text:
A Novel Method of Non-invasive Ventilation in Children
This study has been completed.
University of Alberta
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First Posted: July 14, 2011
Last Update Posted: August 13, 2015
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
University of Alberta
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Detailed Description:
The purpose of this study is to quantify the tidal volume generated by the pressure release immediately following the application of pressure to the chest.
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Observational Model: Cohort
Time Perspective: Prospective
|Official Title:
|Non-invasive Ventilation Generated by External Chest Pressure in Children
Further study details as provided by University of Alberta:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Tidal volume (mL), as displayed by the Draeger Narkomed 6400 Anesthesia Machine, after release of manual chest compression [ Time Frame: After induction of general anesthesia and until completion of surgery (within an average time of 30 mins to 4 hours) ]One tidal volume is displayed on the Draeger machine immediately after the manual release of chest compression. This outcome is recorded 3 times in each patient after fast manual compressions (1-2 seconds each), with the process performed while the patient is both bag-mask ventilated and intubated.
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Force of compression (kg), as displayed by the Lafayette Manual Muscle Tester, measured during each manual chest compression [ Time Frame: after induction of general anesthesia and during surgery (between 30 mins and 4 hours) ]
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|June 2011
|Study Completion Date:
|February 2015
|Primary Completion Date:
|May 2014 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Airway management in the pediatric population differs from the adult population because of differences in their respiratory physiology and anatomy. For example the oxygen consumption is about three times higher in children as compared to adults; therefore, if there is a problem ventilating a child there is a higher impact on oxygen delivery and oxygen reserve. Current guidelines recommend that in respiratory emergencies where one "cannot ventilate and cannot intubate" that a cricothyroidectomy (insertion of a needle through the cricothyroid membrane in the neck) be performed. This procedure is very invasive and difficult to perform, especially in a small child. Since timing and simplicity are essential to successful airway management it is hypothesized that the investigators could utilize the physiological principles behind breathing to ventilate these children using the release of applied pressure to their chest. During, inspiration, the vertical and transverse dimensions of the thorax are increased, generating a negative pressure between the intrapleural space and the chest wall, allowing for air to be drawn into the lungs. As children have a very compliant rib cage one of the theoretical ways to improve lung inflation is to apply external pressure on the chest. The intrathoracic pressure increases above atmospheric pressure and air preferentially flows out of the lungs according to the pressure gradient. When the pressure is released and the chest recoils passively, a negative intrathoracic pressure is generated, which allows for air to flow into the lungs according to the pressure gradient created. If a sufficient tidal volume is generated by the release of pressure from the chest this could potentially become a simple, non-invasive, life-saving technique in children with difficult airways. By adapting the principles described above, it is possible that tidal volume and therefore, gas exchange can take place on release of the pressure applied to the chest.
Information from the National Library of Medicine
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|up to 18 Years (Child, Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
|Sampling Method:
|Non-Probability Sample
Study Population
This is a prospective, cohort study with a sample size of approximately 100 pediatric patients. The population will be stratified equally into the following age groups: neonate (0-28 days or 44 post-conceptual weeks), infants (>1-12 months), toddlers (>12months-3 years), children (>3-8 years), pre-teen (>8-13 years) and adolescent (>13 years).
Inclusion Criteria:
- All pediatric patients under the age of 18 years old.
- All patients requiring a general anesthetic with an endotracheal tube (whether the patient will be intubated with an endotracheal tube will be decided by the anesthesiologist responsible for the case)
- ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification) I to III
Exclusion Criteria:
- Failure to obtain parental consent or patient assent when appropriate (in general children over 8 years old)
- ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification) IV
- Patients with any cardiac pathology
- Patients with any respiratory pathology
- Patients with any form of chest deformity (examples being pectus excavatum, pectus carinatum, scoliosis)
- Patients who had previous cardiac/thoracic surgery
Contacts and Locations
Information from the National Library of Medicine
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01394172
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01394172
|Canada, Alberta
|Stollery Children's Hospital
|Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2B7
Sponsors and Collaborators
University of Alberta
|Principal Investigator:
|Ban Tsui, M.D., M.Sc.
|Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Alberta
|Study Director:
|Viv Ip, M.D.
|Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine University of Alberta
|Study Director:
|Sara Horne, B.Sc.(Hons)
|Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine University of Alberta
More Information
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Keywords provided by University of Alberta:
Williams AJ. ABC of oxygen: assessing and interpreting arterial blood gases and acid-base balance. BMJ. 1998 Oct 31;317(7167):1213-6. Review.
Adler SM, Wohl ME. Flow-volume relationship at low lung volumes in healthy term newborn infants. Pediatrics. 1978 Apr;61(4):636-40.
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|Responsible Party:
|University of Alberta
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01394172 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Submitted:
|July 6, 2011
|First Posted:
|July 14, 2011
|Last Update Posted:
|August 13, 2015
|Last Verified:
|August 2015
Keywords provided by University of Alberta:
Tidal Volume
Difficult airway
Airway management


text:
GENEALOGY-DNA-L ArchivesArchiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2005-12 > 1134584018
From: "Mark MacDonald" <>
Subject: RE: [DNA] S21 table update
Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2005 12:26:03 -0600
In-Reply-To: <000001c600a1$5375c6c0$0100a8c0@BigMem2>
Please add that McDonald 5HWPH is M269+(derived)
Mark MacDonald
-----Original Message-----
From: John McEwan [mailto:]
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 5:27 AM
Subject: [DNA] S21 table update
Dear List
The table on R1b SNPs has been updated
See www.geocities.com/mcewanjc/s21.htm
1) I have added columns for the two newly announced SNPs S28 and S29.
S26 (aka Little SNP or L1) has been renamed.
2) I have recoded haplogroup for S21+ to R1b1c/S21+
3) We now have 50 publicly identified individuals that have been
genotyped with S21. At this point we have 13 or 26% S21 positive.
4) We have had the exciting addition of two new R1b SNPs
John McEwan
Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the
last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more:
This thread:
|RE: [DNA] S21 table update by "Mark MacDonald" <>

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Vocal Union Heaven's irony Lyrics
On a hill outside Jerusalem
Soldiers led Him there to die for them
As they nailed the hands that created men
He prayed that they would be forgiven
A lowly carpenter from Galilee
Loved the wealth that's found in poverty
Heaven's power clothed in humility
Let the cross become His destiny
Through His stripes, I am healed
Through my hate, His love revealed
Through my sin, shines His light
Through His death He gives me life
Heaven's irony
The Father's love is full and free
Heaven's irony
Jesus loves me
As the blood flowed from His wounded side
Tears of love flowed as my Jesus cried
And the people mocked Him as He died
The innocent was crucified
In a borrowed tomb they buried Him
With a paupers shroud they covered Him
In a grave of hardly any worth
Lay the Maker of the universe
Repeat Chorus (with echo in first half)
And oh what a wonderful love I have known
Like a river of life to my soul (river of life to my soul)
And oh what love (oh what love) the Savior has shown
Making my heart His home
After three days as He prophesied
The stone was rolled away, no one inside
Jesus resurrected, glorified
He's the way, the truth, the life.
Repeat Chorus (with echo in first half)
(He loves me)
Heaven's irony (Heaven's irony)
The Father's love is full and free
Heaven's irony
Jesus loves me
Jesus loves me
Jesus loves me
Scriptural Reference:
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
See also:
J. Sabina Todos menos tú Lyrics
sinem anlatamadım Lyrics


text:
(based on 4 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Stars
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Reviewed by 4 customers
Displaying reviews 1-4
Back to top
Smoothing, hydrating, great buy!
By Babcia
from Chatsworth, Ca
Best Uses
Comments about AHA Alpha Hydroxy Acid Cream - 16 oz.:
I layer it with the AHA and collagen creams for a 1,2,3 punch!
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Was this review helpful? Yes / No
- You may also flag this review
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Great for dry skin
By Yorkie lover
from Wisconsin
I use this product morning and night
(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
Where to start
By Poopsie94
from Tempe AZ
Look everything doesn't work for everyone. The lotion IS generous in size. It doesn't have any smell, for those with aroma allergies. I usually by the Argan oil, which is excellent for keeping your tan even. I thought I would try this on my face since I have uneven tone, and so far I have seen an improvement in my skin. Our family lives on natural cures etc. Bust we also live in the "Twilight Zone" of Arizona, where we have 101 to 111 degree heat. Yes, I would recommend this product for great skin.
(6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)
By soukaa
from Dallas, Texas
I use this product at night,can be used on entire body. Make sure you use a SPF creme to keep the sun from damaging the skin.


text:
Football: Newmill out to spoil Big Two party
Glentoran Youth and Linfield Youth avoided each other in the semi-final draw for the Lisburn Junior Invitational Shield under-16 group, but Newmill Youth could upset the "apple-cart" for the "Big Two" by beating Linfield.
Newmill won the under-15 section last season, their first in Lisburn circles, and they are right up there with the Glens and Blues in the under-16 title race, being more than capable of winning the semi.
Glentoran should progress against Glenavon Youth, though the Lurgan team held Linfield to a 2-2 draw last week.
Three of the top four teams clash in the under-10s, four out of five meet in the under-11 section and the top four contest the under-12 semi-finals.
Lisburn Youth are favourites in the under-13 section. It could be a Lisburn v Linfield under-14 final and Sunnyside could take on Linfield in the under-15 decider.
Meanwhile in the League, Linfield blasted the under-16 section wide open with a 3-1 win over leaders, Glentoran Youth and three points now separate the top four. The Blues and the Glens are level at the top, bur Newmill Youth, with a match in hand are two points behind and Lisburn Youth a point further back.
The full Shield draw reads:
Under-10: Ballymena v Shankill, Sunnyside v Lisburn Y.
Under-11: Portadown v Sunnyside, Ards v Shankill.
Under-12: Ballymena v Linfield, Lisburn Y v Shankill.
Under-13: Lisburn Y v Ballymena, Newhill v Ards.
Under-14: Linfield v Loughside, Banbridge v Lisburn Y.
Under-15: Sunnyside v Ballymena, Newmill v Linfield.
Under-16: Glenavon v Glentoran, Newmill v Linfield.
Belfast Telegraph


text:
Clock Class
Maintains run-time timing state for a Timeline.
Assembly: PresentationCore (in PresentationCore.dll)
A Timeline, by itself, doesn't actually do anything other than describe a segment of time. It's the timeline's Clock object that does the real work: it maintains timing-related run-time state for the timeline.
In most cases, a clock is created automatically for your timeline. When you animate by using a Storyboard or the BeginAnimation method, clocks are automatically created for your timelines and animations and applied to their targeted properties. For examples, see How to: Animate a Property by Using a Storyboard and How to: Animate a Property Without Using a Storyboard.
You can also create a Clock explicitly by using the CreateClock method. In performance-intensive scenarios, such as animating large numbers of similar objects, managing your own Clock use can provide performance benefits.
Clocks are arranged in trees that match the structure of the Timeline objects tree from which they are created. The root clock of such a timing tree can be interactively manipulated (paused, resumed, stopped, and so on) by retrieving its Controller. Non-root clocks cannot be directly controlled.
Once created, a clock cannot be modified (but it can be manipulated).
Using a Timeline as a Timer
A timeline's clock will only progress when there's an event handler associated with it or (in the case of an AnimationClock object) it is associated with a property. For this reason (and others), it's not recommended that you use a Timeline as a timer.
Derived classes should implement GetCurrentTimeCore if they want to modify how time flows for this clock. Derived classes can be made to do additional work when the clock repeats, skips, seeks, begins, pauses, resumes, or stops by overriding the DiscontinuousTimeMovement, SpeedChanged, and Stopped methods.
This example shows how to use Clock objects to animate a property.
There are three ways to animate a dependency property:
Create an AnimationTimeline and associate it with that property by using a Storyboard.
Use the object's BeginAnimation method to apply a single AnimationTimeline to a target property.
Create an AnimationClock from an AnimationTimeline and apply it to a property.
Storyboard objects and the BeginAnimation method enable you to animate properties without directly creating and distributing clocks (for examples, see How to: Animate a Property by Using a Storyboard and How to: Animate a Property Without Using a Storyboard); clocks are created and distributed for you automatically.
The following example shows how to create an AnimationClock and apply it to two similar properties.
/* This example shows how to create and apply an AnimationClock. */ using System; using System.Windows; using System.Windows.Controls; using System.Windows.Media; using System.Windows.Shapes; using System.Windows.Media.Animation; namespace Microsoft.Samples.Animation.TimingBehaviors { public class AnimationClockExample : Page { ScaleTransform myScaleTransform; public AnimationClockExample() { this.WindowTitle = "Opacity Animation Example"; this.Background = Brushes.White; StackPanel myStackPanel = new StackPanel(); myStackPanel.Margin = new Thickness(20); // Create a button that with a ScaleTransform. // The ScaleTransform will animate when the // button is clicked. Button myButton = new Button(); myButton.Margin = new Thickness(50); myButton.HorizontalAlignment = HorizontalAlignment.Left; myButton.Content = "Click Me"; myScaleTransform = new ScaleTransform(1,1); myButton.RenderTransform = myScaleTransform; // Associate an event handler with the // button's Click event. myButton.Click += new RoutedEventHandler(myButton_Clicked); myStackPanel.Children.Add(myButton); this.Content = myStackPanel; } // Create and apply and animation when the button is clicked. private void myButton_Clicked(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e) { // Create a DoubleAnimation to animate the // ScaleTransform. DoubleAnimation myAnimation = new DoubleAnimation( 1, // "From" value 5, // "To" value new Duration(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5)) ); myAnimation.AutoReverse = true; // Create a clock the for the animation. AnimationClock myClock = myAnimation.CreateClock(); // Associate the clock the ScaleX and // ScaleY properties of the button's // ScaleTransform. myScaleTransform.ApplyAnimationClock( ScaleTransform.ScaleXProperty, myClock); myScaleTransform.ApplyAnimationClock( ScaleTransform.ScaleYProperty, myClock); } } }
For an example showing how to interactively control a Clock after it starts, see How to: Interactively Control a Clock.
Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003
The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.


text:
Does the H1N1 Vaccine Matter?
This is the headline of a recent article from the Atlantic. The article is well written and has many good points about the controversy surrounding the swine flu vaccine. I won't try to summarize the whole thing because I think everyone should read it in its entirety. However I do want to highlight a point or two here.
The article calls into question the assertions about the effectiveness if the seasonal flu vaccine. There are estimates of 50 percent mortality reduction based on "cohort studies," which compare death rates in large groups, or cohorts, of people who choose to be vaccinated, against death rates in groups who don't. The issue here is that people who choose to be vaccinated may differ in many ways from those who don't and this can have a huge influence on the chance of death during the flu season. For example, many elderly people that don't get the flu shot are bed ridden due to some other health issues and don't go out to the doctor or pharmacy to get the shot. Income, lifestyle, education and geography can all come into play and many cohort studies are found to be biased as such.
Lisa Jackson, a physician and senior investigator with the Group Health Research Center, in Seattle, set out to factor out the cohort bias and look closely at the effectiveness if the flu vaccine. What she found was that outside of flu season, the baseline risk of death among people who did not get vaccinated was approximately 60 percent higher than among those who did, lending support to the hypothesis that on average, healthy people chose to get the vaccine, while the "frail elderly" didn't or couldn't. In fact, the healthy-user effect explained the entire benefit that other researchers were attributing to flu vaccine, suggesting that the vaccine itself might not reduce mortality at all. Jackson's papers "are beautiful," says Lone Simonsen, who is a professor of global health at George Washington University, in Washington, D.C., and an internationally recognized expert in influenza and vaccine epidemiology. "They are classic studies in epidemiology, they are so carefully done."
The general gold standard in medicine research is the double blind study. This format is supposed to limit the ever important bias from results. However there has never been a double blind research study performed on the flu vaccine, and when the results of the cohort studies are put under scrutiny they fall apart.
This is the science leading our national plan to combat a flu pandemic. Nowhere do we hear mention of eating more fruits and vegetables, getting plenty of fresh air and sunshine, exercising, reducing our total stress, spending time with loved ones, and getting our spine adjusted so our bodies own inborn healing potential can function at 100%. Why not integrate some practices that have been proven to improve our own defenses against disease rather than rely on some outside chemical that may not even work and definitely has the potential for harmful side-effects.


text:
When Steve Nash steps to the free-throw line, the trip can pretty much be counted as two points. Needless to say, the same does not apply for Dwight Howard, his Lakers teammate.
Howard has never been a great free-throw shooter, but his struggles at the line have come to the forefront this season. So much so that this stat cropped up: Howard has missed as many free throws this year (332) as Nash has in his entire career (via USAToday).
Increased use of the hack-a-Howard method has upped Howard's attempts and gave teams reason to continue the strategy. Thus far in the 2012-13 season, Howard has shot 314-for-646 from the free-throw line, or missed 332 free throws. That's good for 49 percent, which is among the league's worst.
Over 17 years, Nash has shot 3,360 free throws. He has missed 332. In fairness to Howard, Nash (90.4 percent) is the most accurate free-throw shooter in NBA history. He and Mark Price (90.3 percent) are the only players to shoot 90 percent for a career.


text:
Elwood pumps up depleted Connacht for 'must-win' clash
IT is just over a year since Connacht rolled out the red carpet for Toulouse. The French giants proceeded to march down it and all over their hosts.
Tonight, more Gallic royalty arrives in the west, and this time Connacht are determined not to be so polite. Biarritz are no Toulouse but, while they are more experienced in Europe now, Eric Elwood's squad is depleted going into this clash.
At the end of that 36-10 demolition job last year, Toulouse's experienced coach Guy Noves sought out his Irish counterpart and gave him a patronising pat on the head.
It was the one image of the excellent 'The West's Awake' documentary that must have rankled the most with Elwood.
Tonight, the Sportsground hosts its fifth Heineken Cup game, and the men in green are determined to put on a performance. If they are to keep their dreams of making the quarter-finals alive, then a victory over Biarritz is a must.
Connacht showed against English champions Harlequins that they can live with the big guns, but beating them is another matter.
The task is made harder by a 13-man injury list that includes John Muldoon, Nathan White, Eoin Griffin, George Naoupu and captain Gavin Duffy. In their stead is a team infused with youth.
While he would prefer to have his front-liners available, Elwood believes his side have shown signs of improving form despite losing their last two games.
"The maturity is coming through," the coach said. "Now the lads believe in themselves, we trust in them – no matter what age they are, they are going to get their opportunity. They are ready."
Tonight's visitors are two-time European finalists. They are also the Challenge Cup holders.
But their standing in the French game has been slipping and they sit in seventh on the Top 14 table, below the current standard-bearers Toulouse, Toulon and Clermont.
Biarritz still retain a level of player that Connacht just don't have, though.
In Iain Balshaw, Dimitri Yachvili and Fabien Barcella there is plenty of experience, while American flyer Takudzwa Ngwenya, Argentina's Marcelo Bosch and Wales' Aled Brew will cause problems if they receive good ball.
Then there is the bench, where Imanol Harinordoquy lurks.
So often the Basques' talisman, the 32-year-old No 8 is on the way back from injury and will be unleashed if needed. Former Leinster back Mat Berquist starts at out-half
But Elwood knows defeat is not an option.
"We always fancy ourselves at home no matter who we are playing," he said. "But this is a different proposition, this is a different level of competition in the Heineken Cup against a quality team like Biarritz.
"It is very important to target this game if we want to go further in the European Cup. It is important to win your home games. So in that respect it is a must-win game.
"But it is going to be extremely hard to win with the amount of injuries we have."
The forecast is for a clear night and, given the talent Connacht have behind the scrum, that is no bad thing. They will need big displays from the rising stars surrounding captain Dan Parks if they are to get a historic result. Elwood's men will give absolutely everything they have, but this one looks beyond them.
Verdict: Away win
CONNACHT – R Henshaw; T O'Halloran, D Poolman, D McSharry, F Vainikolo; D Parks (capt), K Marmion; B Wilkinson, J Harris-Wright, R Loughney; M Kearney, M McCarthy; A Browne, W Faloon, E McKeon. Reps: E Reynecke, D Buckley, J Cooney, D Qualter, J O'Connor, P O'Donohoe, M Nikora, M Jarvis.
BIARRITZ – I Balshaw; T Ngwenya, C Gimenez, M Bosch, A Brew; M Berquist, D Yachvili (capt); F Barcella, B August, F Gomez Kodela; E Lund, T Dubarry; W Lauret, B Guyot, R Lakafia. Reps: JP Genevois, T Synaeghel, W Blaauw, P Taele, I Harinordoquy, Y Lesgourgues, JP Barraque, S Burotu.
Ref – G Garner (RFU).
Connacht v Biarritz,
Live, Sky Sports 2, 8.0
Irish Independent


text:
So here it is, the latest item to grace my kitchen at a cost of £54.99.
This slimeline microwave (H25.8 x W43.3 x D32.7cm) fits perfectly in my kitchen, not taking up too much worktop space. I love the silver finish which makes it look very up to date and modern. It doesn't come on any small legs or have a rubber bottom, so it can slide fairly easily.. ( I am not sure if this is a good point or a bad point to be honest)
The NN-E289M operates at 700W so it is not the most powerful microwave on the market, however with 5 different power options it is very adjustable to your needs. It also has the option to defrost, which my last.. much older microwave did not.
I have not had any problems with this microwave so far, it did come with a manual but is fairly self explanatory to use. It beeps fairly loud when your food is ready which is great as I can hear it from my living room. Plus with a large clear front you can see the food inside as it is cooking away.
I love this item and would recommend it again, the price is great,
I purchased this microwave when I moved in to my flat. I thought this would be ideal for me as it would just be me who would be using it and I knew it wouldn't get a great deal of usage. I was pleased with the style of the product. It looks quite compact and doesn't take up too much space on the work surface.
I found it quite straightforward to learn how to use it. The controls and instructions were pretty clear. Its 700 watt, so not bad for occasional to medium use and also the price. I just use this to heat meals. I've never used it on the defrost/cook setting so don't know how this would be.
One thing that I do find rather annoying is the loudness of the beeps at the end of the timer. It does this 5 times. I try to get to it and stop it before the time runs out.
I think overall this product fairs well. It's of neat appearance with easy to use controls and cooks effectively.
It is probably best suited for single people or couples who don't intend to use it a great deal.
I feel I should firstly make the point that this is a basic microwave - if you are looking for something more than basic reheating, defrosting and cooking veg/ready meals then this will not impress you. We are a family of 5, but we find this perfectly adequate for us as we don't use it for more than the above.
I'm really impressed with the look of the microwave, I didn't buy it for it's looks, but I must say it's much nicer than the online photos show. It has clean lines with no overly modern design features that could risk it looking dated in a few years. The metallic silver finish gives this classic design a modern look, and both the exterior and grey painted interior are very easy to wipe clean. I love the smooth touch button panel, rather than the metallic buttons and dial I had on my previous microwave, as again it's easy to just wipe clean as there are no crevices for dirt to get stuck in.
When I first used the microwave, I was quite surprised by how small it looked inside and was certain it wouldn't fit my large 27cm diameter plates, but they fit perfectly. I've had no problems with it at all so far, it does everything I would expect from a microwave. Considering it's a 700w machine, it seems powerful and cooks very quickly indeed. I haven't really had to adjust cooking speeds from what I was used to with my previous 800w model. It's also very quiet in operation and the finishing beeps aren't annoying like some can be (to me personally).
The only downsides I can think of are that the interior being grey makes it a bit dark inside, and the microwave slips around on the worktop when you press the buttons - but that will be easily fixed with some non slip matting underneath. Aside from those minor points I really can't fault it. My parents had a Panasonic microwave which lasted about 20 years, so I have high hopes from the brand for reliability.
Last year my old microwave started sparking so it immediately ended up at the tip. I didn't think I used it much and actually preferred the extra workspace created in my kitchen so I chose not to replace it. However over time I realised that sometimes a microwave is a handy gadget and I was actually missing it so I decided a replacement was in needed.
Although we are a family of four I don't use the microwave for cooking whole meals, it is usually for defrosting, reheating single portions, making sauces and starting jacket potatoes before putting in the oven. Considering its usage and the space available in my kitchen I thought I would look at some of the smaller models instead as I thought they would be just as suitable as the larger ones.
I ended up selecting the Panasonic NN-E2789M for £59.99 from Argos.
The microwave has a matt silver finish which I really like. My previous microwave had a stainless steel front which permanently showed finger marks, this finish is much more practical and looks really nice. I particularly chose this one due to its size; it is only 26cm by 43cm by 33cm which was a lot smaller than many of the others I looked at. The cord is black and is about a metre long. This is fine for me as the microwave is actually next to a socket in my kitchen but the short lead could cause problems for some location I imagine. The microwave looks very smart with a dark, curved viewing window and a neat touch screen panel. I think it looks very neat sat on my worktop and I also like the digital time display.
The interior of the microwave is grey in colour containing a round glass plate on a wheeled ring base. The actual internal aperture measures 16cm high above the plate, 28cm deep and27cm wide. There is a light that comes on during the cooking process and whenever the door is opened. Depending on where you look for information the capacity is supposed to be 17 or 19 litres. I have found that this size is plenty big enough for what I need; it doesn't seem that much smaller than my old microwave which had much larger external measurements.
This microwave has a 700watt output and has a heating category C. This microwave does have auto reheat, auto cook and auto defrost settings but I must state that I never use any of these settings as I have always been wary of microwave cooking and I prefer to set times myself and be aware of how things are cooking.
I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the size of the box this came in. For once it was nice to collect something that wasn't in ridiculous size packaging, the box was a neat fit and it was easy to extract the microwave. Setting the digital clock was the first job and this was s simple operation that only took me a few moments once I worked out that it was only a 12hr clock not a 24hr one. Once set the clock keeps time unless the electricity supply is interrupted.
The next job was to try some actual cooking. The touch screen has a Micropower button, pressing it once sets the microwave at 700 watts but the second press takes it down to the defrost level of 270 watts, third press is 600, fourth is 440 and fifth is 200watts. This is obviously a very simple operation but I don't like the defrost level being on the 2nd press as it is a very low level and I think it should just decrease rather than jump about as you keep pressing the power. After selecting the power you need to select the cooking time which has got be done using a combination of three buttons: 10mins, 1min and 10secs. Once the cooking time you require is shown on the display you simply press start and the cooking starts.
I was surprised at how loud this microwave is when working, it isn't deafening but it is loud enough that I have trouble hearing the telephone if it rings whilst the oven is cooking. Each time you press a button you get a loud beep and when the cooking finishes you get five of these annoying little beeps. I really think that five beeps is rather excessive, however it only goes off the one time, my previous oven would keep beeping every minute until you opened the door!
The oven can be set for two stage cooking as well but you cannot set a resting time in between cooking times.
I have used the cooker for several different tasks and the results have always been excellent. I have even cooked one or two readymeals and I have found they have been cooked perfectly in the allotted time on the box. The turntable runs well and even with quite a heavy bowl it runs smoothly and does not judder.
The door closes with a solid feel and the opening button also feels firm without being stiff, it does not feel as if it will break easily.
The oven also has a couple of handy features; you can use it as a timer by pressing the timer button and then the required time, up to 90minutes away, and then start. The oven is not working but you have a countdown with an audible end, very handy for when I have cakes in my main oven. Also there is a child safety lock, I no longer need this but by pressing the start button three times the touch pad becomes inactive until you press the cancel key three times. I imagine this is very handy to stop curious children pressing buttons and ending up with the microwave working whilst empty and causing a fire hazard.
I would certainly recommend this Microwave due to its neat appearance, easy controls and effective cooking.
Available for just under £60 this small footprint microwave (H25.8 x W43.3 x D32.7cm/ 19 litres) is perfect for the galley kitchen without compromising on space (it comfortably takes a large dinner plate).
It's slimline footprint enables this microwave to fit on even the narrowest of worktops, while the discrete silver colour doesn't compromise on style ('white' electrical products tend to get quite dirty in a way silver options don't). A glass turntable (c.25cm in diameter) is easily washable and re-fit, the black bordered glass window allows you to see what's cooking (particularly useful for liquids that tend to boil over), and a bank of electrical settings is found on the right hand side.
With a heating category of C (on an A-E scale) this isn't the most efficient of microwaves, and operates at 700W like the majority of other compact options on the market.
Settings are not particularly intuitive - possibly because of the range of options available (5 power levels: high, medium, low, warm, defrost) and nine auto programmes (curry, chinese, pasta, jacket potatoes, fresh vegetables, fresh fish, bread, meat items, meat joints). We don't use the latter - largely because I'm highly suspicuous about a product that lists generic 'chinese' food as if it always needs cooking on the same setting (albeit by weight). Time increments of 10 minutes, 1 minute and 10 seconds can be set.
Though largely without fault, we have had a few occasions when setting something to cook on the 'high' setting has had very little effect and we've ended up with cold soup. I can't quite work out whether this is because we've accidentally set the microwave to the wrong setting (fairly easy to do) or that it malfunctions occasionally.
The microwave beeps as you're putting in the settings and again when the product has finished cooking - useful if you're inclined to forget you've been cooking something (unlikely) and so quite irritating. Similarly it has a fairly loud whirring noise when cooking.
Nevertheless, all-in-all a good, cheap product that serves its purpose in a small kitchen.
Short name: Panasonic NN-E289M


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NEW YORK, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Stock prices on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market were sharply lower in nervous trading at midday Monday after American Airlines Flight 587 crashed just after taking off from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Analysts said the crash rekindled memories of the Sept. 11 terror attacks that rocked the nation.
The blue-chip Dow Jones industrial average, which rose 20.48 points Friday, was down 171.10 points, or 1.81 percent, to 9,436.90. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index, which added 0.71 points in the previous session, was down 25.85 points, or 1.43 percent, to 1,802.63.
The broader New York Stock Exchange composite index was down 7.43 to 563.18 while the Standard & Poor's 500 index was down 16.30 to 1,104.01.
The American Stock Exchange composite index was down 7.95 points to 818.89 while the Wilshire Smallcap Index was down 4.56 to 671.28.
Big Board volume amounted to an estimated 445.85 million shares.
Analysts said stocks fell on news that an American Airlines Airbus A-300 departing from JFK Airport en route to Santo Domingo crashed minutes after taking off. There were 246 passengers and nine crew members aboard.
The cause of the crash, just two months after terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, was not immediately known, but some investors, worried that it might have been the result of a terrorist attack began selling immediately to preserve profits made recently.
Experts said the market was clearly jittery, with stocks starting to regain some ground but then reversing themselves and turning lower again.
Meanwhile, with economic and business news light Monday due to the Veterans Day holiday in the United States, the week will bring the latest reading on the key retail sector.
A government report on Wednesday will show retail sales data for October, while major retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores start to report third quarter earnings data.
The week ends with a report on prices paid by consumers, the Consumer Price Index, which is the government's main inflation gauge.
Last Friday's report on wholesale prices for October showed the largest drop on record.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury market was closed Monday for the Veterans Day holiday. Trading will resume on Tuesday.
In Europe, stock prices closed lower in cautious trading in London, Frankfurt and Paris after Wall Street opened with sharp losses, rocked by news of a passenger jet crash in New York.
The London International Stock Exchange's blue-chip FTSE-100 index lost 97.2 points, or 1.85 percent, to 5,147.0. The blue-chip German DAX index fell 154.62 points, or 3.15 percent, to 4,755.45 and the French CAC-40 index fell 137.70 points, or 3.05 percent, to 4,376.58.
Earlier in Asia, prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange ended lower, pressured by continued pessimism about the country's flagging economy. Japan's blue-chip Nikkei Average of 225 selective issues, which lost 216.08 points Friday, fell another 134.15 points, or 1.31 percent, to 10,081.56 after posting modest gains early in the session.
Analysts said stocks initially rose as investors bid up blue-chip issues.
The Nikkei also got an early boost from Wall Street's continued advance on Friday, when the two main indexes surpassed levels traded before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
However, prices came under pressure after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told parliament that the nation needs to endure two to three years of sluggish economy while the government pushes through the structural reforms needed for longer-term, sustainable growth.
Elsewhere in Asia, prices on the Taiwan Stock Exchange ended higher after the World Trade Organization approved Taiwan's entry, only 24 hours after China. The benchmark Weighted rose 48.85 points, or 1.18 percent, to 4,172.63.
Taiwan, with world's 14th largest trading economy, on Sunday won approval to join the global trade club after seeking entry for 12 years.
Taiwan's state media the Central News Agency quoted Morris Chang, the chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing as saying entry into the WTO would have a greater impact on China than on Taiwan.
China's WTO entry news, however, failed to boost prices on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as investors pocketed profits after the widely-expected approval was finally announced. The blue-chip Hang Seng Index lost 16.80 points, or 0.16 percent, to 10,592.45, after moving in a narrow range throughout the session.
Prices ended slightly higher on the South Korean Stock Exchange. The Kospi composite index rose 7.73 points, or 1.34 percent to 584.48.
Elsewhere around the region, prices ended slightly higher on the Australian Stock Exchange. The key All Ordinaries Index added 17.30 points, or 0.54 percent, to 3,238.70.


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You are here
Ron and Sue Mortensen: Markets take a breather
With all the talk of the need to source corn and wheat to make up the shortfall from the Former Soviet Union (FSU), export sales in the past few weeks have been surprisingly disappointing. Buyers, after the initial panic, may be content to wait and see if prices continue to drift lower. Wheat futures are more than $1.70 off their highs and corn futures are 25 cents off their highs.
The spread between corn and wheat prices also continues to narrow this week. When concern regarding the FSU drought first surfaced at the end of June, wheat futures prices were $1.33 higher than corn futures. Wheat futures rocketed higher, and corn and soybeans sort of followed. At the peak of the rally, wheat prices were $3.97 higher than corn.
Wheat futures are definitely off their highs, but to narrow the spread again, corn futures have been the hot star in the past few weeks. Now wheat prices are only $1.98 over corn.
This week, "star" status has rotated to soybeans. As far as exports are concerned, bean sales were larger than expected, as China continues to be the largest buyer. Plus, all season long, a very common trade was to be long grains (corn, wheat) and short soybeans. As corn and wheat have backed off from the highs, there has been liquidation of this trade—buying beans and selling corn and/or wheat.
The risk of loss in trading commodities can be substantial. You should therefore carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial situation.


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Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) is the default search in the upper search box in the Firefox browser. This is because Google paid a good price to be there. And Google is helping Mozilla stay alive as they are Mozilla's biggest revenue source.
"We?ve just renewed our agreement with Google for an additional three years. This agreement now ends in November of 2011 rather than November of 2008, so we have stability in income," stated Mitchell Baker, Chairperson of the Mozilla Foundation. "We?re also learning more all the time about how to use Mozilla?s financial resources to help contributors through infrastructure, new programs, and new types of support from employees."
Mozilla's revenue was $52.9 million in 2005 and $66.8 million in 2006. The 2007 numbers aren't yet known. Over those two years, it is believed that 85% of Mozilla's revenue was generated from their partnership with Google. Now that the deal is extended to November 2011, Mozilla will continue to depend on the search engine company to keep their employees paid, run an office, and have all the server power they need.


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Tourist Tip #90 / Biblical Be'er Sheva
In light of the current situation, it helps to remember that Biblical Isaac and Ishmael both trace their roots to Be'er Sheva, the desert town settled by their father, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Be'er Sheva is not the first place you might think of as coexistence capital of the world, but when you realize that it's the city the Bible says was...
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Lindsay Lohan attempts Elizabeth Taylor glamour at premiere of Liz and Dick
LINDSAY Lohan attempted to pull off a bit of Hollywood glamour last night as she attended the premiere of Liz and Dick.
The biopic of the love affair between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton has been slammed by critics who have claimed Lohan's performance lacks credibility.
And last night the actress, hoping to channel the glamour of the late Taylor stepped out in a gold dress with red jewels to promote the movie.
With her red locks hanging over her shoulder, the actress completed her look with hot red lipstick a fur stole and heels.
Liz and Dick had been billed by Lifetime as Lindsay's comeback movie role after struggling with court appearances, drug abuse and alcohol problems.
A Hollywood critic wrote that Lindsay's performance in Liz and Dick was "half train wreck, half SNL skit."
Speaking about the role herself, Ms Lohan said: "I relate to her on a lot of levels — living in the public eye, dealing with the stress of what other people say, whether it's true or not.'
"I personally understand Liz, because you're living your life for everyone to see, and people are growing with you."


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Game to Remember: Kevin Bass
Game to Remember: Kevin Bass
Kevin Bass was in the thick of some of the most memorable Astros games in the 1980s. A popular player, he was a switch-hitter who could run and hit for power, which meant he could beat you in many different ways.
For Bass, there was no bigger thrill in his 14-year Major League career -- 10 of which came during two different stints in an Astros uniform -- than hitting a walk-off grand slam off Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams to polish off a sweep of the Cubs on Aug. 20, 1989.
Game to Remember
|Kevin Bass and Figures
|1. Full name: Kevin Charles Bass.
|2. Game to Remember: Aug. 20, 1989 (Astros 8, Cubs 4).
|3. Nickname: K.B.
|4. Jersey number: 17.
|5. Primary Position: RF.
|6. Bats/Throws: Switch/Right.
|7. Born: May 12, 1959.
|8. Birthplace: Redwood City, Calif.
|9. Major League debut: April 9, 1982.
|10. Years in Major Leagues: 14.
|11. Years with Houston: 10 (1982-89, '93-94).
|12. Other teams: Brewers (1982), Giants (1990-92), Mets (1992), Orioles (1995).
|13. Key stats with Houston: .278 batting average, 30 triples, 87 homers, 468 RBIs, 120 stolen bases.
|14. Claim to fame: Bass made the 1986 National League All-Star team in the Astrodome and finished the year with a .311 batting average, 20 homers and 22 steals.
|15. Did you know? Bass is the cousin of NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver James Lofton.
|16. What's he doing now? Bass lives in Houston. When he's not on the golf course, he's busy in the real-estate business.
"It kind of put a little damper on them late in the season," Bass said.
Batting third in the Houston lineup, Bass went 3-for-5 with five RBIs and homered from each side of the plate, including a one-out grand slam to left-center field in the ninth that won the game for Houston, 8-4, to thrill a Sunday afternoon crowd of 38,624.
"I remember being in a can't-miss situation," Bass said. "There was only one out. Billy Doran came up before me and struck out, and I was after him, so there was one out in a tie ballgame. Either way, other than hitting a double play, all I had to do was make contact to win, basically. [Williams] gives [me] this pitch pretty high over the dish and I served it up -- grand slam."
Williams, who later in his career played for the Astros, was an All-Star in 1989 and finished ninth in the NL Cy Young Award voting after saving 36 games, pitching 81 2/3 innings and allowing six homers that year -- two of them to Bass.
"I just kind of remember being in that situation, being able to relax a little bit more," Bass said. "All the pressure was on [Williams]. Mitch wasn't a guy that threw a lot of strikes, but he threw hard, and if he got it over the plate, he was pretty effective at times. That was kind of what I was feeling, what I remember."
Bass homered off the hard-throwing Williams from the right side of the plate in the ninth. Earlier in the day, he homered from the left side of the plate against starter Mike Bielecki. That was the third time in his career he homered from both sides of the plate in the same game, tying an NL record.
The Bass game-winner came before game-winning homers were called "walk-off" homers, and before the celebrations at home plate became so animated and rehearsed. Back then, a few slaps to helmet and a couple high fives at home plate got the job done.
"It was in the Dome, so that made it even more special, because fans were going crazy," said Bass, who was an unknown when he was one of three players dealt to the Astros from the Brewers in exchange for eventual Hall of Famer Don Sutton in 1982.
The Astrodome, with its AstroTurf surface and large outfield, fit Bass' game perfectly. Perhaps that's why after leaving the Astros for free agency following the 1989 season, he chose to re-sign with them three years later.
"I played with four other clubs, but Houston was the most productive [place for me]," he said. "The Astrodome fit my game. I really enjoyed playing there. It was a different game back then than it was today. I'm not saying it was better, but it was different."
Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Tag's Lines. Follow @brianmctaggart on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Originally Posted by Skullguise
It's pretty funny seeing the glowing reviews of the expansion with the game breaking bug in it…
Don't get me wrong. I love the game but Beth needs to get off their ass fix this ASAP. Not everyone is aware there is even a problem yet or that the modders have already fixed it since Beth takes FOREVER.


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Lubbock County resident David Neufeld again finds himself at crossroads with Lubbock County.
Neufeld claims that the caliche pathway near his southwest Lubbock County home is his private driveway, but the county calls it County Road 1560.
The issue arose in October, when county commissioners agreed to pursue remedies, including filing suit against Neufeld, after he erected a gate on the road. If the gate closed, the county argued, it would amount to blocking a public thoroughfare.
That gate never closed, but a new one put up several months ago was closed recently, Neufeld's attorney Ronnie Agnew said. It has since been reopened.
''He really wants to be a good neighbor; he just objects to opening his driveway to the rest of the world,'' Agnew said.
The road in dispute connects with Woodrow Road and County Road 7620. It runs about 40 feet from the front door of Neufeld's house.
John Grace, the assistant criminal district attorney handling the case for the county, said the recent closed gate does not amount to blocking a public thoroughfare because the gate was not locked and was temporary.
Agnew said that Neufeld tried to turn the road over to the county, but a county employee refused the offer because the road didn't meet county standards.
County commissioners discussed the issue behind closed doors Monday.
Grace said the county is looking to discuss the issue with Neufeld and Agnew before deciding how to proceed.
''Every case is different, but there is nothing about this case that would make me reluctant to pursue the county's position,'' Grace said. ''At this point, it is the county's position that that road is and for quite some time has been a public road.''
Commissioner Kenny Maines said that because the county has maintained the road since the 1970s at a previous owner's request, the road should remain open to county residents.
Several factors, including maintenance, can qualify a road as being publicly owned, he said.
Neufeld previously said that what Maines refers to as maintenance were several favors county road crews did, including occasionally grading the road.
Agnew said Neufeld's argument is supported by the fact that he purchased an easement where the road crosses the property between his lot and Woodrow Road.
''Just from a pure legal standpoint and a rational standpoint, an easement states you have the right to go across somebody's land,'' Agnew said. ''If that were a county road, it would be absurd for anyone to require an easement.''
''That's not a correct legal position,'' Grace said. ''A private landowner will own the land under the road, but that doesn't give him the right to close the road.''
Dirk Fillpot can be contacted at 766-8727 or firstname.lastname@example.com
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Abu Dhabi Masdar Capital to launch a renewable energy fund with Japan's DBJ
Abu Dhabi private equity firm Masdar Capital announced plans to form a renewable energy project platform, in partnership with Development Bank of Japan for investments in North America and Europe.
Masdar Capital currently has over $540 million invested across the Masdar Clean Tech Fund and DB Masdar Clean Tech Fund, jointly managed with partners.
Masdar Fund is listed in the Middle East Investors Directory with the code SIN38
More details follows
Masdar Capital, the private equity arm of Abu Dhabi based renewable energy company Masdar, announced plans to form a renewable energy project platform, in partnership with Development Bank of Japan Inc. 'DBJ'.
The MOU, signed during the opening day of the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, is an equal share partnership with investments focused on commissioned solar and wind projects within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development nations, with a specific geographic focus on North America and Europe.
Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar said: "Masdar Capital's collaboration with DBJ through the renewable energy project platform signals a clear cooperation between our two countries that are actively partnering to diversify our energy mix through renewable energy. Given the lack of financing available to fund operational renewable energy projects, it is an opportune time to invest in projects that can provide stable returns to Masdar Capital and DBJ."
He continued: "Masdar has forged a strong relationship with Japan over the last three years and Masdar Capital has welcomed investments in our second fund from a number of esteemed Japanese investors.
"Partnerships are a critical part of Masdar's business model as we look to collaborate with the best partners to diversify our future energy mix. Masdar typically looks to work with those who have strong domain knowledge and a consistent and extensive track record when signing into a partnership."
This partnership represents one of Masdar's commitments to the Sustainable Energy for All initiative.
Masdar Capital and DBJ both plan to commit significant capital to a platform that will target stable returns from investing in renewable energy operating assets that utilise bankable technologies. This platform will look to make minority equity investments in operational assets, targeting assets managed by reputed players in the renewable energy space.
Initially, this platform will target onshore wind and solar PV assets in countries with relatively low sovereign risk. A pipeline of over 1GW of operational solar and wind assets fitting the platform's mandate have already been identified.
Masdar Capital, an Abu Dhabi based asset management company, currently has over US$540 million invested across the Masdar Clean Tech Fund and DB Masdar Clean Tech Fund, jointly managed with partners. Masdar has also partnered with Japan on a number of other initiatives including the Beam Down Project, a joint pilot project of the Masdar Institute, Japan's Cosmo Oil Company and the Tokyo Institute of Technology.
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Skyrail back in air after weekend fault
The popular tourist attraction Kuranda Skyrail in far north Queensland is operating again after a major power surge on the weekend.
About 50 Skyrail passengers were trapped in their gondolas on Saturday evening, some for up to four hours, after a large tree fell onto power lines near Barron Falls station.
Skyrail managing director Max Shepherd says the damaged equipment has been fixed and tested.
"The hardest time was on Saturday evening - getting all of the faults corrected immediately so we could operate," he said.
"Yesterday it was very, very much a case of replacing and rebuilding some of the electronic components, getting them tested.
"The maintenance crew are still working effectively rebuilding our spares - pretty much used up all our spare parts."
Topics: emergency-incidents, rural-tourism, kuranda-4881, cairns-4870


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A BURGLAR avoided jail for stealing more than £5,000 worth of hi-tech goods from a South Tyneside business – only to be locked up now for flouting court orders.
Peter Forshaw was given a 23-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court in January following a raid at Jarrow insulation firm Team 42.
But the 39-year-old is now behind bars after all, for failing to turn up for three appointments with probation officers required as part of the supervision order he was given instead of a jail term.
Forshaw, of Broughton Road, South Shields, admitted the breach at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court yesterday.
Magistrates told Forshaw he will serve 20 weeks of the suspended custodial sentence.
He was also given an additional 63 days behind bars, to run concurrently, to write off £3,463 he owes in fines and costs to the court.
The court heard that Forshaw had failed to attend two pre-arranged probation service appointments on Monday, March 3, and Thursday, April 24, and was not at his address for a home visit on Monday, April 28.
The magistrates were told that Forshaw missed the appointments as he had been carrying out work as a labourer.
Forshaw had initially been due to attend court on Wednesday to answer the breach charges but didn't show up after mixing up the date he was due in the dock, but when he realised, he handed himself in to police.
Stephanie Malloy, defending, said: "He accepts he missed three appointments and says it was because of employment reasons.
"Since he has spent some time in custody this morning, he has realised he must make this order his priority."
Chairman of the bench Pauline Barrett told him: "While this is your first breach, you have breached the order on three separate occasions in March and April and didn't provide an acceptable reason.
"We have listened to the mitigation on your behalf but feel we have not heard anything that would make it unjustified to activate the suspended sentence order in part."
Forshaw took three laptops, two iPads, a mobile phone, a watch and £200 in cash during the burglary last June.
But forward-thinking bosses at the Royal Industrial Estate firm had installed a free computer application, called Find My iPad, and used it to track down one of the stolen iPads while police were at the premises carrying out investigations.
When officers arrived at the property, in Beach Road, South Shields, pinpointed by the app, bosses at the firm were able to remotely set off an alarm on the iPad device so it could be located.
The iPad, as well as the watch and some of the other stolen items, was then found in a backyard.
Twitter: @shieldsgazchris


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Still Funny
It's becoming a tradition that all visiting cousins have their photo taken in front of this.
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If you ever hear that I have been babysitting, know this: It was an absolute act of desperation on the part of the mothers. It means there was no other option.
And it does occasionally happen.
As in the case of Nicole, who had a doctor's appointment and called. "Are you up for a little babysitting? I won't be gone long."
"Gone long." Key words here because that means "such an abbreviated time that even Ronda can handle it." So, I agreed.
Nicole has 3-year-old identical twin girls, Aslyn and Bree, who showed up with their 5-year-old sister, Zoe, and her best friend. The twins, though sweet and polite, are a basketful of activity, which usually leads to trouble. Most twins go hand-in-hand to find trouble but not these two — they split up and find it.
As I battled the forces that be to keep them out of everything, I thought to myself, "I can make it for an hour and a half." They ran, they jumped, they screamed, they asked the questions over and over. I'm the kind of person who likes to answer a question from children with a concise economy of words. Aslyn and Bree are vehemently opposed to such a simplistic approach.
After two hours, Nicole texted that she had been detained. I took a deep breath.
Bree tugged on my leg. "Where's Dixie Dew?" Bree is captivated with her little four-legged cousin.
I sighed (I did a lot of sighing that morning), "She's in the closet, hiding."
"Why her hide?"
"Because she's scared, just like me." The twins looked quizzical but, for once, they couldn't think of another question.
Needing to escape, I decided I'd go for my morning run. So, I took all the kids out in the yard, told the five-year-olds to keep an eye on Tornados A and B while I ran up and down my driveway so I could watch them.
But there was no escaping. The twins ran with me. For 30 minutes, they did not slow down. "Good," I thought to myself, "This'll wear 'em out."
In. My. Dreams. Nothing wears those two out. They're the wearer outers, not the wearer-out'ees.
When we returned, they wanted to eat. I put them on high stools at the kitchen island and gave them food and drink. I needed to leave for an appointment when Nicole returned so I was going to dress. I left Zoe, who at 5 is more capable than me, in charge.
"Do not get down. If you get down before you finish eating, I am going to spank you." I made them look me in the eye. "Now, repeat back to me what I just said."
Aslyn grinned. "Don't get down, get spanked."
"That's right." I kissed her on the forehead. "Bree, what did I say?"
She shrugged and grinned. "I don't know."
That should have been my first indication that she had plans. "I said, 'Don't get down or I'll spank you.' Do you understand?"
She nodded. I said to Zoe, "If one of them gets down, come and get me."
I was putting on my make-up when Zoe ran in. "Bree got down."
As soon as Bree saw me come into the kitchen, she started scrambling to get back up in the chair.
"Bree, what did I tell you?"
She pouted a bit. "I not want spanked." See, she heard the spanking part.
You gotta do what you tell a child you're going to do or you're lost all control. Since I didn't have much to begin with, I couldn't risk losing what I had. I popped her lightly on the bottom which resulted in nothing more than a pout.
Three hours and 17 minutes later, Nicole returned. As she was herding them out the door, they screamed in unison, "Bye Ronda! We come back to see you!"
Yep, and that's what's got me worried, too.
• Ronda Rich is not a child expert but the best-selling author of "What Southern Women Know (That Every Woman Should)."


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Monday, November 1, 1999 Published at 16:19 GMT
World: Africa
Dinner with a femidom
So what do you do with this thing? (Photo: Center for Communications Programs)
The UN programme on Aids is trying to promote the use of female condoms as a way of preventing HIV transmission. But journalist Ticky Monekosso found that even well-educated African women remain ignorant of the potential of the femidom.
We were 12 women in a Chinese restaurant in Ferney-Voltaire, a French town just across the border from Geneva. Most of the women were from various countries in sub-Saharan Africa, members of an African women's association involved in Aids campaigning.
My dinner companions were married, mostly to UN international staff members, had lived abroad for more than five years and had studied at Western universities. The average age was about 30.
So they were an exceptional group of women. If they had problems with the female condoms, how much more severe would the problems be with ordinary women in Africa?
Yet only two women at our table were able to identify immediately what the 'plastic bag' was. One was a medical doctor and the other - a Ugandan - told me she had seen a femidom in a pharmacy in Geneva.
Something to do with sex?
Most of the women realised quickly that it was something to do with sex, but not with women's protection. Then we laughed a lot, imagining how to use it. Then, everybody became a little fearful, insecure, even confused. Was it really a female condom? The rings, what about the two rings?
It must be difficult to introduce into the vagina, said Josette. It would need care to use the condom hygienically, said Aminata, knowing the living conditions of women in Africa.
What about the "sexual negotiation" asked another. Persuading their husbands to accept the femidoms posed a problem for everyone.
The most important criticism was that the femidom was too easily visible. The women would have preferred something more discreet.
Then they asked about the price, its once-only use and why it is in a single packet and not in a packet of three or 12 like men's condoms.
Once, twice, three times?
Fatou suggested that the condom could probably be used several times with the same partner. But what about cleaning it? Horrible¡
I was left to inform the women that through grassroots social marketing networks, UNAIDS had managed to reduce the cost for public-sector distributors to just $0.62 per femidom - compared with a commercial price of $3.
And because it is strong, but expensive, the World Health Organisation said the product can be safely re-used up to five times, if washed carefully. So women tend to wash femidoms and re-use them, to minimise the cost of our self-protection - even when packet instructions warn against it.
"What about the movement? Have we got to hold it during intercourse? No, I can believe it; This is to give us cramp in our legs and hands", Said Fatou, seeing the pictures in the accompanying booklet. Some of the women felt a little deceived, even shocked.
"Please, don't laugh: it is a question on life or death," said Eva.
Someone else asked: "Please Ticky, tell them that we need better design for more discretion, safety, effectiveness and acceptability.
"We understand that it is an urgent matter and may need urgent research, but we need a better design to convince both the men and ourselves."
We also explored some of the results of UNAIDS studies on using the female condom in sub-Sahara African countries.
Stella said it was "incredible" that studies showed up to 95% of African men in favour of the use of female condoms.
"In Cameroon we cannot imagine any African man accepting these things," she said.
'Tool of negotiation'
On the other hand, said Olga, "even if the sexual story ends by using the male condom, it is important for us to have an alternative tool of sexual negotiation".
In Zimbabwe, South Africa and other few African countries where Femidom is available, the picture is different.
Women from those countries quickly realised that they needed to protect themselves in a cultural environment "where men do not think to put on socks before going out".


text:
Mid-Prairie comes from behind against Fairfield
By Derek Helling
Sports Editor
The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk and Fairfield Trojan boys' basketball teams played a game that made all those who braved the drifting snow to attend forget about the weather. Mid-Prairie ended up winning the game 51 – 42, but they did not do so without immense drama.
Fairfield's zone defense was very effective in the first half, creating 10
Golden Hawk turnovers that helped the Trojans build a 10-point lead going into the break, 31 – 21.
"We went to a zone into the second quarter and they [Mid-Prairie] struggled," Fairfield head coach Tyler Miklo said.
"I thought we were missing some passes in the first half," Mid-Prairie head coach Chris Kern added.
Both teams made their halftime adjustments and came out for the final 16 minutes of play. The Golden Hawks switched to a man defense from their zone they had played in the first half and it paid big dividends. The Trojans were limited to only 11 points in the second half and were outrebounded 33 – 18.
The offense improved for Mid-Prairie as well. The Golden Hawks reduced the turnovers to three in the second half and put up 30 points to take the victory in the final four minutes of play.
"We were very impatient offensively in the second half. We took too many quick jump shots and when Landon [Gamrath] picked up his fourth foul early that really hurt us; we need his size inside. We had opportunities and we just didn't finish," Miklo explained.
"Our defense was outstanding in the second half. It bred our offense. We came out in man and just decided were going to man them up. Our bench was also fantastic tonight. When your bench can produce like that and you don't have any drop off, that's huge," Kern said.
Fairfield shot 15/44 (34 percent) from the field. The Trojans went 9/12 from the free-throw line and 3/16 from 3-point range. Seven Fairfield buckets were assisted. The Trojans recorded five steals and a block.
Junior Federico Ferretti led Fairfield with 19 points. Senior Vincent Horras had seven rebounds to lead the Trojans. Ferretti and senior Joe Hietpas tied for the team lead in assists with two. Ferretti and sophomore Jordan Reid each had two steals. Gamrath provided Fairfield's lone block.
Senior Christian Johnson led Mid-Prairie with 17 points. Johnson and senior Nick Stimson each grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Golden Hawks. Stimson and senior Wyatt Cady both had two assists.
The non-conference win improves Mid-Prairie's record to 7-5. Fairfield's record drops to 7-6. The Golden Hawks will be on the court again Thursday, Jan. 23 at home against Camanche. The Trojans will be in action on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at home against Centerville.


text:
The Augusta Commission on Tuesday will reconsider a motion to fund a pedestrian bridge across Reynolds Street.
The bridge, which was a vote short of passage in December, met a critical audience last week when a commission committee declined to endorse it, citing a lack of necessity.
The enclosed bridge would join the Augusta Convention Center and its new parking deck. It is a final detail sought by Augusta Riverfront LLC, which operates the convention center, deck and nearby Marriott hotel.
Augusta Riverfront President Paul Simon, who is scheduled to address the commission at a 5 p.m. meeting, said the bridge will ensure that convention attendees cross Reynolds Street safely.
Sales tax funding exists for the project, but its price tag is between $891,561 and $991,561, depending on whether a lighted marquee sign is included.
Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle, who seconded a motion in August to allow the bridge, said its inclusion was a concession the city made while negotiating a better and shorter management agreement with Augusta Riverfront on the parking garage.
Guilfoyle said that if the commission doesn't support funding the bridge, he'd like to see the money spent on repairing broken infrastructure downtown.
Mayor Pro Tem Corey Johnson, who last week expressed uncertainty about the project, won't be present for today's vote. Johnson, sustainability manager John Paul Stout and traffic engineer Steve Cassell are attending a Sustainable Communities Leadership Academy in New Orleans, City Administrator Fred Russell said.
Their attendance is a requirement of the city's 2010 receipt of a $1.8 million federal grant to assist redevelopment of the "priority corridor" in Augusta's newest master plan, Russell said.
Other items on today's agenda are:
• Adoption of a new procedure to streamline approval of Housing and Community Development contracts by requiring only the mayor, city administrator and HCD director to sign
• Authorizing the law department to update bylaws for a HCD citizens' advisory committee
• Authorizing Guilfoyle, who heads the finance committee, to re-establish a subcommittee to study reforming the city tax code.


text:
Share Photos, Contacts, Apps w/ Bump
Bump makes sharing photos, contacts, and apps as easy as bumping phones together!
- Version: 1.2.11
- Size: 525KB
- Category: Social
- Price: Free
Bump is a very "handy" app to have installed on your Android phone and is even compatible with iPhones.
How to use:
- Open Bump on both phones
- Gently bump hands together
- Confirm the exchange
It's really as easy as that. For each media type you can transfer, there is a tab with a button to "attach" files to it. Just attach everything you want to transfer at once and bump away. Make sure you're either connected to 3G or WiFi if you're doing many items at once, otherwise it may take quite awhile to complete.
- Quickly transfer multiple photos, contacts, and apps
- Compatible with iPhone
- Very easy to use
Areas for improvement:
- Support for documents and other file types (e.g. Music) is a must
Conclusion: An app with a great concept that you will surely use.
Related Reviews & Articles:
No Comments
- Top Android App: Pulse News Reader « Best Android Apps Review - [...] you can easily import your feeds here as well. Another very cool feature is the ability to use Bump …


text: I woke up yesterday morning to the site of missing equipment. They cut the locks on my trimmer traps and blower racks and made off with it all. I lost 2 stihl km 90 Kombi heads one with the weedeater attachment,one with the edger attachment..2 new stihl backpack blowers and one echo backpack blower. Over $2000.00 worth of equipment not to mention the damage to my trailer or lost wages .. Thieves SUCK!! I just have to believe that karma will do what I won't have the chance to... It really hurts anyone who is in this business to have things stolen ...but it is killing me as an owner operator, who has no other income.


text:
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text:
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Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Problem Codes/TSBs
bhw77 Posts: 101Hi guys,
How can I get that TSB 00-05-22-002H without subscribing to AllData?
Turning of rotors to correct lateral runout is covered under original 3/36 warranty.
Dealer told that rotors are covered 12/12 and
tried to charge me for repair. Never happened thou...
I got the latest TSB (002H)from the free www.alldata.com/tsb site, but that site no longer lists TSB issued prior to July 2006. GM updates this TSB in June each year to add new model year. I also, get my TSB from www.infotraxx.com. For 14.95 you can access all the TSB for your car for one year. They are in PDF format and you can save them to your computer for future reference. They currently only have TSB issued through May 2006. They add new ones a couple times a year. The latest one they have is 002F from June 2005 (when they added 2006 GM models).
What model year and engine (likely 3.5L) do you have? If you noticed this on a specific ignition cycle had you recently done a remote start or had a short engine run cycle before driving it when this happens?
I have the 3.5l, 2005 Maxx, and did a remote start (after market remote starter) - the car ran for about 5 minutes, engine temp a bit under the half mark. Never had a problem up until now. But, I rest the oil life monitor, and Since yesterday am (about 60 miles the oil life is down only 2% - it is now at 98%. I did a remote start this am - high 20's for the temp again, and knock on wood everything seemed normal. My oil life did not drop any on my way to work - about 10 miles. Yesterday it dropped 5% in about 30 minutes. Thanks for any ideas!
OK, UPDATE: It was down in the 20's, heavy frost last night, warmed up the car for about 5 minutes before I left this am. Temp gauge goes to a little below the half mark (side not - this is where the temp goes even on an extended trip - we went on a 200+ mile trip this weekend and only dropped 2% in about 250 miles). I dropped 10% in less than an hour this am. RPM and mpg remains normal. So, question 1 - does this sound like a thermosat prob? and question 2 - Can the service dept. hook a scanner up and see if the thermostat is bad - even with a "warm" engine? THANKS for any tips!
Larry :-)
Well, here is what is going on: Only on extreme cold mornings does the oil life drop. So, took it to the dealer, car is not throughing any codes, they have no idea what could cause this. They said all check out ok, did an oil change and they said oil looked good. I know something is up, as it is not normal to loose 10% of your oil life in less than an hour. ANY ideas? THANKS!
Curious if you did a remote start or some brief engine run prior to driving when you saw the % drop?
If so you might be dealing with a software issue.
To your knowledge has dealer recently updated software in engine controller? There is likely an update although it would have been done per a TSB to address a long crank condition and not your complaint. However it might also resolve your complaint. If I can find out more I will
Yes, I this has happened when I remote start. I do not know about any software flash, I did have the car in in August and they worked on the steering tsb. Maybe they did something to the software then? I have an aftermarket remote that the dealer installed when we bought our Maxx if that makes a difference. THANKS for the info! It gives me something to suggest to the dealer!
Larry :-)
NP but they certainly aren't going to tie the oil life complaint to a PCM reflash from anything in a TSB.
This condition was probably always present, not due to anything they did - just takes certain conditions to show up.
What I was saying is there there is a potential that this might be cleared up with latest calibration.
OK, I have not remote started my car since last week, and all is well. So, I am going to try the remote start next week and see if the oil life drops. I suspect it will. If that is the case, then I must need to be reflashed?
Larry :-)
I still don't know if latest calibration made any changes in that area - I will ask about it.
Thanks, I appreciate it!
Larry :-)
The local dealer printed out the Brake TSB, all 20 pages of it that go into a lot of procedural issues wrt how to turn rotors, how to clean rotors, et all. It did say proper torqueing of wheels (via torque sticks) and proper runout were absolutely critical with these brakes - any small deviation would result in pulsation within 4K miles or so.
What it did not mention were any replacement rotor parts to address the problem. So I guess the rotors, at least to date, will remain relatively flimsy and easy to warp.
Local dealer also printed out hot starting problem TSB. The report hints that the problem might be related to a Delphi EGR valve (saying that the vehicles with Siemens EGR valves already had newest calibrations). I'm to go into dealer tomorrow to see if they will recalibrate my '04 Maxx and if they do it, whether or not it helps.
I found old notes that complaint I had heard about was really specific to a 2006 model but am still checking on it.
THANKS again! It has been real cold, and I have not used the remote start. I have been manually going out and starting the car in the morning. The oil has dropped 10% in the last week and a half, and I have put over 1000 miles on. So it is acting normal now. I am going to try to start it tomorrow with the remote and see if that makes it drop. I have a suspension that it will.
mrcolt Posts: 4I found a site that's selling the full text of TSBs for even cheaper than Infotraxx. The posted prices are $2 for each individual TSB or $20 per year for a subscription that gets all TSBs for your vehicles. What makes them really cheaper than Infotraxx is that they don't charge extra for additional vehicles in your account up to 7 vehicles. So you can have all the TSBs for 7 vehicles for just $20 per year. The TSBs are in PDF format. The website is at http://www.iamsam.com/tsb.aspx
Thanks so much for this find. This site is way better than INFOTRAXX and it's current. INFOTRAXX has not added new bulletins issued after May 06. $20/yr for 7 vehicles is a bargain.
tdadcox Posts: 1I would like to see the print out of the hot starting problem if you could send it to me. I have been having trouble with my 04 maxx for over a year and fed up.
pgroeger Posts: 3here's my situation. 05 MAXX, just in the last 3 days the engine has powered itself down while on the road. I called the dealer and he advised me that that this will happen again and that I have to bring it in for service. Which of course I did. On the DIC when the system shuts down it shows " engine power reduced" and then " engine disabled" So of course you roll onto the shoulder or into a parking lot if you are lucky. The dealer went through their stuff and it seems that there were 2 error codes on the EBCM c0242 and c0561 that were not present at the time that they had the vehicle. Their suggestion was to drive the car and "monitor" till it happens again or "perhaps it will not show up again and if it does then to come back" They cleared the error codes in on the EBCM and of course it happened again later tonight. (SIGH) just wondering if this has happened to anyone else and any solutions
maliboooo Posts: 1I felt the same way as you did, when the dealer indicated he replaced the steering gear on my 2006 Malibu. The clunking noise went away, but about 3 to 5 thousand miles later it was back as strong as ever. This time they said they had a factory bulletin indicating this problem needs a special type of lubrication grease kit. To get to the place they have to lube, they have to remove the front panel inside the car behind the steering wheel. They lubed this place. The clunking went away for about 500 miles and counting now , but I expect it to return. There must be some bad news friction some place between steering parts, if they have to keep lubricating this same place all the time. It sounds like another band aid fix by GM to a problem that would cost them too much in a recall. The problem is the bandaid is going to keep falling all before the sore ever heals.
For those of us living with that rear sunshade that will not stay put.
THE TSB/problem code is: TSB# 04-08-110-004B Part number 15227008. A plastic reinforcement that should have been installed at the factory. Cost me $30 for one reinforcement. If you have a 2006/2007 MAxx the problem may have been fixed, but if not get them to put these reinforcments on especially if your warranty has not expired. The plastic sunfoof trim gets soft because of the sun and the shade will POP out and scare the fun out of your drive as they roll up. It is a simple install, pull back the trim and stick on the reinforcment. You may have to pull down the head liner for more space. After the part is set, get a small clamp to make sure the adhesive sticks, let set for about and hour. Ask your parts person to print a diagram for you, the diagram ID is 1697983 AND Do Both Sides especially if warranty covers it.
Maxxes have had this rear sunshade problem ever since '04. The reinforcements usually require removal of the rear roof glass surrounds in order to apply the reinforcements.
Don't feel too bad... the first fix for the '04 were pieces of cardboard glued to the inside of the rear roof glass surrounds. I got the real fix around two years later.
grayhawk Posts: 1The lift gate latch on the rear of my 2004 Maliu Maxx works sporadically when it is very, very cold outside. When the outside temperature warms up, neither the driver's door button nor the key fob button can get it to open. I had the lock (motor) replaced twice, but it only worked for a short while.
Any ideas?? Vaman
torya77 Posts: 1HI Pete
I know its been awhile since you posted this problem but I'm wondering if you ever found out what it was exactly ... my 2006 Chevy Malibu is doing EXACTLY the same thing ... I've been researching it this morning and I think it may have something to do with the TPS (or body) as I had that replaced not long ago and it seems that others have had a problem with the wiring on these anyway if you were able to get answers I was hoping you would share them. Thank you - Victoria
The renforcements I received were made of hard plastic and all I did to get them fastened was to pull down the rear section of the head liner, pull back the plastic where the reinforcment were to be attched and let the double sided tape set in. Very easy install.
I had the same problem. MAke sure that the plastic moulding and rubber weather strip is pushed all the way down. Oil ( i used w d 40) the heck out of the catch on the rear hatch and the catch. make sure all is clean. That seemed to work for me and had to be done on a regular basis. It was something I had to live with. i did not have the motor replaced.
seubanksiii Posts: 1What was the resolution? We are having the same issue
Hi im having the same EXACT problem with my 2006 Chevy Malibu Ls Sedan...ive taken it to 2 places which both claim its an electrical problem...I seen that this issue happened last year if you could please tell me how you got the issue resolved I would greatly appreciate your feedback.
Hey Victoria
We both have the same car and I was wondering if you ever got the issue resolved??? Im in desperate need of some insight on the matter as you went or are still going through the same thing!
Thanks - Kita
eh81 Posts: 1my 05 maxx just started doing this a few days ago. i took it to the dealer and there were 13 error codes but they could not find the problem. they replaced driver front turn signal because it was out and said that could have caused some kind of short?? my car has stalled twice since. now i have to take it back. Its pretty frustrating
This discussion has been closed.


text:
Rangers fans have hit back at Aberdeen supporters for poking fun at the horrifically violent knee injury sustained by Light Blues legend Ian Durrant 29 years ago.
Eagle-eyed Gers fan Ran McLean, from Glenboig, posted an image of the offensive banner onto Facebook fan page FollowFollow.com late on Wednesday night after a 2-1 win saw Aberdeen triumph at Ibrox for the first time in quarter of a century.
The banner appears to show The Simpsons cartoon character Nelson pointing towards an image of Durrant with a speech bubble saying 'Ha Ha!' coming out of his mouth.
Homer, meanwhile, looks as though he is ready to tackle Durrant in the background of the image which has 'The Simpsons' written on it.
The controversial banner (Credit: Rab McLean via FollowFollow/Facebook)
The banner makes reference to the shocking October 1988 tackle Durrant, then only 21, received at the hands of Aberdeen player Neil Simpson at Pittodrie.
Having torn the cruciate ligaments in his right knee, the horrendous tackle led to Durrant not being able to play for almost three years.
Posting the image online, a furious Rab said: "As if tonight wasn't bad enough, being beside these scummy b******s was torture, lets see if the press pick up on the durrant banner."
Fans on the FollowFollow.com page were quick to react with a similar sense of rage.
Retired Durrant, now 50, is assistant manager to Stephen Aitken at Dumbarton
"What do you expect from this shower of uneducated clowns," said one, as another added: "Where's the need fur that banner, thats riduculous, f*****g basically celebrating the fact that simpson wrecked jinx's career, causing the man years of pain and rehabilitation."
One fan, however, was quick to take the high road. She wrote: "Aww not being cheeky but who gives a f**k what they say or do! We've more things to be worrying about than them."
Aberdeen's win came a day after the Dons boss told Gers they should be "embarrassed" at only finishing third, as his side gave another stark illustration of the improvements the Light Blues have yet to make.
The Pittodrie side were sharper all over the pitch and claimed their first victory in Govan since September 1991 with goals from Graeme Shinnie and Ryan Christie.


text:
A few years ago, when I first starting reading romance, I could envision a life of reading nothing but romances (with a smattering of fantasy, YA, and fiction). But like when you eat nothing but dessert, after a couple of years I started feeling annoyed. Then frustrated.
Then angry. This isn't restricted merely to romances. As I once discussed with my father (an avid sci-fi reader), when one reads genre fiction, 20% of it is entertaining, 10% of it is absolutely exquisite—and the other 70% is boring drivel.
Tiring of the genre after over-reading in it is hardly a new or original phenomenon. That being said, romance as a genre still has a history. As ideas and values changed over the years, so did the romances. However, certain ideas in the romance genre have become so stale and overused that they cast a bad name over the rest of the genre.
In this regard, I would like to cordially suggest that we send certain ideas and tropes into early retirement. Or at the very least, put them in a time-out area like an erotic Disney Vault, to be released back into the wild after a suitable period to let the fields lie fallow while other tropes flourish.
For example, let's back away from the obsession with Innocent Heroines. I'm sorry, but if I wanted to read about a wide-eyed sheltered teenager discovering love and the world for the first time, I'd read Young Adult. More often than not, "innocence" is interpreted as "ignorant, obtuse, and infantalized"—and this is the perfect heroine for a hero with significant psychological and mental issues? There are too many stories of tabula-rasa heroines accidentally stumbling onto the mad, bad hero's perfect mental health solution, like Mr. Magoo with a psych degree.
We can still have virgin heroines or young heroines, but let's stop depicting their lack of experience as an innate virtue. Stop having heroes marvel at their "artless sensuality," and how their "innate, unschooled goodness" is somehow better than those of women who've managed to travel more than a mile from their front door. If their goodness is so innate, then actual knowledge, experience, and sophistication isn't going to tarnish that. More than likely, it will actually make your heroine more interesting.
In that regard, I call for more romance novels that let the story focus on who the heroine is and what she does—not on what she isn't and what she hasn't done yet. Granted, this is mainly a problem with historical heroines, but women didn't suddenly receive a world-wide psychic signal allowing them to leave the kitchen in 1960. Women have been capable of outrageous, creative, and adventurous lives throughout history. Let's focus more on those types of heroines than the untutored 17-year-old hoydens who've never left their daddy's estate.
Secondly, let's read and write romances that focus a little more on storytelling and a little less on wish-fulfilment. Whenever the idea of a chubby hero, or a poor hero, or even a red-headed hero comes up, a common reader response is, "I don't want that in a romance novel, because I'm not attracted to that." But isn't the story supposed to be about whether the heroine is attracted to that?
Every other genre offers escapist reads without requiring a full-body immersion into a protagonist. Readers can empathize with aliens, and harpies, and PTSD-addled aristocratic detectives—it is so impossible to empathize with a woman who thinks red hair is hot? Or to share and live vicariously through the experience of a heroine finding her soul mate—even if her soul mate comes with a little flub? And when you think about it, paranormal romances from writers like Charlaine Harris and Lora Leigh are full of heroes that, while yummy on the page, most women would cross continents to avoid if they met in real life.
Let's recap: red hair on a hero = Gross and Disgusting. A barbed penis on a hero= Awesome Fun Times.
With romance, we need a solid hook, we need thrilling tension, we need high stakes and real obstacles that will tear our hero and heroine apart, and we need heroes and heroines who are strong enough to overcome those obstacles and grab on to that happy destiny.
There is an inherent hypocrisy in the countless romance novels that tell us love comes from within and cannot be bought with money or beauty, when these books are filled with wealthy heroes, stunningly gorgeous heroines and storylines that focus more on lush descriptions of their luxury and hotness instead of building their characters or establishing believable emotional conflict. The result is a slew of romances that all sound the same: World's Hottest Man falls in love with World's Hottest Woman. Add Mommy Issues and a Secret Baby for Instant Drama.
What I mean is that romance needs to expand its boundaries a little more if it wishes to maintain a diverse, creative genre. Romance needs to try a few new things, explore some uncharted territory, and perhaps retiring the most tired and overused tropes will allow newer ideas to grab the spotlight. There are a million and one ways to achieve a Happily Ever After—why focus only on the Top Fifty?
Which tropes do you wish that romance would do without? And which ideas would you like to see romance writers try more often?
Dessert image courtesy of Alexis Fam Photography
Elizabeth Vail hails from Alberta, Canada. A book reviewer and aspiring YA writer, she currently runs the review blog Gossamer Obsessions under the screenname AnimeJune.


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SAN FRANCISCO–One of a scout's most difficult jobs is getting a feel for pitchers in an environment like the Futures Game. That said, their assessments are always interesting.
Last year, a lot of scouts weren't on Brewers righthander Yovani Gallardo after he showed very little in his one inning of work. Gallardo's stuff was flat, his fastball didn't have its usual hop and his offspeed pitches were mediocre at best.
But that was one inning. We all know what Gallardo is capable of, he just didn't have his best outing on the big stage in Pittsburgh in 2006.
So when breaking down the top five arms in this year's Futures Game, keep in mind this list is based on a consensus of scouts who worked the event–and only got to see one inning or less from all of the 17 arms who took the mound on Sunday:
1. Clay Buchholz, rhp, Red Sox
"He's got the stuff, the mound presence and the poise to be successful," a scout from a National League club said. "He's just an exceptional arm. There are things in his delivery that will allow him to throw strikes for a long time."
2. Deolis Guerra, rhp, Mets
"Just unbelievable stuff with great life and movement late in the zone," an American League scout said. "His breaking ball is very good right now, but it has a chance to be plus-plus. He pounds the zone, repeats well for a big-bodied guy, and really has a chance to be special."
3. Henry Sosa, rhp, Giants
"I thought he was going to throw 100 (mph)," another scout from an American League club said. "When I saw him earlier this year I had no idea who he was and he came out throwing 97 with two above-average breaking balls. He really went out there and pitched . . . the adrenaline really kicked in and he was on."
4. Carlos Carrasco, rhp, Phillies
"Outstanding changeup with plus fastball command," a scout from an N.L. club said. "He's not afraid to throw his changeup, and that sets him apart even from some of the other guys in this game. He has three pitches above average to plus and everything's easy. The ball just comes out of his hand so freely."
5. Franklin Morales, lhp, Rockies
"He's lefthanded and he blows 97 (mph)," said another N.L. scout. "What's not to like? Yeah, he lacks consistent command of his pitches and I think he'll always have that to some degree. But that's OK when you can throw 97 on the inner half. He'll get away with the lack of command because of the velocity and the plus curveball. There really isn't a workable changeup, and I see him as a bullpen guy down the road that can blow it by you or drop that hammer."


text:
The Prayer
By Celine Dion
Voice duet and piano - Difficulty: medium
Piano/Vocal/Chords. By Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. By Carole Bayer Sager and David "Babyface" Foster. This edition: Piano/Vocal/Chords. Artist/Personality; Piano/Vocal/Chords; Sheet; Solo. Original Sheet Music Edition. Adult Contemporary and Contemporary Vocal. Single. With vocal duet notation, piano accompaniment, lyrics and chord names. 10 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.PV98168).
Item Number: AP.PV98168
ISBN 0739069934. 9x12 inches. Key: F major.
From "Quest for Camelot." Lyrics alternate between English and Italian.
About Original Sheet Music Edition
Each ORIGINAL SHEET MUSIC EDITION has been arranged for piano by Alfred's talented staff of arrangers. Every effort has been made for the arrangement to be playable on the piano and to sound as close to the original recording as possible. If there are lyrics, a separate vocal line is used so that singers can easily sing along, and all lyrics as heard on the original recording are always included. Almost all arrangements are written in the original key in which they were recorded.