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Watch out for the steamrollers
I was driving out to Leavenworth in the evening with NPR News on. They were interviewing a woman who lived in New York, but owned the house she grew up in Detroit. A group was trying to revitalize her old neighborhood. She thought the responsible thing to do was demolish her old home. The story was about efforts to reverse years of decline in that once-great city.
I flashed back to a day in 1999 when I saw the decline firsthand. That summer, oldest kid Anna had graduated and was getting ready for college. Anna's a sort-of fan of baseball, but a huge fan of travel. When I suggested we go to Detroit to see Tiger Stadium in its last season, she was all in.
I had been there a few years before with Scott Surprenant and his brother Tom on our way to see Municipal Stadium in Cleveland during its last season. (Is there a pattern here?) I love the feel of old ballparks and wanted to see Tiger Stadium a last time.
Anna and I were able to get a cheap flight, and in late August spent a weekend in the Motor City. We had a room at the Renaissance Center. It was the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in. A luxury hotel, we were paying Super 8 prices. That was probably not a good sign for whoever owned it.
The Renaissance Center was part of a massive waterfront development, a hugely expensive attempt at renewing downtown Detroit. Seven interconnected skyscrapers hugged the Detroit River. If you walked out the hotel the right way, you were on a gorgeous River Walk adorned with fountains and sculptures. There was plenty of room to stroll, since we were almost alone.
If you walked out the other way, you encountered what can best be described as the remains of a city. Anna and I had all Saturday to walk around before a night game. I had seen some rough parts of cities, but nothing like this. We walked block after block of boarded up buildings surrounded by chain link fence with barbed wire. That was the good ones. There were miles of debris and garbage. A former retail area flowed into a former industrial area. Eventually you came to what should have been a former residential area. Only people lived there.
When Tiger Stadium was built in 1912, Detroit was the fastest growing city in the world. Fifty years later, the decline began. By 1999, there wasn't much left to decline. Anna and I did walk around the new ballpark, Comerica Park, and it was impressive. The report on the radio outlined some hopeful signs for the city. Detroit can never be what it was, but good people there are trying to make it better.
There is a scene in the movie "Field of Dreams" where James Earl Jones' character is trying to convince Ray that he shouldn't sell his baseball/corn field.
"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time." The baseball part of that is self-evident; I turned by Leavenworth Ballpark, where the game is the same in 2013 as it was at Tiger Stadium in 1912. But the part about America carries its own truth. Detroit has been hit hard by the steamrollers.
Back to County Road 8 – I was going to a meeting in the basement of the Church of Japanese Martyrs. I am on a committee of the Area Faith Community. Our AFC includes the Catholic churches from Sleepy Eye, Leavenworth, Comfrey, and Morgan. The Diocese set up AFCs so that close-by parishes can share staff and resources.
There are good reasons to work together with neighboring parishes. But the truth is the AFCs represent decline in our rural towns. If each of these churches had the families and young people and priests they had 30 years ago, we would not have AFCs.
This is not Detroit around here. Still, it doesn't take much effort to find main streets and farm sites that are in rough shape. It might not overwhelm one the way a long walk in Detroit did Anna and me. But if you drive the countryside and see the decaying barns and sheds, if you drive west of here and see all the storefronts that are empty, if you consider them all together, a comparison can be made.
In The World That I Grew Up In, all those buildings were alive with activity. That world has been steamrolled. The steamrollers were national and even international trends that rolled along, oblivious to who might be in the way. Detroit found itself in the way of a shifting auto industry, the demise of unions, and racial strife. The World That I Grew Up In found itself in the way of agriculture concentration, increased mobility, and changes in retailing.
You might have noticed the debate about the future of the convent in our parish. It is another victim of a changing America. Would we want there to be sisters teaching our children at St. Mary's? Of course. Would we want building sites populated by farming families again? And our main street stores to be open? Would the people of Detroit like to see a buzzing urban economy again?
Yes, yes, and yes. All that is unlikely to happen. So, we move forward. What else can we do? America changes, it always has, it always will. As the poster says, "Keep calm and carry on." And dodge the steamrollers.


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Ladera Ranch eliminates San Clemente in Little League play
TRABUCO CANYON – Ladera Ranch's American 9-10 All-Stars pitcher Luke Whittaker showed no signs of flagging as his father Mike Whittaker, the team's manager, walked to the mound to take the ball form him in the sixth inning of Monday's District 68 All-Star Tournament game.
It was a tournament-mandated pitch limit that forced the move to the bullpen, as Luke Whittaker was just one out away from putting the finishing touch on a splendid effort against San Clemente American at Wagon Wheel Park.
"I wanted to stay in," said Whittaker, who held San Clemente scoreless on five hits over 5
Although he fell just short of that goal, Whittaker and Ladera Ranch accomplished their main objective of staying alive in the tournament. Having already lost to Rancho Santa Margarita, 4-0, on Sunday Ladera Ranch has no margin for error left in the double-elimination tournament. It next plays at 4:30 p.m. Friday against Trabuco Canyon as it tries to work its way back through the loser's bracket to Tuesday's championship game.
"Both teams played a great ball game and were just able to hit it a few times and get a few breaks," said Mike Whittaker, who got two runs batted in from Chase Smaker (two for two). "It could have gone either way the whole time; it was a good game."
Both teams had chances early, and neither could capitalize. San Clemente left seven runners on base over its first three at bats and Ladera Ranch saw its half of the first inning end on a lineout double play and the left the bases loaded in the second as the game remained scoreless heading to the bottom of the third.
It was there that Ladera Ranch picked up the only run it would need on a two-out single by Roger Thomas followed by a Smaker single to plate Thomas, who had advanced to second on a wild pitch.
San Clemente came back once again with a chance to answer when Cole Humphry led off the frame with a single and Cade Gray was hit by a pitch with one out to put runners at first and second. But a fielder's choice a strikeout looking quickly ended the last threat mounted by San Clemente, which would not get a runner aboard the rest of the way.
Even after Ladera Ranch added another run in the fourth when Trevor Black (two for three with a double) scored from third base on a throwing error, the game remained close until a big fifth inning sealed the deal for Ladera.
Ladera Ranch sent eight batters to the plate and scored three runs, beginning with an RBI single by Leyton Villanueva, who would score on an error two batters later. Smaker's double to center field to plate Thomas capped the scoring.
San Clemente, which opened the tournament with a 12-1 loss to South Mission Viejo on Saturday, got hits from Gray, Humphry, Simon Christensen, Matthew McGreevy and Keith Hoffmeister.
"Ladera always puts good team together," San Clemente manager Steve McGreevy said. "It was just the one inning and that's the way it always is with Little League baseball. You can play great for four or five innings, but there's usually that one inning and it's usually a little squibber that starts it off and once it gets away it's hard to get back."
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subset: commoncrawl


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J Street was founded to promote meaningful American leadership to end the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israel conflicts peacefully and diplomatically.
We support a new direction for American policy in the Middle East and a broad public and policy debate about the U.S. role in the region.
J Street Philadelphia is your local address for Middle East peace and security and a project of J Street, the political arm of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement.
J Street Philadelphia is the local home for pro-Israel, pro-peace activists to combine their Israel advocacy, local activism, and progressive, Jewish values to advocate for peace and security in the Middle East at the local level.


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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) received more than 130 million individual income tax returns during the 2010 filing season. The percentage of returns filed electronically has increased from 52 percent in 2005 to 71 percent in 2010. However, in 2010, IRS still processed 40 million tax returns filed on papersome of which must be filed on paper due to their complexity or required supplemental documentation. Electronic filing benefits taxpayers by reducing processing errors and expediting their refunds. It also benefits IRS because no transcription of tax data is necessary, unlike for returns filed on paper.
Increasing electronic filing would reduce IRS's return processing costs and increase revenue by facilitating enforcement. As noted in GAO's December 2010 report, IRS estimated savings of $3.10 per return for returns filed electronically versus paper in fiscal year 2009. Millions of dollars in processing costs could therefore be avoided by encouraging electronic filing. Based on GAO's prior reports from 2007 to 2010, IRS has three opportunities to increase electronic filing of individual income tax returns:
Require tax software identification numbers:As noted in GAO's February 2009 report, having a more complete software identification number would allow IRS to better target its research of ways to promote electronic filing. IRS now requires software identification numbers for returns prepared using software and then printed and submitted on paper, but does not have plans to transcribe this information. More comprehensive information about tax software versions used to prepare both electronically-filed and paper returns would help inform research into how the pricing and attributes of different software products affect taxpayers' willingness to use software and file electronically.
Prevent rejects of electronically filed returns:As noted in GAO's September 2009 report, IRS could also increase electronic filing by working with taxpayers and their representatives to reduce the number of rejected returns. As tax returns are received electronically, IRS begins a series of automated checks to verify basic information (such as Social Security numbers) and then rejects returns containing errors. If a return is rejected, IRS sends an electronic notice with one or more error codes explaining why the return was rejected, and how the error can be corrected and the return resubmitted. However, some codes are very general and cover multiple issues, while others are so narrow that they are rarely used. Frustrated taxpayers may simply print and mail their returns to IRS without making corrections leaving IRS to identify and correct the errors and process the paper returns, thereby losing the benefits of electronic filing.
Require bar coding:As noted in GAO's November 2007 report, IRS could require that tax software vendors encode relevant information in a bar code that would be embedded on all paper returns printed from tax software and mailed, as several states already do. IRS could then scan the bar code to obtain electronic information such as a taxpayer's Social Security number and address from the return. While not as beneficial as electronic filing, bar coding would still provide efficiencies over data transcription and enable more information to be available electronically. In December 2010, IRS reported that it is reviewing options to enhance current systems with bar code capabilities and developing detailed requirements and timetables.
In keeping with efforts to increase the availability of electronic tax data for enforcement purposes, IRS could also increase the amount of tax data available electronically by increasing the amount of data from paper tax returns it transcribes into its computer databases. Currently, to control data-entry costs, IRS does not transcribe all data from paper tax returns into its computer databases, thus limiting information available electronically for enforcement purposes. As noted in GAO's November 2007 report, transcribing more or all return information, thus having it available electronically, could help IRS target audits on noncompliant taxpayers, avoid burdening compliant taxpayers with unnecessary audits, and make more productive use of IRS's audit resources. For example, in 2007 officials from one of IRS's enforcement programs (Automated Underreporter) estimated that having all tax return information available electronically would increase tax revenue annually by $175 million.
IRS generally agreed with GAO's prior recommendation to require a more complete software identification number, and said that it would do so by the 2010 filing season. IRS has taken some actions such as requiring a software identification number on printed returns but does not plan to transcribe this information. GAO continues to believe that if IRS were to collect more information via expanded software identification numbers on tax returns, such information could support research into how software affects electronic filing. GAO recognizes that there would be some offsetting costs. However, increasing electronic filing could lower total tax return processing costs by switching costly paper filing to more economical electronic filing.
IRS agreed with GAO's prior recommendations to develop a reject prevention strategy, include external stakeholders in its reject working group, develop an action plan for that group, and provide clearer descriptions of why returns are being rejected. IRS has taken significant action to address these recommendations in conjunction with its ongoing research into advancing electronic filing.
IRS agreed with GAO's prior recommendations that it should determine actions needed to require software vendors to include bar codes on printed individual income tax returns and the cost of those actions. While bar coded paper returns are still more expensive to process than electronically filed returns, states that require bar coding of returns report that greater electronic access to return data has allowed them to more easily verify information and improve enforcement. GAO continues to believe that bar coding of printed returns has the potential to reduce processing costs, facilitate access to taxpayer information, and improve compliance. IRS has conducted further research on the burden to IRS and software providers of requiring bar codes on printed returns as part of its ongoing studies to promote electronic filing.
Finally, IRS agreed with GAO's prior recommendation that more comprehensive and easily accessible electronic return information would facilitate enforcement efforts and thus increase revenue collected from noncompliant taxpayers, and IRS is taking steps to study the issue. For example, IRS recently identified options to increase electronic filing, but has yet to define an overall strategy for doing so. As noted above, having more tax return information available electronically could increase revenues by at least hundreds of millions of dollars.
GAO expects to continue assessing IRS's progress in addressing these issues.
The information contained in this analysis is based on the related GAO products listed under the "Related GAO Products" tab and GAO's work following up on the recommendations from those products.
For additional information about this area, contact James White at (202) 512-9110 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Innersense Organic Beauty, Pure Inspiration Condition, 32 fl oz (946 ml) (Discontinued Item)
Shipping Weight:?2.66 lbs (1.21 kg)Shipping WeightThe Shipping Weight includes the product, protective packaging material and the actual shipping box. In addition, the Shipping Weight may be adjusted for the Dimensional Weight (e.g. length, width & height) of a package. It is important to note that certain types of products (e.g. glass containers, liquids, fragile, refrigerated or ice packed) will often require protective packaging material. As such, these products will reflect a higher Shipping Weight compared to the unprotected product.
- Product Code: INS-00107
- UPC Code: 852415001079
- Package Quantity: 32 fl oz (946 ml)
- Dimensions: 3.1 x 3.1 x 10.4 in, 2.25 lbs (1.02 kg)
- Naturally Pure
- I am Healthy!
- Lightweight Hydration
- For all Hair Types
- 100% Color Safe
- Organic Trade Association
Pure Ingredients of Orange Flower Oils, Rooibos Tea, Cranberry Seed Oil and Apricot Oils combined to add glorious shine and protects color from fading.
Pure Inspiration Daily Conditioner
A soothing, hydrating cream for the hair, formulated from natural proteins, aromatic oils and flower essences. Lightweight and build-up free, it moisturizes and strengthens the hair, improving resiliency while imparting reflective shine.
Innersense Rituals are a synthesis of carefully selected Certified Organic and Biodynamic oils, extracts and essences which create an exquisite character and unique benefit. These ingredients are known for their high nourishing, hydrating, anti-oxidant and anti-aging qualities that restore the natural balance to your skin, scalp and hair organically.
Suggested Use
Ritual for Experiencing: After shampooing distribute conditioner throughout hair. Experience a bloom of fragrance from essential oils while luxuriating in the process of moisturizing, strengthening and protecting your hair. Rinse thoroughly.
Other Ingredients
Purified water, cetanol(4), behentrimonium methosulfate(2), centrimonium chloride(3), oryza sativa (rice) bran oil, hydrolyzed soy protein**, cetyl esters(1), avena sativa (oat) kernel extract***, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) flower oil**, nelumbium speciosum (lotus) flower oil**, aspalathus linearis extract(4)**, nelumbium speciosum (lotus) flower extract**, echinacea angustifolia extract(5)**, vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) seed oil** plumeria alba flower extract(6), cymbopogon schoenanthus extract(7)***, agropyron (wheatgrass) extract***, rice hulls, glycerin, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter)**, gluconolactone sodium benzoate, parfum of natural oils.
*From organically grown plants, **certified organic, ***Bio-dynamic
Source: 1 Mixed Plants, 2 Canola Oil, 3 Coconut, 4 Rooibos (red Bush) Tea, 5 Echinacea Flower Essence, 6 Frangipani, 7 Lemongrass.
Innersense formulas are free of harsh, irritating chemicals including sulfates, artificial color and fragrances, petrochemicals, glutens & parabens.


text: Saturday Womens Soccer Game Time Moved To 11 AMThe early bird gets to watch a key MIAC women's soccer game Saturday. Hamline's game with Augsburg at Paterson Field will start at 11:00 a.m. instead of the originally scheduled 1:00 p.m. starting time. The move was made to help alleviate congestion as part of the annual Homecoming Day celebration. The football team hosts Concordia at Klas Field at 1:00 p.m. The Pipers, who are guaranteed their first winning season since 2007, will look to snap a two-game skid. They stand 8-4-3 overall and 3-3-2 overall. HU finishes the season next week with a game at St. Benedict. The season finale is October 29 against St. Catherine at Paterson Field. That game time will remain at 1:00 p.m.


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Topic: Facing dilemma with time system!
Hi all. I reckon this will probably be quite of a challenge to most of you!
Alright... Say you have a web form. On just about 3 pages. Each with it's own, unique parameters. Upon submitting the form on page #1, it will redirect to a page stating: "you must wait 3min"... After exactly 3min, regardless of whether you are on that same page, only THEN will it save the submitted data of 3mins ago, to the database. So the minutes will sort of run in the background.. It would also save the data to the database regardless of whether the user would log out in the meanwhile, so I would think no sessions?? And in the meanwhile the user can visit the 'progress' page and see how many minutes/seconds are left, or even go to page #2, submit and wait for example 5min for the data to be saved away, next to the other 3min from page #1..
I was thinking somewhere along the lines of, upon submitting, it would save the data to a bogus table, ie. progress_data, along with start_time and duration.. and then do some calculation with time.now, start_time and duration to see if it's finished or not...and then when finished it would take the info from progress_data and save it into users_data for example.. Not too sure whether I'm on the right track, and absolutely have no idea where to start with this?! Pretty complex.
I would be heavenly grateful to the person helping out!
Last edited by maestro (2006-11-29 22:13:38)


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Trial access is available to the complete content in the online JoVE site from November 10 – 24, 2011.
Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) is an online research journal employing visualization to increase reproducibility and transparency in biological, medical, chemical and physical research.
JoVE is a peer reviewed, PubMed indexed journal that is the first journal to publish experimental techniques for biological sciences in video-format, which in comparison to traditional text journals, promotes easier visual comprehension and replication of experiments. Articles published in JoVe are in two parts — a video presentation at the top of each article with the article presented below in traditional print format.
Access to this trial is available through the Library's Trials and New Resources web page.
Please leave comments. They help tremendously in our decision making.


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Outdoor Research Stamina Gaiters (Spring 2013)
$35 | www.outdoorresearch.com
Keep out trail debris with these stretchy, lightweight gaiters. Four small lace hooks and rip-and-stick patches at the heel attach securely to most trail shoes, creating a close-fitting shield against scree, snow, sand and dirt.
Check out the rest of the July Gear Guide Preview


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Annual snowmobile show Friday, Saturday
ROGERS CITY – Dust off that old Polaris or Arctic Cat and bring it out to the Rogers City Antique and Vintage Snowmobile Show today and Saturday.
Now in its ninth year, the show once again will be held at the Water's Edge, organizer Dan Derry said. It'll kick off at the 208 Club east of town on M-68 with a ride, bonfire, weenie roast and 50-50 raffle. From there, the party moves into town at the Water's Edge, where Bobbing for Piranhas will play starting at 9 p.m.
The show continues Saturday starting at 9 a.m. when the sleds will be on display until 3 p.m., Derry said. At 5:30 p.m., the banquet begins, complete with a whitefish or chicken dinner. It's open to the public, and tickets are $10. The whitefish is donated by one of the show sponsors, King's Fisheries in Naubinway.
Other sponsors are Budweiser and Presque Isle Electric & Gas Cooperative.
After dinner, there will be a Chinese raffle, auctions and a trophy presentation, Derry said. Bobbing for Piranhas will play again starting at 9 p.m.
New this year will be a featured sled, the Sport King Ski-Kat, Derry said. These snowmobiles were made in the late 1960s in Rogers City, in a factory where the city Department of Public Works garage now stands. The company made about 950 units.
"Hopefully we can get a few of them to turn out," he said.
Sport King also made a motorized tricycle and a balloon-tired mini bike, which also will be on display at the show, Derry said. Best of all, Glen Heidrich, the son of the late Sport King founder Larry, will be at the show to talk about the off-road vehicles.
The show has always enjoyed a strong turnout, Derry said, averaging at about 175 sleds per show. He's been to a few other snowmobile shows this year, and the turnout seems to be a little lower.
"It could be due to gas prices or the economy, but we've always managed to hold our average up here," he said.
Snowmobile owners still can register their vintage or antique sleds, free of charge, Derry said. Those made before 1968 are considered antiques, while sleds made from 1969 to 1980 are considered vintage.
Derry organizes the show as a way to preserve the history of snowmobiling. He's been riding since the 1970s, and his oldest is a 1963 Polaris. The oldest sled ever to enter the show was an Eliason Motor Toboggan from the 1940s, the precursor to the modern snowmobile.
"It's basically just to give the people some kind of idea of the history of snowmobiles, the founders, where they came from, where they were produced," he said.
Jordan Travis can be reached via email at email@example.com or by phone at 358-5688.


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Sprinkler stops fire at senior living facility
Response allowed seniors to stay in their facility
MADISON, Wis. - A sprinkler at an east side senior living facility helped prevent a major fire from happening at the facility Wednesday night, according to the Madison fire department.
Firefighters were called to the Trinity Senior Community facility in the 550 block of Burke Road just before 8 p.m. Wednesday.
According to the fire department, firefighters found a haze of smoke in the hallway when they arrived. But they also found an activated sprinkler head that helped keep the flames in check until firefighters arrived.
Fire officials estimate the blaze did around $4500 in property damage to the facility. However, all residents were escorted into another building while firefighters battled the blaze, and they were all allowed back into their rooms after the fire was extinguished.


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I guess I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed for a show of this magnitude to show up in the Tri-state area. I'm deathly afraid of planes!Anthony
I thought I read somewhere that there is a big show in Ohio...or am I making this up?...lol


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Hand-Gilded Hearts Wine Glasses
Availability: In Stock and Ready To Ship
e Exclusive
In a third-generation workshop in Verona, Italy, Amedeo and his two sons, Valentino and Roberto, transform this ordinary italian wine glass into shimmering works of art, no two exactly alike. After applying stucco hearts to the Italian wine glass, a layer of color and gold leaf is added by hand. Once completely dry, each is hand polished to a gleaming luster. Approx. 8.5 in. tall. 20 oz.
Certificate of Authenticity Included


text:
Topic: ~/.bash_login question
Hi everyone.
I followed the Hivelogic instructions to install on OS X 10.4, and it works just fine. The problem I'm having is that I have to run the .bash_login file with every new Terminal window I open. If I don't it thinks I don't have rails installed, or gems either. Is this normal, or did I do something wrong?


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California Agsploration
Grow your future in Agriculture!
Take many of the courses necessary to achieve a rewarding career in agriculture and/or prepare for transfer to a university. Allan Hancock College offers classes that ready students for both California State Universities and University of California schools in the areas of animal science, fruit science and environmental horticulture, as well as agribusiness, integrated pest management, and soil science. Allan Hancock College offers its students flexible scheduling with in-person and online classes. Get your hands in the soil, and grow your future in agriculture at Allan Hancock College.
The Agriculture Program
The recent addition of new agricultural courses at Allan Hancock College is a result of a USDA grant. These are introductory courses to get you started on your career path through the broad and growing agriculture industry. The program is designed for students to gain practical skills in agricultural communication, problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and leadership as well as apply classroom concepts and theories to California agriculture, with emphasis on crops on the Central Coast. Instructors challenge students to link the classroom with the real world through networking, special projects, field trips, and guest lecturers who are professionals in the agriculture industry.
All introductory agricultural courses have a component that concentrates on the employment opportunities and career tracks available in agriculture and agribusiness. Graduating students with knowledge and experience in agriculture are in high demand for employment in the private sector such as environmental consulting firms, as well as with state and federal government agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Non-profit employment with private plant collections and arboreta are also possible.
The agricultural program can also serve as an exciting stepping stone for students to further their education at four-year universities.
Students enrolled in the Agribusiness program learn in our modern, hands-on facilities including a new campus winery, two student-maintained vineyards, greenhouse space, and the AHC Community Garden. Students receive training for farm and vineyard equipment with an emphasis on machine safety right on campus.
Students in our fruit science and viticulture classes help maintain two separate AHC-operated vineyards. One is located on the Santa Maria campus; the other is located off of Highway 101 in Los Alamos.
Those enrolled in the Introduction to Mechanized Agriculture class have access to vineyard, orchard, and AHC Community Garden equipment such as mowers, tractors, and tillers, and to the tools and materials necessary to maintain heavy farm machinery.
Click to view the AHC Agribusiness Facebook page.


text: This Sunday saw yet another battle of creative forces that we all know by its more common name, the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards. Some people won awards, others left empty-handed, and Mad Men set a most unfortunate record but that's all right because it's an honor just to be nominated. As usual though, our focus isn't on the people who went home with a statuette in hand but on those who stood out for their style. (more…)


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You might take a look at either HP or Gateway LCD's. These have glossy screens similar to the old CRT's. You should be able to jump up to 22" with your budget.
The best way to purchase a monitor is to go to a store which has a wide selection hooked up to PC's. Run them through their paces, and even take along a DVD to try out. Some stores may object, but most will not. The bottom line is, the one that your eyes like is the one you buy. You will be staring at it for a while. The actual specs are a secondary consideration.
I'm not sure if you have compatible specs. At your price point, any LCD is going to have limitations (viewing angle, color, blackness, refresh rates, etc) which will make it less-than-perfect for gaming or movie viewing. So you're either going to have to compromise quality to hit your budget, or plan to spend 2-3 times what you want to hit the quality level you're looking for. You're asking for the equivalent of a new car that cost $5000, gets 80 MPG and has a top speed of 175 MPH...doesn't exist.
Challenge my brute! http://ghostofdet.mybrute.com
I have an Acer X193W+ (19" widescreen format LCD) and it has worked well thus far (only $109. right now at Newegg using their newsletter promo code). I've played some DVDs on it - they ran smoothly and the picture looked good. I don't have a fancy graphics card (MSI NX8400GS-TD256E - got it mainly for the LCD connector on it as the video on my mATX mobo lacked that) and don't game.It is good to remember that if you run LCDs at other than their native resolution, then you may notice the more angular pixels of LCDs a bit more. Larger versions of the same monitor are at similarly reasonable prices - the customer comments and other reviews will you give a feel for them. I use the VLC "free" media player (excellent Swiss Army Knfe of media players) to play my DVDs - it's at least as good as the OEM version of the Power DVD player software and plays most all media file formats.
If your UPS doesn't have that capability, or that approach is not suitable in your situation, another possible way around the problem might be to buy a small, inexpensive, low-power LCD monitor (even a used one), set up your system with dual monitors, power the LCD from the UPS, power the CRT from the wall, use the CRT for the windows in which you want the best video, and rely on the LCD for shutting down if you lose power and are running from the UPS.
kotecha:The only problem as you guessed it is the power consumption (my UPS goes mad supporting this).
Edit: What KeithDick said.As others above suggested, finding an LCD that meets your needs for ~$200 may be difficult, and if it's replacing the G90f there's no substitute for eyes-on evaluation. However...1. If UPS power is the issue and you're otherwise happy with the G90f, get a UPS just for the monitor; e.g., an APC ES 8 or 350 for $40-70 should be more than adequate.2. If your video card can handle two monitors, add a cheaper LCD for desktop work and plug it into the UPS, remove the G90f from the UPS and use it for movies/gaming.3. If your video card can't handle two monitors, consider a VGA splitter/switch ($40-60) and adding cheaper LCD. Or you might consider upgrading your video card as well; look around for deals on a dual-output video card + LCD combos.
thanks EVERYONE for your help and taking time out...
I think the conclusion I have reached after reading all your posts is that I will look at various LCDs but its going to be difficult to meet my expectation at around 200-250 $s with respect to the G90f that I have.
It seems like the better option for ME is to have an additional UPS for my CRT.
thanks everyone again.
In all actuality, I bought a Samsung 20" T200 LCD from Tigerdirect.com for a mere $150. You can find it for about $225 on the site or at Amazon and Newegg. Try your luck there!
But before I jump to conclusions, what's your intended resolution to run your programs, games, etc. on? You should consider your needs before you just go out and buy any LCD, but I'd recommend a Samsung, depending on your preference. TigerDirect, as I have said, is selling a few under $200. You can go onto eBay and buy a refurbished like-new conditioned LCD for $150. My monitor's not available from the site, but try the other sites as I have suggested.
I recently bought a new LCD for my fiance`, also an avid gamer. The previous lcd was an Hanns-g, 19" wide screen HW191D. Fairly decent specs and surprising performance for what it cost.(tigerdirect,newegg, listed @ under $150.00) Anyhow, back to the new LCD purchase.
Sceptre X24WG-Naga .(currently not in stock, but several other brands, with similar specs and pricing are.)
I picked this one up on a limited inventory sale at $199.99, $201.98 total with S&H. No driver software to install and we haven't even fiddled with any of the onscreen settings controls. Currently using the default, out of box settings and she fell in love with it instantly. It's running on a "fleshed out bare bones kit," custom build, budget screamer gaming rig I put together for her around 6 - 8 month ago. XFX 680i LT SLI socket 775 mobo, Intel Q6600 Quad core. 2.4Ghz CPU. (2 x 2Gb) Vista Upgrade Ed. OCZ DDR2, 800Mhz, (2) XFX 8800 GTXXX in SLI config. Turtle Beach Montego 7.1 Sound card. Lite-on 20x DVD-RW. Asus 52x32x52 CD-RW. Rosewell R5601 Mid. Tower Case. Ultra Xfinity 600Watt PSU, Zero-Therm Nirvana, NV120 Premium CPU Cooler.
We're both very happily impressed with it's performance. The only negative I can think of is that I didn't go ahead and getone for myself at the same time.
SPECS: Sceptre x24wg-Naga 24" Widescreen LCD Monitor, 1920x1200 WUXGA, 4000:1 Contrast Ratio, 2ms, DVI, VGA, Vista Certified, HDCP
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3486473 <- to view in detail
If you're in a hurry, they do have a 22" model in stock well within your budget. It has favorable reviews, but has a 2000:1 dynamic contrast ratio as opposed to the 24" Nagas' 4000:1 DCR.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4150171&CatId=2775 <- to view Full details.
Newegg LCD's $100 - $200 Price range :
TigerDirect LCD's $100 - $200 Price Range:
Just a few ideas that may help you make a decision. Hope it helps some.


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Margaret Masci, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Wellspring Counseling of the Finger Lakes 8732 Main St. , Honeoye, New York 14471
We all experience loss in our lives and grieve those losses in various ways. From lost jobs or relationships to the overwhelming emptiness at the death of a child or other beloved family member. It can be tough. There is NO time limit to grief. If you face lingering pain or overwhelming sadness and depression, know that there are options that provide immediate and effective relief. Gain peace of mind while still keeping alive those cherished memories. Call to seek how I can help.


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Richard Sutton, MD/PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases)
Research Interests
HIV; Molecular Biology; Infectious Disease Medicine
Public Health Interests
Research Organizations
Internal Medicine: Infectious Diseases
Cancer Center: Virus and Other Infection-associated Cancers
Stem Cell Center, Yale: Transcriptional Regulation of Stem and Progenitor Cells
Virology laboratories
Research Summary
Our laboratory is focused on the study of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV) replication and the development of small animal models of HIV. For example, mice are not susceptible to HIV due a profound block in HIV assembly and release from cells. We are exploring the nature of this block and are conducting genetic screens and biochemical assays to identify human genes that may be able to overcome this deficiency. Our work has zeroed in on Crm1, and we are now attempting to determine why murine Crm1 is defective in terms of HIV replication.
We also utilize replication-defective HIV as a vector to transduce non-dividing cells for gene therapeutic purposes and are developing novel methods of vector production. These vectors are used to investigate other viruses (for example, cellular binding and entry requirements of Ebola and Western Equine Encephalitis) and to explore fundamental questions in molecular biology, such as high throughput identification of DNA elements that serve as transcriptional activators in various cell types, including human embryonic stem cells.
We are now funded through NIDA to use advanced genomic and genetic techniques to identify host genes associated with control of HIV in man. We are studying HIV+ elite controllers, a select subset of patients who are able to control the virus in the absence of therapy. Using a combination of molecular biology and genomic methods, we hope to pinpoint the genes causally responsible for elite control, at least in the patients who manifest a distinct in vitro phenotype. This work may inform both the HIV vaccine and eradication effort.
In collaboration with Dr. Priti Kumar, also of the ID section, we are funded by the NIH to examine the possibility of using adenoviral-vectored anti-HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies to counteract HIV, both as prophylaxis and as therapy, exploring their use in humanized murine models.
Specialized Terms: HIV replication and the development of small animal models of HIV; HIV vectors; HIV replication and gene transfer into non-dividing cells
Selected Publications
- Wang, P. et al. UBXN1 Interferes with Rig-I-like Receptor-Mediated Antiviral Immune Response by Targeting MAVS. Cell Reports, in press.
- Elinav, H. et al. Human CRM1 augments production of infectious human and feline immunodeficiency viruses from murine cells. J. Virology 86: 12053-68, 2012.
- Hu, Y, O'Boyle, K, Palmer, D, Ng, P, & Sutton, RE. High level production of replication-defective human immunodeficiency type 1 virus vector particles using helper-dependent adenovirus vectors. Mol Ther-Methods & Clin Development, in press.
- Walker, WE, Kurscheid, S, Joshi, S, Lopez, CA, Goh, G, Choi, M, Barakat, L, Francis, J, Ann Fisher, A, Kozal, M, Zapata, H, Shaw, A, Lifton, R, Sutton, RE#, & Fikrig, EF#. Increased levels of MIPs result in resistance to R5-tropic HIV-1 in a subset of Elite Controllers. Journal of Virology, in press. #Co-senior authors.
- Liu, S, Jackson, A, Beloor, J, Kumar, P, & Sutton, R. Adenovirus-vectored broadly neutralizing antibodies directed against gp120 prevent HIV-1 acquisition in humanized mice, Hum Gene Ther, in press.


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This information has been revealed through an advert during the Chicago Fest for Beatles Fans.
It read as follows:
The first release in the PAUL McCARTNEY ARCHIVE COLLECTION. [Available in] Standard CD - Special 2 CD + DVD Edition - 180 Gram Vinyl - Digital Download. Deluxe 3 CD + DVD Collector's Edition featuring a 120-page book containing many previously unpublished images by Linda McCartney and Clive Arrowsmith, album and single artwork and a full history of the album, complete with a new interview with Paul and expanded track by track information. Digitally Remastered at Abbey Road Studios in London. Available September 28, 2010. Coming Soon: McCartney - McCartney II - Ram - Venus & Mars. For more information visit paulmccartney.com


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I was thinking how a majority of far right-wingers in Congress and local politicians of that ilk, have disrespected President Obama and his family in a manner that no other president of the United States has ever had to endure.
It's not only the usual suspects, birthers and various right-wing weirdos, but also from elected officials, Judges and Fox News. In fact, after we had finally gotten over Rep. Joe Wilson's "You lie!" comment while President Obama was giving his 2011 State of the Union address, those politicians and TV personalities seem to ramp up their attack machine on the president in insidious ways.
The following article was published in January 2012 but is just as relevant now…
Politics 365 – Lauren Victoria Burke
It starts from the Superiority Syndrome: People acting as if they're more important than a U.S. President — when they clearly are not. To fingers in the face. To people questioning his already established and proven citizenship.
The incidents of disrespect towards President Obama continue.
When people criticize Administration policy, that's just politics. But several incidents directed at this President appear to find new lows. Of course, people can disagree with the President. But, why can't people respect the Office of the Presidency?
The very public nature of disrespect towards President Obama is noteworthy. Did Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ) have to conduct business with the President in front of reporters? Wasn't there a better time and place? Would a visiting leader from a foreign country be greeted with a finger in his face by a Governor? If not, why would it happen to the leader of our own country? Could a hockey goalie have executed a quiet no-show for a White House invitation honoring his team? See Facebook for the answer on that one.
It wasn't the end of the world when Speaker John Boehner refused the President's date to speak to a joint session on jobs in September 2011. And yes, the White House picked that date to steal attention from a GOP debate. But like so many moments of disrespect towards the 44th President: No one can find another example in American history where a U.S. President requested a date to address Congress and was refused. Can anyone find another incident like the Brewer one? That the list below can even be compiled is telling.
1. The birther fiasco (2009-2011). No evidence. No proof. No documentation. But the story traveled on for years. Yes, Hawaii is part of the United States of America.
2. "You lie" (Sept. 2009). That any individual — no less a member of Congress watching a U.S. President during a joint session on live national television — is so lacking in self control that this moment was made possible is incredible — even in an age of incivility. Remember this happened only nine months into Obama's presidency and is another "we can't remember that ever happening ever before" moment. Close your eyes and pretend Rep. Maxine Waters was Wilson doing this to President Bush and image the reaction.
3. Signs of the Tea Party (July 2010) and Naked Racism (April 2011). Anyone remember California GOP official Marilyn Davenport's racist e-mail? Did she ever resign for that? I remember all the criticism of the NAACP – particularly from Black Republicans — for their "Tea Party resolution" of 2010. Where was that indignation regarding what can be viewed in this video? Click here.
4. Donald "unchecked ego" Trump inflames birther fiasco, media assists (April 2011). The mouth of Donald Trump is a powerful thing when joined with a 24-hour cable news cycle desperate for viewers. That news organizations invited Trump on the air unchallenged with zero proof of what he was saying speaks volumes on the state of journalism. That Trump was completely comfortable demanding that a U.S. President "show him his papers" displays a superiority complex that exists among those who can't accept someone they view as "lesser" in a position of power over them.
5. Newt Gingrich's "Kenyan anti-colonial behavior" comment (Sept 2010). Even Washington Post columnist and conservative thinker George Will slammed this attempt to define the President as "foreign." Never mind the facts: President Obama wasn't reared by his father in Kenya with whom he spent only a month of his 50 years on this earth. The strategy to define the President as a "foreign" or "alien" being was started by Sarah Palin in 2008.
6. One of the underlying premises of disrespect towards the President is that he can be ordered around and dictated to like he's Tipi the laundry boy. The presumption that a U.S. President can be ordered around is a new phenomenon that appears to have gotten underway around January 2009. From big mouth Congressmen to millionaires with nothing to do, you name it — they all inherently believe they can order President Obama around. At least Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is an actual leader of something. Regardless, read this and ask yourself if you think this would have happened to Presidents Bush, Reagan or Clinton.
7. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer puts her finger in the President's face (January 2012).The photo speaks for itself. Of course there are strong political disagreements between President Obama and Gov. Brewer. But is it just possible there was a better time and place for this conversation? Brewer said she felt "a little threatened" by President Obama. Please.
8. GOP House, prompted by Tea Party — refuses to raise debt ceiling (Aug 2011).Sounds like this was just hardball politics right? Let's review the facts: The debt ceiling had been raised 69 times since 1962 without incident. Seven times during Bush II and 18 times during Reagan. Suddenly, with President Obama, a shiny new precedent is set with regard to raising the debt ceiling. Another never before seen incident is born.
9. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Publicly Announces His Top Political Priority (Dec 2010). McConnell wants the President out of office? No news there, but, wait, there's more to it. "Our top political priority over the next two years should be to deny President Obama a second term," Sen. McConnell told the Heritage Foundation. Of course the Senate Republican Leader doesn't want the President to be re-elected. But what's with the public announcement? In July 2010 McConnell acknowledged his single most important political goal: President Obama being a one-term President. Again: In public and on national television.
10. Speaker Boehner refuses speech date request (September 2011). No it is not the end of the world. Of course, the White House intentionally wanted to step on a GOP debate that same night. But, this is yet another first in American history. Once again, no one can find another instance where a President of the United States requested a date to address Congress and was refused.
Bonus: Deadbeat dad and probable one-termer thinks his presence before the President actually matters and needs to tell everyone (Sept 2011). The disrespect isn't that probable one term Congressman Joe Walsh (R-IL) wouldn't attend the President's Sept. 8 speech. The disrespect is that Rep. Walsh actually believed that everyone knowing he wasn't attending was important. That he needed to announce he would not attend on national television, as if anyone cared, was yet another delusional superiority episode. That proudly showing public disrespect towards the President is a winning strategy in some political circles reveals a lot
Chuck Grassley calling the president stupid.
Related articles
- Brewer Got Letters over Finger Incident (myfoxphoenix.com)
- Obama signs "JOBS Act" to support small businesses (lookatvietnam.com)
- Disrespect of President Obama is Telling (candidobservation.wordpress.com)
- Grassley receives flack for Obama comments (twitchy.com)
- Bill Maher & Panel Battle Over Gov. Jan Brewer-President Obama Confrontation (mediaite.com)


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iHerb Customer Reviews
Savings of: AU$3.23 (29% off)
Now I'm sure I've got some B vitamins in me )))
Posted by Reviewer2891273 on Feb 26, 2014
I've got Crohn's disease, so it's always a chance that the tablet will go through my intestines without dissolving. That's why I started taking the tablets in microlingual form. Vitamins B are of crucial importance to those like me. The taste is nasty, but it only lasts for a couple of minutes and I eat or drink something good after taking this tablet. It gives me more energy which I do need because I feel down due to cytostatic drugs. I think I'll buy it again!
I feel better now.
Posted by 5721219723395907532 on Jul 28, 2014
I found I had to have b12 injections because my b12 was so low that I was having memory problems! I Could not absorb b12 naturally. I started looking for a product that would save me from having to go to the doctors for injections! I found the b12 in this product! Then I was advised to take more of the 'B' s group for depression and fatigue. So I tried this product - b12+ all the Bs I needed. The difference is remarkable. Once I had trouble getting through each day:( now I have a renewed vigour!!!!! :) YAY
best b complex ever
Posted by Reviewer1018331 on Feb 26, 2014
Guys come on.....its because of reviews like these that companies are loading our supplements with chemicals. This vitamin does not contain all those so called "natural flavors/colors to make it taste and look good to make us want to buy it.....but this is what we should buy because its the real deal....its good for us, its what our bodies need to function the way it should...so come on guys forget the taste, its pure and that's what should matter....
Makes me relax
Posted by Reviewer2170266 on Jun 09, 2014
The difference between other B complex is that "Superior Source" makes me calmer in five minutes, suppose the B quantities are the reason. Good for headache. Similar to "Life Time liquid B" but portable and no need to refrigerate. 60 tablets, may be too short. Make it higher! :)
Great B-complex vitamin
Posted by Reviewer2963961 on Feb 13, 2011
Disolve right in your mouth, no need to digest, full potency. Really like these...
Good Energy
Posted by Reviewer1550058 on Jun 16, 2011
I was looking for a sub-lingual source of B, however, this product does not taste very good and I would not advise letting it dissolve under your tongue.
Bad Taste, did use much
Posted by Reviewer2350202 on Sep 27, 2011
These have a strong, unpleasant taste. We did not use them for long.
Bad taste
Posted by 4771393442837609291 on Dec 11, 2015
I love the other Superior Source microlinguals I have tried, like the no shot B12, but this one (the B complex) tastes awful! There's no way I can dissolve under my tongue, and even to swallow it I have to wash down with a sweet drink rather than water because of the taste. Why can't they use the same flavour as their other ones? The Vitamin D and B12 sublinguals are not unpleasantly flavoured like this one. I'm sure it delivers the vitamins, it just tastes horrendous!
Dont' believe the reviews
Posted by 5656137955047421201 on Feb 18, 2016
This tastes disgusting. I was gagging after I put it under my toungue
Moldy product
Posted by Reviewer2655417 on Mar 06, 2014
I do not wish to say too much here, but my bottle had black spots in it and smelled off. This company needs to improve their quality. Pity.


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All Pro 0 - 10 lb Adjustable Power Stride Exercise Belt
Product Information:
The All Pro® 10 lb Weight Adjustable Power Stride® Exercise Belt offers unparalleled performance. This exercise belt has a padded lumbar cushion and a padded waist for a comfortable workout. Add or remove 10 lb weights (each Ľ lbs) as needed. A one-size-fits-all belt made of excellent quality, it includes a fluorescent strip on the belt as an added safety feature.
- 10 lb exercise belt for both men and women
- Premium quality, designed for comfort & safety
- Add or remove weights to suit your level of strength and stamina
- Padded lumbar cushion and padded waist for added comfort
- One-size-fits-all
- Comes with touch fastener closure
- Fluorescent strip on the belt is an added safety feature
- Includes weights (each Ľ lbs)
- Model: 175188
- All Pro
Country of Origin: ChinaWeb ID: 13217964
Customer Reviews:
Rated 5 out of 5 by 2 reviewers.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Hipiiii This belt is quite comfortable! I wore this weighted belt during my exercise class today and found it to work quite well. I am hoping it will help with building bone density. January 10, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5 by Lynn Great for small women! To stabilize/build bone density, I need to add weight to my small frame. After trying a weight vest that created shoulder issues, I found this fantastic weight belt. At $30 less than the vest, it's way more comfortable, i.e. it's cooler, doesn't restrict my chest/lungs, and sits comfortably on my hips where I need an increase in density the most. Another big plus is its adjustability ... the small weights mean increasing the weight load in very small increments over time so you can adjust to greater and greater load without lower back irritation. Unlike the bulky sand bags used in the weight vest I bought first, this belt's bullet-like weights are slender enough to flex with the contours of my small body. The belt's padding also makes for a very comfy fit. A word about sizing: belt is fine for someone with waist size of 27" although unneeded velcro may need to be trimmed off. Bottom line: belt is well-made and the perfect solution for menopausal women who want to maintain bone density without drugs! July 10, 2013
1-2 of 2


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The Trafalgar Partnerships
The Duck House
We are delighted to partner with THE DUCK HOUSE at The Vaudeville Theatre (December 10 – March 29, 2014). THE DUCK HOUSE is an outrageous new laugh out loud comedy set in a world of dodgy receipts, dodgier deceit, and pure Parliamentary panic.
Ben Miller (BBC1's Death in Paradise and The Armstrong and Miller Show) as the MP who's got it all – and has claimed for most of it – leads an all-star West End cast of Olivier award-winning National Theatre actress Nancy Carroll, Debbie Chazen, James Musgrave, Simon Shepherd and Diana Vickers. Tony & Olivier award-winning Terry Johnson (Hysteria, End of the Rainbow) directs this hilarious satire from two writers who've been making fun of politicians for decades: Dan Patterson (BBC2's Mock the Week) and Colin Swash (BBC1's Have I Got News For You and Private Eye). For more information visit http://nimaxtheatres.com/vaudeville-theatre/the_duck_house
'a ribald farce… genuinely hilarious'
The Telegraph Charles Spencer
The Trafalgar Hotel is proud to announce their collaboration with Stylist Magazine to celebrate the arrival of London Fashion Week and Stylist's bi-annual Fashion Issue by creating a limited edition Stylist LFW cocktail available from 14-18 February. Exclusively available at The Trafalgar's Rockwell Bar and designed by Bar Manager David Carvalho, this fabulously chic cocktail is a refreshing mix of vodka, honey, crème de violette, lychee, agave syrup and fresh lemon. The hotel will also host a special installation in the Rockwell Bar windows featuring the S/S 2014 fashion special covers.
Yes, Prime Minister
We are delighted to partner with Yes Prime Minister at The Trafalgar Studios. Following two smash hit West End runs and a successful nationwide campaign trail, the award-winning Yes, Prime Minister thrusts the much-loved characters Sir Humphrey Appleby and Jim Hacker into the chaos of 21st century coalition politics. With the threat of financial meltdown just hours away, and the only hope of rescue resting on a morally dubious deal with the Foreign Minister of Kumranistan, the stage is set for a riotous comedy of sex, scandal and scheming.
For more information visit www.yesprimeminister.co.uk.
'As sharp and blissfully funny as ever'
Daily Telegraph
'A delightful stream of one-liners'
Evening Standard
Cancer Research UK
We are pleased to be working in partnership with Cancer Research UK for a second year and fundraising for their lifesaving research into Childhood Cancers.
Cancer Research UK is the world's leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research. Their groundbreaking work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has seen survival rates double in the last 40 years. Last year Cancer Research UK spent nearly £9 million on research into children's cancer. This money supports the charities' doctors and scientists who are finding out what causes cancer in children and searching for better ways to diagnose and treat the disease. Research carried out by the charity has helped to transform survival rates for children with cancer. In the 1960s, around a quarter of children with cancer survived. Today, three quarters survive and Cancer Research UK is at the heart of this huge progress.
Cancer Research UK is funded entirely by the public, which is why partnership's like ours are so crucial in helping in the fight to beat cancer. We were delighted to take part in Race for Life in 2011 and 2012 – a women only 5K run and also Shine London in 2011 and 2012 – a night-time walking marathon.
Delighted to announce that for the second year running, The Trafalgar Hotel is the official Hotel partner for West End LIVE, coming to Trafalgar Square on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th June. London's biggest FREE entertainment festival showing the very best of London theatre live.
For the eighth year running, casts from London's world-famous musicals will hot-foot it from the theatre to Trafalgar Square to perform for the crowds at this popular two-day event, presented by Westminster City Council in partnership with The Society of London Theatre and in association with MasterCard. The line-up includes Chicago, Jersey Boys, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia, Rock of Ages, Singin' In The Rain, Shrek The Musical, Thriller Live, Wicked, and The Wizard of Oz plus solo performances from top West End stars.
As well as on-stage performances there will be family activities with marquees featuring some of London's most popular attractions, museums and galleries. For more information visit, www.westendlive.co.uk
The Trafalgar Hotel is the official hotel partner for WHAT THE BUTLER SAW, Joe Orton's legendary 1967 comedy playing at the Vaudeville Theatre this spring. Starring Omid Djalili, Tim McInnerny and Samantha Bond, What the Butler Saw is an insanely funny, full-throttle tour de farce directed by Sean Foley. One-liners and outrageous twists collide, as the characters loose the plot, their wits, and their clothes. You'd be mad to miss it. For more information visit, www.whatthebutlersawtheplay.com
Eyestorm is the UK's leading online retailer of limited edition contemporary art, offering work by both established and emerging artists. Initially set up to offer signed pieces by some of the world's most celebrated artists and photographers at an affordable price, over the past 12 years Eyestorm has published limited editions with some of the most established names in the art world including Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Andy Goldsworthy, Peter Blake, Marc Quinn and Helmut Newton.
In addition to working with well-known artists, Eyestorm takes pride in publishing editions and showcasing unique works in the form of painting, sculpture and drawing by the finest emerging talent, offering an opportunity to invest in an artist early on in their career.
We are delighted to partner with Eyestorm bringing contemporary art installations and exhibitions to the very heart of Central London here at The Trafalgar for our guests to enjoy. View the full Eyestorm portfolio at www.eyestorm.com
Mauger Modern Art is a contemporary gallery based in Pimlico, London, run by brothers Richard and Dan Mauger. They exhibit internationally – Miami, New York, Basel, Seoul and most recently at India Art Fair showing alongside galleries such as White Cube, Hauser and Wirth and the Lisson Gallery. We are delighted to partner with Mauger Modern Art and excited to announce our latest installation:
'The UK Illuminated' by Susan Elliott – June 1st – July 25th, 2012.
For more information visit, www.maugermodern.com
Premium Elite, an exclusive members only club. Members can enjoy a variety of benefits including preferential room rates and up to 50% off dining at The Rockwell Bar. For further information visit www.membersofpremium.com
The Trafalgar is the official hotel sponsor of Vauxhall Fashion Scout for London Fashion Week. Labelled a 'talent goldmine' by Vogue.com, Vauxhall Fashion Scout has been responsible for some of the most exciting design talents including David Koma, Felder Felder and BodyAmr. www.vauxhallfashionscout.com
Latest offers / news
Breakfast and pop up meetings
Ideally suited for all your meeting needs enjoy unlimited coffee and pastries for just £12.99 per person (incl VAT, exc. service charge.) in Rockwell Bar at The Trafalgar. Upgrade to include full access to our breakfast buffet for just £18.00 per person (incl VAT, exc. service charge).
Pop up painting
Unleash your inner artist and enjoy an evening of fine wine and painting for just £29.
Discounted car parking
Enjoy discounted parking when you visit the hotel.


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Linphone is an open source SIP Phone, available on mobile and desktop environments (iOS, Android, Windows Phone, GNU/Linux, MAC OSX, Windows Desktop, Windows 10) and on web browsers.
Linphone has inside a separation between the user interfaces and the core engine, allowing to create various kinds of user interface on top of the same functionalities.
- The user interface frontends:
- Gtk+ interface for windows, mac and GNU/Linux
- The console interface (linphonec, linphonecsh)
- The iPhone application built in objective C
- The Android application running in java
- The Windows Phone application written in C#
- Liblinphone, the core engine: this is the library that implements all the functionalities of Linphone.
Liblinphone is a powerful SIP VoIP video SDK that anyone can use to add audio or video call capabilities to an application. It provides a high level api to initiate, receive, terminate audio & video calls.
- Liblinphone relies on the following software components:
- Mediastreamer2, a powerful multimedia SDK to make audio/video streaming and processing.
- oRTP, a simple RTP library.
- belle-sip the SIP library.
Console tools
Linphonec is a command line interface that can use readline on GNU/Linux to get completion, history, such as bash.
Linphonecsh is another command line tool to remotely control a linphonec daemon. Unlike linphonec, linphonecsh immediately exits once the command is executed.
See the documentation tab for more information.
Others OS
- WebOS : unofficial port, see information here:
- May work also on FreeBSD and OpenBSD with minor modifications to the build system.
Mobile versions
Common features
Main features:
- Audio & video calls
- Multiple calls management
- Call transfer, pause and resume
- Audio conferencing (merge calls into a conference)
- Instant Messaging
- Pictures and files sharing
- Address Book
- Call History
- Display of advanced call statistics
- Echo Cancellation
- Quality of Service
- Secure communications: zRTP, TLS, SRTP
- Bluetooth headset support
- Languages: English, French, Japanese, Arabic
- Account creation assistant
- Dedicated tablet user interface
Advanced features:
- Audio codecs: OPUS, SILK, SPEEX, G722, AMR-WB (G722.2), GSM 6.10, AMR-NB, ILBC, G729, G711
- Video codecs: VP8, H264, MPEG4
- HD video support
- Integration with push notification (requires compatible SIP server, linphone.org sip service has push enabled)
- ICE support (RFC5246) to allow peer to peer audio & video connections without media relay server
- Low bandwidth mode for audio calls over 2G networks.
iOS additional features
- Xcode 7 / iOS 6 to 9 support
- ARM v7 and ARM64 support
- Blind accessibility
- AAC-ELD support
Android additional features
- Multiple SIP accounts support
- ARM v5 to v7, x86 support
- Android 4 to 6 support (32 and 64 bits)
- AAC-ELD support
Windows Phone 8
- Windows Phone 8 and 8.1 support
- Multiple calls management and audio conferencing are not supported.
- Video calls with H264 codec only.
Blackberry 10
- Blackberry Hub integration
- Video calls with VP8 only
Desktop versions (GNU/Linux, MacOSX and Windows Desktop)
The Gtk2 graphical interface is running on GNU/Linux, Windows and MacOSX.
- GNU/Linux: x86, x86-64, ARM v85 to v7 ; Debian 6/7, Centos 6/7
- Windows Desktop: x86 (works also on x86_64) ; XP, Vista, 7 and 8
- Mac OS X: x86_64 ; 10.7 to 10.10. You can download a standalone bundle from this website or, use macports.
- GNU/Linux/ARM: without graphical interface. Linphonec or liblinphone are good candidates to provide the software stack of an hardware phone or hardware communication system.
Main features:
- HD audio and video calls in fullscreen mode
- Audio conference
- Call transfer
- Call recording (audio only)
- Instant messaging
- Call History
- Presence
- Address Book
- Echo Cancellation
- Quality of Service
- Secure communications (TLS, SRTP, zRTP)
- Languages: English, French, Arabic, Russian, Serbian, German
- Video recording
Advanced features:
- Audio codecs: OPUS, SILK, SPEEX, G722, AMR-WB (G722.2), GSM 6.10, AMR-NB, ILBC, G729, G711
- Video codecs: VP8, H264, MPEG4, H263-1998
- ICE support (RFC5246) to allow peer to peer audio & video connections without media relay server.
- UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) to allow device-to-device networking of personal computers, networked home appliances and wireless devices
- Ability to configure multiple proxy accounts with different transports (UDP, TCP, TLS)
- Supports simultaneous usage of IPv6 and IPv4
Web Plugin
See the dedicated page.
Linphone is dual licensed. It can be licensed and distributed:
- under GNU GPLv2 license - for free (open source).
- under proprietary and commercial license to be used in closed source applications. Contact Belledonne Communications for costs and other service information.
Download :
GNU/Linux distros packages
Debian & Ubuntu
Linphone is included in Debian and Ubuntu GNU/Linux distributions: you can then install it in a few seconds using your favourite package manager or in a console using
sudo apt-get install linphone
See linphone page on debian and ubuntu websites:
Please visit https://software.opensuse.org/package/linphone
Source code
Clone linphone sources with git:
linphone, including:
git clone git://git.linphone.org/linphone.git --recursive
linphone-desktop, including:
git clone git://git.linphone.org/linphone-desktop.git --recursive
git clone git://git.linphone.org/linphone-iphone.git --recursive
git clone git://git.linphone.org/linphone-android.git --recursive
|git clone git://git.linphone.org/linphone-windows10.git --recursive
git clone git://git.linphone.org/linphone-wp.git --recursive
git clone git://git.linphone.org/linphone-bb10.git --recursive
For those who are behind a proxy:
You can change the access method from git:// to http:// as follows:
Normal git access:
git clone git://git.linphone.org/msilbc.git
Behind a proxy, use http access:
git clone http://git.linphone.org/msilbc.git
Codec plugins
We provide codec plugins:
- msopenh264: H264 encoder and decoder plugin based on OpenH264 codec.
- msx264: H264 encoder plugin using x264 encoder
- msilbc: iLBC codec plugin based on c code extracted from IETF RFC page. Source code can be extracted using git repo git://git.linphone.org/libilbc-rfc3951
- msamr: AMR narrowband plugin based on opencore-amr project. Informative note: AMR usage is governed by a patent license to be acquired from patent holders.
- mssilk: A SILK plugin based on the Skype implementation. Informative note: SILK usage is governed by a patent license to be acquired from Skype.
- msbcg729: A G729 plugin based on our own G729A implementation. Informative note: G729 usage is governed by a patent license to be acquired from Sipro lab.
Download plugins in source code
Download windows binary plugins
Daily builds (testing)
Every day some binary packages generated from the current git state are uploaded at http://www.linphone.org/snapshots . It is worth to visit it if you want to test and see the latest changes, especially when a long time has elapsed since the last official stable release. These snapshots are generated automatically and not tested, some features might be broken from time to time.
The instructions are in the README file distributed with the sources.
Linphone command line tools
Linphonec is a terminal based version of linphone that reads commands from the user prompt.
$ linphonec
Warning: video is disabled in linphonec, use -V or -C or -D to enable.
Place an outgoing call
linphonec> call sip:firstname.lastname@example.com
Alternatively, if someproxy.net is your default proxy configuration (entered via 'proxy add' command), you call simply like this
linphonec> call 594305005
Terminate a call
linphonec> terminate
At any time you can list available commands using 'help':
linphonec> help
Commands are:
call Call a SIP uri
chat Chat with a SIP uri
terminate Terminate the current call
answer Answer a call
autoanswer Show/set auto-answer mode
proxy Manage proxies
soundcard Manage soundcards
webcam Manage webcams
staticpic Manage static pictures when nowebcam
ipv6 Use IPV6
refer Refer the current call to the specified destination.
nat Set nat address
stun Set stun server address
firewall Set firewall policy
call-logs Calls history
friend Manage friends
play play from a wav file
record record to a wav file
quit Exit linphonec
register Register in one line to a proxy
unregister Unregister from default proxy
duration Print duration in seconds of the last call.
status Print various status information
ports Network ports configuration
speak Speak a sentence using espeak TTS engine
codec Audio codec configuration
vcodec Video codec configuration
ec Echo cancellation
mute Mute microphone and suspend voice transmission.
unmute Unmute microphone and resume voice transmission.
nortp-on-a Set the rtp_no_xmit_on_audio_mute configuration parameter
Type 'help <ltcommand>' for more details.
Linphonecsh - control a linphonec daemon
Linphonecsh is a console utility to send non-blocking commands to an instance of linphonec runnning in the background.
Here is an example to run within your favourite shell and terminal:
$ linphonecsh init
#register to a proxy
$ linphonecsh register --host myproxy.net --username bill --password thisisasecret
#dial out
$ linphonecsh dial "sip:firstname.lastname@example.com"
#terminate the call
$ linphonecsh hangup
#linphonecsh can transmit any command understood by linphonec using the 'generic' keyword
$ linphonecsh generic "proxy list"
#exit the daemon
$ linphonecsh exit
This feature is still being developed, stay connected to svn if you use it !
What could be the applications of this tool ? For example:
- run VoIP calls from scripts
- from web cgi pages
Configuration file documentation
Linphone has a linphonerc configuration file in which all SIP, RTP, sound, video settings are read and stored. By default no configuration file is required and linphone always generates a default one at first startup.
Most of the parameters are used internally by accessors of liblinphone (ex: linphone_core_set/get_audio_port()) and thus do not need to be accessed directly by editing the config file.
However some parameters are related to fine grained settings: noise gate, echo canceler parameters, echo limiter etc.
Follows here a description of sound related tunables and a documented linphonerc config file with all settings.
Echo canceller
Linphone uses an echo canceller from libspeexdsp. Filter tail length, echo delay and frame size can be changed.
#turn on/off echo cancellation
#Expected delay of echo in milliseconds
#Use this when you have a fixed latency in the sound hardware.
#This allows to reduce the tail length of the echo canceller, which speeds up convergence
#and reduces complexity of computations.
#Tail length of echo canceller in milliseconds.
#Ideally it should be no more than the expected duration of the echo.
#Frame size for AU-MDF echo canceller algorithm
#This is a parameter internal to the echo canceller, recommended is too keep to its default value.
Echo limiter
The echo limiter is an algorithm that consists in lowering the gain of the mic input when the speaker is talking. Combined with the noise gate (see next section) it gives good results when the echo canceller no more works, because of non linear distorsion (saturation) of the echo path.
Its drawback is that it turns the call in a kind of automatic half-duplex mode, which makes impossible to interrupt the person who is talking.
#Enables echo limiter
#this basically consists in lowering the mic input (in software)
#when the speaker level is above a certain threshold
#the attenuation is made proportionnal to the speaker detected level
#el_speed parameter: gain changes are smoothed with a coefficent
#el_speed is this coefficient. It's a value between 0 and 1
#0.1 is already very fast, 0.001 is very low
#default value is 0.03
#recommendation is to keep it unchanged
#el_thres parameter
#Threshold above which the system becomes active.
#It is a normalized power, between 0 and 1.
#Default value is 0.1
# A smaller value can be better.
#el_force parameter
#The proportional coefficient controlling the mic attenuation.
#Default value is 10
#el_sustain parameter
#Time in milliseconds for which the attenuation is kept unchanged after
#resuming from speech to silence on the network->speaker channel.
#This is a very important parameter that needs to be adjusted
#to take in account the latency of the sound card/driver.
#Indeed when the echo limiter sees there is no more energy going to the
#speaker, there can be still some audio buffers pending to be played
#in the audio driver. These buffers are out of control of the application
#and will generate echo as they are non-silence.
#The purpose of the parameter is to keep the mic attenuated
#for some time until the echo of these buffer is finished.
#100 ms is a reasonable value to start, can be higher depending
#on the hardware.
Noise gate
The goal of the noise gate is to remove (or attenuate a lot) the background noise heared by the microphone. Noise and speech are distinguished using an energy threshold. The use of the noise gate can prevent feedback to produce between two devices running linphone.
#The noise gate is located just after mic input
#Tells whether noise gate is active:
#Noise gate threshold in linear power between 0 and 1:
#Above this threshold the noise gate becomes bypass.
#Noise gate's floorgain: gain applied to the signal when its energy is below the threshold.
#It is expect to be low so that noise is attenuated.
A parametric equalizer can be used to recover from speakers with bad spectral response. The frequency response of the equalizer is entirely configurable.
#equalizer: it is located before speaker output
#Tells whether equalizer is active.
#equalizer gains.
#It is a list of triplets ::
#for example:
#eq_gains=300:0.1:100 700:0.2:250
Miscellaneous audio parameters
#Automatic gain control (of mic input) - turns on or off:
#static software gain (linear scale) to be applied to microphone signal
#static software gain (log scale) to be applied to signal sent to speaker
#Enable or disable DC removal of mic input:
Linphonerc sample file documented
#sound device name used for playback, as listed in linphonec by "soundcard list"
playback_dev_id=ALSA: default device
#sound device name used for ringing, as listed in linphonec by "soundcard list"
ringer_dev_id=ALSA: default device
#sound device name used for capture, as listed in linphonec by "soundcard list"
capture_dev_id=ALSA: default device
#Alsa special device name
# This option allows to specify a special ALSA card (as defined in ALSA asoundrc config files)
# to be used by linphone. This card can then be referred by playback_dev_id, ringer_dev_id, capture_dev_id options.
# Use this if you are able to understand asoundrc syntax and you know what you are doing.
#wav file to play to advertise remote ringing
#wav file to play to advertise incoming calls
#turn on/off echo cancellation
#Expected delay of echo in milliseconds
#Use this when you have a fixed latency in the sound hardware.
#This allows to reduce the tail length of the echo canceller, which speeds up convergence
#and reduces complexity of computations.
#Tail length of echo canceller in milliseconds.
#Ideally it should be no more than the expected duration of the echo.
#Frame size for AU-MDF echo canceller algorithm
#This is a parameter internal to the echo canceller, recommended is too keep to its default value.
#static software gain (linear scale) to be applied to microphone signal
#static software gain (log scale) to be applied to signal sent to speaker
#Size of sent video among these names: QCIF, QVGA, CIF, VGA, SVGA
#Whether video is enabled:
#You can refine whether it is enabled for display or capture or both
#Show local preview between calls.
#Show local view during calls, in a corner of the video window
#Webcam name for capture
device=V4L2: /dev/video0
#Estimated download bandwidth in kbit/s
#The bandwidth settings are used to control the bitrate of video (and sometimes audio) encoder, as well
#as limiting the size or fps of the sent video.
#Estimated upload bandwidth in kbit/s
#Firewall policy:
# 0: assume there is no nat
# 1: use firewall address supplied in "nat_address" item (discouraged)
# 2: use STUN to discover its own public IP address and ports
# 3: use ICE.
#Network's Maximum Transmission Unit
# Use 0 to allow automatic discovery, otherwise set to a number of bytes.
# This parameter is only meaningful with video streams for which RTP packets are big.
#STUN server address to use when in firewall_policy=2
#Firewall address to use when in firewall_policy=1
#SIP port used
#Discover automatically local IP address
#Contact address when no proxy is used
# The host port is always overriden at runtime if guess_hostname
# is set to 1.
#Incoming call answering timeout
#Use SIP INFO to send DTMFs (digits)
#Use RFC2833 (out of band DTMFs) to send digits
#Use IPv6. caution: it is exclusive with IPv4.
#Send registers only when network is up
#Default proxy to use (the number is the index of the proxy configuration in this config file)
# Use -1 for no proxy.
#Keepalive period in milliseconds for sending out SIP UDP keepalive to the proxies.
#When answering to SDP offers, select only one codec,
#instead of replying with all matching codecs.
#Send an OPTIONS message before doing outgoing calls
#This is used by Linphone to workaround some NAT problems inherent to SIP.
#This is highly recommended.
#Network state automatic monitoring
# When set to 1, linphone will periodically monitor the network state (by checking whether it is possible
# to reach the internet).
# When the operating system has callbacks to notify such information, you can use
# linphone_core_set_network_reachable() to notify the core, in which case no network monitoring will be done internally.
#Audio RTP (UDP) port
#Video RTP (UDP) port
#Nominal audio jitter buffer size in milliseconds
#Nominal video jitter buffer size in milliseconds
#RTP timeout in seconds: when no RTP or RTCP
# packets are received for this period, the running call is
# automatically closed.
# These sections are named audio_codec_X, where X is a number.
# This number identifies the position of the described codec
# in the core's audio codec list.
# sub-mime type as defined in RFC3551 or codec's specific RFC:
# RTP clock-rate as defined in RFC3551 or codec's specific RFC:
# Tells whether is codec is enabled
# Fmtp (format parameters) string to be sent in SDP for this codec, which
# corresponds usually to what we are prefering to receive.
# RFC3551 or codec's specific RFC describes the allowed parameters.
# These sections are named video_codec_X, where X is a number.
# This number identifies the position of the described codec
# in the core's video codec list.
# sub-mime type as defined in RFC3551 or codec's specific RFC:
# RTP clockrate as defined in RFC3551 or codec's specific RFC, usually 90000 for video payloads.
# Tells whether the codec is enabled
# Fmtp (format paramters) string to be sent in SDP for this codec, which
# corresponds usually to what we are prefering to receive.
## SIP Proxy configuration
# Like with audio_codec, it is possible to define several proxy configuration in the
# form of [proxy_X] section, where X is a number.
#SIP address of the proxy
#SIP identity for which you are known on this proxy:
#Expiration period of the registration in seconds
#Whether to send a register or not
#Route: SIP server address to send all outgoing SIP requests
#It is usually left blank, otherwise it is commonly used to specify this proxy
#must be used as an outbound proxy, for example:
# reg_route=sip:example.net
#Send a PUBLISH request to the proxy to notify about presence information (online, busy, out to lunch)
#whether "+" in phone numbers should be replaced by 00
#Phone number prefix to be applied to entered destinations.
#Example: prefix=+33
# Similarly, several auth_info_X can be defined
# Authentication information is kept distinct from proxy information
# because there can be authentication challenges from proxies or user
# agents even if we are not registered to any proxy.
#SIP username
#sip userid (usually the same as username, don't specify unless you know what you are doing)
#password associated with above username, userid and realm
#SIP authentication realm (= authentication domain), can be left empty if realm is not known.
#SIP favourite contacts (friends, buddies...)
# Again it is represented as a family of [friend_X] sections.
#SIP address of buddy
#Policy for incoming SUBSCRIBEs for presence. Can be:
# accept : we accept to share our presence status with this person
# deny : we don't want to share our presence status with this person
# Send SUBSCRIBEs for presence to this person, so that
# we are notified about her presence information.
#Other stuff stored in config files that are not configuration items but rather
#persistent information stored in the same place. They are not described here just but
#mentionned for information:
# call_logs_X : call history items
Where CAN I FIND instructions to compile linphone on my computer
First checkout the source code, from tarball or git, and follow the instructions in README files. There are several README files at the toplevel, one per OS (mac, mingw (=windows), and linux).
Does linphone work behind firewalls ? What are the ports used ?
Yes it works provided that the SIP server is kind enough. The SIP server powering the linphone.org SIP service is kind enough and guarantees correct operation behind any firewall.


text:
The NFC East should be LOADED next season.
Washington, the Giants, Dallas ... all playoff caliber teams a year ago, all have made great improvements in FA.
Dallas - Added Terrell Owens. Added Kyle Kosier and Jason Fabini to their OL, losing nothing. And added a couple good under the radar LBs in Akin Ayodele and Rocky Boiman. Lost Keyshawn, LaRoi Glover, and LB Scott Fujita. Great coach. Vet QB in Bledsoe. Two very talented runners in Julius Jones and Marion Barber. Witten and Glenn both back as well. Great secondary with Terence Newman, A.Henry, and Roy Williams.
Giants - About to add Keyshawn to Tiki, B.Jacobs, Plaxico, and Shockey. Young emerging QB in Eli. OL really came together nice for them last year, and returns in tact. Severely upgraded their secondary with the additions of Sam Madison, Will Demps, and RW McQuarters. The most feared pair of Def Ends in the league in Strahan and Umeniyora. Lost no one of significance.
Washington - Like what they did this off-season, adding Randle-El, Brandon Lloyd, Fauria, Adam Archuleta, and Andre Carter. Lost no one of significance. Defense will not miss a beat with Carter replacing LaVar at OLB. Archuleta and Sean Taylor at teh safeties, with Springs and Carlos Rogers at CBs is sick. Defense will once again be very good. Brunell is the question mark, but Santana Moss, Randle El, and Lloyd at WR ... with Fauria and Cooley at TE is very strong. Oh yeah, they have Clinton Portis as well.


text:
Discovering the little things makes my new home wonderful
I am terrible when it comes to scheduling appointments for various things I need to do. Dentist visits, oil changes, wedding planning meetings (I've finally gotten the ball rolling on that one, but that's another story) – I'm still adjusting to getting myself in gear with these grown-up activities, even though they're simple things to do.
Luckily I recently found a way to solve this problem for one of those appointments: Oil changes! I hate getting my oil changed. Scheduling an appointment at least a few days ahead of time, then leaving your car for an hour, maybe two, maybe more, but never really knowing. Returning only to find out my vehicle has tons of little problems and having the associate dismissively explain basic issues with my car that I just completely cannot understand.
But, for me, those days are over, at least for a while. I just discovered Delta Sonic, a godsend in the car department! Here's what I absolutely loved:
- No appointment necessary! Whenever I'm feeling in the mood (or when I'm months overdue and desperate) for an oil change, I just stop when it's convenient. No calling ahead. Hallelujah!
- The staff are friendly (at least the associate who helped me) and, most importantly, honest. They only bring up the minimum, and they don't tease me when I can't figure out how to pop my hood (yes, I am that sad when it comes to cars).
- I can get more than just an oil change done. My car desperately needed a wash, but now I can check that off my list, too. Plus, I saved a few bucks doing them together!
In conclusion, I am probably showing my naivete in being so excited about something as simple as not having to make an appointment to get an oil change. For me, though, the availability of services like this is just one small reason I love living in Rochester more each day!


text:
Great Live Moments - Al Grey and Buddy Tate
April 14, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.Add new comment | Filed under: al grey, baby josh, benny carter, buddy tate, count basie, herschel, lionel hampton, Listening Post, Live Music, man of the year, michael jackson, ones and zeros, resonance, Riff, saxophonist, sense of loss, stints, sweet basil, time magazine, traction, trombonist, vitality, wbgo
When I listen to swing music these days, I love it with a sense of loss, a disconnect. Nearly all of the swing legends are gone. This music has the feeling of a time that no longer exists, not that it ever did for me. I had to find it. Twenty-six years ago, however, swing still had some traction in our culture.
I would like to put myself back in that time. I'd be the coolest eight year old in the world, digging the scene at Sweet Basil. Trombonist Al Grey and saxophonist Buddy Tate are playing "Undecided." I can't believe I'm hearing this.
Chances are, however, I was anticipating the release of Michael Jackson's Thriller, which came out in records stores the week after this recording was made.
As I listen to this performance from the WBGO Archives, I am reminded of the vitality of the swing era, and that the music still had resonance in 1982. Count Basie was still alive. So were a number of his associates. Tate was one of them. Grey another. Tate was the tenor player that had the unenviable task of replacing Herschel Evans in Basie's band. Al Grey joined Basie much later, but he had previous stints with Benny Carter and Lionel Hampton. These were swing men through and through.
So much seems different now. By the end of 1982, Time Magazine declared the computer as Man of the Year, the first-ever distinction for an object. These real men are gone, except for their music. Here I am in 2008, writing a blog entry on my laptop, trying to get closer to an analog era. How do I feel about it? Decidedly Undecided. All I know is that it's easy to get lost in ones and zeros, better to be found alive, and even greater to be swung....Tempus fugit, baby.
PS That amazing photo courtesy of Rein. Check out her photostream.


text:
3 Things You Should Know About Small Business: Nov. 7
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- What's happening in small business today?
1. What to expect from President Obama's re-election. While the president's re-election takes away some uncertainty for small-business owners, the question is whether he can help them expand and create jobs.
Small-business owners are anxious about taxes and the federal deficit as well as the health-care overhaul and too much regulation. The Associated Press spoke to a few experts on what to expect now that President Obama will serve a second term.
On taxes, Congress is likely to keep battling over the president's proposed raising of the top tax rate to 39.6%. However, Congress is more apt to come together to pass more tax incentives to help small businesses, the article says.
What's sure is that health-care reform will go forward. Key provisions of the law will go into effect starting in 2014, which includes the requirement that businesses of 50 employees or more must provide health insurance to their employees or risk penalty. However, costs won't be determined until states set up exchanges where individuals and companies can buy coverage.
As far as the economy, there may not be much more Obama (or Romney for that matter) will be able to do to accelerate it, the article says. Still, the federal deficit must be addressed. Obama will have to curtail federal spending, which includes government contracting, an area many small businesses rely on. Hiring will likely remain on hold until the fiscal cliff is dealt with. If the deficit isn't lowered, taxes will likely rise in the coming years, leaving small-business owners even less money to invest in their companies, the article says.
As for regulation, a mixed bag is expected. Obama must be vigilant that the regulations aren't too burdensome.
2. Disaster loans soar. Small businesses across New York and New Jersey are scrambling to pare losses, with most lacking the staff to handle insurance claims or secure financing for rebuilding. Business owners say they are juggling the rebuilding efforts along with the attempts to get some much-needed capital, according to Reuters.
"At least 40% to 45% of our customers in these areas have asked for disaster loans," said Rohit Arora, the CEO of Biz2Credit.com, a New York-based online service that helps small businesses secure various forms of financing. "Over the next two weeks, I foresee a bigger increase," Arora told Reuters.
But there have been some stepped-up efforts to reach out to struggling businesses. JPMorgan Chase (JPM) pledged up to $5 billion of incremental capital to lend to small businesses affected by the hurricane. Goldman Sachs (GS) is working in conjunction with New York City to provide additional loans for storm-affected small businesses.
The SBA added 100 additional staff to its Buffalo, N.Y., customer call center and 128 field workers to assist with the onslaught of requests for recovery-related financing, Reuters says.


text:
chocolate breakfast smoothie
posts displayed by tag
Eat at Home: Super-Healthy Chocolate Breakfast Smoothie RecipeJan 13 2012
Life can't be all wet burritos and pie, but you can have a chocolate breakfast smoothie pretty much every day. At least I have ever since my new blender came into my life. It's nothing special (the blender, I mean, not the smoothie)—just a $40 machine, but it sure does make a mean breakfast smoothie.
Thus far, I've experimented with a couple of different concoctions. I've done the yogurt-oj-banana thing and the berry-banana-milk shuffle, but the one that I keep coming back to is a powerhouse blend of antioxidants, vitamin C, protein, calcium, Omega 3s, and most importantly…chocolate.
For breakfast.
Still, it's not too sweet, and the granola I layer in gives it an earthy quality that makes you feel like you're some health nut living in Santa Cruz or Berkeley or whatever ultra-liberal college town you'd like to imagine yourself.
Sound good? Well, here's what you need for one smoothie:


text:
by Anton Shilov
While few home network users currently have permanent connections between their consumer electronics (CE) devices and their home networks, those that do most commonly connect their game console, reports In-Stat . As more connected CE devices become available, In-Stat expects Blu-ray disc (BD) players/recorders will lead CE network client growth.
"The primary reasons that more devices are not connected to home networks are: consumer awareness/knowledge, availability of network-capable CE products on retail shelves, prices of network-capable CE products, competition with non-network-capable CE products (like docking stations), and lack of perceived need by some consumers," said Joyce Putscher, In-Stat analyst.
Recent research by In-Stat found that almost 43% of the Windows PCs used in North American homes in June 2008 had Media Center functionality, up from 32% in 2007.
In-Stat's consumer survey reveals that 64% of U.S. respondents are somewhat, very or extremely interested in watching Internet-based streaming video on their household TV.
A proliferating set of competitors are offering a range of digital media adapter/player/receiver (DMA/DMP/DMR) devices, including Apple, Cisco, Denon, Hewlett-Packard, Roku, Samsung, and many others.
The market research firm claims that the worldwide media server-capable device market is estimated at $50 billion in 2008.


text:
Trademark Games Orlando Magic Dart Cabinet
Product Information:
Add a touch of NBA® spirit to your game room with the Trademark Games® Orlando Magic Dart Cabinet. The doors of this pine-constructed cabinet feature an oversized Magic logo on the exterior, magnetic closures, and mounted dry erase scoreboards on the interior. The full-sized dartboard measures 18" in diameter and is made of self-healing sisal fiber. Measure your shot and hit the bullseye with the six steel-tipped darts.
- Trademark Games® Orlando Magic Dart Cabinet
- Solid pine construction with dovetail joints
- Beveled doors, metal hinges, and magnetic door closures
- Oversized Magic logo on front of doors
- Dartboard is 18" in diameter and made of self-healing sisal fiber
- Removable number ring
- Comes with 6 steel tipped darts
- Door interiors include team logo and dry erase scoreboard
- Includes mounting supplies
- Weight: 20 pounds
- Dimensions (closed): 24 3/4" high x 21 1/2" wide x 3 1/2" deep
- Officially licensed by the NBA®
- Trademark Games
Country of Origin: United StatesWeb ID: 31618766