text:
Give Now
It's the end of the world as we know it! We'll hear music on apocalyptic themes and explore some of the earliest polyphony ever sung.
A look at the work of Marcel Pérès, an introduction to the viola da gamba, and a featured release highlighting some of the earliest music for the cello.
We'll hear from Theatre of Voices, Gloriae dei Cantores Schola, The Choir of Westminster Cathedral and more. Maybe you'll discover something for your wish list!
A live performance by Ensemble REBEL from the 2011 Indianapolis Early Music Festival…plus, recorder music from a featured release by Nina Stern.


text:
>>Vang Vieng
The small town of Vang Vieng is located 150km north of the Vientiane Capital. This is a place of a dreamlike landscape of bizarre limestone mountain peaks and scenic cliffs with the Nam Song (Song River) bisecting the town. At the base of the town's limestone mountains are a network of caves. There are a variety of well-developed tourism services in Vang Vieng and a wide range of accommodations. Water sports such as kayaking and tubing are popular and rock climbing is also a growing pastime. Vang Vieng also offer some peaceful places like several 16th and 17th century monasteries and the small Hmong villages.
Just off of route 13 north are two of Vientiane Province's well known attractions: a small man-made reservoir known as Nong Nok near Ban Sivilay which is a great bird watching site; and the ancient Vang Xang Buddha images and sculptures that are carved into the side of a sandstone escarpment.
All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2012. Tourism Marketing Department, Lao PDR
Designed and Developed by
, Vientiane - Lao PDR

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Cerin's Comments
(2) comments by Cerin
Status Update (1)
So last week i got a minfernal, just randomly. Today i logged onto my Pally, parked on Jaguero Isle, where shoe's been for weeks with no rain, and it's pouring, just like it is outside! I think i was rewarder for walking to work in the rain :P I even got an uncommon, not a rare, but better than my gray Minfernal :P They'll be on my list when the upgrade stones show up :)
Posted: November 19, 2012 8:38:38 AM
Additional Comments by Date (1)
1-1 of 1
Re: Mr. GrubbsMy level 44 hunter just got this guy from her 2nd bag >< I only decided to take the luck buff while leveling in the zone to see what the drop rates were like! Now I'm dreading farming it on my main, I can't be that lucky twice!
Posted: November 26, 2010 10:21:57 PM | Edits: 0 | Rating: 0
1-1 of 1


text:
- About HKCEC
- Venue Information
- Organisers
- Visitors
- Catering & Dining
- What's New
HKCEC launches new iPhone app
(Hong Kong, 25 November 2011) The award-winning Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre ("HKCEC") launched its new HKCEC iPhone app today, downloadable free of charge, in celebration of its 23rd Anniversary on 25 November 2011. The app is an extremely handy and user-friendly tool that offers comprehensive news and information about the HKCEC in three languages: English, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese. To download free of charge, iPhone users just need to visit the iTunes App Store and enter the keyword "HKCEC" or "Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre", or simply scan the QR code (please refer to the Attachment 1) and go direct to the HKCEC app download page in the iTunes App Store.
An important feature of the HKCEC app is its "Event Calendar", which lists major upcoming exhibitions, conferences and special events at the HKCEC. Users can search easily by date, nature of event or keyword, and instantly add the event to their own iPhone calendar. This feature also gives organisers an additional channel for promoting their events, at no extra cost.
Overseas visitors coming to the HKCEC can use the "Transportation" function to get directions to the HKCEC from Hong Kong International Airport and other key locations.
Also available in the HKCEC app is a "Where to Eat" function, which lists the different restaurants at the HKCEC, with their locations and floor plans, making it easy for visitors to make their dining choices in advance.
The HKCEC app also posts the latest "Announcements", providing HKCEC users with real-time updates in a convenient form.
The app also includes other useful functions titled "Floor Plan", "About HKCEC", "My Tools", "Tips", & "Contact Us", all accessible using specially designed icons.
Ms Monica Lee-Müller, Deputy Managing Director of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Ltd ("HML"), commented, "We are proud and excited to be one of the first exhibition venues in the region to offer this new communication channel. The HKCEC app now puts information about the HKCEC and its events right at the fingertips of our users and visitors. This new initiative is part of HML's commitment to continuously enhancing our services, and caters directly to the increasing population of smartphone users in Hong Kong and worldwide."
The Android version of the HKCEC app is currently at the development stage, and will be launched shortly.
Attachment captions:
1. QR code for quick free download of HKCEC iPhone App
2. The brand new HKCEC iPhone App provides free information on Asia's best centre at users' fingertips.
About the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Opened in 1988, this award-winning 306,000 sqm meeting and exhibition venue includes 91,500 sqm of rentable space. It is located on a prime waterfront site in the heart of Hong Kong. It offers uniquely convenient, world-class services and in 2011, was recognised for the 8th time as the Best Convention and Exhibition Centre in Asia by leading industry peers. Over 1,200 events including exhibitions, conferences, corporate meetings, entertainment events, seminars and banquets are held at the HKCEC every year. These events contribute significant economic benefits to the city and help raise the international image of Hong Kong. The HKCEC is owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
About Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited ("HML") is a professional private management and operating company responsible for providing day to day management for the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Among its specific responsibilities, HML oversees administration, marketing, booking, scheduling, event co-ordination, maintenance and security. It also manages food and beverage operations at the HKCEC, including restaurant management and banqueting activities.
HML is a member of NWS Holdings Limited. NWS Holdings Limited ("NWS Holdings", Hong Kong stock code: 659), the infrastructure and service flagship of New World Development Company Limited (Hong Kong stock code: 17), embraces businesses in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Macau. Its Infrastructure portfolio includes Roads, Energy, Water and Ports & Logistics projects. Its Services division comprises Facilities Management (the management of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and Free Duty), Construction & Transport (Hip Hing Construction and bus and ferry services) and Strategic Investments (Tricor, Haitong and securities investments).
Issued by Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Ltd
For further information, please contact:
Ms Mabel Hung, Communications Manager
Tel : +852 2582 7837
Mobile : +852 6295 6570
E-mail : firstname.lastname@example.com / firstname.lastname@example.com
Website : www.hkcec.com


text:
UPDATE: This is a recording of a LIVE Broadcast from Friday morning, Oct. 29, 2010.
On Friday, Oct. 29, at 7:45am, JewishJournal.com will broadcast LIVE the panel discussion, "Importing Creativity from Israel: Israeli entertainment content in Hollywood." Moderated by The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles Editor-in-Chief Rob Eshman, panelists will include:
HOWARD GORDON - Executive Producer (24)
STUART TENZER - Founder, Coast Road Media (Former SVP of William Morris Endeavor)
NOA TISHBY - Actress, Producer (In Treatment)
DAVID M. ISRAEL - EVP Development, The Operating Room (Executive Producer, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Grounded for Life)
Tribe Media Corp. is dedicated to improving the world through media. Our brands include The Jewish Journal, jewishjournal.com, TRIBE Magazine and TribeLIVE Events.
We welcome your feedback.
Privacy Policy
Your information will not be shared or sold without your consent. Get all the details.
Terms of Service
JewishJournal.com has rules for its commenting community.Get all the details.
JewishJournal.com reserves the right to use your comment in our weekly print publication.


text:
Panda Craze
Panda Craze Cheats & Codes
| Cheats | Unlockables | Hints | Easter Eggs | Achievements
Be the first to submit a cheat for Panda Craze.
You must be Logged in to submit a cheat.
Games You May Like
- Platformer
- Wireless
Sonic The Hedgehog Part One contains three familiar zones from the original platformer, including Green Hill Zone, Marble Zone and Spring Yard Zones.
The user plays as a penguin and controls it with accelerometer: the task is to jump from one ice platform to another, avoiding sharks, bears…
Dragon Quest X: The Five Awakening Races Online is the first Dragon Quest game playable with other players as a massively-multiplayer online…
This mobile RPG allows players to take on the role of a new recruit in Shinra's elite Turks unit.
The TNA mobile game allows fans to step into the world of TNA as an up-and-coming superstar. Players are able to go head-to-head with their…


text:
Mfg.: Kolpak
Model: Kolpak P6-088-FT
This item is shipped brand new directly from the manufacturer. Please note the image above is for reference only. This item that has a 10 day lead time to ship after an order is placed.
Item: Kolpak Polar-Pak 8 x 8 Top Mount Walk-In Freezer with Floor Self Contained 6'6" High
Model: P6-088-FT
Description: This walk-in freezer is ideal for storing meats, vegetables, and fruits for future retail merchandising use in supermarkets, restaurants, and other food service establishments.
Availability: During checkout you will be able to order in either:
There are currently no reviews for this item. Be the first to write one.


text:
Hold down Control (PC) or Command (Mac) key + mouseclick to select more than one option
|Avg. Dinner Entrée
|Greater than $25
|$18.01 - $25
|$12.01 - $18
|$7.01 - $12
|Less than $7
Posted by Frustrated would-be diner on 06/10/2011
I've eaten at Yasuda a few times and always found the food to be good but the service poor - the reservationists are incredibly rude and it doesn't get much better once you arrive. Today, we got to the restaurant 5 minutes late for our lunch reservation, only to find they'd given our table away. They claimed we were 10 minutes late and that was unacceptable. After arguing with me about this for five minutes, the maitre d showed me his watch to prove me wrong - and it STILL wouldn't have put us arriving 10 minutes late! So basically, they gave away our table after THREE minutes. Unheard of at any good restaurant in NY and even worse as I was on a business lunch. When we requested logical solutions like putting together two tables to accomodate us, they were having none of it. Eventually, he said 'I'm not talking to you anymore. You won't eat lunch here today. I will not serve you' and stood silently like a child even though we were respectful and trying to be constructive the whole time. This restaurant should be seriously embarrassed at the rudeness of its staff. The best food in the world would not make up for the experience of giving away a table after three minutes and then acting like it's the customer's fault.
Posted by Hoze on 05/22/2011
I´ve been a sushichef for nearly 10 years, I´ve had my share of sushi, and have eaten at some of the best in Japan. This just didnt cut it. The technique was flawless, the pieces where uniquely made, but the fish didnt cut it, nor in temperature wise or taste. The taste of the rice was good, it got a very tokyo style sting to it, though the rice was not properly prepared. It was starchy. Atmosphere at Yasuda is flawless and you can see the sushi chefs have their own personalities as you can see some of them laugh, and some of them just stare grin at you. I think that the reason Yasuda has such a pretty high rating is the personality of the chefs and how the restaurant handles its nazi style reservation system. It was simply put not the grade of sushi I was looking for from such a well rumored restaurant.
Posted by ally's dad on 01/26/2011
Ate here for the first time since Yasuda's departure. In fact he left this am for Japan. His hand picked protege was at the head chef's station and handled his responsibilities perfectly. While noone had Yasuda's dry Japanese wit coming across in English, or his scary memory, the young man was solicitous, knowlegable and his prparation would make the master proud. Sushi Yasuda has not lost a step and if your wallet can take it, see what still seems to be controlled like a deux ex machina by the master. Amities Gourmandes, ally's dad
Posted by David on 12/11/2010
The only thing better than sushi here is going to the fish market in Tokyo. Ask to sit in front of Mr. Yasuda and let him serve you whatever he wants. It's completely amazing. Unfortunately, Mr. Yasuda is starting a new restaurant in Japan, so you best act quick to sit with him. If you do, you won't be sorry. One more thing. Ignore the bad reviews on this site. Some people obviously don't recognize good food when it's put in front of them.
Posted by boo on 09/06/2010
The luxury of sitting at the sushi counter is to be able to communicate with the sushi chefs and hear interesting stories about what you put in your mouth. Sushi Yasuda did have pretty good selection of fish including some that I had not heard of even in Japan. Must have been unconventional sushi materials. So I was very interested and wanted to know about them but our sushi-chef was very non-interesting, non-entertaining one and all he said was "it's good" or "would taste like mackerel" when asked questions. No, the language was not the issue as the chef and I are both Japanese and we were speaking in our native language. And no, it wasn't so busy that he couldn't stop his hand for 5 seconds to have a little talk. Of course chef's 1st priority is not to chat with customers, but to make a good food, which he did an okay job of, except when he put too much sea salt or brushed too much soy sauce on sushi pieces. But the real good sushi chefs i know would be able to give you information on what they are serving with some interesting stories without being chatty. In general the people work there seem to be dead inside or something. They are doing their jobs, but just don't seem to care much. The quality of the food - Okay. It's not bad for the price (2 of us had belly full of sushi, 2 appetizers, beer and carafes of sake for $230 before tip) but nothing was remarkable either. I would rather pay a little more and go somewhere better because we do not eat sushi often and I want it to be a good experience each time...
Posted by jb on 09/02/2010
Yes, the restaurant is indeed beautiful and the service is amazing, but the food is just not worth the price. While it's a few dollars cheaper than some of the other sushi places around here, you do not receive the same amount of sushi for the price.
Posted by Matt on 08/17/2010
I will start this off by saying that I am not a big sushi fan. With that being said, I've had many business meetings at sushi restaurants (along with all other ethnicities) throughout the years. The client gets to choose the restaurant and in this unfortunate case, my client chose Sushi Yasuda. When I've gone to other sushi restaurants in the past, the staff has been very helpful and accommodating in finding something for me. As others have already noted, that was not my experience at Yasuda. I won't go on and on about how uncomfortable the staff made me feel or how much I disliked my meal. I will say that when a person goes to a restaurant – they are paying for a service and to be treated. I find it ridiculous that people on this board are calling out others for being "cheap or overweight" for mentioning that the food is overpriced and comes in extremely small portions. I am in great shape and I make a lot of money and I still found the place to be completely overpriced, overrated and I left hungry. I realize that the chef prepares things in a certain way but what if a person has an allergy, are they allowed to be accommodated? I'm sure most of you would return a steak if it was not cooked to your liking so why is this place different? All chefs prepare foods the way they want (hence the "chef's suggestion") however we all still order the food the way we want it. I'm not sure why this restaurant gets a pass. The joke is that everyone flocks to a restaurant that treats their customers poorly, charges a fortune and then flips a table while customers are still eating. The place is making a killing!


text: In front of Prospect Hall is a 'Winter King' Hawthorn {Crataegus viridis 'Winter King'} that has dropped its leaves to showcase its great profusion of orange-red fruit. This is a great selection with flowers, fruit and horizontal branching that is very attractive. Outside the silo at Hyde Hall is a Japanese Maple {Acer palmatum 'Oshi-Beni'} whose leaves have turned a very bright red. This tree has dark red foliage throughout the growing season and its fall foliage is a much brighter and lighter shade of red.


text:
Guidebook 13 – Policies and Precautionary Measures
Contact Information
An emergency telephone number will be supplied with your final confirmation package. Messages for students or adults onsite will be delivered to them within 24 hours. Emergencies will be responded to with appropriate speed onsite.
Due to the unpredictability of when mail will arrive, many letters and packages have not arrived at past CHIC conferences until after the conference was over. If you do send mail, please send it prior to the event. Mail received after the close of the event will be returned to the sender.
At CHIC 2009 we are striving to create ethnically diverse Base Camps for everyone. In an effort to do this we are asking both youth and adults to indicate their ethnicity on the registration forms to assist us as we create the Base Camp rosters. Answering this question is still optional; if you prefer not to include this information on your registration form please leave that section blank. Thank you for your assistance in this process.
Children at CHIC
CHIC is designed to meet the needs of registered students. The schedule for CHIC Staff and Counselors will be busy, unpredictable, and intense; therefore, children, regardless of their age, are not to accompany a parent(s) to CHIC unless they are a student registered to attend the conference. No exceptions!
Visitation Policy
CHIC is for registered students and adults. If adult visitors do come, they must check-in at the CHIC Office to receive a temporary daily pass.
Security personnel from the University of Tennessee and the CHIC Staff will partner to provide a secure campus 24 hours a day. They will be easy to distinguish, as will all students and adults, by their CHIC 2009 identification which is to be worn at all times. The security staff will help direct traffic to all CHIC gatherings, respond to campus disturbances, patrol the campus during CHIC sessions and at night, as well as help maintain the Standards of Conduct.
Standards of Conduct violations will be handled by Security who may take any or all of the following actions:
- Develop a written behavioral agreement
- Consult the local church youth leader
- Refer the individual to Counseling Services
- Request that the CHIC 2009 Steering Committee dismiss the individual
Fines and/or legal action may also be pursued by the University of Tennessee for certain violations; please refer to the Standards of Conduct on page 16.
Special Needs
The CHIC Staff has a support team in place to help accommodate students with special needs. This team will make every reasonable effort to assist students with physical, mental, and/or emotional impairments who are able to function in a public school setting. All buildings and events at the University of Tennessee are handicap accessible and transportation will be available to shuttle students with special needs and the companions to and from activities.
Churches are encouraged to send a volunteer to serve as a one-on-one Companion for any student with special needs who may require assistance or supervision. If a church is unable to send a Companion, and if prior notification is given, a member of the CHIC special needs team may be available to serve as a one-on-one Companion for a student. Adults serving as Companions also need to complete an adult application form and should indicate their role as a Companion on that form.
Please help us adequately prepare for students with special needs by completing the special needs form and returning it with your completed student registration form to the CHIC contact at your church. Students applying for special needs registration will receive confirmation of their acceptance by May 25, 2009.
Medical Services
CHIC provides accident insurance for attendees during the duration of the event. Illness and injuries occurring prior to or after the conference will not be covered.
The Medical Services team, composed of RNs, LPNs, EMTs, and a consulting MD will work with the University of Tennessee Medical Center to provide necessary medical care to participants of CHIC 2009. Medical Services team members will be highly visible and stationed around campus throughout CHIC, including being present at all large gatherings and in the residence halls in the evenings. All serious medical cases will be referred to the University of Tennessee Hospital Emergency Room.
Counseling Services
The Counseling Services team will be available at CHIC to work with students and adults who require counseling care. The goal for the Counseling Services team at CHIC is to help meet the immediate need of the individual and connect that person with ongoing counseling help after returning home.
Special Dietary Needs
The University of Tennessee is able to accommodate certain dietary needs (such as a gluten free diet). Please include your request on the special needs form and the University of Tennessee will notify the chef at the cafeteria to which you are assigned. Upon arrival at your first meal on campus, ask to see a manager or the chef in your cafeteria and introduce yourself and you will be able to review any issues of concerns. Please contact the University of Tennessee if you have any dietary concerns.
Parents of students who require prescription medications when traveling and/or at CHIC should discuss their student's medical situation with the adult leaders from their church. Since it is not possible for the CHIC medical team to dispense prescription medications, counselors/leaders are responsible for administering medicine with students and following parental wishes concerning student's medicine. Refrigeration for medications can be made available in assigned student housing if this need is noted on the registration form.
Information Center
The Information Center and satellite information booths will be staffed with knowledgeable volunteers who are familiar with the campus, CHIC happenings, and will serve as a resource for all CHIC-related questions.


text:
Home / Store / Journals / Electronic Articles / Nuclear Technology / Volume 176 / Number 1
Cheng-Der Wang, Chaung Lin
Nuclear Technology
Volume 176 / Number 1 / October 2011 / Pages 72-82
Format:electronic copy (download)
A method for the automatic design of a boiling water reactor (BWR) control rod (CR) pattern (CRP) was developed using the rank-based ant system, which is an effective optimization algorithm for a combinatorial optimization problem. The designed BWR CRP followed either the A2-B1-A1-B2 or the A1-B2-A2-B1 sequence in this study. After the CRP was determined, the SIMULATE-3 code was used to calculate the axial power distribution, the effective multiplication factor keff, the shutdown margin, and three thermal limits-which were then used to evaluate the CRP and update the pheromone concentration. The developed methodology was demonstrated using design CRPs for several fuel loading patterns, showing that the designed patterns can be obtained within a reasonable computation time and with an acceptable cycle length.
Your cart is empty.
Home|Invoice Payment|Nuclear Links
Privacy Policy|Terms of Use


text:
You are in Europe
|Gary L Albrecht
|University of Illinois at Chicago
|© 2006
|2936 pages
|SAGE Publications, Inc
|Individual Purchasers
Library Journal Best Reference 2005
Booklist Editor's Choice 2006
It represents the first attempt to bring an authoritative reference resource to the many faces of disability. More than 500 world-renowned scholars have written over 1000 entries, in a clear, accessible style, with the desire to bring all students, researchers, and interested readers closer to the daily experience of disability.
The first four volumes cover disability in an A to Z format, including a reader's guide, comprehensive bibliography and index.
Volume five contains a wealth of primary source documents in the field of disability, everything from photographs to correspondence to excerpts from movie scripts and more.
·· Sample entries are available to download from the resources section of the website - click on Sample Chapters & Resources to see more ··
The Encyclopedia of Disability is a must-have reference for all academic libraries, large public libraries and any social science, medical, legal, or governmental reference collections. Non-governmental organizations, charitable foundations and law firms will also want to add this set to their collections.
Senior Editors
Jerome Bickenbach, Queen's University
Scott Brown
Dudley Childress, Northwestern University Medical School
Joseph Flaherty, Univeristy of Illinois at Chicago
Allen Heinemann, Northwestern University
Tamar Heller, Univeristy of Illinois at Chicago
Christopher Keys, Univeristy of Illinois at Chicago
David Mitchell, Univeristy of Illinois at Chicago
Trevor Parmenter, University of Sydney, Australia
Mairian Scott-Hill, Marsh Hills Cottage
Tom Shakespeare, University of Newcastle
Sharon Snyder, Univeristy of Illinois at Chicago
Henri-Jacques Stiker, Univeristy of Paris
Key Themes
Consumer Organizations/Advocacy
Movement Ideology
International Developing Countries/Cultural Differences
Professional and Lay Cultures
Identity and Representation
Products/Technology/Assisted Devices
Social Political
Universal Design/Architecture /Physical Environment
Cross Cultural/Cross National
Gary L Albrecht is Professor of Public Health and of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago.


text:
Want to join EWN's original e-fed? Join EWNCW NOW!Want details? Just ask me!
The Journey of 1000 Miles begins with a single step!
"Bring a knife to a fist fight, a gun to a knife fight, and a M134 to anything else."
View Tag Cloud
Forum Rules
© 2011 eWrestlingNews, All Rights Reserved.


text:
Narrow your search
The Nakamichi My Mini Plus is a diminutive portable speaker that pumps out a decent amount of sound for its size. Read on for Crave Asia's ears-on assessment.
The ubiquitous feline grabs hold of yet another gadget, this time the X-mini capsule speakers from XMI.
The capsule speaker with its signature accordion middle, which nabbed the company a red dot award, has gotten a cap that protects the speaker and appears to help direct the sound.
The Singapore company makes a few adjustments to the capsule speakers after their initial release.
IXOS has jumped into the iPod accessory arena with a tube-shaped iPod speaker system. For £25, we're tempted to say it sounds even better than it should...
Plug-in speaker improves on earlier designs.


text:
Brad Paisley Tour Dates 2015
Brad Paisley is quite possibly THE king of country concert tours… or maybe he's your favorite college buddy who always knows where the fresh kegs and beautiful women are, cause that's what seems to be at every show he plays on the road! This summer he's finishing out a run of the mega-popular Country Megaticket dates before jumping off on his own headlining concert tour. Either way, Brad always delivers a great party when he plays live, so don't miss him!
Brad Paisley Tour Dates | Tickets
Brad Paisley BiographyContemporary country singer/songwriter Brad Paisley was born October 28, 1972, in Glen Dale, WV; given his first guitar at age eight, he delivered his first public performance at church two years later. With his 50-something guitar teacher Clarence "Hank" Goddard and two of the older man's seasoned musician buddies, the teenaged Paisley formed his first band, the C-Notes, and at age 12 started writing his own music. After playing in front of the local Rotary Club, he was invited to appear on Wheeling station WWVA's famed Saturday night broadcast Jamboree USA. Paisley's debut was so well received that he was invited to become a part of the program full-time, and in the years to follow he opened for the likes of the Judds, Roy Clark, and Little Jimmy Dickens. He later attended Nashville's Belmont University, serving an internship with ASCAP; the contacts Paisley made there helped him land a songwriting deal with EMI, and he also appeared on innumerable demos.
Signing to Arista, he put forth his debut solo album, Who Needs Pictures, in 1999. The record produced two chart-topping singles in "He Didn't Have to Be," an ode to loving stepfathers, and "We Danced" and also acquired generally positive reviews for its diversity of country styles. In the meantime, Paisley recorded a duet with Chely Wright, "Hard to Be a Husband, Hard to Be a Wife," for the Backstage at the Grand Ole Opry compilation; the two later joined efforts on several music for Wright's Never Love You Enough album. The sophomore to Paisley's debut, Part II, was issued in 2001 and promptly returned him to the Top Five with "Two People Fell in Love." "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)" gave Paisley his third chart-topper, and "Wrapped Around" fell one spot short of becoming his fourth. "I Wish You'd Stay" became the fourth Top Ten hit from the record in early 2003.
At the beginning of August 2005, Paisley put together a short "director's commentary" preview of his next album for his fan base to download. The full album, Time Well Wasted, appeared two weeks later and narrowly missed the top of the album charts, though it did hit number one on the country charts. In 2006 Brad Paisley Christmas, a collection of both originals and covers, came out, came by 5th Gear in 2007, which included the ubiquitous "Ticks," a sure future novelty classic. An record of mostly guitar instrumentals (Paisley's excellent guitar playing is a big part of his appeal), Play, followed in 2008, with the big country vocal hit "Waitin' on a Woman" added in as a "bonus" track. By now poised at the very top of the commercial country world, Paisley put forth American Saturday Night in 2009.
Biography provided by: http://countrymusicnewsblog.com
Brad Paisley Tour Tickets
If there are currently no Brad Paisley tour 2015 tickets available, please check back as new show dates are constantly being added. Orders for Brad Paisley 2015 tour tickets that are no longer available will be canceled or substituted at the seller's discretion. All purchase of Brad Paisley 2015 concert tour tickets are made through Ticketmaster US or one of their concert ticket partners. Country Music On Tour and their affiliate companies do not guarantee or refund ticket sales.
If you would like to attend a Brad Paisley 2015 tour show live in person, please follow the links provided for concert ticket pricing, tour dates and music venues. Country Music On Tour provides tour schedules and concert information for live performances featuring Brad Paisley concert tour 2015 .
It is our goal at Country Music On Tour to provide the most recent and up-to-date Brad Paisley 2015 concert tour Concert tickets at discounted prices, and we are equally committed to providing thorough Brad Paisley 2015 concert tour information. Our site includes Brad Paisley 2015 concert tour schedules, venue seating charts, Venue directions, and Brad Paisley 2015 concert tour biographies and news.
Filed under: Brad Paisley


text:
|Monday, July 6, 2015
|Search Our Site
Comment on This Story / Send This Article to a Friend
BusinessNorth Exclusives
Oil boom hits the Twin Ports
The ever-growing amount of crude oil being extracted from western oil fields has quietly led to millions of dollars of investment and is creating new transportation jobs in the Twin Ports.
Calumet Specialty Products announced Jan. 25 it is exploring the possibility of building and operating a crude oil loading dock on Lake Superior, near its Superior refinery.
"We would expect to have this project fully operational during the shipping season of 2015 and are currently in talks with potential customers and partners," Todd Borgmann, vice president of business development, said in the company's announcement.
Fourteen months ago, similar interest was expressed in maritime petroleum transportation. Late in 2011, Hallett Dock Co. President and COO Mike McCoshen told the Duluth Seaway Port Authority Board his company had been receiving inquiries about transshipping oil from the Bakken fields.
If Calumet receives permits for its waterfront venture, it won't be the company's first investment in new transportation facilities. The Indianapolis-based partnership recently invested $10 million in a rail yard and crude oil loading dock at its Superior refinery.
The facility opened in November as a transshipment point for unrefined crude oil. Calumet purchases the crude from North Dakota drillers, offloading the supply from Enbridge pipelines that pass through Superior. Roughly 7,000 barrels a day – enough to fill 10 tank cars – are transferred to rail for transfer to a Calumet refinery in Shreveport, La.
So why not just route the oil directly from North Dakota to Louisiana? The transportation network – which includes pipelines and rail – hasn't expanded fast enough to accommodate the explosive growth in North Dakota's oil extraction. Five years ago, the Bakken fields produced 200,000 barrels of petroleum daily. They currently produce about 600,000. Within the next two or three years, they could produce from 1 million to 1.3 million per day.
"The whole crude oil market and transportation logistics have changed rather dramatically with all the new oil coming on-stream from North Dakota. They have some limits on moving crude oil by pipeline and also some real bottlenecks because so many companies are moving crude oil by rail," explained Dave Podratz, Calumet's Superior plant manager. "The freight rate to move crude oil by rail from North Dakota to Shreveport is higher than it is to move it by pipeline to Superior, put it on rail cars and move it to Louisiana."
Murphy Oil Corp launched the $10 million terminal project before the Superior refinery was sold to Calumet in October 2011. The companies split the costs of the terminal, which include about 5,000 feet of track.
"Murphy saw an opportunity to bring in crude oil by rail from North Dakota. Murphy's plan was to refine it in Superior and ship it out as gasoline, diesel, fuel oil and asphalt. We would have bought less crude oil coming down the pipeline and replaced it with barrels coming by rail – strictly looking for a cheaper supply by rail," Podratz said.
After reviewing the plan, Calumet felt it made more sense to offload crude oil from pipelines owned by Enbridge, a common carrier, then transport it by rail to be refined at other Calumet plants.
Calumet has three Louisiana refineries. For many years, the company supplied them via pipelines from regional oil fields. In recent years, however, its refineries had faced some pipeline interruptions.
"They were having a hard time getting enough supply. Crude oil from North Dakota is a nice feed stock for them, and they determined we can get it to them by rail at a lower price than they pay to other sources," Podratz said.
Expanding the oil transportation network could take years and billions of dollars. In December, Enbridge Energy Partners proposed building a new 24-inch pipeline from Beaver Lodge, N.D. (midway between Minot and Williston) to Superior. The 600-mile pipeline is projected to cost $2.5 billion and won't be completed until about 2016. It's part of a $6.2 billion initiative to increase transportation capacity by 400,000 barrels per day. Current capacity is 250,000 barrels.
According to a Jan. 3 Bloomberg story, rail carloads of crude oil tripled last year to more than 200,000. In turn, the demand for rail tank cars has soared, although manufacturers, fearing a boom-then-bust cycle, are reluctant to produce too many.
New focus
Calumet's project is small when compared with plans Murphy revealed in 2007 to invest $6 billion into the 62-year-old Superior refinery. That expansion would have increased plant capacity from 35,000 barrels per day to about 235,000. Calumet, however, has a different focus. The company's primary market is petroleum-based specialty products such as lubricating oils, candle waxes, cosmetics, furniture polish – even WD-40. Plans for an expansion of that magnitude are unlikely to materialize, Podratz said, although he anticipates growth in transshipment business.
"We're looking for customers. We've been talking to some folks, so it's quite possible we'll see tank cars going out of here for customers other than Calumet. We're set up to do that," he said.
So far, four new employees have been hired to operate the loading terminal, which is covered by a shed to protect workers from inclement weather. Switching is handled by Northern Plains Railroad, with the cars transported to Louisiana by BNSF.
"As operations ramp up, Northern Plains may have to add some staff, and we may have to add more shifts," Podratz said. "Conceivably, we could work two or three shifts a day if customers and rail cars are available."
In addition to its Superior expansion, Calumet has pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy, spending approximately $1 billion since acquiring the refinery.
• On Jan. 4, 2012, Calumet Missouri, a subsidiary, purchased the assets of Hercules, an aviation and refrigerant lubricants business, for an undisclosed price. Included was a 22-acre parcel and manufacturing facility in Louisiana, Mo.
• On Jan. 6, 2012, Calumet Lubricants Co., a wholly owned subsidiary, acquired the outstanding membership interests of TruSouth Oil, located in Shreveport. It produces a variety of specialty products including motor oils, gear oils, engine oils, automotive fluids and specialty engineered fuel and oil mix products. The transaction price was not disclosed.
• On July 3, Calumet completed the purchase of Royal Purple, a Texas-based maker of synthetic consumer and industrial lubricants, for $333 million.
• On Oct. 1, Calumet acquired Montana Refining Company, Inc. for $120 million, which owns and operates a refinery in Great Falls. It produces 9,800 barrels per day of gasoline, middle distillates and asphalt.
• On Jan. 2, the company purchased a San Antonio refinery, crude oil pipeline and crude oil terminal from NuStar. The deal was valued at more than $100 million. The refinery produces approximately 14,500 barrels per day of ultra-low sulfur diesel, jet fuel, specialty solvents and other products.
"We continue to actively look for additional growth opportunities, which will complement our current assets and diversify our geographic presence," CEO Bill Grube said in an October press release.
Previous BusinessNorth Exclusives Articles:
BusinessNorth - The business news source for Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin.
P.O. Box 16223, Duluth, MN 55816
Phone: 218-720-3060 Fax: 218-720-3068 firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Broncos' Montee Ball to Have Appendix Removed and Be Healthy for Season Opener
The Denver Broncos won't be without running back Montee Ball for their season opener, even though he will be getting his appendix removed Monday. According to ESPN, Ball will be shifting into the starting role for the Broncos this
Cold Weather Won't Affect Montee Ball
On being drafted by Denver and having Peyton Manning as a quarterback: "My first thought was that was my dream team growing up as a child. I landed on that team, which is a very rare opportunity – to
Fantasy Football – Denver Broncos Montee Ball is a Must-Add RB Who Can Save Your Fantasy Season
The Denver Broncos gave rookie running back Montee Ball some quality touches at the beginning of this season, for a firstyear player. Although Ball failed to perform consistently early on, the tough back definitely exhibited potential and some flashes of
ESPN 1080 Insiders Poll 12-5-11
The ESPN1080 Insiders crew have once again submitted their votes following a weekend of college football. The way the voting works is simple – you get 25 points for being #1, 24 for #2, 23 for #3, etc… The


text:
IT'S a car maker's dream: an engine with increased power but lower emissions. And all it took were some holes drilled into its exhaust system.
Ahmet Selamet of Ohio State University in Columbus, working with engineers at the Ford Motor Company near Detroit, has been looking at the problems car engines have in trying to force gases down the exhaust manifoldthe converging pipes that carry exhaust gases away from the cylinders towards the catalytic converter. Gases entering the manifold create back pressures that decrease an engine's efficiency.
The pressure waves formed as gases emerge from the cylinders also generate deafening noiseup to 190 decibels at the input to the manifold. "This is why cars have complex muffling systems," says Selamet.
Selamet and his Ford colleagues have enclosed a manifold within a sealed casing and redesigned the tubes or "runners" so that they lead the gases away from the engine more ...
To continue reading this article, subscribe to receive access to all of newscientist.com, including 20 years of archive content.


text:
The hair have always been considered a symbol of virility ( male ) and seduction ( female ), but also a symbol of a culture and a way of being, for exeple in China haircut was a disgrace, in France the long hair was the prerogative of the nobles and the invincibility of Samson was tied to his own long hair.
But besides being a symbol, are very often also an indicator of the age , linked to the characteristic properties of the hair to become gray or white in time.
The color of the hair is due to melanin, a colored substance divided into two types : eumelanin , dark ( hair blacks ) , and pheomelanin , clear ( blonde hair, golden, red ) . In blonde hair melanin is present only in the cuticle , while in blacks or brown hair is also present in the medullary layer ( in red hair melanin is replaced by common soluble pigments) .
Getting older the original color of the hair start changing ( around 30 years) to white color . There are more causes that influence this phenomenon and the time of its appearance , such as genetics , some metabolic phenomena , nutrition, and stress.
Today we know a little more about this process, thanks to a team of European researchers who have identified in the gray hair follicle a strong oxidative stress , caused by a buildup of hydrogen peroxide !
To demonstrate it, we tested a product appling it topically on the scalp, it can counteract this excess of hydrogen peroxide , via UV activation ; this type of treatment has also been used in cases of vitiligo , with excellent results.
This exciting discovery will open new interesting horizons in combatting graying or vitiligo and it'll be very useful for preparation of new cosmetic products. In the meantime, the only help arrives from nature! We can have daily a good ammount of antioxidants , either through diet or through nutritional supplementation.
Try to use the excellent fresh basil pesto, typical in this season, one of the 20 foods richest in antioxidants.
What about you? Do you use any antioxidant?
Let us know your opinion.
Let's comment this post!


text:
After a long hiatus, director Chandrasekhar Yeleti dishes out an adventurous thriller. Owing to its theme, there was lot of hype surrounding the film. And an unforeseen delay of its release spiced it up. I walked into the cinema with huge expectations. To my surprise, what I got is a half-baked cookie. That's how the cookie crumbled. That's how Sahasam tasted.
The movie explodes in Pakistan and the smoke trail leads to India, and finally fizzles at Pak. Different timelines were established in the narration that track the nerve centre of the follow of events. What starts to be a treasure hunt loses its steam midway and takes the story to a different terrain. The premise is strong, but the way the plot is driven seems very artificial.
The protagonist Gowtham (Gopi Chand) is introduced as one who believes in luck and always dreams to become rich the easy way. Suddenly his character takes a volte-face and he is seen as a man with conviction. This character reversal was unpalatable. He earns the wrath of a staunch devotee Nidhi (Tapsee) in a chance meeting. From here, every moment is staged. A set-up of a photo exhibition, a trip to Pakistan, a naïve girl travelling with a stranger to an alien land, one after the other things were made to fall forcefully in place. First of all, the entire motive of the treasure hunt seemed to be baseless.
Even when the movie shifts it gears to Pakistan, for most of the time the hunt is for Gopi Chand. This was done in an archetypal Okkadunnadu style. The hero lives to his name of a hero when he effortlessly plays the sport of Buzkashi. He doesn't know the rules, he doesn't know how to ride a horse, but still emerges as a winner. This offers some visceral delight to the viewer. Can we call it inducing some forceful adrenaline-rushing moments? Yes, the movie has many such loose ends that need to be fastened.
Passing through many lanes and by-lanes, the movie reaches its high-flying zone – the 30 minute power play that leads to climax. The art director must be applauded for creating such an aura. The massive set pieces make for the nail-biting moments the movie offers towards the end. But, the point here to ponder on is that the director, who is known for his artistic flair, along with four writers couldn't pen an engaging screenplay. The void was felt all through the film.
One thing that shines all through the film is its technical brilliance. The breath-taking visuals of Ladakh are to die for. The accentuating background score of Sri took the movie to a different altitude. It's difficult to imagine the film without that. The performances of the lead characters were perfect. Shakti Kapoor never looked so menacing on screen. Over all, the movie is not worth the hype it created, but makes its place in coming of age Telugu cinema. It's time Chandrasekhar Yeleti should pull his socks and make a more intelligent and immersive film. Sir, please respect the genre.
My Rating: Expectation – 8/10; Reality – 4/10view less


text:
The Marcus Corporation Announces "75 Days of Prizes" to Celebrate the Company's 75th Anniversary
Published On: Wednesday, August 11, 2010
One prize every day for 75 days. Enter at www.marcus75.com
The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), today announced it will kick off its 75th anniversary celebration with an incredible "75 Days of Prizes" sweepstakes. Beginning today, individuals can enter for a chance to win exciting prizes from Marcus Theatres® and Marcus® Hotels and Resorts by logging on to www.marcus75.com. Major prizes include a fun-filled trip to Hollywood, California, a relaxing vacation to Jamaica, an annual movie pass for two, a Las Vegas trip for two and a Golfer's Dream package for four.
Every day from Wednesday, August 19, 2010, to November 1, 2010, a daily prize will be awarded. Daily prizes include an overnight vacation for two at a Marcus Hotels and Resorts property, Queen for a Day Well Spa® packages, water park packages, Marcus Theatres movie passes and more.
Individuals who enter to win a daily prize will automatically be entered for a chance to win one of the two fabulous grand prizes. Grand prizes are a Funjet Vacations trip for two to Jamaica with all-inclusive accommodations at the luxurious RIU Montego Bay for seven nights, and a trip for two to Hollywood, California, with hotel accommodations at the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn Hollywood, at Universal Studios for five nights.
"For 75 years, a hallmark of The Marcus Corporation has been our dedication to creating memorable entertainment experiences for our guests. We would not have reached this significant milestone without the loyalty and support of our customers," said Gregory S. Marcus, president and chief executive officer of The Marcus Corporation. "We want to say thank you by offering 75 days of fantastic theatres and hotels prizes. We hope our winners enjoy the outstanding giveaways available in our anniversary sweepstakes and we encourage everyone to go to the website daily to participate."
More information on all prizes and the official rules can be found at www.marcus75.com. In celebration of the company's 75 years in business, plans for other special anniversary activities will be announced in the upcoming months.
About The Marcus Corporation
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, The Marcus Corporation is a leader in the lodging and entertainment industries. The Marcus Corporation's movie theatre division, Marcus Theatres®, currently owns or manages 668 screens at 54 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and Ohio, and one family entertainment center in Wisconsin. The company's lodging division, Marcus Hotels and Resorts, owns or manages 19 hotels, resorts and other properties in ten states. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.marcuscorp.com.
Certain matters discussed in this press release are "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may generally be identified as such because the context of such statements include words such as we "believe," "anticipate," "expect" or words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our future plans, objectives or goals are also forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially from those expected, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) the availability, in terms of both quantity and audience appeal, of motion pictures for our theatre division, as well as other industry dynamics such as the maintenance of a suitable window between the date such motion pictures are released in theatres and the date they are released to other distribution channels; (2) the effects of increasing depreciation expenses, reduced operating profits during major property renovations, and preopening and start-up costs due to the capital intensive nature of our businesses; (3) the effects of adverse economic conditions in our markets, particularly with respect to our hotels and resorts division; (4) the effects of adverse weather conditions, particularly during the winter in the Midwest and in our other markets; (5) the effects of the relative industry supply of available rooms at comparable lodging facilities in our markets on our occupancy and room rates; (6) the effects of competitive conditions in our markets; (7) our ability to identify properties to acquire, develop and/or manage and continuing availability of funds for such development; and (8) the adverse impact on business and consumer spending on travel, leisure and entertainment resulting from terrorist attacks in the United States, the United States' responses thereto and subsequent hostilities. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are made only as of the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.


text:
Book your room at NH Roma Villa Carpegna
Standard Room, 1 Double or 2 Single BedsMax Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 child)
Superior Room, 1 Double or 2 Single BedsMax Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 child)
Standard Double Room Single Use, 1 Double or 2 Single Beds, SmokingMax Occupancy: 1 guest
Superior Double Room Single Use, 1 Double or 2 Single Beds, SmokingMax Occupancy: 1 guest
Get an overview of this hotelFamily-friendly Rome hotel in Aurelio, near St. Peter's Basilica
This family-friendly hotel is located in the city center, within 1 mi (2 km) of Villa Doria Pamphili, Russian Orthodox Church of Saint Catherine, and San Carlo di Nancy Hospital. St. Peter's Basilica and Sistine Chapel are also within 2 mi (3 km).
Hotel Features
A restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar/lounge are available at this smoke-free hotel. Free buffet breakfast, free WiFi in public areas, and free self parking are also provided. Additionally, a coffee shop/café, a snack bar/deli, and a conference center are onsite.
Room Amenities
All 201 soundproofed rooms feature free WiFi and minibars. TVs, room service, and hair dryers are among the other amenities available to guests.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
NH Roma Villa Carpegna features a fitness center and a seasonal outdoor pool. The hotel offers a restaurant, a coffee shop/café, and a snack bar/deli. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast. A computer station is located on site and high-speed wireless Internet access is complimentary.
This 4-star property offers access to a business center, limo/town car service, and meeting rooms. Event facilities include a conference center and conference space. This family-friendly hotel also offers a terrace, multilingual staff, and gift shops/newsstands. For a surcharge, a roundtrip airport shuttle (available on request) is offered to guests. Complimentary self parking is available on site.
NH Roma Villa Carpegna is a smoke-free property.
- Terrace
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Computer station
- Luggage storage
- Year Built 2001
- Conference center
- Snack bar/deli
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Free WiFi
- Multilingual staff
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Business center
- Laundry facilities
- Airport transportation (surcharge)
- 24-hour front desk
- Total number of rooms - 201
- Number of floors - 3
- Bar/lounge
- Coffee shop or café
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Free breakfast
- Conference space
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Elevator/lift
- Fitness facilities
- Pool umbrellas
- Meeting rooms
- Restaurant
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Number of meeting rooms - 10
- Free self parking
- Pool sun loungers
- Smoke-free property
- Garden
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Outdoor seasonal pool
- Wedding services
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Free Wi-Fi
- Soundproofed rooms
- Snack bar/deli
- Laundry facilities
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Free self parking
Room Amenities
- Television
- Free WiFi
- Bathtub or shower
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Daily housekeeping
- Soundproofed rooms
- Pay movies
- Air conditioning
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Bidet
- In-room safe
- Desk
- Minibar
- Room service
Where to Eat
Guests are offered a complimentary buffet breakfast.
Il Gelsomino - This restaurant specializes in local cuisine.
Room service is available.
Nearby Things to Do
Recreational amenities at the hotel include a fitness center and a seasonal outdoor pool.
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessible bathroom
- Accessible path of travel
- In-room accessibility
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Minimum check-in age is 18
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Pets allowed, Only dogs and cats are allowed, Maximum number of pets per room 1, Pet maximum weight in kg is 15
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- A tax is imposed by the city: EUR 6 per person, per night, up to 10 nights. This tax does not apply to children under 10 years of age.
- Pet fee: EUR 20 per pet, per night
- Rollaway bed fee: EUR 30 per night
We should mention
Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 999.99, due to national regulations. For further details, please contact the property using information in the booking confirmation. This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply). Guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. One child 11 years old or younger stays free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms. The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
NH Lazy Sunday Promotion - Book a stay in any rate category, for travel anytime including a Sunday, and receive the following:
- Breakfast available to noon on Sunday only
- Free late check-out until 3 PM only for those leaving on Sunday


text:
Narrow your search
The Audi Q3 will be the automaker's next vehicle to get a wireless connection from the carrier.
Streetline releases the second-generation parking app, Parker, for the iPhone and announced the availability of Parker for Android.
Have you ever wanted to be able to just look at your phone and know where all of the open parking spaces are in your area?
Why would a company whose motto is "the ultimate driving machine" be interested in something that has nothing to do with driving or machines?
Stop circling and start bidding for a spot to park with the help of recently launched app Parking Auction.
Parking In Motion aims to become the universal database of open parking spots.


text:
A Look at Switzerland's Eccentric Lake Lugano House
Owing to the precise topography of the location, this villa is composed of two volumes which are organized on different levels. With 350 mq this house lies on the slope of a hills and seated on the shore of the Lake Lugano in Lugano, Switzerland. The reason why it is called as Lake Lugano House is due to its location. This house has a polygonal shaped glass pavilion with rounded edge that stands above a linear underground block. While the living room and dining room, the kitchen and the storage spaces are located in the pavilion. Then the bedrooms, bathrooms, and garage as well are located in the lower level of this house.
Each level of the house connects itself with the independent outdoor spaces which are closely related. As you can see the glass pavilion in this house overlooks the two much defined areas in this house. The first toward the mountain is a very private zone which resulted in the area between the property line and the building setback line. It is according to the local building code. Meanwhile the second is a garden overlooking the lake. Likewise, the bedroom faces a garden which is enclosed by the facade and the perimeter wall. In fact the ring obtained between the perimeter wall above and the pavilion that amplifies the interior space is much larger than what it is.
However, the ring-like space that embraces the building on the north side is able to grant a constant ventilation and natural light to the living areas. Also it is due to the white cladding of the perimeter wall and white gravel which reflect the sunlight coming from the south. Another, there is a night-time artificial light scene which is the ideal reverse field for the lake panorama. There are lots of amazing features of this Lake Lugano House can offer. Now are you ready to discover more of the eccentric areas of this house, why don't you see the images below.
Well, all the additional purpose of the pavilion is enclosed in a central lacquered wood block which serves as the sort of thick penetrable wall. It separates the kitchen from the living room without isolating the space with doors. Situated in this area are the powder room, the kitchen, the stairs, the bookcases, all the mechanical systems and the technological and audio-video equipment. However, highlighted in this house are the environmental aspects such as the utilization of the geothermal energy, roof gardens, and the rain-water collection system. Not to forget the choice of highly efficient low-emitted glass insulated with argon gas to optimize the thermal efficiency of the shell.
And the usage of the natural sun shading that serves as the placement of deciduous trees in the south-west area of the building. Thus, this surprising piece of architecture that is made of glass is smartly created by the designers from JM Architecture. Indeed, the designers were able to build the house that takes the full advantage of the spaces. As well as the refined, pure and timeless architectural lines that meet with the most advanced technology to present a charming combination of exceptional aesthetic elegance, utility, and comfort. Yet this Lake Lugano House is one example if you are interested to have a small, simple and innovative house. What can you say?


text:
The Voice
New Look Alert: Christina Aguilera Opts For Natural and Understated
Christina Aguilera is certainly no stranger to makeovers and transformations. Over the years, we've seen a wide and varied slate of personas and looks showcased by the former coach on The Voice.
But Wednesday night, the pop superstar unveiled a look rarely seen from within her repertoire of appearances: the understated Christina.
In what could be called the antithesis of her infamous "dirrty" look, Christina showed up to The Voice season 4 screening with wavy blond hair, simple makeup and a subtle black dress. The net affect of the look was a more natural, almost elegant appearance.
While it is a far cry from her pinkish hued hair or her over-the-top outfits, her natural look is certainly is one that shows off her simplified beauty and is something we think everyone could get used to.
Do you like Christina's classic look? Tell us below!


text:
B&H has a Sony 32GB Class 10 UHS-I SDHC card for $24.95 (reg. $45.95) with free shipping in the US. There is a limited supply at this price. Check it out here at B&H Photo.
Class 10 cards deliver on speed for HD video capture, which goes along with the size advantage of the SDHC spec. For more details on what all the classes and card specs mean, check out my resource article Demystifying SD Cards.


text:
2009 April-May Cincinnati, OH (CSNS) US Coin Auction #1124
|Sold for:
|Sign-in or Join (free & quick)
|Claim Item:
|Sign-in or Join (free & quick)
|Auction Ended On:
|Apr 30, 2009
|Item Activity:
12 Internet/mail/phone bidders
481 page views
Duke Energy Center
|Printable auction results for all items in the 2009 April-May Cincinnati, OH (CSNS) US Coin Auction.
Marvelous MS64 1867 Seated Quarter1867 25C MS64 PCGS. CAC. Just 20,000 business strikes were produced for this second With Motto Philadelphia quarter issue, all from one die pair that is distinct from the die pair used to strike proofs. The business strikes for the year usually are distinguished by the obverse, which shows faintness of detail at parts of the center, as recounted by Larry Briggs in his Comprehensive Encyclopedia of United States Seated Liberty Quarters. His summary: "'BER' on ribbon [across the shield] as well as central portion (stomach) of Liberty ground down, making it faint and eventually invisible in those areas."
Briggs suggests that this faintness makes worn examples seem to be more circulated than they are, since the lettering on the ribbon is an important diagnostic for grades Good through Fine, though he also describes the issue as one "rarely seen in low grades." Mint State examples, too, are elusive, and this near-Gem is attractive in virtually all respects. Aside from the aforementioned shallowness on the ribbon across the shield and at Liberty's waist, the coin offers crisp definition. The obverse exhibits rich champagne and peach-orange central patina framed in blue-green, while the other side shows nearly the inverse. Though significant abrasions are noted below the eagle's beak and above the denomination, the smooth surfaces of the obverse are redeeming. An important survivor, housed in a green label holder. Population: 2 in 64, 0 finer (3/09).(Registry values: P5) (NGC ID# 23UD, PCGS# 5470)
View large image(s) of this item
Service and Handling Description: Coins & Currency (view shipping information)
Sales Tax information | PCGS Guarantee of Grade and Authenticity | Terms and Conditions
Guides and Pricing Information:
Previous Prices from Heritage Auctions
|Sign-in or Join (free & quick)
Price Guide
|Sign-in or Join (free & quick)
Population Guide
|Sign-in or Join (free & quick)
Find Auction Prices for Comparable Items:
Sign-in or Join (free & quick) to see the full image


text:
LOOK closely and you can find digital graffiti right under your nose: people have daubed videos, animations and comments over buildings and streets around the world. Soon there could be a new type of tag in our cities - cut-and-pasted people - thanks to a technique for editing augmented reality (AR) videos.
Using the AR apps available for smartphones or tablets, anybody can overlay digital text, video and graphics onto the physical world for others to see later. Most major cities are teeming with these digital annotations. You just need to identify a tagged location using your smartphone's map, and watch through the camera using an AR app. Hey presto, a video or animation will then be overlaid on the scene.
Yet if somebody wants to annotate a place with video that they've filmed themselves, today's apps are constrained. They can only overlay a YouTube clip, say, in its original rectangular shape. Now Tobias Langlotz of Graz University of Technology, Austria, and colleagues have designed software that can cut a person or an object out of a video, so that they alone can be pasted as a digital overlay. The idea is to make virtual human guides that could offer city tours or how-to demos, as well as enhancing AR games.
Langlotz and colleagues used a computer-imaging technique called foreground-background segmentation to identify the required foreground object - usually a person. So a user would film a video, then simply point to the object they wanted to extract. The software would do the rest. In a demo, they filmed a skateboarder doing a jump, and showed how he could be pasted onto a street scene. When the app "sees" the environment, it can replay the person in the right place, skating along the ground, for example.
Although they demonstrated the concept using a PC, the researchers say it would be possible to put the software into a smartphone or tablet app. Their work will be presented at OzCHI, the Australian conference on computer-human interaction in Melbourne next month.
Matt Mills of AR company Aurasma in Cambridge, UK, agrees that the tool could be handy for making AR-driven how-to guides. And while it's at an early stage, he adds, it may go on to find wider uses too.
- New Scientist
- Not just a website!
- Subscribe to New Scientist and get:
- New Scientist magazine delivered every week
- Unlimited online access to articles from over 500 back issues
- Subscribe Now and Save
If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.


text:
Important Links
Public Health Prevention
Debbie Padilla
Division Manager
323 S Mountain Avenue
Springerville, Az 85938
Phone: (928) 333-2415
To increase the amount of certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians in the rural areas of southern and northern Apache County.
National Child Passenger Safety Certification Program: A Partnership
NHTSA: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
National Child Passenger Safety Board
Certifying Body – Safe Kids Worldwide
Instructors who have received certification through Safe Kids Worldwide are able to offer classes to individuals interested in becoming certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. Successful technicians are able to put their knowledge and skills to work through a variety of activities, including child safety seat checks in which parents and caregivers receive education and help with the proper installation and use of child restraints (car seats) and seat belts systems.


text:
| | Other topics
News articles on dolphins
Mongabay.com news articles on dolphins in blog format. Updated regularly.
Sundarbans still reeling from effects of December oil spill
(01/21/2015) Last month, an estimated 350,000 liters of fuel oil spilled into the Sundarbans delta on the Bay of Bengal. An oil tanker that had collided with a cargo vessel on December 9th sank into the Shela River, spilling its oil into a protected sanctuary for the rare and endangered Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) and the Ganges river dolphins (Platanista gangetica).
Gold mining expanding rapidly along Guiana Shield, threatening forests, water, wildlife
(10/22/2014) Gold mining is on the rise in the Guiana Shield, a geographic region of South America that holds one of the world's largest undisturbed tract of rainforest. A new mapping technology using a radar and optical imaging combination has detected a significant increase in mining since 2000, threatening the region's forests and water quality.
Saving the survivor: China scrambles to keep the finless porpoise from extinction
(10/22/2014) On the morning of July 14, 2002 Qi Qi ate breakfast as he always did. As the world's only captive baiji – or Yangtze river dolphin – Qi Qi was something of a celebrity in China and his caretakers kept a close eye on his health. That care may explain why, after being injured by fishermen, he lived an impressive 22 years in the Freshwater Dolphin Research Center in Wuhan, China.
Photos: Japanese fishermen slaughter 41 dolphins, capture 52 in 'The Cove'
(01/21/2014) The annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, Japan ended on Monday with dozens being slaughtered for meat and captured for sale to amusement parks, reports Sea Shepherd, an ocean activist group that campaigns against the practice and just released photos documenting the weekend's harvest.
Dolphins, bats and the evolution of echolocation
(11/08/2013) A dolphin swimming through the world's oceans after fish, and a bat flying through the air with its membranous wings to catch insects or eat fruit: at first glance, it looks like no two creatures could be more different. But it turns out they share a superpower - they hunt prey by emitting high-pitched sounds and listening for a returning echo. A recent study published in the journal Nature Letters has shown that the regions of the genome responsible for this ability are strikingly similar between these very different mammals.
DNA tests reveal new dolphin species (photos)
(10/30/2013) With the help of DNA tests, scientists have declared a new dolphin species that dwells off the coast of northern Australia. The discovery was made after a team of researchers looked at the world's humpback dolphins (in the genus Sousa), which sport telltale humps just behind their dorsal fins. While long-known to science, the new, as-yet-unnamed species was previously lumped with other humpback dolphins in the Indo-Pacific region.
Fishermen illegally killing dolphins for shark-bait in Peru (video)
(10/23/2013) Peruvian fishermen slaughtered dolphins to use as bait for shark fishing, an undercover investigation has revealed. Footage showed infant and adult dolphins being harpooned then stabbed and clubbed before, in some cases, being cut open and butchered while still alive. The slaughtered dolphins were cut up and used as bait. Dolphins are also killed for human consumption in Peru even though it is illegal.
Photo: Pod of 100,000 dolphins spotted off California coast
(02/21/2013) A 'super mega-pod' of some 100,000 dolphins was spotted off the coast of San Diego last week, according to a report from NBC San Diego.
Save Lolita: new film urges release of captive killer whale
(01/22/2013) Through his new 90-second PSA, Save Lolita, filmmaker Daniel Azarian wanted to connect people to the plight of Lolita on a deeply human level; the only problem: Lolita is an orca, also known as a killer whale. But the stark, moving PSA succeeds, given the sociability of an individual—human or orca—who was stolen from her family and held in captivity for the past 42 years at Miami's Seaquarium.
Photos: emperor penguins take first place in renowned wildlife photo contest
(10/18/2012) Photographer, Paul Nicklen, says he'll never forget the moment when a slew of emperor penguins burst by him in the frigid Ross Sea; he'd waited in the cold water, using a snorkel, to capture this image. Now, Nicklen has won the much-coveted Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition for the antic, bubbling photograph. Owned by the Natural History Museum and BBC Worldwide, this is the 48th year of the Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year, which hands out awards to 100 notable wildlife and environment photos.
Maui's dolphins still in danger of extinction despite New Zealand's protective measures
(08/07/2012) The New Zealand government's recent efforts to protect the world's smallest dolphin have come under scrutiny from various conservation organizations at the 64th meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). There are only 55 Maui dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori maui) now found on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island, less than half the 2005 population with numbers continuing to decline. Less than 20 of the remaining Maui's are breeding females and their slow reproductive rates make it difficult to increase their numbers when faced with an even bigger danger: fishing nets.
Indonesia green news roundup: Indonesia's dolphin circuses are haven for abuse
(07/24/2012) The Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) asked the government to shut down a dolphin traveling circus because they are abusing animals. JAAN said that when traveling from one city to another, the dolphins often only covered with Vaseline or a damp towel to keep their skin wet. JAAN is in the midst of a social media campaign to immediately close all dolphin circuses in Indonesia.
Deepwater Horizon oil spill may have played role in dolphin deaths
(07/22/2012) In the first four months of 2011, 186 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were found dead in the Gulf of Mexico, nearly half of them dolphin calves many of whom were perinatal, or near birth. Researchers now believe a number of factors may have killed the animals. Writing in the open-access journal PLoS ONE, scientists theorize that the dolphins died a sudden influx of freshwater from snowmelt after being stressed and weakened by an abnormally cold winter and the impacts of the BP oil spill.
BP Deepwater Horizon deformities: eyeless shrimp, clawless crabs
(04/24/2012) Two years after the BP-leased Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing eleven and causing an oil spill that lasted three months, scientists say the impacts on the Gulf ecosystem are only beginning to come to light and the discoveries aren't pretty.
World's smallest dolphin: only 55 left, but continue to drown in nets
(03/22/2012) The world's smallest dolphin is also the closest to extinction. New Zealand government figures show that Maui's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori maui) are down to just 55 mature individuals, falling from 111 in 2005. The small cetaceans, measuring up to 1.7 meters (5.5 feet), are imperiled due to drowning in gillnets with the most recent death by a fisherman's net occurring in January.
Amazon.com stops selling whale meat
(02/22/2012) Amazon Japan, a subsidiary of Amazon.com, pulled all whale meat products (and possibly dolphin meat) from its site after a new report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and the Humane Society International highlighted the issue. Last December the organizations recorded 147 whale products on sale at Amazon Japan despite an international whaling moratorium since 1986. Japan, along with Iceland and Norway, continues to industrially hunt whales. Japan says their whale hunt is for scientific purposes only, but environmentalists dispute this.
New sanctuaries declared for Asia's freshwater dolphins
(02/15/2012) Bangladesh has declared three new sanctuaries to help protect the south Asian river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) in the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest. Split into two subspecies, the Ganges River dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) and the Irrawaddy River dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor), the new sanctuaries will benefit both. Listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List, the south Asian freshwater dolphin has disappeared from much of its habitat. Already Asia has its other freshwater dolphin species: the baiji (Lipotes vexillifer) was declared functionally extinct into 2006 after a survey of the Yangtze River failed to find a single individual.
87 marine mammals still eaten by people
(01/24/2012) Threats to marine mammals usually include climate change, drowning as by-catch, pollution, depletion of prey, but what about eating marine mammals? A new study in Biological Conservation finds that a surprising 87 marine mammals—including polar bears, small whales, and dolphins—have been eaten as food since 1990 in at least 114 countries.
Featured video: tuna industry bycatch includes sea turtles, dolphins, whales
(01/16/2012) A Greenpeace video, using footage from a whistleblower, shows disturbing images of the tuna industry operating in the unregulated waters of the Pacific Ocean. Using fish aggregation devices (FADs) and purse seine nets, the industry is not only able to catch entire schools of tuna, including juvenile, but also whatever else is in the area of the net.
New species of bottlenose discovered in Australia (PHOTO)
(09/15/2011) Researchers have discovered a new species of dolphin in Australia, reports ABC News.
Sowing the seeds to save the Patagonian Sea
(09/07/2011) With wild waters and shores, the Patagonia Sea is home to a great menagerie of marine animals: from penguins to elephants seals, albatrosses to squid, and sea lions to southern right whales. The sea lies at crossroads between more northern latitudes and the cold bitter water of the Southern Ocean, which surround Antarctica. However the region is also a heavy fishing ground, putting pressure on a number of species and imperiling the very ecosystem that supplies the industry. Conservation efforts, spearheaded by marine conservationist Claudio Campagna and colleagues with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), are in the early stages. Campagna, who often writes about the importance of language in the fight for preservation, has pushed to rename the area to focus on its stunning wildlife.
India plans to aid dwindling Ganges River dolphin
(03/08/2011) The Indian government has announced that it plans to develop a program to raise the population of its native Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica gagnetica), a subspecies of the South Asian river dolphin. During a question and answer session Jairam Ramesh, India's Environment and Forests Minister, said that the dolphin's current population was estimated at 2,000 to 3,000 individuals in the Ganges. However, other estimates have placed it lower.
Dead baby dolphins washing ashore in Gulf of Mexico
(02/28/2011) Every year a few baby dolphins in the Gulf don't make it and are found on the shores of the Gulf, but this year something is different. To date, 24 baby dolphins have been found dead in Alabama and Georgia, some are stillborn, others aborted fetuses. Researchers, who say death-toll is ten times the average, are currently studying the dead porpoises for clues to cause. These could include colder-than-average waters, algal blooms, disease, or the incident in the back of everyone's mind: the BP oil spill last year.
Japanese making themselves sick with dolphin hunt
(11/01/2010) Japan's dolphin hunt of Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) could be making people sick, according to a new study by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Campaign Whale. The controversial hunt, which kills some 15,000 dolphins annually, produces cheap meat-for-consumption that on average contains over double Japan's limit on mercury contamination. "We are very concerned that people in Japan are threatening their health and possibly that of their children by unwittingly eating Dall's porpoise meat that is dangerously contaminated with poisons such as mercury and PCBs," Andy Ottaway, Director of Campaign Whale, said in a press release.
Island nation announces Ukraine-sized sanctuary for whales and dolphins
(10/24/2010) Dolphins, whales, and dugongs will be safe from hunting in the waters surrounding the Pacific nation of Palau. At the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Nagoya, Japan, Palau's Minister of the Environment, Natural Resources and Tourism, Harry Fritz, announced the establishment of a marine mammal sanctuary covering over 230,000 square miles (60,000 square kilometers) of the nation's waters, an area the size of Mongolia.
Will we ever know the full wildlife toll of the BP oil spill?
(06/08/2010) Will we ever know the full wildlife toll of the BP oil spill? The short answer: no. The gruesome photos that are making the media rounds over the last week of oiled birds, fish, and crustaceans are according to experts only a small symbol of the ecological catastrophe that is likely occurring both in shallow and deep waters. Due to the photos, birds, especially the brown pelican, have become the symbol of the spill to date. But while dozens of birds have been brought to rescue stations covered in oil, the vast majority will die out at sea far from human eyes and snapping cameras, according to Sharon Taylor a vet with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Wildlife death toll from BP oil spill likely includes dolphins
(05/13/2010) The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is taking its toll on the region's wildlife: brown pelicans, sea turtles, several species of fish, and now dolphins have been found dead. The National Marine Fisheries Service reported today finding six dead dolphins in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama since May 2nd. Officials are saying the deaths could be related to the oil spill or may be due to natural deaths from calving. They are currently testing tissue samples to determine if oil pollution was a cause of death. Dolphins have been observed swimming in oil-stained waters off of Louisiana.
Killer whales split into three separate species
(04/25/2010) Using genetic evidence scientists have discovered that the world's killer whales, also known as orcas (Orcinus orca), likely represent at least three separate species.
Slaughter of dolphins and whales begins in cove made famous by film
(09/09/2009) Japan Probe reports that the annual dolphin slaughter by fishermen in the Japanese town of Taiji has begun. The hunt was delayed by the presence of Japanese and foreign press in the cove during the first days when the hunt was supposed to begin.
No killing yet as season begins for dolphin slaughter made famous by The Cove
(09/02/2009) Due to the new documentary The Cove, the town of Taiji, Japan is suddenly famous, or perhaps more aptly, infamous. Winner of the documentary award at the Sundance Film Festival, the film uncovers a cove in Taiji where over two thousand dolphins are slaughtered every year due to the billion dollar dolphin entertainment industry. Their dolphin's meat is then labeled as fish and given to children for school lunches, even though as top level predators the meat is heavily tainted with mercury.
Oil spill off Australia potential 'disaster' for marine wildlife
(08/30/2009) Oil is leaking from an offshore drilling rig in the Timor Sea near Australia's Northwest coast. Authorities say it will be weeks before the leak is plugged: they are awaiting the arrival of a drilling rig from Singapore to plug the leak.
Ganges River Dolphin population falls below 300, faces new threat from oil exploration
(07/19/2009) The Ganges River Dolphin faces a high risk of extinction in India's Brahmaputra river system unless critical habitat is protected, report conservationists. Once abundant in the Ganges and Brahmaputra river systems in India and Bangladesh, the population of the Ganges River Dolphins has fallen sharply over the past century due to accidental bycatch by fishermen, direct killing for their meat and oil, and diversion of water for agriculture. Scientists estimate that only 2,000 remain, of which 240-300 survive in the Brahmaputra, according to a new survey by IUCN researchers, who warn the Brahmaputra population is also imperiled by new threats, including dam building and prospecting for oil.
New Australian dolphin spits at food
(04/13/2009) Only recognized as a new species in 2005, the snubfin dolphin has been observed spitting jet streams of water at schools of fish. Spitting at the fish helps the dolphins round them up into groups where they are easier to catch.
Study confirms that sonar can cause deafness in dolphins
(04/08/2009) A new study in Biology Lettersconfirms what marine biologists have long suspected: loud sonar can cause temporary deafness in dolphins, possibly explaining some mass strandings. The study, using a captive dolphin in a controlled experiment, found that sonar at high prolonged levels could even lead to slight behavioral changes.
New species of river dolphin discovered in the Amazon
(04/30/2008) Researchers have identified a new species of river dolphin in the Bolivian Amazon according to the Whale and Dolphin conservation Society (WDCS). The announcement was made at a conservation workshop in Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia.


text:
Instructions for authors
BMC Biology is the flagship biology journal of the BMC series, publishing peer-reviewed research and methodology articles of special importance and broad interest in any area of biology, as well as commissioned reviews, opinion pieces, comment and Q&As on topics of special or topical interest.
Re-review opt-out In response to widespread frustration with delays to publication through iterative reviewing, we give our authors a choice (see our Editorial: Q&A: Re-review opt-out and painless publishing).
Each article type published by BMC Biology follows a specific format, as detailed in the corresponding instructions for authors; please choose an article type from the list on the left to view the instructions for authors.
The instructions for authors includes information about preparing a manuscript for submission to BMC Biology, criteria for publication and the online submission process. Other relevant information about the journal's policies, the refereeing process and so on can be found in 'About this journal'.
BMC Biology publishes the following article types:
- Research articles
- Comments
- Commentaries
- Correspondences
- Databases
- Editorials
- Focus articles
- Forum articles
- Interviews
- Methodology articles
- Opinions
- Question and Answer articles
- Reviews
- Software articles
We use plagiarism detection
This journal is a member of, and subscribes to the principles of, the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Authors and referees are asked to declare any competing interests.
Copyright rests with the authors. For more information on copyright of articles, see our publisher's copyright and license policy.


text:
English program provides medical terminology lessons to non-native speakers | Community Spirit
Title (Max 100 Characters)
By Aparna Vidyasagar and Mengyuan Zhang
Guadalupe Torres is soft-spoken; her quiet, tentative, English is highlighted by a lilting Mexican accent. She appears shy, perhaps even timid. But when she last visited her doctor and her interpreter was late, she was unfazed, even eager to take on the challenge of speaking to the doctor alone. Torres was confident about navigating the health care system in the United States, all thanks to one class.
Torres is now part of a nine-member, "English for Health" class run by Literacy Network, a non-profit organization in Madison. The free class is unique in that non-native speakers learn the English language while at the same time acquiring a broad spectrum of knowledge on the nature of medication, nutrition, describing symptoms and communicating with health care providers. Students do so without the help of interpreters, learning solely through practice and demonstration.
"We bring in pictures, medicine bottles, the human organs; things that they can really see, touch and visualize. If you don't know the language, the best way to learn is to see something and the language kind of builds around that," said Marie Green Ganser, the English for Health instructor.
It is a paradigm that evolved from students' feedback. In 2008 Beth Gaytan, the senior director for English language education, was teaching a civics class for refugees and immigrants when she found that the students had many questions about health care in the United States. Gaytan then put together a health literacy curriculum for a nine-week class in the same year, which was designed around the questions that students had. To cap off the course, Gaytan invited her mother who was a registered nurse at Meriter Hospital and a few volunteer tutors who also happened to be registered nurses at St. Mary's Hospital to recreate conversations that would occur in actual hospital settings.
At present, the English for Health class has a standardized curriculum with 24 lesson plans. It runs as two, free, 12-week sessions through the course of a year. The first session focuses on accessing the health care system, communicating with health care providers and medication safety, while the second session highlights nutrition, chronic disease prevention and healthy habits. Since it started, the English for Health class has helped 180 non-native English speakers.
Despite the program having found a rhythm in terms of the course structure and lesson plans, as a teacher, Green-Ganser does face some hurdles.
"The biggest obstacle for us is retaining students because of their busy lives. I call them all before class or email them, to try to motivate them to come to class," she said.
Green Ganser recalls an experience with a student who once told her that she had never finished a class except English for Health, because Green Ganser had "nagged" her to come.
"Because I told her, 'This is what nag means.' I call you every single time and say, 'Are you coming?'" she laughed.
The Literacy Network tries to make it easier for the students to participate. In addition to making the classes free, the organization provides on-site day care facilities for those students with children, with snacks for the children and the students themselves.
The Literacy Network has partnered with many of the hospitals and clinics in Madison, amongst which are St. Mary's Hospital, the UW-Madison Hospital and Clinics and the Wingra Community Health Center. They provide financial support and class space. Medical students and pharmacists from these institutions serve as presenters and volunteers, and answer in-depth health-related questions or teach core medical terms.
"Our focus of the program is really bridging adults in the community who are learning English with medical staff and professionals," Gaytan said.
Gaytan believes the class is breaking down the barriers on both sides. Students are able to navigate the health care system and are less nervous about talking to health care providers, while medical staff and professionals learn how to best communicate with English language learners in the community.
Juan Gomez, a student who is now in his second semester with the English for Health program, has certainly gained confidence in his communication skills.
"I understand almost everything when the doctor explains (it to) me; what I have to do for me, or what should I do. I understand better," he said.


text:
Bruising the fruits/avocados rant
I am tired of bringing home avocados and fruit that people pick up and squeeze, pick up another and squeeze, again and again. When I end up purchasing such fruit, there are the bruises from this squeezing.
When shopping, I can tell when I pick up a fruit or avocado if it is ripe/soft without squeezing it and when I see people doing this at the market, I can only turn away, annoyed.
What bugs you?
Talk is closed, but that doesn't mean the conversations have to stop!
Check out this post for a more thorough explanation, and jump onto our Facebook page or our Twitter feed to keep the conversations going!


text:
Winner picked at random or by skill?
In addition to "Like-ing" your Fan Page, do you want…
Photos entries?
Video entries?
Plain ol' text entries?
Original Article:
With more than 15,000 people a year coming to this blog just for Facebook contest apps, I went digging to find some been-there-done-that apps you can count on. I've also had some very smart software developers post comments and email me about Facebook sweepstakes and contest apps they're creating.
Hopefully this roundup will at least let you cut down your research time…
Top Tab Contest Application
Top Tab lets you easily create Facebook Fan Page contests where your fans submit entries and then invite their friends over to vote.
After chatting with its creator, Igor Reznitsky, here are some of the best benefits you can expect from a Top Tab contest:
- Growth by design: Unlike sweepstakes apps, which actually discourage entrants from sharing (because more entrants = less chance to win), the Top Tab contest app requires viral sharing since entrants win based on votes.
- Sharing options galore: Your entrants can easily share their entries with friends via email or by posting to Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and other social sites from inside the app.
- No spam policy: The app requires only basic permissions, asks entrants' approval for every sharing action, and won't email them any Top Tab marketing (unlike Wildfire, for example).
- Canvas Schmanvas!: The app lets you launch your contest directly on your Fan Pages, which is easier for you and maximizes interaction. No Canvas Pages needed.
- One contest, many Fan Pages: If you want to run your contest on several Fan Pages for any reason (maybe you own a small chain of shops or volunteer for a non-profit with regional chapters), you can for no extra charge.
For example, this past winter the YMCA ran a photo contest across the 24 Fan Pages of state YMCAs.
- Flexible design: The app allows you to customize it's look and feel with various options, including static images and custom HTML.
- Flat price per campaign: Some other contest apps cost $100s or even $1,000s based on how long your contest runs and how many fans you attract.
That's scary if you're a small fry just starting to build your fan base (the whole point of contests).
- Multi-language interface: With more than half a billion people now on Facebook, this may come in handy.
Social Prize
As I've written about before, sweepstakes require a crazy maze of Official Rules, coded in cryptic legalese to appease all 50 U.S. states and Canada. (The laws are all different!)
No wonder mostly big corporations run sweepstakes. That is, until now…
From your Official Rules to winner selection and prize fulfillment, Social prize does the hard work for you, leveling the playing field to let you compete with the big boys.
What's more, it's viral! Whether you're running a Facebook contest to ramp up your fan base, or you want to conjure up a flash flood of targeted traffic to your own site, Social Prize has you covered.
Older Facebook Contest Apps
Wildfire is the only Facebook contest app company that Facebook itself has invested in, via its fbFund program.
That's pretty impressive, as is its client roster, which includes Victoria's Secret, Nike, Pepsi, Sony, AT & T and oodles of other big names.
Wildfire lets you create several different promotion types, including sweepstakes, user-generated contests, product giveaways, and even stuff like coupons, quizzes and trivia.
Some of them may not even seem directly relevant to contests on first glance. Think again. Each is a proven engagement tool, which can make it just the ticket to make your contest go viral if used creatively enough.
What I don't like about Wildfire is there's no way to just buy the darn thing for a one-time fee. Instead, they charge for every campaign. And even then it's not a flat fee (although there is a flat base fee). You've got to pay for every day your contest runs too.
It also says this on their Privacy page:
"Unless you opt for our white label campaign option or you are a Qualified Partner, Wildfire will co-own data that may include your name, email address, phone number and birth date. If we co-own your personal data all campaign entry forms will have a Wildfire mailing list Opt-In."
Seriously? You can be sure the White Label option is north of the $250 + $4.99 per day Premium pricing, and there are no posted criteria for becoming a Qualified Partner, so think twice before choosing Wildfire.
Votigo's client roster is also nothing to sneeze at, including Ford, Intel, Coca Cola, KFC, Kohl's, Sunkist and Amtrak. Not the sexiest names by any means, but these guys are billionaires. They can use any contest platform they want.
Thankfully, it won't cost you a fortune to use Votigo, since their pricing starts at $30 per week to use any of their Facebook Video Contest, Photo Contest or Sweepstakes apps. They've also got a slew of supporting Promotions apps like Photo Gallery, Video Gallery and Coupons.
This one is another Facebook contest platform, although Bulbstorm is focused on "idea challenges": getting users to submit new ideas about how to do something. You can see a live demo of it here.
It has a cool optional feature that requires users to Like your Fan Page on the first screen of the app. I also like the built in video recorder that auto detects your webcam.
Very slick. But again, I'm betting it's not cheap.
Tested any other Facebook contest apps? Do share!
To Facebook contest profits,
Sunni Sukumar