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Essay topics: Nowadays we are producing more and more rubbish.
Why do you think this is happening?
What can governments do to help reduce the amount of rubbish produced.
Today, every country around the word has a common problem with increasing amount of garbage. These garbage produce in many ways and unfortunately, have bad effect on ecosystem. If governments and individuals do not try to reduce this problem, in future we have more problems.
There are many reasons for increasing amount of rubbish. First of all, today, we have more population than the past. This overpopulation produces more garbage. Secondly, as we know nature can absorb all natural things such as foods, vegetables, dead body and so on. All these kind of garbage are good for nature, but today we use some material like plastic's bag and nature cannot absorb plastic. We use more and more unnatural elements.
In addition, people become more consumer than the past. In the past people try to find a new way to use all old stuff, but now we just looking for new and better devices. We do not like reuse old device especially old electronic device, so just throw out them.
In my opinion, government should better start to reduce rubbish. They can do it in some simple ways. One of these ways is, teach people to reduce using of unnatural material and replace them with something else. For example, we can use paper bag instead of plastic bag in supermarkets. Also they can teach people to dividing their rubbish into natural parts, bottle part and so on. Consequently, all natural material can reuse again.
To sum up, in my opinion, both governments and individuals must pay more attention to reducing rubbish. Rubbish is a big treat for our ecosystem. It causes a lot of problem such as increasing some disease, increasing pollution, so we must collaborate with governments to solve this problem.
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- One of your friends invited you for a meal with his/her family in their home. Write a letter to your friend and say:- Thank them and tell what you have enjoyed the most.- How do you feel about this visit?- Suggest some arrangements to invite them to your (76.66670000000001)
- is it better to use the car or public transport in your town or area? (55)
- Cristina and I are going into town next Saturday. I want to buy a printer for my computer and we both need some casual clothes- good quality but not too expensive. I know you can't some shopping with us but you know the town very well. Where do you sugges (70)
- You are studying in a college, you have been assigned to select a company to visit, and do some research. Write a letter to the company's manager and explain:- Why do you want to visit the company?- Why did you choose this company?- Suggest any type of sp (70)
- Some people believe money is a less important factor than free time for quality of life. What do you think about it? What other factors are necessary to live a good quality of lifestyle? (82.5)
- You have been advised by the manager to conduct a short session in school and share your work experience with the students. Write a letter to the headmaster of the school and say- Who are you and what kind of job do you do?- What are you planning to talk (80)
- Science could help people live up to 100 or even 200 years. Would that be a good or a bad development? Discuss both views and give your opinion. (70)
- You are leaving the country to return to your home country, and you have furniture that you want to give to a friend. Write a letter to him/her and say- What furniture do you have?- Why would he/she like it?- How can he/she pick it up? (65)
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- advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad (82.5)
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Sound of Madness album cover.
Stabler Arena is not new to hosting some talented musicians and bands since its 1979 opening. Notable acts including Breaking Benjamin, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, and Aerosmith have performed at the South Mountain arena.
On January 28, 2010 Shinedown will be included on that list when they perform with Skillet, Puddle of Mudd, and up-and-comers Like a Storm.
Shinedown's hard rock edge hails from Jacksonville, Florida and was formed in 2001. The band was signed to Atlantic Records and has released three albums. Reaching over six million albums sold worldwide.
Shinedown is also the first rock band to have all eleven of their singles reach the Top 5 of Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
Yet, while no other band has accomplished Shinedown's feat, the band would face lineup changes that has left only two of the founding members remaining, Brent Smith (vocals) and Barry Kerch (drums). The other current members include Zach Myers (guitar/vocals) and Eric Bass (bass/keys/vocals).
However, this did not lead to a break-up of the band. Instead, Shinedown has continued to grow since their debut, Leave a Whisper, in 2003 to become one of the most recognized mainstream rock acts.
Shinedown alone is worth seeing, but the other rock groups only solidify the concert as a not-miss. This is one show that will leave you salivating for more.
Albums: Leave a Whisper, Us and Them, The Sound of Madness.
Standout Tracks: 45, Heroes, Save Me, Devour, Second Chance, Sound of Madness, If You Only Knew, Fly from the Inside, and an excellent cover of Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Tickets for the January 28th show are on sale now. For more info on Shinedown check out their MySpace and Website.
Enjoy the article? By clicking the "Subscribe" button up top, emails will be sent anytime a new article is posted.

subset: commoncrawl


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Age of Tesla
There you are, just minding your own business, when the news hits: not only has Nikola Tesla, benefactor of the Earth, just died, but he¡¯s bequeathed mysterious evidence that seem to demonstrate humanity is not alone in the universe. Suddenly the question "brogues or loafers?" appears a bit trivial. Pilot a remote-controlled household robot to the beat of an original, frenzied musical score across the solar system and discover Tesla's secret legacy!
1 vs 100
The exciting television show is here to challenge you with hundreds of brain-teasing questions as you work your way up to the grand prize. Take on the Mob and eliminate each of the 100 members one by one to reach the top, but watch out because one wrong answer can spoil your payday. Enjoy the classic version of the game show with fun new twists including the High Roller and Lightning Rounds. Level your character up and obtain or purchase all 100 special collectables to unlock ten themed episodes. On occasion, you'll randomly run into some of your favorite iWin characters in the mob from popular titles such as Jewel Quest, Jojo's Fashion Show, and Mah Jong Quest.
Step inside and challenge the hustlers to a game of snooker or pool in any of the 8 themed virtual chat rooms. A unique Virtual Chat system allows you to insult, flatter, and challenge the guys and girls and proclaim yourself the King of Snooker and Pool in your bid for the Acess-all-areas Gold Card. Photo-realistic graphics, highly accurate physics, and sound that even features the roll of balls under the table! With an overhead view of the table, Trickshot allows you to play the entire game using only the mouse. This makes the game instantly playable and highly addictive. With a choice of different table designs and a healthy selection of games (UK 8 Ball, US 8 Ball, 9 Ball, Snooker, Killer, and Speed Pool), there's plenty to keep you occupied.
Around the World in 80 Days
You only have 80 days to circumnavigate the globe. Think that sounds easy? Travel back in time to the late 19th century and get ready for spectacular adventures on land, sea and air together with the English daredevil Phileas Fogg and his loyal French servant Passepourtout. Use the unique chance to visit four continents and complete the inconceivable journey to win the fantastic 20,000 pounds wager with this outstanding puzzler inspired by the classic adventure novel of the same name written by Jules Verne.
Combo Chaos
Just find the matching Icons to clear the screen before it fills up. Tons of power-ups are there to help you out as you test your brain and your mouse finger. Watch out for the Joker!
Lotus Deluxe
Escape to a whirling world of puzzling fun in Lotus Deluxe. Whirlpools are swallowing all the lotus flowers to the dismay of the water nymphs. Scan the flowers for identical matches and remove them before they fall into the spinning current. This enchanting challenge features charming graphics, more than 75 levels, and two game modes. Take a break with this refreshing diversion today.
Kelly Green - Garden Queen
Build a buzzing organic nursery in Kelly Green Garden Queen, a spunky and unique time management game that blossoms with every season! Kelly just inherited a nursery and moved from the city to the countryside in hopes of more peaceful living. That is until her phone starts ringing off the hook with customers placing their orders. Now, Kelly's hope for relaxation is out the window! Join in the fun with Kelly and arrange floral bouquets with creative flair, bribe a demanding executive with lemonade, or wow the local farmer with an array of 20 different plants. Customize your nursery as you wish with 50 garden tools. Can you withstand new challenges as your nursery changes with each season? Play Kelly Green Garden Queen free with the demo version or download the full version today and make beautiful blooming flowers your gratifying reward!
Robin Hood
Robin returns to England only to find that the Sheriff of Nottingham rules the countryside through tyranny. Determined to bring hope back to his people, he starts his campaign that quickly becomes the stuff of legends. With the Sheriff on his tail, a band of honorable thieves at his side, and the Maid Marian in his sights, the wanted outlaw certainly has his hands full. Slip into the role of valiant hero and experience his greatest adventures in this wonderful journey. Search for helpful objects in breathtaking and familiar medieval locations such as Sherwood Forest. Sneak through the castle grounds, the marketplace, and more, solving devious puzzles at every corner. Fight the crafty Sheriff of Nottingham and win the heart of lovely maiden Marian in this timeless adventure!
The competition is on to find out who is the best Picker in America. As owner of the Rusted Gold antique shop, you're one of the chosen to participate. Start up the van and head on out across the country because you have shelves to fill, auctions to run, and money to make. Can you become the top Picker? Scour the country's junkyards, barns and basements for the best finds at the best prices in this fun game where you control all of the action. Shine your items up or sell them as is to see if you can turn a profit or if you hit a bust. Haggle with quirky characters, consult experts to avoid being hoodwinked, and combine items to increase their values. The bigger the profits, the better your chance of becoming the nation's top Picker.
Dead Man's Hand
You assume the role of El Tejon, a master gunslinger on a mission of vengeance. As the story unfolds, you will pursue members of 'The Nine,' a gang of ruthless outlaws who betrayed you and left you for dead. For the first time ever, you can experience the best elements of the Western genre, brought straight from the silver screen to your PC. Gunslinging, bar brawls, horseback action sequences, train chases and epic showdowns are just part of the Old West feel in this bona fide 'period piece' adventure.
Super Frog
When an army of plant-eating monsters invades the forest, only Super Frog can save the day! Run, jump and somersault from platform to platform as you rescue plants and send your enemies sailing over the treetops in enormous bubbles. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for colorful candy bonuses and powerups to increase your energy and give you special powers. So what are you waiting for? Get off your lily pad and leap into adventure!
Extreme Fishing 3D
Enjoy realistic environments and extremely addictive gameplay as you pursue a wide variety of fishes, each with its own unique behavior, in 28 locations all over the world! Prove your skills in an international fishing competition and earn money to upgrade your rod, bob, bait and other equipment. You can even use the built-in fish radar to find out what?s going on in the lake. Then lean back and relax in front of beautiful views of the landscapes and lakes, all without leaving your computer!
Diamond Detective
Stop thief! Calling all detectives! The unsuspecting city of Gemopolis has fallen victim to a clever jewel thief in Diamond Detective. Help the Chief of Police retrieve the stolen jewels, gather the evidence and put the criminal behind bars. Earn promotion to become a top detective in Diamond Detective.
Magic Academy II
Find a magical book before a demon is unleashed in Magic Academy II, a fascinating hidden object search to catch a thief! A priceless manuscript has been stolen from the enchanted fortress of Tirisfal and with it, the instructions to call upon a very powerful demon. The main suspect is Annie, who unfortunately happens to be your sister. Is she really the thief and a part of something so sinister? Get to the bottom of this magical mystery and find out! Race to find evidence and clear your sister's name before the real villain brings forth the demon. Search the fortress grounds, meet with members of the Council and uncover the plot. Use magic skills, call on your intuition, and search carefully to solve various puzzles. Remember to leave no stone unturned because the fate of this mystical land and your sister lies with you! Play Magic Academy II free with the demo version or download the full version today before the fortress is destroyed!
Island Tribe
On a small island in the middle of the ocean, there once lived a small tribe. Everything was perfect until one day when the great volcano woke up. As the sky spewed lava and ash, the villagers abandoned their homes and ran for their lives. They headed for the ocean, making their way through treacherous mountains, wild jungles and deep swamps in order to escape from the island. Help the island inhabitants reach the ocean before hot lava engulfs it completely in 30 amazing levels. Construct useful buildings, collect needed resources, and restore magic totems to clear your way. Be careful and watch your step however since clouds of thick, ashy fog hide many dangers to overcome. Fend off wild animals, rebuild after natural disasters, and clear out fire.
Lion King Grubalicious
Bug season has arrived and it's time to mix and match bugs with Timon, Pumbaa, and Simba. All you have to do is create chains of bugs on your bug board. The more bugs you match, the more you score. It¡¯s a bug jumble in the jungle, for grub¡¯s sake, so get matching now!
Rescue Team 2
The Rescue Team is called in after a strong tornado hits a chain of small islands. Citizens are missing, homes are destroyed, and roads are demolished. With the threat of earthquakes, fires, and still more disasters pending, only you can command the relief efforts. Command the Rescue Team once again and aid the citizens of this disaster. Repair roads, rebuild damaged structures, and save stranded locals in 50 all-new challenging levels. Collect useful resources like wood, money, and food. Drill for oil to keep the machinery moving, call on the helicopter to battle wildfires, and earn fantastic achievements for your bravery.
Jetfighter 2015
February 2015: After more than 10 grueling years, the war on terror has been won. But beware - terrorism is far from dead. Surviving terrorist leaders and their followers have secretly migrated to South America to enter into a strong alliance with the local drug cartels. Armed with groundbreaking technology and a limitless supply of money, this deadly alliance soon takes control of key strategic regions in the Gulf and South America. Their Goal: to deal a significant blow to the United States! Your Mission: as a member of an elite Air Force combat unit armed with a state of the art combat aircraft, uncover the secrets behind this new enemy threat... and annihilate them!
Circular Pool
A circular table without pockets? You've never played pool like this before! Just aim the cue ball and "pocket" the red or yellow balls by pushing them to the edge of the table. When you've perfected your technique, challenge 16 different A.I. personalities from Box Car Bob to world champion Jace "The Ace" Stockwell, or up to six friends in Kalbooki league tournament. With four table layouts, multiple opponents and addictive 3D gameplay, Circular Pool is a fun and fast-paced twist on traditional 8-ball pool!
Deep Sea Tycoon 2
Quest through 30 missions of colorful ocean reefs. Explore Turtle Cove, Dolphin Bay, Seahorse Harbor, and many more exotic locations! Swim with the whales, ride the seahorses, play with the dolphins, and feed the turtles. With so much to do and see, you'll literally lose yourself to the hypnotic sounds and dazzling lights in a world of humour and mouth-watering animation!
Agatha Christie - Dead Man's Folly
You are invited to a murder hunt in Agatha Christie - Dead Man's Folly, a hidden object mystery to uncover a devious scheme! With famed detective Hercule Poirot at your side, you have been invited to take part in a thrilling mock-murder game. But while most visitors embark on this staged mystery, those in charge feel that a real murder is about to take place. Alongside Poirot, help uncover the motives leading to this possible fatal end! Find hidden clues, decode messages, solve complicated puzzles and link crucial facts. Unravel the deception, the dark secrets and stop a killer before it's too late! Play Agatha Christie - Dead Man's Folly free with the demo version or download the full thrilling version of this Queen of Crime's mystery come to life!
Making Mr. Right
Dr. Love is best known for her books that aid insecure gents in learning the skills to impress the right woman. While this has proven to be quite successful, she's ready to embark on her newest project, which is creating communities to help them firsthand. A good deal of work is in store, and with careful planning plus the right approach, she may just end up helping herself as well. Join in and transform hapless bachelors into eligible men in this unique endeavor. Set up complete communities with restaurants, gift shops, parks, and more. Have them visit Dr. Love's studio and train in a variety of qualities like art, dancing, and even map reading! As you foster their new skills, they'll gain the confidence to catch the woman of their dreams.
Lost Souls - Enchanted Paintings Premium Edition
A child and his mother receive a strange package that turns out to be a beautiful painting. That night, with the painting hanging in the child's room, a strange spell emanates and captures the child. It whirls him to a strange land far away. Now, his mother must venture deep into unknown and magical lands to find her son and break the spell that holds him prisoner. Journey through enchanted lands searching for the young child and find a way to get him home. Leave no stone unturned as you locate items and use them to gather more clues or get through obstacles. Meet the colorful inhabitants of these odd worlds and help them as they help you throughout your journey. Solve amazing puzzles, discover startling secrets, and immerse yourself in a bewitching atmosphere.
Are you ingenious? You are when playing this extraordinary game. Combining fun gameplay, great components, and real strategy, Ingenious will have you addicted. Simple rules, quick playing time, and a clever system makes Ingenious-ingenious! Marvelously elegant and compulsively replayable, Ingenious is the new puzzle game based on a best-selling award-winning board game. Created by internationally renowned game designer Reiner Knizia, Ingenious is a treat for the whole family. The game features a challenging single-player mode and balanced options for playing with 2, 3 or 4 players. Each player starts with six tiles with color symbols. In clockwise order, players place one of their tiles onto the board, trying to establish lines of matching symbols. Players must advance all six of their color symbols, not leaving any of them behind.
Elythril: The Elf Treasure
You are welcome to the enchanted world of the elves. Solve its mysteries and discover its divine treasure. In search of the elf treasure Elythril you must pass through 15 elfin lands. Choose whatever you like: Hard or Easy game.
Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization
Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization? is the third offering in the award winning Civilization IV? series. A re-imagining of the classic Colonization game Sid Meier created in 1994, Sid Meier¡¯s Civilization IV: Colonization is a total conversion of the Civilization IV engine into a game experience in which players will lead a European nation on their quest to colonize and thrive in the New World. Players will be challenged to guide their people from the oppressive motherland, discover a New World, negotiate, trade and fight as they acquire great power and battle for their freedom and independence. Sid Meier¡¯s Civilization IV: Colonization does not require the original Civilization IV game to play.
Slingo Mystery - Who's Gold
Get the ultimate payback on an ex-husband and his new wife in Slingo Mystery - Who¡¯s Gold, a fantastic game that mixes exciting Slingo action with fun hidden object detective work! Maggie Gold is casino mogul Freddy Gold's first wife who got left out in the cold after their messy divorce. Freddy kept his money and all possessions while Maggie lost everything, including her ring. Now that Freddy is dead, his new wife is getting ready to cash in on the inheritance but something isn't sitting right with Maggie. Who killed Freddy? What secrets did he leave behind? Who is really on the will? Help Maggie uncover these answers while pulling off a casino heist to get what she deserves back! Track down the clues to Freddy¡¯s secrets and uncover the mystery behind the Slingo machines. Search the high roller¡¯s room, the vault, the tables and other casino locations to find those machines. Play them and win to claim their secret prize. Can you get to Freddy¡¯s will before his new wife? Play Slingo Mystery - Who¡¯s Gold free with the demo version or download the full version to pull off the ultimate casino heist today!
House, M.D.
The skilled staff at Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital wants you to join them in a race to unravel medical mysteries. From a travelling show host to a disgruntled chef, their newest patients have completely stumped them, and the clock is ticking to save their lives. Will you figure out what's wrong before it's too late? Help Dr. Gregory House and his staff investigate their patient's abnormal conditions to find a cure. Track down the correct diagnosis by interviewing and examining patients, performing lab tests, surgery, and more in five thrilling episodes. Interact with the show's familiar faces and follow their witty dialogue to its conclusion, but be prepared for multiple twists and turns.
The Pirate Tales
Follow the adventures of Captain Caninbahl, Barley, Deckhand Dewey, Ruby Barnacle, and Planky the Parrot as they plunder their way through caves, underwater shipwrecks, and dangerous port towns. The Pirate Tales is a match-3 puzzle game spanning 100 chapter-style levels. Perform typical pirating duties, plunder treasure, and fight opponents in your quest to rescue Dewey's girlfriend, Ruby Barnacle. The atmospheric music for the game has been created by Special Blend Music.
Magic Farm 2 Premium Edition
Professor Imerius, the land's greatest florist and botanist, has noticed that a number of strange contagions are affecting the flora of his beloved realm. He has an answer to stop this malady, but first needs to find a student bright and willing to help him carry out the plan. For this, he creates a competition where the best florists from around will enter, and the winner will get to work by his side. Follow along as Iris and her pet dragon Robin enter the contest to win this magnificent privilege. Grow and sell a huge variety of flowers, exterminate pests, and discover new powers. As you overcome tests to win the coveted Golden Diploma, you will also make new friends, learn new skills, and partake in many fun mini-games including adventure puzzles and hidden object searches. It's the opportunity of a lifetime for Iris. Can you help her achieve her dream?
Fast Lanes Bowling
Fast Lanes Bowling is a ten-pin, bowling computer game combining realistic bowling gameplay and physics with alleys set in colorful fantasy environments. The players can bowl casually or partake in tournament modes, competing against computer-controlled opponents. Other modes are available which change the way the player bowls by using different scoring systems or pin placements. A range of friendly characters are available for selection, in addition to a number of fantasy bowling alleys including a tropical island, Moon base, Medieval Castle, and ancient Egypt, with 12 similarly themed environments in total. The game combines realistic bowling and accurately simulated physics, with stylized 3D graphics and fun fantasy locales.
Ocean Express
Cruise the coast with colorful cargo in this non-stop puzzle challenge from the creators of Puzzle Express. Pack the Ocean Express with puzzle packages before departure time and set sail for worldwide destinations. Strategically upgrade your fleet and unlock new coastal cities as you earn more cash. New puzzles are downloaded automatically and you can even create your own puzzles to share with others or play by yourself! An endless voyage of addictive fun, Ocean Express is a wonderful challenge for the whole family. Bon Voyage!
Reach for the top of the rankings in a bold new era of boxing! The "Boxing Entertainment Commission" has shunned mundane sport in favour of exciting action - and you're cordially invited to join the fun. Create your own prize fighter from scratch and immerse yourself in gaming's most involving boxing universe - featuring up to 100 characters spread across 3 weight classes. Here, what happens in the ring is merely the first round - as you proceed backstage to manage your business affairs and plot your next career move! Negotiate lucrative contracts with the suits and then arrange matches with the talent - filling up your weekly schedule with spectacular pay-per-view bouts and history-making tournaments. Along the way, you'll transform your body to survive in the ring and adjust your attitude to survive backstage. With so many balls in the air, the only question is will your Reach exceed your grasp?
Sid Meier's Railroads!
Sid Meier's Railroads! marks Sid Meier¡¯s return to the simulation/strategy gaming that launched the popular "tycoon" genre and inspired a new generation of games. Combining the best of real-world and model railroads, Sid Meier¡¯s Railroads! places players in charge of building the greatest railroad empire in the nation - managing trains, cargo and their bottom line - while engaging in all-out corporate warfare against rival tycoons, slick entrepreneurs and robber barons.
Fishdom - Spooky Splash
Build the aquarium of your nightmares with Fishdom - Spooky Splash, a spooktacular Match 3 game and splash into the Halloween spirit! Use your skills to match three or more eerie items and remove all of the gold tiles from the board. By doing so, you can earn money to create your very own underwater haunted house. Purchase all types of exotic and wonderful fish, plus grab creepy accessories and watch your spooky creation take shape. Earn Trophies, buy new aquariums and save these frightening fish tanks as your screensaver! Play Fishdom - Spooky Splash free with the demo version or download the full version and create your own a boo-tiful aquarium today!
Dream Mysteries - Case of the Red Fox
Dr. Corey Foster is a skilled psychiatrist with the unique ability to enter others' dream states and change them. Because of her extraordinary talent, she's been invited to oversee a surge of psychiatric illnesses at the Dream Seekers research clinic. A normal sunny day finds her tending to patient's therapy when it turns baffling, as similar haunting visions inhabit all of her subjects. What exactly is going on and why is Dr. Foster now having those similar visions as well? Join Dr. Foster and help her uncover the mysterious cause of these strange conditions. Travel between reality and dream worlds, healing patient's nightmares and searching for answers via surreal hidden object scenes. Play smart mini-games, locate useful items, and solve demanding puzzles. Can you unmask the true purpose of these unwanted images?
Aladdin Magic Carpet Racing
Aladdin Magic Carpet Racing is a heart-pumping, fast-paced racing game set in the magical land of Agrabah. Race as Aladdin or Princess Jasmine on four exciting and unique race courses. Become the ultimate magic carpet racing champion when you defeat Jafar to win the Agrabah Cup!
The Tribloos
A terrible storm has struck the island where the Tribloos live. Most of their villages were destroyed while some of the Tribloos were also caught in the wreckage. Their leader Trey wants to start rebuilding and needs your help quickly. Another storm is approaching and the Tribloos are in even more danger. Help Trey save his friends and restore the Tribloo villages before the new storm arrives. Journey across Tribloo Island in 75 colorful levels and clear obstacles, collect resources, and rebuild homes to prepare. Discover new tribes of Tribloos, earn fun achievements, play fun mini-games, and become the hero the Tribloos so desperately need.
Tough Trucks: Modified Monsters
In Activision Value Publishing's Tough Trucks, climb into the driver's seat of an outrageous, pumped-up 4x4 and see if you can turn this right-off-the-lot machine into a genuine Modified Monster. It takes drive, determination and a big dose of brain blurrin', bone rattlin' action to earn the money to convert your stock pick-up into a real track champion. Warning! You may soil your bedliner.
Dress Shop Hop
Help Bobbi, an aspiring fashion designer, make cool custom clothes! Featuring the desire to find that perfect outfit every time, Dress Shop Hop? incorporates the plate-spinning fun of the Diner Dash? series with the added challenge of using a set of wacky machines to make the exact clothing match. Can you keep the customers happy and Bobbi¡¯s business afloat? Pay careful attention to what the customer wants ¨C from plain-colored shirts to wacky-patterned skirts. Don¡¯t forget they might need accessories like sunglasses or hats, which you can buy with your collected ¡°Fashion Tips¡±. When the going gets tough, Bobbi recalls the advice she received from her restauranteer friend Flo ¨C making clothes should be as easy as making a burger! It¡¯s a fast-paced challenge to execute flawless fashion, but for the talented Bobbi, it¡¯s all in a day¡¯s work!
|Copyright © 2002 - 2014 All Rights Reserved


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Ralph Regula thinks we're wasting our time.
"The vast majority of people don't even use the internet or pay attention to it."
– Ralph Regula, when asked about Jeff Seemann's use of the internet in his campaign in Scene Magazine (8.25.04)
It's a good article that captures the essence of our campaign. Read it here.
Do you think we're wasting our time? Help us show Representative Regula just how many people use the internet and how powerful a tool it can be.
What your contribution can buy:
$10: Drinks and chips for one of our volunteer meetings.
$30: A 30 second spot on The Daily Show in our largest city.
$50: A 30 second spot on one of those World Series of Poker shows.
$80: A 30 second spot on ESPN for Ohio State football in the city that is home to The Pro Football Hall of Fame (Canton).
$150: Two 60 second spots on the local rock station WRQK 107 FM.
$350: 5000 Color postcards for block-walking, lit dropping, and the Stark County Fair.
$487: 5000 multi-color 3rd sheets for block-walking, lit dropping, parades, and the fair.
$1000: Pays for 50,000 phone-banking calls to get Democrats out to the polls on November 2nd.
$2000: Buys us 50,000 mutli-color 3rd sheets for constituents. That is 1/3 of the total number of votes we'll need to win on Election Day.
So, whaddaya say?
Dear Friend,
I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself: My name is Jeff Seemann and I am working hard to become your next United States Congressman. I hope you will use this opportunity to learn more about me, my family, and why I want to represent you in Washington, D.C.
In 2000, my family experienced a tragedy that many of you know first-hand or live in constant worry about. While working to repair a gutter on my roof, I fell and broke my elbow. I went to the hospital to find not only that it was fractured, but "shattered," and that my health insurance wouldn't cover my medical expenses in full.
That was a time I will never forget. As a self-employed husband and father, the cost of my recovery forced me into bankruptcy. My life changed from that moment, as I realized that our country can do better to ensure hard-working Americans have the ability to fulfill their dreams.
I have lived without health insurance for periods of time in my life. I know what its like to hold my breath every time my curious daughter climbs a tree, gets a sore throat, or worse. I can look a family in the eye and comprehend the fear of an illness or injury they cannot afford emotionally or financially. Affordable medicine and health care for every American are concerns that affect everyone regardless of party.
I understand the concerns of Ohioans without jobs because I too have been laid off in the past. I understand the fear of a family when they live paycheck to paycheck, because for most of my life, I have had to stretch every dollar. When people work hard, they should be able to make enough money to spend time with and provide for their families. Quality jobs, unemployment, and low wages are not Republican or Democratic issues – they are family issues.
My wife and I both work full-time. Susan's caring heart led her to serve people with disabilities and disease, both mental and physical. We understand the difficulty in raising a family while relying on school, day care, and after school programs to guide our children while we work to provide for them. That is why I want to fully fund proven programs that provide possibilities for our children. For many families, regardless of party affiliation, Head Start and quality after school community activities are essential to our children's future.
Through the good times and the bad, I have called Stark County home my entire life. I was born at Timken Mercy Hospital in Canton, Ohio, as a boy I delivered newspapers for the Canton Repository, and currently live in Perry Township with my wife and five year old daughter.
I played football at GlenOak High School and after graduating I attended The Ohio State University. I started my first real business here – Best Grass Seed. When the cost of tuition forced me to leave school and take a job, I began my career as a sports reporter for The Massillon Independent. Instead of the classroom, I learned life's lessons in our neighborhoods and communities while raising a family in Canton, Ohio. It is those lessons that serve as my inspiration to serve you in Congress.
This is my first time running for political office and I understand it takes real leadership to acknowledge I don't have all the answers. There will always be two-way line of communication between you and I. That communication and my firsthand knowledge of middle class concerns will allow me to represent our communities most effectively.
It is through my struggles in the past, that I recognized my vision for the future where the American Dream is achievable for everyone, and it is never too late to start. The concerns our communities have do not change because of what party you cast your ballot for, but the person it is cast for. I promise that I will work for our values and our future if you cast your ballot for me on November 2 nd. My name is Jeff Seemann and I am working hard to become your next United States Congressman.
Stark County, Ohio – THE Bellwether
The Washington Post, Boston Globe, Associated Press, CNN, Newsweek, and other major news outlets have referred to the 16th Congressional District of Ohio as the bellwether district in the country's premier battleground state.
Over 32% of the district holds down manufacturing or construction jobs. Unfortunately, much like the rest of Ohio, the 16th district has been hit with staggering job loss, 5.4% unemployment in 2002, up from 3.4% in 2000.
Not only is the race winnable, but there are national factors that make this district unique.
Jobs: The Timken Company, Rubbermaid, and Hoover are all large corporations that were born in my district, and have all announced massive job losses. Timken and Rubbermaid are both closing entire manufacturing plants.
Diebold: Those who produce electronic voting machines and vow to do everything they can to "deliver Ohio's electoral votes to the President," call the 16th District of Ohio home.


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Gallery: MON's first year
by Kate Smith
Photographs of O'Neill's first 12 months in charge.
It's one year ago since Martin O'Neill took charge of the Black Cats.
O'Neill steered his side to a 2-1 home victory over Blackburn Rovers in his first game at the helm and in his first month in charge he was rewarded with December's Barclays Manager of the Month.
January saw impressive victories over Manchester City, Wigan Athletic and Swansea City, as well as the start of the best run SAFC have had in the FA Cup in eight seasons.
Another three league wins and progression to the sixth round of the FA Cup was how February drew to a close, before March saw the Lads pick up their first point away to Newcastle United since 2009 and notch home wins over Liverpool and QPR.
Defeat at the hands of Everton in the sixth round replay of the FA Cup was the first low point under O'Neill's tutelage, however, the team bounced back to score three goals against future Premier League champions Manchester City days later.
Further points were picked up against Tottenham, Wolves and Bolton, before 2011-12 ended with a home defeat to Manchester United who were rivaling City for the title.
Sunderland made a positive start to the 2012-13 campaign, remaining unbeaten in the opening two months and being bolstered by the signings of Adam Johnson and Steven Fletcher, with the latter scoring five goals in his first five games for the club.
A disappointing defeat to neighbours Middlesbrough saw Sunderland exit the Capital One Cup in late October, before November was rounded of with a resounding away win at Fulham.
The game against Norwich City was O'Neill's 38th Barclays Premier League game as Sunderland manager and since his arrival the side have picked up 47 points in the top flight, which equals the Black Cats' best return in one Premier League season since Peter Reid was in charge.


text: Frequently Asked Questions When may I start the program? Students may start the Arts and Cultural Management (ACM) program at the beginning of any semester (January, May, or August). Applications are taken on an ongoing basis. One week before the start of the semester, new students are required to attend an orientation that introduces them to Saint Mary's University and the Arts and Cultural Management program. How long will it take to complete my degree? The program can be completed on a part-time basis over eight-nine semesters or full-time over five-six semesters. Part-time means a minimum of three credits per semester in order to be eligible for financial aid; full-time status requires six credits or more per semester. Academic progressions can be customized to meet a student's need. When do classes meet? Classes are offered in eight week sections. A class usually meets once a week, in a four-hour time block on a weekday evening, plus on two or three Saturdays. 15 hours of class time is required for each credit hour. So a 3 credit class will have 45 hours of class time. In some classes, there may be activities outside of the classroom related to the class that are made available to students. Students are given plenty of advance notice to make arrangements to attend. Where do classes meet? ACM classes meet on the Twin Cities campus. A daily listing of class locations is posted at the entrances to all campus buildings. Who is my program advisor? The program director advises all students on class selection, program progression, residency selection, and the final paper. What are the summative activities? There are two summative classes that are taken in sequence starting in the fall semester and ending in the spring semester; Residency/Capstone Progression and Capstone. These are each semester-long classes. What is a residency? ACM students are required to complete one residency, usually near the end of their progression, experiencing the business of an arts organization. The residency must meet a minimum standard of 240 hours. All residencies must be approved in writing by the program director before students may register for the course credits and begin logging hours towards completion of requirement. Residency work usually focuses on one or two management projects as the core activity even if a variety of other tasks are included. In addition to the practical experience, the residency is an opportunity for the student to be part of an organization, observing day-to-day operations, organizational and arts community culture, management styles, various staff functions, and internal and external communications. Residencies are usually done at the end of a student's progression, either over one or two semesters. Residencies are to be completed by the fall semester before taking the Capstone class. How is a residency obtained? The program director works with students to create a residency plan to meet their career goals. While students are responsible for securing their own internships, residency opportunities forwarded to the program director are distributed to students. Where can I do my residency? Residencies may be done in the Twin Cities or at any arts organization that meets the student's needs and during times that do not conflict with required courses. Are paid residencies available? Most residencies are unpaid, though from time to time an arts organization may have special funds to pay an intern. How can I do a residency if I am employed full-time? Students who are employed full-time work with the program director to locate and create internship experiences that fit their needs and schedules. Employed students often utilize flextime or vacation time, or do evening, weekend, or independent work for arts organization to meet the residency requirements. Students already employed at an arts organization may take on an additional project or work in another department to fulfill an internship. Is there residency coursework? At the end of the residency class an extensive organizational analysis is due, which requires the student to become very familiar with the structure and culture of the residency organization. What is the summative activity or final paper? The capstone class is the last course in the program. Students write a final paper of 30-40 pages on an arts management topic that both explores relevant literature and synthesizes concepts, knowledge, and experiences from across the program. After completing the paper, students present their paper during a symposium attended by their fellow students, faculty, and members of the arts community.


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zucchini carpaccio salad
Here in the Northeast, where our winters get frigidly cold and our summers are known to snap into the high 90s for days on end, I have a somewhat sinister theory about the weather, and that is that it's mocking you. It's waiting for you to snap and when you do, it has a hearty laugh at your expense. Bust out the ski jacket, 20-foot scarf and Gore-Tex accessories the first cold day in October? Snicker, snicker. Sink down in front of the a/c with a bag of ice on your forehead the first 90-degree, 100 percent humidity day in June? Imagine the sun's Mr. Burns-ian cackle, muttering "excellent."


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The story of our Catholic family: 1 tired mom, 1 hard working dad and 3 wonderful sons. Throw food allergies into the mix just to keep it extra interesting.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Hold Your Breath Game - not my usual blog fodder
This is not our school, but it's near us and it got me to thinking. Do my boys know anything about the Hold Your Breath Game/Fainting Game?
So I asked them this morning. And to my horror, my oldest son told me that he knows about it because people in his class do it. I really expected them to be confused by what I was asking and not have a clue what I was talking about.
These are 4th graders that I'm talking about. I don't think they know that they are supposed to pass out or that it may give them a "high". I think they feel it's just a game. But that doesn't mean that it's not dangerous. And that doesn't mean that it won't lead to other more risky behavior.
My seven year old assured me that no one in his class has done this.
This is not my normal blog fodder. But I put this on here because it's not something that I would have thought to ask my children about until I saw it on the news. I thought my kids were too young to be aware of things like this. I thought wrong.
I'm sure that most kids don't know what this is, but it might be worth doing some detective work with your own kids to make sure that this is not happening with them or in their school. We have since alerted school officials that some of the kids may have been engaging in this risky behavior (no names, just general information). As parents today we can never let our guard down. NEVER.
5 comments:
- Bailey's Leaf said...
Just asked K-, who is the same grade as the Little Man, and she knew nothing about it. She watched it with me and swears that she won't do it.
Funny thing is that as a toddler, I would throw a fit and hold my breath until I passed out. My mom freaked out because it was apparently my new frequent trick and she rushed me to the doctor. The doctor's advice? I'd start breathing once I passed out. Of course, I had not very far to fall (was in 18 month old clothing at 3) and said not to sweat it. For what it is worth, I'm fine (some could argue otherwise, of course), but it falls under the rule of "Listen to your body." I tell K- that and obviously, they wouldn't be listening to their body screaming for air. It's concerning, but not quite as concerning as huffing or directly taking drugs. Still, not cool.
- Funky Food Trisha said...
I remember kids doing this when I was in middle school--20 years ago! You can't possibly warn your children about every specific situation and you could definitely make yourself crazy trying to look for them too. Instead I think as parents all we can do is teach our children to respect their bodies and their instincts. Take a little comfort in knowing that this is nothing new, and of all the rotten things they could be doing to themselves, I have to agree with Bailey's Leaf, it could be much, much worse:)
- ChupieandJ'smama said...
Thanks ladies. I agree it's not the worst thing. I just see these kinds of behaviors moving into a riskier direction.
And then there was the boy that died: http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-12-22/news/27085283_1_teens-michigan-boy-parents or any of these other kids - https://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&fhp=1&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=child+dies+from+fainting+game&pbx=1&oq=child+dies+from+fainting+game&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=2362l7984l0l8369l29l25l0l4l4l0l213l1983l22.2.1l29l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&fp=550374fd478
I'm sure they started out innocently enough too. You are both correct that teaching respect for your own body is important.
- ChupieandJ'smama said...
Sorry, that last link should have been http://tinyurl.com/846zhyu I guess blogger didn't like the long URL :)
- PEA said...
This has been going on for years, I remember the first time I heard about it on the news, I was horrified. I had asked my boys if they had ever tried it and they said no but knew people who did. A few kids have since died from that "game" and it truly is a tragedy. xoxo


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My son has never been big on sleeping and it seems to have gotten worse. He doesn't take long naps during the day (about 15-20 mins at the most) and then he wakes up about every 2 hrs at night. I am about to go out of my mind. I have read some sleep books and finally settled on the No Cry Sleep Solution.
Part of the problem is that LO does not take a pacifier and have problems putting himself back to sleep at nights so everytime he wakes up at night, he wants to be nursed back to sleep. Using the advice in the No Cry Sleep Solution, for the last month, I have not allowed him to fall asleep while nursing and it was a slow process but we are finaly at the point that where he will pull himself off the nipple and then go to back to sleep.
Now, our new issue is that he wakes up and he just starts crying and then he flings himself on me so he can go back to sleep. I don't know how to get him to just lay back down and go back to sleep, without the theatrics! He won't even sleep in his crib anymore. I don't know how to get him to sleep for longer periods of time and to self-soothe!
I really need help because I just found out that I am pregnant again and I remember all the sleepness nights I had then, I really need to get a handle on his sleeping before baby #2 arrives.
Thanks for all the advice!


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Humphrey Bogart … Frank McCloud
Edward G. Robinson … Johnny Rocco
Lauren Bacall … Nora Temple
Lionel Barrymore … James Temple
Claire Trevor … Gaye Dawn
Thomas Gomez … Richard 'Curly' Hoff
Harry Lewis … Edward 'Toots' Bass
John Rodney … Deputy Clyde Sawyer
Marc Lawrence … Ziggy
Dan Seymour … Angel Garcia
Monte Blue … Sheriff Ben Wade
William Haade … Ralph Feeney
Runtime: 100 min.
Frank McCloud travels to a run-down hotel on Key Largo to honor the memory of a friend who died bravely in his unit during WW II. His friend's widow, Nora Temple, and wheelchair bound father, James Temple manage the hotel and receive him warmly, but the three of them soon find themselves virtual prisoners when the hotel is taken over by a mob of gangsters led by Johnny Rocco who hole up there to await the passing of a hurricane. Mr. Temple strongly reviles Rocco but due to his infirmities can only confront him verbally. Having become disillusioned by the violence of war, Frank is reluctant to act, but Rocco's demeaning treatment of his alcoholic moll, Gaye Dawn, and his complicity in the deaths of some innocent Seminole Indians and a deputy sheriff start to motivate McCloud to overcome his Hamlet-like inaction. Enjoy!
One Response
Robinson's character is so interesting in this film. He's built up as this great gangster, but we see that he's aged quite a bit in his time away from the States, and is now egocentric yet highly insecure and even feeble at times. I can't decide overall whether I feel like this complexity enhances the film or not. I almost think it could have been more thrilling in a way with a cold-blooded, mastermind villain more like Alan Arkin's character in _Wait Until Dark_; but it can't be denied that Robinson plays the character well.VA:F [1.9.17_1161]


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Leadership development starts early, or at least it should. How about in kindergarten? Or at least by third grade?
My book "GUTSY: How Women Leaders Make Change" is dedicated to my granddaughter who is now eight years old. She is wonderful to watch as her generation of girls learns early to be bold and brave as well as beautiful.
Arielle and her younger brother Dylan spent last weekend with their beloved babysitter and her son Mason who is the big kid at almost ten.
Here is the report from Arielle. "Grandmom, did my mom tell you that Mason was very rude when I didn't want to play some board games with him? I told him I wanted to put on a show and he was not interested, so I just said "fine" and he just said "fine and I went into the other room to practice what I wanted to do when my parents would come home.
"He followed me and he said "You Suck."
"How disgusting is that."
Intrigued I asked her how she handled the insult.
"I turned to him and said "You need better words and that was mean and he said it again."
With that she said "You know I am a GUTSY GIRL" and when I nodded she said, "So I gave him back his words and told him that anyone who says "you suck" must not like themselves and maybe he is the one who sucks."
And then she informed me he walked away and came back to apologize and said he wanted to be in my play.
"So, how did it turn out?"
I let him be in my play and we called it "No one SUCKS!"


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6 comments
Oh...well dang it Giovanni.
Jan 13th
It still works perfectly!
August 17th
Well this works to!
April 21st
This has to be The Best Drama-ish Series evar!! Love the whole Gold Template and Cigar!! Like the Mafia all over again!
April 18th
once again, i luv ben in panel 4!
April 18th
This and the next one was originally one large strip, but after working on it for over an hour, I clicked save and the browser crashed, subsequently deleting my hard work. Thus, I started over and split it into two strips.
April 18th


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UC IPM Home
Assess the contribution of a probiotic larval diet to improvements in larval and adult intestinal health.
Determine if probiotics ingested by larvae survive the irradiation process, and/or protect the intestinal environment of SIT males.
Compare under field conditions the mating performance of SIT male MFF from larvae that fed on probiotic larval diet versus those that fed on standard larval diet.
We found that adding probiotics to larval diet did not show measurable differences in gross characteristics associated with quality production. Such gross metrics do not reveal physiological benefits derived from consumption of probiotics, therefore, studies on adult fitness were conducted. We found that a probiotic diet improved SIT mating performance and prevented the growth of unwanted microbes in standard diet. The probiotics survived radiation used for sterilization and were passed to offspring. This finding suggests that bacteria are important to MFF survival. In sum, probiotics show promise for improving fruit fly management.
This year, we have found that certain adult probiotic diet formulations improve mating performance, calling activity, or life expectancy of sterile male MFF while the same is not true for these males when fed on larval probiotic formulations. We have found that probiotic larval or adult diets contain fewer bacterial contaminants than standard diets. We determined that probiotics survive the irradiation process and are passed through successive generations of flies. We are currently assessing MFF production in relation to larval diet. Our findings suggest that a probiotic diet protocol in a rearing facility is feasible.
Thus far, we have examined the growth and survival of the beneficial gut bacteria (probiotics), in larval diet. We have found that the probiotics grow in the diet despite the presence of preservatives and the acid nature of the larval diet. We also found that bacteria that contaminate the diet are inhibited and/or killed by the probiotics. This finding may lead to decreases in the use of preservatives that may be unhealthy for larval consumption and costs to make the diet. We have optimized processing of larval gut tissue for microscopic analyses. In July, we will travel to Hawaii to test the diet.
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This week, the Wall Street Journal posted an article about how "Consumers Are Showing Little Fear of the 'Fiscal Cliff.'" In it, writer Ben Casselman points to the fact that October's consumer confidence reading was the highest since the Great Recession, and that a separate RBC Capital Markets survey showed a mere 14% of Americans have changed their spending or investing behavior as a result of the looming tax increases and spending cuts.
We can quibble over how this has happened — maybe it's optimism about a solution after Election Day, maybe it's an uninformed public distracted by football and the World Series, or maybe it's just plain ol' fatigue about the issue.
We also can quibble over whether the whole thing even makes sense.
But as a 16% year-to-date rally for the S&P 500 shows, it doesn't pay to argue with the results — even if you don't agree with the logic.
And the results on the consumer spending front are these:
- Last Friday, the University of Michigan/Reuters' consumer sentiment gauge rose to a preliminary reading of 83.1 in October, up nearly five points from the final reading of 78.3 in September. This was a big surprise, since economists expected a decline to 78 in October.
- Based on this report, consumer sentiment now is at its highest level in more than five years (since September 2007), which bodes well for consumers going into the holiday shopping season.
- This week, core retail sales increased 0.9% in September. That topped economists who had expected a 0.3% gain last month — with electronics jumping an impressive 4.5%, possibly due to the release of Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) new iPhone 5.
- Also last Friday, the Labor Department announced that the Producer Price Index excluding food and energy (the so-called "core PPI") was unchanged despite a 0.2% increase forecast. So much for inflation eroding purchasing power.
- In slightly older news, last month, the National Association of Realtors said that sales of previously owned homes were up 7.8% in August to hit a two-year high.
It all paints a pretty rosy picture of the American consumer, doesn't it?
Of course, persistent increases in food and energy prices could squash that positive sentiment. So could an unfavorable resolution to the fiscal cliff mess. Then there's the issue of corporate earnings slowing down, GDP stagnant at a mere 1.3% annual rate in Q2, trouble in Europe and other big-picture fears that could weigh on headlines and attitudes going forward.
But as consumer sentiment's recent rebound shows us, Americans sometimes see what they want to see. And if they want to be optimistic … well, who are we to argue with them? Maybe it's simply time to get in line to capitalize on the trend instead.
Those looking to play a resurgence in consumer spending might want to jump into the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (NYSE:XRT) before it runs higher. The fund has outperformed the market year-to-date with a 20% return or so, but would be positioned to move higher if this trend continues — especially across the holidays. Top holdings include specialty retailers like Barnes & Noble (NYSE:BKS) and AutoNation (NYSE:AN) right now, but it also has allocations in mainstream megastores like Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) and Family Dollar (NYSE:FDO).
You also could play some of these specialty retailers directly if you believe in a particular "flavor" of consumer spending. The apparel segment historically has been a very lucrative momentum play if you pick the fashionable names. Newcomer Francesca's (NASDAQ:FRAN) is up 77% year-to-date and could benefit big-time from a consumer rebound as it expands.
I personally am just dabbling at the edges of retail because, frankly, it doesn't make sense to me to dive in headfirst. But if that's what consumers are going to do … well, it's better to profit from the trend than to argue with it.
Related Reading
- For the other side of the data dump, James Brumley wonders if all these retail reports are overrated. (InvestorPlace)
- VIDEO: 5 retail stocks for this holiday season. (The Motley Fool)
- For more stock picks, here are 3 retail stocks to shop and 3 to drop. (InvestorPlace)
- Are luxury stocks out of fashion as China loses momentum? (Reuters)
Jeff Reeves is the editor of InvestorPlace.com and the author of "The Frugal Investor's Guide to Finding Great Stocks." Write him at firstname.lastname@example.com or follow him on Twitter via @JeffReevesIP. As of this writing, he owned a position in Apple but no other stocks named here.


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101 Mobility Customer Reviews
"Nothing can cheer you up more than kind words from a friend." – Anonymous
At 101 Mobility, we treat customers like family and friends. There is truly nothing more satisfying than kind words from our clientele. We love what we do and aim to provide clients with only the best in mobility and accessibility. Don't just take our word for it—click on the videos below to see what our customers have to say.
If you have questions or would like to know more, feel free to browse the website or give us a call


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College Hockey:Steady As She Goes: Minnesota Again Heads Up USCHO.com/CSTV Networks Poll
Denver Nosedives After Critical Losses; BSU, Holy Cross Reach Top 20
MINNEAPOLIS — A decisive sweep of Alaska-Anchorage in the first round of the WCHA playoffs kept Minnesota at No. 1 in the USCHO.com/CSTV Networks Division I men's poll for a sixth straight week Monday.
The Gophers again received 39 of 40 first-place votes, followed by Miami, which swept away Western Michigan in the CCHA quarterfinals, at No. 2. Wisconsin, which won its own playoff series in two games against Michigan Tech, was third with the remaining first-place vote
Coming in fourth this week was Boston University, which beat Massachusetts two straight games to move into the Hockey East semifinals, but still switched places with the Badgers in the rankings. At No. 5 was Michigan State, which needed three games to topple Alaska-Fairbanks last weekend.
Maine came in sixth with a sweep of Massachusetts-Lowell, followed by No. 7 Cornell. The Big Red used double overtime twice to get by Clarkson in the ECACHL quarterfinals.
No. 8 was North Dakota, which moved up two spots after a three-game playoff series win over Minnesota State, while ninth-place New Hampshire jumped up four positions with its sweep of Providence. Finishing up the top 10 was Boston College, which rebounded four places by sweeping Vermont.
The next 10 teams in the poll were headed by Michigan, up four places to No. 11 after two straight wins over Ferris State. Harvard was No. 12 after a three-game series win over St. Lawrence, followed by Colorado College, which lost a three-game playoff to St. Cloud State.
The biggest drop was experienced by two-time defending national champion Denver, which lost its WCHA first-round series to Minnesota-Duluth and is now at risk of sitting out the NCAA tournament. The Pioneers fell six spots to No. 14 this week. Dartmouth, which beat Yale in two games, was No. 15.
Northern Michigan came in at No. 16 after sweeping Nebraska-Omaha last weekend to advance in the CCHA playoffs, followed by Colgate at No. 17 after the Raiders' three-game win over Quinnipiac. St. Cloud State was No. 18, followed by Nebraska-Omaha.
Two teams tied for No. 20 in Monday's results: Bemidji State, which sealed an NCAA tournament bid with a win over Niagara in the CHA championship game, and Holy Cross, which beat American International to reach the Atlantic Hockey semifinals.
Dropping out of this week's poll was Ferris State.
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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More often than not St. Paul & the Broken Bones (SP&BB) seem to find themselves out on the road playing any venue that will have them. They spread music like the gospel growing their musical congregation with each city, town and crossroads. Saturday February 22nd St Paul & the Broken Bones roll into Atlanta for a night of soulful music that will have the packed room at the EARL dancing and singing.
Leading up to the release of their debut LP Half The City, SP&BB have been wowing audiences with their high octane musical review. Their shows start wide open and stay that way until they are physically exhausted. When they hit the stage and the music begins to trickle from the speakers the band successfully harnesses the ghosts of southern soul singers past with boisterous horns, smooth guitars and wailing vocals. Saturday night should be no different. Look for a set list loaded with songs from the latest record, their EP and maybe a cover or two but that shouldn't be a prerequisite for attending the show because they could sing the phone book and it would sound incredible.
Opening the night of great tunes is the newest semi-supergroup Party Dolls. A conglomeration of Athens musicians, they have been playing live for quite some time now and with each show they just keep getting better. Their debut album Love Wars Baby is a guitar driven record loaded with songs about loss and heartache that sound incredible live as the emotional lyrics flow from the speakers. Yes the songs are not all rainbows and unicorns but don't worry about being depressed. You need to get there early so their set is not missed.
This Saturday night in Atlanta the place to be is the EARL. Grab some grub a few cold beverages then head to the back for a night of killer music. The music will resonate off the walls taking up space in your ears sending you home much happier than when you showed up. This one will be too good to miss out on.
WHO: St. Paul & the Broken Bones & Party Dolls
WHERE: The EARL
WHEN: Saturday, 2/22/14 9:00pm


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Last Summer, Zack Snyder introduced the world to Batman's only kryptonite: Ben Affleck. Fans have mourned for their beloved franchise due to Affleck's embarrassing role in 'Dare Devil'- until yesterday. When Snyder revealed a black and white photo of Batman and his Batmobile, fans went ballistic. Though the monochrome image has circulated the internet, a realistic colorized version of Batman was created thanks to Mike Rivera from Nerd Reactor.
Many have analyzed the black and white photo with analysis and speculation, giving rise to such ideas like the black and gray color of the bat suit which Cinema Blend suggests, to a glimmer of what appears to be the Joker in the smoke as suggested by a fan. The color added to the photo really makes us see what the photo is more likely to look like.
All we know is that Snyder gives little in the way of details, who on Tuesday tweets:
"I shot this with my @Leica_Camera M Monochrom"
Regardless of the ideas, one thing is for sure, faith is being restored that Affleck can deliver a great Caped Crusader.


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Sleep Disorders Center
at Trinitas Regional Medical Center 908-994-8694
Meet Our Director
Vipin Garg, M.D., FAASM, Academic Chief of the Pulmonary Division, is the Director of Sleep Disorders Center at Trinitas Regional Medical Center. Dr. Garg is board certified by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine as a Sleep Specialist. He is also board certified in Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care and Internal Medicine. He is licensed by the states of New Jersey and New York. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from University of Delhi. After finishing residency at Coney Island Hospital, he completed a Fellowship in Pulmonary, Critical Care Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York. There, he received Fellow of the Year award in 2002. He completed his Fellowship in Sleep Disorders Medicine at Sleep Disorders Institute at Saint Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York. He was investigator in multiple research projects related to Sleep Medicine.
As a pulmonologist, Dr. Garg possesses specialized knowledge and skills in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disordered breathing, e.g. Sleep Apnea, Overlap Syndrome, Nocturnal Hypoventilation, Nocturnal cough, Nocturnal hypoxemia, etc.
Besides board certification in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine, he is a Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine.
As a Sleep Specialist, Dr. Garg possesses specialized knowledge and skills in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disordered breathing, e.g. Sleep Apnea, Narcolepsy, Nocturnal Hypoventilation, Snoring, Nocturnal Hypoxemia, Insomnia and more.
"I have a long-standing interest in sleep disorders, and helping people solve this important problem brings me great personal and professional satisfaction," he says. "I believe our accredited Sleep Center is the pre-eminent Center of choice for patients seeking solutions to their sleep-related problems. Our diagnostic, treatment and follow up protocols set us apart from other sleep labs and centers"
"Dr. Garg brings a great deal of experience to the Sleep Center," says Gary S. Horan, FACHE, President and CEO of Trinitas Regional Medical Center. "We are fortunate to have been able to recruit a doctor of his caliber and experience."
As Medical Director of the Sleep Center, Dr. Garg has been personally involved in every aspect of the Sleep Disorders Center's operation, including staffing, education of patients and staff, selection of equipment, design of the rooms and policy/procedure development.
210 Williamson St., Elizabeth, NJ 07202
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A successful career at the University of Washington begins with a successful onboarding experience. Along with participating in required orientation activities, you may choose to pursue other events and opportunities to deepen your understanding of the UW and to help you succeed in your new position.
Learn more about the orientation activities that are recommended for you.
Beyond orientation, as a new employee there are a number of practices you can follow to maximize your on-the-job success and lay the foundation for future career growth.
Succeeding at your job may require you to learn new concepts and develop new skills. POD's Quarterly Courses include a number of foundational courses in key areas, including communications, fiscal procedures, human resources administration, supervision, leadership, and personal growth. In addition, if you are a new supervisor, you may have the opportunity to participate in the Strategic Leadership Program.
Have you completed all required orientation activities?


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College Hockey:Mass.-Dartmouth looks to pick up from playoff performance
It's been a while.
That's the best way of summing up last year for Mass.-Dartmouth, as the Corsairs posted their first losing record since 1976-77, finishing with an overall record of 11-15-1.
Despite that, they were still able to win a playoff game, knocking off fourth-seed Westfield State in opening round playoff action before narrowly losing to top seeded Fitchburg 3-2 in the conference quarterfinals.
"We look to improve from a very sub-par season in 2009-10," coach John Rolli said. "We look to have a strong defensive team with improved goal scoring throughout the lineup.
Rolli enters his 26th season at Mass.-Dartmouth with a .762 career winning percentage, the highest active for any college coach in the country in all divisions.
If the Corsairs are to rebound, they're going to need to get off to a good start early on and receive quality play from their seniors, Rolli said.
Leading the senior class are forwards Joe Hill (9-21), Todd Bartelson (14-13), Jason Stahl (9-13) and Billy Manning (2-1), who was limited to eight games last season.
On defense, seniors Mickey Dudley (1-4), Kyle Haas (0-1) and Adam Horgan (5-4) will lead the way. Senior Collin Tracy will replace Jon Dryjowicz-Burek in net, who logged just over 80 percent of the time there for the Corsairs last season, and was a member of the second team All-MASCAC.
In addition to Dryjowicz-Burek, Mass.-Dartmouth lost forwards Aaron Blades (6-10), Matt Serino (1-11), and Matt Berard (2-2) to graduation. The blue line lost graduating seniors Paul Moran (1-10) and Graeme Bourne (1-7).
"We have had a very good recommitment in preparation to this season and we go into this year with as good a committed group as any in my 26 years of coaching at UMD," Rolli said.
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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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WHAT'S the link between a Hoyland fitness worker and a packet of sausages? She's been chosen as a face of the brand.
Mum-of-four Elizabeth Coldwell, 49, is one of 100 people from across the country to be pictured on the packaging of national sausage brand The Black Farmer.
Elizabeth, of King Street, sent in her Facebook profile picture to the gluten free sausage firm after seeing an appeal on the social network.
The company had put out a call for people to get involved in promoting its brand and Elizabeth was chosen on a first-come-first-served basis from thousands of others.
The 100 faces feature on the pack of special edition pork, apple and cider sausages which are now appearing on supermarket shelves. All the photos are Facebook profile pictures.
Elizabeth works at Prime Mover personal trainers in Sheffield which advocates healthy diet, fat loss and exercise.
She said: "One day I saw The Black Farmer Facebook request for a photo, clicked on, and the next thing a message came through asking me to sign a model release form."
Elizabeth said her company Prime Mover recommended gluten-free products as part of a healthy diet.
"We have just been in the Daily Mail after helping plumber Neil Eaton - who was 20 stones - to lose eight stones," she said.
Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones from The Black Farmer said: "The success of our brand is due in no small part to the extraordinary support we get from our fans on Facebook.
"This special edition pork, apple and cider flavour is our way of saying thank you and allowing them the opportunity to be part of something exciting and new."
The brand invites consumers to join in various projects via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Wilfred added: "Not only do our fans follow us but they actively recommend us and lobby the retailers when they can't find us in store."


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Is it possible to install older catalyst versions through jockey?
There is a 100% CPU bug for OpenCL applications in ALL catalyst versions post 11.4.
I tried installing from ATI website using --build-pkg, but something isnt working, i dont know if its kernel 3 causing issues or what.
Guess im asking if anyone has rebuilt for 11.10, or just if there is a repo i can use to test myself?


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Lego Stirs Controversy With New Girl's Toys
Like Freud, who pondered, What does a woman want?, toy marketers struggle to figure out what it takes to appeal to girls. Lego recently introduced its Friends line in an attempt to address this issue. Some consumers applaud the line as a way to encourage girls to play with building toys. But critics say the curvy components in pink and other feminine colors perpetuate sexist stereotypes and betray the brand.
The crux of the issue can be found in a statement from Lego CEO Jørgen Vig Knudstorp: This is the most significant strategic launch weve done in a decade. We want to reach the other 50 percent of the worlds children.
In that statement, Lego is conceding that its toys are for boys if they're not labeled for girls. That runs counter to the company's longstanding mission. Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, son of company founder Ole Kirk Christiansen, said in 1963 that Lego toys were for girls, for boys.
What happened to gender-free, open-ended Lego? As the last century closed, tastes changed, Lego sales slumped, and the company went in a completely different direction. As toy-buying parents know, Lego's marketing no longer focuses on the collections of bricks that let you make anything. Now Lego sells individual sets to make very specific things, often tied to action movies, superheroes, or Lego's own characters. This change brought the company success, but it also made some girls -- or their parents -- see Lego as a maker of toys for boys.
A company spokeswoman told me Lego has had significant demand for toys for girls. It devoted four years to developing the new line -- twice as long as it usually spends. It researched the playing preferences of girls ages 5-12 around the world.
Critics decry the new toys' feminine color palette and curvy female figures, along with the focus on conventional feminine beauty and accessories. Critics have started at least two online petitions to get Lego to change. One of them, Tell LEGO to stop selling out girls! #LiberateLEGOs, was almost halfway to its goal of 5,000 signatures on Wednesday.
The most effective ammunition against Lego's current marketing is its own marketing from the past, specifically this ad from the last century:
This ad represents Lego the way it was -- no boundaries set by gender or expectations about the right way of putting together a set. But Lego has found that it makes a lot more money by defining its sets with clear instructions and labels for age and gender. The Friends line (explicitly for girls) was timed to come out with the new Batman line (implicitly for boys). As long as consumers demand toys defined in such ways, it's understandable that Lego would pursue this line of marketing.
Lego is not the only company to market pink versions of building toys for girls; Tinkertoys and Lincoln Logs do so, as well. However, consumers seem to feel a stronger emotional connection to the Lego brand, and that kind of connection can boomerang against the brand when people feel their trust has been betrayed.
As much as my own daughter loves standard Lego toys and hates the Friends concept, I dont believe Lego should cancel the new line. Instead, it should come up with a broader marketing campaign for girls that offers them Friends as an option, but not the only one. Instead of focusing solely on the new brand, commercials could show girls playing together -- some building Friends sets while others build robots, spaceships, cars, castles, or just imaginative structures. Because really, whether they prefer dolls or dinosaurs, girls just want to have fun.
— Ariella Brown is a writer, editor, Web content developer, and social media coordinator.
The CMO Site is an executive social network that provides CMOs and other marketing executives from the worlds leading organizations with a real-time, online venue where they can convene to discuss how they're delivering on the most critical marketing priorities. Join us!
More Blogs from Ariella Brown
The Chevy brand has taken some bad hits lately, but owner GM has launched a new campaign to restore the brand's image.
The Unilever brand is using a social media campaign along with a Times Square interactive billboard to sell product by promoting positive messages about women's beauty.
Bodymetrics technology has the potential to speed up sales in brick-and-mortar stores and reduce returns for online purchases.
Starbucks is among the brands combining an old look with new technology to create instant nostalgia.
To promote Multi Grain Cheerios and Fitness Magazine, the two companies are using a combination of the Internet and retail promotions.
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Career-Best Scores: One-Meter (291.10, Pac-10s, 2011), Three-Meter (279.07, USC, 2011), Platform (188.60, Pac-10s, 2011)
International Competition: Competed at the U.S. Junior National Championships from 2006 to 2009, and finished as a 16-time Junior National Qualififer... placed third at the meet in the one-meter annd ninth on the three-meter at the West Regionals in Minneapolis in 2010... at the 2009 Regionals, placed 11th on the one-meter in Houston, before finishing fourth in the one-meter, her highest career finish, at nationals... was also 17th on the three-meter and 25th on the platform... in 2008, placed 22nd on the one-meter in Minneapolis at the U.S. Open... also went to Juniors in Woodlands, Texas and was 16th (three-meter), 19th (one-meter) and 20th (platform)... competed at the Senior Nationals in Pasadena and was 30th on the three-meter... at the 2007 Regionals in Indianapolis, qualified for Nationals with a 12th place showing in the three-meter and a 13th place finish in the one-meter, but did not compete at Nationals due to injury... in 2006 at Juniors again in Minneapolis, was seventh in the three-meter and tenth in the one-meter, moving onto Nationals in Indianapolis, where she was seventh in both disciplines.
2011-12 (Sophomore): Injured during the fall and unable to dive in the spring.
2010-11 (Freshman): Finished her first season at the Zone Championships, reaching the prelims in both the one and three-meters, finishing 21st in the shorter distance (239.25) and 22nd in the three-meter springboard (249.75)... finished fifth at Pac-10s in the one-meter (291.10), a season-best... also scored a season-best 188.60 at the Pac-10 platform... at the tri-meet with BYU and Utah, finished seventh in the one-meter (240.50) and 10th in the three-meter (237.60)... finished fourth in the one-meter of the Bruin Invite with a score of 260.65... had a best of 279.07 against USC in the three-meter... reached the prelims of the Wildcat Invite, finishign 18th in the prelims of the one-meter and three-meter amongst over 60 divers a piece.
High School, Club and Personal Data: Four-year varsity letterman in diving at Madison West High... captain her senior season... state, sectional and conference champion... won all eight meets her senior season... named first team All-Area by the Wisconsin State Journal... also named the WISCA Girls Division-I Diver of the Year and a NISCA All-American... member of the Mad City Divers club team... featured in the January 18, 2010 issue of Sports Illustrated in the Faces in the Crowd section... named the 2010 co-Sportswoman of the Year by the Madison Hall of Fame Club... daughter of Rick and Lisa Rosenstock... third of four children, has one older sister and two younger ones... mother, Lisa, was a varsity golfer at the University of Michigan... major is undecided.


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The Metamorphics
Garnet- and sillimanite-bearing quartzofeldspathic gneiss and granofels form a septum at McClures Beach between the tonalite (Kgd) of Tomales Point and the granodiorite and granite of Inverness Ridge (Kgr) (Ross, 1977, 1978 referenced in Clark and Blake). There are text-book examples of cross-cutting relationships on bedrock exposures exposed in the beach south of the path down to the beach and abundant examples of large boulders with a wide variety of examples running from granitics to gneisses and almost everything in between. These tend to be best exposed during the winter period.
The Granitics (from Clark and Blake)
(Kgd) Tonalite of Tomales Point -- Hornblende-biotite tonalite that contains dark diorite inclusions forms the basement of Tomales Point. This rock is lithologically similar to the tonalite that crops out at Bodega Head about 10 km to the north, and both are probably part of the same granitic mass (Ross, 1978). K-Ar dating of hornblende in the tonalite of Bodega Head yields an age of 94.3 Ma (Late Cretaceous) (Evernden and Kistler, 1970; recalculated using new constants in Dalrymple, 1979).Other McClures Beach items of interest
(Kgr) Granodiorite and granite of Inverness Ridge -- Granodiorite and granite are exposed along Inverness Ridge, where dikes and masses of aplite and alaskite are locally abundant. The granodiorite has 2 to 12 percent biotite and hornblende, about 30 percent quartz, 25 to 35 percent K-feldspar, and the remainder plagioclase. Chemically, it is about 70 percent Si02, 15 percent Al203, 2.6 percent Fe0, 2.8 percent Ca0, 3.3 percent Na20, and 3.4 percent K20 (from Ross in Clark and others, 1984; and Ross, 1984). K-Ar dating of biotite in this granodiorite gives an age of 82.0 Ma (Late Cretaceous) (Curtis and others, 1958; recalculated using new constants in Dalrymple, 1979), and fisson-track dating of sphene from this rock yields ages of 82.7 ± 6.9 and 86.8 ± 7.4 Ma (Late Cretaceous) (Naeser and Ross, 1976).
The Quaternary dune deposits are visible from the path to the beach. Slope modifications by gopher activity is very evident as is the impact on erosion being generated by the expanding Tule Elk population in this area. Winter wave concentration of black sands can be common on the beach. The sands here apppear to be almost entirely locally derived and can contrast dramatically to the Franciscan chert-rich beaches to the south.Back to Pt Reyes Metamorphics Page
Back to Pt Reyes Granitics Page
Back to the Pt Reyes Geology Homepage


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Colorado Daily talks with Kate and Kristen on their journey to Paris
Submitted by Kris Thompson on
From the Colorado Daily
"I had no idea after the fifth or sixth day in a row what it would feel like," she said. But it worked out. Their bodies cooperated with the load, and in some ways, going all the way to France to focus on nothing but pedaling the Tour route was easier than being at home with a million distractions.
"A lot of it was mental, too, because riding at home for eight hours is difficult, because you have all this stuff to do, but over there, all you have to do is ride."
Stay tuned to 303 as we get an intimate conversation with Kate and Kristen on this journey.
- Reve Girls Finish in Paris
- Two Colorado Women Join the Reve Amateur Women's Team to Ride Entire 2012 TDF Route


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- Day trip to an Abano Terme spa with transport from Venice
- Escape to the historical spa town in the Euganean Hills of Veneto
- Head inside one of the town's modern wellness spas and relax in the mineral-rich waters at leisure
- Enjoy free time in the spa's natural cave heated by thermal water, two swimming pools and bio sauna
- Relax on a sun lounger and enjoy complimentary use of a luxurious-feeling robe and slippers
Why Our Insiders Chose This Tour
Enjoy a relaxing day during your vacation and treat yourself by relaxing inside the Grotto Spa, a cave heated by thermal water. It's all you need to complete your vacation experience in Italy.
What You Can Expect
Head inside one of the town's modern wellness spas, change into your bathing suit, put your cap on (you can buy it at the spa) and slip into the slippers and robe that were given to you on entrance. Then, how you spend your free time inside the spa is up to you! Relax your muscles in the Grotto Spa, a natural cave heated by thermal water, and then take a dip in one of the center's two swimming pools. Sweat out the toxins from your pores in the bio sauna, rejuvenate yourself with a cool blast from the temperature-controlled shower, and perhaps laze the rest of your time away by stretching out on a sun lounger with a book.
If you want to enjoy food or drinks while inside the spa, visit the on-site cafe where an enticing and healthy selection awaits. At the prearranged time, meet your driver outside the spa to reboard your minivan. Then, all that's left to do is sit back and relax on the journey back to Venice. Your day trip finishes with a drop-off at the start point in the early evening.
Customer Reviews
June 2015
Wonderful Day!
April 2015
Our driver was very pleasant and knowledgable. The pools were enjoyable but the process to change and where to store your belongings left a lot to be desired, it wasn't a good start. You do need a bathing cap, a shower cap it you don't plan on going under water. They did not provide any info on spa services, we would have been interested but since the start was so shakey and the spa attendant didn't speak any English, we didn't pursue, they missed the boat as we probably would have had a service while there which would have met more for them!
May 2015
We arrived and were courteously welcomed. After that, it was a downhill slide. We were shown to an area where my girlfriend and I were instructed to change into what? We guessed our bathing suits. We were given a robe and slippers with a shower cap to borrow from a grumpy lady who spoke little to no English. A tour group was taken prior to us, so we stood there, like idiots, wondering what we were supposed to do and where was the pool, grotto, etc? We returned to the front desk where an English-speaking young lady showed us around and what our 288 included. The services referred to was a large mineral pool and a ROOM that was supposed to be the outdoor grotto we expected. We paid for a bite to eat and spend hours in this pool both indoors and out. We were both very disappointed and would NOT recommend this Spa Day to anyone!!!! We were not entitled to receive any spa treatments - that was extra. Forget this place. It's a sham!
August 2014
We met our driver in Piazza Roma and the instructions for this were helpful. The ride to Abano Terme was only about 40 minutes. When we arrived, we were given a short tour of the facilities. We were given a locker space to store our clothing and belongings. The grotto steam room is located inside the hotel and usage was included in the package. In order to get to the pool, you have to go through a long corridor. There are 2 pools (indoor and outdoor) that flow into each other. The temperature of the pools is very warm. There are plenty of deck chairs for usage. There was no provision of bathrobes by the hotel, but towels were available at the pool. No treatments or food is provided. We had a nice lunch on the pool deck which we purchased from the pool bar. When using the pool, bathing caps or shower caps are required. This was definitely enforced while we were there by pool attendants. We were not told about this during the tour and had to go back to the front desk to get plastic shower caps so we could use the pool. This is not customary for Canadians and we were puzzled by this. We didn't feel that there was enough value in this tour to warrant the cost of this excursion. It would be nice to have more things included for the price. (Like a manicure and some lunch.) The usage of the facilities was by a much older demographic primarily by those in their 70's. The driver promptly picked us up at the agreed time and transported us back to Piazza Roma. I don't recommend this tour as we didn't believe there was enough benefit or value for the price that we paid.


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Eye Problems: A Risk of Treatment
In addition to the problems that arthritis itself can cause, some medications used to treat arthritis can lead to problems themselves. One of the medications requiring special monitoring, in children and adults alike, is the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil). It's part of a category of drugs called dease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), that actually slow disease progress.
While hydroxychloroquine doesn't damage the eyes the way inflammation does, it can deposit in the back of the eye and over time lead to color vision problems, says Dr. Howard. Fortunately, there are evidence-based guidelines for monitoring such therapy, and such monitoring can help prevent any noticeable effects on color perception or sharpness of vision.
Corticosteroids, including prednisone, which are prescribed to help control inflammation, can also lead to eye problems – chiefly cataracts. In general, it is rarer to see cataracts develop in children than adults. Nevertheless, any child taking corticosteroids regularly for any reason should have regular eye exams, says Dr. Howard.
Eye Problems and How They are Treated
Exams and treatment for arthritis-associated eye problems in children should be handled by a pediatric ophthalmologist (a medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases in children) working closely with your child's rheumatologist.
Typically the first line of treatment is a steroid eyedrop to reduce inflammation. Sometimes doctors also prescribe an agent that dilates the pupils to prevent scarring.
When localized treatments aren't enough to stop the problem, oral or injected medications may be necessary. The most commonly used systemic medication is methotrexate. In the event that methotrexate isn't effective, the doctor may prescribe another DMARD such as cyclosporine (Neoral) or mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept) or one of a subcategory of DMARDs known as biologic response modifiers such as infliximab (Remicade).
If your child's arthritis is active, these same medications may control both the arthritis and the related eye disease. In other cases, these drugs are used even if arthritis itself is quiet, says Dr. Howard. "A lot of times the ophthalmologist will ask us to reinstitute a drug for a child whose joint symptoms have gone away," he says. "At other times the ophthalmologist may ask the rheumatologist to increase the dosage of a drug that is already sufficient to control the joint disease."
To a Better Life and Better Sight
With the many drugs available – for both local and systemic use – arthritis-related eye problems are highly treatable. Moreover, with frequent eye exams, says Dr. Howard, these problems are not only treatable, they are preventable.