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Best DIY Projects of the WeekMelanie Blodgett
Ready to party? I must be because all of the projects that stood out to me this week seem to be party themed. I want to make that colorful streamer backdrop to hang in my house all year round.
Take a peek at more awesome below.
Party Headbands 1 of 10I would wear this on a normal day.
From Oh Happy Day
Gold Stars 2 of 10You could use this same method for trees or other holiday shapes.
From Strawberry Chic
Globe Garland 3 of 10Using maps for origami is genius.
From Poppy Talk
Yarn Block Prints 4 of 10Easy enough for your kids to try.
From Whip Up
Gold Toe Shoes 5 of 10I want to make all my shoes more glam.
From Say Yes to Hoboken
Streamer Backdrop 6 of 10Super easy and fun for any party.
From 100 Layer Cake
Gratitude Garland 7 of 10Whip one up before Thanksgiving.
From Dandee Designs
Sequin Globes 8 of 10These would be pretty hanging on a Christmas tree.
From Pugley Pixel
Leaf Stamps 9 of 10How are your carving skills?
From Maya Made
Watercolor Paper Flowers 10 of 10I can think of a hundred different uses for these.
Heart of Light
Article Posted 5 years Ago


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General Finishes welcomes qualifying volume DIY users and retail businesses in the US, Canada, and United Kingdom/Europe to build your business with fine finishing products that have been an American tradition since 1928. GF provides the DIY furniture repurposing and retail market with user friendly pre-mixed paints, oil-based wood stains, water-based wood stains, dye stains, top coats, and glazes. Please use the form below to begin the process of creating a wholesale account as a retailer or a volume user. If you qualify, we will send samples if you have not already received them. This form is only for users not in delivery range of one of our national distributors (find our national distributors here).
If you are in the UK or Europe, we will forward your request to our UK Distributor. General Finishes does not sell direct to consumers. We have a network of stores & online retailers which may be accessed on our Where to Buy page.
We do not require contracts or an exclusivity clause. General Finishes is happy to share shelf space with any other line of finishes that you carry.No storefront is required - just a minimum annual ordering volume of (U.S.A) $3,000.You are not required to order an entire case of any color! We will gladly mix cases of the same size can.
The suggested Special Opening Package includes 140 pints and 72 quarts of our most popular Paints, Glazes, Pearl Effects, Gel Stains and topcoats. We are happy to help you customize your order if these quantities don't meet your needs or budget. This package of $2643.84 includes all point-of purchase materials and a 2% fuel surcharge; there are no additional shipping costs. Click the button to download the Suggested Opening Order Package.
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You will be contacted by one of our representatives shortly to answer further questions. Credit card required.
General Finishes is Social Media interactive and promotes our customers via our website, retailer directory, blog, Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook. Please notify of us of your work by sharing on our Facebook page and tell us what Milk Paint color, gel, glaze, and
topcoat you used as well as any special finishing effects. Also, light and stage them as well as you can. We do post on Houzz when
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Visit General Finishes at the following Trade Shows
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A man was taken into custody Thursday after taking authorities on a chase that came to a halt in downtown Sacramento.
The Sacramento Police Department said that a woman inside the car fled after it was stopped, then ran away.
Police assisted the California Highway Patrol in setting up a perimeter near the 1400 block of G Street.
The woman is still at large, police said.
Authorities said the couple was in this car.
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Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told lawmakers the investigation into the Secret Service prostitution scandal is still ongoing and that investigators would "leave no stone unturned."
She was called to testify before a Senate Judiciary Panel Wednesday about the ongoing investigation of the incident that marred President Obama's recent trip to Colombia.
While acknowledging that the agents' behavior was "inexcusable," she told Senate Judiciary Committee the Secret Service never put the president's security at risk.
Her testimony comes as Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is asking whether the Colombian prostitutes at the center of the Secret Service scandal could have actually been Russian spies.
"Who knows who might be using prostitutes? The Russians are famous for that to get information out of us," the Republican said during an interview with Radio Iowa. "You want to know that the president is protected."
Grassley is also questioning how the White House reached such a quick conclusion in its internal investigation of the incident.
He has called for an inspector general to assess any role the White House staff may have played in the case.
The Secret Service is trying to bring a fast resolution to the scandal. The agency said it has now settled the fate of all 12 agents involved.
Two more agents were ousted Tuesday, another was stripped of his security clearance, and one more was cleared of wrongdoing.
Six had already been forced out, and two others had previously been cleared of wrongdoing.
On the U.S. military side of the scandal, a 12th member of the Armed Forces has now been implicated. The Pentagon has suspended the security clearances of all the military personnel who are under review.
Lawmaker on Secret Service: Expect More Firings
Palin Joke Turns on Fired Secret Service Agent
Woman Speaks out in Secret Service Sex Scandal
Secret Service Scandal Triggers Independent Probe
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Call The 700 Club Prayer Center at 1 (800) 823-6053, 24 hours a day.
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iOS7 is the biggest update we've seen to Apple's mobile software since its launch over five years ago. In this article, I will be breaking it down piece by piece in full detail. My goal is to keep it as objective as possible, and I will try to announce when I am speaking my opinion as much as possible.
Lock Screen
There are a few new additions to the iOS7 lock screen. One being the ability to unlock your device by sliding anywhere on the screen not just in a certain spot on the device. Also new to the lock screen, is the new ability to access the notification shade and the new control center, both of which we will cover later in this article. The lock screen also got a new look with a simpler flatter clock and the removal of the slide to unlock bar. You can still quick access the camera by sliding up from the bottom right corner of the screen.
Notification Shade
The iOS7 Notification Shade has gotten a well deserved revamp. You can now see notifications in three categories: today, all, and missed. This is something that Android has done for a while now, and it is nice to see Apple catching up. The Notification Shade's new look is also very flat with slight opacity so you can see some of your background shining threw. That being said, the Notification Shade does have a grey base tint. All of this being said, the Notification Shade is still accessible from anywhere on the device just like in all versions since iOS5.
Control Center
Control Center is the newest feature to come to iOS7. It allows you to enable/disable Airplane Mode, Wireless Access, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb Mod, and Orientation Lock. It also allows you to change your brightness which can be very helpful when you're low on battery life and every second counts. From this menu you can change the volume of music, skip a song, and pause/play songs. Additional, you can now turn on the flash, rendering your flashlight apps useless, quickly access the clock app, the calculator app, and the camera app. The Control Center just like the Notification Shade is accessible from anywhere on the device.
Home Screen
One of the first things you'll notice when you unlock your Apple device after downloading iOS7 is the new moving icons in relation to the angle of your device. This was added to the OS to make it easier for people to see there apps when looking at their device from an awkward angle. In addition to moving icons, Apple has finally add moving dynamic backgrounds. These are backgrounds that move as your device moves or randomly depending on which one you use. You can also now have panoramic backgrounds that will change as you move your device left or right.
App Icons
The iOS7 app icons are flatter, more, compact, and what some believe simpler. For me, the change was minimal. I barely even noticed. For others, however, the change was drastic. In my opinion, I think it depends on the person, and this is something you will have to judge yourself when you get your hands on iOS this fall. That being said, there are also new interactive Apple App icons. Clock now has an interactive icon that shows the actually time. For example, if it 3:30PM the clock app icon will show 3:30PM. The calendar icon is also still interactive showing the correct date on the app icon.
iOS7 introduces true multitasking. You can actually switch between open apps, and they will remain in the same state that they were in the last time you used them. That being said completely closing or "killing" apps is easier than ever. In iOS7 Simply swipe up on an open app and boom, it is gone. You can kill muliple apps at one time by swiping with two or three fingers.
iOS7's camera app is completely renovated. You can swipe from video to photo to square photo to panoramic. This may sound confusing, but I guarantee you will have no problem getting the hang of it no matter how much of a tech noob you are. Another new addition in camera is filters. This was a long time coming especially with the popularity of apps like Instagram. HDR is also much easier to access in iOS7 being a button over the capture button making it very easy to take those high quality HDR photos.
What's new in the photo gallery besides a new sleek with look is collections. Collections allow you to sort your photos by year, month, week, day, and location. This is a nice feature if your when a photo was taken or where a photo was taken, but besides that I see no use for it. That being said, you can still browse your photos just like you always have by simply choosing to browse using albums.
The new reminders in iOS7 have received a new white/grey look, and like everything else in the OS have gotten a flatten thinner look. Reminders has also gotten a major software change with the new emphasis on list. List have always been around in Apple reminders, but they've never been this easy to use. Now, you can separate work, home, and play easily by simply creating a new list.
Related Article: How To Raise Productivity With Reminders in iOS7
Ironically enough my notes simply say, "white and simple." That is really all that has changed. Notes has gotten a new look. Apple decided to follow the foot steps of pretty much every text editing program on the market and remove the notebook paper background, and add a nice white no line background as your canvas.
The new iOS7 weather app has a ton of similarities to the Yahoo weather app with some people even saying it is as close to an exact copy as you can get without copy infringement. The new weather app now has an interactive background where if it is raining outside it will be raining in the background. If it is sunny outside, it will be sunny in the background. Just like the current app you can still see 12 hours ahead of your current time, and see the weather in other cities by swiping to the right.
The iOS7 Phone still has the same normal functionality just with a new and improved keypad that has every number in it's own individual circle unlike the previous iOS. It also features a new voice mail and contact layout with both having a new font as well as both now being white/grey.
Messages has completely new features with news iMessage and SMS skins, a brand new keypad, and the new swipe back feature. First, let's discuss the new iMessage skins which make the blue received messages much darker with no gradient while just making your white messages a bit more grey with no gradient. Now the brand new keypad is very nice. It removes that old grey scratchy looks and replaces with a new light grey background and white buttons. Lastly, we have the swipe back feature which can be used all around iOS7, but is most noticeable in messages. By simply swiping your finger from left to right across the screen you can go back to all of your messages. This is a cool new feature that may save you some time.
As they have with every iteration of Siri, Siri is now smarter, more personable, and funnier. You can also now have a male or female Siri. The female Siri is also less robotic sounding. However, the male Siri does sound robotic, even though this may improve as we get closer to the final release this fall.
Settings also got a renovation follow the rest of the OS it is now white, grey, and blue with no gradients. The swipe back feature that we mentioned in the Messages section of this article also works within most settings menus making navigating through your device's settings easier that ever.
Folders didn't change much, but what did change about them is their size. Folders are now bottomless. This means that folders can have as many apps as they want to with no limits. I can finally have all of my games in one folder instead of having to break them up into two. All of my Apple apps can now be tucked away neatly, and speaking of Apple apps you can now add the all hated Newsstand to folders.
The music app has a new look as far as colors go, but that is about it. The layout is the same with only one huge change. This change is the addition of iTunes Radio. iTunes Radio is built to be in direct competition with apps such as Pandora, Last.fm, and Spotify. This has been of my favorite features of iOS7 so far, and if you're on the fence about updating this is something you should consider.
App Store
The App Store in iOS7 has a new white/blue look and more updated features than other Apple apps have gotten. The new App Store has an auto-update feature that allows apps to update while your device is off and in your pocket. This removes the stress that of having to update all of those apps every day or so as now the OS does it for you. In addition to auto-updates, you can search for apps near you which allows you to see what is popular in your town.
Safari got a well deserved redesign, but the most notable feature is the new tabs system. Tabs now have a very easy to see preview and can now be flipped between with extreme ease. Private browsing is also easier to access being one click away from the tab menu.
This is the new way to search your device. Gone are the days of sliding all the way to left from the home screen. Now simply swipe the middle of the screen after your device is unlocked, and boom a search bar appears. From here you can search your entire device.
FaceTime finally has a dedicated app. This is something many people have been asking for for quite some time now to make the whole FaceTiming thing easier. In addition to it getting its own app FaceTime got a new addition. This addition is FaceTime Audio. You can now call people just like you would using a normal phone call, but with FaceTime. This will come in handy for iPod and iPad users, but it seems pointless for iPhone users.
And there you have it. A complete breakdown of Apple's new Ope ratting System, iOS7. I hope this has helped form your decision as to whether or not to update this fall. Nevertheless, come back to CrysisTV everyday for up to date iOS and Apple news as well as other awesome tech and gaming news.
Related Articles: A Complete Overview of The iPhone 5s; A Complete Overview of The iPhone 5C


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Pea Pods with Mint Sauce
Sugar Snap pea pods are a plump, round variety of edible pods. They are delicious when lightly blanched and served chilled with a light green mint-flavored dipping sauce.
Yield: Serves 12
- 48 Sugar Snap pea pods
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise, preferably homemade
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
- Mint leaves for garnish
Instructions1. String the pea pods and drop them into a large pot of boiling, salted water. Boil for exactly 1 minute, then drain in a colander set under cold running water. Transfer to a clean kitchen towel and pat dry. Refrigerate until serving time.
2. In the container of a blender or processor, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, and mint. Whirl until smooth, then pour into a small glass dish. Cover the dish and refrigerate until cool.
3. Arrange the chilled pea pods on a large serving plate or over a bed of crushed ice. Garnish with fresh mint leaves and serve with the mint dipping sauce on the side.


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- Table View
- List View
Computer Science: A Structured Programming Approach Using C (2nd edition)by Behrouz A. Forouzan Richard F. Gilberg
This textbook introduces the basic principles of programming as outlined in the ACM curriculum for a CS1 class, and the basic concepts of the C language. The second edition adds new exercises, projects and problems to the end of chapter material.
Computer Science: A Structured Programming Approach Using C (3rd edition)by Behrouz A. Forouzan Richard F. Gilberg
The third edition of Computer Science: A Structured Programming Approach Using C continues to present both computer science theory and C-language syntax with a principle-before-implementation approach. Forouzan and Gilberg employ a clear organizational structure, supplemented by easy-to-follow figures, charts, and tables. The new edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect the new C99 standard, and includes a revised chapter sequence to better aid student learning.
Select your format based upon: 1) how you want to read your book, and 2) compatibility with your reading tool. To learn more about using Bookshare with your device, visit the Help Center.
Here is an overview of the specialized formats that Bookshare offers its members with links that go to the Help Center for more information.
- Bookshare Web Reader - a customized reading tool for Bookshare members offering all the features of DAISY with a single click of the "Read Now" link.
- DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) - a digital book file format. DAISY books from Bookshare are DAISY 3.0 text files that work with just about every type of access technology that reads text. Books that contain images will have the download option of 'DAISY Text with Images'.
- BRF (Braille Refreshable Format) - digital Braille for use with refreshable Braille devices and Braille embossers.
- MP3 (Mpeg audio layer 3) - Provides audio only with no text. These books are created with a text-to-speech engine and spoken by Kendra, a high quality synthetic voice from Ivona. Any device that supports MP3 playback is compatible.
- DAISY Audio - Similar to the Daisy 3.0 option above; however, this option uses MP3 files created with our text-to-speech engine that utilizes Ivonas Kendra voice. This format will work with Daisy Audio compatible players such as Victor Reader Stream and Read2Go.


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The fact that you have an agent is really good news. A neutral third party negotiator will gain mileage. Additionally, the builder will be cognizant of the potential domino affect of their decisions. The builder would not want negative reports flooding the gates of that Realtors network of other buyer clients and brokers.
You might encounter more obstacle in gaining a refund of earnest monies as compared to a transfer of the monies to another property. The builder want to complete sales. If you work with the builder (through your agent) to accomplish his/her goal, you will gain cooperation and support in meeting yours.
Best of luck to you. Keep us posted.
Good luck.
Builders in California often have a caveat at the bottom of their marketing pieces in small print With *** next to it stating that the "builder reserves the right to alter floorplans, elevations, lot placement, etc... as necessary and at their sole discretion," and I have also seen this disclosure clause in builder purchase contracts.
This doesn't mean the builder will not let you out of the deal or negotiate with you but if it is published somewhere they could use it to hold you to the contract.
WOW What build are you working with? That's a lot of issues that you had to deal with!
Did you seek Realtor consultation when signing the contract in March? If so, they will be able to help you.
If not, have you documented all this? Having a paper trial proving your side of the story is always helpful.
You need to let them know that you are not happy with what they have promised time and time again. If the builder sales rep isn't willing to help you get your money back, go to the sales manager, thier manager, etc. if necessary. If you have been promised something that they can no longer provide you should be able to receive your earnest money back. Paperwork, persistence and patience will be extremly helpful in all of this. Hopefully you have a realtor, they can help you with all of this.
"I spoke with her (builder's broker) yesterday and explained your situation. She understood perfectly your issues about the home not being your dream home.
I never did tell her about keeping your money (towards future home with them), but I did emphasize that you all want to buy a home from them in the next year or two. She would like to keep you happy.
She said that she needed to just do some research to find out how much money they have already spent on your behalf. This would be for plot plans, etc."
Thanks all - I'll let you know what happens as things unfold. Guess we're in the negotiation stage. Any further advice or comments are welcome. Looks like we're on the home stretch and it was a lot easier than I thought. But - we'll see what they think they should keep. They have $19,000 of our money. $2500 of it was in excess of what I needed to send them which was $15,750.
Thanks for the vote! It sounds like you have a well thought out plan. The builder actually has the oppty to build good will with your agent here, and the positive spin could result in exposure to other Reatlors and their clients. Knowing which builders are honorable and fair is important to Realtors. You stated that your agent is new to AZ. Her past experience, and developed skills, from real estate or other walks of business will be helpful in her ability to convey to the builder why it is in his/her best interest to find a solution that is acceptable to you.
Please do keep us posted. I speak for all of us when I state that your feedback and updates are greatly appreciated and an incentive for us all to participate on Trulia.
Best Regards,
PS Tks, too, to Ed to for his support to all Trulians!
First of all - Thank you all so much for your input. I do have an agent, and although somewhat new to Arizona, she is also a friend and I feel she has my best interest at heart. She plans to speak with the head broker/salesperson today. I have plan A and plan B. First being that she ask for a portion of the money back and account in writing for exactly what they feel they "spent" and therefore deserve from the deposit. If, for instance, they put down cost for obtaining a variance.. no go. The variance's were due to their mistake, not mine. No materials have been bought nor concrete poured but I can see some money going towards the design center. I won't be happy with money going towards the salesperson for the builder because she is totally useless and I do have emails that provide a paper trail.
If that doesn't work - I will speak with them or have my agent speak to them about putting money towards a future house or let them take the earnest money and write up an agreement where X dollars go towards upgrades at the prices I have today. Prices won't increase much in 2-3 years.
If that doesn't work, I will write to the president of the company who touts in all their materials about how important it is to make their customers happy. If that doesn't work - I'm going to get a lawyer. I'm one to use a lawyer as a last resort.
In any case I will certainly come back here to let you know how it worked out. I've given my agent all the info you guys have given me. Thanks again!!
I wish you the best and hope it works out for you! Let us now how things turn out.


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Huskers Hammer Wildcats, 14-5
It's probably safe to say Michael Pritchard's streak is over.
The Nebraska-Kansas State baseball variety show opened curtain Tuesday at 6:30 with Pritchard in the leading role, and it didn't close until 9:54 in a crushing 14-5 win for Nebraska.
"Hitters hit," Darin Erstad said of Prtichard, who has batted .520 over the last six games. "The guy can roll out of bed and hit…those kind of guys, they don't apply to the normal rules of baseball."
The Wildcats opened with an explosive first inning at the expense of Nebraska's Austin Christensen, making his first career start at Nebraska. The Huskers scored at least two runs in four of the first five innings however as the relief pitching cooled Kansas State. Pritchard earned his first career five-hit game as a slew of Huskers recorded multiple hits in the win.
Pritchard was one of six Huskers with multiple hits on the night, with five earning three hits or more.
"I feel like my swing is back to normal," Pritchard said. "Just getting back at it and working the left side helped a lot."
The hot start for Kansas State's scoring started with two outs after a single, followed by a double and another pair of singles and a walk from Christensen, putting the Huskers in a 4-0 defect before stepping to the plate on offense. Keying off the night the Huskers would have, the first single by Kansas State's RJ Santigate was his first of four. The Huskers responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first thanks to an RBI single from Pritchard and a sacrifice fly out from Pat Kelly. The second inning was one of just three scoreless innings for the Huskers.
Nebraska plated two more in the third, riding base hits from Ben Miller, Pritchard and Kelly. Ben Miller went on to record his second career three-hit game, while Jake Placzek recorded his fourth.
"When you have a lineup top-to-bottom having that type of an approach, that's that relentless attitude we want to have," Erstad said.
Placek hit a double in a busy fourth innings for both sides, with Kansas State scoring a run on a wild pitch and the Husker scoring another two. The Huskers tied the game at 5-all after a Kansas State balk and took the lead for the first time at 6-5 on an RBI single from Pritchard.
Nebraska broke its streak of two-run innings in the bottom of the fifth adding four more runs to inflate its lead to 10-5 on a two-run homer from Tanner Lubach and RBI singles from Placzek and Ryan Boldt.
In the leadoff spot, Boldt got in on the four-hit club in the fifth inning; his third four-hit game of the season.
"You can see where his speed can be kind of dynamic. He handles both right- and left-hand pitchers very well," Erstad said. "For this year, I think it was time to move up there. Coach Bolt and I both felt it was time, and I think he's responded well."
Neither squad plated a run in the sixth or seventh innings, but Nebraska blew the game wide open again in the eighth. Quinn McGill came in to pinch hit for Ben Miller and blasted a two-RBI double to the warning track. Lubach and Headley each added an RBI double to the mix, inflating the Huskers' lead to the eventual winning score of 14-5.
The 22 hits were a season-high for Nebraska, its best in fact since 2012. The 14 runs matched a season-high set by the Huskers in a win over St. John's on March 9.
"It's just fun," Pritchard said. "When you put up 22 hits on the board, a lot of guys are getting it in on the action, it's fun. It's fun to put up 14 runs and help the pitchers out as much as we can."
Colton Howell recorded the win for Nebraska, pitching three innings and giving up a run on three hits. Bob Greco also went three for the Huskers, with Zach Hirsch and Max Knutson adding an inning each and combining for zero runs on one hit. The Husker pitching staff fanned the Wildcats eight times Tuesday.


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Wet 'n' Wild SplashTown Houston- Check out all of the updates. It is better than ever! Rides for kids, family friendly, kid friendly, Houston vacation for family, kid friendly waterpark in Houston.
Cirque du Soleil AMALUNA Comes to Houston
Cirque Du Soleil Presents Amaluna in Houston, TX Dates: Thursday, February 12 – Sunday, March 22nd Cirque du Soleil returns to Houston with one of its newest touring shows, Amaluna, which will premiere on February 12, 2015 under the iconic blue and yellow Big Top at Sam Houston Race Park. I have always wanted to attend Cirque du Soleil. The costumes, music, designs, talent and magical wonder
Santa, Surfing, & Spongebob at Schlitterbahn Galveston Island
This awesome announcement is brought to you through my connection with US Family Guide Houston. You guys, I am so excited to share this with you! Santa is inviting kids to a very different kind of holiday party – Holiday Splash at Schlitterbahn Galveston Island. During the park's Holiday Splash, which takes place weekends and select dates from November 28, 2014 through January 4, 2015,
Where is Home?
home via Webster's Dictionary noun \ˈhōm\ : the place (such as a house or apartment) where a person lives : a family living together in one building, house, etc. : a place where something normally or naturally lives or is located But where is HOME? Since we moved, I have used this word a lot. The place we live is our home. The house we came


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Cloud By Numbers by Josh Holmes at CloudArena
- Posted: May 18, 2011 at 2:06AM
Right click "Save as…"
I've been reading the Cloud Economic Report and found some startling numbers in there. In this presentation, I run through the impact of the new "Cloud Economy" on the Irish economy over the next few years.
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Ore. BOLI seeks former Typhoon! workers
Working to make them aware of settlement
The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries said Monday it is reaching out to the local Thai community to maximize the reach of information for former employees of Typhoon!, Inc., recruited from Thailand.
As part of BOLI's settlement with the now-defunct restaurant chain, a $100,000 settlement fund will remain open into 2013 to allow claims from workers harmed by Typhoon's employment practices.
Information about filing a claim will be shared directly with affected workers and disseminated broadly in the community.
"We're going to do all that we can to get this information into the hands of former Typhoon employees," said State Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, chief of BOLI and the official who originally launched the probe of employment conditions at Typhoon. "With some creative outreach on our part, we're hopeful that as many workers as possible will be able to benefit from the settlement fund."
BOLI staffers have generated claim forms and informational notices in English as well as Thai, all of which are available on BOLI's website.
In addition to contacting known former employees directly, staffers from BOLI are reaching out to community resources where local Thais may turn seeking information, such as Buddhist temples and the Thai Consulate.
Word of mouth within the Thai community is expected to be a key factor in the successful outreach strategy.
"The employment agreements that Typhoon got their workers to sign did not encourage them to learn about their rights," Avakian added. "Connecting former employees with the proceeds of this settlement fund is critical to compensating them for the pay and working condition disparities that they faced."


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Hi! My name is Boots
I am an American Shorthair from PANAMA CITY, FL
Nicknames: Bootsie
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Process Development Jobs Still the Most...
Quadruple Helices Appear To Have Role...
Adapting to Evolving Business Environments Is...
Nothing Beats Immunoassays for Sensitivity, Specificity,...
GEN turns 30 in 2011, and we invite you to join the celebration. We have a number of events and activities planned throughout the year, so be sure to look out for them.
One special feature will appear regularly throughout 2011. We will reprint an article from one of GEN's earlier issues because of its particular importance and relevance to the development of the biotech industry. The article will appear in the print issue of GEN as well as online. We encourage you to comment on the article on our website, www.genengnews.com, based on the topic, issues, and technologies discussed.
One of the most notable articles to appear in the very first issue of GEN was entitled "Ptashne to Go Without Harvard U." The story took place at an extremely early and critical stage in the evolution of the biotech industry. Two major points pop up in the article: 1) the initial reluctance by major universities and academic centers to become involved in commercial biotech activities, and 2) local community fears about having a genetic engineering laboratory in the neighborhood.
Some of the questions you may want to respond to are: Do you think there are still people in academia who view the business of biotech negatively? If so, why? Can you provide some examples? In retrospect, do you believe the close community scrutiny that new biotech labs received 25–30 years ago while they were being built were justified or an over-reaction on the part of people who did not understand the technology?
These are just a few suggestions that you might want to address in a comment to the article. There might be other issues raised by the article that you may want to discuss. Come on! Join the GEN 30 Celebration!
P.S. Genetics Institute was bought by Wyeth (now Pfizer) in the late 1990s and is now part of that company's research division.
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While Zika continues to garner a lot of news coverage, a Mayo Clinic survey reveals that Americans believe the country's most significant healthcare challenge is cancer. Compared to other diseases, does the possibility of developing cancer worry you the most?
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Post Tagged with: "Wyndham Worldwide"
Wyndham Worldwide Recognized as a Top Company for Working Families for 13th YearThe annual award honors companies that make family a top priority.
Wyndham Worldwide's Gail Mandel: Ready To Run a BusinessGail Mandel's promotion to President and CEO of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals didn't surprise her boss and mentor, Wyndham Worldwide CEO and Chairman Stephen Holmes.
Top Companies for Women: What 3 Best Practices They All HaveThe companies with the best data for women in management and senior roles use three best practices most frequently – mentoring, employee-resource groups, and flexible workplaces
NJCU Shows How Diversity and Educational Access Is Done During Gala EventNew Jersey City University honors DiversityInc CEO Luke Visconti and others on a night pressing commitment to diversity and service to the community.
25 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies Sign Brief in Support of Same-Gender MarriageThey join 354 other businesses/organizations in urging the Supreme Court to strike down the remaining 13 state bans on same-gender marriage.
Gail Mandel Promoted to President and CEO of Wyndham Exchange & RentalsWyndham Exchange & Rentals is Wyndham Worldwide's timeshare exchange and professionally managed vacation rentals division.
VIDEO: 2014 DiversityInc Special AwardsCEOs from Accenture, Wyndham, Sodexo, EY, Novartis, MasterCard and Merck share what makes their companies so special as they accept awards at a DiversityInc event in New York City.
VIDEO: 2014 Top Company for Supplier Diversity: Wyndham WorldwideStephen Holmes, CEO, Wyndham Worldwide, told DiversityInc's audience of his company's team effort to find and support diverse suppliers, both in the United States and globally.
VIDEO: How to Create a Successful Supplier Diversity Initiative—5 Steps to Get StartedHow do you start a supplier-diversity initiative? Get best practices from Wyndham Worldwide, which received our award as Top Company for Supplier Diversity. José Nido, Vice President, Global Supplier Diversity, discussed how to find and nurture diverse suppliers, including Tier 1 and Tier 2, at DiversityInc's October event.
Video: The Business Case for Corporate Social ResponsibilityWyndham Worldwide Chairman and CEO Stephen P. Holmes explains why his company understood the value of corporate social responsibility.
Deloitte's New Inclusion Leadership Team, Plus Walmart's New General Counsel [Slideshow]View more than 15 of the new executives and diversity leaders appointed at DiversityInc Top 50 companies and other leading organizations.
6 Best Practices on Global Talent DevelopmentFour leading companies reveal how global assignments enhance talent development.


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There will be a few NBA prospects playing in some of the mid-major tournaments coming up, and they deserve the attention of draft fans everywhere.
This is a chance to see some of those sleeper prospects who rarely hit national television. And any tournament setting is an opportunity for a prospect to make a statement.
Every year we see players from lower-profile schools hear their names called on draft night. These are the guys who'll be in the conversation should they choose to declare in 2014.
Note: I did not consider the Big East Conference or the American Athletic Conference mid-major.


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Carbon Monoxide And Commercial Kitchens
Carbon Monoxide is a highly toxic gas. Emitting no sound or odour it is very difficult to detect, and can affect the human body in a number of different ways.
Just 0.1 percent in the atmosphere can affect concentration and a presence of 2% reduces breathing to 50% less than its normal capacity. Once the levels reach as high as 5-10%, people can lapse into unconsciousness.
It is rare for the presence of carbon monoxide to reach a dangerous level in commercial kitchens, the gas level will need to be regularly checked, especially if the energy supplied for the gas is of this nature.
The UKs Health and Safety Executive suggests that the factors thought to affect the emission levels that people are exposed to throughout the cooking process include the size of the kitchen, the degree of ventilation and extraction and the age of the appliances used.
Cooking can produce signifcant quantities of fumes and vapours, in addition to large amounts of heat. Vnetilation is needed to remove these elements and discharge them to a safe external location. The HSE stresses that appropriate systems are essential for a commercial kitchen to protect workers from any potentially harmful substances.
It is particularly important that excellent ventilation is employed. This can be achieved with ductwok, filters, and extractors. Such ventilation can be installed by dedicated commercial kitchen installation businesses. This will ensure that any equipment is installed to optimal standards, thereby eliminating any threat of carbon monoxide.
Always take the advice of a reputable and experienced business when considering the right equipment to install in commercial kitchens. A comprehensive survey of the environment will allow you to ascertain the right equipment needed for the environment.
Carbon Monoxide poses a very real threat to public health, one that should be taken seriously. All commercial kitchens should have the right equipment installed for public health.


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Ripper Pass from Sydney to Alice Springs
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Start in Sydney and travel to Alice Springs. This is the pass for those wanting to have the flexibility of travelling via the South Coast and Outback and breaking their journey at key destinations like Melbourne and Adelaide between individual tours that make up the pass. Before you leave Sydney take a Blue Mountains Day Tour which is included in your pass.
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Golf great Nancy Lopez lands book deal
NEW YORK — Golfing great Nancy Lopez has a book deal.
Lopez has an agreement with HarperOne, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, for a memoir scheduled to be published in June. HarperOne announced the deal this week and says the book is currently untitled.
The 56-year-old Lopez will write of her lifelong involvement with golf, from her first set of clubs at age 8 to her dozens of tournament victories and rise to international fame. HarperOne promises previously unknown details of her public and private life, including her 27-year marriage to baseball star Ray Knight. They divorced in 2009.
Lopez says in a statement that she was at a stage in her life where she ready to reflect on the good "and, yes, difficult times."
Woodward to teach seminar at Yale
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Bob Woodward is scheduled to teach a journalism seminar at Yale University in the spring.
Woodward and Washington Post colleague Carl Bernstein helped break the Watergate scandal in the 1970s that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.
Woodward, himself a 1965 Yale graduate, tells the Yale Daily News that he hopes to teach students about the intensive and immersive reporting method he developed throughout his career.
Woodward says there's a place for "total immersive journalism" at a time when the media is defined by "impatience and speed."
Woodward also has written a dozen best-selling books and is now associate editor at the newspaper.
'Fifty Shades' casts Johnson, Hunnam
NEW YORK — The big-screen adaptation of E L James' "Fifty Shades of Grey" has cast its lead roles.
Charlie Hunnam will play the 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey, and Dakota Johnson will play the college student he captivates, Anastasia Steele. Focus Features and Universal Pictures announced the castings this week.
The 23-year-old Johnson is the daughter of actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith. She has had small roles in "The Social Network" and "21 Jump Street."
The 33-year-old British actor Hunnam starred in this summer's robot-monster battle "Pacific Rim." He currently stars in the FX series "Sons of Anarchy."
Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, the film is to be released next August.
Associated Press
FILE - In this June 22, 2007 file photo, Nancy Lopez watches her tee shot on the third hole during the second round of the Wegmans LPGA golf tournament at Locust Hill Country Club in Pittsford, N.Y. Lopez has a book deal. Lopez has an agreement with HarperOne, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, for a memoir scheduled to be published in June. HarperOne announced the deal Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013, and says the book is currently untitled. (AP Photo/Don Heupel, File)×


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Dominique Lafon in Oregon
A European Superstar for Evening Land Vineyards
Mark Tarlov's
Evening Land Vineyards is embarked on ambitious plans to import wines from France made under the Evening Land umbrella to bring better consumer access to wines unavailable except through gray market channels. These wines will be made by Lafon for the Evening Land portfolio... ..... Continued
The Evening Lands
Mark Tarlov, wine entrepreneur and genius behind Evening Land Vineyards, brought famed winemaker Dominique Lafon to Oregon. A passionate foodie who has eaten in some of the best restaurants across the U.S., Tarlov had initially asked Lafon, whom he met through his sommelier connections, to make his Evening Land California pinots, when the two ran into each other at a Burgundy tasting in London in 2007. However, Lafon said he was more interested in making Pinot Noir from Oregon, which he says is closer to the style made in Burgundy.
When Lafon said yes, Tarlov realized he had someone with a Burgundian sensibility who was willing to travel to Oregon several times per year and spoke very good English. "That is not easy to find," says Tarlov.
For Lafon, coming to Oregon was a chance to see old friend and fellow Burgundian Veronique Drouhin (of Domaine Drouhin in Oregon) and other winemakers such as Dick Ponzi, whom he met in Oregon in 1981.
"I have tasted Oregon Pinot Noir, and while it is not the same as wines in Burgundy, Oregon is closer in style to what we do," said Lafon, on a recent trip to Oregon. "For me, it is about elegance, purity and silkiness, not about alcohol and overripe fruit."
Well known for his beautifully-crafted Chardonnay, Lafon says he has been making more than 100 barrels of red wine for more than 20 years in the Volnay and Monthélie regions. Lafon owns 36 acres from which he makes Mâcon under the Les Heritiers des Comtes Lafon label.
"I believe in the spirit of the Côte de Beaune—it is in me," said Lafon, who has managed his family's estate, Domaine des Comtes Lafon in Meursault since 1987. "With Seven Springs, we work with the land and the soils in the traditional way, looking to create the right balance in the glass."
In addition to Pinot Noir, Evening Land Vineyards produces small lots of Gamay Noir made from a three-acre plot on Seven Springs, and a Chardonnay (on four acres) that showcases Lafon's talent for bringing out a beautiful flavors, acid balance and soft mouthfeel of the varietal. Wine industry insiders believe his take on Oregon Chardonnay could change opinions about the less-than-journeyman status of Oregon Chardonnay—and he is willing to share his techniques and ideas with other Oregon winemakers, often joining tasting groups when he is in town.
Isabelle Meunier landed at Seven Springs in July, of 2007, just before harvest and autumn rains. The Quebec native met Lafon in Burgundy, where she trained before moving to Niagara to work in the Canadian wine industry. Starting off with a great vineyard, a mentor in Lafon and a winery owner (Tarlov) who was dedicated to terroir and producing the best wine possible, Meunier says she could not have landed in a more perfect spot.. When Lafon is in town, the two can often be seen with their heads together, speaking in French, hands flying to emphasize points of view, but in the end, frequently laughing. The Seven Springs location and Evening Land operation suits both of them, and each has indicated how fortunate they feel to be a part of the winery team.
By Jean Yates


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SUMMIT - Tonight was a night for awards and recognition at the Board of Education.
Students from the district's elementary schools who participated and took honors in the Student Inventions through Education SITE program were recognized for their efforts.
Another group of students who were members of the Washington School Ole-Ole Spanish Leadership Group explained the purpose of their group and audience members watched a video of the group in action.
Finally, the board honored the Summit Varsity Hockey Team and its coaches for winning the state Group B Hockey Championships.


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According to wii.qj.net, this is on their website.
heres the link New ScientistWhen people get a stroke or some injury so bad that they need to re-learn how to walk, they'll need a rehabilitative force platform to help them through the painstaking process. Problem is, lab-grade ones cost a whopping US$ 20,000. Fortunately, the much more accessible Wii Balance Board has been found to be nearly as good as those.
"We found the data to be excellent", said Ross Clark of the University of Melbourne. "I was shocked given the price: it was an extremely impressive strain gauge set-up." Clark and his colleagues were so impressed that theye even wrote a paper citing the advantages of the Balance Board over the hell-lot-pricier force platforms.
For just a hundred bucks on Amazon bundled with Wii Fit Plus, imagine how much healthcare organizations can save on those platforms.


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Benihana Restaurant
477 Camino Del Rio S
San Diego, CA
(619) 298-4666
We celebrated Little Sister and her boyfriend's birthday two weeks ago. It took place a few hours after the epic Gaslamp Food tasting tour. I didn't think I'd be able to eat at all, but somehow was able to eat again by the time dinner rolled around.
It's been a really long time since I visited Benihana. I don't think there is much to say about the food. The food is nothing special and you are mainly there for the show and the group friendly environment. I would love to experience teppanyaki in Japan one day. I've experienced it in Taiwan and the food was incredibly good.
For some reason, every time I go to Benihana, we seem to get the chefs that are particularly inexperienced. I've heard of great shows, but my chef always seems to be dropping his knives and messing up. I'll let this post mainly be a picture post.
The special going on was a two person dinner for $39, chicken and filet mignon. Almost everyone went with that, except Little Sis got the Seafood trio. I will say that the seafood trio tasted better than I expected. Everything else was just okay. The food was simply cooked, so there's not much to talk about.
We started with some cocktails:
Our meals came with mushroom soup:
Little Bro ordered a seared beef appetizer:
Lil Sis' BF ordered a Las Vegas sushi roll:
Here is the famous fried rice:
Here's our food slowly coming onto the table:
At the end, the birthday kids were serenaded with a song and given some pineapple.
8 Responses to "Benihana"
My daughter loves Benihana; she has a birthday coming up so I'm sure she'll request a visit. The food is cooked well, but pricey; I guess you're really paying for the show.
We always seem to get the less enthusiastic chefs.
I think I'm remembering correctly that there once was a Chinese teppanyaki restaurant on Clairemont Mesa (same strip mall as the Ethan Allen store). I believe the people running it were from Taiwan. The place was kind of narrow so they didn't have the big tables, but a long counter in front of the chefs. It was quite a while ago so I may be misremembering.
Hmm, I didn't know of a chinese teppanyaki restaurant. I'll have to look for it. If you don't already know, you can sign up for a membership online to receive $30 off your meal for your bday.
I used to really love Benihana. Now, no longer as much, as I've had so many other dining experiences. I do think it's a bit pricey. I also don't like how long it takes before they start.
Portions look pretty skimpy.
Kirbie, don't look for this place. It went out of business years ago. I'm thinking that it's where Teri Cafe is located.
You definitely don't go to Benihana if you're in a hurry. I think the portions look skimpy because you have a huge plate, and they don't serve all the food at once.
Oops, I didn't realize you were talking about a place that is out of business. Thanks for letting me know. I agree, the portions aren't skimpy, but they give it to you a little at a time, so I was eating in between the photographs. And the plate is huge. I definitely left full.
I have to agree w/ the others that the portions look soooo tiny! 4 tiny pieces of 1/2 shrimp? Wow!
I went to Samurai in Lomas Santa Fe the other night w/ my sister and family. It was TERRIBLY expensive. For the new york steak it cost about $33!!
I told them about the Benihana steak/chicken combo for 2 ppl and they didn't believe the price
Did you share any of the apps that your BF and brother ordered? Did that help you get full or was the teppenyaki enough?
Lovely post!
Oh wow, Samurai sounds expensive. Yeah, the steak/chicken is a Chef's special right now and I think it's a pretty good deal. There wasn't much shrimp or veggies, but then I guess because those were just sides that came with the chicken and steak. I thought the portions were enough to get full. I didn't have the appetizers.
Pingback: Benihana | Online REL


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Because life is about living
The Da Jianfu Temple located in the Chinese city of Xi'an houses the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, one of two significant pagodas in the city. Built during the Tang Dynasty, the pagoda was damaged by an earthquake, but stands today at fifteen storeys, at approximately 43 metres.
The pagoda consists of a square pedestal and a brick frame, which surrounds its hollow interior. On the north and the south sides of its first storey are frames made of black stone. The lintel contains delicately carved images of arhats, presenting excellent workmanship that reflects the Tang Dynasty's style of art. Each of the fifteen pent roofs of the pagoda is very low containing windows only on the north and south sides to let the air and light in. The shape of chevrons is applied in the design of the eaves.
A gradual tapering starting from the bottom is visible in the exterior, giving the pagoda a curved smooth interior. A winding flight of wooden steps and wooden flooring are seen in the tubular interior of the pagoda. The pagoda's shape is typical of early multi-eve pagodas and has influenced many stone and brick multi-eve pagodas built later in several parts of China.
The pagoda receives a large number of visits from travellers to Xian Apartment accommodationat Citadines Central Xi'an is bound leave a lasting impression on its guests. Located amid a myriad of the city's attractions, the serviced residence is ideal for business travel and vacation.


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Enroll Now!
A new session of each course opens each month, allowing you to enroll whenever your busy schedule permits!
How does it work? Once a session starts, two lessons will be released each week, for the six-week duration of your course. You will have access to all previously released lessons until the course ends.
Keep in mind that the interactive discussion area for each lesson automatically closes 2 weeks after each lesson is released, so you're encouraged to complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
The Final Exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the Final Exam has been released, you will have 2 weeks plus 10 days to complete the Final and finish any remaining lessons in your course. No further extensions can be provided beyond these 10 days.
In this lesson, we'll explore two detailed models that explain the complex nature of communication. You'll learn how words, the situation, what's going on in the heads of those communicating, and even environment are all connected—and that they all change from one communication event to the next. I'll explain a way to think about and use language that will help you more effectively avoid misunderstandings.
Have you ever been in a situation where you don't know whether to say less, say more, or say nothing? In this lesson, you'll learn seven premises of communication that will help you through those times. Have you ever felt shy, apprehensive, or reluctant about communicating? This lesson will help you understand that reluctance and offer you two strategies for improving communication competence.
In this lesson, you'll learn how our individual emotions, beliefs, attitudes, and values as well as self-esteem and group belonging influence how we communicate. You'll also explore how we all seek gratification of specific human needs through the unique and complicated communication process.
In this lesson, I'll show you how language affects reasoning abilities. You'll learn about constructing useful word maps that benefit your decision making as well as strategies you can use to avoid mental traps that can clog your thinking process. You'll also learn that language has limits, often making it difficult to separate fact from fiction.
Can you say something without uttering a word? In addition to voice, facial expression, and body movement, today we'll talk about other ways people send messages without making a sound. You'll also learn that men and women develop and use very different nonverbal communication behaviors—sending messages of either inclusion or exclusion.
In this lesson, we'll look at cultural identity and how it molds habits of communication no matter what the language of the culture is. You'll learn how cultures of the world are divided into two main categories. You'll examine how individuals and groups generalize and stereotype others and the psychological reasons for doing that.
In this lesson, we'll explore types of listening as well as the discipline listening requires. We'll go over the barriers to effective listening, and strategies you can use to improve your listening habits. We'll compare poor listening to empathic listening, and then evaluate the effects each has on personal and professional communication success.
In this lesson, you're invited to examine gender differences from the inside out. You'll learn how brain structure as well as physical structure helps determine how men and women communicate. You'll learn about the ways humans learn to act as either masculine or feminine and who teaches them. We'll explore how differences in masculine and feminine behavior manifest themselves in personal and business relationships.
In today's lesson, you'll learn the three main characteristics that make up any relationship as well as the stages that all relationships go through. I'll show you how to identify relationship stages in order to evaluate relationships you have. You'll explore how self-disclosure and psychological balance affects relationships and discover the role lying plays in relationships.
Today we'll examine several communication theories that will be useful in analyzing and understanding communication behaviors of yourself and others. You'll learn three rules for effective communication behavior that will help you know when and how to adjust your communication behavior. You'll also learn how you can influence the behavior of others in the communication situation.
In this lesson, you'll learn how people can change the direction of a conversation to advance a personal agenda. We'll go over strategies of persuasion, characteristics of credibility, and how to achieve a sense of control in a communication situation. We'll also explore the nature of communication cohesiveness within small groups and where individuality fits in group membership.
In our last lesson, you'll learn how to identify various types of interpersonal conflicts and then we'll discuss some myths about conflict. We'll explore ways in which men and women handle conflict differently, and how different cultural groups approach and resolve conflict. You'll learn how to dissect a conflict and apply four steps to successful conflict resolution at work, within the family, or among friends.


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Double click on above image to view full picture
Wetterlings Expedition Hatchet
Chop down light trees and materials for building a forest camp. Collect your firewood and make kindling. Works well for simpler carving and sculpturing.
This product comes with a sheath.
1.2lb head
13" Handle
*Please note that the axes are hand made and eye measured. Therefore minor variations may occur. All axes are made of Swedish carbon alloy steel heads and American hickory handles.


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What Iginla did was not good for the Flames organization. If I were him, I'd have cared about the Flames getting a decent return package. In the event, they got absolutely robbed.
EXACTLY. Boston had the clearly better deal on the table. If Iginla truly cared about the Flames improving through this deal as he so claims, he would have signed with Boston. Instead, he screws the Flames, burns a bridge between Chiarelli and Feaster, all to play on a team that'll probably be ousted in the 1st round of the postseason again.
- esteef likes this


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A Kiawah Island resident has been named to the committee that will search for Clemson University's new president.
Bill Hendrix Jr. was appointed along with five others this week by Board of Trustees Chairman David Wilkins.
Hendrix is a former CEO and chairman of Remington Arms Co. He is a Clemson alumnus and one of seven life members of the university board.
E. Smyth McKissick III of Greenville is chairman of the search committee. Others appointed are Ronald Lee of Aiken, Louis Lynn of Columbia, Joseph Swann of Greenville and Kim Wilkerson of Cayce.
Jim Barker announced Tuesday he plans to retire as president and become an architecture professor at the school. Barker said he will remain in office until a new president is chosen.
Wilkins said Barker's offer to stay on as president will allow trustees to be thorough and deliberate.


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A man is dead after a fire in Milwaukee.
It was reported around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday near 12th Street and National Avenue.
An official with the fire department told WISN 12 News an 81-year-old was killed.
There were no smoke detectors inside the building, according to officials.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.


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Come visit me, Rock.
Come visit me, Ernie and elise.
Come visit me, Monk, Klutz, Mika "Thanks ALL for 2/17 BOTD!", Katana, Pluto, Neptune, Tink, Cayenne & Farewell, dear, sweet Klink.
Come visit me, STARBUCK, PEANUT & jazzy.
Come visit me, SUSAN, sooo Sweet!, ROCKET....rocking the house!!, Zazu R.I.P. - Waiting at Rainbow Bridge <3, OOdles, The "finchey" bunch., PEDRO...the destroyer!! Thank U 4 BOD! & ~~BUDDY ~~Thank you for BOTD! :-).
Come visit me, Max - BOTD 7/9/10.
*Content generated by our loyal visitors, which includes comments and club postings, is free of constraints from our editors' red pens, and therefore not governed by I-5 Publishing, LLC's Gold Standard Quality Content, but instead allowed to follow the free form expression necessary for quick, inspired and spontaneous communication.
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Jeff Van Gundy Rips Dwight Howard On National TV
During Sunday?s nationally televised game between the Lakers and Thunder ? one where Kobe Bryant racked up 14 assists in helping his team to a much-needed win ? color commentator Jeff Van Gundy had some strong words for Dwight Howard.
"You should not have to beg a NBA player for energy, effort and unselfishness. Because you are not getting touches doesn?t give you the right to hold your team hostage by not giving your very very best."
For more on this story visit: Kurt Helin, ProBasketballTalk


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Hewlett-Packard has publicized info and pricing for the recently announced HP Pavilion g6 budget-class consumer notebooks on the regular website for the Middle Asia mart.
The 15.6-inch Tent g6 (g6-1000) module ship with the superior 2nd Multiplication Intel Nucleus i3 and i5 "Blonde Bridge" processors, as asymptomatic as with the preceding Ngo i3 and i5 "Nehalem" and Pentium CPUs. The laptops amount with either Intel HD interracial graphics or the AMD Radeon 6470M devoted GPU, up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, up to 500GB solid mean, and a DVD burner.
Papers of its LED-backlight display is 1366-by-768 pixels. The g6 has a built-in web camera with mike, Altec Lansing exposure speakers, 802.11n wireless, nonmandatory Bluetooth, Ethernet LAN, HDMI and VGA outputs, figure USB 2.0 ports, and a multi-in-one media roll clergyman.
The example has a high-gloss destination with Butter Gilded, Charcoal Author, Luminous Rose, Sonoma Red, and Delicacy Purplish coloring choices.


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Luis Suarez has arrived in Lausanne for his appeal against a four-month bite ban - with his lawyers confident of having it reduced.
The Uruguayan is contesting the penalty, dished out last month after the striker bit Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's 1-0 win on June 24 in this summer's World Cup, at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Lawyers representing the Barcelona man are confident of having the ban cut in half to two months, while they are also hoping he can train with his new side between now and then.
Alejandro Balbi, Suarez's lawyer, told Uruguyan newspaper El Observador earlier this week: "It would be more logical to reduce the sanction by a few months than to reduce the ban concerning international games, because legally it's easier to contend against the terms of the suspension that forbid him from training and from being at the club, because they violate fundamental rights."
No time is set for the decision, but is expected at some point today.


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The Now playing and next song listings are still being developed. (not currently updating very reliably)
Check your cars' radio for RDS. Hopefully displaying:
Here's the story behind it all. For latest updates, follow on Facebook
When's the Show ?
The Udderly Amazing Lights start at 4:15 each day and run through 9:20 on Sunday-Thursday Friday and Saturday last song starts no later than 9:55. If you like just the lights and the morning hours, lights are on without all the blinking from 5:25 – 7:30.
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and New Years Day show times will be longer – times pending
Don't forget – The 12 days of Christmas don't start until Christmas. Christmas isn't over until the Epiphany (3 wise men arrival).
If it's raining or Really wet out, the display may be limited. Safety First – All outdoor outlets are on GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupters)
Where's the Music?
Currently at FM 98.3. We built the low power transmitter from a kit. FCC rules allow for this use without licensing. We have two to pick from (needed a backup) EDM Design EDM-LCD-RDS (Still have not got RDS programmed). In the past we had also used a Ramsey FM25B
How many?
2014 – approximately 43,000 individual lights.
~2.0 miles of extension cords.
220 Channels (not counting "JumboTree" out front which has 1,800 programmed channels
2013 – Still Counting but between 35,000 & 40,000 individual lights.
~1.75 miles of extension cords.
192 Channels (not counting "JumboTree" out front which has 1,800 programmed channels
The current synchronized songs are:
Away in the Manger – Return 2 Zero
Unto Us – Return 2 Zero
Silent Night – Mannheim Steamroller.
Chorale of Praise – Disney Candlelight Processional
As Long as There's Christmas – Radio Disney
Breath of Heaven – Amy Grant
12 Days of Christmas – Reliant K
Prince of Peace Narrative from the Disney Candlelight Processional
Christmas Canon – Trans Siberian Orchestra
Let It Go – Idina Menzel – Frozen
Little Drummer Boy – Pentatonix
Songs that may be appearing and will be added to show when ready (either new or being updated)
O Little Town of Bethlehem – Point of Grace
Carol of the Bells – Trans Siberian Orchestra
It's About the Cross – Go Fish
Christmas with a Capital "C" – Go Fish
Day After Christmas – Matthew West
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / We 3 Kings – Bare Naked Ladies
Christmas Time is Here
More to come…
Where can I get stuff to do this?
Most of the lighting controls is from LightORama.com. If you catch the off season sales and solder it all up yourself it reduces the cost. We also use Insteon (smarthome.com) controls for slow stuff like the inflatable blowers.
A great resource for all enthusiasts is PlanetChristmas.com
Here is the 12 Days of Christmas (video from 2012)
Unto Us by Return 2 Zero 2013 Video
Breath of Heaven (Amy Grant) 2013 Video
Chorale of Praise (Disney Candlelight Processional) 2013 Video
Carol of the Bells by Return 2 Zero (This is the one featured in the original KHQA news clip)
Chorale of Praise and Silent Night from the Disney Candlelight Processional


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Editor's note: The editorial mentioned in the letter below was a Guest Opinion reprinted from The Philadelphia Daily News, and as such does not necessarily reflect the views of The Sentinel.
To the editor:
Disappointing and misleading was the July 9 editorial reprint arguing that the Educational Improvement Tax Credit - a decade-old, bipartisan-supported program that gives children educational options through voluntary business tax credits - costs taxpayers.
First comes the implication that businesses are not, in fact, taxpayers. Indeed, you seem to imply that citizens are best served when government takes more money out of the pockets of employers. But businesses are taxpayers too, and they pass on the costs of their taxes to individuals through higher prices, smaller payrolls or less investment in the state.
Unfortunately, this falls into the typical tax and spend proponent shell game that argues we should maximize the size of government. This is befuddling, given the expansion of educational tax credits, a $75 million increase, is less than public schools across Pennsylvania spend in one day.
More importantly, your lopsided argument ignores the savings of EITC. In 2010-11, the average EITC scholarship awarded for a student to attend a school of their choice was $1,099. In contrast, Pennsylvania school districts spent nearly $15,000 per student. In other words, the program offers scholarships to 13 students for the same cost as educating one in a public school. That is real savings to taxpayers, while offering students the opportunity to attend a better and safer school.
School choice saves - it saves students from violent and failing schools, and it saves taxpayers money by educating children at a lower cost.
Jay D. Ostrich
Director of Public Affairs
Commonwealth Foundation


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Liberate the Debian Administrator's Handbook
The Debian Administrator's Handbook has been written by two Debian developers who are keen to share their knowledge. Accessible to all, this book teaches the essentials to anyone who wants to become an effective and independent Debian GNU/Linux administrator.
It covers all the topics that a competent Linux administrator should master, from the installation and the update of the system, up to the creation of packages and the compilation of the kernel, but also monitoring, backup and migration, without forgetting advanced topics like SELinux setup to secure services, automated installations, or virtualization with Xen, KVM or LXC.
Comments are closed.
Copyright © 2016 FreeSoftNews - All Rights Reserved


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Single Article Purchase:
Low-Dose Oral Contraceptive Use and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction
Rosenberg L, Palmer JR, Rao R, Shapiro S.
Arch Intern Med. 2001;161(8):1065-1070.
Published online April 23, 2001
Choose criteria for pricing info
Want online access for an institution? Learn More/Request Quote >
Obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ by reading an article and completing an online quiz. Quizzes are available to AMA Members, subscribers, and those who have purchased tokens.


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Lace on Kraft - Save the Date Card
If ordered today, we estimate your order will be printed, packed and ready for shipment on Thursday, September 29.
Lace on Kraft - Save the Date Card
Item Number: DW25948FCSD
Description and Details
A delicate lace pattern reaches up toward your wording on this kraft style save the date card "Save the Date" prints as shown. White imprint only. Choose up to two lettering styles for your wording. Includes outer envelopes.
- Price Includes: Save the Dates and Envelopes
- Size: 4 5/8" x 6 1/4"
- Card Type: Flat
- Paper Weight: 100 lb Kraft Paper
- Printing Method: Flat/Digital
- Ink Color(s) Shown: White
- Font(s) Shown: Serlio (SRO), Sloop Script (SLP)
- Wording Shown: N9112
- Personalization Options: White imprint only. Your wording is printed in your choice of fonts.
- Sample Price: Samples range in price from $.99 to $1.99.


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For thousands of years, various species of mushroom have been incorporated into the human diet either as foods, as medicinal compounds or both. Mushrooms contain compounds not found in either plant or animal foods, giving them unique properties and benefits.
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Use as directed. For enhanced immune support combine your mushroom supplement with a multivitamin and whey protein. Those with allergies to yeast or mushrooms should avoid these products or check with their doctor before doing so.
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The cost of one hour of tuition varies across our network of driving instructors, but will not exceed £30 per hour. It may, however, be less, meaning your ongoing cost of tuition is even lower than expected.
It is also worth noting that many driving instructors offer further discounts if you block book and pay in advance.
Please check the ongoing cost of lessons with your new driving instructor when they contact you to discuss your tuition. Please do not contact ADI Network directly to confirm pricing, as each instructor is responsible for their own pricing structure.


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Questioning Libor: The WSJ files
While the scandal that traders attempted to fix the London interbank overnight rate claimed its first big scalp this morning, with the resignation of Barclays chairman Marcus Agius, The Wall Street Journal has been reporting on Liborgate since the early months of the financial crisis.
The Wall Street Journal, which is a sister publication of Financial News, was reporting as early as April 2008 of concerns that Libor was being manipulated and that the regulators were showing an interest in the fixing of the rate.
In April 2008, in an article written by Carrick Mollenkamp, The Wall Street Journal cited a person familiar with the matter as saying that market participants had expressed concerns to the British Bankers' Authority, which oversees the setting of Libor, about whether banks were reporting rates that reflected their true borrowing costs.
Mollenkamp followed up with other stories on Libor setting, including an analysis we have reproduced below, which was co-written at the time with WSJ's Mark Whitehouse. Mollenkamp now works at Thomson Reuters.
Following the story, the BBA decided to increase the number of banks reporting their borrowing costs to help calculate each day's Libor rates.
Regulators from the US Securities Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the US Justice Department also upped their interest following the story, with Swiss bank UBS in March last year becoming the first bank to disclose that a probe into how Libor is calculated was underway. Barclays then became the first bank to settle when it paid $450m in fines to UK and US regulators.
The analysis below – published alongside its methodology to conduct the research – was published in May 2008:
Study casts doubt on key lending rate: Banks may have filed flawed interest data for Libor benchmark By Carrick Mollenkamp and Mark Whitehouse May 30, 2008
Major banks are contributing to the erratic behaviour of a crucial global lending benchmark, a Wall Street Journal analysis shows.
The Journal analysis indicates that Citigroup, WestLB, HBOS, JP Morgan Chase & Co and UBS are among the banks that have been reporting significantly lower borrowing costs for the London interbank offered rate, or Libor, than what another market measure suggests they should be. Those five banks are members of a 16-bank panel that reports rates used to calculate Libor in US dollars.
That has led Libor, which is supposed to reflect the average rate at which banks lend to each other, to act as if the banking system were doing better than it was at critical junctures in the financial crisis. The reliability of Libor is crucial to consumers and businesses around the world, because the benchmark is used by lenders to set interest rates on everything from home mortgages to corporate loans.
Faced with suspicions by some bankers that their rivals have been low-balling their borrowing rates to avoid looking desperate for cash, the British Bankers' Association, which oversees Libor, is expected to report on Friday on possible adjustments to the system. That report isn't expected to recommend any major changes, according to people familiar with the association's deliberations.
In order to assess the borrowing rates reported by the 16 banks, the Journal crunched numbers from another market that provides a window into the financial health of banks: the default-insurance market. Until recently, the cost of insuring against banks defaulting on their debts moved largely in tandem with Libor – both rose when the market thought banks were in trouble.
But beginning in late January, as fears grew about possible bank failures, the two measures began to diverge, with reported Libor failing to reflect rising default-insurance costs, the Journal analysis shows. The gap between the two measures was wider for Citigroup, Germany's WestLB, the UK's HBOS, JP Morgan Chase and Switzerland's UBS than for the other 11 banks. One possible explanation for the gap is that banks understated their borrowing rates.
The BBA says Libor is reliable, and notes that the financial crisis has caused many indicators to act in unusual ways. "The current situation is extraordinary," BBA chief executive Angela Knight said in an interview. A BBA spokesman says there is "no indication" that the default-insurance market provides a more accurate picture of banks' borrowing costs than Libor.
Representatives of the 16 banks on the Libor panel either declined to comment, didn't respond to questions or said they provide accurate rates.
The Journal's analysis doesn't prove that banks are lying or manipulating Libor. Analysts offer various reasons why some banks might report Libor rates lower than what other markets indicate. For one, since the financial crisis began, banks have all but stopped lending to each other for periods of three months or more, so their estimates of how much it would cost to borrow involve a lot of guesswork. Also, some U.S. banks, such as Citigroup and J.P. Morgan, have ample customer deposits and access to loans from the Federal Reserve, meaning they might not need to borrow at higher rates from other banks.
The price of default insurance also isn't a perfect indicator of a bank's credit-worthiness. Data provider Markit Group calculates the daily prices based on dealers' quotes, which can be volatile and vary widely in times of market turmoil. But over the longer time periods reviewed by the Journal, the data provide a good picture of investors' assessment of the financial health of banks.
Confidence in Libor matters, because the rate system plays a vital role in the global economy. Central bankers follow it closely as a barometer of the banking system's health, and to decide how much to adjust interest rates to keep their economies growing. Payments on nearly $90 trillion in dollar-denominated mortgage loans, corporate debt and financial contracts rise and fall according to Libor's movements.
If dollar Libor is understated as much as the Journal's analysis suggests, it would represent a roughly $45bn break on interest payments for homeowners, companies and investors over the first four months of this year. That is good for them, but a loss for others in the market, such as mutual funds that invest in mortgages and certain hedge funds that use derivative contracts tied to Libor.
At about 11 each morning in London, traders at the 16 banks on the Libor panel report what it would cost them to borrow money for lengths of time ranging from overnight to a year. Thomson Reuters, a news and information provider, makes those rates public, and uses them to calculate the day's Libor.
When posting rates to the BBA, the 16 panel banks don't operate in a vacuum. In the hours before the banks report their rates, their traders can phone brokers at firms such as Tullett Prebon, Icap and Cie Financiere Tradition to get estimates of where the brokers perceive the loan market to be. (The bank traders also factor in other data when estimating borrowing rates.)
At times of market turmoil, banks face a dilemma. If any bank submits a much higher rate than its peers, it risks appearing to be in financial trouble. So banks have an incentive to play it safe by reporting something similar -- which would cause the reported rates to cluster together.
In fact, the Journal analysis shows that during the first four months of this year, the three-month borrowing rates reported by the 16 banks on the Libor panel remained, on average, within a range of only 0.06 percentage point -- tiny in relation to the average dollar Libor of 3.18%.
Those reported rates "are far too similar to be believed," says Darrell Duffie, a Stanford University finance professor. Duffie was one of three independent academics who reviewed the Journal's methodology and findings at the paper's request. All three said the approach was a reasonable way to analyse Libor.
At times, banks reported similar borrowing rates even when the default-insurance market was drawing big distinctions about their financial health. On the afternoon of March 10, for example, investors in the default-insurance market were betting that WestLB, which was hit especially hard by the credit crisis, was nearly twice as likely to renege on its debts as Credit Suisse Group, a Swiss bank that was perceived to be in better shape. Yet the next morning, for Libor purposes, WestLB reported the same borrowing rate as Credit Suisse. A WestLB spokesman says the bank provides accurate data.
In addition to borrowing from other banks, banks can borrow in the commercial-paper market, where they issue short-term IOUs to investors such as mutual funds. In mid-April, UBS, which has suffered some $38bn in write-downs on investments gone bad, was offering to pay an annual rate of about 2.85% to borrow dollars for three months in the commercial-paper market, according to a person familiar with the matter. But when it reported for Libor purposes April 16, UBS said it could borrow for three months from other banks at 2.73% – in line with all the other panel banks. A UBS spokeswoman declined to comment.
To gauge how much the borrowing rates reported by the 16 banks on the Libor panel might be out of whack, the Journal calculated an alternate "borrowing rate" for each bank using information from the default-insurance market. (Please see related article, "How the Journal conducted study of interest rates" -- WSJA May 29, 2008).
In mid-March, the bank borrowing rates calculated using default-insurance data rose sharply amid growing fears about the financial health of banks, which culminated in the collapse of Bear Stearns. But Libor actually declined.
Between late January and April 16, when the Journal first reported concerns about Libor's accuracy, Citigroup's reported rates differed the most from what the default-insurance market suggested. On average, the rates at which Citigroup said it could borrow dollars for three months were about 0.87 percentage point lower than the rate calculated using default-insurance data, the Journal's analysis shows. A Citigroup spokesman says, "We continue to submit our Libor rates at levels that accurately reflect our perception of the market."
The difference was 0.7 percentage point for WestLB, 0.57 point for HBOS, 0.43 for JP Morgan and 0.42 for UBS. Royal Bank of Canada's reported rates came closest to the market-based calculation – there was no significant difference. An HBOS spokesman says the bank's Libor quotes are a "genuine and realistic" indication of its borrowing costs. JP Morgan and UBS declined to comment. Overall, in the first four months of this year, the three-month and six-month dollar Libor rates were about a quarter percentage point lower than the borrowing rates suggested by the default-insurance market, the analysis shows. After banks adjusted their Libor rates following news of the BBA review in mid-April, the difference shrunk to about 0.15 percentage point.
Mikhail Chernov, a finance professor at London Business School who reviewed the Journal's methodology, says it is an appropriate way to assess the reported Libor rates. David Juran, a statistics professor at Columbia University who also reviewed the methodology, says that for almost all of the 16 panel banks, the calculations show "very convincingly" that reported Libor rates are lower than what the market thinks they should be, well surpassing the threshold statisticians use to assess the significance of a result.
Beginning late last year, some bankers began to suspect Libor wasn't high enough. Questions about the rate arose at meetings held in November and April by a Bank of England money-market committee that includes banks and the BBA. The minutes of the committee's April 3 discussions say that "US dollar Libor rates had at times appeared lower than actual traded interbank rates."
Citigroup interest-rate strategist Scott Peng raised similar questions in an April 10 report, writing that "Libor at times no longer represents the level at which banks extend loans to others." The BBA complained to the bank and asked about having the report withdrawn, according to people familiar with the situation. Citigroup declined. A BBA spokeswoman says reports published by member banks are not a matter for the BBA.
After the Journal reported on April 16 that bankers suspected rivals of intentionally understating their borrowing rates, the BBA said it was speeding up a review of Libor. It said it would kick out any bank found to be reporting inaccurate rates. Over the next two days, banks raised their reported rates, causing dollar-denominated Libor to log its biggest jump since August.
London brokerage Icap is in the process of launching a new way to measure the rate at which banks borrow money -- an anonymous survey of some 40 banks it plans to call the New York Funding Rate. Participating banks wouldn't have to worry about the stigma of reporting high rates. The planned survey would cover a wide range of markets, not just interbank loans.
But plugging a new benchmark into trillions of dollars of securities and loans would require a big restructuring of the financial system – something unlikely to occur in the near term.
The BBA recently held a meeting for about 10 market participants, including some of the banks that submit quotes for dollar Libor. People familiar with the discussion say the BBA isn't planning a radical redesign of how Libor is calculated.
Knight, the BBA chief, says there isn't any need to replace Libor, which has been used widely as a benchmark for more than two decades. "I see no reason suddenly to up sticks and change a process that has actually served the financial community world-wide extremely well for a very considerable number of years," she says.
The Wall Street Journal Europe: Methodology for the Journal's Libor analysis Carrick Mollenkamp and Mark Whitehouse May 29, 2008
Amid concern that Libor might not reflect what it is supposed to reflect -- the average interest rates at which banks make short-term loans to one another – The Wall Street Journal took a closer look at the rates.
Dollar Libor rates are calculated using information provided to the British Bankers' Association by a panel of 16 banks. To get a sense of whether the banks' reported rates reflect their true borrowing costs, the Journal looked to the market for credit-default swaps, a form of default insurance.
That market allows participants to buy and sell insurance against defaults by banks and other companies. Much like borrowing rates, which rise and fall with concerns about a bank's financial health, credit-default swaps reflect investors' views on the risk that a given bank will renege on its debts. On April 16, according to data provider Markit Group, investors were demanding an annual $107,000 to insure against defaults on $10 million in Citigroup debt – a "risk premium" of 1.07 percentage points.
The Journal used this risk-premium information to construct an alternative "borrowing rate" for each of the 16 banks. There were two steps to the process: First, the Journal estimated what Libor would be if there was no risk that any of the banks would default. Then, it added each bank's risk premium to that number, yielding 16 different "borrowing rates."
To back the default risk out of Libor, the Journal made one important assumption: The cost of default insurance on the most credit-worthy bank provides a reasonable estimate for default risk contained in Libor. That is because all 16 banks have been reporting nearly the same Libor rates -- as if they were all equally credit-worthy.
On April 16, for example, the lowest rate reported by the 16 banks to the Libor panel was 2.72%. The cheapest default insurance was for Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi: 0.25 percentage point. So the Journal's estimate of what Libor would be if there were no risk of defaults came to 2.72 minus 0.25, or 2.47%. That base number was used to calculate borrowing rates for each bank. For example, to calculate Citigroup's rate on April 16, the Journal added the cost of one-year default insurance on Citigroup debt -- 1.07 percentage points -- to the base rate, yielding an estimated borrowing rate of 3.54%. On the same day, Citigroup's reported Libor rate was 2.72% -- 0.82 percentage point lower.
The Journal then used these estimated rates to calculate its own three-month dollar Libor average: Just like the BBA does, it threw out the four highest and four lowest rates, then averaged the rest. On April 16, the Journal's Libor was 2.97%, about a quarter of a percentage point higher than the actual reported rate of 2.73%.