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I am 39 and live with my partner and my young son, whose father finished our short-lived and clearly ill-advised relationship when I was in the early stages of pregnancy. My son sees his father every fortnight and goes on holiday with him. We have always tried to agree things between us, but have also tried mediation twice, when our son was small.
I have always found my son's father's attitude towards money problematic. He gave up full-time employment when our son was born, after deciding to pursue freelance, part-time work, which paid sporadically. He makes autonomous decisions about the level of his contribution to us and is not open to negotiation. He has always paid a modest monthly amount to me as maintenance for our son, only increasing it slightly once, despite acknowledging that the amount is still inadequate. I have worked full-time for four years, mostly as a single parent, in order to ensure a decent quality of life for my son and myself.
More than a year ago, my son's father gave up work entirely to train as a priest, and he has now told me that he will be cutting his contribution to me by two-thirds as a result.
Is it responsible for someone to decide to become a student when they have the responsibility for a child? How can he preach to others under these circumstances? Should I take any action or just try to ignore the whole situation and simply be grateful for having a beautiful son and a happy life?
Don't let him spoil your life
While I understand your frustration - there is no doubt that your ex is morally obliged to do everything possible to support his child - the reality is that he isn't going to. The best thing you can do for yourself and your son is to accept that this man is not going to fulfil his obligations, be civilised with him for your son's sake, and then move on.
You have a beautiful son and a loving partner: enjoy your life and don't let your former partner's behaviour overshadow this. When he has completed his training and is working, contact the Child Support Agency, so that it can deduct maintenance payments from his salary.
EC, Hastings
He may have a long-term plan
You have demonstrated admirable devotion to your son. You have been there to give him emotional and practical support on a day-to-day basis and have also provided for most of his material needs. Perhaps it is this unstinting reliability and determination to be a good parent that has made your child's father feel he has the latitude to make such a radical life change for himself - he knows his son will be taken care of regardless of what he does - however much this is an unintentional consequence of your own selflessness as a mother.
Although you may find it infuriating that he has made such a unilateral decision to cut his financial contribution towards your son's living costs, it may that he is attempting to be a more responsible and consistent father figure and provider in the long-term.
Once he is qualified as a priest and earning a more steady income than he has been doing in the recent past, he may return the favour to you and shoulder the lion's share of the financial responsibility for your son for a while to allow you some time out from work. You should certainly suggest that he considers this.
Of course, none of this may happen and he may simply continue to put his own interests ahead of those of his son, but all you can do is to calmly remind him of his obligations as a father, without being drawn into fruitless conflict. You could suggest that he takes on a part-time job to supplement whatever income he is able to get as a mature student, but you shouldn't let his apparent fecklessness interfere with your son's contact with him. In time, your son will have the maturity to make his own judgments about both his parents and he's likely to be grateful to whomever put his welfare and happiness above their own.
Name and address withheld
What the expert thinks: Linda Blair
You have been remarkably responsible in how you have reacted to your son's father. You have asked him to share the financial burden of caring for your son fairly, and he has refused. Your response has been to work even harder, so you can provide for your son. At the same time, you have not let your ex's financial attitude get in the way of your determination to allow your son regular opportunities to see his father. By all accounts, you are not only a good mother, but an excellent role model too.
But now your sense of fairness has been pushed to the limit by a further enormous reduction in his financial assistance. Your questions reflect your sense of outrage.
However, what you really want to know is how to deal with your feelings of helplessness, and how you can do so without compromising your principles and without hurting your son. The answer is not very palatable, I'm afraid. As long as your ex is a full-time student and not earning, the best way to remain true to your own high principles is to accept his unequal and meagre contributions, and look for ways to support your son adequately yourself - just as, in effect, you have always done.
However, you can cope with this new turn of events better if you discover ways to release your anger and sense of helplessness. Here are some suggestions that will help. Start by writing a letter to your ex. Tell him how
outrageously he is behaving, and how selfish you consider him to be. Let him know - in detail - all the sacrifices you have made for your son. Don't hold back - say everything you wish to say.
Do NOT, however, post the letter. The emotional release comes in writing it, not in delivering it. Besides, if your ex's actions are intended to reassure him that he is still able to arouse strong emotions in you, you would only give him a sense of satisfaction if he reads the letter.
Instead, destroy it. The act of destroying it will give you a further sense of release - it will feel as if you have destroyed your anger and negativity as well.
Next, consider your son's point of view. He will identify with both of you as his parents, whatever you do or say about his father. Therefore, the more anger you show towards your ex, and the more often he hears that his father let you down, the more uncomfortable and unhappy he will feel - and paradoxically, the more drawn he may become to his father.
The truth is, we can't force others to change graciously. Real change must come from within the individual - and it doesn't sound as if your ex is keen to alter. In fact, you may even feel better if you resolve to expect nothing at all from him, without making it explicit to him that that is what you are doing. That way, any payments you do receive will seem like a bonus.
Once you no longer feel angry, and once you know that you can cope alone, I suggest you obtain legal advice about how to claim maintenance once your ex starts earning. If you choose to pursue him for payment, do so in a calm businesslike manner, and continue - as you have always done - not to confuse his financial obligations with your son's right to see his father.
• Linda Blair is a clinical psychologist and an associate fellow of the British Psychological Society.
Next week: My wife thinks she might be gay
I am 41 and have been married to the love of my life for 10 years - we have three sons. Two years ago, my wife formed a close relationship with a lesbian friend, which became intense. She claimed she was merely supporting her friend through breast cancer but I discovered text messages between them that were sexual in nature. My wife said she had wanted to find some "safe" excitement, but denied they had a sexual relationship. I gave her an ultimatum, the situation seemed to be resolved, and the friend moved away in any case.
A year ago I took up a new job which meant living away from home - we agreed that the family would follow on. My wife became distant and now says that she had been suppressing her attraction to her friend (with whom she has remained in contact), and feels she must now accept that she might be gay herself and can't rule out a relationship with this woman, who she has since admitted kissing. She has arranged to see a Relate counsellor on her own to explore what her sexuality is, so she can "move on". She says she loves me and our family, but if she is gay, our marriage must end. She refuses to have sex with me.
I feel angry and betrayed and believe my absence from the family home is adversely affecting our children - my wife says she is no longer willing for the family to move.
I understand she wants to "find herself", but I feel powerless and bewildered.
• Private Lives appears every Thursday. If you have any comments on this week's problem, post it in the comments section below. You are also invited to respond to next week's main problem. If you would like fellow readers and Linda Blair to answer a dilemma of yours, send us an outline of the situation of around 250 words. All correspondence should reach us by Tuesday morning: email firstname.lastname@example.com (please don't send attachments) or write to Private Lives, The Guardian, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9GU.


text:
SMOKEN Up's horror run with barrier draws continued yesterday when the four-time South Australian Pacing Cup winner drew barrier 12 in Saturday night's $150,000 Ballarat Pacing Cup (2710m).
And to make matters worse his Victoria rival Sushi Sushi drew perfectly in barrier one.
TAB Sportsbet opened Sushi Sushi a $2.20 favourite ahead of exciting Sydney raider Mach Alert ($4.60) with Smoken Up on the third line of betting at $6.
Former Kiwi, now Queenslander, Devil Dodger was a surprise nomination for the feature with the Grant Dixon-trained six-year-old flying from Queensland to Melbourne last night for a Victorian campaign.
* * *
Global View fires at Menangle
FORMER local Global View's Sydney career for the Belinda and Luke McCarthy stable in Sydney gained momentum with an impressive win at Menangle on Saturday night.
Formerly in the car of Michael Norman at Globe Derby, Global View covered ground early from his wide barrier before getting a great drive from Luke McCarthy to race away from rivals and rate 1:55.3sec over the 2300m trip.
* * *
Blaster set for Hunter Cup
SOUTH Australian Cup runner-up Caribbean Blaster trialled impressively under standing start conditions at Melton on Monday night.
The Victoria Cup winner came off a 30m handicap against just two rivals but ran his final 800m in 56.8secs, his final 400m in a sizzling 26.5secs.
TAB Sportsbet has opened and Andy and Kate Gath pacer a $4 equal favourite with Sushi Sushi for next month's $400,000 Hunter Cup at Melton.
* * *
Kel claims Pirie Trotters Cup
ME An Kel followed a solid South Australian Trotter's Cup effort with an impressive win in the Port Pirie Trotters Cup last Friday night. Back with Luke O'Neil, a good beginning and a gun drive from leading reinsmen David Harding was the catalyst for the win with Me An Kel proving too good for consistent veteran Gammel Dansk.
* * *
Young stars on show
SOUTH Australian Derby trifecta Flaming Flutter, Lennytheshark and Echeveria will do battle in the opening heat of the Victoria Derby at Melton on Saturday night.
Boom Victoria Guaranteed will clash with Queenslander Caesar Augustus with TAB Sportsbet opening the Emma Stewart-trained star a $1.30 favourite for the second heat.
Kiwi raiders Bit Of A Legend, Arden Rooney and Ohoka Punter all clash in the third heat with fixed odds betting available only hours after the fields were released.
* * *
SAINT - TAB SPORTSBET (Harness feature markets are outstanding)
SINNER - TOGETHER WE DO (Too bad to be true and headed for a spell)
BACK ME - RESTREPO (Serious horse going places in a hurry)
SACK ME - KORUNYE KID (Quickly running out of chances with his supporters)
Originally published as Smoken's barrier blues

subset: commoncrawl


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Safety Warning: The Model S rear seats
Safety Warning: The Model S rear seats
Some early betas had adjustable rear and front headrests, IIRC. So why would TM remove them?
-Rear headrests block vision, and are routinely removed;
-Rear passengers never bother to adjust them
-Fixed headrests cover the majority of people
-Rear headrests are effective in tests, but rarely used in real life;
then it was a deliberate design decision, and probably correct.
I think everyone here is missing one important point here regarding adjustable headrest is the comfort issue. Now what is the point of having headrest at all in MS when it will never reach the head height of a person of average height ? Its way too below the height of my head and can't be considered to be very useful. so why not just remove it ! Same goes with headrest of front seat where height is not an issue but the fact that I can't move it forward and backward as I can with my 5-series (I personally use it alot). Any thoughts ?
I think that headrests should be considered as one part of an overall safety system. And the overall safety of a vehicle in a crash is what is important. There have been several collisions involving Teslas and other vehicles and I believe that in all cases the people in the Tesla walked away while in many cases the people in the other cars did not - even when the other cars had adjustable headrests. So I look forward to Tesla submitting its cars for european certification and reading what additional information that provides. But with the extremely large crumple zones that dissipate the force of a collision, the Tesla has proven to be an extremely safe car to date. That said I certainly will always support changes to make it even safer.
I also own a Volvo C70. Volvo has a reputation as a very safe car, as most people are aware. Seat headrests in front are NOT adjustable, and the rear seat headreasts are NOT adjustable. Likewise headroom is low. Worse actualy. So I'm pretty calm about this all actualy.
Thanks to oleandre bringing this topic up and also for a very interesting debate on this.
I am personally only 169 cm (5'7") and was surprised about how high even I sat in the rear when testing the demo cars in Copenhagen this February.
I share the concerns about the safety with the very low rear head rest. I actually also beleive that an adjustable rear head rest would make it more comfortable for adult passangers to travel in the rear.
Just like all other Europeans I really look forward to a EURO NCAP test of the MS since after all, that will (as email@example.com have pointed out) definately give the only precise answer to if the MS cope with European safety requirements or not.
Sitting or torso height varies far less than leg length. Most males measure about 70 cm from hip bones to top of head, most females 60 cm.
What is going on here? Adjustable headrests in the rear seats? Never had a car with those before.
It is highly unlikely, and probably impossible, that TM will design a completely different rear seat design to appease ONLY the European markets, and if you think they must do this for you to buy the Model S, then you should just buy a different car right now. The impracticalities of doing this are enormous to a small company trying to maintain it's production rates.
Also, unless you have hard data to suggest the rear-facing seats are unsafe, you should be careful making such assertions prematurely. The Model S has 5 star crash test ratings from NTSB, and Elon has repeatedly noted that the rear-facing seats are the 'safest seats in the car'. I imagine there is some data behind this statement, and I would be happy to see it revealed, but I certainly do not think he is lying about it.
As far as overall safety, I have little doubt that it is the safest sedan, if not the safest car, on the road today. If anyone saw the head-on collision wreckage from the very tragic fatal accident in Southern CA recently, the Model S looks as though it was barely scratched.
+1 to this thread.
Was just involved in an accident where a Corolla hit my 5-series from behind on the highway (I was standing still). The Bimmer performed very well, people in the cars in front (which I was bumped into) of me were less fortunate as their head rests were not properly adjusted.
I'm real picky when it comes to safety and I must admit that this issue was noticed immediately when sitting in the back seat. I will be ordering the park sensors and if they are as good as on the Bimmer I would gladly trade some lost rear view for better seats.
I don't really care whether the headrests are adjustable or not. If they are adjustable, then my only requirement is that either they adjust low enough to not block my vision, or don't leave an ugly seat top when I remove them. What I do object to is the title of this thread. Enough people on the forum and enough carmakers don't feel that this is a safety issue. I get angry every time I see this thread. Why not just edit the title to "some of us want adjustable headrests".
Take a pill David. I also think this is a stupid thread, but "get angry"? Seriously?
I will take the crumple zones in the front and back of the car (no motor) any day over short headrests. Just my opionion, but I will add that I'm a mechanical engineer and a trauma surgeon.
Maybe angry wasn't a good way to describe it. But you have to admit that the first thing that catches your eye is the phrase safety flaw. Then after reading a little bit you do start to wonder what the excitement is all about. If we are going to discuss issues on this forum, I suppose we should avoid inflammatory language. So I'll take a pill, but I would recommend that the author and some of the people who see only black and white on this issue take one also.
I understand OP's position very well, if he believes that he would be able to ensure that his teenage kids and other passengers were always adjusting the headrests correctly.
I also understand Tesla's design decision. Here is a quote from The Handbook of Road Safety Measures (Elvik, Høye, Vaa & Sørensen; 2009; p. 632-633):
Headrests appear to be associated with an increase in the number of fatalities in rear-end collisions. It is not known why this is the case, but many adjustable headrests are adjusted too low. They then act as neck breakers in accidents, rather than as an aid to preventing neck injuries. Adjustable headrests reduce neck injuries in rear-end collisions by around 15%, while fixed head supports reduce such injuries by around 25%.
When we had our test drive in Trondheim, my wife with two kids took place on the rear seat and I immediately saw that she was not sitting comfortably, both from the mismatch between her head and the head rest, and the look on her face. And she isn't tall. Our kids on the other hand could barely look out the window, sitting very low. I had a good time behind the wheel, no doubt. Back at the store I quickly tried the back seat, which made my decision very easy: Model S is not the car for us. I am 174cm and my head was touching the roof, without support, while sitting too low for comfort. I would not want to travel long distances this way, and our kids will reach my height or more within the period we intend to drive our next car.
My friendly co-pilot from Tesla replied that indeed, the designers seem to have prioritised aesthetics there; and he's right, the aesthetics are fine.
Our current car is a 2002 VW Golf Highline with adjustable head rests at all five seats, and I always adjust mine to make contact with the back of my head at eye height. I just hope the car lasts until Model X arrives on the Norwegian market, which we will not order before a having tried it. I cinserely hope it will be a better fit.
Tesla owners who get defensive and say that the poster should buy an armored truck or couldn't leave the house should just form a cult and get it over with. Then they could worship and shout down the heretics and maybe get some tax benefits while the rest of us ignore them.
The Model S is not perfect for all people. Tesla obviously designed the Model S for the US market. In the US market, passengers are barely a consideration unless its an SUV or minivan. I'm going to guess that sedans have on average people in the back seat less that 5% of the time (and for adults, maybe less than 1%?). Consequently, something like the Model S is not going to compromise on rear window visibility to give greater safety to passenger who will rarely use the back seat. The rear view mirror is fairly tight as it is and I would not have wanted that precious mirror real estate further occluded by bigger headrests.
Unfortunately, @oleandre has needs that are not satisfied by the Model S. Perhaps Tesla will decide to modify a model for the European market (if carrying adults in the back seat is an important factor there). Or perhaps he'll have to wait for the Model X, which I would assume would have more scrutiny on the rear seats as they tend to be used far more frequently.
In any case, I think it's great that this has been brought up so that Tesla might consider if it's a change they want to pursue.
@Oleandre, I hope that either Tesla makes changes that satisfy your needs, or you decide that you can live with the Tesla as primarily a 2 passenger car. I believe that missing the Tesla experience would noticeably reduce the quality of your life whereas the back seat issue might 50% reduce the safety of the backseat passenger in the 1% chance of an accident. It's like wearing a flame retardant driving suit every time you drive might increase your safety an infinitismal amount while drastically reducing your quality of life.
I am very glad more people than us have noticed the possible safety issue with the low back of the rear seat.
We have reserved a Tesla Model S, and have been looking forward to our new car. We really wanted to support this innovative company. and have informed colleagues and friends about Tesla, the new electric car. People who never had heard about Tesla are now definetly aware of the 7-seater with race car performance and large battery for long trips.
When Tesla Norway invited to a test drive we were happy to participate. The car is looking nice, and is a pleasure to drive, but the (lack of) neck protection in the rear seat surprised us. The head rests are far too low, and reminds us about cars from the 80s and earlier. We are four persons from ~170 cm (5'8") and upwards to 192 cm (6'5") in our family, and for all our family members the headrest was to low. As far as I can see, the height of the neck support is really only suited for small children. I know the roof is low in the rear seat, but there is definetly space available for higher and/or adjustable headrests.
We are very aware of safety in our cars, and all our cars have been bought after checking safety tests/ratings etc. I had therefore read everything I could find about the safety of the Model S prior to reservation, and was convinced they had thought about everything, but these rear seats came as a surprise.
Presently we have a VW Golf 2009-model, and the head rest in the rear seats are high enough to fulfill its safety purpose for every one in our family. Obviously it is possible to have higher head rests even in smaller cars, and hence a higher or adjustable neck protection (like in the majority of modern family cars) should be an easy update and important improvement for Model S, which seems to be perfect in so many other ways!
We are now unfortunately evaluating to cancel our reservation due to the low rear seat back, which we feel will be a safety hazard for the family members in the rear seat in case of an accident (or hard acceleration), but we will send this email to Tesla as well and hope for a positive answer/update from Tesla. Hopefully the Model X will be better in this respect, even if the pictures I have seen on the internet shows that the seat back is still on the low side for adults...
+1 HenryT2
While I personally can't imagine the rear headrests being important enough to sway my purchase decision, I appreciate that it seems very important to some and Tesla should consider it.
- Tesla could and should improve the rear-seat headrest.
= The improved safety will be a welcome positive.
- In the meantime, life is all about compromises.
= Between a car with:
+ proper rear-seat headrest
+ an engine in the front
+ and a gas tank underneath
= and a car with:
+ completely missing rear-seat headrest
+ a big crumble-zone frunk
+ no gas to cause fire
I wouldn't have any problem identifying the superior option.
I DO see why one demands headrests and argues for them.
I DO NOT see why one cancels an order because of them.
I, too, am not all that concerned with the head rests. They felt just fine for me and my partner. I'm 5'8" and he is 6'. With the additional reinforcements in the front crumple zone and the steel inserts in the B-pillar, more air bags than I can remember, and no exploding gas tank or front engine to smash into your lap in the event of a collision... I'm satisfied.
It's easy to focus on one single aspect of a vehicle to the exclusion of all its other wonderful safety features. Keep the big picture in mind.
I went into a Tesla store yesterday and st in the rear seat and now I know exactly what this thread is talking about. (the vehicle did have a panoramic sunroof) The question that it brought up for me is how comfortable this vehicle is for adults in the rear seats for long road trips. I noticed that an adult can't put their head back comfortably and sleep without having their head rest on the ceiling of the car rather than the head rests. Can anyone chime in?
Adjustable headrests cause more injuries, because they "adjust" lower, and that's where they get left. Very few people actually raise them.
The design exists for Model S (for white and black color):
Those look like the demos and prototypes on the Get Amped tour. 2012.
I'll take the NHTSA's word over your doctor brother-in-law's opinion....just sayin'.
"I am 174cm and my head was touching the roof"
You must have very short legs. ;)
He's the Giant Dwarf design.
But do either of them test impact on people in the rear seat when hit from behind?
A car can be built to achieve a high test score based on knowledge on the test program.
Is there air bag coverage above the rear seat headrests at all?
This article is worth reading regarding Model S safety:
Most note worthy is the statement from The Center of Auto Safety director:
"Consumers should "do their own deeper analysis" of vehicle safety ratings with an eye towards finding a vehicle that meets their particular needs. For example, a car buyer who expects to do the majority of their driving alone should look at driver's side safety ratings above all else, and pick a car that scores highest in that area even if other vehicles have better overall safety ratings."
So yes, people have a right to be concerend about the rear seats.
Arguing aside, Tesla probably could install the Mercedes like driver button retractable rear headrests. They can be taken down by a push of a button or pulled back up again by the driver, depending on presence of passengers in back.
Another article worth noting:
Seems safty for reat passengers insn't tested at all and some 5 star cars had terrible results.
On a related note, there's no upper connector for child car seats on the rear (second row) seats.
Yes there are. People answered this question on the new thread that you created:
Another problem solved by the Owner's Manual...


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VERNON - An elderly man arrested after a five hour standoff with police is looking at possible charges.
The 70-year-old Vernon man was allegedly involved in a confrontation with a neighbour over some loud music around 1 a.m., April 10.
When police arrived, the man had barricaded himself inside his unit of the fourplex. With indications that a weapon could be involved, police shut down Old Kamloops Road as a safety precaution and began negotiating with the man to come out, which he did peacefully around 6:30 a.m. that morning after a five hour standoff. A search of his residence turned up a firearm.
The man was held in custody for the day on Friday, and released on conditions that night, Molendyk says. He is expected to face charges of uttering threats.
The man is under court order not to return to the premises, and is staying with family for the time being.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at email@example.com or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 250-718-2724.


text:
LE MARS, IOWA — It will take money to win the Republicanpresidential straw poll this summer in Ames, Iowa, and Mitt Romneyis unabashed about using his to buy votes.
Campaigning at an ice cream parlor in this town 200 miles away lastweek, the former governor of Massachusetts offered free bus ridesto "anybody that wants to come out to Ames and vote for me."
"If you want to vote for somebody else, you might buy yourself anRV," he joked to a crowd of Republicans sipping milkshakes.
Romney's spending on the bus rides is part of hismultimillion-dollar push to vault himself to the front of theRepublican field in Iowa. Although struggling to make himself knownnationally, he has risen to the top tier in Iowa polls, alongsideSen. John McCain of Arizona and former New York Mayor Rudolph W.Giuliani — thanks largely to his spending.
But challenges for Romney are mounting in Iowa.
The all-but-certain candidacy of former Sen. Fred D. Thompson(R-Tenn.), a star of television's "Law & Order," threatens toundercut Romney's drive for conservative support.
And Romney's domination of Iowa's television airwaves will soonend, when GOP rivals launch their own ad campaigns. Hinting at abrawl ahead, McCain has been mocking Romney, casting him as anunprincipled waffler, most recently on immigration.
Beyond that, Romney's recent two-day swing across Iowa also exposedthe difficulty he has responding to questions that requireunscripted answers — a challenge he's likely to face againTuesday in a New Hampshire debate co-sponsored by CNN.
Among the disappointed Iowans was Republican Linda Wessels, 41, ofRock Rapids. At a Romney forum in Sioux Center, her autistic5-year-old son, Sam, asked the candidate how he would help childrenwith the disorder.
"Cute little guy," Romney responded before launching into amonologue on topics including stem cell research and cloning— but not autism.
"I felt avoidance of the issue," Wessels said.
Retired aerospace worker Gary Steinbeck asked about expansion ofthe space program, leading Romney into a ramble on science, farmingand energy. "He didn't really talk about the space program,"Steinbeck said.
And at another forum in West Des Moines, Republican Steven Faux,54, was left cold after telling Romney that his son's NationalGuard unit was on the verge of deployment to Iraq. The candidatedoes not mention the war in his stump speech.
Describing himself as a "worried parent," Faux, a Drake Universityprofessor, called the war a "mess" and asked Romney how he wouldfix it.
Romney responded by voicing support for President Bush's recenttroop buildup, saying it had a "reasonable prospect of success." Heoutlined risks of a quick U.S. withdrawal but offered no hint ofhow he would proceed if Bush could not stabilize Iraq.
"I thought he gave me a stock answer," Faux told reporters afterthe forum.
Still, Romney's fast-paced outline of a conservative agenda —fiscal discipline, family values and a robust military —draws frequent, if not fervent, applause. His appearance strikesmany as presidential, an image he often tries to enhance by using agiant American flag as his backdrop, as he did last week inIowa.
With his suntan, swept-back hair and sharply tailored suits,Romney, 60, can also seem "too perfect," as "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno put it — a nicelooking "cardboard cutout" who shunsliquor, tobacco and divorce.
"I can have a good time, but you're not going to hear about it,"Romney joked in a recent appearance on Leno's show. "What goes onin Disneyland stays in Disneyland."
With assets estimated at more than $190 million from a successfulbusiness career, the son of former Michigan Gov. George W. Romney— who ran unsuccessfully for the GOP presidential nomination40 years ago — must cross a cultural divide to bond withRepublicans in largely rural Iowa. In small towns near the MissouriRiver last week, he made fun of the liberal New England state heonce led ("My senators were Kerry and Kennedy. You want to trade?")and the French (Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's platform "wouldn'teven get her elected in France").
Iowa's precinct caucuses, scheduled for Jan. 14, are to open theWhite House nomination races for both major parties. Romney isbetting heavily that a win in Iowa will propel him to GOP primaryvictories in New Hampshire and beyond.
On the outskirts of Des Moines, Romney has opened a12,000-square-foot Iowa headquarters, for now largely empty. Theimmediate task for his full-time staff of 16 is to round upthousands of Republicans to vote for Romney in the Aug. 11 strawpoll in Ames. A strong showing, Romney hopes, will prove hisviability.
Like several of his GOP opponents, Romney plans to buy thousands of$35 tickets from the state party for supporters to attend the eventin Ames, a college town in central Iowa. Posted on a wall at hisheadquarters are the names of several dozen "bus captains" who willlead Romney convoys to Ames. The operation has impressed partyleaders.
"Romney, by any measurement, has the best ground game going inIowa, the most boots on the ground," said Iowa GOP ExecutiveDirector Chuck Laudner.
But candidates who dump money into the Ames contest can stumble farshort of the White House, as publisher Steve Forbes showed in 1999,finishing second in Ames but faltering soon thereafter.
"I think it's been proven that money and organization alone won'twork," Romney said in an interview before his Sioux Centerforum.
"All I know," he added, "is I was very, very low a year ago, andnow I'm top-tier, so the message is connecting well."
Romney is the only Republican who has run a full-fledged TV adcampaign in Iowa for months. Competing with household names likeGiuliani and McCain, Romney has used the spots to introduce himselfto Iowans on favorable terms. But that edge will inevitablyvanish.
"It's kind of like having one hotel on I-95: It's easy to get tocustomers," said Evan Tracey, chief operating officer of anad-tracking company, TNS Media Intelligence/CMAG. "But when youhave two or three competitors opening up next to you, consumershave more places to go and start shopping around a little bit."
firstname.lastname@example.com * Finnegan was recently on assignment in Iowa. For more inside political news check out The Times' new politics blog at: www.LATimes.com/topoftheticket


text:
Health statistics give you information about injuries, disabilities, abortion, and life expectancy in New Zealand.
Statistics about induced abortions registered in New Zealand. Find out about:
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Information about injury in New Zealand. Get statistics on:
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Information about births and deaths in New Zealand, and the patterns of mortality (death) and survival at various ages.
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Chuckie Keeton will be stamped on Utah State football forever, in my opinion. —Gary Andersen, Utah State head football coach
LOGAN — The ambitious 17-year-old Texas native had never seen anything like it.
"It was a riot out there," said Chuckie Keeton of watching euphoric Aggie faithful storm the football field after USU defeated BYU 31-16 on a beautiful fall night in 2010.
Then a senior in high school, Keeton was invited, along with several other prep players, to visit the campus the weekend the Aggies hosted BYU. It was a plan designed to show the young recruits that Utah State was building something special in Logan.
"It was huge," said Utah State head football coach Gary Andersen of the impact attending that game had on Keeton. "The whole atmosphere, the packed house, ESPN; it was the perfect storm, if you will. The way we won it; it was off the charts. For him, it showed him this is big-time Division I football, and that's what Chuckie wanted. That's what got him over the top. It was a little risky at that time, but it all worked out."
Risky because this was a program coming back from once being ranked the worst Division I college football program. In fact, for several years attendance at football games was so abysmal, there was talk of moving the program to a lower level of competition.
And then came Gary Andersen.
The program turned around so dramatically under him that it was almost surreal for fans. So when they had their moment, they seized it. And their reaction made a lasting impression on the young quarterback.
In fact, the way the community has rallied around the Aggie's resurgence still inspires Keeton.
"The BYU game was probably my biggest experience," he said. "It was one of the things I'll probably never forget. With that, I have to make my own memories now."
He took a step in that direction when he led the Aggies to an overtime victory against Utah — in Logan.
"The Utah win is the biggest win I've been a part of," he said. "It was also Hall of Fame weekend, and a couple of guys almost cried. It was remarkable to see it having that big of an impact."
Instead of feeling the pressure that comes from knowing a community of fans and alumni are counting on you, Keeton feels energized.
"It doesn't put pressure on me," he said. "It sets a new kind of goal. It's a new aiming point as far as the hill we're going to climb."
In other words, each moment of success only raises the expectation of what's possible for the program. Keeton's legacy is off to an impressive start. He threw for 1,200 yards in nine games last year with 11 touchdowns. He threw only two interceptions.
This year, he has led the Aggies to a 4-1 start, their best since 1978 when USU won its first five games. In the game against UNLV, Keeton passed for 402 yards and went 20-of-33 with four touchdowns.
His path to a place he'd never heard of in a state he thought was buried beneath snow year round began when he was barely old enough to hold a football, let alone throw it.
"I was going to (my older brother's) games all the time, I don't know," he said smiling. "I guess I just wanted a piece of it."
Easy-going but hard working, Keeton has always played quarterback, save his sophomore year of high school when he switched positions to get varsity playing time.
"I always want to have the football whenever I can," he said. "Just being the guy at the right time or at a critical moment has always been what I've wanted. Some people look at it as a fear, like if I mess up, this will happen or I'll get yelled at. I don't really think about it that much."
That's because the youngest of Charles and Lavern's three children wants to be the reliable guy. That's why he understands why BYU senior quarterback Riley Nelson would want to play through injuries.
He admits he's played with injuries because he wanted his teammates to know they could count on him.
"If anything, I feel more pressure from myself," he said. "It doesn't come from the guys. I feel the pressure. I feel encouragement from the guys. I trust myself more than anybody else. I definitely want to be there for them. Sometimes it's hard to let go of the reins. Especially in my position."
He knows what it's like to watch the team in someone else's hands. He played in 11 games and started eight before an injury in Hawaii ended his season..
"That was definitely one of the hardest things I've ever had to do," he said. "I felt that I started to put a stamp on our team, as far as being a guy we can rely on. I kind of got it snatched away from me. It was one of those things where they were just trying to look out for my health. I had a lot of trust in Adam, so that helped. I just want to be somebody that everybody can rely on."
Keeton endured a lengthy battle for the starting job as a junior in high school. While it was at times discouraging and emotionally exhausting, he said it also prepared him for what he faced as a freshman hoping to start for the Aggies.
"It went on forever," said Keeton of fighting to be the starting quarterback for his Cypress Creek High School in Houston, Texas. "It was really strenuous, at least for me. It started in the spring and didn't end until a couple of games before the first game of our junior year."
The worst part was that he thought he'd earned the spot long before coaches gave him the nod. What he learned still serves him well — patience, trust your coaches and never take anything for granted.
"I talked to my dad about it a lot," he said. "It went on forever, and I kind of thought I'd won it more than two days before the game. But it wasn't really up to me ... I just have to keep playing. At least that's the way I look at it."
Andersen said the outgoing, affable young man is extremely competitive, but he also doesn't dwell on mistakes, including losses.
"He bounces back but it hurts him," said Andersen. For example the loss to Wisconsin may have ended on a missed field goal for the Aggies, but the coach said Keeton can rattle off a list of things that would have allowed them to score at other points in the game.
"Like every great competitor, you can't forget it, you have to keep it there in the back of your mind," Andersen said. "But you have to move on. Chuckie is awesome that way. That's why he's so good. He doesn't forget when he's winning; he doesn't forget when he's losing. But he can move on through both of them."
Keeton confirmed his coach's assessment of him, but added that he's experienced the ups and downs of turning a program around before — in high school.
"It's definitely a rollercoaster," he said. "My freshman year, the varsity team won two games out of 10. The next year we went 9-1 in the regular season. That's really how I'm looking at things here. It's fun to see how different it is from where (the program) was."8 comments on this story
Keeton's dream is the same as a lot of little boys who run around with footballs long before they can throw them — play in the NFL. But before he chases that dream, he wants an education and a few more moments like the 2010 BYU victory and the 2012 Utah win.
He wants to leave his mark on a storied program, something Andersen said he's already started.
"Chuckie Keeton will be stamped on Utah State football forever, in my opinion," said Andersen. "But I think that will grow and grow and could be something very, very special as he moves forward."
Email: email@example.com, Twitter: adonsports


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Home :: Press & Media :: Program Archives :: 2013 Program :: Thurs. Oct. 17th, 2013 :: Shorts Program #3- Love on the Rocks :: Something Real
Something Real
A young man decides to leave his lover, and must now wade through a sea of lost souls looking for... something real.
When: Thu. Oct. 17, 2013 2:00 PM
Where: CCA Studio limit 45 people
Director: Guy Shalem
Origin: USA
Genre: Comedy, Musical, Shorts Program #3: Love on the Rocks
Runtime: 9 min
Status: New Mexico Premiere
Get your Event Passes Here


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PASADENA, Calif., Nov. 25 (UPI) -- NASA says its Mars rover Curiosity has resumed full science operations after a successful diagnosis of the likely cause of a change in voltage on the vehicle.
The decision to resume science activities during the weekend came after the efforts to trace the source of the voltage change that occurred on Nov. 17, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., reported Monday.
"We made a list of potential causes, and then determined which we could cross off the list, one by one," rover electrical engineer Rob Zimmerman at JPL said.
The voltage change did not affect the rover safety or health because its electrical system has a "floating bus" design feature to tolerate a range of voltage differences between the vehicle's chassis and the 32-volt power lines that deliver electricity throughout the rover, the scientists said.
They reported the likely cause is an internal short in Curiosity's power source, the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator.
Due to resiliency in design, they said, such a short does not affect operation of the power source or the rover, and testing of another example of the generator for many years found no loss of capability in the presence of these types of internal shorts.


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Sat 1st Oct 2011 8:00ammalpaisurfcam's Playa Santa Teresa Surf Report
Still taken from the morning video, at 8 am waves were waist to chest with some bigger sets. Side shore wind and partially clear skies. Visit www.malpaisurfcam.com to check out this morning session video.
View the Playa Santa Teresa Surf Report and Forecast. malpaisurfcam's Reports have received a total of 423486 views.
This report has received 268 views since 1/10/11.


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The big news in the world of 3D imagery recently has come from Pandora, the unobtanium rich moon in James Cameron's Avatar. Spectacular, but pure fantasy. in the realm of the real the big 3D news comes from NASA and some stereoscopic images from Mars, specifically Mojave Crater.
About 60 kilometers (37 miles) in diameter Mojave Crater is a recent addition to Mars. It's only around 10 million years old. Its depth of 2.6 kilometers (1.6 miles) suggests minimal erosion. In other words, it's in relatively pristine shape.
To get this view NASA used two images from the High Resolution Imaging geek-cetera Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. A digital terrain model was created with the data.
Such digital terrain models are superior to standard stereo images viewed with blue-red glasses, which show only relative changes in elevation instead of absolute numerical data. Digital terrain models can be used for rendering perspective views from any angle or even fly-by movies. More importantly, they can be used for detailed quantitative analysis, such as profiles, slopes, morphometry, numeric modeling, etc. – source NASA
In order to be illustrate a point images like this often exaggerate their scale. In this case the vertical elevations have been multiplied by a factor of three. in other words the sides of the crater aren't as steep as they look here.
An image like this one helps scientists better understand Mars' geological history. It seems likely, based on this and other images, the impact which formed Mojave Crater "may have unleashed water or water-ice from the subsurface to flow across the surface and, perhaps, condense as rain or snow for a brief period of Martian time."
Some scientists are claiming this picture and others in the series comprise the Rosetta Stone for Martian geology. Suck on that James Cameron!


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Recycling of ceramic or porcelain material into tiles; providing a website featuring environmental information pertaining only to recycling of tile
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A very accurate emulation of the classic "rewind and stop" sound performed by DJs to add tension before the drop afterwards.
Made after tens of trials using FL Studio's Fruity Scratcher on a sample I don't remember.
by Isaac Ionescu
Perfect, thanks.
thank you so much..
Thanks So Much!
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The plot is taken directly from the Multiple-Choice Screenwriting Handbook: Marek (Andrzej Chyra) is a cop who is troubled by: a) a failed/unsolved case b) the death of his partner c) bad dreams. This has resulted in his a) drinking problem b) sleeping problem c) drug addiction, and left him estranged from his a) lover, b) children c) co-workers. Assigned to a new case, he starts to have trouble a) separating right from wrong b) discerning dreams from reality c) proving his wild theories to everyone else. Check, check, check.
Palimpest endeavors to be a lot of things, but more than anything, it's various shades of green and black, the only two colors cinematographer Arkadiusz Tomiak was apparently comfortable using. It has the same pea-soup color palette as some of the Saw movies, which is exceptionally boring to look at after about five minutes. Occasionally, Marek has a bout of psychotic vision, and bright whites are actually appealingly startling, but then it's back to the film's turgid visual style. As far as the visions themselves go, they're executed with the finesse of a music video. I didn't hate it, but they're nothing I haven't seen done better in superior movies. Chyra, meanwhile, is a perfectly watchable leading man. I wouldn't call his performance "magnetic" or anything, but his amiable presence is probably what sustained me as the movie drags on.
The ultimate question is, "will he be able to handle the shocking truth?" In cop movies, all truths must be shocking. Sadly, Palimpest's denouement ranks at the very bottom of the shock-o-meter. The second to last scene, post-twist, is actually kind of nice thanks to the performances of Chyra and actress Magdalena Cielecka, but the film insists on ending with one last confusing beat just in case we've forgotten how edgy and intense the film is.
When the movie ended, I wasn't sure I had grasped every last little bit of it, but I don't care enough to see it again and find out. Anyone looking for an unheard of, cool little thriller they can Netflix can keep looking, because there's almost nothing on display here I won't forget by tomorrow.
The DVD
The Video and Audio
The Extras


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These deals are only for a limited time, so don't wait to start shopping! There's something for everyone at the Golf Locker Black Friday Golf Sale!
Whether you're shopping for friends and family or just crossing a few things off your own wish list, you can find everything you're looking for right here at Golf Locker.


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Two suburban teens have been charged with felonies following an investigation into fake Instagram accounts showcasing inappropriate photos of Edison Middle School students and staff.
According to a spokesman for the DuPage County State's Attorney's office, two 14-year-old boys were charged with four felonies, including two counts of harassment by electronic communication and two counts of obscenity. They were also charged with misdemeanor counts of obscenity, harassment by electronic communication, and transmission of obscene messages.
The charges were filed May 23, just days after the incident was first reported, spokesman Paul Darrah confirmed, but no further details surrounding the investigation were released.
The Instagram accounts reportedly featured manipulated photos showing subjects in inappropriate situations that were not true.
The photo incident was one of many reported around Chicago-area suburbs this year and is the second incident reported at Edison Middle School in the last month.
Officials said some eighth grade students were suspended late last week after inappropriate images surfaced in text messages and via social media.
A mother, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid revealing her daughter's identity, said her daughter was among the students punished, even though she was the victim.
"[The students] created three false Twitter accounts and used those false Twitter accounts to belittle and demean parts of her body," the mother said.
A spokeswoman for the school said all students involved were disciplined.
Earlier in May, two Barrington Middle School students were charged with possession of child pornography in connection with a sexting scandal at the school.
Similar incidents were reported around the same time at Hadley Middle School in Will County and Rotolo Middle School in Batavia.
Despite a recently proposed bill aiming to automatically expunge the arrest records of some juveniles in Illinois, the charges filed against the Edison Middle School students would not qualify as they are Class 4 felonies.
The students will be tried in juvenile court. Their next hearing is scheduled for June 26.


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Les ventes de produits innovants à la mode sont-elles chaotiques? Le cas des ventes de Game Boy au Japon
[Are innovative and fashion goods sales chaotic? The case of Game Boy sales in Japan]
This paper aims to test Granovetter and Soong's (1986) article conclusions. I test the hypothesis of cyclicity or chaoticity of the sales of new or/and fashion goods. This test is realised on the weekly Game Boy sales in Japan from 1989 to 2005.
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
|Date of creation:
|12 Nov 2008
|Contact details of provider:
| Postal: Ludwigstraße 33, D-80539 Munich, Germany
Phone: +49-(0)89-2180-2459
Fax: +49-(0)89-2180-992459
Web page: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de
More information through EDIRC
References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- Brock, W. A., 1986. "Distinguishing random and deterministic systems: Abridged version," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 168-195, October.
- Granovetter, Mark & Soong, Roland, 1986. "Threshold models of interpersonal effects in consumer demand," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 83-99, March.
- Dalrymple, Douglas J., 1987. "Sales forecasting practices: Results from a United States survey," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 3(3-4), pages 379-391.
- Brock, W.A. & Dechert, W.D. & LeBaron, B. & Scheinkman, J.A., 1995. "A Test for Independence Based on the Correlation Dimension," Working papers 9520, Wisconsin Madison - Social Systems.
- J. S. Armstrong & R. Brodie, 2005. "Forecasting for Marketing," General Economics and Teaching 0502018, EconWPA.
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Bananas and I have, in the past, had a tumultuous relationship.
In younger years, I liked them tangy and slightly green. Preferably just past the totally unripe, palate puckering phase, but before the full-on cloying sweetness of standard ripeness.
This may be due to the fact that as a child, I was convinced that banana slugs (quite common, out here in the woods) were nothing less than excessively ripe bananas. The slug's shape, sliminess, and black-spottedness all led me down the line of thought that a banana, left on the counter, in the compost, or anywhere in between, would make the slow progression towards slughood as it ripened, the final stage of ripeness resulting in a magical transformation to life and (slow) movement.
Considering this, it only makes sense that I would choose to eat bananas as far from their slug phase of life as possible. In retrospect, what really intrigues me is that I was willing to eat them at all.
Richard's banana bread changed all of this. It started with one bite - oozing chocolate and gooey banana tucked into something that barely passed as bread. I asked for (demanded?) the recipe, and what followed later in my inbox was a short simple recipe title "Sarah's Banana Bread."
Thank you Sarah. Thank you Richard. I've now learned to appreciate a darkening bunch of bananas, not as a biological wonder, but rather as culinary opportunity.
Because once I tasted a great banana bread, even thoughts of slimy creatures could not turn my eyes from bananas so ripe their skins had turned the color of charcoal. What was passed on to me was a short list of ingredients, with directions to stir and bake. Quickly I baked it up, and quickly I realized that success was not hard won with this recipe.
This cake/bread won me friends in college. This cake/bread survived a trip to Scotland. This cake/bread can heal wounds a many.
The base of the cake/bread is moist and light, allowing plenty of room for personalized tweakign with additions. Sarah added nuts. Richard added chocolate. I took away the nuts, and added coconut instead.
The addition of coconut was when things really got dangerous. I baked a "loaf" the day my mother and sister were supposed to arrive home from a month long trip to Colorado. I had a recent heart wound, and Laila had just had knee surgery, so the cake was to be healing in more ways that one. Exiting the oven, the warm cake (the chocolate pieces melting, the banana pieces like warm custard, the cake tender with heat) was impossible to resist. A half a cake later, they arrived in the dusty Volvo station wagon. The remnants of the cake, though cooled, were eaten quickly.
I'm convinced that, though perhaps it was no miracle cure, it at least got things kick-started. The healing (heart and knee) had begun.
Banana cake/bread
1/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp basking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a loaf pan with butter. Combine the above ingredients in a large bowl.
1 cup mashed banana (I like to leave some chunks about the size of a nickle)
1 cup chocolate chips
1/4 dried unsweetened coconut
Do not overmix.
Smooth into the loaf pan, and bake 45-50 minutes. Let cool if you can.


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Santana is a finalist for Phoenix position
Just a few weeks after being a finalist for the city manager position in Dallas, Oakland City Administrator Deanna Santana has been named one of four finalists to become city manager of Phoenix.
Santana, 43, has said she is looking for other jobs as her boss, Mayor Jean Quan, seeks re-election this November. She was one of three finalists for the Dallas job, which ended up going to an in-house candidate.
The other three finalists in Phoenix are Rick Naimark, the city's deputy city manager; Ed Zuercher, the city's acting city manager; and Milton Dohoney, Jr., former Cincinnati city manager, the city announced Tuesday.
The Phoenix City Council is scheduled to interview the finalists Feb. 19 and discuss the appointment later that day.
— Matthew Artz, Staff
Former Brown aide may run for council
An Oakland native who served as an intern and aide to then-Mayor Jerry Brown is strongly considering a run for City Council in District 4.
Although he filed campaign papers this month, Nicolas Heidorn, 30, said he will make a final decision about entering the race in the next few weeks.
Heidorn grew up in District 4 and worked for Brown while attending Claremont McKenna College.
After graduating from Harvard Law School, Heidorn worked at the law firm of Cooley LLP until last year, when Gov. Brown appointed him special assistant to the secretary of the California Protection Agency.
Heidorn said that Oakland is at a critical juncture and that he has been meeting with district residents as he decides whether to become a candidate. "I'm considering running for City Council because I'd like to see a city that is safer; a City Hall that is more accountable to residents and greater partnership between the city, schools and businesses," he said in a prepared statement.
So far, the only declared candidate in the District 4 race is Jill Broadhurst, who finished second four years ago. The incumbent, Libby Schaaf, is running for mayor.
— Matthew Artz, Staff
san leandro
Suspect in robbery tied to other heists
A suspected bank robber apprehended just minutes after an armed heist at a U.S. Bank branch last week was identified Tuesday as an Oakland man and police said they've tied him to two other robberies in the city.
Michael Patillo, 27, was arrested following the Feb. 6 robbery at 1585 E. 14th St., San Leandro police Lt. Randy Brandt said.
Employees there told police they had been robbed at gunpoint just before noon. They provided police the details of the crime, including descriptions of the suspect and the vehicle he used to escape, Brandt said. Within minutes, police located the suspect's vehicle on East 14th Street, near Farrelly Drive. The vehicle was stopped and the suspect, who police identified as Patillo, was arrested and taken to jail, Brandt said.
Following his arrest, police said they connected him to two other San Leandro bank robberies. The first took place about 9:25 a.m., Jan. 3 at the same U.S. Bank branch, and the second took place at 9 a.m., Jan. 14 at the Bank of America branch at 1925 Marina Blvd.
During each heist, a male suspect displayed a handgun, demanded cash then fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of money.
Anyone with information about any of the robberies is asked to call police at 510-577-3230 or contact the anonymous tip line at 510-577-3278. Anonymous tips can by texting the word SLPD and the tip to 847411.
— Natalie Neysa Alund, Staff
san leandro
CHP officer injured helping motorists
A California Highway Patrol officer was taken to a hospital with injuries that were serious but not life-threatening Tuesday afternoon after he was rammed by a car while helping two stranded motorists.
CHP spokesman Officer Eric Thomas said a white Mitsubishi and a silver Buick were broken down on the Interstate 580 onramp to Fairmont Avenue about 2 p.m. when the officer stopped to help.
A silver Honda Civic, struck the Mitsubishi, which hit the officer.
— Natalie Neysa Alund and Kristin J. Bender, Staff


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One of the best presents my son received this Christmas is a box of TomTect, a contruction game I had never heard of before.
The box contains small pine boards (from renewable resources) and plastic crowbars which join the boards together– and that's it! It's so simple, so ingenious and so stylish!
My son jumped to it and started building immediately — a chair, an airplane… mostly simple things, but I just discovered that from the website you can download pdf instructions on how to build more complicated objects.
This game was invented by Tom van der Bruggen, a Dutch architect who moved to France and built a castle over a ruined farm. He is also the inventor of another contruction game called Kapla, which has been hugely successful in France.
My first impression of this toy could not be more favourable; it's one of those toys that will last for ages and the perfect thing to get the dads involved too!
Dutch, and an architect! Can't get any better! 😉
I've heard of Kapla, but this is new to me! Looks very cool!!!
This sounds great. It reminds me of Jenga (I think it's called) which my mother-in-law bought for my eldest – except this looks even cooler. Still searching for extra gifts for his 4th birthday so I'll have to check this out…
By the way, this is a fabulous blog. Please stop by my new blog when you get a minute.
It looks very cool. I'm sure my boys would be very into this! I'll add it to the birthday list.
My son spend hours with constructions. I just both this, and he love it!
Hope this would be apreciated by many


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QUAKER-ROOTS-L ArchivesArchiver > QUAKER-ROOTS > 1998-02 > 0887466394
From: <>
Subject: Nixon/Brinton connection
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 09:26:34 EST
With all this Presidential genealogy milling around, I thought I'd share what
I picked up many years ago when I first started genealogy with my cousin who
is a Brinton descendant on her dad's side. I believe this came from Burke's
Presidential Genealogies. I don't remember the exact title; it was before I
realized the importance of sources. I also apologize for not having written
down any dates. One final thing, I'm only reported what was in print; I have
not verified any of this:
1. Elizabeth Brinton, d/o William and Ann (Bagley) Brinton, m. Hugh Harry
2. John Harry m. Frances _____
3. Miriam Harry m. Record Hussey
4. Lydia Hussey m. Jacob Griffith
5. Amos Griffith m. Edith Price
6. Elizabeth Griffith m. Joshua Milhous
7. Franklin Milhous m. Almira Burdg
8. Hannah Milhous m. Francis Nixon
9. Richard Nixon, 37th Pres. of US
Karen Mullian
This thread:
|Nixon/Brinton connection by <>


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Celebration On Ice Soloist: Priscilla Partridge
The Skating Association of Maine presents Celebration on Ice at the Midcoast Recreation Center in Rockport on Saturday, December 8th from 5-7pm. Tickets for the event can be purchased at the door and Santa will be on-hand after the exhibition to skate with the audience! Many talented midcoast skaters will be featured, including Priscilla Partridge.
Priscilla is 9 years old and a student at Belgrade Central School. She first put on ice skates at the young age of 2 1/2 and started basic skills at 3 1/2.Priscilla is coached by Tanya Quigley and is currently in Freestyle 3. Priscilla participates in programs at all of SAM's rinks, MRC, Colby and The Bank of Maine Ice Vault. When she is not skating she enjoys dance and is active in student council and Green Fusion.


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Chris Brown is making headlines again with his most recent meltdown at Good Morning America. It's not affecting his fan base however, as his new album is on track to hit the #1 Billboard Spot.
Chris Brown's fourth album F.A.M.E., released yesterday, is on course to sell over 250,000 copies in its first week. Moral of the story, if you're Chris Brown… you can do whatever you want and people will still like you.


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Click Here to view this video.
Since January 30 four-star offensive lineman Grant Newsome has picked up seven offers from all over the country. The standout from Lawrenceville (N.J.) Lawrenceville Prep has added offers from Cincinnati, Miami, Michigan, Maryland, West Virginia, Louisville and, most recently, Ohio State.
Article Continues Below
"I don't know a whole lot about Ohio State," the 6-foot-7, 280-pound Newsome said. "I know they are a national powerhouse and I've talked with the coaching staff a few times. The football program really speaks for itself. I've been talking to coach (Ed) Warinner on and off over the past few weeks. He seems like a very good guy and very good coach. He's obviously doing something right over there. I have not visited Ohio State yet, but it is a place I would be very interested in seeing.
Newsome is a bit more familiar with Louisville, which he noted success earned a spot in a BCS bowl last year.
"I think I know a fair amount just from seeing them on TV and talking to their coaching staff," Newsome said. "It's definitely a school I would be interested in visiting and learning more about."
Newsome doesn't know much about West Virginia, but he is more familiar with the national programs.
"I know very little about West Virginia because I didn't follow them last year," he said. "It's a program that has had national powerhouse-like teams in the past and they have produced some great prospects. It's the type of school that I would be interested in.
"Miami is Miami. It's the same type of thing with Ohio State and Michigan. They are nationally recognized powerhouses and programs so I'm very interested in them."
With 20 offers, Newsome is trying to keep an open mind.
"I'm still pretty wide open to the whole process," said Newsome. "I have been communicating with all the school pretty frequently, so I know all the coaches pretty well. Academics are definitely going to affect my decision, but it won't be the deciding factor."
Newsome was planning on visiting Penn State this weekend but his basketball team advanced to the state semifinals and will play this weekend.
Adam Friedman is the Mid-Atlantic Region football recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. You can click here to follow him on Twitter.
Click Here to view this Link.


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Oguri, Inoue win Hashida Awards
The presentation ceremony of the 16th Hashida Awards for television took place on Saturday. The newcomer awards, which always receive the most attention, were given this year to actor Shun Oguri and actress Mao Inoue for their performances in drama series such as "Hana Yori Dango 2."
Other acting awards were presented to Tomohiro Sekiguchi, Mitsuko Kusabue, Kiichi Nakai, and the "Aibou" duo Yutaka Mizutani and Yasufumi Terawaki. Producer Kan Ishibashi, writers Ryoichi Kimizuka and Eriko Komatsu, and the drama series "Haken no Hinkaku" were also honored. Screenwriter Taichi Yamada was given a special prize.


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At 1 pound 8 ounces, the Hyperlite Backpacker A-sym drops seven ounces off of the popular Ultralite Backpacker A-sym. According to Tom Hennessy, this gets the Hyperlite very close to the 1 pound 4 ounce Light Racer A-sym hammock without the issues of shelter durability that come with his adventure racing-only models. The weight reduction is made through the use of lighter 1.1 ounce uncoated 30D nylon for the hammock and 1.3 ounce 30D silnylon for the fly.
In addition, Hennessy plans to switch the rainfly to an even-lighter 20D polyester early in 2007. This will bring the Hyperlite down to approximately 1 pound 5 ounces, effectively bumping the Light Racer A-sym out of the Hennessy line.
Alan Dixon power lounging in a Hennessy A-sym hammock.
For those unfamiliar with Hennessy A-sym hammocks, they use an asymmetrical design that puts the camper at a diagonal axis, giving a much flatter position than a traditional hammock. A bottom exit with Velcro closure, full bug netting with internal pocket, a ridgeline cord to maintain internal space, and a full-coverage rain fly round out the Hennessy design.
Features and Specifications
- 1 lb 8 oz (going to approx. 1 lb 5 oz in 2007)
- $219.95
- Comfortable for six-foot tall hikers
- 200 pound weight limit
- Includes bug netting, full fly, Velcro entrance closure, internal pocket
- Asymmetrical design for nearly-flat sleeping
Tom Hennessy showing off his prototype Cuben Fiber rainfly.
In addition, Tom showed us a prototype rainfly made out of Cuben Fiber fabric. When trading the Hyperlite fly for the Cuben Fiber fly, the hammock dropped and ADDITIONAL 7.4 ounces bringing the total Hyperlite/Cuben Fiber package to just 17.9 ounces.
The Hyperlite with a Cuben Fiber fly come in at 17.9 ounces with all components- an incredible weight for a full-length, fully-featured, and durable hammock.
We were excited to leave the Hennessy booth with both a Hyperlite Backpacker A-sym and an exclusive on the Cuben Fiber fly; look forward to both reviews at BackpackingLight.com.
Tom shows off his Automatic Fly Tensioner and Water Collection System.
A option now available on Hennessy hammocks is a simple 0.3 ounce plastic funnel that hangs from the rainfly guyline attachment(s). When it rains, water runs down the fly and into the bottle, adding tension to the rainfly at just the time that it typically starts to sag and leaving you with a bottle of fresh water in the morning. By using a simple filter such as noseeum netting, the crud stays out of the water.


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You thought it would never happen (and, at times, neither did we), but here's another episode of the PlayStation Fancast. Join the writers of PS3 & PSP Fanboy as we get the opportunity to chat with Naughty Dog's Richard Lemarchand. Two Englishmen in one episode? Surely not!
Episode 14 features Jem Alexander, Andrew Yoon, Nick Doerr and our special guest, Richard Lemarchand. This shortened episode mainly features our discussion with Richard about Uncharted and, among other things, its critical reception and the now iconic half-tuck. We'll have more episodes for you soon, promise!
Complete Show
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
[RSS] Add the PlayStation Fancast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. Use m.pspfanboy.com to add the show to your PSP system's RSS feeds.
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Fancast directly in iTunes.
As always, feel free to leave your comments with us, either here in the post or via email to Jem[at]Joystiq.com. Also, if you're a fan of the show, please join our PS Fanboy Facebook group.


text: Sake is a Japanese rice-based beverage that is fermented like wine. Officially, it is known as Seishu, and it is generally 15 percent to 17 percent alcohol. It is generally served hot and in bowls, though a new trend has it served chilled in a wine glass. Sake is made from water, rice, yeast and koji. (Koji is cooked rice "inoculated with a fermentation culture with the Latin name Aspergillus oryzae.") It is created when the starch in rice is fermented into sugars. Alcohol is then created by adding yeast.


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We try to select worthwhile books to review and recommend to our readers. We do that with awareness that while there are many good books and one cannot read them all, there are special books that we believe deserve special attention and have a unique role to fulfill. Walt Muller's Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture is one of those books. It is a book like Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey that plays a unique role in our mission to make kingdom disciples.
I have used Total Truth as a companion to my book, Making Kingdom Disciples, a New Framework, in several seminary classes. Now this will be a third required reading with Mueller's book. It is outstanding at representing solidly Reformed kingdom theology, with all the covenant ramifications, plus an up-to-date understanding of the rising generation. He demonstrates the importance of understanding the youth culture in order to communicate in a sensible and life-oriented manner.
Engaging The Soul of Youth Culture is not just another book on pop culture, but it is a book with solidly biblical and theological principles that enables Mueller to demonstrate an understanding of his target audience. One of his targets is the parents of teenagers. He writes to help them understand their children and the postmodern culture in which they are engulfed. He also writes for youth workers who work with parents in discipling their covenant children. He also writes for Christian educators who have regular contact with students in churches and schools. Mueller might include preachers and pastors in the Christian educators category but in case he doesn't, this a book for every pastor to read, even if his ministry is only to senior citizens.
Mueller and I agree that the kind of discipleship that is needed with the rising generation is transformational discipleship, which results in a kingdom lifestyle. We also agree that with the rising interest in spirituality among the young people, we must not necessarily equate that with true spirituality in the Christian sense but we must take advantage of that interest and seek to communicate the truth of the life changing Gospel of Christ. Most adults do not have a clue as to what is going on just under the surface in the life of most teens. Teens have questions and many are clumsily trying to voice those questions, but either we are not listening or we are not answering their questions. Mueller's plea is that the church and home must start listening to the young generation if we are committed to advancing the kingdom and reaching them with the truth.
Quoting the late Francis Schaeffer, Mueller writes, "If we try to talk to our young people before listening to their reality, we will only beat the air." And the tragedy is that most adults are not aware that they are not listening.
How can we help our youth find meaning to life and know how to address their unmet needs? Mueller concurs that the rising generation is finding it more and more difficult to make sense out of their world and where they fit into it.
Because the church and home are often failing to fill the instructional void in their lives, the media is stepping in a taking up the challenge. Unfortunately that message is often destructive and contrary to God's reality.
Mueller doesn't pull any punches in this book. For example, he doesn't hesitate to say that "In effect popular culture gives them (youth) purpose. Because it has listened to them, the young are returning the favor." The media is providing them "maps of reality" but not a reality that correlates to God's. There are numerous studies that indicate that young people are expressing their "religious interests, dreams, fears, hopes, and desires through popular culture." He says, "Once we know the reality of the young people, we can communicate the gospel in ways that can be heard and understood."
If I have not convinced you that you should read this book, I'll conclude with this statement from the author: "The church faces a moment of unprecedented opportunity. The youth culture is calling. If we fail to listen and faithfully respond, we're effectively telling them we don't care or we have nothing to say." The challenge is to listen before we speak so that when we speak, they will listen.


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What you ought to Find Out About Bail Ties8079
When you find yourself charged with a crime, getting arrested and passing time in jail can be an unknown and distressing expertise. Fortunately, because you are officially innocent right up until confirmed guilty, on many occasions a evaluate might let you be introduced till your seeing and hearing or trial. Nonetheless, the evaluate might purchase that you simply give some form of ensure which you will go back to face the costs in opposition to you before you could be unveiled from custody. This protection is named a Bail Relationship, plus it have to generally be changed onto the court such as money, residence, a trademark relationship, a protected relationship by way of a surety organization, or a combination of kinds. bail bonds denver
Bail bonds tend to be set in a official process referred to as a bail ability to hear. This is where the Assess fulfills using the accused individual (Defendant) and hears information regarding whether or not it is actually proper to set bail. If some types of bail bonds are now being regarded, similar to a secured connection or home relationship, the Evaluate will think about information regarding the Defendant's financial sources and also the types of what ever property or money will be utilized as collateral to the bail bond. If anyone else is going to be putting up bail for the Defendant, they can be regarded as a Surety and their finances can also be regarded.
Or home relationship
- Unlike cash bail, unique connections signify a Defendant is not going to should post any.
- While you are accused of a criminal offense, acquiring arrested and spending some time in prison can be.
- Company Surety Ties are bail bonds which are protected.
In case a Surety is involved with delivering bail, he needs to be current on the bail seeing and hearing together with the Defendant, and the Evaluate will tell each of them with regards to their different requirements and commitments. It is essential to note when the Defendant is not going to satisfy his commitments and appear for following hearings and court schedules, or if perhaps he violates any situations of his launch, the bail may be revoked and forfeited. So it is essential how the Surety has self confidence from the Defendant just before submitting bail.
Will tell each
Once the bail has become set up, it is very important be aware of the various bail options. "Money" bail may include income, nevertheless it typically be also paid for by accredited checks, cashier' s checks or dollars orders. It is essential for the person who blogposts the money bail to help keep the receipt they receive so they will be able to collect their reimburse after the terms of the bail have already been met. According to the amount of cash bail, it may also be required for the Defendant or Surety to finish tax forms like IRS Kind W-9 at the same time. bail bonds aurora
It is
Contrary to income bail, signature connections mean that a Defendant does not need to post any money or home as protection. Normally the Defendant only has to indication the appropriate varieties for the judge clerk in order to be launched. But it is essential to pay close attention to any circumstances or recommendations that this Evaluate has presented to make sure that Defendant recognizes what exactly he need to do to ensure his bail is not really terminated.
Has presented to make sure that Defendant
Company Surety Connections are bail connections that happen to be attached by Bail bondsmen. Usually the Defendant or even the Surety will pay ten percent of the overall bail add up to the bondsman, and also the Defendant or perhaps the Surety must have enough fiscal belongings which they could pay for the remainder of your bond when the bail is terminated or maybe if the Defendant will not fulfill the problems of his bail. Even if the Defendant does fulfill all of his bail situations, the 10Per cent remains to be the property of your bail bondsman and is not sent back for the defendant.
Bondsman and is not sent back for
Sometimes a Evaluate could agree House bonds as equity to have a bond. Usually Judge requires that the Defendant or Surety offer evidence of ownership in the property, plus an assessment of value, and a listing of any present statements or other encumbrances up against the house. bail bonds near me
Bonds near
Once the circumstances of bail are already achieved, the bail could be unveiled or delivered. Nevertheless, you should do not forget that this will not happen quickly. Normally the Surety, the Defendant or even the Defendant's lawyer or attorney should data file a movement or try taking a little other motion to recuperate the cash or home getting the bail. So check with the methods inside your circumstance and make sure how the proper techniques are adopted to achieve the bail delivered towards the appropriate individual.
You should do not forget
- bail bonds near arapahoe county jail.
- bail bonds near adams county jail.
- Company Surety Connections are bail connections which can be attached by Bail bondsmen. Usually Defendant or.
- As soon as the conditions of bail are.
- While you are accused of a.


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Ask the Experts
TRUVADA / PEPI took PEP / TRUVADA for 14 days (of the reuired post exposure 28 days) and got really sick with an unrelated illness & stopped for 7 days. any point in starting up again ?
Response from Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D.
Rocky Mountain CARES...Hello and thanks for your post.IMO, at this point, I think that you've derived the majority benefit of PEP; resuming treatment after a 7 day interruption (and 21 days after the exposure) probably won't add much.BY Read more »
Truvada as a PEP medicationI am a medical student who recently had a pericutanious stick with a 30 gauge anesthetic syringe. I... Read more »
TRUVADA PEPI had an unsafe encounter 48 hours ago, where a male of unknown status tried to penetrate me (I'm a... Read more »
FAQs About Truvada (Tenofovir/FTC) From The Body's "Ask the Experts" Forums... Starting Treatment | Switching Treatment | Dosage | Side Effects | Coinfections | Truvada as PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) | Availability Starting Treatment My HIV diagnosis has just been confirmed, although Read more »
Innovative Widget Provides N.Y. Emergency Rooms With PEP Info...received a grant from the New York State Department of Health to educate every provider in the state on post-exposure prophylaxis [PEP]; this includes how to diagnose acute HIV infection and HIV testing. We had this challenge, and we thought of... Read more »
Truvada Prevents Rectal HIV Infection in Monkeys...This animal study also explored the effectiveness of using Truvada shortly after an exposure to prevent infection, called PEP or Post-Exposure Prevention . PrEP studies using Truvada are ongoing in humans, but they use daily not intermittent... Read more »
Antes y Después: PrEP y PEP...aceptada, pero el uso antes de la exposición sigue siendo controversial. Esto es lo que conocemos acerca de ambas situaciones. PEPPEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis por sus siglas en inglés) Profilaxis Post Exposición en un principio demostró... Read more »
Connect With Others
So worried - 3 month test next week post-PEP
Posted by 5parkl3, 1 Reply...have my 3-month test on Monday, and I'm going out of my mind. I was sexually assaulted on 23rd October, and started taking PEP 15 hours later on 24th October, as although I was aware of one assailant, I had been drinking, and my memory has some... Read more »
Possible Exposure After Assault - So Scared
Posted by 5parkl3, 1 Reply...of becoming infected, but I have OCD about HIV, and am absolutely terrified. Because of the state I was in, they put me on PEP, (Kaletra and Truvada), which I started taking on the Sunday, about 15 hours after the incident. I realised at 5am on... Read more »
Possible exposure and ARS symptoms questions
Posted by dot1974, 1 Reply...next day, and he said my risk of HIV transmission was low to moderate, based on my being the receptive partner. He prescribed NPEP - Truvada for 28 days. I am about half way through that right now. He also did an STD screening, which on the... Read more »
Combivir only for PEP?
Posted by scaredofhiv, 1 Reply...Hi, I was prescribed Combivir for a PEP regimen as a precaution following a possible exposure. From what I can gather on the web, Combivir is typically prescribed in Read more »


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Dec 5, 2012
As the title suggests, just wondered if there is any other separated dads on here? If so say hello
My friend has separated from his ex years ago, his son is about 11 or 12 now. But he isn't allowed to see his boy on Christmas day. His ex girlfriend is a ruthless cow. He's gutted. It's always been agreed he'll have the boy certain days and it actually falls on the festive period and she refused point blank and he can only see his son boxing day instead! It's upsetting to know that.
A friend of mine had exactly the same problem, he took her to court and ended up getting a much better deal than he'd originally had, and now gets to see his boy every week, and a stay over every weekend, rules for christmas and holidays etc.
Bizzarely also, since the court case, the relationship between him and his ex has now become much better and they don't argue over or make things difficult for each other anymore, which is much better all round and certainly for his child too.
I don't think I'll be seeing my daughter on Christmas day either. Just when things seem to be going well my ex decides to stop contact again without giving any real reason. I've been through contact centers before but don't think I have any choice now but to take her to court.
They don't realise it's the children that get hurt in the end. Good luck TqsScott.
Exactly. My ex onlys cares about her self. Thanks mate.
I am not a separated dad but have a few friends who are/have been and from what I have seen is the mums use the children as pawns to meter out pain and misery upon the dads with not a care in the world for the poor children.
I've been separated from my wife for 3 years, we split access to my son 50/50, it's brilliant and we get on very well. At Christmas I normally stay over at hers so I get to see the wee guy (5) open his presents.
Only down side is when you meet a girl who can't handle that......last girlfriend was so insecure and jealous.
Does your ex live with someone/seeing someone else? Does he mind you staying the night?
Seen that to many times with friends...Its the last turn off the knife and a lot of women seem to love it...
But then again, there are nutcase fathers and the mother does it to protect their young. No one should be judged unless the situation is fully understood.
Yes - ex moved out with our daughter just before Christmas, took her away for Christmas. I was gutted but didn't feel as bad as I thought I would. She is unreasonable, but at least I don't have it 24/7 now. See our daughter regularly, maybe not as much as I'd like, but it'll have to do for now. I don't have the time or cash for Courts and Lawyers.....
It's sad, annoying and uncalled for but it happens.
Seen it happen to many times and way to close to home.
Separate names with a comma.


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Why get an artificial limb?
Artificial limbs are designed to help individuals who are missing a foot, leg, hand, or arm. This missing limb may be the result of an accident, a necessary amputation, or a deficiency, which is where an individual is born without the limb. While prosthetic limbs do not function like a natural extremity, they can allow the person to walk or carry things again. Additionally, some people are self-conscious about a missing body part. A prosthetic leg or foot, for example, can have a shoe attached and be covered with clothing.
How do I get an artificial limb?
Artificial limbs are obtained from a trained professional who specializes in making prosthetic limbs. Artificial limbs are custom made for each wearer, so these experts will need to take measurements of the site of the amputation or limb deficiency. This specialist, with input from your doctor, will also help you figure out a suitable rehabilitation schedule, which will include plenty of physical therapy and maybe even counseling.
How long will it take for me to get my prosthetic?
Prosthetic limbs take some time to make. Even after it is made, you may not be ready to use it right away. The amputation site needs to heal completely before you can use your artificial limb. Additionally, your doctor may have you use a lightweight, temporary prosthetic for a while before you are ready to use your permanent one. This process usually takes anywhere from one to six months, though it could take longer if you do not follow your rehabilitation schedule.
What can I expect once I have gotten my permanent artificial limb?
Many people who wear prosthetic limbs are able to return to their previous activity levels and lifestyles, but this can only be accomplished with hard work and determination. Regular movement and physical therapy are big parts of the rehabilitation process.


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One of the most basic guides to a company's worth. Look for companies whose stocks trade at 19 times projected earnings or less.
It seems you can't open the business section of your local newspaper without seeing some mention of P/Es. The reason: it's a simple measure to come by, and one that's relatively easy to remember. To find out a company's P/E, all you have to do is divide its share price by either its earnings for a full year as reported to the public or by Wall Street projections, figures you can find on Zacks.
As convenient as P/Es are, there's a catch in using them. Alston Paige says that companies often can reconfigure earnings in a number of different ways, according to how they report items like the depreciation of assets. For that reason, we've placed P/Es down a bit on our list of screening criteria.
As with price-to-book value figures, we suggest that you aim for two-thirds of the market's going rate. Currently, with the S&P 500 trading at 28 times projected 1999 earnings, look for stocks in the neighborhood of 19 times earnings or less. Some stocks fitting the bill include mortgage banker Doral Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: DORL), with a P/E of 10.8, and savings bank Peoples Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq: PBKB), trading at 7.2 times forward earnings.
Return on equity: Used to separate the cheap stocks from the duds, ROE shows how efficient management is with your investment. Look for a ROE of 15 or better.
Value investing pros will tell you there's a tricky twist to their business: sometimes the cheap stocks have been discounted for a good reason. Sometimes their managements are out of touch, their businesses declining or their market share evaporating.
Fortunately, there's a good way to measure if corporate executives are actually putting your invested funds to work. Return on equity, or ROE, helps show how successful a company is at its business. Investment pros will tell you that a higher ROE shows that a corporation is working to get the most out of the funds it has to invest in technology, new manufacturing processes or key personnel. Our recommendation: look for a discount to the S&P 500's current ROE of 20. We suggest that you aim for a ROE of 15 or better. A good example: surety bond concern CNA Surety (NYSE: SUR), with a ROE of 17.3.
Dividend yield: management's reward to the investor, a yield is a steady stream of income you can bank on. Look for a yield of 1.2% or better.
A dividend yield is a company's way of sharing a portion of its profits with quarterly distributions sent to shareholders. It's a bonus payment that makes value investors feel happy and safe at the same time. For one, it's a return on an investment that anyone owning the stock can pocket. Better yet, it's a way to safeguard shares from a sudden shift in the market. Pros like Eley will tell you that when the overall market drops, shares of companies


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PSCU Offers Write-ups on Mobile, Online, Call Centers
PSCU Financial Services is offering two new white papers on call centers and online and mobile banking services for credit unions.
The first - "Using Online Tools and Services to Attract and Retain Members" - includes the experience of the $1.6 billion Texas Dow Employees CU in Lake Jackson, Texas, and the $371 million Visterra CU in Moreno Valley, Calif.
Both said they saw increases in deposits, loans and other services driven by online access through their websites, Facebook, Twitter and other social media tools aimed at attracting Gen Yers.
The second paper focuses on cost and service advantages of outsourcing call center services. Best practices for a vendor search are advised, such as looking at single-call resolution and abandoned call rates and ensuring that customizable scripts that can be changed in real time are included.


text: I have a friend in her early 20's who would like to start using an AE-1 that she inherited from her father. She has the excellent SSC 50/1.4, however being the generation who grew with with digi-zooms she really wanted a zoom. When I tried to explain HCB and 50mm fov etc, she tells me about her friend who tae excellent cell phone photos with no zoom. However she also played with my Oly Trip 35 with Tri-x, developed and printed herself and she is so happy with the result. Can APUG suggest a light weight zoom in FD mount that can be carried around? It should be something that is versatile enough for her to explore her photographic vision but not too heavy so she won't be carrying it around.


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New Christmas 4 Foot Tall Lighted Pop-Up Snowman
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- Sold Date:
- Source: eBay
New Christmas 4 Foot Tall Lighted Pop-Up Snowman
Christmas 2007
He stands over 4 feet tall and comes complete with a "carrot" nose.With "branches" for arms and "coal" for eyes, he wears a tall top hat, a scarf and buttons down his front. This cute-as-can-be yard decoration (25" dia.) simply pops open and folds flat again for easy storage. A metal base and guidelines keep the snowman steady. Features a UL-Listed light inside with a 40" cord. Made of nylon, metal and plastic. Item#835474016 Lak.
PAYMENT IS DUE WITHIN 7 DAYS of Auction End or I will have no choice but to report the Unpaid Item to Ebay and relist it. If you need more time to pay please let us know. If you win an item and your feed back is 15 or below we have the right to cancel your bid and offer the item to another buyer. Winning bidder must notify us within 24 hours of auction end to let us know when payment and what type of payment will be made.We accept Money Orders and WE DO NOT ACCEPT PERSONAL CHECKS! Please allow 7-10 business days for item to ship after payment is received. This item is in stock at the time of listing. If in the unlikely event this item becomes on backorder you can either choose to wait on the item or request a full refund. If the item becomes sold out an immediate refund will be issued. Insurance ... read more


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KNOCK Doorbells
Although KNOCK Doorbells offers new door chimes for sale, it's really their selection of vintage chimes that's got us ringing with excitement. Offering a selection of longbells (which produce the richest, fullest notes), resonators (xylophone style), compacts (for smaller spaces) and other unique doorbell contraptions, KNOCK Doorbells is both a retailer and historic resource of the humble modern door bell worth giving a buzz.
Taking a look at the selection, we realized that we grew up with the Nutone LA12 Contour model in our 1970's Valley tract home, hich can be had for $75 for the classic ding-dong effect of our childhood. But if we had our way, we'd be ringing in the guests with one of these mid-century Miami-Carey Starburst door bells. There's also Deco era bells and Mod era doorbells, amongst a range of era specific designs to fit into most any home made before 1980.