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Ten years ago most scientists did not take nanotechnology seriously, but now it is the talk of the scientific town. Large investments in nanofabrication (clean-room) facilities, the emergence of national research programmes in the United States and Japan, and a steadily increasing number of scientific papers appearing in Science and Nature have led to serious interest from the venture capital market. How things can change!
Nanotechnology (1 nm = 10-9 m) is at first sight nothing more than the logical extension of microtechnology, a step further toward miniaturization. Both names refer to dimensions of structures and have no scientific meaning like chemistry, physics, or biology. However, there are fundamental differences. Structures in the micro-domain can be made by photolithography, the technology that was developed for the microelectronics industry. The lower limit of current state-of-the-art photolithography is ~0.13 µm or 130 nm. The limiting factor for further miniaturization is the wavelength of light used to write structures in silicon. Both technological constraints and economic factors render it highly unlikely that photolithography will ever be able to create features smaller than 100 nm. For the microelectronics industry this means that, after 40 years, Moore?s Law can no longer be extrapolated.
Nanotechnology covers individual objects with dimensions between 1 and 100 nm. In physics these are considered to be small, in chemistry large, whilst for biologists this is the usual size of individual biopolymers and other important biological objects. Historically it was the scanning probe techniques such as scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and near-field optical microscopy that made it possible to see such nanostructures.
Not only would nanotechnology reduce the dimensions of existing microdevices, but more importantly it will produce objects and materials with fundamentally novel properties. The expectations of what nanotechnology will achieve in the future range from quantum computers, ultrastrong materials, self-cleaning fabrics, and information storage and retrieval to drug delivery to individual cells and implantable biosensors. Electronic and optical properties of structures below 100 nm are determined by quantum mechanics and such structures can no longer be described as classical continuous matter. In recent years the principles of nanoelectronics and nano-optics have been experimentally verified, and exciting results have been published and are currently debated.
There are two fundamentally different ways of fabricating nanostructures: top-down and bottom-up. The top-down technologies are usually an extrapolation of existing physical methods, such as lithography with electron or ion beams that have much smaller wavelengths than visible or UV light. Novel top-down technologies use sharp STM or AFM tips to write patterns by scratching, local deposition of materials, or even writing with (bio)molecules. The alternative bottom-up approaches use individual molecules as the building blocks and supramolecular chemistry to assemble these into larger structures. At some point in the development of nanotechnology the top-down and bottom-up approaches will merge into a variety of nanofabrication technologies.
The use of individual molecules, or even atoms, as the smallest possible building blocks of matter can be seen as the last stage of the development of construction technologies. It started many centuries ago when mankind began to construct artificial objects such as tools, houses, and bridges. In time this could be done with increasing control over function, precision, and miniaturization. The production technology for integrated electronic circuits that was developed in the past 30 years is probably the best illustration of this evolution. There is no reason to believe that the development of production technologies would stop at features of 100 nm. It will continue until we have reached the ultimate level of the smallest possible building blocks that we have, which are individual atoms and molecules. This is why nanotechnology is not just an extension of integrated circuits technology to smaller features. Nanotechnology will influence and in the end fundamentally change all our technological activities.
Just as during the past decade many scientists became convinced that nanotechnology would revolutionize our world, so the politicians have followed. When former US President Bill Clinton addressed Congress in 1999 and spoke about the importance of nanotechnology, defining it as the technology of the 21st century, nanotechnology became a part of the public domain. As a consequence, research budgets in the United States rose sharply, and other countries followed. In the 6th Framework Programme of the EU, nanotechnology will be one of the key areas.
Nanotech in the Netherlands: NANONED
With facilities for microelectronics at the three Technical Universities and world-class nanophysics and supramolecular chemistry groups, the Netherlands had an excellent starting position in the early 1990s. Groups at the Delft Institute of Microelectronics (DIMES, nanoelectronics) and MESA+ at the University of Twente (microsystems technology and supramolecular chemistry) were among the first to publish the preparation and properties of nanostructures. However, despite individual support by different branches of NWO (the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research), there is, even in 2002, no national programme or center for nanotechnology in the Netherlands.
The Dutch scientific community realized that nanotechnology first of all requires state-of-the-art facilities. Both at DIMES and MESA+ existing clean rooms have, to some extent, been upgraded for nanofabrication. At the same time, members of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences initiated a bottom-up discussion on a national programme for nanoscience and technology, and have now created NANONED. In this consortium, seven universities and TNO (the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research) have agreed on a national programme and have presented a plan to the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The plan involves investments in nanofabrication infrastructure by a further upgrade of existing clean-room facilities. This will secure access for all scientists in the Netherlands to nanofabrication tools and environment. The scientific programme consists of 11 selected areas, such as nanoelectronics, nanofluidics, bionanostructures, single molecule chemistry, physics and biology, nanofabrication and instrumentation, and nano-optics.
Individual research groups can participate in these areas on the basis of present competence and past performance. The preparatory stage of the programme is nearing completion, with industrial interest and participation being matched to the scientific ambitions and competences of the academic participants. This initiative is expected to lead to the (temporary) employment of more than 150 scientists, mostly at the PhD student and postdoc level, thus ensuring the formation of a critical mass of young researchers working in this new field and accustomed to interdisciplinary research.
Funding of the first phase, called Nanoimpuls, from the Ministry of Economic Affairs is expected before the end of 2002. Four subprogrammes have been selected and the first investments in infrastructure at Delft, Twente, and Groningen are being planned. Compared to other industrialized countries it is a ?late call?, but the bottom-up instead of a top-down process will hopefully have the advantages of self-assembly. In chemistry, self-assembly is highly efficient, prone to self-correction and leading to thermodynamically stable structures. Let?s hope that the same characteristics will be typical for NANONED. To quote a Belgian colleague: ?Even in a small country there must be plenty of room for a nanovalley?.


text:
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1 Adjustment Miami Heat Must Make to Ensure NBA TitleApril 30, 2014
Life is good for the Miami Heat right now.
The Heat swept the Charlotte Bobcats in the first round of the postseason, guaranteeing them at least six days of rest before their second-round matchup with a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
The Indiana Pacers, thought to be their biggest competition in the Eastern Conference, are on the verge of one of the greatest collapses in league history, as they are one loss away from being eliminated by the Atlanta Hawks.
The only other two Eastern Conference teams that most thought had a chance to knock off Miami before the NBA Finals haven't fared much better. The Chicago Bulls were knocked off in five games by the Washington Wizards, while the Brooklyn Nets are tied 2-2 with the Toronto Raptors and appear awfully vulnerable.
The Heat are in a fantastic position right now to get out of the East. With the competition they are to face, Miami could likely stick to the same game plan it employed against Charlotte for the next few rounds and make another trip to the Finals.
But (yes, there is a but) it's not just about going to the Finals for this team. As has been the case for each year of the Big Three era, this season will only be deemed a success if LeBron James and Co. hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
Looking at it through that prism, the Heat need to make an adjustment. It's necessary for them to achieve the elusive three-peat.
Miami must get Dwyane Wade rolling and playing elite basketball, which he's done throughout his illustrious career.
Wade performed decently against Charlotte in Round 1 after missing nine of the Heat's last 12 regular-season games.
In Game 1, Wade looked fresh and saw results; he poured in 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting.
However, Wade's play in the final three games of the series was anything but impressive: 15 points on 4-of-10 shooting from the floor in Game 2, 17 points on 7-of-16 shooting in Game 3 and 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting in Game 4.
Think about it this way: Wade's scoring output (15.6 points) and efficiency (43.2 percent shooting) in the final three games of the Bobcats series were worse than his numbers in the 2013 postseason, when he posted by far the worst postseason numbers of his career (15.9 points on 44.7 percent shooting). Wade was also significantly bothered by knee issues in last year's postseason, which isn't a factor this year.
From Shandel Richardson of the South Florida Sun Sentinel:
Wade said, 'I don't know how many other ways I can answer it. I mean, I am. That's it. I just feel different than I did last year at this time.'
The lack of production from Wade is partly a product of Miami not asking him to do much of the heavy lifting, likely due to the Heat wanting to protect the health of their fragile superstar.
But it can't be ignored that he simply didn't play well. Wade showed a significant amount of growth in his mid-range jumper this regular season, even while he was routinely held out of games, his health closely managed. He made 70 of 170 shots from 15-19 feet away from the basket in the 2013-14 season, according to NBA.com. Compare that to him converting just 4-of-18 from that same range against Charlotte.
Check out his not-so-impressive shot chart for the Charlotte series:
Additionally, part of what makes Wade great is that he's a versatile player. He's not just a scorer, but able to contribute strongly in the other areas of the game.
Unfortunately for Miami, Wade was more one-dimensional than usual against the Bobcats, averaging 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists. In the regular season, he averaged 4.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists. And this is the postseason, where one would expect Wade's number to increase, not shrink.
There's just no avoiding it: The Heat are going to need a better Wade, playing in rhythm, if they are to win a third straight league championship.
That's something they don't have right now and can't wait to fix it.
Miami can't just breeze through, say, the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards playing as it did against the 'Cats, get to the Finals and expect Wade ready to help it knock off whichever Western Conference juggernaut emerges.
The Heat must give Wade a bigger offensive role, starting in Round 2. Miami is really going to need his scoring and distributing skills toward the end of the postseason. Also, perhaps more offensive involvement will lead to more production in other facets of the game.
The Heat tried something similar in the '13 playoffs, with it being, for the most part, a failure. As much as the Heat tried to make him a factor, Wade could not get in rhythm and perform well.
However, as we've detailed, this postseason is unlike last year's. Wade is healthy; he's capable of handling a greater workload, rather than drowning in it.
It's time to let Wade go to work, allowing him to once again prove his many critics wrong and help the Heat achieve ultimately glory.


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I like her dress,their cake and the laughter on their faces..I love love!
|She got him!
Thats it !!!.....Happy Married life to you both..The long haul i wish you!
|She got him!
She isn't preggy after all
Whr r doz dissing n beefing n cussing her 1st gown?
Doesn't matter d gown, wat matters is dt she's married to her man. Best wishes n I pray u sail thru any marital turbulent waves.
Fine pple, fine pix.
Her 2nd n last outfit r nice!
What is chidinma wearing tho?
We have wished them already since yesterday now,can we just rest already,still same pictures I have been seeing on instagram since yesterday
enjoy your new home the Lord bless your home smiling Stella dear Feb 14 is my bday and I need a bday text from u smiling
Nice, congrats
She wore three white dresses and she didn't even slay in any of them.
May God bless the union
End time kegs
I'm tired biko. That face Sha...
I see boobs.
Have a blissful and peaceful union..
Nnem juonum o!
Her makeup made her look like an alien chick.
Beautiful.. who said money is not good...
Where are the mogbo moya brothers ?
She's not pregnant. I'm very sure of that
She's not pregnant. I'm very sure of that
When you put your life on social media, people will criticise.
Cynthia/Ebuka are reserved people but they're popular so don't expect people not to talk.
Happy birthday in advance
When you put your life on social media, people will criticise.
Cynthia/Ebuka are reserved people but they're popular so don't expect people not to talk.
Congrats to them
Lovely couple
Cynthia and off shoulder dresses.
Congrats to them again.
Stella abeg no post pics tomorrow. Thanks
I thought it was just me that disliked chidima's gown.very horrible but I like her makeup
Chidinmas lipstick z soo on point! nd i wish d couple a HML!!
@ Sandralia hotel...me likey.
The 6th picture tho! That girl is cute for dayzzzz! Wtf is chidinma wearing Biko?
LMAO @lafresh....IF I SEE NEW ONES I GO POST...lol
Beautiful people.
Riri is gorg.
Zainab is way prettier than that.
Almost didn't recognise Chidinma.
The Bride's other gowns are so beautiful. God bless your union with love and babies.
Chidinma and her hideous dress plus who wears white to another person's wedding? Assistant Bride
Beautiful pictures.
Happy married life to them.
How can u wear white to someone else' wedding! Chidinma!
Leave it for those that have not seen na.
Wishing you a happy married life. I think Chidinma locked herself out of her room, was in a big hurry and decided to wear her househelp's dress. After all, dress na dress.
Like seriously, Chi exotic...she slayed in the second dress joor.
What did banky do to his eyebrow?
May god bless their union, Amen
Choi, see Wetin her papa money buy for her!
Rose or Belle tissue company should book appointment with the bride. The wedding outfits can't just be locked up in the box. They can be recycled for better use.
Lovely. I bet it feels good marrying the one you're wholly attracted to and love, not marrying a good man to fulfil all righteousness while you feel no spark in your heart.
May ya'll never stop smiling. I feel their joy.
Zainab looking fine and at the same time boring to look at.
Wow, I like da back view, where they were kneeling for communion.
Her contour is one kain.
The 2nd and 3rd dresses are nice.
I see their family member is here please let me not find you under my comment.
Rita Dominic is always slaying, Queen slayer of them all.
Chidinma, don't wear that dress again.
Hmmmmmn.........@ last........Stellz bae......bikonu......e don do oo..........enough of cynthia & hubby wedding pictures.....We need new stories........No repitition.........This is 2016 ooo
Chidinma, where did you get this nonsense you are wearing. Please try and upgrade. Life does not end in the studio alone. This one Na Mary amaka dress oh. No shape, no fitting.
And Stella, it took you almost 24 hours to bring these pictures? We don go find them as you go vacation.
I love her 2nd gown.Happy married life to Cynthia &Ebuka.
Haba which ibo tailor made this gown for chidima. Babe ain't trying atall. Low self esteem wana finish her.
Monitoring Spirit...laFRESH
Please it's enough.
Nothing to wow about.
Love is a beautiful thing!happy married life to them
My eyes though ,makeup made the bride old ,she looks late 30s or early 40 s that make up artist should be sued.
Happy married life to them both
Am happy for them,La Fresh why you miss this kind wedding?hmmm na Bishop wed them oo, omo see levels,no be here oo
Am happy for them,La Fresh why you miss this kind wedding?hmmm na Bishop wed them oo, omo see levels,no be here oo
Bottom line,she got the ring
End of story.
Wow beautiful pictures....I really like the couple....full of smiles.....
Why is Banky W's ex girlfriend in every event he attends but they don't ever take pictures together? What does she do for a living? She no get her own circle of friends without Banky in the picture?
Rita so swt in braids..
Kweke! Chidinma who be ya stylist? You berra go and take notes from Rita Dominic or somborri. Shuo! And even though low cut fits you, you can switch it up sometimes like Lupita or do million braids or something. Na you sabi sha, and pls I am your humble fan waiting for another blockbuster like 'Kedike'. I also like your song where you were dancing Shoki for God, esp the verses.
This babe (the bride) needs a good stylist because its not that she's not beautiful. Even her pre-wedding pictures were blah to me. But this is just my opinion. HML folks.
You that grops your house girl in the dark, may God help your union.
E be like sey na the only style she know be dat. The babe has potential and money to look really fab, so I don't get. Her kettle of fish. May she enjoy her union with Ebuka, who seems to be more the fashionista (if I may say so). Ebuka, Val's day is knocking. Make sure you blow her mind.
Am not a kill joy but beliieve me , the wedding wasnt organised at all. The crowd was crazy after saying one card per person till iit was full. They would have gotten a bigger hall.hissssscongrats to them tho
The girl is so fine, she almost outshone the bride. But I still give it to the bride as it's her day.
Banky where you dey? Check out the 6th picture. If she's not already hooked goan try ya luck.
La Fresh .... Please go back to the 2 old posts. It wasn't just criticism, basically all levels of envy and hatred. I taya for Bvs.
Yarning dust up and down, wonder when Stella will approve Duster on this blog. Bad belle too mush abeg.
Goodnight people. Need to rest my system.
Stay faithful Ebuka
Groom looking fLY
Bride looking fRY
Is her wedding dress Vera Wang or Vera RaG?
Waste of money!
Pls borrow some fashion sense from Olajumoke(the bread seller).
That stupid anon menstruating undr people's comment, should incase u want to say shit to me; thunder fire your yansh in advance.
She slayed in the last dress abeg. Say the truth
Alien chick? U? Insulting Cynthia? U of all people? The ugliest of the uglys? Ha! I raise nyash 4 you o
Stella, post more biko. I love them
What's so special about the Ebuka guy sef, it's not like he's fine or have too much money or even big D. This him wide mouth sha he doesn't look like a good kisser but am sure his head game is on point. Other than that pffffft.
Cynthia, I no just inderstand your beauty. You just look one kain...thank God for daddy dearest
I know it sounds like am hating on them maybe is because I actually am. But who cares right. They are just everywhere, all the social media platform even news paper ma carry their gist. Them no even send me....make I Comot here before bad belle die me
Abeg keep posting jare Na their turn
Bishop get 2 heads?
All that matters is that it is her money she's married. Are you married? Go and marry.
See this dry fish talking, she's better than you million times, she's rich, finer than u and also married.
Stella, point of correction Ebuka is not an oap, he is a tv personality,he works for ebony life and ynaija for rubbing minds shown on channels, someone told u dt that on saturday.
And don't come shouting under my comment (i pointed it out nicely and not rudely) bcoz we all know u
Beautiful people. Chidinma dear, I'd love to be your stylist. Hmmmmm
Stella, abegi we need new pictures.
How can someone tell you not to post anymore pics. If you are so pained by their wedding, move on to the next post. How can happiness locate you.when you are not happy for other people's success?
One of Ebuka's best qualities is his beautiful smile.
Happy married life to them!
End time posting
And who's d Ex girlfriend
Spill it out
Stella plz post more pix especially deir parents
its luvly,i guess d pix didn't do justice to d dress. i saw oda pix of dt dress n its fyn
Hml to them
Hmmmm lady in the 6th picture is Noble Igwe's fiancee oooo
Hahaha @ jasmine
HML ebuka n cynthia, dresses 2 n 3 on point
Oh.. noble Igwe, dts gud
Ebuka don hammmmmmmmma.... Congrats to them


text: Trip report one day-er 6-21 Six of us started at 4am from the portal on Sat. June 21, 56 degrees. We spilt into teams of two prior to the switch backs, I was in team two. We used the 5 mile radios and they worked great even from the Summit down to Trail Camp. Make sure you use a radio with a squelch control so you can hear weaker signals. Coldest temperature was 46 up to Trail Crest. The cold wind howled from Trail Crest to Summit. Not much snow left anywhere and I did not use gaitors. Lots of water on some parts of the trail so my waterproof boots worked great. The majority of the climb I was in shorts and short sleeve shirt, no cotton. At Trail Crest I put on my windproof fleece pants and gloves and a shell jacket. I soon took off the pants because they were too baggy and kept falling down. I was cold at the summit with shorts at 2PM but not too bad. Windproof clothes are a must past Trail Crest. Team 3, the slowest, turned back 1/3 of the way up the 99 switchbacks. Team 1 made the summit with no problems. My partner came down with altitude sickness on the switchbacks but made it past Trail Crest before he turned around and headed down. Having 4 radios between the 6 of us was great because we were able to keep in contact and know where every one was and how they were doing with no worries about getting lost or unknown injuries. I was on the summit at 2 pm and was back at the Portal at 8:30 pm. Overall it was 10 hours up and 6 down. Make sure you have sun protection as I forgot my hat and have several sun blisters on my head. I took 4-32 ounces bottles and never refilled, heavy but I hate the chemicals. For food I took lots of protein\energy bars and caffeinated 'sports gue\shots'. Had lots of gas and suggest GasX. This was my 2nd one day summit since '99. Next, team 1 and I will do Mt Rainier July 26!!!


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3 Unique Custom Coolers for Your Summer Promotion
Want to see three very cool coolers with some slick features? Check out these three promotional coolers available from Show Your Logo. Print them with the name and logo of your business or organization. Choose a personal message. Brand them in any way you like. Custom coolers are a great investment of your marketing dollars. They're bound to make those all-important impressions all season long and for many seasons to come. And these unique coolers? They're absolute stand-outs. See for yourself!
Print on Insulated Twelve Pack Coolers
What a great way to transport your bottled beverages beach or poolside. Rugged construction gets the toting done safely, all the while keeping your bottled beverages cool, just the way everybody likes them. Note the padded handle in addition to the shoulder strap, which allows for convenient, hands-free lugging.
Custom Coolers with Built in Speakers
If you're searching for a cool promotional product with more than one function, this is a pretty nice option. This item doubles as a cooler and a set of speakers for your MP3 player. Cold drinks, refrigerated snacks, and some great music are the perfect set up for summer time fun.
Custom Print on Car Coolers
Ok, so these custom coolers don't scream fun as much as the other two coolers do, but this is still a fantastic promotional product. Keep this product in the trunk of your vehicle all summer long. It's perfect for getting the groceries home before the ice cream melts and the milk curdles.
Show Your Logo is your source for promotional coolers! If you have a brand name cooler or a cooler with a particular function in mind, simply contact the Show Your Logo sales team. We'll find the perfect promo coolers suitable to your needs as well as your budget.
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The Healthy Schools Act Initiatives section of OSSE's Wellness and Nutrition Services Division was established as a component of the implementation plan for the Healthy School Act (HSA). The Healthy Schools Act Initiatives team monitors school menus and compliance with other aspects of the HSA, and also provides technical support and training to schools in the areas of school menus, farm to school, school gardens, environmental literacy, local wellness policies, healthy vending, fundraising and prizes, physical activity, physical education, and health education. The Healthy Schools Act Initiatives team is responsible for data collection around the HSA and the evaluation of changes in programmatic, behavioral, and health outcomes occurring as a result of HSA implementation.
There are five programs within OSSE's Healthy Schools Act Initiatives Section:


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Evolutionary minority games with small-world interactions
In the evolutionary minority game (EMG), agents compete for a limited resource and are rewarded if they correctly select the minority behaviour. At each time step, agents make their decision based on the aggregate history of past moves and an internal parameter—the probability that the individual follows the given strategy. In this study, the effects of strategic imitation among agents are examined. Here, I combine and extend previous work using local information transmission mechanisms to promote coordination in the population. Extensive numerical simulations using different network architectures, ranging from regular lattices to random networks, are used to investigate the population dynamics. The results suggest that agents sharing information in small-world networks can coordinate their behaviour more effectively than agents playing the standard EMG. However, both the network re-wiring probability and level of imitation significantly impact on performance.
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Volume (Year): 365 (2006)
Issue (Month): 2 ()
Pages: 521-528
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| Web page: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/physica-a-statistical-mechpplications/
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.:
- Caridi, Inés & Ceva, Horacio, 2004. "The Minority Game with interactions," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 339(3), pages 574-582.
- Quan, Hong-Jun & Wang, Bing-Hong & Hui, P.M. & Luo, Xiao-Shu, 2003. "Self-segregation and enhanced cooperation in an evolving population through local information transmission," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 321(1), pages 300-308.
- Burgos, E. & Ceva, Horacio & Perazzo, R.P.J., 2004. "The evolutionary minority game with local coordination," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 337(3), pages 635-644.
- Dorogovtsev, S.N. & Mendes, J.F.F., 2003. "Evolution of Networks: From Biological Nets to the Internet and WWW," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198515906.
- Kalinowski, Thomas & Schulz, Hans-Jörg & Briese, Michael, 2000. "Cooperation in the Minority Game with local information," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 277(3), pages 502-508.
- Schweitzer, Frank & Zimmermann, Jörg & Mühlenbein, Heinz, 2002. "Coordination of decisions in a spatial agent model," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 303(1), pages 189-216.
- Challet, D. & Zhang, Y.-C., 1997. "Emergence of cooperation and organization in an evolutionary game," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 246(3), pages 407-418.
- Moelbert, S. & De Los Rios, P., 2002. "The local minority game," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 303(1), pages 217-225.
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text:
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text:
There could be a third party interested in buying the Phoenix Coyotes and keeping them in Arizona.
The Phoenix Business Journal, citing sources familiar with the Coyotes situation, reports a third group has been talking to the NHL and the city of Glendale about a purchase.
Previously, a group led by Chicago sports mogul Jerry Reinsdorf and another calling itself Ice Edge Holdings, consisting of Canadian and American investors, were thought to be the only interested parties.
The report says the NHL could work past a June 30 deadline, perhaps to September, in order to give the new group a chance to put together a bid.
Glendale city council recently approved a plan that could see the city cover the teams losses, up to $25 million, if the league doesnt find a buyer and is forced to own the franchise for a second season.
That plan, which still faces some legal and political hurdles and has not been finalized, would buy the NHL some time. The league reportedly lost $20-30 million operating the Coyotes this season.
The NHLs contingency plan, should it not be able to keep the team in Phoenix, is relocation, with Winnipeg at the top of the list.
As recently as a week ago, on a Hockey Night in Canada broadcast on CBC-TV, commissioner Gary Bettman reiterated the leagues position that returning the franchise to Winnipeg, where it was based from 1979-96, would make some sense.
Its believed Bettman and Mark Chipman of True North Sports and Entertainment have talked about Winnipeg as a fallback plan for the Coyotes.
The chances of that happening in time for next season, though, are slim, with True North making plans to operate the AHLs Manitoba Moose in the MTS Centre.


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You love playing Pokemon, but you hate playing Pokemon. You hate starting out on new Routes knowing there will be tall grass, dead ends, and trainer battles. You hate surfing. You hate long, winding, random-encounter-filled deviations from the main Route that should have cool items in them, like Rare Candy, PP Up, Max Revive, etc., but that instead only have items that the game seems to think are cool, like Ether, X Speed, Heal Ball, etc. You hate running back to the pokemon center every ten minutes because you refuse to use too many potions on any one outing.
You hate catching a Level 6 something and then finding out that there are Level 9 ones in the same grass. You hate raising a pokemon that you know from the outset you're eventually going to have to replace. You hate that your pokemon hurt themselves in confusion disproportionately more often than do your opponent's.
You hate that you can't have Arceus. You hate when a sweet pokemon looks silly from behind. You hate that you only ever land critical hits when you least need them. You hate that you always have to figure out where everything is whenever you get to a new town; and you hate having to figure out which houses or buildings have nobody of any importance in them; and you hate that it always feels too soon for another gym.
You hate having to grind before pretty much any major progress-related event. You hate how fleeting it is to have all your pokemon be higher level than everybody else's in the game. You hate having to grind when all the wild pokemon near town are like 5 levels below your pokemon. You hate that the pokemon you need to grind most always has the Type that is the worst to have to grind in that area. You hate when random encounters suddenly start happening every three steps. You hate how random encounters always occur right as you're about to make it out of the grass. You hate being unable to run from a wild pokemon until after it has paralyzed/poisoned/put your guy to sleep.
You hate waiting for it to finish saying, "Wild [...] appeared!, Go [...]!, [...]'s Intimidate cut [...]'s attack!, [...]'s Anticipate made it shudder, It started to hail!" etc. You hate waiting for it to finish healing your pokemon. You hate waiting for it to let you Press Start to Begin. You hate waiting for it to finish saving (unless it's "saving a lot of data," then you feel accomplished).
You hate caves. You hate getting through a huge span of the game and then receiving the Item Finder. You hate that you can never bring yourself to actually use any of your rare candies. You hate having to waste precious move slots on mandatory HM crap. You hate that your [Type]-type pokemon only learns a good [Type]-type move every twenty levels. You hate how slow even the running shoes feel after awhile. You hate that after several hours you can't remember why you even play this stupid game.
But dear player, you must suffer to earn your contentment. The game--not your rival, not Team Whatever, not the superhuman effort needed to fill your pokedex--the game itself is the game's true antagonist. To play it is to oppose it. To complete it is to defeat it. And to discuss it with other players is, my friend, alas, to commiserate.


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Saturday, August 29, 2009
THE STORY OF Jaycee Lee Dugard, who returned to her mother this week 18 years after being kidnapped off a quiet California street as an 11-year-old, reminds us all that miracles do happen. We can only marvel at the patience of her parents, as well as at the sheer will to live that must have sustained Jaycee as this ordeal consumed her youth. Imprisoned, allegedly, by Phillip and Nancy Garrido and subjected to repeated rapes by Mr. Garrido -- a paroled sex offender -- Ms. Dugard bore two children, who for more than a decade each also lived in confinement with their mother. Like recent cases of horrific child abuse in our own area, these crimes baffle, disgust and infuriate. At a time when parents are preparing to send their children off to school buses, as Ms. Dugard's did on the morning she was abducted, they frighten.
Can they also instruct? Abductions of children by strangers were rare in 1991 and still are today. Furthermore, the law now provides children more protection. All states have some form of sex-offender registration, or Megan's law, so parents may know about potentially dangerous neighbors. (California had a registry in 1991 but no public disclosure until 1995.) AMBER alerts, funded and supervised by the Justice Department since 2003, enable law enforcement to send immediate bulletins of child abductions. In 1988, Mr. Garrido was paroled after only 11 years of a potential life sentence for a horrific rape-kidnapping; today's tougher sentencing might have prevented that.
To be sure, AMBER alerts are directly responsible for a relatively small number of rescues each year. Ever-stricter registration laws for sex offenders may be reaching the point of diminishing returns; in some states, they are making offenders homeless and, hence, difficult to monitor. Still, if the financial crash has proved anything, it is the wisdom of preventing rare events -- "tail risks" -- that have devastating consequences. Certainly Mr. Garrido had little trouble settling in on the leafy Antioch, Calif., street where he concealed his prisoners from police and parole officers who occasionally visited. (A federal court ruled that California's residency restrictions, enacted by a 2006 referendum, could not apply retroactively to cases such as Mr. Garrido's.) For the most part, neighbors, too, found nothing amiss.
Three years ago, someone did call the Contra Costa County sheriff's department about people living in the Garridos' back yard. A deputy responded but never did a background check and left without a search. The sheriff has, appropriately, apologized; we all wish his deputy had acted more like the University of California campus officer who eventually reported Mr. Garrido's suspicious behavior to his parole officer, triggering this week's revelations. But it's not human nature to imagine such evil residing next door to us, a fact that Jaycee Lee Dugard's captors, like so many other criminals before them, exploited to the hilt.
View all comments that have been posted about this article.


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by Ariadna Zierold
Graphic designer and illustrator based in Lisbon, Rita Gomes, was born with a natural tendency to provoke, using sarcasm as a weapon and the power of full-time thinking to write about the most common things of all possible things: life and human beings, the inbetweeners, and the all arounders.
She achieved a huge internet visibility for her sense of humor and honest hand lettered statements. Her work has been featured in countless art & graphic design websites, several magazines and a few books, and exhibited worldwide ever since.
Her work can be described as an intimate journey to the personal universe of the artist who presents herself as an "emotional terrorist and agent provocateur" as well as a "biting visual narrative that will help us understand, in an unequivocal yet poetic way, why each of us is also God's only mistake."


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QA:Testcase biosdevname NIC rules persist after upgrade
From FedoraProject
This test case tests if network interface names in Fedora 27 remain the same after upgrading to Fedora 28 (or Rawhide).
- Install Fedora 27 on your system.
How to test
- Inspect the network interface names on Fedora 14 using the command:
ls /sys/class/net/
- Upgrade to the next Fedora release and boot into the upgraded system. If Fedora 28 is not available, Rawhide may be used instead.
- Once again, inspect the interface names using the command:
ls /sys/class/net/
Expected Results
- Network interface names in Fedora Rawhide should be the same as they were in Fedora 14. Sample expected output is listed below.
# ls /sys/class/net/ eth0 eth1 eth2 eth3 eth4 eth5 lo


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TORONTO FC vs D.C. UNITED
BMO FIELD, Toronto, Ont.
March 22, 2014 (WEEK 3, MLS Game #20)
4:30 p.m. ET (TSN/Univision Deportes)
Riding the wave of their season-opening victory, Toronto FC get to kick off their new era in front on their home fans when they face D.C. United on Saturday afternoon at BMO Field. The new-look TFC started their season with a 2-1 win last weekend at Seattle Sounders FC. United return to action after a week off, opening their new season with a 3-0 home loss to the Columbus Crew.
REFEREE: Silviu Petrescu. SAR (bench): Joe Fletcher; JAR (opposite): Gianni Facchini; 4th: Jose Carlos Rivero
MLS Career: 76 games; FC/gm: 27.7; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 10; pens: 11
SUSPENDED: none
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
ALL-TIME (18 meetings): Toronto FC 5 wins, 25 goals … United 10 wins, 35 goals … Ties 3
AT TORONTO (9 meetings): Toronto FC 3 wins, 8 goals … United 6 wins, 11 goals … Ties 0
RETURN MATCHES: 7/5: Toronto FC vs. D.C. United, 4 p.m. ET; 7/30: D.C. United vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m. ET
6/15: DC 1, TOR 2 (De Rosario 19 – Earnshaw 30; own goal 41)
8/24: DC 1, TOR 1 (De Rosario 10 – Convey 60)
9/28: TOR 4, DC 1 (Russell 25; Dike 67; own goal 71; Rey 87 – Jeffrey 15)
- D.C. United had a four-game winning streak at BMO Field, stretching over three seasons, snapped last year when TFC won 4-1 on Sept. 28. It was Toronto's first home win vs. United since 2009.
- TFC gained a win and a draw on their two trips to RFK Stadium last year, the victory just the club's second all-time vs. United (first since 2010).
- Coaches record: Ryan Nelsen vs. DC: P3 W2 L0 D1 … Ben Olsen vs. TOR: P10 W5 L3 D2
Toronto FC began their new era with a great result, coming away with a 2-1 win against Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday afternoon at CenturyLink Field. TFC sit in a tie for third place in the Eastern Conference, with 3 points from 1 match.
- Toronto FC took the lead in just the 17th minute. Jonathan Osorio sprung Jermain Defoe with a slick through ball up the center of the park, and Defoe took one touch before rifling a low shot from about 16 yards that beat Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
- TFC and Defoe each had their second just seven minutes later. Under pressure, Sounders midfielder Marco Pappa sent a loose pass toward his own goal which was picked off by Defoe, and he unleashed a virtually uncontested shot from some 20 yards out just inside the right post.
- Sounders FC finally pulled a goal in the 67th minute. Lamar Neagle freed a charging Obafemi Martins on the right flank, and he eventually found Clint Dempsey at the top of the penalty area, who escaped a defender and pounded a shot inside the near post to make it 2-1.
- TFC head coach Ryan Nelsen had Designated Players Michael Bradley and Jermain Defoe in his first lineup of the season, with Julio Cesar in goal and Dwayne De Rosario also in attack.
- TORONTO FC (4-4-2): Julio Cesar - Mark Bloom, Doneil Henry, Steven Caldwell, Justin Morrow - Alvaro Rey (Bradley Orr 65), Jonathan Osorio, Michael Bradley, Jackson (Ashtone Morgan 90) - Jermain Defoe, Dwayne De Rosario (Andrew Wiedeman 63).
- Toronto FC opened the MLS season with a victory for the first time since 2009, when they defeated Kansas City 3-2 on the road. Those are the only two times TFC has started a season with a win.
- "We've got so much to improve on. We're not stupid – we know we have new players coming in that haven't played together. Our organization wasn't too bad, but we can be so much better off the ball," said TFC head coach Ryan Nelsen. "What I like about this team is their heart, their character, their desire, that they want to win. That's what you hope for and build your house on that type of foundation. We know we have lots to improve on and we'll get back to work as soon as we can."
- Making his Major League Soccer debut, Jermain Defoe scored twice within the opening 24 minutes, having just arrived at the club a few days earlier.
- "I think the most important thing is obviously winning the game, and to score two goals in your debut, it's a dream. The first goal was a great ball and you just have to finish it off," said Defoe. "I thought the second half, we showed great character because they put us under a lot of pressure and you've got to do that sometimes away from home. Like I said before, the three points was massive."
- Said Nelsen: "That's why he's been at the level he's been at because he can do those sorts of things. Once you see it first hand, there's a reason why he's scored so many goals. He proved that to hopefully millions of people that watched the game today."
- Michael Bradley also overcame an injury in the days leading up to the match to feature in the center of the TFC midfield and play the full 90 minutes.
- "What Michael brings is an absolute energy," Nelsen said. "His character, his confidence, is infectious on people. He made Seattle turn over the ball a lot of times. He got into very nice positions. You need character and strength to battle what the opposition throw at you and Michael was right in the middle of everything."
- Alvaro Rey and Jackson filled the wide roles, switching sides continually throughout the match to unbalance the Sounders FC scheme.
- "Just to see different kind of skill set. Alvaro (Rey) is probably the polar opposite player to Jackson so sometimes they get used to a player and deal with a different kind of skill set. We like to move them around as much as we can to unsettle them," Nelsen said.
- Jonathan Osorio recorded his second career assist in setting up TFC's and Defoe's opener – his first coming in his last MLS match, the season finale last year vs. Montréal.
- "I said to Jonathan, I said to him, 'when I make the runs, just look for me,' and he said, 'yeah, I'll look for you straight away,'" Defoe said. "It was an unbelievable pass. I've always worked on those situations, one-on-one with the goalkeeper. You have to be clinical."
D.C. United return to action after a week off, their 2014 season getting off to a rocky start with a 3-0 home loss to the Columbus Crew on March 8 at RFK Stadium. United are in a tie for eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 0 points from 1 game.
- The Crew hit for the opener 18 minutes in. Hector Jimenez found a streaking Josh Wiliams on the right flank, and he struck a curling, one-touch cross to Jairo Arrieta, whose sliding effort got past outstretched United goalkeeper Bill Hamid.
- In the 27th minute, Columbus doubled its advantage. United midfielder Perry Kitchen and Crew defender Michael Parkhurst grappled while racing for a loose ball in the box, with referee Andres Pfefferokorn ruling that Kitchen committed a foul in the exchange. Higuain converted the ensuing penalty kick.
- The Crew finished off the match in the 90th minute, as Federico Higuain tapped home the Crew's third goal from close range after Justin Meram found him wide open running into the box.
- United head coach Ben Olsen had an all-new back four in Sean Franklin, Jeff Parke, Bobby Boswell and Christian Fernandez, with an all-new strike pair of Fabian Espindola and Eddie Johnson.
- D.C. UNITED (4-3-1-2): Bill Hamid - Sean Franklin, Jeff Parke (Kyle Porter 82), Bobby Boswell, Christian Fernandez - Davy Arnaud (Conor Doyle 73), Perry Kitchen, Nick DeLeon (Lewis Neal 63) - Luis Silva - Fabian Espindola, Eddie Johnson.
- With an all-new back four, United conceded three goals to open the 2014 campaign. A year ago, United allowed three or more goals six times for the season, on their way to giving up 59 goals for the year.
- "Defensively, we struggled to deal with how many numbers they threw at us," D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen said. "I thought they did a very good job of offsetting us, and we didn't handle things so well [defensively], in particular in the first half."
- Said center back Bobby Boswell: "We knew this was going to be a work in progress. I think our communication could've been better – it's probably the first loud game we've played in together. For me, the killer was the first goal, honestly. We have to use this as a learning tool to figure out what we did wrong and correct those errors, and figure out what we did well and do more of those things."
- The new-look strike pair of Fabian Espindola and Eddie Johnson, who were with the New York Red Bulls and Seattle Sounders FC respectively last year, were also kept off the scoresheet. United were shut out 16 times in 2013, one shy of the all-time MLS record.
- "I think [Johnson] was just a little off the mark. He made good runs. The balls we delivered to Eddie were just inches to short or just a little too long. Overall, it was good to see him out there," Olsen said. "I think Fabian had a very good night. He was really busy and was a real handful for the Crew defense. Besides that, I think it was an overall disappointing night."
- Said Johnson: "[Our communication is] getting better every game. This is still a learning process – my time has been very limited with the team, and that's what I've been reiterating in the papers and in the media, that we had a very small window in preseason. You want to try and get as much understanding from one another. That was a frustrating part."
- After spending 2013 primarily as a withdrawn forward, Luis Silva filled the role of an attacking midfielder in behind the front two of Espindola and Johnson.
- "It's a different position and I have to adjust to it," Silva said. "So far I'm doing well – my mind is on keeping our defense and midfield organized first. We've got two great guys up top that I can feed the ball to and rely on. I think as the season goes on I'm going to get more comfortable with both of them being up top, as opposed to last year when I only saw one guy up there, with me being the other."
- Said Olsen: "I think overall the way he moved the ball for us was good. But I'd still like to see him more threatening on the attack. I'd like to see him in spots that can really hurt other teams."


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Celebrate the Illinois Railway Museum's 60th Birthday!
A decade ago we took our toddler to the IRM to meet Thomas, Annie & Clarabelle. Kids and trains are a natural combination. It's a magic that has grown with our family in lots of ways, including model railroads and visits to lots of train museums along the way.
Venture Crew 9911 is hosting a special Scout Day at the Illinois Railway Museum on Saturday May 11, 2013. In addition to the museum, there will be lots of fun activities for Scouts of all ages, and even Girl Scouts too! Boy Scouts can work on their Railroading Merit Badge as part of the fun.
IRM is a short drive from Burlington – less than an hour if I remember correctly. It should be a fantastic outing!


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Jets rookie left guard Brian Winters has never battled someone like Bengals All-Pro defensive tackle Geno Atkins. But he has seen someone like him every week.
"He kind of reminds me of Sheldon Richardson," Winters said, comparing Atkins to the Jets' rookie defensive tackle. "This week in practice I've asked to go against him, just to kind of get a feel for [Atkins] because they play similar.
"[Atkins has] got the leverage and he's really aggressive. He's a tough player. He goes to the end of the whistle. You can't ever give up or go light on him. You always got to attack."
On Sunday in Cincinnati, Atkins will lead one of the league's most dangerous pass rushes against a Jets offense that has allowed 25 sacks this season, the fifth-most in the league.
Winters, who allowed two sacks last Sunday and will be making his fourth straight start since replacing Vladimir Ducasse, will face the toughest test of his young career, going against a player with 20 sacks over the past two seasons and four this year.
Atkins is a new challenge for Winters — he played left tackle at Kent State and is learning a new position — but is a familiar foe for right guard Willie Colon, who played Atkins twice a year for the past three years while with the Steelers.
"The thing that people don't understand is he's not a tall guy, but as short as he is, he's strong as a bull," Colon said of the 6-foot-1 Atkins. "If your hands and your feet aren't correct, he'll take advantage of that.
"His center of gravity and my center of gravity are two different places. You just have to be extremely conscious of where your hand placement is at. Some of the things you may do against a bigger guy, you can't do against him or he'll take advantage of that."
Jets coach Rex Ryan said Atkins is as difficult a player to stop as any his line will see all season, but the coach also noted the rest of the Bengals' unit — Carlos Dunlap, Michael Johnson and Domata Peko — can be just as troublesome, earning an additional eight sacks this season.
"This defensive line, it's outstanding, it really is," Ryan said. "Man, [Dunlap's] really playing well as the left end. Of course, the Atkins kid is becoming a household name having 12½ sacks last year, a Pro Bowl guy. And he earns that reputation, he really plays hard. Then Michael Johnson, the big, huge guy they franchised last year. … It's a huge challenge for us."
The Jets have alternated wins and losses since the season-opening win against the Buccaneers, and though Colon can't figure out why, he admitted the team's preparation and focus suffered in the weeks they lost.
An identity, he said, is emerging though, seen in the Jets' throwback ground-and-pound performance against the Patriots, with Chris Ivory running 34 times for 104 yards.
Cementing that identity is what Colon thinks can make them great.
"One thing I give credit to about the Patriots and I hate to even talk about them, they're just good at what they do," Colon told The Post. "They don't blitz a lot, they don't give you a whole lot of exotic things, they're just great at what they do. They're disciplined, they're focused and that's what makes them a great team.
"We have to get on a level where what we do is just great. Pittsburgh, they're just great at power, that's just what they do, they run the football. We want to find that niche and just perfect it. … If we come out and play physical and we block them up front, the sky's the limit for this team."


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March 9 (Reuters) - A key source of short-term loans for banks and Wall Street may be cheaper if they are done through central counterparties instead of directly between themselves or with investors, a U.S. financial research agency said on Thursday.
Banks and security dealers borrow from the $2.2 trillion repurchase agreement (repo) market where they pledge a security, typically a Treasury bond, as collateral and agree to buy it back at a set time and price.
During the global credit crisis, the repo market was roiled when investors refrained from making loans to banks and dealers. Regulators tightened rules in response to the crisis but they hurt liquidity and raised the cost of using repos, the Office of Financial Research said in a research note published on Thursday.
One method of lowering repo costs would be to increase the use of central counterparties (CCPs) which assume the credit risk of bilateral transactions. They act as buyers to all sellers and sellers to all buyers, according to the research paper.
"CCPs for dealer-to-nondealer repos may be attractive to dealers if netting results in smaller balance sheets and cost savings," the agency's analysts Viktoria Baklanova, Ocean Dalton and Stathis Tompaidis wrote in the research paper.
Netting involves the offset of buying and selling of similar securities between two or more trading participants.
Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama


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Brian Scarbeau has an announcement in his blog about a series of web casts he is presenting for high school teachers. It is all about using Dot Net Nuke. Brian uses DNN for his own web site and as a teaching tool in his web design course. Visit Brian's blog for more detail on these webcasts including dates, times and registration information. Brian is a great instructor and I highly recommend him. You can register for Brian's workshop webcast from MainFunction the high school computer science teacher community site.
Edit: More information about webcasts for high school computer science teachers may be found at www.mainfunction.com/webcasts There are a number of interesting and useful webcast series coming up.


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Blue Haven Motel
Select your stay dates to check availability at Blue Haven Motel
Blue Haven Motel
About the Hotel
Property Location
When you stay at Blue Haven Motel in Mount Maunganui, you'll be near the beach and convenient to Blake Park and Mount Manganui Beach. This motel is within close proximity of Mount Manganui and The Elms Mission House.
Make yourself at home in one of the 9 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. 32-inch flat-screen televisions with premium TV channels provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected. Bathrooms have showers and complimentary toiletries. Conveniences include coffee/tea makers and irons/ironing boards.
Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities
Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless Internet access and barbecue grills.
Business, Other Amenities
Featured amenities include luggage storage and laundry facilities. A roundtrip airport shuttle is complimentary (available on request).
Hotel Facilities
- Total number of rooms - 9
- Free WiFi
- Free self parking
- Garden
- Laundry facilities
- Barbecue grill(s)
- Luggage storage
- Free airport transportation
Room Facilities
- Refrigerator
- Flat-panel TV
- Premium TV channels
- Free toiletries
- Microwave
- Free WiFi
- Coffee/tea maker
- Shower only
- Iron/ironing board
Hotel Policy
National Rating
This property does not have a Qualmark® rating. For the benefit of our customers, we have provided a rating based on our rating system.
Know Before You Go
- This property's policy is to refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, including pre-wedding stag/bachelor and hen/bachelorette parties.
- This property offers transfers from the airport. Guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
- Guests can arrange to bring pets by contacting the property directly, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.


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It's time to decide if you're going to sign up or not, get in, and make your choice and know what your options are. —Meg Sutton
SALT LAKE CITY — Nearly 40,000 Utahns have signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act as of March 1, but, with the deadline for coverage approaching, local health officials are working to reach others who remain uninsured.
According to a report released by the Utah Health Policy Project, the figure puts Utah on track to reach its goal of 57,000 sign-ups on healthcare.gov at the end of March.
For those who haven't signed up, there are less than three weeks left before the March 31 deadline for coverage beginning in May. Those who want coverage beginning April 1 will need to sign up by Saturday.
"They've been putting off signing up for insurance because they think it's too expensive," Jason Stevenson, education communication director for the Utah Health Policy Project, said.
He said many don't realize the resources available to help them explore subsidies that could lower premiums.
According to the Health Insurance Marketplace, 86 percent of Utahns applying for insurance through healthcare.gov received a subsidy from the website's launch on Oct. 1 to March 1, 2014.
"It's actually pretty astounding, the amount of financial help that's available," Stevenson said.
A subsidy calculator on the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation website is one resource for those seeking subsidies, Stevenson said. Healthcare.gov also offers estimates.
Tax preparation companies are also offering help.
"(Tax preparation companies) have realized that there is a lot of overlap between filling out your taxes and thinking about health care reform," Stevenson said.
Meg Sutton, tax and health care services senior advisor for H&R Block, said the company offers tax and health review free to their clients.
Signing up for a subsidy, she said, can be a confusing process. Clients can go to helpth.com to access material and licensed agents to help with the enrollment process.
"It's time to decide if you're going to sign up or not, get in, and make your choice and know what your options are," Sutton said. "Not knowing how much you would pay for coverage or how much of that advance tax credit that you could receive is really just like leaving money on the table. Make sure you know your options."
Stevenson said those who do not enroll by March 31 will face a fine and have to wait until the next enrollment period on Nov. 15. Those who experience a life-changing event like losing a job, marriage, divorce, moving to a state or having a child will be able to sign up after March 31 without penalty. They also have a two month grace period.
"You really can't sign up in the middle of the year unless you have one of these life changes," Stevenson said.
Sutton said the fine for not signing up is $95 per person and $47.50 for children, or 1 percent of income, whichever is higher.9 comments on this story
Stevenson said there are those who are exempt from the tax penalty — those who are covered by an employer, have private insurance, are on Medicaid or Medicare, are Native American or qualify for other exemptions.
"The fine isn't going to effect a lot of people," Stevenson said. "People are worried if they don't have the right insurance they'll be fined; really, it's any insurance is going to give you that coverage that you need."
Stevenson said Takecareutah.org is another website specifically designed to match Utahns up with people who can help them sign up.
Stevenson said United Way of Salt Lake 2-1-1 is another resource for people to call and get help with their insurance questions.
Email: email@example.com


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ELYRIA — Before the story is told of how and why Alex Mishkin was able to walk into a local Best Buy store and pick out nearly anything he wanted, here's what he got:
- Samsung Galaxy tablet
- Toshiba laptop
- Laptop backpack carrying case
- Keurig single-cup brewing system with extra single-cup beverages
- Portable DVD writer
- Wireless mouse
- Two miniature refrigerators
- A microwave
- 39- and 48-inch flat-screen, high-definition televisions.
It was quite the haul Thursday for the 18-year-old from Grafton — nearly $3,000 in merchandise when all was said and done.
"I did my research. I pretty much knew what I was coming to get," he said.
Mishkin was sitting at a table in an employee-only room at the Elyria store with a bounty of Taco Bell tacos laid out in front of him. It's his favorite fast food. So yeah, it made sense that he got a lot of those, too.
Now, let's talk about why.
Thursday was Mishkin's Make-A-Wish Day.
For eight long and sometimes grueling months, the day he could have the shopping spree of his dreams at the store was all he could think about as he sat in a hospital bed at the Cleveland Clinic with a diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma hanging over his head.
He knew making it through one more treatment, one more visit from a doctor and yet another day away from home would bring the now-18-year-old that much closer to wish day.
On Thursday, after he and his family were picked up in a black limousine courtesy of Touch of Class Limousine Service, Mishkin made his way to the Midway Mall store, where employees rolled out the red carpet for him.
James Cook, sales floor leader-turned-personal shopping assistant for the day, waited by the door. He was told the Mishkin family would show up about 11 a.m. A handmade sign welcoming Mishkin to the store was nearby.
Shortly after 11:30 a.m., the family walked in.
Upon first glance, they looked like any other family coming to shop.
The only indication that Mishkin was there for something special came from his white T-shirt and blue backpack, both from the Make-A-Wish foundation, which grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.
"So, where do you start?" Cook said to prompt the spree.
The teen could have had just about any wish imaginable. But the Best Buy trip was ideal. He could get something cool for his entire family that way, he said.
"If they weren't around, I don't know what I would do," he said. "I couldn't go through that stuff by myself."
While Mishkin shopped, his mother, Mary Beth Mishkin, lagged behind and talked a little about her son's last year.
It started with pain — a lot of pain.
First the pain was in his chest, and a trip to the emergency room gave a diagnosis of inflammation around his sternum. He would get better, doctors said.
But Mishkin's pain persisted. Multiple trips to the doctor gave no real answer. Finally after a second trip to the Cleveland Clinic, a biopsy was done. Mishkin had cancer.
"I will never forget the doctor saying he had cancer from his skull to his calves and inside his bone marrow," Mary Beth Mishkin said. "But almost immediately, his oncologist gave us a lot of hope. He asked Alex about his goals and if he wanted to do to college.
He told him not to give up on those goals because they had a plan."
Mary Beth Mishkin knew the pain of losing a loved one to cancer. Her sister died around that same time. She was buried on a Sunday. Alex Mishkin went into the hospital that Wednesday.
"It was hard, but we stayed positive, no matter what," mom said. "We took it day by day and prayed all the time. We had a great team at the Cleveland Clinic that we trusted."
Mishkin, according to his mother, was probably the strongest beacon of hope. It's as if he knew immediately that he was beating the cancer.
"He was amazing," she said. "When they told me and I was crying, it was Alex who comforted me. Then, he pulled out his phone and looked up everything he could find on lymphoma. His attitude was 'Let's do this so I can get on with my life.'"
Mishkin is in remission. It's been four and a half months. If he can make it to his two-year anniversary, his doctors said the chances of the cancer returning are small.
As he grabbed pricey electronics Thursday, that far off date was not on his mind.
"I'm doing good — real good," he said.
He's planning to start classes at Lorain County Community College. He wants to study accounting.
That new laptop will come in handy.
Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or email@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @LisaRobersonCT.


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How I Came Out - Monologues
Charlie Ballard Productions
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM (PST)
Event Details
The Hella Gay Comedy Show series presents the, "How I Came Out" - Monologues" .
The best gay, straight, bi, lesbian and transgendered comics will gather to share humor-filled and heartfelt monologues based on their real-life experiences exiting the closet, at this "coming out" party. Bay Area comedian Charlie Ballard, who's been seen on LOGO, Comedy Central and NBC's America's Got Talent, hosts this special edition of his Hella Gay Comedy Show, featuring a quintet or more of top local performers for each edition.
For more info: www.facebook.com/hellagaycomedyshow
Hosted by Charlie Ballard
Line up:
Landa Lakes
Mark Yanez
Kate Willett
Rachel Gill
Justin Lucas
1760 Market St.
415 431 4202
10$ Cover
21 & Over
Doors open @ 7:00pm
Show starts @ 8:00pm
Wheelchair accessible
When & Where
1760 Market St.
San Francisco,
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM (PST)
Add to my calendar
Charlie Ballard Productions
Charlie Ballard is a hometown comedian whose made good on the National stand up comedy scene.
He's been scene on LOGO, Comedy Central, and NBC's America's Got Talent.
Charlie's been producing comedy shows in the Bay Area since 2007, showcasing the top emerging talent in the area.


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"It's not often a writer learns to make photographs. Howard has, big time. These rooms glow with light. The intimacy of stepping into a bedroom; a child reads on the bed, a father, with his laptop, a room of mahjong players, grandpa crashed on a chair, the TV always on. These are tiny spaces, intensely alive in black and white, the future of towering apartments looming outside, the market in the street, the Brooklyn burst of pigeons, crossing the old Shanghai neighborhood, the beds and people on them filling half the room. All doomed to live forever in these gentle loving docs."
– Danny Lyon, Photographer, author of Memories of Myself, and Deep Sea Diver: An American Photographer's Journey in Shanxi, China.
"Looking at Howard French's Shanghai, one thinks of Eugène Atget and Berenice Abbott, photographers who captured Paris and New York on the cusp of great change. This is ambitious work, with compositions that are balanced and tight, with beautiful light, devoid of hard shadows, that renders the old Shanghai in vibrant detail. We should thank the photographer for realizing that no number of articles written about these communities could ever bring us this close to the lives he has immortalized on film."
– Ken Light, Photographer, author of Valley of Shadows and Dreams and Witness in Our Time: Working Lives of Documentary Photographers.


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Real Techniques Expert Face brush is a wider, ultra-firm face brush and a must-have beauty makeup accessory that will help to create a flawless base on your skin. The more time you spend on this first step of makeup application, the better the results at the end. Colour coded gold corresponds to the base step of make-up application. Achieve your desired level of coverage and provide smooth, high definition results with the Expert Face brush. A must have for your make up bag.
Our standard delivery service operates between 8.00am to 7pm Monday to Friday. You will be notified of your order being dispatched via email/Text.
We aim to deliver most items within 3 - 5 working days of an order being placed. Please allow extra time over bank holidays and for large order items. Some larger products have an extended delivery time as they are delivered direct from the manufacturer and the estimated delivery time for these items will be indicated on the product description.
Every possible effort will be made to deliver your order within the delivery lead times advised, however in the rare event that we are unable to do so, we will notify you at the earliest opportunity.
Please be advised that due to adverse weather conditions, delivery/collection times may be affected.
We use variety of different carriers and delivery options to deliver our parcels.
We deliver to most postal areas in the UK. We are not able to deliver to the Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly, Channel Islands, Shetland Islands, BFPO addresses, Northern or Republic of Ireland or overseas.
We also reserve the right to refuse to deliver to addresses that we believe are not secure such as communal or PO Box addresses.


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Nearby points of interest
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About Dolores But You Can Call Me Lolita
Dolores But You Can Call Me Lolita gives a different flavor to the rising Brickell area. We have used an exceptionally singular building to create an original and unique concept.
Miami, FL 33130
Dining Style:
Casual Elegant
Hours of Operation:
Monday 11:30am - 11:00pm
Tuesday 11:30am - 11:00pm
Wednesday 11:30am - 11:00pm
Thursday: 11:30am - 12:00am
Friday: 11:30am - 1:00am
Saturday - 10:00am - 1:00am
Sunday: 10:00am - 11:00pm
Cross Street:
South Miami Ave and 10th Street
Dress Code:
Business Casual
Price Range:
$30 and under
Payment Options
AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Phone Number:
(305) 403-3103
We offer a live DJ Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in Lolita lounge.
Parking Details:
Valet parking is offered at the front entrance of the building. There is a paid parking lot west of Dolores Lolita on 10th Street. Metered parking surrounds the area, as well.
Public Transit:
Miami Metro Rail/ People Mover- Brickell Station & 10th Street Promenade People Mover.
Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Dancing, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Outdoor dining, Outdoor Smoking Area, Private Room, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Restaurant Photos
Dolores But You Can Call Me Lolita Ratings and Reviews
La comida y la atención fue espectacular, fue el cumpleaños de mi tío y sin pedirlo le cantaron happy bday definitivamente recomiendo este lugar 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Muy agradable el servicio y el trato bien profesional muy amables todas las personas
The ambiance at this restaurant is romantic. The service we received from Nathan (our waiter) was top-notch. He was courteous and professional when we had to return something we ordered because it wasn't properly salted. Instead of being rude, his manager got involved and not only did he make up for it but went above and beyond to make our dinner memorable. The Miso Salmon is fantastic and I would wholeheartedly recommend it. The flan 🍮 dessert was amazing as well. Very nice place for a special date or anniversary.
Great menu with diverse options. Everything we had was fresh and delicious with nice portions. Traditional mojito terrific. There seemed to be a dispute among waitstaff and our waiter disappeared for a long while. Odd, but didn't hamper our dinner. Definitely recommended.
Been here a couple of times, never disappoints. This time we celebrated our daughters birthday. Food was as always, amazing. The house wine is from a young vineyard in Spain, it was outstanding and a great value. Our server was excellent, she even remembered that we where there for a birthday and brought out a "Special Happy Birthday Dessart" for our daughter. It's all about details!
Pasamos un cumpleaños relajado con niños; impecable comida y atención!
Went there for Anniversary brunch and they treated us like royalty!!!!! We absolutely enjoyed the outdoor eating and the atmosphere was so very relaxed!!! Service was TOP NOTCH! And THE FOOD WAS AMAZING!!!! Down to the last bite! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! And the price was perfect!
Our group reserved for Father's day lunch. However, there was only brunch with very limited food options. We ended up having hamburgers and sandwiches,... nothing really special. We really expected something more, according to the ocassion. Really disappointed!
Muy buena atención y comida. Excelente clima y decoración
Volvimos después de seis días y se acordaban de nuestra visita y nos atendieron muy bien, llego el gerente a agradecernos y nos regalaron dos
Vasos de sangria
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Late goal lifts Farmington past Red Wing girls
A late-game goal from Farmington left the Red Wing girls soccer team feeling deflated after it gave up a first half lead.
The game-winning goal for the Tigers came with just under three minutes remaining on a fortuitous bounce to the foot of Kelly Kornmann who took a wide-open shot from the middle of the 18-yard box past Furlong and into the lower right corner of the net.
"We had one of our defenders come off who wasn't feeling well," Beckman said. "I made the choice, thinking more about the player than the win, to hold her off and I don't think we had that little extra kick to stop that last goal."
"Unlucky goal," Red Wing sophomore defender Maddie Erie said. "Really nothing to say about it."
The Wingers (1-5, 0-1 Missota) controlled possession throughout the first half of play and took a 1-0 lead into halftime after a Christi Perkinson goal.
"Before we got out on the field, I told them we're going to have to start going hard to the ball," Red Wing coach Dustin Beckman said. "Every time the other team touches the ball, we need somebody there. They really took that to heart. We challenged every 50-50 ball and that ended up leading to our goal."
Coming out of the break, the two teams exchanged scoring chances but the Tigers scored first in the second half on a goal by Miranda Larson at 26 minutes.
Red Wing goalie Sierra Furlong made a number of nice saves in the game and the score could have been a lot worse without her aggressive play in net.
"Our goalie did a phenomenal job scooping everything up," Beckman said. "She saved us on a few occasions."
Red Wing took a hit in the second half when senior defender Maddie Olin left the game because she wasn't feeling well. Without an extra body, the defense appeared to run out of gas down the stretch. Farmington dominated possession and put the Wingers on their heels for the final 30 minutes.
The Wingers were unable to push past the Farmington defense in the last three minutes but Beckman was proud of his team's performance against a larger, Class 2A school.
"We played great together as a team," Erie said. "We came together really well tonight and we had really good passing. Communication was key."
Red Wing is back in action on Tuesday when they travel to take on Holy Angels.


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Artist description:
Pull the curtains! lights! and here she is!
Flash Draw Created May 31, 2008 470 x 338px Unless noted Copyright 2008 cleomichi.
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i love what fabulous colour 10
That is fabulous! 10++
Neat idea. I love the colors! ^.^ Thanks for the comments and ratings, by the way.
Very nice, I love the curtains! ^^
Very imaginative. Check out my picture!!! =]
yah they are great!!
I agree, the ribbon like curtains are great! 10!
i love the curtains1!!


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Derek Jeter 2011 Spring Training Used Batting Glove (Single) uns
Derek Jeter is perhaps the most clutch performer to ever don the pinstripes and consistently coming up big in big spots. Jeter continues to produce at a staggering clip, getting more than 3000 hits, racking up countless awards and accolades and breaking records on what seems to be a nightly basis. This Derek Jeter product is guaranteed authentic and an accompanying tamper-evident Steiner Hologram. The Steiner Seal Means It's Real. Steiner Sports is the Official Memorabilia Partner of Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees.
**This Item May Not Be Eligible For Some Discounts Or Promotions**


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There's a lot of throat-clearing, background and more, so you have to read the whole thing before you get to the bottom line.
I'm talking about a new report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a six-page piece in which you'll have to either wade through thousands of words or just skip to the end for what is, truly, a sad ending.
What it reveals is that about 11 million Americans on small employer health insurance rolls will see increases in premiums as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Yes, some people, it says, will no doubt see savings, but not nearly as many as those who'll end up paying more.
Even when the PPACA subsidies are considered, it's safe to say this is not one of those reports that the Obama administration wants flogged on Fox, or anywhere else for that matter.
And, actually, if you've read the thing, there are a few other rather damaging acknowledgements and admissions in the text that employee benefits brokers and their customers might welcome, if only because they finally represent a few key points that critics have been making for some time.
To wit:
"Small businesses with 50 or fewer workers may find terminating existing coverage particularly attractive since they are not required by the ACA to offer affordable minimum essential health insurance coverage, and their workers have access to health insurance in the new exchanges.
"Alternatively, it may be financially attractive for small employers with relatively healthy employees to continue to provide coverage but convert to a self-insured arrangement with stop-loss coverage. If such coverage becomes widely available, some analysts expect a substantial increase in self-insured small employers."
If such coverage becomes widely available? Last I looked, there was plenty of stop-loss available and if Congress would simply pass the Self-Insurance Protection Act – legislation that would ensure regulators cannot redefine stop-loss insurance as traditional health insurance – things will turn out just fine. (I've written on this topic before, so you can click here for the background).
In any case, CMS had a few more things to say about premiums to help explain why so many people should brace for rate shock.
It pointed out that before Obamacare, insurers could set lower premiums for small employers with younger and healthier employees due to their low expected health care needs, and significantly higher rates for small employers with older and sicker employees with greater expected health care needs.
The ratio of premiums charged between old and young ages was typically 5 to 1 or more, and could translate into much higher premiums for firms with older employees. In addition, gender could also be used as a rating factor. Before 2014, employers with more women of childbearing age were commonly charged higher premiums.
As we all know, the community rating allowed under the PPACA doesn't permit the use of gender, health status and claims history as rating factors, and restricts the premium rating ratio for adults to between young and old ages. All of this is supposed to make insurance less costly to the elderly and the ill – at the expense, of course, of the young and healthy.
Of course, none of this is unexpected.
A study from Milliman estimated that, before the application of tax subsidies, small-group premium rates would go up by as much 15 percent. The good people at Oliver Wyman predicted that small-group premium rates will jump by 20 percent.
So, what are we to do with all of this, aside from gnashing teeth? It's an incredible long-shot but I'd like to see the PPACA age rating factor adjusted to even the playing field. There's just nothing fair about asking the young and healthy pay more while the sick and elderly pay less.
The range now on premiums based on age should more closely align with utilization, plain and simple.
It's no doubt too late to do anything this year. We'll start to see spikes in the employer-sponsored market in the second half of 2014. But perhaps some measure of relief will come in 2015, so long as we get a good outcome in this November's election.


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PATIENTS are being told not to rinse with mouthwash regularly after research suggested excessive use could increase the risk of mouth and throat cancer.
A pan-European study, featuring research from nine different countries, suggested bad dental care could lead to a greater risk of cancers in the mouth, larynx, pharynx and the oesophagus.
But excessive use of mouthwash — defined as more than three times a day — has also been named as a contributory risk factor.
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One of the report's authors, Professor Wolfgang Ahrens, admitted that further research would have to be carried out to confirm this claim because people who use mouthwash very regularly may be masking the smell of smoking and alcohol - which are also risk factors for cancer.
Dr David Conway, clinical senior lecturer at Glasgow University's Dental School, said: "There are occasions and conditions for which a dentist could prescribe a mouthwash - it could be that a patient has a low salivary flow because of a particular condition or medicine they are taking.
"I would not advise routine use of mouthwash; all that's necessary in general is good regular brushing with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing combined with regular check-ups by a dentist."
A total of 1962 patients with mouth and throat cancers, and a further 1,993 people with no such illness, took part in the study.
Smoking and heavy alcohol consumption have long been linked with risk of mouth and throat cancer. Low socio-economic status has also been highlighted.
However, when looking at poor dental care, the research was able to strip out these factors and found a connection between bad oral health and an increased risk of these types of cancers.
Prof Ahrens said: "Up until now, it was not really known if these dental risk factors were independent of the well known risks for mouth and throat cancers - smoking, alcohol and low socio-economic status."
Dr Conway warned everyone to attend regular dental check-ups.


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Don't Hyperventilate Over Hyper-V Backups
Hyper-V backup is like one of those brain bending puzzles. It raises the blood pressure and sends even the most experienced I.T. professionals into fits of frustration. But like most puzzles, it's easy to do it - once the user know how! This paper outlines the causes of stress that ...Download Now


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Wahl 5 Star Razor Edger | none | Beauty Tools | Sistawigs.com
The Wahl 5-Star Razor Edger Trimmer meets the unique professional grooming needs of African--Americans. Wahl developed the 5-Star Series of clippers and trimmers, including this razor-close trimming and edging tool to meet these unique needs.
Features an Open-tooth comb action picks up and straightens whiskers and helps prevent ingrown hairs and precision blades that adjust to zero overlap. Compact and convenient scoop-nose design.
Includes: Pre-shave brush, styling comb, blade guard, oil, cleaning brush and instructions.