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Wrongful Death/Serious Injuries (Representative List)
- Software developer injured when walking to his job - $490,000 settlement
- Bicycle commuter injured when car hit him near Seattle's Fremont Bridge - $225,000
- Retired veteran suffered brain injury and back injuries after getting t-boned. Recovery: Confidential settlement.
- Former Montessori teacher suffered a fractured a compression fracture after a serious motor vehicle accident. Recovery: Confidential six-figure settlement.
- Successful owner and former Amazon director suffers spinal cord injuries. Recovery: Confidential settlement.
- Cyclist was run over by a Metro bus, after his bicycle tire was caught in the Seattle First Hill Streetcar tracks. $1,550,000 settlement with the City of Seattle.
- Nursing home neglect/abuse: A 88 year old woman with no serious pre-existing conditions fell to her death on the premises of her adult family home. Confidential settlement.
- Medical Negligence: A beloved semi-retired chiropractor dies after a surgeon decides to perform a procedure that fell below the standard of care.
- An elementary school secretary suffered spinal cord injuries from a crash after a dually truck rammed into her car. Litigation is ongoing.
Consumer Protection/Class Actions (Representative List)
- Anthem Data Breach - Ms. Fleming's two clients served as class representatives in this massive data breach class action that resulted in a court approved settlement of $115,000,000.00, the largest settlement to date for a data breach class action.
- Verizon bad faith consumer practices - After suffering identity theft, Verizon insisted that Ms. Harvey pay the balance on the fraudulently obtained charges that fraudsters rang up (buying iPads, iPhones, family cell plans, etc.). This lawsuit was filed in May 2018 and litigation is ongoing.
- Equifax data breach - Ms. Fleming represents three clients in this massive data breach multi-district litigation. Her clients represent classes of breach victims in Washington State and in Idaho. This litigation is ongoing.
- Certainteed class action - Ms. Fleming and cocounsel filed a class action lawsuit against CertainTeed, Inc. for defective asphalt shingles that prematurely failed. One of the typical signs of premature failure was the massive degranulation of homeowners' roofs. Additionally, those who CertainTeed deemed as outside the narrowly defined scope of customers under warranty were denied claims for any replacement or compensation. This litigatoin is ongoing.
Equifax Data Breach
NOTE: This case has not reached any result as it is still in the earliest stages. However, given the national and local interest in the case, we have provided the initial case profile below. For those interested in learning more directly from us, please read our "FAQs for Interested Clients" at the bottom of the page. Please check back frequently, as we will continue to provide updates by way of this webpage. For more information or questions, contact us at email@example.com.
UPDATE: Confused about "freeze" versus "lock" options? Please read Catherine Fleming's recent blog post.
In September 2017, Ms. Fleming and co-counsel filed a national class action complaint against Equifax in U.S. District Court Western District of Washington at Seattle. The three named plaintiffs are residents of Washington and include a small business owner.
Here are some main takeaways of our lawsuit:
- Equifax's post announcement conduct was amateur hour at its best, and profiteering at its worst.
- Amateur response – From its sloppy website (using stock installation of WordPress) without proper security measures (a TSL certificate doesn't perform proper revocation checks), website visitors were asked to submit six digits of their SSN (an imprudent practice, especially given the hasty manner in which EquifaxSecurity2017.com was erected). Frustrated consumers/business owners could not get through via calling. Days later, no one we have spoken to has clear confirmation that their data was compromised.
- Profiteering – Post breach, Equifax has offered its "complimentary" identity theft protection, which will expire after one year.* No one should feel safe about this breach after one year. Typically, bad actors hold onto Personally Identifiable Information for a period of time with the intent of escaping the breach victim's attention.
- Equifax's identity protection is via its own wholly owned subsidiary, TrustedID, which typically charges around $125/year or about $20/month.
- Equifax' offer will generate millions of "leads" for TrustedID to renew plans that will increase Equifax's profits.
- Small business owners are also at risk and are in a more vulnerable position than larger businesses.
- Green card holders have worked hard to establish credit in this country. Countless numbers of green card holders in our state have also suffered harm because of Equifax' negligence.
- Plaintiffs have experienced identity theft and are correct to recognize that the Equifax breach gives rise to a greater set of issues to those who need credit in some form, including individuals and business owners with mortgages, auto loans, and leased equipment.
- Regardless of whether your information was exposed, U.S. consumers and Equifax business customers can get a year of free credit monitoring and other services. The site will give you a date when you can come back to enroll, after you enter the requested information. Write down the date and come back to the site and click "Enroll" on that date. You have until November 21, 2017 to enroll. NOTE: We have issues with the unresolved ambiguities regarding a potential waiver of rights that Equifax claims does not apply to the 2017 breach. Any arbitration clause/class action ban may only apply in specific contexts related to Equifax's credit file monitoring.
- You also can access Equifax's frequently asked questions at the data breach incident response site (warning: prepare yourself for corporate double-speak and over-vague responses).
Here are some other steps to take to help protect yourself after a data breach (as recommended by the FTC):
- Check your credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — for free — by visiting annualcreditreport.com. Accounts or activity that you don't recognize could indicate identity theft. Visit IdentityTheft.gov to find out what to do.
- Consider placing a credit freeze on your files. A credit freeze makes it harder for someone to open a new account in your name. Keep in mind that a credit freeze won't prevent a thief from making charges to your existing accounts.
- Monitor your existing credit card and bank accounts closely for charges you don't recognize.
- If you decide against a credit freeze, consider placing a fraud alert on your files. A fraud alert warns creditors that you may be an identity theft victim and that they should verify that anyone seeking credit in your name really is you.
- File your taxes early — as soon as you have the tax information you need, before a scammer can. Tax identity theft happens when someone uses your Social Security number to get a tax refund or a job. Respond right away to letters from the IRS.
Frequently Asked Questions for Interested Potential Clients:
- How do I "sign up" as a client? Please use the contact form below with your first and last name, your email address, and any phone number that you want us to use to contact you. Please also include your physical mailing address.
- Do I have to join your class action if I want to hold Equifax accountable? No, other class representatives have already signed on with us, which allow us to move forward on behalf of the entire class.
- How about those sites that allow me to "automatically" sue via a bot? Those "lawsuits" are not an effective way to hold Equifax accountable. These small claims lawsuits will not actually resolve systemic illegal conduct against many millions of people.
- Is it ok if I sign up for Equifax's "free" credit file monitoring? We think it's useless, in light of the many clients we've talked to. According to ex-CEO Richard Smith, by signing up for the offered monitoring/protection, you do not waive your right to sue Equifax for the cybersecurity incident. However, be aware that the complimentary period expires in 12 months and you should then expect to find offers to renew with TrustedId for a cost (typically $20/month).


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East Coast vacation ideas, Most Fascinating Gardens on the East Coast
- By Kevin
- On Jun 6, 2017
- North America
- Travel Tips
East Coast vacation ideas, which most fascinating gardens on the East Coast worth you visit.
New Jersey - Congress Hall: A Cape Resort
Congress Hall in Cape May, New Jersey is the oldest seaside resort in the country with a history dating back to 1816. Every room has Victorian touches and modern amenities such as Wi-Fi and individual climate control as well as high-quality toiletries, cotton terry robes, and luxurious cotton sheets.
There are several choices for rooms, including the King Ocean View, Ocean View, Town View, or Annex View, letting guests select their amenities and the vista. Although the beaches in front of Congress Hall are public, staying at the resort provides access to beach service and private cabanas. The Sea Spa at Congress Hall has bright rooms for receiving all-natural spa and beauty treatments using Thalgo products.
While at the pool, you can take advantage of the Pool & Cabana Bar and during the rest of your stay, enjoy full room service, a quick snack or drink at Tommy's Folly Coffee Shop, or a full meal at Blue Pig Tavern, where you can enjoy classic American comfort food. Rooms start at $119 per night.
Florida - Hammock Beach Resort
Hammock Beach Resort on Florida's Northeast Coast offers 90 holes of championship golf, a great beach, Racquet Club and a 80-slip marina. There are also three swimming pools, beautiful jogging trails and the Children's Activity Island.
The area surrounding the resort offers numerous wildlife watching opportunities, including 400 different kinds of birds, dolphins, manatees, pelicans, herons, ospreys, eagles, sandpipers and ibis. The resort is a half-hour drive from St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. Nearby attractions include the Bulow Plantation Ruins, Kennedy Space Center, Marineland and the World Golf Hall of Fame.
There are several distinct accommodations to choose from. The 149-room Harborside Inn offers spa bathtubs and waterfront views. The Harborside Villas and Canopy Walk Villas come with a kitchen, washer & dryer, living and dining areas. The Canopy Walk community has a clubhouse facility with pool, spa, fitness center and activity rooms. You can also book one of the 20 luxury rooms at the Lodge or rent a condominium at Cinnamon Beach and Hammock Beach. Dining choices include the Atlantic Grille and Lounge at The Lodge, Flagler's Seafood and Steak Restaurant, and Henry's Harborside Bar. The resort is situated 30 minutes north of Daytona International Airport, 65 minutes south of Jacksonville and 90 minutes north of Orlando. At the Harborside Inn, rates start at $89 per night during the value season; from $199 per night during the high season. The Lodge at Ocean Hammock room rates range from $195-$425.

subset: commoncrawl


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Today, I'm offering not a grammar tip but a spelling lesson suggested by Mary Kay Knief (@mkknief on Twitter). These 10 frequently misspelled, food-related words originally appeared on epicurious.com. Keep the list handy if you have trouble with these words.
- Macaroni
- Barbecue
- Chipotle
- Tomato
- Reuben
- Sandwich
- Dessert
- Omelet/Omelette (French)
- Caesar
- Fettuccine
As a bonus, I've added a video above of a famous food misspelling that came back to haunt a certain vice president.
Thanks for visiting. While you're here, please look around the site. You can subscribe via e-mail or RSS feed. The tools to do so are at the top of the right-hand column. To share or retweet the entry, use the buttons below. You can follow me on Twitter: @peterfaur


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This website is all about "Showcasing new initiatives in education". It is inspired by a fundamental commitment to human rights by India's founding fathers:
India is a secular state with a constitution committed to the unique demography, history and culture of each state and union territory – knowindia.gov.in >>
Continue your exploration of India's tribal cultural heritage by
- exploring video contents and slideshows
- listening to music – both traditional and modern (see "Media" menu for more audio and video contents as well as free ePub resources)
- taking a guided tour of this website
- browsing what's new and interesting
- asking questions like "How many 'Scheduled Tribes' are there in India?"; and "What distinguishes them from other communities?" ('tribal' or otherwise)
- understanding the intentions of India's founding fathers: Gandhi & Nehru
- deriving inspiration from Tagore's vision of rural culture
- reading some of the success stories to understand India's tribal heritage
- searching for Indian publications by and about members of tribal communities
- finding posts with information about a particular community
- using an interactive map featuring museum collections across India
- enjoying a virtual journey across time and space:
from the Indus Valley Civilisation to modern India and beyond
For recent reports on India's tribal cultural heritage, search select periodicals in the above search window; a list of Indian periodicals included in your present custom search is found here. | To also search Indian magazines and web portals, click here >>
Learn more
The tribal food basket has always been diverse and nutritious, including maize, minor millets like kodo and kutki, oil seeds like ramtila, along with fruits, leaves, rhizomes, mushrooms, meat and fish," says Bal. "We have pushed them out of their complementary relationship with ecology, way of life and time-tested nutrition. | Learn more >>
Thank you for your interest, suggestions and other feedback!
Offline reading
To download the free PDF-version of the guided tour for offline reading or printing, click here >>
More tips
- browsing with a small portable device (smartphone)
- tips for teachers and students
- tips for visitors and lovers of Indian culture
Banner photo and art: courtesy Arun VC (Kerala)


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Volunteer Scheme
As part of the Pass It On Volunteering Scheme, you will represent the Spirit of Rugby brand whilst going out into the community to volunteer in a range of areas including: events, media and match reporting. In alignment with the Young Rugby Ambassador Programme (YRA), you will receive a range of benefits appropriate for the hours you contribute.
Unique to our scheme, you will be assigned a mentor who will facilitate your volunteering or coaching pathway and development.
Current voluntary opportunities can be found below, if there isn't something for you then don't worry as we can establish opportunities to suite your interests!
Many of the opportunities we offer will reach out further than just the benefits of being involved in rugby. They will allow young people to develop as individuals and allow them to create their own opportunities after gaining valuable experience.
Reward Package
The milestones you will receive rewards for are: 10, 30, 50 and 100 hours. You will receive certificates and exclusive YRA stash.
10 hours: Certificate, YRA t-shirt
30 hours: Certificate, recognition from an England Rugby representative, YRA bobble hat
50 hours: Certificate, YRA hoody
100 hours: Certificate, YRA jacket
Volunteer Roles
Assistant Men's Coach at Loughborough College
Match reporter at Loughborough Rugby Club
Photographer at Loughborough Rugby Club
Spirit of Rugby Event support volunteer
Spirit of Rugby Media volunteer
Media Development Manager for Leicestershire RU
Website Management at Vipers RFC
Filming and Analysis at Vipers RFC
Comments or questions are welcome.


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John Karlsen, sometimes credited as Charles John Karlsen or John Karlson died in Auckland, New Zealand on July 5, 2017. He was 97. Born on October 20, 1919 in Wellington, New Zealand, he was very active in the Italian cinema between 1958 and 2003 in roles as a character actor. He appeared with directors such directors as Louis Malle, Joseph Losey, Roman Polanski, Federico Fellini, Alessandro Blasetti, Dino Risi and Roberto Benigni. John has appeared in over 80 films and television appearances. He may be best remembered for his role of the Evil Duke in "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" in 1989. Karlsen played the University Dean in Sergio Sollima's 1967 film "Face to Face" starring Tomás Milian, Gian Maria Volonte and William Berger.
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
3 comments:
- AnonymousJuly 12, 2017 at 4:05 PM
Biltmore: It was reported that he died way back in 2010!ReplyDelete
Yes that was reported by voice actor Ted Rusoff but has been discarded by author Harris Lentz who stated on Facebook yesterday that was found to be unreliable on several occasions even suspected of faking a report on his own death once to see what type of reaction it would get.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMay 29, 2019 at 1:04 AM
does any one know people from his familly ? I ve important information concerning his heritage.ReplyDelete
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Coconut oil is extremely good for you. We live in a corrupt world where truth is a lie and a lie is truth. Those who believe coconut oil is poison will only lose out in the long run! Maybe it'll bring down the price for the rest of us.
I have never used or thought of using coconut oil in the past…. I worked at a place that had it and heard several benefits of using it, so I though I would try this "purely poisonous" stuff… I have been taking it for over three months now….
*Indigestion problems have all gone.
*Hair and skin have both improved.
*I've also lost over 20 lbs and have felt remarkably better overall.
Thank you coconut oil, for being "pure poison" and bettering my life..


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If I said there was snizzie on my lizzie would ya'll know what I meant?
"snow on my lawn"
Maybe only Snoop and Christian would get that..?
and Ry has a cheek full of carrot..YUM
Are you turning into a thug? J/k! I loved the snow, I just wish it wasn't cold!
Ah the snow, thank goodness it's GONE!!!


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Here's what I thought:
OMG this book was an emotional roller coaster! I'm usually the kind of reader who doesn't put a book down until I finish it, but I was stupid enough to start it after dinner so it took me two days to read the whole thing (there's about 540 pages). I think this book is really well written! The perspective changes take a little bit of getting used to (because the main character time travels and there is some overlap between times), but by the half way point it is super easy to follow along with the plot. I think it is so interesting that Audrey chose this way to write the story, but it honestly fits so well with the book! :D
Now this book will give you major feels. Like MAJOR major feels! The plot twist literally made my jaw drop, and I yelled out loud a couple of times.... It was really really good!
|Me reading this book ;)
I know there is a movie based on this book, but I have heard bad things about it.
What books have you been reading lately? Comment below and don't forget to follow! :D


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Match & Wholesome Centre provides Studio Memberships, affordable Private Trainers, high quality and fun Small Group Private Coaching and the perfect Weight Loss packages. 1. I ACKNOWLEDGE, agree, and signify that I understand the character of mountain climbing and associated social actions and that I'm qualified, in good well being, in proper bodily situation to participate in such activity and willingly comply with adjust to the acknowledged and customary phrases and circumstances of participation. I additional agree and warrant that if at any time I consider conditions to be unsafe, I will immediately notify the nearest organizer and discontinue additional participation in the Activity.
Food ought to be gas, but it should also be pleasurable! Let's work together to find an consuming way of life that you just love while serving to you reach your very best physique weight and age healthfully. We'll make your nutritional plan a personalized program that puts you on the path to sustained success. On the subject of eating effectively at eating places, the professionally match seem to have a healthy reward for finding just the correct spot.
Earlier than starting a weight coaching program, be sure you study the proper kind. Start gentle, with just one or two kilos. You should be able to elevate the weights 10 occasions with ease. After a few weeks, enhance that by a pound or two. If you happen to can simply lift the weights through the whole vary of motion greater than 12 occasions, move as much as barely heavier weight.
Reduces the impression of sickness and continual disease. People who exercise are inclined to have improved immune and digestive functioning, better blood stress and bone density, and a decrease danger of Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, obesity, heart illness, osteoporosis, and sure cancers. "Know when you are going to eat and what you are going to eat," says Suzanne Girard Eberle, M.S., R.D., author of Endurance Sports Vitamin "Plan it out in the beginning of the day and the week so that you simply're not scrambling once you're hungry." This helps you resist the temptation of quick-food restaurants or pastries in the break room.
You will have in all probability heard it a zillion occasions, but exercise is likely one of the finest methods to elevate your mood and alleviate stress. Plus, you typically will feel so good after you finish a exercise that you will not want to spoil your energy burned with overindulging. Why it is his go-to: I truly hate eating the identical factor day-after-day, so I rotate these choices.


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Fellowship Fund
The GFW Benevolent Fund is an important part of the Guild's remit to provide completely confidential aid and assistance to members in need. The money added to the Fund annually is based on a proportion of subscription income.
However, as a result of low uptake plus negligible interest rates, the fund is neither gaining us extra money nor helping members in acute financial need.
This situation may of course change in the future and there is no question of discontinuing the Benevolent Fund nor changing its primary purpose, but the Committee feels that a portion of the Benevolent Fund could be used to broaden the definition of 'assistance' to members. This will take the form of the new 'Guild Fellowship Fund' to also help members in the form of a bursary or grant to undertake research projects that they would otherwise be unable to afford. The amount used in this way will be limited to guard against excessive depletion of the Fund and its main purpose.
How to apply for it
As from 2018, the name of the Benevolent Fund was changed to 'The Guild Fellowship Fund". This will reflect the fact that some money will be available each year to help members in the form of a bursary or grant with research projects that they would otherwise be unable to afford.
The total sum of £2,000 will be ring-fenced each year for this purpose. This will be awarded to an applicant or applicants who make a suitable request. Thus, each year there may be a single award for the total sum or a portion thereof, or there may be several awards, each for a portion of the total sum. There may be years when only a portion of the request is granted or indeed no grant is awarded.
The applicant or applicants will need to make a detailed written request in order to explain and justify the reason for the grant.
The entry period for applications will run this year from the beginning of April to the end of May (this period may change in future years).
The decision to make an award for either the total sum or a portion of the 'pot' as detailed above will be made on merit by a small panel of former and current officials of the Guild as approved by the main committee. The decision to offer a grant will, we hope, be made by the end of June.
The grantee should be willing to acknowledge the debt to the Guild either in the form of a workshop, lecture, panel membership, website or journal contribution etc. He or she should also be required to acknowledge the assistance of the Guild when the research is published.
The written application should reflect the general interest and use of the subject under consideration and/or its significant contribution to the existing field.
The money may be used for a project for which there is no other funding or to supplement an existing project. As examples, we suggest perhaps travel, library, book purchase, subscription or specialist need costs. The proposal should include a breakdown of estimated costs.
Awards will be at the panel's discretion, and the operation of the scheme will be periodically reviewed by the committee.
For Terms and Conditions click more below.
Terms and conditions
The award is open to Guild members only.
The proposal can be for a cookbook, article or similar intended to be published in print or electronic form in the English language.
The application can be made either by post or electronically to firstname.lastname@example.com.
When making your application please provide the following:
We do not foresee the need to hold interviews with applicants but reserve the right to ask for further information about the project.
Supporting documents are welcome but not necessarily required.
The decision of the Guild to award any bursary is final and no correspondence will be entered into.


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Ecclesiastes 8 International Children's Bible (ICB)
Obey the King
8 No one is like the wise man.
2 I advise you always to obey the king's command. Do this because you made a promise to God. 3 Don't be too quick to quit the job the king gave you. But don't support something that is wrong. Remember, the king does whatever he pleases. 4 The king is the highest power. No one can tell him what to do.
5 A person will be safe if he obeys the king's command.
Justice, Rewards and Punishment
9 I saw all of this as I studied. I considered all that is done here on earth. And I saw men rule others and hurt them. 10 I saw evil people being buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place. Good things were said about them in the same towns where they had done evil. This is senseless, too.
11 Sometimes people are not punished right away for the bad things they do. That makes other people want to do bad things, too. 12 A sinner might do a hundred evil things. And he might live a long time. Even so, I know it will be better for those who honor God. They fear him, and he sees it. 13 And I also know it will not go well for evil people. Their lives will be like a brief shadow. They will not live very long. 14 But sometimes something senseless happens on earth. Bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to bad people. This is truly senseless. 15 So I decided it was more important to enjoy life. The best that people can do here on earth is to eat, drink and enjoy life. These joys will help people do the hard work God gives them here on earth.
We Cannot Understand All God Does
16 I used my mind to learn about all that happens on earth. I saw how busy people are. They work day and night and hardly ever sleep. 17 I also saw all that God has done. Nobody can understand what God does here on earth. No matter how hard a person tries to understand it, he cannot. Even if a wise man says he understands, he really cannot. No one at all can really understand it.
International Children's Bible (ICB)
The Holy Bible, International Children's Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a division of Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
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Back in early February, struggling retailer Esprit announced that it was planning to close all of its North American stores in order to re-focus the business on Asian markets. (The retailer had even reportedly gone so far as to say it had "lost its soul.") Those promises will become a reality as Esprit is closing three locations this week, according to the Post: 21 West 34th Street in midtown, 583 Broadway in Soho, and the massive 14,000-square-foot store in Rockefeller Center.
A Joe Fresh has already opened in Esprit's old Flatiron space, bringing the total New York closures for Esprit to four.
In better news, one of our favorite labels, Acne, is plotting a major Soho expansion. The Swedish brand known for its minimalist separates and killer jeans has signed a lease on a 4,200-square-foot space at 33 Greene Street, right on the corner of Greene and Grand Streets. The label had previously had a pretty small outpost at 10 Greene Street, so this represents a pretty major step up.
Acne's new neighbor will be Alexander Wang -- located just down Grand Street off Mercer -- making Grand Street the place to go for slouchy tees and downtown It-girl supplies.


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Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/07/06[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]
Hello LUGgers. I am back with more questions...(R lenses) First, I have 2 50 Summicrons. They look incredibly different. One says Leitz Wetzlar serial number 2422###, the other says Leitz canada serial number 2780###. What are the differences? My other question is in reagrds to my 135 ELMARIT Leitz Canada. There seems to be specs of dust in both sides of the glass. What is the best way to get rid of it? - -- Regards, Alexander


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We continue to add low-cost universal solar projects to generate power for all customers. In addition, we offer programs to meet your needs and interests in solar energy. We provide options that make it possible for you to go solar without owning a home or making a large investment in solar panels. Learn more about the program options available to you.
Learn more about customer renewable solutions available in your location.
Thank you for visiting Xcel Energy. You have been selected to participate in a brief customer satisfaction survey to let us know how we can improve your experience.
The survey is designed to measure your entire experience, so please look for it at the conclusion of your visit
This survey is conducted by an independent company MaritzCX, on behalf of the site you are visiting.


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Welcome to Rath Racing's Website!
Since 1992 Rath Racing has been designing, engineering and manufacturing some of the industries finest high quality components for ATV's and UTV's- we have had the unique experience to love this sport as much as our customers do.
Thank you!
Ultimate RZR Bumper w/ Top Protection Rails
The Rath RZR Ultimate Bumper **NEW** We have been waiting to release this bumper at the Polaris Dealer Show, where it will be on display on the Rath RZR. This bumper is unmatched by the ability to "customize" the application with a couple quick bolts. The Ultimate Bumper features a lower plate for increased plastics protection, along with an incorporated mud screen to keep better air flow to the radiator. An Industry first it also has the benefit of the top protection rails that bolt easliy on or off to suit the riding conditions from mild to severe. Available in multiple colors and custom colors available with special order.
Previous Videos
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ATV Racing Products
You can purchase all of our products from our online store. Visit our online store.
Like us on Facebook!
Ever wonder where a passion for something starts...


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As we begin the final month of winter here in Australia, today the sun was shining and we were welcomed with some patches of warmth! Did i just sound like a weather presenter on the news..?! Anyway, the point I'm attempting to make is that it was sort of warm today! Therefore i felt like some refreshing popsicles. After being in the depths of winter i wouldn't even dream of cold, frozen chocolate mocha popsicles but you just never know when that sunshine will hit, especially in Melbourne.
These striking banana based, chocolate filled popsicles infused with coffee are just what you're looking for on those long warm days, the most perfect way to cool down whilst enjoying a healthy sweet treat at the same time. These beauties are super simple to prepare. I whipped mine up in my food processor but you can also use a blender. I have been turning to the flavour of coffee these past few weeks for my creations because i've just discovered how delicious it is, yes I'm quite late to the party on that one 😉
Gluten free
Dairy free
Vegan (if you choose to use maple syrup)
One bowl
Mocha flavoured
These chocolate coffee popsicles are a twist on your regular chocolate ice-creams because you're going to be infusing coffee granules into them, now i don't see many mocha flavoured popsicles around much do you?? So i best not keep you any longer because you must go and whip up a batch of these delights to allow them to freeze over night!
- 2 large ripe bananas
- ¼ cup almond milk
- ½ cup Cocobella Coconut Water
- ¼ cup coconut cream, chilled
- 1 Tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp cacao powder
- 1 Tbsp instant coffee granules
- 2-3 Tbsp dark chocolate, melted
- In a high speed food processor or blender, add all ingredients.
- Blend on high until smooth and well combined.
- Pour mixture into a pouring jug with a spout.
- Fill popsicle moulds to the top.
- Place the bases into the moulds.
- Freeze popsicles for 2-4 hours or ideally overnight.
- To remove, hold each mould under running hot water for 5 seconds then slowly release popsicle from mould.
- Hold under hot water for longer if they aren't sliding out.
- Place popsicles on a plate and drizzle with melted chocolate.
- Serve and Enjoy!


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Brooklyn Lyceum in Park Slope Sells to Unnamed Buyer for $10 Million
The Brooklyn Lyceum, a landmarked Beaux Arts former public bath at 227 4th Avenue in Park Slope, has been sold for $10 million to an unnamed buyer, seller Greystone announced today.
The developer purchased the historic structure in 2014, and also owns the property next door at 225 4th Avenue. They were able to transfer about 20,000 square feet of development rights from the Lyceum to the formerly empty lot next door and build bigger there. A 12-story luxury rental designed by Daniel Goldner Architects is currently under construction.
Initially, Greystone had planned to transform the Lyceum into luxury condos but scrapped the plans in favor of retail. There were rumors at one time that an Apple Store or Trader Joe's would take over the space before Blink Fitness signed on as a tenant in 2015.
Blink's lease lasts until 2033, according to Crain's, with the option to extend another five years.
Completed in 1910 and designed by Brooklyn architect Raymond F. Almirall, it was one of the last Brooklyn bath houses to be built. Created by the city, bath houses were meant to address public health concerns by providing access to hygienic facilities to largely immigrant neighborhoods without access to indoor plumbing.
It became the Lyceum in the 1990s, a privately owned concert, gym and events space. The longtime owner struggled to hold onto the building, leaving the future of the site in limbo for years. He finally lost the property to foreclosure in 2014.
Related Stories
- Brooklyn Lyceum Shows Its Restored Facade as Luxury Apartments Rise Next Door in Park Slope
- Peek Inside Park Slope's Newly Restored Brooklyn Lyceum and Public Bath (Photos)
- Design for Rentals for Prominent Park Slope Lyceum Development Site Revealed!
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ATLANTA -- The Georgia police officer who took the first report from the woman who accused Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of sexual assault has resigned.
Milledgeville police Chief Woodrow Blue on Friday confirmed that Sgt. Jerry Blash resigned Wednesday, a day before the Georgia Bureau of Investigation made public all documents related to its investigation of a 20-year-old woman's claim that Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her in a nightclub.
Prosecutors announced earlier this week that they are not charging Roethlisberger in the March 5 incident. Blash is the only officer who interviewed the quarterback. He acknowledged in an interview with investigators that he made some derogatory comments about the accuser to other officers, and that some in Roethlisberger's party may have overheard him.
Multiple calls to a phone number listed for Blash went unanswered.
Photos surfaced online a week later of Roethlisberger smiling alongside Blash at the Milledgeville nightclub where the alleged assault took place. Blue said the photos were taken hours before the allegation was made.
Blue said on March 12 that beyond filing the report, Blash was not involved in the investigation.
The accuser, a college student, said she tried to get away from Roethlisberger while in the bar, named Capital City, and told him, "No, this is not OK," according to the police documents released Thursday.
In a statement to police on March 5, the woman said Roethlisberger encouraged her and her friends to take numerous shots of alcohol. Then one of his bodyguards escorted her into a hallway at the nightclub, sat her on a stool and left. She said Roethlisberger walked down the hallway and exposed himself.
"I told him it wasn't OK, no, we don't need to do this and I proceeded to get up and try to leave," she said. "I went to the first door I saw, which happened to be a bathroom."
According to her statement, Roethlisberger then followed her and shut the door.
"I still said no, this is not OK, and he then had sex with me," she wrote. "He said it was OK. He then left without saying anything."
Also revealed in the GBI reports released Thursday was the fact investigators wanted to talk with a woman about a separate incident reportedly involving Roethlisberger.
The documents show that after the alleged assault in Milledgeville, a 16-year-old in a youth law enforcement program told authorities he knew about incidents involving Roethlisberger and a friend's sister.
Authorities repeatedly sought to interview the woman, who is in her early 20s, but she declined. The teen had said he believed the two-time Super Bowl winner twice made unwanted sexual advances toward the woman.
A message seeking comment was left Friday with Roethlisberger's lawyer, Ed Garland.
Roethlisberger also is being sued in civil court by a former Nevada hotel employee for an alleged sexual assault in 2008. No criminal charges were filed in that case.
In the meantime, the fallout continues to affect the Steelers, this time in the pocketbook. The behavior of Roethlisberger and former Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes might result in a fine by the NFL of as much as $200,000.
Holmes, traded Sunday to the New York Jets, is suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy, and has been involved in a number of incidents that put him in a bad light.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.


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What is a visa?
A - A visa is a paper document affixed to a page of the holder's passport.
It permits a person to travel to the State during the dates stated on the visa. It does not guarantee entry to the State. An Immigration Officer at the Port of Entry has the authority to grant or deny admission, and to decide on the duration a person may remain in the State.
July 2011


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- Hourglass ambient lighting palette (& veil mineral primer 5 mL sample) $67 CAD
comes in Dim Light, Incandescent Light (limited edition), and Radiant Light
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Have you hauled anything from Sephora lately?
The F&F sales for both Canada and US just finished up.
The VIB sale is coming up soon! According to Temptalia, it's Nov 7-11 for the states.
Musing of a Muse has confirmed that the VIB sale for Canadians is also Nov 7-11. I just received my email about the VIB sale today!
The code is "VIBTopia" -- Happy Shopping!
Let me know if you got anything from the F&F or VIB sales!


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Vaccinations are a necessary part of helping dogs stay as healthy as possible. These vaccines lower the risk of catching certain illnesses, some of which can be fatal to dogs. Knowing which vaccinations for dogs are needed and which ones might not be required can help dog owners make sure their pets are well-protected against contagious and potentially serious illnesses.
Vaccinations for dogs are crucial in keeping them safe from serious illnesses that they can catch from other dogs, wild animals and other sources of disease. These vaccines help prepare dogs' immune systems to fight certain illnesses by exposing them to a harmless sample of the bacteria or virus that causes them. As a result, their immune systems learn to target and destroy these germs. This reduces the risk of infections when dogs are exposed to these germs. If they do get sick, such as with canine influenza, being vaccinated means that they're not as likely to experience a serious case.
Vaccinations for dogs also benefit pet owners by reducing the risk of needing to get costly treatments for preventable diseases. They also protect dog owners from catching contagious diseases that can spread from dogs to humans. Dog owners should also remember that local and state laws typically require certain vaccinations for dogs, such as rabies. Owners need to show proof of current rabies vaccines in order to get a valid license for their dog, which is also required by law. Valid licenses and current vaccinations for dogs are usually needed for boarding kennels and dog daycare places.
Some dog owners worry about the risks of vaccinations for dogs. Although this is understandable, it's important to keep in mind that problems resulting from vaccinations are rare. Dogs typically do experience some side effects after being vaccinated, such as mild discomfort at injection sites, a mild fever, a decreased appetite, lower energy levels and respiratory symptoms from intranasal vaccines. These side effects are usually very mild and don't last long. More serious side effects, which are rare, include hives, breathing problems, swelling in the face and vomiting or diarrhea that doesn't go away. These are considered medical emergencies, which means you should bring your dog to the nearest animal hospital for care if they occur.
Your vet will provide you with a vaccination plan for your dog. This plan takes different factors into account, such as your dog's age and the risk of certain illnesses. Your vet might do antibody titers, which are blood tests that check your dog's blood for antibodies. The results of titers help your vet determine if certain non-mandatory vaccinations for dogs are needed.
It's important for dogs to finish a complete series of vaccinations in order for them to be effective. Not receiving the full series means that your dog doesn't have as much protection from certain diseases. This is especially important in puppies, since they're more vulnerable to catching serious illnesses. Puppies receive certain vaccinations in series and need to complete them before having booster shots. Staying up to date on these vaccinations provides puppies and dogs with as much protection as possible from potentially serious diseases. Your vet will let you know when to bring your dog in for vaccinations. Keep in mind that puppies usually need to have them more often than adult dogs.
When you bring your dog to DoGonefun! rest assured that we require all common vaccinations, as well as those required by law in order to keep your dog healthy, safe and happy.


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About the Compacts
"I believe that Government has a key role to play in ensuring more effective supply chain engagement, and by signalling demand for low carbon innovation. This important initiative will help to drive investment in new and better goods and services."
The Rt Hon Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
Down To Zero Launch
The Corporate Leaders Group co-hosted with the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills a very successful launch of three new Joint Public–Private Low Carbon Procurement Compacts at the Royal Society.
The event launched the low carbon procurement Compacts in three different areas: transport, catering and biomethane. Each has major potential to drive real change in the market, with an increase in affordable and cutting-edge low to zero carbon solutions at a scale to drive down emissions in these areas.
We were delighted to have Lord Sainsbury (Chancellor, University of Cambridge) chair a panel discussion with Rt Hon Vince Cable MP (Secretary of State, BIS), Neil Carson (CEO, Johnson Matthey), Peter Simpson (CEO, Anglian Water Services) and Martin Chown (Executive Director of Government Procurement Services). The launch was attended by over 100 people from key government departments, leading private sector companies, public bodies, potential suppliers, and the media.
The UK Government and The Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group (CLG) are both committed to reducing carbon emissions and supporting a rapid transition to a low carbon economy, but this requires a dramatic increase in the supply of affordable low carbon goods and services.
These goods and services are not currently reaching the market at the pace, in the quantities and at the price needed, leaving customers with few options. However, a visible, credible and committed customer demand could give suppliers a key incentive to invest in developing the low carbon products of the future.
Procurement Compacts
The CLG and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) have therefore joined forces to address this problem by bringing together major public and private sector customers in Procurement Compacts for new, 'low to zero carbon' goods and services.
These Compacts demonstrate to potential suppliers that there is a substantial and organised market demand for cost-effective, low carbon transport and catering, and for heat and power from renewable biomethane.
By sending a clear direction of travel message to suppliers and by demonstrating real demand, this joint public–private sector initiative aims to create market opportunities for innovating companies and help to generate growth and jobs in the low carbon economy.
Read an introduction to the project by the Secretary of State, Rt Hon Vince Cable MP and Neil Carson, CEO, Johnson Matthey.
Media Interest
Low to Zero Carbon Transport Procurement Compact
"We have made important strides in reducing the carbon footprint of our current fleet framework, but more operationally viable options are urgently needed. This Procurement Compact provides an important focus for both customers and the supply chain to work together to bring progressively lower-carbon vehicles to the market in a cost-effective way."
Steve Duckworth, Head of Sourcing & Category Management – Travel & Fleet,
Government Procurement Service
This Procurement Compact articulates a market demand for vehicles that can provide a clear path to zero carbon emissions, while meeting our needs for rapid refuelling times and long range. In doing so, we hope to support the investment by suppliers to develop the vehicles, the fuel, and fuelling infrastructure required.
The customers involved in this Procurement Compact have a common story. We need to decarbonise our fleet operations and to this end have introduced a range of carbon-reduction measures and experimented with alternative vehicle technologies such as battery electric vehicles. We welcome these technologies and the incentives that support them. However, a range of technologies are needed if we are to accelerate progress towards the long-term aim of zero carbon in a way that is practical for our fleets.
Media Interest
Towards Zero Carbon Catering
"We have been working with our suppliers to drive down carbon emissions in our supply chain in general but we'd now like to focus in on our catering solutions as this is an area where we recognise we can make some significant carbon reductions. With over 80 office locations with a catering offering, we have an opportunity to make a real difference and are delighted to be part of this initiative."
Chris Newton, Facilities Management Director Lloyds Banking Group
This Procurement Compact articulates a market demand for progressively lower carbon catering goods and services. We wish to initiate a dialogue with the supply chain and other stakeholders on how carbon emissions resulting from manufacture, supply and operation of catering services can be progressively reduced in future contracts.
While it is clear that both the supply chain and customers have taken major strides to improve the sustainability of their goods and services, the focus has predominately been more generally on sustainability and waste as opposed to reducing carbon emissions arising from catering operations. Yet the carbon emissions arising from the manufacture, supply, transport and operation of catering services represent a significant proportion of an organisation's carbon footprint.
The signatories of the Procurement Compact have different approaches to the delivery of their catering operations but essentially they fall into two categories:
1. A fully managed catering service, where the customer simply provides a footprint from which the contractor operates. The contractor manages the supply chain through sub-contracts to deliver meals on the table.
2. A partial service, where the customer procures one or more of the elements that make up a catering service from one or multiple suppliers, including:
- Food goods
- Transport and logistics
- Kitchen equipment
- Vending equipment
- Maintenance of equipment
Media Interest
Heat and Power from Renewable Biomethane
"Renewable biomethane supplied through the gas grid would provide a step change in the delivery of sustainable energy to BT. By giving a forward commitment to buy renewable biomethane we aim to stimulate additional production that we can access via the national gas network to fuel our buildings."
Robert Williams, Head of Renewables, BT
This Procurement Compact articulates a market demand for renewable biomethane that can be used to generate cost‐effective heat or power in urban buildings remote from biomethane generation.
The customers involved in this Procurement Compact all wish to increase the use of renewable fuel to provide heat and power to their buildings. We have adopted or explored use of existing solutions such as photovoltaics (PV) and wind turbines but these can only address a small proportion of our needs and can be difficult to deploy, for example when our properties are located in urban areas. We are calling on the supply chain and stakeholders to enable the progressive expansion of the use of sustainably produced biomethane as a renewable fuel for onsite heat and power.
We have identified that biomethane could make an important contribution to our renewable energy requirements if its use could be decoupled from its point of generation using the gas grid. In this way biomethane, generated in rural areas could be transmitted through the gas grid to provide renewable fuel for heat and power at our properties.
Media Interest


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How to Get A Fast Cash Loan
When an emergency strikes and you need a fast cash loan, you may want to consider a car title loan. This is a short-term loan you can often receive the same day. Best of all, you continue to drive the car while you pay the loan. To get started all you need to do is fill out an application. Your loan may even be approved today if you own your vehicle free and clear.
You can even be approved right over the phone. You will need to provide proof of address, income, car insurance and a driver's license. Once your information has been verified, you are on your way to getting approved for a fast cash loan. Your name, of course, must be on the title of the vehicle in order to be considered.
Fast cash loans can be considered short-term loans, and are typically for 2 years. Depending on your needs you may opt for a 90-day loan or 4-year loan. It is worth mentioning that you can pay the loan off early without penalty after 30 days.
You are probably wondering how much cash you can get on your vehicle. If your car is worth at least $4000, you can apply for as little as $2,510. All you need is to provide some basic information about yourself and the vehicle.
What if you don't have perfect credit?
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Village Financial Service LLC is a licensed California Finance Lender serving Indio, La Quinta, Palm Springs, Cathedral City and neighboring cities.


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First trip to the Surgery
We went back to the doctor this week about E1's allergic reaction and — thank goodness — this second doctor was sympathetic. I had carried a secret hope that he would be — he's one of best and nicest doctors I've ever known. I explained about what the locum doctor said last time, and he said, "Oh!… No, you do need to know what it is she's allergic to. You must have that pinpointed!" And then said he'd arrange for us to see the paediatricians for her to be allergy tested.
Cue wave of relief. That's all I wanted. I didn't want lots of fuss or alarm, or her to be jabbed with needles, or poked and prodded. I just wanted this allergy to be taken seriously enough to be diagnosed properly, so we know what we are dealing with and know what to avoid. I am hopeful that that is what will now happen.
I am guessing, based on last time, that the appointment will come through for sometime early-to-mid November.
Second trip to the Surgery
We were back at the surgery the next day, for E1's 2-year check with the Health Visitor. The way these work is simply that the HV has a little chat with me to discuss how E1 is progressing, any concerns I might have, etc. While she's doing that, she observes E1 playing with the toys to see if she performs as she should for her age: stacking blocks, recognising and naming familiar objects, etc. But, right at the beginning, I made a fatal error that nearly ruined the whole thing.
The Health Visitors' clinic is on the upper level of the doctors' surgery. I decided to take the lift, because I thought that it might be a bit dangerous trying to help E1 up the stairs whilst carrying E2's very cumbersome carseat. E1's never been in a lift before …and she FREAKED. As soon as the door closed behind us, she completely panicked and begged me to pick her up, which of course I couldn't do as I was also carrying the carseat. When the door opened again, she all but refused to walk through it, and I had to pretty much drag her by her wrist.
Needless to say, she was not much in the mood to demonstrate her lovely vocabulary or nice block-stacking skills when we met the Health Visitor. Still shell-shocked from her ordeal in the lift, she just looked up with wide eyes and pursed lips and hid behind my skirts. I tried to tell the HV all the wonderful things she usually does, but it didn't seem very convincing.
Slowly… slowly… she came out of herself, and began to play with the toys on the table. She did eventually stack a tower of blocks, and answered the HV's questions — though every one in a whisper. She named the objects the HV presented to her, even pointing out that the doll's shoe was a left shoe (very proud Mummy moment, there!). We had another slight meltdown when the time came to stand on the scales and to have her height measured, but that was it. She was, at last, given a clean developmental bill of health.
And we took the stairs back down.


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The Chamber of Life
Thread Starter
A few months ago the news from Vanguard told the story of the "Pantheon of the Ancients". The revamp of the existing dungeon, introducing group and raid content scaled to players at the new level cap. It may have been quiet around our progression inside the Pantheon of the Ancients, but since it's release we have made a steady effort and worked hard to unravel the story behind the Pantheon and to earn the favour and respect of the Gods. We have come a long way since we first arrived at the Pantheon of the Ancients and our efforts finally led us to the first two raid encounters inside the Pantheon. Zaseh the Wise, Protector of the Halls of Order and Ataraxis the Devourer, Protector of the Halls of Chaos.
Two worldwide first kills for Xanadu.
Want to know exactly how our progression fared? Read more to find out...
Earning the favour and respect of those inside the Pantheon of the Ancients is not an easy thing. Our journey into the Pantheon started with having to prove we were worthy enough to even enter this building from which the Gods speak. Once inside the Pantheon we first had to pass the 12 trials set by the avatars of the Gods. After each avatar had given us their blessing, we were granted access to the 2nd floor of the first Halls. Soon it become apparent that each of us had an important choice to make, we had to align ourselves with either Chaos or Order. As each made their decision, we all found ourselves presented with the same goal: proving ourselves worthy to the alignment of our choice. We ventured to the places where we were able to obtain the Souls of our enemies, which earned us faction with our own alignment upon hand in. The total sum of faction necessary to be considered worthy enough is 28k, so as you can imagine it was not something finished in a short period of time.
While we were busy proving our worth to our alignment, the avatars of the Gods also started to give us something back. Bits and pieces of the history of the Pantheon of the Ancients. Artera Vandalay, the architect of the Pantheon, was chosen by the Gods to build the Pantheon for her unique ability to imbue structures with magic. She was one of the Ancients, a race of scholars, sages and masters of sorcery, who helped her build the Pantheon. They survived Telon's Cataclysm by hiding in the very structure they were building, while much else outside was destroyed. After the Cataclysm, Artera was instructed to finish the building of the Pantheon, she was also instructed in the creation of the Criminous. Beings that are perfect humanoids, building off the imperfections of all existing races. And she was given the directive to create an all-powerful leader of the Criminous, the Narkanous.
For a time the Ancients worked hard towards the completion of the Pantheon and Artera worked in secret on the Criminous, together with Ini-Herat, the powerful leader of the Ancients and her lover. When the Criminous were activated upon their completion, they were introduced to the other Ancients resulting in mixed responses. Those who welcomed them, however, were starting to teach them various things and as their knowledge increased it became time to activate the Narkanous, who fed on his followers' knowledge. Everything went well at first, until a change of events led the Narkanous to become out of control. It corrupted the other Criminous and the creatures started to devourer the Ancients. Artera and Ini-Herat were the only two who managed to escape out of the Pantheon, which they sealed off, locking all the Criminous inside. The avatars of the Gods informed us that this all happened in the
Pantheon of the Ancients, the one we were standing in was a
With effort and (lots of) time, we were finally nearing the end of the 28k faction grind needed to prove our worth to our alignment. As we completed this enormous task, we were again put before an important choice. We had already chosen our alignment, now we had to choose which of the 6 Gods of our own alignment we wanted to align ourselves with. As each again made their decision, you could almost hear the grunts escaping everyone when we found out our next task was to prove ourselves worthy to the avatar of our chosen God with another 28k faction grind. We learned that after the first Pantheon was sealed off, Artera had been instructed to build another, a second, Pantheon of the Ancients. This Pantheon would be a testing grounds to form warriors strong enough to break the seal of the first Pantheon and defeat the creatures that were still inside. That was to be our fate, if we could prove we were strong enough. And we sure wanted to, as we believe the first Pantheon has been renamed "Halls of the Shattered Souls", which will be the upcoming new raid dungeon.
So we set off to prove this, through daily quests where we were instructed to kill significant enemies, as well as through obtained Offerings that we could hand in for faction. Time and effort are the main underlyings of progressing through the Pantheon and with time and effort we proved ourselves worthy and were finally granted access to the next Halls. In these Halls another quest awaited us. To prove we had the potential to become God Warriors, we first had to defeat the reflections of 4 former God Warriors. We were provided with a single lined hint to each warriors' locations and finding them was as much a challenge as defeating them. Though imposant by name, the actual God Warriors did not quite live up to our expectations and soon we had defeated all 4 former God Warriors. We had proven ourselves potential God Warrior material and were instructed with a final task that would grant us access to the Chamber of Life. The Chamber where the Halls of Chaos and Order come together at the Sisters Caia (The Shepherd) and Mara (The Fetid Reaper) and where we would be further instructed about our path towards becoming God Warriors.
Gaining access to the Chamber of Life involved harvesting the hearts and blood of our enemies, as well as defeating the Protector of the opposite Halls. The first two raid encounters inside the Pantheon of the Ancients. Those aligned with Order were instructed to obtain the head of Ataraxis the Devourer and those aligned with Chaos were instructed to obtain the head of Zaseh the Wise. And this we set out to achieve. Admittingly the birds were extremely bugged for a long time, they'd crash the chunk or their event would bug every single time, making them unkillable. Vanguard's developers have recently paid them some attention however and even though other guilds still claimed them unkillable we had to see this for ourselves. Although their encounters are not entirely bug free even now, we proved them very killable.
Even though we were plagued by a lot of crashes, some during very inconvenient moments, we managed to figure the encounter out after some time. Last Friday Ataraxis the Devourer was the first to bite dust, resulting in Xanadu's first worldwide kill of a Pantheon raid encounter. The screenshots won't win any awards, but everything was quite hectic due to a very fast corpse decay timer toppled with repops, so we were lucky to have some at all.
Now we had killed Ataraxis and our Order aligned players had obtained their long awaited quest updates, we could not let Zaseh the Wise get away. Sadly, he was giving us more trouble than he should have. Due to a not completely resolved bug in the event we were forced to abandon and restart the encounter multiple times until an engage that was completely bug free. Last Saturday we managed to get lucky with a bug free encounter and even though almost everyone in the raid crashed at least once during the fight, Zaseh went down, one day after Ataraxis, resulting in another worldwide first kill for Xanadu.
These kills were all that was left before finishing our quest that would grant us access to the Chamber of Life and we were anxious to enter the Chamber and see what the Gods had in store for us next. However, when we turned in our quests, it became apparent that we were not setting foot into the Chamber of Life just yet. This time not because of something the Gods required, but because there simply isn't anything beyond this point in game at the moment. Although our quests were finished, we were unable to breach the barrier towards the Chamber of Life and nowhere does there appear to be any follow up quest. This is the life of a gamer in Vanguard and albeit disappointing we have all learned the hard way that these things are unavoidable when you're on top of the content.
Hopefully we will soon see the next step go live so we can continue to pursue our path towards becoming God Warriors. Until then, we will stay behind the barriers protecting the Chamber of Life, longing we could breach it, but also knowing we should be able to. And with that knowledge and our two worldwide first kills, that will be enough to keep our spirits up while eagerly awaiting the moment we can continue the story of the Pantheon of the Ancients.
[ Last modified by Phyre 2009-10-25 04:22 (
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- This event has passed.
Late Summer Small Batch Pickles: No Kettle Required
Tuesday, August 18, 2015 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm CDT$10
Not everyone has the time and energy to stand over a hot kettle canning pickles and not every delicious pickle has to be made shelf-stable. Want to try a new recipe, but not sure you want to commit to a dozen jars? Have just a few handfuls of cucumbers from your backyard garden and don't want them to go to waste? In this one-hour demonstration, Annie will show you how to quickly and easily put up small batches of unique pickles by refrigeration: Basic Pickled Beets, Gingery Sweet Pickled Vegetables, Curry Carrot Coins, and Red Wine Vinegar Onions are just some of the quick pickles you'll taste tonight. Samples will be provided along with recipes in the handout. Please register by August 11.


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**Editor's Note: Click here to see which channel people were on the move in April and May.**
Polycom Inc. has found a replacement for Mike Conlon, who served as global channel chief for just 10 months before leaving the company.
Mark Arman now steps in as vice president of worldwide channel sales at the equipment and software vendor.
Arman comes to Polycom from L.E.K. Consulting Technology, where he worked in the technology and sales force optimization practice. Before that, he held various sales and channel roles at ShoreTel. He now takes on responsibility for Polycom's global channel strategy.
"Mark brings to Polycom the experience, results and leadership we need to drive our partner program to the next level and provide the best service to our customers," said Damian Artt, president of Americas sales for Polycom.
Arman's predecessor, Conlon, had worked for Polycom since 2009, but lasted less than a year as head of the channel.
Polycom has been through some turmoil in the past year as the company braves the capex-to-opex buying shift, suffering layoffs, low morale and the still-mysterious resignation of former CEO Andy Miller.


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Alice in Bed (Hardcover)
Counterpoint LLC, 9781619025714, 325pp.
Publication Date: October 13, 2015
Other Editions of This Title:
Paperback (10/11/2016)
List Price: 25.00*
* Individual store prices may vary.
Arm yourself against my dawn, which may at any moment cast you and Harry into obscurity, Alice James writes her brother William in 1891. In Judith Hooper's magnificent novel, zingers such as this fly back and forth between the endlessly articulate and letter-writing Jameses, all of whom are geniuses at gossiping. And the James family did, in fact, know everyone intellectually important on both sides of the Atlantic, but by the time we meet her in 1889, Alice has been sidelined and is lying in bed in Leamington, England, after taking London by storm. We don't know what's wrong with Alice. No one does, though her brothers have inventive theories, and the best of medical science offers no help. So, with Alice in bed, we travel to London and Paris, where the James children spent part of their unusual childhood. We sit with her around the James family's dinner table, as she - the youngest and the only girl - listens to the intellectual elite of Boston, missing nothing. The book is accompanied by Hooper's Afterword,"What was Wrong with Alice?," an analysis of the varied psychological ills of the James family and Alice's own medical history.
About the Author
Judith Hooper was an editor at Esquire Magazine, and is the author of Of Moths and Men and co-author of The Three-Pound Universe. She lives in western Massachusetts.


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Entries close...
Midnight, 20 July 2011. Winners will be announced 25 July 2011.
nb: Competition open to Australian residents only.
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Dr. Chris DeArmitt, who is a consultant to the top technology firms in America, told Sky News: "I see an absolute disregard for proper testing. Testing is way less than you would see on a vacuum cleaner or a washing machine. It's shocking. I've never seen anything like it in my career."
You might be wondering "Testing for what?" You would probably be shocked to find out that "more than 90 percent of medical devices do not require proof that they have been clinically tested and found to be safe and effective prior to FDA clearance for distribution or sale," shares Consumers Union project director Lisa McGiffert in an article from the Fowler Tribune.
This loophole in the FDA is called the 510(k) process and it has allowed millions of patients to be irreparably harmed – and even killed – by the very device that was intended to help them. Now after several decades of patient injuries, billions of dollars being fought over in court, and countless devices being pulled from market (too little, too late, we might add), the FDA is only now looking into changing this horrific flaw in their system.
What is the FDA's 510(k) Process?
The FDA's 510(k) process allows medical devices companies to quickly fast-track a product to market based on a pre-approved product. This idea came about decades ago with the purpose to promote innovation but has instead become a way for big companies to slip their products to market for high profits while avoiding expensive testing. This has caused several inexcusable problems to arise. Here's one tragic example:
Transvaginal Mesh
A medical device can be approved for market based on a previous model, even one that was recalled. This is what happened in the huge debacle involving vaginal mesh. Protegen was the first vaginal mesh product on the market, but was recalled due to patient harm. However, even after it was pulled, dozens of additional mesh devices were sold and implanted in patients based on this poor design. Currently, hundreds of thousands of women are suffering from mesh and many will have to live with chronic pain, the impossibility of holding down a job, and the inability to have sex with their partners for the rest of their lives.
But this story includes many more products beyond vaginal mesh-like IVC filters to prevent blood clots, Essure female sterilization devices, hip replacement products, and countless others. The New York Times reports that these fast-tracked devices have caused 80,000 deaths and more than two million injuries.
Change is in the Air
Fortunately, with documentaries like The Bleeding Edge, social media groups criticizing the FDA's process, and advocacy groups, the FDA is reevaluating how it approves devices for market. According to the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) Network,
"For premarket review of 510(k) devices, on February 1, 2019, the FDA released a Final Guidance Document for the 'Safety and Performance Based Pathway.' This optional pathway consists of using criteria that involve conformance to FDA-recognized consensus standards, FDA guidance, and/or special controls. It enables 510(k) clearance for certain medical devices if the device meets these specific criteria, which should include safety and effectiveness (as opposed to the often ill-defined 'substantial equivalence' to predicate devices). The decision to use this new pathway is determined by manufacturers, although the FDA can disagree with this determination."
While this is a step in the right direction by requiring device companies to prove safety and effectiveness, many think that these changes don't go far enough towards protecting patient health. For instance, JAMA suggests that "legislation should mandate that 510(k) devices show improved safety and effectiveness compared with marketed devices for the same clinical purpose, using meaningful clinical criteria to gain clearance. Although these criteria will differ based on the intended use of the device, all criteria should be based on patient-oriented clinical outcomes."
Additionally, once a product is approved for market, many times the post-market surveillance falls to the wayside. Medical devices should have a registry so that patients can know what devices are implanted in them, doctors can properly treat problems that may arise, and companies can monitor their products more effectively. Car parts are meticulously tracked, shouldn't medical devices be all the more!?!
Too Little, Too Late
It's great that the FDA is reviewing it's 510(k) process that has been grossly overused and under monitored for decades, but what about those who have already been harmed by an agency that favored billion-dollar medical device companies over the health and wellness of patients?
One way that this FDA change was brought about was through the voices and bravery of those who were injured by these faulty medical devices. If you or a loved one had vaginal mesh and had corrective surgery, your voice needs to be heard. Please call Periscope Group today at (800) 511-3838. It's time to hold medical device companies accountable for the unbearable pain they caused you. We want to hear your story and we want to help you if we can.


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First things first! While in NYC we were graciously hosted by our lovely friend Rachel, who also happens to be an incredibly talented opera singer. Rachel has been in NYC for a few months first rehearsing and then performing the role of Countess Almaviva in the Metropolitan Opera's production of Le Nozze di Figaro; you can see a clip of her singing that role here, if you're an opera fan (and even if you're not, listen anyways -- you'll never hear a voice as beautiful). Here's Rachel posing like the diva she is with a statue of famous composer Giuseppe Verdi in the city:
We also got to hang out with Rachel's lovely husband Rasmus and three adorable kids, Lydia, Johannes and Karl the latter two of which are twins, just like me and my sister. In addition to a few edible gifts from Paciotti, I also baked up a batch of Flourless Cocoa Cookies from Erin Jean McDowell, author of The Fearless Baker. The cookies were the fudgiest, most chocolate intense cookie I've ever baked, and went over pretty well with the littlest members of the family. Bonus: they are mysteriously gluten and dairy free, for anyone with food allergies. You can get the recipe here.
Our first night in New York, we reunited with our friend Anna, who you may remember from this post or this one here. Anna and I became friends in college, and then studied abroad together at the University of Bologna all the way back in 2009. She is the sunniest, happiest, funniest person I know, not to mention a fellow foodie and incredibly talented baker and cook. Per Anna's suggestion, we dined at Chefs Club, a restaurant that invites visiting chefs to take over the space and the menu for anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months. The chef in charge when we went was Chef JJ Johnson, whose food combines African, Asian, and American cuisine. Chef Johnson's menu went over so well that his stint at Chefs Club was extended from October to the end of the year to keep up with the high demand for reservations (good sign!) After a bit of deliberation -- decisions, decisions -- we opted for the steamed dumplings filled with braised oxtail and served with a taro root sauce; con'con, or sticky rice served with eggplant curry, coconut, and basil; udon noodles with goat, peanut sauce, and bok choy; and fresh-baked roti, served with pine nut scallion, chickpea, and eggplant sauces, with a sunny-side up egg. It was all stellar, top notch food -- I'm still dreaming about the steamed dumplings -- and my only complaint is that this menu won't be available in 2018, when a new chef arrives. Boo!
LUNCH AT IZAKAYA IDAThe next day Rachel, my sister and I headed to Izakaya Ida for lunch. Izakaya specializes in ramen, which sounded pretty good given the freezing, single digit temperatures in New York that week. We ordered a pickled eggplant and jalapeño dish to start, then ordered the Tonkotso Miso ramen (ramen with pork broth, pork, soft boiled egg, bamboo shoots, scallions, mushrooms, and corn) and the Shoyu ramen (soy based ramen with pork, soft boiled egg, maboo shoots, scallions, and dried seaweed). The ramen arrived in huge bowls, filled to the brim with lots of noodles, thick slices of pork, and the broth! It was thicker than your usual broth and spectacularly flavorful (I've just had lunch but I'm hungry thinking about it) and was just what we needed on a ice cold day. If you find yourself in New York, make this a stop on your culinary itinerary.
When Levain Bakery opened in 1995, their focus was baking and selling artisanal bread. It wasn't until a few years later that the owners of the bakery developed the recipe for their 6 ounce chocolate chip walnut cookies, meant to offset the rigors the Triathlete Marathon they were training for. They began to sell their cookies in the bakery -- smart move -- where they have since become legendary. Turns out you don't need to be a triathlete to enjoy these cookies -- the line stretched outside the door of the tiny bakery when we arrived (always a good sign). We finally managed to make our way inside, where we were greeted by a crowd of people (the bakery was so packed you could barely move!) and the scent of freshly baked cookies, the trailer for the actual Levain cookies. And oh, they didn't disappoint -- the chocolate chip walnut cookies are as big as baseballs, purposely underbaked to keep them nice and soft, with a crisp exterior and a gooey, ultra chocolate-y interior. These are the stuff dessert dreams are made of.
Magnolia Bakery came to fame in the early 2000s, at the height of the cupcake craze here in the U.S. The bakery is still known for its cupcakes -- everything from simple yellow cake with chocolate buttercream to more elaborate peanut butter and jelly to pistachio -- but actually, there is a new dessert in town. In the past few years, Magnolia Bakery has gained fame for its southern-style banana pudding, or vanilla custard mixed with cookies and freshly sliced bananas. I was lucky enough to sample Magnolia's Banana Chocolate Pudding back in 2015, my last trip to NYC, and I've never forgotten it. This time around, Magnolia was offering Banana Chocolate Peppermint Pudding, their holiday option. I was hesitant -- peppermint and banana seemed to be an odd pairing -- but my sister, Rachel, and I all loved it. It was a perfect mix of chocolate and peppermint with a hint of sweetness from the banana, thick and creamy as banana pudding should be, with a few chocolate cookies thrown in for an extra chocolate kick. Yummm.


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There is no doubt that Agile software development is an improvement on traditional development methods, but is it perfect? Does every team to implement agile techniques and practices suddenly learn to move mountains, part the ocean? Unfortunately not. While project fail rates have been reduced from the catastrophic pre-Agile rate of 60%, about 40% of projects still fail, and still cost the economy tens of billions of dollars per year, a fact that is not widely reported.
I hope to show in this blog post that in most, if not all cases, when Agile fails it is due to poor implementation of methods rather than any fundamental flaws in the Agile methodology itself.
In a way, Agile ideals are the cause of its problems. The most well-known benefit of Agile is an exponential increase in the speed at which actual working iterations of software are created. Unfortunately (and this will become a pattern throughout this post), in many cases those who chose to implement Agile methods read about them and took away "It's fast. Software will be finished quickly if we have a lot of meetings and don't waste time documenting everything." Job done, right? Wrong. Agile has never placed an emphasis on speed. The truth is that it's founders know that if you try to do the right thing the right way every time, more than likely once it's done, it's done. No changes, patches, bug fixes, and definitely no scrapping the whole project and starting again. This will result in finished, fully functional software that satisfies the needs of the end user and does add value to a business, and the team will get there faster than if they barrelled through for two years, only to find out upon completion
that the end users hate the UI and that the program cannot perform it's intended function.
Agile methods are so well documented, intense, and focused on participation and communication that it is quite easy for a team to focus more on how stringently they are following their chosen method than on the ideas being generated, or work being produced. The Agile concept is derived from a very organic situation; Some programmers that work together by choice on a project, and discuss what they are working on very regularly, purely out of interest. The benefits of this organic process are obvious, and while it does take effort to replicate processes such as Agile, in truth, it was never meant to be applied to every software development project or every team in the same way. Agile was created by 'star' programmers, those who love what they do. The aim of Agile is to replicate the enthousiasm for a project that creates great software, by highlighting problems affecting a team, like a mother in law constantly pointing out shortcomings. The secret to success is to respond well to these red flags. For example, a team's work may be affected due to not gathering enough information on business requirements. After their first iteration of working software is released, feedback from the shareholders will show that their requirements were not sufficient, and will help to further define them. This results in an improved performance in the second sprint, and so on. To sum up, good feedback reduces the timeframe of a project, as things will not have to be repaired, or started from scratch. Do the right things, do them right, do them now.
The other aspect affecting the timeframe of a project is the level of craftsmanship or expertise of those involved. This is comprised of two elements: Domain knowledge and expertise. Domain knowledge refers to each team members knowledge of WHY they are developing this project.
'Everyone should clearly understand what we are doing,
and why it is important at this very moment in time.'
It is hardly surpsising that developers know more about writing code than about, for example, the processes of the insurance providers they are writing a program for, and vice versa. However, in order for good programmes to be written, it is important that developers learn about the business that their software will be supporting. WHY must our program fulfill these requirements? Likewise, the shareholders would benefit from learning a little about the workings of the programs they demand, as this would result in clearer, more understandable requirements. Finally, the project manager must understand why he is implementing agile methodologies. Many 'Scrum Alliance' courses offer to certify managers as scrum masters in as little as two days, which is not possible. Managers with this level of experience should consider themselves apprentices, and seek out further guidance. Issues that may otherwise result include too little emphasis on documentation, incorrect sequencing of tasks, or too little emphasis on how problems are solved.
Documentation should be produced as and when it is needed. In waterfall methods, documentation is produced upfront at the beginning of a project. Many teams feel with Agile that documentation is an unnecessary waste of time, which is not the case. It should merely be done at appropriate times, where the cost of producing it is less than the benefit it gives.
Though less effective than face to face communication, it is a key principle that will give Agile scalability, and aid it in overcoming the issue of large or distributed teams.
Regarding task sequencing, while Agile emphasises adjustment over static plans, a general architecture of the project must be maintained, with sprints sequenced correctly to allow feedback, comparison to the overview, and finally, the adjustments that make Agile what it is. This is the main purpose of the project manager, to choose the specific times new or different requirements and feedback are incorporated into the original plan. Agile does NOT mean forgetting about the big picture.
TRIZ is a problem solving methodology which is highly applicable to Agile, and will aid the production of effective software, as it can be used to solve problems with applying Agile methods, problems with developing software, and answering the question of what software to produce. TRIZ is a very detailed idea and so I will provide a link:
The main issue affecting Agile is how different it is. In order for it to reach full potential, many large organisations would have to make drastic and costly changes such as allowing their basic information support systems to be updated continuously, only working in small, localized groups, and most importantly, being more open and less suceptible to mediocrity. If a team or team member is underperforming in an Agile situation, it is obvious very quickly. The need for excellence at all times may never be achieved. Managers in general do not like this idea. Agile's supporters (mainly software developers) do not attempt to understand the barriers to changes of this scale in large organisations that are already profitable. It is the gap and resultant lack of understanding of each of these opposing mindsets, one could say a lack of domain knowledge, that stands in the way of Agile reaching it's potential, and the value that it could add to business as a whole. Perfection is a direction, not a destination.


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Most of the rain that falls on cities lands on impervious surfaces, such as roads, where it absorbs pollutants before it finally drains away.
The team says a shallow depression in a garden containing bark mulch and shrubs can remove up to 99% of toxins.
The findings appear in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.
Researchers from the University of Connecticut found that the gardens significantly reduced the concentration of fertilisers, oil and particulates reaching storm drains.
Growing problem
Rain gardens, the researchers say, can also help reduce localised flooding by absorbing rain water from heavy downpours, reducing the risk of drains becoming overloaded.
For the study, two rain gardens were planted and frequently monitored over a two-year period to see how effectively they absorbed a range of pollutants.
One of the authors of the study, Michael Dietz, explained why they carried out the research.
"The concept of rain gardens has been around for 10 or 15 years but there has not been a lot of research.
"A lot of places are hesitant to use something that has not been verified, so we felt it was an important step to bridge that gap," he told the BBC News website.
The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that built-up urban areas generate nine times the amount of runoff water than woodlands of a similar size.
As the percentage of the world's population living in cities continues to grow, the problems of flooding and pollution are set to increase.
Dr Dietz hopes their findings will encourage town planners across the globe to consider using rain gardens.
"This is one tool that can used to mitigate the impact of runoff water in urban areas. It definitely has worldwide benefits because it is not a local phenomenon; it is going on all over the world," he said.
"Any tool we have that can help reduce the impacts of urbanisation is beneficial for everyone."
Most Popular Now | 56,514 people are reading stories on the site right now.";


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Prep Time 30 min
Total Time 30 min
Servings 4
Enjoy this spiced chicken recipe that's ready in just 30 minutes – perfect for a dinner.
1 tablespoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 lb)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cups water
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups uncooked couscous
1/4 cup raisins, if desired
1 small papaya, peeled, seeded and sliced
1. In small bowl, mix paprika, salt, cumin, allspice and cinnamon. Coat both sides of chicken with spice mixture.
2. In 10-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Cook chicken in oil 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F).
3. Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat water and 1 teaspoon oil just to boiling. Stir in couscous; remove from heat. Cover; let stand 5 minutes. Fluff couscous before serving; stir in raisins. Serve chicken with couscous and papaya.
Expert Tips
- Looking for something quick but fancy to serve guests? Dress up this dish with warmed pita folds drizzled with olive oil or melted butter or with Middle Eastern flatbread.
Source: bettycrocker.com
I Love Food


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American Football Betting
Betting on American Football has become increasingly popular in recent years, growing quickly from a fringe sport, to a product taken very seriously by all bookmakers. Long gone are the days where you'd be lucky to get any wider choice of markets than simply outright Super Bowl odds, and the weekly:
- Match Result,
- Handicap Lines
- and Total Points.
The growth of internet and mobile betting has been the main facilitator of this growth, with previous high-street bookmakers seeing next to no interest in former years given the late start times of the events. You can now bet on pretty much anything you want on American Football, from whether the first play of the game will be a Pass or a Run, to how many passing yards Peyton Manning completes over the duration of the Super Bowl.
One of the real beauties of betting on American Football, is the way that American sports are presented to the fans. On the other side of the pond, stats are king. Switch on any American Football match, and the commentators will be talking about how many passes a team has completed, what percentage of plays result in a score, and how has the most running yardage in the league. All these stats are available to the fans on the official websites, and you can use this to try to gain an edge.
The key when analysing these stats is to always try to understand what they mean, and never simply follow them blindly. If a team score three or more touchdowns in 80% of their matches, you need to look to apply this to the match in question.
- Who are the opponents and how strong is their defence?
- Do the team in question need to win the match or may they be taking it easy?
- What is the recent form like?
All questions you should be looking to apply to the vast array of statistics in the market place.
How to bet on American Football?
An important element of betting on American Football is the notion of a "push" for betting purposes, and knowing about this before placing your bets will prevent any confusion occurring when looking at your settled bets. Most sports offer what we can "half ball" betting markets, which will always deliver a win or lose situation for all bets. An example of this would be Under 44.5 points and Over 44.5 points.
Since points are always scored in multiples of one, there will never be a result which cannot be settled as a winner or loser. American Football differs in this respect, with handicap and total points lines often offered as full numbers. For instance "Indianapolis -7 points" or "Under 41 points" and "Over 41 points".
In these examples, the result is capable of falling on the exact number. In these examples, were Indianapolis to win their match 24-17, then both bets would fall on the exact line, and your stake would be returned. This is known as a "push".
The most popular bet on NFL is the Handicap Line. The bookmaker assesses each team's chances and offers a handicap – effectively giving the underdog a certain head start. Betting will usually be offered at 10/11, with the handicap moving up and down as the bookmaker takes bets, rather than the prices changing.
Remember, in NFL, scores are nearly always scored in 7's and 3's, so it's worth bearing this in mind when deciding whether to bet – particularly in tight games. The difference between backing a team at -3.5 and -3 can be highly significant.
The Match Result and Total Points complete the corner stone of a bookmakers offering, and will be available early in the week, while many other markets are offered closer to the start times – with NFL games mostly taking place on a Sunday evening, at 6pm and 9pm GMT.
Stats based markets will often be referred to as "prop lines" or "propositions". Here you can speculate on the length of the longest field goal, the time of the first touchdown, which team will score first and last or which team will score the longest touchdown. The options are pretty much endless, but the same rule always applies.
Do your homework, and if you want to amass any profits, don't ever bet just for the sake of having a bet. There are reams of data available to you when betting on American Football, and the bookmaker cannot possibly specialise in every single area, so target your research, look for an edge, and only strike when you find something significant.
Finally, avid fans and punters need not limit themselves to the NFL matches on Sundays. Betting on American College Football has been growing quickly in the last few years, and most bookmakers will now offer a wide range of matches, which generally take place on Saturday's. A nice warm-up to the Sunday action, with kick-off times staggered through the afternoon and evening.