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First let me say that I always love when Detroit comes to town because they always bring in their fans with them. In the past many have been just down right vile, but some of them have been cool.
Last night was no exception. I get to the game (late of course, d@mn you Walsh & the 7 p.m. starts) & when I sit down I see directly behind me a good old fashioned Chauncey Billups Jersey.
No big deal, I was going to leave him alone & I hoped he would do the same for me.
But noooooooooo. As I sit there a voice from on high (Roaming Gnome) yells down to me that I don't have to worry about getting Iverson because & I quote "they don't want any of our trash". I reply that I am still worried but I felt better with his comforting words.
I turn around & sit down when said Detroit fans says to me, "so you don't want Iverson".
I then replied with a long eloquent speech about how team game vs. individual game did not appeal to me & although I thought he had talent it just wasn't what I preferred. We then both agreed that World B. Free was a great player as well.
Ok, at least that's what I wish I would have done.
No, my real reply to him was "hell No"!!
He then went on to state that he thought J.O. & A.I. would be a great combo & before I could even answer Diamond Dave jumps in as though he were rushing up Mt. Suribachi to plant the flag & proceeds to list off every player that couldn't co-exist.
They guy then says "true enough".
Had he ended it there I would have been fine but no, he had to throw this in.
"You know Larry Bird tried to get Iverson before, right"? To which I replied "I knew Larry has stated that he was a fan but I didn't think he ever made any real overtures".
He then says "yes back when he was the coach he tried to get Iverson here & in fact had a trade done but the G.M. of the team Nixed the idea".
Of course I didn't try to explain that being the coach gave Bird no authority to make any trades or anything because this guy was on a roll.
So I say "I wonder who they were going to trade him for"?
"The deal was for Reggie Miller" to which I choked on my Diet Pepsi.
I couldn't even reply before this gem came out of his mouth.
"When they nixed the deal Larry Bird walked".
I didn't have the heart to break it to him about what really happened so I just changed the subject to how the pistons were doing.
He was all happy in the first half. Kept saying it was a good game. But by the middle of the third he had become very quiet, then by the middle of the fourth he got kind of happy again only to be quashed by the Pacers run at the end.
He didn't even stay to say goodbye.
Ok, now to the game.
Second best game I've seen this season & probably the best game I've seen really this season because it was vs. a good team. I liked the N.Y. game as well but they aren't the Pistons.
Rick Carlisle was great during this game. For once in his career he resisted the temptation to play down to a small lineup & in fact at times put a huge lineup on the floor.
At one time we had Saras, Williams, Granger, Baston, & O'Neal on the floor. That is freakin huge.
I have no idea though why Skip chose to go small in the 4th when J.O. began to terroize the Pistons in the paint. They only had Rasheed on him & he was out of it for most of the night.
Side note, it's always fun to watch Sheed & Violet Palmer in the same building. I keep wondering when he is going to swing at her. I have no sympathy for Wallace but d@mn she is a horrid ref.
I digress.
Back to Rick. I loved the offensive game set last night. This is what we were getting the first 8 games of the season & then down at the end we changed up & went low post. We had low post early in the game as well, but it was way more mixed in than it has been in some recent games.
I love this offense because everybody gets a chance to score & I think it is always more dangerous when a team can have several players in double figures.
So while there were several heros amongst the players let's not forget Rick on this game.
The Players.
Let's start with O'Neal.
He just flat out ruled the 4th quarter. Even though he had a massive stat line I want to pay him a bigger compliment. To me, he got his offense in the flow of the game. We did not force it into the post most of the night & when we went to that option at the end we had already given them several other types of offense so they had to be prepared for it as well.
It was proper to give J.O. the rock at the end & he more than earned the right to get those shots with his play.
When he plays like this & as a team everybody gets theirs it can be fun for everyone. This is why I was so dissapointed by the post game meeting after game 8.
This J.O. will get as much, if not more, points & boards by working in this offense than he would by us just making sure he gets his touches down low.
But hey, let's not turn this into that kind of debate again.
Let's all just sing the praises of J.O. for this game & say that he played on an MVP level in the 4th quarter.
Jacksons defense of Hamilton should not be disounted at all. He kept Rip out of it for most of the game & he made him work for most of his shots.
Also & this may not mean much to people but I think it's important. When our bench fought off a run by Detroit in the 3rd quarter the first person off of the bench & meeting the guys at almost the half court line was Jackson. He even beat Armstrong out there.
He genuinely looked happy & was very very very supportive.
Also, Mr. Cool, Jamaal Tinsley for some reason decided to be a rah-rah guy. He was there to slap hands with almost everyone who played with him on the floor after they hit a shot or made a play. he even once went all the way across the floor to give daps to Saras after a great pass he made to J.O.
Just like that N.Y. game, it seemed to me that everybody was on the same page & everybody was pulling for each other.
I think it is important to let the bench play & let them have some meaningfull min. if for no other reason than to develop team chemistry. I don't think there has to be a bench team & a starter team. I think you can filter in the bench guys & always keep a starter or two out there but I think it is vital to let Baston, Granger, Saras, (hopefully) Williams & Armstrong get some time. I would prefer letting Powell get a few min. here & there as well but I understand keeping the rotation to 10 or 11 men.
You'll notice I left Daniels out of that, well again Quis got a DNP-CD. Could be because they let Williams have a turn at home before he goes back to the I.L. But this isn't the first time Quis got one of these while being healthy. I'm not sure if it's because he doesn't fit into what Rick wants or he may have a discipline problem or what but he is not playing the time that I thought he would.
Danny was also very good last night. He missed a couple of spots vs. Prince but other than that I thought he did very well. I like the fact that he is mixing up his shot selection more & not just becomeing a 3 pt. specialist.
Al played very well & I love the fact that he is very quick with the ball. However Al did not get his first rebound until 18 min. into the game. That is obscene. Love the work on the blocks Al, but grab a d@mn board.
Jeff was ok. Nothing grand but nothing horrid either. Actually that sounds worse than it was. Jeff did a very good job out there but it really wasn't a special game from him, not that it needed to be.
For those that didn't see it Armstrongs shot from beyond the half court line was beautifull. You could tell it was going in when it left his hand just by the arc it took. Didn't count but hey it looked nice.
That contortionist from Romainia was weird. How the hell you can shoot an arrow with your feet from over & behind your head is beyond me.
Ok, for those in attendance. Who was with Walsh all night? Was that David Simon?
I did not see Harrison on the bench, was he there & I just missed him?
Great game by everyone & let's do the same on Friday.
Sorry this is kind of disjointed but I'm short on time. I'll try & add more later.


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As a parent, I had a hard time persuading my ten-year-old to play full hour of piano everyday. I know it is not uncommon after talking with other parents. Sometimes, we have to go shopping and when we come back, my son will tell me he played an hour piano already while we are away. I can't prove he did. Only when he messed up at the piano teacher's place, I know he maybe only played for 10 minutes. So I decide to make an app for it. I leave my phone at home and I dial in using my wife's cell phone when we are out. My app will pick-up the phone automatically, and silently so no one knows. If my son is playing piano, I can hear it through the phone. That's how I came up with the Eavesdropper app idea.
But it is more than that. Eavesdropper can work in two different modes.
Auto Answer Mode
In this mode, the phone will ring as normal but it will pick-up the phone automatically for you according to the settings. You can choose to auto-answer all calls, just calls from contracts or favorites, or just a few phone numbers. You can also choose how many seconds to wait before answering the phone. For safe driving purpose, you should also choose to auto answer the phone only when a bluetooth device (such as headset or car hand-free system) is connected, or at least enable the speakerphone.
Eavesdrop Mode
You need two phones in this mode – the eavesdrop phone and the dial-in phone. The eavesdrop phone must be an Android phone that has this app installed. You leave it at a place you want to eavesdrop then call it from another phone (any type of phones, doesn\'t need to be an Android phone or a cell phone). The Android phone ringer is turned off in this mode so it will not ring when it receives a call. For security consideration, you should only enable eavesdrop mode when calling from a particular phone number that also belongs to you. The app will pick-up the phone based on the calling number and enter the eavesdropping mode automatically.
There are many ways to use this app in eavesdrop mode. For example, in eavesdrop mode, if you leave your phone a few feet from a baby, baby cries will be transmitted to the phone you are dialing from. Better than any other commercial baby monitoring systems which only transmits within certain distance, this app works from anywhere as long as there is a phone available. Here is another way to use it. You leave your eavesdrop phone at home in U.S., travel to Europe, call it from a hotel phone and listen to what is happening at your home. You might be surprised to hear all the noises, which could turn out to be your son is hosting a huge party when you guys are not home.
It will use your cell phone plan's talk minutes when your phone is picked up automatically in either mode, so please consider taking advantage of free mobile to mobile calls and unlimited night and weekend minutes, especially using the app in the eavesdrop mode.
2. Even though we named the app a little evil, please respect local laws and use the app in legitimate and ethical ways, i.e. baby monitor, your own house audio monitor etc.
I would like to say thanks to Everysoft for their AutoAnswer open source project. It helps us a lot when writing this app.

subset: commoncrawl


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...Just when you thought everyone had stopped talking about it, another businessman has stepped out of the blue and announced plans to rebuild Titanic: this time, it's Australian billionaire and politician Clive Palmer.
Like all the others, he says the new replica will be fitted out with the latest modern technology, such as diesel engines, bow thrusters, an enlarged rudder, electronic navigation systems, etc. I even heard he's planning on using the dummy funnels for restaurants and an "Internet room". Unlike the others, however, he actually has the means to do it; the man is a multi-billionaire, and has even been talking with a shipyard in China... And they seem to be on board with it too.
So what do you guys think? Could this actually work out, and would you want it to anyways? Or will all of this just go belly-up like the rest once he reads over post-2010 SOLAS regulations?
On a personal level, I'm not sure I really want it to happen... And the reasons for this are twofold. The first is that some of the changes he's proposing seem a little bit odd (such as smokestack restaurants and the like), and the name Titanic II is in poor taste (Gigantic would be better, in my opinion). And the second reason? I wanted to do it!
Anyways, I'm looking forward to hearing what you all think about this.
All the Best,


text: Mac's uses iSIGN technology to gauge message effectiveness and drive ROI. Mac's Convenience Stores Inc. has expanded its partnership with iSIGN Media Solutions Inc., a provider of interactive mobile advertising solutions, to install iSIGN antennas is approximately 900 additional locations. iSIGN IMS systems are already in place at approximately 500 Mac's outlets, and mobile interactions


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Of course you all know by now that SoonerScoop.com has you covered for any and all aspects of Oklahoma football however that's not to say that Sooner fans aren't simply college football fans who enjoy talking about the top match-ups from coast to coast. As such each week in 'Picked Over' SoonerScoop.com writers Eddie Radosevich and Josh McCuistion will offer you their take on games across the Big 12 along with a few of the top match-ups from coast to coast in college football. So take a look as one staffer offers random musings, while another brings real numbers to the table.
Season to Date:
Josh: 25-20
Eddie: 25-20
Last Week: Josh 5-3
Overall Weeks: All Square 2-s-2
Locks of the Week: Josh: 2-2, Eddie: 1-3
Eddie Radosevich: It's getting pretty ugly in Columbia following a home loss to Vanderbilt a week ago. And while Gary Pinkel and the Tigers have gone bowling seven straight seasons that streak is now starting to look like it could be in jeopardy as the country's top ranked team comes to town. Add in the fact that Mizzou will be playing without starting quarterback James Franklin as well as a 3-36 record all-time vs. Top 10 teams and it's hard to even think about taking Missouri and the points. I would stay away from it and be fearful of a backdoor cover if I were in Vegas. But here I'll take the Crimson Tide and the points.
Josh McCuistion: I'll go ahead and say it right now, it won't shock me for a minute if Missouri fails to score an offensive touchdown in this one. I've never quite understood the fascination that many had with James Franklin and so far this season he has backed that up. He has fought through some injuries, or well in the opinion of some around Columbia, 'isn't' fighting his way through some nagging stuff. I just think there are problems from the top down in Missouri and think the SEC has been much, much more of a problem than they had anticipated. Well, now you get to face the reigning father of the SEC that has been questioned by some as the best team in the SEC after South Carolina's stunning performance. This is a line 'Bama may double, and as such it's JOSH'S LOCK OF THE WEEK.
ER: Notre Dame just keeps rolling. Week in and week out it seems like the Irish defense only gets stronger while a trip to Norman now looms only two weeks out. This weekend the Cardinal head to South Bend riding a three game winning streak vs. the Gold Domers. Josh Nunes will need to keep the turnovers at the minimum and I see this one going late into the fourth quarter a tight one. The road team is just 4-12 in this series and I don't expect anything different in the No. 17 meeting. The Irish pull out a close one but take the Cardinal plus the points.
JM: This is a really interesting game but Stanford reminds me a lot of Michigan State, who Notre Dame handled with a fair amount of ease. Both teams have quality defenses, play physical football up front but lack game changers at quarterback and on the perimeter of the offense. As such the Irish's largely untested secondary will be given yet another free pass and I expect another roughly 10-point win.
ER: History sends a mixed signal in this one as South Carolina faces LSU in Baton Rouge this weekend. While the Gamecocks enter the match-up behind the eight ball with a 2-16-1 all-time record vs. LSU it's the ole ball coach who has had his own kind of success vs. the Bayou Bengals sporting a cool 11-2 record during his tenure at Florida. What gives? With a win South Carolina could be considered the best team in the country as they beat top-ten team Georgia a weekend ago. But for some reason I keep finding myself seeing LSU find a way to win this. I'll take the Tigers minus the points and keep my fingers crossed.
JM: Every week there is one game that just confuses the life out of me and the battle on the Bayou is this week's winner. I loved what I saw from Steve Spurrier's bunch last week but they've struggled somewhat on the road. In the end though buying into Zach Mettenberger is a recipe for disaster. I don't think it's going to be a pretty game but they'll find a way to get this thing done, take the Gamecocks straight up.
Big 12:
ER: Like the WV-Tech game below this was one of the match-ups that makes the Big 12 so intriguing this year. The Cyclones return home for a match-up with Kansas State as the Wildcats enter the game having won four straight games vs. ISU all under 8 points a piece. I expect Kansas State to keep rolling in this one as they set up a big time match-up next weekend in Morgantown. Take Kansas State to make it five in a row for Bill Snyder's club over their old Big 12 'north' rival.
JM: Talk about two teams that are mirror images of each other, they simply manage the game, play smart football, and limit mistakes. However, the Cyclones are currently No. 80 in the country in turnover margin and as Sooner fans know far too well if you hand things over to the Wildcats, they'll make you pay. I like Kansas State to force a few turnovers and will take Bill Snyder's giving the points.
ER: When Charlie Weis held practice this past week without the Jayhawks seniors it raised my eyebrow. I know, I know. If I take Kansas and the points it'll be three weeks that I've taken the Jayhawks side. Crazy indeed but I've seen crazier things happen in college football as the weather in Lawrence is expected to be nasty with wind and rain. IF Kansas can find a few turnovers it could be interesting but I do see Oklahoma State winning the game by three touchdowns. I'll take Kansas plus the points though.
JM: I'm not going to over complicate anything, pick against Kansas and you'll be a winner on the year, take the Cowboys, and yet again if they double this line, don't be shocked.
ER: Undoubtedly this was the point spread that has had everyone talking this week as West Virginia returns to the Lonestar State only one week after recording a huge victory in Austin. I like many give Vegas too much pull on this one as I find myself wondering what they know that I don't? Last week Texas Tech ran into a perfect storm in Oklahoma who stewed for two weeks following the home loss to Kansas State and believe they will put out a better effort this weekend. I couldn't pull the trigger on Iowa State (above) so I will do so here. Give me Texas Tech in the upset.
JM: This has become a really popular upset pick and I certainly understand that mentality as West Virginia has flown all over the country over the last seven days, have never played in the under appreciated difficulty of Lubbock. Add that their defense plays right into the hands of an offense like the Red Raiders' and obviously those questions are validated. However, while I think Oklahoma certainly has a superior defense to the Mountaineers, I was left pretty unimpressed with what Tech has up front and their ability to defend the pass (in spite of a lofty ranking - aided by a poor season opening schedule). I like West Virginia by a couple of touchdowns here as I just don't think this is your older brother's Tech offense that can win any shootout.
ER: Who could forget last year's Friday night thriller in Waco. This year's match-up will take on quite a different look as TCU stumbles in looking to rebound following last weekend's upset in Fort Worth. Even worse for the Horned Frogs is the fact that they'll officially be without the services of quarterback Casey Pachall who entered a rehabilitation facility this past week. The Bears have dropped 3 of 4 to TCU with the lone victory coming a year ago and I have no problem thinking it will be two in a row following 2012. Take the Bears and the points as this will be my EDDIE'S LOCK OF THE WEEK prior to Baylor's trip to Austin next weekend.
JM: Baylor has impressed me with how well they've bounced back from the loss of the greatest player in school history. And it's almost impossible to gauge, or put into words, just what a huge loss can mean to a team like TCU with the removal of Pachall from the team. The Horned Frogs will get right again before the season is over but in 10 days I really don't think the problems are all solved and that they are prepared to keep pace with a Baylor offense that will inevitably score points.


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The 2013 edition of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival is just a week away. To preview the annual music marathon, which draws 20 percent of its audience from San Diego County, we'll profile some of the most interesting performers. Our format, each week between now and Coachella's April 12-14 opening weekend, is to focus on one veteran act and one relative newcomer booked for the sold-out festival.
Today's subjects are rapper 2 Chainz and 1980s synth-pop stars, New Order. Now, the two acts couldn't be any further from each other, musically, chronologically and geographically (2 Chainz from the "Dirty South," New Order from "Jolly Old England"), but both speak to the artistic diversity that Coachella provides each and every year.
The newcomer: 2 Chainz
Age: 35
Performs at Coachella: April 13 & 20
First song of note: "Birthday Song" was released as the second single off of his debut album, "Based on a T.R.U. Story" (March 2012) and features Kanye West on the track. It is the kind of track that you can't stop singing in your head — because singing it out loud might get you fired from your job or reprimanded by your mom.
Most recent song: "I'm Different." The song is featured in a commercial for Champs Sports and Adidas. The video for the song has been criticized for featuring two armed civilians holding police officers at gunpoint. It should be noted, however, the officers were carrying illegal drugs.
Best known songs: "Birthday Song," "No Lie," "I Luv Dem Strippers," and "I'm Different."
What you need to know: 2 Chainz (Tauheed Epps) as nominated for Grammys for Best Rap Performance for his part on Kanye West's "Mercy" track, again in the Best Rap Song category for "Mercy," and his "Based On A T.R.U. Story" album was nominated for Best Rap Album. None of the three nominations garnered him a trophy, but it solidified his place in today's rap race. 2Chainz was born and bred in Atlanta and got his start as one half of the duo, Playaz Circle, which found minor success with "Duffle Bag Boy" featuring Lil' Wayne. At the time, the duo was on the Disturbing Tha Peace (DTP), run by his College Park, Ga., friend and rapper, Ludacris.
But in 2010, 2 Chainz left DTP to go out on his own and found some traction with a mixtape entitled "T.R.U. REALigion," which topped out at No. 58 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart but proved he could go it alone. With that notoriety, he was approached to make guest appearances with artists such as Nicki Minaj, Ciara, and many others. Now with Def Jam, 2 Chainz is touring and is working on an album alleged for release sometime in April — and in reaction to being named the No. 2 Hottest MCs VIII by MTV in March, he said via Twitter (@2chainz) that the next album "will hush all the critics that the 1st album didn't."
The gamble: 2 Chainz had a big year, with three Grammy nominations, 13 BET Hip Hop Awards nominations (four wins) was named Source Magazine's Man of the Year, and worked with Adidas and Beats By Dre. He was also arrested and charged last May for fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon at an airport and on Valentine's Day was arrested and released in Maryland for possession of marijuana. No, it was not his birthday.
Did you know? He's 6-feet, 5-inches tall and during his senior season of high school at North Clayton (College Park, Ga.), he was regarded as a Division 1 recruit who was looked at by University of Memphis. He played a full season at Alabama State in 1996-97, averaging 11 minutes per game.
The veteran: New Order
Performs at Coachella: April 13 & 20
First song of note: In 1983, "Blue Monday" took nightclubs by storm and has been credited with kick-starting the house/dance scene of the late 1980s. If you were an 18-year-old who frequented all-ages nightclubs scattered around the area or found your way to Avenida Revolucion in Tijuana on the weekends, you heard this song — a lot. It eventually became the biggest-selling 12-inch single of all time in the United Kingdom.
Most recent songs: "Sugarcane," "I Told You So," and "Hellbent" are three of the top tracks from the band's most recent album, "Lost Sirens," released in January of this year.
Best known songs: "Blue Monday," "Bizarre Love Triangle," "Age of Consent," "True Faith," "Temptation," "The Perfect Kiss," and "Thieves Like Us."
What you need to know: New Order was born in 1980 out of the tragic suicide death of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis. But just months after his passing, the remaining members of the band — Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris — took to the stage as a band that would later become New Order. Without Curtis, the trio went a different direction, utilizing new technologies like drum machines and synthesizers, stepping into the land of electronic dance. Coming directly out of Joy Division, the band did something nobody else was, combining the synth-pop sound with dance music and a touch of post-punk moodiness. At the time, the kings of moody was The Cure, but you could dance to New Order.
By 1993, the band had broken up and didn't see each other for five years, focusing on side projects and new bands. Reconvening in 1998, the band released "Get Ready" in 2001 and continued to tour until 2009 when Hook decided he wanted out of the band and they subsequently shut down work. Two years later, they were back at it with a new lineup with Sumner at the lead, Morris (on drums), Phil Cunningham (bass), Gillian Gilbert (keyboards, after a 10 year break from the band) and Tom Chapman filling out the lineup.
Did you know? Original member Peter Hook played on the "Lost Sirens" album released in January, but he left the band in 2009. The band had gone back and forth on whether to put 20 songs on the 2005 release, "Waiting for the Sirens' Call," or break it up into two albums. They chose the latter, but when they broke up, the songs were never compiled until this year due to copyright issues.


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Pitt recruit has star mentor in LeSean McCoyJanuary 15, 2014 8:49 PM
For Patrick Amara, a Philadelphia native and future Pitt football player, it's hard to find a better role model than Eagles running back and former Panthers star LeSean McCoy.
Easy enough for Amara, who can find McCoy right in his phone's contacts list.
Amara, a high school senior set to sign with the Panthers in February, has had the chance to meet with McCoy a handful of times and texts back and forth with the Eagles superstar.
The two were connected through a mutual friend, and when McCoy heard that Amara was set to follow in his footsteps to Pitt, he didn't hesitate to reach out.
Amara even said he plans to start working out with McCoy, who led the NFL in rushing this season, starting in February.
"He's one of my great mentors," Amara said. "We just connected from the rip."
Amara will join the Panthers in fall as a defensive back, so he can't pick up on any of McCoy's rushing techniques. In fact, Amara said most of their conversations revolve around what it's like being a student-athlete at Pitt, rather than any specific football talk.
"He said just focus and give it your all," Amara said. "It might sound easy, but it's foreshadowing a great career. Of course he partied, but he put limits, he had restrictions. That led him to where he is now."
Amara will get a small taste of the college lifestyle this weekend when he takes his official visit to Pitt along with several other high school seniors verbally committed to join the Panthers next season.
"Everyone wants to have fun on their official visit, but I really want to see the academic aspect," Amara said. "You're going to spend the next three, four, five years there. I'm really looking forward to the academic side and just the campus. How everybody enjoys it, what it's like being a student-athlete."
This weekend also will serve as a chance for some of Pitt's 2014 recruiting class to bond in person. Amara, especially, has been active on Twitter in recruiting other possible prospects and reaching out to some of his future teammates.
"Of course you want to play with the best guys," he said. "As soon as I committed, I made an obligation to bring the best players in because eventually I want to be in an ACC championship."
Amara heard new Penn State coach James Franklin Saturday when Franklin said he plans to "dominate" recruiting in Pennsylvania in his tenure with the Nittany Lions.
Amara admitted that's what he would expect Franklin to say, but he also remembers his own recruitment, when Penn State stopped recruiting him because of its limited scholarships.
"They were basically saying I wasn't good enough to play there," he said.
So even though it's more than two years away, there's already one date circled on Amara's calendar: Sept. 10, 2016, when Pitt and Penn State will meet at Heinz Field for the first time since 2000.
And the never-shy Amara had a message for Pitt's former and future in-state rivals: "2016, let's just say it won't be pretty for Penn State."
Sam Werner: email@example.com and Twitter @SWernerPG.


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Versatile Valdespin making his presence felt
JUPITER, Fla. -- Jordany Valdespin continues to make his presence felt, going 1-for-1 with an RBI single to center in the eighth inning of Sunday's 3-0 win over the Cardinals.
Valdespin is now hitting .360 this spring with two homers, five RBIs, a stolen base and five runs. He has struck out just twice.
"He's an aggressive guy," manager Terry Collins said. "He plays with enthusiasm, and he's got some excitement to him. But he swings and he's dangerous, because he's got some power."
Valdespin's versatility makes him a prime candidate to make the roster as a utility player. In a 94-game rookie season last year, the 25-year-old played second base and shortstop, and all three outfield positions. He was also 9-for-42 with nine runs, five homers and 10 RBIs as a pinch-hitter.
"Obviously, if you're going to be an extra player, the fact that you can play a lot of positions means a lot," Collins said. "And we saw it last year, the fact that he can come off the bench and be dangerous, also."
Valdespin, who hit .241 overall last year with a .710 OPS, said that the prospect of a utility role won't change his work or his preparation this spring.
"It's different, because the outfield is a different position, but I'm ready for any situation they want for me," Valdespin said. "I'm working hard, and last season I played second, played short, played outfield. I can do the role of the utility guy."
Joey Nowak is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @joeynowak. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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|Topic Review (Newest First)
|Apr 16th, 2017 11:01 PM
Re: Deniz Khazaniuk
Deniz wins a $25000 Challenger in Mexico on a Walkover. Now #1 Israeli Women's Tennis player.
|Dec 24th, 2016 02:15 PM
Re: Deniz Khazaniuk
Quick Update on Deniz:
Won the Israeli Tennis Championship last week. Glushko did not play.
Also, it appears that her banishment from Fed Cup is over and she will represent Israel early next year.
|Sep 10th, 2016 11:06 AM
Re: Deniz Khazaniuk
Deniz has reached the finals in $25,000 Telavi Challenger.
(6)Deniz Khazaniuk (ISR) d. (7)Olga Doroshina (RUS) 75 61
|Sep 9th, 2016 02:38 PM
Re: Deniz Khazaniuk
Good Quarter-Final result for Deniz in Telavi $25,000 Challenger.
(6)Deniz Khazaniuk (ISR) d. (Q)Natela Dzalamidze (RUS) 61 64
Into the Semi-Finals of a $25,000 Challenger for the first time.
|Jun 23rd, 2015 04:45 PM
Re: Deniz Khazaniuk
Big win for Deniz in the opening of a $25,000 Challenger in Moscow. Beats the #1 seed(world rank #251) convincingly
Deniz Khazaniuk (ISR) d. (1)Anastasiya Vasylyeva (UKR) 62 63.
|Jun 13th, 2015 07:03 PM
Re: Deniz Khazaniuk
Deniz wins her third tournament out of the last 4 that she entered.
Today in Tel-Aviv $10,000
She beats Ofri Lankri 7-5 6-0.
|May 25th, 2015 11:23 PM
Re: Deniz Khazaniuk
When she will go to 25K tournaments in Europe?
|May 25th, 2015 03:47 PM
Re: Deniz Khazaniuk
Originally Posted by Chilenaitor View Post
Thanks for the update!
What is next?
$10,000 Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan starting June 1st.
|May 23rd, 2015 07:55 PM
Re: Deniz Khazaniuk
Thanks for the update!
What is next?
|May 23rd, 2015 07:10 PM
Re: Deniz Khazaniuk
Deniz wins her second straight $10,000 ITF at Netanya,Israel 6-4 6-1 over Ofri Lankri.
Time to go on the road.
|May 16th, 2015 11:04 PM
Re: Deniz Khazaniuk
Great week
She have to play more 25K tournaments now..
|May 16th, 2015 02:21 PM
Re: Deniz Khazaniuk
Deniz wins $10,000 ITF in Akko,Israel
(1)Deniz Khazaniuk (ISR) d. Ofri Lankri (ISR) 61 63
|Oct 24th, 2013 01:11 AM
Re: Deniz Khazaniuk
Glushko won easily 6-1 6-3.
Unlike Deniz vs Shahar, there haven't been much in the local press about Julia and her, even though Julia was also under fire in that infamous interview.
All I can say is that according to eyewitnesses, and unlike the Peer-Khazaniuk match in national champs SF, yesterday there was a handshake.
As for upcoming Fed Cup, Deniz is by far the 3rd best player in Israel, but it doesn't matter all that much which two girls will be cheering on Shahar and Julia from the sidelines
|Oct 22nd, 2013 02:10 PM
Re: Deniz Khazaniuk
Deniz will be playing her former Fed-Cup teammate Julia Glushko tomorrow.
Deniz Khazaniuk def. (Q)Alexandra Artamonova 4-6 6-4 6-4
Does anybody know if there is still bad blood relating to the Fed Cup allegations made by Deniz in late 2011-12? If so, this could be an emotional match with Julia. On the other hand, Deniz clearly deserves to be on next year's team based on her current rankings.
|Oct 21st, 2013 10:28 PM
Re: Deniz Khazaniuk
Khazaniuk has won no less the six 10K futures this year, probably a national record (I wonder what's the WR...), but has never made it past R2 of a 25K, and is unlikely to do so this week in Hertzliya - if she beat a qualifier in R1 then top seed Glushko will be waiting next.
According to Tapuz tennis forum, she is then heading for a weak 25K in Seoul in which she will be ranked and should crack that barrier, and then two Thai 15K tourneys, so should rack up some easy points and can break into the top 300.
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Get the Recipe
Ed Note: As the holidays approach, who better to stop by and give us some quirky and fun treats than Jessie Oleson, aka Cakespy? First up, homemade pumpkin graham crackers!
Graham crackers may not strike you as an impressive sweet treat—they're more famous for their role in s'mores than as a stand-alone sweet. But perhaps it's time to challenge that notion with a homemade seasonal variation: pumpkin graham crackers.
These are a subtle treat. They're only slightly sweet, and they don't scream "pumpkin" but rather whisper it, with a lovely moist texture that makes the crackers a bit softer than a plain homemade version. They have an earthy flavor that might make you think, for an instant, "health food", but the spices, brown sugar, and kiss of honey will bring you quickly back to cozy fall snack territory.
These homemade grahams are excellent alone, but for some real fall fun, sandwich them with some chocolate and a Halloween Peeps candy for a spectacularly spooky and highly delicious s'more.
About the author: Jessie Oleson Moore is a writer, illustrator, gallery owner, and cake anthropologist who runs Cakespy, an award-winning dessert website. Her first book came out in October 2011, and her second book came out in May 2013.


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Lupus and Intimacy
Even under normal circumstances it can be difficult to talk about sexuality and intimacy with a partner or spouse. Having an exhausting and painful chronic illness such as lupus makes it all the more challenging—yet important—to communicate.
From body image to sexual desire, energy, and tolerance to pain, illness can get in the way of many parts of a relationship. If you have lupus, take steps to protect and nurture this important part of your life and well being. Here are some strategies that have worked for others and that you might want to try:
- Talk. Start—and keep—a conversation going between yourself and your partner. Sometimes a simple "Can we talk about this…?" opener can set the stage for honest and open exchange. Be sure to let your partner know that you want a two-way conversation in which each of your hopes and needs is addressed.
- Start with the positive. In your conversation, begin by talking about times together that have felt positive and good—what's special and feels particularly right about your physical connection. Then discuss what can get in the way of those positive exchanges.
- Send a signal. Feeling tired and sick, fear of worsening pain, being depressed or emotionally drained—all are common with lupus and can get in the way of wanting intimate contact. If you haven't been interested for a while, at least talking about what would make it feel right may signal your partner that you want to keep this part of your relationship alive.
- Make a date. If you can, plan your intimate times for those parts of the day that you feel stronger and more rested. If you take lupus medicines that ease pain or stiffness, try timing when you take them for peak action at your date hour. Also consider taking a nap before sex, or having a warm bath or applying soothing heat to ease joint stiffness and muscle aches.
- Use props. Lupus hurts. Strategize ways to support your back, your neck, and your legs— all parts of you that might come under pressure or get turned or moved in such a way that might cause pain. If you often feel cold, take the time to make the room feel warm, use an electric blanket, or take a hot bath right beforehand.
- Keep hugging. Intimacy is about so much more than sex, of course. Keep your connections going by being physically close to each other, holding hands and getting in tune with each other's bodies. Show your affection in a non-stressful, loving way to let your partner know that you're still interested in being intimate. And an added boost: hugging and other physical contact has also been shown to be good for your health!
Finally, one of the greatest gifts that you can give to someone you care for is to also be good to yourself. Eat well, rest, and exercise when possible to stay strong. And if you think it might help, reach out to a social worker or therapist with your concerns.


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Then, I thought maybe I could understand 716 billion in terms of calories. Like the ones we watch (or not) in the food we eat and the beverages we drink. I've been around for more than three decades, so maybe looking at the calories I've eaten in my life would give billion some context. Turns out that idea didn't work out either, but you know what you could do with 716 billion calories' worth of food and drink? Feed the combined population of Allen, Wells and Whitley counties for about two years.
Mitt Romney and President Obama were discussing 716 billion in the context of Obamacare and the Medicare budget. This got me thinking: Why not look at 716 billion in the context of the Medicare budget?
As we know, the 716 billion (that Romney called "cuts" and Obama did not) is coming out of Medicare's budget over the next 10 years. How much of Medicare's budget will that be? It's tough to tell, but if Medicare's budget increases at the same rate that it has for the last 10 years, 716 billion would be around 5 percent of the total budget for the next 10 years. If, however, Medicare's budget remains constant at the 2013 projected level, the 716 billion would be around 8 percent of the total. So we're talking about cutting somewhere between 5-8 percent of Medicare over the next 10 years. That seems like a lot. But maybe it's not. Medicare might be like the 250-pound guy who is 50 pounds overweight. If that guy cuts the fat and loses 5-8 percent of his weight, he's still at least 30 pounds overweight. But Medicare might also be like the 160-pound guy whose body fat only makes up 8 percent of his weight. If he loses 5-8 percent of his weight, well, he's not only cutting fat, but other stuff as well. So, the question we've got to answer is: Is Medicare more like the overweight guy or the in-shape guy?
I don't know the answer to this question. I study medical ethics for a living, and I could tell you all about how these cuts make a lot of sense for a number of reasons. We, as the citizens of the United States, refuse to say no to ourselves. We spend huge sums of money on patients at the end of life, leaving less money to spend on other patients.
I can also talk about how the way that money moves through the health care system hides from patients the true cost of their care. This means that they'll accept any care that is offered, so if you want to control costs, you have to offer less care.
But these arguments won't tell us what this 716 billion will actually do to patient care. As President Obama noted, the way the 716 billion shakes out is through lower payouts to providers and prescription drugs. Will these lower payouts affect the care provided for Medicare patients? What are health care providers planning to do about these coming changes?
Romney also criticized Obamacare for its effect on business. He argued that businesses wouldn't start up, that businesses might close down and that businesses wouldn't thrive because of Obamacare.
Personally, I've worked for a lot of businesses, but I've never owned one, so even though I can tell you all about the carrots (tax breaks for some small businesses who provide coverage) and sticks (penalties for those who have more the 50 employees who don't provide insurance for their employees) that you'll find in Obamacare, I can't tell you how a small-business owner has or will respond to Obamacare.
Now, I've had people tell me that they work for businesses that are not going to hire full-time employees because of Obamacare. But everything I've heard is second- or third-hand, and I'd like to know how a small business is actually responding to what has been and what will be implemented as part of Obamacare.
And I'd also like to know from physicians, businesses, hospitals and health insurers what they'd do differently if Obamacare is repealed?
It's for all these reasons that I've asked four people to come together and talk about what they've done, what they're doing and what they expect to do as Obamacare continues to be implemented (or not). These generous people are Kathy Carrier, CEO of Briljent and Keepsake Threads; Rick Cochran, CEO of Physicians Health Plan of Northern Indiana, Inc.; Ray Dusman, executive physician administrator at Parkview Health; and Jonathan Walker, retinal surgeon and assistant clinical professor at IU School of Medicine, Fort Wayne. At noon Oct. 22, they'll be in Neff 101 on IPFW's campus to talk about their experiences and answer questions (yours and mine) about Obamacare, what it means for them and what it could mean for you.


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The last time I wrote about Qualcomm (QCOM), I was bullish. For some reason, I thought QCOM was an $80 stock. But since my May article, the stock is up just 9%.
I thought a shortage for LTE chipsets would eventually translate to higher earnings and revenue for Qualcomm. Well, this quarter it did. For the quarter ending Dec. 30, revenue rose 28.6% to $6.02 billion. Net income jumped 36% to $1.91 billion. The company shipped 182 million mobile chipsets, up 17% year over year. Moreover management guided Q2 higher. The company now expects chipset shipments in the 163 million to 173 million range and revenues of $5.8-$6.3 billion. For fiscal 2013, management predicted revenue of $23-24 billion and earnings per share of $4.25-4.45.
Management estimated the industry would ship some 233-237 million 3G/4G devices with an estimated average selling price of $224-230 per unit.
In May I thought Qualcomm would do about $4.17 and trade around 19x or 20x estimates. I still think QCOM can get to $80. At the mid-point of guidance, if investors paid just 18x estimates, Qualcomm would easily get to $80. Where are you going to get mid-to-high 20s revenue growth, with a gross margin over 60% and an operating margin of 36%? Those kinds of numbers don't come around too often.
It seems tech investors are afraid of overpaying for semiconductor names in the communications space. I get it. Law of large numbers. Slowing growth. Fear of margin pressure and possible competition from Intel (INTC) is always on investors' lists of things to worry about. But if QCOM can catch a few analyst upgrades, I think it will break above its 52-week high of $68.87 on its way to $80. Just remember, the stock has outperformed the S&P 500 by 50% in the last five years. They must be doing something right.


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I've looked up the syntax on the ARB fragment shader languages, and i must say: I LOVE IT!!
My only thought was that with this, i can be king of the world! There is nothing i can't do, and nobody can stop me!!!
..But then i came back to reality and saw that my Radeon 9000 didn't support the ARB fragment shader... So, i'm wondering, Is ther any vendor out there that supports it, or does everybody stick to themselves developing dozens of different implementations and never listen to eachother? (I glanced at the GL_ATI_fragment_shader and.. YUCK!!)
its actually called GL_ARB_fragment_program and is on all 9500 and bether radeon cards, as well as on all one day available nv30+ based (gfFX based) cards. dunno wich ones there will actually come out, nvidia is in huge troubles to get something out. looks like their flagship, the only one beating a radeon9700pro, got canned.. dunno..
and then there are others.. basically every card fully supporting dx9 can do it.
(I glanced at the GL_ATI_fragment_shader and.. YUCK!!) why do you say that the ati_fragment_shader sucks ?
because its older and less powerful than ARB_fragment_program..
on the other hand, on hw that can only do that, its great. much bether than the NV_texture_shader(1,2,3) + NV_register_combiners(1,2,3) combination, and much more powerful..
but best is ATI_text_fragment_shader, integrates the ATI_fragment_shader into the ARB_fragment_program interface, just the shaderscript is a different language.. ATI_text_fragment_shader
whats the reason of that necro-bump? looks like you just want to annoy
sorry there dave, I was just giving my friend baldurk a hard time...
oh okay. thats always fine:D hy baldurk


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Vanessa Maltin, author of Beyond Rice Cakes and Food & Lifestyle Editor for Delight gluten free Magazine, has released The Gloriously Gluten Free Cookbook, a new book filled with delicious gluten free recipes for Italian, Asian and Mexican dishes. Vanessa was kind enough to send us a copy to review and give away to one lucky blog reader.
The gorgeous cover has been calling to me ever since it arrived on my desk, though life kept getting in the way and it wasn't until our long holiday weekend that I could take it home and give it some of the love it deserved. Upon opening the book, my only disappointment was the lack of beautiful photos inside. I'm a visual leaner and it helps me to see what I'm making, especially when delving into cuisine that is not my forte.
It only took a few pages before I was making a shopping list and marking recipe after delicious recipe to make over the weekend. Page after page of delicious variations on risotto and Thai noodle dishes called to me, but we have some dietary restrictions in our house and I had to find something that was vegetarian and dairy-free. I happened upon Fried Eggplant with Garlic Ginger Sauce and Jasmine Rice which met all of our requirements and sounded both drool-worthy and a wee bit challenging. When testing a cookbook, I like to try a recipe that will challenge me. If I can pull it off- that's a pretty good indication that the recipes are written well.
Fast forward to Saturday. I had everything I needed, except Jasmine Rice (d'oh!). I used Brown Basmati Rice because I had it on hand and thought it would work just fine (it did). I followed each step and ended up with a delicious, exotic dish unlike anything I've ever made at home. Yes, the recipe did involve a good amount of frying; frying is one of my challenges. I'm afraid of it. That's the truth. The idea of a hot pot of oil is a little scary and something I usually avoid like the plague, but the recipe sounded oh-so-yummy that I couldn't resist giving it a whirl. It was delicious and glorious and gluten free! See below for the recipe.
Vanessa worked with three well-known chefs, Keith Brunell of Maggiano's Little Italy, Katie Chin of Thai Kitchen and Edgar Steele of Café Atlantico, to be sure her recipes were authentic and easy on the beginning gluten-free chef. Asian and Italian dishes intimidate me, they use ingredients I'm not familiar with and call for techniques I've never tried. What I loved about this book, beyond the delicious, well-written recipes, was that it didn't feel overwhelming. I have always wanted to try making moo shu and gnocchi and now I feel that I can tackle them with Vanessa's guidance.
Did I mention a giveaway? YES! I have one beautiful copy of Vanessa's book to give away to one lucky reader. All you have to do to enter is tell me about an Italian, Asian or Mexican dish that you've always wanted to try, but been afraid to give it a go. I'm not promising that the recipe will be in her book, but I'd love to hear what challenges you in the kitchen. Leave your comment here on the blog post, on our Facebook wall or direct message us on Twitter (@bobs_red_mill). I will select a winner from all those who enter by midnight on 07/12/10. That gives you a week to enter. If you don't win, we'll be selling Vanessa's book on our website soon.
Fried Eggplant with Garlic-Ginger Sauce and Jasmine Rice
From Gloriously Gluten Free
Serves 4
For the Garlic-Ginger Sauce:
1 cup grated carrots
1 cup shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 cup vegetable stock
1/2 cup gluten-free soy sauce
1/4 cup fish sauce
1/4 cup honey
2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp chili flakes (Note: if you don't like things spicy, you may want to decrease this to 1 tsp)
1 Tbsp ground ginger
For the Rice and Eggplant
1-1/2 cups jasmine rice
2 large eggs
1/4 cup gluten-free soy sauce
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 Tbsp salt
2 large eggplants
3 cups (or enough to submerge the eggplant halfway) vegetable or canola oil for frying
For the Garlic-Ginger Sauce:
In a large sauce-pan, combine the carrots, mushrooms, stock, soy sauce, fish sauce, honey, garlic, chili flakes and ginger. Cook over medium heat until reduced by half and a thick sauce is formed, about 15 minutes. Set aside.
For the Rice and Eggplant:
1. Cook the rice according to package instructions.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and soy sauce. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, cornstarch and salt.
3. Slice the eggplants into 2-inch squares about 1/2-inch thick. Dip the eggplant into the egg-and-soy-sauce mixture and then coat it with the flour-and-cornstarch mixture.
4. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat; it's ready when you see little bubbles forming in the oil. Fry eggplant until the batter turns golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
5. Gently stir the fried eggplant into the sauce. Pour heaping portions of the eggplant and sauce over the rice and serve.


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Less foul ground could benefit Rockies catchers
DENVER -- A remodeling and construction project at Coors Field reduced the distance from home plate to the backstop by six feet.
The immediate thought would be the loss of foul ground would assist hitters -- more pops behind the plate will land in the stands -- as if they need more help at Coors Field. However, catcher Yorvit Torrealba said he sees it helping the defense more than the offense.
Torrealba didn't notice the reduction when he first stepped out for batting practice, but once he took a good look he said he and Wilin Rosario will see it as a deterrent for runners who normally would be poised to dash in from third as soon as a pitch hits the dirt.
"I like it better this way," Torrealba said. "Most likely, you're going to let one ball go by you out of the many, many pitches you receive in a game. Now, what are the odds you're going to get a fly ball out as a catcher? One every however many games? It's an advantage for the catchers, and for us as a team.
"If Wilin or I try to block a ball and it gets by, we've got the wall that's concrete and brick, too, so it'll bounce to us. The runners will probably stop, because they know now the ball is probably going to bounce back to the catcher."
Thomas Harding is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Hardball in the Rockies, and follow him on Twitter @harding_at_mlb. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text: Lufthansa is weighing possible new options for providing executive charter services through its Lufthansa Private Jets service. The process could lead to a resumption of its alliance with NetJets Europe, with a decision on this expected next month. The German flag carrier's subsidiary Swiss International Air Lines has spent the last few weeks engaged in a formal consultation process over the future of its Swiss Private Aviation division, which is currently the main provider of flights for Lufthansa Private Jets. The consultation is required under Swiss labor laws whenever a company is considering the closure of an operation and the possible loss of jobs. A spokeswoman for Swiss told AIN that the consultation was completed last week and the various options for the future of Swiss Private Aviation are now being considered, with closure appearing to be the likely outcome. A Lufthansa spokesman told AIN that decisions about possible future partners for its private jet operation had not been taken, adding that 2010 was the division's most successful year to date. NetJets Europe would not respond to "rumors" about the possibility of a resumption in its partnership with Lufthansa. The fractional provider had supplied aircraft for Lufthansa Private Jets until the two companies suspended their cooperation in late 2007.


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New York -- Survey results released Tuesday by Accenture found that half of U.S. consumers are likely to make a small luxury purchase in the next six months, including 53% who are likely to purchase specialty food or drinks, 48% to purchase luxury clothing and 48% to purchase luxury personal care products.
According to the Accenture Luxury Shopping Survey, which polled more than 2,000 U.S. adult consumers, splurging on a small luxury is the number one reason consumers buy specialty food or drinks, selected by 53% of those who expect to make these purchases in the coming months.
Similarly, high-low fashion is the top reason shoppers shop luxury apparel. More than half (57%) of those who intend to purchase luxury apparel will mix a few luxury items into a wardrobe of more affordable clothing.
"As consumers show an increasing willingness to splurge on luxury, retailers and brands can build loyalty by offering a strategic selection of smaller-ticket luxury items to complement their more significant products," said Tom Jacobson, managing director of the Accenture Pricing & Profit Optimization practice.
In each of the three small-product categories polled, consumers indicated a strong preference for brick-and-mortar stores when shopping for luxury goods:
- On average, 36% prefer to shop in a physical store, while 19% prefer to shop online.
- Among those likely to purchase luxury food and drink, 50% prefer shopping at specialty grocery stores and 40% like shopping at mass retailers, while only 19% prefer to shop at online-only retailers.
- The top reason for shopping in physical stores is to see all the choices in person (38%). Nearly a third (30%) of shoppers in this category prefer online retailers to get the best price and one-quarter (25%) value the convenience of online shopping.
- For those who are likely to make a luxury apparel purchase, more than half (58%) picked department stores as their top choice, compared to only 29% who prefer a department store's website and 36% who prefer online-only retailers.
- The top reason given for choosing the physical store is the ability to touch and feel the products, selected by 49%, whereas online retailers are preferred for finding the best deal (37%).
- Physical stores beat online shopping two-to-one for luxury personal care products (including hair care, skin care and makeup): 44% of shoppers in this category prefer drug stores and 40% prefer department stores, compared with 22% who prefer online-only retailers.
The study also found that showrooming, or viewing a product in a store and then going online to make the purchase, plays an important role in luxury purchases. In the past six months, one in five consumers visited a store to experience a luxury product in person and then purchased the product online.
Additionally, the study found that having access to special deals and bargains through group membership shopping sites has invited more luxury purchases. Among the 23% of consumers who have bought luxury goods and services from an online group that offers exclusive discounts to members, 58% say these sites have increased their luxury spending.
The Accenture survey identified a number of differences between Millennials and Baby Boomers when it comes to luxury shopping. More than a third (35%) of Millennials indicated their likelihood to purchase luxury goods is up over the past year, while 46% of Baby Boomers indicated their likelihood to purchase luxury goods has decreased in the past year.
The survey found quality is ranked the most important factor by 75% of consumers when buying luxury, followed by price at 69%. Only a quarter ranked brand name as most important.


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The San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club's 10th annual Rotary/CARE Car Show put more than 400 antique and classic cars and trucks on display Saturday at the city sports park.
Proceeds will fund the Rotary Club's support of a wide variety of community and charitable projects on behalf of children, military families and more. Also benefiting is the Capistrano Animal Rescue Effort's support of animal-rescue programs and related activities.


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Topic: Surgery scheduled, sort of!
Well the appointment this morning went very well. I really, really like this doctor. He explained that Mom needs to have the plastic stents replaced because of the risk of them getting blocked from buildup of gunk. Since he is replacing them I asked if he would use metal ones and he said probably not. He explained that metal ones are permanent and he did not feel comfortable doing that right now.
He will decide when he does the ERCP if one of them which was placed in one of the worst blockages may be better to be replaced with metal but otherwise, plastic is the deal. He even had color photos from the initial procedure for me and showed me in detail each area as we discussed it. Mom was so impressed!!
Now here's the "sort of" part to the surgical procedure. He wants Mom to get her last chemo and wait one week before he does this. Since we are supposed to be done with the chemo in December this surgery will be scheduled then. I hope this makes sense as I typed it, in my mind it does
So, that's where we are now. Just waiting to see what this storm is going to do now and then chemo and doctor on Wednesday as long as we can get there!!
Thank you all so much!!!
Christine x x


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A Stress Link to Lupus
September 20, 2017,
Impetigo is a common skin infection.
Impetigo is caused by streptococcus (strep) or staphylococcus (staph) bacteria. Methicillin-resistant staph aureus (MRSA) is becoming a common cause.
The skin normally has many types of bacteria on it. When there is a break in the skin, bacteria can enter the body and grow there. This causes inflammation and infection. Breaks in the skin may occur with:
Impetigo may also occur on skin where there is no visible break.
It is most common in children who live in unhealthy conditions.
In adults, it may occur following another skin problem. It may also develop after a cold or other virus.
Impetigo can spread to others. You can catch the infection if the fluid that oozes from the blisters touches an open area on your skin.
Symptoms of impetigo are:
Your health care provider will look at your skin to determine if you have impetigo.
The health care provider may take a sample of bacteria from your skin to grow in the lab.This can help determine if MRSA is the cause. Specific antibiotics are needed to treat this type of bacteria.
The goal is to cure the infection and relieve the symptoms.
Your doctor will prescribe an antibacterial cream. You may need to take antibiotics by mouth if the infection is severe.
Wash (do not scrub) the skin several times a day with an antibacterial soap to remove crusts and drainage.
The sores of impetigo heal slowly. Scars are rare. The cure rate is very high, but the problem often comes back in young children.
Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of impetigo.
Prevent the spread of infection.
Keep your skin clean to prevent getting the infection. Clean minor cuts and scrapes well with soap and clean water. You can use a mild antibacterial soap.
Habif TP. Bacterial infections. In: Habif TP, ed. Clinical Dermatology . 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 9.
Pasternack MS, Swartz MN. Cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis, and subcutaneous tissue infections. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases . 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2009:chap 90.
Morelli JG. Cutaneous Bacterial Infections. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics . 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 657.


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KELSEYVILLE -- Longtime District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown Tuesday filed a formal answer to the recall effort launched against him last week.
"Please do not sign this dishonest and costly recall petition," the supervisor wrote in his response. "Say no to the dishonest recall campaign against Rob Brown."
The Citizens for the Recall of Supervisor Rob Brown submitted a notice of intention to circulate a recall petition to oust the outspoken fourth-term supervisor on June 4.
The proponents argue Brown should be removed from office because they feel dissatisfied with his service, object to his conduct, lack confidence in his representation and argue he has a conflict of interest because he also operates a bail bonds business.
The man who has represented Kelseyville and the rest of District 5 on the Lake County Board of Supervisors since 2001 officially answered his critics Tuesday afternoon, submitting a written reply to the Lake County Registrar of Voters' Office.
Brown's response quotes two district residents, one former Lake County Sheriff's deputy and a current Kelseyville school board member explaining why they support him.
The answer also references a 2012 Record-Bee editorial endorsement of Brown and a California Fair Political Practices Commission finding that no conflict of interest exists with the supervisor also working as a bail bondsman.
Brown's reply would be included as part of a recall petition, which must first be approved by county election officials.
The recall proponents have until June 21 to file two blank copies of their proposed petition, along with proof that the notice of intent was published in the newspaper, to the Registrar of Voters' Office for review.
A successful recall petition would require signatures from 1,833 registered District 5 voters.
Lake County already has one recall petition in circulation; proponents of an effort to remove Sheriff Frank Rivero have been gathering signatures for almost two months.


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Versatile, high performance aquarium canister filter loaded with convenient features. Height-adjustable inlet and customizable outlet system with venturi, and outlet nozzle allow this filter to work efficiently on any type of aquarium. Flow control is above tank level for easy accessibility. Anti-overheating design protects motor if filter gets clogged. Enjoy reliable performance, strong flow rates and trouble-free aquarium filtration with FilStar XP Canister Filters.
FilStar XP Canister Filters includes Bio-Chem Zorb, an exclusive research-grade resin-carbon blend that removes compounds that carbon alone cannot remove, to make aquarium water clean and clear. Very quiet and powerful three-stage canister filter features filtration baskets with handles allowing easy replacement of media. Extra-large basket chambers provide ample space for additional bio media such as Bio-Chem Stars or specialized media. 2-year manufacturer's warranty. Replacement Rotor/Impeller Assemblies available.
Includes: FilStar coarse and fine foams (2 each for XP M and XP L) for particle collection, Micro-Filtration Pad for ultra-fine filtration, Bio-Chem Zorb filtration pouch for removal of organic waste.
Downloadable Features PDF. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 or later - get it here for free)
Please click on "More Information" for instructions for use and product specifications.


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How do I select appropriate courses?
Students are encouraged to review the program requirements in the current issue of the Graduate Course Catalog. The catalog outlines the course requirements for the program and includes information about pre-requisite course requirements. Students should also speak with an academic advisor or department representative if they are unsure about any particular courses.
Where do I go for advising?
Advising assignments are confirmed via the academic department. As an applicant, you may not have an assigned advisor until you begin the program. If you would like to schedule an appointment with an advisor, please contact the please contact Dr. Jodi Mindell, Director, Graduate Psychology, at 610-660-1806 or email email@example.com.
What is the process if my employer is paying for my courses?
Students with inquiries about tuition remission and installment payment plans should visit the Student Services Center web site for additional instructions. The Student Services Center coordinates student registration and payment.
How do I register for classes?
Visit the Registrar site for complete instructions on how to register.
What is the alternative pin number needed to register?
The alternative pin is a series of six ones. (111111)
How do I access my SJU account?
Student IT information is generated and mailed out by the Office of Information Technology.
Where can I obtain my student I.D.?
Students can request a picture I.D. from the Office of Public Safety located in Barbelin Hall once they have received formal acceptance into their academic program. The initial I.D. card is offered at no cost with a minimal replacement fee charged for lost cards.
Where do I purchase my books?
Books for your courses can be purchased at the Saint Joseph's University Bookstore located at 2461 North 54th Street. Students are advised to take information regarding their courses such as the CRN number and course title for general assistance.
Is there assistance with job placement?
The Career Development Center, located in Overbrook Hall, provides assistance to students through the year. Students are invited to visit online for a calendar of events and a list of services.


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I have been using web flow for years now and have several flows that use jsp pages as their view technology. I recently upgraded to web flow 2.2.1 and was looking to take advantage of the JSF technology. I have configured my app following the sample code that has been provided. However with the configuration below I can only get xhtml to work as my view technology. This is an issue because I have several jsp flows that work well and it doesn't make sense to rewrite.
My main question is can JSF and JSP coexist in web flow 2.2.1 and if so how would I configure my web.xml and webflow-config.xml?
Following works with JSF but now my jsp flows won't load:
My pervious webflow-config looked like this (with jsp based flows):
Thanks in advanced,
My main question is can JSF and JSP coexist in web flow 2.2.1 and if so how would I configure my web.xml and webflow-config.xml?
Following works with JSF but now my jsp flows won't load:
<webflow:flow-registry id="flowRegistry" flow-builder-services="facesFlowBuilderServices"> <webflow:flow-location-pattern value="/WEB-INF/flows/*-flow.xml" /> </webflow:flow-registry> <!-- Installs a listener that creates and releases the FacesContext for each request. --> <bean id="facesContextListener" class="org.springframework.faces.webflow.FlowFacesContextLifecycleListener"/> <!-- Configures the Spring Web Flow JSF integration --> <faces:flow-builder-services id="facesFlowBuilderServices" development="true" />
<!-- Just here so the JSF implementation can initialize, *not* used at runtime --> <servlet> <servlet-name>Faces Servlet</servlet-name> <servlet-class>javax.faces.webapp.FacesServlet</servlet-class> <load-on-startup>1</load-on-startup> </servlet> <!-- Just here so the JSF implementation can initialize --> <servlet-mapping> <servlet-name>Faces Servlet</servlet-name> <url-pattern>*.faces</url-pattern> </servlet-mapping>
<webflow:flow-registry id="flowRegistry" flow-builder-services="flowBuilderServices"> <webflow:flow-location-pattern value="/WEB-INF/flows/*-flow.xml" /> </webflow:flow-registry> <webflow:flow-executor id="flowExecutor" flow-registry="flowRegistry"/> <webflow:flow-builder-services id="flowBuilderServices" view-factory-creator="mvcViewFactoryCreator"/> <bean id="mvcViewFactoryCreator" class="org.springframework.webflow.mvc.builder.MvcViewFactoryCreator"> <property name="viewResolvers" ref="viewResolver"/> </bean> <bean id="viewResolver" class="org.springframework.web.servlet.view.ResourceBundleViewResolver"> <property name="basename"> <value>views</value> </property> </bean>
Thanks in advanced,


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The Fort Wayne schools were among seven charter schools in the state that did not have their contracts renewed.
"Nonrenewals were based on schools' academic performance and failure to present additional information that demonstrated they could achieve academic standards," Ball State said in a news release Tuesday. The university's Office of Charter Schools supervises 42 charter schools in the state.
"We take our authorizer responsibility for ensuring academic quality very seriously," Bob Marra, executive director of Ball State's charter office, said in a statement announcing the status of 20 of the 42 schools. "While we prefer to see these schools succeed, we have determined that their current success or progress isn't sufficient for seven of our schools. It is our responsibility to not renew the school, which usually leads to closure. While I understand it may cause some short-term difficulty for families, it is a decision made in the long-term best interests of their students."
The decisions, affecting approximately half of Ball State's charter schools, were determined using a new accountability framework finalized by the charter office last summer. The framework, developed over the course of two years, was presented by the office to all Ball State authorized schools on June 27, 2012.
Every school had at least three substantial meetings with the charter schools office to review the data, according to Ball State.
"None of these schools should be surprised," said Marra in the statement on the schools' status. "We've advanced through methodical and iterative steps over the last two years to develop a framework that we believe will drive strong performance in our charter schools. And we've been transparently communicating with the schools about it since the summer."
Ball State said the renewal review process allows for the schools to request reconsideration of the university's decision. Schools must request reconsideration within 10 business days. For those making such a request, a hearing will be held with the Ball State University Charter Schools Hearing Panel. The panel would submit recommendation(s) to the president of the university in early March. The president's decision, based on the panel's recommendation, is final.
According to Indiana Department of Education records for the 2011-2012 school year, the three charter schools enrolled more than 1,500 students.
Imagine MASTer Academy, 2000 N. Wells St., had 758 students K-8.
Imagine Schools on Broadway, 2320 Broadway, had 443 students K-5.
Timothy L. Johnson Academy, 7908 S. Anthony Blvd., had 305 students K-8.
The Department of Education says two other charter schools are in Fort Wayne. The K-8 Thurgood Marshall Leadership Academy, 2310 Weisser Park Ave., is chartered by the Indiana Charter Schools Board. The grades 6-9 Smith Academy for Excellence, 6806 Embers Court, is chartered by Grace College. No enrollment data on these schools is available from the Department of Education website.
Previously, Ball State has terminated authorization for one school, Urban Brightest in Fort Wayne, in 2004.


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Topic: Mom Receiving Hospice Care
I wanted to give an update on my mom. She was in a hospice care center for 11 days and we brought her home this past Wednesday. We have a hospital bed set up for her and the nurses come in to care for her. This is just so hard to deal with. I can't believe we are at this point. I knew it was coming, but I guess you just can't believe it. Mom has a drain tube from her stomach which is draining everything she takes by mouth into a bag. She has not really eaten in 13 days now. She drinks and takes small bites of some food, but it all just goes straight into the bag. She is such a trooper and has been so graceful through this all. We have been so blessed to be able to talk and spend this time with her. We love her so much. She had a long night last night as it was her first night back at home. She didn't get much sleep and she slept almost all day today. Not sure if it is due to lack of sleep from the prior night or if she is entering a new phase. Any thoughts? Family is in town so that is nice. They are so helpful.
Thanks for listening.


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Last week, millions of people had their cards declined at grocery stores across the U.S., thanks to a computer glitch at JPMorgan Chase & Co. The twist? Those cards weren't debit cards or credit cards, they were government benefit cards.
These days, most government benefits from programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, commonly referred to as welfare, or the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, are loaded on to electronic benefit transfer, or EBT, cards rather than distributed as paper checks or coupons.
If you've ever seen someone use an EBT card or have used one yourself, you know that it looks almost identical to a debit card. Like debit cards, they're swiped at terminals. Users have to enter a PIN. Then, the transaction is processed electronically.
In a lot of states, that last part is handled by Chase, which is contracted by 24 state governments through a subsidiary called JPMorgan Electronic Financial Services to administer the EBT cards.
Unfortunately, a computer glitch at Chase on Friday morning spelled trouble for EBT card users in 10 states, including Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, South Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, Connecticut, West Virginia and Delaware. All told, that meant no access to benefits for about 7 million SNAP beneficiaries in those states.
Mike Feusco, a Chase spokesman, says technical teams began working on the problem as soon as they noticed something was amiss.
"We have technical teams monitoring our programs around the clock," Feusco says. "We caught it as soon as it occurred, and we worked very quickly to resolve it.
Still, it took six hours to resolve the problem, he says.
Feusco was quick to emphasize that the outage was isolated to JPMorgan's EBT systems.
"It did not affect debit, credit or any other cardholders," Feusco said.
Nevertheless, I think it's fair to say the incident underscores the fragility of today's high-tech systems of payment. Cash and checks may be clunky and inconvenient, but their ability to conduct transactions isn't contingent on the smooth functioning of massive networks run by far-off banks of servers.
I'm a big fan of electronic payments, but imagine if something similar to this incident happened to a major bank's payments systems that went down at a particularly bad time, say Black Friday, or suffered an extended outage, rendering debit cards and credit cards useless. Not good.
What do you think? Are today's payment systems too fragile?
Follow me on Twitter: @ClaesBell


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If you get a moment, a brief review of Padre would be handy too.
It might not be good enough to live a week using nothing but it yet, but a list of "Get Matts onto Padre" bugs would be a nice one to add to our list.
Couldn't get it working on OSX (mostly I think it was the GUI library - Wx). Spent about an hour on it and then gave up.
Komodo has a
There is an old strawberry installer linked from the the wiki. Is there a more recent one that installs it an all deps easily? (esp the GTK things are a bit tricky IIRC)


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Planning your recovery: First Steps
How-to guide for choosing the right rehab program
Why choose LifeWorks Rehab instead of home
Beaufont Health & Rehabilitation Center is dedicated to providing world-class rehabilitation services in an environment that's comfortable, convenient, and close to home. We make it easy to stay close to your family and friends while you're recovering, and our skilled team of nurses, therapists, and staff will make you feel right at home while you're here. We believe that giving the best care requires more than just treating patients…it requires knowing them as people. It's more than just caring for people–it's caring about them.
Beaufont Health & Rehabilitation Center strives to be an active part of the community we serve. We provide quarterly healthcare seminars that are open to the public and also participate in many local charities and activities, including the Salvation Army, the Virginia Food Bank's annual food drive, and the Virginia Blood Services annual blood drive. Additionally, we also participate in a monthly historical series to educate and share information regarding local history.
Beaufont Health & Rehabilitation Center's activities program Activities In Motion, another MFA exclusive quality of life program, is designed to motivate the patient's mind and body through dynamic groups. The expanded category of interactive, therapeutic activities focuses on energy and movement to renew and rejuvenate personal exercise, recreation, and imagination. These programs complement the patient's therapy goals, continue life-long interests, and cultivate good physical health and mental well-being. Additional program scheduling also includes Community In Place and Spiritual Wellness activities. Community In Place activities focus on socialization, intergenerational programming, and internal and external community involvement. Spiritual Wellness programming fosters spiritual values and religious preferences that contribute to healing and spiritual well-being. This distinctive combination of activities made available to all patients maximizes their potential to attain the best possible quality of life outcomes.
Watch our Activities In Motion overview video.
Beaufont Health & Rehabilitation Center is a certified LifeWorks Rehab® and Skilled Nursing Center. LifeWorks Rehab is our unique, clinically proven therapy program to help you recover from many of the most common surgeries, procedures, and illnesses. While you're here you'll have access to LifeWorks recovery tools that you won't find anywhere else, like our Bridge Builder program, the LifeWorks Recovery Map, and more. Best of all, our exclusive LifeWorks Rehab program means you'll get home faster than ever – healthy, strong, and independent. Additionally, we also offer a full range of skilled nursing services and facilities for long-term care patients.


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DETROIT: An American Autopsy, by Charlie LeDuff. Penguin Press, 2013, 286 pp., $27.95 (hardcover)
Charlie LeDuff's "Detroit: An American Autopsy" is a hard-eyed look at some of the recent villains and victims of a city battered for half a century by political corruption, racial strife and industrial collapse.
LeDuff is a former New York Times reporter who was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize for a series about race. After 20 years, he returned to his native town in 2008 and took a job with the Detroit News.
He has a stake in the story: Members of his family, which has Michigan roots dating to the early 18th century, still struggle to make a life in Detroit.
So he combines heart with an ear and eye for hard-nosed, hard-luck characters in real dramas. Some of the dialogue seems lifted right from Elmore Leonard.
The same talent for getting inside lives on the sidelines was showcased in LeDuff's "Work and Other Sins: Life in New York City and Thereabouts" (2004) and the blue-collar travelogue "US Guys: The True and Twisted Mind of the American Man" (2007). The latter's chapter on Detroit shadowed Mike Carlisle, one of the best homicide detectives in the nation's murder capital, who also proves useful in the new book.
Besides murder, Detroit claims downside superlatives for arson, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, foreclosures, segregation and mayoral scandal, LeDuff writes. About 250,000 people fled the city in the first decade of this century. "Empty lots are returning to prairie and woodland as the city depopulates."
Helping the city achieve top marks in the wrong places is a colorful cast, including Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his Byzantine tale of scandal and indictments, the smooth-skulled political operative Adolph Mongo, and City Councilwoman Monica Conyers, who failed the bar exam four times.
The story starts with a man frozen in ice at the bottom of an abandoned warehouse's elevator shaft. Only his shoes are sticking out. An observer's shocked reaction is: "I can't believe he's still got his shoes." The man turns out to be related to Otis Redding.
LeDuff digs into the dead man's life when he isn't bird-dogging city-contract shenanigans that leave the fire department for the nation's arson capital short of good equipment. A fireman's criminal death weaves through the book, culminating in a stirring trial scene.
The city's reputation for youths at risk earned it a mention in President Barack Obama's second inaugural address, along with Appalachia and Newtown, as places where children must be kept "safe from harm." Visiting the mother of a high school senior named Chaise killed in a mistaken drive-by, LeDuff sees the remains of another son, shot in the head at 14, in an urn on the mantel and the space already cleared for Chaise's urn.
" 'That's a hell of a pair of bookends,' " he says. The mother replies: " 'You know? I was thinking that.' "
His own family's story includes a streetwalking sister who died while riding with a john and whose daughter OD'd six weeks after LeDuff returned to Detroit.
LeDuff can be pugnacious, obnoxious and self-righteous, all useful qualities for journalism, but his "Detroit" lives well outside the conventional fourth estate (and unfortunately eschews notes or index). He calls it "a book of reportage" and "a memoir of a reporter returning home" in the same paragraph. Check him out on the dust jacket — the front cover, not the back flap — looming or mourning over the word "Detroit," looking like the day-job version of a weary Bruce Springsteen.
At the end, as LeDuff stands in neck-high grass in the abandoned lot where his sister died, a fawn startles him and seems to conjure the possibility of hope. The feeling dims somewhat with the book's closing portfolio of black-and-white Detroit images shot by photographer Danny Wilcox Frazier and as bleak as any of LeDuff's painfully drawn pictures.
For a slightly rosier view and more conventional journalism, try Mark Binelli's "Detroit City Is the Place to Be: The Afterlife of an American Metropolis." Published in November, it covers roughly the same years as LeDuff but looks at signs of improvement, from urban farming to vanguard artists to technology investment.


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Norwegian Pearl
4 out of 5 stars
Download the FREE app and meet your ship mates!
Read the best port reviews and tips for this cruise itinerary.
|Day 1
|New Orleans, Louisiana
|Day 2
|At Sea
|Day 3
|Cozumel, Mexico
|Day 4
|Coxen Hole, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras
|Day 5
|Belize City, Belize
|Day 6
|Costa Maya (Mahahual), Mexico
|Day 7
|At Sea
|Day 8
|New Orleans, Louisiana
A roll call is a space for members who are signed up for the same cruise (same ship & departure date) to connect.
Make friends BEFORE you sail, exchange tips on what to do onboard and in the ports and maybe even organize a shore excursion with your ship mates.


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DORAL, Fla. - The former chief of the Doral Police Department defended himself Wednesday, one day after he was fired.
Ricardo "Ricky" Gomez was fired Tuesday. He said the interim city manager cited a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into whether Gomez misused funds as the reason he was fired.
Gomez was later cleared of any wrongdoing.
"We have an ongoing lawsuit. We're suing people because they perjured themselves in that FDLE report, and for him to use that as the basis for my dismissal is wrong," said Gomez. "For him not to listen, give me any kind of due process is wrong."
Gomez is suing several city officials over that FDLE investigation. City of Doral officials had no comment about Gomez's news conference.
Gomez had been the police chief since the department started in 2008.
Copyright 2012 by Post Newsweek. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Banana Bread
Now that black Friday is upon us, some people are out fighting the crowds for a great deal. Personally, I've never been one for shopping on black Friday. I'd rather just lounge around and enjoy my food hangover and cold turkey sandwiches.
It's very common around our families to enjoy some foods that you can just graze on during black Friday. Banana bread, apple cake, monkey bread, or pumpkin bread are favorites of mine. Banana bread is such a classic that I feel like everyone has their own recipe. This one comes from Hubby's Nana. Hubby grew up loving it so he loves when I make it for him.
Like most breads, this banana bread freezes wonderfully. I like to make this recipe into mini-loafs or muffins so I can freeze some. And, when blueberries are in season, I like to throw in a cup or so of blueberries as well.
Banana Bread
1 c sugar
1/4 c shortening
1 egg
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 3/4 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
dash salt
Preheat oven to 350.
Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Cream shortening and sugar together. Add egg and beat. Add mashed bananas and mix together. Add dry ingredients and mix.
For bread: grease a loaf pan. Pour batter into pan and sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar. Bake for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
For muffins: line muffin tin with cupcake liners. Portion batter into muffin tin and bake for 20-25 min. Makes ~10 muffins.
Recipe from Hubby's Nana
5 Responses to "Banana Bread"
ı lıke banana bread
very goog !
Any special tips for freezing your bread & muffins? I really would like to stock up our freezer with some yummy things like that.
Hey Amanda – I usually wrap the bread/muffins individually with saran wrap. Then I put them into a large Ziplock bag and throw them into the freezer.
I'm with you on your Black Friday traditions. I do NOT like pushing, shoving, rude crowds but LOVE delish foods like this banana bread! Thanks for sharing!
This bread came out great. I substituted I Can't Believe It's Not Butter for the shortening and used whole wheat flour instead of regular. The bread came out moist and flavorful, with a perfect thick crust on the top. I'm keeping this as my go-to banana bread recipe.


text: John Matthews, founder and president of Gray Cat Enterprises Inc. Hurry, hurry, step right up! It is time to play the game called "G & A Budgeting." This is the game where heads are counted; budgets are sandbagged and perks are justified. It is an annual ritual that becomes a core tenet in the over


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DOG owners are being warned not to let their pets off the lead near livestock after 15 sheep were killed last week.
Officers from Hampshire Police's country watch team stress that all dogs must be kept under control on farmland to prevent attacks on livestock.
Six ewes and nine lambs were killed and at least another 20 sheep were injured in Friday's attack at Upper Farringdon, near Alton. A brown or brindle coloured boxer or mastiff was involved.
PC Michael Ames, from the force's countrywatch team said: "This incident should act as a stark reminder as to why there is legislation in place outlining that dog owners must keep their animal under close control.
"Even the most well- behaved dog can revert to instinct when near livestock potentially causing distress, injury and loss of life."
PC Ames warned that dog owners, or the person responsible for the dog at the time, could be charged under the Dogs Act 1953 and may be sued for compensation by the farmer.
"Landowners have the right, as a last resort, to shoot any dog worrying their livestock – so these owners are also putting their beloved pet at unnecessary risk," he added.


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Veterinarian Reviewed on June 20, 2012 by Paulina Nelega, RH
Posted in Uncategorized
Methylchloroisothiazolinone is considered to be a preservative that has amazing antibacterial and antifungal properties. It has been proven to be effective in destroying gram positive and gram negative bacteria types. It is also able to kill yeast and fungi.
Methylchloroisothiazolinone is found in many water based skin care products. This chemical is also used in the cosmetic industry as well. It may also be used in combination with other preservatives such as ethylparaben and benzalkonium chloride.
Although this chemical is used as a preservative, there have been many accounts of skin allergic reactions due to the use of methylchloroisothiazolinone.
History and Origin
Methylchloroisothiazolinone was first used in the cosmetics industry during the 1970's and afterwards it was used further as a preservative in a variety of products like glue, paints, fuels, soaps, chemical cleaners and detergents. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) has determined that methylchloroisothiazolinone is safe to use as an ingredient for cosmetics provided it adheres to certain concentrations and limitations. It is generally considered to be safe to use although it does contain certain types of qualifications.
Ancient Uses
The use of methylchloroisothiazolinone during ancient times was unheard of. Cosmetics were first used by tribes when hunting and in important tribal festivities. Skin care on the other hand, just involved using extracts of herbs and fruits; these were also used in treating minor skin care conditions as well.
Modern Uses
During modern times, methylchloroisothiazolinone was used mainly as a preservative in skin care products and hair care products. It is found in personal care products that were used as a rinse-off product. This chemical was later stabilized after other forms of preservatives were added.
Methylchloroisothiazolinone is also an active ingredient in shampoos, conditioners, hand soaps, hand wipes and industrial strength cleaners. The use of this chemical in cosmetics was reviewed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) saying that methylchloroisothiazolinone must be regulated and must be used under some qualifications. It was however found to be safe when used under special regulations.
Side Effects
Methylchloroisothiazolinone in high concentrations can cause chemical burns and can irritate the skin and nearby membranes. Because of this property, it was removed from many cosmetic and personal skin care products; only rinse off types of methylchloroisothiazolinone were allowed to be used.
It is highly suggested that products with methylchloroisothiazolinone must not be used by people with sensitive skin. Babies and very young children are contraindicated to use products with this chemical. Although is found to be safe under some qualifications by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR, women must still be keen in using cosmetics and skin care products that contain methylchloroisothiazolinone. If you must wear makeup which contains this chemical as a preservative, remove makeup as soon as you can. After removal, wash face thoroughly with a mild soap and warm water to remove every trace of makeup on your face. Never allow the day pass without removing all traces of makeup.
If you experience any skin irritation and burning sensation on your skin after using products with methylchloroisothiazolinone, discontinue product, rinse all traces of the product on your face and consult a medical professional immediately.
Our Expert
Paulina Nelega, RH, has been in private practice as a Clinical Herbalist for over 15 years. She has developed and taught courses in herbal medicine, and her articles on health have appeared in numerous publications. She is very passionate about the healing power of nature. Ask Dr. Jan


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IT WAS honours even as Corsham Town hosted local rivals Westbury United at the Southbank last night.
Neither Trevor Rawlings' Corsham, who had won five of their last six matches in the Toolstation League First Division, or Matt Bown's Westbury, who had won three on the trot going in to Wednesday evening's clash, could make the breakthrough as the spoils were shared.
Corsham go to Keynsham Town this weekend whilst Westbury are at home to Almondsbury UWE.
MORE FOOTBALL NEWS AND REACTION IN TODAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport AND @WTSport


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Unboxing Live 102: Wii U Deluxe Set
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Video Games, Videocasts
In this episode we open up the brand new Nintendo Wii U console. Nintendo is first out of the gate with next-generation home console hardware, and the Wii U with its GamePad is the star of the show. We open up the Wii U Deluxe Set, giving you a look at the black console that's inside, as well as the GamePad, NintendoLand, and all the other included accessories in this edition of Unboxing Live!
If you're interested, you can pick up a Wii U Basic Set or Deluxe Set from Best Buy.
Big thank you to GoToMeeting for sponsoring the show - be sure to check them out! GoToMeeting with HDFaces provides rich, super-simple collaborative virtual meetings.
© Gear Live Media, LLC. 2007 – User-posted content, unless source is quoted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain License. Gear Live graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, videos, articles, blogs, forums, scripts and other service names are the trademarks of Gear Live Inc.