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Finishing up and Going out of TownCongress will be in session for just a few weeks total between the August recess and the November election. Congress leaves at the beginning of August, comes back in September after the Democratic Convention, and leaves again in October to campaign. The House and Senate agreed on a measure to ensure transportation projects continue through 2014. The biggest news out of Washington circled around the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on both the Health Care and Arizona Immigration laws, both of which affect the power of state government. The Senate has attempted to pass a measure, introduced by the President, that will encourage private business to bring jobs back to the United States that have been outsourced to other countries. The House passed Appropriations measures for Agriculture, Defense, and Transportation, as well as voted to hold Attorney General Holder in contempt and voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for the 33rd time.
»Health & Human Services"Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act--Decision Ensures Millions of Americans Will Have Access to Affordable, Quality Care"
On Thursday, June 28, 2012, the United States Supreme Court upheld the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) (Click here for the complete ruling) . The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the condition requiring most Americans to obtain insurance or pay a penalty is authorized by Congress's power to levy taxes. With the Court's decision, compliance efforts will likely move ahead at full speed with major provisions of the ACA becoming effective in 2013 and 2014. The vote was 5 to 4, with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., joining Justices Breyer, Ginsburg, Kagan, and Sotomayor.
The ruling upheld nearly every provision of the ACA, meaning that the healthcare industry and employers will need to prepare for full implementation of the Act this year and the major provisions involving the establishment of state health exchanges, which will begin in 2014. The only provision of the ACA not affirmed by the Court affects state decisions on whether to participate in Medicaid expansion. The Court found the ACA's Medicaid program expansion violates the Constitution because it threatened states with the loss of existing Medicaid funding if they did not comply with the expansion. The ruling gives states the option of whether to accept the Medicaid expansion. Many states have already indicated they will not participate.
Individual Mandate: The Individual Mandate was a highly controversial element of the law that required individuals to carry insurance or pay a fine. Although the court said this provision was not constitutional as a federal regulation of interstate commerce, a 5-to-4 majority of the Justices found it to be constitutional under Congress's power of taxation. "The Affordable Care Act's requirement that certain individuals pay a financial penalty for not obtaining health insurance may reasonably be characterized as a tax," Chief Justice Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. "Because the Constitution permits such a tax, it is not our role to forbid it, or to pass upon its wisdom or fairness."
Expansion of Insurance Coverage: The court substantially limited the law's expansion of Medicaid--the joint federal-state program that provides health care to poor and disabled people. The Act's major goal is to expand access to health insurance by making more people eligible for Medicaid (those whose earnings do not exceed 133% of the federal poverty level), and by offering generous subsidies to help families pay for insurance. In the Court's analysis of the ACA's Medicaid provisions, it held that it would be unconstitutional for the federal government to withhold all Medicaid funding in order to force states to comply with the Medicaid expansion. Chief Justice Roberts wrote, "Nothing … precludes Congress from offering funds under the ACA to expand the availability of health care, and requiring that states accepting such funds comply with the conditions on their use. What Congress is not free to do is to penalize States that choose not to participate in that new program by taking away their existing Medicaid funding." As a result, federal expansion of Medicaid will begin in 2014 in all states, and the federal government will pay 100% of all costs. Starting in 2016, the federal government will shift 10% of those costs to the states. If a state does not wish to participate, the federal government may use the ACA to withhold funding related to the Medicaid expansion the state did not pursue, but it may not punish the state by withholding all Medicaid funding. Estimates show that as many as 16 million additional people would become eligible for Medicaid under the expansion if all states participate. However, if the 26 states that challenged the ACA opted not to participate, as many as 8.5 million people might remain ineligible. In Texas alone, 1.8 million would not have coverage. On the other hand, if Florida participates in the expansion, estimates show an additional 951,000 people would be eligible for Medicaid.
The Supreme Court left most of the Affordable Care Act intact, including the centerpiece provisions requiring individuals to have adequate insurance coverage and insurance companies to abandon pre-existing condition exclusions and lifetime caps on coverage. The Court's decision means that federal and state policy makers and health care providers will continue to prepare for and implement comprehensive health reform, even though some states could decide to opt out of the Medicaid expansion. Highly popular provisions that are already in effect will not be lost, including coverage for young adults and no-cost preventive care visits for seniors. The battles over health reform are not over; the law will now be a focal point in the political arena and a significant factor in the upcoming elections. Click here to read a summary of how each Justice ruled.
»Energy, Transportation, and Environment"Transportation Reauthorization"
The House and Senate agreed on the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act, which reauthorizes transportation programs through September 2014 and puts an additional $18.8 billion in the Highway Trust Fund. Below are some of the major ways MAP-21 affects states:
- Streamlining the Project Delivery Process- The biggest benefit of this bill will be a leaner, more efficient process for building a new highway. Originally, estimates cited new highway completion would be 15 years, even though only a fraction of that time accounts for actual construction.
- Program Reform & Consolidation- Overall, the bill consolidates roughly 90 programs down to 30 programs. The new and combined programs now provide a greater amount of flexibility to address a wide variety of priorities. The bill also provides incentives to allow states to collaborate with the private sector to finance and operate transportation projects.
- America Fast Forward- Map-21 creates a new program to build upon the success of the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program. This new program provides access to low interest capital with flexible terms.
»Homeland Security/ Emergency Preparedness"Arizona Immigration Decision"
On July 16th, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down several key parts of Arizona's immigration law but left a controversial provision requiring police to check the immigration status of people detained and suspected to be in the country illegally. Overall, the Court struck down provisions that essentially would have allowed states to write their own immigration policy, but the Court did provide states with the power for limited enforcement by allowing law enforcement the ability to ask for immigration papers. To read an analysis of the decision click here.
"States Seek to Gain Access to DHS Database to Purge Voter Rolls"
In July, Florida and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reached an agreement to provide the state access to the federal SAVE program, Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement database. This database lists legal immigrants and green card-holders who are not eligible to vote (the database does not include illegal immigrants). Florida Governor Rick Scott said this agreement would "create a path" for other states to "purge their voter rolls of non-citizens." Five presidential swing states including Ohio, Nevada, Michigan, North Carolina, and Colorado are among those seeking to use the DHS database to check their voter rolls.
Advocacy groups have pointed out that more than 50% of the names are Hispanic and voiced concern that the database is incomplete, with many citizens labeled incorrectly—the great majority of whom are voters of color. Some argue the law aims to suppress the minority vote.
»Business, Financial Services, and Insurance"Market Place Fairness Act"
This bill would allow states and localities to collect sales tax online once common standards have been adopted. The bill has been steadily gaining steam this year as a number of organizations and businesses have worked on this bi-partisan legislation. The bill was offered as an amendment to the Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act. Although the amendment did not make it onto the floor, the chances for passage of the bill are improving. As pressure mounts for this bill, it may be able to make it through the Senate this year in some form. The Market Place Fairness Act would allow states to collect billions in revenue already owed to states and local government. See NBCSL's July State Issues for a Complete Breakdown.
»Agriculture"House Passes Farm Bill"
After the Senate agreed to a version of the Farm Bill, the House began work on its competing measure. The Farm Bill proposal passed by the House Agriculture Committee slashes funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $16 billion over ten years mainly by restricting states' ability to coordinate SNAP with the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Specifically, the cuts would restrict the broad-based Categorical Eligibility (Cat El) option that allows states to coordinate SNAP and LIHEAP, limiting states' ability to operate "heat and eat" policies. The following are projected outcomes for the House version of the bill:
- According to the Congressional Budget Office, limiting Cat-El will result in 1.8 million people losing their benefits, or 2 to 3 million, according to the Administration.
- According to the CBO, an estimated 280,000 school-aged children from low-income households would no longer be deemed eligible for free school meals through their receipt of SNAP benefits.
- According to the CBO, limiting "Heat and Eat" will result in an additional 500,000 SNAP participating households losing $90 per month in benefits.
- The current funding for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program will continue but allows elementary schools with a high proportion of low-income students the ability to purchase fresh, frozen, canned, and dried produce that will be made available to students throughout the day.
- Increases funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which will help food banks supplement the diets of low-income individuals.
»Education"White House Announces "Master Teacher" Program"
On July 18, 2012, President Obama announced his plan to establish a national Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Master Teacher Corps, a $1 billion effort to enhance student achievement in STEM. The program will start with 50 exceptional STEM teachers established in 50 sites and will expand over 4 years to reach 10,000 Master Teachers. According to a White House press release, "These teachers will make a multi-year commitment to the Corps and, in exchange for their expertise, leadership and service, will receive an annual stipend of up to $20,000 on top of their base salary." In addition, the Administration has dedicated $100 million from the Teachers Incentive Fund to help schools establish a pipeline in STEM education for teachers who excel. The idea is to use this STEM instruction model for their peers and take on additional responsibilities in their school districts. Currently, 30 school districts have expressed interest in competing for funding to boost their programs.
»Labor, Military, & Veterans Affairs"Unemployment Rate Rises for Minority Workers"
The U.S. Department of Labor released the June 2012 Employment Situation Summary showing an addition of 80,000 new jobs; however, 12.7 million Americans remain unemployed. The unemployment rate had no change from the previous month?remaining at 8.2 percent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported, "Employment was little changed in most major industries." The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) remains at 5.4 million. These individuals accounted for 41.9 percent of the unemployed. With federal and state unemployment compensation benefits expiring, states are exhausting what limited resources they have to provide training, education, and career counseling to build upon the knowledge, skills, and abilities of job seekers. Click here to read the June 2012 Employment Situation Summary.
"Veterans Affairs Initiative Targets 42,000 Homeless and At-Risk Vets and Families"
On July 17th, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Eric K. Shinseki announced the award of nearly $100 million in grants that will help approximately 42,000 homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families. The grants are going to 151 community agencies in 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, the VA is awarding grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that provide services to very low-income veteran families living in, or transitioning, to permanent housing. Those community organizations provide a range of services that promote housing stability among eligible very low-income veteran families. Under the grants, homeless providers will offer veterans and their family members outreach, case management, assistance in obtaining VA benefits and assistance in getting other public benefits. Community-based groups can offer temporary financial assistance on behalf of veterans for rent payments, utility payments, security deposits, and moving costs. This marks the program's second year. In 2011, VA provided about $60 million to assist 22,000 veterans and family members. In 2009, President Obama and Secretary Shinseki announced the federal government's goal to end Veteran homelessness by 2015. Through the homeless Veterans initiative, VA committed $800 million in FY 2011 to strengthen programs that prevent and end homelessness among Veterans. Click here for more information about VA's homeless programs.
What's Happening in July?
- Black Family Month is dedicated to the enrichment of Black families through, education, health and self-improvement. People are encouraged to rededicate themselves to their family and celebrate their connection, heritage, and commitment to one another.
- Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During this month, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food and drink. Fasting is considered obligatory for those who are physically able, and is the fourth of five pillars in Islam. Each pillar represents an act of worship or sign of commitment to the faith. Eid-ul-Fitr is a celebratory holiday which marks the end Ramadan, and concludes the month of fasting where families and friends gather for large meals and the exchanging of gifts.
- Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.
- Mandela Day, celebrated July 18th, is a call to action for individuals–for people everywhere–to take responsibility for changing the world into a better place, one small step at a time, just as Mr. Mandela did. Following the success of Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday celebrations in London's Hyde Park in June 2008, some decided that there could be nothing more fitting than to celebrate Mr. Mandela's birthday each year with a day dedicated to his life's work and that of his charitable organizations, and to ensure his legacy continues forever.
- World Hepatitis Day is an annual event that each year provides international focus for patient groups and people living with hepatitis B and C. It is an opportunity around which interested groups can raise awareness and influence real change in disease prevention and access to testing and treatment. Following the World Health Assembly in May 2010, it was agreed that World Hepatitis Day would be recognized annually on July 28th.


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The Australian Olympic Committee has backed proposed sweeping coercive powers for the national sports anti-doping body, despite concerns among athletes about their impact.
AOC president
But representative of the Australian Athletes Alliance said the legislation is not necessary and infringes human rights, such as the privilege against self-incrimination.
The athletes' concerns were shared by Coalition and Greens senators on the Committee. Greens Senator Richard Di Natale said the legislation would allow athletes to be "dragged off the street" and put into a "star chamber".
The legislation would give ASADA the ability to compel athletes to attend an interview and imposes a penalty if they fail to do so. It also shifts the burden of proof on to an athlete to show that he or she does not have information that could be of assistance to an ASADA investigation.
Last month, an Australian Crime Commission found that the use of prohibited substances – such as peptides and hormones – was widespread in Australian sports.
Mr Coates said only 0.89 percent of tests on athletes reveal drug use, but it would be "naive" to think the real level was not higher.
He said the proposed new ASADA powers were similar to those of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, and Olympic athletes already sign agreements that require them to undertake many of the actions covered by the legislation.
"If you receive a notice from ASADA, what's the big problem with having to front up," Mr Coates said.
"We don't think this is a precedent. It's important to protect the integrity of financial markets and I put it to you it is just as important to protect the integrity of Australian sport."
He said the inadequacy of ASADA's existing powers had been highlighted by revelations about drug taking in a book by former Australian shot-putter Werner Reiterer. Despite the book, Mr Reiterer had refused to speak to the AOC or provide further details of his claims.
AOC Athletes' Commission chair and Olympic rower Kimberley Crow said she supported the new powers.
"All of this we are willing to do to have a level playing field and for people to believe we are clean," she said.
But the Australian Athletes Alliance (AAA) and the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports – which covers the Australian Football League, Cricket Australia and the Australian Rugby Union – expressed concern about the removal of the privilege against self-incrimination.
AAA general secretary Brendan Schwab said athletes are already covered by World Anti-Doping Agency-compliant doping codes through their employment contracts.
The Australian Financial Review

subset: commoncrawl


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Greentech Blogs
1. Tech Gadget
a site sharing latest and green technology gadgets, tech information and new invention
Owner: Zack_Gadjet
Listed in: Technology
Other Tags: technology, iphone, gadgets
When your cartridges run out of ink, most of us plan to throw them in bin. However, there is more.. than one way to utilize these empty cartridges when you have used them.
Owner: Js_Jullia
Listed in: Business
Other Tags: cartridge disposal, recycle toner drums, printer cartridge


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The Trinity Weaver Folding Foregrip and Flashlight Kit give the scenario paintball player the best of both worlds. Trinity gives both the flashlight and the foregrip handle in one package. Very durable foregrip with an all Aluminum Flashlight. Fits on any style weaver mount and designed perfectly to fit Tippmann X7, X7 Phenoms and BT Paintball Guns.
Feel free to contact our customer service with any questions or concerns regarding your order at:
(724) 571-5770
Home of the Lifetime Marker Warranty
Terms & Conditions - Privacy Policy - Shipping Policy - Site Map
Payment methods accepted:
Copyright Punishers Paintball Supply © 2003-2016 All Rights Reserved
All photography and text on this site is the original work of Punishers Paintball Supply and manufacturers.
Contents may not be used for any commercial or non-commercial purpose without prior written consent from www.punisherspb.com.


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Epa (Eicosapentaenoic Acid)
What other names is Epa (eicosapentaenoic Acid) known by?
Acide Eicosapentaénoïque, Acide Éthyle-Eicosapentaénoïque, Acide Gras Essentiel, Acide Gras d'Huile de Poisson, Acide Gras N-3, Acide Gras Omega, Acide Gras Oméga 3, Acide Gras Polyinsaturé, Acide Gras W3, Acido Eicosapentaenoico, EPA, E-EPA, Eicosapentanoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acid, Ethyl Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Ethyl-Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Ethyl-EPA, Fish Oil Fatty Acid, N-3 Fatty Acid, Omega Fatty Acid, Omega 3, Oméga 3, Omega-3, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid, PUFA, W-3 Fatty Acid.
What is Epa (eicosapentaenoic Acid)?EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) is a fatty acid found in the flesh of coldwater fish, including mackerel, herring, tuna, halibut, salmon, cod liver, whale blubber, or seal blubber.
EPA is used for high blood pressure in high-risk pregnancies (eclampsia), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), heart disease, schizophrenia, personality disorder, cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer's disease, depression, and diabetes.
EPA is used in combination with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in fish oil preparations for a variety of conditions, including preventing and reversing heart disease, and decreasing irregular heartbeats; as well as asthma, cancer, menstrual problems, hot flashes, hay fever, lung diseases, lupus erythematosus, and kidney disease. EPA and DHA are also used in combination for migraine headache prevention in adolescents, skin infections, Behçet's syndrome, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, psoriasis, Raynaud's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.
EPA is also used in combination with RNA and L-arginine after surgery to reduce infections, improve wound healing, and shorten recovery time.
Don't confuse EPA with DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and fish oils, which contain EPA and DHA. Most available data involving EPA are from research and clinical experience with fish oil products containing variable combinations of EPA and DHA. For more information, see the separate listings for Fish Oil and DHA.
Possibly Effective for...
Possibly Ineffective for...
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).
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Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.


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Jazz Network has been, since 1987, the first electronic network in the cultural domain.
It is a non-profit association of promoters, musicians' associations, artistic directors, consultants of music programmes in Europe working mainly in the field of jazz and improvised music.
Jazz Network wants to promote collaboration among the professionals in this field to improve organisational efficiency and programming of concerts and tours and, therefore, the working conditions of musicians, agents, promoters.
Its members and users work together to coordinate common projects and to commission original productions.
Associazione Culturale
Via Montelungo 4 - 48124
Ravenna (I)
tel. +39 0544 405666,
fax +39 0544 405656


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UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (Jan. 1)
The Security Council voted unanimously yesterday, as had been expected, in condemnation of Israel's "premeditated military action" in attacking the Beirut International Airport last Saturday night in a commando raid.
While the resolution avoided any suggestion of applications of sanctions, there was a hint to that effect in a clause saying that the Council was issuing "a solemn warning to Israel that if such acts were to be repeated the Council would have to consider further steps to give effect to its decisions." The resolution also held that Lebanon was "entitled to appropriate redress for the destruction it suffered, responsibility for which has been acknowledged by Israel," and that the raid was a threat to the peace.
J. R. Wiggins, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, said after the adoption that while the United Stales delegation had supported the resolution, it did not approve of some of the attacks made on Israel during debates leading to the Council meeting. He declared that "we wish explicitly to dissociate ourselves from the sweeping generalizations, the crude denunciations and the reckless attacks upon Israel for alleged policies and acts having nothing to do with the episodes properly before us. Israel is not on trial here for its life. Israel is not being asked here to defend its right to exist." But, he added, the United States considered 'all these interventions against civil aviation" as "intolerable."
Yosef Tekoah, Israel's Ambassador to the UN, called the resolution an indication of the Council's "bankruptcy" on the Middle East. He also charged, in his statement, that there had been a new near-outrage yesterday when a fused time bomb was found before it exploded in an Israeli school bus. Enough explosives had been, planted in the vehicle to have demolished it and killed every passenger.


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Woodbridge High's boys basketball team had its second annual Alumni Night during the University game recently.
Players got together for a reception before the game, then stayed to watch the Warriors defeat the Trojans.
Among the alumni was former NBA standout Adam Keefe, who like the other former players had a chance to visit with many of the current players.
The players stayed around for a post-game reception and photographs in the gymnasium.


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/6/2013 (1528 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A man has pleaded guilty this morning to the strangling death of Nancy Swenty two years ago.
Russell McDiarmid has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years in the death of the Fisher Branch woman.
Swenty was killed in her home on July 27, 2011.
Crown prosecutor Brian Bell describes Swenty's killing as "heinous and unnecessary," adding there was "no rhyme or reason for why it happened."
Court was told McDiarmid strangled Swenty to death in her home, wrapped her body in a tarp and dumped it outside of Fisher Branch.
Swenty's mother, Gladys told the court: "there is no word to express how I feel… I cry every day for her and me."


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On March 18, 1975, in a show of defiance against Japan-U.S. military policy, the Kobe Municipal Assembly passed a resolution that became known as the "Kobe Formula."
From that day forward, the resolution said, any ship carrying nuclear weapons would not be allowed to enter Kobe harbor, and would have to officially declare it did not have any nukes on board. French, Indian and Italian naval vessels agreed to cooperate, but the U.S. Navy refused.
In the nearly four decades since, there has been little pressure on the part of the United States to change it. Following the Great Kobe Earthquake of January 1995, the U.S. offered to dispatch its navy to Kobe for humanitarian assistance. Partially due to the Kobe resolution, the various offers were mostly declined.
In the late 1990s, there was a half-hearted push by some American diplomats in Kansai to overturn the resolution (U.S. Navy officials, by contrast, said that was not something they were seeking). Due to stiff opposition in the Kobe assembly, however, the effort went nowhere.
Today, while many Kobe politicians, especially in the Liberal Democratic Party, say the resolution is outdated, none see the advantage of fighting to overturn it. Those who back it, including opposition parties and their supporters, gather each March 18 to commemorate the resolution's passage and to call for an end to nuclear weapons.
What will happen, though, to the resolution under the new rules for collective self-defense?
Given the emphasis Hyogo Prefecture in particular is putting on the need to have a comprehensive disaster plan in place for major earthquakes, and given the fact that Tokyo and Washington are moving forward with plans to increase U.S. participation in disaster relief efforts based on the lessons both sides learned from "Operation Tomodachi" after the March 11, 2011, mega-quake and tsunami, it seems fair to conclude that ports near Kobe, such as Osaka and Himeji, might see more military activity in the name of joint training for natural disasters.
Under Article VI of the 1960 U.S.-Japan security treaty, the United States is granted use by its land, air and naval forces of facilities and areas in Japan. A natural disaster or military emergency in which Kobe harbor is ordered by the Japanese government to serve as a major base for relief operations might lead to a U.S.-Japan naval presence in the port.
Short of that, however, it appears Tokyo and Washington are, for the moment, content to sail past Kobe and its rough political waters as they navigate a new relationship based on Japan's reinterpretation of collective self-defense.


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So finally the love birds are chirping out of their cage as Katrina and Ranbir were together spotted getting cozy in Spain earlier this month. After running from all the paparazzi in India, they couldn't probably work is stealth mode in Spain. These pictures were published in a leading magazine, who's editor says, ""I think it's great that Ranbir and Katrina are coming out into the open with their romance now. It's great to be in love. "
These photos speak a lot in themselves and their chemistry certainly seems on a high. Katrina Kaif spotted in a bikini with a shirtless Ranbir Kapoor, did Katrina take Ranbir for a Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara experience? They have been spotted having dinner with each other's families, visiting rock shows and going on holidays! Recently at Katrina's birthday during the screening of Kiran Rao's Ship Of Theseus, Ranbir stood up and started singing Happy Birthday to Katrina in front of everybody! Now you know how it feels to be in love?


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Lending their name to a prepaid MasterCard for kids, Kim Kardashian and her sisters are slammed by the officials in Connecticut and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.
The attorney general of Connecticut has launched a scathing attack on Kim Kardashian and her sisters for launching a credit card aimed at kids - accusing the stars of peddling a "dangerous financial fantasy".
Kim, along with her siblings Khloe Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian, have lent their name to the Kardashian Prepaid MasterCard, which lets parents give their children a small amount of credit so they can keep track of their finances.
But the scheme has riled officials in Connecticut and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has issued a statement warning of the perils of handing over credit cards to kids. The statement reads, "Keeping up with the Kardashians is impossible using these cards - laden with pernicious and predatory fees that swallow card value."
"These cards are feckless financial tools designed to promptly diminish in value with virtually every transaction - and even when consumers don't use the card at all. The family is marketing a dangerous financial fantasy."
Blumenthal has also demanded bosses at the company behind the card, University National Bank, provide specific details about how the card is promoted and sold in the state in a bid to protect consumers.


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Isanti City Council members are moving forward with the process to establish their council, along with two community members, as the city's Economic Development Authority.
During the Isanti City Council meeting Feb. 18, the council held a public hearing and approved several resolutions relating to the formation of the seven-member EDA.
The first meeting of the EDA will be March 4 at 7:30 p.m. or immediately following the regular meeting of the council.
The terms for the two appointed EDA members will be six years, and council members will be appointed annually.
Absence by any commissioner from any three meetings in a 12-month period, unless excused in advance by the chair, constitutes a vacancy. In the event of any vacancy, the mayor, with approval of the City Council, will appoint a person to complete the unexpired term.
The board will be composed of adults 18 and older that live within the city limits of the city of Isanti, own a business within the city of Isanti and/or have a significant management role in running a business in the city of Isanti that gives them insight of the role of the economic development of the city, overall community and business environment, or shall be members of the Isanti City Council.
The EDA will adopt its bylaws reflecting a seven-member board, as well its meeting schedule and election of officers, at its March 4 meeting.
In other action, the council:
• Approved amending the city's water tap policy.
• Approved $435 in advertising in ECM Publishers Many Faces of Isanti County publication.
• Approved the purchase of a Bobcat Skid-Steer loader with attachments at a cost of $33,427. The equipment will be used for snow sidewalk removal.
• Approved a resolution adopting the 2014 EDA Marketing-Work Plan.
• Approved the purchase of six public parking signs from Signs by Jill for a cost not to exceed $161.


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Not sure where my weekend columns have disappeared to – they are supposed to appear on this blog. While we wait, here's my review from yesterday's FT of Dan Ariely's excellent "Predictably Irrational". But wait! Controversy is afoot. The Economist dislikes the book almost as much as I like it:
Mr Ariely's weakness for soft-headed extrapolation from experimental findings are on full display at the ends of his chapters. For example, in his second chapter, a few clever experiments are deployed to show that it is possible that a trade may not produce a surplus of utility. Without any discussion whatsoever of the real-world frequency of such cases, Mr Ariely proceeds to question the general validity of the law of demand. And then we find this:
If we can't rely on the market forces of supply and demand to set optimal market prices, and we can't count on free-market mechanisms to help us maximize our utility, then we may need to look elsewhere… If you accept the premise that market forces and free markets will not always regulate markets for the best, then you may find yourself among those who believe that the government (we hope a reasonable and thoughtful government) must play a larger role in regulating some market activities, even if it limits free enterprise.
I find this flabbergasting. Every indication is given by Mr Ariely that these alleged irrationalities are general tendencies of the species. So they must afflict every voter, every politician, every bureaucrat, every power hungry general. How exactly is "a larger role" for the government supposed to improve on the coordinating function of the price mechanism? We are offered no details about the principles by which the allegedly superior mechanism is supposed to perform. I suppose we just hope, as Mr Ariely does, that "reasonable and thoughtful" people come to power. To my mind, this is just transparent political signaling ("Hey guys, I'm no right-winger!"), not social science.
This is fair criticism given unfair prominence. As I mention in my review, Ariely's heroic policy conclusions are weak. But they are also a small part of the book. By the time I'd finished reading it, I'd mentally discarded them and simply remembered an excellent account of experimental science in action. No accounting for taste…


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Military Law
Have Military Law Questions? Ask a Military Lawyer.
I was arrested on base by MPs and they sent my information to my command and to the state. I was given a reading in from of the CG. I was advised that if I told the CG I was not in my car that I would look like I was not taking responsibilty. Because I was drinking and the MPs consitence, I was unsure when I was in front of the CG. After seeing all the evidence (my keys were in my pocket, the windows were rolled up and the inconsitencies in the poilice reports, I was convinced that I was right), My intial memory was confirmed in that I was not in my car.
Yes. At the ART 15. However, the state said I was exonerated and the GOMOR and the Article 15 were based on false accusations by the MPs.
My question is, what can I do to fight this thing and what would be the best COA for my carrer? Should I get out of the army now before I face a BOI. Will I face a BOI (in your opinion). Will the letter from the CG to move my GOMOR to my restricted file help to retain my career? How does DA look at these things now a days? BotXXXXX XXXXXne, best and worse case? What can I do?
What the CG told me after requesting the letter to have my GOMOR placed in my restriced file (which he said he would), he stated that two previouse Warrant Officers did the same thing (they recieved the letter from the CG and turned it into DA to get their GOMOR sent to restricted file) and were dismissed by DA.
However, G1 tells me that this will show up anyway when I come up for promotion to MAJ.
Please keep pulling this stuff from me. your questions are assisting me in narrowing down my thoughts. Thank you. Standing by
Negative. My OERs have been stellar.
My OER was due in SEP and I was marked above center of mass. After my incident and because the OER was late, my G3 went back and changed it to center mass.
The Article 15 is in my restricted file.
Will this show up to a promotion board?
Do I go through the same process as I would to remove the GOMOR?
So what you are saying, with the CGs letter to move the GOMOR to my restricted file is that DA will not initiate a BOI or a retention board?
Can DA even do this or is it my DIVISION who does the eliminating.
Again, I am being filled with a lot of mis-information.
Ok. Last question (you may have answerd it but I am in the IN so please bare with me).
The question with the BOI is in refrence to getting my GOMOR moved to my restricted file. The CG stated he would write a letter of support to do so. Is this a good option?
So in your opinion, I should not be overly concerned with a BOI even if the GOMOR remains in my official file.
If the ART 15 was in my permanent file, that is when I should have been concerned?
My goal is to make Major and pop smoke. Ive had 11 years and by the time I am looked at for LTC, I will be moving on to conduct major farming operations.
Hopefully this is my last question. You have been very helpful.
I want to say thank you for giving me the straight answers. This has been a horrific ordeal and have felt the full weight of the United States Army on my shoulders.
However, I placed myself in this position so I am the only one to blame. With that being said, 15mins does not constitute ones carrer but unfourtunatly, it is becoming that.
Again, thank you for your time and consideration. I am very pleased with the service and will mark the face as such. blessings. v/r CPT Mark Fisher


text: JAIPUR, INDIA, August 7, 2001: Though there are five days for Janamashtami to arrive, in this city of Jaipur widespread preparations for the festival have started. The main festival is celebrated in Govind Dev Ji. Here the material of display is being prepared and programs of religious music/bhajans are being held. To celebrate the birthday of Lord Krishna, people are busy in preparations in their own unique manner with special food dishes and decorations for the temples. (translated from Hindi)


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#02 Lace Panel Pullover by Laura Zukaite
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#02 Lace Panel Pullover
"Laura Zukaite's elegant elevation of the relaxed tee charms in Bergère de France's 'Soja.' It features a central lace panel on both front and back as well as rolled short sleeves that tack up smartly."


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The Marine Conservation Society examined water quality at bays around the UK and the Channel Islands.
The organisation believes at least twice as many of Guernsey's beaches would have received commendations if the island had secondary sewage treatment facilities.
The recommended beaches are L'Eree. Port Soif, and Grandes Rocques.
'Room for improvement'
Richard Hardy, the campaign director for Surfers Against Sewage, a group calling for full sewage treatment in the island, said he was not surprised by the results of the survey.
He said: "It's something we've been aware of for the last ten years.
"It doesn't meet the standards that we are looking for as recreational water bathers and users, there is definitely room for improvement there."


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A million dollar home was gutted by fire Sunday. No one was home. Firefighters battled the blaze for 13 hours, two sustaining minor injuries. Investigators were on scene Monday, but not yet able to enter the unstable structure.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/2/2014 (1280 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.


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Landscape Work in the Cemetery
I regard it as an honor and a privilege, to stand here. At the same time I realize the fact that my place ought to be out there and some of you should be up here and I ought to be listening to you. I am only distantly related to you. My work is landscape gardening and park work. Your work is very important and is coming close to us and I think it is a very good thing it is. I remember when I was a boy in Scotland. In my early life I can remember the old church yards and having a feeling of sadness and melancholy. A melancholy feeling would come over me. It was inevitable. Those were really cities, of the dead and apparently only for the dead. We are more progressive, and we are making a cemetery now a place for the living. We are adding to the cemeteries landscape ornamentation and making them now very attractive indeed. I learn many lessons when I go to some of your cemeteries. Some of your superintendents have excellent ideas and much skill and knowledge in landscape work. You have undoubtedly difficulties that I do not understand and cannot comprehend. Those difficulties are not insurmountable, however, because you have already overcome many of them. One difficulty I suppose you have which I am not familiar with and that is the ownership of your lots and sites. They must want, I suppose, some direction of the improvement of their several parcels and bodies of land in the cemeteries. It is difficult really under circumstances of that kind to have much landscape effect. I think that our finest cemeteries of the future will be those that have been well planned before any lots are sold and certain portions of the boundary, certain small pieces intersecting the sections and roads, etc., had better be set aside for ornamental planting. To the landscape gardener there are few, if any, cemeteries where things are not incongruous and where things do not seem to him to be very much out of place. I think that must arise from the individual taste of the lot owners, which compels the superintendent to follow their plan.
I think there are in most cemeteries too many trees. There are not enough flowering shrubs. There are not enough herbaceous plants. Mr. Falconer, a most excellent authority in our profession, wanted me to say something about having a cemetery attractive every day in the year. I think you should commence with early flowering plants. We all know visitors to cemeteries in the early spring are delighted with flowers. We find in our Washington parks that our spring flowers bring out more notice than later flowers in the summer or autumn. The early flowers are harbingers of spring.
I will tell you what we do in our public grounds. Our first planting for spring begins in October. We dig up our geraniums and many of those plants we want to propagate and plant those places with pansies. You can not all do that. We put out every year about thirty thousand pansies. We cover those beds with a slight coating of horse manure and leave that until they have done flowering in the spring. After our pansy planting we plant, our bulbs, hyacinths, tulips, narcissuses, crocuses, etc. We plant about thirty thousand of those. After that we take up our cannas, which make a very nice effect and we plant evergreens in some of the most important places. If it can be done, it would be well to plant evergreens just as we plant flowers--have dwarf varieties if you can. If not, plant our native evergreens, planting them flat in little groups, so as to remove the bareness of our parks and the same in cemeteries.
Now, my idea in planting parks or cemeteries would be to plant boundaries. Not plant a row of trees--I do not believe in that. I do not believe we ought to have fences. You will observe that we have removed the fences from our parks. We think it a good plan. We find no necessity for them, and it improves the appearance of the grounds very much. Plant around the boundaries groups of trees which would be suitable and which would grow well and which would produce satisfactory effects. I would not plant foreign trees largely--would plant native trees. Throughout the cemetery at the intersections have little plots of ground reserved where you can have flowering shrubs and plants. Then if I could have my way, I would have a parkway on each side of the roadways. I would not sell within perhaps fifteen feet. I would have a parking which would belong to the cemetery and which could be used for decoration with herbaceous plants and flowering shrubs, which would make it attractive.
Now, of course, I know that there is not an abundance of money in all cases to perform the finest landscape work and to carry out the landscape effects that are perhaps most beautiful, but there are certain things that are very essential. The most attractive thing in parks and cemeteries are roads and lawns. The roads should be hard surfaces that would be pleasant to walk on. I believe macadam roads are the best. Gravel roads are good, but they want constant attention. The lawns should be kept up.
In some cemeteries you have rules or regulations that are peculiar. That is, you care for certain special parts of the grounds. There are such things as special care. I think you ought to charge enough for your lots to enable you to keep your roads and lots always in perfect condition. If your roads and lots are in perfect condition, it will add very much to the beauty of the cemetery.
I really cannot say very much to you. I do not know just what to talk about. We have here in Washington many advantages. I came here half a century ago, lacking one year. When I came here I was perhaps one of the most disgusted men you could meet. It was a very unsightly, straggling village at that time. It was called in those days a city of magnificent distances. There was then La Fayette Park, the Capitol Grounds and Franklin Park, I believe that was about all. The major portion of the parks you see now were simply dumping grounds. They have all been created since that time. We have one thing here which is greatly in our favor. We have a very desirable climate. We can grow many things here that many of you gentlemen cannot grow. We are on the border line between the North and the South. We are rich in oaks and maples and many flowering trees and flowering shrubs. There is .another thing that we are not rich in, but I hope to be some time and that is the berry-bearing shrubs. They add very much to the decoration of the grounds in the winter months. What I would advise is very much fewer trees and very many more shrubs. That is what impresses me in cemeteries.
In regard to the parks, if you are so kind as to compliment them, I want to say I do not think they are at all what we hope to have them. We expect to have much higher improvement in many ways in the future. We are constantly improving and laying out grounds. We are taking in now about 150 acres of land reclaimed from the river front and we have now over 400 acres of reservation. One difficulty is they are so widely scattered. I cannot start out in the morning with my horse and buggy and visit each reservation. But it is a good thing. They are good and they are a good plan and I hope other cities will adopt this plan of leaving little spaces in the city. They are restful and in sanitary ways they are a very great advantage indeed.
From the publication:
AACS - Proceedings of the 19th Annual Convention
Held at Washington, DC
September 19, 20, 21 and 22, 1905


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Based on a 2,000 calorie dietSee full nutrition
Ready In
I used organic honey, super-chunk peanut butter and reduced-fat cream cheese. The kids thought this was GREAT. We had a "dippable" breakfast here--waffle sticks, apple slices, banana chunks and ...
I'm trying new recipes now to get ready for the upcoming holiday season and I think we'll be fitting this into the entertaining rotation. We had this with graham crackers but apples would be fa...
Very good- I took this to a party and served with apple slices, there was none left! Tasty but not overly sweet like some caramel dips. Did increase cinnamon to 1 tsp. as really like cinnamon.
Wonderful! Love the taste and texture. Sweet, creamy and the cinnamon gives it a nice twist. I couldn't wait 24 hours, though! :) Good stuff!
Wonderful dip! I made it for my kids and I ate it all. The kids loved it too. Nice texture and not too sweet, perfect! I will make it again and again! Great for spple dipping.
YUMMY!! I did not add the cream cheese since I am allergic to dairy. It was EXCELLENT!! I dipped apple slices into it and...wow! I think I have a new favorite sweet snack! I was looking for...
This was good but it was too sweet for me I think maybe the peanut butter should be the more prominent taste


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Home > Community > Health Library > Hepatitis A and Undercooked Shellfish
Eating raw shellfish, especially oysters, may put you at risk for
hepatitis A.
Bivalves such as oysters and clams filter large amounts of water when
feeding. If shellfish are living in water that has been contaminated with stool
containing the hepatitis A virus, the shellfish may carry the virus. People
then may get it when they eat the raw or undercooked shellfish.
Raw shellfish also may carry other viruses and bacteria that can make
people sick.
Not everyone who eats contaminated raw oysters or other raw shellfish
will become sick. But to reduce the chance of getting sick, make sure that
shellfish have been cooked thoroughly.
ByHealthwise StaffPrimary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal MedicineAdam Husney, MD - Family MedicineSpecialist Medical ReviewerW. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology
Current as ofMay 24, 2016
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The Young Money's female rapper has faith on the newly-leaked material, describing it as a 'pretty song.'
Nicki Minaj's fresh song "Right Through Me" has been unleashed. Riding solo in the new track, the female rapper doesn't only spit verses but also tackles the singing part on the chorus. "You see right through me, how do ya'll do that s**t, how do ya'll do that s**t?" she delivers the lyrics.
The song first emerged via Hip Hop Connection and was quickly posted on the official Young Money YouTube channel. In it, the Young Money MC is amazed at how transparent her feelings are despite her effort to hide behind the walls she built. "Know when I'm lying, know when I'm crying, it's like you got it down to a science," she raps.
Minaj hasn't commented on the leak. The last time when her song "Your Love" was leaked, she didn't plan to release it as a single, but she was taken by surprise when it finally reached No. 1 on Rap Songs chart and made her the first female rapper to top the list since Lil' Kim reigned it in 2003.
Last month before the song hit the web, Minaj managed to talk about the song to MTV, saying "It's a really, really pretty song. Everyone's gonna like it. It's just really insightful but in a very conversational kind of way." So, most likely the track will appear on her upcoming debut album "Pink Friday" which is due November 23 in United States.


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Owotabua is the 9th track on Olamide's YBNL album, DJ Real hooked Olamide up with a faster tempo for the clubs. The song was released via Olamide's facebook page few minutes ago. Enjoy
Also Download
Emzzy aka "dey know tell you" is back with this club banger and unique danceable song titled Keke-Napep produced by Mr Kleb . The Trilla recordz artist, Emzzy is a 20 year oldartist currently based in Lagos but hails from Enugu State, Nigeria. Kicking off hismusical career at the age of 17,he dropped his first official single titled "Ara_Egwu", a song with a cool way of commercial rap in it. He has stayed true to his hustle on the musical front as the UNIJOS undergraduate derives strength from his Charisma. Emzzy has worked with Timaya , Tu-solo , Recoba of Dem Mama , MI , Iceprince , and also his record label co-artists such as G Lace,Shatey and Ay fashion.
Owo tabua on top
Y'all need to watch out for Leke Lee a.k.a no be say I dey joke, I listen to one of his songs fire in the booth, this nigga Is awesome, can't wait to see him at the top.
Yeah have heard that name also, Leke Lee, and have listened to one of his songs as well ojueje mehn the nigga gat what it takes.
Lyrically Leke Lee oo normal ooo
All ya keep shouting Leke Lee, where is the link to his song?


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Orlando Bloom is a knight in shining armor
Orlando Bloom was involved in a wreck last night. After being cut off, he crashed his vehicle into a parked Porsche. He had two female passengers in the car that were both injured. Check out Orlando's heroic actions immediately after the crash. TMZ reports:
In video taken immediately following this morning's accident, Bloom can be seen walking away from the scene, leaving two women — one injured and bleeding — in his smashed-up ride. Nice guy!
After walking down the block, the paparazzi repeatedly advise Bloom to go back to the accident scene and "deal with it," saying that if he leaves, it could be a hit and run.
Despite Orlando exhibiting erratic behavior after leaving the Green Room in Hollywood, police are ruling out drugs and alcohol as the cause of the accident, according to TMZ:
Police tell us that they did not administer a blood alcohol test at the scene, and would not say if one was given at all. But, they insist he was not under the influence.
So basically what the police are saying is that Orlando wasn't drunk or high when he left two chicks bleeding in his car. This evidence confirms a theory I've long held about Orlando Bloom: He's a giant pussy. But, let's be serious for a moment. Orlando, I'm here for you. If you want to take my world-renowned hero classes, the door is always open. But it's not for the weak. If you're uncomfortable using your raw sexuality like I do to battle famine, disease and killer robots, you can always check out amateur pottery down the hall. It's conveniently located next to the ladies room which I hear you've been to quite often – to pee sitting down.
NOTE: The above video is of Orlando leaving the Green Door in Hollywood about 15 minutes before the accident.


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History Mystery of the Week: What town is this?
The photograph is of a street scene from the very early 1900s. Which Otter Tail County community is pictured?
'History Mystery' is a weekly feature of the Perham Focus. Working in partnership with the History Museum of East Otter Tail County, we will publish a 'mystery photo' each week, challenging you, our readers, to answer a question about it. If you have a personal story that relates to the photo, or have new details about its contents, we will work with the museum to have that additional information put on record.
Contact us at 346-5900 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Congratulations to Sue VanWatermulen, who was the first person to correctly guess the answer to last week's History Mystery, Schroeder Brewery in Perham.


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Saint Leo, Fla. (August 8, 2008) – The Saint Leo University volleyball team was selected fourth in the 2008 Sunshine State Conference Pre-Season Poll; it was announced Wednesday by Conference Commissioner Michael J. Marcil. Florida Southern has been chosen as the preseason favorite to win the 2008 Sunshine State Conference volleyball title.
The Lions finished the 2007 campaign with a 24-14 record, going 6-10 in conference for a sixth place finish. The 24 victories smashed the previous school record of 21 set during the 2006 season. Head coach Sam Cibrone enters his fifth season as the Lions' leader and returns all but one player to the squad. The Lions added three new faces to the team this year, which includes three true freshmen.
Saint Leo will open its 2008 season on the road at the Bob Martinez Sports Center on the campus of the University of Tampa, as they participate in the Florida Southern College/University of Tampa/Saint Leo Tournament. The Lions open against the University of Central Oklahoma and Ashland University on Friday, August 29 (11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m.). The tournament continues Saturday, August 30, as the Lions open home action against St. Thomas University at 10:00 a.m.and Northwood University at 7:00 p.m. The Lions open up SSC play on the road at Eckerd College Wednesday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m.
Collecting 46 points and four first-place nods, Nova Southeastern was selected to place third in the 2008 conference standings. Saint Leo was tabbed fourth, receiving 57 points and one first-place vote. Eckerd appeared in the fifth slot in the poll, receiving 70 points, while Lynn was sixth with 74 points.
Barry (103), Florida Tech (114), and Rollins (119) rounded out the preseason poll.
Voting for the volleyball preseason poll was conducted among the league's head volleyball coaches and sports information directors.
Place - Team, Points (1st Place Votes)
1 - Florida Southern, 31 (6)
2 - Tampa, 34 (7)
3 - Nova Southeastern, 46 (4)
4 - Saint Leo, 57 (1)
5 - Eckerd, 70
6 - Lynn, 74
7 - Barry, 103
8 - Florida Tech, 114
9 - Rollins, 119


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This afternoon, at the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, Massachusetts Fifth District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas announced the introduction of the Small Business Tax Relief and Retirement Restoration Act of 2010, bipartisan legislation that would provide immediate tax relief to small businesses. Under Tsongas' bill, small business owners who were forced to make withdrawals from their retirement savings to keep their businesses going during the small business credit crunch could treat their withdrawal as a loan and could file an amended tax return to receive refunds for any income taxes and early-withdrawal penalties they may have paid to the IRS on the loan. In addition to providing tax relief for small businesses, Tsongas' legislation also creates an incentive for small business owners to restore the savings accounts they will need for retirement.
"Small business owners put their hearts into their businesses, often foregoing their own paychecks to keep their businesses afloat and their employees on the payroll," explained Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. "As a result of the financial crisis and ensuing economic downturn, even solid small businesses with a long history of responsible credit use have faced a serious shortage of the credit they need to fund their businesses. The legislation I am introducing today acknowledges the significant personal sacrifices that small business owners made to keep their businesses going, keep jobs in our communities, and to help our economy to recover."
Currently, it is possible to take out a small loan from a 401(k) but not to take a loan from an Individual Retirement Account, so withdrawals before retirement made from an IRA or from a 401(k) above the current limit come with steep early-withdrawal penalties and income taxes. By treating these withdrawals as a loan, Tsongas' legislation puts money back in the hands of small business owners when it is needed most.
"This bill provides tangible, practical relief needed by so many small business owners who have been forced to use retirement funds to keep people employed and their companies alive," said John Williams, a small business owner from Carlisle who proposed the idea to Congresswoman Tsongas earlier this year. "So often we hear Washington talk about helping small business. This bill thoughtfully addresses the very survival of many small companies during the most difficult of times."
"With the financial crisis, many of the local businesses have faced hardships," explained Jeanne L. Osborn President & CEO Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, which endorsed the legislation today. "It is the responsibility of the Chamber to keep our members informed of significant legislation such as the Small Business Tax Relief and Retirement Restoration Act of 2010 that Congresswoman Tsongas has acted on that will help small business. This legislation will provide immediate tax relief that will help restore savings and help to restore money needed for retirement. The Chamber is pleased that we can partner with Congresswoman Tsongas' office to keep our members informed on such important issues."
Under Tsongas' bill, a small business owner who lived off of his or her retirement while putting the salary he or she would have taken from the business back into the business, would be eligible. One year from the date of enactment of the bill, the small business owner must begin making regular installment payments over a 5-year period to repay the loan (for a total of 6 years), under similar rules currently governing small loans from 401(k) plans.
"Small businesses are responsible for the majority of new jobs created in this country and we should be doing all that we can to support them in this difficult economy," Tsongas added. "The commonsense nature of this legislation is reflected in the diverse and bipartisan support that it has already attracted."
Reps. Mike Simpson (R-ID), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Mike Coffman (R- CO), Rob Wittman (R-VA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Joe Courtney (D- CT), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Dale Kildee (D-MI), Laura Richardson (D-CA), Steve Kagen (D-WI), and Nita Lowey (D-NY) are current cosponsors of the legislation.
Source: http://tsongas.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&parentid=48§iontree=48,49&itemid=422


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Three kidnappers named Augustin Akpojivi, Dawel James and Collins Enye, have been sentenced to death by hanging by a Delta State High Court for the offence of kidnapping.
According to PM news, the prosecution counsel during the trial, told the Court that Dawel James, a driver by occupation, masterminded the kidnapping of his boss, Rufus Uzoma Allwell, a staff of Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC).
Dawel conspired with Augustin Akpojivi (29), also a driver, and Collins Enye (23), a commercial motorcycle rider; and others now at large, to kidnap his boss while armed with guns and to demand a ransom of N2million before releasing their victim. He received part of the ransom which was paid by the elder brother of the victim.
The court also sentenced them to 20 years imprisonment with hard labor for illegal possession of firearms, demanding property with menace and stealing.


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Sometimes the planets come into alignment for those that are watching closely enough.
First, some background:
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), the master of supply chain management, has rearranged its supply chain from top to bottom. Some of this is to move away from Samsung (OTC:SSNLF) who has been a supplier of over half the dollar value content in the iToys.
The new list of suppliers is not the normal low cost Chinese manufacturers. Instead Apple has given major mobile DRAM orders to Elpida, a Japanese memory supplier in bankruptcy, Flash memory business to Toshiba, display business to Sharp (SHCAY.PK) and Japan Display, camera chip business to Sony (NYSE:SNE), and battery business to Toshiba (TOSBF.PK), Sanyo, and Panasonic (PC). The common thread here is that all the new suppliers are Japanese, some of whom are tipping into bankruptcy.
Is Tim Cook betting on a huge near-term devaluation of the yen? The devaluation of the yen simply has to happen for the survival of Japan as a modern economy. When that happens, Japanese companies will instantly become the low-cost producers of the products they make.
So far Apple has not invested directly into any of these suppliers, although their cash hoard would certainly allow that.
Some American companies have already moved on this front. For example, Micron (NASDAQ:MU) has a signed deal in place to acquire Elpida out of bankruptcy for $2.5 billion. Elpida is the combined former memory divisions of NEC, Hitachi, and Mitsubishi. The combined amount of DRAM memory technology embedded in Elpida is breathtaking. Micron is buying Elpida for about 25% of the replacement cost for the factories. It gets better, the deal is denominated in yen payable over a six-year period. In a 50% devaluation of the yen, the $2.5 billion price effectively becomes $1.25 billion. Still, why would Micron want a money losing DRAM company? Notwithstanding the nonsense fed the press, there is nothing that Micron/Elpida can do to raise prices on DRAM to a profitable level. But a devaluation of the yen makes Elpida instantly profitable and could contribute $.80-1.00/share in earnings to Micron.
Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) has recently committed $120 million dollar investment to Sharp. Intel and Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) have also been invited to invest in Sharp. Sharp is a $29 billion dollar company with amazing display technology. The company has a market capitalization of $2.62 billion or 8% of sales.
Now, we get to Intel (NASDAQ:INTC). Intel recently borrowed $6 billion at less than 2.5% for, "general corporate purposes and share buybacks." Intel has $6.3 billion left unspent on an existing share buyback program. Why another $6 billion and why now?
Is Intel getting ready to go on a Japanese shopping spree? Using Sharp as an example, Intel could buy a 30% interest in the company for about $800 million. Following a yen devaluation, Sharp could easily earn 10% on the $29 billion in sales, 30% of which would be reported as Intel income. That would be a one-year payback on Intel's investment. In the process, Intel would be supporting Sharp as a low-cost element of its own supply chain for display needs of Intel customers in ultrabooks, tablets and smartphones.
So, Intel could spend this money on share buybacks, or could spend it on non-controlling investments in struggling Japanese companies that, in turn, support Intel's own business.
If spent on shares, Intel would reduce shares outstanding by 5% which would increase EPS by 5%. If spent on distressed Japanese companies that turn profitable in a yen devaluation, the $6 billion could generate well over $1.00/per share to Intel with no other action. If the investment is less than a 50% interest, the profits (losses) are reported on the net-before-tax line at Intel. Pretty much rocking chair money.
A Sharp deal seems like an intelligent opening investment in quality Japanese companies. Touch screen displays and semiconductor products make up over 70% of the cost of an iPad and over 60% of an iPhone and an even higher percentage of the cost of ultrabooks.
This could be an opportunity for Intel that will never be available again and will disappear the day after a yen devaluation.
Watch for some activity along this line by Intel and other American companies with cash to spend.
Disclosure: I am long INTC, MU. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.


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Google has replaced their 7 Pack with the newer 3 Pack in Local Search Results.
You need to know the local search marketing metrics to measure and optimize if you want to have your listing rank in the 3 Pack. Identifying and acquiring Citations from quality, relevant directories is similar to link building for your website. 5 Star reviews from vetted entities (Google+ profiles) helps get your G+ Local Listing to rank at the top of the local search results.
In my case, I wanted to rank in the 3 Pack in local search for Social SEO Los Angeles and more broader local search query for Social Media Marketing Palos Verdes and the more general local search query for Internet Marketing Service Palos Verdes.
Here are the Search Results in Google Maps (now called Google My Business)
Is your Google+ Local Listing ranking at the top of the 3 Pack SERP's?
Unless your listing ranks in the 3 Pack the # of clicks your listing gets will be a fraction of what the top 3 listings get.
Click here to discuss what it will take to get your Google+ Local Listing ranked at the top of the local search results.
Neil Ferree
Latest posts by Neil Ferree (see all)
- How to Curate Content Like a Pro - December 29, 2015
- How to Find Who Shared Your LinkedIn Posts - July 3, 2015
- Marketing Automation for Small Business - March 31, 2015
- How to Become a Content Marketing Ninja - March 16, 2015


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|From: Sam Tobin-Hochstadt (samth at ccs.neu.edu)
Date: Tue Jun 29 11:18:55 EDT 2010
On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 11:11 AM, Matthew Flatt <mflatt at cs.utah.edu> wrote: > At Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:40:54 -0400, Sam Tobin-Hochstadt wrote: >> When I went to rebuild the latest source this morning, I got the >> following error from 'make install': >> >> racket/racket3m -X "/home/samth/sw/plt/collects" -N "raco setup" -l- setup >> raco setup: bootstrapping from source... >> /home/samth/sw/plt/collects/unstable/private/compiled/expand_ss.zo::0: >> read (compiled): code compiled for version 220.127.116.11, not 184.108.40.206 > > Did you get a stack trace with this error? No, nor when I invoked `raco setup' explicitly. I can try to setup the situation again, if that would be helpful. -- sam th samth at ccs.neu.edu
|Posted on the dev mailing list.


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A solid turnout for Day 1b of the 2012 WSOP Main Event
After a disappointing turnout on Day 1a of the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event the turnout on Day 1b more than made up for the paltry 1,088 players that registered on Day 1a of the tournament. With the final tally coming in at 2,144 players the 2012 WSOP Main Event is now on track to better last year's turnout of 6,865 entrants IF Day 1c holds to form, and is the largest of the three starting days.
Over the first two starting days the field size has reached 3,180 entrants, a respectable number that is expected to more than double, based on the WSOP officials' predictions and preregistration numbers for Day 1c.
Day 1b saw plenty of big names take to the tables at the Rio including Daniel Negreanu and the man who handled the "Shuffle up and deal" honors for Day 1b, UFC Champion George St. Pierre (St. Pierre was sent packing fairly early on in the day, suffering a rare knockout outside of the Octagon.
There were also a lot of big name female poker players in the Day 1b field (if 2012 was the year of the Women at the WSOP than Day 1b was the Day of the Women), including roommates, Vanessa Selbst, Vanessa Rousso, and Maria Ho, as well as Amanda Musumeci, Victoria Coren, Liv Boeree, Katie Dozier, Dee Dozier, Christina Lindley, Leo Margets, and of course Shaun Deeb's Gram Jeanine Deeb.
Among the players that built-up impressive chip stacks were two of the game's best, and a pair of Team PokerStars Pros, in Vanessa Selbst (who already has a WSOP bracelet to her credit in 2012) and Daniel Negreanu (who is looking to cap-off a horrid 2012 WSOP with a deep Main Event run.
Some other notables that surpassed the 100,000 chip-mark on Sunday were Jason Somerville, Shaun Deeb, Maria Ho, Brian Hastings, Amnon Filipi, Todd Witteles, and Bryan Pelligrino. Here is a look at the Top 10 chip counts from Day 1b of the WSOP Main Event:
1. John Hoang — 180,000
2. James Schafer — 171,250
3. Vanessa Selbst — 168,350
4. Jeff Beckley — 158,550
5. Matt Woodward — 158,500
6. Nelius Foley — 146,875
7. Shawn Quillin — 146,350
8. Jason Somerville — 144,725
9. Daniel Negreanu — 140,075
10. Guang Pu Lin — 135,700
Here is a look at the Top 10 chip-counts from Day 1a of the 2012 WSOP Main Event:
1. William John – 266,700
2. Gerardo Lubas – 165,825
3. Daniel Strelitz – 164,125
4. Dane Lomas – 157,600
5. Cary Katz – 154,850
6. Benjamin Pollak – 144,200
7. Chance Kornuth – 141,775
8. Jonathan Cuevas – 141,675
9. Jared Okun – 141,350
10. Eric Kurtzman – 136,900
From the two starting fields of 3,180 players, a total of 2,044 players have moved on to Day 2 of the WSOP Main Event (657 from Day 1a and 1,387 from Day 1b).
Tags: Boeree, Christina Lindley, Daniel Negreanu, Dee Dozier, Filipi, Main Event 1, Musumeci, Pelligrino, Poker Main Event, poker players, Respectable Number, Shaun Deeb, Todd Witteles, Vanessa Rousso, Vanessa Selbst, Victoria Coren, World Series of Poker, World Series of Poker Main Event, WSOP Main Event, Year Of The Women
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text:
Koloor Saeid Rahimian, Seyed (2009) Damage mechanics of composite laminates subjected to cyclic flexual load. Masters thesis, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
Restricted to Repository staff only
Composite laminates are one of the advanced materials were faced problems to analysis mechanism of damage. The purpose of this study is to develop and validate damage mechanics model for composite laminate's failure and to establish the mechanics of carbon fiber reinforce polymer (CFRP) composite's failure model under flexural fatigue load. The processes of evaluating damage mechanism are to observe its initiation as well as propagation in composite laminates. Three additional cases of static loading were investigated to ensure accuracy of the results of experiment and simulation. The three cases are; a composite laminated beam under tension; a composite laminated plate with a hole at the middle of specimen under tension and a composite laminated beam under bending load. Delamination was focused as the main reason of damage which occurs in macro-mechanics level of composite laminates besides other types of damages have effect in composite laminate's failure. Simulations have been conducted using finite element method. Ye's delamination criterion was used to develop a new criterion for predicting onset of delamination in composite laminates and power law criterion was used to develop a new principle to predict the propagation of delamination as well. The comparison of experimental and simulation results showed good accuracy indicating, however, the applicability and reliability of this method in delamination of composite laminates.
|Item Type:
|Thesis (Masters)
|Additional Information:
|Thesis (Sarjana Kejuruteraan (Mekanikal)) - Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 2009; Supervisor : Prof. Dr. Mohd Nasir Tamin
|Uncontrolled Keywords:
|composite laminates, damage mechanics model, delamination, carbon fiber reinforce polymer (CFRP), laminate's failure
|T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
|Mechanical Engineering
|ID Code:
|Deposited By:
|Ms Zalinda Shuratman
|Deposited On:
|18 May 2010 09:43
|Last Modified:
|31 Jul 2012 04:41
Repository Staff Only: item control page


text: As previously announced, Heritage Financial Group and its affiliates have adopted a plan to reorganize from a two-tier mutual holding company to a full stock holding company and will undertake a "second-step" offering of shares of the new holding company's common stock in subscription, community and syndicated offerings. A proxy statement has been mailed to shareholders and depositors, who will vote to approve the plan of conversion on November 23, 2010. The conversion and offering is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter, subject to shareholder, depositor and regulatory approvals. Keefe Bruyette & Woods will manage the subscription and community offerings and will serve as the sole book-running manager for the offering. Sterne Agee & Leach will serve as co-manager for the syndicated offering.Net interest income for the third quarter increased 38% to $5,106,000 from $3,706,000 in the same quarter last year, primarily reflecting a higher level of interest-earning assets as lower yields on interest-earning assets were offset by reduced rates on interest-bearing liabilities. The Company's net interest margin declined 18 basis points to 3.50% in the third quarter of 2010 from 3.68% in the year-earlier period due primarily to lower loan yields. On a linked-quarter basis, net interest margin decreased five basis points to 3.50% in the third quarter from 3.55% in the second quarter of 2010. Net interest income for the first nine months of 2010 increased 33% to $14,211,000 from $10,687,000 for the year-earlier period, again reflecting the impact of a higher level of interest-earning assets. The Company's net interest margin was 3.57% for the first nine months of 2010, reflecting an increase of 16 basis points from 3.41% in the comparable period last year. Total nonperforming loans and nonperforming assets were $12,199,000 and $14,986,000, respectively, at September 30, 2010, up from $7,514,000 and $10,533,000, respectively, at June 30, 2010, but only slightly changed from $12,990,000 and $13,888,000, respectively, at September 30, 2009. Although nonperforming loans to total loans increased during the third quarter versus the second quarter of 2010, rising to 2.95% as of September 30, 2010, versus 1.93% at June 30, 2010, the relative amount of nonperforming loans declined significantly from 4.34% at September 30, 2009, primarily due to the growth in the loan portfolio from acquisition activity and internal growth. The increase in nonperforming loans during the quarter was primarily due to the addition of one relationship totaling $4.0 million. This loan is secured by various residential rental properties located in Southwest Georgia, and has been on the Bank's watch list since the first quarter of 2010 due to deteriorating cash flow. The Bank expects to restructure this loan during the fourth quarter, and believes it is adequately reserved at this time. Additionally, the Company has continued to reduce its exposure to acquisition, construction and development loans, with those declining to only 7% of its core portfolio at September 30, 2010, from 11% at the end of the third quarter of 2009. Net charge-offs to average outstanding loans in the total portfolio, on an annualized basis, were 0.45% for the third quarter of 2010 versus 0.48% for the second quarter of 2010 and 0.29% in the year-earlier period. Management believes that nonperforming assets and net charge-offs will likely remain at elevated levels, at least in the near term, because of the continued weakness in the economy.


text:
Philips hopes single-chip controller will give USB new potential
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Philips Semiconductors is hoping to liberate peripheral devices from the PC by extending the use of USB into embedded systems.
The chip division of Philips Electronics N.V. today will unveil a single-chip controller that allows a universal serial bus peripheral, such as a PDA or digital still camera, to simultaneously act as a USB host.
For example, a PDA that today connects with a PC to synchronize data in the future can interface directly to a printer, CD-ROM, or other Internet appliance, said Tee Chee Yen, technical marketing manager for USB products at Philips, Sunnyvale, Calif.
The idea is similar to what is being promoted by backers of FireWire for such high-speed peripherals as professional audio and video equipment. USB will enable a FireWire-like connection in everyday consumer devices like set-top boxes, MP3 players, or game consoles, and as the USB standard evolves to faster bus speeds, the interface may even compete with FireWire, Tee said.
"Some OEMs have been envisioning a USB host function on things like cameras for a long time, but there was no chip to enable it," he said.
USB host-controller functions are typically built into the "glue" chipsets that connect a microprocessor to all of the PC's subsystems, such as memory, storage, graphics, or communications, Tee said. But these chipsets are not easily designed into peripherals or Internet appliances that are built around RISC processors.
The ISP1161 and ISP1162 chips will allow embedded systems to operate as a stand-alone USB host, an interface device, or both simultaneously, simply by reconfiguring the software, according to the company. Each chip's generic 16- or 32-bit parallel I/O and direct memory access (DMA) interface circuitry simplify the connection to most RISC, DSP, and microcontroller devices on the market, the company said.
The potential market for a USB host function in embedded systems is significant. In Japan, where digital cameras are popular, Philips estimates the market at about 1 million units per month. Chips sold into set-top boxes in Europe could number 500,000 a month. In the United States, PDAs may consume 1 million to 2 million units per month, according to the company. So far, Philips may share this total available market with only one other chip supplier.
ScanLogic, Burlington, Mass., this spring began sampling a pair of similar devices, a single- and dual-port USB master/slave combination chip.
Either offering's success will depend on the uptake of USB outside conventional PC peripherals; however, the ubiquity of USB in PCs today almost ensures its acceptance in the embedded space, Tee said.
"USB's popularity in PCs is driving down cost, so it's much cheaper than FireWire," he said. "I believe USB will be the dominant bus for PCs, and will be successful in replacing FireWire in embedded systems as well."
The company's ISP1161 and ISP1162 conform to the USB 1.1 specification for the host and device function, but diverge slightly by customizing the controller's interface to the system processor to eliminate PCI-interface overhead associated with the traditional OpenHCI host-controller specification.
The devices adopt the core of Philips' original peripheral controller, the ISP1181, which has 16 configurable end points to allow for interrupt, bulk, control, and isochronous USB transfers; a parallel interface of 1.11 Mbytes/s or 90-ns read/write cycles; 16-bit parallel I/O ports; and local DMA transfer support.
The chips also build in low-power circuitry to enable compliance with ACPI, OnNow, and USB power-management requirements.
The company's Networking Software group offers the host stack for the ISP1162/2, supporting a range of real-time operating systems.
Philips will demonstrate the ISP1161 in mouse and keyboard implementations at the Intel Developer Forum in San Jose on Aug. 17. Samples of the chip, which supports the USB 1.1 specification and a 16-bit data bus, will be available in August. Housed in a 64-pin LQFP, pricing will be $4.90 in 10,000s.
The ISP1162, supporting USB 2.0 and a 32-bit bus, is slated to sample in the fourth quarter. In an 80-pin LQFP, pricing will be $5.30 in similar quantities. Evaluation kits for both devices will also be available.


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Dining at La Bella Italia
From the moment you step through our door, you will feel like you are in Italy.
A unique combination of a Restaurant, Café and Retail shop. La Bella Italia in Petone, Wellington, was born from director Antonio Cacace's passion to share with Kiwis the beauty of traditional, authentic Italian products and cuisine. We provide the best quality to fit your dietary needs with a wide range of gluten-free dishes, delicious pasta and rich risottos, as well as a wide selection of meats.
*We are fully licensed and not BYO for wine or cakes.
Our Menus
At La Bella Italia we source and select the best Italian products to combine them with the freshest New Zealand produce so you can enjoy an authentic and traditional Italian food experience.
Business Centre
Our brand new Business Centre, situated adjacent to the restaurant, is an ideal location for your private functions or meetings with fully equipped rooms finely decorated with an Italian touch.


text:
When I was there, they were laying the beautiful wooden floor that you see in this picture. Between the pillars on the left and right are fireplaces, some rigged for special effects. Just to give you a sense of the scale: the centres of these archways are 40 feet tall. The top of an actor's head won't reach the base of the statue that you see over there in the central hub area (That base is 8 feet tall). The facade of red brick offices you see in the distance? That's four stories tall. And each office has a desk, chairs, filing cabinets, flowers, pictures, and so on. Each of the green tiles you see on the far wall are 3 feet across.
The Lexicon Visits The Magic Factory
Steve Vander Ark
The first thing I noticed as we walked out of the press marquee and into the studio itself was the size of the place. It's an old factory and the roof is high above, all skylights within a framework of iron girders. The vast space below holds offices and other work spaces, partitioned with plywood walls, a small bustling city under an industrial sky.
A lot more than offices fill that space. The sets dominate everything, of course, huge and magnificent and grand, but odds and ends from the Harry Potter films spill out everywhere you look. These people save everything. Along the walkways between the offices, for example, stand stone basins, the ones which held fire in the corridors of the first film (without the fire, of course, since they're really fiberglass). Huge chess pieces are jumbled together to one side near models of the houses of Privet Drive. Set off by a chain link fence is a huge prop storage area, where everything from Diagon Alley signs to Ford Anglias are stacked nicely, waiting to be called back into service. Plenty of things were never put away in that storage space, however, probably because the folks who work here just couldn't bear to hide all these lovely bits of Potter history. I know I would love to work surrounded by all this amazingly creative flotsam.
The best of it is quite small, tiny details in this cavernous Potter theme park. Bottles and books and copies of the Daily Prophet are everywhere, and each one is a whimsical work of art. Here are some examples of just how delightfully creative all this stuff is.
The clipboard carried by Umbridge has a form on it which reads:The detail is amazing, and all of it is great fun to pick out for a Lexicon geek like me. None of it will ever show on screen, but it's there just the same. Two of Snape's potion jars, for example, are labeled "Exploding Ginger Eyelashes" and "Bouncing Spider Juice." A thick old book on the sideboard in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place is entitled Cooking the Muggle Way by Mordicus Egg. According to Fantastic Beasts, that's the same guy who wrote The Philosophy of the Mundane: Why Muggles Prefer Not to Know--one example of how the production crew has been using the Lexicon.Ministry of Magic - Department of Magical EducationThere's more, but this part caught my eye:
Can you imagine coming to work every day and thinking up those kinds of things? Some people actually do. There is an office for those folks along the far side, near the prop storage. I want to work there.
The entire place is a dazzling combination of large and small. The stunningly huge Great Hall set, with its wooden tables the length of a Quidditch pitch, compared to the cramped and filthy bedroom of Grimmauld Place, on the wall of which hangs a painting depicting that exact same bedroom, dirt and all. The vast overarching ceiling of mid-twentieth century industrial architecture is constantly leaking great fountains of rainwater down onto the chairs and chess pieces and other props below, which are covered with plastic while workers hurry to mop up the flood while we splash past in the puddles.
Everywhere you look, there's more contrast and clutter. On one hand I see a row of real Ford Anglias in storage, lined up on a huge ledge, while on the other I peer at a small shelf scattered with the colourful contents of Skivving Snackboxes. A massive set under construction I see down to our right--which Vanessa tells us is the largest set they've ever constructed and which will hold 400 actors when it's filmed--compares to the intricate Black family crest on each of the plates in the cramped Grimmauld Place kitchen. Near where they're filming today, the battle in the Death Chamber, I see cameras and strobe lights and cables and a massive hanging green screen.and I also see a few chairs in a circle in a corner where the stand-ins play handheld video games and chat idly.
Large and small. And all of it utterly fascinating.
Read the first set report here. I'll be writing a full report to coincide with the release of the film in July.
The Floo Network: TLC | JKR Quotes | Pottercast | Shop | Lounge


text:
Wingrider Bicycle Clip
by Ami Kealoha
on 20 November 2007
To add a little Greek god/comic book style to your daily bike commute, these winged straps will do the trick. They'll also do double duty by protecting your pant cuffs from rips and grease stains caused by the chain. Designed by Droog co-founder Gijs Bakker (who got his start designing jewelry), they're made with a reflective PVC for night safety that's also weatherproof.
The pair is $15 from the Conran Shop.
Jorg&Olif Scout Bike
by Ami Kealoha
The classic Dutch styling and quality construction of Jorg&Olif's Citybikes made us instant fans when they debuted in the North American market last year, but the price tag (starting at $800) was a little less easy to embrace. Their introduction...
Elektroon Electric Bike
by Ami Kealoha
Giving mopeds of yore a new look and an energy boost, Citydoo's Elektroon relies on pedal power to get up to speed before the electric engine kicks in. But once it does, it can hit speeds up to 40 mph and the battery will keep it going for about...
by Ami Kealoha
Though East Coasters are currently experiencing a strangely warm winter, we're already fantasizing about spring planting. For an eco-friendly alternative to plastic with a no-frills look, EcoForms are made from compressed grain husks with natural...
Susan Bijl Bags
by Jacob Resneck
Rotterdam designer Susan Bijl's colorful tote bags make the trip to the supermarket or department store (or wherever) more eco-friendly and more fashionable. Weighing in at less than thirty bucks, the rain-resistant nylon bags are available...
Baggu Bags
by Ami Kealoha
Baggu, a new line of of reusable shopping bags, is our new favorite eco-conscious tote for the gym, groceries or any other lugging. It beats out other similar bags with a few key features. Firstly, we prefer the shorter double handles to the over...
Dynomighty Design: The Mighty Wallet
by Nathan Suberi
Dynomighty Design uses High Density Polyethylene threads (Tyvek to us non-chemists) to make their Mighty Wallet a tough and lightweight option. We recently had the opportunity to meet with Terrence Kelleman, the mastermind behind Dynomighty, who demonstrated...
Baggu Stripes and New Colors
by Ami Kealoha
Since first writing about Baggu portable nylon bags, we've started paying more attention to similar concepts on the market. Countless versions preceded the Baggu and there will no doubt be countless imitators following, but the Baggu outdoes...
Copenhagen Bike Share Competition
by Karen Day
Challenging cyclists to create "an attractive and modern bike share system," Copenhagen pushes their standing as a forward-thinking, eco-friendly city with a competition open to designers around the globe. Updating their 1995 bike sharing...
Choosing the Right Electric Bike
Pedal with ease in Good Magazine's guide to electric-powered bikes
by Maggie York-Worth
If you're interested in biking to work, but not interested in arriving covered in sweat, posits Good, the electric bike might be for you. Electric bikes use batteries to ease the pedaling and give you that extra kick, much like biking downhill everywhere...
Nau Winner
by Ami Kealoha
The response to our video profiling the new Portland, OR-based outerwear brand Nau was tremendous. We received hundreds of entries for the giveaway and are happy to congratulate Chris V. of Astoria, NY on winning the item of his choice from Nau! It...
Patagonia's T-Shirt Campaign: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
by Jacob Resneck
Building on what's developing as a series of products geared toward raised awareness of our ecology, part of the profits from Patagonia's latest tee go to protect the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, a 19 million acre area of Alaska'...
The Footprint Chronicles
by Tim Yu
While most companies are just getting up to speed with their green initiatives, environmental activism has been a core value for Patagonia since day one and is the driving force behind their recently announced web initiative, The Footprint Chronicles...
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