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The Game That Was Rarely Known
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Loved This Game ...... This Was the First Game I Ever Rented.
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- Reviews: 8 Lists: 9
Mario, get the fuck out the way, 40 winks is blowing through this bitch
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remember it but never played it
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One of my first ps1 games. I remember it being really hard, though it was probably because of the terrible controls. Still remember liking it though.
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@Master_Funk said:
One of my first ps1 games. I remember it being really hard, though it was probably because of the terrible controls. Still remember liking it though.
I have similar experiences in regards to the controls. Didn't play through the first few stages because of them, so I didn't like it much.
- Forum Posts: 392
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The best part about this? Nintendo Power made that quote which is on the cover...and then the N64 version never released.
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Olympian Jesse Owens Honored In Senate Resolution
A resolution honoring Ohioan and Olympic athlete Jesse Owens has been approved by the U.S. Senate.
Listen to the Story
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is ranked as one of the nation's best. It has grown immensely in the past two decades. Much of that success and growth is thanks to Franklin County taxpayers.
Since the 1980s, the Columbus Zoo has relied heavily on a tax levy to pay for capital projects that helped shoot the zoo to the top.
That levy is up for renewal. And for the first time in recent memory, it has organized opposition as some balk at the size of the increase and its permanence.
Current budget
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has 10,000 animals… but what it has even more of is dollars. Specifically, $18 million.
That's how much the Franklin County property tax levy generates each year for the Columbus Zoo. And the zoo counts on it. It's nearly a one third of its revenue.
Levies for zoos are normal. About half of all accredited zoos in North America receive some form of public money. The current levy runs out Jan. 1, 2016, and zoo officials want voters to approve it again. But this time, the zoo wants more: 66 percent more.
How much more?
Next week, voters will decide whether to increase the zoo levy from .75 mills to 1.25 mills.
For property owners, that means the zoo tax bill will increase from $21 to $44 for every $100,000 of value per year.
The new levy would generate about $31 million a year. And like the current one, zoo president and CEO Tom Stalf says the bulk of it would pay for capital projects.
This levy is about maintaining what we have. It's really not about growing and getting better. It's keeping it great.
While Stalf contends the heftier levy is not about "growing†the zoo, there are two expansion projects in its 30-year master plan. The Heart of Africa — it will include up-close animal interaction, as well as themed dining. And the South East Asia expansion — it will allow for more space for Orangutans and other Asian species.
There are also 10 major renovations and new features planned, including a tram system, an animal care center, a Jack Hannah hands-on animal exhibit and a Downtown zoo.
The price tag: as much as $753 million.
Stalf says it's all essential to keep up the zoo. After all, zoos aren't what they were 30 years ago.
"Zoos would build an exhibit, for an example, a giraffe. You would get a couple of giraffes. You'd build a pen, most of the time it was in concrete, you'd put a fence up, and you'd say, 'Come see my giraffe,'†Stalf said.
Stalf says that's no longer acceptable. Today, he says, zoos tell stories.
"So when we're building those regions of the world," Stalf said. "We want to make sure we're representing the species and the habitat and the culture correctly.â€
Building it and maintaining it takes lots of money. And the zoo is counting on the levy to help pay for those all of those projects.
In the past, opposition to zoo levies has been minimal. Not this time.
Jonathan Beard, working with the group Citizens for Responsible Taxation, said his group is not against the zoo, but against the proposed levy.
"We'd like to see some continued investment there," Beard said. "You've got to invest to stay ahead. But what we got was kind of a mixed bag that included a whole lot of other things.â€
Other "things†like a Downtown zoo, which is included in the Scioto Peninsula revitalization project. Beard says it's excessive.
"When you throw it all in together, you're funding bad with good," Beard said. "OK, so we can support the good on the main campus there in Delaware County, but we should have had a second levy request for a new zoo.â€
The Downtown zoo would cost as much as $65 million. But Stalf says that's only a sliver – 9 percent – of what the levy would fund.
"This levy vote is not about downtown," Stalf said. "It's about expanding or improving what we have at the zoo. It's not about expansion. It's about improving. It's about enhancing and continually making our facility great.â€
The other key opposition to the levy: its permanency. It's a continuous levy that would lock in the proposed millage indefinitely.
But by locking in a rate, Stalf says an on-going levy ensures the zoo's future.
"So there is no intent to ever go back and ask Franklin County voters for more," Stalf said. "We feel that the relationship and the partnership that we've had is excellent, and we want to ensure that we're providing excellence into the future.â€
Over 30 years, the proposed levy would generate $930 million.
Tax Burden Out Of The County
And then there's the tax burden. Franklin County property owners foot the bill, even though the main zoo is in Delaware County. And for Beard, that's a problem.
"When they're talking about a 30-year growth plan this is a great opportunity to rethink the financing structure for the zoo, and certainly that should include a broadened tax base," Beard said.
Delaware County property owners do not contribute to the tax levy that helps support the zoo. Stalf says that's because Delaware County receives very little in sales tax, yet it provides fire and sheriff services. And he adds millions of dollars were forfeited in potential property and sales tax because the zoo is in Powell.
This is part one of a five-part series.

subset: commoncrawl


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I have RCR on WiiWare and on PS3 and I play neither version ever.
User Profile
Male, United States
Arcades introduced me to gaming back in the early 80's. Then Nintendo went and saved the industry and I started buying video games based on the coolest box cover art~
- Joined:
- Mon 15th February, 2010
Recent Comments
I'll be getting all three. I own CotM cart but I'll double dip for that one too because it's awesome.
@Cyberbotv2 @Tasuki I also was not aware of Nitro's being on that WWE subscription. I thought it was just crappy WWE stuff. BTW, WWE stands for Worst Wrestling EVERRRRR!!!
@Pink_Floyd La Parka was definitely in Revenge. I don't know about Mayhem.
The last Metroid is in captivity. The galaxy is at peace.
Now, time to go cap a Rathian or two and call it a day~
@BurningCold0718 Oh, I totally forgot about WWF WrestleMania 2000 and WCW vs the World! Thanks for the reminder, bro.
@Beetlejuice OMG, that is an incredible story! The nWo faction was a gang to a certain degree (as much of a gang as you can probably get in professional wrestling).
And YUSSS!!! The Monday Night wars in the late 90's is something that every wrestling fan who experienced it will forever remember. Very special times indeed. I never thought wrestling could be as awesome as the Ric Flair and the Four Horseman days of the 80's but WCW was definitely a hot commodity, especially when it was dominating WWF in the ratings.
I haven't seriously followed wrestling ever since Vince brought the nWo to WWE around 2002 or so.
Thanks for sharing your story, that is just TOOOOOO SAH-WEEEEET~
It has to be better than Tales to Enjoy! Little Red Riding Hood.
Also, @ 0:47 in the trailer, looks as if Mario and Luigi broke bad and went all The Shining on us!
@Beetlejuice I have WWF No Mercy too! It's definitely the better game of the two with it's awesome create-a-wrestler feature. But I, like you, enjoyed Revenge more because I like WCW waaaaaaaaay more than WWF.
The only game I don't have is WCW vs n.W.o World Tour (which was the first wrestling game of this great trilogy)...but I've played that one as well.
Doesn't bother me in the least. I have two classic controllers and that SNES-styled controller is >>> than the Gamecube controller. Seriously, the D-Pad on the Gamecube controller is in such an awkward place.
@Spoony_Tech I agree with you 100% regarding the MH demo. It's not a real representation of the overall awesomeness that is Monster Hunter.
Hopefully she won't have an "Other M" emo-meltdown when she encounters a Deviljho.
I downloaded the NES Jumping Mario theme last night and, after seeing it in this video, just got the A Link Between Worlds theme.
Does downloading these themes yield Club Nintendo points???
Also - I WANT THEM ALL !!!
wow, that is super creepy!!! but cool nonetheless!!!
I downloaded the classic Super Mario Bros theme to my 3DS. I'm not a big fan of the folder design, but I really dig how the SMB theme begins each time I click the Home button.
I'm definitely intrigued and will probably be getting more themes soon (I'm thinking A Link Between Worlds is what I'll get next).
If there was an Activity Log on my N64 to record all the hours me and my cousins spent playing this game, no telling what large that number would actually be.
I'm pretty sure this isn't available on the 3DS eShop in NA. It was only available here once via a promotion.
CotM is the only one of these I've played. I'm getting them all eventually!
I want this game!
I'm glad we have some clarification on this.
Now, excuse me while I go put some more zenny down on my MH4U preorder. :3
It would be truly awesome if Nintendo were to update where you could play Wii VC games with Gamepad controls.
How did ya'll get Nintendo Life spelled out evenly onto two lines?
My folders only allow 6 characters per line (with a maximum of just 2 lines).
do Lif
y Adva
do Ent
Not en
Also, after the update, I have 7 pages now available to me on the Wii U Home menu.
Waiting for Bird Mania theme... :3
Mediocrity, at best.
Yes! Let's start reskinning everything in the video game universe with Nintendoooo!!! It starts with Team Ninja~
I've never played this Excitebike game! D:
WOW!! I just finished reading The Shining by Stephen King (for the 2nd time) and that text @ 5:15 is from the novel. That's incredible that manta-ray reference! This almost solidifies my need to try Super Mario Sunshine one more time.
Despite what is written in this article, Smash is a button masher and u mash them faster to win.
ewwww...mobile phones.
OK, this is just weird. Sanic in MonHun???
(Fun lookin' guild card though!)
Can't wait to get Castlevania: Dracula X on the 2nd of Oct!!!!
way too expensive.
I have never played a Dynasty Warriors game but I love love LOVE the Zelda franchise.
I'm terrified of this game, tbh.
@Philip_J_Reed Great review! This is definitely a 'must-buy-soon' game for me. You have reviewed some real stinker's over the years - I was sort of sad to see you had to review an actual good game for your last one.
My circle pad's rubber would come off all the time when playing Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D.
Nice Chumbawumba lyrics!!!!! I get knocked down, but I get up again...they ain't never gonna keep me down!!!!!
Can't get image of Tesla band out of my head
Why is screencap posting for MH3U (still) not available on Miiverse!?!??? Is that a Capcom decision?
Anyways, these minor Miiverse tweeks/updates are nice to have.
The retro NES box looks cooler than the actual 3DS. Oh well, I'm holding out for N3DS next year.
I AM ERROR. I'm playing as that dude.
All MM games feel/seem the same to me. Even these X games. I like them all pretty much equally.
At least it's not Other M.
Wow, those ducks look REAL! Graphics sure have come a long way since the 80's.


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Hot Anime Chicks
November 24, 2008 Hot Girls 6 Comments
Here are more of these sexy anime characters created by the Japanese. I guess one thing that these created fantasies have over real women is the fact that they can be perfect in every way. Some of them are really just drop-dead beautiful.
6 Comments


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Eight Spokane residents face federal charges for a heroin distribution ring that authorities allege supplied at least 100 grams of the drug.
The charges in U.S. District Court allege the group distributed heroin in Spokane from last April to this February.
Authorities sealed an affidavit supporting the charges out of concerns for the safety of a confidential informant, according to court documents.
Further details on the case were not available, but arrested in the last two weeks have been: Gary Erwin Douglass, 57; Charles R. Wallace, 41; Samuel William Wright, 36; Julie A. Rice-Lewis, 38; and James Clayton Lindsay, 57.
Frisco Ayala, 32, Chad Benefield, age unavailable, and Brian L. Sellers, 35, also are charged.
Sellers was arrested with 84 grams of heroin last May after a road rage incident on U.S. Highway 395.
Please keep it civil. Don't post comments that are obscene, defamatory, threatening, off-topic, an infringement of copyright or an invasion of privacy. Read our forum standards and community guidelines.
You must be logged in to post comments. Please log in here or click the comment box below for options.comments powered by Disqus


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Archive for category Final Fantasy X/X2 HD Remake
[PS3/Vita HD Remaster Review] Final Fantasy X HD Remaster
Posted by Ceidz in Featured, Final Fantasy X/X2 HD Remake, PLAYSTATION Store, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation Vita Software, PS3, PS3 Reviews / Vita Reviews, PS3 software, PSN on April 16th, 2014
FINAL FANTASY X is back—in HD! First released for the PlayStation®2 system in 2001, and widely acclaimed for its moving story and spectacular graphics, FINAL FANTASY X has now returned in HD for the PlayStation®Vita system. Characters, monsters, and environments have been fine-tuned in HD detail, providing a richer, deeper FINAL FANTASY visual experience. Other new features in the HD version include remastered/rearranged BGM, International Edition content, trophies, and Cross-Save functionality.
One of the most anticipated titles of this year, Final Fantasy X HD Remaster was finally released a few weeks ago. I picked it up on PS Vita, and have been playing it ever since then!
Final Fantasy X (PS2) holds a special place in my heart: I played it way too much when I was unemployed back in 2002, and I completely conquered that game in around 160 hours!
Is the Final Fantasy X HD Remaster worth your time and money? When compared to other HD re-releases, how does the game rank so many years after its original release? Long story short, this game is the best HD remaster I've played, and this 13-years old game might even the best RPG available in the PS Vita library!
Yea, I love Final Fantasy X THAT much !!!!!
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Release Date confirmed and PS3/Vita Bundle detailed
Posted by Ceidz in Editorial, Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy X/X2 HD Remake, Media, PLAYSTATION Store, PlayStation Vita Software, PS3, PS3 software, PSN on December 17th, 2013
We FINALLY got information regarding the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Release on the official Playstation Blog from Sakura Minamida, Senior Product Manager of Square Enix.
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD will be available on March 18, 2014 (March 21 in EU), and will be released on PS3 Retail disc, PS Vita cartridges or on the PSN.
The PS3 version will feature both Final Fantasy X HD and Final Fantasy X-2 HD on the same disc, while the PS Vita will receive only Final Fantasy X HD on a cartridge and will include a code voucher to download X-2 HD from the PSN. I would have preferred to have X-2 on a separate cartridge, because as you all know, Vita memory card size is relatively limited, and I'm pretty sure that game will be a few GB.
The price will be $39.99 for the PS3 version, and the Vita version will be sold separately for another $39.99. That means that while those games will feature Cross-Save between the PS3 and Vita, they will not be Cross-Buy.
There is also a new "Final Fantasy X/X2 HD Collector's Edition" available only from Square Enix Store, which can be purchased here. Check the image below to have an idea of what this special edition contains:
This is one of the releases I've been looking forward to for a while, but with both not being Cross-Buy, I might end up picking only the Vita version.
Would you have preferred to have both games when purchasing the PS3 version? What are your thoughts about those announcements?
Source: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/12/16/final-fantasy-x-x-2-hd-collectors-edition-detailed-vita-release-date-2/
Square-Enix Remastering Final Fantasy X / X-2 and Kingdom Hearts 1.5 in HD: What we know so far
Posted by Ceidz in Editorial, Final Fantasy X/X2 HD Remake, Media, PLAYSTATION Store, PlayStation Vita, PS3 software on April 25th, 2013
Square-Enix recently announced that a few of their PS2 masterpieces would get HD Remasters for both the PS3 and PS Vita. Each remastered game (Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2, Kingdom Hearts Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts: Chains of Memories) will feature upgraded visuals, a few new features and bosses, and their own trophy list!
I searched the web to sum up what is known about those titles and compiled the data in this post, which is meant to be an extension of what Eddie wrote a few weeks ago.
Final Fantasy X and X-2 Remasters Announced for PS3 and Vita
Posted by Eddie in Final Fantasy X/X2 HD Remake, PlayStation Vita, PS3 on March 27th, 2013
The long awaited HD remake is just around the corner. Final Fantasy X and X-2 will be coming out for the PS3 and Vita this year. Square Enix has confirmed that the PS3 version will include both games and will cost $40. The PS Vita versions will be sold individually however prices have not been suggested as of yet.
The best part is that the versions released will be the International versions which were not released in North America. This will add story, sphere grids and super hard bosses known as Dark Aeons to FFX.
SE has stated that they are 70% complete on this project and that they are unsure if the special end mission that was released for FFX-2 will be included as that was a separate project in Japan. Either way, I can see hundreds of hours being put into these games for myself.


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|New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
|New International Version (NIV)
|1 Anyone who loves to be trained loves knowledge. Anyone who hates to be corrected is stupid.
|1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
|Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Reader's Version Bible Online)
|Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online)


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Quinta Madeira Villas
from £43 /night help
Townhouse | 2 bedrooms | sleeps 4
|Key Info
This beautiful 2 bedroom house is surrounded by landscaped gardens with large swimming pool (20mx15m) and is situated on a small complex of only 12 houses. The house offers two private balconies, one overlooking the swimming pool area and the rear balcony overlooking neighbouring landscaped gardens.
The complex is only a 10-minute walk from the Michelin Restaurant "Henrique Leis" and the renowned "A Quinta" restaurant and local supermarket and bakery. Almancil forms part of the "Golden Triangle" offering golf courses, water sports, horse riding, beach bars/restaurants, water parks, go-karting and the "Apolonia" supermarket.
|Sleeps up to 4, 2 bedrooms
|Nearest beach
|Vale do Lobo & Quinta do Lago
|Will consider
|Corporate bookings, Long term lets (over 1 month), Short breaks (1-4 days)
|Car advised
|Nearest Amenities
|500 m
|Nearest travel links
|Nearest airport: Faro Airport (20 Minute Drive), Nearest railway: Almancil
|Family friendly
|Great for children of all ages, Suitable for people with restricted mobility
|No pets allowed, No smoking at this property
Features and Facilities
|DVD player
|Shared outdoor pool (unheated)
|Air conditioning, TV, Video player, Safe, Satellite TV
|Kettle, Toaster, Hair dryer
|Clothes dryer, Dishwasher, Cooker, Microwave, Fridge, Freezer, Washing machine
|2 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms of which 1 Family bathrooms
|Single beds (2), Double beds (1), Dining seats for 4, Lounge seats for 4
|Linen provided, Towels provided
|Shared outdoor pool (unheated), Balcony or terrace, Shared garden
|Further details indoors
• Living Room / Dining Room with air-conditioning & large 36" TV with English Satellite TV & DVD player.
• Fully fitted "Bosch" modern kitchen with Dishwasher, fridge/freezer,Washing Machine, Electric Hob, oven and Microwave.
• 2 Bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, private balconies and air-conditioning
• Bathroom with double sink, bath with overhead shower
• Guest WC with double sink
English Satellite TV & DVD Player
• Aluminium frames with double glazing
• Mosquito Screens
• Safe
• Air-Conditioning / Hot & Cold Climate Control
|Further details outdoors
· Large Swimming Pool (20m x 15m)
· South-Facing Patio/Terrace Area leading directly to swimming Pool
The Algarve region
The Algarve is located on the southern end of Portugal offers a wide variety of beautiful resorts and beaches and offers a yearly retreat to many Northern Europeans looking for that place in the sun. With the wide variety of sun-kissed beaches and golf courses the Algarve has something for everyone.
From the mountains of Monchique offering wild pine forests and fantastic panoramic views to the clear blue waters of the the coastal resorts if anything your stay in the enchanting region will not be long enough to discover it all.
Further to the east beyond Tavira you enter Spain and can visit the beautiful Spanish City of Seville which can be visited by car in just over a 2 hour drive.
Almancil is within the golden triangle of the Algarve containing the exclusive resorts of Vale do Lobo, Vale Formoso & Quinta do Lago. with an abundance of fantastic golden sandy beaches and championship golf courses. This lovely area offers something for the whole family.
With a wide range of activities that are available within the area including golf, tennis and horse riding and other organised activities such as fishing & costal boat trips which can be organised from the resort of Vilamoura which is a only a 15 minute drive away. For the children Zoomarine, Krazyworld, Aquashow and other Water Parks are all within an easy drive or transport is provided by the parks if booked in advance. There are a variety of watersports on offer at the local Vale do Lobo & Quinta do Lago beaches. Also the Lakeside resort (10 Mins Drive) offers a large lagoon lake with pedalos,sailing & catamaran boats for hourly hire.
Also during your stay if you fancy a day trip to Portugal´s capital city of "Lisbon" by the fast pendular train (2hrs 37 Mins). It is a comfortable journey and no need to pay first class as the normal class is great, it costs about 37 euros return. You can catch the very early morning train at around 7am and the last one back to Loule is around 7pm.
There are over 8 beautiful beaches in Almancil and these are a few of them:
Vale do Lobo - Beautiful Golden long Sandy beach with a central praca with exclusive bars and restaurants overlooking the beach and sea. The beautiful beach offers sun umbrellas and loungers for hire along with various watersports.
Quinta do Lago - Expansive sandy beach accessed via the wooden footbridge with Ria Formosa nature reserve with stunning wildlife including pink flamingos and other migrating birds.
Vale do Garrao - Sandy Beach with beach restaurants
Dunas Douradas - Golden sandy beach
Trafal Beach - Sandy Beach with Naturist & Gay Nudist Zone
Quinta do Lago Championship golf course offering:
To play golf at Quinta do Lago is a joy for visitors and maybe more a way of life for those who decide to become members of this exclusive community.
In keeping with its heritage, Golf at Quinta do Lago enjoys the full spectrum of nature's bounty. Each course has been designed in harmony with its environment and successfully crafted to take their position among the Top 25 rated golf courses in all of Europe. It has played host to several Portuguese Opens and continues to be a venue of choice for national and international competitions.
Each course is an experience of Augusta type fare and generous, lush fairways are intermittently decorated with clusters of pine, heather, broom and wild flowers and the carefully tended greens, considered among the best in Portugal are fast, true and sometimes humbling.
Natural water features are sprinkled throughout and bunkers break the landscape almost as a constant reminder, to golfers of all experience and ability, of the great challenge that lies ahead.
All courses enjoy first class driving ranges, a golf academy, putting greens, pro-shops and clubhouses with large and informal terraces – the perfect setting to relax with friends and family, to toast the victor or, console the vanquished.
The three courses at Quinta do Lago offer different challenges.
The terrain of the South and North course is comprised of firm, sandy Algarvean soil, that gives a helpful impetus off the tee. An array of features, including water, bunker and an undulating landscape makes the approach to each green memorable - rewarding the deft touch or the sleight of hand.
The ample greens are of Creeping Bent grass, the fairways Bermuda and the ever changing landscape and layout means no two shots are the same while the next hole is as individual, as the previous.
Complimenting Quinta do Lago's existing resources and completing its offering is Laranjal.
Originally an orange grove, Laranjal has been nurtured by time, sculpted by nature and expertly designed to provide a world class golfing experience. With 6,500 metres of manicured terrain, it is a par 72, comprising five par 5s, eight par 4s and five par 3s
Vale do Lobo Championship golf course offering: Based on original concepts by the legendary Sir Henry Cotton and re-developed by the respected American golf architect Rocky Roquemore, the Vale do Lobo courses have twice been host to the Portuguese Open. Both take players through umbrella pine and fig tree-lined fairways to the Atlantic – the Royal playing dramatically along the cliff's edge, while the Ocean sweeps daintily down to the beach. This combination of links and parkland golf provides an enjoyable game for golfers of all standards.
Vilamoura´s 5 Championship Golf Courses (Victoria, Old Course, Millennium, Laguna & Pinhal) are only a 20 minute drive.
Vilamoura Family Pitch & Putt mini 18 hole golf course fun for all the family.
WaterParks : AquaShow (10 minute Drive), ZooMarine (30 Minutes drive)
Go-Karting: Welcome to Karting Almancil Created in 1992, the Almancil Karting is a space for leisure and competition that is available to all lovers and interested in motor sport more accessible to all: the Karting! Open all year, the circuit inaugurated by Ayrton Senna, is a 760 meters in length by 7,5 m of width replica of the former Formula 1 circuit in Brazil Jacarepaguá, the park annually receices over 250,000 visitor.
Availability Your dates are available
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7 Aug 2014
"Very relaxed and calm"
This villa complex was very quiet and relaxing. As the majority of the 12 are owner occupiers they would use them sporadically so I think when we were there only 4 were occupied. This meant that it was so peaceful. But the neighbours were very helpful and friendly. Pool is in superb condition as are the grounds. Cleaners come in and manicure the place. The villa itself is modern fresh and has most mod cons that anybody would need. The lady who looks after the complex met us there at the time agreed and gave us brief instructions etc. she left her number and was very efficient so if any problems she would sort it . The villa has two bedrooms upstairs and large shared bathroom with his and hers sinks. Also downstairs has another toilet. The entire villa is tiled so easy to keep and clean. Comfortable furnishings and the beds were hard but being honest we had a great sleep on them. All rooms have a/c but we never needed it as all doors and windows have fly screens so this meant windows wide open and a lovely breeze passed through. Although at first it seems off the beaten track, almancil is only a 7 min walk. There are shops bars and bakeries walking into the town and some great ones too. Close to the villa before you leave the minor road to join the main one there is a family run restaurant that we only found on the last day and wished we found sooner. You won't find this on trip adviser and hope you never do as its a hidden gem that the locals walk to and have food and a beer there. It would loose its charm and warmth if it was exposed. It's a great place for a base if playing golf or just going to the beach. My experience there is you always need a car. But to be fair if you did not want to drive the taxi journey to the airport is about 15-20 minutes max. And there are local hackney cars that are quite reasonable if going to any of the many fine restaurants in the area.
What I really liked about this villa was the quietness and the ability to relax. My 2 year old son happily pottered around the pool and grounds as it's gated in so there was no fear of him getting lost. Although he's young he can swim but still you would be vigilant as the pool has a great deep end. Shallow end is above waist height so still young children would not be touching the floor.
I would have happily stayed a second week there. I was over for a wedding that started in Santa Barbara de Nexe which is 12 min away then off to os ogostos wedding venue, then next day in Quinta da laga/ vale do lobo so this was central to all of these places. Most people in these mentioned areas have to come to almancil to do their shopping. So to sum it up. It's central. Value for money. Very relaxing and quiet.
20 Aug 2013
"Very nice accommodation with lovely pool"
Very good quality accommodation with lovely pool. Everything you need for a peaceful holiday, would recommend a car we did manage with taxis but not ideal. Almost impossible to fault the accommodation except the nearest supermarket was around 15 minutes walk. Would definitely go back.
24 Jul 2013
"Fantastic pool area"
The accommodation was spotlessly clean and equipped with everything we needed. The large pool and garden area was beautiful and where we spent most of our time. Would definitely stay here again!
13 Jul 2013
"Lovely villa, quiet location"
My partner and I booked this villa just a few weeks before we went and we were very pleased with every aspect of the booking. We emailed the owner direct, had a quick response and were given a late check out. The villa is in a quiet location with 11 other villas, it has a very well kept pool and beautiful gardens. There were only us and another Vila occupied for most of our stay so it was like having our own private pool. The villa was well equipped with everything you would need including beach towels. We were greeted at the villa on arrival and everything was explained to us in detail including how to use the satellite t.v. We were also given directions to the nearest supermarket for our provisions and given a number to call if we needed help with anything. The villa was immaculately clean and the beds and sheets were of high quality. There were several restaurants within walking distance with varying price ranges. I would thoroughly recommend the Quinta Madeira villas to anyone wanting a quiet holiday in a tucked away location with easy access to the exclusive golden triangle area.
18 Jun 2013
"Lovely, tranquil house with great pool - recommended"
We stayed here for a week, and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. The house is perfectly equipped with everything you could possibly need, and is in a very quiet area away from busy roads. The pool is fantastic and quite large considering it serves only a few houses, and there is plenty of room for sun loungers around it. We were lucky enough to have the pool to ourselves for 5 days during out week there. The outdoor seating area on the ground floor is great for relaxing in the shade or having dinner, and each bedroom also benefits from its own balcony which is a big bonus (2 clothes driers included).
The house is on the outskirts of Almancil, so it's best to drive to the beach (10 mins to Vale do Lobo/Quarteira) and supermarkets (5 minutes to Pingo and Apolonia). There are also heaps of beaches to explore further west towards and past Albufeira, which is only 20 minutes or so in the car. There are plenty of dining options too - a couple of top restaurants within walking distance, and some local ones too (we really enjoyed the friendly service and grilled meat at O Apeadeiro just over the train tracks on the road into Almancil centre), and many more around the centre of Almancil and further.
All in all, the perfect place to relax for a week or to use as a base for exploring the local area and beaches. We would definitely go back to this house again in the future. The photos are very representative of what you get. Highly recommended.
14 Oct 2012
"Welcoming, Clean, Bright, well- maintained, perfect for small families"
The house is bright, spacious and welcoming, we stayed for one week and we had an amazing time. The house is in a quiet location, it has all of the mod coms that you require and English TV. Our 17 months old loved running around on the terrace. We had a car and find it very useful as it made it easier to explore the area. The owner was lovely he even sourced a travel cot for us. Great Villa, great Holiday I would definitely recommend it and we would go back.
17 Jun 2012
"Very pretty house in quiet location"
The house was very pretty and surrounded by pleasant gardens with direct access to the pool from the terrace. The property was very clean and well equipped and furnished to make our stay pleasant and comfortable. Almancil is a lively small town with lots of cafes and restaurants very close by. The fashionable resorts of Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago are only a short drive away and have some excellent top class restaurants - Alambique and Casa da Quinta being our favourites. Vilamoura with its large marina surrounded by restaurants is also well worth visiting.
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Offer: Communications Specialist /Science writer
If you can take over and develop a programme of scientific communication for an international research and development centre, then you are the person we are looking for.
Working with an expert communications team, this position offers an exciting opportunity to collaborate with preeminent scientists in the area of agroforestry to make the impact of their work known throughout the world. The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya, and may require occasional travel to international locations.
You will guide our communications work in the following ways:
• Identify high-interest stories from the work of the World Agroforestry Centre and its collaborators, write stories in a range of styles and disseminate them through suitable channels.
• Manage the news content of the Centre's website and contribute to social media activities, especially in actively running the institutional blog.
• Assist the research programmes and regions to develop and implement communication plans to complement their research activities.
• Work to have Centre research and impact featured in the international media.
• Collaborate with other CGIAR research centres and partners in communications activities.
• Edit and produce a two-monthly e-newsletter featuring stories on Centre research and other initiatives.
• Help to maintain the highest standards for the centre's publications and website materials.
• Prepare articles and submissions for media outlets, CGIAR communications and other avenues
• Assist in providing review and editorial assistance for Centre documents and materials.
• Mentor regional office and junior communications staff and supervise consultants and interns.
• Delegate for the Head of Communications.
The successful applicant will have:
• An MSc in agroforestry, agriculture, communications or related subject.
• Minimum experience of five (5) years in a similar position, preferably in an international organization.
• Experience in developing compelling stories from research papers and interaction with scientists.
• Experience in engaging the international media in the communication of research impact.
• Flawless English language, writing and grammatical skills.
• Expert knowledge of the Microsoft suite, with knowledge of Photoshop.
• Experience in developing and maintaining web and social media sites.
Terms of offer
We offer a collegial, diverse and gender-sensitive working environment, and we strongly encourage applications from qualified women. This position is remunerated on international terms. The appointment will be for an initial period of three (3) years, subject to a nine (9) months probation period.
How to apply
• A cover letter illustrating your suitability for the position, and your salary expectations.
• A detailed and up-to-date curriculum vitae.
• Several articles you have written and URLs of websites you work on.
• The names and addresses of three referees, including telephone numbers and email addresses, and fax details if available.
: The Human Resources Unit, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), PO Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya OR send via email to: email@example.com. Indicate "Application for Communications Specialist/Science Writer" on the application letter. Applications will be considered until 9 November 2011 or until a suitable candidate is identified and selected. Please note that only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.
To learn more about us, visit our website: www.worldagroforestry.org
The World Agroforestry Centre is an independent research institution which generates science-based knowledge about the complex role trees play in agricultural landscapes and rural livelihoods. As part of the Centre's work to bring tree-based solutions to bear on poverty and environmental problems, researchers – working in close collaboration with partners – are developing new technologies, tools and policy recommendations for increased food security and ecosystem health.


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Father's Day Crafts
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Father's Day Coin Frame
By: Katie of Bower Power
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Looking for a budget-friendly gift for Dad this Father's Day? Grab a hot glue gun and some spare change and create a coin frame wall art piece just for Dad. This great project comes to us from Katie of Bower Power.
Father's day is definitely a toughie. As a daddy's girl myself, I always dreamed of giving that perfect gift. But only my dad could afford to purchase those shiny new golf clubs or that new techno gadget. And so the inner crafter in me whispered 'make it personal'. And the inner designer in me threw in 'make it something wall-worthy'. And that is exactly what this craft is all about. This is a gift that your hero will be proud to see hanging in his office and make him smile ear to ear as he remembers the hidden message. Extra points if your daddy works as an accountant, banker, or in finance. The best part is that it won't cost you an arm and a leg to make it…we are in a recession, right? So let's get started.
- Picture frame with mat
- Hot glue gun
- Glue sticks
- Pen or pencil
- Scissors
- Cardboard or heavy cardstock
- Coins
- Aluminum foil & scotch tape *optional for silver toned version
First gather your materials.
Trace the outside and inside of the picture frame mat onto your cardboard or heavy cardstock. The outside line will give you a guideline to cut. The inside line will give you an idea of how close to the edge you need to glue your coins.
Cut the cardboard or heavy cardstock with a pair of scissors using the outer line as a guideline.
Wrap one side with aluminum foil and secure on the back with several pieces of tape.
Using your hot-glue gun, squeeze a small amount of hot glue onto one side of your coin and place the coin glue side down in the center of your foil-covered cardstock. Working away from the center, affix a layer of coins in a random pattern. Don't worry if the coins overlap slightly. The key here is to cover the aluminum foil. A second layer of coins may be applied if you like.
Let the hot glue dry. Then layer the new coin art into a silver-toned frame with a white mat.
Another option is to use pennies instead of silver coins. Eliminate the aluminum foil and use the brown colored cardboard as your background. Make sure to use a dark frame to offset the colors of the copper pennies.
Now here's the kicker: Wrap your gift and give to your Pops with a note that says "Daddy – I made you this art for your office. I hope that when you look up at it, you hear my voice saying 'Dad, I love you. You are the coolest. You are soo money and you don't even know it!"
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Jewish Lights has just published a new collection of inspiring reflections, based on Jewish wisdom, entitled "Life's Daily Blessings" by Rabbi Kerry M. Olitzky, Executive Director of the Jewish Outreach Institute. For each day of the year, an inspiring quote from a Jewish source and a personal reflection on it help readers focus on their spiritual lives. Using both the secular and Jewish calendar as a framework, this daily devotional helps the reader honor the special and holy events of the year as well as identify the sacred moments in everyday life. It draws on the wisdom of Jewish sources and teachings, and ancient and contemporary spiritual thinkers, to elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary every day of the year. www.jewishlights.com
Founded in 1875, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is North America's first institution of higher Jewish education and the academic, spiritual, and professional leadership development center of Reform Judaism. HUC-JIR educates men and women for service to North American and world Jewry as rabbis, cantors, educators, and nonprofit management professionals, and offers graduate programs to scholars and clergy of all faiths. With centers of learning in Cincinnati, Jerusalem, Los Angeles, and New York, HUC-JIR's scholarly resources comprise the renowned Klau Library, the American Jewish Archives, research institutes and centers, and academic publications. In partnership with the Union for Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, HUC-JIR sustains the Reform Movement's congregations and professional and lay leaders. HUC-JIR's campuses invite the community to cultural and educational programs illuminating Jewish heritage and fostering interfaith and multiethnic understanding. www.huc.edu


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DeWalt's new 8V MAX Gyroscopic Screwdriver is governed by gryoscopic sensors inside the tool that sense the user's wrist motions -- right to tighten screws, left to loosen. The professional-grade tool converts from pistol grip to inline grip.
The OS50VC half-sheet orbital sander promotes "maximum vibration control." It also has a Sheetloc paper clamping system that ensures taught sand paper with every use.
The 3 1/2-in. Trak-Cut circular saw with miter guide base performs tile cuts, grout removal, cross cuts, rip cuts and other cuts. It also features an ergonomic guard release lever mechanism.
Promising zero emissions and up to 40% quieter operation than gas alternatives, the 36V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Chainsaw from Makita delivers 1,650 FPM for increased cutting speed.
The Milwaukee Tool M12 Fuel 5/8-in. SDS Plus Rotary Hammer promises "performance and run time that is comparable to a much larger tool," according to the company. It runs on a Powerstate brushless motor.
A fully integrated bit management system is built into the front of the tool. The product also has what Skil calls the "tool industry's first-ever USB charging capability."
From a gyroscopic screwdriver to a 360 Quick-Select drill, here's a collection of new products for a modern power customer.


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From the profession's best education to broad liability insurance, AMTA membership provides the tools you need to thrive in your massage therapy career.
Join AMTA »
Explore the profession's best education, both face-to-face and online. Expand your knowledge and take your career to the next level.
Access Continuing Education »
Learn what to expect in a sports medicine setting and how to tailor massage therapy sessions to each athlete.
Take this course now »
From SOAP notes to intake forms, use these tools to market your practice, expand your business and make informed decisions about your professional growth.
Explore Career Guidance »
Search massage therapy jobs in your area or find qualified candidates with ease. AMTA members post open positions and resumes for free.
AMTA Job Bank »
A growing body of research supports the health benefits of massage therapy. Educate your clients with our resources.
Get the research »
Stay engaged with timely massage therapy news and updates through our award-winning publications and related news stories.
Be in the Know »
New Benefit for AMTA Members: FREE Webinars
Access great information without ever leaving the home or office through these one-hour sessions. Webinars focus on honing interviewing skills, how to effectively use social media and more. Topics such as assessment tools, rubrics, and student recruitment are covered in detail to help Schools maximize their potential. These webinars are presented by experts in the field while participants watch, listen and learn. Designed to be interactive, the webinar format also allows you to ask questions.Check out upcoming webinars.
View past webinars.
Questions or Suggestions?
Contact email@example.com
"When I was looking for the right organization, the choice seemed clear. AMTA has the best benefits, educational programs and resources to help me maintain and grow my practice. "
—Amy Z., AMTA member since 1999
AMTA has long been the leading choice among massage therapists looking to establish themselves within the profession. We provide our members with the strongest benefits and promote massage therapy to the public and health care community.
Learn more
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T-Mobile moved my collections account from Superior Asset to ERC (thank god! I was getting nowhere with SAM. Tried sooo hard too).
This is giving me new life that I may be able to get this collections off once and for all.
So has anyone had luck in removing ERC from their credit report? If so, what angle did you take?
ERC is a nightmare. I was just dealing with them on a collection from Kay Jewellers.
At least the rep i got was really rude even telling me that it was irresponsible not to pay my bills; without even knowing my personal situation. But I stayed calm. She said they would not remove the collections and Kay will not either. They will just report it as paid collection.
I hate to be that negative but my first experience with ERC was a nightmare. Hopefully yours is better. Let me know ho rthat turns out.
I just did a direct dispute with the CRA's after I couldn't get a hold of ERC. They never bothered to send me a dunning letter EVER just like they never even bothered to "verify" the debt and it fell right off.
Not the easiest to deal with in my experience with them. Disputed with CRA, then DV letter, 2nd DV letter and complaint to ACA, then after compalint it was removed. They never responded to any DV letter. My account was also over 5 years old, so maybe that helped. Good luck
myFICO is the consumer division of FICO. Since its introduction 20 years ago, the FICO® Score has become a global standard for measuring credit risk in the banking, mortgage, credit card, auto and retail industries. 90 of the top 100 largest U.S. financial institutions use the FICO Score to make consumer credit decisions.>> About myFICO


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- Aug 27, 2008
New Seat Exeo is an old Audi A4
VW subsidiary Seat is, like The Jeffersons, movin' on up, rolling out a new range of vehicles that will push it into new market segments. The image above is one of a set of the automaker's Exeo sedan given to the trademark office in Spain. According to the company, "the new name stems from the Latin word 'Exire', meaning "to go beyond", "to go further", and "The name Exeo is advanced, forceful and technological, which signals excellence and is highly suggestive of driving pleasure." Ok...
Instead of creating something completely new to chart these unknown waters, Seat has taken a previous gen Audi A4 and given it front and rear clips in the Seat style. Seat will also use the A4 Avant body to create an Exeo wagon. The newish sedan is meant to compete with the Ford Mondeo, Renault Laguna, and Alfa Romeo 159 and will be launched some time next year as a 2010 model. It is expected to retail for £15,000 to £23,000 in the U.K. and we don't yet know which powerplants it will receive.
[Source: Autocar]
29 Comments


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Emergency: The critical condition of US health care
What is the biggest contributor to high health care costs right now?
David HANDEL: A lot of things are contributing to the increasing cost of health care, starting with demographics. We've got an aging population. We also have some intrinsic health problems in the country—a high incidence of smoking, obesity. There is a lot of new technology that improves care but it's also expensive and adds to the cost of health care. Similarly, there are also new pharmaceuticals, which again improve care but do have an impact on costs. You have labor shortages, and when that happens, it increases labor cost. You have the uninsured, who have less access to care, so they get care further in the process and that becomes more expensive. Many times they also go to the emergency room, which is a very expensive entry point into health care. So there are a wide variety of factors. In addition, the utilization of health care services by individuals is increasing.
Eric WRIGHT: I would add that when you compare the U.S. health care system to other countries' systems, we spend a larger proportion of our health care dollars on administrative costs. Most estimates range between 25 and 30 percent of every dollar we spend on health care is because of administrative costs. It largely goes to the complex way we choose to fund health care services. So the fact that health care facilities have to have many billing clerks to figure out how to bill different payers of health care actually adds a lot to the cost.
The newest thing we've seen in the last two decades is the emergence of a whole class of non-clinical professional case managers, whose primary functions are to negotiate with payors. Originally, it was only insurance companies that had case managers to help manage costs; however, hospitals came to realize in the 1990s that they needed to have people to do that as well. As a result, most hospitals now have case management departments who work primarily with the case managers from the insurance companies to figure out what they are going to cover and at what level. The fact that we have this whole class of professionals adds extraordinarily to the cost of health care. European countries tend have 6 to 8 percent of their costs for administration. One fact that is surprising to most is that our own Medicare system is actually quite efficient, where only about 2 percent of each Medicare dollar goes for administration. So a lot of it has to do with how you pay.
With such a bureaucratic burden, is there a way to cut it back at some point or is it just the nature of the beast?
WRIGHT: One of the reasons everyone is so excited about new health information technologies—and President Bush mentioned this in the State of the Union address—is the potential development of a standardized billing system. The belief is that an electronic medical records system will demand a uniform billing system that will streamline and reduce the administrative burden on health care claims processing. Right now, most health insurance companies and even federal and state payors have their own rules and forms for billing, which simply adds to administrative overhead. It is difficult, though, to say just how successful this effort can be because health insurance companies have their own standards for assessing clinical need, efficacy, and outcomes, which are become increasingly tied to decisions about payment.
Ann HOLMES: One of the issues in the United States is that you can have multiple payers for a single patient. This fact complicates determining who is covered for what service, as well as who pays for that service.The amount of paperwork that's generated is really quite astounding.
What burden will the aging population bring to the health care industry?
HANDEL: It's going to have a huge effect. Today, there's about 42 million enrollees in Medicare and that number is going to grow over 25 years to an estimated 78 million—so essentially that's almost double in a 25-year period. As people age, their need for health care increases.
WRIGHT: But it's not quite as straightforward now. The GAO came out with a report recently that estimated the percentage of the older population having severe physical disabilities is lower now than it was in previous generations. So at the same time there is a growing health care population of seniors, seniors are also healthier than previous generations, which is only making it more difficult to accurately project the health care needs and costs for the elderly.
HANDEL: The other thing is the financing of Medicare. Part A, the hospital component of Medicare, is financed through payroll taxes from those who are working. As the population ages, there are fewer people working relative to the retirees to pay for Mecicare costs. Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson was in Indianapolis as part of a panel discussion recently and he really focused on the year 2013 as the point that the money flowing in to Medicare will be less than the money flowing out to pay the costs of benificiaries' health care. Everyone talks about Social Security having this huge financial problem over time, but most health care experts believe Medicare is a similar if not greater potential problem if the current system is perpetuated.
Is Medicare prepared to deal with that influx or is it just too much of a government bureaucracy to deal with the problem quickly enough?
HANDEL: My view is that Medicare won't have a problem enrolling new people to traditional Medicare. They use insurance intermediaries around the country that are very effective in handling this. As Eric said, their administrative costs are low. So I don't think the challenge is adding more elderly to the program, I think it's the funding of the program and the medical care these people are going to need.
WRIGHT: I think what's interesting about Medicare Part D is this "donut hole", which is adding a whole layer of complexity for the consumer. It's inconsistent with the way Medicare has operated historically. Most of the cost control mechanisms in Medicare have certainly been behind the scenes on the provider side, where they squeeze the provider. While the new program is helping to cover some of Medicare subscribers' prescription expenses, the new program seems to be balanced more in favor of the suppliers of pharmaceuticals than the consumer.
HOLMES: When we want the consumer to assume the responsibility for limiting consumption, we force them to pay a portion of the cost. But cost control alone can't explain the "donut hole". The standard Medicare Part D plan has a 25 percent co-pay for people with very low levels of prescription drug use, but then the copayment increases to 100 percent at more moderate levels of use. This pattern is completely at odds with economic principles of insurance that suggest large losses should be covered on more, not less, generous terms than small losses. So why do we see such patterns? I think it has to do with Part D being a voluntary insurance plan. In most other developed countries, participation in a health insurance program is mandatory, so that risks (and costs) are pooled across the whole population. In the U.S., insurers have to contend with the fact that people can chose to opt out of voluntary insurance schemes, leaving the plan with only high-cost participants. As a result, Medicare had to design this rather complicated benefit scheme in which people who expect to have low prescription drug costs are offered a particularly generous benefit in order for the program to be financially solvent.
What are some of the advantages to the U.S. system of employer-based insurance over a national health care system?
HOLMES: Compared to a lot of other countries, the access to care for people who have insurance is much better, particularly high-tech care and intensive care.
HANDEL: Clearly, the availability of high technology is greater here based on the way the system works. That doesn't mean that technology is not available in other countries, it just isn't available in the numbers that it is in the United States.
HOLMES: I had an oncologist express it to me this way: Everything we do here for cancer they do in Canada—they just don't do it quite as often. In the larger provinces in Canada, they will have one main health center for the province with many of the facilities you would expect to find in any large U.S. health care center. Patients may face geographic barriers to accessing these facilities, and access may be further limited using waiting lists, but they don't have to contend with the same financial barriers that confront U.S. patients. In the U.S., access to care is more convenient, but only if you can afford it.
Another interesting thing is the split of specialists and primary care doctors. The ratio is reversed in Canada compared to the U.S. Here, I typically have a much longer wait to see my family practice doctor than I do to see many specialists, but it's the other way around in Canada. I've always found the contrast interesting: If you are going to ration one type of care, you might ask which type is more appropriate to try and limit.
WRIGHT: But you also have to keep in mind that primary care tends to be low-cost care. Good primary care can reduce the need for higher cost care. The ultimate irony of the pattern Ann noted is that in waiting for your primary care physician, you may end up getting sicker in the meantime. In fact, I know somebody who had what was basically a cold that turned into bronchitis and ultimately resulted in pneumonia and a visit to the ER, all the while she was waiting to see her primary care physician.
Premiums have become more of an issue in employer-based care in recent years. Is this due to higher health care administrative costs or higher employer costs?
HANDEL: The cost of health care has gone up and that means the health benefit costs that companies have has gone up significantly. The things employers have been doing are increasing the percentage of the benefit costs paid by their employees, both in co-pays and deductibles.
HOLMES: I think it's also an indication of the shift of the corporate mindset—financially distressed businesses are abandoning many of their pension and health benefit obligations, as seen first in the airline industry and I believe next in the auto industry. So that's a real shift in attitude in corporate America toward its employees. And if one major company in a particular industry does it, the others will be at a competitive disadvantage if they don't all follow suit.
HANDEL: You don't see this so much with the large companies, but with smaller companies. A lot of small companies are in fact dropping their health care coverage. I think statistically 69 percent of companies had health care insurance in 2000 and it's now down to 60 percent and that decrease was not with large companies of 200 or more employees, it was with the smaller companies.
WRIGHT: One of the rationales is if you make the consumer more conscious of what they are paying for, they are going to be more judicious in using that care. So I think these high deductible health care plans attached to a health savings account exist because what they want to do is put more responsibility on the consumer to make those choices. Unfortunately, this puts the consumer in a potentially vulnerable position if they have a significant health event. The question is what happens when they make a mistake and haven't saved enough for when they do get sick? Where do the resources come from to pay for the additional costs? To save money, employers are cutting out things from health care plans—some don't even cover childbirth or cancer now. More and more people are shocked when they learn that what they assumed was covered is not. People typically go for the plan with low-cost premiums without really reading the fine print in terms of what the impact is on their access to care.
HOLMES: You also have to make some heroic assumptions about whether the typical "man in the street" is sufficiently well-informed to know when his money is well spent on health care. This is not just a problem of judging the quality of different providers, but also whether it is even appropriate to seek care in the first place. There is a real risk that, in an attempt to economize, a person will delay seeking care until it's past the point where a better result could have been achieved for less money.
WRIGHT: I think one of the long-term implications, which goes back to your question about national health care, is that these changes are going to force the federal and state governments to get more involved. With General Motors and other major corporations cutting back on pension and health care coverage, I believe we are going to see a lot more major corporations moving in this direction very quickly. What that's going to do is force the federal government to pick up more of these costs, which is why I think you're suddenly hearing about national health care programs again. These trends are making a lot of people very jittery. The problem is that if we allow this corporate restructuring to continue, the federal government is going to be forced to respond, but only after it has become truly a crisis, and it will be it a lot harder to construct a rational system at that point than if we were to do it incrementally over the course of a decade.
HOLMES: If you get to the point where consumers see employer-based insurance at risk, then they are going to support more government intervention. But you still have a lot of vested interests who want to keep the health care market in its current form. After all, what we see as high costs are high incomes to other parties. One of the challenges facing the national health insurance movement in the U.S. is that these vested interests have much more at stake, and are much better organized, than their counterparts when other countries adopted national health insurance. Recently, we've seen concerted lobbying efforts from the insurance industry and manufacturers of drugs and devices when health care reform has appeared on the national political agenda.
What are some of the trends we see now in the industry and what is the future going to look like for health care?
HOLMES: The cynical member of this party sees increasing fissures and segmentation of the market that will aggravate current inefficiencies. For instance, insurance products are being put together to attract low-risk healthy people and not necessarily high-risk unhealthy people. Pay-for-performance initiatives may give providers financial incentives to seek people who have good outcomes and not bad outcomes when they're treated. Again, the people who are at highest risk for bad outcomes are those that often have the greatest need for care. So you're targeting resources to a disproportionate number of healthy people.
HANDEL: I think there are positive trends. Recognizing what we talked about before, this is a complicated, diverse industry but the attention focused on health care quality is developing a lot of momentum and I think there will be significant progress made in that area that should have a positive impact on the quality of care and an impact on lowering the cost of care. There are a lot of experiments going on in states in terms of how you provide some kind of insurance for the uninsured and hopefully these and other experiments will provide good models for making significant progress in this area. There are efforts to address a number of different elements but it's hard to have a cohesive, all-encompassing approach based on the way the health care field is structured.
WRIGHT: I think Dave said it really well. The are many positive trends, and I think they make most Americans feel good about where medicine is going. However, at the same time, there other cross currents that aren't so positive. The costs that are fueling medical innovation are really out of control, and there is no one place that you can put your finger on to exert effective cost control. The system is just too complicated. Another complicating factor is public opinion. On the one hand, most people believe we should do something about the uninsured and take care of people with serious health problems. At the same time, the public is also clearly resistant to any change if it involves changes to the health care they receive. That is, most Americans actually feel good about the health care they receive. It's as if most Americans are circling the wagons, trying to protect their own piece of the health care system without recognizing how what they are getting is connected to the larger system and the many problems that Ann alluded to earlier. The consolidation of health programs also reflects this circling-the-wagons mentality. They are banding together to create efficiencies through the consolidation of services and to protect themselves from critics who are advocating for fundamental change in the system. We're seeing more and more of these conglomerates developing—and how big they get is going to be the big question.
HOLMES: Economists would say they did that to better negotiate prices.
WRIGHT: That's part of it, but they're still circling the wagons to protect their markets
David Handel is a clinical profesor and director of the Master of Health Administration program at SPEA IUPUI. He received his MBA in Hospital Administration from the University of Chicago in 1968. He has extensive experience in health care management.
Eric Wright is an associate professor and director of Health Policy at the Center for Urban Policy and the Environment in Indianapolis. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Indiana University Bloomington. His expertise includes health policy and services research, mental health policy and services research, HIV/AIDS/STD prevention, and applied social research and program evaluation.
Ann M. Holmes is an associate professor at SPEA IUPUI. Her fields of interest include health economics, measurement of health outcomes for economic evaluation, and analysis of mental health utilization. She received her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.


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Feb. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Nigeria named Parry Osayande, a former police chief, as head of a committee to reorganize the country's police force, the Abuja-based presidency said.
The nine-member committee is tasked with improving efficiency and effectiveness and will "primarily redress the rot in the Nigeria Police Force and reposition it to face the challenges of a democratic society," Vice President Namadi Sambo said in the statement.
To contact the reporter on this story: Elisha Bala-Gbogbo in Abuja at firstname.lastname@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Hilton Shone at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Category:High School Chemistry
From Wikibooks, open books for an open world
This category contains pages that are part of the High School Chemistry book.
Related categories
The following related category may be of interest.
- ► High School Chemistry/Templates (1 page)
Books or Pages
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Hitachi Intros 4TB G-DRIVE and G-RAID Drives: Fast for Macs, Slower for PCs
September 11th, 2011
While I agree that 4 terabytes of storage might seem like a lot to some users, it isn't for others (me included). I've been delaying dealing with my hard drive capacity problems for about a year and a half and it's gotten to the point where I'll need a RAID array to serve my needs. Thankfully, Hitachi has just announced some new 4TB drives that will be released soon.
The 4TB hard drives will be part of Hitachi's G-RAID and G-DRIVE lineup of external drives. Their perforated, all-aluminum cases look pretty nice. Matching the look of the Mac Pro tower, these drives are clearly targeted at Apple users. All models will come with Thunderbolt support, while PC users will have to be content with eSATA and USB 2.0 (sorry, no USB 3.0).
The drives will start shipping in October. Other hard drive makers will certainly release their own 4TB drives in the near future as well.
MORE:Computing | Technology | 4tb | array | drive | esata | external hard drive | hitachi | mac | raid | storage | usb 2.0


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Ramblin' Man: Full-time RV Life
My blog is about an alternative retirement lifestyle – Full-Time RVing. Here you get to follow my travels and see many of the interesting places and people I encounter along my way.
Monthly Archive for July, 2011
Shifting Internet Gears…Part 2
The new router and associated cables arrived yesterday about 12:30 PM. By 4:30 PM everything was installed and appears to be running fine. Why are these things never easy? Four hours and 3 phone calls to the router store just seems a bit much. Anyways… the job is done. In the below photo you can […] [Read More]
Shifting Internet Gears…Part 1
Modern technology is very interesting. In our motorhome we can wander just about anywhere and still have Internet and cell phone service. In the below photo you can see our current set up velcro-ed to the passenger-side wall in the motorhome. Plugged into a 12 volt DC source is the Cradlepoint (upside down) Router which […] [Read More]
I Visit "THE" Information Man Of…
the RVing World! If it has to do with RVing…Chuck Woodbury knows about it. Yesterday I drove the one hour drive from my current camping spot in Monroe to meet Chuck Woodbury at his office in Edmunds, Washington. Chuck and I have chatted via email a few times in the last couple of years…but had […] [Read More]
From A Distance The Flaws Were Not Apparent…
No…I'm not talking about a woman…but, my 1986 Ford Bronco II. As a matter of fact…it looked pretty darn good even though it had not had a good washing, other than rain, since April. But…once you got closer you could see them…such as the clear-coat flaking on the hood… and the driver's door damage and […] [Read More]
It's Been A Long Time Since…
I have had a professional haircut for only $5. Recently I walked in to Don's Barber Shop on Main Street in Monroe, Washington. His normal price is $8, but for retirees it's only $5! I'm pleased to report it was a good haircut. As a full-time RVer for the last 16 years, I've had my […] [Read More]
A Possible Maybe Becomes A Done Deal…
In my July 6th Blog entry I discussed reading the book(s) of William Least Heat-Moon. It was then that I described I had starting reading his last book River Horse and I was kind of struggling with his book(s) because of what I called an awkward writing style. At that time I classified my situation […] [Read More]
Some Thoughts On Life Expectancy…
I'm not sure how I got to thinking about this topic a couple of days ago…perhaps it had something to do with my, then upcoming, annual physical examination at Seattle's VA Hospital which happened two-day ago. Thankfully…no problems. I think it was also because when you reach my current age (70), you become aware that […] [Read More]
All's Okay…Except For The Down-Side…
Yesterday I drove about one hour from my current camping spot at Thousand Trails RV Resort in Monroe to the VA Hospital in Seattle, Washington for my bi-annual physical examination. It's a huge facility located in South Seattle. The below Google Earth view is not a real-time photo. When I go there during the day…the […] [Read More]
New Contender For World's Stupidest RV Trick?
At this time I'm just hanging out enjoying the nice weather at Thousand Trails Thunderbird RV Resort in Monroe, Washington. About one month ago I wrote several Blogs entries about this beautiful park. If you are interested, they are easy to find. Since nothing unusual is happening to write about, I thought I share another […] [Read More]
The Future RV????
At this time I'm just hanging out enjoying the nice weather at Thousand Trails Thunderbird RV Resort in Monroe, Washington. About one month ago I wrote several Blogs entries about this beautiful park. If you are interested, they are easy to find. Since nothing unusual is happening to write about, I thought I share another […] [Read More]
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Call (508) 896-1716
1000 Freemans Way, Brewster, MA 02631
Currently 39°F, Cloudy
Two championship golf courses at one location! Together, the par-72 Port Course and the par-72 Starboard Course deliver 36 holes of enjoyment during your visit to Cape Cod.
Golf Cape Cod at the Captains Golf Course. The Captains is Cape Cod's premier public golf course facility, located in Brewster, Massachusetts – the golf capital of the Lower Cape! Our staff includes PGA professionals available for lessons and clinics. We also feature a fully stocked Pro Shop as well as full restaurant amenities for outings and banquets. The course is conveniently located off the Mid-Cape Highway and is within easy driving distance of Providence and Boston.
The Port Course
The Starboard Course
|The Port Course is more challenging. Par 72, Slope 131, Rating 72.1. The course has two kettle ponds that guard greens and a stretch of new holes 12-17 that are among the best around.
|The Starboard Course Par 72, Slope 122, Rating 71.5 is a more comfortable course to play and favored by most who have played Captains since its origin. Because of its ease Starboard is preferred more by those with higher handicaps.
|More about the Port Course
|More about the Starboard Course
In appreciation of all those that have served our country, the Captains Golf Course is offering Golf with Cart for a fee of $20 to all military veterans or active duty this Friday, November 7 through Veteran's Day, November 11. You must show proof of military service when you check in. Thank you for your service.
Off-Season memberships are now available for a GREAT price! Resident - Full membership just $299; Resident - Twilight membership just $149; Non-Resident -Full membership just $399; and Non-Resident Twilight membership just $249. All memberships cover the period September 2, 2014 through March 31, 2015. Call the pro shop at 508-896-1716 for details or for an application form. Applications are also available to download by CLICKING HERE.
© 2014 Captains Golf Course
Website by: Community Internet Cape Cod SEO


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Well after finding out that I was pregnant it has been really crazy. I feel extremely bloated and my weight has been fluctuating tremendously!!! I gain 10 pounds lose 10 pounds, such a yoyo. I can't wait for this trimester to be over, then I can get on a normal routine again. This 1st trimester has been the worse one compared to my other 3 pregnancies. I know they are always different, but wow, that different?? One minute I feel like I am starving to death and the other minute I can barely drink a sip of water I feel so full and bloated. It's killing me that I can't walk or exercise everyday like I was because some days are really bad. But no matter what I still take the stairs at work just to make sure I get something in throughout the day, lol!!! A little is better then nothing, right???
Well life is changing for me and my family once again. Found out that I am expecting again. Unexpected yes but am very happy. I was on the road to losing 100 pounds but that has now been put on hold. BUT, I seem to do so much better when I am pregnant. I know I will do good, eat right for me and the baby and exercise safely. Why is that I wonder? All my pregnancies I lost more weight after giving birth to them then when I am trying to do this seriously on my own. It's weird how that works. Looking forward to the new chapter in my life, this will be awesome!!!!
There is nothing more discouraging than water weight. I know it is only for a week, but it really puts a big damper on all the hard work and then you don't know your real weight until the following week. This is the only time I don't like being a woman, lol!!! But the good note is that I will be better at the end. I did get to do everything I wanted to this weekend and overall ate pretty healthy. Very proud of me. Still chugging along.
Doing pretty good so far. Didn't lose the weight I intended this week but still lost a pound. Better luck this week. Been doing so much with my house that it has been keeping me very active. We are hoping to have the house on the market next month. But won't push it if I can't.
Had a little set back. Dang Easter candy, lol!!! But I am doing good with exercising, at least walking. Tonight I plan on running a little mixing it with walking on the treadmill. Other then the Easter candy, I am making better choices in my eating habits once again. The good part is, because I really did good last year with my eating, it was much easier to get back in the habit once I fell off the wagon. I do have to remind myself not to get so dramatic if I don't eat well or exercise. That's what causes a lot of stress for me. I need to remember to chillax and breathe.