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by Samuel Asher Rivello
Facebook eclipsed Google as the number-one website by traffic in the United States in May of last year with over 500 million members. The Flash game development juggernaut, Zynga—the social-game developer behind the Farmville game for Facebook—topped $200 million of revenue in 2010. Zynga has all five of the top five grossing games for Facebook, and it creates its popular games using the Adobe Flash Platform. Flash gaming is making some serious money.
In this article, I show you how to use your Flash development skills to earn more revenue—either working alone or on a small team. And while mobile gaming is growing at a tremendous rate, most of the casual gaming is still deployed to computers because mobile devices are still somewhat limited by bandwidth and processing speed.
Revenue models for casual games vary dramatically. Online games are usually free to play, but they run on pages that feature banner advertising. Site owners earn money by driving traffic to third-party sites. Other games are free to play but incorporate product branding within the game. These "advergames" are basically one big ad, analogous to product placement. Theatrical movie websites and toy websites often incorporate advergames as part of a promotional campaign.
Another way casual games earn money is through the "freemium" business model. In this scenario, users can play the trial version for free but pay for the full premium experience. Other revenue methods include subscriptions and microtransactions.
Online gaming became popular in the 1990s. As computers have become more powerful and Internet speeds have increased, the industry has grown significantly (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. Annual online game revenue in billions of U.S. dollars from 2006–2011.
The online gaming market research company DFC Intelligence predicts even more increases for casual games in 2011:
Approximately $3–5 billion of this year's revenue will target online computer games, such as projects created with the Flash Platform. Americans spent more than $3 billion in video game subscription fees last year. A new report by market research firm Pike & Fischer estimates that Americans will spend $5 billion annually by 2015.
Mochi Media is a company that provides tools to help game developers monetize their own games. They recently completed an exhaustive Flash Games Market Survey to find out who is making games and how they are doing it.
The following are some of the highlights of the survey's findings:
It's interesting to note that 70% of Flash game developers are creating games as a hobby or secondary business; it is not their primary means of income.
Many developers in the Flash game industry work as contract-based or full-time employees. These include the creators of the game ideas, the artists who draw and animate game assets, sound designers, and of course the Flash and Flex game developers who bring it all together with their programming skills.
Work for hire is a stable way to earn a living and can be very rewarding and fun. But to maintain more creative control and to generate more potential income, it is worth taking a risk. Create the game and invest in monetizing it yourself to reap the most benefits.
Offering training and creating middleware are two other viable ways to monetize your skills. To monetize completed game projects, there are two major strategies:
Historically, advertising-based revenue was based on displaying banner ads in the same HTML page that contained the Flash game but outside of the game itself. Over time, that practice has evolved to include ads within the game. Developers can use APIs to programmatically pause games (typically during startup) to show ads. Game players can click the ads, which open in a new window. Advertising deals are typically paid to game developers based on the number of ads shown (impressions) or the quantity of traffic generated (clicks).
In addition to featuring individual ads or using APIs for ad networks, you can also make money by being sponsored.
Companies that sponsor games brand your game with their own advertising, logos, and marketing messages. The sponsor includes a link from your game to their website. Games that are the most financially successful do the best job of encouraging game players to click the link.
Game sponsors take a risk because they may not earn money on their investment. Sometimes the advertising in a game performs well, while other times a game may underperform. Sponsors generally cast a wide net and recoup their losses with one very popular game.
Unlike sponsors, who incorporate their ads and distribute games on the Internet, licensing companies often incorporate a smaller branding presence within the game and require that the game is only available on their website. For example, big game portals, such as Kongregate.com, may license your game as their exclusive content.
The big difference between licensing and sponsorship is that the licensor wants your game to become part of their property. This enhances the consistency and branding of the overall gaming experience for users while driving traffic.
In addition to these options, monetization strategies may also include displaying banner ads outside of Flash games, offering additional items for micropayments, or providing premium subscription-based services.
There are several ways you can make money by selling a Flash game directly to the video game community.
With a straight sale, you sell the complete game for one upfront cost. While this was the traditional offline video-game model for decades, it has become less popular in the past ten years. In part, this may be due to the purchasing habits of gamers, who avoid paying high costs and enjoy the abundance of free or inexpensive alternatives available online.
To get players interested in a new game, you can offer a trial or incomplete game experience for free, and then enable users to upgrade to get the complete game for a flat fee.
Some games are free to play, but during the game experience, often between levels, users are encouraged to convert real-world money into virtual game currency. This strategy is becoming more popular and is proving to be very lucrative.
The design philosophy here is to keep the game fun to play for nonpaying users. Since the game offers the complete experience for free, you can attract a wide audience of players. Hard-core players can pay real-world currency while playing the game to make purchases that enhance the game, such as unlocking weapons, displaying alternate locations, improving skills, acquiring character accessories, and modifying other aspects of the game itself. These items have no inherent value outside the game.
Many companies handle the in-game logic for virtual currency and offer a variety of payment options (such as PayPal). If you are an independent game developer with limited resources, using one of these existing systems can be well worth the service provider's commission. For example, Mochi Media uses a Mochi Coin system. You benefit when you incorporate this service because the provider is encouraged to distribute your game to more portals—since it receives a small fee with every transaction.
Subscription services may offer a free trial game to start (or charge a lower introductory fee) to enable users to try the game and see if they like it. After the trial expires, players can continue playing if they make regular payments (usually on a monthly basis). A subscription model includes many of the benefits of a microtransaction setup.
In this scenario, games typically provide a deep, immersive, but incomplete experience. For example, content may be distributed in the form of episodes. Providing these episodes in smaller installments can reduce development hurdles, focus your team's innovation, and keep loyal players returning for more content as soon as it's released.
While the subscriptions model represents just one of many video game business models, it is growing exponentially. The number of online gaming subscribers, which totaled 19.4 million at the end of last year, is projected to more than double to 44.5 million by the end of 2014.
The Internet was born and raised on banner ads. This practice carried over into the gaming industry during its early years. Much of traditional online marketing involves simply driving more traffic to a website. Therefore, it's no surprise that the most popular strategy at the moment involves incorporating ads within Flash games (see Figure 2).
Figure 2. Comparison of strategies used to monetize Flash games.
Although incorporating ads in Flash games is currently the most popular strategy, it is not necessarily the best strategy. In a recent blog post, Colm Larkin, founder of the Irish game development company Gambrinous, recommends using a premium business model over the current advertising models in place today.
Some of these solutions, such as licensing your game, include a distribution strategy. But if you chose a model that doesn't, then how do you get the finished product into the hands of game players?
The larger social game companies (such as Zynga, EA, and Playdom) are proven machines of self-promotion and viral marketing. Inside and outside the Flash game experience, users are encouraged to socialize their game activities and accomplishments, and invite their friends to play. Heyzap, a newer startup in the Flash gaming space, helps game developers distribute games. But you can do your own promotion, too.
You can promote your projects by creating a website and by using social networks (such as Twitter and Facebook) to generate traffic. It's also helpful to add trailers on YouTube. If the game is exceptional, it will generate its own momentum and spread from player to player by word of mouth.
Newgrounds.com is a game portal with an especially clean setup for posting Flash games and collecting player evaluations. By posting your game before integrating ads, you can get valuable feedback, including player-based ratings, reviews, informal bug reports, and statistics on performance. Even if you only offer a game for a short time, you can compile a list of things to fix and improve. Consider addressing this feedback before pitching the product to licensors because a more polished game will fetch a higher price and generate more game play.
Game developer Mark Grossnickle initially launched AQI Zoneout on a few portal sites (see Figure 3). The game received about 500 game plays per day for the first week.
Figure 3. The front menu of the AQI Zoneout game.
Grossnickle contacted Flash Game Distribution (FGD) about distributing the game. Once added to their portal, the game received thousands of plays per day (13,000 on day 13 alone) for a 26-day total of 54,500 game plays.
During the game's run, FGD submitted it to 195 other sites. Of those 195 sites, FGD collected 24 requests to add AQI Zoneout. FGD also sent AQI Zoneout to 497 publishers, which helped create more buzz around it.
According to Ira Willey, creator of the popular game portal AddictingGames.com, if you provide immersive game content and excellent performance while following these guidelines, you'll attract players that are more likely to play your game repeatedly:
For more great tips and recommendations, check out Ryan Wolniak's eBook Getting Your Flash Game Sponsored.
Casual games are big business, and the Flash Platform is a vital part of the industry. While big companies are employing great Flash talent and commanding large revenues, an incredible community of individual developers and small teams are making a successful living developing games with the Flash Platform.
Developing financially successful games is fun and rewarding, but it is also challenging. Fortunately, there are many resources available, including the Adobe InMarket service, which enables you to easily distribute your completed game.
To learn more about developing games for Flash, check out these recent Edge articles:
Samuel Asher Rivello is the principal of Rivello Multimedia Consulting (RMC). RMC's Flash and Flex services include software architecture, consulting, development, and training. Sam has a decade of experience creating games and applications, and is currently traveling the globe to collaborate with top companies. Follow Sam on Twitter at @srivello.


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I wish I had a viral marketer to send my best blog posts out in press releases. The folks at The Washington Post and On Faith do, and their publicist just... More.
'Jews should chill out'
February 22, 2008 | 11:48 am
Jewish organizations, like the ADL and AJC, were on edge last year after the pope announced he was softening restrictions on the Tridentine Mass, which before... More.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Notary Package Insurance Membership Additional Supplies Order Details Step 1: Choose Your Signing Agent Package Selecting the New-NSA Training & Certification package shows that you are serious about starting your NSA business. Our NSA Certification eLearning course will provide the training you need to handle your first loan signing with confidence and become an NSA that title companies and signing services choose for loan signings again and again. Included in both packages is a background screening, required by most title companies and signing services to perform loan signings. New-NSA Training & Certification Package - Complete Certification Program - View 6 Items Order Now NNA Recommended Background Screening Notary Signing Agent Exam Priority 1-Year SigningAgent.com Listing Certified Notary Signing Agent Online Training Course Notary Signing Agent Certification Study Guide Notary Essentials Training NSA Background Screening with Certification Package - Just the Basics - View 3 Items Order Now NNA Recommended Background Screening Notary Signing Agent Exam 1-Year SigningAgent.com Listing Profile Listing on SigningAgent.com Completion of our NSA training and passing the background screening puts your name and information on SigningAgent.com, a listing site that title companies and signing services use to search for NSAs. Your profile will be added into the NSA databases of major title companies and signing services, providing job opportunities for you


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Since 1949, the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Marine Corps have enjoyed a close and cohesive working relationship through the Marine Security Guard (MSG) program at our U.S. missions overseas. MSGs serve alongside our own Diplomatic Security Service, helping to secure our embassies and consulates.
On November 10, Marines throughout the world marked the 237th anniversary of the Corps' existence and service to our nation. Some members of the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group (MCESG) continue this tradition of service to our nation by working with Diplomatic Security professionals at approximately 150 U.S. diplomatic missions worldwide.
Standing at "Post One" in our facilities abroad, MSGs are among the first representatives of the United States that our personnel and visitors see. As such, MSGs also represent the face of the United States. As Secretary Clinton noted in her birthday message to the MSGs, "These Marines do not just stand at 'Post One' -- they stand for the United States."
Our Marine friends and colleagues have met unique challenges in supporting the Department, and they have -- without exception -- responded bravely and effectively. They have responded to natural disasters, civil unrest, and violent attacks. They have defended the integrity of our facilities and worked courageously to save human life. They make an invaluable contribution to our efforts to secure our diplomatic efforts abroad. MSGs show, everyday, that they are models of the Marine Corps credo, "Semper Fidelis." They have, in fact, always remained faithful to protecting U.S. diplomacy.
The Department of State and Marine Security Guards have stood shoulder-to-shoulder through many dangerous situations at our diplomatic posts abroad. In every instance, it has been -- and continues to be -- reassuring to know that our MSGs will are there with us, serving bravely. Together, Diplomatic Security and our Marine partners stand together.
On this Veterans Day we honor and thank all of our men and women in uniform, past and present. For those of us in the Diplomatic Security Service -- and indeed in the entire Department of State -- it is also an opportunity to show our gratitude and respect for all Marines Security Guards.
Happy Veterans Day. Semper Fi!
Johnmary A. in Uganda writes:
Happy Birthday USMC. I'm grateful for the outstanding work they extend to the US Mission here. If God asked me to make 1 wish. I would wish to serve in the corp. for the US govt & if an opportunity came my way,I wouldn't hesitate to serve in the USMC. I have always waited for this & hope one day God will answer my prayer. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."(Mathew 5:9) - NIV Long Live the Marines & God Bless America. - Johnmary A.
Victoria in Pennsylvania writes:
There is nothing more humbling and reassuring than to be able to walk past a long line of people waiting to get into one of our embassies to apply for a visa, show my passport to the crisp, efficient and, yes, friendly Marine at the gate and walk into the embassy. After several months living abroad, that Marine was a welcome reminder of home. He was also reassurance that I was safe there. Thank you.
And, thank you for keeping my family member safe on post. That means even more to me.
Justin writes:
I like the Army.


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Moderator: Mike
Hapiness is a warm gun is one of the most underrated beatles songs ever. The best lennon song on the white album.kylestyle wrote:My 3 favourite songs would be Martha My Dear, Helter Skelter and a tie between Dear Prudence and Happiness Is A Warm Gun. Ok that's 4 songs lol.
jules wrote:The best song is Happiness. The Beatles all thought so too, you know.
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Addi Sock Rockets Needles is a similar needle: 24" (60cm), circular, and US 00 (1.75mm) US size. You may also like ChiaoGoo Knit RED Circular Needles, which is another similar needle: 24" (60cm) and circular.
You may enjoy taking a look at the Cascade 220 Superwash Dots Blanket, Malabrigo Sock Scalloped Shawl, Filatura Di Crosa Superior Classic Cardigan, and Filatura di Crosa Superior Cinderella Shawl kits all using Addi Lace Needles.


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National Matches | Bianchi Cup | Intercollegiate | BPTR | Annual Meeting
The NRA hosts competitive shooting championships across the nation. We need your help with running the range, keeping statistical records, and more! If you have the time, please apply to help at one of the following championships. After your application has been processed, an Event Coordinator will contact you with further instructions.
National Matches Camp Perry, Ohio July and August
More than 4,000 competitors come to the NRA National Rifle & Pistol Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, each year, so there is a tremendous need for help running this prestigious and historical competition. This is a National Championship event for Pistol, Smallbore, and Highpower competitors. Experienced RSOs and CROs welcome but not necessary, we can train you!
For more information:
MidwayUSA & NRA Bianchi Cup Columbia, Missouri May
This Action Pistol Championship draws shooters from all over the world. In 2013, international competitors hailed from Australia, Austria, Barbados, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United States. Admin Staff and Range Staff needed.
Intercollegiate Championships Fort Benning, Georgia March
This is a combined championship. Pistol events are run first, then Rifle. The purpose of the Pistol Championships is to determine the National Collegiate Individual and Team Champions in Intercollegiate Free Pistol, Standard Pistol, Open Air Pistol, Women's Air Pistol and Women's Sport Pistol. The purpose of the Rifle Club championship is to determine the National Collegiate Rifle Club Individual and Team Champions, and ROTC Individual and Team Champions. We need you to help run the range, score, and manage the store.
Black Powder Target Rifle NRA Whittington Center, Raton, NM September
No other match has origins so meaningful to the National Rifle Association of America. The great prestige and storied lineage of this Championship truly make it one of the NRA's most valuable commodities. With the Castle Trophy dating back to 1871, the longevity of this particular Championship is most definitely a testament to NRA Competitive Shooting Sports as well as the 2nd Amendment. Competing in this National Championship puts a whole new perspective in becoming an actual part of history.
General Help Everywhere (USA) Year Round
There are many opportunities around the country and here at headquarters where your volunteer help is needed.Sign up with one of our established events by clicking one of the links below. The best way to support your NRA is by getting involved! Please become a part of our team today:
General help sign up opportunities:
Annual MeetingVarious Locations Spring
Help is needed in a wide variety of activities including the NRA Store, Membership Services, the Airgun Range, Firearms Inspectors and many others. The store requires lots of manpower; especially people with cashier experience. Membership Services is a busy place as many members renew or upgrade their memberships. And we will need many NRA-certified instructors to assist young people at the Airgun range. There are other jobs, too, and we can usually find one that you will enjoy. Half-day shifts available, apply today! Email email@example.com for more information.
Questions? Comments? NRA Competitive Shooting Tournament Resources Department 703-267-1485 email@example.com


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Ice Machine 10" Sediment Water Filter Cartridge
Item #: 364225 | Model #: WEBF10P |
We're sorry, this item is not available in your selected Club. Check another Club
About this itemA necessity for ice machines and other directly-plumbed equipment, especially in hard water areas.
Replacement high efficiency 10-micron sediment prefilter to remove particulate matter in the first stage of the 10" Twin Water Filter System.
- White
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- Manufacturer: Marshall Webb
Questions about this product? Please contact Ace Mart at:
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Toll free: 1.888.898.8079 (7:30 AM – 5:30 PM CST, M-F)
Returns in accordance with Ace Mart return policy.
Assembled Country
Component Country
USA And Imported


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2010 Distinguished Graduates
Part III | Greatest MissionThe Air Force Academy and the Association of Graduates are proud to bestow the university's highest honor to two of our finest. The Distinguished Graduate award is given to those who have dedicated their lives to the service of this nation. The 2010 recipients are Max James, Class of 1964, and Gen. Ralph Eberhart, Class of 1968.
In this series of interviews, Mr. James and General Eberhart take a moment to reflect back on their time at the Academy and how it shaped their lives. On behalf of everyone at the Association of Graduates, we wish our heartfelt thanks to these two individuals for their service and inspiration to all.


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Kevin Padilla Elected Chair of USA Taekwondo Board of Directors
Kevin Padilla (Hoboken, N.J.) was elected chair of the USA Taekwondo board of directors at a directors' meeting last weekend in New Orleans. Padilla has served on the 10-member board as coach director since 2006.
"I am honored to have been elected as chair of the board of directors," said Padilla. "With this election comes much responsibility to continue to shape, guide and lead this great organization. I would like to acknowledge and thank our outgoing chair, Ronda Sweet, for her leadership of the board over the past two years."
Padilla takes over the role of chair from Ronda Sweet (Gretna, La.) who has served in that capacity since 2007 and remains on the board as grassroots director.
"First of all we must thank Ronda Sweet for her tireless service as chair of this organization," said USAT CEO David Askinas. "Few people have worked as hard as Ronda has over the past few years for the benefit of this organization. We are fortunate to retain the benefit of her knowledge and dedication on the board for the next four years. We welcome Kevin Padilla as the new chair of USA Taekwondo. Kevin has been both a world class athlete and coach. He is also a club owner and understands the complexities and nuances of the dojang owner's business. He brings a wealth of organizational knowledge and history to the table and will strive to make USAT a better organization."
As a competitor, Padilla was a four-time U.S. National Team member, as well as a World Cup medalist and U.S. Taekwondo Union Athlete of the Year.
"Our vision for the future is to keep the athlete as the central theme of why we exist -- athletes throughout the entire pipeline, starting from within our clubs from the grassroots to the world class level in both poomsae and sparring," Padilla added. "As well, we must have competent coaches to drive the programs for sustainability, keeping taekwondo relevant not only within the Olympic Sports movement, but in the USA and around the world."
He is also a past vice president for the New Jersey State Association and a volunteer for the New York Sport Taekwondo Commission where he helped the non-profit organization raise funds to provide international competition opportunities for taekwondo athletes in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
"Creating opportunities, alliances and partnerships is what we have to focus on leading up to London 2012 and beyond," Padilla said. "We have to partner with Chicago 2016 over these next seven months so that we can bring home the Olympic Games to the USA. This is a very critical time for the U.S. Olympic movement in that the growth of taekwondo and other sports in America is dependent on creating a strategic plan in concert with Chicago 2016 prior to and during the 17 days of the Games, and most importantly for the development of a sustainable legacy for future generations."
Padilla has served on the USTU Athletes' Advisory Council, Executive Committee, Coaching Science Committee and Junior Olympic Committee. He has been a member of the U.S. National Team coaching staff since 2006 and lent his coaching skills at junior world championships, Pan Am Games, world championships and the Beijing Olympic Games. Padilla currently provides content for the USAT Coaching Identification & Development Program (CIDP).
"I have been fortunate to have gone through both the athlete and coaching pipeline from a grassroots level to the world stage and now as your board chair," said Padilla. "We all have a great amount of passion for the martial art and sport we love so let's lock arms and work together to grow our sport nationally to keep taekwondo thriving and healthy for years to come. Please feel free to contact me to discuss how we can inspire young athletes to take up taekwondo so the young can strive for personal excellence and a healthy lifestyle."


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What are we REALLY doing to our oceans?
Contributing Monkie GreenChef Staff Monkies
Published on August 7, 2006
Filed Under G Living, Nature / Non Human Stories
By Boise Thomas
Now I am getting upset. A great man once said, Human beings cannot correct problems he creates, for if he could see he was about to cause a problem, he would stop if before it needed the solution.? Or something like that. The point is, we are doing things that are seemingly irreversible. Most of us know what we have done to our air with the advent of the automobile and the petroleum fueled engine. It was created to get rid of the problem called, the streets smell like horse dung.? Thus it was deemed the horseless carriage and horsepower is still the way we measure an autos speed. What has me go off on this topic today??? In reading the ocean reports published in the Los Angeles Times (July 30-Aug 4, 2006) I am informed, upset and educated. Not my favorite mix but the news is alarming.
Reported over a decade ago is now being said to be false: the oceans would recover from our senseless dumping of human waste, nitrogen from farming and other runoff into our rivers into the oceans. It was originally believed the oceans were vast enough to recover from whatever we put in them and after reading the report from the Times, I fear the worst is yet to come. The article deems it the "Rise of Slime as coastal bacteria is moving and growing at a rate of a football field every hour (12053.5 yards [1 yard is 3 feet/36inches]). One diver who has been monitoring the coral reefs off the coast of the Florida Keys said upon the return of one of his favorite dives it was like coming home to find your apartment/home ransacked and pillaged by burglars.? Other coastal areas off California, Sweden and the great barrier reef in Australia are being replaced by what the laboratory studies are describing a "white snot of "prehistoric bacteria that once ruled our oceans while it was cooling. The smells can choke you, contact on the skin will burn you and prolonged exposure can cause respiratory problems and scarring to the skin. Its like acid in our waters.
Ocean temps have increased by 1 degree over the last century. One half of the population of the world lives in coastal areas with an estimated 2000 homes added every day. So the problem is expected to get worse as the bacteria flourishes in higher temperature and get this, when it dies, it releases nitrogen and in turn, feeds whats left of itself, causing it to grow faster. This should give you an idea why it is spreading so rapidly. In a lab experimnet, scientists took a vile of sewage and added a pinch of the bacteria and reported it flowered happily. They also wanted to see how quickly your toilet water goes into the ocean, so they asked to use residential bathrooms in the Florida Keys and put "tracers in the water and flushed them down. They found the tracers in the ocean around the islands in as little as three hours.
The fishermen who have been working for generations off the coast of Australia have been reporting skin burns, legions and have scarring due to exposure to the toxic primeval slime. They were first scoffed at by the local government but after they brought samples back in buckets, lab assistants ran from the labs with burning eyes and choking lungs. One expert likened it to "The Blob, the gelatinous matter that swallowed everything in its path in the science fiction movie of the same name. Fishermen now take 4 months off a year while the slime is at its peak to protect themselves and avoid further exposure.
So what can we do? You tell me? My wife and I are getting ready to paint our bathroom and will be shopping at LivinGreen.com, to buy non toxic paints to keep the run off from the disposal of those cans from polluting the ground water and in turn our California coastline. We are also composting and putting all of our food waste in the worm bins to be recycled back into soil right in our backyard. All other garbage we produce gets sorted into recyclable materials and the cans we used to fill and bring to the curb to be taken to the dump/fill, have not been more than 50% full since we began these basic practices.
Will this help the oceans? Will this have more oxygen get to the coral, fish and micro organisms that are fighting for oxygen rich water with this new bacteria? I am not sure, but by bringing my consciousness to everything I use and where the things I "throw away go, I know I can make a difference.
We can no longer afford to think the Earth is so big that there is nothing we can do to effect it long term. Scientists were wrong when they originally said it would not be impacted by us and they admit it now. Time has come to work in partnership with nature. The Earth deserves to be treated like a brother or sister, mother or father, regardless of your political, religious or environmental stand. It is time for us all to band together and get conscious.
The article on Sunday closed with one fisherman saying his childrens will be saying to their children, Finish your jellyfish.? Jellyfish, like the prehistoric venemous fireweed they are calling lyngbya majuscula, are the only organisms thriving in the conditions of our oceanic environment. So our waters were once teeming with tuna and swordfish, the chicken of the sea. They are the lone creatures thriving in todays troubled waters and will end up on the tables of humans for consumption as there are less and less creatures to capture and eat.
For more information, visit LA Times and read the series for yourself. If you would like to report on the condition of your coastal waters in your country, I am interested and waiting to hear from you.
Thank you for taking a stand.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Breathe in, peace out,


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Following remarks at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Ambassador to Honduras Hugo Llorens shares his thoughts on the U.S.-Honduran relationship.
You know, our relation with Honduras is excellent. I mean, Honduras is very much – I see it as a brother democracy, a very close neighbor of the United States. Honduran people have come a long way in the last 28 years to build their democracy after years of military rule. Our economic relationship – we're close trading and investment partners. You know, we account for 65 percent of Honduras's exports. Obviously, the relationship is very close there.
Obviously, Honduras remains one of the poorer countries in Latin America, so the United States has very active programs, development programs, in the country. We have the Millennium Challenge Compact, which is a $250 million program to develop roads and to assist small farmers. We have a robust USAID program, $50 million a year, involved in health education, good governance, trying to promote economic growth. We're fortunate to have the largest Peace Corps presence in Latin America, which I'm very proud of.
I believe that the Central American Free Trade Agreement provides a great economic opportunity to deepen our relationship and create conditions for sustainable growth in Honduras. And so I think that, you know, you're seeing that in terms of the way of the growing trade levels, but also growing foreign direct investment in Honduras. We've very proud of, again, the people-to-people relationship. We have more than a million Hondurans who live in the United States, and they're part of our community and we're proud of them. And so it's an excellent relationship.
Well, I think this was really unique because, you know, we have these chiefs of mission conferences every year, which is really a good opportunity for sort of getting the ambassadors from the region together, a good networking opportunity and getting good feedback from the Department and the Washington interagency on the major issues of the day.
But this is an opportunity, I think, for us to give back to the U.S. business community. So the fact that the U.S. Chamber, you know, brought us all together – it was a very good audience. It was a large audience of business people and diplomatic community officials and so on, and really just, you know, answer their questions on really issues that were of importance to them in terms of the reality in Latin America. And I think that what we bring to the table is we're actually out in the field, and I think we were able to give the folks present a good sense of what's happening in the region and how all of this impacts on U.S. interests.
So I hope these are repeated. I hope this becomes part of the – you know, the annual chiefs of mission conference that we can get the ambassadors to speak directly to the business community. It was a good event.
Max in Virginia writes:
DipNote, shame on you for resorting to old-school puffery. Repeating the formal remarks of a a sitting ambassador isn't exactly cutting edge, much less interesting. He has the rest of www.state.gov plus his own embassy webpage to hype his own words. How about getting the man's driver, or at least the visa officer, to say something? How about that, Mr. Ambassador?
DipNote Bloggers write:
@ Max in Virginia -- DipNote is a forum for all Department officials, regardless of their rank or position. Ambassador Llorens was among a group of U.S. Ambassadors serving in the Western Hemisphere region who graciously agreed to share their views with DipNote's readers. U.S. Ambassadors will continue to post to the blog, as will visa officers and others.
Akinoluna writes:
I'm not sure I'd call a country whose president said in public that his election was a fraud a "brother democracy".
Katrina in Washington, DC writes:
Congratulations to the new appointees at the Dept. of Justice!!!
I hope that the integrity that they will restore at the DOJ can seed the start of some at the DC Office of the Attorney General's Child Support Services Division.
Read more at washingtonpost.com Politics Elections Comments section: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2009/01/05/solicitor_general_...


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Circuits from the Lab
Circuits from the Lab ® Reference Designs are commonly used as standalone solutions, or to build more complex circuits and subsystems.
Built and tested for function and performance by ADI's applications experts, they offer:
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Viewing and experiencing art in a museum can actually affect you physically.
As Tom Jacobs reports in Miller-McCune, researchers outfitted visitors with an electronic glove while viewing an exhibit of contemporary art at the Kunstmuseum St. Gallen in Switzerland. The special glove measured the viewer's heart rate, skin conductivity, and movement from one place to another.
"Researchers tracked participants as they strolled through the gallery, allowing them to record physiological reactions to specific artworks. Afterward, each participant was asked his or her response to six of the pieces — the three they spent the most time viewing, as well as three others chosen in advance."
The research team then surveyed the 373 participants, all adults, asking them to evaluate some of the art and describe their emotional response.


text: Stock jetting, I would get 50~55 mpg frequently on my 2000 naked. This was normal 55mph~60mph riding on back country roads. Highway, it would drop down to around 48mpg. Then I rejetted when I added my dual Renegades (152.5 mains, hogged out stock air filter, 17.5 pilots, drilled slide hole, 2.5 turns on the A/F screw, dynojet needle on the third clip) and it was dyno tuned to have the perfect A/F ratio throughout the rev range. I was getting 45 mpg EVERYWHERE. No matter, if I rode two up, one up loaded for touring, track days, spirited street, highway...any combo... I always got 45mpg in return. When I did the 03 intake cam swap, it jumped up to 48mpg everywhere with no changes...but my jetting was off (according to the dyno). I had to up to 160F/162.5R mains. And as expected, my mileage decreased to around 44mpg. Now I have a set of 41mm Kehien FCR's... I really don't care about mileage...it's just too much fun to ride now. What I am trying to get at here is...if you have any type of jetting change, open exhaust, etc... you will get right around 45mpg. I've seen it on my bike and few other first gen SV's I ride with as well. If I was to jet for mileage (and rideability second), I would go with the stock setup (oe filter with the snorkle in it, 137.5 mains, 15 pilots at 2.5 turns and stock needle with no shim under it). But to get a compromise (I have rejetted a few friends to this and they love it). Stock air filter (snorkle still intact), 140 Mikuni mains, 15 pilot, 3 turns on A/F, drilled slide hole, 1 shim under the needle and stock exhaust. Runs much better and the throttle response is VERY good. And who said jetting isn't fun? Mike ----- Original Message ---- From: Jo Rhett <jorhett at fastlizardracing.com> To: Suzuki SV650 Mailing List <sv650 at micapeak.com> Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 2:41:07 PM Subject: only getting 45mpg on 2001 svs? I figured my gas mileage was a bit low, but after measuring for a month or so it's pretty dead average 45mpg. I swear I used to get 52mpg on my 2002 before I turned it into a racebike. This could all be in the throttle hand, obviously. But 7mpg seems a bit much for just that. Besides cleaning the air filter, anything else I should check? -- Jo Rhett / velociRaptor Racing #553 WERA / AFM


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Dorothy Eleanor Hess, 98, Raleigh, died at 1:50 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at Fountainview Nursing Home, Eldorado.
A private service was held at Colonial Terrace Funeral Home, Eldorado, followed by burial in Masonic Cemetery, Raleigh.
Mrs. Hess was born in Fithian April 28, 1915, the daughter of Daniel Dallas and Sarah Ruby (Alexander) VanBuskirk. She graduated from Oakwood High School in 1933 and married Kendel Hess, of Raleigh, on Feb. 2, 1947, and he preceded her in death on Oct. 25, 1968. During her lifetime, she lived in Chicago, Raleigh, Chrisman, and Paris, Illinois.
Mrs. Hess is survived by her two sons, Kevin (wife Sharon) Hess of Raleigh and Kirk (wife Terry) Hess of Hillsboro; six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one brother, Daniel VanBuskirk of Lincoln, Neb.; and one daughter, Kathleen Hess of Los Angeles, Calif.
Location, ST | website.com


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Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (28 votes).
In short: hard going uphill in the tunnel, then the little uphill after it takes you by suprise. Nice run in.Date of review: February 16, 2008
In short: Good race , well done LiverpoolIn full: Hard work getting up that tunnel incline but very enjoyable . Finishing along New Brighton waterfront was good .Date of review: June 13, 2007
In short: I fund the tunnel very tough but I felt like I really achieved something by getting through itIn full: This race was a bargain - absolutely great value for money and it was great to see Ricky Tomlinson. For the price I don't think I can complain about anything except more support would be great. It's also a bit of a killer seeing the finishing line for so long before the end (it never seemed to get any closer!)Date of review: June 8, 2007
In short: Good atmosphere, no complaints great T shirt and medal.In full: A great race, what a way to spend a Sunday morning, felt exceptionally warm running in the tunnel though. Really glad I took part in this event. For the past 11 years every day I've travelled to the Wirral through the tunnel and have had to pay £2.60 for the privilege. Plenty of water and Ricky Tomlinson had the time it seems to congratulate all.Date of review: June 6, 2007
In short: Great run !In full: First time running this race and thought it was great! Tunnel was weird but fun. View of Liverpool from across the water was fleeting, but amazing - city looking great with all the new development. Lack of crowds, but great support from fellow runners. Two water stations very welcomed. Excellent price for chip, t shirt great and medal!Date of review: June 4, 2007
In short: Excellent race - especially the tunnel and then the riverfrontIn full: Well organised, bit lacking in support from the (non-existant) crowd. Running in the tunnel was wierd (and it's a long way back up). Date of review: June 4, 2007
In short: First time for me on the Tunnel run, better this year I believe due to the tunnel being closed, excellent organisation and the course is good for PBDate of review: June 4, 2007
In short: Excellent organisation and an interesting routeIn full: Well done to the organisers, everything ran very smoothly. The train back to Liverpool was an excellent idea. I quite enjoyed the City v City stuff - it didn't make me any faster, but it was good to be part of something across the country.Date of review: June 4, 2007
In short: Enjoyable and differentIn full: An enjoyable race with some very different 'scenery', love running through the tunnel then along the seafront. Good smooth organisation. Not sure about the whole City v City idea, seeing as how the three races were different sizes and not necessarily comparable courses, but made no difference to a good race. Cherry Powerade is the most disgusting post-race drink in the known Universe - lovely!Date of review: June 4, 2007
In short: A PB is possible, but its great just to get through the tunnel for free for a change ;)Date of review: June 4, 2007
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Haier 12,000 BTU Cool/10,000 BTU Heat Portable Air Conditioner
by Haier | Item #: 5096 | Model #: HPN12XHM |
We're sorry, this item is not available in your selected Club. Check another Club
About this item
- 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
- Ideal for spot cooling mid-sized rooms
- 3 cool settings, 3 fan settings, 3 heat settings
This 12,000 BTU portable air conditioner is ideal for spot cooling mid-sized rooms up to 450 sq. ft. in the summer, and providing supplemental heat in colder months. With 3 cool settings, 3 fan settings, 3 heat settings, a 24 hr on/off timer, and dehumidify modes, this single-hose model is equipped to meet your interior climate needs. A Quick-Install Window Kit is included for exhausting the unit through any horizontal or vertical opening window, and fully-directional casters provide mobility. Maintenance is minimal with a slide-out washable mesh filter, and Auto Evaporation technology makes manual draining unnecessary.
- Electronic controls
- Full function remote
- Time/temperature display
- Digital temperature adjust
- 3 Cooling speeds
- 3 Fan speeds
- 24 Hour on/off timer
- Dehumidify mode
- Heat pump mode
- 4 Way air direction
- Slide out washable filter
- Auto evaporation for continuous operation
- Ultra quiet operation
- Easy to intall window kit
Assembled Country
Assembled Size
15.25"L x 17.75"W x 29.44"H
Component Country


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For more information, please call 304-691-1787
Robert Marsh, MD, PhD, an experienced neurosurgeon, has joined the medical staffs at Cabell Huntington Hospital and Marshall Neuroscience. He is a general neurosurgeon providing care for patients with a wide range of brain and spine conditions, including surgical procedures for back and spine disorders or injuries.
Before coming to Huntington, Dr. Marsh served as a neurosurgeon with the United States Army at the San Antonio Military Medical Center. He earned his medical degree at the University of Toledo College of Medicine in Toledo, Ohio, and he completed his residency training in neurosurgery at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Dr. Marsh is now accepting patients in his office at Marshall Neuroscience on the campus of Cabell Huntington Hospital. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Marsh, please call Marshall Neuroscience at 304-691-1787.


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Skip to comments.US banks warn Fed interest cut could force them to charge depositors
Posted on 11/25/2013 3:35:11 AM PST by markomalley
Leading US banks have warned that they could start charging companies and consumers for deposits if the US Federal Reserve cuts the interest it pays on bank reserves.
Depositors already have to cope with near-zero interest rates, but paying just to leave money in the bank would be highly unusual and unwelcome for companies and households.
The warning by bank executives highlights the dangers of one strategy the Fed could use to offset an eventual tapering of the $85bn a month in asset purchases that have fuelled global financial markets for the last year.
(Excerpt) Read more at ft.com ...
Not hardly. Try for the last 4 years, easy. This has been going on for a long time. It is what brought back the stock market and keeps propping it up.
What the banks are naively admitting...is that they are as close to failure....as they were in 2008. Nothing has changed.
The government is just standing there with no idea of how to recover from the illogical Fed rate. The journalists are doing their best not to investigate the banks. Bank CEOs just sit and grin during interviews and avoid clear answers. We are still at the front door of 2008....nothing changed...just waiting for the collapse to come sooner or later.
At this point, it seems a good place to put some money is in stuff....homegoods, clothing, long-term repairs, a new car, appliances, to create a situation in which no purchases are necessary in the forseeable future.
Must register to read the article.
It sounds like the final evidence many need to heed in order to ready themselves for a big crash!
Get out the jars and start burying it in the back yard.
Bad enough getting no interest when they star charging my money is coming out.
What's particularly worrisome here is that if banks start charging depositors many people will want to pull their money out, at which time they will discover that due to fractional reserve lending most of that money isn't actually there.
Any savings in US dollars are not safe.
"Bad enough getting no interest when they star charging my money is coming out."
Me too. I ought to pull it out anyway. The risk/reward ratio is already to high as things stand now. Mattress would safer.
So yeah, if my banks charge me for borrowing my money, out it comes.
Reminds me of when Jeb Clampett's banker kept all Jeb's millions in his bank for free, didn't dharge old Jeb a dime.
So banks return zero interest but lend money at 4% for 30 year mortgages? Wow.
The Zero Interest Rate Policy (ZIRP) shortchanges savers by providing cheap $$ to the Government and Business at the expensive of interest payments on Mom & Pop deposits. Negative Interest Rate Policy (NIRP) is just a continuation of the same policy, with the illusion of interest totally stripped away. Both are wealth taxes, but the latter is nakedly so.
The best part for the politicians is that this is being done without any explicit action on their part—thus they still have plausible deniability.
I'd think all kinds of stuff will be done to create an illusion of safety, thereby "kicking the can down the road". I could imagine withdrawl fees or percentages happening with withdrawls over a certain amount. I could see a restriction on how quickly money can be withdrawn.
A banker told me (to try to scare me into an annuity) that if a bank goes under, FDIC deposits up to the insured amount have to be paid out, but over something like a 30-year period. (I told her that at my age it would be a better deal than an annuity. She was confused.)
The thing is, no one really knows how this mess is going to turn out. Because of technology moving financial transactions so quickly, there's just no precedent for knowing how things could happen.
First Bank of Sealy
I am afraid you are right.
So, depositors take their money out of savings accounts, banks further tighten mortgage requirements, resulting in fewer mortgages, less income for the banks.
The banks begin to fail, and obama nationalizes the banks.
Another notch in his pistol.
I'm not an economist, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express.
If they continue 0% interest rates...retirees get hammered. Pumping $85 billion a month props the markets, but slowly takes America further into a hole.
The feds financial strategery of borrowing and or monetizing our own debt is lunacy. Eventually, we will default and begin the process of intentional devaluation of our currency in an effort to wipe away debt. Don't believe it? Take a look at Venezuela, Zimbabwe.
Just 1% rise in interest rates will add hundreds of billions to the national debt. Interest payments alone will continue to sap the life out of our economy. Well passed 100% debt to GDP ratio means all our economy can ever hope to muster in our current model cannot produce enough to dig our way out of this financial hole.
Isn't that interesting.
Consider that moving your money to a bank outside the US is near impossible now due to all the laws and regulations placed our Congress.
Foreign banks won't consider an American depositor.
Consider the bail-in's and the template proposed by the IMF, already seen in Cyprus.
Consider the fact that your money is not considered your money. We have heard from various members of Congress that money is theirs, not yours, "The bottom line is were not broke, theres plenty of money, its just the government doesnt have it, Ellison continued."
Where do you put money to work? Why, the equities.
They rise, until of course, they don't.
Wrong on so many levels, the reality of the situation is that the banks are saying that we are for profit companies and we won't just sit here and make nothing.
Not typically, most banks don't hold mortgages on their books, some but very few. That's where Fannie and Freddie come in, even then they don't really hold them either, they sell them to investors.
What about credit unions?
Don't you mean, "we are for profit companies and we wont just sit here and make nothing no matter how badly we screw up, because we're too big to fail"
The banks are only surviving because of the 'free money' that the Fed keeps sliding over to them. Every American....from a retirement prospective...is suffering because of bad CD rates and easy cash for the banks. The difference between now and 1929....we've kept the banks functional with the Fed money and the rate. We would have done quiet well in 1929, if we'd attempted this same gimmick....at least for a couple of years until reality sunk in.
The elevator charges me money to store my grain that really isn't there. Why shouldn't the bank not be able to charge me to store my money that really isn't there?
Galactic historians will reflect on this era as the last besdt chance at turning around this solar system,, but with a dying sun (albeit slowly) and an acidifying ocean of water and a sea of vapious beliefs. But, sometimes even the gods know when they are licked and its time to move on.
We could have been contenders, instead, we will likely never even make it out of the celestial race gate formative years.
Do that and I will stop depositing. Of course that means the police will take my cash and accuse me of dealing drugs, but at least that it open corruption.
Free money? How do you figure that?
So were low interest rates in 2002-2003 also the result of saving the banks from failing?
How does low interest rates save the banks? A key indicator of how well banks are making money with our money is something called net interest margin. It's been falling for years. For all the "free money" they have they are also loaning that money out at really low interest rates. The banks are making less money now in this free money environment then they were making in 2007.
Your theory doesn't hold water.
Every bank that was going to fail was bought out by another bank that wasn't going to fail. Citigroup might be the only exception. Bank of America was asked to buy assets to prevent them from failing. JP Morgan and Wells Fargo scooped up assets on the cheap because they were failing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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On Tuesday, October 7, the 2008 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams that competed in Beijing, China came together again as they visited Washington, D.C. for the traditional White House visit.
The more than 500 U.S. athletes that visited the White House included Taekwondo team members Steven Lopez, Mark Lopez and Charlotte Craig.
The President has been an ardent supporter of the 2008 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams having hosted a send-off celebration at the White House prior to the Games in addition to meeting with the U.S. Olympic Team prior to Opening Ceremonies on August 8 and watching many of them compete. An official White House delegation also traveled to Beijing for the 2008 Paralympic Games and met with members of the U.S. Paralympic Team.


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Kerry Powers AKA Punchin Pixie is the September USARS Roller Derby Spotlight athlete. She was nominated for her attributes to her team, dedication and attitude. She attends every practice, skates hard, and has positive things to say to all skaters. She is the most improved player on the Darkside Derby team. Pixie (like many derby skaters) came to the league with very little skating knowledge and has worked her way to roster. Not only does Pixie block with no fear, but she serves the community with the same heart. She leads the community outreach program and keeps the entire league busy with good deeds. Some of these deeds have included modeling clothing for Goodwill, walking against cancer, collecting food for our food bank and helping many other organizations under Pixie's guidance. She is a voice of reason with a great heart. She is a lab rat with a white coat, and will eventually be 'Dr' Punchin Pixie.
Hometown: My home town is Cache, Oklahoma.
Personal website/journal/web log (blog) address: none
Occupation & current employer: I am a histology technologist, and I currently work for Comanche County Memorial Hospital
Career goals: I would love to someday become a doctor of osteopathic medicine. I could then use the techniques and philosophies taught in osteopathic medicine to help my derby sisters with those common derby injuries.
Current league: My current league is Darkside Derby.
Derby name & number: My derby name is Punchin Pixie, and my number is 617e6, which is 671 million.
Years involved in derby: I have been involved in derby for a year and some change.
Coaches name: Master Kitty, Riot InDaHood, and Chop Shop Chassie
Favorite derby position (blocker, pivot, jammer): My favorite position is blocker.
When did you begin skating: I started skating when I joined derby.
Fondest memory of skating: I make fond memories every time I gear up, but year to date my fondest memory is winning our first home bout at a venue we had to fight to book.
Future goals you hope to obtain as a skater: My main goal as a skater is to continue to try my hardest, and become more strategic in the heat of a jam.
Awards, honors and statistics received in roller sports: I received the award for most loyal at our first anniversary celebration for the team.
Other sports you currently participate in: none
Who is your favorite sports figure: I absolute love Devin Hester from the Chicago Bears.
Who is the person you most admire/greatest influence in your life and why: My husband is my greatest influence. Without his encouragement and support, I know I would have never tried out for roller derby.
List your hobbies: Roller derby doesn't leave much time for other hobbies, but truthfully I wouldn't have it any other way.
What music do you listen to during training or competition? Anything with a good driving guitar presence, Pantara fits the bill nicely.
What makes you a unique and special person: I think what makes me unique, at least with my team mates, is that I had never played a team sport before roller derby.
Favorite food before a competition: French fries! Before every bout I always want French fries. It's probably not the best choice, but there are probably worse pre-bout foods.
Favorite movie: My favorite movie is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the original version. Favorite quote from the movie is "if the good lord had intended us to walk, he wouldn't have invented roller skates" Willy Wonka.
Favorite place to shop: Switchblade Skate Company, of course!
If you could pick one word to describe you, what would it be: The one word that describes me the best is persistent. I have learned over the last year of skating that if you try your hardest long enough you really can master anything you set your mind to do.


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The Link Between Running and Arthritis
Bad to the bones: Is arthritis from running a myth or fact of life?
Illustration by Steve Graepel
Running often gets associated with adjectives like pounding, jarring and jolting, the rap for why running is bad for your joints. Because of the repetitive impact of running, yes, even trail running, runners often assume that long-term running will eventually lead to arthritis of the knees, hips or ankles. Many hang up their running shoes when confronted by arthritis' warning signs, assuming its onset is imminent.
First the good news: runners are no more likely to suffer arthritis than non-runners, according to a 2010 review article in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine. Although the rate of injury among runners is high, osteoarthritis (OA) is by no measure the sport's most common malady.
OA ABCs
Arthritis, or more specifically osteoarthritis, is the degeneration of the articular cartilage that forms a cushion-like layer on the ends of the bones in each joint. Its loss leaves the bone susceptible to impact. The once-smooth cartilage becomes rough and cracked while the bone, without its protective layer, produces bone spurs. The pain often associated with arthritis arises not from the loss of cartilage itself but rather from trauma to the exposed, sensitive bone.
Impact or twisting forces, muscle weakness, joint instability and a history of previous joint injury can stress this important layer of cartilage and hasten the development of osteoarthritis. Given that with each stride the legs experience forces equal to several times a runner's bodyweight, it's no wonder runners fear the onset of injury.
"A fear that a running injury is arthritis is often the first question I hear from injured runners," says Dr. Anthony Luke, director of the University of California, San Francisco's Run Safe clinic, a running wellness program that focuses on injury prevention and biomechanical analyses.
Runners at Risk?
Indeed, theoretical arthritis research has generally supported the concept that repetitive stress leads to joint degeneration. Yet for runners, in an apparent contradiction, the scientific literature does not support any link between running and an increased risk of osteoarthritis.
"For 99 percent of individuals, running does not result in any increased risk of osteoarthritis," says Dr. Stuart Willick, an osteoarthritis researcher at the University of Utah. Several possible explanations exist for this seemingly contradictory finding. One of the more compelling findings points to evidence that running seems to have a stimulating effect on the cartilage, suggesting that it may offer protection to healthy joints. Additionally, among people who do not exercise, obesity has been linked to increased risk of osteoarthritis.
A recent review of arthritis research in the journal Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation did not find a link between running and arthritis. In fact, one study examined rates of arthritis in former collegiate swimmers and runners between two and 55 years after graduation and found equal rates of hip and knee arthritis in the two groups.
In a study conducted by the Center for Disease Control, 5000 runners and walkers over the age of 20 were followed over a 13-year period. No association was found between running and either the incidence of arthritis or its progression. As with many other studies, the progression of arthritis was associated with greater body-mass index (BMI greater than 25), older age (over 50) and a history of prior knee injuries.
It's not only the knees of runners that appear to resist the repetitive impact of running. A 2013 study by the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory determined that, "Whereas other exercise increased OA and hip-replacement risk, running significantly reduced risk due, in part, to running's association with lower BMI."
As the bulk of research has concentrated on knee and hip osteoarthritis, limited information exists about the link between running and development of osteoarthritis at the ankles or lower back.
It is comforting that running does not seem to be associated with an increased risk of knee or hip arthritis. Perhaps most encouraging, older individuals, the population most commonly connected with arthritis, who run are less prone to OA than those who don't. "The beneficial effects of running outweigh any potential risks, including osteoarthritis," says Dr. Willick.


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Public Eye - Summer 2009 Vol. 24, No. 2
The Taboo Truths of the Conspiracy Minded
Reviewed by Michelle Goldberg
The Transparent Cabal: The Neoconservative Agenda, War in the Middle East, and the National Interest of Israel - By Stephen J. Sniegoski (Washington, D.C.: Enigma Editions, IHS Press, 2008).
Michelle Goldberg is the author, most recently, of The Means of Reproduction: Sex, Power, and the Future of the World and Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism. She is a consultant investigating Islamophobia and antisemitism on campuses for Political Research Associates, publisher of Public Eye.
Stephen J. Sniegoski's The Transparent Cabal is a disturbing and revealing book, though not for the reasons the author intends. Sniegoski aims to show that U.S. neoconservatives masterminded the Iraq war in the service of Israeli hegemony, a proposition that has plenty of truth to it. In doing so, though, he veers back and forth over the often-fuzzy line separating harsh but legitimate criticism of Israel and Zionism from paranoid conspiracy mongering. His book is an almost textbook illustration of the way far Left anti-Zionism and far Right antisemitism can bend towards each other and begin to overlap.
The antisemitism in The Transparent Cabal is quite subtle – so much so that many readers probably won't see it, and will likely dismiss criticism of it as yet another attempt by the Likud lobby to silence its foes. Such attempts exist, of course. The Right has often tried to smear opponents of both American and Israeli foreign policy as bigots. One ironic effect of this is that it offers an alibi to purveyors of prejudice, who can now cloak themselves in martyrdom. Thus Sniegoski adopts the pose of one bravely willing to reveal taboo truths. But the fact that many critics of Israel are unfairly accused of antisemitism does not make all accusations of antisemitism unfair.
There's nothing new in The Transparent Cabal – indeed, it's a kind of clip job. Most of its material about the neoconservatives derives from mainstream media reports and well-known books. From these secondary sources, though, Sniegoski has fashioned a monocausal narrative in which Israel and its American supporters are the preeminent drivers of American foreign policy and the sole font of turmoil in the Middle East, which they're said to welcome because it serves Israel's interests. In his telling, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld are mere supporting players, less culpable for the catastrophe in Iraq than the editorial staff of the Weekly Standard. Sniegoski suggests that Israeli interests drove the first Gulf War as well. He joins the far Left and the far Right in sympathy for Slobodan Milosevic's Serbia, and implies that neoconservatives pushed for NATO's Kosovo campaign in order to weaken international law, thus setting the stage for their war in Iraq.
Sniegoski also throws in some unrelated conspiracy theories for good measure. Though he argues that the second Iraq war had nothing to do with energy supplies, he strongly suggests that the war on Afghanistan was motivated by the United States' desire to build a pipeline through that country. "Instead of serving as a pliable government that could provide requisite stability for American exploitation of energy resources, the Taliban were exporting their revolutionary Islamic fundamentalism to nearby Central Asian countries, thus destabilizing the entire energy-rich region," he writes, citing the French book Bin Laden: The Forbidden Truth. He implies that 9/11 may have been a preemptive strike by Osama bin Laden in response to U.S. threats against his host country.
This narrative, which has percolated on the political fringes in recent years, has been thoroughly debunked by Ken Silverstein in The American Prospect, Damien Cave in Salon and David Corn in The Nation, among others. A separate article would be required to recapitulate all their points. That's the problem with conspiracy theories – they tend to jumble truth, distortion, unfalsifiable claims and willful omissions in a way that takes enormous time and energy to untangle. For marginal books, it's often not worth the effort.
Indeed, The Transparent Cabal wouldn't be worth bothering with at all if it weren't receiving some notice on the Left, including a glowing review in Counterpunch. It is troubling that the book might find an audience among progressives, but probably not surprising. The taboo against criticizing Israel and discussing the power of the conservative Israel lobby has shrouded the whole subject in mystery. That fosters a kind of credulity in which outlandish claims take on the air of samizdat.
It is important to be clear here. Neoconservatives inside and outside the George W. Bush administration deserve tremendous opprobrium. They helped erect the ideological justifications for war with Iraq and seized control of the public discourse, bullying anyone who urged patience and diplomacy. Most importantly, under Vice President Cheney, a group of neoconservatives played a crucial role in distorting American intelligence to make it seem as if Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and ties to al Qaeda, creating a fallacious casus belli. Neoconservatism is a movement famously founded by ex-leftists – many of them Jewish – who lost their youthful ideals but not their radical (and sometimes rigidly ideological) habits of mind. The revolutionary callousness they displayed in their grandiose plan to reshuffle the Middle East has been catastrophic for people around the world.
Nor is it any secret that the neoconservatives have longstanding ties to the Israeli Right. Despite what Sniegoski seems to think, it is well know that, in 1996, leading neocons prepared a report for then-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu titled "A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm," which advocated replacing Middle Eastern regimes hostile to Israel with more pliant rulers. Neoconservatives are aggressive American nationalists, but they conflate the interests of the United States and Israeli Right. The policies they've pushed have undoubtedly weakened the United States and made a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict more elusive than ever.
It's a long way from there, however, to the claim that Israel alone inspired the Iraq war and that the catastrophic outcome there was intentional, meant to keep Israel's enemies fractured and disorganized. By treating George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld as mere supporting players in the march to war, co-opted or manipulated by the titular "cabal," Sniegoski is playing into old stereotypes about covert, omnipresent and almost occult Jewish influence. At one point, he calls Rumsfeld "the fall guy for the war's failures." (In fact, as former counterterrorism czar Richard Clark wrote in his book Against All Enemies, "By the afternoon [the day after the attack], Secretary Rumsfeld was talking about broadening the objectives of our response and 'getting Iraq.'") The former Vice President is barely mentioned.
For the conspiracist, there are no accidents. Thus Sniegoski assumes that since Iraq devolved into an anarchic bloodbath, that must have been the plan all along. "Now one might be tempted to attribute the rejection of the military's caution to insane hubris on the part of [Richard] Perle and the neoconservative crowd," he writes, before dispensing with that notion. "Richard Perle may be many things, but stupid is not one of these. Perle undoubtedly thought through the implications of his plan." Indeed, says Sniegoski, a "complete fiasco" could work to the neocons' advantage by throwing the region into chaos and preparing the way for a wider war. (He doesn't bother to address how Perle's all-seeing brilliance squares with the total discrediting of neoconservatism and the increased strength of Iran that resulted from the Iraq war.)
Likewise, he dismisses the idea that oil was part of the motive for war by arguing that if it had been, the United States would have made more of an effort to secure the country. The notion that the war-planners believed their own propaganda – a self-delusion apparent to almost every reporter who covered Iraq – is somehow impossible for Sniegoski to accept. His is a Manichean view of the world, the mirror image of the movement he aims to dissect.
Just as the neoconservatives attribute a kind of cosmic evil to many Islamic regimes, and dismiss all efforts at historical understanding as amoral relativism, so Sniegoski sees only the diabolical in Israel. Obviously, that country is in many ways richly deserving of criticism, but there's something suspect about the reflexive way the author demonizes the Jewish state while downplaying or dismissing the aggression of its enemies. To read this book, one would think Israel started every war it ever fought. Meanwhile, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Holocaust denial is explained away thusly: "It was not apparent that Ahmadinejad had actually denied the mass murder of the Jews during World War II, though he did, at various times, question various facets of the Holocaust and demanded greater evidential proof." Here, Sniegoski's language suggests he finds Holocaust revisionism reasonable.
To be sure, the author goes out of his way to distance himself from antisemitism, and several times he notes that not all Jews support the neoconservative agenda or the Israeli Right. Nevertheless, he quotes openly antisemitic sources as authoritative, at one point citing Kevin MacDonald, who he describes as a "rightist evolutionary biologist." In fact, MacDonald is a sociobiologist who claims Jews are genetically extremely smart yet clannish, and subversive of whatever society they find themselves in. Among other things, MacDonald has written that eventually universities may have to establish quotas to reduce the number of Jewish students, and that higher taxes on Jews may have to be levied "to counter the Jewish advantage in the possession of wealth." To quote MacDonald on the subject of Jewish dual loyalties is roughly equivalent to appealing to the wisdom of David Duke in an argument over affirmative action.
Sniegoski also has a tendency to identify people's Jewish heritage whether it's relevant or not. He notes, for instance, that British Foreign Minister Jack Straw is "of Jewish ancestry." In fact, Straw is a Christian who had one Jewish grandfather, though both Islamist and White supremacist websites frequently identify him as a Jew.
If Sniegoski has picked up on antisemitic memes, perhaps it's because he has placed himself in an antisemitic milieu. The Transparent Cabal was put out by Enigma Editions, an imprint of IHS press created specifically for this volume. A far-right Catholic press that publishes titles like Action: A Manual for the Reconstruction of Christendom, by French fascist Jean Ousset, IHS was described by The Southern Poverty Law Center as one of the "most nakedly antisemitic organizations in the entire radical traditionalist Catholic pantheon." Sniegoski's book fits in there nicely.


text: LANSING COMMUNITY COLLEGE CURRICULAR GUIDE Architectural Technology, Residential Design Option Associate in Applied Science Degree Curriculum Code: 0758 (Effective Fall 1999 - Summer 2004) This degree option will provide architectural students with the opportunity to study all aspects of single and multi-family residential design and construction. Areas of required study include residential design theory, preparation of residential working drawings, construction techniques, construction materials, residential landscaping, residential interiors, computer graphics, presentation techniques, structural design, and architectural history. Students will have the opportunity to take a cross- disciplinary array of technology courses, preparing for work in all segments of the residential design/build markets. Not all courses in this program transfer to all colleges. Students planning to transfer should see an academic advisor or counselor before enrolling in any course. PREREQUISITES Students should see the "Course Descriptions" section of this catalog or the Course Schedule for course prerequisite information. Basic skills assessment and advising information may be found on page 8 of this catalog. GENERAL EDUCATION General education is an important part of this program and includes a mathematics competency requirement. To fulfill the mathematics competency requirement, students may need to complete specific coursework in mathematics. For information on how to fulfill all general education requirements, see page 22. INFORMATION Contact the Architectural Studies Center, Gannon Vocational-Technical Center, Room 450, telephone number (517) 483-1327. REQUIREMENTS TOTAL: 26 CREDITS CODE TITLE CREDIT HOURS ARCH 101 Architectural Drafting I 4 ARCH 102 Architectural Drafting II 4 ARCH 121 Visual Communication I 3 ARCH 128 Residential Planning 2 ARCH 271 Structural Theory 4 BLDT 281 BOCA/Uniform Code 3 LAND 132 Residential Landscaping 2 MATH 121 College Algebra I 4 LIMITED CHOICE REQUIREMENTS TOTAL: 44-50 CREDITS Complete the indicated number of credits from each CHOICE listed below. CHOICE 1: General Education Core Areas 12 Credits (See the "GENERAL EDUCATION" section above) Writing Core Area 3 Speech Communication Core Area 3 Science/Technology Core Area 3 Global Perspectives and Diversity Core Area 3 Mathematics Competency (See Note 1) CHOICE 2: Computer Graphics 7-8 Credits ARCH 221 Architectural DataCAD I 4 ARCH 222 Architectural DataCAD II 4 ARCH 225 Arch DataCAD Independent Study 1-4 ARCH 231 Architectural AutoCAD I 4 ARCH 232 Architectural AutoCAD II 4 ARCH 235 Arch AutoCAD Independent Study 1-4 ARCH 237 Arch Computer Rendering 3 CHOICE 3: Building Trades 7-8 Credits BLDT 100 Introduction to Construction 3 BLDT 121 Residential Framing 4 BLDT 277 Construction Cost Estimating 4 CHOICE 4: Materials Structures and Systems 7-8 Credits ARCH 273 Environmental Systems 4 ARCH 276 Alternative Structures 3 ARCH 278 Energy Efficient Design 4 ARCH 283 Materials of Construction 4 CHOICE 5: History 3 Credits ARCH 142 Architectural History II 3 ARCH 146 Preser/Adaptive Reuse Architec 3 INTR 232 Twentieth Century Interiors 3 CHOICE 6: Interior Design 6-7 Credits INTR 151 Computer-Aided Kitchen Design 3 INTR 190 Interior/Materials/Equipment 3 INTR 240 Interior Environmental Systems 3 INTR 246 Residential Interiors 3 CHOICE 7: Architectural Related (See Note 2) 2-4 Credits MINIMUM TOTAL 70 NOTES: 1. Students completing "REQUIREMENTS" have fulfilled the requirements for this Core area. 2. Allows completion of courses which relate to specific career preparation for the field of residential design and have not been applied in any of the above categories. SUGGESTED COURSE SEQUENCE Students should see course descriptions to find out when departments plan to offer courses. Students who for any reason are unable to follow the course sequence suggested below (for example, those who are part-time, have transferred in courses from another school, or have prerequisites to fulfill) should contact an academic advisor or counselor for help with adjustments. I II III IV ARCH 121 ARCH 101 ARCH 102 LAND 132 ARCH 128 BLDT 281 ARCH 271 Lim.Ch. MATH 121 Lim.Ch. Lim.Ch. Lim.Ch. Lim.Ch. Lim.Ch. Lim.Ch. Lim.Ch. Lim.Ch. Lim.Ch. Lim.Ch. Lim.Ch. Lim.Ch. Lim.Ch.


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Excelsior Long Robe
Style: 570087941
Out of Stock
Lustrous stretch charmeuse robe has a notched banded neckline, notched sleeves and pockets. A classic beauty in every respect.
- Elbow-length kimono sleeve with double-banded hem.
- Belt loops and sash. inside ties secure the wrap.
- Side-seam pockets.
- Approximately 53" from shoulder.
- 96% Polyester, 4% Spandex. Machine wash. Imported.
- From NK iMode. Elegant over the Excelsior Pajama Set or Sleepshirt.
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As with any software product, there is sometimes a need to get assistance in understanding or troubleshooting Couchbase products.
A subscription to our Enterprise License comes with a support contract which gives you direct access to the Couchbase Support team. You can find more information about those options here.
|If you do not yet have an Enterprise License, you will want to direct your questions to either the forums or the Couchbase mailing list (Couchbase)
Couchbase Technical Support
Support email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Support phone number: 650-417-7500, option #1
To speed up the resolution of your issue, we will need some information to troubleshoot what is going on. The more information you can provide in the questions below the faster we will be able to identify your issue and propose a fix:
- Priority and impact of the issue (P1 and production impacting versus a P2 question)
- What versions of the software are you running - Membase/Couchbase Server, moxi, and client drivers?
- Operating system version, architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) and deployment (physical hardware, Amazon EC2, RightScale, etc.)
- Number of nodes in the cluster, how much physical RAM in each node, and per-node RAM allocated to Couchbase Server
- What steps led to the failure or error?
- Information around whether this is something that has worked successfully in the past and if so what has changed in the environment since the last successful operation?
- Provide us with a current snapshot of logs taken from each node of the system and uploaded to our support system via the instructions below
If your issue is urgent, please make a phone call as well as send an e-mail. The phone call will ensure that an on-call engineer is notified.
Diagnostics/logs will give us further detail around the issue itself and the health of your environment.
- cbcollect_info is a command line utility that provides us with detailed statistics for a specific node. Example usage:
- Linux
/opt/couchbase/bin/cbcollect_info <node_name>.zip
- Windows
C:\Program Files\Couchbase\Server\bin\cbcollect_info <node_name>.zip
Run cbcollect_info on all nodes in the cluster, and upload all of the resulting files to us.
Sharing Files with Us
The cb_collect_info tool can result in large files. Simply run the command below, replacing <FILE NAME> and <COMPANY NAME>, to upload a file to our cloud storage on Amazon AWS. Make sure you include the last slash ("/") character after the company name.
curl --upload-file <FILE NAME> http://s3.amazonaws.com/customers.couchbase.com/<YOUR COMPANY NAME>/
Once uploaded, please send an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com letting us know what files have been uploaded.


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iHerb Customer Reviews
Savings of: $0.79 (7% off)
Love it!
Posted by Reviewer1661016 on Mar 22, 2011
Really natural - wish it came in a bigger bottle! Will definitely order again.
This is my favourite bodylotion...
Posted by Reviewer2197579 on Dec 25, 2013
...beacuse it's light but really moisturizes and soothes the skin. The skin feels soft and not sticky. It also works really well as a cleansing lotion for the face. My skin is really smooth since I started using it!I mostly use it myself but if my daughters skin needs moisturising I feel it's safe to use this. Great product!
Posted by Reviewer1047696 on Apr 21, 2011
Good quality and good for summer as the texture is veru light
Items 1-3 of 3 total


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"The most dangerous type of work"
In this formally classified memo to President Harry S. Truman, William J. Donovan, head of the Office of Strategic Services, informs the President that the Distinguished Service Cross has been awarded to Virginia Hall. Donovan explains that Hall was the first civilian woman in World War II to receive this award and suggests the President may want to present the award personally.
National Archives, Records of the Office of Strategic Services


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You limited your search to:
Partner: UNT Music Library
Serial/Series Title: Stan Kenton in Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Collection: Stan Kenton Collection
[Photographs of Stan Kenton]
Date: unknown
Creator: Hawkins, Merle
Description: Photograph of Stan Kenton sitting behind a desk in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. On the right side of the photograph, sound equipment is visible on the other side of a large glass window.
Contributing Partner: UNT Music Library


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Sports news from the Pollock, SD area.
Posted 2/11/13 (Mon)
By Wendy Thorstenson
Spectators got their money's worth as the Lady Wolverines improved their record to 16-1 by defeating conference rival Sully Buttes, 52-50, in double overtime at Selby on Thursday, Feb. 7. Herreid-Selby Area overcame a seven point third quarter deficit to tie the game up at 42 points at the end of regulation play.
"The Sully Buttes game was a great win for the girls," said Coach Dean Schwartz. "Sully Buttes is flying under the radar as far as ratings. They were 13-2 coming into our game with their losses coming from number two Warner and Class A Deuel in overtime at the Hanson Classic. They have a lot of younger girls who have stepped up and filled the spots from last year's senior class."
In the first overtime, both teams added a pair of field goals, to end all tied up again at 46 points. In the second overtime, H-SA controlled the tip and Taylor Madden scored on their first possession. The Chargers missed a shot and Kendra Thorstenson was fouled and sunk both free throws to put H-SA ahead 50-46 with three minutes remaining. The Chargers were called for an offensive foul on their next possession and H-SA stalled to burn a little more than a minute off the clock. With a minute and a half remaining, Shauni Schwartz drove in for a layup. Sully Buttes' Chloe Lamb converted two free throws with less than a minute left. The Chargers got off another shot, but Schwartz grabbed the defensive rebound to seal the win.
H-SA took control in the first quarter, racing to a 14-4 advantage with four players adding to the score. The Wolverines got caught with some fouls at the end of the quarter and the Chargers converted five of six from the charity stripe and added a field goal to pull within three, 14-11. A trey by McKenzie Frank with 20 seconds left in the quarter put H-SA on top 17-11.
The Chargers had a big second quarter adding 15 points, including three back-to-back baskets by Karlea Stahl, while H-SA could only add eight points, putting Sully Buttes on top 25-26 at half time.
Sully Buttes opened up the third with the first two baskets before Kendra Thorstenson hit two in a row to pull H-SA back within one, 29-30. Haylee Biel sunk a free throw to tie the game up at 30 points before Sully Buttes went on an eight-point run for its biggest lead of the game at 30-38. Taylor Madden and Schwartz teamed up for three free throws and Sully Buttes' Remi Wientjes hit a buzzer beater to leave the score 33-40 at the quarter stop.
With a seven-point advantage, Sully Buttes went into stall mode for most of the fourth quarter but the Wolverine defense forced some turnovers and H-SA took advantage of those opportunities to slowly chip away at the Charger lead. Biel made a basket early in the quarter. The aggressive Sully Buttes' defense put the Lady Wolverines at the free throw line five times in the next two minutes, but H-SA connected only once. With a little more than two minutes left in the quarter, Madden hit a field goal to make the score 38-40 before Sully buttes sunk a pair of free throws, the only Charger points of the period, to go ahead by four. The Chargers were two for nine at the charity stripe in the final quarter.
At a minute and 25 seconds, Madden drove the lane for a basket and drew foul number four on Stahl before sinking the free throw to pull the Wolverines within one, 41-42. Stahl fouled of the game with 45 seconds left in the fourth quarter as Abbey Fjeldheim made the free throw that tied the game at 42 to force the overtime.
H-SA got possession on the tip-off in the first overtime and Fjeldheim turned it into a basket. Sully Buttes answered with two free throws and a basket to go ahead 46-44 before K. Thorstenson drove the lane for two and the game was all tied up at 46 points when the buzzer sounded. H-SA outlasted the Chargers in the final overtime for the hard fought, two-point win.
"It was a defensive battle at both ends of the floor," added Coach Schwartz. "We need to do a better job of rebounding especially on the defensive end. They got a lot of second chances. They play a sagging man defense and make you beat them from the perimeter. We did not shoot well beyond the arc by only making three out of 17 attempts. Both teams missed some free throws down the stretch that were crucial in the outcome. It was good for the girls to play in that type of game. You could tell at the end of the game, we had more experience and senior leadership."
Leading the balanced scoring attack were Madden with 13 points and Schwartz and K. Thorstenson, both with 12. Stahl had a game-leading 20 points for the Chargers.
H-SA grabbed 22 rebounds led by Schwartz with eight, Biel with six and Madden with five. The Lady Wolverines had 10 steals including five by Schwartz and three by K. Thorstenson. Madden led the team's six assist with three and K. Thorstenson added two. Schwartz made all four of the Wolverines' blocks.
H-SA committed 25 fouls and Biel and Fjeldheim fouled out. The Chargers had 18 fouls.
Biel 1 1/4 4
Fjeldheim 2 3/5 7
Frank 0/1 3
Madden 4/1 2/3 13
Schwartz 2/1 5/6 12
J. Thorstenson 1 2
K. Thorstenson 5 2/4 12
Wolverines 15/3 13/22 52
Chargers 18 14/28 50
The JV squad cut a nine-point third quarter deficit down to four points in the final period, but suffered a 24-28 loss. The Chargers took off with a 6-12 advantage after the first quarter and led 11-18 at halftime. Sully Buttes added six points in the third compared to four by H-SA to go ahead 24-15.
Jana Thorstenson paced the Wolverines with six points and five rebounds. McKenzie Reierson and Micaela Seibel both added four points. Courtney Anderson and Grace Goehring chipped in three points apiece and Lacey Houck had two. Seibel and Kara Thorstenson both had three rebounds while Anderson, Goehring and Quaschnick all had two of the team's 22. Reierson and Goehring led the team in steals with five apiece while J. Thorstenson had two. Tegan Meidinger led H-SA in assists with two.


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- News tagged "windows phone 8x"
Thursday, 20 Dec 2012
HTC Said to Scrap Plans for a Big Screen Windows Phone 8 Device
HTC is said to have scrapped plans for a big screen Windows Phone 8 device due to the limitation of the mobile platform.
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Snow-MobilesDon't avoid the trails come winter--snowshoes are more streamlined and functional than ever before
From left to right: Atlas Race 22, Dion Model 121, Easton Mountain Products V02 Racing, Redfeather Vapor 21 and Kahtoola Mtn 24
Redfeather Vapor
2.13 pounds per pair, $250, www.redfeather.com
Review by Blair Speed
On a snowpacked trail in Bozeman, Montana's Hyalite Canyon, the Redfeather Vaper 21s encouraged a smooth, efficient gait. The binding, which is constructed of four stretchy, sturdy and super-lightweight urethane straps, stabilized my foot, and I never felt like I was going to slip off the snowshoe deck. Without having to worry about the mechanics of my gear, I was able to simply enjoy the run.
The Vapor boasts a slimmed-down body shape—21 inches long and 7.5 inches wide. The aluminum frame drastically narrows directly behind the heel, creating a raised V-tail at the back of the snowshoe. This "tail" eliminates drag through light powder and allows for smooth running. The downside? Minimal surface area impedes floatation in thick powder. Reserve them for packed-down trails or light-powder days.
At the same time, toothy titanium crampons under the ball of the foot, as well as under the heel pad, offer incredible traction. Even on icy terrain these lightweight, durable crampons give you the confidence to run without feeling like you need to tip toe or slow down.
Easton Mountain Sports V02 Racing
2.40 pounds per pair, $300, www.eastonmountainproducts.com
Review by Ashley Arnold
Since snowshoes are heavier and more cumbersome than running shoes alone, devoted snowshoe racers have long been known to take drastic measures to save weight. Such measures include ripping out bindings and mounting an old pair of trainers directly to the snowshoe deck.
In spirit of that simplicity, Easton Mountain Sports developed this streamlined racing snowshoe, which allows wearers to mount a shoe directly to the deck. And, while the process sounds simple, it can be a little tedious. First you must insert screw through the soles. In our test, after about 30 minutes of finagling, we were able to securely mount a pair of trail runners.
But the small hassle was worth it—I had my snowshoes on and laced up before my snowshoeing-friend (who was wearing a conventional-style snowshoe) even had one foot strapped in. Plus, the carbon-fiber frame was lightweight and the crampons gripped well on steep uphills and downhills. I always felt secure.
The thin, streamlined design allowed me to run more naturally (versus having to keep my feet far apart like with most snowshoes), but the tapered tail seemed not to "float" through powder as much as I'd hoped. On groomed terrain, though, the snowshoes excelled, allowing me to sink into more of a running rhythm than most other racing models I've tried. The VO2 would be my pick for race day.
Dion Model 121
2.31 pounds per pair, $125 frame, $65 binding, $65 cleat, www.dionsnowshoes.com
Review by Blair Speed
What sets Dion Snowshoes apart from other running snowshoes is their customization options. You can select the frame, bindings and crampon systems separately, based upon personal preference and conditions.
For my own adventure I used the 121 Frame, Quick-Fit Binding and the Deep Cleat. I strapped the Dions over an old pair of running shoes and attached them via the three Velcro straps, which well secured my feet throughout the run.
The Dions are also lightweight, and offer the smallest and narrowest frames allowed in competition by the USSSA (United States Snowshoe Association), measuring in at 7 inches wide by 21 inches long. The Dions' sleek form enabled me to run unhampered—I didn't have to take wide awkward steps.
One thing I did notice about the Dions was the "kick back" on the heel—wear gaiters and water-resistant clothing to eliminate getting soaked when you fling up powder with each step.
To prevent snow build-up and increase traction, the cleats are Teflon coated. And it worked. Snow never accumulated on the bottom and I felt secure in my footing at all times.
Since the Dions are rather streamlined "racers" and they don't float well, stick to packed trails or light powder rather than taking off into thick, backcountry snow.
As an added bonus, all Dions are designed and manufactured on our home shores in the Green Mountains of Vermont.


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Microwave Corn on the Cob
Learn how quick and easy it is to steam corn on the cob in the microwave. You'll get a delicious corn on the cob, with a husk that falls right off, after just a few minutes in the microwave. Find tips like these and more on Food Network.
- Category:
- Corn


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After a shaky start, Western Governors University — an accredited, low-cost, nonprofit online university — is helping working adults earn degrees quickly and cheaply. WGU degrees are based on mastery, not on "seat time," enabling the average bachelor's graduate to finish a degree in 30 months for about $15,000.
Also on Community College Spotlight: Women make up nearly half the community college faculty in science, math and technology fields.


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Why Book With Us
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ShimaMie Hotels > Fukujuso > Location
A small island only 5 kilometers from the hustle and bustle of the city/ Fukujyuso boasts its own hot spring source water gushing up from the sea floor. We are known for the waters sodium/ calcium and chloride that gently treat your skin. There are ten baths for men and women to enjoy at the Kazamachi no Yu bathing area/ which has a foot bath/ as well as baths where you can take a nap or a walk/ and of course an open-air bath. In addition/ you can also enjoy the open-air bath on the sixth floor/ or the rentable open-air baths Umi and Hana/ making for three types of bathing experiences.
517Watakano Isobe Cho
ShimaMie, 5170205 JP
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Non-Antique Stipple Finish Brass Candle, Believe, Hope, Faith Angelica Bangle, 7.25 Inches Adjustable
Many in stock
With over 500 bracelets from which to choose and made in the USA using recycled metals, Angelica offers easily adjustable bracelets with charms that let a woman show how she feels, what she believes in and who she is. In addition, $.25 of each bracelet is donated to Generation Rescue, a national organization committed to improving the quality of life for those affected with autism. Each adjustable bangle is made with Brass metal that has a coating of white, yellow or rose metal tone and comes in a gift pouch. Perfect to stack with other bangles and create your personal story.
Returns Policy
Jewelry Affairs offers a 30-day return policy on jewelry. If you are not happy with your jewelry purchase within 30 days of receipt, you may return UNUSED merchandise that has not been engraved or customized for a refund, credit or exchange. Jewelry returned must be in original condition and credit is subject to merchandise being reviewed by our Quality Assurance Specialists. Merchandise that is damaged or altered in any way by a jeweler other than Jewelry Affairs cannot be returned. Some estate jewelry and designer jewelry may be fragile and cannot be returned if damaged. A merchandise credit will be issued if merchandise received as a gift is returned by the recipient. Items that have been personalized cannot be returned. Custom made jewelry are not refundable. With the above-mentioned provisions, a refund will be issued as soon as the item is received.