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CONCORD -- Four firms experienced with developing large mixed-use projects and converting former military bases are vying to guide the transformation of the Concord Naval Weapons Station into a thriving community with housing, parks, retail and office space.
Catellus Development Corporation, FivePoint Communities/Lennar, J.F. Shea Company and SunCal were selected from among eight companies responding to the city's search for a "master developer" to implement the Concord Reuse Project Area Plan.
Adopted in 2012, the plan calls for building housing, office buildings and commercial space on about 2,300 acres near the North Concord BART station. Although the Navy is expected to begin transferring property to the city in late 2015 or early 2016, development won't start for another 12 to 18 months after that, said Michael Wright, executive director of the Local Reuse Authority.
The master developer is responsible for specific planning and preparing the property for development, including installing roadways and utilities.
Oakland-based Catellus developed Mission Bay in San Francisco and Alameda Landing, a residential, retail and office development on the site of the former naval supply center. FivePoint Communities, with headquarters in Irvine, is redeveloping two former Marine bases in Southern California. Lennar, an equity partner with FivePoint, is working on the mixed-use projects at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Treasure Island and Hunters Point Naval Shipyard.
J.F. Shea Co. Inc., which has a regional office in Livermore, has developed residential projects and shopping centers and also has worked on the reuse of Hamilton Air Force Base in Novato. Irvine-based SunCal, which has a San Jose regional office, is developing the Dublin Crossing retail and housing project near the BART station there, and recently reacquired the former Oak Knoll Naval Hospital site in Oakland.
The weapons station property is attractive because it's one of the last remaining undeveloped large sites near a BART station, said SunCal executive Joe Guerra.
"It's so big that they will be able to be some lower-density housing," he said. "It won't all be super-dense, and we're running out of that kind of product in the Bay Area where you can build where someone can have a backyard."
An eight-member panel independently reviewed the eight firms' qualifications packages and scored them according to four broad criteria -- the compatibility of the firm's project vision with the community's goals and vision; evidence of financial capability; composition and experience of the development team; and the lead developer's experience with projects of similar type and scale.
"The experience and the vision and the knowledge of working with military base closures made the top four really stand out," Wright said.
The city declined to provide copies of the information the firms submitted, fearing that could compromise negotiations, City Attorney Mark Coon said. Council members also didn't see the packages before they voted to approve the list of recommended firms, according to Councilman Ron Leone, who abstained from voting.
"I simply haven't had a chance to review all of the documentation to my satisfaction. Accordingly, I just didn't feel comfortable voting for it yet," Leone said.
The city will issue a request for proposals in mid-July and the four firms will have until late October to respond. The developers are scheduled to present their proposals to the City Council in December, and in January staff would recommend Concord negotiate with two of the companies.
Lisa P. White covers Concord and Pleasant Hill. Contact her at 925-943-8011. Follow her at Twitter.com/lisa_p_white.


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This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.
October 27, 2010
Wind Power Could Provide a Fifth of World's Electricity by 2030: Study
Wind energy from turbines such as these could produce 20% of the world's power by 2030, according to a new report.
A new study by the Global Wind Energy Council and Greenpeace International reports that wind could meet 12% of global power demand by 2020, and up to 22% by 2030. The "Global Wind Energy Outlook 2010" (GWEO 2010), announced October 12, finds that wind power could play a key role in meeting the world's increasing power demand while also achieving major greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The 1,000 gigawatts (GW) of wind power capacity projected to be installed by 2020 would preclude the emission of as much as 1.5 billion tons of CO2 every year. By 2030, the world would be spared a total of 34 billion tons of CO2 by 2,300 GW of wind power capacity.
According to GWEO 2010, wind energy is also becoming a substantial factor in economic development, now providing more than 600,000 "green collar" jobs both in direct and indirect employment. By 2030, the number of jobs is projected to increase to over 3 million. The report forecasts an increase of up to ten times the current installed capacity in China by 2020, up from just 25 GW at the end of 2009. Wind energy is already a mainstream power generation source in many countries, and it is now deployed in more than 75 countries around the world. See the press release from the Global Wind Energy Council and the full report.

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Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
18 July 2013
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today considered the combined second and third periodic report of Serbia on its implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.Introducing the report, Brankica Jankovic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy of Serbia, said that laws on gender equality and anti-discrimination were in place, and amendments to the criminal code on violence against women were underway. A variety of bodies had been created which considered the exercise and protection of human rights, inter-sectoral implementation of these plans, and the process with regard to Security Council resolution 1325 respectively. The situation of women with disabilities as a vulnerable group had not improved much and Roma women still had low levels of education, though health mediators were improving their access to services. Cooperation with civil society had improved and data on Kosovo had not been provided by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo for the purposes of the examination before the Committee. Committee Experts raised several issues of concern and asked for clarification regarding the ability of persons to bring claims of multiple discrimination and whether the State party would reconsider its reservations to the Convention. The delegation was asked whether the Ombudsman counted with sufficient resources, considering austerity measures, to properly fulfil the remit of the office. Monitoring and indicators were also addressed, and Experts asked about processes for understanding the outcomes of Serbia's many strategies and action plans. Experts requested data on the number of attacks against women and concerning the representation of women in the judiciary, education, diplomacy and security sectors. Abortion and contraception were discussed, alongside more general questions about access to health and education by Roma women and women with disabilities. In concluding remarks, Ms. Jankovic thanked the Committee and said that Serbia was resolved to improve the situation of women and the implementation of the Convention. The problems in the country were not small and there were limited resources due to the financial situation. Also in concluding remarks, Nicole Ameline, Committee Chairperson, thanked Serbia for its efforts, and encouraged the Government to take all necessary measures put forward to them. The next periodic report would be awaited with interest.The delegation of Serbia included representatives from the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy; the Committee on Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality of the National Assembly; the Office for Human and Minority Rights; the Permanent Mission of Serbia to the United Nations Office at Geneva; the Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Body for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325; the Ministry of Interior; the Ministry of Health; and the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration. The Committee will next meet in public on Friday 19 July, at 10 a.m. to consider the combined fourth and fifth periodic report of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CEDAW/C/BIH/4-5).
Report of SerbiaThe combined second and third periodic report of Serbia is available here: (CEDAW/C/SRB/2-3)Presentation of the ReportBRANKICA JANKOVIC, State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy of Serbia, presenting the report (CEDAW/C/SRB/2-3), said that a law on gender equality had been adopted in 2009 and was used together with Serbia's anti-discrimination law in a number of areas. Amendments to the criminal code regarding violence against women were underway and a hate crime offence had been created. An action plan on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 had been applied since 2010 and included gender equality planning and implementation mechanisms. Cooperation with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) had been established. A strategy for protection and prevention against discrimination had been adopted, which aimed at improving the status of nine vulnerable groups. Electoral lists allowed for some balance in gender representation and, for the first time, these had been used in provincial, city and municipal assemblies in May 2012. A third of the members of the National Assembly were women and a woman headed the National Bank of Serbia. A Committee for Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality considered bills and other legal acts related to the exercise and protection of human rights and freedoms. The Council for Gender Equality looked at the improvement of gender equality from the point of view of inter-sectoral cooperation. Governments and local authorities had to designate gender equality staff to conduct activities aimed at achieving equal opportunities. The Commissioner for the Protection of Equality was authorised to take preventive measures to combat gender-based discrimination and to assist victims of discrimination. Serbia had signed the Istanbul Convention, ratification was underway, and special protocols had been adopted to this end. A special organization had been created to provide protection against violence and help lines were available for the reporting of violations of rights, discrimination or violence. In 2012, 140 social care centres had provided assistance to 9,500 victims. Most violence occurred in the family. Efforts had been made to provide training for the competent authorities and rehabilitation programmes for offenders had been created. Teacher training programmes addressed both violence against women and gender equality issues, and the Ministry of Health had engaged 75 women as health mediators in 59 health care centres. Women with disabilities were one of the most vulnerable groups and their status had not changed much, but in 2012 41 companies had implemented wage subsidies for vocational rehabilitation and the promotion of employment of persons with disabilities. Many Roma women had neither primary nor secondary education. Serbia hoped to improve cooperation with civil society to assist victims of multiple discrimination. Data collection, the provision of documentation, and the fight against trafficking had improved. Serbia had not been able to implement the provisions of the Convention in Kosovo, which was currently entrusted to the United Nations. Despite requests made, information had not been received regarding Kosovo and the Committee would have to contact the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) for details. A draft law had been submitted to the National Assembly for the ratification of Article 20 of the Convention. While efforts had been made to implement gender equality as a continuous process, it was accepted that the process needed to be improved and developed. Questions by ExpertsCommittee Experts said the Convention had not been invoked in national cases and asked what steps were being taken to further the education of legal professionals and others to remedy this situation? What funding was provided to civil society organizations working on the implementation of the Convention? Was specific information available on how the National Assembly was using the Convention as a reference when creating laws? How did the new strategy adopted in 2013 protect the groups which had not been specifically identified? What provisions were in place for tackling instances of multiple discrimination? Did Serbia intend to review its reservations to the Convention? What was the timeframe for the ratification of the Istanbul Convention? Had members of the legal profession received any training regarding the Convention and its provisions? What resources were allocated for the implementation and what was the system for monitoring? Did measures in place appropriately cater for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325? Response by the DelegationIn response to these questions and comments and others, the delegation said that the courts in Serbia were required to submit details of gender equality cases to the relevant Ministry. Since 2011, only two such cases had been recorded and both had been brought by the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality. A competition was launched annually to offer funding to NGOs. The rules of procedure had been amended in order to facilitate the passing of laws from the executive branch, which required better cooperation with civil society, and a dialogue was ongoing. Family disputes were dealt with by specialist judges who had been trained in all sources of law, including the Conventions. A manual had been produced to assist the judiciary in dealing with these cases.A conference on inter-sectoral cooperation on the issues of violence against women had been held and its conclusions had provided an opportunity to improve such cooperation. Concerning the drafting of reports, the delegation indicated that a working group integrated by representatives from Government Ministries and civil society produced a draft, which was then agreed by both parties and submitted to the United Nations and the report currently under discussion by the Committee had followed this process. Draft laws were reviewed by the European Integration Office to ensure they met European Union laws and then passed through the Parliament's European Integration Committee. Round tables had been held on a number of topics and the Women's Parliamentary Network had been set up, allowing members to work together on common concerns. A working group on the national strategy on the nine vulnerable groups had been set-up and received input from civil society. Work was being carried out on an action plan for the implementation of the strategy, and would look at specific activities, timelines and budgets. It was necessary to deal with the question of multiple discrimination. It was hoped that the Istanbul Convention would be ratified within the next two sessions of the National Assembly and a conference had been held to discuss the related topics. Ratification would significantly improve Serbia's capacity to tackle violence against women. The judiciary and police academies were tasked with the training of legal professionals and the Office of Human and Minority Rights also offered training against discrimination. Since the last visit of the High Commissioner human rights indicators had been put in place. Funding for civil society had been envisioned within certain budgets and it might increase in coming years if the economy stabilised. Questions from the ExpertsExperts inquired about the monitoring for action plans. Were there measures for interim reports? What was the situation of women with disabilities? What was to be done to fight discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons? Were there plans to introduce a registered partnership to give legal recognition to same-sex couples? Was there a timeframe for the adoption of a draft law on free legal aid? What actions had been taken to foster knowledge of the Convention among the general public to allow individuals to effectively claim their rights? Did the Ombudsman count with adequate resources to fulfil the extensive competencies of the office? Why had it been noted that there was only one male member in the working group on Security Council's resolution 1325, and how did the working group affect implementation on the ground? How did the national mechanism for gender equality continue its dialogue with civil society? Response by the DelegationThe adoption of the strategy for the prevention against discrimination marked the first time that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons had been recognised as a group that needed to be protected. Training and seminars had been conducted and cooperation with NGOs had increased. Discussions about the possibility of holding a Pride March in Belgrade this autumn were ongoing. Discussions with representatives had covered housing, education, health and a number of other priority topics. A model law on same-sex partnerships was to be discussed among the Serbian public and relevant ministries. Experts from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community were working with the Government to improve the situation of the group, and training programmes to sensitise workers in social centres regarding these issues were underway. The National Assembly had adopted a strategy for the reform of the judiciary and had, among its objectives, access to justice and the protection of human and minority rights. The development of indicators to improve reporting to treaty bodies and monitoring was underway and a participatory process on this would be launched. Many initiatives had been launched thanks to the work of NGOs. An office had set up to serve as a direct link between civil society and the Government. The budget had allocated funds for the proper functioning of the Ombudsman this year and this may be increased in following years. The Commission on resolution 1325 was in direct communication to monitor implementation and to provide information on its activities, and indicators for monitoring had been created. The Council for Gender Equality had been created to put forward initiatives in this field; it included representatives of different ministries, civil society and human rights defenders. They could influence gender equality policy. Roma women as a group were exposed to discrimination, though substantial progress had been made through better registration, allowing access to services. More Roma children were in school and infant mortality had fallen, although it remained high. A mobile team for Roma communities would be created to improve access to services and housing would also be addressed. Questions from the ExpertsExperts asked when Serbia would adopt the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. Data was sparse in places, what targeted measures were in place to empower women? Did the Government intend to work better with civil society to provide better information and outreach concerning measures in place? How were stereotypes in relation to the Roma being tackled? It was perceived that NGOs and human rights defenders were working for foreign interests, how was this being dealt with? A tendency towards traditional gender roles in Serbian society had been reported and women were being increasingly tasked with care and home responsibilities, while men had more decision-making powers; what was the Government's position regarding the family?How many women had been killed by intimate partners in recent years and was this data analysed? How did the judiciary collect statistical data? Could the police issue immediate protection orders and, if not, what was the timeframe? Was information available on the situation of victims of war violence and were services available to handle their specific care needs? Did additional awareness-raising regarding trafficking was needed among magistrates? What was the mandate of the centre on trafficking; what obstacles were there for the creation of further plans to support and assist victims of trafficking; and how was Serbia looking at the root causes of trafficking? Response by the DelegationStereotypes regarding the role of men and women had been recognised as an issue. Awareness raising targeted the general public through the use of the media and civil society organisations. A guide for gender-sensitive media reporting had been created, and a competition to find associations that could promote gender equality and a six-episode documentary on the national plan had been implemented. Training on the perception of women in public communication was available and an information campaign on women entrepreneurs was in place to increase the number of female-run businesses and to recognise the capacity of women in this role. Addressing stereotypes took time. The national employment action plan identified that women were difficult to employ and constituted a vulnerable group. Training, internships, functional adult education, job search assistance and job fairs, were among the assistance provided. Women received additional points in the consideration for self-employment subsidies and persons with disabilities benefitted from a special call for subsidies. The law on social entrepreneurship was currently being considered and its primary beneficiaries would be Roma women and persons with disabilities. Women accounted for nine State secretaries, nine deputy ministers, four ministers and two speakers in the National Assembly. From next year new rules sought to improve the representation of women in public authorities. From 2010 to 2012, 24 women had been killed by their husbands and seven by their former husbands. Pro-active steps had been taken to consider the Istanbul Convention. Police officers had received instructions on how best to deal with victims of violence. Statistical data was recorded through courts and the Ministry of Justice received data on the crimes, penalties, and convictions. Public prosecutors had their own records about charges and investigations. Special protocols adopted would require that social care centres as guardian authorities complete agreements with health and education partners responsible for care provision of women sufferers of violence. Stakeholders involved in responding to violence in communities were to be trained and a central record of their responses would be created. Shelters were foreseen as a local service, funded at the local level, and cooperation was needed to ensure that every municipality had a shelter. Roma women were treated in the same way as other women in need of assistance. A coordinator had been appointed to tackle trafficking and a multi-disciplinary team had been formed to provide advice. A centre on trafficking identified risks and threats for victims and coordinated activities with social work centres, and there was room to improve cooperation with civil society. Potential victims of trafficking were receiving preventative advice and accommodation facilities had been made available. The media and other actors also contributed to preventative measures. Women made up 28 per cent of the employees in the Ministry of Interior and rules regarding seniority and promotions had been amended to take into account pregnancy breaks. New staff plans and human resources management in the Ministry of Interior took better account of the gender perspective. Women were well represented in the judiciary. Questions from the ExpertsLittle information or context had been provided in the list of issues and replies. There was no reason to have provisions if they were not enforced. How many employers had needed to pay a fine due to their lack of record-keeping in relation to the employment of women? Women were not well-represented at the local level, what was being planned to remedy this? What was the impact of the gender quota in the National Minority Council? Why were women's organizations not consulted in the European Union-monitored negotiations on Kosovo? The number of female ambassadors was very low, were measures being taken in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to remedy this? Regarding the dissemination of information on special measures, how were these made known to target groups? What were the new targets in the action plan for Roma women and what was its budget? Why had the status of women with disabilities not changed much? What were the gaps in services for this group and how would they be addressed? What were the provisions regarding protection orders? Alternative sources suggested that mandatory treatment for alcoholism was to be introduced, was this the case? It had also been suggested that an educational eligibility criteria for service providers might rule out a number of highly competent groups from continuing their work, was this also the case? Experts requested concrete examples of steps to tackle stereotypes in the family. Response by the DelegationChanges were indeed planned to the election process for the National Minority Council, a working group had been tasked to do this, and it was hoped that a better representation of women would be achieved following the next round of elections. The law on gender equality envisaged that political parties would develop plans with special measures to improve gender equality in parliamentary parties. These plans had been created and they had to be posted on their websites; however, there were often removed.While some political parties had advertised their action plans on gender equality online, the trade unions had not. There were women heading 15 foreign missions, a female deputy minister of foreign affairs, and 11 female ambassadors. The position of women in local government required more commitment in the future. Disaggregated data on the achievement of gender equality was monitored by a working group within the national provider of statistics. Funding for parity programmes had not been confirmed given the economic crisis, but some activities would continue. An action plan in place considered the protection of Roma women, changing stereotypes around them, as well as the provision of better health services. Much had been done regarding social protection and education for women with disabilities, but there was still much was left to do on the issue of accessibility; concerning employment, the situation was much better. Protective measures for female victims of violence included orders for a person to leave the family home, restraining orders and orders to prevent further harassment. In 2012, 639 such proposals had been put forward and a multi-sectoral approach was applied. Workers in social centres could act on behalf of women in these situations. Under the new litigation proceedings code, there was scope to instigate urgent proceedings where needed and the entire Civil Code was being reformed on an area-by-area basis. A draft of law on family relations included a provision for the mandatory treatment of alcoholics and drug addicts to prevent domestic violence, but it was no certain that it would be adopted. All service providers that met minimum service provision standards could continue their work. Work in the social care system was introducing family counsellors and better risk assessment by doctors. Educational reform and financial support reform were underway. Questions from ExpertsDid the Government have any mechanism to prevent Roma children from failing to enrol or dropping out of school? What kind of support was provided for refugee and internally displaced families? What kind of actions had the Government taken to change gender stereotypes presented in school textbooks and teaching materials? What was the concrete policy for increasing the representation of women in non-traditional subjects of study, and how could the role of women in making decisions in education be improved? Experts also requested further information on the implementation of anti-discrimination legislation.How was the Government working to improve the situation of women with regards to pay and unemployment? Were there programmes to sensitize healthcare workers to minority women? How would sustainable financing for the care of the elderly be ensured? How many abortions were carried out each year, were they paid for by the State? Was there a problem on family planning counselling services and what about improving the provision of contraceptive services? There were fewer pre-natal visits and attended births among Roma women. Were there plans to introduce second generation retroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV? It was reported that HIV patients and persons with disabilities had problems asserting their sexual and reproductive rights, what were the delegation's thoughts on this? Response by the DelegationLegislation on the system of education had been changed to ensure that all children received schooling. Health mediators played an important role; they had managed to achieve their position thanks to education and demonstrated the importance of education. Enrolment and drop-out rates for Roma children in education had fluctuated, but participation had generally increased and a campaign had been launched to inform and educate people about educational enrolment procedures for children. Good practice cases had been identified and lifelong learning and training were supported through adult education centres; and secondary school textbooks had been made more gender sensitive. The Government was of the opinion that the selection of a profession was a basic human right, and there were no obstacles for women to enrol in traditionally male subjects. There were more than 4,000 educational establishments in Serbia and scholarships were to be offered to Roma children. Measures aimed at increasing employability of Roma women and efforts had been made to encourage employers to provide jobs. Fathers were able to exercise their right to parental leave and, although precise figures were not available, this was generally on the rise. New legislation protected women against termination of employment during pregnancy, and the position of men and women in the labour market was equal. Long-term unemployed persons were given preferential treatment in training and self-employment. Funds had been provided for gynaecological hydraulic beds for women with disabilities and there were enough to meet the needs of the population. Almost all health care institutions were accessible to persons with disabilities. A strategy on the elderly was to be developed and would be followed by an action plan. Thanks to health mediators, women's pregnancies were followed by medical staff and screening for breast cancer and cervical cancer had also been facilitated. It was recognised that the high costs of abortion could not be borne by the health system and education was needed to ensure that contraception was better used. Abortion was the legal right of every woman and it was not thought that the Ministry of Health would impose stricter conditions. The health system was in part public and in part private and this created a difference in costs. When these two were integrated, data availability on service provision would improve. There was a low level of awareness regarding contraception, lack of funding placed limitations on its provision. Centres for reproductive health were being developed on the basis of teams of medical professionals, as seen in Romania. Questions from ExpertsAn Expert asked if extended sex education was planned for schools, was sex education mandatory? Were there programmes to target the enrolment of girls? Why was a child allowance only paid up until the fourth child? The majority of households below the poverty line were headed by women, how did the Government seek to address this? How was Serbia improving its data collection on internally displaced persons and refugees? Was it the case that the family law was to be replaced and, if yes, why? Were there any significant changes? Were community-based agents of change engaged to reframe ideas on early marriage? Had a mechanism whereby the State paid for child support and reclaimed the expenses from the father been considered? Was it the case that women brought a dowry into a marriage? Response by the DelegationThe delegation noted the comments regarding the provision of anti-retrovirals and said that funding for such therapies constituted a great hurdle. Sex education was covered by biology curricula from elementary school. Health education was also offered and it was hoped that it would be available in all schools shortly. A conference had been held regarding progress on the inclusion of Roma in the school system, which had been tackled together with the United Nations Children's Fund. One third of management positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were held by women. It was correct that child allowance was paid up until the fourth child. The increase in the registration of unemployed Roma women showed progress in the engagement with this group. According to the most recent data there were around 66,000 refugees and 36 collective centres. Over 5,000 durable housing solutions had been offered to members of this group between 2008 and 2010. Funding for such measures was needed. The costs of accommodating asylum seekers were covered by the national budget. Persons who could not register for permanent residence at the place they actually lived could register at local social care centre to gain access to personal identity documents. The problem of fathers that did not pay for their children was currently under analysis and some kind of State assistance might be made available to such women in the future. Women brought goods or valuables into a marriage and a groom offered presents to the bride's family. If the police found that such an arrangement suggested human trafficking, through the sale of persons, then this was reported as a crime and the marriage annulled. The child support mechanism suggested by the Expert was being consideredConcluding RemarksBRANKICA JANKOVIC, State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy of Serbia, thanked the Committee for their concern about the situation of women in Serbia. It was hoped that a new picture had been offered. Serbia had received a new impetus and several ideas to solve problems, and was resolved to improve the situation of women and the implementation of the Convention. The problems in the country were not small and there were limited resources due to the financial situation. NICOLE AMELINE, Chairperson of the Committee, thanked the Serbia for its efforts, and encouraged the Government to take all necessary measures put forward to them. The next periodic report from the Serbia would be awaited with interest.
For use of the information media; not an official record


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The University of Southern Maine Arboretum is located in Gorham, Maine, just a short trip inland from Portland. It encompasses USM's historic Gorham Campus and currently includes more than 110 trees with new species being planted, catalogued and added all the time. The diversity of living specimens represented in the arboretum is crucial to the longevity of the local tree population and creates a rich environment for humans and many other creatures.
University of Southern Maine Arboretum
Goals and Objectives of the USM Arboretum
● To create a diversity of species that reflects the history of the campus and provides a botanical teaching tool
● To develop a master plan for green space management and preservation, including a complete inventory of each tree that incorporates plant identification, location, age, growth, and management records
● To promote horticultural awareness within the University and local community, through the maintenance of a self-guided walking tour
● To qualify and capitalize on campus microclimates in order to foster the growth of species not common to the southern Maine area


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The venues aren't identical, but they could be cousins.
Cal's Memorial Stadium has a sensational view of San Francisco Bay, opened in 1923 and sits atop the Hayward Fault.
Washington's Husky Stadium has a glorious view of Lake Washington, opened for business in 1920 and resides in one of the most seismically active areas of the country.
Both relics needed remodeling, but the schools took different paths to the same end.
Washington is retrofitting Husky Stadium and building an 80,000-square foot football facility for an estimated $250 million.
Cal retrofit Memorial Stadium and added a 140,000-square foot training center for $474 million -- the most expensive facility upgrades in college sports history.
Bears athletic director Sandy Barbour said she had no regrets about the scope or the price tag. She called the stadium renovation a "no brainer" and said of the training center: "We kept the costs incredibly low relative to square footage and the construction site."
Barbour added that the athletic department is using features such as the luxury seats to generate revenue that will help service $445 million in bonded debt.
Critics note that if the Bears had spent less, there wouldn't be as much debt to service.
"I wouldn't put Cal in the same category as Alabama or Michigan," Stanford economist Roger Noll said, referring to the teams' tradition and fan bases. "But their financing plan is more ambitious."
The Bears were forced to spend nearly as much on seismic-related construction ($225 million) as Washington did on its entire project.
But Cal also spent $250 million on amenities, including new weight and locker rooms, offices, luxury seats, concessions and restrooms.
That's more than the entire cost of similar endeavors at Michigan ($226 million), Texas Christian ($164 million) and Alabama ($80 million).
Was the project overly ambitious?
"Good question," said John Wilton, Cal's vice chancellor for finance. "But when you build facilities, you're building for 25 or 30 years."
Cal's project differs from Washington's in more than cost.
The Bears partnered with Stadium Capital Financing Group to create a high-risk financing plan in which fans purchase long-term rights to premium seats. Like a mortgage, payments can be made up front or over time. Unlike a mortgage, there is no penalty for backing out.
The Huskies listened to Stadium Capital's pitch but ultimately opted for a more conventional approach to financing their $200 million in bonded debt: Selling luxury seats on a year-to-year basis.
"We listened to proposals, but (long-term seat rights) wasn't something we wanted to do," athletic director Scott Woodward said. "I met with our donor groups and it didn't suit our sensibilities."
For more on college sports, see Jon Wilner's College Hotline at blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports. Contact him at email@example.com or 408-920-5716.


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The Boy Scouts of America prohibits the use of alcoholic beverages and
controlled substances at encampments or activities on property owned and/or
operated by the Boy Scouts of America, or at any activity involving participation
of youth members.
Adult leaders should support the attitude that young adults are better off
without tobacco and may not allow the use of tobacco products at any BSA
activity involving youth participants.
All Scouting functions, meetings, and activities should be conducted on a
smoke-free basis, with smoking areas located away from all participants.
References: Scoutmaster Handbook, No.33009, and
Health and Safety Guide, No. 34415


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The Snake and the Rope: Moving from Scared to Sacred
There is an old Hindu spiritual teaching called "The Snake and the Rope." As the tale goes, a man walks into a dark room and sees something coiled on the floor. In a gut reaction he mistakes a coiled rope to be a coiled snake. When he collects his frantic energy enough to turn on the lights and the darkness vanishes, what is illuminated is the true nature of the object. This analogy for mistaken identities and meanings is as applicable on your yoga mat as it is in your life.


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Competitive Strategy For Dummies
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May 2010
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Fundamental to management thinking and economic theory, Competitive Strategy offers a framework for understanding the underlying forces of competition in industry and business.
This book explains the ideas, theories and principles of Competitive Strategy in simple, straightforward terms. It shows readers how to use competitive tools and strategies to understand the underlying forces of competition in industry and business and apply them to assess industries, understand competitors, choose competitive positions and gain - and maintain competitive advantage.
Chapters include:
- What Competitive Strategy actually is
- The foundations of strategy and the five forces of competition
- Assessing the competition and strategic management in action
- Developing a competitive strategy
- Looking to the future and mergers and acquisitions
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This beautiful crate offers a modern and stylish design that keeps your pet's comfort in mind. This Deluxe Crate is made of steel and then covered with water resistant materials and padding for the ultimate in dog crates. With three entries including the top, front and side, placing and accessing your dog is easy. A waterproof tray is included in the crate for convenient cleaning, with a soft fleece pad overlay for comfort. The pad is made with water resistant nylon and easily stores in the top bag when not in use.
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Statistics About Ovarian Cancer
Some people use statistical reports to try to figure out their chance of getting cancer. Others use them to try to figure out their chance of being cured. Statistics show what happens with large groups of people. Because no two people are alike, you can't use statistics to know or predict what will happen to you. It is very important that your particular findings be put into context by an expert. Gynecologic oncologists are subspecialists with advanced training in the diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of female cancers including ovarian cancer.
These are some 2014statistics about ovarian cancer from the American Cancer Society:
About 21,980 women will be told they have ovarian cancer in the United States this year. It is the second most common gynecologic cancer.
Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer among women. A woman's lifetime risk of getting invasive ovarian cancer is about 1 in 71.
Most cases of ovarian cancer present in the advanced stages (Stage II or IV). This means that the disease has spread outside the ovaries.
Ovarian cancer survival rates vary by age: women younger than 65 are twice as likely to survive 5 years (57%) after diagnosis as women ages 65 and older (28%).


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Nike LeBron X+ Men's Basketball Shoes
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LIMIT 5 PAIR PER CUSTOMER. The Nike LeBron X+ Shoes are the tenth flagship basketball shoe for King James. The shoes feature a sleek Hyperfuse upper, rubber outsole, iconic Swoosh detail, and accents on the outline, laces and misdole. And you can't forget the full-length Zoom Air unit for low-profile, responsive cushioning. Nike+ enabled so you can track and share your training, performance during games and height on dunks easily.
- Nike+ Sport Kit Sold Seprately


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Herbert Marcuse's One Dimensional Man (1964) remains a surgical analysis of the fundamental "irrational rationality" of our system. He argued that industrialization and mechanization could – and logically should – have led to a reduction in labor time and the institution of a post-work and post-scarcity global society after World War II. The alternative to a conscripted social reality would be one that gave us new freedom – freedom from work, freedom from propagandizing media, freedom to create and explore our own realities. The response to this deep threat to the controlling apparatus was the creation of "false needs" in the consumer, the perpetuating fear of nuclear war and terrorism, and the use of the mass media to enforce consensus consciousness. ….
Marcuse wrote: "Perhaps an accident may alter the situation, but unless the recognition of what is being done and what is being prevented subverts the consciousness and the behavior of man, not even a catastrophe will bring about the change." …
As a German philosopher writing in the aftermath of the Nazi regime, Marcuse understood the sleep inducing force of indoctrination, its power to make people forget and forfeit their own real interests. "The fact that the vast majority of the population accepts, and is made to accept, this society does not render it less irrational and less reprehensible," he wrote. "The distinction between true and false consciousness, real and immediate interest still is meaningful."
Daniel Pinchbeck
Source: 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl, Pages: 73-4
Contributed by: HeyOK
Copyright © 2016 Gaiam, Inc.


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Philosophy and sci-fi monsters collide in this latest Ridley Scott directed feature, his first bite at the sci-fi apple since "Blade Runner." The script explores the idea that human life arose from an earth-visiting alien race, but it also seeks to embolden our faith in an all-powerful creator. Two such journeys might dovetail nicely, but at a certain point, the script doesn't know where to take the two ideas.
Approximately 85 years from now, a pair of archaeologists discover cave paintings from around the globe that depict large hominids pointing out a grouping of stars.
"It's an invitation," says scientist Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace), the daughter of missionaries.
Keen to see more, she is one of 17 crew members arriving at a planetary system located 3.46 x 10 to the 14th power (or "10" followed by about 35 zeroes) kilometers from Earth. The voyage requires placing the crew in a 28-month cryostasis, while android David (Michael Fassbender) spends these lonely days studying movies and ancient languages.
When the ship arrives at a faraway moon orbiting a Saturn-like planet, David awakens the mission director, Meredith Vickers, played to the icy hilt by Charlize Theron. After rousting the rest of the crew, Vickers calls a meeting to explain their directive. The trillion-dollar exploration is funded by a private corporation whose elderly CEO (an unrecognizably aged Guy Pearce), hopes their discoveries might extend human life.
Elsewhere, the human drama depends largely upon the skills of Rapace (from the Swedish version of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"). She's an unexpected but not unwelcome foil for evil forces, not the least of which are among the crew. Vickers, and to a lesser extent, the ship's captain (portrayed by Idris Elba) demonstrate a lack of regard for human life. Most succumb to infection, parasites or outright attack, but android David correctly observes that Elizabeth demonstrates an uncanny will to survive.
The film begins by emphasizing Elizabeth's desire to get closer to God, but as the action heats up, her quest is all but forgotten.
They find that advanced, very large humanoid creatures created a habitable environment within a group of underground caverns that meander through this hostile moon. The crew's technology for exploring these caverns, and the remnants left behind by the alien race, are breathtaking. Yet, despite the beauty of the film's sets, the cutting-edge thrills are insufficient in both number and chills.
The film demonstrates its kinship to "Alien," with creatures that appear to be that creature's cousins, but lacking scares, the relationship seems tenuous.
Given the sequel that is surely coming, we wish it had dared to let its DNA rip.


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Definition of Epicurean in English:
1A disciple or student of the Greek philosopher Epicurus.
Example sentences
- They lift the curtain on a hitherto unknown community of philosophical debate among Epicureans and with other schools.
- He was dealing with 'certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics'.
- Other schools of thought - the Stoics, the Epicureans, the Sceptics - dominated the philosophical stage, and the sciences developed separately from philosophy and became the domain of specialists.
1.1 (epicurean) A person devoted to sensual enjoyment, especially that derived from fine food and drink.
Example sentences
- Bird watchers, epicureans and natural food lovers can all take pleasure in this garden.
- Gourmands and epicureans aren't always nice, and they're not always entirely sane, but they are always interesting - and the best of them enlightening, in a way that transcends recipes and digestion.
- The day is not far off when chefs from 15-member-hotels of the South Indian Culinary Association will spread out a dream menu for epicureans.
hedonist, sensualist, pleasure-seeker, sybarite, voluptuary, bon vivant, bon viveur;
epicure, gourmet, gastronome, connoisseur, gourmand
1Of or concerning Epicurus or his ideas: Epicurean philosophers
More example sentences
- The 'therapeutic' understanding of emotion which was developed by Stoic and Epicurean philosophers out of Plato and Aristotle is a striking case of this convergence of contemporary feminism with some ancient philosophical concerns.
- One might conclude, as some did in antiquity, that Arcesilaus therefore had a hidden objective of undermining Stoic or Epicurean empiricism in favor of Platonic doctrine.
- Are we justified, for example (we being Epicurean philosophers living in Italy) in inferring that because all the humans we have observed are mortal, so are humans in hitherto undiscovered countries, such as Britain?
1.1 (epicurean) Relating to or suitable for an epicure: epicurean feasts
More example sentences
- Take a break from gorp and beef jerky and make lunch on a day hike an epicurean feast.
- Bored and whimsical, he indulges an idle, faintly epicurean interest in a beautiful boy sporting on the beach; then he is transfigured by epiphanic agony as the older man falls in love with the younger.
- The International Arts Festival has only just finished when lo and behold, the Crab Festival is upon us - a day of feasting on delicious crabs claws, crab sandwiches and crabs cooked in all manner of epicurean delight.
hedonistic, sensualist, pleasure-seeking, self-indulgent, good-time, sybaritic, voluptuary, lotus-eating;
decadent, unrestrained, extravagant, intemperate, immoderate;
gluttonous, gourmandizing
For editors and proofreaders
Syllabification: Ep·i·cu·re·an
Definition of Epicurean in:
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"The Blacklist" on Monday capped off its season as prime time's most-watched new series, but not before a wild and bloody finale that brought on just as many questions as it did answers.
So what did you think? Did it hold you in thrall the whole time? Did you want more? Did the twist at the end surprise you, or did you suspect that all season long? Where do we go from here?
Let us know by leaving us some comments. And while you're doing that, we'll briefly run down the highlights:
-- Our story takes place in the aftermath of the prison transport plane crash. Most of the Russian prisoners who survived the crash are captured and during their interrogations, they speak of a hooded man who apparently took control of the plane and then escaped by chopping off the guard tethered to him. This guy must be Red's mysterious enemy, a guy known only as Berlin.
-- Meera was killed in a brutal way, her throat slashed by an accomplice of Berlin. (Say good-bye to Parminder Nagra). Turns out that Berlin has his own list of targets and every member of the task force is on it. Meera takes her final breaths in a nightclub, where Lizzie arrives too late to save her.
-- Berlin's goon also gets to Director Cooper, who is strangled in a car. Soon after, Cooper's name is scratched off the list. Farewell? Not yet. By the end of the hour, we learn that he is still clinging to life in a hospital bed.
-- Red finally gets to Berlin and shoots him dead, even though Tom, standing just a few feet away, has a gun held to Lizzie's temple. But wait, that's not Berlin! (And Red knows it). Berlin, in fact, is a man who was questioned earlier in the hospital. Turns out he cut off his OWN hand to escape the plane! And now he has fled the hospital. (Haven't we seen this guy before in "Fargo"?).
-- Tom is now dead. Lizzie's enigmatic husband goes down moments after Red shoots the fake Berlin. Following an exchange of gunfire, Liz and Tom wrestle for control of his gun and it goes off, a bullet hitting Tom in the gut. He bleeds out and dies, but not before whispering something in Lizzie's ear. We learn later what he said: "Your father is alive!" (UPDATE: Or did Tom die? As several of our commentators have noted, we never saw his body being carted out).
-- Berlin is still on the loose. As the hour winds down it becomes clear that he won't be caught. He shaves his beard (somewhat difficult with one hand) and heads off for parts unknown. This leaves the show with a major, go-to baddie who will probably loom over all of season 2.
-- Who's your daddy, Lizzie? Could be Red. After a lot of angst-ridden talk about what when down in that fateful fire so many years ago, Red assures Lizzie that her father died in the flames -- that what Tom said isn't true.
But in the final scene of the season, we see Red preparing for bed and taking off his shirt to reveal a maze of scars on his back -- scars that look like they were incurred in a fire.
Contact Chuck Barney at Facebook.com/BayAreaNewsGroup.ChuckBarney, or Twitter.com/chuckbarney


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Oakley LIVESTRONG Radar Sunglasses
Own a piece of history by getting a limited edition from the first production run. With a unique serial number to mark its position among 2000 select frames, each Collectors Edition will be one of a kind. Oakley is providing $20 from each sale of this Oakley Livestrong special edition to the Lance Arnstrong Foundation. The frame comes with the PATH lens shape and features BLACK IRIDIUM lens coating to reduce glare and balance light in bright sun. ?LIVESTRONG? is laser etched near the edge of the interchangeable lens, and the included protective SOFT VAULT case lets you store an extra optional lens. Saluting the Lance Armstrong Foundation with the colors of its logo, the lightweight O MATTER frame is matched with some of the finest optical technologies ever put into sunglasses. POLARIC ELLIPSOID lens geometry is one of the innovations that give this sunglass HIGH DEFINITION OPTICS (HDO), and the technology optimizes clarity at every angle of view to maximize your peripheral vision. The optical clarity is so precise, it meets all ANSI Z87.1 standards. The permanent HYDROPHOBIC lens coating creates a smudge-resistant barrier that repels water, skin oils and dust. Ultraviolet filtering is 100% for UVA, UVB and UVC, and impact protection meets the unforgiving standards of ANSI Z87.1, both for high mass and high velocity impact. With surge ports to channel a cooling flow of air, the art of this frame is a fusion of form and function. UNOBTAINIUM components increase grip with sweat for a secure Three-Point Fit that holds the lens in precise optical alignment, and two nosepiece sizes are included to let you adapt the fit.


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A day in the life of John Lasseter JUL 14 2011
I wasn't going to watch all twenty-five minutes of this day-in-the-life feature about Pixar's John Lasseter, but I got sucked in after the first two minutes for some reason and couldn't stop. The main takeaway is that Lasseter is a relentlessly upbeat, absurdly rich, hugging, cheeseball train freak.
Watching it, I found it almost impossible to reconcile his cheeseball personality with the kind of movies that Pixar makes, except to note that the Pixar films he's been involved with in a directorial or story capacity (Toy Storys 1-3, Cars 1-2) are the studio's syrupiest (and Randy Newmanest). (via devour)


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This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.
June 23, 2010
EV Project Expands To Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; and Chevrolet Volts
Coulomb Technologies' pole-mounted charging station for electric vehicles is part of the spreading EV infrastructure.
The EV Project, under which the Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation will provide free home charging stations and installations for electric vehicles (EV), is expanding to Los Angeles, California, and Washington, D.C. And while previously limited to Nissan Leaf EVs, the program is also broadening to include Chevrolet Volts, which are extended-range EVs. An additional 1,000 Leaf cars are now included, boosting that number to 5,700 nationwide. The expansion is funded by an additional $15 million grant from DOE, which will be matched by private funds. The EV Project began in October 2009 with a $99.8 million grant from DOE, provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The overall EV Project goal is to create new jobs and cut dependence on fossil fuel by delivering and evaluating nearly 15,000 residential and commercial chargers to 13 cities in five states and the District of Columbia. See the ECOtality press release (PDF 235 KB) and The EV Project Web site. Download Adobe Reader.
The EV Project isn't the only one available for Chevrolet Volts, which General Motors Corporation is expected to start selling later this year. The first buyers of the extended-range electric car are also eligible for one of the 1,800 planned 240-volt charge stations being built through the ChargePoint America project. Sponsored by Coulomb Technologies, the $37 million project is backed by a $15 million DOE grant, provided through the Recovery Act. ChargePoint America is expected to provide 4,600 networked charging stations to homes and public locations by October 2011, adding to the existing ChargePoint Network. The ChargePoint America project will collect data on vehicle use and charging patterns, which will be analyzed by Purdue University and DOE's Idaho National Laboratory. Coulomb announced on June 16 that Orlando, Florida, was the first to install a ChargePoint networked charging station under the program. See the press releases from General Motors Corporation and Coulomb Technologies, as well as the Web sites for the Chevrolet Volt and ChargePoint America.


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Don't know you that well. :I
Do I know you? :I
Maybe not sure yet.
Ah alright. Its on Westcott Street, but I assume if you'd heard of that you would have made the connection lol. Maybe I'll take my chances. I had a good time at Lost Horizon last weekend...AND WKLJTEFKETHW WTF how do I not have you on my friends list?
Ever been to the Westcott Theater? I'm thinking of going to a concert there but I'm undecided. If its in a terrible ghetto I'll probably just pass on it lol.
She's a priest. D: Don't be mean to her. But yes.
I went very mod heavy on dfo lately. She's Angel from King of Fighters <3
And not like this :d:d:d:d:d:d
THAT WAS MEANT TO BE LIKE THIS, .l
I was joking too xd.
Now you have met my dry humor.
Link's a Hippie!
Norrin Radd's Nerd Rage
OnRPG Elite Member!
in the sky with diamonds


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i have a road race sunday morning, a simple 5k. i was thinking about having a bowl of cereal combined with a bagel and orange juice. should i alter this in any way? i was told pancakes are carbs-heaven.
Too late for a reply. How did it work? Skim milk? At least 2 hours before the race?
Skip the OJ and have water or gatorade. I usually eat a grain bagel toasted with peanut butter. Don't overeat, you'll hate yourself the whole race.
yeah i used skim milk and the race went fine. i had a bowl of apple jacks and then a bagel with OJ. the only problem with the race was that my legs were heavily fatigued by the two mile mark but i think thats because it's summer and im out of shape
How did you get the OJ on the Bagel?
Usually I have a small bowl of oatmeal about an hour and half prior to a race. Works like a charm.
I would try anything new before a training run, though. No need to ruin a race because the Quisp didn't
appeal to your gut.
You really have to find what works for you...it's kind of a blend of art and science.
For me, what works best is a huuuuge carb-heavy dinner the night before, then in the morning I have a granola bar and lots and lots and lots of Gatorade.
Once I'm peeing clear i'm good to go.
xcrunr1647 wrote:
You really have to find what works for you...it's kind of a blend of art and science.
For me, what works best is a huuuuge carb-heavy dinner the night before, then in the morning I have a granola bar and lots and lots and lots of Gatorade.
Yes, everyone is different. I like a bagel with a spoonful of peanut butter and a banana about three hours before the start and then some sort of energy bar about 30-45 minutes before hand. As for the night before, the conventional wisdom is that you go with a relatively small meal that is mainly carbs with a decent amount of protein (something like chicken or fish with rice) and avoid fat and excess roughage (no salads).
xcrunr1647, you may want to experiment with spreading your carbo-loading out over a few days and avoid that big meal the night before. There is no way you can fully digest in that length of time so you'll be carrying unnecessary weight in your gut. I know you're looking for those extra little advantages to help shave time and maybe this could help.
It really does depend on what works for you as an individual as mentioned by another member. I run with a large group mixed with all levels and coaches and everyone does/eats something different. The head coach eats whole grain bagels toasted with peanut butter and rasins or a bowl of oatmeal with raisins and bananas. There are some people however who find that eating before a race upsets the stumach so they don't and that is ok. If you can't handle a breakfast eat a power bar or some kind of energy bar and drink pleanty of water. It's also a good idea to drink before, during, and after a race some kind of energy drink. I find that moon works well as does powerade for replacing the minerals you lose while you run. There are others of course such as Accelerade or gaterade so just try different things until you find one you like. Another great tip is that after a run some people find that chocolate milk helps with the recovery process as long as you drink it within the first hour of completing your run. This of course only works if you can have dairy products otherwise chocolate anything helps too.
I usually eat a lot the night before my run; however, two slices of bread with Nutella and a glass of milk is enough for me for 5k. I have a bowl of rice 3 hours prior to longer runs e.g 10k or 1/2 marathon.
Good luck with your run.
Here's a good article on this topic:
Happy running!
I am piggybacking. What about pre-race meals for a half-marathon? I was a 5K runner in highschool, played volleyball for 25 years, and now have fallen in love with the half-marathon. Problem is, I have run two, and have really burned out around the 10-11 mile mark. Real muscle fatigue. I do not eat much or breakfast, nor do I eat during the race. Should I be?
I am an experienced half-marathon runner, and I've found that it's really helpful to have a gel around mile 10. It gives me a jolt of energy and wakes up my muscles for thost last three miles. Guess it's the power of glucose.
Yes. I've used them, but just at the starting line. I am trying to focus on how I hold my wrists, so unless my wife is willing to chuck it to me on the course, I hate carrying anything. I don't know how people do waterbottles. If I want to keep my time shrinking, I will have to change that.
Thx, Steve
Well, Jay when I said a huge carb-heavy dinner the night before...I eat ridiculous amounts of food all the time. I typically do 8-10k calories per day. I am literally ALWAYS eating. The only time I'm really not eating or debating what to eat is when I'm getting ready to go on a run or at work. Even when I'm at school, I carry granola bars and a big bag of pretzels around with me, along with a big bottle of water.
I have never, ever met someone who eats more than me (and no, all my friends are not 100 pounds or less haha). So I really meant that I focus more on carbs the night before a race. I typically do a high-protein diet most days, but I eat so much that I really end up getting healthy amounts of everything lol.
That said, I will definitely look into it, and thanks for the insight!
I've done a few 5 K, one 8 K and one 10 K. I've experimented with bagles, orange juice and Cool-aid, and nothing at all. I often have cramps right before the start, probably due to nerves. So my last 5 K (in the spring) I did not eat anything at all. And I still had cramps. But I ran my PR. So I totally don't know what to think. Last 10 K I did , about a month ago, was during the evening. I had no cramps, and I ate normal food, nothing different.
So now my fall 8K is coming up and I am at a loss of what to eat/not eat. Cramps, diarrhea and such are my worst fear. Running out of energy is close second!
ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. ACTIVE also makes it easy to learn and prepare for all the things you love to do with expert resources, training plans and fitness calculators.


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FEB 17, 2013 - The Nation
A Must Read - Share
CHICAGO -- Most countries take special elections to fill vacant seats in their national legislative chambers far more seriously than does the United States.
In Britain, in particular, off-the-clock "by-elections" are recognized as testing grounds not just for candidates and parties but for issues. They are thoroughly covered by the media and often treated as mini-referendums that can send powerful signals regarding hot-button policy debates.
American media outlets and pundits are less inclined toward that sort of analysis. But a crucial Democratic primary to fill a vacant
Read More
Editor's Picks
Hey you have no friends!!! Get to work and start inviting friends to help build your Comunitee. Click Here to invite friends.
© 2011 Comunitee, Inc.


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A "Gathering of Descendants" of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 event will be held Monday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Ridgewater College cafeteria in Willmar, 2101 15th Ave. N.W.
At the event, a panel of descendants of individuals and families who experienced the U.S.-Dakota War will speak about their ancestors' experiences and the war's aftermath, including the resulting impact upon their families.
The "Gathering of Descendants" panel include Fern Cloud, a Dakota Nation descendant and a member of the Upper Sioux Community of Granite Falls.
For more info, click here.
Location, ST | website.com


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In honor of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony coming up April 18, we're asking you to cast your vote for the most deserving acts that have so far been snubbed by them. To make our voting a little more competitive, we've set it up like a bracket -- with groups and individuals competing against each other, and then advancing to the next round.
So join in our rocker version of March Madness
Our final match-up: Depeche Mode vs. Duran Duran


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Game of Thrones is a site for the HBO-series based on George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.
New to the series? Read our spoiler-free review of A Game of Thrones.
Read our Privacy Policy.
The 2011 Emmy nominations are out, and Game of Thrones was well-represented with nominations in 13 categories, including getting a hold of the much-coveted Best Drama nomination, plus nominations for executive producers and lead writers David Benioff and Dan Weiss, for director Timothy van Patten, and for actor Peter Dinklage. Congratulations to everyone nominated! You'll find the full list below.
We admit some perplexity at the failure of Ramin Djawadi's stunning main theme to score a nomination, especially the way it's captured the imagination of fans across the world, with covers going viral. And Gemma Jackson not acknowledged for her art direction? A great shame, but there's always next season!
The Westeros network consists of several different sites, including a forum and a wiki, for all your A Song of Ice and Fire needs.


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My Fahaka has white spots on her back that I thought were Ich. However, when I took a photo in to my local MaIdenhead Aquatics they thought the spots were too large and were some other infection. I have been given Interpet Anti Crustacean Parasite treatment (active ingredient Sodium Chloride 12,835mg/100ml).
Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, pH 8.0, Nitrate 40. He's 4 years old and has always lived in this area with our chalky, high Nitrate water. He is in a 400l aquarium and is about 7 inches long.
He moved to us about 2 months ago. After a shaky week or so he settled in and has been eating well, is active and responsive and enjoying his new home.
He gets very stressed with water changes so we monitor the levels and do a 30% change every 2-3 weeks. We feed cockles and mussles daily or every other day and feeder shrimp every 1-2 weeks. He also gets occasional snails. I add Ferropol plant food weekly.
The tank was cycled for about 3 months with my Tiger Barbs (Who now have a tank all to themselves because they're such little thugs!).
His appetite is unchanged. He is darting and rubbing against the Bogwood, obviously irritated by whatever it is. He is bright and happy most of the time but does turn black and quiet occasionally for no apparent reason so I assume it's because of the spots. The spots are raised and look like pustules. He has about a dozen. I first noticed it Thursday and he hasn't any new ones since then. I will post a couple of photos.
Can anyone tell me what this is, whether the treatment I have will work, whether it will harm him and therefore need a lower dose. Any and all information will be gratefully received. Thank you for reading.


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CBS comedy 'Big Bang Theory' hits ratings high
Published: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 7:50 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 7:50 a.m.
NEW YORK (AP) — CBS is getting a bigger bang out of its most popular comedy.
"The Big Bang Theory" set a series record with 17.6 million viewers last week, the Nielsen Co. said Tuesday. The Thursday night comedy, now in its sixth year on the network, was second only to NBC's Sunday night football game in popularity for the week.
The show, about four geeky technology institute workers, an aspiring actress and their friends, is in its third year on CBS' Thursday night schedule. Its reruns are very popular on TBS and appear to be fueling interest in original episodes.
It was a big CBS week in the ratings. Eight out of the top 10 scripted shows were on CBS, with ABC's "Modern Family" and "Castle" the only two exceptions.
The broad-brush miniseries "Mankind" seems to be a rare misfire for the usually hot History network. Its first episode had 2.1 million viewers last week, Nielsen said. The series "America: The Story of Us," upon which the new one was modeled, had 5.7 million viewers for its first episode.
For the week, CBS averaged 10.7 million viewers in prime-time (6.8 rating, 11 share). A ratings point represents 1,147,000 households, or 1 percent of the nation's estimated 114.7 million TV homes. The share is the percentage of in-use televisions tuned to a given show.
ABC had 8.1 million (5.2, 8), NBC had 7 million (4.3, 7), Fox had 4.5 million (2.8, 4), the CW had 1.8 million (1.1, 2) and ION Television had 1.1 million (0.8, 1).
Among the Spanish-language networks, Univision led with 3.9 million viewers (2.0, 3). Telemundo had 1.3 million (0.7, 1), TeleFutura had 790,000 (0.7, 1), Estrella had 230,000 (0.1, 0) and Azteca 210,000 (also 0.1, 0).
NBC's "Nightly News" topped the evening newscasts with an average of 9.2 million viewers (6.1, 11). ABC's "World News" was second with 8.5 million (5.7, 11), and the "CBS Evening News" had 6.7 million viewers (4.6, 8).
For the week of Nov. 12-18, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: NFL Football: Baltimore at Pittsburgh, NBC, 18.16 million; "The Big Bang Theory," CBS, 17.63 million; "NCIS," CBS, 17.05 million; "NCIS: Los Angeles," CBS, 15.77 million; "Person of Interest," CBS, 14.57 million; "60 Minutes," CBS, 14.04 million; "Two and a Half Men," CBS, 13.87 million; "Dancing With the Stars," ABC, 13.79 million; "Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick," NBC, 12.91 million; "Criminal Minds," CBS, 12.2 million.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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Crater High School in Central Point will remain closed at least through Wednesday after a broken water main over the weekend caused extensive flood damage in the Crater Renaissance Academy, one of the campus's three small schools.
District administrators said that when classes do resume, Renaissance Academy students will be moved to the library, student center or gym, where they could remain for several weeks.
The campus' other small schools, the Crater School of Business, Innovation and Science and the Crater Academy of Health and Public Services were relatively undamaged by the flood, Superintendent Randy Gravon said.
Gravon said a main water line from the school, which was built in 1954, burst sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning, causing 2 to 3 inches of water to pool up in the Renaissance Academy wing of the school, which was once the campus' gym 40 years ago.
The floor in those lower level classrooms has several layers, which include the old gym floor covered in plywood and topped with linoleum, Gravon said.
"The water has saturated down through, and we're going to have to tear all these layers out," Gravon said.
Repairs to the flooring to prevent mold will take weeks to finish, and students from Renaissance Academy will have to take their classes in other areas of the school, Gravon said.
"They're not going to be in their classrooms in the near future," he said.
Electricity and water to the campus was turned back on Tuesday, and a temporary boiler for heat is scheduled to arrive at 6 p.m.
Dehumidifiers and fans were brought to the school to air out areas where flooding occurred.
—Teresa Ristow
Location, ST | website.com


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Municipal Library Tax Levy Law Signed: This is not a new tax!
Governor Christie signed the Municipal Library Tax Levy Law on March 22, 2011 (S2068/A2679). The passage of this legislation was important to NJ municipal libraries, such as Middletown, because now tax bills in communities that have a municipal or joint library will now be treated the same as those that are in a county library.
Library funding is a very small part of any tax bill. This legislation gives each household the ability to see exactly what they are paying for library services. The local tax support for the Middletown Public Library is 2% of your total property tax bill – now it will show up as a separate item. For example, a homeowner with a total of $7,000 in property taxes in the Township pays $96.60 for yearly support of the library.
In supporting this law, it was my opinion that the taxpayers of Middletown would be pleased to see that such a small amount or portion of their total taxes can deliver a truly great library. High value and low price is a winning combination. Good internal fiscal management and dedication to public services guide our every move. In spite of the economy and declining property values, which have resulted in two consecutive years of lower budgets, we were prepared with savings and belt tightening. And yes, that preparedness is changed by the recent decision to transfer $500,000 in reserves and a small budget surplus from two and three years ago to the Township for its 2011 budget. However, the library has kept enough resources to keep its four branches open without a reduction in hours, and without a layoff of employees, many of whom are residents of Middletown.
Moreover, we already know that our municipal appropriation will drop significantly in 2012 [at least one third of a million dollars, we are told], due to the reassessment of property. The Library Trustees have planned for this scenario, and are due respect and praise for their fiscal stewardship of the library.
Now back to this new law. The legislation provides fiscal transparency for library funding. This is not a new tax. It does not result in any increased taxes, but changes the way the minimum library appropriation is displayed to the public on the tax bill. It is supposed to be implemented on the 3rd quarter 2011 tax bills. An article in the Asbury Park Press on March 28 by Kevin Penton on the new law was very confusing and misleading, and contained false assumptions and facts. I don't mean to be glib, but to try and interpret and correct this article – well, I think I might be writing Atlas Shrugged. This blog is probably too long as it is.
-Susan O'Neal
Director of the Library


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And now for something completely different. The sublimely silly Monty Python spoof "Spamalot" is holding court at City Lights Theater Company in San Jose through Aug. 31.
While Jeffrey Bracco's exuberant revival lacks the comic virtuosity of the original Broadway version, there's no denying the sheer giggle-inducing catharsis of spending a few hours basking in killer rabbits, Finnish fish-slapping songs and knights who say "Ni!" If you need a little reminder to "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," this meta-theatrical blast of British balderdash will have you grinning from the first flatulence joke to the last Bubonic plague lampoon. If you know your "Life of Brian" from your "Meaning of Life," this musical, which lovingly rips off "The Holy Grail" will hit your sweet spot and then some.
What this production lacks in polish and finesse, it more than makes up for in its sincere appreciation for all that is brainless and cheesy and its full-throttle energy. The folks at nearby Psycho Donuts have even gotten into the act by unveiling a "Spam Wellington" doughnut that is tastier than you might suspect. By the way, you don't have to worry about cheating on your diet, because what happens in this Camelot stays in this Camelot.
None shall pass up this delightful stroll down daffiness lane. Eric Idle's snappy book and lyrics never miss a chance to tickle the funny bone as the addled King Arthur (Ken Boswell) launches his nit-witted adventure for the Holy Grail with the help of the Lady of the Lake (Clara Rose Walker) and her Laker Girls (don't ask). The puns hit the fan, and potty humor goes into overdrive as the show makes fun of everyone and everything in all of existence. Among those poked fun at are the monarchy, the French and the religious. Don't even get me started on the song about the Jews.
But at the end of the day, the realm that gets mocked the most may well be Broadway. No target on the Great White Way is safe; from Andrew Lloyd Webber to Sondheim to Les Miz.
While the staging suffers from some sluggish pacing and poor elocution, which undercuts the text's mash-up of silliness and erudition, the Python material is, as ever, irresistible. For the record, there is no lack of wit to this festival of wackiness. The play buttresses all its tomfoolery with tart historical and socioeconomic analysis, not to mention a passionate avowal of gay marriage.
Some of the ensemble lacks the deadpan delivery this brand of outrageousness demands, but several performers stand out. Nick Manfredi shines as the cowardly Sir Robin, Mackenzie Drae makes a wonderfully snide French taunter as well as a gallant Lancelot, and Jeremy Ryan steals more than one scene as not-dead Fred and the mincing Prince Herbert. For her part, Walker drips with presence as the put-upon diva, even though she gets saddled with too many refrains of "The Song That Goes Like This."
Jennifer Gorgulho's high-voltage choreography also frames the hyperactive farce well, and Ron Gasparinetti (set designer), Erin Haney (costumes) and Caroline Clark (props) do ingenious work with limited resources.
Indeed, the air-conditioning was on the fritz at a recent performance, a state of affairs that taxed the audience as greatly as the cast, given the intense summer heat. Still, the quest for a standing ovation was fulfilled, which goes to show that Monty Python's brand of tongue-in-cheek never gets old.
Contact Karen D'Souza at 408-271-3772. Read her at www.mercurynews.com/karen-dsouza, and follow her at Twitter.com/karendsouza4.
Book and lyrics by Eric Idle, music by Eric Idle and John Du Prez, presented by City Lights Theater Company
Through: Aug. 31
Where: 529 S. Second. St., San Jose
Running time: 2 hours,
15 minutes, one intermission
Tickets: $17-$35,
408-295-4200. www.cltc.org


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Prior to Tuesday's season opening match, Yellow Medicine East head boys' tennis coach Jeff Lalim said, "I think it's going to be a close match," when asked about his team's chances against conference rival MACCRAY.
"Both teams are going to be young. If we have our top players ready to go, it's going to be close. With John Howard there at MACCRAY, between the two of us, it's always going to be close. We're both going to have some young players and it's going to be fun."
After Tuesday's match, it seems Lalim had underestimated his team as they vanquished the Wolverines with a 5-2 victory.
The Sting got singles wins from No. 1 player Tyler Kotlowski and No. 3 player David Nowacki.
YME swept the doubles matches with teams of Carter Iverson and Brandon Repsher, Chris Garding and Grant Elliot, and James DeJager and Todd Nowacki each winning handily.
(1) Tyler Kotlowski, YME, def. Nick Kellen 6-3, 6-1 (2) Brandon Webrink, M, def. Clinton Repsher 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 (3) David Nowacki, YME, def. Andrew DuHoux 6-1, 6-2 (4) Connor Hagemeyer, M, def. Ethan Ator 7-5, 7-5
(1) Carter Iverson/Brandon Repsher, YME, def. Nathan Aisenmenger/Preston Dobmeier 6-1, 6-0 (2) Chris Garding/Grant Elliot, YME, def. Austin Stager/Jae Lim 6-0, 6-1 (3) James DeJager/Todd Nowacki, YME, def. Chris Sietsema/Chris Preuss 6-4, 6-0
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Location, ST | website.com


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Icahn's New Letter to Apple Shareholders
When Carl Icahn tweeted earlier this week that he had snapped up more Apple shares and thought the company's board was doing disservice to shareholders, he said he'd have more to say on the matter.
Today, Icahn said he bought another $500 million in shares, bringing his total stake to $3.6 billion. He called Apple a "no brainer" investment and released a (really long) letter to Apple shareholders. Here they are:
Today we have put out a seven page letter to $AAPL shareholders discussing why buyback should be markedly increased: http://t.co/O7F8S7BzWg
— Carl Icahn (@Carl_C_Icahn) January 23, 2014
Here are some highlights from the letter:
On the buyback and his position:
Indeed, we believe that by choosing not to increase the size of the repurchase program, the directors are actually performing a great disservice to the owners, especially smaller shareholders who may not be in a position to buy more stock themselves. Meanwhile, we are in a position to continue buying shares in the market at today's price, so perhaps we should thank the Board for not being more aggressive, and thus allowing us to accumulate an even larger investment position at a price that reflects the aforementioned valuation disconnect.
On new products:
Even if the story ended with Apple's existing product and software lines, we would still choose to make Apple our largest investment. But there is more to the story! Tim Cook keeps saying that he expects to introduce "new products in new categories" and yet very few people seem to be listening. We're not aware of a single Wall Street analyst who includes "new products in new categories" or new services in any of their financial projections, even though Apple clearly has an impressive track record of such new category product introductions, even if it does so rarely.
Get on with Apple TV already:
We believe ultra high definition represents a major catalyst for the next TV replacement cycle and a promising moment for Apple to introduce its first new product in this category. Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, has referenced ultra high definition as a major catalyst for Netflix going forward. While this is true for Netflix, we believe it is also true for Apple, not just for its hardware but also for selling ultra high definition movies and shows on iTunes through the internet.
A lesson on investing …:
Furthermore, it is important to note that a share repurchase is not simply an act of "returning capital to shareholders" since it is also the company effectively making an investment in itself. To us, as long term investors, this is an important difference.
… and what he thinks of the board:
It should be noted that no one on the Board seems to be an expert in the world of investment management.
Icahn has more on Apple's cash pile, its history of M&A and some thoughts on R&D. You can read the full letter here.
Apple didn't immediately respond to the Journal for comment. The updated WSJ story is here.