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Dirichlet problem, in mathematics, the problem of formulating and solving certain partial differential equations that arise in studies of the flow of heat, electricity, and fluids. Initially, the problem was to determine the equilibrium temperature distribution on a disk from measurements taken along the boundary. The temperature at points inside the disk must satisfy a partial differential equation called Laplace's equation corresponding to the physical condition that the total heat energy contained in the disk shall be a minimum. A slight variation of this problem occurs when there are points inside the disk at which heat is added (sources) or removed (sinks) as long as the temperature still remains constant at each point (stationary flow), in which case Poisson's equation is satisfied. The Dirichlet problem can also be solved for any simply connected region—i.e., one containing no holes—if the temperature varies continuously along the boundary. The problem is named for the 19th-century German mathematician Peter Gustav Lejeune Dirichlet, who suggested the first general method of solving this class of problems.
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I would say that if your system can't maintain a steady 60 fps, then it might be best to leave Vsync off.
There are some people who swear they can tell the difference in reaction times, etc, in PvP by having a high fps (without Vsync) but I've never experienced any benefit from it. (Although, the fact I don't PvP may have something to do with that. )
I always have Vsync on - I always make sure that my system can deliver a steady 60+ fps (even if it requires some lowering of settings). There is little purpose in putting more stress on your system, and creating more heat, by having your system generate frames that you'll never really see. Keep in mind that your average 60Hz LCD monitor cannot actually display more than 60fps no matter how many frames the game can render. The extra frames will either be dropped or the content of a frame may change during it's rendering - which can lead to tearing.
For example, say your game is running at 120fps and your monitor is 60Hz. In that case either every second frame will be skipped (and never displayed) or each displayed frame will consist of half of one frame and half of the next. If those two halves are significantly different, you may see the difference as "tearing".
Of course, those ratios are not apt to be a tidy 2:1, so the number of dropped frames will vary and/or the tearing will happen at various points in the frame.
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text: GEOMAPS provides its clients with integrated solutions - from airborne multi sensor data collection, to Topographical mapping and GIS solution development through to unique customer delivery methodologies. To this end GEOMAPS has invested heavily in appropriate information technology for efficient delivery of services to its clients. We utilise state of the art airborne, field and office equipment thus ensuring that surveys of any kind can be completed on time and within budget. Our field equipment allows us to operate in one and two man modes for greater efficiency in collecting data. In addition, we utilize the newest survey software to help insure accurate and efficient data collection. Further, GEOMAPS has invested in modern hardware, software and ancillary equipment to produce land plans, digital maps, GIS resources, and other geo-information outputs accurately and cost effectively.


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Thanks to Youtube, we have at our fingertips plenty of video evidence of unique yet romantic proposals. There was the Disneyland dancing proposal and the Home Depot proposal, but what if I told you Google Glass proposals are the latest videos to hit the interwebs.
Google decided to show its romantic side this past Valentine's Day with a video compilation of Google Glass proposals called "Marry Me (through Google Glass)".
Here's what Google said about the video:
"Roses are red, violets are blue, we're feeling loved-up, but rhyming is lame.
The beauty of Glass is that it allows us to capture important moments both big and small. It's not about technology, it's about the people who use it. Congrats to all our betrothed Explorers in this film, and thanks for sharing your special moment."
So, I watched the video, and I've got a couple thoughts on the matter.
While I think it's certainly romantic to want to document your proposal via multiple perspectives (i.e. the benefit of Google Glass), I think it's a little unnecessary. Sure, I definitely want my future fiance to have an up-close and personal video of my double chin while he's down on one knee. And if my double chin isn't bad enough, I definitely think my crying should be documented for all times.
Also, maybe I'm just a terrible person, but if my soon-to-be fiance is wearing Google Glass while he's proposing, I can guarantee I will be trying my best not to laugh in his face. And that won't be easy for me. And once he sees me laughing in his face, he might just rethink this whole marriage thing.
So, if you want a video of me at an unflattering angle laughing in your face, definitely go with the Google Glass, future husband.
What do you guys think about Google Glass proposals?
Check out the video below:


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Law Blog Last-Minute Gift Idea: Fictionalized Law Students on DVD!
It's a bit of a rite of passage, isn't it, to read Scott Turow'sOne-L and watch the movie "Paper Chase" either before or during one's 1L year.*
But how many of you have seen the television show "Paper Chase," or, for that matter, even knew such a show existed? We didn't. But lucky for us — and all LBers far and wide — the second (and final) season of the show was released on DVD last week. A perfect stocking-stuffer, you say? We couldn't agree more, especially when paired with the first season, which came out in April.
But Law Blog, many of you might be saying, just yesterday, you very astutely told us that the '00s were the best ever for television. Why would we want to go back to 1983 to watch a show about law school in the 1970s?
Because, well, it sounds like a little hidden gem of a show. Consider this recent review, from a Web site called DVD Talk:
I hadn't seen The Paper Chase since the mid-1980s, but looking at these episodes again I was surprised at just how well they hold up compared to other equally fine but now dated dramas from the same period, and how well I remembered the shows I hadn't seen in nearly a quarter-century, so strong an impression did they make.
The writing and the two leading performances make The Paper Chase the great success that it is. [Paper Chase author John Jay] Osborn himself wrote more than a third of the season's 19 hour-long episodes; those written by others are for the most part just as good, with the season's best-remembered episode, "Not Prince Hamlet," penned by Lee Kalcheim. That show, a variation of Rashomon, is a flashbacks story about a father trying to understand why his law student son committed suicide.
The movie and subsequent series made a star out of [John] Houseman (pictured), primarily a stage and film producer before 1973. His measured and erudite delivery, with a hint of perpetual mild impatience in which he seemed to emphasize every fifth word or so, became famous in a series of TV commercials ("Smith Barney earns money the old-fashioned way: they earn it.") As Kingsfield, Houseman's ability to intimidate almost reaches through the TV screen to throttle the viewer.
Even more John Houseman as contracts professor Charles Kingsfield? An episode that channels Kurosawa? Come on, folks. We're sure you're busy trying to get those billables up for the end of the year, but wethinks you can take time out to give these DVDs a spin.
* During our One-L year, we found watching the original movie, "The Paper Chase," to be alternatively hilariously fun and unsettling, given the rather brutal emotional struggles suffered by several characters. We also remember noticing how scrawny the actors seem. They'd never let men appear shirtless these days without first subjecting them to six months with a personal trainer and a nutritionist.


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Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty broadcasts in 28 languages. Most of our programs are available on FM and medium-wave frequencies of local radio stations in the countries of our broadcast area. If you are having problems listening to programs on the internet, please read our technical help document.
Published 11 January 2013
Azerbaijani soldier Ceyhun Qubadov died on January 7 of what his officers say was a heart attack. But his relatives say he was beaten to death. The case has raised public concerns about the mistreatment of army conscripts, and an opposition rally to protest the issue has been scheduled for January 12. (RFE/RL's Azerbaijan Service)
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty © 2016 RFE/RL, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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Man Jailed for Raping Woman in Her Edmonton HomeA man will spend eight years in prison for raping a woman in her north London home.
34 year old Michael Chukwudi Anigbugu was jailed at Wood Green Court after being convicted of two counts of rape and two offences of sexual assault.
He entered the victim's home in Edmonton between 2 - 3am on October 10 2009. He was identified by a single hair he left on her dressing gown.
Detective Inspector Daniel Smith of the Metropolitan Police Sapphire Unit based at Edmonton was the investigating officer: "This type of attack is rare- Anigbugu was successfully convicted thanks to the victim's courage, the good work of forensic scientists and the dedication and skill of the officers involved in the investigation.
"I would like to pay tribute to the victim who despite suffering such a terrible ordeal has demonstrated remarkable courage. I hope she is able to find some comfort knowing she has assisted in taking a dangerous individual off our streets.
"The Metropolitan Police takes all allegations of rape and sexual assault extremely seriously and we will investigate thoroughly. We encourage any victims of this crime to report it to police. Be assured every assistance and support will be offered."


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*Overall length 31 inches long with 24 inch blade *Made from 440 stainless steeldouble edgedsharp *3.67mm blade thickness *6 inch handledetailed black and silver *Accurate look and fully finished *Includes stunning belt sheath *Great for cosplay or display *Brand new Great for fans of Assasins Creed. This is a serious weapon with significant power and ideal for display. This 440 stainless steel replica has beautiful black and silver detail: Winged-shape blade guard and goblin head pommel.
- Additional Info
SKU SSS-KM0206-C Age 18+ Age Group Adult Manufacturer Swordsswords.com
- Reviews


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Creeping deep into the dark woods at 3 a.m. was old hat for Mark Hudak, 45, of Clinton, Ohio.
An avid bow hunter, Hudak often began hunting long before daylight. So 11 years ago, when Hudak got an opportunity to hunt on more than 2,000 acres of private land with his brother and two friends near Barnesville, he was ecstatic. Little did Hudak know, but he and his hunting partners were about to experience a frightening encounter they would never forget.
"It started out that we heard some owls hooting at us. Well, that is normal, so we didn't think nothing of it," said Hudak.
Article Photos
SOSBI member John Veal photographs and investigates a giant tree that has been split down the center and arranged symmetrically around the base. Strange tree formations, many of which display signs of symmetry and would have required super human strength to create, are often seen as physical evidence of bigfoot's existence.
JASMINE ROGERS The Marietta Times
But as the men continued walking, they noticed that the owl sounds emanating from both sides of them were getting closer. Not only that, but every time the group stopped, so did the hoots.
"We continued down the ridge, and one of these critters screamed at us," said Hudak.
Then a low growl started and crescendoed louder and louder.
Fact Box
Story continues below
About SOSPI
The Southeastern Ohio Society for Bigfoot Investigation, or SOSBI, meets every other month at the Crossroads Branch of the Guernsey County Public Library and attempts to have three or four campouts a year.
The next SOSPI meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 3.
The society's mission is to give people a forum to share their experiences and talk freely without fear of judgment.
The group's last camp out took place over the weekend of Oct. 5 at Salt Fork State Park, where many bigfoot sightings have been reported.
More information on the group can be found at the Southeastern Ohio Society for Bigfoot Investigation Facebook page.
"We finally noticed that something else was not right. Not a single other animal was making noise anymore. No nighttime sounds. Now if you're a hunter, you'll know how weird that it," said Hudak.
With the absence of nighttime sounds, Hudak and his partners could finally hear what they had not yet noticed - footsteps. It became very apparent that Hudak and his companions were not dealing with owls. But whatever they were dealing with was most certainly following the hunters.
"I would almost compare them to a Navy Seal team the way they flanked us," he added.
Too scared to flee back to the car or to hunt, Hudak and his team waited out the night in the woods. It was not until 11 a.m. that morning that the birds began chirping and the noises of the forest restarted.
Though he and his comrades never saw the creatures, Hudak said he knew they had just encountered creatures popularly known as bigfoot.
The legend of bigfoot stretches far back into folklore, and tales of its existence are told in every continent except Antarctica. Described as a mix between a human and a gorilla, most accounts put bigfoot somewhere upwards of seven feet tall and likely weighing more than 500 pounds. The name bigfoot derives from the large footprints that have been attributed to the creature, which can measure up to 24 inches long.
Though he had been interested in bigfoot as a child, Hudak thought bigfoot sightings were confined to the Pacific Northwest. However, bigfoot sighting are actually spread throughout the U.S., with a large concentration occurring in Ohio. Since his encounter with the Ohio bigfoots, Hudak has been in search of answers.
However, when Hudak started explaining his encounter to others, they began to ridicule him.
"I learned to be really picky about who I talk to about it," said Hudak.
That is why Hudak got involved with the Southeastern Ohio Society for Bigfoot Investigation, or SOSBI.
"The group has no requirements, no membership fee. We provide a venue to come and open up," said SOSBI co-founder Doug Waller, 61, of Cambridge.
It is a venue that has provided a haven for Hudak and many others.
SOSBI members shared those stories and many others as they gathered at Salt Fork State Park this month for a weekend campout. Salt Fork State Park is a hot spot for bigfoot sightings, explained Waller.
The park even has a camp sight named for the cryptid (a mysterious or unproven creature) and the Salt Fork Lodge hosts a well-attended annual Bigfoot Conference.
Aside from sharing stories, members also share evidence they have collected or photographed.
Waller has collected physical evidence of bigfoot's existence for years, including photographs of several tracks, both in the park and on private property.
At the campout, Waller proudly displayed a cast of a 2-foot long footprint, which was donated to SOSBI by prominent bigfoot researcher Walter Tippie. The track was also evaluated and authenticated by Jeff Meldrum, a professor of Biological Sciences at Idaho State University.
The idea that SOSBI encourages a judgment-free atmosphere is one of the things, John Veal, 44, of Johnstown, likes so well about the group.
"They are very friendly. They are very welcoming to newcomers," said Veal.
Veal became interested in bigfooting as a child in England. When he eventually transplanted to Ohio in 2003, he met Waller at Salt Fork's annual Bigfoot Conference and has been a SOSBI member ever since.
Veal was interested in using the weekend to explore the woods for physical evidence, like tree formation and footprints. Strange tree formations, such as branches being knotted or large trees being twisted apart, are thought to be evidence of bigfoot activity.
One tree that the group found during the last campout had been cracked high up, and its branches had been arranged into a tepee formation. Although it is possible a storm damaged the tree, it is unlikely because of the strange, perfectly symmetrical formation its debris shaped, said Veal.
SOSBI member Tim Stover, 46, of Canton, is of the few members who says he has seen bigfoot with his own eyes.The experience, said Stover, changed his perspective forever.
"Before this, I was the kind of person where I would have laughed at you if you said you had a bigfoot sighting," he said.
Stover, who celebrated the 20th anniversary of his sighting this month, was bow hunting in Salt Fork in the wee hours of the morning when one of the creatures came out of the woods, he said.
Just 30 yards away, the creature stared directly at Stover for several seconds before turning and disappearing into the woods. Even 12 feet high in a tree stand, Stover was scared of the creature who he estimated to be eight feet tall.
"What really freaked me out was when he walked away, you could just see the muscles in his back rippling," he said.
Stover said he gave up game hunting right then and there. Instead, he picked up bigfoot investigating in its place.
Many of the bigfoot sightings inside of Salt Fork are by hunters. In fact, Stover estimated 90 percent of people who have a sighting are not expecting one.
Dave Nowakowski, 52, of Garfield Heights said he never steps foot in Salt Fork without experiencing some sort of strange activity. Nowakowski picked up his friend, 19-year-old Mike Fonte, of Akron on his way to the weekend campout. The two trekked into the woods that Friday afternoon to set up a deer camera in hopes of catching a bigfoot on camera.
"A lot of mythical creatures have been proven to exist," said Fonte, pointing to the giant squid as an example.
Like many bigfoot investigators, Fonte and Nowakowski think it is only a matter of time before bigfoot can be proven conclusively to exist.
"You've got all kinds of technology today that you never had before," said Nowakowski.
Like many modern bigfooters, Nowakowski chronicles many of his investigative outings on film. The internet has made sharing films and information about sightings much faster and more widely available.
As the popularity of bigfoot investigation has risen, some of the stigma associated with believing in the creature has dissipated, said SOSBI co-founder Shawna Parks, 37, of Caldwell.
"I think the TV program is encouraging more people to come forward with their experiences," she said.
Parks is referring to the Animal Planet show "Finding Bigfoot" on which Stover's encounter was featured.
Parks also brought her 13-year-old nephew, Cody, to the campout. Though new to bigfoot investigation, Cody said he was hopeful he would find something convincing.
"With all the dense forests like in West Virginia and Ohio, it is possible something could stay hidden for a very long time," he said.
Marietta resident Robert Schaffer, 64, read about the SOSBI outing in the paper.
"I am an outdoors man. I want to prove to myself whether or not it is real," he said.
In fact, most SOSBI members are not out to debate and change minds. Many of the investigations are personal missions.
"For me, I am not trying to convince anybody that this exists. I am just trying to see it for myself," said Veal.


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The Vermont State Police, Brattleboro Barracks are urging all tractor trailers not to use Vermont Route 9, from Brattleboro to Bennington Vermont.
State Police are encouraging drivers to take alternate routes, including Interstate 91 to Interstate 90 in Mass due to road conditions on the mountain.
Route 9 was closed late Tuesday morning after a tractor trailer jackknifed while making its way along the road.
The roadway has reopened.


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ISOSTAT Minutes
August 3, 2008
Ann Cannon (note-taker)
Shonda Kuiper began the meeting at 7 pm with the usual round
of introductions. 49 people were in
attendance (this appears to be the second largest crowd, with 55 attending in
Carol Blumberg announced that various government agencies will soon be looking for many people with mathematical and statistical skills. She noted that 1/3 or more of the current people in these types of positions will retire in the next few years. She would like faculty to encourage their undergraduates to consider internships and careers with the federal government. She also encouraged faculty to be in touch with her if students apply to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (where she works) so that she can follow up on their application.
Nick Horton,
An announcement was made on Jackie Miller's behalf about the idea of starting a support group for those teaching statistics in an on-line environment. A show of hands was taken and there were very few in the audience who are currently teaching on-line or are interested in it. If there are people interested in such a support group, they should be in touch with Jackie at The Ohio State University.
Gunnar Steffanson (sp?),
Pat Humphrey announced that the AP Stat reading is always
looking for more readers to score exams.
Anyone interested in becoming a reader should go to the ETS website and
submit an application. If you have
questions about the reading, be in touch with Chris Franklin, chief reader for
statistics, at the
Pat Humphrey also put a plug in for the talks supported by
the SIGMAA Stat Ed at the Joint Math Meetings in January in
John McKenzie suggested that we need to do a better job of
outreach to other isolated statisticians.
Many cannot afford to come to JSM and/or do not know that we exist. We should be trying to get together
regionally as much as possible, perhaps using the New England Isostat group as
a guide. They have gathered yearly for
at least 10 years now and have a very strong group. The
John McKenzie then began a discussion of the use of PowerPoint slides in the classroom. A quick survey of those in attendance suggested that about 30% or so currently use PowerPoint in their classrooms. Several ideas were discussed:
· Put only the major points on the slides (and post them later)
· Many students don't know how to take notes so they need the bullet points – give them the slides ahead of time.
· On the other hand, some say don't give the slides to students ahead of time – use the slides as we used to use the blackboard
· One suggestion was to put the complement of what they should write down on the slides – this gives the students lots to fill in and may reinforce cognition.
· Some suggested that Word was far easier to use than PowerPoint and that neither works particularly well because the students spend their whole time writing and not paying attention.
· BYU apparently has done a randomized study comparing the use of PowerPoint to overheads. They found no difference in final exam scores. But they did find a difference in student perception (PowerPoint was liked more). These results have not been published anywhere yet – stay tuned.
· One suggestion was to use LaTeX and specifically leave gaps on the handouts (something that LaTeX will do) so that students have to fill in from the slides.
· We will begin to see students expecting PowerPoint lectures and textbooks are starting to provide them. We should insert our own slides into them. We should also share slides with adjuncts to help keep their courses on track.
Joy Jordan reminded the group about the website www.isostat.org. On the website you will find:
· A link on the website to get on the list serve
· An archive of the discussions on the list serve
· Agendas and Minutes from past meetings
· List of isolated statisticians by state
· Resources on professional development and teaching
Suggested additions to the website include:
· List of REU's for students with even only 1 or 2 stat courses
· Relevant junior year abroad programs
Shonda began a discussion about whether we want to become a formally recognized group within the ASA. Our choices would be a Special Interest Group (the beginning route to becoming a section) or an Other ASA group. Ron Wasserstein reminded us that we should really be thinking about this from the "what are we looking for" avenue and then see if joining the ASA as a group will get us what we are looking for. At this point in time, the only Other Group is the Department Chairs of Programs in Statistics and Biostatistics. Becoming and Other Group would tie us into the ASA so that we might be able to become part of the budget process (and actually have a budget), but this would not be guaranteed. Another possible plus would be to be able to create affordable continuing education opportunities (i.e. courses at JSM or webinars). It would also give us more formality – if we decided to request a member initiative grant from the board, we would be more likely to get it as a formal group within ASA. And we might find it easier to find outside funding if we could say we are part of the ASA. One point made was that it could give us more visibility on the ASA website, but that then there would have to be other isolated groups for other types of statisticians (and also it should be made known that this is not for "people who choose to isolate themselves…J). This move would require a charter and the members of the group would likely have to be ASA members. A quick poll of those in the room suggested that about 50% were in favor of looking into this. A few people were clearly not in favor. Shonda, Dex and Jeff will send an email out to the list to see what we want to do and will follow up with the idea.
Robin Lock announced that the ASA-MAA committee got a membership initiative to set up a website profiling the careers of young statisticians with only a bachelor's degree. The website will have about 100 profiles including what they do and what advice they would give other undergraduates.
Paul Roback,
Don Bentley announced arrangements for dinner after the Wednesday evening Student's Tea and Stat Ed section business meeting.
Carolyn Cuff noted that the ASA Open Meeting previously scheduled at JSM on Sunday evening at 6 has not been cancelled. There was discussion about moving our meeting up to 6 pm next year so that we can go out to dinner afterwards.
Adam Molnar,
Dex Whittinhill,
Shonda Kuiper,
Shonda then adjourned the meeting at I don't remember what time J
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Cannon


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Blogger-Fashion-Junkie-Fanged-Diva-Of-The-SL-Runway Winter Jefferson is this weeks featured Koinup user! Or as he likes to call himself: "The only Australian Vampire knight fashionisto on the grid. So far." Whether he is undead, hybrid creature,or couture prince, he is always unique. (Not to mention extremely cheeky!)
Not only is he a fan of the runway but he makes time to visit some of the most remarkable sims in SL both for the blog and for his own personal pleasure. Winter is one of those characters whether you love him or hate him make SL more entertaining.
"Yes; I wear sequinned hotpants. It's less girly when you wear them over tights. Yuh huh."
- Winter (From his fashion blog: "In Cold Blood")
You can find Winter's Koinup page here: http://www.koinup.com/WinterJefferson
Or see more at his personal blog: http://incoldbloodsl.blogspot.com
Categories: Blogger, Fashion, Featured Koinup User of the Week, Koinup, Photography, Second Life, Secondlife, Winter Jefferson


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Be careful
Following on from part 1 of getting around on Samui, which covered songthaews, motorbike taxis and taxis, in this post we look at renting your own scooter or motorbike, renting a car, and that old chestnut, walking.
Automatic scooters are available for rent all over the island. Expect to pay from 120 to 250 baht a day depending on the length of rental period. Renting for a month can cost as little as 2,800 baht.
Riding a scooter is a great way to explore the island, but be warned: Samui has the highest rate of driving fatalities in the country, so be aware and always wear a helmet, as you are far more vulnerable on a bike.
Also be careful that you don't end up joining the ranks of tourists sporting a 'Samui tattoo' — though they aren't unique to newbie riders in Samui — a burn on the right calf caused by the exhaust when disembarking.
Fuel is available all around the island at fuel stations or roadside kiosks selling petrol in used whiskey bottles. Petrol at these stands is more expensive, but convenient as you won't travel more than a few hundred metres without seeing one. There will be someone around any corner that can help repair punctures. Expect to pay 50 to 100 baht for basic assistance.
Motorbikes seldom come with insurance, so you will be liable for any damages or repairs. Should you have a minor mishap, and your bike need repair, have it done yourself at one of the many bike repair shops. Often it is just a case of replacing a broken mirror or plastic moldings. When returning the bike to the rental company, just produce the repair slip, and they will not be able to charge inflated rates for repairs.
Car rentals
Cars are readily available for rental, with small manual Suzuki jeeps being the cheapest and most popular vehicles at about 700 baht per day. More luxurious air-con vehicles are available from 1,200 baht to 2,500 baht per day depending on which model you choose.
Renting a car from your resort is often cheaper, and they won't ask you to leave your passport as security, which is always a risky business anywhere in Southeast Asia. Small car rental and booking agencies also rent the standard Suzuki Jeeps at a much cheaper rate than the big brand name car rental companies.
Samui is extremely safe to explore by foot as crime is rare. Footpaths are however not very user-friendly, and non-existent in places. Drain covers are often broken so it is important to watch your step. Families with young children would do best with the 4×4 variety of pram due to the uneven pavements.
Walking on the beach — without the pram, of course — is the best way to explore the seafront resorts, such as say along Lamai, as they are often nondescript from the road, but spectacular from the beach.
If you plan to spend the day exploring by foot, remember to pack a hat and sunscreen and keep hydrated, as the sun can be harsh. Packing a fold-up disposable raincoat is also wise, as tropical showers can appear with minimal warning. If you enjoy hiking, seek out several of the paths leading inland to waterfalls and viewpoints.
No matter what mode of transport you choose, be it by foot or luxury vehicle, do get out there, beyond your hotel! Explore! Discover and venture off the main drags; on Samui, it's generally safe to do so.
By Rosanne Turner
Last updated on 2nd February, 2012.


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It's all your own fault, in other words.
'It's now time for the African-American leadership, including President Obama, to stop the nonsense,' O'Reilly concluded. 'Walk away from the world of victimization and grievance and lead the way out of this mess.'
On average, African-Americans enjoy 71.7 percent, or fewer than three-fourths, of the benefits and privileges offered to white Americans recent studies have shown. These include education, economics, health and social justice. O'Reilly had no comment on these figures.


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Did i miss a discussion on this one ? Or it hasnt been discussed here
as yet (shockingly) Anyway
so HTC Sense, is what the new interface is called of HTC hero which
is the third Android powered device presented on the market but is
the first huge customization of Android.
It has couple of interesting features. HTC envisions the relations
between the person and his interactions with other people.


text:
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|Final Fantasy Online
Posted: Nov 17 2004, 08:21 PM
Official FAQ
Group: Admin
Posts: 12
Member No.: 108
Joined: 11-April 04
Your adventure begins in the bustling town of New Banian. While it is tempting to venture out and begin battling immediately, you will fare better if you take a few moments to orient yourself and make preparations.
Basics of Movement:
Unlike most BYOND games, FFO discourages the use of arrow keys for movement. Instead, simply click on the map, and your character will move until it has reached the specified destination.
You may be wondering why your character is moving so slowly. No; it's not lag. The movement speed of all mobile characters is highly regulated, and at low levels, your movement speed is relatively slow. There are two ways to increase your speed: class-changing as a Black Belt or Thief (to Master and Ninja, respectively), or to wear shoes with the speed suffix.
The arrow keys and the the num-pad (with numlock off) are not, however, completely without use. Pressing a directional key will cause your character to walk one tile in the direction pressed. Although it won't happen immediately, pressing keys will cause the character to move in the path determined by the buttons pressed. (For instance, pressing right quickly five times will eventually place you five tiles to the right.)
NPC Interactions:
There are numerous non-player characters (NPCs) in New Banian, and you will be interacting with many of them in the near future. To talk to an NPC, simply click it; you will walk over and, once within range, hear what the NPC has to say.
Head's-Up Display (HUD):
Being able to navigate the HUD will make your FFO experience much more enjoyable. The most important area of the HUD, directly beneath the viewing screen, displays your vital statistics, your gold purse, the attack prompt, and 10 "Quick Select" slots. You should quickly familiarize yourself with the health (red) and mana (purple) bars on the left side of the HUD; the thin, horizontal line beneath these is the stamina bar. There are also "hunger" and "thirst" meters, represented by a ham (for hunger) and a jug (for thirst). The thin, horizontal bar placed just above the Quick Select slots is the experience bar.
Beneath the slots are 20 social command buttons. The side-panel is used to access all of your various spells, skills, and items, among other things. Both will be discussed in detail in a later FAQ.
Floating your mouse over a HUD button will display the button's name below the console. Floating your mouse over your gold purse or the various status bars will display your numerical statistics below the console.
If you have any questions or problems as you familiarize yourself with FFO, press the Newbie Say button in the expanded HUD or type "NSay" in the console. Newbie Say allows you to communicate with all players under "newbie protection status" and any "guides" who happen to be playing.
Previous: The Login Sequence
Next: Silas
FAQ Index


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Welcome to RevitaLife
Functional and Regenerative Medicine
Helping patients stay healthy and vital as they age while minimizing their risk for disease.
Professional affiliations and accreditations:
- Diplomate, American Academy of Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine
- Advanced Fellowship, American Academy of Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine
- Diplomate, Age Managed Medicine
- Cenegenics Trained
- Fellowship, Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Medicine, FAARM
- Fellowship, Stem Cell Therapy, FAARM
- Fellowship, IV Therapies, FAARM
- The Institute For Functional Medicine, Member
Gerald Grubbs, MD
Aesthetic Services
There's nothing wrong with wanting to look your best, regardless of your age.
We believe that growing older doesn't have to be a negative thing, and that if there's an aspect of your aesthetic appearance you're not entirely happy with, you should have the right to change it.
Antiaging Medicine
Anti-aging medicine focuses on employing effective therapies to improve physical fitness, health and well-being. It aims to provide the body with valuable natural defenses against disease, in addition to promoting increased energy and mobility.
Functional Medicine
Functional medicine refers to a very different way of addressing health, which offers a range of benefits to the patient.
Rather than simply diagnosing the symptoms, functional medicine seeks to explore the underlying causes of the illness, and the focus is on prevention rather than just the cure.
Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine marks a considerable progression in medical treatment. Regenerative medicine focuses on addressing the disease itself; through natural, therapeutic techniques. Rather than simply easing symptoms, it is involved with harnessing the natural power of the human body to self-repair.
Age Manged Medicine
Growing older shouldn't mean having to stop. In fact, it's the time of your life that you should be enjoying the most, but sometimes, ill-health can get in the way.
Age managed medicine enables you to live your life to the full, and prevents illness from holding you back.
Intravenous Nutritional Therapy (I.V.)
Nutrient status is the cornerstone of anti-aging medicine. Each micronutrient plays an indispensable role in promoting optimal cell function. When some cells do not function at their best, the foundation of our health is compromised, setting the stage for the development of the disease. Identifying and correcting nutritional deficiencies is an important step in the long-term maintenance of optimal health.


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PORTSMOUTH — Police have issued an arrest warrant for a Maine man who they say broke into the Portsmouth office of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation on Saturday, according to a press release issued by Capt. Mike Schwartz.
Police responded to 446 Market St., after an employee reported interrupting a burglary, causing the suspect to flee.
Based on physical evidence recovered at the scene and witness statements, police issued a felony warrant for burglary for James T. Birkbeck of Lewiston, Maine.
Birkbeck, 39, is a white male who stands about 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs 175 pounds. He has blond hair and blue eyes and is believed to be in the Lewiston area, according to the release.
Police are asking anyone with information to call detective Rebecca Hester at 610-7649.
People can also contact Seacoast Crime Stoppers by leaving an anonymous tip at 431-1199 or at www.seacoastcrimestoppers.org. Tips can also be texted to CRIMES (274637) with the letters "TIPSCS."
A reward of as much as $1,000 may be given if information leads to an arrest or indictment.
Location, ST | website.com


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John Miranda
The Clerk
Guest Star
James Beard
The Coachman
Guest Star
Pierre Epstein
The Weasel
Guest Star
Noone was fitted with a fake nose that initially was problematic for the production staff. Richard Lewine, the show's producer, described the problem to TV Guide:
"Since we didn't want to cheat the audience out of seeing it grow, we hired Bil Baird to create one. Bil stood behind Pinocchio, out of camera range, holding the end of a rod that attached to the nose. When he pushed the rod, the nose, made from expandable material, lengthened. It worked beautifully," Lewine said.
"But when we went on camera, we discovered that you could see the separation between the fake nose and Peter's real one. Two hours of work with the make-up man solved the problem, but it was worrisome," he said.
From TV Guide, Color set owners will be particularly impressed with the Land of the Runaways, where everything is black and white. The one spot of color is Pinocchio's red and blue outfit.
Songs by Walter Marks are "Walk With Him", "Chip Off the Old Block", "Wonderful World, Hello", "Beautiful People", "Little Bad Habits", "You Could Get to Like It", "It's a Dog's Life" and "Too Soon".
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Professor gives international invited presentation from afar
On July 7, 2012, while en route to Panama with the 2012 CHANCE crew, Dr. Jacqueline McLaughlin, associate professor of Biology and CHANCE founding director, presented, Taking a CHANCE to Empower Science Education by Blending Scientific Research with Teaching–the Jiangnan-Penn State University "global environmental sustainability" field course. This presentation, at the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) Conference in Suzhou, China, was offered via a pre-made video and coordinating PowerPoint through the assistance of her colleagues and co-presenters, Drs. Xiaoying Cheng and He Liu from Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.


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I was inspired recently by a post I read on Good.is comparing the plight of a low-income Indian mother relying on a smoke-billowing cookstove to support her family, to the unhealthy diet, smoking habits and sedentary lifestyle that prevail in many developed nations. The post identifies the practice of human-centered design as a potential solution to these dilemmas. But first, a little context:
The Cookstove Dilemma:
The issue of cookstoves used in developing nations has attracted lots of attention in the past few years. In many parts of the world, low-income populations rely on open fires and traditional cookstoves that spew smoke and pollution throughout their homes. The smoke generated by this cooking method is seriously damaging to the women and children who inhale large amounts of it on a daily basis. The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves cites the following statistics related to the harmful nature of cookstoves:
Indoor air pollution is the fourth biggest health risk in the developing world
4 million
Number of people who die worldwide each year from exposure to cookstove smoke.
3 billion
Nearly half the people in the world use polluting, inefficient stoves to cook their food each day.
8 seconds
How often cookstove smoke claims a life.
But wait, if cookstoves are so harmful and cause premature deaths in the family, why don't people just switch to a cleaner cooking method? Therein lies the real dilemma; the same dilemma that so many of us in more developed parts of the world are faced with. The Indian mother who cooks on a smoky cookstove for her young children is following the lead of her own mother, and grandmother, and great-grandmother before her. How many of us have unhealthy habits that we inherited through lessons from our parents, our peers or other members of society? Eating too much processed food, smoking, drinking too much, too little exercise – these habits have become socially acceptable, and are, as a result, difficult to change.
While the statistics on cookstove mortality are troubling, the risk factors are even higher for a number of health-related issues that can be prevented through the choices we make on a daily basis. The World Health Organization (WHO) identified high blood pressure as the top global mortality risk factors, leading to nearly 8 million deaths per year. Tobacco is responsible for 6 million deaths; high blood glucose (diabetes), obesity, inactivity and high cholesterol round out the next highest risk factors globally.
So how can we make improvements to our lives and those of others around the world? Understanding the concepts behind behaviour change and human-centered design might help us frame the solutions.
Behaviour Change:
I've been reading about behaviour change lately as I try to live a more healthy, happy and productive life. Leo Babauta, a popular blogger and author on the subject of mindfulness and positive habit development, suggests setting small, easily achievable goals to build good habits. It takes daily practice to build habits, so starting with something that can be incorporated into your day with minimal effort is the first step to building a habit through positive reinforcement. For example, if you want to start eating healthier, set a goal to eat one healthy meal per week, or to buy healthier snack food like fruits, vegetables or nuts. By starting small, you will be successful, and you can build the habit up over time.
Human-Centered Design:
In some circumstances, like the cookstove example, there may need to be some additional assistance to encourage behaviour change. IDEO, a global design consultancy widely regarded as one of the world's most innovative companies, is a strong believer in the concept of human centered design. According to IDEO:
Human-centered design is a process that has been used for decades to create new solutions to design challenges. The process helps people hear the needs of the people and communities they're designing for, create innovative approaches to meet these needs, and deliver solutions that work in specific cultural and economic contexts. Centered in optimism and embracing constraints and complexity, the HCD process helps users ask the right questions. Ultimately, it can increase the speed and effectiveness of implementing solutions that have an impact on the lives of the people these solutions were designed for.
In my opinion, this kind of framework can be a powerful tool to understand the underlying cultural factors that influence harmful behaviour. Using the concepts of HCD, a number of organizations are seeking out solutions to not only bring cleaner, affordable cookstoves to at-risk communities, but also to understand and consider traditions and customs in bringing these solutions to market.
Applying this approach to North American communities could uncover some unique methods for addressing health risks through diet and lifestyle, creating value for the healthier individuals, healthcare spending and the enterprising organizations that come up with the solutions.
What behaviours would you like to change for a long bottom line?


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Taxes Eroding Your Family Wealth?
Has your family accepted a higher tax burden associated with trading and hedging strategies that purport to reduce correlation with equities? Families whose goal is to enhance a legacy of future generations through stock investing in superior companies for the long haul are an ideal philosophic match with Gaineswood's investment management approach. Our clientele includes institutions, family offices, and individual investors who typically invest $1,000,000 or more in growth-oriented equities.


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- Report: #990556
Report - Rebuttal - Arbitrate
Complaint Review: Gateway Computer Support
Gateway Computer Support1160 Pittsford Victor Rd. #A Pittsford, New York United States of America
Gateway Computer Support Answers by Gateway; Answers by PC; Sutherland Global Support Bif RipOff -- Techs pretend to know what they are doing, instead messed up the best computer I ever had. Unfortunately, it was out of warranty and since this service was through the Gateway computer Pittsford, New York
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The tech who called himself Daniel said he has fixed this issue many times, but when he told me to try this and that and it did not work said I would have to wipe out the entire operating system and start fresh. I should not have listened to him. But I did. This caused me hours and days of headache, and when I complained they refused a refund, saying the next guy (supposedly a supervisor--I had asked to speak with a supervisor) could fix it. He kept insisting. Really, what was to fix at that point? I had wiped the drive clean and lost everything. Although I had files on an external hard drive, I now had to reinstall all the programs, then the files, everything since 2004.
Do not trust this company, do not trust any service that is not directly from the manufacturer. Gateway should be ashamed to refer trusting buyers to this service. I still love my Gateway. It is the only computer of many that never gave me a problem--until now. And the real problem was the so-called support service. It was not support. It was crippling.
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 01/03/2013 10:06 AM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Gateway-Computer-Support/Pittsford-New-York-14534-3825/Gateway-Computer-Support-Answers-by-Gateway-Answers-by-PC-Sutherland-Global-Support-Bif-990556. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
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Fresh evacuation orders were issued Thursday as a wildfire burning south of Banning grew to about 14,000 acres, leaving four firefighters and a civilian hurt and destroying 26 homes.
The Silver Fire, which began for unknown reasons at 2:05 p.m. Wednesday on Poppet Flats Road south of Banning, was 20 percent contained Thursday as it raged on both sides of Highway 243 and into the San Jacinto wilderness, fire officials said.
Evacuations- Mandatory evacuations ordered for the communities of Poppet Flats, Twin Pines, Twin Pines Ranch, Silent Valley, Vista Grande and Mt. Edna as well as portions of Cabazon - Peach Street, Plum Street, Eucalyptus Street, and Riza Avenue, Ida Avenue, Helen Avenue east to Elm Street. Black Mountain has been evacuated and closed as a precaution.
Evacuation Centers -
-Hemet High School 41701 East Stetson Avenue Hemet, CA.
-Beaumont High School 39139 Cherry Valley Boulevard Beaumont, CA.
-Animal Evacuation San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus 581 South Grand Avenue San Jacinto, CA.
Click here to view a map of the Silver Fire as of 5 p.m. Thursday
Updates below . . .
Update 9:15 p.m. - There have been a total of five firefighters injured (unknown extent) and one civilian. There have been 26 homes and 1 commercial structure destroyed by the fire. 2 structures were damaged.
UPDATE 7:35 P.M. - The fire is now estimated at 14,000 acres and 20% contained.
Update (4:21 p.m.) - A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for the community of Snow Creek.
Update (3:09 p.m.) - The fire is now estimated at 11,000 acres, still 10% contained. The fire is actively burning in the San Jacinto wilderness.
Update (2:13 p.m.) - Riverside County has declared a local emergency Thursday because of the Silver Fire, a step that could make the county eligible to receive disaster funds if state and federal officials recognize the emergency and make assistance available.
Update (2:04 p.m.) - According to our crew in the field, the fire is continuing to move east. Apparently, it has reached the edge of Whitewater and is moving near the windmill farms.
Update (1:58 p.m.) - Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez (D-Coachella) has called on Governor Brown to issue a State of Emergency as a result of the fire.
"The state of emergency declaration is a much needed to ensure that critical resource are available to assist firefighters and first responders assigned to protect the lives and properties of our constituents and keep them out of harm's way," said Pérez.
Update (1:20 p.m.) - During the initial attack phase on the fire, a CAL FIRE dozer experienced problems that led to damage to the dozer from an internal fire. The operator was not injured.
Update (1:11 p.m.) - Authorities have issued a warning evacuation notice for the lower Cabazon area from Elm East to Snow Creek.
Update (12:32 p.m.) - The federal government will be covering some of the expense of fighting the 10,000-acre Silver Fire raging south of Banning.
Update (12:26 p.m.) - 15 structures have been destroyed by the fire so far.
Update (11:27 a.m.) - The civilian who was injured yesterday was airlifted to a burn center with full body burns.
Update (10:30 a.m.) - The fire is burning at 10,000 acres with 10% containment.
Update (10:22 a.m.) - There have been a total of four firefighters injured (unknown extent) and one civilian.
Update (9:49 a.m.) - Black Mountain has been evacuated and closed as a precaution. Those who have campground reservations can call 1-877-444-6777.
Update (9:10 a.m.) - According to Cal Fire, 1000 firefighters, 13 helicopters, and 6 air tankers are working on the fire.
Update (7:00 a.m.)- The fire is now estimated at 10,000 acres with 0% containment. All evacuation orders remain in place for Poppet Flats, Silent Valley, Twin Pines, Twin Pines Ranch, Vista Grande, Mt. Edna and the extreme south end of Cabazon including Peach Street, Plum Street, Eucalyptus Street, Riza Street, Ida Avenue and Helen Avenue east to Elm Street.


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Thank you for your interest in adopting a lab! We have wonderful labs and rescue more every day.
We carefully match each dog to the right family based on the needs of each, so we don't reserve dogs or adopt dogs on a "first served" basis. Instead, we work to ensure that when our dogs find their forever family this time, that it is a perfect match for them. This means that our dogs and families find happier endings, like Linus did!
After applying please let us know if you have questions at firstname.lastname@example.com.
You will need to consider each of the following words and how it relates to having a dog in your life. You will need to be able to provide:
Food, Water, Shelter, Affection, Love, Training, Medical Care, Love, Exercise, Play, Patience and Love to your new friend
In return they will provide unconditional love and affection for the rest of their lives!


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View other products by Wolf Garten
Unique design holds pruned material after cutting for easier disposal
Blade is mated with a plastic jaw that hinges and holds cut material to left of cutting edge. Coated blades for easy cleaning. Cuts up to 3/4" diameter. Widely used for cutting thorny material such as rose bushes. 7" overall length makes the tool more maneuverable. Lanyard included. Imported.


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FILE - This Oct. 21, 2010 file photo shows former Bell, Calif., assistant city manager Angela Spaccia appearing in court for arraignment on corruption charges, in Los Angeles Superior Court. Jury selection begins Tuesday, Jan. 15, in the trial of former officials of the scandal ridden city of Bell, in a massive corruption case that nearly bankrupted the working-class Los Angeles suburb. (AP Photo/Al Seib, Pool, File)


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Over the past few months, Carnegie UK Trust sponsored the now closed Sustainable Development Commission to write a report called 'Measuring What Matters' - the report's now available to download/read here: http://issuu.com/fieryspirits/docs/more_than_gdp
You might also recall a flurry of Fiery SPirits events in 2009 with the same name - the videos and resources from these are well worth revisiting (see for example…
Added by Nick Wilding on May 20, 2011 at 10:00 — 1 Comment
Happy New Year!
Some colleagues within FierySpirits will be aware that Carnegie UK Trust has been through a process of restructuring during 2010. As part of this process, many Community of Practice (CoP) members participated in an evaluation that Trustees commissioned as they considered future investment decisions.
In their meeting of late November 2010, the evaluation helped Trustees to re-affirm their commitment to investing in this CoP during 2011…Continue
Added by Nick Wilding on January 7, 2011 at 17:30 — No Comments


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Politics / Law
More than half a billion for health
Brussels – The European Commission has launched the biggest ever call for proposals to fund European research and innovation and said that it will continue to foster health research on the continent. The European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn presented the EUR7bn FP7 funding scheme aimed to foster innovation through research at the end of July. As one of the key areas, Health is being funded with EUR656m. "We are issuing the largest-ever invitation to researchers and innovators to compete for EU funding," said Geoghegan-Quinn.


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Potassium-Rich Foods May Offset High Sodium Diet, Study Finds
Foods rich in potassium such as blueberries and sweet potatoes may help offset heart risks associated with high-salt diets, a study suggests.
The research, which examined the diets of more than 12,000 people over an average of 15 years, found higher death rates from heart disease in those who had elevated sodium to potassium ratios. The report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was published today in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Public health authorities in most developed countries recommend reducing salt intake by roughly half. Still, studies that looked at sodium levels alone in relationship to heart disease have shown mixed results, with some finding no evidence that a low-salt diet reduces death rate or cuts cardiovascular complications. Today's study found a higher correlation between the ratio of sodium to potassium and heart disease and death than just looking at salt or potassium alone.
"The association between sodium and cardiovascular disease is not straight forward and remains an area of controversy today," said Elena Kuklina, one of the study's authors and an epidemiologist at the Atlanta-based CDC, in an interview.
The results may be due to the nutrients offsetting each other, Kuklina said.
High levels of sodium can stiffen endothelial cells, thicken and narrow resistance arteries and block nitric oxide synthesis, while high potassium levels can spur nitric oxide release, counteracting the effects of sodium.
"Reduced sodium intake accompanied by increased potassium intake could achieve greater health benefits than restricting sodium alone," the study said.
Processed Food Ratios
Processed foods, such as cheese, cooked meats and fast food tend to have a higher sodium-to-potassium ratio, whereas fruits, dairy products and vegetables tend to have a lower ratio, according to the study.
"If you just try to stick to unprocessed food, you would have low sodium and high potassium intake," Kuklina said.
The findings are from the CDC's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a program that uses surveys and physical examinations to assess the health and nutrition status of Americans.


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"Lord of the Rings" star Elijah Wood was among the attendees at the DIO/ANTHRAX show at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday (Oct. 30). Check out pictures from Launch: Dio, Anthrax, Fireball Ministry.
'Lord Of The Rings' Star Attends DIO/ANTHRAX Show In L.A.: Photos Available
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A New Riksbank Dove Emerges
The transition of Swedish Central Bank Deputy Governor Per Jansson from interest rate hawk to dove continues.
Minutes from the April policy meeting show he was whisker away from joining colleagues Karolina Ekholm and Martin Floden in calling for a rate cut to get Sweden's low inflation rate moving higher.
The main rate was held at 0.75% at that meeting after a four to two vote.
"[Mr. Jansson] felt that this meeting was the closest he had come to a repo-rate cut without actually voting for one," the minutes said.
Had he switched sides Mr. Jansson would have left Governor Stefan Ingves and two colleagues advocating an unchanged main rate. Mr. Ingves has a casting vote so could have forced through his view but the loss of long-time ally Mr. Jansson would have been a blow to the credibility of Mr. Ingves' stance.
A three-three split would also have been a new dynamic on the board, where a four-two division has been a recurring outcome.
The split is largely about one thing: should the Riksbank take Swedish households' high debt levels into consideration in monetary policy or not.
Much of that debt is in the form of housing loans and that has long made four board members –Mr. Ingves, Cecilia Skingsley, Kerstin Af Jochnick and Mr. Jansson — reluctant to cut borrowing costs further.
Ms. Ekholm and Mr. Floden disagree. They say that household debt is not their problem to deal with and the Riksbank should focus more exclusively on inflation which has been too low for months.
Since December, Mr. Jansson's arguments have been moving closer to the two doves.
The April meeting notes show his tolerance for downside inflation surprises is now used up and he will vote for a cut in July at the first sign of further below forecast price pressure.


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A column by Craig Dutra and Tom Davis attacking those of us raising questions about the Innovation Schools proposals in New Bedford seems more designed to shut down debate than to inform the public ("Your View: Innovation Schools critics owe debt to students, community," Jan. 2).
Rather than trying to work with the New Bedford Educators Association to improve our schools together, they insult the NBEA as "inflexible" and dismiss an op-ed by Greater Southeastern Massachusetts Labor Council President Cynthia Rodrigues as "divisive" and "negative" ("Your View: There's nothing innovative about Innovation Schools," Dec. 30).
They also accept without question the claim that the two Innovation Schools being proposed for New Bedford are "new" schools rather than "conversion" schools, even though they will be operating out of existing school buildings with many of the same students and staff.
What's the difference? Under state law, two-thirds of the teachers must vote in favor of the Innovation School plan in a conversion school, but no teacher vote is required in a new school.
We received a legal opinion on this issue from Sandra Quinn, an attorney with the Massachusetts Teachers Association. She found: "I conclude that the Innovation Schools in question ... are conversion schools that must secure the approval of the teachers in the school buildings into which the Innovation Schools will locate."
If these proposals are so obviously beneficial to students, why are the supporters against allowing the affected teachers to vote on them?
If a vote is held and two-thirds of the teachers in those schools vote in favor, the NBEA will not stand in the way of the proposals being implemented. That's hardly inflexible. That's what democracy looks like.
Lou St. John
Location, ST | website.com


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A project of People For the American Way dedicated to monitoring and exposing the activities of the right-wing movement. Learn More >
Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus Posts Archive
SUBMITTED BY: Kyle Mantyla, Monday 12/22/2014, 6:33pm
Eric Boehlert @ Media Matters: Fox News' Double Standard For Right-Wing Cop Killers. Kevin Drum: Let's Blame Conservatives For All the Killings They're Responsible For. Elise Foley @ Huffington Post: Judge Seems Skeptical Of Joe Arpaio's Immigration Lawsuit. Chris Moody @ CNN: Inside the push to draft Ben Carson for president. David Edwards @ Raw Story: Fox News psychiatrist: Body cameras, de-escalation training are 'an insult to police officers.' Josh Israel @ Think Progress: How One Religious Organization Bankrolls America's Social... MORE >
SUBMITTED BY: Peter Montgomery, Wednesday 10/13/2010, 3:30pm
Several scholars of religion and politics held a briefing at the National Press Club today to discuss the role of religion and religious voters in the upcoming elections. Polling presented by Robert Jones of the Public Religion Research Institute and Gregory Smith of the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life included some bad news for Democrats (e.g., among white Catholics, party identification has flipped from a 49-41 Democratic advantage to a 42-49 Republican advantage in just two years), some potentially good news for progressives (there's huge majority... MORE >
SUBMITTED BY: Kyle Mantyla, Thursday 07/30/2009, 5:26pm
Nobody, it seems, wants to see Sarah Palin become President: About a third of Americans think the best job for Palin is homemaker (32 percent), while nearly one in five see her as a television talk show host (17 percent). Vice president of the United States comes in third (14 percent), followed closely by college professor (10 percent), with president coming last (6 percent).No surprise here: Mitt Romney has been confirmed for the Values Voter Summit.If you are interested, you can read the opening prayer that Jerry Falwell Jr. delivered in the House of Representatives yesterday here... MORE >
SUBMITTED BY: Kyle Mantyla, Thursday 07/16/2009, 2:47pm
Yesterday, Joe Sudbay took a look at the first campaign finance report in the Maine marriage campaign that was released yesterday and found out that national Religious Right groups were dumping hundreds of thousands of dollars into the fight.Today, the Lewiston Sun Journal took a look as well and concluded that "the group hoping to overturn Maine's same-sex marriage law has out-raised the measure's proponents by more than two to one":Stand for Maine Marriage, the group leading the effort for repeal, raised a total of about $343,000 from nine donors as of July 5, the end of the... MORE >
, Wednesday 06/13/2007, 5:48pm
A few weeks ago we noted the formation of an anti-Giuliani Catholic front, including Joseph Cella of Fidelis and Steve Dillard of Catholics Against Rudy, right-wing activists key to forcing the withdrawal of Harriet Miers from nomination to the Supreme Court. Now more self-identified Catholic activists are mobilizing against Rudy Giuliani, himself a Catholic and the leading GOP candidate for president. Acting under the rubric of "Republicans Against Rudy Giuliani," two activists put out a press release targeting the candidate for "liberal views on... MORE >
, Thursday 07/20/2006, 3:08pm
As some puzzled at the politics of Bush's first veto, striking down the popular embryonic stem-cell research legislation, the Right Wing offered typical praise for the president--and atypical scorn for congressional Republicans. "His unswerving commitment to the cause of the preborn underscores the lack of conviction displayed by the supposedly pro-life members of the House and Senate who voted to pass this barbarous legislation," said Focus on the Family President James Dobson. "They should have known better," added Focus on the Family Action's Amanda Banks, speaking of the House of... MORE >
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Ryczek dished out three assists, including helpers on two of Nick Swaney's three goals. He finished the weekend with a +2 plus/minus differential.
Providing a big offensive boost in a must-win game, Swaney recorded 13th playoff hat trick during the Black Hawks' junior era, adding an assist for good measure on Saturday.
Hein contributed the second Black Hawks shorthanded goal of the playoffs. He also set up Sam McCormick's third period tie-breaking goal.
To view more Waterloo Black Hawks Videos, click here to visit our YouTube Channel.
Washington a Regular Destination for Former Hawks Zach Sanford and the Washington Capitals have agreed on a three-year contract which will bring the f
Signs NHL Deal After Time at BC Three seasons with the Waterloo Black Hawks and three more at Boston College prepared defenseman Ian McCoshen for the
The Tri-City Storm scored a goal in the first two minutes of each period Tuesday, en route to a 5-3 win against the Waterloo Black Hawks at Viaero Cen
Nick Swaney's hat trick led the Waterloo Black Hawks to a playoff series-extending 7-4 win against the Tri-City Storm at Young Arena Saturday. Enter


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To one of the most beautiful songs written.
The wall on this building is a kinetic sculpture; the cut-out circular portion rotates and revolves freely!
Is this art or a PC fan boy's wet dream? More importantly, can you imagine watching porn on a wall of monitors?!
These pyrotechnicians are making a wall of fire because they're apparently bored and like to burn things. Sounds like my job!
Bette Davis' portrait painted with nothing but mascara and the song "Bette Davis Eyes" as an inspiration.
Another amazing speed painting of Optimus Prime. Only thing missing is Michael Bay, showing up to ruin everything.
This live cable-access show features a guy on a treadmill, painting and making blended drinks. He's awesome.
They animators at Pixar have included Wall-E in almost every previous movie because they were bored.
We'd like to call this dog "stupid" but he's too adorable. Instead we'll just call him retarded.
Maybe this guy can replace Tobey Maguire's horrible emo performance this summer. Watching this guy run into a wall is far more entertaining.


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Created in this Craftsy class
Learn wire-wrapping methods to make seven sophisticated jewelry projects! Create beautiful earrings, necklaces and pendants to complement your wardrobe.
Other projects made as part of this class:
Offer some kudos...
Join the conversation...
Ask a question...
Add your comment...
|Here are some details about my project:
|Accessory, Necklace
|Romantic, Formal / Bridal, Classic
What materials did you use? Round amethyst beads, lavender freshwater pearls, silver wire and clasp.
I like the lavender pearls with the amethyst. This is a good project to practice wire-wrapped loops.
Thanks very much you were a great inspiration!
I like the choice of beads.
Thank you! I made this for my daughter who likes small, simple jewelry. I now have to make another one for a friend at work!
Very preety purple and I love the soft touch of lavender pearls
Thanks very much...I'm grateful for all the feedback! :)


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The 55-G60EX-160 from Geovision is a GV600- 16 channel DVI Type PCI express B card. GV-600B Card provides up to 16 video channels and 4 audio channels, recording up to 30 / 25 fps (NTSC / PAL) in total with H.264 software compression.
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Found a lower price? Complete this simple form:
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Pancreatitis diet plan is commonly suggested by certified dietitian as a part of pancreatitis recovery process. The diet helps body to recover it strength and allow the pancreas to heal as well. Before we talk further about pancreatitis diet plan, let's take a deep look on pancreatitis itself first.
According to WebMD site, pancreatitis refers to an inflammation on the pancreas organ. This large and essential gland located deep inside the stomach, next to duodenum. Naturally this part of human body has two critical functions which are, releasing insulin and glucagon hormone into the bloodstream to regulate blood glucose and converting it into calories, and the second function is to secrete an enzyme to digest protein, fat, and carbohydrates in the small intestine.
People who experience the disease may feel constant and sharp upper abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting, tender or swollen abdomen, and in severe level it may cause significant weight loss, since it disrupt the food absorption in the small intestine. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there are several common cause of the disease including, pancreas infection by viruses, high level triglycerides in the blood, alcohol, gallstone, injury, prolonged drugs use, especially NSAIDs, corticosteroids, sulfonamides, and tetracycline.
Pancreatitis diet plan ideas
Someone with acute pancreatitis may need hospitalization for better treatment. In several cases the patient may receive strict pancreatitis diet plan or even intravenous administered nutrition. Below is several diet ideas to tame the symptoms:
1. Avoid alcohol consumption. This rule is affect to anyone who got pancreatitis or medically stated as susceptible to pancreatitis. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center excessive consumption of alcohol can cause pancreatitis. Avoid coffee and tobacco as well.
2. Choose foods which loaded with antioxidants. According to several studies, those foods with antioxidants such as grape, sweet cherries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, artichokes, red kidney beans, small red beans, and pinto bean can protect the body from the disease development.
3. Eat foods that high in iron and vitamin B such as dark leafy green vegetables, whole grains, and sea vegetables. Also use olive oil or vegetable oil for cooking.
4. Provide healthy living habits such as routine exercise everyday at leas 30 minute a day for 5 days a week, consume adequate fluids, especially water. Experts suggest us to consume 6-8 glasses water a day. Get enough rest and avoid to consume high fat foods.
5. As a part of complete pancreatitis diet plan, consider to consume supplement such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A,C,D, E, probiotic supplement, alpha-lipoic acid and trace minerals such as calcium, selenium, magnesium and zinc.


text: We offer a variety of creative UV (Black Light or Ultra-Violet) paints. These products are high quality and truly fluorescent. That means much more than simply bright color. It means maximum energy emission under true UV-A energy and emission color that remains balanced - without shift from its visible light value.


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Who Needs Law Firms?
Dargie Anderson Bowersock, a graduate of Northwestern University School of Law (pictured right) spent the summers of 2008 and 2009 working at Skadden, Arps. Skadden told her and other summer associates in 2009, that due to the recession, it had to defer their start dates.
So, in October 2009, she decided to interview with Hewlett-Packard Co., which had just recently decided it would go directly to law schools to hire new talent for its legal division. H-P has an in-house legal department of 450 to 500 lawyers globally.
In this WSJ story today, we look at a little-noticed phenomenon taking place in the legal industry. Many companies depend on elite law firms to train new lawyers they could bring in-house years down the road. But now, a few of them are just hiring directly from law-school campuses themselves.
Fresh law-school grads who join H-P, for instance, earn $115,000 per year, plus a $15,000 signing bonus. That salary is about $45,000 less than the salary paid to first-year associates at major New York law firms.
Pfizer Inc. recently recruited three third-year law students from Harvard Law School and Yale Law School, as part of a pilot program that it plans to repeat this fall.
"We need the services of first years and we need to train a generation of lawyers who know how to respond to what clients need," said Amy Schulman, Pfizer's general counsel. She says she also believes the approach will help enhance its relations with outside law firms. Pfizer pays its domestic law firms largely through flat-fee arrangements.
Law firms have long relied on reaping profits on the work of their junior attorneys, or associates. But companies increasingly are showing much less willingness to pay an army of law-firm associates at the ever-increasing hourly rates.
The average hourly rate for a non-partner associate lawyer at a law firm is now $378, up from about $338 three years ago, according to the latest data from Peer Monitor.


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I keep getting this message for my blogs once I post them "Ooops, page not found". I followed all the tutorials that instructed us on what to do. What am I doing wrong?
I love the theme and would suggest it to other bloggers but I need it to be able to post new blogs. I want to blog 3 to 4 times a week.
Please help thanks :)


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Template Installation
Not sure how to install your new template. Read more to find out how.
Shackslides Installation
ShackSlides is not just a slideshow module, but a way to feature your images in style.
Template Style
SimpleTech comes with 6 light and dark styles to choose from to give your template it's own style and unique look.
Menu Setup
Setting up the menu for your Joomla site is one of the first things you'll want to do. Follow along with the documentation and you'll learn how to set up the main menu for your Joomla website.
This step by step is for setting up a default Joomla menu and not Shackmenu.
Module Styles and Positions
This page demonstrates the available module styles and positions available in this template.


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This may not be what you want to hear, but it is what you need to hear. Retail customers no longer have any allegiance when it comes to shopping and buying products. None.
This goes for commodity brands as well as luxury brands. Admit it, wouldn't you buy a Rolex or an iPad from the inside of somebody's trenchcoat if you knew for a fact it were authentic and carried a manufacturer's warranty? Even if it isn't a trenchcoat, it could just as easily be an automobile trunk, swap meet, Best Buy, eBay, Amazon or RockBottom.com. In fact, many manufacturers now have shopping carts on their homepage so you can buy from them — sometimes directly or sometimes through a dealer fulfillment mechanism like Shopatron. What blasphemy is next?
Previously well-defined product channels are now being blown away by heretics willing to challenge the older formalized business doctrines. A "little guy" manufacturer with a fresh new product doesn't need a Big Box distributor anymore to get to the market.
Worse, a "big guy" manufacturer with an expensive, low-margin product can skip the dealer entirely. The traditional methods of distribution and "push-pull" marketing to true-believers are definitely blurred and confusing many parochial brick-and-mortar dealers.
Metric OEMs are trying to convert more local followers for their brands. The recession has reduced the number of dealerships by one-third, but the actual number of franchises has not decreased, forcing a consolidation of more metric brands under fewer rooftops.
Mega-malls Emerge
This retail cornucopia means the bigger and more financially strong dealers will become multi-brand mega malls. So much for the metric mantra of single-branded dealerships and focused customer service — it didn't work! If the Harley dealers gravitate more toward a carefully orchestrated brand experience and the metric OEMs move to the opposite end of the scale with mega-powersports centers, this leaves the independent, chain and cyberspace dealers to fill in the gaps. The Pep Boys of powersports? You may call them the "cockroaches of retail," but they not only survive when things get tough, they thrive!
Holy cats, we are becoming the auto industry! New unit dealers are evolving to become either small and exclusive or huge and impersonal. Because customers honestly don't care where they buy a car now, they likewise don't care where they buy a motorcycle. Or a jacket. Or tires. Or oil. If it's convenient, time-saving and price-competitive, customers will take advantage of it.
The chain stores have become more convenient. E-tailers are more predictive and competitive. The Internet is squeezing prices, and will continue to as long as excess products continue to be shoved into the pipeline by manufacturers who "need to keep their factories open."
I told you it's not what you wanted to hear. So what's the answer for traditional dealers?
Quit waiting for the "second coming" of the Baby Boomers. Stop being traditional. Buckle down and specialize. You can no longer be all things to all people. Confess your sins, seriously face your strengths and dump your weaknesses.
"Get involved … or get out," were the words spoken by the late John Wyckoff in the pages of Dealernews more than 20 years ago. Customers haven't lost their desire to belong to a family. Yet in the absence of the faith in your local brand (which could have built local retail allegiance), it has become all about the money — saving money, that is.
Recycling, re-purposing, do-it-yourself, thriftiness and renewed-retro are all hot terms right now because it makes us feel unique, different and economically sensitive. The recession re-centered us away from the traditional channels, so it appears for a few years we will be seeking out new forms of moto-life where no man or business has gone before.
There is a Way
My question to dealers: Can you help us find our way in this lucre-driven wilderness? Neo-Darwinism is taking over the faith we used to have in our dealers. Now the dinosaur dealers are dying off and new smaller and more flexible business life forms are evolving.
Is your store facing the music now or are you still denying something is seriously wrong? Do you need more product lines? Or do you need fewer product lines, better floor-traffic drivers, improved customer service, superior e-blast abilities, totally renewed and convenient shopping hours, drop-shipping services, a bigger mailing list, more emphasis on P&A, more emphasis on used bikes, less emphasis on P&A or used bikes, a more functional website, pick-up and delivery services, weekly club meetings, tech seminars, and an MSF instructor hookup?
Do you need to reduce the headcount of your congregation or bring in some more evangelically-inspired employees? Look for the light now coming from a different direction than in the past.
Channel agnostic buyers will not reward your faith in the old way of doing business. Will your store see a new light, or will you get buried by the changing channels? Look to the auto industry as an example of accelerated evolution, for we aren't far behind its rate of fragmented retail specialization. Can a franchised powersports dealership still remain all things to all enthusiasts in this day and age? Faith in the old business testaments is wearing thinner every day.
This story originally appeared in the Dealernews August 2011 issue.


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By Claire Bigg and Daisy Sindelar
http://gdb.rferl.org/5DC120C8-3126-48CF-A0A1-058B805FEBAB_w203.jpg --> http://gdb.rferl.org/5DC120C8-3126-48CF-A0A1-058B805FEBAB_mw800_mh600.jpg
An opposition supporter falls on the street as police disperse protesters in Tbilisi (AFP)
November 8, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Georgia is two weeks shy of marking the fourth anniversary of the Rose Revolution, the peaceful public uprising that swept Mikheil Saakashvili to the presidency and which has arguably been the most durable of the post-Soviet "colored" revolutions.
November 08, 2007
But the mood in Tbilisi on November 23 is unlikely to be celebratory.
Saakashvili, whose leadership style has been a balancing act between democratic sentiment and a keen desire for near-absolute control, has shocked compatriots and sympathizers abroad by imposing a national state of emergency after the violent dispersal on November 7 of peaceful opposition protests in the capital.
Saakashvili has blamed Russia for fomenting unrest aimed at toppling him. But many are calling the incident a disproportionate use of force -- and say the events call into question Saakashvili's commitment to the democratic principles he has sworn by. Western allies that he has carefully cultivated also expressed concern.
"The police operation started without any warning," opposition figure Ivlian Khaindrava said. "They kicked participants in the rally, several people were arrested, and cameras were smashed or seized from representatives of different television channels. There is only one solution: this government must go."
But in another surprise move today, Saakashvili appeared to offer a concession to his political opponents. He announced he would schedule early presidential elections, moving the vote from next autumn to January 5, 2008. In addition, he said there would be a parallel referendum to ask the public whether they would prefer subsequent parliamentary polls to be held in the fall as scheduled or spring next year, as protesters had demanded.
(On November 9, the U.S. State Department, the Council of Europe, and representatives of the Georgian opposition welcomed Saakashvili's call for early polls and a referendum. But Saakashvili was still being urged by Washington and the opposition to end both the state of emergency and a government ban placed on independent broadcasters. The parliament in Tbilisi later approved the 15-day state of emergency in a 149-0 vote.)
Harsh Crackdown
In addition to rubber bullets, riot police used tear gas, water cannons, truncheons, and in some instances their bare fists to break up the dwindling rally, which had swelled to as many as 70,000 demonstrators when the protest began on November 2.
Private and opposition Georgian broadcasters -- before being summarily shut down by government order -- showed graphic images of the violent clashes. The Health Ministry said more than 500 people sought medical assistance as a result.
Saakashvili, who has defended his actions as "a leader of this country's young democracy," has said the use of police force was commensurate with measures taken by countries in the West
The organization Human Rights Watch disagreed. "Even in a time of crisis, Georgians have a right to protest peacefully without being beaten by the police," Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. "Firing rubber bullets at peaceful demonstrators is a complete abuse of the use of force. The government does not have carte blanche to restrict fundamental freedoms just because it is in crisis."
A Tbilisi resident walks by as Saakashvili addresses the nation (AFP)
The opposition protests were attended largely by elderly, poor regional representatives of a diverse collection of parties and movements that have found common cause in their call for early parliamentary elections and Saakashvili's ouster.
They have a powerful sponsor in Georgian billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili -- the owner of Imedi TV, which was stormed by riot police moments before going off the air on the evening of November 7. But until this week's events, the opposition had been seen as a largely ineffective challenge to the presidential administration.
Balance Of Power
How Saakashvili -- and Georgia -- will emerge from the current upheaval is unclear.
Saakashvili is viewed by many as the most successful pro-Western leader in the former Soviet Union. Unlike Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan, whose own "colored" revolutions quickly became bogged down in political infighting, Georgia has largely stayed on its pro-democracy, pro-integration track.
The World Bank in 2006 named Georgia as the top reformer in the world, and the country has seen significant economic growth. But many in Georgia have complaints: the standard of living has improved only incrementally for most, and much government spending has been redirected toward a bullish expansion of its defense forces. Still, Saakashvili has always enjoyed massive public support -- and that, Parsons says, is part of the problem.
"It's not his fault that there's such a small, divided opposition in Georgia. Not his fault that the opposition is so divided. The people of Georgia gave him a huge majority in the wake of the Rose Revolution, and in a way, his massive majority has been his biggest difficulty," Parsons says. "As everybody keeps repeating in democratic states, it's absolutely critical that there should be a balance of power within the structures of democracy. And there isn't in Georgia. The government can pretty much do what it likes."
The actions of the past week are almost certain to have broader consequences for Georgia.
Of key importance for Saakashvili's domestic standing is Georgia's bid to gain a Membership Action Plan during the 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest. Although the 26-member alliance was already split on the issue, several Western countries, including the United States, had strongly encouraged Georgia in its membership drive.
Today, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the military alliance was following "closely and with concern" the events in Georgia. "The imposition of emergency rule, and the closure of media outlets in Georgia, a partner with which the alliance has an intensified dialogue, are of particular concern and not in line with Euro-Atlantic values," he added.
Similar concern was voiced by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and the European Commission. Peter Semneby, the EU's special representative to the South Caucasus, is due to arrive in Tbilisi on November 9 for talks with both Saakashvili and opposition representatives.
Off The Air
The EU's concern centered largely on the media clampdown. Two private television stations were shut down, radio broadcasts were banned, and even foreign journalists were warned to exercise restraint in their reporting on the government's actions.
Until now, Georgia has been credited with maintaining a fairly open and diverse media environment. "This is a rather unusual situation for Georgian journalists -- and not only for journalists, but for the whole country -- because it's the first time a state of emergency has been declared, and we're not sure what we can and cannot do in a state of emergency," says Giorgi Laperashvili, a television news producer at Georgia's Rustavi-2 broadcasting company, which was forcibly closed despite its pro-government stance. "Newsrooms at all television and radio stations will stop working for 15 days, and only public television will be covering events. We're waiting for explanations why this has happened."
But some of the harshest words, not surprisingly, have come from Russia, with which Georgia has sparred recently over its efforts to forge close ties with the West and restore control over two Georgian separatist regions backed by Russia.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said the crackdown on protesters amounted to "crude and mass violations of human rights and democratic freedoms." He also urged the United Nations, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and Council of Europe to condemn the violence.
And State Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov pointed a finger at Washington. "As for the Georgian authorities and their policy of accusing Russia of [being involved in] everything -- [this policy] has been going on for some years," he said. "I think this is all done on the orders of the United States' special services."
Some political observers in Russia, however, believe Moscow may indeed have had a hand in the weeklong Tbilisi rallies.
"Russia has long been interested in removing Saakashvili as the leader of a government hostile to Moscow," says Yevgeny Volk, the head of the Heritage Foundation think tank in Moscow. "I think that Russia helped the opposition organize these rather massive protest through different methods, including secret services. There has nonetheless long been an objective basis for discontent with Saakashvili in Georgia, linked chiefly to low living standards and enduring corruption in government organs."
(RFE/RL's Russian Service contributed to this report.)
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