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Matty talks back, let the rumors begin...
1) With the holidays fast approaching, can we look forward to any new product reveals on the Masters of the Universe Classics line or will we need to hold out until Toy Fair?
Evil Lyn will be shown in the next issue of Toy Fare magazine!
2) We recently noticed that Keldor and Count Marzo are both mentioned in King Randor's character bio. Does this mean that we can look forward to getting both of those figures next year?
I've read the speculation online and to put these rumors to rest, there is no connection to figures being mentioned on a bio and them appearing in the line. The bios are based on the figures and may mention other characters that are related to one another (friends, foes, etc…).
3) If the Masters of the Universe Classics line continues with its successful track record, would you consider adapting the Collect and Connect program to it in order to offer fans a chance to add larger and more originally sculpted characters to their collections?
I've looked into this, but really the Collect and Connect program is one that works for a retail line that is released in waves. Because MOTU Classics is an online toy line released one per month, it doesn't lend itself to a Collect and Connect program. I am interested in doing some of the larger creatures and characters, and they are more likely to be released as a single toy, not broken up into parts.
4) You have stated in the past that all MOTUC figures you produce will have the classic look incorporated into their design regardless if they are original or 200X characters. Would you still however, consider making Evolutions of MOTUC packs which would consist of the same character in their original and 200X look?
No, I have no plans to do any 200X styled version of figures in the Classics line. I will do 200X characters (like King Grayskull and Zodak) but they will all be in the Classics style.
5) The Masters of the Universe cartoon and toys was an unforgettable part of my childhood but so were the Thundercats. Is obtaining the master toy license for Thundercats a long-term goal for Mattel?
Sorry, but I can't discuss the possibilities of acquiring new properties.Be sure and visit SuperHeroTimes.com for even more Matty Q&A!
For a great selection of action figures and collectibles, check out BigBadToyStore.com, Urban-Collector.com, BriansToys.com, DollsAmerica.com, ClarkToys.com, ToyWiz.com, SmallJoes.com, VNCToys.com, PastGenerationToys.com, MonkeyDepot.com, RPMDiecast.com, HobbyLinkJapan.com, YesAnimation.com, and SuperheroToys.com.


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Long Beach icon
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About 3,000 said goodbye to the Long Beach boardwalk on Saturday morning. Demolition of the city's landmark followed; the project is expected to take about a month. Videojournalist: Jim Staubitser (Jan. 5, 2012)
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subset: commoncrawl


text: Sedalia Police Crime Reports: Afternoon of April 22, 2013 By Jack Miller April 22, 2013 The following Sedalia Police crime reports are from the afternoon of April 22, 2013. Read More Category: Crime, Crime Report, News, Sedalia News Tags: Aprill 22, Crime Reports, Sedalia Police Send to a friend! Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it! Reddit This! Share on Tumblr!


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VICTIMS of conman Christopher Baines will have to wait to see him return to the UK to face justice as he is set to stand trial in the USA.
The former manager of the Mr Woodz furniture shop in the Brunel Centre was sentenced to five years in prison on 30 counts of fraud in August 2013 during a four-day trial at Swindon Crown Court which went ahead in his absence.
Baines had fled the country in January 2012 while on police bail, and adopted the alias of Christopher George Bartholo-mew while taking up residencies in Canada, Florida, and finally Georgia.
After further allegations came to light Baines was apprehended by the sheriff's office of Madison County after they tracked him down to a hotel in San Antonio, Texas in November of last year.
Following discussions between police forces on both sides of the Atlantic, Baines will now face charges in Georgia after being extradited there from Texas.
In December the Morgan County Grand Jury returned an indictment for Christopher Baines, aka Christopher George Bartholomew, 48, from Madison, on one count of financial transaction card fraud, one count of theft by taking, and one count of influencing a witness.
According to indictments and arrest warrants, Baines, aka Bartholomew, conducted a fraudulent financial card transaction with a woman and, later allegedly threatened the woman with injury.
Baines will now face trial on April 22 at Morgan County Court having been remanded in custody until the trial date.
One of Baines' ex-girlfriends in America, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she hoped he would serve his sentence in the UK sooner rather than later.
"My fear has always been that he will get out again, and that fear is coming back now," she said.
"The great hope that I have is that he will someday return to England to face the justice system here. "They have gone to great trouble to get a conviction, and after going to such lengths they should want him to return to the country and serve that time.
"He has been behind bars for a long time awaiting trial after his indictment.
"I just hope the people of England want him brought back sooner rather than later to face up to what he has done."
Jody Johnson, one of Baines' customers at the Mr Woodz store, wants him returned to the country as soon as possible to finally have some closure.
"It is good to hear that he might be part of the way to coming back now," she said. "He needs to serve his time now. All those people here suffered the consequences of his actions. "I was heavily pregnant and was left with no way to furnish my house. My baby was due six weeks later and I had lost all my savings so I had to take out a credit card to furnish my new home.
"I would like him back here and serving his time so I can feel like the whole thing is finished. "He has been able to wander around the world getting away with it while those of us in Swindon have suffered."


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Small Banks, Big Payoffs
As we move into the final weekend of 2012, I will offer up my final idea for 2013. You will be shocked to know that it is not a lot different than my first idea for this year. The trade of the decade in small banks is still very much alive and many of these stocks are still cheap enough to buy. We saw some signs of the start of the long-awaited mergers-and-acquisitions (M&A) wave and it will accelerate over the next 12 months. A whole slew of new regulations, along with attendant compliance costs, are set to take effect in the next year, and small banks will find it easier to sell to larger institutions that try to comply.
I recently had a chance to talk with an old friend who has been around the banking business for decades. He is currently on the board of one small bank and owns stakes in several others. He said that he was getting tired of active involvement in banking. Small bankers have gone from respected pillars of the community to pariahs who caused the financial meltdown and foreclosed on friends and relatives. This attitude is pervasive among consumers and it makes for weary bankers. In addition, making solid earnings gains is going to be difficult, if not impossible, under the new regulations; therefore, many bankers are looking to sell and move on....584 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
There's no substitute for a trading floor to get great ideas, so Jim Cramer created a better one at Real Money and blogs there exclusively. We then added legendary hedge fund manager, Doug Kass, with his exclusive Daily Diary and best investing ideas. Staffed with more than 4 dozen investing pros, money managers, journalists and analysts, Real Money Pro gives you a flood of opinions, analysis and actionable trading advice found nowhere else, and allows you to interact directly with each expert.
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The eSVS® Mesh Randomized Post-Market Study
This study has been terminated.
Kips Bay Medical, Inc.
University of Schleswig-Holstein
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Kips Bay Medical, Inc.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: October 26, 2011
Last updated: February 27, 2014
Last verified: February 2014
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
No Study Results Posted on ClinicalTrials.gov for this Study
|Study Status:
|This study has been terminated.
|Study Completion Date:
|February 2013
|Primary Completion Date:
|February 2013 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)


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Dish Drying Mats & Gloveshttp://www.stonewallkitchen.com/dish-drying-mats-gloves-F5177.html
This Dish Drying Mat features super absorbent microfiber that absorbs up to 4 times its weight in water and radiates moisture from point of origin to keep countertops dry. Cushions delicate dishes and stemware and is reversible for optimal performance. In addition, this soft pad will protect your counter top from scratches and scruffs. Machine washable and extremely durable. Folds and stores easily. Comes in three color choices; cream, black and gray.
These nifty and handy Drying Gloves absorb up to five times their weight in water and are an easy way to quickly dry your dishes. Five finger design allows for better grip on dishes, pots and stemware when drying and prevents fingerprints and smudges. These gloves can be used for numerous chores around the house: remove warm dishes from the dishwasher, as an in-home cleaning tool, or to wipe damp patio furniture. Two gloves included. Measures 16" x 18".
Dish Drying Mat - Cream
Out of stock


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Chief Librarian of the Jedi Archives Now Available...
At the request of Star Wars fans, Jocasta Nu is making her very first appearance as a 3.75 figure! Jocasta Nu comes on a Vintage card, encased in a premium package designed to resemble the holocron vaults that she oversees as Chief Librarian of the Jedi Archives. Nu comes with the bust of Master Dooku, along with a mantle to hold the bust.
Brian's Toys would like to thank everyone for your patience with this exclusive. As expected, a high volume of pre-orders were received which made it difficult to process during the rush of the holiday season. Now that pre-order processing has completed as planned, Brian's Toys are happy to announce that Jocasta Nu is available as an in stock item!
Take home a part of history with this exclusive Jocasta Nu figure, available now at Brian's Toys!


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Mac Basics
- When:
- Location:
- Liberal Arts and Policy Building
- Room:
- 205
- http://www.ubalt.edu
- Description:
Making the switch from PC to Mac? No problem. Learn the basics of everything from the Mac operating system to Apple's unique mouse and keyboard to the system's file and folder structure.
required: basic knowledge of Windows environment; see PC Basics or email email@example.com for a hands-on introduction to Windows
- Contact Name:
- Achievement and Learning Center
- Contact Email:
- email@example.com
- Contact Phone:
- 410.837.5383
If you need accommodations to participate in this event, please contact the person listed above at least 10 days prior to the event.


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Danville Teachers Overwhelmingly Support Strike
A negotiating session Sunday is all that will keep Danville teachers and support staff from walking off the job.
Union President Robin Twidwell said a vote to strike got overwhelming support in a membership meeting Wednesday night, almost exactly the same numbers as when the Danville Education Association backed an intent-to-strike vote two weeks ago. A strike is set to start Monday, but Twidwell said there is a chance Sunday's negotiations can avert that.
"We still remain hopeful that we will be able to get this contract settled on Sunday and resume our normal duties on Monday," said Twidwell.
After the votes were cast by union members, the school board held a two-hour closed session meeting to discuss the ripple affect a strike could have on the school district. School board president Bill Dobbles said a strike would essentially shut down schools in the area, bringing a halt to extracurricular activities and most sporting events.
"The only exception is that I think there's some like middle school state tournaments going on," he said. "If a tournament started before the strike, then those teams can continue to play."
Dobbles also said health insurance covered through the district would for now remain intact, but he said depending how long a strike lasts, that could eventually fall into the hands of union members.
The school board will continue discussing its response to a possible strike on Friday afternoon. Dobbles said he remains hopeful that the two sides can reach common ground by Sunday's negotiating session at 2pm with a federal mediator. This will be the fourth meeting in which the two sides have sought mediation.
District 118 Superintendent Mark Denman said progress was made in a 4-hour session Tuesday night, but Twidwell said she would characterize it as 'having dialogue' on some issues.
The union is asking for salary increases, ways to balance the larger class sizes caused by last spring's staff reductions, and improved retirement incentives.


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If you're looking for a unique bed and breakfast, California coast accommodations are ideal. Our guest rooms offer a unique boutique hotel experience with Victorian decor, private baths with whirlpool tubs, luxurious linens, in-room televisions, DVD players, telephones, access to DVD movie library, decks and wireless high speed internet access.
We offer a complimentary breakfast from an extensive selection of breakfast items including: Eggs Benedict, blueberry pancakes, buttermilk pancakes, Belgian waffle, cheddar cheese omelet, French toast, sausage, Canadian bacon, orange juice, coffee and tea.


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Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam Reviews
Cleansing FoamI bought the 3-step acne solutions kit from Clinique and this was the step 1 cleansing foam that was barely two fl oz. Since it was such a tiny bottle, it barely lasted a week since I shared it with my boyfriend who has more acne than I do. For me this product helped prevent acne, for my boyfriend it helped clear up a bit of his existing acne. Personally, I didn't like the foam texture, and felt t...read morehat two or three pumps empties the bottle fairly quickly. Also the smell is not the best, it isn't overwhelming but it isn't a nice fragrance either. Thus, I wouldn't recommend buying this product by itself without considering either trying the acne solutions kit or the other two products that's a part of the kit. All three products work well together to help prevent and treat acne. — 5 years, 10 months agoMissXu | 102 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 4 of 7 people said helpful
Good but a little spendy.I like this product, it's just a little expensive for me. I don't care to pay much for a cleanser since it's only on your face for a minute or two and then you wash it off. I prefer some drugstore brands like Neutrogena's oil free cleanser (the standard yellow orange one), which work just as well but cost a lot less. This product did work pretty well, and I like the packaging. I have very oily sk...read morein and severe acne and this product helped some, but mostly kept my skin at a tolerable level of acne and did not get rid of my acne. Also, I used this cleanser as part of the three part Clinique acne line (cleansing foam, toner and 2 .5% benzoyl peroxide). I really liked all of them together, however, they were a little spendy for me and I ended up looking for drugstore stuff to replace it. — 8 years, 5 months agoLipglossandSpandex | 521 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 4 of 5 people said helpful
Just okI tried this a few years ago and while I did use it until it was gone, I wasn't terribly impressed with it. I have not and will not buy it again. It does have a strange smell, but that wouldn't have bothered me if I felt like the results were worth it. They weren't. It seemed to clean my skin well enough, but I don't think it did much in the way of preventing breakouts. Though, unlike some other C...read morelinique products I've tried, it also didn't CAUSE any new breakouts. I have since switched to a different cleanser that isn't even specifically meant to prevent acne and yet it does a much better job of doing just that. — 5 years, 5 months agotallredamanda | 433 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 2 of 2 people said helpful
Love it!!I have been using Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam together with Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion and Acne Solutions Clearing Moisturizer Oil Free. These are my 3-step Clinique products since I started having adult acnes. I was skeptical first, they work for me. For 3 days I use different products, my pimples came back. This is a great product to prevent acne. Reasonable size and reasonable price! — 9 years, 3 months agoluckybetty | 895 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 4 of 5 people said helpful
Good CleanserThis cleanser does work to treat acne but thats all it really does. The one thing I didn't like about this is when I washed it off it still didn't feel like all the soap was washing off. I even spent 5 minutes cleansing and it still didn't fell like it all washed off. Another thing I didn't like is that my skin felt tight after using this. Overall this did work and did get rid of my acne but my...read more skin still didn't look nice because all the acne treatments in this cleanser and the rest of the Acne Solutions line made my skin look dull & dry. — 6 years, 10 months agoCliniqueLover | 297 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 1 of 2 people said helpful
Nice & Clean!For those of you out there looking for something to control your acne & sine, this cleansing foam is perfect! I was a faithful user of the Proactiv 3 step system, however it became hard to find and ordering online became a hassle and expensive. Clinique came up with the perfect 3 step system that superseed's Proactiv. Not only is it easy to find, Macy's, Lord & Taylor and online (shippi...read moreng is generally free and quick) you also get more product from Clinique for a few dollars less then Proactiv. Now how can you turn away from all of that! **Keep in mind this won't remove makeup** — 8 years agoSwoldierGirl72 | 342 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 11 of 11 people said helpful
It Works!!Helps clear skin, with less drying than a lot of other brands. I have been using the 3 step acne system for about a month now and my skin is looking so much healthier. I have had no new breakouts. — 9 years, 9 months ago
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 0 of 2 people said helpful
CleanGreat cleansing foam. Easy to use and makes my face feel very clean. I have been using the 3 step acne system for about a month now and my skin is looking so much healthier. No new breakouts!! — 9 years, 10 months ago
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 1 of 2 people said helpful
Okay Cleanser, Not Clean SkinWhen I turned 12, my face began to break out. I started out trying drugstore brands, which I will write reviews for later, but when they didn't help me I turned to more expensive brands. I was using Clinique Redness Solutions Foundation at the time, I was really loving it! I had also bought other Clinique products, I liked them. When I was shopping at the beatuy counters in Macys, with some friend...read mores, I notcied Clinique had an Acne Solutions line. I immediatly looked up reviews on my phone(I won't buy any beauty product without reviews), most of them seemed good! So I bought it, it was a little pricy, $50 for the entire kit. I used it for 3 months, and saw very little results. My skin might've cleared just a little bit! But barely, and even though I used a regular moisturizer, instead of the clearing one that came in the kit, my skin was still very dry. Plus, on top of that, my skin NEVER felt "clean" which is something I look for in every product. Overall, a waste of $50. Major let down Clinique :( — 6 years, 2 months agolanigaga | 113 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 2 of 2 people said helpful
Absolute turnaround for my HORRIBLE acne!I cannot rant and rave enough about the entire Clinique brand right now you guys. My acne recently became sooo terrible that my previous skincare routine (including Proactiv and some St. Ives products) just made everything worse. My acne went from the occasional cyst and two or three pustules to extreme rash-like networks of pimples that were huge painful lumps, unpoppable. It turned my entire fac...read moree red and swollen and I thought I was having an allergic reaction but never found the cause. My grandmother decided to buy me the three step Acne Solutions kit and I've been using it for a few weeks and already, my skin is almost completely cured. After the first few days, I saw so much improvement I was FLOORED. The three step system includes the foamung cleanser, clarifying lotion (a toner, more like), and a healing lotion that all contain wonderful ingredients like extracts and salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, but NO FRAGRANCES OR PARABENS OR ANY BAD SUBSTANCES! I would recommend this to ANYONE with acne. I've seen it turn my horrible nodules and cysts into smooth, clear skin practically overnight (it took mine about a week to become noticeably clear to other people). It is a bit pricier than drugstore acne products, but you definitely get whatyou pay for. I'd say if your skin isn't too bad in the first place, you may not want to use this because it IS pretty drying...people with already dry skin may need a different moisturizer than the acne solutions, like the dramatically different moisturizer (also amazing). Overall, GREAT product, definite miracle for my skin, and I will definitely be using this for awhile. Note: the products may actually cause you to break out at first, that is just the products lifting everything out of your pores. I noticed after about four days I broke out some more but they were small pustules, nothing bad at all and easily popped. It has started to go away now that most of the clogged pores have become completely clean. Sometimes you don't realize how bad your skin is until everything is being lifted out! My point is, don't take it back if it breaks you out at first, unless it is just a horrific rash or something that may be an allergic reaction. — 4 years agomelissa_nicole | 19 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 10 of 10 people said helpful
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My Reasons for Reporting This


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Safe4Athletes Survey Results
Safe4Athletes Survey Results
Safe4Athletes developed an online survey to indentify current and former athletes and to learn about the type of harassment that may have been experienced over the course of their career. The survey allows for both the athlete and a parent of athlete to respond.
Aims: To determine if there were any trends across sport, gender and competition level, that identify abuse levels for emotional, verbal, physical and sexual abuse.
Methods: The survey was distributed in phases; the first phase was directed towards personal contacts, via Facebook ( friends and large number of Olympians from around the world), and private communication with contacts that have come to Safe4athletes with experience of abuse in some form in sports. The second phase included a more public distribution with websites like Huffington Post, Momsteam, (a focused parent/athlete audience) and the Safe4athletes website.
Results: 155 participants – 103 Athletes – 52 Athlete/Parent; Athletes 91 Female and 12 Male.
Speedskating Coach Is Accused of Abuse
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Five Olympic medalists and other current and former members of the U.S. speedskating team filed complaints accusing head coach Jae Su Chun of "unchecked" verbal, physical and psychological abuse.
Nineteen athletes filed a wide-ranging grievance against U.S. Speedskating and 14 signed a complaint with the U.S. Olympic Committee. The Chicago Tribune and Salt Lake Tribune reported on the accusations.
Attorney Edward Williams, who represents the skaters, said the abuse was "outrageous."
The code of conduct complaint accuses Chun of slamming an athlete against a wall and repeatedly hitting him, throwing bottles and chairs at skaters, and repeatedly telling female skaters they were "fat" and "disgusting."
Safe4Athletes Appeal for Change
by Katherine Starr
Unlike athletes and students in schools and colleges who are protected by Title IX's sexual harassment and abuse provisions, athletes in open amateur sports are currently unprotected from coach or sport leader misconduct except by criminal law. While the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has promulgated recommended policies, it does not require its national sport governing bodies (NGBs) nor the local organizations and coaches who are members of these championship conducting entities, to have such protections in place. Thus, children and adult participants in non-school youth sports programs nationwide are vulnerable to pedophiles and unethical coaches who use parent and athlete respect for their positions to manipulate their athletes to engage in inappropriate relationships and sexual exploitation.
Going Outside Title IX to Keep Coach-Athlete Relationships in Bounds
Coach-athlete "romances" are the dirty little secrets of sport. No one wants to talk about them. Now and then, a high profile scandal rips through the headlines—as when University of North Carolina's legendary soccer coach, Anson Dorrance, was accused of sexually harassing his players.
1 On these infrequent occasions, the glare of the media spotlight forces a brief period of introspection about the proper boundaries of the coach-athlete relationship. Even then, it is mostly the extreme allegations that garner attention—conduct clearly identifiable as sexual harassment, especially if it involves a sexual assault. In the case of Coach Dorrance, the complained-of behaviors were verbal and did not involve physical advances; 2 the notoriety of the case stemmed from the coach's fame and track record and its addition to a small handful of reported court decisions involving coach-athlete sexual harassment in intercollegiate sports.3 Absent headline-grabbing scandals, however, coach-athlete relationships are rarely examined for their impact on womens sports and athlete well-being. This is largely because they do not come within the ambit of Title IX, which sets the agenda for conversations about gender equity in sport.
Athlete/Parent Short Cuts Lead to Athlete Suffering in the Long Run
Training to be an elite athlete requires discipline and focus beyond what any of us can imagine if we haven't had such experience ourselves. Parents must bring that same discipline and focus to child/athlete protection and be committed to ensuring a safe and positive environment sports environment.
Taking short cuts is intentionally skipping a responsibility in the hope that no one will notice or someone else will do it. An athlete knows that skipping a work-out or eliminating ten more repetitions at practice is the difference between winning and losing. When the well being of our children is at stake, short-cuts simply cannot be acceptable.
Taking short cuts in practice is often frowned upon by teammates. If team members have to do an entire workout to the best of their ability, then every team member commits to achieving this goal. The pressure around teams to be individually accountable is so strong it's at the heart of the sport and the basis of the sport work ethic. As long this pressure on each other stays within safe and positive and doesn't extend it's self into bullying (more on that issue at www.safe4athletes.org), the result is impressive. Similarly, parents need to pressure each other to be concerned about issues of athlete welfare.


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Knicks give NY reason to smile
NEW YORK: The New York Knicks gave the city's residents something to cheer about with a surprisingly comfortable 104-84 win over NBA champions Miami in their storm-delayed season opener on Friday.
In the first sporting event in New York since Superstorm Sandy, the Knicks dominated a game the Heat players weren't sure should even be played with the city still so devastated. But the Knicks hoped they could provide a distraction for a few hours, Carmelo Anthony leading the way with 30 points and 10 rebounds.
LeBron James scored 23 points for the Heat. While the Knicks pleased their fans, the Los Angeles Lakers disappointed theirs as they slipped to their first 0-3 start to the season since 1978 with a 105-95 loss to co-tenants Los Angeles Clippers.
Even 40 points from Kobe Bryant was not enough get the Lakers – who also lost all eight of their pre-season games – a first win of the season.
Chris Paul had 18 points and 15 assists for the Clippers.
Charlotte edged Indiana 90-89, a good result for a Bobcats franchise that lost their final 23 games last season to finish 7-59, the worst winning percentage (.106) in NBA history.
Kemba Walker scored a career-high 30 points for Charlotte, which hung on in a tight finish, with the two teams scoring only two points between them in the final three and a half minutes.
The Houston Rockets had a 109-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks, thanks chiefly to new signing James Harden, who scored a career-high 45 points. Harden, arriving from Oklahoma City, has topped 30 points in both his appearances for his new team.
Another new Rocket, Jeremy Lin, had 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Oklahoma City beat Portland 106-92, Russell Westbrook scoring 32 points while Kevin Durant had 23 points and 17 rebounds for the Thunder.
Chicago crushed Cleveland 115-86 and Milwaukee beat Boston 99-88, while New Orleans needed a driving layup by Greivis Vasquez with 1.3 seconds left to secure an 88-86 win over Utah.
The hosts snuck home despite rookie centre Anthony Davis - the No.1 overall pick in the draft - leaving the game for good after being hit to the temple by a stray elbow late in the first half.
Orlando cruised to a 102-89 win over Denver, Minnesota beat Sacramento 92-80, Memphis ruined Golden State's home opener with a 104-94 victory, while Phoenix overcame Detroit 92-89.
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Fairfax County's Wastewater Treatment Plant Wins Award for 10 Consecutive Years of Pollution Control
Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director of Public Affairs
703-324-3187, TTY 711, Fax 703-324-2010
Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
June 5, 2008
Fairfax County's Wastewater Treatment Plant Wins Award for 10 Consecutive Years of Pollution Control
Fairfax County's wastewater treatment plant has won an award for meeting federal pollution control standards 100 percent of the time for 10 years in a row.
The Noman M. Cole Jr. Pollution Control Plant recently received a Platinum Peak Performance Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. This distinction was only given to 64 of the approximately 16,500 municipal water treatment plants across the nation.
The plant removes up to 99 to 99.5 percent of pollutants from 67 million gallons of wastewater treated daily. Federal rules strictly control more than 100 substances that are contained in wastewater. The plant's achievement has protected the water quality of the county's streams and watersheds, as well as the Chesapeake Bay.
To comply with federal regulations, the plant uses a series of physical, mechanical, biological and chemical treatment processes. Before being discharged into Pohick Creek, pollutants; nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen; bacteria; and particulate matter are removed from wastewater.
Municipal, industrial and other facilities must obtain federal permits if their wastewater discharges go directly into surface waters. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Program controls water pollution by regulating point sources. These sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes, discharging treated wastewater effluent into streams and rivers. Since its introduction in 1972, this permit program is responsible for significant improvements to the nation's water quality.
The Noman M. Cole Jr. Plant, located at 9399 Richmond Highway, Lorton, is the largest advanced wastewater treatment plant in the state. Nearly half of the 100 million gallons per day of wastewater generated in the county is currently treated at the plant. It is operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and was designed to treat 67 million gallons per day.
The county's Wastewater Management Program maintains approximately 3,200 miles of sanitary sewer lines, 51 sewage flow meters, 61 pumping stations and 293 sewage grinder pumps in an approved sewer service area that covers nearly 234 square miles. More than 85 percent of the 325,000 households and virtually all businesses in the county are connected to public sewers. New developments or existing homes with septic tanks in the county's approved sanitary sewer service area can connect to public sewers.
The National Association of Clean Water Agencies represents nearly 300 of the nation's public wastewater utilities, which provide service to the majority of the nation. Wastewater treatment officials are professional environmental practitioners dedicated to protecting and improving the nation's public health and its water. Collectively, they treat and reclaim more than 18 billion gallons of wastewater every day.
For more information, contact the Fairfax County Wastewater Treatment Division at 703-550-9740 ext. 255, TTY 711.


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Steven Zopfi, one of the leading young conductors in the Pacific Northwest, joins the Puget Sound faculty in Fall 2008 as Director of Choral Activities and the conductor of the Adelphian Concert Choir. A native of New Jersey, Zopfi has a Bachelor degree in music education from the Hartt School of Music, a Master of Music degree in conducting from the University of California, Irvine, and Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting from the University of Colorado. He taught in the public schools in Vermont and New York, where he also served as Vermont State President of the American Choral Directors Association and an executive board member of the Vermont Music Educators Association. Since coming to the Pacific Northwest in 2001 he has continued to remain active in professional organizations, currently serving as Chair of Collegiate Activities for the Northwest Chapter of the American Choral Director's Association. He is in constant demand as a conductor, adjudicator, and clinician.
Zopfi has prepared choruses for Carlos Kalmar, Bernard Labadie, Alastair Willis, Murray Sidlin, and Peter Schickele. As a singer, he has sung for many leading conductors including Robert Shaw and Sir David Wilcocks. He has performed with the Prague Philharmonic, the Colorado Symphony, and the New Jersey Symphony and is the founder and past Artistic Director of the Foundling Hospital Singers, the Boulder Schola Cantorum, the Grace Chamber Orchestra, and The Portland Sinfonietta. He also currently serves as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Portland Symphonic Choir, the official chorus of the Oregon Symphony Orchestra. Critics have hailed his work as "magical" and "superb" and choirs under his direction have been invited to sing at the local and regional conventions of the American Choral Director's Association, the Music Educator's National Conference, and other professional organizations. Zopfi was recently invited to conduct the Oregon Symphony in performances of Mozart's Moss in C Minor, Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms, and music by Beethoven, Bach, and Wagner.
Zopfi's scholarly interests include late twentieth-century American motet composition and the instrumentation of the basso continuo of early seventeenth-century vocal music. Active as an editor of early music, Zopfi is also a passionate advocate for new music, and he has commissioned and conducted the world premieres of music by Edwin Lawrence, Timothy Melbinger, Bryan Johanson, and Judith Zaimont. His music reviews and articles have been published in The Choral Journal and his arrangements and editions are published by Colla Voce publishing.


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'Cody McCormick continued to contribute in a variety of ways for the Sabres. He dropped the gloves for a fight with Troy Brodie midway through the first period, then scored Buffalo's second goal of the game at 11:49 of the second period to break a 1-1 tie. The goal not only gives him three points (2-1-3) in the last two games, it also gives him a new career-high for points in a season with 13 (6-7-13). In addition, he drew a cross-checking penalty from Carolina's Joni Pitkanen that led to Drew Stafford's game-winning power play goal in the third period. McCormick finished with 15:18 of ice time, which was 3rd among all Sabres forwards, and was credited with three shots, two hits and had a +1 rating.'
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A NEW book recounting the discovery of one of the finest mosaics in Hampshire has been published.
The flooring was found at a Roman villa at West Wood, Sparsholt near Winchester in Victorian times and then excavated between 1965-72 in a dig led by the late David E Johnston.
The Sparsholt villa has been described by Professor Martin Biddle as "one the first villa sites to be extensively excavated in modern times with attention given, as far as was possible, to all its components.
"As such David's Sparsholt gives us an important glimpse into the rural background og neighbouring Venta Belgarum (Winchester) only six kilometres away."
The mosaic is now one of the most popular displays in the Winchester City Museum.
The final report on the excavations has now been published by the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society.
Written by David E Johnston, and completed after his death by Jonathan Dicks, it covers a small Iron Age settlement, and the multiple-phase multiple-buildings of the villa between its establishment in the mid-second century and eventual abandonment in the first half of the fourth century.
This is supported by specialist reports on building materials, mosaics, pottery, coins, and finds.
It is fully illustrated throughout with photographs, drawings and analytical tables.
The 212-page book is available for £25 plus £4 post and packing (cheques payable to Hampshire Field Club) from: The Publication Sales Officer, Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society, c/o 22 Clifton Road, Winchester SO22 5BP.
People who dug at Sparsholt are eligible for a discount, if they contact Dr Ian Sims, saying when they dug; email email@example.com or 8 The Wayback, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 2AX, United Kingdom.
The Hampshire Field Club & Archaeological Society (HFC) is the county-wide organisation for research into and the study of Hampshire's past.
Today it works through its four sections, Archaeology, Historic Buildings, Landscape and Local History. Each section is responsible for setting up visits, lectures and day conferences.
The Hampshire Field Club wishes to acknowledge the financial support of English Heritage, Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council in producing this monograph.


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A federal judge signed an April 15 order, agreeing to a California Farm Bureau request to dismiss its part of the lawsuit contesting the Highway 101 bypass around Willits against CalTrans and the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Farm bureau officials were not available to comment on the ruling.
"This doesn't change our strategy going forward," says Gary Hughes of the Environmental Protection Information Center, one of the original plaintiffs in the suit.
"We were happy to have [the California Farm Bureau] intervene [in the lawsuit]," says Ellen Drell of Willits Environmental Center. "In this case, our interests intersected when it came to protection of agricultural lands.
"Even though the project takes 500 acres out of agricultural use, CalTrans considered this to be of no significance to farm land."
The final order closing out the bureau's participation in the case said, "In accordance with the terms of a settlement reached by the California Farm Bureau and defendants" CalTrans and the Corps of Engineers, the bureau asked to dismiss its claims on April 12.
Details of the settlement terms have not been disclosed, but spokespersons at both CalTrans and the Farm Bureau have indicated press releases are forthcoming.
The Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, Willits Environmental Center and Environmental Protection Information Center filed the original Willits bypass lawsuit against CalTrans and the Corps in May 2012.
The Farm Bureau joined the suit in August 2012. Its main interest, as stated in court documents, involved the substantial project impacts on agricultural resources, which came after the project's environmental impact statement was approved.
The original environmental impact statement claimed only 150 acres of farmland in Little Lake Valley would be affected by the project. "Six years later, the total acreage of farmland affected by this project has grown to more than 2,000 acres, and there has been no meaningful environmental review of the cumulative effects of such a large-scale conversion of agricultural lands," the Farm Bureau's early motion noted.
CalTrans and the Bureau advised the judge they were near a settlement April 4 and requested a one-week delay in some court filing deadlines to allow the parties to reach a settlement. The judge allowed the delay on April 8. By April 12, all parties to the suit were notified CalTrans and the Bureau had negotiated a separate settlement that was finalized by the judge on April 15.


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ANNAPOLIS, MD - Considering the Ohio Machine is an expansion franchise that did not play on the opening weekend of Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the Chesapeake Bayhawks coaching staff will have a difficult time devising a game-plan for Saturday night's home opener at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
"Obviously we don't know a whole lot about them. We know some of the individual parts, but we have no idea how they will operate as a whole unit," Chesapeake head coach
Dave Cottle said of the Machine.
Cottle isn't all that concerned because this early in the season the main goal is to make sure the Bayhawks are coming together as a team. Chesapeake went on the road and beat Long Island, 13-11, in Saturday's season opener, but Cottle said there is much improvement to be made.
"Right now, our complete focus is on trying to improve ourselves. We need to get better from week to week if we want to be a factor in this league," he said.
Chesapeake must get better at the face-off stripe after winning just 6 of 25 draws on Saturday. Cottle said Long Island's
Greg Gurenlian is one of the league's best and is not ready to give up on
Adam Rand just yet.
"I thought Adam battled from beginning to end against Gurenlian, who is going to give a lot of people trouble this season," Cottle said. "That being said, we are going to have competition in practice this week and see what happens. The big question is whether we dress one or two faceoff guys."
Cottle also believes the Bayhawks can handle the ball better than they did against the Lizards when they committed turnovers. "I didn't think our stick-work was all that great. We were a little sloppy at times. Our players have a higher expectation in that area," he said.
Third-year midfielder and Bud Light MVP
Ben Hunt totaled five points while rookie goalie
T.C. DiBartolo made 15 saves in his pro debut to lead Chesapeake against Long Island. The Bayhawks were short-handed as four key veterans are still playing indoor professional lacrosse while other players were unavailable due to injury.
"I think for the first time out, on the road against a tough Long Island squad with a rookie goalie and without some big guns, it was a good first step for the Bayhawks," Cottle said. "I think this team has a huge upside. We haven't even scratched surface of how good we can be."
Two of Chesapeake's National Lacrosse League players, projected starting attackman
Drew Westervelt and primary short stick defensive midfielder
Jeff Reynolds, have a playoff game Friday night. If the Philadelphia Wings lose, Reynolds and Westervelt could potentially play for the Bayhawks on Saturday, Cottle said
Short stick defensive midfielder
Brian Clayton got injured against Long Island and won't play this weekend. If Reynolds doesn't replace Clayton, former Delaware midfielders
Kevin Kaminski and
John Austin are candidates to do so. Austin, whom the Bayhawks drafted 61
st overall this past January, just completed his senior season for the Blue Hens.
Ohio, under the direction of head coach
Ted Garber, has proven MLL veterans such as attackman
Chazz Woodson, face-off specialist
Anthony Kelly, long stick defensive midfielder
Kyle Hartzell, and close defenseman
Greg Bice.
Andrew "Buggs" Combs, one of the finest attackmen in Bayhawks and MLL history, came out of retirement to join the Machine and "has been unbelievable, like the offensive quarterback," according to Garber.
"The first game for any team is always interesting and this should be particularly so since it's the first game in franchise history," said Garber, a former collegiate head coach with extensive experience in the MLL. "I want to see how the players handle a real game, how they react once it's lights, camera, action."
G&G Outfitters will serve as title sponsor of Saturday night's game (7:00 pm) and will give glow in the dark maracas to the first 1,000 fans. The Bayhawks will also debut the Lexus VIP Tailgate party (5:00 pm - 6:30 pm) with complimentary Bud Light for all season ticket holders and sponsors. Lexus will also provide a VIP parking area for anyone driving a Lexus vehicle that night.
The Severn Savings Bank Kids' Zone will feature a 30x60 Fiddlestick Field and a rock climbing wall provided by Big Vanilla Athletic Club. There will be a corn hole tournament and live music by the rock band Mad Planet. Fans should stay in their seats after the game for a fabulous fireworks display.
Having turned the head coach reins over to Cottle, Chesapeake owner
Brendan Kelly personally oversaw improvements to the tailgate party and pregame festivities. "My first two years I focused on putting a quality product on the field. Now I can turn my attention to making the fan experience the best it can be. The Bayhawks want to be the team and Major League Lacrosse wants to be the sport that caters to families, and our fans are going to find the Lexus Tailgate Party to be very family friendly."
Bayhawks tickets can be purchased online at
www.thebayhawks.comor over the phone by calling the box office 866-99-HAWKS (42957). Reserve your seat today and see the Bayhawks battle at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium this summer.
For the Bayhawks full schedule go to


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'"He's made it very interesting," Larry Carriere, assistant to Sabres general manager Darcy Regier, said while scouting Rochester's preseason finale, a 3-3 tie Saturday night with the Hamilton Bulldogs at Webster Community Sports Arena. "We all saw him in junior and then when he was in the NHL, and now there's a newness in seeing him again. He was good last night and he's good tonight."'
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In the case of a fire, every second counts. Keeping your family safe is imperative and ensuring that there is proper planning and protection beforehand will save lives. Review our customized fire protection for every room in your home.
Most of the fires that injure people happen in our homes. Keeping your family and home safe from the world's dangers is a never ending job. At The Home Depot, we take your families safety seriously with a complete set of innovative fire protection products. Feeling safe in your home is critical, and you want to be certain in the fact that any fire safety equipment you have purchased is reliable and secure. From alarms, to extinguishers and more - keep your home protected at all times with The Home Depot's wide range of fire safety equipment. We are behind you every step of the way in keeping your family safe, including guides which offer fire safety tips, equipment basics for your home, types of fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and more. Also, browse our page where we offer a full line of fire prevention products, all designed to keep your family safe and secure. There are a few simple precautions that can be taken to create a safe home. Be sure to keep all of these tools at your disposal, including escape ladders, batteries, flashlights, carbon monoxide alarms and other fire prevention products Early fire detection is vital to the safety of your home; we offer many products and solutions for any home or business. While no building is completely fireproof, the fire safety products at The Home Depot are sold with your family in mind. Whether you are looking for protection, detection, monitoring or more - we'll help you stock up on the products you need to keep your home and family away from danger.


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CLPPB staff manages a program to insure that construction activities involving lead are performed in a manner to eliminate existing lead hazards, and to avoid creating new lead poisoning hazards for children and other occupants, as well as the workers themselves. The primary activities include:
Most of your lead training and certification questions are answered in the links below. If you have any further questions, you can contact the program:
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Puig sidelined for second game by thumb injury
LOS ANGELES -- Yasiel Puig was not in the Dodgers lineup for the second game in a row Tuesday night because of a left thumb injury, but manager Don Mattingly said the outfielder "is still kind of day to day" and might be available in some capacity against the Tigers at Dodger Stadium.
Mattingly said Puig, who also missed Sunday's game against San Francisco, was going to be fitted with a splint so he could do baseball activities.
"He's going to hit inside, and he can throw," the manager said.
Carl Crawford started in left field, Matt Kemp in center and Andre Ethier in right.
Mattingly said he was not sure how Puig could be used, if at all, in the opener of the two-game series. Puig was available to pinch-run Sunday but did not enter the game.
Earl Bloom is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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We generally like to think that having our name in print is a good thing. However, this is not always the case, especially if it is on the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service Web site. If you have not heard of the "red list," you are a minority.
The government regularly extends invitations to packing plants, retailers and the general public to take a look at the Web site. I suspect their motivation is to create a sense of accountability — in part, perhaps, because other tactics have not worked in our industry.
Dubious distinction
I did say "our industry" because the beef industry has embraced the principles of beef quality assurance and has made very impressive improvements in the numbers of violative residues found each year. When reviewing the "red list," take note that the vast majority of these violators are dairies.
In addition, based on the National Market Cow and Bull Beef Quality Audit Executive Summary in 2007, 94 percent of all cattle had no evidence of injection-site blemishes, but 11 percent of dairy cows did have visible injection-site blemishes. These are two separate issues, but both are based on a common theme of quality assurance.
As a stakeholder in this issue, this information frustrates me. Hopefully you, as a dairy professional, feel the same way. We need to hold each other accountable to move beyond these long-lived issues.
Avoiding residues is a simple process, yet our systems are quite complex. Fortunately, the wheel does not need to be re-created.
Follow the plan
We have good resources to help guide us along to developing a bullet-proof, farm-specific plan. Remember:
Beef is beef, regardless of its breed origin. Stop ignoring the fact that dairy producers are not only milk producers, but also beef producers. The Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program was created in the late 1970s and continues to be funded through the beef checkoff. Nearly each state has its own BQA state coordinator. These folks would be more than happy to send you supplies to help you develop or fine-tune your existing program.
The Milk and Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Program has developed a protocol manual specifically targeted for dairies. The intent of this manual is for the herd veterinarian and the dairy to review each critical control point for residue avoidance and to discuss and implement changes to the program. Once this is complete, the veterinarian completes an audit form, and upon successful ratings the dairy will be designated as a "DQA Five Star" facility.
Make prevention a priority
Take the time to review or develop a quality and residue-prevention protocol for your dairy. We can expect that new tests will continue to be developed to look for residues in meat and milk as long as the number of injection-site blemishes and other "poor-quality" indicators at product end-point remain unchanged from year to year.
Use available resources to help you and look for gaps in your program. Let's make this the year that we put residues and quality issues behind us!
Angela M. Daniels is a veterinarian with Circle H Headquarters LLC, a dairy and swine veterinary practice, food safety laboratory and DHIA milk-testing and contract research organization in Dalhart, Texas.


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The whole body of journeymen tailors is divided into two classes, denominated Flints and Dungs: the former work by the day and receive all equal wages; the latter work generally by the piece [1824].
Dung beetle attested by 1630s. In colloquial American English, tumble-bug. An Old English word for it was tordwifel "turd weevil."


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How Director Peter Jackson Shrank The Hobbit's Actors
Platform: PS3
Games should create a sense of wonder. In The Unfinished Swan, you start out being the one who creates the wonder. The story, in which a boy pursues a swan that has escaped from a painting, begins by having you fling black paint blobs to reveal the game world. You decide how much you want to reveal or leave hidden. Later, you hurl water blobs that cause vines to grow. The best moments in this relatively short game are when you stop to look around. The immersion comes from being in control of how much you see, even during a few traditional platforming sections.
Platform: PS3
In Journey, you play as an unnamed character who looks likes like an extra from the movie Lawrence of Arabia. The flowing robes snap in the wind, and the stark desert sand undulating around you becomes a character in the game.
Part of the enjoyment of Journey is simply figuring out what it is; not all of the gameplay elements are obvious. Do you need to collect ribbons or touch them? There are no clear goals, and at times you might decide to explore for fun. There's even a hint of Ico, the critically acclaimed exploration game for the PS2 released back in 2001. As in that game you have an AI sidekick who sojourns with you.
The 10 Greatest Men Behind the Masks


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Birth & Midwifery in Hungary
Resources for parents and practitioners
Connect with many more midwives and birth enthusiasts from around the world by joining IAM, the International Alliance of Midwives!
Some of the following sites may not be in English; an online translator may be useful.
Birth Situation Room Report
Midwifery Today Country Contact*
*To learn what a Country Contact is or to reach any Midwifery Today Country Contact, click here.
Andrea Noll, Nóra Schimcsig and Gabriella Nagy
Andrea Noll is a board member and international contact coordinator for the Hungarian Association of Midwives, www.midwives.hu. She is also Midwifery Today's country contact for Hungary. Andrea is currently in the process of translating Anne Frye's Holistic Midwifery into Hungarian. She is founding co-editor of Bábák, szülésznok, the Hungarian Association's midwifery magazine. She's currently studying at the Maternidad La Luz midwifery school in El Paso, Texas. On her graduation and return to Hungary (planned for March 2005), she will be the first modern-age midwife of her country with out-of-hospital training.
Nóra Schimcsig is a doula, HBCE, activist and mom. She speaks English, German fluently besides Hungarian.
- Hungarian Association of Midwives www.midwives.hu
- Web site of Andrea Noll www.nandu.hu
- Alternatal Foundation advocates undisturbed birth, specializing in homebirth. www.birth.hu
- Hungarian Nursing Association www.apolasiegyesulet.hu
Update on Birth in Hungary
Between 1990 and 2011 existing homebirth practices were alegal. The recent homebirth regulations were introduced in April 2011 and posed a big challenge to midwives to qualify for the necessary licences to attend homebirths. The first licensed midwifery service provider was finally set up in March 2012. Of course many more practicing midwives would need to receive licences if their services are to cover most of the country.
Meanwhile the issue of criminalization—a heritage from those 20 years when homebirth was unregulated—remains a real and constant threat. The internationally famous case of Dr. Ágnes Geréb (pictured) is a scandalous example of how the judiciary system in Hungary has been unable to follow modern developments in midwifery services. In particular the fact nowadays it is professional boards of midwives who investigate midwifery led birth incidents and not police and criminal prosecution services.
In December, 2010 the European Court of Human Rights passed a judgment in favor of a Hungarian mother declaring that women have their right to choose the place of birth and that it is a safe and private environment for the mother and child.
On May 31 – June 1, in The Hague there will be an international conference based on this decision since it is now an important precedent case for many countries just as the outcome of the Dr. Geréb case will be a major precedent case for the Central and East European region and possibly beyond on this highly contentious issue of the criminalization of midwives.
— Gabriella Nagy
Hungarian Civil Liberties Union Press Release: Victory in Strasbourg for the cause of home birth! (Ternovsky Judgment) (opens a PDF)


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Graduation Diploma Note Card - Tall, 2 per sheet
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This review is from AVERY Graduation Diploma Note Card - Tall, 2 per sheet:
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text: As of this afternoon, Peck officially joined the ranks of Admin here on Pacers Digest. We're all thrilled to have him aboard, and I think he'll prove to be a great asset, another useful set of eyes (especially with his wacky sleep schedule ), and another good advisor. It's a thrill to have him aboard, and I look forward to working with him.


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Welcome to Experts at Laurier, a one-stop media resource featuring a broad database of experts who have agreed to make themselves available for media interviews. Contact them directly or call a media relations officer at 519-884-0710, ext. 3067 or 3070.
To search for a topic containing multiple words, please enclose the term in quotation marks, for example, "Canadian history"
Search Results
Your search returned the following Experts.
Click on the person's name for more information.
Associate Professor, Kinesiology & Physical Education
Areas of Expertise: Visual control of locomotion; Collision avoidance; Visual perception; Life span motor development; Concussions;
Biography: Research Interests My research interests lie in understanding how the brain processes information and executes skilled behaviours in every day situations. My research has generally focused on perceptual and cognitive factors of locomotion. …
519.884.0710 ext.4217


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Get an overview of this hotelLuxury central London hotel near Piccadilly Circus
Popular property highlights
Near Piccadilly Circus
Set in the heart of London, this heritage hotel is surrounded by famous attractions such as Her Majesty's Theatre, Admiralty Arch, and Trafalgar Square. Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben are nearby.
Fitness center and spa
Sofitel London St. James features the award-winning Balcon restaurant. The Sofitel concept gym and spa, So FIT by Sofitel and So SPA by Sofitel, provide plenty of workout space and a 3-floor retreat respectively.
MP3 docking stations
Guestrooms incorporate French and British style with lacquered mahogany furniture and thick carpets. LCD interactive televisions, complimentary Wi-Fi connections, and iPod docking stations are provided.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!Opens in a new window
Sofitel London St James
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Located in the St. James district in central London, this former bank-turned-hotel features a blend of modern French and traditional British design. The heritage grade II listed property includes the luxurious So SPA by Sofitel and expansive So FIT by Sofitel gym. The spa is located on 3 floors and provides rejuvenating treatments while the gym includes a variety of modern fitness equipment. Function and meeting facilities include 12 suites able to accommodate up to 300 guests.
Guests enjoy complimentary wireless Internet access in public areas. Sofitel London St James is a smoke-free property (fines may apply for violations).
- Steam room
- Restaurant
- Bar/lounge
- Business center
- Porter/bellhop
- 24-hour front desk
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Multilingual staff
- Total number of rooms - 183
- Number of floors - 6
- Elevator/lift
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Coffee shop or café
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Concierge services
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Express check-in
- Express check-out
- 24-hour fitness facilities
- Full-service spa
- Wired Internet access - surcharge
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Turkish bath/Hammam
- Laundry facilities
- Library
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Spa treatment room(s)
- Meeting rooms 12
- Valet parking (surcharge)
- Luggage storage
- Number of meeting rooms - 10
- Smoke-free property
- Spa services on site
- Use of nearby fitness center (discount)
- Wedding services
- Free WiFi
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Free Wi-Fi
- Laundry facilities
- In-room childcare (surcharge)
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi , Wired high-speed internet ( GBP 15 per day )
Valet parking (surcharge)
Room Amenities
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Free newspaper
- Air conditioning
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Phone
- Minibar
- Pay movies
- Daily housekeeping
- Turndown service
- Bathrobes
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Slippers
- In-room childcare (surcharge)
- Desk
- In-room safe (laptop compatible)
- Iron/ironing board
- Free bottled water
- In-room massage available
- Designer toiletries
- Room service (24 hours)
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- iPod docking station
- Cable TV service
- Free WiFi
- Egyptian-cotton sheets
- Pillow menu
Where to Eat
The Balcon - A classic French brasserie with tall ceilings and 15-foot-high arched windows, featuring a contemporary decor with upholstered furniture. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Rose Lounge - Feminine-style lounge, situated beneath a '50s-style chandelier. Afternoon tea is served with French flair every day and a library with books on French and English culture are housed here.
St James Bar - Featuring black leather chairs, a large fireplace, mahogany parquet floors, and dark-blue carpeting, this bar recreates the atmosphere of a gentleman's club, serving vintage Champagnes and a variety of cocktails.
Private dining - Private dining offered in dining room on the lobby floor. This pleasant space offers event catering and intimate dining.
Room service is available 24 hours a day.
Nearby Things to Do
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or near the hotel; fees may apply.
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
Spa Services
Located on three floors, the So SPA by Sofitel offers rejuvenating massages, facial treatments, and manicures.
- Manicures and pedicures
- Body wraps
- Body scrubs
- Aromatherapy treatments
- Hydrotherapy treatments
- Ayurvedic treatments
- Massages
- Body treatments
- Facial treatments
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- Roll-in shower
- In-room accessibility
Hotel Policies
Minimum check-in age is 18
Check-in time ends at midnight
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Kids stay free! Up to 2 children 11 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available for GBP 60 per night.
- Pets allowed for an extra charge of GBP 50 per pet, per night
- Dogs only
- Up to 22 lb
- Restrictions apply
- For more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
- Resort fee
Optional extras
- Fee for continental breakfast: GBP 25 per person (approximately)
- Fee for wired Internet in public areas: GBP 15 per day (rates may vary)
- Valet parking fee: GBP 50 per day
- Pet fee: GBP 50 per pet, per night
- Rollaway bed fee: GBP 60 per night
Hotel Name
- Sofitel James
- Sofitel London
- Sofitel London James
- Sofitel London St
- Sofitel London St James
- Sofitel St
- Sofitel St James
- Sofitel St James Hotel
- Sofitel St James Hotel London
- St James Sofitel London
- Accor St James London
- Sofitel London St James England
- Sofitel St James London Hotel London
- Sofitel London St James Hotel
- London Sofitel St James
We should mention
A resort fee is included in the total price displayed. Up to 2 children 11 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation. Guests can arrange to bring pets by contacting the property directly, using the contact information on the booking confirmation (surcharges apply and can be found in the Fees section).
National Rating
This establishment has received its official star rating from VisitEngland, the National Tourist Board for England.


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Energy Price Outlook
A mid-morning attack by Israel of a Hamas leader yesterday sent the oil market higher, but unless the tensions escalate in the near-term, we would anticipate prices to continue moving lower. The next key support below $84.05 is offered near the $80.00/bbl level. A major source of pressure will be the adjustment in growth expectations following the election and the upcoming fiscal cliff. A continuation of slow growth and possible brinksmanship on the cliff should cause risk to be re-priced and investors to liquidate holdings with capital gains and/or dividends. Fundamental pressure will come from continued elevated levels of oil production and inventories, Tuesday's reduction in global oil demand by the IEA, and relatively steady oil rig count numbers. Support will be offered by improved Chinese oil imports released over the weekend and by reduced shipping rates in the Keystone Pipeline. Yesterday's API numbers were slightly positive relative to expectations for today's DOEs. We would trade the oil market as a negative affair in the near-term.
WTI finished 94c/bbl higher yesterday while Brent closed up $1.35/bbl. News broke about an hour after the NY pit session opened that Israel attacked a car carrying a militant leader in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Force said that Israel is ready to escalate the attack into a ground operation in Gaza if needed, and Hamas said that the strike has "opened the gates of hell." One of the bullish arguments for oil markets in the near-term will depend on whether yesterday's attack leads to a more widespread conflict or not. While that could create some support initially, we think it may be limited, as there isn't much oil produced in the area and it's unlikely that other oil producers will take sides or create an embargo.
Motiva's 255,000 b/d Convent Louisiana refinery experienced a power outage yesterday and could have potentially weighed on Brent, however, the Israeli/Hamas issue ended up boosting the spread overall. Hess's refinery in Port Reading New Jersey announced it was restarting, which may also have boosted the Brent market.
The de-risking that's taken place since the election has forced the Dow 5.1% lower and is likely to pressure energy markets. Last week, there appeared to be somber reflection by both political parties and expectations that both sides would cave on the fiscal cliff issue to reach an agreement. That hasn't been the case so far this week, however, as discussions about going over the cliff have taken place. The president met with union leaders on Tuesday and business leaders yesterday, but did not invite any bankers. He also is reported to want $1.6T in new tax revenues over 10 years, which is double the figure that Speaker Boehner agreed to in the summer 2010. At a press conference yesterday, he did not appear to extend an olive branch to republicans, saying twice that the American people knew what they were going to get when they reelected him. He discussed higher taxes yesterday but not spending cuts, and seemed to suggest that in exchange for tax increases, he would only commit to discussing entitlement reform. The Dow fell 185 points yesterday partly on the Hamas attack, but also on the potential brinksmanship in Washington. Oil should follow eventually. Investors will likely continue to book capital gains before year-end and/or sell dividend stocks to avoid higher tax rates. A reduction in the incentive to invest will signal that the economy will slow.
Natural Gas
December futures settled 2.1 cents higher yesterday due to cooler weather forecasts. Cooler weather though is still confined mostly to the southeastern part of the country, as NOAA maps show above-normal temps engulfing all areas outside of the southeast. Technicals may have played a role once again, as traders who didn't buy Tuesday's advance back above the 50-day MA attempted to do so yesterday. Now that the market is closer to the top end of the range rather than the bottom, however, the impetus to buy should diminish unless today's inventory number shows a sharper-than-expected decline. Consensus inventory forecasts have been revised down in the last few days, going from -8 bcf on Monday to -13 bcf on Tuesday, and to -24 bcf as of yesterday afternoon. The EOXLive estimate is -19 bcf. It's difficult to anticipate much more strength occurring in the market given the currently above-normal temperature forecasts. Rallies near $3.90 in NGZ2 may become an attractive selling point.
Global Economic & Dollar News
» Japanese PM Noda set snap elections for the lower house for Dec 16th. Potential successor Shinzo Abe called for unlimited printing of money in order to achieve new inflation targets.
» The IMF may give way to the EU's demand on Greece, according to the WSJ. The demand is for the 120% GDP target to be delayed to 2022 from 2020, and would allow the release of the next tranche.
» Eurozone Industrial Production was -2.5% m/m in Sep vs. -2.0% expected and +0.9% previously.
» U.S. PPI was -0.2% m/m in Oct vs. +0.2% expected. The decline was made due to a seasonal adjustment to vehicle prices where quality adjustments are made in October. Vehicle prices fell 1.6%.
» U.S. Retail Sales were -0.3% m/m in Oct vs. -0.2% expected.
» Treasury's Geithner insisted late Tuesday that tax rates will need to increase and said that simply capping deductions will not be sufficient to increase revenue.
» President Obama may demand $1.6T in new tax revenues, which is nearly double the $800B that was agreed to in the 2011 negotiations with Speaker Boehner. Reports suggest that he committed to union leaders on Tuesday to hold firm on this demand.
Energy News
» A Militant Leader in Gaza was killed by an Israeli air strike yesterday. Hamas responded by saying that the airstrike has "opened the gates of hell." The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) responded by saying that the death was a crime that requires international action. The FJP is an arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Israeli Defense Force said that Israel is ready to escalate the attack into a ground operation into Gaza if needed.
» Motiva's Convent Louisiana Refinery shut down yesterday after a power outage affected operating units. The refinery's capacity is 255,000 b/d.
» Hess's Port Reading NJ Refinery began restarting yesterday after being damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Production at the 70,000 b/d facility should resume by the end of the week.
» Pres Obama said that he will discuss climate change more in coming months and years, and plans to hold talks with scientists. He added that a carbon tax lacks political consensus.
Upcoming Energy Events
Thu - Natural Gas Inventories (10:30am EST)
Thu - EIA Weekly Oil Inventories (11:00am EST)
Tue - Eurogroup meeting on Greece
Tue - Bernanke Speaks
Tue - API Inventories (4:30pm EST)
Dec 12th - OPEC Meeting
Dec 12th - FOMC Meeting and Press Conference
EIA Inventory Preview
Crude oil stocks are anticipated to drop 0.5 MB this week compared to a 1.3 MB decline in the five-year average. The biggest factor in this week's numbers will be refinery utilization, in our view, as it was the most significant in last week's inventory increase. Seven refineries were shut or went to reduced rates in that week due to Hurricane Sandy and five returned to full processing rates last week. The return of refining should reduce inventories as more oil is processed. Imports were surprisingly higher last week and grew the most on the east coast despite the storm. It's difficult to assess the import situation this week when the closure of ports in NY led to increased imports while the reopening of the Keystone pipeline in the Midwest led to a decrease in PADD 2. Gasoline inventories benefited from Sandy in last week's report by gaining 2.9 MB. The east coast fell 1.2 MB while the Gulf Coast saw the largest increase of 4.6 MB, likely due to the shutdown of the Colonial pipeline. The restart of that pipeline along with the inability of refiners to deliver gasoline to end-users could lead to another build this week of 0.8 MB. Distillate inventories could grow as well and we're looking for a build of 0.5 MB.
Natural gas inventories are anticipated to fall 19 bcf this week, compared to a five-year average build of 17 bcf. The predicted draw would end the injection season two weeks early. Such a reduction in inventories may not appear to be in-line with the above-normal temperatures that were forecast by NOAA during the last two weeks, however, stronger demand for heating likely took place in the eastern population-weighted consumption areas where cooler temperatures were observed. A 19 bcf draw would put inventories at 3,910 bcf, and would make last week's reading of 3,929 bcf a record high for the year. That would be only 77 bcf above last year's record, and end the injection season with a much smaller surplus than was feared earlier this year. It could become a bullish catalyst later this week.
*The API convergence figures are the amounts that EIA data need to change in order to match the previous day's API figures
Grains Commentary
Published Wednesday morning, 11/14/12
The overnight markets are starting to show signs of life again, but considering the bean market is down nearly 10% since the first of the month things are just trying to get its footing again before it starts to run. As of 8CST the bean market is trading +15-17, meal has gained $4-5, bean oil is up 60-70 points, corn has increased by 1-2 and wheat is also only up 1-2.
The bean market is realizing that even though the supply side of the balance sheets have increased by over 300m bushels in the past 60 days this morning this morning the NOPA crush increased by over 33 m bushels from a month ago and was 6m bushels above the expectations, coming in at 153.3. The exports remain stout as China announced a purchase of 120.0mt this AM after early rumors this week of them cancelling. The bean oil market also had an announcement of 40.0mt sold to unknown.
The markets have been beaten up since the first of the month and have blazed to levels that no one thought would be reached, at the same time the funds now have a massive short in the bean oil and nearly all the soy markets are heavily oversold. These various features may not last long but definitely could create a quick short covering rally that could move extremely fast.
The basis levels remains stout as well with beans trading over +101 and corn is +78 both levels are extremely high for this time of year.
The OI in corn fell by 8431, wheat was up 585, beans fell by 722, meal was down 3260 and oil fell by 5913.
The outside markets are creeping higher with equities trading higher, crude oil is up .11, natural gas is up .05, RBOB is up 4.80, gold is up $6, $index is weaker, cotton is up .13, DCE is higher in all markets, Matif is higher in all markets and MDEX is up 102 ringgits. The option markets are starting to show signs of life again, future volumes are increasing in nearly every arena yesterday being led by energy markets and future spreads trading one of the biggest volume days in months. Will this flow over to grains? At this point buying puts with hedges seems like the best value, especially in the bean complex, the SN at 19% seems like the best value considering that SN-SX still has a decent inverse. The CN vs. CZ could also be looked at. The BO remains higher than beans but with such a violent break over the past 5 weeks and the funds now having a near record short looking for various calls or call spreads for protection could be worth having on, such as the BOH 50-55 1`x2 for a debit of 50-60 points.


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NEW players are welcome to join in pre-season training with Tewkesbury Town Football Club's first team.
It starts on Saturday, July 5, at Gould Playing Fields, Northway, meeting at 1.30pm for 2pm.
The sessions will be on every Wednesday and Saturday from then on for the Cheltenham Association League club.


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Square Swing Collection by Sonneman Lighting
Enjoy the swing feature of the Square Swing Collection by Sonneman, where you can adjust where the light shines to better light the room. Each lamp includes an off-white shade for style. Choose a Europa bronze, polished chrome, or satin nickel finish. The collection features floor, table, and sconce lamp choices.


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People usually go to a pet store and find a bird they like. Here are a couple things you should consider before purchasing. Yes, a lot of research is required. Research these to make sure you will be happy with your pet for a long time. Size is a big factor. Do not get a huge bird if you live in an apartment. Behaviors can be associated with species. What they need to eat can be specific and there is a lot of maintenance. Finally, it comes down to if you have the money and time to take care and enjoy your bird. For example, a cockatiel can get 1-2ft big at adult. They make grinding sounds with their beak when they are happy. You can feed them bird seed from the stores, vegetables, and even pasta (cooked)! Clean cage and nutrition is typical maintenance. Costs range $25-$100 and then you have to buy the cage. Spend time taking it out everyday and interacting with it, that will keep you and your bird happy! Now, do that for whatever type of bird you want and go become a happy pet owner!
1 thought on "Picking Your Pet Bird"
The parrot species do require lots of time and effort but they are worth it. IF you don't have the time, a Canary or finch will still give you some satisfaction. Just remember you do have to do more than look at birds that are pets.
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Sports Vest Tops are an Idakoos specialtiy! Idakoos has many things to offer. Whether you want to get a Sports Singlet for a special occasion, give a Sports Custom Tank Top as a present or need to represent with a funny Sports Vest Top during Holidays or Family and Friends get-togethers, Idakoos is sure to have the right Sports Singlet for you! Even if it turns out you can't find the right Sports Vest Top with the perfect design for your mother, father or children (or friends!); Idakoos offers all of its men's women's and children's Sports Vest Tops as Custom Sports Tank Tops. Personalize any Sports Custom Tank Top the way you want to ensure the perfect gift.
Showing 1 - 24 of 329829 Tank Top


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New Year's Holiday Schedules for Fairfax County
Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director of Public Affairs
703-324-3187, TTY 711, Fax 703-324-2010
Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
Dec. 21, 2007
New Year's Holiday Schedules for Fairfax County
Listed below are schedules for Fairfax County Government offices and services for the New Year's holiday, Jan. 1. Unless otherwise noted, regular schedules are in effect.
County Government – Closed Jan. 1
Courts – Closed Dec. 31 and Jan. 1
Public Schools and School Offices – Closed Jan. 1
Libraries – Closing at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31; closed Jan. 1
Fairfax Connector – Regular service on Dec. 31; Sunday service on Jan. 1; VRE EZ Bus not in service Jan. 1.
FASTRAN – Not in service on Jan. 1
Park Authority RECenters – Closing at 4 p.m. on Dec. 31; open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan. 1; George Washington RECenter will be closed both days.*
Community, Teen and Senior Centers – Closing at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31; Closed Jan. 1 **See schedule below for Reston Community Center.
County Trash Collection – Regular Schedule***
Recycling and Disposal Facilities at I-66 and I-95 – Closing at 2
p.m. on Dec. 31;
closed Jan. 1
* Dec. 31 all nature centers will be open from noon to 5 p.m.; historic sites will be open from 11 a.m. to 4. p.m.; Frying Pan Park will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Country Store and Visitors Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Green Springs Garden will be open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the historic site will be closed on Jan. 1. The nature centers, historic sites, Frying Pan Park and Green Spring Gardens will be closed on Jan. 1.
** Reston Community Center: Hunters Woods will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lake Anne will be closed.
*** For more information about county trash and recycling collection for the holidays, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/trash/coll_holiday.htm. Call private contractors about their schedules.
For more news and information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news.


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Headphone Happiness
Dave Bar worked for Crutchfield from 1981 until his retirement in 2016. After a 23-year stint in the sales department, he joined the home A/V writing staff. Dave's expertise and good humor will be sorely missed.
More from Dave Bar
Heads up!Welcome to this article from the Crutchfield archives. Have fun reading it, but be aware that the information may be outdated and links may be broken.
|Bose® MIE2i mobile headset worn by Rachel, Crutchfield web production specialist
What kind of headphone listener are you? Do you take your favorite music with you to work? Do you enjoy your tunes while you're at the gym, doing housework, or traveling? Or, are you a late-night movie buff or audiophile? With the right kind of headphones to match your lifestyle, you'll not only hear better sound, you'll also have more fun listening. To see if we could find ways to make their listening more enjoyable, we gave each of four Crutchfield staffers a different type of headphones to see how it fit their needs.
A headphone for all occasions
Experience high-quality Bose® sound and convenience with your iPhone® and iPad®
Rachel, one of our website production specialists, recently auditioned the Bose MIE2i mobile headset. Here's what she had to say: "The Bose MIE2i is the headphone for multi-taskers. I have it on while I'm working, and when I'm home doing stuff around the house. I use it with Pandora® Internet radio on my iPhone®, and then switch it over to my iPad® to watch Netflix® videos while I'm doing the dishes. The sound is fantastic!"
Bose® MIE2i mobile headset
An inline microphone/remote lets you take calls on your iPhone and control other select Apple® products while enjoying rich Bose sound.
|Monster iSport Immersion worn by CJ, Crutchfield phone sales advisor
If you listen on the run
Immerse yourself in crisp, powerful sound
Crutchfield product advisor CJ took the waterproof Monster® iSport Immersion headphones with him to the gym for a major workout session. Here's what he says: "One of the things that makes these headphones stand out to me is the fact that I don't have to waste any time trying to clean or sanitize them. I can literally throw them in the washing machine with my gym shorts and they are good to go! Plus, they do a really great job blocking out background noise."
Monster iSport Immersion
Machine-washable sports headphones with a customizable fit for a secure and comfortable listening experience.
|Sennheiser RS 220 wireless headphones worn by Ken, Crutchfield A/V copywriter and video producer
Cut the cord, not the sound quality
Wireless has never sounded so good
Ken, in our Creative department, took home the Sennheiser RS 220 wireless headphones for a test drive and was mighty impressed. Here are a few things he had to say: "I've used some pretty good wireless headphones before, but these are clearly the best I've heard. I loved the clear, uncompressed sound I got when I plugged them into the digital output of my Blu-ray player. And even when hooked up to an analog source, the underlying quality of the drivers and digital wireless technology delivered impressive results."
Sennheiser RS 220 wireless headphones
Advanced Sennheiser engineering gives these wireless headphones the detailed sound and dynamics to please even demanding listeners.
|Sennheiser HD 650 stereo headphones worn by Woody, Crutchfield A/V copywriter
When sound really matters
Headphones that convey the emotion of your music
Music enthusiast Woody from Crutchfield's Creative department got a chance to enjoy the sound of one of Sennheiser's best headphones played through a NuForce HDP headphone amp. Woody says: "I tried out the HD 650 'phones because of their reputation. I wasn't disappointed. They handled acoustic, rock, jazz and classical like a fine European touring sedan handles mountain curves. Equal parts thunder and satin, these even-voiced marvels deliver with controlled power. And I thought they sounded wonderful through the NuForce HDP — clean as a whistle with lossless audio files."
Sennheiser HD 650 stereo headphones
Experience precise, high-definition sound that will transport you right into the studio with your favorite recording artists.
NuForce HDP headphone amp/DAC
Make your best headphones sound even better. Give them the power they deserve.


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O's open series vs. Yanks with walk-off win in 10
Hundley's RBI single plates winning run; Gonzalez strong over eight
BALTIMORE -- Perhaps it is meant to be this way. The Orioles have become masters at extra innings as of late, picking up their fourth consecutive bonus-baseball win Friday night as they continue to pad their cushion in the American League East.
And they're perhaps evoking feelings similar to 2012 in the process. The team that gave the city its first taste of postseason baseball since 1997 thrived on the pressure of late-night -- and sometimes early-morning -- wins in just about every conceivable way in extra innings. The 2014 squad, 10 games over .500 for the first time this season, is looking more and more comfortable in that role.
On Friday, No. 9 batter Nick Hundley drove a ball into left-center field off Yankees reliever Adam Warren to score Manny Machado and give the O's a 3-2, walk-off win in 10 innings in front of the sixth sellout crowd this season. The series-opening victor improves the Orioles to 9-3 in in extra innings.
"If we were that good, we'd do it before extra innings," manager Buck Showalter said of of his club's success past the ninth. "But sometimes the other team is good, too. [Hiroki] Kuroda was really good and, of course, [Dellin] Betances is having one of the best years of any reliever in baseball. So you've got to match that type of pitching in order to have a chance, and we've been able to do that in extra-inning games."
The Orioles, who are 5-2 against their divisional rivals in New York this season, have outscored opponents 45-26 from the ninth inning on. Their 10th-inning magic got started with Machado's double into the right-field corner and, after Ryan Flaherty struck out, Hundley dug in.
"I want to be in the box in those situations," said Hundley, who has an eight-game hitting streak and has batted .375 over that stretch after a slow start with Baltimore. "I feel like I thrive in those situations. I welcome them. And fortunately, I was able to get the job done tonight."
And reward the faith of Showalter, who opted to not use a pinch-hitter with one out and the winning run on second.
"I think everybody feels really good for Nick, because he's a consummate team [player]," Showalter said. "I think he feels real good about being here, and fortunate to be in a race to be competitive. He's a pretty sincere guy. He's a football coach's son, and he approaches it that way."
Hundley, who gave the Orioles their first hit off Kuroda in the third inning, worked well with starter Miguel Gonzalez, who turned in a fantastic eight-inning effort for the second consecutive outing.
Gonzalez allowed a pair of early solo homers -- including one from longtime Baltimore infielder Brian Roberts -- but settled down after that. He retired 10 consecutive batters after Ichiro Suzuki's one-out double in the fourth inning before hitting Kelly Johnson in the back. Gonzalez got Brett Gardner to pop up in foul territory on his 101st pitch of the night, in the seventh, and had a 1-2-3, five-pitch eighth inning to end his night.
"Early on, it didn't look like it was going to be an eight-inning outing," Showalter said of Gonzalez. "He got ambushed a couple times with some first-pitch fastballs, but he was really good after that. He got stronger as the game went on. He was trying to pull a [Chris] Tillman hide from me [in the dugout] after the eighth inning, but I was able to get him.
"He was good. His split is a pitch that's been there for him when he's been effective, and tonight was a good example. When they've got that many left-handed hitters in the lineup, you have to have something like that to get them off you a little bit."
Gonzalez, who again tied a career high in innings, struck out five and didn't issue a walk, with closer Zach Britton working around a leadoff ninth-inning single after that.
"He was throwing his fastball in and out, he was getting ahead of guys, using his split," Yankees captain Derek Jeter said of Gonzalez. "He kept us off-balance, pretty much all night."
Down two runs, the Orioles used a pair of wild pitches from Kuroda to help tie it up in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Steve Pearce was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Adam Jones hit a potential double-play ball to Jeter scored as a single. Pearce came around to score on a wild pitch, with Jones advancing to third as Kuroda threw another pitch sailing wide of catcher Brian McCann. Chris Davis hit a deep sacrifice fly to score Jones.
Jones had two of the team's three hits off Kuroda, who exited the no-decision after seven innings. Despite two hit batsmen and three wild pitches, Kuroda did not issue a walk and held Baltimore to two runs for the third consecutive time, with Betances blanking them over the next two frames before the O's won out.
"I think it really speaks to the depth of our bullpen, the quality of our bullpen," Hundley said of the Orioles' extra-innings play this season. "T.J. McFarland comes in, does a great job going through the beginning of their order, a tough part, 1-2-3. And then with the offense that we have and the staunch bullpen, it kind of lends itself to be successful, either late in the game or extra innings. That combination."
Brittany Ghiroli is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, Britt's Bird Watch, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter @britt_ghiroli. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text: Three new study groups aim to facilitate the sharing of knowledge, skill sets, tools and peer-group support. Study Groups, a division of Finance & Resource Management Consultants Inc. (FRMC), and Employee Performance Strategies Inc., have joined forces to provide operations personnel with their own unique Study Groups. Three distinct Operations Study Groups are being formed


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Decades ago, the U.S. Supreme Court would wind up its term each summer in relatively obscure fashion compared with the Internet microscope trained on its decisions today.
A blockbuster ruling would be reported on the evening news and in the next day's newspapers. Lawyers would get the decision days later in the mail.
But this week, as the nation braces for historic rulings on gay marriage and affirmative action, the Supreme Court will end its term in a hail of tweets, shares and eyes glued to the indispensable SCOTUSblog. The results will be as immediate as a refreshed Web page.
"It gets a whole lot more attention than it used to," said Michael McConnell, a Stanford University law professor and former federal appeals court judge who clerked for the late Justice William Brennan in the early 1980s.
As usual, the high court, starting Monday, will save its most bitterly contested and controversial cases for last. And the wait will be over for everyone anxiously preparing for the legal fate of California's same-sex marriage ban and the 1996 federal law barring benefits for same-sex couples.
"I am waiting patiently just like everybody else," said Karen Golinski, a San Francisco attorney whose legal challenge with her spouse, Amy Cunninghis, to the federal law depends on the Supreme Court outcome.
The court has 11 cases left to decide in the current term and is expected to issue rulings after 7 a.m. Monday Pacific time and at least one or two other days during this final week of its term.
In addition to the challenges to California's Proposition 8 and the federal Defense of Marriage Act, the court also must rule in a major affirmative action challenge to the University of Texas' admissions program and another case that may decide the survival of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
But in California, the anticipation surrounds the gay marriage cases, particularly the Supreme Court's final word on Proposition 8, the 2008 voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.
Experts familiar with the inner workings of the Supreme Court say the justices' vote on the gay marriage cases has probably been in place since the end of March, when they would have met behind closed doors a few days after holding arguments.
The heavy lifting, however, has taken place since then as the justices muster support for majority opinions, and others craft their dissents for posterity. And with the court expected to be divided over a flash-point issue such as gay rights, it is not considered surprising the justices might wait until the end to finish -- just as they did last year when they ruled on the final day in the challenges to the Obama administration's health care reforms.
"There is no strategic reason for the court to hold onto it," said Bradley Joondeph, a Santa Clara University law professor who clerked for former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. "It's just that there is a lot going on."
McConnell agreed.
"I don't think they save them for last," he said. "They just take longer."
With all the rampant speculation about how the justices may rule, most experts predict that the end result this week is likely to be a narrow, cautious approach in both the Proposition 8 and Defense of Marriage Act cases.
In short, the Supreme Court's rulings may just be a step in the ongoing battle over gay marriage, which is now legal in 12 states.
"If the measure of satisfaction is that (the rulings) will be the end of the conversation, then everybody is sure to be dissatisfied," said Marc Spindelman, an Ohio State University law professor.
But for same-sex marriage foes and supporters, that won't change the fact they'll be riveted to a computer screen or smartphone, starting bright and early Monday morning.
That is certainly true for Renata Moreira and her fiancee, Lori Bilella, a San Francisco couple hoping to marry if Proposition 8 is overturned -- in fact, they've already planned a fall wedding in their native New Jersey.
"We've got ulcers at this point waiting for the Supreme Court," Moreira said. "(As of Monday) we're on alert. Twitter, Facebook. We'll be up at 6 a.m. and be ready to roll."
Howard Mintz covers legal affairs. Contact him at 408-286-0236. Follow him at Twitter.com/hmintz.