text:
It should be hard to recall the last time that 70 or more fund managers turned up to hear about a $500 million float.
But just weeks after the brokers on the similarly-sized Virtus Health initial public offering abandoned its boardroom table seating plan and instead opted to squeeze in rows and rows of chairs, the Melbourne offices of broker
Floats are suddenly looking attractive again and even those who aren't entirely convinced about some aspects of iSelect's business admit this float will probably shoot the lights out.
It's not just a question of timing.
iSelect is being pitched by its brokers Baillieu Holst and Credit Suisse as an online business with plenty of growth potential that dominates its category and has a model that has reshaped offshore sectors – with the potential to do so here.
"It's a new, growing industry in its infancy here in Australia that has experienced rapid growth in recent years," says one fund manager who bought shares in a private capital raising in September. "It's a structural shift, like home loans 10 years ago. Now 40 per cent of home loans are written by the broker channel and health insurance is going down that path."
The business, co-founded in 2000 by former JBWere private client adviser
Each time a new policy is bought, the insurers that are on the company's panel are paid a fee, either upfront or on a deferred basis, usually called a trailing commission.
Credit Suisse, one of the company's advisers, estimates iSelect sold 15 to 20 per cent of all new private health insurance policies in the 2011-12 financial year. Put another way, iSelect wrote more than 100,000 new policies in the same year.
Impressive investors
Ahead of its June sharemarket listing, iSelect's team and business model – which has been successfully applied in offshore markets including Britain by rivals including Compare The Market, which recently launched locally – has attracted some impressive investors.
Another early shareholder,
Given that iSelect has done the rounds of institutional investors so recently makes the turnout to its presentations even more surprising (and perhaps a more significant sign that institutional investors are keen to see more IPOs) given that many fund managers are already pretty familiar with the business and its earnings forecasts.
Cynics look at it slightly differently, pointing out iSelect has already secured a strong book of institutional investors, this float will be well supported and difficult to ignore.
Despite the anticipation, there are a few concerns raised by investors, including governance (co-founder Waller is executive chairman). Of greater focus still is the company's poor cash conversion and policy of booking commissions upfront, even though the structure means they will not be paid in full for a number of years.
Three years ago it received half its commissions as upfront payments and half as trail commissions, where the payment is staggered over an agreed period.
Commissions up front
For the 2013 calendar year the company expects that more than 61 per cent of commissions will be up front and it hopes it could be greater if it is successful in flipping one major health provider's payment terms.
Another point of interest for investors when they look at the company's earnings forecast is the group's treatment of a three-year $75 million facility to start-up insurance provider NIA or
During last week's briefings the company told investors it expects to generate earnings before interest, tax,depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $26 million, compared with last year's earnings of $24 million.
The company attributes the flattish growth to the 2012 budget decision to means test the rebate for private health insurance, arguing the policy brought forward a number of sales and caused a slight spike in earnings for 2012. But whatever concerns there might be about parts of the business, no one's arguing about the group's market share or its ability to convert sales. Instead, it's prompting a debate about how iSelect and its competitors could reshape the health insurance industry.
iSelect says it has about 3.5 million leads a year and has consistently improved its conversion rates with its model of using both the internet as well as call-centre staff. It's the call-centre model that slightly differentiates iSelect from its competitors – and a difference the company says means it sells more products, although some investors note that it makes it more expensive to grow than a pure tech business.
In 2010, the company was converting 3.6 per cent of the site visits, while this year it estimates it will be closer to 6.3 per cent. The company and its rivals are making enough of a dent in the insurance market to upset majors Medibank Private and
Aggregators' role
Neither sell products through iSelect, although
"Aggregators have certainly contributed to 'churn' in the industry. They have generated an emphasis on price at the expense of consideration of value," Medibank Private spokeswoman Sarah Chibnall says. "Aggregators have a role to play, particularly in market segments which focus on cost and convenience."
Churn rates have increased, with some estimating that between 9 per cent and 9.5 per cent of customers are lost each year through churn. Five years ago, that range was between 7 per cent and 7.5 per cent. However, others say that can be explained by more customer awareness that has been fuelled by a greater advertising spend.
According to ACNielsen, advertising spend in the insurance industry has increased $90 million since 2007 to $140 million. In 2012, iSelect was estimated to have outlaid about $20 million in advertising fees, less than Bupa and Medibank Private. Bupa, which has recently settled a legal dispute with iSelect, was not available to comment.
Not all insurers see these sites as the enemy.
"I think they've been good for the industry as they've hung another shingle out and driven volume. They don't on their own explain the impressive growth in the industry, they've certainly been part of that story," Fitzgibbon says.
"I think anything that shakes up competition and benefits consumers is good. The risks that are associated [with online price comparison companies] that we've seen in other markets, is the aggregators become so powerful they can dictate terms and conditions. I think that's a very low risk. We still rely heavily on our own organic efforts and we've done tremendously."
He dismisses calls for commission transparency, arguing sites like iSelect are another form of marketing for insurers. "In the end, certainly the commissions are an issue for us to manage and we absorb the commission as part of any acquisition cost . . . when we sell a policy over the phone, we don't tell customers how much advertising costs."
The Australian Financial Review


text:
Daniel Craig, who's best known for playing the secret agent James Bond, has signed up to play the villain in the new Tintin movie.
The 40-year-old actor will play Red Rackham, and Jamie Bell, who starred in the film Billy Elliot, will play the young reporter Tintin.
Filming for The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn has already begun.
The movie is expected to hit cinema screens in 2011.
The film is being directed by Steven Speilberg.
The character of Tintin was created in 1929 by the Belgian artist Georges Remi, better known by his pen name Herge.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
アブカムでは最適な動作のために Google Chrome など最新ブラウザでの閲覧を推奨します。
Our Abpromise guarantee covers the use of ab82115 in the following tested applications.
The application notes include recommended starting dilutions; optimal dilutions/concentrations should be determined by the end user.
Determined by its ability to inhibit the proliferation of HCT116 colorectal carcinoma cells. Approximately 40% growth inhibition was achieved at a DKK-1 concentration of 200ng/ml.
Shipped at 4°C. Store at -20°C. Stable for 12 months at -20°C.
This product is an active protein and may elicit a biological response in vivo, handle with caution.
ab82115 has not yet been referenced specifically in any publications.
Please note: All products are "FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY AND ARE NOT INTENDED FOR DIAGNOSTIC OR THERAPEUTIC USE"


text:
[NEWS FLASH: Google CEO Eric Schmidt has resigned from Apple's board. See here.]
Sometimes you've just got to love the government.
Case in point: the inquiry that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission launched Friday into why exactly Apple (aapl) decided to reject Google's (goog) powerful Google Voice call-management system for the iPhone, and what role AT&T (t) played in the decision.
Hundreds of reporters -- from the tiniest blogs to the most powerful national newspapers -- have been trying since Tuesday to get to the bottom of the story and have run into the same brick wall. The problem is, none of these companies are under any obligation to answer their pesky queries.
But companies do have to answer to the FCC if they want to provide telephone service in the United States. And on Friday, letters sent to Apple, AT&T and Google asked all the right questions. (You can read them yourself below the fold.)
But first, a bit of background.
<!-- more -->The reason everyone is making such a fuss about Google Voice is that it solves -- in theory, at least -- so many of the problems created by modern telephony.
Google Voice started life in 2005 as GrandCentral, a company that offered a single unified life-time phone number in the area code of your choice that would ring all your phones -- home, cell, work, vacation home, etc. It also unified your voice messages, putting them in a single voice mailbox on the Web. And it let you tweak the system to your heart's content, setting up different away messages for different callers, blocking telemarketers and collection agencies, choosing to ignore, erase or listen in on incoming messages, and so on.
Google bought GrandCentral in 2007 and seemed content to let it rot, as GigaOm's Judi Sohn put it her widely reposted January editorial "Will the Last One to Leave GrandCentral Please Turn Out the Lights?" But it turned out that Google had been secretly working on it all along, and in March it unveiled a new and improved version -- redesigned and renamed Google Voice -- with some brand new features, including free conference calling, dirt-cheap international calls and various tricks for turning voice mail into e-mail,
As David Pogue put it in his
New York Times
review: "If Google search revolutionized the Web, and Gmail revolutionized free e-mail, then one thing's for sure: Google Voice, unveiled Thursday, will revolutionize telephones."
Group asks FCC to probe iPhone Skype restrictions
All of which helps explain what there was such outrage earlier this week when iPhone users learned that Apple had formally rejected the Google Voice application and was systematically removing from the App Store any Google Voice-related apps that had already been approved.
"Until recently, Apple has managed the store in a generally benevolent, if not somewhat incompetent manner," wrote TechCrunch's Jason Kinkaid in Apple Is Growing Rotten To The Core. "But now things are taking a turn for the worse."
Why did Apple reject the Google Voice? Did it do it for its own reasons, or did AT&T twist its arm? If so, why does AT&T support Google Voice for its BlackBerry users? What is the nature of Apple's relationship with AT&T? Or, for that matter, with Google? And how, exactly, does this whole App Store approval process work?
The FCC asks all these questions and more in the letters linked to below. The agency has a mandate to make sure telephone service is available to all Americans who need it, even in remote rural areas.
It has launched a broad investigation into the kind of exclusive deals that have, for example, let Apple sell iPhones to AT&T's customers but not Verizon's (vz).
We wish them them well.
To learn more about Google Voice, see the list of features here or watch Google's You Tube video, pasted below.


text:
Search for secure phone
RedPhone :: Secure Calls4.3(547)
Like privacy? Secure your calls for free with RedPhone. It's that simple.RedPhone provides end-to-end encryption for your calls, securing your conversations so that nobody can listen in.★ RedPhone u...
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Phone Secure3.5()
With Phone Secure will have more chances of recovering your phone in case of theft by sending sms. Receive information via SMS and / or e-mail. Settings The first time you start the Secure Phone shows...
Secure Your Android Phone – Washington Post
UberGizmo (blog)Secure Your Android PhoneWashington PostWhether you paid $500 for your Android phone or got it for a pittance with your new cellular contract, it's a good bet that the data stored on your handset ...Android 101: A Guide to Using Your Android PhonePC WorldAndroid Dual-Boot for iPhone ImprovedIntoMobile (blog)Android Apps that put...Read more
How Secure are iPhone and Android Apps – PhysOrg.com
USA TodayHow Secure are iPhone and Android AppsPhysOrg.comIn this article we will examine how an iPhone and Android phone handles security. Both phones handle security radically different. ...More Details Leak Out on Multitasking in iPhone OS 4.0BrighthandHow Android Security Stacks UpMIT Technology Review (blog)Consumers Warming to Paid Mobile App...Read more
Guardian Project To Secure Android Phones – UberGizmo (blog)
UberGizmo (blog)Guardian Project To Secure Android PhonesUberGizmo (blog)While there aren't many (if any) cryptographically secure phones for you to buy off the shelves, but Android phones might just become able to fulfill that ...Guardian Project planning secure Android smartphonesSlashGear (blog)Guardian Project has secure Android smartphones...Read more
Why Are Android monitoring software better than the iPhone monitoring apps?
Perhaps a big difference that not many smartphone users would know is that it's not just the specifications of the two mobile OS (Android and iOS) that differs, it's also about what these mobile operating systems offer to the third party apps. Apple Inc. is very specific with what developers can do with its iOS, but as android being an OpenSour...Read more
The Enterprise Phone System PBX by SendHub Now on Android
2014 brings good news for Android users with a taste for business, because now SendHub's Enterprise Phone System PBX app is available for droids too. If you're a business owner and you're constantly travelling, along with your partners and colleagues, SendHub brings you the perfect tool for optimizing your communications while on the go. Se...Read more
NSA Can Tap Into Your Android Smartphone Anytime They Want
A new top secret document leaked by Edward Snowden in the huge NSA privacy scandal now reveals another astounding fact : if you're a smartphone user, running on Android, iOS or BlackBerry OS, your private data can be tapped by the NSA at any time. The German newspaper Der Spiegel published the document which proves that the National Securi...Read more
SmartPhones Outsell Feature Phones for the First Time in History, Thanks to Android
According to the latest data released by Gartner in Q2 of 2013, we are living historical times : for the first time ever, smartphones outsold "dumb phones", courtesy of Android Mobile. What can I say, achievement unlocked for Android, what's next? World Peace, obviously. Let's get serious and take a look at the graph: The worldwide sales ...Read more
Android Malware Discovered by F-Secure, Capable of Stealing Passwords
New Android Malware has been discovered, it is known as "USB cleaver" and it's a sneaky one this time. You may ask yourself why is this different from your regular malicious software infecting your digital belongings Well, the new Android Malware is capable of infecting both your smartphone and your laptop/personal computer. And its final goal i...Read more
HTC overtakes Samsung in smartphone sales in Japan
HTC surpassed Samsung for fifth place in the Japanese smartphone market during the first quarter of this year, according to market research firm IDC Japan on Wednesday.IDC's report found that HTC managed to secure a 6.6 percent share of the Japanese smartphone market in Q1 2013. But rather than the popular HTC One, it appears that the J Butterfly...Read more
Over Half of the Smartphones Sold in April in US Run on Android OS
Yeah, you got that right, Android is the crowned king when it comes to mobile OS sales in April in the US. Kantar Worldpanel released the latest figures, and according to them, Android is running on 52% of the smart phones sold in the United States in April. It is very interesting to see how things develop in the mobile phone OS market, especial...Read more
Are smartphone component shortages here to stay?
We already know that the reason behind the Snapdragon 600 and Exynos Octa split in the Galaxy S4 came down to production issues, and how can anyone forget the HTC One's component shortages. It's obvious that there's a growing trend with production difficulties in the smartphone market, and it seems that other component manufacturers are a...Read more
Android OS controls 75% of the Smartphone Market in Q1
Gartner,a reputable market analyst company, revealed the sales figures for the Q1 of 2013 and according to the report, Android OS continues to dominate with 75 % market share. This means that 3 in 4 smartphones sold in 2013 are running on Android OS. The total sales figure for Q1 of 2013 is 210 million units, from which 156 million are powered...Read more
Samsung Knox to Help Users Secure The New Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung Galaxy S4 to have built in LoJack Called Samsung Knox The hottest thing in the Android world now is the long awaited Samsung Galaxy S4 and as the initial launch date of Samsung's new flagship smartphone gets closer we learn more about what the Galaxy S4 will offer us. The latest news is a bit more information on the new Samsung Knox feat...Read more
WISePhone FREE5(4)
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text:
Recalls Recalls All Around
DETROIT, April 29, 2003; Reuters reports tha Nissan Motor Co. will recall 268,000 vehicles to fix an engine part that could cause a fire, and was working to fix another problem that could also lead to a fire, federal safety officials said on Tuesday.
The monthly list of auto recalls from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also included recalls involving General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler arm and other automakers.
The NHTSA said Nissan's recall covered 2002 and 2003 Nissan Altima and Sentra cars sold with 2.5 liter four-cylinder engines. A pin on the exhaust pipe hanger can catch road debris, which could catch fire from the heat of the engine. Dealers will remove the protruding part of the pin.
But the NHTSA also said Nissan was still trying to solve a problem with the catalyst that could eventually lead to the engine burning oil and possibly a fire. Nissan spokespeople did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Other recalls announced by NHTSA on Tuesday include:
--Ford will replace the windshields on 67,894 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable sedans that don't meet federal standards. Ford spokesman Glenn Ray said NHTSA found a problem with the windshields on some 2002 and 2003 models, which Ford traced to an assembly problem.
--GM will recall about 52,000 of its Cadillac CTS luxury sedans to fix a bolt on the steering shaft which could loosen, potentially causing the driver to lose control. The automaker said it was aware of two instances where the bolt loosened, but no crashes resulted.
Cadillac dealers will inspect the steering shaft and ensure that the bolt is tightened, GM said.
--Chrysler will recall 287,725 2002 Dodge Ram pickups to fix a wiring problem that could cause the heater fan to shut off.
--BMW AG will recall 5,110 of its Mini Cooper cars to fix a screw on the rear suspension struts that could break.


text:
Is a 133000 BTUH hanging heater big enough to heat an insulated metal building 30x40? This is a workshop for a friend of mine.
Are you in Alaska or Florida ?
Dude, that sounds huge for 1200 sq. feet.
Now the freaks are on television, the freaks are in the movies. And its no longer the sideshow, its the whole show. The colorful circus and the clowns and the elephants, for all intents and purposes, are gone, and were dealing only with the freaks. - Jonathan Winters
North Georgia. Gets in the low twenties around here. Building has high ceilings and two big ole garage doors.
No problemo
Forum Rules


text:
Gold Bears In Trouble As Central Banks Continue Buying
August 11, 2012
With market participants eagerly waiting to see if gold and the mining shares will have a major breakout during the month of August, today King World News interviewed 25 year veteran Caesar Bryan over at Gabelli & Company, which has over $31 billion under management. Here is what Ceasar had to say regarding the gold market, Europe, the US, and mining shares: "The gold price has continued to trade over $1,600 as of late. It seems to be putting in higher lows since May, and I would expect the gold price to perform pretty well as the summer ends and we come into the seasonally strong time in autumn."
Caesar Bryan continues:
"Meanwhile, we've had the news that the Korean Central Bank has added 16 tons of gold to their reserves. But the key here is we can now emphatically state there is absolutely no question that central banks now, on dips, want to add to their reserves.
We also have other key central banks around the world continuing the policy of debasing their currencies, and this continued debasement is a clear signal to these other central banks to keep on accumulating gold. This has to be troubling to the gold bears. The bears have made repeated attempts to break down the gold price, but all attempts have failed.
So this is a perfect setup for the gold price to move higher, not only in US dollars but also in terms of other currencies as well….
The Rest…HERE


text:
|Liu, B.
|Nearing, Mark
|Baffaut, Claire
|Ascough Ii, James
Submitted to: Transactions of the ASAE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/3/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model is used to predict erosion on hillslopes and small watersheds. It is used to help land users understand and evaluate the impacts of land management practices on soil loss and sediment yields from their land. It is also used by scientists and others to inventory the amount of erosion which is occurring across agricultural regions, which provides information for developing national and regional soil conservation policy. This study was undertaken to assess the accuracy of the WEPP model calculations of surface runoff and soil erosion on small agricultural watersheds. Fifteen such watersheds were selected from 6 locations around the United States, including sites in Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Mississippi. The study showed that the model performed well within the expected accuracy of natural resource models, and it pointed out some possibilities for model improvement for specific applications.
Technical Abstract: The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) watershed scale model was developed by the USDA for purposes of erosion assessment and conservation planning. Several sensitivity analyses and evaluation studies have been conducted for the WEPP hillslope version, but few efforts have been made to evaluate the accuracy of WEPP watershed model predictions by comparing predicted results to measured data. The purpose of this study was to evaluate WEPP watershed model applicability and prediction accuracy for small watersheds under different climates, topographies, soils, and managements. Data from 15 watersheds from 6 locations in the United States were compared to runoff and sediment yields estimates using WEPP95. The result shows that the WEPP predicted reasonable average annual and event runoff and sediment yield with default parameter estimation procedures for most of the sites and individual watersheds. Model efficiencies for storm by storm runoff and sediment yield were quite reasonable for general conditions. The distributions of measured and predicted events were similar. This study also pointed out the potential areas for model improvement, including better and more specific silage routines, addition of a weed component to the plant growth and management model, and better linkage of the sediment from contoured hillslopes to the watershed channel system.


text:
As of April 3, 2017, this fund's Select share class has been renamed to I. Please see the prospectus for more details.
Complement your core.
Using an absolute-return-oriented approach, the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund invests flexibly across traditional, alternative and private fixed income which seeks to provide uncorrelated, low volatility returns regardless of market environment.
Key Points
- Lead portfolio manager Bill Eigen maximizes the insights of his proven team of absolute return investors with niche market expertise.
- With its ability to provide uncorrelated, low volatility returns, this benchmark-agnostic portfolio may act as a diversifier to traditional fixed income, a hedged credit option or an alternative strategy.
- Historically provided strong uncorrelated returns when interest rates have been volatile and has delivered a top-decile sharpe ratio since inception.1
- A true portfolio diversifier that complements traditional fixed income.
Chart source: J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Data as of 6/30/17. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
1Source: Morningstar as of 6/30/17. Nontraditional Bond category. I Shares. Sharpe ratio measures a manager's excess return over risk-free rate of return (normally cash return), divided by the standard deviation; Ranked: 1 yr. (105/351), 3-yrs. (77/278), 5-yrs. (16/190) and 10-yrs. n/a. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Absolute return bond investing: multiple approaches to mitigate riskBill Eigen | July 15, 2014
Portfolio manager Bill Eigen describes his philosophy toward absolute return fixed income investing.
As of July 31, 2017
Month in review
- July was a fairly quiet month as volatility continued to be muted across global markets. However, under the surface there were plenty of moving parts that are sure to have implications moving forward. The euro continued to strengthen significantly as an abatement of political risks and improving macroeconomic data in the Eurozone was beneficial for the currency, while the U.S. dollar traded at recent lows.
- Commodity prices re-bounded in July, helping to calm fears about the knock-on effects in credit and emerging markets.
- While there were no major changes for the world's largest central banks in July, we may hear about policy changes in August. ECB President Mario Draghi will be attending the Fed Summit at Jackson Hole, where many investors expect to hear details about the ECB tapering its bond buying program. Meanwhile, investors will also be looking to ascertain details of the Fed's balance sheet winddown.
- Global growth continues to firm. In the United States, the first estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter was 2.6%, a solid rebound from slower growth exhibited in the first quarter. Meanwhile, in the Eurozone GDP is trending at an annualized 2.1%, the first time growth has been above 2% since 2011.
Looking ahead
- July continued the trend of historically low volatility and we expect this to change as heading into the closing months of 2017.
- We have moved towards a more cautious posture, which will allow the Fund to be a liquidity provider should volatility increase from here – a hallmark of the strategy since inception.
- We will pay close attention to global central bank commentary in August as we believe this could be the impetus for a change in market direction.
Fees and Minimums
Fund Managers
William Eigen
Portfolio Manager
Jarred Sherman
Portfolio Manager
Jeffrey Wheeler
Portfolio Manager
Charles E. McCarthy
Portfolio Manager
Supplemental Information
- Uncertified Portfolio Holdings – Strategic Income Opportunities Fund
- Brochure: J.P. Morgan's Active Advantage
- Product Guide
- Building stronger fixed income portfolios
- Income/rising rate blend strategy
- Supplemental Data Sheet - Strategic Income Opportunities Fund
- Quarterly Certified Holdings - JPMorgan Strategic Income Opportunities Fund
- Bill Eigen's monthly update - FA
- Sales Charge / Dealer Concession Schedule
- 2016 JPMorgan Funds Capital Gains Distribution
- Quarterly CDS Disclosure File
- Quarterly CDS Disclosure File
Regulatory Documents
Total return assumes reinvestment of income.
The Fund's adviser and/or its affiliates have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, dividend and interest expenses related to short sales, interest, taxes, expenses related to litigation and potential litigation and extraordinary expenses) exceed 1.00% for A Shares, 1.50% for C Shares, 0.75% for I Shares and 0.55% for R5 Shares of the average daily net assets. The Fund may invest in one or more money market funds advised by the adviser or its affiliates (affiliated money market funds). The Fund's adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses in an amount sufficient to offset the fees and expenses of the affiliated money market funds incurred by the Fund because of the Fund's investment in such money market funds. This waiver is in effect through 6/30/2018 for A Shares, 6/30/2018 for C Shares, 6/30/2018 for I Shares and 6/30/2018 for R5 Shares, at which time the adviser and/or its affiliates will determine whether to renew or revise it. The difference between net and gross fees includes all applicable fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
Mutual funds have fees that reduce their performance: indexes do not. You cannot invest directly in an index.
The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Universal Index represents the U.S. Aggregate Index, the U.S. High-Yield Corporate Index, the 144A Index, the Eurodollar Index, the Emerging Markets Index, and the non-ERISA portion of the CMBS Index.
The BofA Merrill Lynch US 3-Month Treasury Bill Index is comprised of a single issue purchased at the beginning of the month and held for a full month. The index is rebalanced monthly and the issue selected is the outstanding Treasury Bill that matures closest to, but not beyond 3 months from the rebalancing date.
The performance of the Lipper Alternative Credit Focus Funds Index includes expenses associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management fees. These expenses are not identical to the expenses charged by the Fund.
Total return figures (for the fund and any index quoted) assume payment of fees and reinvestment of dividends (after the highest applicable foreign withholding tax) and distributions. Without fee waivers, fund returns would have been lower. Due to rounding, some values may not total 100%.
©2017, American Bankers Association, CUSIP Database provided by the Standard & Poor's CUSIP Service Bureau, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Securities rated below investment grade are considered "high-yield," "non-investment grade," "below investment-grade," or "junk bonds." They generally are rated in the fifth or lower rating categories of Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors Service. Although they can provide higher yields than higher rated securities, they can carry greater risk.
International investing bears greater risk due to social, economic, regulatory and political instability in countries in "emerging markets." This makes emerging market securities more volatile and less liquid developed market securities. Changes in exchange rates and differences in accounting and taxation policies outside the U.S. can also affect returns.
The top 10 holdings listed reflect only the Fund's long-term investments. Short-term investments are excluded. Holdings are subject to change. The holdings listed should not be considered recommendations to purchase or sell a particular security. Each individual security is calculated as a percentage of the aggregate market value of the securities held in the Fund and does not include the use of derivative positions, where applicable.
Duration: Measures price sensitivity of fixed income securities to interest rate changes.
Average Life: The length of time the principal of a debt issue is expected to be outstanding.


text:
Non Hybrid Vegetable Seeds And the Best Tomato I Ever Ate
These days more and more people are eating healthy. Or at least trying to eat more healthy. People are slowly discovering the fact that produce purchased today at the large supermarkets simply don't taste like..... well - they don't taste like anything!
Shoppers at the grocery stores today are tired of the nutritionally poor produce that is being offered.
There is a growing number of health conscious individuals that can recall growing up and visiting their dear grandmother during vacation or holiday times and watching attentively as she would slice a colossal tomato and present it on a dish for us to snack on. We can all remember the rich and vivid color of each slice.
The taste was simply amazing.
That was not just our fond memory of the good old days increasing over time. The tomato did taste better then. The tomato did have a better color and consistency as compared to the produce being grown on the mega farms and sold today in our franchised supermarkets.
A hybrid seed is created by artificially cross pollinated plants. The first genetically engineered seeds were first developed and used for the mass production of maize crops in the late 1920's. These engineered seeds were then as they are now, bred and produced to improve the yield, resist disease and provide a uniformity characteristic of such altered produce.
The resulting seeds harvested from these plants are useless and cannot be planted the following season. Therefore the farmer or gardener is forced to purchase a new set of neutered seeds each and every year.
A non hybrid seed is different in that it has not been genetically altered. The resulting produce of such a seed is more nutrient rich, carries an enhanced flavor and most importantly - yields a seed that can be planted next season to provide another harvest.
So if you wish to revisit the good old days when vegetables of all kinds were both rich in nutrients and flavor, purchase a non-hybrid seed pack today. Planting your own garden of vegetables can be a fun and rewarding endeavor.
Seeing the look on your child's face as they devour your next crop of tomatoes will be well worth it.


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Current Newswire:
Demolinux 2.0 now availableJul 14, 2000, 23:36 (5 Talkback[s])
[ Thanks to William Moshier for this announcement: ]
"DemoLinux 2.0 includes the GNOME and KDE environments, Enlightenment, StarOffice, lots of games, development tools, and a full load of utilities. The current version is based on the Debian distribution...."
"You liked DemoLinux and now you want it on your hard drive: this is finally possible, and easy. If you have a spare partition or hard drive, just click on the install icon on the root desktop, and you will get a basic Linux installation, which is (almost) identical to the one you would have obtained using the standard Debian installation procedure (notice though that you will have it all on one partition, with a swap file instead of a swap partition, and the boot will require a floppy disk). After the installation, which is automatic, there is no additional configuration: if it worked with the DemoLinux CD, it should work the same (faster) after the install. To configure new hardware, or install new software, simply use the Debian tools."
0 Talkback[s] (click to add your comment)


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Authentic Madras Curry
Recipe by Baz231
Authentic, as it doesn't use a commercially produced curry powder. From Pat Chapman's excellent Curry Club Indian Restaurant Cookbook. Use beef or chicken. A delicious, typical curry from South India where they don't come much hotter. This is also delicious cooked in a slow cooker. It keeps well and can be frozen.
Top Review by mianbao
My hat is off to the poster! This curry is wonderful, but you can't tell until it's almost finished cooking. I was really worried. No garlic, no ginger, nothing to pull the flavors together. Except the garam masala. That did the trick. Very good! I cooked this over low heat in a cast iron pot on the stovetop, that being the most convenient way for me. I also added some eggplant I thought might be good in it. I didn't go over the amounts of hot stuff in the ingredient list, but I did use a rounded half teaspoon of red chili powder. Personally, I like eating hot and spicy food, but I think this is about my limit. I'm very happy with it. Thank you very much for posting this recipe.
See Discussion:1 Review
Ingredients Nutrition
- 750 g meat or 750 g chicken
- 2 tablespoons corn oil (or any oil)
- 1 large onion, sliced long and thin
- 400 g diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato puree
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (or even better, lime)
- knob ghee
- 4 dried red chilies (more if you like heat)
- 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper (again, more if you like heat)
- 1⁄2 teaspoon chili powder (that's right, more if you like heat)
- 1 teaspoon cumin seed
- 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 2 cardamoms
- 1⁄2 tablespoon garam masala
- 1⁄2 tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves
Directions See How It's Made
- Cut meat into cubes and fry in oil to seal. Remove with slotted spoon and leave to one side to drain.
- Fry the onion in the same oil until golden then add Spices 1, cooking for a further 5 minutes. Add the tinned tomatoes and puree and mix well. Cook for 10 minutes or so.
- Add the meat and put the the lot into a casserole dish in a pre-heated oven at 200C (400F) and cook for 45 - 60 minutes. Stir half-way through cooking time. (Alternatively, throw it into the slow cooker for 7 to 9 hours.).
- Add the lemon or lime juice and Spices 2 and simmer for another 10 minutes. Add a little water at any stage if it gets too dry. Add a knob of ghee (and salt, if you must) just before serving.


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Grandfathered status is available for health plans that were providing coverage as of March 23, 2010. Making certain changes to benefit offerings, plan design, or employer contributions toward the cost of coverage will cause a plan to lose its grandfathered status. Grandfathered plans do not have to comply with several plan design mandates imposed by Affordable Care Act. A plan sponsor treating a plan as grandfathered must maintain certain documentation and include notice that the coverage is grandfathered in any plan materials provided to participants that describe the coverage.
Grandfathering Notice
Benefit summaries must include notice of grandfathered status.
Grandfathering Documentation
A grandfathered plan must maintain records documenting the terms of health coverage in effect on March 23, 2010 and subsequent changes.
Value of Grandfathering
The benefit of being grandfathered is an exemption from certain plan design mandates.
Grandfathered Provisions
A list of plan design mandates that do and do not apply to grandfathered plans.
Grandfathering Hot Topics & FAQs
Answer: Yes, a plan sponsor may change insurers for a grandfathered plan and still maintain grandfathered status, so long as the change occurs on or after November 15, 2010 and the sponsor does not make any other impermissible changes that would jeopardize grandfathering eligibility.
- From which Affordable Care Act requirements may grandfathered plans receive relief?
Answer: A grandfathered plan only receives relief from certain plan design mandates. Grandfathering does not provide relief from the other plan design mandates or the other requirements in Affordable Care Act, such as the Free Rider Penalty, or Cadillac Tax.
- Does grandfathered status automatically expire in 2014?
Answer: No. A grandfathered plan will lose its grandfathered status when the plan sponsor or insurer makes changes prohibited by the grandfathering regulations. There is no date when grandfathered status automatically expires or becomes unavailable.
- Do the grandfathering rules apply to an employer's entire benefit package or each option individually?
Answer: Grandfathered status is determined and maintained on a per-benefit option basis. For example, if an employer sponsors a plan with three benefit package options – a PPO, HMO, and high deductible health plan – and the employer makes changes that cause the HMO to lose its grandfathered status, the changes to the HMO do not impact the grandfathered status of the PPO or high deductible health plan.
- Do special rules apply for collectively bargained plans?
Answer: Yes, but only for insured collectively bargained plans, not self-funded plans. In the case of health insurance coverage maintained pursuant to one or more collective bargaining agreements ratified before March 23, 2010, the coverage is a grandfathered health plan at least until the date on which the last agreement relating to the coverage that was in effect on March 23, 2010 terminates. Thus, before the last of the applicable collective bargaining agreement terminates, any health insurance coverage provided pursuant to the collective bargaining agreements is a grandfathered health plan. Remember, this special rule for collectively bargained plans only applies to insured plans, not self-funded plans. After the date on which the last of the collective bargaining agreements terminates, the determination of whether health insurance coverage maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement is grandfathered health plan coverage is made under the general grandfathering rules.
American Fidelity Assurance Company does not provide tax or legal advice.


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Use The White Balance Settings On Your Camera To Make Better Photographs
While using the auto white balance settings is fine for making an average picture, learning to use the various white balance settings on your camera allows you to use color on a more creative level.
Photography Classes Washington DC – About The Sam D'Amico Photography Classes
Thank you for considering me in your search for photography instruction. It doesn't matter whether you use a film or digital camera. The camera is a tool that you use to create photographs. During your photography class with me you'll learn to use your camera and you'll learn the skills that you need to use […]
Getting To Know Your Camera
By having a better understanding of how to use their camera, the participants in this class will be able to begin to rely more on their mind, instead of a machine, to make a photograph.


text:
Marketing Information
Now you can stay focused on your game using the fatal1ty gaming headset. This lightweight piece of gaming gear hugs your head and ears with plush velvet and fabric padding. That means you can battle for hours on end.
General Information
|Product Type
|Manufacturer Part Number
|Manufacturer Website Address
|Creative Technology, Ltd
|Product Name
|Fatal1ty Gaming Headset
|Product Line
|Brand Name
Technical Information
|Cable Length
|8 ft
|Sound Mode
|Connectivity Technology
|Minimum Frequency Response
|20 Hz
|Maximum Frequency Response
|20 kHz
|Driver Type
|Earpiece Design
|Earpiece Type
|Driver Size
|Microphone Sensitivity
|-40 dB
|Microphone Technology
|Noise Cancelling
|Microphone Design
|Host Interface
Physical Characteristics
|Weight (Approximate)
|7.00 oz
|Limited Warranty
|1 Year
This product is shipped only within Canada and Warranty valid for Canada only.
Computer Valley makes every effort to provide accurate specifications, descriptions, images and price on all products that are found on www.computervalley.ca
However for complete and updated descriptions, compatibilities, specifications and actual photo we recommend our clients to consult with manufacturer's websites or simply call us for proper clarifications. Computer Valley is not responsible and will not accept returns for items purchased that are not compatible with your system. Please ensure that you have verified compatibility and actual photo with your system by visiting the manufacturer's web site prior to purchase or give us a call to make sure what you are purchasing.
For more information, visit our Shipping and Return policy.
Computer Valley wants to provide you with the best and fastest possible service. We try to ship in stock orders placed before 2:00pm EST the same day. For in stock orders placed after 2:00pm EST they are usually shipped the next business day. However there are always exceptions. Please contact us prior to placing your order if you need your purchase by a certain date.
We ship by UPS, FEDEX, USPS, CANADA POST , PUROLATOR and LOOMIS from the nearest locations possible based on stock in hand.
Please note: Computer Valley reserves the rights to accept and cancel any order at anytime due to pricing error or any other reason. An email will be sent as a confirmation of the order status.
|Read Reviews Write Review


text:
Olympus is developing a professional-grade telephoto zoom lens for the Micro Four Thirds system. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f:2.8 Pro will cover a 35mm equivalent focal range of 80-300mm, while offering a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout its entire zoom range. Currently, no further information is available on the lens, other than that it "will be ideal for capturing pro-standard shots of moving subjects," but we fully expect it to be weather sealed just like the newly introduced M.Zuiko Digital 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro.
Discover a wide range of digital cameras at low prices. Buy cheap cameras from Sony and Canon. Share your photos thanks to digital photo frames.
Varnam offers digital photo frame with built-in memory & battery.
© Copyright 2003-2008 Photo
360 Limited
Best Viewed at 1024x768 Screen Resolution


text:
Type to Search
Breaking News!
152 Celebrity Engagement Rings
While filming season one of Full House in April 1988.
In May 1990.
25 Stunning Photos of Kate Middleton
While filming season four of Full House in September 1990.
At the ABC Fall TCA Press Tour in July 1991 in Universal City, Calif.
On the Full House set in June 1991.
While filming Full House in September 1993.
While filming Full House in March 1993.
While filming the Full House episode, "The Devil Made Me Do It" in February 1992.
Next Gallery
But really, isn't any photo of Kate Middleton a gorgeous photo?
Diana Pearl


text:
Four horses die on Iowa highway
Four horses from a herd that escaped from a farm in Iowa were killed along Highway 61.
More than a dozen horses escaped from a farm near Dubuque on Monday night.
The owner managed to recapture most of the animals, but four ran to the highway.
A truck-and-trailer unit hit the horses, as did a car, which rolled as a consequence. Two of the three occupants suffered only minor injuries.


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COMMUNITY leaders in Beaumaris have been warned that the prospect of an elderly day care centre re-opening is unlikely.
Members of Beaumaris Town Council have been campaigning to re-open Maes Hyfryd day care centre ever since its doors were closed year ago, when Anglesey County Council deemed the building unfit for purpose.
But in a heated recent public meeting hosted by Beaumaris council, Llangoed and Penmon Community Council, Pentraeth Community Council and county councillors of Seiriol ward, members were warned by Anglesey council director of social services, Gwen Carrington, that the likelihood of Maes Hyfryd re-opening was slim.
She said the decision to close the centre was taken last year by commissioners running the county council, citing a figure of £100,000 which would need to be spent on repairing the roof.
Gwen Carrington said: "We want the best service for the people in this area. What we had was people with different needs, people who needed care and some people who needed a chat.
"We're in a very, very difficult situation to consider opening another centre on Anglesey.
"We can't go back to what we had, and there is worse to come.
"What I can give absolute commitment to is how we work with you as a community about how we plan for that provision in the future.
Beaumaris Cllr Jason Zalot said: "The kitchen in was better in standard than some of the hotels in this town. There was a lovely dining area, hairdressing unit, disabled toilets."
Cllr Zalot also disputed the figure quoted to repair the roof, believing it to be in the region of £60,000.
Cllr Stan Zalot said: "With the greatest respect in the world, I feel that we've been hoodwinked here. And the next thing is that it will be put up for sale - well that's not good enough for the people in Beaumaris I'm afraid.
"Don't think that this place is shut, because it isn't. We'll have an army coming up against you. This place will have to be re-opened."


text:
Business News of Monday, 4 February 2013
Source: B&FT
The Chief Executive Officer of GroFin Africa, Guido Boysen, has advised businesses and entrepreneurs to wean themselves off the banks and consider alternative ways of financing, as the company has pledged to commit more funds to the growth of SMEs in the country.
Mr. Boysen, who is on a working visit to the country, told the B&FT during an interview in Accra that there are a number of existing specialised institutions and private equity funds in the country, with tailored business finance and experienced business support to grow the businesses of entrepreneurs.
"The first point of call for a lot of businesses and entrepreneurs is the bank. So a lot of entrepreneurs do not consider alternative ways of financing their business -- like specialised investment and finance companies such as Grofin and other private equity funds.
"So there is need to educate the market and entrepreneurs on the many ways to finance their businesses other than the banks, family and friends," he said.
Established in 2004, GroFin has approximately US$320million in funds under management and is able to leverage significant expertise and experience from its operations in nine countries -- including Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Oman, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.
Mr. Boysen said the Ghana country office, which began operations in 2010, has so far assisted about 36 companies with more than GH¢25million in funding to help them grow.
According to managers of Grofin, the figure is expected to reach about GH¢30million by the end of April this year, when nine additional firms get financial support from the company in response to demands for the firm's support.
"Our experience here in Ghana has been good. Our office here always exceeds its investment target. It is an opportunity for us to be here because Ghana has an environment that makes it easier to do business.
"This year, we hope to invest about GH¢10million in SMEs across the country. By next year we want clients who have benefitted from our expertise to hit 60," added Mr. Samuel Sedegah, General Manager for GroFin Ghana.
GroFin supports locally-owned companies requiring funding of between US$50,000 to US$1.5 million to facilitate their growth. Funding is matched to a business's needs to ensure the most appropriate lending structure and this is coupled with business support that begins at application stage and continues for the duration of the loan.
According to Samuel Sedegah, General Manager for GroFin Ghana, the company currently charges very competitive interest rates on loans with term of up to seven years.
He explained that "every GroFin client receives business development assistance to ensure a viable business plan is in hand before the disbursement of any finance. This is followed by further business development after the flow of finance to drive business profitability and growth.
Sedegah continued: "What we offer is not free money. The term of our loans is based on what we think the business needs based on our conversations with the entrepreneur and analysis of their business plan. For us we firstly look at whether the business is viable and managed and owned by committed entrepreneurs or business people that are local and involved directly in the business themselves.
We then look at what collateral the entrepreneur is able to offer and this impacts the pricing of the loan as opposed to whether we will necessarily make funding available. This is an important difference in our approach as opposed to other lenders."
He further explained: "The kind of businesses that we usually deal with are the ones that have less than 150 employees, gross assets of less than US$15 million and / or turnover of less than US$20 million per annum. This is just a guideline of the kind of businesses that we deal with. Obviously some are much smaller than that and some grow to be larger while they are with us.
About 25 per cent of our portfolio are start-ups. We cannot operate in the SME sector and say we are not going to support start-ups."
The company's decision to bring a holistic offering of support to SMEs in the country comes at a time that the Ghanaian economy is estimated to record one of the highest growth figures in the world fuelled by a growing SME sector and the oil find.


text:
Reader Shares Views
Dear Editor,
As we ponder the recently completed election and the continuing battle between the political parties over the approaching "Fiscal Cliff"; it becomes apparent that we are no longer the United States of America. We are a country divided very closely 50/50 into the power struggle of two political parties so different in ideology that what ever victory one party achieves is alienating the other 50 percent of the population.
We saw maps of red states and blue states, and a few swing states, drawn by newscasters to give us some idea as to the areas with defined ideologies. This farther enhanced my views that we are really two different countries, and not the United States of America.
Fifty percent of America believes with all their heart that an all powerful government with complete power to tax the successful and redistribute the wealth, along withWashington having complete dominance over state governments is the answer to all our problems and that it is the obstruction by the opposing party that prevents utopia from coming into being.
The other 50 percent believe in the original constitution with limited federal government interference, more individual freedom, states rights over federal control, increased family values and morality, and allowing entrepreneurs to keep more of their hard earnings with minimal regulations on their business endeavors. They also believe that it is the obstructionist attitude by the opposition that prevents their success.
Both sides are devout believers in their cause and will never change by any attempts at persuasion; nor would they be satisfied with compromise. There is also an equally important factor that makes compromise impossible; the power of the entrenched career politicians in positions of power in Washington, who are well satisfied with the status quo of the continuing battle between the two parties.
This divide between we the people has reached such a proportion that one author has written a book giving intricate detail about dividing the United States into two separate countries of willing participants. One country, being those states which truly believe in their progressive liberal philosophy, and the other being the states which are truly conservative, agree with our founding fathers, and the original ideas of how a government should be run; more by the people and less by the government. This author states that there is within our existing constitution a provision for making an Amendment to the constitution to do just that, and if ever done it would be veto proof by the President.
Under this scenario all citizens would live in a country compatible with their ideology and need not hold animosity with the citizens of the other country of different ideology.
I'll not go into detail about his book except to say that as extreme as it is, it is the only suggestion I have heard that even comes close to solving the continued division we are experiencing today in the United States. His Book is "Red or Blue? This Book is 4 U!"
For those of you who like to think, I recommend you read his book. His name is Bob Jackson.
J B Hargroder MD
Short URL: https://www.jenningsdailynews.net/?p=16403


text:
Supplier: M13896
InfoHub supplier since Jun 2005!
Base of operations: Kenya
M13896 offers an alternative to the concrete hotel, more of a rustic Robinson Crusoe experience. We work very closely with the local Swahili people taking into account their culture and only using local methods and materials to create a refreshing, eco-friendly, alternative style holiday.
The Village is situated on the island of Manda, which is the sister island to Lamu. The lodge is located on the beach front with amazing views of the open ocean, Lamu Island, Shela village and dhows sailing past. It is the perfect place to come and relax for days or weeks, away from the stresses and strains of everyday life.
There are no cars on Lamu or Manda, the only form of transport is donkey or boat, both of which are an experience in themselves. The pace of life is inevitably slow and relaxed. The island is located roughly three degrees south of the equator therefore you can guarantee that perfect island getaway, whether it is lazing in your airy banda, on the beach or exploring the surroundings.
M13896 provides a wonderful base from which to explore the local scenery and also take in the colourful Lamu culture and people. Or if you'd prefer, simply sit back, relax and luxuriate for days on end and let our friendly staff look after your every need, whether its breakfast in bed or drinks on the swing bed. They are happy to make your stay as peaceful and special as possible to ensure you get into the island pace of life.
Vacation Packages offered by supplier M13896
Kenya Eco Lodge
10% off.
Eco-lodge located on the beach front with stunning views, sailing, snorkelling and much more: total relaxation.
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text:
A Weak Black Friday for Retailers
December 6, 2004,
New York — Even with the help of the single-biggest shopping day of the year, Black Friday, key American retailers turned in a lackluster sales performance during November, getting the all-important holiday season off to a spotty start.
By far the biggest gainer during the month was a resurgent JCPenney, whose same-store sales shot up 12 percent.
A surprise winner during November was Sears — after months of steady declines, its same-store sales improved 2.8 percent. "Despite sluggishness early in the month, we enjoyed particularly strong customer response to our enhanced promotional events and had record sales the day after Thanksgiving," said Sears Chairman and CEO Alan Lacy. "We had very solid performances in key gift categories, such as home electronics and tools, and our home appliance business had another strong month." Specialty retail sales, he added, "were up in the mid-single-digit range, led by Sears Hardware, The Great Indoors and Outlet Stores."
The biggest of the month's losers was home furnishings specialist Pier 1 Imports, where comps continued to slide, falling 9.1 percent. Not far behind was Gottschalk's, sinking 8.1 percent, and May Department Stores, skidding 7.9 percent, following a 2.3 percent drop the month before.
A surprisingly weak performer was Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, where same-store sales rose just 0.7 percent, held back by a poor 0.3 percent increase in its core Wal-Mart U.S. stores. Picking up the slack was the Sam's Club business, where comps improved 2.9 percent. Another disappointment was Kohl's, which had hit the comeback trail of late, but stumbled in November. Its same-store sales were flat, losing ground after a 6 percent gain during October.
With the notable exception of Penney, Bon-Ton and Sears; department stores as a class had a tough time of it during the month. May Department Stores, as stated, tumbled 7.9 percent; Federated fell 1.4 percent; and Dillard's dropped 2.7 percent. The Saks department store group slipped 0.6 percent, underperforming its upscale sibling Saks Fifth Ave., with its 6.8 percent gain.
Tops and bottoms
|J.C. Penney
|Saks Fifth Ave
|Family Dollar
|Pier 1
|May Dept. Stores
|ShopKo Stores
|Hancock Fabrics
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text: Bentonville, Ark., Wal-Mart Stores said August same-store sales at U.S. stores rose 3.3%, on the low end of its forecast range, as surging gasoline prices led shoppers to limit purchases to food and basic back-to-school merchandise. Same-store sales in July were up 4.4%. Sales of groceries outpaced those of general merchandise for the sixth month this year.


text:
Watch A Shark Tank Burst Inside A Chinese Shopping Mall
- New Thing To Be Afraid Of: an aquarium filled with sharks burst inside a shopping mall in Shanghai, China, injuring 16 people and God knows how many sharks, fish and turtles. This is so scary. [HyperVocal]
- "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy and his husband David Miller welcomed a son named Logan on Christmas Eve. Mazel tov! [Celebrity Cafe]
- Meet 20 people who are grossed out and highly offended by Spotify's Trojan condom ads. [Mashable]
- My Bloody Valentine announced they are releasing their first album since 1991's Loveless. [SPIN]
- Officials in Newtown, Connecticut, are asking the public to stop sending gifts to survivors of the Sandy Hook shooting because they've got "warehouses full of items." [Newser]
- Courtney Love and her estranged daughter Frances Bean are communicating again … at least over Twitter. [Evil Beet Gossip]
- Here's a supercut of all the crap movies you're glad you didn't pay $10 to see in 2012. [The Mary Sue]
- 10 examples of how Walter White from "Breaking Bad" is this generation's George Bailey from "It's A Wonderful Life." [The Gloss]
- ::: fans self :::: Jon Hamm's 69 most handsome moments of 2012. [BuzzFeed]
- Kim Kardashian was seen leaving a gynecologist's office, which is irrefutable proof she is either pregnant or needed a Pap smear. [Celeb Dirty Laundry]
Contact the author of this post at [email protected] Follow me on Twitter.


text:
The New York Times has an article in today's paper which gives some insight into how and why mainstream services such as Hulu and Netflix and cable channels look at anime, as anime such as Naruto: Shippuden appears on the most watched list alongside major TV shows such as Glee.
The article goes into how Hulu and Netflix take a strong interest in niche content because of its comparatively low price and good viewer numbers versus mainstream media content. For anime, Hulu pays the anime distributor a small portion of the advertising revenue and Netflix pays a small licensing fee in most cases, allowing them to easily build up a large library of content.
The article also explains the parallels between this strategy and what cable networks such as G4, IFC, and Spike did in the early days, giving a glimpse into the thinking that goes into Adult Swim's somewhat infamous love-hate (or hate-hate if you prefer) relationship with anime:
"We're not interested in paying a lot of money for anime because that targeted audience has so many different ways to see it before it goes on our air," said Mike Lazzo, senior vice president for programming and production at Adult Swim.
"Every once in a while we look and say we could gain a rating point here and there, but we'd rather be more interesting and edgy from a programming standpoint, and that means anime," Mr. Lazzo said.
Lastly, the article reveals that FUNimation signed a deal with Hulu this month to stream 5 titles on Hulu within 48 hours of broadcast in Japan. FUNimation has not specifically announced all the titles in press releases yet, but based on the most recently added anime to Hulu, Guilty Crown, Last Exile ~Fam the Silver Wing~, Future Diary, and Maken-ki are probably four of them while the fifth title is probably another FUNico title, with the third Kadokawa series, C3, being the easy suspect.
The full article can be read on the New York Times Website or on page B1 of today's New York Edition.
Source: The New York Times via The Fandom Post
Image ©Nobuyuki Fukamoto / Takeshobou・VAP・4cast・NTV


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By Terry Lehrke, News Editor
Oral arguments in Robin Hensel's free speech lawsuit against the city of Little Falls are set to begin at the Federal Courthouse in Duluth, Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 11 a.m.
A motion has been filed by defense counsel Paul Reuvers for a summary judgment to dismiss the case.
Attorney Larry Frost filed the lawsuit against the city on Hensel's behalf in May 2012.
The lawsuit alleges the city violated Hensel's constitutional right to free speech, when she was asked to remove signs in her yard that violated city code in fall 2011.
The city maintains its sign ordinance was complaint-driven and that Hensel was asked to remove the signs only after a complaint was received about the signs in her yard.
Hensel found other signs in the city that violated the code, including a "We Support Our Troops" banner hanging on a building on Bank Square in Little Falls.
The lawsuit alleges that the city, which has updated its sign ordinance in the meantime, has singled Hensel out because it disagrees with the content of the signs and her political views.
It also alleges that the city's sign ordinance is unconstitutional and gives preference to commercial signs, since the number of signs and the footage of signs allowed is greater in a commercially-zoned area than in residential areas.
The lawsuit includes restriction of Hensel's free speech when the city declined to place an advertising bench in an area near City Hall upon Hensel's request, because the Council knew the content would be against the city.
The motion filed by Frost prior to the oral arguments asks that the judge find against the summary judgment to dismiss.
The motion filed by Reuvers argues the city's sign ordinance is content-neutral and only limits the size and number of signs in residential areas and that the public has alternatives for speech, despite the ordinance.
It asserts that Hensel was not singled out for enforcement based upon the content of her signs, but that since the city's ordinance was complaint-driven, enforcement occurred only after receiving a citizen complaint.
In the case of the bench, the defense motion argues Hensel's suit lacks standing in violating First Amendment rights, as the city has a franchise agreement with a company, not Hensel, for placement of advertising on benches in the city.
In the agreement, the city has the authority to determine locations of advertising benches, which the defense says does not impede Hensel's right to free speech.
Bruce Fein of Bruce Fein and Associates Inc. in Washington, D.C. will present the plaintiff's oral argument. Fein is an attorney Frost has worked with on other cases involving constitution law.
The oral arguments will be heard by Judge Richard H. Kyle.
The arguments are open to the public.


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Aadi 18 Perukku as the name indicates is observed on the 18th day of the Tamil Month Aadi (mid July to mid August). Aadi 18 Perukku 2017 date is August 3. The Aadi month in Tamil Nadu falls during the monsoon season and the festival is essentially a thanksgiving to monsoon rains which fills the rivers – the lifeline of farmers. As it is celebrated on the 18th day, Aadi Perukku is also known as Pathinettam Perukku.
Aadi 18 Perukku is observed mainly by people residing along the
bank. 'Perukku' means rising – indicating the rising water in rivers. The festival is essentially a form of Nature worship and thanksgiving to Mother Nature. Kaver River
On the day, family and friends get together and pray for uninterrupted supply of water and a good harvest in the coming season. Special food is prepared on the day and is shared with friends and relatives. Some people go on a picnic to the Kaveri riverbank.
In some communities on Aadi Perukku day, the son-in-law is invited and is presented new clothes by parents.
You can find more details about Aadi 18 Perukku in this article.


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Get all 62 Chris Dooks releases available on Bandcamp and save 75%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Community Podcasts and Soundworks [2003-2017], The Drouth: Pebbles Podcast & PDF [2017], Bovine Life - Live at Queens Hall Edinburgh [2006], Scottish Writers Reading [2009-2012], Bovine Life - Live at Cafe OTO, London [2009], AlpenOo [2017], The Reflexive Selfie - Autoethnography in Artist Led Research [2016], Storage Wars [2016] Radiophrenia Commission Glasgow, and 54 more. , and , .
T.O.M.M.O.T.E.A. (free) 01:15
Chris Dooks Edinburgh, UK
Artist and Sound Designer Living in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Streaming and Download help


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Do-not-reply? Do-not-send.
When you get an envelope or package in the mail, you expect to see a return address in the upper-left-hand corner, right? I'm not talking about something that just arrived from Amazon Fulfillment Services or the nearest Netflix distribution center, but any standard piece of mail sent to you from another human being – you expect to know where it came from and where you can send it back to if the recipient is no longer at this address, or you want to write a thank-you note, or you want to give the sender a piece of your mind, or … well, you get the idea.
Your email marketing should be the same way.
Let's be honest: No one (or, at least, only a few people) believes there's an actual human being on the other end when you get an automated email update from John Smith (or insert your favorite From name here). But we've been talking for years about the need to send smarter and personalized communications in order to treat subscribers well. And instead, what do many senders use as John's reply address?
Sending from this kind of unmonitored, do-not-reply address is just wrong on multiple levels, because it tells your subscriber a few things:
- A robot sent the email.
- If there's something wrong in the email, he or she isn't able to tell you.
- And if subscribers can't talk to you, it tells them you just don't care to hear from them.
I've said it time and again that your email subscribers are the digital equivalent of precious metals, and when you tell them, especially in such a blatant way, you have no intention of providing them a channel to communicate with you after they receive your email, you're treating that digital gold like used cat litter. It doesn't matter if it's the most basic transactional email or a complex, personalized newsletter based upon prior purchase history: If you don't give your recipients a way to reply to you, you're doing it wrong.
It isn't just wrong from the perspective of treating a user poorly, it's also wrong because it creates a blind spot in your email marketing program that has literally no reason whatsoever to exist. Readers have frequently heard me say you should not only welcome the opt-out / unsubscribe on your email, but you should be proactively monitoring those opt-outs and the reasons given for the opt-out (and if your email service provider doesn't offer subscribers an opt-out reason, you should ask them why not). That's legitimate, honest intelligence you can't get anywhere else – whether you're sending too frequently, not sending enough, sending weak content, what have you. Remember the Marketer's Mantra: We are not our audience, so we need to listen to them.
The same applies to sending from unmonitored addresses. If you're artificially closing that line of communication, you're cutting yourself off from getting as much intelligence as you can and should have.
I'm not saying you need to have the intern who clicks "send" on your email as the person who sets his or her address as the reply-to. But, in this hypothetical example, it wouldn't be a terrible idea to create a email@example.com address and set it as the reply-to. Next, create a filter to put "Out of Office" and other similar automated replies into a folder. Establish internal protocol the inbox has to be checked one, three, six, 24 and 48 hours after an email goes out, just to see if a subscriber has emailed you with something you totally didn't realize – your email suddenly isn't rendering correctly on iPhones running iOS6, you're sending to someone deceased, etc.
Additionally, and finally, there's one more aspect to consider: Deliverability. We all want to make it into the inbox, right? However, testing has shown delivery and inboxing statistics are very, very poor when messages are sent via non-existent email address. If they're delivered at all, the chances are high they will land in the junk / spam folder. The reason for this is many ISPs and inbox providers not only can, but do, use address validation (meaning they check if the sending address is an actual, legitimate address).
It could also potentially be a violation of spam laws to send using a non-existent address. For example, the U.S. CAN-SPAM law says, "A message cannot contain a false header." From / reply-to addresses are transmitted as header information … so if a from / reply-to address is bogus or otherwise nonexistent, then the message hasn't come from that person, (if you've used a person's name as the From name), and you could be potentially considered in violation of the law.
Just because effective email marketing is automated doesn't mean effective email marketing should be robotic. Don't just do email marketing … do email marketing the right way.
Tim Brechlin
Inbound Marketing Manager, WhatCounts


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Machu Picchu
22 Nov 2012 at 19:54
Sarah is keeping up with everyone. Great work Sarah ! We are almost to to Machu Picchu!
With Sarah
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News about reggae music, artists, culture and more...
Pressure Sounds – one of UK's finest reissue labels – follow up on the successful Phil Pratt produced rocksteady compilation 'Safe Travel' released in 2005.
'Listen to the Music' is a 21 track set that covers the years 1966 to 1969. It includes rare ska, rocksteady and early reggae gems from Caltone, a label run by businessman Ken Lack. The production duties were however mostly handled by Bunny Lee and Phil Pratt with input from Lynn Tait, Tommy McCook and Johnny Moore.
The recording sessions on 'Listen to the Music' took place at WIRL, Federal and Treasure Isle studios and the album includes, for example, scare tracks by Tommy McCook & the Supersonics and The Clarendonians, led by the vocal talents of Peter Austin. Their I'm Sorry and Lonely Heartaches are drawn from 45s that have never been reissued since the original Jamaican pressings.
'Listen to the Music' drops on April 10th on CD and double vinyl and also includes an extra special booklet with many original graphics and photographs.
|Posted by tijan sambou on 04.10.2012
|I love reggae music.
Mr Money Man Riddim
By Angus Taylor
New Albums from Etana and Protoje
By Erik Magni
Paint Jamaica
By Erik Magni
Amsterdam by Eva Lazarus and Mungo's Hi Fi
By Jean Lenormand
Son Shine by Vini Vicomte
By Jean Lenormand
Elevation by Colah Colah
By Jean Lenormand
I'm Yours by Sizzla
By Jean Lenormand
Eaze! by Cookie The Herbalist & Lee Scratch Perry
By Jean Lenormand
Surface by The Ellameno Beat
By Jean Lenormand
© 2007-2017 United Reggae. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. Read about copyright
Terms of use | About us | Contact us | Authors | Newsletter | A-Z


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To survive, a city or a region has to make money; it has to export more than it imports, in dollar terms. Cities that decline are on the losing side of this equation. So if you care about cities, which I do, it leads you to think about how they function as economic entities. It leads you to think about economics. I think this is what happened to Jane Jacobs, and why she ended up writing several books about economics after her seminal 1961 book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities. — theatlanticcities.com
That article title is bit insulting. If one were to read Jacobs books on cities and economies, I dare say that she got for more right than wrong. And she certainly had a much better understanding of cities and economies than contemporary economists.
When I think of cities in decline, I think of this:
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Art by Children 3-18 Gets Professional Gallery Show
Original Works Featured at 6th Annual Children's Aid Society Exhibition at The National Arts Club
Ellen Lubell, The Children's Aid Society, (w) 212-949-4938, (c) 917-854-6864
Emily Crossan, The Children's Aid Society, (w) 917-286-1548, (c) 201-344-5742
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Presentation – 6:30 – 6:45 p.m.
The National Arts Club
15 Gramercy Park South
The 6th Annual Children's Aid Society Children's Art Show at The National Arts Club will showcase approximately 115 pieces of art by children ages 3-18. The budding artists from Children's Aid programs work in every medium imaginable, including oils, watercolors, photography, wood, plaster, clay, cardboard and paper, and this show features their works from this fall and winter.
More than 20 Children's Aid Society sites operate visual arts programs, with more than 200 classes offered weekly.
The young artists will be in attendance at the reception, along with their proud parents and teachers.
The Children's Aid Society's arts programming reflects the belief that arts are crucial to youth development. Participants in Children's Aid's programs can choose from a variety of arts activities, including visual arts, instrumental bands, award-winning choruses, theater, photography, the American Ballet Theatre's "Make a Ballet" and CAS/AileyCamp.
The Art Show is open to the public March 6-11.
For gallery hours, please call The National Arts Club at 212-475-3424.
The Children's Aid Society was founded in 1853. It is one of the nation's largest and most innovative non-sectarian agencies, serving more than 150,000 of New York's neediest children and their families with a network of services that includes community schools, neighborhood centers, camps, adoption and foster care services, teen pregnancy prevention, education, health and recreation. For more information, please call 212-949-4938 or visit www.childrensaidsociety.org.
# # #


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Sri Lanka's stocks closed 0.2 percent higher yesterday amid foreign investor interest and the rupee strengthened sharply against US dollar.
The benchmark Colombo All Share Index closed at 5,527.36 up 14.7 points and the S&P SL20 Index closed at 3,030.86, up 12.87 points or 0.43 percent.
In forex market the rupee made gains against the US dollar rising as much 127.40 to the US dollar in the spot market after opening around 120.30 rupees.
Dealers said there was selling in the near term forward market.


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: MobileRead
Discussion/Suggestion thread
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sun surfer
Posts: 2,994
Karma: 37528172
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: somewhere beyond the sea
Device: kindle voyage
Originally Posted by
Will it matter if people vote for 3 or for 9? It can be people signalling all choices that they'd be happy to read and discuss. I'm not sure it's that important to keep it to an arbitrary figure. True, some may vote for all selections, but others may only vote for one or two. It would certainly be interesting to see the outcome...
Originally Posted by
Good points. If choosing a book that the greatest number of people are willing to read is the goal, then multiple voting should work towards that and it doesn't really matter how many books someone votes for. There might be more ownership and incentive to read the book if you voted for it, even if it was not your first or even third choice...
These are both good points.
I think any way we do multiple choice will work well and be better than single choice, though I think non-restricted multiple choice voting may be best for our club because of the above, and also because:
-Simplicity - There's nothing to worry about or keep in mind as one votes besides choosing which books one would like to vote for.
-No Extra Work/No Errors - There is no extra work for Tom, nothing to check on, nothing to adjust if a voter messes up, no chance of errors.
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[HIGH SCHOOL] Tegan McGrady, a sophomore at Santa Teresa in San Jose, Calif., has been suspended by the Central Coast Section for playing two
games at a U-17 U.S. national team camp.
Darren Sabedra of the San Jose Mercury News reports that the sanction stemmed from the games not having been approved by the California Interscholastic Federation. The camp games were not approved because U.S. Soccer submitted its paperwork just a couple of days before the event -- short of the 30-day notice that the CIF requires.
Santa Teresa has to forfeit four games that McGrady played in and McGrady, who has already committed to Stanford, must serve a four-game suspension. Had she been informed earlier, McGrady could have sat out the final four games of the season and been eligible for the playoffs. But she had not known about "violation" until her coach was told of it by an opposing coach at a playoff seeding meeting.
"I'll be honest with you, California and Michigan are the only states that have a concern with players playing for their national team," Jill Ellis, development director for the U.S. women's youth soccer, told the Mercury.
"CIF has a lot of rules, a lot of technicalities. It's unrealistic for us to give a 30-day notice when sometimes with players we have injuries, last-minute replacements, we have rosters that haven't been selected. At the end of the day, Tegan McGrady plays two international games against Germany and now she's being suspended from her high school."


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Canes snap skid, top Isles 4-2
Posted February 24, 2013
Uniondale, N.Y. — FINAL: Canes 4, Isles 2
The Carolina Hurricanes ended a three-game losing streak Sunday by beating the New York Islanders 4-2 behind goals from the Stall brothers, Bobby Sanguinetti and Alexander Semin.
End of 2: Canes 2, Isles 2
Eric and Jordan Staal scored within a minute of each other late in the second period and the Canes evened the ledger with the Islanders going into the third period.
End of 1: Islanders 2, Canes 0
Former 1st Round pick John Tavares continues to be a problem for the Hurricanes as he has an assist and his league-leading 13th goal already and the Islanders lead Carolina 2-0 at the end of one.
Tavares has been a Canes killer since entering the league as he has 11 goals and 19 points in just 13-plus games against Carolina in his career.
Despite the score, Carolina out-shot the Isles 11-5 through one period.
20:00 1st: Canes at NY Islanders
Cam Ward is back in net tonight for the Canes as Jeremy Welsh is the healthy scratch.
Kevin Poulin will start in net for the Isles.
The New York Islanders recently ended a road trip with consecutive wins and they'll try to make it three victories in a row when they begin a seven-game homestand in Sunday's meeting with the sliding Carolina Hurricanes.
The Islanders will shoot for their first three-game winning streak of the season on Sunday after notching wins in Montreal and Buffalo to go 2-1-0 on a three-game swing.
Saturday's win over the Sabres was the fourth victory in six games for New York since beginning February with an 0-5-0 slide.
The Isles took advantage of a rudderless Sabres team on Saturday, blanking Buffalo by a 4-0 score. The Sabres have lost four straight in regulation, including two since firing longtime head coach Lindy Ruff on Wednesday.
Evgeni Nabokov stopped 35 shots to notch his 53rd career shutout.
"I just play and react," Nabokov remarked. "I just try to be ready for the next shot and keep going. I don't want to think too much out there." Carolina Hurricanes schedule
With Rick DiPietro having cleared wavers and sent down to the Isles' AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, Conn., Nabokov is New York's clear-cut No. 1 and he could get the start on back-to-back days. Kevin Poulin was recalled from Bridgeport to complement Nabokov in a backup role.
Mark Streit recorded a goal and an assist, while Michael Grabner, John Tavares and Colin McDonald each scored once for the Islanders.
New York is just 2-6-0 at home this season but hopes to get something going at Nassau Coliseum during this lengthy residency which lasts until March 9 when the Isles host Washington.
The Hurricanes have lost three straight in regulation and the slide comes directly on the heels of a season-best three-game winning streak.
The latest setback came in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning, who received goals from five different players.
Drayson Bowman and Chad LaRose scored for the Hurricanes, who have lost three in a row for the first time since an 0-6-1 skid from Nov. 23-Dec. 6 of last season. Dan Ellis stopped 34 shots in the loss.
"We got outworked," Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller said. "That's not acceptable in a big game in your own rink. They won all the battles." More Hurricanes Stories
Carolina is still without speedy forward Jeff Skinner, who has missed the last three games with a concussion. There is still no timetable for his return.
The Hurricanes, who will visit Washington on Tuesday, are 5-3-1 as the road team this season.
Carolina posted a 6-4 road win over the Islanders on Feb. 11 as Jiri Tlusty notched four points on two goals and two assists for the Hurricanes. Alexander Semin also added a goal and two helpers to the winning cause.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak in this series for Carolina, but the Hurricanes have claimed four of six and eight of their past 11 tilts at the Coliseum.


text: The Beauty Pro Anti–Aging Collagen Sheet Mask With Green Tea is a luxury anti–aging mask shaped to the shape of the face for ease of application. Green Tea also helps reduce inflammation of the skin while regulating oily conditions to improve uneven skin tone, texture and to minimise enlarged pores. To use this single face mask: Simply apply to the skin after cleansing for 15 minutes, then remove and moisturise with the. Add–on as a luxury treatment and can also be retailed for home use. High quality natural formulation and paraben free, suitable for: –– boosting skin firmness – rebalancing oily t–zones – problem & acne prone skin – improving skin clarity


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Photo Coverage: Friars Club Luncheon Honors Liz Smith
On Thursday, March 27th The Friar's Club luncheon honoring Liz Smith. Jeffrey Lyons conducted the interview and the event was produced by Randie Levine-Miller.
Liz Smith is a New York Post and nationally syndicated gossip columnist. Press notes state that "Liz has had a remarkable career in print and on television. She's probably the only gossip columnist who is truly loved"
Liz Smith recently accepted the Harold Clurman Lifetime Achievement Award for a lifelong commitment to the ennoblement of humanity through culture from HBO's Sheila Nevins at the Stella Adler studio Starlight Benefit.
Jeffrey Lyons interviews honoree Liz Smith
Friar and Producer Randie Levine-Miller, Liz Smith and Jeffrey Lyons
Ted Farone, Randie Levine-Miller and Robert R. Blume
Anita Gillette, Lee Roy Reams and Elaine Orbach
Randie Levine-Miller and Michael Riedel
Jeffrey Lyons and Ann Ligouri
Ann Ligouri and Liz Smith
Dr. Judy Kuriansky, Randie Levine-Miller and Rita Cosby
Randie Levine-Miller, Lee Roy Reams and Jeffrey Lyons
The Friars Club and Frank Capitelli suprise Randie Levine-Miller with a cake to celebrate her birthday!
Photo Credit: Richard Lewin


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Afghan official: Taliban suicide car bombing kills 7 people
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A Taliban suicide car bomber targeted a military convoy in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province on Wednesday, killing at least seven people, a provincial official said.
The attack comes just days after President Donald Trump announced his new strategy for Afghanistan, which involves maintaining a U.S. military presence in the country and upending a campaign vow to end America's longest war.
According to Omar Zwak, the spokesman for the Helmand provincial governor, Wednesday's explosion in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital, also wounded 42 people, mostly civilians.
Initial reports show that those killed included a small girl, two women and four soldiers, Zwak said, expressing fears that the death toll could rise further.
"This is from our initial reports, I am afraid the casualty tolls might change once we get a final report form the attack," he added.
The bombing took place near the police chief's headquarters. Local TV broadcast footage showing several military Humvees, which the Afghan army also uses, destroyed as a result of the attack.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a posting on his twitter account.
Senior Afghan government officials on Tuesday welcomed Trump's strategy announcement from Monday. Senior U.S. officials said Trump may send up to 3,900 more troops, with some deployments beginning almost immediately.
Trump also had harsh words for Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of giving extremists a safe haven, while next door in Afghanistan they kill U.S. troops. He said he wanted "immediate" results without saying what actions the United States might take against Pakistan if it ignored his warning.
The United States and Afghanistan have routinely accused Pakistan - and particularly its powerful intelligence agency - of harboring insurgents and of waging a selective war, attacking those militants Islamabad considers its enemy and allowing those it has been known to use as proxies, either against hostile neighbors India or Afghanistan, to flourish.
Taliban attacks have stepped up all across Afghanistan since the withdrawal of foreign combat forces from the war-torn nation at the end of 2014, and the insurgents have lately been constantly expanding their footprint.
Earlier this month, the Taliban in an "open letter" to Trump, reiterated their calls for the withdrawal of all remaining U.S. troops. The United States has about 8,400 troops in Afghanistan, who support local forces and carry out counterterrorism operations.
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Garner and McConaughey Talk Twitter At 'Ghosts' Premiere
Jennifer Garner and Matthew McConaughey looked stunning at last night's premiere of their new romantic comedy Ghosts Of Girlfriend's Past at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre on in Hollywood, California.
When asked what the worst way to break up with a woman is, Garner laughed, "The worst way to break up with a woman would be like on the wall of Facebook. Or to get tweeted. Or Twittered. Or however you say it. That would be really horrible. Of course I wouldn't do that now; that would, um, be kind of messy!"
McConaughey agreed as well. "Man, that Twitter deal, that's pretty bad, right? I mean, I'm letting her know, but I'd also be letting like 25,000 other people know that I'm available at the same time. That would kind of suck. Come on, right? Just do one at a time. Take your time, do it in person. Do it right."
Wonder what they think about John Mayer?
Also on the red carpet: McConaughey's gorgeous girlfriend Camila Alves, Superbad actress Emma Stone, and Victorias Secret model Marissa Miller.


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(CBS News) "Celeste and Jesse Forever" may turn out to be the rom-com of the summer, if audiences have the same reaction as critics.
The Rashida Jones-Andy Samberg romance, which opens today nationwide, has won over most of the nation's movie critics, garnering a 78 percent approval rating on the aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.
Many critics praised Jones, who co-wrote the movie as well as acted in it and more than a few remarked on the strong chemistry between the two co-stars.
Here is what a few of them had to say:
MANOHLA DARGIS of The New York Times: " With 'Celeste and Jesse Forever,' she (writer and star Rashida Jones) and Mr. McCormack (co-writer Will McCormack) have righted the sex imbalance of the bromance with a story about two people who, together and alone, express an ideal rarely seen in American movies: a man and woman whose equality is burnished in friendship, not just in bed and marriage."
OWEN GLEIBERMAN of EW.com "'Celeste and Jesse Forever' bounces along with nimble invention, from a photo montage that colors in an entire romantic history to the hilarious scene in which Celeste, increasingly jealous, gets caught going through Jesse's garbage can. I won't even hint at what happens, since the movie keeps taking us, like its characters, by surprise. I will say that it's been a while since a romantic comedy mustered this much charm by looking this much like life."
BETSEY SHARKEY of the Los Angeles Times: "The movie, though, ultimately rests on Jones' very slim shoulders. She is emerging as someone who does indeed have the chops to carry a film. As Celeste swings from gently letting Jesse down to throwing herself a pity party once she realizes he might actually be gone, Jones shows off that range nicely."
PETER TRAVERS of Rolling Stone: "As expected, Jones ('Parks and Recreation') and Samberg (a former 'SNL' VIP) nail every laugh. More surprisingly, they also play their characters for real, letting confusion and hurt seep in between the sillier setups.


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I know that he will be pretty jetlagged, but I tried to do a few special things for him since he will be coming back to the apartment while I'm still at work. Many years ago, the husband made me a little "Happy Birthday" banner out of construction paper and thread. It was so sweet and thoughtful, so I wanted to do something similar. I cheated and printed the letters on paper and then cut them out. I think it's probably better that way though, because you can actually read the sentiment.
Treat.com. They were running a sale last week where all the cards were 99 cents, and I definitely stocked up. I really love how you can personalize your message.


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in The world Swimming Championships in Turkey. Lauren from NZ graduated in 2010 from CAL and was part of the 2009 NCAA championship team.
Coming in 2nd place in the 100fly was current Bears Tom Shields. Tom beat out Ryan Lochte who was 3rd.
An interview she did as a soph


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Wedding Cake – From Inspiration to Reality
Yesterday we showed your our inspiration for C+C's Out-of-town gift boxes and what they ended up looking like. Today we're going to share the inspiration we found for their cake and cupcakes and what they ended up looking like.
We decided early on during a floral consult we would be using roses quite a bit for the wedding, so we wanted that to transfer over to a few details, especially the cake. So we asked Crave to decorate the cutting cake with rosettes and bring that into the mini cupcakes as well. We think it turned out lovely! We then added a bed of hydrangas to the bottom of the stand to hide the legs of the stand. And yes, they were as delicious as they look! Hmm… time for a cupcake run?