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Andrew Goodman | December 23, 2013 | Comments
PPC is still the hardest working channel in advertising. Clients get value they can touch, feel, and take to the bank. PPC gets on the plane. It goes to Cleveland.
You've heard of the amplifier that "goes to 11?" PPC is like that, only it "goes to Cleveland."
If you follow the high level chatter in the agency world, you sure hear a lot about brands. Creatives win prestigious lucite trophies for their short movies containing platitudes about life, cute animals selling insurance, and deranged babies invading your mind to supposedly convince you to buy something. (Ironically, cute, laughing babies are outré).
I once wrote about PPC being the hardest working channel in advertising. It is so because it laser-targets the specific intent of specific types of customers when their purchase intent is particularly high. Screw that up, and you're basically refusing truckloads of money that are being wheeled up near the entrance of your premises, but they can't find the correct entrance, and drive off.
Some things never change.
A colleague and I visited a B2B client on-site recently, an impressive lab facility that does mission-critical work for companies of all sizes, as well as government. Indeed, they support sophisticated needs of some of the largest Fortune 500 R&D companies. It's a fascinating sector, growth being assured just as long as the right message is put in front of eager buyers at the right time. Some of those buyers are in a hurry because launches and profits are at stake, to say nothing of the incentive provided by new government regulations and consumer advocacy.
In the unlikely event that tens of thousands of agency creatives are reading this, tens of thousands of eyes are glazing over as we speak.
They're (you're) thinking they'd rather drink paint (that pretty plum colored paint drying on the wall of their nice new office, maybe) than dig into granular behavior data. Thought bubble: "B2B ROI? Please. I wonder if I should have the sushi special today?"
Trade shows, inside sales, content strategy, PPC, email, and analytics. Working in concert, these are the effective means of promotion for the B2B engineering and chemistry company that is fewer than 300 employees in size. And the client hasn't always been very effective in its efforts at the last four. There is a lot of work to do. A lot of data to analyze. And keyword-and-behavior-driven customer intent there for the mining.
And Agency World 1.0 couldn't care less. It won't get on a plane, go to Cleveland, listen to the details about how the products and processes work, how the client's marketing mix is changing, what type of lite competitive analysis might make them more money faster, etc.; certainly not for the types of fees that are typical in digital marketing for the type of marketing and advertising support such clients need.
Many in the agency world would rather take a pass on the needs of the vast majority of the business world, until something a Big Brand needs done meshes with something the agency wants to do with Hootsuite or YouTube. (And to be clear, we don't turn down work that contains "Hootsuite" or "YouTube" in the mandate. But it bugs us when we see an agency partner spending 90 percent of the digital budget on YouTube, because it's a "media buy," by contrast with the keyword-based PPC management, which is, well, work.)
PPC does get on that plane. It does go to Cleveland. It listens deeply to the details, not of fantasy narrative personae, but keyword intent, buy cycles, and the interaction between the organic and inbound efforts and the paid listings on the page. And it puts together killer reports that can even dig into hard-to-attribute success metrics like phone calls.
PPC is still the hardest-working. Those principles will carry over well into other marketing efforts. Clients get value they can touch, feel, and take to the bank. That's why demand for PPC - and "PPC-like" forms of digital marketing -- will continue to be strong. And that's exactly why so many agencies will shun it. Well, not us. We're not afraid of a little hard work.
This crazy Slate column suggests that companies like Google should actually move to Cleveland, because the local amenities and infrastructure are actually more conducive to their operations and human-scale coexistence with their surroundings than is currently the case in San Francisco and the surrounding area. But maybe my point was, in spirit, they're already there.
This column was written from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
Hard-working folks need a rest. All the best to you and your family over the holidays, whatever your IP address.
Goodman is founder and President of Toronto-based Page Zero Media, a full-service marketing agency founded in 2000. Page Zero focuses on paid search campaigns as well as a variety of custom digital marketing programs. Clients include Direct Energy, Canon, MIT, BLR, and a host of others. He is also co-founder of Traffick.com, an award-winning industry commentary site; author of Winning Results with Google AdWords (McGraw-Hill, 2nd ed., 2008); and frequently quoted in the business press. In recent years he has acted as program chair for the SES Toronto conference and all told, has spoken or moderated at countless SES events since 2002. His spare time eccentricities include rollerblading without kneepads and naming his Japanese maples. Also in his spare time, he co-founded HomeStars, a consumer review site with aspirations to become "the TripAdvisor for home improvement." He lives in Toronto with his wife Carolyn.
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- Filed Under
Obamacare is starting to resemble a patient bleeding from self-inflicted wounds.
A month after launch, the online health exchanges where individuals are supposed to shop for insurance remain slow or unusable, except in states that opted to run their own marketplaces and did a more competent job than the administration.
As if that weren't trouble enough, critics are justifiably mocking President Obama for his repeated, untrue promise that if people liked their health plans, they could keep them. Oops. Hundreds of thousands of people are getting termination notices for plans that don't meet the strict new requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Presumably, not all those people disliked their plans.
There's no mystery about why Obama engaged in fiction. The Clinton administration's bid to overhaul health care failed largely because it would have disrupted coverage for millions of consumers satisfied with their employer-based or government plans. Obamacare doesn't terminate any of those plans, and Obama wanted to sound reassuring. But surely he knew that a major goal of his own law was to wipe out cheap coverage that was insurance in name only.
Now he can't seem to admit he overpromised and oversimplified. He and his aides compound their credibility problem by suggesting that people whose plans are being canceled "just shop around in the new marketplace" - a laughable impossibility while HealthCare.gov is plagued by bugs.
It's a mess, and no doubt not the last one that will be associated with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The law is sure to produce consequences, intended and unintended, that ripple throughout the nation's health care system.
But while the start-up problems and the president's airy advice are disappointing, it's important to keep them in perspective. Change this big is almost always disruptive and messy.
Amid today's hype about Obamacare "losers," many of whom actually stand to do well under the new law, context is important. The individual market for health insurance covers only about 5 percent of Americans. The roughly 80 percent of people with insurance from employers, or from government programs such as Medicare or Medicaid, don't need to buy coverage on the new exchanges. And the 15 percent who are uninsured, most notably people with pre-existing medical conditions, will have new access to affordable plans.
Nor is the pre-Obamacare status quo a viable option. Its runaway costs and sleazy insurance practices were placing increasing millions of people in jeopardy. In fact, some of the stories about people who are "losing" coverage illustrate how true that is.
Take the CBS News report on 56-year-old Dianne Barrette of Florida, who is outraged that, because of Obamacare, BlueCross is canceling her $54-a-month policy and offering her new coverage for $591 a month.
Follow-up reporting revealed that the policy Barrette wanted to keep was more of a discount plan than insurance. Had she gotten seriously ill, there was no coverage for hospitalization. So she could have been bankrupted despite her coverage, with her hospital costs passed along to others. In fact, three-quarters of people whose bankruptcies involve crushing health bills do have insurance, just not the kind that works.
That's changing, and it's about time. Given Barrette's income of less than $46,000 a year, it's almost certain she would qualify for subsidies that would let her buy the far stronger insurance Obamacare requires for less than BlueCross quoted her.
Already, though, there are cynical efforts in Congress to hold Obama to his promise by allowing people to keep substandard "insurance" like Barrette's. That would be a step backward.

subset: commoncrawl


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Ken Brecher resigns as Sundance Institute executive director
Ken Brecher will step down as executive director of the Sundance Institute after nearly 14 years in the job, effective April 30.
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No. 47: Toby Keith, 'Santa I'm Right Here' – Top 50 Country Christmas Songs
Toby Keith's 1995 Christmas album produced one song that charted, and it lands at No. 47 on the list of the Top 50 Country Christmas Songs. You'll find 'Santa I'm Right Here' on the 'Christmas to Christmas' album.
A music video was even created for this guitar-driven single — a splurge not often done for holiday tunes. Keith's story (written by Ron Reynolds) tells the tale of a family who is homeless at Christmas time. It's a young boy's plea to make sure Santa still visits his mom and dad. Over 15 years since its release, this song sounds just right once again.
Skip to: No. 50 | No. 40 | No. 30 | No. 20 | No. 10
Listen to 'Santa I'm Right Here' by Toby Keith


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Movie Barcode Redux
A fully new way to watch movies — and unveil their hidden structure
2001 – A Space Odyssey • USA 1968 • Stanley Kubrick • 133min
Akira Kurosawas Dreams • Japan 1990 • Akira Kurosawa • 115min
Dogville • Denmark 2003 • Lars von Trier • 170min
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America • USA 1997 • Mike Judge • 78min
Communication as data transfer of technical equipment can resemble the human nature in a frighteningly way. Someone utters something and another perceives it – but mostly blurred. But misinterpreting must not lead to confusion, e.g. like a scanner that interprets movies which are reproduced through a LCD projector. Its own perception exceeds our own viewing habits. Suddenly, movements, number and length of cuts, colour mood and brightness become visible from a new perspective.
Edit April 2011: I prefer my version


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New Orleans Hornets general manager Jeff Bower speaks at a news conference June 24, 2010.
- Filed Under
Stan Van Gundy and Jeff Bower go way back.
Both spent time as assistant basketball coaches in the Northeast in the formative years of their coaching careers. They crossed paths back then and became friends.
And Van Gundy has called on that friendship in tapping the former New Orleans Hornets executive as his Detroit Pistons' right-hand man and the new general manager. ...


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Tim Wakefield's knuckleball got him 17 years with the Red Sox and two World Series rings.
He decided not to try for one more.
The 45-year-old Wakefield will announce his retirement Friday afternoon, the team announced. He'll leave with 200 career wins, 186 of them with Boston.
The Red Sox had offered Wakefield a chance to come to spring training to win a job, but the right-hander decided against it. He leaves just six wins shy of the franchise record, which is shared by Cy Young and Roger Clemens. Wakefield does hold the Red Sox record for most games started with 430, 48 ahead of Clemens, who is second. He is also the first Red Sox to pitch 3,000 innings for the team.
And the only three players to play more seasons for the Red Sox than Wakefield? Carl Yastrzemski, Ted Williams and Dwight Evans.
Wakefield's Red Sox career is quite a success story. Signed originally by the Pirates as a first baseman, he turned to pitching when his career stalled, and learned the knuckleball. He made it to the big leagues with the Pirates, but they released him in spring training 1995. He signed with the Red Sox, won 16 games that year, and has been a big part of their team ever since.
Wakefield leaves with the most career wins of any active pitcher (Roy Halladay is the new leader, with 188).
Blog Entry
Wakefield to announce retirement
Posted on: February 17, 2012 11:51 am
Edited on: February 17, 2012 12:14 pm
Category: MLB
Tags: Red Sox, Tim Wakefield
Since: Sep 16, 2007
Posted on: February 17, 2012 6:22 pm
Wakefield to announce retirement
Can anyone say Aaron Boone?ALL positive posts about a respected player.
Yours is the only negative.
Yes Jackoff, you're quite the chump!
Since: Jul 29, 2011
Posted on: February 17, 2012 6:09 pm
Wakefield to announce retirement
Good bye Timmy! You were one of my favorite Sox palyers. I, like you and most true Sox fans, lived and died with the knuckleball. Wasn't a big fan of Mirabelli but he could handle catching that pitch. I wish you were the all time Sox leader in wins but he,y third all time is nothing to be ashamed of. You are a class act and thanks for the memories.
Since: Sep 11, 2010
Posted on: February 17, 2012 5:57 pm
Wakefield to announce retirement
Why retire? Considering his pitching style he could win 10-12 games the next 3 years, which in today's MLB financial climate would net him around 45 million or so.
Since: Dec 18, 2010
Posted on: February 17, 2012 5:55 pm
Wakefield to announce retirement
I hope he's not retiring because he thinks he's washed up..................he probably could still make most ballclubs at least in a long relief role, and in the case of the Red Sox, he still easily makes the ball club.................as mentioned by another poster, he cared more about his team than making the most money he could..........................base
Since: Feb 17, 2012
Posted on: February 17, 2012 5:48 pm
Wakefield to announce retirement
I had the honor of shaking Wakes hand in the Fenway dugout, while on a Protective Service Detail for an Army General throwing out the first pitch a few years back. He was a true professional and it is something I will never forget.
Since: Sep 14, 2006
Posted on: February 17, 2012 5:32 pm
Wakefield to announce retirement
I am a Red Sox hater but a Wakefield "liker". Seems like a class act who just went about his business. Good luck in your post-baseball life, Mr. Wakefield.
Since: Apr 15, 2008
Posted on: February 17, 2012 5:25 pm
Wakefield to announce retirement
Can anyone say Aaron Boone?
Since: Aug 10, 2007
Posted on: February 17, 2012 5:21 pm
Wakefield to announce retirement
On day one of the season, they should retire that number.
Since: Aug 23, 2006
Posted on: February 17, 2012 5:05 pm
Wakefield to announce retirement
I'm going to miss Wake - especially for the weird way that ball flew from his hand at times. You never knew where it was going to land. Congrats to Doug Mirabelli for being the only guy who could consistently catch Wake over the years. Wake was, and always will be a Red Sox player and to me he gets grouped into the same work-man, blue-collar group as players like Trot Nixon, Bill Mueller, etc - the dirt dogs.
People should never, ever forget the role that Wake played in the Red Sox winning the 2004 World Series. If Wake did not come in during Game 3 of the ALCS in relief, the bullpen would have been taxed and there is no way that the Red Sox pull off that epic comeback.
When I think of Tim Wakefield I will remember the fact that he was an inning-eater whose efforts may not have always resulted in a "W" but whose efforts meant that the bullpen got a night off, or less guys had to work, and as long as the sox played solid defense and hit it also meant that they had a chance to win. Unfortunately like all things - watching Wake pitch and do so effectively has come to an end.
Tim - you are a class act. I hope you enjoy your newly acquired free time hunting with Mike Timlin and Kevin Millar. We love you in Boston and we always will.
Since: Jan 1, 2010
Posted on: February 17, 2012 5:01 pm
Wakefield to announce retirement
Tim Wakefield seemed to the a shining example of a team player and putting himself second. He never chased the money, saw himself as being able to throw a pitch that no one else could, and did whatever the Red Sox asked of him. Congratulations on a long-lasting career. I hope the Red Sox give you the ceremony and send off that you deserve.


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July 2010
Josh Cook
Multiverse by Mike Smith
The idea that a constraint, such as a traditional poetic form, Oulipo experimentation, or other imposition of form onto a poem, can lead to vibrant creation is far from exhausted. Even the oldest and most explored forms are still being used successfully. Multiverse is a two part collection of anagrams, as is explained in an opening To the Reader section. In this introduction, Smith, defines anagram for us, The letters of one poem have been rearranged to write each of the other poems, and then emphasizes No letters have been added and no letters have been left out, giving the impression that Smith is very impressed with his execution of the form. The first part is a bestiary of anagrams, whose source is one of Smith's original poems.
Unfortunately, Smith explains one of the interpretations of the anagram form for us. The operating principle of the anagram being something akin to the 'letters' of DNA. As impressed as Smith is with his ability to create a bestiary out of anagrams, he doesn't have much faith in the ability of his readers to appreciate what is probably the most apparent interpretation of the structure of his chosen form.
Smith's DNA interpretation is even more unfortunate, because the wonder of DNA is that a mere four letters combine themselves into the myriad expressions of biological life. But Smith's anagrams are hundreds of letters long. The length of the poems makes it hard to notice that they're anagrams. If Smith hadn't explained his project in the introduction, I don't think I would have noticed it. Along with the creativity that is generated in working within a constraint, constrained poems often have the appeal of a fete. The reader is impressed the poet is able to meet the requirements of the form. Smith's anagrams are too large to be noticeable, therefore they are less impressive.
The introduction then explains the second section of the collection, cringingly titled Anagrams of America. The poems in this section are anagrams of works that were for some reason or another... important in [Smith's] development as a reader and a writer. At this point, I'm not sure why I should care about Smith's development as a reader and writer. The point is not that he shouldn't have written the poems and included them in the collection, but that he has imposed a Mike Smith-based value on them before establishing the value of Mike Smith. Then he is compelled to explain what an anagram is, again, even though it is a common term and even though he explained it already on the same page. He repeats, "As in the first section, no letters have been added and no letters have been left out.
Regardless, Smith constantly loosens the anagram constraint, by using prose source material, combining multiple source poems into a single anagram, and including an unverifiable source in one of the poems, using letters taken from a notice posted outside the Greyhound bus depot in South Bend, Indiana.
However, the anagram would not be the most impressive aspect of this constraint; Mike Smith's work standing up to poems by Dickinson, Whitman, Crane, Bishop, Frost, Williams, and others, would be. Unfortunately, for Smith, they don't. Without the presence of the originals several of the poems are pretty good (The Station: A Second Take for example), but his Williams anagram, which includes the letters of Spring and All, and This is Just to Say, contains nothing of the direct brilliance of the originals, the poem built from works by Dickinson reads like a high school poetry assignment, and Smith absolutely mangles O Captain, My Captain.
There are bright spots in the collection. Elephants is an excellent poem right up until the final couplet. Dog has some very good moments, as does Anemone, Limpet, Mussel, Crab, and Fugue for Fugu ends wonderfully with this stanza, Drink to the largest livers, weary sitters/at the table of the fat gods, to bodies/doused days in the rain that rise, reborn,/next to open plots, to old hunger/and empty dumpsters. May we pray easy/to ease us down our only way. Furthermore, excepting the Whitman travesty, the poems are all well composed and well written.
I have to wonder how I would have read this collection without the author's introduction. Smith's repetition of the definition of anagram implied that he was very impressed with his efforts, far more impressed than I was. In Robops, Smith writes, ...We lament/the possibilities for misunderstanding/inherent in many inventions... and this might explain why he felt compelled to explain his project. But the point of reading poetry is not to get what the poet is doing, but to get something else about yourself and the world from reading the poem. If you are impressed by the poet's accomplishment, that is a bonus. Furthermore, the potential for productive misunderstanding is one of the things that makes literature, literature. Ultimately, I think Smith is so enraptured with his efforts, he loses sight of how the readers might interact with his work. There might be some very good poems in this collection, but they've been crushed under the weight of an unsuccessful project.
Multiverse by Mike Smith
93 Pages


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Randy Richardson (center right) holds a photo of his daughter Lauren and bows his head as the Rev. Randall Clutter (left) of the Fountain of Joy Church offers a prayer during a vigil Wednesday outside The Arbors nursing home near New Castle.
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In a case with parallels to the 2005 uproar over Terri Schiavo, a Newark father is fighting a court order that could allow the removal of a feeding tube and end the life of his brain-damaged daughter.
"She's committed no crime and doesn't deserve to have this death imposed on her," said Randy Richardson, 52, on Wednesday.
According to court records, Lauren Marie Richardson, 23, is in a persistent vegetative state following a heroin overdose in August 2006. She was pregnant at the time and was kept alive at Christiana Hospital -- with feeding tubes and a breathing machine -- to allow her to give ...


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This is a detail of an ambulance that responded to an accident on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013. The medic in the vehicle checked out a person slightly injured in the accident. Charlie Nye / The Star.
- Filed Under
Six people were hospitalized late Wednesday after carbon monoxide filled a Carmel apartment complex from an SUV left running in a garage.
Carmel firefighters responded Wednesday to the Legacy Towns and Flats on the city's northwest side, said Bruce Knott, spokesman for the Carmel Fire Department. The complex is located near River Road and 146th Street.
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text: when only heating is selected on my program timer the radiators all work fine and are hot. But when both heating and hot water are on the water gets hot but all the radiators go cold. When the hot water is up to temperature on the tank stat the radiators still don't get hot until I turn the heating off then the hot water off then on and off again. Then turn the heating on again and it works ok. I have a 3 position zone valve and this makes a banging noise when the water is first turned on. Could it be the valve that is faulty because I have had to replace it twice now in the past 3 years. The current one is about 13 months old. Or could it be the pump that's the problem?


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Utility Exemption Removed From Wind PTC Provision
NAW Staff, Tuesday 22 July 2008 - 09:29:46
Bellevue, Wash.-based utility Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., recently worked together to adjust how the U.S. Department of the Treasury interprets tax laws on renewable energy production. This amendment eliminates the utility exemption in the wind production tax credit (PTC) provision.
"By treating both utilities and independent power producers equally, this interpretation of the tax code will make it possible for utilities to own and operate more renewable energy sources," says Kimberly Harris, executive vice president and chief resource officer of PSE. "This action by the Treasury is the right step for the consumer and for meeting the challenge of climate change."
PSE owns and operates the Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility in Kittitas County, Wash., and the Hopkins Ridge Wind Facility in Columbia County, Wash.
SOURCE: Puget Sound Energy
this content item is from North American Windpower
( http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.2569 )


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Teddy Allen
- Filed Under
(Paperboy has been on extended leave getting a dangling participle repaired. He returns today, eager to answer a few in a backlog of queries?)
Dear Ask the Paperboy: How do you feel about soccer and the World Cup? Please try to type the answer without using your hands.- Bobby in Blanchard
Dear Bobby: ;ld9;a.,meo*% ? Wait ? No hands didn't work so well. Don't know how those soccer dudes do it. I tried typing with my chest; that didn't cut it either. Maybe I'm not giving these people their due. ...


text:
Juliet was sitting alone when she realized something, the lights were out as usual, to preserve the electricity bill. She saw fine in the dark so it was no issue to go without light, even in the dark, she even prefered the light of candles to lamps. But when she looked to the computer to see the time she realized it was completely off. The electricity had been shut off. She hobbled to the light switch to test, it didnt come on, she even riffled for the bill seeing it past due. She cursed and walked to the door, embarasment filled her as she realized she didnt even have food in the fridge to serve her odd guest. She supposed he was a psycho, but he swore he knew her real father. Even if it was burried in a mountain of bullshit she wanted to know about him. She exited to the living room where he was sitting scrolling through a cell phone. "Hey, I'm going for food, want to come?" She asked. He stood and followed her to the door, he held it for her and she walked out, she clutched the railing as she got donw, then she moved to the sidewalk.
"You dont drive?" He asked.
"No." She shivered at even the thought, he stepped next to her and frowned.
"Why do you limp princess?" He asked.
"Man you ask alot of questions." She scowled at him, then shook her head. "I was in a car wreck, it injured my leg."
She ignored anythign else he had to say and hobbled down the street to the pizza shop on the corner, she entered and ordered a large pizza. When it came Zarek bumped her aside and payed for it, she stared at him in astonishment. "A man never allows a lady to pay." He smirked and lifted the huge pizza indicating for her to lead.
They sat and she looked at him, he sat back and waited, what was up with this man? She reached for a piece of pizza and devoured the slice. He watched ehr eat and then took a slice for himself. She watched him and sighed, "So you know my father?" She asked.
"And your sister." He spoke, "She used to entertain you with toys and music when you were a baby."
"What about my mom? Are they married?" She asked.
"No, your fathers wife... she gave herself over to her power, she died a goddess' death." He said and Juliet frowned, so she died was what he was saying. She looked down, "Your mother however is alive and well."
"Are they together?"
"No, your mother... its complicated." Zarek scratched his neck, "But they loved you unconditionally, they were heartbroken over your loss, and when no oone could find evidence of you in egypt... they lost all hope."
"What exactly happened?" She asked.
"Now who askes alot of questions?" He teased then leaned back again. "The gaurdians who were susposed to bring you to me were killed, and you were picked up, presumably by your father."
"How did you find that out?"
"When the search for you in the cities failed I started looking for the travelers of that year, anyone in the city who had come to that area. I spent the last few years tracking each one down, hunting for any informatin on you." He smiled, "Your father will be so pleased."
"Whats his name?" She asked eating another slice.
"I told you already, Anubis." He smirked as she huffed in annoyance. "I know you dont believe me but I speak the truth, why else could I change into a jackal?"
Juliet chose to ignore him and ate in silence, she noticed however that he only ate after her, and kept mostly to himself. When they finished her claiming the last slice they walked out, not wanting to return to the powered out house she walked along the street to the beach. She looked out at the sea and he stood a step behind her. "I was born in egypt?" She asked.
"Just outside it actually, your mother wanted to keep your birth a secret." Zarek spoke.
"I was illigitamate?" Juliet whipped around in shock, he looked away.
"Your mother was unable to claim you, her husband would have had you killed. But your father claimed you, said you were the last gift his wife had left him." Zarek said, "They farried you between each other, saying he wanted you to have a mothers touch, he couldnt nor could Kebechet provide you."
"I was a secret?" She asked.
"You were, but when we return Anubis plans to have you integrated into the fold, you are to become what you were-" He stopped as a fight broke out below them right on the sand, two huge men were fighting over a beach bunny who was pleased by the show of brutality in front of her. Juliet frowned and hobbled down the stepps, she stepped between the huge men as Zarek shouted for her.
"Cool it guys, its not that serious what ever your fighting over." She said.
"Move it lady." One guy that had a beard growing growled at her, she gave him a stern look.
"Fighting wont solve anything." She said again, why did she do this? She knew it always ended badly, but Juliet couldnt help it. The other man grabbed her and she looked at him as Zarek was suddenly there, he decked the man in the face, his muscles bulging as he hauled her up.
"Dont touch her." Zarek hissed. The two men rounded on him, the girl smiling as she saw the fight growing. Juliet watched as the two men lunged for Zarek, he caught them in a solid hold that they couldnt break from, he held them there, his eyes glowing bright gold. Juliet heard sirens, she reached out for Zarek and time stopped around her, she blinked as she saw everything happening, she touched Zarek out of fear and he came alive, he let go of the men who were held in the air by nothing. he turned and looekd at her.
"Whats happening?" She asked he covered her with his arms as she felt her mind rush, she saw the girl provoke the fight, just to se who would win, they were both attracted to her, she wished she still got that attention. She was just a cripple now. She screamed as a feirce headache ripped into existance, Zarek touche her face and she focused on him.
"Look at me, breathe, envision what would be a peaceful reconciliation." He spoke right into her ear. She stepped back, and touched the men, seeing them let the anger and fight slip away, even becoming friends. Time reverted as she returned to Zarek, the two men apologized and decided to go get a drink together. Teh beach girl huffed and stomped off, her fun denied. Juliet however was starign at her hands, she was so intent that Zarek drew her back."You just kept the peace princess, do you believe me now?"
In a weird twisted way, she did.
Zarek entered the dark house with Juliet, as he reached for the light she stopped him with a gentle hand, "Dont bother, they shut the power off."
"You have no electricity?" He asked.
"I have nothing." She looked at him and he saw th embarassed blush on her face. He smiled and waved to the door.
"Then come with me, theres no way anyone can find you at the pyramids." He said, "Anubis will have the bills settled and everything here transferred to a place more sutied to you." He offered, she looked at him in shock.
"I cant just leave." She said.
"What is here that you cant leave?" he asked, she blinked in
shock and he knew he had hit the mark. She looked down and tears
welled in her eyes. She walekd away to her room, he followed and
waited by the door as she sat on her bed. She cried and he stood
where he was, it wasnt hs place to bother her, when she wanted
him he would go to her. That was his devotion to her, he wouldnt
leave her here in this debt that consumed her better than scarabs
consumed flesh.
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Simon and the Oaks
An epic drama spanning the years 1939 to 1952, this is the gripping story of Simon (played as the adult by Bill Skarsgaard, son of Stellan, and named by the Berlin Film Festival Jury as one of the Shooting Stars of 2012 for this performance), who grows up in a loving working-class family on the outskirts of Gothenburg but always feels out of place. Intellectually gifted, he stubbornly persists in acquiring an education normally reserved for young men of the professional classes, much to the chagrin of his parents, who fear that he will become stuck up. He finally convinces his father to send him to an upper-class grammar school, where he meets Isak, the son of a wealthy Jewish bookseller who has fled Nazi persecution in Germany. Simon is dazzled by the books, art and music he encounters in the home of Isak's father Ruben (Jan Josef Leifers), which makes Simon long to know more about his own family background. Isak, on the other hand, draws comfort from learning to do something with his hands, helping Simon's dad (Stefan Godicke) make boats. When Isak faces trouble at home, he is taken in by Simon's family and the two households slowly merge, connecting in unexpected ways as war rages all over Europe. The film is based on the Swedish bestseller of the same name, written by Marianne Fredriksson. It offers a unique depiction of fate, destiny and free will and vividly portrays the situation for Jews in Sweden during World War II.
Reviews from Rotten Tomatoes
It's a warmly done family and personal drama that seems to cover familiar territory, but only up to a point and very much in its own way.Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times, 10.18.2012
Simon and the Oaks has all the superficial elements of compelling drama but none of the interiority; it looks like a good movie without ever actually feeling like one.Michael Nordine, Village Voice, 10.09.2012
With its exhilarating World War II narrative and performances that touch notes intimate and grand, "Simon and the Oaks" has an exquisite, and epic, ache.David DeWitt, New York Times, 10.11.2012
Though it retains the narrative complexity of the Swedish bestseller on which it's based, WWII saga Simon and the Oaks never creates an emotional or intellectual throughline of its own.Ronnie Scheib, Variety, 10.11.2012


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Chickenhawks is the only kind of hawk that Romney, Santorum, Gingrich and Obama are.
Ron Paul is the only candidate that served in military. He is also the only candidate that is pro-peace, pro-freedom, anti-bailouts. btw - hundreds of veterans marched for peace on the White House today and MSM didn't mention it.
The true ramifications of the Republican Party's increasingly nasty and drawn out primary tussle for the nomination will not be felt until the summer and the general campaign between Obama and whomever decides they want to run on the GOP ticket commences. The GOP has undergone an even greater shift to the right than that which occurred in 2010 as the Tea Party swept into power across the country. We have contraception and a debate over what Republicans say is our president's "radical Islamic theology" as the two pressing issues according to conservatives. Romney shifts right to beat Santorum, but what of the GOP nominee when real, normal Americans come to the polls in November? DOA... http://www.sunstateactivist.org
Santorum is a charlatan, a phony career politician masquerading as a fiscal conservative. The man doesn't have a fiscally conservative bone in his body. If we want a nominee who will bring contentious social issues into every discussion of every topic, then Santorum would do that....and we can count on losing in a landslide in November. The only issues Santorum is passionate about are hot-button social issues. Imagine a debate with Obama. Santorum is asked "How do we fix the economy?" and he answers, "Prenatal screenings are leading to increases in abortion, so we must begin by eliminating prenatal screening coverage from all insurance plans." What a disaster he would be!! Romney on the other hand is reliably conservative on social issues, but he speaks with passion and fluency about the economic issues voters care about. And Romney's record in MA is one of fiscal conservatism plain and simple. Romney is the only candidate who can win in November against Obama.
"By better than 2 to 1, Americans say the more they learn about Romney, the less they like him."
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-holds-edge-over-romney-in-general-election-matchup-poll-finds/2012/02/05/gIQA5JX0sQ_story.html
Romney is currently leading Obama in at least one national poll. In a USA Today/Gallop poll released today, "[f]ormer Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney leads the president 50%-46% among registered voters, Romney's strongest showing against him to date. Obama edges former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum by a single percentage point, 49%-48%."
Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-02-20/GOP-convention-poll/53172644/1
Trying to stay on the topic here. If you look at their records, Romney has shown more fiscal responsibility. If you listen to what they talk about, fiscal issues are more important to Romney than to Santorum. Look at their websites, and see who lays out a stronger economic plan. From what I've seen Romney's focus in more on the economy: http://moderatepoli.blogspot.com/2012/02/two-flavors-of-flip-flop.html
Here is the summary of latest polls with Obama and Romney head-to-head:
Who is Mitt kidding. Is this a joke? Mitt took earmarks and spent the taxpayers money of the Winter games. He flipped companies, eliminiated jobs, pocketed millions of the dollars, left debt to the workers. Voters of Michagan and Ohio have seen this before. Mitt continue his tirade on trival and irrelevant issues. Santorum releates to workers, middle class, most of conservative base, while Mitt can easily identify with top 1%.
Pete, I'm a Texan too, and you need to go take your mess. Romney ran the Winter Olympics that occurred four months after the 9/11 attacks. They asked the federal government to help fund additional security measures, and SANTORUM VOTED TO SUPPORT THE FUNDING. You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. Mitt's record of job creation at Bain has been rehashed ad nauseum. To say that Mitt is discussing trivial issues, are you kidding me? While Santorum is out everyday alienating more and more voters with his nonsense about Obama's "theology" and contraception, Romney is focused like a laser on job creation, economic recovery, and entitlement reform. I am a conservative Texan and Santorum disgusts me. He's a phony and he is somehow fooling dopes like you. I feel sorry for you. Romney is a true conservative and he will defeat Obama.
I just wanted to take a second to say that I am absolutely against all the positions that I had yesterday, and I've made that abundantly clear.
Tell me what you want me to say. Please!!
With all due respect, your credibility is questionable as I'm sure you voted, as a Texan, for George W. Bush twice and Rick Perry three times.
Now you support Romney? Your track record sucks.
We cannot allow the cowards of the yesterday; to become the leaders of tomorrow! Please insist upon our future political leaders that they owe up to us for their lack of accountability regarding service to our country. I would like to know what Mitt Romney was up to during the Vietnam War era and how he avoided service. He is 64 years of age and he would have been 18 years of age in 1966; this would put him is the age group of beign drafted in the 60's.
According to the Veteran's Administration, 9.2 million men served in the military between 1964 and 1975. Nearly 3.5 million men served in the Vietnam theater of operations. From a pool of approximately 27 million, the draft raised 2,215,000 men for military service during the Vietnam era. It has also been credited with "encouraging" many of the 8.7 million "volunteers" to join rather than risk being drafted. Draft offenders numbered nearly 500,000 but less than 10,000 were convicted or imprisoned for draft violations. As many as 100,000 draft eligible males fled the country.
In the time it took you to write that paragraph, you could have found the answer yourself. Here is an excellent resource: http://www.google.com/
Being a missionary abroad for a fringe cult during the Viet Nam era is not love of country. Romney is now a chickenhawk.
Only patriotic candidate is Ron Paul.
Arizona congressional candidate Paul Babeu's ex-boyfriend spoke to CNN on Monday, saying he felt "used" and threatened by the Pinal County Sheriff after their relationship ended.
Babeu's ex-lover Jose, a 34-year-old Mexican national, told CNN's Miguel Marquez that Sheriff Babeu threatened to have him deported if he went public with their affair. Jose's face is pixilated in the interview.
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Jose — who said he is in the country legally — told Marquez he felt "used" during the affair. Marquez then asked Jose, "Used. And then threatened?"
"Yes," Jose said in the interview. "I got a text from him, directly, on my phone saying that I will never have business, that my family will be contacted."
Jose said Babeu threatened him with deportation if he exposed their affair. "Do you think he was trying to make you leave the country?" Marquez asked.
"Maybe," Jose said. "He just, what I think he just want me to keep me as far as, so I don't say anything about him or about his behavior."
They met in 2006 on a gay dating website called gay.com, and Jose said the first picture Babeu sent was a photo of him with Sen. John McCain.
Jose also told Marquez that Babeu never asked him what his status was during the course of their relationship, and said he is in the United States on a ten-year multiple entry tourist visa.
Babeu has stepped down as a co-chair of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign after Jose's story was reported in the Phoenix New Times, but said he will continue with his congressional campaign. At his press conference on Saturday, Babeu acknowledged he is gay, but denied Jose's allegations that he threatened to deport him once their relationship ended.
"All of the allegations are false except one, I am gay," Babeu said on Saturday.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/73083.html#ixzz1mzJKcmg2
Honestly I didn't pay too much attention to the election or the article like this, but I do reviewed the comments wrote by various people from different sides. I find out your folks who wrote comments are way too serious and technical, no fun at all. Let me tell you where to watch to find out hints about the election. The winner of the 45th (It's 45th folks) Academy Awards for Best Picture in 1972 is "Godfather", a movie about a Italian criminal family's rise and fall. That may be one reason why Santorum suddenly being raised up. No offense, just for fun. If you take a look of the Best Picture winners prior the 45th, you may even realize vague clues of the connections between movie and Presidents. Some powerful people are probably testing the connections between movies and election. Once again, no offense, just for fun.
Those who say liberals are afraid of Santorum are smoking the pill. We LOVE Santorum. He's the answer to our prayers! Go Rick! Give the guy a microphone!
Romney's campaign raised only $6.4 million in the month of January, one of his worst fundraising months of his entire 2012 campaign. By comparison, in January 2008, during Romney's first unsuccessful presidential bid, he raised $9.6 million.
Romney may have a bigger problem on his hands than disappointing fundraising totals. His campaign burned through $18.7 million in January, only to win primaries in New Hampshire and Florida. Romney's losing streak continued into February, as he weathered three losses to the surging Rick Santorum, a former senator from Pennsylvania, in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri.
Romney's fundraising and burn rate should both be causes for concern for his campaign. While small donors accounted for 18 percent of his January total, the highest percentage during his entire campaign so far, he is still relying heavily on donors who are maxing out their contributions. Fifty percent of his January contributions came from donors giving $2,500 or more.
If this guy's campaign were a country he'd have a deficit of …..wow, 3 times the GDP.
He is the one who claims to have the experience to save our country from financial collapse.
1. Start bankruptcy procedures.
2. Call Bain Capital and see if they can help to sell the campaign to Santorum. Although Frothy the popeman does not have money.
Or better Donald Trump! Sell it to Donald Trump, he endorsed Romney and has money to burn.
I read the headline and couldn't help but laugh. My first thought, before getting to the article, was in relation to how much each of these two individuals was spending on their campaign. As I recall, Santorum spent about $1/vote in Iowa. I don't remember what Romney spent but it was much much more than that.
Mitt is a pansy and Rick is a wacko. Yeah, GOP!
Mitt, you should have been pounding Sanctorum on this issue all along. Independents want fiscal discipline, not bible thumper sermons. Obama and the donkeys are out of their fiscal minds.
Tell all donkeys: IT'S ABOUT THE SPENDING, STUPID!
Rick the DIck needs to pinch an aspirin between his knees and so do his children.
Mitt at least does not invade OUR PRIVATE LIVES AND PASS MORAL JUDGEMENT.
RIck has daughters.
Do they all hold aspirin between their knees?
Imagine being Rick the DIck's son.
What a piece of work you would end up being.
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text:
It's pretty cold, for a Saturday.
Couldn't seem to get warm enough, I stocked the fire with whatever cord wood I had in the house, but it still wasn't enough.
The kids were complaining, they were cold. My wife, too, blaming me for not stocking enough wood.
Too chilly to go outside, to get more. Cutting down a tree would be a futile effort, I would die of hypothermia before I got half-way through the trunk.
Kids are still complaining, wife still nagging.
I busted up a kitchen chair, fed it to the fire. Still not enough.
The dining room table went next. It was fine, for a little while.
A dresser, a bureau, the china cabinet. They all fed the fire's ravenous and unquenchable appetite, the flames wavering, signalling to me to bring more.
And more, and more.
The kids were complaining, the wife was nagging.
But now it's finally warm enough, I can feel the toasty sensation of a raging fire unclenching my every nerve, relaxing every fiber in my being.
I yell for the kids and my wife to come, enjoy the fire.
But I forgot. They already are.
Yep, pretty cold, for a Saturday.
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TouchSense® Force Feedback System
Immersion is a leading developer of Force Feedback technology, with over 25 years of experience and a strong patent portfolio in inertial and kinesthetic force feedback that creates a powerful and realistic user experience. Force feedback is ideal for applications that immerse the users in an experience and guide the user in navigating real or simulated environments where focus and context is critical.
Immersion works closely with its customers to create custom implementations of its force feedback technology based on the unique requirements of the application. Immersion's force feedback technology is most frequently found in gaming peripherals and simulation, navigation controls for automotive environments, as well as medical applications, such as virtual reality training simulators for interventional & surgical procedures, robotic surgical tools, medical instrumentation, and wearable medical devices.
Applications of Force Feedback being used in the market include:
For arcade driving games and simulators, it's all about realism — and especially the feel of the road. Our TouchSense Force Feedback technology has been licensed and implemented into gaming peripherals such as wheels and joysticks. Combined with our industry-standard tool for gaming software developers, the Immersion Studio for Gaming SDK, Immersion's technology is implemented into thousands of console and PC gaming titles in the market, and is felt through millions of PC gaming controllers around the world.
TouchSense® Rotary Software controls can be programmed to output the physical characteristics of most any rotary switch in use today. Frequently used in automotive navigation applications, Rotary Controls are programmable, allowing the physical output to match the user interface. For example, a user navigating through a climate control screen in their car would want the feel of a simple "click" as they turn the heat up or down. But with Immersion's TouchSense Rotary software, the user will experience accelerated feedback correlated to their speed of movement and in a map application, the rotary control can turn into a two dimensional mouse interface, with feedback for selections.
Full Force Feedback
Full force feedback, frequently referred to as kinesthetic feedback, provides haptics with more than a single degree of freedom. This flexibility allows haptics to 3-dimensionally guide users in immersive virtual reality applications such as simulation and medical applications such as robotic surgical instrumentation. Full force feedback can provide critical context, for example, guiding a surgeon using a laparoscopic tool through a minimally invasive procedure with the sense of touch or in a gaming steering wheel peripheral, transmitting the feel of the road and the off-road, large and small obstacles, and vibration, torque, g-force vibration, and turning radius.


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Media Matters
The Plot Thickens
The self-destructive behavior of the mainstream media.
What's the only private business that gives the equivalent of an obscene gesture to forty percent of its potential customers? Hint: it's also the only private institution mentioned in the Constitution. The answer, of course, is the press, or more specifically, that segment of the press known as the mainstream media or MSM. The MSM is a strange animal in more ways than one, an animal with puzzling behavior.
The MSM consists of ABC, CBS, NBC, and most big city newspapers. The supporting cast includes CNN, MSNBC, and NPR.
If you're a conservative there have probably been countless times you've felt disgusted and infuriated at the bias, double standards, and lack of balance exhibited by the MSM. As a conservative I can't count the times my mouth has dropped by what I've heard said and written in the mainstream media. The bias is dumbfounding.
According to the latest installment of a poll Gallop has conducted since 1992, 41 percent of the respondents self-identified as conservative, 36 percent moderate, and 21 percent liberal.
Another recent Gallup poll reported that "Americans' confidence in television news is at a new low by one percentage point, with 21% of adults expressing a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in it. This marks a decline from 27% last year and from 46% when Gallup stared tracking confidence in television news in 1993…. Confidence in newspapers is now half of what it was at its peak of 51% in 1979."
Obviously the MSM is paying a high price for its bias and lack of balance. Scoring only a 21% confidence level is quite an indictment. Obviously they have lost the trust of more than just conservatives. The MSM has squandered its credibility.
By all outward appearances it seems that their compensation is being provided by the Democratic Party. They behave as though their primary loyalty is to the Democratic Party rather than the news organization they ostensibly work for.
The MSM is the only private business that seems all but immune to the profit motive. If they simply treated all of their audience with respect it's hard to tell how much how much of an increase they would see in their gross and net revenues.
It makes me wonder if they have any explicit or implicit mission statement. For example, is it, "My mission as a journalist is to choose a political candidate and then select and slant what I report so as to help him/her get into office." Or possibly, "My mission as a journalist/reporter is to show my like-minded colleagues that I'm one of them." I simply cannot conceive what they perceive their professional responsibilities to be. It apparently never enters their minds.
Economists hate to attribute behavior to irrationality. It's essentially a cop out. It's like saying, "I can't explain the behavior, so I'll just say it's irrational." Therefore, I won't categorize the MSM behavior as irrational. Let's just say it's unusual. They have other priorities and values that are not obvious to the rest of us.
There is a stunning amount of conformity. Does that ever bother them? They behave like a flock of sheep. There seems to be no sense of originality, no desire to be different. They usually report stories with exactly the same slant and often with almost identical wording.
Recently, for example, when reporting on the beginning of the Republican National Convention, several reporters used almost exactly the same words in saying that Hurricane Isaac "was sure to revive memories of Hurricane Katrina." Obviously, they sure hoped it would. (Hurricane Katrina was, in their minds, a perfect example of the incompetence and insensitivity of George W. Bush's presidency.) At least the same number of reporters told us how terrible it would look to viewers when they saw a "split screen" with the devastation of the hurricane on one side and the convention festivities on the other.
You have to admire whoever orchestrates their performances. They definitely are all kept on the same sheet of music and sing the same lyrics.
When I write a column, I have absolutely no interest in making the same observations someone else has made or sounding like someone else. Saying what has been said by someone else is a waste of my time and the reader's. I don't think that's an unusual attitude, but the MSM certainly don't share it.
In most instances the perspective and analysis of the MSM is largely predictable. A central tenet of information theory is there is no information in a predictable statement.
The MSM loathed George W. Bush and adores Barack Obama. They have allowed both of these extreme attitudes to corrupt and distort their reporting.
From the standpoint of a functioning democracy, there is probably no other institution as important as a free press. Unfortunately, those at the highest echelons of the press are guilty of journalistic dereliction of duty. The MSM is grossly abusing the special freedoms, privileges, and responsibilities it's been granted.
Whether or not you think Barack Obama has been a good president, he would probably not be president if the MSM had come within a country mile of its professional responsibilities. They effectively colluded with the Obama campaign to keep who he is and what he believes hidden from view.
There is no reason to expect the MSM to change its behavior. If anything the bias is increasing as they become more and more desperate. However, their bias is becoming more transparent and media consumers have more choices -- Fox News, talk radio, and the Internet, for example. The price they pay for their malpractice is just going to increase.
On the first night of the RNC, Fox News had 44 percent more viewers than NBC, more than twice as many viewers as CBS or ABC, and more than four times as many viewers as either CNN or MSNBC.
The main reason for optimism is that, although powerful, the MSM is not omnipotent. It's entirely possible that, despite their best efforts, Barack Obama will not be reelected.


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Cambridge University Hospitals say measures are in place to protect newborns after two babies were poisoned by contaminated feed in the Rosie
Posted: June 06, 2014|
Bosses of a Cambridge hospital where two babies were poisoned by contaminated feed have assured patients and the public that measures are in place to prevent the same happening to other newborns.
The infants are now recovering in the Rosie Hospital 's neonatal intensive care unit after being infected with septicaemia by the faulty drip.
In total, 18 babies – many premature – at nine hospitals are believed to have suffered blood poisoning as a result of having the faulty feed administered directly into their blood because they could not be fed by mouth.
A death was recorded at St Thomas' Hospital in south London on Sunday, while Peterborough City Hospital has also reported a case.
Public Health England (PHE) said the cases were "strongly linked" with batches of an intravenous feeding liquid made by ITH Pharma.
A spokesman for Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH), which runs the Rosie and Addenbrooke's, said one baby was found to have the infection on Sunday evening and the other on Monday evening, with both immediately treated with antibiotics.
He added: "All the babies on the unit are being closely monitored for any signs of infection. We are confident that the measures we have in place will protect these vulnerable newborns.
"Two babies who were found to have been infected are responding well to the antibiotics. We are supporting the parents and the families concerned. All of the families have been kept informed about what is going on and the progress being made."
The liquid feed in question has been withdrawn and an alternative is being used.
Sandie Smith, chief executive of Healthwatch Cambridgeshire, which represents patients' interests, is due to discuss the incident with the county's Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) next week.
She said: "This is deeply concerning and we are looking to work with partners to find out exactly what happened. It is vital we know the circumstances to ensure this never happens again."
Cllr Kilian Bourke, chairman of Cambridgeshire County Council's health scrutiny committee, added: "My thoughts are with the parents of these children and the terrible situation they find themselves in.
"In terms of where responsibility sits, it is extremely clear this is a supply chain issue in which the hospitals themselves were not at fault. Addenbrooke's is already exerting pressure at a national level for a full review to take place and I understand that progress has been made on identifying the specific cause of the contamination."
Yesterday, ITH Pharma managing director Karen Hamling said the London company was co-operating fully with an inquiry by health officials.


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Amazon Appstore gets Angry Birds Rio as semi-exclusive
updated 02:30 pm EDT, Mon March 14, 2011
Angry Birds Rio for Android at Amazon only first
The upcoming Amazon App Store will be the first place to get the new Angry Birds Rio game for the Android platform. At the same time, Android users for the first time will have the option to buy ad-free versions of Angry Birds and Angry Birds Seasons. How long Amazon will enjoy exclusive rights isn't known, as the Android Market will get it soon afterwards. The release of the game for the iOS platform at the Apple App Store will not be affected.
Rovio has worked in conjunction with Fox on the game. In it, gamers will play to release Blu and Jewel, characters from the movie studio's upcoming movie, Rio. The movie opens on April 15 worldwide, while the game will launch with 60 levels, and more will be downloadable at a later date.
When the app launches hasn't been revealed, but users can sign up for updates on Amazon's dedicated web page.


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An online journal about visual art, the urban landscape and design. Mary Louise Schumacher, the Journal Sentinel's art and architecture critic, leads the discussion and a community of writers contribute to the dialogue.
My top pick for Gallery Night: Jefferson Pinder
Gallery Night & Day is, as you undoubtedly know, is Friday and Saturday.
I'll have more suggestions to come, so please come back to the blog today and tomorrow.
But, here's my top pick. If you are starting to make your plans, consider putting Jefferson Pinder at Inova at or near the top of your list.
Here, too, is the official listing, so you can peruse your options.
Comments »
Read and share your thoughts on this story.


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34 Holiday Ideas for Gifts in a Jar
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Dream Card
We are adding the craft to your Craft Projects.
The project was added to your Craft Projects.
Click here to view your Craft Projects.
Create a beautiful dream card using scrapbook paper, push molds and polymer clay.
By Maureen Carlson for AMACO
- AMACO® Designer Push Molds: Sun, Moon
- Fimo® Soft Polymer Clay: White, Sunflower
- 12" x 12" Scrapbook Paper or Folded Card of Your Choice
- Blank Slide Mount, Small
- Suede Leather Lace: 18" of Blue
- Lumiere Paint: Metallic Gold, Pearlescent Blue
- Acrylic Paint: White, Brown
- Cream Card Stock and Paper Scraps
- Glue
- Sponges for Paint
- Water
- Flat Plastic Disposable Surface for Paint
- Paper Towels
- Baking Pan or Ceramic Tile
- Oven
- Leather Alphabet Stamps
- Round Toothpicks
Note: The pictured card shape was created by folding a piece of 12" x 12" scrapbook paper into a wrap-around card. You may substitute a plain greeting card, size of your choice, for the folded paper card.
- Condition FIMO® Soft polymer clay. Create face and any clay embellishments using AMACO® Designer Push Molds, as well as rubber stamps or leather stamps for faces and words. Alter clay shapes as desired by curving, cutting or indenting. A toothpick makes a great tool for indenting corners of mouths and eyes in molded faces. The pictured card uses one large sun face, one small moon, two stars, one word "dream" made from the moon mold, and one word "dream" made with leather stamps. Poke holes in clay if pieces are to be strung.
- Bake clay in preheated oven following directions on package. Let cool.
- Paint or antique clay pieces, wiping away excess paint with a paper towel.
- Type or print words onto cardstock. Tear out words or cut with deckle- edged scissors. Layer words with torn pieces of collage papers on both card and envelope. Embellish papers and blank slide mount by sponge painting, stippling, or dotting with paint colors of your choice. If paint gets too dark, sponge white or pale color over top.
- Use Crafter's Pick Decoupage & Collage Gel to glue papers to card and envelope and into opening of slide mount.
- Use Crafter's Pick The Ultimate! to glue faces and any other trims in place on card.
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Disaster relief: An immediate response for communities in crisis
Earthquakes, hurricanes and floods can devastate communities. At Shell we work to keep our people and facilities safe when natural disasters strike. We also often provide relief for affected communities and support their efforts to rebuild for the long term. Together with governments, we aim to maintain a secure energy supply for local people.
Natural disasters destroy homes, roads and communication networks. The economic impact can be vast. At worst, they injure and even kill many of those in affected regions. Swift action is vital to help protect communities and we provide aid where it is most needed, such as in the examples below.
Fresh start after a quake
When an earthquake hit the south-western Chinese province of Sichuan in 2008, more than 87,000 people lost their lives and five million were left homeless. Shell donated money to a programme run by the non-profit organisation China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, which has provided loans to families for houses and farmers for tractors and livestock.
"Without this help, my family could not have built our new home," says Huang Xuehui, a farmer who combined a loan with government compensation.
Support for typhoon victims
Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines on November 8, 2013, wreaking havoc. It affected over 11 million people and left over 4 million Filipinos without food, water and electricity. Shell Group donated $2.5 million for rehabilitation efforts, while Shell in the Philippines responded immediately with a programme to raise money. It helped deliver emergency relief, in part thanks to encouraging volunteers. Shell staff helped, for example, by repacking emergency provisions for affected communities.
Shell retail stations and offices were turned into drop-off centres for donations. Shell also provided fuel for ambulances, goods trucks and power generators, as well as to run port operations in the city of Tacloban with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and International Container Terminal Services, Inc (ICTSI).
"This is a perfect example of a public-private partnership," said PPA General Manager Juan C. Sta Ana.
This was not the first time Shell had provided support in the region. Three typhoons killed more than 1,300 people and forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes in the Philippines in late 2011.
Flash floods and landslides damaged buildings, crops and roads. Shell provided funding to rebuild homes and schools across three regions.
"I worked hard for 15 years to create our home in Isla de Oro. We lost everything," says Janet Cabalhin, a mother of two young children. "But I am one of the blessed who have been given new homes."
In Thailand, a flood wiped out homes and livelihoods in many regions in 2011.
Shell signed an agreement with the Chaipattana Foundation, a Thai charity, in early 2012, and donated $1 million to help repair and run motorcycles and damaged farm equipment. It also supports a vocational training programme.
When floods displaced Nigerians in 24 states in 2012, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) donated $1 million to support relief efforts.
The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, together with the Nigerian Red Cross Society, are bringing food, water and health care to those affected and finding ways to develop their livelihoods.
Providing critical support
In the USA, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, destroying buildings and killing hundreds.
They flooded New Orleans and left hundreds of thousands of people homeless.
Shell donated $3 million to help with relief efforts. Shell employees contributed up to another $1 million. We also provided fuel for emergency services and volunteers helped with activities on the ground.
For example, Travis Allen, Shell Regional Aviation Manager, co-ordinated the helicopter delivery of food and water to the stranded Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans.
"We are tremendously grateful for Shell's involvement in our efforts to stabilise our research and species survival centres in the wake of Hurricane Katrina," said Ron Forman, Audubon Nature Institute president and CEO.
"Partners like Shell ensure that New Orleans will emerge stronger than before."
Following devastating tornados in the Midwest and South of the USA, wildfires in Texas, and flooding in Pennsylvania in 2011, Shell and Motiva donated more than $750,000 to recovery efforts.
We worked closely with partners and our retail staff to find out where to give aid, providing fuel to those in need.
Our staff and retailers support relief efforts by volunteering and by quickly opening retail facilities to provide vital supplies. A Shell station in Bastrop, Texas, for example provided water, ice and food for fire-fighting teams.
When hurricane Sandy struck the north-east coast of the USA in October 2012, Shell and Motiva worked around-the-clock to restore critical fuel supplies in retail sites across four states. Shell also donated funds to support relief efforts.


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| Oracle® WebCenter Wiki and Blog Server Installation, Configuration, and User's Guide
10 g Release 3 (10.1.3.4.0)
This chapter introduces concepts related to wikis and blogs and provides an overview of Oracle WebCenter Wiki and Blog Server 10g Release 3 (10.1.3.4.0).
The chapter includes the following sections:
Section 1.2, "What You Should Know About Oracle WebCenter Wiki and Blog Server"
A wiki is a type of web site where users can browse available content and update, remove, and otherwise edit the content, sometimes without the need for registration. This ease of interaction and the variety of operations makes wiki an effective tool for collaborative authoring, where multiple people create written content together using HTML or a simple wiki mark-up language.
Wikipedia is an excellent example of a wiki (
). Users from all over the world collaborate to create and edit Wikipedia pages, resulting in a rich, dynamic knowledge base for everyone's benefit. For more information about wiki, see the Wikipedia at
Wikis epitomize the concepts of community and collaboration by allowing all authorized community members to contribute their information to the greater body of knowledge. Adding these new collaborative ways of authoring information does not require a full content management system. Here are a few scenarios where wikis can be used:
In a globally dispersed team; team members can update a single proposal without having to track e-mail attachments and merge all comments into one document.
In a large team; everyone knows where to go to get the "single point of truth" for current plans or status information using a wiki.
In taking anonymous input; people can comment on the wiki but not edit it directly, thereby considering all viewpoints.
Blogs, on the other hand, are more personal records of an individual user's experience and opinions. The word blog is a contraction of the term Web log. It was coined to describe the online diaries spawned in the late 1990's.
Blogs provide a useful tool for projecting, discussing, and/or evangelizing any type of idea, strategy, or point of view. The audience can be a select group of people or a projection out to a wider audience. Typically, blogs invite readers to comment on the overall concepts. Blogs also allow the author to determine whether others should see these comments or whether they incorporate the comments into the base blog.
Some typical scenarios where blogs can be used include:
CEOs of companies telling their investors and customers about ideas they have for the future direction of the company
Architects of technology companies providing new directions or approaches to solving complex problems
Sales leaders providing their teams with key selling strategies
Business professionals educating colleagues on new opportunities
Industry analysts providing viewpoints on point technologies within their area of ownership
Service companies providing new and interesting ways to leverage their products and services
You can integrate wikis and blogs into your applications. When integrating wikis and blogs into your applications, you must keep in mind certain considerations:
Blogs do not really require users to provide their identity when they post comments. You may encounter the problem of unsolicited advertisements posted on your blogs. Many advertising services may automatically add a comment to a blog entry; the comment is nothing more than an advertisement for their product or service.
To inform non-team members of project progress, blogs need to be tied into projects that others are working on. So, blogs require integration with the core portal security infrastructure.
Both wikis and blogs need to be able to adapt their look and feel to match the application, portal, or web site in which they are integrated.
Oracle WebCenter Wiki and Blog Server enables you to integrate wikis and blogs into Oracle WebCenter, Oracle WebLogic Portal, and Oracle WebCenter Interaction applications. Oracle WebCenter Wiki and Blog Server also includes features that enable application users to create their own wikis and blogs.
Table 1-1 shows the supported technologies available for releases that include Oracle WebCenter Wiki and Blog Server.
Table 1-1 Oracle WebCenter Wiki and Blog Server Supported Technologies
|Oracle WebLogic Server
|Oracle Access Manager
|Java Single Sign-On (JSSO)
Oracle WebCenter Wiki and Blog Server 10.1.3.4.0 contains a wiki and blog server that can be deployed on Oracle WebLogic Server 10.3 and configured for single sign-on (SSO) with Oracle Access Manager 10 g. This release does not support the following SSO servers supported in previous releases: Oracle SSO and JSSO. The 10.1.3.4.0 release also deprecates the sample portlets included with previous releases (10.1.3.x).
Hence, Oracle WebCenter Wiki and Blog Server 10.1.3.4.0 is focused on customers who are installing Oracle WebCenter Wiki and Blog Server for the first time or who are upgrading from an Oracle Access Manager-based authentication setup. Current customers who use Oracle SSO or JSSO should migrate to this release if, and only if, they are ready to migrate to Oracle WebLogic Server 10.3 with Oracle Access Manager for SSO and they do not need out-of-the-box portlets.
Oracle WebCenter Wiki and Blog Server categorizes its content into domains and pages.
Figure 1-1 shows the start page of a domain named
owc_wiki. Administrators can create domains, whereas authorized users can create wiki pages and blog entries within a domain. The wiki and blog server tracks every version of a page, including its authors and creation and revision dates. Administrators can configure the wiki and blog server for better administration and management. For example, administrator can create domain-specific menus, create users and assign them roles, and monitor server statistics.
Figure 1-1 Start Page of a Domain
Oracle WebCenter Wiki and Blog Server includes its own web-based interface and Web Services. Application users can use the web-based interface to create and edit wiki pages. Application developers can expose the wiki and blog functionality into their existing portal, application, or web site by using various methods, including Web Services. The best one to pick depends on the type of integration desired or that is required.
The following are the methods for integrating wikis and blogs in your applications or portals:
Through the Web Clipping portlet or any portlet capable of consuming a URL
Through an iFrame, which you include in a page in your application
Through the use of a custom-built user interface that you can create using the provided Web Services
For more information, see Chapter 6, "Integrating Oracle WebCenter Wiki and Blog Server."
Copyright © 2007, 2009, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
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Brothers Matt and Josh Boeck, of Wellington-based of Skinners' Siding, work on a house in the WildWing subdivision in Timnath Jan. 29. / V. Richard Haro/The Coloradoan
Single-family building permits
|% change
|Peak (year)
|Fort Collins
|1,224 (2002)
|427 (2004)
|702 (2004)
|141 (2012)
|451 (2005)
|279 (2004)
Brothers Matt and Josh Boeck of Wellington-based Skinners' Siding work on a house in the WildWing subdivision in Timnath on Jan. 29. / V. Richard Haro/The Coloradoan
As frigid winter days break, dozens of framers, roofers and plumbers across the county take their last sip of hot coffee to warm their insides before climbing trusses or forming another wall of another house.
After the recession all but halted new home construction, developers are again selling lots that will perhaps one day house a single mom, young professional, empty nesters or growing family. Its been a long stretch since Larimer County builders have been this busy. The housing recovery, according to some, started in late 2011, continued through last year and shows no sign of stopping with the new year.
Developer Gary Hoover sold six lots in the last 10 days in his tony WildWing neighborhood on the eastern shores of Timnath Reservoir and 11 lots in the more affordable Dry Creek project in Fort Collins.
Thats better than it was 18 months ago, Hoover said. I dont know what triggered it, but it started to be different for us in November 2011 when we noticed the shift in activity.
Confidence among U.S. homebuilders remains at its highest level in six years, but builders are feeling slightly less optimistic about their prospects for sales over the next six months, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index released earlier this month.
The index was unchanged at 47, the highest reading since it hit 51 in April 2006, just before the housing bubble burst. Readings below 50 suggest negative sentiment about the housing market. Still, the index has been slowly trending higher since October 2011, when it was down at 17.
Some developers, like Hoover, point to Larimer County as a pocket of prosperity not seen throughout the country. We are just so incredibly fortunate to be in this area, he said. I dont think the rest of the country is as robust as we are ... there are a few places I hear about that are busy, but Northern Colorado has held up.
Last year Hoover sold 87 homes in Dry Creek, where prices hover in the low- to mid-$100,000 range. Hes on track to do as well or better this year, he said. With 300 lots in WildWing, Hoover expects the development to be going strong for about six years. At that pace, the growing neighborhood will see about 50 new homes per year.
Home building, based on single-family building permits, is not back to pre-recession or peak activity in Fort Collins or Loveland, but Timnath and Windsor came close last year as builders looked for permit-ready lots outside of the countys two major cities.
Fort Collins, in particular, has a lack of permit-ready lots, and those that were available were owned by national builders, said Jeff Schneider, chairman of the board of the Home Builders Association of Northern Colorado.
But there are a lot of permit-ready lots available in Johnstown and Windsor and that allowed a lot of the local guys to come in and buy a couple lots at a time rather than 50 or 100. Thats why we are seeing some smaller communities have some of the opportunity that happened around the area versus Fort Collins.
With the economy stabilizing, mortgage interest rates hovering near 3.4 percent and lenders again willing to finance, more people were able to get into homes in 2012, Schneider said, and that will not likely change this year.
I have a very good feeling about this year. People are ... not as nervous about whats going to happen with taxes and the situation at the federal level that we cant control. They understand now is the time to do things because of interest rates. Inflation will have to happen, so they do it now or they may not be able to get exactly what they want a year or two from now.
Activity is not returning to its peak, and thats not necessarily a bad thing, said Greg Miedema, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Northern Colorado.
There was probably something wrong with the peak or we wouldnt have fallen so far, he said. Its OK to say we wont get back to that level.
But as people feel better about the economy and their jobs, housing will once again grow with it, he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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- WND - http://www.wnd.com -
City discovers 'nudity' at 'breastaurant'
Posted By -NO AUTHOR- On 07/16/2013 @ 12:57 pm In Diversions,Money,U.S. | No Comments
(DFW.CBSLOCAL) — Officials in the city of Lewisville could soon change an ordinance to better define what constitutes nudity.
The issue came up after someone complained about what waitresses were wearing, or not wearing, at one restaurant.
A patron called Lewisville police after what they claim happened during a stop at the restaurant and bar called Redneck Heaven. When officers went to the establishment to investigate they found female waitresses serving customers with only body paint and pasties covering their breasts.
There were no charges filed or arrests made, because the wait staff had broken no law.
Article printed from WND: http://www.wnd.com
URL to article: http://www.wnd.com/2013/07/city-to-address-nudity-at-breastaurant/
Click here to print.
© Copyright 1997-2013. All Rights Reserved. WND.com.


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Our partner ID# is 2807!


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North Korea's missile program is shrouded in secrecy, which helps the outlaw nation keep the rest of the world guessing.

Still, Western experts have learned a fair bit about Pyongyang's stable of rockets and missiles over the years by analyzing test flights, satellite photos and other data. Here are five of the most interesting things they've figured out.

FIRST STOP: Soviet Origins of Missiles
The Hermit Kingdom's missile program is based primarily on Soviet Scuds, which apparently entered the country via Egypt in the 1970s. North Korea was building its own Scud version, called the Hwasong-5, by the mid-1980s, and moved onto bigger and more powerful missiles after that. [North Korea's Missile Capabilities Explained]

NEXT: Poor Accuracy
North Korea's missiles have lousy accuracy compared to those developed by the United States, experts say. Pyongyang's Hwasong line, for example, can reach targets a few hundred miles away, but with an accuracy of just 0.3 miles to 0.6 miles (0.5 to 1 kilometer).

A missile called the Nodong can fly 620 miles to 800 miles (1,000 to 1,300 km), but its estimated accuracy is even worse — 1.8 to 2.5 miles (3 to 4 km). Such missiles can't reliably hit military targets, but they can certainly strike larger targets such as cities.

NEXT: Iran's Help
North Korea has apparently cooperated extensively with fellow pariah nation Iran on rocket and missile technology. For example, the third stage of Pyongyang's Unha-2 rocket is very similar to the upper stage of Iran's Safir-2 launcher, physicists David Wright and Theodore Postol noted in a 2009 report.

NEXT: Satellite Success
North Korea joined the ranks of satellite-launching nations last December, when its Unha-3 rocket launched a small satellite to Earth orbit.

This breakthrough came after three consecutive failures — one in 1998, one in 2009 and another in April 2012. North Korean officials didn't always admit to these mishaps, however. For example, they claimed that the Kwangmyongsong-1 ("Bright Star 1") satellite reached orbit in 1998 and broadcast patriotic songs into space. [Unha-3 Rocket Explained (Infographic)]

NEXT: Nuclear Warheads Possible
North Korea has been ratcheting up its bellicose rhetoric lately, threatening to launch nuclear strikes against Washington, D.C. and other American cities.

While the rogue nation's nuclear-weapons program is thought to be at a relatively primitive stage, Pyongyang may indeed already possess warheads small enough to be carried large distances by a ballistic missile, experts say.
"Having something that's around 1,000 kilograms, or maybe somewhat smaller than that, unfortunately does not seem impossible," Wright told SPACE.com. "We don't really know, but I think you have to take seriously that they could well be there."

Most analysts doubt, however, that North Korean missiles are powerful enough to deliver a nuclear weapon to the American mainland. The tough talk from Pyongyang is primarily bluster aimed at wringing concessions out of the international community and building support for young leader Kim Jong-Un at home, they say.

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or <a href="https://plus.google.com/+SPACEcom/posts"Google+.