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World Toilet Day, observed Nov. 19, calls much needed attention to global...
The new regulations go into effect Jan. 4, 2014
Infrastructure access solutions provider EJ recently reminded customers and distributors that it has been proactive in certifying its line of fire hydrants and gate valves, in advance of a key Jan. 4, 2014 date for the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
East Jordan, Mich.–based EJ is the manufacturer of WaterMaster hydrants, as well as FlowMaster resilient wedge gate valves. Those products are already compliant, including current inventories.
In January 2011, the President of the United States signed into law the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act, which amended Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), and revised the definition for "lead free" as it pertains to "pipe, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings and fixtures." At that time a three-year timeframe was provided for the industry to transition to the new requirements.
One provision of the legislation requires that all products in contact with drinking water are to have a 0.25% maximum lead content for all wetted components using a surface based averaging formula. Non-compliant or obsolete products cannot be sold or installed after Jan. 4, 2014.
"Voluntary performance testing was conducted and all requirements were met per NSF 372 and NSF 61 specifications," said Eric Hoogerhyde, EJ manufacturing/engineering manager. "Our WaterMaster BR250 and CD250 fire hydrants are approved to the NSF standards through UL. And our FlowMaster gate valves are approved through NSF. These products, including current inventories are compliant with the requirements of the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act of 2011."
Important wording in the amendment of SDWA appears to have greatly expanded the scope of the new federal rule. Previous interpretations exempted products such as fire hydrants. The new law uses language making it applicable to products described as "not anticipated" for use in potable water applications.
"We understand that information available to the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) indicates that fire hydrants can be, and are, used in emergency situations to provide drinking water when there are disruptions to the normal operations of the distribution system," said Gary Walker, director of marketing and product development at EJ. "An example would be work crews repairing a section of pipe below ground, and they configure a bypass using the fire hydrants to keep drinking water flowing to residents' homes. Due to that type scenario, hydrants, as a class of product, would not qualify for the exclusion for pipes, fittings and fixtures used exclusively for non-potable services."
According to Walker, gate valves 2-in. diameter and larger remain exempt from SDWA. "Even so, all of our gate valves are approved to meet NSF 372 (no lead) through NSF," Walker said. "This means that FlowMaster gate valves meet or exceed the requirements of SDWA."
And Walker said that it's important to note whether state and local jurisdictions may have additional limitations or requirements regarding the use or sale and distribution of pipes, pipe or plumbing fittings, or fixtures that contain lead.


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What We Do:
The CRGB plans and supports extramural research grants to test medications for the treatment of drug abuse and dependence disorders in several key areas: controlled compound assessment clinical pharmacology studies, controlled clinical trials for new treatment agents or new indications for marketed medications and clinical studies of the pharmacological effects and interactions among experimental addiction medications and medications for associated medical conditions and psychotherapeutic agents. The Branch also supports experimental pharmacotherapy studies to enhance the efficacy of approved marketed medications, and experimental pharmacotherapy studies of psychotropic or other medications used in the treatment of mental disorders in drug dependent individuals including drug-induced or drug-related mental disorders. CRGB staff members provide technical assistance to grantees, contractors, and applicants. The CRGB provides guidance is given to investigators and manages the administrative aspects of DTMC's research and development contract portfolio.
Staff Biographies and Research Interests:
- Kevin Walton, Ph.D., - Branch Chief
Program Official for clinical trial grants evaluating new therapeutics for smoking cessation and other drug dependence and use disorders. Especially interested in repurposing of therapeutics. Previous experience includes Scientific Review Officer for preclinical translational studies and 15 years in biopharmaceutical preclinical research for neurodegenerative and psychotherapeutic indications. Joined NIDA in 2013.
- Will M. Aklin, Ph.D., - Health Science Administrator
Director of the Behavioral Therapy Development Program, involving Stage I (treatment generation, refinement), II (efficacy) and III (efficacy in real-world settings) treatment research. Interested in research to examine theory-derived treatment targets and mechanisms of behavior change, adherence, and studies that integrate behavioral/pharmacological treatment. Extensive clinical and research experience in behavioral and cognitive-behavioral treatment for substance dependence; adaptive brief interventions and adherence trials. Joined NIDA in 2008.
- Ann Anderson, M.P.H., M.D., - Medical Officer
A family practice physician for 12 years, including some obstetrics, then 3 yrs at CDC in fetal alcohol prevention and training to investigate disease clusters and outbreaks. Develops and oversees clinical trials for new pharmaceutical treatments for drugs of abuse. Serves as Program Officer for a portfolio of grants and cooperative agreements; reviews Data & Safety Monitoring Plans; evaluates progress. Reported and analyzed adverse events, and published findings of multi-site trials for the Division. Joined DTMC in 1999.
- Aidan Hampson, Ph.D., - Health Science Administrator
Program Official and Scientific Officer for clinical trial grants evaluating new therapies for Opiate, Methamphetamine and Cannabis use disorders. Interested in improving tools available to clinical trial researchers. Previously was Scientific Review Officer for SBIR/STTR awards. Prior to that spent eight years in industrial preclinical drug development, six years as an academic cannabinoid researcher and four years in pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism and distribution. Joined NIDA in 2011.

subset: commoncrawl


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Video games have always been a concern to parents since children become quickly addicted to playing video games for hours together. Through time, technology of gaming has advanced with great entertainment and graphics that kids cannot get enough and this has gotten parents very troubled about their effects on kids. There have been a number of studies on video games and children trying to determine the different influences.
Child psychologists, doctors and professors from different parts of the world have studied the critical effects of video games on kids. There have been a number of reports and studies with different views on video games and children. Experts have come out with both positive and negative aspects of playing video games. Get interesting information about find cheats for COD ghosts from www.iwantcheats.net .com .
Video games make kids think of every move they make in the game. There are a number of educational games that help kids learn basic skills like math, vocabulary and language.
Instead of viewing the television, video games are interactive tools letting kids give in their constant participation.Social skills – Playing video games online has become a craze. Children from all over the world can create a network and play the same game together. There are many safe and fun playing video gamesand free video games online that enable the kids to talk and have fun with other children from various backgrounds and countries.


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Every Old World Kitchens project begins it's life in the same way – with a blank sheet of paper and a customer's vision. By the time it leaves our factory in Chilliwack, BC no two will ever be exactly the same. Every cabinet is custom made to the exact dimensions of your home with help from our skilled design team. As a result, the finished product is a true reflection of an individual's needs and personality.
Providing the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver area with the very best in custom cabinetry since 1999.


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Reporters Without Borders appealed today to Koh Koike, the president of the Japanese music chart company Oricon, to withdraw a lawsuit against freelance journalist Hiro Ugaya for casting doubt on the validity of its pop music rankings in an interview for the magazine Cyzo. Oricon is demanding 50 million yen (318,000 euros) in damages and an apology. The journalist has to spend another 7 million yen in legal costs.
"The amount of damages requested by Oricon is out of all proportion and would ruin Ugaya," Reporters Without Borders said. "It is already hard enough to be a freelance journalist in Japan and this kind of lawsuit jeopardises journalistic investigation into the activities of private enterprise."
Oricon brought its action against Ugaya before a Tokyo court on 17 November, citing the fact that he told Cyzo that Oricon inflated some of its sales figures for Japanese groups and used occasionally questionable methods to compile its charts.
Ugaya has written about Oricon's activities in the past, but in this case he just answered questions put to him by Cyzo, which transcribed some of his comments for a 20-line report.
Oricon's president Koike says the aim of the lawsuit is to get a public apology from Ugaya and thereby restore the company's image. He says he would withdraw the suit if Ugaya issued a public retraction.
The case recalls the lawsuit which the credit and loans company Takefuji brought against several freelance journalists, including Katsuhisa Miyake, over their reports about its allegedly questionable practices. The journalists ended up winning the case, but it took four years.
Ugaya's defenders condemn such lawsuits against freelance journalists as improper. One of his colleagues said: "This intimidatory procedure is a serious violation of free speech and threatens the future of freelance journalists."


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The desk I work at has a space for my laptop and a shelf for my separate monitor but if you are constantly working on a laptop, a stand should be used to reduce eyestrain. Raising the screen just a few inches will put your LCD closer to eye level, for easier viewing. PC Mag reviewed four popular laptop stands. Some models provide USB connectivity options, although these sub-$100 stands are not full-fledged docking stations, just stands (from left to right): Read the roundup
- Griffin iCurve – The Griffin iCurve is the most ergonomic and inexpensive stand we found. The short plastic arms, which look like something Apple would design, sit at a 15-degree angle. That's just about perfect for fast typing, and it mirrors the angle of Apple's 17-inch LCD monitor and 23-inch Cinema display. Mac notebook users who already own an Apple external keyboard and mouse will love the clear plastic look. Unfortunately, even though the stand has small plastic rubber grips attached, we still felt that it could slide around too easily on a smooth desk, and we wondered about its stability. And the iCurve won't work at all for bigger notebooks; the arms are just too close together.
- APC Ergonomic Notebook Stand with Four-Port USB 2.0 Hub – The APC Ergonomic Notebook Stand is sort of like a dumbed-down docking station with two rear USB 2.0 ports and an extra USB 2.0 port on each side. The APC also includes a USB cable, so you can connect a keyboard and mouse or any other USB device to the stand. The curved "notebook retainer" top provides extra cooling and locks into three different positions for ease of use. Some smaller notebooks and gargantuan widescreen wonders like the Apple PowerBook 17-inch might not sit perfectly on the stand, though, and we're not sure why it comes with such a brick-like AC adapter. And the stand weighs just 3.4 pounds, so it's not as stable as the Lapvantage Loft.
- Plasticsmith Lapvantage Loft – This gleaming, polished-acrylic stand has one major benefit: It's sturdier than most other stands. Even your $3,000 Toshiba laptop will stay safe, perched 5.5 inches above your desk. The Lapvantage Loft stand rotates 360 degrees, so it swivels easily for group viewing, and it includes rubber feet to keep it from moving. You can tuck an external keyboard underneath it when it's not in use. The stand is heavy enough to stay put even if you use a widescreen notebook, and comes in metallic, clear, and white; a blue edge on the Metallic Pedestal model seems to glow in well-lit conditions. Other stands tilt vertically and provide better cooling, but we'll take desktop stability over other technical features.
- Targus Ergo M-Pro Mobile Notebook Stand – Portability is a plus with the Targus Ergo M-Pro Mobile Notebook Stand, but the convenience also has a downside. The M-Pro weighs only 1.4 pounds, the lightest of all the stands we tested, and measures a mere 9 inches when closed—a good fit for most laptop bags. Yet the stand is too light for extended use with most notebooks. One awkward nudge and it could tip easily, especially given the vertically oriented design. Still, it's easy to see the screen while the notebook is docked in the stand, and you can use one of several tilt angles. There's also a handy document holder on the front, but you can't use your laptop's keyboard and the M-Pro at the same time, so you'll need an external keyboard.


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- Description
Nether Wallop - 'Sack O'Veg' - Jute Vegetable Storage Sack
The Nether Wallop 'Sack O'Veg' is a great large vegetable storage sack for storing your root crops.
Made from natural jute which allows the air to circulate keeping your vegetables fresh for longer, while the drawstring closure at the top keeps vegetables safe from the light.
The sack has also got two strong handles which are equally well suited for carrying as they are for hanging the sack with the vegetables up off the ground. Large enough to store a bumper harvest whether potatoes, carrots, swedes, apples or others.
75cm x 50cm (30 x 20in) approx
Jute is eco-friendly, carbon dioxide neutral and 100% recyclable and biodegradable without causing environmental hazards. Sacks, made from jute is the traditional method for storing root vegetables. It is the same material from which coffee sacks are made and also, nowadays, many reusable shopping bags.
Jute comes from a flowering vegetable plant that grows to 10 feet tall. Historically, the plant fibre has been used to make rope, twine, carpet, and rugs. Jute, an inherently strong fibre, is one of the cheapest natural fibers available. It has also been used to make paper, geotextile (a fiberglass alternative), and particleboard.
Jute plants grows with little water and fertilisers and is rapidly renewable, minimally processed and, ultimately, biodegradable. Jute improves soil quality, is carbon dioxide neutral and 100% recyclable and biodegradable without causing environmental hazards.
Nether Wallop:
The company Nether Wallop is based in and named after the village in central Hampshire, England. It is part of The Wallops: Nether, Middle and Over Wallop. The name Wallop derives from 'waella' (stream) and 'hop' (valley) or 'the valley of springing water'.
The town was the site of the Battle of Guoloph that took place around the year 439. The element 'Wallop' is first attested in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Wallope'; 'Wollop inferior', that is to say Nether Wallop, is first attested circa 1270 in Episcopal Registers.
The village contains many old thatched cottages and has been featured in books and TV programmes as one of the prettiest villages in England.
Dane Cottage in Five Bells Lane, Nether Wallop was used as Miss Marple's home in the village of St. Mary Mead for the BBC adaptations, played by British actress Joan Hickson of the Agatha Christie Miss Marple novels. The house and many of the surrounding lanes within the village were used as the setting and are commonly seen throughout many of the Miss Marple films (where Joan Hickson played Miss Marple.
Sir Richard Reade (1511-1575 ) Lord Chancellor of Ireland, was a native of Nether Wallop
- Additional Information
Additional Information
Common Name Jute Vegetable Storage Sack


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Native Spirit - Sharing Their Art
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Art is a way to preserve the culture for many native americans. A tribe's heritage is passed down through generations in paintings, sculptures, and jewelry.
In our Native Spirit series, Adam Ladwig shows us what's happening on the Spirit Lake reservation to help artists share their talents within their community and beyond.


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Ball, Andrew J.; Price, Michael E.; Walker, Roger J.; Dando, Glyn C.; Wells, Nigel S. and Zarnecki, John C.
|DOI (Digital Object Identifier) Link:
|Google Scholar:
|Look up in Google Scholar
We describe a Mars 'Micro Mission' for detailed study of the martian satellites Phobos and Deimos. The mission involves two ~330 kg spacecraft equipped with solar electic propulsion to reach Mars orbit. The two spacecraft are stacked for launch: an orbiter for remote investigation of the moons and in situ studies of their enviornment in Mars orbirt, and another carrying a lander for in situ measurements on the surface of Phobos (or alternatively Deimos). Phobos and Deimos remain only partially studied, and Deimos less well than Phobos. Mars has almost always been the primary mission objective, while the more dedicated 'Phobos' project (1988-89) failed to realise its full potential. Many questions remain concerning the moons' origins, evolution, physical nature and composition. Current missions, such as 'Mars Express', are extending our knowledge of Phobos in some areas but largely neglect Deimos. The objectives of M-PADS focus on: origins and evolution, interactions with Mars, volatiles and interiors, surface features, and differences. The consequent measurement requirements imply both landed and remote sensing payloads. M-PADS is expected to accommodate a 60kg orbital payload and 16kg lander payload. M_PADS resulted from a BNSC-funded study carried out in 2003 to define cadidate Mars Micro Mission concepts for ESA's Aurora programme.
|Item Type:
|Journal Item
|Copyright Holders:
|Phobos; Deimos; Mars; Space missions; Interplanetary spacecraft; Planetary landers;
|Academic Unit/School:
|Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) > Physical Sciences
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
|Interdisciplinary Research Centre:
|Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research (CEPSAR)
|Item ID:
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|Users 2400 not found.
|Date Deposited:
|28 Apr 2009 08:44
|Last Modified:
|04 Oct 2016 10:21
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MOTORISTS are being warned the A12 is set to be shut for large parts of this weekend.
Engineers from Highways England will be lifting out part of the Ewell Bridge over the road between junctions 23 and 24 near Kelvedon.
It will then be transported along the busy road for repairs to be completed nearby.
It will be shut between junction 25 at Marks Tey and junction 24 at Kelvedon north overnight on Friday on the southbound track between 8pm and 6am and then from 10pm on Saturday until 4am on Monday.
A diversion will be in place from Marks Tey along the A120, A130 and A131 and in reverse coming in the opposite direction.
Project sponsor Kelly Milburn said: "We'd like to remind drivers that this closure will be in place throughout the weekend continuously from when it closed at 10pm on Saturday until it re-opens at 4am on Monday.
"There will be clearly signed diversion routes in place to minimise disruption but we would continue to urge drivers to plan their journeys and be aware of ongoing road works that may affect them."


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Happy Father's Day to all the other dads out there! What's your son up to this summer, SC?
This dad stuff just keeps getting better. My son (who turns 6 next month) and I were playing a fairly complex game called Mermaid Beach last night. It's got good and bad mermaids, sea monsters, waves, seaweed, beach toys, and other fun stuff, and in the past few months he's gone from finding a game like this being a real challenge, to being a skilled player. It's a real joy to see him take big steps forward like that. Can't believe the kid starts first grade in the fall.
We'll be going over for Father's Day brunch with my dad later this morning, and that's kind of bittersweet: at just shy of 88, it's increasingly clear that there probably won't be many more Father's Days with him. He's been fighting Parkinson's through most of his 80s, and the combination of that and the normal slings and arrows of old age are really starting to limit him physically. My stepmom, who is 12 years younger than he is, is having a big 88th birthday party for him in a couple of weeks, and it's hard to miss the subtext that she's doing this because she doesn't expect him to be well enough to really enjoy a big party at 90.
My dad and I have had a very complicated relationship over the years (among other things, he once threatened to disown me, and I responded by walking out of his life for a year and a half), but we somehow found our peace with each other about a decade back. There's still a lot we don't see eye to eye on, but those things have become less important to us than the things we share.
So that's my Father's Day. How are yours shaping up?


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A decision stopping UnitedHealthcare from terminating more than 2,000 doctors from its Medicare Advantage plan in Connecticut is under scrutiny by medical groups across the country. U.S. District Court Stefan Underhill issued a restraining order after the medical associations of Fairfield and Hartford counties sought emergency relief.
The restraining order came two days before a deadline for the 14 million seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage policies to choose a doctor for the coming year. About 2.9 million of those use UnitedHealthcare for the insurance, which provides more drug coverage than traditional Medicare, but requires patients to use network doctors.
The associations and UnitedHealthcare disagree, the court said, about whether the insurer could drop doctors without notice. The court ruled that the medical groups were likely to win their lawsuit based on contractual claims.
In his order, Underhill wrote, "United's argument that it has a unilateral right to terminate participating physicians from participation in the Medicare Advantage plan by amendment of that plan is not supported by the language of the contract or the parties' experience under it."
The company, which is dropping doctors from Medicare Advantage plans in several states, said it is appealing the ruling. The reasons for dropping the doctors are unclear, but some reports say a major factor is that some physicians refuse to accept lower reimbursement for services.
News reports said state medical associations in Ohio and New York are watching to see the outcome. The president of the New York group, Sam Unterricht, was quoted by Kaiser Health News as saying the association was considering a similar suit. A spokesman for the Ohio group was quoted as saying it was looking at the judge's ruling.
Earlier this month, UnitedHealthcare said it expected to absorb a cut in Medicare Advantage payments from the government.
Last month, America's Health Insurance Plans warned in a letter to the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administration that cuts included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act were already causing coverage reductions and price increases.


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The NFL will play games on Sept. 11 for the first time since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, including the Seahawks opener against the 49ers. And the memories of that tragedy definitely linger.
Raheem Brock will be on the field at Candlestick Park for Sunday's regular-season opener against the 49ers. But at some point, the Seahawks' defensive end will be transported back to the events of 10 years ago.
That's because Sunday is not only Sept. 11, it's the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that took out the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City in 2001 – when Brock was senior at Temple University in Philadelphia.
"It was just crazy," Brock recalled Friday after practice. "There were a lot of people from New York who were in my class. So they were kind of panicking and trying to get home.
"Class was canceled. So I just went home and watched everything on TV."
Things played out very differently in Kirkland, where the players were off because it was a Tuesday. It also was one of those picture-postcard September mornings in the Seattle area, so seeing the planes fly into the towers on TV was more like watching a Bruce Willis movie than an actual event.
When the players reconvened on Wednesday, they voted to play their scheduled game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Husky Stadium that week. It wasn't until linebacker and player rep Chad Brown took part in a conference call with the player reps from the New York Giants, New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles later that day that he realized the magnitude of what had happened and how it was impacting those on the East Coast.
After Brown gave an impassioned presentation the next day, the Seahawks voted to not play – and the entire league went dark that Sunday to honor those lost in the 9/11 attacks.
It has been 10 years, but the memories of that day will be there forever.
"It looked crazy, like you'd never think you'd see anything like that," said Brock, who was 23 at the time. "It was a tough time."
Which will make this Sunday difficult, as well.
"I'll think about it. I'll remember it," Brock said. "But I think people that dealt with the situation and lost family members, it was a crazy part of history – a tragic part of history.
"But I'll think about it, of course. You just can't forget it."
The NFL hasn't. There will be special tributes at all stadiums – including Candlestick.
Like Brock, cornerback Marcus Trufant also was in college on Sept. 11, 2001. But a then 20-year-old Trufant was in Pullman at Washington State University.
"It was early in the morning and I was on my way to class," Trufant said. "Then what had happened came on TV. As the word spread, everybody was scared, everybody was nervous because you don't know what to expect next."
What came next for Trufant was retreating to his apartment and watching everything unfold on his roommate's TV.
"I was like, 'What?' " he said. "You're watching it happened, but you can't believe it's happening."
It was a similar scenario in Corsicana, Texas, where linebacker David Hawthorne was 16 and in class as a high school student.
"They turned on all the TV in the school and we all saw how tragic that was," Hawthorne said. "Then the aftermath came, and that's when we really started to learn what exactly happened and started praying for all the people who lost loved ones and family members in that tragedy."
via Ten years after.


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UK's Girlguiding removes 'God' and 'country' from its promise
The Skeptical Chymist SALT LAKE CITY, UTJune 21, 2013 8:09 a.m.
The changes are an improvement over the previous version. They are more welcoming to nonreligious girls, in a way that emphasizes thoughtful reflection and excludes no one. This is a welcome revision, particularly in Britain, where 50% of the population does not believe in God.
Hutterite American Fork, UTJune 20, 2013 5:17 p.m.
This isn't a particularly strong 'religion is victim' card.
Chris B Salt Lake City, UTJune 20, 2013 4:33 p.m.
nothing worse than God and country.
Heaven(intended) forbid


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The lights are on
Rebellion is getting ready to release the third title in the Sniper Elite series in just a month. But perhaps you missed the last installment, which features an X-ray camera evidencing the destruction caused by your bullets on Nazi bodies. Well, friend, you are in luck.
For the next 24 hours, Sniper Elite V2 is absolutely free on Steam. All you need to do is log into your account and claim your copy. If you're interested in what you see, you can pre-purchase Sniper Elite 3 for 20 percent off the full price ($39.99 versus $49.99).
We had a chance to play Sniper Elite 3 at PAX East. The new, more open levels were a great change of pace and the refinements to the AI offer better opportunities to keep the AI guessing.
[Source: Steam via Wario64 on Twitter]
Our TakeSniper Elite V2 has a lot of great ideas, and the sniping elements are great fun. I wasn't as fond of the stealth moments in between the long-range gunplay, but that's neither here nor there. This game is free and there is no reason not to claim your copy.


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Escondido-area agriculture is the dense hillside of half-century-old avocado trees on Burnet Wohlford's land just off Lake Wohlford Road. It's the mushroom farm on North Broadway, the turf farm in the San Pasqual Valley, and grapefruit groves in Pauma Valley. And it's Barbie Thompson Lee's one acre of vegetables that she sells to farm stands and restaurants.
It's an industry that contributes $240 million to the Escondido economy.
But farming takes lots of water. So as water rates started to spike a few years ago — driving some growers to quit — a group of Escondido-area farmers got together to approach the city about an agriculture rate.
Escondido Growers for Agricultural Preservation, or EGAP, succeeded in getting some breaks, including relief from a 12 percent increase this year.
Meanwhile, the relationship between EGAP and the city evolved into a collaboration that officials and growers hope will yield a sustainable, long-lasting solution to water concerns on both sides, as well as reinforce agriculture's role in the city's economy.
Assistant City Manager Charles Grimm said meetings with EGAP quickly became an educational process, with the city explaining why water costs were rising and growers sharing the economic value of agriculture.
Growers also are reclaimed water users, which helps the city, Grimm said. But the salty reclaimed water hadn't always been usable for all crops, like the sensitive avocado. So the two sides began working toward the goal of improving treatment to make the water less salty, which would help the city get rid of its wastewater without requiring a costly and difficult expansion of its ocean-outfall pipe.
"That's big for the city," Grimm said.
San Diego County Farm Bureau Executive Director Eric Larson said the realization that both sides could benefit from each other's problem — the city's need to unload reclaimed water and growers' need for water — was like "light bulbs (going) off over the heads of both parties."
"The farmers are, in essence, in a position to help the city dispose of that water," Larson said.
The effort to get recycled water to growers benefits ordinary water customers, too, Larson said. "Every gallon of recycled water that farmers use is going to release a gallon of potable water for everybody else."
In the meantime, before a pipe to carry reclaimed water east from the treatment plant to growers is completed in 2014 or 2015, growers need relief from the high cost of water, and so far the city has obliged. "We need to ensure farmers will be around to be customers," Larson said.
When the City Council excluded agricultural water customers from a 12 percent rate increase in December, rates for other customers ticked up by 14 percent. Larson said there was no backlash against growers over higher rates for residential customers. In a 2011 survey of San Diego County Water Authority customers, an overwhelming 87 percent of respondents supported a differential price for water for farmers, Larson said.
Establishing a long-term solution for water prices will let the growers focus fully on its role in the community, said Eddie Grangetto, co-founder of EGAP. "If we can get the water issue out of the way, everything else can fall into line."
The roughly 5,000 acres farmed in and around Escondido yield an annual crop value of $80.8 million and provide upward of 3,000 jobs.
"Most farmers (around) Escondido spend their money in Escondido," Grimm said, buying trucks, fuel, fertilizer and myriad other supplies from local stores, "and that is millions and millions of dollars."
Grimm said local agriculture creates trickle-down jobs in such areas as trucking. And the agricultural products are sold locally, at farm stands, farmers markets and grocery stores.
"We want to be a real economic engine for the city," Grangetto said. "We want to be like the auto mall, the Westfield mall, the new Target. We have been, but people have not noticed."
The city is equally committed to making agriculture a part of Escondido's brand again, including the industry in its recently approved Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.
Policies outlined in the strategy — such as continuing to develop reclaimed water, and preserving and expanding agricultural jobs — will encourage existing and new ventures in agriculture, Grimm said.
"Now that we're written in to the (economic development) document, it's beyond water," Grangetto said. "When you put a tree in the ground, you're in it for the long haul. (Growers) are committed to agriculture … but you have to have a partnership, you have to have the community embrace it just like they would a new restaurant."


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Originally published Monday, August 29, 2005 at 12:00 AM
Small office / Home office
SHARK spells relief for tired thumbs
Humans in their long history have invented only two ways for individuals to produce text: handwriting and typing on a keyboard. Shumin Zhai, an IBM...
San Jose Mercury News
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Humans in their long history have invented only two ways for individuals to produce text: handwriting and typing on a keyboard.
Shumin Zhai, an IBM scientist, may have invented another way: SHARK, an abbreviation for ShortHand-Aided Rapid Keyboarding.
SHARK is intended for writing text with a stylus on small touch-sensitive screens, such as those found in cellphones and personal digital assistants. It uses a radically different approach that is easy to learn and fast.
Zhai gave a presentation on SHARK earlier this month during a conference at IBM's Almaden Research Center in San Jose, Calif., where he works, and his ideas led me to one of those rare eye-opening moments when you suddenly see what could be the answer to a long-festering problem.
The problem is how to comfortably enter text onto the screens of pocket-size devices. Anyone who uses a cellphone to laboriously tap out text messages, or a BlackBerry to respond to e-mail, knows what I'm talking about — those tiny keypads cause thumb strain. At the same time, software that attempts to recognize either speech or regular handwriting isn't reliable.
SHARK in its current form — demonstrated so far on full-size Windows XP notebooks — puts a small grid on the screen. The grid shows a cluster of letters in what appears to be random order.
To write a word, you put the stylus on the first letter of the word, then drag the stylus to draw a line through the alphabet cluster, touching every letter in the word. When you lift up the stylus after hitting the last letter, SHARK figures out what word you want and displays it on the screen.
If SHARK makes a mistake, you tap the word and get a list of the most likely alternatives based on the path you traced through the grid.
Zhai sent me the most recent version of SHARK, and it worked like magic. (I didn't have a notebook with a touch-sensitive screen, but I found a mouse works in place of a stylus.) More than nine times out of 10, the software displayed the word I wanted. When SHARK got it wrong, the correct word was almost always the second or third choice on the drop-down list.
If you want to see for yourself, Zhai has posted an earlier version of SHARK on his Web site (www.almaden.ibm.com/u/zhai/SHARK.htm) Zhai, working in collaboration with graduate student Per-Ola Kristensson, is promising to post a much-improved SHARK Version 2 soon. Over time, SHARK users learn to make familiar words just by drawing the appropriate line on the screen — for example, "the" is a simple reverse C motion.
Zhai calls these simple line drawings "sokgraphs," and says users can learn sokgraphs for the 50 to 60 mostly commonly used words in four training sessions of 45 minutes each. Those words represent about 40 percent of what we write.
SHARK sokgraphs build up in your "sense memory" over time. But you're never stuck, because you can always look at the SHARK screen if you don't know where to move the stylus. You can even tap out letters one at a time if necessary.
IBM hasn't yet decided how to commercialize SHARK, but Zhai is confident the software could be ready for customers with a few months' notice.
As enthusiastic as I am about SHARK, I've learned to never mistake a research project for a sure thing. SHARK may be too different from conventional writing or typing to gain public acceptance.
But, if nothing else, SHARK stands as a challenge to all the bright people in Silicon Valley working on next-generation wireless gadgets.
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American Liver Foundation http://www.liverfoundation.org/
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/
National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. http://www.rarediseases.org/.
Canadian Liver Foundation http://www.liver.ca/Home.aspx
Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders http://www.cord.ca/
The American Phorphyria Foundation
Available at:
Beers MH.
The Merck Manual of Medical Information
. Home Edition, 2nd ed. Simon and Schuster, Inc; 2003.
Cecil Textbook of Medicine
21st ed. WB Saunders Co; 2000.
Conn's Current Therapy 2001
53rd ed. WB Saunders Co; 2001.
Goldman L.
Cecil Textbook of Medicine
. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2004.
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine
14th ed. The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2000.
Porphyria. Mayo Clinic.com website. Available at:
. Updated May 2009. Accessed October 25, 2010.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2012 EBSCO Publishing
All rights reserved.
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As the 2013 NEA Representative Assembly kicked off today, nearly 10,000 attendees from all over the U.S.—of which more than 1,000 are from California—tackled important business after an energetic welcome to the four-day Atlanta, Georgia conference.
During NEA President Dennis Van Roekel's keynote speech, the association launched its Raise Your Hand Campaign urging delegates to take on leadership roles, fight for social justice and work together to create positive change for students.
New Business Items were also a focal point of the agenda.
CTA President Dean Vogel speaks to the Representative Assembly
CTA President Dean Vogel spoke on behalf of the delegation in support of New Business Item 3, which CTA had submitted. With this NBI, the "NEA calls for a moratorium on using the outcome of the tests associated width the Common Core standards, except to inform instruction, until states and districts have worked width educators to create authentic, locally-developed curriculum, assessments and professional development related to the Common Core."
"Everybody's tired of this testing nonsense and people are waiting for a voice to tell them the truth… and that voice is the National Education Association's and the time is NOW," said Vogel to a cheering crowd of delegates supporting the NBI. The Rep Assembly adopted NBI 3.
The business continues tomorrow at 10 a.m. on the 4th of July holiday. The CTA caucus will convene at 7:00 a.m. Look for an update on tomorrow's business and stay connected to our Facebook page to view pictures and posts directly from delegates on the floor. You can also follow the event on Twitter by using the hashtag #NEARA13.
Every child deserves a chance to learn and no child succeeds alone.
© 1999-


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Analysis of thirty of Lawrence Steven Lowry's paintings have convinced art historians that when Lowry painted Matchstalk men and Matchstalk cats and dogs he was actually painting the dead. The dead that only he could see.
"We examined the time frames of when he painted his pictures," said art historian David Starkey. "There's a scene in he painted in Oldham, for example. The mill closed three years before Lowry would ever have seen the place. When he was collecting rent in that area, all that was left coming out of the factory was ghosts."
This idea has been backed up by actually examining the pictures coming out of Lowery's paintbrush.
"The people that we see are hideous," said Starky. "Take A Father with Two Brothers, they look dead. The eyes of every portrait are staring and dead. He's painting ghosts. We think that Anne, one of the major subjects of several paintings, was a girl he loved, but died, and she came to him many times."
It has long been known that Lowry could paint very well, his early portraits of people are exceptional, showing great talent.
"I've seen some of his early work," said Starky. "They capture the living essence of the person, he painted what he saw."
If it is true, and Lowry was painting the dead, how did he come by his unique talent?
"One of the little known facts about Lowry," said Starky, "is that he was a virgin on the day that he died. The pent up sexual frustration was what probably tore asunder the veil between us and the other side."


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STOCKTON — Ponderosa golfer Corey Pereira and the entire Oak Ridge team made the NorCal cut after qualifying performances at Monday's Masters Tournament at The Reserve at Spanos Park in Stockton.
Pereira carded a 68, four under par, to lead the field by two strokes while the Trojans combined for a score of 385. Both will compete at next Monday's NorCal Tournament at the Diablo Grande Golf and Country Club in Patterson.
Individually for Oak Ridge, Charlie Cameron shot 72; Quinn Carlsen, 74; Connor Gaymon, 77; Tyler Gunderson, 78; Dylan Van Der Veer, 84; Kevin Macklin, 87. Troy improved five spots over an eighth place finish in 2012. Just three points separated spots 2-3-4 with the top three teams advancing
Pereira's 68 at last year's Masters placed him third. The Bruin senior, bound for the University of Washington, recorded three birdies and one eagle Monday afternoon.


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LGBT One-Day Retreat: Queerness and Goodness
with Charlie Byron
No other group in Western society is so defined by its "otherness" - our Queerness. We seem to be unique that way. It's no wonder so many of us grew up thinking there was something wrong with us. By now, we may take our queerness for granted, a dailyreality; we live pragmatically in the world, "queer" and ordinary.
The Buddhist view of Basic Goodness says that there is no fundamental flaw. In fact it says we can experience our own goodness as easily as breathing. For queers, (of whatever stripe), this ground of basic goodness offers the possibility of looking with interest and kindness at our experience: past and present, pleasant and painful. We can reframe the adaptations we may have made to survive, and reclaim our wholeness.
It's possible we may end up no less queer, but perhaps much less other. Ultimately, that which sets us apart has the potential to become our greatest contribution.
This one-day program will combine:
• sitting meditation instruction and practice
• guided contemplation
• discussion in dyads and groups
• lunch together - lunch is not included in the program registration fee; you can bring your own lunch or order here the morning of the program
All queers, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgendered, and those questioning are welcome.
The program will end with a light reception and time for socializing from 5 to 6pm.
Charlie Byron came out at age 21, met his (now) husband Morris McCain a few years later, and married him (legally) a few years ago. Charlie started practicing meditation in 1992 as a strategy for staying in their relationship. Over the years he became a Buddhist and since 2000 has been a teacher of Shambhala Buddhism. Charlie and Morris lived in Boston's South End for around 20 years; in 2010 they moved to northern Vermont.
Generosity Policy: While the Center must raise revenue to remain open and grow, no one should be prevented from participating in a program because of financial circumstances. If you are unable to afford the supporting level of payment, please contact us prior to the program to discuss what a generous offering would be for you. It is also possible to give to the Center through our Path of Service. Please e-mail [email protected] or call 617-734-1498 to discuss our Generosity Policy or to discuss other ways of getting involved.


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I have run into a wall with my BS. I have owned up to the affair, but I cannot tell him what he wants to hear because what he wants to hear me say isn't the truth. We have been together for almost 20 years. I had one affair EA and PA. I had two other inappropriate friendships as they included flirty text messages which I deleted, thus I knew they were wrong. As my BS had someone following me and had somehow been able to retreive all my text messages, when confronted, I admitted to the affair and could not deny the text messages. The truth is, I did not sleep with or have an affair PA or EA with anyone other than the one person I admitted to. It was brief, lasting only 2.5 months. My BS swears it has been going on for years and that I have slept with many, many others, and that I am lying. I contacted a company today and should have an appointment for next Thursday to have a polygraph; the results of which I will have the examiner send to my BS. I know that people fail these tests even when they are being honest, so I am somewhat reluctant, but I feel I have reached the end of my rope in terms of trying to convince him he is wrong. I can take lashing out over the things I've done, but what is hard is that he wants me to admit to more than what actually occurred in terms of number of people, time span, etc. Sometimes, a small part of me wishes I had slept with everyone he has accused me of so that I could just admit it and be done. Please let me know what any of you think. Is a polygraph the right move at this point?
We've had a few WS's who've admitted to things that aren't true. Sometimes it ends up that those things are true after all and the WS is trying to get out of something. Sometimes it's a false admission and it turns into an even bigger mess.
I have no real advice, other than be prepared either way. Even if you pass, he could come back saying that the test was unreliable.
It helped us move forward. My BH still struggled, this was a small piece of the huge R puzzle, but it did help somewhat.
Among the many other issues, a big bone of contention for him is the actual tenure of the A. He swears it has been going on for years. The trut is it lasted approximately 2.5 months- at the most, but probably not even that long.
Another bone for him is that he thinks over the course of nearly 20 years together, there have been multiple affairs and he wonders, as he puts it,how long he has been a fool. The truth is this is the only one.
Lastly, seeing as though he thinks Ive always been wayward, he believes I have slept with many, many people. The truth is, including my 1 affair, I have only slept with 6 men in my entire life. This is in part because I married really young the first time and did not do a lot of dating.
So, I would like to put these issues/questions to rest. I had an affair. I am not a slut and I really need him to stop seeing me as such. Again, there are many other issues, that I dont think a polygraph will be able to address, but I think clarity on the aforementioned issues is needed, if not for him, for me because I need him to know exactly what it is I did and did not do.


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See bugs, scarecrows, moldy food at State Fair
Visiting the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's (MDA) 2013 State Fair exhibit will be an adventure for everyone, say ag leaders. The exhibit features five MDA programs that showcase how the agency protects people and the environment and promotes Minnesota agricultural products.
Located in the North Hall of the Agriculture/Horticulture Building, this fun, family friendly exhibit will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily during the 12 days of the State Fair.
Here's a peek at the five areas for visitors to explore:
· Bed Bug Room - you and your kids will have fun trying to find the bed bugs (not real!) hiding in the room. You'll learn how to identify bed bugs and how to protect your family from the growing problem of bed bugs. There will be scientific examples of bed bugs and an opportunity to take a fun bed bug photo. Experts from MDA and the University of Minnesota will have real bed bugs on display for one day only, Thursday, August 29, from 12:30-5:00 p.m.
· Minnesota Grown Family Fun - discover what foods are grown in our great state and get to know a farmer. Members of the Minnesota Grown promotional program will be on hand to discuss the products they grow and talk about their farming practices. Kids can pick apples from a magnetic apple tree and take a photo opportunity with a scarecrow.
· Minnesota Deli - here you can test your food safety knowledge and find out what MDA inspectors look for when they inspect Minnesota's grocery and convenience stores. Why is the coleslaw moldy? Learn how ice cream gets from the dairy farm to your freezer.
· Green Lawns/Blue Lakes - learn some great tips for keeping your lawn healthy and green, and our lakes healthy and blue. Simple things such as proper fertilizing and watering can make a big difference in lawn health and subsequently the viability of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes.
· The North Star Campground - learn to recognize the damage gypsy moths and emerald ash borers can cause and how you can help to prevent their spread. Find out why these bugs are on Minnesota's "Most Wanted" list.
The Minnesota State Fair runs from Thursday, August 22 through Labor Day, September 2.


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Mangaluru: Vikram aka Vicky Boloor from Kodikkal had been hacked to death by a gang near Thokkottu on late Sunday night.
The act had been blamed on Ravindra Poojary aka 'Psycho' Vicky and his group. The Scorpio vehicle used by the killers was found abandoned at Eliyar later.
Since them, the gang members had gone into hiding. In a joint operation, the Ullal and the CCB police have reportedly arrested five persons including 'Psycho' Vicky. However, no confirmation was available from the police at the official level.
The names and the news of arrest has been reportedly not made public in the interest of investigation.


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HOUSTON – After their second tough home loss of the season, the Houston Dynamo are looking at the schedule now as a blessing.
Houston have little time to dwell on the mistakes that cost them in a 2-1 loss to Colorado on Wednesday. They're back at it on the road against Toronto FC on Saturday (7 pm ET, MatchDay Live), and the match is a welcome one for a Dynamo locker room that experienced its first loss since the season opener.
"It's unfortunate we've lost two games at home and the fashion in which we did is frustrating, but it's a situation where the best thing to do is get back on the field," Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear said after Wednesday's game.
The trip to Toronto will present a challenge for the club, as they'll face their third match in eight days. Despite an eagerness to get back into a game situation, the club will have to keep their physical ability in mind heading on the road for the first of two away matches.
"With an extra day playing last Friday we'll see how it goes," Kinnear said. "The weather's been kind to us and we've shortened down practices a bit, so we're preparing."
With staying fit and sharp going hand in hand, the Dynamo are taking precautions to ensure that they are in top shape heading into the weekend match north of the border.
In addition to their roster management the Dynamo will have something at their disposal that all teams covet: depth. Having multiple players at a number of positions who can contribute offers Kinnear options ahead of the final leg of their three-game week.
"Dom's excellent at rotating the guys and managing our practice schedule to watch how much work we do," midfielder Lovel Palmer said. "We're not worried. We have a lot of depth this season. We just need to go out and play, and whoever's on the pitch for Houston in Orange will do well."
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com. Follow him on twitter at @Dynamoexaminer.


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Nike Men's FS Lite Trainer 3 Shoe - Anthracite/Volt/Wolf Grey
Get ready to buckle up! The Nike FS Lite Trainer 3 features Dual Fusion midsole technology for responsive cushioning, inner sleeve construction for a snug fit and waffle tread for multi-surface traction, paving the way for your most explosive run yet!
Available in men's US sizing - see size chart for correct fit!
- Nike footwear
- For men
- Style: 807113003
- Model no: 807113003
- Colour: Anthracite/Volt/Wolf Grey
- Shoe width: N/A
- Lightweight mesh & synthetic upper
- Dual Fusion technology for responsive cushioning
- Inner sleeve construction for snug fit
- Zonal outsole for multi-surface traction
- Materials:
- Textile/synthetic upper
- Textile lining
- Rubber outsole
- Country of origin: Vietnam
Helping serious athletes and casual trainers alike reach their true potential for over 50 years, Nike is one of the world's most trusted makers of sportswear. Maximise your body to its fullest and go far beyond what you thought possible.


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Passover and Easter celebrations bring together friends, families and loved ones to celebrate. One of the healthiest libation options to consider is red grapes as whole fruit in juice or red wine. Grape compounds have been shown to block the formation of fat cells. Grapes are rich in the antioxidant resveratrol which has evidence of attenuating inflammation and provides potential health benefits.
Resveratrol, trans-3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene, is a phytochemical produced by plants that is abundant in the skin of red grapes—contributing to a high concentration in red wine and grape juice. Intense media coverage highlighting its potential applications in the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases has inspired many individuals to try resveratrol supplements.
Resveratrol has been reported to decrease oxidative stress and attenuate inflammation, and these mechanisms may account for many of its health benefits. The suggested link between resveratrol and the French paradox has created considerable interest in studying resveratrol's potential to improve cardiovascular health.
There is abundant research demonstrating the relationship between red wine, grape juice, and other grape product consumption and physiological factors that reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Aside from cardiovascular disease, resveratrol has been reported to potentially benefit a number of conditions, including cancer.
Resveratrol may have possible benefits for diabetes mellitus, the metabolic syndrome, autoimmune disease, and Alzheimer's disease.
Resveratrol is an anti-inflammatory substance found in grape products that appears to impart a number of health benefits. Consider grape products when you celebrate this holiday and every holiday.
To your good health.
Dr. Gerry Mullin


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UNO to Observe Veterans Day
Omaha – The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) will observe Veterans Day with a variety of service opportunities and activities on Monday, November 11.
Veterans Day of Service
Organization: UNO Office of Civic and Social Responsibility (CSR)
Join your fellow students and do service for veterans and active military members.
The Office of Civic and Social Responsibility (CSR) will provide supplies and guidance to carry out several hands-on service activities that will show our appreciation to veterans and military members.
Service Activities Include:
• Assemble care packages for active military
• Create t-shirt blankets for homeless veterans
• Write letters to military members
Engage & Serve!
No registration required. Stop by the Milo Bail Student Center's Fireplace Lounge between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
American Veteran Trust Conference
Organization: UNO Military and Veterans University Services Office (MaV USO)
The University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) Military and Veteran University Services Office (MaV USO) and its Veteran Student Organization (VSO) will be hosting an unprecedented Veterans Day event, including guest speakers, community engagement activities, an interactive networking forum, refreshments and a raffle. This event, the American Veteran Trust conference (AVTc), will take place at UNO on November 11th, 2013, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Nebraska Room.
There will be opportunities to interact with potential employers, so attendees should bring an updated copy of their resume and contact information, in addition to any questions, concerns, ideas, and contact information. There will also be opportunities for attendees to interact with numerous military and veteran organizations.
The event hopes to:
Honor all who served. Attendees will celebrate the commitments and sacrifices made by our veterans, our current military, and their loved ones.
Provide resources. The event will aim to equip our military and veteran community with an awareness of the available tools and resources that are at their disposal. These resources include education, employment, finance, healthcare, and community service.
Stimulate community cooperation. Promote interest, encourage participation, and develop perpetual relationships. This will assist in building an interwoven community of current military personnel, veterans, and regional organizations from which all can support and benefit.
Please RSVP via the Veteran Student Organization email address: firstname.lastname@example.com
Veterans Day Discount
Organization: Various
We'll be offering a 20% discount to U.S. Military Veterans on Monday, November 11 in honor of Veterans Day in the MBSC Food Court, Library Cafe and the MavRec Cafe! Stop in and tell your cashier if you are veteran!
Military Salute Nov. 11-15
Organization: UNO Bookstore
The UNO Bookstore is holding their week long Military Salute Special November 11-15! Active U.S. Military and Veterans will receive 20% off their regular price Maverick apparel purchase with military ID. Everyone at the UNO Bookstore thanks you for your service to our country!
The special is in-store only and limited to in-stock apparel only.
Questions? Please contact Jacinda Brooks at firstname.lastname@example.com
- News Sections:
- UNO News Center
- Maverick Daily
- The Bullseye
- Campus Events
Contact Us
If you have a story idea, news tip, or other question, please email the UNO News team at email@example.com.
Our Campus. Otherwise Known as Omaha.
The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. Learn more about Equity, Access and Diversity.


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Global Resilience Partnership
Partnering to build resilience in some of the most vulnerable places on Earth.
Communities and entire nations around the globe are faced with recurring shocks and stresses that are only increasing in frequency and magnitude—from coastal storms to pandemics to civil conflict. While there are many actors helping to respond to immediate crises, these interventions have traditionally focused on relief and rebuilding, or on longer-term development, without planning for unforeseen shocks and stresses. As a result, $1 of every $3 spent in development assistance is wasted.
We need new solutions for new realities, and to bridge humanitarian and development efforts to build resilience against a range of future threats.
Our Strategy
In 2014, The Rockefeller Foundation, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) joined together to create the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP), which aims to identify and scale locally driven, high-impact, innovative solutions that will build the resilience of hundreds of millions of people in the Sahel, Horn of Africa, and South and Southeast Asia.
The programmatic features of GRP comprise the critical knowledge, tools, and processes required to build resilience thinking, capacity, and scale:
- Technology: GRP seeks to promote the adoption, scaling and integration of information tools, methods and machines that promote evidence-based decision making and/or accelerate the deployment of innovative solutions.
- Measurement & Diagnostics: GRP seeks to support measurement approaches to quantify and qualify the financial and social impact of resilience efforts; create tools to help measure, visualize and predict resilience needs.
- Innovative Financing: GRP seeks to use unconventional financing instruments to mobilize additional private capital for resilience and increase sustainability of resilience initiatives.
- Policy & Influence: GRP seeks to use insights, evidence and GRP's global convening power to foster enabling environments that prioritize resilience for humanitarian and development work.
- Learning & Innovation: GRP seeks to fill knowledge gaps in cross-cutting areas relevant to resilience (e.g., gender, social capital) and rationalize disparate learning initiatives and cultivate communities of practice.
A key component of the partnership is the Global Resilience Challenge, a competition designed to surface innovation and capacities among partner institutions. Nearly 500 applications were submitted, proposing resilience-building efforts in more than 55 countries targeting the varying needs of populations, from pastoralists to coastal communities and urban slum dwellers. In September 2015, 8 challenge winners were announced, each receiving up to $1 million to implement transformative resilience solutions.
Moving into 2016, GRP partnered with Amplify—a collaboration between the UK's Department for International Development, OpenIDEO and IDEO.org—as a new means of uncovering innovative approaches to resilience building specifically within urban slum communities.
Featured Insight
How can we withstand the growing threat of climate change?
Tackling climate change challenges may require radical new approaches, new ways of thinking and, perhaps…, President, The Rockefeller Foundation, 2005 – 2017 President Emerita, University of Pennsylvania
We cannot prevent all of the shocks and stresses associated with climate change, but we can come together as…, Associate VP, Managing Director, Asia, The Rockefeller Foundation
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What Is depression? Symptoms
Symptoms Depression affects different people in different ways – not everyone has the of depression is 50% higher for women than men, but women are also more likely to be treated for A WHO study showed that people with persistent pain were over four times more likely to have depression than those … Return Document
Persistent depressive symptoms And Cognitive Function In Late …
symptoms, measured 6 times over an 18-year period, and cognitive deficits in late midlife. Methods 4271 men and women (35–55 years at history of depressive symptoms at Phase 7. Thus, depression "caseness" at any phase over the 18 Am J Psychiatry depression 2005 ; 162 : 691 – 698.50 Wilson RS , … Retrieve Doc
IDENTIFYING DEPRESSION . BE SUSPICIOUS . Over 50% of nursing home residents suffer from Apathy may masquerade as depression, though certainly lack of interest and . apathy can also be accompanying symptoms of dementia. 6. Be concerned about comments about suicide. Elderly men have the highest … View Document
Depression And Cardiovascular Disease
Of note, this was a small observational study of 284 hospitalized pts over age 63 with multiple comorbidities. Usefulness of Persistent Symptoms of Depression to Predict Physical Health 10 0.65 20.00 3.30 0.70 21.00 3.20 0.80 22.00 3.75 1.00 23.00 4.10 1.00 24.00 4.00 0.90 25.00 4.50 0.90 Men … Get Document
Depression In The Elderly: Risk Factors And Treatment
Adults over the age of 60 are more likely to relapse into depression after 3 -5 years of women had higher rates of depression than men from ages 50-60 *30-50% of elderly with Alzheimer's Disease are also suffering from depressive symptoms. However, rates of depression decrease with severity of … Content Retrieval
Depression And Anxiety In OB
symptoms (irritability is the hallmark), along with other typical depressive symptoms. Women with postpartum depression • Each year 15-20% of adults in the US experience a major depression (over 50% do not seek help) • The incidence among women is twice that of men and peaks between 18-44 … Retrieve Full Source
Men And
Due to adult depression is es timated at $83 billion a year. Over the past 50 years, American men of all ages Signs of Depression Depression, often unrecognized in men, has a wide range of symptoms. … Read Here
The Interlinked Depression, Erectile Dysfunction, And …
For clinicians dealing with older men over age 50 years: •Older men presenting with CHD should be screened for symptoms of depression. There are simple, quick TABLE Short-Form Geriatric Depression Scale Choose the best answer for how you have felt over the past week: … Read More
A Preliminary Evaluation Of The Psychometric Profiles In …
Conditions in men. 1 It was estimated that almost 50% of men have CP/CPPS at some point in time and about 8% prevalence and the average scores of HADS depression symptoms for the patients were not elevated as high over … Fetch Here
S Soommee FFaaccttss PPssyycchhoollooggiissttss KKnnooww …
Additionally, new research indicates that depression is often experienced differently in men than in women and that among men, prolonged symptoms in the men and increases seven times in men over age 65. With a history of depression, the risk of people. • 50% of adolescent/young males who … Read Document
Geriatric Depression
Moderate to severe dementias do not verbally communicate their mood Symptoms of other disorders can overlap with depression population The highest suicide rates in the U.S. are found in white men over age 85. Seniors have 50% higher health care costs if depressed Epidemiology of Geriatric Depression … Retrieve Content
Twice as likely to suffer from depression as men In some cases, they may over-exercise. Those affected feel stressed and burned out. Men are more prone to these kinds of symptoms. Burn‑out syndrome "Burn-out syndrome" refers to exhaustive depression caused Approx. 50% of women will … Content Retrieval
Parkinson's Disease About 50% of patients develop depression Useful treatment includes TCA's ECT helps REAL RISK 25% of all completed suicides are > 65 Suicide rate for depressed men over 65 discomfort adaptation to a new lifestyle SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS IN GERIATRIC DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS MOOD … Retrieve Full Source
The State Of Mental Health And Aging In America
To mental health in adults over 50. The second brief will focus on depression, an important and • Women age 50 or older reported more current and lifetime diagnosis of depression than men (8.9% compared to 6.2% for current depressive symptoms; 19.1% compared to 11.7% for lifetime … Retrieve Full Source
What Is Depression?
depressive symptoms that do not meet criteria for a major depressive episode (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 317). Depression is a common and highly treatable disorder affecting over than men to suffer from major depression and to prevent depression. Depression recurs in more than 50 … Visit Document
MEN Rigshospitalet
Postnatal depression. The rate of depression among 20-50 year-old men in the general population is • Obsessing over work – becoming a workaholic • Denying pain • Rigidly demanding autonomy • Refusing assistance These symptoms, which predominantly occur in men, have yet to be fully validated and … Retrieve Full Source
Men's Health
Health issues for men include: Bowel cancer – more common in men than women. Risk increases over the age of 50 years Depression – about 1 in 6 Australian men suffer from depression and men are more likely to suicide than women. Men often do not recognise the symptoms of … Fetch This Document
Number 9 Depression
Symptoms of depression include a depressed mood and feelings of loneliness treatment.5 However, in a survey of over 1,200 men and women from the U.S., nearly two out of three with depression reported waiting at Satisfaction of 51 to 61 Year Olds, by Depression Status 100 90 80 70 60 50 … Get Doc


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Representatives from organizations that are part of MacArthur's Asia Security Initiative gathered in Seoul, South Korea, in early July to discuss shared security concerns and strategies to combat them.
Related Program
International Peace & Security
Working to broaden and strengthen the field of international peace and security.
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International and National Trends in the Market of Eating Out
In: 6th International Conference on Management, Enterprise and Benchmarking MEB 2008-Proceedings
In our paper we examine the Western European and overseas trends of eating out by analyzing relevant secondary data. Behind the increasing role of eating out we can notice several economic social and value changes. One of the stressed factors is time, which has even changed food consuming habits. It is true both in national and international relations that consumers tend to rely on the services of eating out increasingly to have more free time at their disposal. Consequently there is less and less time on food preparation and cooking so new eating trends are on their way. We assume international trends are also reflected in the domestic market of eating out but in an altered form and their effect can be a bit delayed. Like on the level of food consuming preferences, dissonant trends also appear in eating out habits and, as a result the market is being further polarized.
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|This chapter was published in: György Kadocsa (ed.) 6th International Conference on Management, Enterprise and Benchmarking MEB 2008-Proceedings, , pages 345-354, 2008.
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BOSTON (CBS) – Black Friday marks the official start to the holiday shopping season.
It's more than a week away, but stores are already advertising some of their biggest deals.
But when it comes to Black Friday bargain hunting, there is something you should know.
Consumer advocate Edgar Dworsky says its all about planning, plotting and preparing.
WBZ-TV's Kate Merrill reports
Some of the best deals Dworsky found this year include:
- Canon SX150 camera at Staples for $149
- Sears Washer & Dryer for $699
- 42″ LCD TV for $199 at Best Buy
And don't forget the coupons that can make a good deal great.
For more tips, check out our Black Friday Guide.


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CINCINNATI, July 21 (UPI) -- Former Cincinnati Bengal linebacker Nathaniel "Nate" Webster Jr. has been charged with sex crimes involving a 15-year-old girl.
Webster, 33, was indicted in Hamilton County, Ohio, on charges of sexual battery, gross sexual imposition and five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Thursday.
The indictment alleges Webster assaulted the girl several times from June to December 2009.
The former Bengal was hired in 2010 as the defensive coordinator for the football team at Bellevue High School, the newspaper said.
Webster coached there part of last year, then returned to Florida because of "family issues," Assistant Principal David Eckstein said.
Webster was a linebacker at the University of Miami who signed with the Bengals as a free agent after four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He played in Cincinnati in just four games over two years, 2005 and 2006, before knee injuries ended his Bengal career.
He played three more years in Denver, the last in 2008, the Enquirer said.


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Nicely wooded 5 + acre lot in the Town of St. Germain. Close to hunting, fishing, snowmobile trails, hiking and biking trails and the golf course. Lot has been soil tested for a 3 bedroom conventional septic system.
Features Residential
|Lot Size SqFt: 222592
|Lake Chain:
|Lot Size Acres: 5.11
|Lake Name:
|Zoning: Forestry
|River Name:
|Taxes: $384
|Water Frontage (feet): 0
|Tax Year: 2015
|Lake Size-Acres: 0
|High School: VI Northland Pines
|School District: Northern Pines
|Access Road: Private Road, Unpaved Road
|Site Influence: Buildable, Hunting, Level, No Thru Road, Private Setting, Recreation Nearby, Rural Setting, Shopping Nearby, Wooded Area


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Filmed by Chris Mulhern, New York City based skateboard company 5BORO recently released their 2011 holiday clip. Things have come a long way, in terms of skateboarding short films. The video includes beautiful buttery footage from around various New York City neighborhoods. Oh yeah, and the skateboarding is pretty impressive, too. Check out the film after the jump. Thanks to our brothers at Rad Collector for turning us on to this.
Video | 5BORO Holiday Reel
Highsnobiety Design


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Spoof news stories from Sunday 27 May 2012
At Charlotte Speedway Cars Drive Fast in Circles
The Coca Cola 600 was under way this week with many automobiles--this reporter counted at least seven of them--driving at high speeds along a circular track. For some reason a crowd of spectators gathered to watch the cars traveling in circles.
Ray Allen: Fugitive from the Law of Averages
Doc Rivers called Ray Allen an "ultimate gunslinger" after the series with the Sixers ended. What the coach was telling fans was to never count out one of the Dirty Dozen, or is that one of the Magnificent Seven? We always confuse our shooting her...
Rolling Stone's son Lucas Jagger to co-write first song with Paris Jackson
Los Angeles - A collaboration between two famous rock stars' children is the brainchild of Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira who spotted the pair's talent following a tip from international tennis ace Rafael Nadal. The Grand Slam champ apparentl...
Navy Launches Dog Carrier
The United States Navy has launched the first in a series of dog carriers. The USS Rover is able to launch fifty dogs an hour at enemy targets as far as seventy five miles away. It joins a fleet of Cat-a-Boats which can launch a cat a minute for...
The Bee In John Barnes's Bonnet
Ex Liverpool and England midfielder John Barnes has spoken out against racism by saying: "England is a country of passive racists" While Back and to the Left news cannot help but admit that there have been several unsavoury incidents involving racism at football matches, what John is saying is surely a little extreme: considering he was born in Jamaica and played at the highest international...
Da Pope's Maid Arrested for Airing His Dirty Underwear
It's been a really bad week for his Holiness, Da Pope. First he has to have his butler John Leaky arrested for imparting unto the press that he, the butler that is, kept a secret stash that was way better than the stuff he gave Da Big Cheese. This caused great discord between the two, especially when Da Big Kahuna smoked a couple of joints of it and found that the stuff the butler was giving him...
Chaos At Airports As Passengers Demand 'All Must Fly Naked'!
Recent warnings from nano scientists that the latest advances in the development of nano-explosives and clothing materials will soon make it possible for terrorists to combine them together to create explosive shirts, dresses, socks, baseball caps, o...
Lost your city? There's an app for that
If only the Apple iPhone had been around three thousand years ago, the people of Atlantis could have taken advantage of the latest applelet from French App designers, Le App. Called Applantis, the app monitors the world's network of seismographs a...
One Direction lined up for the 2013 Eurovision song contest
Reality Show Pop Stars, One Direction, have been lined up to represent the UK in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. "We had to act fast," said Sebastian Coe, who has been appointed to make sure that Britain win in 2013 after several years of abject...
Lady Gaga cancels Indonesia gig; she's love sick!
Lady Gaga has cancelled her Indonesian gig not because of security reasons; the reason given by her press office. She is sick, love sick, and her new lover cannot be named because of security reasons! Ever since she fell in love, she has been sick...
Rondo Foreshadows Another Playoff Victory
For fans looking for the augurs of victory for the Boston Celtics in their big Game 7 against the Sixers, they had to look only as far as Rajon Rondo. As he made his way to the clubhouse at the TD Garden, strolling in alone off the street as he of...
Sign writers go on strike over conditions and pay
A large group of people seen milling about outside a factory in Lancaster have been identified as the Sign Writers' Union. The members of the Sign Writers' Union (SUW) had gone on strike and formed a picket line to protest against their pay and co...
Dawkins to allow 1 Holy Bible per school
Atheist fundamentalist, evolution crackpot and amateur theologian Richard Dawkins has today shocked the known universe by backing plans to allow a single Holy Bible in every English school. However fans of the bonkers professor need not fear, he o...
Engelbert Humperdinck reveals why he did the Eurovision Song Contest
Having been beaten by twenty-four of the twenty-six countries taking part in the 2012 Eurovision song contest Engelbert Humperdinck has revealed why he agreed to take part. The Hump, as he is affectionately known by his Spine Osteopath, managed a...
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Smart As a Fox IV
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The Indianapolis 500 Will Become The Indianapolis 100 In 2013, In Order To Cut Down Fuel Consumption By 80%
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A year before the election, four months before nomination, observers last week considered as good as settled the question of who is to be Mexico's next President. To become President nowadays a Mexican must be 1) a member of Mexico's National Revolutionary Party, 2) Minister of War, 3) a good friend of Plutarco Elias Calles, Mexico's square-chinned onetime President, still its strong man and political boss. By promulgating last week a new constitutional amendment forbidding re-election of Presidents and Governors, Congress as it adjourned put President Abelardo Rodriguez out of the picture....
MEXICO: Next President
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|My Cart- 0 item(s)
|Qualir = Quality + Reliability
(1 Review)
Model:CE40MP3712-BKSee All Car MP3 / MP4 Player
QL-KIA713 is an all-in-one electronic gadget that combines the functions of a navigator and a stereo system. This multimedia DVD player features a 6.2 inch touch screen for user-friendly controls. It is compatible with both iPhone and iPod. The built-in Bluetooth allows you to enjoy hands free calls and AD2P music streaming. The virtual 6 discs CDC could reduce the probability of damage to the disks. For...
Model:QL-KIA713See All CERATO Navigation
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Comes with all cables & mounting hardware
AV input can work with rear view cameras and over devices in your CAR!
Model:CE21LED720See All Other LCD monitor
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Written on: 23/06/2013 by brigittelockwood (1 review written)
I discovered James Andrews School of Golf a few years ago, and I return every year for many reasons. I find it very well run & excellent value. I like the Videoing as it gives you a more memorable view of what to do in your swing etc. The small group number is ideal. The instructors & set up are 1st class, the use of the 18 holes & 9 holes course will compliment your learning so will the 7 practice greens. The 2 courses are superb, challenging & enjoyable.
The School caters for all levels, variety of classes (1, 2, 3 days or 1/2 days, or more), international feel about the place as very often you meet students from the Continent.
The Golf Hotel is extremely pleasant (what I call "rustic chic"). The Restaurant offers a variety of delicious local freshly cooked food (fish is recommended (place your order at breakfast, so the super efficient & frienldy Manager can make her choice at Fish Market).
Adjacent to the Restaurant, there is a bar and games room, outside is a large terrace with lovely garden furniture where one can drink or eat looking at the 7 greens and Golf hotel down below.
Proshop is well stocked, friendly (one year I got the loan of a brand new set of lefthanded Ladies golf clubs to try out!!!!), the driving range is huge, distance posts in the field.
A 1st class Golf School with very professional & pleasant staff.
I strongly recommend to try James Andrews Golf School in the beautiful "1066" Sussex contryside (Battle is down the road and worth a visit) .
" Waste of fuel " Read More
" EPIC GOLF SHOP " Read More
Written by CallumMC
" A great place to visit " Read More
Written by Megginson1965
" It can not be any better " Read More
Written by dd.rr.ff
" A little gem " Read More


text:
I'm out there to push myself physically and mentally. Scaring the living shit out of myself and surviving. I've spent a few years in the backcountry, pushing ultralight. I'm a certified emt and am looking to possibly becoming an outdoor guide/rescuer. I love climbing and am working towards base jumping. I'm a gear junkie always looking for new gear, though i always purchase used. Lets get to know each other
Zacm's profile is empty right now. Want to make sure yours doesn't look like this? Your activity in the Backcountry community will show up in your profile: this includes reviews, photos and videos of your gear in action, and asked and answered questions. So get out there and start sharing!


text:
Posted byon
Sound the Bruins goal horn. Team DOY defeated Stats on Tapp in the opening round of the BallHyped Blog of the Year tournament, 73%-27%. We're in round two and facing fanattic.net. As of this post we have a slim 54-36% lead.
Voting goes through Christmas, so a victory would be a pretty sweet and inexpensive Christmas gift.
You can vote here (maybe the module will work this time???). If you vote via the link we're top row, second from the right. Remember, you can vote daily.


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'Free' money could solve lack of water: Madison resident discovers option in book hyped on TV
James Hardman, who like other Madison County residents has been plagued by a dry well, located a grant which may bring relief in a book titled "Free Money to Change Your Life."
Jeff Blake/Staff
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Danger: Falling Prices
THE WAL-MART EFFECT How the World's Most Powerful Company Really Works -- and How It's Transforming the American Economy
How the World's Most Powerful
Company Really Works -- and How
It's Transforming the American Economy
By Charles Fishman
Penguin Press; 294pp; $25.95
( below)
Editor's Review
The Good An insightful look at the effect, for good and bad, of Wal-Mart's focus on price-cutting.
The Bad Did author Fishman get Wal-Mart's side? Not personally. Company quotes are all from outside sources.
The Bottom Line A successful look at how Wal-Mart works and how it is transforming the U.S. economy.
Fifteen years ago, supermarkets were the place to go for groceries. Today, there's another option: Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT ) The reason people go there isn't better product selection or more convenient locations. It's price. A family of four might cut its $500-a-month food bill by $75 by shopping at Wal-Mart, equal to about seven weeks of groceries a year. A big win for society, right? Not everybody thinks so. In the past decade and a half, 31 grocery chains have gone bankrupt, with 27 of them pointing to Wal-Mart as a cause.
It is, writes author Charles Fishman, a quintessential example of the Wal-Mart effect: neither 100% good nor 100% bad, yet profoundly far-reaching. And it's all due to the retailer's unflagging dtermination to cut prices. The single-mindedness explains how Sam Walton and his skinflint successors turned a small thrift store in rural Arkansas into the world's biggest company outside of today's booming oil sector, with sales approaching $1 billion a day. The behavior also leads Fishman to conclude that Wal-Mart has probably hit its peak, a theory he spells out in the well-written and insightful The Wal-Mart Effect: How the World's Most Powerful Company Really Works -- and How It's Transforming the American Economy.
From the company's opening day in 1962, Fishman recounts, management has been ruthless in pinching pennies. Its excesses, he says, range from paying miserly wages to strong-arming U.S. suppliers to outsource their work to Third World sweatshops. Fishman reports that Wal-Mart even furnishes offices in its Bentonville (Ark.) headquarters with mismatched chairs handed out by suppliers as samples. From the get-go, however, Wal-Mart also has made sure to cut its shoppers in on the bargain. Take groceries: Wal-Mart's supercenters sell fresh salmon from Chile for just $4.84 a pound, year round. No wonder their parking lots are full.
Wal-Mart's price mania is almost beguiling -- except that it has grown into a hulk whose bullying makes even such giants as Procter & Gamble Co. (PG ) and FedEx Corp. (FDX ) fearful. Wal-Mart is so dominant, in fact, that it sells more each year by St. Patrick's Day, in mid-March, than Target Corp. (TGT ), its nearest rival, sells all year. Meanwhile, the ranks of those who feel abused by Wal-Mart -- vendors, employees, politicians, and, increasingly, shoppers tired of poorly stocked stores and shoddy goods -- are growing even faster than the company, Fishman writes.
Wal-Mart can't reduce prices indefinitely, says the author. After decades, it has achieved the most obvious cost cuts. Store managers, for instance, already stand accused of forcing employees to work off the clock to save money. And so many suppliers have decamped to low-wage China that Wal-Mart now accounts for almost 10% of imports from that country. What happens when Wal-Mart insists that vendors or employees take another nickel cut, and they just can't? "The source of Wal-Mart's troubles can be traced not to some evil conspiracy spun out of the home office," Fishman argues, "but to the slogan printed right on every Wal-Mart bag: 'Always low prices. Always."'
Fishman, a senior editor at Fast Company, has done his research. He relates inside stories from retired Wal-Mart executives and suppliers. He gives space to an academic paper that proves that Wal-Mart lowers retail prices when it moves into new markets, and another that proves it kills jobs, too. He takes you up and down the aisles of Wal-Mart's big boxes, alternately marveling at the pallets of cheap lightbulbs and griping about the long waits at the checkout counter. He makes facts and figures easy to grasp -- and puts it all together in a breezy style. Although the folks in Bentonville won't like it, The Wal-Mart Effect is not an anti-Wal-Mart screed.
But there is something missing: Those folks in Bentonville. Although Fishman has written about Wal-Mart before, there's no evidence in his book that he has ever set foot in its headquarters or even driven around the town. He gives Wal-Mart's side of most stories, but the quotes all come from other sources such as newspaper clips or court filings.
Nonetheless, Fishman succeeds in showing how the company works and how it is transforming the economy. Over 40 years, Wal-Mart has taught Americans to love a bargain above anything else. Fishman says it even deserves praise. "No company can claim greater fidelity to its core value," he writes. "No company, in that sense, is more truly trustworthy than Wal-Mart." But even titans fall if they don't adapt. Inevitably, Fishman predicts, a day will come when one or another rival prices its products lower than Wal-Mart's. And that day is closer than its managers probably think.
|Corrections and Clarifications In "Danger: Falling prices" (Books, Jan. 30), reviewer Michael Arndt stated that author Charles Fishman should tell readers whether or not Wal-Mart Stores Inc. had refused to respond to his questions. In fact, Fishman states in his footnotes that Wal-Mart "consistently declined" to "participate in the reporting of the book."
By Michael Arndt