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by Amy Lignor
With everything that Mother Nature has thrown about this winter (and knowing there is far more to come), gas and propane prices have become a darker horror story than anything even 'Stephen King' could produce.
Just getting on the telephone and listening to family members talk about how $700.00 shipments of gas/or oil have been needed every two weeks and another $400.00 or more for propane during the same time, makes one sick. Not sick enough to move back to the frozen tundra of Connecticut from the eighty degree weather of New Mexico but, still…sick.
99% of the people on this planet can not afford this crisis. Not to mention, the world can not afford to have oil, gas and propane still be the end all and be all of energy sources that keep the world from getting greener and the people from gaining any financial success whatsoever
As everyone knows, gas markets, oil and propane fluctuate constantly. The demand grows higher and higher in a winter that simply won't quit, and the need for cleaner burning (which is, of course, more expensive) summer-grade fuel, is also ruled and regulated to death. Demand is far outweighing supply. Heck, even state of emergencies were declared with the last storm when various states announced they had no salt or sand left for the roads. Everything affects the prices of everything else when it comes to the need for energy to be supplied.
OPEC, also, will slow down production levels to help maintain whatever global crude oil price they want at any given time. Seeing as that a huge piece of that market is controlled by OPEC, the output narrows, and the prices rise. Perhaps it doesn't matter at the moment, seeing as that millions can't even get on the road, so buying gas is not an option at all.
Not only are the budgets of cities and states going south, as far as finding the money to deploy extra plows and buy extra sand and salt, but it is the individual homeowner who is really getting the burden of the polar vortex placed on their shoulders.
Statistics are high and getting higher with each new storm. More than 14 million families across the U.S. use propane to fuel their furnaces; this fact ended up having many states declaring energy emergencies one right after the other. Residents are being asked to cut down as much as possible because supplies are limited, and customers are being begged by their state and town leaders to use everything wisely in the coming weeks and not to waste energy.
The Midwest already had a propane deficiency before the winter even came upon them, and in the middle of January, before Pax and a few others hit hard, the average propane prices were 58 cents per gallon higher than last year. The wallets of those whose wallets are already on empty are being emptied out even more. And that's if they can even GET shipments to their homes.
Winter-weather budgets of major cities have had to be slashed. Chicago is only one that dealt with this problem, cutting their budget by more than half during January's very first storm.
People want the streets safe, yes, but they want their homes warm so that they and their children don't freeze. Without the energy sources available, not to mention the cash, 2014 has started on a very negative note.
Wind chills of minus-twenty degrees or even lower have been a daily weather event. For homes that are older and less insulated, the wind chills have destroyed any idea of coming home to a nice, warm house after work. When prices go up, when money is tight, when the house is cold – these are all issues that bring about depression, as well as new aches and pains never before experienced.
As far as the future of energy is concerned, the government leaders, the states, the businesses and the 1%, will have to find new ways to supply new energy sources ASAP. After all, even when this winter comes to a close there's no telling whether or not 2015 will usher in yet another polar vortex horror story.
Be Safe!


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It's time for the Un-SQL Friday #005 roundup!
From managers…
First up, The Lone DBA admits that he wasn't always (ahem) one of us…he's got some excellent advice from the hiring manager's point of view. I particularly liked this:
When asked what your biggest weaknesses are, it's a good idea to stop talking after ten minutes. Actually, it's a good idea to stop talking after about ten seconds, 'cos it's a bit of a stupid question.
Warning to Americans: You'll need to speak British to get all of TheLoneDBA's post.
To gladiators…
Next we have mild-mannered/man of steel Made2Mentor (David Stein), who has just completed a round of job hunting, and so is brimming with UnSQL Friday fodder. His three interview stories include a to-the-death cage match*, a fatal recruiter error*, and DEATH UNTO YOU ALL WITH NASTY BIG POINTY TEETH*! Actually his third story is a secret interview that's really quite cool, but the "teeth" thing just flowed.
He then offered me the job and asked when I could start. I was rather taken aback because we hadn't discussed the actual salary, benefits, and relocation package. When I asked him about those, he was suprised and said, "What do you mean?" {Editor's note: Uh-oh.}
David gets bonus points for recruiting yet MORE interview stories from his readers.
(*These highlights may have been exaggerated for comedic effect. MAY HAVE BEEN.)
To saboteurs…
The blog that SQLHA (Allan Hirt) posted won my evil little heart instantly with this:
I don't recommend some of the behavior I am going to talk about unless you really want to sabotage an interview.
Holy wooden shoes, Batman! Sabotage an interview?? Why wasn't THAT the Un-SQL Friday topic??
SQLRockstar (Tom LaRock) starts with what I assume must be a philosophical question. Or trivia. Actually, it could be a logic puzzle…What Color Are Santa's Pants? Turns out that it's a good analogy for figuring out what kind of person the hiring manager may be… INTRUIGED?? I thought as much.
Bonus points for BEST RANT:
Most all of those standard questions are bullshit. They are. I don't care if you know that database mirroring wasn't fully supported until SQL2005 SP1. That's a piece of trivial information. Knowing that detail won't make you a good DBA. If you want to hire a book, just put a shortcut to Google on your desktop and save HR the paperwork.
Slightly out of character, neither Sean nor I wrote anything specific for this particular Un-SQL Friday. However, you can read Sean's litany of bad interview blogs here…he has PLENTY to say on the subject.
Thanks for playing, all, and happy days!
Jen McCown

subset: commoncrawl


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10-foot wave hits NC ferry, damages cars
Passing cargo ship stirred up wave
10-foot wave hits NC ferry, damages cars
Passing cargo ship stirred up wave
The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating an incident involving the Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry that resulted in a 10-foot wave crashing onto the deck, damaging some cars.
A 925-foot Liberian cargo ship created the wave that struck the ferry Tuesday.
Ferry Director Harold Thomas says the ferry was returning to Fort Fisher from Southport when the Hanjin Pretoria left the Port of Wilmington and created the wave. The rushing water moved vehicles.
A Coast Guard spokesman says at least one person reported an injury.
Thomas says the route is the only one in the state where ferries daily face major ships the size of the Hanjin Pretoria.
The ferry was running Wednesday. Thomas says its only damage was a bent pole that holds a safety net.


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce will host the 17th annual KidBiz Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, June 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Town Commons.
KidBiz will give young entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn various aspects of running a business. Topics such as pricing, marketing and customer service were covered at a training event.
KidBiz, developed by the Small Business Development Center at Buffalo State College and Forever Elmwood, was launched in 1996. It was designed to give children in the second through eighth grade the experience and excitement of running their own business.
KidBiz made its debut on Grand Island in 1997 as part of the "Plaza Happening." Last year Jim Sharpe, Beverly Kinney and Dolly D'Orazio coordinated the event with more 110 children selling their products in the Grand Island Town Commons in the center of town. Articles sold included old books, toys, crafts, baked goods, and a whole lot more. The young business owners particularly got a sense of running a business as they had to pay a rental space fee and received a "license" to sell at the site.
KidBiz is an opportunity for children to engage in a real-life business experience. For more information contact the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce office at 716-773-3651.


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A subtle touch of brown.
The new look cooastal palette embraces rusticity, texture and warmth.
This softer take on beach inspired decor transports you to a fisherman's cottage
on a stretch of rugged, wind-swept beach.
Earthy tones and textures reign supreme ~
think chocolate, greys and driftwood
complimented by beachcomber finds, natural stone, reclaimed timber,
worn leather and vintage wicker.
A lovely, cosy palette as we move into Autumn.
Melissah xox
Images via The Style Files, collage by Coastal Style
Check out Coastal Style on Pinterest


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Culture-Based Calibration of the Benthic Foraminiferal Mg/Ca Thermometer
OCCI Project Funded: 2004
What are the primary questions you are trying to address with this research? (Or, if more appropriate, is there a hypothesis or theory that you are trying to prove or disprove?)
We are setting up a laboratory culturing system that will let us grow deep-sea benthic foraminifera under controlled physical and chemical conditions. We will then use this system to carry out the first culture-based calibration of the benthic foraminiferal magnesium/calcium (Mg/Ca) thermometer. This "thermometer" is a geochemical method of estimating deep-water temperatures in the past, using the temperature dependence of the shell chemistry of benthic foraminifera, a group bottom-dwelling microorganisms that make calcium carbonate shells. To date, calibrations of the benthic foraminferal shell chemistry "thermometer" have been based on field samples. These field calibrations are often ambiguous, because many environmental and biological factors can co-vary with temperature in the deep sea. Laboratory cultures provide one way to eliminate these ambiguities.
What is the significance of this research for others working in this field of inquiry and for the broader scientific community?
Estimates of past changes in deep-water temperature are an essential part of efforts to understand the oceans' role in, and response to, climate change. Temperature estimates derived from the shell chemistry of bottom-dwelling organisms are the best available method of estimating deep-water temperatures over the last 20,000 years - e.g., since the last glacial maximum. However, these geochemical estimates are inherently uncertain, in large part because of uncertainties in modern-ocean calibrations using core-top sediment sampless. The improved temperature calibration we hope to obtain from laboratory culturing will improve paleoceanographers' understanding the history of deep-water temperature, and of the oceans' role in climate.
What is the significance of this research for society?
A good understanding of past climates and natural climate variability is an essential foundation for efforts to anticipate future climate change, and in particular, to understand the likely effects of anthropogenic increases in greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide) and atmospheric aerosols.
When and where will this investigation be conducted? (For instance, is this new fieldwork, or a new analysis of existing data?)
The culturing work will be carried out here at WHOI, starting this summer (2005). We will collect live foraminifera during an NSF-funded cruise in early June; culturing experiments will be carried out both here at WHOI, and by colleagues at the University of South Carolina.
USC bulk culture system close up
What are the key tools or instruments needed to conduct this research?
The culturing system will include three refrigerators, and a seawater circulation system. This system will consist of a single large (100 L) seawater reservoir, connected via peristaltic pumps to a set of small Plexiglas microcosms in which the foraminifera will actually be grown.
The analytical work will use Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) instrumentation at WHOI and at USC for the magnesium:calcium analyses, and stable isotope mass spectrometry at WHOI to determine carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions.
What are the greatest challenges - physical or intellectual - to conducting this investigation?
Simply getting the foraminifera to thrive (calcify and reproduce in culture) requires both a green thumb and some amount of luck. The most technically challenging aspect of the project will be maintaining the water chemistry of the culture system - particularly the carbonate chemistry (pH) of the system - within tight limits throughout the several-month growth period.
Is this research part of a larger project or program?
The temperature-calibration study supported by the OCCI complements our ongoing culturing work with colleagues at USC, which is focused on carbonate chemistry and growth rate influences on foraminiferal shell chemistry, at constant temperature.
If you have conducted previous/similar work on this subject, please suggest any web links or citations that might help others better understand the background to your line of research. If appropriate and readily available, please suggest or provide photographs, illustrations, tables, and charts, as well.
Our previous culturing work, at USC, is described in a paper by (then) graduate student Christopher Hintz. Hintz is now continuing this research as a post-doc at the University of South Carolina. (Hintz, C.J. G.T. Chandler, J.M. Bernhard, D.C. McCorkle, S.M. Havach, J.K. Blanks, T.J. Shaw (2004) A physicochemically-constrained seawater culturing system for production of viable, calcite-producing, paleoceanographically-important benthic foraminifera. Limnology & Oceanography Methods, 2: 160-170. )
Biographical Information
Daniel C. McCorkle - Associate Scientist, Geology and Geophysics
B.A. Columbia University, 1978, Geology;
M.S. University of Washington, 1983, Chemical Oceanography;
Ph.D. University of Washington, 1987, Chemical Oceanography
My research interests include:
Benthic geochemistry - pore water and solid phase studies of organic matter decomposition, calcium carbonate dissolution, and trace metal remobilization.
Ocean paleochemistry - calibration studies of benthic foraminiferal shell chemistry, and isotopic and elemental estimates of changes in ocean circulation and the oceanic carbon cycle.
Land-sea groundwater interactions - chemical and isotopic studies of groundwater discharge into estuaries and the coastal ocean.
Joan M. Bernhard - Associate Scientist, Geology and Geophysics
B.A. Colgate University, 1982, Geology
M.S. Univ. of California, Davis, 1984, Geology
Ph.D. Scripps Institution of Oceanography,
Univ. of California, San Diego, 1990, Biological Oceanography
My research interests include:
Benthic foraminiferal ecology and paleoecology; Biogeochemistry of redox boundary sediments in both modern and ancient environments; Microaerophilic and anaerobic protists from Oxygen Minimum Zones and methane and cold seeps; Protistan-prokaryote symbioses; Culturing of deep-sea benthic foraminifera to ground truth paleoceanographic proxies; Microbial communities of laminated sediments; Sub-millimeter life positions of microorganisms in sediments; Application of various microscopic techniques (TEM, SEM, LSCM) to marine microbial ecology


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Moshi Karibu Hostel
Fasiliteter Kart Streetview Vurderinger
P.O. Box 2143
Merk: Det er ansvaret til hotellkjeden og/eller den enkelte eiendom for å sikre nøyaktigheten av bildene som vises. Travellerspoint er ikke ansvarlig for eventuelle feil i disse bildene.
Welcome to karibu Hostel, where all profits go to support an NGO called Born to Learn.
Karibu Property is located in a very secure area, only 10 min. walk from the city center of Moshi, Tanzania.
We offer accommodation in shared six-bed, four-bed and three-bed where you can make close friends or two twin-bed double rooms for those who want more privacy.
This fully furnished property offers a big garden with volley ball pitch, ping pong table, swimming pool, bar and barbecue. All these facilities will make you enjoy your stay.
You can watch movies, play cards or just relax and read a book from our library in our great living room combined with a spacious terrace, or chat with other volunteers for hours while looking at the moon and stars.
We can arrange Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru and Ol Donoy Lengai climbs, and also, safaris to Serengeti , Ngorongoro, Arusha, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire National Parks. We can also arrange Safari to Tsavo Park in Kenya as well as day trips around Kilimanjaro.
Please note:
Check in and check out is flexible with24h reception - please advise us about your estimated arrival time - Airport pickup transfers: (45 min taxi drive) 30 euros/ 35$/ 55.000 TZS. It is possible to pay in any of these currency.
Breakfast is Included but dinners are available: 3€ / 4$ / 6.000 TZS
Payment upon arrival by cash only - Euros, Dollars and Tanzanian Shillings accepted.
Cancellation policy: 24h advance notice
Taxes included
Volunteering is available at Born to Learn NGO
Har du vært her? Skriv en vurdering
Merk: Det er ansvaret til hotellkjeden og/eller den enkelte eiendom for å sikre nøyaktigheten av bildene som vises. Travellerspoint er ikke ansvarlig for eventuelle feil i disse bildene.


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Search terms
State-of-the-art LED for the home
State-of-the-art LED providing a general lighting solution for daily indoor activities. You'll save on energy costs immediately and reduce the frequency of bulb replacements, without compromising on the quality of your lighting. See all benefits
Unfortunately this product is no longer available
Immediate light when switching on, that is the promise of the Philips instant starting energy saving LED lamps.
Comfortable light spaces can be created with Philips' award-winning designs for compact and elegant bulbs.
The beam of light is free of infra-red meaning no heat is radiated, and no ultra-violet light means that fabric and items under this light won't fade.
Long and reliable lifespan of up to 25 years, ensuring piece of mind especially for lighting in hard to access areas. Life in years is calculated based on 1000 hours of usage per year, which is about 2.7 hours per day across 365 days.
Philips LED lights contain absolutely no hazardous materials, making them safe for any room and convenient to recycle.


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Offers Business Users Immediate Phone Support Provided by a Microsoft Application and Device Expert
BALA CYNWYD, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–March 31, 2014–
Vitalyst, the leading provider of expert application and device support for business users, today announced that it has released a new Windows 8 App offering immediate access to a Vitalyst Microsoft application and device expert at the tap of a tile.
"Within the corporate help desk arena, there is a lot of focus now on driving employees to self-help, but this isn't the right answer for many situations," said Jim Tate, client solutions director for Vitalyst. "There are many business situations that require the assistance of a live expert-level support person, and we know this because we take these calls all day, every day. Busy, highly-mobile professionals don't have the time to search online or access internal portals when they have an urgent need. This Windows 8 Help app linking to immediate live support provides the help they need when they need it, at the tap of a tile."
Vitalyst has been providing corporate business users immediate access to exceptional Microsoft application support for more than 20 years. In recent years, the company has added device "how to" support and other services such as application training and self-help tools to its service set. Formerly known as PC Helps, the company changed its name to Vitalyst earlier this year to reflect its expanded service offering.
The Vitalyst live support service is generally integrated into the client's existing help desk environment and accessed through existing help desk phone lines. The Vitalyst Windows 8 Help App now provides another access channel for business users on Windows 8 computers and devices in Vitalyst client companies. These users can enter up to 3 contact numbers into the app, and receive an immediate call from a live expert to the number of their choice whenever they need help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A direct dial 800 number is also provided if the user prefers to call Vitalyst directly, or needs to call directly because they do not have internet connectivity. During the support session, the Vitalyst expert can, with the client's prior authorization and the business user's permission, view the user's computer or device screen.
The Vitalyst Windows 8 Help App is available for download in the Windows store, and there is no charge for the application. Support services accessed through the app will be charged to the client company as part of their existing Vitalyst support plan. Individual users not associated with a Vitalyst client company can pay for services on a credit card at the time of service.
About Vitalyst
Vitalyst provides expert application and device support for business users, and helps companies and government organizations to get more from their investments in technology by ensuring that their employees operate at peak performance with the productivity tools and applications they use daily. Technology innovation cycles such as software migrations, new device deployments, mobility initiatives and BYOD programs create challenges for business users and support organizations. To address these challenges, Vitalyst brings expert ready resources to expand client support capacity and depth. In partnership with the internal support organization, Vitalyst helps clients to deliver an exceptional business user experience through high-caliber, individualized support. Vitalyst is a Microsoft Gold Devices and Deployment partner. For more information, follow updates on Twitter (@Vitalyst) and visit www.vitalyst.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20140331005888/en/
For Vitalyst
Evan Siff, 617-624-3250


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Archives for April, 2013
Flying in all directions
Posted by weizmann science writer on April 19, 2013
When we navigate through our environment, do we track mostly in two dimensions or in three? Clearly, we can move in all three dimensions, but does our internal map relate to the vertical direction in the same way as it does to the horizontal axes on the ground? That question has not yet been definitively…


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Auburn will play 29 of its 56 games against participants in last year's NCAA Tournament as first-year head coach Sunny Golloway released the Tigers' 2014 baseball schedule Wednesday.
The Tigers will play 36 home games at Plainsman Park, 15 in the SEC and 21 in non-conference play. Eleven of Auburn's 14 mid-week games will be in its home park.
"Our staff is excited, we think it's a great schedule and one that's going to prepare our student-athletes for the demanding conference we're in," Golloway said. "The main thing is we've got to learn to be consistent. We can't be too high, we can't be too low. Just go out and compete each and every day and understand that every day is a new day."
For the first time since 1999, Auburn will open a baseball season away from Plainsman Park. The Tigers will travel to Port Charlotte, Fla., to compete in the Snowbird Classic, which runs Feb. 14-16 with games played at the Tampa Bay Rays' spring training facility. Auburn will face Ohio State, Connecticut and Indiana State in the tournament with dates for each matchup yet to be determined.
"I think our pre-conference schedule is going to be a demanding one," Golloway said. "We tweaked it a little so we could travel as a team (to open the season). I think it's always good to travel as a team, it gives a new team and a new coaching staff an opportunity to become a lot closer when you're on the road, so that's why we set that first weekend to be on the road. Down the road, I think we'd much rather be able to open at home. It's exciting for our fans and our players. But this year, I think it would be best-suited for us to go on the road.
"It's going to be very demanding. We're going to have Ohio State, Indiana State and Connecticut. UConn is a team that always makes the NCAA Tournament; in fact, I had a chance to compete against them in a regional last year, so I know how talented they're going to be early on. That's going to be a great test for us."
The Tigers' home opener will be Wednesday, Feb. 19, against Alabama State. The following weekend, Auburn will welcome East Tennessee State, California and Arkansas-Pine Bluff for the annual Tiger Classic, which runs Feb. 21-23 at Plainsman Park.
"We've got the Cal Bears coming to town for the Tiger Classic," Golloway said. "They're going to be very talented, without a doubt. They're a team that's made it to Omaha in recent years, so I think that three-game set is good. ETSU was in the NCAA Tournament last year. I like the format of playing different teams – in two weekends, we will have played six different opponents. I think that's better than playing the same teams over and over, which is what we'll do once we get into conference play."
The remaining two non-conference weekends will see the Tigers play host to Presbyterian (Feb. 28-March 2) and NCAA Tournament participant Mercer (March 7-9), with non-conference games against Alabama A&M and Kennesaw State included in the pre-conference stretch.
Auburn will also face Alabama on Tuesday, March 4, in the annual Capital City Classic at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery.
"The early non-conference games will help us settle in with our team," Golloway said. "There will be a lot of teaching early on. I think the pre-conference schedule allows us to teach, to make some mistakes, to learn from our mistakes and hopefully be able to find victory every day. We also have to make sure our players understand that our pre-conference schedule is going to be very important at the end of the road regarding our RPI."
Conference play begins with a home series against Texas A&M (March 14-16) before a trip to Tennessee (March 21-23). March wraps up with a home series against Missouri (March 28-30).
The month of April will see the Tigers on the road for three of four weekends in conference play. Auburn plays back-to-back road series at Ole Miss (April 4-6) and Alabama (April 11-13) before returning to Plainsman Park for three games against South Carolina (April 18-20). The Tigers then travel to Arkansas (April 25-27) to set up the season's stretch run.
Defending national runner-up Mississippi State visits Auburn the following weekend (May 2-4), followed by the season's final road trip to Kentucky (May 9-11). The regular season wraps up with a three-game set at home against LSU (May 15-17).
During conference play, Auburn will play midweek home games against Alabama State, Bethune-Cookman, Coppin State, Kennesaw State, Samford, South Alabama, Troy and UAB. Auburn will have just one non-conference road game the last two months of the season, at Samford on April 15.
INFORMATION SOURCE: Auburn Athletics Dept.


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Project Description
The objective of this project is to advance the design and construction of a mini Fischer-Tropsch refinery at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER). The unit is intended for use as a low-cost test bed for new concepts. It will provide open-access facilities and information in the public domain to aid the wider scientific and industrial community, and provide a means to independently review vendor claims and validate fuel performance and quality.
Project Benefits
The Department of Energy (DOE) is committed to supporting research focused on making use of the nation's coal and biomass resources. The Coal and Coal Biomass to Liquids (C&CBTL) Technology Program at DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is developing advanced technologies to remove technical barriers that will foster the commercial adoption of coal and coal/biomass gasification technologies for the production of affordable hydrogen and liquid fuels (such as gasoline, diesel, aviation, and military fuels). The hydrogen can be used in advanced systems for efficient power generation produced with near-zero emissions and with the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The synthesis gas (syngas) produced by the gasification of coal and coal/biomass mixtures can be converted by chemical processes to generate clean liquid hydrocarbon fuels. To successfully complete the development of C&CBTL technologies from the present state to the point of commercial readiness, the C&CBTL Program efforts are focused on two Key Technologies: (1) Coal/Biomass Feed and Gasification, and (2) Advanced Fuels Synthesis. The Coal/Biomass Feed and Gasification Key Technology is advancing scientific knowledge of the production of liquid hydrocarbon fuels from coal and/or coal-biomass mixtures. Activities support research for handling and processing of coal/biomass mixtures, ensuring those mixtures are compatible with feed delivery systems, identifying potential impacts on downstream components, catalyst and reactor optimization, and characterizing the range of products and product quality. The University of Kentucky will advance the design, construction, and operations of a coal/biomass-to-liquids facility at its Center for Applied Energy Research. The facility will have a one barrel per day liquids fuel capacity. This project will develop meaningful research and engineering about the technology and processes, scalability, cost and economics, and the product slate, characteristics, and quality. Coal-to-liquid technology is helping the United States in its quest for energy security and independence and will enable American companies to produce valuable products from domestic coal. This project is closely aligned with project number DE-FC26-FE0010482 under which The Coal Fuels Alliance, led by the University of Kentucky will advance the design and construction of a Coal/Biomass-to-Liquids Process Development Unit (PDU) facility at its Center for Applied Energy Research.
Contact Information
Click to view Presentations, Papers, and Publications


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Foreclosure notices dropped sharply in the last three months of 2012 in San Joaquin County, paralleling a pattern seen across California.
Foreclosure notices dropped sharply in the last three months of 2012 in San Joaquin County, paralleling a pattern seen across California.
San Diego-based DataQuick reported Wednesday that 1,098 notices of default - the first step in foreclosure - were filed in the county during the fourth quarter, down more than 37 percent from the same period in 2011.
Further, actual foreclosures dropped by 30 percent to 703 in the same period compared to a year earlier.
Last week, Irvine-based RealtyTrac, which also follows foreclosures, said that despite a 25 percent decrease in foreclosure activity from 2011, San Joaquin County posted the nation's highest foreclosure rate in 2012 among metropolitan statistical areas with a population of 200,000 or more: 3.98 percent of housing units (one in 25) were hit with a foreclosure filing during the year.
Statewide, the number of home-owners pushed into foreclosure late last year fell to the lowest level in six years, the result, according to DataQuick, of rising home values, an improving economy and a shift toward short sales.
"Home values increased through most of 2012, and the rate of increase picked up toward the end of the year," DataQuick President John Walsh said,
"That means fewer and fewer home-owners are underwater, where they owe more than their homes are worth. That in turn means they can sell and pay off the mortgage or perhaps refinance at today's low interest rates.
"This trend alone suggests we'll see a continued decline in foreclosure rates this year. Another factor is the foreclosure-avoidance goals of various settlements between lenders and the government."
Home prices have come up in San Joaquin County. The California Association of Realtors reported last week that the median price for an existing home sold in December was $184,320, up 15.7 percent from a year earlier.
Foreclosure resales accounted for 16.6 percent of all California resale activity last quarter, down from 20 percent the prior quarter and 33.6 percent a year ago. It peaked at 57.8 percent in the first quarter of 2009.
Foreclosure resales - properties foreclosed on in the prior 12 months - varied significantly by county last quarter, from 5 percent in San Francisco County to 31.4 percent in Sutter County.
Short sales - transactions where the sale price fell short of what was owed on the property - made up an estimated 26 percent of statewide resale activity last quarter. That was down from an estimated 26.4 percent the previous quarter and up from 25.7 percent of all resales a year earlier.
The estimated number (rather than percentage) of short sales last quarter rose 4.2 percent from a year earlier.
While 1.1 million of California's 8.7 million houses and condos have been involved in foreclosure proceedings the past five years, 780,000, less than 10 percent - were actually lost to foreclosure. The other 320,000 were either sold or the payments brought current.


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CHICAGO, April 1 (UPI) -- Just when you thought the bankrupt Swedish automobile Saab was completely dead there are reports of interest in reviving the iconic brand.
While a news report that India's Tata Motors Ltd. was interested in Saab's assets was denied by the company, another report by just-auto cited Swedish sources who said a Japanese-Chinese consortium was looking at making Saab-branded electric vehicles.
A source told just-auto, an automotive news Web site, the potential joint bid is serious.
"They have tabled a bid and are very aggressive -- it is a Japanese-Chinese consortium. [It is] a huge consortium together with battery manufacturing -- they are planning to make electric cars."
That report surfaced days after Tata Motors Chairman Ratan Tata told the Wall Street Journal India's largest automaker had not tendered a bid for Saab's assets. However, Tata, which bought Jaguar Land Rover from Ford in 2008, indicated Indian SUV maker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. had bid for the Saab assets.
A Mahindra spokesman said the company would not comment on speculative reports.
Chinese automaker Zhejaing Youngman Lotus Automobile Co., which wanted to buy controlling interest in the Swedish automaker in a joint venture before Saab declared bankruptcy in December, also was reported to be interested.
Sales of modern high-tech electric cars are still in their infancy and industry observers doubt they can be profitable in the short term. Most current Saabs use engine and drivetrain technology licensed from General Motors, Saab's former corporate parent, which refused to share patents with the Chinese.
Rival Swedish automaker Volvo said in February it might purchase some of Saab's machinery and test equipment.
Meanwhile, some gasoline-powered Saabs are back in production, sort of.
Saab United, a Saab enthusiast Web site, said around 100 Saabs left sitting on the production line in various states of assembly were bought by ANA, a dealership in Trollhattan, Sweden, along with enough Saab parts to finish production of the cars.
Torque News said the hand-completed Saabs may be the last ever made and could be real collectors' cars.
Dodge Dart on track
Don't look for the new 2013 Dodge Dart in showrooms before June.
Reid Bigland, Dodge president and chief executive officer, said autoworkers at Chrysler's Belvidere, Ill., assembly plant would build 2,000 Darts in May and 8,000 more of the new compacts in June, just enough to give each dealership a handful.
"It's going to be late summer before we really hit the stride with all the option availability," he told the Detroit Free Press. "Given the size of the segment throughout North America and the enthusiasm for the Dart, we think it's going to go OK."
All Dodge dealers should get an ample supply of Darts by late summer when 10,000 to 12,000 cars will begin rolling off the Belvidere assembly line each month.
The new Dart is built on an expanded platform shared with Italy's Alfa Romeo Giulietta and is the first Chrysler product to use the European architecture since Fiat acquired Chrysler in June 2009.
The Dart is aimed at younger buyers with a starting price of $15,995 and has an EPA fuel economy rating of 40 mpg.
Dodge hopes to build interest in the Dart by competing in the Global RallyCross Championship, which became a closed-circuit racing series last year. The Dodge Dart SRT rally car's 2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine cranks out 600 horsepower and is capable of going from zero to 60 mph in less than 2 seconds.
The Dart SRT will be introduced at this week's New York auto show.
Car cellphone ban proposal defended
The National Transportation Safety Board is sticking with its proposal to ban drivers from using cellphones on the road, including for hands-free calls.
"Whether it's handheld or hands-free, touching the dashboard, or waving at a windshield, it can be distracting," NTSB Chairwoman Deborah Hersman said. "What is the price of our desire to be mobile and connected at the same time? Can any message, call or text be worth someone's life?"
Nine U.S. states have prohibited use of cellphone handsets by drivers while behind the wheel and 30 states have banned all cell phone use by young drivers. Thirty-five states ban texting while driving, The Detroit News said.
The city of Chapel Hill, N.C., last week became the first in the nation to ban both hand-held and hands-free cellphone calls by drivers.
In December, the five-member NTSB recommended a ban on use of cellphones by drivers but would permit use of built-in vehicle communications systems like GM's OnStar and Ford's MyFordTouch, that can notify authorities in the event of an accident involving airbag deployment.
First Datsun, now Beijing
Last month Nissan announced it was reviving the Datsun brand after a 31-year hiatus. Now China's Beijing Motor Corp. said it is bringing back its Beijing brand.
The last Beijing subcompacts were produced in China 30 years ago.
Beijing Motor, which partners with Germany's Daimler AG and South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co., plans to sell a micro-car called the Beijing E-Class -- based on the Smart ForFour -- starting at $10,700 for a 1.3-liter engine version. A larger 1.5-liter engine car would cost $17,280, asiaone.com reported.
Beijing Motor Corp. President Han Yonggui announced ambitious plans to sell 20 passenger models ranging from micro cars to a sport-utility vehicle. China's fifth largest automaker said it hopes to sell 700,000 vehicles a year with the Beijing brand by 2015 and was looking at eventually exporting vehicles to fast-growing foreign markets in Southeast Asia, Russia and South America.
Ford thinking ahead
Ford is devoting more space at its 500-acre Advanced Engineering Center in Dearborn, Mich., to facilities to develop electric and alternative-fuel technologies.
Chuck Gray, Ford chief engineer for Global Core Engineering Hybrid and Electric vehicles, said 285,000-square feet of the facility would be converted for use by more than 1,000 engineers now on the sustainable Mobility Technologies team, which has doubled in size since 2007.
The team -- which includes former rocket and aerospace engineers -- developed Ford's Eco-Boost turbocharged gasoline engines and is working on hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. Eleven 2012 Fords offer Eco-Boost engines, which improve fuel economy as much as 20 percent compared to conventional gasoline engines.
Ford's new Fusion hybrid gets an estimated 37 mpg and the plug-in hybrid is expected to have a 100 mpg equivalent.
Ford said it would add more than 12,000 new salaried and hourly jobs in the United States by 2015 and triple production capability of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles in 2013 compared with 2011.
"Ford remains absolutely committed to providing a wide range of choices of top fuel economy solutions for our customers -- from EcoBoost-powered gasoline vehicles and hybrids to plug-in hybrids and full-electric," said Mark Field, Ford president of The Americas. "To meet growing demand for our fuel-efficient vehicles, we are continuing to invest in new jobs in the U.S. and converting our facilities for further advancements."


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I get at least 10 to 15 emails everyday which are infected with the SWEN worm. Luckily my virus protection program picks them up. I have tried to block the senders in OE, but this does not help with the new ones. They all look like they are coming from the same address, but obviously not. Is there a way to stop this or do I have to just let the mass mailings die down. It's been happening since Sept 19.
Thanks for any suggestions


text: Sacred Destinations Destinations Italy Assisi Basilica di San Francesco Basilica di San Francesco Photos 16334 × share full URL share short URL embed link code photo 37 of 153 Previous | Next Rose Window Detail Detail of rose window in the upper church facade. Completed in 1280, it is Romanesque in style, showing similarities to Spoleto Cathedral and other churches in the region. The elegant rose window, flanked by the symbols of the Four Evangelists, still contains traces of golden mosaic. Sculptures of mythical creatures decorate the horizontal moldings of the facade. Credit: Holly Hayes


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Current Situation:
Recently the GSIM Implementation Group has agreed to include a new object into the model - Unit Type.
The (draft) definition of this object is: "A Unit Type describes a class of Unit". It is used to describe a group of units for which explicit boundaries and meanings are identified through the Unit Type.
Currently in GSIM we also have the object Logical Record, which is defined as "Describes a type of Unit Data Record for one Unit within a Unit Data Set". In other words, "a Logical Record describes the record using variables of which one or more can uniquely identiy the record (Identifier Component). It represents characteristics of a real or artificially construct Unit, which could be represented by a Concept. The relationships between Logical Records are given by Record Relationships." (GSIM v1.0)
Suggested Inclusions:
With the inclusion of Unit Type into the Model, it would make sense that when setting up a Logical Record, you could identify which Unit Type that Logical Record represents within the Unit Data Record.
For example, if you had a Data Structure which contained two Logical Record - one of Household data, and one of Person data, this could be shown through links frome ahc Logical Record back to the Household and Person Unit Types.
Potentially, this relationship could also help with other aspects of the Logical Record - the Record Relationship that describes the link between these two Logical Records could build upon the previously documented relationship between the two Unit Types themselves (the proposed Unit Type definition includes a Unit Type references Unit Type relationship). Plus it could give an indication of which variables will be included via the Data Structure Component relationships - the Represented Variables included in this Logical Record would have the same Unit Type associated with them (the Unit Type proposal also included the suggestion to change Variables and Represented Variables to reference Unit Type rather than Population).
Add new relationship to Logical Record, so that it can reference a Unit Type.


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Hi, all!
WESU is pleased to announce that on Sunday, April 17th at 4:00 PM we will be hosting a screening of the film 'I Need That Record' to be followed by a Q&A with the documentary's director - Brendan Toller.
The documentary addresses the closing of thousands of record stores in recent years and the viability of the record store in the age of digital music and illegal downloads. The documentary includes insights from Noam Chomsky, Thurston Moore, Ian MacKaye, Glenn Branca and many others and was filmed right here in good ole' Connecticut.
The film also captures interviews with former WESU DJ Ian Laforce during the final days of Middletown's Record Express as well as the closing of the legendary Trash American Style store in Danbury. Wallingford's Redscroll Records (co owned by WESU stalwart Rick Sinkiewicz) is also spotlighted and provides a glimmer of hope for the future of the business.
Admission is free, but donations are strongly encouraged. Come join us!
When: Sunday, April 17th at 4:00 PM
Where: Shanklin room 107, Wesleyan campus, Church Street
(Shanklin is building #76 on the
campus map


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Prepaid parking garage permits allow parking in the metered areas of any parking garage (R6, R7, or R8). Anyone (students, employees, or visitors) can purchase a prepaid permit. The cost is $5 for the day. Overnight parking is prohibited in all parking garages.
To purchase a prepaid permit, bring the following information to the Office of Parking Services:
University departments purchasing permits for their visitors may also pay using a journal voucher.


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Schneider National, Inc. Driver - Team Over-the-Road (OTR) LTL Driver - E-Commerce Freight - Class A CDL in Monticello, Pennsylvania
Team Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) truck drivers get paid on every mile and haul primarily no-touch over-dimensional freight (furniture, carpet, etc.). Stay over-the-road for 3 weeks with the potential to stay out longer, averaging 5,000-6,000 miles per week, making this Team opportunity one of the highest earning opportunities in Schneider's fleet. Enjoy the maximum miles that come with Team driving, plus the variety that comes with LTL freight. Start your career as a Team LTL driver with Schneider's Dedicated division today in Kearny!
Looking to start a truck driving career? Learn how here or give us a call today.
Schneider offers two ways to find a partner: Get paired with one through the Team Matching Program or bring your own qualified partner (you both need to fill out an application).
Eligible CDL Truck Driver Applicants:
All Class A CDL holders
Current team truck drivers
Kearny Team LTL Driver Pay
Up to $84,000 per driver per year*
$10,000 sign-on bonus per experienced drivers
$10,000 sign-on bonus per inexperienced drivers
Eligible for monthly safety and fuel bonuses
Stop-off pay and accessorial pay for breakdown, layover and load/unload
$100 per week for every week out over two that you stay out
*Based on CDL driver experience, performance and location
Team LTL Driver Benefits
Medical, dental and vision insurance, plus flexible spending options
401(k) savings plan with company match
Paid orientation and time off
Up to $7,000 tuition reimbursement (paid at $400/month) for qualified drivers
Paid 3-day refresher course option for drivers restarting a driving career
Credit for Military Experience program
Kearny Team LTL Driver Qualifications
Valid Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
Live within 150 miles of Kearny, NJ
More Reasons to Choose Team LTL Driving at Schneider
Average fleet age less than 3 years, over 2/3 automated transmissions
An industry-leading, year-round freight base with over 30 Dedicated LTL terminals
24/7/365 operations and maintenance support
Mobile apps to increase driver productivity, locate equipment, expedite access and more
No employment contract - we don't lock you in, but you'll want to stay
Learn more about LTL driving


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by Ilene, My Family's Experience With Autism
There was a post here recently that made me think……the post talked about how, when Mom was away at a conference, she was able to do things WHEN she wanted to and HOW she wanted to. She was able to shower at her leisure, eat meals when they were still hot, all the things that so many take for granted, but special needs parents struggle with every day.
Then I realized something about this summer.
I had been doing just that since school has let out.
Early morning routines were the same as normal – the insanity of getting everyone up, dressed and fed was still there. But after they finished breakfast, I sent my 3 children down to the basement to play. I gave them their phone, they could play on the computer, the Wii, with each other, whatever. And I would make myself a cup of coffee. And I would make breakfast for myself. And I would eat it leisurely. I would jump on the computer and check Facebook, perhaps play a short game, and they would all be downstairs.
I kept the door open, listening for problems. I would go to the top of the stairs when someone needed something.
But in general, I had found that independence. And because of it, here I am, 10 days before the start of the school, and I still have most of the sanity that I had at the start of the summer.
Sometimes you have to force things to happen. As Nike used to say, "JUST DO IT!". If you need that moment, TAKE IT. If you want to sit and have a cup of coffee while it's still hot, then take 15 minutes and sit and sip that coffee.
I know this is much easier said than done. And that's never going to change. But if you don't take that first step, you won't get anywhere.
Trust yourself, and trust your kids. I'm not instructing you to go out and run your errands leaving them unsupervised…..just sit in a corner of the same room so you can still see them, if you're not comfortable being separated from your children by a flight of stairs as I have suddenly discovered I can do.
When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself this. I WILL take some time for me today! I WILL sit and have a cup of coffee (or whatever the right thing is for you)! I WILL give myself a 15 minute break to catch my breath. And I WILL feel better at the end of the day for doing it!
My name is Ilene and I'm a happily married stay-at-home-mom to 3 wonderful children. My eldest is a typically developing 6 year old first grader. I also have a set of girl/boy twins who are recently turned 5, both diagnosed with Classic Autism. My daughter has also been diagnosed with ADHD.
Life is not what I imagined it would be at this stage, but it's still my life, and it's good. We have good days and we have bad days, just like everyone else. I started blogging to cope with things not progressing the ways that I wanted them to go. Sometimes I vent about problems. Sometimes I share in a glorious moment. Sometimes I try to educate others. It really depends on what I feel like saying when I sit down at the computer to "blog". But I do promise that everything I write is honest and heartfelt, even though I may contradict myself from time to time as I learn new things.
I hope to share with others what we go through. And I hope you enjoy reading our stories.


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Neopedia : Annual Gormball Championship
Each year, on the twenty-third day of the month of Gathering, Neopia's Gormball Championship is held. On that day, challengers come from far and wide for a chance to battle it out and determine who's the best in all the land.
A survey of past championships proves that anything can (and likely will) happen once the tournament gets underway...
Year 2 - Champion: Brian *Disqualified*
Runner-Up: Thyassa
Third Place: Ursula
This year's inaugural championship was a scandal-ridden affair, which concluded with Thyassa being declared the winner after Brian was disqualified for using a rigged ball. Despite his many protests to the contrary, the Scorchio's twitching eyebrows were a dead giveaway. Also of interest was a last-minute scratch by Dr. Sloth, who was sidelined by a mysterious prior commitment. Sloth's replacement, a Korbat named Kevin, was obviously outclassed, yet managed to show some promise for the future. Year 3 - Champion: Thyassa
Runner-Up: Farvin III
Third Place: Gargarox Isafuhlarg
After last year's controversial decision, Thyassa was under a great deal of pressure to prove that he was worthy of being regarded as a true champion. This year, though, all such questions were put to rest, as the sure-handed Chia put together a dominant performance and won a second straight title. A major surprise, though, was the strong showing by Farvin III, who used his ultra-powerful hearing ability to sense how close the ball was to popping. This extra-sensory advantage allowed the Alien Aisha to overcome his lack of familiarity with the game and make a strong showing, but in the end Thyassa's savvy and experience were simply too much. Year 4 - Champion: Ursula
Runner-Up: Gargarox Isafuhlarg
Third Place: Ember
Given his strong showing last year, Farvin III was this year's odds-on favourite. However, many suspected foul-play, as a sudden ear infection waylaid the Alien Aisha's attempt to make a bid for the title. Luckily, those responsible for the deed were unable to capitalise on their trickery, as an Usul named Ursula rallied to pull through and get a much-deserved win. Known on the Gormball circuit as a tireless worker whose sense of fair play and dedication to the sport are unmatched, Ursula found that many of her fellow competitors were actually glad to see her come away with the title, especially after she'd come so close two years earlier. Year 5 - Champion: Brian
Runner-Up: Farvin III
Third Place: Kevin
Ever since his disqualification at the first championship, Brian had hardly been able to make it out of the first round during subsequent tournaments -- all the attention about what sort of dirty tricks he might have up his sleeve had made him too nervous to concentrate. However, after his surprising win this year, observers of the sport fell into two camps: those who believed that he'd finally been able to play fair and win, and those who thought that he'd simply found a way to keep those twitching eyebrows of his under control. Year 6 - Champion: Thyassa
Runner-Up: Kevin
Third Place: Gargarox Isafuhlarg
Making good on the promise he began showing some years ago, Kevin has finally earned a place among the Gormball world's top players. After a surprising third-place finish last year, this Korbat Gormballer managed to come in second and prove that his success was no fluke.
The biggest story this year, though, wasn't Kevin, but rather the triumphant return of Thyassa. After winning the first two Gormball championships, this precocious Chia became increasingly frustrated with all the training that was necessary to stay on top. After taking a few years to pursue other interests, Thyassa came back this year with something to prove. Despite some signs of rust during the first few rounds, Thyassa managed a return to his winning ways, overcoming aggressive challenges from Kevin and Gargarox Isafuhlarg. Year 7 - Champion: Ember
Runner-Up: Farvin III
Third Place: Brian
In an unprecedented event, Ember blew away her competition, finally taking her place as a Gormball champion. Though Brian muttered about the possible use of faerie powers, most agreed he had no right to call anyone else a cheater and should be pleased that he placed third. Meanwhile, Farvin III earned Runner-Up for the third time, much to the alien Aisha's dismay. Rumour had it that, after his latest narrow loss, Farvin planned to train for a solid year, hoping this would give him the edge he needed to finally claim first place, a position that had long been just out of his reach. Though most figured Thyassa would easily win this year, the Chia's game was a bit off due to a bad case of Sneezles. However, he promised to return and claim the title of champion for the fourth time. Year 8 - Champion: Ember
Runner-Up: Farvin III
Third Place: Thyassa
Surprising even veteran fans of the sport, Ember took home the gold for the second year in a row, thanks to her relaxed, laidback playing style. Gormball after gormball steamed in her hands, indicating imminent explosions, but the Fire Faerie never lost her cool. The Fire Faerie balanced a zen-like calm with intent concentration, which her competitors scrambled -- and failed -- to match. Ursula was spotted storming off early in the game, already soaked, and vowing to spend the entire next year on top of Mount Usalin, training harder than ever.
Thyassa seemed strangely distracted; reporters overheard him muttering about devoting more time to training for a new game called Yooyuball, but when interviewed, he denied all. Year 9 - Champion: Farvin III
Runner-Up: Ember
Third Place: Ursula
Farvin III finally wrested the title from Ember in a nail-biting game that went into overtime. While Ember was as focused as ever during the first part, Farvin's superior hearing enabled him to keep pace with her. Then disaster struck -- at least for some of the players. A meteor had hit Kreludor during the month of Relaxing, dislodging fragments from the moon. In a bizarre coincidence, one very large fragment abruptly lost its stable orbit during the game and struck the Space Station. The impact momentarily interrupted power and lights in the Gormball room, and when it returned, Farvin III was the clear winner. Year 10 - Champion: Dr. Sloth!
Runner-Up: Zargrold
Third Place: Ursula
In a surprise substitution, Dr. Sloth came back from... whatever he was doing and participated in the championship, leaving Kevin happily on the sidelines. Dr. Sloth played a fierce game, bringing several of the contenders to tears with his perfectly timed releases. Only Zargrold seemed to be enjoying himself; sadly, both Farvin and Ember were distracted by the implications of an evil overlord in their midst and were unable to maintain focus. Meanwhile, Gargarox fell apart during the second half of the game, reportedly due to a bad batch of Grobleen Salad. He promised fans he'd bring his best game to the next tournament, however. Year 11 - Champion: Gargarox
Runner-Up: Ursula
Third Place: Farvin III
Half an hour before the tournament, Dr. Sloth was reported missing, so Kevin stepped in again to fill the big fellow's shoes. Despite avidly watching the professionals throughout the last tournament, Kevin did not appear to have learned anything. Perhaps there was nothing he could do, however, as Gargarox played a perfect game, taking home the gold with humble pleasure.
Ursula was not at all pleased with her performance during the championship, having sacrificed another entire year to a chilly life on Mount Usalin just to take second place. Year 12 - Champion: Ursula
Runner-Up: Thyassa
Third Place: Brian
Ursula came ready to win and never changed her mind. Early in the game, she seemed jittery, holding the ball almost too long, but it may have been a psychological tactic. If so, it worked, as one player after another regretted overconfidence. Despite the pressure, Thyassa nearly won, but was quite chivalrous about his defeat, telling Ursula that she had earned it.
Ember was unable to play due to petrification, while Brian came in third to a resounding lack of cheers after he made a crack about faerie cheaters. Year 13 - Champion: Brian *Disqualified*
Runner-Up: Kevin
Third Place: Ember
Year 13's tournament began with a standing ovation for Ember on her safe return to the sport. What followed was no celebration, however, but a tough game dominated by Brian. Brian's victory was short-lived, as it was almost instantly discovered afterward that, yet again, he had used a rigged ball. Whether he would be invited back for the next tournament was reportedly under review. Kevin, however, was ecstatic to learn that he'd won his first ever Gormball gold. Year 14 - Champion: Thyassa
Runner-Up: Ursula
Third Place: Gargarox Isafuhlarg
This year's event was strangely crowded, with tickets selling out months in advance... right after the end of the Altador Cup. Ursula played a hard game, knocking out several opponents in the first few rounds. Then she and Gargarox got into a set of back-and-forth plays as serious as a case of the Scourgies. The stand-off was broken when the ball exploded on Gargarox and then the next ball immediately popped in Ursula's hands. Thyassa went on to triumph. Year 15 - Champion: Ember
Runner-Up: Zargrold
Third Place: Brian
If last year was crowded, then this year was crazy! Fans of Gormball turned out in record numbers, standing in line for hours to get seats for the big game. The weather was pleasantly cool and foggy right up until the first gormball was tossed... and then a torrential downpour soaked the field. No one was more steamed than Ember (literally), but she fought through her anger and pulled off a major victory. Ursula, on the other hand, was very off her game this year. She admitted she'd spent her training time elsewhere -- something about a game camp? Perhaps the Usul has other hobbies after all. Year 16 - Champion: Zargrold the COOL
Runner-Up: Ursula
Third Place: Farvin III
It took fifteen years, but Zargrold knows that persistence is COOL, just like he is. The Grundo was happy to take home his first championship trophy ever this year. In a rare drop of the usual rivalries, the other contestants came together after the tournament to throw him an impromptu party... and to give him the soaking he'd missed out on, thanks to a Virtupets fire hose. Zargrold was pretty cool about it, naturally. That leaves only Kevin the Korbat with no gold trophies to his name. Perhaps he can get some tips from this year's winner?
The Gormball Championship is something to take seriously, it's a time for Neopets who trained all year to compete against some of the best players out there. As seen, there has been no championship result posted for Yeah 17 or 18. Any claims of a winner for those years (even if it was made by a member of the Gormball Championship Committee) are no longer true. This is due to the ongoing investigation of the games. There is evidence that scores were inaccurate and certain players might have been cheating. We have found the likely party and they have been banned from the Gormball Championships for 4 years. Because of this situation, scores will not be posted due to their illegitimate nature.
Thank you for your time,
The Gormball Championship Committee Year 19 - Champion: Farvin III
Runner-Up: Thyassa
Third Place: Gargarox
Good news, Neopians! The cheating scandal has been dealt with and Year 19 Championships did indeed take place! There was a huge turnout due to the no show of scores from the games before. Everyone has brought their A game in hopes of scoring big this year. It was a beautiful day, the sun was beaming, almost a little too much so the sun was in the players eyes adding to the already intense game. Gargarox played a mean game, heaving the ball left and right which shook up Ember, who seemed to be letting the Faerie Festival happenings distract her, not allowing for the best performance. On the opposite hand, Farvin III was out of this world with his execution. Every shot better than the next, Thyassa of course put up quite a challenge bobbing and weaving every move Farvin made. Brian was upset he did not cause the scandal this year so he forfeited the game before it even began. Ursula put up a good fight as well but in the end it was not enough to beat Farvin III who took home first place.


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Chroma Haiku: 7 1/2 \" Santoku Knife
Free Shipping
- Chroma
- Standard
- Chroma Haiku: 7 1/2 Santoku Knife H05 A santoku knife is often called an Asian chef's knife. They have a straighter edge than a chef's knife, and a more rounded spine, particularly near the point. They are also generally lighter and thinner, allowing them to more easily chop vegetables. In Japan we use only the sharpest knives to insure the most precise and finest cut. HAIKU knives are extremely sharp please take special care when using them. (Keep them away from children.) Never wash HAIKU knives in the dishwasher, the aggre ive detergents and heat damage the steel and the honoki wood. Please wash the knife in warm water and dry it by hand after every use. Such care insures life-long reliability of HAIKU. Please do not cut bone or another hard materials with our HAIKU knives. A cleaver should be used for such tasks. HAIKU knives stay sharp a long time, but depending on how often you use the knives, they will need to be sharpened at home. Japanese HAIKU knives are designed for quick and easy sharpening. Use the HAIKU whetstone for best results if necessary another ceramic whetstone may be used. In a desperate situation, draw the knife's edge over the bottom of an unglazed porcelain bowl to sharpen. Please never use a sharpening-steel, as it will damage the fine HAIKU edge.
Ships from and sold by a Bluefly Marketplace Partner.
Availability: Usually Ships in 1 Business day
Return Policy: 14 days
Style # 338784901


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The middle
schools and high schools that comprise the Beaufort County School
District secondary schools all belong to the South Carolina High School
League (SCHSL). This is the governing body for interscholastic athletics
among the public schools of the state. The District is proud of the
comprehensive array of athletic opportunities offered to students and of
the long history of athletic success that is part of the District's
In addition to the
eligibility regulations of the SCHSL, Beaufort County middle and high
schools also must abide by the Guidelines for Extracurricular
Participation which outlines the roles and expectations for coaches,
student-athletes and parents as well as the responsibilities of the
schools in providing athletic and other extracurricular activities.
Most prominent in this set of guidelines is the Contract for
Participation which is reviewed each year and must be signed by the
student participant, parent/guardian, and the coach or advisor. The Contract sets the tone for the behavior for those who represent the
schools of the District. Additionally, the recently adopted Board Policy
and Administrative Regulations Academic Eligibility for
Extracurricular Participation establishes a higher level of academic
performance for those who wish to participate in the District's
extracurricular programs. A key component of this administrative
practice is the establishment of regular study halls and academic
tutoring to help support students. The component goal is two-fold. First, to make sure that participating students are also successful academically, and second, to ensure that students who may have exceptional
athletic or artistic abilities that qualify them for college
scholarships are not disqualified because of poor academics. For specific questions about individual school, please contact the school's athletic director.
The athletic opportunities offered at the schools of the District are:
BCSD strongly believes that drug
use and substance abuse can be detrimental to the physical and emotional
health and the academic performance of its students. It is from this
belief and out of concern for students' well-being that the BCSD
initiates a random drug-testing program. The purpose of this drug
testing program is to help students and not to be punitive.
Policy Information and Forms
Counseling Resource Guide
The purpose of this
set of guidelines is to provide students, parents, coaches/advisors and
the community with a resource for answering questions about the Athletic
programs of the BCSD.
It is the philosophy of the BCSD that a well-administered and comprehensive
program of athletics is essential to the overall development of young
people. A well-designed program features a wide variety of
opportunities to meet the needs of a diverse student population,
well-prepared and student-oriented coaches and advisors and clearly
articulated expectations and regulations regarding participation.
Well-defined roles for coaches, students and parents are essential to
assuring that programs are operated for the benefit of students and
serve as a source of pride for the schools and community.
Athletics Brochure
Click here for the Athletics Brochure
COMING SOON- Spanish version of the Athletics Brochure
Click here for the Beaufort County School District Athletic Guidelines.
2.0 GPA Policy
BCSD's 2.0 GPA Policy clearly states that in order for
any student to participate in any athletic team or competition, a GPA
of 2.0 must exist. All classes are counted in the overall GPA.
semester eligibility for participation in athletics will be determined
by the student's GPA earned during the preceding school year's final semester, including grades earned during the intervening summer school session. Athletes not meeting the 2.0
GPA requirement will not be allowed to participate in any athletic
Spring semester eligibility for
participation in athletics will be determined by the student's GPA earned during the first semester of the same school year. Athletes not meeting the 2.0 GPA requirement will not be
allowed to participate in any athletic activities.
Click here for the frequently asked questions regarding the District 2.0 GPA policy for athletics.
Click here for the Spanish frequently asked questions regarding the District 2.0 GPA policy for athletics.
Charter School, Home School and Governor's School Student Participation in Extracurricular Activities
Two new laws
concerning participation in District activities were recently passed and
signed into law by the Governor that allow charter school, home school, and governor's school students to try out for and, if selected,
participate in extracurricular activities at their residence-zoned
school. Our efforts are to support this new law and in doing so, we want
to ensure a seamless transition into our programs at our schools.
Extracurricular activities in our
schools are defined as those activities sponsored solely by the resident
school, carry no academic credit, do not fall within the scope of the
regular curriculum, and have no requirement for enrollment in a class
during the regular academic day at the resident school. To participate
in an activity, students will be asked to complete the application
packet (see below). Although the application is self-explanatory we
will be glad to assist with any questions that you may have.
Click here for the Amended Charter School Act Provision
Click here for the Athletics Brochure for Governor's School/ Charter/Homeschool students
Off-Campus Student Pick-Up and Student Driver Permission Form
Students who have traveled to a school
district-sponsored event with the team, squad, club, or organization
involved in the event, must have prior written permission to pick up the
child from the event site. The parent/guardian must acknowledge that
the child will not be transported back with the team, squad, club, or
organization involved in the event and accept full, complete, and sole
responsibility for the supervision, protection, care and custody of the
Click here for the Off Campus Student Pick- Up Form
Click here for the Student Driver Permission Form
Concussion Management
Click here for the South Carolina High School League Suggested Guidelines for Concussion Management in Sports
Click here for the South Carolina High School League Concussion Return to Play Form
Click here for the Beaufort County School District Concussion Protocol
Click here for the Beaufort County School District Concussion Protocol in Spanish
Click here for the Beaufort County School District Concussion Management Information
Click here for the Athletes Fact Sheet for Concussion
NCAA Division I Academic Requirements for High School Athletes
Students who enroll full time at an NCAA Division I school this fall
must graduate high school and meet ALL the following 16 core course requirements:
For more resources regarding these changes, visit NCAA.org/student-athletes/play-division-i-sports or the Division I Academic Requirements Guide.
In order for a student's academic certification to be processed, the
student must have ACT or SAT scores submitted to the NCAA Eligibility
Center directly from the testing agency. Click here for step-by-step instructions on how they can request to have their test scores sent.
Test scores on a high school transcript will not be used.
Students may take the ACT or the SAT an unlimited number of times prior
to full-time collegiate enrollment, and the best score will be used in
the final academic certification. Test scores are matched to the
student's NCAA Eligibility Center account by name, date of birth and
Note: If a student takes the current SAT before March 2016 and then
takes the redesigned SAT, which will be offered beginning March 2016,
the NCAA Eligibility Center will not combine section scores from the
current and redesigned SAT when determining a student's initial
eligibility. The NCAA Eligibility Center will only combine section
scores from the same version of the test. Because the redesigned SAT
varies in design and measures different academic concepts than the
current SAT, a numerical score on the current test may not be equivalent
to the same numerical score on the redesigned test.
The start of a new semester is always a great time to update your
school's list of NCAA courses. A list that has not been updated recently
could delay your graduating seniors' academic certification or prevent
them from meeting the academic requirements.
You may add courses, archive those no longer taught and change titles quickly and easily on the High School Portal. Click here for additional information on updating your course list and a step-by-step tutorial.
If your list is accurate, please log in to the High School Portal to verify you have no updates; this will confirm your list is accurate for your school in our system.
Updated April 2018
Address: 2900 Mink Point Boulevard, Beaufort, SC 29902Phone: 843-322-2300District Office Hours: M-F 8:00 am-5:00 pmLogin


text:
2019 GMC Terrain SLE
Ebony Twilight Metallic Stock # 3190022, 3GKALMEV1KL120391, 1.5L DOHC engine, 9-Speed Automatic, 30, Ebony Twilight Metallic exterior
6 People Interested
Final Price
2019 GM Bonus Cash [Cash]
Your Net Price:
6 people recently viewed this vehicle
At a Glance
9-Speed Automatic
26/30 City/Hwy MPG
- Condition: New
- Model: Terrain
- Trim: SLE
- Body style: 4D Sport Utility
- Exterior: Ebony Twilight Metallic
- Interior: Jet Black
- Doors: 4
- Stock: 3190022
- Model number: TXL26
- Engine: 1.5L DOHC
- Transmission: 9-Speed Automatic
- Fuel: Gasoline
- Drivetrain: FWD
- Upholstery: Cloth
26 City
30 Hwy
Actual mileage will vary with options, driving conditions, driving habits, and vehicle condition
Ebony Twilight Metallic 2019 GMC Terrain SLE FWD 9-Speed Automatic 1.5L DOHC30/26 Highway/City MPG
- Preferred Equipment Group 3SA
- 3.47 Axle Ratio
- Wheels: 17" x 7" Silver Painted Aluminum
- Front Bucket Seats
- Premium Cloth Seat Trim
- Radio: GMC Infotainment Audio System w/7" Display
- License Plate Front Mounting Package
- 4-Way Manual Front Passenger Seat
- 4-Way Manual Driver's Seat
- Bluetooth® For Phone
- 2 USB Data Ports w/Auxiliary Input Jack
- 6-Speaker Audio System Feature
- 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
- 6 Speakers
- Air Conditioning
- Electronic Stability Control
- Front Center Armrest
- Spoiler
- Tachometer
- ABS brakes
- AM/FM radio
- Alloy wheels
- Brake assist
- Bumpers: body-color
- Delay-off headlights
- Driver door bin
- Driver vanity mirror
- Dual front impact airbags
- Dual front side impact airbags
- Emergency communication system
- Four wheel independent suspension
- Front anti-roll bar
- Front reading lights
- Fully automatic headlights
- Heated door mirrors
- Illuminated entry
- Low tire pressure warning
- Occupant sensing airbag
- Outside temperature display
- Overhead airbag
- Overhead console
- Panic alarm
- Passenger door bin
- Passenger vanity mirror
- Power door mirrors
- Power steering
- Power windows
- Radio data system
- Rear anti-roll bar
- Rear seat center armrest
- Rear window defroster
- Rear window wiper
- Remote keyless entry
- Security system
- Speed control
- Speed-sensing steering
- Split folding rear seat
- Steering wheel mounted audio controls
- Telescoping steering wheel
- Tilt steering wheel
- Traction control
- Trip computer
- Variably intermittent wipers
- Auto-dimming Rear-View mirror
- High-Intensity Discharge Headlights
- Compass
- Display: analog
- Exterior Parking Camera Rear
Customers Reviews
Neal Pflum8 months agoAlways great service. Tim made a special effort to get me additional information on a quick fix. Thanks SC GMC
Soon Come8 months agoA + to get an instant shuttle ride to a destination of choice and be able to get a ride back to the dealership. A+ to be advised of possible future problems. A + For timeliness,
Alexander Clark Alexander Clark10 months agoOne week has gone by since my incident and repairs were completed for my G8's belts and crank. I have no complaints and would like to give a big shot out to Robert for being such a genuine guy! He did an awesome job with the repairs and they were done in a timely manner. Great, friendly service. Thank you Robert and team.
jacknbecky197511 months agoFriendly service personnel. Easy drop off and easy pickup. Even washed my vehicle. Totally unexpected and appreciated.
Yesenia Coronel1 year agoI'd like to take a quick moment to Thank Isa for the great experience in choosing my brand new Buick Encore 2017!!! She made it so easy and very comfortable for my kids n I to choose the best deal for me in all the aspects in our busy lifestyle. She is as pleasant and very understanding yet very professional. I was surprised she she new to the business and can't thank her enough. Thank you to all the team for all u did. Thank you all for coming together for us and going far and beyond to even ordering pizza for my boys. I'll definitely recommend you. Yesenia
Tom Souter3 years agoGreat people to deal with always friendly and great prices. The Roundman
Carroll Rodney Pugh8 months agoGreat Service and people to work with. I will tell all my friends about them.
Susan Heller8 months agoExcellent Work. Very Customer Service oriented. Provided a loaner car at no charge, very happy not to have to pay to use a loaner.
Leilani1 year agoSelene was the best person I could have asked for to help me through my first purchase. She was friendly & knowledgeable. She helped me through all my concerns. I adore her & send everyone I know her way. Definitely where I'll go to purchase my next car ! :)
Paul1 year agoTimely and efficient, this dealership is clean, well organized and very friendly. The lounge area with the large screen TVs help to pass the time.
James1 year agoCan always count on the best work performed. People are knowledgeable and personable. There are less expensive places to go; but, not with a certainty of the expectation of service and the result.
Ron1 year agoWe stopped in with no appointment to start a process for repairing the passenger side mirror on our 2011 Yukon Denali, which had taken a blow and could no longer be adjusted. Tim Fichtner, a service advisor, greeted us right away and looked at our problem. He went to the parts department to see what internal parts might be needed to effect a repair and told us that it could cost anywhere between about $140 plus labor or nearly $500 plus labor, depending on what is found when they open it up. We agreed to do whatever was needed to properly repair the mirror assembly. Tim said they could do the repair right away if we didn't mind waiting. In about 30 minutes, Tim told us that they were able to simply put the interior parts back together and our only charge was $60 for labor. The integrity of Tim and this service department is extraordinary and a credit to the GMC name. I am hoping that the right people will see this feedback and ensure the proper recognition of the people involved. Thank you!
stella0082 years agoBest buying experience I've had in a long time! Buying was quick, experienced sales rep --Jason is the best-- and I was in an out in 45 minutes! Highly recommended
-C3 years agoI had a bit of a confusing start ... Several people helping, and had some initial difficulty scheduling a test drive. But eventually I did work with Raul and Hassan. They were helpful and did their best to get me into a car at the price I wanted. Even though I did not buy in the end - more due to the car and color options.... I was trying to get out of something that I settled for previously, and did not want to feel the same way again. The service was good and I would go back again :)
Brenda G.4 years agoI am very happy with the service I got from South County Buick Service Department. The oil change deal is awesome! I saw it on groupon, they were very friendly and helpful. I definitely recommend south county Buick to everyone.
Daniele C.4 years agoTook my car into the dealership for some repairs and Ray was very helpful with all my needs. I would highly recommend this dealership. It is t the Best on the mile. Thanks again Ray.
Sarnsab1 year agoThe staff here is so helpufl and courteus. They are family friendly and aleays readyt o help! Ask for Robert when you stop by the dealership!
Timothy Cholfin2 years agoHad an absolute wonderful experience with South County Buick GMC. This is the second time I've leased a vehicle from this dealership and the service just keeps getting better. The first time I leased a vehicle from this dealership I had just gotten back from a deployment to Afghanistan and I decided to take a vacation to CA. While in CA I decided that I wanted to replace my Hyundai with a GMC Terrain and I'm happy I did. The service was so great and the positive experience was so lasting that I returned for a second time. I was recently in CA again (vacationing of course) and I decided to visit South County Buick GMC while I was in San Diego. I was looking at getting a truck this time since I was always in need of a truck for fishing, hunting, camping and now, moving my friends. Once again the staff at South County Buick GMC did not disappoint. They were friendly, knowledgeable and their customer service was second to none. Not only did I get a great deal but they even offered to send one of their employees back to AZ with me to pick up the GMC Terrain. I live over 500 miles from the dealership! Who else would do that? I would specifically like to thank Hasaan and Jose for going out of their way to provide me the best customer service I have ever received. Thank you South County Buick GMC for a great truck buying experience!
jessrwill6 years agoThe staff at SC Buick GMC provided wonderful service! I was searching for a car for four weeks before, thankfully, ending up at their doorstep. Derrick Torres is the salesman who assisted me. I had my eye on a 2011 Kia Forte. He was very attentive to my needs and didn't attempt to show me cars I wasn't interested in. The test drive was the best I have ever taken; there was no sales pressure which I prefer - I dislike when someone tries to hard sell; as a consumer it's a turn off. Derrick is very knowledge about their product and looks out for his customers. It is refreshing to find a sales representative that truly cares about the needs and outcome for his customers. While I was there, a mother with her young son was purchasing her first new vehicle with Derrick and it was a sight to see. They were so grateful to Derrick and appreciated the excellent customer service he provided; they even took a group photo! I have never seen or experienced such personalized experiences at a car dealership. After the test drive, I decided to purchase the vehicle. The financing portion was next on the do to list. Robert Hans assisted me with the financing. Usually dealing with the numbers is the cumbersome part of a large purchase; but, Robert and I had a grand time! He was very informative and let me know my options. I felt very comfortable working with him and he got me a great deal. He called me the next day and informed me my payment would be even lower than expected. I recommend SC Buick GMC; my experience was one to remember and I feel anyone who is in their hands will feel the same.
rams4real6 years agoWent looking to buy a used truck, it came down to 2 locations, one being South County Buick GMC. After 3 days and a lot of comparisons between dealerships, one thing stood out at South County Buick GMC, the quality of the way we (family), were treated and respected. I usually come and go, with the mind set of most sales persons are going to treat you friendly (thats their job). But here at Buick GMC, it was above and beyond expected from a dealership / sales person. I can honestly say, I was at a stand still on determining the truck I wanted, as I stated it came down to 2. But what it came down to was the outstanding way myself and family was treated, there was never no presure and they really felt like family. Derrick and Gonzalo were 2 of the most respected persons I have met. Without hesitation I would refer and recommend anyone looking to buy, to stop buy and allow Derrick and Gonzalo to show you what they have, through their being real approach, and equal comparison pricing, I think you will be sold, because no one could come close to matching the way they treat you, and pricing was equal or better than all dealerships I checked. And I can tell you I covered almost all east, west, north and south San Diego area.
Similar Vehicles


text:
This has been one hell of a tough year in capping basketball.
This year I capped 166 games ending with a 53% win for the regular season.
Now we are onto the Tourney. The lines are early and a few games that jump off the Floor:
Florida State -11.5 vs Florida Gulf Coast. It is a shame that the NCAA committee placed FGSU against it's bigger college locally.
FGSU is known as slam dunk U. Florida State is an outstanding team and will win this by 18.
N Kentucky Norse punches a First ticket ever as a team- Been D 1 league for 2 years. This is a really fun team to watch.
The NCAA has them playing Kentucky. A # 15 seed vs a 2. The Norse are a 19 point dog and I think they give Kentucky a great game- Taking the points here


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CLEVELAND (AP) — The son of a 68-year-old man sentenced to six years in prison for fatally shooting his ailing wife in her hospital bed wrote a letter supporting his father's bid for clemency.
"Although I was naturally devastated by the loss of my mother and the circumstances of her death, nevertheless, I understand what my father did and why he did it," Mark Wise said in a letter accompanying John Wise's clemency appeal.
"I love my father, I know he is not a violent man, I know he regrets his actions and he suffers the loss of my mother more deeply than anyone," he wrote.
Wise's defense team on Friday provided The Associated Press a copy of his sworn affidavit signed Dec. 19.
Gov. John Kasich's administration won't comment on clemency. The prosecutor in Akron opposes clemency for the retired steel worker from Massillon.
John Wise said he shot his debilitated wife out of love in 2012 after she suffered aneurysms and appeared to be in pain at an Akron hospital. Mercy is not a defense to a murder charge in Ohio. Mark Wise testified at the trial that his parents had a good relationship and that he had given his father a gun for protection.
In seeking clemency, John Wise said he wanted to be released from prison to spend his remaining years at home. His medical conditions "make it unlikely that I will survive six years in prison," he wrote. His ailments include chronic heart disease, diabetes, degenerative disc disease, bladder cancer and nerve damage, according to a case summary sent with the clemency application.
Two psychological reports accompanying the clemency application haven't been released by the Ohio Parole Board, but the case summary mentions brief details.
The psychologists concluded that Wise had a high anxiety level from persistent thoughts about the seriousness of his symptoms and the fear that he would be unable to care for his wife.
One psychologist concluded that Wise's thinking becomes confused under stress and said he is unstable and ill-equipped to deal with his problems.
Police say Wise walked into the hospital room on Aug. 4, 2012, and shot his wife of 45 years at her bedside. She died the next day. Wise told police he intended to kill himself, too, but the weapon jammed.
Barbara Wise, 65, was in the intensive care unit at Akron General Medical Center after suffering triple cerebral aneurysms that had left her unable to speak, a family friend has said.
A doctor testified that Barbara Wise wasn't terminally ill and appeared to be responding to treatment.


text: Accenture myWizard® helps humans and machines reach their exponential potential in application services. It currently includes a number of intelligent virtual agents that use machine learning to collaborate with their human co-workers. Together, we manage projects, apply analytics to deliver on business goals, make judgement-based decisions, and monitor all aspects of application development and management. Meet a few of our virtual co-workers:


text:
Temperatures fall in Upstate, snow falls in mountains
Temperatures fall in Upstate, snow falls in mountains
Lows in the Upstate will be in the 20s and low 30s over the next several days, and snow is expected in the North Carolina mountains over the weekend.
Most of the snow will fall along the Tennessee-North Carolina border, where up to 5 inches is possible.
Most of the border counties are under a winter weather advisory through noon Sunday.
The mountains will see high temperatures in the 30s and low temperatures in the high 20s.
The Upstate will see highs in the mid-40s for Friday.
Temperatures will stay cold for Saturday with highs in the mountain in the low 40s and highs in the Upstate in the high 40s.
On Sunday it will warm up a little bit with temperatures in the 50s in the Upstate and upper 40s in the mountains.


text:
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Ryan Reynolds has his priorities straight.
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He told TODAY's Ann Curry that if he had to choose between two cool things that have happened to him — being named "People's" "Sexiest Man Alive" last year, or being turned into an action figure, he'd have to go with the latter.Story: Physiques ab-solutely key to 'Lantern'
"It's a bigger win in the long run," he chuckled.
Reynolds stars as the titular superhero in the new film "Green Lantern," which opens Friday. Audiences will enjoy seeing him fly around in a very form-fitting costume, but Reynolds pointed out that it's really the result of movie magic: He never wore a costume, just a motion capture suit, which made walking around in steamy Louisiana, where the movie was made, a little hot and uncomfortable.Slideshow: Ryan Reynolds (on this page)
"It was like wearing an all-over turtleneck," he said.
Plus, there was that issue about having to actually get high in the air. "I'm not a big flyer. I've always had problems with airplanes," he said. "I used to take something so I could get on a plane and comfortably get through and it would make the whole world taste like chocolate. But you can't do that when you fly as much as I do."
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Or, when you're flying around in an full-body turtleneck.
"In the film I'm up on high wires, we're flying all over the place and sometimes it's 60 feet per second!" laughed Reynolds, who said he got over his fears by thinking about his nieces and nephews.
"[They] were just so excited about this movie, and I kept thinking about them coming to see the film ... and I just got over it," he said.
© 2013 NBCNews.com Reprints


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How are the winners of these give aways determined?
So, when we get this squared away, do you want us to send you pics of what we have, and then mail them to you or some other staff member?
I'm thinking I will offer up this figure for it maybe.I might make a slight modification, and take a few better pics of it first though. Then I could mail it to whoever wants to be in charge of the drawings.
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text: How CDW used email to address shopping cart abandonment By Karen J. Bannan. Published on October 29, 2013. Technology solutions provider CDW sells hardware, software and services to a variety of companies. For many, the sales journey begins online and ends with a salesperson. For others, it starts and ends on CDW's expansive website. Last year, the company, which does not have a persistent cart feature on its site, realized that people were coming to the site, putting products in their cart and abandoning them or asking for quotes without following through. Hoping to capture some of those missed sales, CDW with help from its email service provider ExactTarget started a cart abandonment email campaign, said Arleen Goldberg, senior manager, e-commerce. CDW started sending out a single email 24 hours after an abandonment if the user hadn't made a purchase or asked for a quote. "In the beginning the email was, "You abandoned a cart,' and the email would take them back to the cart," Goldberg said. While the initial results were good, Goldberg said she knew they could do better. So the company planned several improvements. First, CDW tested subject lines and tweaked them accordingly. While the company didn't see a "tremendous" change in click-through rates, she said, it did see a higher overall order value for the carts that were completed. "We think it may be because once you see what's in your cart, you may be prompted to look at other, complementary products," she said. A second, more important change to the program was rolled out in March in the form of a series of emails. The first went out 24 hours after a cart was abandoned. The second went out a day after the first if the original email hadn't been opened. A third email went out a week after the cart was originally abandoned if neither of the other emails were opened. The results of the programs have been strong, Goldberg said. In 2012 the abandoned cart emails saw a 43.0% increase in open rate, a 16.5% increase in click-through rates and a 17.6% increase in seven-day attributable sales, she said. After subject-line testing, there was a 17.9% increase in open rate. More important, the email series resulted in an additional $750,000 in sales between March and October, she said. Most Popular In this article: BtoBContent Marketing


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AUSTIN, TX --Phil Forte scored 24 points, including the final the eight for Lewisville Marcus, as the Marauders won their second consecutive Class 5A state championship, 56-52 over Fort Bend Travis on Saturday night.
Forte scored Marcus' first eight points, then put the game away in the final minute, making six consecutive free throws to preserve the lead. His last two with 11 seconds left came after Travis' Aaron Harrison made a 3-pointer to pull Travis within 54-52. Forte was named the game's most valuable player.
Lewisville Marcus (39-2) is just the fourth repeat champion in the 32 years of the 5A tournament.
Marcus Smart scored 15 points and Nick Banyard had 10 points and 13 rebounds for Marcus.
Andrew Harrison scored 23 points for Fort Bend Travis (36-4).