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I came home from work today with a UPS notification on my door, saying that an attempt was made to deliver. It's kind of a bummer knowing that I could have it in my hands tonight, but instead I have to wait until the next delivery attempt tomorrow. The good news is that it's finally here though!
So here is the timeline of events:
-June 05: Placed online order for customized T420 at Lenovo.com
-June 13: Received shipping confirmation email
-June 20: Delivery to my home (Eastern Canada)
Altogether, 15 days to manufacture and ship to destination, and that's only 9 business days. That is pretty good, since many people wait longer than that. I was expecting a longer wait than usual due to all the promotions going on, inevitably creating a pileup of orders, but that wasn't the case.
I should have the laptop in my hands tomorrow, and can't wait to start playing with it. My service from Lenovo has been excellent up to this point, and I would definitely bring my business back in the future. I'm sorry to hear about all of the people with horror stories, and I wish you speedy resolutions to the issues.
I agree, if you want a Thinkpad on a scheduled time table ordering from Lenovo is a gamble. Due to student discount + extra 5% on T series deal + free upgrades (to 500GB HDD & 4GB of ram) ordering direct provided the best deal. I am happy to wait extra time, but I would have liked to know upfront or at least get an email when the shipping date changes. It is also annoying that the shipping date seems to change on the day it is supposed to ship. I have ordered accessories for my machine, such as RAM, an Intel 320 SSD, a USB 3.0 express card, and a USB 3.0 enclosure for the 500GB HDD so I can use it as a backup. Without the machine I have no way to test to see if some of the items will work, and due to the shipping delay I may have to return the items as their return period will expire. While this is my fault, as I could have waited until the machine shipped, I thought I was safe buying items 2-3 before the machine was scheduled to ship.
There are retailers like Provantage that carry a good range of TPs, and I know you can also purchase them on Amazon (although not normally sold by Amazon).
Just received a shipping confirmation that my system shipped today. To recap the system was scheduled to ship on June 17th, then around June 17th the date was changed to June 20th. On June 19th the date was changed to July 6th. Today, June 21, I receive confirmation that the system has shipped. I did email my rep yesterday to inquire about the shipping date. Maybe that helped to speed up the process?
Regardless, the system shipped with only a two business day delay from the estimated original shipping date. While not ideal, I understand delays happen and a two business delay is minor all things considered. Can't wait for my system to arrive.
Today I check my order online for T420s but it said "Vender Rejection". Can I ask what means Vender Rejection and how about my payment? If the order is cancelled, will my payment back to credit card or I will receive a check? I hope it can go back to my credit card....
my order number:4240243666
I ordered a customized T420i off the website on June 18th (a Saturday) before noon. Shipping confirmation recieved yesterday, June 22nd. Got the tracking info this morning, June 23rd, reads as follows as of 10:06
Louisville, KY, United States 06/23/2011 9:12 A.M.Arrival Scan
Anchorage, AK, United States 06/22/2011 11:14 P.M.Departure Scan
06/22/2011 3:29 P.M. Arrival Scan
Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong 06/22/2011 9:15 P.M. Departure Scan
06/22/2011 8:00 A.M. Origin Scan
Hong Kong 06/21/2011 7:14 P.M. Order Processed: Ready for UPS
Louisville is customs, hopefully I'll clear that in a few hours. Barring customs delays, the laptop should be out for delivery tomorrow, June 24th. Woo Hoo!!
06-23-2011 07:45 AM - edited 06-23-2011 10:38 AM
After reading the many stories on here about slow shipping, I was a little worried that I too would have to wait. However, I seem to be one of the lucky ones. I ordered my T520 on June 13th, and it shipped out on June 17th. It reached Canada on June 21st, and is out on the truck for delivery as of this morning (June 23rd). From the day I ordered until today, it's been 8 business days, counting today. I'll have my hands on it any time now!
|Kitchener, ON, Canada
|Out for Delivery
|Arrival Scan
|Concord, ON, Canada
|Departure Scan
|Concord, ON, Canada
|Arrival Scan
|Mississauga, ON, Canada
|Departure Scan
|Origin Scan
|Carrier and Customs Released
|Received into UPS possession
|Order Processed: Ready for UPS
After reading these stories, I am starting too get worried about my shipment. I ordered a T420 on 6/19 and it was shipped on 6/22. However when i tried to track my shipment UPS keeps on giving me this message " UPS could not locate the shipment details for your request. Please verify your information and try again later." I have no idea what happened to my shipment. I talked to a rep on 6/23 to inquire about this problem and they said that it will be resolved in two days its 6/26 today. My friend reccommended lenovo to me and I understand the laptops are great but this kind of service is unimaginable. If anyone has the same problem or went through this problem please tell me your story!
My experience is that the earliest you can an order is the business day after it ships, if everything scans and is entered into the system properly. Are you using the "track shipment" link from the Lenovo website or pasting it in directly at the UPS website? I have good luck with the Lenovo link. My system was ordered 6/9 & shipped 6/21. It did not show up in the UPS system until 6/22. It will arrive to me tomorrow. It had a fun journey from Hong Kong to Alaska to Kentucky (customs) to Salt Lake City to Oregon.
I would also try calling UPS. Sometimes they can track things even when the website gives an error message. If the automated system gives you an error message, try pressing what you need to talk to a human being.
Yeah it is way past the business day that it said it shipped which was 6/22. And I did click the link from the Lenovo website to track it. I just called Lenovo aand they said they are aware of my previous talk with a rep and told me to wait another two days. They said they were going to call me back during htis time. But after reading the previous posts I highly doubt this guy is going to call back. He didn't even bother to ask for my cell number until I asked if he had my number which he asked me for after. I called UPS and they said that the package has not been turned in to ship or the tracking number is incorrect. I would like to think that they are holding my shipment until they can put together a bigger shipment so they can save money instead of shipping them personally, one by one.
06-27-2011 11:53 AM - edited 06-27-2011 11:54 AM
Hey Guys, My names Jim and same as some of you guys, the shipping was quiet slow by UPS
Heres a summary of the things happend so far:
June 19 Night: Ordered the Laptop
June 22: Shipped via UPS Asia
June 23: Departure from China
June 24: Arrival in Mississauga, Ontario
June 25: Arrival in Concord, Ontario
June 27: No new update so far...
At first the estimated delivery date was today as in June 27 but now the date is gone and I have no idea when it's gonna come.
Anyone have a estimate when this package will arrive in Vancouver?
|Kudos Count


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TPWD Print-Friendly Page: http://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/print.phtml?req=20100826dMedia Contact: TPWD News, firstname.lastname@example.com, 512-389-8030 [RM]
TPWD Website: http://tpwd.texas.gov
TPWD News Release — Aug. 26, 2010
SAN ANTONIO — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission today awarded more than $6.8 million in competitive grants for city and county parks, ball parks, swimming pools, nature trails and other outdoor recreation facilities across the state.
Commissioners approved 21 out of 58 grant requests from major urban municipalities and counties, as well as smaller Texas communities and governmental entities. The state matching funds were awarded through three programs administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in the form of: outdoor recreation grants, urban outdoor recreation grants and small communities grants.
A total of $2.74 million in Outdoor Recreation grants was awarded to six of 25 local governments that applied for matching state funds to provide basic public recreation facilities. The monies come from sporting goods sales tax revenues that fund the Texas Recreation and Parks Account (TRPA) authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1993 and from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
Schleicher County received $500,000 in matching funds for the renovation of 5.8-acre Schleicher County Park in Eldorado. The money will be used to demolish the 55-year-old swimming pool and construct a new pool, as well as for installation of a walking trail, picnic tables, game tables, a playscape, educational exhibits, signage, trees and gardens.
The City of East Bernard was awarded $500,000 in matching funds to acquire 17.5 acres to develop a community park to be located in the northeast part of the city. Community Park will include a two-acre natural area, soccer field, basketball court, sand volleyball court, pavilion, trail, picnic tables with grills, butterfly garden, baseball field, batting cages, a canoe/kayak launch and lighting and plumbing fixtures for restrooms being donated to the project.
A matching grant of $500,000 was awarded to the City of Greenville to acquire 73 acres of city-owned, non-parkland to further develop Graham Park. The city proposes to add a lighted trail, disc golf course, lighted fishing pier, picnic tables, dog park, horseshoe complex with pavilion, lighted volleyball court and playgrounds, and to renovate the basketball court and preserve a 55-acre natural area.
Kendall County received a $500,000 in matching grant to develop 33 acres within the 375-acre Joshua Springs Park and Preserve for a 4-H Horse Club Youth Agricultural and Equestrian Center in the western part of the country between Comfort and Boerne. The new facilities will include an arena/show barn/pavilion with rainwater catchment system, equestrian trail, bird blind, RV campsites, dog park, amphitheater, picnic tables and grills, habitat garden, bio-filtration pond, interpretive signage and a kiosk.
The City of San Angelo was awarded $500,000 in matching funds to expand and further develop 2.38 acres along the Concho River Trail. The proposal includes a 2.38 acre natural area dedication, paddling trails launch dock and portage area, water access points/overlooks, trail, benches and seating areas, picnic shelter, interpretive amphitheater, natural playscape, exercise equipment, washer and horseshoe pits, bocce ball, lighting, drinking fountains, bike racks, xeriscape landscaping and interpretive signs.
The City of Los Fresno received a grant of $249,368 in matching funds to further develop the 4.22-acre Community Park in the western part of the city. Development will include a sports court, trail, pavilion, and restroom improvements, lighted skate park, splash pad, climbing boulders, game tables, horseshoe pits, playground, picnic tables with grills, benches, butterfly garden, water fountains and bike rack.
A total of $3.33 million in Urban Outdoor Recreation grants was approved for outdoor recreation projects in five counties and cities with populations exceeding 500,000. The 80th Legislature authorized the special funding when it created the Large County and Municipality Recreation and Parks Account (Urban Parks Account) by amending the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code. Monies for the fund come from the Texas Recreation and Parks Account (TRPA) program whose revenues derive from a portion of state sales tax on sporting goods.
Fort Worth and Houston both received $1 million in matching funds to develop urban parks. The City of Fort Worth will use the matching state funds to acquire .48 acres of city-owned, non-parkland to further develop the Marine Creek Corridor in the north central part of the city. The city's plans call for the renovation of softball, soccer and multipurpose fields, trails with pedestrian bridge, playground, and pavilion; and development of a soccer field, trails, canoe launch/fishing pier, picnic tables, games tables, benches, information kiosk, walkways, trail signs, landscaping, plant restoration, and erosion controls.
Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston will undergo an extensive redevelopment thanks to the $1 million grant of matching funds awarded by the commission. Slated improvements to the 20-acre park include relocating several monuments and a historic home, renovating the Historical Museum and adding a water feature, playground, concert lawn, special event staging area, restroom, nature education area, walking paths and sidewalks, picnic tables, drinking fountain, gardens, native trees and highway bridge enhancement.
Also in Houston, Harris County will receive $997,200 in matching funds to acquire 2.27 acres to expand and develop Buffalo Bend Park, located along the Buffalo Bayou on S. Sgt. Marcario Garcia Drive in the East End, south of Highway 90. Plans for the park include solar-powered pump utilities, roads and parking, a restroom, storage shed, overlook shelter, trails, fencing, wetland boardwalks, floating dock/canoe launch, hand wash station, bird and bat boxes, exotic plant removal, native tree, shrub, and wetland plantings, butterfly garden, drinking fountain, benches, trash receptacles, interpretive signage.
Dallas County was awarded a $230,000 grant for matching funds to acquire by waiver 9 miles along both sides of the Trinity River, located south of IH20/Highway 635, in the southeast area of the county, and 385 acres along the Trinity River from Goat Island Preserve to Riverbend Preserve.
The fifth urban outdoor grant approved was in the amount of $112,600 for the City of San Antonio to further develop the 596-acre Friedrich Park located in the northwest part of the city. Improvements to be funded include an entry kiosk, walkways, benches, interpretive signs and landscaping.
Finally, a total of $722,796 in Small Community grants was awarded to 10 communities out of 25 that requested $1.7 million in matching fund assistance to provide basic public recreation facilities.
Six east Texas and two central Texas communities, as well as a Panhandle town were awarded $75,000 each in matching state funds to acquire and develop recreational facilities, such as public swimming pools and ballparks. In addition, Kempner near Lampasas was awarded $72,796 to develop that city's first park, which will include a playground, picnic pavilion and wildlife viewing area.
East Bernard in southeast Texas will use its grant to help acquire an existing 1.3-acre park with a swimming pool and renovate the bath house, and to install a butterfly garden and interpretive signage.
Near Houston, the Reid Road Municipal Utility District was awarded a grant to develop 2 acres of Cypress-Fairbanks ISD property adjacent to Willbern Elementary School. The $75,000 in matching funds will be used to build a trail with exercise stations, install an experimental garden and plant trees and wildflowers.
In northeast Texas, Cooper's request for matching funds was approved to make improvements to Harmon Park II. Improvements will include renovation of park trails, tennis courts and rodeo facilities and to develop basketball courts and RV campsite. White Oak received funding to further develop 14-acre Penick Park by installing a disc golf course and fishing pier and planting native trees.
The east Texas community of Trinity was awarded a grant to further develop the 6.71-acre Trinity Baseball Park. Improvements will include renovations to the baseball field and batting cages and installation of a butterfly garden. Palestine received a grant to renovate Reagan Park's bandstand and pavilion, and develop a sprayground, trail and do landscaping.
Two cities in the Austin area were okayed for recreation grants, as well. Bastrop will use the state matching funds to further develop an acre within Fisherman's Park/Spray Park by adding xeriscape, a concession stand, splash pad and picnic facilities. Taylor plans to use the matching funds to beautify the entrance to Regional Park and Sport Complex by planting trees, installing a wildflower garden and wetlands area, and making other improvements.
The Panhandle community of Lockney was awarded a $50,000 grant to totally renovate the city pool and deck.
On the Net:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
HERE is what was making the news in Argus 100, 50 and 25 years ago. * 3,000 miners strike in Cwmtillery * Schools closed in Blaina after polio outbreak * Newport County launch bid to stop liquidation.
● King George and Queen Mary attended a reception and presentation at City Hall, Cardiff. Newport Station was closed for some time to allow the royal train to pass through. Railway staff stood with their hats off in respect.
● A collision in Commercial Street, Newport, between a hearse and a taxi-cab resulted in the former being overturned and two men injured.
● Around 3,000 workmen of Cwmtillery and Roseheyworth collieries were still on strike over the dismissal of an official of the Labourer's union.
● Newport beat Swansea Otters at Swansea Baths in the first round of the water polo Welsh championships.
● Charles Powell of Pill saved Walter Beaven, aged 12, of Newport, from drowning in the River Usk. Artificial respiration was successful and brandy was administered by Elizabeth Wilson.
● All schools in Nantyglo and Blaina areas, and junior and infant schools in Abertillery, were closed due to the Western Valley polio outbreak.
An intensified drive to vaccinate everyone in the district was being planned by Dr Thomas Stephens, Ebbw Vale medical officer of health
● Leo Abse MP was included in the year's list of ten best-dressed men.
● The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied workers was calling on staff at Burton's Supermarket, Commercial St, to boycott the store on Friday evenings, 6pm- 8pm, in protest of late-night opening hours.
● Five people escaped serious injury in a three-vehicle pile-up at Black Rock Hill, Brynmawr, caused by a lorry running out of control. A young married couple were saved due to the fact that their car was fitted with safety belts.
● Newport County launched a £160,000 appeal to save themselves from liquidation in the High Court.
● King Street, Baptist Chapel, Abertillery was hit by fire causing £10,000 worth of damage. The fire was not being treated as suspicious.
● Uskvale County Club went into liquidation at a shareholders' meeting, leaving wedding couples without a venue.
● A mass walkout was threatened at Newport Business Statistics Office in a row over the privatisation of the messenger services.
● Labour leader Neil Kinnock visited the South Wales Argus to start the presses rolling following new computer installations at the newspaper.


text:
Lina is having a really tough year since her Mom died. Lina's best friend is having a tough year too since her Dad up and left. The girls cope by keeping busy playing volleyball, doing homework and talking about cute boys. Plus, they have each other. It always helps to have a friend that understands.
Lina's Dad and Vanessa's Mom aren't doing so good. Lina's Dad is an English Professor and spends his time with his nose buried in a book – so much time that he forgets about Lina sometimes. Vanessa's mom spends her time obsessively making Cascarones – hollow eggs filled with confetti. She makes so many that the eggs are piling up all over Vanessa's house. The irony is Cascarones are "good luck eggs." You crack one over somebody's head to give them good luck. Eggs need cracked over everyone in these two families.
The best part about this book is the adults. Lina's Dad and Vanessa's mom are very real characters. They aren't stereotype parents. You can feel their pain and you can understand the reasons they are acting so strangely. I liked watching these two families work through tough times. The characters in Confetti Girl show you how important family and friends are during hard times and how important it is to lean on them instead of pushing them away. Sometimes, it's important to let people help you.
- Amazon Look Inside Confetti Girl
- Read an Interview withe the Author Diana Lopez
- ZOOM Do Craft: Cascarones
Two more really good stories about kids coping with grief within their families. They each find some good people to help them find their smiles again:


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Don't miss out on a lower price on this hotel
Get an overview of this hotelStylish hotel with rooftop pool in Barcelona's Eixample
Popular property highlights
Near Sagrada Família
Located in the upscale Eixample district, Omm is near several Gaudi-designed landmarks, including Casa Milà (0.1 km / 0.1 mi), Casa Batlló (0.6 km / 0.4 mi), and Sagrada Família (1.4 km / 0.9 mi).
Inspiring views
This luxury hotel features a rooftop terrace with a bar and outdoor pool overlooks the city, including several Gaudi buildings. A day spa features an indoor pool and 8 treatment rooms. The award-winning Roca Moo restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine.
Luxury bedding, Wi-Fi
Overlooking the interior garden or Paseo de Gracia, the modern, airy guestrooms are appointed with luxury bedding, parquet floors, and handmade rugs. Wireless Internet access is complimentary.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!Opens in a new window
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Just off the elegant Paseo de Gracia Avenue, this design hotel is in Barcelona's Eixample district, near shopping, cafes, and Gaudi architectural gems.
A seasonal outdoor pool and bar are on the rooftop terrace, where city views encompass Gaudi's Casa Milà and Sagrada Família. The Roca Moo restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine with a creative twist. The cafeteria-style Roca Bar offers all-day dining, including a breakfast buffet (surcharge). The OmmSession Club hosts live music and DJ entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights.
A full-service day spa, Spaciomm, features a heated indoor pool facing the garden. Other highlights include a fitness center, lobby lounge, 3 meeting rooms, free WiFi, and valet parking for a daily fee.
- Valet parking (surcharge)
- Designated smoking areas (fines apply)
- Free wired Internet
- Poolside bar
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Coffee shop or café
- Business center
- Express check-out
- Multilingual staff
- Express check-in
- 24-hour front desk
- Laundry facilities
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Babysitting or childcare
- Fireplace in lobby
- Elevator/lift
- Bar/lounge
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Full-service spa
- Hair salon
- Health club
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free WiFi
- Luggage storage
- Designated smoking areas
- Outdoor pool
- Concierge services
- Total number of rooms - 91
- Number of floors - 6
- Meeting rooms 3
- Rooftop terrace
- Porter/bellhop
- Self parking (surcharge)
- Pool sun loungers
- Number of restaurants - 2
- Conference space size (feet) - 2153
- Shopping on site
- Airport transportation (surcharge)
- Spa services on site
- Outdoor seasonal pool
- Turkish bath/Hammam
- Spa treatment room(s)
- Year Built 2004
- Conference space size (meters) - 200
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Steam room
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Outdoor pool
- Free Wi-Fi
- Soundproofed rooms
- Laundry facilities
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- In-room childcare (surcharge)
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi , Free wired Internet
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi , Free wired Internet
Self parking (surcharge), Valet parking (surcharge)
Room Amenities
- Plasma TV
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Free toiletries
- Premium TV channels
- Premium bedding
- Room service (24 hours)
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Air conditioning
- Phone
- Minibar
- Free bottled water
- Daily housekeeping
- Designer toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Bathrobes
- Slippers
- Bidet
- In-room childcare (surcharge)
- Iron/ironing board (on request)
- Satellite TV service
- In-room safe
- Desk
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Free newspaper
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Soundproofed rooms
- In-room massage available
- Turndown service
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
- Free WiFi
- Free wired Internet
- Dial-up Internet access (surcharge)
Where to Eat
Roca Moo - Award-winning restaurant showcasing Mediterranean cuisine with a creative twist. A la carte menu, tasting menus with matching wines, seasonal and vegetarian selections. Serves dinner. Closed on Sunday. Closed in August.
Roca Bar - All-day dining, cafeteria-style. Breakfast buffet featuring freshly baked pastries and farmhouse cheeses. Cocktails, teas.
Poolside Bar - Located on rooftop terrace. Open in summer.
Room service is available 24 hours a day.
Nearby Things to Do
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Sailing nearby
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Scooter/moped rentals nearby
- Pilates classes on site
Spa Services
The Spaciomm spa features 8 treatment rooms, a gym, a Pilates studio, an indoor hydrotherapy pool, a hammam, a steam room, and a hair salon. Spa treatments include:
- Manicures and pedicures
- Spa tub in spa
- Minimum age to access spa is 12
- Body treatments
- Facial treatments
- Body scrubs
- Ayurvedic treatments
- Number of treatment rooms 8
- Massages
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
Hotel Policies
Minimum check-in age is 18
Check-in time ends at 3 AM
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available for EUR 70 per day.
- Free cribs (infant beds)!
- Pets not allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
- A tax is imposed by the city: EUR 2.48 per person, per night, up to 7 nights. This tax does not apply to children under 17 years of age.
Optional extras
- Fee for buffet breakfast: EUR 27 for adults and EUR 27 for children (approximately)
- Airport shuttle fee: EUR 115 per vehicle (roundtrip)
- Self parking fee: EUR 39 per day (in/out privileges)
- Valet parking fee: EUR 39 per day
- Rollaway bed fee: EUR 70 per day
Hotel Name
- Omm Barcelona
- Omm Hotel
- Omm Hotel Barcelona
- Hotel Omm Barcelona, Catalonia
We should mention
Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 2500, due to national regulations. For further details, please contact the property using information in the booking confirmation. This property's policy is to refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, including pre-wedding stag/bachelor and hen/bachelorette parties. This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply). Guests must contact the property with arrival details 48 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. Reservations are required for massage services. Reservations can be made by contacting the hotel prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms. Some facilities may have restricted access. Guests can contact the property for details using the contact information on the booking confirmation.


text:
Beatzen wrote:I only think that it might be a more useful metaphor in our practice to work towards cultivating good karma for "the person who will take your place" - since we're talking about the same mind, but totally different self-delusions.
that way you're not just solidifying this sense of working to liberate yourself alone, easier to generate a "for all beings" sort of mentality.
If it helps with your practice to view in such way, then by all means.


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This game was classified by the community with the following category scores - Violence=0/3, Sex=0/3, Mature Content=0/3. You are a caterpillar - move around the board, collect all of your coins, and return home to finish the level. But you'll need to avoid obstacles and other caterpillars to earn a high score.
Buy Xbox content on Xbox.com. Your Xbox 360 console will automatically download the content next time you turn it on and connect to Xbox Live.Learn More


text:
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Free-electron Laser.
DAHLGREN, Virginia — There wasn't much left of the 23-pound bullet, just a scalded piece of squat metal. That's what happens when an enormous electromagnetic gun sends its ammo rocketing 5,500 feet in a single second.
The gun that fired the bullet is the Navy's experimental railgun. The gun has no moving parts or propellants — just a king-sized burst of energy that sends a projectile flying. And today its parents at the Office of Naval Research sent 33 megajoules through it, setting a new world record and making it the most powerful railgun ever developed.
I've also blogged before about this free-electron laser, but there's much more about it in this article. What I didn't realize is that it can operate at multiple wavelengths (the white lasers in Line War anyone?).
And I also didn't realize this, which almost reads like fantasy:
Currently, the free-electron laser project produces the most-powerful beam in the world, able to cut through 20 feet of steel per second. If it gets up to its ultimate goal, of generating a megawatt's worth of laser power, it'll be able to burn through 2,000 feet of steel per second. Just add electrons.
You have to wonder if, maybe in ten or so years time, naval power will rise to displace air power until such a time as such power and accuracy becomes lighter. Beyond that there is only one suitable rational response to this. Fucking hell!
11 comments:
- Disco Stu said...
Velocitas Eradico....speed kills...very droll.
White lasers in Orbus as well.
So what difference do the various wavelengths make?
20 feet of steel is amazing never mind 2000.
- 10:29 am
- Ryan said...
It will be interesting to see how this changes naval warfare. The FEL is huge and requires a large generator (this carrying it on a plane, tank or iPhone is unlikely) but would seriously beef up the defensive and offensive capabilities of a ship. With good radar and tracking it would be very hard for a missile or artillery to get close. On the flip side that same point defence could cut through an enemy ship like a blowtorch through butter, it's guna be another game changer for countries that can afford this
- 11:09 am
- Graeme said...
Does it have a peaceful purpose, once we've vaporised, the commies, towel heads, drug cartels, slitty eyed fiends from the East, and anybody else that disagrees with democracy Goddammit???
If not then why not?
@ Ryan
How insane to sell it to other countries when in theory you can hold the whole worlds military by the short and curlies. What's the point of an arms race if you never intend to win it?
- 11:38 am
- AngryMurloc said...
The railgun article makes me want to watch transformers 2 again :)
- 12:16 pm
- eddlemsg said...
Graeme asked if there was a peaceful purpose for this super laser, here is a link to an article on using lasers to launch payloads in orbit,
Much cheaper since the fuel is pure H2 and no oxidizer is needed, so more than half of the bulk and weight of 1st stage propellant is no longer having to be accelerated to high speeds.
- 4:19 pm
- Ryan said...
2000 ft of steel is nearly half a mile, perhaps as a really good mining tool? Or if we imagine this technology to be well developed over the next few decades we could build one in orbit with a VASIMR type engine to send off to fight killer asteroids in true hollywood style
As for holding the rest of the world hostage unless you go to war immediately before other countries also develop it you've lost your edge. The key point is that a FEL is going to be economically beyond the reach of most countries creating a further disparity between the developed world and the less developed. As a peaceful use maybe a peacekeeping fleet can be placed between two nearly warring countries to shoot down any missiles they exchange
- 4:30 pm
- Nuno said...
Graeme, an arms race is exactly what big countries are crazy about, it's been the best money-making machine for the last 60 years. Why wouldn't they want it? Military supremacy is great and a constant concern for the big players, but that kind of money... oh, that's irresistible.
- 4:44 pm
- D said...
It's amazing how the post has spread across the net and people now believe the navy has a laser that can go through 20 ft. of steel per second!
That's 10x the thickness of armor on a battleship or a main battle tank.
Of course, if you dig deeper, you find that the Wired article author didn't know what he was talking about.
It's the *particle accelerator* that pumps the laser can theoretically manage that intensity. But that's not the actual weapon. The actual ability to deliver laser power is probably going to cut through, oh, about an inch of steel per second.
The "2000 feet per second" final version is equally ludicrous. Laser penetration is not linear with energy - it's more of a square root or even cube root function. (For one thing, the material you blast away gets in the way of the beam.) Upgrade a thousand times and you get maybe 10-30x the penetration.
The megawatt level version would cut through maybe a foot per second.
2,000 feet per second? Hello, that's like "we'll burn through the earth in a few hours" or "we'll swing it for one second and an entire city will be melted."
Do people really believe this stuff?
- 5:12 pm
- Neal Asher said...
Well that one put us all in our place. Don't believe everything you read!
We're all dreamers here, D.
- 5:41 pm
- vaudeviewgalor raandisisraisins said...
regardless of integrity, take this Halliburton motto in with these developments of destructive technology:
Destroy the environment, create more jobs.
- 6:11 pm
- Graeme said...
Well thanks for that. Apparently the Beatles have split up.
- 8:02 pm


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About Lupus
Lupus—systemic lupus erythematosus (S.L.E.)—is a chronic and often disabling autoimmune disease.
It has been estimated that 1.5 million Americans, and millions more worldwide, have lupus.
Most are diagnosed as young women of childbearing age who suffer from such symptoms as intense fatigue and exhaustion, joint pains, thinking and memory problems, and skin rashes. Men, children, and older women get lupus too. Read more about who gets lupus
No two cases of lupus are alike
Symptoms, and the course of the disease, vary widely.
Some people with lupus develop kidney problems, for example, while others get premature heart disease, and others still suffer from strokes or develop lung inflammation.
Although it's very unlikely that a person will experience all of the symptoms of lupus, it's smart to know what to look for. Read about lupus symptoms
Diagnosis can be difficult
There is no single laboratory test that can determine if a person has lupus.
And because many symptoms of lupus are vague—generalized fatigue, joint pain, skin rash—that can come and go over periods of weeks and months, it sometimes takes years for a diagnosis to be made.
That's unfortunate, because it's best to treat many of the complications early on, before they cause lasting damage.
Find out more about lupus diagnosis
New Treatments Emerging, Search for the Cure is On
In 2011, the first major new treatment for lupus in more than 50 years was approved. However critical research continues to find treatments with fewer side effects that can prevent the autoimmune antibodies from attacking the immune system without damaging other tissues and organs. Find out more here.
What's next for people with lupus
No one knows why lupus occurs, or how to prevent or cure it.
But researchers finally are making headway, and a surge in better diagnostic techniques and treatment methods has led to more effective management of the disease and its complications.
Just 20 years ago, only 40 percent of people with lupus were expected to live more than 3 years following a diagnosis. Now, with earlier diagnosis, the latest therapies, and careful monitoring, most people with lupus can look forward to a normal lifespan.
Find out the exciting things that are happening in lupus research, and how you can help, from giving in your own way to participating in a clinical trial.
What to do if you have lupus
As with so many illnesses, knowledge is power with lupus.
Find out how lupus can affect you, so that you can fight lupus in body and mind.
Skills to cultivate include the ability to:
- Pace yourself, a quality that has to do with knowing your limits.
- Communicate your needs to those who care for you.
- Practice patience to ride out the trying times.
- Organize your medical records and visits to physicians.
- Prioritize your responsibilities in life (rest, exercise, work, family).
- Cultivate a sense of humor to help you through the rough spots.
If you have lupus, you are not alone
Find out how others have coped with lupus in these stories.


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[Page 273]
With fear and trembling I write my memories of our teacher Hillel Dubrow, who taught us so much from the fountain of his great spirituality, from which we drank, both young and old. We called him Teacher. Just Teacher. Even before we knew about the word Rebbe and about Rabbi Judah the Prince, we just called him Teacher, without any additional description.
|Senior leaders in Yedinitz in the first decade of the 20th century.
The girl wearing the fur hat is Zippora Kaufman, who eventually became Dubrow's wife and the first kindergarten teacher in Yedinitz. She died there in 1923. (See previous page). The other two people are unknown. The style of the photo was typical in those days
[Page 275]
I first met Hillel Dubrow when I was a boy of thirteen. I once heard the sounds of happy children, which was during the recess period in the school. The children in the area and I immediately knew that at the open door of the new school the teacher sang and danced with his students. We looked over at the new school and saw a strange yet wonderful sight.
[Page 277]
For two decades, the teacher Baruch Yashchikman was one of the central figures among those involved in Hebrew education for the youth of Yedinitz. For most of the time, he served as a teacher in the Talmud Torah school, which was located in the Sha'rei Zion synagogue. After the teachers Toporov, Hillel Dubrow and others moved to Palestine, Baruch Yashchikman carried the burden of Hebrew and nationalist education for the younger generation.
|The gravestone on the grave of Baruch Yashchikman.
From right, Eliyahu Rosenberg. Left, ritual slaughterer R. Yeshayahu Elkis (emigrated in 1972).
[Page 281]
The knowledge of ancient Hebrew literature poetry, philosophy and other subjects and the study of its history in order to subject all the confusion, distortion and importance to clarification and analysis were not merely ordinary issues for Y. Toporovsky. They were of immediate importance. He was totally immersed in this, and totally devoted to it.
Boxed Article Below: Yisrael Toporovsky His Biography
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for verification.
JewishGen is not responsible for inaccuracies or omissions in the original work and cannot rewrite or edit the text to correct inaccuracies and/or omissions.
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Public Invited to Presentation on Transportation Planning
Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director of Public Affairs
703-324-3187, TTY 711, Fax 703-324-2010
Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
Nov. 19, 2007
Public Invited to Presentation on Transportation Planning for the
Future of Tysons
On Monday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m., the Tysons Land Use Task Force invites the public to attend a special expanded meeting to discuss transportation planning for the future of Tysons. The event will be held in the Marshall High School cafeteria, 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church.
The presentation will describe future transportation options that are being considered for traveling into, out of and within the area, as well as the analysis for evaluating these options. Don Vary from Cambridge Systematics, the task force's transportation consultant, will deliver the presentation. After the talk, the public is invited to offer comments or ask questions.
The public's comments at this event will help the task force to shape its recommendations for updating the Tysons land use plan. This event is the group's latest effort to get public input. Since 2006, it has conducted more than 50 public meetings, workshops and Web-based surveys. This is the most extensive public outreach effort ever conducted by the county to revise a land use plan.
Next year, the task force will present its recommendations to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission for approval. The updated plan will guide the area's development for the next 30-40 years.
Based on extensive public comments, Tysons is envisioned to be a vibrant urban center, with walkable streets, mixed-use neighborhoods, inclusive housing choices, lively open spaces, distinctive architecture and other community amenities.
The task force's planning principles, meeting schedules, presentations and additional resources can be found at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/tysons. For more information about the workshops or to sign up for e-mail or printed mail updates, visit the Web page, call the information line at 703-324-1344, TTY 711, or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce
Premieres Wednesday, October 2nd at 11pm (ET)
Join Fuse for a compelling and captivating look into a musical subculture that's rapidly ascending from the New Orleans underground -- Bounce. This hyper-energetic strain of dance music is championed by local legend Big Freedia, who combines style and substance as the undisputed master of the genre. We chronicle the process behind Freedia's groundbreaking music -- from the hustle to produce a hot video, to the struggle of putting together a worldwide tour. Whether collaborating on a hot track with a fierce rival or caring for her ailing mother, Big Freedia puts love and passion into everything she does.
Episode info:
1. The King and Queen of Bounce - When Big Freedia's manager suggests teaming up with an internet sensation, Mr. Ghetto, for an international tour, not everyone on Freedia's team agrees this is a good idea, and the collaboration is tested at a local show.
2. The Big Break-Up - Big Freedia's worst suspicions are confirmed when Mr. Ghetto is arrested, jeopardizing the King and Queen of Bounce tour.
3. Old School Bounce - Stopping traffic on the streets of New Orleans and dancing on top of cars, Big Freedia goes back to her DIY roots - and risks arrest - to shoot the wildest Bounce video yet.
4. Dream Team of Bounce - Old grudges and wounded egos resurface when Big Freedia teams up with fellow Bounce artists to record a Bounce song for kids.
5. School House Bounce - Preparing for the first-ever Bounce show for kids, Big Freedia has to overhaul her act for a young audience and overcome the notion that Bounce is strictly X-rated.
6. Power Games - On the eve of their first international tour, dissension erupts in Team Freedia when old friends are excluded from the trip to Brazil.
7. Heads Will Roll - When the first show in Brazil proves to be rocky when Renee fills in as DJ, the team has to rebuild their act in time for the big show in Rio.
8. World Meets Bounce – Mardi Gras meets Carnival, and Brazilian booty shakes, as Big Freedia kicks off her international tour with the wildest Bounce party ever in Rio de Janeiro.


text:
Entrance to Major
Procedures and Designation of Selection Pools
(Academic Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual, D-2.2): All entering baccalaureate degree candidates are assigned a selection pool semester, normally the spring of their sophomore year. Students entering the University in the spring semester are generally in the pool for the following spring. Under exceptional circumstances, the college dean may designate an alternative selection pool for a student. Advanced standing students (students who transfer to Penn State from other institutions with 18 or more credits) are assigned a selection pool by the dean at the time of their admission to the college. The student's pool designation is indicated on the ISIS ARUEA screen and in the LionPATH Academic Summary application.
Students who want a major that does not have administrative enrollment controls can request entrance to that major by (1) contacting the appropriate department or the appropriate academic advising center at University Park or another Penn State location before their pool semester or (2) by following the LionPATH entrance to major procedures during their pool semester. The request for entrance will be approved if the student meets the entrance requirements for the college and/or major.
Students who want a major with administrative enrollment controls must apply for the major through the LionPATH entrance to major process described below.
Entrance to Major Process on LionPATH
Students who are not in majors before the beginning of their pool semester will be included in the group of applicants for the entrance to major process. Their college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies (if they are enrolled in the division) will inform them about the entrance to major process.
Visit the Undergraduate Advising Handbook for more information on the following:
- Identifying Major Preferences
- Identifying Campus Location
- Confirming Major/Location Preferences
- Approval Process
- Credit Requirement for Change of Campus Location (At Least 43.1 Credits)
- Notification
- Student Action After Notification


text:
Scores of local investors who supported the Barge Inn Community Project have lost every penny, project chairman John Brewin confirmed.
The Honeystreet pub has been handed back to its owner Ian McIvor, a Surrey-based entrepreneur.
It's understood Mr McIvor will appoint new managers and that it will eventually re-open.
More than £400,000 Lottery funding was poured into the acquisition of the lease and refurbishment of the building by the community project group headed by Mr Brewin, who was a director of the former WigglyBus village bus service.
The Gazette can reveal that as well as the Lottery Village SOS funding, the Barge Inn Community Project set up a loan bond scheme where people could either make donations or invest in bonds for a minimum £20 to help float the pub buyout scheme.
Mr Brewin said that 44 people invested in the scheme, raising £2,400 which, like the lottery money, was swallowed up in the refurbishment and in running costs after the pub re-opened in a blaze of publicity.
Mr Brewin confirmed this week that all those who had backed the project with their own money either as donation or through the purchase of bonds had lost every penny and that the repayments, promised for next month when the project was launched, will not be happening.
Application forms distributed to people wanting to support the community pub start-up stated: "The minimum investment is £20 and this will be seen as an unsecured fixed- term interest-free loan repayable in December 2012."
The forms said donations would not be repaid and added: "Bonds will be repayable at the end of the term (unless there are exceptional circumstances)."
Mr Brewin said the bond scheme "never really took off" and attracted a total investment of about £2,400 from 44 people including a couple from Norway who invested £500 in bonds.
The project chairman said: "All that money was absorbed into the overall project so there will be no repayment. "We felt that the staff and small suppliers deserved paying first."
Apprentice chef Emily Wood, 18, of Milton Lilbourne, has been offered a job by at least four pub-restaurants since losing her job at the Barge.


text:
Current concert sponsors include Michael and Mercedes Hoffman, Mrs Joscelyn Fox, The Edwin Fox Foundation, The Zvi and Ofra Meitar Family Fund and BB Energy.
Through the sponsorship of an entire concert programme, an individual supporter can help to ensure that the Orchestra's season of high quality and artistically rewarding performances can take place. The sponsor's name is credited against the concert of their choice in both the season brochure and the evening's concert programme. They are also given first choice of our most desirable seats at the relevant concert.
Many sponsors also choose to host a post-concert dinner for any of their friends that have attended the performance. The Philharmonia Orchestra invites the conductor, soloist, and a select gathering of musicians to join the dinner.
The Philharmonia's Development Director, Jonathan Kuhles, can advise on the best choice of concert.
Please email or call Jonathan Kuhles, Development Director, on 020 7921 3920, if you would like to find out more about sponsoring a Philharmonia concert. If you are a business that is interested in sponsoring a concert, then please visit our Corporate section of the website.


text:
NEW YORK ( BankingMyWay) -- Now that we've dodged the bullet and the fiscal cliff debate is behind us, it's time to think seriously about that new home you've wanted. The deal approved this week leaves intact the homeowner's mortgage interest deduction, which makes a home purchase more affordable. There had been some talk of modifying or eliminating that tax break for homeowners, and though the idea never got a lot of traction it was enough to make a prospective homebuyer hesitate. So, to be clear, here's how the deduction works: You can subtract from your taxable income the interest paid on up to $1 million in mortgage debt. That maximum applies to the total amount of debt on a first and second home. Had there been a change, the deduction on a second home seemed particularly vulnerable, and there was some talk of reducing that $1 million limit. This good news comes on top of a series of positive reports about the health of the housing market. Prices have been rising, more homes are being built and the prospects for a new plunge in home values are diminishing by the day. With the uncertainty over tax rates resolved for the long term, it's much safer for homeowners, builders, employers and lenders to place their bets. That could propel improvements in the broad economy that would reduce the risk of a home purchase. But let's not go overboard. You won't find any experts predicting a home-price boom like the one in the middle of the last decade. While there may be hot markets here and there, it's just not possible for home prices to rise faster than incomes indefinitely, because at some point there are not enough people who can afford those pricy homes. Many of the people who ignored this fact and bought at the peak a few years ago are still deep underwater, owing more than their homes are worth after prices collapsed. Over the long run, home prices rise at about the inflation rate, which averages around 3% a year. Add interest charges, taxes, maintenance, insurance and other costs of ownership and a home is likely to be a money loser. Even if it does turn out to be a profitable asset, it's unlikely to beat alternatives such as stocks over the long term.
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St. Paul 10, Los Altos 0 >> Coreen Orozco threw four shutout innings and allowed just one hit to lead St. Paul (4-1) to the victory over the Conquerors (1-3).
Niko Walker went 3-for-3 at the plate with a home run, three runs, and four RBIs, while Orozco went 2-for-2 and drove in a run. Taylor Ancona and Miranda Bueno each had two hits and an RBI for St. Paul, and Bueno also scored a run.
Flintridge sacred heart 12, flintridge prep 1 >> The Tologs scored 11 runs in the final three innings to break open a 1-0 lead. Maria Caire threw a complete game for the Tologs (5-1), allowing just five hits to earn the victory.
Kyla Bradley drove in the only run for the Rebels (2-2) in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Ovivia Fotzpatrick went 3-for-4 for the Tologs with a double and two RBIs along with a stolen base, while Hannah Zika went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
South Hills 4, Bishop Amat 2
Gladstone 10, Gabrielino 2 >> Jesus Rojas pitched four innings, striking out four while just giving up four hits and a walk to earn his second win of the season in the victory.
Rojas was also 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Gladiators.
Leadoff hitter Marco Casteneda reached base in all four plate appearences with two singles and two walks and also came around to score twice and stole a base.
The win was head coach Rich Remkus' 599th career victory in his 30th season at the helm of the program.
Glendora 5, Oak Hills 2
Boys golf
La Salle 210, Bishop Amat 233 >> Justin Dy had the best score of the day at 38 for Amat (0-3), but each of the remaining top five scores belonged to La Salle, which earned the victory. Ryan Konrad led La Salle (3-0) with a 39, while Tyler Zubchevich tallied a 41. Tyler Anastasia and Sean Kelly each shot a 43 for La Salle.
Boys tennis
Marsahll 17, Azusa 1 >> Marshall swept singles and took eight of nine doubles sets to defeat Azusa (1-3). The No. 1 team of Daniel Cobian and Jacob Yung led the doubles effort for Marshall (3-1) with three wins. Krish Nayer swept his three singles matches for Marshall at No. 3, while No. 1 singles player Caolan John went 3-0 as well.


text:
Unequaled Investment
The LRI has delivered over $170 million in funding to advance only the most novel, innovative studies.
Unprecedented Research Results
Proven breakthrough discoveries impacting lupus diagnosis and treatment.
Unparalleled Advocacy Success
LRI Patient Coalition raised $6.6 million in Congressional funding to alleviate racial disparities and ensure prompt diagnosis and proper treatment for future lupus patients.
New Progress: LRI Research Yields Breakthroughs
New Momentum: Patient Advocacy Victory


text:
Editor's note: This is the second part of a three-part series. The first part can be read here.
The recent State Department report that appears to signal coming U.S. approval of the Keystone XL pipeline from oil fields in Alberta, Canada, to refineries on the Gulf Coast stunned many environmentalists. For years, they'd described the pipeline as a gigantic catastrophe waiting to happen, not just one long oil pipeline in a world with plenty of oil pipelines. Never leaving their green bubble, they were amazed that the administration of a president they largely backed could implicitly dismiss their worst fears as alarmism.
Now – with the state of California just beginning a debate over whether it should exploit its huge reserves of shale oil with a newly improved form of drilling known as hydraulic fracturing – environmentalists are once again warning of apocalyptic results. But what few seem to understand, and what the media have rarely emphasized, is that the Obama administration dismisses their alarmism about "fracking" – just as it did with Keystone XL.
The same administration that is widely considered the most aggressive in environmental regulation of any in U.S. history has a documented record of agreeing with the long-standing conventional wisdom about fracking among Democratic and Republican administrations and regulators alike. That view: The process poses the same potential pollution risks as many heavy industries, but those risks can be controlled and minimized with proper oversight.
In denouncing fracking, critics invent straw men and pretend they are noble fighters wielding irrefutable facts against corporate greedheads. But in depicting fracking as evil, they never admit their real argument is with the Obama administration.
In hydraulic fracturing, high-powered streams of water laced with small amounts of sand and chemicals are aimed at underground rock formations that block access to oil and natural gas reserves. Pioneered by Halliburton in the late 1940s, fracking was used in 1 million wells for the next 60 years in the U.S. without garnering much attention.
In recent years, however, information technology and the use of horizontal drilling has transformed fracking from a modestly effective process into an extremely cost-effective method of reaching previously inaccessible oil and natural gas reserves. Vast computational power allows drillers to take the equivalent of MRIs of immense underground areas, allowing for much more precise use of water blasting.
The process keeps getting more precise, using increasingly less water (with recycling rates at 70 percent and going higher), while lessening collateral effects on underground rock formations that aren't harboring energy reserves.
After decades of silence, environmentalists now argue that this underground drilling poses vast risks to the underground water table that provides much of the water Americans consume.
But fracking occurs a mile or deeper beneath the surface. Water tables are a few hundred feet below the surface, or less. There is a solid rock buffer separating drilling areas from groundwater aquifers.
What's more, wells are built of steel and concrete and cemented in place – meaning their construction adds another buffer between energy production and water tables.
This is why the president's first energy secretary, Steven Chu, said: "We believe it's possible to extract shale gas in a way that protects the water, that protects people's health. We can do this safely."
This is why the MIT physicist the White House recently nominated to succeed Chu, Ernest Moniz, described the risks to water posed by fracking as "challenging but manageable."
This is why the president's first Environmental Protection Agency director, Lisa Jackson, told a House committee that she was "not aware of any proven case where the fracking process itself has affected water."
The most serious concerns were raised by a peer-reviewed Duke University study released in early 2011. The Duke study did not find that the chemicals used in fracking had contaminated the well water, refuting the most serious claim from environmental groups. But Duke researchers did find higher levels of methane in well water in areas in Pennsylvania and New York near natural-gas wells. While methane is not believed to be harmful to drink, high concentrations of it released in closed areas can cause explosions.
Energy industry officials responded by challenging the assumption that fracking was responsible for methane migrating from source rock toward the atmosphere, a naturally occurring phenomenon in regions with large underground shale formations. They said there were problems with poorly designed wells, but that regulators were already aggressively addressing the issue in Pennsylvania.
A U.S. Energy Department task force on the shale gas boom agreed with the view that this was a manageable problem. Its report, released in late 2011, called for methane emissions to be monitored, with smart and thorough regulation using uniform national technical standards.
Hydraulic fracturing's other great downside, according to environmentalists, is that it supposedly causes earthquakes.
But a 2012 U.S. Geological Survey report concluded that's simply not true. Wastewater wells, which have been used for decades to dispose of water used in oil and gas drilling, have long been linked to small-magnitude earthquakes. But there are 140,000 such wells in the U.S., and only a relative few have been linked to earthquakes. There is no evidence that the small earthquakes that have been generated have had a negative effect.
Evidence is what should drive U.S. regulation of fracking – not a bid to block it by any means necessary because it could derail green dreams that fossil fuels will disappear.
There are few people in America with more credibility on energy issues than MIT physical chemist John Deutch, who served in key posts in the Carter and Clinton administrations and who was asked by the White House to oversee the shale gas task force. In a 2011 Washington Post essay, he wrote that data-driven regulation of fracking's use in oil and gas exploration would not only provide proper safeguards, it would result in "a continuous improvement in environmental outcomes."
Deutch noted that the benefits that stood to be gained weren't just in job creation and the economic multiplier effect. He cited the plunging costs of energy in areas where utilities suddenly had access to abundant – and far cheaper – natural gas. He described the national-security benefits of reducing reliance on natural gas imports from nations such as Russia and Iran.
His conclusion: "The emergence of the North American shale-gas resource is the most positive event in the U.S. energy outlook in 50 years."
This is a view based on evidence – not on a quasi-religious hatred of fossil fuels. This is a view based on the gigantic success fracking has already had in creating jobs and wealth in America – not on the self-serving claims of the crony-capitalist, subsidy-craving alternative-energy industrial complex.
And then there's this delicious irony: Allegedly evil fracking has done far more to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions than the renewable sources of energy that environmentalists so admire. Such emissions hit a 20-year low in the U.S. in 2012 – because of the giant recent shift from coal to natural gas.
Which brings us back to California, home to the nation's largest shale resource and the nation's most fervent environmentalists. Here the question is whom our leaders will heed: the Obama administration or the green true believers.
Next Sunday, we will conclude our series on the U.S. energy revolution with a look at how another populous state with a crafty veteran Democratic governor dealt with fracking and shale, to the vast benefit of the people he was elected to serve. And we'll lay out what the stakes are for California, depending on whether we join the revolution – or opt out.


text:
I didn't realize it was still open
Blockbuster is Closing its Last 300 Stores
Ending DVD-by-mail service, too
Blockbusters brick and mortar locations will be extinct by New Years Day.
Although physical Blockbuster stores have been few and far between, parents company DISH announced Wednesday that it will shutter the doors of the last 300 U.S. stores by the end of the year and end its by-mail DVD distribution service by early January.
This is not an easy decision, yet consumer demand is clearly moving to digital distribution of video entertainment, DISH CEO Joseph P. Clayton said.
Instead, Blockbuster will focus on streaming content to DISH customers.
Read more: Blockbuster is Closing its Last 300 Stores | TIME.com http://business.time.com/2013/11/06/...#ixzz2jtcVoeo4


text:
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You sir are the man! Keep em comin!
Not a week ago on this board I was talking about how the Pacers couldn't beat the Knicks in the playoffs and someone (I think Rexnom maybe?) blew up my argument and pretty much predicted everything that happened in this game. So props there to a person who is possibly Rexnom, as well as more proof that I don't know anything about basketball.
On the Knicks side, I liked how hard Melo was playing even when it got out of hand. In Denver I think he would have coasted but he was doing a good job, good effort til the end.
Lance is awesome, I really wish sometimes I could afford lower level tickets to hear him talk trash to the other team would probably crack me up. He's pretty damn good at getting under other players' skin it's so funny. I told my friend that I went to the game with that I guarantee that someone was getting ejected tonight, not that much of a shocker that it ended up being JR.
"Nobody wants to play against Tyler Hansbrough NO BODY!" ~ Frank Vogel
"And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen. "
Still have the Nets and Raps games stuck in my craw, but oh well. Hopefully those can be a wake up call as the Pacers go on a murder train of the NBA.
Credit goes to Jared Wade, not I.
I know it gets said around here a lot, but still probably not enough...THANK YOU LARRY BIRD!!
Oh and please come back!
I picked my brother up from work a bit ago and he asked me how the game went. Told him Sam Young got a windmill and he just started cracking up and goes "so we kicked their asses?"
8Pts9Secs player grades is a hoot:
"Nobody wants to play against Tyler Hansbrough NO BODY!" ~ Frank Vogel
"And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen. "
that entire game was really like the 3rd quarter against the nuggets where mike dunleavy became possesed by the ghost of michael jordan past and couldn't miss...except this lasted for an entire game
was it just me, or did Stephenson's amazing breakaway dunk look Jordan-esque to anyone else?
Danny granger
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2
Tonight, all flags must burn, in place of steeples.
Autonomy must return into the hands of the people.
After seeing JR Smith and Lance Stephenson beef on the court, I remembered that at one point Lance said on twitter that JR smith deserved to be an all-star this year. I rushed to Stephenson's twitter to find this tweet..............It is no longer there.
The lesson of this story: Lance Stephenson makes no friends on the basketball court.
Last edited by Gold; 02-22-2013 at 06:06 PM.
Hey guys... Remember when we thought that Paul George had hit his ceiling because he would never develop that 'killer instinct'?
Or that Lance Stephenson would never amount to anything other than a flashy garbage minutes player?
My 'out of state fan' game reports over the years
Pacers.com Guest Blog Post: Area 55 Conquers Staples Center -- (Honorary) Area 55 Family Invades Target Center 2014! -- Target Center Invasion 2015
I know Frank has mentioned Stephenson and George playing to cute sometimes, but does anyone else love it? I love the passing and swagger you see from good passers (think Bird/Magic, the greatest passers ever IMO) and I see it with those two running the floor. It gets the crowd and team involved. If it's controlled flash I think it's wonderful and I hope they keep it up, honestly.
Controlled flash? LOL I can hear Frank in the locker room.........." lets keep that flash in the contolled zone"
Yep, good stuff. I am sure Frank loves it too - when it goes right.
"Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better." - Albert Camus
"Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." - Voltaire
"Everyone's values are defined by what they will tolerate when it is done to others." - William Greider
Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Lance Stephenson on MSG: "Coming off the break, they (NY) was probably having fun, we were working hard in the gym getting ready..."
That was one of the funnest wins of the past couple years. I'm making my wife watch the second quarter tomorrow morning.
And then we'll watch Lance's Statue of Liberty dunk in the third.
It's nights like these where I wished I was in Indy, in BLF.
Last edited by imawhat; 02-21-2013 at 02:53 AM.
Knicks fans call that stat padding.
"Danny Granger is one of the top players in the league. To move Danny, you better get a lot back." - Larry Bird
Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.


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BLACKBURN Rovers captain Scott Dann will be fit for this Saturday's clash with Derby County after scans showed his arm injury is not as bad as first feared.
The centre-back was worried he had broken a bone following an off-the-ball challenge by Nottingham Forest's Darius Henderson on Saturday.
But an X-ray has revealed that Dann has not done any serious damage and he trained yesterday ahead of the visit of high-flying Derby to Ewood Park.
Rovers assistant manager Terry McPhillips said: "Scott's fine, so that's good.
"He had an old injury, which was a bit of a concern, but he's trained properly and he never had anything on it."
McPhillips took training yesterday while boss Gary Bowyer is in India holding talks with Rovers owners Venky's over his plans for the final 10 days of the transfer window.
McPhillips said: "The lads were good as gold, the session was of a really high standard and everyone enjoyed it.
"Now we're all looking forward to the game against Derby and trying to get back on track."
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson missed the 4-1 defeat at Forest with a hamstring strain and faces a race to be fit for the Rams encounter.
The match will come too soon for Corry Evans.
But the midfielder, who has been out for three months with ankle-ligament damage, could return to full training with the rest of the Rovers squad tomorrow.
Right-back Todd Kane, out since early last month with a thigh injury, has resumed full training and is in contention for the Derby game.


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Unfortunately for our country, the Bloomberg versus LaPierre contrast is basically all of American politics today. Our society is divided between an ascendant center-left that's far too confident in its own rigor and righteousness and a conservatism that's marched into an ideological cul-de-sac and is currently battering its head against the wall.
The entire Obama era has been shaped by this conflict, and not for the good. On issue after issue, debate after debate, there is a near-unified establishment view of what the government should do, and then a furious right-wing reaction to this consensus that offers no real policy alternative at all.
The establishment view is interventionist, corporatist and culturally liberal. It thinks that issues like health care and climate change and immigration are best worked out through comprehensive bills drawn up by enlightened officials working hand in glove with business interests. It regards sexual liberty as sacrosanct, and other liberties — from the freedoms of churches to the rights of gun owners — as negotiable at best. It thinks that the elite should pay slightly higher taxes, and everyone else should give up guns, SUVs and Big Gulps and live more like, well, Manhattanites. It allows the president an entirely free hand overseas, and takes the Bush-Obama continuities in foreign policy for granted.
The right-wing view is embittered, paranoid and confused.


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Complimentary Labor Day Package: Wine + 10% discount at the American Guest House Bed and Breakfast
Looking for the perfect hotel accommodation this Labor Day weekend? Look no further as the American Guest House Bed and Breakfast will ensure that you have a memorable stay! We invite you to reserve your hotel accommodations with us and enjoy our complimentary Memorial Day Package which consists of: a Bottle of Chilled Sparkling Wine and 10% off our regular rates.
The Labor Day event will include a variety of events, festivals and concerts to Abbey Road on the River Beatles Tribute Festival. Also the National Symphony Orchestra which celebrates the beginning of the performing arts season performs a free Labor Day Concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
American Guest House Bed and Breakfast is an elegant 12 Bedroom Inn located in the DuPont Circle area of downtown, Washington DC. Rated in the Top #10 B&B Inn's in the DC area and centrally located within 1 mile to the White House and close to all the events and attractions in Washington DC.
As usual, all of our guests are provided with free amenities that include hot beverages, snacks, WiFi and our especially favored complimentary and personalized warm breakfast made by our personal chef every morning. All rooms have a private bath, phone, hair dryer, cable TV and Wireless Internet.
To book this package, please call (202) 588-1180 or visit the hotel website at www.americanguesthouse.com and mention on your reservation "LABOR DAY SPECIAL". This offer is valid from September 1th to September 8th, 2012, depending on availability, no rain checks.


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Halliburton Getting Heavy
Halliburton's (HAL) powerful January run appears to be losing steam. The stock has surged more than 20% from its Dec. 31 low, a move that has pushed shares past key monthly highs in the process. After a brief rest near the September peak late last week, Halliburton exploded to the upside on its heaviest positive trade for more than a year. The news-inspired breakout began with a huge gap-up open that lifted the stock past heavy resistance near last year's high. The stock has remained well-bid this week, but shares are beginning to send signals that a much-deserved pullback is on the way.Halliburton (HAL) -- Daily Source: TradeStation View Chart » View in New Window »
I expect Halliburton to have difficulty moving past the $41 area in the near term. Back in 2011, the stock left behind key weekly highs as the massive collapse off the July highs continued. The stock has also become overbought of late. The current bull run began back in September, after Halliburton found support near $30. At this week's highs, shares have rallied 35% without much in the way of a pullback. This impressive 10-week run is due for a rest....101 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
There's no substitute for a trading floor to get great ideas, so Jim Cramer created a better one at Real Money and blogs there exclusively. We then added legendary hedge fund manager, Doug Kass, with his exclusive Daily Diary and best investing ideas. Staffed with more than 4 dozen investing pros, money managers, journalists and analysts, Real Money Pro gives you a flood of opinions, analysis and actionable trading advice found nowhere else, and allows you to interact directly with each expert.
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MyChart Login
Home > Health & Wellness > Health Library > Schizophrenia: Warning Signs of Violence
While most people with schizophrenia are not violent, violence is one of the reasons someone who has schizophrenia may need
hospitalization. It is a way to protect the person or those around him or her
until the
delusions or
hallucinations often associated with the violence
Common signs that can indicate someone with schizophrenia may become
violent include:
ByHealthwise StaffPrimary Medical ReviewerKathleen Romito, MD - Family MedicineSpecialist Medical ReviewerLisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry
Current as ofJuly 26, 2016
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Even though I've written a book about the Oscars, I've never actually attended any of their events, or come much closer than watching the show when it airs.
That changed earlier this week, when I attended the announcement ceremony from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Hollywood. I had to wake up at 3 a.m. to get there for the media breakfast and be in place for the announcements, which took place at 5:38 a.m. (so that they were in time for the East Coast broadcasts of the morning news shows). It was a surprisingly lively event. Here are some of my thoughts at it was happening.
• The lobby is covered in red carpet — I guess that saves a lot of time laying it out every 15 seconds so celebs know where to go.
• The security is tight but the people are friendly. This is L.A. after all — you can never be sure who's some journo from Dallas and who might be a segment producer for Access Hollywood. Or Harvey Weinstein's personal assistant.
• An old man at my table at the media breakfast just got his foot wrapped on my bag's strap, which was pressed next to my chair. "I'm gonna kill myself on that! Putting it under the table is better." "Picking up your feet when you walk isn't a bad idea, either," I mutter. He then sat down and nearly took the table cloth with him when it gets caught on his foot. What's the common denominator here? My bag or this guy?
• Some folks are wearing swag from previous Oscars. I am not among them. I decide this is a good thing, because then people might want to talk to you about it and I'm just a faker who bought my swag anyway.
• The breakfast looks busy and well-attended to me, but a few veterans of the event note that there are "fewer and fewer every year… They're all going to Sundance."
• Small world: I just bumped into Amy, a publicist for ABC. I had met her only the day before, at a friend's house — she is the girlfriend of his roommate. She does a mean Madonna impersonation, though not here.
• I'm surprised that more people are not talking about the Oscars themselves, or even the movie business — handicapping who they think the nominees will be, what films they expect to get snubbed. I wonder if they are playing it close to the vest or really have become so bored by it this is just an inconvenient assignment. Or maybe they are afraid to look too anxious and fan-boy crazy.
• There is one exception. A guy I'm sitting near apparently has a gig as a handicapper of the visual effects category. He says Hugo isn't feeling the love and neither is Harry Potter — those will likely be passed over. The surprise nominee, he predicts, may be Real Steel, though he wonders if it and Transformers 3 — two robot movies — will both get nominated. He does predict Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the frontrunner to win "as compensation for not nominating Andy Serkis." Captain America also seems a lock…
• Only he's wrong. Yes, Rise and Steel both get nods, but so does Transformers and so do Hugo and Potter. Captain America is overlooked.
• After so much cool, a few minutes before the velvet rope is removed to allow folks into the theater, and without any public announcement, the "first admit" passholders magically start lining up like airplane travelers jockeying for the shortest wait. They care…
• Finally, the ceremony is over and folks are pouring over the press release, looking not just at what movies got nods, but who. They are not all journalists here — some probably are Harvey Weinstein's assistants, or at least folks from corporate who have bosses in the running. Or personal grudges. "No, he didn't make the list," one says into a cell phone. "Ohh, she got nominated — he'll be pissed!" another observes. Half of show business is business…


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"This means so much to those of us who dedicated ourselves to the military, only to be forced out against our will for being who we are," former Air Force Staff Sgt. Richard Collins said in a statement from the American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the lawsuit.
Under "Don't ask," service members who were honorably discharged automatically had their separation pay cut in half.
The ACLU of New Mexico sued the Pentagon on behalf of 181 service members who were dismissed under the policy to recover their full pay. Each solider, sailor, airman and Marine in the case will receive, on average, a payout of $13,000, the ACLU said.
The Defense Department will pay a total of $2.4 million to the plaintiffs.


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With the large amount of excess store space available for lease in 2010, more retailers used pop-up stores this past holiday season than ever before. This concept is now transforming into a viable strategy that has a life beyond the holiday season rush. In 2011 innovative retailers will employ it as a year-round approach that complements their core business strategy.
Pop-up stores are commonly seen during such holiday periods as Halloween and Christmas, but they offer numerous benefits to retailers throughout the rest of the year as well. Pop-ups provide a flexible, attention-grabbing way to showcase a retailer's goods or build buzz for an established brand (for example, Pop Tarts' recent pop-up store in New York City's Times Square, which recently ended a five-month lease). It also allows them to test new concepts or store locations in a low-risk and low-cost way. Leases are short, typically only a few months, and if the stores aren't successful, companies can simply pack up and walk away at the end of the term. There is no worry about how they might extract themselves from a long lease commitment that could damage their finances or ultimately even bankrupt them.
Using pop-ups beyond the holidays also allows retailers to promote demand for their goods in different markets in order to help generate profitable business at their permanent locations. These types of stores also give retailers the ability to target a niche audience, potentially at special events— for example, sporting events and college campuses are strong testing grounds. Finally, retailers can use pop-ups to take advantage of the void created by the bankruptcy of a competitor, as Toys"R"Us did by placing pop-ups in malls after the liquidation of KB Toys.
There are benefits for landlords as well. The retail center vacancy rate in the third and fourth quarters of 2010 held steady at 10.9%, an all-time high since 1991, and while the vacancy rate for regional malls has improved to 8.7% in the 4th quarter, this rate is still relatively high. Due to this excess space, landlords are willing to negotiate short-term leases with the opportunity to convert the tenants to longer term, more traditional lease deals. For example, about 10 current stores in the Mall of America started out as pop-ups, including See's Candies and Goldy's Locker Room. Pop-ups also allow landlords to collect some additional rent and create change or excitement in their shopping centers. In addition, shoppers generally prefer centers where a large majority of the stores are open rather than malls with many empty stores.
If a retailer is looking to open up numerous pop-ups it may be advantageous, when possible, to work with one of their existing landlords. Like retailers, landlords have needs and by working together to help fill some vacant space, the retailer is likely to get a better lease deal.
Pop-up retailers or service businesses typically do not spend large amounts of money to tailor the spaces they lease. These locations are generally scaled-down versions of a retailer's permanent stores, carrying a smaller selection of goods and focusing on more popular or faster-moving items. Or for example, 2010 saw a number of retailers employing the pop-up stores strategy, and toy stores were a prime example. Toys"R"Us opened 600 Toys"R"Us Express pop-ups and FAO Schwarz opened 10 similar stores. Spirit Halloween opened 870 pop-ups in October, but many locations remained opened past Halloween and transformed themselves into ToyZam! Stores to sell toys for holiday season.
New York saw its fair share of innovative pop-ups, with Forever 21 (6-month lease testing out 5th Avenue), The Limited (3,400 sq. ft. store in Soho), and Procter & Gamble (4,000 sq. ft "free" store to build brand loyalty for its products on 57th Street) all launching pop-ups in Manhattan. Other notable pop-ups include Disney's Tron–Legacy store in Culver City, Calif., created to take advantage of the movie's opening, and American Red Cross stores in Phoenix and Las Vegas, where gift buyers could make donations for disaster relief.
Pop-ups will never replace permanent stores, but they can and should become an important complement to a retailer's or brand's strategy. The coming year will likely show a broader range of businesses and a growing number of well-known brands employing this strategy. Retailers will continue to use pop-ups as a marketing tool, but also as a way to safely and quickly test new locations and store concepts. Savvy brands will also use pop-ups to capture a larger piece of seasonal sales. Retailers that tend to see sales spikes leading up to other holidays, such as jewelry stores before Valentine's Day, may launch pop-ups to take advantage of this short-term increase in demand. Mother's Day and the back-to-school period offer similar potential.
By allotting some space for temporary stores, landlords can attract non-traditional retailers to their shopping centers who might not otherwise want a permanent retail presence, such as an online store. For example, an online business that has clearance items or inventory that it does not want could open a physical pop-up store to sell these goods. If landlords adopt and execute such a strategy, it should help them bring a new level of excitement to their properties.


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Carl Edwards will begin 2013 with a new crew chief.
Edwards, who started the season with Bob Osborne before health issues amid a struggling season resulted in a change to Chad Norris in July, will get Matt Kenseth crew chief Jimmy Fennig starting next year, Roush Fenway Racing announced Wednesday.
Fennig, who won the 2004 Cup title with Kurt Busch, was tentatively slated to crew chief for rookie Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who will replace Kenseth next season as Kenseth is moving to Joe Gibbs Racing.
But Edwards is winless in his last 68 races, including 16 with Norris as his crew chief (with an average finish of 17th with Norris), and needs a change to rekindle his success from 2011. He is 15th in the Cup standings a year after losing the Sprint Cup title to Tony Stewart on a tiebreaker.
The 59-year-old Fennig will add veteran leadership to the team, as he first was a crew chief for Mark Martin in 1986 and has 36 career victories. Kenseth is sixth in the series standings with three wins this year under Fennig.
Scott Graves, an engineer for Edwards who was crew chief for Edwards' Nationwide Series win at Watkins Glen earlier this year, will be crew chief for Stenhouse.
"We are excited about this change on both fronts," said team owner Jack Roush. "Pairing two highly successful veterans like Carl and Jimmy should be quite a matchup and it is our expectation based on what Jimmy has been able to accomplish with many high profile drivers, that it will provide the spark to get the No. 99 program and Carl back into championship form.
"However, we are particularly excited about teaming up Scott Graves and Ricky. Through his extensive research and development work, Scott has an excellent understanding of the new 2013 body style. In his short time as a crew chief he has demonstrated a cunning knack as a leader on the pit box and he is going to be a great match for Ricky as he makes his move upwards into the Sprint Cup ranks."


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According to Phil B.'s most recent Colts blog, Bob Sanders is going to be around for the playoffs.
Well that certainly cannot hurt, especially against Larry Johnson. ...right?The most worthwhile piece of information I gleaned tonight came outside the locker room. While I was walking toward the Colts dressing area, somebody leaning against a hallway wall gave me a polite tap on the shoulder. It was Bob Sanders. And he was smiling. The Pro Bowl safety of a year ago, reduced to just four games this season by a scope on his right knee, wanted to let me know he was ready for the playoffs. I gave him a hard time for not coming into the locker room during the week. He said he didnt know I wanted to talk to him. But no matter. He told me what Colts fans want to hear after watching him sit out seven of the last eight games and 12 of the last 14.
Im back, he said. Im all go.
The Colts will need him. And better be ready. Johnson wont be easy to bring down. But with Sanders in the lineup, maybe these Colts will find a way. Like everybody else next weekend, they have a chance.


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The New South Ferry Terminal: See It Split, See It Change
by Oliver Schwaner-Albright
Sometime by the end of the month the public will get its first view of See It Split, See It Change. A 250 foot-long curved wall of fused glass panels and mosaics by Doug and Mike Starn, it snakes along the new South Ferry subway station. Itâs a stunner, and an unusually engaging piece for a city that already takes public art seriously.
At first See It Split, See It Change seems simply bold and graphic, a striking backdrop for your dash to the 1 train. It features an axonometric view of Manhattan rendered in mosaic tiles—the favorite medium for the MTAâs Arts for Transit—and panels of silhouetted tree branches. But if you linger for a few moments youâll see how intricate it really is.
Produced in Munich, the glass panels are a meeting of 21st century and medieval technologies. Ceramic powder was printed, ink jet-like, on a panel of glass that was sandwiched with another panel and fired in a kiln for one week. The result is rich with detail and up close you can see flaws in the glass—fissures and bubbles that recall centuries-old stained glass. The panels are so luminescent they seem to be lit from behind.
An intimate piece on a monumental scale, this is the first time that art was conceived as a part of the development of a subway station and Arts for Transit made a great decision in tapping the Starns. South Ferry is more than just the terminus of the 1 line—and will soon connect with the R and W lines. It also stands at the mouth of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, which handles 20 million passengers every year. Most New Yorkers are resigned to dreary entries—Penn Station, JFK and LaGuardia. Finally, Grand Central Station has company and the approach from Staten Island will be one of the cityâs most majestic.


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YORK'S two new Park&Ride (P&R) sites have been officially opened complete with a fleet of electric buses at Poppleton Bar.
The Lord Mayor, Coun Ian Gillies and Council Leader, James Alexander, cut the ribbon on the £22.7 million pound project, which was 70 per cent funded by the government, and means the city now has six P&R sites – making it one of the largest such services in the country.
The new P&R at Poppleton Bar and larger one near to the previous Askham Bar site has been created by City of York Council with contractors Balfour Beatty and designers CH2M Hill with bus services run by First.
The council hopes the move will cut congestion into the city centre by increasing the parking capacity to 1,100 vehicles at Askham Bar and introducing the new 600-vehicle facility at Poppleton.
Cllr James Alexander, said: "This has been a very complicated project to bring forward, but it's very important and significant for the city and I just hope many people use it."
The single-decker buses' batteries will be capable of storing enough charge to allow them to operate all day, and the council says more than 80 per cent of bus traffic through York could ultimately be operated by electricity.
Cllr David Levene, cabinet member for transport, said: "The project represents one of the largest single investments in York's transport infrastructure since the northern ring road was built in the 80s.
"This has been our stated priority for the last three years and builds on our existing portfolio of P&R sites. This is critical for York's future economic prosperity and environmental wellbeing and we are delighted to be delivering this major improvement today."
Eddie Tribe, from Balfour Beatty, said: "These new P&R sites will ease congestion and provide people with improved journeys into York city centre."
Sherburn-in-Elmet-based Optare was procured to manufacture the new electric buses and the new sites will continue to be operated by First bus.
Ben Gilligan, managing director of First in York, said: "The investment by First of nearly £1m in these new Optare Versa Electric Vehicles in York demonstrates our commitment to improving the quality of life by lowering air emissions & congestion and offering low-carbon travel options."
Enrico Vassallo, CEO of Optare PLC, said: "Optare's electric vehicles continue to grow in popularity, with orders so far this year totalling 34 vehicles. The new vehicles for York will be in addition to another Optare electric vehicle already operating at the University of York on the campus shuttle service and other Optare electric vehicles already in service in Harrogate, Scotland, Nottingham, Coventry, London, Heathrow Terminal 5, Switzerland and Holland, bringing the total of Optare electric vehicles currently in service to 59."
Go green and get Wi-Fi!
WITH the official launch of York's first fleet of electric buses The Press deputy news editor,Haydn Lewis hopped on board for a trip to the ribbon-cutting ceremonies at the city's two new Park&Rides, Askham Bar and Poppleton Bar.
I consider myself lucky that most days I can walk to work and don't need to add my vehicle to the already congested city-centre streets.
I confess I have never used York Park&Ride or ever been on an electric bus so I'm not sure what I was expecting when our group set off from outside York station for the trip out to the ring road.
If it was engine noise, then apart from a vague whirring sound now and again, there was nothing to hear in that department – gone is the growling noise of the old diesel engine and attendant plume of exhaust fumes to be replaced by, well, the sound of silence.
York's rush-hour traffic had long since departed when we boarded, so it's difficult to say how long a commuter's journey would take. Ours was about quarter of an hour out to Askham Bar which has more than doubled its capacity from 500 to 1,100 car parking spaces.
The big, green, single-decker bus, which comes with its own Wi-Fi, was roomy and comfortable and, despite lacking the usual engine noises, was very like any other bus in essentials.
What was impressive was that the technology behind is home-grown in Yorkshire.
The drive system is from Sheffield-based Magtec and it was built by Optare in Sherburn-in-Elmet.
In summary, the bus was comfortable, quiet and green and possibly the next best thing to walking for getting around the city.
Don't miss: A look back at York's original electric-powered public transport>>


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Reynolds willing to trade strikeouts for power
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Mark Reynolds is no longer concerned with what is written about him. When he was younger, the countless articles about his high strikeout totals bothered him. These days, the Indians designated hitter accepts who he is as a player and ignores what others think.
Reynolds knows the strikeouts are simply a byproduct of his style of slugging.
"Early on in my career, it was a big distraction," Reynolds said. "Now, whatever you guys write, I really don't care. I'm going to go play my game. I'm going to go out and drive in runs. I'm just going to do what I can to get those numbers that can't go down, to get those to keep going up."
The numbers Reynolds referred to were home runs and RBIs. He knows that, when healthy (an issue early on last season), he can provide the kind of right-handed power that Cleveland has lacked in recent seasons. Reynolds' batting average might suffer, and the strikeout total could soar, but the power potential helps the Indians accept those numbers.
That is the mindset the club has taken when it comes to Reynolds' numbers.
"You just live with it," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "The last thing I want to tell him to do is to not strikeout. That's not going to work. That's like telling a pitcher, 'Don't walk somebody.' Just go up there and we're looking for production, however that comes. It comes in a lot of different ways."
Dating back to 2008, Reynolds leads the Major Leagues with 993 strikeouts. Over that same time period, he ranks fourth in baseball in home runs by a right-handed hitter (164). Only Albert Pujols (193), Miguel Cabrera (183) and Ryan Braun (168) have launched more homers in that span.
Reynolds averaged 208 strikeouts per year from 2008-11, but he also posted an average of 35 home runs and 92 RBIs in that same four-year stretch. He set the single-season strikeout record with 223 in 2009, but that season he also hit .260 with 44 home runs and 102 RBIs for the D-backs.
"After that year people kind of laid off a little bit," Reynolds said. "I don't let it bother me. I've matured a lot since then. I was 24 years old. I was worried about what everybody thought about me. Now, I really don't care. I focus on what I can do and try to be productive."
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Major League Bastian, and follow him on Twitter @MLBastian. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.