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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 1/3/2013 (1630 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
TO most of us, Scientology is the peculiar religion that counts movie star Tom Cruise among its adherents.
Jenna Hill knows it as the church that robbed her of her childhood and tore her family asunder.
The apostate Scientologist tells her fascinating story of survival in Beyond Belief, a long memoir that captivates the reader from cover to cover.
Hill is the San Diego-based niece of Scientology leader David Miscavige. Her parents were also high-ranking executives in the church for 15 years until leaving it in 2000.
When she was just seven years old in 1991 she signed a billion-year contract to serve the church in its elite Sea Org.
Yes, that's right: a billion years. Sea Org members are expected to serve for as long as they can in their current lives, and resume service in subsequent ones.
Hill says she "felt no hesitation" in signing the contract. Her age was practically irrelevant, she explains, because Scientology holds that every person is an ancient soul (or "thetan") "capable of the same responsibilities" at any age.
That reasoning justified putting children through physical labour at the Sea Org Cadets camp where she lived during what should have been her school years.
The daily routine at the California camp, called "the Ranch," included an early morning wake-up call, a military-style "muster" or assembly, a few hours of labour (carrying old railway ties, for example), some secular schooling in the afternoon without teachers, and Scientology indoctrination in the evening.
From wake-up call to the end of evening sessions, it was a 14-hour day with no time for the sort of play or recreation a normal child would enjoy.
Her parents, Ron and Elizabeth Miscavige, lived several kilometres away and saw her for only a few hours every weekend.
Hill left the Ranch in her middle teens to work and study Scientology at the church's "Flag Land Base" in Florida, where she was routinely interrogated, bullied and reprimanded.
Any deviation from church policy or doctrine was committed at risk of being reported to the bosses and subjected to a "security check," essentially a session of badgering that would end only when she admitted to some sin (or "overt" in church terms) against Scientology.
Needless to say, she learned to keep her thoughts to herself and be careful in the presence of other Sea Org members.
The church flew her back to California when her parents exited, and gave her the option of leaving to live with them.
She refused, largely because she felt too committed to Scientology -- "brainwashed," she admits now -- to leave it.
Another factor in her decision was that she was 16 at the time, and leaving the church would have also meant enrolling in school. She knew her education wasn't up to snuff.
Hill finally reached her breaking point when the church tried to prevent her marriage to Dallas, a fellow Sea Org member, and then tried to keep them apart after they married.
She tried to "route out" of the Sea Org on good terms with the church, but those efforts were met with hostility and harassment.
It was only after leaving Scientology that she learned of some of its wackier beliefs, such as the story of a galactic overlord dumping aliens into Earth volcanoes millions of years ago.
She co-founded a website for ex-Scientologists in 2008.
Beyond Belief comes soon after U.S. Pulitzer Prize-winner Lawrence Wright's Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief was published to much fanfare south of the border. Due to Canada's more plaintiff-friendly libel laws, Going Clear isn't available in Canadian bookstores.
Hill's book is not only a good substitute, it's a terrific tome in its own right. Interesting, informative and accessible, this insider's story is well worth the price.
Winnipeg writer Mike Stimpson is an apostate Roman Catholic.
Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape
By Jenna Miscavige Hill with Lisa Pulitzer
William Morrow, 404 pages, $19


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California-based SugarSync has announced that Japan's SoftBank Mobile will be preloading SugarSync on two new high-end Android camera phones in order to provide their users with an easy way to auto-sync photos directly from their Android devices to their computers. "As the cameras on smartphones become more advanced, and as more of us use our smartphones as our primary point-and-shoot cameras, most people need a simple solution for getting photos off of their phone and back to their computers," said Laura Yecies, CEO of SugarSync. "With SugarSync's AutoSync technology, your photos are automatically synced from your phone to your computers as you take them – without having to fumble with wires." The two camera phones in question are the Panasonic Lumix phone 101P and the Sharp Aquos phone 102SH.
Website: SugarSync
Sugarsync Press Release
SoftBank Mobile Preloads SugarSync on New Android Camera Phones for Automatic Sync of Mobile Photos to Computers
New Panasonic Lumix and Sharp Aquos Android Camera Phones Combined with SugarSync Enable Users to AutoSync Mobile Photos as they are Taken
SAN MATEO, CALIF., Dec. 20, 2011 – SugarSync, a free service that actively syncs your files across all your computers and devices, today announced that SoftBank Group's BB Softservice Corp. ("BBSS") is preloading SugarSync on two of SoftBank Mobile's new Android camera phones to enable the automatic sync of mobile photos from phones to computers. The new Panasonic Lumix phone 101P and Sharp Aquos phone 102SH each pair their high-end cameras with the pre-installed SugarSync app to make it even easier for users to back up and share their mobile photos directly from the devices.
"As the cameras on smartphones become more advanced, and as more of us use our smartphones as our primary point-and-shoot cameras, most people need a simple solution for getting photos off of their phone and back to their computers," said Laura Yecies, CEO of SugarSync. "With SugarSync's AutoSync technology, your photos are automatically synced from your phone to your computers as you take them – without having to fumble with wires."
Benefits of AutoSync
With SugarSync's AutoSync technology on these powerful camera phones, users can:
Free your mobile photos – Liberate all those great mobile photos you take on your device, without ever having to think about it. AutoSync automatically backs them up and syncs them to your computer at pre-set intervals.
Keep your mobile photos/memories safe – Even in the case of a lost device, you can be sure that your photos and memories are safe. AutoSync has been backing them up and syncing them in the background.
Say goodbye to the hassle of wires and cables – Many users resist syncing and downloading photos and folders from their mobile devices simply because it is too complex and time consuming. Put the wires away, and let AutoSync take care of the rest.
In addition to the AutoSync of mobile photos, SugarSync's free service gives users the ability to access, sync and share all of their digital files, including files, music, movies and photos. If a SoftBank Mobile subscriber is not already a SugarSync user, they can simply tap the preloaded app on their new device and sign up for a free 5GB SugarSync account. If more storage space is needed, they can upgrade to one of SugarSync's paid accounts, which start at just $5 a month.
The preloading of SugarSync on the new Panasonic Lumix and Sharp Aquous camera phones is an expansion of SugarSync's existing distribution deal with BBSS, which distributes SugarSync throughout Japan.
SoftBank Mobile began shipping the "Sharp Aquous Phone 102SH" on Wednesday, December 14 and will be shipping the "Panasonic Lumix Phone Softbank 101P" in the near future.
About SugarSync
SugarSync is a free service that helps you sync your life. With a simple download on your computers and mobile devices, you have access to all the Cloud has to offer. Need access to all your files from any computer or mobile device? Check. Need to sync your stuff across all your devices? Definitely. Need to share large files with your friends? Yep, we do that too. We're truly a one-stop shop for the best of the Cloud. If you like Dropbox or iCloud, you'll love SugarSync.
Launched in 2008 and based in San Mateo, CA, SugarSync currently has millions of users worldwide. Brands such as BestBuy, Lenovo, SanDisk, France Telecom-Orange, Korea Telecom and more have selected SugarSync as a partner to bring Cloud services to their customers. For more information, please visit http://www.SugarSync.com, follow us on Twitter @sugarsync (http://twitter.com/SugarSync) or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SugarSync.
Illustration sourced from http://www.sugarsync.com
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
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The murals in our restaurants are the result of a collaboration between internationally acclaimed artist Jeff Schaller and Iron Hill Brewery. This relationship started in 2002 when Schaller was commissioned to impart his whimsical imagery to the walls of the Wilmington Riverfront restaurant. Since then, Schaller and Iron Hill have not only been collaborating on murals, but a number of projects, including beer labels and t-shirts. Adapting images and ideas that suggest an atmosphere of the fine food and exceptional beer, Schaller continues to create regional dynamic works, unique to Iron Hill.
Jeff Schaller creates art pieces which incorporate representational form with the printed word. In essence, the visual and written symbols merge to create a unique aesthetic language that is both provocative and whimsical. His multiple-image pieces, with iconography ranging from polka dots to popular culture, evoke emotions and memories in the viewer. The combination of multiple images tells a story and provokes a personal exchange among the viewing audience. To view more of Jeff's work, go to www.jeffschaller.com


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ISLENET is an initiative of the Islands Commission of the CPMR (Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions) and is supported by the EU Institutions and the Western Isles Council - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The host region of Western Isles assures both the administrative and financial management.
If you would like to become a member of our network, please fill in this form
and send it back to islenet @skynet.be
The sole responsibility for the content of this webpage lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Communities. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.


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Celebrating our first wedding anniversary after 31 years
Postedon May 18, 2014 at 02:00 pm
One year ago, on May 18th, 2013, I married my best friend and the love of my life. It was one of the most spectacular days of my life. Even the cloudy skies and rain couldn't dampen a day we had been planning for years.
Mothers across the country share stories of why marriage matters for all families
Postedon May 11, 2014 at 10:00 am
This Mother's Day, moms are speaking out for the freedom to marry. From moms of gay and lesbian children to lesbian moms raising kids, their stories send one clear message: It's time for marriage nationwide. Read 16 of their moving stories.
Many marriage states affirm respect for married same-sex couples in Utah
Postedon Jan 16, 2014 at 02:30 pm
Soon after the federal government's announcement, several other states where same-sex couples can marry - including Washington state, Maryland, and Maine - confirmed that they, too, would honor the couples' marriages.
Newlywed couple of 30 years wishes neighbors a 'Married Christmas' with lawn display
Postedon Dec 05, 2013 at 02:00 pm
"For over 20 years, Teresa and I have included our not-so-subtle LGBT touch to our holiday display," Jo explained about the Mrs. Claus lawn ornaments. "This year, I am thrilled to say the Mrs. Clauses are wearing wedding bands for the first time!"
Glenn & Michael in PA: Working toward acceptance in our families and communities
Postedon Oct 11, 2013 at 05:00 am
On National Coming Out Day, stories like Michael's and Glenn's remind us that when LGBT people "come out," they provoke change in their friends, in their families, and in their communities.
Ohio judge rules in favor of same-sex couple who married in Maryland
Postedon Jul 25, 2013 at 02:10 pm
Earlier this week, a federal judge in Ohio ruled that state officials must respect the marriage of a Cincinnati couple, John Arthur and James Obergefell, who married in Maryland after 20 years together.
Documentary 'The New Black' examines growing support for marriage in black community
Postedon Jun 14, 2013 at 02:45 pm
This month, a new documentary exploring the American black community and their views on the freedom to marry, debuted at the Los Angeles Film Festival. The documentary, The New Black, hones in on the campaign to win marriage for same-sex couples in Maryland.
Lindsey and Jessica's wedding weekend in Maryland: 2 families becoming 1
Postedon Apr 16, 2013 at 12:30 pm
At the end of March - in front of the backdrop of the U.S. Supreme Court hearing oral arguments in two landmark marriage cases - Lindsey Dawson and Jessica Chipoco married in a gorgeous outdoor ceremony in Maryland. Check out beautiful photos from their wedding!
14 Photos: Our First Valentine's Day as a Married Couple
Postedon Feb 12, 2013 at 10:44 am
As the country continues to move forward on marriage, we take the time this week to celebrate the thousands of same-sex couples celebrating their first Valentine's Day as a married couple - and look forward to the day when all couples who want to marry can be married Valentines.
Our life in 17 photos: A gay sailor's love story
Postedon Feb 06, 2013 at 03:00 pm
Navy Senior Chief Dwayne D. Beebe and Jonathan Franqui have fallen in love and committed their lives together - they were excited to get their marriage license in Maryland, and they look forward to their ceremony in Florida. But their marriage deserves legal respect - respect that cannot happen until all couples have the freedom to marry, and until DOMA is overturned once and for all.


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Ilkley's MP has signed the Holocaust Educational Memorial Trust's Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, to honour those who died during the Holocaust and salute those survivors who worked tirelessly to inform young people about what happened.
Monday will mark the 69th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, the site of the largest mass murder in history.
In the weeks leading up to and after Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.
Ilkley and Keighley MP, Kris Hopkins, said: "Holocaust Memorial Day marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and gives all of us all an opportunity to remember the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and, indeed, other horrific acts of genocides which have taken place since.
"It is a privilege to be asked to sign the Book of Commitment and to maintain the fight against prejudice and intolerance."
Karen Pollock MBE, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: "We are proud that Kris is supporting Holocaust Memorial Day.
"It is vitally important that we both continue to remember and learn from the appalling events of the Holocaust – as well as ensuring that we continue to challenge anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry."
Meanwhile, Wharfedale MP, Greg Mulholland, has also signed a Book of Commitment in memory of of the millions of people who were persecuted and murdered during the Holocaust.
Mr Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) joined other politicians in adding his name to the Holocaust Educational Trust's book ahead of Monday's Holocaust Memorial Day.
This year's event marked the 69th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where an estimated 1.1 million people died.
Mr Mulholland also signed an Early Day Motion, paying tribute to the commitment of holocaust survivors in educating young people about what happened, in recognition of the day.
He said: "Holocaust Memorial Day is an important day that allows us to remember all those who were victims of the Holocaust.
"The Holocaust Memorial Educational Trust plays an important role in raising awareness and understanding in schools and the wider public that Holocaust survivors are extraordinary people.
"The Trust's Lessons from Auschwitz project has so far given more than 22,000 students and teachers the opportunity to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, which I myself visited in 1988, and continues to educate the younger generations on the events and impact of the Holocaust."
MBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, Karen Pollock MBE, said: "We are proud Greg is supporting Holocaust Memorial Day.
"It is vitally important that we both continue to remember and learn from the appalling events of the Holocaust - as well as ensuring that we continue to challenge anti-semitism and all forms of bigotry."


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Stolen Root BeerLogic puzzles require you to think. You will have to be logical in your reasoning.
Fred, who owns a restaurant, is convinced that one of his employees is stealing root beer from him. Since he is a bad businessman, he doesn't keep very good records of his inventory or his employees, so he doesn't know who is doing it. He decides to set a trap to find out who is stealing from him.
He assigns each of his employees a different night to close up shop. He then arranges the last 28 bottles of root beer in a square so that each side has nine bottles, as shown below:
2 5 2
5 0 5
2 5 2
Fred figures that whatever day he comes in where there are no longer nine bottles to a side, he will know it was the person who closed the night before who is doing it.
Unfortunately for Fred, Bob, the thief, figures it out and manages to take four more bottles the night of his shift, rearranging the bottles so that Fred doesn't realize they're missing. Not only that, but Bob was able to take four more bottles away the next night he closed while still rearranging them to have nine bottles on each side.
How did Bob do it?
AnswerAfter Bob takes the first four bottles, he arranges the remaining 24 bottles like this:
3 3 3
3 0 3
3 3 3
When he takes the next four and only leaves 20 bottles, he arranges them like this:
4 1 4
1 0 1
4 1 4
What Next?
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Meng, Y., Katsuma, S., Daimon, T., Banno, Y., Uchino, K., Sezutsu, H., Tamura, T., Mita, K. and Shimada, T.
Notes: The human sepiapterin reductase (SPR) gene has been mapped at the PARK3 locus, which is related to the onset of Parkinson disease. The silkworm Bombyx mori body color mutant lemon (lem) has been associated with a lack of SPR activity; lem lethal is a homozygous lethal allele of lem. Genetic linkage analysis was performed with normal silkworm strain p50T, lem strain l70, and leml strain a65 to more closely examine the relationship with SPR. DNA from the F1 and F2 crosses were isolated using the Wizard® SV 96 Genomic DNA Purification System and the genome sequenced. (4017)
Expand Full Notes »
Wizard® SV 96 Genomic DNA Purification System
Yamada, M., Yoshida, J., Hatou, S., Yoshida, T. and Minagawa, Y.
Notes: To study how mutations in the quinolone resistance determining region (QRDR) of Staphylococcus epidermidis may have a role in fluoroquinolone resistance, 138 samples of S. epidermidis were swabbed from the conjunctival sacs of 129 patients. These samples were cultured overnight in tryptic soy broth, and genomic DNA isolated using the Wizard® SV 96 Genomic DNA Purification System. One microliter of the isolated DNA was used in PCR for the QRDR genes (gyrA, gyrB, parC and parE). (3939)
Prichard, M.N., Daily, S.L., Jefferson, G.M., Perry, A.L. and Kern, E.R.
Notes: The authors developed an assay to evaluate antiviral compounds for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections. EBV DNA was isolated using the Wizard® SV 96 Genomic DNA Purification System, and 5µl was used for real-time PCR to quantify the viral DNA. Cytotoxicity of the antiviral compounds was assessed using treated, uninfected Akata cells compared to those with no treatment or infection. After three days when the viral DNA was harvested, cell viability was measured using the CellTiter-Glo® Luminescent Cell Viability Assay. (3761)
CellTiter-Glo® Luminescent Cell Viability Assay
Pilecka, I., Patrignani, C., Pescini, R., Curchod, M.L., Perrin, D., Xue, Y., Yasenchak, J., Clark, A., Magnone, M.C., Zaratin, P., Valenzuela, D., Rommel, C. and van Huijsduijnen, R.H.
Notes: To genotype PTPH1 knock-out (KO), heterozygous (HET), and wild type (WT) mice, tail snips were digested overnight with proteinase K and the DNA trapped using the Wizard® SV 96 Genomic DNA Purification System. Genomic DNA was washed using the Wizard® SV Wash Solution and eluted in 200μl of water at 65°C. The protease was inactivated at 95°C and 2μl of DNA was used for PCR. (3739)
Nakayama, A., Okayama, A., Hashida, M., Yamamoto, Y., Takebe, H., Ohnaka, T., Tanaka, T. and Imai, S.
Notes: In this study, a real-time PCR assay coupled with a DNA extraction method were used to detect staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE)-encoding genes in milk, a source of staphylococcal food poisoning. Pasteurized milk prepared with known concentrations of Staphylococcus aureus was used to generate a standard curve; experimental samples were from a staphylococcal food-poisoning outbreak that occurred in Japan in June 2000. PCR inhibition was overcome by using the following DNA purification method: a sample of milk (100µl) was added to an equal volume of 0.2M sodium hydroxide and incubated at 37°C for 20 minutes. The alkaline-treated sample was neutralized using 10µl of 3M sodium acetate (pH 5.4), extracted with 1ml of petroleum ether, and centrifuged at 13,000 × g for 10 minutes at 25°C. The aqueous phase was transferred to a fresh tube and bacterial DNA was purified from the aqueous solution using the Wizard® SV Genomic DNA Purification System. (3677)
Wizard® SV 96 Genomic DNA Purif. Start-Up Kit, 110V Electrical (4 x 96 preps, manifold & free vacuum pump)
Wizard® SV 96 Genomic DNA Purif. Start-Up Kit, 220V Electrical (4 x 96 preps, manifold & free vacuum pump)
Wizard® SV 96 Genomic DNA Purif. Start-Up Kit, 100V Electrical (4 x 96 preps, manifold & free vacuum pump)
Expand Products »
Michel, A.P., Grushko, O., Guelbeogo, W.M., Lobo, N.F., Sagnon, N., Costantini, C. and Besansky, N.J.
Notes: To examine genetic variation in Anopheles funestus, genomic DNA was extracted from single mosquito carcasses (minus the abdomen) using the Wizard® SV 96 Genomic DNA Purification System on a Beckman Coulter Biomek® FX workstation. The purified genomic DNA was diluted 1:10 in water to ~5ng/µl for PCR analysis. (3415)
Safadi, R., Alvarez, C.E., Ohta, M., Brimnes, J., Kraus, T., Mehal, W., Bromberg, J., Mayer, L., Friedman, S.L.
Notes: To confirm that the rat IL-10 transgene under the control of a liver-specific promoter was expressed in mice, mouse tails were subjected to Proteinase K digestion and genomic DNA isolation using the Wizard® SV 96 Genomic DNA Purification System. PCR analysis was used to distinguish between mouse and rat IL-10. (3555)
Topaloglu, O., Hurley, P.J., Yildirim, O., Civin, C.I. and Bunz, F.
Notes: To examine both the efficiency of gene targeting constructs and the ability to knockin or knockout a gene, recombinant associated adenovirus (rAAV) constructs for p53 and CTNNB1 were created. Either HCT116 or DLD1 human colorectal cancer cell lines were infected with the rAAV and selected for resistance to Geneticin®. After the drug-resistant colonies were grown for 3–4 weeks, the genomic DNA from each clone was isolated using the Wizard® SV 96 Genomic DNA Purification System and locus-specific integration assessed by PCR. (3556)
Smith, K., Diggle, M.A., and Clarke, S.C.
Notes: The authors of this paper describe testing and comparing five genomic DNA purification kits for their ability to isolate bacterial DNA from Neisseria meningitidis-, Streptococcus pneumoniae-, and Haemophilus influenzae-inoculated whole blood samples. The Wizard® SV 96 Genomic DNA Purification System was considered to be the best kit for its ease of use and ability to be automated on a Roboseq 4200 PE liquid-handling robot. The Wizard® SV 96 Genomic DNA Purification System produced good yields of high quality DNA that displayed sensitivity levels down to 2 genome copies when used as template in fluorescence-based PCR (3209)


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.si Domain Names
Origin: Slovenia
Creation date: 1992
Description: .SI is the official ccTLD of Slovenia
Whois: see http://www.registry.si/whois.html?no_cache=1
(updated: 5 minutes)
Important note: This extension is only available for customers that have subscribed to a Gandi Corporate contract. For more information please contact our Corporate team.
- Rules
The SI domains on Gandi.netPrice: see the .SI price list
Corresponding Gandi contract: https://www.gandi.net/contracts
Terms and ConditionsAssigning: .SI domains are open to everyone
Syntax: from 2 to 63 alphanumeric characters or a hyphen (excluding in the first and last place)
IDN (accented domain names): no
Registration period: 1 year
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Note: This recipe, created by Olivia Neely of Kansas, won a national contest and was served at a special lunch for kids at the White House. These pizzas pack a lot of nutrition, but the fat and sodium are a little high. Consider reducing the amount of cheese and meat used as toppings. (If you try this recipe, get a grownup's help because it requires using a knife, a food processor, and the oven.)
Prep time: 90 minutes
For the cauliflower crusts
For the pizza topping
Optional toppings
Make the cauliflower crusts:
While crusts are baking, make the toppings:
Assemble and bake the pizzas:
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995-
Images provided by iStock, Getty Images, Corbis, Veer, Science Photo Library, Science Source Images, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com


text:
All eyes are on the Reserve Bank's interest rate decision tomorrow, but a hectic week of economic news could reveal a softening national economy just as Australians prepare to clock off for the summer break.
The three big pieces of data coming out this week are the RBA's decision on interest rates tomorrow, the GDP report for the third quarter on Wednesday and the employment report for November on Thursday.
The RBA has cut the cash rate three times so far this year, by a total of 100 basis points to 3.25 per cent. A total of 19 out of 28 economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect the RBA to lower its interest rate to 3 per cent. Nine economists forecast that the central bank will keep the rates on hold at 3.25 per cent.
"The economy outside of mining remains reasonably slow, and then of course we have the mining sector looking like it is beginning to soften," Ivan Colhoun, the head of Australian Economics and Property Research at ANZ, said.
"All things together, that's going to show that the economy continues to moderate, and that will be enough to see the Reserve Bank cut interest rates."
RBA watching closely
The big week of news starts today with no fewer than seven releases relating to manufacturing, retail sales, job ads, company profits, inventories and house prices.
First up we got manufacturing data - the Australian Industry (Ai) Group performance of manufacturing index (PMI) - which has fallen 1.6 points to 43.6 in November. While the index posted a slight of 1.1 points in October, it remains below 50, which indicates the sector has been contracting since February.
Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said the industry was facing several challenges to growth.''The key concerns for manufacturers remain the high dollar, rising energy costs and weak demand in export and local markets,'' he said.
The TD Securities-Melbourne Institute's measure of consumer prices is also out. It slipped 0.1 per cent in November, reversing a 0.1 per cent rise in October.
However for the 12 months to November, the gauge rose 2.5 per cent, the mid-point of the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) 2.0-3.0 per cent target band.
TD Securities head of Asia-Pacific research Annette Beacher said it would be a close call on rates tomorrow, but a reduction was unlikely.
'While it is appropriate to leave an easing bias on the table, we cannot identify a smoking gun for a near-term policy adjustment,'' she said.
Australian retail spending came in virtually unchanged in October, official figures showed.
Retail trade was unchanged in the month at a seasonally adjusted $21.563 billion, compared to an downwardly revised $21.570 billion in September, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said. Economists had been forecasting a rise of 0.4 per cent for October.
Also out today are data on company profits and inventories.
Westpac chief economist Bill Evans said inventories would be an important input into the GDP figure on Wednesday, pulling down the economic growth numbers by about 0.1 per cent.
Mr Evans said Westpac was expecting company profits to be down 3.8 per cent, influenced largely by mining profits.
"[Resources] have been the big swing factor on those profit numbers and we're expecting that the weakness we've seen with the commodity prices in the mining sector, that's likely to be a substantial drag on mining profits."
Official data on building approvals for October will also be released tomorrow, Along with the interest rate decision at 2.30pm, and again the forecasts are for weakness.
Growth - or not?
On Wednesday, the ABS releases economic growth data for the September quarter, which is expected to show the economy grew in line with expectations in the September quarter (up 0.6 per cent), but the rate of growth is slower over the year (from 3.7 per cent to 3.1 per cent).
Although 3.1 per cent is a healthy rate, and is strong by global standards, it will suggest that the economy is losing momentum as it enters 2013.
On Thursday, the ABS releases jobs data for November and again the forecasts are less than robust. A Bloomberg survey expects no jobs to be have been added during November, which could see the unemployment rate rise. If the predictions are accurate, that too will be cause for concern inside the RBA, which after tomorrow's meeting does not reconvene until February.
On Friday, Myer is set to front shareholders for its annual general meeting. The department store recently delivered a 1 per cent rise in sales over the first three months of its financial year, which investors cheered loudly. This week's meeting will be watched closely for news on the critical Christmas sales period and for an update on Myer's plans to grab a greater shares of the online shopping dollar.
Looking forward
So what will all this mean for the economy in 2013? The slowdown in the mining sector is expected to bite, but lower interest rates could see a growing in the consumer housing sector.
But the business sector will be slower to respond, reflecting continued nervousness around the economic uncertainty around Europe. Also coming up is the federal election.
"We've got an election next year and that's always a difficult time for business," Mr Evans said.
"But I think we will see a better consumer housing environment and with that business will eventually feel encouraged to start adding more jobs and start investing more aggressively because we can see the slowdown in mining started to emerge.
"So that points to the Australian economy continuing to grow around 3 per cent with a higher component coming from the housing consumer and less of a component coming from the mining sector and from the business sector."


text:
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Media Contact: TPWD News, email@example.com, 512-389-8030
Dec. 14, 2011
Still Looking for a Place to Hunt?
TPWD Offers Economical Public Lands Hunting Opportunities
AUSTIN — For hunters who do not have access to privately-owned land, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is providing low cost access to nearly a million acres of department-managed lands for hunting, including most wildlife management areas, some state parks and many leased properties under the Annual Public Hunting permit program.
The Annual Public Hunting Permit is a $48 permit, valid from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31 of the following year. The permit allows an adult access to designated public hunting lands in the TPWD public hunting lands program. Hunting is allowed during legal hunting seasons for squirrel, rabbits and hares, white-tailed deer, feral hogs, spring eastern turkey, predators, furbearers, and fishing without having to pay daily permit fees and in most instances, without having to be selected in a drawing.
The North and South Zone Duck Season re-opened December 10 and while TPWD WMAs have strong hunter numbers taking advantage of hunting on weekend hunt dates, the weekday hunt dates leave plenty of available hunting areas and quality hunting for those hunters who might have hunting time during the week.
According to Jim Sutherlin, Upper Coast Wetland Ecosystem project Leader, duck hunting is quite good on public hunting lands and reservoirs where fresher water conditions and waterfowl food resources can still be found.
"Puddle ducks prefer shallow water, and we have an abundance (record numbers of several species) of ducks on the continent this year," Sutherlin said. "Specifically, check out the duck hunts on the Big Hill Unit of the J D Murphree WMA where the hunter daily duck bag was close to 4 birds per man per day during the first waterfowl season split."
Waterfowl hunting isn't the only game available. There is still plenty of feral hog hunting to be found. According to survey results compiled by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service 74 percent of Texas' 254 counties contain feral hog populations and there is a good chance TPWD offers feral hog hunting opportunities in those counties on public hunting lands.
"Right now is as good a time as any to hit the woods hard for ol' pig sooie," said Bill Adams, Pineywoods Ecosystem Project Leader. "In East Texas there are several WMAs that offer year-round hog hunting, but staff recommend keying in on those areas associated with rivers such as Alabama Creek, Alazan Bayou, Angelina Neches/Dam B, North Toledo Bend, and Blue Elbow Swamp Wildlife Management Areas. "
Along with the appropriate Texas hunting licenses and stamps, permit holders may take youth under age 17 hunting free of charge on these public hunting lands. Youth hunting on departmental public hunting lands must be accompanied by a supervising adult 18 years of age or older who possesses the required Annual Public Hunting Permit, a valid hunting license and any required stamps and permits.
A new online maps feature allows for "virtual scouting" of public hunting areas. By clicking on the locator points, you can follow links to detailed aerial maps with highlighted boundaries and links to information pages from the APH information map booklet. A downloadable Google Earth file (.kml) is also available that contains all the boundary information along with links to the corresponding APH map booklet pages.
Permits are available wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold, online through the TPWD Web site (tpwd.texas.gov) or by calling 1-800-TX-LIC-4U and paying by major credit card. There is a $5 convenience fee for online and phone purchases. If the permit is purchased at a TPWD office, the public hunting lands map booklet and supplement will be provided immediately at the time of purchase; otherwise, the publications will be mailed to the purchaser within two weeks of purchase.
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(5.4.16 i)


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Discussion in 'Fan Zone' started by Cbz40, Nov 12, 2006.
2nd and 8 - Leinart back to pass loft to James for 7.
hmm defense still not covering the running back?
it hasn't hurt us all year yet
nice stop!!!!!!!!!
3rd and 1:
Leinart changes play:
Leinart ho run up the middle for NADA!!
This is a home game...hear the crowd?
ran right into the defense, wow haha
Nice stop on 3rd down.
they're softening up the middle, throw checkdowns, and outs, have the Cowboys concentrate on it, then exploit the middle
Nice play by Canty...we need more from him this half of the season.
Cardinals wanting to go for it, asking for a measurment.
Nice stop defense.
Are they going for it?
Looks like they're going for it.
a team w/ nothing to lose usually does
1-7 team, what do they have to lose?
4th and 8 inches, going for it:
Leinart 3 wr set:
Leinart Sneak, first down.
He got it but I question Green's decision to go for it.
That was 99.9 percent desperation...and .1 confidence


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Sale! AXiD 2016 Deluxe Gift Set
Bring tidings of comfort and joy this holiday with a gift set that includes our customer favorites. A printed Comfort Colors long sleeve tee, printed pillowcase, and a sewn on letter tote are sure to make any sorority member happy this year, while saving you more than 15% off the regular price.


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Press Room
Partner Press Releases
Whole Foods Market® to carry new BrandStorm Freeze Dried Fruits
Los Angeles, CA – December 2010 – Nature's All Foods will be the first Fair Trade and Organic freeze dried fruit brand available in the US and now at Whole Foods Market stores. BrandStorm Inc., a leading importer of some of the world rarest products and producer of many natural and organic superfoods in the U.S., is venturing into new territory with the launch of its new Organic and Fair Trade Certified™ freeze dried fruits under the brand Nature's All Foods.
The ripest and tastiest fruits are carefully selected and freeze dried to eliminate the water within the fruit. All other natural properties of the fruit remain intact. The entire line is imported directly from South America and is certified USDA Organic, Kosher, Vegan, Raw, and Gluten-Free. Thierry Ollivier, Director and Founder of BrandStorm, Inc. says "Following our will to develop sustainable products and to help farming communities, we have been collaborating closely with local fruit co-ops in order develop this line as Fair Trade certified. There is no sugar added, no coloring and no preservatives. All you get is the taste of the fresh fruit."
In an attempt to cater to the growing demand for easily accessible health foods that are both natural and sustainable, Nature's All Foods is introducing four popular fruits to this line of freeze dried snacks. Nature's All Foods has 32 years of experience in the freeze drying business, and operates a state of the art facility. This Organic and Fair Trade line of freeze dried fruits will delight grownups and kids alike, thanks to its bursting flavors and health benefits These fruit snacks fit perfectly into the fast-paced and on-the-go American consumer lifestyle.
Other benefits of Nature's All Foods Freeze Dried Fruits:
- Diet friendly: very few calories, fat free and trans fat free
- All the benefits of each fruit remain intact
- Certified organic, fair trade, kosher, vegan, raw, GMO free and gluten free
- No sugar added, no coloring and no preservatives
- Wheat free, dairy free, peanut free, and tree nut free
- Contains nothing but fruits and love!
Fruit assortments include Mango, Strawberry, Banana, and Pineapple. Nature's All Foods Freeze Dried Fruits are available at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide. Suggested retail price is $5.99 per bag.
For more information about Nature's All Freeze Dried Fruits, visit www.NaturesAllFoods.com.


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Because of the early start, and because there couldn't possibly be anything John Tortorella could say at this hour that will still be relevant after the game, or question that couldn't be asked after the game, there won't be a pre-game press conference today.
Fine by me. More time for scrambled pressroom eggs and bacon before warmups.
The hard-working Jesse Spector made his way to the Whale's outdoor game yesterday and had an interesting story on Wade Redden, which you can see here.


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7.1-Channel 3D Ready A/V Receiver
- Made for iPod®, iPhone®, iPad® Certified, Featuring AirPlay
- 3-Zone Multi-Room A/V
Suggested Price: $1,499.99
Only the most technologically advanced receivers can immerse you in the audio experience so realistically, you believe you're there. Such is the capability of the VSX-1326-K, exceeding even the highest expectations with the truest, most realistic audio fidelity for your home entertainment system. Designed for those who settle for nothing less than the very best, its state-of-the-art performance and specifications are the result of uncompromising standards of engineering, manufacturing and testing. With the VSX-1326-K, your entertainment experience is simply unrivalled.
The Power of Connectivity.
In a world where content is everywhere, access means everything. The new VSX-1326-K offers Ethernet connectivity, opening the gates for a number of new and exciting features. From AirPlay and popular online services like Pandora® music service to a host of control options and Pioneer-exclusive apps, the network-connected VSX-1326-K has the power to transform your living room into a truly connected home theatre.
AirPlay is a revolutionary way of enjoying your music anywhere in your home, and the VSX-1326-K is AirPlay compatible right out of the box. Wirelessly push music from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or your iTunes®-running Mac or PC directly to the receiver so you can enjoy all your favourite music in your living room through the big speakers. Use your iPhone or iPad device's familiar controls to change the volume and switch songs, all while viewing iTunes album art on your TV. And with the VSX-1326-K's multi-zone capability, you can even enjoy your iTunes music in a second room while you're watching the latest Blu-ray title in another.
DLNA Certified® 1.5
Since music is meant to be shared, not stored, the VSX-1326-K is DLNA 1.5 Certified, which means you can pull your MP3, WMA, AAC, and even high-resolution FLAC and WAV music files directly from your Windows-based PC to the receiver via your home network. Use the VSX-1326-K's convenient on-screen display to browse through your music library, complete with album art, while your living room is filled with pure, high-resolution audio. Network connection can be made through the Ethernet port or with the AS-WL300 wireless LAN adapter (sold separately).
Online Music Services & More
You can also easily access popular internet-based music services like Pandora, Rhapsody® and SiriusXM Radio, as well as the thousands of high quality internet radio stations available through vTuner™.
Pioneer Air Jam App
It's never been easier to create music playlists and share them with friends. Available as a free download for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, our exclusive Air Jam application is revolutionizing the way you share your music. Up to 4 Apple devices can be paired via Bluetooth® to stream music and create a group playlist. Once connected wirelessly, you can choose songs from your device to add to the playlist to play back on the VSX-1326-K. You can view the playlist on each device. Like the songs one of your friends added? "Like" it and you have the option of purchasing it from iTunes or watching a music video of that artist on YouTube.
You can also easily bring thousands of high quality internet radio stations into your living room for endless music entertainment with vTuner. Easily add stations to your favourites and view song info on your TV through the VSX-1326-K's on-screen display.
The VSX-1326-K receiver supports the latest HDMI 1.4 specification, meaning you're not just getting the most out of your existing movies and music, you're prepared for the next generation of 3D video content. With 7 HDMI inputs including 1 on the front panel, you've got more than enough connectivity options for the growing number of high-definition sources available today.
Apple Ready
We have always embraced developing technologies, and the Apple revolution is no exception. As passionate Apple users ourselves, understands how deeply expectations run. That's one reason the VSX-1326-K is fully ready for out-of-the-box plug and play convenience and compatibility. In every device – iPod, iPhone and iPad – Apple enthusiasts carry a wealth of audio and video content that can now be delivered seamlessly into the experience of high definition multi-channel home theatre.
Having been an early leader in building AirPlay into our receivers, we have an intimate understanding of how to bring your iTunes library to your home theatre system. It's just one more way Pioneer receivers offer a truly seamless Apple experience.
Made for iPod, iPhone and iPad – We believe entertainment should be first and foremost an emotional experience. The VSX-1326-K provides unparalleled marriage of home theatre and your Apple products, allowing you to enjoy both audio and video content with the included A/V cable, all while your device charges.
iControlAV2 App – Placing even more home entertainment control in the hands of enthusiasts, our iControlAV2 App, available free from the App store, lets you control volume, bass, balance and room settings. Formatted for iPhone, iPad and Android devices, it gives you complete control of your network connected receiver and compatible Pioneer Blu-ray Disc® players through an easy-to-use, powerful interface.
Total Control
Control is at the core of the home theatre experience. And the VSX-1326-K makes sure you can customize and fine-tune your home theatre experience to exactly the way you enjoy it most.
An industry-first, Pioneer's AVNavigator truly is an interactive owner's manual that takes all the guesswork out of setting up your receiver. AVNavigator uses your networked PC to communicate directly with the VSX-1326-K, walking you through the entire set-up of your home theatre, step-by-step.
The VSX-1326-K also offers Multi-Zone audio and video with second zone on-screen display that gives you premium, customized entertainment throughout your home.
Additionally, the VSX-1326-K has been independently tested and certified by custom partners Control 4, Crestron, AMX, RTI, Universal Remote and Savant ensuring seamless integration that gives you a wide choice of advanced control options for IP, Serial, and IR commands. The VSX-1326-K is the perfect choice for a customized home installation.
Video Processing
Drawing on Pioneer's long history as an industry leader in high performance video and tuning techniques, we've designed image enhancement and fine-tuning for each video source into the VSX-1326-K to maximize your TV's performance.
The VSX-1326-K converts analog video signals to HDMI and scales both analog and digital signals up to 1080p/24fps to best match your TV's capabilities. And Marvell® video processing with award winning Qdeo™ technology provides a truly immersive viewing experience, creating natural and noise-free video for maximum performance and flexibility.
Thanks to Advanced Video Adjust, any video signal that goes into the VSX-1326-K simply comes out better. Video signals are optimized by the type of display you have connected, with video presets for Plasma, LCD and Front Projection TV's to maximize their performance. And working in conjunction with Advanced MCACC sound tuning, Advanced Video Adjust provides subtle noise reduction and detail enhancements based on the kind of display and your distance from it.
Stream Smoother technology is specifically designed to reduce picture distortion and enhance images while viewing low bit-rate streaming video content from sites that offer it such as YouTube.
Pioneer understands that extraordinary audio and video reproduction is merely the price of entry. With unprecedented level of control and sophistication for the serious enthusiast, the VSX-1326-K delivers all these technologies to create the quintessential home theatre experience, both now and in the future.
Specifications and design subject to modification without notice.
PIONEER, Pioneer logos are registered trademarks of Pioneer Corporation.
Dolby, Pro Logic and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
DTS and the DTS Symbol are registered trademarks and the DTS logos are trademarks of DTS, Inc.
THX, the THX Logo and THX Select 2 Plus are trademarks of THX Ltd., which may be registered in
some jurisdictions.
The Bluetooth wordmark is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. And any use of such marks by PIONEER is under license. Bluetooth wireless technology functionality requires a compatible A2DP profile Bluetooth wireless technology enabled device. Certain Bluetooth features may not be supported by all compatible Bluetooth wireless technology enabled device, and/or the functionality of such features may be limited in certain devices.
HDMI, the HDMI logo, and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC in the United States and other countries.
HDMI connection may not allow transmission of copyright-protected material, depending on the capability of the display device and the signal source.
Microsoft, Windows Media, and the Windows logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
SIRIUS and related marks are trademarks of Sirius XM Radio Inc.
"Made for iPod," "Made for iPhone," and "Made for iPad" mean that an electronic accessory has been designed to connect specifically to iPod, iPhone, or iPad, respectively, and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards. Apple is not responsible for the operation of this device or its compliance with safety and regulatory standards. Please note that the use of this accessory with iPod, iPhone, or iPad may affect wireless performance.
Apple, AirPlay, the AirPlay logo, iPhone, iPad, iPod and iPod touch are registered trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. The AirPlay logo is a trademark of Apple Inc. AirPlay works with iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch (4th, 3rd and 2nd generations) with iOS 4.2 and iTunes 10.1 (Mac and PC) or later.
DLNA, the DLNA Logo and DLNA Certified are trademarks, service marks, or certification marks of the Digital Living Network Alliance.
Pandora is a registered trademark of Pandora Media, Inc.
Rhapsody and the Rhapsody logo are a registered trademark of Rhapsody International, Inc.
Blu-ray Disc is a registered trademark of the Blu-ray Disc Association.
"x.v.Color" is a trademark of Sony Corporation.
Qdeo is a trademark of Marvell World Trade, Ltd.
vTuner is a registered trademark of Noting Else Matters Software, Ltd.
Control4 and the Control4 logo are registered trademarks of Control4 Corporation.
Crestron and the Crestron logo are registered trademark of Crestron Electronics, Inc.
AMX and the AMX logo are trademarks of AMX, LLC registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Universal Remote Control logo is a registered trademark of Universal Remote Control, Inc.
RTI logo is a registered trademark of Remote Technologies Incorporated.
Savant Logo is a registered trademark of Savant Systems, LLC.


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We're in a time when it seems the only job benefit that matters is actually having a job. As employers look for ways to cut costs, employee perks are often the first thing to go. As a result, stress increases and morale declines.
However, many local employers are taking advantage of low or no-cost simple wellness programs and finding that they go a long way toward creating a positive culture within their companies. Allowing employees time during their day to escape and rejuvenate leads to a higher level of productivity, a less-stressed work force and improved overall morale in the workplace.
In a time when many people are now wearing more hats than ever — and putting in extra hours — wellness programs offer a very high return on investment. A healthier staff means fewer sick days, lower health insurance costs and increased productivity.
At Shea Homes, on-site yoga is just one of the many low-cost ways the company uses to engage employees and encourage healthy behaviors. Mike McCormack, vice president of human resources for Shea Homes Active Lifestyles Communities, says some of the other programs the company offers include lunch-and-learn sessions, companywide 10,000-step contests, wellness teleseminars and holiday potlucks.
"It's no secret that our industry has been particularly affected by the economy," he says. "The little things we're still able to offer have gone a long way in helping our employees feel appreciated. The positive feedback has been overwhelming and attendance has remained strong among both women and men. We see our wellness programs as having a lasting benefit at Shea Homes."
At Henkel's headquarters for Consumer Goods in Scottsdale, employee health and wellness seems to be engineered into the building. A roof garden provides employees a getaway from their work area where they can take in some fresh air, eat lunch, visit with co-workers, or even work. The building also features an on-site fitness center. The yoga room at the Henkel facility is the former IT training room, a conversion made by CEO Brad Casper in response to greater demand for the classes. Henkel also offers weekly hip-hop dance fitness classes and on-site chair massages, both of which are a big hit among the employees.
"The wellness classes also provide a way for people to interact and foster friendships with colleagues that they may have not otherwise connected with and in a different way," says Natalie Violi, director of corporate communications at Henkel. "We are seeing people in different functions and varied levels of the organization take the classes."
Nicole Nelson, human resources recruiting manager at Henkel, says, "Henkel fully embraces employee wellness programs as they provide ongoing benefits from an employee and employer standpoint. These programs continue to strengthen employee morale and help bring balance to everyday work-life."
Now more than ever, employees are thankful for the little things their employers are doing to keep them motivated and offer an outlet for stress. It's a win-win for everyone. A healthier, happier staff equals a healthier, happier organization.


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Sara Quinn teaches and speaks about visual journalism, leadership and multimedia. She led Poynter's college fellowship and its partnerships with universities for several years. Sara directed Poynter's EyeTrack research of newspaper, tablet and online reading habits, which helps journalists determine the best forms for storytelling. She also directed Poynter's custom training with universities for students and educators.


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Finished drop-in barrel will match the factory contour and is ready to be installed into the factory stock. Precision reamed, button rifled and air gauged to +/- .0005" to provide the competitive accuracy and constancy that has made Shilen famous. Shilen barrels have probably set more world records than any other barrel made, because so many shooters rely on them. Requires a Barrel Nut Wrench and Caliber-Specific Headspace Gauge for proper installation. Barrel tapers from 1.060" at the chamber to .800" at the muzzle.
Technical Information
Production Process:
- Precision Reamed
- Button Rifled
- Stress relieved and air gauged to + or - .0005"
- Finished Drop In Barrel (Ready to Be Installed)
- Match Factory Barrel Contour (will drop into existing stock)
- Requires Barrel Nut Wrench and Caliber-Specific Headspace Gauges for Proper Installation
- Barrel has a nominal thread diameter of 1.062"
- Barrels will fit non-magnum caliber Savage model 10, 11, 12, 16, 110, 111, 112, 114, 116 rifles.
- Barrels will fit magnum caliber Savage models listed above only if the action was originally chambered for belted magnums with a nominal .532" case head diameter such as the 300 Winchester Magnum.
- Barrel will not fit Savage large thread actions originally factory chambered for the Remington Ultra Magnum, Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum, Winchester Short Magnum, Winchester Super Short Magnum or Lazzeroni cartridges with a .550" or larger case head diameter.
Break-In Procedure: Clean after each shot for the first five shots. Then clean after every five shots for the next 50 shots.


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OCZ Releases Vertex 3.20 with 20nm IMFT NANDby Kristian Vättö on 2/20/2013 5:19 AM EST
26 Comments
Back to Article
mayankleoboy1 - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - linkHow come some of the values have improved for 120GB ? Firmware magic, or moar over provisioning, or a combination of the two ?
Will you do a re-review ? Reply
Kristian Vättö - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - linkIt's hard to say. For the original Vertex 3, OCZ reports Iometer and AS-SSD numbers, but for the new Vertex 3.20 OCZ only reports one set of unspecified numbers. I'm assuming they are Iometer scores and hence I'm using Iometer scores for the Vertex 3. Anyway, it could be a difference in firmware too.
I currently have quite a few drives to review so I'm not sure if I'll have time to squeeze another drive in. I'll try my best though :-) Reply
ahar - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - linkDo you have time to correct "less products" to "fewer products"? ;-) Reply
Kristian Vättö - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - linkSure, thanks for the heads up! :-) Reply
ShieTar - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - linkIs it correct that the 240GB version has lower random read speeds (35k) than the 120GB version (40k)? It would seem more logical the other way around. Reply
Marlowe - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - linkI don't know why I took the time out of my work day to write this on the internet in a comment section.. To make it look right I even had to learn how to insert a "tab" space in a text area without the browser selecting the next element on the page. (Keyboard shortcut Alt + 09).
Vertex 3.20 Vertex 3
Capacity 120GB 240GB 120GB 240GB
4KB Random Read 20K IOPS 35K IOPS 20K IOPS 40K IOPS
4KB Random Write 40K IOPS 65K IOPS 60K IOPS 60K IOPS
Anyway long story short: the 40k should've said 20k. The rest was correct. Reply
Marlowe - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - linkApparently the comment system removed my painfully organized tab-table.. It also thought my comment was spam, so I had to remove the source links to make it pass. Reply
Kristian Vättö - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - linkAccording to OCZ's site, that's what the specifications are. SandForce has always been a bit weird, for example 480GB Vertex 3 is noticeably slower than the 240GB model, even though more NAND should result in increased parallelism and hence enhanced performance.
Since our comment system thinks every link is spam, I can't link the datasheet but just check the Vertex 3 product brief PDF at OCZ's site. Reply
Kristian Vättö - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - linkOops, my bad, you're correct. The 120GB is rated at 20K IOPS for random read, not 40K. Fixed. Reply
Marlowe - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - linkWell all links are blocked except those in the "Love my job"-posts ;-) Reply
semo - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - link"unlike with the Vertex 2 when OCZ silently switched to 25nm NAND"
But they didn't just switch to 25nm NAND. They took out some speed AND capacity. They should have done a mass recall but they didn't.
Only people that knew they were scammed and complained managed to get their issue resolved. Reply
Death666Angel - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - link"But they didn't just switch to 25nm NAND. They took out some speed AND capacity. They should have done a mass recall but they didn't."
A side effect of the switch.
"Only people that knew they were scammed and complained managed to get their issue resolved."
One could say that those other people were fine with the product they got. Or they made the decision that their time and effort was better spent on other problems they might have. Reply
semo - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - linkBasically you are saying that if OCZ managed to get away with it, more power to them? Reply
Kristian Vättö - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - link3Xnm die was 4GB, whereas 25nm IMFT NAND moved to 8GB die. That resulted in decreased performance in smaller capacity drives because the increase in die size led to less parallelism.
It was definitely wrong to do the switch silently because it had an enormous impact on performance. The good news is that OCZ isn't doing it again. Reply
semo - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - linkI know the technical details. The effect of their actions is the most important thing and it wasn't just performance, capacity was affected as well (they would have picked that up in the smoke testing stage).
The bad news is that they never did a mass recall so no one other, than OCZ, know how many affected drives are out there in circulation. Reply
Kristian Vättö - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - linkWhat do you mean by capacity? Reply
semo - Thursday, February 21, 2013 - linkThe 25nm Vertex 2 drives had less capacity than the original V2s but the SKUs were the same. Can you spot what OCZ did wrong?
"The matter is complicated by the way SandForce's NAND redundancy works. The SF-1000 series controllers have a feature called RAISE that allows your drive to keep working even if a single NAND die fails. The controller accomplishes this redundancy by writing parity data across all NAND devices in the SSD. Should one die fail, the lost data is reconstructed from the remaining data + parity and mapped to a new location in NAND. As a result, total drive capacity is reduced by the size of a single NAND die. With twice the density per NAND die in these early 25nm drives, usable capacity was also reduced when OCZ made the switch with Vertex 2."
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=21433... Reply
HisDivineOrder - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - link...ran out of 3. Plus, Sandforce is probably pretty easy to get hold of now. Reply
smitty123 - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - link... with the latest vertex 4 and vector firmwares
and specify what firmware version of the other vertex 4's used in the bench,
there's a vertex4 v1.4 and another. Reply
Hrel - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - linkSo, is the price lower now? I want a 512GB SSD for under 200 bucks! Reply
Paulman - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - linkYes - I, too, am very curious about what sort of cost savings to expect (and how soon) :P Reply
Owls - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - linkAll I hear are horror stories about OCZ SSDs and how frequently they fail. They have gotten really affordable but I would rather pay an extra $10-20 for brands that are more proven in their reliability. Hopefully they turn things around over there. Reply
'nar - Thursday, February 21, 2013 - linkThat is an over-simplification. I have only ever heard about the cheap OCZ drives like the Agility failing, so I think their restructuring is long overdue. The Vertex line is very reliable.
I have personally installed 6 OCZ vertex drives into my systems and never had a *significant* issue. Most reports just speak about failed OCZ drives, but fail to list specific models. I have one guy that bought an OCZ Solid that failed. RMA'd and got an Agility, it failed. RMA'd and got another Agility, it failed. I told him to give up on the warranty and just by a drive with a better track record like Intel 335.
While I use OCZ Vertex and Vectors and like them, I still feel that Intel drives are more reliable. At least more consumer friendly. I have built every computer for the last year with Intel SSD's and never got a blip from them. Well, once, but that turned out to be an OS install issue that was fixed by just reinstalling Windows. My personal systems are all getting Vector drives currently, I just wish OCZ had a Windows SSD Tools program like the Intel SSD Toolbox. The OCZ ISO is aggravating, it is alien in so many ways. Reply
ShieTar - Thursday, February 21, 2013 - linkWell, personally I have bought four SSDs so far:
OCZ core series 30GB (~9 month in my desktop, used instead of an USB-stick ever since)
OCZ core series V2 60GB (1 year in my desktop, then 1 year in my notebook, now sitting in my bedroom-mediaplayer)
OCZ Vertex 2 120GB (1 year in my desktop, 1 year in my notebook, no in my fileserver for close to 1 year)
OCZ Vertex 3 120GB (1 year in my desktop, now in my notebook for a few month)
Never had any of those drives outright fail or loose data. The core series drives got slowed down with time, and Win XP did occasionally crash when it had to wait too long for a response, but that was pretty much standard for MLC drives back then.
I did now switch to a Samsung 840Pro 240GB now for my desktop, but thats because it promised performance beyond anything OCZ offers right now, not because I was unhappy with OCZ.
There. Now you can no longer say that all you hear are horror stories. Reply
Galcobar - Sunday, February 24, 2013 - linkThe problem wasn't OCZ exactly. reliability issue was largely due to failure of that Sandforce controller.
CZ was the most aggressive manufacturer in terms of introducing drives using the SF controller. This gave them market dominance, so when SF-based drives started falling in large numbers the majority happened to have OCZ branding.
Now, OCZ customer service horror stories, that is all on them. The Vertex 2 bait-and-switch was the most egregious but was worsened by their fumbling the response until mass customer fury forced a full-fledged retreat. Reply
Tjalve - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - linkGreat... 2 new models for the Vertex 3... How many is there now?
Vertex 3 60GB
Vertex 3 LP 60GB
vertex 3 90GB
Vertex 3 120GB
Vertex 3 LP 120GB
Vertex 3 MAX IOPS 120GB
Vertex 3.20 120GB
Vertex 3 128GB
Vertex 3 240GB
Vertex 3 LP 240GB
Vertex 3 MAX IOPS 240GB
Vertex 3.20 240GB
Vertex 3 256GB
Vertex 3 480GB
Vertex 3 LP 480GB
Vertex 3 512GB
or did i miss someone? :P Reply


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HOUSTON - Your yard can save and even make you money. As we hit the warmer temps and sunny skies, it may be time to get out and work on that yard. A well-landscaped yard can add seven to 14 percent to the value of your home.
But it is not all about the money added to your bottom line when you sell, a pretty yard has other financial benefits.
"What many consumers overlook is that landscaping can add protection and shade to your house, which will improve your energy efficiency," said Angie Hicks, the creator of the service industry review service called Angie's List.
It can mean more money in your pocket.
Hicks told Local 2 it doesn't have to be a major investment to get a return.
"You don't have to do a big project to enhance the value of your home. If you're been neglecting your yard, which a lot of us have, you can do a basic yard cleanup; plant some nice flowers and that will improve your value," Hicks said.
Lawn care guy, Rick Davis, said a little work on your shrubs is a great place to start.
"They would be well served to aggressively prune them back and see what they have, because if it cleans out the canopy, or the space around the bushes, people can see that they don't need to do anything else," Davis said.
And if you do need a little professional help, Hicks said a landscaper doesn't have to cost a fortune.
"A good landscaper can help you work up a plan that can be done in phases; to be broken out over three years so that it never over-extends your budget," Hicks said.
Both experts say homeowners should talk to the landscaper. A good one will have advice on what you can do on your own and what you should leave to the professionals.
After last year's drought, the thought of dropping a bundle on plants may make you nervous, but Davis said it doesn't have to -- try something like roses.
"They are not quite drought resistant, but they handle dry weather fairly good and they give you some color. In fact, you can get them in a variety of colors. You have the look of maintaining and doing watering without actually having to do it," Davis said.
A quick addition with a big payoff is mulch. Davis said it prevents weeds, conserves moisture and helps maintain soil temperature.
Another tip to think about -- where you plant can help not just how your yard works but your energy efficiency. Planting trees on the east and west sides can reduce air-conditioning costs as much as 25 percent.
Link: www.angieslist.com
Common landscaping issues:
· Plants and shrubs that are too big/overgrown for the space they are in.
· Plants not taken care of/poor planting choices.
· Improperly applied mulch.
· Drainage issues.
Start with a yard cleanup: Remove overgrown plants, shrubs, and weeds. Tidy up garden/flower beds. Don't crowd your beds. Give them time to grow. Keep your front walkway clear and uncluttered.
Take care of your lawn: A neatly mowed, edged and debris-free lawn increases your curb appeal. Keep grass at least 2 to 3 inches tall. This height helps keep the moisture in the grass and the weeds out.
Add mulch: Mulch prevents weed growth, conserves moisture, and helps maintain an even-soil temperature. But it should be applied properly at the recommended thickness to be beneficial.
Pick the perfect plants: Don't shop for plants solely based on their appearance. Instead, select greenery that is hardy, adaptable to your area and will thrive in your soil conditions. Install drought tolerant plants so you don't have to water as much.
Plant a tree: Trees are a great investment. On average, they'll add 3 percent to 7 percent on the value of your home. Plus, planting trees on the east and west sides of your home can reduce air conditioning costs as much as 25 percent. However, trees need to be maintained. Have them inspected annually and serviced as needed.
· List your priorities: Determine whether you have a problem that needs correcting (overgrown shrubs) or if you want to make an addition to your existing landscape (fire pit). Once you have an idea, map out your property, indicating what you want. Identify long and short term goals.
· Assess your skill level: Just because you like working in the yard on an occasional Saturday doesn't mean you'll want to put an entire flower bed into place. Hire a professional if you don't think you'll stick with the project through the season, or if it's a complicated project that will require tools and equipment you don't have.
· Be realistic about your budget: You may not be able to afford it all this month or even this season. Keep it simple with some pretty plants. Many landscapers may also help you devise a multi-year plan if your budget for this year doesn't pay for all you want.
· Check referrals and reviews. It is always advisable to check references or reviews before hiring a contractor for a job. Make sure the prospective landscaper has completed a project with a similar design to the one you envision.
· Get permission. For many homeowners, including those living in housing communities, it may be necessary to receive permission prior to starting a new project. Many homeowner associations have strict guidelines on what residents can do to change their property. If those rules are violated, homeowners might find themselves embroiled in a lengthy dispute. To avoid potential conflicts, make sure your project is approved by the association board beforehand.
· Be mindful of permits. Landscapers should be able to present various permits, depending upon the scope of the project. Steer clear of penalties and fines by checking with the local buildings department before starting a project, such as the construction of a patio with a fire pit. Large landscaping projects usually require a permit.
· Factor in maintenance: Putting in that water element might look great on paper, but keep in mind it will have maintenance attached to it as well.
Copyright 2012 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
An army of buggies marched on St Helier hospital as part of a protest against potential threats on Saturday.
The Keep Our St Helier Hospital (KOSHH) campaign organised for a group of mums and dads to gather outside the Carshalton Hospital with their youngsters in pushchairs and prams to raise awareness of the potential threats the hospital faces - most notably to its maternity and A&E departments.
The group outside the hospital
Despite unsettled weather, the group marched from the green outside the hospital to the Rosehill roundabout and back along Wrythe Lane to the hospital holding placards made by the families.
KOSHH spokesman Colin Crilly said: "Parents with buggies, and many other concerned people of all ages created a noisy, fun spectacle that was witnessed by local people, many members of staff at the hospital and the numerous passing cars and buses on the busy main road that passes directly outside the hospital.
"The family-themed day was helped by the home made placards and posters that children had made.
"There were also balloons, and many people had vuvuzelas that helped to increase the day's enjoyment. Some young people from the nearby skate part joined in."
The protest was to raise awareness off threats the hospital faces to its services in the face of impending Government reforms.


text:
Study of Bioactive Glass-ceramic Intervertebral Spacer (Bonglass-SS) in Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
The recruitment status of this study is unknown. The completion date has passed and the status has not been verified in more than two years.
Verified September 2011 by BioAlpha Inc..
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
BioAlpha Inc.
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
BioAlpha Inc.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: September 22, 2011
Last updated: NA
Last verified: September 2011
History: No changes posted
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The goal of this study is to compare Bonglass-SS with titanum cage.
|Degenerative Disk Disease
|Device: 4 CIS one-touch titanium cage Device: Bonglass-SS SSLPB
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Bioactive Glass-ceramic Intervertebral Spacer (Bonglass-SS) in Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion and, Titanium Cage Controlled, 1-year, Single-Blind, Non-Inferiority Trial
Resource links provided by NLM:
Genetics Home Reference related topics: intervertebral disc diseaseU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by BioAlpha Inc.:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Radiographic assessments of fusion and instability at 12 months after surgery [ Time Frame: 12 months ]
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- CT assessments of fusion at 12 months after surgery [ Time Frame: 12 months ]
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|October 2010
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|June 2013
|Estimated Primary Completion Date:
|March 2013 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
|Active Comparator: Control device
Device: 4 CIS one-touch titanium cage
4 CIS one-touch titanium cage(Solco Biomedical Co. Ltd)
|Experimental: Investigational device
Device: Bonglass-SS SSLPB
Bonglass-SS SSLPB(BioAlpha Inc.)
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|30 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- 30~80 aged patients needed single-level posterior Interbody fusion at L1~S1
- A subject who provided written informed consent to participate in this study
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patitents with BMD T-score < -3.0
- Women who are pregnant or plan to be pregnant within 3 years
- Patient with malignant tumor
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01439464
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01439464
|Contact: JunHyuk Seo, Ph.D.
|82-31-746-5208 ext 317
|Korea, Republic of
|Dongguk University Medical Center
|Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, Republic of
|Contact: KiHyoung Koo, M.D.,Ph.D.
|Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
|Sungnam-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, Korea, Republic of
|Contact: KunWoo Park, M.D.,Ph.D.
|Seoul National University Hospital
|Seoul, Korea, Republic of
|Contact: BongSoon Chang, M.D.,Ph.D.
|Seoul National University Seoul Metropolitan Boramae Medical Center
|Seoul, Korea, Republic of
|Contact: JaeHyup Lee
Sponsors and Collaborators
BioAlpha Inc.
|Principal Investigator:
|JaeHyup Lee, M.D.,Ph.D.
|Seoul National University Hospital
More Information
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on August 23, 2017
|Responsible Party:
|BioAlpha Inc.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01439464 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|September 22, 2011
|Last Updated:
|September 22, 2011
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Spinal Diseases
Bone Diseases
Musculoskeletal Diseases
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on August 23, 2017


text:
Platform: PS Vita /Genre: Action Role Playing Game
Developer: Gung Ho Online Entertainment / Publisher: XSEED Games
Find the Original Article Here at AnalogAddiction.org!
The concept of having Monster Hunter on Vita shouldn't seem foreign to handheld users. Hell, by all accounts Vita-owners should be treated to the news that an actual Monster Hunter title is in development. However, with Monster Hunter 4 being developed for the 3DS and only the 3DS, the cash-cow game of the east seems more and more unlikely to find its way to Sony's newest handheld, at least not soon. Perhaps then, we can find solace in Korea's own attempt to cash-in on the well-known action-RPG formula that Mon-Hun has made so popular? Ragnarok Odyssey is the latest spin-off from the Ragnarok Online MMO; it is a game that attempts to replicate an addicting formula, but falls short in several keys areas that make other action-RPGs so addicting. That being said, it did show a few positives hidden below its many layers of banality.
These types of games generally start off with a character creation phase that many players know, and to this regard it really does nothing special beyond allowing players to create some pretty ludicrous looking characters. While the customization is neither deep, nor engrossing it does add some layer of customization; just don't be surprised if you find other players that looks exactly like you online. There is also an assortment of classes to choose from, but none really stand out as unique. If you've played one big-sword wielding character, you've played em' all. That being said, the gameplay as a whole reflects a different approach on combat that we've seen other games take, but more on that later.
After you've spent your time in the character creation phase, you'll be taken to the hub-town that will guide you towards your first mission. This brings me to my double-edge opinion on the games approach to single player. Ragnarok Online is clearly rich with lore, most MMOs usually are. However, I can't say with complete confidence that it translates well to newcomers (i.e. me). Whatever small narrative the game is trying to provide is lost somewhere between maid-like quest givers and the eccentric hub-dwellers. Seasoned RPG players will have a hard time understanding (or accepting) the story presented to them in RO, but that's partly ok because the story is clearly not the main focus; the game attempts to capture some of the lore - I assume - from Ragnarok Online, and use it to set the stage for the hundred or so quests that makeup the game. And it's because of these quests one could forgive the lack of story because they actually nail that very essence behind RO being on the Vita. Rarely will you find yourself more than 35 minutes on any single mission; it's even rarer to actually run out of time during one. It is easy enough to sit down, accept a mission, and slash/smash/cast/shoot your way to victory, all while on the go. If that doesn't jazz the mobile EXP grinder in all of us, I don't know what will. Actually, that is a lie considering there is no experience to be gained, but you get my meaning…
I will say this much though, the class you pick seems to weigh heavily on the difficulty of play – no EXP means that skill is of importance. I found that the Sword Master is very easy to use compared to the Assassin, which from the very beginning can be a very difficult class to use. Granted, this seems to become a moot point when you get to the later stages of the game, which becomes much easier due to better gear. Because of this, I continue to find it difficult to really enjoy too much of the games main attractions in questing. On the one hand, I am a fantastic sword master, but when I want to try out new classes the lack of certain skills (like blocking) make the transition difficult, nor is there any actual guide as to how you should play the character. I admit, this is a combination of my lack of understanding the other characters, but to some regard the game should be able to guide you through how each one works. Fear not though, if you get through most of the game with the sword hunter, and decide to switch midway to another class, you abundance of equipment and power will carry over. This makes the transition very painless (to a degree). Whether that is up your alley or not is one thing, but the balance between classes is rather disappointing and really takes away from the fun of the game in the early stages. The only thing that makes the gameplay some what different is the use of Danslief mode which is essentially a timed power-up mode. If you hit things, you do extreme damage and absorb health, but if you don't, it takes away from your own HP. It is an interesting dynamic, and I wished they added more things like that. However, that the only unique tactic available and its the same across all characters. While the missions nail the pacing of the game, the gameplay associated with each class can either make or break the experience.
To further this point, I need to bring up multiplayer. I'll get straight to the point; the online play is the one thing Ragnarok Odyssey great. It is easy to just walk into the bar, ask for a group quest and go all out. You could play the entire game on either multiplayer or single player, it would not matter. The only thing that would matter is the enjoyment, and hands down the game is much more enjoyable when playing with other people, as most games are. However – and this is not the game's fault – the multiplayer component suffers because there just isn't enough people playing the game. With less the stellar Vita sales, I assure you RO wasn't going to push any more than were already out. Thus, the population of RO players is not nearly as high as one would like it to be. This hinders the experience because it can be frustrating to actually find people to play the game with. Is it the games fault? No, but it suffers because of it.
In regard to the quests and their associated stages, one thing that really stood out to me is how colorful and vibrant the world is. The OLED screen on the Vita really emphasizes this feature. Many of the levels you play through will be repeated though, so over time they will lose their luster (naturally). In addition, the level layouts seem rather uninspired. Just once, I would have loved a trap door or pitfall to have caught me off guard and taken me to new area. Just catch me off guard in a clever way! Alas, that did not happen. At the very least, the monsters were genuinely inspired; every new zone had new, vibrant monsters that required different strategies to take them down. Some needed slashing on the head, others needed to have their tails cut off. It's nice to have that consideration; it's something to remind me I need to do something else other than timed combination of hitting the square and triangle button.
Is this the action-RPG that the Vita has been waiting for? I am going to have to say no. While I enjoy the grind with friends on the online scale, the single player component does virtually nothing for me beyond playing a few missions when I'm bored and watching a basketball game. It will certainly kill some time, but that's about it. The grinding masochist will find solace with this games attention to item gathering and synthesizing, but kills thousands of monsters in search of one rare card to trade in for another rare card doesn't do it for me. I know it does for some people, but its small audience. It is not a bad game at all, it definitely gets what the Vita is trying to do, but it just falters in terms of gameplay making it rather average. It was a decent attempt though, I will give it that.
Jaime aka. Paco is an avid fan of JRPGs and Lakers basketball, both of which are doing somewhat poorly in their current state, however both seem to show positive improvement in the future. If you want to pop him a question, just comment below or reach him on his Twitter @RTBL1990 He is the resident RPG/Vita Editor and nerd at Analog Addiction.


text:
Created more than 60 years ago, WBKE is a fully functional FM station that simulcasts with WBOI, Northeast Indiana Public Radio, and affiliate of National Public Radio (NPR). Programming is student operated and includes everything from Manchester University sports play-by-plays and student DJ programs to NPR regular programming.
Tune your radio to 89.5 FM or click the LISTEN NOW banner!


text:
concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that is caused by a blow to the head or body, a fall, or another injury that jars or shakes the brain inside the skull. Although there may be cuts or bruises on the head or face, there may be no other visible signs of a brain injury.
You don't have to pass out (lose consciousness) to have a concussion. Some people will have obvious
symptoms of a concussion, such as passing out or forgetting what happened right before the injury. But other people won't. With rest, most people fully recover from a concussion. Some people recover within a few hours. Other people take a few weeks to recover.
In rare cases, concussions cause
more serious problems. Repeated concussions or a severe concussion may require
surgery or lead to long-lasting problems with movement, learning, or speaking.
Because of the small chance of permanent brain problems, it is important to
contact a doctor if you or someone you know has symptoms of a concussion.
Your brain is a soft organ that is surrounded by spinal fluid and
protected by your hard skull. Normally, the fluid around your brain acts like a
cushion that keeps your brain from banging into your skull. But if your head or
your body is hit hard, your brain can crash into your
skull and be injured.
There are many ways
to get a concussion. Some common ways include fights, falls, playground
injuries, car crashes, and bike accidents. Concussions can also happen while
participating in any sport or activity such as football, boxing, hockey,
soccer, skiing, or snowboarding.
It is not always easy to know if someone has a
concussion. You don't have to pass out (lose consciousness) to have a concussion.
of a concussion range from mild to severe and can last for hours, days, weeks,
or even months. If you notice any symptoms of a concussion, contact your
Symptoms of a concussion fit into four main categories:
Young children can have the same symptoms of a concussion as older children and adults. But sometimes it can be hard to tell if a small child has a
concussion. Young children may also have symptoms like:
If your child has had a head injury, call your doctor for advice on
what to do.
Concussions in older adults can also be dangerous. This is because concussions in older adults are often missed. If you are caring for an older adult who has had a fall, check him or her for symptoms of a concussion. Signs of a serious problem include a headache that gets worse and/or increasing confusion. See a doctor right away if you notice these signs. If you are caring for an older adult who takes blood thinners—warfarin (Coumadin) is an example—and who has had a fall, take him or her to a doctor right away, even if you don't see any symptoms of a concussion.
Sometimes after a concussion you may feel as if you are not functioning as well as you did before the injury. This is called
postconcussive syndrome. New symptoms may develop, or you may continue to be bothered by symptoms from the injury, such as:
If you have symptoms of
postconcussive syndrome, call your doctor.
If a doctor thinks that you have a concussion,
he or she will ask questions about the injury. Your doctor may ask you questions that test your ability to pay attention and your learning and memory. Your doctor may also try to find out how quickly you can solve problems. He or she may also show you objects and then hide them and ask you to recall what they are. Then the doctor will check your strength, balance, coordination,
reflexes, and sensation.
Neuropsychological tests have become more widely used after a concussion. These tests are only one of many ways that your doctor can find out how well you are thinking and remembering after a concussion. These tests can also show if you have any changes in emotions or mood after a concussion.
Sometimes a doctor will order imaging tests such as a
CT scan or an
MRI to make sure your brain is not bruised or
Any person who may have had a concussion needs to see a doctor. Some people have to stay in the
hospital to be watched. Others can go home safely. People who go home still need to be watched closely for warning signs or changes in behavior. Call a doctor or seek emergency care right away if you are watching a person after a concussion and the person has:
Warning signs in children are the same as those listed above for adults. Take your child to the emergency department if he or she has any of the warnings signs listed above or:
A person who might
have a concussion needs to immediately stop any kind of activity or sport.
Being active again too soon increases
the person's risk of having a more serious brain injury. Be sure to see a doctor before returning to play.
Rest is the best way to recover from a concussion. You need to rest your body and your brain. Here are some tips to help you get better:
Some people feel normal again in a few
hours. Others have symptoms for weeks or months. It is very important to
allow yourself time to get better and to slowly return to your regular
activities. If your symptoms come back when you are doing an activity, stop and rest for a day. This is a sign that you are pushing yourself too hard. It is also important to call your doctor if you are not improving
as expected or if you think that you are getting worse instead of
Reduce your chances of getting a
Reduce your child's chances of getting a concussion:
The website FamilyDoctor.org is sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians. It offers information on adult and child health conditions and healthy living. There are topics on medicines, doctor visits, physical and mental health issues, parenting, and more.
The mission of the Brain Injury Association of America is to create a better future through brain injury prevention, research, education, and advocacy. The organization has a network of state and local chapters and support groups across the United States. Its website also has information on traumatic brain injury and a national directory of brain injury services.
BrainLine offers information and resources about preventing, treating, and living with traumatic brain injury. This group's website includes many multimedia options including "Ask the Expert," personal stories and videos, and webcasts about traumatic brain injury. BrainLine is also available in Spanish.
This branch of the CDC seeks to
prevent injuries and violence and to reduce their consequences. The website has information on injuries, accidents, and situations that can lead to injuries. Topics include home and recreational safety, motor vehicle safety, violence prevention, and traumatic brain injury.
This website is sponsored by the Nemours Foundation. It
has a wide range of information about children's health—from allergies and
diseases to normal growth and development (birth to adolescence). This website
offers separate areas for kids, teens, and parents, each providing
age-appropriate information that the child or parent can understand. You can
sign up to get weekly emails about your area of interest.
Other Works ConsultedAmerican Academy of Neurology (1997). Practice parameter: The management of concussion in sports (summary statement). Neurology, 48(3): 581–585.American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2008). Clinical policy: Neuroimaging and decisionmaking in adult mild traumatic brain injury in the acute setting. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 52(6): 714–748.American College of Sports Medicine (2006). Concussion (mild traumatic brain injury) and the team physician: A consensus statement. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 39(2): 395–399.Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense (2009). Clinical practice guideline summary: Management of concussion/mild traumatic brain injury. Available online: http://www.healthquality.va.gov/mtbi/concussion_mtbi_sum_1_0.pdf.Halstead ME, et al. (2010). Sport-related concussion in children and adolescents. Pediatrics, 126(3): 597–615.McCrory P, et al. (2009). Consensus statement on concussion in sport: 3rd international conference on concussion in sport held in Zurich, November 2008. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, 19(3): 185–200.Meehan WP, Bachur RG (2009). Sport-related concussion. Pediatrics, 123(1): 114–123.Smith BW (2010). Head injuries. In SJ Anderson, SS Harris, eds., Care of the Young Athlete, 2nd. ed., pp. 185–191. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
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Last Revised:
November 29, 2011
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine & William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
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