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eGift Card FAQs
How do eGift Cards work?
To order an eGift Card from our partner site just choose the denomination and the card design or upload your own photo. Then enter the recipient's email address. Once the purchase has been completed, the eGift Card will be sent to the recipient within several hours or sooner. If lost, simply reprint the eGift Card. If stolen, contact CashStar Customer Support at 877-850-1977. Since this is a partner site, you will not be able to buy the eGift Card and other merchandise in the same transaction. The eGift Card can be used in our retail stores or online. Just like our plastic Gift Cards, there are no expiration dates or fees. If lost, simply reprint a new eGift Card.
How are eGift Cards different from plastic Gift Cards?
Plastic Gift Cards are sent to recipients via mail. eGift Cards are sent via e-mail and can be printed out and used hours after they're purchased. Both plastic and eGift Cards have no fees or expiration dates. They are redeemable in stores and online.
Am I purchasing the eGift Card from Aeropostale ?
When you purchase an eGift Card, you will be directed to our partner site operated by CashStar. CashStar will take the order, process the payment and distribute the eGift Card to the recipient. The eGift Card is just like a regular plastic Gift Cards and can be redeemed in store or online.
Are there any fees associated with the eGift Card?
No. You will only be charged the face value of the eGift Card, and we will not impose shipping or any other fees at any time.
Can I change the value of an eGift Card after I've paid for it?
Not at this time.
How do I cancel the purchase of an eGift Card?
If you chose a delivery date that is in the future, you can cancel your purchase by contacting CashStar Customer Support at 877-850-1977. If the delivery date is today or in the past, your purchase cannot be cancelled.
Which credit cards do you accept?
We can accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
When is my credit card charged for my purchase?
Your credit card is charged at the time of purchase. This purchase will appear on your credit/debit card statement as AEROPOSTALE CSTAR GFTCD
Can I buy an eGift Card for myself?
Yes. To do so, enter your own email address in the "Recipient Email" fields, and enter your own name as the recipient name. Then check "This is for myself." Complete the transaction normally. When you receive your eGift Card alert (via email), follow the instructions in the message to retrieve and redeem your eGift Card.
I want a printed eGift Card to present to someone as a gift. How can I accomplish this?
Simply personalize the eGift Card for your recipient, have it sent to yourself, and then print it. To do this, enter your own email address in the "Recipient's Email" field, and check "This is for myself." Enter your recipient's name and your personal message on the Gift Card preview, and complete the transaction normally. You will receive an eGift Card alert via email. Follow the instructions in the message to retrieve your eGift Card, and then choose "Click to print this page." The resulting printout may be presented as a gift to the recipient, and may be redeemed in stores and on online.
Can I send two (or more) eGift Cards to two (or more) different people who share an email address?
Yes. If you send separate Gift Cards to Aunt Mary and Uncle Jim at their shared email address, they will receive two messages with the subject "[Sender] sent you a Virtual Gift Card from The Aeropostale." Your name will be in the place of [Sender]. Within the text of the emails, each message will be addressed to the respective recipient, using the name you entered in the purchase process, for example: "Mary Smith, John Jones sent you a $XX eGift Card from Aeropostale."
Can I purchase an eGift Card with other Aeropostale merchandise in the same transaction?
No. The purchase of an eGift Card is operated by Aeropostale's third party partner, CashStar. To buy Aeropostale merchandise, you will need to go to www.aeropostale.com or www.ps4u.com and make the merchandise purchase in a separate transaction.
What exactly does the recipient receive when I send an eGift Card?
On the delivery date you choose, a message is sent to the recipient informing them of your gift, with a link to retrieve it online. The link in the email goes to a page showing the eGift Card you created (the design you selected, with your recipient's name and your personalized message), its value and code number. This page also gives simple instructions for redeeming the eGift Card
When is the eGift Card sent to the recipient?
The eGift Card alert message is sent to the recipient on the date you choose. The delivery date is pre-set to the current date, so if you do not select a different date, the alert message is sent on the same day as your purchase, within hours or sooner after your transaction is complete.
Where can I use my eGift Card?
You can use your eGift Card at any Aeropostale or PS from Aeropostale store in the US and Canada or online at www.aeropostale.com or www.ps4u.com.
Do I need a special printer? Do I need to print color?
No and no. Most standard office and home printers are equipped to print eGift Cards and you do not need to print in color. Some printers produce great results, and older printers sometimes don't print certain images well, but the most important thing is that the code number below the eGift Card is clear. If it is not, you may need to install a new ink cartridge.
When does the eGift Card expire?
There is no expiration date on your eGift Card. We recommend that you redeem it soon after you receive it, so you don't forget.
Can I reload my eGift Card after I've spent the full value?
Not at this time.
How do I check my eGift Card balance?
Checking the balance of your eGift Card is easy. Call us at 877-289-2376. When you call, be sure to have your Gift Card number and PIN in front of you.
Can I return the eGift Card?
You may not return or cancel your Aeropostale eGift Card after it is received. Purchasers who wish to cancel an eGift Card purchase order prior to its delivery to a recipient should contact CashStar Customer Support at prior to the delivery date selected during the purchase process.
If you return merchandise originally purchased with an eGift Card, any refund will be issued in the form of a store credit that may be used at any U.S. Aeropostale retail stores.
How do you prevent the email from getting lost as spam?
We adhere to all industry best practices to ensure successful delivery of the eGift Card via email. Still, there is a chance that the email will be treated as spam or the recipient didn't notice it in their email inbox. You will receive an email message confirming delivery of the eGift Card alert email, and a message notifying you that the eGift Card has been viewed. If the eGift Card is not viewed within 15 days after delivery, you will receive a message with options for resolving the issue.
How do I know the recipient actually received the eGift Card I sent them?
You will receive an email message confirming delivery, and a message notifying you that the eGift Card has been viewed. If the eGift Card is not viewed within 15 days after delivery, you will receive a message with options for resolving the issue. You may also contact CashStar Customer Support at 877-850-1977, with the order number from the email you received confirming your purchase, and we can tell you if the recipient has viewed their eGift Card.
What if I lose my eGift Card?
Your eGift Card has cash value and should be safeguarded as such. If you misplaced your eGift Card, you can reprint it if you bookmarked it in your browser or click on the link in the original email. If your eGift Card was lost or stolen, contact CashStar Customer Support immediately at 877-850-1977. If your eGift Card has not been redeemed or has some remaining value, we can cancel the original and reissue a new eGift Card to you for the remaining value
What if someone makes a copy of my printed eGift Card?
Our state-of-the-art technology inhibits fraud, but you must safeguard your eGift Card for your own protection. If someone makes a copy of your eGift Card and redeems it for the full amount, your copy will have no value. No matter how many copies are made, the value of the Virtual Gift Card is tied to the Gift Card number. When that number is used, the value of the purchase is deducted from the eGift Card. If you suspect that someone has copied or stolen your eGift Card, contact CashStar Customer Support immediately at 877-850-1977. Any value that has not been used can be reissued to you in a new eGift Card.
Who is CashStar?
CashStar is a Maine-based company specializing in eGift Cards that allow consumers and businesses to securely send eGift Cards over the Internet. Key personnel have played critical roles in technology and payments for such companies as American Express, Blackhawk Network, inComm, CoinStar, Wright Express, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and L.L. Bean. CashStar is a sister company to Coupons, Inc., the successful online coupon technology and marketing company. CashStar's focus is on developing a secure payment technology platform and service dedicated to bridging the digital and physical divide. CashStar is fully PCI compliant.


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It's no wonder why Glee is such a wildly popular show. It combines the hilarious comedic talent of actors like Jane Lynch and Heather Morris with deliciously unrealistic portrayals of high school life (i.e. a cheer coach regularly getting away with abusing students).
Oh, not to mention that some of the most beloved pop songs, rock anthems and show tunes of all time are featured in each episode. In fact, the Glee cast now has more than 110 hit singles to its name — more than any other artist or group in history!
The only bewildering aspect of the whole thing is why it took producers so long to create a musical television show.
So, in ode to the genius that is Glee, I have compiled a list of the top seven Glee covers every music lover should know about. And, as a side note, let's just say this wasn't easy (I mean, I find myself buying at least one song from every episode off iTunes).
"Don't Stop Believin'"
This Journey cover is just a given. It has basically become the television show's theme song. Any Glee cover list would feel incomplete without mentioning the song that kicked off the craze.
Aired at the end of the pilot episode, the song features a duet between Rachel (Lea Michele) & Finn (Cory Monteith) and gives the audience a solid taste of the magic to come in following episodes and seasons.
"Forget You"
The theatrical style that guest star Gwyneth Paltrow (as substitute teacher Holly Holliday) lends to this already-solid Cee Lo song is what makes it so spectacular. Not to mention her funky, fun dance moves; anybody else catch the robot in there? Listen for the part where she sings, "Why? WHY?" infusing her acting ability into the music.
"Umbrella/Singin' in the Rain"
Every once in a while, Glee will artistically combine two completely different songs, normally of competing genres, into one epic creation in what is termed a "mash-up." This mash-up covers Rihanna's hit song "Umbrella" and "Singin' in the Rain," a song made popular by Gene Kelly in the movie of the same title. Glee's version features Holly Holliday and Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison).
The brilliant part of this mash-up is how so entirely opposite the original two songs are but how they fit so beautifully together, sounding as if they were made to be written as one. And who doesn't love the creative choreography in the performance?
"This is a Man's World"
Glee is known for covering controversial issues in its episodes. In its first season, queen bee cheerleader Quinn (Dianna Agron) becomes pregnant. Her raw, soulful rendition of James Brown's "This is a Man's World" is one of the most under-appreciated songs from the television show. Notice the part where she rasps, "But it would have been nothin', NOTHIN', without a woman, or a girl."
"Teenage Dream"
Die hard fans were a little wary of The Warblers to begin with. I mean, they stole Kurt away from New Directions! Wariness turned to intrigue when The Warblers' first song on the series went big, taking on the popular song "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry. Within the first few seconds, though, the harmonizing "dum dum dum"'s and Blaine's (Darren Criss) lead vocals had won fans over. We're still in love with this all-boy a capella choir.
"Time Warp"
This cover of the wildly energetic song from The Rocky Horror Picture Show was marvelously redone in the second season of Glee. Pay special attention to when Kurt (Chris Colfer) starts the song off in an eery, monotone narration and Quinn lends her sweet vocals in a featured solo.
"Sweet Caroline"
When bad boy Puck (Mark Salling) reveals his endearing singing voice in this Neil Diamond cover, hearts all over America melted. Not to mention how cute he looks serenading Rachel — one of the most pleasantly surprising moments of the show so far.
With Glee now performing some original songs on its shows, beginning with the Regionals episode appropriately titled "Original Song" on March 15, 2011, there may soon be reason to create a "Top Seven Glee Original Songs" list.

subset: commoncrawl


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People with eating disorders often do not recognize or admit that they are ill. As a result, they may strongly resist starting and staying in treatment. Family members or other trusted people can help to ensure that the person with an eating disorder receives needed care and rehabilitation. For some people, treatment may be long term.
Eating disorders can be successfully treated and a healthy weight restored. The sooner your disorder is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcomes are likely to be. Because of their complexity, eating disorders require a comprehensive treatment plan. Treatment involves medical care and monitoring, psychosocial interventions, nutrition counseling, and, when appropriate, medication management.
Treatment of
calls for a specific program that involves three main phases:
Early diagnosis and treatment increase your chances of a positive outcome. Your doctor may consider prescribing medicine for you. But, it may be started
after you have gained an appropriate amount of weight. A healthy weight is above 85%, but not necessarily as high as 100%, of your ideal weight. To achieve this weight, your intake of calories will be gradually increased.
If your weight loss is severe, care will likely be provided in an inpatient hospital setting in order to treat very serious or life-threatening physical conditions. In a hospital, doctors will develop feeding plans to address your medical and nutrition needs. In some cases, a feeding tube may be recommended. Once malnutrition has been corrected and weight gain has begun, you may receive psychotherapy (often
cognitive behavioral
or interpersonal psychotherapy) to help you overcome low self-esteem and address distorted thought and behavior patterns. Families are often included in the therapeutic process.
The primary goals of treatment for
are to:
Bulimia and binge eating disorder are treated with nutrition rehabilitation, psychosocial intervention, and medication management strategies. Treatment is generally done on an out-patient basis. Treatment includes establishing a pattern of regular, non-binge meals, improving your attitude related to the eating disorder, and encouraging regular but not excessive exercise. Any co-occurring conditions, such as mood or
anxiety disorders
, should be treated as well. You may also benefit from family or marital therapy.
Treatment of eating disorders involves the following:
Lifestyle changesMedicationsAlternative and complementary therapiesOther treatments
Currently, there are no surgical options for the treatment of eating disorders.
American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at:
Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders website. Available at:
Eating disorders: facts about eating disorders and the search for solutions. National Institute of Mental Health website. Available at:
. Accessed April 8, 2007.
Moore DP, Jefferson JW.
Handbook of Medical Psychiatry.
2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2004.
National Institute of Mental Health website. Available at:
Santucci P. A brief overview of therapies used in the treatment of eating disorders: a consumer's guide. Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders website. Available at:
. Accessed April 10, 2007.
Yager J, Devlin MJ, Halmi KA, et al. Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Eating Disorders. 3rd ed. American Psychiatric Association website. Available at:
. Accessed April 12, 2007.
Last reviewed October 2012 by Michael Woods, MD
Copyright © 2010 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.


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Hi Lukas,
As a member of Outdoor Nation, I'm doing my part in reminding my community of the importance of being in nature. Although I have achieved a small amount of success, I need your help.
I have a live project on Kickstarter.com and I'd like to invite you to join me in making a difference. Please check out my project page.
One way you can help is by donating a dollar and click the Facebook "Like" button under the video.
The biggest way you can help; contact me, let me know if you'd like to join me on any sections of the project. Share the project with everyone you know and help get involved. I'm looking for a strong support group and extreme hikers to take part in this adventure.
I have been featured on my largest local News Radio/TV show for the project, I have pending sponsorships and am looking for more. I have more media coverage interested in supporting this project.
Please join me, help as much as you can, and spread the word. Together, we can remind all Americans that preserving our home land is far more important than futile politics overseas. WE ARE AMERICANS, LET'S FIGHT FOR AMERICA!
Thank you!
Matt Liparulo


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Men at Work
We apologize for any problems you may have experienced over the past few days during the submission process. We are working on fixing it and will have a working form ready to go Thursday morning, September 5th.
Also, to accommodate for lost time, we will keep the form open until Monday, September 9th.
Sorry about that — we're still hungover from the holiday apparently!


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How to Sell Creative Cloud for Teams
This is a short video about how to sell Creative Cloud for teams using a new tool called the VIP Reseller Console. The Reseller Console allows you to enroll customers, add new seats, track what has been purchased, and more. This short video shows you how this is done.


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Feb 23, 2012
SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo men's and women's soccer teams are preparing to welcome back alumni to participate in the annual alumni games which are set to take place on Saturday, March 3.
Part of Saint Leo's Alumni Weekend 2012, the game will take place on the new NCAA game field for the first time in the game's history.
The women will begin the day with a 4 p.m. kickoff, with the men following at 6 p.m.
Alumni, please contact your respective head coach if interested in participating in the game. Also, for a full weekend schedule, or to register online, please visit the link below.


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19 fun car road trip activities
Turn an ordinary drive into a world of fun adventures and possibilities. more
Wind is the term used to describe the small amounts of air your baby swallows as she feeds - this air is often brought up later in the form of a burp. Most babies will become uncomfortable shortly after a feed if the air they have swallowed has not been brought up - and this is where the art of burping is so important to know, because a burped baby is usually a settled baby.
When does my baby need burping?
How to burp your baby
While many people associate wind with the air that is passed from both ends - bottom and mouth - these airs are quite different! Wind from the bottom, also called a fart, is created as a by-product of the digestion of milk being absorbed in his bowel - this air has not been swallowed.
Farts can cause your baby to feel suddenly uncomfortable for a minute or two, become red in the face, squirm, grunt and cry before passing the wind - and perhaps a bowel motion as well!
For some parents, get the elusive burp after every feeds can become a little obsessive! Generally, if your baby is going to burp, he will do it in the first couple of minutes after feeding. Sitting him upright, or placing him over your shoulder while gently stroking or patting his back, should get results - if there are any results to be had!
However, if your baby remains irritable, unsettled and cries, then it is unlikely due to 'wind', just probably the normal fussy behaviour that is common for most newborn babies from about two to 12 weeks of age, or perhaps due to reflux. If your baby remains unsettled, even after he burps, then his behaviour is likely to be for the same reasons.
Some parents will purchase wind drop products. These products contain a medication called simethicone in drop form that is given before a feed (but no more than 12 times a day), and works to collect up the small bubbles of air to make bigger bubbles which may help your baby to burp more easily. Some parents are big fans of these drops, while others don't think they work at all.
If you want to 'wind' your baby, or help him to burp, you will usually need to place him in an upright position by:
This article is based on an article that appears on pregnancy and birth expert www.birth.com.au for Kidspot, Australia's best resource for newborn health.
Last revised: Tuesday, 2 March 2010
This article contains general information only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional.


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BIRKENHEAD Priory provides the stunning backdrop for the opening night of Wirral's 24th International guitar festival.
Edgar Broughton will be at the historic venue on Thursday November 3.
The band was a formidable live draw, propelled by a heavy psychedelic blues sound and Edgar's phenomenal if untutored singing.
Edgar is well known as one of the angriest of the protest singers, but at times one of the most accessible – with a surprisingly diverse repertoire of self-penned material.
With seven studio albums, two live albums and many compilations under his belt he has toured extensively since 1968.
Also lined up for the festival, which ends on November 30, are ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, Ultravox and Live Aid co-founder Midge Ure, Albert Lee and Spanish guitar virtuoso Juan Martin.
There will also be performances from Bellowhead, Phil Manzanera, Martin Taylor's Gypsy Journey, Tony Remy & The Blues Experience and classical guitarist Xuefei Yang as well as the Katona Twins and the Impossible Gentlemen featuring the incredible Mike Walker and Mercury Prize nominated pianist, Gwilym Simcock.
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain joins the festival for the first time, guaranteed to cause a storm of appreciation from all you ukulele fans out there.
Looking forward to the event, Kate Carpenter who has taken over as Festival Director following the departure of its creator Rob Smith, said: "I wish to thank Rob for leaving a vibrant and musically important festival for me to explore and sustain through the stormy economic times ahead; a challenge and a pleasure that I hope to uphold for at least another 24 years! I look forward to welcoming you to this year's festival."
As well as concerts, there will be masterclasses from American blues legend Catfish Keith and bluesman Woody Mann, as well as two guitar maintenance sessions run by instrument Specialists KGB.
Industry experts will run discussions on "Doing it Yourself in the Music Industry" and "Making Money from Your Music" as part of Six String Saturday, a day of free music.
Tickets are from the Floral Pavilion box office on 0151 666 0000. Details of all the concerts and workshops can be found on www.bestguitarfest.com


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Blog | Media | Shop
September 23, 2013
Do you have an amazing service project that your club members need help funding? Key Club has a grant program called Youth Opportunities Fund for just that sort of thing. The YOF is an endowed fund for Key Club International held within the Kiwanis International Foundation. YOF grants are given ...
Youth Opportunities Fund
Service Project
Kiwanis Key Club
© 2010 Kiwanis International
All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy Site Map Subscribe / Unsubscribe


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What a difference two years makes. In 2009 my colleague Tim Bradshaw wrote about the advertising industry's early experiments with augmented reality and the FT printed an AR image on its pages to give readers a practical demonstration.
We printed another augmented reality image on Tuesday, and the difference between the two projects has been like moving from black and white silent film to colour television. Read more


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reason being, I've needed pointer simulation for address verification for quite a while now... heh
so what methods would I need and how would I need to build the __init__() method??
here's what I have so far: (originally started as a file class)
- Code: Select all
from array import array as _arr #private
class MEM:
def __init__(this):
this.data = _arr('B',[]) #fastest possible safe array for data management
this.size = 0
this.offset = 0
def preread(this,length=this.size): return this.data[this.offset:this.offset+length]
def read(this,length=this.size): return this.data[this.offset:this.offset+length]; this.offset+=length
def alloc(this,size): pass #save up some memory before writing (speed things up a bit)
def write(this,char=''): pass
why the array module?
aside from it being fastest array I've used yet (including NumPy), I find it better to parse both types of file-data as 8bit ints
the only faster thing I know of is a dictionary, but that's unsafe as it eats a massive amount of memory for a large amount of data
anyways, if there's anything I don't know, please tell me
(if I already know it, tell me anyways)
if anyone knows of any previous topics here, or other information on something similar to this,
please post a link.
OT: /new idea >.>
I should build a script that tests each type of array with [].append(v) and []+=[v]
(who's not to say my previous tests havn't changed over time as Py27 evolved)


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THE girlfriend of ex-Shameless and EastEnders star Jody Latham hit a woman with her handbag when she thought they were chatting too long in a Burnley nightclub, a court heard.
Sarah Louise Melia, a 31-year-old mother of three, struck in the early hours of New Year's Day, after she and the actor had got back together following a split.
Melia was said to have plunged into depression last year when Latham, then her long-term partner, had started a headline-grabbing relationship with X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos.
The hairdresser believed she was being provoked when she was said to have seen Mr Latham, who found fame playing 'Lip' Gallagher in Channel 4's Shameless, talking to Emma Bentley. Melia repeatedly hit her on the head.
Burnley magistrates heard how Melia left Ms Bentley with two cuts and with blood running down her face and over her clothes. The victim had to go to hospital for treatment.
Melia, of Woodland Terrace, Bacup, admitted assault by beating. She was given a community order, with 40 hours unpaid work and must pay £150 compensation and a £60 victim surcharge.
Prosecutor Andrew Rob-inson said the victim was coming downstairs from the toilet in Fusion, on Hammerton Street, and spoke to a man she knew as they passed on the stairs. The next thing she knew, she felt a sharp pain on top of her head.
The victim was spoken to by paramedics and was taken to Burnley General Hospital, where it was found she had suffered a one-and-a-half inch long cut just below her hairline and a smaller, round cut just to the side of that.
Mr Robinson said Melia was interviewed by police and made admissions.
She claimed she thought the victim had been speaking to her partner for longer. Melia may have had a clutch bag with her and possibly the catch or zip may have caused the injuries.
Nick Cassidy, defending Melia at the magistrates court, said: "She is genuinely remorseful and, if given the opportunity, would like to formally apologise to the complainant.
"In the autumn of last year and towards December, she found out her long- term partner had started a relationship with another lady.
"That relationship was then spread all over the tabloids. She became aware of that reading the Sunday newspapers and started to suffer from depression."
Chairman David Bennett said the Bench was satisfied there was no premeditation.


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design, model, present, analyze, realize...
Have you ever thought, want an easy to use command for Rhinoceros?Your operating speed will be improved. If there is an easy to use command.So, Rhino+ is started.
Rhino+ support team
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Robert McNeel & Associates. All Rights Reserved.


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It's been a big week for scandals; Europe's horsemeat-in-the-beef-lasagna crisis, John Galliano's appearance in New York in what some construed as faux-Hasidic garb, and CNN's decision to run a piece comparing war photography and fashion photography. It's hard to know where to start. Here are some thoughts – in no particular order.
1. Horsemeat: reading my colleague John Gapper's column today about the supply chain issue being at the heart of the matter, it occurred to me that this bears a notable resemblance to the blood diamond scandals, which resulted in the Kimberley Process. Like the supermarkets that sold the adulterated meat, the jewellers that sold the sparkly end product had never really pushed themselves to know where it came from. When the truth was revealed, they were horrified and embarrassed. It had never occurred to them they needed to take ownership of the supply chain if they were responsible for the end product, and the experience changed luxury's strategy completely. Read more


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Did you know?
Paul Kruger, president of the South African Republic, reputedly banished 'difficult' Boer farmers to the Waterberg.
The malaria-free, scenic Waterberg is a rare wildlife haven. A protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, its four mountain ranges form a spectacular backdrop to the first-class game reserves of Welgevonden, Entabeni and Lapalala Wilderness.
From stylish thatch and wood lodges, to secluded bush hideaways, you can enjoy a truly luxurious safari experience in this ecotourism Eden, where the welfare of the environment, wildlife and community remain at the forefront.
There are over 1 500 private game lodges in this lovely region, and although not all the Big Five are here, you could spot rhino, elephant, buffalo, lots of antelope, and if you're very lucky, the elusive leopard.
In Marakele National Park, where the highest sandstone and red quartzite peaks of the Waterberg soar, you'll find wild, dramatic beauty, as well as attractive, affordable, parks accommodation.
Go on a hunting safari, visit intriguing rock-art sites, seek out over 300 species of birds in the reserve then head for nearby Nylsvlei wetlands, a Ramsar site and bird watchers' paradise.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Limpopo Tourism and Parks
Tel: +27 (0)15 290 7300
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
How to get here
Fly to Polokwane, and then take the N1 south to Bela-Bela. By road, take the N1 north motorway directly to Bela-Bela.
Best time to visit
The Waterberg is a year-round destination, although Summer (October to February) can get very hot.
Around the area
Makapans Valley, an important palaeontological and archaeological site; Mokolo Dam (excellent fishing); Nylsvlei Nature Reserve.
Length of stay
Two to three nights.
Where to stay
Marakele National Park, Mabula Game Reserve, Mabalingwe Game Reserve or any other of the numerous reserves and lodges in the area.
What to eat
As this is a popular hunting area, venison is always a good bet.


text:
Boot Barn Item #: 1018806
Easy Returns In Stores and Online
All Boots Ship Free (more...)
All Boots Ship Free (more...)
Color: Click a button belowcolor
size: Click a button below Size Chartsize
width: Click a button belowwidth
PrintBoot Features:
Style(s): 25290
- Handcrafted in the USA
- Leather upper
- Drill vamp lining
- Cushioned insole
- Vibram yellow plug lug outsole
- A Chippewa best seller
Whether you patrol the highways, cruise the back roads, or hang out around the strip, the Street Warrior Series has the look and performance features that fit your lifestyle. Chippewa Boots, one of the original manufacturers of motorcycle boots in the U.S.A., is recognized as the very best thanks to its tough, durable high quality materials and craftsmanship.
Style(s): 25290
Toe Type: Round
Outsole: Rubber
Lifestyle: Work
Country Of Origin: USA
Heel Type: Walking
Lining: leather
Upper Material: Leather
Insole: Comfort Cushion
Shaft: 6"
Material: Leather
Heel Height: Medium
Product Weight: 8 lbs
Closure: Lace-Up
Print In October of 1901, Chippewa Boots was founded in their namesake city of Chippewa Falls, WI. Chippewa Boots was named after the city which was named after the Indian tribe in the region. Their quest was to one day, create the finest boots and shoes in the United States. At the time, Chippewa Boots employed 175 people, mainly women, and produced 1,200 pairs a day. In the beginning, Chippewa Boots mainly produced a high end logging boots for the pulp and paper industry. The Chippewa mainstay, Logger Boot, outfitted thousand of brave lumberjacks. They required sharp saws, honed axes, strong ropes and Chippewa Boots. Chippewa Logger Boots were quickly known as the best boots for the outdoors. With the reputation Chippewa Boots was creating, their quality Logger Boots spread throughout the entire United States and in 1910 their factory increased production to 2,500 pairs a day! Chippewa Boots has played their part in every era. The Chippewa Engineer Boots through the 1930's. The Chippewa Arctic Boots for the cold-weather battles of World War II. Even through the 50's when Chippewa introduced Chippewa Snake Boots for hunters and outdoorsmen. Chippewa Boots have always been know for quality, durability and technology. Chippewa Boots, "The Best. By Far."


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I Think Lady GaGa Beat That Eating Disorder
Amidst reports she was hospitalized several times in 2009 for starving herself to fit into her outfits, Lady GaGa performed in Oslo Saturday night looking noticeably… I don't way to say heavier, so let's go with "Britney Spears-esque". Actually that would imply she eats children and onion rings everyday for lunch because she's a mental patient. Should I just go with pudgier? "Lady GaGa looked noticeably pudgier." That seems more sensitive, don't you think? I don't want to insult anybody.
Photos: WireImage


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The Challenge!Science brain teasers require understanding of the physical or biological world and the laws that govern it.
Sven, a wise man and a big time bet taker, was walking along when he came across Tommy. Sven wanted to make a quick buck so he said to Tommy, "I bet you $4,500 that you won't be able to stop accelerating in your car, after 10 seconds to get up to speed, on this circular track."
"Well, Sven, I'll take that bet. I just hope you don't cry too hard when I take your money."
So Tommy got his brand new red Porsche up to 90 mph and put it on cruise control. After four laps, he came up to Sven and paid him the $4,500. Why?
HintWhat shape was the track?
AnswerFirst of all, Sven said accelerate. Acceleration is a change in velocity. Velocity is a speed in a direction. So acceleration can be speeding up, slowing down, or turning. Since the track was circular, Tommy was always accelerating, even after the ten second grace period. The lesson: know your terms before you take a bet.
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Tweaking the Strategic Plan
Last Modified 2:00 PM, June 15, 2015
July 1, 2009—
The University's updated Strategic Plan, due to be considered for approval by the Board of Trustees at its July meeting, features a number of revisions, according to Dave Reed, vice president for research.
Unchanged is the vision of Michigan Tech becoming a world-class research university, as well as the plan's three overarching goals: 1) attracting and retaining world-class faculty, students and staff; 2) delivering distinctive programs with a central focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and the business of innovation; and 3) producing outstanding research, scholarship and innovation. The primary changes in the updated plan involve the specific objectives emerging from the three goals.
"These changed because we've made progress," Reed said. "We've replaced some action items with new ones, focusing on strategies that will be of greatest impact. Those areas are open-ended, as we feel those who will actually be doing the work will be the best to determine the details as to how that happens."
"The deans were key to the process of updating the document," Reed says. "They were involved in the vetting and gathering input from others, and the executive team appreciates all the valuable discussion in the (University) Senate, Staff Council, the various administrative and academic units, and the comments posted to the web."
"I told the Senate that this is a living document that we'll look at formally every three years," Reed commented. "That will ensure that the plan is always fresh and relevant, and is an effective guide for our work."
The latest version of the Strategic Plan with changes can be viewed here: https://www.banweb.mtu.edu/pls/owa/strategic_plan.p_display.
Michigan Technological University (www.mtu.edu) is a leading public research university developing new technologies and preparing students to create the future for a prosperous and sustainable world. Michigan Tech offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering; forest resources; computing; technology; business; economics; natural, physical and environmental sciences; arts; humanities; and social sciences.


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Kevein Federline writes mean stuff on doors
The day after Britney Spears filed for divorce, the always ridiculous Kevin Federline used a Sharpie to write a message on the shower door of his dressing room at the House of Blues in Chicago where he performed, saying:
Today I'm a free man
Ladies look out
Fuck a wife
Give me my kids Bitch!
I mean there's class, and then there's class. And then there's this guy, who has so much class he makes the Monopoly man look like a hobo. God forbid K-Fed ever gets a tuxedo, because the world isn't ready for a man so classy grape juice would actually transform itself into wine for him.
NOTE: This clown has the handwriting of a kindergartner. It's a wonder he even managed to spell words instead of just drawing a bunch of stars and smiley faces.


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• redux •
Pronunciation: ree-dêks • Hear it!
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: 1. (Placed after the noun) Restored, reinstated, returned to its original state or position, revisited, as in an evening of speakeasies and flappers redux. 2. (Medicine) Indicating restoration to healthy functioning, as redux circulation in tissue previously lacking it.
Notes: Today's word is probably most popular in the titles of works of literature such as Dryden's poem Astraea Redux, Trollope's novel Phineas Redux, and John Updike's novel, Rabbit Redux. Notice that, although an adjective, it is generally placed behind the noun it modifies. When used medically, it is usually placed before the noun.
In Play: Redux is not simply revisiting but reinstating something to its authentic original state: "The appointments and furnishings in Andy Bellam's home were pure 19th century America redux." Even when used metaphorically, this word carries with it a sense of déjà vu: "The war in Iraq strikes some as Vietnam redux, jungle replaced by desert."
Word History: Today's Good Word comes from the Latin verb reducere "bring back, restore" based on re- "back" + ducere "to lead". Obviously, this verb is also the source of English reduce—doesn't reducing restore us to our original state? The Latin root duc- turns up in many other words borrowed by English from Latin, including the name of a leader, duke, educate, to lead out into the world, and subdue, to be placed under leadership or control. The same root produced in English, without the help of Latin, tug as well as tight, akin to tie, a different kind of control. (Today we thank Karen Ford for restoring this Good Word to our thoughts.)
Use this forum to discuss past Good Words.
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From the wayback machine, here is an old thread that uses this word in an interesting fashion in the Subject line.
I'd say incorrectly, myself. It's about alteration, not restoration.
I'd say incorrectly, myself. It's about alteration, not restoration.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
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Normal Member
Fresh Member
Black Ninja!
Fresh Member
The Road to WrestleMania hasn't quite met my expectations so far so I thought I'd show you guys what I would have liked to see. Starting from the turn of 2014 I'll blog about how I would have booked The Road to WrestleMania.
I wouldn't change much about the lead up to the Royal Rumble, the only things I would change are:
- I'd scrap the Lesnar/Big Show feud
- When Batista


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Surging electricity prices have resulted in a large rise in households being disconnected and complaints to electricity companies, a survey by the New South Wales pricing regulator IPART has found.
Data released on Monday by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal, has found a 25 per cent rise in disconnections for non-payment of electricity bills, in the year to June, with a further rise of 15 per cent in the number of households having their gas turned off.
Additionally, customer complaints to electricity companies rose by 53 per cent with complaints to gas companies rising by 31 per cent in the same period.
The rise in both disconnections and complaints follows surging prices for electricity and gas.
Electricity prices rose by up to a further 20 per cent from July 1, which signals that there will be an ongoing high level of disconnections and complaints again this year.
IPART chief executive Jim Cox said the annual survey indicated that households and small businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to pay their energy bills but are not always accessing the hardship support energy retailers in NSW are required to provide.
"Despite increasing levels of disconnections, the proportion of residential customers using instalment plans to pay their electricity bills has not increased, suggesting that consumers may not always be aware of the options available to them," Mr Cox said.
"Retailers need to work harder with their customers and actively promote the payment options available before those experiencing hardship are faced with disconnection."
The survey covered the 12 electricity and eight gas retailers in NSW that service small retail customers in the state – 3.2 million of them for electricity and 1.1 million for gas.


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Census records are the starting point for nearly all genealogical research projects. Privacy restrictions limit public access of census records for 72 years, so on April 2, 2012 the 1940 census will become available. Thanks to Archives.com, the records will be available immediately online for free.
For those of you who often refer to the 1850-1930 census, you'll be very pleased with the 1940 census and it's 50 questions. For a list of the questions, go here. The number of hours worked and the 1935 residence questions will be especially interesting.
Because the records will not be indexed by name, you will have to search by address, enumeration district, or geographic location. Enumeration districts (ED) are geographical subdivisions that are defined strictly for the purpose of census taking. EDs include two numbers, the first identifies the county and the second number designates the district. If you don't have the exact address of your relatives, it may be tricky to find them in the 1940 census.
It's a good idea to begin planning now and create an action plan so that no time is wasted on April 2nd. I recommend starting at the "How to Access the 1940 Census in One Step" quiz. Here are some examples from my action plan:
- Loretta Hutchinson. Loretta is my 2nd great grandmother and I can't wait to see what info was given on her census record, especially who was living in the same household. Loretta can be found in the 1930 census living at 604 Lawrence Avenue, Ellwood City, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania – ED 37-5. I'm assuming she stayed put for 10 years and was living in the same location in 1940.
- Used the 1930 to 1940 Census ED Conversion Tool which resulted in EDs 37-4 and 37-5.
- Just to double check, I searched the specific Enumeration District Map via the National Archives' Archival Research Catalog (ARC) by entering "1940 Census Maps Lawrence Pennsylvania" into the search field. The search resulted in 24 maps of different cities in Lawrence County. I clicked on "Ellwood City" and then the tab "Digital Copies." By pulling up the address in Google Maps and referencing nearby streets with the Enumeration District Map, I found Loretta's address to be on the border of ED 37-4 and 37-5. You may also get to the ED maps by going 1940 Enumeration District Maps in One Step page.
- Call the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County (most local libraries have archives of city directories) and check if they have a city directory around the time of 1940. I may be visiting Youngstown this winter, so I'll definitely take advantage of the resources at the library.
- If I'm unable to visit the Youngstown Library, the Library of Congress in Washington, DC has a LARGE collection of city directories and phone books. After a quick search in the Table of Contents, I see that the Library of Congress holds the city directories for Youngstown, Ohio of the years 1880-1944.
- I used the Finding ED Definitions for 1940 in One Step by selecting "Pennsylvania", "Butler County" and the keyword "Center" results in EDs 10-6, 10-7, 10-8, 10-9, and 10-10.
- For me, five EDs are too many to browse through, so I will probably call the Butler County Library and inquire about their city directories. This particular library has a ton of genealogical resources so I feel pretty positive about finding a more specific address.
- Entered the street into the Large Cities tool, added a cross street (Garfield) and got EDs 96-107 and 96-108.
- To double check, I used the National Archives' Archival Research Catalog (ARC) by entering "1940 Census Maps Mahoning Ohio", clicking on "Youngstown", then the tab "Digital Copies" to get a map of the Youngstown Enumeration Districts. A Google Map of 1220 Oak Hill Avenue was very helpful in finding a reference location, as the Youngstown map is quite large. Jay's address was located near the border of 96-107 and 96-108. Again, you may use the 1940 Enumeration District Maps in One Step page (it's actually easier to use than the NARA site, but was discovered afterwards).
What are your strategies for the 1940 Census?
Special thank you to Joel Weintraub, PhD for all the guidance!


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Easter Seals Telethon Is This Sunday On WEHT Local
Every year, the community comes together to help the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center raise funds with the Telethon on WEHT Local. This year's Telethon will be this Sunday, April 14th and it will air from Noon to 6pm.
Join longtime host, Brad Byrd, along with the returning, Shelly Kirk, plus Wayne Hart, Ron Rhodes, Randy Moore, Drew Amman, Kara Kirtley, Laura Kirtley and Shalah Sasse all joining in the effort this year. They will be sharing the stories of children and adults making huge strides in life with the help of the Rehabilitation Center, like this year's representatives, Craig Doninger and Kamree Anderson.
At the time the Telethon is happening, you can stop by the center where E'Ville Iron will hold their annual cruise-in featuring games, refreshments, and music. While you're there, drop off your donation in the Alcoa fishbowl. If you can't make it out, watch them strive for their goal of over $1 Million and call in your pledge!


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|The Dish
|awards, books, news, on the move, people, Stanford Report
A blog for the broad campus community about people on the move and in the spotlight, on the Farm and across the globe.
|Student Arts at Stanford
|art, arts, concerts, creative writing, creativity, dance, drama, exhibition, expression, humanities, music, news, performance, photography, poetry, prose, reviews, visual arts
Student Arts at Stanford is an online community tool for the Stanford community, specifically students in the arts. The website includes a news and reviews blog where anyone registered on the site can post about happenings in the arts at Stanford. The site is also home to a comprehensive arts calendar of events, a marketplace for connecting people with other people in the arts, an extensive resources section for student leaders, academics and arts enthusiasts, and an interactive media gallery where registered users can upload and share their creations and showcase their work.
|Stanford Admission Blog
|academics, admissions, athletics, diversity, news, student life
This is the official Office of Undergraduate Admission blog, where the voices of current undergraduate student bloggers, alumni bloggers, and staff bloggers are featured. Topics covered include: academics, student life, questions about the admission process, news stories from around campus, and athletics, just to name a few. We hope to give prospective students and their families a chance to see what life, both academically and socially, can be like on The Farm.
|Sexual Health Peer Resource Center
|advice, Breast Cancer, Condom, Contraception, health, information, news, Pregnancy, Relationships, Sex, Sexual Health, STD, STI, Testicular Cancer
The SHPRC is an informative office filled with information and products—everything you always wanted to know about sex. Our blog is a collection of articles relevant to sexual health that interest us, as well as general musings, updates on what's going on in the center, and notifications of events. Our new website also offers complete lists of what we carry in the center, an inventory of our library, and tons of sexual health information.
|Noli Irritare Leones
|Africa, culture, medical, news, politics, religion
Blogging about religion, politics, African news, medical news, cultural trends, sexuality (not in an NC-17 way), movies, and whatever else strikes my fancy. By alumna Lynn Gazis-Sax.
Notice: Blog authors are solely responsible for the content of the blogs listed in the directory. Neither the content of these blogs, nor the links to other web sites, are screened, approved, reviewed or endorsed by Stanford University, the Stanford Alumni Association or any Stanford-affiliated entity ("Stanford"). The text and other material on these blogs are the opinion of the specific author and are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of Stanford.


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Highlights of what the most recent WikiLeaks documents claim, and who's involved
ZIMBABWE: The illicit diamond trade in Zimbabwe has led to the murder of thousands, enriched those close to President Robert Mugabe and been financed in part by the central bank, according to leaked U.S. documents. "In a country filled with corrupt schemes, the diamond business in Zimbabwe is one of the dirtiest," according to a classified document from November, 2008, from the U.S. embassy in the country, released this week on WikiLeaks. In the classified documents that date from before a unity government came to power, U.S. diplomats cite a well established British mining executive as saying those close to Mr. Mugabe, including his wife, Grace Mugabe, "have been extracting tremendous profits" from the Chiadzwa mine in the eastern part of the country.
(Nasser Nasser/Nasser Nasser/The Associated Press)
ERITREA: Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki is a "recluse" who makes decisions in isolation and whose regime is a single bullet away from imploding, according to an Ethiopian security official cited by leaked U.S. cables. In a meeting last year with former U.S. envoy to Ethiopia Donald Yamamoto, the head of the Ethiopian National Intelligence and Security Service, Getachew Assefa, detailed conversations with one of Mr. Afwerki's bodyguards who defected to Ethiopia. "The bodyguard remarked that Isaias was a recluse who spent his days painting and tinkering with gadgets and carpentry works," Mr. Assefa said. "Isaias appeared to make decisions with no discussion with his advisors. It was difficult to tell how Isaias would react every day and his moods changed constantly."
(STR/Jack Kimball/Reuters)
COLOMBIA: Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe sought secret talks during his second term with Colombia's main leftist rebel group in Sweden, and the guerrillas even reached out to the U.S. embassy, according to leaked U.S. diplomatic cables. But it appears none of the described contacts made headway toward resolving Colombia's nearly half century-old civil conflict, which claims several thousand lives annually. Mr. Uribe left office in August, 2010, after badly crippling the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, with a withering military campaign and refused steadfastly to accept their demand for a demilitarized zone as a condition for talks.
(Graham Hughes/Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)
SOUTH AFRICA: The rise of Jacob Zuma to South Africa's presidency was an "astonishing" achievement, according to leaked U.S. diplomatic cables. Mr. Zuma became South African president in May, 2009, after a bruising battle for the leadership of the African National Congress with former president Thabo Mbeki, who was forced by the ruling party to step down in late 2008. "Zuma's rise to the pinnacle of South African politics at the same time that serious questions about his character were headline news is an astonishing political achievement in itself," said a diplomatic cable written before Mr. Zuma was sworn in as president. Mr. Zuma was the subject of a long corruption investigation. Graft charges against him were dropped in April, 2009.
(POOL/Hoang Dinh Nam/Reuters)
NIGERIA: Royal Dutch Shell had infiltrated key Nigerian ministries, giving it access to politicians' every move in the oil-rich nation, the Guardian said, citing leaked U.S. diplomatic cables. The oil giant's top executive in Nigeria, Ann Pickard, told U.S. diplomats in Abuja in October, 2009, that Shell had obtained secret information, including a letter showing Nigeria had invited bids for oil concessions from China. "She said the GON (government of Nigeria) had forgotten that Shell had seconded people to all the relevant ministries and that Shell consequently had access to everything that was being done in those ministries," U.S. Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders was quoted as saying. In reaction to the leaked note, Shell said it is "absolutely untrue" that it has infiltrated every Nigerian ministry affecting its operations.
(GEORGE ESIRI/George Esiri/Reuters)
MYANMAR: Myanmar established its own professional football league last year at the behest of ruling General Than Shwe after his grandson suggested he buy England's Manchester United, according to a leaked cable. Several Myanmar businessmen speculated that the ruling junta wanted to establish the Myanmar National Football League to distract people from the country's political and economic problems, said the cable from the embassy in Rangoon. The June, 2009, cable said local tycoons were pressured into funding the venture, but were also given incentives such as construction contracts, new gem mines and import permits.
(SUKREE SUKPLANG/Sukree Sukplang/Reuters)
POLAND: When Poland learned in 2008 that the U.S. would not be giving it operational Patriot missiles to bolster its defences, one minister dismissed what his nation would be getting instead as "potted plants," according to a diplomatic cable. Donald Tusk, Poland's prime minister, recently responded by saying that the American negotiating tactics described in the cable left Poland "stripped of all illusions" about the way the United States deals with even its closest allies. The document refers to U.S.-Polish talks ahead of the establishment of a military base in Poland in May where U.S. soldiers are now training the Polish military to use Patriot missiles – but without the real weapons.
(KACPER PEMPEL/Kacper Pempel/Reuters)
SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia proposed deploying an Arab military force backed by U.S. and NATO airpower to Lebanon two years ago to crush Hezbollah and prevent the militant group – and its patron Iran – from taking power in Beirut, leaked U.S. government documents show. The proposal – made by Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal during talks with U.S. diplomat David Satterfield in May, 2008 – was never acted on, but it reflects concerns in Riyadh and other Sunni Arab capitals about the growing influence of Shiite Iran in the region. In the meeting, Saud said that a "security response" was needed to Hezbollah's challenge to the Lebanese government of then-Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, warning that a Hezbollah "victory in Beirut would mean the end of the Siniora government and the 'Iranian takeover' of Lebanon," according to a cable.
(KHALED DESOUKI/Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images)
LIBYA: Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi threatened to cut trade with Britain and warned of "enormous repercussions" if the Lockerbie bomber died in jail, Britain's Guardian newspaper reported, citing leaked U.S. diplomatic cables. Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, jailed for life for his part in blowing up Pan Am Flight 103 over Scotland in 1988, was freed by Scottish authorities in August, 2009, on compassionate grounds, as he had prostate cancer and was thought to have just months to live. "The Libyans have told HMG [Her Majesty's Government] flat out that there will be 'enormous repercussions' for the UK-Libya bilateral relationship if Megrahi's early release is not handled properly," U.S. diplomat Richard LeBaron wrote in a cable to Washington in October, 2008.
(MAHMUD TURKIA/Mahmud Turkia/AFP/Getty Images)
NICARAGUA/VENEZUELA: Nicaragua received "suitcases full of cash" from Venezuela that may have helped to sway tainted elections in 2008, according to U.S. diplomatic cables that throw light on Nicaragua's increasingly authoritarian leader Daniel Ortega. "We have first-hand reports that (Nicaraguan) officials receive suitcases full of cash from Venezuelan officials during official trips to Caracas," the U.S. Embassy in Managua said in a 2008 cable made public by Wikileaks that appeared online in Spain's El Pais. The cables were written several months before the November, 2008, municipal elections. Mr. Ortega, a former guerrilla leader whose Sandinista rebels fought U.S.-backed government forces in a 1980s civil war, faced widespread fraud allegations in those polls when the Sandinistas won big victories.
(OSWALDO RIVAS/Oswaldo Rivas/Reuters)
VENEZUELA/CUBA: Cuban intelligence services directly advised Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in what a U.S. diplomat called the "Axis of Mischief," according to a State Department cable. "Cuban intelligence officers have direct access to Chavez and frequently provide him with intelligence reporting unvetted by Venezuelan officers," said the 2006 note released by WikiLeaks. Other cables revealed U.S. anxiety at Mr. Chavez's "cosiness" with Iran and concerns of Venezuelan Jews over what they saw as government prejudice against them.
EUROPEAN UNION: Leaked diplomatic memos said that European Union President Herman Van Rompuy told America's ambassador that the EU no longer believes in success in Afghanistan, and that European troops are still there "out of deference to the United States." U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman, in the memo released by WikiLeaks, quotes Mr. Van Rompuy as saying in December, 2009, that the EU will wait until the end of 2010 to see progress.
(Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Associated Press)
CANADA: A leaked U.S. cable recorded a meeting of diplomats in Kabul on Feb. 20, 2010, just after Afghan President Hamid Karzai sought to rewrite Afghanistan's election laws to give himself more powers. William Crosbie, Canada's ambassador to Kabul, is recorded as criticizing Mr. Karzai and his powerful family, including his half-brother and Kandahar power-broker Ahmed Wali Karzai. "I speak in very critical terms about the misuse of power by Karzai and his family (AWK is named) and urge the international community to oppose Karzai's attempts to take control of the electoral law in advance of the [parliamentary] elections," Mr. Crosbie wrote in a diplomatic note to Ottawa on Dec. 1, of which The Globe obtained a copy.
(Bill Graveland/Bill Graveland/The Canadian Press)
FRANCE/CANADA: Leaked U.S. diplomatic cables show that Bernard Kouchner, Nicolas Sarkozy's foreign minister until three weeks ago, personally asked Hillary Clinton to review the Omar Khadr case in a 2009 meeting. The document shows that while Mr. Kouchner was doing this, the Canadian government remained silent on the issue.
(Yves Logghe/Yves Logghe/The Associated Press)
CANADA: In a briefing note for U.S. President Barack Obama a few weeks before his February, 2009, visit to Canada, an American diplomat says the President has an "enormous popularity among Canadians" with an approval rating of 81 per cent. "[Your popularity] is to Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper both a blessing – because he can for the first time since taking office in 2006 gain politically from public and policy association with the U.S. President – and a curse – because no Canadian politician of any stripe is nearly as popular, respected, or inspiring as you are to Canadian voters, a genuine factor in the historically low turnout in the October 2008 Canadian federal election," wrote Scott Bellard, head of the political section at the U.S. embassy in Ottawa. Mr. Obama's decision to make his first foreign trip to Ottawa "will do much to diminish – temporarily, at least – Canada's habitual inferiority complex vis-a-vis the U.S," says the Jan. 22, 2009, cable.
(Adrian Wyld)
CANADA: American diplomats feel that several CBC dramatic programs "twist current events to feed long-standing negative images of the U.S.," according to a leaked Jan. 25, 2008, cable. The note mentions The Border, Intelligence and Little Mosque on the Prairie in illustrating what an American diplomat describes as "the kind of insidious negative popular stereotyping we are up against in Canada."
(Fred Lum/Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail)
FRANCE/CANADA/BRITAIN: French President Nicolas Sarkozy invited Prime Minister Stephen Harper to France's 2009 D-Day memorial because he felt sympathy for Mr. Harper's political troubles, according to a June 8, 2009, cable. French official Jean-David Levitte says Mr. Sarkozy invited Mr. Harper and Britain's then-prime minister, Gordon Brown, because of political need. "The cases of the UK and Canada were exceptional, he added, because both Gordon Brown and Stephen Harper were in such political trouble at home that the survival of their governments was at stake," the cable records Mr. Levitte as explaining.
(MAL Langsdon/Mal Langsdon/Reuters)
CANADA: Former CSIS director Jim Judd complained that judicial rulings and public naiveté were paralyzing his spies, lamenting that Canadians were prone to "knee-jerk anti-Americanism" and "paroxysms of moral outrage," according to a 2008 leaked U.S. diplomatic cable. "Director Judd ascribed an 'Alice in Wonderland' worldview to Canadians and their courts, whose judges have tied CSIS 'in knots'," it says. The cable also said that Canada's spies are developing an intelligence channel into Iran and are "vigorously harassing" Hezbollah operatives.
(CHRIS WATTIE/Chris Wattie/Reuters)
RUSSIA: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is an "alpha-dog" ruler of a deeply corrupt state dominated by its security forces, U.S. diplomatic documents said. By contrast, President Dmitry Medvedev "plays Robin to Putin's Batman."
(DMITRY ASTAKHOV/Dmitry Astakhov/AFP/Getty Images)
ITALY: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is "feckless, vain and ineffective" and his "frequent late nights and penchant for partying hard mean he does not get sufficient rest," a U.S. diplomat said.
(FRANCOIS LENOIR/Francois Lenoir/Reuters)
ARGENTINA: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton questioned the mental health of Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, asking U.S. diplomats to investigate whether she was on medication.
(ALEJANDRO PAGNI/Alejandro Pagni/AFP/Getty Images)
EUROPE: Leaked cables show that most of the 200 U.S. tactical nuclear bombs still left in Europe are based in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Turkey. The four nations have long been suspected of hosting the warheads, but NATO and the governments involved have always refused to formally confirm the suspicions. Italy and Britain also are believed to house dozens of nuclear bombs, but they were not named in the cables. NATO condemned the release of the confidential information, calling it "illegal and dangerous."
(YVES HERMAN/Yves Herman/Reuters)
TURKEY: One message describes Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey's foreign minister, as "exceptionally dangerous." The description of Mr. Davutoglu came before he was foreign minister in a 2004 cable that quoted Turkey's defence minister. Mr. Davutoglu brushed aside the cable, saying the WikiLeaks release would "not affect our foreign policy." In another cable, diplomats portrayed the country's leadership as divided and permeated by Islamists and said advisers to Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had "little understanding of politics beyond Ankara."
(JEWEL SAMAD/Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)
IRAN: A U.S. intelligence assessment concludes that Iran has received advanced North Korean missiles capable of targeting Western European capitals and giving the Islamic Republic's arsenal a significantly farther reach than previously disclosed. U.S. officials presented the claim in a meeting with top Russian security officials in late 2009 but did not offer conclusive evidence of the transfer of at least 19 so-called BM-25 missiles, according to a confidential memo posted by WikiLeaks.
AFGHANISTAN: A secret diplomatic cable says Afghan President Hamid Karzai freed dangerous detainees and pardoned suspected drug dealers because they had connections to powerful figures. The cable said that in April, 2009, Mr. Karzai pardoned five Afghan policemen caught with 124 kilograms of heroin because they were related to two heroic figures of the Afghan civil war fought in the mid-1990s.
(Gemunu Amarasinghe/Gemunu Amarasinghe/Associated Press)
ISRAEL: A confidential diplomatic cable says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports the notion of land swaps with the Palestinians. The Feb. 26, 2009, cable, dated two weeks after the Israeli leader was elected, says "Netanyahu expressed support for the concept of land swaps, and emphasized that he did not want to govern the West Bank and Gaza but rather to stop attacks from being launched from there." However, an Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Mr. Netanyahu did not discuss land swaps.
(RONEN ZVULUN/Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)
KENYA: The German magazine Der Spiegel says one cable depicts Kenya as a "swamp of flourishing corruption." Alfred Mutua, a Kenyan government spokesman, said that Johnny Carson, the top U.S. diplomat for Africa, called Prime Minister Raila Odinga to offer an apology.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT/Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images)
THE MIDDLE EAST: The Guardian newspaper said some cables showed King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia repeatedly urging the United States to attack Iran to destroy its nuclear program. The newspaper also said officials in Jordan and Bahrain have openly called for Iran's nuclear program to be stopped by any means and that leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt referred to Iran as 'evil,' an 'existential threat' and a power that 'is going to take us to war', the paper said. Those documents may prove the trickiest because even though the concerns of the Gulf Arab states are known, their leaders rarely offer such stark appraisals in public.
(Hasan Sarbakhshian/Hasan Sarbakhshian/The Associated Press)
NORTH KOREA: The New York Times highlighted documents that indicated the U.S. and South Korea were 'gaming out an eventual collapse of North Korea' and discussing the prospects for a unified country if the isolated, communist North's economic troubles and political transition lead it to implode
(The Associated Press/Korean Central News Agency)
PAKISTAN: The New York Times cited diplomatic messages describing unsuccessful U.S. efforts to prod Pakistani officials to remove highly enriched uranium from a reactor out of fear that the material could be used to make an illicit atomic device.
(ISHARA S.KODIKARA/Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images)
YEMEN: The New York Times cited exchanges showing Yemen's president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, telling General David Petraeus that his country would pretend that American missile strikes against a local al-Qaeda group had come from Yemen's forces.
(KHALED FAZAA/Khaled Fazaa/AFP/Getty Images)
SLOVENIA/KIRIBATI: The New York Times cited documents showing the U.S. used hardline tactics to win approval from countries to accept freed detainees from Guantanamo Bay. It said Slovenia was told to take a prisoner if its president wanted to meet with President Barack Obama and said the Pacific island of Kiribati was offered millions of dollars to take in a group of detainees.
(Colin Perkel/Colin Perkel/The Canadian Press)
CHINA: The New York Times cited a message from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing that included allegations from a Chinese contact that China's Politburo directed a cyber intrusion into Google's computer systems as part of a 'coordinated campaign of computer sabotage carried out by government operatives, private security experts and Internet outlaws.'
(Andy Wong/Andy Wong/The Associated Press)
UNITED NATIONS: Le Monde, a French newspaper, said another memo asked U.S. diplomats to collect contact information about United Nations officials that included Internet passwords, credit card numbers and frequent flyer numbers. They were asked to obtain fingerprints, ID photos, DNA and iris scans of people of interest to the United States, the paper said.
(Stan Honda/AFP Photo)
RUSSIA/ITALY: The New York Times said another batch of documents raised questions about Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his relationship with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. One cable said Mr. Berlusconi 'appears increasingly to be the mouthpiece of Putin' in Europe, the paper reported.
(Fred Chartrand/The Canadian Press)
GERMANY: Der Spiegel, a German magazine, reported that the documents portrayed German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in unflattering terms. It said American diplomats saw Ms. Merkel as risk-averse and Mr. Westerwelle as largely powerless.
(Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)
LIBYA: Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was described as erratic and in the near constant company of a Ukrainian nurse who was described in one cable as 'a voluptuous blonde,' according to the New York Times.
(Alessandro Bianchi/The Associated Press)


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 6/3/2013 (1631 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
EDMONTON -- With only a handful of curling events still remaining to be played this winter -- including the final four days of the Canadian men's curling championship here at Rexall Place -- the field for next December's Tim Hortons Canadian Curling Trials at the MTS Centre is coming into sharper focus.
While there are still just six teams with their Trials tickets confirmed for Winnipeg, there are another six teams who are now on the verge of clinching their berths into the 16-team Trials, at which eight men's and eight women's teams will compete to determine Canada's curling representatives for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
And the good news for Winnipeg organizers of the Trials is if the event was held today, at least four of the 16 teams competing would be from Manitoba -- Winnipeg's Jennifer Jones, Chelsea Carey, Jeff Stoughton and Mike McEwen.
Stoughton and Jones, of course, have already clinched their berths, while McEwen has built such a big points lead on the Canadian Team Ranking System that he has effectively clinched. Carey, meanwhile, needs to hold her current ranking through the last couple of events this winter -- most notably the Grand Slam Player's Championship in Toronto next month -- and she also will have her Trials ticket booked.
The other teams who have also all but clinched Trials berths are Edmonton's Kevin Koe -- the 2010 world champion -- and newly installed Canadian women's champion Rachel Homan, whose win at the Scotties in Kingston, Ont., last month has made clinching a Trials berth a mere formality. Finally, there's Ontario's John Epping and Sherry Middaugh, who are both in the same boat as Carey, needing only to maintain their current ranking through the final month of the curling season to earn their Trials spots.
Once the next six teams are confirmed for the Trials at the end of April, that will leave only four final berths -- two men's and two women's -- to be determined at a pre-Trials event in Kitchener, Ont., in early November. And again, there are Manitobans in the running.
Were the pre-Trials to happen tomorrow, Brandon's Rob Fowler and Winnipeg's Barb Spencer would both be among the 12 men's and 12 women's teams in Kitchener competing for those final four Trials spots. (Cathy Overton-Clapham also had a pre-Trials berth, but she will have to forfeit her spot now that her team has broken up.)
Other notable teams with pre-Trials berths confirmed include the last two Olympic women's curling medallists for Canada -- Shannon Kleibrink and Cheryl Bernard; former world champion and native Winnipegger Kelly Scott; and two of the top teams competing at the Brier this week, Northern Ontario's Brad Jacobs and Newfoundland's Brad Gushue.
While it is possible either Jacobs or Gushue could still catch Epping for a points-based Trials berth this winter, they would likely have to win Sunday even to have a chance.
Gushue said he's resigned himself to the fact he's almost certainly going to have to earn his Trials berth through the pre-Trials next November if he's going to compete at the MTS Centre for a chance to add a second Olympics to the one he already competed at in Torino.
"I was watching (the CTRS standings) and then we got so far behind that I kind of gave up on it," said Gushue. "We kind of refocused and said, 'You know what -- let's just finish the year off strong and go to the pre-Trials and get through.' "
While there are some who think the teams who win their Trials berths in Kitchener will be on a roll and carry an advantage heading into Winnipeg, Gushue is not among them.
"I would much rather already have a (Trials) spot and be able to prepare for it, be able to train for it and try and peak for that one week," said Gushue.
Canadian Curling Trials
Who's qualified already?
Kevin Martin (winner of 2011 Canada Cup)
Glenn Howard (CTRS points leader 2011-12)
Jeff Stoughton (winner of 2012 Canada Cup)
Jennifer Jones (winner of 2011 Canada Cup)
Heather Nedohin (CTRS points leader 2011-12)
Stefanie Lawton (winner of 2012 Canada Cup)
Who are the next three teams who would qualify for the Trials if the curling season ended today?
Kevin Koe (CTRS points leader 2012-13)
Mike McEwen (CTRS points leader 2011-13 -- replaces Howard)
John Epping (CTRS points runnerup 2011-13 -- replaces McEwen)
Rachel Homan (CTRS points leader 2012-13)
Sherry Middaugh (CTRS points leader 2011-13 -- replaces Jones)
Chelsea Carey (CTRS points runner-up 2011-13) -- replaces Lawton)
The final two men's and women's Trials berths will be determined at a Pre-Trials competition to be held Nov. 5-10 in Kitchener, Ont. Twelve men's and 12 women's teams will compete in a triple-knockout event. Here are the teams who would compete if the competition was held today:
Brad Gushue *
Brad Jacobs *
Mark Kean *
Rob Fowler *
Jim Cotter *
Steve Laycock *
Greg Balsdon *
Bryan Cochrane
Jean-Michel Menard
Joe Frans
Rob Rumfeldt
Jake Higgs
Shannon Kleibrink *
Kim Schneider *
Cathy Overton-Clapham **
Crystal Webster *
Laura Crocker *
Renee Sonnenberg *
Cheryl Bernard*
Val Sweeting
Amber Holland
Cathy Auld
Kelly Scott
Barb Spencer
* -- Clinched pre-Trials berth
** -- Team has broken up, will have to forfeit pre-Trials berth and will be replaced by next eligible team on CTRS


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God of Power and of Mercy
Bless those who suffer in your name:May they be comforted by your hand.Bless your ChurchMay it welcome those who seek refuge.Bless your young leaders:May they grow in number and in faith.
We pray for the day when all people, in every land, Can worship you in peace and with dignity.
Return to Meditation and Prayer


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Did you know?Numerous portraits line the Rand Club walls, including those of past Presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki.
Once upon a time, the area where the Rand Club has stood since 1887 was a windswept dusty area of farms and scrub, but when the world's greatest gold deposits were found there, the city of Johannesburg was born, grew at a lightning pace and prospered. Today the Rand Club sits plumb in the middle of one of the most important financial and mining centres in Africa.
Legend has it that when Cecil John Rhodes had firmly established that there was indeed gold in 'them thar hills', he walked to a point where the fledgling Commissioner Street meets the present-day Loveday Street and imperiously exclaimed, 'here we must have a club'. And so one of Johannesburg's great institutions was born and took shape.
That shape has changed radically since the first brick-and-thatch structure went up in 1887. Less than two years later, that first single-storey club house became an impressive two-storey building with a bar (of course), a billiard room (the pursuit of gentlemen in those days), a dining room, various offices and a kitchen.
The South African War, where Boer battled Brit and was finally defeated, got in the way of further building plans, but in 1904 the Rand Club was reborn in an even grander manner, modeled on one of London's top clubs.
It now boasted four-storeys, imposing columns, a splendid stained glass dome (it was completely restored with new stained glass after a disastrous fire in 2005), bars, billiard rooms, libraries, offices and a fine restaurant.
However, the presence of Cecil John Rhodes' presence is still keenly felt in the Rhodes Room, where a life-sized portrait glowers over members and guests.
Although times have changed and even women members and lady guests are now allowed (founder members are probably turning in their graves at the thought) the Rand Club remains a Johannesburg icon of tradition, status and opulence.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
The Rand Club
Tel: +27(0) 11 870 4260
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
How to get here
The Rand Club is situated at the corner of Loveday and Fox streets in downtown Johannesburg.
Tours to do
An excellent way to see Johannesburg is on the Hop-On Hop-Off bus. It has 12 exciting stops including one in downtown Johannesburg, the Apartheid Museum, the World of Beer, Gold Reef City Theme Park, and the Origin Centre at Wits (University of the Witwatersrand).
What to pack
There's a strict dress code that disallows jeans, tracksuits, golf and sports shirts, or sandals for gentlemen. Ladies' wear is smart casual.
Where to stay
If you are a member or reciprocal member you may stay at the Club, but there is only a limited number of bedrooms and demand is high, so book well in advance.
What to eat
The Club has an excellent restaurant with a resident chef.
What's happening
Poker nights, business club, library club, chamber music evenings – see the in-house function calendar on their website.


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SAINT LEO, Fla. – Saint Leo volleyball player Kaitlin McKenna and men's soccer player Jonathan Glenn are unanimous selections as the first SLU Athletes of the Week for the 2009-10 year it was announced by the Saint Leo Sports Information Office on Monday morning.
McKenna helped pilot the 9-2 volleyball team to four wins in 24 hours' time as she averaged a .378 attack percentage, 3.77 kills per game and was named to the South Region Crossover All-Tournament Team. In the Lions' biggest test of the entire weekend, a contest against #19 West Florida in hostile territory, the Farmington Hills, Mich. native dropped down a match-high 20 kills in 43 attempts, which helped her post a .349 attack percentage. In that game she was also a defensive threat guarding the net as she assisted on seven blocks as the Lions held the host Argonauts to a scant .135 hitting percentage. In the final day of the tournament, the junior middle blocker's average never dropped below .429 in matches against former National Runner-up North Alabama and the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras. As a team, the Lions only dropped one set the entire weekend, sweeping through three of the four opponents.
As for Glenn, the junior forward wasted no time in getting the Lions on the board in their contest against Georgia Southwestern on Friday afternoon. After a five hour bus ride to Americus, Ga. Glenn shook off the rust in the first 64 seconds of the game and promptly planted the ball in the back of the net to tally Saint Leo's first score. The native of Trinidad and Tobago inched closer to his first career hat trick with another goal in the 30th minute and would earn his career-best sixth point of the game with his third goal just two minutes later. That was all the Lions needed as the SLU defense shut down the Hurricanes to improve to 3-1 for the year.
Both student-athletes helped propel the Lions to an undefeated week as volleyball posted an unblemished record in the South Region Crossover Tournament in Pensacola, men's soccer handed Georgia Southwestern a 3-0 drubbing and women's soccer managed a 1-1 draw with #23 Armstrong Atlantic at home on Thursday night. In addition, men's and women's cross country ran their first uninterrupted race of the season, finishing seventh and fourth respectively.
It is a busy week for SLU Athletics as every Fall sport is in action, including women's golf, who kicks off their non-championship season in Waynesville, N.C. in the Great Smokies Intercollegiate next Saturday. Volleyball will try to 'Black Out the Tars' on Wednesday in their Sunshine State Conference home opener and then travel to Melbourne, Fla. on Saturday to face Florida Tech. Women's soccer will host Robert Morris College on Thursday evening before opener their 2009 conference schedule with a weekend match in St. Petersburg, Fla. against Eckerd College. Men's soccer will host Palm Beach Atlantic on Friday evening and men's and women's cross country will travel to Gainesville, Fla. on Friday to race in the University of Florida Gator Invitational.


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We all know that combining multiple background images into one will reduce the number of http connections and as a result speed up loading web pages. But there are cases when multiple images actually take up less space than one combined image. For example, now I have a hard time deciding if making a sprite is worth it:
The difference is because when saving each image separately I can apply better optimizations without much degrading quality because there are fewer colours to deal with. When all images are put into one then I have to increase the number of colours in the overall image to achieve a similar visual effect.
So which would you choose? One 62KB image or five images 48KB total?
Edit: these are PNG images.
A quick case study might help. Here's the download performance of a sprite from SitePoint. 83ms spent waiting for the first byte of the response, and 147ms downloading the content. Let's pretend that we were to split this sprite into two images, and that doing so would reduce the total bytes by 20%. In that case, our choice would be between:
One file: 83ms + 147ms = 230ms- vs -Two files, 20% fewer bytes: (83ms + 59ms) + (83ms + 59ms) = 284ms
If we were to split this sprite into not just two, but five files, then the accumulated overhead would be even greater.
EDIT: And to answer your question in a more broad way: A sprite would no longer be worth the effort when the increased filesize (if any) takes more time to download than is saved by eliminating however many number of HTTP requests.
If you are using the images for hover effects, definitely go for the sprite, as it removes all delay (at least on the first hover).
Thanks, I was hoping the answer would be in favour of separate images because it's always some extra work to do to construct the sprites. I know the answer may depend on many factors, especially transfer speed and ping time, I just wanted to know some general numbers.
The images are not meant for rollover effects.
Generally sprites will be a better option as shown above but there will always be test cases where the images required are better kept separate.
I always try to keep similar images in sprites so that they can be optimised best and indeed if you are using transparent pngs then they are more likely to be much lower file size in a sprite than separate png images. Some icon files may have 50 - 100 small icons in them and they often have massive savings in file size.
The downside of sprites is of course maintaining and applying them to the design. It often means that a special element has to be sized and used for the image in the sprite rather than a background of a parent because of course other images in the sprite would show if you don't size to fit.
Other things to consider are when to stop adding to a sprite because if you add all your site images to one sprite it becomes very large and assumes your users are going to visit every page to get any benefit from the sprite. Many users only visit a few pages of a site so making them download all resources would be overkill. In the end its a compromise between all the above so its never going to be a "one size fits all" answer.


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Over the last 9 years, I have built a custom PHP framework, with AJAX and JQuery UI, and with it, a public-facing marketing website and a back-end web application for members. There are currently 48k lines of mostly object-oriented PHP 5, ~9k lines of javascript, and 120 MySQL tables. I built my own framework as CakePHP and CodeIgniter weren't full-featured or fast enough in my opinion 9 years ago. The PHP is very well-structured, with a good, descriptive naming convention for variables, classes and methods, and but sparsely documented. It is sort of MVC, but the V & C are mainly combined.
I am now the bottleneck of the company as I can no longer keep up with the demand for new features. I need someone to help me code, as well as a complete review of the LAMP configuration and health, as I am not an expert in those but have set them up myself.
I wish to keep too many people from having access to the entire code-base as it embodies much of the company's structural capital.
Should I hire coders in-house (there would definitely be enough work for them), hire individual contractors for long-term commitments, or out-source to a large off-shore firm?
What do you mean by this part?
Hi Charles,
I've done the same between 2001 and 2008 and I had to realise that it doesn't embody much capital at all. Instead I started using SYmfony as a framework which had virtually all my functionality, slicker and better. I could now also tell clients they can find resource if I'm unable to, which allowed me to talk to bigger clients.
Frameworks are nowadays becoming standard, its a hard market to be in, unless you manage to pull one off. And even then you'll need to open source it to get scale and buy-in.
HTH, Jochen
The one thing that turns me off to any new open source software is poor documentation. If you are the original creator and take this seriously write good solid documentation. You should probably do that before adding any new features. No developer is likely to even consider using your software without good documentation. There are just to many other php options available which have a large community, decent docs and quality programming. Programming quality really means nothing unless the documentation exist to help people understand it.
Structural capital is all the knowledge a company has about its business processes and the shared knowledge of its employees.
The framework is only a small part of the code by itself does not embody any business processes. The rest of the code embodies a lot of business processes which represents the staff's combined knowledge (over 200 man-years) of our specific industry.
I meant, why don't you want others to share in the code? Are you trying to keep your expertise exclusive? Are you trying to keep proprietary code off the open market? What is the business strategy to leverage this codebase?
It the business processes that are proprietary. The framework itself is not really worth anything to anyone except us.
Ahh.. so, you would probably be best off doing a staff lease, i.e. a dedicated php developer that you can hire and manage overseas. That way, you get the benefit of having a single person in your codebase, but the flexibility of having a company behind them in case you want to grow. I place jobs like that from time to time and you can find excellent resources if you are able to manage them properly.
I'm not trying to get people to use my custom framework. I just want to hire people to help me code, and they will need to learn it to do so.
I have done that a number of times. Just hire someone and get started teaching them how it works.


text: Kurask 154 Report post Posted January 12, 2013 What are the consoles that we see in games made of? For example, Quake's console http://gregdolleysblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/image.png . I've made one with AllocConsole, but that opens in a seperate window. I'm looking to make one that just takes up a portion of the screen when toggled on like we see in most games. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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The New 202
Plannings pays off for 202 South Mountain Freeway
By David Schwartz
Tom Tait Jr. just chuckles when quizzed about the future of his family's land holdings in the West Valley, a large expanse of property that has been in the portfolio since the 1970s. Are there any great plans for development? Are there plans to flip the property and pocket the proceeds?
Not even close. Indeed, the past few years have raised the property's worth, but that's apparently where it ends. At least, he claims, that's the thinking for now. "We are long-term owners of properties and really don't bother much with any short-term benefits that there might be," Tait says. "At the present time, we're just farming the property. That's what we've been doing and I don't see that changing much. No matter what happens." And apparently no matter what transportation planners have in store for the acreage.
The Tait family are among the owners of property in the vicinity of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, a long-charted, controversial thoroughfare that eventually will span 22 miles and link Interstate 10 in the southeast and West valleys.
But it's the stretch of the freeway that cuts through the burgeoning southwest Valley that recently was brought into sharper focus by the Arizona Department of Transportation. In late June, officials ended any uncertainty and revealed that the freeway would connect at 55th Avenue in Laveen—an old favorite seen on the map for at least the last two decades.
The route was a popular choice of the three options presented for review. Better than 71st Avenue. Better than 99th Avenue, south of Loop 101. It was hailed as the right choice by officials in Phoenix and several area municipalities. It too was welcomed by several landowners in the area. But it was neither a surprise, nor unexpected.
Land experts say that the decision by the state was important because it serves to cement the value for the land in the area to be affected by the proposed freeway. There is now a line drawn in pen that can't be easily erased and sent back to the drawing board.
But experts are quick to add that property in the area has been soaring in value anyway during the last two years, as the real estate market careened through its boom times and those familiar red tile rooftops became a more frequent sight with each passing day.
There likely will be no land rush, they predict, unlike what occurred when other segments of the Valley's freeway system were put into place in years past. "They are putting it where I think most people thought it was going to be," says Greg Vogel, chief executive of Land Advisors Organization, which has offices in Arizona, Texas and Colorado. "I don't think there was a drop in values while they were considering other options. It's already been priced into the market and it's been a long time coming."
Besides, Vogel says, there is not a huge amount of land to be had in the area that will be directly affected by proposed freeway as it sweeps its way through the area. He said land costs now in the fast-growing Laveen area already are between $175,000 to $350,000 an acre, a dramatic increase from more than a decade ago. "This isn't a case where there are 25 pieces (of land) with 30 different buyers and all kinds of things going on," he says. "It has been thought through and organized, so you're not going to see anything like you may have with other freeways."
Pat Feeney, senior vice president of CB Richard Ellis in Phoenix, says he has watched a surge in valuation of available industrial land that began in summer 2004 and pushed prices to about $4 per square feet. That's more than a five-fold increase from the early 1990s. "The net result is that almost every piece of land in the submarket is owned by a developer who will be building on their property," says Feeney, who has been tracking industrial properties for about 20 years. "No one out there is a seller right now."
He says he sees no revaluing of land in wake of the transportation department putting its official stamp on the freeway alignment in the southwest Valley. Officials say that's because the proposed freeway has been on the books since 1985, when Maricopa County voters approved a Regional Freeway System that was supposed to take care of the Valley's transportation needs. But a funding shortfall meant that this segment fell down the priority list of projects. At one point, it was seen as a potential toll road.
Fast forward to 2004. Voters approved Proposition 400 that provides money to pay for a Regional Transportation Plan that includes the South Mountain Freeway. Transportation officials say plans call for the freeway to cost an estimated $1.7 billion, with construction expected to be completed and ready for motorists in 2015. "It's the future for that part of the West Valley," says Debra Stark, Phoenix planning director. "We think we have done a good job planning and making sure land has been set aside."
She says one needs only to look at an aerial map as proof. In one picture, a clear path for the freeway already has been set aside along 59th Avenue and Broadway Road. Houses can be seen on both sides. "What has helped is that unlike other areas, we're not seeing as much housing or commercial development," Stark says. "And as we've done zoning there, we've asked developers to set aside land for the 55th Avenue alignment. So we're more prepared for when the freeway is built."
As for Tait, there are no great preparations just yet for his family's property. Asked about his time frame for development now that the freeway route has been picked, he says, "What, so now instead of 30 years, it's 20 years? That's still a long way away."


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You exercise your body to stay physically in shape, so why shouldn't you exercise your brain to stay mentally fit? With these daily exercises you will learn how to flex your mind, improve your creativity and boost your memory. As with any exercise, repetition is necessary for you to see improvement, so pick your favorite exercises from our daily suggestions and repeat them as desired. Try to do some mentalrobics every single day!
noun :: One who gives opinions in an authoritative manner.
"The pundits on the TV news shows tend to have very one-sided views."
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Word of the Day : Prolix


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Combined Federal Campaign
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) is proud to participate in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)—a fundraising program run by the Office of Personnel Management that allows federal, military, and postal employees to join philanthropic efforts quickly and efficiently.
If you're a federal employee, please consider supporting CHCI through the CFC. Your participation will allow CHCI to expand its resources to grow our programs and further develop the next generation of Latino leaders. The CHCI CFC identification number is #30620.
With its comprehensive approach to leadership development, CHCI directly impacts the lives of nearly 1,600 students and young professionals each year through its fellowships, congressional internships, scholarships, Ready to Lead (R2L®) college readiness program, and R2L NextGen program.
By promoting education attainment and college access, providing unmatched career development experience, and offering award-winning leadership programs that connect program participants to a powerful network of U.S. leaders, CHCI's mission is unwavering and more powerful and critical than ever before in our nation's history.
CHCI programs have helped change the face of Washington, D.C. by creating a pipeline of Latino talent and opening the halls of Congress for Latino students to intern and work in government and policy. CHCI offers paid 2-3 month internships and 9-month fellowships for Latino students and college graduates from across the country. The majority of fellows and interns are first generation to go to college and from families with incomes under $45,000.
In a nation where one in four children are Latino and more than 90 percent of Latino children are native born, success must include prepared Latino leaders. CHCI's effort to develop Latino leaders directly impacts the future workforce and our nation's ability to meet the workforce challenges of the 21st century.
We thank you for joining CHCI in our efforts to prepare Latino youth for a stronger U.S.