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I have a blog (of course, who doesn't?) over on Wordpress called The Atheist's Quill. Nice name, huh?
Anyway, the idea behind the blog is for me to read and review books written by atheists. Unfortunately, I actually do not know a lot of atheist authors.
I'm not talking about the big names: Pullman, Dawkins, Harris, etc. I'm after authors, who happen to be atheists, that write genre fiction. Just like me!
It is not easy to find those pesky writers because they often keep their personal views personal in order to appeal to the widest possible audience.
Soooo....got any suggestions?
Views: 221
It's all good. I wasn't crying about it. Glad you read it! I appreciate you wanting to list it, but I don't have a site. I just sell it at Amazon and createspace. And the two authors thing, Zane is my 21 year old son. We had the original idea together, and he came up with some of the gags in the story.
I know - I completely got that. And that's why I said it was a fun romp. I'm just not into that sort of story. But! It is fun. Please don't feel bad. This stuff is totally subjective. By the way, do you have a website or blog that I can link to? I'm going to list the authors I read on one of my side panels.
Also, by the way, I would have given you four out of five stars if the formatting and punctuation hadn't gotten on my nerves...just saying... ;)
Hey, thanks for honest review. It is supposed to be like watching a B-movie at the drive in. Haha. I hope you got a big laugh or two out of it. That was the whole point.
Here's the review. I just realized that there's two authors! I'm sorry. I'll fix that right away.
I'll check him out. Thanks for the heads up!
Hey another member here -
Is also a writer.
And yeah, Bubba is so common here. It's used like 'buddy' or 'fellow'. One day I dropped my keys and this lady I didn't know said "Hey Bubba, you dropped your keys." I said "How'd you know my name?!" haha.
Bubba? Did you have to name the MC Bubba?
It sounds good. It's on my list. I'll report back here once I've read and reviewed it.
I won't murder you. If I truly do not like it, I will simply not review it. I'll let you know if that is the case. :)
I've written a sci-fi comedy set in the South. You could check it out. "The Alabama Alien Abduction" on Amazon.com. Paperback or Kindle. It's a silly romp about capturing an alien. It includes a good bit of narrative on southern culture. It is not Tolstoy, haha. You'll probably murder me. But, it's a short read, fast paced and pretty dang funny.
© 2016 Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: Richard Haynes. Powered by


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Dear Members,
Keep in mind that Character Bashing is now prohibited. Making fun of certain characters/character pairings leads to a pointless thread filled with insults and general rule breaking.
Also, remember that Versus threads are allowed only in the Versus section.
Thank you, NarutoBase Staff
team 7 fights dopplergangers with unlimited chakra in the anime (lee, neji and ten-ten.) did that happen in the manga?
I think it was in the manga... idk
Yes it did
In the Kazekage rescue arc.
It did happen in the manga but there was only a few panels dedicated to it.
That would have to be one of my fav scenes!
Team Gai at its best!
Forum Rules

subset: commoncrawl


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Your kiln has graded elements. The top and bottom elements run hotter to account for heat loss out the floor and lid. Glaze problems at the bottom could be from the bottom running hotter or colder. More likely colder. The thermocouple is only reading temp in the middle, so if the bottom is packed too tight, it can run cold. Put in cones bottom, middle and top to verify evenness.
Glaze problem pinholes or blisters
Posted 07 January 2014 - 03:58 PM
Neil Estrick
Kiln Repair Tech
L&L Kilns Distributor
Owner, Neil Estrick Gallery, LLC
[email protected]
Posted 07 January 2014 - 08:42 PM
I just recently had a pinhole problem with a glaze that has been very stable. But....I had two boxes of Bee Mix that had gravel in it. I am thinking that there are some organic things that are unable to burn out all the way. I do bisque to 04 and it is a glaze I mixed myself. and have used successfully. I only find the gravel chunks when I am trimming. It's rather frustrating but I have been able to smooth over the holes left by the removal of the gravel, sooooo I am wondering if my little pinhole is a result of the rough stuff in the clay rather than my glaze?
Posted 07 January 2014 - 10:14 PM
It's possible for something organic to burn out and leave a pit in the glaze. But if it's something that's not organic, like a chunk of rock/mineral, I would expect it to melt out the surface or leave a raised area, not a void.
Neil Estrick
Kiln Repair Tech
L&L Kilns Distributor
Owner, Neil Estrick Gallery, LLC
[email protected]
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A Theraflu Induced Rant
I didn't want to do it. I didn't want to talk about it anymore. I mean, it's all we've been talking about for the past few weeks and it kind of feels like a dagger in the heart every time it comes up. No, I'm not talking about the Tigers' chances for success this season. And I'm not referring to Jeff's notorious difficulty in the dating world. No, I'm talking about the former anti-Barry, Alex Rodriguez.
How is it possible that he just doesn't get it? What is he paying Boras for? Shouldn't that guy be out there making sure he doesn't do stupid ^ss sh!t like this?
But no, once again A-Rod is in the news for all the wrong reasons. Yeah, he still has that sweet swing as Jeff mentioned yesterday. However, it appears he also still retains that incredible tone-deafness that got him into this current predicament. Really, man? After everything that's happened you're still going to head out for a night of needles in the butt with the same guy that supposedly got you into this mess? As Simon and Garfunkel put it so eloquently, "Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?"
Maybe he thought that everyone was so caught up in watching our president try to pull us out of our current financial mess that he figured no one would notice. Maybe he decided that the nation was so focused on the Republicans' inane game of "I know you are but what am I?" that we'd all let this slide. Or maybe he just thinks that with the current state of things we're all going to be dead soon so what does it matter anyway.
I don't know. But, what I can say is that for all my dislike of the Yankees, this whole saga just makes me sad. Luckily I still have the Pistons and the Red Wings to keep me sane. What? Really? 8 games in a row? Well, I guess 1 out of 2 ain't bad.
8 Comments
Or maybe he's as dumb as a brick and really thinks it's ok to be seen in public with the man who purchased PEDs for him, right after he told the American public that this man purchased PEDs for him. Next we'll see him working out with Angel Presinal.
He always has seemed to need a little PR 101. This is just beyond stupid, though. Maybe he thinks that he hit a homerun and he's off the hook.
Oh, and Alan, I have to apologize. It's my fault that the Pistons are doing so poorly. My friend and I decided we wanted to see a game. I'm afraid I'm a curse :-\. They went on a skid the second I made a bid for tickets on ebay.
You know, it's going to be SUCH a shame when my Caps wind up winning the Stanley Cup (perhaps over the Wings, but who knows??).
Anyway, nice that I now know to "sign out/sign in" whenever that "You do not have permission…" thing pops up. That's how I'm able to write you here.
I also apologize for spelling your name wrong, Allen. lol


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The yellow color is Hubble's view in visible light. Most of this light comes from stars, and they trace the same spiral structure as the dust lanes.
Object Names: M101, NGC 4547, The Pinwheel Galaxy
Image Type: Astronomical
Credit: NASA, ESA, K. Kuntz (JHU), F. Bresolin (University of Hawaii), J. Trauger (Jet Propulsion Lab), J. Mould (NOAO), Y.-H. Chu (University of Illinois, Urbana), and STScI
To access available information and downloadable versions of images in this news release, click on any of the images below:


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TAS Girls and Cars: Lost Gallery Volume 1 (We found $50 bucks in the sofa!)
Girls, Custom Cars, and 100 Awesome Photos that We Totally Forgot to Publish!
Girls, Custom Cars, and 100 Awesome Photos that We Totally Forgot to Publish!
Sakura-Miku-Man is back! Now available at Family Mart.
Last March, Family Mart released the cutest An-man (a steamed bun with a redbean jam filling) in collaboration with Hatsune Miku.
Because Sakura (cherry blossom) season is just around the corner, this An-man's Hatsune Miku has pink colored hair, not the usual turquoise hair. Therefore, it's called Sakura-Miku-Man. Her famous pigtails are recreated on Sakura-Miku-Man.
Futon 'Punch Cleaner'
LG Electronics is going to release the new Futon Punch Cleaner (VH9201DSW) for cleaning duvets and mattresses in late February.
Elecom is going to release a compact mobile Bluetooth speaker LBT-SPP300AV series supporting aptX codec in early March. It supports NFC, too.
It is a triangular prism shaped device, and it is smaller than a 500ml plastic bottle so that you will feel comfortable carrying it in your bag. 3 colors are ready to be released: Silver, Black and Red.
The LBT-SPP300AV series has 2 40mm full-range speakers and a passive radiator to play high and low pitch well-balanced sound.
Price: Open price
Size: 185mm x 47mm x 50mm
Ninja Smartphone Stand
Recently released by Hamee, this series captures 3 major Ninja fighting strategies.
AkihabaraNews on YouTube
The weekly roundup of our new, original tech videos from here in Tokyo and all over Japan, plus favorites from our partners and the best clips from the past week's posts - subscribe and automate!
Terrie's Take is a selection of Japanese-centric news collected and collated by long-time resident and media business professional Terrie Lloyd. AkihabaraNews is pleased to present Terrie's learned perspective; we all could use another take on the news - here's Terrie's:
• • •
Let's go on a journey to all of Hokkaido, Tohoku, Okinawa and Hawaii within 30 minutes!
SanktGallen, a microbrewery from Atsugi, Kanagawa prefecture, is going to release Sakura-mochi flavored beer - called "Sakura" - in a limited quantity on February 27.
Sakura-mochi is a seasonal rice cake filled with sweet bean paste and wrapped in preserved cherry leaf. Less hops are used for this Sakura beer to maximize the Sakura flavors extracted from cherry blossom petals and leaves.
Price: ¥450 (330ml)


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Funeral home to be at East Lawn
One of the area's older graveyards will undergo a major upgrade over the next several months as a new funeral home is to be built on the grounds of the 85-acre East Lawn Memorial Park and Valley Cemetery in Reno.
"Three of our other cemeteries also have on-site funeral homes, but this is one of our larger facilities, and we hope to have this home completed by late spring 2014," said Alex Roberts, funeral director and trustee with Wooster-based Roberts Funeral Homes.
Alex and brothers Kirk and Jeff Roberts, who are fellow funeral directors and trustees, own the company that was founded by their father in Wooster in 1961.
The company has owned East Lawn Memorial Park and Valley Cemetery since 2001, Alex said, adding that Roberts Funeral Homes owns a total of 17 graveyards throughout Ohio.
"Construction on this facility will begin within a few weeks," he said. "When completed the funeral home will include one large chapel, as well as a smaller chapel that will provide a more intimate setting for family services."
Jeff Roberts said one reason the brothers decided to locate a funeral home at East Lawn Memorial Park and Valley Cemetery was local support from the community.
"This community supports the cemetery by holding veterans ceremonies here on Memorial Day and recently conducted a couple of 9-11 commemorations," he said. "We see those types of events here more than at any of our other facilities. And this cemetery has a heritage here."
Tony McDaniel, director of family services for East Lawn Memorial Park, noted Valley Cemetery, which is the older part of the park, was established in the early half of the 1800s.
The new funeral home will be one of only a few in the region located on or adjacent to cemeteries.
"But this is becoming a trend for funeral homes across the state," Jeff said. "There's one opening in the Cincinnati area right now."
Kirk Roberts said it's the convenience of an on-site facility that makes it so popular.
"It's all about giving families a better experience," he said.
Alex said one of the great advantages of a funeral home at the cemetery is that friends and families don't have to drive through a lot of traffic from the funeral service location to the burial site, which can be a safety issue.
"I've seen traffic accidents occur during some funeral processions," McDaniel added. "An on-site funeral home can eliminate that problem."
"Some families also may not have the capability to provide pallbearers, which is something they wouldn't have to deal with when the funeral home is right here," said Tracy Boorom, the Roberts Funeral Home funeral director who will oversee the East Lawn facility after it's built.
Other benefits of an on-site home include the ability to conduct funeral and cemetery-related business at one location, Alex said.
"Traditionally people will go to the funeral home to make arrangements, then they have to go to the cemetery for more arrangements," he said. "Here we can do all of that in one place, and if the weather turns bad we can even conduct the committal service inside instead of at the graveside."
In addition to traditional burials at East Lawn Memorial Park and Valley Cemetery, Roberts Funeral Homes provides cremation services through the company's home location in Wooster.


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Field Trips
Descriptions of the field trips, all of which will run on Saturday, 22 March, are shown below; trip registration opens in January 2014. For additional information, please contact the Field Trip Chair, Andrew de Wet.
- 1. Sources and Sinks of Anthropogenic Sediments in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Sat., 22 March, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- 2. Tectonics of Southeastern Pennsylvania, West Grove Metamorphic Suite.
Sat., 22 March, 8 a.m.–7 p.m.
Cost: US$75; Max.: 20.
Howell Bosbyshell, West Chester Univ. of Pennsylvania, hbosbyshellwcupa.edu;
Gale Blackmer, Pennsylvania Geologic & Topographic Survey, gblackmerpa.gov;
William "Sandy" Schenk, Delaware Geological Survey, rockmanudel.edu; LeeAnn Srogi,
West Chester Univ. of Pennsylvania, esrogiwcupa.edu.
- Description: This field trip will focus on metasedimentary rocks that have been informally referred to as the "Glenarm Wissahickon," to set them apart from the typical "Philadelphia Wissahickon." New mapping, monazite geochronology, amphibolite geochemistry, and detrital zircon data support the designation of these rocks as the West Grove Metamorphic Suite. Study of outcrops of the Laurels Schist, Doe Run Schist, Embreeville Thrust, Mt. Cuba Gneiss and the Wissahickon Schist in Media, Pennsylvania, will illuminate the Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic tectonic history of this region.
- 3. Geology of the Baltimore Mafic Complex Adjacent to the PA/MD State Line.
Sat., 22 March, 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
Cost: US$70; Max.: 22.
Stephen Shank, Pennsylvania Geologic & Topographic Survey, stshankpa.gov;
Lynn Marquez, Millersville Univ. of Pennsylvania, lynn.marquezmillersville.edu.
- Description: This field trip will focus on the stratigraphy of the Baltimore Mafic Complex, its contact relations with adjacent metasediments, the mining history of this region, and the distinctive vegetation of the "serpentine barrens." Stops are expected to include gabbro and serpentinite along Octorara Creek, the Penn-Maryland Quarry with serpentinite and "vermiculite" pipe bearing zircons, contact between the serpentinite and the Peters Creek Formation, a diamictite (Sykesville?) in contact with serpentinite, and the classic Wood chromite mine.
- 4. Stratigraphy and Structure of the Chilhowee Group in Lancaster and York Counties.
Sat., 22 March, 8:30 a.m.–4:15 p.m.
Cost: US$75; Max.: 20.
Charles Scharnberger, Millersville Univ. of Pennsylvania, charles.scharnbergermillersville.edu;
Joseph P. Smoot, USGS, jpsmootusgs.gov;
Edward L. Simpson, Kutztown Univ. of Pennsylvania, simpsonkutztown.edu;
Jeri L. Jones, Jones Geological Services, jonesgeocomcast.net.
- Description: Re-examination of the latest Proterozoic and Early Cambrian clastics of Lancaster and York Counties is prompted in part by the recent Nature paper by Peters and Gaines (2012). These authors have revived Walcott's classic concept of the "Great Unconformity." linking change in the chemistry of the oceans and the Cambrian explosion of marine animal life to this event. In our region, the significant break occurs at the base of the Weaverton and at the base of the Chickies Formation. The latest Proterozoic sedimentary sequence in Virginia and farther south, recently documented by Smoot and Southworth (2012) is largely absent in Pennsylvania. However, it is unclear whether the Hellam Conglomerate should be regarded as a basal facies of the Chickies, as has generally been assumed, or as a prior unit of a different character, like the enigmatic Ausable Formation that occurs below the Potsdam Formation, along the SE margin of the Adirondacks. These and other issues, including examination of Skolithos where it was almost certainly first recognized and study of the structural deformation of these rocks will be undertaken at localities on either side of the Susquehanna River.
- 5. Late Devonian Vertebrate Fossils from the Catskill Formation at Red Hill, Clinton County, Pennsylvania.
Sat., 22 March, 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m.
Cost: US$110; Max.: 30.
Edward B. Daeschler, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel Univ., daeschleransp.org;
Walter L. Cressler, Westchester Univ. of Pennsylvania, wcresslerwcupa.edu.
- Description: This trip will involve study and fossil collecting at the Red Hill site in Hyner, Pennsylvania. This site has yielded much the greater part of evidence of the Famennian fauna and flora that occupied fluvial, over-bank and lacustrine environments in this region. This is the locality from which the famous fin of a fish with eight "fingers" was collected. Discussion will focus on Late Devonian paleontology, notably transitional adaptations of vertebrates at the interface between aquatic and terrestrial modes of life, paleoecology and fluvial sedimentology.
- 6. Hydrogeologic Framework based on Van Houten Cyclic Stratigraphy and Gamma-Ray Logging, Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey.
Sat., 22 March, 8 a.m.–4:15 p.m.


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Texas Wesleyan Law Clinic
Who We Are
Texas Wesleyan Law Clinic provides legal representation for indigent clients in the areas of Social Security & SSI Disability and family law issues for victims of domestic violence or involving children at risk of abuse or neglect.
Who We Serve
- Area(s)
- Tarrant County
- Language(s) Spoken
- Spanish / Español
- Cirumstances and languages in which interpreters are provided
as needed
- Income Guidelines
Women's Haven grant guidelines.
CLient must pay court costs if not waived by court and any case expenses, but no attorney fees.
- Is this organization accessible by wheelchair?
- Yes
- Does this organization provide access for the hearing impaired?
- Yes
Type of Help
- This group provides the following types of services based on your legal needs and its resources:
- Full Legal Representation
- Brief Advice
- Emergency Instructions
What is an Emergency? Emergency cases are normally handled through the Women's Haven legal department.
General Contact Information
- Address
Texas Wesleyan Law Clinic
1515 Commerce (map)Fort Worth, TX 76180
- Phone
- 817-212-4123
- Toll Free
- 1-800-733-9529 ext. 4123
- Fax
- 817-212-4124
- Website
- http://law.txwes.edu


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No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)/Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 amended the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) to require the U.S. Department of Education to notify, annually, each State educational agency (SEA) and each local educational agency (LEA) of their obligations under PPRA and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The attached letter serves to provide that notification to SEAs.
The requirements placed on SEA by each law are discussed separately in the first attachment. For your convenience, I am also attaching the letter that is being sent to school superintendents, as well as PPRA and FERPA model notices. All of this information is available online at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OM/fpco/.
Please direct any questions or concerns you might have to the Department's Family Policy Compliance Office at (202) 260-3887.


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The Basics
The Kinvara 3 promises to be the future of running, thanks to its ultra-lightweight and durable Flex Film, which is supposed to secure and stabilize your foot while reducing the overall weight of the shoe. I've been wearing them for about a month now, and this is what I've encountered.
The Feel:
On The Road
They're light. Very light. The one day I left these shoes at the office I wound up having to use a "traditional" pair of sneakers, and it felt like I was running with a pair of bricks on my feet. Despite their almost socklike appearance, they wrap your foot up quite well, with no slipping or sliding whatsoever. The 4mm heel-toe offset really does make a difference, as well. After my first few runs my calves were killing me, but as I adjusted to the shoes, I started noticing a much more efficient stride. When I jumped on the treadmill for some sprints, my max speed had shot up considerably.
With The Weights
I had been lifting in a pair of Vibram Five Fingers, and in terms of ground feel and challenge, the Kinvara's aren't quite on the same level. The Saucony's also have a somewhat spongy heel, making it a bit harder to generate maximum force when going for a heavy pull or squat. That being said, when comparing these kicks to just about every other option out there (Vibram's aside), they're a pretty good choice. The 4mm heel means you'll be closer to the ground than your average shoe, which is better than nothing.
The Look
At first, I was turned off by the yellow-to-black gradient. But they grew on me. Obviously, taste is a personal preference, but don't knock it 'til you've tried it.
Top notch. I beat the hell out of these things for four weeks straight—nothing but hard concrete, tough tracks and muddy trail runs. They still perform fantastically and look great.
The Verdict
Get 'em. They're perfect for running, and if you're not rocking true minimalist footwear, these kicks are the next best thing. See more photos of the Saucony Kinvara 3 here >>

Available at Saucony.com.


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Stowe house burns and is declared a total loss
STOWE Firefighters from four area departments were unable Sunday afternoon to save a burning Upper Hollow Road home that collapsed shortly after their arrival.
The fire, which was already raging when it was spotted by a motorist who phoned it in shortly after noon Sunday, destroyed the home owned by George Lengvari, according to state police. Police estimated damage at more than $600,000.
Saving the house was never an option, according to police, who said the entire structure was engulfed in flames when Stowe firefighters arrived. Firefighters from Waterbury, Morrisville and Cambridge also responded, as did Stowe police and the local ambulance service.
There were no reported injuries. Though the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, a state police investigator, who was summoned by the Stowe Fire Department, said it is not believed to be suspicious.MORE IN This Just InMONTPELIER A new report from a commission that studied the cost, availability and quality of... Full StoryVermont fish hatchery changes focus, looks inland
BETHEL, Vt. Full StoryHONOLULU (AP) A group of Hawaii musicians and a Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant provided... Full Story
- Most Popular
- Most Emailed


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It's no secret that winter is on the horizon. I don't know about city folk, but here in the Upper Delaware River valley, we see the telltale signs everywhere. There has already been frost on the pumpkins, and squirrels are madly foraging for the abundance of acorns dotting the landscape this year—a sure sign that we had all better prepare to hunker down. Knowing the answer, I still visited the "country bible" at www.farmersalmanac.com [2], which did not allay my fears.
Having moved just two short months ago, I'm a bit frightened by my lack of preparation. With storm windows, shovels and still-missing scarves on my mind, I'm trying not to panic and to enjoy Halloween (my favorite holiday), autumn and all that precedes Jack Frost (and his girlfriend, Suzy Snowflake) knockin' on the window sill. With harvest festivals giving way to haunted mansions, I'm scratching my (still hairless) head, determined to conjure up a good costume for the plethora of parties looming on the horizon. Last Saturday, Dharma and I spent the day celebrating with friends and neighbors at the 10th annual Pumpkin Fest in Barryville, NY (www.barryville.com [3]), where folks turned out to enjoy the music, food and contests.
Thankfully, Halloween is not just for kids, and although I wasn't in costume, there were plenty of adults who were, parading about in fall finery and competing in separate categories for prizes with the adorable kids. Trophies were awarded for best doggy attire (a pig won!), Jack O' Lanterns, decorated stalls and the requisite pie-eating frenzy (pumpkin, of course). Everyone had a ball and The River Reporter's photo booth was a popular destination, where one could have a souvenir picture taken—a shot of one's self on the front page. To view this photo album, visit www.facebook.com/riverreporter [4] where you can tag and share the pics with your pals.
Bidding adieu to summer, I observed the last of the Canada geese taking off, like a bat out of hell, and acknowledged the onset of things that go bump in the night. Clueless as to the whereabouts of my spooky decorations, I am enjoying scouring the countryside for my neighbors' efforts, who (IMHO) all deserve prizes themselves. On my way home from the festival, I screeched to a halt in North Branch, NY and knocked on Jennie Bauernfeind's door, overwhelmed by the Halloween diorama that she and her husband create every year spanning their property. Bauernfeind happily gave me a tour while I captured the display on film, and then she cautioned me (and my excitement) by saying, "If you like the scary display, wait till you see what we do for Christmas!"
Still determined to bask in witches, cauldrons and ghosts, I assured her that I would return for their winter wonderland and I made my way home, admiring the corn stalks and scarecrows adorning barns and doorways across the region. Hitting the Internet, I swooned at the possibilities. "Hell-O-Roma" (www.villaroma.com [5]) is already in full swing and, even though I'm a fraidy-cat, I'm planning to screw up some courage and visit. Determined to face my fear head on (with a nod to the horseman who rides like the wind), I noted that another graveyard awaits on the far side (www.theoldstonehouseofhasbrouck.org [6]), while Milford, PA (http://www.greytowers.org [7]) prepares to scare with their traditional cemetery tours and an evening with Edgar Allan Poe.
Imagination in overdrive, I'm still trying to figure out what to wear and where to go, knowing that costume parties are in the works all around the Catskills. Attempting to out-do my "Where's Waldo" success of a few years back (www.dancingcatsaloon.com [8]), I have a few ideas floating around my skull, but still I'm waiting for inspiration to strike. I've yet to learn ventriloquism, so the dog may or may not play a part in my presentation, although she will be spied in many locations this season judging a variety of canine costume contests that she's been invited to.
Although I'm a little spooked about how severe this winter might be, I'm saving the fright for another day and am concentrating on scaring up some fun in the next few weeks. To that end, I'm reaching out to the community to keep me posted on all things Halloween. For those who have yet to inform, please advise by e-mailing firstname.lastname@example.com [9], as my creepy calendar fills up quickly and I'd hate to miss out on your ghoulish plans. Leaving no (head) stone unturned in my quest, I'm busily creeping around your corner, seeking a frightfully good time. Holding Santa at bay for a bit, let us have the spine tingle before the bells jingle. A nightmare before Christmas? Bring it on!


text:
Brand Name Pens
Sort By:
Why advertise your brand with a regular writing utensil when you could use a brand name pen? Ever-present in offices, homes and nearly every other establishment, when you align your organization's name with products such as these, designed by an already popular and well-known company, you automatically associate your business with the quality and respect of the manufacturer. Making an item produced by a notable company you own with your own company's logo imprinted on the barrel and clip also goes beyond getting your name tons of advertising exposure. They also hold the power to get the most out of your marketing dollars by purchasing a product that can advertise your brand over and over again. So shop our collection of brand name pens including standard, retractable ballpoint styles from BIC and Paper Mate, markers and highlighters by Sharpie and contemporary gel models from uni-ball now.


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Anyone who's ever received a gaming related gift knows that expectations should be directly tied to some combination of age and gaming experience. After having so many baffling interactions with our elders about gaming, we can't help but wonder what exactly they think we're doing with all of our time.
We asked you to show us with the magic of image manipulation. The winner is below, but first the runners up ...
21Entry by LobsLawBomb
by LobsLawBomb


text:
View Rule
|View EO 12866 Meetings
|Printer-Friendly Version Download RIN Data in XML
|Publication ID: Spring 2005
|Title: Cochineal Extract and Carmine Label Declaration
|Abstract: The purpose of this proposed rule is to protect consumers who have allergies to the color additives carmine and cochineal extract by requiring label declaration on products under FDA jurisdiction. This action responds to adverse event reports received by FDA and to a citizen petition submitted to FDA.
|Agency: Department of Health and Human Services(HHS)
|Priority: Other Significant
|RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda
|Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage
|Major: Undetermined
|Unfunded Mandates: No
|CFR Citation: 21 CFR 73.100(d) 21 CFR 73.1100(c) 21 CFR 73.2087(c) 21 CFR 101.22(k) 21 CFR 201.100(b) 21 CFR 201.324
|Legal Authority: 21 USC 379e(b)
Legal Deadline:
|Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes
|Government Levels Affected: None
|Small Entities Affected: Businesses
|Federalism: No
|Included in the Regulatory Plan: No
Agency Contact:
Mical E. Honigfort
Consumer Safety Officer
Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration
HFS-265, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway,
College Park, MD 20740
Phone:301 436-1278
Fax:301 436-2972
Email: email@example.com


text:
Buy for$10.63(2 items)
Written by Baz Anderson on 25.04.2010 at 20:11
I really don't know what to make of this yet. Definitely their hardest album to get into.
Maybe it's a little too progressive and all-over-the-place for me...
It has a lot of promise, I will give it a good chance.
Quote:Hi all,
someone asked about what happened to the song "Discovery" that we recorded during the "Salt" sessions.
Here´s the deal:
This time we hadn´t signed any record deals before we started recording. So besides having to finance it all ourselves, it also meant that we didn´t know the amount of bonus material that would eventually be required.
In the past we´ve usually had to come up with two bonus tracks per album, and so we recorded two this time as well. In the end, when the deals were signed, we had one track too many, namely "Discovery".
So, the track is finished of course - and it´s great - so we´re basically just saving it until we have a use for it.
So time will tell what will happen to the song, but I hope it won´t be too long before you get a chance to hear it.


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Hostal Mitre Paterna
The accommodation has a simply decorated but cozy, has a friendly family service, has comfortable rooms, all equipped with air conditioning, heating, TV.
In addition the customer can enjoy the facilities and services as their break room, cafeteria, service and tourist information.
Near the hotel, the conference center, technology park, and there are bus stops, taxis and subway a few meters from the hotel, which makes it accessible. Valencia Center is located 6 kilometers.
The Hostal Mitre is less than 10 minutes' drive from Valencia Airport (VLC). Club de Golf Escorpion, Lonja de la Seda and Town hall of Valencia are within driving distance of the property.
Please note:
Check in time.: 12.00 pm to 19.00pm ( in case you will be arriving later than 19pm please contact the hostal. You will have the contact details in your booking confirmation email)
Check out time: 12.00pm
Cancellation Policy is 2 days before arrival
We accept credit card and cash on arrival
Taxes are included
We accept groups
Availability & RatesTo view availability and prices please select dates and click 'Update Dates'
B&B Facilities & Policies
- Air Conditioning
- Breakfast Not Included
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Telephone/Fax Facilities
- Hot Showers
- Internet Access
- Laundry Facilities
- Luggage Storage
- No Curfew
- Taxes included
Cancellation PolicyThis property has a 2 day cancellation policy. Failure to cancel within this time will result in a cancellation charge equal to the first night of your stay.
Must-Read Guesthouse InfoThis property has specific Terms & Conditions.
Please note:
Check in time.: 12.00 pm to 19.00pm< in case you will be arriving later than 19pm please contact the hostel. You will have the contact details in your booking confirmation email
Check out time: 12.00pm
Cancellation Policy is 2 days before arrival
We accept credit card and cash on arrival
Minimum stay 3 nights
Taxes are included
We accept groups
Special Conditions for Fallas (March 14th to 19th), Moto GP (Nov 8th to 10th), Tomatina (Aug 26th to Sept 1st)
Full amount would be charged after the booking is made. In case of cancellation or not show, the amount is not refundable
DirectionsShow MapHide Map
Transporst such as bus, subway and taxi, are 20 meters to and from the doorstep.
From Valencia, the underground station is to Paterna. You can grab the subway that will Lliria or Paterna, considering that the stop is Paterna. On the other hand you can take the bus from Valencia, Paterna.
Located in the center of town.
Very important: do not confuse the direction of the street, with the famous Perez Galdos, of Valencia, as this can cause the client deviates toward the center of Valencia.
We are talking about the town of Paterna, near Valencia.
Please contact us if you need more detail of how to get here. You will have our contact details in your booking confirmation email.
Located Near
Area with restaurant services, cafes, banks and town hall, since the area where the home is the center of the town of Paterna. It is a residential area where entertainment areas distant 3 km from the property.We have a bus in summer in front of the hostel that goes ahead to the beach every hour until the month of august.


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Big Sky
Reviewed by
Nov 06, 2008
avg. snowfall
400 in
number of runs
base elevation
peak elevation
vertical drop
skiable acres
Related Resorts
Cadrona Alpine Resort
Squaw Valley
Best resort in Tahoe. Great mountain. Snow, sun and après fun.
No lines. Lots of snow. Happy families. Where is everyone?'
By itself, Big Sky hosts some of the best skiing in America: long, jetway groomers; the hollow-stomach steeps of Lone Peak; wraparound mountain scenery that induces neck strain; and cotton-candy powder that lasts for days. But with the Lone Peak Pass, including adjoining Moonlight Basin and its stunning North Summit Snowfields and Headwaters Bowl for 5,500 total acres, the place flat-out rules. "One of my favorite areas in the U.S." attests more than one reader. "Amazing terrain" has always been Big Sky's strong suit, and it just gets better with ongoing glading, regular lift improvements and "no liftlines—no crowds."
Impressive lodging at the Village Center and the Summit is a match for the five-star skiing, but the rest of the village isn't quite. Lack of dining variety and "not much nightlife for the party crowd" are regular laments. Still, Whiskey Jack's, MR Hummer's and Scissorbills Saloon crank it up for après, and Andiamo's, The Cabin and Chet's Bar and Grill are all very good restaurants. As some readers point out, "It's Montana, not Aspen." Others correctly note that you "need a car" to check out excellent nearby (15 minutes) bars and restaurants at Buck's T-4, Rainbow Ranch, Half-Moon Saloon and more. Ultimately, the skiing so totally rips that many say "leave it alone—no glitz needed." — J.C.
What's New: For summer, a high ropes course with nine traversing elements, a ships-mast cargo net, dynamic and static belay systems, all with professional guides ($59)
Mandatory Run: The very exposed and off-piste North Summit Snowfields, from Lone Peak down to Moonlight Basin, will widen your eyes and expand your horizons.
Don't Miss: The outstanding restaurants, bars, museums, galleries and shops of Bozeman, an hour's drive down gorgeous Gallatin Canyon.


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Items labeled in the title as overstock are either discontinued product SKUs from a tape manufacturer or is overstock excess material that was purchased from an adhesive tape manufacturer and then would onto a neutral or white core. All overstock items are non-returnable.
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The rapid proliferation of multitasking smartphones with more advanced applications means consumers are going to be asking for faster – 802.11n – Wi-Fi soon, and mobile phone vendors are fully ready to integrate new wireless controllers into their handsets thanks to new controllers that are available, claims In-Stat market tracking company.
Mobile Phones Need 802.11n
Because more powerful and bandwidth intensive applications that stream video are demanded from sources like the Android Marketplace or iTunes App Store, the importance of Wi-Fi is growing considerably. Still, mobile has been the domain of 802.11b/g solutions. Of the 332 models of mobile phones that In-Stat tracks in its "1H 2009 Wi-Fi Product Database," only one contains 802.11n capability.
In terms of better power efficiency, the greater bandwidth of 802.11n solutions enhance battery life in normal usage such as web surfing by powering up quickly, transmitting the data, and then quickly powering down into a sleep state, minimizing the transmit or receive time of the radio.
As would also be expected, there is a cost savings that is created through integration of other chips and their corresponding features onto a single die. There are power amplifier and power management chips eliminated from the rest of the bill of materials. Additional cost savings are achieved with less complex packaging. In-Stat's back of the napkin calculation puts the cost of the entire solution at about 50% to 60% of the older "g" solution.
Simply put, "n" in mobile is a compelling technology that cannot be ignored. Smartphones are rapidly requiring more powerful processors, better battery technologies, more competent web browsers and multitasking capabilities due to more bandwidth intensive applications. Further, consumers are willing to pay a premium for devices that have longer useful lives as a result of OS updates that are full of new features. Looking forward, it will be hard for OEMs to ignore the benefits of 802.11n.
"There is not only a demand for better Wi-Fi performance in mobile devices, but the installed base of 802.11n networking equipment is growing to support that demand. The penetration of 802.11n is dependent on the form factor, i.e., standalone access points, residential gateways, and SOHO/consumer routers. Overall, in Q2 2009, the penetration of 802.11n in SOHO/consumer routers was 40.6%," said In-Stat analyst Victoria Fodale.
Chip Vendors Ready with Solutions
Clearly, the Wi-Fi silicon vendors agree with the analyst. Broadcom announced the BCM4329 in December '08 and began shipping in volume during Q3 of 2009. The Broadcom BCM4329 integrates 802.11 a/b/g/n (MAC/baseband/radio) with Bluetooth 3.0. The BCM4329 features integrated 2.4GHz and 5GHz WLAN CMOS power amplifiers and an on-chip Power Management Unit supporting direct battery (2.3V to 5.5V) connection. The Broadcom solution also integrates the FM radio receiver and transmitters, allowing someone to not only listen to radio but to broadcast their handset music selection to a nearby radio such as in an automobile. .
This week came the announcement of the new Atheros 65nm "Align" AR6003 and AR6133 wireless 802.11n mobile chipsets, which promise better energy efficiency, more bandwidth, longer range, and a much smaller footprint than Atheros's previous "g" solution that was intended for mobile devices. In mobile configurations, the AR6003 operates in both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands. In a demonstration, we observed that Atheros' solution maintained a steady 42Mb/s of useable bandwidth, which is almost twice that of an 802.11g chipset, offering enough bandwidth to stream HD video with room to spare. The solution also provided roughly 70Mb/s throughput levels in the 5GHz band using 40MHz operation.
The AR6133 chipset (a two chip solution in single package) also provides both 802.11n and Bluetooth 3.0. Its Bluetooth cooperation mode enables a user to multitask with simultaneous access to both technologies. This means a user can seamlessly stream internet radio over Wi-Fi, while listening on a stereo Bluetooth headset without any interference. In a demonstration with Bluetooth activated, the 802.11n chipset still gives the user more than 20M/ps of useable Wi-Fi bandwidth in the 2.4GHz band.
Tags: 802.11n, Apple, LG Electronics, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson


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Andy Jackson: Freedom Newspapers
Accused killer James Smith told police Laura McNaughton "died very quickly" at his home after they engaged in a "very physical embrace," according to court documents unsealed Friday.
In an interview with law-enforcement authorities, Smith said he placed McNaughton's body on his back porch after she died, then went to sleep, according to a district court document used to secure a search warrant for Smith's home east of Clovis. The next morning, on Dec. 10, court records show, he left her body in a ditch north of town, then went to play golf.
Smith is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, criminal sexual penetration and three counts of tampering with evidence in connection with McNaughton's death.
Smith's attorney, Stephen Doerr of Portales, entered a plea of not guilty and waived Smith's arraignment scheduled Friday morning in 9th Judicial District Court.
Doerr did not return phone calls seeking comment on Thursday or Friday.
According to the court records unsealed Friday, Smith showed investigators how his hands were positioned on McNaughton's body when the "physical embrace" occurred.
Smith's hands were positioned on McNaughton in a way to "choke around the throat from the front," the court record shows.
McNaughton, 30, a waitress, student and mother of two, was strangled to death, 9th Judicial District Attorney Matt Chandler has said.
According to court records:
n Smith said he waited for McNaughton to get off work and then followed her home Dec. 9. Smith said he knocked on McNaughton's door and then they went on a drive around the outskirts of Clovis where they drank beer.
n Smith, 36, a local dentist, told police he brought McNaughton to his home where the embrace occurred in his living room. Smith said after McNaughton died he placed her body on his porch, drank beer and went to sleep until early the next morning. After waking, Smith said he brought McNaughton's body back into his home, undressed her, and wiped her body down with paper towels.
n Smith told authorities he dumped McNaughton's body and tossed her clothing into a dumpster, "just prior to him playing golf at Chaparral Country Club…"
DNA from blood found inside Smith's truck was consistent with McNaughton's DNA profile, records show.
Smith attempted suicide Dec. 13, the day after police questioned him about McNaughton's slaying.
Smith said he did not kill McNaughton in a letter addressed to his wife, according to court records previously released.
Ken Templeton, Smith's second cousin and friend who is an oral surgeon in Yukon, Okla., said the charges against Smith "are very inconsistent with the character I've observed since being reacquainted with Dr. Smith in 1992.
"Overall, he is one of the nicest people I know and has always been an excellent representative of our shared profession," Templeton said in an e-mail to the Clovis News Journal.
Chandler said Thursday he will decide in 90 days if he will pursue the death penalty in the case.
Smith is being held at the Curry County Adult Detention Center without bond.


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Location: Pulver Pavilion, Cotter Union
Students who own books they no longer need may sell them with the Bookstore's textbook recycling buyback
program. Books from Colby's recycling buyback may be re-used at Colby or at other campuses across the country.
1) At our end of semester buybacks in May and December, the College will pay 50% of the current price of a new copy of the book if the book:
2) Or you can use our Colby Bookstore U-Sell ® Program
Student-to-Student Textbook Recycling - we just help a little!
The Colby Bookstore U-Sell program, started in 1988, gives students a chance to have their text placed on the bookstore
shelves with our regular textbook stock. As a student YOU set the sale price and if your text sells, YOU receive all the money. We do
not charge any fees or percentages for this service.
U-Sell book registration is available twice a year during the end of semester buybacks in May and December. We've got the most
up-to-date list possible of the books faculty are definitely assigning for next semester's courses. You can U-Sell any book which
is on this list of "adopted" books. Money for books sold through the U-Sell program is available just after book return period ends at the start of the following semester.
Want to know more about the U-Sell program? Here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions about
The Bookstore acts as an agent for two national used book wholesalers during our
end of semester buybacks. We provide this service so that students can sell their books even if we can't buy them at the higher
bookstore price. If one wholesaler doesn't need your book, we will automatically check the second wholesaler. This allows us to recycle
more used books into the national used text market, and gives you the best value possible for your books.
The prices paid for used books by the national wholesalers are set by them and average 10% to 33% of
the price of the book if purchased new. Many factors contribute to the price set for books by the wholesalers, including:
Have more questions about Textbook Recycling Buyback and how it works? Here's our Textbook Recycling
Buyback FAQ.
Text-Only Version | Site Map


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By Marlena Hartz/Freedom Newspapers
Four members of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, including Chairman Anthony Principi, toured Cannon Air Force Base on Thursday. Officials said the commissioners, who will ultimately decide the fate of the base targeted for closure by the Department of Defense, spent about three hours at Cannon and spent time with Col. John Posner, Cannon's commander.
Gov. Bill Richardson said Thursday night the commissioners were able to see the military value of Cannon, the absence of encroachment issues and the quality of the facilities at the base.
"They told me they were very impressed," the governor said as he entered a reception in Clovis with BRAC commissioners and New Mexico's congressional delegation. However, he maintained the fight for Cannon is still an uphill battle with so many other bases and challenges not in the control of New Mexico's leaders.
In addition to Principi, a former secretary of veterans affairs, commissioners who toured Cannon were James Hansen, a former U.S. representative from Utah; James Hill, a retired Army general; and Sue Ellen Turner, a retired brigadier general from the Air Force.
Chad Lydick, a member of the Cannon support group Committee of Fifty, said the tour centered around some of Cannon's newest facilities. Lydick said commissioners went inside the new tower, the fire station, and the security forces complex. The commissioners also viewed the base's arsenal of F-16s, with crews on hand to answer inquiries.
"The commissioners were very informed on the attributes of Cannon," said Lydick, describing the commissioners, who also ate lunch at the base, as "interested" in the installation.
"They asked several questions about the training-range initiative. They showed a lot of interest in the air space. They asked questions about encroachment, and there was interest in the additional acreage around the base, if it could be expanded."
Lydick said the tour "went well," but stopped short of describing the exchange in more detail.
"That's all I want to say because there is a lot at stake here," he said.
Touring bases targeted for closure is a BRAC tradition that goes back to 1980.
"Since the beginning of BRAC, the site visit has been a fundamental part of the process," said BRAC director of communications Jim Schaefer. "It allows the commissioners to see the base with an independent eye."
The commissioners are appointed by the president in an attempt to ensure the BRAC process is non-partisan and independent, according to www.brac.gov, the official Web site for the commission. During installation visits, commissioners specifically search for ways in which base facilities deviate from previously compiled Department of Defense BRAC installation composites, Schaefer said.
Five of the nine commissioners must agree before a base can be removed from the DoD's targeted list for closure.


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The world is watching Syria very closely, worried that a desperate Bashir al-Assad might use his chemical weapons against his own people or his neighbors. The U.S. and other nations have warned Assad against launching a chemical attack, but they consider a preemptive strike against Assad's weapons to be high-risk. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said Thursday that intelligence about Syrian chemical weapons "raises serious concerns" that the regime of Bashar Assad may use them against the country's own citizens.
"The whole world is watching, the whole world is watching very closely," Panetta said. "And the president of the United States has made it very clear, there will be consequences — there will be consequences if the Assad regime makes the terrible mistake by using these chemical weapons on their own people."
His comments came a day after U.S. officials told NBC News that the Syrian military had loaded the precursor chemicals for sarin, a deadly nerve gas, into aerial bombs that could be dropped from dozens of fighter-bombers. The defense chief, who was speaking at a news conference at the Department of Veterans Affairs, would not elaborate on what the potential consequences would be.
A member of the regime in Damascus, however, dismissed the assertions Thursday, saying he feared the United States and other Western powers could be trying to find a "pretext for intervention" in Syria's civil war, Reuters reported.
Sarin is an extraordinarily lethal agent. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's forces killed 5,000 Kurds with a single sarin attack on Halabja in 1988.
Assad's deputy foreign minister Faisal Maqdad said Thursday that they would never kill Syrians with chemical weapons, dismissing the Western intelligence reports as "theater."
"Syria stresses again, for the tenth, the hundredth time, that if we had such weapons, they would not be used against its people. We would not commit suicide," Maqdad said, according a Reuters report that cited his comments on Lebanon's Al Manar television, the voice of the pro-Assad Hezbollah movement.
"In fact, we fear a conspiracy ... by the United States and some European states, which might have supplied such weapons to terrorist organizations in Syria, in order to claim later that Syria is the one that used these weapons," he added.
"We fear there is a conspiracy to provide a pretext for any subsequent interventions in Syria by these countries that are increasing pressure on Syria," he said.
Aref Hretani / Reuters
Children run along a street damaged by what activists said was a Syrian Air Force airstrike in the Aleppo district of Salaheddine on Wednesday.
Panetta echos Obama 'red line' warning
"The intelligence we have raises serious concerns" that Damascus was considering using chemical weapons, Panetta said Thursday.
"Without commenting on the specific intelligence ... we remain very concerned, very concerned that as the opposition advances, in particular on Damascus, that the regime might very well consider the use of chemical weapons."
A group of United States senators, including John McCain, discuss reports that the Syrian government has begun to prepare chemical weapons.
Obama and other NATO leaders have warned that using chemical weapons would cross a red line and have consequences, which they have not specified.
Four U.S. Senators on Thursday urged President Obama to send a strong message to Assad.
"We urge the President of the United States to make whatever military preparations are necessary to show Assad that the United States is fully willing and able to impose the consequences that he has spoken of in the event these weapons are used," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz), speaking first. "For deterrence to work it must be based on a credible threat."
He appeared with Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.).
"We are all saying to President Obama, who has stated that there will be drastic consequences for Assad and his government if they use chemical and biological weapons, we're with you," said Lieberman. "There's strong support across Congress if the president takes the strong action that's necessary to prevent a very, very — historically horrific — humanitarian disaster in Syria.
There are limited options for military intervention by the United States in Syria. It has one of the most robust air defense systems in the world — supplied by key ally Russia — but one option could be sending cruise missiles to attack regime targets.
Pentagon sources tell NBC News that the Syrian military is awaiting final orders to launch chemical weapons against its own people after precursor chemicals for deadly sarin gas were loaded into aerial bombs. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.
Germany's cabinet approved stationing Patriot anti-missile batteries on Turkey's border with Syria, a step requiring deployment of NATO troops that Syria fears could permit the imposition of a no-fly zone over its territory.
Slideshow: Syria uprising
Syria loads chemical weapons into bombs; military awaits Assad's order
Syria regime 'reeling, armed to the teeth' with chemical weapons
More weapons in Syria could trigger 'all-out war'
The 20-month-old battle between Assad and opposition forces has claimed more than 40,000 lives.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met in Dublin on Thursday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and international Syria mediator Lakhdar Brahimi to try to restart a U.N. peace process for Syria. Prior to the meeting, she said she expected to raise the chemical weapons threat.
Watch World News videos on NBCNews.com
Clinton has said that in addition to the possible use of chemical bombs by "an increasingly desperate" Assad, Washington was concerned about the government losing control of such weapons to extreme Islamist armed groups among the rebel forces.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton echoed President Obama's recent vow to take action if Syrian President Bashar Assad uses chemical weapons during the ongoing clashes within his country. U.S. officials are also concerned about the rising influence of extremist groups within Syria. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
U.S. officials said Washington was considering blacklisting Jabhat al-Nusra, an influential rebel group accused by other rebels of indiscriminate tactics that has advocated an Islamic state in Syria and is suspected to have ties to al-Qaida.
In other developments reported by Reuters:
- Syrian state TV said a\n explosion in front of the Damascus headquarters of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent killed at least one person on Thursday.
- Activists said the army pummeled several eastern suburbs of Damascus, where the rebels are dominant, with artillery and mortar fire. The suburbs have been cut off from the city's water and electricity for weeks, rebels say, accusing the government of collective punishment.
- Rebels say they have surrounded an air base two-and-a-half miles from the center of Damascus, a fresh sign the battle is closing in on the Syrian capital.
- Rebels said they were battling soldiers on the road to Damascus International Airport, 12 miles out of the capital, where several airlines have canceled flights due to security concerns.
Maqdad, in his interview on Thursday, argued that reports of such advances were untrue. "What is sad is that foreign countries believe these repeated rumors," he said. Rebel and state claims about the military situation cannot be verified independently. But residents inside the capital say the sound of shelling on the outskirts has become a constant backdrop.
Reuters contributed to this report.
More world stories from NBC News:
- EXCLUSIVE: US behind Afghan 'insecurity,' Karzai says
- Sex mobs target Egypt's women
- Researchers: North America least likely region for terrorism
- Africa's lion population plummets, study finds
- North Korea pays tribute to Kim Jong Il's 'threadbare' parka
- ANALYSIS: Egyptians warn Morsi is no friend of US
- Bread and expired milk: School lunch scandal sparks outrage in China
- Experts: Antarctica, Greenland ice melting into sea


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"Well, we were at the third decade."
~ Rene Laennec; French physician, father of modern pulmonary disease research; to his wife, after he was thrown from their carriage in an accident; whereupon they went on with the rosary they had been reciting just before the accident.