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We recommend updating Adobe InDesign 1.5.2 to include the following layout fixes:
Grabber hand
After installing this update, you will be able to access the grabber hand in InDesign 1.5.2 using the same keyboard shortcut you use in Adobe Illustrator when working with text or text on a path. When you press Command + Spacebar and then release the Command key, you'll have access to the grabber hand without losing your text selection.
Note: Pressing the Option key also gives you access to the grabber hand when you're editing text.
Fitting text frames to text
The Fit Frame To Content command (Object > Fitting > Fit Frame To Content) will now resize rectangular text frames smaller, so the frames fit their text content. For more details about fitting text frames to text, refer to the ReadMe file in the layoutup.hqx archive.
Master pages
Previously, you could set up a frame on a master page, apply the master page to a document page, and then fill the frame with text or graphics content. However, InDesign treated this action as an override of the master page item. If you changed the size, position, or shape of the frame on the master page, those changes would not apply to the document page. Now, in response to customer requests, InDesign no longer treats filling master frames with content as an override. For example, if you autoflow text into a master page frame that appears on 10 document pages and then resize the master frame smaller on the master page, all 10 document pages will automatically reflect the change.
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[Produced by Audio BLK & Omen]
[Intro: XV]
Emo, haha
You be the judge, haha
[Verse 1: XV]
Can someone tell me who this is all for?
And why I'm on the mirror's edge, running on walls for?
20 biddies, one of Vizzy, this shit is uncalled for
But that girl with the ponytail should run with the dark horse
And I deserve it, all my life I worked hard for
Them other cats ain't going in, that shit is soft porn
I overcame obstacles like parkour and if I get off course
It's only 'cause my banking is off shore
Now I ask for dutches, they give me double like jumping rope
Never been a virgin 'cause I was always fucking dope
Doing something different, I'm getting top in convertibles
And I don't spend a thing so why do I feel vertigo?
I be in the cut, tell them girls let's get surgical
Fahrenheit 451, that paper we just burning through
Create money from me to cremate money, I earn it too
Do this look like work to you? Nah…
[Hook: XV and Erin Christine]
Looking at the lights like is all of this for me?
Everyone at night is here, all of this for me
Hands in the air, yeah all of this for me
Bottles over here, all of this for me
All of this for me, all of this for me
Life fast, lights flash, all of this for me
All of this for me, all of this for me
Models bringing bottles, yeah all of this for me
[Verse 2: CyHi The Prynce]
You for real? All of this for me?
Pussy, alcohol, and weed, all of this for free?
We ball hogging like we balling for the Heat
I did it first for passion, man this shit at least cost a G
Warner Brother T.I.G, turn this bitch to Dawson's Creek
Papa John's with the bread 'cause we in here tossing cheese
Used to be broke as hell so I had to drop the streets
Till I got saved by them bells like I walk the hall with Screech
Come and get your bitch 'cause your dog is off the leash
'Cause we know how to party man, they call us Boston Tea
Plus I'm in an outfit that's as sharp like Jaws' teeth
Snuck my rosay out the club, what you think these bottles cheap?
With a model that call me baby more times than Monique
Niggas say I'm outta shape 'cause my pockets is obese
I don't care that's your girl, all these broads in here are freaks
Don't make me pull my arms out like I'm flexing my obliques
[Verse 3: Vado]
Hermes belt with a H buckle, beige bubble
Stopping at her waist as she waits for you, stray bubble
But her quiet storm like a tre muffle, age double
No forgetting money and straight hustle
Fake muscles get you a off day, denim shirt be from All Saints
Sleeves rolled, I'm in beast mode, don't get your boys spanked
30 and your broads think they got money from all banks
Check clear okay, we leave and tell 'em all thanks
Baking a tall cake, I'mma need a wall safe
Mansion got four gates, three pools and a small lake
Quick to get it on time, I never call late
Shorty crashed the car, she called me before Allstate
R-U-G-B-Y, Seagull when you see me fly
Helicopter's Petey Pab, Aston Martin DB9
We balling, can't you see?
Different cars at one time, I'm like is all of this for me?
[Outro: Erin Christine]
Now wait a minute, raise your glass
Let's toast to the, toast to the past
Lights flash, let's be honest, you did all of this for me
Yeah, this shit was all I knew, you and me only
You did this all for me, baby don't you see? All of this for me
Off of Omen's upcoming collaborative mixtape, Be The Judge and also appears on XV's mixtape, Zero Heroes. It celebrates the benefits that success and fame come with.
The song was produced by Omen and Audio BLK.

subset: commoncrawl


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Looking for a China job abroad? Browse the latest permanent and temporary jobs for expats on ExpatCareers.com. Become a member to a gain exclusive and free access. Apply to all China expat jobs, contact recruiters directly, upload your CV, create job alerts and much more.
|There are no listings with requested parameters in the system.


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Hetepu (Peace) Family,
Something quite interesting just recently occurred where an individual felt like they were being harmed by another, which inspired me to write this post. I noticed that too often people make the concept and principle of Maa out to be something extraordinary and out of this world. When in fact, it is a very simple concept.
To get an idea of how Maa worked imagine this scenario. A man is with his wife and they are having a discussion. In the midst of the conversation, the man says something that gets him in the hot seat with his wife. He tries to apologize but it is too late, his wife is angry with him. Her anger is not to the point that she wants to divorce him, but she doesn't want to be in the same room with him. So, our apologetic husband has to sleep on the couch tonight.
Seeing that he has seriously upset his wife, he decides to get out of the doghouse by buying her some flowers and candies. If it doesn't work, he decides to go a step further by treating her to a romantic night out in town or taking her to a concert. If that doesn't work, he tries to do something that she really likes in order to get out of the doghouse.
Now why would his wife accept his gift and his apology? If you were in this situation, why would you accept a person's apology and gift after they have wronged you? It is because you sense that they are sincere, you will see that they have empathized with you and they realized that they have seriously hurt you. The purpose of the gift is an offering to right the wrong that they have done and to remove the stain of guilt. You see, if our apologetic husband didn't give his wife a gift along with his sincere apology, she would never forget what he had done. Ok, so you see why some people hold on to an ill memory so long is because they have never let go of that negative energy.
So we see that Maa is really all about not hurting others with your actions and behaviors. When you hurt someone, you have sinned and created an injustice, thus causing the individual not to feel whole or complete.
The thing about injustices is that they don't last forever. They always have to balance their way out. For instance, there's a guy I know that was in dire straits awhile back, so he stole some things from his man he knew. He knew what he was doing was wrong but he did it anyway. Well, when he got on his feet and was doing a lot better. The guilt of him stealing still lingered in his spirit and made him feel bad, which caused him to sabotage himself subconsciously, thinking he didn't deserve blessings because of what he did several years ago. When he asked me what he should do, I told him that he had to make what was wrong right. So, he decided to replace all of the items that he had stolen and purchase some new items as well to give to the victim, so that the person he stole from didn't feel like he was a victim.
You see, no one likes to be victimized and when we disrespect another, abuse, misuse or take advantage of one another, our sahu – lower spirit (subconscious), remembers it all, but it knows that since we wouldn't want anyone to do the same in us. Our sahu creates in us a feeling of guilt and shame, which has us looking over our shoulders and wondering when we are going to be victimized. When you are constantly thinking about something you did in the past, you worry which brings about stress and paves the way for accidents and illnesses.
This is why to right the wrong; along with apologizing we must do whatever is physically possible to make the person feel whole again and not feel like a victim. This is not only therapeutic for the victim but for yourself as well. So what we call getting out of the doghouse is actually a contemporary way of saying ridding yourself of karmic debt in the present. Understand, just saying "I'm sorry" is not enough when you have seriously hurt someone's feelings, damage their reputation, etc. No, you have to make amends and if you don't do it now, you will in the future or the next lifetime.
Hope that helps.


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The Newberry Transcription Project uses Civil War soldiers' letters held in the Newberry Library's Modern Manuscript Collection to understand the history of America's bloodiest conflict. By crowdsourcing the transcription of these letters, we hope to promote collaboration with readers and volunteers from all over the world. This site provides access to the personal narratives of some Civil War soldiers who claimed Illinois as their home-and indirectly those of their families-on a scale that is not possible in a traditional archive. The site's searchable transcription feature also allows readers to uncover common themes, conflicts, and emotions that exist across these narratives as a collection. If you are an expert, hobbyist, or enthusiast of Civil War history, we hope you will contribute to this project. In keeping with the Newberry mission, our goal is to make these historical documents accessible in a variety of ways to the broadest possible audience.
This site was created using Omeka and the Scripto plugin. The site uses the customizations to Omeka and Scripto and Scribe theme, created by the University of Iowa's DIY History project.


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25+ CGA540 valves – .750″ UNF 3360 PSI. For oxygen use.
Priced per valve, minimum order 25 valves. For single valve orders, please see the single valve product page.
In stock
These Sherwood oxygen valves are made from heavy-duty forged brass and are specifically designed for use with oxygen in aluminum cylinders. Common applications include welding and industrial use. These oxygen valves have a CGA540 valve outlet with a .750″ UNF inlet and safety (burst disk).
Sherwood Brand: Data Sheet
Must be installed by a qualified cylinder technician due to torque specifications. Compressed gas cylinders and valves are dangerous. Please use caution.
Still have questions? Email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
|2 lbs
|4 × 2 × 3 in
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Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.


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And so, as Tiny Tim observed, "God Bless us!! Everyone!!''
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens (1843)
I have to 'feed' my inner christmas with a christmas movie late September, try and focus on Autumn during October and then by November the shops are completely christmased out, songs on the radio etc...
I'm from England so we don't have thanksgiving to focus on! I'm just trying not to use up all my christmas spirit too early, but it is my all time favorite time of the year.
I almost feel christmassy now, but it's been a very hot September in England so far, but by ext week the temp is ment to drop by 10 degress C!!
Cannot wait!
(also yippee for finally having the courage for this first ever post!)
this website really makes me feel that the world is a wonderful place that so many people (like me) look forward to a time of year where it's just love and happiness xx
thank you! my gosh it IS fantastic, i don't think i've ever had the pleasure to talk to people who love xmas as much as i do! it's fantastic and a real joy to read xxxx
Welcome Christmas Katie. This site is addicting!
I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas
I usually feel the holiday season the most when there are christmas things in the shops. ChristmasKatie this is a great forum I joined last week. Im from England too and yes September has been quite warm especially in the afternoon! Hope you enjoy it on here.
Christmas Angels are watching over you
whoop another Englander!
Also, i've noticed loads of holly with red berries, and my mum always used to say that meant it was going to be a long cold winter! i really hope that's true because otherwise all the holly will have (flowered? berried itself i guess)for no reason xx


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HOUSTON – The New York Red Bulls sealed their 2013 dominance over the Houston Dynamo Sunday afternoon, winning their third of the year over the Texas club with a lopsided 3-0 scoreline while taking a step towards the first-ever Supporters' Shield.
The drubbing at BBVA Compass Stadium was one of precision on the part of New York and missed opportunities for Houston, whose attack never got on track. In the process, New York reclaimed their spot at the top of the Shield race.
New York went up 1-0 faster than any other team in history. Off the opening kick, Dax McCarty lobbed a ball over the top to Tim Cahill, who brought it down and laced a shot past a stunned Tally Hall for the lead. The eighth-second goal is the fastest in MLS history, besting former Dwayne De Rosario by three seconds.
Stunned and chasing the game, Houston worked their way into a rhythm to gain a foothold on possession. However, the quality build up needed against a comfortable New York squad was sparse – especially with the Red Bulls pushing hard for a second, forcing Hall to parry aside a good, early Eric Alexander look after sumptuous Thierry Henry through-ball.
Houston's best chance of the first half came in the 33rd minute when Ricardo Clark's flick off a Brad Davis corner found Will Bruin in front of goal. But New York's Luis Robles dropped to deflect the shot and nothing came of the rebound.
New York delivered the dagger in the 65th minute, punishing Houston's failure to clear a corner kick. Henry's corner pinged around the area until Ibrahim Sekagya headed past the stranded Hall to give the Red Bulls a 2-0 lead.
Ten minutes later second-half substitute Bradley Wright-Phillips sealed the deal with some help from yet another failed clearance. Jermaine Taylor's attempted blast into safety bounced off the head of an unsuspecting Corey Ashe and back into the 18, giving Wright-Phillips a simple tap-in for the final score.
The Dynamo whiffed on several chances at a consolation goal, with Robles spectacularly tipping an Boniek García drive high, and both Bruin and Omar Cummings contriving to miss the net entirely from inside the six.
The loss keeps Houston on 48 points and in sixth place in the East. Because of tiebreakers (total wins, total goals scored), if the Dynamo are to make the playoffs they will most likely need a win at D.C. United next Sunday, as well as one of the three teams directly ahead of them – New England, Chicago and Montreal – to drop points.
For New York, on 56 points, the arithmetic is simple: win next Sunday at home against the Fire, and they claim the first significant hardware in team history, as well as guaranteeing home field advantage throughout the post season.
Houston Dynamo (13-11-9; 48 points) vs. New York Red Bulls (16-9-8; 56 points)
MLS regular season
October 20, 2013 – BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, TX
Attendance: 22,345
Scoring Summary:
New York: Tim Cahill 11 (Dax McCarty 4) 1
New York: Ibrahim Sekagya 1 (Peguy Luyindula 4) 65
New York: Bradley Wright-Phillips 1 (unassisted) 75
Houston Dynamo: Tally Hall; Kofi Sarkodie, Bobby Boswell, Jermaine Taylor, Corey Ashe; Boniek Garcia, Warren Creavalle (Omar Cummings 66), Ricardo Clark, Brad Davis (Andrew Driver 84); Giles Barnes, Will Bruin (Cam Weaver 84)
Unused substitutes: Tyler Deric, Servando Carrasco, Eric Brunner, Alexander Lopez
New York Red Bulls: Luis Robles; Markus Holgersson, Jamison Olave, Ibrahim Sekagya, Brandon Barklage; Eric Alexander (Connor Lade 92+), Dax McCarty, Peguy Luyindula, Jonathan Steele (Lloyd Sam 80); Tim Cahill (Bradley Wright-Phillips 62); Thierry Henry
Unused substitutes: Ryan Meara, Kosuke Kimura, Matt Miazga, Andre Akpan
Misconduct Summary:
New York: Thierry Henry (caution) 87
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Referees' Assistants: Paul Scott, Kevin Klinger
4th Official: Ted Unkel


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BME103:T130 Group 10 l2
|BME 103 Fall 2012
| Home
Lab Write-Up 1
Lab Write-Up 2
Lab Write-Up 3
Course Logistics For Instructors
Wiki Editing Help
Thermal Cycler Engineering
Our re-design is based upon the Open PCR system originally designed by Josh Perfetto and Tito Jankowski.
There are two specific features that will be upgraded in the OpenPCR machine - the case and the power source. The case will be changed from a thin wood to a more durable plastic, so that the device can be taken out into the field. The device will also have solar panels, which will provide for the power. This shift allows the device to be used where electricity is not always available, such as rural and undeveloped regions. When combined, these two features open the device up to a larger market.
The instructions would remain mostly the same, as the solar panel array would come attached to the plastic on the device's top side. The only changes in procedure would be in the use of an all in one phone application for the fluorimeter measurements as well as the thermal cycling set-up.
Also included: Access code for smart phone app download.
PCR Protocol
DNA Measurement Protocol
Research and Development
Background on Disease Markers
The disease that we chose was Sickle Cell Anemia. Sickle Cell is a inherited disease that comes from both parents. If only one parent has the Sickle Cell trait, then the child will be a carrier. If both parents have the trait, then the child will have Sickle Cell. This disease causes the red blood cells to change into a crescent shape instead of being disk shape resulting in the loss of efficient oxygen delivery. It can also result in clotting because the blood cells can not make it through small blood vessels very well. The SNP for this disease is 78478128 and the reference SNP is rs78478128.
The link to the page with more info on Sickle cell is http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001554/
The link to the page with the genetic information and SNP is http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/SNP/snp_ref.cgi?rs=78478128#locus
Primer Design
The forward primer for Sickle Cell is 5'-tcctaagccagtgccagaag-3'
The reverse primer for Sickle Cell is 5'-gaattcgtctgtttcccattctaaac-3'
The mutation looks like this: TCCTGAGGAG with the bold a being the mutation.
A disease allele will give a PCR result and a non-disease allele will not because PCR is designed to amplify the area that corresponds to the mutation on the DNA. If it did not amplify only the target region, there would be too much information and a result would not be possible.


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A Month in the Floods of Salaya – Part 7Kevin (เควิน) Khaosan
When I arrived at Bang Sue station to take the train back to Salaya, it was a much livelier place than it had been two-weeks previously. The ticket seller sold me a ticket for the 4.08 pm train without a moment's hesitation. As we reached the flood-zone on the western side of the Chao Phraya river, the water seemed to have receded slightly in places and the speed of the journey took me by surprise as I suddenly saw the Salaya sign and quickly scrambled off the train less than an hour after departing. The water appeared slightly lower but the platform community seemed to have grown. There were also a lot of people waiting for a train to Bangkok. I was ushered into a wooden boat paddled by a young bare-chested man. He negotiated the flood waters expertly with his single oar.
I paid him 20 baht and stepped onto the road at the bottom of the bridge. There was a fleet of motor-bike taxis waiting at the bottom of the bridge in the shade of a tarpaulin roof on a metal frame. I walked with my bag to Pitchaya Apartments and found Tu and Ter, Ter's mother, brother and a friend. They offered me some dinner and I gave Tu the cigarettes she'd ordered from Bangkok.
I popped in to see U and Pui at the coffee shop. Their plank walkway was well above the water and I was offered a tot of whiskey. U informed me that my soi was dry. Their latest estimate was that the water would be down to near-normal levels in about seven days. As I walked home, I noticed that the roadside dwellers had a few smoky fires lit on the grass verge and guessed they were to fend off the invasive mosquitoes. As I continued down the traffic-free road followed by some curious dogs, I passed two or three small snakes, their light-coloured bellies squashed on the tarmac. A man with a torch was cruising the edges of the flood water with a trident-spear.
I arrived at my soi and was relieved to see that U was right and that my soi was dry and dusty with the sediment of the vanished waters. My front yard was a mess with the debris of the receded water. My bin on the wall was still full, my plants sat up there too, looking like I'd abandoned them during a drought and when I opened my fridge it gave off a nauseous odour. But all-in-all, I could only reflect that I had got off very very lightly .. this year.
Paul Wilson is a some time actor, stand-up comedian and cartoonist.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Paul Wilson is a sometime actor, stand-up comedian and cartoonist. Visit Paul's Top Man Tone Facebook Page...


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Turn Hanger, 3 pcs. / 75 eur
Designed by Line Depping
Hang your coats, shirts and blazers on the golden Turn hangers while adding a decorative element to your house.
- Details
- Anodized Aluminum / Golden
LxWxH: 42x1,5x16 cm
Item no. 1480050
- Packaging
- WxDxH: 42x16x1,5 cm
Weight: 0,56 kg
- Material and care
Proper usage and maintenance
Proper usage and maintenance is vital for getting the most out of the valuable resources we have. Our designs are made to last for generations, but just like everything else, they need a little care to get there.
Anodized Aluminum
When anodizing aluminum the result is a very durable surface that will not chip or crack, which keeps the product protected against wear and corrosion.
Wipe with a soft cloth dampened with soapy water.
Do not use abrasive pads or strong cleaning agents as this can harm the surface.
About the designer / Line Depping
"Design should be simple, obvious and without any feeling of self-exaltation – and then it ought to include a humane touch." Based on this belief, Line seeks to develop new projects and objects that puts functionality to the forefront, and she loves to challenge herself combining new materials and styles. Wooden materials are without doubt Line's preferred choice for designing, but she stays open to contest her own comfort-zone and try out new material combinations. Her approach is workshop based, which allows her to re-develop her creations throughout the whole process.


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What's the Latest in Pension Reform?
We examine proposals still brewing in legislatures, how already-enacted reforms are playing out, and the model based on one of the world's strongest pension systems that a Canadian province is using to keep costs under control.
The nation's pension crisis remained front and center in recent months as new reports emerged about states' liability imbalances and Detroit's public employees were forced to place their retirement fate in the hands of a bankruptcy court judge. Some of the hardest-hit pension funds are in states that bore the brunt of the recession (like Michigan) and those (like Illinois) that have a decades-long burden as a result of mismanagement, borrowing and shaky investments.
In June, Moody's released a report using fiscal year 2011 pension information to compare what states owe to what states have. Illinois topped the list with a liability-to-revenue ratio of 241 percent. For every dollar Illinois needs to save to erase its shortfall, it has set aside only 43 cents. The top of the liability list continues with Connecticut (189.7 percent), Kentucky (140.9 percent), New Jersey (137.2 percent) and Hawaii (132.5 percent).
On the other end of the spectrum, the states most prepared to pay their pension obligations were Nebraska with the lowest ratio of 6.8 percent, followed by Wisconsin (14.4 percent), Idaho (14.8 percent), Iowa (16.1 percent) and New York (16.6 percent).
Overall, the median liability-to-resource ratio in FY 2011 was 45 percent; and according to CNBC, only 17 states have financially sound plans funded at more than 80 percent of their projected liability.
There's a wide range of reasons why states' ratios (ranging from 6.8 percent to 241 percent) are so varied. Historic and current management, funding efforts and the size of benefits and the payee pool -- whether the state fund has responsibility for teachers or local government employees, for example -- all play into the numbers. Regardless of the reason, though, if U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah gets his way, states may soon be forced to address their collective $1 trillion pension liability shortfall by reducing their employee benefits or transitioning to a 401(k)-style plan.
This appears in our free, monthly Finance e-newsletter. Not already a subscriber? Click here.
Some localities have already done the latter for incoming employees; however, there's no lack of effort at the state level to fix the pension problem. This year alone, more than 1,200 pension-related bills have been introduced proposing a variety of reforms that range from increasing employee contributions to adding defined-contribution plans and ending cost-of-living adjustments for retirees.
Although it's hard to compare pension reform from state to state given the intricacies of each system, we examined proposals still brewing in state legislatures, how already-enacted reforms are playing out, and the model that one Canadian province is using to keep costs under control based on one of the world's strongest pension systems.
Illinois' pension woes date back decades and amount to somewhere in the range of $90 billion to $100 billion. When the legislature adjourned in May without taking any action to stop the bleeding, Moody's and Fitch Ratings downgraded the state's credit rating to the lowest level in the state's history -- and the lowest nationwide.
After legislators failed to take any action in a special session, Gov. Pat Quinn used a budget line-item veto to withhold their pay beginning Aug. 1. The legislature's bipartisan pension committee stated that it's working on a reform proposal developed by the University of Illinois' Institute for Government and Public Affairs. But the proposal hasn't been released; and until it is, lawmakers won't see any checks unless their lawsuit against Quinn to have their pay reinstated is successful.
Rhode Island
Back in 2012, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel suggested that Illinois look to Rhode Island as a source of inspiration for pension reform. But what's being done there has proved to be a major point of contention.
In 2011, the legislature approved a pension reform package driven by a required taxpayer-funded contribution to the pension fund that would double between 2010 and 2013 and leave little for additional investments in other areas like education. The reforms focused on shared risk for the employer and employee by ending the traditional defined-benefit (DB) plan in favor of a hybrid plan with a less generous DB plan and a supplemental defined-contribution plan, ending cost-of-living adjustments until the plan is funded to at least 80 percent, and raising the retirement age.
An actuarial valuation report provided to the state in June 2011 found an immediate reduction in the state's unfunded liability by $2.7 billion, but also predicted that contributions funded by taxpayers would increase. (Note: Taxpayer-funded contributions actually decreased from 2012 to 2013 but are expected to rise in 2014.)
According to Fitch Ratings, the Rhode Island Retirement Security Act of 2011 is the most comprehensive pension reform package implemented by any state to date. The reforms are projected to save $4 billion in taxpayer dollars over two decades. But since its inception, the law has been plagued by lawsuits and speculation about how the reforms are actually being implemented and what impact they'll have on employees and the state.
A study by the liberal-leaning Economic Policy Institute found the hybrid plan to be less cost effective than initially indicated and also believes the plan will significantly reduce retirement benefits for employees. Forbes contributor Ted Siedle says that changes made to the plan's investment portfolio increase risk and fees, which will eventually put both taxpayers and retirees at risk. You can read more of Siedle's opinions, which the Rhode Island Treasurer's Office has strongly criticized, here and here. The state's union leadership is also unsurprisingly critical of increasing pension costs. Philip Keefe, the president of SEIU Local 580, alleges that the increases are caused by high payments being made to investment managers. But former State Treasurer Frank Caprio contends that the increase could be due to the wave of baby boomer retirements finally hitting government and people living longer.
Massachusetts and Connecticut
Rhode Island's neighbors have been facing uphill pension reform battles of their own.
Massachusetts started the new fiscal year on a high note with a 12.7 percent investment gain for its pension fund. This record gain comes amid promises from the state treasurer and pension fund executive director that innovative reforms are coming in the next year. Goals for reform include saving $100 million in annual fees and expenses on investments, reducing investment management fees and finding alternative investment options.
A Boston-based think tank, the Pioneer Institute, estimates that the state could close its pension gap by combining its 105 separately managed pension plans into a centralized program and saving $25 million a year in "overstaffing" employment costs. In addition to the savings, they expect the plan would be better managed and more transparent.
South of the Bay State, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy set about reversing decades of underfunding in FY 2012. The key tenet of his plan involved the state paying an extra $3 billion toward pensions until 2023, after which the contributions would decrease annually. The governor claimed his plan would put Connecticut's pension fund $5.8 billion ahead by 2031. In FY 2013, the first year of implementation of the reform plan, state payments to the fund rose $87 million and were expected to reach $1.1 billion in FY 2014. The implementation came a year after the state reached agreements with its public employee unions that included an increase in retirement age, modified cost-of-living adjustments, increased penalties for early retirement and a new hybrid pension plan.
Although Connecticut remains the second worst funded pension in the nation, the reforms seem to be paying off so far. Thanks to strong equity gains, the plan grew during FY 2013, even after taking into account the payments made to retirees. The preliminary investment return, net of expenses, for the Connecticut Plans and Trust Funds was 11.49 percent.
New Brunswick, Canada
The Canadian province recently decided to try a new pension reform approach based on the reality that it had fewer people in its workforce and retirees who are living longer -- and it did so with the support of its labor unions.
Rather than guaranteeing retirees one set benefit, retirement payouts are now divided into two categories: base and ancillary. The base benefits are guaranteed to retirees while the ancillary benefits are paid out depending on the health of the fund. If the fund has a bad year, retirees get smaller ancillary benefits and the government infuses more money into the plan. If the opposite is true, retirees get bigger monthly checks and employers are able to recoup some of their contributions from the down years.
A similar "shared risk" model was pioneered by the Dutch, who are considered to have one of the strongest pension systems in the world. It involves a less volatile investment mix to absorb market fluctuations as well as a marginal increase in contributions.


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There is perhaps no more traditionally Jewish night than Seder night, and there is no reason that your Seder table has to be as stale as the Matzah you are serving!
These modern takes on the traditional Seder plate will add that Dash Of Panache to your traditional Seder.
Here are our picks for best modern Seder plates of 2011:
1.Elegant Ceramic Seder plate engraved by hand, this Bernardaud "Louvre Judaica" Seder Plate is the perfect Passover gift for your favorite Jewish Hostess. At Bloomingdales $220.
2. This contemporary sterling silver seder plate is a stunning piece. Famed designer LellaVignelli brings her strong architectural vision to a limited collection of Judaica commissioned by The Jewish Museum. Of course its my favorite one and at $1875.00 its the most expensive!!!
3. This Spode designed seder plate is based on historic Judaic manuscripts from the 1880's, influenced by early ceramic tile motifs,and features the traditional Judaic colors of blue and white. $103.00 available HERE.
4. A celebration of spring's arrival, this handcrafted seder plate by American artist Melanie Dankowitz is lasercut from stainless steel. This is my second choice for prettiest seder plate, much more affordable at $254, HERE.
5. Laura Cowan makes a line of Judaica that is space-age minimalist. We love it. This seder plate design is inspired by the craters on the moon's surface and is crafted out of polished aluminum. $199.00 available HERE.
6. Designer Ann Morhauser created this elegantseder plate featuring 24kt gold lettering and trim on a glass platter. $225 available HERE.
7. Designer Jonathan Adler brings us this modern seder plate for Passover. The seder plate is crafted in glazed porcelain with real gold accents and is sure to be smashing on your holiday table. $150.00 available HERE.
8. Designer Michael Aram created this seder plate inspired by the form of pomegranates, a symbol of eternity, fertility, and plenty. It is an age old image which crosses cultures and transcends time and one of the seven species of Israel. Weaving modern thought with tradition, Aram included seven spaces rather than six, so the seder plate can hold both the six symbolic seder foods and an orange, which honors the contributions of women. $225.00 Available HERE.
9. The designers at Israel Giftware Designs is affordable and and chic. $29.99 available at Amazon.com


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DAZ Private Cloud
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DAZ Private Cloud Services includes best-in-class virtualized infrastructure providing the necessary compute, storage, backup and network resources—all running as a fixed-cost utility that can easily grow with your needs. The environment includes proactive administration, monitoring, troubleshooting, patch management, maintenance, reporting, and 24/7 support. We even have a customer portal to look at your tickets and historical system and network performance.
DAZ Private Cloud Services combined with a DAZ Managed Services Agreement (MSA) provides a comprehensive support solution to cover everything from your hardware to your applications—all running on a 100% Oracle solution.
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DAZ can provide a unique combination of proven project approaches, industry extensions, and related services. To discuss what we can do for your business, contact the DAZ Sales Team.


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By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 7, 2008 - The names of four U.S. servicemembers were etched into the glossy black walls of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial this week alongside more than 58,000 of their fallen comrades.
Finishing the addition today was the name of Raymond C. Mason, a Marine lance corporal who died a year ago as a result of ailing health stemming from a bullet wound that paralyzed him in February 1968 during the Tet Offensive.
In a ceremony at the wall here, Mason's widow, Priscilla Mason, watched as an engraver inched a sandblaster over the Marine's stenciled name with surgeonlike precision.
Priscilla got on bended knee, held a sheet of paper up to the bright, new inscription, and rubbed a crayon in diagonal strokes until "RAYMOND C MASON" was embossed against the white paper. She said she plans to have the outline tattooed onto her skin, and she has promised to make dozens of rubbings for friends back home in Riverside, R.I., when she returns here on Memorial Day.
"This is wonderful. He's finally home," she said when asked how she felt upon seeing the finished product on Panel 41E, Line 64 of the memorial.
The names of Richard M. Goosens, a Marine lance corporal, and Dennis O. Hargrove and Darrell J. Naylor, both Army specialists fourth class, were inscribed here yesterday. The Defense Department determined that their deaths, which occurred years after the end of U.S. operations in Vietnam, resulted from wounds suffered in a combat zone there.
The wall's 58,260 etched names bear testament to the ultimate sacrifice paid by those U.S. troops, said R. James Nicholson, former secretary of Veterans Affairs.
"It's also a tangible expression of the gratitude of the American people for those who served and died there," he said in an interview today. "The hope is that more and more Americans will learn and grow to appreciate the sacrifice and the price that was paid to perpetuate our freedom."
Designed by architect Maya Lin and built in 1982, the memorial consists of two black walls sunken into the ground, with a rolling mound of earth behind it sloping toward a heavily trafficked street.
"It was Maya's vision for the memorial that it appear as a rift in the earth," said J.C. Cummings, architect of record for the memorial. "At the same time, the wall serves a practical purpose of separating the visitor from the noise and the traffic of Constitution Avenue and the noise of the city."
As a result, the architecture creates a quiet and contemplative atmosphere, he said, a design that allows visitors to have a respectful experience.
Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, said adding the names this week completes the healing process for surviving friends and family members. The additions also reflect America's solidarity with its servicemembers of past and present, he said.
"When you join the service, you can feel comfortable that the service is going to stand behind you," Scruggs said in an interview today. "Especially the people who are serving today in Iraq and Afghanistan in combat, they need to know that we're behind them and we appreciate what they're doing."
Military Topsite Top 100
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In the next game from Twisted Pixel—the developer behind Xbox Live Arcade games like Comic Jumper and Ms. Splosion Man—you control a cowboy skeleton as if it were a marionette. The skeletal hero runs automatically, but you can guide him with one hand and control where and when he fires the big irons on his bony hips with the other. The game is due to hit the Xbox 360 next month and will not only be the studio's first title to make use of Kinect, but will also be Twisted Pixel's first full-on retail release.
Ever since the release of The Maw, Twisted Pixel games have been known for their quirky sense of humor, and The Gunstringer is no different. The marionette theme has been taken to its extreme, and the game looks and feels like a play. There are, of course, strings that hold up the titular gunstringer, but the rest of the world is also made of realistic materials, as if it was an actual set for a stage performance. The trees are made of cardboard and every so often a hand will appear to move a bit of the environment around. At the end of a level an audience applauds you.
"We had this great main character that's a puppet and it didn't make sense to just drop him into a game world that didn't support the stage play aesthetic," director Bill Muehl told Ars. "If we were going to have the puppeteering gestures and the main character was a puppet, we had to go all the way with it. So we concepted our environments and props to look hand-made, we filmed a bunch of green screen arms and hands that we could have interact with the virtual environment, and we convinced a couple hundred extras to come to a day of filming for our introduction, finale, and reaction shots at a historic theater in downtown Austin."
The goofy aesthetic feels like a natural fit for the game, as do the Kinect controls. The Gunstringer plays almost as if it were on rails, letting you direct your character while he runs automatically. This puts the focus on good old-fashioned shooting. You can "paint" your targets with one hand, lining up multiple enemies at once, and then fire by making a shooting motion. In our time spent with the game it felt responsive, though it takes a few minutes to get used to.
Though this feels like a game designed specifically for Kinect, the team at Twisted Pixel had actually been tossing around the idea of creating a marionette game before The Gunstringer had been dreamed up. In fact, the concept behind the game was the result of serendipity, as Twisted Pixel's chief creative office Josh Bear came upon the idea after seeing a painting of an undead cowboy in a restaurant.
"The best part about that story is Josh saw the painting during a pitch meeting with Microsoft and he pitched the idea right then and there," said Muehl.
Creating a game for Kinect wasn't just a good fit for the idea, it also provided a satisfying challenge for the development team who were able to explore a brand new control method. The team also came upon another unexpected challenge during development when it was announced that the game would no longer be coming to XBLA, but instead would be a retail 360 game. Usually the studio splits itself up into two teams so that it can focus on multiple projects at once, but the shift to retail meant that all of Twisted Pixel needed to work on The Gunstringer.
The studio also worried about fan reaction, since the game was initially announced as a downloadable title that would have been much cheaper than the game which will be hitting store shelves in a few weeks. According to Muehl, though, those worries have been alleviated as the team has filled the game up with plenty of extra content.
"Between all the extra content we added to the main game, the Fruit Ninja Kinect pack-in, and the free Wavy Tube Man Chronicles DLC, I feel like we've put together a damn good package for gamers, especially at the $40 price point," he told Ars.
The Gunstringer will be coming to the Xbox 360 on September 13.


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In a study released in the February, 21st issue of Journal of Neuroscience, researchers have announced new findings on a female hormone which may slow MS and even repair damaged myelin.
As a man with MS, I am all too aware that I am a minority with this disease. Though clinical application of this research is many steps and years from application, I have to shake my head and laugh.
It seems that one of the reasons pregnant women may experience remission and even bettering of symptoms of their MS could be related to prolactin – the hormone which stimulates lactation in pregnant female mammals.
Male friends of mine (with and without MS) joked about the birth control pill study when it was announced last fall. Now we have a whole new batch of fodder.
I'm sorry; I have to laugh at the thought that one of the treatments for my disease could cause me to get man boobs. I mean, come on, I've been working really hard to lose the ones I had when I was fat!
It's Friday, and I've had one of those weeks (and have a few more days of it left), so please forgive a little punchy humor from an overtaxed blogger with MS.
These are serious reports on real topics, which could help us live longer and better lives with MS. I happen to think that a good-hearted belly laugh at irony goes a long way at improving quality of life.
Wishing you and your family the best of health.
Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health.


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You can pay for your Provital delivery with direct debit authorisation, cash on delivery (additional costs of EUR 4,50), against the invoice, with an advance payment or with paypal.
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Journal Article
Impact of Communication Patterns, Network Positions and Social Dynamics Factors on Learning among Students in a CSCL Environment pp64-77
© May 2009 Volume 7 Issue 1, Editor: Shirley Williams, pp1 - 85
Look inside Download PDF (free)
At present, it is difficult to assess the quality of learning in Computer‑Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) environments, because standard pretest and posttest measures do not capture the differences in the learner's ability to engage in the material, pose interesting new questions, engage others in learning and work collaboratively. This research investigates the impact of communication patterns, network positions and social dynamics factors on students' self‑perception of learning in a CSCL environment. The study involved a combination of methodologies combining questionnaires, and archiving of communication logs for data collection. Social network analysis tools were used to analyze relational data, map emergent student communication patterns and calculate centrality scores based on the electronic and face‑to‑face communication patterns among class members in the CSCL environment. Structural equation modeling was then performed on the hypotheses model to determine the impact of these centrality measures and the social factors on students' perceptions of knowledge gained and their satisfaction with their performance in the course.
Keywords: Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning, CSCL, distance learning, social network analysis, social dynamics, respect, influence, structural equation modelling, path analysis, interaction, participation, motivation to participate and learn, satisfaction with performance, gaining new and conceptual knowledge
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PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC registered a season-high 22 shots as forward Jessica McDonald and midfielder Verónica Boquete each tallied a goal in a 2-0 win against the Washington Spirit in front of 10,056 fans at Providence Park on Sunday afternoon.
Portland (5-4-2, 17pts) opened the scoring in the 11th minute, building its attack from the back. Goalkeeper Michelle Betos' punt was collected just past the halfway line by midfielder Angie Kerr. Kerr settled the ball in the center circle, quickly turning and laying it off for midfielder Amber Brooks. Brooks sent the ball through with one touch to McDonald, who was making a well-timed run behind Washington's defense. McDonald dribbled into the penalty box, finishing from close range inside the right post. The goal was her team-leading sixth of the season.
Boquete remained active in the final 20 minutes as she worked her way past multiple defenders, releasing a left-footed shot from the right side of the box that bounced off the left post. The Spanish international capitalized in the 78th minute, receiving the ball at the top of the box from Brooks, beating her defender and tucking the ball inside the left post for her first career Thorns FC goal and doubling Portland's lead late in the match.
Portland earned its third clean sheet of the season and its first at Providence Park in 2014, as Betos registered her first career start for Thorns FC on Sunday. Midfielder Rebecca Moros made a critical stop in the 85th minute to clear a header by midfielder Yael Averbuch off the goal line. Betos was there to knock the loose ball away on the attempt as Moros then cleared it down the field.
Thorns FC tallied nine first half shots and continued to attack with a 13-5 advantage in attempts in the second half. McDonald had two promising chances in the 65th and 66th minutes of the match. Boquete found midfielder Mana Shim, a 63rd minute substitute, on the left flank as she sent a cross to McDonald in front of goal, but her shot went just over the crossbar. Less than a minute later, defender Sarah Huffman whipped in a corner kick for McDonald near the penalty spot, but Spirit goalkeeper Chantel Jones made a diving kick save on McDonald's header.
Thorns FC take to the road for their second match in a seven-day span against the Washington Spirit on Saturday, June 21, at Maureen Hendricks Field at Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md.; kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. (Pacific). The match will be broadcast live via webstream at www.portlandthornsfc.com.
Portland Thorns FC (5-4-2, 17pts) vs. Washington Spirit (6-6-1, 19pts)
June 15, 2014 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Washington Spirit 0 0 0
Portland Thorns FC 1 1 2
Scoring Summary
POR: McDonald (Brooks), 11
POR: Boquete (Brooks), 78
Misconduct Summary
WAS: Angeli, 45+2 (Caution)
WAS: Angeli, 86 (Ejection)
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Michelle Betos, D Sarah Huffman, D Nikki Marshall, D Emily Menges, D Steph Catley, M Rebecca Moros ©, M Sinead Farrelly (Niemiec, 90+1), M Angie Kerr (Shim, 63), M Verónica Boquete, M Amber Brooks, F Jessica McDonald (Terry*, 83)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Lewis*, F Acevedo, D Davis*, D Cruz*
TOTAL SHOTS: 22 (Brooks, McDonald, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 9 (McDonald, 5); FOULS: 6 (6 players, 1); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 1
WAS: GK Chantel Jones, D Yael Averbuch, D Tori Huster, D Danesha Adams, D Bianca Sierra, M Jordan Angeli, M Lori Lindsey ©, M Christine Nairn, M Veronica Perez, F Renae Cuéllar (Skogerboe*, 75), F Jodie Taylor
Substitutes Not Used: GK Spisak*, M Pardue*
TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Nairn, Lindsey, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Taylor, 1); FOULS: 10 (Angeli, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 7
Referee: Michael Zapata
Assistant Referees: Jennifer Garner, Farhad Dadkho
4th Official: J.J. Blodgett
Attendance: 10,056
Weather: Rain, 61 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial