text:
Babywearing is a necessity for women all over the world who carry their babies while they work and do domestic tasks. This practice has been around for centuries, but has seen a dramatic resurgence in popularity in recent years. Why? Because touch is good for us.
According to a study in Pediatrics, babies who are carried cry less. Babywearing for three hours a day reduced infant crying by 43 percent overall and 54 percent during the evening hours.
A study at Columbia University compared the attachment of babies carried in a baby carrier with babies carried in a car seat. After 13 months, the babies who had been transported in wearable carriers were significantly more attached to their mothers.
According to research at Dr. Tiffany Field's The Touch Institute, touch therapy has been shown to:
Facilitate weight gain in preterm infants
Enhance attentiveness
Alleviate depressive symptoms
Reduce pain
Reduce stress hormones
Improve immune function
Ashley Montagu was the first to remind us of the power of touch in his 1971 classic, Touching: The Human Significance of the Skin. According to Montagu, touch of infants is important because of their developmental vulnerability:
This intensification of cutaneous stimulations is especially necessary in the human fetus because, contrary to general belief, the period of gestation is not completed when the baby is born. It is only half-completed.
Nils and Jill Bergman's work advocating "kangaroo care" for premature babies recalls Montagu's characterization of humans as marsupials. Kangaroo care is continuous or prolonged maternal-infant-skin-to-skin contact (supplemented by father or other attachment figure). Research shows that it improves outcomes for premature babies and the Bergman's recommend it for both premature and full-term babies.
Touching is not just good for baby. Adults also benefit from oxytocin, the neuropeptide released into the bloodstream during many types of touching. Oxytocin makes us want to touch and cuddle. Its release promotes feelings of devotion, trust and bonding. It lowers our heart rate and blood pressure making us feel more soothed and less stressed.
Babywearing is a practical solution for moms and dads who can tend to older children, make a meal or straighten up the house, all while carrying the baby. It can be more convenient than a stroller in crowded places such as stores, restaurants and airports. And, some carriers allow for easy and discreet breastfeeding.
While a baby carrier can be as simple as a piece of cloth, there are several varieties of manufactured carriers available today:
Soft Unstructured Carriers
Soft Structured Carriers
Frame Back-packs
Choosing the right baby carrier for you and your baby is a matter of trial and error and has to do with the age of your baby and your own personal preference. Experts recommend a baby carrier that is made of "breathable" fabric, one that does not press baby too tightly against the wearer, and that allows the wearer to see the baby's face. It helps to try on a variety of carriers to find the best fit. Fortunately, there are babywearing classes in cities all over the country.
For help looking for the right carrier for you and your baby or for classes in your area, check out Babywearing International and TheBabyWearer.
Join the Babywearing conversation in our Community. Let us know your favorite carrier or learn about the carriers voted Best of Mothering.


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Originally posted by XPhile
Hello All;
Does anyone out there know of a rental company that rents out Honda Pilots. I am interested in purchasing a Honda Pilot
Originally posted by XPhile
Hello All;
I am back from a weekend rental from Thrifty, of a 2004 flame red Dodge Durango SLT. This is my first experience in driving a SUV and I have some questions about it in comparison to a Honda Pilot, which I would also like to rent before I purchase a new SUV.
The first thing I noticed is the entry into the Durango. You need to be very flexible to enter the vehicle because the distance between the ground and the inside of the vehicle is a very big stretch. Something like getting into a truck. I believe a side step on a Durango is standard. Is a side step standard in a Pilot? Can you easily get in and out of a Pilot without the side step?
Once inside I found the seats adequate but not great, especially for long trips, not enough support. How are the front seats in a Pilot? The other rows had no adjustments to move the seat forward or back. Can this be done in a Pilot and can the seats be totally removed?
I liked the Radio/CD player, which could hold 6 CD's and play MP3 files. How many CD's can the Pilot hold and can the CD player play MP3's?
The instrument cluster was quite plain with a tach and fuel gauge and trip odometer. Does the Pilot have a trip odometer?
Since it was fairly nice out on Saturday I decided to open the window in the back passenger side all the way down. That was a mistake! A whomping sound was heard. Hurt the ears. Is this feature included in a Pilot?
The gas mileage wasn't the best. I was getting 19 miles/12Km on the highway. Is this the common rate or does the Pilot get something better since the engine is smaller?
That's about it. I will try and get a Pilot for a weekend and do another update.
Originally posted by a2Pilot
Funny, I just returned from a five day trip with my family. We rented a 2003 Durango.
I'll admit the V8 was a bit of a novelty at first, but after a few hours of highway driving I can do without the droan of that exhaust note. The V8 was not overly powerful, either. ...
My two cents................
Originally posted by dgipalo
Keep in mind that the new Durango bears no relationship to the '03 - it's a substantial re-do in all respects.
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Toni (White Crafty Cakes)
... Nov 2012
Your little mummy is adorable! I love all the elements with the ghosts, moon, bats, and pumpkins!
view all »
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Infrastructure needs will keep Laurel Mountain ski resort closed
Downhill skiers who planned to hit the slopes at state-owned Laurel Mountain Ski Resort in Ligonier Township will have to wait another season.
The 64-acre facility within Laurel Mountain State Park, has been closed since 2005 as efforts to reopen it have floundered. The state said in May 2011 it expected to resume skiing operations for the 2012-13 season.
"The infrastructure in its current state is not adequate to support opening the ski area," said Christina Novak, a spokeswoman for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The agency "continues to work with Seven Springs (Mountain Resort) to complete a project to improve the infrastructure at the park."
Both the state and Seven Springs, which will operate the resort, "should be able to provide more information about the status this fall," Novak said.
Seven Springs in Somerset County is "assessing all infrastructural needs to provide a safe and fun experience," said Anna Weltz, a spokeswoman for the resort.
Ligonier Mayor Ormand "Butch" Bellas, who has been involved over several years in efforts to reopen those slopes, said it appears that the need for more electrical power to operate the resort is one reason for delaying the reopening.
An electrical upgrade might involve installing a higher voltage line to service the resort or electrical improvements, said Scott Surgeoner, a spokesman for West Penn Power's parent company, FirstEnergy Corp., based in Akron, Ohio. West Penn Power has been in been discussions with Seven Springs and the state on the issue, Surgeoner said.
"Hopefully, we will be able to reach an agreement and get moving again in the next couple of days," Surgeoner said.
Bellas said he believes it has not reopened because the state's General Services Administration and Greensburg-based West Penn Power have not agreed on whether the state or the utility should pay to install a new line to provide additional power.
A General Services Administration spokesman could not be reached for comment.
Seven Springs last ran the ski area, known as The Springs at Laurel Mountain, for Somerset Trust Co. during the 2004-05 season. Laurel Mountain Ski Co. had operated the ski resort from 1998 until 2003, when Somerset Trust foreclosed on a $1 million loan owed by Laurel Mountain Ski owner George Mowl.
The state had designated $6.5 million four years ago for renovations, but no infrastructure improvements have been made, Novak said.
"There is money committed for this project, so the amount of time it has taken for this project is not related to any budget issues," Novak said.
The state said last year it would create more water storage for snow-making, refurbish the ski lift or build a new one, grade the site and upgrade the electrical infrastructure. At that time, a new snow tubing area was planned if funds were available after the renovation.
The infrastructure for the ski area — including the ski lodge, chair lifts, snow-making facilities, snow grooming equipment and maintenance buildings — are owned by Seven Springs, which acquired them in 2008.
Reopening the 18-slope resort would boost tourism in Westmoreland County, said Ronald Virag, executive director of the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau.
"We feel that it is very important to the tourism business. We would like to see it open as soon as possible," Virag said.
Julie Donovan, the bureau's public relations director and former marketing director for Laurel Mountain, said the ski resort was a popular draw. "It would be a tremendous place for the region and Westmoreland County," Donovan said.
Donovan said bureau officials had been advised by Seven Springs that the resort would not open this season.
"I'm 100 percent convinced once it reopens, the skiers, snowboarders and tubers will return to the mountain. It really attracted people from Westmoreland County, Pittsburgh and the Johnstown area," Donovan said.
Whenever the ski resort opens, it "will be such a positive thing for the town," said Peter McKay, owner of Ligonier Tavern, just off the borough's Diamond.
"In the wintertime, that could be such a shot in the arm for this area. It would be very nice for the (Ligonier) Valley economy," said Mary Lou Fleming, whose family has owned Martin's clothing store on the Diamond since 1900.
Joe Napsha is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-836-5252 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
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text:
ish in the limelight: actor scheduling, job tracking and financial system.
The challenge
For many years the agents at this talent agency used a simple Filemaker system to track contacts and jobs, with much of the important information simply in the heads of each agent. They each knew instantly where their talent was (or should have been). But the agency grew. With increased specialisation and size, each agent could no longer keep the whole picture in their head, nor could they access that information when someone was out of the office.
Programmers (not us!) were commissioned to devise a solution. They delivered a product that was completely unusable – not because it didn't function technically, but because they had totally misunderstood how the business worked. The agents knew how to deal with people, schedules, contracts and the industry; but they were being asked to completely change the way they worked to suit the computer software. It was never going to work. So with some trepidation, the client came to ish…
The solution
We worked alongside individual staff and managers to fully comprehend their work practices. It was vital for us to get a thorough understanding of how the business operated.
We deployed the final result in stages. This gave the users tangible results quickly and gave us feedback early on. Stage one provided talent management at a huge level of detail, encompassing skills, personal details and financial information. We spent much of our time finding better ways to display the information currently in the brains of the agents.
Stage two provided scheduling, showing where every talent was required to be at any time. Double booking was eliminated and historical data always available. The scheduling was done with a graphical interface similar to MS Outlook. It was easy to use and it worked. The agents are unanimously happy with this feature.
Stage three has now been completed. The financial aspects of this stage (invoicing, payments in and out, commissions, trust account management) have been the greatest time saving for the agency.
h3. The result
The financial aspects of the system alone relieve the agency of up to 30 hours of financial work each week.
Talented should pay for itself in a very short time. The savings in accounts staff will increase profitability and its new functionality already provides better service to talent and clients.
Most importantly it frees the agents to spend more time doing what they do best.


text:
There comes a time in every person's life when they must ask themselves the hard questions. What do I want from life? Am I heading in the right direction? If I could only listen to the music of bands that have all five vowels in their name how long a list would that be?*
And yet even more important that any of these must be "Why would an awesome movie like The Avengers have so much bad hair in it?"
Naturally, this question is spurred by my seeing said movie in the last week and enjoying it very much and coming out of the movie theatre with a blazing aura caused by the Joss Whedon fangirl reactor in the core of my being going into meltdown.
So there's that.
But I have to admit, that I was a little distracted by the bad hair. So who are the worst offenders in this merry band of superheroes and what else do they have to offer? (Don't worry there aren't any spoilers)
Ironman - Rich, smart, witty, and very nearly a human robot. He certainly gets all the best lines in the movie. On the downside he's hugely arrogant and has what I think of as a "douchebag beard". Aggressively geometric and overgroomed, it prompted me to ask myself "is that an isosceles or scalene sideburn?". This is not the sort of question I wish to be pondering in this sort of movie.
Hawkeye - We don't really get to find out very much about Hawkeye. He shoots things with arrows and has puppy-dog eyes. I mean, I'm sure that's very nice for him but it's not overly exciting for the rest of us. His hair is largely inoffensive. Are his lack of character involvement and lack of emphatic haircut coincidental?
Captain America - He has easily the worst outfit of all of them (if you're going to dress like a flag vomited on you it should really be for a special occasion...like your wedding). He also has an awesome shield and an inability to understand pop culture references because he's from the forties. Also has the worst hair of the entire group by quite a long stretch...because he's from the forties.
Black Widow - In movies like this "The Chick" is usually pretty kick ass right up until she's suddenly not and then has to be rescued by the guy who she's romantically interested in. Thank you, Joss Whedon, for not doing that to us for the millionth time in cinematic history.
Black Widow is far less annoying in this film than I thought she'd be and is pretty awesomely fighty. Not to mention being quite tricky. Unfortunately she also has super-fake looking red hair. It's like they left her head out in the rain to rust or something. Honestly, they spend millions and millions of dollars on movies but they never can do a convincing ginger dye job on anyone, ever (Exhibit A - Kirsten Dunst in Spiderman. Exhibit B - Kate Winslet in Titanic). They need to call whoever did Gillian Anderson's hair in The X-Files and get them on the case.
The Hulk - When he's not hulking-out Dr Bruce Banner is the most cerebral of The Avengers. Tortured, moody and prone to smashing up the place is fine if you're Pete Doherty but not so good if you're a research scientist. Also, the question of his Magically Giant Pants is never really dealt with. Does anybody else feel that he should, by rights, be walking around in ultra-stretchy sweatpants? You know, just in case? Also his hair is almost as dorky as Captain America's. A side part is not your friend, fellas.
Thor - He's a demi-god with family issues who's bad-ass enough to headbutt someone wearing a helmet. Also, he has the best hair by far which is why I felt the need for a little Thor "pose down" in the movie theatre last week. Sadly when I looked at the photo later I realised my own crowning glory didn't compare favourably so I drew "Thor-hair" over it.
Feeling ambitious I added Thor's hammer as well which prompted the following conversation:
Silver Fox: Why are you drawing a letterbox? Shouldn't you put a little flag on it?
Me: It's not a letterbox. It's Thor's hammer.
Silver Fox: Thor is gonna be pretty mad when he realises you've stolen his letterbox.
Me: It's NOT A LETTERBOX.
I think all that time spent doodling princesses in my youth has stood me in good stead in terms of hair drawing but not so much with regards to ancient weapons of the gods. That thing DOES look like a letterbox.
So consider yourself all up to speed on the Hair-vengers. It really is a very enjoyable movie, if you can get past the bad dos. And I haven't even mentioned the mad ski-jump flickiness of Loki's mane. There's a lot going on in the hair department. I'm sure Samuel L Jackson is thanking his lucky stars he's bald.
Has anyone see The Avengers and what did you think of it? Were you similarly distracted by the hair? Any other suggestions for our 5-vowel-band-playlist?
*An actual brain teaser that the Silver Fox and I puzzled over last night. So far our imaginary vowel-dependent playlist includes Tenacious D, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Fine Young Cannibals, and ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead. What a wild party that would be, huh?
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The Edgar Broughton Band. Before your time.
Completely disagree with your best and worse. Thor has better hair in Thor, his hair in Avengers is terrible. Captain America has the best hair out fo all of them BECAUSE it's from the forties, they made him exactly what a strapping young man from the forties should look like. As for The Hulk, I woudl assume it would be hard to have nice hair when you transform into a monster. Starks hair had flair which is perfect for the kind of person he is and the life he leads. As for Black Window, ok you're semi right, I think scarlette looked better with longer hair like in Iron Man 2, but I'm not a huge fan of her anyway so I didnt care.
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - ha ha ha, best band name ever! Haven't seen the film yet, but really really keen to go along - good to hear a good review about it, thanks, and will of course now look out for the hair...
Really a propos of nothing, when I worked in the Nag's Head in Covent Garden a punk in full plumage came in and asked my boss "'ere John, anywhere round here does live music"?
"Well there's the Royal Opera House over the road".
Totally irrelevant but I thought you might like that.
Thor is awesome, and yes that does look like a letter box............
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Buena Vista Social Club Charlotte Gainsbourg Death Cab for Cutie
@ Moata,
Why is your bag so big? It looks like you have a sleeping bag in there. Or half a dead person. Do you have a sleeping bag?
LOL - "Thor's letterbox".
Yeah, that's it - I actually have nothing to contribute. Oh - except: you could have been in the movie - your awesomely bad drawn-on hair is well... awesomely awful (but nicely drawn).
LOVED THE AVENGERS. Agreed about Black Widow - not as annoying as I had anticipated! And nice to see she could kick butt without being saved.
LMFAO @ the letterbox convo!
Big-brained or not, Paul Henry's not welcome in my house
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text:
Chipped beef
Modern chipped beef product, showing coiled packing
|Place of origin
|United States
|Main ingredients
|Cookbook: Chipped beef Media: Chipped beef
Chipped beef is a form of pressed, salted and dried beef that has been sliced into thin pieces . Some makers smoke the dried beef for more flavor. The modern product consists of small, thin, flexible leaves of partially dried beef, generally sold compressed together in jars or flat in plastic packets. The processed meat producer Hormel once described it as "an air-dried product that is similar to bresaola, but not as tasty."[1]
|This section is written like a manual or guidebook. (February 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Chipped beef is served in many diners and restaurants in the United States as a breakfast item. Creamed chipped beef is standard fare on many such diner menus, especially in the Mid-Atlantic, but has become harder to find in chain restaurants that serve breakfast; among the restaurants still offering chipped beef on toast are Golden Corral and Silver Diner. IHOP no longer offers this on their menus, having substituted sausage gravy, and the same is true for Cracker Barrel restaurants. It is also available from companies such as Stouffer's in a frozen form which can be put on top of separately-prepared toast; it is typically quite salty. For instance, Stouffer's creamed chipped beef contains 590 mg sodium per 5.5 ounces (160 g) serving.[2] The mixture was also, at one point, available from both Freezer Queen and Banquet as "hot sandwich toppers"; as of late 2007, Freezer Queen no longer makes this product, and the Banquet variety is rarely found. Finally, both the Esskay Meat Company of Baltimore and Knauss Foods make a refrigerated version of creamed chipped beef which can be easily microwaved. The meat itself is also available for purchase under the Knauss and Carson's Brand names.
Chipped beef on toast[edit]
Chipped beef on toast (or creamed chipped beef on toast) is a dish comprising a white sauce and rehydrated slivers of dried beef, served on toasted bread. Hormel recommends flavoring the dish with Worcestershire sauce and dried parsley.[citation needed] Chipped beef is also often served on bagels, English muffins, biscuits, home fries, rice, and in casseroles. It is often served in diners in the Northeastern United States, particularly in eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
U.S. military cuisine[edit]
In the United States, chipped beef on toast is commonly served to service members of the United States Armed Forces. It was thus considered emblematic of the military experience, much as pea soup is in Finland or Sweden. In American military slang it is commonly referred to by the dysphemism "Shit On a Shingle" (SOS)—or, "Stew On a Shingle", "Same Old Stuff", "Something On a Shingle", or occasionally "Save Our Stomachs".[citation needed]
Wentworth and Flexner cite no origin for the term, but noted "shingle" for slice of toast has had "some use since 1935" in the U.S. Army, mostly in the expression "shit on a shingle", and the latter had "wide World War II Army use".[3]
Chipped beef on toast (S.O.S.) is the title of a book of military humor.[4] In his World War II book Band of Brothers, Stephen E. Ambrose evokes the military basics:
At the end of May, the men of Easy packed up their barracks bags and … [took] a stop-and-go train ride to Sturgis, Kentucky. At the depot Red Cross girls had coffee and doughnuts for them, the last bit of comfort they would know for a month. They marched out to the countryside and pitched up tents, dug straddle trenches for latrines, and ate the Army's favorite meal for troops in the field, creamed chipped beef on toast, universally known as SOS, or Shit on a Shingle.[5]
This dish was mentioned many times on the 1970s television show M*A*S*H in the mess tent.
Other variations[edit]
While the common S.O.S. base is typically a white sauce made from a roux, a variety of meats may take the place of the chipped beef. These may include tuna, sausage, or ground beef, and may be served over toast, biscuits, or hash browns.
Chipped beef in popular culture[edit]
Over the years, chipped beef has been mentioned in numerous movies and television shows. Examples include:
- In a 1955 Three Stooges short titled "Of Cash and Hash", Larry Fine has an argument with a customer about ordering either fried eggs or creamed chipped beef on toast.
See also[edit]
- Biscuits and gravy
- List of dried foods
- List of military food topics
- List of sandwiches
- List of toast dishes
- ^ "Dried Beef Products". Hormel. Archived from the original on 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
- ^ "Creamed Chipped Beef". Stouffer's.
- ^ Wentworth, Harold; Stuart Berg Flexner (1967). Dictionary of American Slang (supplemented ed.). New York: Thomas Y. Crowell.
- ^ Bertram, Charles S. (2003). Chipped Beef on Toast (S.O.S.). ISBN 0-7414-1554-2.
- ^ Ambrose, Stephen E. (2001). Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 38. ISBN 0-7432-1645-8. Retrieved 2008-09-03.


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Bruce Berkowitz Speaks with Bloomberg – There Is No Free Lunch
Posted by: CanadianValue (IP Logged)
Date: February 13, 2012 10:54AM
Berkowitz comments:
- Not concerned with the European situation.
- Can't recall a time when there is so much focus on an issue and that issue actually turns into a catastrophe (in other words because it is so front and center actions are being taken to address the problem, unlike say the housing bubble which did not get attention until it blew up).
- More worried about the things that nobody is talking about.
- Believes investors will do well with all of the survivors of the financial crisis; that is what happened in prior cycles and will happen again.
- Berkowitz wants about 15 good positions to build around.
- You have to do the homework when it comes to investing; there is no free lunch.
Guru Discussed: Bruce Berkowitz: Current Portfolio, Stock Picks
Stocks Discussed: SPY, DJI, QQQ,
Re Bruce Berkowitz Speaks with Bloomberg There Is No Free Lunch
Posted by: fareastwarriors (IP Logged)
Date: February 14, 2012 09:35AM
stay the course.
Guru Discussed: Bruce Berkowitz: Current Portfolio, Stock Picks
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Feb. 5, 2012
Former Vols defensive back Deon Grant became the 31st Tennessee product to win the Super Bowl on Sunday night. He made six tackles as the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots, 21-17.
Grant made five tackles on defense and one on special teams. The 31 former Vols have combined to win 38 Super Bowls. Grant had played in the Super Bowl with the Carolina Panthers, but lost in Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004.
With the Patriots, Jerod Mayo tied for the game-high in tackles with 11 and forced a fumble. Shaun Ellis made two tackles with New England as well.


text:
SCANS this morning have revealed Parramattas Jarryd Hayne has suffered a grade one tear to his hamstring.
The injury could take between two to four weeks to recover from, placing the NSW fullback in serious doubt for Origin II.
Hayne was forced from the field during Friday night's 38-24 loss to the Roosters after he felt a "pop" in his leg.
The Eels skipper was remaining upbeat this morning tweeting: "Around the clock recovery to be ready for origin2. I'm confident it'll be sweet.''
On a night when the Eels put up a brave fight after a week of turmoil, the injury to Hayne was a huge blow for Parramatta - and the Blues.
If Hayne is ruled out it could open the door for Josh Dugan to make a shock return for the Blues - while Brett Stewart would be an option, although he hasn't played for several weeks because of a back injury.
Parramatta coach Ricky Stuart was last night hoping Hayne could make it back in time for the second Origin game in Brisbane on June 26.
"We will do everything we can for him to give him the best chance for Origin," Stuart said.
Hayne collapsed to the turf in the 74th minute clutching his right hamstring, and immediately told the Parramatta trainer: "I heard a pop."
GALLERY: Friday night NRL action
Asked if he gave Hayne a chance to play in Brisbane, Stuart said: "Absolutely, I think so."
"Our physio Vicki will definitely know exactly what it will take once they know the grading of the hammy."
But Parramatta's physio, Vicki Locke, would not speculate last night on the potential damage or how long Hayne could be sidelined.
Hayne was chasing a Chris Sandow chip kick late in the game when the injury occurred after he fell awkwardly. He came off the field almost immediately.
He was inspirational for NSW on Wednesday night and his loss would be a crushing blow after such a great win for the Blues.
Hayne scored the opening try with a piece of individual brilliance and his defence was outstanding. If he is ruled out it would open the door for Dugan to possibly come into the team.
When Dugan was sacked by Canberra earlier this year for drinking on a rooftop with Blues rookie Blake Ferguson, Laurie Daley refused to rule him out of playing any part in the series.
Dugan was man of the match in his first game back for St George Illawarra and has been steady since.
The Dragons take on the Knights in Newcastle today and by the time Dugan runs out the extent of Hayne's injury should be known.
Originally published as Scans bad news for Hayne, Blues


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The Old Bailey judge, Mr Justice Moses, has begun summing up.
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Key details from Day 23 are as follows:


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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - A pair of former UAB men's basketball players helped the Austin Toros to the 2012 NBA Developmental League title on Saturday night.
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Serbia gives state funeral to former king and family
By Branko Filipovic
OPLENAC, Serbia (Reuters) - Serbian government officials and hundreds of mourners attended the reburial of King Petar II Karadjordjevic and other members of the deposed Yugoslavian royal family on Sunday decades after their deaths in exile - an event seen as an important act of national reconciliation.
The bodies of Petar, his wife Queen Aleksandra, mother Queen Maria and brother Prince Andrej, had been exhumed from cemeteries in the United States, Britain and Greece.
The four coffins draped in Serbian royal flags and escorted by Serb army guardsmen were transferred to the Oplenac royal chapel in the southwestern town of Topola.
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The ceremony was an act of reconciliation between Serbs who supported the royal family or communist forces during World War Two. Continued...


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I love imagining, listening to music, reading some books, painting or drawing, admiring ancient & modern architecture, skyscrapers, megastructures... Want to see many of them. =) My favorite singers are Dido, The Divine Comedy, Keane.
I knew Keane around 2004, but in 2008 I began to love them and became a Keane fan! 'Cause Perfect Symmetry is so fresh to me, I could feel the fun when they made this album. I do love the combination of 80s, the synth, the clap...etc! And I met the band members at HK airport on 12 Aug 2009. It was my first time to take a plane and I never thought that we were on the same flight too!!! and I have seen their two gigs, Hong Kong & Singapore! =D TTRJ, Thank you so much!
And the 3rd time to see Keane was in Beijing in 2011, on 16th Apr, the Hit FM anniversary. One of the most intimate gigs I've been to! Though it's a 11-song set, I enjoy Jesse's bassline pretty much! (His very 1st shows after joining the mad world, and took place in China! :P)


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Annulment - Viewing the evidence
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Sep 15, '10, 1:51 am
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Annulment - Viewing the evidence
I'll attempt to keep this short...
I married in 1986 and in 2005 my wife told me that she wanted to separate because as she put it, she "... was tired of being a wife and a mother." We married when we were both very young (she was 19 / I was 20). Fast-forward to 2007... After about two years of separation, and two years of me waiting and praying for reconciliation, I attempted to move past the pain and rejection and call it quits. I sought out a lawyer with the intention of filing for a divorce and then seek an annulment within the Church. I failed miserably. I couldn't get myself to turn in the paperwork for the divorce. My wife then decided to take over and she filed for a no-fault divorce. The divorce was final in October 2007. It broke my heart. However, I still hadn't lost all hope and continued to pray that reconciliation may yet be possible. By the fall of 2008, with still no sign of any chance of this, I very reluctantly went to my parish priest and inquired about an annulment. A deacon in my parish took over my case and the paperwork was completed and filed. Within approx a month (maybe 2 months) I was notified that my petition had been "pre-screened" and found to be lacking in evidence under the grounds in which I had filed the petition. I took this as a sign from above that perhaps I should not give up and so I accepted it. When my wife (I refuse to refer to her as my ex-wife) was told of the situation, she was concerned. She wasn't concerned because of how it affected her and her situation because to be frank, when we separated, she (for the most part) also separated herself from the Church. She was concerned about how this would affect me. She claims she still loves me, just not in the way that a wife loves a husband. Anyway, she decided to then petition for an annulment herself. Her petition apparently made it past the "pre-screening" because I was sent paperwork to fill out and of course notified of the filing. Fast-forward to present. All of the "evidence" and testimonies have been received and I was just notified that I can make an appointment to come in and review it if I should choose to do so. I have until October 8th and after that (I don't know when) a decision will be rendered by the tribunal.
Here's my question... Should I go in and review this evidence or should I just sign the waiver and allow this to go forward? I'm torn, because I am not sure if my wife told the truth in her statements and what the consequences would be if a decision were made based on a lie(s). I am quite sure that this petition was filed with the intent of "setting me free" to pursue a possible relationship (and marriage) in the future should God place that in my path. Though, since we were married back in 1986 until now, I have never had (nor can I imagine ever having) any thoughts toward this end. Regardless of the tribunal's decision, I'm not going to be happy because whatever way they decide will not answer my prayers for reconciliation with the woman that I still consider to be my wife.
So, should I review this evidence or should I just let it go and live with the possibility that if the annulment is granted that it may have been done so based on a lie or lies?
Obviously, I will accept the decision of the tribunal regardless as I know that Church has the authority to bid and loose. However, I'm conflicted on that matter and I don't know whether its simply my emotions driving me to this or my sense of wanting to ensure the truth is what is considered as opposed to a lie with the intent of causing a "good." As I said, regardless, I will not find happiness in the decision because either way, my wife (the only woman that I have ever loved) has rejected me and continues to do so.
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Sep 15, '10, 4:31 am
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Re: Annulment - Viewing the evidence
praying for you in this heartache
bear in mind your wife gave the evidence from her point of view, her frame of mind, intent, consent etc. at the time of the marriage, including things you may not ever have known. She might not fully know, or even might lie about you and your intent at that time, but she does know about herself. The annulment process should be part of the healing for you, and if the love you still bear for your wife includes a wish to know her better, even what she withheld from you, see the evidence. If this is too painful, let it go without reading, since the process is merely confirming something you both acknowledge, something vital was lacking in your marriage. Allow the Church to judge whether or not that lack renders it invalid. Trust in God to speak through his Church.
Whatever the Lord pleases He does, on heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. Ps. 135
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Sep 15, '10, 4:31 am
Joan M
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Re: Annulment - Viewing the evidence
If such a thing happened to me, I would, most definitely, go and look at the evidence. It does not follow that your wife told lies to obtain an annulment, just because your application was found not to have evidence that could lead to one.
We can never know another person's heart (no matter how much we may love them) because we are human beings. There may truly be evidence in favor of an annulment that comes from her, of which you knew nothing.
View the evidence.
Peace and Love
Joan M.
It's not enough to be good; you need to show it. What would you say of a rose bush which produced only thorns?
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Joan M
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Sep 15, '10, 4:41 am
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Re: Annulment - Viewing the evidence
I'm sorry for your pain, Tietjen. I think it best to view the evidence, especially if you have doubts as to its veracity (even if a lie was indeed, told to "set you free", it remains a lie and in that case could result in the tribuunal declaring invalid something that really always was valid).
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Sep 15, '10, 5:04 am
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Re: Annulment - Viewing the evidence
I have been through an annulment so perhaps my input will be helpful.
You express concern that your wife (ex) may have lied on the application.
Others have mentioned that she may have simply expressed things from her viewpoint in the matter.
The problem, as I see it, is how would you view her "viewpoint" should you choose to view the evidence. A statement that you might consider to be untrue in your eyes, she may see as perfectly correct in her eyes - and vice versa. Even issues that might seem to be "factual errors" might depend upon how one views or interprets them.
I faced the same issue when I filed. Ultimately I chose not to review the evidence. Mainly because I did not want to reopen old wounds and/or set back the healing that I and my ex-wife needed to get on with.
In the end I think that this is true for you as well. You need to heal. Viewing the evidence, in all likelihood, would not promote this healing in you.
My decision was that I needed not view the evidence. I had answered the questions fully and as honestly as I was able. I had to trust that others had done so as well.
Whether my choice is the right choice for you I cannot say. I merely offer my own experience and thoughts.
... if I have all faith so as to move mountians but have not love, I am nothing.
(1Cor 13:2)
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Sep 15, '10, 5:37 am
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Re: Annulment - Viewing the evidence
Here's how the Church looks at it, from what I can gather...
What happened (or didn't happen) ON your wedding day is the focus. There are usually two main principles upon which they will grant an annulment.
1) Insufficient consent of the will. Examples: Either or both were too immature (could've been at 19 & 20!). She was pregnant and they felt they needed to "do the right thing." All their friends were getting married and they felt "pressured" in some way to do likewise. She wanted to get out of her parents home and marriage seemed the easiest way. This sort of stuff. The consent on both parties must be unheeded by outside pressures or influences.
2) Inability of either or both parties to live a sacramental married life. Examples: One or both didn't want children. Or he was an alcoholic. She was a drug addict. He had some mental illness. She never really intended to stay faithful and wanted an "open marriage." That sort of thing.
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Sep 15, '10, 5:48 am
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Re: Annulment - Viewing the evidence
I was told, when my annulment went through, that his statement "didn't match" with the statements of others. And this was part of the whole case for the annulment. So I conclude that if she lied, they will catch it. Don't worry about it.
"Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle: be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil."
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Sep 15, '10, 6:35 am
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Re: Annulment - Viewing the evidence
Originally Posted by
I was told, when my annulment went through, that his statement "didn't match" with the statements of others. And this was part of the whole case for the annulment. So I conclude that if she lied, they will catch it. Don't worry about it.
I thought of this same thing after I had posted. It isn't as though they are only going off what she wrote. There are other statements from other witnesses, plus of course teitjen's own statements.
I found it best to simply be honest, trust others to do the same, trust the tribunal to make a correct decision and then to accept that decision as the Will of God for me.
... if I have all faith so as to move mountians but have not love, I am nothing.
(1Cor 13:2)
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Fulfillment of All Desire
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Sep 15, '10, 7:05 am
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Re: Annulment - Viewing the evidence
If I were you, I would review it. You believe strongly in the validity of your marriage (as you well should anyway, because your marriage IS valid until proven otherwise) and there's nothing wrong with trying all you can to show that you think your marriage is valid.
As far as accepting the Tribunal decision, when you get the decision and if you don't agree, you can still appeal, and your case can even be brought up to Rome. Once a decision is made in Rome, then I guess you have to accept it
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Sep 15, '10, 7:29 am
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Re: Annulment - Viewing the evidence
Originally Posted by
As far as accepting the Tribunal decision, when you get the decision and if you don't agree, you can still appeal, and your case can even be brought up to Rome. Once a decision is made in Rome, then I guess you have to accept it
I was going to say the same thing. You have the right to appeal the first instance verdict to the Roman Rota if you like. With the speed that the Rota looks at cases this can lead to a kind of de facto validity for your marriage that can last decades. People are often widowed before they hear anything back about their case. Add to that, about 90% of the cases that are appealed from the US are overturned by the Rota.
Do you want to be a thorn in her side and fight the annulment or do you just want to let it go? It is all up to you.
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Sep 15, '10, 9:55 am
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Re: Annulment - Viewing the evidence
There is no reason to presume that your wife mispresented the facts but I'd still go look at the evidence if it were my case.
To answer your what-if question--but without implying in any way that your wife necessarily mispresented the facts!--a nullity verdict is just a declaratory finding and it does not unmake a valid marriage.
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Sep 15, '10, 4:52 pm
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Re: Annulment - Viewing the evidence
Originally Posted by
Do you want to be a thorn in her side and fight the annulment or do you just want to let it go? It is all up to you.
I don't want to be a thorn in her side. Regardless what happens with the petition, the fact is we're no longer living as man and wife. Should the Church decide to grant the annulment, I would accept that, though I would not be happy. Should the Church decide that the marriage is valid, I would accept that, though still I would be unhappy because my wife would still continue to live outside the marriage. There simply is no happy ending or peace on this matter for me. Really, the only change that would occur as a result of the tribunal's decision is simply whether or not I refer to my wife as my wife, or I simply refer to her as a friend (we remain on good terms despite the separation and divorce) and whether or not I will continue wearing my wedding band. If nullity is granted, it won't change my circumstances as I have no intention of dating and certainly no intention of marrying. There has only been one lady to whom my heart has/will belong and whether it was in her heart and mind at our wedding or not, I knew that when I vowed to love, honor, and cherish her in 1986 I was doing so until my death. That will not change with a decree.
I want to thank everyone who has given advice on the matter. I truly appreciate every post and have decided that in my case puzzleannie's & JRKH's suggestions are the most appropriate. Reviewing the evidence would more than likely cause a great deal of pain. More pain than I really wish to go through. While I know and understand that there is no way that I can see the truth of what was in my wife's heart at the time of the wedding, I do know what was in my heart and despite how well I think that I know my wife and what she believed and felt at that time, perhaps I was just hoping that it was the same as the way I felt, believed and understood.
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Extended mag for PT709 Slim. Is there such a thing??? Where can I get one????
Haven't been able to find one yet.
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bummer - I would like one too. Maybe aftermarket can help
That every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state. Article 1, Section 26, The Alabama Constitution
Are you looking for capacity or grip extension?
Personally, I would like the option at both.
I find the grip a bit short, but I like it that way for certain concealment conditions. In other circumstances it is not that critical, so I would like 2 more rounds and 3/4 inch added on. An optional magazine would meet both.
That every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state. Article 1, Section 26, The Alabama Constitution
Both. I don't think the added grip length would in any way be a negative.
I would like a mag extension that is not like a curved finger rest, more like the Schearer grip extensions for Glocks.
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LIFESTYLE — 19 March 2012
To be honest, I'm surprised something of this magnitude took so long. Linsanity, for all intents and purposes, is over. The hype surround Jeremy Lin has subsided considerably, not to mention the fact that he has had his fair share of pedestrian performances for the Knicks. Granted, his initial emergence simply just prolonged Mike D'Antoni's divorce from the team, he still provided a spark and media frenzy that would make even Tim Tebow blush. Lin is now the newest pitchman for Volvo and I expect these to continue to roll in. Let's just hope his play can continue so that it will justify the money he's about to encounter.


text:
- Fours
- Sixes
- Wickets
- AN Cook 30
- IR Bell 91
- IJL Trott 43
- JE Root 12
- EJG Morgan 8
- RS Bopara 46*
- JC Buttler 1
- TT Bresnan 19*
- MA Starc 1/75
- MG Johnson 0/44
- CJ McKay 2/38
- SR Watson 1/26
- JP Faulkner 2/48
- AC Voges 0/13
- MR Marsh 0/13
Watson to Cook, OUT, he's done it, Watson makes the breakthrough, drawing Cook into a drive to be caught behind! Cook will feel he should have pinged that through the covers, it was a little wide, on a good length but they've not had any problems hitting on the up this morning - just a thin snick of bat and Cook trudges off having made another solid start but failed to go on
AN Cook c †Wade b Watson 30 (55m 42b 3x4 0x6) SR: 71.42
Starc to Trott, OUT, there's the breakthrough for Australia...Trott chases a wide ball outside off and gets a thin edge through to Wade
IJL Trott c †Wade b Starc 43 (99m 56b 1x4 0x6) SR: 76.78
Faulkner to Bell, OUT, full and straight, Bell gets cleaned up so he won't have a hometown hundred...Bell suggests the ball didn't bounce as he expected, but I just think he missed a straight one
IR Bell b Faulkner 91 (174m 115b 7x4 0x6) SR: 79.13
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JE Root c Bailey b McKay 12 (23m 17b 1x4 0x6) SR: 70.58
McKay to Morgan, OUT, shuffles across and bowled round his legs! McKay suckers him, maybe took the pace off a touch, Morgan going right across and exposing middle and leg stump, tried to wristily flick the ball over backward square leg, missed and the ball hit
EJG Morgan b McKay 8 (23m 12b 0x4 0x6) SR: 66.66
Faulkner to Buttler, OUT, and Buttler's gone second ball, edging on to his stumps! Good areas from Faulkner, not quite wide or full enough for the drive and Buttler played away from his body, not much footwork, the ball cannoning back into his standing leg and then on to middle stump - the gunpowder has exploded in England's face!
JC Buttler b Faulkner 1 (1m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00


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It could be that a bidding war is brewing for Newcastle's top left-back Jose Enrique.
Jose Enrique – has been great for Newcastle
Let's be clear from the start, that we would love for Jose to stay on Tyneside, because he's a good player and been very loyal to the club in his nearly four years on Tyneside, and he always gives 100% when he pulls on the famous black and white shirt of Newcastle.
However, if the Spaniard wants to leave, we'll be honest and say we'd like nothing better than a bidding war to develop between the interested club, who are currently said to be Liverpool, Bayern Much and AC Milan, although there may be others enter the fray.
According to reports in Germany today, Newcastle have received an official bid from German Champions Bayern Munich for Jose, who is now 25 years old.
Jose has only 14 months left on his five year contract, and he was signed by then manager Sam Allardyce in August of 2007 for £6.2M from Villareal, and after a difficult first season, Jose has turned out to be a terrific buy for the club.
The German reports don't know exactly how much has been bid for the player, but are reporting it's definitely in excess of the £9M Liverpool have said to have offered for the player.
There are different amounts being touted around in terms of the fee, and Liverpool legend Phil Thompson a couple of weeks ago said Liverpool would pay £15M for Enrique, but that seems a lot of money for a player with just over a year of his contract left – but we'll take it. 😀
As we said, we hope Jose stays on Tyneside, and there's still a chance he will do just that, but if he does leave, let's make sure Newcastle get as much as they can for him, and invest that money in this summer's transfer market, in terms of fees and wages for players who are coming to Tyneside.
Comments welcome.


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Friday, April 8, 2011 at 02:58PM
I'm a Federal employee and a manager so I'm getting a double whammy. I had to call a staff meeting to address the rumors and explain the shut down to folks. It is one of the HARDEST things I've had to do ever. They can't use thier sick or vacation leave. Can't seek temp employment some where else. Can't volunteer to keep working w/o pay. My admin just came to me in tears. She and her hubby (also a govn't employee) leave almost paycheck to paycheck because they have a special needs child who needs almost 24/7 care and another child that is developmentally delayed. They pay tution for a private school that has a speical program that helps both children. The only thing that I could tell her was that if the shutdown lasts for more than a week, they can file for unemployment...but that's less than 1/2 of there usual pay. What do you say to people in these situations. Sorry doesn't cut it....and they certainly don't give a crap about the "bigger fight" when they can't put food on the table or care for thier kids.
My agency (EPA) was also one of the budget issues and along with planned parenthood is included as a policy "rider" where they are trying to undercut the legislative mandate that we have to protect the health, safety and environment of the american public. Why? Because we slap big business with huge fines and fees when they knowingly break the law and endanger our lives.
I'm just soooo frustrated right now...
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Filippo Inzaghi's hat trick helped AC Milan thrash lowly Torino 5-1 at the San Siro on Sunday. The win puts Milan in joint-second place with Juventus, which managed a last-minute equalizer against Inter. Inter remains 10 points ahead with just six games left in the season.
Beckham, returning to the starting lineup after two games on the bench, provided two assists for
Inzaghi, 35. Inzaghi then completed his hat trick off a Ronaldinho pass in the second half before Kaka netted a penalty, Ivan Franceschini grabbed a consolation, and Massimo
Ambrosini finished off the scoring.
Milan clashes with Juventus on May 10 at the San Siro in a crucial match as head-to-head records separate teams on equal points. Club bosses
have warned Milan coach, Carlo Ancelotti, recently linked with moves to Chelsea and Real Madrid, that third place was the minimum requirement after limping into fifth last season.


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PCC set to auction house built by students
Pitt Community College carpentry students build a home every year to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
The home for sale is a quaint three bedroom, two bathroom bungalow. It is located on the corner of Reedy Branch Road and Warren Drive in Winterville.
Students in the building construction technology program at PCC built the home from scratch. It has a heating and air conditioning system, stainless steel appliances, custom oak cabinets and is energy efficient. The only two items not included in the home are flooring and a refrigerator.
Glenn Morrison is one of the teachers in the department.
"The price of the house is usually our hard cost on the house. And if anything above that is gotten we put it back into our program to buy large equipment that we don't have to ask the tax payers to support us," he said.
Morrison said students are already working on next year's home.
Chris Moore is one of those students.
"It's gonna take about a year to do the whole thing from start to finish. We started with the side work, bands a couple of weeks ago. Now we're doing walls and getting ready to put up the ceiling joist," Moore said.
The auction for the bungalow home starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday.


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2016 BMW 2 Series
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2016 BMW 2 Series Review
Nobody ever talks much about Abraham Lincoln's sister. Big Sis was two years older than Abe, but while he became the great freer of slaves, she's not really remembered at all. Such is the yoke of siblings of the great. BMW's 228i is in a similar bind. The M235i is one of the greatest cars in the land, taking a spot on our 2015 10Best list, but, at a savings of $11,000, does the 228i get its fair share of the familial greatness?
Like the rest of the 2-series family, the 228i is built on bones derived from the F30-generation 3-series. It's the follow-up to the 1-series coupe/convertible; the silhouette is similar, but the car is 2.5 inches longer, 1.0 inch wider, and stretched 1.2 inches between the axles. And, for 2015, all-wheel drive is available on this littlest BMW for the first time. (It was never offered on the 1.) On both the 228i and the M235i, xDrive is an $1800 option. A 240-hp 228i xDrive coupe is our first four-wheel-drive 2-series test car. As in all of its applications, the 2.0-liter four is surprisingly stout. It whips the little coupe to 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds—a tenth behind the rear-drive 228i. The AWD version's quarter-mile exactly matches the rear-driver's at 13.7 seconds and 101 mph. Auditory accompaniment is aggressively gruff, such that you expect to feel a coarseness but you don't. It's about as gnarly as this engine is going to get, and we like it. We also like how tidy the 2-series feels. It's refreshing, in this age of bloat, to get into a car that actually feels compact. Its small size makes it feel as if you could steer the 2-series through your front door and into the living room, where you'd kick back on the couch and prop your heels on the BMW's roof. BMW's engineers might have had ottomans on the brain when they were tuning the 228i xDrive chassis, because it's a bit more relaxed than we'd prefer. The steering is quick, but it's also light and not particularly communicative. Skidpad grip, at 0.87 g, is sufficient for Sunday drives, but the 183-foot stop from 70 mph would have landed the 228i in last place in our most-recent minivan comparison test. Blame the low-rolling-resistance all-season rubber for that one, but credit fine chassis tuning for extracting otherwise respectable performance in spite of the tires. As it is, the 228i xDrive is so stable that it had us wishing for more power—say, the M235i's 320-horse straight-six.
Reminiscent of classic BMW coupes of yore, the 2-series offers connected steering, rev-loving engines, and corner-hugging handling. (There's a convertible, too.) The base engine is a 240-hp 2.0-liter turbo four; a Track Handling package adds an adaptive suspension and upgraded steering and brakes. The M235i (a 2016 10Best) has a 320-hp 3.0-liter turbo six. Transmission choices for all are either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic. Rear-drive is standard; all-wheel drive is optional.
2016 BMW 2 Series 228i xDrive
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- Exhibit or advertise at our next expo in New York
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Our prestigious visual media expos in New York, Chicago, Boston and Toronto are the only ones of their kind in North America, and are the meeting-place of choice for top professional visual media buyers and sellers. They offer you the opportunity to create all-important personal connections and to demonstrate the best your business can offer to a wide range of buyers of visual media.
Our industry directory of over 1,000 suppliers of photography, footage and illustration is the most comprehensive available anywhere. It contains names and contact details of owners and senior executives, making it an invaluable resource for researching potential partners – and competitors.
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Movie Stars and Golf
The love affair between Hollywood and golf spans across generations. From Bob Hope and Bing Crosby to Clint Eastwood and Samuel L. Jackson, Tinseltown's A-listers continue to flock to the game.
© 1995-2017 PGA TOUR, Inc | All Rights Reserved.
PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Web.com Tour, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks.
Web.com is also a registered trademark used here with permission, and used in the Web.com Tour logo with permission.


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PrivateObject have been included in Visual Studio 2005 team edition but since the release of Visual Studio 2008 they have been included in the professional edition, making them available for a wider number of developers. So what's the fuss all about? Simply as I've stated in earlier posts a PrivateObject allows you to access private members of an object. This can be extremely useful when unit testing an application as combined with mock objects these can create the mechanism that allows tests to be conducted in isolation.
For example, take a look at the class diagram below. In this scenario the person class provides the method CalculatePay this will return the amount of pay an employee should receive. To do this the Person class will make a call to the GetHours() method of a persons TimeSheet. The time sheet is declared as a private variable and is therefore inaccessible to anything outside of the Person class.
So how do we test the CalculatePay method? The TimeSheet class will possibly make calls to a database or an enterprise system that holds this data therefore introducing many possible points of failure, so simply testing all at once won't give us the full benefit of unit testing, it might tell us something has gone wrong but it can't tell us what or where, and we all love error message that tell us something has gone wrong contact your administrator, personally I hate this type of error, if something has gone wrong I'd like to know what it is exactly as this can save significant time when fixing the problem. The way we get the specific details of what has gone wrong is isolating the tests, only by isolating the tests and completely controlling the situation can we accurately predict what a method should do, and the way I go about this is using Mock objects and the PrivateObject class.
For more details on Mock Objects see my post on the topic.
In this solution I will make the TimeSheet class implement an interface that defines the GetHours method. I will then create a new class called MockTimeSheet that implements the same interface. However the MockTimeSheet class will return a hard coded value for the hours work, this is important as a hard coded value allows me to know exactly what to expect when I call the method. After defining the mock object I will use the PrivateObject to update the private fields of the Person class before running the test.
We'll start to implement this example and as always we'll start by implementing the unit tests first.
namespace Payroll{ interface ITimeSheet { double GetHours(); }}
using Payroll;namespace PayrolTests{ public class MockTimeSheet: ITimeSheet { public double GetHours() { return 38; } }}
[TestMethod()]public void CalculatePayTest(){ Person person = new Person(); person.HourlyRate = 10.00; PrivateObject po = new PrivateObject(person); po.SetField("_timeSheet", new MockTimeSheet()); double pay = person.CalculatePay(); Assert.AreEqual(38, pay, "Calculated pay does not match the expected pay!");}
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The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent
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WTT: Stance GR+ coilovers with ~20k miles for:
Equal or better quality coilovers that are softer and more suitable for daily driving.
Due to recent job changes, I am required to drive long distances and although I love the responsiveness of the Stance, it can be a bit of a rough ride. If you are looking for a slightly more aggressive setup, these will work for you.
Let me know what you got, keep in mind my car is a wagon. I would need to test drive your car's setup before agreeing to trade.


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Occupational therapy prepares you for the simple and more complex tasks you need to perform each day – from grooming, dressing and cooking to work skills specific to your job. OT is an important part of your recovery to full function and independence after an injury, surgery or debilitating condition. Our team works closely with you to get you back to your life, moving and feeling well.
Occupational therapy services may include:
Your therapist works with you (and a family member if you wish) to determine your goals and challenges, then develops a customized plan that helps you achieve them. Upon completion of therapy, a discharge evaluation ensures goals continue to be met and is an opportunity to develop a plan as you continue your therapy independently at home.
Throughout your therapy, the IBJI rehab team works hard to ensure you can return to life with the most comfort, mobility, and functionality possible
Find the Location nearest you or contact any office for a recommendation on the best therapist for your needs. Whether you need to recover from surgery or build endurance, IBJI occupational therapy specialists will help you find the best treatment path for you.


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Posted by William Band on April 27, 2011
In the midst of all the buzz in the CRM space about "social" and "mobile" CRM spotlighted in my recent reports, I am observing another important trend. There is a convergence of customer relationship management (CRM) and business process management suite (BPMS) solutions to support better customer experiences and deeper customer engagement.
Our research shows that only 10% of companies deliver outstanding customer experiences. The laggards have a choice: They can either continue to whistle while passing the graveyard, or make a bold, sweeping stroke by focusing on deeper engagement with their customers. How? By taking a hard look at business processes that traverse organizational silos, bringing the back office closer to the front office while transforming strategic cross-functional processes.
Customer service managers in particular struggle to balance customer experience and cost: siloed communication channels, impersonal service, and an inability to enforce company processes or meet regulatory compliance negatively affect satisfaction and increase costs.
To resolve this dilemma, there is continued interest in traditional "record-centric" CRM solutions, but I also see more adoption of "process-centric" BPMS solutions. In fact, the characteristics of these two are converging in the latest releases from the respective vendors.
Posted by Harley Manning on April 25, 2011
Every year in January, Forrester publishes its Customer Experience Index (CxPi), which reports how customers rate their interactions with major companies. We learn a lot from studying leaders in various industries — like USAA, which was the top credit card provider, top bank, and top insurance provider this year.
Last week, we published a follow-up report, which examined companies that raised their CxPi scores by at least five points year over year. Among others, these brands included Aetna (up six points), Citi's credit card business (up 12 points), Charter Communications (up 20 points as an ISP and up seven points as a TV service provider), and Office Depot (up nine points). Our goal was to discover what, if anything, these firms did to earn their improvements.
And as it turned out, their big gains came as a result of major efforts.
Our research uncovered customer experience initiatives that fell into two buckets. The first bucket was business process re-engineering. Efforts here included creating or enhancing voice of the customer programs, measuring customer experience consistently across the enterprise, and changing incentive programs to reward customer-centric behavior by employees.
But perhaps the biggest impact came from upgrading the customer experience governance process at the enterprise level. For example, Aetna transformed its decentralized part-time customer experience task force into a full-time enterprise customer experience team. Cox Communications made an even more drastic change, consolidating any function with material customer interactions into one group led by a new senior vice president of customer operations.
Posted by Megan Burns on April 19, 2011
Lately I've noticed a theme in my conversations with customer experience professionals — they're feeling a bit overwhelmed as to where to start the enterprise customer experience transformation process. Some aren't sure what to do first, second, and third. Others have a plan but are struggling to get executives to understand it and lend their support (a.k.a. resources).
To help clients solve that problem, I'm leading a workshop called Transforming Your Firm's Customer Experience on May 11th at Forrester's New York City office. It's a one-day workshop that starts with an overview of the state of the practice in customer experience today and then takes attendees through our latest research on how to:
I'll share what's working inside real companies and lead a series of exercises designed to help attendees benchmark their own firms against best practices. At the end of the day, we'll put it all together into a set of customized, actionable steps designed to jump-start your customer experience program.
This session will be an educational, interactive, and entertaining way to figure out how to start turning your organization into a customer experience powerhouse. For more information and a detailed agenda, please visit the event page for this workshop. I hope to see you in New York!
Posted by Paul Hagen on April 12, 2011
Like it or not, government services face many of the same pressures that companies face. Companies like Amazon.com, USAA, Disney, and Zappos.com raise customer expectations when they deliver stellar service. As they raise the bar, other companies and government agencies risk getting fired when they fail to deliver the value that customers expect, make customers jump through hoops to access it, or begrudgingly deliver it through unengaged employees. Customers and citizens simply choose to take their money elsewhere.
It's through this lens that I've watched the recent battles over state budgets and public employees along with their unions. When citizens don't perceive they're getting a good value for the buck, they take their money elsewhere, even if that is through the ballot box — no wonder, when the citizen experience is so often sub-par.
Here are a few examples I've witnessed just in the past couple weeks: A group of on-duty cops spend an hour drinking coffee in Starbucks when people don't feel comfortable walking around the streets a few blocks away; DMV workers look bored and move at the pace of sloths while I spend an hour waiting in line, even though they're likely making way more money than the waitress at a local restaurant who's super-friendly and efficient; a public transportation worker holds a sign at a street car stop urging people to smile, even when the lines often experience large delays; a gruff postal worker begrudgingly gets off his stool to get my package and then throws it on the counter.


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Dog-friendly Switzerland Valais Cottages & Satellite Television
Chalet Venus is a cosy and traditional chalet apartment with a wonderful central location in the village. Just 200 metres from the Sunnegga Express lift station making it easy for you and your pooch to explore the mountains. Recently renovated, Venus has a superb wood burning fireplace and a sunny terrace with stunning…
The Zeus 2 Mountain Chalet is a spacious and modern alpine penthouse – perfect for pooches and their owners who enjoy a little luxury. Situated at the head of the village and close to the Sunnegga Express base station, Zeus 2 is easy to access and allows for trouble-free exploring. It's the place to be for…
Situated close to the main street and the Sunnegga Express base lift station, the very spacious 170m Zeus 1 Penthouse is on the top floor (with lift access) of a recent chalet with an unmatched view over the Zermatt village rooftops dominated by the Matterhorn.
- 1


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I'm really new to using credit/debit cards and right now I'm using Navy Federal
There is a NavCheck option and I know there's a $500 limit for overdrafting
I also know that it's an option when you don't have anymore balance in your checking account and really need money for emergencies.
Other than that, how does the NavCheck work?
Does it have an interest rate? If so, how often and how much do they charge you for it?
Does it affect your credit score?


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Kitchen Accessories Created From Refrigerator Leftovers
Designers looked to create harmony between food and serving products.
Designing a product usually starts with a sketch or some 3d modeling on the computer. Japanese designers Kurasuhito Kurasutokoro and Yusuke Komatsu went a different direction and rummaged through the vegetable bin in a refrigerator looking for ideas. They found some leftover slices of onion, apple and lotus root. Noticing an interesting contrast in shapes between the sliced faces and the natural sides, the pair imagined new uses for each of the vegetables but it required capturing their shapes in a longer lasting material.
The result is Cut Piece, a collection of vegetable leftovers cast in pure copper. Kurasuhito Kurasutokoro's idea was to merge food with products designed for the table. Like the original organic leftovers, the cast objects which don't have a finish coating will develop their own patina and age over time. The shapes suggest use but are versatile enough to have multiple functions.
Onion segments separate to become chopstick holders.
Lotus root and onion slices can be used as trivets for tea kettles or hot cups.
Cherry stems can be used for serving appetizers.
An apple slice becomes a cookbook weight and page holder.
Appropriating objects for design isn't new but these products contain both a very personal narrative and one most people can universally identify with. We all probably have an onion slice just like these lingering in our own fridge.
Cut Piece was shown at Japan@BKLYN DESIGNS, an exhibition of work featuring Brooklyn-inspired designers from Japan.


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San Francisco, CA
At ODADA (Orlando Diaz-Azcuy Design Associates), our focus is on high-end residential projects and luxury hospitality. Our internationally-renowned work requires attention to detail and our studio of professionals is comprised of a mix of talented designers and architects. We are located a block from Union Square in San Francisco.
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As men get older, their prostate may grow bigger and block the flow of urine or interfere with sexual function. This common condition, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is not cancer, but it can cause many of the same symptoms as prostate cancer. Although BPH may not be a threat to life, it may require treatment with medicine or surgery to relieve symptoms. An infection or inflammation of the prostate, called prostatitis, may also cause many of the same symptoms as prostate cancer. Again, it is important to check with a doctor.
This answer is based upon information from the National Cancer Institute.


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Brake Repair
Brakes are one of the most important components on your vehicle. You need the confidence of knowing that when you press your foot to the brake, your vehicle is going to stop. That's why it's important to keep these tips in mind to help keep your brakes functioning properly.
Your batteries are rechargeable, and it's always a good idea to carry jumper cables in your vehicle in case of emergencies. You never know when you may need to jump start your vehicle, or even help out another driver in need.
Oil Change
Your vehicle relies on oil, lubrication and an oil filter to keep it running smoothly. Every three months or 3,000 miles, your vehicle should be ready for an oil change. Check owner's manual for specific recommendations for your vehicle.
Roadside Service
Cape & Islands Tire is always here for you, no matter where you are! Contact us for details.
Do you feel like you are constantly inflating and re-inflating your tires? If you want a better, more efficient way to keep your tires inflated, you should try nitrogen inflation
Tire Balancing
Balancing your tires is important. If overlooked, unbalanced tires can lead to uneven wear, vibration and potentially unsafe driving conditions.
Tire Installation
Tires should be selected by the correct size for the vehicle, and should be purchased in sets of four, or at least matching sets of two on each axle.
Flat Tire Repair
Flat tires are very inconvenient. While there is little you can do to prevent a flat tire, you can help minimize the hassle and damage to your tire by being prepared.
Tire Rotation
Rotating your tires is essential for keeping your tires lasting longer. Rotating your tires means moving them from one side of the vehicle to the other, moving them from front to back or a combination of both.
Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment is the position of your wheels relative to your vehicle. When properly aligned, your wheels will point in the same direction as the vehicle.


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Monday ! Today my carpeting is supposed to be coming in also I bought a bushing for my gas pedal from 4crawler because PO neglected to lmk the cable was being held on by a ball of duct tape .
I got it here and am very pleased with it:


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Submit your business, project or organization to our regional directory
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Our latest project is to raise awareness of products that are made or grown in the region, sustainable and ethically produced and engaging with local businesses and growers for the creation of an open source "Made in Cascadia" regional directory and brand. We plan to give a pack of digital assets to these businesses that they can use in their promotional material and/or on their packaging. In return, we will help promote these businesses and products, with the ultimate aim of being able to certify local companies as having high ethical and environmental standards.
Email firstname.lastname@example.com to be involved.
Our four focus areas are:
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Our activities will include the Cascadia Buy Local Campaign, discounts for members, Made in Cascadia branding, facilitating regular networking and educational events with our members, and maintaining an online business directory.
If you a business interested in partnering our would like to join this project, please email: