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Following migration of primordial germ cells to the genital ridge, oogonia undergo several rounds of mitotic division and enter meiosis at approximately E13.5. Most oocytes arrest in the dictyate (diplotene) stage of meiosis circa E18.5. The genes necessary to drive oocyte differentiation in parallel with meiosis are unknown. Here, we have investigated whether expression of spermatogenesis and oogenesis bHLH transcription factor 1 (
Yong-Hyun Shin, Yu Ren, Hitomi Suzuki, Kayla J. Golnoski, Hyo won Ahn, Vasil Mico, Aleksandar Rajkovic
The spermatogenesis/oogenesis helix-loop-helix (SOHLH) proteins SOHLH1 and SOHLH2 play important roles in male and female reproduction. Although previous studies indicate that these transcriptional regulators are expressed in and have in vivo roles in postnatal ovaries, their expression and function in the embryonic ovary remain largely unknown. Because oocyte differentiation is tightly coupled with the onset of meiosis, it is of significant interest to determine how early oocyte transcription factors regulate these two processes. In this issue of the
T. Rajendra Kumar
The mechanisms underlying the neurodevelopmental deficits associated with CHARGE syndrome, which include cerebellar hypoplasia, developmental delay, coordination problems, and autistic features, have not been identified. CHARGE syndrome has been associated with mutations in the gene encoding the ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler CHD7. CHD7 is expressed in neural stem and progenitor cells, but its role in neurogenesis during brain development remains unknown. Here we have shown that deletion of
Danielle E. Whittaker, Kimberley L.H. Riegman, Sahrunizam Kasah, Conor Mohan, Tian Yu, Blanca Pijuan Sala, Husam Hebaishi, Angela Caruso, Ana Claudia Marques, Caterina Michetti, María Eugenia Sanz Smachetti, Apar Shah, Mara Sabbioni, Omer Kulhanci, Wee-Wei Tee, Danny Reinberg, Maria Luisa Scattoni, Holger Volk, Imelda McGonnell, Fiona C. Wardle, Cathy Fernandes, M. Albert Basson
Failure of trabecular myocytes to undergo appropriate cell cycle withdrawal leads to ventricular noncompaction and heart failure. Signaling of growth factor receptor ERBB2 is critical for myocyte proliferation and trabeculation. However, the mechanisms underlying appropriate downregulation of trabecular ERBB2 signaling are little understood. Here, we have found that the endocytic adaptor proteins NUMB and NUMBL were required for downregulation of ERBB2 signaling in maturing trabeculae. Loss of NUMB and NUMBL resulted in a partial block of late endosome formation, resulting in sustained ERBB2 signaling and STAT5 activation. Unexpectedly, activated STAT5 overrode Hippo-mediated inhibition and drove YAP1 to the nucleus. Consequent aberrant cardiomyocyte proliferation resulted in ventricular noncompaction that was markedly rescued by heterozygous loss of function of either ERBB2 or YAP1. Further investigations revealed that NUMB and NUMBL interacted with small GTPase Rab7 to transition ERBB2 from early to late endosome for degradation. Our studies provide insight into mechanisms by which NUMB and NUMBL promote cardiomyocyte cell cycle withdrawal and highlight previously unsuspected connections between pathways that are important for cardiomyocyte cell cycle reentry, with relevance to ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy and regenerative medicine.
Maretoshi Hirai, Yoh Arita, C. Jane McGlade, Kuo-Fen Lee, Ju Chen, Sylvia M. Evans
Rapid impulse propagation in the heart is a defining property of pectinated atrial myocardium (PAM) and the ventricular conduction system (VCS) and is essential for maintaining normal cardiac rhythm and optimal cardiac output. Conduction defects in these tissues produce a disproportionate burden of arrhythmic disease and are major predictors of mortality in heart failure patients. Despite the clinical importance, little is known about the gene regulatory network that dictates the fast conduction phenotype. Here, we have used signal transduction and transcriptional profiling screens to identify a genetic pathway that converges on the NRG1-responsive transcription factor ETV1 as a critical regulator of fast conduction physiology for PAM and VCS cardiomyocytes.
Akshay Shekhar, Xianming Lin, Fang-Yu Liu, Jie Zhang, Huan Mo, Lisa Bastarache, Joshua C. Denny, Nancy J. Cox, Mario Delmar, Dan M. Roden, Glenn I. Fishman, David S. Park
Mutations in the T-box transcription factor TBX20 are associated with multiple forms of congenital heart defects, including cardiac septal abnormalities, but our understanding of the contributions of endocardial TBX20 to heart development remains incomplete. Here, we investigated how TBX20 interacts with endocardial gene networks to drive the mesenchymal and myocardial movements that are essential for outflow tract and atrioventricular septation. Selective ablation of
Cornelis J. Boogerd, Ivy Aneas, Noboru Sakabe, Ralph J. Dirschinger, Quen J. Cheng, Bin Zhou, Ju Chen, Marcelo A. Nobrega, Sylvia M. Evans
The molecular mechanisms that underlie spleen development and congenital asplenia, a condition linked to increased risk of overwhelming infections, remain largely unknown. The transcription factor TLX1 controls cell fate specification and organ expansion during spleen development, and
Elisa Lenti, Diego Farinello, Kazunari K. Yokoyama, Dmitry Penkov, Laura Castagnaro, Giovanni Lavorgna, Kenly Wuputra, Lisa L. Sandell, Naomi E. Butler Tjaden, Francesca Bernassola, Nicoletta Caridi, Anna De Antoni, Michael Wagner, Katja Kozinc, Karen Niederreither, Francesco Blasi, Diego Pasini, Gregor Majdic, Giovanni Tonon, Paul A. Trainor, Andrea Brendolan
Hemodynamic shear forces are intimately linked with cardiac development, during which trabeculae form a network of branching outgrowths from the myocardium. Mutations that alter Notch signaling also result in trabeculation defects. Here, we assessed whether shear stress modulates trabeculation to influence contractile function. Specifically, we acquired 4D (3D + time) images with light sheets by selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) for rapid scanning and deep axial penetration during zebrafish morphogenesis. Reduction of blood viscosity via
Juhyun Lee, Peng Fei, René R. Sevag Packard, Hanul Kang, Hao Xu, Kyung In Baek, Nelson Jen, Junjie Chen, Hilary Yen, C.-C. Jay Kuo, Neil C. Chi, Chih-Ming Ho, Rongsong Li, Tzung K. Hsiai
The sinoatrial node (SAN) maintains a rhythmic heartbeat; therefore, a better understanding of factors that drive SAN development and function is crucial to generation of potential therapies, such as biological pacemakers, for sinus arrhythmias. Here, we determined that the LIM homeodomain transcription factor ISL1 plays a key role in survival, proliferation, and function of pacemaker cells throughout development. Analysis of several
Xingqun Liang, Qingquan Zhang, Paola Cattaneo, Shaowei Zhuang, Xiaohui Gong, Nathanael J. Spann, Cizhong Jiang, Xinkai Cao, Xiaodong Zhao, Xiaoli Zhang, Lei Bu, Gang Wang, H.S. Vincent Chen, Tao Zhuang, Jie Yan, Peng Geng, Lina Luo, Indroneal Banerjee, Yihan Chen, Christopher K. Glass, Alexander C. Zambon, Ju Chen, Yunfu Sun, Sylvia M. Evans
Head morphogenesis requires complex signal relays to enable precisely coordinated proliferation, migration, and patterning. Here, we demonstrate that, during mouse head formation, taspase1-mediated (TASP1-mediated) cleavage of the general transcription factor TFIIA ensures proper coordination of rapid cell proliferation and morphogenesis by maintaining limited transcription of the negative cell cycle regulators
Shugaku Takeda, Satoru Sasagawa, Toshinao Oyama, Adam C. Searleman, Todd D. Westergard, Emily H. Cheng, James J. Hsieh
Appropriate development of stratified, squamous, keratinizing epithelia, such as the epidermis and oral epithelia, generates an outer protective permeability barrier that prevents water loss, entry of toxins, and microbial invasion. During embryogenesis, the immature ectoderm initially consists of a single layer of undifferentiated, cuboidal epithelial cells that stratifies to produce an outer layer of flattened periderm cells of unknown function. Here, we determined that periderm cells form in a distinct pattern early in embryogenesis, exhibit highly polarized expression of adhesion complexes, and are shed from the outer surface of the embryo late in development. Mice carrying loss-of-function mutations in the genes encoding IFN regulatory factor 6 (IRF6), IκB kinase-α (IKKα), and stratifin (SFN) exhibit abnormal epidermal development, and we determined that mutant animals exhibit dysfunctional periderm formation, resulting in abnormal intracellular adhesions. Furthermore, tissue from a fetus with cocoon syndrome, a lethal disorder that results from a nonsense mutation in
Rebecca J. Richardson, Nigel L. Hammond, Pierre A. Coulombe, Carola Saloranta, Heidi O. Nousiainen, Riitta Salonen, Andrew Berry, Neil Hanley, Denis Headon, Riitta Karikoski, Michael J. Dixon
Defective neurogenesis in the postnatal brain can lead to many neurological and psychiatric disorders, yet the mechanism behind postnatal neurogenesis remains to be investigated. Huntingtin-associated protein 1 (HAP1) participates in intracellular trafficking in neurons, and its absence leads to postnatal death in mice. Here, we used tamoxifen-induced (TM-induced) Cre recombination to deplete HAP1 in mice at different ages. We found that HAP1 reduction selectively affects survival and growth of postnatal mice, but not adults. Neurogenesis, but not gliogenesis, was affected in HAP1-null neurospheres and mouse brain. In the absence of HAP1, postnatal hypothalamic neurons exhibited reduced receptor tropomyosin-related kinase B (TRKB) levels and decreased survival. HAP1 stabilized the association of TRKB with the intracellular sorting protein sortilin, prevented TRKB degradation, and promoted its anterograde transport. Our findings indicate that intracellular sorting of neurotrophin receptors is critical for postnatal neurogenesis and could provide a therapeutic target for defective postnatal neurogenesis.
Jianxing Xiang, Hao Yang, Ting Zhao, Miao Sun, Xingshun Xu, Xin-Fu Zhou, Shi-Hua Li, Xiao-Jiang Li
Whether facultative β cell progenitors exist in the adult pancreas is a major unsolved question. To date, lineage-tracing studies have provided conflicting results. To track β cell neogenesis in vivo, we generated transgenic mice that transiently coexpress mTomato and GFP in a time-sensitive, nonconditional Cre-mediated manner, so that insulin-producing cells express GFP under control of the insulin promoter, while all other cells express mTomato (INSCremTmG mice). Newly differentiated β cells were detected by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, taking advantage of their transient coexpression of GFP and mTomato fluorescent proteins. We found that β cell neogenesis predominantly occurs during embryogenesis, decreases dramatically shortly after birth, and is completely absent in adults across various models of β cell loss, β cell growth and regeneration, and inflammation. Moreover, we demonstrated upregulation of neurogenin 3 (NGN3) in both proliferating ducts and preexisting β cells in the ligated pancreatic tail after pancreatic ductal ligation. These results are consistent with some recent reports, but argue against the widely held belief that NGN3 marks cells undergoing endocrine neogenesis in the pancreas. Our data suggest that β cell neogenesis in the adult pancreas occurs rarely, if ever, under either normal or pathological conditions.
Xiangwei Xiao, Zean Chen, Chiyo Shiota, Krishna Prasadan, Ping Guo, Yousef El-Gohary, Jose Paredes, Carey Welsh, John Wiersch, George K. Gittes
Recently, heterozygous mutations in GATA6 have been found in neonatal diabetic patients with failed pancreatic organogenesis. To investigate the roles of GATA4 and GATA6 in mouse pancreas organogenesis, we conditionally inactivated these genes within the pancreas. Single inactivation of either gene did not have a major impact on pancreas formation, indicating functional redundancy. However, double Gata4/Gata6 mutant mice failed to develop pancreata, died shortly after birth, and displayed hyperglycemia. Morphological defects in Gata4/Gata6 mutant pancreata were apparent during embryonic development, and the epithelium failed to expand as a result of defects in cell proliferation and differentiation. The number of multipotent pancreatic progenitors, including PDX1+ cells, was reduced in the Gata4/Gata6 mutant pancreatic epithelium. Remarkably, deletion of only 1 Gata6 allele on a Gata4 conditional knockout background severely reduced pancreatic mass. In contrast, a single WT allele of Gata4 in Gata6 conditional knockout mice was sufficient for normal pancreatic development, indicating differential contributions of GATA factors to pancreas formation. Our results place GATA factors at the top of the transcriptional network hierarchy controlling pancreas organogenesis.
Manuel Carrasco, Irene Delgado, Bernat Soria, Francisco Martín, Anabel Rojas
Myocardin is a muscle lineage–restricted transcriptional coactivator that has been shown to transduce extracellular signals to the nucleus required for SMC differentiation. We now report the discovery of a myocardin/BMP10 (where BMP10 indicates bone morphogenetic protein 10) signaling pathway required for cardiac growth, chamber maturation, and embryonic survival. Myocardin-null (Myocd) embryos and embryos harboring a cardiomyocyte-restricted mutation in the Myocd gene exhibited myocardial hypoplasia, defective atrial and ventricular chamber maturation, heart failure, and embryonic lethality. Cardiac hypoplasia was caused by decreased cardiomyocyte proliferation accompanied by a dramatic increase in programmed cell death. Defective chamber maturation and the block in cardiomyocyte proliferation were caused in part by a block in BMP10 signaling. Myocardin transactivated the Bmp10 gene via binding of a serum response factor–myocardin protein complex to a nonconsensus CArG element in the Bmp10 promoter. Expression of p57kip2, a BMP10-regulated cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, was induced in Myocd–/– hearts, while BMP10-activated cardiogenic transcription factors, including NKX2.5 and MEF2c, were repressed. Remarkably, when embryonic Myocd–/– hearts were cultured ex vivo in BMP10-conditioned medium, the defects in cardiomyocyte proliferation and p57kip2 expression were rescued. Taken together, these data identify a heretofore undescribed myocardin/BMP10 signaling pathway that regulates cardiomyocyte proliferation and apoptosis in the embryonic heart.
Jianhe Huang, John Elicker, Nina Bowens, Xi Liu, Lan Cheng, Thomas P. Cappola, Xiaohong Zhu, Michael S. Parmacek
Sex-determining region Y (SRY) box 2 (SOX2) haploinsufficiency causes a form of hypopituitarism in humans that is characterized by gonadotrophin deficiency known as hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Here, we conditionally deleted Sox2 in mice to investigate the pathogenesis of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. First, we found that absence of SOX2 in the developing Rathke pouch of conditional embryos led to severe anterior lobe hypoplasia with drastically reduced expression of the pituitary-specific transcription factor POU class 1 homeobox 1 (POU1F1) as well as severe disruption of somatotroph and thyrotroph differentiation. In contrast, corticotrophs, rostral-tip POU1F1-independent thyrotrophs, and, interestingly, lactotrophs and gonadotrophs were less affected. Second, we identified a requirement for SOX2 in normal proliferation of periluminal progenitors; in its absence, insufficient precursors were available to produce all cell lineages of the anterior pituitary. Differentiated cells derived from precursors exiting cell cycle at early stages, including corticotrophs, rostral-tip thyrotrophs, and gonadotrophs, were generated, while hormone-producing cells originating from late-born precursors, such as somatotrophs and POU1F1-dependent thyrotrophs, were severely reduced. Finally, we found that 2 previously characterized patients with SOX2 haploinsufficiency and associated hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism had a measurable response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation, suggesting that it is not the absence of gonadotroph differentiation, but rather the deficient hypothalamic stimulation of gonadotrophs, that underlies typical hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism.
Sujatha A. Jayakody, Cynthia L. Andoniadou, Carles Gaston-Massuet, Massimo Signore, Anna Cariboni, Pierre M. Bouloux, Paul Le Tissier, Larysa H. Pevny, Mehul T. Dattani, Juan P. Martinez-Barbera
The most common forms of neurocristopathy in the autonomic nervous system are Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), resulting in congenital loss of enteric ganglia, and neuroblastoma (NB), childhood tumors originating from the sympathetic ganglia and adrenal medulla. The risk for these diseases dramatically increases in patients with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) harboring a nonpolyalanine repeat expansion mutation of the Paired-like homeobox 2b (PHOX2B) gene, but the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis remains unknown. We found that introducing nonpolyalanine repeat expansion mutation of the PHOX2B into the mouse Phox2b locus recapitulates the clinical features of the CCHS associated with HSCR and NB. In mutant embryos, enteric and sympathetic ganglion progenitors showed sustained sex-determining region Y (SRY) box10 (Sox10) expression, with impaired proliferation and biased differentiation toward the glial lineage. Nonpolyalanine repeat expansion mutation of PHOX2B reduced transactivation of wild-type PHOX2B on its known target, dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH), in a dominant-negative fashion. Moreover, the introduced mutation converted the transcriptional effect of PHOX2B on a Sox10 enhancer from repression to transactivation. Collectively, these data reveal that nonpolyalanine repeat expansion mutation of PHOX2B is both a dominant-negative and gain-of-function mutation. Our results also demonstrate that Sox10 regulation by PHOX2B is pivotal for the development and pathogenesis of the autonomic ganglia.
Mayumi Nagashimada, Hiroshi Ohta, Chong Li, Kazuki Nakao, Toshihiro Uesaka, Jean-François Brunet, Jeanne Amiel, Delphine Trochet, Teruhiko Wakayama, Hideki Enomoto
Beare-Stevenson cutis gyrata syndrome (BSS) is a human genetic disorder characterized by skin and skull abnormalities. BSS is caused by mutations in the FGF receptor 2 (FGFR2), but the molecular mechanisms that induce skin and skull abnormalities are unclear. We developed a mouse model of BSS harboring a FGFR2 Y394C mutation and identified p38 MAPK as an important signaling pathway mediating these abnormalities. Fgfr2+/Y394C mice exhibited epidermal hyperplasia and premature closure of cranial sutures (craniosynostosis) due to abnormal cell proliferation and differentiation. We found ligand-independent phosphorylation of FGFR2 and activation of p38 signaling in mutant skin and calvarial tissues. Treating Fgfr2+/Y394C mice with a p38 kinase inhibitor attenuated skin abnormalities by reversing cell proliferation and differentiation to near normal levels. This study reveals the pleiotropic effects of the FGFR2 Y394C mutation evidenced by cutis gyrata, acanthosis nigricans, and craniosynostosis and provides a useful model for investigating the molecular mechanisms of skin and skull development. The demonstration of a pathogenic role for p38 activation may lead to the development of therapeutic strategies for BSS and related conditions, such as acanthosis nigricans or craniosynostosis.
Yingli Wang, Xueyan Zhou, Kurun Oberoi, Robert Phelps, Ross Couwenhoven, Miao Sun, Amélie Rezza, Greg Holmes, Christopher J. Percival, Jenna Friedenthal, Pavel Krejci, Joan T. Richtsmeier, David L. Huso, Michael Rendl, Ethylin Wang Jabs
Patients with mutations in either TGF-β receptor type I (TGFBR1) or TGF-β receptor type II (TGFBR2), such as those with Loeys-Dietz syndrome, have craniofacial defects and signs of elevated TGF-β signaling. Similarly, mutations in TGF-β receptor gene family members cause craniofacial deformities, such as cleft palate, in mice. However, it is unknown whether TGF-β ligands are able to elicit signals in Tgfbr2 mutant mice. Here, we show that loss of Tgfbr2 in mouse cranial neural crest cells results in elevated expression of TGF-β2 and TGF-β receptor type III (TβRIII); activation of a TβRI/TβRIII-mediated, SMAD-independent, TRAF6/TAK1/p38 signaling pathway; and defective cell proliferation in the palatal mesenchyme. Strikingly, Tgfb2, Tgfbr1 (also known as Alk5), or Tak1 haploinsufficiency disrupted TβRI/TβRIII-mediated signaling and rescued craniofacial deformities in Tgfbr2 mutant mice, indicating that activation of this noncanonical TGF-β signaling pathway was responsible for craniofacial malformations in Tgfbr2 mutant mice. Thus, modulation of TGF-β signaling may be beneficial for the prevention of congenital craniofacial birth defects.
Jun-ichi Iwata, Joseph G. Hacia, Akiko Suzuki, Pedro A. Sanchez-Lara, Mark Urata, Yang Chai
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent smoking-related disease for which no disease-altering therapies currently exist. As dysregulated TGF-β signaling associates with lung pathology in patients with COPD and in animal models of lung injury induced by chronic exposure to cigarette smoke (CS), we postulated that inhibiting TGF-β signaling would protect against CS-induced lung injury. We first confirmed that TGF-β signaling was induced in the lungs of mice chronically exposed to CS as well as in COPD patient samples. Importantly, key pathological features of smoking-associated lung disease in patients, e.g., alveolar injury with overt emphysema and airway epithelial hyperplasia with fibrosis, accompanied CS-induced alveolar cell apoptosis caused by enhanced TGF-β signaling in CS-exposed mice. Systemic administration of a TGF-β–specific neutralizing antibody normalized TGF-β signaling and alveolar cell death, conferring improved lung architecture and lung mechanics in CS-exposed mice. Use of losartan, an angiotensin receptor type 1 blocker used widely in the clinic and known to antagonize TGF-β signaling, also improved oxidative stress, inflammation, metalloprotease activation and elastin remodeling. These data support our hypothesis that inhibition of TGF-β signaling through angiotensin receptor blockade can attenuate CS-induced lung injury in an established murine model. More importantly, our findings provide a preclinical platform for the development of other TGF-β–targeted therapies for patients with COPD.
Megan Podowski, Carla Calvi, Shana Metzger, Kaori Misono, Hataya Poonyagariyagorn, Armando Lopez-Mercado, Therese Ku, Thomas Lauer, Sharon McGrath-Morrow, Alan Berger, Christopher Cheadle, Rubin Tuder, Harry C. Dietz, Wayne Mitzner, Robert Wise, Enid Neptune
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Star and co-writer Alice Lowe on Sightseers at Cannes: part three01 Jun, 2012
Alice Lowe and Steve Oram's Sightseers, directed by Ben Wheatley, premiered in Director's Fortnight at Cannes 2012. Here, Alice remembers the response to Sightseers – the ovation, Twitter – and the rest of the festival…
So we get a standing ovation at the end of the film. At the time I have to admit I didn't really know what was happening. But I read it on twitter afterwards. I'm standing there confused but happy that people didn't hate it. I feel like a bit of a dick and sit back down. Then the screening co-ordinators made us get up again. I just think it's maybe some kind of charming French game. People around us are standing and clapping and looking at us, like the leper scene in Jesus Christ Superstar, but nothing like that. I just can't think of a better comparison. All my film references have gone down the toilet. Or are in my rucksack. Which is currently at an unknown location. Richard is crying. He denies this now of course. I look at Steve, and he just looks the same as he always does. When you've been writing with someone for five years, their emotions begin to merge into one. Ben, Amy, Claire, Andy, Nira, just look really happy but equally surprised.
We are ushered into the car with all the urgency of Barack Obama's personal security. I don't know why. 'My rucksack' I whimper, in a pathetic cry. No one hears. 'I bet Nicole Kidman doesn't have a rucksack,' an evil voice whispers in my head. Possibly Tom Cruise. 'That's why she's an internationally successful actress'. 'Yes, but does she have a London A-Z for emergencies?' I respond smugly. I decide to fuck the rucksack and see where the night takes me. Possibly towards a cold night on the beach, but what the hell.
The rest of the night is a blur: we go to the after party, talk to many nice interesting people, eat unusual prawns, talk about wanting to make more films, which doesn't seem so patently absurd now. People apparently say nice things on twitter. Although, typically British, I decide to focus on twitter's Darren Bolton, who says 'Sightseers is the most embarrassing thing he has ever seen'. I give undue attention to this negativity as I feel naturally more comfortable with it. Also, Darren Bolton sounds like someone who would have been a bully at my school, so I feel at home with that too. Then someone finds my lost rucksack, so I slip back into my Converse. Definitely more comfortable now.
At 4am, drunk and happy and hotel-bound, we skip down some steps that I notice look like a priest could fall down them. The Exorcist! I've re-found my film references. Thank god for that.
The next day is press day for me, Steve and Ben. Two lovely hair and makeup artists at the L'Oreal Studio paint the hangover right off my face, and psychologically I am almost fooled. In the lift back down from the L'Oreal Suite, Ewan McGregor gets in, dressed to the nines, with his beautiful wife. I'm so close to him I can smell the fame. It must be awful to be famous, people sniffing you in a lift. I thank my lucky stars.
The press are delightful and enthusiastic. Me and Steve, still new to this, are like excited puppies talking about the film. But it's surprisingly tiring. After a team Sightseers dinner with our wonderful French distributor Manuel and his gorgeous and charming girlfriend, we decide to get a relatively early night. We're going to see Cronenburg's Cosmopolis at 8am the next day. He's one of my favourite directors and it seems a mortal sin to not see a film in Cannes, even if we are there for such a short time. Steve meanwhile has already seen two films. And what was I doing during that time? Having make-up applied. Fake tan is slowing down my ambitions as a filmmaker. Is this why there are less women in Cannes? They're all stuck in the hotel applying bronzer. It's a disaster and I don't know what to do about it. I have to get up at 7am and watch Cosmopolis or it means that I am worthless and should be destroyed. I will do this thing.
8am. We're shooed into the huge cinema at the Palais by Celine, our French press lady. The beginning of the film – I'm not sure, and I'm not sure about R-Pattz either. But as the film continues with it's strange stylised performances, I start to laugh. Especially the 'pie-protester' and the Muslim-convert dead rapper. 'Coming from the streets… to Mecca' rings in my ears well after the film finishes. It completely sets its own tone. It's strange and absurd and original and exactly what I realise Cannes is about. How a festival can, for appearance sake, revolve so much around money, but yet take such artistic risks, is really quite miraculous. I come out with a sense of wonder, and of confusion. What time is it? It's like… 10.30 am. How weird. I've just seen a film. That's Cannes. Let's go swimming!
After swimming, we race to the UK Film tent for the prestigious Palm Dog award ceremony. We've been nominated! Alongside the (admittedly talented but as I've heard, extremely demanding) dogs from The Hunt, Moonrise Kingdom, and Holy Motors. Our flight's at 6 and we have just about enough time to lose out on an award to a dog. I prepare to throw a table, which is my default action for if I ever get nominated for an award and don't win it. We meet the delightful Toby Rose, who runs the award and he amuses me greatly. He makes the press and the audience sing a doggy version of 'My Way'. And then we win! Tears stream down my face as I think of all the times that Smurf licked my face with his tactile and subtle tongue, of the times when I had to repeatedly try to elicit a head turn with the use of a chewed shuttlecock, of the times when I found a salty doggy treat in my pocket well after having finished filming and wondered why my fingers stank of meat… I can't believe it. We have immense fun talking about working with Smurf and chatting with Toby and the panel afterwards. It's the perfect end to the festival. Kate Muir from The Times even takes a picture of my caravan handbag. She doesn't seem to mind that it's not a handbag. For the UK premiere I vow to make a bigger version that you can scrabble around in for a lipliner like King Kong looking for Fay Wray. We won something! Like a kid with a party bag, I'm really really happy.
As we climb in the cab to take us to the airport, the sky turns grey and some big fat droplets of rain spatter the windscreen. Les 'Touristes!' are leaving but the British weather is returning. I'm reminded that I've got an overdraft and less collateral than a Cannes tramp. And a broken kettle. I'm still on the outside looking in, but I feel like I've been chucked a few croissants now. Really nice ones. Filled with gold and strawberry jam. It's been an amazing dreamlike trip: one that couldn't be more different than Chris and Tina's. But one that I'll remember for a long time. I'm too excited about everyone else seeing the film, my family, friends, etc, but we have to wait until the UK release. Meanwhile I'll just enjoy adding Cannes to the Sightseers scrapbook, and remembering that the rocky journey has been worth it.
Click here to read Part One: The Build-Up or Part Two: The Premiere

subset: commoncrawl


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State Rep. Randy Frye (R-Greensburg) today at the Statehouse recognized SkillsUSA with a House Resolution.
Local News
State Rep. Frye Honors SkillsUSA With House Resolution
South Dearborn HS Marching Band Strikes Gold At State Competition
The South Dearborn High School marching band was "golden" at a recent state competition.
Bright Christian Church Far Exceeds Goal To Feed The Hungry In Haiti
Bright Christian Church and the surrounding community recently came together to feed the hungry in Haiti.
Donnelly Lunches With Donald; President Wants Backing Of Justice Nominee
President Donald Trump is trying to sway Indiana Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly to vote for his U.S. Supreme Court nominee.
Police Chase Lasts For 2 Hours; Officer Tried To Stop Suspect For Loud Muffler
It took the fleeing vehicle running out of gas to end a two-hour police chase in Ripley County Thursday night.
Republican Plan To Raise Gas Tax Speeding Toward House Vote
Indiana lawmakers are close to the next step in raising the price at the fuel pump.
Cleves Mayor Stacy Unexpectedly Resigns
The Village of Cleves is going to need a new mayor after Danny Stacy resigned suddenly.
Proposed Pre-K Expansion Bill Passes Major Hurdle
A pre-kindergarten program for low-income Hoosier kids is one step closer to expanding.
LHS Student, Car Buff Organizes "Cruisin For A Cure To ALS" Car Show
A Lawrenceburg High School student-athlete is taking time from his busy schedule to help those who suffer from a debilitating disease.
12-Year-Old Saved From Batesville Apartment Fire On Road To Recovery
A 12-year-old boy continues to recover following a large apartment building fire in downtown Batesville.


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Some players come in with plenty of hype, but never quite seem to match it. Others have a great season, then slip the following year, leaving many to question whether they were one-year wonders. Then there are those who have to bounce back from an injury and show they aren't shells of what they used to be.
Either way, there are plenty of players in the Pac-12 with something to prove in 2012.
Here's a look at six players from the South Division. Tomorrow we'll look at the North.
Matt Scott, QB, Arizona: Public opinion in the first year of the Rich Rodriguez era will be heavily influenced by the success of Scott. He's 4-1 as a starter and Rodriguez has spent plenty of vowels and consonants this spring pumping up his quarterback -- going so far as to thank the previous coaching staff for redshirting Scott last season so he has an opportunity to open his Arizona tenure with a veteran quarterback. At question is whether Scott can put it together for a full season. Rodriguez has gone out of his way to make Scott the face of the new Wildcats. No pressure.
Will Sutton, DT, Arizona State: After missing 2010 due to academic issues, Sutton put up decent numbers in 2011 -- 33 tackles, 5.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks. Not bad, but not as much production as you'd expect from such a hyped player. Also worth noting were his zero forced fumbles last year. Defensive linemen are the first ones to get a shot at the ball, and the elite ones are good at jarring it loose. Sutton could -- nay -- should be one of the elite ones. It will be interesting to see how defensive coordinator Paul Randolph uses him in the new, attacking scheme.
Doug Rippy, LB, Colorado: It's never easy to come back from a torn ACL. But just coming back isn't going to be enough for Rippy. The expectation for him is to come back stronger and be more effective than he was prior to his injury midway through last season. Colorado needs nothing less while renovations continue on the offense. Alongside fellow linebacker Jon Major, Rippy will have to help carry one of the youngest teams in the country. His rehab is on track, which is great news. Because he's going to be carrying a lot of Colorado's weight this year.
Datone Jones, DE, UCLA: Now is the time for Jones to be what everyone thinks he can be. He's moved out of the 4-3 and into the 3-4, which should reduce the double-teams and allow him to use his NFL frame to make a mess of opponents' backfields. For quite some time, people have been talking about how good Jones is. He has the tools, and it's time for him to show he's worthy of the praise.
T.J. McDonald, S, USC: Hold up. McDonald? Really? This guy is a probable first-round draft pick and the leader of the USC defense. What does he have to prove? Plenty, if you ask him. The great ones never rest on their achievements. And McDonald is potentially one of the great ones. The last thing you want to do is leash this guy. But at the same time, the Trojans don't need to lose him to suspensions. He has to prove that he can leash himself when it's called for. Plus, a great year could be the difference between being a single- or double-digit draft pick.
Jordan Wynn, QB, Utah: As a true freshman, he looked like the Salt Lake City savior. And he still might be. But he has to prove that he can stay on the field and play a full season. Wynn is the most polarizing player on the Utah roster -- just read message boards and comments on Wynn stories. But then again, quarterbacks usually are. He has his believers and his detractors. It's up to him this year to shut up the latter.


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Just picked up a '10 V (auto, chromed wheels, no moonroof, no recaros) a few days ago.
What is the interior trim called that looks mostly black with some goldish fibers in it? Im assuming from pics Ive found that the Sapele Wood is actually the woodgrain looking trim shown on the Cadillac website..
I like this stuff a lot more than that fake terrible looking "carbon fiber" I found on used 09s when I was out test driving.


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I love Curls Rock Amplifier. Because it evaporates I don't even really think of it as a regular silicone.
I've been modified CG for a while, so I've been using occasional cones. I've also tried experimenting a much as possible to see what my hair will and will not tolerate. Either I have no idea how to tell, or my hair is generally pretty agreeable. I've had some bad luck with silicone conditioners, but I'm trying a-cone again because I'm reading posts from so many people who are doing well with it.
Wow! So basically you are using it as a LI/sealer? That's kinda what I'm doing, too.
So you are doing ok with just co-washing? I guess since both our cones don't build up, that is likely ok. I'm still going with my usual routine of co-washing, SM low poo, and Organix low poo as needed (coco bet.) - all on different days, of course!! Lol! Just going with what my hair "wants" on any given day. I'm still very early on in my experiments, but so far no issues with build up, etc.
I seem a little TOO soft, though, so more experimenting is clearly needed!
Keep 'em coming, guys! This is interesting!!


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International News
Pirates Sign Seven More International Players
International News
After we heard about the two high profile signings from yesterday, shortstop Adrian Valerio and outfielder Edinson Lantigua, the Pirates also announced the signings of seven more players today. These players are all slightly older players, eligible to sign prior to this July 2nd signing period. They are shortstop Luis Perez, second baseman Raul Siri, lefty pitcher Christian Mota and right-handers Ramon Garcia, Junior Lopez, Julian Villamar and Yunior Montero.
The last player on that list, Yunior Montero, might be a name familiar to Pirates fans. He was originally signed in 2009 for $45,000, but failed the MLB background check and had his contract voided. He had to sit out the season and then the next year he showed improvements, forcing the Pirates into a bidding war. That time they pai...
This content is for Pirates Prospects subscribers only. Subscribers get access to all of our daily articles on the Pirates and their minor league system, with live coverage throughout the system on a daily basis. Our lowest rates are $2.22 per month under our Top Prospect Plan, which also gets you a 40% discount on the 2017 Prospect Guide. Subscribe today to access all of our daily coverage of the Pirates' system.
If you're already a member, you can log in below. If you think you're receiving this message in error, please e-mail email@example.com.
John was born in Kearny, NJ, hometown of the 2B for the Pirates 1909 World Championship team, Dots Miller. In fact they have some of the same relatives in common, so it was only natural for him to become a lifelong Pirates fan. Before joining Pirates Prospects in July 2010, John had written numerous articles on the history of baseball while also releasing his own book and co-authoring another on the history of the game. He writes a weekly article on Pirates history for the site, has already interviewed many of the current minor leaguers with many more on the way and follows the foreign minor league teams very closely for the site. John also provides in person game reports of the West Virginia Power and Altoona Curve.


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Lego Drinking Bottles Feature Lego Minifigure Heads
Posted on February 25, 2014
There is a line of licensed Lego drinking bottles out called Lego Drinking Bottles. The bottles, which hold 400ml, feature a Lego minifigure head on a solid color bottle. The bottles are made from plastic-polypropylene and PVC free. The bottles are BPA-free. The bottles open on both the top and bottom. They are safe to use on the top rack of the dishwasher.
The colors include blue, light blue, red, pink, black and white. They cost $14.99 each. The bottles can be found on Amazon.com.
Photo: Lego Group
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Section 2 Around the Net
> Friday, Jan. 30, 2009
Report: Kljestan's Celtic Move Off
by Soccer America
Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan's price tag has proven to expensive for Glasgow Celtic, reports Ronnie Cully in an "exclusive." He writes that Major League Soccer has "placed a price tag of around £2.5m [$3.6 million] on the 23-year-old. It is understood extra payments based on appearances, plus a ...
Read the whole story
Blatter: FIFA Will Reject Joint World Cup Bids
by Soccer America
FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Friday that soccer's world governing body will reject joint bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups if there are other single-country bids with "certain guarantees," according to the Spanish news agency Efe, citing comments by Blatter at a press conference in Asuncion, Paraguay. ...
Read the whole story
Admiring A Wrestler Or Making A Political Statement?
by Soccer America
When Chelsea's Ivorian forward Salomon Kalou celebrated scoring against Middlesbrough on Wednesday, his post-goal choreography in tandem with compatriot Didier Drogba could, it seems, be interpreted in one of two ways. Either he was showing his admiration for WWE wrestler John Cena, or he was making a statement in support ...
Read the whole story
Overlooked Villa Could Sneak EPL Title
by Soccer America
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill will be pleased that so many people still underestimate his side's chances of winning the Premier League title this season, writes Kevin McCarra. In fact Villa's ambitions "are so often overlooked that the team are clandestine contenders," he says. But Villa is only a ...
Read the whole story
50 Worst Things About Modern Soccer
by Soccer America
Well worth reading in full, Kaveh Solhekol's entertaining guide to the worst aspects of the modern game includes a rant about modern squad numbers: "Remember the days when the best player was No 10 and goalkeepers were No 1? Not any more. Thanks to someone at the Premier League watching ...
Read the whole story
Cypriot Soccer Unification Talks Collapse
by Soccer America
The Cyprus Football Association says that talks with the breakaway Turkish Cypriots to unify soccer on the ethnically divided island have collapsed. The CFA said Friday it considers the matter "over" after the Cyprus Turkish Football Association turned down a FIFA- and UEFA-brokered deal on ending its decades-old exclusion from ...
Read the whole story
Dynamo's Garcia A Genuine Soccer Product
by Soccer America
"A very rare find. As organized as youth soccer is now, we might not see that again." Houston Dynamo Director of Youth Development James Clarkson on the team's 18-year-old generation adidas signing Felix Garcia, who grew up playing soccer in the streets and parks of Laredo, with the benefit of ...
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Crew's Gritty Scot Ready To Return
by Soccer America
"It's definitely more relaxed than last year. It helps to have had the kind of season we had last year. That's not being slack, I don't think, but I have no doubt once we get closer to the start of the season, things will be a bit more serious." Columbus ...
Read the whole story
Beckham's Agent In Milan For Talks
Simms Spurns Europe For D.C.
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MLS Closeup: Galaxy gives 'Made in LA' new meaning
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J by Jasper Conran Designer girl's dark blue knitted tunic and leggings set
Item No.2320201441
Item No.2320201441
Brought to you as part of the J Jeans by Jasper Conran designer range this knitted navy blue tunic has a geometric print design, rib knit trim and a crew neckline. Full length navy blue leggings with an elasticated waist complete the outfit.
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a place for zinesters - writers and readers
Views: 4
Someone else started a thread here about getting free stuff, and while I don't want to hamper the graceful and egalitarian spirit of those here who want to share with you, I WILL say that if you want one of my zines, I demand something in trade- even if it's a one-sided page of writing you copied at the library for 15 cents and folded up and stuck in an envelope.
I don't think being broke is any excuse, even if you're a kid from a poor family. I came from the trailer parks of purgatory and I could still rustle up $2 to copy stuff at the drug-store xerox machine. Stop asking for free shit and start expressing yourself. I await your trade, and am excited for your straight-shot raw expression of freedom and youthful genius.


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Relative Strength
by Jim Stevens (firstname.lastname@example.com)
Burlington, VT (May 25, 1999) -- Here in the "New and Improved Foolish Workshop," we continue to look high and low for the best predictors of successful stock selection. No single stock-screening criterion appears more often in the Foolish Workshop strategies than the one called Relative Strength. In one form or another, it's part of the criteria for selecting stocks in eight out of ten of the mechanical models we follow. In fact, Relative Strength was one of the original criteria set forth by the Gardners in The Motley Fool Investment Guide and is one of the factors included in our Foolish Eight Spreadsheet.
So what is this Relative Strength? Well, there isn't just one standard definition for Relative Strength. Different financial publications and researchers have created their own variants on a similar theme. In general, Relative Strength (RS) is a measure of the recent positive price performance of a stock. To put it very simply, stocks with high Relative Strength are the ones that have gone up the most in the recent past.
To confuse matters, you'll also run into an indicator devised by author J. Welles Wilder called Relative Strength Index (RSI). This is a measure of the recent acceleration of a stock's price, but relative only to itself -- not to other stocks. It is apparently used by short-term traders, but it is not one of the "relatives" of the RS measures used here in the Workshop.
Okay, so what specific flavors of Relative Strength are there? Well, there are quite a few, so I'll start by defining the two that are used by the Workshop screens. The one that is used the most frequently is called "Total Return-26 week," or some variation of that. It is simply the percentage return on the stock over the last six months, including dividends and adjusted for stock splits.
It would take forever to calculate this by hand for any significant number of stocks, but the trusty dataheads at Value Line come through for us. Each week they make available the 26-week Total Return. Total return is not a measure of Relative Strength all by itself, though. It becomes a measure of Relative Strength when various stocks are compared on the basis of their Total Return.
Here's how it works. With a few mouse clicks, a subscriber can select a list of stocks whose total return exceeds some value, say 20%, or he can select a list based on other criteria and then rank the stocks by their Total Return over the past half year. This is how the Foolish Workshop elves come up with many of the Workshop screens each week.
The other Relative Strength yardstick we keep in the Workshop toolbox is the Investor's Business Daily Relative Strength score. Every day, IBD measures each stock's relative price change over the last 12 months compared to all other stocks in their tables (all AMEX, NYSE and Nasdaq stocks). The most recent three-month period is given double weight. IBD then ranks all the stocks by that value. The top 1% are given the Relative Strength score of 99, the next 1% are assigned rank 98, etc., down to the lowest of the low, the stocks that have been beaten by 99% of all stocks -- rank 1.
Thus, a Relative Strength ranking of 90 from IBD tells you that the stock has done better than 90 percent of the stocks in IBD's stock tables. This 1 to 99 score makes for a nice "no math required" RS screening criteria, all for the price of a newspaper.
There are, of course, a number of different "time frame" variations to Relative Strength. Value Line reports Total Return for 4-week, 8-weeks, 13-week, one-year, two-year and all the way back to 10-year time periods. Comparing single stocks to market index performance is also a form of Relative Strength ranking I've seen widely published. But for our purposes, the Value Line and IBD numbers seem to be working quite well -- as one would expect in a strong bull market. At the moment, the two screens that rely most heavily on Relative Strength are the best-performing screens year-to-date.
Have a great week!
[NOTE: The weekly Rising Margins column has been discontinued. However, both the Margins screen and the Estimates screen will continue to be published each week.]


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Have Relationship Questions? Ask a Counselor for Answers ASAP
HiCustomer Thank you for asking your question on Just Answer. By the way, it would help me to know:
-What are your ages?
-How long have you been married?
-Does she call your husband alot or only when she needs him?
-Does your husband always tell you what they have talked about?
-Do you trust your husband?
-Does he tell all of his friend to call him like that?Thank you again for trusting me with your problem. Please reply as soon as possible so that I can finish answering your question.
If it is bothering your marriage then this is a major issues you and your husband have and need to work through it. He isn't showing you much respect if he doesn't put boundaries on how often she calls and where she calls him. You have to tell your husband that you don't appreciate her calling him at work and him not telling you what they've talked about and that if it were as innocent as he makes it out to be he should be able to share with you what they talk about without you having to question him about it. If you let this go it will only continue and possibly get worse. Even though they are both married there is a line that you do not cross as friends and that is making the spouses feel uneasy about what kind of relationship they have.
She should be able to go to her husband if she is married instead of relying so much on your husband and it is your right as his wife to tell him these things and tell him you just don't like the type of relationship they have. Tell him you can understand being her shoulder when she needs a friend but that is what a spouse is also and why can't she go to her husband? How does her husband feel about the relationship? If your husband is a great husband then he will totally understand your feelings and want to gradually change how often she calls. Even though he may just be a good friend also he is and has been crossing some martial boundaries that shouldn't be crossed as far as outside influences are concerned and he has to be told that isn't the way a marriage works.


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some time in 2005 the Minister of Finance handpicked Mr Paul Geer to head a Financial Intelligence Unit located in the Ministry of Finance. Mr Geer's experience included five years as head of the Guyana Bank of Trade and Industry, which he left abruptly – officially for personal reasons ‒ in a golden parachute and after a meeting of the bank's Board of Directors.
the article below is from clive thomas column in today's stabroek news. the financial intelligence unit is headed by a shady character name paul geer. until they hire a computer technician and a secretary recently he was the entire unit. that's ppp crime family inc. for you. one man is responsible for investigating all money laundering, shady transactions and all financial crimes in Guyana. to date he has launched zero investigations. well take that back he was instrumental in seizing the meager assets of some negroe drug dealers convicted in england. paul geer's office is located in the ministry of finance! but they're serious
- RamandMcrae: Following the publication of its Annual Report, GBTI parted company with Mr. Paul Geer, its President and CEO who resigned abruptly and whose resignation is still being speculated on.
- Guyana Observer: Paul Geer, was appointed by President Ramotar to head the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) Mr. Geer is now being accused of laundering the proceeds from disgraced US embassy official, Thomas Carroll. Geer was at the time C.E.O of the Guyana Bank of Industry and Commerce (GBTI) where he was subsequently 'fired.
- Guyana Observer: Geer was later pinpointed by the man who was involved in laundering money with Thomas Carroll which were proceeds from visa sales in Guyana.
- Stabroek News: By 2002, Guyana had already passed the Money Laundering (Prevention) Act 2000 which granted to the Minister of Finance the discretion to appoint the Bank of Guyana or some fit and proper person as the Supervisory Authority for the Act. Favouring the latter course, some time in 2005 the Minister of Finance handpicked Mr Paul Geer to head a Financial Intelligence Unit located in the Ministry of Finance. Mr Geer's experience included five years as head of the Guyana Bank of Trade and Industry, which he left abruptly – officially for personal reasons ‒ in a golden parachute and after a meeting of the bank's Board of Directors.
- Despite the allocation by the National Assembly for the FIU of more than two hundred and seventy-five million dollars since Mr Geer took up the position, the unit has had virtually no success in pursuing even the limited objectives of the 2000 Act. Not surprisingly then, Guyana's reputation as a prosecutor of money-laundering has no gloss. Some have blamed the deficiencies of the Act but Mr Geer did not help the government's case by his unavailability to meet the press or unwillingness to answer questions about the FIU.
This is my final column for 2013 and also the last in the series on the risks of money-laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation. In the course of this series, several readers have indicated to me that there will always be money launderers and tax evaders, even from among those who shout and scream against them, so why bother! A simple analogy might perhaps help to show why we do need to bother. Consider that there will always be accidents and people will always die; 20131229clivethis does not mean we should have neither traffic police/regulations nor doctors/hospitals. The realistic goal is to contain the damaging impacts of accidents, sickness and death, not to totally eradicate them, as this is impossible; by so doing we improve the quality of life for all.
Today's concluding column will address two considerations. The first is, the Ministry of Finance's response to Guyana having missed the drop-dead date of November 18, 2013; and secondly, brief observations on the operations of the Financial Intelligence Unit.
Ministry of Finance
As would be expected the Ministry of Finance's statements after the passing of the drop-dead date have been more directed at the economic ramifications/implications of CFATF's decision, than those made by the Attorney-General's office, which has emphasized the political/legal aspects. Nonetheless, the Finance Ministry has endorsed the Attorney General's expression of "Grave concern at the decision by CFATF to encourage its member countries to consider implementing counter measures to protect their financial system from ongoing risks of money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation emanating from Guyana" (my emphasis).
Alongside this supportive statement, the Ministry of Finance has identified several likely adverse economic effects. First, CFATF's decision would negatively impact Guyana's "international marketability." Presumably, the concern is that close surveillance of the economy would deter foreign investors and tourism. Second, close surveillance would raise transactions costs for all individuals and businesses operating in Guyana. These increases would flow from delays, interruptions, increased charges and processing fees. Thirdly, it would negatively impact remittances and money transfers.
Remarkably, while offering no comment on the impact of this development on legal migrants the ministry's statement refers to the adverse impact on illegal undocumented residents who would be unable to provide proof of name and identity before conducting business with Guyana from overseas!
Fourth, the ministry states that ties between foreign and local banks would be "severed," going further to claim that online, credit, and debit card transactions involving Guyana would be interrupted. All these effects would add to the overall costs of "doing business" in Guyana and thus drive up the prices of all imported goods (fuel, food, medicines and so on) and services (insurance and travel), as well as discourage exportation.
Readers should recall two earlier observations which I made. First, with or without CFATF's decision, increased surveillance of Guyana's financial transactions has become an absolute inevitability. CFATF is seeking to do via the Action Plan what is necessary to enable Guyana's anti-money laundering regime. Secondly as I indicated, under FATCA, a far more stringent US-led regime to contain tax evasion (and by implication money laundering) in Guyana and the wider Caribbean will be in effect from July 1, 2014, no matter what the Government of Guyana says or does.
Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)
At the centre of the public dialogue on these matters is the FIU. Until recently very little has been heard about it, reflecting I believe the level of official commitment to countering the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing. Most Guyana analysts have derided the FIU as an ineffective "toothless poodle." Even if this harsh judgment were true, I do not blame the FIU, either solely or principally, for this outcome. First and foremost, because the FIU is embedded in a state structure that has little, if any appetite, for disrupting criminal endeavours led by an entrenched cabal of political leaders, captains of business, and organized criminal groups.
Under the pressure of recent public debates, a little more information on the operations of the FIU has been forthcoming, and it would be useful to wrap up this series by briefly indicating some of this.
The FIU proudly describes itself as an "autonomous body," established and operating "within the ambit of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act (AMLCFTA) 2009 and its Regulations." It has the broad mandate "to facilitate the detection, prevention and deterrence" of financial crimes under the 2009 Act. Its broad mission is "to help protect the integrity of Guyana's financial system." Despite this broad responsibility, the FIU is heavily under-capacitated, in terms of its financial, technical, human, and other resources. Thus at the end of 2012 it reported it had six staff, with only two financial analysts/investigators attached to it!
Under the 2009 Act reporting "entities/international" travellers are required to report monthly on transactions above certain levels: for licensed financial institutions (LFIs) above US$10,000; for cambios purchases above US$2000 or sales over US$5000; for money transfer agencies (MTAs) above US$1,000, and for foreign travellers above US$10,000. For 2012 the number of reported cases respectively, was 8,807; 2,976; 29,849, and 1,003. These were comparable to the number reported for 2011.
The number of reported suspicious transactions to the FIU for 2012 was: LFIs, 7; cambios, zero; MTAs, 795; and foreign travellers 3. These figures are modestly down on those reported for 2011. A suspicious transaction is defined by the FIU as one that causes a feeling of apprehension or mistrust based on its size and/or pattern.
At the end of this series of columns, the original options as posed by the Leader of the Opposition remain valid. Government and the National Assembly can either embark on producing appropriate/effective legislation to deal with financial crimes in Guyana or they can settle for version 2 of the present anaemic ineffective 2009 legislation.
Happy New Year to readers all!
Related articles
- guyana designated safe haven for money laundering & terrorist financing (propagandapress.org)
- guyana govt spokesman roger luncheon threatens us ambassador brendt Hardt (propagandapress.org)
- Guyana's 'blacklist' status akin to Iran, North Korea – CFATF (kaieteurnewsonline.com)
- Guyana flagged for financial risks over stalled anti-laundering bill (stabroeknews.com)


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"I don't want to, you know, say to Joe, 'Hey Joe, can I have a hundred bucks for this?' . . . I think it's important for every woman to have her own money and be independent."
~Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden and the first woman in that role to continue her professional employment
One of the things that often keeps us stuck in a bad situation is money. Lack of money, or poor money habits, can keep us stuck in a dead end job or in a bad relationship, because we're afraid to head into the murky, chaotic waters alone. But financial independence is a critical part of stepping into your power. Financial expert Manisha Thakor knows a lot about that subject. Hear what she has to say about it:
What financial tools have helped you Carpe the Chaos? When has a chaotic situation given you the opportunity to try a new job or a new way to manage your finances so that you have the power to live as you wish? I'd love to hear from you.
Latest posts by Gloria Feldt (Posts)
- Equal Doesn't Mean Equal Yet: Women's Equality Day, ERA & The Story of My Life - August 23, 2016
- The Evolution of Male-Female Relationships: An Interview with Leon Silver - October 13, 2015
- The Power of the Infinite Pie: a Legacy Love Story - September 21, 2015


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Welcome to Brighton Autoair
Brighton Autoair is a mobile Air Conditioning specialist .
Our mobile patrols cover much of Sussex and serve you in the comfort of your home or office.
As many of our customers include auto repair garages, our fixed price service is a trade price also open to the general public for a limited period.
Unlike some operators we do not charge extra for system moisture removal or pressure testing for leaks. Our price includes the entire process of regasing your vehicle.
Our engineers are City and Guilds qualified as required by the government's regulating body. Please note: We do not cover Hybrid Vehicles
Go to our Auto Aircon page for more!
F Gas Qualified to Regulation {EC} 307/2008 City And Guilds London


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Description of this paper
Complete the question below using the values of absolute and/or-(Answered)
Instant Solution ? Click "Buy button" to Download the solution File
Complete the question below using the values of absolute and/or relative errors for analytical equipment in the tables in Error Analysis in the Laboratory Manual (reproduced below) and use the same number of significant figures. All relative errors to 3 decimal places only. Do NOT give units in your answer.
Vtitre?= 34.47. What is the absolute error?
Paper#9210396 | Written in 27-Jul-2016Price : $22


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Are These the 10 Most Annoying Christmas Songs of All Time?
After a weekend of shopping, you may already be DONE with Christmas music . . . and there's no reprieve coming over the next three weeks. So, you might have a say in this:
The "Huffington Post" has put out a list of The 10 Most Annoying Christmas Songs of All Time. Here are the ones they came up with:
1. "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer"
2. "Santa Baby"
3. "Jingle Bell Rock"
4. "Jingle Bells"
5. "Feliz Navidad"
6. "The Little Drummer Boy"
7. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
8. "The 12 Days of Christmas"
9. "Winter Wonderland"
10. "The Christmas Shoes"
(HuffingtonPost.com has audio of each of these songs. By the way, it sure SEEMS like this list is ranked, since it's numbered . . . but the fact that "The Christmas Shoes" only made it to #10 makes me wonder.)


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The Music
- Mark Croft
- Beth Kille
- Rob Dz
- Marques Bovre & SoDangYang
- Eric Hester
- Rachelle and The Red Hot Rattlers
- Paul Stiegler
- Leo Sidran
- Runside Down
- Amy Curl and Dan Kennedy
- Jim Schwall
- Atimevu
- Tierney Chamberlain
- Len Mormino
Copies of the Madison For World Health CD, nominated for a Madison Area Music Award, are available for purchase now! This makes a great addition to your collection of music or a great holiday gift.
CD's can also be purchased in Madison-area stores including Steep-N-Brew (State St. and Odana Rd.), Exclusive Company, Prairie Café, Africana, Willie St. Coop, UNO's, Mad-City Music Exchange, Calabasas, and more.
The Performers
Mark Croft
Known for his unforgettable melodies, infectious grooves, and frantic acoustic guitar riffs, Mark Croft breaks the genre barriers to create a mainstream sound from the heart of a folk musician. * "Best New Artist" and "Best Male Vocalist" at the 2006 Madison Area Music Awards, * Isthmus Reader's Poll- voted Madison's Favorite Singer/Songwriter- 2007, * "Pop Artist" and "Pop Album of the Year" at the 2008 Madison Area Music Awards.
Break My Heart performed by Mark Croft, Produced by Mark Croft & Mike Zirkel at SMART Studios. Words and Music by Mark Croft © 2008 Mere Poet Music Publishing, ASCAP. Slothtrop Record Company.
Lyrics - Website - Back to top
Beth Kille
Beth Kille has been composing and performing rock/pop/folk songs since 2000 and is the lead singer/guitarist and principle songwriter for the highly decorated Madison, Wisconsin band Clear Blue Betty. Clear Blue Betty won Madison Area Music Awards for Best Rock Album in 2005 and 2007 and earned the 2006 MAMA for Best Female Vocalist.
Angel of Reprieve performed by Beth Kille with Julia McConahay-fiddle; Tony Kille-drums, Jake Johnson-keys, Produced by Jake Johnson at Paradyme Productions. Words and Music by Beth Kille © 2008 Thanatopsis Music Publishing, ASCAP.
Lyrics - Website - MySpace - Back to top
Rob Dz
Rob Dz received 2 MAMA's for best Hip Hop/R&B Album (Soul Anthems) & best Hip Hop/R&B song, has appeared on the Urban Theater, and is a hard-working Madison songwriter.
Alright performed by Rob Dz, Produced by Rob Dz and Brian Daly at DNA Studios. Words and Music by Rob Dz © 2008 KBD Entertainment Group, ASCAP. KBD Entertainment Group.
Lyrics - Website - Back to top
Marques Bovre & SoDangYang
Simply put, Marques Bovre's songwriting is a long standing favorite in these parts.
Dry Bones performed by Marques Bovre and SoDangYang, Produced by Brian Daley at DNA Studios. Personnel on the recorded performance and in the live performance on December 6 are as follows: Ken Stevenson on bass; Ethan Noordyk on drums; Jim Schwall on guitar and accordian; and Maggie Weiser on acoustic guitar and background vocals. Words and Music by Marques Bovre © 2008. Pinata Platters Record Company.
Lyrics - Website - Back to top
Eric Hester
Eric Hester is a multi-award winning composer, producer and songwriter who can put a smile on anyone in his path. His music and warm stage presence creates instant community, while his soulful, earthy voice complements a charged, poignant and beautifully sick mind for songwriting.
Johannesburg performed by Eric Hester, Produced by Eric Hester and Mike Zirkel at SMART Studios. Words and Music by Eric Hester & Dan Kennedy © 2008 Slothtrop Records, ASCAP/ Lost Mohawk Music Publishing, ASCAP. Slothtrop Music.
Lyrics - Personal Website - Slothtrop Records - Back to top
Rachelle and The Red Hot Rattlers
A regularly touring country-band in the 90's, Rachelle and The Red Hot Rattlers focus on tight instrumentals and layered, full harmonies to deliver a powerful, melodic sound to their audiences. Former state champions at the Hodag, they are multi- Q106 award winners and have opened up for many national country acts. You can now find them making their comeback at many venues in Southern Wisconsin, including the Taste of Madison, 2008. The band consists of Rachelle Fiskey on vocals, Steve Gundlach on bass & acoustic guitar, mandolin, & vocals, Ron Grandberg on drums, Dave Ahrens on lead guitar, Lisa B on vocals, and Al Heidemann on keyboards and accordion.
Walk With You performed by Rachelle and the Red Hot Rattlers, Recorded at Studio 106, Mixed by Craig Michaels. Words and Music by Rachelle and the Red Hot Rattlers © 2008.
Lyrics - Website - Back to top
Paul Stiegler
Paul Stiegler brings together his heartfelt songwriting with over 30 years of medical service as an Emergency Room Doctor in Madison. His medical mission experiences in Zululand, South Africa and Arusha, and Tanzania helped him to write Docotella.
Docotela performed by Lifutso Ranthimo-Lebaka- lead vocal, Tim Gruber- drum & flute, and Paul Stiegler- guitar and back vocals, Produced by Jake Johnson at Paradyme Productions. Words and Music by Paul Stiegler © 2008 Paul Stiegler.
Lyrics - Website - Back to top
Leo Sidran
Leo Sidran is a multi instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer. His first instrument was the drums and his first teacher was (Madison's own) legendary funk drummer Clyde Stubblefield. After writing four songs for the Steve Miller band, Rolling Stone magazine singled out Leo's work, saying he showed "a real flair for penning Pop tunes." In 2004, Leo produced the Academy Award winning song "Al Otro Lado Del Rio" for the film "The Motorcycle Diaries"
Make It Better performed by Leo Sidran with the Madison New York Allstars (featuring Leo Sidran: drums, bass, Wurlitzer, piano, vocals, Joy Dragland: backing vocals, Kyle Sanna: acoustic and electric guitar, Jeremy Thal: french horn, Marla Hansen: viola, Nic Cowles: flute, Amanda Champagne: shaker and tambourine), Recorded and Mixed by Hector Coulon at UML / Amber Studios NYC. Words and Music by Leo Sidran © 2008 Bulldog Music, ASCAP.
Lyrics - Website - Back to top
Runside Down
Runside Down is a hard touring funk/fusion trio featuring the keyboards of Joe Burbach, Dan Plourde on the bass, and Jon Reed on the drum kit. They were featured on The Urban Theater television show in November 30, 2007.
Hearing Your Heart performed by Runside Down with Sajdat Johnson, Produced by Jack Letour at Elabs Studio. Words and Music by Len Mormino & Dan Plourde © 2008 ASCAP.
Lyrics - Website - Back to top
Amy Curl and Dan Kennedy
Amy Curl and Dan Kennedy stay busy creating music that ranges from folky acoustic to quirky indie. It's panoptic pop, and it goes well with both tea and scotch.
Giant Step performed by Amy Curl and Dan Kennedy, Produced by Amy Curl, Dan Kennedy, and Eric Hester at SMART Studios. Words and Music by Dan Kennedy & Amy Curl © 2008 Lost Mohawk Music Publishing, ASCAP/ Jaunty Angle Music Publishing, ASCAP. Slothtrop Record Company.
Lyrics - Website - Back to top
Jim Schwall
Jim Schwall is a life-long singer/songwriter and performer on a variety of instruments who somehow is best known for playing amplified guitar in a long-defunct blues band. Billboard Magazine calls him "one of the best acts in America", while The Boston Globe describes him as "undoubtedly the best electric guitarist in the country."
Get Off The Couch performed by Jim Schwall, Produced by Jim Schwall at Paradyme Productions. Words and Music by Jim Schwall © 2008 Conundrum InterArts, BMI.
Lyrics - Website - Back to top
Atimevu is Djam Vivie, Emmanuel Eku, Abukari Mohammed, Nani Agbeli, Nicky Sund, and Tim Gruber. Atimevu plays traditional music from Ghana. Their music features energetic drumming, songs, xylophone and flute. Eku is a master drummer and former member of the Ghana Dance Ensemble, the national performing arts group of Ghana. Mohammed was a dancer with the Ghana Dance Ensemble.
Amadou performed by Atimevu, Recorded at Doghouse Studios, First Mastering at Paradyme Productions.
Tierney Chamberlain
Tierney is a finalist on the show 'High School Musical - Get in the Picture' on ABC. She is a senior at West High School and participates in choir and drill team. Performing publicly since the age of 9, she has been cast in local musical, dance and theater productions including the Nutcracker with the Madison Ballet, Four Seasons Theater, Middleton Players, and Ebony Expressions.
Len Mormino
Most often, Len Mormino writes for other performing artists or TV/Film/Commercial/Special projects. His music has had top placement in the Indie Artist Alliance III, IKEA Summer Challenge, & Midwest Song Contests, and has been heard on multiple compilation CD projects, Clear Blue Betty's "Write Your Name in the Sky", and Madison's WORT radio station.
Make A Wish Real performed by Tierney Chamberlain, Len Mormino, Curtis Marolt, Monica Davidson, Sheila Leichtenberg, & The Fountain of Life Gospel Choir, Produced by Curtis Marolt at Phatcave Productions and Jake Johnson at Paradyme Productions. Words and Music by Len Mormino © 2008 Vission Enterprises, ASCAP.


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When we looked at how people used our API we found a couple of pain points. We discovered that the way we had written it was difficult to upgrade from so we took the decision to release the API without maintaining backwards compatibility with the old system.
We care about your existing applications so we chose to host the new API in a different location and we are deprecating the beta API so that it wont be turned off until the 31st October 2010.
The Endpoints
The new api is available on content.guardianapis.com.
The endpoints have moved slightly, the table below indicates the old endpoints and it's analogous new endpoint
The search endpoint has the most changes. The table below indicates for each of the old parameters where the new equivalent is.
The way that filters work has also changed. Before you might have hit /content/search?q=rats&filter=/environment&filter=/technology/motoring to return the content that was tagged both with environment and technology/motoring that contains the word rats in somewhere.
Under the new API we chose to use our tags as our filters, and we thought that comma separated was better than multiple filter parameters. So now you hit /search?q=rats&tag=environment/environment,technology/motoring
The Response Object
In the old API you got back an endpoint specific root element, and had a count, startIndex fields, then the results object which contains the results.
In the new format, the root object is called "response" for all endpoints, and it contains fields: total, startIndex, pagesize, currentPage, pages amongst others.
The results are still in a results object beneath that.
The format of a result object has significantly changed. Previously all of the data was accessible as a field on the result object for example; id, type, publication, apiUrl and so forth. We also exposed numeric id's that were opaque. We now return an id, sectionId, sectionName, webPublicationDate, webTitle, webUrl and apiUrl as fields. The id will now be the path on guardian.co.uk of the item in question.
Each result also has a special field called "fields" that contains other optional fields. The contents of the fields member is not guaranteed at any time, and can change but for most content will have a headline, trailtext, shorturl and thumbnail fields. You will not get back any fields by default, instead you explicitly ask for the fields you are interested in with the show-fields parameter. If you asked for specific fields then we return them only if they are present on the content, if you asked for all fields then you get all the fields that match the tier that you belong to.
The way that we return the list of tags on a result hasn't changed significantly. We now return back the id, type, webTitle, webUrl, apiUrl, sectionId and sectionName. If you use the tags to allow drilldown functionality to refine the search you can use the id field of the tag in the tags parameter of the search query.
The Refinements
On the old API we returned search refinements as a filters field on the response object. It contains a list of refinements, with each one containing a type, a filter name and a count of articles.
The new search endpoint also supports refinements. You need to ask for refinements on your query with the show-refinements parameters, and the refinements are provided as a list of refinementGroups, with each refinement group containing a type, and a list of the refinements themselves. This means that you can ask only for content-type refinements, or keyword refinements. Each refinement has a count, a refinedUrl for the refinement and the id, displayName and apiUrl for the tag.
Tag and Section API
These are far less commonly used, and the format of the queries has changed only to be inline with the search endpoint. The response object follows exactly the same format as the search object, but with a list of tags or sections instead of content objects.
The Item Endpoint
This worked by hitting content/item/{numeric id}. Finding out the numeric id required making a search query which was not ideal. This endpoint now uses the path to the article on guardian.co.uk as the key. This makes it easy to get to the API from an article on the website, you can change the host to content.guardianapis.com and you get the item endpoint for that article. All of the content objects returned by the tag, section and search endpoints have an apiurl field that tells you what the full url is to access this endpoint for that piece of content.
If you want further fields or tags or multimedia assets then you need to explicitly ask for them.


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Williams, Pryor Jr. in action!
Hall of Fame boxing trainer Emanuel Steward will return to Cincinnati with super middleweight prospect Aaron Pryor Jr. on Saturday night at the U.S. Bank Arena. Pryor Jr., 11-1-0 (8 KOs), son of legendary world champion Aaron "The Hawk" Pryor Sr., will battle in the eight round co-main event against southpaw William Prieto, 5-3-1 (2 KOs). "Aaron was upset in his last bout, but I'm glad to see him getting back in the ring just five weeks later. It's better to get back in than to let it linger after a first loss with a prospect" said Steward. 'He's been training hard here at Kronk, sparring with Andy Lee who's a southpaw like Prieto. I've liked what I've see of Aaron in the gym these last few weeks and I'm looking for a great performance from him on Saturday." The card is headlined by the return of 2000 U.S. Olympian Ricardo Williams who returns to his hometown of Cincinnati for the first time in almost five years. Williams, 13-2 (7 KOs), will face Puerto Rican native Doel Carrasquillo, 12-9-1 (10 KOs) in the eight round main event. For tickets ($79.75, $40.75 and $23.75) call 513-462-4949.


text:
|The Science
Archive for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
with Jim Gray of Microsoft
Designing and Mining Multi-Terabyte Astronomy Archives: The Sloan Digital Sky Survey, by Alexander S. Szalay, Peter Kunszt, Ani Thakar, Jim Gray. (Microsoft Technical Report MS-TR-99-30).
|Intel Technology
for Education 2000 grant
Hierarchical Triangular Mesh
|Spatial Indexing for Multicolor
We have developed a similar index to handle the stars and galaxies in multicolor space. It is based on a k-d tree, but we also store the bounding box, in a fashion similar to the r-tree. Istvan Csabai has developed an elegant heuristic, which avoids the emergence of `skinny' cells.
|Collaboration with Harvey Newman
and Julian Bunn, Caltech
|National Virtual Observatory
|GALEX Project
|Digital Sky Project


text:
Best Of :: Shopping & Services
I walked past an alleyway in Atwater Village and saw a skinny black cat. Half her fur had fallen off. She had no teeth. Ribs protruded through her scabby skin. But the kitty — I named her Skeletor — was sweet, and purred when I approached her. Wearing some oven mitts, I gently lowered Skeletor into a cardboard box and took her across the street to the Los Feliz Small Animal Hospital. Luckily Dr. Michelle Fuller was on duty. Dr. Fuller likes to save animals for as little money as possible — a rare trait among today's veterinary professionals. Fuller takes on even the most challenging of cases, calling on her network of animal lovers to help cover costs if the pet owner is short on funds. She'll take injured skunks, sick possums and diseased raccoons and keep them in her bathtub until they're well. Dr. Fuller, who also happens to be cute and tattooed, fought as hard as she could to save Skeletor, who was suffering from advanced hyperthyroidism and serious neglect. When it became clear that Skeletor's condition was beyond help, Dr. Fuller whispered gentle goodbyes as she delivered the injection. This summer, Dr. Fuller left Los Feliz Small Animal Hospital to start Village Vet, her own full-service hospital, with a new office on Hyperion and Rowena opening at the end of October. She'll offer acupuncture in addition to the other services you'd expect — love included, at no extra cost. Atwater Village. (323) 680-3080, email@example.com.
—Caroline Ryder
Every Picture Tells a Story is not your average indie bookseller. It's a gallery whose art is books, specifically illustrated books, often (but not only) those for children. It's also a prime venue for author signings, and they get some pretty stellar names. Among them: Stan Lee, Ray Bradbury, Norman Corwin, Buzz Aldrin and Ray Harryhausen. Often working in conjunction with the Aero Theatre across the street, Every Picture offers an intimate environment for book lovers to get up close and personal with their favorite authors. It also sells originals and prints of book artwork by the likes of Garth Williams (Charlotte's Web), Hilary Knight and Maurice Sendak. 1333 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. (310) 451-2700, everypicture.com.
—Lisa Horowitz
The Beverly Hills Municipal Courthouse might be famous only because of people like Lindsay Lohan, but there's a better reason it deserves some love. Past the metal detectors, to the left of the marriage-license booth, stands an unassuming little wedding chapel, with a resident judge who marries couples every 15 minutes. Rumor has it that's where Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate tied the knot. And as anyone who's planned a wedding knows, the event means just one thing — spending money. Whether it's hiring a florist, photographer, planner or DJ, the cost of today's weddings can be obnoxious, to say the least. But thanks to civil spots like the Beverly Hills Courthouse, the cost of the ceremony can help keep things under budget. The chapel is open only on Thursdays, but a ceremony costs all of $25 ($18 extra if you need a witness). Plus, there's a fake quilted wedding cake, two imitation bouquets on loan, and the courthouse is right next to the picturesque Civic Center — all of which provide plenty of Kodak moments for the ol' wedding album. 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills. (310) 288-1310, lasuperiorcourt.org.
—Tanja M. Laden
Once you've come to accept — even embrace! — the very graphic reality of Olympic Spa, that you're flopping around butt-naked with the women of Koreatown all day, you'll realize the pampered lifestyle of a much fancier lady isn't so far out of reach. That's right, princess: For the price of one and a half Patron shots, you can fade into a sweet three-tub rotation of jacuzzi, tea bath, cold rinse, repeat. Olympic Spa's $15 cover includes three sauna types: steam, clay and the red-light third room offering purported "oxygen stones" and charcoal formed from 1,800-degree ubame-gashi trees. Freebies, an intrinsic part of bathhouse privilege, abound — a sea-foam bathrobe, awesome-smelling shampoos, towels and flip-flops. It's quiet, light and pretty, almost utilitarian at times — as if a lovely cleanse were a necessity, and a right. Extra rubdowns and treatments are available, but the only thing you really need won't cost more than $2: a pair of yellow exfoliating mittens that, after a rubdown by the trough, will leave you simultaneously delighted at your new lightness of being and horrified that you could leave behind such a gnarly battlefield of dead skin cells. So worth it. 3915 W. Olympic Blvd., Koreatown. (323) 857-0666, olympicspala.com.
—Simone Wilson
Every mini-mall east of La Brea Avenue has one: a bare-bones Thai massage place, squeezed into a small storefront. Budget basic decor — small Buddha shrine, desktop fountain, photo of a sun-drenched Thai beach — often matches the ho-hum massage. At The Barai in Silver Lake, on a quickly bypassed stretch of Hyperion, the décor is in that spartan mode but the bodywork is not. And there's a super deal: For $39 (cash only), book the Thai-Swedish, an exceptional blend of the comforting strokes of Swedish massage with traditional Thai — where bodies are vigorously manipulated into an assortment of pretzel-shaped poses. Be prepared for an up-close-and-personal massage: A demure lady will knee your ass therapeutically as you lie on a cushioned mat on the floor half-naked. Almost invariably a she, except when it is Jack's strong fingers that stretch you. The fabric dividers between alcoves let the snores of others drift through; yours may soon join in. Don't embarrass yourself by asking for a happy ending. You will be happy. You will relax. 2316 Hyperion Ave., Suite A, Silver Lake. (323) 221-3853, thebaraispa.com.
—Kathy A. McDonald
No accreditation, no degrees, no pay, no tuition — the only thing you have to shell out for is your drinks. Run out of the top floor of the Mountain Bar, Chinatown's legendary Mountain School of Arts attracts a special variety of students, mostly from Europe, who want to come to Los Angeles to study, but perhaps aren't as interested in the credentials and limitations of the professional programs on the other side of downtown. The Mountain School was founded by artists Piero Golia and Eric Wesley, neither of whom attended graduate school. They intended MSA to be a new model for the L.A. art grad school, and to create their own mafia to compete with the other grad schools in town. The founders are very careful to correct you if you call it an alternative, as MSA sees itself not as an alternative but an equal to its more traditional competitors. Except for the teachers and founders buying their guests drinks, the school is run without cost with help from volunteers (myself included), and still manages to get some of the best artists and curators in the city and abroad, from artists Paul McCarthy and Thomas Demand to international curator Hans Ulrich Obrist. 473 Gin Ling Way, Chinatown; themountainschoolofarts.org.
—Andrew Berardini


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Posts by tag
Kayak Camping Chronicles: Don't Underestimate The Dry Bag
The plan was to put in around 10 am, paddle until we reached the island we'd camp on, spend the night, then pack up and paddle until we reached our take-out point under a bridge around mid-afternoon the next day, where Rising Phoenix would pick us up and take us back to Bastrop.
Interview: Mark Vlaskamp Talks Van Life & Everyday Adventuring
A self-proclaimed "Huck Finn wannabe," Mark Vlaskamp has been paddling a canoe since he was a kid. After serving as YakGear's marketing director for four years, he left the position at the beginning to 2016 to spend a significant part of the year on the road.
ACK Teams with Local Nonprofit Explore Austin
If you caught my earlier blog about why I woke up early on a Saturday to hang out with a group of strangers, then you're familiar with how amazing Explore Austin is. This Austin, Texas based nonprofit is on a mission to empower underprivileged youth of Austin through outdoor exploration.
What's the Difference Between a Drysuit and a Wetsuit?
Have you ever been curious to know the differences between a drysuit and a wetsuit? It's super easy – wetsuits get you wet and drysuits keep you dry.
Why Kayak Polo is like Narnia – ACK Profiles: Austin Aquabats
In The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Lucy discovers the magical world of Narnia when she's poking around in a wardrobe. After chancing upon this unknown Narnia she becomes obsessed, there is a similar mindset when it comes to kayak polo .
Why I Woke Up Early on a Saturday to Hang Out With a Group of Strangers
Last weekend I had the opportunity to volunteer with Explore Austin. As I rolled into the parking lot of Kipp Austin Collegiate, the mood was a lot sleepier than I was expecting.
Gear Up for Cold Weather Paddling
Just because winter is approaching does not mean you have to hang up your yak and paddle until spring. Of course it's your choice if you want to hunker down this winter with a cup of hot chocolate and a Charles Dickens classic because, (and if that is your decision then might I suggest our recent post on storing your kayak?
Wanderlust: Takachiho Gorge
As the second installment in our Wanderlust series,we thought it would be fitting to write a post on one of our most popular Facebook destinations, Takachiho Gorge. The photo of paddlers beneath the canopy of foliage amongst a waterfall has garnered quite a bit of attention so without further ado we would like to take you on a trip to Takachiho Gorge.
10 Pieces of Advice For 1st Time Paddlers
We asked our Facebook fans, "What's one piece of advice you'd give to a 1st time paddler?" Some of the responses were serious and some were just downright funny.


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Vioxx FDA Information
VIOXX (Rofecoxib) FDA INFORMATION
The FDA issued several warnings concerning Vioxx related side effects before the drug was removed from the market.. The links below will redirect you to these warnings on the FDA website.
- 2001 Merck Vioxx VIGOR Study
- 2001 Vioxx Advertising Warning Letter
- 2002 FDA Vioxx Talk Paper
- 2002 Merck Vioxx Dear Doctor Letter
- 2002 Vioxx Safety Label Update
- 2004 FDA Vioxx Recall Advisory
- 2004 FDA Vioxx COX II Q&A
- 2004 FDA Statement on Vioxx
- 2004 FDA Vioxx David Graham Statement
- 2004 Vioxx- Drug Safety Controversy
- 2005 FDA Vioxx Timeline
- 2005 FDA-Vioxx Cardiovascular Safety
Quick Facts
Generic Name
Date Approved
May 20, 1999
Merck & Co.
Withdrawn 9/30/04
Approved Uses
Muscle pain
Off Label Uses
Bone pain
Muscle pain
General pain
Serious Side Effects
Heart attacks
Blood clots
Related Topics
Blood Clots
Heart Attacks
Defective Drugs
Vioxx Side Effects May Be Linked To Heart Attack Lawsuits
Vioxx | Lawsuits, Lawyers | Side Effects: Heart Attack, Stroke, Blood Clots, Heart Problems
Parker Waichman LLP Representing Vioxx Heart Attack & Stroke Victims
Nationwide Since 2001. Merck & Co. removed its blockbuster arthritis drug Vioxx (Generic: Rofecoxib) from the market worldwide because new data from a clinical trial found an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Merck decided to remove the drug from the market on September 30, 2004, after data from the trial showed an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots and other cardiovascular complications. Parker & Waichman has been the choice for Vioxx victims in need of a pharmaceutical liability lawyer since 2001.
Lancet Says Vioxx Should Have Been Recalled in 2000
Documents May Show Merck Knew About Vioxx Side Effects
The data comes from a three-year study aimed at showing that Vioxx at a 25 milligram dose prevents recurrence of polyps in the colon and rectum. The trial was stopped after Merck discovered the higher heart risk compared to patients taking dummy pills.
Before the withdrawal of Vioxx, the FDA announced that patients taking Vioxx have a 50 percent greater chance of heart attacks and sudden cardiac death. he study, presented at an epidemiologists conference, also found patients taking the highest recommended daily dosage of Vioxx had three times the risk of heart attack and sudden cardiac death as those not taking standard painkillers.
The popular and heavily advertised arthritis drugs Vioxx and Celebrex have been linked by researchers to an increase in the risk of blood clots, heart attacks and strokes.The study from the Cleveland Clinic appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association and was based on an analysis of previous clinical trials. Celebrex and Vioxx are projected to produce U.S. sales greater than $6 billion this year.
In a study of more than 8,000 patients that compared the COX-2 inhibitor rofecoxib Vioxx) with the traditional NSAID naproxen, the risk of cardiovascular problems, including heart attack,chest pain related to heart disease, stroke, sudden death and blood clots, was more than two times higher in the rofecoxib group than in the naproxen group.
Vioxx, like Celebrex, is classified as a COX-2 inhibitor, or coxib. COX-2 inhibitors, like older drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen, are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. Older NSAIDs reduce inflammation by blocking an enzyme called COX-2, but they also block another enzyme called COX-1. This enzyme helps protect the lining of the stomach, so blocking COX-2 can cause stomach irritation. COX-2 inhibitors only block COX-2, leaving the stomach-protecting COX-1 alone.
In 2000, Merck spent $160.8 million on direct to consumer Vioxx marketing. Many people are familiar with Vioxx television advertisements featuring the famous figure skater Dorothy Hamill. Sid Wolfe, a physician and director of the Health Research Group of the advocacy group Public Citizen in Washington, D.C. said "Dorothy Hamill doesn't tell people they have a four times higher risk of a heart attack on Vioxx.
Legal Help For Victims Affected By Vioxx
If you or a loved one took Vioxx and suffered side effects, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by a qualified drug side effects attorney or call us anytime at 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).


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I'm still learning but spread the word – great summary:
Author: derRaab
WWX2015 Talk – The MOKICK Story
The World Wide Haxe Conference 2015 (WWX2015) is already over but had and huge impact on my understanding of the whole Haxe community. It was great to meet the people behind online avatars, talk to some of the super nerds and happily acknowledge that all of them are kind, helpful and good looking. 😉
I love the fact that Haxe can be used just as the perfect OOP-JavaScript alternative by "normal" web developers as well as (from my point of view) "hardcore" hardware near game developers for consoles.
We at Bayer und Preuss started using Haxe to target JavaScript and ActionScript in the first place, but now it's obvious, that there are so much more benefits for our future. So we decided to tell our little story and future plans at the conference and share it with you. I'll add the video and a transcript as soon as possible, but for now, here are my slides:
UPDATE – Video online:
Open slides in new window or just click through these:
Floating point guide
A basic guide to floating points: http://floating-point-gui.de/
Minify JavaScript using uglifyjs and the command line
Just the very basic command used in most cases:
uglifyjs your.js -c -m -o your.min.js
Find the full documentation at https://github.com/mishoo/UglifyJS
Nadako – A success story for Haxe
This is why Haxe is great: A success story for Haxe
Hamaluik – Creating a Code Profiler in Haxe Using Macros
Great read if you're into Haxe macros:
Haxe macros are said by many to be "black magic", and in some ways they are—macros in Haxe are actual Haxe code (rather than macros in C/C++ for example, which are just fancy pre-processor directives). Macros are undoubtedly the most advanced feature of Haxe and probably the hardest to grasp, however I think a major reason for that is a lack of really solid documentation on the subject. To me, the Haxe docs regarding macros are somewhat obfuscated and leave something to be desired, and unfortunately there's not a lot of other resources online. This is what led me to embark on my own journey of learning Haxe macros, and hopefully starting to shed a little more light on their mystery.
Karen McGrane – Content organization
Must watch and read presentation by Karen McGrane:
I saw this talk in 2014 and didn't stop thinking about it. And now we started working on a project based on this idea:
The future of content management systems is their ability to capture the content in a clean, presentation-independent way. Dan Jacobson (Source)
I'll keep you updated…


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Gary's Shoes & Accessories For Today's Woman (commonly referred to as Gary's Shoes) is the women's shoe store which is located in the New Market Mall. It is owned by Gary, and is noted to be her only failing business venture, and has been in business since at least its most notable employee, Al Bundy, graduated from high school. The store rarely sees business, aside from the occasional fat woman, and the numerous get rich quick schemes that Al and his friends, Griff, who also works in the shoe store with him from Season 9 on, Jefferson D'Arcy, who briefly worked in the store in Season 6, and his other NO MA'AM buddies seem to dream up!
Presumably Gary has kept the doors open down through the years as some manner of tax write-off or similar. Any money laundering operation would have to be purely on paper, since Al and his associates hardly ever shift any stock.


text: This week on Talk of the Town, I'm joined by Laura Barton of Ride Finders. Formed in 1994, Ride Finders provides a free ride matching service to help commuters in the St. Louis Region carpool or vanpool to work and college. Ride Finders also finds ways to help students in K-12 get to school through carpools, walking or biking.