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text: Well, call me OCD. I like to hang on to earlier DVD sets of TV shows and movies. Especially now with blu ray, I like to have that DVD copy for play back on older DVD systems in my house and the extras that weren't ported over like in this case. I'm surprised too.

subset: commoncrawl


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A Chaplain Chronicles Afghanistan
"The Hornet's Nest" is not your typical military movie. It is actual footage taken from nine days of battle in Afghanistan and the perilous situation a group of soldiers found themselves in. Several men were killed in a dangerous and hostile environment, referred to as "The Hornet's Nest" by war photographer Mike Boettcher, who was embedded with the unit.
One of the men embedded with the unit featured in "The Hornet's Nest" was Chaplain Justin Roberts, who captured footage of Staff Sgt. Brian Burgess, who was killed in action on March 29, 2011.
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/the-hornets-nest-film-chaplain-embedded-with-platoon-says-america-need-to-know-these-stories-interview-video-120406/


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Discussion in 'Sexy & Naked Women Pictures' started by bowbow23, Sep 20, 2012.
I wanna bend her lil skinny ass over and get deep up in her guts...black breed that pussy
Me Too........
you both should at the same time
The good girl's pussy.
Then you must be the third one with me
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She is one hot lady.
About time skinny and flat girls (like me!) get some attention too lol
Celebrating sexy skinny babes
Lucy Liu
Rosie Huttington-Whiteley
Cameron Diaz
Claire Danes
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....and you would know this because....???
well, if he doesn't...i know i have more experience with them. i can think of one that can take a pounding and want more
I, too know of one who is skinny who can SO take a pounding and want more
my wife is very petite /thin 5'2 90lbs 32a 24 34 and has no problem taking a pounding from huge cocks and loves it!
Well i would love to see some pics of her I love petite women.....
One petite Asian here
View attachment 142837
well, i don't know who she is...but i do know i would like to give you and your beautiful self a nice little pounding
loving the long legs. wish they could rest on my shoulders or around me waist
Separate names with a comma.


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CHANCEVILLE, TEXAS. Chanceville, also known as Ward's Store, was five miles northwest of Maydelle in west central Cherokee County. It was established in 1886 by James and Emma Ward, who opened a general merchandise store known as Ward's Store. After James Ward's death in 1914, his son Francis Ward took over the business and expanded it, eventually adding a barbershop, shoe repair shop, clothes-pressing booth, and photo shop. Later, he opened several other businesses, including a gristmill, a woodworking shop, a blacksmith shop, a service station, a snack bar, and an icehouse. After World War I and World War II Ward also sold surplus military goods from his huge complex. The store became known as Chanceville, reportedly because locals would say if they could not find a particular item, there was a good chance Ward would have it. For many years the store complex served as the community center for area farms. Local residents often spent hours there pitching horseshoes or playing dominos or checkers. In later years Ward built a pool that served as the community swimming and baptizing pool. After Ward died in 1955, his store closed, and eventually the community lost its distinct identity. In the early 1990s only the empty store building and a few scattered houses remained in the area.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:Cherokee County History (Jacksonville, Texas: Cherokee County Historical Commission, 1986).
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Uploaded on June 12, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
For more information about towns and counties including physical features, statistics, weather, maps and much more, visit the Town Database on TexasAlmanac.com!


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Discussion in 'Interracial Cuckold & Sex Stories' started by Dana69nB, May 22, 2015.
No message
Go for it hun you won't regret it
Good stuff, hope you have fun. We are in dfw, too.
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Don't forget to take pictures!
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Go get yourselves a cup of tea or something first, kids. I've got my ranting pants on today.
So, there's this little review blog out there on the interwebs called BigAl's Books and Pals which focuses on "indie" books, specifically those available on the Kindle eReader. The label is problematic in itself, with the site owner ("BigAl") defining an "indie author" as being "any author whose book isn't published by one of the 'Big Six' publishing companies" — Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin, Random House, and Simon & Schuster — either directly or via an imprint. This leaves a wide range of books within his scope, from out of print backlist titles (even if these were original published by a Big Sixer), through to boutique and small press publications, and all the way into the wilds of self-published authorship.
However, it's the self-published books that seem to be primary focus of the site. Acknowledging that self-published authors are largely without the resources available to major publishers, and that this can result in lower standards of quality control, BigAl's Books and Pals declares: "We can help you separate the wheat from the chaff. Point you towards books you might like and steer you away from others." A worthy enough goal, if a sometimes thankless task.
A couple of weeks ago, on 16 March, BigAl posted a review of a self-published eBook called The Greek Seaman by Jacqueline Howett. It's not a great review — garnering only two stars out of a possible five — with the major concern being the "numerous proofing, typo, and grammar issues" with which the novel seems to abound. A potentially good story, essentially, lost somewhere in amongst the overwrought and overly wrong prose. "Reading shouldn't be that hard," says BigAl. Ouch.
Now, until two days ago, the site doesn't appear to be all that heavily trafficked, with most reviews only attracting a handful of comments, if any. Often the author being reviewed will pop along to say thanks, and maybe another couple of readers will offer words of agreement or otherwise. A fledgling blog, a developing community, some publicity for the self-published author without a lot of marketing resources of their own. Nice.
When the review of The Greek Seaman was published, the first comment came two days later (18 March) from Jacqueline Howett herself — and it wasn't pretty:
You obviously didn't read the second clean copy I requested you download that was also reformatted, so this is a very unfair review. My Amazon readers/reviewers give it 5 stars and 4 stars and they say they really enjoyed The Greek Seaman and thought it was well written. Maybe its just my style and being English is what you don't get. Sorry it wasn't your cup of tea, but I think I will stick to my five star and four star reviews thanks.
The next day she re-posted the two reviews her book had thus received so far on Amazon: five-stars from a person with the same last name as the author, and an earlier one which gave the novel four-stars. On 23 March she returned to re-post a new five-star review which had subsequently appeared on Amazon. On 25 March, two "anonymous" commentators posted brief replies (essentially: facepalm) before BigAl came back to post a lengthy and very restrained follow-up, pointing out that he had in fact read the "reformatted" copy for the review and quoting a few lines to demonstrate the awkward and error-riddled prose that bothered him.
Then, on 28 March, things got really nasty. "My writing is just fine!" Jacqueline replied to BigAl, before going on to demand that the review be removed from the site. "Who are you any way?" she demanded of him. "Really who are you? What do we know about you?"
It's probably around about this time that someone posted a link to Twitter. The site was quickly flooded with commentators who both critiqued the author's online behaviour and writing style, and encouraged BigAl to "stick to his guns" and leave the review in place — not that there had been any indication that the review was in any danger of being withdrawn. Jacqueline Howett certainly made no friends that day. She continued to defend work which, in terms of grammar and spelling and outright readability, seems largely indefensible, insulted the reviewer and accused him of hiding behind "anonymous" screen names, and repeatedly demanded that people contact her via email rather than post their criticisms in public. Finally, she left the site, but not until she posted a succinct parting shot: "Fuck off!" — twice in quick succession.
Comments continued, despite the lack of any further input from either Jacqueline Howett or BigAl, with posters offering (increasingly snarky and patronising) advice to the author, as well as arguing among themselves the merits or otherwise of self-publishing and "indie" authors. The thread was finally locked off at 307 comments.
I was intending to post about this on 28 March when it all blew up. Not at great length, merely to point it out as an object lesson in how not to respond to a bad review. It's not the first time an author has reacted in an outlandish fashion to criticism, and not even the first time it's been done on a relatively insignificant blog (sorry Alan), but it was a fairly amusing example of Authors Behaving Badly. I'd also had this presentation from Scott Edelman on "How to Respond to a Critique of Your Writing" sitting open in a browser tab for a few days and thought it would make a nice contrast. (It still does — you should go and watch that clip. Especially if you're likely to be in a critique group or workshop situation any time soon.)
But I was busy and I'm not allowed to blog when I'm busy and I figured enough people were linking to the site already, having a chuckle and shaking their heads. Then last night I read this blogpost by Ben Payne in which he remarked:
The pervasive sense of enjoyment that permeates the comments, the sense of self-righteous judgement and animosity, just doesn't sit well with me. I'm sure not all the commenters had that intent, and as I said above, I laughed too at first. But piled together, on top of one another, it's hard not to feel that the response verges on being a kind of bullying.
Ben makes a good point in regards to the tone of self-righteous judgement, but I wasn't entirely in agreement about the bullying part. Let's be clear about this: the author of a reviewed book came onto the reviewer's own blog and began to repeatedly harass and insult him — "You are a big rat and a snake with poisenous venom" — accusing him of dishonesty and demanding that he remove the review on the grounds that it was "abuse". To me, it is this sort of behaviour which smells of bullying. If other people defended BigAl and the basis for his review, so the much better. It worked; the bully picked up her bat and ball and left the field. Sure, perhaps the comments could have been closed earlier, but it's BigAl's blog and he gets to do with it what he likes.
Now, if the discussion had begun on Jacqueline Howett's blog — if, for example, BigAl had posted his review as a comment to her own announcement about her book — then I would regard what happened as clearly bullying behaviour. Location, in this case, is context. You don't get to come into someone else's backyard, yell and scream at them, and then feel like you're the one being bullied when their friends — and passersby attracted by the noise you are making — start to yell and scream back until you leave or apologise. Yes, I know it's an imperfect metaphor: BigAl's blog, as a stated review site, is not entirely "private grounds"; Jacqueline Howett didn't accuse anyone of bullying her. But you know what I'm saying — and if the whole thing had ended there, on BigAl's Books and Pals, I'd be standing by it.
But then Ben Payne made mention of a number of negative reviews that suddenly seemed to be popping up on the Amazon page for Jacqueline Howett's novel, and I wandered over to have a look.
Prior to 27 March, The Greek Seaman had precisely the three reviews, each with either four or five star ratings. Sure, at least one of them seems to be from family and maybe the other two are from family/friends as well — certainly they read more as copies of the author's own book description than actual reviews — but then it's a brand-new, self-published book on Amazon, isn't it? Prospective readers are probably more than capable of reading between the lines. Of course, the fact that Jacqueline Howett reposted these three reviews to BigAl's blog in defense of her novel was highly inappropriate — not mention highly idiotic.
On 27/28 March, BigAl simultaneously posted his own review to both Amazon US and UK sites (the date discrepancy is accounted for by international timezones) as he does with all his reviews. I would hazard a guess that it was these postings that inspired Jacqueline Howett to return to BigAl's Books and Pals on 28 March, and we all know what happened then.
From 28 March and as of this writing, there are now a total of 92 "customer" reviews of The Greek Seaman posted to the US Amazon site. Of these, a staggering 72 are one-star reviews. And don't get too excited about the ten five-star reviews either, as most of these are snarky and sarcastic negative comment in disguise — "the greek seaman was a rivolting romp threw history and made me know how it feel to be a young woman taken advantage of by men and who trys to escape through exceedingly poor english," begins one. (The Amazon UK page, though less trafficked, fares little better in terms of content: seventeen reviews with thirteen being one-stars.)
It's depressing, although perhaps unsurprising, to note that the majority of the one-star reviewers proudly declare that they have either not read the book or have only read the first few pages. More quote material originally cited on BigAl's Books and Pals as the reasoning behind their review, which again suggests that they themselves have not actually read The Greek Seaman, let alone formed their own opinion. "My review of this book is unfair in that I have not had the desire to read the whole book after the few paragraphs I have already trudged through," admits one reviewer, with at least a modicum of honesty.
And this is the point where I find myself in 100% agreement with Ben Payne — what's happening on Amazon is absolutely and deplorably a case of bullying.
Okay, The Greek Seaman doesn't sound like a great book. It doesn't even sound like a particularly good book, although it might have been with some help from an editor and proof-reader. But, you know, there's a free sample available right on the Amazon page, so a prospective reader can judge this for themselves. And yes, Jacqueline Howett broke the first rule of successful social marketing: Don't Be a Dick on the Internet.
I'm in no way defending anything she said or did on BigAl's site, but when a whole bunch of self-righteous, pitchfork-wielding tossers rampage themselves off to Amazon to spam her review page with recycled vitriol and oh-so-clever quips, you'd be forgiven for thinking the woman had been torturing meerkats and uploading her antics to YouTube. You know the old adage, two wrongs don't make a right? Well, I'm pretty damn sure that 72 wrongs don't come any closer to balancing that scale.
I mean, really, is this a thing we do now? Isn't it enough to laugh and shake our heads, and send links around to our friends, and maybe even blog a little about how this soooo not the way to respond to criticism? Do we actually need to sally forth and stomp the object of our derision into the cyberdirt? Just in case they, what, dare to write another mediocre novel that none of us will ever actually be forced to read anyway?
Why yes, that was me ineffectually waggling my finger at the interwebs, so glad you noticed. Ben Payne puts it a little better:
If the internet is incapable of forgetting, we need at least to teach it to be forgiving.
Amen to that, Ben. I don't know if Jacqueline Howett is doing anything about it, but I hope Amazon will decide to pull most of the dodgy reviews if she requests them to look into the situation. (It seems they have already pulled some of the more offensive.) It drives me to both despair and anger when I see this sort of thing happening. Because human beings really are capable of being so much better than this, and of encouraging each other to be so much better as well. When we're not encouraging each other to be so much worse.
And this is why I'm not allowed to blog why I'm busy.
29 Comments
"a relatively insignificant blog"?!
Who are you anyway? What do we know about you!
I actually couldn't agree more. I think the response on BigAl's blog is perfectly reasonable and I'm glad he eventually closed the comments (if a little too late). But bombarding Amazon with 1-star reviews is ridiculous. To be honest, it's no different to her family posting 5-star reviews. Neither do anything for the integrity of reviews in general.
But it could all have been avoided if people would learn that the only appropriate response to any review, regardless of its content, is "Thanks for taking the time to review my book!" That's if you respond at all, of course. Which you really shouldn't.
By and large, my view of author responses tends to be informed by the knowledge that writers tend to have a good deal more power than critics. Critics, especially in the specfic field, frequently write for free as a service for the community and when authors sick their fans on critics it is never anything more than ugly bullying.
However, I think that in this case, the visibility of the author meant that she didn't have the power that comes with social prestige and a large fan-base while the critic found himself 'backed' by a twitter mob that was drunk on its own sense of self-righteousness.
As someone who 1) has had an author sick her LJ friends list on one of my reviews, 2) has been on the receiving end of a kicking by an entire forum and 3) has been stalked as a result of publishing negative reviews of someone's favourite books I can empathise with both sides as I've been on the receiving end of both forms of bullying and my advice is to remember that there is always a person behind the words you read on your screen. A person who might be unhappy and venting or a person who might be struggling to find the right words and 'saying' something they don't intend and so the best thing to do is to remember that we're all human and be a little bit understanding.
Brilliant piece, well-reasoned.
The problem with the internet is people respond to things so quickly without thinking.
It doesn't allow people to digest everything and think of a good way to handle things. It's the same for news too – this is almost considered old news but if anything, it's shone new light on the situation.
I didn't know about the 'mob' for want of a better word, descending on her amazon page and posting 1 star reviews. Mob behaviour.
Sadly, no matter how many times these kinds of stories do the rounds (unknown authors posting their own glowing reviews, famous authors responding badly to prominent reviews etc ) there will still be some authors who just can't step away from the keyboard.
At the risk of sounding smug, I am more than happy to learn from others' mistakes and I will not get involved with a reviewer who decides my book just isn't for them. No matter how perfect my books are (ahem) it is impossible to please everyone.
Used to be, you had to go knock on doors to gather a mob – and maybe buy a few drinks at the pub while passing out the pitchforks. Now, you can just "press any key to continue".
People want to feel included, and it's much easier to jump on the bullying bandwagon than to exercise a little restraint and maybe, you know, think before acting.
I don't think there's an easy fix for that.
Used to be, you had to go knock on doors to gather a mob – and maybe buy a few drinks at the pub while passing out the pitchforks. Now, you can just "press any key to continue".
You might want to bear in mind the difference between an actual, physical mob, & a bunch of jerks on the Internet.
"Sticks & stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." Especially if they are names spewed on the Internet by anonymous entities. Stop being so damn sensitive, all of you.
I'm not so sure that I agree.
You talk about backyards. It could be argued that the Amazon pages for the book are an extension of Howett's own backyard – the part out by the woodshed and the privy.
She had to make the book available to Amazon; she posted promo copy. And, as we all strongly suspect, she wrote or encouraged folks close to her to post the original, positive reviews.
For perspective, suppose we change things just a tad: if (as I've seen plenty of times before), Howett had up-spammed her novel on Amazon with not three but say, a dozen 4 and 5 stars, and BigAl had not reviewed it but instead, an irate customer, having purchased the book, wrote a 1 star and then sent the book around to his/her friends who were also outraged at the obvious lack of quality and surfeit of shill reviews who then posted their own several dozen 1 star "replies" – would this be bullying or rather, the proper response, within the proper context and one that was entirely "internet democratic"?
When that little boy said "but the emperor is naked" – was he being a bully or simply naive enough to tell the truth in an awkward context? Weren't the king's advisers and the silent majority really the ones who were bullying the amorphous public?
Should there be no consequences for the type of behavior Howett engaged in? The cause and effect is pretty clear: Howett remained in control and responsible at all times: she did not have to respond at all; she could have said 'thanks' and left it alone, she could have even pled for help with copyediting and promised a new edition (which probably would have been well received considering the positives already given the story).
Instead, she did what she did. Repeatedly.
There does come a point at which it is no longer possible to ignore bad and unacceptable behavior. The person in question must be escorted from the room. If it takes a half dozen scary looking bouncers to escort them off, it may look like bullying, but it is not.
To be Devil's Advocate, a lot of those people leaving 1 star reviews freely admitted that they'd seen the blog debacle, then came to Amazon and read the excerpt available there and based their review on it – basically saying, I read Big Al's opinion and from reading the excerpt I can see that he was correct – 1 Star. Which is fair enough really.
I downloaded the excerpt myself and I have to say, it is pretty awful. Now I don't really condone this kind of bullying any more than you do and the author got everything she deserved on the blog in question. But she wanted attention, she wanted reviews, and she got them. Loads of people, based on the BigAl review, went and checked out her book. If it had been any good some people at least would have defended it.
I hate to say it, but I don't feel particularly bad for Howett. I didn't dog-pile on or add a review, so I'm not defending anything. I just thought that as the instigator she got what she asked for. I thought it was interesting to see people who were simply commenting on the debacle getting the finger pointed at them as if they did something wrong. It seemed comment worthy to me.
Howett's behavior was probably the worst I've seen in such a situation. It's damaging because it further discourages reviewers from taking on self-published work. I have no problem with her having to deal with the consequences of her behavior–maybe it will make others think twice before going ballistic over a bad review. Gossip spreads like wildfire along the web and if someone is serious about getting their work published, they need to behave with some restraint. From what I've read, Howett was never a serious contender anyway. So maybe all she really wanted was the attention in the first place.
[…] This is the technological age where we see reviews being used, not just by readers wanting to pass judgement, but by those looking for political clout. We've seen this in an ugly form, where readers sacrifice the reputation and skill of writers to protest against the price of e-books — something over which the author has, unless self-publishing, got very little if any control. (cf the Jacqueline Howett debacle, covered neatly by Kirstyn McDermott here.) […]
[…] McDermott said it beautifully in her blog post about a girl who (possibly naively, possibly as a marketing stunt) had a go at someone for giving […]
[…] intelligent, considered and substantiated post on any particular subject. (Because I haven't done that before.) It's fear, plain and embarrassingly simple. And it's really difficult for […]
There are plenty out there who love to stomp others into "cyberdirt" – There was a guy named Hayakain who produced "furry porn" and got into a fight with a forum over their posting negative and critical comments about another internet figure, and he insisted on bothering them when it seemed like he was getting no attention from other people. Hayakain was literally hitting a hornet's nest with a stick, because those forum users "doxed" him (posted his real information, name, address, phone number, etc. to open him to embarrassment and harassment) and then posted his furry porn on his employer's Facebook, with his real name attached, in retaliation for bothering the forum.
Jacqueline Howett, for all the troubles she faced, was never "doxed" as the crowd that responded to her didn't have the type of internet user that went after Hayakain, so she was lucky.
By the way, don't Google "Hayakain" at work. Go HOME and do it there, and make sure no children are around.
But you can share the Encyclopedia Dramatica article "Docs" with your fellow adults (everyone from soccer moms to corporate titans of industry to Mr. Smith at the Candy Shop) so you know what some on the internet are capable of. Just make sure they read it at HOME.
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Results 1 to 6 of 6
January 11th, 2003, 09:28 PM #1
- Join Date
- January 18th, 2005
- Posts
- 86
I sold two Digihosters hosting packages to vaileu.biz and vn.com, but all were voided because of fraudulent transaction sale. After that was happened, Digihosters disappeared from my merchant programs list. Could you tell me why vaileu.biz, vn.com and digihosters.com have the same name server (DECINVEST.COM)?
January 12th, 2003, 01:31 AM #2
Semms interesting...
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
affiliate program: http://www.shareasale.com/shareasale.cfm?merchantID=857
January 12th, 2003, 02:34 PM #3
- Join Date
- January 18th, 2005
- Posts
- 2,402
I can't speak for shareasale or for this situation. I can tell you that fraud in the hosting business is rampant. It has always been a problem to all hosts. In fact, to avoid some of that fraud, we even block entire countries for accessing our website. In those cases 100% of the orders from a particular country were fraud. This has reduced our fraudulent orders, as well as reversals with our affiliates. I hate to reverse any order, and the steps we have taken have brought those numbers down to almost 0% reversals
It seems to me that since you know the urls of the websites purchased, then you may even be able to verify yourself if it was really fraud or not.
TH Media-Web Solutions For The Small Business
Check Out The TH Media Affiliate Program
January 13th, 2003, 12:28 PM #4
Most likely, although you will want to contact the merchant directly (not through this forum as they may not be looking here) for a full explanation, those two orders were placed by people using fraudulent cards, etc...and thus they voided them out. Sometimes, if more than one case of fraud takes place from a specific affiliate, merchants jump to the resolution to simply remove the affiliate from the program...
Again, this is just speculation from me really, you'll need to contact the merchant for an explanation. If their response is not satisfactory to you, then by all means please contact me privately about it, and I may be able to help you to a resolution that suits you. However, contacting the merchant is the first step....
-Brian Littleton
-Owner/Operator Shareasale.com
January 13th, 2003, 02:17 PM #5
- Join Date
- January 18th, 2005
- Posts
- 86
Thanks for your reply.
I'm sorry about that. I didn't often contact my merchants. I'm still an inexperienced affiliate.
January 14th, 2003, 11:34 AM #6
No worries...as I said, please always feel free to contact me if you either don't receive a response from the merchant, or the response isn't what you think is fair, etc...and we can talk with them... it is just always better if there is an open dialogue between the merchant and affiliate directly...
is there a spell check on this thing.
-Brian Littleton
-Owner/Operator Shareasale.com
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text: Hello Everyone, Here is a question I want to pose to other industry professionals: We have a bid for vacant land mowing that has been previously maintained. The acreages for one are 100 acres and 27 acres for the other. The land is flat, is mowed once a month during the growing season here in Ohio and our plan is to use a batwing mower in the 15'-20' range. I have seen other threads on here with pricing for actual "brush" hogging with saplings and tall grasses included, but I am looking for some input on more field mowing using these variables I have listed. Could some give me some insight as to pricing "you" would charge in your area? Or any suggestion on equipment as I have read some saying they use their zero turns on the highest setting, but putting all my guys on mowers is not the most profitable considering hourly wages, fuel and wear and tear on my equipment. Thanks!


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Eckstrom-Parker wedding
Annie Eckstrom and Cory Parker. both of Lake Stevens, Washington, were married in Maui, Hawaii, on May 4, 2014.
Annie is the daughter of Jerry and Julie Eckstrom of Welch and Jim and Jill Bray of Snohomish, Washington. Cory is the son of Rich and Becky Parker of Apple Valley, Minnesota.
Annie graduated from Red Wing High School and the University of St Catherine's physical therapy program. She works at Cascade Rehabilitation in Mukilteo, Washington.
Cory graduated from Apple Valley High School.
Reception will be held in Welch in August.


text:
In one of the worst Christmas Day match ups in quite a long time, the Chicago Bulls took on the Brooklyn Nets to kick off the holiday basketball. Heading into the game, Nets head coach Jason Kidd made headlines once again by stating that his team had gotten "comfortable" with losing. The Bulls, on the other hand, have been in survival mode without Derrick Rose.
The Bulls were also without Luol Deng on Christmas and the Nets took the floor without Brook Lopez, who is out for the year like Rose. Still, it was actually quite an entertaining game — if you were a Bulls fan, at least.
To begin with, Chicago and Brooklyn went back and forth for the first quarter or so. Then, the Bulls went on a couple of separate runs for the remainder of the game to wind up winning 95-78. Chicago got help from six different players in double figures. Taj Gibson led the way with 20 points to go along with eight rebounds and two blocks.
Gibson stole the show a couple of times today with some resounding dunks, including an emphatic put-back slam in the fourth quarter off of a Jimmy Butler miss. Gibon's energy ignited Chicago on this day and ultimately allowed the Bulls to get a much-needed Christmas gift in a win.
Chicago finished the game shooting nearly 49 percent from the floor while Brooklyn barely ended over 35 percent. Deron Williams led the way for Brooklyn with 18 points on a day they couldn't get much going offensively.
To say a win over the Nets is pretty meaningless would be quite an understatement at this point, but Chicago needed a victory nonetheless. In such a weak conference, the Bulls could very well make a run come playoff time even without Rose — as long as they are healthy. They may not be able to compete with the elite of the conference, but can still make this season a success in the postseason.
For Brooklyn, the losing continues. Kidd is absolutely over his head, as he has been since accepting the job with the Nets. Brooklyn looks out of sync on most nights, more often than not, and can't seem to put all of their talented guys together in a winning fashion. The type of season the Nets have had thus far makes me wonder just how much longer Kidd will have a job, and if his coaching career will have any impact on his legacy overall.
The season is still young for both of these teams, especially being in the Eastern Conference. There is plenty of time to get right back in the thick of the playoff race due to the majority of them owning losing records still. The Bulls may have the best shot at doing so, simply because of coaching. Tom Thibodeau has been one of the league's best over the past few seasons and continues to coach this Bulls team through nearly-insurmountable adversity.
Will this Christmas Day win propel the Bulls back to their winning ways even without two of their stars? Maybe a bit of holiday magic came out of this victory for Chicago, just maybe.
Ryan Heckman is a Senior Writer for RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmheckman, "Like" him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.


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Su, H.W., Yeh, H.H., Wang, S.W., Shen, M.R., Chen, T.L., Kiela, P.R., Ghishan, F.K. and Tang, M.J
Notes: The authors tested their hypothesis that Na+-H+ exchangers (NHE) are involved in the formation of multicullar dome structures in confluent Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and that the Stat3 pathway is involved in regulation of NHEs. The authors performed semi-quantitative RT-PCR to monitor NHE3 mRNA levels in MDCK cells expressing a constitutive Stat3 mutant or a dominant-negative Stat3 mutant. The reverse transcription step was performed using Promega M-MLV Reverse Transcriptase. RAlso, Stat3 activities in low-density cultures and high-density cultures were compared using a reporter gene assay. Four copies of the Stat3-binding site were cloned upstream of a firefly luciferase reporter gene, and the resulting vector, along with the pRL-TK Vector for normalization, were transfected into MDCK cells. Luciferase activities were measured using the Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay System. (3910)
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Dual-Luciferase® Reporter Assay System
M-MLV Reverse Transcriptase
pRL-TK Vector
Expand Products »
Miozzo, M.C., Maxzud, M.K., Pacharoni, C.M., Mutal, S.A. and Modesti, N.M.
Notes: During casework analysis using the PowerPlex® 16 System, the authors identified an off-ladder allele at the Penta D locus as the microvariant allele 9.2. DNA from individuals with the 9.2 allele was amplified using a single primer pair specific for Penta D, and the amplification products were purified and sequenced to characterize the microvariant allele. PCR products were purified using the Wizard® PCR Preps DNA Purification System. Sequence analysis revealed that the 9.2 allele has 10 STR repeats and a TAA deletion in the 3´ flanking region. (3771)
PowerPlex® 16 System
Wizard® PCR Preps DNA Purification System
Rendón, M.A., Saldaña, Z., Erdem, A.L., Monteiro-Neto, V., Vázquez, A., Kaper, J.B., Puente, J.L. and Girón, J.A.
Notes: The authors identified an adherence factor of enterohemorrhagic E. coli that is involved in colonization of cultured epithelial cells. This factor, named E. coli common pilus (ECP), is encoded by the ecpA gene, which is present 96% of E. coli strains tested, as determined by PCR. The remaining 4% of the strains were found to be deficient in the ECP operon, as determined by multiplex PCR amplification of ecpR, ecpA, epcB and ecpC sequences. PCR were performed using GoTaq® Green Master Mix. An ecpA deletion mutant exhibited impaired adherence compared to the wildtype E. coli strain. Complementation of the mutant strain with the plasmid pMR13, the pGEM®-T Vector containing the ecpA gene, restored the strain's ability to adhere to epithelial cells. (3719)
GoTaq® Green Master Mix
pGEM®-T Vector System I
Hill, C.R., Kline, M.C., Mulero, J.J., Lagacé, R.E., Chang, C.W., Hennessy, L.K. and Butler, J.M.
Notes: The authors analyzed 1,308 samples for concordance between the Identifiler® kit, AmpFlSTR® Minifiler™ kit and PowerPlex® 16 System. DNA was isolated from liquid blood using the manual DNA IQ™ System protocol, and STR amplifications were performed as per the manufacturer's recommendations except that reaction volumes were decreased by half. Amplified products were analyzed using an Applied Biosystems 3130xl and POP™-4 or POP™-6 polymer. Twenty seven disconcordant phenotypes were identified between the Minifiler™ and Identifiler® kits, 14 between Minifiler™ and PowerPlex® 16 kits, and 4 between PowerPlex® 16 and Identifiler® kits. (3770)
DNA IQ™ System
Panis, G., Méjean, V. and Ansaldi, M.
Notes: The authors studied the defective prophage KplE1 in E. coli K12 to map the binding sites of proteins required for recombination. Prior to in vivo excision assays in two E. coli K12 strains, the presence of three DNA sequences required for recombination was confirmed by PCR using GoTaq® DNA Polymerase. In vitro excision assays were also performed using linear and supercoiled DNA substrates that were purified using the Wizard® PCR Clean-Up System. Finally the phage-encoded integraseS (IntS) mRNA was quantitated by real-time RT-PCR. The RNA template was purified from E. coli K12 using the PureYield™ RNA Midiprep System. (3722)
Wizard® SV Gel and PCR Clean-Up System
GoTaq® DNA Polymerase
PureYield™ RNA Midiprep Start-Up Kit, 110V Electrical (100 preps, manifold, 4 elution devices and free vacuum pump)
PureYield™ RNA Midiprep Start-Up Kit, 220V Electrical (100 preps, manifold, 4 elution devices and free vacuum pump)
Bönisch, C., Temme, C., Moritz, B. and Wahle, E.
Notes: The authors studied hsp70 mRNA degradation in Drosophila Schneider cells. mRNA deadenylation and decay were monitored by Northern blot. Two of the Northern blot probes used to visualize the mRNA decay products were synthesized by transcription of linearized plasmids using T7 RNA Polymerase and [α-32P] UTP. A population of deadenylated mRNA was created by hybridizing mRNA with oligo(dT) and treating with RNase H. CCR4•NOT was identified as the main deadenylase involved in mRNA decay, and the PAN2:PAN3 deadenylase was a minor contributor. RNA interference was used to knock down expression of PAN2 and CAF1, a subunit of CCR4•NOT, to assess the effect on mRNA decay. Reduced expression levels of PAN2 and CAF1 were confirmed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. RT-PCR was performed using 1.5µg total RNA and 150 units of MMLV Reverse Transcriptase in a 25µl reaction. One microliter of the RT reaction was used as a template in an 80µl PCR using 0.5 units of GoTaq® DNA Polymerase, 1.5mM MgCl2 and 1X Green GoTaq® Flexi Reaction Buffer. (3707)
GoTaq® Flexi DNA Polymerase
Ribonuclease H
T7 RNA Polymerase
Kommagani, R., Payal, V. and Kadakia, M.P.
Notes: The authors examined transcriptional regulation of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) by p53 and p63, a member of the p53 family, under stressed and unstressed conditions. Reporter constructs with the full-length and minimal VDR promoters controlling expression of firefly luciferase were cotransfected with p53 or p63 expression constructs, and transcriptional activation of the VDR promoter was monitored using the Dual-Luciferase® Reporter 100 Assay System. Results were normalized to Renilla luciferase activity. Interaction between p73, another member of the p53 family, and the VDR promoter was examined using chromatin immunoprecipitation. The imunnopreciptated chromatin was reverse crosslinked, DNA was eluted and VDR and p21 sequences were detected by PCR using GoTaq® Green Master Mix. (3715)
Dual-Luciferase® Reporter 1000 Assay System
Bodó, E., Tobin, D.J., Kamenisch, Y., Bíró, T., Berneburg, M., Funk, W. and Paus, R.
Notes: To study how chemotherapy affects hair follicles (HF), the researchers microdissected and cultured human anagen VI scalp follicles and treated the cells with 4-Hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC) at similar concentrations to those received during therapy. After incubation for 24 hours with 30µmol/L of 4-HC, the HFs were homogenized and genomic DNA was purified using the Wizard® SV Genomic DNA Purification System. To determine if the treatment induced the mitochondrial common DNA deletion, the isolated DNA was subjected to real-time PCR. Further examination of gene expression was performed by isolating total RNA from two HF samples, reverse transcribing 3µg of the RNA using 15U of AMV Reverse Transcriptase and 0.025 µg/µl random primers, and amplifying seven human genes in a TaqMan® Assay. (3746)
AMV Reverse Transcriptase
Random Primers
Wizard® SV Genomic DNA Purification System
Yu, Q., Collavo, A., Zheng, M.Q., Owen, M., Sattin, M. and Powles, S.B.
Notes: The authors characterized mutations in the acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) gene that confer resistance to the herbicide clethodim in the grass weed Lolium rigidum. The ACCase gene was amplified from clethidem-resistant and susceptible plants, then sequenced to identify previously unknown mutations. Amplifications of ACCase were performed using 300ng of genomic DNA and GoTaq® Green Master Mix. The Wizard® SV Gel and PCR Clean-Up System was used to purify PCR products directly or from agarose gels. (3721)
Gierman, H.J., Indemans, M.H., Koster, J., Goetze, S., Seppen, J., Geerts, D., van Driel, R. and Versteeg, R.
Notes: The authors explored the possibility of a domain-based level of gene expression regulation for chromosomes by integrating the green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter in 90 different locations in cultured human cells. This integration was accomplished by infecting human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) with a lentiviral construct carrying the GFP gene under the control of the ubiquitously expressed human phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), sorting GFP-positive cells by FACS and selecting clones for expansion. Genomic DNA was isolated from the various clones using the Wizard® SV Genomic DNA Purification System and analyzed by PCR or restriction digested for Southern blotting. (3743)
Renaud, S., Loukinov, D., Abdullaev, Z., Guilleret, I., Bosman, F.T., Lobanenkov, V. and Benhattar, J.
Notes: Telomeres shorten by 50–100 bases with each cell division, making the telomere a "mitotic counter" that can limit cellular lifespan. Telomerase is a two-component protein consisting of a reverse transcriptase (hTERT) bound to its own RNA template that can act to maintain telomere length in dividing cells. Telomerase is highly active in dividing cells such as germ cells, stem cells and many cancers. This paper investigated the role of methylation of the hTERT promoter and the transcription factor CTCF in regulation of telomerase activity. LacZ reporter plasmids driven by the hTERT minimal promoter were transiently transfected into HeLa cells, and reporter assays were performed on lysate generated using Passive Lysis Buffer. The hTERT minimal promoter did not show activity if all of the CpG sites were methylated. The promoter and first exon of hTERT were amplified using PCR Master Mix from sodium bisulfite-treated genomic DNA isolated from telomerase-positive cell lines and tissues. The resulting fragments were cloned using the pGEM®-T Vector System II. For the methylation cassette assay, methylated and unmethylated fragments were cloned into a methylated or unmethylated vector using the LigaFast™ Rapid DNA Ligation System. The authors conclude that methylation plays a dual role in regulating hTERT expression. CTCF will bind to the first exon of hTERT when the hTERT CpG island is not methylated, resulting in downregulation of hTERT expression. Although CTCF cannot bind the hTERT promoter when the DNA is completely methylated, the methylation itself completely represses transcription. In situations where there is partial methylation of the promoter, such as in tumor cells, CTCF cannot bind to the promoter, but the partial methylation is not enough to repress transcription, and hTERT is expressed. (3641)
LigaFast™ Rapid DNA Ligation System
PCR Master Mix
pGEM®-T Vector System II
Passive Lysis 5X Buffer
Ichimura, S., Nagano, M., Ito, N., Shimojima, M., Egashira, T., Miyamoto, C., Ohkusu, K., and Ezaki, T.
Notes: These authors compared standard culture conditions, DNA isolation and analysis (e.g, sequencing) with a liquid culture, DNA isolation and a homogeneous fluorescent detection system for identifying mycobacterial species. The standard DNA extraction began with a loopful (3–mm3 sphere) of bacterial colony grown on Ogawa slants that used glass beads to mechanically disrupt the cells. The resulting lysate was extracted using phenol/chloroform, and DNA purified from the aqueous phase using a robotic liquid handler AGE-96 (Biotec) and the MagneSil® Blood Genomic, Max Yield System. The DNA extractions were used in PCR and sequencing reactions. (3700)
MagneSil® Blood Genomic, Max Yield System
Ellison, T.I., Eckert, R.L. and MacDonald, P.N.
Notes: While the absence of the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) has profound effects in skin cells, mutation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1α-hydroxylase (24OHase), the enzyme required for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) hormone biosynthesis, has little effect on the skin. To determine how VDR may transactivate independent of the 1,25(OH)2D3 ligand, the human 24-hydroxylase promoter was amplified from MCF-7 genomic DNA, digested with XhoI and HindIII and inserted into the pGL3-Basic Vector. Mutations in the proximal and distal vitamin D response elements in the human 24-hydroxylase promoter were introduced using the GeneEditor™ Site-Directed Mutagenesis System. HaCaT cells, primary human fibroblasts or primary human keratinocytes were seeded at a density of 3.2 × 104 cells/well in 12-well plates and transiently transfected with reporter constructs. After 18 hours, the cells were exposed to 1,25(OH)2D3, 9-cis-retinoic acid, ethanol vehicle, or no additive and harvested 24 hours later. The luciferase activity of the cell lysates was measured using the Dual-Luciferase® Reporter Assay System. Five micrograms of RNA purified from mouse keratinocyte and fibroblast cultures was reverse transcribed and amplified for the 24OHase transcripts using the PCR Master Mix. The products were analyzed on ethidium bromide-stained 2% agarose gels. (3695)
Dual-Luciferase® Reporter Assay System 10-Pack
pGL3-Basic Vector
Sato, S., Liu, F., Koc, H. and Tien, M.
Notes: The authors characterized expression of extracellular proteins by white-rot fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, grown on wood. Temporal expression of these proteins was monitored by relative quantitative RT-PCR. Two micrograms of total RNA was reversed transcribed using 1µg of Random Primers at 37°C for 1 hour. PCRs with one set of PCR primers were performed using 0.5 units of GoTaq® DNA Polymerase, 1X reaction buffer, 250µM each dNTP, 0.5µM each primer and 1µl of cDNA. PCRs with two sets of PCR primers were performed using 2.5 units of GoTaq® DNA Polymerase, 1.6X reaction buffer, 500µM each dNTP, 0.5µM each primer and 1µl of cDNA. (3708)
Tringali, C., Lupo, B., Anastasia, L., Papini, N., Monti, E., Bresciani, R., Tettamanti, G. and Venerando, B.
Notes: The authors transfected the myleoid leukemic cell line K562 with the cytosolic sialidase Neu2. Expression of Neu2 resulted in a significant decrease in mRNA levels for the anti-apoptotic factors Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 as determined by real-time PCR. Reverse transcription was carried out with 1µg of total RNA using the ImProm-II™ Reverse Transcription System and random hexamers. cDNA representing 10ng of total RNA was used in a real-time PCR to quantitate Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 mRNA levels. (3725)
ImProm-II™ Reverse Transcription System
Lucas, P.M., Claisse, O. and Lonvaud-Funel, A.
Notes: Because of concerns about the consumption of histamine in wine (which makes histamine more potent), the quantity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which can produce histamine during winemaking, was determined in 264 samples of red wine from 116 wineries. DNA was isolated from LAB strains grown in De Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) broth using the Wizard® Genomic DNA Purification Kit. Glass beads were used to disrupt the cells, and a modified Wizard® Genomic DNA Purification protocol that included PVP treatment was performed. The purified DNA was used in qPCR analysis. (3741)
Wizard® Genomic DNA Purification Kit
Davoren, J., Vanek, D., Konjhodzic, R., Crews, J., Huffine, E. and Parsons, T.J.
Notes: The authors compared two DNA extraction methods: the International Commission on Missing Persons silica method and the standard phenol:chloroform method to determine the preferred method for extraction of DNA from skeletal remains. The efficacy of DNA extraction was measured by real-time PCR to quantify DNA and to check for the presence of PCR inhibitors, and by amplification with the PowerPlex® 16 System. DNA was extracted from processed bone powder, and 10µl of the final extract was amplified using the PowerPlex® 16 System and GeneAmp® PCR System 9700 according to the manufacturer's recommendations, except that the extension time was doubled from 30 seconds to 60 seconds for the first 10 cycles and from 45 seconds to 90 seconds for the next 22 cycles. Amplified products were detected using the ABI PRISM® 3100 Genetic Analyzer. The authors concluded that the silica-based method gave better results in autosomal STR typing than the organic extraction method. (3818)
McAulay, K.A., Higgins, C.D., Macsween, K.F., Lake, A., Jarrett, R.F., Robertson, F.L., Williams, H. and Crawford, D.H.
Notes: The authors examined whether genetic differences at the HLA class I locus affect development of Epstein Barr Virus-associated diseases. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from asymptomatic EBV-seropositive and seronegative individuals and patients with acute infectious mononucleosis. DNA was isolated, and genotypes at two HLA class I loci and one HLA class III locus, as a control, were determined by PCR. The 10µl PCRs contained 25ng of DNA, 1X GoTaq® Flexi Reaction Buffer, 2.5mM MgCl2, 200µM dNTP, 0.5 units of GoTaq® Flexi DNA Polymerase and 25µM of forward and reverse primer, one of which was labeled with 6-FAM fluorescent dye. The results show that HLA class I polymorphisms might predispose people to develop infectious mononucleosis upon EBV infection. (3712)
Albuquerque, M.C., Rocha, L.N., Benati, F.J., Soares, C.C., Maranhão, A.G., Ramírez, M.L, Erdman, D., and Santos, N.
Notes: In this study, the Wizard® Genomic DNA Purification Kit was used to extract DNA from diluted fecal samples. The extracted DNA was used in PCR with specific primers to detect viral sequences. PCR fragments were gel-purified using the SV Gel and PCR Clean-Up System prior to sequencing to confirm the Bocavirus DNA identity. (4221)
Brown, K.A., Boerboom, D., Bouchard, N., Doré, M., Lussier, J.G. and Sirois, J.
Notes: The authors cloned the novel equine aldo-keto reductase AKR1C23 and characterized its expression patterns in the preovulatory follicle. The AKR1C23 cDNA was amplified from equine ovarian RNA using the Access RT-PCR System and primers designed by sequence alignments of known AKR sequences, then cloned into the pGEM®-T Easy Vector. Levels of AKR1C23 and ribosomal protein L17a mRNAs in various equine tissues were quantified using the Access RT-PCR System and 21 cycles and 18 cycles, respectively, followed by agarose gel electrophoresis, transfer to nylon membranes, and hybridization to radiolabeled probes synthesized using the Prime-a-Gene® Labeling System. (3791)
Access RT-PCR System
pGEM®-T Easy Vector System I
Prime-a-Gene® Labeling System
Yang, C.H., Wei, L., Pfeffer, S.R., Du, Z., Murti, A., Valentine, W.J., Zheng, Y. and Pfeffer, L.M.
Notes: The STAT proteins are involved in the transcriptional response to interferon (IFN), which includes induction of CXCL11 and ISG15 genes. The authors used quantitative real-time PCR to examine CXCL11 and ISG15 expression levels in IFN-sensitive and IFN-resistant cells after IFN treatment. Expression levels of the IFN-responsive genes were normalized to that of β-actin. Total RNA was isolated from untreated and IFN-treated cells, and qPCR was performed on a Bio-Rad iCycler® instrument using the AccessQuick™ RT-PCR System and SYBR® Green I. Reverse transcription was performed at 48°C for 45 minutes, followed by 35 cycles of PCR. Prior to qRT-PCR, PCR product size was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis, and PCR specificity was checked by analyzing melting curves. (3767)
AccessQuick™ RT-PCR System
Wegscheid, B. and Hartmann, R.K.
Notes: The authors used RT-PCR to quantitate the level of rnpB expression after complementing the Bacillus subtilis rnpB mutant strain SSB318 with wildtype or mutant rnpB genes from S. aureus or B. subtilis. Preliminary experiments with decreasing amounts of RNA template were performed to show that rnpB RT-PCR product yields were linearly dependent on RNA template amounts after 12 PCR cycles. RT-PCR was performed using the Access RT-PCR System. (3794)
Annamalai, P. and Rao, A.L.
Notes: The brome mosaic virus (BMV) contains four RNAs (B1, B2, B3 and B4), each of which includes a tRNA-like structure (TLS) that is required for packaging in vitro. To confirm the necessity of the TLS for packaging in vivo, the authors created TLS-less B1, B2 and B3 RNAs; TLS-less B1 and B2 RNAs were packaged, while the TLS-less B3 RNA was not. Co-infiltration of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves with wildtype B1 and B2 and TLS-less B3 RNA resulted in restoration of the B3 TLS. To determine whether the resulting TLS was regained by homologous or heterologous recombination with B1 or B2 RNA, the 3´ end of the B3 RNA was amplified from leaf total RNA by RT-PCR using the AccessQuick™ RT-PCR System, then sequenced. (3768)
Kanayama, T., Arito, M., So, K., Hachimura, S., Inoue, J. and Sato, R.
Notes: To explore the interaction of liver receptor homolog (LRH)-1, a known suppressor of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) transcriptional activity, human LRH-1 was reverse transcribed then amplified by PCR from total RNA from HepG2 cells. The amplification product was ligated into the pTargeT™ Mammalian Expression Vector to create pTarget-LRH1. For reporter experiments, a PCR fragment that encompassed the 1.3kb 5'-promoter region of the human small heterodimer partner (SHP) gene was cloned into the pGL3-Basic Vector (designated pSRB). The pGL3-Promoter Vector was used to construct pLRHREx3, which contains three LRH-1 response elements, and the insert was generated using synthetic oligonucleotides. HEK293 cells were cotransfected with 0.2µg of a promoter-firefly luciferase construct, 0.1µg of a SREBP expression plasmid, 10ng of phRL-TK Vector and 0.2 or 0.6µg of pTarget-LRH1. Alternatively, the cotransfected plasmids were 0.2µg of pSHP, 0.1µg of pTarget-LRH1, 10ng of phRL-TK Vector and 0.2 or 0.6µg of a SREBP expression plasmid. The pLRHREx3 construct (0.2µg) was cotransfected with 0.1µg of a LRH-1 expression plasmid, 0.2µg of pCMXPGC-1α (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator-1α), 10ng of phRL-TK Vector, and 0.1 or 0.3µg of a pSREBP expression vector in HEK 293 cells. Luciferase expression was assayed 48 hours post-transfection using the Dual-Luciferase® Assay Reporter System. To express SREBPs and LRH-1 in vitro, inserts were ligated into the pTNT™ Vector, synthesized using the TNT® Coupled Transcription/Translation System with radiolabeled methionine. Ten microliters of the 35S-labelled protein was then used in a GST-pulldown assay. (3692)
pGL3-Promoter Vector
pTnT™ Vector
TnT® SP6 Coupled Reticulocyte Lysate System
TnT® SP6 Coupled Reticulocyte Lysate System, Trial Size
TnT® T3 Coupled Reticulocyte Lysate System
TnT® T7 Coupled Reticulocyte Lysate System
TnT® T7 Coupled Reticulocyte Lysate System, Trial Size
Curtis, C.D., Likhite, V.S., McLeod, I.X., Yates, J.R. and Nardulli, A.M.
Notes: Tumor metastasis suppressor nonmetastatic protein 23 homologue 1 (NM23-H1) interacts with estrogen receptor α (ERα) and influences ERα-mediated gene expression. The authors knocked down NM23-H1 expression using RNA interference in estrogen-treated or untreated MC-7 human breast cancer cells and determined the effect on transcription of estrogen-responsive genes, including progesterone receptor, Bcl-2, cathepsin D and cyclin D1. Levels of these mRNAs were measured in the presence of NM23-H1 or control small interfering RNAs using quantitative RT-PCR. Total RNA was treated with RQ1 RNase-Free DNase to remove contaminating DNA, and cDNA was synthesized using the Reverse Transcription System. The resulting cDNA was subjected to quantitative PCR using SYBR® Green dye. (3789)
Reverse Transcription System


text:
Next Episode of Have Gun, Will Travel is
not planed. TV Show was canceled.
The man known only as "Paladin" lives in San Francisco at the Carleton Hotel, accustomed to the fanciest food and furnishings. He afford it all by riding out as a gunslinger and charging top dollar for his services. His calling card? "Have Gun Will Travel." Paladin will take on any case if a client meets his fee, but whether he helps them or not depends on whether he thinks that they deserve it. A West Point graduate with an unknown past, Paladin is as likely to help a client with his lightning wits and sense of strategy, as he is to use his gun and his hold-out derringer.
Paladin takes on a commission bringing a daughter back to a rancher after an outlaw convinces her to run away with him.
Paladin rides after an outlaw, Manfred Holt, who only wants to see his wife and newborn son one time before the law strings him up.
Paladin hears of a businessman who holds an annual desert chase, and buys a camel to compete. He soon learns that the businessman holds the town's water rights and charges exorbitant prices, and sets out to break the man.
Paladin comes to the aid of a mission Indian, Joseph Whitehorse, who the locals believe has diseased cattle. But the gunfighter soon switches sides and sells his services to the locals to drive Joseph off of his land.
A wanted killer offers Paladin $200 to protect him from a lynch mob, and Paladin has to decide whether to take more money to let the lynch mob have the man... or let him go.
When a young woman in his stagecoach gets out in the middle of the desert, Paladin decides to stay with her and discovers that she's a mail order bride who has never met her would-be husband face-to-face.
A dying man hires Paladin to deliver his body safely to his home, explaining that another ancient line is conducting vendetta against him and plan to mutilate his corpse.
Paladin places a $3,000 bet with a ruthless businessman that a tightrope walker-turned-hobo can't walk across a canyon on a rope.
A ranch hand hires Paladin to get him in to talk to his true love for ten minutes... even though she's now married to another man, a wealthy rancher.
Paladin gets involved in a land dispute between a stubborn Italian-American winemaker and a hard-headed Irish oil driller.
A rich man hires Paladin to find his dead son's bride, but two women claim that they were married to his son... and the one who is stands to inherit $500,000.
To help a small Colorado town caught in the middle of a right-of-way war between two rival rail companies, and to help out an old friend, Paladin tries to find a way to resolve the matter peacefully. The problem is, neither side wants peace.
Paladin comes to the aid of a music hall singer when an elderly miner leaves her his share of a valuable silver mine.
When a groom's half-brothers send his new wife a dead cat as a warning, Paladin gets involved. He ends up defending the brothers' father in court when they try to have the man committed to get his farmlands.
Paladin gets involved in a feud between the Mennonites of North Fork and a crooked shop owner who is trying to drive them out while holding the community hostage.
Paladin infiltrates a Mexican hacienda to learn the fate of an American forced to work in the Don's mines. When he discovers that the Don's workers have a high fatality rate, Paladin leads a local revolt.
To recover a religious statue for a mission, Paladin must capture a local bandit in return for the rancher owning the statue returning it.
Richard Boone(Paladin)
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From a humble beginning in 2009, the Library at Aksheyaa College of Engineering (ACE) has grown into a major Academic Library with the unique resources in the multidisciplinary area of Engineering and Technology.It caters to the Aksheyaa College of Engineering (ACE) in Projects, facilities, Research and Development Activities.The Library is located at the First floor of the Main building at Aksheyaa College of Engineering which is spread over 6000 square feet. it provides adequate infrastructure, aesthetic environment and suitable ambience for serious study.
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text:
My itinerary
Europe Travel Blog› entry 1 of 5 › view all entries
June 24th, 2006 – by: martinikitty13
Day One:
- Land in London and nap in Jason's flat
- Attend "Taste of London" and enjoyed a myriad of yummy foods and wines
- Pussycat Doll Concert at G-A-Y ... I didn't realize how much the gays loved this band - i think they squeezed in 500 people in a space meant for 100 - fun, but I thought I was going to be crushed! Luckily the friend is 6ft 6in and served as a good guard.
Day Two:
- Checked out Spitalfields Market for some shopping - arts and crafts, gourment foods; there are also great little pubs and bars in the surrounding area
- Coffee with a new friend - Dominic
- Made a lovely supper (cheese plate; mozzarelle, tomato and avocado salad; proscuitto & leek pasta; cannolis)
Day Three:
- Walked along the Thames to Tate Modern, visited the Globe Theater
- Lunch at Tas Pide (despite the rave reviews, I thought it was just ok)
- Took the ferry to Tate Britain - loooved this museum, particularly the Pre-Raphaelite art (Lady of Shalott; also loved Sargent's work
- Checked out Westminster Abbey, House of Frasier, etc.
- Dinner at Roka to celebrate a bday (very overpriced restaurant - akin to Sushi Roku in LA, but three times as expensive)
- One Bar
Day Four:
- Shopping at Harrod's, Oxford Street, Bond Street - snacked on Laduree macaroons (heavenly delights in your mouth!)
- Watched a world cup match at The Camel
- Dinner at Thai Silk (again am shocked at how much food is at London - even mediocre food)
- Almost got run over by someone running away from the cops (kind of scary)
Day Five:
- Visited Hampton Court Palace
- Dinner at Le Deuxieme (quite disappointing, and again, expensive)
- Watched Avenue Q - soooo funny and refreshing - i'm watching it again in LA
Day Six:
- Shopping at Covent Garden / West End / Soho
- Lunch at Mango Room - I actually enjoyed this place - good food at decent prices - it's run by a guy from Australia - really nice guy
- More shopping at Camden Market
Day Seven:
- Lunch at Lavendar - fancier pub - pretty decent food
- Travel to Bilbao - check into Sheraton Bilbao (nice location - near the city, next to a huge mall and a beautifully manicured park)
- Explored the city and snacked on tapas (had some yummy machengo and ham at Larragan Cafeteria)
Day Eight:
- Room service breakfast - mediocre and pricey
- Guggenheim museum - amazing architecture; art was good
- Strolled through city
- Lunch at a local eatery - Oredos - delicious clams, roasted fish and potatoes ... perfectly fresh and seasoned.
- Napped!
- Dinner at an Asador (steakhouse) - delicious but they didn't seem to serve veggies other than some lettuce and raw onions. We had an assortment of fried cod & squid, steamed shrimp, duck breast, bloody steak (Jason's fav).
- Wandered from hotel bar to hotel bar - At Escilla Hotel, I discovered the most comfy leather lounge chair and wanted to live there forever, but unfortunately, their wine was awful - barely drinkeable.
Day Nine:
- Breakfast at Miro hotel - shrimp & asparagus scrambled eggs (yum)!
- Explore old town Bilbao (gorgeous architecture - i fell in love with the balconies and picture box windows); snacked on delicious chocolate and churros - it was the thickest, richest chocolate I'd ever seen; walked across the White Bridge.
- Lunch at McDonald's ... not sure why we did this; perhaps we were tired of snacking on ham sandwiches all day.
- Siesta!
- Dinner at Tapelia - delicious sauteed squid and musrooms; salad with asparagus, ham and artichoke hears and steak & foie gras. I think this is a chain restaurant - quite good food.
Day Ten:
- Buffet breakfast at Sheraton - the most yummy pickled cherries - I tried to find some to buy but I think the hotel makes the cherries themselves - sigh.
- Drive from Bilbao to Gernika (before we even left Bilbao, we had a mishap - a flat tire! - and some good samaritans stopped us on the road to tell us to find a mechanic - luckily we found a man who spoke absolutely no english but agreed to fix it for us for about $20).
- Gernika - a gorgeous town with a tragic history - this area was completely bombed and devastated during the war, but has been rebuilt with love and care. There is still a sense of sadness, but what you sense more is the incredible strength and pride of the people and of the town.
- Lunch in Gernika - some random local eatery - literally the best deal I had in euroope - paella, fish, flan and a bottle of wine for like 9 euro. And the flan was amazing!
- Drive from Gernika to San Sebastian - beautiful scenic drive. Kept hearing the Gnarls Barkley song "Crazy" on the radio...
- Checked into Hotel Maria Christina - gorgeous, glamorous hotel - but our room was a bit outdated...the chocolate covered strawberries and wine was a nice welcome treat!
- Explored the city and had dinner at Aita Mari - garlicky shrimp, bublly white "Txakoli" wine and veggies!
Day Eleven:
- Breakfast buffet - yummy croissants (but I'm getting tired of ham...)
- Walk along beach to see the "Peine del Viento" by Chillida
- Lunch at Cafe Saigon - vietnamese food was a welcome change.
- Shopped in city.
- Dinner at Zuberoa - the best meal of my life - see photos.
Day Twelve:
- Travel back to London and took Eurostar to Paris - ate a picnic for 4 people on the train even though we were only 2!
- Rested up in John's flat in Paris - gorgeous location - he works in the U.S. embassy and I now know where my tax dollars are going ...Strolled around the neighborhood
Day Thirteen:
- Explored the Louvre / Seine / Palais Royal/ Rue St. Honore
- Lunch at Welcome Cafe (probably a tourist trap but i was pooped at the time) - I did discover "Kir Sauvignon" here - so yummy but no one in the U.S. seems to know how to make it properly
- Shopping!
- View sunset along the Seine along with the hundreds of other people picnicking along the river - glorious!
Day Fourteen:
- Woke up early to buy fresh croissants, eggs and fruit at the farmer's market using my pathetic french - but it worked!
- Arc d'Triomphe / Shopping along the Champs Elysee / snack at Laduree (loove loove loove the caramel macaroons)
- Lunch at an Alain Ducasse bistro - foie gras platter and cherry souffle - we also saw the most intense, serious sommelier here - he was like a mad scientist! i wish i could have taped his dramatic display.
- More shopping madness - definitely try to hit Paris in Jan or July - they have 2 major sales every year and it's amazing! (the only stores not on sale were Chanel and LV ... arghhh).
- Dinner at Taillevant to celebrate Jason's bday - beautiful restaurant - food was quite good (but not as good as Zuberoa)
- Dancing at "Queen" until 4 am - i'm way too old to stay out so late; and to hang out with gay men who try to drop every single straight guy they find in my lap.
- Dinner at Roubouchon Cafe - good, but slightly overrated.
Day Fifteen:
- One last morning to shop in Paris
- Return to London
- Takehome Indian food for dinner
- head home the next day - the end of a wonderful trip!
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View full details at EstateSales.NET: https://www.EstateSales.NET/CA/Long-Beach/90803/1380354
Estate Sale by Steve
Most Everything 50% off Thursday!!!
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1
212 Prospect Ave.
Long Beach (Belmont Heights) 90803
It'll be sunny (we hope)! Temp 2198.
8 am - 3 pm
This Belmont Heights, 2 story "Flash from the Past" sale is definitely the one for you if you like old, original and lots of it! The entire house is like stepping into a time warp, including the wallpaper! Most of the newer items are from the 50's and 60's!!
This great house belonged to longtime, respected minister, Milton Gabrialson, his wife and daughter of Bayshore church, which he officiated from 1932 until 1972, then continued on as "Pastor emmeritus" and he and family remained very involved until his passing.
Tons of furniture of all styles, from Victorian through 1960's, with some mid century. One of the many offerings are vintage salt & pepper shakers, to the tune of about 300 sets! Some in the original boxes and all are old. One room is filled with vintage audio/visual, mostly from the 50's & 60's. Lots of vintage vacuum tubes. Huge amount of vintage and antique ephemera, with postcards, tons of snapshots, booklets, pamphlets, music books, folk dance memorabilia, roadmaps, religious items, Asian collection and many more interesting subjects. Lots of vintage clothing, hats, gloves, purses. Vintage costumes from around the world, used in professional folk dancing in the 50's & 60's. Also antique clothing and accessories, some pre-Victorian into early 1900's. Vintage sewing and sewing machines, including a Singer Featherweight. Huge collection of small figurines, including a large collection of horses and elephants. Lots of vintage & antique books. Tons of vintage & antique jewelry, both costume and fine. Nice Baldwin Aerosonic spinet piano. The dining room and kitchen are packed with mostly vintage & antique. Some newer kitchen items as well. Lots of nice china and dinnerware, including large set of Vernon Kilns "Mayflower". Vintage Blue Willow, Havilland, teacups. Lots of vintage & antique glass. Duncan Phyfe dining set. Chandelier. Beautiful 1940's china/buffet. Lots of smaller curio cabinets. Vintage & antique lamps. One room filled with LP's, 45's, 78's and a great Nascar memorabilia collection. Lots of vintage office furniture and supplies. 1940's deco, waterfall vanity table with large round mirror. Vintage Christmas. Vintage toys. Vintage and antique dolls, including Hummel (dolls). Refrigerator, upright freezer, washer & dryer. The backyard has 4 buildings and large patio. All of which were packed! We have condensed into the garage, good size workshop and patio. There is everything imaginable and mostly vintage with far too much to list everything!
You really don't want to miss this one and can safely say, you will not be disappointed!
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- The Salt Roads was published in Warner hardcover (0-446-53302-5) in 11/03 and received rave reviews.
- Nalo Hopkinson made her debut with Brown Girl in the Ring (1998), winning the Aspect First Novel Contest and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.
- The author's previous book, Skin Folk (Aspect, 2001), won the World Fantasy Award for Best Collection, was named Recommended Fiction for 2002 by Black Issues Book Review, and was named a New York Times Best book of the Year. Hopkinson's Midnight Robber (Aspect, 2000), a New York Times Recommended Book of Summer 2000, received an Honorable Mention for the Casa de las Americas Prize. It was a finalist for the Nubula Award for Best Novel, the Hugo Award, and the Philip K. Dick Award.
Whirling with witchcraft and sensuality, this latest novel by Hopkinson (Skin Folk; Midnight Robber) is a globe-spanning, time-traveling spiritual odyssey. When three Caribbean slave women, led by dignified doctress Mer, assemble to bury a stillborn baby on the island of Saint Domingue (just before it is renamed Haiti in 1804), Ezili, the Afro-Caribbean goddess of love and sex, is called up by their prayers and lamentations. Drawing from the deceased infant's "unused vitality," Ezili inhabits the bodies of a number of women who, despite their remoteness from each other in time and space, are bound to each other by salt-be it the salt of tears or the salt that baptized slaves into an alien religion. The goddess's most frequent vehicle is Jeanne Duval, a 19th-century mulatto French entertainer who has a long-running affair with bohemian poet Charles Baudelaire. There is also fourth-century Nubian prostitute Meritet, who leaves a house of ill repute to follow a horde of sailors, but finds religion and a call to sainthood. Meanwhile, the seed of revolution is planted in Saint Domingue as the slaves hatch a plan to bring down their white masters. Ezili yearns to break free from Jeanne's body to act elsewhere, but can do so only when Jeanne, now infected with syphilis, is deep in dreams. Fearing that she will disappear when death finally calls Jeanne, Ezili is drawn into the body of Mer at a cataclysmic moment and is just as quickly tossed back into other narratives. Though occasionally overwrought, the novel has a genuine vitality and generosity. Epic and frenetic, it traces the physical and spiritual ties that bind its characters to each other and to the earth. (Nov. 12) Forecast: Hopkinson's sci-fi and fantasy following should give this novel crossover appeal, and African-American markets are a good bet, too. 10-city author tour. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.


text:
Biometric Technology Skeptics Outraged at Plans To Implant World Population
Biometric Technology
The average person thinks of fighting crime and billionaire's toys when someone mentions biometric technology. We have all seen the crime shows that became so famous in the 1990's and 2000's; their exciting use of biometric data like DNA, fingerprints, and blood splattered at the crime scene is what turned many of us on to this new phenomenon called biometrics. In today's world, the landscape is changing.
The world is only starting to scratch the surface of biometric technology being used for practical purposes.
The iPhone's fingerprint unlocking devise, for example, is a very practical application of that same technology put to use in a mainstream product. Until fairly recently, biometric technology was too expensive to be used in commercial devices.
The global biometrics market is reported to have been at $7 billion in the year 2014, rising to $44.2 billion by the year 2021. One of the main drivers of that tremendous growth of biometrics has been security. Biometrics allow a system to accurately and repeatedly determine the identify of a person through various forms; retinal cans, finger prints, even their behaviors. In addition to security, it helps keep track of large numbers of people. This is the basis of this part of the UN's Global Goals initiative.
The UN's Global Goals Initiative
As part of their new Global Goals initiative, the United Nations plans to implement a worldwide biometric implant by the year 2030; primarily focused on refugees and then expanding it to every man, woman, and child on the planet. Their controversial plan calls for people to be implanted with a unique biometric chip that reports data on that person activities and sends it back to the home database in Geneva, Switzerland. To achieve their dreams, the UN has enlisted the help of renown consulting company Accenture.
This initiative is being billed as a way to help "the 1.8 billion people worldwide who currently lack any kind of official documentation." A noble cause, no doubt, but one that puts us sliding head-first down the proverbial slippery slope.
Reaction to this news spans the entire spectrum of world views. On one side, the world is ending and the New World Order is taking over. Big brother is coming for us all and soon we won't be able to live in the world without being half-cyborg. On the other hand, it's just good old Uncle Sam taking care of his constituents like he should be. The reality is most likely somewhere in between.
How Widespread is the Use of Biometric Information?
Using biometric information as a means to identify and understand large populations isn't a new concept. China uses robots with built in facial recognition in their immigration areas and has been using biometric data to documenting their population since 2013. They are currently working on an interesting technology using iris scans to authenticate payments and reduce fraud. Russia is also a leading driver in growing the biometric industry worldwide.
In fact, the FBI is currently compiling a database of faces using facial recognition so it can better understand the relationship between the geometric shapes on people's faces.
Specifically, the system is being created to determine if facial landmark geometry (such as the distance between the nose and mouth, the tips of the ears, or some combination of these measurements) can be used as a means to distinguish one person from another.
What Are The Benefits of Biometric Identification?
Governments and world powers have always had an interest in knowing who people are. On it's face, that is a very good goal to have. With the perception of the threat of global terror being stronger than ever, quick and accurate identification of people is a very big plus. Logically, it makes sense for the public to want to know who people are if there is any possibility that they are a threat.
Biometric recognition technology can certainly aid in many positive things. The UN's desire to be able to identify and organize the large numbers of refugees that have been created in the last few years is positive. The detractors start to beat their drums when the scope expands from help the refugees to implant the entire planet.
What Fuels The Detractors Skepticism
The biggest question the skeptics ask is, "What else will this data be used for?" While identifying people that come into the country and trying to catch criminals is all noble and accepted by the vast majority of people, the practices that fall into the other category are the ones that concern folks domestically and abroad. Similar to the NSA's mass data collection program that was struck down by the courts, the fears are that the technology and data would be used to spy on law-biding citizens who have done nothing wrong.
Theoretically, the government could connect this technology to the large system of security cameras, satellites, drones, and who-knows-what-else to get a very good picture of where people spend their time, who they spend it with, and what patterns emerge.
Many disruptive technologies have come along over the past few centuries; each one fraught with legal issues and opponents trying to stop it. For now, the UN is going to go forward with it's goal. As results start to come in, each person will have to decided for themselves where they fall on this issue and how comfortable they are trading security for privacy.