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Saginaw City Hall has made great strides in the past couple of years. Gone is the constant and petty council bickering. Gone are the embezzlers. Gone are department head and city manager firings. Gone are the convicted council members. Gone are the voluminous finance office errors.
So the recent revelation that the city may have to pay as much as $200,000 to the Department of Housing and Urban Development came as a setback to that string of successes.
The money is a payback for misspending HUD demolition funds from 2003 through 2007, when the city started getting serious about battling blight. Here's how it worked: The city got the lowest bid from companies for demolition cost per cubic foot, say about 13 cents. Then the city's dangerous-building inspector measured the house for razing and, computing the measurements and cubic foot cost, came up with the payment to tear down the building. Except the inspector didn't do the math right. He overestimated the sizes of many, many houses, so the payments were higher. A total of $90,000 to $200,000 higher.
So is Saginaw going back to its bad old days? Not really.
Back in November, City Hall was ramping up efforts to get people to pay their past-due bills. Around then, a temporary finance office worker found discrepancies in the demolition figures and told the development director. The city notified auditors in December and HUD in January. That's also when City Manager Darnell Earley created a team to determine how big the problem was. By February, the team figured it was big and started work on fixing it.
By mid-March, Earley told HUD what the city found, what the city had done and was still doing about it. By April it was part of another audit and by May HUD was up here checking things out.
It seems like a long time between start and near-finish, but it's not easy to turn around an aircraft carrier-like situation. Although it was easier for The Saginaw News to pull teeth than get records from the city, it still looks like the overall response was above board and by the book.
Earley, who became interim city manager in 2005 and city manager in 2006, says it all goes back to when the finance office had poor internal auditing and no checks and balances. No doubt he's right.
City Hall uncovered no evidence of the inspector -- since reassigned -- working with a contractor to pad a bill with the contractor knowing of it. It's also difficult to ding the demolition companies because the estimates weren't theirs. And it's almost impossible to prove a contractor knew of the overpayments and did nothing about it.
So the city -- translate: taxpayers -- are stuck with the bill.
Both HUD and the city are still investigating and more reports remain. But there was no crime, just sloppy work. The problem is fixed, and the firewalls are now in place.
Given its history, it's hard to side with City Hall. But we'll go with the glass half full this time.


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Romeo and Juliet
Julius Caesar
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Which man does NOT court Célimène?
According to Alceste, who is a lousy poet?
To what does Célimène attribute Arsinoé's disagreeable qualities?
What does Alceste do in response to Oronte's sonnet?
Who is Alceste's adversary before the Marshals of France?
What does Célimène do when Alceste and Oronte ask her to choose between them?
Who arrives to inform Alceste that he might be arrested?
What does Alceste vow to do when he learns he has lost his court case?
With whom does Philinte begin a romance at the end of the play?
Who first informs Alceste that Célimène is deceiving him?
Which of the following does Acaste NOT credit for his cheerfulness?
How does Alceste propose to avenge himself against Célimène when he learns of her infidelity?
Who is Célimène's cousin?
What is offered as proof of Célimène's deception?
In what way could Arsinoé "pull some strings" for Alceste?
Which of the following does Arsinoé cite as one of Célimène's faults?
What compromise does Célimène ultimately offer Alceste?
In the end, why do all suitors but Alceste abandon Célimène?
According to Du Bois, if Alceste does not leave, what might happen?
Who does Alceste scold for praising Oronte's poem?
Which of the following pairs strikes a deal to increase the chances that one of them will gain Célimène's favor?
Who is the misanthrope of the play's title?
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That fetchingly draped figure is Michael Jackson. When 300 of his faithful fans gathered outside his Paris hotel room, he gave them a hand, and another, and another. First, the singer flashed a victory sign, then waved a telephone, and finally he put his feelings into words. (Was somebody expecting Je t'aime?) Of course, during his stay Jackson did get out to tour the Louvre, visit a toy shop and perform two sold-out concerts at the 50,000-seat Parc des Princes.
All My Children's Robert Duncan McNeill and Lauren Holly open wide and say "awwwwww" after neither won at the Daytime Emmy Awards at New York's Waldorf-Astoria.
Mess-dressed Cyndi Lauper demonstrates the fine art of entrance-making at a party at New York's Plaza Hotel. Her film Vibes opens in true colors later this summer.
Corey Haim, 16, gets set to park it at an L.A. screening of his new film Licensed to Drive. With Dream a Little Dream due in early '89 and Watchers finished, Corey is in high gear.
Say "cheese." No, make that "chevre." Rockster Belinda Carlisle serves up a nouvelle grin en route to dinner at West Hollywood's Spago. She's back on tour in late July.
Star Tracks
updated 07/18/1988 AT 01:00 AM EDT
•originally published 07/18/1988 AT 01:00 AM EDT


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What to do when lender changes the rules
Q Nine months ago we received a loan modification, but our bank later sold the loan to another lender. We have continued making timely payments, but the new lender won't recognize the modification and has been sending us threatening letters. We have called and explained, to no avail. What can we do to fix this?
A Banks often sell loans to one another, and each sale can be an adventure for the borrower. The most important thing that you can do is send in your payments on time and document all communication that you have with your new lender.
You should send the bank a copy of your loan modification paperwork by fax or certified mail -- and be willing to send it again and again, if necessary. Call often, getting the names of the representatives you speak with and writing down what they tell you.
Always stay calm and polite, no matter how frustrating this experience can be. At the same time, don't be afraid to be persistent. Also, keep in mind that the problem could be different from what you originally thought.
For example, you may think the lender is just ignoring the modification, but instead the issue may be that the bank doesn't have your insurance information and bought you a new policy, which caused your monthly payments to rise.
You should be able to get this resolved on your own. But as long as you document everything, your lawyer will have the tools he or she needs in case it comes to a lawsuit.
-- from wire reports


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In Reply.—
Dr Kal appears fearful that the proposal for linking reimbursement to informed consent contained in my article might actually be successful in saving some money for the health care system. While he is surely right that motives ought to be scrutinized (I can only testify about my own) and that cost savings should not be sought or achieved at the cost of patient welfare, I reject the idea held by many physicians that any strategy that saves money in health care delivery, whether intentionally or incidentally, must inherently be evil. Contrary to the assertion that cost-containment "devils" like myself always prevail in shaping policy, the medical establishment has been quite successful in accomplishing a steady, significant, uninterrupted escalation in health care spending in the United States. It is this escalation that potentially threatens the clinical autonomy and economic income of physicians in the future at the hands of
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This is a technique that you probably don't want to use too often because it has a bad reputation: that's the lens flare. There are times, though, when it's good to be able to do a lens flare, and a super bright sun in your face is as good a reason as any. So here is a simple animation that I've created of a lens flare. Let's go into the scene and I'll show you how this was done. So again, I'll switch off the layers, so we'll see one by one. We have our sky or space field; see a slight radial gradient right in the middle dropping off to dark. The ground layer or the planet, again, another radial gradient; about four colors going from dark to light with opacity at the outer edge. And the light that surrounds the sun, and this is also creating a slight little ring effect around here.
This would be the solar corona or atmosphere, the sun in the middle, with a yellow color to differentiate it a little bit from that pure white light. Let's lock these. And then we have the different rings, the gradient rings, that create the illusion of the lens flare. So by now I take it that you should know enough to be able to assemble these various gradients. I'll just look at them one by one. So this one is, again, slightly squished to make the shape a little more interesting. It consists of four colors, so let's look at these one by one so you can see the settings if you want to recreate this.
The ground layer is, again, very simple. And you can see how I have pulled out the circle of the gradient to really get a feel of a large planet. And again four colors, and you can see the color settings here, and the opacity settings. And then we drop off to 0% at the outer edge of the planet. And of course, you can change the density of the atmosphere by pulling these back and forth. I am going to zoom in a little bigger so we can see this better. The light area; super simple, and that's just two colors. Pure white on the inside, falling off to complete pure black on the outside at 0%.
Again, you can add more if you want, and that will change the shape of this, but I kept it as simple as possible. And the sun, and that's just a three color, radial gradient, 100% for the slightly less deep yellow. And again, falling off to 0% with a pure white. and then we have the eight radial gradients. So what I am going to do is show you how I created just one or two of these gradients for the rings. And let's work against the background.
So I am just going to make sure everything is padlocked, so we can't change anything. Pick the Oval tool, or O on the keyboard. Be sure we have Radial gradient selected. Hold down Shift, and drag. If you have the color of the stroke color set to red or black or whatever, you'll see a circle there. Sometimes I like to keep that, because it shows me the outer edge while I am working, so let's keep it there for now. Let's select the radial, and again the Gradient Transform tool, and what I am going to do is create a much more subtle gradient at this point with a lot more colors.
And I think we are going to need about seven, so I am just going to start clicking and dragging; let's just start making, I think, about seven different colors. I am not worrying right now about if they are visible or not visible, or what color they are. Let's space it a little bit like this. So I'm going to want the inside, which will be this marker here, to be maybe a deeper yellow, and I think we can keep him at 0%. Now we'll move to this one. Sometimes it's a good idea to click and drag these little markers to make sure that they are activated. Flash can be a little bit funny about this sometimes.
So this one I am going to make yellow as well, and let's make it 20%. This is the point when we begin to see the ring, and you'll see it popping on here. You might find that it's a good idea to grab the little dragger, and pull it a little closer. Let's reactivate the Gradient Transform tool. And now the third color over, that's this one; see it's changed here. Let's make that a bit deeper, 50% opacity. And I want to make this one a little more orange; slightly different colors. Now the midpoint, and let's make this one a brighter yellow, and I am going to take him down to 90%; it's pretty bright.
Then the next one over, 50%. Starting to drop off now as we move towards the outer edge. It does not to be exactly 50, but I like to be precise for some of these. And we'll slightly change it to an orange color. I am making very subtle changes to the different colors. I mean you can play with them; they don't have to be exactly what I'm doing here. As long as you're reasonably close, I think you'll be safe. So now a yellow color for the second last one, I am clicking them to be absolutely sure this is the one I am working in. And let's bring that down to 20%.
And then the final one, the outside, should be zero. It's a little too hot, and I think there's something funny going on. Essentially we should be going from invisible, to the most visible, to the least visible. So if I click on this, it should be 0, 20, 50, 90, oh, I am missing one. Something got deleted along the way. I am going to pop one back in; no big deal. Let's click on that, and bring that up to 50, and this should be 20, and we are starting to see a more consistent ring shape.
Now it's a little bit thick, a little bit too powerful, so I am going to bring the 90 down to 80 a little bit. Let's pull these in a little tighter. I am going to deplete these a little bit, they are still too dominant, visually. And I am going to bring the middle one down to 60. So what we are seeing now -- and I am going to pull these apart a little bit, and I'll show you again what the numbers are. Very careful; when you get these two close together, they can really begin to overlap and get confusing.
You can really only push these so close before they become a little hard to handle. Feel free to go in and adjust these settings. Now I am making a change here in the color field; I am keeping one eye on this and one eye on that. Very carefully select the next color. Maybe pull it over a little bit and see what effect that has on the lens flare. It might be a little too hot. So we are going to desaturate this color by simply moving it to the left. Little reminder: if you are seeing a slightly different color area, be sure you have H selected in the Gradient menu. They changed this with the later Flash versions.
And I am going to pull the orange down a little bit. I think we are looking at something reasonably nice. So it's 0, 20, 39% opacity. And you see the hues are making slight changes; they are moving back and forth a little bit. If you think they are a little too strong around the edge, let's bring them down a little. And as we are doing this again, we are seeing new little rings appearing.
So let's select this, hit F8, and we'll call it lens flare 1. And now it's time to get rid of that outer line. We don't need that anymore; Control+ X. And now this can be positioned. If you still feel it's too much, because it's now a symbol, now you have access to the color effect in the Properties panel, and you can make an Alpha on that and really bring it down. And now you begin to see a very nice subtle effect with the lens flare.
And so that's the process for making a flare. I'll show you one more flare just to give you an idea about how I will duplicate it. So let's copy that and I'll make a new layer, and Control+V to paste it in there. And this time I am just going to right -click and duplicate the symbol, and call it lens flare 2. And let's double-click to go inside. This one will be a little simpler. I am going to use five colors for the gradient, instead of the seven that we had here, and spread them out a little bit.
I am going to space them a little differently, too, to show you that you can modify this. I think as I was making those changes, this deactivated, and this happens with me a lot too. So let's select the Paint Bucket, and repaint that, and see where they went. So I am going to select the Paint Bucket again, and deselect the lock fill, click again, and now you see the thing reappearing. Again, select the Gradient Transform tool, and as long as this little widget is active, any changes that we make here will happen there.
So just keep an eye out for that. You can find yourself doing work in the Color palette that's not happening on the Stage, so it can be a little bit of a bother. Now I am going to pull these apart a little bit to change the shape of this. This is going to be a thicker bead, so that it has a different shape and appearance, because they are not all going to look the same. Let's mak the inside a little more visible, maybe 20%, and I am going to make that more of an orangey color, so all these little beads won't be the same color. I'll make the second one 40%, close enough, and that will be a lighter orange.
I am going to make this middle one, say, 50%, and let's make it a yellow. The next one would be falling off now to 20%, that's pretty close, and that will be a darker yellow. And the outside, I am going to make also darker yellow, and that's down to zero. And so now we go back to the outer symbol. Because I duplicated this from the first symbol, it shares the same opacity setting, 30%. Now you can bring it up; that's probably going to be too bright.
It looks like a sun. So it's nice to have the option of bringing this down to something really, really subtle, like 23, 20, 30%. Something in that region. Again, snaps come back on, so let's get rid of any snapping. And now you can simply position the lens flares as you need, and of course, don't be afraid to scale them. Now you begin to see the process of creating a simple lens flare effect. I use this very occasionally, when I really want to sell the fact that we're looking at something incredibly bright, and trick the eye into thinking that they are looking at something that isn't just a flat symbol on the Stage.
So basically at this point, all you do is repeat the same process. I would say play with this, go in, try if you can figure out different variations of these two simple forms, and then deploy them around the Stage as I've done here. I used a Google Image search to find some nice sample lens flares online. It's surprisingly difficult to get a nice composition in the rings. So if you do that, you will find lots of references that you can use as source material for your own, that you can then modify and build on. And then once you have got them in place, a simple motion tween; being sure that you have them all on their own independent layers. And that's it.
- Overlapping and animating colors
- Creating lens flares
- Animating hair with shape tweens
- Animating an explosion
- Animating smoke with particles
- Animating a scream
- Using Virtual Cam
- Lighting a 3D shot
- Animating cross dissolves


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$9.99Here is the dramatic story of Scandinavia - from its earliest Germanic origins and Viking sea raids to its battles for independence and its involvement in World War II. Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, writes award-winning historian Ewan Butler writes, struggled through unions and separations, with both outsiders and each other, developing their own personalities and languages yet retaining
The True Story of Murder and Survival on the 1871 Polaris Expedition"An extraordinary real-life adventure of men battling the elements and themselves, told with ice-cold precision."–Kirkus Reviews (starred review)In the dark years following the Civil War, America's foremost Arctic explorer, Charles Francis Hall, became a figure of national pride when he embarked on a harrowing, landmark expedition. With financial backing from Congress and the personal support of
Alone on the Ice: The Greatest Survival Story in the History of ExplorationHis two companions dead, food and supplies vanished in a crevasse, Douglas Mawson was still one hundred miles from camp.On January 17, 1913, alone and near starvation, Douglas Mawson, leader of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, was hauling a sledge to get back to base camp. The dogs were gone. Now Mawson himself plunged through a snow bridge, dangling over an abyss by the sledge harness. A
The Worst Journey in the World"The Worst Journey in the World" by Apsley Cherry-Garrard is the epic tale of the disastrous "Winter expedition" of the Author and his two companions- Henry Bowers and Dr Edward Wilson - all members of Scott's ill-fated Antarctic expedition to the South Pole, who attempted a scientific expedition in the midst of the Antarctic Winter - in the coldest temperatures found on Planet Earth. At the
South: Scott and Amundsen's Race to the PoleThe race to reach the South Pole for the first time was an unparalleled adventure in the early twentieth century. South, by historian Hunter Stewart, chronicles the competition between two fierce rivals - Robert F. Scott and Roald Amundsen - to secure their place in history as the first man to lead an expedition to the most uninhabitable place on earth. South dramatically tells the story of the
The Antarctic Exploration Anthology
The Personal Accounts of the Great Antarctic ExplorersThe frozen continent of Antarctica has always captured the imagination of explorers and adventurers from around the World, most especially in the first few decades of the 20th Century, when the race was on to be the very first person to reach the South Pole. In this carefully selected Anthology we present the personal accounts of the greatest early explorers of Antarctica: Captain Robert Falcon
$12.99As war clouds darkened over Europe in 1914, a party led by Shackleton set out to make the first crossing of the entire Antarctic continent via the Pole. But their initial optimism was short-lived as ice floes closed around their ship, gradually crushing it and marooning 28 men on the polar ice. Alone in the world's most unforgiving environment, Shackleton and his team began a brutal quest for
The Arctic Exploration Anthology
The Personal Accounts of the Great Arctic ExplorersThe stories of the first explorers of the Arctic and the North Pole have always been somewhat overshadowed by the famous and tragic race for the South Pole a decade later. In truth the story is no less riveting to the reader, in terms of bravery, resilience and determination. What is more, in an extra dimension to the story there is the enduring controversy over who was in fact the first to make
The Greatest Polar Survival Story Ever WrittenMawson's Will is the dramatic story of what Sir Edmund Hillary calls "the most outstanding solo journey ever recorded in Antarctic history." For weeks in Antarctica, Douglas Mawson faced some of the most daunting conditions ever known to man: blistering wind, snow, and cold; loss of his companion, his dogs and supplies, the skin on his hands and the soles of his feet; thirst, starvation, disease,
$12.79The legendary tale of Ernest Shackleton's grueling Antarctic expedition, recounted in riveting first-person detail by the captain of HMS Endurance.You seriously mean to tell me that the ship is doomed?" asked Frank Worsley, commander of the Endurance, stuck impassably in Antarctic ice packs. "What the ice gets," replied Sir Ernest Shackleton, the expedition's unflappable leader, "the ice keeps."
Endurance: Shackleton's Extraordinary VoyageAfter years of preparation, the world's most experienced Antarctic explorer embarked on the most dramatic adventure of his life. Sir Ernest Shackleton had carefully picked crew and a stout, well-outfitted ship, the Endurance. But he had no radio, the world was at war, and at the edge of the Antarctic continent, the ship froze in the sea ice. After months of immobility, it was crushed. Then began
The Harrowing Saga of Shackleton's Ross Sea PartyThe untold story of the last odyssey of the heroic age of Antarctic exploration Sir Ernest Shackletons 1914 Antarctic endeavor is legend, but for sheer heroism and tragic nobility, nothing compares to the saga of the Ross Sea party. This crew of explorers landed on the opposite side of Antarctica from the Endurance with a mission to build supply depots for Shackletons planned crossing of the


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Local Prep Roundup
April 25, 2012
BASEBALL BEAVER LOCAL 12, MADONNA 2 CALCUTTA — A fast start for the Beavers led to a 12-2 route on Tuesday at home against Weirton Madonna. The win moves Beaver?Local to 9-9 on the season....
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Wren, Josh, two dogs, a fast pace and high stress job, volunteer/Board of Director responsibilities, crafting, friends, hobbies, laundry, cooking, cleaning, being an active and involved Auntie and sister, finding "me" time...well, you get the idea.
Everybody has to find their balance. I feel like I do an alright job of it, and I'll share some tips below.
But let's not be confused--I fail on many counts. Every day.
I procrastinate.
My poor dogs haven't been taken on a proper walk in weeks.
I don't exercise like I should.
I rarely cook.
I showed you the state my closet found itself in!
My (sometimes twice weekly) trips to Hobby Lobby and/or Target often result in bags that remain full in the guest room until I either need the item inside (typically for a craft project) OR until I am running low on reusable bags!
I tried to be an extreme couponer. {BIG.FAT.FAIL}
You can see the two pics below of my beautifully organized binder FILLED with coupons.
I'm one heckuva clipper, but I just can't put forth the effort to go flouncing all over timbucktoo to find the deals, so I didn't use really any of them! They're all expired now!
There is always at least ONE pair of shoes, usually more, stacked on the two bottom stairs waiting to be taken up.
You don't even want to see the inside of my purse.
I'm pretty sure we have a mail fairy who comes in the middle of the night and stacks things on the kitchen counter, the buffet station counter, the dining room table...wherever he sees the most clean space. Because we *always* have at least one pile of mail to go through, sort, file or throw away.
I haven't finished a ME book in months despite having started no less than three.
(I sure do keep up on the good ole children's books though...I just posted a video about some of our faves, click HERE to watch.)
Along those same lines, you can see my poor neglected stack of O Magazines (some even still in the wrapper!), which is horrible because I loooove this magazine:
What else? Oh..um...I'm swamped at work, I haven't been to see my nephews play baseball yet this {fallball} season, my garden needs picked, we need to scoop poop, my windows need washed...you get the drift.
It's tough.
But you know what?
I'm okay with it.
I have this perfect little bundle of deliciousness.
She is happy. She is smart. She is loved.
And she knows it.We are happy. Life is good.
So what's the trick to finding that peace?
How do you get to a place where you're okay with never getting it all done?
Well, I'm still working on that, honestly. I think I'll probably work on it until the end of time.
But here are a few tips that I have found to be super helpful, at least for me.
1. Probably my best trick has been to set an alarm on my phone for each night. Wren goes down at 7, so I give myself until 9:15 to do whatever I want...craft, blog, vlog, catch up on my shows, etc. And then at 9:15, I try (and I stress ttrryyyyy) to devote a fixed amount of time to picking up.
Some nights, I ignore the thing.
Some nights I make a clean sweep through the downstairs and get done in about 15 minutes.
Others, I get going and end up cleaning for an hour. (Okay, those nights are fewer and further between.)
2. Prioritize. I make lists. And sometimes, lists of lists I need to make.
Pinterest really helps me organize my craft projects.
I have a little notebook full of ideas for blogs, vlogs, pics I want to take, things I need to buy.
This helps so that if I only have 20 or 30 minutes, I can still cross a craft off of my list, or make a quick blog post, either on here or on our IRL blog.
3. One thing that I'm working on is a master list of cleaning items. For the past 2 or 3 months, I've been adding every single item I ever do, from dusting fans to sweeping the garage floor...you name it. I'm working on adding them to an excel sheet so that I can ensure things are getting done on a semi-regularly basis.
I also think this will help with the whole, "I feel like I just mopped yesterday," when in actuality it's been 2 1/2 weeks! I think having it all organized will be a great tool.
4. Keep up. Laundry, dishes, that dreaded mail pile. All of those things have such a tendency to snowball. It's sooo much easier to keep up with each of them nightly or every 2 days as opposed to putting it off and off, and then you're under a pile of dirty socks.
5. I think J and I do a pretty good job of balancing one another. If he cooks, I clean the dishes. If I put Wren to bed, he cleans her bottles. If he does diaper laundry, I do her clothes. I know I'm lucky because he is such an active and involved dad and husband, but I don't think it should be an option. We both work hard. We both deserve to enjoy Wren and our time with her. I appreciate that we have a good balance.
6. At the end of the day, I think it's important to remember that it's okay to have a house that is LIVED in. We don't live inside a magazine. It can be really easy to get overwhelmed and beat yourself up over not having completed every single thing. I have just decided that if I truly do what I can, think about how I spend my time, and remember that my family time is FIRST priority, then all will be fine.
What do you think...do you have any other tips you can share? I'd love to hear them, I'm always trying to be better about balancing the million little pieces of life!


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Yaariyan Actress Rakul Preet Singh Latest Pictures
Rakul Preet Singh is an Indian film actress who appears mostly in South Indian films. She has received maximum number of votes and became the People's Choice Miss Indiatimes 2011. Rakul Preet Singh Latest Picture gallery see below.
Rakul Preet is an active golf player and also played nationals. She started her career as an actress with Gilli in Kannada in 2009. Apart from the Miss India Poll, Rakul won four subtitles at the pageant including Pantaloons Femina Miss Fresh Face, Femina Miss Talented, Femina Miss Beautiful Smile and Femina Miss Beautiful Eyes.
Now Rakul Preet Singh debuted bollywood with the movie Yaariyaan directed by Divya Khosla Kumar Starring Himansh Kohli, Evelyn Sharma, Dev Sharma, Nicole Faria & Serah Singh in the lead roles.
Here we are presenting the Rakul Preet Singh Latest Hd Pictures, we hope that, you'll like it.


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LSU's Jeremy Hill Turning Pro
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) ? LSU leading rusher Jeremy Hill says he's decided to enter the NFL draft.
In an announcement made Monday on a social media website, Hill says he's grateful to LSU fans, friends, coaches and family and his decision was "very difficult."
Hill has played two seasons at LSU and was the Tigers' leading rusher each season. He rushed for 1,401 yards and 16 touchdowns this season.
The Baton Rouge native's college career was delayed one season by criminal charges resulting from his relationship with a girl at his high school. Last spring, he was involved in a scuffle outside a bar, resulting in more charges. He remains on probation.
Hill's departure comes after Louisiana high school star running back Leonard Fournette announced he'd attend to LSU.
Source: Associated Press


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The Kissing Me Song - Released Today!
The Kissing Me Song is OUT TODAY on download via iTunes! Click here to purchase it now! There is also an extended version of the video that includes exclusive live footage.
Brian and Kerry are currently out in the road in the UK, click here for tickets now!
More News
Press Release: ACM's Freddie Mercury Scholarship Winner Announced
3 Comments
The Kissing Me Song - Released Today!
Who the hell thought that was a good cover (but it probably reflects the crap inside the cover)? No doubt one of Richard Gray's finest pieces of work?! Ms Ellis needs to use better sunscreen and that font is a favorite with under 5s.
ex queen fan
Oh...I love queen..I love Brian, John, Roger, Freddie and Kelly...wtf ...hey?!..wait a minute
Oh, thank the Lord! I've been unable to sleep for weeks.
Great to hear Brian play his guitar, rather than talk about badgers or stereo photos, but why he's so obsessed with this over-rated club-style singer is beyond me. After their tour started yesterday he tweeted "After 11 yrs @kerryjaneellis1 still matchless". Matchless??!! Jesus Christ Brian, get real! She's average at best. Please come to your senses and get working on something with Roger please!


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- About
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DRT: Canción del Cuerpo (Song of the Body) ( 2010)
Featuring Dance Repertory Theatre
Artistic Director: Lyn C. Wiltshire
Co-Artistic Director: Yacov Sharir
March 5 and 6 at 8:00 PM
March 7 at 2:00 PM
B. Iden Payne Theatre
The joy of expression and the skill of interpretation are pillars in the world of dance. In this crowd-pleasing performance experience, notable Artistic Directors and The University of Texas Faculty Members Lyn C. Wiltshire and Yacov Sharir, along with guest choreographer Álvaro Restrepo, bring a vital new dance experience to the stage. Restrepo is the co-director of El Colegio Del Cuerpo de Cartagena de Indias — Colombia's first Contemporary Dance choreographic formation center, a dance school for disadvantaged children, and a professional dance company. Through his work with Afrodescendent communities, Restrepo's dedication to his art becomes a vehicle for exploring human rights, race and social justice. This special program will present new works by the featured choreographers, performed by dance majors in UT's Dance Repertory Theatre together with company members of El Colegio del Cuerpo.
Watch a preview on YouTube.
Featured Choreography:
The Rope: Tres Momentos
Conceived by Joe Randel of ÁrtesAmericas and Lyn C. Wiltshire
The Famished Road
Director: Álvaro Restrepo and Marie France Delieuvin
Inspired by text from "The Famished Road" by Ben Okri
Three Tangos
Choreography by José Luis Bustamante
My Shadow is Crooked/Shadowplay
Choreography by Andrea Beckham
Choreography by Yacov Sharir
Press and Reviews:
• Studio Diaries: Canción del Cuerpo
• Segment on NPR's "All Things Considered" on El Colegio del Cuerpo
• UT Feature Story: "The Beginning of a Movement, Artists engage in a cross-cultural dialogue through dance in Colombia" - 2/22/10
• Austin Chronicle Preview: "Canción del Cuerpo, Translated through the body" - 3/4/10
• ¡ahora sí! Preview: "Dos mundos se unen para crear una obra de danza" - 3/4/10
• Austin Chronicle Review - 3/11/10
• Texas Exes Blog: "Innovative UT Dance Production 'Cancion Del Cuerpo' An Artistic And Cultural Milestone" - 3/11/10
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We are seeking papers for a session proposal on "Fabric and Gender in the Middle Ages," medieval and/or early modern cloth-making in wool, cotton, linen, or silk, as well as dress, fashion, or accessories, for the Eighth European Social Science History conference in Ghent, Belgium, April 13-16, 2010. We wish to propose this session for three of the conference's networks, "Women and Gender," and "Material and Consumer Culture," and/or the "Middle Ages." Papers which explore literary, artistic or material sources from interdisciplinary perspectives are particularly welcome, for the insights they offer social scientists. If you are interested, please submit a paper proposal to Shennan Hutton at email@example.com, by April 25, 2009.
Recent attention to medieval textiles and dress and their representations in art, literature, law and clerical discourse has yielded another category of analysis with which to rethink the relationships among material culture, economic production, trade, and various cultural representations. Display of fashionable garments, for example, carried social meaning, marking wealth, social status, and partisan alliances in courts and local settings, but circulation of used garments, imitation of dress and accessories, and cross-cultural trade spread and transformed those meanings across social and cultural boundaries.
The manufacture and trade of wool, linen, cotton and silk textiles were also critically important to economic growth and development, in a way which was profoundly gendered. Although premodern women spent inordinate amounts of time spinning, weaving, and doing other tasks associated with the production of cloth, merchant associations and guilds kept the most prestigious and remunerative aspects of cloth production in the hands of men. Surviving sources privilege production by male heads of household and trade by elite merchants, but this was just the tip of the iceberg relating to the production, trade, and circulation of cloth. How did medieval bourgeois and noble women interact as marketers and consumers, or as imitators and icons of fashion? How did female guilds of cloth producers and female drapers in wool-cloth production interact with spinners and carders who worked for them?


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For Newcomers
Newcomers - Welcome!
Thank you for your interest in our spiritual community.
Our congregation offers a community that will nurture your religious and personal growth while respecting your right to freedom of individual beliefs. We are a welcoming congregation, which means that our church affirms and promotes the inherent dignity of every person. We invite, welcome and celebrate people of all ages, races, sexual orientation, levels of education and economic status.
People return to our church because of the spiritual and intellectual stimulation they experience here as well as the friendly people they meet. If these strengths resonate with you, we encourage you to visit one of our services or programs. You are invited to stay afterwards to get to know us better while enjoying a coffee or tea. However you choose to interact, you will always feel welcome here at Don Heights. Please take time to explore our website for information about who we are and what we do.
If you are new to Unitarianism, the Canadian Unitarian Council has a very good explanation of what it means to be a Unitarian on their website.
Who We Are
Don Heights is a resilient, welcoming community of diverse individuals, promoting love, reason and freedom of religion, fostering life long spiritual growth and acting for social justice and the environment.
We are a religious community embracing a common faith expressed by our commitment to the Unitarian/Universalist Principles and Purposes.
What should I wear?
You are welcome to wear whatever makes you comfortable. Most of our members dress in casual attire. Greeters will be glad to help make your visit comfortable and enjoyable. You will notice they will be wearing name tags and find that they are especially prepared to answer any questions you may have. If you wish, you may fill out a name tag and sign our guest book to receive upcoming newsletters.
Because some of our members are sensitive/allergic to chemical scents, the use of perfumes and colognes is discouraged. Thank you for your consideration.
What happens during the worship service?
Our service is different each week but a typical Sunday service consists of : welcome, announcements, chalice lighting, lighting candles of joys and concerns, readings, hymns and other music, a brief silent meditation, a sermon or talk. Following the talk, the minister or speaker will invite comments and questions from the congregation to facilitate a dialogue. After the service, people socialize over coffee and other refreshments.
What kinds of people attend Don Heights?
You'll find a wide variety of people at Don Heights, including those with Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, Agnostic, Atheist or Pagan backgrounds. Many members have attended other churches but were not able to accept the beliefs presented. Some have never before been part of a spiritual community.
Acceptance is very important to our membership, we learn from each other and realize that none of us know all the answers.
What are the services like?
Our services explore and challenge timely topics. Whether it is social action, peace, personal growth, freedom, justice, or any of the deep questions in life. With an open mind, we present meaningful, topical subjects. Our services may be presented by members of the congregation, visiting ministers and speakers from the community, who discourse on a variety of topics of an intellectual, spiritual or topical nature.
What if I'm part of an interfaith family?
Many Don Heights families embrace more than one religion and specifically choose our church because we honour and celebrate many religious traditions. This means each partner or other family member can continue to practice some elements of his/her faith, while sharing in a common faith with other family members.
Will I be welcome if I'm gay or lesbian?
Yes, some of our members are gay or lesbian. In 2006 we officially became a Welcoming Congregation to people of all sexual orientations: gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans-gender.
What about if I'm agnostic or atheist?
Yes, some of our members are agnostics or atheists, and there are others who do believe in God. We provide a safe place to explore and grow spiritually, wherever they start from and wherever they journey.
What holidays and ceremonies are celebrated?
We celebrate many of the great religious holidays in some way that speaks to the UU faith, including Easter, Summer and Winter Solstices, and Christmas. In addition we have our own annual traditions, such as Flower Sunday in early June and an Ingathering water service in early September.
Is your church accessible to people in wheelchairs?
Yes, our building and washrooms are handicapped accessible. All elements of the Sunday service and our programs can be enjoyed while remaining seated.
What We Believe
As Unitarian Universalists we are guided to live by our seven Principles. We covenant to affirm and promote:
Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision.
The living tradition we share draws from many sources:
Don Heights' Mission Statement
Through open dialogue and exchange of ideas, Don Heights creates a safe, supportive religious community which celebrates and nurtures individuals on their diverse journeys. We respect the interdependence of all existence and demonstrate our Unitarian principles in the wider community by working for peace, justice and equality for all.
We would appreciate hearing from you as to how you learned about our website. Also, please let us know if you have any comments regarding the website itself - was it easy to negotiate, did it answer all of your questions, are there any other questions you may have?
Worth & Dignity (Safe Church) Policy
Map & Contact Information


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WOODBRIDGE - A multiple vehicle accident on the Garden State Parkway near mile marker 134 shut down the left lane earlier this morning and has contributed to a seven-and-a-half mile delay from north of the Colonia Service Station back to the Driscoll Bridge in Sayreville, according to 511nj.org.
There were no injuries, according to initial reports.
Also, a water main break on the Route 9 northbound ramp to Garden State Parkway in Sayreville has closed the deceleration lane for repairs causing a 10-15 minute delay.


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This medium-sized skink has a window in each of the lower eyelids. The ear openings are lobed. Colouration differs between the subspecies. In northern populations the head of breeding males are orange-brown, with a yellow-orange throat.
All 4 occur on the subcontinent. M.s. striata, M.s. sparsa, M.s. punctatissima and M.s. wahlbergii.
Eastern Africa, south to former Transkei and North Eastern Cape, extending along the Orange River to the Richtersveld, and west through Zambia to Angola and Southern Namibia.
Southern populations give birth to a single litter of 3 - 9 babies in summer. Reproduction may occur throughout the year in northern populations. Growth is relatively fast, sexual maturity is reached in 15 - 18 months.
Feeds on small insects (beetles, moths, etc.) and other small invertebrates.


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Show me your tatsJennifer Doyle
I am very curious about tattoos.
I find myself staring at people with tattoos, not out of disdain or judgment. Truly, I'm usually just interested to know more about the tattoo, but I'm a little intimidated ask.
Apart from my extensive education in curse word usage, my upbringing was pretty vanilla. My parents were rule followers, business people, maybe even a little boring. They didn't have tattoos and their friends didn't either. My only knowledge of tattoos growing up was from the guys who ran the pirate ship each summer at the fair and from movies where only the bad guys had tattoos, the motorcycle gang members and the drug dealers and the mullet-sporting hoodlums. Ridiculous, huh?
That all changed when I was in college and it became fashionable to get a tattoo. My sorority sisters all seemed to jump on the bandwagon and get tattoos of our greek letters on their ankles or butterflies on their lower backs, the lovely "tramp stamp" variety. The craziest thing I ever did was get my belly button pierced, knowing it wasn't permanent (for sure, those days are loooong gone). Tattoos are now becoming the norm, even straight-laced suit wearing types have tattoos.
My husband and I recently noticed that he and I with our pristine, uninked skin, are in the minority. That's okay by me, even though I think tattoos are cool, I know that I do not want a tattoo. I can't imagine anything I'd want tattooed on my body for eternity.
Which is why I find some tattoos to be so fascinating. From butterflies to portraits of cats and Chinese symbols to hand-drawn works of art, there aren't any statements I want to make with my body that requires a needle and ink. So many people seem to not just have one, small, hidden tattoo, but many, bold and noticeable tattoos. Most of my friends that have more than one tattoo are always talking about the next tattoo they're going to get.
So I wonder. Why do you have tattoos? Was it some crazy thing you did on Spring Break in South Padre back in '96 or is this something more?
Photo source: Hanumann


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Eunice understands the big picture of the state budget crisis and what needs to be done to repair it. Her agenda is grounded in common sense and fiscal responsibility. The way to save money in the long term is: (a) not to spend money on things that are not a necessity, (b) fight waste and abuse at every level, and (c) identify and take advantage of public programs and services with a high return on investment.
Create jobs to replace jobs that have been lost in the private and public sectors with high-wage sustainable jobs is a priority for Eunice. Her family, like many others in Florida, has been affected by the slow economy. Eunice is a strong proponent of better jobs with fair wages, safe working conditions and benefits that allow all Floridians to live with dignity and a peace of mind. She will collaborate with leaders in her District and in the Florida Legislature; to ensure that Floridians have access to education and training that will prepare them for careers and high-wage jobs.
Education, ingenuity, and perseverance are all a part of the American dream. A college degree is an increasingly critical milestone on the road to personal independence, career success and our nation's ability to compete in a global marketplace. The economic costs of educationally disadvantage include a decrease in tax revenue due to stunted economic growth, and increased costs for public social programs. Eunice will work to make "No Child Left Behind" more productive and less punitive. She will fight for America's future leaders from preschool through college by working to expand Head Start programs; provide incentives to attract and retain highly-skilled teachers; and make college more accessible and affordable.
Florida's economy is changing, and Eunice knows that we must adapt in order to compete. Job growth in our state will increasingly be the result of green energy and clean technology projects, such as wind power, ethanol, bio-diesel, and clean coal. In order to build Florida's' green economy, and to ensure that our children will grow up with a clean environment, we need to collectively renew our commitment to protecting and defending our natural resources.
Eunice will work to expand the economy by supporting the development of new, emerging industries that will provide high tech, high wage, and environmentally clean jobs. Her focus will be driven by the growing health care industry, and a viable alternative energy industry. Eunice will also support development of public and private job training programs including apprenticeship programs; payment of prevailing wage rates in public works projects; and increasing livable wages for all workers.
Keeping our homes, our neighborhoods, and our citizens safe is critical. Eunice believes a society in which families and communities can develop and flourish free from the social and economic conditions that threaten our stability and make us unsafe; where parents and community leaders can return their focus to building solid foundations for healthy homes and vibrant, growing neighborhoods; and where individuals, irrespective of race, gender, orientation, or physical ability, can find the support and resources required to build a rich and meaningful life.


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Tuesday, April 22, 2014
A year ago, 10 young girls teamed up for the first time to create the PCX – Palmetto Cheer Extreme junior level 1 Pink Flamingos at Gymmasters in Mount Pleasant. This team has spent countless hours in the gym learning routines, mastering tumbling passes and having a great time. These girls have dedicated themselves to their cheerleading squad and to becoming the best of the best.
Proving their determination, they have been named two-time national champions this season. First, on March 23, winning the American Superstarz competition in Myrtle Beach, and then again, the girls' hard work paid off when they traveled to Orlando, Fla., for the American Open on April 6, winning both the national championship and placing first over all 90 level 1 teams.
Little did they know their adventure was just beginning. After the awards ceremony, most of the team began the trek back to South Carolina.
It was later announced that the unbelievable had happened. Varsity, "the global leader in cheerleading," was so impressed with the team's performance, they offered them one of 475 national bids to compete against the best. This competition, named "The Summit," will be held in Disney World Florida.
Their season's incredible journey will start at the two-day competition on May 3 and 4. This national championship season finale will be televised on ESPN 3.
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There is money to be made everywhere, even during the Dengue hysteria that hits Delhi every year. Read on.
It is near midnight and there is a deluge of Dengue patients at one city hospital. It's a private hospital – very fancy, with Nelson Coconut chairs scattered around the vast lobby that might make a European airport terminal blush – and so it is rare to witness here the deluge there is on show routinely at AIIMS or Safdarjung.
But my friend – now a Dengue patient himself and for whom I have rushed with a box of platelets instead of a bouquet of pansies – tells me it is near impossible to find a spare bed. Dengue fever has gripped the city and everyone is on a platelet drip. He is on his fourth but his neighbour has already had eight. These are transfusions we are talking about, not beers. Each transfusion costs a minimum of 18,000 – the procedure of extracting platelets from blood is lengthy and requires expensive equipment. 8 transfusions translate into a cool Rs.1,50,000. As always, the patient is in no position to go against the wishes of his transfusion-loving doctor.
A normal adult has 1.5 to 4 lac platelets per mm3. During an acute Dengue infection, the platelet level comes down to 20,000 per mm3, sometimes even lower. My friend's was 20,000 when the doctors decided enough was enough and began administering platelets. The platelet count goes up after every transfusion, naturally, but since the vessels are leaky and the platelet-making machinery temporarily defunct, the level goes down again. No worries: time for another transfusion, and another, and another, till the patient bleeds not blood, but his hard-earned money.
In every hospital across India, the situation is the same: Dengue patients are put on platelet transfusion soon as the levels drop to 20,000. Sometimes, the over-cautious doctors seal the deal at 30,000! Hindustan Times, a newspaper that has been tracking the ongoing Dengue outbreak in Delhi, reported an AIIMS doctor declaring patients "critical" when their platelet count "slumped to 30,000." (HT, 12 October, 2012).
I ask Dr. Navin Khanna, a colleague, if this is indeed true – that a platelet count of 30,000 means the patient is critical. He should know. He's spent the last 15 years researching Dengue. The Dengue detection kit that you see being used in every hospital has been developed by him. Together with another colleague, Dr. S. Swaminathan, Dr. Khanna is nearing towards his goal of an effective vaccine against Dengue.
"Platelet transfusion," he says, "should be used only in critical cases."
"Critical meaning 30,000?" I ask him.
"Critical meaning between 5,000-10,000," he says. "The trick is to monitor the BP. That's all – the rest the body will take care."
Meanwhile, more weak-kneed rash-swept folks are trawling the city in search of a linen-sheathed bed and hospital corridors are lined with patients, two – sometimes three, if they are children – to every stretcher. While they wait, they pray for dawa, or medicine. But there is no dawa yet for Dengue, and so one might think that the end is nigh – start counting the minutes with the help of a prayer bead, tell relatives how much you've always loved them, that sort of thing.
Quite the opposite.
Outside of India, even in developing countries like Sri Lanka and Thailand, Dengue mortality rates are exceedingly low (Case Fatality Rates; http://www.searo.who.int). So in this, too, we've managed to come out top. What else does one expect in a nation that, day-in-day-out, frets more about morality than mortality? Life is cheap, izzat isn't.
Dengue, caused by the Dengue Virus (DV), is endemic in almost 100 countries, with more than two billion people exposed to it. DV has four variants, 1-4, called serotypes. The severity of Dengue is a result of serotype interplay.
When a patient gets Dengue for the first time, it is never severe – our body fights well and wins comfortably in the end. When that same patient gets Dengue a second time, however, and the serotype is different from the one with which he was infected the first time round, things take a turn for the worse, leading to complications like Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS). In the absence of a drug or vaccine, the only recourse is to suffer it out. The key in avoiding mortality is monitoring the patient, hour-by-hour if needed.
In India, however, the key is making as much money as one can from the weak-kneed, rash-swept, sweat-drenched, OPD sightseer.
DV makes blood vessels and capillaries porous, and through these pores, the circulating fluid – that carries red blood cells and platelets – begins to leak out. This lowers the blood pressure, making it that much harder for blood and nutrients to reach our organs. To make matters worse, DV also infects directly the platelet-making bone marrow cells.
At some point the fluid that has seeped out begins to seep back in, restoring the blood pressure. This is why it is crucial to monitor the BP of a Dengue patient. Pumping the patient with intravenous (IV) saline – to compensate for the fluid loss – can exacerbate the situation when "lost" fluid beings to return to the vessels. The extra fluid in the vessels can make the BP shoot up, leading to haemorrhage.
But if it were just the administration of IV saline – Rs 25 a bottle – it wouldn't have mattered. The problem is something else that is given intravenously: platelet transfusion.
A little bit of follow-up research shows that Dr. Khanna is right. The World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines state explicitly that transfusion should be administered only when platelet counts are below 10,000 (Comprehensive guidelines for prevention and control of Dengue and DHF, Revised and Expanded Edition, WHO, 2011).
However, worldwide there is real unease on whether prophylactic platelet transfusions should be administered to DV patients in the first place.
A 2012 report published in the prestigious American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, that analysed the issue of needless platelet transfusion, had this to say: "Currently, patients with severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count of less than 20,000) receive prophylactic transfusions to prevent bleeding despite a lack of evidence to support this practice…Prophylactic platelet transfusions offer no benefit to patients and there is no associated increase in morbidity or mortality with a conservative approach to transfusion…With proper management of DSS using intravenous fluids, thrombocytopenia seen in dengue resolves spontaneously and independent of any transfusion used." (Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 86, 531)
Another report is even more damning (When less is more: can we abandon prophylactic platelet transfusion in Dengue fever? Ann. Acad. Med. Singapore, 2011, 40, 539). The authors compared "patients who received prophylactic platelet transfusions with an equal number who did not. There was no significant difference in occurrence of haemorrhage between the two groups." They proposed that "prophylactic platelet transfusion be safely withheld for platelet counts as low as 5000…Attempting to increase platelet counts via transfusion in the absence of major bleeding has not conferred protective benefits from bleeding in dengue. Rather, early recognition of dengue, especially severe dengue and DHF, with prompt correction of hemodynamic (i.e. BP, heart-rate) parameters, remains the cornerstone of avoiding haemorrhage and ensuring good clinical outcomes."
The results of a global survey involving 306 physicians conducted in 2012 (PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 6(6): e1716), to discover the preferences of doctors in giving platelet transfusion to dengue patients, are striking. No doctor from UK was willing to administer platelet transfusion in absence of bleeding. That's 0. The figure for Asia was 75. 3 doctors from UK said they would administer transfusion if the platelet count reached below 3,000, while 57 Asian doctors said they would give transfusion under similar circumstances.
I have quoted just a handful of reports from the hundreds that have been published over the past decade on this subject. The evidence is quite conclusive: avoid platelet transfusion unless absolutely essential. It can be more harmful than helpful. It will save money, effort, and avoid risk of infection.
However, there is another – a very Indian problem that our doctors face: the patient's and his/her relatives' take on things. WHO guidelines are all very well but as Dr. Sushila Kataria, a clinician at Medanta Hospital who's been treating Dengue cases for more than a decade, puts it, "I agree – less than 10,000 is well and good, but what does one do when the relatives demand the patient be put on a platelet transfusion? Secondly, in our country one can't wait till the count drops below the WHO recommended level of action – where will you get an assured supply of platelets in that emergency situation, tell me? As it is, not every hospital that treats Dengue patients has the equipment for extracting platelets, notwithstanding the fact that it takes a minimum of 2 hours for the whole process. I can't stand and watch helplessly as my patient's platelet count goes from 10,000 to 8,000 to 2,000…waiting for the platelets to arrive while he battles for his life – no way!"
This is true, as I well know, having had to drive over to my friend's bedside with the platelets. Dr. Kataria continues "Another thing, we hold back on giving transfusion and immediately our intentions are questioned by the relatives – "why are you not giving the platelets?" "who are you saving them for?". I agree with what you say about the need for caution as regards prophylactic platelet transfusion, but I feel in India one needs to be more liberal with the threshold value. It can save lives."
Another doctor, with whom I discuss the topic over phone, concurs with Dr. Kataria's view. "This isn't Europe or America where everything is at hand, every hospital has a platelet supply and every clinic has the platelet extracting equipment. Here, we can't play with lives while we wait for the platelet bag to arrive and watch the count drop down to well below 10,000. Who'll be responsible?"
Nevertheless, the fact remains that Dengue patients end up spending a lot on their treatment. I ask Dr. Kataria for a solution to this problem.
"Much more awareness of this platelet transfusion issue," she says, "on the doctors' as well as the patients' side. And a platelet extraction and banking facility at every hospital – that's an absolute must."
My friend is covered through medical insurance and so he can still buy that Tata Nano – that's been the equivalent cost of his treatment – with the money that'll come back to him. But what about those who weren't insured and who'd now be thinking twice about their child's education or loan repayments? Were 10 transfusions worth the trouble?
It is time our Health Minister drew up some concrete guidelines for setting up platelet facilities across the cities, especially during the Dengue season. The Dengue guidelines should also be pasted on every Dengue ICU wall and advertised in every major newspaper and magazine. But is he listening, or does he too require a hearing aid?
Image Source -[ http://www.flickr.com/photos/techbirmingham/298209271/]
All our articles are run through a software to avoid the possibility of unattributed work finding its way into Newslaundry.


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Recent Hamilton students who have applied to dental school have had excellent success in the admissions process as well as successful careers in dental medicine. There are 65 dental schools within the United States and there are 10 dental schools found in Canada. Hamilton College has sent students to many schools including Columbia, New York University, SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Stony Brook, Tufts, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, as well as many others. Academic preparation and course requirements are similar to that of applying to medical school but variations frequently arise. It is for this reason that students preparing for a career in dental medicine are encouraged to plan their courses early in their first year of college. Careful planning will allow students to major in any discipline they choose, study abroad, and complete the pre-requisite courses in time to apply the fall of their senior year.
For information on the dental profession and preparing for a career in dentistry, visit the websites of:


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Neoseeker.com Forum Thread: Fun thing to do!!!!!! - page 1
reprinted from
original thread:
Author: Boxy Brown
Date: Feb 1, 05 at 3:00am (PST)
Subject: Fun thing to do!!!!!!
you know its fun to go to the carnival level area1 and get the bee from the slot machine and put the low gravity infinite life and health hercules and speed up cheat and let the bee blow the living crap out of you.
You may not think its fun but I do because you die in crazy ways.
Author: Streets Of Rage Fan
Date: May 28, 06 at 8:11pm (PST)
Subject: re: Fun thing to do!!!!!!
Lol, that's interesting... and weird
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Federated States of Micronesia and Mauritius Propose Climate-Related Amendment to Montreal Protocol
3 May 2009: A joint proposal has been submitted by the Federated States of Micronesia and Mauritius to amend the Montreal Protocol. The amendment proposes to regulate and phase-down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with a high global warming potential and promote the destruction of banks of ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
According to the submission, these proposals will strengthen the Montreal Protocol to provide fast-action climate change mitigation several times greater than the emission reductions sought during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. [The proposal]


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Practical joke: To empty the contents of a backpack, flip it inside-out, then finish off by putting the contents back and zipping it up. Done when owner of backpack is unaware until later.
When he wasn't looking, I turtled his backpack.
Kleetz tarafından 29 Mart 2006, Çarşamba
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Can you define these popular missing words?
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the best animal in the world!
Anonymous tarafından 30 Eylül 2003, Salı
Substitute for an 'easy' woman (ie - once their on their back they're fucked)
Gah! Callum! Your mums a turtle!
Xerxes da Phat tarafından 15 Şubat 2004, Pazar
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines, most of whose body is shielded by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs. "Turtle" may either refer to the Testudines as a whole, or to particular Testudines which make up a form taxon that is not monophyletic.
Human : What's it like being a turtle?
Turtle: It's like being a walking house that eats lettuce.
Turtle: It's like being a walking house that eats lettuce.
Verwandlung (KB) tarafından 2 Şubat 2009, Pazartesi
I like them.
I like turtles!
thepiguyofdoom tarafından 26 Mayıs 2010, Çarşamba
A person or usually a large group of people who walk really slowly right in front of you. Turtles make it impossible to get around them or to get where you need to be in time.
-Eric, where'd you go?
:I got stuck behind some turtles, so I had to walk all the way around.
-Hahaha those damn Turtles!
:I got stuck behind some turtles, so I had to walk all the way around.
-Hahaha those damn Turtles!
Mr. Gibbons tarafından 23 Şubat 2008, Cumartesi
The best animals! see reptile
turtles are my favorite animals!
STEZ tarafından 27 Eylül 2003, Cumartesi


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Miss Calico AKA Goldie
Active within 1721 Days
Hi! My name is Miss Calico AKA Goldie
I am Domestic Longhair from Spartanburg, SC
Nicknames: Ms. Calico, Cutie.
Age: 16 years old
Gender: F
Coat: long haired
Education: Just being sweet as sugar!
My favorite tricks and treats are: Sleep..LOL. and Tuna Treats
Where I hang out: In front of the window by the computer.
My favorite grubs: Fancy Feast and Treats!
My pet peeves: The 4 other cats she has to share the house with.
What I love about my owners: They opened their hearts and home to me.
My cat hobbies: Purr and Love on Mom & Dad!
Pet motto: Live, Love, Laugh!!
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We got her from a family that was moving and they didn't want her to go to the shelter for fear of not getting a good home. I really wasn't sure I wanted to have an extra cat (now 5 total) but after meeting her how could I turn down that sweet face.
I've had 3488 friends visit me.
I'm the 24,510th member on CatChannel.com.
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Come visit me, Team RAGDOLL PAWesome PURRsonality #235194, :¦:Chloe:•:(¯`v´¯):•- :208036:¦: & Team CHLOE, a PAWSitively PURRfect NAME #234964.
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Chrysler is recalling more than 919,000 older-model Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs worldwide because the air bags can inflate while people are driving them.The recall affects Grand Cherokees from the 2002 through 2004 model years and Libertys from model years 2002 and 2003, according to documents posted Friday on the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.The safety agency said that a part can fail in the air bag control computer, and the front and side air bags can inflate while the SUVs are being driven. An agency investigation started last year found that the air bags went off 215 times, causing 81 minor injuries. No crashes were reported, but NHTSA said the problem could cause a wreck.Chrysler, which makes Jeeps, will install an electrical filter free of charge to fix the problem. The company will begin notifying owners of the recall in January.The recall includes nearly 775,000 SUVs in the U.S., 49,000 in Canada and 22,000 in Mexico. The rest are outside North America.Dashboard warning lights normally come on before the air bags are inflated, Chrysler spokesman Eric Mayne said. If that happens, the driver should contact a Jeep dealer.The problem happens in less than three-hundredths of a percent of the vehicles on the road, Mayne said.NHTSA began investigating the air bags in October of last year after getting complaints about air bags inflating for no reason in Jeep Libertys. Investigators traced the cause to electrical stress on one of two circuits in the control computer. The problem also causes the seat belts to tighten as if a collision were about to happen.The Grand Cherokees covered by the recall were built from Aug. 1, 2001 to May 16, 2003, while the Libertys were built from June 6, 2001 to March 19, 2003.Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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When am I ever going to wear these gloves again? Maybe for Halloween, but in the meantime it's getting cold and Chuck's snout is not going to keep itself warm, amirite?
Posted in Daily Chuck | Tagged dog
A working breed
Heard a what?
Partied like it was 1999
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Description: Vector-Ban™ Misting Insecticide, including mosquito spray and repellent, for Homes & Barns controls listed flies, lice, fleas, mites and mosquitoes. Vector-Ban™ is a long-lasting livestock and premise insect and mosquito spray that provides knockdown, broad-spectrum insecticidal effectiveness and excellent residual activity. Use this high-quality mosquito repellent to keep away a variety of insect pests.
Brand: CSI
Product Code: 3201 1/2 Gallon
Active Ingredient(s): 10% Permethrin
States Registered: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY
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First I want to thank everyone who participated and sent in questions for 1st Mariner Bank's Flacco Fridays contest. The questions were a lot of fun to read and answer. Even though I was only supposed to answer "5" questions each week, because I appreciate the time everyone took to submit questions, I went back and answered another five. You can read the answers to them at the end of this blog, but first I wanted to give you guys an update on how I think the season is going.
To recap the season to date I would have to say that we are doing okay. Even after a tough loss last week we are in good position going into our bye week. By the way, all of the losses are tough. One of the big reasons we are in good position is due to our situation in the division. Obviously we are going to need to continue to play well the rest of the way but we have put ourselves in a good position so far. We still have both games with Pittsburgh yet to be played and they, like always, will be huge games. All the division games will be that way. I think it is obvious though for the fans that the two with the Steelers will be the biggest.
One thing I know, our team understands the importance of giving it your best each week. If with the help of our fans we can hold our home field advantage we should end up where we all want to be. At home in the playoffs!!!!!!
As the season continues, we have an exciting new contest for you, beginning next week. Be sure to check 1st Mariner's Facebook page or click here for details.
Q. I have been dying to know how your little boy is doing and are you enjoying parenthood--not really related to football but does affect your game--. (Submitted by Pauletta Linton Vance)
A. My son is doing very well as is my wife and yes I have enjoyed being a new dad. It is a positive distraction. Thanks for asking.Q. Hi Joe, do you have any pregame rituals or quirky superstitions? (Submitted by Josh Robertson)
A. I don't have any interesting pre-game rituals or superstitions. I do, like most QBs, have a pre-game warm-up I like to go through before each game. In the dead time before games in the locker room I like to just sit and relax.Q. With your ties to UD (go Blue Hens!), do you see yourself returning to UD after retiring to be a coach and/or advisor to the football team? (Submitted by Katie Brown)
A. I don't at this time see myself returning to UD or anywhere else for that matter in an official football capacity. KC has it covered at UD! I am close with KC though and I can see myself there as a fan.Q. Who has been the most inspirational person in your life? (Submitted by Tekesha Fiyahfly Martinez)
A. I don't know if you would say I am inspired, but I am and have been fueled and supported by my entire family. From my 4 grandparents and parents to all of my siblings and now my own family. To be a part of a close group who can nurture you early and support you later is a powerful thing. My hope is for everyone to have a similar family support group. It is something we are all capable of creating for ourselves. There is power in numbers, let's all mix in a little compassion and get started today.Q. Hello Joe. Did you ever wish to be something else besides a football player? (Submitted by Nathan Dunkel)
A. When I was young I wasn't sure if I wanted to be a baseball player or a football player but other than that no.
Tags: 1st Mariner Bank, First Mariner Bank, Joe Flacco, Flacco Fridays, Baltimore's Quarterback, Team Flacco
Contests | Joe Flacco | Social Media
People have been complaining about the big banks for years now. When people get fed up and begin to look for other places to put their money, the same two choices are always suggested: a community bank, or a credit union.
So it's great to know that there are other options, but with community banks and credit unions always being lumped together into one suggestion, it almost seems like they are interchangeable, when really, they are two quite different options. So how do you differentiate between the two?
Of course you know our vote…*coughcommunitybankcough*…but our choice isn't completely biased. We know some spOOky facts about credit unions that we would like to share with you.
Okay, fine…you are always free to leave a credit union, but you have to admit, that added a spooky twist to the heading! Credit unions are, however, selective about who they allow to join. You generally must meet a specific requirement in order to become a member. So maybe once you're in, you will be reluctant to leave, even if you have a good reason.
Credit unions often advertise low credit card rates. What they don't tell you is that with these great rates come not-so-great rewards programs. If you are working on paying off credit card debt, then a low interest rate may be all that matters to you. However, if you always pay your bill in full, the interest rate really shouldn't matter, and your focus should be on what your credit card provider can do for you.
One of the biggest complaints about the big banks is their constant seemingly exponential increases in fees. Credit unions pride themselves in having lower fees than banks, but what they don't tell you is their fees are on the rise as well. It is important to note that with both banks and credit unions, fees will never stay constant, for many reasons. Your safest bet for minimizing fees, wherever you put your money, is to make sure you have accounts that are right for you. This may require you to switch account types every so often. Switching to a credit union simply because their fees are lower right now is not a safe bet in the long run.
To protect themselves against risk, credit unions often have cross-collateralization clauses. What does this mean? Any item being financed or pledged as security will also secure any other debts you have or may have in the future with the credit union. For example, if you have both a credit card and a car loan through your credit union, your car will be used to not only secure your car loan, it will also be used to secure your credit card debt. Legally, credit unions must disclose this to you, but don't expect to find this information on a flashing neon sign. It will likely be disclosed to you somewhere in fine print, so this cross-collateralization clause often comes as an unpleasant surprise to the people it affects.
Unlike banks, credit unions are not regulated by the FDIC. Less regulation means credit unions are able to use your deposits more freely and take more risks than banks. The majority of credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration, but this is not a requirement for state-chartered credit unions. Before throwing all your money into a credit union, make sure your deposits will be insured, and check the insurance limits.
In general, when it comes to account features, credit union accounts give you the bare minimum. Simple. Boring. Raise your hand if this was you five years ago: "Internet? On my PHONE? I don't need all that, I just want a simple, practical phone that allows me to make simple phone calls." Now, if you are like most people, you look back and laugh at your old credo. You may be thinking along those same lines when it comes to your bank account. You don't need any fancy additions - you just simply want a safe place to put your money. But why settle for that when you could get more features and benefits out of your accounts?
No matter where you put your money, it is important that you research the facts of the financial institution, and compare these facts with your current financial situation. The right financial institution for your neighbor might not be the right one for you.
One Size Fits for Life: Is Your Business in the Right Checking Account?
Top Three Myths About Online Banking Revealed
True or False? Five Myths About Credit Scores Unveiled
Tags: 1st Mariner Bank, First Mariner Bank, Credit Unions vs Banks, Credit Unions vs Community Banks, What is a Credit Union, Credit Union Credit Cards, Cons of Credit Unions, Credit Union Insurance, Credit Union Fees, Cross-Collateralization
Personal Finance & Banking
A recent survey indicates that America's optimism regarding the housing market's recovery has improved significantly. According to Fannie Mae's September 2012 National Housing Survey, a monthly poll of 1,000 homeowners and renters, more respondents expect home prices to rise in the next year (37 percent) and the share anticipating declining home prices is down to 11 percent. It is worth noting that such attitudes tend to become self-fulfilling prophecies. People are generally willing to pay more for an asset that they expect to appreciate in value. Importantly, 19 percent of those surveyed say now is a good time to sell, the highest level since the survey began in June 2010. More buyers and sellers translates into a more active market, and that's good for realtors, title companies and of course, the buyers and sellers themselves.
Already, that renewed confidence working in conjunction with record low or near-record low mortgage rates is having an impact. According to the National Association of Realtors, national existing home sales rose 7.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.82 million in August, up from 4.47 million in July. The number of existing home sales is now 9.3 percent higher than year-ago levels. The national median existing home price for all housing types was $187,400 in August, up 9.5 percent from one year ago.
Maryland's housing market is also improving. According to data supplied by MRIS and the Coastal Association of Realtors, home sales rose 3.5 percent in July on a year-over-year basis, 9.6 percent in August and 6.1 percent in September. Average and median prices have expanded in Maryland for seven consecutive months through September. Statewide, average sales prices were up 6.1 percent since September 2011 while median prices increased 6.8 percent.
Many economists believe that the housing market bottomed toward the end of 2011. This year has been one of improvement, as low mortgage rates, ongoing job creation and growing confidence have ushered forth welcome market dynamics. Unit sales and prices are up and forward looking indicators are also promising. Pending sales in Maryland were up on a year-over-year basis in both August and September. Statewide, pending units were up from 4,986 in September 2011 to 5,609 in September 2012, an improvement of 12 percent. Increasingly, realtors can credibly claim that the best time to buy is now and that if prospective buyers wait too long, they may miss out on highly advantageous mortgage rates and will end up paying more for the dream.
They may also have fewer choices from which to select. The active inventory of unsold homes in Maryland continues to decline. In September 2011, months of inventory stood at 8.5 months. One year later, inventory had dropped to 6 months, which means that market equilibrium has been achieved at last. Presently, seven Maryland jurisdictions have months of inventory below this level. Based on pending sales, inventory is likely to continue to fall, increasing prospects for additional home price appreciation.
Anirban Basu is Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., an economic and policy consulting firm in Baltimore, Maryland. Basu is one of the Mid-Atlantic region's most recognizable economists, in part because of his consulting work on behalf of numerous clients, including prominent developers, bankers, brokerage houses, energy suppliers and law firms. On behalf of government agencies and non-profit organizations, Basu has written several high-profile economic development strategies, including co-authoring Baltimore City's economic growth strategy. His opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of 1st Mariner Bank.
Tags: 1st Mariner Bank, First Mariner Bank, Maryland Economy, Maryland Economic Outlook, Maryland Housing Market, Maryland Housing Recovery, Sage Policy Group
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Special Meals
Wine Luncheons
Graycliff Restaurant, one of the Caribbean's first Five-Star restaurants is putting on a daily show that is indeed a wine lover's dream.
At noon, each weekday, Wine Luncheon guests are welcomed with a glass of champagne and led by Graycliff's Master Sommeliers for a tasting and a tour of the hotel and restaurant's acclaimed wine collection which has very few rivals in the region.
The cellar houses some fine and rare wines, with over 250,000 bottles from over 400 vintners in 15 countries, acquired over decades by Enrico Garzaroli, the establishment's Chairman and CEO. "If you understand quality wines and appreciate their relationship to good food, then you have discovered one of the reasons for living," says Garzaroli. He is passionate about the quality of the wines he seeks out and carefully adds to his collection, which is among the largest private collections in the world, receiving the prestigious Wine Spectator Grand Award since 1988.
The Wine Luncheon participants are treated to a four-course gourmet repast paired with the appropriate wines. The menu changes daily and seasonally.
Reservations are necessary and space is limited to 12 participants per day.
To book or for additional information please contact us.
Wine Tastings
What better place to experience the combinations of the some of the finest wines the world produces, with the best cheeses from the old world and the new, than at the Five Star Graycliff Restaurant which is recognized as one of the top dining establishments in the world. Graycliff's Grand Award-winning wine cellar, assembled with care over decades is one of largest private collections of fine and rare wines in the world. The cellar houses over 250,000 bottles from over 400 vintners in 15 countries. With the restaurant's Master Sommelier in attendance, your senses will liven up as you taste the best cheeses from Italy, Spain, France, Australia, Argentina and Chile and then your palate sings and soars as the paired wine slowly blossoms in your mouth to create heavenly flavors that mere mortals only dream of! Well known to the old world as the nectar of the gods, wine has a rich an honored history and Graycliff's cellar is home to some of the best.
Graycliff's Wine & Cheese Pairings adventure takes participants through a minimum of 8 wine tastings, four red, four white, each paired with cheeses from around the world, along with a tour of their famed wine cellar, topped off with a wine themed souvenir for each participant.
Wine and Cheese Tastings are available by appointment. To book or for additional information please contact us.
Private Dining Rooms
Graycliff Restaurant also offers private dining rooms, including the Wine Cellar and in the Kitchen.
Depending on the size of your group our restaurant can accommodate private dining rooms for small and large groups.
To book or for additional information please contact us.
Graycliff Culinary Academy
Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant, the 5-star resort, has opened its kitchen doors to guests who wish to take a culinary tour like no other. The Graycliff Culinary Academy will offer guests interactive cooking classes by appointment.
Aspiring chefs will learn the culinary secrets of Graycliff Restaurant from Executive Chef Elijah Bowe and his team. No prior cooking experience is necessary, and a variety of cuisines are taught.
"Cuisine plays a huge role in Graycliff's ambiance and experience," explained Enrico Garzaroli, Chairman and CEO of the Graycliff. "This is why we are opening our kitchen to the public so that people can experience Graycliff's culinary style first hand."
A variety of cuisine and choices are available for students to pre-select for their class including Italian, Bahamian, French and Asian. Guests will prepare items from the Graycliff Restaurant menu such as: Lobster in a Puff Pastry, Bahamian Conch Chowder, Crispy Duck with Bahamian Citrus Sauce, Grouper Dijonnaise and desserts include Graycliff's Guava Soufflé among others.
Class sizes are limited from 6 to 16 students. Class times are 10:30am to 2:30pm. All ingredients and materials needed for the Graycliff Culinary Academy will be supplied. Included in each session is lunch, consisting of the dishes prepared in that day's class, accompanied by a glass of wine or other beverage. Lunch is served in the dining room by Graycliff's waiters.
Following each session, each student receives copies of the recipes from class, a Graycliff Culinary Academy apron, and a certificate of participation to bring home from the Caribbean's first five-star restaurant.
To register for the Graycliff Culinary Academy or for additional information please contact us.


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Harbaugh Evaluates Prospects with Game of Catch
Usually, NFL teams evaluate draft prospects during Pro Day, meetings, and interviews. Not Jim Harbaugh.
These days, the character of a player is very important but San Francisco 49ers coach Harbaugh uses a different evaluation tool.
Instead of talking with a player, Harbaugh likes to play a game of catch. He takes a little trip back in time to his playing days in the NFL.
According to?Kevin Clark of the?Wall Street Journal,?Harbaugh uses the game of catch as a chance to gauge the prospects and find out more about them.
?You?re always sizing somebody up,? Harbaugh said.??I?m not trying to look in their eyes.?Just trying to see how they catch.?
It is definitely an interesting way to judge players, but if Harbaugh is able to get the information he needs and it helps to get the player comfortable, then so be it.
You do you, Jim Harbaugh.
For more on this story visit: Josh Sanchez, SI.com


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Just 10 days before his 100th birthday, longtime Niles educator David L. Prosser passed away Tuesday, Feb. 14, at Crandall Medical Center in Sebring.
Prosser, who moved to Copeland Oaks in Sebring several years ago, remained active well into his 80s, said longtime family friend Joyce Lukz.
''Dave called things like they were,'' Lukz said. ''He spoke his mind, but not in a mean way.''
Prosser, a staunch democrat would often get into heated discussions with Lukz's father, a Republican, she said.
''They would get into arguments, but would end up laughing,'' Lukz said.
Prosser was born Feb. 24, 1912, in Mineral Ridge, the son of David and Elizabeth Lloyd Prosser. He graduated from Mineral Ridge High School in 1930 and earned a bachelor's degree in education from Mount Union College in 1934. He later earned a master's degree from Kent State University.
On Jan. 1, 1936, Prosser married Ada Williams and she died Feb. 22, 1989.
''They had no children of their own but were very supportive of other people's children,'' Lukz said. ''They were very loyal to their universities and were very generous to Mount Union and Bethany, where Ada went. They believed strongly in that because they felt education was very important.''
Prosser was a science teacher and audiovisual supervisor at Niles City Schools for 30 years and was described by his friends as having ''an ornery streak.''
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Mineral Ridge, where he was a deacon; a past commander of the American Legion Post 106; past president and longtime secretary of the Niles Rotary; State Teachers Retirees; original member of the Canfield Community Band, where he retired in 2009, and the Warren Military Band. He played saxophone in both bands.
Prosser also assisted as a docent at the Ward Thomas House and Museum and he was a member of the Niles Historical Society. During the grand opening of the museum in 1996 and at several historical society events, Prosser would present a slide presentation he called ''The First 100 Years of Niles.''
He enjoyed golfing and playing the saxophone, was an avid card player and was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. At age 98, he traveled to Washington, D.C., to experience the Honor Flight of World War II.
After moving to Copeland Oaks, several of Prosser's old friends and students would visit him regularly and most often on his birthday. A 100th birthday luncheon had been planned this year as well.
''We still plan to have a 100 birthday balloon at his memorial service,'' Lukz said. ''We're not going to be concerned with 10 days.''
Memorial services will be held 11:30 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church of Mineral Ridge.
Prosser will be laid to rest at Kerr Cemetery.
''He liked a good party and a good cigar,'' Lukz said. ''He was a good guy.''