text:
Q3 2012 Earnings Conference Call
November 21, 2012 08:30 AM ET
Philippe Chauveau - Chairman
Marc Oczachowski - CEO
Eric Soyer - CFO
Stephanie Carrington - The Ruth Group
Jeffery Cohen - Ladenburg Thalmann & Co.
David Ginter - The Oak Ridge Financial Services Group, Inc.
Hello and welcome to the EDAP Third Quarter 2012 Conference Call. All participants will be in listen-only mode. (Operator Instructions) After today's presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. (Operator Instructions) Please note that this event is being recorded.
Now I'd like to turn the conference over to Stephanie Carrington. Ms. Carrington, please go ahead.
Stephanie Carrington
Thank you, Keith. With us today for management are Philippe Chauveau, Chairman of the Board; Marc Oczachowski, Chief Executive Officer; and Eric Soyer, Chief Financial Officer.
Before we begin, I'd like to remind everyone that management's remarks today may contain forward-looking statements, these statements regarding the Company's growth and expansion plans. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ from those described in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Now I'd like to turn over the call to Mr. Philippe Chauveau. Philippe?
Philippe Chauveau
Good morning, everyone and thank you for joining us on our third quarter investor conference call. This quarter we continue to make headway in the global lithotripsy market, gaining traction in the U.S. as well as abroad with the sale of 12 devices. We were especially pleased to see the increased sales in non-European countries. We believe that was the excellent lithotripsy product we offer, we will continue to see growth in the U.S. as well as steadily increase our share in that market.
We were cash positive in the third quarter of 2012 and we also look forward to fulfilling the replenished backlog for the fourth quarter. Marc, over to you.
Marc Oczachowski
Thank you, Philippe, and thanks, everyone for joining our third quarter 2012 earnings call. We will review recent developments across our business segments and then we will turn over the call to Eric to discuss the financial results.
Our third quarter 2012 results were in line and we generated positive cash flow during the quarter. The strong revenues from the first nine months of 2012 reflected the robust sales growth of our renewed lithotripsy device platform. In the third quarter of 2012 we sold 12 devices and generated lithotripsy revenues of €4.8 million or US$6 million. As we approach the last week of November, our replenished device backlog is comprised of 19 lithotripsy devices and three Ablatherm-HIFU devices.
We are continuing to pursue sales and marketing initiatives around the globe. As we recently announced, we have further strengthened our U.S. sales team with the appointment of Bill Brown as our second U.S. based Senior Sales Manager experienced in lithotripsy. With more than two decades in medical field and over 10 years in lithotripsy device sales, Mr. Brown joins EDAP's U.S. team to enhance the market penetration of the Company's Sonolith i-move extracorporeal lithotripsy system and expand U.S. lithotripsy sales initiatives.
We continue to grow our revenues in lithotripsy which is a result of our revolutionary range of devices and a strong added value to practitioners and patients. As we stated also few weeks ago, our complete range of lithotripter is now approved in most of the markets worldwide and we can see the impact of this larger market share reflected by further growth in our revenues this year. These advances are very encouraging and we will continue to work aggressively to benefit new markets and to offer our innovative technology to urologists around the world.
Now I'd like to turn to our Ablatherm-HIFU division. First, as we announced this morning, in early November we had a very productive pre-PMA meeting with the U.S. FDA to discuss our submission for the Ablatherm-HIFU Phase II/III clinical trial for the indication of low risk, localized prostate cancer. This meeting was in line with our continuous good relations with the agency, as we've been working closely and communicating often with their team since the beginning of our U.S. clinical trial several years ago.
This FDA meeting was to review the [scripture] of our file and to discuss the next steps of the regulatory process for the other than HIFU trial, including the submission of the complete PMA file to the FDA for their review. It was also the opportunity to revisit the agencies expectations (indiscernible) for the review and evaluation of the file under the best possible Commission. The meeting was also [enrolled] as to gain constructive and positive feedback from the FDA teams, which we intend to follow.
As far as timing and next steps are concerned, we're conducting in-depth analysis of the data and the [resultant] statistic, that we can provide the agency with the best sets of data. It is imperative that the complete filing is delivered properly and as promptly as possible. We understand this clearly and we will make the necessary actions and thank to have this [file] completed with all details of the data and analysis, so that the package is in accordance with the FDA's expectations.
Our goal is to set as much time as possible during the review process by submitting a comprehensive initial filing. Following these constructive and positive meeting with the agency and according to the discussions and recommendations we received and are incorporating with project that the submission of our file will be in the first days of 2013.
We also believe that by taking this additional time before submitting the filing, we may save few weeks of back and forth with the agency during the review process. We're pleased to see that HIFU is continuing to gain recognition as a therapy for localized prostrate cancer. In October urologists with long-term experience using Ablatherm-HIFU participated in panel discussions at the Third International Symposium on Focused Ultrasound.
On two separate panels, they outlined their experience using ultrasound guided Ablatherm-HIFU to treat prostate cancer and highlighted Ablatherm-HIFU's substantial clinical track record, with more than 32,000 prostate cancer treatments successfully performed.
In closing, I'd like to summarize that we're very pleased with our 2012 revenues as we concluded the third quarter with global revenue growth of 13%. As up to-date we have a strong backlog for the remaining quarter of the year that give us great expectations for the full fiscal year.
Finally, we continue to focus on our top priority projects, which consists of pursuing FDA approval for HIFU. As I discussed earlier, we're moving forward very well and remain in close communication with the agency to make sure we optimize the timing and chance of success of the project.
With that, I'd now like to turn the call over to Eric, who will review our third quarter 2012 financial in more detail. Eric?
Eric Soyer
Thank you, Marc, and good morning, everyone. I will now take a few minutes to review our financial results for the third quarter and the first nine months ended September 30, 2012.
Total revenue for the third quarter 2012 was €5.7 million or US$7.1 million compared to €6.1 million or US$8.6 million for the third quarter of 2011. Total revenue for the lithotripsy division was €4.8 million or US$6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, up 1% as compared to €4.7 million or US$6.7 million for the year-ago period.
During the third quarter 2012, the Company recorded sales of 12 lithotripsy machines, comprised of six Sonolith i-move devices, three Sonolith i-sys devices, and three Sonolith Praktis devices, compared to a total of 14 devices sold in the third quarter of 2011. Total revenue for the HIFU division was €0.9 million US$1.1 million for the third quarter 2012, compared to €1.4 million or US$1.9 million for the same period last year.
Gross profit for the third quarter 2012 was €2.2 million or US$2.8 million, compared to €2.6 million or US$3.6 million for the year-ago period. Gross profit margin was 39.6% in the third quarter 2012, compared to 41.8% in the year-ago period. The change in the gross profit margin was attributed to the evolution in product mix.
Operating expenses were €2.6 million US$3.3 million for the third quarter 2012, compared to €2.8 million or US$3.9 million for the same period in 2011. Operating loss was €341,000 or US$429,000 for the third quarter 2012, compared to €195,000 or US$ 275,000 in the third quarter of 2011.
I'm turning now to the results for the first nine months of 2012. Total revenue was €16.6 million or US$21.4 million, up 13% as compared to €14.8 million or US$20.9 million in the first nine months of 2011. Gross profit for the first nine months of 2012 was €6.6 million or US$8.4 million, up 8.0% from €6.1 million or US$8.6 million for the first nine months of 2011. Gross profit margin was 39.3% in the first nine months of 2012, compared to 41.0% in the first nine months of 2011
Operating loss for the first nine months of 2012 was €2.3 million or US$2.9 million compared to €2.1 million or US$3 million for the same period of 2011. Net loss for the first nine months of 2012 was €6.4 million or US$8.2 million, or €0.37 per diluted share as compared to net loss of €359,000 or US$510,000 or €0.03 per diluted share in the first nine months of 2011.
Net loss of €6.4 million for the first nine months of 2012 included a non-cash interest expense of €3.5 million to reflect the accounting impact of the January 2012 exchange offering on its convertible debentures and related warrants. This is again mere actuarial fair value accounting with no impact on cash.
At September 30, 2012, cash and cash equivalents, including short-term treasury investments were €8.1 million or US$10.5 million. Net cash of €74,000 was generated during the third quarter 2012. In the first months of 2012, total cash generation was €1.6 million; €1.5 million of these was attributable to the Company's financing activities mostly the capital raise and the debt reduction executed in the first half of the year. And over the nine months period the Company's operations did not burn cash as a result of strong cash management improving the Company's working capital.
With that, I will turn the call back to the operator who will open the line for questions. Operator?
Question-and-Answer Session
Thank you. We will now begin the question-and-answer session. (Operator Instructions) And the first question comes from Jeffery Cohen of Ladenburg Thalmann.
Jeffery Cohen - Ladenburg Thalmann & Co.
Hi, thanks for taking my questions and good morning. Could you talk about how many lithotripsy devices are out there in the marketplace currently?
Marc Oczachowski
Yeah, you mean -- hello Jeff, you mean the install base of EDAP?
Jeffery Cohen - Ladenburg Thalmann & Co.
Marc Oczachowski
It's about – a little bit more than [500] machines.
Jeffery Cohen - Ladenburg Thalmann & Co.
Okay and how many HIFU machines?
Marc Oczachowski
We had approximately in the field about 80 machines.
Jeffery Cohen - Ladenburg Thalmann & Co.
Okay, 80 machines and could you talk a little bit about, did you get back to the FDA and talk about your anticipated timeline if they – if the submission goes in the beginning of the year. What that might look like as far as our submission trial timeline, number of our anticipated patient's outcomes and number of months to some results to be submitted?
Marc Oczachowski
So, actually we – as I said, we expect to submit [outside] the FDA in the early days of January next year. Now, again in terms of publishing the clinical results we're – we have no idea when we could do that and we won't take and we won't make any decision on that without the advice and the recommendation from the agency as we don't want to interfere at all in their interpretation process of the clinical results of the trial.
Now, as the timeline – again it's in the hand of the FDA and they have received new guidance and timeframe to review file that again they're the one deciding on that and again what we will do and that's what we somehow discussed and confirmed to them that we will be available and make everything available to them so that they can review it in the best manner and with the most effective way so that it could be as quick as possible in their review process and we will be supportive and again supporting them with all the information (indiscernible) on that. So we're in extremely good relation with the FDA and we're working very closely with the team that we've been meeting and known for the past few years.
Jeffery Cohen - Ladenburg Thalmann & Co.
Okay, perfect. Thank you very much.
Marc Oczachowski
You're welcome.
Thank you. (Operator Instructions) The next question comes from David Ginter of Oak Ridge Financial.
David Ginter - The Oak Ridge Financial Services Group, Inc.
Good morning. Two questions here in regards to your backlog with lithotripsy sales and the Ablatherm. Are any of these sold in the United States?
Marc Oczachowski
Well, for the Ablatherm of course not as – again the Ablatherm is not approved, so we cannot commercialize it in the U.S. On the backlog in confirm purchase order we don't have any of any machine in the U.S. but we may expect some few as again – our strengthened team in the U.S. is working on a very important and very active pipeline of project. So we don't have yet in hand, but we expect to have some few by the end of the year.
David Ginter - The Oak Ridge Financial Services Group, Inc.
Okay. So, as far as the Ablatherm, none can be sold in the U.S. until you actually have approval?
Marc Oczachowski
David Ginter - The Oak Ridge Financial Services Group, Inc.
Okay. All right. Thank you.
Marc Oczachowski
You're welcome, David.
Thank you. And the next question comes from (indiscernible), private investor.
Unidentified Analyst
Yes, hello everyone.
Marc Oczachowski
Unidentified Analyst
Thank you for taking my questions. Two questions, one is can you please help reconcile the difference between the HIFU as a technology and the decline in HIFU revenues is the first part. And then secondly, you said some questions on the progress of some of the other cancers that HIFU is being tested for?
Marc Oczachowski
Okay. On the first question, this is of course a difficult question to answer, but I think one thing that is – that we feel around the world is that until HIFU is approved in the U.S. its – I mean the FDA is a clear recognition for a technology, so it helps developing further sales of course in the U.S. but also in the rest of the world. And as well as you know, as we explained the treatment of localized prostate cancer is in the middle of a big change as again the patient profile has changed and now more and more I mean radical treatments are seen as all the treatment of prostate cancer so, the trend is to go to a watchful waiting or no treatments or to the focal approach for which HIFU brings a lot of added value and interest for both the patient and the urologist, but it takes always a lot of time to define exactly what is this new focal strategy of treatment and how do they recruit patient, which patient is a good candidate for that and which technology. So it's taking time, it's changing, but fortunately for HIFU it looks like all the change in the strategy of treatment as well as in the patient profile moved in the right direction for HIFU to become a real player and (indiscernible) get treatment for prostate cancer. So that will take time, and I think what will help is also the approval of the technology by the FDA that will definitely help the recognition of HIFU around the world.
David Ginter - The Oak Ridge Financial Services Group, Inc.
When do you see the …
Marc Oczachowski
On the others and as we announced several time, we continue working and developing clinical trials and R&D research work for several other applications. And again as we went through the Focused Ultrasound meeting in Washington DC we could see a lot of work and a lot of research being done for a lot of different application on HIFU which confirms again the strong interest and the strong plate that HIFU will have in different therapeutic treatments within the next few years.
Unidentified Analyst
Okay, great. Thank you.
Marc Oczachowski
You're welcome.
Thank you. (Operator Instructions) Okay. There are no questions at the present time. So, I like to turn the call back over to Philippe Chauveau for any closing remarks.
Philippe Chauveau
Thank you everyone for participating on today's conference call. As there are no further questions, I'm thus closing our Q3 2012 conference call. Thank you and good bye.
Thank you. This concludes today's teleconference. You may now disconnect your phone lines. Thank you for participating and have a nice day.
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Hi! My name is Tigger
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subset: commoncrawl


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New Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir has been fined for his team's slow over rate during their IPL 5 match against Delhi Daredevils at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground on Monday.
At the end of the match, Kolkata were assessed to be one over behind the required rate after allowances were taken into consideration. Since it was Gambhir's first offence of the season under the IPL Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offences, the Kolkata skipper was fined USD 20,000.
Kolkata displaced Delhi at the top of the IPL table with a six-wicket win in the match, chasing the target of 154 with ease thanks to a solid opening partnership between Gautam Gambhir and Brendon McCullum. Both added 68 before Varun Aaron, playing his first match this season, removed the Kolkata captain, who chopped the ball on to his stumps. Jacques Kallis, however, joined McCullum and both played with a lot of care to ensure there were no scares for the visitors.


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on March 18, 2013 - 10:01 AM
One HSBC Center in downtown Buffalo will go dark from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday for Earth Hour, a worldwide call to action on climate change.
Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney Australia when 2.2 million people and more than 2,000 businesses turned off their lights for one hour to take a stand against climate change.
The movement has become the largest event of its kind in the world and symbolizes that by working together, everyone can make a positive impact.


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Zhu Bajie
The 108 Heroes of The Water Margin (Shui Hu Zhuan)
Jinling's Twelve Beauties
Exposure Novels of Ancient China
Zhu Bajie, also named Zhu Wuneng, is one of the three helpers of Xuanzang in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. He is called "Pigsy" or "Pig" in many English versions of the story.
Zhu Bajie is a complex and developed character in the novel. He looks like a terrible monster, part human and part pig, who often gets himself and his companions into trouble through his laziness, gluttony, and propensity for lusting after pretty women. He is jealous of Sun Wukong and always tries to bring him down.
His Buddhist name "Zhu Wuneng", given by Bodhisattva Guanyin, means "pig (reincarnated) who is aware of ability," or "pig who rises to power", a reference to the fact that he values himself so much as to forget his own grisly appearance. Xuanzang gave him the nickname B─üjiè which means "eight restraints, or eight commandments" to remind him of his Buddhist diet.
In the original Chinese novel, he is often called d─üizi (ÕæåÕŁÉ), meaning "idiot". Sun Wukong, Xuanzang and even the author consistently refers to him as "the idiot" over the course of the story. Bodhisattvas and other heavenly beings usually refer to him as "Heavenly Tumbleweed", his former name when he was a heavenly marshal.
Zhu Bajie originally held the title of Ti─ünpéng Yuánshuài (Õż®Ķō¼ÕģāÕĖģ; lit. "Marshal Canopy"), commander-in-chief of 80,000 Heavenly Navy Soldiers. He was later banished, however, for misbehaviour. At a party organized for all the significant figures in Heaven, Bajie saw the Goddess of the Moon for the first time and was captivated by her beauty. Following a drunken attempt to sexually harass her, she reported this to the Jade Emperor and thus he was banished to Earth. In popular retellings, Zhu Bajie was sentenced to a thousand lives where each life would end in a love tragedy. In some retellings of the story, his banishment is linked to Sun Wukong's downfall. In any case, he was exiled from Heaven and sent to be reincarnated on Earth, where by mishap he fell into a pig well and was reborn as a man-eating pig-monster known as Zh┼½ G─üngliè (the "strong-maned pig").
In the earlier portions of Journey to the West, Wukong and Xuanzang come to Gao village and find that a daughter of the village elder had been kidnapped and the abductor left a note demanding marriage. In some versions of the story Bajie has convinced the elder to allow him to marry the daughter based on his ability to do large amounts of hard work due to his prodigious strength. The elder recants when he discovers that although Zhu Bajie manages to do quite a lot of work in the fields he manages to eat so much that the farm is losing money anyway. After some investigations, Wukong found out that Bajie was the "villain" behind this. He fought with Wukong, but ended the fight when he learned that Wukong was a disciple of Xuanzang, and that he had also been recruited by Guanyin to join their pilgrimage and make atonements for his past sins.
At the end of the novel, most of Bajie's fellow pilgrims achieve enlightenment and become buddhas or arhats, but he does not; although much improved, he is still too much a creature of his base desires. He is instead rewarded for his part in the pilgrimage's success with a job as "Cleanser of the Altars" and all the leftovers he can eat. However, his actual rank in relation to the others is unclear.
As a weapon, he wields a jiŪöchŪÉ-d─½ngpá, a nine-tooth (jiŪöchŪÉ) iron muck-rake (d─½ngpá) from Heaven that weighs roughly 5,048 kilos (or roughly 11,129 pounds).


text:
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Actor Charlie Sheen toured an Alabama neighborhood leveled by tornadoes and said Monday he wants to organize a relief event for victims in the state.
Charlie Sheen tours tornado damage in Alabama
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text:
Porcelain plate
About 1765
Soft-paste decorated in enamel colours with gold anchor mark
Museum no. 528-1902
Porcelain describes ceramics with a white body fired at a high temperature.
Soft-paste porcelains were made in Europe in imitation of East Asian porcelains. Soft-paste porcelain has a softer body than hard-paste porcelain and is slightly porous. The glaze is fired at a lower temperature than the body and sits on it as a distinct layer. Often on soft-paste porcelain the colours appear to sink into the glaze.


text:
Src Cards
I am an eager enthusiast (is that redundant?) of
s as an analysis tool. I am interested in whether anyone has applied the concept to the next level UP (or the next activity PRIOR) to CRC.
Has anyone tried Subsystem-Responsibilities-Collaborators Cards? We have a set of use cases that detail the functionality required for a distributed system. We need to establish more detailed requirements for each of the subsystems so that we can apportion work and get started on more detailed design.
Has anyone attempted to use
in this manner? Are there any gotchas involved in applying this practice at a higher level of abstraction? Across distributed system boundaries? --
I've used
s to define the responsibilities of components. It was just like defining classes. The technical details of which things are in which address space, time slice or physical hardware should usually be ignored at the
level of abstraction. Try it out and see. Cards are cheap. --
Using this approach at an even higher system level is described as Fortress-Ally-Responsibility cards in
Software Fortresses: Modelling Enterprise Architectures
by Roger Sessions and Janet Van Sickler. The "Fortresses" you are modelling here represent whole applications (or clusters of them) that operate as sort of an atomic unit of processing focus and trust. -- bb
Class-Responsibility-Collaboration, Component-Responsibility-Collaboration, Subsystem-Responsibility-Collaboration, etc... do I smell a pattern? Maybe we should just start calling them XrcCards
? --
View edit of
September 23, 2013
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text:
Safe Zone
Look for this symbol!
It designates a Safe Zone place and Ally.
An Ally:
Someone - a supportive faculty member, staff member, or administrator - willing to provide understanding, compassion, and assistance to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) students in the Palomar community.
A Place:
A location - an office or other private campus setting - that offers a safe, secure environment where our LGBTQ students can speak freely, knowing they will be treated with respect.
We will offer one Safe Zone Workshops in the Spring semester 2012.
Check back for day/time/place!


text:
Come Jan. 3, 1982, violinist Robert Mann will break ranks with the Juilliard String Quartet to perform in a trio in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art's prestigious Sonata Series. His accompanist on piano? Dudley ("10") Moore, keyboard-trained at Oxford before lapsing into comedy. The two met in London in the early '60s, and, reports Mann, "We've been playing chamber music together for years. We finally decided to come out of the closet." Since Dudley's finished chasing Bo, the audience for the recital will not be subjected to Bolero.
Grub Street
Few prospects make a publisher drool more—or open his checkbook wider—than another celebrity tell-all; witness the cash registers jangled by such disparate authors as Shelley Winters, Susan Strasberg and Britt Ekland. Small wonder, then, that when it became known that Glenn Ford and a ghostwriter were collaborating on his autobiography, one house bid a reported $500,000. Provided, of course, that Ford, 65, would dish up lowlights from his 35-year Hollywood career, especially muck on such pals as Sinatra, Garland and Hayworth. "If I can't say nice things about my own friends," fumes Ford, "I'm not about to say anything." He might just have to stay mum. Interest seems to be waning, which is causing the actor to consider giving up the writerly life.
Can it really be almost nine years since the Plumbers were nabbed in the Watergate complex? Well, now that the nation again has a Republican President in a forgiving mood (Reagan recently pardoned two Nixon-era FBI biggies convicted for their excessive zeal), the Watergaters are expected to queue up to have their own records expunged. Lawyers for the felons plan to bring all the President's men forward in the order of palatability—first Egil Krogh, now practicing law in Seattle; then Jeb Magruder, a divinity student in Princeton; and finally perhaps John Dean, a writer and lecturer-at-large. After that, the going gets tougher. Ironically, the White House counsel who will recommend—or not recommend—the pardons to Reagan is one who well knows the cast of characters: back in the early '70s, Fred Fielding was assistant to John Dean.
A Shlockwork Orange
Until 1978 he was the obscenity-spewing leader of the infamous Sex Pistols. Now rocker Johnny Rotten is living in London, gigging with the slightly less threatening group Public Image Ltd. under his real name, John Lydon. But he still dyes his punk cut orange, so people still "react with shock and horror." Because of the color? "No," says Johnny, 25, "I think they're surprised I'm still alive."
•One of the priciest items at a recent auction fund raiser for the Detroit Symphony was a dinner with conductor Antal Dorati that fetched more than $1,000. The high bidder: punk rocker Patti Smith, who donned a white linen dress—a dramatic switch from her usual skintight jeans—for the meal at the ritzy Renaissance Club.
•New York Gov. Hugh Carey seems devoted to his new wife, Evangeline (Engie) Gouletas, despite her post-wedding revelation that she had been previously married thrice—once more than he had been led to believe. The tangled marital situation has given Washington wits a chance to dream up a bumptious bumper sticker: HONK IF YOU'VE EVER MARRIED ENGIE.
•Now that her husband's weighed anchor, Betsy Cronkite jests, "Errol Flynn died on a 70-foot boat with a 17-year-old girl. Walter has always wanted to go that way, but he's going to have to settle for a 17-footer with a 70-year-old."
updated 06/01/1981 AT 01:00 AM EDT
•originally published 06/01/1981 AT 01:00 AM EDT


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Product Information
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This Solar Panel charging kit is a 5 watt solar-powered battery charger for use with all GTO/Mighty Mule gate opener systems. Each Solar Panel comes with tubular steel support, mounting clips, wire connectors, and 8 Ft. of low voltage wire. This durable solar panel is ideal for rural environments, and works best in direct sunlight.
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text:
And yet there are many contrasts between Texas' Colt McCoy and Alabama's Greg McElroy. The former is a country boy. The latter is a big-city product. McCoy is a fourth-year starter. McElroy is finishing his first season as a starter. McCoy can run and throw. McElroy is quick to admit that Texas didn't offer him a scholarship because he's slow.
They shared a suite in July at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, La. In an "Air It Out" accuracy contest at the end of the camp, McElroy finished second to Texas A&M's Jerrod Johnson. McCoy remembers throwing at a moving target 40 yards down the field. He doesn't remember finishing behind McElroy. "It was a lot more fun than it really was a competition," he said.
The real competition is 11 days away.


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TeamTC was stoked this morning to discover that a new 'Oblivion' TV trailer called 'Last Man' was released by Universal Canada last night!
As an ex-New Yorker, I loved seeing the Empire State Building in the opening trailer scene which begins with Tom's narration: "60 years ago, earth was attacked…everyone's been evacuated, nothing human remains… ", setting up the trailer for some serious suspense…
As the trailer unfolds, the great Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko and Andrea Riseborough appear. The former two, with what appears to be a great mystery, the later, a planet-clearing teammate of Tom's character who's literally the "Last Man" on earth, ergo the trailer title, 'Jack Harper.'
'Oblivion' opens in the U.S. on April 19th, check our list here for International dates, sites, and social media channels… SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT…Stay tuned for news from TeamTC about exclusive 'Oblivion' U.S. Hollywood premiere coverage LIVE, Wednesday April 10th, 7:30pm PDT…
- Check our list here for International dates
- Site: http://www.OblivionMovie.com
- Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/Oblivion
- Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/OblivionMovie
- What Is Your Favorite Memory? http://www.EarthIsAMemory.com
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Tom's Film and Events Calendar…


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Source: v3
quote: I bet the millions of people who all use the same Samsung phone feel pretty special and unique in the world.
quote: Have you even used a Windows Phone? I had a WP7 device... didn't want/need/miss Google apps. Upgraded to the 920... want/need/miss them even less.
quote: It still requires the user to tap each and every waypoint on a route to get the next voice guidance. The user has to take focus off the road and manage to tap the screen to get the next instructions on a route.
quote: You can tap *anywhere* on the screen (mentioned in the article you link further down this thread). Okay, so maybe not the perfect user experience, but if you can't tap a ~4" screen without losing focus on the road I'm not sure you should be driving in the first place. Do you also have to look down to locate the brake pedal? Pull over altogether to turn on your wipers?
quote: I currently have a HTC One X, an iPhone 4s, and a Lumia 920. I love trying new things, and I'm amazed that more people don't give it an honest try.
quote: I currently have a HTC One X, an iPhone 4s, and a Lumia 920.
quote: Isn't that cute. Sorry but the arbitrary restrictions Microsoft put on Windows Phone are just too painful for most to bear. That's great that it works for you though. You and the three other people who actually bought into it.Plus the truly awful app store that has no real substance, useless search feature, impossible to find anything. Not to mention the lack of tier-1 apps.All these pain points add up to a closed ecosystem that most folks don't want anything to do with.


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An Amber Alert has been issued after two children were abducted at gunpoint in Lancaster County.
Erielys Ahorrio, 3, and John Ahorrio, 4, were abducted from a Lancaster residence by Eddie Ahorrio Sr., 47, and Eddie Ahorrio Jr., 23, according to the alert.
The suspects are driving a black Nissan Altima with a Pennsylvania license plate number of JJG-8170, the alert states. They may be traveling to Massachusetts, according to the alert.


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card with detachable bookmark from TradeMark Catholic Stationery. Approximately 4¼"x 5¼", blank on inside, with envelope.
Front of card: Greetings From Our Family to Yours
Back of
card: Includes prayer to the Holy Family
Bookmark: You are always in our prayers
Adoremus Books copyright 2015
Over 30,000 Items in Stock!
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The Luther Book Shop offers in store student charging, where students can make Book Shop purchases and charge them to their student account (student receivable.) To read more about this service please visit our Student Charging page. Charging for the 2016 - 2017 school year will begin on Thursday, August 11, 2016 and end on April 30, 2017.
The Book Shop will be open Saturday, October 1 from 9:00am-5:00pm and Sunday, October 2 from 9:30am-1:30pm. Do not miss the alumni, and former faculty and staff book signing extravaganza Saturday from 10:30am-4:00pm.
On Saturday, October 1, the Book Shop will host several authors for book signings.
Carol Edwards Denekas- '91 Luther Grad
Karen Schmidt Schlindwein- '86 Luther Grad
Gracia Grindal will sign her recent publication, Unstoppable: The Norwegian Pioneers Educate their Daughters. This author signing is brought to you by the Phi Beta Kappa Symposium on the Liberal Arts.
Connie Kronlokken- '66 Luther Grad
Mary Jorgensen- '66 Luther Grad
Jennifer Gipp- '04 Luther Grad
Laura (Paulson) Landau-'91 Luther Grad
David Rosheim- '66 Luther Grad
Jerry Johnson-retired Luther staff
*Time slots may change and more authors may be added to the event. Please keep checking website.


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A local organization for veterans and their families is leading a national contest for a $250,000 grant.
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It was Thanksgiving Day, and nearly 50 degrees in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The snow from a recent storm/cold snap was melting, and we had nothing on the docket but enjoying the outdoors. We drove down to Los Alamos to hike and stopped at Tsankawi, an ancestral pueblo village, that's part of Bandelier National Monument, where we walked, heel to toe, along narrow foot paths and rocky ridges, climbing ladders to reach new heights and beautiful vista views.
There were few others along the 1.5-mile trail. We passed one older couple, greeting them as they ushered us ahead, and for at least a half hour, it felt as though we had the whole dwelling to ourselves. Neil walked a bit ahead of me, as we made our way across the slippery, ice-filled ground. But eventually, he slowed down because there was a man ahead of him who was walking/scrambling/scooting over the rocks and ice quite slowly. With such a narrow path, it's impossible to pass anyone unless they want you to.
We came to a large rock with a ladder attached to it. This was where we'd climbed up, earlier, coming up the trail, and now it's where we had to go down. Except there was one problem: the man was standing with his back to the ladder. Staring at us.
We busied ourselves. I walked over to the opposite side of the rock and looked down. Neil followed me. There had been one ladder we'd climbed where we had the option of scrambling up rocks instead.
"Is this the one that had the alternate route?" I asked Neil, loudly.
"No," said Neil, just as loud, gazing at the ground 10 feet below. "We've got to take the ladder!"
We both looked at the guy, who then turned and, backwards, descended the ladder. We followed.
By now, we were about 100 yards from our car. It was the home stretch. But an inherently creepy feeling had settled in. I found myself looking at the man with a whole new scrutiny, trying to judge whether or not that creepy feeling was justified. He seemed to tilt to the side when he walked. Had a bit of a twitch. And he was making a pretty dedicated effort to maintain our same pace.
To our right, the bathrooms appeared and Neil announced that he was going to use the men's room. I turned at the same time, planning to use the women's room. The guy overheard us, and was now walking, double time, to get to there first. "Please let this be a single-room bathroom with a locking door," I'm thinking to myself, worried, at this point, about the guy following Neil into the bathroom.
Time seemed to slow as the guy craned his neck while walking past and looked at me anxiously. I felt my hairs raise. That's when I noticed that he was heading straight ahead, towards the women's bathroom. I threw out my hand towards the bathroom in "be my guest" fashion, and said, "Go ahead." I'm not sure the invitation mattered.
Neil finished up and came out, and I traded places with him. I could hear, next door, that the guy was no longer peeing, but I didn't hear the door open. I dried my hands and when I opened my door, he walked out of the women's bathroom at the same time. Neil and I gave one another a look. At this point, we'd been within 10 feet of this guy for about the last half hour, but no words had been exchanged. We both wanted out of there.
We were closing in on the cars, so I started to jog along the path. Neil followed my lead, pretending to be a monster and faux chasing me (this is not out of character, actually). We got to the parking lot's thigh-high post. Neil hopped it with ease, as I climbed over more slowly. I swear I felt someone breathing down my neck right then. My cheeks flushed in annoyance, and I actually stopped myself from turning around and saying, "Back the fuck off."
But I figured, we're here. Our car is within sight. It's over. Right?
We walked through the parking lot, which is right next to the highway. We weren't the only ones there. There was a car backing out in front of us, and another woman getting into her car a little further ahead. By all means, we should have started feeling safer now. But we didn't. Because our car was last in the parking lot, and as we passed one car after another, the guy was still following us.
Until there were no cars left.
I was feeling pure adrenalin as I quickened my step towards the car. "Open the door, open the door," I was trying to beam the message to Neil, who was holding the keys. He was on the same wavelength, and we both opened our doors in one quick swoop. As we both sat down, we went to lock the doors. That's when the back door opened. And the man climbed in. And the man sat down.
We both turned around and start screaming, each with our own flair.
"Get the fuck out!" yelled Neil.
"Sir, you do not belong here!" I screamed, having no idea where the politeness came from. "Get out of the car, sir!"
And, thank god, he listened. He looked scared, in fact, and opened the door and got out. He stood next to the car with his hands in his pockets, like he'd just been scolded, and he paced. Neil and I locked the doors and looked at each other. "Did that just happen?" We tried to catch our collective breath.
Neil backed the car up a bit, ready to go, but waited, to make sure that the guy didn't try to get into anyone else's car. After a few minutes, I told him I thought we were ok to leave, and we pulled away. It's all we talked about for the next few hours, and, in hindsight, we start putting things together. Like the realization that, being stuck behind the guy for so long, we'd actually had quite a while to study him: fair skin, long sleeve t-shirt and dad-style jeans, glasses.
In fact, in looking back, it seemed odd that he wouldn't just stop to let us pass. We were carrying out a conversation at a normal tone, which, in the middle of the high desert, can come across quite loudly. It was as though he was following us, from the front.
Then there was the way that he'd waited in the bathroom. The realization that he'd actually run, following us, to the parking lot. The shock that a total and complete stranger got in our car with us and we couldn't stop him.
And the relief that nothing actually happened.
I have no idea how you're supposed to act in that situation. When do you decide to trust your instinct that something's not right? On the trail? At the ladder? The bathroom? Even then, what's next?
It actually makes me sad to think back to the image of the guy standing there, hands in pockets, pacing, like we'd scolded him. Clearly, his reality is different from ours. Things make sense to him in a different manner than they make sense to us.
In my gut, I don't think he'd had any intent to harm us. But you never know, do you?
We ended up going on another hike after driving away from there. After the jitters left (well, most of them), Neil wondered if we should have called 911 and reported it, more for the guy's sake, than for ours. I said I thought we did the right thing. I hate the idea of being responsible for a guy–who, ultimately, did nothing but really, really freak us out–getting locked up, or who knows what.
But there are two sides to every story.
What would you have done?


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This Avaya IP Office is ready to plug and play in your small business. The package includes 1 ea. 16-button digital phone plus 3 ea. 8-button digital phones and connects up to 6 traditional analog lines. A great replacement system that reuses your existing wiring.


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Mount Union engineering freshmen share Kisses, robots with Reilly students
February 27, 2014
By MARY ANN GREIER Staff Writer SALEM — A group of freshmen engineering students from the University of Mount Union shared Hershey's Kisses via robots Wednesday, showing Reilly fourth graders how......
Cool. Nice to see the kids looking up to positive college student role models. This would have had a good effect on my kids.
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Robbie Niblock wrote:
> Got Samba 2.2.8 running on our SCO Openserver 5.0.5.
> When I connect to the server via 'my network places' it always prompts for a
> password. Can this be corrected.
Are you running a domain via SAMBA? If so is the client in the domain?
If not, does the user have the same password on both systems?
Rob MacGregor (BOFH) Oh my God! They killed init! You bastards!
The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming dragon.


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~ Announcing the BTA Restructure ~
As of 1/1/16, all BTA products are only available as Volume Orders or Bulk Orders by special order*.
To place a volume or bulk order, contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com or call us at 510-710-5075.
*visit the About Us page for more information about volume and bulk orders including special discounts!
Select Exam Preparation to purchase SkillMaster online practice exam account extensions.
And contact us at email@example.com to request expert consultation as needed.


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Do you play Minecraft and want to meet other Minecraft players? ICPL now has its own Minecraft server, so join us for the first of our bi-monthly Minecraft meetups. We need your help to recreate downtown Iowa City. Come to the Library or join us in-game to make it happen!
Teen Summer Reading Program event series for Grades 7-12
This event is open to the public.
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Q: I have owned four mice for about six months and, except for the one I bought a few weeks ago, the other three are quite big.
This morning, I found my two favorite mice (both a male and female) to be barely moving, lying on their sides. I'm not sure if they are just cold because it's the middle of winter here. I put a hot water bottle in the bottom of their enclosure and wrapped the mice in a towel above it, and I separated the baby mouse and the other healthy mouse.
The two mice seem to be a bit brighter but not much. They have plenty of water, food, and fresh fruit and veggies available to them.
What could be wrong with my mice? How do I make them well again? I don't live anywhere near a veterinarian, which is about two hours away.
A: It is impossible to say what is wrong with your two sick mice without any more of a description of the problems. Keeping them warm and making sure there is food and water, as you did, is the best you can do.
Here's my guess. Your three older mice seemed to be doing well as you said they were quite big. You bought another mouse a few weeks ago. All of a sudden, two of your healthy mice seem very sick. This is very suspicious; an infectious disease might have been brought into your colony through the new young mouse.
Many times, carriers of disease do not appear sick. They may have immunity to the disease. If they come in contact with mice that have never been exposed to the disease, those previously unexposed mice (they are called naïve mice) will get very sick and may die.
The timeframe of a few weeks fits perfectly with a viral disease. If that is the case, there is not much you can do other than what you are doing, providing warmth, fluids and food.
See all of Dr. Rosenthal's Critter Q&A articles>>
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Weekly Planner
This week: Drink beer at the site of Bruce Lee's funeral, or let Taichi Kitamura regale you with albacore.
Hopped Up
The Pine Box and Standard Brewing are marking some milestones this week with hurry-up-and-get-them special releases.
Happy Hour
Let them drink beer! For discounted prices at participating locations, of course.
What happens when a James Beard Award–winning chef reinvents the menu at a beer bar? Some of the best pretzels in Seattle, for starters.


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"Let's be fair and share the burden of these cuts," said Upper Deerfield Township Mayor Jim Crilley, acknowledging financial constraints at all levels of government. "This area has already lost the motor vehicle agency, social services and employment services, with the possibility of more losses to come. Is it fair that our local residents are the only ones to shoulder the burden of these cuts? I think not."
The six employees at the Bridgeton Station received pink slips on March 24 with notification that the station may be closing as of May 1.
This tentative proposal has been presented to representatives of New Jersey inspection station workers' Local 518 of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) by Parsons Corporation, the firm contracted with the state to operate New Jersey's inspection program. The proposal to close has been presented in conjunction with ongoing contract negotiations between the private vendor and the state.
Parsons' five-year contract expires in May 2013 and includes state-proposed changes to the scope of contracted work that were implemented as of August 2010. These changes reduced New Jersey's vehicle inspection station services from full mechanical, safety inspection to bi-annual, federally mandated emissions testing for all but commercial and private passenger transportation vehicles, thereby significantly reducing station client volume throughout the state.
"(The state's) point was, we were looking to achieve savings and were spending millions of dollars per year on a program, so we'd need to show it's being effective in reducing crashes and so on, but there's no data to show that," explained Mike Horan, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) spokesman, pointing out NJ is one of 30 jurisdictions no longer requiring safety inspection. "We conducted about 1.9 million initial inspections with centralized lanes at Parsons, and about 6 percent were rejections for serious issues like steering, tires or brakes. ...NJ state police data shows the majority of crashes are related to driver error or weather conditions."
A source familiar with the contract negotiations between the state and Parsons confirmed that the Bridgeton, Westfield and Delanco stations are being considered for closure based on volume. Of NJ's 29 vehicle inspection stations, Bridgeton's is ranked the 28th least utilized, with the Westfield and Delanco stations coming in at number 25 and 22, respectively.
Horan acknowledged that contract negotiations pertain to these service reductions and said the state is hoping to "come to an equitable agreement and wrap up negotiations very soon," although unable to comment on Parsons' business operations such as a firm timeframe for employee layoffs.
If the Bridgeton Station closes, its employees currently have no "seniority bumping rights" to help them secure jobs at other locations remaining open such as the Millville, Salem, Deptford or Mays Landing stations, leaving their futures in the area unknown, according to Norman Kawut, a union delegate of the executive board of the Local 518 of the SEIU.
With residents like these in mind, Bridgeton Mayor Albert Kelly wants to "draw a line in the sand and say no more" to the cuts on the western side of Cumberland County.
"If businesses see we're not growing, they're going to wonder why they'd expand here," Kelly said. "We have to stand together, shoulder to shoulder and arm in arm, and work together so it stops here and goes no further. If we let it go quietly and easily, the powers that be can say to keep the cuts coming."
Upper Deerfield Township committeeman Bruce Peterson commented that the local landmark was built by Charles F. Seabrook and donated to the state for $1 before 1950. With long-past and recent history, local business prospects, jobs and all things considered, Crilley and Kelly offered representatives of the Local 518 of the SEIU the area leadership's support against the proposed closing.
"The Freeholder Board is standing behind the city of Bridgeton and the residents of Cumberland County to keep services here," said the Rev. James Dunkins, deputy director of the Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders. "The message needs to be clear: they've eliminated enough in Bridgeton."
Petitions against the Bridgeton Vehicle Inspection Station closing are available at Antonio's Deli on Old Deerfield Pike, the Carll's Corner Wawa, Advance Auto Parts on Pearl Street and the medical office of Dr. Robert Patitucci on Cornwell Drive.
SEIU members also will hold a petition signing at the Carll's Corner Shoprite on Friday, April 8, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.


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|-> Chapter 2 -> Disasters -> West Asia
The most direct effects of the drought were crop failures and a decline in cereal and livestock production. In Iraq, for example, cereal production declined by 20 per cent compared to the previous year and by 40 per cent compared to the average production for the previous five years (FAO 1999). A report by a FAO/WFP mission to Syria stated that a large proportion of the nomadic herders were facing 'financial ruin', with 4 700 households seriously vulnerable to food shortages and in urgent need of food assistance. Cereal production was also seriously affected. Barley harvest was estimated to be only 380 000 tonnes - less than half the 1998 total and down 72 per cent from the previous five-year average. Local needs had to be satisfied through imports. Reduction in wheat production was less severe (28 per cent below average) because 40 per cent of Syria's wheat fields are irrigated. Jordan was also adversely affected by the drought, which reduced the country's wheat and barley production in 1999 by 88 per cent (WFP 2001).
Forage and fodder become scarce in rangelands during droughts. In addition, the decline in cereal production and the limited availability of crop residues worsen the impact of drought on the sheep population and consequently on human well-being. Loss of sheep and the high price of supplementary feed led to a significant drop in farmers' incomes and many families were forced to sell off their animals and other assets at low prices (FAO 1999).
Land degradation, mostly in the form of desertification, is one of the region's most serious problems. Although desertification is often attributed to poor land use practices, drought deepens the effect and extends the area prone to desertification to encompass areas normally not at risk. Decreases in plant cover due to drought may also increase erosion and lead to a nearly irreversible loss of productive potential and subsequently desertification (Le Houérou 1993, Parton and others 1993).
Nations have responded to drought by improving national efforts to combat desertification and joining international ones with the same aim such as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Under the auspices of this international treaty, national action programmes have been developed and a subregional action programme to combat desertification and drought was adopted in 2000 (UNCCD 2001).
At the national level, actions and measures include modification of agricultural and water policies and giving priority to drought-affected areas.
|Contact Us


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Staying warm while staying safe
Fireplace safety
NEW BERN, CRAVEN COUNTY - It was eastern North Carolina's first real glimpse of winter.
Snow flake after snow flake, pictures came into our newsroom from all over the region Tuesday night.
While the snow may look pretty, it's the falling temperatures that have officials worried about chimney fires.
So before you light that first match, there are a few things to remember
"We strongly recommend you to make sure your chimneys are inspected by someone who is certified to check it, sweep it, make sure you don't have holes in your chimney or your flue" Said Ira Whitford, Assistant Emergency Services Director.
It's also a good idea to blow off your roof, making sure there are no debris that could catch fire with sparks coming out.
Officials are also warning about the dangers of propane heaters.
According to fire officials, you should never use a propane heater indoors or an enclosed space.
Also, have a smoke detector along with a carbon monoxide detector in your house.


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- Table View
- List View
Always Too Soonby Allison Gilbert Christina Kline
While the death of a parent is always painful, losing both is life-altering. When author Allison Gilbert lost both parents at age 32, she could not find any books that spoke to her with the same level of compassion and reassurance that she found in the support group she belonged to-so she decided to write one of her own. The result is a sensitive and candid portrayal of loss that brings together experiences from famous and ordinary grief-stricken sons and daughters that explores the regrets, heartache and sometimes, relief, that accompanies pain and healing.
Parentless Parentsby Allison Gilbert
Parentless Parents is the first book to show how the absence of grandparents impacts everything about the way mothers and fathers raise their children--from everyday parenting decisions to the relationships they have with their spouses and in-laws. For the first time in U.S. history, as the average age of women giving birth has increased significantly, millions of children are at risk of having fewer years with their grandparents than ever before. How has this substantial shift affected parents and kids? Journalist, award-winning television producer, and parentless parent Allison Gilbert has polled and studied more than 1,300 parentless parents from across the United States and a dozen other countries to find out. Through her pioneering research, Gilbert not only shares her own story and the significant and poignant effect that this trend has had on her and hundreds of other families, but also the myriad ways these mothers and fathers have learned to keep the memory of their parents alive for their children, and to find the support and understanding they need.
Select your format based upon: 1) how you want to read your book, and 2) compatibility with your reading tool. To learn more about using Bookshare with your device, visit the Help Center.
Here is an overview of the specialized formats that Bookshare offers its members with links that go to the Help Center for more information.
- Bookshare Web Reader - a customized reading tool for Bookshare members offering all the features of DAISY with a single click of the "Read Now" link.
- DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) - a digital book file format. DAISY books from Bookshare are DAISY 3.0 text files that work with just about every type of access technology that reads text. Books that contain images will have the download option of 'DAISY Text with Images'.
- BRF (Braille Refreshable Format) - digital Braille for use with refreshable Braille devices and Braille embossers.
- MP3 (Mpeg audio layer 3) - Provides audio only with no text. These books are created with a text-to-speech engine and spoken by Kendra, a high quality synthetic voice from Ivona. Any device that supports MP3 playback is compatible.
- DAISY Audio - Similar to the Daisy 3.0 option above; however, this option uses MP3 files created with our text-to-speech engine that utilizes Ivonas Kendra voice. This format will work with Daisy Audio compatible players such as Victor Reader Stream and Read2Go.


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John Dudley: NCAA needs to do away with a bunch more arcane rules
Making fun of the NCAA for creating and enforcing stupid rules has become so easy there's almost no sport in it anymore.
It's like pointing out that Justin Bieber's next date needs to be with the Supernanny.
But maybe, finally, mercifully, the overlords of college athletics are beginning to hear the voices of reason who have been screaming at them for decades.
Or maybe they simply fear the outcome of this week's vote on whether to unionize by student-athletes at Northwestern.
In any case, NCAA president Mark Emmert, in a move nearly as unprecedented as it was blunt, ridiculed his organization's rules governing how much food schools can feed their student athletes, including what kind of spreads -- specifically, none -- they could offer on bagels as training-table snacks.
That the NCAA should have ever bothered to slog its way into the business of restricting and legislating meals is absurd. Emmert said as much last week, dismissing the idea that such rules were created to ensure schools wouldn't gain a recruiting advantage by offering, say, a better caliber of cream cheese.
It will be easy to dismiss the move as the NCAA's pandering to critics who would love to see a class-action lawsuit that might ultimately force college sports into a pay-for-play model.
Indeed, the NCAA seems prepared, perhaps as early as this year, to close some of the gaps between scholarships and the actual cost of attendance for athletes and address concerns over health coverage for catastrophic injuries.
While they're at it, Emmert and his people should tweak a few more of the NCAA's more draconian rules:
- It's time to do away with extra-benefits violations that cause hopeless confusion among conferences and schools.
Last year, a West Coast Conference school self-reported a member of its women's golf team for -- gasp! -- washing her car with the university's water and hose.
- The fact that college coaches can break contracts and, in most cases, move freely from job to job while recruits are bound to commitment letters suggests that college sports are all about the adults and not the kids.
In cases where a coach voluntarily leaves, at minimum any recruit who hasn't yet practiced on campus should be released to transfer without penalty.
- In a similar vein, the NCAA's early deadline for men's basketball players to declare for the NBA draft is unfair to the point of being punitive, a self-serving move that allows coaches to avoid waiting on decisions while denying players to change their minds and return to school to continue their, um, educations.
Athletes aren't the only targets of silly NCAA policies. Earlier this month, a Wall Street Journal reporter covering a men's Elite Eight tournament game at Madison Square Garden in New York City had a mug with illustrations of cats confiscated because it violated the NCAA's branding rules.
His cup was returned after the game, with the stipulation that he not take it to the Final Four the next weekend.
As for common sense? Unfortunately, where the NCAA is concerned, that, all too often, remains MIA.
JOHN DUDLEY can be reached at 870-1677 or email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNdudley.


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SYDNEY - The Australian Hillsong megachurch is known worldwide for its contemporary praise and worship music.
And it's the vision that God gave senior pastor Brian Houston that has helped propel Hillsong Church into an international phenomenon.
Hillsong has now released a total of 40 albums of praise music that continues to influence people of all ages around the globe.
"We were intentional in writing the songs that affected the church and glorified God," Houston said. "It's a miracle. It couldn't have happened the kind of opportunity that we have."
Houston and his wife Bobbie first started Hillsong Church in 1983. At that time, it was called Hills Christian Life Center and had only 45 members.
Within four years, the church grew to 900 people. Services were held in a warehouse in those early days. The church moved to its current location in 1997.
Now, 23,000 people attend services on any given weekend. The church has three campuses in Sydney, 14 extension services and churches around the world in cities like Kiev, Moscow, New York, London, Cape Town, and Paris.
"It sounds like a cliche, but it's really by the grace of God," Houston said. "We preach to people not only on Sundays. We want to relate to the people in their everyday lives."
And Hillsong is more than just music. The church has many other ministries in Australia and around the world, like Hillsong Kids, youth and women's ministries, and Hillsong City Care.
Hillsong Church will celbrate its 25th conference year in 2011. Approximately 150 people attended the first anniversary in 1986. More than 30,000 have attended since the inception.
"It comes down to a church that is effective and influential and reaches beyond itself," Houston added. "The outworking of those things and they were just dreams. We're just being consistent on doing what the Lord puts in our hearts. "
Hillsong has faced a number of controversies and challenges in recent years, including media criticism for its relationship with several Christian organizations and some conservative politicians.
Pastor Houston admits the church has had to overcome some difficult times, but he's not discouraged. He sees the recent election of Australia's first openly-atheist prime minister as a rare spirutal opportunity.
"Australia is a very secular country. There's a very strong anti-Christ spirit. But at the same time, we experience people coming to Christ every week," Houston said. "There's a great spiritual hunger. If we can tap into that, there's a great future for the church in Australia."
"To me it's about consistency in season and out of season," he continued. "And it's amazing what God can do."
Originally aired January 7, 2011.
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text: Student Support Services Last updated on 7/13/2015 Print this page Try out our Budget Calculator, and see how much you can save! www.hullmoneydoctors.co.uk We are here over the summer! Come and see us if you are having any financial problems! Money Doctors provide professional impartial and confidential advice on money matters to all students. We have lots of ideas for saving money on a daily basis (see Top Tips), which over time can make huge savings. Use our budget calculator www.hullmoneydoctors.co.uk to plan your finances and make your money last throughout the year. Contact us at:AskHU Desk 3rd Floor University House email@example.com 01482 462020 'Free Your Money Days' are held during the year. We have all sorts of money saving ideas to help you make the most of your money. Keep checking back for updates of Money Doctors events during the academic year.


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The holidays are a time of cheer, but they can also be a time for battling traffic and bad weather all the way to Grandma's house. Staying safe should be a top priority for all travelers so the Better Business Bureau recommends taking a few precautions when hitting the road this holiday.
Every year, holiday travelers take to the skies and hit the rails, but most spill onto the highways. Last year, AAA estimated that 87.7 million Americans traveled more than 50 miles over the holidays—85 percent of which drove.
"Because of weather conditions and increased traffic, staying safe on the roads over the holidays takes a few additional precautions," said Jocile Ehrlich BBB President "Before loading up the family, make sure the car is in good shape and you're prepared for bad weather. While you're driving, put down your cell phone or GPS and focus on the road ahead."
The BBB recommends taking the following steps for safe driving this holiday season:
Create a car safety kit – Holiday driving often includes the threat of dangerous winter weather. Snow and ice lead to accidents, car troubles, long delays and road closures. You can prepare for bad weather by creating your own safety kit. Basics for the kit include a blanket, flashlight with extra batteries, radio, first aid kit, jumper cables, non-perishable foods like granola bars and nuts, bottled water, an ice scraper and warm gloves.
Take the car in for a checkup – Breaking down on the side of the road can definitely put a damper on the holiday spirit. If your car is due for a check up, take it in before making that long haul. At the very least, check the car's fluid levels, wipers and tire pressure. Check the condition of your tires and, if you plan on driving through serious winter weather, consider getting snow tires.
Take the Better Business Bureau with you – When you're away from home or in the midst of an emergency, it's hard to know which businesses—such as tow trucks and locksmiths—you can trust. The good news is you can now rely on BBB's mobile optimized website for finding businesses you can trust when you're away from your computer.
Start early and slow down – The best way to fight holiday traffic is to give yourself some extra time to make the trip, and don't speed. Speeding leads to accidents which increase traffic even more. Also, if you're caught speeding by law enforcement, that adds travel time and puts a dent in your holiday spending.
Drop the distractions – According to the National Safety Council, 28 percent of accidents happen when people are talking on their cell phone or sending text messages. When you're behind the wheel, don't text and drive, use a hands free headset when talking on the phone and get someone else to fumble with the GPS.
For more advice on staying safe over the holidays, visit us online at www.bbb.org/us/consumer-tips-holiday/


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My father's 44th birthday cake. I didn't have enough frosting, it was a last minute thing. Let's say it looks like wood grain, lol! I used lollipops for the tuners. Cut out of a sheet cake.
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text: Do any of you use mouthwash. What do you use. I am looking for something as natural as possible as trying to wean dh away from listerine as I don't see how it can be good for him or the environment. Would like to make my own if its cheaper if anyone has a recipe.


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First thus. A very attractive reissue of this collection of 6 short stories originally published in 1936. One of the stories in this book - 'The Hacienda' - is considered Horgan's most memorable story. Includes a new introduction by W. David Laird and the frontispiece is a serigraph by Mark Sanders, with the design repeated on the dustjacket. Includes a checklist of Horgan's major Southwestern writings. The first title in Southwestern Classics series. 100 pages. Fine in fine dust jacket. .ISBN # 0-87358-1849
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If you can't remember the web address for FAFSA, it is: http://www.fafsa.gov
If you have any questions, please contact the College's Financial Aid Services office at 860-439-2058.


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20120702 - Dweezilla 3 !!!
235 total views - 0 month views
Max Boras has so much energy. For those that were around to see Steve Vai in Zappa's band at moments we had a bit of showmanship but I can not help but think of a young Pete Townshend doing one of FZs guitar solos.
Don't get me wrong, I loved how FZ just cemented his feet in and played with all the chicken and spider technique. FZs technique is hallmark but it's very interesting to see a young player play FZs music with such a high level of enthusiasm.


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The Sims 2 H&M Fashion Stuff for PCOn: PC
The Sims 2 H&M Fashion Runway bridges the virtual world offered by The Sims 2 PC videogame and the fashion world inspired by H&M. It offers a unique opportunity for fashion aficionados and Sims fans to express their personal fashiion style.
The Sims franchise passes 100 million worldwide
100 million copies of The Sims lined up end to end would line the perimeter of the Wembley football pitch over 115,000 times.
VideoGamer.com Rumour mill: Warhammer and iPhone games
A round-up of the juiciest rumours being talked about across the internet.
VideoGamer.com Rumour mill
A round-up of the juiciest rumours being talked about across the internet.
EA launches free user generated entertainment portal
The Sims On Stage enables visitors to record karaoke songs, stories, comedy routines and more.
H&M brings fashion to The Sims
EA invites fans of The Sims, designers and fashionistas to participate in The Sims 2: H&M Fashion Runway.


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Orwell meets animation in Youngblood's challenging 'Cartoon'
Asylums and hospitals. Circus cages and suburban cul-de-sacs. Tiny apartments, cramped submarines and the antechamber to hell.
Youngblood Theatre Company's plays regularly feature nightmarish, confined spaces in which a lost generation dreams forlornly of liberation. »Read Full Article
Soulstice mashes up movies in 'Completely Hollywood (abridged)'
A play that promises to send up nearly 200 movies in 90 minutes? Are you kidding me?
But there they all were, chastely listed in the program for Soulstice Theatre's spirited and funny production of "Completely Hollywood (abridged)," which opened over the weekend - just in time for the frenzied run-up to Oscar night. »Read Full Article