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Four years ago, I was sitting on my couch in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania (yes, that's a real place) and watched with great pleasure as my two footballing nations, England and the United States, were drawn together for the group stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Early on Friday morning I was again on my couch, this time in Seattle's Central District, and witnessed two painful scenarios unfold for both countries.
England, barely an afterthought heading into next summer's tournament in Brazil, were grouped with perennial powerhouse Italy, 2010 fourth-place side Uruguay and a very tricky Costa Rican bunch. No easy task.
Across the pond, things were not nearly as sunny as the United States, my adopted homeland, were presented with the herculean task of advancing from a group featuring Germany, old friends Ghana and The United Republic of Cristiano Ronaldo (aka Portugal). Easily the toughest group of the eight in the tournament.
That, my friends, is just the tippy top of the iceberg. The storylines that came out of the draw are seemingly endless. And given that I am the way that I am, I want to inform you all regarding some of the major narratives that will ever-so-slowly unfold over the next six months…before the brazuca (the 2014 World Cup match ball) is even kicked. In order of the groups, of course, here are a few of the highlights:
Group A (Brazil, Mexico, Croatia, Cameroon)
Host nation Brazil are the favorites for the tournament. Hands down. They haven't lost a competitive match on home soil since 1975. That's nearly FORTY YEARS. Chances that changes next summer in the pandemonium that is the World Cup? Slim to none…and slim went to watch Brazil win its games. Mexico snuck into the tournament at the last minute and should potentially be seen as a favorite to be the runner-up in this group ahead of Cameroon and a spotty Croatia side.
Group B (Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia)
Thought the 2010 World Cup was fun? How about a rematch of that epic final between Spain and Netherlands on the second day of 2014's tournament? Nigel de Jong may not be there so we'll be short a little Kung Fu…but maybe we'll see some Capoeira instead, given the host nation and all. Regardless, a very interesting group with a hot Chile (see what I did there?) rounding out the top three with Australia probably preferring to stay home.
Still have to bank on Spain and Netherlands to advance, despite the Oranje's dedication to self-implosion on the international stage.
Group C (Colombia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Greece)
One of the softer groups in the tournament - Colombia, Ivory Coast, Japan and Greece will battle it out. Could provide some of the most entertaining soccer here though as the four squads are pretty evenly matched. Colombia should be the favorite and, if Drogba is on (this will be his last World Cup…so he will be), Ivory Coast should follow.
Also, someone get Colombia boss Jose Pekerman to a few Sporting CP matches. They have this guy Fredy Montero who is doing real good stuff right now.
Group D (Italy, England, Uruguay, Costa Rica)
England's tough Group D is up next. The Three Lions met Italy in last summer's Euro 2012 tournament at the quarterfinal stage, and as England tends to do, it was defeated in an elimination match, though not without a spirited display. Should be another good pairing at the World Cup as the two traditional powers always put on a show.
Speaking of a show, Uruguay is led by Luis Suarez, Liverpool's mercurial frontman. A man who is in the news for all kinds of reasons, he will definitely be a handful for all other teams in the group…and that's not even mentioning PSG's fantastic Edinson Cavani.
Tough luck Costa Rica. Won't be CONCACAF's best showing.
Group E (Switzerland, France, Honduras, Ecuador)
France sneaks into the World Cup through the playoffs after being on the edge against the Ukraine…and now this. A very manageable group for Les Bleus featuring a Switzerland side who should finish in second place with the two remaining clubs pushing the top half of the group. Definitely one primed for upsets.
Group F (Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria)
Leo Messi and Argentina are the class of this group by far. Nigeria didn't always impress through qualifying and Bosnia and Herzegovina had the easiest UEFA group of the lot.
This is the year that Messi needs to prove himself on the international level. Argentina haven't made it past the quarterfinals of the World Cup with him in the team and haven't made a final since 1990. Doing it on the home turf of its biggest rival would be a huge boost to Messi's credentials and may finally help pull him out of Maradona's shadow.
Group G (Germany, Portugal, Ghana, United States)
You could write a book on the storylines that are overflowing out of this group. Literally pouring over the edges. The U.S. media is going to have a six-month field day.
First of, we have Germany. The model football nation on planet earth. From top to bottom, few do it better than the Germans. A product of said pristine system is none other than USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, one of the European nation's BEST EVER talents. That sure is saying something considering it has won three World Cups and three European Championships. Klinsmann is third overall in the team's scoring charts with 47 goals in 108 matches. He also won the 1990 World Cup and Euro 1996
But it gets better…
While coaching the German national team from 2004-2006, Klinsmann's assistant was Joachim Low, the man who followed him into the hot seat, and the man who essentially is his apprentice. This is like soccer Star Wars and I haven't even made it to Ghana.
The African side has played a huge role in the USA's fate over the last two World Cups as it knocked it of the quarterfinals in 2010 and the Group Stage in 2006. Just something about those Black Stars that we can't figure out.
And Portugal…they have Ronaldo who is [American company] Nike's biggest soccer athlete by a massive stretch and who has often stated his love for the States. To further that, we beat the European side in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup, which put it on the road to elimination in the tournament.
So yeah, Group G is a good one.
Group H (Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea)
Another of the weaker groups in the tournament, Group H is led by the scintillating talents of Belguim, who has quickly risen in many people's minds as being one of the world's top talents. Hazard, Lukaku, Witsel are a few names to watch in what could be a very good group stage for the Belgians. Russia should finish second but you never know with those South Koreans who had an unforgettable run to the semifinals in 2002.
Storylines of the 2014 World Cup Group Stage
Four years ago, I was sitting on my couch in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania (yes, that's a real place) and watched with great pleasure as my two footballing nations, England and the United States, were drawn together for the group stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.


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LP-A Teacher of the Year reaches toward the 'STARs' -- Hogie helps her FACS, FCCLA students shine academically and competitively
Lake Park-Audubon High School teacher Cheryl Hogie loves what she does for a living, and it shows.
"I always wanted to be a teacher," she says.
Ever since her two great aunts, also teachers, started giving her their discarded books and classroom materials when she was a young girl, Hogie has been teaching anyone who would listen -- including dolls, pets and family members.
"One summer, I taught Vacation Bible School in a one-room schoolhouse for children ages 3-12," she said. "That gave me a taste of what it was like to teach -- in the same schoolhouse where one of my great aunts had taught classes."
And ever since those early days of teaching imaginary classrooms full of students, Hogie has had a favorite subject: Food and Consumer Sciences (FACS), which was once known as Home Economics.
"I just loved everything we studied during those classes in high school," she says, noting that FACS covers a wide range of subject areas.
One of the things she loved most about it as a student, Hogie says, is that "it taught me things I could use today instead of 2-3 years down the road."
That enthusiasm for her subject matter has continued through to Hogie's current position as a FACS teacher at LP-A -- a position she has held since she and husband Dale (currently superintendent of LP-A Public Schools) moved to the district with their two children in 2000.
And it was that same enthusiasm that undoubtedly played a role in Hogie's selection as LP-A Teacher of the Year for 2007-08.
"I was extremely humbled," Hogie says of her reaction when she learned about her selection. "There are so many other teachers who do wonderful work in the classroom -- they work just as hard if not harder than I do, but they just don't get the recognition."
Hogie notes that the success of the FCCLA program (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) program -- for which she is the advisor -- has garnered a lot of attention, within the district and elsewhere.
"The FCCLA has been very successful here," she says. "When I came here in 2000, we had 12 members -- this year, we have 64. That's a 35 percent increase in membership alone."
Hogie has also seen 22 of her students advance to national competition since 2004. Of those 22 students, 17 have come home with gold medals, and five with silver.
The FCCLA's national STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events competition includes a series of competitive events in which members are recognized for proficiency and achievement in chapter and individual projects, leadership skills, and career preparation. STAR Events offer individual skill development and application of learning through cooperative, individualized and competitive activities.
The next STAR event for LP-A is a regional competition at Wadena on Feb. 25. Gold medal winners in that competition will advance to state competition, and the top competitors in each of the 20 STAR events will advance to nationals in Orlando, Fla.
One of the things many people may not know about FCCLA, Hogie said, is that all the students participate on a volunteer basis.
"They do it because they're such great kids -- they get no extra credit for it," she says. "They do these volunteer projects because they want to make a positive impact in the community."
When Hogie is not teaching or acting as FCCLA advisor, she and Dale are busy raising their two children: Braeden, 17, who is a junior at LP-A High School in Lake Park, and Breann, 12, who is a sixth grader at LP-A Elementary in Audubon.
A native of Shelly, Minn., Hogie went to high school at what is now known as Norman County West. She went to Minnesota State University Moorhead for two years before finalizing her bachelor's degree in FACS at North Dakota State University in Fargo.
She later completed a master's degree in education administration at NDSU as well.
But it was while she was working as an FACS teacher and high school principal in Sykeston, N.D. -- which involved a 46-mile commute each day -- that Hogie realized having two school administrators in the same family meant that she and her husband hardly ever saw each other. (Dale was serving as a superintendent at both Fessenden and Bowdon, N.D., at that time.)
"We decided that one of us needed to get out of school administration," she said.
So when the positions for an FACS teacher and a high school principal opened up at LP-A at the same time, the Hogies decided it sounded like an ideal opportunity.
"Our children were younger, and we wanted to be closer to family," Hogie adds.
Now, she says, she can't imagine working in a school district where she doesn't know all her students -- and their parents -- by name.
"We're a small enough school that we get to know all our students on a first-name basis," she says.
"I think we have such a dynamic and supportive administration and school board, and such top-notch teachers," she continued, "that we have the ability to individualize (curriculum) for student needs...
"There are more opportunities to say this student or that student needs individual attention. It's a very supportive system."

subset: commoncrawl


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SAS Certification $99
NOTE- You will be given a reference e-book to read which has 360 pages And the test will be based on that e-book , you can take the test only after 10 days Of purchase.
Introduction to Statistical Analysis System (SAS)
Statistical analysis system (SAS) is a software program which defines a series of operations that can be executed on stored data in the form of tables. Although there are graphical user interfaces for SAS that are used by non-programmers, note that the majority of the interfaces are often front-end and works in automating and facilitating the effective SAS program generation. All the functions of the major components of the SAS program can be accessed with the help of application programming interfaces that come in statements and procedures form. It should also be noted that SAS is divided in three basic parts and these are the DATA step, macro language which is popular for being a meta-programming language and procedure steps which refer to all the elements that are not included in the DATA step. SAS also works in providing a more integrated and scalable software environment which is primarily intended for data access, reporting and transformation. SAS is also capable of offering the following benefits and useful features:
Brainmeasures SAS Certification Program
If you want to know exactly what is SAS and the many things that it can do especially in the field of programming, then you should consider enrolling in the Brainmeasures SAS certification program. The guaranteed reliability of Brainmeasures as well as its ISO certification can give you a hundred percent assurance that you will receive nothing but the best from enrolling in its offered SAS course. This online certification course aims to provide all its participants with a high level of knowledge in the field of Statistical Analysis System (SAS) by making sure that they continuously receive a comprehensive and detailed SAS training until the end of the program. With the help of the SAS certification course from Brainmeasures, you will become more familiar about all the features installed in the software as well as the many benefits that it can offer especially when it comes to programming. Before Brainmeasures will supply you with your certificate, you have to prepare yourself for the SAS certification exam which forms a huge part of the program. Passing the exam shows that you are already an expert when it comes to using SAS so you can expect Brainmeasures to finally give you your SAS certificate.
Highlights of the SAS Certification Program from Brainmeasures
The SAS certification program offered by Brainmeasures is a huge help especially if you are planning to gain a full understanding about this specific software program. With the SAS certification program from Brainmeasures, you get the chance to become a master of the following topics:
Beneficiaries of the SAS Certification Program
The SAS certification program which you can now access at Brainmeasures targets anyone who wishes to gather information about the steps and procedures involved in writing SAS programs. It is also ideal for freshers, business and IT professionals and programmers who already know the basics of SAS but want to further improve their knowledge about the software. It is a huge help when it comes to advancing their career in the industry.
Job Opportunities after Completing a SAS Certification Course
You will never find it hard to get a job after you complete your SAS certification course considering the many business organizations that require the services of experts in using and running the software. As soon as you complete your SAS certification course, you can start applying for any of the following positions:
Expected Salary for SAS Certification Holders
SAS certification holders earn a decent sum of money. This means that you get the chance to improve your financial stability as soon as you start using your SAS certification to get highly profitable jobs. If you work as a SAS developer, then you can expect your annual earnings to go from $69,000 to $113,000. Working in an engineering position related to SAS allows you to earn an average annual salary of $112,000 while being a SAS solutions architect gives you the opportunity to receive an average annual salary of $121,000. If you hold managerial positions after completing your SAS certification course, then your annual salary can go from $120,000 to $181,000.
We Guarantee Brainmeasures Certifications Are Just Worth
Brainmeasures is an ISO 9001-2008 certified company, Brainmeasures is a leading online skill testing company. Our certifications are acknowledged by employers worldwide. Reason behind this trust is our world class testing standards. Brainmeasures offers skills tests in over 1200 varied fields and over 100 professionally developed courses and certification programs.
What will you Receive from Enrolling in the Online Courses Offered by Brainmeasures?
1.Course Material
You will receive course material in a format of an e-book and final certification
exam is entirely based on the provided course material
2.Hard Copy Certificate
On successfully clearing the certification exam you will Get a laminated hard
copy certificate Of your accomplishment depicting your feat, which will be mailed
to your provided address free of cost. Have a look at Hard Copy Certificate
3.Postal charges of hard copy certificate is absolutly free
No extra charges for Postal of the certificate to your place
4.Soft Copy Certificate
You can download the soft copy of your certificate immediately on taking the test
from your individual account.
5.Transcript ID
Using your transcript ID you can showcase your results online to your employer
by just going to Brainmeasures home page, your complete result report will appear.
6.Result Forwarding Facility
Using this feature you can send your scores to your employer and friends by using
through e-mail.


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How to Lose the Burden of Worry
Dave and I have four kids. While they were growing up-and sometimes even now-it seemed like one would have something going wrong at any given time and the others would be doing fine. Guess which one would enter my mind in the middle of the night? Which one was I thinking about when I woke up in the morning? You got it right: the one who needed help.
Why did I have to dwell on the one negative thing that was happening? Why don't I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about good things? In other words, why do we all have to fight negative thoughts? Because Satan is always tempting us to doubt God's power-and too often, we give in to his deception.
We may think we trust God, but if our minds are filled with worry, it shows we have room to grow. See, we like to have a backup plan just in case God doesn't come through for us, but that's exactly what the devil wants. He wants us to act like God doesn't exist.
Who's in Control of Your Thoughts?
Whenever one of my kids was in trouble, I would constantly be thinking of ways to solve their problems, all the while forgetting that God was in control. Satan loved that. I allowed him to control my thoughts-and my negative attitude did more harm than good.
Dave, on the other hand, was concerned but still maintained his calm demeanor while I fretted about things I couldn't control. I'm not saying we shouldn't be concerned about people who are in need, but we can't let negative circumstances control our thoughts or emotions. What we need to do is learn to trust God.
What Good Is Worrying, Anyway?
When we lose our faith connection to God, we're powerless to help anyone. No one is ever helped by our worry or fear-based emotions. Actually, when you think about it, worry is a sin because it separates us from God-and it causes us to play right into the devil's hand.
I used to let other people's struggles affect my happiness. If they weren't happy, there was no way I was going to be happy. The opposite was also true: If I wasn't happy, I didn't want anyone around me to be happy. I remember getting so angry with Dave because when I was upset, he would not feel sorry for me!
I finally learned that everyone is responsible for their own attitude.
If someone decides they're not going to be happy, it's not your problem. You don't have to spend your time and energy trying to cheer up someone who has already decided to stay in a bad mood. Believe it or not, you can actually hurt people by playing into their self-pity.
Practical Steps to a Positive Attitude
Think positively about every situation. Decide that no matter what happens, you will have a positive outlook. Apply what the Bible says in Philippians 4:8, "Whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]."
I may never be the kind of person who is positive about everything, but I know I can choose my thoughts and attitudes-and so can you.
You can choose to not be offended. You can choose to be content. You can choose to forgive people. You can choose not to stay angry or upset. And, one of the most important things I have ever discovered, you can choose to press past your feelings and do what the Word of God says you can do, whether you feel able to or not.
Reasons to Keep On Learning
Adopting a positive mindset is like sowing a seed that will grow to be fruitful because of God's faithfulness.
Think of all your bad attitudes and the blessings they have kept you from receiving!
Negative thinking limits God, and it limits your potential to grow in Christ. But when you open up your mind to a positive, "can do" attitude, you are essentially telling God that He can begin to move in your life.
Don't let negative thoughts get in the way of your faith. Trust God to get you through everything the devil throws at you. Your attitude of trust will strengthen your relationship with God and help you move forward in His plans for your life.


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TaskFactory.FromAsync<TArg1, TArg2, TResult> Method (Func<TArg1, TArg2, AsyncCallback, Object, IAsyncResult>, Func<IAsyncResult, TResult>, TArg1, TArg2, Object)
Creates a Task<TResult> that represents a pair of begin and end methods that conform to the Asynchronous Programming Model pattern.
Namespace: System.Threading.Tasks
Assembly: mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)
public Task<TResult> FromAsync<TArg1, TArg2, TResult>(
Func<TArg1, TArg2, AsyncCallback, Object, IAsyncResult> beginMethod,
Func<IAsyncResult, TResult> endMethod,
TArg1 arg1,
TArg2 arg2,
Object state
Type Parameters
- TArg1
The type of the first argument passed to the beginMethod delegate.
- TArg2
The type of the second argument passed to beginMethod delegate.
- TResult
The type of the result available through the Task<TResult>.
- beginMethod
- Type: System.Func<TArg1, TArg2, AsyncCallback, Object, IAsyncResult>
The delegate that begins the asynchronous operation.
- endMethod
- Type: System.Func<IAsyncResult, TResult>
The delegate that ends the asynchronous operation.
- arg1
- Type: TArg1
The first argument passed to the beginMethod delegate.
- arg2
- Type: TArg2
The second argument passed to the beginMethod delegate.
- state
- Type: System.Object
An object containing data to be used by the beginMethod delegate.
Return ValueType: System.Threading.Tasks.Task<TResult>
The created Task<TResult> that represents the asynchronous operation.
The exception that is thrown when the beginMethod argument is null.
The exception that is thrown when the endMethod argument is null.
For a list of the operating systems and browsers that are supported by Silverlight, see Supported Operating Systems and Browsers.


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It turns out people admire Glenn Beck more than the Pope, an Australian rugby superstar captured headlines when he decided to delay a mission, a student reporter followed missionaries into a tense situation and the LDS Church's family history program gets play in Canada.
Glenn Beck fourth on most admired list
The Gallup Poll released its list of the most admired men and women of 2009 and LDS member Glenn Beck is a bit more admired than Pope Benedict XVI, Rev. Billy Graham, but less than Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Nelson Mandela.
According to the annual survey of Americans, Hilary Clinton, Sarah Palin and Oprah Winfrey are the most admired women.
Beck certainly has his detractors. Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank had this to say about the Beck admiration:
"The 45-year-old recovering alcoholic and Mormon convert has become the first true demagogue of the information age. His nightly diet of falsehoods and conspiracies on Fox, and his daily outrages on the radio, have propelled his popularity past even Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity. His method is simple: He goes places where others are forbidden by conscience."
Rugby star in Australia delays mission
Glenn Beck may be big in the U.S., but Israel Folau is making headlines down under.
The Herald Sun reports:
"Brisbane superstar Israel Folau has revealed he will shelve plans to embark on a religious mission for at least five years to dedicate his prime years to the Broncos. With the Broncos returning to pre-season training tomorrow, Folau gave the club its first coup of the new year by declaring he had no intention of quitting Brisbane mid-contract to fulfil a two-year sabbatical for his church. Two years ago, Folau, a devout Mormon and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, rocked the NRL when he spoke publicly of his desire to temporarily quit the game and seek an overseas religious posting."
Missionaries in the news
A student reporter at the University of Florida's Independent Florida Alligator followed around a pair of missionaries including an encounter with a 12-guage shotgun. This is a nice line from the article:
"As (Elder) Tate firmly jerked at the passenger's side handle to the 2006 red Toyota Corolla that would take him away from the madness, he couldn't help but give way to a sweeping tide of sadness. Behind the pitch-black darkness that blanketed pine trees and mobile homes lived a soul — a thriving, beautiful soul that wanted to reach out for
something more. Salvation would have to wait."
Family history story picked up by Canadian Press
The story from the Kitchener (Ontario) Record which ran in many newspapers has a memorable lead paragraph:
"Some families can't get enough of gathering around the dinner table for each and every holiday. For others, the time spent with parents and siblings, aunts and uncles just feels like an eternity. But for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), keeping the family together forever is among their principal pursuits — and they have the resources to help them."


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Carol R. Rose, 74, formerly of Spencer, passed away Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at Burbank Parke Center in Burbank. She was born November 5, 1938 in Wadsworth, to Milton and Hattie Fuller Wolf and was a Spencer High School graduate. She married Jesse (Jug) Rose January 11, 1958.
Carol had been a cook for the Black River School System. She was a member of the Spencer Pythian Sisters Lodge, West Salem OES and Spencer First Baptist Church.
Surviving are daughter, Stacie (Tom) Michalak of Spencer; son, Bryan (Cheryl) Rose of Homerville; grandchildren, Aaron Rose of Homerville, Jarod (friend Aimee) Rose of Aurora, Jessica (Tony) Sciortino of West Salem, Carol (Corey) Mullet of Ashland; three great-grandchildren; and sister, Alice Coe of Ashland.
She was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Hayden Coe; husband, Jesse (Jug); brothers, Earl, Edward and Paul Coe; and sister, Evelyn Louise.
Funeral service will be Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 11 A.M., at the Parker & Son Funeral Home, 202 East Main St., Spencer. Pastor Jeff Mullet will officiate. Burial will follow at Spencer Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, January 4, 2013, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M., at the funeral home. Pythian Sister Lodge service will be at 7:45 P.M.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Spencer First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 127, Spencer OH 44275 or Hospice and Palliative Care of Greater Wayne Co., 2525 Back Orrville Rd., Wooster OH 44691.
Online tributes may be shared at www.parkerfuneralhomes.com


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The ALS Annular Flow Sub has been designed to allow switching of flow between the annulus and Through-Bore of a Coiled Tubing BHA
Flow is diverted once per run by circulating a drop-ball to the tool. The tool configuration can be changed on location to suit requirements.
The tool is fitted with a receptacle which can hold various nozzle sizes and blanks. The tool can be configured such that the majority of flow is directed to the annulus and the remainder is directed through the BHA. Alternatively, a blank plug can be fitted which will direct all flow to the annulus. This can be especially useful when running inflatable packers as it helps to ensure the packer will not inflate prematurely.
When the required depth is reached, a drop-ball is pumped to the Annular Flow Sub. An increase in pressure will be observed as the ball seats in the tool. When the pins in the tool are sheared, the tool is activated and surface pressure will be observed to reduce. The annulus ports are sealed and flow is directed through the bore of the BHA.
Design Features
- Single Use Per Run
- Surface Indication of Successful Activation
- Controlled Setting of Inflatable Down-Hole Components
- Can be Fitted With Various Nozzles, or Blanks to Suit Requirements
- Allows Flow to be Fully or Partially Diverted Between the Annulus and BHA Bore
Tool Specification
|Tool OD
|Tensile Yield
|Torsional Yield
|Standard Drop
Ball Sizes
|Pressure Rating
|Standard Connections
|102,000 lbs
|1,600 ft-lbs
|5,000 psi
|170,000 lbs
|3,900 ft-lbs
|5,000 psi
- Other sizes and connections available on request
- Standard and H2S service versions available
- Yield values shown are for standard service tools


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YAROSLAVL, Russia, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- A memorial service and benefit concert were held in Russia Sunday to honor the victims of the deadly plane crash that wiped out a professional hockey team.
The memorial in Yaroslavl, the home base of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, was held in accordance with Orthodox tradition, the RIA Novosti news service reported.
Under Orthodox doctrine, special prayers for the dead are offered nine and 40 days after death and then at regular intervals afterward.
Lokomotiv's charter plane went down Sept. 7 shortly after departing for a road game in Minsk. The crash killed 43 people.


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U.S. Rep. Jim Himes should be re-elected to a third term representing the 4th District.
Mr. Himes has been just the voice this district has needed. In his four years representing southwestern Connecticut, Mr. Himes has proven to be a moderate Democrat who votes his conscience and has a track record of working across party lines — no small accomplishment in this Congress.
On issues like a budget deal based around the framework of the Simpson-Bowles Commission he has been leading the charge. To his credit, Mr. Himes recognizes that Simpson-Bowles has deficiencies and says he is open to bipartisan negotiation on the package to make improvements.
On the Financial Services Committee he has been a leader when it comes to fiscal responsibility. At the same time, he is thoughtful and compassionate, and he brings to both domestic and foreign policies a cool head and an impressive skill set.
Republican challenger Steve Obsitnik offers some innovative ideas — not the least of which is his pledge to serve no more than eight years so that he cannot be influenced by special interests — and he is to be commended for running a positive, issue-driven campaign, but Democrat Jim Himes clearly remains the better choice.
U.S. Senate
Connecticut is in the midst of one of the hottest Senate races in the country, with poll after poll showing the race will come down to the wire. But the choice in this race should be a simple one. Democrat Chris Murphy has earned the chance to represent our state.
Through his time in the state legislature and then three terms in Congress, Mr. Murphy has shown he knows how to be a legislator, working across the aisle for the greater good. He will bring commonsense solutions to areas like Medicare and Social Security, and advocate for the kind of foreign policy that protects America and its allies but doesn't push us into needless wars.
Republican Linda McMahon has run an advertising campaign more than a political campaign. For all the hype around "Linda's plan," the simple fact is that Ms. McMahon has run a largely issue-free campaign. She has left us wondering where her cuts in government spending would come from, how her tax cuts would be applied and just what she would vote to do with Social Security and Medicare. We still don't know where she stands on vital foreign policy issues. On the issue of reproductive choice, Ms. McMahon may claim to be pro-choice, but is she?
On women's health, the economy, jobs, and many other issues critical to our lives, Mr. Murphy has a proven track record. The choice is clear. Chris Murphy has shown us where he stands.
State 26th Senate District
State Senator Toni Boucher has been a hard-working, relentless advocate for 26th District towns on issues ranging from education to train service. She is a "hands-on" legislator who listens and makes great efforts to faithfully represent the needs and desires of her constituents.
Ms. Boucher, who is seeking a fourth term, has a long history of public service to this state, including six terms as a state representative. She is the ranking member of the Higher Education, Transportation and Finance committees and is a well-respected member of the Senate.
Her tenacity has served her well over the years — she fights hard for the bills she wants passed and even harder against those she doesn't. She is a strong advocate for education, understands the state's transportation needs and will continue to work hard to change taxes to encourage more small businesses and make it easier for those that exist to thrive.
She will continue her battle to cut spending and keep taxes down. Her constituent service will continue to benefit those she represents.
Caroleann Curry, her Democratic challenger, has a good understanding of the legislature and how it works. She has had a long career in public service. While Ms. Curry is wise to focus on addressing ever-increasing local property taxes and protecting public education, Ms. Boucher has proven she is the right choice for the 26th District.
State 2nd House District
Dan Carter, the Republican incumbent, and Steven DeMoura, his Democratic challenger are vying to represent Redding in the 2nd House District.
Mr. Carter is seeking a second term. During his first term he has proven he can work on both sides of the aisle, voting bi-partisan three-quarters of the time. This shows he knows how to be an effective legislator, recognizing good bills that benefit both his constituents and the state regardless of which party proposed them.
He has also balked at bills he considers bad, such as the early release program for violent crimes, including crimes by sex offenders, and has earned the respect of fellow legislators with his ability to provide facts on proposed bills with a healthy knowledge about them without antagonizing everyone in the process and destroying any chance of making changes or eliminating a bad bill.
His constituent service is excellent and he is dogged in his desire to get the state to reduce spending, deal with its deficit and holding the line on taxes.
Mr. DeMoura is a newcomer to the state political scene. He is sincere in his desire to serve the public and would no doubt advocate for the district, for the environment and for education.
However, he is not yet ready to take over the post now held by Mr. Carter, who has proven himself and deserves another term in office.
State 135th House District
Republican incumbent John Shaban and his challenger Democrat Leon Karvelis are in the race for the 135th House District seat.
Mr. Shaban is concluding his first term in office. He is an environmental attorney and assistant minority leader on the House's Environment Committee. Mr. Shaban got a low score on the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters scorecard, which he defends by saying the scorecard counts committee as well as final votes. Often the proposals in committee are not acceptable bills, he said. It's a good argument.
He understand the legal ramifications of bills that come before the legislature, which is a plus.
Mr. Shaban has been willing to listen to and work for his constituents, including getting a provision removed from the education reform bill that would have penalized high-performing schools like Redding's.
Mr. Karvelis has the financial know-how the job requires, but he approaches it from more of a public servant perspective. He serves on the Region 9 school board and is vice president of Cooperative Education Services, a regional resource for schools, and would bring a good perspective on education reform to the legislature.
More importantly, he has more than 35 years of experience in public finance, public policy research, and state and local government analysis. His expertise has saved both the Region 9 school board and the town money by refunding bonds.
He would bring intelligent, well-thought-out approaches to the state's fiscal problems and has the know-how to help the state find solutions. He would be an asset to the state in working to create jobs, improve low-performing schools, and address the pension plan issue.
Both men have a lot to offer the district, and Mr. Shaban has done a good job. In better economic times he would be the hands-down choice, but the state needs Leon Karvelis and his financial expertise. So we endorse him for the 135th District seat.


text:
Tank Soldiers - Come and play Tank Force War Battles. Imagine yourself as soldiers in a tank platoon, fighting in a war in real battles. Join the armor family, the tank force and fight in war. Wear the black beret in Tank Force War Battles.
+ Easy to download
+ Easy to play
+ Suitable for all level of age
+ Attractive graphics
+ All games are playable without internet connection!
+ Fun camera - put your face in the soldiers in the app and pose as a soldier holding weapons. Share the photos with your friends.
This game is so easy but super fun!
There are 4 types of games!
Game 1: Tank Puzzles, Match up pieces of jumbled pictures to form a tank in war action. See how the tanks fight in Tank Force War Battles
Game 2: Tank Force War Battles Block Game. There are over 100 levels in the block game. Change and switch the blocks to fit each other. Clear as much blocks as possible and as fast as possible. Prevent the blocks from piling up. Race against time to clear the blocks fast.
Game 3: More tank puzzles, see tanks in war action during WWII. Compare how the modern war tanks perform against the old war tanks in WWII.
Game 4: Test your memory skills by finding and matching war tanks to complete the game. Your memory will improve with this game.
Bonus: Pose a soldier holding a weapon. Fit your face in the 'soldier's face' and take a picture. Share it with your friends.
Come and fight with your favorite tanks. Put on your uniform and fight as tank troopers in war battles. Never leave your weapons behind. Come play the Tank Force War Battles!!
DISCLAIMER: This app is for information, entertainment and educational purpose only. All names, trademarks and images are copyright of their respective owners.
Most pictures are taken from the public domain. Please do not use the app in any way harmful to others.


text:
This band comes from Milton, NY...
I really, really dig their sound.
My favorite band at the moment, and they have been for around 2 years now.
check them out, the synth/vox dude uses a Korg Delta and a Moog Rogue...
He makes some surprisingly awesome sounds with the Delta.
Other than that, the band features a cool violin and other string instruments.


text:
Do Software Engineers Benefit From Source Code Navigation With Traceability? - An Experiment in Software Change Management
For decades now, mainstream development environments provide the same basic automations for navigating source code: mainly searching and the tree exploration of files and folders. This may imply that other automations have little additional value or too steep a learning curve for mainstream adoption. This paper investigates whether existing navigation automations enriched with traceability benefit basic maintenance tasks such as changing features and fixing bugs in code. To test this, the authors conducted a controlled experiment with 52 subjects performing real maintenance tasks on two third-party development projects: all with the same navigation tool but half of the tasks with and the other half without traceability navigation.


text:
Related Posts
Share This
Cab: Super Short Story (188)
He takes cabs only for urgent matters,
and this is usually during peak hours,
when many others are looking for cabs too.
He doesn't like the dilemma
of whether to 'compete' for a cab
with those competing with him or not,
because he can't tell for sure,
if they have more or less urgent matters to tend to.
Most of the time, he could only judge by appearance.
He hopes others judge
his desperate body language accurately too!


text:
When Conrad Murphy didn't show up to Saturday morning baseball practice, Valley Center High varsity coach Cliff Bernard hoped for the best.
Maybe the 19-year-old uncharacteristically overslept, he told himself.
"But it just felt like something was wrong," Bernard said, "and I think a lot of the kids sensed something too."
At about 7 a.m. Saturday, Murphy, a well-liked senior outfielder and pitcher, was seriously injured in a head-on collision on eastbound Highway 76 near Gird Road in San Luis Rey Heights. He was airlifted to Palomar Medical Center where, as of Sunday, he remained in critical condition.
A 37-year-old Oceanside man in a Ford ranger carrying pest-control chemicals crashed into Murphy. The truck was traveling westbound when it lost traction, causing it to break into eastbound traffic and collide with Murphy's silver Dodge Ram truck.
Bernard said Murphy was having surgery Sunday, and the following 48 hours would be "crucial."
Along with playing baseball as Valley Center's clean-up hitter, Murphy also plays the piano, Bernard said.
"He's just a great young man," Bernard said. "Very funny, very hard working ... He's a fighter, and we're pulling for him."


text:
The last text you received.....
Posted by + Show Post
Rules: You can't say who it was from or what it was about. Just post the last text you received from somebody else :)
Here is mine:
Replies (31-40):
by Ruby Member on Feb. 14, 2013 at 6:48 PM
1 mom liked this
is this really what it's come down to? you're too lazy to walk 20 feet to ask me a question?
"Oooh. That makes sense. Jose is probably going to die with no sex. Haha. "
by Gold Member on Feb. 14, 2013 at 6:56 PM
2 moms liked this
"Don't cook dinner, kids and I are taking you some place special. Love you baby see you in a few hours"
Lets celebrate anti valentines day or anti VD 6 months from now. Our own tradition babe.
'Hell yeah! And get-up out the ghetto'
by Platinum Member on Feb. 14, 2013 at 6:57 PM
Another friend just said nom nom nom COOOKKIIIIIES, so I listened to him...
Add your quick reply below:
You must be a member to reply to this post.


text:
College Basketball Predictions: San Diego State vs. BYU Odds: January 26th 2011
San Diego State vs. BYU
College Basketball Prediction: San Diego State +5.5 -110 odds – January 26th 2011
Visit Touthouse.com for more expert college basketball predictions from Matt Fargo
There has been a lot of hype building up for this game and for very good reason as it is a rarity to have two top ten teams from a non-major conference squaring off. For BYU, the game will feature a top 10 BYU team taking on a top 10 opponent in the Marriott Center for the first time in the facility's history. The Cougars are 8-0 at home this season and their only loss came against UCLA on a neutral floor in Anaheim. This has become one of the toughest venues for visiting teams to have success in.
San Diego St. looks to remain one of only two undefeated teams in the country but it will not be easy. The Aztecs, despite being undefeated and ranked higher, are getting a healthy number here. This is a spot we would normally look at the home team based on public perception and perceived value but sometimes those angles are overshadowed by pure matchup advantages and that is what San Diego St. possesses and it is something you won't see in the stats.
Malcolm Thomas, Kawhi Leonard and Billy White form arguably the best frontcourt in the country. This is an issue for the Cougars because they simply cannot match up down low which will enable San Diego St. to dominate down low with easy baskets and a formidable rebounding advantage. Cougars forwards Brandon Davies and Noah Hartsock are playing well but cannot compete here. BYU Guard Jimmer Fredette is the best player here but even he cannot do it all when things will come so easy for the Aztecs down low.
San Diego St. falls into a very solid situation as well. Play on teams that are coming off two consecutive conference wins by 10 points or more going up against opponents that are coming off a road win scoring 85 or more points. This situation is 27-6 ATS (81.8 percent) over the last five seasons. The Aztecs are 7-0 ATS this season against elite teams that are outscoring opponents by four or more ppg this season but BYU is 0-6 ATS this season following a spread cover. 3* (793) San Diego St. Aztecs


text: SUPRAMID ...the suture of choice! S. Jackson, Inc. has been serving specialty surgeons in Plastic Surgery, Dermatology, Orthopedics, Endodontics, and Veterinary medicine for over 50 years with our very unique SUPRAMID and SUPRAMID EXTRA nylon sutures. S. Jackson, Inc. is registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a manufacturer of medical devices and complies with all Current Good Manufacturing Practices.Our SUPRAMID EXTRA cable-type sutures are unique in that they are made of many fine inner nylon fibers which are enclosed in a smooth nylon outer shell. As a result, SUPRAMID EXTRA cable-type sutures feel smooth like monofilament sutures but they tie better, with fewer knots, and stay tied even with short tag ends.


text:
England beat Scotland but lose to Fiji and New Zealand in South Africa Sevens
England put Scotland to the sword but lost to Fiji and New Zealand on the opening day of the South Africa Sevens.
Last Updated: 08/12/12 7:20pm
Ben Ryan's team were up against it having been grouped with current series champions New Zealand and last season's runners-up Fiji in Pool B.
England trailed Fiji 17-7 at half-time - Marcus Watson scoring just before the interval - with Dan Norton and Dan Bibby touching down late on against the Islanders.
New Zealand dominated possession against England, DJ Forbes, Lote Raikabula and Tomasi Cama putting the All Blacks 19-0 up early in the second half.
Norton got England on the scoreboard and they were pressing in the final minutes only for a breakaway effort from Tim Mikkelson to wrap up the scoring.
England trailed to Scotland - surprise winners over Fiji earlier in day - at the break after Andrew Turnbull and Michael Maltman established a 12-0 lead.
But the second half was one-way traffic. Tom Powell and Bibby struck quickly before Norton helped open up a 19-12 lead. He then set up James Rodwell for England's fourth before swooping for his 100th try.
"I'm happy to get my 100th try but I would have liked it different circumstances," said Norton.
"At the moment we're fighting to get out of our group and it's pretty frustrating how the last three tournaments have gone for us.
"We've put in a lot of effort but we're missing that final pass and that final one per cent."


text:
By Michael G. Malaghan
This book is copyrighted in 2005 and in going through it, it is more focused on the person who is a sales representative for a company. As a result, the focus is not on party plan people but there is enough information that it is worth reviewing for the site.
First of all, there are 8 activities that the book is based on:
- Sell
- Prospect
- Hire
- Train
- Replicate Yourself
- Motivate
- Manage
- Lead
I did like that at the end of chapter, there were a list of questions to ask yourself and book recommendations if you wanted to read more on that specific topic.
In going through the book, some of these topics caught my attention as ones that someone in a party plan might be interested in:
- Phone appointments – 11 ideas to increase success rates
- How to find leads as well as how to work with them
- Tips on how to find recruits as well as how to interview them
- Working with new sales reps as well as the veteran reps
- How to set goals using a workshop approach (could work in a conference call or team meeting)
- 12 career wrecking demons and how you can resolve them
- How to be a good manager
- 60 ways to energize your meetings (but don't use them all at once!)
Again, due to the age of the book some of the ideas presented are no longer as relevant or practical (such as the ones on the Internet) but there are still many tried and true methods in here.
If you are someone who is struggling, this book may be good to pick up and read through to see if there are ideas you can incorporate. Make sure to look at the books recommended as you never know what or where you are going to find the tip that makes you successful.


text:
Even if you're not a gardener or urban planner, you've likely heard a thing or two about vertical gardens and/or vertical farming recently. From applications that are purely aesthetic, to those aimed at greening buildings and cleaning air in urban environments, or sustainably increasing agricultural output in urban settings, there is a steady buzz around the notion that one does not need a horizontal substrate to grow things.
Proponents argue that there's no reason to limit the exterior greenspace on a building to its rooftop. And that vertical farming would bring food production closer to urban centers while avoiding the problems that floods and droughts cause traditional farms.
Others say all this anti-gravity planting is growing in the wrong direction. Back in July of 2008, Adam Stein asked readers of his TerraPass blog: "How is this not the dumbest idea ever?" He points to the high cost of urban real estate, the complexity of the proposed farms and the comparatively larger positive impact of other approaches to our environmental woes, such as carbon pricing, as reasons for his opposition.
And while plant-plastered exterior walls look undeniably cool and while the green-haired vertical gardener Patrick Blanc has already completed some really stunning greenery walls including a recently completed façade for the Athenaeum hotel in London, readers of a Wired.com story about the walls posted spirited concerns about bug infestations and the costs associated with such projects. In response, one reader countered that living walls can actually remedy bug problems by attracting bug-eating birds and that their value as an added source of insulation offsets their costs. (By the way, check out this interesting interview with Blanc.)
All in all, adding decorative plants or growing crops for local consumption atop existing roofs in urban centers seems a whole lot easier and cost-effective than new architecture that incorporates living walls and vertical farms. It will take many more roofs to produce as much air-cleaning plants or crops as these vertical landscapes promise, however.
What's your take? Are you all for vertical landscaping or do you think green walls and vertical farms are bound to fail?


text:
about elc
medical papers
Every person can help their own immune system. There
are some easy ways of doing this. Make sure that the natural exits
from the body for toxins are kept open. This includes ensuring that
the bowels function daily, drinking adequate pure water so that
the urine flow is clear (at least five pints of water a day) and
cleaning the sweat from your body daily with a bath or clean cloths.
Remember, you need to sweat a few times a week whether its from
exercise, a sauna, sex or menopausal hot flashes, or just the hot
weather of summer. Breathing easily and deeply in an unrestricted
way is important - exercise can help you do that.
Herbs are commonly prescribed during a change of
season to help a person adapt to the changing weather. By planning
ahead and taking herbs accordingly, one can drastically reduce the
frequency and severity of catching the common cold or the flu.
Many herbs enhance the immune system. Herbs that
perform such functions include astragalus, ganoderma and cordyceps.
Astragalus is one of the most frequently used Chinese
herbs and has historically been used to tonify the lungs and indirectly
protects against external pathogenic factors.
Ganoderma has been traditionally used to tonify blood and vital
energy. It is thus essential in rebuilding a patient's constitution.
Ganoderma increases the number of white blood cells and inhibits
the growth of various viruses and bacteria associated with the flu.
It has been demonstrated to enhance the immune system in various
clinical studies.
Cordyceps has traditionally been used in chronic
debilitated patients. It is an excellent herb to tonify the kidney
and improve overall bodily constitution. Cordyceps is another herb
which has marked immunomodulatory functions.
Keep in mind that while these herbs are effective
individually, they should be prescribed in the content of an herbal
formula to enhance synergistic action and minimize possible side-effects.
Contraindications of these herbs
Astragalus, ganoderma, cordyceps and herbs that boost the immune
system are contraindicated for patients taking immunosuppressants
such as imuran (azathioprine) or sandimmune (cyclosporin). These
drugs are commonly prescribed following organ transplant surgery
to suppress the immune system and prevent tissue rejection. Because
these herbs have potent immune enhancing effects, they should not
be prescribed for patients taking immunosuppresants following organ
transplant surgery. Despite their weak constitution, use of some
immune enhancing herbs can increase the risk of rejection and severely
compromise the patient's health.
Certain foods and environmental
influences can keep the immune system from doing a good job. Watch
out for these threats to your body's defences.
1. Overdosing on sugar
Eating or drinking 100 grams (8 tbsp.) of sugar, the equivalent
of one 12-ounce can of soda, can reduce the ability of white blood
cells to kill germs by forty percent. The immune-suppressing effect
of sugar starts less than thirty minutes after ingestion and may
last for five hours. In contrast, the ingestion of complex carbohydrates,
or starches, has no effect on the immune system.
2. Excess alcohol
Excessive alcohol intake can harm the body's immune system in two
ways. First, it produces an overall nutritional deficiency, depriving
the body of valuable immune- boosting nutrients. Second, alcohol,
like sugar, consumed in excess can reduce the ability of white cells
to kill germs. High doses of alcohol suppress the ability of the
white blood cells to multiply, inhibit the action of killer white
cells on cancer cells, and lessen the ability of macrophages to
produce tumour necrosis factors. One drink (the equivalent of 12
ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 ounces of hard liquor) does
not appear to bother the immune system, but three or more drinks
do. Damage to the immune system increases in proportion to the quantity
of alcohol consumed. Amounts of alcohol that are enough to cause
intoxication are also enough to suppress immunity.
3. Food allergens
Due to a genetic quirk, some divisions of the immune army recognize
an otherwise harmless substance (such as milk) as a foreign invader
and attack it, causing an allergic reaction. Before the battle,
the intestinal lining was like a wall impenetrable to foreign invaders.
After many encounters with food allergens, the wall is damaged,
enabling invaders and other potentially toxic substances in the
food to get into the bloodstream and make the body feel miserable.
This condition is known as the leaky gut syndrome.
4. Too much fat
Obesity can lead to a depressed immune system. It can affect the
ability of white blood cells to multiply, produce antibodies, and
rush to the site of an infection.


text:
You're seeing this message because you're using an older version of Internet Explorer that is unsupported on our website. Please use these links to upgrade to a modern web browser that fully supports our website and protects your computer from security risks.
Marlene Weimer Memorial Scholarly Endeavors Fund
The purpose of this fund is to support scholarly endeavors in the area of innovative mathematics faculty development initiatives and/or scholarship support for outstanding mathematics students, dependent upon the area of greatest need as determined by the Mathematics Department on an annual basis.


text:
TVLine Items: Dark Matter Adds Bridge Alumna, Fear TWD's Return and More
Franka Potente has landed herself a new TV role — and this one actually upholds the law.
The actress, who last played drug money launderer and merciless killer Eleanor Nacht on The Bridge, will recur on Season 2 of Syfy's Dark Matter. READ MORE


text:
Derry date for comic Rich Hall
Award-winning comedian Rich Hall is bringing his spring tour to Londonderry.
The star of two critically acclaimed documentaries is to take his new show, An Evening With Rich Hall, to the Millennium Forum on May 17.
Hall won two Emmy awards for his writing for The David Letterman Show, and was the inspiration behind Matt Groening's character Moe Szyslak in The Simpsons. Hall, who lives on a range in Montana, regularly appears on television shows including Stand Up For The Week, Live At The Apollo and QI.
He has written three novels and released two stand-up comedy DVDs and is known for a grouchy, deadpan style.
For further information telephone: 02871 264455 or visit: www.millenniumforum.co.uk.
Belfast Telegraph


text:
Liturgical Year C
Psalm - Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
4Shew, O Lord, thy ways to me, and teach me thy paths.
5Direct me in thy truth, and teach me; for thou art God my Saviour; and on thee have I waited all the day long.
8The Lord is sweet and righteous: therefore he will give a law to sinners in the way.
9He will guide the mild in judgment: he will teach the meek his ways.
10All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, to them that seek after his covenant and his testimonies.
14The Lord is a firmament to them that fear him: and his covenant shall be made manifest to them.


text:
While staying at home may end up helping a home budget, people who are dating are going to want to get out together at least once in a while.
But, limited funds tied to recessionary concerns may make it seem as though dating options are limited. Not so, according to a recent report from the New York Daily News. The publication noted there are a number of low-cost options available to have plenty of love, but not a lot of money.
"Dating on a budget can be a fun and inventive way to spend meaningful moments with your nearest and dearest," the Daily News report said.
Some of the options offered by the publication included:
– Sight-seeing at landmarks or museums that offer no or low-cost entry fees.
– Taking a tour of a neighborhood, which could provide ideas for when you have more money in your pocket.
– Working out, which can not only be inexpensive but is also contributes to your health.
– Finding an inexpensive hobby that you and your loved one can both enjoy.
Even a simple, inexpensive meal at home can provide some quality time together while keeping in line with a home budget.


text:
BMC Software agrees to be sold for $6.6 billion
by The Associated Press
BMC Software says it has agreed to be sold to a private investor group for about $6.6 billion in cash.
BMC Software Inc. makes system management software for businesses
The Houston-based company says that the deal is for $46.25 per share. That's less than 2% above Friday's closing stock price of $45.42.
With roughly 143 million shares outstanding, according to FactSet, that values the deal at $6.6 billion. The companies say the deal is worth $6.9 billion.
The investor group is led Bain Capital and Golden Gate Capital.
BMC says that Elliott Management, which owns 9.6 percent of the BMC's stock, has agreed to vote its shares in favor of the deal.
The deal is expected to close later this year.


text:
Over 92 pounds gone and...
I am no longer a clydesdale!
I have been waiting a long time to make this post. I just weighed in this morning. I am 6 feet tall and went from 292 lbs to 199.8 lbs. I am still losing and my goal is to be about 185 lbs. We'll see what happens when I get there though.
It feels so wierd to have a "1" as the first digit in my weight. That hasn't happened since the 9th grade in highschool.
Thanks to everyone here for support and info! This is really the greatest section of the site as everyone is so friendly.
Thanks again!
Congrats man, although just because you're 0.2 lbs under the clyde limit doesn't mean you're in the clear yet. You can still fluctuate over 200 due to water weight ;)
Another 2-3 lbs and I'd say it's safe to call you a non-clyde... although you'll always be a clyde at heart. :D
Congrats man! I'm down to 273, still a ways to go to break 200. You are now one of the inspiring stories!
Way to Go.
Most difficult for me to stay below the 200 lb weight.
Awesome! 92 lbs, wow that is quite an achievement. Congratulations. I hope to join you soon, I have lost 58, 3 more to go.
It has got to feel good to say one hundred....................
Thanks for all the kind words. I wish I could say it was fast and easy but it like most things it wasn't. All in all it took me about 2.5 years with plenty of speedbumps and wrenches thrown in my plans.
Congratulations. That's a great achievement. I'd like to hear the story of how you did it. How did you eat? How much did you cycle? How long did it take? What was the progression, that is, what was the pattern of your weight loss.
That's phenomenal. I hope to achieve something similar.
Thanks. I have my weight logged from march of 2006 all the way untill now with notes written about what I was doing at the time. I will write up what I was doing and post it here for everyone.
Well done, man. I wasn't going to ride today - but now I am.
Ok, Well heres a little write up about my experience. Ill try to make it as organized as possible but I am no writer so sorry for any grammar and structure mistakes in advance.
Here's some background. I am currently 21 years old. When I was a child I was never overwight. I was always athletic and in shape. I started gaining weight and becoming overweight in my first year of highschool (9th grade year 2002). I was 15 and I worked in a deli. This was when I gained tons of weight. Being in front of all the food was a horrible thing. I would make my own breakfasts and lunches that were equal to like 4 portions of what customers were served. I was able to eat anything in the deli all day everyday. I also went out to fast food places all the time. I put on a lot of weight. On 3/26/06 I weighed 292.0 lbs. Obviously I knew I was overweight/obese and I wanted to do something about it. This was during my first year in college and things were only getting worse as far as my weight went. I made an effort to make changes. I had no clue really what I was doing but I made simple changes. Less soda. Less fast food. My weight went as follows. (Keep in mind how I logged my weight. A number was only logged if it was lower then the last entry. I didn't log any gains. Not sure why but that's what I did and still do.)
3/30/06 289.2
3/31/06 284.9
4/1/06 284.2
4/4/06 283.3
4/11/06 282.4
For whatever reason I lost interest here. August came around and I wanted to lose weight again. Most likely due to the heat and summer activities in hot august while I was overweight and uncomfortable. So I started back up and was able to get to
8/18/06 280.4
not sure what happened but I took more time off. I had no direction or information on what to do. Without guidance I was very sporadic. I started again though
10/13/06 277.0
10/24/06 275.2
11/20/06 271.5
11/21/06 269.2
After reading a lot on these forums and being super motivated I saw Air recomend the book Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman. I bought it on 12/1/06 and read every single word in it from cover to cover by the next day. Armed with information I was much more prepared. My weights were as follows.
12/7/06 266.9
12/8/06 265.7
12/14/06 264.4
12/15/06 263.3
12/18/06 260.4
12/27/06 259.7
1/10/07 259.1
1/12/07 256.8
1/22/07 255.0
1/29/07 254.1
1/31/07 253.8
2/1/07 252.5
2/13/07 251.8
2/25/07 250.0
3/9/07 245.4
3/13/07 244.5
3/23/07 242.9
3/31/07 242.7
4/3/07 241.6
4/11/07 241.3
4/12/07 240.7
4/20/07 239.7
4/26/07 238.9
4/27/07 237.3
5/11/07 235.1
5/24/07 233.3
5/28/07 232.3
6/5/07 231.8
6/6/07 230.3
6/21/07 228.4
7/15/07 226.1
7/22/07 225.5
7/23/07 224.0
7/24/07 223.5
8/1/07 222.2
That was the lowest I had been in a long while as you can see. Well the first week in August I went on a cruise. BAD IDEA. I was trapped on a boat with tons of food. I figured I could reward myself since I lost a lot of weight already. I ate out of control. Free room service was bringing me food all day every day. I got back from the cruise and gained about 8 pounds setting me back months. Shortly after I had some unrelated complications and was going to the doctors a lot. On 11/15/07 I had a surgery and gained some weight from the recovery setting me back much more. I wanted to get back on track.
12/26/07 239.0
1/7/08 237.3
1/10/08 236.1
1/17/08 235.6
1/30/08 234.9
The first surgery helped but wasn't a complete success. I was scheduled for surgery number two on 3/6/08. Again gaining a lot of weight from the surgery and recovery. Now I am at
3/18/08 246.6
I was pretty much the same weight as a year ago and very discouraged. I decided I had to get really serious. I continued with more motivation then ever.
3/24/08 241.8
4/17/08 239.0
4/18/08 236.6
4/20/08 235.0
4/21/08 234.0
4/22/08 233.8
4/24/08 232.2
4/25/08 231.6
4/28/08 230.4
4/30/08 229.6
5/1/08 229.2
5/2/08 228.8
5/4/08 227.6
5/5/08 226.8
5/7/08 226.2
5/9/08 224.6
5/13/08 224.0
5/14/08 223.6
Finally back to my lowest weight in a really long time.
5/15/08 222.8
5/17/08 221.6
5/19/08 220.0
5/22/08 218.2
5/29/08 216.6
6/2/08 216.0
6/3/08 215.0
6/5/08 214.4
6/7/08 214.0
6/9/08 213.0
6/12/08 212.0
6/15/08 211.0
6/16/08 210.4
6/18/08 210.0
6/25/08 209.0
6/26/08 208.0
6/28/08 207.6
6/29/08 206.8
7/4/08 206.0
7/12/08 205.0
7/13/08 204.0
7/16/08 203.0
7/23/08 201.4
7/30/08 201.0
8/2/08 199.8
And thats where I am currently at now. I do have another surgery that I am scheduling for september/october but I should be able to put on less weight from the recovery.
As far as other info on how I did it. I kept it pretty simple. I do not drink alcohol or coffee at all, I do not smoke at all. I only drink water and seltzer/club soda. I may have a little bit of milk with cereal but thats it. I eat as much fruits and vegetables as I want and can. I really recomend the book Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman. I dont follow it 100% and it still has been very succesful for me. When I am eating I ask myself. Does anyone get fat from blueberries? Bananas? Apples? I have never heard of anyone saying "oh man I just gained tons of weight from eating apples I better stop." So I eat as many apples as I want. I really love fruit so I eat a lot of it. Boxes of blueberries, strawberries, peaches, apples, bananas, kiwis, watermelon, canteloupe ect... Same thing with vegetables. I love broccoli, peas, string beans, corn, asparagus, lettuce, ect... Noone gets fat by eating broccoli so at times I eat a whole bag. I eat whole heads of lettuce too. As far as other things, if I want something like bread I have a normal single serving. I eat only a little bit of meat and it is usually chicken. I am not much of a dessert guy so I guess that is good.
As far as the bike. I used to mountain bike a lot when I was younger. At another job I had one guy rode his bike to work and I thought it was the smartest thing. My car was hit twice parked where I worked and parking in general was difficult to find. Now I didnt have to check my car every minute because I was worried about damages. I kept my bike in the store in the basement and saved money on gas and got exersize. I got my first real roadbike in late 06 and loved it so much. At first I really didnt put in that many miles. Maybe 1000 a year. Really I did this with 90% diet only 10% exersize. It is so much easier to cut 100 calories then to burn off 100 calories.
Overall I went from a 44" waist and 4XL shirts to a 36" waist and XL shirts.
Any questions feel free to ask. I am open to sharing anything and I am sure I left something out.
Super!!! Well done!!
Way to go!
Well Done!!!!!!
+++ It is so much easier to cut 100 calories then to burn off 100 calories. +++
That's such a great point put very simply! Thanks, maybe I should get that tattooed on my wrist so I can remember it...
Great Job!! You are truly an inspiration!
92 lbs is very impressive, you should be proud.
Avoid at all costs - and i mean at all costs - ever putting the weight back on. With each lose/regain cycle, it's harder to burn off the fat...I'm sure others here can verify this statement.
Great Job! You should be very very proud. You will live longer & enjoy life more! Congratulations!
Well, I have been inspired. I have a similar story. (I'm 23, I was 175/5'11" when I graduated High School and now I'm 280/6'1")
I'm getting on amazon now to take a look at that book!
Jeremy R.
That is an accomplishment that you should be very proud of.
Congrats, that's a great achievement.
|All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:13 PM.


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That applies in schools, too, which, by the way, are funded by taxpayer's dollars and are therefore constitutionally forbidden to promote religion. But what does that have to do with all the disasters I spoke of? I'll bet that the majority of people who died or were injured or made ill or suffered in the ways I mentioned were religious. Where was god then? Nobody was forbidding him from stopping the illness, death, and destruction...
sometime that isn't his chooise but our by the way we live our lives without him. People have there choise to do good or evil. You can't force them the do the right thing sorry that is life.
Why do you allow floods and cancer and rape and malaria and child molestation and earthquakes and poverty and hunger and tsunamis and plane crashes and wars and.....? You're all over the world, no?


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The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) received notification from the Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the occurrence of an earthquake this morning (March 19, 2016) at approximately 7:26 am (local time).
According to this notification, the event occurred at 162 km NE of Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda, 218 km NE of Pointe-a-Pierre, Guadeloupe and 237 km NE of Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis.
Preliminary results indicate that the earthquake, which occurred at a depth of 10 km and had a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale was reportedly felt in a number of islands across the Caribbean region including the British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis and Saint Lucia.
However, NEMO has not yet received any reports of damage as a result of this earthquake event.
Notwithstanding, NEMO takes this opportunity to remind the public that Saint Lucia is vulnerable to a number of hazards, including earthquakes, and that persons should remain vigilant and always in a state of preparedness to deal with the potential impacts of these hazards.
Some important measures which should be taken during an earthquake include:
1. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and stay indoors until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur.
2. Don't wait until you're certain an earthquake is actually occurring. At the first sign of the earth shaking, if you are in a building, stay inside and away from windows:
3. Drop, Cover, and Hold on.
DROP under a heavy desk or table;
COVER your head and torso, and
HOLD ON to the furniture. If you can't get under something strong, go to an interior wall and sit with your bottom and feet flat on the floor and protect your head.
If you are outside, move to an open area away from potential falling objects (utility poles, electric lines, etc). Assume the crouch position and protect your head and face with your arms until the shaking stops.
For further information on what to do before, during and after an earthquake, please contact the NEMO Secretariat via telephone # (758) 452-3802/452-4318/468-2126 or email


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Madonna is ''just a woman'', according to her new boyfriend, French dancer Brahim Zaibat.
Madonna is "just a woman", according to her new boyfriend.
The 'Celebration' singer started dating French dancer Brahim Zaibat just over a month ago, and the hunk insists despite her international pop star status she was not imposing, and their meeting was perfectly natural.
He explained: "It all started on September 22 at the launch of Madonna's new ready-to-wear clothing range.Â
"I performed a solo to 'Material Girl'. Then I met Madonna on the sidelines, and she just thanked me for my show.
"It wasn't like meeting a monster! She's just a woman, like all The Others. She's an extraordinary artist and world famous, of course, but a woman above all.Â
"You know she wasn't the first well known female singer I'd met. I was delighted to meet her but not stressed out."
Some showbiz commentators have questioned the sustainability of a relationship between the 52-year-old pop superstar and Brahim, 24, since he speaks little English and is a devout Muslim, whereas Madonna speaks no French and is a strict follower of Judaism off-shoot Kabbalah.
She is also eight years older than her boyfriend's mother, but Brahim remains confident they have a future together.
When asked if he listened to the star's records, he told France's Grazia magazine: "It wasn't the kind of sound I had on my iPod but I knew her tracks. I've since pretty much listened to all she's done.Â
"She's put lots of breakdance and hip-hop in her last tracks and she's passionate about dance. Her dream as a child was to become a dancer. That's another thing we have in Common."
Before Brahim, Madonna dated another 24-year-old toy boy - Brazilian model Jesus Luz.
After he was linked to the music icon, Jesus went from being a struggling model to earning $20,000 a night as a DJ and landing photo shoots for Dolce And Gabbana.
However, Brahim is not interested in the possible fame which may come his way from his relationship with the 'Hung Up' hitmaker, saying: "I just want to get on with my life - for everything to be normal."
Madonna takes an ambitious approach to the 1936 abdication of Edward VIII, merging the history-making...
After beginning his career with two frenetic crime films (Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels;...
Can it really have been two long years since The Object of My Affection made...
Now I understand why Argentineans wanted Madonna to go home during the filming of Evita!What...
Until director Lee Tamahori blasts right past a perfectly good ending, only to burn a...
Homogenized, sterilized and clearly revised by test-audience scoring, "The Next Best Thing" is a disingenuous,...


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Bequest Stories
If you want to support the natural world, but cannot make a gift today, you can still leave a legacy of protected lands and waters by including The Nature Conservancy in your estate plan. Making a charitable bequest is easy to do. What's more, you retain control of your assets during your lifetime. Bequests also may provide estate tax savings.
Lynn Bush took the simple steps to leave the Conservancy in her will because she wanted to make a gift that reflected her deeply-felt values and desire to preserve nature. Like Lynn, when you make a gift through your estate to The Nature Conservancy and let us know about your gift, you become a member of The Legacy Club—a special group of visionary supporters who have chosen to stand up for the future of the natural world.
Choosing a Charitable Bequest: My Story
I come from a line of farmers and loggers who worked the land and possessed a unique understanding of the cycles of nature—they continue to inspire me today. Leaving The Nature Conservancy in my will was a practical action, born out of a desire to leave something behind that reflected my values and wish to preserve nature. And it could not have been easier to make a bequest to the Conservancy.
Memories from my childhood in Washington have stayed with me all these years: berry and mushroom picking in the mountains, clam digging and salmon fishing on the coast and gardening with my family. I've loved nature for as long as I can remember and those early experiences outdoors crystallized into a lifelong passion. Even today, hiking in the woods or kayaking on a quiet river are still some of my favorite things to do.
I learned from a young age how to observe and learn from nature and I've been lucky enough to turn that into two different careers. For 10 years, I co-managed my own organic farm in Idaho which was successful, I believe, because of careful stewardship of the land. More recently, I've moved from farm to forest, inventorying and replanting trees for a forestry company in Idaho (and fulfilling a life-long wish to make a living in the woods).
Charitable Bequest: An Expression of Long-held Values
I became a member of The Nature Conservancy years ago because I've always been interested in finding solutions that mirror nature and take into account the people who rely on the land. I like that the Conservancy does not try to cut people off from nature and instead helps them coexist.
I made a charitable bequest to the Conservancy because I want whatever I accumulate in life to go in a positive direction. The Nature Conservancy really reflects my intentions in life and I believe they will carry out those intentions into the future. For me, supporting the Conservancy and preserving nature is an act of hope and faith in the future that gives me a great lift.
Information that may interest you ...
Find out more about making a gift through your will.
Read about other donors who have made a gift through their will.
Have you made a gift through your estate plan? Please let us know.
You can protect grasslands and other natural places by making a planned gift with The Nature Conservancy. Contact us today.


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This 1874 Historic Landmark Victorian estate is in an acre of landscaped gardens, yet just a five-minute walk from the historic downtown, restaurants, shopping, theater, and easy access to the beach.
Guest rooms are individually decorated, but the overriding design is of timeless elegance and comfort. Antique wood beds, oriental rugs, wing back chairs in front of wood-burning fireplaces, and clawfoot or jetted tubs, private decks, porches and patios are some of the room features.
The Victorian Estate home rooms have been restored with unique Victorian wallpaper treatments.
The restored Carriage House offers spacious accommodations, light and airy with antique pine floors.
English Garden Cottages are intimate with rich fabrics, fireplaces and tub nestled into a bay window.
The wrap-around verandah of the main house and the sitting areas where you can enjoy the gardens and the soothing fountains transport you a world away. Each room enjoys niceties such as robes and fresh orchids.
Enjoy breakfast delivered to your room, in the main house or on the verandah. Alongside an offering of homemade granola and baked goods, the breakfast changes daily. Be welcomed with an afternoon refreshment buffet. Local wine tasting and Mediterranean hors d'oeuvres buffet are offered at 5:30p.m. In the evening dessert bites and popcorn are available.
With its envious location, tranquil setting, attentive service, and imaginative cuisine, the Simpson House Inn offers a retreat & respite in the heart of Santa Barbara.
Room Rates:
|$230 - $615
# of Rooms:
- Fireplace
- Spa Tub
- Telephones
- Television
- VCR or DVD
- No Resident Pets
- Family Friendly
- Spa/Massage Services
- Wedding Facilities
- Conference Facilities
- Fax Machine
- Guest Computer
- Internet Access (Business Services)
- Internet Access - Wireless
- Voice Mail
- Travel Agent Commission
- Accepts Gift Certificates
- Bike Friendly
|Full Breakfast
|121 East Arrellaga Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
|805-963-7067 / 800-676-1280
|General Manager
|Tony Pace


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Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames.
Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames.
Mon Sep 26, 2005 5:28 pm
What does your name signify?
�Nayan� means eyes, �Tara� means stars. Eyes which sparkle like stars (smiles)
How did you feel when you got selected for Chandramukhi?
Vasu sir's wife saw my Malayalam film Manasinakkare and recommended me. I was shooting for my first Tamil film. I could not believe that I was going to be cast as Rajni sir's heroine because he has been paired opposite the topmost heroines. They all (including the director) saw me only on the first day of the shooting.
Tell us your experiences with Rajinikanth.
It was a great enriching experience working with Rajini sir. You get to know lot of things from him as an actor and also as a person. He is very dedicated, punctual and unassuming, despite a superstar.
Why do you work only with senior artistes?
(Smiles) I was getting offers from them only. What�s wrong in it? I enjoy working with senior artistes. Some girls don't like it, but I do! And when an offer comes from superstar Rajini, no one sees him as a senior artiste. I think he is beyond all these.
As far as Ayya is concerned, I played a role which suited my age only. Both Sarath sir and Rajini are very comfortable to work with. Both are soft and humble.
In Malayalam too, you seem to toeing the line of the Superstars and rejecting the offers from young heroes!
I have no such compulsion. I am ready to act with any hero but to tell the truth I have not got any offers to act with young heroes in Malayalam.
Any romances when you were studying?
I was studying in Gujarat's Jamnagar. I didn't even now what love was. I was in my Class VI. My classmate, a Punjabi boy, gave me a love letter. Since then I have got many love letters, but all the affections were one sided. I don't make a fuss about them.
You made headlines when you announced that you are not going to get married at all. Comment!
I didn�t expect it to make such big news. But I have learnt a lesson- never open your heart to media.
When you were signed to act in Manassinakkare, you didn't know who Sheela was?
It's true! My father was an Indian Air Force officer. I spent my childhood away from Kerala. I didn't have much exposure to South Indian films. I knew only the names of Mohanlal, Mammootty, Jayaram and Suresh Gopi. All I saw were Hindi films. Now I have acted with her once again in Chandramukhi.
If not an actress, what would you have become?
I was studying chartered accountancy and also doing my degree in English Literature when I got first film offer. So I would have become a chartered accountant if I had not become an actress.
What about other language offers?
I am getting offers from Telugu. I am waiting for the right script. I had a Hindi film offer too, but it was not a commercial film. It was to be directed by a lady from Bengal. It had an excellent script but I wouldn't be able to do certain portions in the film. I could not tell her to change those scenes because they were very vital for the film. So I did not accept the offer.
Nayantara Profile Gallery: http://kerals.com/malayalammovie/23516/Actress/nayanthara/index.htm


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I stand for Justice and Peace
Basic Information
Name: Eric(Onslaught) Xavier
Nickname: That which shall survive
Gender: Male
Age: 40
Clan: None
Appearance: This proud man is approximately 7 feet tall weighing in at 295 lbs. His suit is a collection of Samurai armor. His eyes are glowing white, and he has no hair.
Personality: Onslaught is known as the cold hearted outcast, he dreams of the day when he get's to see his little daughter Lucy again. He seeks only the destruction of a man that killed and raped his Wife and his 9 year old daughter. He is described as a stern man who believes knowledge is power. He shows no compassion or mercy to those who go against him, or try to end his journey of revenge and resolve.
Background Info:
Village Info :
Village of Birth: Kumogakure
Village of Alliance: Konohagakure
Rank/ Chakra Info:
Ninja Rank: S - Jounin
Specialty: None
Elements: Earth - Needs Training
L:ightning - Needs Training
HISTORY: Onslaught was a kind man known by the name Eric Xavier who only lived his life for His pride and joy, Lucy his 9 year old daughter, and his beautiful wife Abigail. While on a recon mission to spy on the Hidden leaf, his home was invaded by a missing nin. They ferociously tore his house apart, and as if part of a sick game took care in raping his wife and daughter one after the other then slicing their throats and leaving. Hearing this news he set out on a journey and with an aid from Konohagakure, he fashioned a unique armor which is seemingly stronger than normal samurai armor and more resistant. He decided he was no longer the kind hearted man but a vengeful soul whom he named Onslaught.
Theme Song and Background Music:
Won: -
Lost: -
- Updating last Onslaught bio, changing my amount of elements-


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At hybris software, an SAP company, we enable our customers to deliver consistent, contextual, and relevant experiences to their customers regardless of channel or device throughout the entire customer journey.
Customer Engagement and Commerce (CEC) – a new line of business from SAP and hybris - is poised to change the face of customer interactions for businesses across the globe. With solutions such as hybris's Commerce Suite, SAP Cloud for Service, SAP Cloud for Sales and hybris Marketing Platform we are transforming how both B2C and B2B businesses engage their customers. Leading organizations including 3M, Galeries Lafayette Nespresso or Nikon, have chosen CEC Solutions to help support and drive their digital transformations.
Joining CEC means joining a team that promotes an empowered culture and allows all employees to contribute, to inspire and to make a difference. We value people that are committed to delivering superior results to our customers. We embrace innovative technology and new ideas. At hybris software you will find a challenging and fun working environment with smart, dynamic colleagues and abundant opportunities to demonstrate your abilities and learn new skills.
- Your Responsibilities As Project Lead SAP On Premise Applications, you will be responsible for leading the build of a new CEC integrated solution landscape to support organizations like pre-sales, sales and solution management on a worldwide basis. You'll bring creative and innovative ideas on how to build this new landscape so that it is flexible and scalable to all CEC field staff. You are expected to work collaboratively with both the current SAP SE team and the current hybris demo team to bring together the best of both worlds. With your experience you will guide temporary consultants on what to do functionally and technically.
Key focus will be to:
- Build strategic partnerships with key decision makers and establish new repeatable processes to anchor the CEC portfolio into the landscape
- Engage in building and developing the team focused on new CEC landscape build
- Provide direction to both the functional and technical teams
- Engage in system administration and system lifecycle management (e.g. upgrades…)
- Oversee overall process and technical restrictions to ensure that new demo scenarios requests are handled efficiently and in high quality – scalability and repeatability
- Develop easy to consume product demo documentation and support CEC Enablement teams
- Your Qualifications
- Bachelor's or master's degree in business administration, computer science or related field
- Strong product/project management skills
- Experience in design and architect prototype solutions that fulfill direct needs of the market
- Strong experience with SAP On Premise cross functional knowledge
- Strong experience with Sales & Distribution Functional and Configuration skills – IMG
- Strong experience with SAP Billing and Revenue Innovation Management (BRIM)
- Strong experience with Loyality Management (SAP CRM)
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Fluent in English, other language skills welcome
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Strong organizational skills
- Innovative and willing to leave old paths behind
Please apply at: email@example.com referring to Project Lead On Premise App.


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A Montblanc Facsimile 146 Fountain Pen
Sold for:
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- Sold Date:
- Source: GoAntiques
At a quick glance you would not see the difference between this facsimily and the real Montblanc 146 Meisterstuck fountain pen.Made in Germany,having an iridium point two tone gold and silver plated nib with elaborate decorative scroll patterning. Ink filling is by unscrewing the barrel section and fitting an ink cartredge.On the top of the cap is the famous Montblanc emblem.A superb pen in new condition.


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A museum visit doesn't always connote an exciting experience. But that's about to change with the introduction of a series of new apps that transform your visits into more meaningful and engaging experiences.
Aaron Radin is the CEO of Toura, a company that developed The Toura Mobile App Producer. This platform lets museums create customized, virtual tours that can be downloaded onto visitors' iPhones. As Radin sees it, museum apps are primarily designed to complement the museum experience by "providing visitors additional contextually relevant content that enhances their appreciation of the works."
Visitors and museums benefit
One key benefit of museum apps is their ability to involve visitors in the communication process. For example, users of Brooklyn Museum Mobile (free, app2.me/3396) can use the app's "Like" feature to recommend exhibits at the museum to other visitors. For the museum, the apps can be very useful tools for securing museum sponsorships and funds. The Museum of Modern Art, for example, is creating an app to attract more donors.
Creating a mobile exhibition
According to Radin, art museums are the biggest users of virtual tour apps, but other museums are starting to get onboard. For example, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) has released three free apps so far: AMNH Explorer (app2.me/3394), Dinosaurs (app2.me/2671); iPad version, app2.me/3403) and Cosmic Discoveries (app2.me/3395). Linda Perry-Lube, Chief Digital Officer at the AMNH, explains that the main goal of the apps is to "create a virtual mobile exhibition" for a "global audience," and allow "our audience to connect more deeply with objects and content in our museum."
AMNH Explorer allows visitors to virtually explore the entire museum, choose tours, or create their own tour from a list of popular exhibits. They can also share their museum experiences with family and friends by linking with their Twitter profiles.
The Dinosaurs app currently provides 800 photos of dinosaurs and stories of individual dinosaurs. The Cosmic Discoveries app currently provides 1,000 photos of astronomical phenomena, such as planets and comets, and 9 stories covering a range of topics. Perry-Lube notes that the museum is continually updating and adding content to the apps, and, in fact, they will be introducing iPad versions of its Dinosaurs and Cosmic Discoveries apps soon.
Museum game apps
Some apps transcend conventional museum guide models to engage visitors on a deeper level through play experiences. One example is the game, Tate Trumps (free, app2.me/3393). This app was introduced in August 2010 and jointly developed by Hide and Seek, a developer of "social games and playful experiences," and Tate Media. The game is simple to play and geared to a wide audience, including those unfamiliar with iPhone apps and video games. The purpose, according to Margaret Robertson, Development Director at Hide and Seek, is to focus visitors on the museum's physical art without causing disruption to other gallery goers.
Tate Trumps enables users to experience the Tate Gallery in Battle Mode, Mood Mode, or Collector Mode. Battle Mode challenges users to an imaginary combat with physical artwork. Collector Mode gives players the opportunity to create their own art gallery. In Mood Mode, players are invited to select artworks they consider particularly menacing, exhilarating or absurd. Once players have chosen artwork to help them win, they meet together and play a fast-paced card game to determine which person has selected the best examples from the collection
According to Robertson, the game has elicited a very positive response, with visitors spending on average somewhere between 1 and 1.5 hours playing the game per visit. Hide and Seek is in discussions with other galleries to produce similar game-oriented apps for their museums.
Museum apps are challenging to implement
Implementing apps in museums is often challenging. A key concern is informing visitors about the existence of apps in museums and educating them about the value of those apps. Another potential drawback is the lack of Wi-Fi in some museums, particularly smaller ones. In addition to these shortcomings, certain museum apps seem to suffer from low quality.
Augmented Reality apps the future?
Augmented Reality (AR) museum apps offer even more engaging and immersive experiences. Streetmuseum (Free, app2.me/3402), an app offered by the Museum of London, allows visitors to superimpose historical photos of London over modern ones in real time, affording them a unique and vivid perspective on the evolution of the city. The American Museum of Natural History also has plans to release Augmented Reality apps, building on the experience it developed last year for its "Extreme Mammals" exhibit. However, Radin remains uncertain of augmented reality's usefulness in museums today, calling AR, "an interesting technology in search of a problem." In his view, one of the key barriers to accepting augmented reality in museums is the lack of resources to train users with this kind of technology.


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Local youth center aims to help young victims of sex trafficking
Startling new data indicates that more homeless youth are reporting sexual coercion.
In fact the number is up from 25 percent last year to 35 percent this year.
Anita Roman has more on a center working to help those young victims.
Her eyes are filled with pain...a life time of hurt and abuse.
"I was told that if I ever tried to leave, he would kill me." "If he couldn't find me, he would kill my family and I believed that."
Leah Rodgers was trapped in a lifestyle she never imagined would be hers...
"I was already in the sex industry," Rodgers said. "I was a stripper here in Arizona and he trafficked me from the strip club."
Rodgers described years of sexual coercion...a struggle to find self-worth...and a voice to seek help.
"What really woke me up was when I was raped at gun point and I just prayed to God that he would get me out of this lifestyle," said Rodgers. "I didn't want to do it no more."
Unfortunately, Rodgers is not alone. A survey conducted by the Tumbleweed Youth Center for the second year in a row found that more and more people fall victim to sex trafficking...especially homeless youth.
Currently, 35 percent of homeless young people are currently citing a history of sexual coercion compared to 25 percent last year.
Moreover, the average age of first sex trafficking experience is 15 and more than a third of those surveyed have attempted suicide.
"Sex trafficking by the federal definition is forced fraud or coercion," says Melissa Brockie of the Tumbleweed Youth Center. "So someone is forced, frauded or coerced by another individual to exchange sex for money, clothing, sometimes a place to stay, sometimes just transportation."
Brockie says the youth center just received a grant from the Department of Justice and the Office of Victims of Crime that will allow the non-profit to offer additional services and supportive housing to victims.
"It is really much more prevalent I think than we initially thought," Brockie said. "Initially I think when we talked about human trafficking and sex trafficking it was an international issue, it wasn't something that locally we really thought was happening, but what we have done at Tumbleweed is partner with ASU and Our Family Services down in Tucson."
"Going to jail…when I was in jail I stayed there for quite some time," said Rodgers. 'I said if I ever get out I don't want to do this anymore."
As for Rodgers, facing charges that stemmed from her pimp's arrest opened her eyes, forcing her to get help. She now uses her voice to let others know they don't have to walk in her shoes.


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A passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight from San Francisco to Chicago Tuesday is "showing the love" to a flight attendant.
David London posted on YouTube the pre-flight speech that resembled a stand-up routine worthy of NBC's "Last Comic Standing."
"Now, folks if you don't like the jokes or the service today, there are six ways out of this airplane, you feel free to use them," the sassy flight attendant told passengers as another flight attendant showed the safety equipment and did the pointing.
He even cracked himself up during the speech, which lasted a little more than four and a half minutes.
Dallas-based Southwest Airlines announced last month it will add 15 new nonstop destinations out of Dallas Love Field once the Wright Amendment expires in October.