text: EPA's veto of Spruce Mine permit overturned By Ken Ward Jr. March 23, 2012 Story Share Read the ruling here. CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A federal judge has overturned the Obama administration's veto of the largest mountaintop-removal mining permit in West Virginia history, saying the agency greatly oversteps its authority in blocking the controversial project.U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled that the federal Environmental Protection Agency is not authorized to withdraw a Clean Water Act permit that already was issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers."This is a stunning power for an agency to arrogate to itself when there is absolutely no mention of it in the statute," Jackson wrote in a 34-page opinion that's been highly anticipated by all sides in the mountaintop-removal debate.Jackson called the language at issue in the law unclear and confusing, but said the EPA's reading was not a reasonable interpretation.The decision is a major victory not only for mine operator Arch Coal Inc. but also for the coal industry and for Appalachian political leaders who have been waging a bitter campaign against the EPA's crackdown on mountaintop removal."We're pleased the district court has ruled in our favor -- confirming that our Spruce No. 1 permit remains valid," said Kim Link, a spokeswoman for St. Louis-based Arch Coal. Hal Quinn, president of the National Mining Association, said the ruling "struck another blow for restoring the rule of law and regulatory certainty by rejecting the EPA view that it has unbounded authority to retroactively revoke permits issued by another federal agency."The EPA did not comment on the ruling Friday.Mary Anne Hitt, director of the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign, said the environmentalist group is disappointed with the decision and "fully anticipates" that the EPA will appeal."If this permit goes forward and the proposed mining takes place," Hitt said, "it will have dire consequences for families and their homes, water and land."Still pending in federal court in Washington is another case in which the National Mining Association and various coal-producing states are challenging new water-quality guidance the EPA issued to try to reduce impacts of surface coal mining in Appalachia. A hearing in that case is scheduled for June 1. At issue in the Spruce case was an Army corps-issued permit for the Spruce No. 1 Mine, an operation that environmentalist groups have been trying to stop since 1998, when it was first proposed as a 3,113-acre extension of Arch's Dal-Tex Mine that would have buried more than 10 miles of streams.Then-U.S. District Judge Charles H. Haden II blocked the permit in 1999, putting more than 300 United Mine Workers union members at Dal-Tex out of work. Since then, Arch has transferred the site to its non-union operations and the Spruce Mine has undergone one of the most detailed environmental studies ever in the coal industry. Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the corps generally reviews and approves these permits, which allow mining operators to bury streams with millions of tons of waste rock and dirt. Congress gave the EPA broad authority to step in and block such waste dumping if it believes the damage is too great or could have been avoided.Corps officials in January 2007 issued a permit for a scaled-back version, a 2,300-acre operation that would bury more than seven miles of streams. The mine eventually would employ 250 workers and mine about 44 million tons of coal over about 15 years.EPA officials have questioned the Spruce Mine from the beginning and, in a comment letter submitted to the corps under President George W. Bush in 2006, complained about the potential impacts and said more changes in the operation were needed.In January 2011, the EPA rescinded the corps' approval for Arch to dump waste rock and dirt into 6.6 miles of Pigeonroost Branch, Oldhouse Branch and their tributaries. The agency said it would allow mining to continue on another portion of the site, burying nearly a mile of streams in the Seng Camp Creek watershed, because work there already had begun.The Clean Water Act section at issue in the case gives the EPA authority to prohibit the dumping of waste into streams and grants the agency authority for the "withdrawal" of streams or stream segments as waste-dumping sites. The law says the EPA can use that authority "whenever" the agency determines a permit "will have an unacceptable adverse effect on municipal water supplies, shellfish beds, and fishery areas . . . wildlife or recreational areas."When deciding such cases, courts generally are supposed to defer to the language Congress passes, if they believe lawmakers have spoken directly to the precise question at hand. If Congress was not clear on the matter, courts generally are supposed to defer to agency interpretations, unless they conclude the agency reading of the law isn't reasonable. Jackson wrote that she could have overruled the EPA by simply concluding that the statute does not specifically give the agency authority to veto permits that the corps already has issued.However, the judge did a further analysis, saying, "It is undeniable that the provision in question is awkwardly written and extremely unclear." Even giving the EPA deference, the Obama appointee said, the agency's reading of the law is "unreasonable.""It posits a scenario involving the automatic self-destruction of a written permit issued by an entirely separate federal agency after years of study and consideration," the judge wrote. "Poof! Not only is this nonrevocation-revocation logistically complicated, but the possibility that it could happen would leave permittees in the untenable position of being unable to rely upon the sole statutory touchstone for measuring their Clean Water Act compliance: the permit."It is further unreasonable to sow a lack of certainty into a system that was expressly intended to provide finality."Reach Ken Ward Jr. at firstname.lastname@example.com or 304-348-1702. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Deer in 8 WV counties found dead from EHD 2 New company planning $73M synthetic fuel plant in Greenbrier County 3 St. Albans rallies to beat Riverside, 21-17 4 WVU law professor announces run for Congress 5 Judge denies motion to recuse himself in WV heroin trafficking case Panel says MSHA likely could have prevented UBB disaster Previous Story G-Dub band is W.Va.'s best Next Story


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If the Silhouette CAMEO™ isn't already your favorite die-cutting machine on the market, you will quickly fall in love. With software to customize your designs and cutting that works as easy as your home printer, creating custom projects is almost as easy as imagining the ideas. Cut paper, cardstock, vinyl, fabric, and other materials with ease with or without a cutting mat. Then replace the blade with a pen, and the CAMEO will sketch instead of cut!
Light enough to carry, you can transport your Silhouette CAMEO to your computer, crafting table, or even to a friend's house or crop! Carry your machine and supplies in style with one of their pretty rolling totes. Each tote features a telescoping handle and wheels for easy rolling as well as handles for carrying and have plenty of room for your CAMEO, laptop (up to 19"), cutting mats, and accessories.
Lucky you, we have a 24-hour flash giveaway with a Silhouette CAMEO and a teal carrying tote (MSRP $399)!
To enter, head over to the Silhouette blog and site and check out their line of products. Then come back here and fill out {this form}.
Contest ends Friday, March 9, 2012 at 8:00am MDT. Winner announced upon notification and will be chosen with random.org. The contact information you provide will not be shared and will only be used to notify winners. Click here to read our full privacy notice. Winnings are not for resale. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. Participation open to U.S. and Canadian residents 18 years or older. One entry per person.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hunting becomes available when you reach level 15, and can travel to South Africa; it is an option to use 10E and $500 to hunt for animals in the hope of making a profit.
There are 3 types of hunting: beginner session, standard session and advanced session. All three bring in the same amount of experience, although the amount of money earned will vary, depending on your hunting skill.
Note: it's advisable to have donator status when hunting; the extra energy and quicker regen times will help out greatly.
Hunting skill
To get your hunting skill to 100 will take a lot of time, and you will most likely lose out on a lot of fighting stats. You start off at 0 and to begin with, you gain under 0.1 per hunt, so a full energy bar will get you a skill level of about 1.2. Also, it should be noted that over time, your skill gain falls exponentially so you will gain more stats when your skill level is at 2, rather than 10.
Which session?
Generally when hunting, you should start off with the beginner session, purely for the extra profit. Move on to standard sessions when your skill level reaches the mid twenties, when you start making more profit doing standard sessions than beginner sessions.
You will want to move from standard sessions to advanced sessions when your level reaches the mid seventies, when again, you make more profit from doing advanced sessions rather than standard sessions.
At maximum skill, you should be making about 800K per full energy bar, if you are a donator. However, this will take a long time, and is a poor strategy for the active players.
Hunting in mission
In the mission operation ancient, you have to go to South Africa to hunt for raw ivory, finding the raw ivory depends totally on luck, hunting skill or sessions have no effect on this.
Tips for hunting
It may be advisable to work in a farm or zoo with the hunting special, which will give an additional 15% income when hunting.
Another way to boost profits is to complete the General Education Survival Skills course, which gives a further boost of 15% income.
Finally, while away hunting, it may be helpful to bank your money so that it may generate interest, as another way of making money while you hunt.
Hunting can gain you up to three Honors, for getting your skill level to 50, 75 and 100 respectively.
Return to Down To Details
Return to Main Page


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Hurricane Sandy 12-12-12 Concert – Video Highlights
So how about that incredible concert last night? We're pretty sure people are still filing out of Madison Square Garden today.
In all, the show was nearly six hours in length with one of the greatest collections of rock musicians ever assembled on one stage, including Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, the Who, and Billy Joel, plus some once-in-a-lifetime cross-generational collaborations from Roger Waters and Eddie Vedder and Paul McCartney and the surviving members of Nirvana. And all to raise money for a great cause, the Robin Hood victims of Hurricane Sandy.
In case you want to relive the excitement (or show it to a co-worker who was doing something else for some strange reason), we've got video highlights below from all the classic rock performers.
Watch Bruce Springsteen Perform 'Land of Hope and Dreams'
Watch Roger Waters Perform 'Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2′
Watch Roger Waters and Eddie Vedder Perform 'Comfortably Numb'
Watch Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen Perform 'Who Says You Can't Go Home'
Watch Eric Clapton Perform 'Crossroads'
Watch the Rolling Stones Perform 'You Got Me Rocking'
Watch The Who Perform 'Pinball Wizard'
Watch Billy Joel Perform 'Movin' Out'
Watch Billy Joel Perform 'New York State of Mind'
Watch Paul McCartney and Nirvana Unite for 'Cut Me Some Slack'
Watch Paul McCartney Perform 'I've Got a Feeling'


text:
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Wound Care & Surgical Clinic
Family Centered Care
Community Health Needs Assessment
Community Health Programs
Classes & Events
Clinical Trials
Find a Doctor
Job Shadow Program
The Auxiliary
Safety & Quality
Health Resources
Hospital Library
Medical Dictionary
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Health Sciences Library
Medical Staff Services
Patient Transfers
Hartford HealthCare Portal
Integrated Care Partners
WCMH Intranet
Post pictures and journal entries about how you or your loved one is feeling, anticipated procedures, and expected discharge date.
Friends and family who are given the confidential log-in information can view the journal, as well as leave messages of support in the guest book.
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TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. -- The executive director of the Ulster County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is resigning due to health reasons less than six months after being hired, the vice-president of the agency's Board of Directors said Monday.
Jill Schintone said Executive Director Stacey Price is resigning effective March 31. She said it is an unfortunate circumstance because Price was dynamic and doing great things for the shelter on Wiedy Road.
"We accomplished a lot in the short time she's been with us," Schintone said of Price. She said Price's decision to resign was mentioned at the shelter's annual Fur Ball held Saturday. Schintone said the shelter's program director, Rebecca Stowe, spoke about Price's accomplishments while with the agency.
Price could not be reached for comment Monday. She began working as the executive director of the SPCA in mid-October, replacing Brian Shapiro, who went on to become the director of the New York state office of the Humane Society of the United States.
Schintone said the board will have to begin looking for a new executive director.
Before coming to Ulster County, Price served for three years as an animal welfare director of a shelter in Washington state and oversaw its transition to a no-kill policy.


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Topic: Gemcitabine and Tarceva, side effects?
I have been on Tarceva daily and Gemcitabine weekly for 4 weeks now. Have the chemo "acne" but no other major side effects, in fact the day after I am usually pumped full of energy from all the decadron, then really tired after that. The last 2 sessions however have been different. I feel like crap! I had my chemo on Monday, this morning at 6 I awoke to severe cramping and diarrhea and spent the day barely able to move. Everything hurt including my hair. From what I've read of the two drugs they both can cause you to feel like you have a really bad flu, but I guess this surprised me since I hadn't had any problems until now. Are the effects cumulative? why would I feel like this now and not before?
This is yet another one of those nights where I want to have a temper tantrum, THIS JUST SUCKS!!


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Slashfood is having a contest called Lovely Leftovers Day where they're asking food bloggers to show what they made with their leftover turkey. I'm entering my soup, because it tasted incredible, even though I was not totally satisfied with the photo. I've decided it's really hard to get good photos of soup. I still have a lot to learn about soup photography, but I'm pretty good at soup making!
Leftover Turkey, Mushroom, and Wild Rice Soup
(about 6 servings, recipe created by Kalyn)
2-3 cups diced leftover turkey
6 cups chicken stock (or 4 cans chicken broth, reduced to six cups)
1 tsp. dried thyme or 2 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
1 onion, diced small
1/2 cup diced celery
2 T butter, divided (use olive oil for South Beach Diet)
Vege-Sal (vegetable seasoned salt) or salt to taste
fresh ground black pepper to taste
8 oz. sliced white or brown mushrooms
8 oz. sliced Baby Bella or shitake mushrooms (not dried shitakes)
2 cups water
1 T Better Than Bouillon Mushroom Base (optional but recommended)
1 T soy sauce (or more if you do not have the mushroom base)
3 T flour (use whole wheat flour for South Beach Diet)
1 cup cooked wild rice or wild/brown rice mix
1 cup half and half, cream, or milk (use milk for South Beach diet)
South Beach Suggestions:


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Philadelphia, PA
The project was a feasibility study of an extension for Bucknell University's existing Art Building. The existing building is on the end of the main campus axis, which is a very prestigous location. The new 2 story addition, attached to the back and sides of the existing structure, consists of painting and sculpture workshops and exhibition spaces. The existing part of the bulding was converted into an exhibition gallery.
Status: Unbuilt
Location: Lewisburg, PA, US
My Role: Architect designer
Additional Credits: Partner in charge: Barry Eiswerth


text: Kaboomga other resources ZAM · EQ2U · Census xml EverQuest II NPC Information Purpose Alchemist Race Troll Zone Big Bend (Shattered Lands) Location In Kaboomables, a building almost directly behind the bank ( -40, 1, 9 ) /waypoint -40, 1, 9 Retrieved from "http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Kaboomga?oldid=280927" Ad blocker interference detected! Wikia is a free-to-use site that makes money from advertising. We have a modified experience for viewers using ad blockers Wikia is not accessible if you've made further modifications. Remove the custom ad blocker rule(s) and the page will load as expected. Categories: NPCs Big Bend NPCs Shattered Lands NPCs Alchemist (NPC Type) Big Bend Alchemist NPCs Troll NPC pages that need EQ2MAP uid Add category Cancel Save


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vinasp wrote:Hi everyone,...Best wishes, Vincent.
... it sounds like your lower path serves a mostly utilitarian purpose of cultivating support for the Sangha by offering a false sense of understanding among lay people. No?vinasp wrote:But if lay people are to support the Sangha they must think that they understand, and approve, of what the monks are doing.
If you think any of it is wrong then please say so. I am the first to admit that I am still learning. If you can show me that anything is wrong I will be delighted, since it means that I am getting closer to the truth.
vinasp wrote: On the other points, pick one for discussion - my choice would be the aggregates.
vinasp wrote: We will need to choose one topic for more detailed discussion soon.
vinasp wrote:4. There is nothing physical in the aggregates.
vinasp wrote:2. The term arahant is also used for those on the
higher path.
We will need to choose one topic for more detailed discussion soon.
vinasp wrote:I do not meditate
vinasp wrote:I struggle to see the truth.
I struggle to see the truth.
Return to "Connections to Other Paths"
Users browsing this forum: Garrib and 70 guests


text:
Take Snow and Roof Safety Measures
Feb. 9, 2010
News Highlights
More Information
As heavy snow continues to accumulate, the Fairfax County Snow and Roof Safety Web page offers important safety measures for flat roofs. If a roof has collapsed, call 9-1-1.
Information from the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services addresses:
Single Family Homes and Townhomes
If there is a flat roof, monitor the ceiling below and look for signs of roof distress. Evacuate if you notice any of these warning signs:
- Sagging ceiling beneath the flat roof.
- New cracks on ceiling drywall or plaster.
- Popping, cracking or creaking sounds.
- Doors and/or windows that can no longer be opened or closed.
Residents should not attempt to access their roofs to try to clear the snow due to the safety concerns of slipping off the roof and exposure to electrical wires. Residents should clear the areas around downspouts and roof drains so that melting water has a path to flow away from the house when the snow begins to melt.
Commercial Buildings
Most commercial buildings are designed to accommodate a roof snow load associated with 24 inches of dense, compact and/or wet snow. If there are any of the warning signs below, the building needs to be evacuated immediately:
- Sagging roof members including steel bar joists, metal decking, wood rafters, wood trusses and plywood sheathing.
- Popping, cracking and creaking sounds.
- Sagging ceiling tiles and/or sagging sprinkler lines and sprinkler heads.
- Doors and/or windows that can no longer be opened or closed.
Residents also may contact the Fairfax County Emergency Information Line at 703-817-7771, TTY 711 for more information; voice mail messages will be monitored and returned.
Emergency information and status updates are available on:
- Fairfax County's Web site
- Emergency information phone line (703-817-7771)
- Community Emergency Alert Network (CEAN)
- Fairfax County Government Channel 16.
- In addition, 1670 AM, emergency radio for Fairfax County, is broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the National Weather Service.
Additional winter weather preparedness information can be found online. In addition, emergency contact numbers for public utilities is online should residents lose electricity, gas, telephone, cable, Internet or water service.


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In conjunction with Legacy Family Tree, I will be presenting Google for Genealogists on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 2:00 PM Eastern, 1:00 PM Central, 12:00 PM Mountain,
11:00 AM Pacific ((U.S.) and 7:00PM GMT.
Click here to learn more about this webinar and to register. The event is free and you will be able to participate from the comfort of your home or office! Also remember to sign up for future webinars at Legacy Family Tree while you are there.
©2010, copyright Thomas MacEntee


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Sideshow deploys a new armored trooper...
For a great selection of film, comic and TV action figures and collectibles, check out BigBadToyStore.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, PastGenerationToys.com, SuperHeroToys.com, MonkeyDepot.com, and Sekaido.com.
For a great selection of film, TV and pop culture t-shirts and apparel, check out TShirtGurus.com and 80sTees.com.
It's amazing what attention to detail can do for a toy and its collectors, especially when it's Star Wars. We've seen what Hasbro did with their twelve-inch line a decade ago, and while they were able to produce quite a number of figures, it ultimately just wasn't good enough. Sideshow joined the scene with their highly articulated and detailed 1/6th scale figures and hasn't slowed down since.
After years of Jedi and other alien figures, the popular armored troops are now a standard issue. Sideshow has released a white ranking Sandtrooper earlier and has an Authorized Sideshow Retailer Exclusive with the Sandtrooper Corporal, a black rank on pre-order. Just recently shipped to those who ordered, however, is the Squad Leader with his orange rank shoulder pauldron, the most popular one, no doubt.
Priced at $109.99, Squad Leader is a limited edition of only 3,500 pieces and is now on Sideshow's WAIT LIST, though you might be able to find the troopers you're looking for elsewhere.
PACKAGING: The packaging for these figures are still the same familiar box with the 30th anniversary design. Full color photography grace all sides of the box with the added screen captures on the backside. Magnets hold the box tightly together and upon opening, you'll find the weapons stored on one side and figure on the other. You'll also find the backstory of the character if you care to read it.
SCULPT/ ARMOR: Sculpting is very good, and while there are areas that may seem off, it's just difficult to pull off in a functional figure. This armor is basically the same as the previous Sandtrooper, which was in itself a variation of the Stormtrooper. Sideshow is definitely making their money back on this design. Underneath it all is a black body glove suit.
What separates this armor from the basic Stormtrooper are minor, most notable in the mid torso, which feature a different pattern. The shoulder pauldron is actually a soft fabric piece that you put over the arm and neck once the head is removed. Also worth mentioning is that there is no head underneath the helmet since no Sandtrooper ever shows their face in the film.
The color of the Sandtrooper is an off-white with some added dirt and grime to show off the "worn" look that made Star Wars believable. It's not overdone, though I think they could have pulled it back a little bit.
ACCESSORIES: If there's anything great about this release is that accessories are essential. Fortunately, Sideshow provides us with more than enough to mess around with, and there's even room to customize your Sandtrooper depending on which version from the film you like best. This isn't to say that I have my major gripes, but I'll get to that in a bit.
First things first, the Sandtrooper Squad Leadercomes with two pairs of hands that are swappable at the wrist. I actually didn't find these extra hands necessary but they're there for those who want them.
The shoulder pauldron, as mentioned above, is a soft accessory that straps on around the right arm and over the neck. It's not a plastic as it appears.
Then there are belt pouches and shoulder pouches. You can only use two belt pouches at a time so feel free to pick the two you like best. The belt is attached via Velcro so adjust that while you're at it. The shoulder pouch can be strapped on over the left shoulder easy enough.
Sandtrooper comes with two weapons: T-21 Light Repeating Blaster with strap and the standard issue Stormtrooper Blaster. He's seen in the film with either one so have fun deciding which to display. I prefer the T-21 though, since it just screams "Sandtrooper".
Lastly, we have the backpack. The oh so annoying backpack. It comes with straps not unlike the kinds you'd find on regular full size backpacks. If you don't have tweezers, good luck as this may take up a good half an hour of your time to figure out. I actually had to do this part twice as it fell apart the first time. Please, Sideshow, if you're going to make things this complicated, do it for us or at least provide instructions on how we best tackle it.
I almost forgot, this figure, like all figures, comes with a Sideshow display stand with the Star Wars logo. Since Sandtrooper has so much gear though, this stand really isn't ideal and it's too bad we aren't given something more similar to what Hot Toys provides.
ARTICULATION: The Sandtrooper has over 30 points of articulation and stands taller than my normal Stormtrooper. That might be not be entirely accurate as I'm just eye-balling it. The one thing that really bothers me about this figure is just how loose his joints are. It makes for a difficult time standing up and not being able to use the display stand conveniently makes matters worse.
OVERALL: After all the time spent on getting this figure together, I decided that it wasn't worth all that trouble. This figure is $20 more expensive than the standard Stormtrooper and I was more impressed with that one. If you're into Sandtroopers or collecting Original Trilogy, by all means, this is a great piece for the collection. But as a more casual Star Wars collector (in this scale anyway), the price and the amount of preparation time, and the fact that he can't stand very well on his own makes this toy collector less than enthused. The weak joints also make holding his weapons in various poses impossible as the weapons themselves are too heavy.
Final verdict: Looks great, but it should be much better. If Sideshow can give a little help on the backpacks and developed appropriate stands for figures with a lot of gear, than I would be more inclined to buy the rest of the gang. Until then, this is a one-man army.
Review and Photos by David Yeh


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text:
When iOS first arrived in 2007, Apple's fledgling mobile operating system had a whole lot of Google in it. Several of the iPhone's key features — maps, web search and a native YouTube app — were born of this corporate partnership. It was the dawn of a new mobile era, and things were rosy.
Apple iOS 6
More polished and slick all around. "Do Not Disturb" and "Can't Talk Right Now" let you decide when you want to deal with calls, messages, and notifications. Privacy controls are more straightforward. Enhancements to the default image processing software noticeably improves camera performance. Ability to tweet or post to Facebook from Siri or Notification Center.
iMessage is still buggy — I ended up turning it off on my iPad. Maps app filled with so many inaccuracies, it's comical. Some landmark features, like panorama photos and 3-D maps, unavailable to iPhone 4 and 3GS users.
How We Rate
- 1/10A complete failure in every way
- 2/10Sad, really
- 3/10Serious flaws; proceed with caution
- 4/10Downsides outweigh upsides
- 5/10Recommended with reservations
- 6/10Solid with some issues
- 7/10Very good, but not quite great
- 8/10Excellent, with room to kvetch
- 9/10Nearly flawless
- 10/10Metaphysical perfection
A few years in, the atmosphere between Apple and Google had become strained. And today, with Android having evolved into an industry powerhouse, relations between the two titans have grown positively icy.
With version 6 of iOS, released last week, Apple has finally gathered Google's belongings and deposited them on the curb. Gone are the Google-powered maps, replaced by an application of Apple's design. The YouTube player is history. And Apple has rolled out Passbook, its own system for storing tickets and loyalty cards that looks like it will eventually grow to compete directly with Google Wallet.
Even the general systemwide refinements in iOS 6 — and there are over 200 to savor — have the whiff of battle. Siri's voice-command system is improved, as expected with Google Now hot on its tail. iCloud integration across the OS is smoother, showing Apple intends to make cloud-based services as integral a part of its business as possible to compete with Android's seamless syncing abilities.
All these changes point to a stronger, fully home-grown iOS in the future — and importantly for Apple, one unencumbered by legacy apps from a former ally. But for now, the wounds of separation remain raw.
The greenest part in iOS 6: Maps. Apple's first stab at its own mapping app has some showy features, like turn-by-turn navigation and 3-D flyovers, which are particularly slick on the iPhone 5's speedy A6 processor. But the gloss is off Maps thanks to the sheer number of reported quirks, bugs, and inaccuracies in its location and directions.
Built on top of Tom Tom's less-robust mapping data, searches for one address or destination can take you somewhere else entirely. In my own tests, a search for a familiar street landed me three blocks over. Labels are sometimes off — since when does San Francisco have a French Quarter? Or a neighborhood just called "Bay Area?" Those realistic 3-D renderings in the app's "Flyover" mode, which were shown off to applause during Apple's public demos, sometimes fall flat. No, really: The Eiffel Tower literally lies flat across Paris.
3-D mode seems like a novelty, but it could come in handy for preparing you for what a destination looks like before you arrive (now that Google's street views are gone). However, the two-finger gestures for rotating and adjusting the angle of the 3-D renderings is tough to master.
Turn-by-turn navigation, something Android and Windows Phone have had for a while, is a big addition. It allows you to sit back and drive while Siri's robotic voice talks you through your journey, accompanied by visual cues on your lock screen. (Those with Apple devices lacking dual-core processors, like iPhone 4 and 3GS, don't get to enjoy the voice dictation feature or the 3-D maps.)
Aware of the possibility I'd wind up somewhere I didn't intended, I tested the turn-by-turn directions in San Francisco. They were accurate enough to get me around without getting lost. Other searches and directions queries in metro areas across the U.S. were mostly, if not entirely, accurate. With all the chatter in recent days about how horrible Apple's maps were, my experiences gave me some hope. And if you do find an inaccuracy, you can tap "Report a Problem" to give Apple feedback on your specific finding. Apple says it will be crowdsourcing these corrections to improve its Maps in the future.
There's a big sticking point, however — the new Maps does not provide public transit directions. Tap the bus icon at the top, and the app prompts you to download one of a number of "Routing Apps," like The Transit App or Embark, to fulfill those needs. Some would call this an elegant work-around, but as somebody who takes the bus a lot, I call it a pain in the ass.
There's one feature in Maps I really liked. For information about businesses and restaurants, it uses Yelp, showing the name, the rating, and the number of reviews a place has when you tap its placeholder on a map. (There are different icons for restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations, and medical facilities.) Up pops a card showing basic info, three reviews, and a subtly animated set of photographs. You can also check in with Yelp without leaving Maps. Places of interest, like San Francisco's Ferry Building, lack Yelp data, but the number of places that do have a useful amount of Yelp feedback makes the integration entirely worthwhile — except when the place information is out of date.
Passbook is Apple's first play in the e-wallet space. It's billed as an app that gathers coupons, tickets, loyalty cards and other sorts of traditional physical "passes" in one unified place, almost like Newsstand does for subscription periodicals. By dropping it onto the iPhone, Apple shows its intentions to eventually replace all the other things in your pockets with its singular device. But out of the gate, implementation is sloppy.
First, it doesn't collect your passes and tickets automatically. The main screen of the app explains what you can use Passbook for, but has no directions about how to fill it up. In actuality, developers with Passbook-appropriate apps must first update their apps to be compatible with Passbook. Of course, if you don't have those apps already, you'll need to download them from the App Store. Upon first install of iOS 6, you get an error with the app that says "Cannot Connect to iTunes Store" that's remedied once you download some Passbook-ready apps — whose passes don't just appear automatically, as you'd expect. For the Walgreens app, for instance, you have to sign up for a rewards account before you get the option to add it to Passbook. For Fandango, nothing shows up until you've purchased a movie ticket.
After some initial confusion, Passbook behaves as expected. It grabs your GPS position, and the appropriate passes pop up on your lock screen when you get near a store location. Once you've used a pass, it's virtually shredded in a nice touch of skeuomorphism.
Passbook doesn't handle touch-to-pay cash transfers yet, nor can it open physical locks — both limits imposed by Apple's delay in adopting any hardware-based near-field communication solution. But looking at Passbook, especially in comparison to Google Wallet, you can see that window is open.
With iOS 6, Siri is actually something worth talking about. Or, more appropriately, someone worth talking to. Her talents, once limited to the iPhone 4S and the latest iPad, are now available for the third-generation iPod, fifth-generation iPod touch, and the iPhone 5.
Holding an iPad comfortably, about an arm's length away, Siri was able to understand my commands and queries just as well as if I were holding an iPhone closer to my face. Words in her dictionary are easily understood, but things like uncommon names still cause trouble (and of course, sometimes her query results are a bit lacking, especially if she misunderstands you).
Siri is integrated more thoroughly at the system level, though. It's super efficient to just ask Siri to open Netflix, Facebook, or whatever other app you want to use. You can dictate tweets and Facebook messages to her, and post straight from her interface. Siri's ability to search Yelp for restaurant and business information (and then source OpenTable for reservation information) is exceedingly helpful. I just wish you didn't get thrown out of Siri and into OpenTable to actually complete a restaurant reservation.
Siri's knowledge of sports and movies, and the breadth of queries you can ask about each, is also impressive. And of course, the quirky responses continue: When I asked Siri "What's your favorite movie?" she responded, "I don't watch a lot of movies, Christina." So, not 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Aside from making Siri smarter, Apple added numerous other features that, taken together, noticeably streamline the mobile experience. In the end, it's these niceties that really separate iOS from competing mobile operating systems.
The "Do Not Disturb" feature is my favorite of these new enhancements. You can schedule specific times when you want calls, messages, and alerts silenced, but with the option to allow repeat calls (in the case of an emergency) or calls from specific contacts to go through. It's easy to configure, easy to switch on, and a useful tool for when you don't want to be interrupted.
"Can't Talk Right Now" gives you more options than just ignoring an inconveniently timed incoming call. It integrates with Messages and Reminders, letting you choose to send a canned reply like "I'll call you later." It can also set a reminder to call the person back in an hour, or when you leave your current location. This sort of app-to-app coordination is something that was lacking in past versions of iOS.
In addition to OS-wide Twitter integration, which was introduced in iOS 5, iOS 6 adds Facebook integration. You can now update either network straight from Notification Center. It's great for impromptu sharing. There are some systemwide changes that come with Facebook integration, either pros or cons depending on how you feel about the social network: Your Facebook contacts are now integrated with your phone contacts, and Facebook events are added to the Calendar. If people's names differ between your current contact list and what's on Facebook, you can end up with dupes.
Photo Stream, an iCloud-based feature that lets you share and comment on photos with friends, is a great way to quickly share pictures with someone. But, it would be far more handy if you could also share with Facebook friends as a sort of instantaneous photo album that exists both in iCloud and on Facebook.
iMessage, the data-based SMS alternative Apple introduced with iOS 5, sadly continues to have issues. Theoretically, all of your iMessages are sent simultaneously to your iCloud-enabled Apple devices, and although it does a decent job of that most of the time, the service continues to be buggy. Some messages were delayed by minutes or hours in my tests. On the iPhone, I received notifications for some messages, then opened up the Messages app and they were nowhere to be found. In other cases, messages were delivered in duplicate. And more often, messages reverted to SMS despite both parties being on iPhones in data-supported areas. Until you see your friend typing back, you're left wondering if your message really went through or not — something I could see causing some friction in friendships and relationships, where one recipient could feel they're being ignored by the other, when in fact a message wasn't really delivered.
With iOS 6, you can also now make FaceTime calls over your cellular network — as long as that network isn't AT&T, and you're not on an iPhone 4, 3GS, or iPad 2. Trying out this feature with staff writer Nathan Olivarez-Giles' iPhone 4S on Sprint's 3G network, the only difference between cellular-based FaceTime calls and Wi-Fi was that the cellular call showed marginally more artifacting.
The default camera app can now take seamless panorama shots. You just activate Panorama mode, press the shutter, sweep the camera from one side of the scene to the other, then press the "Done" button. The app shoots a series of stills as you sweep, then stitches them together. The finished 28-megapixel product is impressive, and it works vertically as well as horizontally.
Overall, iOS 6 is an iterative update that brings with it a whole lot of improvements (over 200, in fact). Since we all knew about the biggest changes going in, there are very few surprises after you install it. You will notice some sanding and grooming, though, like the many interface tweaks in native apps. The App Store and iTunes get a much-needed redesign, and the styling in the music player introduces some subtle detailing that make the experience feel pleasantly polished.
If you have a dual-core iDevice — an iPhone 4S, or a second- or third-generation iPad — upgrading to iOS 6 is recommended. The new mobile OS provides a ton more functionality, and the missteps (as glaring as they are) will likely be fixed in future updates. Maps is the big exception here — there's no telling exactly when it's going to get better, or how substantial the improvements will be. It's also unknown at this point whether Google Maps will be made available as a standalone app. For now, you can use Google Maps' web interface if you miss the experience. It's not the same, but it's close enough.
For iPhone 4 and 3GS owners, the upgrade could be a mixed bag, as you'll get a neutered version of the experience (still no Siri, no 3-D Maps, no Google Maps, no Panorama camera mode). But overall, the experience was actually less buggy and sluggish than the latest version of iOS 5 was, so I'd recommend updating.
When you buy something using the retail links in our product reviews, we earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about how this works.Go Back to Top. Skip To: Start of Article.


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Wash gives his take on the A's
ARLINGTON -- The Oakland A's had the highest winning percentage of all 30 MLB teams in the league and held down a 63-38 record Friday entering their game with the Rangers.
The Rangers on the other hand, were 40-62 before the game, with the lowest winning percentage in the league.
Rangers manager Ron Washington took a few minutes to address the success Oakland has enjoyed. The teams battled it out for the American League West the last two seasons.
"Those guys that they've got in that lineup are performing. They have a very functional lineup, they have tremendous starting pitching and ... they've got a solid bullpen," Washington said. "They seem to be able to fill their holes when holes present themselves and they play very well together. Right now, they believe in themselves."
Washington maintains that before his team fell victim to so many injuries, it could've competed at that level.
"I have no doubt about it. My team in Spring Training, if we stayed healthy and the guys that we depend on do what they're supposed to do, we would've been there competing," Washington said. "I still believe that."
In the middle of all the injuries and the hefty load of adversity the Rangers have been forced to face, Washington has kept the same, consistent approach.
"Just keep trying to play good baseball. That's all," Washington said. "Once again, it just comes down to taking advantage of the opportunities that we present -- that we create, really. We haven't been able to."
Grace Raynor is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Hidden Journeys Newsletter
WesternTarai, Nepal
50 minutes 431km
Mount Everest
1hr 20mins 956km
2hrs 1,310km
2hrs 30mins 1,618km
4hrs 10mins 2,572km
Pearl River Basin, China
4 hrs 50 mins 3,243km
Hong KongSAR, China
5hr 30mins 3,762km
Parts of Old Delhi date back more than 2,000 years, when the city was known as Shahjahanabad.
New Delhi was designed by British architects in the 1920s when it was the capital of the British Raj.
Between the 12th and 18th centuries, Delhi was one of the most prosperous cities in Asia thanks to its extensive trade network.
Delhi is the largest commercial centre in northern India and has the third highest GDP of cities in the country.
Each year, Delhi hosts the national Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations.
Chandni Chowk is one of the oldest shopping centres in Delhi and is still one of Asia's largest wholesale markets.
The appearance of the landscape changes depending on your altitude. Using the options below, please choose a cruising altitude to explore from.
We invite you to help us make Hidden Journeys as rich as possible. If you have an image that you believe is suitable for this site then please click below to submit it to the site.
Map showing the extent of the Mughal Empire between 1530 and 1707. North India, with Delhi at its centre, was the core of the Empire, shown in white.
1907 - The walls of Old Delhi. The walled city was founded in 1639 by the Mughal Empire, who called the city Shahjahanabad after the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.
1860 - The Qutub Minar in Delhi. This is thought to be one of the oldest examples of Islamic architecture in India and still remains the tallest brick minaret in the world at 72.5 metres.
View a map of Delhi at 10,000m
More about Delhi
Shah Jahan, Emperor of the Mughal Empire, 1628-1658. Shah Jahan built Old Delhi, which was named in his honour as Shahjahanabad.
Post WWI Czech map of the geometric planned streets of New Delhi. New Delhi was designed by British architects in the 1920s with spacious avenues that contrasted the narrow alleys of Old Delhi.
Chart of the World showing India in relation to the British Empire. The British East India Company took control of the Mughal Empire in the 19th century.
The Hindu Akshardham Temple Monument to World Peace in New Delhi. Opened in 2005, the temple displays artefacts from thousands of years of Hindu culture.
Shah Aurangzeb, 6th Emperor of the Mughal Empire, 1658-1707. The Mughals ruled what is now Delhi from the 15th to the mid-19th centuries.
India Gate, designed by Lutyen, to commemorate those Indians who lost their lives when they were fighting for the British Raj in the First World War when India was part of the British Empire.
Jama Masjid Mosque in Delhi was commissioned by Shah Jahan in 1628, and remains the largest and most well-known mosque in India.
Jama Masjid, or Friday Mosque, in Delhi. Muslims form more than 10 percent of the population of Delhi, making Islam the second most prevalent religion in the city after Hinduism.
The imposing Presidential Palace was built as part of the construction of New Delhi by the British in the 1920s.
The Lotus Temple in Delhi, a Bahá'í place of worship which welcomes people of any religion.
Contribute your own images
1857 - View of Chandni Chowk, the major street of Old Delhi. This is one of the oldest shopping areas in the city and is still extremely popular today.
1818 - Historically, Delhi was at the geographical centre of India and played a vital role in trade domestically and internationally.
1858 - Chandni Chowk is one of Delhi's oldest shopping centres, built in the 17th century.
View a map of Delhi at 1,000m
More about the importance of Delhi for trade
1868 - Print showing the flag of the British East India Company. The Company took over trade in India from the 19th century to Independence, shutting down the majority of Indian manufacturing.
Delhi has bounced back since it was under the control of the British Empire, having regained its status as a trade and business hub with many small and large businesses sitting side-by-side.
The bright colours of a textile stall at Chandni Chowk market. India is famed for its colourful and highly desired fabrics.
Traders wait to sell valuable Indian textiles at a Delhi market. These fabrics were more desired in China than silk until the 18th century.
Indian textiles were some of the most valued in the world during the Mughal Empire.
A busy street in Chandni Chowk. It is one of the busiest markets in Old Delhi, where almost anything can be bought or sold.
A gateway to the Red Fort in Delhi. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, this Mughal Palace forms the border to Chandni Chowk shopping area.
1880 - A mosque and street scene at Delhi in North India. Market stalls have lined Delhi's streets for centuries as locals sell food and handmade goods by the road side.
The Lahore Gate at the Red Fort in Delhi. Lahore Gate provides the main entrance to the Red Fort, and also leads to Chandni Chowk, one of Delhi's largest shopping districts.
Carts parked on the Spice Market, Khari Baoli Road, Old Delhi. Goods such as spices, rice and tea have been traded out of Delhi for centuries, both domestically and to neighbouring countries.
Parade of armoured vehicles leading the Republic Day parade down Raj Path, New Delhi.
The Indian flag and hands with mehndi patterns were integral to depicting Indian culture in the 2010 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Delhi.
Astounding light displays during the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony depicted aspects of Indian culture in Delhi. Here, lights show a yoga figure meditating.
View Delhi at ground level
More about annual festivities in Delhi
The spectacular opening ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games allowed Delhi to showcase the diverse cultures of the country.
India's flag; the saffron represents courage and sacrifice, the white peace and truth and the green faith and chivalry. The Asokha Chakra wheel in the centre represents movement and change.
During Republic Day the armed forces are celebrated in Delhi, parading in formation down the main streets.
A parade of decorated camels on Republic Day in Delhi.
Republic Day gives India an opportunity to honour its armed forces. Here in 2004, the army display a missile.
The parade of India's Army-Madras Regiment during Republic Day in 2004.
The Indian flag hoisted at the Red Fort in Delhi.
Performers in traditional West Bengal costumes in Delhi for the Commonwealth Games. As the capital of India, Delhi welcomes cultures from across this diverse country.
Sri Lankan dancers perform in Delhi during the Commonwealth Games. The Games were an opportunity for cultures from across India and South Asia to join together in Delhi.
Delhi's main stadium built especially for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
© 2017 Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)


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BUNNELL, Fla. - Three Flagler County firefighters and a city employee are accused of drinking alcohol on the job will find out if they'll be fired early next week.
All four sat down with the Flagler city manager Friday alongside their attorneys in a closed-door meeting.
The Flagler Beach fire chief and his assistant chief are accused of drinking, driving and responding to a fire while intoxicated. Two other firefighters on staff are accused of drinking apple pie moonshine while on duty.
Some are surprised all of them are getting support from the community to keep their jobs.
Despite the warnings not to allow his firefighters to respond to a fire after consuming alcohol, Flagler Fire Chief Martin Roberts allowed Assistant Chief Shane Wood to operate a tower truck after drinking five beers, according to an independent investigation conducted by a law firm hired by Flagler Beach City Hall. The chief himself had drank a few glasses of wine when both were called into action, according to the investigation.
City Manager Bruce Campbell refused to interview with Channel 4 on Friday, saying he was in meetings about the issue all afternoon.
Investigators said that on Dec. 14, both Roberts and Wood were attending a Christmas party at a bar when the house fire call came in.
Investigators called the chief's decision to respond "poor judgment and evidence of a lack of organizational control within the department."
Still, many locals are coming to the firefighters' defense.
"As long as they performed their job and did what they were paid to do, I have no problem with it once or ever," resident Shawn Wilson said.
"I think there should be some forgiveness. It was a Christmas party and he answered the call, nothing happened," resident Todd Cornelius said.
The allegations within the department don't stop there. Investigators outline a separate incident involving homemade liquor.
The independent investigation also reveals that two firefighters drank moonshine and stored it in a refrigerator at the station.
Investigators said firefighter Jason Bissonnette purchased moonshine from another firefighter in the station parking lot, and both he and sanitation employee Steve Wood reportedly took a sip while on duty.
All four on Friday stated their case to the city manager, who will ultimately decide if they'll be fired.
Copyright 2013 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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DETROIT - A man was rescued Friday morning from a burning home in Detroit.
The fire broke out at a home on the 100 block of Taylor Street near Second Avenue. When firefighters arrived they heard that a man was still inside.
Firefighters pulled out the ladder truck and rescued the man from the second floor of his home. It was a moment the man in the house will never forget.
Read more: Man saved from Detroit house fire
"It is really crazy, especially a couple of days after Christmas. We walked together. We talked together all the time," said Donyell Hackett.
Hackett identified this man in the burning house as his friend Wayne.
"We salute each other every morning since we were in the service, " said Hackett.
Hackett says he ran out of his house when he saw the smoke coming from his neighbors home.
"I kept looking around and I didn't see him. So I kept saying there is someone in there because he is not there," said Hackett.
Firefighters found Wayne on the second floor and they helped him out to an ambulance.
His neighbor was waiting there to see his friend.
"He said everything is going to be fine. I gave him a hug," said Hackett.
Rescuing the man was not easy. Firefighters say the snow and the cold made it difficult.
But, Detroit firefighters say they don't back down when a life is on the line.
"When we know someone is inside everybody is rushing in that house. We are trying to be safe. We are trying to be smart so no one gets hurt," Battalion Chief Steve Kirschner
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Copyright 2012 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Washington, D.C. -- A first-of-its-kind document could go a long way toward cementing the sustainability relationship between retailer tenants and their shopping center landlords.
The Retail Industry Leaders Association and the Institute for Market Transformation are releasing the Retail Green Lease Primer, which helps merchants and landlords improve the efficiency of their retail facilities. The Retail Green Lease Primer is a tool developed with significant input from national owners and retailers to educate real estate and leasing agents on the specific retail lease provisions necessary for achieving energy, waste, and water use — and cost — reductions.
"Retailers recognize that there are opportunities to improve the efficiency of the buildings they lease," said Adam Siegel, VP sustainability & retail operations, RILA. "Green leasing is a tool to help do that."
For the past two years, a select lineup of U.S.-based retailers and landlords have collaborated to identify the opportunities for more sustainable facilities and the barriers to achieving them. They have identified the lease as a pivotal mechanism to promote sustainability. Through the Retail Green Lease Primer, RILA and its members, together with IMT, have begun to define "green leasing" for the industry: namely, the provisions in retail leases that reduce the costs associated with energy, water, waste, and other resource use.
Already, retail landlords are seeing the value that green leasing can provide. In February, Pyramid Management Group's Destiny USA property received LEED Gold certification; now Pyramid is actively working with its retail tenants to improve their energy, water, waste, and indoor air quality performance, creating a more comfortable shopping environment and reducing costs.
When it comes to investing in technologies and processes that promote more efficient and sustainable facilities, owners and retail tenants often don't know how to start the conversation. The Retail Green Lease Primer aims to solve this problem by presenting the 13 most important lease topics in a clear and simple format. View the resource here.
RILA: Green Lease teams landlords and tenants toward sustainability
Washington, D.C. -- A first-of-its-kind document could go a long way toward cementing the sustainability relationship between retailer tenants and their shopping center landlords.


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The Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, Antigo, is hosting a recipe contest to encourage people to start the new year off right by eating Wisconsin potatoes for breakfast.
The Breakfast of Champions recipe contest lets consumers submit their favorite breakfast recipe featuring Wisconsin potatoes at www.eatwisconsinpotatoes.com, according to a news release.
The first place winner will receive a $400 gift card from Williams-Sonoma. Second and third place will receive $150 and $100 gift cards to a favorite grocery store.
The contest began Dec. 3. and the deadline for a recipe submission is Jan 4, according to the release.
Winners will be announced Jan. 30.


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A SUSPECTED theft of olive trees from a property in Ledbury seems to have been based on a misunderstanding, said police this this week.
The seven olive trees, worth about £10,000 were originally reported stolen fromArgus Farm, Dymock Road, Ledbury, at the end of last month. The trees were reportedly seen being driven away on a flatbed truck.
But this week a police spokesman said: "It appears the farm has a new owner who moved the trees. All parties involved know where they are."


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Moderators: Timko, Fritz, Solty, Booter, Blake_T, Frank Delicious
Roottori wrote:Hi,
how have Valks been working for you? By bag has settled around few molds I really like (Aviar, Roc, Eagle and Predator), but I have had hard time finding a good distance driver. It seems we are at quite the same power level (you may have little bit more distance), so I would be glad to hear your opinion about them. I would also like to hear something about Sword that you used with your Valks, if you don't mind.
dgdave wrote:Hit me up if those 2 PDs don't work out for ya
Fightingthetide wrote:Hey man, I've been throwing Champ Beasts the last few months. But here's the rundown on Valks: I have two 170 champystar Valks, which were from an x-out run of realllly clear blue "star" plastic (the most see-through star plastic I have ever seen). They are minimally domey, had decent glide, and once broken in would flip from a shallow hyzer and carry to 350' no problem. I had a few other valks in rotation from time to time, but none would perform like these.
But the last few months I have been throwing Champ Beasts. Mainly because Champ Valks were starting to only come out in plus molds (not sure if that will be the norm). I have two that I really like, 167 and 168. The 167 is domey and turns like my most worn-in Valk, but is much less likely to turn-and-burn...my guess is the Beasts have more dome and flex back better. The 168 is moderately domey and it turns like my least-worn Valk. But here's the biggest difference: these Beasts have less fade, more glide, and thus they carry further than my Valks. The only down-side is they are less reliable because of a softer fade, but if that's an issue I'll use more hyzer or pull out a PD.
I would say you can't go wrong with either. If you find some domey champ or champystar Valks, grab them. If you can find these new runs of clear, gummy Champ Beasts with good dome, grab those. They should be longer than Valks.
And about the Sword - I lost it a few weeks ago. But it would carry really far. I'm considering putting Swords in my bag in the future if I want something faster than Beasts. My VIP Sword had minimal dome, but it would glide fairly well. It was basically a line-holding distance driver with a late fade. I wish I didn't lose it, because I'm sure it would have broken in to a nice gently turning distance driver with minimal fade.
JR wrote:Usually Star Leos are the most HSS and LSS ones but Champ is pretty even in HSS but less LSS. For more beefiness you need a River GL is the less LSS plastic and it is still more LSS than the Star Leo.
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You'll never get a piece of coal with your logo on this Custom Christmas Stocking.
Your logo will look great by the fireplace with this Christmas promo stocking with white felt trim.
Logo Christmas ornaments from ePromos are the perfect holiday corporate gift or party favor. Our staff can custom imprint ornaments for any company or occasion. We can make your company or organization promotional products for any event or occasion. Contact our promotional product experts today to learn how. Celebrate the holiday season by giving your customers, clients, and employees Christmas tree ornaments with your name or logo on them. Our staff of promotional product and corporate gift experts have helped many companies create great Christmas and holiday gifts. They also help advertise your company and services. Contact us today to get started.


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K-Phos No. 2 Side Effects
Generic Name: potassium phosphate / sodium phosphate
Note: This page contains information about the side effects of potassium phosphate / sodium phosphate. Some of the dosage forms included on this document may not apply to the brand name K-Phos No. 2.
For the Consumer
Applies to potassium phosphate / sodium phosphate: oral tablet
In addition to its needed effects, some unwanted effects may be caused by potassium phosphate / sodium phosphate. In the event that any of these side effects do occur, they may require medical attention.
Major Side Effects
You should check with your doctor immediately if any of these side effects occur when taking potassium phosphate / sodium phosphate:Incidence not known:
- Bone pain
- convulsions
- decreased urine output
- dizziness
- fast or irregular heartbeat
- headache
- joint pain
- mental confusion
- muscle cramps
- numbness or tingling around the lips
- numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness of the hands or feet
- shortness of breath
- swelling of the feet or lower legs
- troubled breathing
- unusual thirst
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- unusual weight gain
- weakness or heaviness of the legs
Minor Side Effects
Some of the side effects that can occur with potassium phosphate / sodium phosphate may not need medical attention. As your body adjusts to the medicine during treatment these side effects may go away. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions about them, check with your health care professional:Incidence not known:
- Diarrhea
- nausea
- stomach pain
- vomiting
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to potassium phosphate / sodium phosphate: oral powder for reconstitution, oral tablet
There have been reports of a laxative effect occurring over the first few days of therapy. Lowering the dose usually reverses this effect; however, discontinuation of therapy is sometimes necessary.[Ref]
Gastrointestinal side effects have included a laxative effect.
Gastrointestinal side effects associated with phosphate have included diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting.[Ref]
Musculoskeletal side effects associated with phosphate have included bone and joint pain, and osteomalacia.
Musculoskeletal side effects associated with potassium and/or sodium have included muscle cramps.[Ref]
Nervous system
Nervous system side effects associated with potassium and/or sodium have included headache, dizziness, mental confusion, seizures, weakness or heaviness of legs, unusual tiredness or weakness, numbness, tingling, pain, weakness of hands or feet, and numbness or tingling around lips.[Ref]
Cardiovascular side effects associated with potassium and/or sodium have included fast or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, troubled breathing, and swelling of feet or lower legs.[Ref]
Other side effects associated with potassium and/or sodium have included unusual weight gain and unusual thirst.[Ref]
Renal side effects associated with potassium and/or sodium have included low urine output.[Ref]
1. "Product Information. K-Phos Neutral (potassium phosphate)." Beach Pharmaceuticals, Tampa, FL.
2. "Product Information. K-Phos M.F. (potassium phosphate-sodium phosphate)." Beach Pharmaceuticals, Tampa, FL.
Not all side effects for K-Phos No. 2 may be reported. You should always consult a doctor or healthcare professional for medical advice. Side effects can be reported to the FDA here.
More about K-Phos No. 2 (potassium phosphate / sodium phosphate)
- Side Effects
- During Pregnancy
- Dosage Information
- Drug Images
- Drug Interactions
- Support Group
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- En Español
- 0 Reviews – Add your own review/rating
- Drug class: minerals and electrolytes
Consumer resources
Other brands: Phospha 250 Neutral, PHOS-NaK, K-Phos Neutral, K-Phos M.F.
Professional resources
Related treatment guides
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. This material does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. This information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill , knowledge, and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or combination thereof in no way should be construed to indicate safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for any given patient. Drugs.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of materials provided. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the substances you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.


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I am just about to enter into an agreement to purchase a brand new Pulte home and I have heard some good and some bad on Pulte. Anyone here have any recent experience? Anything specifically to watch out for.
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I am just about to enter into an agreement to purchase a brand new Pulte home and I have heard some good and some bad on Pulte. Anyone here have any recent experience? Anything specifically to watch out for.
Same here... I've heard it both ways... but really cannot recall details.
Have you ever had a home constructed? If not, one of the most important issues is the punch list and how it will be handled. Additionally, things that you might overlook like paint quality and when/how the concrete is poured.
Nearly all contractors sub out things like painting, drywall, roofing, etc. Make certain that your contractor does NOT use contractor grade paint. For example, if they use Porter products, your contractor will default to a line called Hi-Hide flat. You will never be able to wipe it down, it will come off on the cloth you use. I love Porter products, but like any other line of paint you have to know what you are getting. You be the one to make that call; don't just default to whatever your contractor suggests. An extra 500 for the paint will go a long way in meeting the wear and tear of kids and normal cleanings.
Same thing is true for concrete. Contractors will tell you that they can pour it just fine even in freezing weather, but the more anti-freeze they use in their mix, the less integrity and the more likely popping/spalling is to occur.
To me, building a home is about the little things that are often overlooked and just taken for granted.
All I would suggest is that you drive the contract and that you specify anything that is important to you. Sweat the small stuff; take nothing for granted.
But sorry, I can't really help regarding Pulte's rep.
Generally speaking from my conversations with brokers in the residential business, Pulte is one of the more respected mass home builders around Indianapolis along with Drees homes.
We have Pulte here in GA too. While I'm not a fan of their designs and being cookie cutter, they do have a good reputation from what I've read for a mass producer of homes.
My wife and I are trying to get a home that is more eco friendly, and I don't think Pulte goes out of their way for that. I'll have to check at home cause I have a nice Firefox Favorite folder for home builders, so I'll see if I have them in there.
First time in a long time, I've been happy with the team that was constructed, and now they struggle. I blame the coach.
I am worried because they assure me that they can start the house in the middle of January and work straight through the winter - makes me fear that the foundation might not be as solid as if it were built in the middle of summer.
One idea I've heard that sounds like a good idea to me - instead of having our home inspector inspect the home once it is complete, have them inspect along the way, 3 times along the process and again at the end. I am going to do that for sure
Inspecting is good, generally though at this point in a home builders evolution, these guys know how to build in any weather. They have to in order to put up the number of homes they do.
TJ's right about building thru the weather, although I cringe when I see roofing going on in the freezing winter. I like to see the tabs seal down. Now, from my perspective it often has been the Pulte homes that people seemed to really like when looking at an existing property. I guess what I'm saying is they seem to have great resale value. My buyers seem to appreciate the amenities and quality of the home, generally without knowing who the builder was. Are they problem free? No home is problem free but they seem to be among the better of the mass produced homes and many of the custom builds too.
EDIT...what do they say about inspection during the construction phase? Will they make changes if your inspector doesn't like something or do they say that your inspection comes prior to closing during final punch-out?
Last edited by indygeezer; 11-16-2011 at 04:01 PM.
Ever notice how friendly folks are at a shootin' range??.
I haven;'t told them about the inspector meeting with the builder. They have it built in that I meet with the builder I think twice during the building process to show me how "good it is, so I figure I can have the inspector with me then.
good to hear about Pulte.
Looked at my list at home. I don't have Pulte in my favs.
Some eco builders I was looking at are Brock Built and Summit Homes. I don't know if they are outside Georgia. Sorry that wasn't much help.
I wouldn't be worried about a builder building homes in the winter. They know what they are doing. I'd be worried if it was some no name company though.
First time in a long time, I've been happy with the team that was constructed, and now they struggle. I blame the coach.
I've heard Pulte has a fairly high post-construction incident rate for poltergeists and/or trans-dimensional portals. I suggest you verify your building inspector has a paranormal inspection certification, preferably with the haunting specialization. Don't forget to request the standard Indian burial screening for your property with the county planning office.
You're caught up in the Internet / you think it's such a great asset / but you're wrong, wrong, wrong
All that fiber optic gear / still cannot take away the fear / like an island song
- Jimmy Buffett
I don't have any personal experience with them, but i did look this up after remembering a retaining wall fell in one of their build sites, but the wall was not built by them. Every company has people that have issues with them.
Sorry I'm late to the thread. I've been busy lately because I just recently closed on a Pulte home. Centex was my builder, and I couldn't be happier with them. Craftsmanship is very good and the house was finished ahead of schedule. Everyone was friendly and helpful, and communication was very good. But I'm sure that depends mostly on your local building crews.
I can, however, tell you all about Pulte, if that's who you are going with for your mortgage.
Dealing with Pulte was the complete opposite of Centex. My realtor recommended we go with his guy at Metlife to handle our loan. Ultimately, we opted to go with Pulte because they will pay up to $2000 of closing costs. If I could do it over again, I would gladly pay the extra $2000 myself and go with Metlife.
Pulte's office is in Colorado, so all communication was done by phone (apparently only if they need to call you), mail, and email. It was so impersonal that they never gave any explanation of documents, even when we asked for additional clarification. It was always "I just need this document on file". At one point, we sent an email asking a question and received an automated response saying something like "we are experiencing high volume, we will review your email and get back to you within a week." ...three months later, I end up calling several times trying to get ahold of someone because no one was answering my questions. Everytime I called for the representative, an operator answered saying "i see you're trying to reach ..., this is 'whatever her name was', is there something I can help you with?" I'd finish my question, and the operator would say "oh, that's definitely a question for ..., I'll have her give you a call back." And I quickly learned that the only way they actually call back is if I'd call at least 2 or 3 times that day, and only would get straight answers if I'm lucky.
As if I wasn't irritated with them enough already, the night before closing, at around 5:00, I called them. I CALLED THEM, to make sure everything was in order, and was informed that they might have to push back our closing date. First of all, when were they going to let me know? I was scheduled to close at 11:00 the next morning. We ended up closing really late the next night, but almost didn't make it because they waited until the very last minute to submit paperwork. The really irritating part of that is we gave four extra months for Centex to build the house, and we pushed back closing about three weeks once the house was finished, so we could close around the time our lease was up at our apartment. We pretty much gave them an extra five months to work with, and we still almost didn't make it on time. The worst part was I told my realtor about all of this in front of one of the representatives for Centex, and the representative was not even remotely surprised, like none of this is new to him.
So that's been my experience with them. Couldn't be any happier with my house or the builder, but the mortgage company was a complete nightmare. If you are going with Pulte, you need to really stay on them to make sure they're doing their job and meeting deadlines.
Last edited by tsm612; 11-30-2011 at 12:52 AM.
When I looked at the various builders several years ago, Pulte stood out in terms of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and flexibility. But they were slightly out of our price range in locations we wanted to build in.
We settled on Centex, and had more problems with them than I care to mention. Most of the folks in our development have had some major issues, conveniently a lot of them occurring right after the warranty period ended. We had problems upon moving in. Keep in mind that a lot depends on the construction foreman you end up with. We initially had a good one. He left, and then we inherited a walking disaster who didn't even know the building codes. The company fixed a number of problems (albeit poorly) but basically ignored many other issues. So make sure you get a foreman you trust (ask around in your desired subdivision) and if there are any changes in supervision, make sure you take daily or almost daily visits to the homesite and document any issues you might have. If I had to do it all over again, I would have found a way to go with Pulte, even if it meant waiting. IMO, you should avoid Centex at all costs.
According to he story I linked to above, Pulte bought Centex in 2008. They must be running the two divisions under seperate names.
Well, I certainly wouldn't base your decision to buy a Pulte home on the mortgage company side of the business. All builders have that and I would say that generally they aren't that great. Get your loan from a bank, hopefully the one you have a standing relationship with. Let Pulte do the building.
I'd also recommend keeping builder and mortgage companies separate, unless the builder offers a sweet incentive deal. But keep in mind that most builders that also have a mortgage company will tend to bundle their mortgages and then sell them to another major player like Chase.
As an agent I can tell you these mortgage stories are the routine now, not the exception. That is probably why your agent wasnt suprised by what you had to say. Or he had zero knowledge of the finance side of the business and you were speaking Greek to him. Not to disparage YOUR agent (seroiously) but many agents have no knowledge of finance, they can sell a house and negotiate for you but they don't understand the mortgage side.
If they offer you a $2000 discount you can be certain they've included it into the price of the home or there are other closing fees that you will only see when you get a copy of your settlement charges....and then most people won't know what they are looking at anyway.Wait a second, that isn't entrely true. They may offer a discount just to get the mortgage because they make their money back by servicing your loan. That is, after the loan is sold to a big bank, they continue to collect the payments, send out tax forms, control your escrows etc. and they get paid to do so. So yes, you may get the closing costs at a discount but they are going to get their money one way or another.
I will say too that from past experieince, I would be very reluctant to advise a client financing thru the builder's financial arm. (No biggie but they're going to sell your mortgage anyway)
Last edited by indygeezer; 12-01-2011 at 11:29 AM.
Ever notice how friendly folks are at a shootin' range??.


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