text:
MORE than 140 students donned gowns and mortar boards when they graduated from Bridgwater College.
The pupils packed into the pews of St. Mary's Church with over 500 guests, including staff, parents and governors.
More than 300 students completed their professional or university level qualifications this year in subjects ranging from Animal Management to Creative Audio Technology.
Sophie Young and Robin Jones both achieved a First Class Honours in the BSc (Hons) in Applied Computing.
Robin, 28, from Minehead, has also been nominated for Bournemouth University's Partner College Student Prize. He works for The Met Office, who sponsored his qualification, and he recently designed a project for them which took over 400 hours to complete.
Robin said: "I'm really proud of my nomination. The project took a lot of dedication to complete and I'm delighted my employer valued my ideas and has decided to develop them further."
Rhys Erwood, who studied the Higher National Certificate in Electrical/Electronic and Control Engineering, said: "I'm seriously thinking about coming back to Bridgwater College and continuing my studies in order for me to progress in my career."
Among the graduates were a number of staff from the College, including student support manager Sue Marson, who achieved a Distinction in every module on the Higher National Certificate in Business Studies, with fellow student Charlotte Crandon.
Programme manager, Claire Tilley said: "We congratulate all students who have achieved their awards, particularly Sue and Charlotte who did especially well throughout the entirety of the HNC."
Paul Inman, pro vice-chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, one of the College's partner institutions, said: "I congratulate you all on your achievements to date."
College Principal, Mike Robbins, praised family and friends in supporting the students throughout their studies and the staff, who he said "are key to motivating and assisting students for the duration of their course."
Guests enjoyed a reception afterwards at Bar 27.


text:
China reporter Lucy Gao reviews the major business news making headlines every day in both the Chinese and English language press.
China Securities Journal
■ China's economy is expected to expand 7.5 per cent this year while inflation could be kept within 4 per cent, said Yao Jinyuan, a senior researcher with the State Council, China's Cabinet.
■ China will further provide "support" to Taiwan-based financial institutions that apply for licences to invest in mainland capital markets, as part of efforts to offer them better access to the market, a senior official of the securities regulator said.
Shanghai Securities News
■ Dalian Commodity Exchange said it expects to launch coking coal futures soon and the contract is awaiting approval from the State Council.
■ Canadian regulators on Friday approved China National Offshore Oil Corp's $US15.1 billion purchase of Calgary-based Nexen, in China's biggest overseas takeover.
Shanghai Daily
■ China's Gini coefficient, a widely used measure of wealth inequality, was 0.61 in 2010, according to an academic survey of 8438 households. Readings above 0.4 are used by analysts as a gauge of the potential for social disturbances.
China Daily
■ China's banking regulator on Friday released guidelines to encourage banks to develop new financial instruments to supplement capital levels in preparation for tougher rules effective next year.
■ South China's Guangdong province, traditionally a forerunner of reform in the country, will test out a program that will make details of officials' assets public, as part of an effort to fight corruption.
■ A monk and his nephew in Sichuan province in south-west China have been detained for encouraging Tibetan monks to immolate themselves.
People's Daily
■ Shanghai will allow transit passengers from 45 countries, including Australia, to stay in the city for 72 hours without a visa, following a similar policy announced by Beijing.
■ China's installed capacities for wind power and hydropower have grown to become the world's largest, said Liu Zhenya, president of the China Electricity Council, on Sunday.
The Australian Financial Review

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Independence Institute is twenty-five years old -- and still shooting from the lip
President Jon Caldara helps celebrates 25 years as Denver's premier conservative free-market think tank.
Editor's note: This week's Westword cover story is a cartoon by Kenny Be that celebrates twenty-five years of the Independence Institute. Check it out in its entirety below:
Past: It was 1985, the middle of the Reagan years, when conservative Republican John Andrews asked the Coors Clan to finance his fear-mongering with their free-market fortune.
Present: Jon Caldara has been the Independent Institute's president for the past eleven years. While he claims to be the "taxpayer's best friend," he is, in fact, the insomniac's best friend. His optimistic oversimplification of our complex world makes his 10 p.m.-1 a.m. weekday radio show on KOA seem like fever dreams of the delusional...
Upcoming Events
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TicketsMon., Sep. 4, 1:10pm
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TicketsSat., Dec. 29, 6:00pm
Golden Moments: With 25 years of battling Colorado's liberal menace, the cavalcade of Independence Institute researchers, scholars, fellows and interns has produced the finest sloganeering, attention-whoring, eye-rolling and prop-comedy video that conservative money can buy. All-time favorite videos include...
Dave Kopel, the prolific director of research at I.I., hosts the popular "How to Set Your Holiday Table" segment of his 2nd Amendment Living home show.
During a Campus Accountability taping, scholar Jessica Peck Corry (who also supports marijuana legalization) promises to hold a bong with her boobs if the University of Colorado at Boulder ends its diversity programs.
Jon Caldara uses sock puppets that resemble education experts Ben DeGrow and Pam Benigno in a video plea to defeat public school teachers' unions and tax hikes.
Transportation-research scholar Randal O'Toole claims that the car is what made America great, and then concludes that more car driving will make a person that much more wealthy.
Operations Director Amy Oliver has a degree in journalism, which makes her an expert at explaining the science of global warming and how the free-market solves ecological problems...
To demonstrate how the free market is better than government when it comes to providing retirement income, financial wizard Tom Tancredo uses an apple to represent Social Security and a diet soda to represent his retirement account with Bernie Madoff. Now, a wave of the magic free-market wand...
Future: The success of the Independence Institute will be determined by its ability to identify and unite Colorado's numerous but disparate coalitions of the rationally selfish...
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text:
Services for High School Students
WELCOME students, counselors, and parents!
High school students who meet admission criteria can enrich their education with Andrews University courses. Approved courses are available in one or more formats:
- Dual enrollment courses on main campus
- Dual enrollment interactive online courses
- Concurrent enrollment courses on academy campuses
Tuition for Fall 2017 and Spring 2018 is $130 per credit, plus $55 general fee per semester, and any course-specific fees. Apply and register now!
Explore these webpages to learn about courses available during high school and how to prepare for college.
- Dual enrollment: A student taking classes at two educational levels is dual enrolled. Both high school students taking undergraduate courses before graduating from high school, and college students adding one or more graduate courses before completing their undergraduate program, are benefiting by dual enrollment opportunities.
- Dual credit: When a student is granted credit in their current program for classes completed through dual enrollment at a higher level. For example, when an academy or high school accepts credits for an Andrews University course to fulfill a high school diploma requirement, the student earns both Andrews and academy credit for the same learning, i.e. dual credit.
- College enrichment: When an academy or high school allows a student to take an Andrews University class that will not count towards their high school diploma, some schools call this advanced level learning college enrichment.
- Concurrent enrollment: When Andrews University approves an AU course to be taught on an academy campus by an academy teacher (approved as an AU adjunct faculty), the academy students are considered concurrently enrolled, earning dual credit.


text:
The MB's are 17cm by 17cm. The small case I use has place for a floppy,
HD, slimline CD, 2 PCI cards and a small 12V to 12V/5V board. The power
supply is a 12V 6A external supply. The case is 30cm by 28cm by 6cm.
There is also a Tiny MB 12cm by 12cm. Via announced the producing of
64bit low power processors.
Some ideas: http://www.mini-box.com/s.nl/sc.8/category.19/it.A/id.330/.f
And if you like to see some nice, silly, crazy, or fun homemade projects
with these 17*17 mini-itx boards, look at http://www.mini-itx.com...
Jesse Guardiani wrote:
>Robert Rich wrote:
>>I've been trying to find a sweet spot with the VIA stuff. I think i
>>found it:
>>It's the EPIA-CL6000E, which is just like the PD you found but lacks the
>>'digital i/o' port for POS applications. You can pick them up at
>>axiontech.com for $136.95. (iboxpc is selling the same thing for $190,
>>one of them goofed). Add ram ($50), cf/ide adapter ($50/$10), power
>>supply ($45!) and case ($40!) and you're over $300. But you have a lot
>>more to play with.
>$300+ ain't bad. A Soekris 4801 with all the trimmings is about $350. That's
>still a heck of a lot cheaper than a Cisco PIX firewall. How large would one
>of these VIA machines be? They look about the same size, but they require
>a standard power supply? That would bulk up the case quite a bit, I think.
Patrick Coeman
Bredestr 171 te B-2620 Hemiksem
+32 (0)38773855 & +32 (0)476 959505
patrick at coeman dot net www.coeman.net


text:
TV shows, I like comedy (How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory, Family Guy, Futurama, American Dad, South Park, Etc.) or Sci-Fi (Eureka, Dr. Who, Stargate Etc.) or sometimes I like to watch Top Gear, Mythbusters, on some rare occasions I might watch some anime or some times the Food Network channel =]
Music, I like trance, EDM, hip hop, rock, sounds of a piano or violin.
Food, I like sushi, curry, burgers, steak, thai cuisines, japanses, cuisines, or chinese cuisines, and always willing to try new things.
...later ;p
- Photography
- Cooking
- Snowboarding
- Cars
- Out door activities
- Or if your have any common interest =]
- Just want to chat
- Meet and hang out


text:
NAIPR Message
(IPng 4177) Re: An idea to bounce off people: storing routing info in the DNS instead of the routers.
- From: Jeff Williams (jwkckid1 at ix.netcom.com)
- Date: Thu Jul 24 15:47:25 EDT 1997
- Next message (by thread): (IPng 4177) Re: An idea to bounce off people: storing routing info in the DNS instead of the routers.
- Previous message (by thread): ARIN employment opportunities
Jim, bound at zk3.dec.com wrote: > > I have not commented on this thread as I am just scanning it and will > read it in entirety before the IETF and if I have comments I will make > them later or at the IETF if this is a subject for the Working Group. > > But this caught my scanner: > > >> [Did a solution to a v4 program talking to a v6 host ever get developed? > >> I was off the list for about 4 months this year] > > > I believe so. But don't quote me on this. Maybe some others > >on this list can answer this one. Anyone? > > A v4 host can always talk to a v6 host that has a hybrid stack meaning > it can accept v4 or v6 addresses. > > A v4 host talking to a v6 ONLY host is another matter (I am assuming > translators or non-translators exist between the two nodes). > > Which is the question? I believe the latter is the question. I believe that if translators are present on the v6 only host, that there is no problem. However, if not than of course transmission will fail. But don't quote me on tis one. > > /jim Regards, -- Jeffrey A. Williams DIR. Internet Network Eng/SR. Java Development Eng. Information Eng. Group. IEG. INC. Phone :913-294-2375 (v-office) E-Mail jwkckid1 at ix.netcom.com


text:
- SA - Adelaide
Somerton Beach
Entertaining kids of any age is easy - just head to your local beach!
Somerton Beach is a continuation of Brighton beach, beginning at the Minda dunes and extending for 2km to the north.
The Somerton Surf Life Saving Club is located at the northern end of the Minda dunes. At the surf club there is a ramp to the beach, with a seawall and beachfront road beginning at the ramp and extending all the way to Glenelg.
- Lifeguards
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Surfing
- Public toilets
- Shower
- Kiosk
- Plenty of parking
- Boat ramp
- Cafe
- Bike track
Bring the family for a fantastic FREE day at the beach!
FIND MORE local beaches here.
Always remember:
Slip, slop, slap
Swim between the red and yellow flags.
FIND MORE local beaches here.
Always remember:
Slip, slop, slap
Swim between the red and yellow flags.
- Time:
- FREE fun from sunrise to sunset!
- Location:
- Somerton Beach, , Somerton Park, Adelaide, SA Map it
- Ages:
- All Ages / Family
- Cost:
- Free
- Event Info:
- Get the family outdoors for FREE fun in the sun!
Visit Website


text:
The smoke from one beach fire pit generates the same pollution as a heavy-duty diesel truck traveling 564 miles, according to air quality experts who are considering banning the popular pits.
A preliminary study by the Air Quality Management District this past week considers the health risks of smoke in support of a potential regional ban on wood for beach-ring fires.
City officials in Orange County, where most of the pits are located, differ on whether the pits should be banned - but they agree that the regional air quality management should not decide the issue. That, according to mayors of Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, should be decided by individual cities.
"Each beach has different wind patterns, and geography, and the residential areas are different and distinct," said Connie Boardman, mayor of Huntington Beach, where the popular pits of Bolsa Chica State Beach are located. "The so-called 'one size fits all' approach, I don't think it's appropriate."
To document the potential pollution problem, the AQMD has operated air monitors at Corona del Mar, Balboa Island, Huntington Beach in Orange County and Dockweiler State Beach in Los Angeles County since late March, using both mobile and fixed air monitoring devices.
If a wood-burning ban is approved, it would affect beaches throughout Orange County and most coastal areas in Los Angeles County, including Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro and Dockweiler near El Segundo.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, who represents the coastal region, has not made a decision on the potential ban, his spokeswoman said Friday.
The AQMD will likely make a final decision on the controversial issue sometime this summer.
Newport Beach officials want to ban fire pits because they say they pose a health risk to beachfront residents. However, leaders in Huntington Beach and San Clemente - where homes are not adjacent to the beach - have taken a stand against any ban.
The San Clemente City Council has approved a resolution opposing a ban on wood burning fire pits, and the Orange County supervisors passed a resolution opposing a ban and asking the AQMD to leave the issue up to municipal governments.
There are 850 fire rings in about a dozen beaches in Orange and Los Angeles counties, according to AQMD spokesman Sam Atwood. Huntington Beach has 60 percent of the rings along its coast, he said; Los Angeles County beaches have 73 fire rings at Dockweiler and six at Cabrillo Beach - the only two beaches in Los Angeles County with the pits.
Preliminary pollutant measurements in the AQMD study show wood smoke at Corona del Mar in Newport Beach is almost double the pollution at Huntington Beach. This discrepancy is one of the reasons Boardman wants more data.
"There's no compelling information to restrict fire rings," she said before a rally Friday on the beach.
Cities at least will have more time to weigh in. The AQMD had scheduled a vote on the issue for June 7 but pushed that back possibly a month or so because of scheduling problems for several of the board members, Atwood said.
According to this week's study, wood smoke contains toxic, cancer-causing chemicals as well as common combustion pollutants such as nitrogen oxides. Numerous health studies during wildfires show that wood smoke causes respiratory irritation and an increase in hospital admissions for respiratory problems.
Measured levels of particulates varied widely depending on weather conditions, the level of beach fire activity and location, the study showed. In parking lots near beach fire pits, the study reported fine particulate pollution concentrations were up to 10 times higher than typical background levels. In nearby residential areas, particulate concentrations were up to three times higher.
The study also found wood smoke is the source of carcinogenic toxic pollutants, including benzene, formaldehyde, and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons.
Meanwhile, AQMD board member Miguel Pulido, the mayor of Santa Ana, has been collecting public input this week, including a Friday night hearing at the Huntington Beach City Hall. Huntington Beach has the bulk of the fire pits and has been mounting political opposition to a regional ban.
Assemblyman Travis Allen, R-Huntington Beach, an avid opponent of a ban, contends the bonfire pits are important to the Surf City economy, providing critically needed revenue - more than $1 million annually - for the state and coastal cities. He added that the loss of the fire pits would result in "devastating revenue losses" for the state parks, which stand to lose 50 percent of the RV camping revenue.
On Thursday, several Orange County mayors met privately in Santa Ana to review the newly released data from the AQMD study.
Newport Beach Mayor Keith Curry and Boardman, although on opposite sides of the move to ban fire pits, agree that the cities should be allowed to decide the issue for themselves and the AQMD should not implement a regional ban.
Newport Beach wants to ban the fire pits because residents along the beachfront have complained about the health hazards.
Boardman focused on AQMD data indicating that the city is below the level that is considered unhealthy for those who are vulnerable to smoke. She wants different solutions, if it is demonstrated the fire pits present a health hazard.
"If there are health risks to our residents there are a lot of solutions between nothing and banning the fire rings completely,'' she said.
Contact Joe Segura at 562-714-2163


text:
Welcome to the Sivananda Yoga Meenakashi Ashram, nestled within the beautiful forest lands of south India, with stunning views of the impressive Western Ghat mountain range and only one hour from the holy temple city of Madurai. Here is a sublime setting for the practice of yoga and meditation, an environment serene and harmonious.
Come and experience the heady perfumes of the jasmine and flower gardens surrounding our Temple. Sip refreshing medicinal teas made from the leaves from our organic herbal tea garden. Perpetually-flowering brilliantly-coloured bougainvillea line each and every pathway. Fountains and waterfalls keep the air ionised and fresh. Relax on our lawns or sit under holy neem and peepul trees providing both medicine and shade. Listen to the calls of the peacocks, and watch the cows graze.
Come to the heart of nature and to the heart of India, and learn the eternal wisdom of yoga and meditation in their land of origin.
Our world-renowned yoga teacher training courses and Yoga Vacation programmes are conducted year-round. We offer fasting courses, Kids' Camp and much more. Book now and discover the joy of renewed health, vitality, happiness and peace of mind.


text:
Teen wants to start life afresh
The 14-year-old girl, who had beaten up the baby, had gone through physical, sexual abusedelhi Updated: Jan 26, 2013 02:53 IST
More than a year ago, a 14-year-old had taken a baby to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, claiming to be her mother. The two-year-old baby had bite marks all over her body and severe head injuries. The teenager had, in a fit of rage and frustration, branded the child with iron and bashed her.
The case soon shot to the headlines, not only because of the condition the child, but also because it brought to the fore the issue of child trafficking and sex trade. The teenager who had taken the baby to AIIMS was herself a victim and had undergone a lot of trauma. The child later died on March 15, 2012.A year later, the teenager is currently living in a shelter and has expressed a desire to study and be a working woman.
When the police produced her before the Child Welfare Committee, her rehabilitation was the main concern after the members realised she was willing to start life on a clean slate.
The team of psychiatrists did not find the 14-year-old girl mentally unstable and that was why she wasn't sent to one of the regular government shelter homes. "We arranged her to stay at a newly opened child shelter home. We expedited the process because this particular home had a dedicated team for child sex abuse cases," said a member of the committee.
Regular psychological counselling helped the girl overcome her trauma. Not only had she gone through sexual and physical abuse, but was discovered a few weeks' pregnant too. The constant media glare added to the stress. She would get upset if anyone pointed out the things reported on her. "She was just 14 and her pregnancy was complicated. We had to approve medical termination of the pregnancy. She was given the best medical treatment but emotionally, she went through a lot at a young age," said the member.
The member was quick to add that the teenager wasn't like a typical rape victim. "We would often catch her smiling, if only for a few seconds, if someone cracked a joke."
But the teen did have adjustment issues and would prefer to stay alone, reported the team of psychologists assessing her. "She was a lonely child. All the physical and sexual exploitation she had undergone made her lose her balance for a moment. But she did bring the baby to the hospital, when she could have easily dumped her. That's what made us hope. Apart from a regular counsellor, a doctor and a psychologist dealt exclusively with her. After several counselling sessions, the girl opened up," the member said.
What helped was the fact that she was treated as a victim in the case, and not an accused. She was charged with causing death due to negligence, which attracts milder punishment.
She has a gory past. Her father would often beat her and her mother with sticks and belts. Her mother died when the girl was seven, after which her father sent her to an orphanage. After spending six years there, she was brought back by her father after he remarried. The couple would beat her up often, and she fled the house.
While roaming on the streets, she came in touch with a woman, who forced the girl, then 13, into flesh trade. She came in touch with taxi driver Rajkumar, with whom she eloped. They began living as man and wife in an unauthorised colony of south Delhi's Mahipalpur.


text:
Welcome to Hellyer Transmission & Automotive, providing Deer Park and surrounding areas with over 55 years of transmission service experience. We know how important a reliable vehicle is to your peace of mind and Hellyer Transmission & Automotive provides service you can rely on.
We service foreign and domestic automobiles, light and medium duty trucks. From a simple front wheel drive car, to a four-wheel drive work horse, Hellyer Transmission & Automotive has the tools and experience to do the job right. All repairs are guaranteed.
Our family owned and operated business is proud of our community and your satisfaction is our priority!
Hellyer services the Houston Texas Metro area and surrounding cities such as: Pasadena, Deer Park, La Porte, Seabrook, Kemah, Pearland, Clear Lake, Baytown, Friendswood, League City, Galena Park, and South Houston. Contact us by email.
We employ ASE and ATRA certified service professionals.
Call Hellyer at 281-479-1715


text:
This property is no longer available.Search for Available Property.
10 acres in Kalkaska County, Michigan
Build you new home on this beautifully wooded 10 acre parcel. Property features rolling hills, level area, paved road frontage and a private road if you choose to use it.. Beautiful countryside view, wildlife that frequent the property and close to Long Lake Access for fishing.
US 131 South from South Boardman to left on Shippy Rd. to left on Ingersoll Rd. to the property on your left.
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NOTE: The information contained herein is provided as general information only and has been obtained from sources deemed reliable. It is provided without any guaranty, warranty or representation, expressed or implied, made by Lands of America, or any related entity, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information. The information is presented subject to errors, omissions, change of price or conditions, prior sale or withdrawal without notice. Prospective purchasers should make their own investigations, projections and conclusions concerning the information.


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Size of nut on 2wd sector shaft ? to remove pitman arm.
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text:
--Publishers Weekly
From the Hardcover edition.
Uh-oh, it looks like your Internet Explorer is out of date.
For a better shopping experience, please upgrade now.
It looks like wedding bells again for the much-married Cora Felton when distinguished widower Raymond Harstein III moves into town and makes a play for the Puzzle Lady./i>
Crime, cryptograms, and killer conundrums abound for the Puzzle Lady in the fourth installment of the series USA Today raves is "a fun series for mystery fans and cruciverbalists!"
It looks like wedding bells again for the much-married Cora Felton when distinguished widower Raymond Harstein III moves into town and makes a play for the Puzzle Lady. That is, it does until the mail brings puzzling cryptograms, which, when deciphered, warn Cora off the match.
Or do they?
As the puzzles keep coming, a killer's game must be played in earnest, and it's up to the Puzzle Lady to solve the riddle—if anyone is going to live to make it to the altar!
From the Hardcover edition.
From the Hardcover edition.
Cora Felton was radiant. Cora always looked good, which was one of the reasons Sherry had chosen Cora's picture to grace the Puzzle Lady column. But tonight, in the presence of Raymond Harstein III, Cora was positively glowing. She blossomed in his notice, she basked in his gaze.
Sherry Carter was amazed. She had met some of Cora's husbands, but always after Cora had married them. This was the first time she'd witnessed a courtship, and it was an eye-opening experience. Cora was totally gaga. Seeing her aunt in love helped Sherry understand how Cora had fallen for some of the despicable men she'd managed to wed. The woman was giddy as a schoolgirl.
And on her finger was a ring with a diamond as big as the Ritz.
Cora and Raymond had just gotten engaged.
Much to Sherry's dismay.
"You are the most gorgeous girl in the world," Raymond assured Cora.
Sherry Carter shuddered. Her aunt was all decked out in a red satin number that was just a little too young on the one hand, and a little too narrow in the waist on the other. Cora looked perfectly respectable. But the most gorgeous girl in the world? Really.
If the truth be known, Sherry was not as upset with the assessment as with the assessor. Raymond Harstein III was, in Sherry's humble opinion, one of the most pretentious human beings she'd ever met. She didn't care for the way he talked, the way he moved, the way he tilted his nose, the way he carried his chin. She even resented the III in his name, although, presumably, that was Raymond Harstein Jr.'s fault, and not his. Be that as it may, Sherry Carter was not smitten, and it took only a single effusive, hyperbolic compliment to set her teeth on edge. Although, as a wordsmith, Sherry had to admit "the most gorgeous girl in the world" was not really hyperbole, just a gross exaggeration.
Cora, however, seemed to take the praise at face value. "Oh, Raymond," she simpered. "You spoil me."
It was all Sherry could do to keep from gagging.
"Not at all, my dear," Raymond declared, patting Cora on the hand, another gesture that Sherry deplored. Good lord, couldn't Cora see through this man? A lovesick schoolgirl of sixteen could see through this man. Surely her aunt had learned something in her umpteen previous marriages. How could she be so blind? When Raymond favored her with "Of course, you look lovely too," it was all Sherry could do to keep from leaping across the table and strangling him.
Raymond Harstein III was a slender man of indeterminate age, the difficulty of that estimation a testament Sherry ascribed to the effectiveness of Just For Men hair coloring. Raymond's dark brown hair was gray at the temples, which didn't fool Sherry one bit. She suspected him of having snow-white hair, dyeing it brown, and then touching it up with gray highlights.
As to the rest of it, Raymond Harstein III had blue eyes and a nose both pointed and rounded at the same time, as if the scurrilous gentleman was unwilling to commit to anything. A trim mustache, brown from the bottle, topped thin lips that never ceased to smile. He was dressed in a blue suit, white shirt, red patterned tie. Raymond always wore suits, ranging in Sherry's opinion from the cheap to the inexpensive, or in Cora's, from the practical to the thrifty.
"Thank you," Sherry told him now. "You're looking quite distinguished yourself."
Raymond made a self-deprecating gesture. "Please. I am a weed amongst blossoms, happy to be growing. So sorry your young beau couldn't join us. I should really get to know him if I'm marrying into the family now, shouldn't I?"
"Aaron's not really family," Sherry said.
"Ah, but he could be." Raymond's eyes twinkled. "If your aunt wouldn't mind sharing the spotlight. What do you think, Cora? How would a double wedding suit you?"
Sherry stiffened at the suggestion.
Cora threw back her head and laughed. "Fine by me, Raymond, but I'm afraid you don't know my niece very well. I don't think Sherry's inclined to accept a wedding proposal unless it's the bridegroom making it."
"Yes, yes, of course. Wouldn't want to usurp the young man's prerogative."
"Of course," Cora agreed. "But you should snap him up, Sherry, before that Becky Baldwin gets her claws into him."
For Sherry, that comment marked the point at which she knew her aunt really was out of control. Under normal circumstances, Cora never would have teased Sherry about her rival, Becky Baldwin, in front of a third person. The idea that Cora was treating Raymond as family didn't cut it with Sherry. As far as she was concerned, her aunt had gone completely round the bend.
A waitress with a notepad swooped down on their table. "Can I get y'all something to drink?"
Raymond immediately took charge, proceeded to relay all orders through himself--another habit Sherry detested. "And what would you like, my dear?" he asked her.
"I'll have a white wine," Sherry said directly to the waitress.
Raymond went on as if he hadn't noticed. "Excellent," he said. "A white wine for the young lady. Now, my dear, what would you like this evening?"
Cora hesitated just a moment before saying, "I'll have a Shirley Temple."
Raymond nodded his approval, relayed those instructions, and ordered a seltzer and lime for himself.
Sherry watched with growing horror. Raymond had taken exception to Cora's drinking, counseled moderation. For one who imbibed as heavily as Cora was in the habit of doing, this was a major step, and one of which Sherry would have ordinarily approved. The thought Cora was doing it for him rankled. Sherry sighed, glanced around.
They were dining in the Country Kitchen, Bakerhaven's homey, inexpensive, and popular restaurant, which featured a well-stocked salad bar and standard American cuisine. As usual, the tables and booths were quite full. Most of the customers were local, and many seemed to have taken an interest in their table. Bakerhaven was the type of town where most everybody knew everybody. A stranger such as Raymond Harstein III was indeed cause for comment.
"What do you think, Sherry?" Raymond asked.
As she hadn't heard a word, Sherry was hard-pressed to offer an opinion.
Luckily, Cora swooped to the rescue. "Oh, what does Sherry know about weddings? The poor girl's only had one, and that was an elopement. Trust me, this is not a big deal. The TV people probably won't even come."
Raymond frowned. "TV people?"
"Yes, the Channel 8 news team. They cover this town."
Raymond seemed amused, but Sherry could have sworn he was putting it on. "You expect your wedding to rate TV coverage?" he asked Cora.
"Our wedding," Cora corrected demurely. "No, I don't. I was just saying I don't expect them to come. Even though that reporter seems to have it in for me."
"A TV reporter? Why?"
"No reason. Just every time Rick Reed tries to cover me he winds up looking stupid."
Raymond's blue eyes twinkled. "You mean you make a fool of him?"
"No. I think he's just naturally stupid."
Aaron Grant came in the door. The young newspaper reporter looked around, spotted their table. He strolled over just in time to have his way blocked by the waitress with her tray of drinks.
"Hi, gang," Aaron told them. "Don't let me interfere with your dinner. Just dropped by to say hello."
"Would you care to join us?" Raymond invited. "We're just about to order."
"Thanks, but I'm working," Aaron replied. "I'm doing an interview."
"Having dinner with someone?" Sherry asked him.
"Just a drink. I'm interviewing an ambulance driver. I checked the bar, he's not there yet."
"Interviewing an ambulance driver in the bar?" Sherry said. "I would think that's a story in itself."
Aaron frowned. "I hadn't thought of that."
"Your readers won't either, unless you start off with a folksy, 'I caught up with so-and-so in the bar, and over a few pints of ale he told me,' " Sherry pointed out.
"You're very good with words," Raymond observed.
Sherry grimaced. "Runs in the family."
"That it does," Aaron said, with a knowing smile. Aaron was one of the few people in town who knew that Sherry, not Cora, was the real Puzzle Lady and composed the crossword puzzle column.
"Say, nice ring, Cora!" Aaron whistled. "Do I gather there is to be an announcement in the near future?"
Cora shot a glance at Raymond. "Yes, but don't put it in the paper. We haven't even set the wedding date yet."
"Really? Well, congratulations! This is wonderful."
"Thank you," Raymond said. He added tentatively, "You will sit on the announcement?"
"Sure thing. As long as it's just me. If my editor finds out and tells me to write it, that's another story."
"Just hold off as long as you can," Cora said. "Once it's published it's tabloid material. I don't really want to read about it in the National Enquirer."
Becky Baldwin came in, looked around.
Sherry Carter caught her breath. Sherry often did on seeing Becky Baldwin. Stunning as usual, in a purple pants suit, which could have served the young lawyer quite well had she had to appear in court, and could easily double as evening wear, Becky looked so good that had Raymond Harstein III pronounced her the most beautiful girl in the world, Sherry would have found it hard to refute.
Becky swooped down on their table, hooked her arm through Aaron Grant's, and said, "Well, here I am. Where do you want to do the interview?"
Sherry Carter arched her eyebrows at Aaron.
Cora Felton, boundlessly amused by Becky's announcement, pretended to cough into her napkin.
"Do you drive an ambulance, Becky?" Sherry inquired politely.
"Not that I am aware of."
"No, that's my other interview," Aaron said. "You're early, Becky. The ambulance driver's actually scheduled first."
"Yes, of course," Becky said. She turned her eyes to Raymond Harstein III. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Becky Baldwin. I'm the town lawyer."
Raymond Harstein III rose to his feet, crossed around the table to take her hand. He didn't shake it, however. Instead, he clasped it in both of his as if it were a precious thing. "Raymond Harstein III. Very pleased to meet you. You say you're the town lawyer? You mean you're the only one?"
"No," Becky told him. "Just the only one worth mentioning."
"I'll say." Raymond smiled. "I bet the young men invent excuses to hire you."
"Oh, please," Becky demurred. "What do you say, Aaron? If the ambulance driver's not here, why don't we go first?"
Aaron smiled sheepishly. He clearly wasn't comfortable walking off with Becky, but there didn't seem to be any alternative, short of sitting down to eat dinner.
"Run along, you two," Sherry said. "I'm sure you have lots to talk about."
"Do we?" Becky said archly to Aaron. "What did you want to interview me about, anyway?"
"Oh, we'll think of something," Aaron said breezily. In point of fact he was doing a piece on single career women, but he was damned if he was going to start explaining. Anything he said would only sound defensive.
"You better," Becky purred. "If you don't write an article, the paper won't pay for the drinks."
"The paper won't anyway," Aaron said. "What, did you think I had an expense account?"
Sherry's smile was becoming more and more frozen. Any more cute banter and she was going to scream.
"Sherry!" came a voice from across the room.
Sherry looked up, and was amazed to see Brenda Wallenstein, her college roommate, hurtling across the dining room floor.
Brenda was what the boys called pleasingly plump, a short, cute, comfortable dynamo, with a sense of humor to boot. Brenda and Sherry had been close and stayed in touch even after college. When Sherry had been going through rough times with her husband, there were many nights she had crashed on Brenda's couch.
Sherry's face lit up. She hadn't seen Brenda since she'd moved to Connecticut, but the sight of her old college chum always cheered her. She leaped to her feet, gave Brenda a hug.
"Oh, my goodness, it's good to see you. Brenda, it's been too long. It's nice in the country, but I miss my friends from New York. Not lumping you with my friends in general, I mean I miss you in particular. Oh, my goodness. Everyone, this is Brenda, my roommate from Dartmouth. You know my aunt Cora. This is my friend, Aaron Grant. He's a reporter. And Becky Baldwin, she's a lawyer. Aaron's about to interview her for the paper." Sherry flushed slightly. That was more information than she needed to give. "Brenda's a nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital," she appended, as if to make up for it.
Raymond had stood up again.
"Oh, and Raymond Harstein III." Sherry looked at Cora. "Can I tell her?"
"If you can do it quietly."
"Yes, of course." Sherry lowered her voice. "Raymond and Cora are engaged."
"Oh, my God!" Brenda shrieked in excitement, then lowered her voice and hissed congratulations. Brenda had round cheeks, big eyes, long lashes. Her curly brown hair added to her perpetually bubbly look. "This is so amazing! And what a coincidence."
"Coincidence?" Sherry's mouth dropped open. But of course. How could she have missed it? Her friend was radiant, glowing, giddy--just like her aunt. "Brenda, are you kidding me? Do you mean it?"
Brenda nodded. "It's true. Can you believe it? Me. It finally happened to me."
Sherry shrieked, hugged Brenda again, and they were off, chattering like crows on amphetamines.
"Well, who is he?" Sherry demanded. "Do I know him?"
This time Brenda's laugh sounded somewhat forced. "Yes, you do. . . "
And in from the bar walked Sherry's ex-husband, Dennis Pride.
Sherry's heart stopped. A cold, icy feeling gripped her from head to toe.
Good God.
It was too much to take in all at once.
The last time Sherry had seen Dennis he'd beaten her up. He'd defied a court order to do it. He still called her now and then, when he was on a binge. On such occasions Sherry would simply let the answering machine pick up.
Now here he was, standing in front of her, for the first time since her bruises had healed. Long enough ago that the only reminder was a faint trace of a scar remaining from her split lip.
"Dennis," Sherry said. "You shouldn't be here."
He winced, then smiled deprecatingly as if she'd committed a social faux pas. "Times have changed, Sherry. Things are different now. I'm different."
Dennis certainly looked different. The Dennis of old had hair to his shoulders, wore dirty T-shirts and ratty jeans, as befitted the lead singer of a rock group. Today, his hair was razor cut and styled, slightly long by normal standards, but practically a crew cut for him. He wore a navy blue sports jacket, a white shirt, open at the neck, and tan pants. His black hair glistened, his blue eyes sparkled, his white teeth gleamed. It was a shock to see him standing next to Aaron Grant. Aaron looked good. Dennis looked like a movie star.
PARNELL HALL is the author of the acclaimed Stanley Hastings mystery novels and the Steve Winslow courtroom dramas, as well as five other Puzzle Lady mysteries. Nominated for the Edgar, the Shamus, and the Lefty Awards, he lives in New York City, where he is working on his next Puzzle Lady mystery, STALKING THE PUZZLE LADY, which Bantam will publish in 2005.
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Sherry Carter is the real puzzle lady who constructs them for a syndicated column but because she is so shy, everyone thinks her aunt Cara Felton is the puzzle maker because she takes the credit and makes public appearances. The truth of the matter is she couldn¿t solve a crossword puzzle let alone construct one but she is very good at solving homicides. Murder is the last thing from Cora¿s mind as she gets ready to marry California businessman Raymond Harstein III but Sherry is frantic because she knows nothing about the man. Matters become much worse when Sherry¿s best friend announces she is marrying Sherry¿s physically abusive ex-husband Dennis and they want her to be the maid of honor. A series of cryptograms threatens Raymond if the wedding isn¿t stopped. When the messages are ignored he is murder with Dennis charged for the crime. Cora is positive Dennis didn¿t kill anyone and she sets out to prove it to make sure Sherry doesn¿t soften towards him and to get her mind off her own grief. WITH THIS PUZZLE I THEE KILL is the best book in the series because there are two separate, fulfilling sub-plots and the antagonist from either one could be the killer. Parnell Hall has a wicked sense of humor and it comes out through the dialogues of his characters, especially conversations that take place between Cora and her niece. This amateur sleuth novel will be a thrill for those who like a cerebral puzzle. Harriet Klausner


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Topic: Validation of nucleic acid tests (NAT) to screen blood and plasma donors for acute infection with West Nile virus (WNV)
Issue: FDA seeks advice from the Blood Product Advisory Committee on 1) the design of scientific studies needed to validate NAT and possibly IgM for WNV as blood donor screening tests; 2) whether available data on clearance of viruses in the manufacture of plasma derivatives are a sufficient basis to obviate screening of Source Plasma donations; and 3) whether strategies to limit WNV screening to particular locations and times are appropriate.
I. Background Information
A. West Nile virus and transmission through blood:
S a mosquito-borne
The West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that primarily infects birds, and occasionally horses and humans. In humans, about 80% of infections are asymptomatic, and in about 20% a mild febrile illness develops, but in about 1 in 150 infections a meningitis or encephalitis occurs. Advanced age is by far the most significant risk factor for severe neurologic disease. The viremic period is transient, and can occur up to 2 weeks prior to symptoms and last up to a month from the initiation of the infection. Virus titer in blood is low compared to other transmissible viruses (~1-5 x103 copies/ml), but in encephalitis patients can be as high as 2.5x106 copies/mL. Viremia resolves rapidly after seroconversion to WNV IgM antibody, and it appears that IgM can persist for a long time, in some cases up to a year. So far no chronic stage of WNV infection has been reported.
In 2002 the total number of WNV cases reported was 4008, with 263 deaths and 2741 cases of West Nile meningoencephalitis. Thirty-nine states, including DC, have reported WNV infection. CDC estimated a theoretical risk of 1.8-2.7 infections per 10,000 donations in the 1999 Queens, New York, epidemic. However, in the 2002 epidemic estimations were as high as 16/10,000, with a mean of 6-8/10,000 in heavily endemic regions. Blood transmission of WNV has been confirmed in the US outbreak last year. However, the true magnitude of the risk of WNV from transfusion is unknown. From August 28, 2002 to January 3, 2003, CDC reported 61 possible transfusion-transmitted cases. Twenty-one are confirmed, 19 are not transfusion-related, and 21 are still under investigation.
On August 17, 2002, prior to reports of transmission by blood, alert notices were posted on FDA's website urging vigilance in excluding symptomatic donors. On October 3, 2002, FDA stated its interest in facilitating development of donor screening and supplemental tests. FDA initiatives included the distribution of an FDA Guidance document on donor and product management, facilitating development of screening and supplemental tests, and identification of needs for additional research in regard to WNV.
A. ApprovalMechanism:
As with other tests used in the manufacture of blood and blood
components, WNV donor screening and supplemental assays would be reviewed as
biologic products under the PHS act.
This requires the submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND)
application with a description of clinical trial plans and, eventually,
pre-market filing of a
. Biologic License Application
(BLA). In assessing assays used to
test blood donors, FDA considers the following criteria ; clinical and
analytical sensitivity and specificity; chemistry, manufacturing and controls;
reproducibility, proficiency; stability; instrumentation and software.
B. Clinical Study Design:
FDA recognizes the need to implement testing in a timely manner and would, therefore, allow large-scale studies and widespread use of tests under the Investigational New Drug (IND) application if necessary. This approach would permit blood centers to introduce testing while evaluating test performance in the intended use setting. In the case of WNV infection, all the known transmissions by blood transfusion have occurred in the acute, viremic, phase indicating that this phase of infection would be the ideal target for intervention. Therefore, it is expected that implementation of sensitive NAT assays would be the most useful strategy for interdicting potentially infectious units. It is also anticipated that most testing methods would use pooled samples rather than individual donations, at least for the present time, due to practical constraints. However, concerns exist about the sensitivity limits of current NAT assays for WNV and the impact of pooling on detection of specimens with low levels of virus. These concerns raise the question of whether IgM antibody assays should also play a role in donor screening for WNV since it is known that viremia and detectable IgM can coexist in the early phase of infection. Lack of data on WNV transmission by donations that are minipool NAT negative and IgM positive suggest that it may be useful to explore, in clinical studies, whether a combination of NAT and IgM would provide added assurance of blood safety in regard to WNV. In the text below, FDA will outline some potential considerations for clinical validation of NAT and IgM assays intended for donor screening during studies under IND.
As part of clinical validation, FDA has traditionally required that a test be evaluated for clinical specificity, clinical sensitivity and reproducibility and that these studies be conducted at a minimum of 3 clinical sites.
For validation of the clinical specificity of a NAT assay for WNV, it is FDA's current thinking that the test should be evaluated in a low risk population from areas of low prevalence. In general FDA considers a sample size of 10,000 tests (pooled or individual) to be adequate. Data on clinical specificity could be obtained by identification of negative cases during prospective studies conducted at various clinical sites under IND, and retrospective studies of repository specimens identified in clinical and donor settings during previous epidemics. For investigational NAT assays, the true viral marker negative status of potentially NAT false-positive specimens could be established by additional testing with an alternate NAT (using primers from a different region of the viral genome) and follow-up testing, including lack of IgM seroconversion. In the case of tests for IgM, FDA's current thinking is that confirmation of true-negative results could be obtained by using a NAT and second IgM test, with discordant results resolved by neutralization assays. Because the sensitivity of current minipool and IgM assays for WNV have not yet been well established, during clinical trials, it is worth considering whether all donations should be tested using both NAT and IgM assays.
Clinical sensitivity for a donor screening indication for a NAT or IgM assay could be determined by testing samples from existing repositories provided sample integrity has been preserved by appropriate storage. Testing of repository specimens collected during epidemics of previous years, including transfusion and WNV illness related specimens from donor and community settings, will likely be a critical component of sensitivity studies for validation of WNV assays, since the extent of future epidemics and frequency of new infections remains unknown at this time. Identification of positive cases during prospective IND studies conducted in blood bank and community settings could provide additional data for clinical sensitivity of either a NAT or IgM assay. For a diagnostic indication, specimens from cases of WNV illness in community and clinical settings could be tested. The viral marker positive status of specimens could be established by use of an alternate NAT and follow-up testing including IgM seroconversion. In general, FDA believes that the true outcome of testing for clinical specificity and sensitivity should be determined by additional testing including the use of an alternate method and follow-up.
Since there are no existing reference or licensed assays for testing, FDA is considering some additional approaches for test validation. It is FDA's view that testing of all reactive samples identified in clinical studies by all manufacturers seeking licensure of WNV tests would be useful in determining whether candidate investigational tests have equivalent sensitivity. This approach would require that adequate volumes of specimens be stored under appropriate conditions and that blood and plasma centers cooperate to make them available for such testing. Additionally, FDA has initiated efforts to assemble an in-house qualification panel composed of well-characterized and pedigreed specimens to further establish the relative sensitivity of NAT and IgM assays. FDA believes that this combination of approaches would facilitate a comprehensive evaluation of NAT and IgM assays for WNV. It should be pointed out that FDA's current analytical sensitivity standard for WNV NAT assays is 100 copies/ml for the individual donation. This standard may be revised as tests become more sensitive, or as additional data are obtained on the levels of viremia and infectivity in future studies.
FDA believes that investigational tests for WNV should be evaluated for their ability to detect various strains of the virus. If the test is designed to detect all members of the Flavivirus Genus, it would be useful to demonstrate the ability to detect all members of the virus family with equal sensitivity. These studies could be conducted with repository specimens from previous epidemics and well-characterized panels.
In regard to WNV testing of Source Plasma donations, it should be noted that no cases of transmission through plasma-derived products have been demonstrated so far. Also, preliminary experimental data suggest comparability of WNV clearance to the clearance of flavi-model viruses commonly used in validation studies, although the level of assurance of these methods has not been established. Despite these observations, FDA remains concerned about the potential for WNV transmission by these products in the future. Therefore, FDA's current thinking is that tests for WNV screening might also be validated for use with Source Plasma donations. For this purpose, studies similar to those outlined for screening of whole blood collections could also be conducted in the Source Plasma setting.
Finally, FDA's current thinking is that reproducibility studies should be conducted at a minimum of 3 sites. The studies would include testing of a panel of well-characterized specimens including low positive specimens by multiple operators at different sites on different days using different operators and production lots.
C. Unit and Donor Management:
FDA has recently published guidance for donor deferral, product quarantine and retrieval related to post-donation illnesses in the donor or WNV infection in the recipient ((http://www.fda.gov/cber/guidelines.htm). When tests become available, consensus algorithms will need to be developed across testing platforms for unit and donor management. During the clinical trial FDA will consider strategies for donor and unit management in order to gather data regarding which of these strategies would provide maximum assurance of safety against WNV transmission by blood. This approach may be necessary since the performance characteristics of investigational tests and viral dynamics in WNV infection of humans are not well established. However, at this time, FDA is considering recommending some interim approaches for unit and donor management. When the IND studies are completed, FDA may revisit these strategies if necessary.
i. Unit management: Similar to algorithms currently in place for HCV and HIV NAT, when a reactive NAT result for WNV is obtained on a master pool, subsequent testing would be performed to identify the individual unit that is positive and the basis for the reactive result on the pool. The test result on the individual donation is considered to indicate the infectious status of the donation. If one or more reactive donations were identified upon individual donation testing, all non-reactive units could be released (if donations are deemed otherwise suitable for release). The reactive donation(s) would be quarantined, and destroyed as a general practice. They might, however, be used for research or as reagents for in-vitro diagnostic products, provided they are labeled for these purposes. During clinical trials a validated, alternate NAT method could be used to confirm the results of the investigational test on the individual donation. Reactive results obtained with the investigational test could be confirmed by testing of a follow-up sample. The sample could be tested using the investigational NAT, and validated IgM and alternate NAT assay. A positive IgM test result would confirm the reactive NAT result obtained on the index donation. This additional testing would help validate the investigational test and establish its performance characteristics with regard to sensitivity and specificity. If a multiplex flavivirus assay were used, reactive results could be discriminated with regard to WNV infection.
If a master pool were reactive and all individual donations were non-reactive, we would consider it appropriate that a fresh specimen from each of the index donations be tested using the original NAT and the alternate NAT method. If reactive results were obtained on further testing, the donor could be notified of deferral. During the clinical trial, a reactive NAT result on the individual donation could be further confirmed by a second, alternate NAT method, which uses a different set of primers, in addition to IgM seroconversion.
ii. Donor management: It is FDA's opinion that if a donor's sample were to test positive on the individual donation as defined above and were either positive or negative on the IgM assay, it would be prudent for the donor to be temporarily deferred, notified of test results and counseled appropriately. FDA suggests a deferral period of 28 days consistent with the longest known duration of the viremic period. During the clinical trial, the donor would be enrolled in follow-up studies to document IgM seroconversion with a suitable serologic test. The donor could be re-tested prior to 28 days to confirm results obtained on the index donation. If negative NAT results were obtained, the donor could be reinstated after the 28 day period. If NAT results were positive, the donor would be deferred for an additional 28 days. If on follow-up testing prior to 28 days, NAT results were negative and IgM results were positive, the donor would continue to remain deferred until 28 days after the positive NAT results on the index donation. If testing was not performed during the 28 days, the donor could be automatically reinstated after this deferral period.
III. Testing Source Plasma Donors and Clearance of WNV from Plasma-Derived Products
The viral safety of plasma-derived products with regard to the relevant pathogens (HIV, HBV, HCV) has been assured by a combination of blood donor deferral, testing of donations, and by the inclusion of viral clearance (inactivation and/or removal) steps in the manufacturing processes. In the face of potential risk from WNV infection, FDA has taken a conservative approach to ensure blood product safety. As such, efforts to develop suitable donor screening, testing and re-evaluation of viral clearance strategies for flaviviruses have been ongoing. FDA has recommended precautionary deferral of blood and plasma donors who may be infected with WNV. The most recent FDA guidance recommending such donor deferrals was published in October 2002 (http://www.fda.gov/cber/guidelines.htm).
Accumulating experimental data, and the absence of reported transmission of WNV by plasma-derived products suggest that common viral clearance methodologies, currently used in the manufacture of plasma derivatives, are also effective in the clearance of WNV. As such, plasma derivatives have a higher safety margin with regard to potential WNV infection than the components of Whole Blood (packed Red Blood Cells, Platelets, and Fresh Frozen Plasma), which are not virally inactivated. However, testing of the starting materials for the presence of WNV, when such tests become available, for the purpose of eliminating positive units and reducing the viral load in the manufacturing pool, would ensure excess clearance capacity of any given manufacturing process, and would provide a higher degree of assurance with regard to the safety of plasma-derived products.
Different manufacturing conditions could substantially influence the clearance capacity of a given inactivation/removal step. Therefore, claims for removal or inactivation of pathogens from plasma derivatives have been based upon convincing viral validation data that are product and process-specific. Viruses used in these validation studies are a selection of enveloped and non-enveloped DNA and RNA viruses, which are relevant viruses or specific models for such viruses. Whenever technically feasible, the actual virus of concern should be used in viral validation studies, e.g., human immunodeficiency virus. However, if a virus of concern cannot be cultured, e.g., hepatitis C virus (HCV), then specific model viruses are used in the validation studies. Specific model viruses are selected based on taxonomical and physicochemical similarities to the virus of concern. With regard to flaviviruses, different specific model viruses (BVDV, SINV and TBEV) have been used to validate the effectiveness of common clearance methodologies in clearing the most relevant flavivirus to date, HCV. The results from these validation studies, and those obtained using HCV in animal model experiments, have demonstrated significant and comparable clearance level for these viruses. Limited, but growing experimental data indicates that these viral clearance steps are equally effective against WNV. However, further product process and WNV specific validation studies are needed, to provide further assurance on the robustness and reproducibility of these steps with regard to WNV clearance.
Currently, FDA is of the opinion that if WNV donor screening assays are available, but are not yet licensed when the epidemic begins (a human case of WNV infection has been diagnosed), universal donor screening for WNV should be implemented in the U.S., under IND if necessary.
strategies that will be necessary to ensure the availability of a safe blood
supply, if assays are not available at the beginning of an epidemic, or if only
partially available, are under examination by FDA, together with other
government Agencies and the blood organizations.
in 2003.
V. Questions for the Committee:
1. Please comment on FDA's proposed criteria for validation of WNV NAT and IgM assays for donor screening.
2. Do the Committee members agree that product and process-specific clearance of the WNV agent (as opposed only to marker viruses) should be demonstrated in order to adequately assure the safety of plasma derivatives?
3. Do the Committee members agree that screening of all plasma for fractionation for WNV would add a safety margin in the manufacture of plasma derivatives?
4. Please comment on the scientific validity of possible strategies to limit WNV
Selected References:
through blood transfusion during an epidemic in Queens, New York
City. Transfusion 2002; 42: 1019-1026.
Western Hemisphere. Annul Rev Microbiol 2002; 56: 371-402.
Med 2002; 137:173-179.


text:
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PC Management Partners is a diversified property management company offering management of real estate assets for prudent owners and investors. Our primary … Read More
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French Maid Costumes
Dress up is a time to try on a new character, and for today's modern woman, there is nothing more fun that to play up her servile nature, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, as an upstairs or sexy French maid.
A long-standing cliché of sex appeal and naughtiness, this adult costume holds up as a popular choice for Halloween and parties for decades.
French maid costumes are usually rather revealing – that does seem to be the point, after all. The base is usually a silky and skimpy black dress, usually with a flirty, short skirt.
A fluffy crinoline worn underneath will add just the right amount of volume and lift, and under that consider some ruffly black and white panties in a full coverage cut that are meant to be seen.
The bodice area is low cut, and sometimes has a corseted midsection. Sleeves can be long and sleek, short and puffed, or non existent.
The accent pieces are what varies the most, as in the amount of ruffles and the size of the ever-important apron. Some outfits will come with lacey cuffs and collars to be worn on bare skin, others with simple black velvet chokers.
Wear sexy high heels or funky chunky go-go boots. You could slip a white garter mid-thigh, or wear a garter belt to keep your stockings up. Whether thigh-high or full, seamed or sparkly is up to you, but they must, absolutely must be fishnet! Many costumes include a ruffled little cap, or tiara as well that coordinates with the rest of your laciness.
Little fishnet fingerless or white lace gloves are a nice touch as well. And don't forget that feather duster – you are here to tidy up, after all!
Once you're dolled up as any upstairs maid could hope to be, you'll need to figure out what to do with your hair and makeup.
The scanty neckline lends itself to hair being worn up, but don't get a clean, prissy bun in your head. Think messy, sexy, undone hair loosely pinned up and falling down a bit to frame the face. Something smoother with a bit of a bouffant would be cute worn with larger headpieces.
Sometimes even two little pigtails or buns can be adorable. If you're intimidated by an updo, try setting your hair in hot rollers and then twisting and pinning each cooled curl to the top of your hair.
Makeup doesn't require too much of a switch from normal evening makeup. You may want to be bold with a deep red lip that you've been too uncertain to try before, or smoke out your eyes with some black eye shadow or heavier eye liner. It can be full to double up on the rouge and add a fake beauty mark, but anything goes really.
So start the hunt for the perfect French maid costume. There are variations in leather, vinyl, latex, silk, satin, and plain old fashioned cotton; in red, pink, white, and black. Get ready to attract some attention, and happy partying!
You can make your French maid outfit as fancy, sexy, or naughty as you please and get away with it!
Have fun as a French Maid!
French Maid Costumes
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All Rights Reserved World Wide


text:
|From: Todd O'Bryan (toddobryan at mac.com)
Date: Wed Aug 29 11:30:20 EDT 2007
Yep. This is what's happening and it's kind of what I suspected. I wonder if there would be some way to create a definition scope that just consists of the teachpacks and then add the user definitions to that scope if it's syntactically well-formed. If it's not, just load the teachpack scope or something. Here's what's happening: 1. Contract, Header, Purpose ;; foo: blah -> blah ;; ... (define (foo blah) 2. Test Cases (check-expect (foo 'x) ---now I want to go play in the interactions window to get an answer 3. I type something in the Interactions window. It says "The Definitions Window has changed. Please hit the Run button." I do. Now I can't use the teachpack functions to try to construct the answer for my test case. Thanks, Todd P.S. I wouldn't complain about such nits if the whole program wasn't so darn beautiful to begin with. :-) On Wed, 2007-08-29 at 08:52 -0500, Robby Findler wrote: > This only happens when there are syntax errors, right? Not runtime errors? > > I think that's just a property of the way teachpacks work in the > current world. I'm not sure it is possible to get around that. > > Roughly, what's happening underneath the hood, is that the teachpack > is (an invisible) part of your program and, when your program is > syntactically malformed, no part of your program is available in the > REPL. For example, in this program: > > (define x 1) > unbound-id > > You won't be able to use "x" in the REPL. But, in this one, you will: > > (define x 1) > (first empty) > > I know that's not real help, but I hope it is at least explanatory. > > And maybe this will inspire someone (Matthew?) to think of a way to do > better, I'm not sure. > > Robby > > On 8/29/07, Todd O'Bryan <toddobryan at mac.com> wrote: > > In v371 of DrScheme, it appears that teachpacks don't "stick." > > > > When you first open a DrScheme window, even though it says that a > > teachpack is loaded, it's unavailable until you hit Run. > > > > That's not a big problem, but the teachpacks disappear if there's an > > error during a Run. In other words, if students are developing a > > function, hit run, and have an error, if they drop down to the > > interactions window to experiment, the functions provided by the > > teachpack are no longer available. > > > > The workaround is to comment out offending code in the definitions > > window, but this is kind of a pain. > > > > Todd > > > > _________________________________________________ > > For list-related administrative tasks: > > http://list.cs.brown.edu/mailman/listinfo/plt-scheme > >
|Posted on the users mailing list.


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The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 10.0355 Wednesday 3 March 1999.
Date: Tuesday, 02 Mar 1999 18:53:50
Subject: Miramax and Shakespeare
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Miramax's Dimension Films label has acquired
worldwide rights to "O," an updated teen version of "Othello," which it
will release domestically in October.
Set in a modern high school, "O" stars Mekhi Phifer as Odin (Othello),
Josh Hartnett as Hugo (Iago), and Julia Stiles as Desi (you get the
idea). Also cast are Elden Hensen, Rain Phoenix, Andrew Keegan and
Martin Sheen.
Tim Blake Nelson directed from a script by Brad Kaaya. Dimension paid
the filmmakers $4 million, and agreed to spend $10 million on prints and
The Bard has been good to Miramax, whose "Shakespeare in Love" has
racked up more than $60 million in domestic box office and 13 Oscar
The company recently acquired all rights to a modern-day version of
"Hamlet" starring Ethan Hawke, Kyle MacLachlan, Sam Shepard, Diane
Venora and Bill Murray.
Miramax is also big on updates of other classics. It recently issued
"She's All That," a high school-set version of the Pygmalion story.
Columbia Pictures will on Friday release "Cruel Intentions," a teen
version of "Dangerous Liaisons."


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MLB Player Twitter Ramblings: 4/12 – 4/16
Each week, we span the Twitterverse of active MLB baseball players to bring you the latest MLB buzz and ramblings being spit by some of the most socially active Major Leaguers in 140 characters.
This week, we welcomed Angels outfielder @bobkellyabreu and Indians starter @dhuff11 to the MLB twitterverse. Of course, if you always want to know what your favorite MLB ballers are tweeting, we've made it very easy for you. There are two Fantasy Baseball Dugout-approved options:
- Browse our directory of Baseball Players on Twitter
- Follow our constantly updated list of MLB Players on Twitter
Below are some highlights of this week in twitter, MLB-style…
- Oakland starter Brett Anderson was happy to catch a little MTV.
- Florida catcher John Baker tweeted from his TV remote.
- Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher twitpic'd his World Series ring.
- Pirates pitcher Paul Maholm asked ESPN to say his name right.
- A's reliever Brad Zeigler confessed to command issues.
- Rangers reliever C.J. Wilson commanded the power of Beiber.
- Angels outfielder Bobby Abreu caught up on syndicated TV.
- Twins OFer Denard Span discovered the next best thing to a hit.
- Red Sox catcher Dusty Brown determined that global warming must be legit due to the weather in Buffalo.
- C.J. had an tweet-tastic day traveling around NYC looking for Rangers fans and leaving the fantasy baseball advice to the experts (like us).
- Mariners reliever Ryan Rowland-Smith checked during his filming of a day in the life for ESPN Australia.
- White Sox utility man Mark Teahan wished everyone a happy National High Five Day.
- Rockies infielder Ian Stewart was in search of Rox fans in the ATL.
- Rays starter David Price called out all those "go get 'em" escalator walkers.
- Royals third baseman Josh Fields gave props to a 70-year old in a caddy… rims still spinnin'.
If you know of any official MLB twitter accounts that we are missing, drop them in the comments below. You can also hit me up @jonathanbentz and let me know.


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How to Make Your Online Store Instantly More Popular Among Customers?
Promotional strategies are usually designed to bring results in months after the implementation. However, it is every online retailer's dream to make their online store more popular in an instant. There are a few simple tricks you can use to increase customers' awareness of your online store:
Start your sales season early
Sales season is usually the time of increased customer activity and starting it early provides you with an opportunity to attract even more customers. Instead of launching the sales season in the first week after Christmas, start it a week or two before Christmas. This way you will attract not only customers, who look for the best deals, but also late buyers, who have not yet purchased their gifts. Announce the start of the sales season on your social media profiles, in a newsletter and on your website to further increase the awareness.
Continue reading "How to Make Your Online Store Instantly More Popular Among Customers?" »
LOGO123 is now OPEN!
Logo123.com is a website we recently launched. While it looks easy from the outside, we had to build many systems inside to ensure our logo design process work smoothly. In the end, we believe that we have created a system that will deliver better logo design experience for our customers to come. Continue reading "LOGO123 is now OPEN!" »
Introducing Groundbreaking Portable Sound with Mic
written by: Watson Lee
Trendwoo is a company that specializes in producing and developing Smart Bluetooth devices and Wearable Products. Their devotion to design, and innovative technologies make them a leading company with a strong base in research and development. All steps of production from raw material to testing, sales, and after-sales service are controlled by a strict monitoring system to ensure an excellent customer experience. Trendwoo staffs seasoned engineers, designers, and highly-qualified customer service and sales staff to ensure a top-quality product for their entire line. As a leader in wearable technology companies, their minimalist designs are best demonstrated in the company's newest product titled "Mic." Continue reading "Introducing Groundbreaking Portable Sound with Mic" »
3 reasons why you should be backing up your business
If you have an online business, you will need to take all the necessary safety measures, making sure that you won't have any problems. Even if having an online business seems to be simple, it is rather more complicated than it appears to be. Therefore, you will need to work with many people, making sure that you choose the best services from the market.
Continue reading "3 reasons why you should be backing up your business" »
How Empowr is Different from other Social Networks
There are many websites on the internet that provide value to their consumers. Through supplying a complimentary communication solution like the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter, or paying members for the material that they contribute like HubPages and Squidoo — there needs to be something of worth for individuals otherwise they would not remain consumers of these web sites. Continue reading "How Empowr is Different from other Social Networks" »
What is data recovery
The Basics
In the most simple terms, "information recuperation" describes the process of recuperating information from a hard disk, removable disk, or various other kind of electronic storage space media (such as a backup tape drive, RAID variety, server, database, flash memory, and so on) when the information is no longer easily accessible using typical means.
Is antivirus software needed for Windows 8?
I was wondering if i needed an antivirus to secure my Windows 8 installation. This is what I found out. Continue reading "Is antivirus software needed for Windows 8?" »
How to make your Intranet successful
Over the years, intranets have actually become a common part of the corporate communications landscape, however all too frequently they supply a frustrating experience– failing to provide on their the majority of fundamental promise, which is to supply the content personnel are looking for. Continue reading "How to make your Intranet successful" »
Advanced storage
Now, if you resemble a lot of individuals, and merely have to support a few hundred events of family images and papers to a low-cost external hard disk drive, you don't should tinker this category, which we're calling enhanced storage. Today's USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt exterior drives supply terrific transmission data rates contrasted to the USB 2.0 drives of yesteryear. Go examine out the Seagate Data backup And, our beloved exterior drive, and call it a day. Continue reading "Advanced storage" »
Handling email error messages
Error message : SMTP server time out error
You try to receive all your emails but unable to do so. The server times out and you get an error message.
1. The antivirus software installed in your PC may take long time to scan a large email which causes a time-out situation.
2. Your email client may be configured to 'not open attachments'. Modify the configuration accordingly.
3. There might be an email that is too bulky for your email client to handle. Verify the maximum size that your email client can process.
4. Logon to your mail box. Focus on the first or last unread email. That could be the emails causing the problem.
5. Check all the settings in the dialer and modem properties. Add an init string if required.
6. Ask your telephone service provider to check for line or static noise on the phone line connected to the computer.
7. If all the steps, mentioned above, fail, contact your Internet Service Provider's technical support.
# Error message 2: One of the addresses is invalid
You try to send to email to multiple recipients and you get the error message "One of the addresses is invalid" Continue reading "Handling email error messages" »


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You are reading the older HTML site
Positive Feedback
ray samuels
F-117 Nighthawk phonostage
as reviewed by John Hoffman
A casual observer could easily overlook the Ray Samuels F-117 Nighthawk phonostage that has taken up residence on my audio rack. The physical dimensions of the Nighthawk are roughly equal to those of a double CD jewel case, which clearly places this phonostage in the category of compact audio components. While small in stature, this component is chock full of high performance technology, and brings quality analog reproduction to a comfortably affordable price point.
Certainly the Nighthawk is not a giant in physical dimensions, that certainly does not mean that the build quality is compromised in any way. In some respects, this phonostage is similar to a fine Swiss watch; with first rate parts, assembly performed by a craftsman, and a sophisticated design that belies its uncomplicated appearance. The chassis dimensions are 4.4" W X 4.25" D X .8" H. The case and knobs are machined from solid blocks of aluminum. The F-117 contains a MIL spec circuit board, which is populated by surface mount components. Vishay capacitor and tantalum resistors are used exclusively throughout the piece. The circuit board is a dual mono layout, which creates a lower noise floor, and improves the channel separation.
Two sets of knobs reside on the front panel which allow for adjustment of gain and cartridge load; an option which makes the F117 extremely convenient to use. The phonostage supports both moving magnet and low output moving coil cartridges. The gain available from the Nighthawk is between 40 and 74dB. The cartridge load can also be varied, and the user can select between 30, 50, 100, 500, 1K, and 47K ohm loads. Certainly the Nighthawk is an innovative piece of engineering, but Ray Samuels' crowning touch to this component is a Lithium Ion battery power supply. The use of a battery power supply results in enhanced performance, but has the added benefit of negating the need for expensive after-market power cords. RFI and EMF play havoc with the noise floor of a component; and the removal of a conventional power supply means these gremlins are no longer an issue. The Nighthawk only needs to be connected to the charging unit for a couple of hours, and then the phonostage will run for approximately 45 hours between charges. The implementation of the battery system is quite slick, and the Nighthawk is relatively painless to use.
With a selling price of $795, the Nighthawk phonostage certainly has the potential to offer a great deal of performance for a modest outlay of cash. My reference phonostage is an upgraded Hagerman Coronet 2, which is an all vacuum tube design. The gain structure of the Coronet 2 requires the use of a step up device in order to run a low output moving coil cartridge, so I use it with an Ortofon T-3000 step up transformer. The phonostage sports VCAP TFT capacitors in the signal path, and Russian Paper in oil capacitors reside in the power supply stage; which improves its performance, but significantly increases its overall cost. An Accuphase AC1 pick up is the cartridge being used, and its .2mv of output is a challenging load for a phonostage to accept. While the two phonostages differ significantly in topology and price, a comparison does provide a degree of insight to the capabilities of the Ray Samuels product.
Perhaps one of the more difficult tasks for an analog system to accomplish is a faithful reproduction of a piano. Recreating the volume and impact of the instrument is relatively easy to accomplish, although the sustain and decay of notes becomes significantly more challenging. The piano keyboard covers in excess of seven octaves; this wide tonal range presents a difficult task to any phonostage to reproduce coherently. The Nighthawk performed quite smartly on "Variations on the Kanton by Johann Pachelbel" by George Winston [December; Windham Hill Records WH-1025]. The overall tonal balance is remarkably even, freeform any significant missteps in this area. Winston presents the delicate and introspective side of the piano on this piece, yet still unleashes the power and grandeur of the instrument in certain passages. The Nighthawk is surefooted throughout the song, and adroitly handles the tonal complexities of this composition. Never once did the phonostage call attention to itself, and in many ways it is more evenly balanced in this area than the tube phonostage I normally listen to.
Another aspect of the Nighthawk that deserves attention is degree of focus it brings to this piece. Winston's piano is clearly defined within the sound stage, and once again it bests the Coronet 2 in this regards. The piano is not spread throughout the sound-stage, but is realistically placed within my listening room. The lower registers of the instrument can be heard on one side of the room, while the higher notes migrate slowly over to the other side. The majority of moderately priced phonostages are not capable of this degree of definition and clarity. In fact, I have heard several significantly more expensive units that also fall short in this regard. The F-117 is not a conventional product and the result is a level of performance that belies its affordable price tag.
The Nighthawk has admirable bass extension and speed. Bass notes are fast and tight, with an agility that moves neatly throughout any type of musical style. Diane Schuur sings with the Count Basie Orchestra on "You Can Have It", [Diane Schuur & The Count Basie Orchestra, Sheffield GR-1039] and the F-117 grinds, drives, and otherwise motivates this song down the bop highway. The opening bass notes are lightening fast, and walk up and down the scale with an absence of smearing or overhang. The electric bass is fuller, and has deeper extension than its acoustic counterpart, and the differences between the two instruments can be easily discerned. For those music lovers who appreciate the lower octaves, there is an appeal to this phonostage that they can appreciate.
There are often significant differences in how solid state and tube phonostages handle the reproduction of vocals. This axiom holds true for the Nighthawk and the Coronet 2, although both have their virtues in how they accomplish this task. Mel Torme is one of the great voices in jazz, and the manner in which the Nighthawk presents "The Velvet Fog" is worth some discourse. The vocals on" Some Like It Hot" [Back In Town; Verve UMV2675] are sharp and clearly defined with the F-117, and yet are free from any of the grain or dryness that often accompanies phonostages in this price range . Neither does the Nighthawk commit sins of omission; but instead reveals a significant amount of detail and texture in the vocal portions of this song. The Mel-Tones voices have a sophisticated smoothness that is clearly evident, while the unique presentation of Torme's vocal style shines through. When switching to the Coronet 2 tube phonostage, the vocals appear to be placed under a spotlight, bringing them to the forefront of the music. The tube phonostage creates a degree of separation between the vocals and the accompanying instruments that is not evident with the Nighthawk. A strong case can be made for the Nighthawk being faithful to the recording, while others would argue that the Coronet 2 recreates the emotional context of the music. This disagreement is a variation on one of the central points of contention in audio, and has yet to reach a definitive end. Nor is it answered in this case, but the differences in topology are certainly evident, and the excellent performance of the Nighthawk is a testament to the choices Ray Samuels made in this piece.
The differences in the presentation of the vocals on the Mel Torme piece is a precursor to a defining characteristic of the Nighthawk. Components that fall into the affordable category often have a set of limitations, or imprint their personality onto the music in a noticeable manner. This phonostage is free from any significant missteps, but does have one trait that is worth mentioning. In comparison, the size of the sound stage created by the Nighthawk is slightly diminished to the one presented by the tube phonostage. The Coronet 2 generates a larger image, but with a degree of diffusion that is absent from the Nighthawk. Instruments and performers are tightly focused with the F-117, although the listener will feel that the listening position is moved slightly father back in the venue. In my mind, the accumulated strengths of the Nighthawk easily outweigh this trait. Actually, I believe that a thoughtful selection of associated analog components will minimize, if not completely eliminate this point. For fifteen rounds these two phonostages went toe to toe in the center of the ring, and the Nighthawk scored a unanimous decision over its opponent.
The F-117 showed superior speed and control, which the tube phonostage could not match. The Nighthawk had excellent focus and definition, which proved to be an insurmountable obstacle to the Coronet 2. The presentation of acoustic space is one point where the tube phonostage held its own, and in the eyes of some spectators actually won this point.
Stepping aside from the boxing analogy for a moment, the F-117 is a remarkably flexible phonostage that will shine in a wide array of systems. The ability to adjust cartridge loading and gain structure is a user friendly feature that allows for easy integration into a system. The combination of a a short circuit path, battery power supply, and well executed design makes the Nighthawk a formidable opponent in the arena of affordable phonostages. Positive Feedback readers who are looking for a high performance phonostage should consider giving the Nighthawk a work out, I believe their efforts will be handsomely rewarded. John Hoffman
F-117 Nighthawk
Ray Samuels


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As 2012 comes to an end, we are reflecting on the events and moments — both large and small — that most effectively represented and shaped the year.
We want to see 2012 through the eyes of our students, alumni, faculty and staff.
To accomplish that end, we are asking members of the university community to share the photos that they captured — both on and off of our three campuses.
Please include the names (and get the permission) of everyone photographed as well as the name of the person who took the picture. Please also include a sentence about what is happening in the photo and how/why it helped define your year. Please email the photos to firstname.lastname@example.com or tag the photos with #qu2012 and @quinnipiacu on Twitter and/or Instagram. All photos must have been taken in 2012.
We will share our favorites across our social media channels beginning on Monday, Dec. 17.
We look forward to seeing the year through your eyes.
Categories: Alumni


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The Sixers have stated since the end of the season that their number one priority in free agency is to resign PF Joe Smith. Smith was basically a throw-in in the Iverson deal, but he opened everyone's eyes with his spirited, tough play off the bench.
Darko Milicic's sudden appearance on the unrestricted free agent list has given Billy King et al something to think about. Darko averaged 8.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.75 blocks/game and 1.1 apg last year with Orlando. He would definitely be an upgrade over Steven Hunter, and he's only 22 years-old. The problem, as I see it, is two-fold. 1: The Sixers can only offer him about $5.5 million per year, and that probably won't be enough to get the job done. 2: I don't think this is the year to open the piggy bank for a long-term deal if you're the Sixers.
The Sixers are over the cap this season by a fair amount. (The cap is projected to be about $56M, they currently have $65M committed, and that's without extending Andre Iguodala or signing any of their draft picks.) Next year is when the fun starts. The Sixers will clear over $29 million from their cap number following next season ($19M to Chris Webber, $7M to Aaron McKie and $3.4M to Kevin Ollie). The potential free agents next Summer include: Elton Brand (early termination option), Kevin Garnett (ETO), Shawn Marion (ETO) and Tim Duncan (ETO). That's only the power forwards who could be available next Summer (if the Sixers can keep that cap space clear). Obviously, not all of those guys are going to opt-out and become free agents, but one or two of them might.
This is why I think it's imperative that the Sixers keep Joe Smith. I don't know what kind of a deal Smith is looking for, in terms of length (the dollar amount is pretty much set in the $5.5M range), but hopefully, he could be signed to a 2–year deal for about $11M or less. The Sixers need an experienced PF in their rotation, Smith fits the bill, as do Darko, and the Nets' unrestricted free agent Mikki Moore (9.8 points, 6.1 rebounds last year), but Moore and Darko are probably going to require long-term deals.
If you could sign Darko to a four-year deal in the $24M range, it could turn out to be a bargain down the road, but I just don't see it happening. I think Moore played over his head last year, and any long-term deal is going to look very bad after next season when the money could've been spent on a front-line free agent.
Joe Smith is visiting with the Bulls, hopefully they're going to resign Nocioni. I'd like to see the Sixers get Smith signed as soon as possible, finalize their roster, and move forward with this season. The Yi rumors are still making me nervous. The draft is over, the Sixers seem to have a plan, let's put the final piece into the puzzle and see how things shake out.
Tags: Basketball | Sixers |


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Discover the Magic Annual Toy Drive Kick-Off Party
A Day To Remember
Tuesday, November 27, 2012 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (CST)
Who's Going
San Francisco, California
London, United Kingdom
Florence, Italy
Event Details
Come join us Tuesday, Nov. 27th at the most Rockin' place in Houston...House of Blues - The Foundation Room, for our annual "Discover the Magic Toy Drive Kick-Off Party".
All toys will be donated to the little patients of Texas Children's Hospital!
When & Where
House of Blues - Houston
1204 Caroline Street
Tuesday, November 27, 2012 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (CST)
Add to my calendar
A Day To Remember
Award winning event planning firm and rated as Houston's BEST Wedding Planners, A Day To Remember provides event management and design for all your wedding and special event needs.
We know that today's celebration becomes tomorrow's lasting memory, and we're committed to ensuring that your special day will be the one of your dreams. A Day To Remember is known for providing everything from exquisite cakes, fabulous flowers, couture linens to detailed planning of your event. A Day To Remember will work to ensure a perfect day...a day to remember!
Based in Houston, serving locally and worldwide.


text: Join us this Holiday season for a showing of "Arthur Christmas" at the Woodstock Theatre! "Arthur Christmas" will be shown on Saturday, December 15th at 10:00 a.m. Admission is free and is part of the Victorian Christmas. Bring your camera and take pictures with Santa before the show. Seating capacity is limited! Arthur Christmas: "Arthur Christmas" reveals the incredible, never-before seen answer to every child's question: 'So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?' The answer: Santa's exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But at the heart of the film is a story with the ingredients of a Christmas classic - a family in a state of comic dysfunction and an unlikely hero, Arthur, with an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns.


text: Google Street View [ 30 NJ Quirks Only Natives Understand By Matt Ryan July 28, 2014 Real estate site Movoto is at it again with another list singling out the Garden State. Most of these are spot on, while some theories about Staten Island are questionable. See if you agree. Read More Category: Articles Tags: movoto lists, nj characteristics, nj quirks, things only people in nj understand Send to a friend! Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it! Reddit This! Share on Tumblr!