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What do entertainment and medical equipment have in common?
Concepts involving both fields won the day during Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce's "Perfect Pitch" business competition recently.
Patrick Marzett of Charleston won in the category of "Best Business Concept" for an idea called planetMarz Multimedia Smart Stand, a music stand that has USB ports and a power strip.
In the "Best Early Stage Business" division, Chelsea Ex-Lubeskie of Goose Creek and Riley Csernica of Mount Pleasant with their firm, Tarian Orthotics of Charleston, placed first for creating an innovative brace that helps with shoulder support after a dislocation.
Both won $2,500 and access to a team of mentors for one year to help them hone their crafts.
Ten finalists presented their ideas to several judges in five-minute pitches at the American Theater on King Street in late November after receiving coaching from business experts during the past several months.
The Perfect Pitch competition is Charleston's spin on the popular TV show "Shark Tank," where contestants vying for seed money and visibility pitch their business concepts to a panel of judges.
Airport shuffle
The board that owns and operates Charleston International Airport will be changing come 2014.
Local attorney and former state lawmaker Ben Hagood has announced will step down from his role on the Charleston County Aviation Authority on Dec. 31, board chairman Andy Savage said Friday. No reason was given.
Hagood serves as the proxy for Republican state Sen. Chip Campsen of Charleston, who has a seat on the board because he's the chairman of the Charleston County legislative delegation.
Campsen doesn't think the law that placed him on the 13-member airport authority is constitutional, so he sends a representative in his place. A lawsuit challenging that law is on appeal.
Campsen has not named a new proxy.
It's not the only change coming to the airport board. As reported by The Post and Courier last week, seven people are jockeying for a seat being vacated in February by Michael Stavrinakis.
Health care cost
When Kindred Healthcare unloaded its newly renovated rehabilitation hospital in Mount Pleasant a few months ago, the price was disclosed as $166 million. But that number included the company's sale of 13 other properties, all to Vibra Healthcare.
The publicity traded seller has since broken out the individual prices in a recent report to stock market regulators. For the East Cooper center, that number came to $22.6 million, according to the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Louisville, Ky.-based Kindred exited the Charleston market in September after an 11-year run, saying the region was outside the 21 core U.S. geographical areas it is concentrating on nationwide.
Vibra is headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pa. It has renamed the Mount Pleasant medical center Vibra Hospital of Charleston.
Kindred bought the vacant hospital near U.S. Highway 17 and Bowman Road for $16 million about two years ago from Tenet Healthcare, which moved out in 2010 when it opened its nearby East Cooper Medical Center.
Kindred then invested about $14 million to renovate the 125,000-square-foot building. The overhaul gave the company 59 long-term, acute-care beds and 35 subacute-care beds when it reopened the hospital late last year. Previously, Kindred had operated from a smaller space in the former Charleston Memorial Hospital on the peninsula since 2002.
Cyber Claus
Competition is coming to town for mall Santa visits in the Lowcountry. Teacups and Trucks, a mobile event planning company in Charleston, is coordinating virtual face-to-face time with the big man in the red suit.
Visiting St. Nick has traditionally meant standing in line at the mall to plop kids on his knee. Now families can sign up to video chat with Santa Claus using the FaceTime App on the iPhone for $12 per call. The company says calls will last at least five minutes. Chats can be scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, 6-8 p.m. Dec. 15 and 18, and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 21.
"We're very excited that we can offer such a thrilling experience for children at the comfort of their own home," said Corrie Silvers, owner of Teacups and Trucks. "We have been receiving such great feedback for this event."
Go to tinyurl.com/kbl7u5m for more information,
Inside trading
The Global Business Resource Center in the School of Business at the College of Charleston is offering to help small businesses expand their reach overseas.
The center is accepting proposals from small businesses in need of trade-related research analysis and reporting to help to expand in global markets.
The free research will be conducted in the spring 2014 semester by business school interns and directed by Rene Mueller, director of the global resource center and professor of marketing and international business.
The center is urging any small business in need of industry analysis, cost analysis, foreign market research, import requirements and regulations, or general recommendations for in-country market strategies to submit a proposal by Jan. 20. Businesses interested in being considered are encouraged to contact Mary Katharine Bowen at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Police action
Are police doing their job at Charleston County Aviation Authority? As part of its accreditation assessment, the public can offer comments through an information session at 5 p.m. Dec. 16 at the police department at 5550 Porsche Blvd. near Charleston International Airport. Or call 767-7263 between 1-3 p.m. that day to leave a comment.
A team of assessors with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. will arrive Dec. 15 to examine more than 480 standards of department's policy and procedures, management, operations and support services, according to Al Britnell, airport director of public safety.
Verification by the team that the airport police department meets the commission's standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation, a recognition of law enforcement for professional excellence.
The airport police department has been accredited by the association since 1999.
Written comments can be sent to Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, Va., 20155.
Accreditation is for three years. The airport police department must submit annual reports showing its ongoing compliance.


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PSAC Tournament basketball previews, March 5
(3)Slippery Rock (20-7, 16-6) at (2) Gannon (22-6, 16-6)
- Today, 7:30 p.m., Hammermill Center
- Radio: WJET-AM/1400
- How they got here: Slippery defeated (6) California (Pa.) 85-71. Gannon had first-round bye.
- What's next: Winner plays winner of (1) East Stroudsburg-(4) Mansfield winner Friday at Indiana or at site of highest remaining PSAC West seed.
- Notes: Tonight is the second meeting in six days for The Rock and the Knights, two teams similar in rebounding strength -- SRU is first in D-II at plus-12.8, GU second in the PSAC at plus-8.3 -- and veteran leadership, the Rock with seven seniors and the Knights with six. The Rock won the first meeting 69-56 at home Jan. 30, taking a 37-18 halftime lead and outrebounding the Knights 39-26. Gannon, the best shooting team in the PSAC (48.1 pct), made just 18-of-52 shots (34.6 pct.). Sr. F Darrell Blanton had 17 points, 10 rebounds in the loss. G Darious Clark had 18 points (3-of-5 3s) to lead SRU. The Knights earned the second seed, via a tiebreaker criteria just before a coin flip, with a 75-63 win at the Hammermill Center Wednesday. This time, GU took a big halftime lead at 40-24, and shot 53.3 pct. (24-of-45), led by so. G Adam Blazek's 25 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. The top club in defense (58.1 ppg.) held the Rock to 35.7 pct. (20-for-56) and 3-of-17 3-pointers. Sr. F Gerald Brooks had 16 points, and SRU did have a 36-30 edge on the glass. Blanton (15.6, 6.5) is second in PSAC fg. pct. (55.6). Sr. G Oscar Macias (10.8) had made 53-of-125 3-pointers. Jr. G/F Robert Wilson (11.9) has 75 assists. The Rock is 8-5 on the road, and lost at Mercyhurst and Edinboro during the regular season. 6-6 sr. F Devin Taylor (13.9, 10.1), top rebounder in the PSAC, leads the front line along with 6-5 sr. Brooks (12.2, 8.8), 6-7 jr. Tabari Perry (10.2, 6.4), and 6-9 sr. Luiz Santos (6.2, 6.5, 41 blocks). Clark (13.6) has 64 3-pointers.
(4) Edinboro (18-9, 13-9) at No. 16 (1) Indiana (21-7, 17-5)
- Today, 7 p.m. Kovalchick Center
- Radio: WFSE-FM/88.9.
- How they got here: Edinboro def. (5) Mercyhurst 65-60. Indiana had first-round bye.
- What's next: Winner plays winner of (2) West Chester-(3) Millersville winner Friday at Indiana, or if Edinboro wins at site of highest remaining PSAC West seed.
- Notes: The Scots lost twice to the Crimson Hawks, 86-75 in OT Jan. 23 at home despite 30 points, 8 3-pointers and four assists by sr. PG Jay Fletcher, and 21 points by sr. G Isaiah Prince. Jr. Gonzaga transfer F Mathis Keita had 21 to lead five double-figure scorers for IUP. The Scots have won three straight since a 78-70 loss at IUP Feb. 20. Jr. C Bryan Theriot (18.1, 9.1), second in scoring and fourth in rebounding in the PSAC who missed the first meeting with a leg injury, was held to nine points. Fletcher finished with 24. Keita and Marcel Souberbielle each had 18 to again head five players in double-figures, and IUP outrebouned 'Boro 46-30 for a 91-62 board advantage in both games. Edinboro, in the playoffs for the first time since 2008-09, is third in PSAC scoring at 75.2 ppg., first in 3-pointers (204, 7.6 pg), while jr. F Johnathan Logan (71) and Fletcher (70) are 1-2 in 3-pointers made. Prince (16.6) is first in steals with 75. IUP, the three-time PSAC West champion, allows 58.5 ppg, second in the PSAC. The Hawks are 14-1 at home, the lone loss 57-55 to Gannon Feb. 6. Kieta (13.2, 6.2) leads in scoring and rebounding. G Anthony Wells (10.6) has 41 3s. The deep Crimson Hawks have nine players averaging 12 minutes or more.
(4) California (20-7, 15-7) at No. 8 (1) Gannon (26-3, 20-2)
- Today, 5:30 p.m., Hammermill Center
- Radio: WJET AM/1400, WERG-FM/90.5
- How they got here: California def. (5) Clarion 72-42. Gannon had a first-round bye.
- What's next: Winner plays winner of (2) Shippensburg-(3) Millersville winner Friday at Bloomsburg or at site of highest remaining PSAC East seed.
- Notes: The Knights and Vulcans split during the regular season, GU winning 65-53 in Erie on Jan. 19 and Cal handing GU its last loss in a hot-shooting 81-73 home win Feb. 9. Gannon, No. 1 in the Atlantic Region, finished with five straight wins. In the first game, the Knights stretched a 28-22 halftime lead in the second half. Jr. F Jen Papich had 19 points and 8 rebounds in a solid effort. So. F Ashley Hines had 11 points and 8 rebounds for Cal. The Vulcans shot 54 pct. (27-of-50) and 66.7 pct. 3-pointers (8-of-12) at Cal, with sr. G Stephanie Michael scoring 25 points and making 5-of-6 from deep and so. G Emma Mahady 19 points. Papich and so. F Nettie Blake, who made 10-of-11 shots, each had 20 for Gannon. So. G Brittany Batts, who leads the PSAC in 3-pointers with 87 -- Michael is second with 75 -- did not score. GU shot 59 pct. (29-of-49) in the loss. Gannon allows 58.1 ppg, Cal 58.5. Both clubs have outstanding jr. point guards, with Kate Seebolm of Cal first at 5.3 apg, GU's Kelley Sundberg second at 5.2. Sundberg's 2.3-1 assist-turnover ratio and Seebolm's 1.9-1 are 1-2 in the conference. Papich (13.3, 45) leads the Knights in scoring and steals. Michael (13.9) leads Cal's offense.
(3) Indiana (22-7, 16-6) at No. 18 (2) Edinboro (21-5, 18-4)
- Today, 7 p.m., McComb Fieldhouse
- Radio: WFSE-FM/88.9
- How they got here: Indiana def. (6) Mercyhurst 62-56. Edinboro received a first-round bye.
- What's next: Winner plays winner of (1) Bloomsburg-(4) Kutztown winner Friday at Bloomsburg, or if Kutztown wins at site of highest remaining PSAC East seed.
- Notes: Edinboro, No. 2 in the Atlantic Region, swept the season series from No. 4 Indiana, winning 73-62 at home over then-No. 19 IUP, shooting out to a 22-point lead in the second half. Four Scots were in double-figures, led by 6-3 sr. C Samantha Blazetic. Blazetic had eight of Edinboro's school-record 15 blocks. Amy Fairman had 17 points for IUP and sr. F Sarah Pastorek 14 before the all-PSAC West player suffered a meniscus tear that sidelined her for seven games. Edinboro won 57-45 at the Kovalchick Complex as the Scots held IUP to an anemic 19.4 pct. from the field (12-of-62) despite being outrebounded 52-39. Blazetic tied her own school record with eight blocks and sr. G Kiara Brown had 19 points. Former Mercyhurst Prep and Mercyhurst so. F Lindsay Stamp had 18 points for IUP. Fr. F Zhane Brooks (Villa Maria) had 10 points. Brown leads the PSAC in scoring (17.3), Blazetic third at 15.3. Blazetic is second in blocks (62). Jr. G Darche' Jackson is fourth in PSAC in assists (4.2) and sixth in assist-turnover ratio (1.7-1.0). Stamp (10.3) has averaged 15.5 ppg since she became a starter 11 games ago. The Crimson Hawks are first in scoring defense at 55.0 ppg. and second in rebounding margin (plus-6.1).
-- Bob Jarzomski

subset: commoncrawl


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A new mission for the British Business Bank
Photo credit: Pete Reed
September 20, 2013 // By: Charles Seaford
By the end of next year, the government's British Business Bank, currently under construction, will have landed. It's mission? To boost the UK economy by increasing flows of finance to our cash-strapped small businesses.
It's good news, for sure – but is that all the new institution could do? In a new report out today, we make the case for dramatically extending the mandate of the British Business Bank. We argue that its core purpose should be to support not just any small businesses, but specifically the kinds that create good, sustainable jobs. That is, jobs that deliver high well-being, contribute to a fairer society, and will remain viable as we move to a low-carbon future.
It's an easy objective to state. But the details matter. That's why our report aims to prove that it is possible in practice to create and deliver against a new set of economic policy objectives, beyond simply growing GDP or reducing unemployment.
All this means particular attention has to be paid to the bank's performance indicator framework, which will be used to guide lending and investment decisions. For these will need to take into account questions such as: how good an employer is the loan applicant? How does its environmental record compare with other similar businesses? Is the business in a sector that is financially sustainable given global trends? What impact will it have on the rest of the regional economy? The report goes into a lot more detail about what such questions mean both for the indicator framework and targets set for the bank's managers, and for the kind of products and processes they use.
It is important that the bank serves all parts of the country, and international experience suggests that this is most likely to be achieved if it works with a network of partner regional banks. Unfortunately the latter don't exist in the UK – one of the UK economy's big problems. However, we do have a possible way of dealing with this: it may be possible to break up the Royal Bank of Scotland to provide the necessary network of branches. This would have a number of other benefits – above all bankers who understand the localities they serve – and we are investigating just how feasible this would be.
Discussion of banking performance indicators may seem a rather dry topic – but this is the kind of low key policy lever that could make a big difference to people and small businesses for years to come.
Jobs & Industrial Strategy, Banking & Finance
A new mission for the British Business Bank


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A Louisville business operator is dealing with an eyesore thanks to some illegal dumping, and said he can't get any government help cleaning it up.
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A team's closer should be it's most dominant reliever. The one pitcher who, under any circumstances can be trusted to get the job done. The last Indians closer, Chris Perez, however was not allowed to pitch in any inning, let alone the ninth, for the last three games of the regular season and the one game play-off against Tampa. He was subsequently released and his heir apparant, Joe Smith, has left for free agency. With Smith now an Angel (three years for $15M), the entire Indians bullpen is in turmoil. With the top two pitchers now absent and Vinnie Pestano coming off a sub-par season, the Indians will have to dig deep to find their new closer.
Cody Allen was the top reliever last season that will be returning for 2014, but he will be entering just his third season in the Majors and his fourth since being drafted. He was certainly dependable in 2013 and Terry Francona was able to use him in any situation, unlike Perez. He threw in 77 games (more than all but one Indians pitcher ever), saved two and earned 11 holds. He pitched extremely well in non-save situations (2.05 ERA in 57 IP), something Perez couldn't do (3.80 ERA in 23. IP), but struggled in actual save situations (4.05 ERA in 13.1 IP). Surprisingly, Perez's save situation numbers were even worse, allowing a 4.75 ERA and .281 BAA with the game on the line.
Pestano is still an option as well, despite his poor 2013 season. Going into the season, he seemed the obvious choice for the closers role if Perez was traded pre, mid or post season. Perez stuck around and Pestano dealt with some elbow tendonitis that started when he pitched in the World Baseball Classic and continued throughout the season. He spent some time on the DL for it during the middle of the year, but was rushed back when the Indians needed bullpen help during their run for the Central Division title. He struggled again and was removed from the primary set up role and sent to AAA at the end of July. He was then called back for September, but was not trusted in any situation, even while Francona continued to use Rich Hill, who ended the season with an ERA of 6.28 (Pestano finished with a 4.08 and was better against left handed hitters).
A less desirable option would be for the Indians to use either Bryan Shaw or to sign a different free agent. Of course, if the Indians could afford a top shelf closer, they could have just resigned Smith or Perez.
This decision is going to be based on a few different factors and how the Indians front office weighs each of those factors. In general the factors are talent, seniority, time spend as closer and money. The pure statistical view would say to use the most talented, cheapest option (Allen), without worry of the other players' emotions or outsider's opinions. The old school view would be to give the role to Pestano, who has been around since 2010, using Allen in the top set-up role. The real question with both main options is how far will they regress during 2014. Pestano will almost certainly be better than this past season, while Allen will be worse. If his struggles were truly was just injury based, Pestano could be back to his regular ability levels after an off-season of rest.
Pestano had similar struggles as Perez, but he didn't have quite the bad luck. Pestano allowed far more walks and struck out less batters per inning than any previous season. His main issue was with base runners in total, not home runs (he only allowed one). He allowed almost as many walks and hits as in any previous season, despite pitching only half the innings. His pitches simply didn't have the movement or velocity as in previous seasons. If this was because of injury, there is no reason he couldn't get back to a 10-12 K/9 and a sub-3.00 ERA in 2014.
Allen has not pitched enough to know whether he will maintain his level or fall off, but his numbers from the first two seasons certainly look a lot like Pestano's from his first two full seasons (if not a little worse). Assuming no injuries or breakdowns, there is no reason to think that Allen could stay within his career averages (2.81 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) for the next season.
It is too early to know for sure what the Indians bullpen will look like next year, but this should give some idea. We are still waiting to see if the Indians sign any free agents, but most likely, any added will be below the level of Allen and Pestano. All that being said, right now, it appears that Cody Allen remains the most likely option for closer in 2014 with Pestano and Bryan Shaw playing the set-up role.


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Free Delivery Sprinkles Cupcakes
Celebrate spring with this cupcake deal from Sprinkles Cupcakes. Use promo code BUCKHEAD and get free delivery in the Buckhead area with the purchase of two dozen cupcakes or cookies. Perfect for your weekend party without fighting Buckhead traffic!! Regular delivery fees are $10 on weekdays and $20 on weekends. Order online www.sprinkles.com.
Tags: Atlanta, Daily Deals, Online


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Accurate estimation of the need for blood products during MCIs is vital to providing these lifesaving resources when health care systems are under their greatest stress. In this era of terrorist activity, the most likely event will be a bombing, and thus we can learn a great deal from the experience gained in Israel where these incidents have been all too common. The article by Soffer et al provides a retrospective review of the use of PRBCs following 18 consecutive terrorist attacks in Tel Aviv between 1997 and 2005. They define a PRBC unit per admitted patient ratio index, which may be useful in planning the number of units of PRBCs to keep available for such events. More importantly, they also describe a standard operating procedure for notification and activation of the blood bank during an MCI that could be adapted for use by trauma systems throughout the world.
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Lean Cuisine: Counting Calories On the Checkpoint Diet
A West Bank checkpoint managed by a private security company is not allowing Palestinians to pass through with large water bottles and some food items, Haaretz has learned....
The private security company Modi'in Ezrahi...stops Palestinian workers from passing through the checkpoint with the following items: Large bottles of frozen water, large bottles of soft drinks, home-cooked food, coffee, tea and the spice zaatar. The security company also dictates the quantity of items allowed: Five pitas, one container of hummus and canned tuna, one small bottle or can of beverage, one or two slices of cheese, a few spoonfuls of sugar, and 5 to 10 olives. Workers are also not allowed to carry cooking utensils and work tools.
MachsomWatch told Haaretz that Sunday, a 32-year-old construction worker from Tul Karm, who is employed in Hadera, was not allowed to carry his lunch bag through the checkpoint. The bag contained six pitas, 2 cans of cream cheese, one kilogram of sugar in a plastic bag, and a salad, also in a plastic bag.
The typical Palestinian laborer in Israel has a 12-hour workday, including travel time and checkpoint delays. Many leave home as early as 2 A.M. in order to wait in line at the checkpoint; tardiness to work often results in immediate dismissal. Workers return home around 5 P.M. The wait at the checkpoint can take one to two hours in each direction, if not longer.
The food quantities allowed by Modi'in Ezrahi do not meet the daily dietary needs of the workers, and they prefer not to buy food at the considerably more expensive Israeli stores.
Two cans of cream cheese? Two? And we're supposed to feel sorry for these people? My god, they're living in the lap of luxury, just like those chicken-gobbling freeloaders down in Gitmo. Well, this is why the West is losing out to the Islamofascists, isn't it? We've grown too soft, we just mollycoddle these people, we really do.
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Manufacturing Execution System (MES)
Get control of your shop floor execution with end-to-end inventory traceability, closed-loop quality and a real-time production ecosystem.
Get More from Your Plant Floor
Stay on top of shop floor activities for proactive decision-making, visibility and control at the "manufacturing moment."
Plex Manufacturing Execution System (MES)
Features & Benefits
Legacy ERP systems are not well suited for manufacturing execution systems (MES) and essentially get the shop floor information post-production – after the fact – which does not provide much opportunity to control the output. The Plex Manufacturing Execution System (MES) picks up where most ERP systems leave off to deliver a unique synergy of real-time production management for up-to-the-minute manufacturing data that enables end-to-end visibility of inventory and is intertwined with quality for closed-loop control. By integrating Plex MES with your existing ERP, you gain operational insight to drive your production facilities rather than after-the-fact operational intelligence.
MES Capabilities
Deploy a cloud-based MES solution into your enterprise ecosystem, to deliver cost effective bi-directional connectivity and control.
Respond more quickly to changes with a common, intuitive control panel that captures real-time production and waste data – at the manufacturing moment.
Wirelessly communicate with plant-floor machines for bi-directional Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) integration.
Utilize work instructions and checklists directly at the workcenter for increased productivity and quality. Drive continuous improvement with automated Statistical Process Controls (SPC) for operational analysis.
Track inventory with end-to-end visibility and high-resolution genealogy – from the point it enters your MES system to the time it ships out the door for enhanced regulatory compliance and traceability.
Utilize in-process control plans and compliance documentation to achieve and maintain industry certifications.
Production Synchronization in the Cloud
Real-time Production Ecosystem
A production hub that connects your plant floor to the top floor for optimized and responsive operations and timely decision-making.
- A unified production system that seamlessly integrates and co-exists with your enterprise business management applications.
- Real-time production data with relevant and timely information (such as jobs and inventory) for schedule adherence and adjustments.
- A common, intuitive control panel to capture real-time production and waste data, for reduction of manual data collection & analysis activities
- Direct wireless communication with shop floor equipment.
High resolution track and trace to confidently know where all of your inventory is — and where it came from — resulting in quicker traceability and shorter response time in the case of a recall.
- For every action in production, there is a transaction in the Plex MES.
- End-to-end visibility with high-resolution genealogy for better inventory management.
- Precise, real-time inventory tracking to improve inventory accuracy resulting in reduced inventory carrying costs.
- Inventory traceability from the point it enters the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) to the time it is handed over to the enterprise ERP, for enhanced regulatory compliance.
Closed-Loop Quality Management
An integral quality management and control system to ensure the highest quality, compliance and documentation.
- Integral control plans to increase process repeatability and predictability.
- Real-time quality monitoring to isolate and contain quality issues.
- In-line checksheets that require operators to perform inspections, resulting in reduced variation, defects as well as increased yield.
- Quality compliance documentation embedded to achieve and retain critical quality certifications.
- Automated Statistical Process Controls for real-time and historical analysis for continuous improvement of process capabilities.
Related Product Lines
Inventory Management
Track and manage your inventory in real time, and stay in control with end-to-end traceability
Production Management
Stay on top of plant floor operations — making the right quantity of the right product at the right time
Quality Management
Maintain superior quality for increased process repeatability and predictability
Plex Manufacturing Cloud Platform
Use these essential functions to get the most from your ERP operations
Customer Success Stories
Manufacturer Manages Complexity While Ensuring Traceability and Internal Control
MES in the Cloud
Find out why the cloud is the best platform for synchronization of MES with ERP.
Plex MES Solution Overview
Be more proactive in delivering quality products in a timely, cost-effective manner with Plex MES.
White Paper
Manufacturing Agility through MES Excellence
Achieve agility with a tight connection between your plant floor and business.


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4 Back to School Uses for EvernoteTerrance Gaines
The "Back to School" season has begun. That means school shopping, new teachers, and a ton of documents to sign (and keep?). Not sure if your home (or your mind) has enough space to record, organize, or manage all the stuff that goes into getting your family ready for the new school year? It probably doesn't, so here are some ways you can use the "Remember Everything" Evernote service to document, organize, and manage your Back to School efforts.
Managing Important Documents
Before your kids get on the bus for their first day, you know there are certain documents you will need to make sure your kids are registered. Docs like medical records, proof of address, and "in case of emergency" contacts should be at your fingertips when you start filling out registration forms.
Evernote is a great place to store that information beforehand, so you can quickly retrieve and share that information without digging through an already filled-to-the-brim filing cabinet.
Building Shopping Lists
There are a number of reasons why you need to do Back to School shopping every year. So keeping a shopping list is essential to make sure your kids have what they are required to bring to make the best out of the new school year.
You can make a "Back to School Shopping" notebook and tag each note with you kid's name in the note title and as an individual Evernote tag. That way, you can quickly browse to the notebook to view all the lists, suggested supply list from the school, examples of uniform images, or your own shopping links from the web.
Saving School/Teacher Information
If you're like me, I'm pretty sure your mail organizer, dining room table, or computer desk is overrun with papers from your kid's school and/or their teachers. To get that stuff off your table (after you've read and signed them of course) and into the cloud, you can create an Evernote notebook for each school/teacher, and either snap a picture with your phone if you're using the Evernote app on your smartphone, or add them to your account using a copier/scanner.
Organizing Homework and Artwork
Of course, there is a never-ending flow of papers that come home with your kids everyday that you have to keep track of for at least a couple of weeks like daily/weekly activity reports and/or homewook assignments. Information like this would go into an Homework notebook, tagged with each kid's name. You can also set up a "discard" reminder to delete notes after either the assignement is completed, or when another activity report rolls in.
If you have "youngins" in school, they're always bringing home artwork that you know you won't look at for years to come, but feel bad for even thinking about throwing away. For this, you can would create a notebook for every grade with each of your kid's names in the title, snap pictures with your smartphone, and upload them using the Evernote app.
I'm sure I'm not the only Evernote parent out there trying to keep my head above Back to School water. So be sure to drop a line in the comments on how you use Evernote to stay organized during the school year.


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Flyers Notes
A year ago, center Claude Giroux had a so-so regular season with the Flyers, and defenseman Andrej Meszaros managed just 17 points and was minus-14 with Tampa Bay.
It would have been difficult to foresee what transpired this season.
Before Saturday night's season finale against the Islanders at the Wells Fargo Center, both were honored as the Flyers' top players. Giroux won the Bobby Clarke Trophy as the team's MVP, and Meszaros won the Barry Ashbee Trophy as its best defenseman in a vote by sportswriters and broadcasters.


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Featured Golf News
Simpson Returns to Site of Big First Win
After coming close to a win in his first three full years on the PGA Tour, Webb Simpson finally got his breakthrough victory in last year's Wyndham Championship. The title was very popular as it came serendipitously right in the North Carolina native's backyard, at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro.
Simpson used that triumph to propel him to a wonderful 2011 season. He went on to win the Deutsche Bank Championship in September and finished second on the Tour's money list behind Luke Donald. He also earned a spot on the U.S. Presidents Cup team, posting a 3-2 record to help the American team to victory at Royal Melbourne in Australia.
Simpson has continued to hit high-water marks in 2012, making six top-10 finishes in 17 events and recording his first major title in the U.S. Open, when he closed with a 2-under 68 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco to overtake Graeme McDowell, Michael Thompson and Jim Furyk.
As a result of his performance this season Simpson has earned $2,949,232 for seventh place on the money list. At No. 5, he's the second highest-ranked American in the world behind No. 3 Tiger Woods. He's one of the automatic qualifiers for the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup team, which will try to regain the cup in late September at Medinah Country Club near Chicago.
The year for Simpson, who turned 27 on August 8, has also been special with the birth of his second child in July.
On Wednesday, Simpson met with reporters and talked about the nature of his win in last year's Wyndham. The $5.2 million event starts Thursday at Sedgefield. Here's what he had to say during a Q&A with the media.
MODERATOR: Okay. I'd like to welcome defending champion, Webb Simpson. Webb, if you want to kind of talk about your thoughts coming in this week on defending. This will be your first time defending on the PGA Tour and then we'll take a few questions.
WEBB SIMPSON: Yeah. I'm excited for the week. You know, I was looking forward to this week ever since last year winning here. You know, all my memories here are just awesome. I mean to break through, have my first victory here hour and a half from where I grew up and hour and a half from where I live now, 30 minutes from Wake Forest, it was a perfect place to break through and win. And never defended before, obviously, so I'm excited for that challenge and we got a great field this week and I know all the sponsors and Brazil, everybody is excited for the week and hopefully I can play well.
MODERATOR: Okay. Questions?
Q. Can you talk a little bit about what this week did for the rest of your year and the U.S. Open and winning again last year in the Playoffs?
WEBB SIMPSON: I think as a pro it was - the most important week I've had yet because there's always a question of, you know, is this guy going to win or can he win and, you know, I feel like the number of times I put myself in position to win and didn't get it done, I took the positives from those experiences and learned from them and you know, Vegas was tough in 2010, Tampa was tough, last year in New Orleans. New Orleans was kind a big week for me. I realized I could play under the pressure and, you know, I was playing really well coming in this week last year and I didn't expect to win but I felt confident that I could win and I don't think I would have won Boston or the U.S. Open had I not won here and kind of opened me up for, you know, other tournaments and was able to play well the rest of the year.
Q. Webb, any additional pressure to defend and also with the course changes, it's not the same greens so it is kind of a different feel? Just talk about that a little bit.
WEBB SIMPSON: It is. You know, I think the pressure of trying to defend, I think it's always going to be there. I can't hide from it but, at the same time, I know that the three tournaments I've won on Tour I didn't show up saying, "Okay, I'm going win this week" or I need to win or I feel pressure to win. Wins out here seem to come every so often. It seems like when I look back on those weeks there are weeks when I showed up ready to play golf, ready to, you know, compete but all I was thinking about last year was getting the first shot on the first hole in the fairway and I think I got to take that approach of being patient this week and, you know, not thinking about - or not trying to not think about winning but just more of be patient, let the birdies come.
And, like you said, the greens are new so I got a lot of work to do today. I haven't seen the course yet with the new greens. I've heard great things about them, they're holding up great and the growth went well. I think that alone will help me because, I mean, you show up to a place that you feel like you know so well, you can relax a little bit in your mind and it has a tendency for me to not be as sharp when that happens. I think it will allow Paul and I to really do some good work today and try to figure it out.
Q. Are there any distractions playing in Greensboro? You got your half-brother, Sam, who lives here, other family members are close by? Do you have a lot on your mind?
WEBB SIMPSON: I would say the first couple of years it was a lot harder to kind of juggle everything that comes with playing in the home event with friends and family and fans, and my wife has helped me out a lot with that. She does the tickets, she does the phone calls and the texts. It makes my week a lot easier. We kind of figured out a good system for this week and the Wells Fargo. Definitely learning how to make the weeks easier and more enjoyable. At the end of the day when you got the City behind you and pulling for you, it's a great feeling.
Q. With two kids now, you guys gone to zone defense or how does that work?
WEBB SIMPSON: Gone to zone and added another defender.
Q. How that's been doing? The baby sleeping okay and everything?
WEBB SIMPSON: Everything is going well. Such - we feel so blessed to have two kids. You know, we looked at each other every day, I'm putting Will in the car, and we're putting James in the car. What are we doing, we're 27 and actually parents? I felt this way when James was brought to the world that golf immediately shrinks back and becomes a lot smaller than family, as it should. And it just reminded me my month at home that I'm so fortunate to play golf for a living and do what I do. I love playing golf and my office being the driving range is a great feeling but, you know, at the end of the day it's my job and having family just keeps things in perspective and, you know, I'm okay if I don't play well this week. Will coming into the world has reminded me of that already.
Q. Is your role as defending champ here going to help you for your role as defending champ in other tournaments down the road here, do you think?
WEBB SIMPSON: I think so. I'm a student of the game. I love to learn and so I'm an open book this week just to feel what it feels like to be a defending champ and I'm sure there will be some parts about it that might be difficult, just the pressure, expectations but, at the same time, I know this course, I've played well here. I'm going to try to do my best to take those positives and apply it to the week and, like I said, just enjoy the opportunity of being a defending champ and see what I can do.
Q. You had kind of a quick week last week and you had a lot of time off. Can you talk about where your game is right now?
WEBB SIMPSON: Yeah. It was great to get back into competition last week. I had an awful front nine but, you know, I walked off the course after shooting 79, I was a little frustrated. That night I talked to Paul and, you know, we went through the round again and we both agreed the front-9 I only hit one bad shot, one loose shot. The other stuff was little stuff, missed a couple 6-footers, misjudged some distance. The majority of my mistakes were just from rust, from - mistakes that I normally would never make during the season.
And so I played a great final 27 holes and played a great round Friday and so I left - I'm disappointed I didn't make the cut. I'm kind of relieved I'm back in competition now. I got the rust off. It will help this week and, like you said, I got to go home a couple days extra. Wasn't planning on it but with the stretch I have coming up I think in the end it will be a blessing in disguise.
Q. Wake Forest has done three separate billboards. Have you seen the one of you in Greensboro? I know Wyndham has done some billboards, too. What does that say about Wake doing you, Kyle and Bill?
WEBB SIMPSON: It's pretty cool. My dad always told me before I went to Wake that Wake is a family, guys that go there stay together, stay in touch and, you know, just the role they still play in all three of our lives is great and we love being part of Wake still and, you know, just the support they show us is very kind of them and keeps the tradition going.
Q. Have you seen the billboard?
WEBB SIMPSON: I hadn't seen in it person. Somebody sent me a picture of it.
Q. You're used to that, I guess.
WEBB SIMPSON: They did a good job.
Q. Has the school talked to you about maybe doing the commencement speech or getting an honorary doctorate?
WEBB SIMPSON: No. My GPA was just good enough to stay eligible for golf (laughter). But, you know, I've stayed in contact with obviously Jerry Haas and Ron Wellman writes me letters and e-mails often. However they want to - however I can help the school, I want to do it and I love being in Charlotte only an hour and a half away and being able to get up to campus at anytime and seeing a game or two. We'll see what happens. I think I'm a little ways off from the commencement speech.
Q. What about opening the gate for the football game, maybe?
WEBB SIMPSON: I think - I was going to do something with Bill last year at the football game but I couldn't do it, I had a prior commitment. I would love to do something like that.
MODERATOR: Okay. Any last questions? Thanks a lot. Have a good week.
WEBB SIMPSON: Thanks.
The transcript for the above interview is courtesy of ASAP Sports.
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Survivors reunite at OU TraumaUPDATED 9:48 PM CDT Apr 26, 2014
Survivors gathered to reunite at OU TraumaVideo Transcript
DRUG AND OTHER CHARGES. THIS WEEKEND A SPECIAL HONOR FOR OU TRAMA CENTER. SURVIVORS OF TERRIBLE ACCIDENTS CAME BACK TO SHOW THEIR PROGRESS AND THANK THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED SAVE THEIR LIVES. TONIGHT WE MEET ONE LIFE THAT WAS SAVED THAT WASN'T EVEN HUMAN. nats of guy walking and clapping. SURVIVOR AFTER SURVIVOR. ALL CAME TO OU TRAMA CENTER--THIS TIME VISITING BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO--- FOR 5 YEARS OU TRAMA HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER SURVIVORS AND THE PEOPLE WHO SAVED THEM--- 2.41.42"that was probably one of the greatest days. Through out the year."2.41.44 IDA HERNANDEZ WAS TRAVELING IN AN 18 WHEELER DURING ONE OF THE TORNADOS LAST YEAR. CLIP 82 2.36.20"we tried to sneak under it in an overpass and didn't quite make it." 2.36.26 IDA WAS HURT AND HER DOG BELLA WENT MISSING IN THE MAYHEM--THEN SHE MET CALLIE A PHYSICAL THERAPIST AND DOG LOVER--SHE MADE IT HER MISSION TO FIND BELLA AND SHE DID THRU FACEBOOK--AND REUNITED IDA AND HER DOG. 2.41.50"seeing my little dog again and knowing she was well."2.41.51 A CREDIT TO OU PHYSICAL THERAPIST KALLE MCKEE WHO HELPED WITH IDA'S HEALING BOTH PHYICALLY AND MENTALLY BY FINDING BELLA. 2.42.17"it's definitely a god thing. I was in the right spot at the right time"2.42.18 RIGHT PLACE RIGHT TIME---AND A MOMENT FOR SURVIVORS AND OU TRAMA TEAMS TO REUNITE IN A MOMENT OF CELEBRATION.
CommentsThe views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.blog comments powered by Disqus


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You seem to be attempting to access an item that has been removed from the repository.
There is a later version of the item you are trying to access:
Saito, Akihiro (2010) Language attitudes and discursive positioning among Japanese youth on a study English abroad program. In: 2nd Asian Conference on Education: Internationalization or Globalization? (ACE2010), 2-5 Dec 2010, Osaka, Japan.


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Iron and steel
Iron and steel are generally regarded as utilitarian metals, valued for their strength, but they have also been used for decorative purposes. Iron is converted into a metal (pig iron) by smelting iron-bearing ores, whilst steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. Modern steels contain additional elements introduced to give particular qualities, such as high tensile strength, increased hardness or corrosion resistance (e.g. stainless steel).
A magnet can usually be used to identify iron and steel as it will only stick to metals containing iron, although there are some modern steels which are not magnetic.
Historically, there were two main forms of iron - wrought iron and cast iron.
1. Wrought iron was the most commonly used form of ferrous metal for everyday objects (with the exception of weapons and blades) until the development of the steel industry in the 19th century. It is still available today for producing decorative ironwork. Wrought iron is tough, flexible and malleable, and also comparatively corrosion resistant. It was used for making a variety of objects from kitchen items to architectural pieces such as elaborate gates and balconies.
2. Cast iron, known in Europe from the late 14th century, is very hard and brittle. It has a dull grey porous surface that may have bumps and ridges, which are cast marks. It was first used for objects such as firebacks and, as casting technology improved, items such as railings, stoves, and weight-bearing architectural items. Cast iron reached its apogee in the 19th century, when even jewellery was made from cast iron, and British companies such as Coalbrookedale were able to mass produce cast iron objects such as benches and hatstands.
Until the 19th century, steel was only produced in small quantities in Europe and was used mainly for weapons and blades, and for specialist items such as watch springs, high status locks and keys. From the late 18th century onwards, steel began to replace wrought iron as the most commonly used metal for utilitarian items.
The 'cut steel' technique, which began in the 16th century and was most popular in the 18th century, was used for small items of personal adornment such as jewellery, buttons, shoe buckles and sword hilts. Small, highly polished, faceted steel studs were screwed or riveted onto a shaped steel backplate, for example this cut steel button.
Find out more about caring for your iron and steel


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The gap is obviously closing, if there was ever much of an actual gap in the first place.
In terms of public perception, Kevin Durant is finally catching up to LeBron James.
Now, Durant won't be crowned anything above LeBron until he crowns himself and raises his own banner, but at least in terms of just how we view the two players on current merit, there isn't much separation anymore. Durant is the clear leader in the MVP race, and seems to be wrestling away a few LeBron disciples in the process.
But the general feeling still remains that LeBron is the better player. Why? Championships aside — and that's a hell of a thing to push aside, I realize — the most common explanation for LeBron is the defensive end. Durant is an average defender, LeBron is a great one. Or so that's what people assume.
Because here's the thing about defense: So much of it is in the eye of the beholder. It's reputation based, and in order to build that reputation for yourself, you've got to get multiple people saying at once, "Hey, he's a really good defender." That's what Paul George did by checking Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James in the Eastern playoffs last season. Because of it, he's going to be considered a top tier defender for life. That's the way it works.
Durant's been trying to overcome the opposite. First, he's skinny. And skinny guys just don't look like good defenders. It's defensive prejudice, but it's reality. Second, he was a pretty bad defender his first couple seasons. He had this written about him. He could really only guard one position, and often struggled doing it. He got muscled, he got taken off the dribble, he got lost on baseline picks, he got caught ball-watching. He clearly cared a little too much about the other end.
But he completely dedicated himself to becoming a complete player during the 2010-11 season. The offense wasn't going to slip, but defensively, he wanted to be great. And with all those tools — the athleticism, the length, the size — Durant had the makings of being a really good defender.
Now? Durant's a good defender, maybe even secretly a great one. A lot of people either are choosing to ignore that fact, or are still living off past reputation. The numbers everywhere say it. And if you watch KD play, you can see his energy, effort and focus on that end are at an incredibly high level. For instance, he guarded Kyle Korver for a lot of the second and third quarters last night. And he hounded him. I don't recall Korver even getting off a shot with Durant on him.
In isolation, Durant has figured out how to use his outrageous arms, and stupidly good lateral movement to make it near impossible to get a clean look against him. (Opponents are just 9-43 this season in isos on KD. That's absurd.) Dare I say that one-on-one, Durant may be one of the two or three most difficult players to score on in basketball.
But again, the assumption is that Durant plays one end, while LeBron plays both. Let's look:
Steals per game Blocks per game Defensive rebounds per game
Durant 1.5 0.9 7.4
LeBron 1.3 0.3 6.7
But those are just surface-scratching stats.
(Steal percentage is an estimate of the number of possessions that end with a steal when the player is on the floor, same thing goes for block percentage, defensive rating is points allowed per 100 possessions when that player is on the floor and Defensive Win Shares are an estimate of the number of wins contributed by a player from his defense.)
Steal percentage Block percentage Defensive rating Defensive Win Shares
Durant 2.0 1.9 99.7 3.0
LeBron 1.8 0.7 103.9 1.8
Some Synergy stats (note: PPP stands for "points per play" meaning that's the average number of points each player allows in those situations):
Overall Isolation Spot-up P&R Ball-Handler Post Up
Durant 0.78 ppp (34.3 FG%) 0.48 ppp (20.9 FG%) 0.85 ppp (32.1 FG%) 0.54 ppp (33.3 FG%) 0.73 ppp (37.5 FG%)
LeBron 0.86 ppp (38.3 FG%) 0.92 ppp (42.1 FG%) 0.92 ppp (34.5 FG%) 0.58 ppp (35.7 FG%) 0.81 ppp (47.1 FG%)
And then there's this: The Heat this season when LeBron is off the court are allowing 98.0 points per 100 possessions. With him on the floor, 103.9. The Thunder are allowing 96.7 with Durant off, and 99.7 with him on. For LeBron, the only worse defensive rating on the Heat for players that have appeared in 30 games is Michael Beasley, at 106.4.
So, is Kevin Durant a better defender than LeBron James? Not saying that, nor implying it. I do think we can agree LeBron may have slipped a little on that end this season, whether because of coasting, boredom or something else.
But because defense can be so subjective, and our biases play such a big part in telling us what we think we're seeing, we need the numbers to cut through some of the B.S. Yes, our eyes are important. The most important thing. We don't know how to exactly measure and quantify good defense. Something like steals don't tell the story for Tony Allen. And on/off numbers, defensive ratings or Win Shares don't always either, because he has to play with four other guys that might have sucked on the defensive end. But for the "Watch the games!" crowd, here's the thing: Nobody watches every game of every team. That's why we've got to have the numbers, and smartly blend them together with what we're seeing to try and get a clearer view of the entire picture.
There's also the chatter about Durant "not taking the challenge" against elite players. The citation for LeBron is that he locked up Derrick Rose in the Eastern Conference Finals. Does Durant not get the same credit for doing that to Kobe in the second round two playoffs ago in the fourth quarter? And what about in the Finals, when Durant was torching the Heat for 30.6 a game on 54.8 percent shooting — why was Shane Battier the one defending Durant the bulk of the time?
Keep this in mind, too: LeBron is 29 years old, Durant is 25. We've been comparing the players for the last few years, for good reason, but Durant is only now starting to come into the prime of his career. LeBron's past achievements and seasons are more than enough to not only place him firmly on top of the current NBA heap, but to maybe etch his name alongside some of the greatest players ever to play. Durant's not there yet.
The point is this, though: Kevin Durant might not be a better defender than LeBron James, but the gap on that end of the floor isn't a chasm anymore. It's closing — or possibly even closed — and with Durant's rise in so many other aspects of his game, falling back on the "but LeBron plays defense!" argument is weakening by the day.
The ringzzzzzz one, though? Feel free to keep using that one. Until further notice.


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Breadcrumbs NavigationHome > News & Publications > News and Communications > News > Annual Horse Show Benefits Duke Children's
Annual Horse Show Benefits Duke Children's
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The 21st annual Duke Children's Benefit Horse Show begins today (Tuesday) at the James B. Hunt Horse Complex at the N.C. State Fairgrounds.
The event, the largest hunter-jumper horse show in the Southeast, features six days of competition by horses and their riders from the United States and Canada. In addition to competition, the show offers people of all ages a behind-the-scenes look at how horses are cared for, trained and shown.
Proceeds from the event benefit research and clinical activities at the Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center.
Competitions are held each day from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Main attractions include the Friday night family activities with the Children's Stick Horse Classic at 6:45 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Children need to supply their own stick horse to participate in the race.
Youngsters also can see the horses in their stalls, in the five tents and five permanent barns on the complex grounds. The show also features equestrian collectibles and gifts from around the country, as well as a silent auction.
The feature event is the Duke Grand Prix at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13. Riders and horses have traveled from across the United States and Canada to compete. A $30,000 prize will be awarded to the Grand Prix winner. Tickets are $10 for adults and free for children 10 years and younger. Tickets can be purchased at the arena beginning at 6 p.m. on Nov. 13.
All other Horse Show events are free and open to the public.
For more information about the Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center, visit www.dukechildrens.org.
About This Article
Article Details
Published: Nov. 9, 2004
Updated: Nov. 19, 2004
For Journalists
Reporters & producers can visit Duke Medicine News and Communications for contact information.


text: No. Why would you use freeze dried fruits in baking? As a binder, it would need to be rehydrated because it would need sons kind of water or liquid to bind to other ingredients, and well, wouldn't that defeat the purpose of dried fruit? If you want a sugary material to use as binder, blend up some dates.


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This is Ayres 8th bottling of the Willamette Valley Pinot noir. Bing cherries, roasted plums and wild raspberries mix with green tea and brown sugar on the nose for a detailed, luminous wine. Drink now or cellar for a few years.
2009 Vintage Tasting Notes
The beauty of blending comes alive in this bottle as our estate fruit joins fruit from the Eola Hills. This wine has dance! High tones of bing cherries, roasted plums, and raspberries. Baking spices (think all-spice and clove) and violets on the nose. Dollar for dollar you will not find a more detailed, a more luminous Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. It is ready to drink at dinner tonight, but give it a few years in the bottle and you will think you are drinking one of our estate wines. - the winery
2008 Vintage Tasting Notes
A super value 2008 Oregon Pinot noir. A darker wine when first opened, with intriguing aromas of humus and espresso. Give this a bit of air and watch the evolution - a delicious combo of deep berry flavors and a streak of raspberry compote comes alive. A nice rich texture lets the huckleberry pie, brambly raspberry, licorice and graham flavors hang on the finish. - Marcus
2007 Vintage Tasting Notes
Fresh raspberry, cherry, rose petal, and a big dollop of juicy strawberry on the nose and palate. Supple and smooth with nuances of truffle and nice sweetness throughout. If there's a better value in Oregon Pinot right now, show me. - Avalon
Silky smooth and seamless! This oh-so-elegant wine delivers a beautiful balance of baked plum, dark cherry, and black raspberry pastry sharing space with freshly turned earth. Aromas of green tea, violets, and dried lavender�consider it aromatherapy in your glass! Made from 50% Ayres� Estate fruit and 50% old-vine Eola Hills fruit. - the winery
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Wednesday, October 30, 2013
On Oct. 9, Wal-Mart gave away more than $1,000 to Cario Middle School teachers at their after-school faculty meeting.
Twenty of the teachers received $50 Teacher Rewards Gift Cards that can be used to purchase classroom materials, snacks and anything else they need for the students to have a great school year. Also, Wal-Mart gave boxes of supplies to share with teachers and provided a wonderful cake and sodas.
Wal-Mart gives back to every local community where they are doing business, addressing the needs of the communities they serve. This year, Wal-Mart's Teacher Rewards program provided up to 4.5 million dollars to 90,000 teachers across the United States.
Cario Faculty would like to take this opportunity to thank Sheryl Campbell, Rosie Key and Shawntay Richardson, who represented Wal-Mart, for acknowledging the dedication and sacrifice of our teachers here at Cario Middle School.
With these challenging times, Wal-Mart recognizes that the teachers of Cario Middle and other teachers across this country reach into their own pockets every day to give their students the best possible learning experiences they can.
Whether it is giving supplies to a student, a snack when students are hungry or a small gift to reward a great job, teachers go above and beyond to support their students.
Cario staff want to thank Wal-Mart for partnering with us in thanking our teachers.
© 2016 Moultrie News an Evening Post Industries company. All Rights Reserved.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Parental Consent Form.


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American Idol winner Jordin Sparks wants to set the record straight: she and Blake Lewis are not dating.
"It makes me laugh. We went through this whole experience and it's like I can't even look at him that way," she told Elvis Duran and the Morning Zoo on New York's Z100.
But being the subject of gossip isn't the only downfall to her newfound fame.
"I can't really go to the mall anymore," Sparks said. Even though she's tried everything to be able to go out in public and not get recognized – including wearing hats and hoodies – she sticks out "like a sore thumb."
"Everybody sees my hair and then they see how tall I am they're like, 'There's Jordin, right there.'"
Not that she's complaining. "Everything is coming so fast. My life is just turned upside down. But I love it and I want to do it for as long as I can," she told the radio DJs just moments before they premiered her first single "Tattoo."
The track, which describes the scar left when a relationship ends, was one of the first songs she considered for her debut album after winning Idol in May. "I didn't even get through the first chorus before I was like, 'I need to have this song!'"
Click here to listen to "Tattoo."
While Sparks's debut is due in November, previous Idols Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood's Grammy-winning, multi-platinum successes have put pressure on the 17-year-old to make her own mark on the music world.
"They've risen the bar so high and I'm like, 'I hope I can reach it,'" Sparks recently told the AP. "I just really hope that when [my CD] comes out it'll be great and maybe as good as theirs. And hopefully it'll sell well and people will like it."
Meanwhile, Sparks has spent the summer touring with her fellow finalists – including Lewis, Melinda Doolittle, Chris Richardson and Sanjaya Malakar – whom she considers like a "dysfunctional family."
"It's abnormally weird how well we still get along," she admits. "We get on each other's nerves, but, at the end of the day, we're still just like, 'Hey, you wanna hang out?' "
And as for Lewis, 26, he's just been signed to 19 Recordings/Arista Records and is already working on his debut album, due later this year.
Jordin Sparks: Rumor about Blake 'Makes Me Laugh'
Jason Merritt/FilmMagic


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Nearly midway through the first half of the 2013 Major League Baseball season, the Cincinnati Reds have many season-defining statistics that have put them in second place in the National League Central.
The Reds have trailed the St. Louis Cardinals in the division for the majority of this season, thanks to the Cardinals' dominance. There's still a long way to go, and the Reds have stayed within striking distance.
Season-defining statistics can be both positives and negatives. The negatives will obviously stand out because the team is not in first place, but there's not much to complain about in Cincinnati these days.
If the Reds can turn around some of these numbers, they could find themselves atop the NL Central at the end of the season.
Let's take a look at some of the statistics that have defined the team's first half of the season.
*All stats are courtesy of MLB.com


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"I've had some absolutely great relationships and some not so great relationships," the star, 48, tells London's Daily Mirror. "I've been in some relationships where I've felt terribly alone. Just because you're with someone it doesn't mean you're incredibly happy and complete."
But surely the well-spoken actor should be able to end relationships neatly and easily, right? Wrong. "I've had some easy and natural, made-sense breakups as well as some rough ones," he says. "I deal with them the same way we all do: I'm successful with some and not so successful with others."
Stardom doesn't change things, either. "I don't think my experiences are any different than anybody else's," Clooney says. "They've just been amplified a little more."
Despite his relationship tangles, it appears Clooney has landed on his feet. Lately, he has been dating Italian model and TV presenter Elisabetta Canalis, 30.
Who's the Old Guy?Clooney was in London to promote three films: Fantastic Mr. Fox, Up in the Air and The Men Who Stare at Goats. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, he addressed the challenges of being a middle-aged actor.
"I'm old," he says with a laugh. "It's an interesting thing to watch yourself grow older on screen. I was watching Up in the Air and I thought, 'Who's the old gray-haired guy?' And it was me. I never wear makeup for movies and now it's starting to show."
Not that he's complaining. I'm kind of comfortable with getting older because it's better than the other option, which is being dead."


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- Table View
- List View
Alice at Heartby Deborah Smith
Shy, charming, peculiar, and web-toed, Alice Riley has suffered for years at the hands of her dead mother's self-righteous family, while she hides a bevy of secret abilities. When Alice rescues a drowning child, her amazing talents are exposed. Alice can remain underwater for extraordinary periods of time, and she can locate submerged objects through some type of natural sonar ability. Her new fame/notoriety puts Alice in the national news, amidst allegations that she has somehow faked or manipulated the rescue for her own glory. Alice is trapped and desperate until three amazing older women arrive in her hometown. They are the regal and flamboyant Bonavendier sisters--dignified Lilith, acerbic Mara, and whimsical Pearl--of Sainte's Point Island, their ancestral home off the coast of Georgia. They've read Alice's story in the news and are convinced that she is their long-lost (and much younger) half sister, conceived in a reckless seduction their elderly father confessed to before he died. Like Alice, the Bonavendier sisters have webbed toes and certain amazing abilities, though none of them have Alice's marked talent for finding thin
The Beloved Womanby Deborah Smith
The Trail of Tears: The forced exodus of the Cherokee people from their homeland in Georgia to make way for the white gold miners and settlers. Katherine Blue Song's family never lived to see the Trail of Tears- they were massacred just as she returned from Philadelphia, where she'd been one of the country's first women trained as a doctor. Justis Gallatin, a white man, a rough-and-ready man, was Jesse Blue Song's friend and partner. Before he buried the victims of the massacre, he made a solemn promise to protect Katherine. But the lovely and headstrong Cherokee healer would not be protected or owned by any man- her destiny was with her own people, to use her skills on the long, arduous journey westward. From plush New York hotels to the savage sorrow of the Trail of Tears, Katherine and Justis were torn asunder by a continent's history and hurled together because of a passion as vast as the lands they loved, lost, and fought to regain.
Blue Willowby Deborah Smith
Back in the small town of her childhood, Lily MacKenzie rekindles old flames with Artemas Colebrook, a boyhood friend and a family enemy.
California Royaleby Deborah Smith
Shea Somerton was elegant and glamorous, just like Estate Mendocino, the resort she managed -- but behind her classy facade there was a hint of recklessness in her violet eyes.
Caught by Surpriseby Deborah Smith
Brig McKay was a hell-raiser, a rebel without a cause -- and he was Deputy Sheriff Millie Surprise's duty for the next sixty days!
Follow the Sunby Deborah Smith
The Cherokee ProphesyHere at last, in one thrilling volume, is the acclaimed Cherokee Trilogy, three contemporary stories of passion and adventure. It is the dramatic saga of three independent, beautiful women bound by the legacy of their noble Cherokee ancestors, and searching for love and fulfillment....The Cherokee LegacySundance and the Princess: The enticing story of a modern-day princess and her tempestuous yearning for a seductive maverick, and of their search for a stolen treasure that takes the couple on a spellbinding journey. Tempting the Wolf: A heart-stirring tale of a woman who seeks her birthright on a North Carolina reservation and falls in love with a fierce renegade sworn to roam forever free. Kat's Tale: The alluring novel of the forbidden love that sizzles between a gorgeous woman and a rugged adventurer bound by his urgent mission of revenge.The Cherokee HeritageSix men and women you'll never forget. Three tales of romance and adventure you'll always remember.From the Paperback edition.
A Greater Musicby Deborah Smith Suah Bae
Near the beginning of A Greater Music, the narrator, a young Korean writer, falls into an icy river in the Berlin suburbs, where she's been housesitting for her on-off boyfriend Joachim. This sets into motion a series of memories about life in Berlin, about literature, language, music, and the tragic love affair she with her female German teacher named M.
Heart of the Dragonby Deborah Smith
While searching all over Bangkok for her half-sister, Rebecca Brown captures the attention of Kash Santelli, a man who suspects her of being a spy.
Hold on Tightby Deborah Smith
Rucker McClure had drowned beer and chased women everywhere south of the Mason-Dixon Line, but he couldn't resist heading straight for Mount Pleasant, Alabama, when the town's mayor, ex-Miss Georgia Dinah Sheridan, sent him a baby possum in retaliation for a column that savaged their annual Possum Days celebration! Not a bit subtle where seduction was concerned, Rucker did his best to rough up Dinah's smooth edges, mesmerizing her with burning caresses and a voice that drawled steamy promises. "Keep your heart open and lips puckered," he warned her when he left town, but when he returned and began unraveling her mystery, Dinah knew her fate was sealed. If Rucker discovered the scandal that had once cost her everything, she'd lose him-and the life she loved. But if she wouldn't trust him with her secrets, how could he prove he cherished her?
Honey and Smokeby Deborah Smith
Tackling an intruder in the old moonshiner's cave, ex-Marine Max Templeton is astonished to find the beautiful and wiry Betty Quint, and he vows to win her over, even as she swears she will wait for a more marriage- and family-minded man
Hot Touchby Deborah Smith
Rugged vet Paul Belue was part Clark Gable, part Cajun Gypsy, and all male, but when Caroline Fitzsimmons arrived to train his pet wolf for a movie, he vowed to drive her from his bayou mansion!
Jed's Sweet Revengeby Deborah Smith
When Wyoming cowboy Jed Powers came to claim Sancia Island, he was prepared to evict a squatter -- but instead found himself bewitched by a woman.
The Jersey Shore Cookbook: Fresh Summer Flavors from the Boardwalk and Beyondby Deborah Smith Photography by Thomas Robert Clarke
Coastal cuisine from Asbury Park to Cape May. The warm sand. The salt air. The boardwalk. The food! Summer at the Jersey Shore is unforgettable no matter which seaside destination is yours. And with The Jersey Shore Cookbook, you can have a taste of summer all year long. It features 50 recipes contributed by well-loved shore town restaurants, bakeries, markets, and more. From fresh oysters, scallops, and tilefish to Garden State tomatoes, corn, and blueberries, the perfect New Jersey ingredients shine. Featuring favorites from: Asbury Park Atlantic City Avalon Bay Head Beach Haven Belmar Bradley Beach Brielle Cape May Cape May Point Harvey Cedars Highlands Keyport Lavallette Leeds Point Long Branch Manasquan Monmouth Beach Normandy Beach Ocean City Point Pleasant Beach Sea Bright Sea Girt Sea Isle City Ship Bottom South Seaside Park Stone Harbor Wildwood Wildwood Crest Selected Recipes: BREAKFASTS The Brunchwich: Pork Roll The Committed Pig, Manasquan Grilled Jersey Peaches with Greek Yogurt and Granola Lasolas Market, Normandy Beach STARTERS AND SIDES Allagash Steamers Marie Nicole's, Wildwood Crest Oysters Gratineé Fratello's Restaurant, Sea Girt SOUPS AND SALADS Roasted Tomato and Basil Soup Langosta Lounge, Asbury Park Beach Plum Farm Salad The Ebbitt Room, Cape May MAIN COURSES Golden Tilefish Sandwich Joe's Fish Co., Wildwood Lobster Thermidor Knife and Fork Inn, Atlantic City Spaghetti and Crabs Joe Leone's Italian Specialties, Point Pleasant Beach DESSERTS Blueberry Cobbler Talula's, Asbury Park Key Lime Pie Inlet Café, Highlands
Legendsby Deborah Smith
New York Times bestselling author Deborah Smith evokes the stunning beauty of Scotland in this spin on the clan wars--as a sexy CEO finds himself abducted by a brazen beauty determined to save her village. Elgiva MacRoth descends from a long line of bold Scots willing to fight for their heritage. When her picturesque town comes under siege by a corporate raider, she devises a daring plan to stop billionaire Douglas Kincaid. But kidnapping a man off the rooftop of his penthouse and holding him hostage proves far less complicated than saving herself from his intoxicating sensual assault. The stunning beauty with her golden eyes and fighting spirit make captivity feel like a fantasy. The desire heating up is enough to make them both forget the battle, and surrender to something far more pleasurable. But Douglas has his own dreams for this lovely spot of Scottish land. And he has a proposal that he hopes will convince Elgiva to give up her hard line and give in to him in every way that matters. With a warrior's will, he's fighting for his legacy, his heart, and the woman of his dreams.Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: Remember the Time, The Vow, This Fierce Splendor, The Baron, Lightning That Lingers, Tall, Dark, and Lonesome, and Dream Lover.
Miracleby Deborah Smith
Haunted by a past filled with poverty and abuse, Amy Miracle finds escape and release in the vineyards of Georgia--and in Sebastian de Savin, a brilliant and arrogant surgeon whose own past has hardened his heart. Amy finally breaks through de Savin's shell and teaches him to love and laugh again, and Sebastian helps Amy blossom into a magnificent woman.
Never Let Goby Deborah Smith
Confusion, fury, and disbelief filled Rucker McClure's soul when he saw his wife across the airport waiting room. A year ago, Dinah had vanished without a trace, but he'd never stopped looking for her, never given up hope - until now, when it seemed all his worst fears were true: she'd betrayed her country and abandoned the husband she'd sworn to love until death.From the Trade Paperback edition.
A Place to Call Homeby Deborah Smith
Twenty years ago, Claire Maloney was the willful, pampered, tomboyish daughter of the town's most respected family, but that didn't stop her from befriending Roan Sullivan, a fierce, motherless boy who lived in a rusted-out trailer amid junked cars. No one in Dunderry, Georgia--least of all Claire's family--could understand the bond between these two mavericks. But Roan and Claire belonged together...until the dark afternoon when violence and terror overtook them, and Roan disappeared from Claire's life. Now, two decades later, Claire is adrift, and the Maloneys are still hoping the past can be buried under the rich Southern soil. But Roan Sullivan is about to walk back into their lives....By turns tender and sexy and heartbreaking and exuberant, A Place to Call Home is an enthralling journey between two hearts--and a deliciously original novel from one of the most imaginative and appealing new voices in Southern fiction.
Sara's Surpriseby Deborah Smith
Dr. Sara Scarborough is tormented by memories when Kyle Surprise, a man from her painful past, shows up at her Kentucky mountain refuge
Silk and Stoneby Deborah Smith
In the wealthy resort town of Pandora, North Carolina, old secrets and heartaches are guarded as closely as rubies cut from the mountain bedrock. It is said that a fine ruby is both silk and stone, light and shadow, fortune and tragedy. And the finest ruby of all is the famous Pandora Ruby, a gem that has divided the Vanderveer and Raincrow families for decades and shattered the lives of all who have possessed it.
Silver Fox and Red-Hot Doveby Deborah Smith
When Elena Petrovic, a member of a visiting Soviet delegation and possessor of a secret healing power, runs away, T.S. Audubon is determined to find her before the American and Soviet agents do.
Stranger in Camelotby Deborah Smith
Cautious Agnes Hamilton, owner of a horse breeding farm, tries in vain to resist the advances of the wickedly handsome John Bartholomew, a mystery man who rides into her life and tries to sweep her off her feet.
Sweet Hushby Deborah Smith
Smith cooks up a passionate story about a woman whose life is thrown into chaos when her son elopes with the daughter of the President of the United States. Includes an brand-new short story.
When Venus Fellby Deborah Smith
Home is wherever the heart leads....The ties that bind us--to our families, to our pasts--are at the heart of this deeply engrossing story. Venus Arinelli saw her future as a concert pianist shattered when her father's life ended in disgrace. Now Venus plays in cocktail lounges, sporting her survival skills like a suit of armor. When a stranger emerges from her parents' long-ago past with an offer too good to refuse, Venus' suspicions flare up.But Gib Cameron has a special mission. He represents the Camerons of Tennessee--a family as rooted in American history and Southern soil as Venus' is notorious and fly-by-night. Yet the Camerons, survivors of tragedy, need Venus for reasons that have to do with honor and loyalty and an almost mystical bond to their shared past. And Gib, as hard-eyed a skeptic as Venus herself, has to persuade her to come to their mountain home.Humor, sexiness, pathos, and surprises are all part of Deborah Smith's unique storytelling magic. When Venus Fell will entrance readers with its tale of Venus's reluctant journey to Tennessee, where two well-guarded hearts, afraid to trust again, will find they've come home.
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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Twenty of the world's top adventurers share the dazzling new frontiers they've discovered, as well as their all-time classic trips to add to your list. Plus: Don't miss the must-have gear they take on every trip. —Kate Siber
Photograph by Mark Jenkins
Mountain Biker
The Vietnamese used the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a nest of jungle-choked paths and roads through the mountains, to ferry supplies during the Vietnam War, and they largely did it with bicycles. Now, travelers hike and bike these capillaries to see an intimate view of the country. Few, however, do the entire length of it. Except, naturally, for Rusch, who plans to ride roughly 800 miles of it.
"You'd be going through villages and jungle and all sorts of cultural travel experiences," she says. "That's one of the things I think is so great about a bike is to travel and explore and get off the beaten path." This path certainly isn't well beaten, as it traces the ridgelines of the Annamite Mountains, passes through tiny villages, and skirts verdant terraced agricultural lands.
Rusch would like to go for an even deeper reason, too: to visit the site where her father's plane was shot down during the Vietnam War.
Athlete Bio
Mountain Biker
Rebecca Rusch has won a flock of adventure races, the whitewater rafting national championships, and the masters cross-country skiing world championships. But that was all before she started biking. In the last seven years, she has become a cyclocross state champion and the 24-hour solo mountain bike national champion, and she has won the Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race, a preeminent endurance test, four times in a row.
Rebecca Rusch's Gear Pick
Garmin 510 Bike Computer
"The Garmin 510 is like my little brain that goes on my handlebar," Rusch says. "It's my everyday training computer. I like it because the numbers are a little bigger than other models and it has a touch screen that responds to pressure, not heat, so you can use it with gloves on."


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SLSA is proud to announce an all new release of its beach safety app Beachsafe for iOS (iPhone, iPad) and Android (phone and tablet)
The Beachsafe app brings together numerous data sources and databases managed by SLSA and select external organisations such as the B.o.M. Our aim is to present high quality up-to-the-minute beach safety information to the public at all times. It is therefore crucial that the data is correct and that the public gets thoroughly checked information so that they can make informed decisions. Some of the information in those data sources leveraged by Beachsafe is updated by SLSA and some by club, branch and state.
The app has been designed to promote safety and awareness to the public at and around Australian beaches. The app uses GPS to display nearby beaches (1), including whether or not a beach is patrolled (2). Further details can be viewed for any beach (3) and specific beaches or clubs can be searched for (4). Favourite beaches can be stored for quick access using the My Beaches function (5) and educational safety tips and information can be viewed in the Surf Ed tab (6).
Every beach in Australia, whether it is patrolled or not, is listed in Beachsafe. Its primary source of information is the ABSAMP (Australian Beach Safety and Management Program) database which contains trustworthy and current summaries of all of a beach's unique qualities - its hazards, its geographic location and its facilities and the large photos which head up every beach's page. This is complimented by current weather conditions and warning advisories for each beach (supplied by the Bureau of Meteorology), live patrol data (taken from Surfguard and Surfcom), live news (taken from organisation Twitter feeds) and even on-going events which can be managed by surf club administrators and members of the public alike. All of this information can be viewed in over 50 languages using the live translation facility at the top of the page.
In this latest version, users can now translate all in-app text into 72 languages, making it ideal for foreign visitors to the coast. In addition future patrol dates can be checked enabling beach-goers to plan ahead and swim at the beach when it's patrolled by surf lifesavers or lifeguards. All beaches also have their own 'What's On' section which enables anyone to enter event information for the public and surf lifesavers alike.
To download the free Beachsafe app, simply click on the buttons below which related to your smartphone device, App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play for all Android devices.
Developed by Nano Solutions for Surf Live Saving Australia


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THE MORE I talk to taxpayers, the more I hear the same complaint: With taxes so high, wouldn't it be nice if we the people at least received our money's worth in services?
Philadelphians deserve a city government that is effective, cost-efficient and responsive to their needs. That gets the job done right, on time, within budget. That's accountable to all residents and all neighborhoods.
And here's how: City Service Reform.
Getting there means implementing an innovative and highly successful performance-management strategy called CitiStat.


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Study to determine if blood test could diagnose autism
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia participating in clinical trial
Published 3:32 PM EDT Apr 24, 2013
A large clinical trial to determine if a simple blood test could diagnose autism is getting started.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is among 20 institutions nationwide enrolling children between the ages of 18 months and five years in the study.
The goal is to create the first blood test that would identify biological markers associated with the disorder.
Researchers said a blood test could help doctors diagnose the disease when patients are still very young, before autism symptoms are usually recognized.
Copyright 2013 by WGAL All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Real Madrid CF have announced the signing of Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas from Levante UD, the 27-year-old signing a six-year deal following an outstanding FIFA World Cup.
The custodian, who swells a Madrid goalkeeping roster which already includes Iker Casillas and Diego López, joins the UEFA Champions League winners for an undisclosed fee having spent the last three seasons with the Valencia club. The player will be presented to press and fans at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday.
Welcome to Real Madrid, @NavasKeylor. #WelcomeKeylor #halamadrid pic.twitter.com/JoRu0QCtw1
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) August 3, 2014
The keeper began his career in his home country with Deportivo Saprissa before moving to Spain with Albacete Balompié. After relegation to Segunda División B in his first season he moved to Levante UD, initially as a reserve to Gustavo Munúa, but seized his chance in the 2013/14 season, impressing with a number of excellent displays as the side finished tenth.
He carried that domestic form into the World Cup, helping Costa Rica to a quarter-final place only to suffer defeat to the Netherlands on penalties.
©UEFA.com 1998-2016. All rights reserved.


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Top Definition
Someone who plays runescape but tells none of his friends or sometimes even his family that plays. Approximatly 98% of the runescape population are closet scapers.
John is a closet scaper, he even deletes his history when friends use his computer!
লিখেছেন- Screechingmu 24 de অগাস্ট de 2008
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?


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The world of interior design doesn't stop at the cage door. Choosing appropriate housing for a bird is just the first step to keeping it content. The next step is to use "feathered feng shui" techniques to set up the cage so that the bird feels comfortable and safe, both day and night.
**For the full article, pick up the February 2011 issue of BIRD TALK at your local retailer or by purchasing a PDF download here.**
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*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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A source close to the couple insists there was no infidelity or other smoking gun behind their breakup, and says it was a mutual decision by two people who remain friends.
"It wasn't contentious," the source tells PEOPLE. "It had kind of just run its course … They just sort of looked at each other and said, 'We like each other and we make each other laugh, but this isn't for the long-term.' "
Hectic schedules may have also contributed to the split. In addition to starring in and producing Ghost Whisperer, Hewitt is preparing for an upcoming Lifetime movie, and getting ready for a tour to promote her first book, The Day I Shot Cupid, due out March 23. In the book, the star – quite fittingly – offers advice on relationships, love and weathering, among other things, breakups.
"She's working constantly, and Jamie's working on the show and touring [with his stand-up comedy act]," says the source. "It just isn't conducive to a relationship."
Still, the source says the former couple's on-set relationship remains drama free and professional.
See what other readers have to say about this story – or leave a comment of your own


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I'm not usually a fan of Mischa Barton's style (or of her really) but besides being insanely beautiful she's always willing to take a chance with her style. US Weekly may have dubbed her one of their worst dressed for the Cannes Film Festival but I really loved her Roberto Cavalli hippie chic look!
The dress is a little bit loose around her chest (and she really shouldn't smile with her mouth closed it makes her face look a bit too full) but otherwise I think she accessorised the dress perfectly. Plus, she's one of the few girls I can think of who can actually wear a headband like that.
Here are two more Mischa home runs from this past week at Cannes: