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The University of Colorado Boulder Leeds School of Business will present its annual Colorado Business Economic Outlook Forum on Monday, Dec. 5, at 1 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Denver.
The event at 1750 Welton St. is free and open to the public but reservations are required for those planning to attend. To make reservations visit www.leeds.colorado.edu/brd - cbeo.
After the forecast, John A. Hayes, president and CEO of Ball Corp., will deliver the keynote address on ways to ignite economic growth in Colorado. His address will be followed by three concurrent breakout sessions on real estate, international trade and small business.
Compiled by the Leeds School's Business Research Division, the comprehensive state economic outlook for 2012 features forecasts and trends for 11 business sectors prepared by more than 80 key business, government and industry professionals.
Economic snapshots from specific counties and regions around the state, as well as updates on international trade, population, labor force, personal income growth and a general outlook on the national economy are included in the outlook. A question-and-answer session will follow the outlook presentation.


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Heifer's Cambodia exploration
10 Dec 2012 at 06:33
Paige sits with the Kei family while they collect food supplements.
With Paige
Press | FAQ | Terms of Agreement | Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2011 Flatter World Inc.
FLAT STANLEY® is a trademark of the Trust u/w/o Richard C. Brown f/b/o Duncan Brown. Used with permission. All rights reserved

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Making the roster an emotional moment for Romero
PEORIA, Ariz. -- For Stefen Romero, the words from Lloyd McClendon will forever be etched in his memory.
Called into the skipper's office Friday afternoon, Romero learned that he was part of the Mariners' 25-man roster heading into Monday's regular-season opener in Anaheim. And the 25-year-old outfielder suddenly felt a flood of emotions as one of his lifelong goals was realized.
"Speechless. Just goosebumps," Romero said. "He just said, 'Hey, I'm happy to say that I'll be your first big league manager.' When he said that, I got the chills and immediately my mind went back to my grandfather, who passed away two years ago in 2011.
"He's been my biggest influence playing baseball," said Romero. "He's been my No. 1 supporter and went to every single one of my games growing up. I got a little bit emotional, just thinking back and wishing he could have seen me play now. I know he's looking down and it's really an emotional time for me and my family. At the same time, I'm ecstatic."
The former Oregon State standout was the Mariners' Minor League Player of the Year in 2012 after putting up big numbers at Class A Advanced High Desert and Double-A Jackson, then hit .277 with 11 home runs and 74 RBIs in 93 games in 2013 after overcoming a strained oblique that delayed the start of his season.
McClendon likes Romero's right-handed bat and offensive potential and has played him both in the outfield and a little at first base the past week, looking for ways to get him opportunities as a backup candidate.
It remains to be seen how much Romero plays, but he knows this is a start to what he's been pursuing since his days growing up in Tucson, Ariz.
"It's awesome," he said. "It's every little kid's dream, getting to where you want to be. ... I want to keep going further in my career, but this is a really huge step and I'm just proud it's with the Mariners, the team that drafted me and gave me the opportunity."
As teammates went about the business of clearing out their lockers and preparing for the first road trip to Anaheim and Oakland, Romero was just soaking up the experience.
"It really hasn't hit me yet," he said. "I know when we stand out there for the opening ceremonies and seeing the fans standing up for the National Anthem, that's probably when it'll finally hit me, just awe. But right now, it's kind of hectic still playing spring games, trying to get everything packed up, trying to figure out all this travel and stuff.
"I'm new to everything. Guys are just packing like it's nothing. They know what to expect. I'm just going in there blind, pretty much. But this is an awesome experience."
Romero got off to an 0-for-16 start at the plate this spring, but hit .425 the rest of the way to finish at .304 (17-for-56) with three doubles, two triples, four home runs and 13 RBIs. He went 1-for-1 with two walks in Saturday's Cactus League finale against the Rockies.
Greg Johns is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregJohnsMLB as well as his Mariners Musings blog. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Connecticut-based attorney Irv Pinsky has filed a $100 million claim on behalf of a six year old survivor in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting massacre in Newtown December 14, in which 20 children and six adults were killed by Adam Lanza. This is the first legal action to arise out of the tragedy.
Reuters: The unidentified client, referred to as Jill Doe, heard "cursing, screaming, and shooting" over the school intercom when the gunman, 20-year-old Adam Lanza, opened fire, according to the claim filed by New Haven-based attorney Irv Pinsky.
"As a consequence, the … child has sustained emotional and psychological trauma and injury, the nature and extent of which are yet to be determined," the claim said.
Pinsky said he filed a claim on Thursday with state Claims Commissioner J. Paul Vance Jr., whose office must give permission before a lawsuit can be filed against the state. "We all know its going to happen again," Pinsky said on Friday. "Society has to take action."
Pinsky's claim said that the state Board of Education, Department of Education and Education Commissioner had failed to take appropriate steps to protect children from "foreseeable harm."
Is this really about security or is it about money? You be the judge……


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Wine That Says "Count On Me"
When he started Kendall-Jackson Winery thirty-two years ago, Jess Jackson's vision was that everyone should have access to a luxury bottle of wine, wherever or whoever they are. The goal was to make premium wines at accessible prices. Judging by the sc...Read more »


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First let me say sorry if this is the wrong place to look for these answers but ive tried a few other forums and this one seems like it has an active amount of people. If you know of a better place to get my answers please let me know and i will delete this post.
Ill start off introducing my self, i'am josh and i want to find spiritual enlightenment. I really want to find a purpose more or less and ive thought long and hard and this is what i think i wanna do. I would like to spend some time at a temple,monestary place of worship etc. I am interested on how to do this. I have gone the college route i found this wasnt for me. Ive been working and i feel like something is missing and this feeling just keeps continuing to grow inside me, and i would like to spend time around other like minded individuals. I dont think this is going to happen over night as much as id like it too, there are still alot of things i need to know such as if its even possible.
I started thinking about this two years ago give or take but ive recently been getting really into religon and medition and other things. I need a change in my life, so how do i go about finding a monastery or temple to live at and learn. Im ready to devote my life. so what am i going to need will i need money or is a willingness to learn and help out enough? would i be able to find such monastery in the united states? better yet would i be able to find one in my state of residence? Im not trying to find a free ride, im willing to work and help out as much as i need to a week. Is there a general set of rules for all temples or does it vary from place? Would it be possible to barter my stay in exchange for my life skills.
I read in another post of someone doing things like this The barter I ended up offering the monastery is this:
Complete a three-month strategic social media plan (that I drafted) focusing on Facebook and the lama's blog.
Assist the monastery with selling some antiques online as a fundraiser.
Spend one evening per week helping in the monastery garden.
Contribute $50/month toward utilities.
Is this article accurate is this how things actually work? Or should i be saving up more money for this journey through life? I also have other skills like the person in the article (ill post it at the end) I can use the computer, i am also very good at cooking are these things they look for when taking in students.
How do i go about finding a place that allows things like this? I have so many questions and i just wanna start getting answers so i can start to prepare for this. im dead set on doing this and i will find a way but it would be great if i had some help getting answers i have been searching the web but things are to vague.
http://roguepriest.net/2011/04/21/how-to-live-for-free/ there is the Article i know the link might seem like im trying to find a place to live for free but i already have a nice happy home life its just not for me and like i said something feels like its missing. also apologize in advance for any grammar errors.


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Movies, Movies, MoviesTrivia brain teasers have some element of trivia in them, but they are not just pure trivia questions.
Jake, John, Joe, and Jack each have a different favorite movie series. These include "Jurassic Park", "The Chronicles of Narnia", "Star Wars", and "Indiana Jones". Using the clues, figure out who likes which movie series.
1. John hates movies that don't take place on Earth.
2. Jack's room has dinosaurs painted on the walls.
3. Jake's latest astronomy pursuit involves searching for "Dagobah".
HintUsing a search engine might help.
AnswerJake - Star Wars
John - Indiana Jones
Joe - The Chronicles of Narnia
Jack - Jurassic Park
What Next?
See another brain teaser just like this one...
Or, just get a random brain teaser
If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
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New York City, New York 10017
United States
|Areas of Practice
|1) Real Estate
|Law School
|Fordham University School of Law
|Emory University (B.A., 2002); Fordham University
|Most recent firm
|DLA Piper
|Relevant Jobs
USA-NY-New York City
Small downtown Real Estate litigation practice seeks associate with 1-2 years experience. Strong writing skills necessary. Landlord/Tenant litigation experience helpful. Salary commensurate with exper...
Apply now
|+ View more jobs
Anthony Ciasulli is a senior counsel in Morgan Lewis's Real Estate Practice. Mr. Ciasulli represents both developers and lenders in connection with commercial, residential, industrial and resort real estate.
Brian M. Jazaeri is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Litigation Practice. Mr. Jazaeri represents clients in complex commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on class action matters and financial services, healthcare and technology litigation.


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Did You Know?
Ring-Tails spend more time on the ground than any other Lemur.
This week is National Veterinary Technician Week. Veterinary Technicians are a very integral part of the veterinary medical team, as well as part of the zoo. In fact, without a veterina
Many of us have watched, heart broken over the images from the Gulf oil spill. The numbers of affected animals and the spoiled beaches and wetlands have been catastrophic. Then tragedy
What is involved in the animal's yearly or every other year physical examinations? Quite a bit actually! For example, today two meerkats came to the veterinary clinic in their carrie
In honor of National Pet Week, we are promoting veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and those who help keep pets healthy and happy! We are hosting VEZU day here at Potter Park Zoo Saturday
Spring is in the air at Potter Park Zoo. Spring brings with it flowers, nicer weather, more guests, and excited and frisky animals. The animals certainly welcome the warmer weather and


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Terms and Conditions
Your statutory customer rights are not affected
Access to and use of our Web Site ("the Site") and the sale and purchase of products from the Site are governed by the terms and conditions of use and the terms and conditions of business (together "terms and conditions") set out below.
By using the Site you agree to accept these terms and conditions. If you do not wish to accept these terms and conditions, please do not use this Site.
This Site is operated and owned by Toys 'R' Us Limited ("Toys 'R' Us") a company incorporated in England & Wales with company number 1809223. Toys 'R' Us's registered office is at Mitre House, 160 Aldersgate Street, London EC1A 4DD. VAT Number 410802502.
Terms & Conditions of Use
1. Material You Provide To Us
If you send ideas, remarks, questions, data, graphics or the like ("the Submissions") to the Site, these will be deemed to be non-confidential and we will be entitled to use or disclose the Submissions in any manner whatsoever, without liability or notice to you. The Submissions or any other information you send to the Site should not be, or contain, material which is offensive, pornographic, defamatory, blasphemous, unlawful or likely to infringe any applicable law, whether civil, criminal or religious. You agree that all material submitted to us is original to you, and not copied in whole or part from any third party. Please do not send anything which is required to be kept confidential.
2. Linked Sites
We are not responsible for the content of any off-site pages or any other sites linked to the Site nor have we reviewed any such site. If you link to any off-site pages or other sites without our prior written permission, such action will be at your own risk. We cannot be held responsible for the contents of any web site which is electronically linked to the Site and which is not maintained by us.
3. Copyright and Trademarks
All Site design, text, graphics, the selection and arrangement thereof, and all software compilations, underlying source code, software (including applets) and all other material on this Site are the copyright of Toys 'R' Us and its affiliates, or their content and technology providers. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted to electronically copy and to print in hard copy portions of the Site for the sole purpose of placing an order with us or using the Site as a shopping resource. Any other use of materials on this Site, including reproduction for purposes other than those noted above, modification, distribution, or republication, without our prior written permission, is strictly prohibited.
All brand names, product names and titles used in the Site are trade marks or trade names of their respective holders. No permission is given in respect of the use of any of these names or titles and moreover any such use may constitute an infringement of the holders' rights.
4. Privacy Policy
At Toys R Us we are committed to protecting your privacy and we comply with the Data Protection Laws applicable to the UK. We use the information collected from you to process orders and to provide a more personalised shopping experience. Please see our privacy policy and cookies page for further details.
5. Competition Terms and Conditions
Entrants must be aged 18 years or over and resident in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Employees of the Toys "R" Us group of companies, their agents and families are excluded from entering the draw.
Those professionally associated with the promotion and their families are excluded from entering the draw.
Entry into this competition confirms your acceptance of these Terms and Conditions and your agreement to be bound by the decisions of Toys "R" Us.
Entry is strictly limited to one entry per person. Entries from agents or third parties are invalid. Proof of sending is not regarded as proof of receipt.
Toys "R" Us cannot be held responsible for entries lost, delayed or unclear.
The winners will be selected at random from all the entries received before the closing date and time.
The winners may also be contacted by the promoters agents or third parties to arrange provision of the prize.
Winners will be notified by private message within 14 days of the closing date.
Should Toys "R" Us be unable to contact the winners, or the winners fail to accept the prize by email, phone call or letter within 14 days, another winner will be selected at random.
The winners agree to the use of their name, photograph and disclosure of county of residence and will co-operate with any other reasonable requests relating to any post-winning publicity
There is no cash alternative to the stated prize. Toys "R" Us reserves the right to offer a similar prize, or a prize of equal or greater value, if the stated prize is unavailable.
The judges' decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
The promoter of these competitions is Toys "R" Us, Geoffrey House, Maidenhead Business Park, Westacott Way, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 3QH
Terms & Conditions of Business
1. Sale and Purchase
We will sell and you will purchase products subject to our terms and conditions of business set out below. The contract in respect of the products supplied by us to you comes into existence when your order has been accepted by us. For the avoidance of doubt, receipt of an order via our Site does not constitute acceptance of an order.
1.1 Toys R Us is a retailer and we do not provide goods for resale. We reserve the right to investigate and cancel any orders that we believe are for this purpose.
We may restrict the maximum quantity of an item that can be ordered per customer. Any attempt to breach these restrictions may result in the suspension of your account.
2. Price
2.1 All prices are quoted in pounds Sterling and are inclusive of VAT unless otherwise specified.
2.2 Prices are subject to any changes to the rate or applicability of VAT
2.3 All item prices are exclusive of delivery and packaging, unless otherwise stated. Details of our delivery charges are found in our "Delivery" section.
2.4 Prices are correct at the time of order only and relate to internet purchases only. All orders for products are subject to availability and we reserve the right to refuse to supply any particular person.
3. Payment
3.1 Toysrus.co.uk only charge your payment card when we physically despatch your goods not when you place your order. To ensure there are sufficient funds to pay for your order your bank reserves the required amount in your account. This is common practice amongst mail order retailers.
The value of the reserved funds will not be available to spend on your card for the duration of the reservation and will therefore affect your available funds. In normal circumstances the reserved amount will be paid to us when your order is despatched.
If your order request is unsuccessful we advise your bank to release any reserved funds. Unfortunately not all banks currently have the ability to process this cancellation, so any reservations will naturally expire (usually within 4-5 days), and the funds will be made available for you to spend.
Your order will not fail if your reservation expires before despatch but it may mean that we have to contact you for an alternative form of payment.
3.2 Payment must be made in pounds Sterling only by major credit or debit cards as listed: Visa, Delta, Master Card, Switch and Electron, or UK issued Toys R Us / Babies R Us Gift Cards.
4. Passing of Property
We will retain the property in the products until full payment has been made by you and has been received by us.
5. Passing of Risk
The risk in the products will pass to you on delivery, as set out in paragraph 6.3 below.
6. Delivery
6.1 Any date or period for delivery will be considered as indicative only, although it is our policy to try to fulfill standard delivery orders within 4 working days and named day deliveries on the specified day. Standard delivery orders containing items weighing more than 20 kilograms or to remote or rural addresses might take longer to deliver. We cannot be held responsible for delays in the delivery caused by our suppliers, or any other third party.
6.2 All products are sent by courier or Royal Mail.
6.3 You bear the risk once the products have been signed for/delivered.
7. Acceptance
You will inspect products within a reasonable time after their receipt and you will be deemed to have accepted the products unless you notify us in accordance with paragraph 8 below that you want to cancel your order or you notify us in accordance with paragraph 9 below that the products are faulty. If no such action is taken, we will consider the products being as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for their purpose, and may not accept any rejection or cancellation at a later date. Your statutory customer rights are not affected.
8. Right to Cancel
You have the right to cancel your contract with us at any time before the expiry of 14 working days from the day after the date of delivery of the products. It is your responsibility to take reasonable care of the products until they are received by us. You will receive a full refund of the purchase price and the delivery charge.
8.2 Exceptions to the right to cancel:
- Some items of furniture delivered direct from the supplier, which have been assembled by the carrier in your home and signed for as satisfactory by the you.
- Fabric packs cut to the metre.
- Video games, DVD's and Videos will only be accepted if the packaging has been unopened and the security seal is still intact.
- PCs will only be accepted if all of the bundled software seals are intact, the PC is returned to factory settings and there is no personal data left on the machine.
- Items which we have made, personalised or customised specifically for you.
Please refer to our Returns Procedure for details of how to return items purchased from this Site.
9. Faulty Items
9.1 Items faulty at the point of sale:
- Any item that was faulty at the point of sale may be returned for free repair, replacement or refund, provided you have the original receipt or alternative proof of purchase and the faulty item is returned complete with all components.
- For items to be returned more than six months after the time of purchase the same above applies but in addition, evidence of fault at the time of sale will be required.
- Please note that you will not be entitled to a repair, replacement or refund in respect of fair wear and tear. Please return the original and complete packaging.
- Please refer to our Returns Procedure for details of how to return items purchased from this Site
9.2 Faults developed within the warranty period:
- Most items sold by Toys "R" Us Direct come with a 12 month manufacturer's warranty. If a product develops a fault within the warranty period assistance will be provided by way of spares or a repair depending on the type of product purchased. Wear and tear is not covered by the manufacturer's warranty.
9.2.1 Specific requirements relating to certain product categories:
- All Wheeled Goods, Bikes and Outdoor Play Equipment Please note any faulty wheeled goods, bikes and/or outdoor play equipment must be returned to a Toys "R" Us store where a qualified member of staff will assess the fault.
- It is advisable to contact the store you are returning the item to, to ensure there will be a member of staff available to check your item. Frames, inner tubes and tyres are not covered by the manufacturer's warranty
- In the case of outdoor play equipment installed at home free replacement parts will be ordered for customer installation.
- Exception:- Large items delivered direct from the supplier cannot be returned to a store (highlighted next to the product on your Delivery Note). Contact Toys "R" Us Direct who will contact the supplier with details of the item's fault who will instruct how to proceed with repairing or replacing the item.
Please click here for details on how to contact Toys "R" Us Direct.
Computer Hardware and Peripherals
All Multimedia computers are covered by a 12 month hardware warranty which covers all parts and labour for hardware faults. Following installation, should the item develop a fault you should contact the relevant manufacturer's help line. A qualified technician will diagnose the nature of the fault, & in the case of hardware failure, the following procedures will apply:-
- Faults within 28 days
- An exchange or refund will be issued providing the item is returned within 28 days from the original date of purchase.
- Faults after 28 days but within 12 months
Desktop computers
- An engineer will visit you at home to repair the fault. If the fault requires a replacement unit, the manufacturer will either swap out the hardware at home or issue an authorisation code for the product to be returned to a Toys "R" Us store.
Laptop computers
- The help line will diagnose the fault and arrange, with your assistance, for the laptop to be couriered (at their expense) to their workshop where it will be repaired and sent back to you. It will be returned, or if the fault requires it replaced within 28 working days.
- All of our peripherals are covered by a return to manufacturer warranty. In the event of a fault our special technical help lines will assess the fault and will arrange for free repair or replacement. In some cases it may be necessary for you to return the item to the manufacturer for repair (at no cost to you).
- We regret we are not liable for loss of any data stored on computers.
All Software
- Returns of non-faulty software items will only be considered if the packaging has remained unopened with the seal unbroken.
- Consumer Electronics (e.g. TV, Video, DVD, Karaoke & Videogame Hardware)
- In the event of a fault you should contact the relevant manufacturer's help line, contained in the product's warranty details, for the fault to be diagnosed. You will then be directed to an authorised service centre or to your local Toys "R" Us store for a replacement. In some cases it may be necessary for you to return the item to the manufacturer for repair (at no cost to you).
Mobile Phones
- In the event of a fault, you should contact the relevant network help line for the fault to be diagnosed. Where a fault is identified you will be directed to take the item to the nearest authorised service centre for free repair. A repair will be carried out within seven working days. Where a service centre is not available the manufacturer will arrange for your phone to be collected for repair within seven working days and your phone will be returned repaired within a further seven working days.
- If a repair or replacement is unavailable we will refund your money.
- This faulty items returns policy does not affect your statutory rights (including without limitation your right to reject faulty items and receive a full refund if you raise the matter within a reasonable time).
Strollers and pushchairs
- All strollers, including umbrella fold strollers are only covered by a six month warranty. All other pushchairs are covered by a 12 month warranty.
10. General
10.1 Please note that our products and promotions are only available in mainland United Kingdom and Northern Ireland* and, as such, may be unavailable in the region or country from which you are accessing the Site.
* Some products not available for delivery in Northern Ireland. Exceptions are detailed within individual Product Descriptions.
10.2 Most age recommendations and suitabilities on the site are a guide only, including video game titles displaying an age certification classified by the Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA). Video game titles displaying an age certification classified by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) cannot be purchased by anyone under the certified age.
10.3 If any part or parts of these terms and conditions are deemed invalid, void or unenforceable, then that part or those parts will be considered severable from these terms and conditions thereby not preventing the remainder from being enforceable or effective.
10.4 These terms and conditions may be revised at any time and we reserve the right to do so. You are, therefore, advised to keep up to date with the contents of these terms and conditions as revisions are binding upon you.
10.5 Nothing in these terms and conditions will reduce your statutory rights relating to faulty or misdescribed goods. For further information about your statutory rights contact your local authority Trading Standards Department or Citizen's Advice Bureau.
11. Governing Law
Your use of this Site and any purchase by you on this Site of any products will be governed by English Law and will be deemed
12. Click & Collect
12.1 Price is maximum you will pay in store and is reflective of any promotions currently active. Promotion prices are only honoured if collected in store before the end date, highlighted in the 'How to activate promotion' instructions.
12.2 'In Stock' is only an indication on the availability of an item, not a guarantee. When you confirm your reservation we will check stock in your chosen store and contact you when it is ready to collect.
12.3 You will need to pay when collecting your reservation at your chosen Toys R Us store. You may pay using a different payment method, including Gift Cards and coupons. We will not store your payment details.


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BICESTER play and teach pool will reopen on Saturday after being closed for repairs for more than a year.
The children's pool at Bicester Leisure Centre will open at 11am following major repair work to the tune of £120,000, which was funded by Cherwell District Council.
It was closed in December 2012 after "sudden unexplained cracking of the pool base tiles".
The council say specialist contractors have now repaired the concrete base, replaced pipes and retiled the entire pool.
Water play features at the pool have also been replaced and now include a frog, rainbow slide and mushroom water fountain.
The district council had been criticised by residents for taking too long to repair the pool and many said that they were forced to travel out of town to other swimming pools for leisure and children's lessons.
Deputy leader George Reynolds thanked people for their patience.
He said: "The closure of the Play 'n' Teach Pool has been incredibly frustrating for all concerned, not least our customers who we know have missed this popular facility.
"While concentrated efforts have been made to get the pool reopened as soon as possible, technically challenging issues have unfortunately extended the time scales to successfully do so.
"However we are now delighted to be able to reopen the pool for the start of the new year and would like to thank everyone for their patience during the closure."
Liyen Ashby, general manager of Parkwood Leisure which manages the facility for the council, said: "We are looking forward to welcoming back some of our youngest customers and their parents and to seeing the pool full again.
"We hope that people will enjoy our new and improved facilities."
To celebrate the re-opening of the Play 'n' Teach Pool, Bicester Leisure Centre will host a free swimming open day in both pools on Sunday, February 2, between 10am and 4pm.
There will be visits from Trunks the Elephant, Zoggy the Seal and Olly the Octopus.
For more information view leisurecentre.com/bicester


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Promote our shirts on your own site and make money! $2 Per shirt!
Think you have a good shirt idea? Send it in, you could win $$$
Members only exclusive content and contests. Sign up now, it's free!
Tags: wish i was here shirt, wish i was here t-shirt, wish i were here shirts, wish i were here t-shirts, wish you were here shirts parody, wish i was here t-shirts, wish you were here parody t-shirts


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Providing patients with beautiful, natural results. Dr. Wheeler provides safe, natural-looking, and aesthetically pleasing face and body enhancements. See Dr. Wheeler's Curriculum Vitae to learn about his dedication to his craft and his desire to provide the safest, most advanced plastic surgery procedures to his patients and to the medical community.
Monday-Friday 7:00-6:00
Dr. Wheeler provides safe, natural-looking, and aesthetically pleaseing plastic surgery procedures. He has over 25 years of experience in plastic and reconstructiver surgery specializing in breast augmentation, face lift, and liposuction.
Your free cosmetic surgery consultation enables you to meet with us personally and tell us what you're thinking and why you've got cosmetic surgery on your mind.
Dr. Wheeler will meet with you in a private consultation and spend as much time as necessary to help you select the procedure that will provide you optimal enhancement. Each patient receives specifically designed treatment so that optimal resultscan be achieved in the safest manner possible.
La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre was founded in 26 years ago, in 1988. We were one of the first centers in the world to focus solely on cosmetic surgery.
We understand that choosing plastic surgery or non-surgical rejuvenation in San Diego is a very personal decision. That's why we make every effort to create a welcoming, comfortable environment that ensures privacy and confidentiality. In a beautiful fusion of art and technology, our 12,000 square foot Centre provides a peaceful ambiance. It's conveniently located just off the I-5/San Diego Freeway. The decor is comfortable and homelike so you and your friends or family can relax during your visits
- University of Michigan Medical School Ann Arbor
- Stanford University Hospital
- UCLA Medical Center
- American Board of Plastic Surgery 1981
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
- California Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Sharp Grossmont
- UCSD Medical Center
- Rady Children's Hospital of San Diego


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When Roger Penske returned to NASCAR in 1991, he entered with a proven champion in Rusty Wallace.
He had dabbled in stock cars for about a decade and then abandoned those efforts while enjoying success with Indy cars. Finally, he was ready to get back to racing stock cars, and he figured he had the right guy to win championships.
They flirted with titles early, finishing second in the standings in just their third year together and third the following season.
But Penske has never enjoyed the ultimate success. Yes, he's won the Daytona 500 (in 2008 with Ryan Newman). But he hasn't won a Sprint Cup Series championship. Wallace never delivered, and neither did Kurt Busch or Newman.
Penske's quest for his first Cup title could very well end this weekend, as Brad Keselowski sits 20 points ahead of Jimmie Johnson with just the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway remaining.
It's been 22 years of near-misses and big misses.
"We haven't been good enough," Penske said last Sunday prior to the race at Phoenix. "Quite honestly, we haven't been able to deliver. When you don't win, that's what it's all about. It's about the team. It's about the driver. We just need to get our game better and more consistent."
Penske knows what it's like to win championships. He's won 23 national racing titles, including 12 in IndyCar.
"It's about people, it's about commitment," Penske said. "This hasn't been our main focus (at times). … We've emerged as a competitor. We're better.
"We've been good in the past but we've never been able to close the deal."
But now he's got Keselowski, a 28-year-old driver in just his third year of full-time Cup racing, set to close the deal. All Keselowski needs to do is finish 15th or better this weekend at Homestead and Penske will get a seat on stage at the postseason awards banquet.
— MORE: Keselowski's wrench man | How Wolfe told Penske Racing yes and Keselowski no
What would it mean to Keselowski to earn Penske his first Cup title?
"It's just not something that you can answer in a setting like this and really give someone the sound byte they're looking for because it's so much bigger than that," Keselowski said earlier this month.
"It's basically the culmination of a life's worth of work, and not just one, but three or four or even more than that when you count in my crew chief and mechanics, family, car owner, and so forth. The best way that I can probably answer it is that it's a culmination of several lives' worth of work."
Penske drivers have won 73 Cup races, and five of those have come this year from Keselowski, who also has 13 top fives and 23 top 10s in 35 events.
It's not just the ability to win races but the ability to string together solid finishes that might bring Penske the title.
"In this business, you've got to be consistent," Penske said. "It's not about winning every race. It's about the top fives and top 10s that make a difference. That's one of the things that I think we have done a better job this year when you look at the consistency of the 2 car."
Penske hired the at-times overly-aggressive-yet-successful Keselowski after the driver showed promise with six wins in the Nationwide Series as well as a Cup win at Talladega in 2009 for car owner James Finch.
Keselowski promptly gave Penske his first title in any NASCAR division as he won the Nationwide championship in 2010.
The next year, Keselowski made the Chase for the Sprint Cup and turned a three-win season into a fifth-place finish in the standings, setting up this year's run for a title.
"The cream has come to the top," Penske said. "He was controversial when he first came with us three years ago. But if anything comes out of this season, the respect that Brad Keselowski has in the garage now is one of the best in the business."
Winning a championship would rank among one of his many top racing accomplishments, Penske said.
"You look at the things you've won in the past and we've never been there," Penske said. "We've been close. We finished second in '93 and third in '94 (with Wallace). This would be right at the top because the competition is so tough.
"Thirty-eight weekends, so many things can happen. We have some real depth in our organization now to keep us competitive in the future."
Penske admitted it's nerve-wracking.
"I try to be cool and calm all the time," Penske said. "Maybe I am outside but inside, obviously, you've got a lot of butterflies. … Anything can happen."


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Mail: Southern statues symbolize suppession
Mail: Thanks for helping Aiden
More opinion
Fall: Good time to spray musk thistle in rosette stage
Robertson and Delsing re-elected chair, vice chair of NWB
More Ag News
The road to marriage turned rocky on Friday for Quincey C. Shugart of North Platte when he had a fight with his new wife, wrecked his pickup and landed in jail.
Not only were they arguing as they drove east on Second St., police said Shugart was punching Vanmeter when he lost control of his pickup and hit a parked car near Second and Welch. He backed up, changed direction and drove north on Welch, but within a block he ran into a utility pole.
The wrecks happened around 9:45 p.m.
Shugart was charged with felony assault for hitting Vanmeter, and he also ran away, only to be picked up a little later near East Fifth and Eastman. He was charged for leaving the scene of both accidents a property accident and an injury accident.
Leaving an injury accident is a felony.
Both Shugart and Vanmeter were taken to the hospital before Shugart was jailed.
Shugart's pickup was totaled. Compounding the problems, his auto insurance expired on Feb. 1, police said.
Police estimate the damage to the parked car, a 2002 Chevy Cavalier, amounted to $1,200.
He was initially held without bond, but his bond was $25,000 on Sunday.
It's been a tough few months for Shugart, who is believed to have stabbed Luke Ressegieu, 23, around 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day in a parking lot on East Fourth.
Shugart was charged with second-degree aggravated assault with a weapon and served 87 days in jail for the offense. He had just gotten out, according to sheriffs records.
This report was updated Sunday.
Flatrock Publishing, Inc.
1300 E 4th St., Suite F
North Platte, NE 69101


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Griner's 3 dunks lead top-ranked Lady Bears to fifth straight Sweet 16
From the outset Tuesday night, it was clear that Brittney Griner wanted to put on a show in her final game in the Ferrell Center — especially after learning there was a special guest in the house.
With former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, in attendance, Griner scored 33 points, pulled down 22 rebounds, and became the first woman in NCAA history to dunk three times in a game as the No. 1-seeded Baylor women's basketball team beat Florida State, 85-47.
With this victory and the Lady Bears' opening round win over Prairie View A&M, Baylor advanced to a fifth straight Sweet 16 (the eighth in Kim Mulkey's 13 years at Baylor).
[LINKS: Highlights from ESPN, including Griner's 3 dunks || Photos from Baylor Photography and the AP || Griner & Mulkey reflect on the seniors' final home game || President Obama picks Baylor to win it all || Players do their best Mulkey impersonations || Jalen Rose on Brittney Griner's numbers || Griner's 15th career dunk || Baylor/Sweet 16 t-shirt available from the Baylor Bookstore]
Over the last four years, Baylor's senior class of Griner, Nae-Nae Hayden, Jordan Madden, Brooklyn Pope and Destiny Williams led the Lady Bears to an astounding 72-2 record in the Ferrell Center. But their final goal still awaits; they hope to leave with back-to-back national championships — something only three other schools have ever accomplished (Southern Cal, Tennessee and UConn).
Next up for the Lady Bears: 16th-ranked Louisville on Sunday in Oklahoma City, with the winner of that game facing either Tennessee or Oklahoma Tuesday in OKC. Baylor has sold-out of its allotment of tickets for the regional, but fans may purchase seats directly from the Chesapeake Energy Arena web site. Gameday bus trips from Waco to OKC and back are also available for both games from Anthony Travel.
In Oklahoma City, Baylor fans can join the Baylor Alumni Network for send-off parties at the team hotel (the Skirvin Hilton) 90 minutes prior to each game, as well as a pep rally at the hotel from 8-9 p.m. April 1 if the women advance to the Elite Eight.
Sic 'em, Lady Bears!


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Rekluse z-Start Pro Clutch for KX250F 09-13
Product Information
Rekluse z-Start Pro Clutch for KX250F 09-13
First introduced in 2005, z-Start Pro was the first Auto-Clutch to give the rider manual clutch lever override capability and defined the ultimate in tunability to suit each rider's preferences and riding conditions. Well known in the offroad racing world as bullet proof and the tamer of the nastiest terrain imaginable.
* Faster Cornering
* Improved Traction
* Virtually Eliminates Stalling
* Better Starts
* Faster Lap Times
* Fully tunable to rider preference & terrain conditions
* Fully adjustable includes optional wave springs and ball bearings.
* CNC laser cut drive plates perfectly match the center clutch with continuous radius spine technology causing clutch loads to be evenly distributed over a greater surface area with more precise tolerances.
* Center clutch design with innovative fluid dynamic oil flow technology.
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Randomized Study Comparing Endeavor With Cypher Stents (PROTECT) (PROTECT)
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- Study Results
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The PROTECT TRIAL is a randomized stent trial with 8800 patients in approximately 200 hospitals, which is designed to evaluate whether the Endeavor stent PROTECTS against late stent thrombosis resulting in less deaths and myocardial infarctions.
Study Stents:
Medtronic Endeavor® Zotarolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System or next generation model Cordis Cypher® Sirolimus-eluting Coronary Stent, Cordis Cypher Select® Sirolimus-eluting Coronary Stent or next generation model
Primary Objective: To compare overall stent thrombosis rate of the Endeavor® Zotarolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System versus the Cypher® Sirolimus-eluting Coronary Stent in a patient population requiring stent implantation
Secondary Objective: To compare the composite endpoint of total death or cardiac death combined with the number of patients with all non-fatal myocardial infarctions as well as the number of patients with large non-fatal myocardial infarctions for Endeavor® Zotarolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System versus the Cypher® Sirolimus-eluting Coronary Stent in a patient population requiring stent implantation.
To assess the safety and efficacy in patient subgroups with specific demographics, clinical indications and/or vessel- or lesion characteristics.
|Ischemic Heart Disease
|Device: Stent
|Phase 4
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
|Official Title:
|PROTECT Trial: Patient Related OuTcomes With Endeavor Versus Cypher Stenting Trial
- To Compare Overall Definite or Probable Stent Thrombosis Rate of the Endeavor® Zotarolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System Versus the Cypher® Sirolimus-eluting Coronary Stent in a Patient Population Requiring Stent Implantation [ Time Frame: 3 years ]Definite or probable stent thrombosis rate.
- Composites of (Cardiac) Death and (Large) Non-fatal Myocardial Infarctions [ Time Frame: 3 years ]Total death and large non-fatal myocardial infarctions Total death and non-fatal myocardial infarctions Cardiac death and large non-fatal MI Cardiac death and non-fatal myocardial infarctions
|Study Start Date:
|June 2007
|Study Completion Date:
|July 2014
|Primary Completion Date:
|May 2012 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Active Comparator: 1
Medtronic Endeavor® Zotarolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System
Device: Stent
Stent implantation
Other Name: Medtronic Endeavor® Zotarolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System
Active Comparator: 2
Cordis Cypher® Sirolimus-eluting Coronary Stent
Device: Stent
Stent implantation
Other Name: Cordis Cypher® Sirolimus-eluting Coronary Stent
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patient is > 18 years of age (or minimum age as required by local regulations).
- The patient has consented to participate and has authorized the collection and release of his medical information by signing the "Patient Informed Consent Form".
- All lesions requiring interventions (target lesions - one to a maximum of four) in one or more native coronary arteries are amendable for implantation of one or more Endeavor® Zotarolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System or Cypher® Sirolimus-eluting Coronary Stent*.
- Patient indication, lesion length and vessel diameter of the target lesion(s) are according to the 'Indications for Use' as mentioned in the 'Instructions for Use' that comes with every Endeavor® Zotarolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System and Cypher® Sirolimus-eluting Coronary Stent. Patients should qualify for both systems before randomization*.
- The patient is willing and able to cooperate with study procedures and required follow up visits.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Women with known pregnancy or who are lactating.
- Planned elective surgery necessitating discontinuation of clopidogrel within the regular planned period of clopidogrel administration.
- Patients expected not to be compliant with the anti-platelet and/or anticoagulation therapy regimen.
- Previous brachy-therapy.
- Previous implantation of a drug eluting stent.
- Previous implantation of a bare metal stent in the preceding year.
- Simultaneous or planned intervention other non cardiac vessels including but not limited to renal artery or carotid artery.
- Current medical condition with a life expectancy of less than 3 years.
- Manifest acute severe heart failure (Killip class III-IV).
- The patient is currently, and during the first 3 years of the PROTECT trial, participating in another investigational device or drug study that clinically interferes with the PROTECT-study endpoints; or requires coronary angiography or other coronary artery imaging procedures. The patient may only be enrolled in the PROTECT-study once.
- Patients with medical conditions that preclude the follow-up as defined in the protocol or that otherwise limits participation in this study.
- Patients on warfarin or similar anti-coagulant therapy.
- Patients with hypersensitivity or allergies to one of the drugs or components indicated in the Instructions for Use of either stents.
- Patients who are judged to have a lesion that prevents complete inflation of an angioplasty balloon.
- Patients in whom anti-platelet and/or anticoagulation therapy is contraindicated.
- Transplant patients.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00476957
|196 enrolling sites Worldwide
|Maastricht, Netherlands
|Principal Investigator:
|Edoardo Camenzind, MD
|University of Geneva, Switzerland
|Principal Investigator:
|Laura Mauri, MD
|Brigham and Women's Hospital, US
|Principal Investigator:
|William O'Neill, MD
|University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, US
|Principal Investigator:
|Prof. Patrick W. Serruys, MD, PhD
|Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
|Principal Investigator:
|Prof. Philippe Gabriel Steg, MD, PhD
|Département de Cardiologie, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, France
|Principal Investigator:
|William Wijns, MD, PhD
|O.L.V. Hospital, Aalst, Belgium
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|Responsible Party:
|Medtronic Vascular
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00476957 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
Version 1.0 - 12 April 2007
|Study First Received:
|May 21, 2007
|Results First Received:
|September 17, 2013
|Last Updated:
|November 3, 2014
Keywords provided by Medtronic Vascular:
Drug Eluting Stents
Interventional Cardiology
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Heart Diseases
Myocardial Ischemia
Coronary Artery Disease
Cardiovascular Diseases
Vascular Diseases
Coronary Disease
Arterial Occlusive Diseases
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Anti-Infective Agents
Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
Antineoplastic Agents
Antifungal Agents
Immunosuppressive Agents
Immunologic Factors
Physiological Effects of Drugs
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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Cheri Oteri Extends NEWSICAL Run Through 1/13
After exceeding box office expectations, former Saturday Night Live funny-girl Cheri Oteri has announced she will extend her four-week run in off Broadway's NEWSical The Musical for two additional weeks. Ms Oteri's last scheduled performance was originally scheduled for December 30th; due to popular demand, she will now continue through January 13th.
"Cheri Oteri's run has been an overwhelming success! We're excited we can offer fans two more weeks to see her live on stage," cheered the show's producer Tom D'Angora at this morning's announcement. "Cheri Oteri is one of the funniest people in North America. Don't miss her in this hilarious production!"
NEWSical the Musical is the forever changing, completely un-sanitized musical mockery of all the news that's fit to spoof. From Bloomberg's sign language interpreter to Honey Boo Boo Child to the aftermath of the 2012 Presidential Election, NEWSicalthe Musical sets all of today's biggest pop culture headlines to song. Earlier this fall, celebrity gossip guru Perez Hilton joined the show for a limited run, followed by Broadway's original Annie, Andrea McArdle.
Cheri Oteri starred on Saturday Night Live from 1995 - 2000. She was a third of the so-called "SNL female power trio" that also included Molly Shannon and Ana Gasteyer. On SNL, she was known for playing myriad characters, including "Arianna," one half of "The Spartan Cheerleaders" alongside Will Ferrell; "Rita DelVecchio", the Italian lady who policed the street from her front yard; hyper child bus passenger "Althea McManaman"; overly perky, and ill-informed, "Morning Latte" talk show host "Cass Van Rye"; and "Nadine," a testy employee who constantly ordered everyone to "Simma down now!" Her dead-on impressions of Barbara Walters, Mariah Carey, Robin Byrd and Judge Judy also bolstered her fame.
Since leaving Saturday Night Live, Oteri has appeared in several movies, including Scary Movie, Inspector Gadget, Liar Liar, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, Shrek the Third, Southland Tales, Park, Major Movie Star and Surveillance. Upcoming films include Bad Parents (with Janeane Garafolo) and Grown Ups 2 (with Adam Sandler, Kevin James, David Spade, and Chris Rock). Her television credits include guest spots on Strangers with Candy, Just Shoot Me (for which she received an Emmy nomination), Curb Your Enthusiasm, and she recently completed an episode of the new hit show, The New Normal.
NEWSical The Musical features Christine Pedi (Sirius XM Host, Little Me, Talk Radio), Michael West (When Pigs Fly, Forbidden Broadway), Tommy Walker (Evil Dead The Musical), Susan Mosher (Hairspray), Emily McNamara (NYC Nightlife star) and Ryan Knowles (host of Nickelodeon's ME:TV).
Rick Crom is the creator and writer of NEWSical The Musical. He has appeared on Broadway in Urinetown, Footloose and The Goodbye Girl. On television, he appeared on FX's critically acclaimed series Louie starring comedian Louis C.K.
NEWSical the Musical is directed by Mark Waldrop (When Pigs Fly, My Deah, Inventing Avi, Papermill Playhouse's Gypsy) and produced by Tom D'Angora (Naked Boys Singing!, ICONS, Broadway Diva Christmas, Divas I've Done). Rounding out the creative team are Ed Goldschneider (music director), Jason Courson (set designer), and Ryan Obermeier (stage manager).
The Associated Press calls NEWSical The Musical "The Daily Show set to music!". It was named Best New Musical of 2011 by the Off Broadway Alliance for its infectious melodies, razor-sharp lyrics, biting satire and having more unpredictability than a Courtney Love tweet.
NEWSical the Musical plays at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Tickets are $85 - $110 and can be purchased through Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250. For performance schedule and more information visit www.NEWSicalthemusical.com.


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Ridley Scott's forthcoming epic is the latest attempt to satisfy our desire for a simple story about our origins.
No, I haven't seen it yet. So this does not contain spoilers about Prometheus, Ridley's Scott's return to the universe of Alien. Well, maybe just one. The studio and PR people have taken the approach that in cyberspace anyone can hear you whisper, so there's a clampdown on previews, and almost every detail about it that's out there is thanks to a careful campaign of teaser trailers, viral videos, and controlled leaks.
What is clear though is that as well as, like Alien, taking terror off terra firma and out among the stars, Prometheus is a voyage into our origins as humans, and where we fit into the cosmic order. That's if there is one to fit into, be it with aliens, gods, or alien gods. Scott describes it as "not just a scary movie but a really interesting evolutionary story". Doubly scary then, given that some people seem to find anything "evolutionary" more alarming than a xenomorph bursting out of your stomach.
Where we come from and what defines us as a species are questions that in some form almost every child asks, and which every religion attempts to answer. Our current best estimates have modern humans appearing around 200,000 years ago. But the bigger issue isn't about when we appeared, it's about how: what got us started and makes us special. Because who doesn't want to be special? And the prevailing scientific view – that simple organisms slowly and randomly developed over billions of years to become not only ourselves but everything that's ever lived – doesn't really do the job.
Lightning strike
The waters of the "warm, little pond" which Charles Darwin mused all this life could have started in are further muddied by suggestions that the beginning of this long story may not even be on this planet. The controversial and much discussed theories of panspermia and exogenesis both suggest that organisms primitive enough but hardy enough to survive the effects of space could have been transported here, possibly on asteroids or meteorites, and seeded life. There are many variations on this – from the not intended to be funny (but is) 1960 "Cosmic Garbage" proposal by Austrian astronomer Thomas Gold that the source could have been organic rubbish dumped by passing extra-terrestrials, to the intended to be funny (but largely isn't) Evolution starring David Duchovny. None though really deal with how life began, they just shift whatever happened to somewhere beyond Earth.
The truth is that we really don't know how, where or when it got going – in one location or many, here or elsewhere in the Universe, on land, on the ocean floor in hydrothermal vents, on a radioactive beach between the two...or even in Darwin's warm pond. There have been all sorts of attempts to simulate how non-living molecules could be plausibly thrown together in a way that could lead to something which could grow and reproduce, perhaps the most famous being the Miller-Urey experiment 60 years ago which showed that sparks – simulating lightning – applied to an approximation of Earth's early atmosphere could lead to the formation of amino acids essential for life. All interesting, but nothing remotely conclusive.
Add to this recent fossil finds in Africa, Siberia and Indonesia that have led to more potential ancestors muscling in on the early human family portrait – sowing doubt about which of the many candidates we're directly and indirectly descended from – and things get messy. Instead of an origin story that's clear and dramatic and all centred on us, the scientific evidence all points to it being a convoluted epoch-spanning epic with no clear beginning and in which we're just part of a vast cast of (at the last count) around nine million species that all developed in the same way.
No wonder we've such an appetite for creation myths and other fictions that give us star billing...and often starry beginnings. Leaving aside the many strange tales attached to actual religions – of which, at the very least, the overwhelming majority must be make believe – then the major recurring theme is of deliberate extra-terrestrial intervention. Sometimes it's a little nudge that lifts us above other creatures as in 2001, but far more popular is the idea we were deliberately "seeded" by aliens.
My personal favourite is the original late 50s BBC series Quatermass & The Pit . But another neat variant is The Chase, a 1993 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation which explained away the fact that pretty much every alien the crew of the Enterprise run into looks pretty similar (only with varying hues, facial bumps and pointy bits) by having them discover a message hidden in the DNA of the different humanoid species that reveals they share a common ancestor which long ago seeded life across the galaxy.
It comes to mind because, as best as I can decipher the clues from the various snippets released about Prometheus, it seems to have a not entirely dissimilar storyline. And that brings us back to where we began. If not necessarily how.
If you would like to comment on this story, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter.


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PONTYPOOL town centre could gain a new car park if plans are agreed at today's cabinet meeting.
The car park would be built on the former gas board site on Clarence Corner, which covers 1.65 acres.
Cabinet members have been asked to approve the project, which will cost more than £500,000 to build but will provide an extra 200 car-parking spaces.
Plans identify potential for 200 long-term parking spaces, which the council hopes will free up the short-term car-parking spaces that are closer to the town centre for shoppers.
A transportation review of the town centre in 2008 identified that there was little spare capacity for parking.
Following the closure of County Hall and the relocation of some council staff to Pearl House, in Hanbury Road, and the Civic Centre, this increased the pressure to create car-parking facilities.
Community councillor and trader in Pontypool Gaynor James said: "It's amazing news.
I was so excited to see the plans as it will free up the short-stay spaces for shoppers, and there will be more long-stay spaces for workers.
"It will benefit traders, residents and visitors to the town."
The chairman of Pontypool Community Council, Barry Taylor, added: "The community council would support any plans to bring extra car parking as this is what the town needs.
"It's tremendous that these plans have come up as it's very expensive to build, but it's not before time."
Funding to the tune of £420,000 would come from Heads of the Valley Funding and £90,000 from Pontypool Regeneration Partnership, with the purchase of the land costing £100,000.


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Minutes - Summary of Jan. 24 Meeting
Call to Order/Introduction of New Members
Chairmen Hanley and Mendelsohn called the third meeting of the Bi-Partisan Election Process Improvement Commission ("Commission") to order in Room 232 of the County Government Center at 7:15 p.m. Members in attendance included: Bob Brostrom, Chuck Caputo, Cesar del Aguila, Bettie Baca, Alex Blakemore, Keith Damon, Jeremy Epstein, Olga Hernandez, William Kreykenbohm, Michael Kwon, Jay Myerson, James T. Parmelee, Susan Platt, Brian Schoeneman, Owen Shortt, Marcus Simon, Marion Stillson, and Jeffrey Wisoff. Members of the public were in attendance, as was County staff. The members who were not in attendance at the first and second meetings introduced themselves.
Review of Summary of Jan. 17, 2013 Meeting
The Commission reviewed the minutes of the January 17, 2013, and made corrections. Mr. Epstein corrected a statement he had made at the January 17, 2013, meeting. He clarified that DRE voting machines need to be plugged in while in storage prior to the election or they will lose their battery backup; if they are not plugged in, but the memory will not be erased.
Chairman Hanley reviewed the "homework" assignments that had been given to the Commission members at the January 17 meeting. The video of the meeting at which the Board of Supervisors created the Commission was linked to the Commission webpage as requested at the January 17 meeting, and many of the members have viewed it. It was noted that during the Board's discussion, Supervisor Gross said she had a number of emails from voters that should be shared with the Commission when it was formed. Staff agreed to obtain the emails from Supervisor Gross and provide them to the Commission.
Reports from Members on Findings About Precinct Problems
Mr. Myerson said that he has obtained from the Obama campaign records of complaints about elections issues in Virginia statewide. Mr. Damon said that he is getting information from the Republican Party on complaints about elections issues in Virginia statewide. Chairman Hanley asked the Fairfax County Democratic Committee and the Fairfax County Republican Committee to submit the data they have about complaints from precincts on election day and they agreed to submit that data to the Commission. Mr. Wisoff offered that he has anecdotal summaries from Providence District.
Ms. Platt said that she discussed the shortage of elections officers with Supervisor Foust. She noted that County employees get volunteer leave and a discussion ensued about encouraging County employees to take volunteer leave to serve as elections officers, how that fits with the parties' rights to vet elections officers, and the possible reluctance of County employees to declare a party affiliation. The discussion segued to questions about the extent to which the problems experienced in elections are attributable to the shortage of elections officers. The Commission asked staff to provide any data the County may have that shows the number of elections officers per precincts historically compared to the number of elections officers per precinct in 2012.
Chairman Hanley then stated that she wanted to clarify for the record what information the Commission can obtain from the Office of Elections, Electoral Board, and General Registrar, and what information may be unavailable or more difficult to obtain as a result of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee v. Quinn litigation. Chairman Hanley explained that all "public records" that are open for public inspection and copying pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA) are available to the Commission. However, the VFOIA does not require the defendants or the Office of Elections to create documents; therefore, if the Commission requests information not reflected in an existing document, the elections staff will have to consult with the litigation defense counsel to determine whether creating documents that supply the requested information would be prejudicial to the defense of the litigation. Likewise, the elections staff cannot verbally respond to questions posed in Commission meetings because of the risk that doing so will jeopardize the defense of the litigation.
Information Requested at the Last Meeting
Before the Chairmen began reviewing with the Commission the information that staff had gathered and provided in response to the Commission's requests at the January 17 meeting, several Commission members asked whether staff could provide the members with the handouts electronically or post the handouts on the website. Additional requests were made to have the handouts for future meetings posted on the Commission webpage in advance of each meeting.
After discussion, Chairman Hanley agreed that, for future meetings, staff will provide handouts electronically if the materials are ready by 3:00 p.m. the day of each meeting. Otherwise, staff will provide the information to members electronically after the meeting. Documents will be posted on the Commission webpage or emailed to members as is determined feasible.
The Commission then reviewed several of the handouts that provided information that members had requested at the last meeting, including two Board of Supervisors agenda items from actions by the Board to create or split precincts; "Equipment and Election Officer Projections" for the 2008 Presidential election; "Criteria for Allocation of 2012 Election Resources"; "Allocation of 2008 Elections Resources Compared to 2012"; and "Precinct Data from November 6, 2012 Election."
The members noted and discussed that the resource allocations for the November 2008 General Election were based on 100% turnout of active registered voters while the projections for the 2012 General Election were based on 75% turnout. Chairman Hanley also observed that the 2012 ballot was much longer than the 2008 ballot and it was generally agreed that the longer ballot contributed to problems in the November 2012 General Election. The members also discussed the impact of the 2011 redistricting. Chairman Hanley asked the members to review the documents for discussion at a future meeting, particularly the documents entitled "Precinct Data from November 6, 2012 Election" and "Criteria for Allocation of 2012 Election Resources."
Mr. Myerson asks whether the parties attended "logic and accuracy" testing of the voting machines; whether the parties knew that the County was allocating resources based on 75% turnout, and whether the parties expressed any concerns about that.
Work Plan Item I.C: Pollbooks/Check in process
1. Electronic Pollbooks
Ms. Hernandez related that when voters who hadn't voted in some period of time, their names are marked with a "?" in the electronic pollbook (EPB). Voters whose names were so marked need to be specially checked in by the Chief, but this process takes that EBP out of use until that voter's status is determined. She also stated that the incidence of voters whose names are marked with a "?" is higher in presidential elections, when infrequent voters are more likely to turn out, which exacerbates the problem of having EPBs diverted.
After discussion about what parts of this process are dictated by the State Board of Elections and what parts of this process are dictated by local policy, the Commission asked staff to provide the following information:
- Is it a legal requirement that the voter be sent to the Chief? Or can another poll worker resolve the voter's status?
- The Commission would like more information about this process generally so it can evaluate whether the problems that arise in this situation are legal issues or software issues.
The Commission engaged in lengthy discussion about the myriad shortcomings of the ability of EPBs to search for names. The EPBs perform especially poorly at searching for nontraditional surnames, such as surnames with spaces in them, hyphenated surnames, and multiple last names as are common in Hispanic cultures.
Mr. Schoeneman proposed that the Commission recommend that the County allocate funds so that every precinct can have EPBs. Mr. Parmelee expressed concerns about endorsing such a proposal without additional information about competing providers and products.
Regarding EPBs, the Commission asked staff to provide the following information:
- How much do the EPBs cost?
- Do the County's Electoral Board and General Registrar think the County has enough EPBs now?
Chairman Hanley concluded the discussion of this portion of the agenda by summarizing what appeared to be the consensus of the membership regarding EPBs:
- It is important to have EPBs in every precinct; the County needs to move toward use of EPBs at all precincts.
- The Commission recognizes that the purchase of additional EPBs can be phased in over the next three years, before the 2016 presidential election, to spread out the cost.
- The County needs to look at what types of EPBs are available, as there may be types other than those the County currently uses.
- The functionality of how the current EPBs search for names is a problem and needs to be improved.
- An alternative way of processing voters whose names are marked with a "?" needs to be devised that will avoid taking the EPB out of service until that voter's status is resolved.
- Paper poll books are important to maintain as backups to the EPBs, but finding nontraditional names in paper poll books presents much greater challenges than finding them with EPBs.
- The EPBs more accurately reflect which voters have requested absentee ballots because the paper books need to be manually annotated and that presents a greater risk of error.
- The EPBs also alleviate some of the resource issues, because paper poll books need two election officers – one to check the book and one to keep the count of voters. The EPBs mark off the voter and keep the count, reducing the need for election officers at the check-in table.
2. Assignment of Pollbooks/Ratio to Registered Voters
Mr. Damon expressed the view that long lines to check in are frequently attributable to a shortage of voting machines, not to a slow down at the pollbooks. This occurs because voters are required by law to remain inside the room after they have checked in. When voting machines aren't available, the line of checked-in voters backs up to the check-in table, which prevents more people from checking in. The Commission discussed the need to look at the issue of all resources together. If the County buys more EPBs but no more voting machines, long lines will continue.
Mr. Schoeneman stated his perception that the problem can be solved with a correct allocation of money resources; that would eliminate concerns that some precincts didn't get EPBs because they were targeted. Ms. Stillson observed that precincts with high minority populations may have a more transient population and a higher number of people with nontraditional surnames. As a result those precincts may need to get more pollbooks than would otherwise be allocated to them by a subjective formula.
Several members expressed their opinions that many voters are suspicious when the election officers encourage them to vote on paper instead of on the DREs. Some voters, fueled in some cases by Internet rumors, believe that paper ballots are not counted. The discussion turned to the need for more voter education.
3. Information on Who Has Voted Absentee
The Commission next discussed absentee voting. It was noted that the EPBs are only as good as the day on which they were programmed. The members discussed whether it would be possible for voters to request absentee ballots at such a late date that the poll books don't reflect the request, then vote at their precinct as well, giving them the ability to vote twice.
The Commission asked Office of Elections staff to provide additional information on the topic of absentee voting:
- An explanation of how the process works and what safeguards are employed to prevent an absentee voter from voting a second time, in person in his precinct.
4. Provisional Ballot Procedures
The Commission next examined the two different provisional voter notices and envelopes prepared by the State Board of Elections for use by all local election officials. Chairman Hanley noted the link between poll book problems and provisional ballots. If a voter's name cannot be found in the poll book, he has to vote provisionally. Therefore, problems with poll books lead to an increase in provisional ballots.
Ms. Hernandez stated that Chiefs can only give a voter a provisional ballot if the Chief has contacted the General Registrar or if the voter is insistent and can't otherwise be satisfied. Discussion followed about problems getting a call through to the General Registrar on presidential Election Days.
The Commission generally agreed:
- The Commission should recommend to the Board of Supervisors that the County augment the existing phone lines by adding more or by adding lines that are dedicated only to receiving calls from polling places.
The members also discussed training as it pertains to provisional ballot procedures and that election officers trained far in advance of Election Day will forget at least some of what they have learned.
Finally, the members discussed whether the provisional ballot forms correctly require the voter to enter the full SSN. Mr. Schoeneman advised that the question related directly to the Fairfax County Democratic Committee v. Quinn litigation.
5. Language Barriers/Disability Issues
Mr. Caputo recounted the experience of two voters who are deaf and mute, and yet the election officer repeatedly insisted that they state their names and addresses, which unfairly delayed the voters and kept the election officer tied up in a pointless exercise that distracted him from helping other voters. The Commission agreed that the election officer's actions were possibly a training issue, although the senselessness suggested that perhaps training would not have avoided this situation.
Reviewing the "Voting Equipment Allocation and Voter Usage" spreadsheet from the November 2012 election, members observed that some precincts had exceptionally high numbers of curbside voters.
Mr. Damon pointed out that Fairfax County is now required by federal law to provide all election materials in Spanish. He said that this requirement does not reflect the community, because the County has large numbers of residents who speak many other languages.
The Commission asked staff to provide additional information on the topic of language barriers:
- How many voters requested translations during the November 2012 General Election through the language translation service offered through the Office of Elections? In what languages?
Mr. Schoeneman observed that poll watchers are typically asked first to translate, so the data on the number of calls to the County for translation services will not show all of the translation services provided.
Ms. Stillson related that a blind acquaintance was required to sign the form State Board of Elections' assistance request form [required by Virginia Code § 24.2?649(B)]. The voter, being unable to read it, could not verify the contents of the form, but finally acquiesced to it. It was noted that the statute [Virginia Code § 24.2?649(B)] exempts blind voters from the requirement to sign the form, and that this problem is another training issue.
Discussion followed about the limits of training as a panacea. Election officers, like all people, have varying learning styles and capacities, and varying ability to remember the material. The members discussed the merits of role-playing as a training activity, although the feasibility of using role-playing in such large training sessions was questioned. It was suggested that the solution is to train the election officers to remember that the goal is to help allow people to vote. Encouraging a "customer service" orientation will help to inform the way election officers approach the job.
The discussion turned to concentrated populations of elderly voters.
The Commission generally agreed on the following principles:
- Paper is more efficient for curbside and drains fewer resources, although the Commission recognizes that paper ballots are not accessible to persons with certain disabilities.
- Large numbers of elderly and disabled voters with mobility issues and equipment and voters with limited English skills lead to longer lines and slower processing of voters.
- To the extent consistent with the law, the County should consider whether it should allocate more resources to precincts with large numbers of elderly, disabled, or limited English proficient voters than would be allocated based on an objective formula.
The Commission asked for information from the Office of Elections that will inform their consideration of these issues:
- Is there a custom or practice in Fairfax County that two election officers go out for all curbside voting, or only for DREs (which is required by law)?
- Does the Office of Elections know the locations of assisted living facilities/senior housing and similar facilities? Does staff do outreach to these facilities and coordinate the numbers of voters and times of day when these voters who may come to vote?
- Does the Electoral Board currently consider the numbers of elderly, disabled, or limited English proficient voters in a precinct when it allocates resources to the polling places?
- Does the Electoral Board allow elderly and disabled voters to go to the front of the line?
6. Cost of Machines
The members reviewed the handout labeled "Fairfax County Voting Equipment History." Discussed ensued about the kinds of voting machines that are currently approved in Virginia and Mr. Epstein read the list of approved machines from the State Board of Elections website.
The Commission generally agreed that:
- It should recommend that the Board of Supervisors accelerate the retirement of the DREs and that new voting machines be purchased as soon as possible so that County voters and election officers can get used to voting on paper on the new machines before the 2016 presidential election.
- One of the goals and benefits of purchasing new machines will be to allow the County to standardize its voting machines as it modernizes them; the County should move to using only one integrated voting system throughout the County.
The Commission asked staff for the following information:
- What is the estimated cost for the County to replace the voting machines?
7. Ballot Complexity
The Commission reached consensus that:
- Bond referenda should not be held in presidential election years if possible.
- Keeping ballots shorter and simpler is important in a presidential election year. Longer and more complex ballots lead to longer lines. Constitutional amendments cannot be delayed to the next year, but local questions can and should be scheduled for other years when possible.
Items from Commission Members
After discussion was concluded on Items I.C and I.D of the work plan for the evening, completing all but the one on D.2, voting machine allocation to precinct process, the Chairmen went around the room and asked each member if he or she wished to raise any other issues.
The Commission asked staff for information about:
- The history of stipends paid to election officers. When did the County start paying? Has the stipend increased, and when?
- Does the Office of Elections have data to show when the last voter voted in each precinct in the November 2012 General Election? Mr. Long responded that the Office of Elections does not have that, but it has data to show when the voting machines were turned off in the precincts. The Commission requested that data as a proxy.
- What training materials are required and prepared by the State Board of Elections and what materials are prepared by the local Office of Elections?
- What percentage of the County's election officers completes the training?
- Are there online tutorials/training for the County's election officers?
- What percentage of the election officers uses online training?
- What percentage of election officers are no-shows on Election Day?
- Do election officers prepare any kind of after-action report? Can it be provided to the Commission?
- Does the Electoral Board have a list of the precincts that have traditionally had problems at every election, i.e., do they maintain a "watch list"? Have the election officers at such precincts been changed?
Staff agreed to determine whether the information requested exists and is available, and to provide it to the Commission if possible.
Thereafter, the meeting adjourned.


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For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. —Philippians 2:13, NAS
Years ago I talked to a minister who came to me at a place where I was preaching in the northern part of England. He said, "I'm in the worst bondage. I think I've married the wrong woman."
I asked, "How long have you been married?"
He replied, "Twenty-five years!"
"Well," I said, "what if you have married the wrong one? What are you going to do?"
He did not know. But he was all torn up about it.
Looking back, many of us have doubts about this or that, wondering whether we did do the right thing. The apostle Paul would say, "But it doesn't matter. What is in the past is in the past. You don't have to decide."
I think one of the most interesting discussions is whether or not Paul was right to go to Jerusalem in Acts 21. We read that different people warned him, and even Agabus prophesied in the Spirit and said, "You shouldn't go to Jerusalem!" But Paul still went.
You may say that Paul would not make a mistake, but Luke says they spoke "in the Spirit" and said he should not go. So it looks to me like Paul disobeyed. Now I do not think Paul gave it that much thought; he just said, "I'm going to go." Looking back on it, however, he could say in Philippians 1:12, "Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel." So he was not concerned whether he had been right or wrong. He was concerned that the gospel kept going, and that is what he was happy about.
Many of us are not concerned whether the gospel goes on but rather, "Was I right?" and "What about me?" Paul said it does not matter. Because who knows? The outcome is unknown. One does not have to know whether one is totally right or totally wrong. Leave it to God to order all your ways!
Excerpted from When God Says "Well Done!" (Christian Focus Publications Ltd., 1993).
Readers are Leaders! Subscribe now and get 3 magazines for the price of 1. Get Charisma, Ministry Today and SpiritLed Woman all for $24. YES - Sign me up!
3 Reasons Why you should read Life in the Spirit. 1) Get to know the Holy Spirit. 2) Learn to enter God's presence 3) Hear God's voice clearly! Click here to draw closer to God!


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San Rafael police are seeking a robber who struck a downtown bank on Thursday afternoon.
The robbery occurred at 4:47 p.m. at the Citibank branch at Third Street and Tamalpais Avenue, said San Rafael police spokeswoman Margo Rohrbacher.
The robber was described as a white man about 5-foot-8 and in his 20s with a red hooded sweatshirt, jeans, a shaved head and tattoos on his hands, head and neck, Rohrbacher said. The robber also had some facial hair, as though he had not shaven in a day or two.
No injuries were reported. Police did not disclose the losses.
Anyone with information can call San Rafael police at 485-3000. Tipsters can also call the multilingual Bay Area Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-222-8477, where they can remain anonymous and be eligible for a possible cash reward.
Contact Gary Klien via email at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Topic: Just wanted to share
Tomorrow I will be leaving for a three week stay in Germany. During this time I will have intermittent access to internet only therefore, please understand that I may not be able to respond to personal notices immediately.
Of course any chance given I will check in with all of you.


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KINGSTON, N.Y. -- A 15-year-old girl reported missing by city police has returned home, her mother said on Facebook this afternoon.
Police said Saturday morning that Olivia Catherine Erickson, a Kingston High School student, last was seen on Monday at her home in Kingston and was reported missing on Wednesday.
Olivia's mother, Michelle, posted on the Kingston Police Department's Facebook page at 3:40 p.m. today that her daughter "has just returned home."
Asked earlier in the day if the girl ever had gone missing before, Kingston Sgt. Patrick Buono said: "This isn't the first time she's done this."


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The Chiefland FFA Alumni, along with both of our FFA Chapters, would like to give a big Thank You to everyone for their support in our most recent fund raiser, our Annual Bull Bash, making it a huge success.
Carolyn Hart, Media Clerk
It is reported that our country, the United States of America, is deep in debt. It seems our elected governmental officials including the President have had to borrow money to pay for the things our leaders believe are necessary. I mean, actually borrow money above all the taxes that are collected from those of us who pay them.
By Reed Anfinson
President of the National Newspaper Association
and Publisher of the Swift County
(MN) Monitor-News
Now that US Senate has passed a bill, S 1789, to reform the ailing US Postal Service, critics are trying to disable the bill on its way to the House of Representatives. Business Week recently catalogued unhappy stakeholders, including postal unions, postal management and some Republicans who wrongly think the bill burdens taxpayers.
Dear Editor:
Maybe the various Water Management Districts and Environmental Protection agencies should stop squabbling with each other over which county has the highest priority for the need to find a solution to our state's approaching water crisis.
As long as there's water in the rivers and lakes, and peoples' wells are still pumping water, no one will pay attention to the dire reports of those various water district officials until it's too late.
You know that old expression: "You never miss the water until the well runs dry."
"Spring begins." My calendar has informed me of the official beginning of this refreshing season, although I've felt it outside for a few weeks now. As a Floridian, I know spring will be short but it will also be time to break out of your everyday routine, release some stress, get out of the office and experience nature in Florida's state parks.
The Board of Directors, staff, and clients of the Levy Association for Retarded Citizens wish to thank the community and Chiefland Citizen for their support of the LARC Thrift Store Clean Sweep Sale.
LARC is so blessed to be located in an area where the people care and support the events we sponsor. Thank you each and every one.
Betty S. Walker
Executive Director
It's not often that we get an opportunity to clip something out of the paper and carry it around to remind us of the good things in the world, but this is one.
At the recent Suwannee River Fair and Livestock Association's Youth Livestock Show and Sale a 10-year-old boy showed us what community is about.
Chandler Beach's decision to give the money from the sale of his pig to Corbin Wiggins, a teen battling cancer for the second time in as many years, touched the hearts and wallets of many.
Copyright © 2017
The Chiefland Citizen is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Levy County and Chiefland Florida, and the surrounding area.


text:
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WWE RAW 11/19 Ratings Breakdown ~ The Deluxe Lounge
by, 11-22-2012 at 12:46 PM (4052 Views)
Attachment 3551
Yet another bad week in ratings for WWE. The company seems to be stuck in this revolving circle of below average ratings this time a year. This isn't a good sign at all. Until something is done to make the product interesting again, the numbers will continue to drop below average. Let's be honest. Was this RAW a bad show? Not necessarily, but it wasn't eventful whatsoever. In fact, it was pretty boring. I felt like this week's RAW had a unannounced theme titled, "REHASH EVERY MATCH FANS HAVE SEEN BEFORE NIGHT" and boy did it hurt the quality of the show. If the same matches happen every single week over and over again for both RAW and Smackdown, people are going to get sick of watching the shows. Fans want freshness in their shows, not the same old shit.
And thus, we have this week's edition of RAW. What segments caused the show to fail this week? You know what to do. Read on.
The November 19th WWE RAW did a 2.73 cable rating with 3.83 million viewers. This is the fifth lowest rated episode of RAW and the FOURTH lowest number of viewers for a "non-holiday" episode in the last 15 years. Not much else to say about it.
The highest rated segment of the show was the Ryback interview and Ryback vs. Tensai, which did a 2.91 quarter rating. You know what's sad? Obviously, if the show started off with a rating that close to the average, that pretty much means fans were tuning in to see the aftermath of what took place at Survivor Series 2012. And what does WWE do to capitalize on it? They give us a promo segment with Ryback?? Huh? Okay, first question, if Ryback is this so-called monster, why the hell is he calling out CM Punk and the NXT rebels to the ring? Shouldn't he be backstage tearing up locker rooms and destroying equipment, hunting for their asses? Second question, did anybody understand what the hell he said in this segment? I mean, it was hard to understand Ultimate Warrior but at least HE had charisma. Ryback was sounded like a mindless oaf who thinks about nothing but food. Then following his sermon, Vickie Guerrero comes out and threatens him with a fine to put him in his place. So, in the span of five minutes, we showed how weak Ryback is on the microphone and literally humanized him to the point that even I don't take him seriously as a "monster" anymore. In addition, we get a REHASHED match between Ryback and Tensai with the exact same progression and ending as their previous matches. Immediately in the first segment, WWE fails to capitalize on viewership. It's all down hill from here.
Wade Barrett vs. Kofi Kingston lost 298,000 viewers. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. So anyone wanna tell me what happened to Wade Barrett's apparent rise to the world title, or in this case "barrage" to the title? The man cut a damn promo about it on his return to Smackdown. So now, why all of a sudden is he settling for the IC championship? That makes no sense. Yeah, apparently WWE has nothing for him -- so he is in a feud with Kofi Kingston. Whatever. The match between Kingston and Wade Barrett was nothing special, honestly. Barrett wins an IC title shot. Moving on.
Kaitlyn vs. Aksana lost 80,000 viewers. Couldn't we at least get a promo segment backstage before this match? Or at least an interview with Kaitlyn expressing how depressed she is about blowing an opportunity at the diva's title and wanting to take her revenge out of Aksana. No. We just get a match. A match that meant nothing for either diva. Kaitlyn wins. Move on.
Antonio Cesaro vs. Brodus Clay and the John Cena Make-A-Wish video gained 376,000 viewers back. Close to the time where most of the fans tune in, we see the US champion gain some viewers and a nice video package of Cena. I may not like the character, but I will always respect the man for what he does as a role model. 300 Make-A-Wishes deserves praise.
The segment with Vickie Guerrero, AJ Lee, Cena and Dolph Ziggler gained 195,000 viewers for a 2.85 quarter rating. Well, the good news is, we got more viewers. The bad new is -- its the lowest gain in viewership for this time slot. What else can be said? The storyline is stupid. More shenanigans of Vickie Guerrero trying to expose AJ and Cena. Only this time, Cena and AJ decided to expose themselves and just make out in the center of the ring. So what was the point of HIDING from the fact they had feelings for one another for a month, only to just prove Vickie right in the center of the ring? Ughhh. Again. Whatever. Ziggler comes out and brawls with Cena. They run and we get the infamous ankle slip from Cena as he slides out of the ring. The injury was legit, but it looks like WWE is going to work it into a storyline. Nice damage control.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Randy Orton in the 2 of 3 Falls Match lost 122,000 viewers. Jesus christ! Yet another rehashed match! How many times have we seen these guys wrestle each other already? It has to be at least twenty times over the last few months cause that's what it feels like. Rock vs. Austin only had 5 singles matches in the span of 6 years. HBK and Bret Hart had just as many in a span of the same time. I understand feuds have multiple matches, but holy shit! Sorry, I don't want to make this a soapbox moment. I'm sorry, the match bored me. Yeah, it was decent, but everything about this match I have SEEN before. Same outcome, same progression, same fucking match! Orton wins. I'm begging WWE to give us something different.
Primo and Epico vs. The Great Khali lost 186,000 viewers. Was WWE trying to make their audience change the channel? Seriously. Stupid match. Rosa Mendes was hot. Moving on.
The Miz vs. David Otunga gained 223,000 viewers. Thank god! A match we have not seen before. I personally would have loved to see The Miz squashes David Otunga in seconds. Unfortunately, WWE decided to give me the opposite and have them wrestle a long, dragged-out match that had the audience chanting "boring" and putting people to sleep. Miz wins, but not the best way to kick off his babyface turn.
Sheamus vs. Damien Sandow gained 105,000 viewers in the 10pm time slot. Well, look at match. Another match we've seen before! And just like the last two they've had, it had the SAME outcome with the SAME progression. Sheamus wins. Yipe. Also, the promo segment before his match was shit. Someone do me a favor? The next time you're at a WWE event and Sheamus grabs a microphone, STORM THE RING AND SLAP IT OUT OF HIS HANDS! For the love of god.
The AJ Lee and Ziggler locker room segment that ended with the Cena and Ziggler brawl lost 241,000 viewers. This was the best segment of the show, hands down. The promo Dolph Ziggler cut on AJ was beautiful -- pure truth. The brawl with him and Cena was great too. You can tell they were improvising on the spot cause it legitimately felt organic. Something the show desperately needed. Although the numbers do not show it, this was a good segment. I will say this. I hate this storyline, but if the eventual outcome is for Dolph Ziggler to defeat John Cena at TLC and get that main event rub he deserves -- I will eat my turd sandwich for one more month.
Kane and Daniel Bryan vs. Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara with PTP on commentary lost 266,000 viewers for a 2.50 quarter rating. Yikes. A very entertaining tag team match involving two tag teams you would think would draw viewers ended up being the lowest rated segment on the show. It hurts me to see this. Nothing was wrong with the segment at all. The match was good and the commentary was hilarious! Titus O' Neil and Darren Young had a good ol' time with Lawler and it made things a lot more lively. But again! This is what happens when WWE does not promote these segments before hand. Its upsetting to see such a progressive tag team division lose viewers. I guess a good thing to come out of this is a possible triple threat tag team championship match at TLC. That should be nice.
The video package with highlights of the Cena-AJ stuff and the celebration for CM Punk's 365th day as WWE Champion gained 520,000 viewers for a 2.87 overrun. Solid segment to end the show. The backstage preparations with Paul Heyman were hilariously entertaining. BALLOONS! HE NEEDS BALLOONS DAMN IT! Haha. I'm not afraid to show my fandom for CM Punk. I am HAPPY he held the championship this long and am ecstatic that he ranks as one of the top ten longest champions in WWE history. Great shit. Ryback's appearance was expected, since he was too stupid to hunt him down backstage. So when he comes out, the NXT rebels attack him AGAIN and put him through a table ... again. The show ends with CM Punk standing over his lifeless body and raising the championship.
There you have it for this week's numbers. The video of the week goes into MUCH GREATER detail on WHY having the same matches over and over again is a problem. Enjoy it and thanks for reading.
Have a happy thanksgiving.