you say are the biggest issues facing restaurateurs in this county?
A: I think experience is the most important thing any restaurateur can bring to the table. A lot of people think that opening up a restaurant is easy; they have money, and they make it look beautiful. Building a brand that will bring people to the market takes a lot of research, experience and a lot of luck. If you haven't set aside a large amount of money for the months you don't do well, you'll fail right away.
Q: Restaurants went through a very tough time during the recession and some have continued to struggle. Are you finding people are now more willing to spend money on dining out?
A: I have seen it pretty steady for us. Eighty-five percent of Croce's is conventioneers and visitors, so we did not feel what a lot of other restaurants felt. Right now we have a new GM who's put a new cocktail and bar program. During recessions people will spend more on beverage than on food, so that's helped us tremendously. The other thing we've done and which we'll promote very soon are tapas, and we've put in a very strong beer program, so that's been very helpful.


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Nifty Starting To Read Ideas And An Out-Of-The Box Alphabet Sounds Game Have Been Published On Kids Activities Blog
Nifty starting to read ideas and an out-of-the box alphabet sounds game have been released on Kids Activities Blog. These ideas and games will increase phonemic awareness and boost the reading process.
Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) April 28, 2013
Nifty starting to read ideas and an out-of-the box (or rather in the box) alphabet sounds game have been released on Kids Activities Blog.
The starting to read ideas are a huge help for any child who is trying to learn how to read. The ideas include making a word family flip chart. The child will love to flip to create new words. Other great ideas include making a magic "E" wand. The wand will transform mad to made.
Playing a Candy land word game, creating a Flip Over E-Wheel, and making a paper plate spinner are only some of the easy to do things at home. Word pulls and family word eggs will help the child to independently practice reading.
The alphabet sound game takes a bit time to set up, but once the game is set up, he or she will love to independently go on a sound treasure hunt. Materials needed are plastic boxes, letter stickers and a willing helper to go on a sound hunt. Place one alphabet sticker on each box, and let the child loose in the house to collect objects that match the letter sound on the box.
For detailed instructions and to get additional fun starting to read phonics activities, check out Kids Activities Blog this week. Come get inspired to let the kids have lots of fun while learning how to read.
About Kids Activities Blog
Kids Activities Blog is a website created by two moms (who collectively have 9 children), Rachel Miller and Holly Homer from June Cleaver Nirvana. It is their daily goal to inspire parents and teachers to play with kids. This interactive website publishes simple things to do with kids twice a day. Kids Activities Blog is a great tool for moms and teachers to find kid-friendly activities that create memories and sneak learning into the fun.
For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2013/4/prweb10678089.htm


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Smarthostingis accomplished when you connect your existing email server to one of LuxSci's email servers. This way all outbound email, sent by your users, is relayed though LuxSci before it reaches the Internet.
Individual users who employ WebMailor an email program like Outlook or Thunderbird (which is configured to connect directly to LuxSci) are not smarthosting. Rather, they are using WebMail or direct SMTP for outbound email.
Why use smarthosting?
Simple Smarthosting with High Volume Email
If your needs are simple -- you still need a good mail relay that won't restrict your sending capacity. You might also need IP address masking. We suggest LuxSci's High Volume email service.
Advanced Smarthosting
If your smarthosting needs are complex (e.g. involving encryption, compliance, tracking, etc.), you would:
Advanced smarthosting allows outbound processing and tracking of messages with rules and settings. These are specific to each individual user.


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Country Flame Replacement Parts and Accessories
Finding the right part for your Country Flame appliance starts with your owners manual. In the back of the book is the list of replacement parts for your unit. If you do not have your owners manual available you might want to get with the place of business that sold you your appliance to help out. You can also download a copy of our current owner's manuals. If you know what part is needed it will be easy to order that part right here on the E-com store.
If you are not sure that you have the right part, email email@example.com for assistance.
Please review our return policy.
Attention – AES does not support Country Flame parts purchased for appliances manufactured prior to 2008. All Country Flame part orders for pre-2008 appliances must be verified by submitting a photo of the part to email@example.com or by sending the original part to AES. Consumers will assume all liability for incorrect parts purchased without proper verification.


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Patient Comments: Constipation - Effective Treatments
What kinds of treatments have been effective for your constipation?
Comment from: Susie, 45-54 Female (Patient) Published: October 16
My constipation has been going on all of my life. If I take any kind of treatment, it takes two to three days to work, and then I get diarrhea, which is uncontrollable. Adding fiber to my diet just made me swell up like a balloon. I am not in any treatment at this time, and it is very bad. Constipation can be a severe problem.
Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: Julie, 45-54 Female (Patient) Published: August 28
I have had constipation problems all my life. It is normal for me to go once every two weeks. My colon is too long.
Was this comment helpful?Yes
Patient Comments
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Constipation - Experience Question: Has your constipation ever limited you from performing daily activities? Work? Pleasure?
Constipation - Causes Question: If known, what is the cause of or reason for your constipation? Have you found a remedy?
Constipation - Home Remedies Question: Please share home remedies for treating constipation, including diet and exercise.
Constipation - Diagnosis Question: Did you see a doctor for constipation? What tests and exams were included in the evaluation and diagnosis?
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displaying 1-30 out of 33
read the joke
A person who can't remember to walk the dog but never forgets a phone number...
One day, two teenage boys, around 13 years old, walk into a gym. One of the boys go towards a pull up bar. The boy is short and can't reach the bar.read the joke
Fucking Board
Because no matter how hard you try. You can't make your self look that stupid on Facebook. That's why she is my idol!
Epiphany Girls react to winning Schools4All visit from Justin Bieber
Props to the girls for their charity work, but really, if my daugther was acting like this for a singer I would consider myself a failure.
read the joke
docsigma2000: jesus christ man, my son is sooooooo dead...
Boss 101
Fight robo-animals, samurai, aliens and DINOSAURS! You heard right!
Now the nose...
They are so cute at this age. If only they didn't grow up to teenage trouble makers...
Kind of geeky, but still funny.read the joke
When his teenage son asked to borrow twenty dollar, the man said:-"Son, don't you realize that there are more important ...read the joke
read the joke
A highway patrol officer has admitted writing "kitchen bitch" as the occupation of a Greymouth teenager on an infringement ticket he issued her.


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I hope those of you who celebrate Christmas had the most wonderful weekend with your families. Neil and I are currently in El Fuerte, Mexico, at the start of our trip into the Copper Canyon. We spent Christmas eve aboard the California Star travelling from Pichilingue to Topolobampo, eating possibly the worst meal of our […]
Mulled wine poached pears
Memories of Bouchon: Red rice pilaf with candied hazelnuts and grapes
As regular readers of this blog know, one of my favourite things to do is travel. I also love discovering new dishes on my travels and bringing them back home to recreate a little piece of a vacation in my everyday life. A dish I fell in love with on our recent trip to California […]
I'd like to thank
The International Food Bloggers Conference in Seattle begins this evening and I am thrilled to be attending. There is no way I would be able to attend such an event on the other side of the continent without the help of my awesome sponsors and it's because of them that I will be blogging about […]
Salad days
We interrupt this Road Trip and its gourmandises for a much-needed post about … salad. Yes, dad this is for you. How you can have lived with a wife and at least one daughter who would live on salad if they had the choice and still find it boring is beyond me. So I am […]
Bon Appétit RSVP Redux August: Toffee Pecan and Peach Crisp
Now, you wouldn't normally think of a crisp as being a summer dessert but as I write this from something like 6800 feet just outside Yosemite National Park, it sure feels like the perfect weather for it! This month for RSVP Redux (where bloggers recreate the dishes people have written to Bon Appétit magazine requesting […]
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Michael Hancock has shortest honeymoon ever thanks to ex-Denver Players king Scottie Ewing
When I picked up the Denver Post yesterday, with the big headline "Nothing incriminating in Hancock cell records" across the top of the front page, I was quickly transported back to the first edition of the Cornell Daily Sun I helped edit, when the night editor insisted the headline on a story about another kind of wreck entirely be "Nobody Killed in Plane Crash." That headline was soundly mocked the next morning, and remains a classic journalistic botch.
Nobody was killed, either, in this current wreck of a story about how a man using the excellent porn name of "Michael Handcock" may, or may not, have used the services of a prostitute several times a few years ago.
Nobody was killed, but some reputations bit the dust. And mayor-elect Michael Hancock had the shortest honeymoon in history.
The irony is that the source of the original story didn't have much of a reputation to lose; Scottie Ewing, the former owner of the Denver Players/Denver Sugar escort service, currently on house arrest in a plea deal on charges of tax evasion stemming from the sale of that business. Westword got to know Ewing back in 2006, when we published Jared Jacang Maher's story on competition between the city's swingers clubs, one of them run by Ewing. The next year, I sat in a Denver courtroom to watch Ewing face off against his former landlord -- who'd been surprised to find a swingers' club in her building.
The judge that day was almost as surprised when Ewing whipped out a laptop covered with photos of naked women.
I don't know if this was the laptop that Ewing says was stolen from his home on June 6, along with the documents that showed "Michael Handcock" had used his company's services; Westword was one of the only media outlets in town that wasn't invited to see them.
Nobody was killed in this wreck that may not have been much of a news story -- but it promises to become a journalistic case study for years to come.
More from our Calhoun: Wake-Up Call archive: "Michael Hancock, Denver mayor-elect, tells supporters of 'the most vicious attack yet.'"
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Mutiny at Dawn - Transpac Race 2013
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Re: Mutiny at Dawn - Transpac Race 2013
Sailing light on water for the sake of weight makes great sense for the vessel we're talking about. Fresh off their America's Cup victory they were hell bent for leather, or Hawaii- whichever comes first. This crew- they eat when the boat docks and sleep when they die, that hard salty lot does.
A crew that hardcore only needs two cups of water a day, because a gallon a day is for chumps who like to cook and wash their crack now and again. First they went to wet-wipes, but felt guilty after realizing they were forcing the captain to haul dead weight and so they started squeezing the moisture out of them dockside. Hell, the 100 year old lady doesn't need much water. You can skip her water ration on odd days because she'll forget about it anyway. At her age, she's on the way out any day now, so don't sweat it. The old broad sure can handle a spinnaker, though!
Poor RD had no idea he was supposed to donate blood the day before the race to save weight and spray PAM on his underpants because this tub doesn't haul toilet paper.
This is the big leagues, RD! Hell's Kitchen goes to sea! You want to navigate? Here's your course, 'wog... head West until the seagulls speak Tahitian, and if they start to speak Tagalog then turn around! Shape up or ship out, matey!
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Hi all,
I received my GGF's death certificate in the mail today, still waiting on all birth certs (GM,M,me & siblings).
His name and birth date check out, so no changes needed there. The discrepancies are regarding his parents' names:
On his Italian birth cert, his father is listed as Giovanni Battista Lafiata and his mother is Anna Maria Damalio. His US death cert says "Gianbatista" and Maria Lafiata. It does not have his mother's maiden name listed.
Are these things I'll need to get corrected? His name and birth date match his Italian birth cert, so I'm really hoping his parents' first name discrepancies are not an issue. My appointment is March 1 so I'm worried I don't have enough time to get a court order/apostille/translation in time. Not to mention I still haven't received all US birth certs yet, so there might be corrections needed on those as well


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Spirited Azkals yield by just 2 to North Koreans
KATHMANDU—What was expected to be a blowout turned out to be a showcase of the Philippines' ability to absorb pressure from a top-level Asian side.
But a vastly superior North Korea struck two quick-fire second-half goals to take the fight out of the Azkals, 2-0, at the start of Group B play Friday in the AFC Challenge Cup at the Hawlchok Stadium.
Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge saved a penalty in a highlight of a heroic defensive display by the Azkals in the first half before the North Koreans finally broke them down with a torrid second-half assault.
"We fought very bravely and I'm very satisfied," said Azkals coach Michael Weiss.
"We have to take all factors into consideration. 2-0 is a very good result against a team ranked 60 places higher than us. With the means that we have, we could not challenge a team that a year and a half ago played in the World Cup.
Pak Nam-chol, the hardworking midfielder, and substitute Jang Kuk-chol scored 11 minutes apart and the 2010 World Cup qualifiers kept the Azkals at bay the rest of the way with their quick passing and combination plays.
A threat with his smart running without the ball, Pak fired a header past Etheridge in the 58th minute as the Azkals grew weary defending their left flank, before Jang delivered the sucker punch—a volley— as Etheridge fumbled a high cross.
Jang looked to have actually held on to Etheridge in the leadup to the goal that forced the Fulham FC reserve goalkeeper to lose grip.
North Korea came into the game as the heavy favorite, having reached the World Cup finals in 2010 in South Africa.
The victors' coach, Yun Jong-so, was impressed by the Azkals' fighting performance.
"There's much development and I think they played beyond our expectations," said Yun.
It was the Azkals who carved up the first real chance in the match.
Phil Younghusband was released by a great ball from Angel Guirado but his right-footed effort from a tight angle was blocked by North Korea's veteran goalkeeper Ri Myong-guk.
It was one-way traffic from there for North Korea as it laid siege on the Azkals' goalmouth.
Etheridge was in superb form, though. The pressure paid off for North Korea as Jang Mwong-il looked to have gone down easily on a tackle by Misagh Bahadoran, prompting Indian referee Pratap Singh to point to the penalty spot in the 18th minute.
Pak Song-chol sent Etheridge the wrong way, but the Azkals got a reprieve when the North Koreans were adjudged to have encroached inside the box too early. Pak struck it low and hard but Etheridge prevailed, palming the ball away.
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John Mayer
John Mayer also known as John CLayton Mayer is a American musician was born on October 16, 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.. John a Berklee College of Music in Boston before moving to Atlanta, Georgia in 1997, where he refined his skills. He played for a year in local clubs and in 1999 he released the independent EP "Inside Wants Out" which gained Mayer attention from record label Aware Records.
What about scratching your leg while running on a treadmill though.
1 day ago
It's Fleet week in NYC!!!! That means I get to use the "fleek week" joke I've been sitting on for 2 months!! Stand by for finessing.
2 days ago
Even in really old pictures, horses still look the same.
4 days ago
Mayer began his career performing mainly acoustic rock, but gradually began a transition towards the blues genre in 2005 by collaborating with renowned blues artists such as B. B. King, Buddy Guy, and Eric Clapton, and by forming the John Mayer Trio. Mayer released a live album, "Any Given Thursday," in both audio and DVD format, which featured many songs from "Room for Squares," as well as covers and previously unreleased originals. The artist's second labum entitled "Heavier Things" was released in 2003 and managed to reach number 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. Mayer earned his first #1 single with the song "Daughters" as well as a 2005 Grammy for Song of the Year. He also won the award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In 2006 Mayer released the solo album ''Continuum" which debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album's single, "Waiting on the World to Change" peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart, where it stayed for forty-one weeks. In 2007 at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards, Jon Mayer won Best Pop Vocal Album for ''Continuum'' and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for, "Waiting on the World to Change."


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Aggies quickly renews Oklahoma rivalry in Cotton
Since Bob Stoops became Oklahoma's coach in 1999, the Sooners have won 11 of the 13 meetings. Jones threw five TD passes as a freshman in a 65-10 win in 2009, though the Aggies won the next year before the Sooners won the final Big 12 meeting between the two last season.
"This is another opportunity to put a stamp on that. We figured last year would be the last time we'd play them for a while," Sooners defensive tackle Jamarkus McFarland said. "It does mean something."
The series includes a 77-0 Oklahoma victory in 2003 that is the most lopsided loss in Aggies history. That came a year after Texas A&M upset the top-ranked Sooners when Sumlin was the Aggies' offensive coordinator, though he spent the next five years as a Stoops assistant.
Jones will make his 50th career start where he played his first Oklahoma game, in the 2009 season opener at Cowboys Stadium when he took over after halftime for injured Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford. Jones has since won 39 games, including three bowls and two Big 12 titles, while throwing for a Big 12-record 16,368 yards with 122 TDs.
In his career finale, he'll go against the 20-year-old redshirt freshman known as Johnny Football.
Manziel set the SEC record with 4,600 total yards, becoming only the fifth player ever with 3,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in the same season. He accounted for 43 touchdowns, though the Aggies might not have realized what they really had in the youngster.
"Well, based on the fact we didn't name him the starting quarterback until two weeks before the first game, I don't think in the spring we had any idea," Sumlin said. "He is obviously very talented, but there were a lot of things he needed to work on from a ball security standpoint. ... You never really know, especially with a freshman with so many moving parts going into a game."
When Manziel was asked how he'd try to stop himself, he pondered the question briefly.
"As far as if I'm a defensive coordinator, I wouldn't know what to do," he said.
The SEC has won the last four Cotton Bowls, all against the Big 12. That includes Texas A&M losing to LSU two years ago.
Now Oklahoma gets a chance to defend the honor of the Big 12 against the team that left for another league.
"We want to win regardless of who it is and what the circumstances are," Sooners defensive end R.J. Washington said. "It just adds a little something to it, a little cherry on top."
The Associated Press


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Prep boys basketball: Grace Academy 51, Mount Vernon Christian 50
At Mount Vernon H.S.
Grace Academy 13 19 10 9 — 51
Mount Vernon Christian 14 8 15 13 — 50
Grace Academy—James Eneix 13, Jeremiah Lee 11, Matt Tuttle 2, Isaiah Van Dam 13, Josh Lee 12, Lin Li 0, Chris Eldred 0. Mount Vernon Christian—Tyler Houtsma 0, Joshua Twedt 3, Michael Hancock 8, Jonathan deHaan 12, Riley Hood 5, Andrew Graves 6, Tim VanderKooy 16, Colton Wold 0. 3-point goals—Eneix 4, J. Lee 2, Twedt, DeHaan 2, Hood, VanderKooy 2.
Like our high school sports page on Facebook, follow @HeraldNetPreps on Twitter and look for updates on our Prep Zone blog.Story tags » • Grace Academy • Highland Christian Schools • High School Basketball
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Psoriasis is a chronic (long-lasting) skin disease of scaling and inflammation that affects greater than 3 percent of the United States population, or more than 5 million adults. Although the disease occurs in all age groups, it primarily affects adults. It appears about equally in males and females.
Psoriasis occurs when skin cells quickly rise from their origin below the surface of the skin and pile up on the surface before they have a chance to mature. Usually this movement (also called turnover) takes about a month, but in psoriasis it may occur in only a few days.
In its typical form, psoriasis results in patches of thick, red (inflamed) skin covered with silvery scales. These patches, which are sometimes referred to as plaques, usually itch or feel sore. They most often occur on the elbows, knees, other parts of the legs, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of the feet, but they can occur on skin anywhere on the body. The disease may also affect the fingernails, the toenails, and the soft tissues of the genitals, and inside the mouth. Although it is not unusual for the skin around affected joints to crack, about 30 percent of those with psoriasis experience joint inflammation that produces symptoms of arthritis. This condition is called psoriatic arthritis.
How Does Psoriasis Affect Quality of Life?
Individuals with psoriasis may experience significant physical discomfort and some disability. Itching and pain can interfere with basic functions, such as self-care, walking, and sleep. Plaques on hands and feet can prevent individuals from working at certain occupations, playing some sports, and caring for family members or a home. The frequency of medical care is costly and can interfere with an employment or school schedule. People with moderate to severe psoriasis may feel self-conscious about their appearance and have a poor self-image that stems from fear of public rejection and psychosexual concerns. Psychological distress can lead to significant depression and social isolation.
What Causes Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a skin disorder driven by the immune system, especially involving a type of white blood cell called a T cell. Normally, T cells help protect the body against infection and disease. In the case of psoriasis, T cells are put into action by mistake and become so active that they trigger other immune responses, which lead to inflammation and to rapid turnover of skin cells.
In many cases, there is a family history of psoriasis. Researchers have studied a large number of families affected by psoriasis and identified genes linked to the disease. Genes govern every bodily function and determine the inherited traits passed from parent to child.
People with psoriasis may notice that there are times when their skin worsens, called flares, then improves. Conditions that may cause flares include infections, stress, and changes in climate that dry the skin. Also, certain medicines, including beta-blockers, which are prescribed for high blood pressure, and lithium may trigger an outbreak or worsen the disease.
How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed?
Occasionally, doctors may find it difficult to diagnose psoriasis, because it often looks like other skin diseases. It may be necessary to confirm a diagnosis by examining a small skin sample under a microscope.
There are several forms of psoriasis. Some of these include:
- Plaque psoriasis. Skin lesions are red at the base and covered by silvery scales.
- Guttate psoriasis. Small, drop-shaped lesions appear on the trunk, limbs, and scalp. Guttate psoriasis is most often triggered by upper respiratory infections (for example, a sore throat caused by streptococcal bacteria).
- Pustular psoriasis. Blisters of noninfectious pus appear on the skin. Attacks of pustular psoriasis may be triggered by medications, infections, stress, or exposure to certain chemicals.
- Inverse psoriasis. Smooth, red patches occur in the folds of the skin near the genitals, under the breasts, or in the armpits. The symptoms may be worsened by friction and sweating.
- Erythrodermic psoriasis. Widespread reddening and scaling of the skin may be a reaction to severe sunburn or to taking corticosteroids (cortisone) or other medications. It can also be caused by a prolonged period of increased activity of psoriasis that is poorly controlled.
Another condition in which people may experience psoriasis is psoriatic arthritis. This is a form of arthritis that produces the joint inflammation common in arthritis and the lesions common in psoriasis. The joint inflammation and the skin lesions don't necessarily have to occur at the same time.
How Is Psoriasis Treated?
Doctors generally treat psoriasis in steps based on the severity of the disease, size of the areas involved, type of psoriasis, and the patient's response to initial treatments. This is sometimes called the "1-2-3" approach. In step 1, medicines are applied to the skin (topical treatment). Step 2 uses light treatments (phototherapy). Step 3 involves taking medicines by mouth or injection that treat the whole immune system (called systemic therapy).
Over time, affected skin can become resistant to treatment, especially when topical corticosteroids are used. Also, a treatment that works very well in one person may have little effect in another. Thus, doctors often use a trial-and-error approach to find a treatment that works, and they may switch treatments periodically (for example, every 12 to 24 months) if a treatment does not work or if adverse reactions occur.
Last Updated: 6/10/2010