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So Much For Democracy—U.S. Ranked 32nd in World for Press Freedom
When New York City police began their surprise raid on the Occupy Wall Street camp in November 2011, authorities tried to impose a media blackout. Sanitation crews began dismantling tents and peeling mattresses and abandoned guitars off the street and tossing them into Dumpsters. Reporters trying to cover the story were badgered and harassed. Some journalists resisted police orders to leave the area and were arrested.
Police displayed the same intolerance to press presence in subsequent Occupy crackdowns in cities around the country. This seemingly systemic battering and removal of journalists caused America to slide down 27 places in the World Press Freedom Index, a ranking that's based on things like transparency, plurality, media censorship and a safe working environment for reporters. In 2011, Niger and El Salvador were considered easier places for journalists to work than the United States.
"Even in strong democracies, when there are huge demonstration movements, sometimes the authorities forget the normal rights of journalists to access information," Delphine Halgand, Washington, D.C., director of Reporters Without Borders (RWB), the press freedom advocacy group that complies the Index, tells TakePart.
In 2012, the United States rebounded—although not nearly to the heights of Finland (ranked best in world), Netherlands (trying harder at number two) or Norway (a solid third globally)—and now sits in 32nd place, ahead of Lithuania but behind Surinam. The world's leading democracy still has a long way to go, says Halgand. "[President] Obama made a lot of promises, but we didn't see a lot translated into reality."
She points to the USA's lack of a federal shield law to protect journalists from being compelled to reveal confidential sources in court proceedings. Such a law might have spared New York Times reporter James Risen entanglement in the Obama Administration's prosecution of former CIA agent Jeffrey Sterling, whom the administration alleges was a source for Risen's reporting on national security.
In 2011, Niger and El Salvador were considered easier places for journalists to work than the United States.
Moreover, Halgand points to the upcoming trial of Bradley Manning, the Army private accused of leaking national security secrets to WikiLeaks. "It's really difficult to follow. There's no written transcript," she says. "It can still be very difficult to have access to information."
While America has climbed in the rankings, its neighbors to the north and south didn't fare so well last year.
Canada barely avoided dropping out of the top 20 after falling 10 positions. The downgrade was due to Canadian authorities' obstruction of journalists during the so-called "Maple Spring" student movement in Quebec and to continuing threats to the confidentiality of journalists' sources and Internet users' personal data from the C-30 bill on cyber-crime, according to the RWB report.
To the south, Mexico—where six journalists were killed last year—has maintained its status as the hemisphere's most dangerous country for the media. It ranks 153 in the world for press freedom, three places behind Iraq.
But it could be worse. China's military reportedly hacked into the computers of several New York Times journalists who were reporting on the country's corrupt political leadership. China is ranked 173rd and "shows no sign of improving," according to the report. "Its prisons still hold many journalists and netizens, while increasingly unpopular Internet censorship continues to be a major obstacle to access to information."
Meanwhile, Eritrea and North Korea are the bottom one and two on the Index, giving them the distinction of being the countries that respect media freedom least in the world.
What issues do you feel are underreported in the U.S. press? Call for action in COMMENTS.


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Jay Bergman: High purses with little regulation brings problems
Rules are made to be broken.
Anyone who has paid a speck of attention to the economic collapse of the nation has borne witness to how businesses run roughshod on regulation. How many institutions thought to be the backbone of decent ethical society have strayed in the name of profits?
So too is the sport/business of harness racing susceptible to a pseudo-criminal element capable of hiding in the recesses of the industry while others do their bidding.
The proliferation of wunderkind trainers capable of rising from humble roots and suddenly winning at percentages not seen in modern times, offers a glimpse of what passes as the dark side of the business today.
While we won't go so far as to say money is the root of all evil, the means some people will go to make money is no different in racing than it is on Wall Street.
On Wall Street the public outcry has been for stricter regulation. Businesses squawk at anything that may compromise their ability to make money. On the racing side the "Fear Factor" is even less now than it has ever been in the history of the sport.
The combination of slot-infused purses and deep cuts in state spending have essentially paved the way for the possibility and expectation of rampant drug abuse.
Lawyers may line up in racing organizations and suggest that "testing" hasn't uncovered widespread cheating. Yet the same defenders of the status quo would have an impossible time explaining why these allegedly "clean" horses never get claimed.
Reality is what goes on in everyday life, and there is no clearer window than harness racing's claiming business. It's simple. Buy a horse from a race, enter it the following week and, begin making money. A one-week transaction can make the buyer more money in a week than some people make in a year.
All owners and trainers who play this game recognize the inherent risk involved in taking other people's property. Claims are at a record high because there is money to be made. Yet despite the presence of aggressive trainers and owners, when it comes to claiming horses from certain trainers, there appears to be an implied "hands-off" policy in vogue.
Defenders of the status quo can suggest from a legal perspective that all are innocent until proven guilty. Our system allows an accused to be tried by a jury of his peers. In harness racing, the peers speak volumes each time they fail to claim a 1-5 favorite in a particular class from one or two specific stables.
Turning a blind eye
What has become of this sport is essentially deregulation. While those who speak of politics suggest there is too much government, the same can't be said about its involvement in this industry. Since the marriage of racetracks and slot machines, states have become less concerned with what goes on the racetrack than they are with the dollars coming from the machines adjacent to it.
This is a capitalistic society, and clearly states know what generates the revenue and what doesn't. With that in mind, they have drifted further and further away from involving themselves in the policing of the sport. The fact that owners have to ante up to help support the limited drug-testing program in New York is a vivid example of a dwindling desire to catch anyone.
The unfortunate reality to those who long for a pure as driven snow sport is that there has probably never been a better time to drug horses and profit from it than there is today.
The climate for investigating "horse abuse" is perhaps the only thing the government has been able to look into. That cause appears spearheaded by animal lovers as opposed to those in true search of fraudulent capitalistic behavior.
The federal government has an inordinate supply of resources and generally when it finds something it wants to put an end to, it can in short order. The Feds have no appetite for uncovering racing scandal, because it's something that won't make the headlines it did in the 1960s. The plain truth is the best prosecutors are interested in making themselves a name. They pursue cases that provide the best bang for the buck. Sadly, racing has lost its importance on a national stage, and with its demise the interest of law enforcement has gone with it.
In the past, it seemed obvious that horsemen's organizations would be interested in cleaning up the game. After all, if a majority of horsemen were of the highest ethical level, wouldn't it make sense for them to root out those who weren't? The problem the good horsemen obviously find themselves in today is that any uttering of problems within the lines of the game will only help justify the government's growing belief that racing is not worth funding or saving.
So what we have is the perfect storm for those interested in cheating and profiting from it. It's a short-term window of opportunity that those with the means and larceny in their blood can take advantage of.
What's damaging to the psyche is that I can't find much fault with those who see an opportunity, know that it's not going to last forever, and make as much money as they can. It is in fact the American Way.
What is the value of a trainer's license in horse racing?
There are so many beards and behind-the-scenes puppeteers that easily conduct business without any fear of being caught. No piece of paper matters when it's so easy to plug in and play with a new trainer.
What's the worst that could happen from this kind of activity?
Even if the trainer gets caught, those running the show from the background won't be impacted financially in the least. The smartest people are the ones who keep their names hidden by layers of front men.
So when a "bad" trade is made by J.P. Morgan Chase at the cost of $2 billion and rising, one person takes the fall and business goes on with a few beg your pardons.
In racing the pursuit of profit is similar, only the transactions are significantly smaller.
Good article. It's time to utilize the tools and resources of outside agencies and the federal government to clean up racing. The infrequency of reported doping incidents provides little assurance the sport is clean when industry groups and regulators have a huge vested interest to suppress racing scandals. The Interstate Horse Racing Improvement Act would mandate uniform rules and penalties to be honored in all racing jurisdictions. It would NOT create a new federal bureaucracy, but it would bring about a level of interstate cooperation and federal support that we have failed to achieve through voluntary means. Want to get rid of the serious bad guys in racing? We need better enforcement techniques including undercover stings, monetary rewards, independent ISO-certified testing laboratories, and a three-strikes and your out rule. Race fixing needs to be prosecuted as a racketeering crime, and the racing of injured horses punished as animal cruelty. The sport will not attract new patrons, will not survive even, unless we rid racetracks of crooks and animal abusers.
Anyone who thinks there is something sleazy about (harness) racing should only wait until the Federal government gets involved.
Excellent piece and well said. Fling a few 10 year sentences for tampering with a sports event and you may see some early retirements in the racing game. But as you've said, many are well shielded by using fronts.
Good Article Jay, Jeff Gural will continue to open trunks at the Meadowlands. Club Med is taking in the lead in trying to improve the sport we love ! Johnny Espo
Jay - thanks for writing this column. It's a good thing you were addressing the harness industry, because if the was the thoroughbreds you were addressing, this effort would have never seen the light of day in the DRF. Nonetheless, the same situation exists in both industries. But nobody wants to expose it or do anything about it. Until this column. Please keep investigating, exposing, and start hammering the individuals that are involved. It's the obligation of the press to expose such conditions of fraud, but somehow the powers of DRF never seemed to understand that responsibility. Consequently their customers get hosed by the refusal on their part to expose the cheats of the industry they allegedly cover.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Hi all the passenger side mirror on my 2009 Sierra Crewcab is not working properly. The left/right mirror positioning does not work, the reverse tilt is slow & hesitates. The only thing that does work is the up/down mirror positioning. I thought the mirror would be replaced under my extended Total Warranty but it isn't. The dealership said anything "glass" is not cover under warranty. So I am trying to figure out if I can replace the power mirror motor? I found a link to to a GM bulletin to replace motor instead of complete mirror but is for 2005 extented mirror. http://www.duramaxforum.com/forum/exterior/76009-glass-replacement-power-mirror.html Can the power mirror motor be replaced? can the power mirror motor be repaired under the extended Total Warranty? Does anyone have a diagram of the power mirror assembly? thanks... dave


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(published December 18, 2011)
Pictures from the Annual Nativity Pageant. Photos: Natia Mosashvili
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Late summer, early Autumn, 2016.
Multicultural Day/Pentecost Sunday, May 31, 2015.
Palm Sunday to Bright Monday -- some highlights.
11/09/14: Unveiing a Portrait of Cathedral Archdeacon Michael Suvak
6/15/14 Seasons of Faith: A Playlet in Four Acts
01/12/14: Visit of Sister Vassa (Larin) Updated: 01/20
01/05/14: Great Feast of Theophany
12/25/13: Feast of the Incarnation of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus ChristIndex of All Items
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Please contribute toward this Project
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Maslanitsa Luncheon, Concert and Forgiveness Vespers
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Movies & TV / Columns
Nether Regions 06.15.10: The Adventure of Horus: Prince of the Sun
Nether Regions started as a segment of the Big Screen Bulletin that meant to showcase films that have been discontinued on DVD, are out of print in the United States, are only available in certain regions outside the United States, or are generally hard to find. Now it is a column all its own! You might ask "Why should I care about a film I have no access to?" My goal is to keep these films relevant because some of them genuinely deserve to be recognized. Every time I review a new film I will have a list of those I covered below so you can see if they have been announced for DVD release, or are still out of print.
Featuring the Voices of: Hisako Okata, Etsuko Ichihara, and Mikijiro Hira
Directed By: Isao Takahata
Written By: Kazuo Fukazawa
Running Time: 83 minutes
Release Date: July 21, 1968
Missing Since: 1968
Existing Formats: Nothing in Region 1 – Only Region 2 DVD
Netflix Status: Not Available
Availability: Extremely Rare – Hard to Buy and Watch
First of all, the title is a matter of concern for anyone wishing to look for this on any site or on DVD. The opening credits for "Taiyo no oji: Horosu no daiboken" will read The Adventure of Horus: Prince of the Sun, but the US title is Little Norse Prince, which is close to what appears in Hayao Miyazaki's book Starting Point: 1979 – 1996, something I get royalties for mentioning now, and on the UK DVD. In the book it is Little Norse Prince Valiant and on Wikipedia it shows Hols: Prince of the Sun. So, because I like the genuine title of The Adventure of Horus: Prince of the Sun better, I will continue to use that title (or abbreviations of it), but most sites should have this movie come up as long as you type in one of the titles.
and his sole purpose
is eliminating humans.
Walt Disney will always cast a large shadow on the animation industry. Their fairy tale adaptations, fun loving songs, easily digestible themes can be great, but after all these years they are still at the top of the mountain and very little has changed. The strides in American animation have been few and far between. Back in the 1960's, one group of young animators wanted to re-imagine animation and transform the genre into a form of profound and serious filmmaking. Horus is not just a film that predates the creation of Studio Ghibli. It is much more than that. It has been called the first modern anime.
Toei Doga Studio led Japan in the release of animated television shows and movies. The group that was chosen for the project was comprised of Yasuji Mori, Yasuo Otsuka, Yoichi Kotabe, and Hayao Miyazaki. They were led by Isao Takahata, standing at the helm of his first feature. These gentlemen were all quite critical of the material Walt Disney was pumping out, how they failed to nurture their animators, and so forth. The goal was to expand upon what had already been established, and prove to the world what this realm was capable of accomplishing. They wanted to make a grand statement, one that would shake the foundation of animation in general, and it was no easy task.
The relationship between the artists and the producers was not a positive one. The film ran over schedule and eventually took 3 years to complete. Takahata and company had many heated battles with the studio, and sadly, they would lose most of them. Toei preferred another simple-minded, accessible effort with international appeal. This was not a concern for the animators. The story is based on a folktale of the Anui, an aboriginal people that resided in Northern Japan, but the setting was changed to resemble a Scandinavian/Eastern European area during the Iron Age in hopes that wider audiences would be interested. The running time was also cut by 30 minutes, and 2 key scenes were never even animated due to their cost and complex nature.
Horus was written by Kazuo Fukazawa, but was initially a yarn he wrote for a puppet theater drama. We first meet Horus (Voice of Hisako Otaka) wielding his trusty axe on a rope at a pack of vicious wolves. He is temporarily saved by a rock giant named Maug (voice of Tadashi Yokouchi), who seems to suffer from a "thorn" in his shoulder. That thorn turns out to be the Sword of the Sun, and young Horus pulls it out with all his might. Unfortunately the legendary sword is in bad shape, and needs reforged, something Horus does not know how to do. Maug says that when he can reforge it, he will proclaim him "Prince of the Sun". Horus is then summoned home to the side of his dying father (voice of Hisashi Yokomori), who informs him of the history of their people. Horus is asked to save that village against an evil demon by combining their powers.
Once his father dies, Horus sets out for the village with his friend Koro, a bear cub (voice of Yukari Asai). The infamous demon is named Grunwald (voice of Mikijiro Hira), and he is the one who controls the wolves. He has Horus carried by a vulture like bird to the edge of an icy cliff. When Horus refuses to serve Grunwald, he is thrown from the cliff. He falls into the water and drifts downstream to a nearby fishing village. He quickly becomes a hero after he rescues them from an enormous pike monster which threatened both the lives of the people and the amount of food they possessed. It turns out the fish was just one of the many tools of Grunwald, and Horus realizes he must confront and destroy the demon. Before that can happen however, he must deal with the rusty sword, a bizarre girl named Hilda (voice of Etsuko Ichihara), multiple attacks, and winning the trust of the people once and for all.
The Adventure of Horus: Prince of the Sun, while certainly one of the most influential animated films, is not necessarily a masterpiece. Sometimes the line between highly influential and classic can be a blurry one. Horus is just an entertaining piece of family fare that should have been better. I think if Takahata and company had more power, it would have turned out differently. Miyazaki has stated they "were burning with ambition then", so who knows what could have emerged if there weren't so many restraints and requirements. The animators integrated social commentary, deep themes, and complex messages around what is an archetypal good versus evil story at its core. Make no mistake though; this is well worth adding to any library.
whose agenda is
a mystery.
Horus took so long to make that by the time it was finished, Hayao Miyazaki got married, had his first son, and celebrated that son's first birthday. In interviews, Miyazaki is not one that loves looking back at his youth, and that is what this film represents to him. He has stated that he was never acknowledged by anyone from Toei. He also said Horus contains everything that is embarrassing to him. It is also important to note that Miyazaki was given special titles in many of these early jobs. He was an in-between animator at the time, and here was described as "chief animator and concept artist" despite the fact that the title did not technically exist. It seems Horus was a job he fell into gradually. He drew some pictures, showed them Takahata and Yasuo Otsuka, and ended up staying on.
The animation is a bit dated compared to more recent anime, but the grace and flow is still adept and proficient. The artwork has an intensity and vigor that augments the package. And what distinction the characters lack on sight are made up for psychologically. The sequence where Horus battles the gigantic pike monster is glorious and exhilarating. The action is where this film soars. The fact that all those intelligent minds converged for such spectacular moments like that makes you recurrently appreciate the skilled talent. The village is attacked on more than one occasion, by wolves and rats, and each segment is crafted in a way to induce chills. Rapid images are shown instead one constantly running scene. The expressions on the faces of the townspeople convey the horror of the situation with conviction and urgency.
The moral dilemma at the heart of Horus is absorbing and well-layered. Hilda, the enigmatic girl that Horus encounters at another abandoned village, must choose between possibly being destroyed with the villagers who so willingly accepted her, or living eternally through Grunwald, who gives her an amulet of life. Takahata skips past the cliché of limiting Hilda to just a love interest for Horus. That is only fleetingly mentioned, which made the story increasingly engaging. Etsuko Ichihara voices Hilda with the utmost emotion and ambiguity. Hilda is accompanied by a squirrel and an owl, which undoubtedly were incorporated by the insistence of the studio because talking animals obviously helped Disney's profits. Instead of being colorful comic characters, they are extensions of Hilda. The owl urges her to obey Grunwald, while the squirrel pushes for her to be kind and gentle. Hilda's internal torment is riveting, and allows for superb breaks from Horus' heroics.
Hilda is also the source of the songs, another aspect that the studio wanted. Ichihara's voice is actually very moving, and the manner in which she sits or swings slowly while singing is both beautiful and haunting. The problem is, more songs pop up regularly throughout the running time, and as the plot picks up speed towards the end, they are not needed. They keep coming, and it grows a tad excessive. The talking critters and the songs were both built-in as best as they could have been, but one can plainly discern that they are afterthoughts for the animators. Koro the bear is not vital to the script, and is frequently shoved to the side. The same goes for the owl and the squirrel. In one scene while Hilda is toying with a tough decision, the owl and squirrel begin fighting, and continue to do so off screen. The evil wolves (which are mostly silent) are more significant in that Horus is the only person that has seen them. He is searching for something that initially only poses a threat to him.
Grunwald's icy mammoth
Takahata and his team were more concerned with addressing the issues of the period. The Vietnam War and socialism weighed immensely on everyone at the time, and that is reflected marvelously in the overall conflict. They touch on many topics, all of which probably could have been stretched out further if time was added. For Takahata, the strength that he would continue to shape and improve upon, expressing the inner depths of the human mind, can be observed fervently in Hilda. Horus is just a boy on a mission, riddled with revenge and more guts than he should have. As for Grunwald, he is the finest sort of villain, one that is not irritating, and does not resort to the predictable mistakes and exploits viewers are used to. He is confident, knows his opponents inside and out, and does not take them for granted. He is persuasive and heinous enough that the fate of certain characters is in question.
Upon its release, The Adventure of Horus: Prince of the Sun was pulled by Toei after only 10 days in theaters. Due to Takahata working as the director of the film and the union committee chief, he was always perceived as a foe of Toei studio. He is a filmmaker that will give you a one of a kind film, but at his own leisurely pace, and in his own vision from start to finish. If any of that is blocked or given hurdles, the rapport will be a definite rocky one with producers. Following Horus, he was never permitted to direct for Toei again. He was promptly demoted, and to this day he is not on good terms with anyone from Toei. He also received the harshest backlash from other animators after leaving the studio. It goes without saying that Takahata and everyone that move on to Studio Ghibli would be vindicated.
The Adventure of Horus: Prince of the Sun would allow for the World Masterpiece Theater shows such as Heidi, Girl of the Alps and Anne of Green Gables. What drew me most to Horus is that it was sweet without being cutesy, and epic instead of just action-packed and disposable. It takes complex themes and valuable subject matter and laces them into a breathtaking adventure that can be loved by all ages. Though it was restrained from truly flourishing to its peak potential, Horus is still an invigorating, tender, and lasting tale that deserves a wider audience, not just because I am a person who loves Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki's contributions to animation, but because it will leave an impact that resonates with everyone.
Final Rating = 8.0/10.0
—Out of Print—
The Heartbreak Kid
The Taking of Pelham 123 (1998-TV)
The Stepfather 3
America, America
Salem's Lot
Latin Lovers
State Fair (1933)
Sleuth (1972)
Johnny Guitar
Children of the Corn 2: The Final Harvest
High Noon Part II: The Return of Will Kane
The Prehysteria! Trilogy
Only Yesterday
Ocean Waves
—Now Available—
The African Queen
A Return to Salem's Lot – Available Through Warner Archives
Phantasm II
Red Cliff Part 1 and Part 2 – All Versions Available
The Stepfather
The Stepfather 2
Random Thoughts
–I finally got around to trying the Nos energy drink, named after Nitrous Oxide Systems which is used to boost car performance in races and such. Not exactly the bext way to market an energy drink, but it's still around so whatever. It has a natural passion fruit flavor that I'm not particularly a fan of, and even though it has like 343 mg of caffeine, I was unimpressed. I failed to receive any "boost", but then again I drink a lot of caffeine. I probably won't be getting it again.
–I listened to the new self-titled Stone Temple Pilots album, and sadly it was like the last few they released. The band still delivers efforts with a handful of solid tracks, but they fail time and time again to relive the quality and/or success from their first two classic albums Purple and Core. I guess I am happy they are still alive and kicking because they put on a good show, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't slightly disappointed.
–I watched some other movies of course. The first was The Midnight Meat Train, which I thought was bad. No better way to say it. It started off ok, but through stupid character decisions, nonsensical scenes, and a ridiculous ending I stopped caring. I also saw Kalifornia starring Brad Pitt, Juliette Lewis, and David Duchovny. It is a Dominic Sena (Gone in 60 Seconds) directed film. I enjoyed everything except the conclusion, which was a letdown and made no sense. I would give the latter title a marginal thumbs up since my comments seemed to echo Gene Siskel's.
–This past weekend I attended Skeletor karoake. To hear more about that, tune in to this week's podcast where we will be discussing cowboys and astronauts in preparation for Toy Story 3 and Jonah Hex.
–The slate for Nether Regions from here on out is up in the air. I have plenty of titles to choose from, but time is a factor, so we shall see what I come up with. This will conclude my Ghibli staff run, even though I could continue it for weeks seeing as how so many of their efforts have not seen the light of day in the US.
The Top 10 Pet Peeves of 2009
The Best and Worst Films of 2009
My Blog featuring Mini-Reviews of New Releases!
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–From the movie Recount


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Offering complete privacy, a separate forward Vacuflush Head is enclosed to port and houses the sink with vanity offering additional storage below. A large separate enclosed shower unit to starboard is highlighted with natural sunlight and privacy curtain.
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The mid ship Guest State Room is located Aft c/w privacy door and features an Ultra Leatherette settee that converts to a double berth. Complete with Hanging Locker and TV/DVD combo unit, the guest cabin comfortably sleeps 2.
Guest Head:
Completely private, enclosed Vacuflush head. Combo Shower Unit and sink with additional storage below.
Deck Features:
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However, the motor industry expects to face a difficult few months because of the "extremely challenging" economic conditions, it added.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said sales rose by 35,847 in 2010 to 2,030,846, but it was a year of two halves following the end of the car scrappage scheme in March.
Sales surged by almost 20% in the first half of the year but fell back by 13.8% in the second six months, the new figures show.
Paul Everitt, chief executive of the SMMT, said 2010 was a "year of recovery" for the motor industry, adding: "Economic conditions remain extremely challenging, but industry expects demand to strengthen in the second half of the year.
"Competition in the retail sector will intensify as the industry seeks to re-balance demand across its new and used car and service and repair business.
"UK motor manufacturing recovered particularly well in 2010 and the outlook is for further steady growth this year."
Car sales fell by 18% in December compared with the same month in 2009 to 123,817, with the market just below expectations.
The best-selling car last month was the Vauxhall Astra although the Ford Fiesta was the top-selling model for the whole of 2010, with sales of more than 100,000.
More than 100,000 cars were sold through the scrappage scheme last year, around 5% of the total. The SMMT pointed out that, although car sales were up by 1.8% last year, the 2010 market was still the second lowest in the past decade and almost 375,000 down on the 2007 figure.Reuse content


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Article Preview
TWO BRITISH FIRMS FORM GREAT MERGER; Vickers and Armstrong-Whitworth Unite Their Steel, Shipbuilding and Armament Plants.
Copyright, 1927, by The New York Times Company.Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES. ();
November 04, 1927,
, Section WHOLESALE MARKET BUSINESS RECORDS, Page 28, Column , words
LONDON, Nov. 3. -- A merger of Vickers, Ltd., with Armstrong, Whitworth Co., Ltd., is announced here tonight, creating a single dominant industrial organization in the British manufacture of heavy special steel, naval shipbuilding and armaments, as significant to British industry as the creation of the United States Steel Corporation was to the United States.
November 04, 1927
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Simplicity Parts and Accessories
Get original replacement parts for all your Simplicity lawn mowers, garden tractors, lawn tractors, riding mowers, utility vehicles, walk-behind blowers & vacuums, walk-behind mowers, zero turn mowers, walk-behind tillers, walk-behind snowthrowers, chipper, shredders, and commercial mowers (Derby).
Under the Simplicity line you will also find parts for:
- AGCO garden tractors, large tractors, lawn tractors, and riding mowers.
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Use the quick reference guide below with quick links to specific parts categories.
Simplicity Parts and Accessories Diagrams Reference Guide
Simplicity Attachments & Accessories Diagrams Reference Guide
- Lift Lever Kits
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- Mower Decks
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We stock Simplicity parts and acessories for same day shipping. For older machines or parts that do not fail as often please call 1-800-704-4241 to check availability before you order. If your Simplicity Parts are special order or not in stock we can have them in 2-3 days. Please allow additional delivery time of any out-of-stock or special order Simplicity parts. Use our Simplicity parts lookup to find OEM replacement parts for your Simplicity mower fast. You will need the model number of your Simplicity mower. Browse through detailed part diagrams to find the parts and accessories you need. Know your Simplicity part number? Use the quick search at the top of this page to find it fast.
Shop 24 hours a day 7 days a week and order with confidence with our secure checkout. Now all qualifying orders ship with Flat Rate Shipping.


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Although outdoor tanning allows humans to absorb the sun's natural energy, the sapped star will eventually turn pale and suffer the fate of Earth's original sun, the moon. Save the sun with this Groupon.
Choose from Four Options
- $20 for one month of unlimited UV tanning in lie-down beds (a $45 value)
- $20 for one month of unlimited red-light therapy (a $45 value)
- $15 for one airbrush spray-tanning session (a $30 value)
- $45 for three airbrush spray-tanning sessions (a $90 value)
Guests can tan in one of two ways: by stepping into one of the spa's UV beds, which come equipped with facial tanners, or by standing as a technician sprays them with the botanical-infused solutions of a custom airbrush tan. During red-light-therapy sessions, the light from UV-free LED bulbs penetrates the skin in order to boost the body's circulation, which in turn can reduce the appearance of fine lines and acne. The treatment is also used to relieve pain.
Though this merchant sometimes offers a discounted price online, this Groupon is still the best deal available.
Soleil Tanning and Boutique
Light doesn't just tan skin at Soleil Tanning and Boutique—it also heals. That's because in addition to a lineup of lie-down and stand-up UV-tanning beds, the salon is also home to a red-light-therapy booth. This booth sends waves of infrared light into the skin in an effort to boost circulation, which has the effect of not only diminishing fine lines and calming acne outbreaks, but also relieving joint inflammation and other forms of chronic and acute pain. The salon provides eye protection to clients who need it, and, because tanning lotions, like people taking too long in the gas-station snack shop, are easy to leave behind, it allows patrons to store their supplies there.
Customer Reviews
5950 East Speedway Boulevard
Tucson, AZ 85711
+15207905269Get Directions


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- About RIC
- Academics
- Admissions
- Alumni & Donors
- Athletics & Recreation
Campus Life
- Library
- Performing & Fine Arts
MUS 564-566: Chamber Ensembles
These courses are open to all qualified students by audition. Since balanced groups are necessary, selection of participants is made by the instructor.
564 Chamber Music Ensemble (instrumental and vocal chamber music, including duos, trios, and quartets)
565 Concert Jazz Band (Formerly Jazz Ensemble)
566 Chamber Singers
1 credit hours
Page last updated: Monday, October 2, 2006


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Whether you are looking for residential, commercial, construction or recycling services, we are large enough to offer everything, but small enough to still care. Offering all your waste removal and recycling needs in the Colorado Springs Area. Enough Peace of Mind at the Curb. Contact us today!
Hours: 8am - 5pm Monday - Friday
7770 Palmer Park Blvd - Colorado Springs, CO 80951
Phone: 719.591.5000
Fax: 719.591.2241


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It's late September here in Florida and the category storms heading our way from Africa are lined up in the Atlantic like seniors at the Early Bird Special, eyeing our tantalizing shores. Florida, you may have heard, is desperately trying to stabilize its housing market, which has been swamped, so to speak, with foreclosures. The BP oil spill didn't help. We don't relish another lapse in the National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP.
But relief is in sight, at least where that gaping hole in our homeowners insurance is concerned: President Barack Obama is expected to sign a bill this week that extends NFIP through Sept. 30, 2011.
When that happens, Realtors, mortgage lenders, home sellers and homebuyers in flood zones can breathe a sigh of relief.
Unlike auto insurance, which covers damage to submerged vehicles, a standard homeowners insurance policy does not cover flood damage, nor does renters insurance or commercial property insurance.
Congress originally created NFIP in 1968 -- the same year Otis Redding topped the charts with "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," though not necessarily because of it -- to patch the hole in the homeowners insurance boat. Congress used to routinely extend authorization of the program for years at a time.
Then came Hurricane Katrina, which exposed serious flaws in the program. Since then, Congress has extended NFIP for mere months at a time, occasionally allowing it to lapse, in the hopes of building a more sustainable version 2.0.
When NFIP takes a time out, homeowners cannot renew their flood policies and homebuyers cannot purchase same. This, in turn, delays the closing of home sales in flood zones. During such lapses, home insurance associations and Realtor groups accuse Congress of sittin' on the dock of the bay, wastin' time.
Without that left-handed presidential scrawl, NFIP is set to expire yet again this Thursday, Sept. 30. That could prove calamitous given the Early Bird storm lineup.
Don't get me wrong, it will be great to have NFIP authorized for another whole year.
But why does it have to expire yet again right at the height of hurricane season next year?
Follow me on Twitter!
Get the real financial news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.


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Steep BP Drop Using 'Quadpill' in Untreated HTN: Pilot Study »
"SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA â" A small randomized trial reports sharp blood-pressure reductions in untreated hypertensives using a single pill combining four BP-lowering drugs at one-quarter the usual dose.
Among 18 patients, mean 24-hour systol"...
Read the Steep BP Drop Using 'Quadpill' in Untreated HTN: Pilot Study article »
ACCURETIC has been evaluated for safety in 1571 patients in controlled and uncontrolled studies. Of these, 498 were given quinapril plus hydrochlorothiazide for at least 1 year, with 153 patients extending combination therapy for over 2 years. In clinical trials with ACCURETIC, no adverse experience specific to the combination has been observed. Adverse experiences that have occurred have been limited to those that have been previously reported with quinapril or hydrochlorothiazide.
Adverse experiences were usually mild and transient, and there was no relationship between side effects and age, sex, race, or duration of therapy. Discontinuation of therapy because of adverse effects was required in 2.1% in patients in controlled studies. The most common reasons for discontinuation of therapy with ACCURETIC were cough (1.0%; see PRECAUTIONS) and headache (0.7%).
Adverse experiences probably or possibly related to therapy or of unknown relationship to therapy occurring in 1% or more of the 943 patients treated with quinapril plus hydrochlorothiazide in controlled trials are shown below.
|Percent of Patients in Controlled Trials
|Viral Infection
|Nausea and/or Vomiting
|Abdominal Pain
|Back Pain
|Upper Respiratory Infection
|Chest Pain
Clinical adverse experiences probably, possibly, or definitely related or of uncertain relationship to therapy occurring in ≥ 0.5% to < 1.0% (except as noted) of the patients treated with quinapril/HCTZ in controlled and uncontrolled trials (N=1571) and less frequent, clinically significant events seen in clinical trials or postmarketing experience (the rarer events are in italics) include (listed by body system):
BODY AS A WHOLE: Asthenia, Malaise
CARDIOVASCULAR: Palpitation, Tachycardia, Heart Failure, Hyperkalemia, Myocardial Infarction, Cerebrovascular Accident, Hypertensive Crisis, Angina Pectoris, Orthostatic Hypotension, Cardiac Rhythm Disturbance
GASTROINTESTINAL: Mouth or Throat Dry, Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage, Pancreatitis, Abnormal Liver Function Tests
NERVOUS/PSYCHIATRIC: Nervousness, Vertigo, Paresthesia
RESPIRATORY: Sinusitis, Dyspnea
INTEGUMENTARY: Pruritus, Sweating Increased, Erythema Multiforme, Exfoliative Dermatitis, Photosensitivity Reaction, Alopecia, Pemphigus
UROGENITAL SYSTEM: Acute Renal Failure, Impotence
OTHER: Agranulocytosis, Thrombocytopenia, Arthralgia
Angioedema: Angioedema has been reported in 0.1% of patients receiving quinapril (0.1%) (see WARNINGS).
Postmarketing Experience
The following serious nonfatal adverse events, regardless of their relationship to quinapril and HCTZ combination tablets, have been reported during extensive postmarketing experience:
BODY AS A WHOLE: Shock, accidental injury, neoplasm, cellulitis, ascites, generalized edema, hernia and anaphylactoid reaction.
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: Bradycardia, cor pulmonale, vasculitis, and deep thrombosis.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM: Gastrointestinal carcinoma, cholestatic jaundice, hepatitis, esophagitis, vomiting, and diarrhea.
EYE DISORDERS: Acute myopia and acute angle closure glaucoma (see WARNINGS).
HEMIC SYSTEM: Anemia.
METABOLIC AND NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS: Weight loss.
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM: Myopathy, myositis, and arthritis.
NERVOUS SYSTEM: Paralysis, hemiplegia, speech disorder, abnormal gait, meningism, and amnesia.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: Pneumonia, asthma, respiratory infiltration, and lung disorder.
SKIN AND APPENDAGES: Urticaria, macropapular rash, and petechiases.
SPECIAL SENSES: Abnormal vision.
UROGENITAL SYSTEM: Kidney function abnormal, albuminuria, pyuria, hematuria, and nephrosis.
Quinapril monotherapy has been evaluated for safety in 4960 patients. In clinical trials adverse events which occurred with quinapril were also seen with ACCURETIC. In addition, the following were reported for quinapril at an incidence > 0.5%: depression, back pain, constipation, syncope, and amblyopia.
Hydrochlorothiazide has been extensively prescribed for many years, but there has not been enough systematic collection of data to support an estimate of the frequency of the observed adverse reactions. Within organ-system groups, the reported reactions are listed here in decreasing order of severity, without regard to frequency.
BODY AS A WHOLE: Weakness.
CARDIOVASCULAR: Orthostatic hypotension (may be potentiated by alcohol, barbiturates, or narcotics).
DIGESTIVE: Pancreatitis, jaundice (intrahepatic cholestatic), sialadenitis, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, nausea, gastric irritation, constipation, and anorexia.
NEUROLOGIC: Vertigo, lightheadedness, transient blurred vision, headache, paresthesia, xanthopsia, weakness, and restlessness.
MUSCULOSKELETAL: Muscle spasm.
HEMATOLOGIC: Aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and hemolytic anemia.
RENAL: Renal failure, renal dysfunction, interstitial nephritis (see WARNINGS).
METABOLIC: Hyperglycemia, glycosuria, and hyperuricemia.
HYPERSENSITIVITY: Necrotizing angiitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, respiratory distress (including pneumonitis and pulmonary edema), purpura, urticaria, rash, and photosensitivity.
Clinical Laboratory Test Findings
Serum Electrolytes:
See PRECAUTIONS.
Creatinine, Blood Urea Nitrogen
Increases ( > 1.25 times the upper limit of normal) in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were observed in 3% and 4%, respectively, of patients treated with ACCURETIC. Most increases were minor and reversible, which can occur in patients with essential hypertension but most frequently in patients with renal artery stenosis (see PRECAUTIONS).
PBI and Tests of Parathyroid Function
See PRECAUTIONS.
See WARNINGS.
Other (Causal Relationships Unknown)
Other clinically important changes in standard laboratory tests were rarely associated with ACCURETIC administration. Elevations in uric acid, glucose, magnesium, cholesterol, triglyceride, and calcium (see PRECAUTIONS) have been reported.
Read the Accuretic (quinapril hcl/hydrochlorothiazide) Side Effects Center for a complete guide to possible side effects
Agents Increasing Serum Potassium
Coadministration of ACCURETIC with other drugs that raise serum potassium levels may result in hyperkalemia. Monitor serum potassium in such patients.
Increased serum lithium levels and symptoms of lithium toxicity have been reported in patients receiving ACE inhibitors during therapy with lithium. Because renal clearance of lithium is reduced by thiazides, the risk of lithium toxicity is presumably raised further when, as in therapy with ACCURETIC, a thiazide diuretic is coadministered with the ACE inhibitor. ACCURETIC and lithium should be coadministered with caution, and frequent monitoring of serum lithium levels is recommended.
Dual Blockade Of The Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS)
Dual blockade of the RAS with angiotensin receptor blockers, ACE inhibitors, or aliskiren is associated with increased risks of hypotension, hyperkalemia, and changes in renal function (including acute renal failure) compared to monotherapy. Most patients receiving the combination of two RAS inhibitors do not obtain any additional benefit compared to monotherapy. In general, avoid combined use of RAS inhibitors. Closely monitor blood pressure, renal function and electrolytes in patients on ACCURETIC and other agents that affect the RAS.
Do not co-administer aliskiren with ACCURETIC in patients with diabetes. Avoid concomitant use of aliskiren with ACCURETIC in patients with renal impairment (GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m²).
Tetracycline And Other Drugs That Interact With Magnesium
Simultaneous administration of tetracycline with quinapril reduced the absorption of tetracycline by approximately 28% to 37%, possibly due to the high magnesium content in quinapril tablets. This interaction should be considered if coprescribing quinapril and tetracycline or other drugs that interact with magnesium.
Nitritoid reactions (symptoms include facial flushing, nausea, vomiting, and hypotension) have been reported rarely in patients on therapy with injectable gold (sodium aurothiomalate) and concomitant ACE inhibitor therapy.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents Including Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors (COX-2 Inhibitors)
In patients who are elderly, volume-depleted (including those on diuretic therapy), or with compromised renal function, co-administration of NSAIDs, including selective COX-2 inhibitors, with ACE inhibitors, including quinapril, may result in deterioration of renal function, including possible acute renal failure. These effects are usually reversible. Monitor renal function periodically in patients receiving quinapril and NSAID therapy.
The antihypertensive effect of ACE inhibitors, including quinapril may be attenuated by NSAIDs.
Agents that Inhibit mTOR
Patients taking concomitant mTOR inhibitor (e.g. temsirolimus) therapy may be at increased risk for angioedema.
Other Agents
Drug interaction studies of quinapril and other agents showed:
- Multiple dose therapy with propranolol or cimetidine has no effect on the pharmacokinetics of single doses of quinapril.
- The anticoagulant effect of a single dose of warfarin (measured by prothrombin time) was not significantly changed by quinapril coadministration twice daily.
- Digoxin: Thiazide-induced electrolyte disturbances, i.e. hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, increase the risk of digoxin toxicity, which may lead to fatal arrhythmic events (See PRECAUTIONS).
- No pharmacokinetic interaction was observed when single doses of quinapril and hydrochlorothiazide were administered concomitantly.
When administered concurrently, the following drugs may interact with thiazide diuretics.
- Alcohol, Barbiturates, or Narcotics—potentiation of orthostatic hypotension may occur.
- Antidiabetic Drugs (oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin)—dosage adjustments of the antidiabetic drug may be required (See PRECAUTIONS).
- Cholestyramine and Colestipol Resin—absorption of hydrochlorothiazide is impaired in the presence of anionic exchange resins. Single doses of either cholestyramine or colestipol resins bind the hydrochlorothiazide and reduce its absorption from the gastrointestinal tract by up to 85% and 43%, respectively.
- Corticosteroids, ACTH—intensified electrolyte depletion, particularly hypokalemia.
- Pressor Amines (e.g., norepinephrine)—possible decreased response to pressor amines, but not sufficient to preclude their therapeutic use.
- Skeletal Muscle Relaxants, Nondepolarizing (e.g., tubocurarine)—possible increased responsiveness to the muscle relaxant.
- Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs—the diuretic, natriuretic, and antihypertensive effects of thiazide diuretics may be reduced by concurrent administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents.
Read the Accuretic Drug Interactions Center for a complete guide to possible interactions
Last reviewed on RxList: 9/28/2015
Accuretic FDA Prescribing Information
Additional Accuretic Information
Accuretic - User Reviews
Accuretic User Reviews
Now you can gain knowledge and insight about a drug treatment with Patient Discussions.
Here is a collection of user reviews for the medication Accuretic sorted by most helpful.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get tips on handling your hypertension.


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Carriem, That quilt was done QAYG, and also the first grandson was QAYG. Thank you everyone for the comments. You can put me down for the extra quilt blocks, so I quess that makes me lucky 13.
Carriem, That quilt was done QAYG, and also the first grandson was QAYG. Thank you everyone for the comments. You can put me down for the extra quilt blocks, so I quess that makes me lucky 13.
OMGoodness how did I not git this thread till taday????? Such wonderful blocks everyone. I believe that these are gonna be award winnin' quilts!!!!
Hooray GrannyQ joined the swap. Send Carrie a PM w/your email & she'll git ya all set up. :)
There's something fresh and calming about your PC blocks, GrannyQ!
What wonderful gifts you will be giving everyone ... and I notice the blues and purples showing thru again!! Then alas, a green study! All are beautiful and will be cherished by your family.
Glad you will be part of the Swap .... now a Baker's Dozen! :)
Alas! The Big SIX-Oh achievement!!!
The bottom row is all of the non-PC blocks that I have made. Since the last grouping, I have made a few more darker blocks with less yellow, and with non-yellow against the sashings. Thanks for the feedback, and I look forward to any other input you can give as I do the next bunch of blocks. Honing in on the finish of 72 (plus a few extras to have to trade in, when I consider placement.)
Attachment 396080
Attachment 396081
Oh QE these just take my breath away! I liked 'em separate, but tagether they sing!!!!:thumbup:
Ah now I see it and well worth the wait. Such a sunny quilt. The PP pony with the diagonal stripes would also be a fantastic center block.
Oh that is wonderful QuiltE. I think that Jewel Block looks lonely with its purple background. Maybe some more of that fabric or color if you have any???
I've gotta get my PC blocks out of their drawer and onto my display wall......but I have my bonus blocks up there and can't seem to stop staring at them! Ohhhhh, what a dilemma! lol
OKSGlad ... I had it critiqued by a horse owner as being a poor looking horse! Wait til they see the cow I made. I don't think she'd classify Ex either! Yes, there's more farm animals to come. I still hope its not too sunny-bright of a quilt.
JeanieG ... oh I know that you just want more fusions in there!! ;) Will see where I can work it in, in the upcoming blocks. I see such great combos of fabric and then sometimes have to step back, in order to get my yellow in there. Sometimes a huge challenge!
I think your variety of colors is good. If you have more farm animals to come maybe put those in the middle and build the other blocks around them?? Can't wait to see what else you have in store. :)


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Hobby SearchSince 1999
- Hobby Search
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MFC profile: hobbybanner
MFC thread for discussions/questions outside of feedback: (mfc link)
MFC thread for discussions/questions outside of feedback: (mfc link)
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54 feedbacks
54 feedbacks
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1 year ago - quilehI really just need to come and brag on Hobby Search's amazing customer service. I just had to request a payment extension for pretty far out (about a week and a half, till I get paid again.) and they granted it no questions asked! I feel great talking t...
Except where otherwise noted, text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.


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Welcome, skip to the content.
From humble beginnings as a handful of holiday rental villas built Dayget - Daylesford Getaways and it has grown ever since. With over 150 of the most stylish properties in Daylesford and Macedon Ranges. Dayget Daylesfords philosophy is slow life, where guests can escape busy city living and step into their own private sanctuary, with a wide choice of dining and leisure diversions. You can explore villages filled with charming cafes and boutique shops, discovering local wineries, gathering fresh produce from farmers markets and luxuriating in award winning day spas.Properties have been hand selected with the upmost of care, representing every period in the region's history, right back to when Italian immigrants first came to the area. Stylish self-catered romantic apartments, luxury retreats, secret hideaways and large group villas have all been chosen for their flair and distinction. Many of the properties have customised furniture, textiles, architecture and art collections that echo the Dayget - Daylesford Getaways individual passions and personalities.Dayget - Daylesford Getaways were pioneers in developing Australia's first online holiday accommodation booking and payment system. This concierge-style booking service is constantly being upgraded to provide the ultimate user experience.
Choose from over 160+ properties in Daylesford, Hepburn Springs and surrounds by visiting the website.


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Wave Xtractor 4.2 with Free Keygen is a lightweight instrument that can help you with altering the Wave information contained inside certain document groups suitable for playing on computerized pianos. The application proves to be useful when you wish to listen and alter the crude information from inside the aforementioned documents, without transferring them to the instrument's product first.
Various information forms
The product bolsters numerous music configurations that your PC can't prepare without the vital applications. Wave Xtractor 4.2 Keygen & Serial Number is anything but difficult to utilize and permits you to open the records and much more, concentrate information and arrange their PA styles.
The data documents may be KORG PA STY, PCM, KMP, PRF, PAD or TVN, UVN and SP2 records, every suitable to a sort of console, in particular KORG or YAMAHA.
Quick Style Manager
Typically these records need to be transferred to your console with the goal you should conform the PA style, however Wave Xtractor 4.2 Keygen & Serial Number can translate them, so you can oversee them from your PC. You can without much of a stretch compose your KORG PA Styles with the inherent style administrator, by utilizing the accessible choices. Subsequently you may swap, duplicate, glue or erase the styles contained in a bolstered record.
Moreover you may import new styles from different documents. The application shows the sound document's properties, for example, testing rate, musical key, span and size.
Spare Wave information
Once extricated from a STY, PRF or other upheld document, the Wave data may be altered or just reviewed, then sent out to the PC as a suitable arrangement. You can likewise see a report of the changes that you have worked inside the info document and additionally the last results.
Wave Xtractor 4.2 Keygen & Serial Number is a capable apparatus that can help you see and alter RAW data contained in PRF, STY or other KORG PA records. The application proves to be useful when you can't transfer the predefined documents to your computerized musical instrument, to adjust them.
How it Registered?
1. Download .exe file into specific folder.
2. Install on Hard Drive.
3. Open the Crack and Apply.


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The Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association is a distinct division within the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA). The AG|WPJA focuses strictly on the artistic and "fine art" aspects of wedding photojournalism.
Looking for more photographers in England? Show all England Photographers
Great Britain PoundsWhite Ribbons Photography: Michele Morea
London, England
Great Britain PoundsLyndsey Goddard
London, England
I studied Fine Art but have always been drawn to photography, so it's perhaps inevitable that I have made it my career. There is an element of my training in my work, from how I frame a scene to how I use the light...Read More
Great Britain PoundsHarry Richards
Islington in London, England
One of the most touching things about wedding photography is how quickly you find yourself thrown into the heart of such an important, intimate occasion. It's a responsibility only a fool would take lightly. I take...Read More
Great Britain PoundsKrzysztof Frankiewicz
London, England
Great Britain PoundsAdamsPhotoArt: Adam Szczepanski
London, England
Photography has been my secret dream since I was eight years old and was given my first camera as a present. However, I did not dare to think that it might be a career opportunity until I photographed my first wedding...Read More
Great Britain PoundsDaz Shoots Weddings: Darren Lehane
Wallington in Surrey, England
My photography journey started in my mid teens in the mid 1980s. Back then, like all teenage boys, I wanted to be in a pop band. Trouble was, I couldn't play an instrument or sing a note in tune. So, being hugely...Read More
If you choose one of our AG|WPJA London artistic wedding photojournalists as your wedding photographer, please let them know you found them through the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association.
The AG|WPJA at a glance: The Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association puts the best London fine art wedding photojournalism at your fingertips, by granting membership only to the most artistic London wedding photojournalists. These London wedding photographers focus solely on using their documentary photography skills to capture 'the moments' of your wedding day, and enliven them further with post-production image enhancements.


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All content created by & © Jamie Beck & Kevin Burg
Marfa, Texas
"Creole babies with flashin' eyes Softly whisper their tender sighs
Then stop….won't you give your lady fair…a little smile
Stop..ya bet your life you'll linger there…a little while
We've got heaven right here on earth
With those beautiful queens
Way down yonder in New…Orleans"
-Louis Armstrong
A trip down to the Big Easy made easy by her amazing local recommendations!
The breakdown:
All images shot with Pentax Spotmatic & Kodak 400VC film
Have a great Mardi Gras y'all!
Enchanted forest in the middle of a city.
Fall in Central Park is gone now but this image caught on film makes me miss it so…
Leica / Kodak 400VC


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Wow. Every time I go into a Borders there are a bunch of people there.
This is a discussion on Received an Email from Borders Bookstore saying Farewell -- Image of Email within the Off Topic & Humor Discussion forums, part of the The Back Porch category; Borders Bookstore sent me an email last night saying goodbye, and thanking me for being a customer. They are liquidating their entire inventory at their ...
Borders Bookstore sent me an email last night saying goodbye, and thanking me for being a customer. They are liquidating their entire inventory at their stores starting today, as they prepare to go out of business.
This will leave me without any decent bookstore nearby.
I guess that I will have to now buy all of my books at Amazon.com
Is Borders a victim of changing times, the bad economy, or both?? Are e-readers really going over that big?
Wow. Every time I go into a Borders there are a bunch of people there.
My name is Frogman46 and I'm tougher than you.
The reason that Borders and Barnes and Noble are going out of business, is mainly because of Amazon and their brilliant business model. You can get free shipping, read inside the book, read reviews before you buy, wishlists and even sell your old books online. The brick and mortar bookstores are a thing of the past.
"If you carry a gun, people will call you paranoid. That's ridiculous... If I have a gun, what in the hell do I have to be paranoid for?" [Clint Smith - Thunder Ranch]
NOTHING can replace a bookstore. Especially a used bookstore; The smell.... takes me to a happy place every time.
...stupid e-readers...
"Gun control should mean hitting your target every time."
Please try to remember- I have a very dry sense of humor. It usually sounds mean, but isn't meant to be.
I'll admit... I buy all my books from Amazon and half.com. In fact, I bought around five books from Amazon recently, including the used books sold by individuals via Amazon. Combined with Amazon Prime, it's such a great deal and a huge convenience. I can also read all the reviews right there.
If I had an e-reader, I'd probably buy ebooks. But I can't justify that right now. Buying used books is just a lot cheaper. When I have more disposable income, I'll pick up a Nook Touch or Kobo Touch.
As an Amazon.com material handler, I have definitely noticed an upswing in books, DVDs, and CDs being processed since the announcement that Borders didn't have a buyer came out (along with fans and portable air coolers). I do machanized picking of larger stuff anymore, but from when I was on foot, I spent some time picking nothing but books and music, and the selection available was just incredible. It's definitely bad to see a company close, leaving all of those people out of work, but retail is changing.
I really like going places and buying things with green money. When I was in college, there was this great store that sold an eclectic collection of dvd's, cd's, and vinyl records. I used to go in there and find all sorts of criterion collection films, foreign films, and many cool albums. It closed last year. Yes, I can find all that stuff online, but it just isn't the same.
Bookstores are the same type of animal. Many people like to read off a kindle or ipad, but I like things old school. I really spend limited time on the internet, and I don't like buying things online. So many things have become obsolete in my lifetime...
A big problem, for me at least, with brick and mortar stores like Borders is that they only have so much room for merchandise and they carry what is popular and what will turn over rapidly. Years ago, there was a borders in my home town and they had a very large section of books on science, math, engineering, and computers. I would go in there and browse for hours at those books, planning what I would like to buy when I could save up the money for it as many of them were expensive. As time went by, this area went from being several racks of shelves to part of one rack. Needless to say, I stopped going into the store because they didn't have what I wanted anymore. Of course, they were always happy to order it, but why would I order it from them at full retail price, pay shipping and tax, when I could go to Amazon?
I think their demise is a combination of changing times, changing markets, and a trend away from reading books. For me, electronic readers and PDFs on a computer just aren't the same and definitely not as easy to take to bed with you (I find reading for 15-30 minutes before going to sleep is a good way to calm the mind).
When the Borders near me closed during the first round of closings, they had a sign on the door that said : "No bathrooms. Try downloading one on your Kindle."
Battle Plan (n) - a list of things that aren't going to happen if you are attacked.
Blame it on Sixto - now that is a viable plan.
Learning to shoot again : Starting Over
"If you carry a gun, people will call you paranoid. That's ridiculous... If I have a gun, what in the hell do I have to be paranoid for?" [Clint Smith - Thunder Ranch]
Borders had an 1995 business model in 2011.
They overlooked the trend to e-books and online shopping.


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March 23, 2013
MOON, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh tennis team (8-6) was absolutely dominant in a 7-0 sweep of Robert Morris (1-15) on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers won their fourth-consecutive match.
"I am very excited about how we are playing right now," interim head coach Michaela Kissell-Eddins said. "We are getting better every match and that is encouraging to see heading towards the conference tournament. We have two great opportunities next weekend to play some great tennis against two very good teams in VCU and Marshall."
The Panther started the day by winning all three doubles matches and won 24 of the 25 total games played. Both tandems of Taylor Washington/Jocelyn Lu, and Kimmy Borza/Karmah Parbhu shut out their opponents 8-0. Amanda and Molly Wickman won their match 8-1 in second doubles.
Singles was just as impressive for the Panthers. Every position was victorious in straight sets, and every player did not all their opponent to win more than two games in either set. Both Amanda Wickman and Karma Parbhu blanked their opponents 6-0, 6-0.
Pitt's four match winning streak is it's longest of the season and they look to continue the momentum next weekend in Huntington, W.Va. The Panthers will play Marshall on Friday and then No. 43 VCU on Saturday.
Four Pitt Teams Earn APR Public Recognition Awards from NCAA
Washington Named to All-ACC Third Team
Panthers Fall Short to Notre Dame
Pitt to Face Notre Dame in ACC Tourney
Pitt Drops Regular Season Finale at No. 3 North Carolina
Panthers Travel to No. 3 North Carolina Saturday


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Women: Don't Leave Money Up To Men
I was so impressed with Donna when I met her. An independent, boomer woman who raised two children on her own. Smart, organized and thoughtful. Yet, when Donna and I spoke about investing, she said the things that so many women have told me. "I would never have invested on my own. Absolutely not. I was scared, intimidated. I didn't feel I had that kind of brain -- the kind of brain for investing."
A significant 2008 study by researchers Tahira Hira and Cazilian Loibl confirmed that women lacked confidence in their investing ability. There are a number of reasons for women's lack of confidence. One finding by researchers Estes and Hosseini found that women have a need for clear and unambiguous feedback from the markets. This is a predicament for women as the stock market is ambiguous and inherently unpredictable. Time is also a big factor.
In an interesting chat I had with Kim Parlee, Vice President, TD Wealth Management, we agreed that a driving force is our lack of time -- women are still covering the second shift. We barely have time for our families so dealing with our investments never seems to be a priority. Kim talked about calling TD one night at midnight in order to discuss her investments. How crazy is that?
Number represents the average among those households that carry debt. Source: Statistics Canada
Number represents the average among those households that carry debt. Source: Statistics Canada
Number represents the average among those households that carry debt. Source: Statistics Canada
Number represents the average among those households that carry debt. Source: Statistics Canada
Number represents the average among those households that carry debt. Source: Statistics Canada
Number represents the average among those households that carry debt. Source: Statistics Canada
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 80.9 percent General government debt: $1.99 trillion GDP per capita (PPP): $35,860 Nominal GDP: $2.46 trillion Unemployment rate: 8.4 percent Credit rating: Aaa Although the UK has one of the largest debt-to-GDP ratios among developed nations, it has managed to keep its economy relatively stable. The UK is not part of the eurozone and has its own independent central bank. The UK's independence has helped protect it from being engulfed in the European debt crisis. Government bond yields have remained low. The country also has retained its Aaa credit rating, reflecting its secure financial standing. Read more at 24/7 Wall St.
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 81.8 percent General government debt: $2.79 trillion GDP per capita (PPP): $37,591 Nominal GDP: $3.56 trillion Unemployment rate: 5.5 percent Credit rating: Aaa As the largest economy and financial stronghold of the EU, Germany has the most interest in maintaining debt stability for itself and the entire eurozone. In 2010, when Greece was on the verge of defaulting on its debt, the IMF and EU were forced to implement a 45 billion euro bailout package. A good portion of the bill was footed by Germany. The country has a perfect credit rating and an unemployment rate of just 5.5 percent, one of the lowest in Europe. Despite its relatively strong economy, Germany will have one of the largest debt-to-GDP ratios among developed nations of 81.8 percent, according to Moody's projections. Read more at 24/7 Wall St.
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 85.4 percent General government debt: $2.26 trillion GDP per capita (PPP): $33,820 Nominal GDP: $2.76 trillion Unemployment rate: 9.9 percent Credit rating: Aaa France is the third-biggest economy in the EU, with a GDP of $2.76 trillion, just shy of the UK's $2.46 trillion. In January, after being long-considered one of the more economically stable countries, Standard & Poor's downgraded French sovereign debt from a perfect AAA to AA+. This came at the same time eight other euro nations, including Spain, Portugal and Italy, were also downgraded. S&P's action represented a serious blow to the government, which had been claiming its economy as stable as the UK's. Moody's still rates the country at Aaa, the highest rating, but changed the country's outlook to negative on Monday. Read more at 24/7 Wall St.
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 85.5 percent General government debt: $12.8 trillion GDP per capita (PPP): $47,184 Nominal GDP: $15.13 trillion Unemployment rate: 8.3 percent Credit rating: Aaa U.S. government debt in 2001 was estimated at 45.6 percent of total GDP. By 2011, after a decade of increased government spending, U.S. debt was 85.5 percent of GDP. In 2001, U.S. government expenditure as a percent of GDP was 33.1 percent. By 2010, is was 39.1 percent. In 2005, U.S. debt was $6.4 trillion. By 2011, U.S. debt has doubled to $12.8 trillion, according to Moody's estimates. While Moody's still rates the U.S. at a perfect Aaa, last August Standard & Poor's downgraded the country from AAA to AA+. Read more at 24/7 Wall St.
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 97.2 percent General government debt: $479 billion GDP per capita (PPP): $37,448 Nominal GDP: $514 billion Unemployment rate: 7.2 percent Credit rating: Aa1 Belgium's public debt-to-GDP ratio peaked in 1993 at about 135 percent, but was subsequently reduced to about 84 percent by 2007. In just four years, the ratio has risen to nearly 95 percent. In December 2011, Moody's downgraded Belgium's local and foreign currency government bonds from Aa1 to Aa3. In its explanation of the downgrade, the rating agency cited "the growing risk to economic growth created by the need for tax hikes or spending cuts." In January of this year, the country was forced to make about $1.3 billion in spending cuts, according to The Financial Times, to avoid failing "to meet new European Union fiscal rules designed to prevent a repeat of the eurozone debt crisis." Read more at 24/7 Wall St.
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 101.6 percent General government debt: $257 billion GDP per capita (PPP): $25,575 Nominal GDP: $239 billion Unemployment rate: 13.6 percent Credit rating: Ba3 Portugal suffered greatly from the global recession -- more than many other countries -- partly because of its low GDP per capita. In 2011, the country received a $104 billion bailout from the EU and the IMF due to its large budget deficit and growing public debt. The Portuguese government now "plans to trim the budget deficit from 9.8 percent of gross domestic product in 2010 to 4.5 percent in 2012 and to the EU ceiling of 3 percent in 2013," according Business Week. The country's debt was downgraded to junk status by Moody's in July 2011 and downgraded again to Ba3 on Monday. Read more at 24/7 Wall St.
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 108.1 percent General government debt: $225 billion GDP per capita (PPP): $39,727 Nominal GDP: $217 billion Unemployment rate: 14.5 percent Credit rating: Ba1 Ireland was once the healthiest economy in the EU. In the early 2000s, it had the lowest unemployment rate of any developed industrial country. During that time, nominal GDP was growing at an average rate of roughly 10 percent each year. However, when the global economic recession hit, Ireland's economy began contracting rapidly. In 2006, the Irish government had a budget surplus of 2.9 percent of GDP. In 2010, it accrued a staggering deficit of 32.4 percent of GDP. Since 2001, Ireland's debt has increased more than 500 percent. Moody's estimates that the country's general government debt was $224 billion, well more than its GDP of $216 billion. Moody's rates Ireland's sovereign debt at Ba1, or junk status. Read more at 24/7 Wall St.
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 120.5 percent General government debt: $2.54 trillion GDP per capita (PPP): $31,555 Nominal GDP: $2.2 trillion Unemployment rate: 8.9 percent Credit rating: A3 Italy's large public debt is made worse by the country's poor economic growth. In 2010, GDP grew at a sluggish 1.3 percent. This was preceded by two years of falling GDP. In December 2011, the Italian government passed an austerity package in order to lower borrowing costs. The Financial Times reports that according to consumer association Federconsumatori, the government's nearly $40 billion package of tax increases and spending cuts will cost the average household about $1,500 each year for the next three years. On Monday, Moody's downgraded Italy's credit rating to A3, from A2. Read more at 24/7 Wall St.
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 168.2 percent General government debt: $489 billion GDP per capita (PPP): $28,154 Nominal GDP: $303 billion Unemployment rate: 19.2 percent Credit rating: Ca Greece became the poster child of the European financial crisis in 2009 and 2010. After it was bailed out by the rest of the EU and the IMF, it appeared that matters could not get any worse. Instead, Greece's economy has continued to unravel, prompting new austerity measures and talks of an even more serious default crisis. In 2010, Greece's debt as a percent of GDP was 143 percent. Last year, Moody's estimates Greece's debt increased to 163 percent of GDP. Greece would need a second bailout worth 130 billion euro -- the equivalent of roughly $172 billion -- in order to prevent the country from defaulting on its debt in March. Read more at 24/7 Wall St.
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 233.1 percent General government debt: $13.7 trillion GDP per capita (PPP): $33,994 Nominal GDP: $5.88 trillion Unemployment rate: 4.6 percent Credit rating: Aa3 Japan's debt-to-GDP ratio of 233.1 percent is the highest among the world's developed nations by a large margin. Despite the country's massive debt, it has managed to avoid the type of economic distress affecting nations such as Greece and Portugal. This is largely due to Japan's healthy unemployment rate and population of domestic bondholders, who consistently fund Japanese government borrowing. Japanese vice minister Fumihiko Igarashi said in a speech in November 2011 that "95 percent of Japanese government bonds have been financed domestically so far, with only 5 percent held by foreigners." Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has proposed the doubling of Japan's 5 percent national sales tax by 2015 to help bring down the nation's debt. Read more at 24/7 Wall St.
We also talked about our hesitation in admitting to not knowing. As Kim said: "We are scared of asking dumb questions (and there are no dumb questions). Ask what you need to understand and keep on asking until you get the answer you want. And if you can't get the answer from that person, then find someone else. And if you don't know what you don't know, you start with that. What should I know?"
The fact that women who handle their own investing gain more confidence over time was evidenced by the fact that Donna was attending an investment education seminar. Somehow, Donna had overcome her obstacles -- the ones in her head. She had taken the first steps towards taking greater control over her money life. How did she do it?
Donna took baby steps. She decided to take a little bit of money and try her hand at investing. She made sure that this was money she was willing to lose. After all, with learning comes mistakes and Donna was willing to make some to learn. With each step, Donna gained a great deal of confidence.
TD's Women Investors research confirms this approach. The women surveyed did their research, and were never afraid to ask for help. They learn and grow as evidenced by the 76 per cent of women direct investors consider themselves to be highly successful investors. What is important to realize, as well, is that this isn't an all or nothing proposition. Many of the women who were direct investors also maintained a relationship with an advisor. You don't have to make an absolute choice to go it alone. In fact, Donna maintains a good part of her portfolio with her advisor, a person whose investing philosophy mirrors her own. As Rowena Chan, Vice President of TD Waterhouse states, "You are on a journey with your advisor because you are building trust. Sometimes, clients want to start with a part of their investments. You are able to test yourself through direct investing. So education is key. Remember, you're investing for yourself not by yourself."
So what's holding you back?
Pay attention to your disconnection from your money. The demographics suggest that you are likely to be on your own by the time you reach your mid-60s. Add to this, the almost 50 per cent of marriages which end in divorce and the average age of widowhood is 56. Women, you need to take control. You need to stop making excuses and begin taking charge. If you aren't prepared, you will be leaving yourselves vulnerable to those who may not have your best interests at heart.
So follow Donna's lead. Start small, educate yourself, ask lots of questions and get support. Taking the first step is tough but once you do it, the next steps are easier.
Follow Deborah Nixon on Twitter: www.twitter.com/deborahnixon


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It's My Turn
By Keith Goldberg
The following was prepared for presentation to the City Council's Transportation Committee at a recent meeting in Broad Channel. Goldberg is a civic activist, who is involved with youth athletics and with the Graybeards.
The technology advances in fare collections, which have eased the means of transfer, and the consolidation of all bus routes under the MTA umbrella, offers an opportunity to look at Rockaway's public transportation needs holistically.
There have been many calls over the years to reopen the Whitepot Junction spur of the old LIRR to restore service from Rockaway to Midtown. While this would be best for Rockaway, it is not likely to happen in light of all the other transportation projects already laid out by the MTA. What can happen is a change to service along the A line.
Prior to the AirTrain rail link to Jamaica station and Howard Beach station, a bus linked the airport to the Howard Beach station, and passengers transferred to a Super Express 'Train to the Plane' with direct service to downtown Brooklyn and limited stops in Manhattan afterwards, along the 'A' express line. This service was eliminated, but with the AirTrain link in place and the explosion of housing growth in Rockaway, it should be revisited. Regular 'A' service could terminate at the Howard Beach Station. 'A' Super Express service could originate at the Far Rockaway and Rockaway Park terminals. These would make their normal stops in the Rockaways and Broad Channel. At Howard Beach, these passengers could transfer for the regular 'A' service if their destination is prior to downtown Brooklyn. AirTrain passengers could then board the 'A' Super Express in Howard Beach (a car or two could be saved for their use only) or choose regular 'A' service.
The 'A' Super Express would then stop at downtown Brooklyn, Fulton Street transit center, West 4/6, West 34/6, West 42/6, Rockefeller Center, West 57/6.
Transfers to other subway lines would be available at all these stops. This would be a much more attractive service to drive ridership of the AirTrain and of course would greatly benefit Rockaway residents with reasonably quick service to downtown AND midtown. There should be no need for a premium fare for Rockaway residents and thus no need for extra 'ticket collection' personnel on the Super Express as there was with the Train to the Plane.
Bus service can be improved through a combination of eliminating unnecessary service, creating symbiotic local/ express lines and a central transit hub, and then increasing frequency on remaining lines. This is in place on the Q113 bus from Far Rockaway to Jamaica Center which offers both an express and local service. The Q53 and Q21 connect Rockaway with Queens via the Cross Bay Bridge and Cross Bay/Woodhaven Boulevard. The Q53 should be an express service with stops after Broad Channel at Rockaway Blvd/Liberty Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Queens Center, Broadway/Roosevelt and Roosevelt/61st Street. The Q21 should mimic the route of the Q53 but provide local service along this route and terminate at Queens Center. The Q35 connects Rockaway to Brooklyn via the Gil Hodges Bridge and Flatbush Avenue. In Brooklyn, there should only be stops at Kings Plaza/ Avenue U, Kings Highway/Ave L, and the terminal stop at Flatbush/ Nostrand. The B41 already provides local service along the same route. Anyone desiring local service can transfer easily at Kings Plaza or Kings Highway.
Within Rockaway, there is no need for both the Q22 and the Q35 on the west end. A Central Hub Loop should be created bounded by Beach Channel Drive on the north, Beach 108 Street on the east, Rockaway Beach Boulevard on the south, and Beach 116 Street on the west. This loop is essentially the one that is currently used by the Q53. It should also be used by the Q21, Q22, and Q35. All four lines would travel around the hub. There would be stops at Beach Channel Drive/Waldbaum's, Beach Channel Drive/ Beach 108 Street, Beach 108 Street/Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Rockaway Beach Boulevard/Beach 111 Street, Rockaway Beach Boulevard/Beach 114 Street, and Beach 116 Street between Rockaway Park A Terminal and Rockaway Beach Boulevard. This last would be the Central Transfer Point for all, with transfer also available at Beach 108 Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard. The Q21, as stated before, would mimic the Q53. The Q22 would stop at the Beach 116 Street transit hub. Those continuing westbound would transfer to the Q35 at that point. Eastbound service would then begin by following the Hub Loop and continuing along Rockaway Beach Boulevard after making the left at Beach 108 Street. The Q35 would stop but not terminate at Newport Avenue and Beach 116 Street, but instead enter and follow the Hub Loop at that point. It would stop at the Central Transfer Point on Beach 116 Street before then turning onto Newport Avenue and continuing west. There could also be additional buses before and after school designated as Q22S and Q35S that would alter their routes slightly to service Beach Channel and Scholars' Academy. The elimination of duplicate service on the west end should then allow for increased frequency for the Q35 making it more attractive to riders. The elimination of eastbound service along Rockaway Beach Boulevard between Beach 116 and Beach 108 would greatly relieve congestion along that stretch without sacrificing service. The Hub Loop would create better access to the post office and Waldbaum's shopping center, particularly for those who are currently dependent on car service.
It would create more direct access to Stella Maris and the nursing homes for riders of the Q35. Finally, the Central Transfer Point in front of the Rockaway Park Terminal would better serve riders of the A Super Express making it more viable.
A commuter Express Bus service to midtown could also be explored with a west end route stopping at Beach 129, 116, 108, 102 and 96 Streets before heading out via Cross Bay Bridge, and an east end route stopping at Beach 59, 72, 84 and 90 Streets. This will be in greater demand as Arverne-by-the-Sea gets completed.
Ferry service is another option that has been tried in the past but has not been able to sustain. PlanNYC calls for pursuit of increased ferry service and Rockaway would seem to be a candidate for such service. Clearly this service would need substantial subsidies to be viable, as well as ample adjacent parking and public transportation links in Rockaway and Manhattan. I will leave it to others to formulate a proposal for this.


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text:
Meet Marc Lefevre: Verizon Wireless Road Warrior
Lefevre helps ensure best network performance in the Massachusetts area.
Verizon Wireless has employees whose sole mission is to drive thousands of miles a month in major cities and rural areas across the company's national footprint. It's one key element in the company's comprehensive network quality assurance program.
These baseline engineers use equipment that pinpoints where network performance needs to be enhanced to maintain reliable service for the surging number of customers texting, tweeting, sharing videos and photos, and surfing the Web on their smartphones and other wireless devices.
See the infographic for a glimpse into a day in the life of Marc Lefevre, a baseline engineer whose territory is Massachusetts.
Click here for a local story about an Upstate New York baseline engineer.
Click here for a local story about a Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland baseline engineer.
Click here for a local story about a New York Metro baseline engineer.
Click here for a local story about a Washington, D.C.-Baltimore-Virginia baseline engineer.


text:
Steve McClaren must look forward to the crucial match against Israel at Wembley with some trepidation. Not only have injuries hit some of his key players, but he will be up against Dror Kashtan, the Israeli Sir Alex Ferguson.
Kashtan is the man, Israelis hope, who will take them to their first major championships since they joined Uefa in the early 1990s. The 63-year-old is the most successful coach in Israeli history, with six league titles - with four different clubs - and five State Cup wins. He is fiercely competitive, can often appear grumpy and is certainly not averse to using the hairdryer treatment on his players.
Like Ferguson, Kashtan is a disciplinarian who has very little time for players who do not share his commitment. When Yaniv Katan and Michael Zandberg missed internationals with injury then appeared for their clubs soon afterwards, they were dropped. Another player was omitted, according to the coach, because he was 'not trying hard enough' in training.
'I am not afraid of challenges,' he said when asked about facing England, Croatia and Russia in qualifying Group E. 'I am filled with adrenaline and willpower to face this challenge and the level of expectations - to guide Israel to its first major achievement in 36 years.'
Israel took part in the 1970 World Cup finals but belonged to the Asian Football Confederation then, which made qualifying easier. In their first European qualifying campaign - for the 1994 World Cup - they won only one out of 10 games and conceded 27 goals. But the team improved under the guidance of Shlomo Scharf, who guided them to the Euro 2000 play-offs. The last time around, in qualifying for Germany 2006, they did not lose a game, drawing in France, Ireland and Switzerland and missing out on the play-offs only because they had scored fewer goals than the Swiss. They are no longer overawed and come to Wembley confident of getting at least a draw.
Kashtan is a more attacking coach than his predecessor, Avraham Grant, now director of football at Chelsea, and on Saturday can call on Roberto Colautti, the Argentina-born striker who was suspended for England's dire 0...#8209;0 draw in Tel Aviv in March. He joined Maccabi Haifa from Boca Juniors in 2004, becoming the league's top scorer in his first season and was granted citizenship after marrying his Israeli girlfriend. He scored the only goal of the game eight minutes into his international debut, last September's qualifying win in Estonia.
The star and captain of the team is Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun. 'I have played for the national team for quite some time now and it is an honour trying to help the younger players come through and improve. We have a good team,' says the 27-year-old, who impressed in his club's Champions League qualifying win against Toulouse on Tuesday.
England also have to look out for the 19-year-old Nigeria-born Toto Tamuz, who caused England severe problems down the right in March and Chelsea's forward Ben Sahar. The 18-year-old is on loan at Queen's Park Rangers and after four international appearances has already scored twice.
Two other players - Chelsea's Tal Ben Haim and Deportivo La Coruna's goalkeeper Dudu Aouate - stand out, but otherwise most of the players come from the Israeli league. The domestic competition has not substantially improved despite the continued investment of Beitar Jerusalem owner Arkady Gaydamak - the father of Portsmouth proprietor Alexandre Gaydamak - and his competitors. Beitar could not get past the second qualifying round in the Champions League and Maccabi Tel Aviv's failure was even more spectacular - they lost to Turkish second-division side Erciyesspor in the second qualifying round of the Uefa Cup.
England should win against Israel, but matters are rarely that straightforward under McClaren. And if England fail to gel again on Saturday, then Kashtan and his players will be ready to take advantage.