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How to Cancel a Credit Card
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In the last year, literature in personal finance focused a lot on financial defense like canceling a credit card. There was a lot of talk about credit, credit reports, and your credit score because it's one of the cornerstones of the modern financial life, whether you like it or not. During that time, many card issuers started canceling cards, reducing credit limits, and otherwise reducing their overall financial risk. Rampant foreclosures and sinking home prices, issuers were scared and started cutting people based on where they shopped!
Now that the economy has recovered, many people don't want to be in the position they were a year ago – feeling like the card issuers held them and their credit score hostage. The easiest way to do this is to reduce how much credit you use and the quickest way to do that is to cancel credit cards.
How do you cancel a credit card without significantly hurting your credit score?
Don't Do It
If you are planning on buying a home or car (or otherwise need a loan) in the next year, avoid any changes to your credit unless it's fixing an existing problem. If you aren't planning on a large loan in the next year or two, a little financial housekeeping might be in order. You won't help your score by canceling cards but you could simplify your financial situation and that always helps.
Paying Down Debt
The first step in any credit card reduction strategy is to reduce your outstanding debt. The main reason why canceling a credit card is bad for your credit has to do with credit utilization. Credit utilization is your outstanding balance divided by your total credit limit across all debts. A higher number means you're using more of your existing credit, which is a bad thing. Canceling cards is bad because it decreases your total credit limit, thus increasing your utilization without increasing your risk (all you did was cancel a card).
Don't cancel a card that has a balance. If you do, the debt becomes due immediately and you may find yourself in a difficult spot trying to pay it off. Don't let the issuer know that you plan on canceling the card after paying off the debt because they might boost the interest rate on you (under the auspices of "risk").
If you have little or no outstanding debt, then your credit utilization number can't go up significantly.
Cancel Newer Cards First
The second reason why canceling a card hurts your score has to do with the average age of your accounts. This is less important than credit utilization but if you have a choice, cancel the newer cards first. If you have two cards to choose from and the newer one offers better rewards you will use, then cancel the older one. You want to pick the card that fits your needs, you don't want the credit score industry to do it for you.
If you aren't sure which card is newer, you can review your credit report to find out how old an account is.
Convert or Consolidate Cards
If you have two cards from the same issuer, consider consolidating credit lines. Ask to have the newer line consolidating into the older line. This, in effect, cancels the newer card but does not affect your credit utilization because your total credit limit remains the same. This is the best result you can have out of canceling a card because you keep the total credit line and you increase the average age of your accounts.
Likewise, if you prefer the newer card's rewards, consolidate the credit limits and then ask to have the old card converted to the newer one. This can get a little tricky because you want a conversion that doesn't require a credit check (which hurts your score) and you don't want a new account. If you request this, be clear with the CSR that you don't want them to cancel your old card and open a new one, you just want a conversion. Some issuers will do this, others won't.
Call to Cancel
When you cancel your card, be sure to ask the credit card company to report the closure as "Closed at the customer's request" and to send you written confirmation. You'll need to confirm in about 30 days, when the closure is reported, on your credit report and retain the letter in case there is a dispute. You don't want the report to say "Closed by creditor" because that looks bad.
Canceling a credit card account can be tricky but as you've just read, there are only a few moving parts to keep an eye on. In the end, you need to do what makes sense for you and I've laid out all the potential land mines along the way. We've been trying to simplify our finances for the last year, consolidating cards, canceling bank accounts, and otherwise just keeping our books a little smaller. In that time, I've learned that there may be a lot of pitfalls but they're easy to navigate.
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WINCHESTER — Rachel Thurnher wasn't supposed to be here for the 87th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, but fate brought her back home this year.
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'EdaslimE' | Slim Fit, Cotton Button Down Shirt by BOSS Orange
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Model is 6'2" with a 40" chest, 31" waist, and is wearing size M.
Model is 6'2" with a 40" chest, 31" waist, and is wearing size M.
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- 100% Cotton


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Today has been a terrible CFS day.
KFC, you make me sickStandard
I know, I know, Everyone is sick of hearing me rant about KFC, but it needs to be said, it needs to get out there so people will think twice about supporting a business that has no concern for their customers. It has taken me a long time to write this post because I keep getting so angry I have to walk away for a bit and calm down. Continue reading
Damn It, Why Did I Have Cereal This Morning? or…Standard
How I Learned To Love Coconut Milk Even More.
Before the events of this post, I already loved coconut milk and keep several cans in the house at all times. Big cans, for when I'm making rice (it's soooo good) or little cans, to toss into a smoothie. By the way, the little cans are Cool Runnings brand, because apparently my kitchen needs a bobsled team.
"Meat"ball sandwichesStandard
I love a good meatball sandwich. I really, really do. Especially when it is just COVERED in cheese. Mmmm.
But meat is expensive and I'm cheap, so if I can find a vegan/vegetarian version (that doesn't involve pricey soy meats) of a much-loved dish, I'm going to try it. A half can of chickpeas vs a pound of beef? It's a no brainer. Plus, then I get to use the other half of the can for hummus, so I'm getting two meals for a dollar. Awesome.
Butter Cauliflower…it's not what it sounds like.Standard
It's a vegan version of Butter Chicken, though when I excitedly told my wife I was planning to make it, she was less than enthused. "Butter…cauliflower?" It took me a minute, but then I realized she thought I meant just plain ol' cauliflower with butter on it. Oops. She agreed to try the cauliflower with the proviso that I realize she doesn't usually like cauliflower. That's fine, it's cooked separately and then added to the rice and the sauce, so if she didn't like it, it was no trouble to make it without. I'm a cauliflower fan, so that just meant more for me! I love me some butter chicken, but mixing heavy cream with Indian spices doesn't do my digestive system any favors, so it's a very, very rare treat for me. So when I found a vegan version, I nearly jumped for joy. When I read over the recipe and realized I wouldn't have to make any changes, I did do a little happy dance in the middle of my kitchen. I am going to repost the recipe here, but only so I can find it easier and so I can hold on to it in case something happens to the other site. But I found the recipe over at Food Doodles, you should totally check them out. I did not make the coconut brown rice, De doesn't like brown rice, so I made my own version with a can of coconut milk and Jessie's Tea from DavidsTea, a blend of coconut, rooibos, and lavender.
Yield: 4 servings
For the cauliflower:
3-4 C cauliflower, 1 small head
1 tbsp oil
1 – 1½ tbsp tandoori seasoning
juice of half a lemon, about 2 tbsp
½ tsp salt
2 tbsp oil
1 large onion, diced
4 large cloves of garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
2 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp coriander
¾ tsp cumin
½ tsp cinnamon
1 quart (or a 32 oz can) jar tomatoes, pureed
1 tbsp raw sugar
1 can full fat coconut milk
¼ tsp salt + more to taste
In a large skillet heat the oil over medium low heat. When hot add the onion and saute until completely softened and some pieces are starting to caramelize and turn dark, 10-15 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and stir. Add the chilli powder, turmeric, coriander, cumin and cinnamon and stir again. Pour in the tomatoes and stir well. Bring up to a boil and then turn down and simmer while preparing the cauliflower.
To prepare the cauliflower chop into bite sized pieces and lay out on a baking sheet. Drizzle with oil, sprinkle with tandoori seasoning, fresh lemon juice and salt. Toss well to combine. When the oven is hot, place cauliflower in the oven and roast until the edges of the cauliflower are beginning to caramelize and turn dark but the cauliflower is still firm, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, stir the sauce occasionally until it thickens, about 20 minutes. Add 1 tbsp of sugar, ¼ tsp of salt and the can of full fat coconut milk(*see note). Stir well.
Once the cauliflower is done, remove from the oven and stir into the sauce. Stir well and serve hot over rice.
I'm back!Standard
So last night, as we finished off our dinner, my wonderful wife, De, states that one year for Christmas, I should compile a book of my recipes to give as gifts. I scoffed and asked her who would want copies of my weird recipes and she began naming people. I still think she's nuts, but I was also looking for a way to preserve my tried and true recipes with notes about what I did differently, so I wandered back to this blog. I decided to make it public and share it on facebook and google+ in case any of you crazy people really do want my recipes, but overall this is primarily to record what I've made and how we've liked it. Other posts may pop up now and then, but I'm going to try to be laid back about it and not make myself stick to a schedule, which is what killed this blog the first time around.
A note: Most of my recipes are not my own, I just find a recipe similar to what I'm looking for and then tweak it a little. I have a whole list of food issues, so it's rare for me to find a recipe I can use verbatim. For instance, I can't have dairy. Let me rephrase that. I shouldn't have dairy, but cheese is the love of my life. Not to mention that "real" cheese is cheaper than the vegan stuff I prefer to use in my cooking.
We are also on a tight, tight budget so we can afford to go see my family for Christmas, YAY. So you'll see a lot of financial corners being cut as well. I've become one of those crunchy granola lesbians. I make my own dishwasher soap and laundry soap and kombucha and I firmly believe in the healing powers of homoeopathic remedies over pills. I am off all of my medication and I feel better than ever, but that's another post for another day.
A little about me, since things have changed since I started this blog. I have been married for five years now to the best wife a gal could ask for. Seriously, De is amazing and supportive and wonderful. We have three cats, Bella, Pekoe, and Earlie…Pekoe is orange and Earlie is grey and I seriously love tea, y'all. We also have a little red foot tortoise named Da Hong Pao (another type of tea), but we just call her Pao. She's nuts.
I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or CFS for short. I'm working on getting an official diagnosis, but doctors either can't figure out what's wrong with me or they want to stuff me with a bunch of pills to see which ones take. After my last set of meds screwed me up worse than the disease, I'm taking a break for now and trying out more natural remedies, like the kombucha and apple cider vinegar for my heartburn, instead of Prevacid. But what CFS essentially means is that some days I'm able to get out of bed and go about my normal routine just fine, but other days I literally cannot get out of bed. We live near the Toronto Zoo and while I love the Zoo with all my heart, we have to plan carefully because after a day at the Zoo, I have to spend the next 2-3 days in bed, recovering. I am absurdly lucky in that my wife is able to support both of us so I don't have to work and can take care of myself at home and conserve my energy for the things that truly matter.
So that's a little bit about me and this blog and my life. It's not just about tea any more.
Jessie's Ro-TeaStandard
This is more so I can make this dish again in the future, but I figured why not publish it here? We recently returned from a cruise to the Caribbean with my in-laws and in St. Maarten we tried the beauty that is Roti (despite there being 2 roti joint around the corner from our house). It tasted very similar to a curry I used to make in college, so I was sure that with the right spices, I could do it again. It's stewing away in the crockpot right now because, let's face it, these type of dishes are best done slow over a low heat.
I started with this recipe here, but immediately tossed the idea of green beans in my roti because, well, I just didn't like the idea. The roti we had in St. Maarten had peas, so my wife suggest that, but I laughed her off. Chicken and potatoes would be good enough for us, thank you very much!
…until I got the chicken out of the freezer and discovered it had gone bad. Crap. And there's some kind of chicken something in there, but my wife put it in and I don't know if it's for stock or if it's boneless chicken thighs, so I'm not gonna chance it. Veggie potato roti it is!
And I don't have a fresh red chili pepper…and all of my garlic is dead…and I don't have sunflower oil…and is Indian masala the same as curry masala? Cause that's all I got! Hokay. So after I chopped up a million and a half potatoes, I couldn't bring myself to chop up any more. I gave in and dumped in a cup and a half of peas. It actually looks really good! And y'all know me, I can't bring myself to add just water to a recipe, I used Jessie's tea for the sauce in this because of the coconut realness. (No more RuPaul for Rita).
So here's the updated list of ingredients:
1.5 pounds of potatoes cut into bite size chunks. Peel if you like, I'm too damn lazy.
1.5 cups of frozen peas
1 onion chopped as small as you can get it until you start crying and make your wife panic
.5 teaspoon of dried chili peppers
2 teaspoons granulated garlic
1.5 Tablespoons Indian masala
1 Tablespoon tomato paste
2 low-sodium chicken bouillon sachets (because of course I didn't have cubes)
.25 teaspoon cumin
2 cups Jessie's Tea (I let 2 heaping teaspoons steep for about 5-7 minutes)
3 tbsp olive oil
That's…similar to the original ingredient list, right? So this is how it panned out: Pour oil into a pan on the stove, but don't turn it on yet. Look for chicken. Get freezer burn digging for it. Find it and break all of your fingers trying to get the damn meat out of the package only to have the most ungodly smell hit you in the face. Promptly throw it away and try not to gag. Decide to be vegetarian for the night, possibly for life.
Chop onions, cry as soon as first chop is made. Try to convince cat to chop them for you. Call cat dirty names when she wrinkles her nose and runs from the room like a coward. Power through like a boss. Remember old adage about sunglasses helping when chopping onions. Find sunglasses. Still crying, but now look cool.
Mix onions with chili peppers and granulated garlic and set aside. Mix masala, cumin, tomato paste, and bouillon and set aside. Add oil to pan on the stove. Remember you already added oil to the stove, curse, and try to add oil back to bottle of olive oil. Make huge mess all over stove. Try to wipe up oil with damp wash cloth. Remember basic science as to why that isn't working. Curse more. Find paper towels. Finally clean up mess.
Heat up oil. Remember the drop of oil on the burner just in time to see the puff of flame on the underside of the pan. Shriek, run away, and then come back with a bucket of water to find it already out.
Okay then.
Shrug and keep water nearby just in case. Add onion mix to the hot oil and cook carefully until onions are tender. Dump in frozen peas and curse a lot as the ice sizzles and pops in the hot oil because you forgot another basic science lesson involving water and oil. Quickly add potatoes, stir to coat, and then add to the crock pot. Add the tea and let it go.
I only have four hours, so I'm going to keep it on high until 6, when the mother in law is coming over for dinner. The original recipe says 5-7 hours on low, but you probably know your crockpot better than I do. Do what you think is best. What I think is best is that I not cook for a while until I've got my head back in the game!


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Sources: Sony, Engadget
quote: I don't see a plausible use-case for a waterproof tablet.
quote: Games on any touchscreen suck way too much to play.
quote: A big difference than Android going from 4.7 to 7 in alot of cases, to 9-10 in others... Totally redesigning all apps isn't needed
quote: Again, you are over-stating the issue and putting WAY too much on something that isn't a big issue. Yes, better on IOS, but not immensely.
quote: Walking Dead
quote: can't say the same about other games but walking dead is a HUGE apple's win imho. it so sad to see it released only on ios among tablets.
quote: tablet that is waterproof
quote: I do wonder whether we are seeing a decay in the meaning of technical terms due to poor marketing.
quote: The fancy camera on the tablet is able to automatically recognize the scene and adjust exposures automatically so they come out with high quality in dark. The camera also has an Auto Low Premium feature that selects optimal settings automatically for the best images in dark environments.


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SALEM - Duane O. Joy, 72, of Salem, passed away on Feb. 14, 2014, at Hospice House in Poland, Ohio.
Duane was born in Lisbon on June 1, 1941, the son of the late Clinton and Thena Marie (Pugh) Joy; was a graduate of United High School and a member of the Church of Christ in Lisbon. Duane enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Catherine (Boso) Joy of Salem; a son, John S. (Jill) Adams of Salem; three daughters, Judith Ann (Tim) Bickle of Ariz., Vickie Lynn Dennison of Lisbon and Lisa Marie (Charles) Shafer of Salem;10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Glen, Gerald, Marvin, Darlene Matheny, Gary, Tim, Terry and Gale.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Merel; and a great-grandson.
A funeral service will be held today on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014, at Brown Funeral Home in Salem.
Friends may call from 9:30 to 11 a.m. today at the funeral home.
Friends and family may sign the guest register online at www.brownfhonline.com. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Home, Salem, Ohio (330-337-6363).
(Paid obituary)


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HP Pavilion dm3-1105ea
Average of 1 scores (from 1 reviews)
Reviews for the HP Pavilion dm3-1105ea
Source: PC Advisor
HP's Pavilion dm3-1105ea is built for a life on the road, with highly portable dimensions and decent battery life. Its processor is underpowered, but its excellent build and generous RAM and storage provisions go a long way to justifying this laptop's £549 price tag.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 10/20/2010
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 70% features: 80% workmanship: 80%
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD: Onboard (shared Memory) GPU built in the GM45, GE45 and GS45 chipset (Montevina). Because of two more shaders and a higher core clock, much faster than the old GMA X3100. Still not advisable for gamers (DirectX 10 games not playable or only with very low settings). The integrated video processor is able to help decode HD videos (AVC/VC-2/MPEG2) , e.g., for a fluent Blu-Ray playback with slow CPUs.
Only some 3D games with very low demands are playable with these cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
Intel Celeron Dual-Core: The Intel Celeron Dual-Core familiy consists out of dual core CPUs for cheap laptops. Compared to the Celeron M single core family the biggest advantage (in addition to the second core) is the Enhanced Speedstep function, which enables the notebook to downclock the CPU in Idle mode. Therefore, the current consumption can be much lower. Compared to the Core (2) Duo or Pentium Dual-Core processors, the Celeron Cual-Core features much less L2 Cache which leads to a lower performance per clock.
SU2300: Entry level dual core CPU for small laptops. Offers only a low level performance due to the low clock speed and because of the Celeron brand some power saving features are disabled.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
Above all, this display size is used for subnotebooks, ultrabooks and convertibles. For all three types, this size is quite large. The biggest variety of subnotebooks is represented with this size.
Large display-sizes allow higher resolutions. So, details like letters are bigger. On the other hand, the power consumption is lower with small screen diagonals and the devices are smaller, more lightweight and cheaper.» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.
1.8 kg:
This weight is typical for very big tablets, subnotebooks, ultrabooks and convertibles with a 11-13 inch display-diagonal.
HP: The Hewlett-Packard Company, founded 1935, commonly referred to as HP, is a technology corporation headquartered in California, United States. HP specializes in developing and manufacturing computing, storage, and networking hardware, software and services. Major product lines include personal computing devices, enterprise servers, related storage devices, as well as a diverse range of printers and other imaging products. Other product lines, including electronic test equipment and systems, medical electronic equipment, solid state components and instrumentation for chemical analysis. HP posted US $91.7 billion in annual revenue in 2006, making it the world's largest technology vendor in terms of sales. In 2007 the revenue was $104 billion, making HP the first IT company in history to report revenues exceeding $100 billion. Market share regarding sales of personal computers in 2007 (market research IDC): HP 18.9 %, Dell 16.4 %, Acer 9.9 %, Lenovo 7.5 %, Apple 5.7 %
80%: This rating is not convincing. The laptop is evaluated below average, this is not really a recommendation for purchase.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.
Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU
Devices with the same GPU
Devices with Same Screen Size and/or Weight


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The differential diagnosis for oral lentigines includes several syndromes with important associated systemic findings. McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS), a mosaic condition associated with café au lait pigmentation, is not typically considered a mucosal lentiginosis syndrome. The clinical phenotype of MAS is variable because of mosaicism, but oral pigmentation developing in mid-childhood to early adulthood should be recognized as a clinical feature of MAS.
We present 4 patients with MAS who developed oral mucosal pigmentation during childhood or early adulthood. All patients had other characteristic findings of MAS including hyperfunctioning endocrinopathies, polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, and café au lait pigmentation.
Conclusions and Relevance
Oral pigmentation is an underrecognized finding in MAS and presents later in development compared with the other mucosal lentiginosis syndromes. The diagnosis of MAS is most commonly a clinical diagnosis because mutational analysis is challenging in mosaic conditions. Expanding the cutaneous phenotype to include oral pigmentation further characterizes the clinical findings in this mosaic condition, broadens the differential diagnosis of syndromes with oral pigmentation, and in some cases may aid in earlier diagnosis of MAS.
McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) is a sporadic disorder characterized by polyostotic fibrous dysplasia (PFD), hyperfunctioning endocrinopathies, and café au lait skin pigmentation. It is caused by a somatic mutation of the guanine nucleotide-binding protein, α-stimulating (GNAS) (OMIM 139320) complex locus gene, leading to constitutive activation of the α subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gsα).1 Skin pigmentation often covers a large geographic area with an irregular border, frequently described as a "coast of Maine" border, and is often the presenting sign of the syndrome. In a recent study of 140 patients with MAS, 66% demonstrated this classic pigmentary pattern.2 Early series of MAS manifestations described patients with oral pigmentation,3,4 a clinical finding that has not been subsequently well characterized in the literature.5 We describe 4 individuals with MAS with oral lentigines similar to those seen in Carney complex (CNC) and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), thereby broadening the clinical phenotype of MAS and the differential diagnosis of mucosal lentiginosis syndromes.
An adolescent boy initially presented to an orthopedic surgeon at age 4 years with right leg pain and a limp. A bone scan and skeletal survey at that time revealed fibrous dysplasia of the cranium, ribs, bilateral arms, and right femur and tibia. The patient subsequently required 2 decompressive orbital surgical procedures. Endocrine evaluation revealed normal thyroid function but cystic lesions on thyroid ultrasound typical of those seen in MAS. He had growth hormone excess necessitating treatment with a somatostatin analogue. Ultrasound of the testes identified solid lesions commonly found in men and boys with MAS that likely represented Leydig cell hyperplasia. Cutaneous examination at age 11 years demonstrated a small café au lait patch on the right lateral chest (Figure 1A) and hyperpigmented macules on the lower lip (Figure 1B). The macules on the lip were first documented at age 11 years, and since that time the patient noted progressive darkening of the pigmentation in addition to new macules on the lip (Figure 1C) and bilateral anterior buccal mucosae.
A, Café au lait patch on the right lateral chest (age, 11 years). B, Oral mucosal pigmentation (age, 11 years). C, Oral mucosal pigmentation (age, 14 years).
A woman presented for evaluation of progressive oral mucosal pigmentation. She was otherwise healthy until age 18 years, when she experienced her first fracture while lifting a 2.3-kg weight. Several months later, the patient fractured the left femur while walking. Later that year she received a diagnosis of MAS following radiographic imaging that demonstrated polyostotic fibrous dysplasia involving bilateral humeri, the skull, the left maxilla, and several ribs. Her medical history was notable for menarche at age 9 years. Thyroid ultrasound demonstrated cystic changes of the thyroid without biochemical hyperthyroidism. Dermatologic examination revealed numerous large coast of Maine café au lait patches on the left temple, right abdomen, right back, right lower leg, and right posterior thigh, many of which she had been told were present at birth. She later developed multiple lentigines on the right first and second finger pads. The patient first noted hyperpigmented macules on the lips (Figure 2A) at age 18 years, which darkened over the past few years. She subsequently developed new hyperpigmented macules on the gingiva, tongue, and labial and buccal mucosa.
A, Case 2. Vermilion and mucosal pigmentation (age, 26 years). B, Case 3. Oral mucosal pigmentation (age, 7 years). C, Case 4. Lower vermilion lip pigmentation (age, 28 years).
An adolescent boy fractured a left metatarsal at age 3 years, followed by a second fracture of the same foot later that year. Café au lait skin pigmentation was noted at that time, leading to the diagnosis of MAS. His skeletal survey at the time of evaluation at the National Institutes of Health revealed PFD involving the base and anterior portion of the skull, both humeri, left ulna, left thumb, both femurs, left tibia and fibula, and the left metatarsals. Ultrasound evaluation of the testes identified solid and cystic lesions typical of MAS. Ultrasound of the thyroid revealed several hypoechoic nodules, but the patient was biochemically euthyroid. Further investigation demonstrated growth hormone excess necessitating somatostatin analogue therapy. Dermatologic examination revealed a medium-sized café au lait patch on the left temple and the left sacrum and a smaller patch on the right lower abdomen. Several hyperpigmented macules were present on bilateral buccal mucosae and vermilion lips, which had developed at age 7 years (Figure 2B).
A woman had a history of vaginal bleeding and early breast maturation in childhood. She was seen at the National Institutes of Health at age 4 years and was prescribed testolactone to delay puberty. Polyostotic fibrous dysplasia of the cranium was also identified. During childhood, she developed PFD in the maxilla, mandible, and upper palate, around the optic foramen, and in the right ear canal. The patient later developed vision loss due to an aneurysmal bone cyst compressing the optic nerve. She underwent total thyroidectomy for hyperthyroidism. Dermatologic examination at age 22 years revealed 3 small café au lait patches on the posterior neck, left thigh, and sacral area. These had been present since birth. The patient also had a dark brown macule on the midline lower vermilion lip (Figure 2C) that developed at age 20 years and had progressively darkened.
McCune-Albright syndrome is caused by a somatic, postzygotic mutation in GNAS resulting in constitutive activity of the Gsα protein in affected cells only. Because MAS is a mosaic disorder, molecular testing requires affected tissue and is not routinely performed. Diagnosis is based on the presence of at least 2 of the 3 clinical findings of café au lait pigmentation, hyperfunctioning endocrinopathies, and PFD. Café au lait pigmentation in MAS is due to an increase in the production of a second messenger, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), which is activated by the Gsα in the melanocytes bearing the mutation. This results in an increase in tyrosinase gene expression and melanin production.6 The pigmented lesions are isolated light to dark brown macules and patches that may be segmental and tend to respect the midline.3 The most common locations are the posterior neck, sacrum, and head.2 Although café au lait patches have previously been reported ipsilateral to the fibrous dysplasia, in a study of 140 patients with MAS, the location of skin pigmentation was not associated with the side of underlying bone involvement. In addition, the size of the café au lait pigmentation does not correlate with the extent of bone disease.2 These pigmented lesions may be present at birth or develop soon after, and they do not fade with age.
Oral mucosal pigmentation was documented in early reports of MAS,3,4 but MAS is not typically included in the differential diagnosis of syndromes with oral lentigines (Table). Acquired mucosal lentigines are a clinical feature of Laugier-Hunziker syndrome, but onset of mucosal pigmentation is typically in late adulthood and is not associated with internal disease. Early-onset mucosal lentigines are a classic finding in 2 genodermatoses associated with endocrine dysfunction, CNC and PJS. Carney complex is an autosomal-dominant disorder associated with an inactivating mutation of protein kinase, cAMP-dependent regulatory, type 1, α (PRKAR1α) gene on chromosome 17, as well as a second genetic locus on chromosome 2p16 that produces a milder phenotype.7PRKAR1α encodes a regulatory subunit of protein kinase A (PKA), which, when mutated, leads to increased PKA activity. Among patients with CNC, 20% to 40% develop cutaneous, breast, and cardiac myxomas.7 There is a strong association between CNC and endocrine disease, including Cushing syndrome (30%), acromegaly (12%), elevated prolactin (64%), thyroid abnormalities (75%), testicular large-cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumors (41%), ovarian cystadenomas (14%), and pancreatic lesions (2.5%).7- 9
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is an autosomal-dominant disorder caused by an inactivating mutation in the tumor suppressor gene serine/threonine kinase 11 (STK11). Individuals with PJS develop gastrointestinal (GI) polyposis and malignancy of the GI tract, as well as other sites. The GI polyps are benign hamartomas most common in the jejunum, ileum, and the stomach but may lead to periodic abdominal pain from intussusception and obstruction.10 Interestingly, in addition to the shared finding of lentigines, both PJS and CNC are associated with large-cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumors, which may present with gynecomastia in boys as a result of aromatase activity of the tumors.11
In CNC, lentigines are present in 70% to 80% of affected individuals. The characteristic distribution includes the lips, conjunctiva, inner and outer canthi, and genital mucosa. Lentigines develop in childhood, darken during puberty, and often fade after the fourth decade of life. Blue nevi also occur in 40% of patients, but café au lait pigmentation is a less consistent finding.7,8 In PJS, lentigines may be present on the fingers, palms, and soles, as well as the oral, perianal, and genital mucosa.12 Oral lentigines in PJS are reported in up to 90% of individuals and, similar to CNC, begin in childhood and increase in number and size, as well as darkening.13 Early descriptions of PJS report that the lentigines fade after the third decade, except for those located on the oral mucosa.14 In contrast, the 4 patients with MAS in the present series developed perioral pigmentation between the ages of 7 and 20 years.
The shared clinical features in MAS, CNC, and PJS suggest common pathways leading to pigmentation, endocrine disease, and tumorigenesis. Zacharin et al5 reported 4 patients with MAS, 2 with perioral pigmentation, and all of whom had GI polyps that histopathologically resembled the hamartomatous polyps seen in PJS. Genetic analysis revealed GNAS mutations in 3 of the 4 gastrointestinal samples. Collins et al2 also reported GI polyps in 7 of 140 patients with MAS, suggesting an increased incidence of GI hamartomas in MAS similar to that typically observed in PJS. Recently, Gaujoux et al15 described hepatobiliary or pancreatic lesions in 6 of 19 patients with MAS, including 3 with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. The same group has reported a high prevalence of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms in patients with CNC.9,15 Salpea and Stratakis7 recently reviewed the shared molecular pathways between MAS and CNC. In MAS, constitutive activation of Gsα results in activated adenylyl cyclase, which produces cAMP, freeing the catalytic subunits of PKA. Carney complex leads to increased activity of PKA through loss of the regulatory subunit of PKA. A shared downstream effector pathway, therefore, is likely responsible for the overlapping clinical phenotype in certain tissues in both disorders.
We report a series of 4 patients with mucosal pigmentation in conjunction with the classic cutaneous, bone, and endocrine findings of MAS. In contrast to café au lait skin pigmentation, which is present at birth or during infancy, mucosal pigmentation in MAS develops later in life (ages 7-20 years in this series). Oral pigmentation may be underreported because of its later onset but likely also manifests in a minority of patients with this mosaic condition. Nevertheless, MAS should be included in the differential diagnosis of syndromes associated with lentigines on the lips and oral mucosa, which includes PJS, CNC, and the acquired condition Laugier-Hunziker syndrome. In addition, this finding highlights the clinical overlap between mucosal lentiginosis syndromes and, in particular, a common risk of developing endocrine and gastrointestinal disease in MAS, CNC, and PJS. Last, because this is a mosaic condition with variable presentation that may be clinically delayed, recognition of oral pigmentation as a feature of MAS may facilitate early diagnosis, which has the potential to minimize MAS-associated morbidity, including fibrous dysplasia, precocious puberty, hyperthyroidism, Leydig and Sertoli cell hyperplasia, growth hormone excess, FGF23-mediated renal phosphate wasting, and Cushing syndrome.
Accepted for Publication: January 21, 2014.
Corresponding Author: Edward W. Cowen, MD, MHSc, Dermatology Consultation Service, Dermatology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Dr, Bethesda, MD 20892 (firstname.lastname@example.com).
Published Online: March 26, 2014. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2014.184.
Author Contributions: Drs Pichard and Cowen had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.
Study concept and design: All authors.
Acquisition of data: All authors.
Analysis and interpretation of data: All authors.
Drafting of the manuscript: All authors.
Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors.
Obtained funding: Collins.
Administrative, technical, and material support: Collins.
Study supervision: Collins.
Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.
Funding/Support: This study was supported in part by the Division of Intramural Research, National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research, and the Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health.
Role of the Sponsor: The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
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So what: Amkor's revenue rose 5% year over year, to $688 million, which easily beat the $672.4 million consensus. Earnings of $0.07 per share also came in well ahead of the $0.03 consensus. Guidance also appears favorable, as Amkor now expects between $730 million and $780 million on the top line, and between $0.09 and $0.19 in EPS, against consensus estimates of $719.4 million and $0.11 per share, respectively.
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Meeting to address gun violence, look for solutions
Representatives of a statewide organization will be in Erie Wednesday for a community discussion about developing effective ways to combat gun violence.
CeaseFire PA is hosting the event, which begins at the Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State St., at 5:30 p.m.
"What we have traditionally done is help organize people in communities across the state to find ways to constructively put an end to gun violence," said Rob Conroy, CeaseFire PA's western Pennsylvania coordinator.
"We encourage our members to organize and let their legislators know how they feel about different gun violence issues."
The organization, on its website, describes itself as "a network of communities, survivors, and citizens who are dedicated to taking a stand against gun violence."


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Nightcrawler is one of my absolute favorite characters. I know he is well loved by many other comic fans as well. Since Kurt sacrificed his life to save Hope's we have had the alternate version of him from the Age of Apocalypse appearing in Uncanny X-Force and while I love that version there's only one real Nightcrawler and he should not be forgotten.
As an ode to Kurt I am giving away my X-Force #26 "Nightcrawler R.I.P" variant issue. As an added bonus I'm also giving away a Nightcrawler card that has the Nightcrawler: Manifest Destiny cover. It's also signed by the cover artist Brandon Peterson. All you have to do to win these items is show me why Nightcrawler is so great to you. You can use any creative means you can think of.... write, draw, build, or make a video it doesn't matter. Contest ends on the 19th of September, 2012. (BTW, the comic is in Near MT condition.. it's just a glare from the photo)


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Volume 33, Number 9, October, 1999
Download this article in PDF format. (69.2 KB)
Microcontroller-Based Energy Metering using the AD7755
As the energy metering industry converts from electromechanical meters to more-accurate solid-state meters, power-system designers have a chance to incorporate new features that weren't previously possible. In demand now are solid-state meters that measure energy more accurately than electromechanical meters, incorporate multiple-rate billing, and are capable of being read remotely by the utility company. This article describes how the AD7755 Energy Meter integrated circuit could be used in three-phase energy metering with power outage detection and measurement backup, and remote, automated, multiple-rate metering.
The AD7755 is an accurate (to 0.1%) single-phase energy-measurement IC. It accepts a pair of voltage inputs that represent the voltage and current of a power line. Internally, these signals are converted to the digital domain with oversampling A/D converters. A fixed-function digital signal processor continuously multiplies the two signals; their product is proportional to instantaneous power. After being low-pass filtered, the digital signal is then converted to a frequency—scaled according to selectable settings—to generate frequency outputs at terminals F1, F2, and CF. The signals at F1 and F2 can be used to drive an electromechanical counter (typically at full-scale rates from 0.5 to 5 Hz), while the higher-frequency CF signal is suitable for calibration. The frequency (or rate) of the pulse outputs is proportional to the instantaneous real power being monitored by the meter. Accordingly, in a given interval, the total number of pulses generated at these outputs is proportional to the energy transferred to the load. A reverse-polarity logic signal indicates when the measured instantaneous power goes negative (i.e., the load is returning net power to the line).
Figure 1. Block Diagram of the AD7755
The CF frequency output is a pulse train proportional to the F1,F2 outputs, with full-scale output rates of 21.76 Hz, 43.52 Hz, and 5.57 kHz, for ac inputs. It is well suited to interfacing to a microcontroller that performs calculations and makes decisions. Figure 2 shows how three AD7755s—one for each phase—are used with a microcontroller to make a three-phase energy meter.
Figure 2. Functional block diagram of a three-phase microcontroller-based energy meter
The microcontroller serves as the "brains" of the system, performing all the required housekeeping tasks and interacting with the other components—the energy meter ICs, the power supply, the EEPROM, the display, and buttons to operate the meter—to view energy or power, calibrate the phases, or clear the reading. Besides low cost, the basic microcontroller requirements are:
As an added feature, a second serial interface could be used to communicate with a host system for remote/automated metering. Also, either an external or internal clock could be used to implement multi-rate metering.
Reference Design
The analog interface to the AD7755s is instrumented with voltage divider resistors for the voltage channels and current transformers for the current channels. The current transformers provide a degree of electrical isolation and eliminate the need for current-sensing shunts within the meter. The microcontroller code is written in the C programming language and has been programmed into the PIC16C67. The particular compiler that was used also includes a set of instructions to interface to a Microchip serial EEPROM, which stores energy measurement digits and the calculation limits obtained in calibration mode. The display consists of 8 LED digits multiplexed by a 3-to-8 decoder. The power supply uses three transformers, a rectifier, and a regulator to convert 220-V, 3-phase ac to a dc voltage capable of powering the meter even if one phase goes out. A reference-design data sheet/application note is available (contact the power management group).
Since the meter determines the cost of energy to the user, the most important requirements of an energy meter are reliability and accuracy over time. The energy is measured in a fairly simple way by pulse-limit comparison. In this method, the microcontroller counts the number of pulses on a phase until the total reaches a calibrated limit. At this point, the energy reading is incremented by the smallest unit within the range of the display (in this case, 0.01 kWh). This technique implies that the display register need only be updated when necessary and also avoids complex numerical operations that could make the meter operate inefficiently.
The maximum output frequency at CF in the slow mode is 43.52 Hz, or 156,672 pulses/h. Allowing for headroom, a 220-volt, 60-ampere system could be calibrated so that 0.01 kWh of measured energy produces approximately 100 pulses on CF. Calibration is done in the high-frequency mode, in which the maximum frequency on CF is 128 times faster, or 5.57 kHz. During calibration, a fixed power is set on the line at a value that yields 1/128 kWh over the calibration interval. Because of the scaling factor of 128, the number of pulses counted during the calibration time is equivalent to 1 kWh when the AD7755 is returned to the low-frequency mode.
Suppose 10287 pulses had been counted during this interval. Then the display would have to be incremented by 0.01 kWh every 102.87 pulses, rather than every 100 pulses. This fractional-N count could be accomplished in several ways. For example, during the time required to advance the display by 100 increments (i.e., to accumulate 1.00 kWh in 0.01 kWH steps), 13 of those steps could be produced by a count of 102 pulses, and the other 87 steps would require a count of 103 pulses. An alternative that has been in use is, starting with 102 pulses per step, to add 8 pulses on every 10th step, and 7 more pulses on every 100th step.
The high frequency setting on the AD7755s yields better results in a shorter calibration time (about 30 seconds). Due to possible variations in the system, and to historical practices, each phase of a three-phase meter is calibrated independently.
AD7755 Energy Meter IC with Pulse Output data sheet. Analog Devices.
Daigle, Paul. All Electronic Power and Energy Meters. Analog Dialogue. Volume 33. Number 2. February, 1999.


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GENESEE COUNTY, MI – The Genesee County Literacy Coalition will host two training sessions for tutors Saturday, March 1.
The Genesee county Literacy Coalition, established in 1979, is a nonprofit organization that aims to improve literacy levels in Flint and Genesee County, the group's website says.
The Coalition will host two booster training sessions, or workshops, for anyone who has been trained by the Coalition to be a tutor. Workshops will be held at Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 5151 Lennon Road in Flint Township.
The first workshop will focus on spelling, while the second will function as a tutor roundtable.
The spelling tutor workshop is from 9 a.m. until noon. The roundtable is from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and will offer tutors an opportunity to network, share experiences and tutoring tips.
Materials and light refreshments will be provided, but tutors planning to attend both events should bring their own lunch.
For more information, to sign up or to discover other opportunities with the Genesee County Literacy Coalition, call (810) 238-4773, (810) 919-5078 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.


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The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Nintendo are renown for keeping hold of releases for their major franchises until they are pixel perfect and ready for release. This reputation can only be further established with the release of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass which has obviously had all the time it needed to germinate, grow and become a fully fledged Zelda experience. This is evident not only from the long gestation period but from the resulting quality of the first handheld Zelda since The Minish Cap.
Believe it or not Zelda has been having something of a torrid time amongst Japanese gamers; the likes of Wind Waker and Twighlight Princess haven't been received with the same enthusiasm as older titles such as the chart topping Ocarina of Time. What better idea for Nintendo, to revive the prospects of young Link than to twin him with their super selling handheld. One in seven people in Japan own a DS, that's a lot of dual screen goodness. Early indications are that they have successfully engineered a Zelda comeback, with the combined marketing forces of the game in hand and an impressive appearance in the upcoming Smash Brothers Brawl on the equally strong Wii.
On European and US soils there may have been less riding on the Phantom Hourglass, but there was no less expectation for the release. It was therefore with considerable glee that the game plonked through the PlayTM letterbox. Like a feverish child at Christmas we had the wrapping off and game in-slot within minutes. From the first few scenes and tutorial it is pretty clear that Nintendo have again delivered the goods. And there are many goods to grab a headline here; from the intuitive control scheme, returning Wind Waker visuals to the masterly scaling of the Zelda experience to suit on the go play. To flesh these out here would be getting ahead of ourselves. So back to starting the game.
The visuals of Phantom Hourglass are some of the most polished to have graced the DS. Whilst they may have been pipped to the post by the gloss and pizzazz of Mario Hoops, they hold the crown for animation and communication. A simple wink from the doe-eyed Link communicates more than a paragraph of text does in many other games. The game engine provides this solid three dimensional experience, but at the same time understands that to leave the player to grapple freely with this world would be more than the DS controls could handle. To that end the world is held to a fixed isometric perspective, not a million miles away from the classic top down Zelda games on the GBA, SNES and NES. However, Phantom Hourglass's third dimension and analogue stylus control means that you can move Link in any direction, rather than being stuck to the limited 8-compass-point movement of the older games. Whilst this may seem like a minor point, it makes the game world and wider experience feel much more open, and creates more involved puzzles and battles.
Cut scenes are all rendered in the game engine, which really really coalesces the game's different aspects into a coherent whole. This sort of continuity extends on into the various encounters which all feel genuinely Zelda-y. All the usual Hyrule fare is here from the iconic trumpet blast and to camera presentation of the contents of a chest, to the art style and design of each island level.
The game's score continues the good work that is started with the graphics and provides a boost to the sense of occasion. The first time you hit the sea in your little boat and stand on the bow leaning into the wind, and a familiar Zelda tune pipes up is enough to send tingles down your spine. It's this attention to detail that keeps Nintendo so close to their fans' hearts. The music is further complemented by the various spot effects and the sounds that accompany the action. The whole audio ensemble is enough to transport you to your own imaginary Hyrule alone, combine that with the visual feast and you are set for a treat. Whilst this is more true for those who can appreciate the developing Zelda tradition in these games, even the new comers can't help being impressed by the high production values, and the game's maintaining such a high delivery on these values throughout.
Although it's all on the diminutive DS, this really is a fully fledge Zelda experience, and whilst many have been highlighting how foreshortened it all is, we really felt like this was the real deal. Tasks and stages have been suitably tailored for those snatched moments of gameplay available to the more casual gamer, but the experience as a whole still has a grand epic feel to it. At times we were quite overwhelmed by the sheer amount of side quests and variety of items to collect.
The learning curve has been tweaked in the easier direction, which is obviously a nod to the more casual player, or those who haven't played a Zelda game before (yes there are still some Zelda-virgins out there). This again attests to how well Nintendo understands their own game, what could so easily have been the undoing of their franchise has in fact been handled with a deft and knowing touch. The changes that have been made to both the structure and play mechanics all accommodate the physical-focus of the DS control scheme.
The game is loosely built around a series of islands that can be navigated and give way to a more familiar dungeon-exploration-dungeon structure. The major difference is that Phantom Hourglass works around a central hub dungeon. You return here after collecting different items that let you delve ever deeper. Although there has been some clever design to ensure subsequent visits can progress quicker through the dungeon, it still feels a bit forced to make you troll back down through the same levels each time you unlock another section. For us this was probably the low point of the experience, although even this delivered a fare amount of fun.
Apart from this, the game structure is a real out and out Zelda experience. Some have said that it felt too paired down for the DS audience, but unless you are real Zelda aficionado we don't think you will feel the game is too small in any way. There is plenty here to keep the vast majority of the population occupied for many hours. We found that the individual servings of Zelda goodness had been cut into smaller portions, but that this meant there were simply more pieces to get through.
The release of Zelda marks the coming of age for any platform (something which made the launch Zelda for the Wii something doubly special). It feels like the DS is now a proper bona fide member of the Nintendo family; now it has its very own Zelda. Not only does it raise the stature of the handheld console in the eyes of many gamers, but it also brings Link and his related protagonists back to a much wider audience. It brings together Nintendo's two great successes of recent decades: compelling hardcore gaming and casual play on the go.
Latest News
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III is coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360 after all
- Tomonobu Itagaki's Devil's Third gets a release date
- Adr1ft is coming to PC and consoles at the end of the summer
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Neodio NR 22 CD Player, Transport and DAC
Eleven year old French audio manufacturer Neodio was at CES for the fourth year showing their complete line of audio products including the NR 22 CD Player ($15k), Transport ($13k) and DAC ($12k). Shown here are Michel Rousseau on the left and Jean-Francois Fronton on the right with the DAC and Transport in silver on the shelf. All three units feature a special non-resonant three-layer chassis and the company is looking for US distribution.


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Two Brits led the box office this American holiday weekend: Harry Potter and James Bond, though not necessarily in that order.
Actually, the boy wizard outperformed the secret agent in the regular three-day weekend period, but 007 proved to be 001 for the overall five-day holiday duration, according to movie studio estimates.
In its total 17 days of release, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" has so far taken in $200.2 million, becoming the sixth movie in 2002 to cross the $200-million barrier, the Associated Press reports. (Expect another title to join that list when "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" hits theaters.)
Meanwhile, "Die Another Day" with Pierce Brosnan, "The Santa Clause 2" starring Tim Allen and "8 Mile" with Eminem all passed the $100-million mark, making it 21 movies to hit the century mark this year.
"Solaris," starring George Clooney and directed by Steven Soderbergh, did only so-so business despite being heavily promoted by its star. The movie's mixed reviews were still better than the awful ones that a certain comedian received for his Hanukah movie, "Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights" ($10.1 million).
And the Wall Street Journal has labeled Disney's $140 million "Treasure Planet," which may be its worst-performing animated movie in decades, "a turkey for the holidays."
The box-office results for the Friday-Sunday period, according to studio estimates, were as follows:
1. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," $32.2 million
2. "Die Another Day," $31 million
3. "The Santa Clause 2," $12.3 million
4. "Treasure Planet," $11.9 million
5. "Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights," $10.1 million
6. "Friday After Next," $7.8 million
7. "Solaris," $6.8 million
8. "8 Mile," $5.9 million
9. "Wes Craven Presents: They," $5.7 million
10. "The Ring," $5.5 million
James Bond and Harry Potter Duke It Out


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Falls Ridge, George Washington National Forest
Follow the crest of a limestone ridge.
Discover a Mid-Atlantic gold mine of solitude, with views across an ocean of lush deciduous forest. The 11.7-mile loop starts from the end of Dellinger Gap Road (15 miles from Woodstock). Climb north on the yellow-blazed Falls Ridge Trail, where vistas open onto Long and Devil's Hole Mountains. Once atop the ridge, turn left onto Great North Mountain Trail and track through rock outcrops and open meadows with views of Tibbet's Knob and Big Schloss. In May and June, gray beardtongue, wild flags, and mountain laurel color the trail. After 4.1 miles, pass left around radio towers, then descend a steep pipeline clearcut (ankle alert). In a half mile, link left onto the Laurel Run Connector Trail and follow it 1.4 miles to the Stack Rocks Trail. Follow that for 1.5 miles back to the first junction near the trailhead. Sweet camping option: the pond and small spring near the start of the ridgeline stretch.
Map hikingupward.com/GWNF/FallsRidge
Info (540) 984-4101; fs.usda.gov/gwjnf
Gallatin Crest Trail, Gallatin National Forest
Climb past waterfalls in Big Sky Country.
Test your legs on this strenuous—but straightforward—ridgewalk. You'll stay above treeline for nearly the entire 28-mile hike, and on the way, summit 10,298-foot Hyalite Peak. Do it as a point-to-point between Grotto Falls and Windy Pass trailheads, or as a logistically simpler 50-mile out-and-back. Start from Grotto Falls trailhead at Palace Butte Campground, 4.3 miles south of Hyalite Dam (23 miles south of Bozeman via 19th Street and Hyalite Canyon Road #62). Climb south past a trio of waterfalls to Hyalite Lake (mile 5.5), then switchback 1,400 feet to Hyalite Peak. Turn south on the crest to camp at Crater Lake (mile 11.5). Beyond here, you'll rely on snowbanks (persisting until late July) for water. Cross The Sentinel (9,945 feet, mile 21.5), then 200 yards beyond the Windy Pass Forest Service cabin, turn west on the Windy Pass Trail and descend 2.5 miles and 1,100 feet to the trailhead on Hidden Lake Road. (Spin at the cabin if you're going out and back.)
Maps USGS quads Fridley Peak, Lewis Creek, and The Sentinel ($8 each, store.usgs.gov)
Info (406) 522-2520; fs.usda.gov/gallatin
Continental Divide Trail, Weminuche Wilderness
Hike 100 miles on the country's roof.
For all but six miles, this route hugs the Continental Divide, providing matchless viewsheds in a state overflowing with them. Hike east-to-west (for easier routefinding), from Wolf Creek Pass on US 160 to CO 110 outside Silverton. From the 11,700-foot trailhead, you'll stay between 11,500 and 12,500 feet with near continual views of timberline lakes and meadows teeming with elk. Find good campsites at Spotted Lake, Piedra Pass, Cherokee Lake, Trout Lake, just north of Squaw Pass, Weminuche Pass, Twin Lakes, and across the tundra flats north of Hunchback Pass (mile 86). The trail crosses one airy cliff section on the Knife Edge (mile 34), and miles of summer wildflowers on the Highland Mary Plateau. Only have a week? Make it a 58-mile route by descending north from Weminuche Pass to the campground at Rio Grande Reservoir.
Map Trails Illustrated Weminuche Wilderness ($10, natgeomaps.com)
Info (970) 247-4874; fs.usda.gov/sanjuan
Trip data backpacker.com/hikes/563539


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CHRIS BISSEY is a double murderer.
Back in 1995, Bissey killed two girls on the campus of my alma mater, Lehigh University. In June of that year, 15-year-old Mary Orlando and her 17-year-old friend, Jennifer Grider, were at a lookout on campus when Bissey, then 18, shot and killed them both. He was sentenced to two consecutive life terms. That's where the story of his life should end, but sadly, there is more.
Bissey is also a wannabe rock star.


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how can i test for damaged or incomplete RASAPI.
1.) load the library rasapi-dll
loading was successful
2.) get function pointer for any function
==> successful
3.) call the function ==> access violation
the compiled code should run from W95 up to Win Me and on NT up to XP


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NES Remix for Wii UOn: Wii U
The game features 16 different titles, from Super Mario Bros. to Donkey Kong, taking the best gameplay set-pieces from each and re-imagining them with new twists and challenges.
VideoGamer.com Plays, 14th December 2014
The one where Tom got ill and had a hallucination that Steve could control time.
NES Remix offer on Nintendo eShop this week
Own either game and receive a 30% discount on the other.
3DS doesn't have the power to run NES Remix, says Nintendo
The handheld capable of advanced 3D visuals not good enough for the 8-bit retro title.


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*points to announcement in forum section*.
Is this related to Age of Empires Online or AOE3? If the latter, please use the appropriate section.
I wanna join AOE2 multiplay.
Who is hositng ?
i want be better at longer nr games i feel am not strong enough any help will be very much appreciated thank you


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― A.W. Tozer
57 people liked it like
- Walk By Faith MusicMusic Production/Engineering, present
Dan Wallace was born in Oahu in 1980 and raised in the church. In his teens, he decided that church life wasn't for him. With thoughts of stardom in mind, he believed he could support himself without the help of God or family. Kicked out of high school for drug and alcohol abuse, he continued down a long path of destruction.
Ten years later Dan ended up homeless in San Francisco where doctors told him that if he continued to drink and do drugs he would soon die.
Faced with his own mortality, he looked up to the heavens, like Nebuchadnezzar, and acknowledged God as the ruler of heaven and earth. Through repentance and trust in Jesus Christ, God has done an amazing work in his life. There has been reconciliation in his relationships with his family and he is even blessed now with a beautiful, God fearing wife to be and a second chance at life. Dan has been placed into a life of ministry to bring Christ to the forefront of our culture through music and teaching.
- Liberty Union Highschool


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Teenage boys are increasingly using spa services and tanning salons, and opting for tattoos, hair dyes, and body piercing, according to a new study from Baylor University.
- Dr. John Yoo surveyed 150 boys, average age 14.3 years old, and found that they are under pressure from peers to improve their appearances through such procedures.
- Although a majority understand that dyeing hair or using diet pills, tanning booths, and other treatments were not necessarily safe for your health, more boys are deciding to go ahead and use them.
- For example, although almost 75 percent of the boys in the survey believe tanning booths are unsafe, nevertheless, 9.4 percent use them.
- The number of teenage boys receiving spa treatments such as hair removal has doubled since the early 1990s, Dr. Yoo said.
"I studied what kids are teased about," Dr. Yoo said. "If anyone looks different, people tease you. Probably boys who have acne would become really self-conscious. There are cultural differences, but smooth skin is highly desired, and that may translate into other parts of the body."
This research appeared in the journal Adolescence.
Labels: teenagers, boys, appearance
Posted By: Jane St. Clair


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The relative isolation and small size of this community of 1,000 native North Americans made it an ideal subject of social studies for our group.
Originally, the area was populated by Inuit, native North Americans often mistakenly referred to as Eskimos. Then, in the 1950s, hundreds of U.S. and Canadian military personnel and construction workers descended on the area to build the DEW (Distant Early Warning) line, a system of radar stations designed during the Cold War to protect North America from a surprise attack by Soviet bombers.
Initially, the project created many high-paying local jobs. Additionally, the medical-services facilities established there to serve the U.S. and Canadian forces were opened to the locals for free as a gesture of community outreach.
But the benefits were short-lived. By 1959, construction was essentially complete, reducing job opportunities, and by 1963, the U.S. military left, closing the medical facilities. To fill the gap, the Canadian government established permanent services at Frobisher Bay, including full-time doctors, schools and social services, and encouraged the nearby Inuit population to settle using the free government services.
The usual habitats of the Inuit were chosen for their proximity to fishing and hunting grounds.
However, easy access to such areas was not afforded from the government locales. The Canadian Parliament's remedy was give each able-bodied Inuit male a snowmobile to assist their hunts. The government also awarded them hunting rifles and ammunition to replace their traditional spears.
In another move, the Canadian Parliament entitled every adult male to a free case of Canadian ale each month for life. Finally, the government granted a free college education to any Inuit capable of passing an entrance examination.
The justification was that the Inuit who completed their college degrees would return to Frobisher to establish their own health clinics, job-forming businesses, schools and the like.
This is the background that greeted our delegation in 1982, there to examine the effects of a generation of well-intentioned socialist policies.
What we found was profoundly disturbing. The most popular places in town were pool halls and bars, heavily populated nearly all day long by the local males. Listless, drunken stares replaced what had once been the bright eyes of proud hunters and home providers.
"This is a worrisome problem," explained the mayor, "and our welfare rolls are growing."
The troubles started with the free snowmobiles and rifles. The hunting chore that once kept the men occupied full time could now be accomplished with only a few hours work per week. To fill idle hours, the men turned to beer parties, compliments of the government handout, leading to a high rate of alcoholism and, later, drug addiction.
"What about the expected benefits of the college-degree program?" we asked.
"We send our best and brightest away to get their degrees, but rather than return to this humble place, they settle in places like Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver to pursue much higher ambitions," he replied. "We have lost a large number of our leaders."
Thus, in just one short generation, a socialist program implemented by well-intentioned believers managed to destroy a once-proud culture, which is probably why Canada granted local rule to the area and renamed Frobisher Bay to "Iqaluit," its traditional Inuit calling, in 1987.
Something to think about when considering the many socialist programs proposed by our current administration. Although the circumstances of our needs and the Inuit are fundamentally different, the lesson of their experience is constructive: The architects of their social programs failed to realize that it is the unlimited reach of the human spirit that makes a culture sustainable and an economy viable, and excessive government handouts serve only to squash the human spirit while piling up massive debt.
That is why I am proud to be a member of the Republican party, which places a premium on human enterprise over government interference. We don't need more government handouts. We need programs designed to give more freedom for individual ingenuity and the human spirit to soar.
Bill Kennedy lives in Valencia and is a principal in Wingspan Business Consulting. His column reflects his own views and not necessarily those of The Signal.


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Industry News: Around the Industry
Navitas Lease Corp. Announces the Closing of the Second Tranche of Series B Preferred Stock and Expansion of Credit Line
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., November 28, 2012 - Navitas Lease Corp. continues expansion of its capital base to support growth in the small ticket financing marketplace.
Navitas successfully closed the second tranche of its Series B Preferred Stock investment led by BlueMountain Capital Management, LLC on behalf of funds it manages. This additional capital validates the strength of the Navitas business strategy and enables the company to continue to build upon its successes. The company's existing Series A investors, Noro-Moseley Partners, Croft and Bender LLC, and Lunsford Capital LLC also participated in the Series B investment.
Concurrent with the closing, Navitas also completed a second expansion of its revolving, Senior Secured Credit facility with Wells Fargo Capital Finance, part of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC). This additional $25 million added to its current line of $50 million provides the company with a total credit line of $75 million. This latest expansion of this facility will allow the company to meet its growth plans in 2013 and beyond. Gary Shivers, the company's CEO says, "The on-going commitment and support that Wells Fargo Capital Finance continues to provide Navitas is extremely rewarding and has given us the necessary capital to meet the key business objectives of the organization."
"We are pleased to have been able to build on our relationship with Navitas through this increase in our credit facility," said Andrea Petro, division manager of the Lender Finance division of Wells Fargo Capital Finance. "We look forward to supporting the company's management team and its plans for long-term success."
About Navitas Lease Corp.: Navitas is an equipment finance company headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, with offices in Cherry Hill, NJ and Columbia, SC. The company provides equipment financing to small and medium sized businesses nationally, through developing referral programs with equipment vendors and through lease brokers in its RLC Funding Division. For more information about Navitas please visit our website at www.navitaslease.com or call 877-NAVITAS (628-4827).
About Wells Fargo Capital Finance: Wells Fargo Capital Finance is the trade name for certain asset-based lending, accounts receivable and purchase order finance services of Wells Fargo & Company and its subsidiaries, and provides traditional asset-based lending, specialized senior and junior secured financing, accounts receivable financing, purchase order financing and channel finance to companies across the United States and internationally. Dedicated teams within Wells Fargo Capital Finance provide financing solutions for companies in specific industries such as retail, software publishing and high-technology, commercial finance, staffing, government contracting and others. For more information, visit wellsfargocapitalfinance.com.
About BlueMountain Capital, LLC: BlueMountain Capital Management is a leading investment manager focused on the credit markets managing $12.1 billion of assets, with $9.8 billion in hedge fund and opportunistic credit vehicles, as well as $2.3 billion in CLO assets. Founded in 2003, BlueMountain looks for relative value opportunities and maintains minimal directional exposure to credit markets. The Firm's investment strategies include fundamental credit (long/short, capital structure), structured credit (corporate, ABS) and arbitrage and technical (index arbitrage, bond basis). Its 147 person team of professionals in New York and London are supported by its institutionalized and proprietary infrastructure, including world-class operations and risk management technology. ###
If you would like to know more about Navitas Lease Corp. or to schedule an interview please contact Gary Shivers at 904.543.2575 ext. 102 or email firstname.lastname@example.com
Contact Name:
Gary Shivers
Organization Name:
Navitas Lease Corp.
Phone Number:


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CREATURES OF THE NIGHT ARRIVE IN BRISTOL: The Bristol Public Library will host the Birds in Flight Sanctuary as part of its summer reading program at 5 p.m. Monday at the old firehouse banquet center, across from the library. The program is open to all ages. Children need to attend with a parent or guardian. Heather Merritt, a state and federal licensed rehabilitator, will be on hand with creatures of the night she has rescued. Merritt has run the sanctuary, which is funded solely on donations, for 19 years.
FOOD GIVEAWAY AT MISSION: The Warren Family Mission will host a fresh produce giveaway from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today the 361 Elm Road location.
SUMMER PROGRAM INCLUDES SCRAPBOOKING: The Howland Township summer youth sport and recreation camps will be from 9 a.m. to noon Monday to June 22 for children ages 6 to 13. Programs include scrapbooking at Howland Middle School and sports and games at the township park. Registration are forms available at the township hall. For information, call 330-856-2340.
SUPPORT GROUP TO MEET: The Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Support Group will meet Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Warren. For more information, call 330-847-7001.
LIBRARY OFFERS SURVIVAL PROGRAM: The Howland Library Branch will hold Supernatural Survival Skills 101 at 11 a.m. Saturday, when participants will learn tricks and techniques to keep safe. The program is for grades fifth to 12th.
HARDING CLASS CELEBRATES 65TH BIRTHDAYS: The Warren G. Harding Class of 1965 is celebrating ''Happy Birthday 65'' for all classmates turning 65. The event will be held at 6 p.m. today at McMenamy's in Niles. The event will be on the patio with those attending to wear casual attire. For information, call Linda at 330-638-6319 or 330-856-5994.
FRIENDS TO MEET FOR WEEKEND: The Friends of the Mosquito Lake State Park Campgrounds will host a '50s and '60s weekend from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the park with a craft show and auction.
FOUNDATION HOLDS TOWN MEETING: The Raymond John Wean Foundation Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation will host a town hall event at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Stambaugh Auditorium to share thoughts about the recent findings concerning education in Youngstown. Doors open at 6 p.m.
NAR-ANON, a 12-step program for relatives and friends who have been adversely affected by a loved one's addiction to drugs, 7 p.m., Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic, 160 Clifton N.E., Howland. Call Bill at 330 856-3822.
Seeking God's Glory, 6:30 p.m., 261 Elm Road, Warren. 330-550-3393.
Niles Nazarene Church, Niles Vienna Road, Bible study for recovering people at 7:30 p.m.
Reformers Unanimous, a Christ-centered addiction abstinence program, 7 to 9 p.m., 2111 Sodom Hutchings Road, Vienna. 330-509-0001 or 330-720-2463.
Lordstown Lions bingo, 7 p.m., Lordstown administration building, 1455 Salt Springs Road, Lordstown. Doors open 5:30 p.m.
Nation's Voice on Mental Illness of Trumbull County Consumer Support Group meets at 7 to 8:30 p.m., Trumbull Memorial Hospital, 330-841-9368.
Youngstown Area Tropical Fish Society, 7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church of Mineral Ridge, 3654 Main St., Mineral Ridge. Bowl shows, speakers and refreshments offered. 330-638-4839 or www.yatfs.com.
The Survivors Group, Neil Kennedy Outpatient Facility, 7 p.m., open discussion, 160 Clifton Drive, Howland.
TOPS 2213, Warren, 9 a.m. weigh in, 9:30 a.m. meeting, Imperial Nursing Home 4121 Tod Ave. N.W., Room 309. Call Susan 330-978-9751.
Lake Milton Church of Christ, Milton Avenue, 9 a.m., free clothing giveaway.
Parent Support Group, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Heart Reach Ministries, 211 Redondo Road, Youngstown. 330-330-2916. Free luncheon.
Overeaters Anonymous, 10 to 11 a.m., St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church, 4453 Warren Sharon Road, Vienna. 330-545-5139.
Saturday Night Recovery, 4 p.m., Sahara Club II D, 2345 Youngstown Road, Warren.
Saturday Night Recovery, 7 p.m. open discussion, Second Christian Church, 904 W. Market St., Warren.
Vienna Grange 1537, noon, Copper Penny Lodge Hall, Vienna.


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Bikers Attack Dad Driving SUV As Terrified Wife and Toddler Watch Helplessly (VIDEO)Monica Bielanko
You've likely seen the footage by now: an SUV on a New York City street, swarmed with bikers beating on its windows with helmets and ultimately attacking the man inside.
Did you know there was a 2-year-old inside that car?
33-year-old Alexian Lien's daughter and wife were in the SUV. I heard that, and my heart dropped into my stomach. Of course I immediately pictured how my own 2-year-old would react in the face of such violence while witnessing his very scared parents.
The story has been all over the media, likely because of the extensive video footage that captured the entire encounter between several bikers and the Lien family. All six minutes and 27 seconds of the incident (see video below) were recorded on the helmet-cam of one of the members of the motorcyclists.
The video shows the black Range Rover being surrounded by as many as fifty bikers on New York City's West Side Highway. It is not clear what, if anything, happened before the video begins. One biker, Christopher Cruz, pulls in front of the SUV and brakes hard while looking back, causing the SUV to hit his bike — on purpose. As The Post reports, "One biker then pulled directly in front and slowed down, forcing the SUV to stop, and the others converged on the Range Rover, laying their bikes down on the pavement to block the vehicle."
Although this part isn't shown on the video, police say the bikers started attacking the SUV and slashed the tires. That's when Lien, understandably panicked, gunned the engine and ran over several bikers before speeding off with the bikers in pursuit. As The Post reports, "At one point, they forced his vehicle to the side of the road, where the bikers slashed the father's tires while one opened the driver's door and tried to pull the terrified dad out … But Lien managed to speed off again, with the bikers in pursuit."
The bikers chased the SUV for more than five minutes before Lien's flat tires and traffic forced the vehicle to stop. The bikers immediately surrounded the terrified family and began banging on the windows, breaking them. The Post continues, "The crew then beat the man in front of his wife and child. The victim was rushed to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital with two black eyes, and also needed stitches on his face and chest."
Father of two, 26-year-old Jeremiah Meises, who had stopped to help another biker hit by the SUV during the initial encounter, was also hit and is in critical condition with a crushed spine, two broken legs, and other injuries. His family says he may be paralyzed. "My son just got out of surgery. Now we have to contend with his situation that he will never walk again," Meises's dad, the Rev. Edwin Mieses, wrote on Facebook. "There's no hope for his back," his wife, Dayana Meises, told reporters on Tuesday. "They broke it in two different places, so he will be forever, forever paralyzed." According to NBC, Meises' family has hired high profile attorney Gloria Allred.
Christopher Cruz, the biker who ignited the incident by braking in front of the SUV causing it to hit him, turned himself in for reckless driver charges, which were later dropped as police continue their investigation. As The Post reports, Cruz remained at the initial scene and was not among dozens of bikers who chased down the SUV and attacked Lien. Allen Edwards, 42, of Queens, was seen hitting the Range Rover with his hands and was also arrested, but there is no indication he participated in the beating; he actually may have tried to help the SUV driver, sources told NBC New York.
Reaction to the attack has been surprisingly mixed. Some people are saying "two wrongs don't make a right" and that Lien never should have driven off from the first encounter. Are you kidding me? If I've got a scared wife and 2-year-old freaking out as a group of angry bikers slash our tires and bang on the windows of our car, you're damn right I'm speeding away, and God help anyone who gets in my way.
Ask 100 people, and 99 of them would have driven off; the one idiot who doesn't is the one that gets out of his car to fight and ends up in a coma or worse.
Lien did nothing wrong, and the police may agree. When asked if Lien was within his legal rights to race away from the scene of his accident with Cruz, New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly had this to say:
"It depends on whether or not your vehicle is being attacked, whether or not you think you're being attacked, whether or not your wife and child are in the car. You have to look at the totality of the circumstances and that's what we're doing."
My question to you: put yourself in Lien's shoes. Spouse and small child in the SUV. Watch the video and tell me how you would respond.
[videopost src='https://youtu.be/INfElroIKO0′]
Me? I'm taking off. Calling the police isn't going to help when you've got a huge, helmet wielding man bashing in your window as your toddler screams in fear. Many New Yorkers agree, taking to YouTube to vent their frustration with what they call the "motorcycle gang."
"I saw these a**holes in the city yesterday before the incident, Running red lights and causing traffic like they own the streets. Nothing but Thugs on bikes! I would've done the same."
"These savages drove throughout Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and The Bronx yesterday. They were on sidewalks, they were going against traffic. They were looking for trouble and unfortunately for this man and his family, they were picked on."
Tell me if you agree in the comments below.
Image source: YouTube
Read more from Monica on Babble:


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The skilled therapists at the Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation Outpatient Services clinic in North Arlington offer a variety of therapy services for patients suffering from physical conditions related to aging, gender, illness and injury.
Conveniently located on Highway 360 at Trinity (just south of Highway 183), our facility features a main physical therapy gym area including a curtained treatment area, plus a private physical therapy evaluation and treatment room. Our gym offers a treadmill, elliptical trainer, recumbent and upright bikes and other advanced equipment.
Our goal is to provide the high quality treatment and compassionate service needed to improve quality of life.
Learn more about these therapies.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Clinic Manager/Physical Therapist: Kammi Barnard, PT, CKTPKammi received her physical therapy degree from Washington University School of Medicine and has been with Baylor Rehab since 1996. She treats adolescents and adults with diagnoses related to general orthopedics, spine care, sports medicine and patients of deconditioned status. She is a McKenzie-trained therapist and a certified kinesiotaping practitioner. Kammi has taken Isernhagen training for work-related testing, as well as advanced courses in shoulder treatment.
About this clinic, Kammi says, "This is a wonderful clinic due to the personalized treatment each patient receives. It is a joy to be involved in a patient's care that assists them restore their functional activities."
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I am *so* excited to share this deal with you! Right now, there is an unadvertised deal at Target on Desitin Diaper Cream…and an unadvertised sale.
The unadvertised deal is that you will get a $5 Target gift card when you purchase three Desitin Diaper Cream products, through 2/4. The unadvertised sale is that the purple box of Desitin that says "20% more" is ringing up as $2.48. You can score three boxes for free when you print three of these coupons and combine them with the sales: $1.00/1 – Desitin Diaper Rash product, Any (excludes 1 oz.) – (smartsource.com) . You may need to use two computers in order to print three of these, but I was able to do it with one computer.