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WASHINGTON -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced plans to introduce legislation that would ban six phthalate compounds in all children's products. The announcement, which was made in mid-December, garnered press coverage and sent shock waves through the toy manufacturing sector at the height of the Christmas shopping season.
The proposed legislation would add to the growing list of potentially harmful materials banned by Congress in 2008 as part of the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). Gillibrand's proposal would extend bans on potentially toxic substances to include additional phthalate compounds while expanding present prohibitions on their use in toys to other items, such as backpacks and pencil cases.
Although some segments of the toy industry apparently viewed the proposed legislation with trepidation, the announcement caused far less anxiety in the bulk vending community. According to industry experts, the majority of bulk vending suppliers are well prepared for such legislation. Following the lead crisis of 2004 that saw a record number of bulk vending toys recalled, industry suppliers have put safeguards in place that include rigid testing procedures to assure compliance with safety standards. These procedures, which include testing by independent labs, can be expanded to meet shifting criteria.
"We've been testing for years to make sure our products meet or exceed safety standards and federal regulations," said A&A Global Industries' Brian Kovens.
A&A Global is not alone. Most major suppliers of bulk vending products have implemented testing procedures to ensure safety of bulk vendables.


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Seventeen years after their father was killed in cold blood, time has healed nothing.
As the Durazo children learned the last man awaiting trial for his death would not stand before judge or jury, feelings the children had struggled to overcome since their father died rushed back in a bile-bitten churn of the stomach.
The rage. The pain. The isolation.
Prosecutors dropped all charges against Michael Pierson last month in the 1996 murder of Lonnie Durazo.
Durazo's seven children have grown into adults without seeing any of the four people charged in their father's slaying convicted of murder.
And as another anniversary of his death nears, they doubt they ever will.
"The justice system failed us," said daughter Larisa Mondragen, 29. "It's made me feel like my dad's case wasn't important at all."
Losing their father was like a powerful wave that scattered the children across rough seas. Lost, alone, they clung to the wrong things gangs, drugs, crime before they found their way back to one another.
There are times, though, when each still feels adrift.
Times like now, they wonder: Does anyone care?
The shooting • In the early morning hours of July 24, 1996, Lonnie Durazo, 31, sat on the front porch of his Salt Lake City home talking to his 16-year-old girlfriend who lived next door.
A Marine veteran and father of seven, Durazo worked full-time installing windshields in automobiles. He was fighting his estranged wife for full custody of his kids and had been trying to scrape together enough money to buy a house.
His pre-teen daughters, who refused to go to sleep, shrieked and ran across the porch.
They paused for a moment as four headlights illuminated Chicago Street.
Two cars had been circling the block for the past several minutes. Durazo stood up, raised his hands.
"Hey," he called. "You lost?"
The car doors opened as two masked men climbed out, wearing gloves and holding guns.
Durazo shouted at his children to get inside. They ran into the house, through the living room and into a closet, where they huddled together among sheets and clothes.
Outside, the men walked up to Durazo.
"What's up, Blood?" they asked. Seconds later, at 3:23 a.m., the men opened fire.
Durazo and his girlfriend tried to run around the side of the narrow wood-framed house. When the gunmen followed, Durazo pushed the girl to the ground and stood over her, shielding her from the bullets.
About a dozen rounds were fired. Durazo died at the scene. The girl was wounded in the leg.
The gunmen got away.
Regina Durazo Cuevas remembers seeing her brother's body face-down on the grass in front of the house as police officers and detectives milled about.
"They were telling jokes over the spot on the front lawn where Lonnie was lying there dead," she said. "It was that way from the start, like the whole justice system looked at my brother's death and thought, 'No big deal.' "
Justice delayed • The case went unsolved for months.
Eventually, Salt Lake City police charged four people.
Alleged shooters Quetzalcohual "Qex" Chapman and Michael Pierson were each charged with murder. Ellie Watson and Jessica Valdez, the drivers, were charged with lesser offenses.
The group had been cruising through the west-side neighborhood looking for rival gangsters, police said. Durazo was a victim of mistaken identity.
None was hit harder by this news than the victim's mother, Marie Durazo.
Though she felt vindicated in the knowledge that her son "was a good person," as she told The Salt Lake Tribune in 1996, she also felt robbed.
She began hanging on to whatever was left of her son. Old report cards, military records, photos, poems, court dates and newspaper clippings began to fill folders, then binders, then boxes.
As the cases wound through 3rd District Court, she didn't miss an appearance.
"She was determined to see them pay for what they took from her," Cuevas said. "The prosecutors told me and my mom they had a strong case, that these people were going to go away for a long time."
Watson and Valdez pleaded guilty and were sentenced within two years. Both were out of custody before Chapman was brought to trial.
After nearly five years of delay, Chapman argued his case before a jury.
He said he was at a friend's party across town, that he couldn't have shot Durazo because he wasn't there. Prosecutors pointed to bullet casings found at the scene and testimony from two gang members, who said Chapman and Pierson shot Durazo.
But it wasn't enough to sway the jury. Unable to agree on a verdict, the two men and six women declared themselves a hung jury.
Three years later, Chapman was sentenced to 14 months in jail after pleading guilty to two third-degree felonies.
On a yellow Post-it note attached to a court notice of Chapman's sentencing, Marie Durazo made a note: "We could have saved our breath for all the good it did."
Pierson's trial was supposed to follow Chapman's, but dates came and went without ever seating a jury.
Months dragged into years.
Marie Durazo still attended every hearing, but it was getting harder.
"Every time we left the courthouse, I felt like I lost a little more of my mom," Cuevas said. "She lost a lot of herself when it all happened, and every time someone got off lightly or they pleaded out, it's like we lost a little more of her."
In 2011, Marie Durazo was diagnosed with chronic liver disease. Doctors told her she would die without a transplant.
Marie Durazo, 64, walked into the hospital in January 2012 for the operation. Seven months later, she left in a casket.
She died one day shy of the 16th anniversary of her son's murder, having never seen his accused killer brought to justice.
'Evidentiary issues' • Michael Pierson has been in prison since 1999, when he was convicted of murder for shooting a West Valley City man during a botched robbery of drugs and money. He was sentenced to up to life in prison and isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
That, prosecutors said, is a good thing.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill declined to specify why the case against Pierson for allegedly killing Lonnie Durazo was dropped he cited "evidentiary issues" but noted that it is "still an open case," and charges may be refiled at a later date.
Prosecutors did not say why Pierson was never brought to trial for Durazo's murder despite years of delays. They declined to delve into the details of the case, including whether Pierson's co-defendants had agreed to testify against him. The Durazo family was told the case had been dropped after a key witness died in a motorcycle accident.
But Deputy Salt Lake County District Attorney Blake Nakamura said it was likely due to Pierson's defense attorneys raising "certain issues" that made it difficult to "go forward and successfully prosecute a case, in light of what the defense has raised."
Pierson's defense attorney, Jeremy Delicino, who has represented Pierson for just four of the 17-year saga, denied this.
He said prosecutors dropped the charges of their own accord and expressed frustration at how long the case has lingered in 3rd District Court.
"There's no good explanation for why it's been going on this long," Delicino said. "Except that no one has ever been in a big rush to get this case tried."
In 11 years, Pierson will be eligible for parole.
Things fall apart • Isaac Durazo was a year old when his father was struck down in a hail of bullets.
He doesn't recall his father's voice or laugh. He knows all he can about the contours of the man's face from old photographs.
Isaac has never had a dad.
But scarcely a day goes by that Isaac doesn't wonder what life might have been like if he had.
The 17-year-old has seen more than his share of hardship: A mother who didn't want him. Sisters, torn up by the death of their father, who clung to gangs for protection and drugs to numb the pain. An older brother sent to federal prison.
Isaac has his father's easy smile and earnest eyes. He's been in counseling since he was 12, when he first entered the juvenile-justice system.
"I always figured if my dad was here, my sisters wouldn't be how they ended up. I visualize these fantasies of what our life would have been like. As a family," Isaac said. "I guess I have an abandonment issue. I think we all do."
On his back, a tattoo bears his father's name. Several of his siblings have similar markings. An homage to the man, they said, who taught them the meaning of love.
"My dad was what kept this family together," said daughter Charrise Durazo, 30. "After he died, we all went kind of crazy. Everything fell apart."
Broken promises • Before the gunfire and sirens and grief, it was time for a 6-year-old girl to go to bed.
But on the night of July 23, 1996, Derinda Durazo wouldn't go quietly.
The self-described "daddy's girl" whimpered and wriggled as he lay her down on the living room floor atop blankets and pillows.
The soft glow of the TV lit up Lonnie Durazo's face as he leaned down to kiss his youngest daughter goodnight.
"Don't worry," he said. "I'll be back."
A kiss on the cheek. A smile.
Then, he was gone.
Derinda doesn't remember falling asleep that night. She's not sure if she dreamed.
But she knows this: She awoke to a nightmare.
"I don't think I'll ever accept losing my dad," said Derinda, now 23. "These people robbed me, my whole family, of something so important. I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive that."
Twitter: marissa_jae

subset: commoncrawl


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Main menu
- Find
- Get Help
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Oxford Music Online includes the most comprehensive scholarly encyclopedia of music in the English language. Coverage of music of all times and places.
With Grove Music Online as it's cornerstone, Oxford Music Online contains more than 50,000 signed articles and 30,000 biographies contributed by over 6,000 scholars from around the world on all aspects of music. Included are links to images, written music samples, digital sound, and related Web sites. Also included is access to the Encyclopedia of Popular Music, the Oxford Dictionary of Music, and the Oxford Companion to Music.
Library service desk: 828-262-2820 or Ask a Librarian or Music Library: 828-262-2388
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Number of simultaneous users: unlimited. Terms of Use.


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Evelyn Abravanel
Professor of Law
Office: Room Y320
Phone: 202-274-4202
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Evelyn Ginsburg Abravanel is professor of law specializing in personal property, real property, trusts and estates. She is author of "Apportioning Receipts for Wasting Assets under the Uniform Laws: A Proposal for Legislative Reform", North Carolina Law Review, 58 (1980); and "Discretionary Support Trusts," Iowa Law Review (1983).
Currently Teaching
Areas of Specialization
- Property Law
- Trusts and Estates
Degrees & Universities
- J.D., Case Western Reserve University School of Law 1975
- A.B., Case Western Reserve University 1972
Selected Publications
- Evelyn Abravanel, Apportioning Receipts From Wasting Assets Under the Uniform Laws: A Proposial for Legislative Reform, 58 N.C. L. Rev. 255 (1984).
- Evelyn Abravanel, Discretionary Support Trusts, 68 Iowa L. Rev. 273 (1983).


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First time I have been able to get to a computer for a bit but I wanted to say a word of thanks to Black Eagle.At a few days notice Steve and Graham were able to get me a new lightweight gi shipped to Belfast in time for me to bring it to Lisbon for the Euro's.
This was above and beyond the call of duty I may add.
Great company,great service and Im proud to be sponsored by them.
Cheers guys


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Frei didn't waste any precious time once he acquired the land. By 1895, he was producing 20,000 cases of high quality wine that was stored in huge redwood casks.
In spite of a devastating blight of phylloxera, by 1904 the winery had actually increased in size and production. Now in his seventies, Frei turned the business over to his two sons, Walter and Louis. In 1903, the winery was officially named Frei Bros.
The Frei Bros. Winery continued to grow over the years, in spite of disasters such as the one that occurred in 1919, when a curious piece of legislation that came to be known as Prohibition put many an American winery out of business.
Again, the Frei family persevered, and now you can taste the legacy of a great winemaking tradition in Frei Brothers Reserve, a new release that combines the spirit of old world winemaking techniques with grapes that are hand selected from some of Sonoma's finest vineyards. View all Frei Brothers Wines
About Russian River
The Russian River Valley is named as such due to its proximity to the Russian River, the river itself named for the Russian fur traders who came down from Alaska in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The Russian River is agricultural land. While there is a focus on wine, beyond the vineyards are many small, family-owned farms cultivating everything from cattle to Christmas trees.
Notable FactsThe proximity of this cool river and the rolling fogs from the Pacific Ocean make the area amenable to cool-climate grapes like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In fact, the region is quite known for its full-bodied, yet elegant Pinot Noir, as well as their ripe, yet lean Chardonnays. Within Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. Chalk Hill is the warmer of the two and furthest from the ocean, while Green Valley is cooler and closer to the water.
About California
The most famous of the California wine regions is Napa Valley, and these wines are certainly outstanding – but it's not as broad and diverse as its larger neighbor, Sonoma County. Down south, Santa Barbara's Santa Maria Valley is well-known for its Rhône blends, as well as cool-climate varieties like Pinot and Chardonnay. The Central Coast, the largest California AVA, has many different microclimates that lead to a wide range of wines with many sub-AVAs.


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Huawei's C8000, which supports Windows mobile operating software, incorporates a 3D menu graphic user interface (GUI) and a unique independent display adapter which enables the smooth presentation of video files and DVD-quality pictures on a 2.8-inch touchscreen, according to the company.
With optimized power management, the new handset is capable of playing video files continuously for six to eight hours, Huawei said.
This device will be available in the second half of 2009.
- Wireless broadband developments in Southeast Asia markets
As of 2013, the 10 ASEAN nations had a total of over 700 million mobile subscriptions, with the CAGR from 2003-2013 reaching 24%. This Digitimes Research Special Report analyzes the various mobile broadband markets in ASEAN and looks at the respective trends in 4G LTE development for those markets.
- 2015 global tablet demand forecast
This Digitimes Research Special Report provides a 2015 forecast for the global tablet market and analyzes the strategies of key market players such as Google, Apple, Intel, and Microsoft.
- 2015 China smartphone panel trend forecast
This Digitimes Research Special Report analyzes the strategies of key China-based major panel makers BOE, Tianma and IVO for attacking the different market segments through technology and pricing, and their relationship to local vendors Huawei, Lenovo, ZTE, Xiaomi and Coolpad.


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Recalling the chest and shoulder bags used by 19th-century mail carriers on the Pony Express, this is the classic leather courier bag. The bag straps over a shoulder and across the chest for hands-free portability, ideal for transporting hundreds of messages from the Great Plains to California in 1860 or navigating Manhattan's bustling streets. Made from drum-dyed pebble-grain cowhide, prized for its durability and strength, the courier bag withstands the rigors of commuting while providing ample storage for a laptop, work documents, and personal items. The polyester-lined interior has a 12"-wide zippered pocket, two pockets that accommodate a smartphone or MP3 player, and four Pen holders. The exterior has two pockets for items that need to be readily accessible. Brown. 16" L x 12" H x 5" D. (3 lbs.)
Lifetime Guarantee
The Pony Express Courier Bag comes with The Hammacher Schlemmer Lifetime Guarantee. If this product ever disappoints you, for any reason, you may return your Hammacher Schlemmer purchase for exchange, credit, or refund.
Should you have any questions, we are available seven days a week (8:00 am – midnight EST). Please call 1-800-321-1484 to speak with a specialist or email us at email@example.com to receive a response within three business hours or less.
May we recommend:
(based on 1 review)
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Great bag
By Sherlock
from Minnesota
Best Uses
I am very satisfied with this product. Have been looking for this very thing for a long time for my professional needs. The only thing that is a downer about the bag is the strap. I get that its a pony express mail bag designed to be worn across the body, but we don't ride ponies and very few of us carry bags in that fashion. There are a few adjustable holes but they are useless. The price of the bag is up there and its worth it, but now i need to find someone who works with leather and pay them additional to make the strap more functional. For me and my uses, that' the only con to the product.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Process Modularity
To support analog mixed-signal applications, X-FAB has established a sophisticated modular technology approach.
- The modules - such as EEPROM, pin diode or thick metall - can be chosen nearly independently.
- Thousands of combinations are conceivable.
- Each process gets its own unique name and certified flowchart.
The whole modular system is based on just a few building blocks. The customer thus benefits from the huge flexibility, while manufacturing remains consistently robust.
- You get only what you need! You also pay only for what you need!
- Re-use of analog IP for different designs using different process modules
- More efficient use of design resources
- No re-design necessary to add/delete primitive devices.


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Performances Of Handel's "Messiah" Abound At The Holidays
11/29/12 12:50PM By Jane Lindholm, Sage Van Wing
| Download MP3
Performances and singalongs of Handel's "Messiah" are happening throughout the country at this time of year. VPR's Walter Parker keeps track of each performance in the VPR listening area for the VPR Messiah Watch Page. He talked with Vermont Edition about the popularity of "Messiah", and why people are drawn to the work.


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Rascal Flatts performs new music at the iHeartRadio Theater Los Angeles
Listen to Rascal Flatts Radio on iHeartRadio
Rascal Flatts made fans go wild at their iHeartRadio Live show presented by Experian and Anheuser Busch/Shock Top on Monday, May 12th at the iHeartRadio Theater Los Angeles.
The country stars performed music from their new album, Rewind, as well as a few old favorites. Watch their performances of "Payback," "Rewind," and "Banjo" below!
"Payback" Live
"Rewind" Live
"Banjo" Live


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|E-Agenda Board & Commissions View Committees San Antonio.gov
|Current agendas are posted for Council Committees as they become available. For information on accessing previous agendas please contact the support staff for the committee. Regular meeting dates & times are subject to change.
|Governance Council Committee
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The official agenda is posted at City Hall in accordance with state law. This copy is for general information only.
In the event of a conflict between this copy and the posted agenda, the posted agenda shall prevail.
Questions concerning this agenda should be directed to the City Agenda Coordinator at (210) 207-7080.
|Disability Access Statement
Meetings held at Municipal Plaza building are wheelchair accessible. The accessible entrance is located at 103 Main Plaza. Accessible parking spaces are located at City Hall, 100 Military Plaza. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request (interpreters for the deaf must be requested forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting) by calling (210) 207-7245 V/TDD for assistance. Close captioning is available on broadcasts of the Council Meeting on cable channel 21-TVSA.


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Nikon has posted a firmware update for the Nikon D800 digital SLR camera. Version B 1.01 resolves an issue that, in some rare cases, caused the camera to "lock up", i.e. become completely unresponsive to all controls including the power switch (while reviewing the camera, we ran into this issue once - then and there, removing and reinserting the battery solved the problem). Additionally, the firmware update offers a fix for two minor bugs related to I) using the Nikon D800 with the optional WT-4 wireless transmitter and II) shooting in 5:4 crop mode with Active D-Lighting turned on. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below,
Website: Nikon D800 Firmware Update B 1.01 | Nikon D800E Firmware Update B 1.01
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Support PhotographyBLOG: Buy this product from one of our affiliate retailers (US first/red, UK second/blue):
I love photography but I am new in here. I want to buy a wonderful camera.
Please suggest me one.
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Discover a wide range of digital cameras at low prices. Buy cheap cameras from Sony and Canon. Share your photos thanks to digital photo frames.
Varnam offers digital photo frame with built-in memory & battery.
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Would you like to save as your currency permanently or for this visit only?
The Executive floor and its staff The distances of the different products acquiring for breakfast
The service provide by the hotel staff.
Love the breakfast tried to call the room service but no one take the call...end up calling the reception
we have a very pleasant stay and B/fast was a awesome choice. Would be good if could have airport transfer service as other hotel does Nothing... except the surrondings
Great! The stay at this hotel was perfect, the hotel was clean the staff was very friendly. I will definitely stay again.
Facility is nice to use but operation still remain better way. thanks a lot! Internal check in miss was no need to tell to Customers.
Their breakfast is not international and they only serve Asian types of food.
For me (muslim) i went to Restoran Garuda is actually nearby to the hotel. Speciality for Melayu & Minang food. Very nice & the food is verity.
We came from the airport en spent dear one nicht. It was een relaxing stay in luxury. The city Medan is full of smog en Swiss hotel is a parel in the city. The city Medan is dirthy en full of smog. The hotel is very nice.
Dear mdm/sir, I check price with agoda on the same date booking was only 485,000 rp instead I was charged at US$ 72.00 equivalent to 644,400 rp. Hotel promotion rate was 589,000 rp. Can u explain the differrence. Aslways booked from you. I do not wish to compare prices with other but this instance was checked by my friend. Any good recommendation to Taiwan Hot springs in Beitou area. Imperial Hotel is near Ximenting area. Your feed back on urgent basis as I will be in Taiwan on 05-10-10 to 09-10-10 I have booked Yomi Hotel on 05 and 06 You advise is greatly appreciated. T Restaurant at top of Swiss Hotel is veryy expensive compare to Sin Standard.
Very good location, just a walking distance to the merdeka walk, ehere you can enjoy varieties of food.
A service of the staff very good expecially in the reataurant !!!one of the staff name fajar as waiter he give me good information of around medan area!!tq..
New, clean, internet connection was okay, nice breakfast buffet with good bread. The "shopping arcade" was not open yet, the front desk was understaffed from time to time... took a long time to check out.
Near Central Town


text: Why So Blue? Color Graces Many a Porch Ceiling August 14, 2006 A preponderance of porch ceilings are painted blue, but why? Is it just popular? Is it to ward off spirits, or even pesky bugs? The assistant manager of a paint store, a tour guide in Charleston, S.C., and an expert on insects look at theories on why so many porch ceilings are painted this color. Why So Blue? Color Graces Many a Porch Ceiling Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5645263/5647088" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript


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Bajaj Online Shopping at Best Discount and Price - Yebhi.com
Bajaj Appliances offer the most finest and affordable range of home appliances for consumers especially when it comes to small appliances. Being a market leader for a prolonged period, it is a customer favorite when it comes to picking a home appliance in India and is referred to as selecting a "brown goods" product. Their range includes Microwave Ovens, Room Coolers, Water Heaters, Room Heaters, Oven-Toaster-Grillers, Toasters,  Juicers & Mixer Grinders, Food Processors, Steam & Dry Irons and Water Purifiers. All of these home appliances have found place in many Indian kitchens. This trust and preference given by the millions of consumers have made the company the Most Trusted Brand in India (Readers Digest-2009). Bajaj introduced a line extension titled Bajaj Platini in the world of home Appliances. Buy Bajaj products as it gives the all new meaning to home appliances with an unparalleled design.

Something that has always been a necessity in the Indian home appliances' scenario is Bajaj. Bajaj Appliances are moving to a more aspiring, futuristic brand. In the near future, this brand might be the only Indian small appliances brand, available across internationally. Yebhi.com, one of the India's leading  online shopping portals, is the perfect online portal for you to  buy Bajaj Appliances viz. Pop up Toasters, Steam Iron, Mixer Grinder, Sandwich makers, Electric Kettles and Tea/Coffee Machines, which impact your day-to-day living to a great extent. Buy Bajaj Appliances online on Yebhi for hassle free shopping experience.
we found- 83 product


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Nutrition-centered day care helps shape kids' habits
Two-year-old Wesley Huisman doesn't care where his lunch comes from when he's hungry. He just wants to eat.
But with about three-fourths of children ages 2 to 6 in the United States spending large parts of each day in day care, what young children eat while mom and dad are away should be a big deal to their parents.
It certainly is to Huisman's mother, Kristi Hill, who has brought the toddler to Amy & Kids Co. Family Child Care in Appleton, Wis., since he was 12 weeks old.
"We were very pleased to find that Amy focuses on organic and healthy foods," said Hill, who feeds her son those same foods at home.
A study of child care programs in Wisconsin and Minnesota recently found that many children learn food and nutrition attitudes and preferences in child care. Good habits, they discovered, start early.
"The schools have to start out with one hand tied behind their backs when a child starts school already thinking that Pop Tarts are breakfast and that pop is what you drink at lunch," said Susan Nitzke, cooperative extension nutrition specialist and professor emerita at the University of Wisconsin.
Obesity in children
• About 17% of (or 12.5 million) children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 are obese.
• Since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled.
• One in seven low-income, preschool-age children are obese.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Nitzke and colleague Dave Riley, an expert on child development and early education for Cooperative Extension and a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, wrote Rethinking Nutrition: Connecting Science and Practice in Early Childhood Settings.
The book combines the science of childhood nutrition and the practices of good child-care programs that affect a child's nutrition and development.
Nearly a quarter of U.S. children between the ages of 2 and 5 are overweight or obese. The rate is 17% for all children and adolescents in the country — triple the rate from one generation ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Federal help
Nutrition is a big piece of the pie at Faith Child Care. The nondenominational Christian center, which has been operating for 23 years, averages about 67 children ages 6 weeks to 11 in the summer.
Kids are served breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack as part of the Children and Adult Care Food Program, a federal program that provides more than 3.2 million children and 112,000 adults with nutritious meals and snacks each day and reimburses participating day care centers for meal costs. Most child care providers in the country are part of this program.
"We get audited every couple years," said Faith Child Care's administrative director, Sandy Amundson. "And at the end of each month, they look at our menus. We need to track point of service where every classroom that serves meals has to count the number of children that are there for that particular meal."
Faith Child Care offers fresh fruit and vegetables, and whole grain and whole wheat products. It tries to steer clear of processed foods.
The center's staff implemented Tasty Tuesdays to introduce healthier foods — such as hummus and yogurt-type dips — to children. Older kids tend a garden, where they grow cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and other veggies.
Amy Nogar, who has operated Amy & Kids Co. Family Child Care from her Appleton home since October 1999, cares for seven children ages newborn to 5, including Huisman.
She offers a mix of fresh foods and organic items, when she can, and determines the child care center's menu based on what's nutritious.
"For me, we're (also) trying to do more with our family nutrition so it's important that I incorporate that also in the day care, " Nogar said. "We're going with whole grains. We're trying to avoid high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated fats. And serve a lot of veggies."
Huisman's mother says her son is a healthier child because of the food he consumes at Amy & Kids, and the entire family pays more attention to nutrition because of Nogar's efforts.
"Since going to Amy we're even healthier because she's introducing foods that my husband and I have gotten in the habit of not serving," Hill said.
Only organic
Mike Kesselhon, who owns Discover Little Miracles Child Care in Neenah, Wis., with his wife, Roxane, serves only organic food to children enrolled at the center.
"We wanted to work with the kids in our center to develop the lifelong habit of not only eating organic foods and clean foods, but portioning the correct way and not overfeeding them," Kesselhorn said.
What's been surprising, Kesselhon said, is the kids — ages 6 weeks to 12 years — are eating it up.
"You would be surprised, if you go at it with the right attitude and promote it with the kids, they will try it and we usually end up with a winner."
Kesselhon said the added cost of organic food is palatable. The monthly food bill at Discover Little Miracles is about $3,500. Without buying organic food, the center might save $750, he estimated.
"We don't feel that's a big enough number to warrant not doing it. In other words, we're willing to absorb the cost of that against our bottom line for the benefit of the children."
Posted | Updated


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Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon Set To Renew Marital Vows
After four years of marriage, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon are set to celebrate their anniversary by renewing their wedding vows in Paris this week.
With the Eiffel Tower in the background, the couple will exchange vows for the second time at a romantic hotel on Friday eventing (April 27) and have even agreed to meet with the media afterwards at La Maison Blanche hotel.
After dating for only a month, the "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" singer and "America's Got Talent" host tied the knot at a private resort in the Bahama's on April 30th, 2008 and have since had twins together, Moroccan and Monroe.
With the twins also turning one on their wedding anniversary, Mariah revealed the Cannon-Carey family will be celebrating big time, tweeting, "we have put together some very festive plans: ) LYM! Can't wait to see you soon in Paris and Ischgl.. x0x0 MC".
As the exciting weekend quickly approaches, Nick has even more the reason to be excited after tweeting on Wednesday, "Tonight I'm honored to receive a Champion for Kids award from @CommonSenseNews for my advocacy efforts!"
Even though it's a big weekend for the couple, they seem to be taking their careers more slowly after the scary encounter earlier this year when Nick experienced kidney failure.
"We're taking a break," he told People magazine last week. "It's going to be exciting. We're doing something special and something unique."
Photo Credit: Getty Images


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The CCIMS Marketing Fellows program gives selected McCombs MBA students committed to pursuing leadership in marketing the opportunity to develop their marketing acumen and management skills through a combination of focused curriculum and consulting projects. The program elevates the caliber of marketing students produced at McCombs, and the reputation of the Marketing Department overall. The program is student led and managed, with support from CCIMS and Marketing faculty.
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30 Days of Giveaways
Snowboarding's Biggest Product Toss
Our month long contest, 30 Days Of Giveaways is bigger and back. Every day during September we're giving away a new prize package from loads of legit brands. We've got a serious grip of gear to get rid of—from head-to-toe kits to powder shredding trips at Baldface Lodge in Canada. There's over 33 grand of goods up for grabs! We're tossing out the stuff September 1st-30th. Get a look at the loot here, check back everyday for a new prize and enter at our Facebook page for your chance to win. Good luck!


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Recent and archived news articles by Regina Schrambling of The New York Times.
Julia Child, the French Chef For a Jell-O Nation, Dies at 91
Julia Child, who turned the art of French cooking into prime-time television entertainment and brought cassoulet to a casserole culture in the two volumes of her monumental ''Mastering the Art of French Cooking,'' died yesterday at her home in San...
August 14, 2004, Saturday
Upstairs, Hot Pastrami; Downstairs, Jalapeños
FOR 21 years, I've wondered why it is so hard to get great Mexican food in New York. I grew up in Arizona eating tortillas and frijoles in neighbors' kitchens, trading cookies for empanadas, living for the days when someone made tamales. Why did n...
October 16, 2002, Wednesday
Downtown Rising
''WHY try to open a restaurant in these bad times?'' Harry Poulakakos heard that question a lot when he opened Harry's at Hanover Square in the financial district. It was October 1972, and the World Trade Center was going up while the stock mar...
September 11, 2002, Wednesday
Arthur Avenue: A Big Bite of Italy And Old New York
ARTHUR AVENUE in the Bronx cultivates the image of ''Cucina Paradiso,'' complete with a booming soundtrack by Dean Martin at his sappiest. It would be easy to write the neighborhood off as a culinary theme park, a Neapolitan Epcot Center staffed b...
August 28, 2002, Wednesday
A Chef Beats the Drum, Loudly, for Farmers' Markets
AS farmers' markets have spread like pea shoots across the country over the last 25 years, so has the perception that shopping at them is elitist. A good many Americans still do not understand why a sweet little basket of locally grown, hand-picke...
August 14, 2002, Wednesday
The Truth Behind the 'Market Menu'
AROUND this time last summer I was in northern Italy, staying for three meals with a couple who lived no more than three minutes' walk from the market in Padua. In the morning, the wife strolled there, not a recipe on her mind. Whatever turned up ...
July 24, 2002, Wednesday
Michael McLaughlin, 53, Author And Co-Creator of Cookbooks
Michael McLaughlin, who wrote close to a dozen cookbooks and contributed to as many more after collaborating on the groundbreaking ''Silver Palate Cookbook'' in 1982, was found dead last week at his home in Santa Fe, N.M. He was 53. His family ...
July 12, 2002, Friday
Fields on Wheels
THE fruit pushcart down the block from my apartment stands out like a Gauguin on a prison wall, the one splash of bright color on a grim stretch of Columbus Avenue high-rises. But I never considered it anything but street art until the day I trudg...
June 12, 2002, Wednesday
Road Food For the Fast Lane
STANDING less than six feet from the track at Raceway Park here, it's hard to disagree with a promoter who calls drag racing ''the most sensory of all spectator sports.'' You can smell it in the melting rubber, see it in the blur between blinks...
May 22, 2002, Wednesday
Following the Money, A Casino Finds Quail Salad
TO persuade friends to meet me for dinner at a restaurant called Rain last week, I had to drop names. The chef came from the French Laundry, I said. The design was by David Rockwell. Todd English and Jasper White have restaurants nearby. So does M...
May 8, 2002, Wednesday
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The Fresh Pond Reservation Master Plan identified reconstruction and stabilization of the degraded shoreline of Black's Nook as a very high priority. In response, the Black's Nook Restoration Project aimed to increase wildlife habitat value and water quality by fostering native wetland and woodland plant communities and stabilizing the shoreline with native vegetation, coir logs, and erosion control matting.
The Black's Nook Restoration portion of the project was completed in 2011. The Glacken Slope Stabilization portion of the project is ongoing, with resurfacing the adjacent portion of the Perimeter Road in the pipeline.
Check back soon for more updates.
Start Date: October, 2010
Date of Completion: Summer, 2011
The goals of the Black's Nook Restoration Plan included improving wildlife habitats, restoring native species communities, enhancing water quality, providing accessibility, and enhancing educational opportunities. Completed in the summer of 2011, the project successfully restored Black's Nook to an easily accessible diverse wildlife sanctuary.
In order to enhance the use of the pond as a natural resource study area for children, the plan included a redesigned woodland trail using porous pavement, observation platforms, and an elevated wooden path. By widening paths and improving the Concord Avenue entrance, this completed project allows for universal accessibility while also preserving the sense of wildness that makes Black's Nook unique.
Black's Nook before restoration.
Construction on Black's Nook.
Coir roll placement along Black's Nook shoreline.
Close up of coir rolls.
Placing the platform poles in Black's Nook.
Finished platform at Black's Nook.
Black's Nook after invasives removal.
Young students learning how to measure turbidity levels at Black's Nook.
Have questions or comments about the Black's Nook Restoration Project? Email us.


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Our single tassel tieback from Conso comes in 22 lovely colors and has a 6" tassel with 30" spread. 6 pieces per box. From the Empress Collection.
General Shipment Timing GuidelineThis product takes about 4 weeks before we are ready to ship not including ship time to your area from JKM's facility.
(Product Characteristic: Fabric Tieback) / (Fabric Content: 51% Rayon 46% Cotton 2% Polyester 1% Acetate)


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Right-Wing Media Attack Obama For Acting To Prevent Prescription Drug Shortages
Right-wing blogger Michelle Malkin and Fox Business host Andrew Napolitano have attacked President Obama for issuing an executive order that seeks to reduce prescription drug shortages, arguing that government regulations are the real problem. But Obama's executive order not only deals with regulatory delays but also attempts to tackle problems with the manufacturing pipeline, which analyses say is the biggest reason for the shortages.
Obama Issued Executive Order To Deal With Prescription Drug Shortages That "Pose A Serious And Growing Threat To Public Health"
Obama Executive Order Noted That Drug Shortages Are "Becoming More Severe As Well As More Frequent." From Obama's October 31 executive order titled "Reducing Prescription Drug Shortages":
Shortages of pharmaceutical drugs pose a serious and growing threat to public health. While a very small number of drugs in the United States experience a shortage in any given year, the number of prescription drug shortages in the United States nearly tripled between 2005 and 2010, and shortages are becoming more severe as well as more frequent. The affected medicines include cancer treatments, anesthesia drugs, and other drugs that are critical to the treatment and prevention of serious diseases and life threatening conditions.
As part of my Administration's broader effort to work with manufacturers, health care providers, and other stakeholders to prevent drug shortages, this order directs the FDA to take steps that will help to prevent and reduce current and future disruptions in the supply of lifesaving medicines. [WhiteHouse.gov, 10/31/11 [1]]
Malkin And Napolitano Attack Obama For His Attempt To Respond To Prescription Drug Shortages
Malkin: Obama's Executive Order Is Response To An "Irresistibly Exploitable Policy Issue" That Promises To "Do More Harm Than Good." In a November 4 column on her website, Michelle Malkin attacked President Obama's executive order addressing prescription drug shortages. From her blog:
President Obama couldn't wait to trample over the legislative process again. This week, he issued his 98th executive order on an irresistibly exploitatable policy issue: prescription drug shortages. Soon, "One a Day" won't just be a multivitamin. It'll be the rate of White House administrative fiats.
Federal officials darkly suggest that selfish industry "stockpiling" is endangering Americans' lives. "If we find out that prices are being driven up because shortages are being made worse by manipulations of companies or distributors," the White House further threatened, "agencies will be empowered to stop those practices. And the FDA and the Department of Justice will be investigating any kinds of abuses that would lead to drug shortages."
As usual, the underlying reasons for these marketplace conditions are gobsmackingly complicated. As usual, a significant portion of the fault lies with the government -- not evil corporate "abuses." And as usual, Obama's unilaterally imposed "solutions" promise to do more harm than good. [MichelleMalkin.com, 11/4/11 [2]]
Napolitano: "Can The Government Fix A Problem It Created In The First Place?" On an October 31 edition of Fox Businesses' Freedom Watch, host Andrew Napolitano ran a segment with Fox contributor Dr. Marc Siegel that pinned the blame for prescription drug shortages on the Food and Drug Administration:
ANDREW NAPOLITANO: Alright the federal government is never happy, its regulations have caused many a drug shortage in the United States. Tonight the president attempted to right that wrong with an executive order he signed. Can the government fix a problem it created in the first place? Here to discuss Fox News medical contributor and my good friend Dr. Marc Siegel, Dr. Siegel welcome here.
MARC SIEGEL: Hi judge
NAPOLITANO: Ok. So what is the president trying to fix? An economic shortage in drugs caused by the involvement of the Food and Drug Administration he thinks can somehow be absolved by him merely ordering that more drugs be made available?
SIEGEL: You already said what the problem is. This problem occurred because we have a shortage of raw materials because we're getting them from oversees, 80 percent of the time.
NAPOLITANO: Raw materials to make drugs.
SIEGEL: To make prescription drugs. We have one-hundred and eighty drugs, lifesaving drugs that are short. And the biggest problem with them, outside of the shortage of raw materials is that most of them are generic, so there's not enough profit margin, and there's the FDA, riding in on the backs of the drug companies trying to ensure sterility of the medications. Now I think that's a very serious medical matter, but the drugs are overregulated. So judge, how's the FDA going to now solve the problem it created, as you pointed out, by now saying we want six months' notice when you're going to have a shortage, but what are they going to do with the six months?
NAPOLITANO: We want six months' notice when you're going to have a shortage. Is it knowable in advance when a shortage of drugs is going to arise?
SIEGEL: Oftentimes it's not. Because the demand, it goes on a day-by-day basis. We're talking heart drugs, we're talking steroids, we're talking antibiotics, we're talking chemotherapy. [Fox Business, Freedom Watch, 10/31/11 [3]]
Napolitano: "Why Won't The FDA Let Me Take What You Prescribe For Me If You And I Have Decided That It Is Safe And It Might Be Effective?" During the same segment of Freedom Watch, Napolitano suggested that the FDA should not be allowed to regulate prescription drugs at all:
NAPOLITANO: Why won't the FDA let me take what you prescribe for me if you and I have decided that it is safe and it might be effective? Suppose I'm on death's door. Why won't they let me take a last shot at something, rather than going through their 10 years of testing by the end of which the patient -- the hypothetical me in this case -- would be dead?
SIEGEL: I completely agree with that. They need to loosen the regulations. That's the reason that the drug companies -- now we're talking chemotherapy -- are running for the hills. They're not making the profits they need, because as they get towards the end of the patent, these drugs -- and several of them have hit the news lately -- they become unprofitable. And it's because the FDA is still regulating them and costing the drug companies a fortune, but they know they're about to become generic, and they're not get the profit. [Fox Business, Freedom Watch, 10/31/11 [3]]
The Executive Order Specifically Requires The FDA To "Expedite Its Regulatory Reviews" In Cases Of Drug Shortages
Obama Ordered The FDA To "Expedite Its Regulatory Reviews" When Necessary To "Avoid Or Mitigate Existing Or Potential Drug Shortages." Napolitano, Siegel, and Malkin all failed to mention that Obama ordered the FDA to "expedite its regulatory reviews" in cases where such actions would help deal with drug shortages. From Obama's October 31 executive order, titled "Reducing Prescription Drug Shortages":
To the extent practicable, and consistent with its statutory responsibility to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the drug supply, the FDA shall take steps to expand its current efforts to expedite its regulatory reviews, including reviews of new drug suppliers, manufacturing sites, and manufacturing changes, whenever it determines that expedited review would help to avoid or mitigate existing or potential drug shortages. In prioritizing and allocating its limited resources, the FDA should consider both the severity of the shortage and the importance of the affected drug to public health. [WhiteHouse.gov, 10/31/11 [1]]
Obama Ordered The FDA To "Require Drug Manufacturers To Provide Adequate Advance Notice Of Manufacturing Discontinuances" That Could Lead To Shortages Of Important Drugs. The executive order also required the FDA to "use all appropriate administrative tools" to require drug companies to provide adequate notice when they decided to stop production of an important drug that could be subject to a shortage:
To the extent permitted by law, the FDA shall use all appropriate administrative tools, including its authority to interpret and administer the reporting requirements in 21 U.S.C. 356c, to require drug manufacturers to provide adequate advance notice of manufacturing discontinuances that could lead to shortages of drugs that are life supporting or life sustaining, or that prevent debilitating disease. [WhiteHouse.gov, 10/31/11 [1]]
Obama Ordered The FDA To Tell The Justice Department Whenever Drug Companies Are Stockpiling Drugs That Have Shortages Or Are "Sell[ing] Them At Exorbitant Prices." The executive order also stated:
The FDA shall communicate to the Department of Justice (DOJ) any findings that shortages have led market participants to stockpile the affected drugs or sell them at exorbitant prices. The DOJ shall then determine whether these activities are consistent with applicable law. Based on its determination, DOJ, in coordination with other State and Federal regulatory agencies as appropriate, should undertake whatever enforcement actions, if any, it deems appropriate. [WhiteHouse.gov, 10/31/11 [1]]
Analyses Say Manufacturing Problems, Not Regulation, Are Key Drivers Of Prescription Drug Shortages
NERA Economic Consulting On The Potential Causes And Effects Of Drug Shortages: "Manufacturing Causes Were The Most Common Overall" In a January 19 consulting brief titled "An Analysis of Price Effects from Drug Shortages for Independent Pharmacies," Dr. Graeme Hunter of NERA Economic Consulting pointed to manufacturing problems as the most prevalent driver of shortages. From his analysis:
Table 2 shows the causes of shortages reported in the ASHP database for all products and for oral medications only. Manufacturing causes were the most common overall as well as for oral drugs. Regulatory issues resulted in 15 percent of shortages overall, but were more important for oral drugs. A large share of causes fall into the "other" category, which includes raw material shortages and delays related to mergers and acquisitions.
HHS: Shortages Appear To Be "A Consequence Of A Substantial Expansion In The Scope And Volume Of Products Produced By The Industry ... Without A Corresponding Expansion In Manufacturing Capacity." An issue brief conducted in October by the Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation analyzed underlying factors that lead to shortages in the prescription drug market. The brief concluded:
The current class-wide shortages in the industry appears to be a consequence of a substantial expansion in the scope and volume of products produced by the industry that has occurred over a short period of time, without a corresponding expansion in manufacturing capacity.
The structure of the sterile injectable market, the recent expansion in volume and scope, and the consequent very high level of capacity utilization, means that small disruptions to supply - such as may occur because of quality problems - which would otherwise be absorbed through diversion of capacity, can lead to cascading and persistent shortages. Moreover, high rates of capacity utilization may also limit the ability of manufacturers to perform routine maintenance and keep facilities in good order.
Quality problems in manufacturing are linked to a majority (54 percent) of shortages of sterile injectable drugs. Some of the largest manufacturers of sterile injectable drugs have had serious quality problems leading to the temporary voluntary closure or renovations of major production facilities. This means that quality problems that affect an entire plant may result in shortages for many drugs. This temporary closure of a large manufacturing facility can also lead to other facilities being unable to meet the increased demand for the drug due to the lack of excess capacity and the pressure of ramping up supply for multiple drugs in other facilities. [U.S. Department of Health And Human Services, October 2011 [5]]
FDA And HHS: "Quality Problems At The Drug Manufacturing Facility Resulting In Disruptions In Supply Were The Leading Cause Of Drug Shortages." A review of medical product shortages released October 31 by the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services concluded that quality problems at manufacturing facilitates was the single largest cause of supply disruptions. From the review:
Quality problems at the drug manufacturing facility resulting in disruptions in supply were the leading cause of drug shortages (see Figure 4), accounting for 43% of all shortages, followed by other delays in manufacturing or shipping (15%) and a shortage of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API; 10%). In general, inspection findings that have been followed by shortages have been serious in nature: glass shards, metal filings, and fungal or other contamination in injectable products that must be sterile and pure to be safe for patients. [Food and Drug Administration, 10/31/11 [6]]
- Graph Depicting "Drug Shortages By Primary Reason For Disruption In Production And Supply":
[Food and Drug Administration, 10/31/11 [6]]
Health Care Groups Praised Obama's Executive Order
American Hospital Association: Executive Order "Is Welcome News For Hospitals And The Patients They Care For." From a November 2 HealthLeaders Media article:
AHA Executive Vice President Rick Pollack said in a prepared statement that the order "comes at a critical time and is welcome news for hospitals and the patients they care for. The number of drug shortages has tripled in the last six years and the shortages are affecting patient care."
An AHA survey this year found that nearly 100% of hospitals reported a shortage in the past six months, but that most of them rarely -- if ever -- received advance notification of these drug shortages.
"Clinicians need more notice from drug manufacturers so they have time to act to ensure that patient care is not disrupted," Pollack said. "Hospitals are doing their best to reduce the impact of shortages by increasing inventories, buying alternative drugs and training clinical staff on how to deal with drug shortages."
While AHA supports the president's order, Pollack says Congress must step up to pass bipartisan legislation that requires drug companies to tell the FDA as soon as possible of interruptions in supply or discontinuations.
"In addition, we believe that obstacles must be removed so that FDA is able to streamline approval of drugs in shortage," Pollack said. [HealthLeaders Media, 11/2/11 [7]]
American Society Of Health-System Pharmacists "Applaud[ed] President Obama" For The Executive Order. From a statement by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists:
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists applauds President Obama for today's executive order taking action on the public health crisis of prescription drug shortages. The President's order directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to broaden reporting of potential shortages, expedite regulatory reviews, and increases staffing resources for the FDA's Drug Shortages Program.
"The President's leadership to address this public health crisis is an encouraging signal that we might fix the problems that are causing patients to go without life-saving drugs," said Henri R. Manasse, Jr., Ph.D., Sc.D. "ASHP has been working hard to focus public attention on this national health crisis and we applaud President Obama for taking action today."
The Executive Order reflects actions that ASHP has been advocating for some time, including requiring reporting of expected shortages and attention to the secondary market. "We hope this action today will help Congress move forward with the bipartisan legislation (H.R. 2245 and S. 296) as soon as possible," said Manasse. ASHP has also been advocating for increased FDA funding to address this and other issues through its work with the Alliance for a Stronger FDA,. "The FDA has been working hard to address drug shortage for some time, but needs more people and more funding to address the broad-based issues that cause drug shortages," added Manasse. [American Society of Health System Pharmacists, 10/31/11 [8]]
- Posted In
- Health Care [9]
- Network/Outlet
- Fox Business [10]
- Person
- Andrew Napolitano [11], Michelle Malkin [12], Marc Siegel [13]
- Show/Publication
- Freedom Watch [14]


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Harebell 6 Tuesday November 8, 2011, 0 comments
Commenting has ended for this post, but I'd still love to hear from you.
The website of Adrian Lebar
A Rain of Frogs is written, designed and built by Adrian Lebar, a twenty(!) year veteran of web design and development. He is currently managing web and mobile development teams at Canada's largest and most beloved classifieds site, Kijiji!
He is a father, sailor, snowboarder, skier, cyclist, writer, artist, graphic designer, classically trained musician and afraid of heights.
Adrian is not currently available for freelance and contract work. Learn more.
"And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become."
- Steve Jobs
- I didn't know they were making a movie. Great book. Looking forward to seeing how it translates. t.co/uzysPeR1PW via @YouTube Monday July 17, 2017
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- Jen Wang
Check out her drawings - expressive, subtle and charming.
- markboulton.co.uk
An actual design blog. Not a css blog. A design blog.
- Vera Brosgol
A graduate of a local (for me) art school, Vera has a unique and comforting drawing style.


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Etsy seller Three Sassy Sisters recently had their 1000th Etsy sale and to celebrate they are offering a special holiday giveaway just for Moderncat readers! These ladies make the cutest cat collars from colorful fun ribbons and fabulous cat toys using recycled materials. This special holiday gift package includes two breakaway cat collars in holiday designs, one Jack's Snowman catnip and wool cat toy, one Blazer Mouse cat toy in red and green, and one Bird of a Sweater cat toy in sparkling gold.
To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment on this post. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing and announced on December 19, 2011. One entry per person. This giveaway is open to readers everywhere! Happy holidays!


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Protest at NC Legislature to focus on women
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) _ The latest weekly protests of Republican policies at the North Carolina General Assembly will take place as legislation regulating abortion is waiting to be finalized.
The state chapter of the NAACP said Monday's demonstration will focus upon the rights and leadership of women.
More than 700 people have been arrested at the Legislative Building as a form of disobedience since the ``Moral Monday'' protests began in April.
A bill requiring more stringent rules for abortion clinics and demands upon physicians who perform abortions passed the House last week. The Senate must sign off on the changes before it goes to Republican Gov. Pat McCrory.
McCrory said late last week he would sign the bill into law because lawmakers addressed his concerns about the legislation.


text: "Evasive Action." It's more than just a clever play on words by Americans United blogger Simon Brown. It's also an accurate summary of the situation at California Marine Corps base, Camp Pendleton. They're putting a tremendous amount of time, personnel, and other government resources to support massive evangelical concerts and other events. This is only [Read More…]


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Would you like to save as your currency permanently or for this visit only?
It was very relaxing the rain and wind
Only stayed onwe night very good fo ferry vvv
it was right in the city centre 2mins from all the shops would stay at this hotel again. fantastic hotel and location
close to shops and port
layout and furnishings of room
The hotel was opposite the Brittany ferry terminal
Close to the bay and shopping. No
It was very convenient- I was waiting to meet with my husband who was travelling by Ferry. The room had a great view and was very large and comfortable. The eveing meal was excellent value. I do not really enjoy eating alone but the staff made me feel very comfortable The pillows on the bed! Re 2nd question below: I did not read any of the reviews so cannot comment
Location and value for money
central location
Very comfortable, fantastic location close to Sardinero beaches and easy access to Santander city centre
Very Clean and quiet
the breakfast in the morning not many people spoke much english, and the restaurant was all in spanish, so could not order any food or drinks.
Location No smoking policy
Rooms very clean and of good size Price of breakfast 32e for two persons !!
Location and quality
Excellently appointed hotel close to beach and casino. Very clean and comfortable despite being an older hotel. Secure parking under the hotel at a reasonable cost of 12 euros per day.
Efficient, pleasant and convenient
the food is really worthy(especially the toast)
How close it was to the water and to the Palace.
Clean room, helpful staff, nice evening meal at a good price. Room was too hot, my visit was late October and I think the AC was turned off
the customer service
Fantastic location for the centre of Santander and access to great food; lovely room and very helpful staff. No outside area and you are a long way from the beaches; very limited parking - we couldn't get our car in. Breakfast was poor.
Good location, very comfortable, high standard. Getting Reception to ring taxi at departure not easy. Young man told my husband to try outside at first but young lady tried harder and got us a taxi.
it was a four star hotel and lived up to its rating, which sometimes in Spain you cannot rely on.
the staff was so friendly not a thing
As such i had come for the conference so generally i was quite comfortable whether it is morning breakfast or any other kind of assistance, enquires etc. being new to santander. Nothing
great location, clean and modern wi-fi was not very user friendly. TV was rather old and had only 1 English speaking channel
We stayed there from 21st to 24th October hotel is beautiful and very central to everywhere. Rooms are lovely beds huge. Would definitely recommend this hotel
the heat in the room! and it's impossible to set your own room at the temperature you want
position. easy to find.
Great position
The views were nice and the room was very clean The room was ptetty tight... had to move a table to open the balcony
Location Non Smoking not available & smoke heavily penetrated my room.
The location in front of the beach was amazing and the food in the restaurant was the best we ate in Santander. The bar staff were very slow getting our drinks (over 45mins to get 4 drinks also some of the guys on reception looked a bit unapproachable.
Convenient location
An excellant hotel overlooking the sea. The staff were helpful and friendly. No complaints at all
the views and the inter-connecting rooms some staff not especially friendly, but one was very helpful. There were no special facilities for children, more of a business hotel, but very comfortable.
We were upgraded to a seaview room no coffee facilities in room
I liked the services, cleanlines of the room and the the sea-view
staff very helpful
Service! In this hotel they are very much aware of what hospitality really is and how you should pamper your guests. Breakfast is delicious, nearly a reason to select the hotel. Wonderfull location and very, very nice beds. Not applicable
Fantastic hotel, one of the best I've stayed in, fabulous location
Location, view from the room, size and decor of the room.
fantastic sea view location & food
It is a two star hotel.matress is 50 years old. tv the same.nothing works. water pressure unestable then you burn or freeze when other open a faucet. elevators unsuficient. dirty old rugs.restaurant poorest in whole spain. no way to roll your lugage at entrance and no staff when you arrive or depart. unconveniently located and no taxis out front. safe did not work and did not received kind of room I reserved. two bed room. Worst hotel I have ever been.dont know how come is at category small luxury hotel
Lovely setting and terrace area looking out to the sea. Breakfast was not included in the price.
The hotel is very well situated and is luxurious. We had a beautiful room with a spectacular view. The staff were very helpful and friendly. The pool and spar were really good but we consider it to be an expensive additional facility.
A beautiful classical hotel in a wonderful location. The sea view rooms are highly recommended. Probable due to the hotels age the sound proofing between rooms could have been better.
very nice rooms. very quiet and charming. Staff were helpful and spoke good english
Very good location fr traveling, Very goof hotel. As we are English we like our cup of tea, their were no facilities in the room and when we got up at 7.30 the receptionist told us we could not get a drink till the cafe opened at 8.30am.
Great Hotel - very upmarket and I got a great Rate at 0nly 60 Euros! Felt a bit out of place as I was on a motorbiking holiday - but hey dont judge a book ny its cover!!! Great location for night before Ferry Trip from Santander to UK.
The Templo de Agua experience is a MUST - absolutely fantastic, relaxing, vivifying, calming... The spa guide was delightful and even tho' she spoke no english was able to joke with us and get us laughing. Thoroughly enjoyable pleasure. The restaurant was inundated and impossible to get a seat in so we tried the cafeteria which was more like a restaurant - so don't be put off by the name - and the food was excellent. The daytime reception staff were impersonal, surly, rude, overly bureaucratic - the worst we have ever experienced in Spain: if it had not been for the very good points to the hotel, they could have ruined the stay being the first and last impressions of an hotel. They even did not want to take payment until we threatened to depart without paying when suddenly they were able to give us attention. Additionally we were kept awake for more than an hour in the wee small hours by a leaking tap in the room above.
Friendly helpful staff. The Hotel had occupancy for a family of four.
breakfast buffet was fantastic
Lovely pool. Cafeteria was a good place for a drink or snack Restaurant was rather gloomy. Noisy church bells and clock on one side (we changed rooms).
It was bright clean and efficient The beverage self-service at breakfast was very odd
Location and very nice overall a good 4 star hotel !!!!! nothing !
I liked the castle building, the decoration and the atmosphere. I was there onky one night it's not enough time.
Large comfy rooms with excellent staff bathrooms could do with a little update
friendly reception - position of hotel
Closeness to the beaches and parks Tea and coffee making facilities in each room would be a good idea, and information about local restaurants, swimming pools etc, useful.
Location, being close to ferry port at Santander for onward trip to Portsmouth. Views from hotel/room & proximity to town centre & located in an upmarket area. No tea/coffee making facilities in the room. However, we have found this seems to be standard practice in most of the Spanish hotels we have stayed in, why? Also car parking charge excessive, but underground garage is secure albeit when we stayed appeared hardly used.
Good facilities and helpful staff. Lacking in atmosphere.
Location for beaches. Breakfast served in dull basement area. Not all waiting staff were helpful like reception staff. Would not class this as a 4 star hotel.
The location The noise of the next door bathroom woke me up at 8 am The pictures of the rooms on the official website are not relate in some cases (like mine) with the real rooms. Really careful with this.
Helpfulstaff excellent dinner Breakfast appeared not to be staff available to cope with the demand
Nice, modern hotel. A little over-priced
The room was excellent with a nice view of the sea.
Convenience Poor breakfast
A comfortable and well appointed hotel. Close to the ferry port. The staff were very friendly and helpful. No obvious deficiencies
Warm and comfortable and with variety of eating options. Well placed for Santander and ferry terminal On leaving garage at top of slope my car exhaust hit the ground, so a problem with car which are low o to the ground
The cleanliness of the room and the view - also the buffet breakfast
Having read all published comments about this hotel I can only wholeheartedly agree - excellent choice - all rooms had a seaview!
Lovely room with balcony (424) very pieceful had a wonderful weekend. Great Chinese down the road 1st right after roundabout (Not the Oriental that's crap) Expensive for food and especially fresh orange juice (£3+ a small glass). After all they grow like weeds in southern Spain!!!
We stayed 3 nights here and found it to be a superb hotel well situated . right on a beautiful beach. Modern rooms which were very comfortable and clean. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Excellent breakfast, everything you could wish for. Restaurant facilities were good and value for money. An ideal base to see the area. Would stay here again and would thoroughly recommend it.
easy to find great and helpful staff lovely snacks and polite waiters no english tv stations and curtains didnt pull across no coffee making facillities in room
The decor, bar and restaurant service and the general quality of the experience. There was nothing that I didn't like.
great location and good price, nice bar (didn't try the restaurant but looked good)
Its location
The location of the Puertochico was excellent, lovely views over the bay and very close to the old City and restaurants etc. Very clean and efficient with very good Continental breakfast.
Fantastic location overlooking the marina and walking distance to restaurants, bars and shops. We had booked 3 rooms and all of them overlooked the water. On arrival we sat outside and ordered a bottle of Rioja and paid the average rate, We expected to be charged more for a 4 star hotel with such a lovely view. Wished we could have stayed longer. We will be back.
The overall atmosphere was very welcoming and relaxing
Excellent service and good location
Location No
Friendly, obliging staff. Spoke good English. Good location as in the middle between the shopping/commercial area one way and in the other, the beaches. Also well served by public transport - bus stops right outside hotel. Had nice room on top floor - room 901. Has balcony and nice views. Lovely, good size bathroom. Room a little small, beds a little bit too hard. Also room a bit cold.
Great position in the city and close to everything bars restaurant and a short walk to the beach It was a bit expensive for what you got
1. WIFI does NOT work. Missed deadlines! I was unable to do work because of wifi not working, missed important deadlines! 2. Every door slams so loud that sounds like bomb. 3. Smells cheap and kinda nasty. 4. Receptionists are incompetent and showed attitude instead of trying to resolve the problems related o WIFI. 5. The day I was leaving they proposed to change room. I thought it was clear expression of mocking and making fun of a customer. 5. In room 506, there is a light on the building outside near the window, which so strong that at night seems like you are the beach in front of the sun and the curtains do not help. I am not a light sleeper and I fall asleep easily, during this 4 day stay I could not sleep because of that and extremely loud door slamming. Overall experience was horrible. I flew across the globe from Los Angeles for work and due to mainly almost not working WIFI my trip was next to nothing. I feel I was robbed. This hotel does not deserve to be 4 star one.
Ideal location with great view over Marina, staff very friendly.
Right on sea front very near old part of Santander easy to walk everywhere Air conditioning in room wasn't working which staff knew about but we were given another room with a sea view.
The hotel was excellent value for money, and provided an ideal base for both a beach and city break in Santender. Noisy bedroom doors.
The staff were first rate
Large room, good bed, close to the beach. Poor breakfast.
location, staff spotless
pleasent view and well apointed rooms
Enjoyable stay for 3 nights in a junior suite. Slightly dated room but very well maintained, espresso machine a real delight. Maid service was excellent. Front desk staff was friendly and helpful (thanks, Mar and Angela). Air conditioning quiet and efficient. Overall a 9+ in my book. Ate at the restaurant twice, food was good and the portion was generous. Having the TV on spoiled the otherwise pleasant atmosphere.
Easy booking in process, friendly staff, good food, clean and spacious room. Cannot say anything negative about the hotel.
It was OK, not much beyond that. Location was not very good, a bit far from the city center, however there was a bus near by. The room design and comfort was a bit dissapointing.
The provision of secure car parking but the charge was rather high. I would expect a 4 star hotel to provide a full room service 24/7 when your dinner service is too late for many people.
Very good location, nice room (big bathroom and comfortable beds), not too expensive for a 4 stars hotel
Very good location and a very nice breakfast. The room was old and musty and the air conditioning made a rumble all night long. The front desk staff was dismissive and not very helpful.
Good location. No evening meals available on a bar.
The hotel was in a perfect location, had parking which was a necessity. Hotel staff were very friendly and helpful, the girl in the restaurant even remembered what teas/coffees etc. we had the previous morning, and even remembered our room number! Would have liked free WiFi in our room.
the roof balcony was lovely good for drinks on a starry night
the room was smelled of tabaco.
This hotel is very close to the ferry terminal for travelling to the U.K. Parking is safe for your vehicle.
I think that the reception on our arrival and checking out was first class . A job well done and a credit to the hotel. We dont have the young ladies name but she had just had her done. wi fi is only free if you use your own laptop and it is not free in the hotel rooms
The parking places too small
Very well run hotel with helpful and polite staff.
very nice place to stay with our dog
evening meal in the restaurant was first class, all staff could not have been more helpful. would not hesitate to recomend or stay there again. not applicable
extremely friendly staff and good location
Superb apartments. Excellent facilities. Beautiful environment. Lovely family business.
I loved the familyar atnosphere and the design and the quality of the rooms.
everything was great the family who run the hotel are more than helpful and the rooms are great and really clean the breakfast was above and beyond what you expect total value for money all round would recommend there was nothing that we did not like about this hotel
Attentiveness of staff, Cleanliness of room, Breakfast Availability of local places to eat; there was only one
Hotel staff spoke very fluently French. Nice room, good breakfast. Hotel staff gave very good tips about things to visit in the environment. We got a bottle of cava when we arrived and cakes when we left.
Excellent staff, very helpful. Excellent room, clean, modern, quality fittings, very pleasing. A welcoming pot of tea on arrival on a stormy night. Complementary Cava and chocolates on arrival. Gift of cakes on departure. Dog friendly. We recomend this hotel. Nothing to dislike.
Lovely location. Great decor. Loveley receptionist. Worst dinner ever served to us. Semi frozen, limp meat with frozen chips incompletely cooked. Rude staff. No apologies on complaint.
Excellent staff - friendly and helpful, really nice rooms. Didn't have the hotel breakfast but the cafeteria served delicious tortilla de patatas. Nothing negative comes to mind.
A great base for beautiful Somo beach. Staff was very friendly and helpful, especially front desk staff. We were impressed by how many staff spoke English even though the hotel caters mainly to Spanish guests. Would have appreciated a minibar or small refrigerator in the room. Bottled water should be provided as there is nowhere nearby to purchase water or drinks outside of the hotel bar. Beach towels would be appreciated although we were not stopped from using the hotel towels for the beach.
This was a great hotel, the staff couldn't do enough for us and they all speak English if only a little which is great when my Spanish is not so good. We found the food to be of a very good standard and talking to other people they found it the same.We really enjoyed our stay. Thank you
The hotel had a feeling of luxury and excellent cleanliness. Staff were discreet but very friendly and helpful. Food was excellent, and although a bit pricey, still gave super value.
Great beach in Somo for surfing, running, sunbathing etc only 5 minuted walk from the hotel.
Staff were very helpful and professional. Did not eat in restaurant so cannot comment but all other aspects of this hotel were excellent. Very easy access to beach, mountains and Santander.
The hotel staff were very friendly and helpful. They spoke english well and made the effort to communicate with you in English. They couldn't do enough for you. The room was really lovely and very well appointed. The evening food has been described in your reviews as 'disappointing' but I would say that it was rustic. The buffet breakfast was very good, they even offered bacon and eggs which we took advantage of, but a little expensive at 12 euros. I would throughly recommend this hotel to anyone. nothing!
Extreme friendliness of the staff
The rooms were extremely comfortable and stylish. The staff were really welcoming and friendly. Although not applicable to us, some people may find the uphill walk from Somo village to the hotel difficult if they have mobility issues or if very hot and have children.
Could not find. Too far from the sea
no english tv, resturant not open until 8pm, bath had a chip in enamel and was rusting if not for the fact this I was only there for one night I would have moved out.
The room was big and well furnished. The breakfast buffet was good. The staff was proper but unfriendly, They responded to questions but did not offer greetings. The hotel is several blocks from the beach ... past a school, through a neighborhood.
very outdated, not clean far from the beach, industrial vista
Very sapcious rooms with big windows. Clean and confortable A bit far from the centre if you don´t have a car, otherwise it´s good. They defenitly should paint the reception and comun areas in another color
Overall, an excellent hotel with a very Spanish (as opposed to international) feel. Most importantly, the staff are friendly and accommodating. The rooms are large and comfortable (I believe they are all "suites"). We found extras such as room-service and breakfast to be of good quality and surprisingly reasonably priced. Of particular note here: the mini-bar was the first we have encountered in the world that did not have punishing price tags and so (all other hotels take note) we were able to use it freely. There is a very good swimming beach 150m away. We initially complained about the swimming pool: We searched for hotels "with a pool" using this search criteria on booking.com and tripadvisor.com. This hotel came up through this search and we failed to read the detailed description. Guests have free use of the adjacent sports centre. It is next door to the hotel but proved useless for the kids: minimum entry age 16. You have to wear a cap and swim in lanes. I would not describe the hotel as having a pool - but neither did they, the fault lay with the search engine at tripadvisor / booking.com. Our rooms on the first floor had views only of this (not very beautiful) sports centre. I would ask for a higher floor next time.
Clean room Leaking roof
arriving just before midnight and being able to get a meal in the restaurant with very friendly service
The room was a spacious and well equipped suite.
The fabulous suite - very spacious - and impressive shower! The dead animals on the walls of the lounge. Sorry, I know it's your unique selling point, probably just a cultural thing....
Proximity to ferryport and city centre, room facilities No
The staff were very friendly and helpful.
it's really close to the bus station and made it convenient for me the bar was closed, and there are hardly any restaurant in a 500 m radius (at least I didn't find them!)
It's position for the city & the ferryport
Courtesy and friendliness of staff and willingness to try to speak English More detailed instructions to car parking would have been welcome - the one way system and the fact that the car park was underground led to some confusion.
How helpful the staff was with maps and locating near by things for us. The location is great...right across the street from the bus station.
The hotel is central, and just opposite the international Brittany Ferry Terminal. Very clean hotel. Excellent English spoken by the staff. No tea and coffee making facilities in the room. This would have improved the facilities from good, to excellent
Notably friendly, helpful reception. Very well located for transfer from ferries to train or bus. Our only negative criticism is that the coat hangers didn't work very well, but we survived.
Staff on arrival most helpful in accessing disabled parking for myself. Reception most pleasant and pointed out immediately where coffee etc was instantly available Cooked food at breakfast could have been hotter but nothing wrong with quality


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The 2013-2014 school year has come and gone… Last week, the Kenedy High School hosted Scholarship Night and we proudly handed out the Kenedy Chamber of Commerce Tourism & Visitor Center Scholarship to the following recipients: Parth Patel, $1000; Emily Richter, $1000; Teryn Schmidt, $1000; Priscilla Torres, $500; Hannah Leal, $500; Laurel Vickery, $500 and Graham Lawrence, $500. The senior contestants that placed in the Miss Bluebonnet Days Pageant were also awarded their scholarship: $750 to the 2013 1st Runner Up, Priscilla Torres and $500 to the 2013 2nd Runner Up, Teryn Schmidt. The Kenedy Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate all of the Karnes County Graduates and we wish them the best of luck with their future endeavors!
The Microtel Inn & Suites hosted a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Thursday, May 8 in celebration of their Grand Opening in Kenedy. They are located at 333 N. Sunset Strip. For room rates and booking, please contact them at (830) 299-3154 or visit their website www.microtelinn.com. We are very appreciative to have them as a member and we wish them nothing but success in Kenedy! Like them on Facebook at Microtel Inn and Suites Kenedy Texas!
SAVE THE DATE for the Annual Kenedy Chamber of Commerce Banquet! The event will be held on Friday, June 20, 2014 at the Kenedy City Hall. Stay tuned more details to come.


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Just a Thought -- New Additions to the Book Club Collection
Our ever-popular Book Club Collection has gotten a makeover! A few less relevant titles have been cycled back out into our general fiction and non-fiction collections, and we have added four new titles for your consideration. These books, as always, are challenging, literary, and fascinating, chosen with an eye toward "discussability" as well as leisure reading pleasure. We hope you'll check them out! (Pun intended, by the way.)
Brown, Eleanor. The Weird Sisters
Fallon, Siobhan. You Know When the Men are Gone
Jordan, Hillary. When She Woke
Smith, Patti. Just Kids (782.42166 Sm65)
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Buffet Equipment
Buffet Equipment is a great way for food service establishments to maximize profits. Offering cold or hot food to your guests is a great way to make large profits. People often want to grab ready food, fast, and buffet equipment is the solution. Many times food service establishments will have self-serve buffet tables both hot and cold with trays for guests. After your guests fill their trays, you weigh them and charge by pound. Maximize your profits today.
Benchmark USA 51096 - Full-Size Countertop Food Warmer
List Price: $347.64
Our Price: $206.93
In Stock