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Alex Rodriguez issued a statement Thursday that he didn't want any more "mix-ups" with the New York Yankees; that he was excited and ready to play and help the team win a championship.
That lasted a few hours.
MORE: Disgraced athletes | No deal for A-Rod | A-Rod injury drama
Later in the day, the third baseman said repeatedly on Mike Francesa's radio show on WFAN (660-AM in New York) that he wants to play Friday and the Yankees won't let him. He also says he has a lawyer "documenting everything."
When asked if he trusted the Yankees, Rodriguez said: "I'd rather not get into that." Rodriguez added that "he was anxious and ready to play." Rodriguez also said "he had not thought about filing a grievance."
Earlier in the day, Rodriguez issued a statement that read, "I think the Yankees and I crossed signals. I don't want any more mix-ups. I'm excited and ready to play and help this team win a championship. I feel great and I'm ready and want to be in the lineup Friday night. Enough doctors, let's play."
A-ROD PHOTOS: Through the years | Rare behind the scenes images
The Associated Press reported Thursday that A-Rod and the Yankees agreed that he would get back on the field either to continue his rehabilitation assignment or in simulated games in about a week.
The report also that the Yankees would discipline Rodriguez for seeking a second opinion on his leg injury without permission as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement — the punishment likely would be a fine.
In a conference call with the team's beat writers, Brian Cashman discussed the A-Rod situation.
"We agreed that a protocol would be followed that is necessary when you return somebody from a quad injury. That protocol will include further treatment, which he'll continue tomorrow with some light conditioning, and then expand to more functional work from the 27th through the 31st. Our hope, as well as Alex's hope, without any setbacks or new complaints, that would put him in a situation to have either a simulated game or a rehab game on Aug. 1."
A-Rod sounded a little miffed during his during five-minute appearance on WFAN.
"Obviously I'm very, very disappointed," he said. "I know I can help my team. Obviously, I'm frustrated but I agreed to this five-day plan, and on we go."
The Yankees have said that Rodriguez, who is on the 60-day disabled list, has a strained quadriceps that is preventing him from returning. But on Wednesday, a doctor who had examined Rodriguez's MRI results spoke to multiple New York media outlets and said that even though he had not examined the third baseman, Rodriguez should be able to return to action.
That resulted in a statement being issued by Yankees general manager Brian Cashman that referred three times to "Mr. Rodriguez," a sign of just how toxic the relationship between team and $250 million fading star have become. Still, it was an upgrade from a month ago, when Rodriguez pronounced himself ready for a rehab assignment, and Cashman told ESPN New York, "Alex should just shut the f--- up."
Rodriguez, who had offseason hip surgery, is 8-for-40 in 13 rehab games across various levels of the Yankees farm system.
Exactly how much Rodriguez can help the Yankees down the stretch remains to be seen — assuming Major League Baseball does not suspend him for his role in the Biogenesis scandal.
Contributing: Jesse Spector, The Associated Press


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"With the addition of this new long-term data, I can now confidently tell my patients whose disease is poorly controlled, despite receiving the highest doses of standard asthma medications, that the procedure has demonstrated a stable safety profile for at least five years," stated Dr. Gerard Cox, Professor of Medicine, McMaster University (Ontario, Canada) and lead author of the poster. "The present findings from the AIR Trial echo data from other controlled trials that demonstrated BT is safe and beneficial for these patients in the first year after treatment."
The data showed that over five years:
BT, which is the first device-based asthma treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is a novel outpatient procedure that delivers precisely controlled thermal energy to reduce excess airway smooth muscle that is associated with airway constriction in patients with asthma. By decreasing the ability of the airways to constrict, this new treatment has been shown to help patients with severe asthma gain substantially better control over their disease.
In the period immediately following BT, there was an expected transient increase in the frequency and worsening of respiratory-related symptoms, which were of the type expected following bronchoscopy in patients with asthma. These events typically occurred within a day of the procedure and resolved on average within seven days with standard care.
The AIR Trial was a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical study that evaluated the safety and effectiveness of BT in patients with moderate to severe asthma. Positive safety and effectiveness data at one year post-BT were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in March 2007. BT-treated patients have been followed for five years post-procedure to evaluate longer-term safety.
"This demonstration of long-term safety, combined with the therapeutic benefits demonstrated in a series of three randomized controlled clinical studies, is extremely uncommon for a medical device at the time of FDA approval," said Glen French, CEO of Asthmatx. "It provides strong support for the adoption of BT as a new therapeutic option for the treatment of severe asthma in adults."
About Asthma
Asthma is one of the most common and costly diseases in the world. The prevalence of asthma has grown in recent decades, and there is no cure. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), more than 20 million Americans have asthma, and managing asthma consumes over $18 billion of healthcare resources each year. In the U.S. each year, asthma attacks result in approximately 10 million outpatient visits, 2 million emergency rooms visits, 500,000 hospitalizations, and 4,000 deaths.
About Bronchial Thermoplasty Delivered by the Alair System
The Alair® Bronchial Thermoplasty System is indicated for the treatment of severe persistent asthma in patients 18 years and older whose asthma is not well controlled with inhaled corticosteroids and long acting beta agonists. The Alair® System is not for use in patients with an active implantable electronic device or known sensitivity to medications used in bronchoscopy. Previously treated airways of the lung should not be retreated with the Alair® System. Patients should be stable and suitable to undergo bronchoscopy. The most common side effect of BT is an expected transient increase in the frequency and worsening of respiratory-related symptoms.
Bronchial thermoplasty is performed through the working channel of a standard flexible bronchoscope that is introduced through a patient's nose or mouth, and into their lungs. The tip of the small diameter Alair catheter is expanded to contact the walls of targeted airways. Controlled thermal energy is then delivered to the airway walls to reduce the presence of excess airway smooth muscle that narrows the airways in patients with asthma. The minimally invasive procedure, like many other flexible endoscopy procedures, is done under moderate sedation, and the patient returns home the same day.
For more information on bronchial thermoplasty and the procedure's availability, visit www.BTforAsthma.com.
About Asthmatx
Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., Asthmatx is a privately-held medical device company that designs, develops and manufactures catheter based medical devices incorporating thermal energy for patients with severe asthma. Asthmatx's first offering, bronchial thermoplasty delivered by the Alair System, is a novel device-based treatment option for patients with severe asthma. The Alair System has been approved for use in the U.S. by the FDA and has received a CE Mark for use in the European Union. For more information on Asthmatx visit www.asthmatx.com.
Alair, Asthmatx and the Asthmatx logo are registered trademarks of Asthmatx, Inc.
SOURCE Asthmatx Inc.

subset: commoncrawl


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Ribbon Trim Table Lamp Shade
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Hi ,
I have always considered as a toddler that " belonging " to any religion has fundamentals which is misplaced .
Having done Vipassana , this realization gets all the more clearer , when the suffering of change can be seen afflicting , the high and mighty ,the poor and the poorer, people belonging to that country or this country , that caste or this caste , that religion or this religion.
Everything that we do , and everything that we express ,has a direct bearing on the sensations that is coursing within our body and minds , reflecting the shades of hues of our attachment or detachment to these sensations , which keeps changing from time to time ( both the sensations as well as the degree of our mental reactions to them ) . We dont love any one or anything .
Apart from the ultimate truth of Nibbana , walking on the Noble Eight Fold part ,first brings about this beautiful facet of viewing a situation in multi-dimensional perspectives . As the saying goes " Wisdom is to know things in different ways ".
Nature keeps reflecting the universal truth of suffering in everything that we do , and in everything that we see and feel. Just as there are umpteen moments of death and destruction to multitudes of visible and invisible beings , when we humans go about in making our daily lives happen , even so, there are consequential happenings of the human world triggered by routines of the higher planes . An unavoidable and undeniable truth of life. The misery of living , the suffering, is all but there to be felt and seen , there is nothing buddhist about it.
Hence , all the Buddhas with infinite compassion and toil , go about in inspiring us in breaking the shackles of the prison gates of our minds ..........
Very unfortunate to hear people say that this is Buddhism !


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I wonder if the following translation of Dhammapada is accurate:
"283. Cut down the forest (lust),
but not the tree;
from the forest springs fear.
Having cut down the forest and the underbrush (desire),
be passionless, O monks!"
Would the following translation be more accurate:
Cut down the (whole) forest (of greed or passion?),
not (just) a tree (a specific lust only?);
Danger comes out of the forest.
Having cut down both the forest (of greed) and its undergrowth (ignorance?),
Bhikkhus, you will be rid of the forest and free!
(modified from the translation found here: http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/sbe10/index.htm)
Metta to all!


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RumplestiltskinPlayed by Robert Carlyle
Season 3
After bringing magic to Storybrooke, Mr. Gold sought his revenge on Regina for imprisoning Belle, but wound up stranding Emma and Mary Margaret in The Enchanted Forest instead. Undeterred, he focused on his mission to find his long-lost son, Baelfire, wherever he may be. But after Emma and Mary Margaret returned, so did his former student, Cora, and his old enemy, Captain Hook. Hook struck at the person in Storybrooke whom Gold loved most, shooting Belle in the back and sending her falling over the town line, stealing her memories of her true self. Hook later poisoned Gold as well, but The Dark One is not so easily killed. With Emma's help, Mr. Gold finally found his son, who also turned out to be Emma's former boyfriend and Henry's father, Neal. Gold suddenly realized that the boy prophesized to be his undoing was also his grandson. Could he really kill Henry to save his own life or, in turn, could he become the person who Belle and Baelfire wanted him to be? But now, Henry has been taken to Neverland by agents of Peter Pan, and unlike most of the others going after him, Mr. Gold knows exactly how dangerous Pan is. Will he find a way to do what's right, even if it costs him his life? Can a villain be the one who can save Henry?
Season 2
He is the Dark One, the greatest deceiver in a land where things are rarely what they seem. If you've found yourself in a deal with Rumplestiltskin, your luck has just run out. Magic always comes at a cost, and everyone foolish or desperate enough to make a deal with him finds this out the hard way. Even after the curse, he continued to lord over the people of Storybrooke as the enigmatic Mr. Gold. However, Rumplestiltskin was not born with such power. Once a simple man of meager means, his love for his son Baelfire drove him down the path toward darkness. Still, love may yet prove to be Rumple's redemption—his feelings for Belle have begun to reawaken the man he used to be. Someone who has always made the wrong choices, Rumplestiltskin may still have a chance to set things right.
Season 1
Gnomish, intense, and crazy, he's the malevolent trickster who can spin straw into gold and prefers his payment in the form of firstborn children. An expert on black magic and the dark arts, this creature has wizardly powers to make him a fair match for anyone in the land... even the Evil Queen.
In spite of all this, Snow White and Prince Charming have managed to capture him and to keep him imprisoned in their dungeon. He agrees to help Snow and Charming counteract the Evil Queen's curse-to-end-all-curses, but in return he wants to know the name of their unborn child. And Snow and Charming are just desperate enough to give it to him.
Almost every small town has a wealthy resident whose influence seems to know no limit. In Storybrooke, that guy is Mr. Gold. From real estate to politics and even into the personal lives of his neighbors, Gold's knowledge and involvement is virtually infinite. In fact, he's got his hands in so many goings-on about town that it's downright creepy. According to the local Innkeeper, Gold "owns the town". A number of the citizens of Storybrooke actually appear to be more intimidated by him than they are by Regina.
Gold also owns and operates the local pawnshop, where he spends most of his days curating the various items he has collected over the years and making deals with the townsfolk. Always cool and attired with a cosmopolitan sartorial flair, Mr. Gold exudes the kind of confidence that only comes from knowing you are the master of your domain. But how much does he know?
Robert Carlyle on playing Rumplestiltskin:
"Rumplestiltskin is fun to play... it takes me back to my childhood."
Characters: Emma Swan | The Evil Queen | Snow White | Prince Charming | Rumple | Captain Hook | Belle | Henry | Robin Hood | Zelena
Born in Maryhill, Glasgow, Scottish actor Robert Carlyle has repeatedly amazed audiences with his chameleon-like ability to inhabit a range of characters. Known for his commitment to roles, Carlyle has often altered his lifestyle and physical appearance to better understand a character. Before playing a homeless man, he went to live in the Waterloo area of London where the film was set. For a role as a bus driver, he passed the test for a PCV license in a Glasgow Leyland Atlantean bus.
Carlyle broke into the international eye in Danny Boyle's 1996 film, Trainspotting. However it was his turn as the down-and-out Gaz in Peter Cattaneo's The Full Monty that brought him fully into the spotlight. The film was a sleeper hit, winning both box-office millions and Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture. Carlyle himself won the BAFTA Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his performance, and the cast won the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast. The film was also nominated for Best Dance Sequence at the MTV Movie Awards.
Other notable works include Antonia Bird's Priest, with Tom Wilkinson, Alan Parker's adaptation of Frank McCourt's Pulitzer-winning autobiography, Angela's Ashes, with Emily Watson, the James Bond film The World is Not Enough, with Pierce Brosnan, 28 Weeks Later, the independent film California Solo, opposite Danny Masterson, and the Emmy-nominated television movie Hitler: The Rise of Evil, in the title role of Hitler. In 2005 Carlyle was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for Human Trafficking, and he starred as Dr. Nicholas Rush on the SyFy series SGU Stargate Universe, a performance for which he won the 2010 Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role.
Cast: Jennifer Morrison | Lana Parrilla | Ginnifer Goodwin | Josh Dallas | Robert Carlyle | Colin O'Donoghue | Emilie de Ravin | Jared Gilmore | Sean Maguire | Rebecca Mader


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The jail claims it has no non-essential personnel. Any former inmate knows they employ at least a dozen … (people) in brown suits and badges who have no business getting a government pension. Keep the GED program.
Why can the federal government not only reduce the spending but also replace the … federal income tax code with a 7 percent federal sales tax… ? Would the 7 percent federal sales tax not only broaden the tax base, but also everyone would do their "civic duty" and, in the words of President Obama, "everyone does their fair share."
America has been held hostage by trickle-down economics for more than 30 years. In that time, middle-class incomes have stagnated, while incomes for the wealthiest have increased nearly 300 percent. … Trickle-down economics is the most lucrative scam of all time.
I know that election seasons can be volatile and full of stupid talk. But when Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown says that he can tell that his challenger Elizabeth Warren is not Native American just by looking at her, … how much lower can the Republican Party go? Our nation has real issues facing us!
The intelligence network former president (George W.) Bush put in place after 9/11 brought down bin Laden. Giving the OK to kill him does not make Obama the one to thank. Do we thank him for ordering the assassination of an American citizen without due process like he did in Yemen?
President Obama keeps saying he ended the war in Iraq like he won it. Former President (George W.) Bush won that war, allowing Obama to bring our boys home. Obama conveniently forgets he was against the surge and claimed it couldn't work.
I am young but no longer as naive as in 2008 when hope and change thrilled me. I am so disappointed in my vote and drinking the so called Kool-Aid. Young people, don't fall for slick talk. Look at facts. They can be found if you turn off the television.
I feel ignorant when I hear President Obama speak of creating so many jobs, yet the (national) unemployment rate … (until just recently stayed) over 8 percent. What am I missing?
Can anyone believe that a councilman called the sheriff during a drunk-driving stop just to expedite the stop? What gall. And why no breathalyzer? In these times, that certainly means special treatment. More good ole boys behavior.
Glad to see the "free samples" of perfume coming back. Keep them coming.
What? Send $10 to President Obama. Give me a break. How about going to church and pray for him and our so-called government?
Former President (George W.) Bush and his dad made a big mess out of our government, which already was messed up. They made it worse.
I'm so sick and tired of all these "reality shows." Who do I write to?
The Emmy Awards was really stupid this year. There's a lot of stupid shows. Glad I got cable. Ron Howard and the tribute to the late stars were very good.
I don't have a computer, and I really thought Fox and CNN would cover the president from Iran — unless I missed it!
Please vote and pray for our awful government, people. We are in a mess.
On the news (more than one-quarter of U.S. young adults are) too fat to fight (in the military). All the countries are laughing at us again. Just like always!
President Obama is allowing the EPA to go wild. This administration is destroying the coal companies and allowing green jobs subsidized by the taxpayers. Hundreds of miners are losing their jobs. … (Some) green companies … go bankrupt.
Voters, we have come to a fork in the road: Vote Mitt Romney and follow the Freedom Trail, vote President Obama and follow the Road to Serfdom.
If we look at how much money the government actually spends on those on welfare, food stamps, subsidized housing, etc. Maybe the government should hire those people who are able-bodied for any type of work… . Why just give away the money when those people can feel valued again?


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I have found that if a patient and disciplined investor is willing to do some work, they can find some undiscovered gems in the small-cap space. These stocks tend to have sparse analyst coverage, if any, and far less information available around their businesses. However, with some intrepid research, one can usually piece together more than enough data to make an informed investment decision on these stocks.
I constantly troll this neglected area, as I have found some of my best value and growth plays here -- and I recently came across a stock that appears to be extremely undervalued with good growth prospects. The company has $82 million in market capitalization and has some intriguing valuation metrics, which we will cover after a basic overview of the company.
The name is Cumberland Pharmaceuticals (CPIX), a specialty pharmaceutical outfit focused on hospital acute care and gastroenterology. The company currently produces three main products: Acetadote, Caldolor and Kristalose.
Acetadote, a patented product, is used in hospital emergency departments. It's used to prevent or lessen potential liver damage resulting from an overdose of acetaminophen, a common ingredient in many over-the-counter pain relief and fever-reducing products. Acetaminophen continues to be the leading cause of poisonings reported by U.S. emergency rooms.
Recently, Cumberland successfully defended Acetadote in a lawsuit against Perrigo (PRGO), a large generic drugmaker. Perrigo agreed this compound has valid patent protection until 2026. Unfortunately another pharmaceutical company, InnoPharma, has recently received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to market a generic version of Acetadote. Cumberland is expected to seek a preliminary injunction to stop the marketing of this generic version, and to seek other legal methods to enforce its patent protection.
Caldolor, another of Cumberland's main products, is the first injectable treatment for pain and fever available in the U.S. In September the company announced the top-line results from a clinical pediatric pain study evaluating the compound's safety and efficacy in treating pain for children receiving tonsillectomies. It is now pursuing a pediatric indication for the treatment. The company met its internal goal of having this compound stocked in 500 institutions, and it is now working towards 800. The company believes this product can achieve $50 million in annual sales by 2016; that would equal all of the company's total current revenue.
Finally, Kristalosa is a constipation treatment. The company recently acquired FDA registration and worldwide trademark for this product, and believes it has good growth prospects.
In summary, Cumberland has some approved niche products with solid potential for growth. It is also partnering with other firms to extend its reach overseas, including in Korea, China, Canada and Dubai. The stock is selling at just $4.30, and sentiment has been negative since InnoPharma received an FDA patent for generic Acetadote in November.
However, this is where it gets interesting. The company currently has $3.50 per share in net cash and marketable securities. This seems to be an extreme undervaluation for a company that has been consistently profitable since 2004, has grown sales at a 13% annual rate since 2008 and shows strong ownership among insiders -- who are not selling.
In short, while Cumberland currently produces around $50 million in annual revenue and achieved almost $10 million in net income in 2011, an investor can buy it for a valuation of just $17 million after subtracting cash. The stock sold for near $8 a share just six months ago, and came public at around $16 a share in the summer of 2009. Any progress regarding the patent issues with Acetadote could send the stock soaring in the near term, and Cumberland growth prospects outside this product are undervalued at these price levels over the long term.


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The Los Altos-based Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Board of Directors Tuesday reviewed data gathered for its Vision Plan, which will guide management and programming for the next 20 to 40 years.
Over the past 16 months, the district solicited input from 2,000 local residents and conducted an in-depth scientific analysis of its lands and natural resources.
At a meeting scheduled 6 p.m. Jan. 29 at Hillview Community Center, the board will prioritize 39 potential projects.
Project areas identified by the public and through staff analysis include improving and expanding access to preserves, creating connections among open space lands, protecting critical habitats including second- and old-growth redwood forests, preserving agriculture on the coast, restoring creeks, protecting watersheds and preserving the scenic beauty of the region.
Created by voter initiative in 1972, the Mid- peninsula Regional Open Space District has protected more than 62,000 acres of open space. The organization's mission is to acquire and preserve a regional greenbelt of open space and agricultural land of regional significance in perpetuity, protect and restore the natural environment and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education.
The district currently protects 70 rare native species in 26 unique preserves with more than 220 miles of publicly accessible trails.
More than a million people visit the district's preserves annually.
Individuals and families are invited to attend, and the district encourages participation. People with disabilities who require accommodations are asked to call the district clerk at 691-1200 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Hillview Community Center is located at 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos.
For more information, visit openspace.org/imagine.


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THE classic Star Wars film that launched a science fiction empire is being dubbed in the Navajo language.
A handful of Navajo speakers have translated the script for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and people are now being sought to fill some two dozen roles.
Casting calls are scheduled on Monday in Burbank, California and next Friday and Saturday at the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock, Arizona.
Potential actors don't have to sound exactly like Princess Leia or Luke Skywalker but should deliver the lines with character.
Museum director Manuelito Wheeler says he sees the translation as entertaining and a way to preserve the Navajo language.
Wheeler says it's rewarding considering the US once tried to eradicate the language.


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10 Little Things That Break a Relationship
"Like most guys, I'm not that into shopping but it's well worth enduring it for a few hours when I watch my wife try on clothes. She will play with the top, cock her head to the side and bend one knee. It's the sexiest look I've ever seen. Luckily for the store employees, I maintain dressing room decorum. But barely." — Steven L., 34
"I find it oddly stimulating when my wife brags about finding a big sale on something. We have a fun ongoing challenge between us to see who can score the best deal, and it's hot when she outdoes me. And underneath the silly game of it, I know that when we're saving money, we can put it towards our next travel adventure. Thinking of that makes me want her even more." — Michael Y., 31
Your Man Questions, Manswered


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You are looking at 1-10 of 244 articles
African American Islam
Herbert Berg
The first Muslims arrived in the American colonies and later in the United States as African slaves. Although a few and noteworthy Muslim American slaves left written records of their lives, Islam was largely extinguished by the white slave owners. Sectarian and racial forms of Islam were introduced into the United States, particularly within urban African American communities, by Ahmadiyya missionaries and the Moorish Science Temple. The rise of the Nation of Islam under Wali Fard Muhammad and Elijah Muhammad and its bifurcation under the latter's son, Warith Deen Mohammed, and Louis Farrakhan deserve special attention, as do the initial appeal of the Nation of Islam's racial formulation of Islam and, decades later, the willingness of most of its members to move to Sunni orthodoxy after Elijah Muhammad's death. The second major, though not entirely separate, strand of Islam in the United States, though often interacting or competing with the first, comes from Muslim immigrants. This group brings unique issues, such as living in a largely Christian society, competing with the Nation of Islam, refuting stereotypes in the media and popular culture, finding a political voice, and coping with post-9/11 Islamophobia, all leading to the consideration of the prospects for a uniquely "American Islam" that reflects U.S. pluralism and (supposed) separation of "church and state."
African Americans and Religion
Sylvester A. Johnson
Beginning with trans-Atlantic slavery, which forced hundreds of thousands of people into what is presently the United States, religion among African Americans consistently featured a complex of efforts toward innovation, preservation, and agential intervention rooted in efforts toward survival against structures of racial domination. Social factors including slavery, black responses to a range of political conflicts, influences of immigration, and the varieties of genealogies that have constituted religious formations among African Americans contributed to the creation of formal Christian denominations, intentional communities of Orisha, and transnational movements of Islam. Also important are the insurgent challenges that African Americans have proffered as a rejoinder to social oppression. But this progressive tendency has been paralleled by sharply conservative religious formations that check any easy generalization of African American religions as being predisposed toward social justice movements. Also important are social sources of autonomous church formation, the role of Black Nationalism, anticolonial forms of religion, and Yoruba revivalism of the mid-20th century.
The Alawis
Stephan Procházka
The ʿAlawis are adherents of an Islamic sect, the origin of which can be traced back to 9th-century Iraq. They are an offshoot of early Shiah Islam with ancient Iranian, Christian, and Gnostic influences. Outsiders often call them "Nusayri," after the sect's founder Ibn Nusayr. Practically all ʿAlawis are Arabs. Their total number is about four million, among which some 2.5 million reside in Syria, where they constitute roughly 12 percent of the population. Many ʿAlawi beliefs and rites are still kept secret by the community, being revealed only to initiate male members. One key element in their faith is the belief in a divine triad that has manifested itself to the ʿAlawi community in seven cycles. Other characteristics are an extraordinary veneration for Muhammad's son-in-law ʿAli, the belief in the transmigration of the soul, and a very large number of holy shrines, which are frequent in all regions settled by ʿAlawis. Because of the esoteric nature of the ʿAlawi religion and the scarcity of authentic written sources, many details of their creed are subjects of vigorous public and scholarly discussion.
For many centuries, the ʿAlawis were an economically weak, socially marginalized, and persecuted group whose heartland was western Syria. The public rise of the community began with the establishment of the French mandate over Syria after World War I and reached its zenith when the ʿAlawi Hafiz al-Assad became president of Syria in 1971. Since then, the disproportionate political and economic influence of the ʿAlawis in Syria has fueled confessional conflicts with the Sunni majority, which culminated in the civil war that began in 2011.
The Alevis
Gisela Procházka-Eisl
The Alevis are a religious community on the periphery of Shia Islam. The name "Alevi" means "Adherents of ʿAli," alluding to Muhammad's son-in-law and cousin ʿAli ibn Abi Talib, who enjoys extraordinary veneration among Alevis. Alevism was developed in Central Anatolia during the 13th century by itinerant Muslim mystics. It includes elements of pre-Islamic Turkish shamanism and aspects of mainstream Shia Islam, which influenced it through cultural contacts with Safavid Iran. Alevism never was a unified and homogeneous community but has always had a variety of sub-groups. For centuries Alevis practiced their rites in secret, which created suspicion and rumor among Sunnite Muslims. Today's Alevis still have to struggle with this distrust, and are often regarded as heretics by the Sunnites. The designation "Alevi" came into use in the early 20th century as a collective term for a number of religious groups such as Bektaşi, Tahtacı, and Abdal, and today is used instead of the former, pejorative term Kızılbaş ("Red-Heads"). The Alevis are the largest religious minority group in the Republic of Turkey, where their estimated number is around 15 million. Large Alevi groups also reside in the Balkan states as well as in Central and Western Europe, particularly Germany and Austria. Roughly two-thirds of the Alevis are Turkish speakers. The other third speak Kurdish and Zazaki.
In the 1980s, the community underwent the so-called "Alevi revival," a process of exposure and openness that can be partly explained as a reaction against the re-Islamization of Turkish society. Today Alevis perform their rites and express their beliefs openly.
Although they share certain features with them, the Alevis should not be confused with the Alawis (Nusayris), who live in southern Turkey and Syria and who are all Arabic speakers.
Alternative Religious Movements and Race in America
Emily Suzanne Clark
Alternative religious movements have played a significant role in American history. There is no easy definition for these types of groups; their ideas and practices vary. One clear commonality, though, is their development on the sociocultural margins. Thus, inherent in alternative religious movements is a critique of dominant culture, and this offers a powerful means of engaging issues of race in America. Other groups, however, choose to echo prevailing racial ideas as a means of making themselves mainstream. The typical narrative of American religious history is white and Protestant, and alternative religious movements have provided both criticism and approval of that story.
While a close look at every alternative religious movement would be impossible, even an abbreviated exploration is revealing. During the antebellum period the question of slavery and the white supremacy that supported it prompted alternative religious movements to ask questions about equality. While many Shakers and Spiritualists recognized value in all, other groups, like the Mormons, encoded contemporary racial assumptions in their early theology. Throughout the 19th and into the 20th century, African Americans and Native Americans criticized white supremacy by offering alternative explanations of humanity's history and destiny. The 1890s Ghost Dance movement envisioned an Indian paradise devoid of whites, and in the early 20th century black alternative movements in northern cities emphasized the religious significance of their blackness. Though these groups criticized the white supremacy surrounding them, others continued to emphasize the superiority of whiteness. In the latter part of the 20th century, many Americans associated racialized alternative religious movements, such as the Nation of Islam, the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, and the Peoples Temple, with fear or brainwashing. In examining how alternative religious movements engage racial assumptions, articulate racial discourse, or create religio-racial identities, a study of these movements illuminates the interplay between religion and culture in American history.
Ancestral Cults in Ancient Egypt
Juan Carlos Moreno García
The ancestor cult was a common feature of pharaonic society, aiming to provide social cohesion to extended families as well as close intermediaries with the netherworld. As active members of their respective households, ancestors were objects of veneration and care but were also subject to social obligations toward their kin. However, the continuity of such cults was not exempt from threats, from gradual oblivion to destruction of tombs. Furthermore, tensions between individual strategies and customary duties toward one's kin were another source of instability, especially when officials sought to create their own funerary services and to transfer them to their direct descendants. Such tensions are particularly visible in social sectors close to the king. The assertion of royal authority depended on the elimination of potential sources of political counterweight, and also on the weakening of kin solidarity among members of the elite. As such, the promotion of the cult of royal ancestors, granting individual rewards to selected members of the court and developing personal contact with gods, was part of this strategy. In other cases, "cultural ancestors" provided prestigious links with golden ages of the past, for instance when authorship of sapiential texts was attributed to famous officials of the past or when scribes wrote graffiti in their tombs. Finally, ancestors and ancestral memories were also invented and manipulated for ideological purposes, such as providing legitimacy in periods of political division or prestigious links with the royal palace and the values it promoted.
Ancestor worship thus appears as an active, multifaceted social activity, operating at different levels (individual, domestic/family, community, palace), whose distinctive idiosyncrasies depended on the context in which it operated. Tensions but also mutual influences permeated all these spheres, thus making ancestor cults a dynamic manifestation of social values, political practices, and religious beliefs in pharaonic Egypt.
Apocalypticism in U.S. History
Matthew Avery Sutton
Apocalypticism has had a powerful impact on American life. It has fostered among adherents a strong sense of purpose and personal identity, it has helped them interpret the challenges they face all around them, and it has provided them with a triumphant vision of the future. Although there are many kinds of apocalypticism, in the United States, Christian forms have dominated. The Bible's focus on a coming millennium has offered Americans the promise of transformation and redemption in a world that sometimes seems void of both. When Christians have emphasized the Bible's apocalyptic and millennial visions, they have acted in new and important ways. Apocalyptic visions, rather than fostering a sense of indifference to the coming of the end of days, have served as a call to battle. God, millennialists insist, has given them much to do and very little time in which to do it. Positive that Jesus is coming soon, they have preached revival and engaged directly and aggressively with their culture. Sometimes their actions have served to reinforce the status quo, and at other times they have sparked revolutions. The uses of apocalypticism and millennialism are almost as diverse as their adherents.
Archaeology of Ancient Religions
Caitlín E. Barrett
Archaeology is essential to the cross-cultural study of religion. Archaeologists' focus on material evidence enables them to investigate groups not represented or underrepresented in textual traditions, including non-literate societies and non-elite members of literate societies. Accordingly, archaeology provides a broad comparative lens and longue durée perspective, as well as a means to study the practices of individuals across the social spectrum. Additionally, a disciplinary emphasis on material culture and human-thing relationships enables archaeologists to investigate the materiality of ancient religious traditions—the entanglement of ancient beliefs and practices within the material world.
Because every stage of the archaeological process involves interpretation and theorization, archaeologists' theoretical stances and methodological choices shape the data they obtain. For example, any discussion of the "archaeology of religion" will be shaped by the author's (explicit or implicit) operational definition of "religion" itself (see Part I, "Considering 'Religion' and 'Ritual'"). Modern Western constructions of "religion" involve culturally specific concepts that developed within particular historical contexts, and ancient people's understandings of their beliefs, rituals, and objects may often have employed quite different analytical categories. Additionally, archaeological approaches to ancient religions have undergone significant transformation over the 20th and early 21st centuries (see Part II, "History of the Field"). In contrast to the "New Archaeology" of the 1960s–1970s, which portrayed religion as epiphenomenal and downplayed its significance as a primary generator of social change, late-20th-century movements brought renewed attention to ancient symbolism, ideology, and religion and encouraged scholars to seek methodologically rigorous ways to study ancient religion and ritual.
The third section of the article ("Current Perspectives and Developments") examines contemporary research on the archaeology of religion and analyzes the field's intersections with, and importance to, broader interdisciplinary debates. Today, a proliferation of new scholarship on the archaeology of ancient religions explores the complex interactions between people, objects, and ideas in antiquity. Within the resulting range of new and ongoing developments, this article emphasizes (1) a productive engagement with the broader "material turn" in the humanities and social sciences; (2) a renewed emphasis on religion as a causal force for social change; and (3) an increasing focus on religion's embeddedness within daily life, entailing the reconsideration of analytical categories such as "domestic cult," "personal religion," and "magic."
The contemporary archaeological study of ancient religions is a deeply multidisciplinary endeavor, frequently requiring archaeologists to engage with theories, methods, and specialists from fields that may include anthropology, religious studies, archaeometry, art history, philology, and more. Archaeologists not only generate empirical data about specific sites or cultures, but also investigate broader intellectual questions concerning the role of religion in society, the importance of material culture to religious experience, and the forms of agency wielded by both humans and objects. The archaeology of religion thus has important contributions to make to numerous subjects and debates throughout the humanities and social sciences.
Art and Religion in Ancient Greece and Rome
Robin Osborne and Caroline Vout
One of the challenges shared across cultures and faiths is the intangible, ineffable nature of the divine. One problematic, yet theologically productive, solution to this problem is to embody the divine in sculpture and painting; another is to seek divine aid and attest to divine presence by making votive offerings. In the absence of a sacred text, it was sculptural and graphic representation of the divine that made sanctuaries and temples in Greece and Rome theologically active places. But the need to experience god was not confined to these centers. Greek and Roman gods were everywhere—on coins, gems, drinking vessels, domestic wall paintings. Even when they were not there, their power could be felt in the representation of those who had felt their power. They were as pervasive as they were all seeing.
This article examines how this material culture worked to bring gods and mortals into contact. It does so by tackling three major issues: first, it discusses how a wide range of artifacts, monumental and modest, shaped sanctuary space and guided and recorded the worshipper's interaction with the divine; second, it looks at images of gods themselves and how these affected epiphany, while maintaining a critical gap and insisting on their strangeness; and third, it uses art to rethink the relationship of religion and myth. Although there are some continuities between cultures, the rise of Hellenistic and Roman ruler cults created a new subcategory of gods, creating additional representational challenges. Out of this came Christ, who was god incarnate. We briefly explore how early Christian artists used the problems of anthropomorphism to their spiritual advantage.
Ted Peters
This is an advance summary of a forthcoming article in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion. Please check back later for the full article.
Astrotheology is that branch of theology that provides a critical analysis of the contemporary space sciences combined with an explication of classic doctrines such as creation and Christology for the purpose of constructing a comprehensive and meaningful understanding of our human situation within an astonishingly immense cosmos. Within the growing field of religion and science, astrotheology and its sister subject, astroethics, represent critical responses to the excitement permeating the space sciences, especially astrobiology. The excitement arises because of new searches for microbial life within the solar system and the discovery of exoplanets elsewhere in the Milky Way, some of which may be homes for extraterrestrial intelligent civilizations.


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Preliminary hearing set for July in fatal shooting
A preliminary hearing is slated for July 22 for three men charged with killing a 21-year-old Live Oak man as he walked on the Freedom Boulevard overpass last year.
Fernando Mendoza-Avila was walking with a friend from a family gathering around 6 p.m. on May 30 when shots were fired from a passing car. Mendoza-Avila, a father of two young daughters, was struck and killed. His friend was uninjured.
Alfredo Alanis Garcia, 21, of Prunedale was arrested later that night. Christopher Herrera Bermudez and Rafael Zamora Barron were arrested two days later. All three men face charges of murder, commission of a crime in furtherance of a gang, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Bermudez faces an additional charge of personally discharging a firearm.
They have pleaded not guilty to all charges and remain in custody at Santa Cruz County Jail without bail. They'll be back in court July 19 to confirm the hearing scheduled for July 22, but Judge Paul Burdick said Thursday he expects it to be a firm date.
Man gets year in jail for possessing child porn
A former security guard was sentenced Thursday to a year in Santa Cruz County Jail for possession of child pornography.
Chris Cowell Pappas, 41, was arrested by Santa Cruz police in June after investigators linked him to images found online. Members of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children initially found the pictures online and notified the regional office of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Investigators there partnered with Santa Cruz police to link the images to Pappas.
Pappas pleaded no contest in October to one felony charge of possession of child pornography.
Judge Paul Burdick on Thursday acknowledged Pappas' willingness to cooperate with police and take responsibility for his actions, as well as Pappas' participation in therapy. Burdick, however, disagreed with the probation department's recommendation that Pappas be sentenced to 180 days in jail. He said the charge was too serious and imposed 365 days in jail as stipulated in the plea agreement.
Traffic stop leads to arrest, meth seizure
A traffic stop in South County on Wednesday afternoon led to the seizure of more than $70,000 worth of methamphetamine and landed one man behind bars.
Members of the Santa Cruz County Gang Task Force stopped a car driven by Adan Nunez-Torres in the area of Green Valley Road and Celia Drive just after 3 p.m., Sgt. Eric Montalbo said in a release Thursday.
Officers determined Torres was driving without a license. A search of the car turned up about 2.5 ounces of methamphetamine. He was arrested on suspicion of transporting controlled substance.
The case was then turned over to the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team for further investigation. Officers obtained a search warrant for a home in Watsonville where they believed Torres was stashing narcotics.
The Anti-Crime Team, assisted by agents from Homeland Security, searched the 35 Alegre Drive home and found 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine, a loaded .45-caliber handgun, a stolen 9mm handgun, $3,000 in cash, packaging materials and a digital scale.
The street value of all the meth seized was $70,000, Montalbo said.
Torres was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail. Homeland Security had placed an immigration hold on him.
Police release sketch of man who groped woman
Police released a sketch Thursday of a man who grabbed a 23-year-old woman's buttocks.
The woman was groped about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday while leaning in to her car to retrieve items in a parking lot at Church and Cedar streets, said Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark.
She felt someone reach under skirt and grab her. The woman turned around and confronted the man, who made an inappropriate comment, police said. He appeared drunk and had slurred speech and poor balance, said Clark.
A second man approached them and apologized for the man. He pulled the groper into the passenger seat of a silver 1990s Toyota 4Runner. The woman ran for help. The men left in the Toyota. No one was injured.
Police described the groper as a white 25- to 30-year-old who wore a blue T-shirt and khaki pants.
He was about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 165-170 pounds. He had short dark hair, dark eyes and "stubbly" black facial hair, Clark said.
Police added that the case does not appear related to another reported groping on Walnut Avenue on Jan. 11.
Santa Cruz police ask anyone with information to call investigations at 831-420-5820, the anonymous tip line at 831-420-5995 or leave a tip at www.santacruzpolice.com or by the mobile application at http://m.santacruzpolice.com.
Two Santa Cruz men arrested in robbery
Two men were arrested early Thursday morning after they robbed a 48-year-old man of his bike, police said.
Robert Edward Vanderslice, 24, and Frederick Skeetop Stanley III, 29, approached the man with the bike near Riverside and Soquel avenues about 1:20 a.m., said Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark.
They threatened to fight him, then took the bike. The victim, a transient from Salinas, called police.
An officer found Vanderslice and Stanley a few blocks away about 2 a.m. Police arrested them on suspicion of robbery, police said. Both men live in Santa Cruz.
The bike was recovered and returned to its owner.


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The 13 Most Exciting Chocolates in America
A delicious blend of a hot pear cider, spices and Calvados brandy.
1.5 oz Calvados (Pere Magloire V.S.O.P is a good choice)
Heated pear cider
Dash of ground cinnamon
Garnish: sliced pear + cinnamon stick
Heat pear cider in a saucepan. Add a dash of ground cinnamon for every cup heated. Bring to a boil. Add Calvados in a pre-heated mug. Pour in hot pear cider. Garnish and serve.
A wintery blend of Sandeman Reserve Porto, scotch whiskey, brown sugar, and white crème de cocoa.
1.5 oz Sandeman Founders Reserve Porto
1.5 oz Chivas Regal Scotch whiskey
0.5 oz demerara syrup*
0.25 oz dry vermouth
0.25 oz white crème de cocoa
Dash of orange bitters
Dash of Angostura bitters
Demerara Syrup: Heat two parts demerara sugar and one part water in a saucepan over high heat, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil. Take off heat and let cool.
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir gently. Strain into an iced Old Fashioned glass.
Created by Jason Littrell.
10 Cute Casserole Recipes You Must Try


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CLEVELAND - Nearly 2,300 miles away, Magic Johnson had plenty of ideas on how to fix the Lakers.
Even if it came at the expense of the part owner of the Dodgers taking away attention from the team signing pitcher Zach Greinke.
No matter.
Plenty of things about the Lakers irk Johnson, who shared those grievances even before the Lakers' 100-94 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.
On the top of the agenda: Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni must change his offense. Or at least tweak it.
"His system doesn't fit the talent that the Lakers have," Johnson told reporters at Dodger Stadium. "You can't run with this team. Where are the runners? You got one dude who can get up and down the court and that's Kobe (Bryant). Ron (Metta World Peace), love him, but he's slow. Both of our big men, not fast guys. (D'Antoni) has got to say, `Maybe I should scale it back."'
Part of Johnson's concerns reflected the Lakers' struggle with transition defense. The Lakers (9-13) rank last in fast-break points allowed (16.4 ppg).
Johnson's most pointed criticism involved Lakers forward Pau Gasol. Before missing the past five games because of knee tendinitis, Gasol had averaged a career-low 12.6 points per game.
"He is the best passing big man in the game, but you have him at the free-throw line" waiting for the ball, Johnson said. "That makes no sense. That's not his game. His game is catch it on the low block, face his man, one dribble left or right, he's in the cup, nice hook, nice move because he's got great moves."
D'Antoni and Gasol acknowledged his struggles with conditioning and adapting to his role. D'Antoni even benched him for an entire fourth quarter against Memphis two weeks ago.
"Now all the blame is on his shoulders, like he's not performing well," Johnson said of Gasol. "He can't take that. That's not who he is. They got to put him in a winning situation because once Gasol starts playing well, I think the team will play well."
Numbers don't lie
In what Kobe Bryant considers a "funny stat," the Lakers are 1-10 when he's scored at least 30 points in a game.
The Lakers scorer squashed any argument that the numbers imply Bryant shoots too much or if his teammates' inconsistency prompts him to bear a larger load.
"I shoot high percentages in all of them," said Bryant, who's shot a career-high 48.2 percent from the field. "I don't think that's any indicator of it."
Bryant posted 42 points against Cleveland on 16-of-28 shooting.
"When he sees that when the game is going down the sewer, he tries to take over," D'Antoni said. "He watches how the game goes and then he asserts himself when things aren't going well.
"When things aren't going well, a lot of times he can't save them. But I don't believe he's too aggressive."
Injury update
The Lakers remain uncertain whether Gasol will play Thursday against New York. The team has listed him as day-to-day Before Steve Nash returns, D'Antoni said he will have to run a series of two-on-two and three-on-three drills without any pain. Nash hasn't run in any exercises involving hard cuts.


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St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Carlos Beltran has played in three NLCS Game 7s in his 15-season major league career. But he still hasn't played in a World Series.
The latest setback came Monday night when the St. Louis Cardinals dropped Game 7 against the San Francisco Giants, their third consecutive loss after taking a 3-1 series lead.
"There are a lot of players who don't make it to the World Series," Beltran told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Don't feel sorry for me. I was trying the best I could to get there and it just didn't happen."
Beltran certainly isn't to blame after hitting .357 with three homers, six RBIs and a 1.154 OPS in 12 games this postseason. In his 34-game postseason career, he is the majors' all-time leader in slugging percentage (.782) and is a .363 hitter with a .470 on-base percentage, 14 homers and 25 RBIs.
Beltran, 35, is signed through the 2013 season and already is looking forward to next year.
"Next year is going to be another test," he told the newspaper. "We should feel good about the team that we have. If we're good enough to get to this point this year maybe next year we can do it again."


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Delilah Quilt + Sham
No longer available
- Overview
The classic patchwork gets a makeover in bold paisleys and fun florals on a pretty palette of purple and green.
- 100% printed cotton voile.
- 100% cotton percale reverse.
- Expertly quilted by hand.
- Polyester batting.
- The fill in our quilt is made of 40% recycled materials. Each quilt saves 35 plastic bottles from reaching the world's landfills.
- Quilt and sham reverse to solid purple cotton percale.
- Quilted sham has an envelope closure.
- Twin-sized quilt fits both standard twin and twin XL dorm mattresses.
- Quilt, sham and insert sold separately.
- Machine wash.
- Imported.
Mix + match our bedding to create your own unique look with our Design Your Own Bed Tool.
- Dimensions + Care
- Twin: 68 x 86"
- Full/Queen: 86 square"
- Standard: 20 x 26"
- Euro: 26" square
- Quilt is filled with 320-gram-weight polyester batting.
- Sham is filled with 280-gram-weight polyester batting.
- Machine wash in warm water; gentle cycle.
- Use only nonchlorine bleach, if needed.
- Tumble dry on low heat.
- Warm iron as needed.
- Shipping Info
This item will arrive in 3-5 business days. Please proceed to the Payment & Review page of Checkout for a precise delivery estimate.
- Final Sale
Final-sale items, identified by a price ending in $0.99, cannot be returned. Once placed, your order for any final sale items cannot be canceled.
No longer available
Coordinating Pillowcase (Sold Individually)
No longer available
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Pillow Inserts
Premium Down Pillow


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Sign Up
Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts may complete requirements in a family, den, pack, school, or community environment. Tiger Cubs must work with their parents or adult partners.
Parents and partners do not earn loops or pins.
Complete these three requirements:
Earn the Art belt loop and complete six of the following requirements:


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(UPDATED COVERAGE, JAN. 17) A new coalition of farm groups — including those serving specialty crops — plans to present a unified voice for agriculture as Congress considers immigration reform.
The Agriculture Workforce Coalition backs a solution that includes an earned adjustment in status for current farm workers and a program to ensures access to a workforce even as harvesters move to other seasonal crops.
The coalition is committed both to meet the needs of seasonal employers and those farm employers who provide year-round jobs, said Frank Gasperini, the executive vice president of the Vienna, Va.-based council.
Gasperini said agriculture allies hope Congress and President Obama are ready to work on immigration reform, despite recent discussions on gun control and the federal debt ceiling.
"A lot of our allies are talking to people on both sides that seem amendable to doing something to help the ag labor situation and the immigration situation in general, so now we have to hope people don't get so crosswise with each other over two contentious issues that they stop talking again," Gasperini said.
The coalition's plan calls for legislative reform that includes both a program to provide access to a legal workforce and an adjustment for current experienced unauthorized agricultural workers.
Gasperini said upwards of a million agriculture workers need an adjustment in status to become legal.
The coalition proposes a new uncapped Agricultural Worker Visa Program that would allow employer and employee choice and flexibility by including options for contract employees and employees that move from employer to employer.
Administration officials said late last year that President Obama wants legislation to be prepared in time for his inauguration on Jan. 21. While that may be too ambitious, President Obama is still expected to make immigration reform a big part of his second term goals, Gasperini said.
Nancy Foster, president of Vienna, Va.-based U.S. Apple Association, said 20 billion apples must be picked each year by hand.
"Each of those apples has to be touched by hand and harvesting apples is skilled work," she said.
While the industry is optimistic about the future because of strong consumer demand, Foster said an ample supply of workers is necessary for growers to thrive.
"We either are going to grow (apples) here or we are going to import them," she said. "It is all built on the need for a reliable stable workforce."
Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers, said in a news release that the opportunity for immigration reform should not wasted.
"Agricultural employers have come together as never before in lock-step and agreement about a workable proposal that will serve the needs of farmers, workers and the American people," Nassif said in the release. "The time for immigration reform is now."
Tom Stenzel, president of the Washington, D.C.-based United Fresh Produce Association, said in the release that the new coalition brings the nation's leading agricultural organizations to deliver a unified voice.
"Having a stable and viable workforce has never been more critical for our nation's fruit and vegetable industry," he said in the release.
Members of the coalition are:
- American Farm Bureau Federation
- American Nursery & Landscape Association
- Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
- National Council of Agricultural EmployersNational Council of Farmer Cooperatives
- National Milk Producers Federation
- USA Farmers
- U.S. Apple Association
- United Fresh Produce Association
- Western Growers Association
- Western United Dairymen
- Coalition partners: Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform


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Every day, about 270,000 trees are flushed down the drain or end up as garbage all over the world.Most tissue products available in shops today – like toilet paper, kitchen towels, tissues and napkins – are made of virgin fibres and not recycled content.
But recycling is not the only problem. Unsustainable and illegal logging, badly managed plantations, and the use of bleaching chemicals all contribute to the environmental damage caused by tissue products.


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Great Find! Chocolate covered pretzels – 2 pts
I have a huge sweet tooth. One that really likes chocolate… I was very excited when I found these lovely treats because they are only 2 pts per package. Each package has 2 chocolate covered pretzels in them. These guys really hit the spot when you're craving something sweet and salty.
2 Responses to "Great Find! Chocolate covered pretzels – 2 pts"
I discovered these about a month ago right after my husband suggested getting some pretzels…I told him that pretzels are only good when dipped in chocoalte and BAM! we stumbled across these! LOL! The Reeses cookie wafers are good too, they taste like a nutty bar! 🙂
I know what you mean- I manufacture chocolate covered pretzels. Visit my blog spot for more info. They are delicious


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Two County Cemetery Registries Available Online
Dec. 4, 2009
News Highlights
Two online county cemetery registries are available to residents and the public for research and educational purposes. The registry on the Fairfax County Library's Web site lists all of the cemeteries in Fairfax County by cemetery type, and then by cemetery number, name and city. Each cemetery listed links to a brief summary of the cemetery's history or current condition, as well as its location.
The nonprofit organization Fairfax County Cemetery
Preservation Association (FCCPA) also has a county cemetery registry
with additional information and photos. FCCPA protects and
preserves the family cemeteries of Fairfax County. FCCPA volunteers
identify and document vandalism, neglect, or the threat of encroachment
on cemeteries and preserve, protect, maintain and advocate for county
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director, Office of Public Affairs
703-324-3189, TTY 711, Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
To request this information in an alternate format, call 703-324-3187, TTY 711


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Name: Britney Haynes
Age: 22
Current Residence: Huntington, Ark.
Occupation: Hotel Sales Manager
Three adjectives that describe you: Argumentative, comedic and opinionated
Favorite activities: Traveling, gossiping with the gays, arguing, taking my dog on walks, cooking and cleaning
What do you think will be the most difficult part about living inside the Big Brother house: Sharing a bathroom and pretending to laugh at dumb comments
Strategy for winning Big Brother: Pretending to be nice and always a bit elusive - people want what they can't have!
What types of people would you NOT choose to live with you in the house: Egomaniacs and old people
A recurring theme on Big Brother is "expect the unexpected." How would you handle "the unexpected:" I think I can handle anything. I wouldn't like the forced alliances, though.
Which past Big Brother cast member did you like most or least: I liked Janelle and Dr. Will. They were both funny, attractive and intelligent.
What are you afraid of: BIRDS! I'm not kidding. It's a phobia.
Finish this sentence: "My life's motto is:" Never regret anything that made you smile.
Is there anything else you want the fans to know about yourself: I am so much more than meets the eye! I look like a typical blonde from the south, but I've got a lot of spice to my personality. I'm a good mix of Chelsea Handler and Martha Stewart. .
CBS.com Bio page


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White iPhone 4 dock connector vs black - White iPhone 4 vs. Black iPhone 4
The white iPhone 4 has a white dock connector, while the black one has a black connector.
|‹White iPhone 4 vs black iPhone 4 front angled
|White iPhone 4 audio port vs black›
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'Off a Toni-Lydman turnover, the Islanders took the 4-3 lead with just over three minutes remaining in regulation. Randy Robitaille trapped Lydman's clearing attempt along the boards and fired a quick wristshot on net that Miller never saw to register his eighth goal of the season.'
You are here: Home / SabresBeat / Victory Slipped Away in Third


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WELLAND let out their frustrations after nearly a month off with a commanding 8-0 win at Tivoli Rovers.
The victory after the Christmas and weatherenforced absence boosted the villagers' Cheltenham Association League Division Three title hopes.
Welland are fourth in the table but only four points off leaders Cheltenham Patriots with two games in hand.
With the Tivoli game played on a 3G artificial surface, it was a great opportunity for a fine passing display and the visitors did not disappoint.
From the first whistle, the hosts could see they were in for a long afternoon as Welland kept the ball and created several early chances that went narrowly wide.
Tivoli could not get out of their own half and the inevitable happened on 25 minutes when top-scorer James Lush outpaced the full-back before squaring for Mark Taylor only for a defender to turn the ball into his own net.
The second followed shortly after when Ben Pearson's deep cross was put back across goal by Tim Lewis for Jordan King to head home.
The second-half started in a similar fashion to the first with Welland relentless in attack and they were rewarded with a third when Omar Elmougy smartly turned his man and unleashed an unstoppable 25- yard drive.
Elmougy added his second with a smart left-footed finish following a strong run before turning provider when he found King in the box to make no mistake from close range. Lush was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet when fine work saw his shot come back off the post before Lewis made it six.
His initial strike was blocked before coming back for the winger to make no mistake second time around.
Neat play from Pearson and Taylor resulted in the latter releasing Elmougy, who ran on and fired home to complete his hat-trick.
Jon Williams rounded off the scoring when Ryan Dunn and Lewis combined to play him in and cap an excellent all-round performance.
Welland visit second-placed Fintan tomorrow (2pm).
Second-from-bottom Hanley Swan slipped deeper into Division One relegation trouble with a 3-0 defeat at Gloucester Elmleaze, while Upton Town's visit to Butlers was postponed.
Bromyard Town's West Midlands League Premier Division home clash with Lye Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.


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Abandoned South Dakota
Sioux Falls photographer Abby Bischoff has run her Flock Studio for about the past five years. Bischoff had what she calls a 'real job' while casually pursuing her passion for photography by shooting weddings, graduation photos and other projects for friends and family. That passion though goes back to when she was a farm girl outside Huron, South Dakota. Bischoff says she would "enter pictures in 4-H and waste ROLLS UPON ROLLS of film doing photo shoots of anything and everything."
As a journalism major at SDSU, she also took several photography classes which just furthered her interest and passion. When asked what first caught her imagination with the abandoned houses that fill the Abandoned: South Dakota Facebook page (which in just a couple of days, has already surpassed 11,000 fans!) Bischoff says "As a farm girl, I guess I was drawn to them as the backdrop of someone's life. The Christmas mornings, the fights with your siblings, the family dinners – all take place in the walls of a home. A few years ago, my parents built a new home on the farm and the house I grew up in got moved away when the new one was done being built. During that process, I really thought about how a house is so much more than that. It's really a character in your life."
A year ago, Bischoff did a 365 project which encourages people to post a new picture every day. Several of the photos on the Abandoned: South Dakota page were included and she said that friends and acquaintances were very supportive. She said she would post them while waiting for a batch process to run on a wedding or portrait session she had done, but had no idea this idea would take off the way it has.
Bischoff says "I certainly don't think I was the first person to think to photograph them and I'm probably not the best. But, I've learned that unless you push yourself into things, sometimes you won't ever do anything. So, I've thought I want to do a book on them for a while now. And more than just a photo book. I'd love to do interviews with family members of these homes – hear the stories and memories the homes hold. Find out what that last moment in the house was and what led them to leave it behind. I'm sure I'd see waves of certain trends leading to their abandonment – weather events, economic times, etc."
The Facebook page has already had several fans asking if they can share their own photos and giving Bischoff tips as to where to find more of these treasures. She says she'd LOVE it if people would share their pictures on her page adding that the more of these homes that can be preserved through photos, the better. She also would like fans to send GPS coordinates to where these houses are located since they're obviously not on the highways, which she says she never takes. Bischoff is used to taking the long way to her destination and is always thrilled to come across these abandoned South Dakota homes that speak to so many of us.


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No living member was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2013 on Sunday, the first time that has happened since 1965.
MORE: Photos from the 2013 Hall of Fame induction
Don't worry about next year, though. Several well-qualified candidates with no PED associations appear on the Baseball Writers Association of America ballot for the first time in 2014. In addition, a few returnees stand a good chance of getting voted in.
Top first-time candidates
Greg Maddux: With 355 wins and four Cy Youngs to his credit, Maddux is a slam dunk first-ballot selection. He won't be unanimous (nobody ever is), but look for him to join Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan and Cal Ripken in getting 98 percent or more of the vote.
Tom Glavine: Glavine is like Maddux with a little less of everything — 305 wins instead of 355, two Cy Youngs instead of four. Still, Glavine's credentials are strong and he should join his long-time teammate on the stage in Cooperstown next year.
Frank Thomas: The Big Hurt presents an interesting case. He is well qualified by normal Hall standards (two MVPs, lifetime batting average of .301, 521 homers) and has never been associated with PEDs. In fact, Thomas has been an outspoken critic of their use and says PED users should be banned from the Hall. But the BBWAA so far has not been kind to sluggers of the 1990s, even when they have not been tied specifically to PED use (see Jeff Bagwell and Mike Piazza).
Mike Mussina: A strong candidate who eventually will be inducted. But with Maddux and Glavine (not to mention holdover Jack Morris) on the ballot, Mussina likely will fall short in 2014.
Other first-time candidates: Moises Alou, Armando Benitez, Sean Casey, Jose Cruz Jr., Ray Durham, Damion Easley, Keith Foulke, Eric Gagne, Luis Gonzalez, Scott Hatteberg, Jacque Jones, Todd Jones, Jeff Kent, Jon Lieber, Esteban Loaiza, Paul Lo Duca, Matt Morris,Trot Nixon, Hideo Nomo, Jay Payton, Kenny Rogers, Richie Sexson, J.T. Snow, Shannon Stewart, Mike Timlin, Steve Trachsel, Jose Vidro.
Top returnees (75 percent needed for election)
Craig Biggio (68.2 percent of the vote in 2013): It's not clear why the writers didn't elect Biggio in 2013. Being a members of the 3,000-hit club has been a ticket to first ballot election for decades (with the exception of PED-stained Rafael Palmeiro). But 68.2 percent is a high vote percentage for a first-year candidate, and Biggio will make the jump to 75 percent this year or next.
Jack Morris (67.7 percent): Morris will be on the BBWAA ballot for the final time. Normally, that would mean his election in 2014 would be all-but-certain given his 2013 vote total. But he made little progress in voting from 2012 to 2013, and the presence of Maddux and Glavine could hurt his candidacy.
Jeff Bagwell (59.6 percent): He made some progress in terms of vote percentage in 2013, his second year on the ballot. Bagwell's eventual induction is likely given that he's already at 60 percent of the vote, but he may fall short again in 2014.
Mike Piazza (57.8 percent): Piazza is the greatest hitting catcher of all-time, but he has been so dogged by PED rumors that he addressed the issue head on in his autobiography. Like Bagwell, his eventual induction is likely, but probably not next year.
Tim Raines (52.2 percent): In his fifth year of eligibility, Raines finally crossed the 50 percent threshold, so he is in good shape for eventual election.
The PED holdovers: Roger Clemens (37.6%); Barry Bonds (36.2%); Mark McGwire (16.9%); Sammy Sosa (12.5%); and Rafael Palmeiro (8.8%). None of these guys should worry about booking hotel reserverations in Cooperstown next summer.
Other returnees: Lee Smith (47.8%); Curt Schilling (38.8%); Edgar Martinez (35.9%); Alan Trammell (33.6%); Larry Walker (21.6%); Fred McGriff (20.7%); Don Mattingly (13.2%),


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Last week, we covered warm-up stretching for exercise and workouts, but there's one more important idea and goal when stretching - proper and safe cool down stretches to promote flexibility, avoid injury, and improve fitness.
There is no doubt that time spent on cool down stretching will improve an athlete's level of performance and accelerate the recovery process after training. As a result, the cool down stretching period must be seen as an essential part of both the training session and general fitness itself.
Static stretches are more appropriate to the cool down as they help muscles to relax, strengthen and lengthen muscles, and re-establish their normal range of movement. Static stretches - literally, non-movement based stretches - help promote a host of health outcomes like decreasing body temperature, stretching and calming muscles, and improving flexibility immediately after the stresses of a workout.
Unlike before a workout, where movement-based stretches and dynamic activity is important to warm up muscles and get the body ready for movement, post-workout stretching is more focused on static, non-movement stretching in order to help the body cool down, and it's a difference to be noted; after a workout, focus more on flexibility and slow, controlled hang and hold stretches to promote flexibility and protect the muscles from injury.
These static stretches are simple - think about hamstring stretches on the ground, with your legs straight in front of you, and lightly reaching as far as you are comfortable towards your toes to loosen up the muscles in the back of your legs - and depending on comfort level and feeling, you can hold them typically anywhere between 10 and 30 seconds at a time, without moving.
For many it goes without saying, but remember to focus on symmetry - stretch both arms and both legs equally, instead of focusing on one side of the body. Symmetry will promote true flexibility across your entire body and help muscle growth and avoiding soreness.
By the end of a strenuous workout, you've earned the feeling and worked hard to get to that point, so it's important to remember to enjoy it - use the 5 or 10 minutes after the workout to focus on stretching, relax your mind, and finish the workout in a strong, but calm way.
Even though it's only 5 or 10 minutes at the end of a workout, stretching can be the hardest thing to focus on if you're anxious to move on to the rest of your day; don't fall in to the trap of rushing through one of the most important parts of exercising. Finish strong, focused, and healthy by stretching those muscles!
About the author: Bobby DeMuro is the Founder of No Fizz America, a non-profit dedicated to health and fitness. He is also the founder FusionSouth, a sports conditioning firm. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook .
You can listen to Bobby on his weekly radio show on Radio Exiles.
Copyright 2012 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Moderator: Mahavihara moderator
Paññāsikhara wrote:It may help to use Unicode fonts.
Paññāsikhara wrote:It may help to use Unicode fonts.
The Pali alphabetical order is as follows:
a ā i ī u ū e o ṁ k kh g gh ṅ c ch j jh ñ ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ t th d dh n p ph b bh m y r l ḷ v s h
ḷh, although a single sound, is written with ligature of ḷ and h.
David N. Snyder wrote:The Pali alphabet is in this order:
A, Ā, I, Ī, U, Ū, E, O, K, Kh, G, Gh, C, Ch, J, Jh, Ñ, Ṭ, Ḍ, T, Th, D, Dh, N, P, Ph, B, Bh, M, Y, R, L, V, S, H
Paññāsikhara wrote:I think that "Ṭh" and "Ḍh" may need to be added after "Ṭ" and "Ḍ" respectively, no?
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- Home
- The museum
- Collection
- Calendar & Exhibitions
- Research
- Support Boijmans
The print cabinet of Museum Boijmans van Beuningen is a world-famous collection of prints and drawings and is located in the entrance area which can be visited free of charge.
Prints and drawings are very sensitive to light which means they cannot be placed on permanent exhibition but can only be exhibited intermittently. If you would like to view a work in the collection that is not currently on exhibition, you can do this in two ways:
- by requesting it via the digital program in the print cabinet (possible from Tuesday until Friday)
- by making an appointment in advance to view the work in the study room of the library.
In the presentation area next to the print depository, the print cabinet, there is a permanent digital presentation of around 1000 prints and drawings. It is a selection from the extensive collection of works on paper that are stored in the print depository. This presentation includes works by more than 100 artists from all periods. The selection includes, for example, works by Dürer, Rembrandt and Cézanne. Using the digital program, you can not only choose works using various search criteria, but also magnify details and save selections from a work. These will then form part of the at random presentation of selected and most viewed works, which is active when the program is not being used.
If you would like to see one of these works "in real life", it is possible to request that immediately using the same digital program that is used for the presentation. The requested drawing or print is then produced as quickly as possible, within half an hour, and presented on the presentation table located just a little farther away in the print room.
Information about works on paper in the collection can also be found online.
If you wish to view a certain drawing or print or a group of works, you should make an appointment at least one week in advance with one of the employees of the print cabinet (email@example.com). You should state what you would like to view. The art works are laid out for you before you arrive and you can study them in the study room of the library. It is, of course, only possible to view works that are currently stored in the depository. Prints and drawings are regularly loaned out to exhibitions elsewhere in the world. Several drawings are too fragile to be shown regularly to visitors.
When you visit the museum to view prints and drawings, conditions apply.
You can make a reservation to view a certain drawing or print by contacting: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Options and Accessories (View All)
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Add a high-speed RS-232 Serial port to your computer through a PCI Express expansion slot. The PEX1S553 PCI Express Serial adapter card allows you to turn a PCI Express slot into an RS232 (DB9) serial connection. The card is constructed using a native single chip design that lets you harness the full capability offered by PCI Express (PCIe), while reducing the load applied to the CPU by as much as 48% over conventional bridge chip serial cards.
The PCI Express (RS232) Serial Adapter Card is compatible with a broad range of operating systems including Windows� 2000/XP/2003/Vista?/Windows 7/Server 2008 R2 (32 and 64 bit), Linux Kernel 2.6.11 and up, as well as MAC OS X 10.4 and above. The adapter card includes an optional half-height/low profile bracket, that lets you add a serial port to virtually any computer, regardless of the case form factor.
This product is a replacement for our PEX1S552 card.
Backed by a StarTech.com Lifetime warranty and free lifetime technical support.
General Information
|Product Type
|Serial Adapter
|Manufacturer Part Number
|Manufacturer Website Address
|Product Model
|Product Name
|1 Port PCIe RS232 Serial Adapter Card
|Brand Name
Technical Information
|Host Interface
|PCI Express
|Data Transfer Rate
|460.80 Kbps
|1 x 9-pin DB-9 Male RS-232 Serial
Physical Characteristics
|Form Factor
|Plug-in Card
|Package Contents
|Standard Warranty
|2 Year
This product is shipped only within Canada and Warranty valid for Canada only.
Computer Valley makes every effort to provide accurate specifications, descriptions, images and price on all products that are found on www.computervalley.ca
However for complete and updated descriptions, compatibilities, specifications and actual photo we recommend our clients to consult with manufacturer's websites or simply call us for proper clarifications. Computer Valley is not responsible and will not accept returns for items purchased that are not compatible with your system. Please ensure that you have verified compatibility and actual photo with your system by visiting the manufacturer's web site prior to purchase or give us a call to make sure what you are purchasing.
For more information, visit our Shipping and Return policy.
Computer Valley wants to provide you with the best and fastest possible service. We try to ship in stock orders placed before 2:00pm EST the same day. For in stock orders placed after 2:00pm EST they are usually shipped the next business day. However there are always exceptions. Please contact us prior to placing your order if you need your purchase by a certain date.
We ship by UPS, FEDEX, USPS, CANADA POST , PUROLATOR and LOOMIS from the nearest locations possible based on stock in hand.
Please note: Computer Valley reserves the rights to accept and cancel any order at anytime due to pricing error or any other reason. An email will be sent as a confirmation of the order status.
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College of the Siskiyous is located in one of the California's most geologically and geographically diverse landscapes. Here, where the High Cacade and Klamath provinces meet, students can study both young volcanoes and ancient oceanic terranes. The Earth and Space Sciences faculty offer a variety of courses in geology, physical geography and astronomy that draw on the College's diverse regional setting to meet the needs of general education students, Earth science majors and community members who would like to learn more about the physical environment of the Cascade-Klamath region.
Summer 2017-Spring 2018 Courses
Courses offered in Earth and Space Sciences differ slightly from year to year and the Summer 2017-Spring 2018 schedule is listed below. Follow any of the links to learn more about an individual course or click on the "Courses" link at left to see a complete list of the discipline's courses.
Summer 2017
Fall 2017
- Environmental Geology
- Geology of the National Parks
- Geology of California
- Physical Geology/Lab
- Geology of Mount Shasta
- Geology of the Medicine Lake Volcano
Spring 2018
- Earth Science
- Geology of California
- Oceanography
- Historical Geology/Lab
- Geology of Lava Beds National Monument
Paul Dawson Memorial Scholarship
Paul Dawson taught geology and engineering at the College of the Siskiyous from 1962 to 1986 and inspired generations of students with his enthusiasm, knowledge of local geology and great stories. Following his death in 1996, Paul's family and friends established a scholarship fund to assist outstanding COS earth science and natural resources students continue their educations. In order to be eligible to receive the $750 award a student must:
- be a full-time, second semester student who has an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and plans to continue at COS for a consecutive year;
- have taken or be enrolled in a geology course and be pursuing a career in Earth Sciences or Natural Resources;
- and, submit a letter of recommendation from the COS Geology or Natural Resource instructor with his or her application.
The application period for the Paul Dawson Memorial Scholarship is 1-January to 15-March and the award recipient will be notified by 31-May. Additional information and an online application are available from the COS Foundation's scholarship page. If you have any questions about the scholarship or the application process please call (530) 938-5373.


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New "Dead End" Predator...
NECA, via Batman: Dead End director Sandy Collora's facebook page, provides a look at the back packaging for the Wasp Predator. This cool new "Dead End" character joins Predators Series 11 due out later this year, which also includes Thermal Vision Dutch and a NECA in-house original, Armored Combat Lost Predator.
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, AlterEgoComics.com, Toynk.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, and MonkeyDepot.com.