text:
The goal of the McDuffie Environmental Education Center (MEEC) is to provide students with stimulating outdoor experiences about the ecology of our wildlife, water, soils and forests while emphasizing good stewardship of these important resources. This 570-acre site offers two interpretive nature trails, five outdoor classrooms, hands-on nature exhibits, two indoor science classrooms, two covered picnic pavilions, an outdoor amphitheater and a butterfly garden, as well as fields, forests, wetlands, ponds, and streams. MEEC is open by appointment only.
Field Trip Opportunities
MEEC offers a wide variety of grade-specific activities with unique curriculum that is aligned with the Georgia Performance Standards for pre-K through 7th grade. Three Georgia certified teachers are on hand to provide instruction. An overview of the MEEC curriculum is available on the MEEC website: www.themeec.org.
Additionally, a tour of the McDuffie Fish Hatchery is available to all grade levels upon request, depending on fish production. A Kids' Fishing Event can also be provided as part of the MEEC experience.
Reservations for the following school year open on April 1.
Please contact Dot Kay at (706) 339-5457 or email@example.com to schedule a field trip reservation.
Teacher Workshops
Every June, MEEC partners with the Watson-Brown Foundation to offer an educator's workshop called "Get Natural - Parts 1 and 2." This interactive workshop supplies educators with knowledge and activities to enhance environmental education and social studies in the classroom. Teachers can earn four professional development units toward recertification by completing the two courses.
For more information, visit www.themeec.org.


text:
Backlogged unemployment checks to flow again
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California's labor secretary has ordered the state's Employment Development Department to immediately begin distributing unemployment checks that have been delayed because of computer problems.
Marty Morgenstern said in a memo to the EDD on Tuesday that it should not wait to verify whether people are eligible for the benefits before issuing the payments. Morgenstern said eligibility would have to be determined later, with any overpayments collected at that time.
The memo was reported by the Sacramento Bee. Eyewitness News also obtained a copy from Morgenstern's office.
The labor secretary calls the backlog in claims "unacceptable," noting the delays are causing real hardships for people depending on benefits.
"Consequently, I am directing EDD to immediately begin the process of paying backlogged claims for continued UI (unemployment insurance) benefits prior to a final determination of eligibility." the memo reads
EDD spokeswoman Loree Levy said the glitch happened when the department switched to a new computer system. "We implemented our new internal portion of a new payment processing over the long Labor Day weekend," she told Eyewitness News by phone on Wednesday.
Just after the weekend, Eyewitness News heard from viewers who were not getting their benefits. At the time, EDD said the problem was being fixed, and "most" claimants were getting their payments. But, the problem just got worse.
By this week more claims were coming in, and the number of delayed cases grew to some 80,000.
Late Wednesday, EDD had another update on the situation. "EDD is now implementing our latest alternatives developed for liquidating our current backlog," the email said. "This will allow us to move quickly to issue payment and then work to complete the more time-consuming eligibility review required at a later date."
Levy had explained that the new computer system is an upgrade to EDD's 30-year-old payment processing system. And, while most claims could be automatically reviewed for eligibility, others that are more complex required "manual" review. That slowed things down more than expected.
Since last December, Eyewitness News has investigated a large number of complaints about EDD. Many viewers said they could never reach them by phone or through email. In February, Eyewitenss News went to the EDD Sacramento office to ask about those problems.
Levy said the department was dealing with a huge number of claims and budget cuts. The department also said things would get better because EDD was working to improve various online systems.
But, the complaints continued coming in to Eyewitness News, and last year we asked for an interview with the governor. We were referred back to EDD. Eyewitness News made that request again when the new problem surfaced, and was again told EDD would be the only department to respond.
With Labor Secretary Morgenstern ordering EDD to make the immediate payments, Eyewitness News asked a spokesman if he could also help deal with the other issues. The spokesman said Morgenstern is focusing on the current problem.
As of Wednesday, EDD's update said they started the day with a certification backlog of a bit less than 73,000 claims.
"However, the number of claimants moving into the backlog is declining and when combined with extra processing efforts on the backlog, the EDD is making progress catching up with any claimants waiting beyond the ten days for payment," it says.
EDD says they've tried other strategies to deal with the computer glitch and backlog. They've put more staff into processing claims, and had them working overtime including weekends. Staff from other agencies have also been brought in to help.
They call the "pay now, verify later" effort their latest alternative.
"Some (people) will see payments just as quickly as tomorrow, others will take a few more days," Levy said Wednesday afternoon. She said they hope for progress every day. "We're really hoping to liquidate a huge percentage of this backlog by the end of the weekend," she said.
EDD's statement also apologized for the delays. "We are committed to doing everything possible to resolve the backlog issue and get customers cleared of any further undue interruptions," it says.
Levy also said letters were going out on Wednesday to let people know their claims had been received. She advised people to watch the EDD Facebook page for updates on the situation.
As people get the immediate payments, EDD says some may get notified later about overpayments when the eligibility is reviewed after the fact.
"We understand that it may take more time to investigate some of the claim certifications after payment have been made," the update reads. "but unemployed Californians are truly struggling to pay their rent and mortgages and put food on their tables."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The most common signs and symptoms of arthritis involve the joints. Depending on the type of arthritis you have, your signs and symptoms may include:
The two main types of arthritis — osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis — damage joints in different ways.
The most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis involves wear-and-tear damage to your joint's cartilage — the hard, slick coating on the ends of bones. Enough damage can result in bone grinding directly on bone, which causes pain and restricted movement. This wear and tear can occur over many years, or it can be hastened by a joint injury or infection.
In rheumatoid arthritis, the body's immune system attacks the lining of the joint capsule, a tough membrane that encloses all the joint parts. This lining, known as the synovial membrane, becomes inflamed and swollen. The disease process can eventually destroy cartilage and bone within the joint.
Risk factors for arthritis include:
Severe arthritis, particularly if it affects your hands or arms, can make it difficult for you to do daily tasks. Arthritis of weight-bearing joints can keep you from walking comfortably or sitting up straight. In some cases, joints may become twisted and deformed.
Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below.
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised.
A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.


text:
I have had the Orion LF (170g) for a couple of weeks now, and all i can say is WOW!!!! I love it it replaced my Pro Starfire after 2 rounds. It is great in headwind and all other wind. Its not the wid-rim drivers that have been coming out lately but goes just as far. I would say its like an X Avenger but way more stable. It doesn't require alot of room to make its flight and its actually very straight. The new Sirius plastic might just be the best plastic ever. Very grippy and durable. I hit a fence post the other day and all it did was get a small scuff.
I already ordered 2 more from http://www.marshallstreetdiscgolf.com/p ... ius&cat=62
Millenium is gonna take off with this new disc and the new plastic. Prepare for a new big time player innova and discraft. (I know millenium has been around awhile but they have never been as well known as the other 2).


text:
Volkswagen 3D Models formats
3D Studio (.3ds)
3DS MAX v.2008-2013 Scanline (.max)
3DS MAX v.2008-2013 V-Ray (.max)
Autodesk FBX (.fbx)
Blender v.2.6 (.blend)
Cinema 4D v.5-11 (.c4d)
Element 3D AfterEffects CS3-CS6 (.aep)
Lightwave v.6-11 (.lwo)
Maya v.8.5 - 2013 (.mb)
Autodesk Drawing (.dxf, .dwg)
Google Sketchup v.6-7 (.skp)
Rhinoceros 3D v.4-5 (.3dm)
Stereolithography (.stl)
Softimage (.xsi)
Wavefront OBJ (.obj)
NURBS/CAD/Solid (.iges) (paid)
We care about every single part of the model. Our models and renders so realistic so sometime our "customers" ask about technical characteristic of car such like engine, interior and other features. We think they don't notice price. At the same time in our store is possible to purchase 3D model of Volkswagen with this quality and we shipped it over the world for free. Save your time with us.


text:
Targus iNotebook Digital Pen - Bluetooth Compatible, Works With Apple® iPad® 1st / 2nd & 3rd Generation - AMD001USItem#: 9472341 | Model#: AMD001US
- Price:
- $279.99
Free Shipping Today!
- Shipping:
- Temporarily out of stock. Order today and we'll deliver when available. (Details)
Targus iNotebook Digital Pen, Apple® iPad Product Details
Targus iNotebook Digital Pen AMD001US
Never miss another important quote or reference with the Targus iNotebook Digital Pen AMD001US. The iNotebook transmits your notes to your iPad® and allows you to organize them as you prefer. You can add audio notes (recordings), email or print already saved notes, and you can transfer simultaneously or use it when the iPad is away from you and synchronize at a later time. The notebook comes in a beautifully designed portfolio and can be used with standard A5 and 8 x 5 notepads. Enjoy flexibility in note-taking and the convenience of storage with the Targus iNotebook Digital Pen AMD001US by ordering today!
What it is and why You Need It:
- Works with Apple® iPad® 1st / 2nd & 3rd Generation; full compatibility for synchronization
- Can use any standard A5 and 8 x 5 notepad; write on any A5 notepad of your choosing
|Take your ideas from paper to iPad
iNotebook wirelessly transmits handwritten notes, drawings, and sketches to your iPad; so that all of your ideas are easily captured and shared. Thanks to a Bluetooth®-enabled sensor and premium pen, everything you put on paper is saved and instantly transferred to your iPad. Plus, everything you create is intuitively organized and searchable.
|Capture it All
|Easily transcribe and save your handwritten notes to your iPad without special paper. Grocery lists, class and meeting notes, drawings and brainstormsthe iNotebook captures it all in one place. When youre done, your notes and recordings are stored for fast, easy access on your iPad.
|A Seamless Experience
|Digitally capture everything you write on any standard A5 or 8 x 5in. notepad. Easily pair your iPad with iNotebook via Bluetooth. An indicator within the app lets you know when the iNotebook is paired with your iPad. Ideas are also captured when your iPad isnt with you. The sensor in the iNotebook stores more than 100 pages of notes, so that you can transfer them when its convenient.
|Take More Notes Without Losing Track
|Group collections of notes or pages into virtual notebooks that you can name to keep your ideas organized.
|Find A View Thats Right for You
|The iNotebook will help even the most avid note-taker keep it together. Easily move related pages between editable tabs. As your ideas grow, you can continually add, remove, or reorganize pages.
|Think. Ciltivate. Share
|All your ideas can be shared easily with friends, family, and colleagues. Send notes and audio recordings over email or export to a PDF for easy viewing. You can even enhance collaboration by sending notes to the cloud, thanks to integration with Dropbox.
|Stream with Airplay
|Have an audience? No problem. The iNotebook lets you wirelessly stream notes to a TV or projector using Apple AirPlayturning your notes into a memorable presentation.
Recommended ItemsPrevious
Manufactured by: Targus
Warranty provided by: Targus
UPC No: 0092636273835
Mfg Part No: AMD001US
Box Size:
( Length:13, Width:9, Depth:3)
Shipping Weight: 2.2000 pound(s)
Click here for full warranty and support information
- Targus logos are registered trademarks of Targus. All others trademarks and copyrights mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.


text:
Recently I talked about my profound affection for sugar snap peas, and I decided it might be fun to experiment with them as the starring ingredient in a stir-fried vegetable side dish. Not that I hadn't stir-fried sugar snap peas before, but never like this with them sliced diagonally to reveal the tiny peas inside.
I have no idea where I got the idea of slicing the peas for a stir-fry, but I loved these Spicy Stir-Fried Sugar Snap Peas with Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil, and Sriracha. The pods cooked more quickly, and a few tiny peas spilled out, adding visual interest and a lot of sweet pea flavor to the finished dish.
- Preheat the wok (or pan) before you add the oil.
- Season the oil (add slices of fresh garlic cloves and ginger root and stir-fry very briefly, just until they become fragrant.)
- Remember the importance of symmetry of cut (all pieces should be the same size for stir-fry cooking.)
- Have all ingredients cut and sauces mixed before you start to cook.
- Use very high heat and cook fast.
Sriracha sauce to make the finishing sauce.
Spicy Stir-Fried Sugar Snap Peas with Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil, and Sriracha
(Makes 3-4 side dish servings, recipe created by Kalyn)
1 lb. sugar snap peas
2 T soy sauce (can use low-sodium soy sauce if you prefer)
1 tsp. sesame seed oil
1 tsp. Sriracha sauce
2-3 slices fresh ginger root
2 large garlic cloves, sliced
1 T peanut oil
1 tsp. black sesame seeds or sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
South Beach Diet / Low-Carb Diet Suggestions:
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Nutritional Information?
More Ideas from Food Blogs for Cooking Sugar Snap Peas:
(Recipes from other blogs may not always be South Beach Diet friendly; check ingredients.)
Shrimp Stir-Fry with Snow Peas or Sugar Snap Peas from White on Rice Couple
Crunch Chopped Salad with Sugar Snap Peas ~ Kalyn's Kitchen
Sugar Snap Peas with Lemon Butter from A Veggie Venture
Crunchy Napa Cabbage Asian Slaw with Sugar Snap Peas ~ Kalyn's Kitchen
(Want even more recipes? I find these recipes from other blogs using Food Blog Search.)


text:
The Poisoned Pawn is an ongoing, fan-made effort to remake and enhance Tex Murphy: Overseer.
Old fans will get to relive a spruced up retelling of the retelling of Tex's first case. New fans will finally get to see that cliffhanger that kept as all wondering all of these years.
"Tesla Effect" is the sixth installment in the Tex Murphy Adventure Game Series.
A Full Motion Video masterpiece with 2K Video, 3 Narrative Paths, 5 Different Endings,
and 8 3D Levels to explore.
Months after saving her missing father Dr. James from Thunder Island, Rita is on a whirlwind adventure in search of Shangri La. A stunning turn of events has them both on the run and only by finding the mythical paradise can they hope to clear their name. With help from Sebastian and Marbles the monkey, will they be able to traverse this land where few have ventured?
When her father mysteriously disappears on an uncharted island, it is up to the "more brave than brilliant" aviatrix Rita James and her faithful friends to rescue him!
Jess Silloway's dreams are haunted by a ghostly figure, always gesturing to be followed. Clues lead to Beacon Bay, a bed & breakfast on the coast of Maine. Jess has no connection here, no history. And then...something starts to feel...familiar...
On the eve of her thirtieth birthday, Jess Silloway suddenly finds herself in a room with a man she's never met, with no memory of the past few days or weeks. The man lays out a series of tarot cards and tells Jess he's there to help her remember – and so begins her chilling journey into the past...
© Copyright 2017 Big Finish Games. All rights reserved. | Mutant League Login


text: Collects WHAT IF... (1989-1998) #40, 59, 62, 66, and 69. Featuring - What if Wolverine Led Alpha Flight?; What if Storm had remained a Thief?; What if Rogue Possessed the Power of Thor?; What if Stryfe Killed the X-Men?; and What if Wolverine Battled Weapon X? Softcover, 144 pages, full color. Cover price $15.95.


text:
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - This new year will bring a new addition to many intersections around Jacksonville: red light cameras.
In less than two weeks, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is expected announce where the first five of 25 cameras at the city's busiest intersections will go up starting later this month.
JSO is hoping the cameras will cut the number of fatal accidents in half.
Last summer, the City Council authorized JSO to use cameras catch red-light runners.
"I think it'll be a good thing, cause people to not get hit in the middle of the road and generate revenue for the city, which they drastically need," driver Sergio Reduga said.
Each ticket will be $158, but JSO says signs will go up in advance to warn drivers. And for the first month the cameras are up, drivers will be mailed a warning if they run the light.
RELATED: List of intersections to get red light cameras
After that grace period, the city expects violations caught on camera to bring in $1.5 million this year.
"If the purpose is to improve the traffic or security, that's fine," driver Morteza Yavari said. "But if the purpose is for them to make more money, then I don't like it."
The city of Green Cove Springs has used red light cameras on a smaller scale since 2011 and has brought in more than a half-million dollars for the city.
For drivers in Jacksonville, they want to keep their money in their pockets, not the city's.
"I just graduated college about a year ago, so I'm still in a new job, so I don't want to have any extra bills," driver Lierin Grant said. "I don't run the red lights now, but I will definitely think twice about cutting it close."
JSO says the cameras won't mean an automatic ticket. An officer will review every citation issued as a result of a red light camera.
There is some concern that the new red light cameras may cause more accidents, but police in Green Cove Springs said they haven't had any accidents related to the cameras. Many express concern about rear-end crashes because people may be stopping to avoid running the light. But police there say the crashes they've had at intersections haven't been rear-end collisions.
Copyright 2013 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Well, my time at The Herald has come to an end. Over the past 18 months you've joined me for a whirlwind tour of some of the best eats around our Central Coast. As we part ways, I'm leaving you with a closely guarded secret — my list of the best in town.
These are the spots with dishes and drinks I crave — from decadent duck confit to tasty tamales, a marvelous macchiato to a potent punch. I hope these recommendations serve you well in my absence from the pages of GO! magazine.
And remember, you can still follow along with my culinary adventures via my blog (offthemenublog. wordpress.com), Twitter (@offthemenu831) and Instagram (@offthemenu831).
Bon appétit!
Best restaurant
It's no secret that Bistro Moulin (Monterey) gets my vote for best restaurant. This quaint little bistro has a menu of mouthwatering European dishes. As trite as it may sound, everything on the menu is delicious. Chef Didier Dutertre's signature spinach gnocchi ($11.75) is simply sublime. Among the entrée selections, the steak bordelaise ($28.50) and the duck confit ($23.50) are winners, too.
Honorable Mentions: Mundaka (Carmel) comes in a very close second in the race for best restaurant. I'm consistently delighted by chef Brandon Miller's Spanish tapas. He frequently introduces new dishes that reflect the season's bounty — fend off the brisk fall breeze with crispy pig ears ($7.50) or ravioli with butternut squash and jam-n iberico ($12.50).
Since opening earlier this year, chef Brendan Jones has pushed the culinary envelope at Lokal (Carmel Valley). His innovative cuisine — from low-brow mac and cheese balls ($11) to high-end sous vide steak ($24) — has earned Lokal a spot in my top five favorite restaurants.
And Restaurant 1833 (Monterey) is proving to be more than just a flash in the pan. My favorite of chef Levi Mezick's culinary creations is the poached hen egg, served over brioche with crispy prosciutto ($13).
Rounding out the top five, Passionfish (Pacific Grove) proves that you can eat well and keep a clear conscience. Ted and Cindy Walter have an admirable commitment to serving sustainable seafood — and it tastes delicious, too!
Best bargain bites
When it comes to bargain bites, no one does it better than Noodle Bar (Seaside, Marina). It's my go-to stop when I've got a big appetite — but not such a big bank balance. A steaming bowl of pho ($5.50) or the five-spice chicken noodle bowl ($5.50) will fill you up, without setting you back too many pennies. And don't forget about their lunchtime spinoff, Banh Mi Bar (Marina), serving delicious Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches.
Honorable Mention: You can get a steal of a meal at the taqueria tucked away inside Mi Tierra Carniceria y Supermercado (Seaside). Delicious, authentic tacos are priced under $2 apiece.
Best destination dining
One of the most unique culinary experiences in town is dinner at the Cachagua General Store (Carmel Valley). On Monday nights, chef Mike Jones hosts the Central Coast's original pop-up dinner. Diners willing to take the long trek out will be rewarded with truly gourmet cuisine in the most unlikely of settings. The rabbit five ways — sautéed, stewed, fried, bacon and terrine ($22) — is a perennial favorite on the menu.
Honorable Mention:The Haute Enchilada Cafe and Gallery (Moss Landing) may be off the beaten path, but the cafe's gourmet take on Mexican cuisine deserves more attention from local foodies.
Best cocktails
Spirit smith Mike Lay has crafted a creative cocktail menu at Restaurant 1833 (Monterey). The Milk Punch — clarified milk with pineapple, brandy and spices ($11) — is like Christmas in a cup!
And no review of the cocktail program at Restaurant 1833 would be complete without mentioning absinthe. Russian style — set ablaze, then doused in orange juice — is my poison of choice. And look for other absinthe cocktails, too, like the classic Corpse Reviver #2 ($11). (Check out my blog for an in-depth report from Sunday's absinthe festivities!)
Honorable Mention: Bartender Frayne Padgham and owner Gabe Georis have recently shaken up the cocktail menu at Mundaka (Carmel). The cocktail menu features clever twists on classic cocktails, offering drinks made with housemade fig jam or house-infused padron pepper vodka.
Best happy hour
Estéban Restaurant (Monterey) gets my vote for the best happy hour in town — nightly from 5 to 7 and all night Sundays. During happy hour, all pintxos and select tapas are half off. There's nothing like sitting next to the outdoor fire pit with a glass of sangria ($4) and a couple bacon-wrapped Medjool dates ($1.50 each) to unwind after a long day at the office.
Honorable Mention:
Montrio Bistro (Monterey) also offers some killer deals on cocktails and small bites during happy hour, nightly from 4:30 to 6:30.
Best of the rest
· Best breakfast: Carmel Belle (Carmel)
Honorable Mention: Trailside Cafe (Monterey)
· Best French: Bistro Moulin (Monterey)
Honorable Mention: Le Normandie (Pacific Grove)
· Best Italian: il Vecchio (Pacific Grove)
Honorable Mention: Cantinetta Luca (Carmel)
· Best Mexican: Rosa's La Villa Taqueria (Seaside)
Honorable Mention: Mariscos Puerto Nuevo (Seaside)
· Best taqueria: Papa Chevo's Taco Shop (Monterey, Seaside, Marina)
Honorable Mention: Taqueria del Mar (Monterey)
· Best Chinese: Full Moon Mandarin Cuisine (Monterey)
Honorable Mention: The Orient (Seaside)
· Best Vietnamese: Noodle Bar (Seaside, Marina)
Honorable Mention: Chopstix (Seaside, Monterey)
· Best Thai: D'Anna Thai Kitchen (Marina)
Honorable Mention: Krua Thai (Monterey)
· Best sushi: Sushi Heaven (Carmel)
Honorable Mention: Crystal Fish (Monterey)
· Best pizzeria: Pizza My Way (Pacific Grove)
Honorable Mention: Iolis' Pizzeria (Carmel Valley)
· Best pizza: La Bicyclette (Carmel)
Honorable Mention: Vesuvio (Carmel)
· Best burger: Red House Cafe (Pacific Grove)
Honorable Mention: Lokal (Carmel Valley)
· Best coffee shop: Cafe Lumiere (Monterey)
Honorable Mention: Crema Espresso and Wine Bar (Pacific Grove)
· Best sweet treats: Parker-Lusseau Pastries (Monterey)
Honorable Mention: Pastries and Petals (Carmel)
Hungry for more? Follow Raul online. Blog: offthemenublog.wordpress.com; Yelp: rauln.yelp.com; Twitter: @offthemenu831; email: firstname.lastname@example.com. GO!


text:
EV Basics
Watch EV Basics (Electric Vehicles)
Rising fuel costs and environmental impacts have many consumers curious about making the switch to Electric Vehicles (EVs). On this program, learn the basics about electric vehicles including the different types of charging stations available and what equipment you'll need to charge your EV at home. (CC)
Channel 16 Schedule
- Monday at 5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
EV Basics can also be seen on your computer
at the above days and times with Live Video Streaming
or any time with Video on Demand


text:
Alyssa Milano Photo 400x644
Alyssa Milano
Alyssa Jayne Milano (born December 19, 1972) is an American actress and former singer. Her childhood role as Samantha Micelli in the sitcom Who's the Boss? made her famous, and an eight-year stint as Phoebe Halliwell on the supernatural series Charmed brought her a new round of fame. She was also a series regular on the original Melrose Place portraying the role of Jennifer Mancini. Milano has a female sports apparel line, Touch.
Alyssa Milano & other news
Alyssa Milano gives birth to baby boy Milo
Selena Gomez Needs Help to Find Australian Boyfriend
Halle Berry is Fine after Divorce
Subscribe to our weekly celebrity newsletter and receive the week's trending celebrity photos and wallpapers.


text:
All aboard Japan's number one toy train line...
For a great selection of action figures and collectibles, check out BigBadToyStore.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, SmallJoes.com, PastGenerationToys.com, Urban-Collector.com, MonkeyDepot.com, HobbyLinkJapan.com, and Sekaido.com.
To insure your action figure collection, get in touch with our sponsor Collectibles Insurance.
TOMY Corporation today announced an exclusive first-year retail partnership with Toys"R"Us to introduce TOMICA, Japan's number one die-cast car and toy train line in the United States. The brand will launch exclusively at Toys"R"Us stores nationwide, as well as online at Toysrus.com in early October.
This initial launch of TOMICA will feature seven die-cast car sets, three train sets, six accessory sets, six destination sets and five deluxe play sets. See our story HERE for a look.
Source: Edited TOMY PR


text:
found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
Bruce, a Fountain Valley Amazon was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Amazon for sale in Fountain Valley, or seeking a Amazon from a breeder in Fountain Valley.


text:
I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people say, "The Fed is printing money and that's why oil prices are rising." The only thing that determines the price of oil is supply-and-demand, and a big part of that supply/demand equation is the monopolistic factor in the oil market. By that, I mainly mean, the Saudis, who are really the only ones with any excess capacity. They set the price at the margin. The way they operate is to set the price to their customers and allow quantity to adjust. Same way the Fed sets overnight rates. They state a target rate, then manipulate reserves so that the rate is hit and held constant. Actually, it's even easier these days because they just pay interest on reserves, but I digress.
Getting back to oil, when it comes to the price, outside of the Saudis and supply and demand, nothing else really matters that much. Not the Fed's monetary operations or the size of its balance sheet or the foreign exchange value of the dollar. It's funny how people use the dollar's exchange rate as an argument to explain every fluctuation (mainly the up fluctuations) in the price of oil. They'll say, the dollar's falling, so that's why oil prices are rising. But how does the foreign exchange value of the dollar affect the supply and demand of oil? It doesn't. If the dollar falls, relative to, say, the euro, then a European gains purchasing power in exact proportion to the purchasing power lost by an American. The quantity of oil demanded has not changed and the amount of oil produced has not changed. The only thing that has changed is that now a European can buy a little more and an American can buy a little less.
On the belief that the Fed's monetary operations or, more specifically, monetary operations that result in an expansion of its balance sheet such as quantitative easing (QA) (some people call this "money printing") lead to higher oil prices, that's also not true. When the Fed conducts QE it buys government securities (bonds, notes, etc.) from the public and the banking system's reserves expand. The net financial position of the public has not changed. It still has the same amount of dollars, only in a different form—less dollar denominated bonds, more cash (reserves). And those reserves either just sit there in the banking system earning interest or they're ploughed right back into the purchase of more bonds again. There are no, "net new dollars" created. So how does that result in higher oil prices? It doesn't.
The red line on the chart above shows that oil prices rose from about $40 per barrel in 2005 to nearly $150 in 2008 -- even as the Fed's balance sheet (the blue line on the chart) remained relatively steady at about $800 billion. Then when the Fed really started to expand its balance sheet following the collapse of Lehman Brothers, oil prices got crushed. In a very short period of time, the Fed boosted its balance sheet from $800 billion to nearly $2.4 trillion and oil dropped from $150 to $35. Where is the correlation? The Fed was doing all this unprecedented "money printing" and oil prices were collapsing.
Since then, oil prices have recovered a bit; however, the Fed's balance sheet has kept right on growing and now stands at over $3 trillion. But oil prices have not made new highs. In fact, they're still under $100. When you look at the facts, there is just no truth to the claim that the Fed is causing oil prices to rise. Some traders may hop on this belief every time the Fed makes a change in monetary policy, and that may goose oil prices for a short period of time. But these moves ultimately reverse because there is nothing fundamentally supporting them.


text:
The Monterey County Office of Education is a well-organized, efficient and diligent entity that provides support and guidance to the citizens of Monterey County, according to the Monterey County grand jury.
In the final installment of the grand jury report, which was issued by segments throughout the year, the group provided an extensive overview of the services that can be found at the Monterey County Office of Education, but found no flaws with it.
"The (County Grand Jury) found all six of the MCOE's service departments well organized, efficient, and working diligently to provide support, guidance, training and resources for all members of Monterey County," the report reads in its conclusions.
"I found it very complimentary," said Harvey Kuffner, chairman of the Monterey County Board of Education. "I found (two) findings to be specially complimentary concerning activities that have taken place."
The civil grand jury issued its 2012 report in seven installments. The first one looked at the county's voting procedures, which grand jurors deemed "safe." The 19-panel member also criticized a Marina elected official just before the November election for acting too much like a staff member.
In subsequent, interim reports, the grand jury described the overtime at the Monterey County Sheriff's Department as excessive; examined the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority, Carmel Area Wastewater District and progress on medical trauma care in the county. In total, the grand jury issued six interim reports and a final one that included investigations about MCOE, detention facilities, and six south Monterey County school districts.
The final installment also looked at conditions in the county jail and Juvenile Hall.
Noting the chronic overcrowding at the jail — designed for 824 inmates but usually housing more than 1,100 — the grand jury recommended that the Sheriff's Office and Probation Department pressure county judges to hand down more "split" sentences, which combine jail time with rehabilitative programs.
A recent study found the county fell far behind most of California when it comes to adopting the blended terms that have been recommended by statewide association of probation chiefs.
After The Herald reported that pre-trial bail amounts in Monterey County are higher than in neighboring Santa Cruz County, the grand jury also recommended that the bail schedule for defendants awaiting trial for non-serious, non-sexual, non-violent crimes be revisited.
In the eleven-page portion about MCOE — which reads like a catalog for the organization — the grand jury lists the services available to the 24 school districts that operate within Monterey County. The services are grouped in seven areas: "pillars of success," administration services, educational services, finance and business services, human resources, migrant education, and special education.
After listing all the services that MCOE facilitates, the report broadly concludes that "the marked improvement in Monterey County schools these past five years can be attributed to the MCOE's high expectations for closing achievement gaps."
This and other findings could also be attributed to other educational oversight organizations, such as the California Department of Education and the school districts themselves.
Although closing the achievement gap is a federal and state mandate, one that every school district, principal and teacher takes seriously, Kuffner said he believed it was fair to attribute improvement in the county to MCOE.
"MCOE played a part in it, we sent out teams of our staff to help with particularly low achieving schools," he said.
The report also describes MCOE's solar energy project as "the first of its kind in Monterey County." But the solar power generation facility at CSU Monterey Bay, which opened two years before MCOE's, is three times as large. CSUMB power plant generates 16 percent of the university's energy consumption, which is also a savings for the taxpayers, like MCOE's project.
Also in the same report, the civil grand jury examined the workings of six of the smallest school districts in south Monterey County - Bradley, of 73 students; Chualar, with 334 students; San Antonio, 179 students; San Ardo, 102; San Lucas, 65; Mission, 26. Some operate in remote areas of the county, which would make consolidation difficult, the report concludes.
Among their biggest flaws, the grand jury found, are neglected facilities in some schools, defective phone systems and sometimes faulty websites.
Three of the districts are high achievers: Bradley, San Antonio, and Mission. The report concludes low performance could be attributed to many children belonging to "limited-English proficiency families who spend long hours in the agricultural fields and have less time to devote to their children and their education."
The grand jury recommended all districts to continue seeking funds to spruce up their buildings, the San Lucas district to try to re-open their pre-school program and to establish a tutoring program for low-achieving students.
For San Ardo, the grand jury recommended the administration install a fully functioning phone answering system, and to provide training for their board members "to assist in better coordination and an understanding of board activities"
Agencies have 90 days from the time the final report is issued to respond to the grand jury findings.
Nicole Hester, superintendent/principal of the San Lucas School, said the district never had Head Start - it was migrant education that ran the program, but it was eliminated due to budget cuts.
"We would love to have a preschool program," she said.
The report was not surprising to Hester, who has worked for the district for more than two years, the last two as three as administrator.
"I think generally (the grand jurors) were impressed with small South County school districts," Hester said. "Their original plan was to come to get to know this area and familiarize themselves with it."
Herald staff writer Julia Reynolds contributed to this story.
Claudia Meléndez Salinas can be reached at 753-6755 or email@example.com.


text:
Elections results by precinct
December 6, 2012
In studying Grand County's precinct by precinct votes of the 2012 election, the lines are more or less drawn between Republican and Democrat somewhere around Red Dirt Hill.
In the race that elected Obama for president, the only precinct that interrupted a clean division between southern Grand County and its support for Obama, and north and western Grand County and its leaning toward Romney was a 772-voter precinct in the Tabernash area, which chose Romney. But that precinct also had the tightest margin for the presidential race, with Romney coming out ahead only by a difference of 35 votes. Another 14 voters in that precinct selected the Libertarian candidate for president, and two more wanted the Green candidate.
The most-populous precincts in Grand County are in the Granby area. Precinct 3, which includes eastern Granby and the Granby Ranch area with the most voters of any precinct- 1,091 – supported Romney with a difference of 118 votes. As did Precinct 2, the next largest precinct of 936 voters, with an even greater majority choosing Romney.
The presidential race was fairly tight in Grand Lake's precinct 1, where Romney eked out a win by only 74 votes out of 624.
Southern Grand's strong support for pot
In viewing Amendment 64 votes, the most marijuana-friendly part of the county is in Fraser and Winter Park.
Recommended Stories For You
Precinct vote tallies show that the eastern half of Fraser in Precinct 7, which includes Winter Park Ranch and Rendezvous, was the most supportive of Amendment 64, which legalizes possession and cultivation of small amounts of pot. There, 725 precinct voters – or about 74 percent – supported the measure.
And seven out of 10 people voted for the measure in Precinct 6 of the town of Winter Park and Precinct 9 encompassing downtown Fraser on the western side of Highway 40.
In Grand County's 58 percent approval to legalize small amounts of pot in Colorado, the measure won in all precincts save for two in the Kremmling area. But even in those precincts, the measure just barely failed.
In the larger of the two, Precinct 5, which includes the Kremmling subdivisions of Blue Valley Acres and Old Park, the pot measure failed by only two votes.
And in Precinct 4 of the Kremmling area, which encompasses residents north and east of Highway 40 and into the Troublesome region, Amendment 64 was defeated by only 13 votes.
And the marijuana measure barely won in the Hot Sulphur Spring and Parshall Precinct 8, where it passed by just 10 votes out of 526.
The measure also had fairly tight margins in Grand Lake's Precinct 1 and in Granby's Precinct 2, which includes the western half of the town and south including Grand Elk, and north up 125 to the Grand County border.
Tight precinct margins in commissioner races
In the close District 1 commissioner race between Republican challenger Chas McConnell and Democratic incumbent James Newberry, who won by 52 percent of countywide votes, the voter lines in Grand County stayed fairly true to partisan form. But where the incumbent broke the partisan mold and picked up votes was in the highest populated Precinct 3 of western Granby, where he won by 135 votes. Newberry held the strongest support in the Winter Park Highlands Precinct 11, where he won with 65 percent of the vote. Yet the Distict 1 race was tightest in Grand Lake's Precinct 1, where Chas McConnell won by only five votes, and in the Granby Precinct 2, where he won by eight votes.
In the commissioner District 2 race between Democratic candidate Robb Rankin and Republican Merrit Linke, the race was beyond tight in the downtown Fraser Precinct 9, where Linke won by just one vote, and in Winter Park Highlands Precinct 11, where he won by just two votes. Linke won his commissioner seat countywide with 59 percent of the vote.


text:
UPDATE: The water supply has now been reconnected and the burst pipe isolated, says South West Water.
This was the scene yesterday evening.
The company has said that water should now be restored, however there is the chance that homes will have temporary low pressure and discoloured water.
It advises running a cold kitchen tap until it clears, with the water pressure also expected to return to normal.
A suspected burst water main at Commercial Road in Penryn has left parts of the road underwater close to Penryn Bridge.
Police have closed Penryn Bridge due to the burst water main - and are diverting cars up through the town.
SWW engineers are at the scene fixing the problem and hope to restore water supplies soon.
Homes in the town are also reported to be without water. Are you without water? Let us know
Picture: Rosie Ferry


text:
Look! Grapples!Trivia brain teasers have some element of trivia in them, but they are not just pure trivia questions.
My friend Brandon and I were sitting on a bench waiting for our friend. We started talking when a sticky situation came up. He told me he had tried this new type of apple called a "Grapple."
"It's a very cool apple that tastes like grapes!" he exclaimed, "I figured since I enjoyed them so much that I could plant the seeds from the grapple. Then, by midsummer, I can have instant grapples fresh from the tree!"
"But Brandon, it's not going to work out," I said.
"I know that you are going to tell me that I just don't have the green thumb," he explained, "but I still have that apple tree in my backyard from last summer, and it's still alive."
"You can try and plant the seeds, but you won't get grapples," I said.
AnswerBecause grapples are not genetically engineered as most people tend to think.
Grapples are simply Fuji apples soaked in Concord grape juice for a few days to a week. If Brandon had planted the seeds, the tree would have produced Fuji apples, leaving him bewildered!
What Next?
See another brain teaser just like this one...
Or, just get a random brain teaser
If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
Back to Top


text:
Economically priced electronic pH meter puts fast, precise pH measurement within your aquarium budget. HM Digital pH HydroTester PH-80 is a great choice for hobbyists looking for a sensibly priced electronic pH tester. Precision device boasts advanced microprocessor technology to ensure exceptional reliability. User-friendly features including multiple parameter measurement, easy-to-read LCD screen, auto-off function, automatic temperature compensation, factory calibration and more keeps high-tech water testing simple!
The PH-80 measures pH and temperature with superior accuracy. Water-resistant pH meter is ideal for measuring pH levels in freshwater or saltwater aquariums. pH measurement range of 0-14 with a 0.1 resolution accurate within +/-0.02. Temperature measurement range of 33-176°F with a resolution of 0.1°F accurate within +/-2%. Includes batteries, electrode storage solution, pH 7.0 buffer and translucent cap.
Additional pH Buffer Packets and pH Storage Solution available and sold separately.
Shop all Aquarium Controllers & Monitors.
Please click "More Information" for directions for use.


text:
BP Comment Quick Links
|Strength of Schedule Report
October 18, 2012
In A Pickle
Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
Last week, our resident San Diegan Geoff Young reviewed the things he'd written throughout the year as a matter of his own accountability. I think accountability is bunk, but I also think, as a weekly columnist, that it's worth looking back on the words we write when the season ends. I'm more about description than prescription, but plenty of times, even if that's your game, the thing you're describing ends up behaving much differently than it did before you started describing it. I'm fairly certain that there's no observer effect going on, but who's to say? Maybe it really was me who caused the A's to start hitting.
January 6, 2012, The Wisdom of Uncertainty
Regret level: 0/10
February 1, 2012, The Spy at the A's Fanfest
Regret level: 4/10
February 22, 2012, Springtime Can Kill You
Regret level: -1/10
February 29, 2012, AL West 2012 Preseason Preview
Regret level: 7/10
March 14, 2012, Why You Should Watch the Non-Contenders
Regret level: 4/10
April 11, 2012, Going the Other Way
Regret level: 2/10
May 9, 2012, Seeking the Secrets of Sequence
Regret level: 6/10
June 6, 2012, Oakland is Just Terrible (No Offense)
Participants in our Playoff Roundtable may be surprised to learn that the only result on the site for a search for "kraken" is that article. You're welcome.
Regret level: 12/10 (except insofar as I can claim responsibility for their second-half rampage—for that, -7/10; and for the kraken, -17/10)
June 21, 2012, The War For the Ballfields
Regret level: Incomplete
June 28, 2012, What the Contenders Need: AL West
The A's were not contenders. (Be nice! Look at the playoff odds chart in the article!)
Regret level: 2/10
July 2, 2012, What the Contenders Need: AL Central
Regret level: 6/10
July 12, 2012, On the Humble Pickle
Regret level: pickle
July 19, 2012, This is Your Fife
I wrote the piece originally because I thought it was hilarious that Fife got the result he did pitching the way he does. I wanted to write it right away because I saw a significant risk that he'd soon turn terrible and nobody would ever want to read about him again. Stephen Fife's major-league ERA stands at 2.70.
Regret level: 8/10
July 26, 2012, The Story Of Jason Kendall's Conception
Regret level: 1/10
August 2, 2012, Nine Stories
Regret level: 9/10
August 10, 2012, Why We Want to Be Smart
Regret level: 4/10
August 16, 2012, Oakland's Not-Too-Wild Wild Card Scenario
Regret level: 5/10
August 23, 2012, A.J. Pierzynski and the Last Thing You Expected
From the date the article was published to the end of the year, Pierzynski hit .216/.267/.360 and the White Sox fell from 1 1/2 games up on the Tigers to three games back and out of the postseason. Sorry.
Regret level: 8/10
August 30, 2012, Carlos Santana, and the Choice of a Generation
The question I raised of whether this is the last gasp for offensive catchers as teams are able to quantify the importance of defense behind the plate remains open, and will remain open until long after you've all forgotten who I am, but it will be fun to see if the 2013 catcher group, whoever that includes, can go back-to-back the way I pointed out the 1963-64 and 1970-71 catchers did. Keep an eye out!
Regret level: 1/10
September 6, 2012, How the Grinch Stole Strasmas
So I'm declaring victory. I'm also declaring a new version of Godwin's Law: as a Twitter discussion about baseball grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Stephen Strasburg approaches one.
Regret level: 3/10
September 13, 2012, Defense in the 2012 Pennant Races
Regret level: 4/10
September 20, 2012, Introducing the Bloop Factor
Regret level: 1/10
September 27, 2012, Free to Be We
Regret level: We're not sure yet.
There were two more pieces, but they both appeared after the regular season ended. There's also this piece, but I'm not anywhere near a good enough mathematician, logician, philosopher, or hippie to plumb those depths. My Average Regret Level (ARL) is already hard enough to calculate without worrying about recursion.
Jason Wojciechowski is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @jlwoj
3 comments have been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
I know I can find all of these articles, and probably read them at the time, but links to them would have helped.
Oct 18, 2012 08:04 AM
Not a subscriber? Sign up today!


text:
QUÉBEC CITY, Nov. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ:
AEZS) (TSX: AEZ) today announced that final Phase 2 data for
perifosine, its oral AKT inhibitor, combined with sorafenib in patients
with relapsed/refractory lymphomas, will be presented at the upcoming
American Society of Hematology ("ASH") annual meeting in Atlanta,
Georgia, December 8-11, 2012. Data will be disclosed during a poster
presentation by Anna Guidetti, MD, of the Fondazione IRCCS Instituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
About Perifosine
Perifosine is a novel, oral anticancer treatment that inhibits Akt
activation in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. It has been
granted orphan drug and orphan medicinal product designations for
multiple myeloma ("MM") from the FDA and the European Medicines Agency
("EMA"), respectively. Perifosine has also received Fast Track
designation from the FDA. The ongoing Phase 3 trial in MM is conducted
under a Special Protocol Assessment from the FDA and a positive
Scientific Advice from the EMA, with positive results from this trial
expected to be sufficient for registration in the US and Europe.
Perifosine is also being explored in combination therapy and in
monotherapy in other cancer indications. Aeterna Zentaris holds
worldwide rights to perifosine except for Japan, Korea and MENA (Middle
East and North Africa) region, where licensing rights have been granted
to Yakult Honsha, Handok and Hikma Pharmaceuticals respectively.
About Aeterna Zentaris
Aeterna Zentaris is an oncology and endocrinology drug development
company currently investigating treatments for various unmet medical
needs. The Company's pipeline encompasses compounds at all stages of
development, from drug discovery through to marketed products. For more
information please visit www.aezsinc.com.


text:
Do you know thug who spat at Co-Op worker?
EVERY day for the next month the Adver will be teaming up with Wiltshire Police to publish CCTV images of suspects they want to speak to about unsolved crimes around Swindon.
Police hope our readers will be able to tell them who they are.
Today's crook of the day is a man who attempted to buy alcohol at the Co-Operative store in Rodbourne Road, between 6pm and 6.10pm on October 25, 2013. He was asked for ID and, after failing to provide any, he became abusive and spat at a shop worker before walking out. He then spat at the window of the shop.
He is approximately 24 or younger, with short brown hair, wearing a grey top with black zig-zag design on the front with a black back, stone coloured trousers/joggers.
- Anyone who knows who he is can call the Swindon Crime Management Unit on 101 quoting crime reference number 54130102051.


text:
Welcome to the Muppet Central Forum!
You are viewing our forum as a guest. Join our free community to post topics and start private conversations. Please contact us if you need help with registration or your account login.
The Chipmunks
Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Yorick, Feb 15, 2011.
Page 10 of 27
Page 10 of 27


text:
General Motors verified previous rumors on Wednesday that the 2009 Cadillac Converj concept will go into production as the Cadillac ELR.
The luxury car based on a Chevy Volt's "Voltec" powertrain debuted at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, and GM was noncommittal for quite some time as to whether it would build it, even though enthusiasts immediately praised the Converj concept.
"The concept generated instant enthusiasm," Vice President-Cadillac Marketing Don Butler said to CNN Money. "Like other milestone Cadillac models of the past, the ELR will offer something not otherwise present – the combination of electric propulsion with striking design and the fun of luxury coupe driving."
The Volt is practically edging into Cadillac territory in some respects already, so this new vehicle is likely to be a very special car.
Cadillac said it chose to call the new vehicle the "ELR" to indicate the car's electric propulsion technology and to stay consistent with the brand's 3-letter international model naming convention.
Recent rumors have said the previously un-named development upon the Converj concept will use a Volt 1.5 generation powertrain sporting more gasoline and electric power, as well as all amenities one would expect from a premium car.
But General Motors has not announced its specifications, price, or when it will be built. The company said it will do so "later," but otherwise is drumming up the enthusiasm for its pending encore to the Volt and Opel/Vauxhall Ampera.
"There's no mistaking it for anything but a Cadillac. An aggressive, forward-leaning profile and proportion showcases a uniquely shaped, modern vision of a personal luxury 2+2," GM (GM, Fortune 500) Vice President of Global Design Ed Welburn said.
As a "2+2," the ELR will, like the Volt and Ampera, fit two people up front, and two in the rear seats. It will be about the same dimensions as a Volt/Ampera.
Although GM is not saying, Bloomberg added to the rumors by reporting "a person familiar with the plans" has said GM will price the ELR below the $57,400 Tesla Model S. Performance was estimated by this same reported insider as being at least as fast as the Volt, with more all-electric range.
Considering a fully spec'd 2012 Volt will cost north of $45,000, what will this mean if the estimated mid-50s price for the ELR is true? Would GM retroactively decrease the Volt's price to keep the Cadillac from cannibalizing its sales? Or do you think a $10,000 or so spread between the Cadillac and Chevrolet will be enough?
And speaking of more luxurious, how closely spec'd do you think the production ELR will be to the beautifully appointed Converj which had wool-blend carpets, silk headliner, synthetic suede, genuine leather, wood and aluminum trim, highly sophisticated electronics, and more?
Tagged as Cadillac, Plug-in Hybrid


text:
" Brand: Morrisons / Type: Cake "
Whilst I was shopping at Morrisons this cream filled cake caught my eye. It looked delicious in the see through packaging it was in, it looked very 'home made'. I was very happy when I seen the price of £1.29 so I took it to the till and payed for it.
After dinner I tucked into this with my OH and we had half each (greedy us!) but the cake could easily feed 6 people.
The cake was round in shape and it had 2 layers of sponge which in-between was filled generously with cream and jam. The cake had a very nice taste to it, not artificial at all.
The sponge was also very light, just oozed yummyness in your mouth.
I am pretty sure the jam is raspberry, very delicious and smooth.
The cream was whipped very lightly which was a absolute treat.
You could easily pass this cake off as your own if you had guest around because it really does taste home made.
The downside of this cake is it does not come with any calorie/sugar/fat information on. I suspect that this will put certain people of as I am sure people would like to know how much this cake contains.
Over all this is a yummy treat for any body who loves a slice of cake!
I bought one of these yesterday for the bargain price of 89p, I think they usually retail at £1.29 but for some reason yesterday they were only 89p. My sponge is about 6 inches round but you can also buy a larger 12 inch one for around £3.50. There is also a chocolate variety but this review is on the fresh cream victoria sponge from the Morrisons bakery section.
So the cake comes in a nice plastic box which means it wont get crushed on the way home (I imagine that could be very messy!). The box is clear meaning you can see exactly what you are buying and also pick the one which looks the nicest! Inside, the cake looks very appetising, the sponge looks baked to perfection and inside there is plenty of fresh cream and raspberry jam.
Opening the box, the cake does not really smell of anything. Cutting into the cake, I immediately noticed how soft it was which to me meant that it was very fresh and had probably been baked that day in store. Once sliced, the cake looked very appetising and you could easily serve this to guests (and maybe even pass it off as your own!). The cake will serve between 4 and 6.
Biting into the cake, the sponge was very sweet and soft, it melted well in the mouth and had a lovely taste to it. The cream was very creamy and again fresh, it did not taste at all synthetic and was complemented very well by the jam. The jam was very sweet and had a nice taste of raspberries, there were no bits which to me was a positive point. Together, all of the ingredients tasted absolutely lovely. The cake tasted very fresh and had a homemade feel to it.
Because it is baked in store there is no nutritional information on the box, however I think it is quite obvious that this cake wont be very good for you and therefore should only be enjoyed in moderation!
I thought this cake was absolutely fantastic, especially for the price. It tastes so much nicer than a pre-boxed cake from the cake aisle but is the same price (or slightly less than some). It will stay fresh for a few days after purchase so dont feel as though you need to eat it all at once!
Highly recommended-a lovely cake at a bargain price.
Morrison's fresh cream sponge. My mouth is watering as I think about it. I will have to buy one tomorrow. This has got to be one of the best cakes for the wow factor. Its big, it makes an impression and it tastes absolutely divine.
I usually buy one every few weeks when the family are visiting. Everyone I have ever given a slice to loves it. It melts in your mouth. I have never looked at the ingredients, because its probably full of additives and some say very, very bad for you. Calourie count must be loads, but I dont' care I will just grin and bear it. I usualy prefer savory things but this cake has made me an addict.
The last time we actually had two in one day. Late last year, when we had family visiting my husband left the first one in the back the car for 3 hrs, he honestly thought it would be ok to eat. I asked why he had chosen a butter cream one, he said he had not, so I checked the bill and yes, he had brought a fresh cream one, which had turned into butter (yuk) he hastily went back to Morrison's for a replacement and lucky for him they had one left which was Delicious. The average family would get six generous slices but my greedy lot cut it into three, I cut my share into two and eat the other later or next day. For the benefit of others such as my husband it is fresh cream so it must be eaten within two days of purchase unless otherwise stated ie 1 day if reduced (short date).
I first came across Morrison's fresh cream cakes when my Mother in Law visited a few weeks ago. She made the wise decision to buy one for our pudding and was very quick to tell us about the time she picked up one of these cream cakes in the reduced section for 10p. (Not the same one that she bought for us, I hasten to add! Don't want to be spreading rumours that my in Laws are cheapskates around the web!)
As my husband has got an old friend visiting this weekend, I thought a nice fresh cream cake would be a suitable pudding and headed for this cake in Morrisons. It's not the biggest cake in the world but serves six people who are being incredibly polite and restrained or, more likely, four people who are treating themselves to a really decent sized slice of cake. If you're going to eat cake, you should at least have a big slice!
The cake can be found in the fridges at Morrisons alongside other temptations such as cream doughnuts and cream slices, yum! I've noticed that the price tends to vary quite a bit (never seen them for 10p, sadly) and they are currently selling for £1.19, having bought one for today's tea. It is packaged in quite a sturdy plastic case so no worries about squashing it on the way home (unless you drop it or sit on it, of course.) The cake also has quite a reasonable shelf life considering that it contains fresh cream, with the use by date being in two day's time, although cakes never last for longer than a few hours in our house anyway.
The beauty of this cake is in the sponge which just totally melts in your mouth as you eat it. Honestly, you don't even need to chew, it just seems to vanish! I think that's why you need a bigger slice as the sponge is so light that you don't really feel like you have eaten anything. The cream filling is thick, fresh whipped cream. Dieters beware - this is no stingy, miserly filling. The cream is a really generous amount sandwiching the two sponge bases together with just a small amount of raspberry jam. My husband doesn't normally like jam because of the pips but this is seedless so, unfortunately, it doesn't seem to put him off eating this cake.
I'm just gutted that my husband got to the fridge before me and sliced up the second half of the cake between him and his mate. I had visions of tucking into another slice while they were out on the town tonight and the kids are in bed!
For the purposes of the review, I've just had a look at the ingredients listing and I have to say it looks pretty scary! There's a huge list of scientific and unhealthy sounding gobbledlygook in there - mainly comprising of emulsifiers, stabilisers and suchlike along with plenty of sugar. Not surprisingly, the packaging doesn't even bother including nutritional information. (It's the food equivalent of those expensive shops where if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it. If you're worried about this being high in calories and not very healthy, don't eat it!) The good news is that the pack tells me the cake contains 39% cream (yum) and 11% jam (very tasty too.) It's also suitable for vegetarians so it means I can carry on buying it with a clear conscience.
My advice would be not to look at the ingredients because it would probably put you off. Just rest assured that the cake tastes absolutely gorgeous and that it certainly isn't going to be very good for you or your diet!
Morrisons Fresh Cream Sponge Cake...yum yum
I recently worked in morrisons and had to lovely job of making these cream cakes! Great fun I must say.
The cake is made with a sponge on the base and is then pasted in rasperry jam. The jam is very fruity and fresh and has no large bits in it, it is more like a paste. The cake is then piped with whipped cream and then a sponge cake lid is placed on the top. The cake is then lightly dusted in sweet icing sugar.
The cake is packaged in a clear plastic box, and a label is placed on to keep fresh and to describe what is it.
I have no idea of the calorie content of this cake as it is not displayed on the box but this cake is lovely.
The cake used to cost 99p but with recent price rises I believe its now around 1.10.
Overall a lovely cake and freshly made in store


text:
We are sorry but 408552 isn't available at the moment.It might make a comeback soon, but in the meantime here are some other options. if you have any questions, please email firstname.lastname@example.com or call +44 (0)20 3752 5360 to find out more
After some arm candy? You came to the right place. From staycations to vacations, meet your new handbag heroes.
You have disabled script in your browser, please enable the script support.


text:
Yacht Club Manual Of Salads [1922]
The front cover shows a woman standing in front of a window filling tomatoes with Yacht Club Salad Dressing with a bottle in the lower right corner. The back cover shows a large bottle of salad dressing in front of a yacht scene. Inside the back cover there is an advertisement for other Yacht Club products.View this piece: jpg pdf
Donor: Sliker, Shirley Brocker
Author: Hayward, Agnes Carroll
Printer: Hammond Press, W.B. Conkey Co. (Chicago, Ill.)
Brand Name: Yacht Club Salad Dressing
Publisher: Tildesley and Co. (Chicago, Ill.)
30 p.
18.4 x 12.4 cm
Language: English
Key term: Salads
Copyright: This item is in the public domain.
Citation: Hayward, Agnes Carroll. Yacht Club Manual Of Salads [1922]. The Alan and Shirley Brocker Sliker Collection, MSS 314, Special Collections, Michigan State University Libraries. Available at http://www.lib.msu.edu/exhibits/sliker/detail.jsp?id=3161


text:
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with free agent Josh Howard, pending a physical.
A person with knowledge of the deal says the agreement came Thursday, one day after the Wolves lost at home to Charlotte with six of their top seven players out. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been officially announced. ESPN.com first reported the agreement.
The 32-year-old Howard worked out for the Wolves on Monday in Dallas. Howard averaged 8.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in 43 games with Utah last season. He has also played for Washington and Dallas.
Minnesota is missing Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, Chase Budinger, JJ Barea, Nikola Pekovic and Brandon Roy because of injuries.
Source: Associated Press


text:
The Day Ahead: It's Time to Speak the Truth
"I believe fundamental honesty is the keystone of business." -- Harvey Firestone
The tire guy sure hit the nail on the head with this profound bit of business advice. Being honest and thoughtful in all business dealings is my personal bedrock philosophy. So here is a truthful gospel I would like to share: Get off the Facebook (FB) and Apple (AAPL) drug needle because both companies are borderline irrelevant to most of the stocks held in your portfolio. Sure, given Apple's hearty Nasdaq weighting a dreary day(s) could impact a tech stock that is owned. And yes, making a connection between iPhone sales and potential Facebook mobile ad monetization is always a fun task for a rainy evening. But, in reality, these are two "distractor companies" for the following reasons:...546 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.
Already a Subscriber? Please login.


text:
As investors weigh whether to trade on or ignore Washington's coming war over the debt ceiling, I'll offer three takes.
Be Wary of Defense
I agree with Jim Cramer's persistent call to tune out the "cliff dwellers" and keep an eye on fundamentals instead. Wall Street consensus assumes that the year's best fruits will be backloaded and emerge in full only after one more big bang from D.C. policymakers. That may prove to be the case. But what if the initial resolution of the fiscal-cliff-redux challenges emerging after Valentine's Day only beget new delayed trigger dates and uncertainties? The cautious might find themselves missing the year's best gains, as did those who sat out last summer. My advice might be to gird for a bigger fight over the re-emerging budget sequester instead of the debt limit, which will surely be extended in the end, though in such small gulps as to be annoying.
Republicans have come to believe that Democrats are simply unable or unwilling to cut spending, thus a grand bargain is unlikely. But that same Pavlovian instinct might also make the political left more likely to blink when sequester-related spending cuts are set to be triggered after March 1 (in the absence of an agreement on alternative savings). It was President Obama and the White House, after all, that insisted on addressing the sequester in late December. That was not lost on Speaker John Boehner, as he reflected in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal. As a result, the GOP believes that the sequester, not the debt limit, may be its ace in the hole. And Republicans' growing resolve to test the Democrats' willingness to absorb a massive discretionary spending cut after March 1 suggests that the risk of acute, then prolonged, uncertainty for defense stocks only seems likely to grow.
Meanwhile, most defense stocks remain near their highs reached late last year, having surprised in their resiliency amid the post-election fiscal-cliff faceoff. As my defense-savvy partner, Byron Callan, points out, investors may have assumed that if sequestration was triggered, Lockheed Martin (LMT), Raytheon (RTN), Northrop Grumman (NOC), General Dynamics (GD) and others would have retained their defensive luster amid an accompanying recession. But now Byron writes that coming weeks might be different for the defense group because the names may have greater relative exposure to risk from this set of cliffs than the last one. I agree.
Stick With the Builders; Don't Mortgage the Banks
Banks have had an unbridled streak of good news this week, perhaps helping to extend a rally that resumed shortly after election day. Measured by the KBW Bank Index (^BKX) and Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) (up 14% and 12%, respectively, since Nov. 14), banks and financial stocks have nearly doubled the return of the S&P 500. That's not bad for what we had seen as fairly pronounced "red stocks," presumed to benefit from reduced regulatory pressure in the event of a Romney-Ryan victory and return of a GOP Senate.
This week gave evidence that at least some relief is on the way, as banks on Monday got a break on liquidity rules at the Basel, Switzerland, regulatory meeting, and from a hatchet-burying foreclosure-review deal from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Also, a constructive final Qualified Mortgage (QM) rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is expected Wednesday or Thursday. The QM will be crucial in determining how broad a cohort of non-agency/private label loans will be legally granted a future "safe harbor" as a result of carrying plain-vanilla terms or debt-to-income ratios ensuring a borrower's ability to repay. With regulators unable to agree on separate but no less stringent Qualified Residential Mortgage (QRM) criteria to shield securitizing lenders from a 5% risk-retention requirement, there's a good chance the CFPB's fine work on QM might be adopted as a unified standard to meet both the suitability and "skin in the game" mandates of the Dodd-Frank Act.
This would ultimately prove a good thing for mortgage insurers, though they might twist in the wind this spring as their fate, and the QRM's original notion of a 20% down payment requirement, is debated once more between regulators and the Treasury Department, which has a jaundiced view of the industry.
Meanwhile, the positive effects of the capital freed up by the delay and easing Basel liquidity requirements may be partially offset by an expected sharp drop-off in mortgage originations, as the refinancing boom abates and a rebounding U.S. housing market fails to generate enough purchase-money demand to make up the difference.
As competition among banks intensifies, downward pressure on mortgage interest rates is expected to be a boon for homebuilders, who'll not only see customers awash in low-cost financing options but also not have to take as much risk in their own captive lending arms during their next leg of a recovery.
Muni Bonds Deserve Another Look
Finally, it's worth noting that municipal bonds' tax advantages will likely continue to be at risk, even after dodging a bullet in last month's fiscal-cliff fix. (Indeed, in raising top rates and taxes on investments, the American Tax Relief Act made tax-exempt income even more attractive.) There is a good, if not great, chance that comprehensive tax reform serving as a necessary predicate for any tampering with the muni interest exemption may never materialize.
Meanwhile, it'll be hard to worry about the other major threat to the munis -- rising interest rates that might increase yields and clip prices -- if the coming face-off over the debt ceiling and sequester produce another bout of prolonged uncertainty into summer or fall. Even the sharpest muni muse, Morgan Stanley's Michael Zezas, remains cautious, but he acknowledges that recent valuations may be aligning the group for a fresh look.


text:
Starting to Look Enticing
I'm looking at a couple of stocks I like due to symmetry -- that is, similarity or equality when comparing swings in the same direction.
The first name is Costco (COST), in which I'm seeing a timing-symmetry pattern for the past couple of months that suggests a buy entry. This is a basic setup: The previous three share declines have each lasted seven trading days before giving way to an upside reversal, and the most recent pullback -- into the Jan. 14 low -- has also lasted for seven sessions....246 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.
Already a Subscriber? Please login.


text:
"Monks, a lay follower should not engage in five types of business. Which five? Business in weapons, business in human beings, business in meat, business in intoxicants, and business in poison.
"These are the five types of business that a lay follower should not engage in."
ricketybridge wrote:I'm just experiencing far too much equanimity to get into these things.
ricketybridge wrote:And writing isn't just an intellectual engagement; as with an actor, if you're going to write anything half-way decent, your emotions have to be in high gear: you feel with and through your characters. This is, needless to say, not conducive to a peaceful mentality. I'm realizing that it's no accident that so many writers are alcoholics or drug addicts or kill themselves.
ricketybridge wrote:But I feel like continuing to learn and apply myself to the dhamma will inevitably result in my writing grinding down to a halt. Have any of you guys experienced anything like this?
daverupa wrote:In theatre, one can see in Hamlet or Death of a Salesman, et al, a struggle with existential themes that have plagued humanity since consciousness arose. The Buddha also struggled with these existential themes. There is some good material out there, even if it's thin on the ground. You might make more of this sort of work, and point at the Four Noble Truths in various ways through skillful use of writing.
daverupa wrote:The equanimity you're feeling probably isn't really equanimity the way you describe it, rather it's more akin to anhedonia, which is probably rooted elsewhere than in your Dhamma practice. In my own case, a bout with major depressive disorder was the result of thinking anhedonia was somehow a virtue - in other words, playacting that I was farther along on the Path than I was. Equanimity, when developed, will cover everything in the world, and the strife and struggle will lessen and drop away, leaving peace - not the uncomfortable dissonance which you are experiencing. It's worth investigating.
daverupa wrote:...take a step back and look at where you'd be if the writing did grind down to a halt. In my own case, I was married and heading towards a full-ride doctoral scholarship while my then-wife was attending law school. Now, quite some years later and after many trials and tribulations, I'm working a custodial job and yet happier, on account of the Dhamma. I can't imagine caring about tenure any more, where once it was central.
ricketybridge wrote:So what's the remedy for anhedonia? (lol) I imagine it'd be the same as the one for sloth and torpor...?
ricketybridge wrote:But equanimity isn't a permanent condition like enlightenment, is it? Isn't it possible to feel equanimity sometimes, and anxiety (or whatever) later?
ricketybridge wrote:I am so, so attached to my career (non-existent though it may be in more than one way). Sorry if these questions are too personal, but do you ever regret your decision, or does the dhamma pretty much just prevent regret? One thing that prevents me from quitting is the worry that in doing so I'll be wasting whatever amount of talent I may have. Was that a concern for you? Why or why not?
daverupa wrote:You might be inspired to know that there is a whole list in the Suttas of those "disciples foremost in ____", where the blank is filled with many sorts of traits. For example, the Venerable Vangisa has a whole section in the Samyutta Nikaya; he was foremost in spontaneous verse, iirc, so here is an example of someone pursuing the Dhamma according to a talent which doesn't at first blush appear to have much relevance - yet he became one of the arahants. Perhaps your own story will be similar.
chownah wrote:Kim O'Hara,
What do you think of the American TV series "Kung Fu"...you know the one starring David Carridine (don't know how to spell it)...a read of his biography is interesting...especially the ending......perhaps this is a morality tale the OP should read since he's in the same profession..........
Kim O'Hara wrote:But also be aware that all sorts of other groups need good communicators - groups like Avaaz, Kiva, dhamma groups, environmental action groups - so there are lots of opportunities to contribute meaningfully through your writing skills. It's just a bit sad that the more support they deserve, the less money they usually have; you can end up making it your dana (as I do) and having to earn your bread with less worthwhile jobs.
cooran wrote:Hello all,
Brings to mind a previous thread:
Actors go to Hell?
Return to "General Theravāda discussion"
Users browsing this forum: davidbrainerd, JeffR, seeker68, Yahoo [Bot] and 87 guests


text:
10 Reasons Why I Don't Like Ford
Until Thursday, Ford (F) shares had risen seven days in a row. They are up about 18% for the year. Of 25 Wall Street analysts who follow the stock, 18 recommend it.
But I don't like it, and here are 10 reasons why....357 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.
Already a Subscriber? Please login.


text:
I was twiddling over the numbers of the guys that we have been signing, and wondered if they are really worth it, in a business model sense.
Do you think these guys really will return 100M+ on their contract investment? Or should the Pacers take on the KC Royals position, where their payroll is far below everyone else? The team would be awful, but it would be profitable.
As a fan, you obviously want to see the team try to win a championship, but at this point, with how the NBA is structured, I really, honestly do not see us having a chance at a title. Boston started this three headed monster thing, and every big market team has tried to duplicate that.
So is being a 3rd-5th seed in the playoffs with 2nd, maybe Conf Finals exits enough? Is it enough to fill the seats, and keep them filled? And keep them filled enough to sell enough drinks and t-shirts to make a profit? Or would it make more sense business wise to dump salary and become profitable, keeping the team in the city?


text:
What the European Debt Crisis Means for Your Investments
Market volatility is here to stay. Don't panic—adjust your portfolio and look for opportunities
In today's tumultuous investment environment, what should you do as an investor? Follow our advice…
By Derek T. Dingle
November 10, 2011 Tags: bailout, dividend stocks, Dow, Dow Jones Industrial Average, European debt crisis, G20, GOP debate, Greece, Italian bonds, italy, Lehman bankruptcy, Lehman Brothers, Mitt Romney, Moody's Investors Service, NASDAQ, Portugal, President Obama, S&P 500, value investing