text:
The Ideal Exclusive: Not Essential, But Fun Nevertheless...
Be sure and enter Sideshow's SDCC Captain American Bucky Barnes Premium Format Figure Giveaway!
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, RedfordFilms.com, Toynk.com, PastGenerationToys.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, and MonkeyDepot.com.
For action figures, statues and sculptures, go to CSMooreStudio.com.
This is a definite first, toy fans. Youve seen Hot Wheels with car wash playsets before but have you ever gotten a car in the loo? Thats exactly what Mattel decided to do for its Disney-Pixar CARS 2 San Diego Comic-Con Exclusive featuring everyones favorite Mater the Tow Truck. In a scene pulled directly from CARS 2, Mater is accused of having an oil leak and rushes to the restroom to clean up. Only this isnt a typical restroom. Its in Towkyo, Japan and you know how fun the gadgets and gizmos can be in Japan. Without understanding the language, Mater receives some bidet action like hes never experienced and a full outer body wash.
This fun movie moment is captured in a collectible Comic-Con outer box blasting with colors and Anime-style CARS characters. Unfortunately the box doesnt state the exact contents inside so Im debating whether to keep it or not. It looks great, but on the other hand, you cant see the toy. Pulling out the Mater exclusive youll find it in a plastic case, viewable from three sides (front, top, side). The other sides are restroom stall walls. Youll need to remove a peg from the bottom to get everything working properly but as soon as you do you can watch Mater get sprayed to your hearts content.
I dont think Mattel had the plan to remove Mater from this base so its not exactly something you can pop in and remove. Its definitely doable but not convenient as the outer plastic case is screwed in.
To activate the sights and sounds, press the button on the side and youll see the car wash scrub Maters sides, and a light up water fountain pushes Mater up. Once this happens youll hear Mater cry out in terror as the Japanese style music and dialogue plays. The control panel buttons flikr on and off. Pushing the button on the base for a 2nd time allows you to hear Maters gargling sounds. Push it a third time and Mater screams and then says Hey, that tickles! as the catchy tune comes to an end. Check it out in the video below.
The Mater car itself is a new mold with a good amount of bubbles surrounding him. It would be a fun variant to have in your loose collection but I didnt want to deal with taking it apart. Youre more than welcome to try though!
I mentioned that the buttons on the console light up but theres a main screen with the fun anime-style character. Theres two different modes to see it and its done in the old fashioned lenticular method.
Overall, this is exactly what an exclusive should be: not essential to your main collection if youre a character completest, but fun nonetheless. For $30 I would maybe expect a little more out of it but it sold out during the convention so I suppose that was the right price after all.
Review and Photography by David Yeh
Mater Exclusive Courtesy of Mattel


text:
Over the River...Riddles are little poems or phrases that pose a question that needs answering. Riddles frequently rhyme, but this is not a requirement.
From noon to 5 PM we drive
Finally at Grandma's we arrive!
But going home is much more fun.
We leave at 10 AM and are home by one (PM)!
What happened?
AnswerYou crossed into a different time zone between "home" and "grandma's house". So the trip lasts 4 hours, but you have to add an hour when you travel east, then subtract an hour when you head west.
What Next?
See another brain teaser just like this one...
Or, just get a random brain teaser
If you become a registered user you can vote on this riddle, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
Back to Top

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Columbia College Chicago provides all staff, faculty and students with a recognizable Campus Identification Card. Throughout the year, there are events on campus that require presentation of the Campus Identification Card for admittance. In addition, during Spring and Winter breaks and throughout the Summer Semester, a Campus Identification Card must be presented to the building security officer in order to enter the building.
Therefore, all Columbia College Chicago Staff, Faculty and Students are encouraged to obtain the Campus Identification Card from the Campus Card Office and keep it with you while on the Columbia College Chicago Campus.
Click here to register your Campus Card


text:
Amazing cast of characters delivers in this psychological thriller...
For a great selection of film, comic and TV action figures and collectibles, check out BigBadToyStore.com, Urban-Collector.com, BriansToys.com, DollsAmerica.com, ClarkToys.com, ToyWiz.com, VNCToys.com, PastGenerationToys.com, MonkeyDepot.com, RPMDiecast.com, HobbyLinkJapan.com, YesAnimation.com, and SuperheroToys.com.
For a great selection of film, TV and pop culture t-shirts and apparel, check out TShirtGurus.com and 80sTees.com.
I've always been a fan of thrillers and The Killing Room is exactly that. An entertaining, edge of your seat psychological film which tests the endurance, will, and human condition of four seemingly unrelated people, The Killing Room - screened at the Sundance Film Festival - delivers a shocking tale of what individuals, groups, and even our country could do in order to win at all costs.
The story's beginning is simple: four volunteers off the street are told they'll be paid $250 to participate in a test of human will. What they don't realize is their lives are on the line and that anything can happen. Supposedly based on the MK-Ultra experiments which are, according to the film, real civilian experiments the US government took part in back in the 1950s and 1960s, the true motives of the experiment are haunting to say the least. While I can't say I wasn't disgusted by the idea that our goverment could have done this, the results of the experiment (at least in this fictional film) scared me even more...
The Killing Room includes a powerhouse of actors, including Nick Cannon, Clea Duvall, Shea Whigham, and an awesome Timothy Hutton (one of the most underrated actors working today!) as the test subjects. Peter Stormare stars as the head of the project while Chloe Sevigny stars as the audience's viewpoint character, a doctor asked to come in and train to help the project. While none of these actors are as big as say...a George Clooney or a Brad Pitt; together, they make a great ensemble cast and, for this lower-budget film that included only a handful of cast members and maybe four or five sets, The Killing Room features one of the best well-rounded casts I've seen in a film in a long time.
As for the film, the 93 minutes are presented in widescreen with a 5.1 English Surround Sound track. One of the major issues with The Killing Room on DVD is the dynamic range of sounds. Too often, the spoken word is soft while the background sounds and/or score (which is well done), is too loud. And, disappointing, there are no subtitles for folks like me who - in cases like this - need to read the spoken words in order to follow the film. Only through constant use of the "volume" button was I able to hear every word.
Overall, The Killing Room was a solid film and well worth a watch for those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Director Johnathan Liebesman (2006's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning) does a solid job of telling a haunting tale (written by Gus Krieger and Ann Peacock) while the actors (especially Timothy Hutton!) do an amazing job of bringing to life four characters who seemingly have little in common save their goal of staying alive.
The Killing Room is available now on DVD wherever fine home video is sold and is rated R for violent content and language.
- Jess Horsley


text:
Jazz Orchestra Performance
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Where and When
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Gateway Auditorium
Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com
Event Information
Jazz Orchestra Performance, Thursday, December 13, 7:30, Gateway Auditorium
The BCCC Jazz Orchestra presents the talents of our music students in the unique dynamic of a group performance. The concert will be held in the Gateway Auditorium on the Newtown Campus. The Fall Concert series is presented by the Department of the Arts of Bucks County Community College and all concerts are FREE and open to the public.


text:
Skip to content
Key resources
National Health and Medical Research Council
National Health and Medical Research Council
The Australian Dietary Guidelines: providing the scientific evidence for healthier Australian diets summarises the evidence underlying food, diet and health relationships that improve public health outcomes.
These guidelines update the 2003 edition, and build upon their evidence and science base.
The guidelines provide guidance on foods, food groups and dietary patterns that protect against chronic disease and provide the nutrients required for optimal health and wellbeing.
The target audience for the guidelines comprises health professionals (including dietitians, nutritionists, general practitioners, nurses and lactation consultants) educators, government policy makers, the food industry and other interest parties.
The guideline is split into five sections:
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract
National Health and Medical Research Council
Level 1, 16 Marcus Clarke St
GPO Box 1421
Canberra ACT 2601
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Nutrition Team
Senior Project Officer
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Report broken link


text:
I recently reserved flights on United from my home airport, Medford, Ore., to New York, with a connection at San Francisco. My connection was a bit more than an hour, so I thought I'd be fine. But a week before departure, I started checking the on-time performance of my flight from Medford to San Francisco. I quickly found that, out of the seven days before departure, that flight would have made my connection only once — the other days it was either delayed an hour or more or canceled outright.
Accordingly, I called United and asked if it could transfer me to an earlier flight, which it did, fortunately without any extra fee.
So instead of leaving Medford at a civilized time of 10:11 a.m., I had to get up at 5 a.m. for an 8:11 a.m. flight, leaving me with a boring 3½-hour wait at SFO rather than the convenient 65 minutes I had originally booked. But when departure day finally arrived, that wait shrunk substantially. Our early flight was held up on the ground for an hour and a half before leaving, so we actually arrived with a bit less than two hours to connect. That cushion was appreciated, given that most United Express flights and code-shared flights on US Airways at SFO now use the US Airways gates in Terminal 1, and connecting travelers have to schlep on shuttle buses to United's primary gates at Terminal 3.
The net result was that I made the connection comfortably. And to cap the story, I checked the arrivals board before getting on the New York flight; sure enough, my original flight from Medford had been canceled.
The purpose of this story isn't to pat myself on the back for being such a smart traveler; it's to illustrate that connections are among the most frustrating elements of air travel — and given today's air travel, that's quite an accomplishment. My story is by no means unique; many of you face the same challenges.
Here's how to manage your itineraries to avoid the worst problems:
1. Airlines are supposed to post average monthly figures for each flight, showing the percentages of times it was delayed or canceled. When I checked, Alaska, American, Southwest, United and US Airways all provided links to that information for each flight display; I couldn't find it on Delta, but it must be in there somewhere. The problem with this system is that the data are not current: In mid-October, figures show for the month of August.
2. FlightStats (flightstats.com) provides both current (same-day) information and historical compilations for most domestic flights. You can also slice and dice the data almost any way you want. To remove duplication from the display, click the "omit codeshares" button.
Supposedly, any connection your airline books compensates for connecting times. But those can be misleading: In United's case, for example, connections at Boston, Chicago, Houston, Newark, N.J., and San Francisco involve inter-terminal shuttles, some requiring exiting and re-entering security, and many international airports require terminal transfer outside security.
Most airlines' official contracts allow you to pad your schedule up to four hours at connecting airports and, if schedules allow, an extra hour or two can mean the difference between making and missing a connection.
Contact Ed Perkins via firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
HES Innovations FP:H-2-613 (10180243)Item#: 40212911 | Model#: 10180243
- Price:
- $57.99
- Shipping:
- Temporarily out of stock. Order today and we'll deliver when available. (Details)
HES Innovations FP:H-2-613 Product Details
Manufactured by: HES Innovations
UPC No:
Mfg Part No: 10180243
Box Size:
( Length:0, Width:0, Depth:0)
Shipping Weight: 5.0000 pound(s)
Click here for full warranty and support information
- HES Innovations logos are registered trademarks of HES Innovations. All others trademarks and copyrights mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.


text:
If you are a Florida homeowner facing foreclosure, you may not be thinking about the long-term economy. But Roy Oppenheim, a Florida foreclosure defense attorney, sees the big picture and how it relates to the foreclosure crisis.
Oppenheim offered Florida homeowners his insights on the economy in a recent interview on the talk show "Mind of Money" with Asset Protection Attorney Douglass Lodmell.
As Oppenheim sees it, Florida homeowners—whether they are in a foreclosure crisis or not—have to recognize that the current state of the economy is the new norm. There isn't going to a rapid change in today's economy.
"We need to look at what happened in Japan with the lost decade. This could be a lost generation," Oppenheim says. "I'm not trying to scare people, but you need to understand that the Federal Reserve throwing $600 billion into the economy to prevent it from deflating further suggests that there are real serious problems with this economy."
What is the way out? Oppenheim offered three possible paths Florida homeowners should be aware of as they make decisions about foreclosure defense strategies. The U.S. could opt for any of these three strategies:
1. The Third World Approach: Inflating the U.S. dollar so that Florida homeowners have more money, debt is worth less and easier to pay off, but real estate is worth more. Oppenheim says this is the current direction the government is taking.
2. Open the Borders: Allowing immigrants who can invest $250,000 or more into the economy to settle here. If upper middle class people from around the world come to America, it will create a demand for products and services.
Continue reading


text:
Mr. Calcagno was born March 22, 1922, in Portland. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Calcagno and Theresa Perata; and his wife of more than 50 years, Stella Mandich. He is survived by his daughter, Jill; son, Randy; and brother, Richard.
A funeral will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 3, at St. Rose of Lima Church. A celebration of life will follow at Club Paesano, Cedarville Park, where he was a founding member.


text:
Whole Food Markets in Wedge Consolidation
Whole Food Markets (WFM) stock price increased tenfold since April 2009 after the 50 day moving average crossed above the 200 day moving average. Those averages have not crossed back since the rally started but have seen several periods of compression associated with price contraction. The stock is currently in a two month period of wedge consolidation and there has been a significant contraction in the percent difference between the averages.Whole Food Markets (WFM) Weekly Chart View Chart » View in New Window »
The weekly chart shows the recent sharp decline that has price moving into its lower Bollinger Band range and testing support at the 200 day moving average. Moving average convergence/divergence is tracking lower but above its centerline, and the relative strength indicator is reflecting the flat momentum. Volume and positive money flow have dropped off which is common during consolidation periods....132 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
There's no substitute for a trading floor to get great ideas, so Jim Cramer created a better one at Real Money and blogs there exclusively. We then added legendary hedge fund manager, Doug Kass, with his exclusive Daily Diary and best investing ideas. Staffed with more than 4 dozen investing pros, money managers, journalists and analysts, Real Money Pro gives you a flood of opinions, analysis and actionable trading advice found nowhere else, and allows you to interact directly with each expert.
Already a Subscriber? Please login.


text:
BLACKBURN actor and soap star Peter Gunn will fire the starting pistol for the town's heritage festival in September.
The 51-year-old, who played Brian Packham, Coronation Street's Bessie Street School headteacher, will open proceedings.
He will be at the pop-up bandstand outside the Cathedral at 10.30am for the ceremony on Saturday September 13.
Yesterday a 'living mermaid' also appeared at Mayers Fishmongers in Blackburn Market to create a social media marketing stunt for the Blackburn Heritage Festival weekend.
Mr Gunn - who has a string of acting credits including A Touch of Frost and Hannah Montana: The Movie - has been reflecting on the heritage of the town.
He said: "What struck me most about Blackburn when I came to live here 15 years ago was the visible evidence of its origins and its industrial past, reflected in the buildings and architecture.
"I remember visiting the museum and learning of Blackburn's political and social history, watching a film of valves being made at Mullards.
"I enjoy discovering friends' and neighbours' connections with Blackburn's working history, the mills, the Royal Ordnance Factory, Mullards (or Phillips as it became known) and Thwaites' brewery."
X Factor finalist Stacey Solomon will also be performing at The Mall during the event.
Festival bosses hope in total around 25,000 people will attend the weekend.
Organiser Harriet Roberts is appealing to businesses wanting to take part to contact her by the end of today to ensure a place in the festival guide.
So far it has 60 attractions including a carousel, canal trips, and promenade theatre productions.
They include The Carnival of Curiosities with an apothecary bar featuring peep show attractions.
There will be visits from the Thwaites Shire Horses, steam traction engines, vintage vehi-0cles and clog dancing.
In addition there will be guided history walks and sampling of Lancashire cooking in Blackburn Market.
Ms Roberts said: "For people who have not been to Blackburn recently, the festival is a great opportunity to celebrate the town's proud past and get a glimpse of the future."


text: Smell the Coffee: Grateful for the weeds in life By Karin Fuller November 23, 2013 Story Share CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A few friends have been spending this month embracing an "attitude of gratitude" where they make daily proclamations, usually on Facebook, about something for which they are grateful. Their responses have been somewhat predictable, touching on such obvious subjects as family, health and work.While I get that it's important to take note of and express gratitude for those major markers, it occurs to me that there's much that's easy to miss.Like weeds.I'm grateful for weeds.For this, I blame the slow-speaking Eeyore, who once said (via his creator, A.A. Milne), "Weeds are flowers, too. Once you get to know them."I've grown a mighty crop of weeds over the years, and they've frustrated me more than words can express. Many times I've tried to yank them out by their roots to no avail. These weeds will be with me forever.But for that, I've become grateful. Turns out, most every one of those weeds has been there for a reason, though it's often taken ages to understand what that reason might be. For every broken water line or exploding appliance, I learned a new skill, met an interesting new repair person, found ways to finagle finances. Gained respect for myself for not giving up. Each new setback has eventually been followed by a reward or understanding or appreciation I doubt I'd have otherwise reached.So for the weeds that were well-disguised flowers, I am grateful.But there's so much more I'm thankful to have in my life.I'm grateful for those who practice random acts of kindness, like the person who recently fed my meter (and left a nice verse on my window) when I was delayed while parked in front of the federal courthouse a few weeks back. I'm grateful for friends like Anna James, who can persuade a dedicated homebody like me to go out, and that her gregariousness resulted in meeting new friends and forming a Thursday Therapy group.I'm grateful for my parents, who saved the day for me a few times this past year. Grateful that they're still strong and healthy and funny as hell. And grateful that my daughter, now a junior in high school, is still fine with being written about.I'm grateful that I don't work for one of those coldhearted retail stores that are open on Thanksgiving, robbing their employees of enjoying the day with their families.I'm grateful every time I think of a Christmas present that's clever or funny (and that I can afford) that makes me bubble with excitement over the anticipated reaction. I'm grateful for the smell of heat when the furnace kicks on. And for those rare occasions when I can beat my cats to the best floor vent in the house.I'm grateful when a craft project or a recipe turns out anywhere close to resembling the photograph that inspired me to attempt it.I'm grateful for emails from readers. Writing can sometimes be a lonely business, and the emails and shared stories can so make my day.I'm grateful for my best friend, Pam Hanson, a fellow writer who understands the frustrations of that weird world we live in, and who pushes and encourages me and reframes disasters each time I'm ready to quit.And most of all, I'm grateful for having gone to my class reunion, where I met Didier, who keeps changing and expanding my life in the most wonderful ways.In a world with such horrible sadness and deliberate atrocities, it's astounding that anyone can feel happy or grateful at all. But what's even more amazing is that all you have to do is look around -- really look around -- at unspoiled nature and unheralded kindnesses and the miracles we take for granted because they happen so often they appear commonplace, and you wonder how anyone could be anything but overwhelmed with gratitude. Or wonder if we'd appreciate the beauty of the flowers without the aggravation of weeds.Reach Karin Fuller via email at email@example.com. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Police seek car driven by woman found dead in Kanawha River 2 Facebook founder visits Cabin Creek Health Systems 3 Teen pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Oakes Field shooting 4 Man allegedly cuts father in Rand over argument about sandwich 5 Rhode Island bank claims Justice companies owe $4.2M on helicopter loan Simplify Thanksgiving workload for lower-stress holiday Previous Story Double take: Photographic artist multiplies himself Next Story


text:
Given a tough
question, St. Thomas Aquinas sometimes declined to give a simple yes or no
answer. Instead he began with: "distinguo." The question can be taken different ways; we must
"distinguish" these to get a valid answer.
The young adult ministry at St. Brigid Parish in San Diego saved my life. On a Wednesday evening in October 2011 -- having about 72
hours of sobriety from alcohol and drugs under my belt -- I was greeted with a
firm handshake by a young man who ultimately led the sea of men and women
surrounding us in a weekly Bible study.
Before hurricanes took over the news
cycle, two other stories absorbed the country's attention -- President Donald Trump's
chest-thumping exchange with Kim
Jong Un, and his decision to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). In an odd way, these issues
are alike.
Let us begin with the potential nuclear
conflict. Asked by a reporter during a trip to church whether he would attack
North Korea, the president replied, "We'll see." As though he just hadn't made up his mind yet.
This month marks a
significant anniversary in the history of technology: It is the 10-year
anniversary of the iPhone. Apple celebrated by unveiling yet another iPhone,
this one called the iPhone X.
Oregon must be
more careful. If religious liberty is not respected, all people suffer
and are deprived of religion's irreplaceable contribution to the common
The thrilling walk on the moon was made possible by a cooperative effort which has never been equaled in peace time.
Friday, my cable went out. An ominous error message appeared on the screen,
sticking like glue.
The head of Democrat campaigning in the House of Representatives has
announced that his party no longer will withhold funds from candidates
who oppose abortion rights.
The editorial was certainly a lot to
swallow with its sweeping assertions that the president's actions were
selfish, immoral, in violation of Catholic teaching, plus a threat to
life and the climate.
Trump stated that our country's withdrawal from the accord was based on
the "draconian financial and economic burdens the agreement poses on
our country."
Father Bill Holtzinger, amateur
astronomer and pastor of St. Anne Parish in Grants Pass, is a fan of
physics. He says that's because science glorifies God and humbles us in
the face of God's creation. "The heavens proclaim the glory of God," he says, quoting Psalm 19.
Early in July, Christian, Jewish
and Muslim teenagers from different countries gathered at the Hebrew University
of Jerusalem to "build peace through a culture of encounter."
One of my favorite criticisms of the church is that it is
fixated on sex. "Why is the church so obsessed with what I do in the bedroom,"
I will be asked with great seriousness.
St. John Paul II said the church breathes with both its lungs. By this, he meant the Western and Eastern Catholic traditions. The majority of Catholics the world over are Western or Latin rite, or "Roman Catholics." However, there are 23 particular Eastern churches in full communion with the pope.
I still have a lot to learn in this life, but I feel blessed to be given these brief moments when I can truly appreciate things like the dirt, the juice from a deliciously-ripe berry and the joy of a child.
St. Bonaventure says, in his little treatise "Bringing Forth Christ," "Seek the company of good people. If you share their company, you will also share their virtue." With this thought in mind, we used to pay close attention to who our children's friends were.
The day that Matt Puckett was executed by the state of Mississippi, I was caught in an emotional conundrum.
My grandfather used to say that "God granted us two ears and one mouth, so we need to listen twice as much as we talk." Through his interactions with others, he showed that listening can be an act of selfless love because it shows that you want to understand those around you, that you genuinely care.
After the rain, I checked my garden and found everything I planted had jumped up significantly. Not only did I jump with joy, but I took a second look at the word "up" to learn why it often connotes delight.
All too often, it seems, the aim of an apologist can be to "win" an "argument," rather than to convert hearts, to save souls. In all we do, this should be our mission: to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to bring our brothers and sisters to the fullness of life in Jesus and his Church.
Once upon a time, we were told to allow dissent from time-honored legal and moral norms in the name of "freedom of choice."
It's that time of year again — time to fight over commencement speakers. It happens every spring. Some Catholic college will feature a speaker who has taken public positions at odds with the church's teaching.
Looking back over the past four years, I can't pinpoint when or where the scale tipped. When my days became more "not-grieving" than grieving.
The recent tragic death of a rock musician has me thinking about St. Benedict.
The occasion is the solemn observance of Mother's Day, which incidentally is a special feast at the Sanctuary, to which the privilege of celebrating a "Mother's Day Mass" has been accorded by papal rescript.
Each year on May 18, I bake a special Polish cake to celebrate the birthday of Karol Wojtyla. St. John Paul II was canonized by Pope Francis three years ago. It was 12 years ago that I got this crazy idea to send Pope John Paul II a birthday gift.
The financial piece is unmistakably there, and teachers — like many Catholic families — make a sacrifice to be part of a faith-filled academic community.
I suppose the often-overlooked lesson for parents -- rookies, veterans and those at all stages in between -- is this: You never get caught up on your parenting.
I balance the laundry basket on my hip while coaxing a sleepy preschooler downstairs. He wants me to carry him. I explain that my hands are full. He crosses his arms and pouts. I ask him to come with me. He takes one stubborn step down the first stair and glares.
Even by Oregon standards, what Kim Kardashian did around Easter is outrageous — not to mention vapid, exploitative and in poor taste.
Social scientists studying happiness have found, to no one's surprise, that living in sunnier cities (sorry, Portland) with fewer rusting, empty factories (there you go, Portland) tend to make people happier. As does faith, which turns out to be measurably good for happiness.
Amid the general, bipartisan enthusiasm for the president's decision to fire 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian air base, I worry that we have lost sight of an important principle.
This column is a "fond farewell" to those who have enjoyed my writing over the years. Writing a column is like putting a note in a bottle and tossing it into the river so it can float down and across the bay and out into the ocean. You never know whose shore it will wash up on.


text:
We stayed at The Lynwood Hotel last weekend and found it to be a very pleasant stay, the staff were friendly and helpful, the rooms were immaculate. We stayed in the premier room which was a gorgeous room with courtesy tray and bathrobes. The breakfasts were fabulous and cooked to order. We have stayed at this hotel before and have recommended it to our friends. I notice that the Hotel has won an award since our last visit. Victorian charm at its best.
Lynwood Hotel Southport - Beware single supplements.
We stayed for a one night I rang to alter our booking arrangements, requesting a single room instead of a twin, along with two other rooms. I was not informed at the time that there would be a single supplement, but was told that my son would be put in a single. My son ws put in a double room and when I queried this was told they have no singles but would be charged £15.00 for a single supplement. I should have been informed of this when I rang. Also had to forego the deposit of £20.00 for the person who could not come with us,(this was fair enough as it was stipulated there would be no refunds). So effectively I could have not bother to ring and alter the rooms we had requested as I was charged the same any way. We were also told that we had been allocated the wrong room, but as we were only staying one night couldn't be bothered to change.
Stayed at the Lynwood Hotel which is situated close to lord Street and the Promenade. The Hotel is a four star rated establishment and we found the rooms and bathrooms to be very clean. The presentation was good and the staff were friendly and helpful. The breakfast was really good, with a great selection to choose from. We had a drink in the bar on the last night and there was a great selection of beers and whiskies. We have booked to stay at the Lynwood again on our next visit to Southport.
Stopped at the lynwood hotel at southport for the 8th and 9th of September 2006. Generally the hotel was not bad. Didnt actually get a warm welcome when arriving, remember 1st impressions count. The room was very small. The bathroom door squeaked every time it was used, this must have been noticed by the owner, but ignored. Bathroom cleanliness poor, toilet seat chipped. 100% certain not to stop again. Not good value.
If you are a regular reader you will know that I am on a search to find decent accommodation in Southport. Why Southport you may ask? Because my in-laws live there. Why can't you stay with them then? Because they live in a reasonably small apartment and, although they do have a sofa-bed in the lounge, it is a bit of an inconvenience for them, hence the need for a room within reasonable distance.
Reasonable distance in this case means (for those of you who know Southport) within easy walking distance of the roundabout at the north end of Lord Street, by the Fire Station and the Magistrate's Court. This means that my search is effectively limited to that end of Lord Street, Albert Street Alexandra Street and Leicester Street but not much further than that. Walking distance, because I would rather avoid driving having spent an evening with them, with the usual refreshments and sufficiently close to be able to make a dash for it if the weather is less than balmy.
The Lynwood Hotel is in Leicester Street. I knew of it by virtue of having passed it when staying at another hotel in this road (reviewed here) and it having appeared reasonable on examination, such as was possible, from the road. We didn't have time, at the time, to go in and enquire but as search of the Internet revealed that the proprietors do have a website (http://www.lynwoodhotel.com/). They have a form for requesting reservations and they were prompt in responding to my request, which is always a good sign.
Why didn't we go back to the first hotel? Well, we did consider it and, from a quality point of view there was little that could be criticised, except perhaps the absence of skimmed milk at breakfast, which did somewhat put my wife out. I didn't have a problem with this though. I'm definitely a full-fat person. No, the problem was that I felt that their prices were somewhat on the high side and, they also charge per room rather than per person. If there are two or more of you occupying then this isn't a problem but on this occasion we wanted a room for my daughter, who is 25 and so definitely doesn't want to share a room with Mum and Dad!
The Lynwood Hotel is a semi-detached building and so quite a bit smaller than our previous accommodation. It also means that there is far less room for parking. The hotel can accommodate four cars but, fortunately, Leicester Street is mostly not a parking controlled road and so kerb-side parking is not a problem if no room is available on the front.
Like many such buildings in Southport, the Lynwood is probably around 100 years old and consists of three floors. The entrance door is generally locked and you are provided with a key for it with your room key so that you can get in when you want. Inside it looks just like a normal home. There is no Reception as such. The entrance hallway has a simple small table where you sign in. On the left is the residents lounge, just like anyone's front lounge and behind it, what would be the back room is the bar. Beyond that and down a step or two is the breakfast room.
The bedrooms are all on the first and second floors, reached via stairs from the hallway. As is nowadays required by fire regulations, the stairs are enclosed and each floor is accessed from them by a firedoor. I did notice a fire escape door on the first floor and, in view of its location can only assume that you escape into the next door property.
We stayed on two occasions. On the first we occupied Room 2. This was obviously originally a reasonable sized bedroom. However, a corner of the room had been enclosed to form an en suite. What was left was a compact space where it was not possible to pass one another around the bed! The bed was not the most comfortable I have ever experienced. In fact the mattress was harder in the middle than at the edges so it felt like you were sleeping on the side of a hill!
The room contains a TV and facilities for making tea or coffee. One thing it doesn't have is a full length mirror, even though there is space for one on the wall behind the door. Consequently my wife had to stand on the bed to see herself in the only mirror available. There is no dressing table; there is no space for one.
The bathroom contains a shower cabinet but no bath. This is not a problem for me as I only ever shower. There is a basin, as would be expected. One thing it doesn't have is an extractor fan. The only window is a small one with an opening section at the top but, to be honest, it does little to enable steam to escape. The evidence of the effect is that some of the wallpaper seems less than firmly attached. The one disturbing thing was that the temperature control on the shower seemed to work back to front. If you turned the control in the direction of the blue arrow the water got hotter whilst the red arrow did the opposite.
However, although not the most comfortable hotel room I have ever used, it did at least have the benefit of being perfectly clean. However, there is no view from the window. The only view is onto the side wall of the next door property. Still, a view was not a priority as we were only staying one night.
On the second occasion we stayed in Room 3. This is a larger room and certainly more comfortable than Room 2. The bed here is without problems and we had a good night's sleep. It is similarly furnished and as before, the en suite contains only a shower cabinet. Here also there is no extractor fan and so the décor has suffered similar effects.
My daughter stayed in Room 5 and here she had much the same facilities as did we. The advantage that she had was that her room was on the front of the building and so she did at least have a view from her window.
Breakfast consisted of all the usual choices and was perfectly enjoyable. My wife even got her semi-skimmed milk, which kept her happy. Breakfast is included in the price for the room.
The Lynwood charges for its rooms on a per person/per night basis. For the double occupancy we paid £32.50 per person whilst for my daughter we paid £39.50 for her single occupancy of a double room. So, the price for our room for the night was £65, only £10 less than we paid for our room at our previous hotel. Considering the difference in quality in accommodation, the additional £10 was well worth it. However, compared with the sort of prices available elsewhere, both could be considered overpriced for what they provide.
Would I recommend the Lynwood? If you are staying solo then I would say that it's rooms provide reasonable value for money. If you are looking for a double then I would suggest that better value can probably be found elsewhere. I'm not sure yet where. My search continues.


text:
34 35th St., Unit 26, Brooklyn, NY, 11232
Nick Hornby
|Eyebeam CV
The young British artist Nick Hornby produces alchemical structures: lanky, white, marble-dusted sculptures. He blends familiar art-historical echoes from Rodin, Calder, Newman, Hepworth, and Moore. One part handmade, one part computer-generated, one part professionally fabricated. One part inspired, one part quoted, one part calculated. Through both its production process and archetypal subject matter, Hornby's work creates a nuanced historical take on a contemporary penchant to complicate authorship and dematerialize the objects of art. He has exhibited his work in the UK, the US, Greece, and India, including Tate Britain, Southbank Centre (UK), Eyebeam (NY), The Hub (Athens). Prizes include the Clifford Chance Sculpture Prize, the Deidre Hubbard Sculpture Award, the BlindArt Prize and he was shortlisted for the inaugural Spitalfields Sculpture prize and Mark Tanner Sculpture Prize; other . He has completed residencies with the ICIA (Mumbai), with the Fleischmann Foundation (Slovakia). His work has been featured on Artforum.com, Dazed and Confused, Wired, Conde Naste Traveler, and he was described by ES Magazine as "The New Gormley" and picked for London Evening Standard "Who to Watch, 2010."


text:
The start of spring this week brought renewed hope for producers across the nation's heartland as another round of snow and rain set its sights on the parched region. However, despite the return of much-need moisture, Thursday's Drought Monitor report showed only slight shifts in the nation's drought conditions.
Nearly 52 percent of the country is in severe or worse drought, compared to 51 percent last week.
Across the Corn Belt, conditions range from drought-free Ohio to Nebraska, where 100 percent of state is experiencing some sort of severe drought. Though earlier this year most wet system bypassed the country's driest states, a surge of moisture in late February has continued into March.
Now, with another storm bearing down on the region, hope is again renewed that the drought can at least be suppressed for the time-being.
Unfortunately, this week most states on the dry Plains reported little or no change in drought conditions:
- Nebraska: The driest state in the Union, Nebraska remains dry for another week. Currently 76 percent of the Cornhusker State is in exceptional drought, unchanged from last week. The Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) reports that the state has received less than 3 inches of precipitation since the beginning of the year.
- South Dakota: After reporting a positive shift for drought conditions, the Drought Monitor had no changes to South Dakota's drought report. Sixty-seven percent of the country is in extreme or worse drought.
- Kansas: Over the last few Drought Monitor reports, the Sunflower State has seen the biggest shifts of drought than other states. The welcomed return of moderate drought to the eastern corner of the state has renewed hope to a wetter spring. There's a long way to go before soil will fully be replenished – 21 percent of Kansas is in exceptional drought.
- Oklahoma: The Sooner State was the only state to see improvement this week, with extreme to exceptional drought dropping by 4 percentage points to 53 percent. Unfortunately, intense drought still dominates western Oklahoma.
- Texas: Drought is continuing to creep into the Lone Star State. Ten percent of Texas is in exceptional drought, and while the return of this intense drought leaves many producers preparing for the worst, it is still a far cry from the 88 percent reported in October 2011. However, hues of red and maroon are slowly working their way through the central areas of the state.
See how your state is doing here.
It's going to take more than a few rain showers to make up for the drought in these Plains states, however. According to Bloomberg, Mark Svoboda, the University of Nebraska-based climatologist, believes that an above-average rainfall is needed to replenish the soil, but producers can likely expect a deficit heading into planting season.
"We need a big spring, that's the bottom line, because we don't have the carryover going into 2013 we had going into 2012," Svoboda said.
In the central and eastern Corn Belt, however, an excess of rain and snow is causing headaches as well. As of Monday, the National Weather Service reported that several rivers were at or near flood-stage in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Missouri.
According to The Weather Channel, the flooding risk marks an ironic end to a winter "spent fretting about drought." Just one month ago, officials were warning that barge traffic on the Mississippi River could be restricted as water levels continued to drop.
"It's certainly a lot different of a picture than three or four weeks ago," National Weather Service meteorologist Jayson Gosselin told The Weather Channel.


text:
Los Angeles came together at Staples Center on Wednesday to honor Jerry Buss in the Lakers' first game since their longtime owner died Monday. He was 80.
As the team wore jerseys with special "JB" patches to honor Buss, there was a moment of silence held before the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics, 113-99.
Buss was remembered in a pregame video tribute featuring photos of him as a child all the way through him hoisting trophies marking the team's 10 NBA championships won under his ownership. Kobe Bryant, fittingly, spoke on behalf of the Lakers' players, having been acquired by the Lakers as a 17-year-old.
"He was a brilliant, incredible owner but an even better person," Bryant said of Buss. "His innovation transcended the game and we are all, all spoiled by his vision and his drive to win year after year after year."
There was a moment of silence in the darkened arena before the crowd broke up the quiet with chants of "Jerry, Jerry."
"It was very emotional and very nice," Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said of the ceremony, noting the crowd's energy. "You couldn't help but feel it and I think the players felt it, also."
Buss' daughter, Jeanie, was showered with hugs as she sat courtside. It was the first game she attended since her father's death. As she sat down on the court, Jerry Buss' suite was left empty, a light illuminating a chair in the middle.
Jerry Buss died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Buss had been hospitalized for cancer, but the immediate cause of death was kidney failure.
A memorial service for invited guests will be held Thursday at Nokia Theatre across the street from Staples Center. Buss will be buried in a private service on Friday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Lakers owner Jerry Buss dies at age 80
Photos of Jerry Buss through the years


text:
ByPhil Izzo
There's often a disparity between the unemployment rate and the number of payroll jobs added because the numbers come from two separate surveys. That disparity could be sizable in November.
The key reason is one of timing. In most months, the survey of households, which is used to calculate the unemployment rate, and the survey of businesses, which determines the number of jobs added or lost for the month, are both based on data from the week of the 12th of the month. But because the survey of households requires phone calls to thousands of homes, the government moved it up a week in November to avoid conflicting with Thanksgiving. The business survey stayed in its usual week. So in tomorrow's report, the payroll survey will show how many people were working the week of Nov. 12, while the unemployment rate will be based on who was working the week of Nov. 5.
Ordinarily, one week wouldn't make much difference to the data. But November 2012 wasn't a typical month. Initial claims for unemployment benefits were all over the map early in the month thanks to Superstorm Sandy, and ADP yesterday estimated the storm would subtract 86,000 jobs from the November total. Sandy struck at the end of October, meaning that when the household survey was conducted in early November, there were still widespread power outages, flooding and mass-transit snarls keeping businesses closed and workers at home. Meanwhile, since it's earlier in the month, some holiday hiring may not have ramped up yet. Further complicating the picture is the presidential election being held that week and the thousands of poll workers that come with it.[wsj-responsive-more-in tag="Unemployment" category="" ]
Since the business survey was conducted a week later, it came after the worst of the storm disruptions and it was the week before Thanksgiving. That could mute the Sandy effect and boost seasonal hiring, which often happens later in the month when Thanksgiving comes closer to December.
Taken together, it's possible that the number of jobs created could look reasonably healthy, while the unemployment rate looks worse. At the very least, it's going to be really hard to gauge the underlying strength or weakness of the job market with so much noise in the report.


text:
Novamusik shows off the Korg Kaossilator Pro. I've seen a few DJs really work with these things as extensions of their arms. I've never owned one but do thing they are fun. They are going for $399. Anyone love these? Hate them?
"As a trailblazer among the "instrumental gadgets" that allowed anyone to easily create melodies and phrases, the KAOSSILATOR gained a strong and dedicated user base, even among those without any performing experience. Today, the KAOSSILATOR continues to be enormously popular. Retaining these revolutionary features – while adding a wide variety of new ones as well – is the new KAOSSILATOR PRO. With 200 sound programs, a new Electribe-inspired gate arpeggiator, and four loop recording banks that can even record external audio sources, the KAOSSILATOR PRO is packed with features that make it ideal for both live performance and premium productions. In addition, USB connectivity with your computer and SD card memory storage allow the KAOSSILATOR PRO to be used not just for improvised performances, but also as a superbly intuitive, track-making music production tool." – korg.com
For more info: korg.com


text:
New York -- J.C. Penney Co. filed a lawsuit on Monday asking a Delaware judge to declare that it is not in a default of its bond agreements, protecting nearly $3 billion of debt from being due in the coming months, Reuters reported.
According to the report, J.C. Penney received a letter earlier on Monday from the Brown Rudnick law firm that said J.C. Penney had breached a covenant of a bond indenture agreement by granting a lien on its inventory. J.C. Penney filed the lawsuit after receiving the letter.
The indenture agreement related to $326 million of outstanding bonds that mature in 2037. However, the letter said that J.C. Penney could be in default on all of its $2.9 billion bond debt, according to the lawsuit.
"We believe this notice of default is invalid, completely without merit and is intended to create self-interested trading opportunities in the market, and we will therefore vigorously defend the interests of J.C. Penney and all of our constituencies," J.C. Penney CFO Ken Hannah said in a statement.
J.C. Penney said in the complaint that the demand from Brown Rudnick came as the company is investing significantly to update its stores.


text:
Remove Arm Warmers on the Fly
"First, peel them down to your wrists," says Todd Wells. "then take them off one at a time and put them in your jersey pocket. If you're not comfortable taking both hands off the bar, use your teeth to pull the warmers off your wrists."
More: How to Ride With No Hands
Descend with Confidence
Stay loose when plunging down a hill, says Chris Carmichael. "If you're stiff, you'll be rigid and skittish. Get your hands into the drops to lower your center of gravity and put weight on the front wheel. On downhill turns, focus your weight on your outside foot and inside hand. This will help you maintain an inside line."
Eat Predictably
"Never eat anything new on race day," says cross-country pro Heather Irmiger. "If you eat a bowl of cereal every morning, stick with it. experiment on training days."
More: 4 Nutrition Secrets for Your First Century Ride
Your Preride Checklist
Do this quick exam before every ride, says former ProTour mechanic Daimeon Shanks, founder of The Service Course, in Boulder, Colorado.
They should spin straight and not rub the brakes. Make sure your tires have plenty of tread and no cuts or large nicks, and that they are properly inflated.
More: How to Choose the Best Bicycle Wheels
Too much lube will attract dirt and grime, which wears out your drivetrain. A good test is to wipe your finger on your chain. It should come away with just a small amount of oil.
Check your headset by grabbing the front brake and rocking the handlebar back and forth. If you feel movement in your headset, loosen the stem's clamp bolts and tighten the top cap until there is no more movement. Don't forget to retighten the stem bolts before you ride.
More: 10 Things I Wish I Knew From the StartReady to ride? Search for a cycling event.
- 3
- of
- 3


text:
HUNDREDS of sports fans united in grief to say goodbye to the man who guided Accrington Stanley back into the football league yesterday.
Mourners packed into St Wulstan's Church, in Rushton Street, Great Harwood, to bid farewell to Eric Whalley, the club's former chairman and owner, who died last weekend aged 73.
Footballers, managers, and fans, braved heavy downpours to pay their respects, with dozens of people forced to stand outside after the church filled up.
Among the congregation were Blackburn Rovers star David Dunn, former Stanley player Brett Ormerod, current players Nicky Hunt, Dean Winnard, and captain Luke Joyce, and ex-Stanley managers Leam Richardson, and Paul Cook.
Hymns were sung, scriptures were reading, and a eulogy was given. After a final blessing by Father Anthony Clarke, Mr Whalley was interred at nearby Great Harwood Cemetery.
A wake was later held at Rishton Cricket Club to celebrate his life and to share fond memories.
The club's offices at the Store First Stadium remained closed all day yesterday, and the flag at the ground was flown at half mast.
Mr Whalley was also well-known on the Lancashire League cricket circuit. He was a combative amateur footballer in his youth and also managed Stanley for a spell, before taking over as chairman in 1995 and launching the club's rise through the football pyramid, achieving an emotional return to profession football in 2006.
Mr Whalley, who lived in Whalley Road, Great Harwood, had been in hospital after struggling to breathe properly.
He suddenly deteriorated last Friday, and later passed away.
Tributes were led by Rishton Cricket Club's Andy Proctor, who said: "The word legend is vastly overused in society these days, but Eric was a genuine legend.
"[He was] a true Lancashire League icon and stalwart and, for many years, the patriarch of my club Rishton, where he will be sorely missed."
Long-time friend Frank Martindale, 67, a former Stanley director and team mate at Rishton Cricket Club, added: "Eric had this thing about him and was just a winner.
"People were afraid of him sometimes but he was a very inspirational man and wanted other people to be winners too."
Mr Whalley's family request family flowers for the funeral, but donations to Cancer Research UK are being accepted.


text:
Nonchalance Perfume
By Maurer & Wirtz for Women
Nonchalance Perfume by Maurer & Wirtz, Nonchalance is a wonderful classic fragrance created by maurer and wirtz . First introduced in 1960 it has stood the test of time and solidified itself as a staple among fine fragrances for women. Its complex scent has a variety of undertones with a light, refreshing smell with subtle hints of floral . Perfect for any woman and any time of year, nonchalance is a timeless scent that stimulates the senses, bringing thoughts of beauty and class few other ... Read More ... Read More scents can produce. All products are original, authentic name brands. We do not sell knockoffs or imitations.
Sorry, Nonchalance is not in stock
Enter your email and click "Notify Me" and we will email you as soon as it comes back in stock.
This product has 4 Out of Stock items |
Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought
More Maurer & Wirtz fragrancesfor Women: 4711 Acqua Colonia Mandarine & Cardamom , 4711 Acqua Colonia Lavender & Thyme , 4711 Acqua Colonia Lemon & Ginger , 4711 Acqua Colonia Blood Orange & Basil , 4711 Acqua Colonia Melissa & Verbena , more
for Men: Tabac , 4711 Ice , Tabac Man , 4711 Nouveau , Tabac Sport , more
See all Maurer & Wirtz products
Customer Comments
I wondered what the catch was...my fragrance in a large quantity for a very inexpensive price. I received my order on time, and it was exactly what I wanted. I would order from FragranceX again.
M. Phillips (Middleville, MI)
Reviewed by 1 customer
Comments about Nonchalance By Maurer & Wirtz:
One of my all time favorites, classy , romantic.


text:
Good news everyone!
To this point it has seemed like the Pacers were playing games at the same pace as last year. Rarely has this team gotten more than 1 day of rest between games. Well everyone, that is about to end, for now. Over the next week the Pacers get 3 days off and 2 days off. This I am sure will be a welcomed change of pace to the team, and a chance to get some solid practice time together.


text:
California State University, Long Beach
Policy Statement
January 30, 2001
This new policy was recommended by the Academic Senate on October
5, 2000
and approved by the President on December 14, 2000.
Students are expected to attend classes regularly. Classroom participation
is often one of the necessary and important means of learning and
in many classes is essential to the educational objectives of the
Faculty members must include their guidelines for assigning grades
in the syllabus (as required by Policy Statement 99-19, Grades and
Grading Procedures). The syllabus must make clear whether any portion
of the grade is based on attendance and/or participation. It is
the students' responsibility to make themselves aware of each faculty
member's guidelines by carefully reading the syllabus.
Faculty members may drop students who fail to attend class during
the first week of the semester. However, students should not presume
that they will be dropped by the faculty member. Students who have
registered for a class, but never attended, should verify with Enrollment
Services whether or not they are officially enrolled. It is the
student's responsibility to officially withdraw from the class.
Students may have a valid reason to miss a class. When any of the
following reasons directly conflict with class meeting times, students
are responsible for informing faculty members of the reason for
the absence and for arranging to make up missed assignments, tests,
quizzes, and class work insofar as this is possible. Excused absences
include, but are not limited to:
1. Illness or
injury to the student
2. Death, injury,
or serious illness of an immediate family member or the like
3. Religious reasons
(California Education Code section 89320)
4. Jury duty or
government obligation
5. University
sanctioned or approved activities (examples include: artistic performances,
forensics presentations, participation in research conferences,
intercollegiate athletic activities, student government, required
class field trips, etc.)
intercollegiate athletic activities, student government, required
class field trips, etc.)
Faculty members are not obligated to consider other absences as
Faculty members may require students to provide documentation for
excused absences.
There are numerous classes offered on campus where attendance is
crucial since student participation is essential. Absence from these
courses may impact upon the work and participation of other students.
Students who anticipate extended or multiple absences during a particular
semester should consult with their advisor and the faculty member
before enrolling in any class to determine whether it will be possible
to complete the requirements for the course. Students who realize
after enrollment that they will have extended or multiple absences
should consult with the faculty member to see whether it will be
possible to complete the course requirements.
The earliest possible notification is preferred. In some circumstances,
it may be possible for the student to notify the faculty member
of anticipated absences (e.g. for religious reasons or for scheduled
athletic events) during the first week of enrollment. Advance notification
(minimally one week in advance) is required for the following absences:
1. Jury duty and other government
2. Religious reasons
3. University sanctioned or
approved activities
The California Education Code (section 89320) requires "each state
university, in administering any test or examination, to permit
any student who is eligible to undergo the test or examination to
do so, without penalty, at a time when that activity would not violate
the student's religious creed. This requirement shall not apply
in the event that administering the test or examination at an alternate
time would impose an undue hardship which could not reasonably have
been avoided. In any court proceeding in which the existence
of an undue hardship which could not reasonably have been avoided
is an issue, the burden of proof shall be upon the institution."
It is the responsibility of the student to make advance notification,
contact the faculty member to make arrangements to make up any academic
work that may be missed, submit assignments on time, and to make
arrangements regarding activities, tests, quizzes, or exams that
may be scheduled during the absences.
If a student does not notify the faculty member one week in advance
of the date of absences for these reasons (jury duty, governmental
service, religious observances, or University sanctioned activities),
the instructor is not required to adjust the class schedule or to
allow for make up activities, tests, or exams. However, students
shall not be penalized for excused absences when circumstances make
it impossible to provide advance notice (e.g. student is engaged
in a University sanctioned event such as a performance, tournament,
or playoff which cannot be anticipated).
Students who expect to be absent from the University for any valid
reason, and who have found it difficult to inform their instructors,
should notify the academic department office. The department office
shall notify the student's instructors of the nature and duration
of the absence. It remains the responsibility of the student to
arrange with instructors to make up any academic work missed.
In circumstances where an actual assignment, some specific class
work, an activity, a quiz, or an exam cannot reasonably be made
up, it is the instructor's option to assign alternative work.


text:
What: Bridgeport Village Summer Concert Series presents JVA! Tantalizing acoustic, rock, and some covers! Saturdays from July 11th thru August 29th. See you at the gazebo!
Where: Under the gazebo at Bridgeport Village – 7455 SW Bridgeport Road Tigard, OR 97224
When: Every Saturday and Sunday from July 9th thru September 3rd -1pm – 3pm
Also Thursday's from July 9th thru September 3rd – 6:30pm -8:30pm


text:
|June 11, 1999
Volume 1, Issue 24
|Midwifery Today E-News
"Educating the Public"
Print Page
Pass E-News on to your friends and colleagues—it's free!
Broaden your education in the United Kingdom and Jamaica! Make plans now to attend
one or both these conferences: London, England, September 9-13, 1999 Evidence
Based Midwifery Program available now. Ocho Rios, Jamaica, December 2-6, 1999
Birth Without Borders--Weaving a Global Future Program available now.
If you or your organization would like to sponsor four issues of Midwifery Today E-News, write to email@example.com. Don't miss our special introductory price!
This issue of Midwifery Today E-News is brought to you by these sponsors:
- Adoption
Look for their ads below!
In This Week's Issue:
1) Quote of the Week
1) Quote of the Week:
"The best education of the public on childbearing and midwifery is the conscious practice of motherhood and midwifery-being who we are in a way that is respectful of life."
- Marion Toepke McLean, CNM
2) The Art of Midwifery
One of the first things to tell your new assistant is that if there is any disagreement between you about method or protocol, to please wait until both of you are alone together before the matter is discussed. Never disagree with each other in front of a couple or a person who is not involved in midwifery.
- Debbie A. Diaz Ortiz
Inundate with letters all television stations that show a birth, either praising the particular program's portrayal, or offering constructive criticism.
- Lani Rosenberger
At Midwifery Today, we have lots of tricks up our sleeves! Purchase our two volumes of Tricks of the Trade and you'll see what we mean: Save $5 when you purchase both Tricks of The Trade. Volume I and Volume II. Only $40 plus shipping!
3) News Flashes
Results of a 16-year study by the Medical Research Council [U.K.] have proved that nutrition plays a key role in early brain development, and that optimum nutrition for preterm babies can significantly influence their mental ability in later life. The first segment of the study assigned 400 preterm infants from birth to 18 months old to two groups, one receiving standard formula and the other a nutrient-enriched preterm formula. The biggest difference between the two groups was in motor development, but mental scores were also better in babies who had received the enriched formula. The benefits were particularly striking in small for gestational age infants and in boys. In the second segment of the study, the same babies were tested again at the age of 7 1/2 and 8 years. Infants fed the standard formula had a significantly reduced verbal IQ, while those fed on the nutrient enriched preterm formula performed much better. Analyses on children of both genders showed that verbal IQ below 85 and cerebral palsy were both more prevalent in the group fed standard formula.
- Professional Care of Mother & Child, 9:1 1999 (Editor's note: Imagine the positive results if the babies had been given breastmilk.)
Ancient Art Midwifery Institute: The Standard of Excellence in Midwifery Education since 1981. The first at-a-distance program for midwives. With online support and the exclusive AAMI online study group for our students, be a part of the best program available for your dollar. E-mail firstname.lastname@example.com or phone 818-902-0449.
AAMI, PO Box 788, Claremore, OK 74018-0788
4) Principles for Educating the Public
How you deliver a message is largely determined by who you intend to reach or what your target audience is. There are some universal health education principles to keep in mind, however, regardless the number being educated. Health educators improve the reception of their message by using a brief reminder known as KISS, or "Keep It Simple, Stupid." Remember that any message, no matter how important and applicable, loses impact if it's too complicated, full of jargon or overwhelmed by detail. Clear, concise and consistent messages serve you well and are less likely to be misconstrued. Another essential mantra for educators is that of "primacy and recency." Target audiences learn--and best retain--what they are taught first and last. Throughout the delivery of your message, utilize any opportunity for modeling. If you can get someone to practice a behavior or even recite an argument through role playing, he or she will be much more likely to change behaviors. Finally, repetition of your message helps reinforce it. We refer to this as "Tell them what you're going to teach, teach them, then sum up what you just taught them."
- Chris Hafner-Eaton, Ph.D. "Birthing Our Message," Midwifery Today Issue 35
Learn more from these Midwifery Today issues: No.
14, Keeping Midwifery Alive (Regular price $7.00) No.
35, Educating the Public (Regular price: $7.00) No.
43, Birth Change (Regular price $10.00) Save $1.00 on each of these back issues!
Call 800-743-0974 to order today!
5) Question of the Week:
Is there any evidence that laboring in the tub after the bag of water has broken increases the rate of infection in mother or baby? I have been unable to find any research to indicate this is so, but every nurse, doctor, and even a couple of midwives are convinced that this is so. What's the real story? Fact or theory?
- Amy Jones, Henderson, NV
Send your responses to email@example.com If you would like to submit a Question of the Week, please write to the above address.
6) Question of the Week Responses
Q: What is your favorite technique for educating the public about midwifery and natural birth? Word of mouth. I tell everyone who will listen (and even those who won't) about my homebirthed baby. I may be at grocery stores, shopping malls, the DMV. When anyone comments on my beautiful son, I make sure to share that he was born at home with a midwife. I wear T-shirts that speak of midwifery, and dress my homebirthed baby in clothes that say "I was born at home."
- Anita Woods
Following are some of the ways we are educating the public in Kentucky:
1. An active consumer organization. Our Kentucky Alliance for the Advancement of Midwifery (KAAM) is a consumer organization with dynamic leadership. KAAM's web site http://www.childbirth.org/k aam/html offers information. KAAM purchases vendor booths at local health fairs, neighborhood fairs, and professional conferences. KAAM cultivates relationships with news people and sends press releases to major newspapers and television stations for all midwifery events. All these events are staffed by consumers and midwives. We have found that this team approach to public speaking works extremely well. Consumers answer the "why have your baby at home?" questions, and the midwives answer the "what if something goes wrong?" questions.
2. Contact local newspapers. Small town papers make a great impact. Their reporters are LOOKING for stories. Some homebirthers contact their paper and ask to have a story done on their newest arrival. The midwife can also attend the interview to again answer the "what if" questions. Baby pictures in small towns sell newspapers. Then have the couple cut out the article and send it to their state legislators. I still have people come up to me and mention they saw me in our local paper three years ago!
3. Speak to high schools. I have a standing invitation each year to speak at our local high school. My former preceptor and I speak to several classes studying parenting, childhood development, etc. We bring homebirth videos and provide a chance to meet a midwife. Educating young women and men provides an opportunity to counter the message that birth is painful and replace it with the possibility that it can be a powerful life changing event.
4. Wear a name tag. I have a name tag listing our midwifery association under my name. I wear it to all my speaking engagements. Many of my one-on-one conversations have arisen from wearing that name tag while getting gas or stopping at the store on my way to an engagement. You never know who you will run into.
5. Set up a speaker's bureau. Pool the resources in your midwifery organization. We provide speakers on a wide variety of topics to local groups, churches, colleges and organizations. While I speak on other topics, I always tell people I am a midwife. Usually at least one person will come up to me after the presentation to talk about midwifery.
6. Join or visit other organizations. We attend other conferences, meetings and seminars. Look for goals you have in common with that group, and wear your name tag. At a Women's Advocacy Meeting and at a luncheon for legal professionals, my former preceptor and I became the focus for discussions on midwifery.
7. Print up business cards and hand them out. I keep business cards in my checkbook and wallet next to my cash and hand one out every time I hand someone cash or a check. It always sparks a conversation. I handed one to my veterinarian's secretary. She kept it for over a year and called me when she became pregnant. These one on one discussions have opened so many opportunities to speak to larger groups.
8. Contact the local health department. I have a background in public health, but anyone could use this as well. I visit the health education coordinator at health departments in various counties and offer speakers for their health fairs. We offer to teach classes on prenatal care, nutrition, and breastfeeding. These departments are usually understaffed and overworked. They are usually thrilled. Never turn down a chance to speak. I sometimes feel I'm a slave to my offer to talk to anyone at any time, even two little old ladies who get together for tea every Thursday. It does get frustrating at times. I dare not leave the house in a ratty T-shirt, because that will be the day I meet a potential new client in the grocery store. I love my profession and I love to talk--what a great combination!
- Candy Hall Brunk, midwife
Missouri Birth Center needs help!
Looking for CNM willing to work part time working into full time. Rural practice,
full scope, benefits available. Great schools, recreation includes lakes and outdoors
to local music, crafts, and Branson entertainment.
7) Switchboard
- Debby S. (Editor's Note: Does anyone have ideas, art talent, marketing skills to lend to Debby's idea? It's a potential educating the public project.)
One of your writers described the insertion of a Foley catheter into the uterus as a method of cervical ripening [Issue No. 23]. I recommend using caution with language and question the use of the word "ripening" to describe the process of irritating the mother's body by inserting a foreign object. This should properly and descriptively be called Foley catheter invasion and irritation. Prostaglandin gels applied to the cervix should be more honestly described as chemically altering the consistency of the cervix. There is no ripening happening with either of these methods. Midwives have used the term ripening to describe a natural process of the cervical changes of late pregnancy. We take a word from the plant kingdom because it is similar to the slow, harmonious process that happens to a plum as it turns from green and hard to darker and darker purple, soft, mushy and sweet. If one puts a whole bunch of plums in a box when they are green and hard and sprays them with chemicals, it is possible that in a few days they will look like dark purple ripe fruit. However, one taste will tell you that nature had nothing to do with the end product. Let's not fool ourselves in birth either. This whole hospital induction thing has got to stop. Whatever area we work in we can call these invasions by their proper names--irritation and chemical altering. Lying about what's going on perpetuates the practice.
- Gloria Lemay, private birth attendant, Vancouver, BC Canada
It can be horrendously painful for the mother to have a foreign object inserted into her *closed* cervix and left there for hours on end. I have only seen one birth done this way. The woman was started on the Foley and Pitocin and found the start of labor hideously painful. There was no gradual easing into the contractions, no opportunity to build up endorphins to minimize the pain. It hurt like crazy from minute one and didn't stop until they removed it when she reached 3 cm. It took her another five hours and an intrathecal to get to 5 cm, at which point the doc got bored and did a c-section so he could carry on with his evening plans. She decided to skip labor next time and had a repeat c-section with her next child. As a doula, there was very little I could do for her. My "take" on Foley induction is that it is much like being continuously examined for hours on end--very painful for some women. The whole method is based on the way the catheter and the fluid irritate the cervix. Medical staff need to remember that an irritated cervix is attached to a feeling, living woman who may feel that irritation as pain. I also worry about having a foreign object lying in the vagina and providing a conduit for bacteria into the uterus.
Thank you for chronicling both the dangerousness of drugs in birth and the apathy so many people seem to be burdened with in telling the truth about the horrific effects of medicating families in childbirth [Issue 20]. Drugs have corrupted the culture of childbirth almost irreparably. Epidurals have become the accepted elixir of the pregnant woman's consciousness, the escape that leaves her numb, deadened and remote from the sensations of birth itself. Yet how can a woman have true informed consent for an epidural when it is given under the extreme duress of birthing in confinement? And what parent would possibly permit her baby's tissues to be numbed and deadened right alongside her own? Induction drugs are the twisted partners of epidurals and other pain relieving agents: they bring on birth sensations so fierce in their artificial pulsing that salvation can only be found in substances that women in their right minds would normally abhor: toxic substances administered in the needles, tubes and catheters that women would normally abhor as well. Blue hands and feet have become expected; emergency resuscitations on newborns are often not even considered causes for alarm anymore. One birth attendant says prostaglandin gel is being used like Vaseline in North American obstetrical units; another says that in her hospital, the obstetrical anesthetist is referred to as the "candy man" among certain staff, and even to pregnant parents coming on hospital tours. Drugs poison bodies; drugs poison the perception of what birth is intended to feel like. Drugs also poison women's perceptions of being able to give birth without them: women have become addicted to obstetrical drugs in the way they've come to believe that birth can't be given without them. It has come to be believed that childbirth and drugs are interchangeable. It's boggling to me that people eschewing a drugged birth, and the proselytizers of drugged births, are considered "irresponsible." It is astounding to me that giving birth at home is considered dangerous when giving birth in hospitals leaves people drugged, wounded, even dead. Drugs kill.
Where is the Hippocratic Oath when drugs kill babies?
Who exactly is "doing no harm" when babies are born unable to breathe?
Is no harm done when needles pierce women's spinal tissues?
Is no harm done when women are stripped of the belief in and love of birth itself?
- Leilah McCracken firstname.lastname@example.com\
This is in response to Mary Ann Watson's recommendations [Issue 23]. She is quoted as saying that women don't grow babies bigger than they can birth, that this would be going against natural selection. My understanding is that obstructed labor, which can arise sometimes because of a large baby or a large head, has been a leading cause of maternal mortality for centuries, long before women were made to lie down to deliver. (The first Chamberlen invented forceps in the late 1500s to deal with this very thing.) Humans have had to develop their birth techniques to deal with the consequences of the upright posture, which has made our pelvises more rigid than those of the quadruped. Humans have also had to deal with the very large head of our species, which can be another complicating factor in birth. In homogenous populations, parents often are closer in size. When there is cross-cultural contact, situations occur where the dad can be a foot taller than the mother. This has been identified as a potential problem for a comfortable fit between baby and mother.
- Nikki Lee RN, MSN,. Mother of 2, IBCLC, ICCE, CST
Baby T's Gifts for Families!
Visit http://www.babyts.com. Check out our adorable Birth Shirtificates for your new born babies. Need a fundraiser?
8) Coming E-News Themes
Coming issues of Midwifery Today
E-News will carry the following themes. You are enthusiastically invited to write articles, make comments, tell stories, send techniques, ask questions, write letters or news items related to these themes:
- episiotomy (June 18)
We look forward to hearing from you very soon! Send your submissions to email@example.com.
Visit the multiple award-winning WATERBIRTH WEBSITE for the most complete waterbirth information available on the net!
This publication is presented by Midwifery Today, Inc., for the sole purpose of disseminating general health information for public benefit. The information contained in or provided through this publication is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be, and is not provided as, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Midwifery Today, Inc., does not assume liability for the use of this information in any jurisdiction or for the contents of any external Internet sites referenced, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advertised in this publication. Always seek the advice of your midwife, physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment or for answers to any questions you may have regarding any medical condition.
Copyright Notice
The content of E-News is copyrighted by Midwifery Today, Inc., and, occasionally, other rights holders. You may forward E-News by e-mail an unlimited number of times, provided you do not alter the content in any way and that you include all applicable notices and disclaimers. You may print a single copy of each issue of E-News for your own personal, noncommercial use only, provided you include all applicable notices and disclaimers. Any other use of the content is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of Midwifery Today, Inc., and any other applicable rights holders.
© 1999 Midwifery Today, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Midwifery Today: Each One Teach One!


text:
Phillies can't capitalize as Lee loses in former home
Lineup draws six walks against prospect Bauer, but doesn't score
CLEVELAND -- The Phillies believed they finally had momentum on their side following an impressive weekend sweep in New York.
Then they showed up to play in Cleveland.
Well, they showed up anyway. The Indians throttled them effortlessly in a two-game series at Progressive Field, capping it with a 6-0 win Wednesday after Tuesday's 14-2 rout. The Indians had both games in hand by the fourth inning, leaving the Phillies to play mostly uninspired baseball the rest of the way.
"They pretty much pounded us both games, there's no way around it," said Wednesday starter Cliff Lee, a former Indian. "They crushed us both games. It was never really close, either one of them. We have to have a little more pride than that and figure out a way to at least get back into games and make it somewhat competitive. Both games, it was never close."
The Indians hit seven home runs Tuesday, but used seven infield hits to win Wednesday.
They took advantage of their chances. Meanwhile, the Phillies wasted opportunity after opportunity after opportunity. Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer walked six batters in five innings, but allowed only one hit and struck out five in five scoreless innings.
He walked the leadoff hitter in the first, third, fourth and fifth innings, but the Phillies went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
"It would've been nice to cash a couple in for sure," Phillies third baseman Michael Young said. "We had some walks, but it was kind of tough to really get locked in on one certain pitch. He had good velocity, good breaking ball, threw his offspeed stuff over. Any count, really, there were no patterns. Like I said, we would've liked to cash in on a couple. If we could get some of those opportunities back, it'd be nice."
"He walked the leadoff hitter in four innings, and I believe all his walks were against left-handers," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "Saying that, when he got into some traffic out there, he made unbelievable pitches. He threw his fastball. He threw his offspeed. He attacked hitters when he had to with really good stuff."
The Indians scored a run on a sacrifice fly in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. They used three infield hits in the third inning to help them score three more runs and take a 4-0 lead.
The Indians scored 12 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings against Phillies starters Roy Halladay and Lee. Halladay allowed eight earned runs in 3 2/3 innings Tuesday. Lee allowed four earned runs in six innings Wednesday.
But even if they had been sharper (Halladay), or had better luck (Lee), it wouldn't have mattered, because the offense came up small. The Phillies have suffered four shutout losses this season, all of them coming in their past 15 games.
Fans are becoming accustomed to this. The Phillies entered the night 11th in the National League in scoring, averaging 3.7 runs per game. They had a .302 on-base percentage, which ranked 12th. Even when they find ways to get on base -- they walked seven times Wednesday -- they cannot find ways to get the runners home.
"That's what we talk about: consistency," manager Charlie Manuel said. "The consistency part of our play. We had chances. We had men in scoring position. We just couldn't knock them in."
The latest loss dropped the Phillies to 12-16. They have an excellent opportunity to make up ground this weekend in a four-game series against the feeble Marlins, who are 8-20 and without their best player, slugger Giancarlo Stanton. While the Marlins will be wearing big league uniforms, anything less than three wins should be considered a disappointment, even if there are five months remaining in the season.
"I don't even like to use the word early," Manuel said. "The season is long and everything like that. I tell our guys, every day you play, you get closer to the finish line. That's how much it counts."
Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
SIMON DYSON closed out golf's inaugural Made In Denmark tournament with a welcome return to form.
The York-born golfer survived the half way cut by the skin of his teeth on Friday night, squeezing through by one stroke on four over having initially appeared to be heading home when the cut mark was projected at three over.
He took advantage of that reprieve to card a one under par 70 on Saturday, shooting him up to joint 26th on the leaderboard.
And he built on that with a final round of 69, following a run of nine pars on the front nine with three birdies in the first six holes of the back nine.
A bogey at the 15th pulled him back to two under for the day and one over for the tournament at the Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort in Aalborg.
That earned the Malton & Norton Golf Club star a share of 22nd place.


text:
Men's Nike Miami Heat NBA LeBron Witness T-Shirt
Select a size above
Size Chart
Buy Online & Pick Up In-Store
Check Availability at stores near you.
Product Details
Make a serious statement while representing a top court superstar in the Nike Miami Heat NBA LeBron Witness T-Shirt. Cool and comfortable, this Dri-FIT tee helps to manage moisture so you stay fresh everywhere you go.
Tees are a wardrobe staple, but they don't have to boring. This LeBron tee proves that statement, with bold screen-print graphics that are sure to grab some attention. The rib crew neck with interior taping prevents chafing and keeps you comfy, while short-sleeves ensure you stay cool.
- FABRIC: Dri-FIT cotton blend
- FIT: Relaxed
- CARE: Machine wash


text:
Today: Google's (GOOG) revenues exceed analyst expectations, leading to a rise in the search giant's stock price. Also: Apple (AAPL) stock gains ahead of Wednesday's earnings report, helping indexes again set five-year highs.
Google continues to haul in cash and look to the future
Google capped a year of record revenues with a fourth quarter that beat analysts' expectations, helping push the stock higher as an important four-day stretch of tech earnings began Tuesday.
Google announced profits of $8.62 a share on revenues of $11.34 billion, after subtracting commissions paid to advertising partners. After excluding one-time charges, the Mountain View company's earnings per share were $10.65 for the October-December quarter. According to a Thomson Reuters analysis, Wall Street analysts were expecting Google to report earnings of $8.48 a share, or $10.52 a share excluding one-time charges, on revenue of $12.36 billion.
The revenue figure has been a bone of contention, as Google — which typically does not communicate with Wall Street analysts — issued a blog post last week telling prognosticators that they needed to reduce revenue forecasts because Google could not include revenues from Motorola Home, which it agreed to sell in the fourth quarter. Google said its revenues before subtracting commissions and with Motorola Home totaled up to $15.24 billion.
"Business looked really strong, especially from a profitability perspective. They really grew their margins in the core business, which is quite amazing," B. Riley analyst Sameet Sinha marveled to Reuters after seeing the numbers.
CEO Larry Page — who was famously noted in last quarter's mistakenly sent earnings report with the phrase "Pending Larry quote" — pointed out in this quarterly report that Google exceeded annual revenues of $50 billion for the first time, which he called "not a bad achievement in just a decade and a half."
In a conference call with analysts following the report's release, Page expounded on the company's direction, talking about the future of Android in cars, the $8 million in advertising generated by the viral YouTube hit "Gangnam Style," and monetization of Google Maps.
Investors liked what they saw and heard, pushing Google stock up more than 5 percent to $738.20 by 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, after shares declined 0.2 percent in the regular session. The stock took a pounding after last quarter's disappointing earnings report, but Google is nearing the $755.49 price that it had before that decline.
Earnings reports that provide details on tech companies' fourth-quarter earnings and full-year performance began arriving last week with eBay (EBAY) and Intel (INTC), but this week could prove to be the most important for Silicon Valley and the technology sector in general, with several important reports scheduled for release.
In addition to Google's report Tuesday, struggling Sunnyvale chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices told investors that losses continue to pile up, but earnings still beat projections; IBM announced profits grew 6 percent, completing an entire decade of year-over-year growth; and Sunnyvale medical-device company Intuitive Surgical beat expectations thanks to strong demand for its da Vinci surgical robots. All three stocks advanced in late trading, led by Intuitive Surgical, which surged more than 8 percent higher. San Jose's Super Micro Computer and Texas Instruments also moved higher in late trading following earnings reports.
Apple gains ahead of earnings report as Verizon notes strong iPhone sales
With Tuesday's earnings reports in the hands of reporters and analysts, eyes turn to Wednesday's big report: Cupertino tech giant Apple, which is expected to release earnings about 1:30 p.m. Pacific time.
Analysts concerned that Apple may not have sold as many iPhones as expected in the holiday quarter were likely relieved by Verizon's earnings report, released early Tuesday. The largest wireless carrier in the United States reported that it activated a record 6.2 million iPhones in the holiday quarter, and almost half of them were the iPhone 5 model that Apple introduced in September. Two out of every three smartphones the company activated were iPhones, also a Verizon record.
Analyst discord on Apple continued Tuesday, however, as UBS analysts dropped their price target and earnings projections because it sees Apple's margins dipping as customers begin to look for cheaper phones in the next few years. However, UBS maintained a "Buy" rating for Apple, as its revised price target of $650 is still higher than Apple's current stock price.
While many analysts were focused on Apple's earnings, some chose to predict what products Apple will come out with this year, including yet another iTV prediction from Gene Munster and Jefferies analyst Peter Misek musing about new iPhones to come this year.
When it comes to Apple's earnings reports, analysts cannot find agreement, leading to a shocking array of projected outcomes.
"This is by far the widest distribution of estimates we've ever seen," Leigh Drogen, co-founder and CEO of forecasting site Estimize, told Mercury News reporter Patrick May on Tuesday. "It's really amazing because there's simply no consensus there about Apple; the analysts are all over the map."
After last week's volatility ended with Apple at $500 on the nose, the company's stock gained 1 percent Tuesday to close at $504.77. For live coverage of Apple's earnings report and the conference call likely featuring top executives such as CEO Tim Cook, go to www.siliconvalley.com Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time.
Indexes again hit five-year highs, Facebook pops higher than $30
Stock indexes gained in regular trading Tuesday, the first trading day of the week as U.S. markets closed Monday for MLK Day, pushing the Dow Jones and Standard & Poor's 500 indexes to five-year highs for the second consecutive day. Positive earnings reports from large, blue-chip companies like DuPont helped push those indexes higher.
Tech stocks were not as fortunate, with earnings-related gains coming after the bell and there fore not helping indexes on Tuesday. the Nasdaq gained 0.3 percent, trailing the 0.5 percent growth in the other two major U.S. indexes, while the SV150 index of Silicon Valley's largest tech companies advanced even less, at 0.1 percent.
One of Silicon Valley's biggest gainers Tuesday was Facebook, as the Menlo Park social network increased 3.6 percent to again close higher than $30 a share. German researchers announced Tuesday, however, that the company could face pressure from users, who get depressed about the happy pictures and tales they see from their friends every day.
Silicon Valley tech stocks
Up: Facebook, SunPower (SPWRA), Tesla, NetApp, Apple, Symantec, Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), SolarCity, Workday, Applied Materials
Down: Jive, Yelp, eBay, Netflix (NFLX), Zynga, VMware, Cisco (CSCO), Yahoo (YHOO), Oracle (ORCL), Nvidia, Gilead, AMD, Intel
The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index: Up 8.47, or 0.27 percent, to 3,143.18
The blue chip Dow Jones industrial average: Up 62.51, or 0.46 percent, to 13,712.21
And the widely watched Standard & Poor's 500 index: Up 6.58, or 0.44 percent, to 1,492.56
Check in weekday afternoons for the 60-Second Business Break, a summary of news from Mercury News staff writers, The Associated Press, Bloomberg News and other wire services. Contact Jeremy C. Owens at 408-920-5876; follow him at Twitter.com/mercbizbreak.


text:
What about these remaining free agents becoming a Red?
[B]David Bell: Could be the righthanded bat that we need to play lst and 3rd base.
[B]Aaron Boone: Might be available at a rock bottom price.
[B]Keith Foulke: Former closer who had two off-seasons due to injuries. Might be receptive to a one year deal loaded with incentives?B]
Devern Hansack: Who? A Boston pitcher who got a cup of coffee but had pretty good minor league stats at their Triple A club:http://www.baseballamerica.com/today....php?id=468962
Dustin Hermanson: Injuries derailed his 2006 season but if you look at his 2005 season, you have to wonder if he is worth the chance?
[B]LHP Juan Lara Minor league pitcher that had nice stats for Cleveland's Double A team:
RHP David Riske: Might make another decent setup man.
[B]Craig Wilson lb-OFHe would make an excellent righthanded hitting lst baseman platoon and a backup for Ken Griffey, Jr. in RF.
OF Preston Wilson: At this stage of his career, he might make a nice fourth OF while providing some pop off the bench.


text:
Agent: Bucs DT Roy Miller headed toward free agency
Bucs nose tackle Roy Miller will head elsewhere as a free agent if the current state of his negotiations with Tampa Bay holds.
Talks between the team and its 2009 third-round draft choice, scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 12, have broken off with the sides seemingly far apart.
It's unclear what the team is offering Miller and his contract demands aren't known. But Miller's agent did nothing to dismiss the notion that Miller is destined to play in another uniform in 2013.
"Roy is excited to see what's out there for him in free agency," said his agent, Mike McCartney. "He has a lot to offer after an excellent season, helping a team that was last against the run (in 2011) go to No. 1 against the run last season." …Full Story


text:
This amazing bra from Elle Macpherson is like a simple coffee- just how we take it- or whiskey to winter or champagne to August, lobster with butter, small children in overalls, and a man who holds the door. In essence- it is classic and exactly right. It is also one of the first bras we ever carried in our first New York store. Longevity and tradition do so very much go hand in hand, and there's a reason this simple silhouette still keeps such a place in our hearts: Equally perfect under a t-shirt (seriously) or a silk dressing gown, the namesake dentelle lace is structured by five panel boning, offering incredible lift without sacrificing prettiness, and a delicately scalloped lace panel at the top of the cup ensures that the girls behave themselves. Not to worry- they'll be the only ones.
- 2-part cup
- Partially-adjustable straps
- Scalloped floral lace
- Side stays
- Ruched ribbon straps
Fit Notes
- Beautiful lace accents this super supportive style!
- Band size runs small
- Size up in the band, down in the cup
- Good for petites
- Good for larger cup sizes
- Bra Sizing - UK / AU
- Firm Support