text:
What makes a boy band so crushable? The songs, of course; without their declarations of love and well-timed key changes, the likelihood that they'd creep into the mass consciousness is low. But the personalities that make up the groups, often boiled down to easy shorthands like "the cute one" or "the shy one" or "the one who just sort of stood there but who I'm attracted to anyway," are just as important; these archetypes allow different types of fans to hook into the groups, to argue over which band member is most deserving of their notebook doodlings, memorabilia money… and latent sexual stirrings.
We asked some of our favorite writers to share their first boy-band crushes, and the squishy feelings they bring up to this day.
More Boy Band Week:
Vote for the Greatest Boy Band Song of All Time!
See the 37 hottest boy-band squeezes ever!
Learn what the lyrics of "I Want It That Way" actually mean!
I'm not sure I had an actual crush on Brian from the Backstreet Boys, but I remember being confused and maybe angry that anyone would think anyone else from any other boy band was even remotely attractive. I still don't think Justin Timberlake is cute. He looks like a little boy. A little boy! A baby. A pretty baby with a high voice. Who can dance extremely well, and is probably also really fun to hang out with. But not hot. Not hot.
Brian at least looked like a man. With a jaw, and he seemed serious. With his chin in his hand, unsmiling. "Brian backs" is all Google needs to know what I'm talking about. Brian Littrell. But also, Brian Littrell, I wish I hadn't Googled you. Pictures indicate he's dealing with a receding hairline by dying it blonde and combing it forward. He's 37 and has apparently become a Christian musician. Speaking of manly, I wonder what Joey Fatone is up to. OMG, Joey's actually looking really good these days. Being in a boy band is almost like… castration.
–Edith Zimmerman is the founding editor of the Hairpin.
JOEY McINTYRE // NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
I have always been a sucker for a falsetto. First it was Joey McIntyre of the New Kids on the Block, his high voice fogged by a sweet Boston accent; then it was Justin Timberlake of 'N Sync, who thankfully outgrew his absurd and glossy curls in favor of tattoos and a sense of humor; now it's the floppy-haired Harry Styles of One Direction. (Note: I have no idea what Harry Styles' individual voice sounds like, but I do know he's the cutest one. I mean, really, you can't argue with that hair.)
There's just something about impossibly high notes coming out of a pretty boy's mouth that sets my heart aflame. When I was a child, the boy with the falsetto seemed the safest, the least sexual… like beautiful castrato singing three-minute pop songs. No matter what the words are, a boy with a falsetto isn't going to break your heart. He belongs in a church, backed by a choir. He will bring you flowers and hold your hand. He will open your car door, or at least he would if he were old enough to drive. Joey was the better version of the boys at my elementary school. Not even his stonewashed jeans and mall haircut could deter me. If I told you that my husband serenades me with a voice a few octaves above his normal register, would it surprise you? It shouldn't. After all, a girl never really gets over her first love.
–Emma Straub is the author of the novel Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures.
I grew up in a firmly boy-band household. Though my sister and I had our grunge moments and I eventually receded into the Elliot Smith-scored shadows of sad bastard land, there were a couple of years when the house was filled with the nasal whining of BSB and 'N Sync and their lesser cousins: the bratty Cockney quintet Five, the discount mall act 98 Degrees.
I was a few years away from coming out at the time, but I knew that a lot of these kids were cute. There was rain-soaked Nick Carter in the "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)" video, Justin Timberlake lying down with one muscley arm behind his head in "Tearin' Up My Heart." He was still sporting his infamous Ramen-noodle hairdo at the time, but that JT moment (featured on some 'N Sync VHS my sister bought at Strawberries) was frequently paused and, uh, studied when home alone.
But my real boy band love, perhaps true to the folkier musical taste I would later develop, was dreamy, effortlessly retro cool, cornsilk blond, and, yes, perhaps creepily religious Taylor Hanson. One summer, trapped in a Rhode Island farmhouse for all of August, my sister and I basically burned a hole in our copy of Middle of Nowhere. Without internet or even television, all we could do was listen to the songs, gaze at the few pictures we had and imagine what these teen angels must be like in their surely wonderful lives. Of course, I had to mute my Taylor obsession, letting my sister do the out-loud freaking out for the both of us, but inside a world of want existed.
I'll never forget later that fall when we played Hanson's Christmas album, Snowed In, for the first time and heard Taylor's newly deepened voice. Standing by the stereo in my sister's bedroom while she audibly gasped at her (our) beloved's new timbre was, I must admit, a true made-me-a-man moment. I finally understood sexy, at all of 14. I'll also never forget going to see Hanson the next summer, my first concert ever, rather embarrassingly, and by then feeling pretty over the whole thing. I'd moved on to less wholesome objects of desire, and anyway the band's new music wasn't quite as fun.
Still, I'll have a picture of that hair forever, will always hear that particular Taylor "Yeah!" somewhere in my head. Vestiges from a time when I was, in many ways, in the middle of nowhere too, but at least feeling, when I closed my eyes and listened to that Tulsa boy's song, like I was being taken somewhere new.
–Richard Lawson is the senior arts and entertainment writer for the Atlantic Wire. He can still draw the Hanson symbol.
I think about original O-Town member Ikaika Kahoano at least once a week, more often than one would expect. After all, he quit the 2000 reality TV series Making the Band to preserve his artistic integrity (or something more scandalous?), then… started another boyband, LMNT. The name was picked by readers of Teen People. They had one single (it was bad) and then kind of disappeared.
Way back in 2000, I had a big crush on Ikaika, even though now I realize he was a bit boring. But! He had a cool Hawaiian accent and a really nice singing voice, and he seemed a lot more circumspect than the rest of the guys in the house. (That tells you something about 15-year-old me: "circumspect" was a quality I appreciated in boys.)
Twelve years ago, reality TV still had people who were genuinely uncomfortable with cameras in their faces all the time; the secret to making a living from reality shows–being as ridiculous as possible–had yet to be figured out. Ikaika spent a lot of time on the phone getting advice about his career and the band from his brother, so much that another future O-Town member, Jacob Underwood, eventually deadpanned, "Hey Ikaika, what's your brother's number? I need to ask you some questions."
Ikaika comes into my head without fail when I'm loading the dishwasher. You know how some television moments are burned into your brain for all time? I'm never going to forget Ikaika loading the dishwasher in the MtB house and singing, to the tune of "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely": "Tell me why I live with a bunch of slobs."
–Shani O. Hilton is a journalist in Washington, D.C.
For lurid tales involving Zac Hanson and more, click on the NEXT button…


text:
The Seabird Lodge is Pet Friendly
We will gladly allow your pet to stay with you. We accept all well mannered dogs up to 40 pounds and cats. Pets must not be left unattended at any time.
Please bring your pet to the lobby to be photographed for our
"Guest Pet Board".
Guests with pets are accommodated in the first
floor rooms of the main building.
Ten dollars per pet per night, two pets maximum.
Owners are responsible for any damage the pet may cause.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Resource Description
At the Mineralogy Database, users can research data for 4,442 mineral species. The site uses JCrystal Applet to provide 3-D images of mineral composition. KrystalShaper is used to provide paper model patterns which students can use to construct a physical model. Users can search by category or alphabetically.


text:
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picky, picky, PICKY!
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
time for a confession... duh, duh DUH!
"hi my name is oaktree10, and i am a picky eater!"
well, "picky" understatement...
i am as bad as a little kid.
it is okay when you are 5 years old, but 45??????
when i go out with friends, people HALF joke that that since i am with them, it limits their choices... A LOT. this isn't just "i don't like veggies", it is more like here, i can tell you the things i WILL eat, rather than what i won't. it gets so bad, i am ashamed of myself when i go over to someone's house, and they are serving dinner, i worry that i won't like anything that they are serving, making them think i am being rude.
and when i watch the biggest loser, the people talk how they are picky eaters, but later you see them eating some leafy green thing, smiling and saying, "MMMM! this is good!"
riiiiight, they are "picky" eaters!
my kids eat more different things than i do! and my son is considered a picky eater! i HATE fish (except TUNAfish, and yes, i know, "that isn't REAL fish!") and yes, i HAVE tried fish in MANY millions of different ways, it still is the same.... YUCK!
veggies? well, since CORN is a grain, guess that doesn't count. i will eat a stray bean or carrot, but that is a RARE instance. sometimes broccoli, but that is it! no salad for this girl, it is like eating crunchy air!
now, you would THINK, well, then why does she have a weight problem??? ummm, yeah right. fast food? LOVE it.
well, that has tomato sauce in it, that is a veggie, right? (and no, don't ruin a good pizza by putting olives, peppers, or any thing like that!) just straight up meat and cheese, baby! cakes, and other sweets? SURE! oh, and the only "healthy" foods i like??? FRUITS!
so, what do i do, to work on EATING healthy??? the only thing that is left... eat moderate, small portions... well that works if eating enough to feed a bird
will fill you up! wait, don't most birds eat more than their weight in a day? hmmmm, eating so little that the toddler plate holds more... yeah, that is about right!
any ideas or suggestions?
no, i am not complaining, but just thought if you were having a tough time with eating, maybe you will feel better, since most EVERY person i know likes a variety of food, and can "substitute" for something healthier! while i sit at the kids table, eating with the other picky eaters!
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That is tough, but I would suggest that you keep on experimenting and you never know, you might find a few new things to add to your plate! Good luck, it isn't easy when you don't like the kind of food that they say we should eat!
1123 days ago
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Also - do you like spicy foods?
1124 days ago
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I know that my tastes of have changed somewhat. But if you don't like certain foods you don't like them.
How about dairy and shakes and smoothies. I drink a protein shake in the morning, its just easy. My son drinks a naked juice call Green Machine. It looks horrible, but is really good and quite sweet and fruit. Can't even taste the veggies. I know there are a lot of smooth recipes that include veggies, but you can't really taste them. So maybe you could drink some of the veggies you need.
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I used to be the same way, my mum used to get sooo frustrated with me! Then I moved away for university and 2 of my best friends were vegan and vegetarian, and all of a sudden (maybe the peer pressure) I started eating things I insisted I hated. To be honest, a lot of the foods I used to say I hate (and a lot of the things I still won't ever eat) are things I've never tried...I just 'know' I won't like them haha I'm the same with you on fish...NO thanks! I eat tuna all the time, love it, but other kinds of fish?? Ewwww. Seafood in general actually, except prawns. It's hard because our picky eating is so ingrained it's really hard to snap out of it. I think as long as you are getting everything you need nutritionally, it's just one of those things.
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I like all the foods you mentioned , the pizza especially ,but, I known they will kill me if I eat them as I choose. I have learned that if hungry enough most anything tastes good. I love raw veggies and a sandwich made with reduced fat wheat bread and reduced fat roast beef and I'm sure you will find foods that are good for your body as well.
1124 days ago
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How do you survive on a diet like that?
I think I'd die if you told me I couldnt eat fruit and veggies. And by the way...tuna fish....is awesome for muscle building ask any nutritionist.
1124 days ago
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My son is the same way. We don't eat with him very often and let him choose the venue when we do.
1124 days ago
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By Bill Berkrot
Oct 26 (Reuters) - Previously untreated patients experiencedsignificant and lasting reductions in signs and symptoms ofpsoriatic arthritis when given Celgene Corp's experimental oral drug, apremilast, according to data from alate stage clinical trial.
Patients taking either the 20 milligrams or 30 mg dose ofapremilast twice a day had a statistically significantimprovement in symptoms, such as painful, swollen joints, after16 weeks of treatment compared with those who received aplacebo, researchers said.
Signs and symptoms of the painful disease continued toimprove on apremilast through a year of treatment, according todata to be presented next week at the American College ofRheumatology meeting in San Diego.
If approved, apremilast will compete with injected biotechmedicines that have proved to be highly effective, but have moreserious potential side effects, such as opportunistic infectionsand tuberculosis because the biologics suppress the immunesystem.
"Psoriatic arthritis can be one of the most crippling typesof arthritis that we see," said Dr. Alvin Wells, the lead investigator of the 527-patient study who will present the data at the ACR meeting on Tuesday.
"To be able to have a patient that can take a pill twice aday, I think this is going to be a game changer, not only for meas a physician, but for my patients. They're going to have a newtreatment option," added Wells, director of the Rheumatology andImmunotherapy Center in Franklin, Wisconsin.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to make andecision on the drug in March.
Celgene has said sales of apremilast could reach $1.5billion by 2017. Wall Street analysts' projections have beenmore modest, with RBC Capital Markets forecasting sales of $1billion in 2017, while Cowen and Co sees annual sales reaching$475 million in 2018.
The primary goal of the study dubbed Palace 4 was a 20percent reduction in signs and symptoms of the disease, known asACR20, after 16 weeks versus placebo.
At that point, 29.2 percent of those who got the 20 mg doseand 32.3 percent to took 30 mg achieved ACR 20, compared with16.9 percent on placebo.
After 52 weeks on the drug, 53.4 percent on the lower doseand 58.7 percent on the higher dose achieved an ACR20 response.
"These patients are on drug a long time so I want to seethat it's going to last," said Wells, calling the results "apretty dramatic response."
Placebo patients who did not respond early in the trial wereswitched to apremilast. By week 24 there were no longer anypatients receiving placebo, Wells explained.
Researchers also looked at how many patients experiencedimprovements of 50 percent and 70 percent.
At 52 weeks, for those on the higher dose of apremilast,31.9 percent had achieved ACR50 and 18.1 percent ACR70,researchers said.
About 125 million people worldwide suffer from the scalyskin condition psoriasis and about 30 percent of them candevelop psoriatic arthritis, a chronic, progressive disease inwhich joints become swollen and inflamed.
Apremilast is the first drug in a new class of medicinecalled PDE4 inhibitors.
"It inhibits an enzyme involved in making all these angryproteins that get into the skin, causing psoriasis, and theyalso get into the joints, causing arthritis," Wells said.
The most common side effects with apremilast were diarrhea,nausea and headache. No more serious adverse side effects werereported, and fewer than 2 percent of patients in the studydiscontinued treatment due to side effects.
- Health Care Industry
- Health
- psoriatic arthritis


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Iniquity is described in the dictionary as "gross injustice—a violation of right or duty". The Biblical definition of iniquity is used for people showing blatant disregard for God's standards of righteousness.
Many mistakenly believe society's standard of justice has evolved when in reality it has not. The inequity of racism raises its head as demonstrated in unreported or reported incidents at paragons of learning as San Jose State. It is a reminder that injustices remain in spite of revamps to cultural standards.
The Bay Area was touched once again by violence impacting America's future when three of its brightest students fell prey to a sinister plot by a troubled young man attempting to balance the scales of justice in his own twisted mind. The term "injustice" can be a bastardization of what is right or wrong depending on who one talks to.
Clearly there has been a great injustice as articulated by an eloquent speaker during the memorial to the students slain that fateful night last Friday in Santa Barbara. Those students murdered had not planned to have their lives end so tragically and without notice. The students still recovering from their injuries were not looking to spend their precious time in the hospital. There were finals and graduation preparations to do.
There has been a great injustice indeed, but whose injustice is one speaking about? Aren't we training our society in the concept that there is no such thing as absolute right or absolute wrong? Are we not indoctrinating our children that all truth is relative?
Society flirts with injustice regarding violence. It is permissible to allow abortion which sanctions violence against an unborn child. Of course the word "injustice" is conveniently ignored and is deemed "justified" in the eyes of the fickle law. Injustice becomes a byword.
The future of our society is just as tainted with injustice in the ongoing carnage against our children on the streets of Oakland, Richmond, San Jose and nation wide. Once again, it really depends on the new version of injustice regarding whether one should be outraged or not. There is a value assessment assigned based on one's own definition of injustice.
God's definition of injustice has long been relegated to the rear view mirror by those with ambivalent values. The shedding of innocent blood is a standard that is repugnant in any circumstance and not only played when it is politically expedient to do so. God values all life, however this is not the case with the new morality being established.
There is a price to pay when one believes in the psychology that humans are merely evolved animals. There is a price to pay when the survival of the fittest is the mindset achieved by those interested in dominating their environment and subjugating the masses. What would be the logical prognosis should one have no other hope but the grave and no accountability for any action?http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/05/santa-barbara-shooter-bears-similarities-to-mass-murderers-103530.html
Removing the righteousness of God as a standard for right or wrong eliminates all restraints and validates any expression of behavior. There is no such thing as injustice. As in the animal kingdom, when a predator stalks it prey and kills it, there is no evil intent but only a natural expression of the order of things. The strong is suppose to dominate the weak.
This primitive attribute is expressed all the time as those indoctrinated by school or business inject the dog eat dog mentality, look out for number one, or it is not how you play the game but whether you win or lose. There is no moral code as long as one finishes ahead.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_jungle
One could not find a more diametrically opposed perspective when Jesus Christ walked the Earth in the Holy Land. The Romans worshipped power, strength, and had supreme authority. If one did not submit to Rome you would be crushed into the dust under the iron feet of a Roman legion. It was an ultimate display of Darwinism working before there was Darwin.
With Jesus' fulfilled dispensation of the law of God, it expressed the softer side of God's nature based on love and real choices from decisions made. Along with this standard, there were real consequences of either following or not following what God had already established.
Following one's own evil nature gives birth to issues as unfairness, injustice, and other ugliness. But it is still based on the righteousness established by God. There is really no such thing as injustice if one removes the standard of right or wrong determined by God's word. As a wise philosopher declared, everything is permissible if you remove God as the standard.
That includes killing.


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After all the last-minute hullabaloo (see: #glovegate) en route to Saturday night's 'The Moment,' as well as the last-ditch effort by the fighters and promoters to make a ruckus of the possibility that the Mayweather-Maidana fight may not push through -- which many boxing observers noted to be just for show to hype and encourage the fence-sitters to buy the pay-per-view... whether the people behind the punch-and-judy show succeeded with their objective remains to be seen.
The fight that many fans lambasted from the get-go produced an unexpected twist inside the ring but turned up with the usual expected result -- a win by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to snatch Marcos Maidana's WBA welterweight belt and add to his WBC and Ring versions and stay undefeated at 46-0.
Still, Marcos Maidana, who, before the fight, was condemned to the slaughterhouse by oddsmakers, writers and fans alike, defied expectations and made Money Mayweather worked hard for his money, as the Argentine banger brought the fight to Mayweather right off the bat and made it ugly.
Thus, the anticipated 12 rounds of one-sided shellacking that many expected Mayweather would dish off to Maidana quickly vanished into thin air the moment the bull from Argentina came out of his corner and started firing in the first round.
Marcos Maidana rushed Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to the corner and bullied the American champion to the ropes as he unleashed his unorthodox but powerful shots with mean intentions. Maidana threw wicked left hooks in succession as well as those bad and swift overhand rights, combinations that would make a lesser fighter cringe in horror and abandon all hope in the face of adversity.
But Marcos Maidana is not fighting an ordinary fighter. He is fighting one of the best fighters of his generation, with a prodigious boxing talent to boot and a defensive whiz. Despite the early hiccups, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., as was his wont, put his game face on and buckled down to work. Mayweather found a way to escape all the traps that Maidana laid out for him: he timed and pot-shotted the slow and plodding Argentine, and held and wrestled his way to clinch the victory.
After Jimmy Lennon, Jr.'s announcement of the 114-114, 117-111, and 116-112 majority decision victory in favor of Floyd Mayweather, Jr., the powers that be at Showtime and Golden Boy, as well as the camps of the protagonists, immediately jumped the gun and announced that they planned to have a rematch of the fight in September.
And because of the said announcement, some boxing fans have already shared a piece of their mind regarding the possibility of a Mayweather-Maidana rematch via social media. Many opined that they smelled a fix, but whether their allegations or conclusions are true or not, we really do not know, since there is really no evidence to support the said issue. But as the late Jimmy Cannon once wrote, "boxing is the red light district of sports," and so we can say in a way that everything is possible until proven otherwise.
As for this writer, all I can say is thanks but no thanks. There is really no rhyme or reason nor a compelling narrative to warrant a repeat performance of what has just transpired right before our very eyes.
Do we really think that a slow and plodding fighter like Marcos Maidana will be better off the second time around and do his thing against Floyd Mayweather, Jr.? Do we really think that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will change his style and stand toe-to-toe and knock out El Chino in a rematch?
Yes, the fight was close, but not really close. Yes, Marcos Maidana gave Floyd Mayweather, Jr. something to think about in the future, but there was really no way that a rematch can top the result of the first fight.
To illustrate the fight, it was not what many would have expected, but it failed to provide the necessary fireworks to be considered an exciting fight. At first, there was an element of surprise, a surge of adrenaline in anticipation of what could potentially unfold inside the ring, but as the fight wore on, round after round, it was just the same old refrain that eventualy became tiresome, predictable and futile. Mayweather may have been caught off guard by Maidana's game plan, but he was never in serious trouble, let alone in any danger of losing the fight. To paint the big picture, Marcos Maidana tried his best, but his best just was not good enough to put a dent in Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s undefeated run.
Note: any comments, reactions and suggestions are welcome. Hit me up at email@example.com or join us at the Detroit Boxing Examiner Facebook Page


text:
This project involves the establishment of an information repository suitable for delivery of information to the agricultural industry. The research focuses on the development of suitable systems to store, interrogate and report information from the data repository. This multi-phase activity takes nominated types of information and develops data-pipelines to report this information to targeted clients. As the data repository is populated with numerous data types, new generic systems are expected to be developed that will automate the collection, curation and delivery of similar types of information.
This research is incremental and extends existing agriculture vocabulary and library systems specific for the agricultural industry. This research also addresses issues related to storage and access of large scale measurement data related to agricultural research.
Dr Judy Clayden
Dr Leisa Armstrong
Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, Mr Dean Diepeveen


text:
For most homeowners, buying a home is the biggest single
investment they'll ever make. So before you let a stranger come in and smash walls,
tear out appliances and crunch holes in the ceilings of your biggest financial
asset, it might be a good idea to find out exactly who you're dealing with.
Once you've found
a home
equity loan and figured out which
remodeling projects will give you the best
return on your investment, you may think
all you have to do is kick back and daydream
about marble countertops and game rooms.
The quickest way to get nailed
on your home improvement projects, though,
is not doing your homework on your contractor.
The Remodeling
Activity Index, released Jan. 18 by Harvard
University's Joint Center for Housing Studies,
found that Americans spent $168.7 billion
on home improvements last year, up 1.5 percent
from the 2005's total.
Lots of work means lots of contractors.
And lots of ways to get scammed.
the scam
Last year, the Better
Business Bureau received 6,489 consumer
complaints regarding construction and remodeling
services, ranking relatively high at 22 out
of 2,900 complaint classifications.
Sheila Adkins, director of public affairs
for the Council of Better Business Bureaus, says there are three main reasons
for the flood of complaints.
These fly-by-night artists fall
into three broad categories. There's the con
man, an outright criminal who promises anything
at any price, demands his money up front and
then vanishes. Then there's the lowball artist,
a shady operator who intentionally bids below
his legitimate competitors, then makes costly
changes or skimps on workmanship to recoup
a profit. Last, there's the slipshod businessman
whose intentions may be honorable but whose
incompetent estimates and overall poor judgment
end up costing you money.
"These are the door-to-door home
contractors who claim to be doing a job at your neighbor's house, they have leftover
materials and would be happy to patch your leaky basement, repave your driveway
or check your furnace," says Adkins.
Protecting yourself
against the con artist should be easy, she says.
your local BBB and ask for a list of members in that industry. That's just being
a wise consumer," Adkins says. "If you're spending several thousand
dollars, I think you want to make sure you're giving it to a reputable company."
* Mortgage rate may include points. See rate tables
for details. Click
here. * To see the definition of overnight averages click
Bankrate.com ®,
Copyright © 2016
Bankrate, Inc., All Rights Reserved,
Terms of Use.


text:
Customer Feedback Helps Shape The Oracle Certification Program
By Harold Green on Apr 22, 2009
We want to thank you for the suggestions that you submit to us!
We get a great amount of feedback and suggestions from students and certification candidates about tweaks and changes that we should make to the Oracle Certification Program. The suggestions are very diverse and range from small to monumental.
Examples of small suggested changes include accept a new course towards the Hands-on Course Requirement or adding some information to our website. These types of changes are often easy to make and tend to get implemented more frequently than not.
On the other hand, we've also received large suggested changes. We even recently had some people become very insistent that we make major changes to the database-related tracks, such as scrapping the OCA, throwing out the course requirement. and making the OCP exams like the OCM exams. Because most of the changes that we make are on a limited and calculated scale and are incremental in nature, we won't be doing anything drastic or major like that anytime soon.
Some of the reasons that we typically do not make sweeping significant modifications to the program include:
Big changes are disruptive. There are literally thousands of people in the process of getting certified right now at one level or another. Major program changes interrupt their progress and their preparation.
Large changes are typically costly. Major changes would pose great cost to Oracle, which would in turn result in increased costs to the candidate. For example, re-formatting the OCP exam so it could be like the OCM exam would skyrocket the price to roughly $1,000 (USD) per exam – an astronomical increase from its current price of only $125 dollars (USD). Additionally, we could then be limited to only being able to offer the exams in a select few locations, resulting in candidates needing to travel great distances in order to sit the exam.
Major changes create confusion to students, partners and employers. A few years ago we undertook a large effort when we modified the program in Japan in order to more closely align it with the global program. Significant changes were made to both the track structure and the certification naming conventions. An unwanted side effect of this update was noticeable confusion among people in understanding how the old credentials fit under the revised program. Version and level upgrades became confusing, and unfortunately - the number of participants dropped for several years afterward. Additionally, we received a countless number of complaints related to the change.
So we are sorry to disappoint those of your who look for wide and significant changes to the program, we will continue to work on incremental things that add value to our credentials, make them more accessible, and provide tools and offerings that to help enhance the careers of those whom we certify.
Paul Sorensen,
Director, Oracle Certification


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Duke Energy's proposed solution to its coal ash conundrum met with continued opposition this week as the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL) released a report of its own dubbed "Coal Ash Disposition: The Alternative for North Carolina." The report argues against the use of 'landfilling' coal ash while recommending "proven saltstone technology for the coal ash at Duke Energy's fourteen power plants."
At present, Duke Energy plans to move coal ash from its retired electricity plants into lined and off-site landfills, a prospect that the BREDL says has a number of negative environmental downsides. According to the BREDL report, "Impartial experts agree that liner failure is inevitable, regardless of the liner type. That all liners will eventually fail is not in dispute. The only question is: How long will it take?"
Meanwhile, officials with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have responded that technologies for coal ash disposal and storage locations are being reviewed. DENR's public information officer, Jamie Kritzer, stated "The [department], the EPA and Duke Energy are looking closely at all of the available technologies for coal ash disposal and the location of where the ash will be stored in the future." Given the cozy relationship that has existed between Duke Energy and the DENR as well as the typical public interest impotence manifested by the Environmental Protection Agency, I shudder to think what 'solution' these organizations will come up with.
What should be clear to decision-makers and private citizens alike is that any solution that will be reached should not pass the problem on to future generations while current technologies allow for long-term coal ash containment solutions.
But clarity is in the eye of the beholder. While saltstone technology may seem like an obvious and well-studied solution to the problem of coal-ash containment, it doesn't appear to be as obvious to Duke Energy or its government lackeys, which is why private citizen participation and oversight in this process is so important.
So if you have the time, research this issue and come to a conclusion for yourself. And while you're at it, do what any good citizen of a well-established republic would do, give your elected representatives your respectful opinion on the subject!


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Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was arrested in Atlantic City after he was reportedly involved in a casino fight that was said to take place in an Atlantic City casino. This news comes via The Baltimore Sun, who spoke to this Baltimore Ravens running back's attorney, Andrew Alperstein.
According to the newspaper's reporter Justin Fenton on Feb. 16, Rice was released on his own recognizance soon after the incident. So was with his girlfriend, who was also charged with regard to the alleged altercation.
The hullabaloo — which has been called a "very minor physical altercation" — happened on Friday night at the Revel Hotel on the boardwalk in the New Jersey hot spot.
Ray Rice, who is 27, seems to be an upstanding citizen. He is said to be involved in anti-bullying and anti drunk driving campaigns in New Jersey where he went to college. He was drafted from Rutgers in 2008 and became a three-time Pro Bowl selection.
And so, when Ray Rice was arrested this weekend, the Baltimore Ravens running back was accused of an Atlantic City casino fight. Whether or not this actually occurred has not been neither confirmed nor denied.


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3 lengths and 3 assortments
The 2.5X size comes from a premium arctic fox and the fur is even softer than the others. The 3X is extra long for large flies.
Assortment 1: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Chartreuse, Blue
Assortment 2: Hot Orange, Burnt Orange, Morrum, Green Highlander, Royal Blue, Brown
Assortment 3: Golden Olive, Tan, Brown, Dark Brown, Tan, Dun
If you have questions about the products that we offer in our online store please feel free to drop us an email or give us a call (508)977-0700.


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That which is good is morally correct, excellent, and virtuous. Ultimately, God is the standard of what is good since it is his nature. In one sense, goodness is relative in that it is good to return a wallet, good to be honest. On the human level, this is good. Compared to God, however, all of man's efforts are not good and no one does good (Rom. 3:10-12).
That which is good is debated. However, normally it is considered to be a favorable result, action, or intention. That which is good can be the desired effect for which an action was intended. Good can refer to something that has a better quality, appearance, skill, etc. Moral goodness is more problematic in that intentions can be bad but the results not bad. Was the action then good? Is good derived from human preferences or divine revelation?


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Get the latest Flash player
Views: 1214
Runtime: 1:14:00
Added: 6 years ago
T And A Amateurs 28
More amateurs, more fun! On our 28th T&A Amateurs DVD, you'll get to watch all-American girl Danni fuck Lavender's boyfriend, but Lavender doesn't mind because she's busy with Nutty Natasha. There's also plenty more hot amateur action on this dics!
Studio: T&A Studios | Production Year: 2009
Performers: Lavender Mariah Chloe Liisa Natasha Danni Lily Anna Leeanna
Tags: amateur
Categories: Amateur


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March 2, 2012
STANFORD, Calif.- Former All-American George Selleck will be honored as Stanford's representative for induction into this year's Pac-12 Men's Basketball Hall of Honor, presented by Bank of the West at next week's Pac-12 Tournament.
Inductees for the other conference schools include: Richard Jefferson (Arizona), Kurt Nimphius (Arizona State), Lamond Murray (California), Burdette Haldorson (Colorado), Jim Barnett (Oregon), A.C.Green (Oregon State), Ed O'Bannon (UCLA), Sam Barry (USC), Arnie Ferrin (Utah), George Irvine (Washington) and Steve Puidokas (Washington State).
Selleck enjoyed an outstanding career as a starting point guard during his three seasons as a member of the Stanford men's basketball program.
A two-time Honorable Mention All-American, Selleck earned recognition by United Press International (UPI) in 1954 and 1956, along with International News Service (INS) in 1956.
A native of Compton, Calif., Selleck played in 71 career contests for Stanford, averaging 13.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
Selleck wrapped up his career with 1,004 points, earning him distinction as one of 39 players in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. He closed out his career as just the third player in program history to hit the mark.
During his debut season in 1953-54, Selleck played in 23 games and averaged 15.1 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 37.1 percent overall and a team-high 78.5 percent from the foul line.
In 1954-55, Selleck competed in 24 contests and averaged 11.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 41.4 percent overall and 72.5 percent from the charity stripe.
Named an All-Pacific Coast Conference selection as a senior in 1955-56, Selleck appeared in 24 games while leading Stanford in scoring (16.0 ppg). He also hauled down a career-best 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 40.8 percent from the field and 62.7 percent from the foul line. Selleck also served as team captain during that season.
Selleck was drafted in the fifth round of the 1956 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia Warriors.
Selleck is also a member of the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame. Selleck went on to coach at Stanford and at the high school level, and was twice named Los Angeles Times Coach of the Year. He is now an author and accomplished sports educator.
Stanford's Hall of Honor Inductees
2012: George Selleck
2011: Brevin Knight
2010: John Arrillaga
2009: Jim Pollard
2008: Tom Dose
2007: George Yardley
2006: Adam Keefe
2005: Rich Kelley
2004: Howie Dallmar
2003: Todd Lichti
2002: Hank Luisetti


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Jean Paul Gaultier Imagines an Uptown Aviatrix for Hermes
It was all about aviator chic today at Hermès's ready-to-wear show here in Paris.
After his raucous display last Saturday, designer Jean Paul Gaultier produced a show that was high in class and befitting of the timelessness that the house of Hermès seeks to embody.
Huge silver propellers whirled in the background as models clad in jazzed up leather flying hats and goggles made their way down the runway. The sound of planes soaring overhead echoed through the smoke filled room and rammed home the theme of the roaring '20s.
Mr. Gaultier described after the show how he had been inspired by the photo of a female aviator from the 1920s. With her sweptback hair and prominent scarf, "she just had the classic Hermès look," he says.
The collection was indeed classic. On show were a series of long brown leather trench coats with fur linings and loose cuffs. Brown crocodile skin jackets and black leggings also featured heavily. Mr. Gaultier did bring some spice the event with some seductive knee-high boots and short black leather skirts but the message here was very much "look but don't touch."
Overalls and beige knitwear are a far cry from the raunchy style that Mr. Gaultier normally serves up under his own brand. When asked how he was able to go from raw sex to demure restraint in the space of one collection, the Frenchman laughed exclaiming, "Well, it is all in me, trust me." — Max Colchester


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Dr. Stephen W. Paddock
Our featured microscopist for Spring 2002 is Dr. Stephen W. Paddock from the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Paddock has an extensive background in the biological sciences, and he has authored numerous publications on such topics as advanced applications for microscopy, digital and video imaging, photomicrography in biological and biomedical research, and specialized techniques in confocal laser scanning microscopy. His work has appeared in numerous books and scientific journals, and many of his images have been featured on the covers. Dr. Paddock's images have received recognition on numerous occasions in Nikon Small World competitions.
Major research interests of Dr. Paddock include insect developmental biology with specific emphasis on appendage formation in Drosophila (fruit flies) and butterflies, the application of confocal microscopy to imaging biological structures, and the transfer of the technology to biomedical and clinical research applications. Many stunning examples of his work with Drosophila and butterflies are included in the Digital Image Gallery.
Interview and Digital Image Gallery
Interview with Stephen Paddock - Meet our featured microscopist and learn how he became interested in microscopy, photomicrography, and digital imaging.
Digital Images of Stephen Paddock - View the microscopic world through Stephen Paddock's eyes with these beautiful digital images from his collection of digital images captured with widefield and confocal microscopes.
Dr. Paddock holds a Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the University of Bristol and a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences from the University of Birmingham, England. In addition, he has a background in zoology and veterinary science as well as extensive training in various specialized microscopy, photomicrography, and digital imaging/video techniques. He is currently a Howard Hughes Research Specialist at the University of Wisconsin Laboratory of Molecular Biology.
Past Nikon MicroscopyU Featured Microscopists
James E. Hayden, RBP, FBCA - Our featured microscopist for 2001 was noted microscopist James E. Hayden RBP, FBCA, a freelance photomicrographer and owner of Bio-Graphics, a business in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania specializing in scientific/biological imaging and consulting.


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Banner Desert, Our Partner In Patient Care
Banner Desert Medical Center is our partner in care for families in the East Valley.
Banner Desert in Mesa had been providing pediatric care for more than a decade before we knew there was a need for a separate facility for special little patients -- in just ten years, we had grown from 24 dedicated pediatric beds to 168 dedicated pediatric beds and there was demand for more.
Opened in 2009, the state-of-the-art Cardon Children's facility features 248 beds, specially trained pediatric nurses, dedicated pediatric specialists and family-centered care.
Banner Desert Medical Center is a 649-bed hospital, providing a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services. It is a flagship of Banner Health and one of the largest and most comprehensive facilities in Arizona.
US News & World Report ranks Banner Desert one of the leading hospitals in the East Valley and Phoenix.
Visit Banner Desert Medical Center for more information and specifics on how this facility treats our community's acute adults with continued excellence in patient care.


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Report: Sidney Harman Agrees to Buy Newsweek
The staff of the beleaguered magazine is heaving a sigh of relief today.
The stereo magnate, long a leading contender in the bidding
war roundup to buy Newsweek from the Washington Post Company, has sealed the deal to take over the financially struggling magazine, according to the Wrap. A report in the Times last week, which also indicated Harman was likely to win the deal, claimed that Harman would pay $1 for the magazine and assume all of its hefty debt. This comes after several bidders that worried Newsweekers (one with conservative news engine Newsmax, and one that potentially involved an office merger with the publishers of the National Enquirer) were ruled out. It seems like a good fit for the magazine, which needed a patron committed to making Newsweek's voice heard, even through troubled financial times. Though, with Harman now in his 90s, staffers today are probably toasting to his good health for more reasons than one. They shouldn't worry, though: Harman once told the USC News, "My own longevity and that of others I know emits from an erotic love affair with life."


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Disease Proof
According to new research, older people are being prescribed too many medications for all the wrong reasons. Robert Preidt of HealthDay News reports:
Too many older people are being prescribed too many medicines or the wrong drugs, and more research needs to be done to find out how to fix the problem, say two papers published in this week's issue of The Lancet medical journal.
The complexities of the prescribing process, along with other patient, provider and health system factors, are among the reasons why the use of drugs in elderly patients is often inappropriate, wrote a team led by Dr. Anne Spinewine of the Universite Catholique de Louvain, in Brussels, Belgium.
This inappropriate drug use among older patients includes being prescribed drugs they don't need, being under-prescribed medications they do need or being given inappropriate drugs.
Methods of ensuring appropriate prescribing of drugs to elderly patients include care by a multidisciplinary team of health providers; involvement of pharmacists in patient care; and including patients in the prescribing process, the Belgian authors said.
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Dr. Fuhrman's Executive Offices
4 Walter E. Foran Blvd.Flemington, NJ 08822
Suite 408
Suite 408


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Who we areThe Johnston Community School Foundation is a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer board of directors whose members are dedicated to enhancing our children's educational experience. Board members come from all walks of life but all share a common thread: All are parents of current, former, or future students in the Johnston Community School District.
MissionThe mission of the Johnston Community School Foundation is to raise funds to provide grants for our educators in support of our students and schools to promote educational excellence.
What We DoThe Foundation facilitates funding of creative projects and ideas to promote academic achievement. We fund projects in our schools that otherwise may never happen. The Foundation supports academics, special needs, and the arts and seeks to enhance the education experience in each of our schools, across all grade levels.
We award grants that support classroom instruction by providing much needed resources to educators in our schools. Grand funds benefit our students directly and stay in our community.
The Foundation also recognizes Johnston's outstanding educators and students with special recognition and awards. In addition, the Foundation provides a framework for one-time gifts and long-term giving from local businesses, community residents, and alumni.
Our SuccessThe Johnston Community School Foundation has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding to Johnston educators since 2001. Your support of the Foundation is an investment in our children and our community. Here are a few examples of what your support can accomplish:


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Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) released the following statement Wednesday, April 10, on the Postal Service's decision not to follow through with its plan to end Saturday delivery.
"Today's announcement is good news for the thousands of Connecticut postal workers who have received a temporary reprieve. These dedicated professionals help keep our country running in every type of situation imaginable, from the anthrax attacks to ever-present attacks on federal employees.
"But the decision is only temporary and we must keep fighting to ensure that it becomes permanent. Congress needs to pass comprehensive postal reform to ensure that USPS can stay financially solvent for many years to come.
"I urge my colleagues to preserve six day delivery permanently so that this great American institution can continue to survive and thrive."


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Welcome. The Billy Graham Center Archives is happy to make available to Christian ministers and laypeople as well as the general public and scholars this collection of Billy Graham's sermons and speeches. We hope that it will be a blessing to many. Through this page, any person can access thousands of Rev. Graham's sermon notes and outlines. Click on the button above on the right for some suggestions on how to do searches of this database.
The sermon manuscripts (BGC Archives Collection 265) on this website (the "Sermons") are made available through the generosity of Billy Graham, the Billy Graham Literary Trust and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The availability of the Sermons on this website is intended to further the mission of the BGC Archives to provide resources for the evangelistic mission of the church.
The Sermons are the sole property of Billy Graham and The Billy Graham Literary Trust, as their interests may appear, and are protected, without limitation, pursuant to U.S. and foreign copyright laws.
You may not copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit, or distribute the Sermons in any way without prior permission. If you wish one (1) copy of a sermon or sermons to be kept on a single computer for your personal, non-commercial use only (with the understanding that you will keep intact all copyright and other proprietary notices) contact the BGC Archives at
email@example.com. In requesting sermons, please include the sermon number, title and the box and folder it is in. No more than 25 sermons will be copied for an individual.
If you wish to use the Sermons for any purpose other than the personal, non-commercial use described above, you must request and receive prior written approval from the Billy Graham Literary Trust. Permission will be granted on a case-by-case basis in the sole discretion of the Trustees of the Billy Graham Literary Trust. To request permission, please write to:
Billy Graham Literary Trustc/o Grier Furr & Crisp PA101 N. Tryon Street, Suite 1240Charlotte, NC 28246
Billy Graham Literary Trustc/o Grier Furr & Crisp PA101 N. Tryon Street, Suite 1240Charlotte, NC 28246
By using this website, you signify your consent to these terms of use. If you do not agree to these terms of use, please do not use this website.


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HEY: If you can see this message, your browser sucks and you should upgrade it to one which follows web standards. This site is designed for a graphical browser which supports W3C recommendations set forward in 1996. The content of this site is accessible to you, but you will not get the full effect of the site as it was intended to be displayed. Check out our upgrade page and download the latest version of your preferred browser.
Writer: Alan Martin, Jamie Hewlett
Artist: Jamie Hewlett
Cover Artist: Jamie Hewlett
Publication Date: May 01, 1991
"Whatever Happened to Good Intentions?" Also in Deadline #1
"Dumpster". Also in Deadline #2
"Rebirth of Ringo Star or Big Mouth Strikes Again!" Also in Deadline #3
"Bob's Your Uncle". Also in Deadline #5
Tanky is after the bounty on Rocky Deadhead, the hardest kangaroo in the Outback. Rocky and his gang are crashing a party with the hope of finding beer and women. Unfortunately the beer is warm and the chics are lame. Tanky crashes in, killing everyone, but Rocky and the chase is on across the Outback. Once Tanky catches up to him, killing turns to lust... until Rocky makes a run for it... back to killing.
Tanky receives word that her next mission involves delivering colostomy bags to the President. On route, a creature attacks her, steals her tank and then flips it. A fight ensues and she has to drop a bomb to be rid of the hairy beast-creature. Unfortunately, this derails her plans to deliver the colostomy bags. Sorry, Mr. President...
Bounty hunter, Vex Godglove, lays in wait for Tanky (who he refers to as a "little tart" and a "dumb bitch") for whom he has laid a trap. Tanky trips the parking brake and her tank rolls Vex flat.
After unintentionally crashing a plane, she encounters two odd-balls who are waiting to witness the "second coming". They tell her they are going to a party and she takes them on a wild ride across the Outback, finally crashing through the roof of a house. Realizing she is now in the presence of Christ, she repents for not having brought a bottle of booze to the party.
Next, Sergeant Small feels intimidated by Tanky's existence and vows to have her killed. Tanky considers plastic surgery so she can roam free with out being recognized. Her surgeon turns out to be a voodoo doctor. Sarge and his death-crew arrive during Tanky's cosmetic procedure. Some of the voodoo charm initiates Tanky's missile bra which lead to Sarge's demise.


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College Hockey:Lake State Snaps 13-Game Losing Streak With Tie
Ward Goal Ties St. Lawrence, 2-2
CANTON, N.Y. — Sophomore goaltender Matt Violin made 50 saves, 20 of them in the third period, and freshman forward Nathan Ward scored the tying goal with 2:56 to go in regulation time as Lake Superior State salvaged a 2-2 tie with St. Lawrence Saturday night.
The Lakers, now 3-14-1 snapped a 13-game losing streak with the tie while the Saints are now 4-11-2 overall and 2-0-1 in their last three.
Sophomore Simon Watson opened the scoring for the Saints as he pinched in from his spot on defense and backhanded a rebound of a shot by freshman T.J. Trevelyan past Laker goalie Matt Violin at 14:59 of the first period, but the Lakers tied it up on a power play exactly four minutes later. Junior center Chris Peterson scored the goal, his third of the year as he banked a shot off the shoulder of Saint goalie Mike McKenna at 18:59.
Neither team scored in an even second period and the Saints took a 2-1 lead at 4:18 of the third when senior Blair Clarance scored on a rebound put-back just two seconds after a Saint power play had expired.
The Lakers then tied it when Ward broke into the Saint zone and fired a rising shot which McKenna got a glove on, but saw it bounce out of the glove and flip into the net.
The Lakers had three early chances in the overtime, but McKenna turned them all away and Violin added four saves to his total in the extra session.
The following is a self-policing forum for discussing views on this story. Comments that are derogatory, make personal attacks, are abusive, or contain profanity or racism will be removed at our discretion. USCHO.com is not responsible for comments posted by users. Please report any inappropriate or offensive comments by clicking the "Flag" link next to that comment in order to alert the moderator.
Please also keep "woofing," taunting, and otherwise unsportsmanlike behavior to a minimum. Your posts will more than likely be deleted, and worse yet, you reflect badly on yourself, your favorite team and your conference.


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On April 23, the U.S. will celebrate its first annual National Lost Dog Awareness Day (NLDAD). Created by Susan Taney and Kathy Pobloskie – directors of Lost Dogs Illinois and Lost Dogs of Wisconsin, respectively – the canine-centric holiday aims to bring attention to all dogs who are lost each year. The Lost Dogs mission has been so successful that the concept has been accepted and put into practice in Wisconsin, Arizona, Minnesota, Texas, Florida, Colorado, New Jersey and Iowa under the umbrella organization Lost Dogs of America.
The Texas arm of Lost Dogs of America is Lost Dogs of Texas (LDOT). They are an all-volunteer organization created for the exclusive purpose of helping reunite Texas families with their lost dogs. By partnering with HelpingLostPets.com, a Canadian website, LDOT is able to immediately provide free flyers to people who have lost or found dogs.
With the help of popular social media platforms, Facebook and Twitter, LDOT galvanizes people to help when information is received on a dog. Their volunteers provide tips to distraught families searching for their loved one and use their sleuthing skills when a dog is found with a tag that has a disconnected phone number. By working to recover lost dogs, this organization helps to decrease the number of homeless animals brought into shelters and animal control facilities, thereby preventing unnecessary euthanasia. National Lost Dog Awareness Day celebrates the thousands of lost dogs who were successfully reunited with their families.
The tenacious efforts of the combined states' volunteers along with over 150,000 fans have helped reunite over 21,000 dogs with their families since 2010. Lost Dogs of Texas has helped reunite over 4,500 dogs in less than two years. Getting lost dogs back home reduces stress on owners', staff at shelters/animal control facilities, other dogs in the facilities, and ultimately saves taxpayers' money. It also opens up kennel space for truly homeless dogs.
When a dog goes missing, many families give up looking for their lost pet. National Lost Dog Awareness Day was created to give hope to the families still looking for their dogs and remind the public that not all stray dogs are homeless. Lost Dogs of Texas is asking that you take a second look if you see a dog wandering and have that dog scanned for a microchip. Maybe he has a home waiting for him!
LDOT celebrates many success stories every day. Here is Daisy's, a Chihuahua mix who was found over an hour away from her home. Daisy's family in Conroe had been searching for her since the 4th of July. (July 5th is the busiest day of the year for rescues and shelters.) Daisy was helped by a lady who reported her as found on the Lost Dogs of Texas FaceBook page after she found Daisy wandering around her Houston apartment complex the end of July.
Daisy's family saw her photo on the LDOT FaceBook page on July 28th and went to Houston to get her. An LDOT volunteer offered guidance to Daisy's family throughout their search. They were motivated and committed to finding her, and they followed all the advice and recommendations they were given. The best advice of all was "Never give up." That is why they were still looking almost a month later when Daisy's found flyer was posted. The family was extremely grateful for the assistance provided by Lost Dogs of Texas, as they don't think they'd have found Daisy otherwise.
For more information on Lost Dogs of Texas, please visit their FaceBook page via http://www.LostDogsofTexas.com


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|from Commission (COM (2003) 49, 3 Feb. 2003)
|Legal base
|Article 63(3) EC
|UK opted in; Ireland opted out; Denmark has six months to implement in international law
|EP committee
|Oreja report adopted 20 May 2003 (A5-0166/2003); proposed rejection
|EP plenary
|rejected by plenary, 3 June 2003
|agreed by JHA Council/Mixed Committee, 6 Nov. 2003; adopted as 'A' point, 23 Feb. 2004 General Affairs Council: Decision 2004/191/EC
|Entry into force
|28 Feb. 2004
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National Tax — International
email@example.com | 408-558-4338
Chris has been practicing public accounting since 1988, specializing in international tax planning and compliance for inbound and outbound businesses. She has extensive experience with Subpart F issues, export incentives, cash planning, FATCA readiness, and treaty planning. She works closely with internal accounting and tax teams with respect to international tax planning, ASC 740 documentation and analysis, implementing and monitoring transfer pricing strategies, conducting due diligence reviews, and establishing global service platforms. Chris has worked with a variety of companies, primarily in manufacturing and government contracting sectors, and has experience with public, private equity, and closely held ownership groups.
Our skilled professionals provide financial and operational solutions to clients around the globe. In addition to our 27 locations in the United States, our membership in the Praxity alliance offers clients access to trusted resources in more than 102 countries and territories in the major markets of North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
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Acer Aspire 4741 Drivers Download: Below table contains Acer 4741 Drivers for windows 7, xp and vista along with installation guidance.
Acer Aspire 4741 Review
The Acer Aspire 4741 laptop comes with the stylishly designed features and 14" screen size. The weight is on the lower side however the performance was considered to be below average. The graphics does support many of the games but could not perform well with advanced graphics expectation in most of the recent games.
Acer Aspire 4741 Driver Download
Acer Aspire 4741 Specifications
Acer Aspire 4741 Comes with the processor Intel HM55 core i3 and DVD Super Multi writer optical drive and a 5-in-1 card reader. The RAM is 2048 MB and the hard drive is 320 GB. The wireless connectivity is supported by 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n and also features 10/100/1000 Ethernet. Built in devices includes a webcam and Express card slot and 4 USB ports.
Acer Aspire 4741 Installation Guide
Acer Aspire 4741 could run only when there are proper drivers installed in your system. From the list of the download links select the one that will be apt for your printer and also ensure the version. Based on the system specifications download the file which is a very small size and takes only few minutes for download. Go to the file saved location and run the installation process.


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D'Artagnan Athos Martin
Position: DB
Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 lbs.
Born: March 28, 1949 in New Orleans, LA
High School: George Washington Carver
College: Kentucky St.
Drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 4th round (91st overall) of the 1971 NFL Draft.
Weighted Career AV (100-95-...): 5 (9377th overall since 1950)
Sponsor this page for $5 and help Pro-Football-Reference.com provide this service. Your message will replace this ad.


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Kareena Kapoor in Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu
4 Kareena Kapoor in Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu Articles
Kareena Kapoor scores over Katrina Kaif!4 years ago 9
Karan Johar-Ekta Kapoor zero in on Kareena to play the leading lady in their joint venture Karan Johar and Ekta Kapoor had been keen on working with… Read Article ▶
'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu' box office banks upon Valentine's Day4 years ago 0
After enjoying a decent start at the box office, the Imran Khan-Kareena Kapoor romantic flick is looking forward to making the most of Valentine's… Read Article ▶
Saif Ali Khan has never taken Kareena Kapoor on a date!4 years ago 0
We found it relentlessly amusing that in his long-time relationship with Bebo, the Nawab of Pataudi never ever took his lady love on a date. In fact… Read Article ▶
Does Imran Khan prefer Kareena Kapoor to Katrina Kaif?4 years ago 3
Imran Khan is a great admirer of B-town's two dazzling divas, Katrina Kaif and Kareena Kapoor. But the Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu actor, seems to have a soft… Read Article ▶


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Bilstein complete leveling kit includes two high quality lift springs and two Bilstein 5100 shocks. Lifts trucks 2.5 inches.
Includes Bilstein 5100 Series Offroad Racing Shock.
Bilstein 5100 shocks are specifically engineered for offroad and lifted trucks and feature:
This Bilstein 5100 truck shock is designed for lifted vehicles using stock shock mounting points.
Levels vehicles by lifting front end 2.5-inches. Use with 24-186025 Bilstein rear shocks.
Levels the truck by adding 2.5 inches of suspension lift
Includes two high performance Bilstein springs and two 5100 series offroad shocks
This is done by with springs.
This kit also includes 2-new Bilstein performance springs and 2 new Bilstein 5100-Series Shocks.


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Wednesday, February 9th 2011
9:18 PM (1962 days, 12h, 18min ago)
Changing again...
I decided to move to Blogger. It does things that I want that Bravejournal doesn't do. So, follow me if you will (please?) to the new
Eat Here Get Gas
. You won't be sorry.
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Wednesday, February 9th 2011
5:50 PM (1962 days, 15h, 46min ago)
How many days can I forget about my blog until I'm cozy in bed, trying to fall asleep? Current count is 3. What makes this worse is my complete lack of short term memory. I'd like to tell you what I've done the last few days but recalling is taxing my tiny (blond AND Polish, as my mother will tell you) brain. I can tell you I worked, ate and slept. These things I know. I bet I watched some TV, made some high price real estate deals and fought some crime too. You know, the usual.
Today was a good day. I caught someone in a lie through my superior record keeping & investigative skills. Evidence makes me happy. I should totally be a private investigator. I did my usual work, blah blah blah, boring. On my lunch, I did some shopping. Here are my super cute new socks over the top of my new purse (which is what I initially went shopping for).
I got a delivery from Amazon.com that I was a little too excited about. I am epically bad at math and this book has tons of charts that do all the math & measuring for me. Next to it is a "free motion" quilting foot for my sewing machine. This will allow me to do fun designs on quilts & to quilt a million times faster than by hand. Is there such a thing as a quilting geek? Because I think I could be their leader.
Finally, once I got home, I made some truly awesome soup. It is a creamy potato with carrots, onions and cheese. I can't even tell you how impressed I am with myself. I usually want a recipe which I follow faithfully but this was my own invention. I did start off with the first couple steps of another creamy soup but the rest is all mine. It turned out so good! So good, in fact, that my husband invited a friend over & now the soup is all gone.
And that, my friends, was my hump day in a nutshell. Now I shall lay in bed & cuddle with my kitten while playing mahjong on my laptop. The excitement never ends.
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Sunday, February 6th 2011
9:29 PM (1965 days, 12h, 8min ago)
I didn't take any pictures today. I didn't leave the house today. I didn't get out of my jammies today. It was a great day. We cooked some good food (pulled pork and rotel dip with fritos scoops), I took a nap for the first half of the Superbowl (I only watch for the commercials, anyway), got all the laundry done and cleaned the kitchen & one bathroom. It was a productive day although it didn't include taking even one picture. Oh well, you can't have everything.
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Saturday, February 5th 2011
11:29 PM (1966 days, 10h, 7min ago)
Snowy day
Friday night, I got home from work and immediately went to sleep. It was nice because I haven't gotten a good night of sleep in quite a while. It was also really not nice because I initially laid down because my tummy was super unhappy (no idea why) and then I slept until Saturday morning. That's a lot of sleep (and also the reason I didn't post yesterday)!
So today, my hubby John and I went on a little photo safari. Basically, we like to drive & get lost looking for interesting stuff. This time, we headed towards Denver. As I've said, I love snow... but it put quite a damper on my safari! About an hour or so in, it started snowing lightly and then it really started coming down. We went home earlier than we'd planned because the weather made it tough to get good photos but we had fun all the same.
My favorite picture of the day was from the
Richthofen Castle
. It's probably called a castle because it was modeled after a castle in Germany but I'd call it a huge mansion. It is really cool, anyway... and apparently for sale (if you've got $4 million in your housing budget).
Here's a shot of another building on the castle's grounds that shows a little more clearly the type of snowing we were dealing with...
We stayed out for a few hours then decided to go to the grocery store then home. I made chili & it is just about the best chili ever. No lie.
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Thursday, February 3rd 2011
8:01 PM (1968 days, 13h, 35min ago)
A Thursday evening
There's a reason I didn't post yesterday and its a really good one! Okay, not really... I got lost in a Flickr photostream filled with great pictures of St. Louis. Lots of awesome urban shots. It inspired me to go on an urban photo safari here in Denver. We've taken so many trips up into the mountains, and it is beautiful, but we've neglected our city. I love urban landscapes too and will hopefully have the opportunity to get some good shots this weekend.
For now, here's a couple from today. Nothing too exciting, really. First, at a stop light on the way home from work. What I really like about this one is the reflections on my hood (which I didn't notice until I looked at the pic at home). I'll have to try this again & aim down a little & maybe after I get a car wash.
My favorite thing about snow is the way it sparkles. My inner magpie loves shiny things. It isn't easy to get that to represent well in photos, though. Here's a semi-successful one I took while walking from the garage to our door.
The next 2 days are forecast to be really nice. A little warmer & sunny. Normally, I prefer overcast days for color photography but it has been too long since I've had a good photo road trip & I'll enjoy the warmth while its here!
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Tuesday, February 1st 2011
4:58 PM (1970 days, 16h, 38min ago)
Samalama ding dong
Introducing our third furry child, a 10 month old barn cat (really, she was born in a barn in Missouri). Her name is Samoa (like the Girl Scout cookie) but we never call her that. She's Sam, Sammy, Crazy Kitty, Cuddlebug, etc. She is absolutely nuts and completely adorable. I recently started quilting and here she is "helping" me.
I'm sure I'll post some pictures of the quilt soon. It is my first one, so it's far from perfect, but it is turning out pretty cool. Pet hair included, free of charge.
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Monday, January 31st 2011
7:15 PM (1971 days, 14h, 22min ago)
Back home in Missouri, they are bracing for a "snowpocolypse". Apparently, they've declared a state of emergency and called in the National Guard. Here in Denver, we've gotten only about 2 inches of snow so far, but it is supposed to snow all night. I love snow but the temp is the real problem. The HIGH tomorrow is -2 degrees. Two below zero Fahrenheit. I can't remember the last time I've seen a temp like that. Here's what we've got going on right now, according to the handy dandy outside thermometer I got the hubby for Christmas:
9.9 degrees, people. Where I come from, that's cold. The "max 19.4" reading is the warmest it has been over the past 24 hours or since 8am or something. Either way, its pretty darn frigid. They've closed some schools already but I'm not holding my breath for a snow day. But it would be REALLY nice to get one.
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Sunday, January 30th 2011
8:26 PM (1972 days, 13h, 11min ago)
Two for one
I've been sick with what I'm pretty sure is a sinus infection and it sucks. A lot. So I missed posting my photo-a-day yesterday. So today you get two! My husband has this thing where he makes me leave the house when I don't want to. I feel like poo and he decides its the perfect time to take the dogs to the park. Today was the last warm-ish day for a while (if we can believe the weather people) so we did need to get the dogs out for a run... but I really didn't want to go. Now, don't tell him, but the fresh air was good. The walking was good. I didn't feel like a million bucks afterward but I did feel a little better.
Speaking of dogs, let me introduce you to ours... This is Kaycee. She's a 3 year old retriever mix of some sort. She loves to run and play in the pond at the park (when it isn't frozen).
And here is Bella. She's an 8 year old Corgi Chihuahua mix. She hates the water but will lick you forever.
There will be many more pictures of our furry kids to follow. So, if you don't like animals, don't come back. Seriously.
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Friday, January 28th 2011
11:06 PM (1974 days, 10h, 31min ago)
Yes, I'm going to try this blogging thing AGAIN. This time, no pressure (for reals, I mean it) and just fun. I plan to get a late start on the "picture a day" thing and otherwise write whatever the hell I want to write about. There have been a bazillion changes in my life since the last time I wrote here so we've got a lot of catching up to do!
I'm going to try and not be hurt when I get no hits or comments (although, the perfectionist who has to "win" inside me may have a hard time with this part). But if there is anyone out there in the interwebs that might stop by, I am still alive and kicking!
I started this blog as a food blog (that's why my links on the left are mostly food/cooking things. I'll change that when/if I feel the urge) but found that everyone & their dog is writing about food and 90% of them are WAY more into it than I am. So now, it's going to be all about ME again. Okay, maybe about my husband & pets and other stuff too. But probably not so much about food.
Please check back often and comment if the mood strikes. I have turned on the thingy that makes me approve comments because, even when I haven't written in so very long, I'm still occasionally getting spam comments. It sucks to go through & delete them but I don't want them on here. I will save you from this annoyance because I care that much.
I'm not going to go back & edit my old posts so you'll just have to deal with pictures that aren't there and broken links in some cases if you feel the urge to go back & look at my old posts. I think that about covers it for now. I'm never sure how to end these things...
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Wednesday, September 10th 2008
10:22 AM (2845 days, 0h, 15min ago)
ok, so i lied
was it really 27 days ago that i posted last? it doesn't seem like it's been that long! time flies... way too fast sometimes.
not much has really been going on to write about, i guess. just working, eating & sleeping it seems like. to be honest, i don't feel much like writing right now but i thought i should post SOMETHING, finally. i think i'll write more later today. thanks to anyone who's checking in. i appreciate it!
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What Matters for Global Markets in the Week Ahead
U.S.: 10 a.m. EDT. June pending home sales index. [Expected +0.5% on-month vs. +6.1% in May.]
New home sales numbers released last Thursday landed as a big disappointment in the market and economists this June number to reflect similar sluggishness, not least because of payback from a strong gain posted in May. Property sales continue to struggle, despite historically low mortgage rates, suggesting that the pent-up demand that appeared last year is now exhausted and that recovery in prices then has now made homes less affordable for middle-class Americans whose incomes have stagnated. This forward-looking data item might paint a different picture, but it doesn't get away from the fact that the real estate sector's doldrums are a drag on an otherwise improving economic outlook.
U.S.: 9 a.m. EDT. S&P/Case-Shiller May Home Price Index. [Twenty-city index expected +9.8% on year, down from +10.8% in April.]
We've seen this closely followed housing index slide each month as the year-on-year comparisons have gradually caught up with the month-to-month slowdown in mortgage and housing demand. Stagnation in housing prices means that the wealth effect on consumer willingness to spend is muted. That has broadly negative implications for the economy.
SOUTH KOREA: 7 p.m. EDT. (8 a.m. Wednesday, Seoul.) June industrial production. [May -2.7% on-month; -2.1% on-year.]
After setting a pace for others to follow in recent years, South Korean manufacturers have been making heavy weather of growth of late. In part, the culprit is a stronger won, which has crimped exports. The woes are highlighted by the troubles of electronics leader Samsung, which has lost market share for its smartphones to Apple's iPhone and to cheaper competitors such China's Huawei. But with Taiwan reporting a solid bounce in industrial production last week, mostly because of revived semiconductor orders, there's hope yet that June could show the beginnings of a turnaround for South Korean industry. If it doesn't, the Bank of Korea may take more drastic monetary action to complement the targeted fiscal stimulus plan announced last week after the government downgraded its full-year economic growth forecast.
JAPAN: 7:50 p.m. EDT (8:50 a.m. Wednesday, Tokyo), June preliminary industrial production [Expected -1.2% on-month vs. +0.5% in May.]
Japan's powerful auto sector continues to struggle. That was the message in last week's trade data, in which car exports were especially weak. That trend will continue to hold back industrial output, which in turn means the broader Japanese economy will struggle to maintain the growth rate needed to put to rest its decades-long deflation problem.
U.S.: 8:30 a.m. EDT. Initial second-quarter gross domestic product estimate. [Expected +2.9% vs. --2.9% in first quarter.]
There is widespread belief that the second quarter experienced a sharp snapback from a dismal, weather-interrupted first quarter. The trick will be to determine how much of that rebound captures ongoing momentum for the rest of the year. One challenge is that data will be released along with three years of revisions to previous reports, which will affect the reported rate of growth in the second quarter by altering the comparative base upon which the quarter's growth is calculated.
U.S.: 2 p.m. EDT. Federal Open Market Committee monetary policy decision.
There's unlikely to be any surprises in the Fed's policy initiatives at this meeting. It will more than likely go with another $10 billion tapering of its monthly bond-buying program and issue a stock-standard, cautiously measured statement that acknowledges the economic recovery but highlights weak points such as housing. The bigger issue facing markets now is the timetable for interest rate hikes once the tapering process winds down, likely around December. Unfortunately, there won't be any update to the FOMC members' long-range interest rate forecasts at this meeting. Nor will Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen give a post-meeting press conference this time around. As always, then, investors and economist will have to read between the lines of an otherwise bland policy statement. Certainly, a well-bid bond market doesn't seem worried about any expediting in the rate-hike timetable.
EURO ZONE: 5 a.m. EDT (11 a.m. Brussels)
–June consumer price index [Expected up 0.8% on the year, unchanged from May.]
–June unemployment rate [Expected 11.6%, unchanged from May.]
Although inflation appears to be stabilizing around these levels for the euro zone and although the region's unemployment rate has come down from the 12% peak of last year, the former remains way too low and the latter too high. Until that's rectified, the European Central Bank will retain its accommodative stance. The real question is whether, even with a negative ECB deposit rate, it is doing too little.
U.S.: 8:30 a.m. EDT. Unemployment insurance weekly claims report. [Initial claims expected 305,000 vs. 284,000 in prior week.]
Last week's report delivered the lowest jobless claims number in eight years. While that's unlikely to be repeated, it was consistent with an ongoing, overall improvement in this key gauge of the labor market's health. The indicator provides an important precursor to the more important monthly payrolls report on Friday.
ASIA, EX-CHINA: Regional manufacturing purchasing manager indexes.
AUSTRALIA: 7:30 p.m. EDT (9:30 a.m. Friday, Sydney), Australian Industry Group July manufacturing PMI [Previous 48.9].
SOUTH KOREA: 8 p.m. EDT (9:00 a.m. Friday, Seoul), Markit HSBC July manufacturing PMI [Previous 48.4]
JAPAN: 9:35 p.m. EDT (10:35 a.m. Friday, Tokyo) Markit July manufacturing PMI [Previous 51.5]
INDONESIA: 11 p.m. EDT (10:00 a.m. Friday, Jakarta) Markit July manufacturing PMI [Previous 52.7]
INDIA: 1 a.m. EDT Friday (10:30 a.m. Friday, New Delhi) Markit July manufacturing PMI [Previous 51.5]
The question these PMI readings could answer is whether the apparent stabilization in China's economy, which showed a modest acceleration in the second quarter, helped sustain business activity around the rest of the region as it entered the third quarter. Australia's stock market, for one, has rallied sharply on hopes that a China rebound will spur earning growth. And yet prices for many of the key industrial commodities that China imports remain depressed, which could suppress growth in Australia and other commodity-producing nations such as Indonesia. On the other hand, there are a signs of a regional pickup in electronics orders associated with smartphones, in part because of upgrades to Apple models and in part because of rising consumer demand in China and other countries with an emerging middle class.
–9 p.m. EDT. (9 a.m. Friday, Beijing). CFLP China July Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI). [Previous 51.0]
–9:45 p.m. EDT. (9:45 a.m. Friday, Beijing). Markit HSBC July Manufacturing PMI. [Previous month 50.7; preliminary July result was 50.8]
The modest rebound in HSBC's preliminary PMI measure was well received by investors, as it seemed to confirm the thesis that China's economy is recovering from the slowdown seen last year and in this year's first quarter. The official CFLP gauge, which concentrates more on large state-owned enterprises than HSBC's, with its focus on small- to medium-sized firms, will be looked to for confirmation of that trend. If there's any divergence in the two indexes it could reflect the government's efforts to steer stimulus toward smaller businesses while continuing to restrict credit-funded investment by larger, heavily leveraged firms. If there isn't a divergence, it could suggest this differentiated strategy isn't working and that the risks a debt crisis continue to loom.
EUROPE: From 3:45 a.m. EDT (9:45 a.m. Brussels) Markit July manufacturing purchasing managers' indices
ITALY: [Expected 52.7 vs. 52.6 in June.]
FRANCE: [Expected 47.6 vs. 47.6 in June, 48.2 preliminary July.]
GERMANY: [Expected 52.9 vs. 54.1 in June, 52.9 preliminary July.]
EURO ZONE: [Expected 51.9 vs. 52.9 in June, 52.0 preliminary July.]
U.K.: [Was 57.5 in June.]
Preliminary data out last week showed a softening in the euro-zone recovery from June but left PMIs mostly in expansionary territory — France again being the main exception. Their declines were also less severe than expected. So long as these final numbers don't depart too sharply from those "flash" estimates, the general story of a gradual rebound in economic activity will remain in place.
U.S.: 8:30 a.m. EDT. July employment report. [Non-farm payrolls expected +234,000 vs. +288,000 in June; unemployment rate 6.0% vs. 6.1%.]
After two straight months of much-bigger-than-expected jobs growth, economists are expecting the rate of job creation to have moderated in July. But overall, the consensus forecasts for both the establishment and the household survey components of this report paint a picture of continued improvement in the labor market, with the jobless rate expected to get to 6% flat. What's needed now, however, are signs that hitherto stagnant wages are starting to see some upward momentum as a result of these tighter labor conditions. That could change the policy calculus at the Fed.
U.S.: 10 a.m. EDT. Institute for Supply Management July ISM Manufacturing Report on Business. [PMI expected 56.0 vs. 55.3 in June.]
Much like the jobs report, this gauge of manufacturing activity is presenting a relatively healthy impression of decent growth in the economy. Also as with the jobs report, people would be advised to look beyond the headline numbers and seek out signs of inflationary pressure in the prices-paid and prices-received subindexes.


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How to Find Out What Users Really Want: Part Two
In order to delve into understanding what your users really want, I encourage you to imagine being a bigshot documentary director from another planet, observing little earthlings using their computers…
That may sound dramatic, but that's essentially what you do when you try to understand what your users really want in a website. In my previous post, I started out with some research techniques. Here I'll discuss with the remaining three research methods: card sorting, focus groups and usability testing.
Card Sorting:
What: Users are asked to "group" items under categories that make sense to them.
When: This is done when you want to categorize items/menus.
How: Short answer: give the users content or elements of the page and ask them to categorize the items.
There are two primary methods of doing so:
Open: Give users a set of cards with the items written on them and ask the users to group the cards. After they do so, ask them to name and describe each group.
Closed: Give the users a set of cards with the items written on them but you ask them to group them under categories that you already defined.
One final note on this: you can also do card sorting "remotely" over the Internet; there is no need to use physical cards. However, I personally prefer the good old card index to the user to categorize items using a keyboard and a mouse. It's more work for you, but it's my personal preference.
Focus groups:
What: You guide users through questions related to your project in a group discussion.
When: This comes in handy when you think that the users have some direct influence over your product. For example, you had a web app that they didn't use or dropped at some stage and you want to know why.
How: First thing you need to do is prepare your questions that will seed the discussion. Always start with the "less heavy" questions such as asking about the last time they used the app or a similar app, and then build from there.
Also remember that it's easy for a group to get distracted and get off track. You are a there to moderate and keep it on track, so you should follow these few steps:
- Always be clear about why they were chosen to be a part of the group.
- Let them know how the information discussed will be used in the future.
- You are there as a moderator, not a referee, so you want them to share with you honestly.
- Any given topic could stretch into a longer discussion, but it is essential to cut off the discussion at some point to cover all of the slated topics.
Also, in a focus group, you should pay attention to body language and how the participants are acting. This is a subtle art that many books have been written about; it can't be discussed thoroughly in a small post.
And, last but not least:
Usability Testing:
What: Users are asked to accomplish a few tasks or goals while you as an observer take note of what's happening and in some cases ask questions.
When: Use this technique when you are improving a new product, or going head-to-head with a competitive product that is already out there.
How: This can be done remotely or in a lab setting. You are recording the "events" that occur as the user tries to accomplish certain tasks that you assigned.
This may sound pretty straightforward, but it's one of the methods that I will dedicate an entire future post to, as it's helpful to discuss the nuances in more detail.
So once you've finished your research, it's time to get back the drawing board to reassess whatever information you had before. Now you can refine everything and work on something that reflects the results of your hard work. As always, until the next post, keep on searching and reading!
Related articles on Wamda:
- How to Find Out What Users Really Want: Part One
- How to Create Clear Project Goals
- 3 Hats that a User Experience Designer Wears
Ever since George first worked for an online directory back in 1998, he caught the digital bug and has since been immersed in 1 and 0s. He is an interactive manager for an international mobile brand (no free ads here) and a user experience consultant. He holds a degree in advertising and marketing and focuses on usability and user experience design. In his spare time he writes on his own blog (featured in a regional magazine) and contributes to a local tech blog, likes to share his opinion, and prefers not to write about himself in the third person. :) You can find him on twitter at @UxSoup.
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Remember when all athletes were advised to consume pancakes and pasta prior to competing? Now, the race to finish first more often is won by athletes on variations of low-carb diets, including the high fat ketogenic plan and the Paleo diet. We asked celebrity fitness guru Ben Greenfield for his input. He's authored a new book that includes information on low carb high fat (LCHF) ketogenic diets: "Beyond Training: Mastering Endurance, Health & Life" (click for details).
Ketogenic or very low carbohydrate diets can be useful for lowering inflammation, enhancing mental function or improving endurance (since ketones are used by tissue such as the heart and diaphragm as a primary fuel). But an 80-90% fat-based ketogenic diet is difficult to maintain and not necessarily superior for weight loss compared to, for example, a 50-60% fat based diet.
In terms of Paleo diets, Ben applauds the move to eliminate processed foods but doesn't agree with cutting out all forms of dairy and other natural foods, saying: "As far as Paleo is concerned - anytime you remove processed and fake foods from your diet you'll see positive changes, but I don't think it completely necessary to eliminate foods such as legumes and dairy as long as they are prepared properly."
Choosing the right supplement requires customization, Ben told us. He offers details in his book. However, he notes that "there are specific compounds that nearly everyone tends to be deficient in. Specifically those are: Vitamin D, magnesium, Omega 3 Fatty Acids (aka fish oil) and Alkalinizing Greens."
For those who tend to be weekend warriors in the gym, Ben recommends "staying physically active every day through things like standing workstations, work breaks, walks, and very short 5-10 minute workouts."
Also included in Ben's book are recovery tips, mental performance tactics, training essentials and stress relief weapons. If weight loss is on your list, you'll get the answer as well in "Beyond Training: Mastering Endurance, Health & Life" (click for more information).
Worth noting: Ben is not alone in advocating a shift to using lower carb diets to enhance athletic performance. Two experts have crafted a guide to the science of increasing fat and reducing carbs in "The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance." And for more on making low carb diets work for weight loss and health, click here for "The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living: An Expert Guide to Making the Life-Saving Benefits of Carbohydrate Restriction Sustainable and Enjoyable." The authors also contributed to "New Atkins for a New You: The Ultimate Diet for Shedding Weight and Feeling Great."


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Lee Hall Reservoir
Lee Hall is a 230-acre reservoir owned by the City of Newport News. The reservoir is located within the Newport News Park. Newport News Park has a total area of roughly 8,000 acres that makes it one of the largest municipal parks east of the Mississippi River. Lee Hall Reservoir is located a few miles to the west of Newport News and is easily visible from Interstate 64 and State Route 143. Both roads have bridges that cross the reservoir. The bridges of these two roads divide the upper and middle basins of the reservoir. The middle and lower basins are connected by pipe and fishing is prohibited from the lower basin. A water treatment plant draws from the lower basin.
Newport News park offers a variety of recreational activities for the family. Anglers can try their luck for the variety of fish species that are present in Lee Hall Reservoir. A total of 15 fish species were collected during the electrofishing sample of 2005. The major species of interest to most anglers are the largemouth bass, black crappie, chain pickerel, bluegill, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and redear sunfish.


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