text:
The Oregon Vortex/House of Mystery
Just about any place you find on TravelOregon.com can be added to your own Oregon Roadtrippers Account. Find out how.
Get on the road with Roadtrippers
We've partnered with Roadtrippers to provide a great way to plan a trip around Oregon. So start planning your next road trip to here, there or pretty much anywhere in Oregon.
The Oregon Vortex is a glimpse of a strange world where the improbable is the commonplace and everyday physical facts are reversed. It is an area of naturally occurring visual and perceptual phenomena, which can be captured on film. No matter your education or profession you will find a challenge to all your accepted theories.
Open Every Day! Seven Days a Week
(March 1st through October 31st)
Operating Hours
- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (March, April, May, September, October)
- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (June – August)
- Ages 5 and under, Free
- Ages 6 to 11, $6.50
- Twelve and over, $8.50
- Seniors, $7.50
What's around here? Location & Nearby Things to See & Do
These maps and directions are for planning purposes only. You may find that construction projects, traffic, or other events may cause road conditions to differ from the map results. For travel options, weather and road conditions, visit tripcheck.com, call 511 (in Oregon only), 800.977.6368 or 503.588.2941.
Is any of the information on this page incorrect?
A related Trip Idea
Road Trip! Family Fun on I-5
Oregon's share of Interstate 5 runs neatly down the length of the state, from the south side of the Columbia River all the way to the California border. It's mostly straight,mostly flat, and you can drive its 308 miles in just under five hours…


text:
AN investigation has been launched after a train clipped a piece of metal fencing at Birkenhead North station.
The step board of the Merseyrail train clipped the foot of a piece of metal fencing on the edge of one of the platforms at the station at around 5.30am today, Wednesday.
The fencing – believed to have been used to cordon off the construction area of the footbridge, which is currently being built at the station – fell between the platform edge and the empty train.
A spokesman for Merseyrail told the Globe safety is taken extremely seriously and although no incident or accident occurred following the incident, an investigation has been launched.
"This happened as the train was leaving the depot and beginning its journey to Liverpool Central to start a service for Chester from there," said the spokesman.
"Merseyrail and Network Rail take safety extremely seriously, and the two organisations are investigating why a piece of fencing came to be so close to the platform."
Some services were cancelled and others were delayed, although all services were back to normal by 7am.
Work on the footbridge began in October and is scheduled to finish in the spring.
AN investigation has been launched after a train clipped a piece of metal fencing at Birkenhead North station.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hands On with the Parrot Asteroid Smart - a Double DIN Android Head Unitby Brian Klug on 1/12/2013 6:59 PM EST
19 Comments
Back to Article
amb9800 - Saturday, January 12, 2013 - linkOne big issue with this sort of haphazard slapping of Android (with a minimal skin on top) onto a dashboard is that UI integration and reduction of complexity are even more critical in the auto space than in phones. Driver distraction is a major issue, so the normal model of having screens of disparate apps that you touch, navigate through complex menus, etc. is a problem.
From the video, it looks like they've loaded an iGO app for navigation, but that has nothing to do with the Google-based "Maps" app, which presumably can't do turn-by-turn directions (since it's going through the platform API). So you'd have to search, find a POI, copy the address, go home, open iGO, paste address in there, then navigate. If you want to explore the surroundings (their Wiki-connected app), you have again go home, open that, then switch back to the nav app. Not the greatest (or safest, if you're driving) idea.
It's cool for a head unit to be able to do everything a phone can, but this type of platform needs a heck of lot more software work to be useful or safe. Auto OEMs' solutions lag the CE market and may seem less fully-featured than this (e.g. you can't play Angry Birds on Ford Sync), but in practice they lack some of the big safety / usability problems you'll find if you try to use this in a real car.
If you want just a normal Android experience, why not dash-mount a Nexus 10? Reply
Brian Klug - Saturday, January 12, 2013 - linkSo some parts of the UI / some applications will be locked out while you're moving. That's just like any normal head unit and just like most other aftermarket devices easily circumvented by a parking break short / cable in the chain.
Most of the UI honestly looks like it has been tweaked to accommmodate the car, it isn't at all just stock Android slapped on a head unit. For example their launcher is a 3x2, most apps have big text and toggles, nav buttons on the left remain persistent everywhere, etc.
I hopefully will obtain a review unit and give it a shot.
-Brian Reply
ricardoduarte - Sunday, January 13, 2013 - linkPlease get one, i am dying to replace the standard single head unit on my civic, with a double head one.
If you get one could please test sound quality, distortion, radio signal quality, easy of use, touch screen quality, ease of installation, and the most important how hard it is to robbed from the car.
Do you know if tomtom will release their android version on this also?
Thanks Reply
sigmatau - Sunday, January 13, 2013 - linkThe sound quality will be crap. Comparable to a $100-$150 aftermarket radio at best. Maybe not even that. Reply
shadowmyst8 - Thursday, March 13, 2014 - linkHow do you it will sound like crap? Have you used it? Assumptions... Reply
djc208 - Saturday, January 12, 2013 - linkSeems like a lot of duplication of effort for little gain. Even if they got apps support you need to share the wireless connection from your phone to get any data to the device.
Personally I think the right approach is like Pioneer was leaning toward, where you get basic music playback and radio/sat interface from the head unit, and everything else is mirrored from your smartphone. It already has all the necessary communication and information on it, and you can upgrade it far more easily than the head unit. All I want is to be able to access the music, apps, and info from my phone more easily while driving.
Let the head unit concentrate on amplification, distribution, and interface while my phone handles communication, processing, and storage. Reply
shadowmyst8 - Thursday, March 13, 2014 - linkThat's great. But the idea behind this is that everything is integrated. Try mounting a big 7 inch tablet in your car without it looking ugly... Reply
vshah - Sunday, January 13, 2013 - linkHonestly, this doesn't hold a candle to my car-mounted nexus 7. i have jelly bean, full google nav, audio line out, and a full array of applications. I even have a nifty app that lets me task-switch by swiping 3 fingers left/right, or change tracks without looking using a 2 finger left/right gesture. the N7 fits nicely in a dual din slot.
these proprietary solutions have been lagging behind for years. Why can't someone get aosp compatible internals, stick them in a dual din, and call it a day?
very frustrating. Reply
sigmatau - Sunday, January 13, 2013 - linkWhat head unit did you go for to mate with your nexus 7? All installs I've seen have a single DINN unit hidden or taking up space somewhere in the dash. Reply
shadowmyst8 - Thursday, March 13, 2014 - linkThere's no double din that a Nexus 7 will fit in. The Nexus is 7 x 9 inches wide. Most double din's are only 7 inches. The only way you could get it to fit is with alot of modding of your car's dash. Many people aren't willing or know how to do that without paying a hefty price for a professional installation
The point with this is that it makes it easier. All you have to do is remove your stereo and replace it with this.
I'm not sure how your doing it... Reply
sauron@mordor - Sunday, January 13, 2013 - linkI agree with the previous poster. This doesn't do anything for me that I can't already get with a big screen smartphone (Galaxy Note II) or smaller ICS/JB tablet (nexus 7) + any run of the mill audio head unit with bluetooth support. This way, I can leave the lowest-tech (audio amplifier) mounted in the car and periodically refresh/upgrade the device with all the brains and increasingly more useful displays? Reply
shadowmyst8 - Thursday, March 13, 2014 - linkAnd your still running into the same problem that the Parrot Asteroid has. No volume control knob.
How do you plan on controlling the volume when the stereo is in the glove box? Kind of defeats the purpose of buying a radio... Reply
sigmatau - Sunday, January 13, 2013 - linkSo this is basicaly an Android device that acts like a cheap MP3 player to replace a dedicated audio system? WOW!
I went onto their website and they mention nothing about the audio processor/filer used. I guess I'll wait until something that actualy puts audio first over having an Android UI in my car. I'm so tired of these Android car radios that have lots of potential, but always fail on the top thing they are supposed to do: Music.
I bet a $150 Alpine (ugly single DINN) can outdo this in audio quality. This speaks volumes! Reply
spiderknight - Thursday, March 21, 2013 - linkHeh, if it is anything like the Classic, it would be some sort of Wolfson codec. I've read that it has a 7 band equalizer (like the Classic) with a crossover on the sub. That's it. Most $150 head units will have some sort treble and bass adjustment. I had a cheap JVC that allowed a 3 band parametric equalizer.
I would say this unit would beat all other Android units in the same category as far as sound quality and telephony integration. However, for $600, you could have had a pioneer, or a kenwood DD with crossovers and a little less internets and stuffs. Heck, forget DD, get a pioneer deh 80prs, which has some phone integration, to get a top notch audio system with some change left over for an amp for your sub. You gotta pick your battles Reply
shadowmyst8 - Thursday, March 13, 2014 - linkGet a amplifier. Problem solved. Reply
tuxRoller - Sunday, January 13, 2013 - linkNot sure why so many car makers (realizing that this company isn't a car manufacturer) keep trying to move outside their core competencies.
SYNC is just awful ( used it in a brand new Focus the other day). Reply
OmniWrench - Monday, January 14, 2013 - linkSo how hard would it be to adjust the volume or mute while wearing gloves? Reply
PCP69 - Thursday, May 23, 2013 - linkAs opposed to many commenters stating that sound quality 'will be mediocre' (I paraphrase), I have actually installed the unit in my car, together with a Unika steering wheel interface.
Globally, this is the best unit I have had in a car up to this day. Sound quality is more than adequate, I have not yet have had to resort to an external amplifier - which could be easily done as the outputs are there (probably not high voltage but present anyway). As is a subwoofer output, which I happily use. I still miss a high-pass filter, though, but Android and software updates mean this could and hopefully will be added later on.
Sure there are some caveats - current lack of hardware acceleration for playing videos being one. Also, I'd most certainly hate having to change volume on the touch screen - using steering wheel buttons is obviously more satisfying.
I have great respect for Nexus 7 (and similar tablets) installations, but obviously the integration will not be comparable to a unit that includes every necessary input and output well hidden on the backside, even if that actually means you'll have to include some sort of USB ports on your dash (which I successfully did). I'm thinking 4 channel LS, Subwoofer, Video In (not used by me) and Out (used for rear seats), and of course rear view camera with automatic switching (works).
The GUI is actually well adapted to a car, tethering (any sort) works perfectly with my phone (Android, of course!), and iGO, while certainly not the best sat nav solution I've experienced, does the job nicely.
I've installed head units in the past (mostly Pioneer, Blaupunkt and JVC), and while they were all adequate at the time of installation, you could not expect any bugs to be sorted out through software updates. Also, on a side note - you could not ROOT them!
So is it perfect? Certainly not. Would I recommend it? Yes, definitely - even if only with a working steering wheel interface. Reply
shadowmyst8 - Thursday, March 13, 2014 - linkI agree. I've seen several comments here where several have said you get more just by mounting a Android Tablet in your car...
Good luck finding RCA outputs, steering wheels controls, review camera output, video output on a tablet. More over have fun hooking it up to an audio system without having to go through alot of modifications and extra hardware. Reply


text:
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Saint Leo men's golf team (293-299-304—896) maintained its first day, fifth-place position as it closed the 2011 Sunshine State Conference Championships with its best finish of the 2010-11 season. Carding a third round 16-over 302, the Lions secured their spot with a final score of 32-over 896, Tuesday afternoon at the par-72, 6714 yard Boca Country Club.
In the nine team event, SLU trumped the likes of rivals Florida Southern (35-over 899) and Rollins (43-over 907).
Individually for the team, Nick Brothers fired a seven-over 79 to finish tied for 16th. He also finished in the top-15 in total pars with 36.
Chaz Heinz (73-76-76—225) continued his steady play as he collected his second consecutive round of four-over 76. Finishing in tie for 19th, Heinz also registered eight birdies and was consistently solid in par-three attempts.
A little further down the list, three Lions, Codi Daudelin, Rick Briggs and Ronnie Carlson, shot solid rounds as they finished in the middle of a very strong pack. Daudelin (80-75-75—230) completed the Championships strong by carding his second straight three-over 75.
Briggs (74-84-74—232) saw a 10-shot improvement from round two as he completed competition with a two-over74.
One stroke behind Briggs and two behind Daudelin was Carlson (75-74—84—233) as he rounded out the Lions' quintet with an 84.
Saint Leo Posts Best Finish of Spring
Overall for the tournament, Nova Southeastern staved off Barry by one stroke to win the 2011 Sunshine State Conference Men's Golf Championship.
The Sharks and Buccaneers carded an identical final-round score of 296, but thanks to its one-stroke lead after day one, NSU took the title. Nova Southeastern finished the tournament with a total score of 873 (290-287-296). Barry posted a tally of 874 (293-285-296).
The SSC championship was the third in five years for NSU, which also won the title in 2007 and 2009.
Lynn placed third in the final standings with a score of 880 (292-294-294). Florida Tech was fifth with an 891 (302-283-306). Saint Leo claimed fifth with a mark of 896 (293-299-304).
Florida Southern (297-300-302=899) finished sixth. Rollins (304-299-304=907) and Tampa tied for seventh (300-303-304=907). Eckerd (306-295-310=911) rounded out the standings.
NSU's Richardo Celia (72-67-76) and Barry's Daniel Stapff (73-68-74) tied for first individually with a one-under-par 215. Stapff won medalist honors by tapping in an eagle putt on the second playoff hole.
Lynn's Daniel Young placed third with a one-over 217 (74-71-72) to earn All-Tournament honors. Barry's Marcus Segerstrom was fourth with a two-over 218 (72-71-75). Three golfers carded a final score of 219 to take the final three spots on the All-Tournament squad. Rollins' Spencer Cole (74-72-73), Lynn's Ricardo Gouveia (71-72-76), and Florida Tech's Zach Potter (73-70-76) finished in a three-way gridlock for fifth place.
Portions courtesy of the Sunshine State Conference.


text:
Alright, so apparently, everybody is wrong. You can control the annihalator (and indeed all other helicopters, but annihalator is best) without a tail, without using cheats or mods. As the helicopter spins, spin your control stick in the opposite direction at the same speed, in such a way that the side you're moving to points toward your destination (When your left side points in the desired direction, press left, as the rear points in said direction press back). This would be an excellent addition to any of the helicopter pages but I want someone to confirm this to make sure I wasn't aided by the wind. Have fun getting the tail off. :p WikiTONY 20:03, March 15, 2011 (UTC)
Oh, and I spelled "Annihilator" wrong.
i have confirmed it by chopping off the tails of a few helicopters and i could still fly towards the direction i was heading in, however tilting backwards/fowards does not work and only tilting side to side works and raising/lowering altitudes.Ecreme 20:09, May 9, 2011 (UTC)
- Forwards/backwards worked for me, I could nudge it slowly in the direction I wanted. If I tried to spin the joystick it always flipped over. Infernux 00:25, May 24, 2011 (UTC)


text:
Cinnamon Swirl Bundt Cakeby Robin Miller in Uncategorized, December 10, 2012
I invented this bundt cake recently for my sons and a bunch of their friends. We were having a sleepover and I wanted something easy and quick to serve for breakfast the next morning (we had an early outing planned and I knew it would be a mad dash for all). I baked the cake on Saturday, wrapped it tightly in plastic wrap (after it cooled) and then served it bright and early the next day. If you plan to do the same, sift the confectioners' sugar over the top just before serving. It's an amazing treat for kids and adults alike.
Keep this recipe in your back pocket this winter – it's an excellent breakfast or brunch for visiting house-guests and it makes a fabulous hostess gift for a holiday party. Your friends will like knowing that it's a lightened-up cake, made healthier by using low-fat yogurt instead of sour cream and light butter instead of regular butter or margarine. To jazz things up, you can also add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans to the cinnamon-sugar, swirl layer.
Cinnamon Swirl Bundt Cake
Cooking spray
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar, divided
3 large eggs
1 cup lowfat vanilla yogurt
3/4 cup melted light butter or margarine
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Coat a 10-inch bundt pan with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and baking powder. Set aside.
In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Mix well and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, beat together remaining 1 1/2 cups of the sugar with the eggs until blended and smooth. Beat in yogurt, melted butter and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Add the flour mixture and mix until just blended.
Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar mixture over the batter. Top with remaining batter and smooth the top.
Bake 8 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake 30-35 more minutes, until a wooden pick comes out clean.
Cool cake, in pan, on a wire rack. Invert cake onto a serving plate and sift confectioners' sugar over top.
Serves 12
Nutrition Info Per Slice
Calories: 264
Total Fat: 9 grams
Saturated Fat: 5 grams
Total Carbohydrate: 43 grams
Sugars: 23 grams
Protein: 6 grams
Sodium: 171 milligrams
Cholesterol: 60 milligrams
Fiber: 1 gram


text:
Evolution Hoax
A9 TV, 3 September 2011
Remembering death matures a person.He will be more filled with love, he will be more affectionate, able to think more deeply, more purged of earthly desires and more forgiving, of course. That is very important. Because people who do not think about death are generally superficial minded, weak in temperament, quickly affected by desires and events, attach great importance to other people and even, may Allah forbid, regard them as more important than Allah, and sickly. But people who reflect on death think deeply and become more mature and better, insha'Allah.
It is very important for Muslims to love one another with a crazed fervor. The way of the Mahdi will bestow that on us. Look, the missile system is currently being installed in Turkey. But what point is there in missiles if we have Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), my brother? It is being set up against Iran. Who or where could Iran use missiles against in the presence of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)? That is out of the question. We can see the great need for Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) from that. The missile shield system will be set up in Turkey now with the expenditure of billions of dollars. To protect the region. Not just Turkey, but the whole region. Against whom? Against Muslim Iran. So much for Muslims being brothers. So much for a collective personality resolving the issue. That means there is an urgent need for Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). Can we see the need for him? What need for missiles of a defense system if we have Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)? The money spent on that will be spent on giving good food to the poor. You can hand out fridges and washing machines, cars and drugs and houses. And every one of the missiles installed costs who knows how many trillions. Iran is also making preparations. But if we had Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) the matter would be resolved comprehensively.
Our country and people are most excellent. But their unity and unison needs to assume the form of a crazy love; it cannot just be something peripheral. For example, this missile shield system against Iran baffles me. Iran is still talking about a phantom Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). Look, if you talk about a phantom you are going to alarm people. Because nobody knows what a phantom will do next. It [phantom] will also establish a missile system. And who knows what other systems besides? Because you are talking about a phantom. You say, "He is waiting inside a well." You are saying; "He will emerge from the well and become the leader of Muslims. And he will shed rivers of blood." That is not a rational thing to say. They are doing terrible damage to Islam. They must put an end to this idea of a phantom. The truth is the Sunni interpretation of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is a human being, born to a mother and a father, someone full of love. He is against bloodshed. They keep showing films filled with bloodshed. They are screened all over Europe. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) shedding rivers of blood. They made a film about that. What you are talking about is the dajjal [antichrist], not Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). The dajjal sheds blood. Floods of blood. Turkey is setting up the missile defense system, having it set up, since it is alarmed by the way of the dajjal. And of course they are worried by this in Europe. But if they follow Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) this scourge will disappear. Otherwise the situation is not at all a pleasant one. Muslims will never follow a phantom. They will follow Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). How can they follow a phantom? "He has emerged from the well," they will say. "Follow him. In the form of a ray of light," they will say. Someone will say, "I saw him and this is what he said." What are we to do or say to him then? He will say, "He told us to shed rivers of blood." That is out of the question. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is a man of compassion, of affection, of friendship and brotherhood. He is an entity who will eliminate blood and bile. There will be no bloodshed in the time of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh).
Surat an-Nas
"Say: 'I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind,
the King of mankind,
the God of mankind,
from the evil of the insidious whisperer
who whispers in people's breasts'."
From the whisperers. They do not want Muslims to talk about and read the Qur'an. They try to prevent them. They do nothing themselves. But they hinder those who do. Thus they await disaster. May Allah forbid.
Surat al-Kafirun
"Say: 'Unbelievers!
I do not worship what you worship
and you do not worship What I worship.
Nor will I worship what you worship
nor will you worship What I worship.
You have your religion and I have my religion."
Masha'Allah, masha'Allah. This is also directed toward polytheists and polytheism. Polytheists want Muslims to return to their own faith. In other words, to a superstitious faith not based on the Qur'an. And Muslims will respond to them, the polytheists, in the same way. "You have your religion and I have my religion." In other words, we follow the religionset out in the Qur'an. Not the superstitious faith that polytheists follow, insha'Allah.
(The Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) meeting with Balqis, the Queen of Sheba)
Who stands before the Prophet Solomon (pbuh)? A woman in a human body. Is he dreaming? He looks at that woman. Is it not he who jokes with her? Who tells her to "Enter the pool"? Why does he lead her to the edge of the courtyard? The reason he does so is in order to be able to make that joke. He had prepared the courtyard beforehand, hadn't he? She imagined it to be deep water. She bared her legs and tried to enter it, but could not. And the joke came out in all its beauty. This is a human being. A woman who had travelled for many miles. He and the woman are alone in the palace. "Enter the courtyard," says the Prophet Solomon. The verse is explicit. Let me show you. "She bared her legs," Allah says in the verse. "She supposed it to be a pool," He says. She bared her legs accordingly. But she was unable to enter the water, despite expecting to do so. The Prophet Solomon (pbuh) laughs at her. They laugh together. They enjoy it. This is a joke. And the woman admires the Prophet Solomon (pbuh) and comes to believe. He wins her love. He is close to her and shows her love and affection. He talks to her and treats her with respect. I mean, he did not turn his back on her as some people say. This is what happens in that event. Then the result is a tragedy. That is the reason for the tragedy in the Islamic world. You are ignoring the Qur'an. The Qur'an describes it explicitly. He tells our Prophet (saas) in a verse: "...no other women are lawful for you nor may you exchange them for other wives, even though their beauty might be pleasing to you," It means that he looks at her and is pleased by her beauty and wishes to marry her. Why hide that or try to conceal it? In the same way you cannot hide Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), so you cannot hide these things, either. The Prophet Moses (pbuh) goes and talks to the girls. They say he is a strong man, that they can tell from his appearance. Is what they see not the human nature of the Prophet Moses (pbuh)? Tell me if I am mistaken, insha'Allah.
Surat an-Naml, 44
"She was told: 'Enter the courtyard,' but when she saw it she supposed it to be a pool and bared her legs. He said, 'It is a courtyard paved with glass.' She said, 'My Lord, I have wronged myself but I have submitted with Solomon to the Lord of all the worlds'."
Look, that love and concern eases the woman's heart. She delights in the Prophet Solomon's (pbuh) little joke. She says this religion of Islam must be a very fine one. Thanks be to Allah, she converts to Islam. Would that woman have become a Muslim if she had seen fanaticism there? Her heart was eased because she encountered true Islam, a prophet, and she became a Muslim. But thousands, tens of thousands or millions of women want nothing to do with Islam because of the fanatics. But look, just about everyone I speak with becomes a Muslim, insha'Allah, thanks be to Allah.
Surat al-Ahzab, 50-52
"O Prophet! We have made lawful for you: your wives to whom you have given dowries and any slavegirls you own from the booty Allah has allotted you and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts..."
I wish my blessed Prophet (saas) the very best. May Allah bestow many times more on him in paradise. "…and any believer woman who gives herself to the Prophet if the Prophet desires to marry her,"she now wishes to give herself. Does the Prophet (saas) not see this woman? He sees her. Would he accept her without seeing and liking her? ", -exclusively for you as opposed to the rest of the believers." Fanatics are embarrassed by this verse. Did you know that? It is one of the verses that most upsets the fanatics. "We know very well what We have prescribed for them regarding their wives and any slavegirls they possess – in order that there be no restriction on you."Do you know what restriction means? It means pagans and polytheists basely putting pressure on the Prophet (saas). Those are the restrictions to which this verse is referring. But they were shattered when the verse came down. "You may refrain from any of them you will and keep close to you any of them you will;" Almighty Allah says you can keep them with you or not, as you wish. "And if you desire any you have left alone, there is nothing wrong in that."Allah says you can call them back if you wish and again live with them. "This makes it more likely they will be comforted and not be grieved,"not be saddened, in other words, "and all of them will be content with what you give them."Because the approval of Allah lights up all things. But if a woman looks at this through the eyes of ignorance, it is a tragedy. But if she looks with the eyes of faith, it is like the Sun. And what will happen. Her heart will be eased and lit up. She will say, "If Almighty Allah has said this, there must be goodness and beauty in it, thanks be to Allah, and I accept it all." Our mothers' eyes are lit up since the verse has come through revelation. "…and not be grieved," they are no longer saddened. "…and be content with what you give them," they are content. I wish my female forebears all the best for marrying my male forebear. I am most proud of them, masha'Allah. They did what was right and behaved very well, masha'Allah. "...and all of them will be content with what you give them. Allah knows what is in your hearts. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Forbearing."It is suitable for them. "After that no other women are lawful for you nor may you exchange them for other wives, even though their beauty might be pleasing to you," so take that, my extremist friends. How could the Prophet (saas) know how beautiful they were without seeing them? They are not lawful for you, "even though their beauty might be pleasing to you;" our Prophet (saas) liked them very much. But Allah says he must not marry them. "…with the exception of any you own as slaves."Almighty Allah says that. Our Prophet (saas) had many concubines. "They are not lawful for you, even though their beauty might be pleasing to you. Allah is watchful over all things." And our Prophet (saas) had many concubines thereafter. Our mothers were all lovelier than the last. He is together with them in paradise. How delightful, thanks be to Allah. May Allah bestow even more concubines upon him. May He bestow millions more concubines on my beloved forebear, the loveliest man of all, masha'Allah.2011-10-10 20:52:19


text:
Those who say they are despairing and refuse to make any positive effort put forth many claims to justify the logic of their situation. They want to prove, using satan's insidious methods, that there are reasons for their distrustful, pessimistic behavior, and they are aware that the excuses they offer are not sincere. Besides, they know that Allah will remove every anxiety and need from those who follow the solutions revealed in the Qur'an. Even though they do themselves great harm, they live their lives apart from the morality of the Qur'an. Why are they so determined in this? Allah explains in the Qur'an:
... However, their hearts were hard and satan made what they were doing seem attractive to them. (Surat al-An'am: 43)
Strangely, satan makes these people take pleasure in what they are doing. Indeed, in order to be able to follow the path that satan shows them, they oppress themselves, live in a pessimistic spiritual state and agree to living their whole lives in misery. In a sense, they are committing spiritual suicide. Because of their unseemly moral characters, instead of being good-natured and living a good life, they find it more attractive to destroy the love, respect and trust that their acquaintances have for them and to live alone in the world, with no close friends other than satan.
Clearly, they have fashioned this situation with their own hands, and it is the repayment that Allah has given them in this world for making friends with satan. Even if these people wanted to attain the Garden, it would not be possible; they prefer to live an unhappy life claiming that they have abandoned all hope of Allah's mercy and help. Allah has warned these people about the pain and anguish they will suffer:
It will not be eased for them. They will be crushed there by despair. (Surat az-Zukhruf: 75)
Those who reject Allah's Signs and the meeting with Him, such people can despair of My mercy, such people will have a painful punishment. (Surat al-'Ankabut: 23)
But these people who exceed the measure of what is good for them were to listen to their consciences while there is still time and abandon the way that satan has shown them, Allah is unstinting in His pardon and forgives all the sins of His servants.2009-02-26 04:40:56


text:
Thanks to Dyal_SC and for several other reasons, these were the best ribs I've ever turned out. So if you want to learn how I made these-Read on. If you're just here for the food porn, you can scroll down to the pictures which describe the cook.
The Background:
One of the things that helped get me out of my recent lull, was the thought of making some of my favorite dishes on the grill or smoker. One of those items that was on my shortlist was some SC style ribs with mustard sauce. I'm a mustard-based lifeform and it'd been two years since I've made ribs and even longer since I made some mustard ribs. In a strange, but wonderful twist, Dyal_SC sent me some of his favorite mustard BBQ sauce. He had recently posted about this sauce, in the restaurant it came from in the Best BBQ Joints section of the site. He knew nothing of my plans to make some SC style ribs.
The Recipe:
I thought it was going be real easy to come up with the recipe for these SC style ribs. Boy was I wrong! I looked through all my books and online and really didn't find a suitable recipe. Dyal helped me out with some background information on how the sauce is typically used on the ribs and so I decided to use a 3-2-1 style cook. Even though I cook St. Louis style spares, which are much bigger than babybacks, I find that a little over four hours is the maximum time for these ribs, not six hours like 3-2-1 would give you. Plus the foil time is really critical. If the ribs stay in the foil too long, they can easily get over cooked or you end up cutting time off the last step which is where you set your sauce and get your final texture. After doing some research to find the recipe, I saw several recommendations that the ribs stay in the foil no one within 30 minutes. Based on my own experience this made some sense to me and I decided to try it this time around. So I was going to use the 2.5-0.5-1 method. With the cooking method established, I found a rub from Paul Kirk and decided to put it on about four hours early, wrap the ribs in saran wrap and refrigerate them for four hours. When I was lighting the smoker I would pull the ribs out of the fridge and let them come to room temperature for about an hour. When it was time to foil ribs, I planned on using melted butter followed by a slather of Dyals mustard BBQ sauce. Once the ribs were out of the foil, I planned on brushing them with more BBQ sauce. I also gave them a brushing with BBQ sauce when I cut the racks into 3 to 4 bone serving size portions.
The Sides:
To go with these ribs, I planned to serve some Boss Hogs BBQ Baked Beans from America's Best BBQ. These are my favorite smoked and doctored baked beans recipe. If you are interested, here is a link to some pictures from last week when I made a batch of these for Mother's Day.
I also had some Memphis Mustard Slaw from Ribs, Ribs, Ribs. this slaw was made on Friday and refrigerated overnight.
The End Results:
Now I love mustard, so these ribs had a head start in my book. But I've got to say these were the best ribs I've ever made, bar none. The Paul Kirk rub was very tasty, the ribs were tender, but still had some pull to them and were very moist on the inside. The moist on the inside I attribute to the time in foil. Everybody loved them and said they were the best ribs they ever had, even though most of them hadn't had mustard BBQ sauced ribs before. This was an incredible meal: the best ribs I've managed to make, my favorite baked beans and my favorite coleslaw recipe. A five star meal all the way
Here is the amazing mustard sauce: Shealy's. This sauce and the restaurant that makes it both appear in several of my barbecue cookbooks. It is described as the prototypical SC style mustard sauce and best in class. After trying it I can certainly see why.
The ingredients for the rub are gathered. They consist of paprika, dry mustard, cayenne pepper, celery seed, coriander, garlic powder, marjoram, thyme, sea salt and brown sugar.
The rub before and after mixing.
The 4 slabs of St. Louis style ribs are laid out and it's time to trim off a little of the excess fat on the meat side, then trim off the flap of meat and remove the silver skin from the backside.
Here I'm removing the silverskin. You can see the butter knife I used to help get a start lifting up a corner of the silverskin. Once the skin has been lifted, it's easier to grab it with a paper towel than your fingers. One of the reasons I like St. Louis ribs better than babybacks, is that the silverskin on the St. Louis Rams seems thicker and far easier to remove. I generally am able to pull it up in one piece and all in one operation.
The ribs of been rubbed and they will be wrapped in Saran wrap. Then it's off to the fridge for the next 4 hours.
To smoke these ribs I used some Stubbs all natural hardwood briquettes. Since I figured the mustard sauce would give the ribs a powerful flavor, I felt I needed to use a strong wood. So for me there was no other choice other than hickory.
The Stubbs briquettes are a bit hard to light and they require 3 sheets of newspaper to get the charcoal chimney going.
The Stubbs briquettes also take a rather long time to ash over. I find in the summer it takes about 30 minutes in the winter it takes about 45 minutes for the coals to get grey and ashed over. This is where it pays to know your charcoal. I simply use three sheets of newspaper and allow extra time to get the charcoal going.
Meanwhile it's been four hours and I've taken the ribs out of the refrigerator while the CG is heating up.
The ribs are out of the Saran wrap and onto an SR Ultimate Rib Rack.
The ribs are now on the smoker. I have an hour to make the Boss Hawg's BBQ baked beans. Here the beans are done and are in a foil pan ready to go on the CG.
Here are the ribs one hour along, just before being joined by the baked beans.
Here are the ribs 2 1/2 hours along and ready to come off the CG to get wrapped in foil in the kitchen. Meanwhile the beans just keep sharing some of the smoke.
I applied melted butter to the ribs and then brushed on some of the Shealy's BBQ sauce.
Here are the 4 racks of ribs, which have been sealed in a double layer of aluminum foil and they're back on the rib rack and back on the CG.
After 30 minutes I took the ribs back in the kitchen and unfoiled them. The 30 minute time in foil looked to be perfect. The ribs were juicy but were not overbraised.
The ribs have been rushed with some more of this Shealy's BBQ sauce and are back on the SR rib rack ready to go back out to the CG for one final hour.
Dyal also sent me a T-shirt which he insisted was part of the process of making genuine SC style ribs. I was pretty sure he was conning me, but I didn't want to create bad karma so I wore the T-shirt during the whole cook. Here my wife caught me popping up the lid of the CG to see if the ribs are ready to come off.
An hour after coming out of the aluminum foil, the ribs were indeed ready. The bones were sticking out a quarter of an inch or more. This is like Mother Natures version of a pop-up thermometer.
I cut the ribs into serving sized sections consisting of 3 to 4 bones. The ribs were sauced once more with the Shealy's BBQ sauce.
Time to eat! Here are the South Carolina style ribs, the Boss Hawg's BBQ baked beans and the Memphis Mustard Slaw.
I also had some tasty 8-grain multigrain bread to serve with the ribs.
Dyal must've been right about wearing the T-shirt being part of the process, because these were certainly the best ribs I've ever turned out.
The ribs have a great smoke ring and a nice smoky flavor that paired nicely with the sweet and spicy mustard sauce. And then there's mustard and pork... that is just one of thse SPECIAL relationships.
With this picture I'm stealing a page out of Dyal's book. This seems to be a favorite pose for him when he is taking pictures of his rib cooks.


text:
SEC's Top 25 players: No. 2 Jadeveon Clowney
Published: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at 12:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, July 22, 2013 at 3:28 p.m.
Gatorsports.com counts down this season's standout players in the nation's toughest conference.
No. 2 Jadeveon Clowney
Position: Defensive end
School: South Carolina
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 274 pounds
Year: Junior
Why he's No. 2:In only two seasons, Clowney has already established himself as one of the most dominant defensive players in SEC history. Some might argue that he is the most dominant. He plays with great intensity and is almost unblockable in one-on-one situations with opposing offensive linemen. He already ranks fifth in USC history with 21 sacks (the school record is 29) and is tied for second with 35.5 tackles for loss. He was a first-team All-America selection last season and finished sixth in the Heisman voting. He was named the Hendricks Award winner as the nation's outstanding defensive end, becoming the first sophomore to win the award.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
FAILURE to turn a glut of chances into goals cost Forest Green dearly as play-off rivals Kidderminster swapped places with them, writes Richard Joyce.
Anthony Malbon's first half goal was enough to separate the two teams, although the visitors had on song goalkeeper Danny Lewis to thank for a number of good stops as Kiddy gained revenge for their defeat to Rovers at Aggborough in August by the same scoreline.
A mass of second half pressure from Rovers saw them come close as Yan Klukowski, Paul Green and Matty Taylor all had chances to win it but the visitors held out to maintain their excellent league form.
Eddie Oshodi began the game in an alternative central midfield position for injury struck Rovers, who had seven key first team players sat in the stands.
The evening's spectacle would prove to be a scrappy, tense affair and it was Malbon's instinctive finish just before the half-hour mark that sparked some drama.
Rovers failed to clear properly and former Port Vale man Malbon swooped in to hammer home on the edge of the six yard box to nudge the visitors in front.
Magno Vieira attempted a similar kind of finish down the opposite end in response to no avail, while Oshodi headed well over from Klukowski's set piece delivery after Mickey Demetriou had hacked down James Norwood.
Forest Green almost drew parity in the concluding opportunity of the half when a neat move saw Chris Stokes feed Taylor, who laid off for Norwood to blast over.
A much livelier second half saw Forest Green on the front foot and shot stopper Lewis pulled off the first of a number of good stops to stop Klukowski from netting his well-placed free kick.
Norwood then fired over after tucking in while Klukowski headed wide after the workmanlike Green had dug out a deep cross.
Rovers' Sam Russell mirrored his goalkeeping opponent with arguably the finest save of the evening as he stretched to keep Amari Morgan-Smith's header out of the top corner.
Lewis then delivered his finest stop of the evening as he tipped Klukowski's close range effort around the post while Taylor flashed a powerful shot across the face of goal shortly after.
The visitors' keeper was not to be beaten, and his good stop when Taylor tried finishing a one-on-one and follow up save from Vieira suggested that it just wasn't to be for Rovers, who had one last chance late on after Danny Jackman had hit the post for the away side.
Green picked up on a loose ball outside the Kidderminster box and hammered a deflected effort, which skimmed past the post, but Rovers couldn't find the goal they fought so long for and Kidderminster returned to Worcestershire with maximum points.


text:
Your Questions
The stuff people wonder about
You have questions, we have answers! You can search our knowledge base for answers to specific questions, or view the entire FAQ list at one time, learn about ideas for recycling your "Nancyware," and even inquire about coupons.
Our Top 3 FAQs
Q: Which of your products are completely casein-free or dairy free?
Q: Some of Nancy's Products are sweeteend with Agave. What is Agave?
Q: Why is Nancy's cottage cheese more tart than other brands?


text:
scottsdale nightlife guide Archives
From Dusk 'til Dawn: Your Scottsdale Nightlife Guide
August 3, 2012 by in Date Night | Scottsdale Living Magazine
Same bar, same bartender, night after night — what's the fun in that? Whether you're planning a memorable evening or more interested in creating a scandalously forgettable night, try something new (with someone new) with this nightlife guide as your source. From theaters and comedy clubs to bars, clubs and the live music scene, this… Read More →


text:
Blend all ingredients in a blender. Store in a well sealed jar in the refrigerator, up to 5 days. Shake well before using. Makes about 1 1/4 cups.
For a spicy flavor use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon Eden Hot Pepper Sesame Oil and reduce the Toasted Sesame Oil by 1/2 to 1 teaspoon.
Per serving - 133 calories, 9 gram fat (62% calories from fat), 1 gram protein, 12 gram carbohydrate, 0 gram fiber, 0 milligram cholesterol, 171 milligram sodium


text:
Patriot DDR400 2-2-2/DDR533 3-4-4: Performance AND Valueby Wesley Fink on 4/8/2005 12:05 AM EST
- Posted in
- Memory
23 Comments
Back to Article
Reapsy00 - Tuesday, April 12, 2005 - linkI just got this ram for my nforce2 system :D Reply
Auric - Monday, April 11, 2005 - linkArticle seems to imply these are new but they have been available since last Autumn. Also, they are tested at five performance ratings, not two, which eliminates much of the messin' when overclocking the FSB/CPU.
http://www.pdpsys.com/products/PDC1G512G3200+XBLK.... Reply
chennhui - Sunday, April 10, 2005 - linkDear Wesley Fink, May I know the memory timing used for PDP at highest performance 315, i.e. tRFC, tRRD, tWR,tWTR, tRTW, tREF, DQS, Drive strenght ect. If it is set to Auto, could you please read the value with Athlon64 Tweaker? :-) Does 315MHz 1:1 passed memtest test 8 and prime95 stress test? This is because I am running PDP stable at 289MHz, 3.0-4-4-10 Thanks. Reply
KayKay - Friday, April 08, 2005 - linkAny idea if this product is sold in Canada? I really like the balance of value and performance. Reply
Wesley Fink - Friday, April 08, 2005 - link#16 - It is XBLK as you found, and the article has been updated. My tests for dyslexia are next week :-) Reply
ozzimark - Friday, April 08, 2005 - linkIt brought a tear to my eye that you guys have already gotten the Everest benchmarks worked into the review. :)
though, out of curiosity, do you plan to go back with the ram you tested previously on the dfi and add the everest scores to them? i'm sure it'll take up quite a bit of time though :/ Reply
sonicDivx - Friday, April 08, 2005 - linkXBLK is what it is.
I currently use it an hit the following stable.
Memory: 280 2.5-3-4-7 2.8v 1:1 ratio
Wish had the DFI board I think with 2.9 I could hit 290. I have hit 282 with 2.5-4-4 2.85v but that is really the limit. with my NEO2.
Its nice memory, when I purchased had gotten it for 186 :)
wildguy2k - Friday, April 08, 2005 - linkDunno if there are 2 different kinds, but throughout the article, you refer to it as XLBK, & the only results I can find price-wise are for XBLK. FYI. Reply
Wesley Fink - Friday, April 08, 2005 - link#9 - The unique appearance of the back of the Brainpower PCB is much clearer in the p.2 photo in our Corsair PC4400 review at http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=231...
OR you can direct link the Corsair Brainpower photo at http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/memory/ddr/cor... Reply
Wesley Fink - Friday, April 08, 2005 - link#11 - It should read "Memory Read performance increased about 29% with this 50% speed increase, while Memory Write performance improved by just 17%."
The review has been corrected.
#13 - It depends on which Kingston you are talking about. We include two Kingston Value Ram products in next week's Value RAM Roundup. Reply
sphinx - Friday, April 08, 2005 - linkGreat article. But, how well does it perform against Kingston. Reply
overclockingoodness - Friday, April 08, 2005 - link#10: While I understand how that may be useful in certain articles, I think it would only delay the time of the article. I bet it already takes AnandTech quite a bit of time to produce each article and when they start to add this "Dual-Core" section, I don't think it will really work out.
Besides, it would start to get pretty annoying after a while. They might as well do a short piece on memory and how it effects dual-core. A seperate article may be cool, but I don't think I would want a dual-core section in memory reviews or anything else. Reply
mariush - Friday, April 08, 2005 - linkSomething is wrong here ( page 4 )
While maintaining a constant CPU Speed of 2.4GHz, we measured the impact of increasing the Memory Speed from 200 to 300, a 50% increase. Memory Write performance increased about 29% with this 50% speed increase, while Memory Write performance improved by just 17%. Reply
Determinant - Friday, April 08, 2005 - linkHey guys (AnandTech staff),
Just want to say that I've recently been really impressed with the quality and thought that goes into your articles.
I have a suggestion; Now that dual cores are upon us, I think that it would be a really good idea to have a new section in each article. The new section would show how the current product being tested allows for more functionality.
I'll explain: For example, a lot of people have been complaining about the dual core benchmarks saying that it isn't how they use their computer but that's because they have adapted to a single core environment. Alot of people (me included) turn off antivirus & spyware checkers etc when playing a game not because they want to but because it affects their gaming experience.
So, for example, in memmory reviews, I don't know if memmory affects the functionality on a dual core system (eg. does this faster memmory also allow me to listen to mp3's while gaming)
Me personally, I will purchase a dual core cpu not because it improves the performance of my current application but only because it allows me to have increased funcionality, less hassle, and a more enjoyable experience (I won't have to worry about stopping my antivirus when going into a game). Of course, more speed is always welcome.
If interested, I can provide examples of functionality that I would be interested in (eg. things that I would like to be able to accomplish with my computer).
Cheers. Reply
mongoosesRawesome - Friday, April 08, 2005 - linkConsidering how depending memory performance is on the actual speed of the CPU for Athlon64 systems, it would seem to me that people should be buying relatively cheap PC3200 Cas 2 ram and running with a divider. You can easily reach 90 percent of the performance without having to use 1:1 divider, as long as your divider and multiplier allow you to reach the same CPU speeds.
Currently at newegg.com PC3200 CAS 2-3-2-5 T1 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?desc...
Also - "As you can see in the photo, there are just 8 small components in a row just above the gold connectors. Other boards for TCCD memory have many more components in this row. " Maybe its just me, but I can't see what you are trying to point out in the small picture. Maybe if you linked to the full size pic?
Wesley Fink - Friday, April 08, 2005 - link#1 - Supposedly the memory controller runs at the same voltage as the CPU, since it is part of the CPU on the Athlon 64. The memory itself is what runs at 3.3V with VX, and it warranted to 3.5V by OCZ. The fate of the memory controller would therfore be dependent on the voltage used for the CPU. We rarely use more than 1.55V with a CPU with a default of 1.5V.
#4 - The testing is complete for a Value RAM roundup which will appear next week.
#6 - Corrected.
#7 - We have not tested the TwinMOS with the same chips used in OCZ VX, but we have included OCZ Value VX in our upcoming Value RAM Rounup. It costs about $115 for a Gigabyte (2x512) and is made from Winbond UTT chips that have not been binned - like the TwinMOS. You will see how it performs in our Value RAM Roundup. Reply
n yusef - Friday, April 08, 2005 - linkGreat article. You guys need to do an article on the new TwinMOS value RAM with the (is Bh-5 or UTT, I forget) Winbond chips though. Reply
JustAnAverageGuy - Friday, April 08, 2005 - linkPage 3:
The website is http://www.lavalys.com/ not http://www.lavasys.com/ Reply
Shinei - Friday, April 08, 2005 - linkMan, DDR630 at reasonable timings... Looks like another nail in DDR2's coffin. I wonder if the RAM could be coerced to tighten up its timings if one was to feed it 3.0 or 3.1 volts instead of 2.9v... Reply
JustAnAverageGuy - Friday, April 08, 2005 - linkStill waiting for a comparison against value memory :P Reply
Googer - Friday, April 08, 2005 - linkDoes anyone know of the home page for the company that makes these brainpower pcb's? Reply
bupkus - Friday, April 08, 2005 - linkIt would seem that at least DFI had planned for it. Reply
JoKeRr - Friday, April 08, 2005 - linkfirst READ!
question: running VX continually at 3.3+V, will it damage the memory controller in the long term??
Great review, had a friend with this ram, and it's at DDR600 as well on a A8NSLI DLX.


text:
Topic: Small Victories and Out of Network Advice Please!
It is funny how this disease can make the least bit of positive news seems like a cure.
Some of you may recall my dismay with the last physician team and hospital where my father was a patient. Not long after, I read an article in the local paper (Charlotte Observer) about a surgeon doing wondrous things for liver cancer. I contacted his office, and they scheduled my father for a tri-phase scan (something no one else had done) and a consultation. And while surgery is not in the cards, this beautiful man walked in the room on Thursday and announced


text:
PHILADELPHIA – The Penn gymnastics team was back in action on Friday night for the first time this season. The first event of the night was the annual Red vs. Blue Intrasquad meet, and head coach John Ceralde got a chance to see what the majority of his roster has to offer for this upcoming season. Following the meet, Ceralde and his team received their Ivy Classic championship rings – the second consecutive year they did so.
Ceralde introduced the ring ceremony by listing off his team's record-setting accomplishments from the prior season – one in which it added an ECAC championship and a few outstanding individual performances at the NCAA Regionals and USAG Nationals to its second consecutive Ivy Classic title. Last season's seniors also made the trip back, receiving their rings with the rest of the squad on Friday night.
As for the match, almost everyone healthy enough did compete, giving Ceralde a good look at what he has to work with in his quest for an Ivy Classic threepeat. Some names that highlighted the match were Dana Bonincontri, Keolamau Yee, and Kirsten Strausbaugh to name a few. Bonincontri – scored the highest on the night on vault, bars, and tied for the highest on beam and floor – and Strausbaugh – tied for the highest score on floor – were simply continuing their success from last season. Yee – tied for the highest score on beam – made her first appearance since her freshman year after missing all of last season with an injury. The native of Hawaii showed flashes of the talent she will bring to this season's roster with her consistent routine.
In addition, five of the six freshmen on this year's roster made their Quaker debut. Morgan Venuti competed on vault and bars, posting one of the top scores on bars for the night. Amber Hu competed on vault, bars, beam, and floor, posting the second highest score of the night on beam. Carissa Lim competed on vault, beam, and floor, posting the team's second highest score on vault. Emily Paterson showed great improvement on her release move on bars, and also competed on vault. Lastly, Elyse Shenberger, the lone rookie on the red squad, participated on vault, beam, and floor, posting competitive scores on vault and beam.
The Quakers will hit the mat for their season opener on Jan. 13 in Washington, D.C. at the George Washington Invitational.


text:
Mumbai, Sep 17 (IANS) The stage is set for constructing the 33.5-km long, fully underground Mumbai Metro-3 line with Japanese finance - the first instalment which is to the tune of 71,000 million yen (Rs.4,553 crore), an official said here.
An agreement was signed between Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Indian government in New Delhi, where JICA has pledged the first tranche of the 1.40 percent, 30-year loan for the mega-infrastructure project, according to an official of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
The Mumbai Metro-3, one of the biggest in the entire planned network, will be the city's first fully underground stretch - from south Mumbai's tip Colaba to Bandra to Santacruz Airport to SEEPZ in Andheri east.
The JICA agreement follows a commitment by Japan vide Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development for the first loan instalment signed March 25 this year.
The Japanese loan - which would comprise 57.2 percent of the total estimated project cost of Rs.23,136 crore - would be spent on constructing the line, along with tunnels running below the sea creeks, railway stations and allied facilities, rolling stock, system component and consulting services.
With this agreement, the executive agency, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation will now be a joint venture company of the state and central government.
As per present plans, the project will commence this year itself and will be completed in 2020, the MMRDA official said.
The other finance will come from the central and state equity of 10.4 percent each, sub-debt by the central government (4.4 percent), sub-debt by the state (7 percent), property development and impact fee (4.3 percent), stakeholder contribution from the Mumbai International Airport Ltd. (3.4 percent) and MMRDA grant/aside funding (2.9 percent).
The project will give a boost to the public transport network in the country's financial capital where the existing roads and railway networks are severely congested owing to lack of space for expansion.
"This is a very crucial project and has got the required impetus. It will afford Mumbai the required mobility and bring back the aura it has almost lost in recent times," MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner U.P.S. Madan said on the occasion.
"The JICA loan to this project will go a long way in in addressing the major problem of urban congestion in Mumbai where people spent endless hours on roads and local trains are overloaded. On completion, it will considerably help improve the quality of life of the common Mumbaikar," said JICA chief representative Shinya Ejima.
The Mumbai Metro-3 will have 26 underground stations starting from Cuffe Parade and passing through Worli, Bandra, the domestic and international airports and finally terminating at SEEPZ near Jogeshwari.
It will also provide passenger interchange facilities with Central Railway at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Western Railway at Churchgate, Mumbai Central and Mahalaxmi, and the upcoming Metro-1 at Marol Naka, Metro-2 at Bandra-Kurla Complex and Monorail at Mahalaxmi, the intention being to provide seamless travel across the city.


text:
Makeup Makeover Challenge
Day 1
I like my everyday style—first I comb in mousse, then blow-dry upside down (for volume), set in hot rollers, and hairspray—but after two years, it's time to break out of my lost-Kardashian-sister rut.
Time: 30 minutes*
Tools: John Frieda Luxurious Volume Thickening Mousse, Conair 1-inch hot roller s, Paul Mitchell Hold Me Tight finishing spray
*Washing and drying time not included.
Day 2
I take a 180 from my loose-wave comfort zone with a visit to NYC's hair hot spot, the John Barrett Braid Bar at Bergdorf Goodman. I ask for a boho-chic updo, and this Nicole-Richie-goes-to-Williamsburg look makes it through a Grouplove concert and the after-party.
Time: 20 minutes
Tools: Stylist Isabel Guillen, Shu Uemura Essence Absolue oil, 15 bobby pins
2011 Celebrity Makeovers


text:
Wittenberg Expands Academic Offerings with New Health Sciences Minor
November 24, 2010
Filed in Campus Headlines
Springfield, Ohio – Wittenberg University students pursuing careers in the health professions now have an extra edge in their field thanks to the a new health sciences minor offered by the Department of Biology. Designed by Professor of Biology Cathy Pederson, the minor gives students a well-rounded perspective of the medical field by offering courses in the humanities and providing a wide range of hands-on learning opportunities.
In keeping with Wittenberg's liberal arts tradition, students who choose the health sciences minor will step out of the "hard science" component of medicine and gain a deeper understanding of the entire field.
"We created the minor to help students interested in one of the health professions broaden their perspective by taking a variety of interdisciplinary courses, in addition to their prerequisites for professional schools," said Pederson.
The minor is designed to better prepare students for further education in a range of medical professions, including biomedical ethics, chiropractic medicine, dentistry, genetic counseling, hospital administration, allopathic and osteopathic medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physician assistant, podiatric medicine and public health.
"Having a focused health sciences minor definitely helps in landing jobs in this particular field," said Associate Professor of Biology and Pre-Health Advisor Matthew Collier. "It also allows students to explore health-related fields other than 'straight up medicine,' such as hospital administration or the economics of health care."
The health sciences minor consists of two parts: broad-based course work and significant professional experience. The course work gives students a strong foundation in basic science while allowing students to take other classes based on their interests. Students can take classes in many departments, including English, psychology, and even theater and dance.
The second major component of the minor is the opportunity for hands-on learning through a clinical internship in the community or by working with a Wittenberg faculty member on a medically-related research project. These opportunities allow students to explore in-depth a health-related field or topic of interest to them.
"This kind of one-on-one experience with a mentor in the health profession of their choice is a wonderful opportunity for our students," said Pederson.
Every semester, 20 internship positions are available in the community. Students are paired with a professional mentor whom they accompany on daily rounds and other daily activities. At the end of the internship, students present their work publicly.
"These experiences are eye-opening and really help our students identify the type of health- related career they want to pursue," Collier said.
The health sciences minor became available to students in the fall 2010 semester.
"As for the future, we are always looking to make our pre-health professional program stronger," said Collier. "We hope to establish cooperative agreements with several graduate medical programs and expand our clinical internship program. And we are seeing our Pre-Health Professions Club become more active than it has been in the past."
Written By: Laura Johnson '11 and Gabrielle Antoniadis
Photo By: Erin Pence


text:
BuzzFeed has a roundup of 19 Olympians Who Think Their Medals Are Food. We get famished just sitting in front of a computer all day, so we can imagine the insatiable hunger one might feel after swimming 400 meters. Nevertheless, there are much more nutritious and flavorful ways to taste gold. We've put together our top chefs' best gold and silver recipes after the jump so you can live like an Olympic champion.
Nadia G.'s "Liquid Gold" Chicken Broth
Nothing is more soothing for the mind or body than Nadia G.'s traditional chicken soup.
Ellie Krieger's Golden Crushed Potatoes
Comforting, easy and healthy: the ultimate trifecta.
Bobby Flay's Silver Dollar Buttermilk-Pecan Pancakes
Like the vaulters in London, you'll flip over Bobby's homemade Bourbon Molasses Butter.
Alton Brown's Gold Cake
Gold Miner's Chili
Support Your Favorite Athletes: The Best Recipes From Around the World


text:
Print this issue
The MBA's Annual Dinner - the highlight of the MBA's March 2 Annual Conference - will feature U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy and National Public Radio's Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg. Kennedy is this year's Legislator of the Year awardee and Totenberg will deliver the keynote address.
For more information on the dinner, the conference's educational offerings or sponsorship opportunities, click here. The early bird registration rate will be honored until Friday, Jan. 26. Register online or call the MBA Member Services Center at (617) 338-0530.


text:
OmniJoin secure web and video conferencing software delivers highly secure voice, video and collaboration through online meetings in our public cloud or your own private cloud. Our cloud is designed for security-conscious businesses with military-grade end-to-end encryption, host authentication, SSL3/TLS/HTTPA transmission security, and multiple levels of meeting password controls.
Learn more about secure web & video conferencing from OmniJoin
OmniJoin delivers best-in-class HD-quality online meetings that combine multi-party video with smoothly synched audio. From the C-suite down, your employees will be able to see their colleagues clearly, share and mark-up files, and play video files virtually and instantly in an online meeting setting. With its surprisingly simple desktop controls and intuitive training and support programs – calls to IT are kept to a minimum.
With our advanced video conferencing technology, you can seamlessly scale from low web resolutions to multipoint, full HD 1080p, making OmniJoin web conferencing the only online meeting service a company needs for both small group collaboration and large boardroom meetings.
With two deployment models, you can choose what is best for your business. Our public cloud offers varying levels of service, and the ability to quickly scale as your business needs grow. Our private cloud can be installed behind your firewall, requires no special hardware, and gives you the utmost control in security, compliance and performance.
Learn more about enterprise-class conferencing
Our robust Admin features give you the utmost control over
the provisioning and use of your online meetings. Turn on and off key features, create profiles, mass import users, deprovision on your terms - and gain peace of mind that your company's online meetings are being used in the way your corporate policies dictate.
Enhance online meeting engagement with advanced collaboration tools including desktop/application/region sharing, whiteboarding, annotation over live applications, and even live media file sharing. Just point and click to share anything you like.
Interoperable video conferencing easily connects our web meeting service and your in-room telepresence system like Cisco®, Polycom® and Lifesize®. Extend the reach of your room based system, providing a unified experience those on in-room video, desktop or mobile devices.
The OmniJoin web and video conferencing mobile app for iOS and Android devices enables you to receive a full host experience right from your mobile device. The OmniJoin Mobile App allows you to communicate and collaborate on the go. Chat, share and markup files, see colleagues clearly, play videos instantly, and more!
Learn more about the OmniJoin® Mobile App
OmniJoin is a business-grade, secure online meeting platform with video conferencing and web conferencing features you need to optimize your online meeting experience. Work more efficiently, improve productivity, and save money, time and hassles
Try it Free


text:
Hot Links! "Oona," "Balthazar," and Other Suggested Baby Names for Will + Kate
Plus: What to get the travel addict in your life for the holidays, how to protect your skin from the ravages of winter, and more!
-Lucia Peters
Now that Kate Middleton is pregnant, we can start suggesting baby names for her and Wills! "Prince Knute," anyone? (TheGloss)
Got a travel addict in your life? These gifts are perfect for any jetsetter. Hello, holiday gift guide! (The Frisky)
Does wintertime make you start you craving all sorts of tasty, warm things? Us, too! From hot chocolate cupcakes to chicken pot pie soup, we've got you covered with pics to drool over… and the corresponding recipes so you can drool over them for real! (The Berry)
Do you feel empty inside, even when you're in the best of relationships? Don't worry—there's help ahead. We've got your back. (YourTango)
Breakups suck—but "why?" isn't the word you should be focusing on when they happen. Read on for the word you SHOULD spend your energy on. (HowAboutWe)
Ugh—itchy, dry winter skin is no fun at all! Good thing that this beauty blogger has found the perfect solution to the problem! (BeautyBloggingJunkie)
Uh oh: Could those holiday treats be wreaking havoc on your skin? Here's how to combat the effects of all that sugar! (YouBeauty)
Oh, hey there, Courtney Stodden. It's been a while. Are you still busy being ridiculous? Judging from what you wore to the King of Thailand's 85th birthday… that would be a yes. (TheGloss)
Yoga is pretty awesome… but sometimes, the people you see AT yoga are not. Be sure to watch out for the loud sigher, the too-much-child-poser, and these other potential irritations! (The Frisky)


text:
Students with Disabilities
If you are requesting testing accommodations (example; reader, scribe, extended time for the writing portion of the placement test) due to a documented disability, you may contact Disability Services. There is no charge for these accommodations.
The Reading, Arithmetic and Elementary Algebra exams are not timed. Please call 508.678.2811, ext. 2955 well in advance of your testing appointment.


text:
Record-breaking numbers of patients attended St Helier and Epsom hospitals last year.
More than 839,000 patients were treated by Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust across its sites between April 2013 and March 2014 - an increase of 4 per cent compared to the previous year.
It is the largest number the trust has dealt with in its history and includes 142,817 visits to A&E and almost 5,000 babies being brought into the world - 3,015 of them at St Helier.
The record breaking figures have been achieved against a backdrop of threats to the hospitals' services - including AA&E and maternity - from Government cuts and the now-defunct Better Service Better Value (BSBV) consultation.
Trust chief executive Chrisha Alagaratnam said: "It is a great source of pride for us to know that so many local people consider us to be a trusted and important establishment in the community that they can rely on.
"We anticipate that the number of visitors across all our hospitals will continue to grow over the next financial year, and we encourage people to continue to use the services of our dedicated staff and volunteer workforce.
"Whilst we feel that these numbers demonstrate the capacity of our sites and the aptitude of our staff, it is important to add that there is much more to our activities than number-crunching.
"Each and every one of our patients is an individual and we strive to deliver excellent care to all of them."
During the year, 427,262 patients were seen at St Helier, 274,090 went to Epsom, 78,866 were seen at Sutton hospital, 10,578 at Leatherhead Hospital, 16,626 at South West London EOC and 31,649 were seen at other satellite sites.
The figures follow the news that the trust's finances have broken even this year after several years during which it had a deficit.


text:
Doggy Day Care in Benton, PA
Drop off your dog at your sitter's home in the morning, and pick them up in the evening.
Caring and reliable dog sitter!
Mcadoo, PA, 18237
Dog Boarding, Drop-In Visits, Doggy Day Care
About: I am a pet sitter because animals are my passion. I was a veterinary technician for 4 years at an animal hospital. I have alot of knowledge when it... (more)
I love to go for runs or walks!!
Millville, PA, 17846
House Sitting, Drop-In Visits, Dog Walking
"Nikki loves animals, especially dogs! She has bonded with our Pit Bull/Boxer Sammy. He senses she is on the way 10 minutes before she arrives. She truly is ... (more)"
Experience exceptional service and a personalized match
From start to finish, we'll handle all the details for you.Learn About Premier
Rover also offers doggy day care in:
|Cambra, PA
|Coles Creek, PA
|Derrs, PA
|Divide, PA
|Jackson, PA
|Pealertown, PA
|Rohrsburg, PA
|Stillwater, PA
|Waller, PA
|Zaner, PA
With Rover, you can find a trustworthy, loving pet sitter to take care of your dog while you're at work or have a day full or errands. Stays are booked on Rover every minute of every day, and more than 92% of the population lives within a short drive of one of the more 40,000 sitters who've listed their services on Rover. That way, you're sure to find a doggy day care who's right for your needs. We're proud that 95% of our sitters have 100% 5-star reviews, and we think your dog will love them too. Search for a sitter who offers doggy day care, schedule a Meet & Greet, and book the stay if it seems like a good fit. No matter how often you need day care, you're sure to find a sitter who will treat your dog like family.


text:
DETROIT - A gift suggestion for children 5 and under by @LaurenWeber84 is the Disney Princess Swirling Lights Cinderella Doll.
According to the company's website:
Disney Princess Swirling Lights Cinderella Doll: It is an unforgettable movie moment when fairy dust swirls around Cinderella and transforms her tattered pink dress into a gorgeous, elegant blue gown perfect for the royal ball. Swirling Lights Cinderella comes dressed in that iconic blue gown and a matching necklace that, when pressed, recreates that fantastic moment: just like in the movie, twinkling lights travel up and down Cinderella's dress as magical music plays.


text:
kayo9 says: "Lehigh with an erotic tease...leaving the rest to your imagination...leaving you wanting more...always more..."
Only voters receive the private messages a model sends to her fans.
Voting is how you show love and appreciation to your favorite models & photographers.
Zivity pays them a cash royalty for each vote they receive.
One sexy hot woman. you are the best. marckezzee
Watching this amazing set from my hotel room does make my feelings about it even hotter ;))TheHowling67
I love to see you in a sheer outfit. You always excite me:Pteddy49
Buy votes to support this artist on Zivity. Votes are $1 each, and when you vote on a set you like, 55% goes to the model and 30% to the photographer. You can vote in the next step after registering and purchasing votes.


text:
Filed under: Lyme disease
Lyme disease is a serious concern for those who spend a lot of time in heavily wooded areas and a especially for the DoD. It's common in the United States and around the world and is caught from the bite of two different species of ticks—the deer tick and the western blacklegged tick.
After spending time in wooded or grassy areas, check yourself all over, including your back (enlist a friend or a mirror to help). The early removal of a tick that's attached to you is key in preventing Lyme, since the tick must be attached for 24-48 hours in order to transmit the bacteria that cause this disease. Ohio State University conducted a study using different tick-removal tools and concluded that all three tools were effective—and confirmed that early removal is more important than the type of tool that is used. The Centers for Disease Control provides easy-to-follow tips on tick removal using just tweezers.
If you know you've been bitten by a tick, or begin to notice symptoms such as a bullseye rash (an early sign of Lyme infection) at a bite location, fatigue, chills, fever, muscle aches, or swollen lymph nodes, you should to see your doctor. Blood tests can be used to confirm whether the symptoms are from Lyme disease. If left untreated, more severe symptoms can occur, such as loss of muscle tone in the face (called Bell's palsy), severe or shooting pain, and heart palpitations. A typical successful treatment includes a course of antibiotics, but there can still be lingering symptoms, called chronic or post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. When it comes to Lyme disease, the best offense is a good defense. Some tips for prevention:
- Wear your military uniform properly. This can help to prevent tick bites since long pants, long sleeves, and pants that are tucked into boots minimize exposed skin.
- Use insect repellents such as DEET or Permethrin.
- If you are in a wooded area, avoid tall grasses and brush. If this isn't possible then be sure to follow tips #4–7 below as you are able.
- Perform a thorough skin check—especially of the hair and base of the skull at the hairline.
- Shower within two hours of being outside. This can help wash off ticks that are still crawling on the skin.
- Examine gear and pets for hitchhiking ticks.
- If you have access to a dryer, put your clothes in it for an hour on high heat to kill any ticks.
If you are interested in more information on diseases and conditions that are spread by ticks, insects, or other pests, you can visit the Armed Forces Pest Management Board.


text:
Shaken? Stirred? Check out 007's other assignments.
©1963 Glidrose Productions, Ltd.; (P)2002 Blackstone Audio Inc.
"A Bond bombshell." (Time)
"Ever suave, ever cool in the face of danger, Agent 007 ages well in this vintage 1964 spy-tale, delivered with sophistication by [Simon Vance]....This is evil with style....Bond is in his element all the way, as is [Vance]...a great read." (AudioFile)
Book blogger at Bookwi.se
"Ernst Bloefeld (of SPECTRE) is back"
When I was a kid I loved James Bond movies. And I still mostly like new James Bond movies. But as I re-watch old ones the cartoonish villains bug me. Lasers to shoot down rockets, stealing all the gold in Fort Knox, etc. are just a bit silly.
I stumbled on the movie of On Her Majesty's Secret Service sometime last year and made it through 20 or 30 minutes. The set up is a bit ridiculous. The bad guy has a lair in the Alps where beautiful girls go to get rid of their allergies. James Bond sneaks in find out what is going on.
The movie was a bit silly, but the book was actually the best of the Bond books I have read. And from a story perspective, it seems to be one of the more realistic. It involves bioterrorism, but I won't reveal the actual story.
This is also the book that is famous for Bond getting married.
As much as I enjoyed it, this is the last of the Bond books I have purchased and I think it is the last I will purchase.
Touching Lives One Martini at a Time
"The Last Good Bond Novel"
This is the final novel Fleming wrote before his death in 1964. Fleming has stopped using the Russians as villains now and is sticking to SPECTRE.
I'd argue that From Russia, with Love is Fleming's best novel; however, this is a close second. Again, it is a clever story with the villain, for once, really only wanting to be left alone. This plot lives in the real world, for once. It is not a fantastic, Grand Guignol tale that borders on science fiction. Blofeld decides that bioterrorism is the way to go this time. Bond is sent in to stop him.
I don't want to say too much for fear of giving away the plot. People who haven't read the book or seen the movie by now are probably rare. But there is always hope. Good stories aren't ruined by spoilers. We all know Romeo & Juliet die, but we still enjoy the story.
Fleming mixes all the elements well in this novel. A great plot, a great love story, and a great travelogue.
Simon Vance, as usual, does a marvelous job of narrating the story. I have become a real fan of his as I have listened to all the Bond novels now. He nails accents. He knows how to hit the beats of a sentence. And, he understands how to communicate the dry tone of Fleming's humor.
If you are going to listen to all of them, that is one thing. If you want to pick out one or two, do this book and From Russia, with Love.
The action-oriented espionage classics by Ian Fleming are always an enjoyable read, or in this case, listen. The audio is great, and the narrator's voice and accent create an enthralling, believable production of the literature.
"A mature Bond speeds through various thrills."
Bond matures and outdoes himself when facing terrifying foes, among them: bio-warfare, Blofeld, and love.
"Best Bond"
This was the best Bond book I have heard on Audible. What a story. Start to finish, absolutely riveting.
"James Bond in love..."
James Bond is restrained when he realizes he has fallen in love with Traci, daughter of a wealthy gangster. The love story is only part of the overall plot. The other part is James Bond undercover to catch evil SPECTRE boss Blowfield. The mind control on the mountain is not the strongest evil machination but it suffices. Bond's escape down the mountain is gripping.
The narrators English accent and tone was perfect for the iconic James Bond character.
"It's Bond!"
If you 007 you will like it! This the first one I've read and I think the movie is more exciting!
"the saddest of the Bond stories?"
Tragedy follows James as he laments Vesper and hunts Blofeld. Dare he have hope for settling down himself? Maybe. Maybe not.
"Great Bond Stiry"
The story held my attention throughout. Nice to see Bond in love although the ending was predictable. Great job on the audio.
Report Inappropriate Content
If you find this review inappropriate and think it should be removed from our site, let us know. This report will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.


text:
FARINGDON Town kept the pressure on the leading pack at the top of North Berks League Division One with a tight 2-1 victory at home to Sutton Courtenay.
Gary Sutton and Robert Owen scored their goals with Ollie Wright replying for Sutton. Faringdon now sit fourth in the table, four points off the top two.
An Adam Brooks penalty and a Josh Nicholls strike gave Wootton & Dry Sandford a tight 2-1 win at Benson AFC, a fourth consecutive victory that moves them level on points with Didcot Casuals at the top of the division. Max Gallagher scored for Benson.
Division Two leaders Abingdon United Reserves won 5-0 against Coleshill United thanks to doubles from Adam Oram and Steve Pitson and a Chris Hooper strike. Second played third in Division Three, with Faringdon Town Reserves beating Harwell International Reserves 2-1 to move level on points with their opponents. In Division Four, Wootton & Dry Sandford Reserves beat Coleshill United Reserves 3-1.
Division Five league leaders Berinsfield Reserves were involved in a remarkable 17-goal thriller with Challow that they eventually won 9-8.
Martin Key hit a hat-trick for Faringdon Town A in their 6-1 win at Sutton Courtenay Reserves to keep them in touch with the leaders. In the Berks & Bucks Junior Cup fourth round, Turnpike Sports won 3-1 at Compton.
In an all-North Berks League match, Division Three leaders Childrey United Reserves won 2-0 at Division Two side Wantage Town A thanks to goals from Dan Cannings and Tom Weeks. Hanney United lost 1-0 to Lambourn Sports Reserves.


text:
County Executive Proposes $3.3 Billion Budget
Feb. 23, 2009
More Information
On Feb. 23, 2009, Fairfax County Executive Anthony H. Griffin proposed a General Fund budget of $3,313,476,563 for Fiscal Year 2010 (July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010), a decrease of 3.70 percent from the FY 2009 Revised Budget Plan. Excluding adjustments in the current fiscal year, the decrease from the FY 2009 Adopted Budget is $39.1 million or 1.17 percent. The proposed budget increases the Real Estate Tax rate to $1.04 per $100 of assessed value. The total of all Appropriated Funds is $5,839,237,244.
The recommended transfer to the Public School Operating Fund is $1,626,600,722, which is the same level as Fiscal Year 2009. However, the transfer request approved by the Fairfax County School Board on Feb. 5, 2009, is $1,683,372,525, an increase of $56.8 million, or 3.5 percent over the FY 2009 Adopted Budget Plan transfer. In addition, the County's Transfer for School Debt Service is $163,767,929, an increase of $9,134,754, or 5.9 percent, over the FY 2009 Revised Budget Plan. The combined transfer for School Operations and Debt Service is $1.790 billion, which represents 54 percent of total County General Fund Disbursements.
The County Executive recommended an increase in the real estate tax rate that will hold average taxes paid by residential property owners relatively flat with their FY 2009 payment level. At the proposed real estate tax rate of $1.04 per $100 of assessed value, along with the newly proposed Stormwater Service District rate of $0.015 per $100 of assessed value, the taxes paid by the average residential taxpayer will be $14 more than their FY 2009 tax bill.
In order to balance this budget, substantial action was needed to eliminate a projected deficit of approximately $650 million. This has been achieved through a three-pronged strategy that sought a balanced approach to the County's budget challenges:
- Eliminate non-contractual or legally obligated growth in the budget that would have provided for inflationary increases, salary adjustments and increasing workloads
- Reduce, reengineer, reorganize, redesign and eliminate various County lines of business
- Include revenue enhancements to keep the same relative tax burden on the residential homeowner and increase user fees to recover an equitable return of County costs to users of various services.
In his presentation to the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 23, Griffin added that this approach "was validated time and again during our Community Dialogues and Employee Brownbags on the budget this fall. All areas of the County's budget will be affected. Schools, public safety and human services comprise approximately 75 percent of the budget. All of these areas will be significantly impacted by my FY 2010 recommendations since it would not be possible to balance the budget without adjustments to these areas while maintaining an acceptable and sustainable level of services. Throughout the Community Dialogue sessions, County residents endorsed the principles of maintaining our current quality of life in Fairfax County. They understood that programmatic reductions would be necessary and called upon us to protect the vulnerable constituencies in our community. Understandably, there were differing perspectives and competing priorities and demands voiced during the public process, but the consensus supported County leaders making decisions based on compassion, equity and fiscal accountability."
The County Executive's proposed FY 2010 Budget includes expenditure reductions totaling $106.4 million and eliminates 524 regular positions. In addition, it includes elimination of County employee compensation increases. Some of these reductions take advantage of cost saving strategies; however, many reduce or eliminate services residents use and enjoy. The reduction alternatives include modification in County service hours and service levels, staffing decreases and program eliminations. Funding reductions were made in virtually every County agency and both County residents and employees will be impacted by these actions.
In summarizing his budget address, Griffin added, "Albert Einstein said, 'In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.' The FY 2010 Budget proposal maintains our commitment to quality service while implementing creative ways to deliver services more effectively and efficiently. I believe our current budget challenge provides an opportunity to make changes in how our services are provided both next year and in the long term. The FY 2010 Budget recommendations will likely change some service expectations of our residents and even the nature of our local government to some extent. In spite of changing expectations and capacity, our commitment to provide effective and efficient government is unwavering."
The following sections provide summary data of interest. For additional information, refer to the Fairfax County FY 2010 Budget Page, where all FY 2010 Budget-related documents are available for review.
General Fund Revenue
Prior to any recommendations for rate changes, the FY 2010 General Fund revenue estimate is $3.017 billion, a decrease of $303.7 million from the FY 2009 Adopted Budget Plan estimates and $265.2 million or 8.1 percent from the FY 2009 Revised Budget Plan level. This baseline revenue estimate is based on a decrease of $208.2 million as a result of the 9.95 percent average decrease in real estate property assessed values and a net reduction of $57.1 million, or 4.6 percent, in all other revenue categories. With the proposed General Fund real estate tax rate increase and other revenue enhancements noted below, total General Fund revenue is anticipated to be $3,296.3 million, an increase of 0.4 percent over the FY 2009 Revised Budget Plan level.
General Fund Disbursements
FY 2010 General Fund Disbursements (which include the General Fund as well as the transfers to Fairfax County Public Schools, Metro, Fairfax Connector and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, among others) total $3.31 billion, which is a decrease of $127.4 million, or 3.70 percent from the FY 2009 Revised Budget Plan. Excluding adjustments in the current fiscal year of $88.3 million, the decrease from the FY 2009 Budget is $39.1 million or 1.17 percent.
Expenditure Reductions
The FY 2010 Budget proposal includes reductions in County spending totaling $106.4 million. All reduction proposals were reviewed and evaluated. These proposals were put forth by County agencies after extensive analysis and professional assessment. They represented creative and innovative approaches to make service delivery more efficient and sought to preserve core county services and those services that protect the health and welfare of County residents. It is important to note that the recommended spending reductions were not made equally across County departments and programs, recognizing that some services are fundamental to the County's core mission. The reductions include:
Program Eliminations: Examples include elimination
of the Supervised Visitation and Exchange program, Hospital-Based
Medical Detoxification services, elimination of staffing for the
County's Watch Center, elimination of the Seniors on the Go!
taxicab voucher program and the County's Publications Desk/Gift
Efficiencies and Restructurings: Examples include
assorted management and administrative positions, outsourcing of
delinquent personal property and BPOL collections, consolidation of
Planning Commission support into the Department of Planning and Zoning,
and revised vehicle replacement schedules.
Facility Closures/Reduced Service Hours/Levels:
Examples include reduced library hours, and the closure of Groveton
Senior Center, the David R. Pinn Community Center, and the Western
Fairfax (Chantilly) Outpatient clinic site.
Employee-Related Reductions: Examples include elimination
of cash awards for most employee award programs, reductions of employee
training funding, elimination of the Magistrate pay supplement,
reduction of employer contribution to health insurance premiums for
part-time employees and elimination of the Police Cadet program.
- Public/Employee Suggestions: Examples include eliminating printed versions of "Courier"- the employee newsletter, various energy-saving measures and changes in the County's PC replacement program.
The FY 2010 Budget proposal eliminates pay increases for employees to include pay for performance, merit increments and longevity step increases as well as the associated fringe benefit funding for a total savings of $19.1 million. It should be noted that the reduction in the pay for performance and merit increases in FY 2010 may also have an impact on employees in terms of the calculation of their retirement annuity. Funding is not included to make an adjustment to the retirement calculation to compensate for this impact.
Proposed Tax Rate and Fee Adjustments for FY 2010
FY 2010 tax rates and/or levies are summarized in the FY 2010 Proposed Tax Rates and Fees Chart.
Other Revenue Enhancements
The FY 2010 Advertised Budget Plan recommends a series of revenue enhancements totaling $12.6 million and not captured in the above table. These increased fees and charges are based on actual costs of service provision, are comparable to rates in neighboring jurisdictions, and are consistent with suggestions from County residents, employees and agencies on budget alternatives. The fee and charge increases are in addition to savings initiatives in these programs and will facilitate retaining of these important programs.
These enhancements include:
- $5.5 million in Land Development Services building and inspection fees
- $2.0 million in zoning fees
- $1.5 million in penalties for late payment of Personal Property Taxes
- $1.3 million in School Age Child Care (SACC) fees
- $0.6 million in Alarm Ordinance Violations
- $0.5 million in fire permits, overtime testing fees, and faulty fire alarms
- $0.3 million in Health Department fees
- $0.2 million in library charges
- $0.2 million in facility rental fees
- $0.1 million in fees charged for field use by non-County residents
- $0.1 million in transportation fees for the summer Therapeutic Recreation Program
- $0.1 million in alarm registration fees
- $0.1 million in fees charged for criminal history records
- $0.02 million in taxes on vehicles without a valid Virginia license plate
Public Hearing
Public hearings on the FY 2010 Advertised Budget Plan will be held in
the Board Auditorium of the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000
Government Center Parkway, Fairfax on March 30 at 7 p.m., March 31 at 3
p.m. and April 1 at 3 p.m. The Fairfax County School Board will
make its budget presentation to the Board of Supervisors during the March
31 hearing, beginning at 7 p.m.
To sign up as a speaker, the public should call the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors at 703-324-3151, TTY 703-324-3903. The Board Auditorium is accessible to persons with disabilities.
Additional Information
For further information on the FY 2010 Advertised Budget Plan, contact the Department of Management and Budget at 703-324-2391, TTY 711, or access the budget online. The entire budget is also available on CD-ROM.
In addition, the public is encouraged to share their thoughts on the budget through the online forum on the County's budget page and/or the telephone hotline, 703-324-9400.
Reference copies of the FY 2010 Advertised Budget Plan are available at all County libraries. A reference copy will also be available in the Office of the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax.
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director, Office of Public Affairs
703-324-3189, TTY 711, Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
To request this information in an alternate format, call 703-324-3187, TTY 711


text:
Stores »
it rocks!
This book shelf is so much fun. It is extremly flexible that I startet to adjust it almost every month whenever I get a new book or poster. I love it.
We are a community of shoppers sharing our best finds from across the web.
© 2017 ThisNext, Inc. ThisNext is a member of BUZZMEDIA Entertainment, a division of BUZZMEDIA.