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Kazakhstan's Draft Mining Code Likely To Make Development Of Major Deposits More Costly While Increasing Kazmunaygaz's Profile
The draft Mining Code was discussed at the Foreign Investors' Council meeting chaired by President Nursultan Nazarbayev on 22 June: it points to increased state interference in the sector along with higher regulatory cost burdens, and may leave existing operators of the country's main energy deposits facing severe future uncertainties, IHS Markit writes.
|Outlook and implications
|State contract alteration; Contract enforcement; Regulatory burden
|Sectors or assets
|Oil and Gas; Mining
At the plenary meeting of the Foreign Investors' Council in Astana on 22 June, the Minister of Energy Kanat Bozumbayev claimed that the new Mining and Tax Codes, which the government will submit to parliament in September, will reduce administrative barriers and increase the attractiveness of investment into Kazakhstan's mining sector.
According to Bozumbayev, against the background of the low oil price environment, the amended arrangements will allow Kazakhstan to attract up to USD1 billion each year into oil and geological exploration. The Kazakh analytical portal Ratel.kz reports that the government has circulated the draft Mining Code to industry groups, business associations and major law firms.
However, despite the positive official claims, legal analysis conducted by a partner at the Almaty-based law firm Aequitas suggests that the new Mining Code contains certain provisions which are likely to alarm foreign mining and energy companies, and various concerns also have been raised during public discussions on the plans.
Auctioning subsoil permits
The new Mining Code mandates the organisation of open auctions for subsoil permits. In these participants will submit competing bids regarding the signing bonus, starting from an initial level included in the auction announcement. A physical or legal entity that wishes to seek investors through such permits will submit a written request, which will be processed within 10 working days by the Ministry of Investments and Development (MID). If the MID approves the request, an auction announcement will then be made. This will contain a range of conditions that auction participants will need to accept up front. These will include estimated minimum expenditures on various social commitments: these will include training Kazakh cadres during the extractive phase, research and development to be undertaken within Kazakhstan during the extractive phase, and socio-economic development and infrastructure of the region where extraction is to take place. The auction conditions also will contain minimal requirements with regard to maintaining local content .
KazMunayGaz's role enhanced
Under certain circumstances, depending on the significance of the subsoil deposit, MID also retains the right to introduce additional conditions, including the compulsory allocation of shares to national companies in the final contract. This is likely to increase the role of Kazakhstan's state-owned KazMunayGaz. The new Mining Code specifically stipulates that if MID designates a national company to be a shareholder, its share in the charter capital of an operator must not be less than 50%.
Potential "mine field" in contract extension
The new Mining Code limits the duration of exploration to six years with the exception of offshore exploration or complex projects requiring drilling wells with a depth of more than 6km, which can proceed for eight years. The exploration term can be extended only once and for three years, with the aforementioned exceptions allowed a six-year extension. The contracts also will establish a maximum period of 25 years for extraction activities: this will be increased to a 45-year term at the major and unique deposits. At these projects, the government also will have the right to attach supplementary conditions to the contract extension, which can go beyond those included in the initial contract. Such conditions could entail new requirements for an investor, including creation of new facilities or the modernisation of existing processing capacity. Additionally, it may require an operator to supply the oil and gas produced in Kazakhstan only to domestic refineries.
Outlook and implications
If Kazakhstan's new Mining Code does not undergo revision to address the concerns raised at multiple public discussions organised by MID, it is unlikely to result in the revitalisation of the extractive sector. Potentially of greater concern, it may also increase risks in existing projects. The original production-sharing agreements (PSAs) for Kazakhstan's three major oil and gas deposits – Kashagan, Karachaganak and Tengiz – are due to expire in 2041, 2038 and 2033 respectively. The new proposals relating to contract extension at the major and unique deposits threaten a significant increase in regulatory burdens and costs for the firms participating in the consortiums which operate these offshore oil fields. Having spent billions of dollars already, foreign energy companies in Kazakhstan may face a stark choice between withdrawal or accepting the risk of potentially sizeable and as yet undefined additional burdens, with a significant increase in project uncertainty risks, in clear contrast to the goal of attracting incremental new investment.


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Evidence on the Objectives of Bank Managers
Analyzing data from the 1989 Survey of Consumer Finances, we find credit card borrowing is inversely correlated with a household's willingness to comparison shop for loans and deposits. Households with larger balances have higher disutility of search, ceteris paribus. In addition, these households are more likely to be rejected or to be granted a lower-than-desired credit limit when applying for new credit, and so may find it difficult to switch from one card issuer to another. This partly explains the stickiness of card interest rates and why issuers enjoy above-average returns despite the industry's competitive structure.
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Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- Paul J. Gertler & Donald M. Waldman, 1990. "Quality Adjusted Cost Functions," NBER Working Papers 3567, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Joseph P. Hughes & Loretta J. Mester, "undated".
"A Quality and Risk-Adjusted Cost Function for Banks: Evidence on the "Too-Big-To-Fail" Doctrine,"
Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research Working Papers
25-92, Wharton School Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research.
- Joseph P. Hughes & Loretta J. Mester, 1991. "A quality and risk-adjusted cost function for banks: evidence on the " too-big-to-fail" doctrine," Working Papers 91-21, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
- Mester, Loretta J., 1991. "Agency costs among savings and loans," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 1(3), pages 257-278, June.
- Hunter, William C & Timme, Stephen G & Yang, Won Keun, 1990. "An Examination of Cost Subadditivity and Multiproduct Production in Large U.S. Banks," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 22(4), pages 504-525, November.
- Mester, Loretta J., 1992. "Traditional and nontraditional banking: An information-theoretic approach," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 545-566, June.
- Loretta J. Mester, 1990. "Traditional and nontraditional banking: an information-theoretic approach," Working Papers 90-3, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
- McAllister, Patrick H. & McManus, Douglas, 1993. "Resolving the scale efficiency puzzle in banking," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(2-3), pages 389-405, April.
- Hannan, Timothy H & Hanweck, Gerald A, 1988. "Bank Insolvency Risk and the Market for Large Certificates of Deposit," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 20(2), pages 203-211, May.
This information is provided to you by IDEAS at the Research Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis using RePEc data.
- Timothy H. Hannan & Gerald A. Hanweck, 1986. "Bank insolvency risk and the market for large certificates of deposit," Working Papers in Banking, Finance and Microeconomics 86-1, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).

subset: commoncrawl


text: Anybody do it? Anybody want to point me in the right direction? My girlfriend is part of a roller derby team and wants to get some necklaces made of some sort of logo/design affair. Googling has offered many a company, but where the hell do you start? reference incase anyone doesn't know. But you folks are smart, so thats not a problem!


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Hey Dolls,
I have been feeling a little down in dumps so i wanted a little pick me up so I decided to show you all the most brightest obnoxious color I own 😀 and I love that about it, you all may know by now I'm not your typical red, pink or neutral polish kind of gal. I love the loud proud and obnoxious,…. the colors that make you go hmmm???? should I be wearing this to work? Yes yes I should be…….lol. Today's polish I have for you is called Neon Melon by Sinful Colors and it was a re-promote from their summer 2011 neon collection. Neon Melon is an eye searing highlighter yellow color that is totally awesome I love this when I'm sad and I need a little sunshine in my life. This dries flat, a chalky matte finish which is pretty typical with neon polishes. I have a few shots of this one but you all probably know by now how hard it is to capture a neon properly. It looks exactly like a highlighter marker! The pictures really don't do this color justice, it's much more vibrant and almost 'glows' in person. At first this one is a little sheer so it can be a four to five coater to get full coverage or you can put a white underneath to make it pop and get better coverage. Enjoy the highlighter until next nail polish, same nail time, same nail channel…….
Just Be Fierce
Punky Make-Up Junkie's Disclosure Policy


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GIAS (Guangzhou International Aquarium Show) celebrates China's huge aquarium market. Here, experts, suppliers and specialized companies meet to make business and network.
If you want to meet 100,000 professional visitors and generate sales, then GIAS is your next destination! Apply for an exhibition booth and contact our team of experts in trade shows. They'll introduce you to an exclusive selection of Stand Designers in Guangzhou!
An opportunity to...
- Interact face to face with thousands of key buyers
- Generate sales leads and build relationships with prospects;
- Launch new products and survey attendees about new product ideas;
- Keep up on industry trends;
- Position your brand and increase awareness,
- ... and so much more!
GIAS covers the following product categories:
- Aquarium fishes: all kinds of aquarium fishes, aquarium fish breeding;
- Aquarium pets: reptiles, amphibians, etc;
- Aquarium supplies: a variety of aquariums;
- Related equipments: water pumps, air pumps, temperature control/ water treatment equipment, fishing gear, fishing tackle, etc;
- Aquarium decoration: various ornaments, artware, etc;
- Aquarium lighting: lights and related accessories;
- Feeds & related products: fish feeds, fish medicines, feeders, etc;
- Aquarium landscape: design companies, manufacturers and others involved in zoos, fish tanks, fish ponds, fountains, water screen films, and other fields;
- Others: aquatic photography, magazines, media, associations, research institutions, etc.
Visitor Profile
GIAS attracts many:
- Dealers, agents, wholesales, distributors, importers and exporters;
- Related clubs, enthusiasts, designers, magazines and websites;
- Asian aquariums, sea worlds, gardens, zoos, outdoor leisure places, etc;
- Real estate developers, landscape design/ home decoration companies;
- Associations and others...!


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MICK JAGGER/THE KELLY BROTHERS/belgian poster
Sold for:
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- Sold Date:
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POSTAGE FRANCE $9 /EUROPE $ 14/ OTHER COUNTRIES $16 registered postage;new postage fees;item well protected with cardboards;due to "lost"parcels,all items are sent registered; COMBINE SHIPPING AVAILABLE // ASK DETAILS BEFORE PAYMENT/pay and hold option available (3 weeks) but mention it with payment; original belgian poster 14x22 inches approx(36x56 cm approx),folded, small creases;some tapes;
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text: So I was at a party this past weekend and I had a great time( I was also very drunk). On Sunday some girl adds me on face book that's pretty cute, but I don't know where I met this girl, I'm assuming it was there. Anyways, I'm having a hard time thinking of how I can break the ice, considering I don't remember her. Anyways, do you guys have any suggestions how I would go about making something happen? Like what can I tell her except, Hey hows it goin?


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Mens Wedding Hairstyles
wedding is the happiest thing in life partner. Because the bonds of marriage survive for forever until death. there are several things to note in planning wedding. from start to toast a wedding, rings, bridal, decoration, etc.
deep impression to be etched in the hearts of guest invitation when see weddings good run.Thus to make things interesting for your inspiration all. I hope these pictures can help you in the process your wedding.


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James from Bradenton, Fl writes,
Can Repels-All Liquid Concentrate be sprayed directly on painted wooden fascia boards to prevent squirrels from chewing?
I read the label, and it doesn't say how it will effect anything that is painted. I have several customers who are having problems with squirrels chewing on their wooden fascia boards. Is it safe to use in that situation or is there another product I should use?
Repels-All Liquid Concentrate should work on painted fascia board depending on hold the paint is. If it is more porous it may not work as well. You could also try exclusion to keep them out of the area.
Answer last updated on: 10/16/2014
1 of 1 people found this answer helpful. Was it helpful to you? Yes No


text:
Colonel Gaddafi beat and raped kidnapped schoolgirls he used as sex slaves in between checking his emails, according to a new book.
French reporter Annick Cojean gathered horrific accounts from the girls forced into the former Libyan dictator's harem for the account published last week.
One victim, named as Soraya, was 15 when she was abducted in 2004 by the late tyrant's 'talent scouts' after she was chosen to give him a bouquet when he visited her school.
Hard living conditions for Syrian refugees in Libya are forcing some families to marry off their daughters to wealthy local men. Syrians say Libyans often knock at their doors asking for especially underage girls, as BBC Arabic's Ahmed Maher reports from Benghazi.
Ahmed Atrash is among hundreds of Syrian refugees in the country's second largest city, Benghazi. He and his family have fled the raging war back home.
Following the Libyan revolution, in which women played a crucial part, and the participation of large numbers of female citizens in the July 2012 elections, Libyan women are now looking forward to a partnership and full equality with their male counterparts."Libyan women were instrumental in the country choosing a liberal and progressive government in the recent elections as many of them voted for the winning National Forces Alliance (NFA) of Mahmoud Jibril," said Nadine Nasrat, from the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).
Libyan authorities have banned the formation of political parties based on religious principles ahead of elections scheduled to take place in June.
Parties based on faith, tribe or ethnicity will not be eligible to take part, a government spokesman said.
The National Transitional Council said the law, passed on Tuesday, was designed to preserve "national unity".
But analysts say it is likely to infuriate religious parties such as the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Voice of Libyan Women unfortunately reports that regardless of the numerous petitions, demonstrations and alternative drafts suggested by Libyan civil society the Electoral Law passed by the National Transitional Council of Libya on Wednesday, February 8th 2012 does not in any way guarantee any seats for women at all. Nor does it guarantee a minimum of 40 parliamentary seats for women, despite several statements.
A group of men gathered around Amira El Bakry in Tahrir Square as she brandished a newspaper photo that shocked many Egyptians. It showed troops dragging a female protester along the street, her robe ripped open to reveal a blue bra and bare midriff.
إتحاد حقوق الإنسان الليبي, جنباً الي جنب مع العديد من نشطاء المجتمع المدني والمنظمات, يجدون بأن مشروع القانون الليبي المنشور يوم 1 يناير 2012 من قبل المجلس الوطني الإنتقالي غير معقول, ضمن مشروع هذا القانون, تنص المادة رقم 1 علي أنه ستكون هناك حصة برلمانية للمرأة, إلا أنه غير واضح تماماّ, ونصها بأنه ستكون الحصو محدودة الي 10%, أو 20% من أصل 200 مقعداً.
The Libyan Human Rights Alliance, along with numerous civil society activists and organizations, find the Libyan Draft Election Law released On January 1 2012 by The National Transitional Council to be unreasonable. Within this Draft Law, Article 1 stated that there would in fact be a parliamentary quota for women; however it is quite vague and reads as the quota will be limited to 10%, or 20 out of 200 seats.
WLUML is deeply concerned that the first public act of the Libya's National Transition Committee has been to proclaim on October 23rd, 2011, that henceforth, a number of laws will be considered annulled and that 'sharia law' is to replace them. Libya's National Transition Committee is an interim government – what it has responsibility for – and what its first action should have concerned, is to put into place a mechanism for elections for the new government after the fall of the Gaddafi regime.
Last year, during the holy month of Ramadan, I was in Tripoli researching the status of women in Libya's society, along with Journalist and Author Natalie Moore. We interviewed women across the spectrum: artists, housewives, teachers, government officials, university students and businesswomen. The stories were later aired on Chicago Public Radio.
Article XIX Statement: From Morocco to Bahrain, everyday people have taken on the cast iron hold of dictatorships and absolute monarchies resulting in an extraordinary collective awakening that has paved the way for epochal change in the region. The youth movement, which lies at the core of the uprisings, continues to play a prominent role in the pro-democracy and pro-reform demonstrations, which have swept through the region, unabated by government clampdowns or concessions.
(بيروت) - قالت هيومن رايتس ووتش اليوم إن قانون المواطنة الليبي الجديد الذي يمنح النساء المتزوجات إلى أزواج أجانب الحق في حصول أطفالهن على الجنسية، هو خطوة هامة للأمام على مسار حقوق المرأة. وقالت هيومن رايتس ووتش إن القانون ما زال يضم بعض الأحكام المتعارضة التي يمكن تفسيرها بشكل يُبقي على التمييز.


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Tern upgrades training simulator at Isavia Training and ATS Procedures, IcelandPosted on 13.11.2013
On the 24th of August, Isavia Training and ATS Procedures finished validation and accepted Tern Systems latest version of the TSIM ATC training simulator, into operation. Isavia will immediately start using this version of the TSIM ATC training simulator, during training and re-training of air traffic controllers in tower, approach and en-route training.
Isavia Training and ATS Procedures have been using Tern Systems TSIM ATC training simulator for 12 years. In the Isavia training facility, TSIM is responsible for interfacing with Isavia's operational systems, such as surveillance processing, flight data processing and datalink systems, providing data feed and response to messages such as coordination to adjacent centers. With the TSIM ATC training simulator, Isavia is able to maintain a high-fidelity training environment for air traffic controllers.
The TSIM simulator also provides a realistic visualization of airports, for tower training. At Isavia's training facility, this includes Keflavík international airport, Reykjavík airport and Akureyri airport.
read more


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Garen Build Guide by Nick Copper
Not Updated For Current Season
This guide has not yet been updated for the current season. Please keep this in mind while reading. You can see the most recently updated guides on the browse guides page.
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Your votes and comments encourage our guide authors to continue
creating helpful guides for the League of Legends community.
Powerhouse Tank
Garen Build
Early Game
Mid Game
End Game
Your Choice Final Item:
Ability Sequence
Not Updated For Current Season
The masteries shown here are not yet updated for the current season, the guide author needs to set up the new masteries. As such, they will be different than the masteries you see in-game.
Hi, I'm Nick. And I'm no authority on this topic, but this guide is a Garen that I found worked really well for the most part. I don't have much to say on it and I'll be slowly tweaking it as I go to make sure it works well and is a viable play style for Garen in general. That's all, enjoy!


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This organization, does the grass roots work, at the comunity level: school programs regarding hazards of tobacco use, asthma education, and environmental hazards that affect our air quality.Life depends on "breathing", so catch your breath, and experience all that is involved in keeping that 'air' healthy for you.We need to be thankful to this organization [recent change of name, but doing the same community work], for being around in California, for almost a century, and keeping up the mission of saving us from Lung diseases, from infections like TB, to emphysema, and asthma. I am proud to be on their Board, as I deal with patients with lung diseases everyday, so I am thankful that there are community resources, and networks that can help them.
Breathe California is the leading private agency supporting lung health in our local community. Responding to local needs the agency serves more than 100,000 people annually, many of whom have few other health care alternatives. I am proud to serve on the Board of this local organization where actions have a direct, immediate, effect in our community. Jerry Denny, Chair Elect Breathe California Board


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Question on Gravity
Hello everyone. I come up against a problem on gravity. I have setup a simple simulation of channel flow by using Fortran code, the water flows from inlet to outlet with a uniform velocity. If I don't take gravity into account, the result looks fine, only u component exists and the other two component, v and w should be zero. However, when I added the gravity into source term and the initial pressure was changed from constant to hydrostatic pressure, the downward velocity appeared, that is to say, w was not zero but a big number.
Why CFD code works fine without considering gravity and fails with considering gravity? In reality, the gravity exists.
Did anyone meet the same problem? Thanks in advance.
Is this your own code? Sounds like there is an issue with either your boundary conditions or your continuity equation. It doesn't make sense to have a downward component to your velocity when there are solid walls. You would be violating conservation of mass or penetrating your walls if there was a downward component everywhere. Can you clarify if there is a downward component everywhere or just in certain areas.
Dear cdegroot, Thank you for your consideration. Yes, it is my own code, and the boundary conditions are imposed as follows: in x-direction, inlet and outlet; in y-direction, wall; in z-direction, bottom as wall and top as pressure outlet. If I take gravity into account, downward component should appear everywhere. Do you mean that gravity term should violate conservation of mass? It is so strange. In fact in 3d simulation, gravity term should be included in the govern equations, however, when it comes to numerical simulation, gravity will be neglected in many situations. What is the reason? If you don't consider the gravity, you will get the reasonable results, but if you consider the gravity as the real physics shows, you will get the wrong results.
If you have a wall at the bottom of the fluid, this wall will exert a force up on the fluid adjacent to it at the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid. This force will be the same as the force due to gravity and essentially it will net to zero everywhere. You have something wrong with your code, perhaps not including buoyancy forces between the fluid elements to cancel out the gravity?
Dear Erik, In my opinion, buoyancy forces is just caused by the difference of pressure. Because the initial distribution of pressure is given as hydrostatic pressure, buoyancy forces is taken into account. In fact, I setup another case, just give the initial pressure distribution as hydrostatic pressure but no gravity term was added to the code, then water will go upward!!!
evcelica is correct. If there is a bottom wall you can't be getting downward flow because the buoyancy forces will be balanced by gravity and also as I mentioned before you would be violating conservation of mass. However, by your description above it sounds like you actually have the bottom and top of the channel open to the atmosphere. So it is more like flow between two parallel plates open to the environment on 4 surfaces.
Now, you are right that the case run without gravity and with gravity should be the same, but only in the case where gravity does not affect the physics of the flow. I am not sure yet if in your case it should or not. Do you solve an energy equation? Are there any buoyancy forces in your simulation? So you have three outlets in your simulation. Are they all considered as pressure outlets? What is the specified pressure at the outlets?
Dear cdegroot, I haven't solved the energy equation and there is no buoyancy force. You are right there are three outlet in the simulation and one of them is regarded as velocity inlet. As to pressure outlet boundary condition, we should not give the specified pressure, in fact, pressure outlet boundary condition means the gradient of physics variable in normal vector direction equals to zero. If we give the specified pressure at the boundary, that is not pressure outlet boundary condition, but pressure inlet boundary condition, right?
Although the bottom is wall, but for example, how to deal with the dam break problem? we should consider the effect of gravity, right? then what is the difference between dam break problem and open channel flow problem? why the former should take gravity into account and the later should neglect the gravity? in fact the govern equation of them is the same.
Sorry, I read that the bottom was open as well, but no, just the inlet outlet and top. Yes you are correct that for your pressure outlets the gradient of the physics variable normal to the boundary is zero, but you need to do something with pressure as well. In Fluent for example, a pressure outlet has a uniform static pressure specified and enforces zero derivative normal to the boundary for velocity. I feel like the top boundary may be more appropriately treated as a pressure inlet. Read how Fluent imposes a pressure inlet, specifically how it treats hydrostatic head: https://www.sharcnet.ca/Software/Flu...ug/node239.htm.
You are right, there is no logical reason why including gravity in your simulation would cause it not to work properly. There is more likely an error in how you are treating the gravity term that is inconsistent with the actual physics of the flow or an issue with boundary conditions, most likely the top boundary.
Thank you very much. I will read the manual of Fluent and look into my code carefully.
|All times are GMT -4. The time now is 00:20.


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Seth Rollins: Shield star talks Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Royal Rumble
Seth Rollins says The Shield's natural connection makes them one of the best WWE stables of all time.
Last Updated: 27/01/14 11:19am
That's how Seth Rollins described his connection with Shield cohorts Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns during an interview with skysports.com ahead of the 2014 Royal Rumble.
Former independent wrestlers Rollins and Ambrose united with ex-gridiron defensive tackle Reigns in late 2012 - and the trio, who honed their skills in WWE's developmental territory NXT, have flourished ever since.
The Shield's opening gambit was to cause carnage during CM Punk and Ryback's WWE Championship match at Survivor Series 15 months ago, while at the next pay-per-view, Tables, Ladders and Chairs, they won their debut bout, knocking off Ryback, Daniel Bryan and Kane.
A victory over Sheamus, Randy Orton and Big Show followed at their maiden WrestleMania before Rollins and Reigns enjoyed a stint with the WWE Tag Team Titles and Ambrose plucked the United States Championship.
Rollins says he and his stablemates - who were also named Faction of the Year at the Slammy Awards in December - clicked instantly, even though they vary as characters outside of the squared circle.
"We fell into our roles and complemented each other extremely well, which doesn't happen all that often in this business," said the Iowa-born grappler. "It was like magic.
"If you look at the history of professional wrestling, I think we stand out as one of the greatest factions of all time and I think that's because we all bring something different to the table and use each other's strengths to combat our weaknesses.
"We are very different dudes away from the ring and have different likes when it comes to music, hobbies and women, and, because we have been with each other for a year straight, we do squabble from time to time.
"We hang out all the time so we do get sick of each other but that's how brothers are - and when it comes to going to the ring and kicking ass, we're one of the same."
WWE icons such as Punk, John Cena and The Undertaker have felt the Shield's force but Rollins insists his troop are not shocked at the impact they have made in such a short space of time.
And the 27-year-old believes the black-clad renegades have instigated a paradigm shift in WWE, one that has stimulated the company's young stars, like reigning Intercontinental Champion Big E Langston and high-octane tag team The Usos.
"It's been very humbling to have achieved what we've achieved but definitely not surprising," added Rollins, who, along with Ambrose and Reigns, will enter the 30-man Royal Rumble match on Sunday.
"Dean, Roman and I are three of the most confident individuals you are ever going to meet and we all knew what we were capable of, so we wanted to beat the guys on top.
"We weren't going to sit idly by and let other people get opportunities and squander them, and knew that if we got the ball we could run with it and score every single time.
"Since we've come in, though, people have raised their game to meet what we are doing.
"We challenged ourselves by setting the bar higher than it's ever been set, working harder than everyone else in the ring and behind the scenes, and trying to become the leaders of the next generation.
"That has rubbed off onto the guys around us and that's great to see."
Rollins also had plenty to say on the Royal Rumble - which you can watch live and exclusive on Sky Sports Box Office - so read below for his thoughts on...
Whether The Shield will work together during the 30-man match
SETH SAYS: We have a strategy - I'm not going to divulge what it is - should the three of us be in the ring at the same stage. The other 27 guys will have a real rough ride if that's the case and if it comes down to myself, Dean and Roman, then may the best man win. It's every Superstar's dream to main event WrestleMania and that's what I'm looking for.
Favourite Rumble memories
SETH SAYS: I love this event. In recent years you have had all these crazy Kofi Kingston things going on where he finds ways to avoid elimination, but I loved the Shawn Michaels win from 1995 when he and the British Bulldog started the match and were then the last two men left. I liked the Hulk Hogan victories, too, but the Rumble is always non-stop action.
Who he would like to make a shock appearance in Pittsburgh
SETH SAYS: I'd like to see "Rowdy" Roddy Piper in the Rumble. We have recent history with him and I'd love to get my hands on him. I hated Piper's guts growing up but I think that's how he wanted it because he is one of the most legendary bad guys in the history of our business. To have him in the ring would be a real cool deal.
Royal Rumble repeat booking details
WWE Royal Rumble will be repeated on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 743) BUT NOT Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 752) between 9am, Monday, January 27 and 9pm, Saturday, February 1. Repeats showing will last for three hours.
The event is priced at £14.95 for UK customers, €21.95 for customers in the Republic of Ireland.
You can order WWE Royal Rumble from Friday, January 17 by pressing the Box Office button on your remote. Select 'sports & events' and follow the on-screen instructions.
Viewers can call 08442 410 888 from Friday, January 17 to book WWE Royal Rumble. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).
You can also book WWE Rumble online from Friday, January 17 by visiting this link: https://my.sky.com/orderboxoffice/
Cable customers should contact their local cable operator.


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NASA has awarded $190 million in space contracts to 13 companies for advanced propulsion and communications system technologies. The work will be conducted as part of "ongoing, long-term aerospace research activities" at the agency's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. The … [Read more...]
Orbital wins contract for Orion motor
Orbital ATK has inked a $98 million agreement with Lockheed Martin to provide the launch-abort motor for the Orion, a manned spacecraft in development for NASA. Orbital, a publicly traded company based in Dulles, Va., will manufacture the launch-abort motor at plants in Magna, … [Read more...]
SpaceX makes pitch for L.A. port deal
Elon Musk's SpaceX is finalizing an agreement to use an L.A. port facility to base rocket and spacecraft retrieval operations. The Hawthorne, Calif.-based company presented its plan to the Los Angeles Harbor Commission's board June 18, and a port spokesman said afterwards the … [Read more...]
Airbus building OneWeb satellite fleet
Airbus Defense and Space has been selected by OneWeb Ltd. to design and build a galaxy of satellites for Internet communications. OneWeb, a British Channel Islands-based startup backed by Virgin Group and Qualcomm, picked the Toulouse, France-based Airbus unit from among an … [Read more...]
Air Force signs off on SpaceX role
Elon Musk's SpaceX is traveling in a potentially more lucrative business orbit, thanks to the U.S. Air Force's recent green light to launch military satellites. The Air Force's certification of a rocket made by Space Exploration Technologies Corp. -- SpaceX's mouthful of a … [Read more...]


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Michael KorsWomens Grey Jet Set Travel Large Coin Multi Function Phone Case
Michael Kors Womens Grey Jet Set Travel Large Coin Multi Function Phone Case
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Michael Kors Jet Set Travel Large Coin Multi Function Phone Case in 'cement' has been formed from a luxurious Saffiano leather that has a grainy texture and finished with silver metal Michael Kors lettering to the front. The interior offers multiple compartments enabling it to be used as a purse or phone case and has a detachable strap for practicality.
Approx: W: 16.5cm x H: 9cm x D: 3cm
- Michael Kors Grey Phone Case/Purse
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text:
Results 1 to 25 of 38
August 3rd, 2003, 09:42 PM #1
Well, It's been two years
We didn't hit the 10K members mark, yet, but have more than doubled in membership size and almost tripled in post quantity since last year. Moving forward we will continue to allow for the free and open exchange of the truth in affiliate marketing and continue to maximize affiliate earnings by recruiting more clean (parasite free) merchants and offering more services that will help members make wise decisions on merchant selections.
Thank you moderators, merchants and members ... ABW is all about you and making sure that the industry stays ethical and honest!
Continued Success,
PS. Just for fun I'll post a link to our 1st year anniversary thread
The secret of success is constancy of purpose. ~ Disraeli[/b]

August 3rd, 2003, 10:15 PM #2
- Join Date
- January 18th, 2005
- Location
- Nunya, Business
- Posts
- 23,684
"We didn't hit the 10K members mark,yet,"
Hopefully i will hit another kind of 10K mark this christmas Due in large part to this board.
"Nothing focuses the mind better than the constant sight of a competitor who wants to wipe you off the map."
--Wayne Calloway
August 3rd, 2003, 10:25 PM #3
Congratulations and we look forward for many more years to be unprofessional whiners! lol...
Way to go Haiko and thanks a bunch!
What does the COC stand for? Crooks Overwriting Commissions.
Don't worry! Tracking is infected!
Love Life to the fullest. we only get ONE chance! :-) !
August 3rd, 2003, 10:26 PM #4
Wow! Two years already
Abestweb has gained so many quality members in that timespan. Forget about the 10,000 members. The ones we've got now would beat the pants off nearly any other affiliates. Abestweb and the abestweb members are the best.
August 3rd, 2003, 10:46 PM #5
ABW is *the* best affiliate marketing resource hands down! Thank you Haiko for devoting yourself to this awesome place for both affiliates and merchants. I, for one, truly appreciate it.
Now one more Bud Light for the ABW 2nd anniversary and off to bed...
Akiva Bergstrom
Affiliate Partner Manager

 EssentialApparel.com
CJ/6%/120 days/Datafeed/Parasite free
Email: email@example.com
Phone: 973.696.6200 ext 751
> Join now! < 	SportsFanfare.com
CJ/10%/120 days/Datafeed/Parasite free
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
AIM: akivabergs
> Join now! <

August 3rd, 2003, 10:58 PM #6
- Join Date
- January 18th, 2005
- Location
- The Swamp
- Posts
- 7,503
A very heartfelt congratulations. Many thanks to you Haiko for everything you do to make ABW what it is and to foster it's continued growth.
You may not have reached the 10,000 mark by the anniversary date, but it's been an incredible year with some really amazing things happening during the last year when you stop and think back.
Here's to the continuation of progress over the upcoming year and one heck of an anniversary party for the month of August.
It's Your Money. You earned it. What are you going to do to make sure you get to keep it?
August 3rd, 2003, 11:01 PM #7
August 3rd, 2003, 11:19 PM #8
- Join Date
- January 18th, 2005
- Posts
- 230
My life has changed since I found Abestweb...
Well, it hasn't actually, but it's still a great resource
Here's to the next 2 years
"There are only two settings, stun and kill...it would be best not to confuse them."
--Malcom Reed
August 3rd, 2003, 11:20 PM #9
- Join Date
- January 18th, 2005
- Location
- Winterpeg, the Mosquito Capital of Canada
- Posts
- 2,299
Hey Haiko
Congratulations on the 2 years. Hard to believe it's been that already. As the ninth member joined up I have seen just about all the good bad and ugly from abw. IT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A NAME YET WHEN I SIGNED UP!!!
I for one have been glad to have such a resource such as ABW. My wallet has also been much happier because of it.
Many here have shown tremendous support, help and sometimes just an ear so I can vent through some trying times here. So ABW at times seems like a group of friends vs. just a bunch of unknown people on the other end of the WWW.
By the way Haiko the plant sent is flourishing and with the ungreen thumb we have here it is even still looking like a plant. A constant reminder of your thoughts and concern. Thanks again.
Make a difference! Support your local Cancer Care providers.
August 4th, 2003, 12:33 AM #10
- Join Date
- January 18th, 2005
- Posts
- 373
"It's not that I'm lazy. I just don't care. It's a problem of motivation"
August 4th, 2003, 12:50 AM #11
If it wasn't for this board many of us would have been in the dark, and if it wasn't for this board, many of us would still be counting pennies.
Let's protect this board and make it even better. Many wishes to all its members with hopes of better business this following year.
AlexBet Design
August 4th, 2003, 12:56 AM #12
I can't believe it's only been two years -- it feels like we've been here (and NOT the old CJ boards) forever now.
Happy Anniversary, Haiko. Here's to many more years.
A woman is like a tea bag: You never know her strength until you drop her in hot water
August 4th, 2003, 01:39 AM #13
August 4th, 2003, 03:00 AM #14
- Join Date
- January 18th, 2005
- Posts
- 111
August 4th, 2003, 03:31 AM #15
Wow.. August 2001 seems like a different world now, doesn't it?
I think I was member 54 or something
The most important thing I've learned in two years? "Listen to Leader"
All your commission are belong to us.
Check out the latest Homeland Security press releases.
August 4th, 2003, 03:34 AM #16
Wow, it's been 2 years? Keep on the great work ABW!
YOURsoft affiliate software
Join YOURsoft "affiliate program for affiliate software"!
August 4th, 2003, 03:35 AM #17
Congratulations Haiko and Happy Birthday ABW
Two years, wow, it sure has gone quickly!
August 4th, 2003, 04:12 AM #18
Happy Birthday ABW and Congrats Haiko
(i think this cakes arent enough for all members :P )
UtOpiA StiLL uNBorN
August 4th, 2003, 07:25 AM #19
Grats to Haiko and everyone who makes this board great.
Keep it consistent! I've learned a ton here.
Jim Kukral
Direct of Emarketing/Brand Manager
KowaBunga! Technologies
August 4th, 2003, 07:33 AM #20
- Join Date
- January 18th, 2005
- Posts
- 87
Congratulations, everyone!
I would also like to extend my sincerest appreciation for everyone here who has helped me to do my job better!
Alex Irvin
Affiliate Program Director
August 4th, 2003, 08:08 AM #21
Way to go everyone, Congrats!
xtremeshopping inc. goal financial free by 4/6/2004 (my Birthday!) Angry, Enthusistic shi* stirrer.. LOL.
August 4th, 2003, 08:38 AM #22
Congrats Haiko and many thanks to our fellow members for making this such a super place to learn from.

quote:
 If it wasn't for this board many of us would have been in the dark, and if it wasn't for this board, many of us would still be counting pennies

 I'll also add "if it wasnt for this board many of us would still be working hard for a living.
I too have a 10,000 highlight, this year by the end of June I had earned $10,009.04 from CJ. This I must say beat last years total (for the full year $6,153.27) into a cocked hat. All kudos for this go to ABW and its members.
Many thanks Haiko I wish you many more succesful years.
Take care
[This message was edited by Gordon on August 04, 2003 at 11:57 AM.]
August 4th, 2003, 08:43 AM #23
August 4th, 2003, 09:00 AM #24
I corrected it PhillyBurbs
into a cocked hat is just an English expression meaning out of sight or left it standing.
It could also be usd to describe some of Guffy's sites
Take care
August 4th, 2003, 09:09 AM #25
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Update network access to secure IoT devices
By 2020, 21-billion Internet of Things (IoT) devices will be in use worldwide. Of these, close to 6%will be in use for industrial IoT applications. However, IT organizsations have issues identifying these devices and characterising them as part of current network access policy, says Gartner.


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I hope everyone has a great 2017!!!
Sorry I wasn't around much in 2016 to do updates and help you save money. I've been waiting on tennis elbow surgery and sadly the carpal tunnel surgery at the end of 2015 hasn't worked.
The affects of Generalised Dystonia (find out more about dystonia here: https://www.dystonia.org.au/ ) are starting to effect my body more and more each year and different body parts keep failing.
I have no idea what the next steps are for my health, I've tried all the major medication for Dystonia and other than getting Deep Brain Stimulation and turning me into a cyborg there seems to be little that can be done. This is a bit invasive for my level of generalised dystonia, they only really do it if you're wheelchair bound.
I hope you all have a great 2017!


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US Women s Open 2010
July 8, 2010 by Post Team
US Women s Open 2010:Oakmont, Pennsylvania – Cristie Kerr and several other LPGA players traveled to western Pennsylvania in late May to see for themselves why the Oakmont Country Club will play from Thursday in U.S. Women's Open is considered one of the most tortuous testing in all major championship golf.
The first time he played Kerr, predicted after the record of the victory could be between five and 10 shots over par, a very different result that his record 19-under 269 performance and unprecedented victory of 12 shots two weeks ago at the LPGA Championship in Rochester, NY When the native 32 years old, returned from Miami to the suburbs of Pittsburgh of practice rounds at Oakmont this week, his opinion had not changed much.
" I think he'll play as hard as I said,"said Kerr, now No. 1 in the world ranking of women after their second win in his last three starts. " You never know. Could be less, someone could have a big performance – will not be any 19-unders in this course. I would be willing to bet everything in my bank account in that."
Kerr has hardly been alone in that assessment.
" It's the hardest golf course I've played,"said Natalie Gulbis. " One has to be right where you want to hit the ball. If you're above the hole, it's really easy to putt off the green. "I can play five times [May]. I had to play 25 times. Never came close to breaking par.
" It will be very, very difficult. [The] USGA can trick out of the way you want. If we want to embarrass, it is very possible."
The USGA always insists he is simply trying to identify the best player and not to humiliate anyone. However, Mike Davis, the USGA official in charge of design, recently admitted that the course will not be easy.
" The greens are the fastest I've ever seen. There are a lot of undulation and a lot of movement in the streets and bunkers are very, very deep,"said Davis. " I really think it will be the toughest test of golf in the LPGA players have ever seen. This is a course that tests every aspect of his game."
In practice rounds, the Stimpmeter used to measure green speed was at 14, not quite incredible speed but certainly close enough, and the green is likely to recover faster the day.
When the men played the last of eight in the U.S. one contested at Oakmont in 2007, Angel Cabrera of Argentina won the tournament at 5-over par and greens were measured at 15. Women play a course that is about 620 meters short, 6613 yards with a par of 71.
In 1992 Women's Open in the same place, Patty Sheehan and Juli Inkster tied at 4 under after 72 holes, Sheehan won in a playoff on Monday.
Inkster, who turned 50 two weeks ago, is in the field again this year and is just 15 years old, Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs, who turned professional last month, but will be playing in his fourth Open. She qualified for the first time at age 12, the youngest player to make the open field. She missed the cut that year and again in 2008 and then finished tied for 54th last year at Saucon Valley in Bethlehem, Pa. It does not seem the least intimidated by the circumstances or the golf course.
" I just thought my game was ready and wanted to make my game to the next level,"he said of his decision to turn pro. " If I just come to relax and play my own game, I think I'll play very well here. I think I can compete."
Please feel free to send if you have any questions regarding this post , you can contact on
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this site are that of the authors and not necessarily that of U.S.S.POST.


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New research says that a comet, not an asteroid, is likely what caused the extinction of dinosaurs.
Dartmouth University researchers say that the over 100-mile Chicxulub crater in Mexico was created by something smaller than previously believed.
The crater is believed to have been the site of impact for the space rock that killed the dinosaurs.
It was previously postulated that an asteroid made the hole in the Earth but the new findings suggests the impact was from something smaller and faster: a comet.
The basis for the finding is a reevaluation of iridium levels - an element found in high levels around the impact site, suggesting that the crater was made by a rock from space.
More from GlobalPost: What do dinosaurs have in common with penguins and peacocks? New discovery tells all
Iridium was compared to levels of the element osmium, which was also dispersed during the impact.
Researchers said that the new calculation means the rock created less debris than thought, meaning it was a smaller object that crashed into Earth.
"How do we get something that has enough energy to generate that size of crater, but has much less rocky material?" study author Jason Moore, a paleoecologist at Dartmouth, told BBC News.
That brings us to comets,"
The findings were presented at the 44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Texas.


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To determine whether more frequent engagement in larger social networks, and more emotional support protect against cognitive and functional decline with aging.
We examined the influence of social networks on cognition and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) over a median interval of 10.9 years. Data were from the Baltimore follow-up of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study, a community-based sample of adults in eastern Baltimore. 874 participants completed cognitive testing at both the third and fourth study waves (1993–1996 and 2003–2004) on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a delayed word recall task. Functional status at both waves was self-reported on the Lawton-Brody IADL scale. Social network characteristics, assessed at the third study wave, included network size, frequency of contact, and emotional support.
In cross-sectional analyses at wave 3, larger networks were associated with higher MMSE and better delayed recall scores. This association persisted after adjustment for covariates. More emotional support was associated with better functional status, before and after adjustment. By contrast, social networks were not longitudinally associated with cognitive change, with two counter-intuitive exceptions: more frequent contact and more emotional support were associated with worse delayed recall and IADL scores after adjustment.
There was no evidence of a longitudinal association between social networks and cognition or IADLs, although a clear cross-sectional association exists. Together, these findings suggest the emergence of social isolation in individuals declining in cognition and functioning, rather than a protective effect of social networks.
Research has suggested that social interaction protects against cognitive decline. The aging of the population makes this an important issue. Thirty-one million Americans will live alone in 2010 – a 40% increase since 1980 (Cacioppo, Hawkley 2003). Two longitudinal studies found that limited social contacts were associated with increased risk of cognitive decline or dementia (Bassuk, Glass & Berkman 1999, Fratiglioni et al. 2000). Others found no evidence that larger networks predicted better maintenance of cognition after 7 years (Glei et al. 2005). Seeman et al. found that neither social ties nor group participation affected cognition after 7.5 years (Seeman et al. 2001).
Most studies have had short follow-up or used assessments insensitive to the detection of milder cognitive impairment. Subsequently, the reverse causality question remains unanswered: is limited social contact a risk factor for cognitive decline, or a prodromal feature? Here we expand on earlier work from the Baltimore ECA that suggested more interpersonal activity and emotional support were cross-sectionally associated with better cognitive performance, while larger social networks predicted lower odds of cognitive decline over 12 years (Holtzman et al. 2004). We hypothesized that larger networks, more frequent contact, and more emotional support would correlate with better maintenance of cognition and function over the subsequent decade. Evidence of such an association would lead to enhanced efforts to keep people engaged as they age.
Data were from the Baltimore ECA follow-up study, described in detail elsewhere (Eaton et al. 1997). Probability sampling was used to identify 3,481 adults aged ≥18 in eastern Baltimore interviewed at wave 1 (1981). Wave 2 was conducted one year later. Of the original participants, 1,920 were re-interviewed at wave 3 (1993–1996), and 1,071 at wave 4 (2004–2005). The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Committee on Human Research approved the study. To facilitate examination of change over the decade, only respondents with cognitive scores at waves 3 and 4 were included in the present analysis (n=874 persons).
We assessed network size, frequency of interaction, emotional support, and a composite social network measure. Network size constituted (1) the number of relatives outside the home and (2) the number of friends/neighbors with whom the respondent communicated by telephone or visits during the past six months. Response choices were 0, 1, 2–3, 4–5, 6–10, and ≥11. Within each domain (i.e., family or friends), these responses were assigned scores of 0–5 (i.e., 0=0, 1=1, 2–3=2, etc.) and the two domains were summed (range 0–10).
Frequency of interaction was assessed by asking how often respondents talked on the phone/visited with (1) relatives outside the home and (2) friends. Choices were "never," "less than once a month," "about once a month," "a few times a month," "a few times a week," and "most every day." These were scored 0–5, within each domain, and the two domains were summed (range 0–10).
Emotional support was assessed by asking: (1) How much does your (husband/wife/partner) really care about you? (2) How much can you rely on your (husband/wife/partner) for help with a serious problem? And, (3) How much can you relax and be yourself around your (husband/wife/partner)? Choices were "not at all," "a little " "some," or "a lot" (scored 0–3). The three items were repeated for other relatives and for friends, and summed (range 0–27). 365 unmarried respondents lacked data for the items relating to emotional support from a spouse/partner, so we multiplied their emotional support scores by 1.5.
Network size, frequency of contact and emotional support were only moderately correlated (pairwise correlation coefficients 0.27–0.36, p<0.001), so a composite social network measure was created by adding the scores for these variables (range 0–47).
At waves 3 and 4, we assessed total MMSE score (range 0–30) and delayed recall. A validated, widely used screening instrument for global cognitive impairment, the MMSE was administered using standard procedures at all study waves (Folstein, Folstein & McHugh 1975).
A delayed recall task was administered at waves 3 and 4 (Cornoni-Huntley et al. 1993).Impairment in delayed recall is a sensitive indicator of dementia. Participants listened to 20 common words then recalled them in any order. After 20 minutes, they recalled the same list again. The total number of correct words recalled after the delay was scored.
Functional status was assessed on six items from the Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) (Lawton, Brody 1969): ability to use a telephone, prepare meals, clean the house, and manage finances (each scored 0–2, with lower scores indicating more disability). Additionally, respondents were asked about their ability to shop for groceries and use public transportation (each scored 0–3, with lower scores indicating more disability). Scores for each task were summed (range 0–14). These items were re-scaled from the original survey so that higher scores would correspond with better functional status.
The following variables were included in adjusted analyses as potential confounders. They had cross-sectional associations at wave 3 (p≤0.01) with social networks, cognition, or IADLs, and/or were established risk factors for cognitive decline: race, sex, age, education, past year household income, depressive symptomatology, lifetime alcohol use disorder, ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD).
Depressive symptomatology was assessed at wave 3 by asking respondents to rate feelings of unhappiness, depression, worthlessness, and hopelessness over the past few weeks (Goldberg, Hillier 1979). Each of these questions was scored 0–3 ("not at all," "no more than usual," "more than usual," or "much more than usual") and summed for an overall dysphoria measure. Participants were considered to have CVD risk factors at wave 3 if they reported having ever been diagnosed with diabetes, "heart trouble," stroke, or hypertension.
The presence of lifetime alcohol use disorder at wave 3 was assessed using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria (American Psychiatric Association 1987). Physical disability was ascertained through self-reported difficulty with ADLs including eating, transferring from bed, toileting, dressing, bathing (Katz et al. 1963), carrying a bag of groceries, picking up a shoe from the floor, reaching, and grasping. Each item was scored 0–2, with lower scores indicating more disability, and the nine measures were summed (range 0–18). As with IADLs, these items were re-scaled from the original survey so that high scores would correspond with better functional status.
We compared at wave 1 all participants included in these analyses to those who were not (because of loss to follow-up or missing cognitive data at wave 3 or 4) on sociodemographic and health measures. We used t-tests for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical ones. To examine longitudinal associations between social networks and cognition, we used univariate and multiple linear regression. The dependent variable was an individual change score for MMSE, delayed recall or IADLs (wave 3 minus wave 4). We initially used dummy variables to represent quintiles of each social network measure. There were no significant departures from linearity, so social network variables were modeled continuously to maximize use of available data. Coefficients represent the magnitude of change in MMSE, delayed recall and IADLs over 10.9 years, associated with a 1-point increase in social network measures. Positive coefficients reflect greater cognitive and functional decline. Analyses were performed using Stata 9.2 (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX).
874 participants who provided data on MMSE and delayed recall at waves 3 and 4 comprised the study population. Compared with those who were lost to follow-up or had missing cognitive data, the assessed participants were younger at wave 1 and had more education, higher income, and higher MMSE scores (p≤0.01; Table 1).
At wave 3, the average age of participants included in this analysis was 47.3 years (Table 2). Only 3 participants had no contact with relatives or friends outside the home during the previous 6 months.
Larger social networks were cross-sectionally associated with higher MMSE scores at wave 3 (Table 3), even after adjustment (p=0.019). Emotional support and the composite social network measure were positively associated with MMSE before adjustment (p≤0.025). MMSE was not associated with frequency of social contact.
Larger social networks were cross-sectionally associated with better delayed recall before and after adjustment (p=0.014). Additionally, emotional support, and the composite social network measure, were positively associated with delayed recall before adjustment (p≤0.0001). Delayed recall was not associated with frequency of contact.
Greater levels of emotional support were cross-sectionally associated with less IADL impairment before and after adjustment (p=0.044). IADLs were not associated with any other social network measures at wave 3.
Our primary goal was to examine whether social networks were longitudinally associated with cognition. In general, we did not find significant associations between baseline social network factors and change in MMSE (Table 4), delayed recall (Table 5), or IADLs (Table 6). There were two counter-intuitive exceptions: after adjustment for sociodemographic variables, participants with more frequent contacts at baseline exhibited greater decline in delayed recall between waves 3 and 4 (p=0.042). This association became marginally non-significant after inclusion of health factors (p=0.057). Additionally, individuals with more emotional support at baseline exhibited greater decline in IADLs after adjustment (p=0.003).
We investigated associations between social networks and cognition in a community-based cohort over 10.9 years. While a clear cross-sectional association existed at baseline, there was no evidence that social contact conferred protection against later cognitive decline. If anything, individuals with more frequent contacts and better emotional support at baseline had greater decline, after adjustment. Together, these data suggest that social network changes may be the consequence rather than the cause of cognitive decline, although this conclusion is premature based on these results alone.
One explanation for these findings is that quality of social engagement is more important than quantity. We did not examine the nature and complexity of interactions. Effortful mental activities such as crossword puzzles may prevent cognitive deterioration (Verghese et al. 2003), perhaps by increasing the number of neocortical synapses and improving neuronal networking (Orrell, Sahakian 1995), but findings concerning social networks are mixed. This may reflect that one can be surrounded by others but not engaged, particularly for individuals on the cusp of mental decline. For example, one study found that activities requiring creativity and initiative, such as gardening and traveling, reduced the risk of incident dementia within 3 years. Less cognitively demanding activities such as visiting friends and watching television were not protective (Fabrigoule et al. 1995).
The longitudinal results contradict earlier findings from the Baltimore ECA that suggested an association between larger network size and better cognition (Holtzman et al. 2004). This may be because the earlier analysis used data from the first 12 years, while we restricted our sample to respondents who remained in the study for two decades. This subgroup of survivors differed significantly from individuals lost to follow-up. The present analysis also included many younger participants, potentially masking any effect of social networks on cognition. A future study focusing on older persons, who are likely to experience greater cognitive change during the follow-up period than younger individuals, might reveal a longitudinal association between frequency of social contact, emotional support, and cognition.
Our findings concur with other negative studies (Glei et al. 2005, Seeman et al. 2001). Previous investigations reporting a positive association had short follow-up (Fratiglioni et al. 2000) or used cognitive instruments unable to detect mild deficits. Thus, respondents may have been misclassified as cognitively intact when their social withdrawal resulted from emerging mental decline (Bassuk, Glass & Berkman 1999). We attempted to clarify this issue by using delayed recall, a highly sensitive measure of cognitive dysfunction, and following participants for 10.9 years.
Another possible explanation for our results is the limited variability of social network characteristics in the study population, which reduced the likelihood of detecting an association. Lastly, social networks may primarily affect aspects of cognition that the MMSE and delayed recall task do not assess well, such as executive functioning.
This study has many strengths, including a large, population-based sample, many person-years of follow-up, and the use of two different cognitive assessments, including a sensitive delayed recall task. The major limitation was the use of "survivor" data.
Our results provide no evidence that social network characteristics prevent cognitive decline. Additional longitudinal studies can clarify whether specific aspects of social participation, such as interactive mentally stimulating activities, are beneficial. Conclusive evidence of an association would support the creation of social interventions for aging individuals.
Key points:
We thank Ronald E. Holtzman, PhD and Linda Fried, MD, MPH for helpful discussions.
Supported by: The NIH Predoctoral Clinical Research Training Program (5 T32 RR023523), grant R01-MH47447 for the Baltimore ECA follow-up, and the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (PO1-AGO5146).
PubMed Central Canada is a service of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) working in partnership with the National Research Council's national science library in cooperation with the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the U.S. National Library of Medicine(NCBI/NLM). It includes content provided to the PubMed Central International archive by participating publishers.


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Hi y'all, hoping for a little help for a hound from AZ. Nothing super chowish, unfortunately.
I'll be in Anaheim for the Natural Products Expo next week and need to make reservations for a 18 people for for Friday, March 18th.
Last year we went to King's Fish House and Outback for our meals (groan, I know). I can't get too risky. Italian is good, so is seafood, steak, no Asian or anything too out of the ordinary unfortunately. In the $18 to $25 range for entrees.
I'd love your feedback quickly as places are getting filled up fast and I was just given this tast 5 minutes ago.
We'll be staying at the Anaheim Hilton and are willing to drive approximately 15 minutes.
Thanks so much in advance!!!


text: I'm a Sprint fan because of their reasonably priced voice/data plans and I get a 30% discount (which is sizable given I have a family all on Sprint). It also gets strong signal in my house (and my friend's Verizon phone doesn't work at my house). I've finally decided to take the leap from my trusty Palm Centro (I've been using Palm stuff for over a decade) to an Android phone. Trouble is, I can't find a good Android powered phone in the pipeline at Sprint. I'm really sensitive to size, and the upcoming EVO is simply too big. I carry my phone on me at all times, and I want it small. The Hero is a nice size (perfect actually) but I tend to have my phone for years and I want to buy the "latest and greatest" (again, given my size constraints, not the EVO), and the Hero is pretty old. Does anyone know if Sprint will be coming out with a Hero replacement? The Legend? The Verizon Incredible is the perfect phone for me, but it's on Verizon. Any chance of that phone coming to Sprint (under a diff't name of course)? Thanks all, Vesbon


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Decorating ideas with natural seeds and flowers
Summer is near the end, and soon the change of seasons will come. Falls comes with many great opportunities to create beautiful crafts with dried out flowers, seeds and everything that will bloom and eventually fall. Sometimes we need the right inspiration to come up with lovely art that can decorate our homes. Including nature in it will only more beauty to it, as there isn't anything more perfect than nature itself. Today we share with you some ideas to create crafty and beautiful decorations with dried seeds, moss, flowers, small vegetation and more.
At Revampt we know how important it does our part in taking care of the Planet. An essential contribution is to reutilize and to work with resources we already have in existence. That is why we sell home products and accessories fabricated from raw materials like bicycle wheels, tires, old machinery, antique bowling alley and more. Let's take a look at some great looking unique pieces that can make great gifts!
Ideas to decorate your house with nature
Pine cone or Succulent Wreaths
These are ones of the most commonly known ways to re-utilize nature's gifts from trees, pine cones, or to maintain alive succulent cuttings in a wreath. In both cases you need to get a wire wreath frame. The succulent cuttings can come from your home or your friends, use floral wire and pins and sphagnum moss to pin them down. Add rooting hormone and spritz with water occasionally. Use floral wire to tie the pine cones together and pin them down to the wire frame. You can add dried flowers or Christmas old decorations to suit your occasion. You can also add foam circle that has been painted brown and pin the pine cones with glue and ribbon, starting with the biggest first and then adding the little ones to fill in the holes.
Dried Flower Seeds arrangements and others
Many dried seeds like dried pods, lotus pods, bell cups others can be used to create beautiful arrangements. You can also use different seeds, like beans, to fill in layers a bottle or a see-through container. Another way is to glue down seeds to create unique designs or flowers on a canvas. You decide, use your imagination! And these are great fun ideas to spend a crafts afternoon with the kids.
Easy enough, these pieces combine glass, layers of color, and beautiful little green enclosures. You can go for a container with an open space or closed ones like mason jars, old coffee maker containers, round candy jars or even plastic jugs. Start with the first layer of dirt, gravel or pebbles. Then add the vegetation you want to include in your terrarium. Throw in a figurine or keep it nice and simple with a mini forest of moss only. Small terrariums can be built in small containers like glasses, bottles, and even light bulbs.
Daniel Louis decided to take a different approach to the green revolution. Instead of focusing broadly on the ever increasing number of "eco-friendly" products, Daniel has chosen to focus on products made from resources already in existence. Our reclaimed home furnishings, right here in Denver, are individually selected for their utility, creativity, and unique re-purposed nature. Our incredible home products are fabricated from the most unsuspecting raw materials; bicycle wheels, sails, tires, dilapidated machinery, and more. Please check back soon for more details as we continue to hand pick these one-of-a-kind reclaimed goods!


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Swedishness is run by Nina and Mathias Strömberg. Nina started and ran legendary fashion shop NEU in Stockholm, mixing the best of Swedish high fashion with european avant-garde. Mathias is an art director with several large fashion, interior and food magazines on the cv. Their online shop is filled with Swedish design + quality souvenirs.
We have mixed a handful of Swedish brands with small handicraft shops and new talent, and have built our shop to live up to the high standards these producers demand Swedishness will hopefully evoke the same feelings you get when you enter a quality physical shop. You want to look around and get filled with ideas, and discover things you never knew you wanted. Our blog is all about Swedish design and creates added bookmarking value. We want our customers to return not only with a shopping mission, but also to read and get inspired.


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Two attorneys with everything to lose fight for justice in The Prosecutor, by USA Today best-selling author Adrienne Giordano.
Chicago assistant state's attorney Zac Hennings just got handed a political hot potato: keeping the convicted murderer in a high-profile case behind bars. He's up against his most formidable - and alluring - adversary. First-year law student Emma Sinclair is passionately fighting to free her brother. But she needs the take-no-prisoners prosecutor's help. Caught between attraction and letting a killer go free, Zac walks a tightrope. Until evidence surfaces that the real culprit's still out there. With his career and Emma's life on the line, Zac races to right a terrible wrong. Refusing to back down, he'll bring a cunning lawbreaker to justice - or die trying.
©2014 Adrienne Giordano (P)2014 Audible Inc.
"Best 2014 romantic suspense I've read"
The male narrator's female characters left much to be desired (they sounded like aging drag queens!) but his pacing, inflection, etc, were good.
The 5 stars, then, is for this surprisingly engrossing tale of a woman's quest to free her wrongfully-accused brother, now facing 25 years in jail for murder. Sounds straightforward and the story, being a category title, isn't complicated. BUT, Giordano's writing is so good, this felt like a full-length latest Sandra Brown. I could have done without the slight TSTL scene where Emma goes into the dark alley, telling herself only stupid women did that but other than this, the story unfolded at a good pace, allowing all the characters to be nicely fleshed-out. Great hero, likeable heroine, excellent tension as Emma and Zac close in on who the killer really was.
There's a good balance of romance/suspense, a proportion that falls within my pleasure zone - I do not like my Romantic Suspense to have more romance as it detracts from the suspense. Giordano hit the right ratio for me in this well-written thriller.
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Well for weeks now I have said that I should write these intros as soon as were done recording.
Well for once I have managed it, which is good as I really would have forgotten about the lemur.
This podcast was originally going to be titled 'Double the Random' as this week Gow had the same random word suggested twice.
However while we were listening to the break song, I set that and he stared at me like a confused lemur.
Fortunately you guys don't have to be confused as everything we talked about is linked below.
Another regular feature got a revamp this week as well – the mid podcast songs. From here on in they will always be suggestions from listeners.
So if you have a suggestion for song to be included in the podcast then put it in the comments of this post or send them too @DrunkenGamer or @D_Gow . They will be put on the short-list and you will be mentioned in the podcast itself when played
Anyway enjoy this episode of the Drinky Talky Thing.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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You can also subscribe Podcast on iTunes Read More


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Oman Air Heathrow base to be changed to terminal 4
By Staff Reporter — MUSCAT: Jan. 11 – Oman Air, has informed its passengers and the travel agents that the carrier's operations at Heathrow Airport in London would be moved to terminal 4 from January 31.The carrier flies twice daily connecting its hub, Muscat with Heathrow which run in the morning and evening operating from terminals 3 and 4 respectively. "Shifting the flights to just one terminal will allow us to better manage our operations at one of the world's busiest airports, and streamline our guests' journey on one of Oman Air's flagship routes," the statement further said.
Oman Air operates direct flights to Milan, Munich, Frankfurt, Paris and Zurich in Europe besides London. Its other direct international flights include Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Medina, Tehran, Mashhad, Najaf, and Kuwait, in the Gulf region, as well as Cairo, Beirut and Amman. In addition, Oman Air flies to eleven destinations in India; 2 in Bangladesh; 3 in Pakistan; 1 each in Nepal and Sri Lanka. The airline also flies to Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Jakarta, Zanzibar, Dar Es Salaam and has just launched its new route to Guangzhou in China. The airline's domestic destinations are Salalah, Khasab and Duqm.


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Join Trike Patrol! Download full-length 22min 58sec movie now!
It is obvious that the horny Filipina babe in the video has been looking forward for the moment, when she could play dirty with a naughty cock. She gets picked up without difficulty and seems very friendly. So friendly, that she even undresses and masturbates in front of the camera. See her sucking cock!
- amadeus
- : 9min 32sec
- : 3 Feb 2015
- Exclusive video


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As part of the search for missing Malaysian Air Flight 370, a P-8A Poseidon from VP-16, a Navy Patrol Squadron from Jacksonville Naval Air Station, is patrolling an area about 1,500 nautical miles southwest of Australia.
"We've flown two missions with the P-8 from VP-16 thus far," said Capt. Sean Liedman, Commodore of Wing 11, the squadron's parent unit. "They repositioned from [Okinawa], where it's currently based on deployment, down to Subang, Malaysia, then proceeded to fly a mission in the southern Bay of Bengal.
"Then, just yesterday, the airplane was tasked to reposition to Perth, Australia, to support operations in this new, emerging theory of this southern corridor."
Search teams are now focusing on waters west of Malaysia in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. However, U.S. officials told the Associated Press the southern part is the most promising. Thus, the southern corridor theory.
See more photos of the plane here
Slideshow: Navy Capt. Sean Liedman on NAS Jax role in search for plane
Liedman would not comment on what led the U.S. Navy to this area, but the dispatching of the high-tech Navy aircraft does signal a serious focus there.
The cutting-edge plane was chosen for the assignment because of its optic capabilities and its longer range than its predecessor, the P-3C Orion.
"It's about a 3½-hour transit from Perth out to the area," Liedman said. "The airplane can then remain on station for 3½ hours, transit back home and then execute the same mission the next day."
Related: Mystery of missing jet recalls past disappearances
Related: NAS Jacksonville squadron assisting search for missing Malaysian passenger jet
At this point, the search area is completely over ocean searching for oil slicks or debris fields, he said.
The search is mostly visual at this point, flown in daytime hours. But the plane is also equipped with sonobuoys that are meant to search out minute sounds from enemy submarines.
"The ping coming out of the black box is not likely to be detected by the sonobuoys," Liedman said. "But the aircrew is deploying sonobuoys, and one of the advantages there is that they can measure the drift of the current, which would help to refine the search area of any wreckage."
VP-16 is about halfway through its deployment to the Pacific that began in December. It appears that, at least for the current plane involved in the search, it will be there for the long haul.
"We anticipate they'll fly one mission a day until the mission is completed or we move on to the next phase of search operations," he said.
Cmdr. Bill Pennington, commander of VP-16, told the Times-Union in November that "Big Navy" would be watching the unit and how their new planes performed on their first deployment.
Little did he know the whole world would be as well.
Clifford Davis: (904) 359-4103