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We're back, though reluctant to leave our road adventure behind. It was an incredible experience, filled with lots of unexpected historically significant side trips, detours, good humor and amazing comraderie.
We still can't believe our luck with the great group of folks who participated, the number of car breakdowns that never slowed us down, nor the dozens of folks across the U.S. who came seemingly out of the woodwork to act as our personal guides to some remote, but significant destination...places the group would NEVER had a clue existed.
We followed much of the same route as George Schuster (winner of the Great Race), drove into railroad tunnels he went through, followed along desert tracks that he followed, astounded at our good luck with the weather (for the most part) and the open arms that welcomed us on our cross-country journey.
To see for yourselves, click on the link below to start with our Daily Travelogue. (nearly completed) From there you can link to even more photos and individual entries.
click on button to see pictures
Jeff Mahl, great-grandson of George Schuster, winner of the celebrated 1908 Longest Auto Race, was with us for 2 of the 3 weeks journey, sharing his vast knowledge of that early-day race with Centennial participants. For more background on the historic race of 1908, visit Jeff's web site.
©Longest Auto Race Centennial
All Rights Reserved
Our goal was to have an authentic and genuine automotive tribute to the Great Race of 1908. Little did we know how far our expectations would be exceeded. Words cannot do justice to express our appreciation to all of our guardians along the way...those who provided nourishment, guidance, enthusiasm, heartfelt
tribute and mechanical support all along our route.
Special thanks to Joe and Judi Rizzuto (and Angel) for their much-appreciated organizational skills and patience. We might still be in New York if it weren't for their abilities to keep us on track.
And to the core participants...who knew that we could gather 18+ folks from around the globe, on such short notice, distilling them into one well-oiled, good humored group, and not have one single moment of disharmony? Even those participants who joined us for just a day or two quickly blended in, making it difficult to bid them farewell.
Our sincerest thanks to every single person who contributed to make this journey so memorable. All of you occupy a special place in our hearts.


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Flag of Lancashire
|Designed by
|Friends of Real Lancashire
The Lancashire flag is the flag of the County Palatine of Lancaster, that is, the historic county of Lancashire not the local authority area named after it.
The Red Rose of Lancaster is a symbol for the House of Lancaster, immortalised in the verse "In the battle for England's head/York was white, Lancaster red" (referring to the 15th century War of the Roses). The traditional Lancashire flag, a red rose on a white field, was never officially registered. When an attempt was made to register it with the Flag Institute, it was found that this flag had already been officially registered by the town of Montrose, Angus, several hundred years earlier with the Lyon Office. As the Flag Institute will not register two flags of the same design within the UK, Lancashire's official flag was registered — in 2008 — as a red rose on a gold field. The background was chosen as it, along with red, are the livery colours of the county.[1]
Flag design[edit]
The pantone colours for the flag are:[2]
- Yellow 116
- Red 485
- Dark Red 201
- Green 354
|This England-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
|This European flag–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

subset: commoncrawl


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Make sure you've enabled ipnat and ipfilter.
in /etc/sysctl.conf uncomment this line:
Hope this helps you out
I recently setup the userland ppp successfully. However, I had problem to share it to the user in the LAN. When I ifconfig -a, the tun0 is shown up
tuno: flags=11<UP,POINTOPOINT> mtu 1500 inet 22.214.171.124 ---> 188.8.131.52 netmask 0xffffff00
All the machines in the LAN are Win98. I am sure the connection between the Win98 and OpenBSD 2.7 server isok as samba is setup correctl and the Win98 machine can map the networkdrive as local drive. Can anyone share your experience with me. Thanks.


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Firebird Dance Theatre
Firebird Dance Theatre is the Studio's performing company, under the artistic direction of Lotta Lysaya Burton. The theatre has a broad repertoire of dances that blur the boundaries between world and contemporary dance, and are known for their vibrant performances and unique choreography.
View photos of Firebird Dance Theatre shows.
Recent Shows
The Best of 20
Created in 2008, Simcha is a beautiful dance show dedicated to all that is best in life: family, tradition, change, warmth, love, and joy. Inspired by the stories of Shalom Aleichem, Simcha is a touching celebration of the spirit, history, and culture of Judaism. It is an endearing tale about celebrations of the past and the present. The story is about a Jewish family's journey from the shtetls of Eastern Europe to America. At times, both soulful and funny, Simcha weaves breathtaking dancing and memorable songs together in a touching story that will cause the whole family to resonate with the joy of life. The show debuted in December 2008, along with performances in February 2009. View the official Simcha website...
Created in 2007, Quintessence is a modern reinvention of the rich spirit and traditions of Russian Performing arts. The show is a spectacular visual and musical feast for the senses that combines Russian dancing, music, and clownery and infuses it with the spirit of innovation to create an utterly unique theatrical experience. Conceived and directed by Lotta Lysaya Burton, Quintessence uses the ancient philosophy of quintessence, the fifth element of nature — imagined to be the power of life — as well as the other four elements, earth, air, fire, and water. With this as its inspiration, Quintessence takes the audience on a unique journey, paying homage to the beauty and power of the five elements. In addition to the Firebird dancers, the show also featured the performing talents of world famous clowns, Licedei, and renowned Russian Rock Groups, Red Elvises and Ivan Kupala. More info...
Alice in Wonderland
About the Theatre
The theatre has entertained audiences in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Mexico and Canada. In their Bay Area home, they've performed on San Francisco's most prestigious stages including the Palace of Fine Arts, Herbst Theater, San Francisco City Hall, Union Square, and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
Among their other audiences worldwide, Firebird has performed for San Francisco Mayors Willy Brown and Gavin Newsom, the Society of Artistic Heritage of Quebec, and the Israeli Parliament. In 2004 and again in 2006, they received the "Outstanding Performance" honor from the Society of Artistic Heritage of Quebec and in 2006 were invited back to perform in the Quebec Folklore Dance Festival in Montreal's Place Des Arts Theater. They have received awards and Letters of Commendation from San Francisco Mayors Brown and Newsom, and from Israeli Parliament. Read more about their awards here.
In 2006, Firebird Dance Theatre performed their original dance show, Alice in Wonderland. Following that, in 2007, they debuted their next show, Quintessence with performances throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Most Recently, in 2008, Firebird Dance Theatre debuted their most recent and grandest show to date, Simcha
You can view photos of Firebird Dance Theatre's performances on the photos page as well as videos in the video gallery.


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"I was a little hesitant to buy this card sine there were some people who had issues with photo quality previously. I'm so glad I ordered it anyway. The photo is gorgeous, not at all grainy, and the colors are perfect. There really isn't any room to write a note on this card, but I didn't want to write anything anyway, so this card gets you out of writing without looking lazy;) I would definitely recommend this card."
"The design of this card is great because of the shading towards the bottom, so the lettering definitely stands out. The snowflakes give it a nice frame. I ordered late on a Sunday night and the cards were delivered by Wednesday."
"This card design and layout perfectly fit what I wanted to do this year for our Christmas Card. I'm a repeat customer because I love the quality and great service Tiny Prints offers. Highly recommend."
"This is a great design when you have a beautiful photo to showcase...the design is fun and elegant but it doesn't compete with your picture."
"I got this with the semi-glossy paper. On the back, I put a photo of of my kids and notes on what they're up to. A really nice design, very clean and simple. Designer Review gives me peace of mind that it looks the best it can be. Love it!"


text: agreed, i thought the team responded well to that early chicago chance, got a little attack oriented themselves, but when your maestro comes off with an injury it kind of throws a wrench in the strategy. i thought they stayed organized defensively well enough, even with chicago obviuosly going after steeles side of the field (who played horrible). i thought a point was deserved, chicago didnt have any really really dangerous chances outside the orduro header. on to seattle who throttled dallas tonight.


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Summerville Police have charged Victoria Kay Craver, 19, of Goose Creek and Michael R. Cherry, 49, of Summerville with manufacturing methamphetamine.
Craver was driving a truck that police pulled over just past midnight on Friday. Police said they discovered a mobile meth lab in the truck.
Her driver license had been suspended for failure to pay traffic tickets, police said.
Several packs of psuedoefederine, a propane camping burner, a propane can and other items used in the production of methamphetamine were found, police said.
Police found a clear plastic bottle with a pink substance and several dark pellets which is known as the "one pot method" for producing meth, officials said.
Notice about comments:
The Post and Courier is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point.
We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click the X that appears in the upper right corner when you hover over a comment. This will send the comment to Facebook for review. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full terms and conditions.


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Mouse Wheel zoom picture when you onclick it,All photo will show !You not need use code! You also use sample:[imgShow:] this is ok Support for ie, fi
No reviews yet! Be the first to review this plugin!
You must log in to submit a review. You can also log in or register using the form near the top of this page.


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Buy Louis Vuitton Mahina Handbag
This project uses "Turkey Tracks' patterns, which are on Pattern Sheet 2. Press under the blue print  circle seam allowance, center the  circle over the swirl circle, and machine-stitch the  circle in place. Referring to Cut and Assemble the Wheel of Fortune Blocks on page 38, Step 1. use the cream print and red stripe A pieces to make a swirl circle. Buy Louis Vuitton Mahina Handbag. ()n the sitting pig it is important that the legs be positioned so that the pig keeps its balance. Referring to Assemble the Blocks on page 9, steps 1 and 2. Read the section 'Stuffed figures step by step' on page 11 before starting. Buy Louis Vuitton Mahina Handbag.


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Free Children's Stories by Leading Authors
Children's Stories Library
Amazing Adventures Book
Sponsor Children's Stories
Submit your Free Story for publication
New and existing authors of any age, including children, are welcome to submit their Children's Stories here for publication. Anonymity is guaranteed if required through a free choice of Pen Name. You can also include pictures to illustrate your story.
Our new author Pop Johnson wants to share the news: "I have won two awards for stories I submitted to the Tennessee Mountain Writers Contest. I was very pleased and surprised to receive second place in the 2014 Joy Margrave Non-Fiction Award for my memoir, 'Living in the Shadow of the Nuclear Warhead', about growing up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Then, I was called up again for 'The Bears' Picnic', second place in Children's Literature Category. Pretty exciting for a novice writer. I only had the confidence to enter because Childrens-Stories.Net were kind enough to publish my first-ever stories The Queen's Cat and The Bear's Picnic recently.
Our Free stories are aimed at helping children:
We change our free children's story selections from our library frequently and email our many 1000's of readers about new stories from time to time.
We provide unlimited access to our entire library (currently stories) for a small contribution to help cover our costs.
We also publish selections of stories from time to time in eBooks for most eReaders including Kindle, iPad, iPhone, Android devices, laptops, PC's and in print. Some versions may include narration (audio track). Some may require a small download or print on demand fee through the supplier to cover costs. For example Amazon's current (Mar 2013) smallest download fee is £0.77p ($1.20 US).
Promoting Authors
We promote the good work of Children's Authors who help and encourage children to enjoy reading. We publish the Authors name or Pen Name with the authors story and may also, at our option include an introduction to the author or Special Promotion, for example please see Elliots Amazing Adventures button top left (part of this collection will soon be available on Kindle and in print).
We promote authors to our readers worlwide, in the year 2014 64,500 individuals read 7 stories each (on average) online at Childrens-Stories.net.
To see our current reader distribution world map Click Here
We make Free Children's stories available to all to help parents and others encourage children to enjoy traditional reading, promote good authors and Childrens-Stories.Net as a child safe source of Children's Stories.
All stories are checked for suitability before they are published and are proof read and corrected as neccessary (small fee may apply). Unsuitable stories may not be published entirely at our option.
Website visitors are encouraged to "freely print a single paper copy of the entire story page for their own domestic private use, individual qualified Teachers may also similarly freely print additional paper copies for teaching purposes within their own educational establishment".
Free Help For Authors
We accept stories in Plain Text and other well known formats (eg: MS Word and OpenOffice), so no need for expensive or complicated software, stories can be pasted into this page, see Submit Your Story Here further down.
We prefer not to receive stories on paper by post, extra time is needed to type these in. If there are special circumstances (eg: computer breakdown or disability) then please contact us before sending by post.
Download our Submission Guide Click Here
As a writer you may know of 'Microsoft Word' the most common word processor, subject to version, this can cost between £80 and £400 ($120 to $600 US), in some cases Microsoft requires a yearly renewal fee, in short prohibitively expensive for some.
The Good News you can have a very good equivalent 'OpenOffice' absolutely free and above board (sponsored by: The Apache Software Foundation). Open Office works in an almost identical way to Microsoft Word, thus existing skills transfer easily. More good news is OpenOffice can work with existing Microsoft Word files (most versions) so no compatability problems.
Download OpenOffice FREE here: Download OpenOffice
Help With Illustrations
You will see from our story selections currently available that some are illustrated and some are not.
Illustrations are not compulsory, some stories are fine without, others benefit from illustrations.
Not every one can produce illustrations, there's numerous sources of Free Clip Art which can be found through Google search.
Photographs can also provide a good means of illustration, the example cover for 'True Shih Tzu Stories - Lucy's Adventures - by Lucy Sitzu™', the photograph does the job very well.
We have our own in house graphics facilities which may be able to help you. For example the titles on the "Lucy's Adventures" cover were added to an original photo.
You can request help with graphics and illustrations on the submission form below, please bear in mind we may not be able to provide what everyone would like.
By submitting your Free Story (and any pictures) to us you confirm you are the rights owner or writer and grant us indefinite (in perpetuity) non exclusive publication rights to your material in any media. In addition we may edit, add to and abridge the whole or portions of your material for promotional and publication purposes and to help ensure the best result from your story, such altered versions may be subject to some joint copyright.
Submit Your Story Here
If you have not already registered your email address for Free Stories, then please do that first, click the 'Free Story Access' button top left of this page. If your email address has not been verified the form below will fail.
If your are under 16 years old you should discuss this with a parent, teacher or guardian.
We will never disclose your details or email address to anyone (unless the law requires it), you can write under a Pen Name if you wish to protect your identity from the public, we will only disclose the Pen Name with your story.
NB: Titles can only include upper and lower case A to Z, 0 to 9, space, hyphen " - " and asterisk " ' ". The title word convention is: Capital first letters to each word or single letters, then lower case. Do not use full stops (periods) after single letters
Brief story outline (synopsis) to encouarge readers:
NB:Leave a blank line to separate paragraphs, otherwise do not press return to end lines, text wraps. Allowed text characters are upper and lower case A to Z, 0 to 9 and ! £ $ * ( ) - + = : ; . , @ ' " ?, click in the text area to activate the cursor before pasting in plain text (no formating other than paragraphs)
If your story has no pictures and is under 5000 words long, you can paste it into the box below befor clicking the Submit Story button at the bottom.
If your story is longer than 5000 words or has pictures then please just Submit this form without the story, we will contact you by email about sending your story content to us.
Short Story (under 5000 words) you can paste it into the area below:
NB:Leave a blank line to separate paragraphs, otherwise do not press return to end lines, text wraps. Allowed text characters are upper and lower case A to Z, 0 to 9 and ! £ $ * ( ) - + = : ; . , @ ' " ?, click in the text area to activate the cursor before pasting in plain text (no formating other than paragraphs)
When you've checked everything please click the 'Submit Story' button below, we will immediately send you a confirmation email.
Submit Story
After we've had time to go through your details we will get in touch by email.
You can contact us at any time, click the 'Contact Us' button at the top of this page.


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Tutoring Services
Tutors contribute to success and retention by facilitating student learning and assisting students in becoming independent, lifelong learners. More than 2000 students worked with tutors last year. What are you waiting for?
3 Types of Tutoringplus or minus
Drop-in Tutoring
Drop-in Tutoring Labs offer immediate tutoring assistance; no appointment needed. It's available in a variety of subjects—Math, Chem, Phys, Eco, Acct, Stat, & Fin
In Supplemental Instruction (SI) an experienced tutor leads regularly-scheduled group study sessions. Interact with classmates while learning how to study as well as what to study.
Small Group Peer Tutoring
In courses not supported by SI, students may request tutoring in a particular course. Students meet with a tutor in a small group on a weekly basis for the entire semester.
Peer Tutoring requests are made through my.scranton. Log on to my.scranton and go to
Student Tab → UIS → Student Services Tab → CTLE Menu → Tutor Request Form
Further Resourcesplus or minus
Online Tutorials
Our Facebook page
Connect with friends and classmates.
Be a Tutor
Contact Informationplus or minus
Questions about tutoring? Contact:
Mary Ellen Pichiarello
Tom Leong
LSCl 582E


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WILKES-BARRE — The city of Wilkes-Barre's bandshell got tossed in the wind during Friday's strong storms that swept through Forty Fort.
The bandshell was heavily damaged. It's owned by Wilkes-Barre but rented out to all kinds of festivals, bazaars and events.
This happened in the heart of bazaar season.
Now the bandshell sits dented and out of service at the city's public works lot unable to be used by those depending on it.
"Usually in January, we send in our check to the city. There's a lot of people waiting for them," said Monsignor Joe Rausher.
Msgr. Rausher at St. Nicholas Church in Wilkes-Barre has been trying to find another bandshell.
He said Wilkes-Barre's cost around $600. Msgr Rausher is getting a quote of more than $1000 now.
The church bazaar is coming up in a few weeks and he said they must have an enclosed stage. Especially with the strong wind in the open, a makeshift tent would not be secure.
In Luzerne, the Luzerne Merchants Association have a festival where they block off the main street and make use of the bandshell. Now they too are scrambling to find a replacement.
"We were very disappointed because we rent it from Wilkes-Barre city and pretty much depend on it," said Shirley Keller, treasurer of Luzerne Merchants Association.
Keller said she has a little more time to get another bandshell. He has until September.
But Wilkes-Barre is still trying to determine if this can be fixed or must be replaced. It isn't expected to be ready by then.
"So if we can get a good deal for a bandshell, that would be great…That's what we're looking for," said Keller.
Wilkes-Barre officials say the bandshell is worth about $75,000.
Insurance will likely pay for the damage, but again it's not clear if it is totaled or can be fixed.


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I love Tomorrowland but if you are going to change it I think examining the past should be considered too, there are lots of attractions you could bring back and you could fix the past mistakes.
I would bring back: Adventure Thru Inner Space, PeopleMover, Motorboat cruise, Rainbow Caverns Mine Train (but with the newer seven dwarves technology that is being used in wdw) and the Malibomber? ok kidding on the Bomber.


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By Jim GaramoneAmerican Forces Press Service
AL BASRA OIL TERMINAL, Iraq, May 2, 2006 It looks like a scene from the movie "Waterworld" here off the Iraqi coast.
Two oil terminals - this one and the Khawr al Amaya a few kilometers away - rise from the sea, miles out of sight of land. The oil wealth of Iraq flows into supertankers that berth here.
There is a post-Apocalyptic, industrial wasteland feel to this oil terminal. It's all hard edges - steel grating, concrete and massive valves. The whine of machinery, the thump of pumps and the roar of generators are constant. The smell of crude oil permeates everything.
The two platforms may be the most important economic facilities in the region. They pump oil around the clock. Officials estimate the flow is worth $18,000 a second to the people of Iraq.
Terrorists are aware of the target the platforms present. On April 24, 2004, they launched an attack on the Al Basra terminal that coalition forces foiled, but at the cost of the lives of two U.S. sailors and a Coast Guardsman.
Today, a U.S. Navy detachment and a group of Iraqi marines are the last line of defense in case of attack.
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Kenny Miller said the sailors of Guam's Mobile Security Detachment 71 work alongside Iraqi marines to defend the platforms. There are 45 sailors deployed to the platforms, who man defensive positions all along the 1,040 meters of them.
The security detachment works with the Iraqis, who are guarding their country's most precious resource, to ensure they can handle any contingency. "We consider ourselves family on both platforms and we will fight alongside them if necessary to ensure the platform security," he said.
He said the Iraqis are eager to learn and have worked well with his sailors.
"We've had good relations with the Iraqis," said Petty Officer 1st Class Billy Carver, the lead trainer with the detachment. "Everything runs pretty smooth," he said. "We train like we fight, fight like we train. But beyond that, we share food with them, barter with them. It's nice."
The sailors live in Conex boxes outfitted as quarters, three men to a box, and Navy Seabees built a small recreation room for the sailors. The ships off the platforms deliver chow three times a day. The sailors call such deliveries "meals on keels."
The detachment sends marshaling teams to the supertankers as they approach the platforms. The teams protect the pilot and the ship's captain, and make sure nothing interferes with the vessels' operations, Miller said.
Weather conditions can be challenging on the platform. "When it storms, the whole structure shakes," said Petty Officer 1st Class Eric Gallagher, a corpsman with the detachment. "The winds go from zero to 60 in seven seconds and dust comes out here from I-don't-know-where."
And every day there are exercises to ensure the detachment and the Iraqi marines remain sharp. Called "wolverines," these exercises ensure the defenders can fully man their positions in a specified period of time. Miller said the men are well under that time.
And the detachment constantly wargames scenarios to ensure they defend against all threats: air, sea and under the sea. "There will be no failure of imagination out here, because failure is not an option," Miller said.


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Mashable.com's 13 Must-See Google Maps Mashups - If you're new to the world of Google Maps mashups take a look at this great list of 13 Google Maps mashups assembled by Adam Ostrow of Mashable.com. :) Check out my "Top Picks" section for a similar list..
EyeStride gives users a sneak peek:
Michael Balyasny and his newly formed company "Eyestride" is busy building a really nice way for you to create your own virtual tours from your digital photos. For samples of some of these tours take a look at: http://tours.eyestride.com to see what's to come. Once launched, EyeStride will let you stitch together photos you took in the order taken or as you'd like them ordered in tour format. At each stop, or photo in your tour there are a lot of options to explore that particular photo or point of interest.. Take a look!
A Music Life Map: Israel Kamakawiwoole - Here is a "Life Map" of the Hawaiian Musician Israel Kamakawiwoole. This mashup is user generated allowing fans to upload text, images, or a video via a link to YouTube.
Picasa Web Album of Las Vegas + Google Maps - See this post for more details.
TourMapia - This mashup helps you find YouTube videos for a particular location but specific to travel. For example, many results include travel bureau videos of regions or cities making it particularly helpful for researching locations for trip planning. Place/remove pins from the map and wait for videos to appear.. You need to be a bit patient for the mashup to do its thing. This mashup makes use of the both the Google Maps and YouTube APIs, AJAX and geocoding from GeoNames.
Google Maps used as backdrop for personal website - Good work Attila Juhász! [Found via Digg]
GeoMapsInfo adds another mashup: Worldwide Cost of Living
NYC NBC Reporter gives good Google Maps mashup suggestions - Be sure to watch the video!
Google Maps Mashup For Sale: PartyGPS.com - Email firstname.lastname@example.com (Johnny) if you're interested!
UnThirsty.com gets an update - User accounts and iPhone integration have been added!


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Social Circle: Do Milwaukeeans drink more than people in other cities?
Published Jan. 19, 2014
Based on personal experience, do people really think Milwaukeeans drink more - or is this a bunch of media hype? Turns out, most believe that we do, indeed, drink more here than other places. What do you think?


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Road to Mutya ng Pilipinas 2013
Now on its 45th year, Mutya ng Pilipinas presents 31 Filipina beauties vying for two titles.
The two shall compete in separate international beauty tilts, such as the 2013 Miss Intercontinental pageant in November and the 2013/2014 Miss Tourism International pageant in December.
Visit Mutya ng Pilipinas' official Facebook page to vote for your bet. The most number of likes will be named as People's Choice to be awarded at the coronation on July 26 at NBC Tent, Taguig.
(Text by Luigene Yanoria)
Editor's note:Yahoo Philippines encourages responsible comments that add dimension to the discussion. No bashing or hate speech, please. You can express your opinion without slamming others or making derogatory remarks.
Piolo On Aging
Piolo Pascual is turning 40 in three years time. How is he taking aging? … More »
How To Conceal Correctly
Achieve celebrity skin by perfectly hiding those imperfections. … More »
How To Switch From Day To Night
Going straight to cocktails from work? Here's how you can switch moods. … More »
How To Experience Happiness
Celebs share the secret to their happiness. … More »
How Scents Can Boost Your Mood
How to apply scents to your daily routine. … More »


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Miller moths have commenced their assault on the Pikes Peak region.
After a mild winter, the grey nuisances woke up early this year.
They squeeze into houses and garages through every crack and crevasse. They hang out around porch lights, waiting to enter homes unwelcomed. They bombard cars in a fluttering blizzard.


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Mario Ochoa
Mario Ochoa is the co-owner and Chief Strategic Officer for Sammis & Ochoa , a San Antonio-based public relations agency. A lifelong Alamo City resident, Mario specializes in strategic planning, media relations, copywriting and looking at the glass half-full.
Yearly Archive for 2009
R U Too Wired?
The modern business professional will opine that the present-day workplace is more efficient – a result of faster technology and expanded lines of communication. What started in the mid-90s with email has spiraled into a techno-farm filled with IM's, PDA's, Tweets, and Updates. Where we once had one or two forms of direct communication, we […] [Read More]
Trumped: When to Fire a Client
Donald Trump didn't invent the phrase "You're fired!" but he sure made it popular. For eight seasons, Trump has made the two words his calling card on the series "The Apprentice." It's his way of dismissing the dismissible and eradicating dead weight. While it works well for disappointing employees, what happens when it comes time […] [Read More]
Gang of Four
Every four to six weeks, I enter the ring with a team of savvy citizens from different areas of expertise on the "Gang of Four" radio show on 550 KTSA. From law to politics, from media to entertainment, they are all there. And they are all good. It's hosted by Mr. Jack Riccardi, a veteran […] [Read More]
Déjà You
Today's post comes from my dear friend, Nina Duran. Nina is one of San Antonio's finest young writers, and it is my pleasure to share her thoughts with you. Grab a seat and settle in for a few words of wisdom from a wise young woman. Enjoy! -Mario I'm surrounded by a mouse, stapler and […] [Read More]
Europe is for Lovers
The amazing Tanya returned from her journey to Europe a little over a week ago. Her experiences brought her back inspired and ready to share a few insights. So sit back, grab a glass of wine, and enjoy! -Mario It is legitimate and worthwhile to put a price on vacation and travel when you are […] [Read More]
Finding a mentor is your first step to success in the corporate world. If you polled any business owner, most will tell you that at some point someone inspired his or her philosophy on business, no matter how big or small the advice was. In my day, I've been fortunate to have several mentors – […] [Read More]
Dorothy, Thank You!
"Don't worry. I'm not gonna do what you all think I'm gonna do, which is just flip out! If you come with me, this will be the moment of something new, and fun, and inspiring in this God-forsaken business. And we will do it together. So…Who's coming with me?" – Jerry Maguire Have you seen […] [Read More]
Stranger Than Diction
This summer, MasonPR was blessed with a bumper crop of interns. Each of them has shown the ability to be great PR minds. I will now give the floor to Christine Le, one of our prized interns. Enjoy! – Mario If I were Superman, Vietnamese-speaking relatives would be my Kryptonite. Indication of this weakness includes […] [Read More]
There is a growing segment of the local population that is pushing possibility farther down, rather than higher up. Statistics show the drop out rate for Hispanics and Blacks across the state of Texas is worse than it was 20 years ago – over 2.5 million drop outs since 1985 – many from San Antonio […] [Read More]
An Eye for an Eye Leaves Everyone Blind
My friend and brilliant co-worker, Tanya, is back to share a bit of wisdom. Today's post can apply to business, but really has a place in everyday life. Enjoy! -Mario How many times have we heard, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?" Probably about as many times as we have heard […] [Read More]
Show More


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Now Foods, 100% Certified Organic, Psyllium Husk Powder, 12 oz (340 g)
Items 6-10 of 36 total
« Previous |
| Next »
Totally satisfied
1 person found the following review helpful
Posted by Reviewer3000993 on Jan 24, 2014
I have been using psyllium for years now, for myself but mostly for my cats. This is the best I have ever used .... it is so super fine in texture! Makes it so much easier to mix with water and suck into a syringe for force-feeding my cats if necessary (some won't accept psyllium mixed into their food). Some brands are very coarsely textured, and the mixture gets stuck in the nozzle of the syringe. This will be THE brand for us.
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Great Texture
Posted by Jasmine44 on Mar 03, 2014
This is a great fiber addition to a morning smoothie. It mixes fairly well with a brisk stir & has little taste...not so noticeable when mixed with other ingredients or with juice.
very gentle and soft
Posted by 5037768523163589512 on Mar 26, 2014
yet very efficient! will buy again
Super food
Posted by Viktorija on Apr 09, 2014
Super food, use it making raw vegan food.
very good
Posted by Reviewer2133762 on May 26, 2014
It works!


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PortMiami is hosting the port industry's largest annual conference, Nov. 2 - 4. For more information, visit the AAPA PortMiami website.
Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) 281 has 27 approved sites with over 3.0 million square feet of warehousing and logistics space.
Hamburg Sud, ranked among the world's largest container shipping lines, announced its return to PortMiami.
PortMiami is a proud sponsor of the Expo+Conference, held on Dec. 2 - 3 in San Diego, CA.
Learn about new rules, rates and waiver procedures.
PortMiami recognized for its Faster is Fresher campaign.
PortMiami Trademarked "Cargo Gateway to the Americas"
Construction on the FEC Railway connection continues to progress.


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Photoshop CS4 offers an abundance of helpful shortcuts and hidden tricks that allow designers and photographers to get more done in less time. In Photoshop CS4 Power Shortcuts, Michael Ninness reveals hundreds of tips to boost productivity, including the top 20 power shortcuts every Photoshop user must know. He covers strategies for better document and panel management, and offers techniques for becoming quicker and more nimble when using layers, adjustment layers, and layer masks. Exercise files accompany the course.
Download the keyboard shortcut guide from the Exercise Files tab.
Here's a few shortcuts for the Crop tool that I'll share with you here. So, let's press C for the Crop tool. Let's go ahead and drag out a boundary. First thing is as you are dragging the boundary if you have started in the wrong position, you can hold down the Spacebar to reposition it and then let go of the Spacebar and keep dragging your bounding box here. Once you let go, you can of course always resize this by going to a handle. I'm just pressing and dragging. The area that's going to be cut is shaded and behind and the area that's going to be kept of course it's this clear area. You can toggle the shield if it's distracting. If you hit the Forward Slash key or the Question mark key you can toggle the shade on and off. So that's totally your preference. What I like to do is setup the color to white. You can actually choose a different shield color.
You can also change the Opacity if you want this to be lighter or darker. Let me change it to 50%. I'm going to hit Return once to lock in that 50% number. Now, I toggle it with Forward Slash key to kind of see it whether I like it. To apply a crop you just hit the Return key or the Enter key or you can also double-click in the particular crop area. If you want to cancel this, you just hit the Escape key. Okay, so drag around a new crop boundary, hit Return, it does it or the Enter key, undo of course. The drag out the crop boundary, hit Escape, and it will cancel it.
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Access exercise files from a button right under the course name.
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Gov. Mary Fallin announced the appointment of Michael DeBerry to the 17th Judicial District Office of McCurtain, Choctaw and Pushmataha Counties. He is replacing Willard Driesel, who is deceased.
DeBerry of Idabel is the Associate District Judge in McCurtain County. He has served in various roles, including assistant district attorney, associate district judge, half- time assistant district attorney, municipal judge for the city of Idabel, first assistant district attorney and as a self-practicing attorney.
"Judge DeBerry is a lifelong resident of McCurtain County who has worked in the legal field in both the private and public sectors," Fallin said. "With his experience, I am confident he will serve the state well in his new role."
DeBerry is a current member at the Idabel Chamber of Commerce, VFW, Masons, American Legion and the Oklahoma Bar Foundation.
He was also recognized in 2011 as an outstanding Oklahoma elected official for his work with child abuse prevention.
DeBerry received a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University and a law degree from the University of Oklahoma.
He and his wife Linda have two children.
[1] http://www.theantlersamerican.com/sites/default/files/breaking news_8.jpg


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The winners of this year's Graduate School poster competition are Juanita James (Physics) and Matthew Barnes (Lancaster Environment Centre). They presented research on the use of quantum dots in solar cells, and the application of allometric scaling to air quality measurement. The winning posters are at http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/christmas_conference/winning_posters
On Friday 4 January, over 35 businesses attended the "New Year New Opportunities. Helping businesses to gain knowledge to innovate, develop and grow" event, supported by the Environmental Sustainability Knowledge Transfer Network.
Attendees gained an overview of the Technology Strategy Board's Innovation Voucher scheme, which provides up to Ł5,000 for innovative projects for start-up, micro, small and medium-sized businesses to gain knowledge from a research organization, had an opportunity to discuss project ideas with academics from Lancaster and other Northern Universities and also find out about other funding opportunities.
Business included Wire Energy Limited, FSB, Eco Building Technologies Furness Enterprise Limited, Perceptive Engineering, Allan Gilles Limited UKTI Norwest Limited and resident companies Carbon Action Limited, The Reach Centre and Small World Consulting Limited.
Barcelona born School of Computing and Communications graduate Avinash Nandwani won Lancaster University's Student Enterprise of the Year Award 2012. His enterprise, Cheeky Promotions Ltd, provides innovative solutions for retail industry, with a particular focus on nightlife, and his first major customer was the University of Central Lancashire Student Union, delivering an induction and loyalty solution for their freshers week. Avinash received his award from Designer Wayne Hemingway MBE.
Avinash Nandwani comments "this award meant a lot, because it has given me the recognition from the university and made me believe that I am doing the right thing trying my own thing rather than applying for jobs. Further I have worked very hard and love this university and being part of the 'Lancaster Ecosystem' makes me very proud."
Students and staff who have enterprising business ideas can access support on campus through LUSU or by contacting Enterprise Manager Jon Powell.
Lancaster University, its status an Academic Cyber Security Centre of Excellence and a report, The Small Business Cyber Security Survey 2012 Report, by Security Lancaster in partnership with the ICT KTN, were referred to in parliament during question time on 19 December by Eric Ollerenshaw OBE, MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood.
Pure is Lancaster University's research information system. You can find more information on how to update your research profile, with handy user guides, at http://www.lancs.ac.uk/pure/.
The Library validation team asks everyone to try not to make duplicate entries of Research Outputs in Pure.
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Send an email directly to Richard Ingham in the Library listing the changes needed, and they will be made as soon as possible. You can identify the record that needs amending by finding the unique ID number, in a rather light typeface, in the top left hand corner of the record screen. Please refer to this ID number in your email.
In case you would like a reminder of the general Research Output entry procedure, there are several user guides online.
Pure will be upgraded next Wednesday (16th January). You will not be able to use Pure after 2pm that day. The system should be up and running again the next day.
The new version fixes several problems. In particular there should be a noticeable improvement in speed.
Contact firstname.lastname@example.com for more information or to report any difficulties you notice from Thursday morning onwards.
Recent stories from Science and Technology:
Large-scale cultivation of biofuels in Europe could lead to increased human mortality and crop losses according to research from the Lancaster Environment Centre.
Professor Kenneth Wilson from the Lancaster Environment Centre has met the Vice-President of Zambia to discuss the current food crisis caused by the crop pest the African Armyworm.
The School of Computing and Communications has achieved its highest ever success at ACM SIGCHI, the top international conference on Human Computer Interaction (HCI), with nine papers accepted for publication. Two proposals from the School to run interactive workshops at the event were also accepted.
A proposal involving researchers from the Universities of Manchester, Cambridge and Lancaster, has been awarded 13.4 million Euros (around Ł11m) to form a "Synergy Group" by the European Research Council (ERC).


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Hometown: Suwanee, Georgia
Majors: Politics and Chinese
Extracurricular Involvement:
Off-Campus Experiences: I worked for Verizon the summers after my freshman and sophomore years of college doing global business operations. This summer I went to China to travel, learn Chinese and culture, and teach English during high school language summer camps.
How does your work under the grant apply to your studies at W&L? Through teaching English to Chinese students and being immersed in the day-to-day life in China, I was able to constantly practice my Chinese. Being on the ground in China enabled me to see the very things that we discussed in my politics classes as well as my Chinese literature courses.
What has been the most unexpected aspect of your grant experience so far? I just realized how passionate I am about people. Having long conversations with students about God, politics, family and life was the most rewarding aspect of the trip. In one city, I sat by the river with the town completely lit up and was able to reflect on my role and reason in life. Among the many things that divide us, going abroad allows you to see common threads of humanity absent from politics, bias, etc.
Post-Graduation Plans: Time will tell.
Favorite W&L Memory: Day 1 of Junior Year--I saw guys that had been on my hall when I was an RA arrive on campus and truly act like the W&L men that we all aspire to be. I was able to think for a few moments- "yeah, I helped that guy become who they wanted to be."
Favorite Class: Professor Morel's Spring term course: OBAMA, Campaigns and Elections
Favorite W&L Event: Homecoming weekend
Favorite Campus Landmarks: Liberty Hall Ruins/Law School Powell conference room/EC office...
I have been passionate about my study of Chinese since day one of my first year at Washington and Lee. I have always found the language fascinating, the culture intriguing and the politics engaging. Coupled with my politics major, I realized that I wanted to be on the ground in China this summer. The Johnson Opportunity Grant allowed me to further this passion by traveling there with the Harvard World Teach program.
I landed in Changsha, China, on July 8 for what is sure to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career. Days in China begin early and end late. Hot noodles, peppers, and beef cooked in a wok on a dirt road beside the school were my typical breakfast opener. Often times, a street vendor would be selling his vegetables from the day before or another vendor would be cutting the throats of chicken for families / businesses to eat for lunch. Very appetizing. The morning was a great chance for me to sit on a stool under a tarp covering to observe the morning rituals of many of the Zhangjiajie and Zhuzhou people. And believe me, the people are fascinating. Men, women and children are all hard at work.
The morning was also a great opportunity to notice standard of living differences. At times, a man pulling a two-wheeled cart would pass a man driving a Range Rover or Audi. Women wearing high heels would walk by women wearing makeshift grass flip- flops sewn from grass stems.
After breakfast, I would walk to the school. In both locations where World Teach held summer camps, the schools were massive campuses with acres of property servicing over 3,000 students. Students in China begin studying at 8 a.m. and work until around 9:30 p.m. The environment is intense, and students work hard all the time. But despite high pressure, students never ceased to amaze me with their passion for understanding the world around them and continuously seeking truth. I don't mean seeking the right answer. Rather, students want to get to the bottom of things. I was constantly asked questions like "what makes America special?" "Should people be as free as they are in America?" And "why is America one nation under God?" Think through those questions.
Each day, I taught three English lessons. Class sizes were between 25 and 30. My lessons included holidays, sports, the environment, the future, jobs, slang and idioms. At the end of the summer camp, I taught the students to debate, broke the classes in half, and conducted a debate on the American educational system versus the Chinese educational system. This was among the most rewarding aspects of the trip, watching students articulate what they had learned through an exchange of ideas that they were very passionate about.
The World Teach program also encouraged the volunteers to engage with students after class. In the afternoons, the students taught me songs, we played basketball and, my personal favorite, we held a mock prom (after learning about American high school traditions). Later, the professors of the school would teach us tai chi or practice oral Chinese with us. We also learned a Tibetan-Chinese ethnic dance, how to write Chinese calligraphy, and most importantly, how to make Chinese dumplings.
These cultural experiences, coupled with my experience walking around the various towns of China, gave me unique perspective on my studies. Things I had merely read about in textbooks were live in front of me. At first, being immersed in Chinese was difficult. But after I forced myself to practice and speak, language became easier. Furthermore, opening my eyes to cultural differences helped me see my politics studies come to life. Consider this--while I was in China, six people were arrested for what they had written on Chinese "facebook," or QQ. Also, the intense smog hovering over the three major cities I was in made me appreciate the environmental protection we have in America. Things we take for granted and sometimes abuse are not omnipresent in the rest of the world. I saw that for the first time.
Finally, the Harvard World Teach program gave me the opportunity to develop as a student and member of the W&L community. My patience, perseverance, leadership and passion were continuously tested over this trip. At times, there would be 10 things that needed to happen with only two hours notice, and the other volunteers and I were forced to work rigorously and delegate tasks to run an effective summer camp. And nothing quite tests your patience like 30 highschoolers in a room, especially when they speak rough English. But coming back to the dorm for bed after long days of working hard, I could always look back on my days and see the many things that made me smile, as well as the work I had accomplished that day.
Upon this reflection, it is easy to see that despite cultural differences, Chinese and American high school students share many similarities. After this experience, my hope is that I can work for the U.S. in some Sino-American capacity. I know that if we can realize our similarities, we can make the world we live in safer and leave our lives enriched by the exchange of our different cultural heritages.
I want to thank the Johnson family for their generous contribution to Washington and Lee University that enabled myself and other students like me to travel to various parts of the world pursuing their aspirations. I know this experience has changed the way that I perceive the world and has made me more passionate for the people in it.


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Unless you've been living under a rock this past week, you're well aware that Sunday is Mother's Day — and there's plenty going on in York County to celebrate moms! Here are a few things to keep in mind.
- The Olde York Street Fair runs 12:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday along Market Street, with live music, kids' entertainment, food and craft vendors. You can find a (hefty) listing of street closings at York City Limits.
- If you need a last-minute gift idea, offer to organize Mom's pantry for her with these handy tips and downloadable labels. She might appreciate it more than another bouquet of flowers.
- Or, get the kids involved to create a special placecard as a 365-days-a-year reminder of how special Mom is.
- Can't be with Mom this year? Read a story from the winner of our Mother's Day contest — Linda Decroes' selfless love is sure to warm your heart. Or, for a laugh, check out Courtney Cashour's letter to her mom.


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Bill Benefiel
Mental Illness: Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Executed on April 21, 2005
Case Overview
An execution date has been set for Bill Benefiel on April 21, 2005 in Indiana. Benefiel was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder, rape and confinement of Delores Wells, 19, on February 7, 1987.
The facts of the case were established by a surviving victim, Alicia Elmore, 17. Elmore was abducted on October 10, 1986 and taken to a house, where she was subsequently held captive for four months, during which time she was raped and sodomised. Elmore later saw Delores Wells, naked, gagged, and with her wrists and ankles handcuffed. Wells' eyes were taped shut and Elmore subsequently witnessed Benefiel beating Wells. A few days later, Benefiel left the house and returned dirty, with blisters on his hands. He told Elmore that he had been digging a grave big enough for two people. He later informed Elmore that he had killed Wells and buried her body.
A few days later police came to Benefiel's house to search for Elmore. Benefiel hid her in a crawl space in the ceiling, where the police eventually found her. A search of the woods surrounding Terre Haute, Indiana, also revealed Wells' grave site and her body. An autopsy revealed the injuries she had sustained, and established asphyxia as the cause of death.
Benefiel presented an insanity defense at trial. Court appointed experts testified during the guilt phase that Benefiel suffered from schizotypal personality disorder and from a mental disease or defect. Additionally in mitigation, Benefiel presented evidence of his earlier bizarre childhood and abuse suffered.
Mental Illness
Benefiel has "schizotypal personality disorder," ("latent schizophrenia," or "borderline schizophrenia."). This is a severe mental disorder on the "schizophrenic spectrum": that is, the diseases have some similar, though not identical symptoms and are genetically related. People diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder frequently have a close biological relative with schizophrenia. In Benefiel's case, his father was schizophrenic and spent most of his life in Indiana's state mental health system. Those who suffer from schizotypal personality disorder experience cognitive and perceptual distortions that are very real to them. For example, they may believe that others are talking about them or laughing at them when they are not. They "feel" the presence of others who are not actually there. They often misperceive or misinterpret the words or gesture of others, frequently in a paranoid fashion. They are severely socially withdrawn and isolated. They may perceive themselves as unreal and the world around them as a frightening and hostile place.
The symptoms of this disorder can be seen in Benefiel's life as far back as the age of six where he was described as withdrawn. In 1968, when Benefiel was 12 years old, a school psychological exam indicated that he had an I.Q. of 80 and was classified as a "slow learning child." The evaluator also noted that Benefiel was frequently absent from school, that this had a been "a pattern for several years" and that he "tends to react to many outside and inside stimuli." It was suggested that Benefiel obtain counseling at the Vigo County Adult and Child Guidance Clinic. Upon attending the clinic, mental health professionals at the Guidance Clinic concluded that "Bill's personality is developing in a schizoid direction" and that Benefiel suffered from "Borderline Mental Retardation." Guidance Clinic psychologist Floy Mathews later testified that Benefiel was withdrawn, isolated, and developing paranoid ideas. His mother was overprotective, smothering and inconsistent, and transferred her own attitude that the world was a threatening, hostile and unforgiving place to her son. Matthews and her colleagues recommended that Benefiel and his mother receive counseling. However, his mother did not keep appointments for herself or her son, and the treatment was never initiated.
A year later, Harry Leader, the assistant principle at Benefiel's school wrote to the Vigo County Juvenile Center asking them to "investigate" and intervene because of Benefiel's consistent absences from school and odd behavior. He explained that Benefiel's behavior suggested that "he may have some psychotic tendencies" and that he was frequently unable to participate in classes.
Benefiel's symptoms began to escalate around this time. Tests revealed his IQ to be 85, in the lowest 20th percentile for children his own age. The tester also noted that Benefiel reported that "he feels that other kids laugh at him a lot" and "that his nerves bother him." Benefiel was described as "insecure," having a "poor self-concept," someone who "worries a lot" and suffers extreme anxiety about school. Mr. Leader also wrote to the Juvenile Center to provide further information on Benefiel's problems. Mr. Leader explained that he believed that Benefiel had "developed a personality structure that allows him to withdraw from society when confronted with any type of challenge" and that his mother was reinforcing this behavior. He urged the Juvenile Center to intervene, stating that "if nothing is done in the immediate future, Bill will soon be beyond help."
Benefiel was then referred for a second psychiatric evaluation by the Juvenile Center. He was subsequently described as "very withdrawn," "terribly insecure" and completely isolated from everyone but his mother. His mother was described as "over-protective," "controlling" "whiney" and as someone who "reacts hysterically to any situation that does not meet her own personal needs." Psychiatric social worker Judy Harrell Eaton was one of the mental health professionals who evaluated Benefiel at this time. She later testified that his extreme withdrawal and isolation were consistent with the prior evaluation that his personality was developing in a schizoid direction, and consistent with the diagnosis of "schizotypal personality disorder" that he received years later.
The Juvenile Center subsequently recommended to the Juvenile Court that Benefiel be removed from his home and placed in a residential treatment facility. A placement was obtained at the Methodist Children's Home, however, the court never signed the order and Benefiel remained at home with his mother, stopped attending school entirely, and never completed the 7th grade.
Benefiel was evaluated again in 1974 at the age of 17 by Psychologist Don Nelson. Nelson concluded that, owing to his psychiatric problems, he should be eligible for federal disability benefits. He noted that Benefiel would not get out the car initially for the examination. Dr. Nelson observed that Benefiel was "physically and psychologically immature," was extremely withdrawn and diagnosed him as suffering from an "inadequate personality." Benefiel continued to receive benefits until 1987, when he was arrested and charged with capital murder.
Throughout his adult life, Benefiel never maintained employment, other than delivering newspapers. He did eventually marry and have three children; however, he never moved more that 100 yards from his mother's house and remained withdrawn from society throughout his adult life. According to his wife, Marilyn, for the 13 years she had known him prior to his arrest, Benefiel persistently displayed excessive social anxiety and paranoia. He would not go out in public and on the rare occasion that he was among other people, he believed everyone was staring at him when they were not. Throughout their relationship Benefiel remained "afraid" of Marilyn's family, without any rational basis for his fear. Marilyn recalled that on "thousands" of occasions Benefiel had told her that "he does not belong in this world" and that Benefiel had been exhibiting suicidal behavior for years. After his arrest, Marilyn observed that Benefiel had been exhibiting bizarre behavior at the jail, and at one point he had thought his dead father was in his cell with him. Marilyn believed Benefiel had substantial psychiatric problems and stated that he had never received any treatment during the time she had known him.
At the time of his 1988 capital trial, the court appointed two psychiatrists, Dr. Michael Murphy and Dr. David Crane, to examine Benefiel and report on his competency and sanity. Both doctors believed that he was severely mentally ill, however, neither believed that he met the definition of legal insanity at the time of the offense. During his incarceration prior to the trial, Benefiel attempted to commit suicide on two separate occasions.
On September 27, 1988, in the middle of his trial, Benefiel suffered a mental breakdown, believed to have been brought on by the stress and trauma of having to testify regarding the events in his life, in particular his childhood sexual abuse. Consistent with his mental illness, Benefiel began to hallucinate, believing that the people in the courtroom were laughing at him. At a competency hearing the next day, both his attorney and a defense psychologist testified that they believed that Benefiel's mental condition had significantly deteriorated and that he was unable to participate in the trial at this point owing to his mental illness. However, after listening to this, the trial judge nevertheless found Benefiel was competent to stand trial. The judge based his decision upon the May 23rd testimony of Dr. Crane and Dr. Murphy, claiming that both had testified that Benefiel was "malingering" in their testimony at a pre-trial competency hearing on that date. However, neither Dr. Murphy nor Dr. Crane had testified that Benefiel was malingering. Drs. Crane and Murphy had both testified that Benefiel was unquestionably mentally ill. In fact, Dr. Crane was specifically asked whether he thought Benefiel was faking, and testified that Benefiel was not. Both Dr. Crane and Dr. Murphy unequivocally stated neither had ever believed or testified that Benefiel was "malingering".
The judge also refused to consider evidence of Benefiel's long-standing mental illness at sentencing. Under Indiana law, "legal insanity" is a defense to a crime, however even when a defendant's mental illness does not render a criminal defendant legally insane, Indiana law still requires that his mental illness be considered as a mitigating factor at sentencing. In spite of this, the sentencing judge stated in his sentencing order that there were no mitigating factors in this case. The judge explained that because Benefiel's mental illness did not render him incapable of appreciating the wrongfulness of his conduct, that is, because he was not legally insane, the court would not give any consideration to this factor at sentencing. Unfortunately, at trial, Drs. Murphy and Crane were asked to focus their testimony on the question of Benefiel's sanity at the time of the offense: neither was asked to testify at sentencing regarding whether they believed Benefiel's mental illness should be considered a mitigating factor.
Years later, during post-conviction proceedings, both Dr. Murphy and Dr. Crane testified regarding their opinions as to mitigating factors present in Benefiel's case. Both testified that he suffered from an extreme mental or emotional disturbance at the time of the offense and that he suffers from a "severe" mental illness. Dr. Crane explained that Benefiel probably suffers from one or several personality disorders, but he had not spent enough time with him to substantiate a particular diagnosis. Dr. Murphy testified that that Benefiel suffers from schizotypal personality disorder and, unlike at trial, he was asked to explain this disorder. Dr. Murphy explained that schizotypal personality disorder is "one of the most severe personality disorders" and falls on a continuum of psychotic disorders of which the most severe is schizophrenia. Dr. Murphy believed that Benefiel had a genetic predisposition to developing this disorder because of a family history of schizophrenia and further, that Benefiel had exhibited primary symptoms of this longstanding disorder as a child. Dr. Murphy explained that much of his bizarre, reclusive and paranoid behavior, as well as his extreme communication problems, were typical of and due to his illness. Dr. Murphy also explained that Benefiel's illness not only significantly impaired his ability to function in society, but also demonstrably impairs his perceptions of the world around him.
Since his trial, Benefiel has attempted to withdraw his appeals at virtually every stage of the proceedings: in the Indiana Supreme Court on direct appeal, in Federal District Court while his habeas petition was pending, in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and again in the United States Supreme Court. Notably, not one of these courts was willing to grant his request to withdraw, largely due to his history.
During state post-conviction proceedings Vigo County Prosecutor Philip Adler, after consulting with members of Delores Wells family, agreed to ask the circuit court to modify Benefiel's sentence to a term of 120 years, if Benefiel would sign a document agreeing to not to pursue any further appeals. Benefiel refused to sign the document. His attorneys assert that this was not because he wanted to pursue more appeals: as noted above, Benefiel tried to waive all of his subsequent appeals. Rather, just as when he was child, he reverted to his only response: that of withdrawal. Thus, consistent with his mental illness, Benefiel continues to assert that he is "not of this world" and continues to find participation in his case so painful, that he would rather die than do anything to help himself.
Mitigating Factors: Sexual, Physical and Emotional abuse
Benefiel was subjected to childhood and adolescent abuse. Prior to his birth, Benefiel's natural mother, Norma Vick, arranged to sell him, in exchange for a place to stay during her pregnancy, to a blind, forty year old convicted felon, Helen Benefiel, who had never been to school, and who was known to run a house of prostitution. For the next six years, Helen and the man she was living with, Harry Benefiel, told people that he was their own, or that he was a foster child. Harry died of cancer on Benefiel's sixth birthday. Helen told Benefiel that the hospital had given his father a pill to put him out of his misery; Benefiel believed her.
Shortly after Harry's death, Helen petitioned to legally adopt Benefiel. The Vigo County Department of Public Welfare conducted a pre-adoption investigation, during which they learnt that Helen was known to run a house of prostitution, have an armed robbery conviction, and a life long history of lying to public agencies to obtain benefits. Legally blind since early childhood, Helen had never attended school and never held a job. Her only legitimate income was $95 per month from blind assistance. She was described by the school as overprotective of Benefiel, keeping him home from school for the slightest reason, and combative with school officials. At the time of the agency's home visit, six year old Benefiel was sleeping in the same bed as Helen.
The Welfare Department submitted a report to the Vigo County Circuit Court detailing their findings and stating: "The Board of the County Department of Public Welfare recommends that this Petition be denied and that the child be removed from the home." In March of 1963, the Board was asked to supplement their report. They interviewed additional individuals, and once again submitted a report to the Court stating: "After supplemental information the Board of Vigo County Department of Public Welfare confirms its original recommendation that this Petition be denied." On April 5, 1963, the Vigo County Circuit Court, despite the unqualified recommendations of the Welfare Department, allowed Helen to adopt Benefiel.
Helen continued to keep Benefiel out of school after she obtained legal custody. Both Benefiel's school and mental health records repeatedly describe Helen as a controlling, hostile and unstable woman who used Benefiel to meet her own needs. Helen also told school officials, and Benefiel, that he had an underdeveloped brain and could not learn. She consistently thwarted any efforts from the school or local mental health professionals to help him.
Helen's lies extended to repeatedly telling Benefiel that he had killed her baby girl when he was a child. In fact, Helen's records show that she had a baby girl who died shortly after birth years before Benefiel was born, and was unable to have children of her own by the time she acquired him from Norma Vick.
Benefiel was also sexually abused by a man who lived with his mother; however, when he told Helen this, she did not believe him. In response, she beat him with a belt and a broom across the head while he just stood there and cried. Benefiel was later molested by two other men who threatened to kill him if he did not comply; owing to Helen's earlier reactions, he was afraid to tell his mother in case he was accused of lying and incurred another beating.
When Benefiel was 15, attempts were made again to remove him from this environment. The Referee of the Juvenile Court in Vigo County was asked to order Benefiel's removal from Helen Benefiel's home, and place him in a residential treatment center for emotionally disturbed children, where he would receive treatment and counseling. This recommendation came after school officials asked the Vigo County Juvenile Center to intervene when Benefiel started exhibiting "psychotic tendencies" in school; after the mental health professionals at the Vigo County Adult and Child Guidance Clinic evaluated Benefiel and discussed him with the juvenile probation officer assigned to his case; and after the clinic's social worker, Judy Harrell, secured a placement for him at the Methodist Children's Home. The Vigo County Juvenile Court nevertheless declined to intervene, and Benefiel remained in Helen's home. Judy Harrell later testified that she believed the court did not wish to incur the additional expense of placing him in the home, which at the time would have amounted to approximately $30 to $35 a day for a period of one to two years.
Helen's bizarre behaviour continued in to Benefiel's early adulthood. When Benefiel was 17, she attempted to abduct the teenage daughter of a friend for the purpose of obtaining a wife for him. Helen had invited Helen Rambo, 17, the daughter of a friend, Barbara Rambo, to visit from Missouri for a few weeks. According to Helen Rambo, she and Benefiel enjoyed a friendship. Helen Benefiel subsequently decided that Helen Rambo would be a suitable wife for her son, and when it was time for Helen Rambo to return to her family, Helen Benefiel refused to let her go home. Barbara Rambo had to travel to Terre Haute to retrieve her daughter with police assistance. Helen Benefiel hid Helen Rambo with neighbours, however when confronted by Barbara and the police, Helen told Benefiel to go and get her.
Every mental health professional who evaluated Benefiel recognized the devastating effects that Helen had on her mentally ill son. Psychologist Floy Matthews and Psychiatric Social Worker Judy Harrel Eaton were involved with Benefiel when he was a teenager at the Vigo County Adult and Child Guidance Center. Both later testified that Benefiel should have been removed from his home environment; both believed that even at fifteen, he was not beyond hope and could, with treatment, have learned to function more adequately, perhaps preventing the crimes for which he was convicted.
Social worker Celeste White explained that Helen's behavior toward her child was suggestive of "[a] parent who wants to keep a child in a submissive kind of role" and wants to perpetuate some form of abuse. White opined that the various factors affecting Benefiel's development; physical abuse, sexual abuse, abandonment, lack of support, inappropriate emotional boundaries with his mother, extreme isolation, and lack of social development all could have contributed to what Benefiel eventually did to Alicia Elmore and Delores Wells. White explained that while any one of those factors in isolation will not generally lead to a highly dysfunctional person, the combination had an enormous impact. As with every other mental health professional who testified, White believed Benefiel could have been helped had he been removed from Helen's home and placed in a mental health facility.
Both Dr. Crane and Dr. Murphy agreed that Benefiel grew up in a "very dysfunctional" or "pathological" environment, with the primary perpetrator of the abuse being his mother, who used him to meet her own needs and thwarted any efforts from outsiders to help. Dr. Murphy explained that many of the devastating effects of his mental illness could have been ameliorated had he been removed from his mother and given treatment. Dr. Murphy from his experience working with the Vigo County child welfare system believed that the system could have effectively intervened but in this case simply failed to do so.
Additional Factors
Of note the victim's family and surviving victim did not request the death penalty for Benefiel. At Benefiel's sentencing hearing, Ms. Well's parents and husband, and Alicia Elmore all testified that they believed a sentence that would require Benefiel to spend the rest of his natural life in prison was a suitable sentence in this case. Moreover, then Vigo County Prosecutor Philip I. Adler, did not urge either the jury or the judge to impose the death penalty, but rather asked each to simply do they be believed to be fair and just.
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Social Media - Page 2
Are Amateur Facebook Weather Forecasts Causing Panic?
How Has Facebook Changed Your Life?
Teacher-Student Communication Focus of New Bill [AUDIO]
Websites Face New Rules With New Bill [AUDIO]
NJ Legislation Addresses Sex Offenders on Social Media Sites [AUDIO]
Social Media: A Scammer's Dream [AUDIO]
Do Your Kids Know What They're Doing on Facebook? [POLL/AUDIO]
Social Media Affecting Job Chances [AUDIO]
Social Media Education Could Become Mandatory [POLL/AUDIO]
Every middle school student in New Jersey would be instructed on the responsible use of social media, if a bill advancing through Trenton eventually earns the Governor's signature.


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The grass will be greener on your side of the fence with an Ames True Temper 30-Tine Plastic Rake. This leaf rake is great for fall leaf cleanup and raking other yard waste. Lightweight and durable, it has a 30" head width for grabbing a wide swathe of leaves. Plus, this lawn rake has a sturdy cushioned handle for more comfort and better control.
Number of Pieces: 1
Protective Qualities: Weatherproof
Dimensions: 70.0 " L x 31.5 " W x 6.0 M H
Weight: 13.25 Lb.
Assembly Details: no assembly required
other Info.
- Online Item #: 12931859
- Store Item Number (DPCI): 084-19-0381
- Made in the USA


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Summer PhD Opportunities
We believe there are myriad reasons to choose J.P. Morgan as a PhD candidate. The prestige, the quality of work, the spirit of teamwork and collaboration, the chance to make a name for yourself, our reputation for innovation and our commitment to world-class training and development.
But let's not deal in abstractions. Why not find out for yourself? That's why an internship with us can be so valuable. Your theoretical skills will be tested in a fast-paced, real-life working environment. You'll work alongside some of the finest minds in investment banking. We give you opportunities to take on important responsibilities on the job, and help you build your professional network with your peers and senior management. You'll get to appreciate a culture where the people you work with are as important as the work you do.
Our recruiting process
Since PhD candidates are not always working on a traditional academic calendar, we try to be flexible on deadlines for applications. Demand for summer internships is intense, however, so the earlier you apply, the better your chances.
You should also know that we hire across a variety of disciplines for our PhD programs. Our PhD colleagues have come from fields such as economics, mathematics, computer science and even chemistry. You can join us too — if you have the right attitude and aptitude.
Learn more about our programs:
For detailed information about our application process, visit How to Apply. And be sure to visit the rest of our Advice Center. You'll find answers to frequently asked questions, tips on résumés and cover letters, and insights about living and working in New York City.


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Preservation of T-Cell Subsets Following HAART
ID Number 00-0667-00021Principal Investigator(s)
John B Steever
Department(s) or Division(s)
This is a study looking at a management strategy of induction with HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) including boosted Atazanavir (ATV/r) with subsequent de-intensification to ATV/r alone. The primary objective is to determine if the immunologic benefits of early initiation of treatment of HIV can be maintained or enhanced during de-intensification to ATV/r. In addition, the effect of implementing this management strategy on decreasing immune activation will be analyzed throughout the study and in particular during de-intensification.
Contact Information
John Steever
(212) 731-7517
Recruiting Patients: Yes


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Put your web motion skills to the test in this final project of the series, which uses Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Edge Animate to create an animated banner ad.
Learn how to create an animated logo with After Effects, and get the motion graphics experience you need to succeed as a freelance video editor.
Learn how to animate vector graphics from Photoshop and Illustrator with After Effects.
"I'm completely blown away by the quality and quantity of training you offer. I feel like Neo in The Matrix when they would insert a training program and within a few minutes he could say, "I know jiujitsu!"" —Zolla M.
more from our members »


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Narrow your search
Alcatel, Huawei and ZTE are hoping that low prices for quality products will lure US consumers online.
Samsung is reportedly set to sign one of the biggest sponsorship deals in tech history by splurging $20m on the rapper and impresario.
Test your trivia chops while helping to reforest the planet through an innovative new gaming website called JohnnyAppl.
Women's rights group UN Women says that though the car-hailing service did sponsor one of its events, there was no talk of a partnership on job creation for women.
The world's largest restaurant chain is in turnaround mode. It's looking to the tech industry -- and role models like Google -- as it searches for a good jump start. First stop: South by Southwest.
Samsung steps away from smartphones for a moment to design a fancy doghouse stocked with a treadmill, tablet and pooch-size pool.
The company will use Mobile World Congress next week as a coming-out party for its new identity as a consumer gadget and mobile-app maker. It may be the most important party it ever hosts.
Both companies will be coming on strong in the US as they fight to capture your attention. They won't find it easy going.
Developers including Glympse and Audiobooks.com are also making their apps available to the AT&T Drive platform.
Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler says, despite Microsoft's NFL sponsorship, that he has no idea who makes the Surface tablets or what they're called, ESPN reports.


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Our Mission
Serving students from every College within the University, the Gigot Center aims to foster innovation and "create a sense of the possible" among current and aspiring entrepreneurs.
The Gigot Center for Entrepreneurship offers an exciting curriculum that emphasizes the core of entrepreneurship: vision and strategic thinking. Dedicated faculty and successful entrepreneurs help students conduct feasibility analyses and execute business plans. Recognizing that intuition is essential for every entrepreneur, students are challenged to "think like entrepreneurs" so that they will be able to recognize opportunities and face challenges head-on.
In partnering with companies and alumni from around the globe, Notre Dame students gain vital experience and are challenged to use their intellect and passion to make a difference. Through the Advisory Board and Notre Dame's alumni network, the Gigot Center provides access to a supportive community necessary for students to build successful businesses. The IrishAngels network, a select group of Notre Dame alumni and friends who are experienced in entrepreneurial endeavors and interested in supporting new venture development, are a significant and valuable source of feedback and mentoring to aspiring Notre Dame students and alumni entrepreneurs.
Encouraging "the passion for creating value" is at the heart of the Gigot Center. Students are taught how to implement a feasibility study and develop a business plan. They are also taught how to secure funding, how to interpret the law and how to determine what government regulations apply to their businesses. But a Gigot Center education goes far beyond that. Professors set expectations about the challenges of running a business. They stress the importance of liking what you do. They talk about treating employees well and balancing business and family life. When aspiring entrepreneurs have a passion for their business, they have every chance to succeed. Our desire is to help ignite and sustain this passion.
© 2010 Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556-5646


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|Annual Percentage Rate(APR) for Purchases
*This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
|APR for Balance Transfers
*This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
|APR for Cash Advances
*This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
|Penalty APR and When It Applies
Up to 24.00%.
**This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. This APR may be applied to your account if you:
How long will the Penalty APR apply? If your APR is increased for this reason, the Penalty APR will no longer apply if you make the next six consecutive minimum payments when due.
|How to avoid Paying Interest
|Your due date is at least 25 days after the close of each billing cycle. We will not charge you interest on Retail Purchases, Cash Advances and Balance Transfers if you pay your entire balance by the due date.
|For Credit Card Tips from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
|To learn more about factors to consider when applying for or using a credit card, visit the website of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/learnmore
|Annual Fees
|Transaction Fees
|Cash Advances
|Either $5.00 or 3.00% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater. Includes cash advance checks.
|Foreign Transactions
|2.00% of each transaction in US dollars.
|Balance Transfer
|Penalty Fees
|Late Payment
|Up To $25.00
|Over the Limit
|Return Payment
|Up to $25.00
How we will calculate your balance?: We use the "average daily balance" method, excluding new purchases. See your cardholder agreement for more details.
Billing Rights: Information on your rights to dispute transactions and how to exercise those rights is provided in your Billing Rights notice.
Prime Rate: *We add 11.74% to the Prime Rate to determine the Purchase,Balance Transfer and Cash Advance APR.
**We add 20.00% to the Prime Rate to determine the Penalty APR.
Costs of the Card: The costs of the cards described above are accurate as of June 21, 2012. This information is subject to change. For current pricing terms, contact Landmark Community Bank at 1-866-711-4522 or write to us at 2 S. Main Street Pittston PA 18640
NOTICE TO THE BUYER: We reserve the right to amend the terms of this Agreement at any time, as further described in Section 31. You may at any time pay your total indebtedness under this credit agreement.
This Visa Business Cardholder Agreement applies to the credit card you selected and requested in the Application. The card is issued by us and is subject to the terms of this Agreement and remain our property. The Card(s) is nontransferable and must be returned or surrendered on our request. The Card(s) can be cancelled as well as repossessed by us and the privileges thereof revoked at any time without prior notice. The Company and Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree to the terms of this Agreement. Retaining, signing, using or permitting others to use the Card is the equivalent of signing this Agreement. You acknowledge that you received a copy of this Agreement and all required disclosures before the first transaction under this Account. You understand that all terms of the Account stated on any insert or other writing submitted to you as terms of the Account as such terms may be amended, supplemented or substituted from time to time, are expressly incorporated by reference into this Agreement and are part of this Agreement as if fully stated herein.


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by NRA Staff
During his years as shooting editor for Outdoor Life magazine, Jim Carmichel had the opportunity to encounter many unusual sporting arms, but one of the strangest came to him with a tag attached. The old paper tag read, "Very dangerous—given to me by Ross in 1915—fired by my guide Pete Nordquist at a grizzly in the Teton Range. The bolt shot out backwards and tore the side of his face away from the mouth to the ear. The bolt was picked up 20 yards back. I reported this and all later models had different bolt action—as several other people had same accident. .280 Ross Rifle N. Whitehouse."
The .280 Ross rifle attached to the tag was a sporting, straight-pull gun that had been acquired by Carmichel from former NRA President Richard Riley. This straight-pull design, developed by the quirky Scottish designer Sir Charles Ross, was produced in both civilian and military models, but the reputation of the company's name suffered when shooters found that incorrect assembly was but one of the reasons the Ross design malfunctioned. Wisely, Carmichel elected to donate this rifle to the National Firearms Museum without firing it.
Just part of the history on exhibit daily in the National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Va., nearly 3,000 guns can be seen by visitors in the galleries, which are open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is always free (donations appreciated), and visitors can enjoy a well-stocked museum store offering a wide range of arms-related books, clothing and fraternal items. For more information, e-mail email@example.com or call (703) 267-1600. View the online galleries at www.nramuseum.com.
National Firearms Museum
The NRA National Firearms Museum is home to the finest firearms collection in the world. Through 15 galleries spanning more than six centuries, this spectacular showcase offers the unique opportunity to view some of America's most significant firearm treasures.


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Kepler-452b revolves around a sun much like our own.
Stimulating Neurons with Light and Gold
March 12, 2015|
Researchers develop a technique to trigger neural activity in culture using light to heat gold nanoparticles.
March 12, 2015|
Researchers develop a technique to trigger neural activity in culture using light to heat gold nanoparticles.
March 10, 2015|
After weathering serious criticism last year, the European Commission–backed effort to map the brain's neural connections must reform or die, a review panel says.
March 9, 2015|
Researchers create a link between a location and a reward in sleeping mice.
March 4, 2015|
A newly discovered 2.8 million-year-old jawbone is thought to be that of a direct human ancestor.
March 1, 2015|
Global warming could lead to lighter-colored insects with waning immune defenses.
March 1, 2015|
See human brains age in week-by-week time lapse images that divulge the existence of tiny strokes that damage white matter.
March 1, 2015|
Evolving Ourselves, The Man Who Touched His Own Heart, Bats, and The Invaders
March 1, 2015|
UC Berkeley biologist Robert Dudley explains his "drunken monkey" hypothesis for how humans developed a taste for alcohol.
March 1, 2015|
A mutation in an ethanol-metabolizing enzyme arose around the time that arboreal primates shifted to a more terrestrial lifestyle, perhaps as an adaptation to eating fermented fruit.
March 1, 2015|
A combination of microinjection and electroporation inserts genes into hard-to-reach cells.


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Hotels in 61264 - Milan IL
Only hotels in 61264 zip code are listed below. Search for cheap and discount hotel rates in Milan, IL for your upcoming leisure or conference / group travel. We list the best 61264 hotels and motels so you can review the Milan hotel list below to find the perfect lodging. Hotels in Rock Island county and area code 309 are also listed.
61264 Hotels & Accommodations
Next: Show All Available 61264 Hotels with Pricing >


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Armchair Imagineering II: The Innoventions Building
Project Name: Alien Zoo
One of the ideas behind this ride is was to take advantage of the unique design of the rotation of the building. A side of effect of remodeling the building as apposed to tearing it down is the significance cost savings, making this project very cost effective. The additional benefit is time savings, assuming that no major surprises are found when the building is stripped down for the remodel.
The other major goal is to put the future or dream of the future back into Tomorrowland. The remodel of this building would only be a small part of a whole land makeover.
The face of the building has been redecorated in classic white/blue 1960s futuristic style, with large video screens showing images of both inside the building and around Tomorrowland. This brings back the feeling of Disneys original vision of Tomorrowland, and makes the building exciting to look at from the outside.
STORY: Space Explorers have brought back alien creatures from their visits to other worlds. These animals have been collected here for your view. Realistic habitats have been created for them. You, as guests, are invited to come and explore their worlds and to see how they live. (Preshow can contain travel posters for some of the planets.)
Guests now walk up the ramp to enter the building which has been widened for both entrance and exit traffic. The ramp also leads to the bridge and line for the rocket jet attractions.
The inside upper deck of the building would contain a series of interactive displaces about the alien life and environments. The line for the attraction can be extended up here and use the space on the upper level.
The line for the attraction officially starts as a ramp going down to the first level. The elevator continues to be used for handicap accesses.
STORY Continues: Along side the ramp are many monitors. The Zoo Keepers explain that there has been a power failure and all the animals have escaped and are running amok in the zoo. For their safety they have to be recaptured.
The Zoo Keepers ask for your help. They will lend you one of their anti-gravity sleds that have tractor beams. You can fly around the zoo and pick up the animals and place them in holding containers until the power is brought back online.
Once you hit the lower level the line will zigzag back and forth and the monitors will explain how to fly the anti-gravity sleds and how to work the tractor beams. They will also explain how one member of the party will be the pilot and there will be an optional co-pilot spot but those duties can be done on auto-pilot.
With the screens in place
Without the screens to give you an idea of the space
Cast member will then break people into groups of 4-6 people and find out who is going to be the pilot of the groups.
The groups will then be led to step onto the slow moving outer ring of the building. They will enter the anti-gravity sled from the back. The pilot and optional co-pilot will take their seats first followed by the people who are going to be using the tractor beams.
A closer look
A better look at the vehicle (keep in mind that they doThe video being projected onto the screens around the group will be that of a warehouse / service area for the anti-gravity sled.
move up/down and tilt)
The cast member will make sure that the guests are seated and ready to go. They will then close the door to the anti-gravity sled and close the screen behind them. This will allow for video to be projected 360 degrees around the guests.
STORY Continues: Once the guests are ready the computer program will kick in and give a pre-recorded video of the anti-gravity sled rising up and leaving the warehouse / service area. Once in the air the pilot takes over and it becomes virtual reality.
The pilot can fly as fast or as slow as they wish or as high or low as they want also. The zoo is a huge location to explore. As the pilot flies the other guest will look for the escaped animals and trap them by pick them up with the tractor beams. The co-pilot helps by controlling the energy of the ship, making the tractor beams more powerful and by using the scanners to find the animals faster.
There will be about 10 different animals ranging in size and shape, from monkey like creatures which are everywhere to harder to find cat-like creatures. There will also be large elephant creatures which will require two tractor beams to pick up.
Once any animal has been picked up it can be placed (dropped) into a storage container which have been placed allover the zoo.
The anti-gravity sled and on series of hydraulic lifts which allows the sled to move in all directions much the way star tours moves but not as dynamic. The video is synced with the movement.
People on the attraction can travel anywhere in the zoo and the animals will always be in motion and will be in different locations. Every single time anyone rides this attraction it will be different based on how they fly and which creatures they run into.
STORY Continues: Player can explore the zoo besides looking and capturing animals. After about 5 to 6 minutes players will get the message that their anti-gravity sled are running low on power. At which point their anti-gravity sled will float to the ground and back into warehouse / service area
The back screen will then open up and a cast member will open the back door and escort the guest out of the vehicle. There will be a screen which will show them how many animals they captured and a video thanking the guest for their help.
Exiting either up the ramp or the elevator, guest can either leave the building or get back into line and try it again.
Mechanics: Base on the size of the building I have calculated that 40 vehicles will easily fit. The vehicles can fit up to six people but the average will be closer to 4. I estimate that the hourly capacity will be between 1680 to 2100 guest per hour. This puts it the fairly high capacity range.
This was a great deal of fun and it let me practice my skills using Google Sketchup. I hope that you enjoy my idea