text:
The fine print
The seven asymmetrically shaped Granette Setts™ stones bring European flair to concrete paving like never before. Random pattern installations bestow the illusion of a true old world cobble stone pavement. From garden paths to terrace decks to plazas – the multiplicity of shapes, soft textures and rumpled edges endow a historic and natural elegance in paving materials. Please see the product information sheet below for paver details and specifications.
Product number: 405
CourtyardDrivewayFront EntranceGarden PathwayGazebo PatioGolf FacilityMunicipal AreaParkPatioPedestrian Mall


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10+ Reasons Why BlackBerry 10 is Better Than iOS 6
- I'm thinking we can make this thread a list of all the reasons BB 10 is better than iOS 6, to show current iPhone users. If you can think of other reasons in addition to these 10, pls list them below.
10 Reasons Why BlackBerry 10 is Better Than iOS 6 | The Gadget Masters10 Reasons Why BlackBerry 10 is Better Than iOS 6
Combining the powerful Neutrino OS from QNX, beautiful UI from TAT and industry-leading WebKit browser from Torch Mobile, BlackBerry has created the most advanced mobile platform in the world BlackBerry 10. In addition, incorporating an advanced contact management system from Gist and licensing the SwiftKey keyboard has allowed BlackBerry to take its traditional strengths to the next level. After using the Dev Alpha B (running BB 10) for the past 3 months, I have discovered 10 ways in which BB10 has surpassed the outdated and stagnant iOS 6.
1) Dynamic Lock Screen
BB 10 has a beautiful lock screen that is also informative. Users can take a look at the lock screen to see if they have any new emails, BBM messages or messages from social networks (e.g. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn).
At a time when few people wear a watch and instead rely on their smartphone to provide the time, the dynamic lock screen is particularly useful. A user can wake the device (and show the lock screen) with an upward gesture from the bottom bezel. After looking at the time and notifications, if there arent notifications that requires attention, they can simply move their finger back down to the bottom bezel to turn off the screen (and save battery).
With the design experts from TAT putting in their magical touch, waking the smartphone is slick and enjoyable. The lock-screen fades beautifully as more of the home-screen is revealed (with an upward gesture from the bottom bezel). The fading effect adjusts to wherever your finger is on the screen, and allows you to move your finger from side to side as you also move up. This is in contrast to Apples boring lock-screen, which requires a fixed, one-directional movement to unlock the device.
Putting the device to sleep for the night is also intuitive and slick. You simply move your finger down from the top bezel to pull down a black screen (like shades for a window). As soon as the device is put to sleep, an alarm clock appears for you to set the alarm for the next morning.
2) BlackBerry Hub A Powerful Communications Center
Continuing with BlackBerrys strength in messaging, the Hub allows users to receive and send emails, text messages and messages from Social Networks (Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn). In addition, users can post status updates to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn without leaving the Hub. Continuing with BlackBerrys specialty in saving users time, this removes the need to open a Facebook app, a Twitter app and a LinkedIn app when a user wants to update their social networks.
In addition, the Hub also contains several of your upcoming calendar appointments. When you are in the Hub, you can simply drag down to reveal the next calendar events. Thus, it saves you time by removing the need to open the Calendar app in order to view your upcoming events.
3) Peek and Flow
The Hub is not an ordinary application it is always running in the background. Thus, no matter which app an user is using, they are always one gesture away from the Hub (and their messages).
To Peek at your notifications, you simply swipe up from the bottom bezel (no matter which app you are currently in). Once you see your notifications, you can swipe back down to continue with what you were doing (if the notifications are not important) or you can swipe to the right to enter the Hub, to view the message in detail (or reply).
4) Advanced Touch Gestures
BlackBerry 10 gets rid of the outdated physical home button on the iPhone 5, and allows uses to use touch gestures to control the OS. For example, when in an app, the user can swipe to the right to reveal the context menu. In addition, the user can swipe down from the top bezel to reveal the action menu (e.g. to select the Help button). To activate the keyboard, one simply swipes up from the bottom bezel with two fingers. The touch gestures are intuitive and powerful. Getting rid of physical and capacitive buttons also frees out space for a bigger screen or smaller phone. This UI is simply the future of smartphones.
5) Industry-Leading Browser
With a HTML5 Test score of 484, BlackBerry 10 has the fastest browser in the industry (unless you also count the Tizen 2). In contrast, iOS 6 only has a score of only 386. In addition, the BB 10 browser is faster than any desktop browser. For example, its HTML5 Test score of 484 is higher than Chrome Canarys 453. The QNX Neutrino OS and RIMs acquisition of Torch Mobile are the reasons behind the industry-leading browser on BB 10.
Having the #1 browser in the industry also increases the number of apps available on BB 10. This is because the browser can use HTML5 web apps on the internet. Thus, the number of apps on BB 10 is significantly higher than the number in the app store (BlackBerry World). Through its ability to use web HTML5 apps, the number of apps on BB10 is increased to a nearly infinite number.
6) Active Frames
BB10 (unlike iOS 6) supports real multi-tasking. Thus, an user can have 8 open apps at the same time. When minimized, these running apps form a Active Frame, which provides tidbits of useful information. For example, from the Active Frame of the Calendar app, you can see the name and time of your next calendar appointment. Without opening BBM, you can see a contacts updated profile picture, and their latest status updates.
Thus, with BB10, the user can obtain relevant and valuable information without even opening apps.
7) TimeShift Camera
I have heard wows from colleagues and friends every time I demonstrate the TimeShift feature on the BB10 camera. The camera has a facial recognition ability, and allows you to move forward and backward in time to avoid blinking eyes or change facial expressions. The most incredible use case is when there are multiple people in the picture. You can put person A at +2 seconds, person B at 0.5 second and person C at -1 second. Thus, you have created the perfect moment that did not actually exist.
8) More Development Languages and Tools
BlackBerry 10 offers 3 ways for developers to develop native apps C++/Cascades, Webworks (HTML5) and Adobe Air. In addition, developers can port their Android apps to BB 10 using RIMs Android porting tools. Of course, developers can also use cross-platform tools such as Unity/Union, Marmalade, PhoneGap and Sencha.
This is in contrast to iOS 6, in which there is only one method available to developers iOS SDK. The lack of a HTML5 SDK means that the many web developers that exist cannot put their skills to use.
BB10′s ability to run Android apps is a significant advantage over iOS. In fact, from talking to BlackBerry employees in the past, BB10 could run iOS apps too (if iOS was open-sourced). This also applies to any other OS (e.g. Windows). Thus, by buying a BB10 device, you are virtually also getting an Android device for free.
9) Support of Open Standards DLNA, NFC and HDMI
BlackBerry adopts open-standards including DLNA, NFC and HDMI, which is convenient and results in cost-savings for consumers. This is in contrast to iOS, which supports none of these three standards.
With the launch of the Bold 9900 in August 2011, BlackBerry was the first major smartphone maker to support NFC. In Canada and the U.S., customers can already use their BlackBerry to make payments via NFC at thousands of locations that display the Contactless symbol. The L-series has a NFC chip, and there are already several NFC sample apps for the Dev Alpha available for developers to use to create NFC apps.
BlackBerry 10, like the PlayBook, has a HDMI output. This makes it easy for the user to display pictures or videos on a large-screen TV. In contrast, a lighting-to-HDMI adaptor is required for the iPhone or iPad, which costs an extra US$39/CAD$45.
Unlike Apple, BlackBerry is part of the Consumer Home. This allows you to wirelessly display pictures, play videos and music from your BB10 smartphone on a TV (or any other electronic device with DLNA support). In order to use a similar feature on the iPhone 5, you would need to buy the Apple TV for $99.
10) BBM Beyond Instant Messaging
BBM currently has 60 million active users around the world. With the launch of BBM 7 this month, free voice calls over Wi-Fi is now available. BBM Video Chat on BB10 has been confirmed by Thorstein Heins. In addition, a collaboration feature, in which users using BBM Video can share documents and files instantly, has been leaked in pictures and videos. This is particularly useful for meetings.
Furthermore, RIM executives have recently said that BBM Money is coming soon, with the interpretation being late 2012 or early 2013. This feature allows BBM users to transfer money, which is convenient for friends who owe each other money, or in-person transactions (made through Kijiji for example).
BBM 6 already had far more functionality than than Apples iMessage. With the addition of voice calls, video, collaboration tools and BBM Money, BBM is set to widen the lead further.12-15-12 06:18 PMLike 8
- it also fixes legacy issues. doesn't "freeze", doesn't reboot when installing apps, has a ui actually designed for a touchscreen12-15-12 06:28 PM
- None of that matters one bit if the apps they currently use aren't available on BB10. Why do you use a BlackBerry? Take all of the reasons you do, then imagine you can't do them on another OS and then switch to that OS. Why would you? Peek, Flow, Hub, has zero impact on whether or not someone is going to switch.
But as far as apps go, RIM has very clearly been going the extra mile to attract as many developers as possible. I think their efforts will pay off and it will become a non-issue for BB10.12-15-12 06:32 PM
- None of that matters one bit if the apps they currently use aren't available on BB10. Why do you use a BlackBerry? Take all of the reasons you do, then imagine you can't do them on another OS and then switch to that OS. Why would you? Peek, Flow, Hub, has zero impact on whether or not someone is going to switch.
These are 3 things of a host of many that are going to make people want to switch.12-15-12 06:38 PM
- Not sure how it is possible to compare BB10 to iOS6 unless one has both phones side by side. Most of us can't make that comparison since we haven't got a BB10 device in hand.
While we can learn the gestures with just a slight learning curve, we don't know how the public will react to the OS. The experience is hugely important.12-15-12 06:54 PM
- So your friends are switching because of a different way of doing the same thing and at the same time abandoning the majority of stuff they use their phones for since the majority of apps aren't available on BB10?
Certainly would be good for RIM but your friends are, being realistic of course, probably not the majority.
What is majority of apps? One and this includes myself does not know for certain what will or what will not make it to BB 10. We can only go by what we read on the forums of course. Even the companies that didn't express interest in supporting BB 10 right now, does not mean that they will be non supporters in the future. Sure most phones can do almost the same thing now days, but BB ten is going to take that even one step further by simplifying the user experience. I think everyone would like to make performing tasks on their phones easier. I do agree apps are an important factor, but once this phone proves itself, apps will come. Many do care about the apps, but there are those that do not, contrary to what one may or may not think. All phones are capable of doing the same thing, and I don't know about you, but I personally would rather use 1 or two steps to perform something that takes opening and closing of apps and more steps to do the same thing. RIM has a great way of thinking here. BB users won't have to download additional apps to perform some of the other functions that the other platforms are not capable of doing. Less to download in terms of that, more app space for things we really need!12-15-12 06:54 PM
- I'm a huge fan of the hub, however I don't see any advantages to peek and flow vs iOS/android (especially vs android's widgets). If I receive an email,txt,social network message, I simply swipe down my notification bar. Not to mention If I receive a message of any kind while I'm using my device a little notification pops up on my device telling me who's it from. No need to open up the hub/peek & flow.
Sent from my White iPhone 5 using Tapatalk12-15-12 06:58 PM
- Yeah but umm doesn't the Android devices' notification center take up like most of the screen space? BB10's hub does not do that. You just peak and still maintain all the information in the screen without Anything blocking it.12-15-12 11:16 PM
- Single biggest fact why none of that matters: most iOS users are locked in to their ecosystem and are perfectly happy with what they have. And Apple will only continue to grow their base, at least in the near future. Then we'll see if they'll do something different to keep their wow factor. BB10 is certainly not the Apple killer.12-15-12 11:31 PM
- Single biggest fact why none of that matters: most iOS users are locked in to their ecosystem and are perfectly happy with what they have. And Apple will only continue to grow their base, at least in the near future. Then we'll see if they'll do something different to keep their wow factor. BB10 is certainly not the Apple killer.
But you're right, BB10 is not the Apple killer... Apple is the Apple killer. Most iPhone users have become bored with iOS.12-16-12 01:19 AMLike 3
- 12-16-12 01:29 AMLike 7
- None of that matters one bit if the apps they currently use aren't available on BB10. Why do you use a BlackBerry? Take all of the reasons you do, then imagine you can't do them on another OS and then switch to that OS. Why would you? Peek, Flow, Hub, has zero impact on whether or not someone is going to switch.12-16-12 08:53 AM
Sent from my White iPhone 5 using Tapatalk12-16-12 09:00 AM
Link from IDC for Q2 2012: http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?contai...2#.UM3Tz6zAHLQ
Last edited by limh5; 12-16-12 at 09:04 AM. Reason: Link12-16-12 09:03 AM
- Meh, one could easily argue all those points depending on their usage.
In the same vein, it would be easy to provide a list of 10 ways that iOs is better than BB10.
Heck, I could give you a list of 10 ways WebOS is better than BB10...all in the eye of the beholder.
The best post in this thread has already been made: BB10 doesn't have to "beat" the others to be a success.12-16-12 10:10 AM
- Hypothetically, let's say that each platform had the same apps, which platform would you choose? I think that is most important question, not whether x app is going to be there at launch. People did not choose Mac OS X because it had the programs they wanted, they choose because of the experience they got on that platform. The overall experience is what is important. Apps enhance that experience, they do not make that experience.
I have read many comments about how if BB 10 does not have this app or that app it will fail and I think that people forget that they did not buy a BlackBerry because of the apps it has, most people here bought a BB, despite of the app situation. If BB 10 does not meet your needs, you should look elsewhere. There must be something about how RIM and BlackBerry experience that has kept you here and if that experience is not enough anymore, then you are free to find another. Every platform/OS is a compromise, you have got to find out what is important to you. Most platforms do the same thing, it is about the How.
I like the BlackBerry Experience and I will continue to use BlackBerry until my carrier drops support. If we support RIM and BB 10 in large numbers, they will have to support us because we will become a viable option for them. Do not give them the power to choose your platform for you.
Last edited by Joy1980; 12-17-12 at 03:21 PM. Reason: word correction12-16-12 11:30 AMLike 6
- I am new on this forum but I think the debate on Blackberry vs iOs 6 is very interesting. Who is going to be the winner, RIM or Users of BB10? Time will tell.12-16-12 12:30 PM
- Most iPhone users have become bored with iOS.
I know within my wee social circle, Apple's brand loyalty isn't as strong as one would think. In the last few months, I've seen quite a few people say "goodbye" to iPhone and buy a Samsung Galaxy, Google Nexus or a Nokia Lumia instead. A few of them were Apple nuts too. Just yesterday, I was chatting with someone who had owned three different iPhones and just wanted to try something else.
While we are all geeky and interested in mobile devices, not everyone uses their smartphones as intensely as we do in terms of apps, content or other functions. Also, not all iPhone users are hardcore Apple users. I know quite a few who don't own Macs, Apple TVs, iPads or anything else.12-16-12 12:37 PM
Certainly an important metric, but I can't tell you the number of times I've seen a journalist or a fanboy misquote a survey that measures something. Not to suggest that you did this, but wanted to clarify.
Also, there are newer surveys.
http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?contai...2#.UM4INraa0xc12-16-12 12:42 PM
- Bold_until_Hybrid_ComesWaterloo's FinestIsnt bbm money already launched in indonesia or launching very shortly. There was an article which i dont feel like looking up12-16-12 04:02 PM
- 10 reasons
There's only 1 Its a blackberry.12-16-12 04:20 PM
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subset: commoncrawl


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Atlassian Stash delivers a central, secure solution for creating and managing distributed Git repositories on your own servers. It has an easy-to-use interface for adding users and groups and creating and managing repositories, and a Project Structure for logically grouping your repositories. Installed on your own network, administrators have full control over how Stash fits into their environment. It supports Atlassian's plugin framework plus a full, open REST API for customized integrations. Key features include simple administration, easy permissions around Git repositories, LDAP (Active Directory) integration, JIRA issue tracker integration, cloning, and more.
JasperStarter is a commandline launcher and batch compiler for JasperReports. It can run any JasperReport that needs a JDBC, CSV, or empty data source, use any database for which a JDBC driver is available, execute reports that need runtime parameters, print directly to the system default or a given printer, optionally show a printer dialog to choose a printer, optionally show a print preview, export to file in the PDF, RTF, .docx, .odt, and HTML formats, export multiple formats in one commanding call, print and export in one commanding call, and integrate in non-Java applications (for example PHP, Python) A binary executable is available for Windows. JapserStarter is able to prompt for report parameters. Any parameter whose class has a string constructor is accepted. Additionally, the following types are supported or have special handlers: date, image (see usage), and locale.
TML/SIDEX is a BEEP (Block Entensible Exchange Protocol) based SDK for implementing peer to peer and/or client/server communication on various platforms and target languages. It provides type safe data modelling with a simple XML based format that minimizes errors, and its synchronous, asynchronous, and multithreaded interfaces guarantee performance.


text:
Stanford Shopping Center will add another luxury women's boutique next month when Calypso St. Barth opens a new store at the Palo Alto shopping destination.
Calypso St. Barth is a luxury clothes and accessories retailer that, like most stores at Stanford, caters to high-end shoppers. The store opens April 18, with a weekend-long grand opening celebration from April 19-21 that will include food, refreshments and giveaways.
Store hours will be Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. With the Palo Alto addition, the New York-based retailer will have six stores in California.
Contact Heather Somerville at 925-977-8418. Follow her at Twitter.com/heathersomervil.


text:
KAMPALA, Uganda -- Ugandan officials recorded another death from the deadly Ebola virus in the southwest of the country Monday, while 14 others died from the highly contagious virus in the north, health officials said.
The Ebola outbreak originated in the town of Gulu, with the first of hundreds of victims showing symptoms in September. Seventeen new cases were reported Monday, said Francis Omaswa, director general of health services.
In all, 145 people have now died of the disease.
© 2017. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us


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Cortland may be a little less crowded next summer.
ESPN president John Skipper has told producers that the cable giant needs to spend less time talking about Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow.
"I said, 'Guys, we didn't handle this very well.' Going to training camp wasn't a problem. We just stayed on it relentlessly and too long," Skipper told Sports Business Journal.
ESPN did send anchors and reporters to upstate New York's Cortland this summer to cover the Jets training camp, and have continued to talk about Tebow significantly despite the fact he has been a non-factor on the field. Skipper told the website that he was bothered when former ESPN college basketball analyst and radio host Doug Gottlieb went on the "Dan Patrick Show" and revealed that he was "told specifically, 'You can't talk enough Tebow.'"
"The quote that I hated was from Doug Gottlieb. … I didn't love that," Skipper said. "I want people to think about what works for the next 10 minutes might not be the best thing for us for three years. That one hit home with me."
My questions are: Did Skipper not realize how much Tebow was being discussed on ESPN? Did it really take Gottlieb saying it, or was it simply the fact that the strategy was out there that bothered him?
"We've had some good discussions internally about trying to be careful. In some ways, the more difficult internal conflict is between long-term story telling and ratings," Skipper said. "We all know that if you focus on the Tebow story, for the next 10 minutes you're going to do better. But the question is trying to take a long-term perspective and saying, 'Guys, let's not get over excited about one story and hyping it.'"
The Jets acquired Tebow from the Broncos this offseason, but has been limited to being a punt protector and Wildcat quarterback. When Sanchez was pulled last week against the Cardinals, Tebow was out with fractured ribs, and Greg McElroy was serving as the backup. Tebow returned to his reserve role in the victory against the Jaguars, but did not see the field.


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New York based Gang Gang Dance is equal measure good vibes and dark energy; an experimental avant-garde, rock, dance, electronic group with a sound that defies easy comparisons. Their "Positive Energy" logo is a talisman to ward off bad spirits and judgmental energy at their live concerts, though the music itself can seem almost occultish and sinister at times. Its as if to remind us that dark spirits wait around every corner, in every audience, or looming right in our midsts. Overcoming multiple tragedies within the band through the years, GGD has prevailed and forged ahead defined and strong.
GGD's Brian Degraw, has a long history in skateboarding, growing up in New Haven, Connecticut skating with Jim Greco, Tim Upson Judd Hertzler and Mat O'Brien. Greco recently described Degraw's visual art and music as "two years ahead of everybody else." At Altamont we have found that often forging a new path and doing things different, without parallel and the safety of herds, can in fact be an uncomfortable and challenging position. We are honored that Brian made this t-shirt for us, so that likewise we can ward off the negative energy and dark forces attempting to corrupt and ruin skateboarding forever.
Gang Gang Dance
Author: Randy Randall


text:
Collard Greens Salad Recipe
Foodie Friday Link Time: Raw Collard Greens Salad
- Take a break from holiday indulgences with this raw collard greens salad — Eating Bird Food
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- Plate up these superfoods of December — HuffPost Healthy Living
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The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India established the second campus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in 1993 at Dhenkanal, Odisha for meeting the requirements of teaching, training and research in journalism and mass communication of the eastern region of the country. The new campus, spread over 7.5 acres and situated in the valley of Panionhala (meaning Hanging Water in Odia) Hill, commands a majestic view. Located about 80 kms. from Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, Dhenkanal nestles in the rural and tribal hinterland of Central Odisha. It is connected by both rail and road (NH 42).
Courses on offer:
PG Diploma in English Journalism
PG Diploma in Odia Journalism
Contact :
Dr Mrinal Chatterjee,
Professor Indian Institute of Mass Communication Sanchar Marg,
Dhenkanal, Orissa- 759001
(Phones : 06762-226194 to 197)
Click here for more photograph


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Since moving home I have certainly began to buy more and more candles. My favourite are Yankee candles but seen as we have just used one jar up I had yet to buy another. Whilst walking round ikea I spotted these candles towards the end and I couldn''''t believe how cheap they were. I thought they were cute enough and they seemed to smell quite pleasant so I decided to purchase one.
On lighting the candle back home, it have off a pleasant smell and I didn''''t think it would really make much of a difference to the room however you could smell the scent of this candle on coming in and out of the room. I would definitely be happy to purchase these candles again and try new scents. They are not large candles but still when looking elsewhere at the prices of candles - even places like home bargains - they often seemed overpriced and so these candles being sold for 75p is brilliant. Next time I visit ikea I will definitely be picking up more of these candles and be placing them around the home. I think they are really cute little jars, and for my dressing table I actually glued silver gems around the whole of the top of the jar which looks really cute. I will definitely try to reuse the jar once I have used up the candle if this is possible.
Overall I would absolutely recommend these candles to anyone who is looking for a cute little candle decoration that also gives of a gentle scent and all for such a good price. Love! :)
I do enjoy having a browse in my local branch of Ikea, and each room in my home has some item or other from the store's many ranges. I have recently been using some scented candles from the retailer, with this review outlining my experiences of a recent purchase, namely the "Ikea Mattfull Candle."
I have been relatively impressed with most of the other candle products I have purchased from Ikea in recent times, so decided to take the plunge when purchasing the Mattfull variety, and even though I had not tried them before, I purchased four separate candles bearing this name. I was fairly sure the candles' scent would appeal after sniffing at the lid covering their wax, and felt I had little to lose, especially considering these candles' extremely low purchase price - a mere 75 pence each.
The candles are very cute, I think, and whilst small, I think they are extremely attractive. I am happy to admit that I was instantly drawn to them as I browsed in store in my local branch of Ikea, even though there was a whole range of candles to chose from, in all shapes, sizes and scents. Whilst I find the Mattfull Candles are cute, I suppose I could understand it if other consumers accused these candles of being boring in their design; they are in small, plain, simple glasses that have a very slight 'conical' shape to them and are otherwise free from any distinctive detail. (As a side note, these little glasses can be washed out and used after your candle has finished; I plan to use mine as little tea light holders, but you could use it as a small glass.)
The Mattfull candles are pure white in colour, and this is the only colour available in this particular brand of Ikea Candle. Similarly, there is only one fragrance available, even though most of Ikea's Candles are available in a choice of fragrances and scents, with something in the collection to appeal to most tastes, I would have thought. The Mattfull version, with its one-and-only fragrance, has its scent unnamed on its label, with just an attractive image being an indicator of what sort of fragrance may be enclosed within the product's waxy body; the label bears the image of a large, circular tub of opened (presumably) body cream/lotion, sitting alongside a sprinkling of some pretty white flowers. From this image, I anticipated that the candle's aroma was going to resemble a sort of 'clean' and fresh fragrance, with an underlying floral tone within it. Certainly, my initial impression of the candle's scent was that it was going to be perfectly suited to my own tastes.
Opening the candle for the first time is without fuss or difficulty; I simply need to remove the circular 'cap' on top that is made of thin plastic. This can be discarded if you wish, but I tend to keep mine for times where I want to 'stack' the candles on top of each other, perhaps in a cupboard between uses. It is recommended that the wick is trimmed, and there is a small diagram on the label concerning this, alongside some safety guidelines. I regularly burn candles, wax tarts and tea lights in my home, so I confess that I did not pay too much attention to this particular label, but those consumers who are fairly new or inexperienced in the art of 'wax-burning' may find this label to be informative.
I find the Mattfull Candles have a wick that is of a fairly high quality, and this has never posed any issues with spitting or being difficult to light. I have managed to put the wick out easily after use too, and find there are no negative issues to report when considering this aspect of the product.
The wax too, seems to be of a very high quality, and I do find that it burns evenly, without large amounts of wax gathering at the sides of the glass, which is occasionally the case with cheaper branded candles. I don't recall ever actually witnessing this problem from any of Ikea's Candles that I have purchased before, but certainly some of the cheaper ones from budget stores that I have purchased in the past have been a bit useless, as they have literally just burned down the centre of the candle leaving a large amount of wax at the sides. However, this irksome trait is not one that seems to affect the Mattfull Candle unless I have been careless when trimming the wick; if it is left too long, it seems to cause a bit of an 'uneven burn' throughout, but this is often the case where candles are concerned and so I do find it is worth giving a bit of attention to the wick before the candle is burned for the first time.
In terms of the Candle's scent, I do wonder whether this is the point which would have some consumers complaining. What I have found is that whilst the Mattfull Candle's aroma is quite noticeable when I lift the glass up to my nose to have a sniff of it, it is considerably more subdued as the wax begins to melt, and this is especially noticeable in the initial stages after the wick is lit at first. It takes a good while for ANY aroma to be detected in the room as the Candle begins to burn, I have found - and patience is definitely the key here, because the lovely scent does eventually begin to waft into the air around me and it is most definitely worth waiting for.
Being rather fresh and feminine in its initial appearance, the Mattfull Candle's aroma is quite gentle, with a sort of soft and 'clean' scent that feels extremely chilled out and relaxed as it escapes from the wax into the room. I will admit to feeling slightly cautious at first, as I was concerned about the candle's scent resembling a washing powder or a detergent product; I can't confess to finding the scents of such products to be particularly suited to my own tastes. I needn't have worried, however, as the clean, faintly 'lotion-like' scent never takes on the robustness of scents such as these. Instead, the Mattfull Candle remains gentle and chilled out, giving only a whisper of it's refreshing aroma as the wax burns.
The floral element to the candle's scent is lurking in the background at first, but it makes itself known a little later on, once the initial 'clean' scent has settled a little. This floral tone feels quite balanced and quite natural and certainly I do find that it is without the common sickliness that many floral candles seem to contain nowadays. I can't say that I am particularly fond of scents or aromas that contain strong and robust floral tones, but the Mattfull Candle doesn't fall into this category, thankfully. Instead, the floral tone in the candle feels much more subdued and gentle, with it never really taking hold enough to feel 'heady' or over-powering. This suits my own tastes down to the ground, but I do wonder whether other consumers might feel disappointed at the candle's rather understated scent.
The overall scent produced is very pleasant, but admittedly is without the same sort of 'oomph' that you can expect from candles from well-known big brands such as Yankee or Kringle. To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't ever expect a candle that is priced so cheaply to be a real competitor to a brand such as Yankee as the difference in price is remarkable, and I do think it is therefore unfair to expect a candle that costs only 75 pence to live up to those that cost several times this amount such as those from Yankee.
In terms of the scent's strength and longevity, I find that again, this aspect of the product is not really comparable to that obtained from the use of those big-branded candles from more expensive ranges, however I find it produces a fair enough result. Whilst the Mattfull Candle is burning, the scent hangs in the air eventually, though it takes a little while to make itself known - it is a little shy at first! After a while, however, I find the scent escapes into the room more easily, and it remains there whilst the candle burns. I find that the scent disappears quickly once the wick is extinguished; it doesn't hang around very long at all, and a couple of hours later I can't detect so much as a faint trace of the lovely scent.
I do find that if I burn more than one of the Mattfull Candles at a time, the scent becomes a little more robust, but the difference is not noticeable enough to see me carrying out this practice each time. The label on the glass jar informs me that the little candle has an impressive burning time of seventeen hours, and I can confirm that I find this claim to be reasonably accurate, as although I haven't timed the candles each time they have been used, I have found they have lasted for absolute ages, even though they have been used a couple of times per week recently.
Taking all of these results into consideration, I am happy with how the Ikea Mattfull Candles have performed; they are exceptionally cheap to purchase, and as such I half expected their scent to be under-par in terms of their suitability for my own tastes, or to burn out due to their wick being of an inferior quality. None of these issues has presented itself, and I would definitely repurchase the little candles again in the future; I have found they are perfect for creating an attractive centrepiece on my dining table when entertaining guests for dinner, as their unobtrusive scent never feels too much. At less than a quid each, I have little cause for complaint, and do recommend giving the Mattfull Candles a chance. I intent to purchase some more during my next trip to Ikea as I think they would make pretty stocking-filler gifts for friends at Christmas time.
My husband would say that I'm obsessed with candles, and I guess that he's probably right. I always have candles lit up in the house every evening, and I go through vast quantities of them. I especially like using scented candles and tealights to fragrance the room. I've found that Ikea seems to be the best place to buy tealights and candles, it certainly seems to be the cheapest. I always buy the scented Tindra tealights and the scented Tindra block candles, however I've not been too impressed the scented Tindra candles in a glass.
On a recent trip to Ikea I spotted a different candle in a glass - the Mattifull, and so I picked a couple of these up to give them a try. These are really cheap, they are just 75 pence each. The drawback to these is that they only come in the one fragrance, whereas the Tindra range comes in a variety of fragrances.
Ikea candles never have a description of the fragrance on the packaging, they just have a picture, and then normally the colour of the candle is also an indication as to the fragrance. The Mattifull candle is white, and the picture on the lid is a floral picture - I have no idea whatsoever what the flowers are, the candle itself just has a very pleasant floral fragrance.
The Mattifull candle states that you should get 17 hours burning from it. I would say this was roughly spot on as I got a week from the 2 candles, lighting them for roughly 2 or 3 hours each night. The floral fragrance didn't seem as strong once the candles were lit as it had just in the glass jar. I could definitely smell the floral fragrance, just not as much as I'd hoped for, it was definitely what I'd class as a very subtle fragrance. The fragrance was most apparent if you walked past the candle, or came back into the room after being in another room.
The candles did burn down evenly, which I have found to be a problem normally with the Tindra scented candles in a glass. I find that these the ones don't burn evenly from around a third of the way down the candle, and so I'm always left with lots of unburnt candle wax around the edges of the jar. I'm happy to report though that this didn't happen with the Mattifull candles.
When the candle has burnt itself out on these Mattifull candles then the glass cup can then be used as a tealight holder. I've also discovered that the glass cups are also useful as small serving dishes for oils or hoummous, or individual dessert portions etc. I put the glass cups in the dishwasher all the time with no problems whatsoever.
I'd definitely buy these again as they did give off a pleasant fragrance, and they are really cheap, plus you can reuse the glass cup afterwards. They are not the best quality scented candles in the world, but what do you expect for just 75 pence each! And if you consider that you are left with a useable glass cup at the end of the candle, then 75 pence is a bargain really.
I am a massive fan of all things smelly and one of my favourite things are scented candles, they have the ability to lift your mood and soothe away your troubles helping to relax the body and mind, they have an amazing calming influence that noting else compares to.
Scented Candles have the ability to create an ambient atmosphere depending on the fragrance you choose ,they are so versatile there is one for every mood an occasion , big and small, and they make fantastic gifts especially for the ladies to be used along side a bath for some pampering 'me time' there's nothing quite like it!
I use candles for several reasons but to be honest I do not really need a reason as I use them so often that they are like a cherished member of my family!, I use them to lift my mood, help me to relax, make my home smell lovely, for pampering bath times, as table decorations, at meal times, at special occasions and just simply because.
I was attracted to this particular candle whilst browsing in Ikea because of its cute and handy little size, which is just short of being 2" tall it was twice as big than a normal tea light size but smaller than the usual candles deemed 'small', its excellent price of being only 69p, the fact that it was in a thick glass jar and smelt Divine.....
There is no indication of what the fragrance is called but there is a little picture on the jar of a white blossom flower, it smelt floral , musky and had a slight tone of almond and vanilla, it smelt almost good enough to eat and I found myself continually sniffing the scent whilst browsing the rest of the shop.
The wax is white in colour, a pure clean white not a dirty white and I think its beeswax as it is very high quality and is not transparent or an un-even colour and it was quite weighty for such a small candle. The candle also comes with a sealed clear plastic lid which found very handy as these make scented jar candles more effective if you do not intend to use the candle all in one go, you can simply re-seal it and this will ensure the candle keeps its scent locked in so it smells just as lovely the next time you use it.
There is a label/ sticker on the jar states it will burn for 17 hours and that it is made in Poland, it also has the Ikea logo and tiny pictures of do's and don'ts related to using safely such as not putting the lit candle next to curtains etc.. Basic common sense really.
I lit the candle almost as soon as I got home, the candles scent was still prominent upon burning , maybe slightly more subtle but you can definitely smell it and I was able to smell it throughout my home, it smelt sweet and relaxing, the whole family noticed it and commented on its calming properties, I left the candle lit for around 5 hours and in that time the little pot was still full, the wax had only gone down by less than a quarter of an inch, the scent lingered in my home for a good few hours after it had been blown out too, I re-sealed the jar with the provided lid.
The following evening I went to light the candle again, upon removing the lid it was still as strong smelling as when I first bought it and like the night before I had it on around 5 hours and the wax was nearing the half way mark by this time, it kept its scent throughout though.
At the weekend I had this candle lit for probably a further 6-8 hours until it had extinguished itself, I was very pleased with how long it lasted and its ability to hold its scent, I wished I had bought a couple more and knew I would definitely buy them again, at such a cheap price it is what I would consider a 'Grab it before its gone bargain' what a steal at 69p, it may be a small candle but it packs a mighty punch with excellent value for money and a lovely calming scent, I would have paid more for a scented candle of this quality and I would recommend trying it, try a couple... you will not be disappointed it is a diamond buy that you wont regret.
The lovely thick glass jar can be re-used as a tea light holder after use.
I rated a Fabulous 5 out of 5
Thank You for reading
Also posted on Ciao under username mojo-mojo


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Raptors coach Sam Mitchell doesn't like talking about things he can't control -- such as a National Basketball Association schedule that will see his team embark on a brutal four game pre-Christmas west coast swing after today's game against the Golden State Warriors at the Air Canada Centre.
"We have a game (today)," Mitchell said. "Then we go out west where we have four games in five days. I can't control the schedule. I'm just worried about (today)."
The third-year coach can control the team's play during the next five games, despite sending out a lineup still minus its franchise player -- Chris Bosh -- and Mitchell likes what has happened to the rest of the team in the big man's absence.
The Raptors carry a two-game win streak into today's game against the Warriors, with the mindset that they can compete without having Bosh on the court to bail them out of tough situations.
"It's great to see our players play with confidence," Mitchell said.
He was particularly happy with the kind of defence the team showed in wins over Orlando and New Jersey.
"To win in this league, we have to force the opposition to try bad shots," Mitchell said. "And that is what we did the past two games."
Bosh, meanwhile, who worked out pain-free on his bruised knee for the first time yesterday, said that the defensive play of guys such as Rasho Nesterovic have made a big difference on the club.
"He is playing really well," Bosh said. "He is getting his confidence back up. He is shooting the ball real well but, most of all, he is anchoring that defence.
"He is always talking a lot in the background. Plus he can block shots and really guard the other team's big guys."
As for his own immediate future the 22-year old Bosh is just taking it one day at a time.
"I am pain-free for the first time in about a week," he said. "I just have to continue to get (the knee) stronger and be patient."
Bosh is enough of a realist, however, to know that a full recovery is still a ways off.
"I am not going to try to make a prediction for when I will come back," he said. "I doubt that it will be during the road trip."
Bosh said that, in just a week away from playing, he has noticed a fall-off in his conditioning as well.
"You know you lose your wind," he said. "And your muscles get tired faster."
He said that he will need to do several days of full practices with the team before he'll attempt a game situation comeback.


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Ranger's Guile
- Color: Green
- Type: Instant
- Rarity: Common
- Set: Innistrad
Buy from Card Kingdom - $
Target creature you control gets +1/+1 and gains hexproof until end of turn. (It can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.)
In the remote corners of Kessig, protection is found in secret powers unknown to the Church of Avacyn.


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My header is gone and I have a 403 message??
I went to put a new post on my blog and my header is gone and it has a message "403 Forbidden This file is removed due to violation of Imageshack term of service or by user request." I have had this blog for several years ? Any help or insite as to what might have happened. I would appreciate any help or information. Not sure what is going on.
My blog is Uniquely Me
Hi Donna - looks like whatever image you were using for your header has been removed. Do you have that Rita of Coffeeshop contact info? Looks like she was hosting that image somewhere and it's been taken down.
|All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:32 AM.


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This product is no longer available.
You can try these similar gifts instead.
Personalized Rhinestone Handle Cake Knife and Server Set
They'll cut the cake in dazzling style with this cake knife and server set. The handles are embellished with sparkling crystal rhinestones. The personalized knife is a great way to wish them many happy years to come.


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Peter King: Zadroga needs more funding
Rep. Peter King warned yesterday that there's not enough money allocated to care for ailing 9/11 responders and said he'd begin pushing for more funding.
"We have to face reality," said King (R-Seaford). "I know that by most every estimate we are going to need more funding."
On Monday, Dr. John Howard, director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, added cancer to the illnesses covered under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
Under the law, enacted in January 2011, nearly $2.8 billion was set aside to compensate people made ill by exposure to toxins at Ground Zero. Another $1.5 billion has been allocated to fund the World Trade Center Health Program, which treats and monitors about 60,000 first responders and others exposed to Ground Zero. Funding is set to expire in 2016.
King, echoing the sentiments of New York's Democratic Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, said adding about 50 cancers was the right thing to do.
"Cancer should have been covered in the first place," he said.
But adding those conditions will raise costs and people will remain sick after 2016, he noted.
"We have to start planning," he said. "It's a moral issue. It's not a New York issue."


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Here's the world-building blog entry.
One of the five things she lists--and one we've all got to watch for, right-- is this:
2. Never world-build through infodump.
(N.b., there is a difference between an "infodump" and "exposition." Robin McKinley world-builds through exposition at the beginning of Spindle's End; Diana Wynne Jones world-builds through exposition at the beginning of Howl's Moving Castle. These are both markedly different from the infodump world-building at the beginning of the book I'm reading right now, James White's Ambulance Ship.)
I will say that the difference between infodump and exposition may come down to the talent the writer has with prose and the voice used. I read and loved both Spindle's End (one of my very fave fantasy novels, and perhaps my favorite based on a fairy tale) and Howl's Moving Castle (which also made for a terrif animated film by Miyazaki).
Years ago, the first pages of Spindle's End captivated me in the bookstore and I hurried home to read it. That's exposition that grabs, not infodump that bores. But it may be subjective, too. What you find exhilirating exposition may make me yawn. Ultimately, any writer who really has a voice and a handle on craft should be able to make the delivery of narrative into exposition rather than infodump. :::shrug:::
I know when I'm reading stories as an editor, I look to see if the information is strongly attached to character. If I'm getting the sense of a person's POV, even if it's a longish stretch of narrative, if it has that personality filtering through, then I don't count that as infodump. And it could be the voice/personality of the author or of a particular character. But I need to sense LIFE.
Infodump has a flatness, a sort of, "Here it is: I think you need to know this, so there. Read it. Now I can go on with the interesting stuff."
If it's compelling exposition, it has a sense of vibrancy, of a living thing behind it. It has a bit of depth or snap or sparkle--something that says this isn't just a report for a teacher or dry information. The difference, say, between:
The planet Alomus, a vacation destination for that sector of the galaxy and known throughout the cosmos for its dyes, was an astonishingly vivid blue. The discovery of Alomus had changed human wedding traditions. Brides stopped wearing white and started wearing Alomus blue. Honeymoon bookings for trips to Earth plummeted and Alomus became the intergalactic Niagara. The riches that the dyes and tourism brought in turned the planet into something that an old historian might have termed a den of sin.
That's not utterly horrible, and it does convey information about the planet, as well as a bit about the voice ("astonishingly" and "den of sin"), but it's not all that vivid itself.
And this:
Alomus glowed the exact blue of Korina's grandmother's eyes on those days when her grandmother was up to no good. On the ultimate day of mischief for her grandmother--the day she married Korina's grandfater--the bride had worn a gown of Alomus blue. They'd had to sell one of their vacation homes to afford it. There was irony there. Alomus, pleasure planet, the number one honeymoon hotspot, and the provider of priceless blue dyes. Why did everything end up having something to do with her dead grandmother and the planet waiting for her to land?
Or this:
Alomus blue. Now, there was a color for dreaming. Deep and alive, so famous and coveted that a citizen of my home planet would happily spend five years of overtime pay to afford a robe dipped in the dyes only found within the sea-floating vegetation of the pleasure planet. So desired that the number one justification for murder on the planet was poaching of the dye-waters. The number two was seduction of a newlywed.
Three different ways of saying a planet is blue and three different voices used in saying it. Granted, none of those bits is long enough to really count as infodump, but it was for example. Infodump would go on in the manner of example one--just throwing stuff out there. The others hint at things pertaining to people. To the characters viewing the planet.
Anyway, go see what Sarah M. has to say.


text: So everyone here as a Game Console i'm hoping, So the point of this thread is to post all your consoles and amout of games and stuff. This might work, but its nice to know what people got in ther Bedroom, living rooms etc. So just list all your gear hehe. I got a feeling whos going to win. My only fear is that people don't wanna waste timing typing it all, if so, go (Truck Drives By) Yourself Wii 2 Controllers, 1 Numchuck, 1 Classic Controller Super Paper Mario Splinter Cell Double Agent Monkey Ball BB Virtual Console/WiiWare Super Mario BROS Super Mario Kart 64 Super Mario World 64 Internet Channel XBox 4 Controllers, Microphone 28 Games, my best are GTA San Andreas Halo 2 Destroy all Humans Fable, The Lost Chapters Halo Life 2 N64 2 Controllers, Super Mario Kart 65 Tony Hawk Pro Skater SNES 3 Controllers, 28 Games, best are Super Mario Kart Sim Ant Super Mario World Stunt Race FX StarFox NES 4 Controllers, 2 Guns, 2 Joysticks 15 Games, best are Mario Bros (2 Copies) Duck Hunt (2 Copies) Family Feud Edit: Fell free to edit your post, just make it clear like this =)


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'Wizards' will entertain, educate
The April 6 Woodbury Community Expo will showcase the "fun of science."
The 3M Visiting Wizards will give science-related demonstrations from noon-12:45 p.m. on the main stage.
The 3M Visiting Wizards is a science enrichment program that encourages young people to become interested in science and technology by providing interesting educational demonstrations and hands-on experiments on a variety of science topics.
"We want to get kids interested in science - science is fun," said Jeff Payne, an advance research specialist with 3M. "We need kids coming up through the school system who are interested in science."
Heidi Hickey, member services director for the Woodbury Chamber Commerce and Woodbury Community Expo coordinator, said having science-related entertainment is a great addition to the Expo.
"The bubble itself is science, isn't it," she said referring to the Bielenberg Sports Center's inflatable dome. "Bringing education is a big piece."
Payne, along with other "wizards," will perform two or three science experiments during the Expo that address a number of science topics including air and vacuum, chemistry and the science of sound.
"We'll show what happens when you move the air and demonstrate changing vibrations," Payne said, "and we'll throw in a few chemistry demos just for fun."
Even though the 3M Visiting Wizards use a lot of hands-on experiments, and a few children will be able to come up on stage and help at the Expo.
Payne said he hopes the 3M Visiting Wizards' demonstrations help dispel some of the myths associated with science.
"Science kind of has this reputation of being really hard and really difficult and it's not," he said. "But, you do have to work at it. We want to try and quell that idea that you have to be a genius to do science - you can look just like the guy next door."


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monDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Kings 3, Flyers 2: Dwight King scored a tiebreaking goal midway through the third period, leading Los Angeles to victory. Jeff Carter and Justin Williams scored in the second period for the Kings, who won their third straight and 11th in 14 games.
Stars 2, Jets 1: Ray Whitney and Tyler Seguin scored power-play goals, and Dallas held off Winnipeg. The victory allowed Dallas to move within a point of Phoenix for the Western Conference's final playoff spot.
Canadiens 2, Bruins 1: Alex Galchenyuk scored the only shootout goal, and Montreal stopped Boston's 12-game winning streak. The Bruins fell one game short of their longest winning streak since 1970-71 and two shy of the club record set in 1929-30.
Rangers 4, Coyotes 3: Ryan McDonagh scored off a rebound of Dan Girardi's shot 1:56 into overtime to complete the Rangers' surprising rally. Brad Richards and Derick Brassard scored in the second period when New York erased a 2-0 deficit Phoenix built in the first.
Senators 4, Lightning 3: Jason Spezza scored in regulation and had the only goal in a shootout to lead Ottawa.
Hurricanes: The team has signed defenseman Justin Faulk to a six-year contract extension worth $29 million.


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When a man decides that he wants to enter a chastity for men lifestyle, one way to find some excellent information is through the many forums and online communities that can be found on the Internet. Nothing can be better for educating a novice in this lifestyle than the voices of those men who live it, have lived it or are training those men in the lifestyle and all that it entails. The people that are a part of these online communities are very experienced and knowledgeable when it comes to the chaste life for men and they are more than happy to share all of the information that they have with those seeking to learn more.
Becoming a participant in chastity for men should not be a decision made lightly. It should be made from a well-informed perspective with as much information and as many facts gathered as possible. Too many men decide to just "try it out" for a while when they don't understand that it's not like something you just do on the weekends or whenever you feel like it. This is a committed lifestyle for all men that enter it. So that's one thing to remember up front. If you're not truly sure that it is for you, then you should do some more research.
People in the chastity for men forums are more than happy to answer your questions and offer advice on certain areas that may have you confused. Don't be afraid or ashamed to ask any question you may have. These people have heard it all and you aren't going to say anything that will shock or amuse them. Instead, they will answer your questions in an honest and straightforward manner so that you can then make your decision based on facts rather than supposition and guesses.


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Inside Information: May–August 1996 Issue
Federal Co-Chairman Testifies on Highways
Testifying before a Congressional subcommittee in June, ARC Federal Co-Chairman Jesse L. White Jr. urged Congress to consider directing additional funds toward completion of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) when the national highway bill, ISTEA, comes before Congress for renewal next year.
The federal co-chairman's testimony, presented to Chairman Thomas E. Petri and other members of the Surface Transportation Subcommittee of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, described the important role that highways play in linking Appalachia to national and international markets.
Federal Co-Chairman White said that while about three-fourths of the 3,025-mile ADHS is complete, the miles remaining to be built include "some of the most challenging." Much of the remaining mileage consists of "the most expensive mileage in the system," said White, citing a mountain tunnel and a key bridge across the Ohio River.
The ARC federal co-chairman reported on the cost to complete the ADHS (current estimates, based on the 1992 cost estimate, place the federal share of the cost in the range of $4.9 billion to $6.3 billion). He noted that, if states rely solely on ARC appropriations to complete the system, at the current level of funding the ADHS would not be finished until the middle of the next century. In FY 1996, ARC received $107.4 million for highway spending.
Describing the positive impact of the highway system on economic development, Federal Co-Chairman White cited a study funded by the National Science Foundation and published last year in the Journal of the American Planning Association, which found that between 1969 and 1991, the 110 Appalachian counties with an ADHS highway grew 69 percentage points faster in income, 6 percentage points faster in population, and 49 percentage points faster in earnings than similar counties outside the Appalachian Region.
Besides providing the base for expansion of commerce and industry, the ADHS has also been instrumental in extending community services, such as education and health care, to the residents of Appalachia's isolated rural areas. It has also supported dramatic growth in tourism, often the only viable industry in Appalachia's rugged mountains.
John D. Whisman Scholars
In the spring of 1995, ARC established the Appalachian Scholar Program as part of its research activities. The purpose of the program is to focus the research skill and experience of scholars and experts in the field of economic development on Appalachian concerns.
Later last year, the title of the award was changed to "John D. Whisman Scholar" in honor of the man widely credited with developing the concept on which the ARC program is based. Whisman, who served on the task force that established the Commission and later as representative of the Appalachian states at Commission headquarters in Washington, died in June 1995.
At a meeting of the Commission this July, the first Appalachian Scholar, Andrew Isserman, director of the Regional Research Institute at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia, was honored for his work during 1995 and 1996. The 1996-1997 scholar, Amy Glasmeier, professor of geography and regional planning at Pennsylvania State University, was introduced at the meeting.
During his tenure as Appalachian Scholar, Isserman prepared working papers on several topics, including the impact of the Appalachian Development Highway System on the Region's most rural counties, bank deposits in the Region, and transfer income in the Region.
ETAC Meeting in Asheville
The Export Trade Advisory Council (ETAC), established by ARC as part of the Commission's 1995 strategic regional initiative on globalization of the Appalachian economy, met June 25 in Asheville, North Carolina.
The aim of the initiative is to strengthen the ability of small and medium-sized Appalachian businesses to gain access to and compete in the global marketplace.
The ETAC heard reports on participation in a major European trade fair by a number of Appalachian small businesses, and on progress to date on research on Appalachian industries that ARC is funding as part of the globalization initiative. As a result of ETAC efforts, the firms traveled to Sweden early in June to meet prospective trade partners at the Europartenariat, an innovative trade development program launched by the European Commission in 1987.
Held twice each year, the event is regularly attended by more than 2,500 European businesses from some 50 countries. The Appalachian businesses were among the first U.S. companies invited to participate in the event.
Nine Appalachian companies, employing between 3 and 153 workers and producing goods ranging from outdoor furniture to filtered air respirators, attended the Europartenariat trade fair. Three other companies participated from Atlanta, Georgia, via interactive television. The Appalachian firms attending each garnered from 3 to 16 potential trade deals at the event.
Measuring ARC Results
Although ARC's strategic plan is six months old, the planning process continues, with the main focus now on development of a performance measurement system that will tell ARC and its customers how well ARC programs are working and provide guidance in designing future programs. The goal of current efforts is to prepare a plan for discussion by the end of the fiscal year (September 30).
ARC staff has met with several experts in benchmarking and has had discussions with the Appalachian states to establish a common vocabulary and expectations. In addition, the National Governors' Association (NGA) and SAG Corporation are assisting in the design of parts of the new ARC performance management system.
NGA is conducting a survey of the Appalachian states to determine what performance management strategies are being used by state governments and the key components of their management systems. In addition, NGA will identify the best performance management and benchmarking practices in four to six states outside the Region. SAG Corporation is surveying potential data sources for measuring progress toward the ARC strategic plan objectives.
Staff will integrate the results of the NGA and SAG Corporation work with the ARC strategic plan for review and discussion at a Commission work session.
ARC Forms Alliance with Community Colleges
In keeping with Goal 1 of the new ARC strategic plan—Appalachian residents will have the skills and knowledge necessary to compete in the world economy in the 21st century"—the Commission has established a formal alliance with the Community College Association of Appalachia.
Meeting in Washington in July, the Commission adopted a resolution to include the alliance and its work among the strategies ARC will employ in support of the strategic plan.
"This alliance represents an important step toward realization of the first goal in our strategic plan," said ARC Executive Director Tom Hunter. "Whether ARC succeeds in meeting its goals will depend to a great extent on partnerships that will lend additional resources and expertise to ARC's efforts."
Appalachia's community and technical colleges focus on the literacy needs of area residents and provide short-term skill upgrading, continuing education for professionals, customized training, and associate degree programs. With their open admissions policies and modest tuition, they provide many Appalachians with their only opportunity for post-secondary education. They also play an important role in developing institutional and civic leadership.
ARC sees the community college system as a catalyst for change and innovation in human and resource development. Under the alliance the community colleges would work with the Commission, the ARC member states, and local development districts to accomplish the objectives of Goal 1.
Legislative Update
The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have approved appropriations bills that contain ARC funding for FY 1997.
The House voted on July 25 to provide $155.3 million for ARC as part of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 1997.
The Senate's version of the bill came to the floor on July 30. An amendment offered by Senator Rod Grams of Minnesota that would have reduced the funding level proposed for ARC by the Senate Appropriations Committee from $165 million to the House-approved level of $155 million was tabled by a vote of 69-30.
Differences between the two bills will be resolved by a conference committee this fall.


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The Regional Dimension of North-South Trade-Related R&D Spillovers
This paper examines the impact of trade with Japan, North America, and the European Union on technology diffusion and total factor productivity growth in Korea, Mexico, and Jordan. Measures of foreign research and development are constructed based on industry-specific research and development in the North, North-South trade patterns, and input-output relations in the South. The findings show that technology diffusion and productivity gains tend to be regional. Jordan benefits mainly from trade with the European Union, Korea from trade with Japan, and Mexico from trade with North America. In other words, the dynamic version of the âÃÂÃÂnatural trading partnersâÃÂàhypothesis holds for these countries.
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|21 pages
|Date of creation:
|01 Jan 2009
|Contact details of provider:
| Postal: 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20433
Phone: (202) 477-1234
Web page: http://www.worldbank.org/
More information through EDIRC
References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- Maurice Schiff & Yanling Wang, 2006. "North-South and South-South trade-related technology diffusion: an industry-level analysis of direct and indirect effects," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 39(3), pages 831-844, August.
- Schiff, Maurice, 2001.
"Will the Real "Natural Trading Partner" Please Stand Up?,"
Journal of Economic Integration,
Center for Economic Integration, Sejong University, vol. 16, pages 245-261.
- Schiff, Maurice, 1999. "Will the real"natural trading partner"please stand up?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2161, The World Bank.
- Pravin Krishna, 2003. "Are Regional Trading Partners "Natural"?," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 111(1), pages 202-231, February. Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)
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In the competition to keep running with the big dogs economically, the city of Richardson is now cruising on a massive surge of adrenaline.
This month's official groundbreaking for a three-building regional office headquarters for State Farm Insurance was the ceremonial part, highlighting North Texas' biggest project for a corporate campus in a single phase.
But that's part of a larger story, the transformation of the suburb's northern tier and further redefinition of the formerly tech-centric Telecom Corridor.
It's good to see one of Dallas' aging first-ring suburbs find ways to reinvent itself as business conditions change. That meant keeping expectations and standards high for raw land at a prime location. It's near the intersection of North Central Expressway and the Bush Turnpike, and next to a stop along DART's popular Red Line light-rail service.
Developer KDC's 1.5 million-square-foot State Farm headquarters is only part of the dizzying picture, and only the first phase. Phase one also includes nearly 1,000 apartments, a hotel and retail-restaurant space.
When all phases are finished in KDC's master plan for 186 acres, it expects to offer 5 million square feet of office space for multiple employers and up to 20,000 workers, a second hotel, even more retail and thousands more apartments.
And it's not the only developer in the vicinity. Next door, the Zale/Corson Group has broken ground on 400 apartments and has a second phase planned. Plus, more raw land flanking Central Expressway awaits firm plans from different owners.
All of this will boost Richardson's tax base but will put pressure on the city to make the new employment magnet work smoothly.
One big challenge will be handling the tens of thousands of extra motorists who will be heading in and out every day. Being near North Central Expressway is a boost for developers selling the site but a potential bane for workers who need to drive it.
That stretch of highway is one of the most congested in the state; coincidentally, TxDOT planners have begun soliciting ideas from the public on options for rebuilding it.
The DART component could be key to easing any future crush of traffic. The State Farm site has been termed a "transit-oriented development," but the legitimacy of that label depends on how many workers and residents end up relying on DART for their comings and goings. It will behoove the city and employers to promote the heck out of transit use.
In any event, it's notable that Richardson has four DART light-rail stations, and now major mixed-use development has sprung up around three of them.
They say location is everything in real estate, but that's just for starters and for setting the price. For a healthy community, it's what you do with the real estate that counts, and the new Richardson projects have plenty of promise.
New projects in Richardson
These are near the intersection of North Central Expressway and the Bush Turnpike, close to a DART rail station:
Underway: By developer KDC, 1.5 million square feet in three high-rise buildings (13, 15 and 21 stories) for a State Farm Insurance regional headquarters accommodating 8,000 workers; nearly 1,000 apartments, a 150-room hotel, a health clinic and fitness center, and more than 75,000 square feet for retail and restaurants. By apartment developer Zale/Corson Group, more than 400 apartment units.
Ahead: KDC's master plan for its 186 acres calls for a total of 5 million square feet of office space for up to 20,000 employees, 300,000 square feet of retail-restaurant space, two hotels and nearly 4,000 residential units. Zale/Corson has a second phase of 400 housing units. A separate owner, Caruth Properties, owns 86 acres flanking Central Expressway but has announced no plans.


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In a game that felt like a serious case of déjà vu – D.C. United dropped the season opener by two goals without captain Dwayne De Rosario at Houston – Homegrown goalkeeper Bill Hamid dazzled to provide a slice of positivity.
While backup netminder Joe Willis conceded three goals in the first leg of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals in November, Hamid kept the Black-and-Red within reach last night with a series of phenomenal saves. For much of the first half, United's backline stymied the Houston Dynamo's offensive efforts, but in the 39th minute, Houston came knocking at the door. Defender Chris Korb took down Houston midfielder Ricardo Clark just outside the penalty area, but the referee whistled for a penalty kick. Dynamo playmaker Brad Davis lined up to take the shot, but Hamid blocked his attempt and also the follow-up shot from Clark to keep it 0-0.
In the 44th minute, Houston threatened again at net, but Hamid and Korb tag-teamed to deny the Dynamo twice at close range. Davis lined up to take a corner kick from the right and Houston forward Will Bruin headed the curler toward the far post only to see Korb clear it off the line. With the ball loose in the box, Dynamo midfielder Giles Barnes blasted a shot from two yards out, but Hamid smothered it with a quick reaction save.
Houston wouldn't see the fruits of its labors until the 80th minute when a Clark run off of a corner kick forced an own goal from defender James Riley. Nine minutes later, Clark would fire in a close-range, upper-90 strike to seal the game at 2-0.
In total, Hamid made four saves from six Dynamo shots on target and showed why he's an early contender for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. In 2012, the 22-year-old netminder shined, leading the League in saves percentage (77.9%) and also registering the third-best goals against average (1.03). Despite a two-goal loss, Hamid exhibited stunning skill and provided a sneak peek of what he's capable of achieving in 2013.


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Architecture possesses the essence of who we are as individuals and as a society. Through design we express what we value most. Because the built environment has the ability to define us as well as inspire us, designers must always remember that they bare a responsibility to humanity.
Garrison Winkle-Bryan
email: email@example.com
phone: (503) 809-9459


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RUSSIAN MUSICBOX channel and Emil E7 are:
September 13 will be held at the club ICON party channel RUSSIAN MUSICBOX.
Dima Bilan, FRANKY and many others will light for you and with you!
Do not miss one of the hottest nights this fall!
Come on MUSICBOX PARTY!
Line Up: DimaBilan, Djigan, Franky, «Hello», Tim Ivanov (live club drum show), Pitkin, Losev.
Club «ICON»
Moscow, Bolotnaya Embankment, 9
Arrival of guests at 23:00
Login: FC / DC
18 +
Press Service, "First Music Publishing"


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Why Volunteer?Volunteers are key in enabling charities or not-for-profit organisations to achieve their vision of a more caring and cohesive society. In addition, many organisations do not have the resources to employ the wide range of skilled professionals their clients could need.
How You Can VolunteerThere are many opportunities to volunteer at home or abroad as an acupuncturist. Depending on the organisation, the people you treat could be homeless people, indigenous people, asylum seekers who have experienced trauma as a result of persecution in their country of origin, or even young single mothers living in refuges. Many of these people don't have the resources to access quality holistic care.
All organisations will require that you have appropriate qualifications, experience and first aid training. In exchange, you will be supported by the organisation and given training, briefing about your clients and the appropriate security.


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Artist description:
Java Draw Created Dec 23, 2012 640 x 460px Unless noted Copyright 2012 xXcinnamon-sunXx.
We encourage you to submit a comment and let the artist know what you think of this drawing. Please log in or join to post a comment.
Post a comment
anim3luver Dec 23, 2012
i like all of the blue in this draw, tho it seems cool- however i luv da girls pose n her lovely clothing :)
Anniebee Dec 23, 2012
wonderful draw...
Page 1


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Legal Question in Immigration Law in Kentucky
If I carry health insurance on a child from a previous marriage, am I required by law to also carry dental and vision?
Asked on 9/29/11, 2:54 pm
2 Answer from Attorneys
Andrea Welker Welker Law Office
Not unless a court order says so.
Answered on 10/01/11, 10:36 am


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The late, expatriate Australian painter Jeffrey Smart described his 1969 work Morning Practice, Baia, as "one of my best paintings ever". It's also a popular one, with his estate producing 499 giclée prints of the image following the artist's death two years ago, aged 91.
Now the original work is coming onto the auction market for the first time since it was sold to an American collector 45 years ago.
Sotheby's Australia is selling the work at its Important Australian Art auction in Sydney in August and estimates the price at $550,000 to $750,000. A preliminary study for the work sold for $90,000 in 2012. Two months ago the auction house sold his work The Bicycle Race (Death of Morandi) for $512,400 and his 2003 work The Red Warehouse (2003) for $878,400 last year.
When the work made a rare public appearance at a 2012 retrospective, sparking fresh interest, former NSW Art Gallery curator Barry Pearce described Morning Practice, Baia, as "disarmingly simple" and central to Smart's career as "an essential image of the artist himself".
"A man practises with geometry, fascinated by its capacity to measure the meaning of existence, whilst enjoying life-enhancing sunlight illuminating the modern walls of what used to be an ancient fleshpot of the Roman Empire on the Bay of Naples," Pearce said.
Another expatriate Australian, Clive James, said of Smart: "If there is an endemic Australian quality, it might be in the confidence with which he not only combines the functional exuberance of modern industrial life with the iconography of the past, but equalises and balances those two things, so that a Matisse poster in the context of an Australian suburb becomes more lyrical than ever."
For the catalogues and auction details, visit the Sotheby's Australia website.
NOW WATCH: Executive Life videos
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Site highlights each day to your inbox.
Follow Business Insider Australia on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.


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New 2017 Toyota Prius Four Touring
- MAKE:Toyota
- MODEL:Prius
- BODY TYPE:Hatchback
- ENGINE:Gas/Electric I-4 1.8 L/110
- TRANS:Other
- LOCATION:Antioch
- INT COLOR:Black
- MPG:54 city / 50 hwy
*Please note: we update our inventory daily. Please check with dealer to confirm vehicle availability.
Sellers Comments
The 2017 Prius is here with a striking new look that will shake up the status quo. A sleep and low shape has been crafted to cheat wind resistance and turn heads in every crowd while always giving you a responsive drive. Prius features Bi-LED elements in the headlights, available integrated fog lights and accent lights. Powered by a 1.8L engine mated to an electric motor getting up to 54 MPG city and even as much as 58 MPG city in the Prius Two Eco. The front seats of Prius feature deep side bolsters for added comfort. Prius also comes available with SofTex-trimmed heated front seats. Prius also uses advanced sound-deadening techniques to help keep unwanted outside noises out. Advanced tech like an available 7-in. touch-screen display, 4.2-in. color dual Multi-Information Display with customizable screens and available Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging keep you in command. Entune Premium Audio with Integrated Navigation and App Suite makes your life easier by allowing you to search destinations, stream music, and check reviews on restaurants. The standard 60/40 split fold-down rear seats on Prius make it easier to carry items by allowing for up to 65.5 cu. ft. of total cargo space. When Prius is parking or slowly pulling out, the available Intelligent Clearance Sonar scans for stationary objects. Should the system anticipate a collision, it will emit an audible alert, reduce engine output, and automatically apply the brakes. Other available safety features include a blind spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and an integrated backup camera. Active safety features with Toyota Safety Sense P include Pre-Collision with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist and Full-Speed Dynamic Rader Cruise Control.
- PREMIUM CONVENIENCE PACKAGE -inc: Safety Connect emergency assistance stolen vehicle locator roadside assistance and automatic collision notification Available by subscription (Complimentary 1-year trial subscription) Radio: Entune Premium JBL Audio w/Nav & App Suite the Entune Multimedia Bundle 7 inch high resolution touch-screen w/split screen display AM/FM CD player w/MP3/WMA playback capability 10 JBL GreenEdge speakers in 8 locations auxiliary audio jack USB 2.0 port w/iPod connectivity and control advanced voice recognition hands-free phone capability phone book access and music streaming via Bluetooth wireless technology Siri Eyes Free Entune App Suite (includes Destination Search iHeartRadio MovieTickets.com OpenTable Pandora Facebook Places Yelp and Slacker Radio; real-time info including traffic weather fuel prices sports and stocks) HD Radio HD Radio predictive traffic and Doppler weather overlay AM/FM cache radio SiriusXM satellite radio w/3-
- PRIUS FOUR/FOUR TOURING SAFETY PLUS PACKAGE -inc: Intelligent Clearance Sonar intelligent parking assist
- CARPET MAT PACKAGE -inc: carpet floor mats and cargo mat
- Front Wheel Drive
- Power Steering
- 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
- Brake Assist
- Aluminum Wheels
- Tires - Front Performance
- Tires - Rear Performance
- Heated Mirrors
- Power Mirror(s)
- Rear Defrost
- Intermittent Wipers
- Variable Speed Intermittent Wipers
- Rain Sensing Wipers
- Rear Spoiler
- Power Door Locks
- Daytime Running Lights
- Automatic Headlights
- Fog Lamps
- AM/FM Stereo
- CD Player
- Navigation System
- Satellite Radio
- MP3 Player
- Bluetooth Connection
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- HD Radio
- Hard Disk Drive Media Storage
- Smart Device Integration
- Steering Wheel Audio Controls
- Power Driver Seat
- Bucket Seats
- Heated Front Seat(s)
- Driver Adjustable Lumbar
- Pass-Through Rear Seat
- Rear Bench Seat
- Adjustable Steering Wheel
- Trip Computer
- Power Windows
- Keyless Entry
- Keyless Start
- Cruise Control
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Climate Control
- Premium Synthetic Seats
- Driver Vanity Mirror
- Passenger Vanity Mirror
- Driver Illuminated Vanity Mirror
- Passenger Illuminated Visor Mirror
- Cargo Shade
- Universal Garage Door Opener
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Engine Immobilizer
- Traction Control
- Stability Control
- Front Side Air Bag
- Cross-Traffic Alert
- Tire Pressure Monitor
- Driver Air Bag
- Passenger Air Bag
- Front Head Air Bag
- Rear Head Air Bag
- Passenger Air Bag Sensor
- Knee Air Bag
- Child Safety Locks
- Back-Up Camera
- No information on specs available.
Vehicle Location
Antioch Toyota Scion
1817 Auto Center Dr.
Antioch , California 94509


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ROFL try "fight"
edit: ok i don't know why she does what she does when you type in 'dog'
'love' is nice
'can i get a light'
ROFL try "fight"
edit: ok i don't know why she does what she does when you type in 'dog'
'love' is nice
'can i get a light'
Last edited by axon; 11-13-2004 at 06:48 PM.
some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com
there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka
why am i still at this site......and whats that weird burning?
i got her to strip but she stands behind a security guard.
say "take off your clothes"
hmm.....i must agree.Originally Posted by RoD
Do not make direct eye contact with me.
I told her I was going to punch her in the ovaries, and that I like elephants.
I really do like elephants
wtf, I got her to go up to the camera and show her thong by saying "i killed your sister and put her body in that fridge behind you"
Last edited by Darkness; 11-13-2004 at 10:17 PM.
See you in 13
dance, banana, dog, yoga, lap, seduce, pushup, aerobic, splits, surf, jumpingjack,
jump, perform, bottle, butt, spin, toes, bend, gymnastics, topless, breast, groin,
can, magic, rope, hoolahoop, robot, leimek, shadow, boxer, tickle, karate, handstand,
kung-fu, jiu-jitsu, shirt, kiss, jedi, fight, pillow, hair, riverdance, laugh, joke,
tongue, stick, head, pat, orgasm, stomach, rub, macarena, pour, danceMovie, dance, tap,
naked, stripper, strip, clothes, remove, cowboy, headbang, airguitar, guitar, magazine,
pitcher, light, cap, sunshine, number, call, bow, sleep, math, rapper, supermodel, breast,
lick, wet, lollipop, hummer, blowjob, clothes, punish, sex, head, blow, shoot, wave, angry,
message, communicate, kiss, hat, beer, serve, give, muscle, flex, man, become
Be hotter
edit: ah, it´s actually become. Tybalt had it :/
Last edited by the dead tree; 11-14-2004 at 07:55 AM.
how about just "show me your ass"Originally Posted by Darkness
Warning: Opinions subject to change without notice
The C Library Reference Guide
Understand the fundamentals
Then have some more fun


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Management of cardiovascular risks in low-resource settings
Integrated community-based prevention programmes
Regional networks of community-based demonstration programmes are being developed in collaboration with the health promotion NCD Prevention and Surveillance Department.
The programmes promote healthy lifestyles, particularly in tobacco use, diet and physical activity, through public policies for health living. The long-term goal is to provide countries with the experience to establish national, integrated, community-based programmes for preventing CVDs and other major noncommunicable diseases.
Intergrated management of cardiovascular risk
CVD risk management package


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Despite all the headlines, last weekend's indie kid flick "Oogieloves" was not "the worst" wide-opening release ever.
Since 1982, it was the 12th.
Rather, the Teletubby-like gang boast the lowest box-office weekend opening in more than 2,000 theaters.
With an estimated $20 million production budget, there's little chance it will break even.
Despite this, creator Kenn Viselman couldn't be more pleased with the media hype, saying the film was all about exposure. There's even a sequel in the works.


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Every investor would love to stumble upon the perfect stock. But will you ever really find a stock that provides everything you could possibly want?
One thing's for sure: You'll never discover truly great investments unless you actively look for them. Let's discuss the ideal qualities of a perfect stock, and then decide whether Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) fits the bill.
The quest for perfection
Stocks that look great based on one factor may prove horrible elsewhere, making due diligence a crucial part of your investing research. The best stocks excel in many different areas, including these important factors:
- Growth. Expanding businesses show healthy revenue growth. While past growth is no guarantee that revenue will keep rising, it's certainly a better sign than a stagnant top line.
- Margins. Higher sales mean nothing if a company can't produce profits from them. Strong margins ensure that the company can turn revenue into profit.
- Balance sheet. At debt-laden companies, banks and bondholders compete with shareholders for management's attention. Companies with strong balance sheets don't have to worry about the distraction of debt.
- Money-making opportunities. Return on equity helps measure how well a company is finding opportunities to turn its resources into profitable business endeavors.
- Valuation. You can't afford to pay too much for even the best companies. By using normalized figures, you can see how a stock's simple earnings multiple fits into a longer-term context.
- Dividends. For tangible proof of profits, a check to shareholders every three months can't be beat. Companies with solid dividends and strong commitments to increasing payouts treat shareholders well.
With those factors in mind, let's take a closer look at Johnson & Johnson.
|What We Want to See
|Pass or Fail?
|5-year annual revenue growth > 15%
|1-year revenue growth > 12%
|Gross margin > 35%
|Net margin > 15%
|Balance sheet
|Debt to equity < 50%
|Current ratio > 1.3
|Return on equity > 15%
|Normalized P/E < 20
|Current yield > 2%
|5-year dividend growth > 10%
|Total score
|6 out of 10
Since we looked at Johnson & Johnson last year, the company gained back one of the three points it lost from 2011 to 2012. Rising margins brought on the improvement, and the shares have responded well, climbing almost 20% over the past year.
Most investors think of Johnson & Johnson's consumer products as the leading edge of its massive health-care business. But what elevated J&J into the ranks of the Dow Jones Industrials is its diverse set of larger segments, which include both pharmaceutical development and medical-device manufacturing.
In fact, J&J's pharmaceutical business is well-poised to challenge other industry leaders. With the company having relatively little exposure to patent-cliff issues, J&J is taking aim at rivals' blockbuster drugs. For instance, its Invokana drug to treat Type 2 diabetes proved itself against Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)'s Januvia, giving it the inside track to become the first FDA-approved SGLT2 inhibitor. Meanwhile, sales of J&J's anti-inflammatory Stelara hit $1 billion in 2012, and with the drug showing significant improvement compared to Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)'s Enbrel, it has even more potential to grow.
The big question facing J&J, though, is whether it should follow the trend of other major pharmaceutical companies and break itself into its component parts. For the most part, CEO Alex Gorsky seems to like the company's conglomerate nature, although he may be open to minor strategic moves such as selling off its diagnostics business.
For J&J to improve, it needs to get its earnings growing a bit faster and produce a little more dividend growth. Blockbuster drugs might be just the ticket to the success J&J needs to get closer to perfection.
The article Has Johnson & Johnson Become the Perfect Stock? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Dan Caplinger.
Fool contributor Dan Caplinger has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool owns shares of Johnson & Johnson
Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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Personalized Irish Blessings Coffee Mug - Personalized Shamrock Coffee Mug Give your Irish Grandmother the perfect Irish gift this St. Patrick's Day by creating a Personalized Irish Blessings Coffee Mug displaying all her little shamrocks.
Your Personalized Shamrock Coffee Mug is available on our dishwasher safe 11 oz. coffee mug. Includes FREE Personalization! Personalize your Irish Blessings Mug with any title and up to 30 names.
Everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day. This year let the whole world know your Irish with our great selection of Personalized Irish Gifts & Personalized St. Patrick's Day Gifts. We have great gift ideas for everyone in your family including Mom, Dad, Grandma & Grandpa.
Choose to wear one of our Irish shirts personalized with your name right on it or give Grandma an Irish St. Patrick's Day Gift Basket. Our Gifts are unique & creative so be sure to get your Personalized Irish Gifts today.


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Hello all! This is the third week of the Windows Phone Student App of the week series. This week we have chosen to highlight not one, not two, but three apps. Although these three apps may not mean much to you here in the United States, across the world these three apps have been very successful. They take a very simple idea and execute it to perfection. Essentially, these apps allow a fan of these teams to learn the songs and chants before attending a game. If you are a soccer fan, you know that a huge part of the experience of going to a game is the chanting of the fans. These apps play all of the chants that will be sung on game day. The apps are incredibly simple to use. Once the app is opened, the user will be shown a list of songs and chants. All one must do is click on the song title and the song or chant will begin to play. Then once you have mastered the song you can unclick it and click on another song. This app offers soccer fans across the world the opportunity to quickly learn the chants of their favorite teams.
This app is one of many apps in the marketplace that was created by a student. Every day students are creating apps that they think will be fun, entertaining, or informative and getting them into the marketplace. Why couldn't you be the next one?! Do you have an idea for a game that you think would be fun, but that you just haven't had the means to create yet? Do you have an innovative solution to a common problem that could help a lot of people? Whatever your idea is, the Windows phone market place now gives you the opportunity to make your idea a reality. Don't hesitate to try out your idea. follow the following 4 steps and you could be on your way to having that dream of creating an important app come true.
Here are the 4 easy steps to create an app, put it into the Windows phone marketplace, and get into the running for some great prizes.


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Dare2Draw at Society of Illustrators, June 20th
Come Dare2Draw w/Special Guest Larry Hama
Featuring 90 minutes of dynamic figure drawing, with live-action models & props and our signature Dare2Draw "Quick Draw" Contests, with all art done on Blue Line Pro boards. The pro art is auctioned for artists-in-need, by Hero Initiative.
*We'll be giving away some awesome stuff provided by our Sponsors*
***Conveniently located near all trains—easy to get to***
* 2 Dynamic Action Models
* Good lighting and plenty of table space
* Special guest artists
* Low drink/snacks prices
* Artist demos
* Networking with other artists and artist groups
* 15-Minute Quick Draw
* Contests and prizes
* Discounts from sponsors
* Art posted on The Big City Dare2Draw Website
* Portfolio reviews
* Free Wi-Fi
* Opportunity to promote your own work and websites
…and much, much more…
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/400798433297337/
Characters for The Quick Draw Contest will be revealed 24hrs. before the D2D event on twitter: BigCityDnD
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/BigCityDnD
For more information, go to: www.bigcitydare2draw.com
See you soon!
-The Dare2Draw Team


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USD/JPY (a 4-hour chart)
General overview
The dollar/yen strengthened yesterday at the Asian session amid the Japanese stock market the support growth and the American session beginning. The Japanese yen strengthened sharply after the US news that caused the US bonds treasuries sharp drop.
The price is finding the first support at 105.70, the next one is at 105.20. The price is finding the first resistance at 106.30, the next one is at 106.70.
There is a confirmed and a strong sell signal. The price is under the Cloud and it is above the Chinkou Span. The Tenkan-sen and the Kijun-sen show a downward movement. The downward movement will be until the price is under the Cloud.
The MACD indicator is in a negative territory. The price is consolidating.
Trading recommendations
The potential target for the price decline is the support level of 105.20.