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Inkscape tutorial: Shapes
This tutorial covers the four shape tools: Rectangle, Ellipse, Star, and Spiral. We will demonstrate the capabilities of Inkscape shapes and show examples of how and when they could be used.
Use Ctrl+Arrows, mousewheel, or middle button drag to scroll the page down. For basics of object creation, selection, and transformation, see the Basic tutorial in.
Inkscape has four versatile shape tools, each tool capable of creating and editing its own type of shapes. A shape is an object which you can modify in ways unique to this shape type, using draggable handles and numeric parameters that determine the shape's appearance.
For example, with a star you can alter the number of tips, their length, angle, rounding, etc. — but a star remains a star. A shape is "less free" than a simple path, but it's often more interesting and useful. You can always convert a shape to a path (Shift+Ctrl+C), but the reverse conversion is not possible.
The shape tools are Rectangle, Ellipse, Star, and Spiral. First, let's look at how shape tools work in general; then we'll explore each shape type in detail.
General tips
A new shape is created by dragging on canvas with the corresponding tool. Once the shape is created (and so long as it is selected), it displays its handles as white diamond, square or round marks (depending on the tools), so you can immediately edit what you created by dragging these handles.
All four kinds of shapes display their handles in all four shape tools as well as in the Node tool (F2). When you hover your mouse over a handle, it tells you in the statusbar what this handle will do when dragged or clicked with different modifiers.
Also, each shape tool displays its parameters in the Tool Controls bar (which runs horizontally above the canvas). Usually it has a few numeric entry fields and a button to reset the values to defaults. When shape(s) of the current tool's native type are selected, editing the values in the Controls bar changes the selected shape(s).
Any changes made to the Tool Controls are remembered and used for the next object you draw with that tool. For example, after you change the number of tips of a star, new stars will have this number of tips as well when drawn. Moreover, even simply selecting a shape sends its parameters to the Tool Controls bar and thus sets the values for newly created shapes of this type.
When in a shape tool, selecting an object can be done by clicking on it. Ctrl+click (select in group) and Alt+click (select under) also work as they do in Selector tool. Esc deselects.
A rectangle is the simplest but perhaps the most common shape in design and illustration. Inkscape attempts to make creating and editing rectangles as easy and convenient as possible.
Switch to the Rectangle tool by F4 or by clicking its toolbar button. Draw a new rectangle alongside this blue one:
Then, without leaving the Rectangle tool, switch selection from one rectangle to the other by clicking on them.
Rectangle drawing shortcuts:
With Ctrl, draw a square or an integer-ratio (2:1, 3:1, etc) rectangle.
With Shift, draw around the starting point as center.
As you see, the selected rectangle (the just-drawn rectangle is always selected) shows three handles in three of its corners. In fact, these are four handles, but two of them (in the top right corner) overlap if the rectangle is not rounded. These two are the rounding handles; the other two (top left and bottom right) are resize handles.
Let's look at the rounding handles first. Grab one of them and drag down. All four corners of the rectangle become rounded, and you can now see the second rounding handle — it stays in the original position in the corner. If you want circular rounded corners, that is all you need to do. If you want corners which are rounded farther along one side than along the other, you can move that other handle leftwards.
Here, the first two rectangles have circular rounded corners, and the other two have elliptic rounded corners:
Still in the Rectangle tool, click on these rectangles to select, and observe their rounding handles.
Often, the radius and shape of the rounded corners must be constant within the entire composition, even if the sizes of the rectangles are different (think diagrams with rounded boxes of various sizes). Inkscape makes this easy. Switch to the Selector tool; in its Tool Controls bar, there's a group of four toggle buttons, the second from the left showing two concentric rounded corners. This is how you control whether the rounded corners are scaled when the rectangle is scaled or not.
For example, here the original red rectangle is duplicated and scaled several times, up and down, to different proportions, with the "Scale rounded corners" button off:
Note how the size and shape of the rounded corners is the same in all rectangles, so that the roundings align exactly in the top right corner where they all meet. All the dotted blue rectangles are obtained from the original red rectangle just by scaling in Selector, without any manual readjustment of the rounding handles.
For a comparison, here is the same composition but now created with the "Scale rounded corners" button on:
Now the rounded corners are as different as the rectangles they belong to, and there isn't a slightest agreement in the top right corner (zoom in to see). This is the same (visible) result as you would get by converting the original rectangle to a path (Ctrl+Shift+C) and scaling it as path.
Here are the shortcuts for the rounding handles of a rectangle:
Drag with Ctrl to make the other radius the same (circular rounding).
Ctrl+click to make the other radius the same without dragging.
Shift+click to remove rounding.
You may have noticed that the Rectangle tool's Controls bar shows the horizontal (Rx) and vertical (Ry) rounding radii for the selected rectangle and lets you set them precisely using any length units. The button does what is says — removes rounding from the selected rectangle(s).
An important advantage of these controls is that they can affect many rectangles at once. For example, if you want to change all rectangles in the layer, just do Ctrl+A () and set the parameters you need in the Controls bar. If any non-rectangles are selected, they will be ignored — only rectangles will be changed.
Now let's look at the resize handles of a rectangle. You might wonder, why do we need them at all, if we can just as well resize the rectangle with Selector?
The problem with Selector is that its notion of horizontal and vertical is always that of the document page. By contrast, a rectangle's resize handles scale it along that rectangle's sides, even if the rectangle is rotated or skewed. For example, try to resize this rectangle first with Selector and then with its resize handles in Rectangle tool:
Since the resize handles are two, you can resize the rectangle into any direction or even move it along its sides. Resize handles always preserve the rounding radii.
Here are the shortcuts for the resize handles:
Drag with Ctrl to snap to the sides or the diagonal of the rectangle. In other words, Ctrl preserves either width, or height, or the width/height ratio of the rectangle (again, in its own coordinate system which may be rotated or skewed).
Here is the same rectangle, with the gray dotted lines showing the directions to which the resize handles stick when dragged with Ctrl (try it):
By slanting and rotating a rectangle, then duplicating it and resizing with its resize handles, 3D compositions can be created easily:
Here are some more examples of rectangle compositions, including rounding and gradient fills:
The Ellipse tool (F5) can create ellipses and circles, which you can turn into segments or arcs. The drawing shortcuts are the same as those of the rectangle tool:
With Ctrl, draw a circle or an integer-ratio (2:1, 3:1, etc.) ellipse.
With Shift, draw around the starting point as center.
Let's explore the handles of an ellipse. Select this one:
Once again, you see three handles initially, but in fact they are four. The rightmost handle is two overlapping handles that let you "open" the ellipse. Drag that rightmost handle, then drag the other handle which becomes visible under it, to get a variety of pie-chart segments or arcs:
To get a segment (an arc plus two radii), drag outside the ellipse; to get an arc, drag inside it. Above, there are 4 segments on the left and 3 arcs on the right. Note that arcs are unclosed shapes, i.e. the stroke only goes along the ellipse but does not connect the ends of the arc. You can make this obvious if you remove the fill, leaving only stroke:
Note the fan-like group of narrow segments on the left. It was easy to create using angle snapping of the handle with Ctrl. Here are the arc/segment handle shortcuts:
With Ctrl, snap the handle every 15 degrees when dragging.
Shift+click to make the ellipse whole (not arc or segment).
The snap angle can be changed in Inkscape Preferences (in).
The other two handles of the ellipse are used for resizing it around its center. Their shortcuts are similar to those of the rounding handles of a rectangle:
Drag with Ctrl to make a circle (make the other radius the same).
Ctrl+click to make a circle without dragging.
And, like the rectangle resize handles, these ellipse handles adjust the height and width of the ellipse in the ellipse's own coordinates. This means that a rotated or skewed ellipse can easily be stretched or squeezed along its original axes while remaining rotated or skewed. Try to resize any of these ellipses by their resize handles:
Stars are the most complex and the most exciting Inkscape shape. If you want to wow your friends by Inkscape, let them play with the Star tool. It's endlessly entertaining — outright addictive!
The Star tool can create two similar but distinct kinds of objects: stars and polygons. A star has two handles whose positions define the length and shape of its tips; a polygon has just one handle which simply rotates and resizes the polygon when dragged:
In the Controls bar of the Star tool, the first two buttons control how the shape is drawn (regular polygon or star). Next, a numeric field sets the number of vertices of a star or polygon. This parameter is only editable via the Controls bar. The allowed range is from 3 (obviously) to 1024, but you shouldn't try large numbers (say, over 200) if your computer is slow.
When drawing a new star or polygon,
Drag with Ctrl to snap the angle to 15 degree increments.
Naturally, a star is a much more interesting shape (though polygons are often more useful in practice). The two handles of a star have slightly different functions. The first handle (initially it is on a vertex, i.e. on a convex corner of the star) makes the star rays longer or shorter, but when you rotate it (relative to the center of the shape), the other handle rotates accordingly. This means you cannot skew the star's rays with this handle.
The other handle (initially in a concave corner between two vertices) is, conversely, free to move both radially and tangentially, without affecting the vertex handle. (In fact, this handle can itself become vertex by moving farther from the center than the other handle.) This is the handle that can skew the star's tips to get all sorts of crystals, mandalas, snowflakes, and porcupines:
If you want just a plain regular star without any such lacework, you can make the skewing handle behave as the non-skewing one:
Drag with Ctrl to keep the star rays strictly radial (no skew).
Ctrl+click to remove the skew without dragging.
As a useful complement for the on-canvas handle dragging, the Controls bar has thefield which defines the ratio of the two handles' distances to the center.
Inkscape stars have two more tricks in their bag. In geometry, a polygon is a shape with straight line edges and sharp corners. In the real world, however, various degrees of curvilinearity and roundedness are normally present — and Inkscape can do that too. Rounding a star or polygon works a bit differently from rounding a rectangle, however. You don't use a dedicated handle for this, but
Shift+drag a handle tangentially to round the star or polygon.
Shift+click a handle to remove rounding.
"Tangentially" means in a direction perpendicular to the direction to the center. If you "rotate" a handle with Shift counterclockwise around the center, you get positive roundedness; with clockwise rotation, you get negative roundedness. (See below for examples of negative roundedness.)
Here's a comparison of a rounded square (Rectangle tool) with a rounded 4-sided polygon (Star tool):
As you can see, while a rounded rectangle has straight line segments in its sides and circular (generally, elliptic) roundings, a rounded polygon or star has no straight lines at all; its curvature varies smoothly from the maximum (in the corners) to the minimum (mid-way between the corners). Inkscape does this simply by adding collinear Bezier tangents to each node of the shape (you can see them if you convert the shape to path and examine it in Node tool).
Theparameter which you can adjust in the Controls bar is the ratio of the length of these tangents to the length of the polygon/star sides to which they are adjacent. This parameter can be negative, which reverses the direction of tangents. The values of about 0.2 to 0.4 give "normal" rounding of the kind you would expect; other values tend to produce beautiful, intricate, and totally unpredictable patterns. A star with a large roundedness value may reach far beyond the positions of its handles. Here are a few examples, each indicating its roundedness value:
If you want the tips of a star to be sharp but the concaves smooth or vice versa, this is easy to do by creating an offset (Ctrl+J) from the star:
Shift+dragging star handles in Inkscape is one of the finest pursuits known to man. But it can get better still.
To closer imitate real world shapes, Inkscape can randomize (i.e. randomly distort) its stars and polygons. Slight randomization makes a star less regular, more humane, often funny; strong randomization is an exciting way to obtain a variety of crazily unpredictable shapes. A rounded star remains smoothly rounded when randomized. Here are the shortcuts:
Alt+drag a handle tangentially to randomize the star or polygon.
Alt+click a handle to remove randomization.
As you draw or handle-drag-edit a randomized star, it will "tremble" because each unique position of its handles corresponds to its own unique randomization. So, moving a handle without Alt re-randomizes the shape at the same randomization level, while Alt-dragging it keeps the same randomization but adjusts its level. Here are stars whose parameters are exactly the same, but each one is re-randomized by very slightly moving its handle (randomization level is 0.1 throughout):
And here is the middle star from the previous row, with the randomization level varying from -0.2 to 0.2:
Alt+drag a handle of the middle star in this row and observe as it morphs into its neighbors on the right and left — and beyond.
You will probably find your own applications for randomized stars, but I am especially fond of rounded amoeba-like blotches and large roughened planets with fantastic landscapes:
Inkscape's spiral is a versatile shape, and though not as immersing as the star, it is sometimes very useful. A spiral, like a star, is drawn from the center; while drawing as well as while editing,
Ctrl+drag to snap angle to 15 degree increments.
Once drawn, a spiral has two handles at its inner and outer ends. Both handles, when simply dragged, roll or unroll the spiral (i.e. "continue" it, changing the number of turns). Other shortcuts:
Outer handle:
Shift+drag to scale/rotate around center (no rolling/unrolling).
Alt+drag to lock radius while rolling/unrolling.
Inner handle:
Alt+drag vertically to converge/diverge.
Alt+click to reset divergence.
Shift+click to move the inner handle to the center.
The divergence of a spiral is the measure of nonlinearity of its winds. When it is equal to 1, the spiral is uniform; when it is less than 1 (Alt+drag upwards), the spiral is denser on the periphery; when it is greater than 1 (Alt+drag downwards), the spiral is denser towards the center:
The maximum number of spiral turns is 1024.
Just as the Ellipse tool is good not only for ellipses but also for arcs (lines of constant curvature), the Spiral tool is useful for making curves of smoothly varying curvature. Compared to a plain Bezier curve, an arc or a spiral is often more convenient because you can make it shorter or longer by dragging a handle along the curve without affecting its shape. Also, while a spiral is normally drawn without fill, you can add fill and remove stroke for interesting effects.
Especially interesting are spirals with dotted stroke — they combine the smooth concentration of the shape with regular equispaced marks (dots or dashes) for beautiful moire effects:
Inkscape's shape tools are very powerful. Learn their tricks and play with them at your leisure — this will pay off when you do your design work, because using shapes instead of simple paths often makes vector art faster to create and easier to modify. If you have any ideas for further shape improvements, please contact the developers.


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Eminence Mayor Drane Stephens announced last week that the city will receive a $42,000 matching grant from the state for a proposed splash pad water park.
In April, the Eminence City Council applied for a Land and Water grant which would fund a water recreation area at the park. City officials are uncertain as to when they will be given the grant, but Stephens said in the meeting that the governor wanted to deliver him the check personally.
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subset: commoncrawl


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|Sport, 1 pitch, 70'
|YDS: 5.10d French: 6b+ Ewbanks: 21 UIAA: VII+ ZA: 21 British: E3 5b [details]
|Please Add
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|Jesse Ryan on Oct 20, 2001
|CLOSED for 2014 MORE INFO >>>
|Comments on Introducing Meteor Dad
|Add Comment
|Show which comments —
By Ripley Casdorph
Oct 7, 2002
|This route actually has seven bolts. The book doesn't show a bolt in the lower roof section but there is one. Two coldshuts anchor the top. If you like bolted face this is an excellent route and worth the trip.
By Matt Juth
From: Evergreen
Sep 5, 2003
|Excellent route. Don't blow the second clip! The bolts were spaced a little far, but just where you need them. It required a wade thanks to the little dam below. The area from Livewire to Neurosurgeon was the only spot not flooded.
By XOG
Jul 25, 2005
|I think it's the 3rd clip that is the main one not to blow (although it wouldn't be good to miss the 2nd either). There is a committing move to get to the clipping stance for bolt 3, but the stance itself has good feet, so just making the move is the main thing. Very cool crux move (think mantle) and the easier upper section is pure fun.
By Michael Kullman
Jul 29, 2005
|Nice route! Blowing either the second or third clips could be bad I think. The third clip just felt a little tenuous as the stance isn't all that great (compared to the rest of the route).
By Bill Farrand
Aug 3, 2008
|This is a really great climb! We were out at Buttonrock and there were no other climbers. Some of the other climbs are sub-prime, but this one is definitely a fun one... really good.
By Scott Matz
From: Loveland, CO
Sep 15, 2008
|This route one of my favorites this year. A very tricky lead, but everything is there. 10d.
By Cale Farnham
Sep 29, 2008
|Diggin' this route, felt a bit sketchy at times but good moves up to the finish! Kinda run-out on a couple of bolts! Good lead, Scotty, I'd agree with you on being a fav this year!
By Luke Toillion
From: Longmont, CO
Jun 1, 2016
|Climbed this one on 6/01/16. What a fun route! Getting to the first clip was a bit sketchy, but it was well-bolted after that. The slabby section had some very thoughtful moves, so don't be afraid to get creative. We had to take off our shoes and skirt around the edge of the cliff in icy water, but the belay stance was dry. Highly recommended!
By BoulderCharles
Mar 19, 2017
|Climbed on a warm day in March, and the base was dry and roomy. The water keeps things cool, though, so it probably needs to be pretty warm to be comfortable.


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LAKE COUNTY -- Caltrans roadwork either begins or continues in the coming week (Friday, April 19-Thursday, April 25) at the following times and locations in Lake County:
Route 53?(3.0/7.5) ? Highway widening and rehabilitation from 40th Avenue to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. ?Work hours are 8 p.m. Sunday evening though 3 p.m. Friday afternoon, 24 hours per day. ?One-way traffic control will be in effect. ?Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.?
Route 20 (2.1) ? NRC Environmental Services of Chico has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for a spill cleanup 0.4 mile west of the Blue Lake Motel beginning Tuesday, April 23. ?Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. ?One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. ?
Route 20 (11.9/12.4) ? Construction of a roundabout at the Route 20/Nice-Lucerne Cutoff intersection continues. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. ?One-way traffic control will be in effect. ?Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
All work is weather permitting and subject to change. Caltrans officials ask motorists to drive with caution when approaching work areas and to prepare to stop at traffic control stations.
For information about emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-427-7623. ?


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Item #
Model # VSD210 |
About this item
Give the digital music on your iPod, iPhone, or iPad a powerful upgrade!
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VIZIO VSD210 Audio Dock
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- Charges your iPad, iPhone and iPad while docked
- Speaker Configuration – Left and Right: 2 – 64mm mid range driver / 2 – 19mm tweeter
- Subwoofer speaker: 1 – 100mm subwoofer
- Sound Pressure Level (SPL): Left and Right channels: 80.4 dB
- Subwoofer: 84dB
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1 year parts and labor
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BP Comment Quick Links
|Strength of Schedule Report
October 12, 2012
Prospect Profile
Maikel Franco
Watching players throughout the season, I tend to develop prospect crushes. It started with Jesus Montero in 2009, and then continued with him in 2010. In 2011 it was Domingo Santana, who had huge five o'clock power and fit the classic right field profile. This past season, I had several reasons to plant myself behind home plate in Lakewood. Maikel Franco might have been the most fun of those reasons.
2 comments have been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
As a Phillie fan, this is exciting. One question - you say the body may force a move to 1B. Is an OF position a possibility? Based on his tools, he isn't the classic RF, but it sounds as though he would be a serviceable LF. Thoughts?
Oct 12, 2012 09:22 AM
Hudson Belinsky
BP staff
LF is a possibility, but I imagine more of a slow-footed, first base-only mammoth. And I'd guess that (if the body forced a move) the Phillies would give him a chance in the outfield before essentially giving up on his defensive value and sticking him at first.
Oct 12, 2012 10:12 AM
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Meeting Information
81st Annual Meeting of the APS Southeastern SectionNovember 12-15, 2014
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC
Our scientific program will focus on some of the year's outstanding research results across all fields from atomic and condensed matter to nuclear and particle physics. We are expecting 250 abstracts: 50 invited talks, 100 contributed sessions, and 100 poster presentations. There will be also sessions on physics education, minorities in physics, and physics careers. The meeting will be a unique networking opportunity for both undergraduate and graduate students, and physicists of all ages.
Meeting Website: http://www.physics.sc.edu/sesaps2014/


text:
Researchers link taking calcium, vitamin D doses with longer life
NEW YORK -- Older adults who take vitamin D and calcium supplements may live longer than their peers, a new research review suggests.
Researchers found that older adults who were given vitamin D and calcium supplements were 9 percent less likely to die over three years than those given placebo pills.
Vitamin D on its own, however, showed no effect on death rates.
The findings are based on data from eight past clinical trials — where people were randomly assigned to take vitamin D (with or without calcium) or get inactive placebos for comparison.
Those types of studies offer the strongest kind of evidence on whether the supplements have health effects or not, said Dr. Lars Rejnmark, the lead researcher on the review.
A 9-percent dip in death risk over a three-year period might sound small. To put it in context, Rejnmark's team — some of whom have connections to supplement makers that market vitamin D and calcium products — estimates that to prevent one death, 151 older adults would have to take vitamin D and calcium for three years.
But that effect is "at least as pronounced" as the benefits linked to cholesterol-lowering statins and blood pressure drugs, said Rejnmark, an associate professor at Aarhus University in Denmark.
"In my view, a 9-percent reduced mortality in the general population of elderly is of major importance," Rejnmark told Reuters Health by email.
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Liberal Arts
Tolstoy the New Face on Campus
The unveiling of a bust of Leo Tolstoy, donated to the university by renowned Russian sculptor and artist Gregory Pototsky, comes at a perfect conjunction of history and AU's commitment to furthering American and Russian understanding.
The November 15 ceremony was attended by students of Russian history and culture, the artist, and guests that included the Russian ambassador; Tolstoy's descendant Vladimir Tolstoy; and businesswoman and philanthropist Susan E. Lehrman, whose donations made possible the establishment of the Initiative for Russian Culture (IRC) and an endowed chair in Russian culture and history at American University.
"We can think of no better place on this campus to honor Leo Tolstoy and the Initiative for Russian Culture," College of Arts and Sciences dean Peter Starr said of the busily traveled and shaded pathway where the bust stands between the Battelle-Tompkins Building and the Kogod School of Business.
Before the ceremony, Pototsky conducted a master class in sculpture, creating a bust of Lehrman as a gesture of his appreciation of her efforts at fostering international cooperation and understanding. The students also got a master class in kindness: Pototsky, who has more than 70 monuments installed in countries including Russia, the United States, Turkey, France, and Japan, is a cofounder of the International Academy of Kindness. His comments while he sculpted focused as much on the need to foster kindness as art.
Growing Focus on Russian Studies
Pototsky's bust of Tolstoy—he has also done busts of such figures as author and dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn, actor Gérard Depardieu, writer Paolo Coelho, and actress Natalya Bronzova—is already a favorite subject for campus snapshots. And IRC executive director Anton Fedyashin hopes it will focus attention during campus tours on the growing interest at AU in Russian history, literature, and language.
Since its founding 14 months ago, Fedyashin noted, the IRC has already attracted some 6,000 people to its cultural events, held at the Library of Congress, the embassy of the Russian Federation (whose ambassador has provided unprecedented access to his country's embassy for IRC's free events), and the AU campus.
An October 25 IRC event on the role of the arts in international relations that featured maestro Valery Gergiev, principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia, drew over 700 people to the Library of Congress.
The initiative has already succeeded in its mission of reaching students throughout the Washington, D.C., area, and beyond. Students from AU as well as Georgetown, George Washington, George Mason, Howard, UMD College Park, and even the University of Maryland–Baltimore County have attended IRC events. And students from other schools may soon follow.
On the same day as the unveiling, at a gala dinner in honor of former congressman James Symington sponsored by the American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation, the IRC awarded its first James Symington Award to AU senior Jaim Coddington in the amount of $10,000 to study international relations this summer at the prestigious Moscow State Institute for International Relations.
An Enriching Experience
Fedyashin noted that the unveiling occurred during the bicentennial of the War of 1812, Napoleon's invasion of Russia, which provides the setting of Tolstoy's masterpiece War and Peace. Fedyashin is teaching the novel as part of a Russian history class this semester. His students are not only reading the massive novel, but some recently attended an all-day screening at the Russian Embassy of Soviet filmmaker Sergei Bondarchuk's epic adaptation of the novel.
Fedyashin's students, many of whom witnessed the Tolstoy bust unveiling, find much more than masterful storytelling in Tolstoy's novel.
"Tolstoy did so much research for his epic . . . that he was truly able to embody the progression of thought in it," said Leonora Varvoutis '13, French language/European studies. "The beginning of the novel starts in the early 1800s, the end of the Enlightenment period, and War and Peace is rife with Rousseauian ideals. As the book progresses into 1812 and Russian military advances throughout the book become more prominent, the Prussian style takes over and Kant becomes the main philosophical figure. By the end of the book, Romanticism has set in across Europe and Russia and Tolstoy reflects this as well. The whole last segment of the book is almost entirely a description of interiorities and how they interact with each other on a personal level."
John Gerardi '13, international affairs, shared Varvoutis's enthusiasm for the book.
"Tolstoy is definitely overlooked in American society, and I think that is because we read so much about American authors in school," Gerardi said. "Tolstoy's work, however, can shed light on Russian culture in the United States and provide a venue for a closer examination of the Russian mindset."
Fedyashin will lead consortium students again this summer on a trip to Russia, concentrating on Moscow, with reading and discussion of War and Peace as the centerpiece. Based on the experience of a student who traveled to Moscow and St. Petersburg with Fedyashin's group last summer, where students retraced the steps of characters from Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, the trip should be intriguing.
"Traveling to Moscow and St. Petersburg over the summer was an incredible experience, and I feel so fortunate to have participated," said Sarah Adler '13, history and American studies. "I learned an immense amount about Russian history and culture—not to mention Dostoyevsky and his life—and I believe that the knowledge I gained in Russia has helped me better understand my own research on nineteenth-century American cultural perceptions of Russia. It also inspired me to look into learning Russian and possibly pursuing American-Russian comparative history if I attend grad school."
A Fitting Tribute
At the AU ceremony marking the bust's unveiling, Russian Federation Ambassador Sergey Kislyak said placing a bust of Tolstoy on the AU campus is a fitting tribute.
"Most probably one cannot give a better example of the might and depth of the cultural tradition that we have made as a nation better than paying tribute to one of the best writers in the world, Leo Tolstoy," Kislyak said. "Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Flaubert all considered Tolstoy to be a genius, a genius of thinking about the place of a man in the universe, and he was a philosopher, he was a man of culture, he was a man of integrity."
Pototsky echoed that sentiment, calling Tolstoy "the soul of Russia," a man whose dedication to kindness inspired figures such as Gandhi.
Said IRC Advisory Chair Lehrman: "Working together, the IRC's mission of enhancing the mutual understanding of Russians and Americans even inspired a great artist, Mr. Pototsky, to dedicate a beautiful piece of his work to this campus and to remind us of the beauty and friendship that exists between our nations. We are so grateful to Gregory and I will remember this morning and we will appreciate this sculpture for years to come."


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The Egyptian stock market witnessed a huge decline during the month of April as the main index "EGX30" fell to the level of 5004 points compared to 5463.72 points during the month of March, a decline of 8.71%, due to the selling pressures on a number of shares.
The monthly report issued by the Egyptian Stock Exchange indicated, however, a rise in the index of medium and small companies' shares, as the "EGX70" index went up by 4.43% to close at 597 points, while the "EGX100" index went up by about 0.57% and closed at 926 points. This came following a support in the purchase of individual investors of stocks belonging to small and medium enterprises.
Egyptians were responsible for 61.41% of the volume of transactions while the foreign investors controlled 33.42% of transactions which amounted to 246.02 million pounds. Arabs held 5.16% of the volume of net purchases which amounted to 76.46 million pounds.
The total value of stocks traded during the month of April reached 11.4 billion pounds. Meanwhile, the market capitalization lost 20.1 billion pounds during the month of April. The report pointed out that the market value amounted to 387.6 billion pounds compared to 407.7 billion pounds at the end of the previous month, say a decline of 4.9%. Source: yallafinance.com [1].
[1] http://www.yallafinance.com
[2] http://www.albawaba.com


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Rain gutter rage, hit and run, elk down in North Bend: Snoqualmie Valley police, fire calls
Police and fire agencies in the Snoqualmie Valley responded to the following calls:
North Bend Substation
Sunday, Sept. 22
Hits and runs: At 5:33 a.m., an officer watched a vehicle that was suspected in a previous hit-and-run accident, driving northbound on Maloney Grove Avenue Southeast. The vehicle rear-ended an unoccupied flatbed truck that was legally parked, and the driver fled on foot.
Saturday, Sept. 21
Rain gutter rage: At 9:58 p.m., a restaurant employee in the 700 block of of Southwest Mount Si Boulevard reported a disturbance. Watching through the drive-through window, the employee saw a man tear the rain gutter off the side of the building.
Car prowl: At 10:56 a.m., a caller in the 1100 block of Salish Avenue Southeast reported that someone entered his unlocked vehicle,parked in his driveway, and stole some items overnight. The stolen property was recovered in a park across the street.
Friday, Sept. 20
Elk down: At 6:55 p.m., police were called to dispatch an injured elk in the 1700 block of Bendigo Boulevard.
Snoqualmie Fire Dept.
Wednesday, Sept. 25
Bike crash: Snoqualmie firefighters worked with Eastside Fire to help a mountain biker who crashed near the summit of Tiger Mountain. The woman was stabilized and carried a mile down the trail with the backboard balanced atop her full-suspension bicycle.
Monday, Sept. 23
Broken pipe: Firefighters responded to the Salish Lodge for a broken sprinkler pipe. They shut down the sprinkler system and drained the pipes.
Thursday, Sept. 19
Gas smell: Firefighters responded to a Snoqualmie Ridge home for a smell of natural gas. The gas stove had been left on but not lit. The house was ventilated and the smell dissipated.
False alarm: Firefighters responded to Technical Glass Products for an automatic fire alarm. They determined it was a false alarm.
Medical calls: Snoqualmie firefighters responded to 13 medical aid calls, for an annual call number of 864.
Eastside Fire and Rescue
North Bend Station 87
Wednesday, Oct. 2
Gas leak: At 4:40 p.m., EFR responded to the 300 block of East Third Street for a gas leak.
Tuesday, Oct. 1
Car accident: At 9:51 a.m., EFR responded to the 49900 block of eastbound Interstate 90 for a motor vehicle accident with injuries. Five engines responded.Car fire: At 12:43 p.m., EFR responded to the 52400 block of I-90 east of Tinkham Road for a vehicle fire.
Sunday, Sept. 29
Hazard: At 10:05 a.m., EFR responded to the 44800 block of Southeast Mount Si Road for a hazardous condition.
Saturday, Sept. 28
Alarm: At 1:10 p.m., EFR responded to the 1300 block of Boalch Avenue for an alarm system malfunction. Two engines responded.
Friday, Sept. 27
Illegal fire: At 8:37 a.m., EFR responded to an unauthorized burn fire at the 44700 block of Southeast 70th Street.
Carnation Station
Wednesday, Oct. 2
Car accident: At 7:22 a.m., EFR responded to a motor vehicle accident with injuries at the 29000 block of Redmond-Fall City Road. Two engines responded.Medical calls: During the week, EFR responded to six requests for medical assistance from North Bend and three in Carnation.


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Ants | Atlantic White Shrimp | Black Carpenter Ant | Blue Crab | Bombadier Beetles | Cecropia Moth | Common Eastern Bumble Bee | Common House Spider | Earthworms | Fireflies | Garden Spider | Giant Darner Dragonfly | Horseshoe Crab | Kahuli Tree Snails | Mayflies | Millipedes | Monarch Butterfly | Periodical Cicadas | Rhinoceros Beetles | Sea Cucumber | Tan Jumping Spider | Tarantulas | Termites | Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp | Walking Sticks | Water Strider | Wood Ant | Yucca Moths
To identify an animal as an invertebrate, it should have these characteristics:
That's it! There are so many different types of invertebrates that making a list of uniting characteristics is almost impossible.
Invertebrates are a very diverse group of species, including:
Invertebrates are the most diverse and numerous species on Earth. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), over 1.3 million invertebrates have been identified as of 2009. They make up approximately 75% of the known species on Earth.
The actual number of invertebrates on Earth is unknown. Some predict that there could be tens of millions of invertebrates, with the majority being insects. We just don't know – scientists are identifying new species all the time and expanding our knowledge daily. Even more worrying is that because we have insufficient data, invertebrates could be going extinct and we would not even know they existed.
There are over 140,000 invertebrates in the United States--a number that is growing as researchers identify more and more species. Of the 140,000 plus species in the U.S., there are approximately 200 invertebrates on the Endangered Species List.
Many of the invertebrates on the Endangered Species List are unknown to the public, because they naturally have small ranges and are difficult to identify. The most recognizable invertebrates on the Endangered Species List include, the Karner blue butterfly, blackburn's sphinx moth, and the oyster mussel.


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Balance of power swings towards Asia
Yet, despite the positive signs and upbeat mood, they should avoid thinking it's "business as usual". After any global crisis, things simply don't revert in due course to the status quo. Economies rebalance, spheres of influence change and new patterns emerge, affecting trade, financial markets and everything tied to those two engines.
So, while businesses in Hong Kong will continue to depend on all the traditional factors - notably American policy and the strength of trade with overseas markets - this year is also likely to prove a real watershed. Key data reported worldwide clearly indicates that the downturn has served to accelerate the shifting dynamics of the global economy. The tilt towards Asia is there for all to see and, for companies everywhere, it is now a matter of how best to adapt to the realities of fundamental change.
Hong Kong should be able to maintain its role as an important international hub. But in all sectors, from hospitality to banking, education to logistics, most corporate plans centre squarely on mainland opportunities and ways to capitalise on either its domestic market, spending power or various investment needs.
That trend is already having a major impact on hiring, as seen in the results of the latest SCMP/admanGo survey, which summarises the number of job advertisements placed in Hong Kong's main recruitment publications.
Confirming a broad-based recovery, the figures show 143,944 new positions advertised last year, as against the 103,240 of 2009. Comparative fourth-quarter numbers showed a 28.2 per cent jump from 27,228 ads in 2009 to 34,899 last year and, allowing for slower activity before the Lunar New Year, the general upward curve is set to continue in the months ahead.
Significantly, but not surprisingly, the sectors showing the biggest job growth were those benefiting most directly from mainland money. Retail servicing, thanks to the influx of about 22 million mainland tourists, advertised 14,703 positions last year, up from 8,428 in 2009, while hotels and catering, for the same reason, surged from 7,081 vacancies in 2009 to 12,571 last year.
Other functions - including finance, sales, engineering and management - were similarly buoyant, with employers and recruitment firms again facing a shortage of candidates.
Forecasting local GDP growth of 4 to 5 per cent and inflation at 2 to 3 per cent for this year, David O'Rear, chief economist for the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, expects expansion, but warns that people should not get too carried away. "We had a trade crisis, not a financial crisis," he says. "But any future move towards protectionism or currency wars could still be a serious threat."
He points out that, with no real trade barriers in Hong Kong, there is a tendency to think you can't do much to influence international policy. However, he adds, this is a fallacy. "Companies that operate here have a tremendous amount of influence; they can make their voices heard and should use their clout," O'Rear says.
He also notes that, as things evolve, it would be a mistake for businesses to become over-reliant on the mainland and thus neglect opportunities elsewhere. Many in the finance sector, for example, seem to be pinning their hopes for this year on mainland-backed initial public offerings and yuan-denominated financial instruments. The risk lies in becoming too government-dependent and too narrow in outlook.
"Hong Kong has all the entrepreneurial instincts to take advantage of opportunities that arise from Beijing's industrial plan," O'Rear says. "But we should also be looking at other places for new business, so the entirety is not from China."
Describing local labour market conditions as generally robust, Donna Kwok, Greater China economist at HSBC, expects further job creation this year, led by the services sector, which she extends to finance, transport and logistics.
"Businesses are struggling to keep up with [hiring] demand and a tightening market is swinging in favour of workers, not employers," she says.
In this context, she notes that Hong Kong is moving closer to sustaining its own "virtuous cycle" of recovery, with more people in work boosting purchasing power per household. This, in turn, generates further consumer demand and sales.
Kwok's main concern is that loose monetary conditions in the United States, and any spillover effect on the mainland, could still derail progress.
"We see inflation as a sticky problem for policy makers," she says. "So far, wage levels have been rising along with employment. [But we need higher] domestic consumption feeding back into more positive labour market numbers."
Cliff Sun, chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, whose 3,000 or so corporate members already know the mainland's importance as a manufacturing base, says it will spur efforts to make the mainland a prime "export" market for Hong Kong-based firms.
He sees this as simply another step in the transformation of the manufacturing and allied industries, which have traditionally led the way in recognising and responding to changing economic circumstances.
"Overseas consumers are still cautious about spending money, so there is a reshuffling of the cards," Sun says. "China will continue to be the world's factory. With [international] sales sluggish, Hong Kong companies need to look at the mainland consumer market as the next focus."
This strategy, he believes, will help to preserve and create jobs. His personal concern, though, is that Hong Kong, from government level down, should still be doing more to boost its competitiveness. This is the best long-term guarantee of prosperity and job growth, he adds.
"Our government maintains a tone of minimum intervention, but it doesn't need so much in profits tax," Sun says. "That money could be used to encourage [research and development], design and innovation, which will also lead to more jobs."
Listings herald continuing demand
Accounting and finance
With more than 100 initial public offerings expected locally this year, Rosanna Choi, chairman of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants Hong Kong, is perhaps understating the case when she rates the general outlook for the profession as quite promising.
Those listings, along with other audit, acquisition and compliance work, are certain to create continued demand for graduate trainees and experienced personnel.
"In addition, there will be many other business and capital transactions in China requiring accountants with the technical skills to value target companies, assess risks, dig out hidden liabilities and lay out plans for operating efficiency and effectiveness," Choi says.
She foresees continuing need for qualified professionals in the commercial sector, with financial controllers and internal auditors right up to the most senior roles.
As a direct result of the global crisis, she also notices a trend for more graduates to train first as accountants rather than aiming straight for investment or retail banking.
James Carss, executive general manager of Hudson Hong Kong, similarly expects a strong year for employment across the broader finance sector.
"This will lead to candidate shortages in niche areas such as risk, compliance and for revenue-generating sales staff with strong networks," he says.
He also predicts an increase in the use of social media by candidates and employers to explore opportunities and identify talent.
Demand for engineers to increase
Last year saw a sharp rise in the number of engineering vacancies in Hong Kong and, with major infrastructure projects under way - such as the MTR extension, express rail and the cruise terminal - demand will increase.
"As these mega projects move from the design to the construction stage, contractors are under pressure to find engineers, technical staff and labour," says Reuben Chu, president of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. "In terms of finding work, we forecast another good year, but if you are recruiting, it can seem like musical chairs."
With requirements likely to peak around 2015, Chu is encouraged to see more students signing up for engineering degrees. It may take several years after graduation to obtain a full professional qualification but, along the way, they can contribute on site in many different capacities.
He says that big projects don't just call for civil, structural or geotechnical engineers. There are always roles for specialists in the mechanical, electrical and other disciplines.
"In the past few years, we have also expected engineers to know more about green materials and be more environmentally aware,"
Chu says. "This is pushed by the clients, but also gives new career options."
Fluctuating fortunes
With potential growth in the logistics sector so dependent on trade volumes, forecasts are understandably cautious. After an exceptionally good first half of last year, the second six months provided a reminder that air and ocean freight demand from the main markets in Europe and North America is variable.
"In the past couple of years, business has been up and down quite a bit," says Paul Tsui, chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics. "There is
a need for frontline, middle management and senior staff, but companies are looking for multiskilled employees who can work in different departments during peak periods."
The preferred skills tend to include detailed knowledge of security and compliance procedures, and an understanding of environmental impact. "For tenders, more and more big customers require the logistics service provider to do a carbon calculation for them and show where they can help reduce emissions and consumption," Tsui says.


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Great to get along with
Hello there! My name is Michelle and I am interested in the room you have for rent. I believe I am a suitable flatmate as I am a quiet professional who is a respectable tenant as well as good for a laugh. I also come with fantastic cooking and cleaning skills which will benefit all involved. I am available to move in when required as I am currently leaving my own lease in Altona Meadows. Happy to discuss further or to meet you for a chat. Feel free to call me or via email. I am very keen as I need to vacate my property shortly. Thankyou for considering me as a tenant and I hope to hear from you soon. Kind regards Michelle
Hi! my names Marie and I'm pretty laid back and easy going. I like to keep pretty active and attempt to eat healthily. I do enjoy the occasional boogie and drinks sesh I am clean, tidy and respectful of others. I'm currently working in Ballarat and looking to move into a house with friendly people :)
I have everything needed to start a share house: washing machine, dryer, fully equipped kitchen, lounge suites, entertainment units, television, coffee table & kitchen table. Am experience with rental properties / share houses, always clean.
I'm moving from Melbourne to Ballarat as I got a job at Ballarat Hospital. I'm looking for a friendly house with hopefully someone who's happy to show me around! I will be doing shift work - either early mornings or late evenings. I'm happy to move into a place or get somewhere with someone else. I would just like my own bedroom that can fit a queen bed and if possible my own bathroom! I'm super easy going and friendly :)
I'm a friendly respectable person that understands personal space also is very clean and tidy. I work at least 2 days a week and more over holidays so will always have money to pay rent and bills, if I'm not a work I'm usually studying.
My names Cristian, I've recently completed a double degree in engineering and finance at Swinburne University and have moved to Ballarat to start my professional career. I moved out of my parents house two years ago and have been living in RIchmond for that time. I'm very neat and I'm also very laid back and tend to go with the flow of the house I live in. I always carry my fair share of house work and love to have a socialise over a beer.
Easy going, clean and respectful, I am employed full time and always on time with bills. Just looking for a nice people to live with while I'm working down there, short term until I rent my home out and find a place in Castlemaine area to bring my family down. Just message me if you would like to know more. Dan
Very tidy, social but also happy to do my own thing. Work full time, very active, love sport and exercise. Interested in cooking, live a healthy/balanced lifestyle working hard during the week but also like to have social/fun weekends !Moving to Ballarat for work mid October.


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Will Nicki attitude be the death of her?
Seeing how she has gained Mimi fans as hater due to the idol fight and lilkim and Walmart Target and countless others on top of the haters,
do you think her attitude is ruining her fame in the further like 2 years from now ?
"Young Forever"


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Receiving this award (from President Obama) provides validation of my dedication and commitment to providing quality, authentic science experiences for my students."—Teresa Gross, graduate of the master's in elementary education program, science teacher, and recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Read her story.
If you're ready to take on a new leadership role in your school system but want to do it on your own terms, Ball State University offers you one of the most customizable master's in education in elementary education programs in the nation.
Plus, our master's is offered 100 percent online.
You can choose a degree focus that plays to your academic strengths and interests, whether it's early childhood education, enhanced teaching practices or reading and literacy instruction. If you want to choose a specialty area, you can choose from six other focus areas: autism, computer education for teachers, gifted and talented education, human development and learning, middle school education, or response to intervention.
Our Certificates Add Value and Flexibility
When you complete the Ball State master of arts in education (MAE) program, you will be eligible to have a graduate-level certificate awarded for the focus area you have selected as a part of your degree program. You will receive a certificate verifying your completion of work in the specific focus area of your degree, and the certificate will be placed in your official university transcript.
If you wish to obtain only a specialized certificate and not complete the entire MAE degree, you'll learn more in each of the three focus areas.
Experts at Educating Educators
Ball State was founded as a teachers college in 1918, so teacher education has had a unique role on our campus from the beginning. One of the most comprehensive and renowned colleges of education in the country, our Teachers College ranks in the top 25 in the nation for the number of nationally recognized educator programs offered.
While you are a student in the program, you will be treated as a professional educator by our faculty, as well as teacher-classmates with whom you'll have frequent interaction. The same Ball State professors who teach face-to-face classes on our campus, and all of whom have doctorates, will mentor you and encourage you to use lessons learned when you head off to your daily classroom.
Need more reasons to consider Ball State's graduate program in elementary education?
Linda Martin
Department of Elementary Education
Get Started
Learn more about admission requirements for this degree.


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unless you guys sit in at the BBS Podcast! That would be another high point. I'm fully behind this idea. DO IT!
unless you guys sit in at the BBS Podcast! That would be another high point. I'm fully behind this idea. DO IT!
My myoosik:
The SRIs: (Thread)(Soundcloud)
McFear: (Thread)(Soundcloud)
well i never liked the show i would much rather hear them on kevin and bean over loveline but more than anything i want to hear them on the bbs podcast
Great! You have my support . Gustavo you're awesome!!
The Ponce (aka me) is in total favor of this motion
*starts dancing*
and cake
Facebook Page
One of greatest ideas since ipod...
Gustavo, you're gonna go far, kid...
Last.fm: http://lastfm.com.br/user/leandromoraes88
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leandromoraes88
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/leandromoraes88
YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/leandromoraes88
Offspring shows that I went to:
2004, October 24 - Recife, Brazil
2013, September 14 - Rock In Rio, Brazil
2013, September 15 - Credicard Hall - Sao Paulo, Brazil
2014, February 05 - Chevrolet Hall - Belo Horizonte, Brazil
2016, September 01 - Espaço das Américas - São Paulo, Brazil


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jsun3thousand wrote:Booter wrote:So instead of sending those 20 bags to people whove been waiting for several months,the people at worlds get to buy it first? What a joke.
Posted July 12 2011 - gripeq.com - All of those preorders are going out next week as we begin to service the waiting list and kick things off with 20 bags up for grabs at the Am Worlds Flymart!
Booter is just salty because he wants a second run bag. I might keep my second run and have this lineup for bags:
Golf Mahal
Grip EQ
Voodoo Juju


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Special Limited Edition Paint Variant This January...
NECA announces that they will be releasing a limited edition paint variant of the hilarious Borderlands 'bot Claptrap. Called Claptrap Blu14, this paint variant is colored, you guessed it, blue! Claptrap Blu14 features all the bells and whistles of the original release (read our review HERE) including poseable arms, rolling wheel, retractable antenna, and a base that resemble Pandora's rocky/sandy grounds. $17.99 and shipping this January. Pre-orders are currently being accepted through BigBadToyStore.com.
To insure your action figure collection, get in touch with Collectibles Insurance, the official insurance company of the Figures.com network. Say "Figures.com" to get 5% off your first term premiums.
To buy action figures, take a look at BigBadToyStore.com, Toynk.com, PastGenerationToys.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, and MonkeyDepot.com.
For action figures, statues and sculptures, go to CSMooreStudio.com.


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NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
NetWellness and ideastream are partnering to bring more understanding to the health and medical issues you care about. Launched in 1995, NetWellness is a consumer information website from Case Western Reserve University, The Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati. ideastream is a non-profit public broadcasting organization including WVIZ/PBS, 90.3 WCPN, WCLV and other educational and public service media. Surviving Stroke is part of ideastream's ongoing multiple-media coverage on important health issues presented in collaboration with The Plain Dealer and NetWellness. Through this partnership, you will be able to explore ideastream's programs as NetWellness puts in-depth information at your fingertips.
Surviving Stroke Panel Discussion from 90.3 WCPN ideastream
With close to 800,000 strokes each year in the United States, stroke is a major health issue for many Americans. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability. While risk factors for stroke, such as being overweight, high blood pressure, increased cholesterol, and smoking mirror those of heart disease, many people are unaware of these risks and how to reduce them. In addition, with advanced emergency treatments now available to stop a stroke in its tracks, knowing the simple signs of stroke could save your brain and save your life.
The seriousness and frequency of strokes often go unnoticed by the public; however, strokes occur frequently and affect individuals in all age groups. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds, and almost 25 percent of strokes occur in people 65 years of age and under.
Recognizing what puts you and your loved ones at risk for a stroke is a powerful step towards not becoming a stroke victim. What is bad for the heart is bad for the brain, so working towards an overall, healthy lifestyle will not only reduce your risk for stroke but also heart attack , memory loss and many other diseases.
Learn all about stroke from NetWellness experts Dr. Warren R. Selman and Dr. Anthony J. Furlan of Case Western Reserve University in a lively panel discussion with audience questions taped live from the City Club of Cleveland as part of a collaborative multimedia partnership.
Many research studies are underway to help us learn about stroke. Would you like to find out more about being part of this exciting research? Please visit the following links:
Last Reviewed: Oct 14, 2011
Anthony J Furlan, MD
Professor and Chair of Neurology
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University
Warren R Selman, MD
Professor and Chair of Neurological Surgery
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University


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County Residents Satisfied with Services
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)
March 22, 2007
Independent Study Shows Most Fairfax County Residents Satisfied With Services, Quality of Life
An independent study released today shows that most Fairfax County residents are satisfied with county services and believe the county is headed in the right direction.
"A Tale of Two Suburbs: A Case Study Comparing Governance, Taxes and Local Services on Long Island and in Northern Virginia," was published by the Rauch Foundation, which focuses on the quality of life in Long Island. In this study, Long Island government and services were compared with Fairfax County and Loudoun County.
According to the study:
- Three out of four Fairfax County residents say things are going in the right direction.
- 89 percent of Fairfax County residents were satisfied with the quality of local services.
- 91 percent of Northern Virginia residents rate their counties (Fairfax or Loudoun) as good places to live.
- 79 percent of Northern Virginia residents have a favorable opinion of their county government.
- Nearly two out of three Northern Virginia residents are satisfied with the value of their property taxes in terms of what they receive in local services.
"This independent study validates our way of governance as effective and efficient," said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly. "Our residents expect a high-quality, high-performing organization and we are delivering."
More information about this study can be found at www.longislandindex.org.
For more news and information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news.


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Covering the Cost of Equity
Large-cap banks' 2012 stock performance showed that investors were growing much more comfortable with banks' ability to manage credit losses. Looking ahead, investors will be looking for banks to improve their returns on tangible common equity (ROTCE), to cover and then exceed the cost of equity. Guggenheim estimates that for the 18 large-cap banks that it covers, the median ROTCE for 2013 will be 12.5%, while the cost of equity will be 11.3%. Among the group, the median "excess return" over the cost of equity is projected to be 1.8%, and only half the group is expected by Guggenheim to generate excess returns. The large-cap bank expected by Guggenheim to generate the highest excess return this year is U.S. Bancorp ( USB) of Minneapolis. The company has been among the strongest industry performers through and after the credit crisis. During 2012, USB's return on average common equity was a very strong 22.28%, according to Thomson Reuters Bank Insight. For 2013, Mosby estimates that USB's ROTCE will be 23.3%, against a cost of equity of 8.1%, for a fat excess return of 15.2%. Mosby on Tuesday lowered his price target for USB to $41.00 from $42.00, but maintained his "buy" rating on the shares. JPMorgan Chase analyst Vivek Juneja has a differing opinion on U.S. Bancorp, and on Jan. 30 lowered his rating on the shares to "neutral" from "overweight," saying that "USB's revenue growth is slowing and we expect the gap in revenue growth for USB to narrow versus peers." Juneja lowered his price target for the shares to $37.50 from $39.50 and lowered his 2014 earnings estimate to $3.30 a share from $3.37.


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Why Chris Christie was riffing on Saturday Night Live
Imagine my surprise (and maybe yours) when the real Chris Christie rolled his chair onto the set of Weekend Update, the news-spoof segment on Saturday Night Live. It may be a stretch to say that he did the gig in order to plant seeds for the 2016 presidential race; at minimum, however, it can safely be said that his late-night riff kept the option open.
And make no mistake, the '16 jockeying has already begun. Marco Rubio was in Iowa this weekend. Bobby Jindal has spent the last four days trying to fill the GOP's sanity vacuum (on Fox News Sunday, he said that Republicans "don't need to be saying stupid things"). Paul Ryan is back on Capitol Hill, aiming for the party's conservative niche, rolling up his sleeves for the impending budget battle with President Obama. As for Christie, he took a different route this weekend. After briefly competing with party brethren to see who could shovel dirt onto Mitt Romney with the greatest alacrity (a new GOP rite of passage), he got himself a taste of show biz.
Which is not to imply that his decision was mindless. On the contrary, he was being smart. This was obvious from the moment Seth Myers introduced him. The audience, clearly delighted, greeted him with the ritual late-night call of the wild:
"Owwwww! Yowwwww!"
Seriously, this is what Republicans badly need: a national figure who can prompt young people to vocalize in primal fashion. Who else on the horizon, besides Christie, could pass the Yowwwww Test? Or goof on himself the way Christie did Saturday night - and prompt laughter from young people who are already hip to his combustible persona?
"New Jerseyans are known for their patience," Christie deadpanned.
Myers, quizzically: "They are?"
And moments later: "(I have) smelled like wet fleece for the past three weeks...I'm gonna die in this fleece. But this is a good fleece."
Myers: "It is a good fleece."
Well, maybe this kind of stuff does sound a little mindless. But here's the thing: Late-night pit stops on SNL, The Daily Show, Leno, Letterman, Fallon - these have become de rigeuer for any politician who hopes to connect with the "Millenials" - voters roughly between the ages of 18 and 30. And that just so happens to be the age cohort that gave Obama landslide majorities in 2008 and 2012. If Republicans want to have a future, they have to win over those voters.
Are there more substantive ways to accomplish that task? Instead of fooling around on late night? Absolutely. But what Christie did was essential - and the social science evidence backs him up.
This year, Comedy Central partnered with TRU Insights and Insights Research in order to study the Millenial mindset. The results were not particularly surprising: Most Millenials have little patience for self-serious politicians who are heavily scripted and wedded to their talking points; most Millenials crave authenticity. They want the politicians to ditch the artifice and reveal something of their true selves. And one key measure of authenticity is a sense of humor - especially the self-deprecating kind. Therein lies the road to likeability.
According to the survey, 33 percent of Millenials believe that an interview with a comedian is the best way for a voter to get to know a candidate; the second best way, a live speech, was endorsed by only 14 percent. Elsewhere in the survey, 40 percent of Millenials said they'd be less likely to support a candidate who has no sense of humor or who can't poke fun at himself. Conversely, in response to a different question, 62 percent said they like it when politicians reveal a funny side. (According to the fabulous Lincoln movie, Abe would've easily passed these tests.)
All told, the survey said, Millenials prize those comedic moments: "When candidates visit late-night talk/political satire shows, it's as if they are throwing away the tele-prompters and talking points and showing their real personalities."
Mitt Romney told his fat-cat Florida donors, in the now-infamous video, that he was avoiding SNL because it had "the potential of (him) looking slapstick and not presidential." But he missed the point. After you take the oath of office, you're presidential. But while you're campaigning for that office, and especially when you're campaigning for Millenials, you have to be cool. Romney, the epitome of the '50s TV dad, was decidedly not cool. Christie this weekend was cool. And with those voters in mind, the SNL gig might have been his opening salvo for 2016.
Speaking of Romney, the votes are still trickling in. Here's where the race for first place in the Losers Club currently stands:
John McCain (2008) 59,948,323
Romney (2012) 59,142,004
C'mon, Mitt, you can do it!
Follow me on Twitter, @dickpolman1
Support provided by


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And the winners of this year's Hillsborough Hob Nob straw poll are...07/16/14 BlogSo each election season, Tampa's business muckety mucks hold what they call a hob nob that candidates attend for grip and grin moments. The highlight is a straw poll, though the results at times can be pretty divorced from reality because they depend much on how many supporters they can talk into attending. The crowd tends to run pretty conservative as well. Still, here are this year's outcomes, which show just the winners and not runners-up.County Commission, District 2, Victor CristCounty Commission, District 4, Rick CochranCounty Commission, District 7, Al HigginbothamCircuit judge, 13th Circuit, Group 8, Barbara Twine ThomasCircuit judge, 13th Circuit, Group 19, Michael SciontiCircuit judge, 13th Circuit, Group 20, Laura WardCircuit judge, 13th Circuit, Group 34, Robert BaumanCounty judge, Group 12, Chris NashSchool Board, District 2 Michelle Popp ShimbergSchool Board, District 4, Melissa SnivelySchool Board, District 6, Dipa ShahUS House 15, Dennis RossUS House 17, Tom RooneyGovernor, Rick ScottAttorney General, Pam BondiChief Financial Officer, Jeff AtwaterCommissioner of Agriculture, Adam PutnamState Senate, District 22, Jeff BrandesState House, District 59, Ross SpanoState House, District 61, Ed NarainState House, District 63, Shawn HarrisonState House, District 64, James Grant
Policymakers see role for HART in transportation planning01/15/14Transportation
TAMPA — Elected leaders who have been meeting for months to plot Hillsborough County's transportation future have yet to talk about actual projects and how to pay for them.
But a consensus began to emerge Wednesday on who should oversee the building and operating of new roads, expanded bus service and planning for commuter rail. That may be the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, the county's bus agency, said members of the Transportation for Economic Development Policy Leadership Group....
Commission candidate first in Hillsborough to qualify01/07/14 Blog
In an early sign of campaign organization, a candidate for Hillsborough County Commission has become the first local office seeker to qualify for next year's election.
Rick Cochran, a Republican and retiring Tampa police detective, turned in more than 2,200 petition signatures from registered voters to qualify for the ballot by that means for the District 4 Commission race to represent southern and eastern Hillsborough. The official qualifying period is not for another six months, June 16-20....
On Hillsborough bus ads, pro-diversity message draws anti-Islam response01/06/14 Local Government
TAMPA — Ads on Hillsborough Area Regional Transit buses promoting diversity by a group that seeks to improve American and Islamic relations have spurred a response from a group that promises "refuge from Islam."
The American Freedom Defense Initiative has won approval to purchase ad space on county buses denouncing "honor" killings, the practice of killing a family member, typically a woman, who has brought shame to the household. The ad shows images of seven girls who supposedly were victims of such killings....
Former Cone Ranch, now a Hillsborough preserve, will open to the public01/04/14 Local Government
TAMPA — Citizens rallied four years ago to ensure one of Hillsborough County's largest land holdings stayed free of developers' clutches forever.
Since that time, the nearly 13,000 acres in northeastern Hillsborough formerly known as Cone Ranch has remained padlocked from the public.
That changes later this month when the county finally opens a small portion of what is now dubbed the Lower Green Swamp Preserve to public exploration for the first time in decades....
Bucs seek delay in replacing video scoreboards at Raymond James Stadium01/02/14 Local Government
TAMPA — Fans attending Tampa Bay Buccaneers games should soon be able to review replays on newer, sharper video scoreboards at Raymond James Stadium.
The Tampa Sports Authority, the governmental body that runs the stadium, has been prepared to make the switch since at least early last year and has been preparing for longer than that. But it's actually the Bucs asking them to hold off, Sports Authority officials say....
Recycling soars in unincorporated Hillsborough with rolling bins12/25/13 Local Government
TAMPA — New bins on wheels that take all types of recyclables are turning residents of unincorporated Hillsborough County into environmentalists, and the county is seeing green in more ways than one as a result.
In the two months since the county rolled out the automated service, residential recycling is up 70 percent more than average past monthly totals, as measured by overall tonnage....
Bloomingdale 'big box' development proposal moves forward12/18/13 Local Government
TAMPA — A proposed "big box" commercial development that has piqued the ire of some of its Bloomingdale neighbors moved closer to reality Wednesday.
Hillsborough County commissioners voted unanimously to accept developer Red Cast Bloomingdale's contribution to the costs of road improvement work that could be necessitated by the project. But commissioners postponed a decision on how to spend the $564,196 contribution so the county can run a staff proposal by residents of the area....
Hillsborough adopts plan to trap, neuter, release cats12/18/13 Local Government
TAMPA — The debate Wednesday over whether Hillsborough County should trap, neuter, vaccinate and release stray cats as a strategy for controlling their population raged as it has for months before commissioners.
In the end, commissioners voted 6-1 to approve an ordinance that will encourage the practice by private groups by removing requirements for so-called "community cats" to get a microchip and face registration annually. And as part of the vote, the county also will directly engage in the practice on a test basis, with details still to be spelled out....
New Hillsborough commission candidate quickly plays catch-up12/17/13Politics
TAMPA — It has taken a little more than two months for Janet Lee Dougherty to catch up on the fundraising front with two fellow Republicans competing to be the next District 4 Hillsborough County commissioner.
At the same time, the board's two sitting commissioners, Ken Hagan and Al Higginbotham, continue to raise the sort of money aimed at warding off serious competition in their countywide races....
New Hillsborough Commission candidate hauling in cash12/17/13 Blog
It has taken a little more than two months for Janet Lee Dougherty to catch up on the fundraising front with two fellow Republicans competing to be the next District 4 Hillsborough County commissioner.
Meanwhile, the board's two sitting commissioners, Ken Hagan and Al Higginbotham, continue to raise the sort of money aimed at warding off serious competition.
Dougherty, an environmental consultant, has raised $41,600 in a little more than two months of campaigning, a figure that includes a $5,000 loan she made to her campaign. She now has a narrowly lead over retiring Tampa police detective Rick Cochran and current Hillsborough County school board member Stacy White. She has spent less than $3,000 of that....
Hillsborough County shifts gears on funding for redevelopment12/14/13 Local Government
TAMPA — Hillsborough County is moving away from a plan to create special taxing districts to pump money into blighted areas such as the neighborhoods around the University of South Florida and Palm River.
County officials realized while studying the idea that the districts would raise too little money in the near term to pay for drainage improvements, sidewalks or other amenities that would make them attractive for redevelopment soon....
Hillsborough administrator still believes in ousted Animal Services director12/06/13 Local Government
TAMPA — Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill finally decided this week that his Animal Services director was not up to the task of reforming that agency after months of turmoil at the shelter.
But instead of firing Ian Hallett, Merrill transferred him to a different management role in the county's Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department, where he has no experience.
Merrill said he decided to retain Hallett because he's smart and a hard worker who actually made progress in achieving county commissioners' desire to see fewer animals killed at the shelter each year and more adopted. Where he struggled was in his ability to negotiate the various people and groups who take a passionate and sometimes hard-line interest in animal welfare issues....
Hillsborough moves toward buying private East Lake water utility12/04/13 Local Government
TAMPA — Residents of the East Lake community who say they suffer from dirty tap water and high costs for the most fundamental of services from a private utility may someday get relief.
Hillsborough County commissioners took a vote Wednesday that essentially puts the county in a position to buy the Pluris Eastlake utility franchise and replace the pipes and treatment system that serve nearly 1,000 homes in the community east of Tampa. The unanimous vote was greeted by cheers from audience members who waved signs, such as one that read: "All we want for Christmas is Pluris gone."...
Hearing set on controversial cat-neutering plan in Hillsborough12/04/13 Local Government
TAMPA — Hillsborough County Animal Services may be in a bit of upheaval with the reassignment of its director this week.
But that didn't stop county commissioners from moving forward Wednesday with perhaps the most controversial component of their efforts to lower the kill rate at the animal shelter.
Commissioners voted 6-1 to hold a public hearing Dec. 18 on an ordinance to allow the county to trap stray cats, spay or neuter them, then release them near where they were picked up. Commissioner Victor Crist was the lone opposing vote....