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Color Image Segmentation Using Kekre's Algorithm for Vector Quantization
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Executive Summary
In this paper the authors propose segmentation approach based on Vector Quantization technique. Here they have used Kekre's fast codebook generation algorithm for segmenting low-altitude aerial image. This is used as a preprocessing step to form segmented homogeneous regions. Further to merge adjacent regions color similarity and volume difference criteria is used. Experiments performed with real aerial images of varied nature demonstrate that this approach does not result in over segmentation or under segmentation. The vector quantization seems to give far better results as compared to conventional on-the-fly watershed algorithm.
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What's Behind the New Communications Strategy?
An Interview with NCIV President Jennifer Clinton
December 2013
On January 22, 2014, NCIV will officially launch its new communications strategy that includes a new name, visual identity, and a set of key messages. The strategy seeks to build on our incredible 50-year legacy while updating and identifying new ways for audiences to connect and engage with our mission. NCIV President Jennifer Clinton answered questions about the new the strategy and what the changes mean for the network.
Q: What was the impetus for the change?
In my first months on the job, I spoke to the leadership of all our member organizations across the country about the opportunities and challenges they face. One consistent theme that emerged was that they were struggling to articulate the importance and value of the work they do and the impact they make locally and globally. Our members rely heavily on local partnerships and resources to provide high-quality programs. It is critical to have a strong and persuasive case that speaks to overall outcomes in order to attract partners, volunteers, and even staff members.
In addition, because NCIV is a partner to the U.S. Department of State's public diplomacy efforts, we need to be a leader in effective communication. To quote Rick Ruth, a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of State, "exchange programs are about moving people and ideas." To accomplish this, we need to have a communications platform that is powerful, inspirational, relevant, and modern. Americans in particular are bombarded with requests to give and volunteer. We need to make it easy for various audiences to understand and see the inherent value of what we do.
Q: What was your process for making this change?
It started when I began looking at ways to improve NCIV's social media and web strategy. I quickly realized before we updated any specific platform, we needed to clarify some of the foundational elements of our strategy, like the vision, mission, positioning, and personality. We were not looking to change the heart and soul of who we are, but to look at them in the context of the rapidly evolving external environment as well as our new strategic plan. This led us to a comprehensive research phase. We interviewed a wide range of current stakeholders and those not familiar our organization to understand our strengths and weaknesses.
One of the recommendations that emerged was to consider a name change. Given the pressures on nonprofits to communicate the outcomes of their work, our board believed that our comprehensive communications strategy would be more effective if we changed our name. We recognize that a name cannot and does not do everything for an organization, but it is a conversation starter. We wanted a name that would inspire more conversations to begin. The NCIV board considered a number of options and ultimately settled on the final version that will be revealed in January.
Q: How does this change affect NCIV member organizations?
We will still offer members all the valuable services and opportunities that position them to be strong and effective implementers of international exchange programs. We have developed a set of tools around key messaging and social media that members can take and adapt to their local audiences. It is our hope that with a more consistent messaging platform, we will amplify our voice and the voice of the international exchange community locally, nationally, and globally.
We will need the help of all of our members. When the date arrives, start calling us by our new name, and use the language and content we have developed to help us speak with a unified voice for international exchange. While your organization does not have to change its name, if you are thinking about it, we would love to hear from you. We are developing a strategy whereby member organizations can work closely with us to adapt our new name.
Q: What do you see as some of the challenges going forward?
Change is difficult. With change, there is always the danger that some will feel like the past and their contributions are not being recognized or honored. It will take time for all of us to get used to this change and fully build up a strong communications platform. We need to develop champions at all levels to encourage and help others through the process. We also need to continue to honor the past and the amazing and dedicated people who have brought us to this point, and remind ourselves and others that we are not replacing the past, but building on it in a way that will inspire others to join us.
Q: So what is the new name and when does it take effect?
All of our members are invited to a special webinar on December 19 for a preview of the new name and communications strategy. We are asking that everyone keep it under wraps until January 22, when we will be making the public announcement! ✯

subset: commoncrawl


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I'm glad they finally came to this obviously correct decision.
Had the court ruled in favor of Myriad, it would have had signficant financial implications for me. My parents were planning to patent my chromosones which are a unique combination which they alone were able to create. Achieving this, they then planned to license my use of the chromosones and I would have had to pay royalties on any future income derived from said use. The ruling clearly frees of this potential financial burden.


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Tobacco Surcharge
Not only does tobacco use affect an individual's health, but usage may affect productivity in the workplace as well. A number of studies have determined that those who use tobacco are absent from work more often than non-tobacco-users. In addition, research has shown that many tobacco users tend to be less productive when they are at the workplace, due to impaired performance from the physical effects of nicotine and other chemicals in tobacco.
As of January 2014, an employee must pay a surcharge of $75 per person, per month, if they and/or their spouse/same-sex domestic partner are tobacco users. The goal of this surcharge is to support the health and wellness of the University's employees by discouraging the use of any tobacco products, which are harmful to health even when used in moderation.
During Benefits Open Enrollment in November, you will verify the above criteria through the Employee Self-Service Information System (ESSIC). If you do not log into ESSIC and verify if you and your spouse/partner are a tobacco user, you will be automatically assessed the surcharge beginning January 2015. This surcharge applies to Teamsters employees as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the University Defining as a tobacco user?
The University is defining a "tobacco user" as someone who has used tobacco more than five times in the previous three months. Tobacco includes cigars, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, e-cigarettes or any other tobacco product.
Q: Will new hires be able to qualify for the waiver of the tobacco use charge?
Yes, new hires will be asked to make the appropriate selection in ESSIC (tobacco user or non-user) based on their tobacco use status at the time of hire.
Q: Are electronic cigarettes included as tobacco use for the surcharge?
Yes, because they may contain tobacco, or they may contain nicotine, which is derived from tobacco. The health effects of using electronic cigarettes are currently unknown. Several studies regarding the long-term health effects of nicotine vapor, both inhaled directly and secondhand, are currently in progress. The FDA will be developing regulations on electronic cigarettes as tobacco products under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.
Q: I use the nicotine patch; does that count as tobacco use?
No. Nicotine replacement therapy, such as the nicotine patch or nicotine gum, does not count as tobacco use.
Q: Isn't this really just another way to shift costs to employees?
No, this is a benefit change designed to encourage employees to improve their health by offering financial consequences to those engaging in unhealthful, modifiable practices. It is often argued that those who are making healthy choices should not have to pay for those who are not making healthy choices and who have a higher claim experience. Higher claim costs drive premiums up for the entire Penn State population because the University is self-insured.
Q: What resources are available to quit?
University-Sponsored Tobacco Cessation Programs:
- FREE: Health Advocate "Take Control for Good" tobacco cessation. Your 13-week program provides you with unlimited access to your own personal coach, who can help you set up your own quit plan and support you every step of the way. Call 866.799.2728 to obtain your own cessation coach.
- Highmark's Telephonic Smokeless. A one-year telephone-based program that includes five scheduled outbound calls by your own professional tobacco cessation specialist. Participants have unlimited inbound toll-free calls to address additional support concerns and receive support. For more information or to enroll, call Telephonic Smokeless at 1-800-345-2476.
- PA Quitline 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) By contacting the PA Free Quitline, you can receive:
- Up to 5 coaching sessions by phone,
- Unlimited calls to the PA Free Quitline as needed,
- Educational materials on quitting tobacco use, and
- Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) (up to 8 weeks of patches) for qualified callers.
Click here for the PA Free Quitline website to enroll online and learn more about Quitline services.


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A buddy of mine crashed the other day and hit the outboard pad adjuster knob on his Avid mech. disc
Now the positive clicks on the knob are very weak (the knob turns easy).
It will move and come out of ajustment during a ride.
Has anyone had a similiar problem. Can this be fixed?
How do they come apart?
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I guess I should also point out that I've continued working on the OWL Numerics primer: http://www.w3.org/2007/OWL/wiki/OWL_Numerics This was originally motivated as a support for n-ary data predicates to help explain to people the issues involved. Obviously, there's quite a bit to go and I've got the proposal itself to work on. I'm not sure if the WG is interested in any way in it. It certainly couldn't be part of any of the main documents as it's rather topic specific and detailed, but I suppose it could be a note. I could publish it on my web site or try to get in into some webzine or contribute it to the OWL education task force. Cheers, Bijan.Received on Sunday, 13 January 2008 00:35:59 GMT
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.2.0+W3C-0.50 : Sunday, 13 January 2008 00:36:00 GMT


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Following a secret debrief from Saul, a stunned Estes authorizes a covert operation to pursue intel recovered in Beirut - but not without putting his own trusted operative in charge. Brody, still reeling from his misadventures, gets another shock when he runs into Carrie at Langley. A casual invitation to bury the hatchet turns into an encounter neither of them could have foreseen. And Dana discovers she has something in common with Finn Walden, the Vice President's son.moreless
In "Beirut Is Back" from the Showtime series "Homeland," CIA agent Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) takes a risky position. An informant tells her that Abu Nazir (Navid Negahban) will be in Beirut the next day, but David Estes (David Harewood) does not believe the intel. Meanwhile, Brody (Damian Lewis) receives an invitation to the Pentagon.moreless
User Score: 5


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Today's Events
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- December 24
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Special Meeting of College's Board of Trustees
April 11Starts at 9:30 AM
Call-in Meeting
The St. Mary's College of Maryland Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting via conference call on Thursday, April 11, at 9:30 a.m. for the purposes of revising tuition rates for FY14.
This meeting is open to the public and the media. To join the call conference call, please use the following call-in number and call-in code:
Conference call-in number: (866) 678-2568
Call-in code: 240 895 4382
Event Contact InfoAnna Yates
Call-in Meeting18952 E. Fisher Road
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Schools Compete For Top Position In U.S. Cellular's Calling All Communities Campaign
CHICAGO, Sept. 18, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In just three days of voting in U.S. Cellular's (NYSE:USM) Calling All Communities campaign, more than 250 schools have jumped into the race to win a share of $1 million in the company's fourth annual campaign to support education. Today, the carrier released the first list of the 100 schools leading the pack, and the race looks like it's going to be a good one. U.S. Cellular's commitment to education is just one of the ways it goes above and beyond other wireless carriers.
"With five weeks left to rally votes, every school still has a chance to join the frontrunners and win," said Carter S. Elenz, executive vice president of sales and customer service for U.S. Cellular. "We're excited to see the schools on this Top 100 listing, but we know that it is still a wide open race with plenty of time for other schools to join the ranks. Each year, we are amazed at how many community members rally together to lead their schools to victory."
The top 18 schools that receive the most votes will win a share of $1 million to spend any way they see fit. The school that garners the most votes will receive $150,000, and the next 17 schools will each receive $50,000. The voting period ends Oct. 21.As of Sept. 18, the top 100 schools lead a total of 251 schools throughout the country that have received community votes and close to 2,300 total votes have been cast. Schools from North Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin are currently in the top 18. There is plenty of time for communities to rally and vote for their local schools and the standings can change drastically. The full Top 100 school list for this week can be seen at uscellular.com/callingallcommunities.
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Posts tagged loose lips
PS3 could debut in Europe for 500 euros, says SCEE exec
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Niteroi, Brazil
Bom dia, good morning. Governor Neves, Vice Governor Grael, thank you for hosting us here in Niteroi.
It's great to be here with all of you today, in this beautiful city, as we learn from one another in taking on the great challenges of the Chesapeake Bay and Guanabara Bay.
There is a Native American proverb that "How we treat one another is reflected in how we treat the Earth."
On my way here I was thinking about the great challenge we face in the Guanabara, and the great challenge in the Chesapeake. The challenge of these Bays really are microcosms of the great challenge and the great work that we face as human beings.
The size of our population on this Earth has now grown to a point, and grows now at a rate that is outstripping the pace at which our Earth can regenerate the resources we need.
There is more that unites us than divides us. We are united not only by the Chesapeake and the Guanabara, but we're also united by the fact that we've been blessed by tremendous natural resources in Brazil and in the United States. But to whom much has been given, much is also expected. So, our leadership is needed in this world. And there is no place more tangible or more visible to demonstrate that leadership than in the waters of the Guanabara and in the waters of the Chesapeake.
The great Mahatma Gandhi said that the world is my village and my village is the world. We might well say the same about our Bays. Because contained within the work that we have to do to clean up our Bays, is not only the microcosm of this great existential challenge of our times, but also an ocean of human potential, an ocean of possibility, an ocean of new technology that allows us to accomplish these meaningful and life-giving connections in ways we never have before.
On the way over I was also reading an article by the AP, and Gelsen Serva was quoted as saying, "The challenge is huge, the effort will be great, the improvement will be gradual." And I might add to that, "The benefits will last for generations and generations."
So let me speak to you as a mayor. Secretary Minc said all these things are interconnected, and mayors—I know there are a lot of mayors here today—have a tremendous opportunity to make the link and make the connections in people's minds between our uses on the land, the way we behave on the land, our patterns of consumption on the land—and how that affects the waters.
When I was Mayor of Baltimore, my take on our Chesapeake Bay program was that we had a lot of Bay programming and too little Bay action. I felt that we needed more Bay action. Because indeed, since all of these things are interconnected, the challenge is connection. And the difference between a dream and a goal is a deadline.
So instead of imagining or wishing that we might have a cleaner Bay 40 years from now, as a mayor I wanted to know what we were doing today that was going to have a benefit right now, that we would be able to measure this year and every year moving forward.
So we applied to this challenge of connection a system of management that quite honestly I borrowed, as any good mayor will. We look for good ideas wherever we can find them. I borrowed a good idea of management called performance measurement. In government we're often very good at telling you what the inputs are and what the budget is—we're not so good at telling you what you get for it, or what the output is, or what the benefit is.
So let me flip through a few slides here. We call our program Statestat. We measure performance across every endeavor of our State government. We do it daily, we do it bi-weekly. We force people on a rotating basis to regularly communicate, coordinate, cooperate—and we are relentless in the pursuit of our goals.
These were the old tenets of city government. For any of you who are mayors, you've heard these. First, if the governor or mayor wants to know, we can find out, but we'll have to pull all our people off of their other jobs and it will take weeks. These are international. Second, we'll get to that as soon as we can, but it will take a few months because our budget was cut last year, implicitly by you, you jerk. (Laughter) This one's my favorite—that's the way we've always done it, or we're already doing that, or we tried that and it didn't work. And then the last old tenet is, we hope the legislature forgets about this one before next year rolls around.
So we've replaced them with these tenets, and this is what we use in BayStat. It's timely and accurate information shared by all—not by some, not just by managers, not just by the top branch of managers, but by all, by citizens. Rapid deployment of resources. Effective tactics and strategies. Relentless follow-up. That's how we run our government in the city, that's how we run it when it comes to our Chesapeake Bay program.
When I was elected mayor of Baltimore, we had become the most violent and addicted city in America. We had to turn around violent crime, and we began by going right into these "kidneys of death," where so much of the crime was happening.
So we deployed our resources not based on the old way of governing, where you would divide them equally between every district. Or worse, where you would send the resources to the district that voted for you in the greatest numbers. Instead, we sent our police officers to these two areas. When President Clinton helped us with 200 additional police officers, we sent them to where they could save the most lives.
And over a period of time, Baltimore was able to achieve one of the most impressive reductions in violent crime in America.
We apply those same principles of CompStat and CitiStat now to BayStat and the clean-up of the Bay. We are not so much trying to suppress crime, as trying to suppress the amount of nitrogen, and the amount of phosphorous, and the amount of sediment that flows into the creeks and the streams and the rivers of the Chesapeake Bay.
Annually, Don Boesch and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science gives our Bay a grade. And as you can see, we have been struggling for decades to keep our Bay from totally collapsing. We have put in a lot of effort, and we are seeing signs that we're getting closer to a healthier Bay tipping point by 2025. As you can see, it has been a struggle. A little bit of uptick of late.
These are the grades that we publish. Every citizen can see them. They're online, and there's always a big press conference about it. The reporters always want to know why aren't we getting an A yet this year? Because, the actions have to happen in order for the progress to start following on.
We also have other systems for monitoring of the waters of the Bay. GIS is our common platform, so that you can go down to see, what is the health of the streams in my town, in my neighborhood, in my city?
Connection—it's all about connection.
We also use GIS to identify those areas with the greatest amount of impervious surface—that blacktop that creates the stormwater runoff that carries the pollution into the Bay, as we work to mitigate that.
These are some of the indicators that we look at—the Bay grasses, which help us to keep the water clear. Nature's filters. And we're seeing a healthy track in terms of bringing back the bay grasses. We also have a blue crab population that at one point was looking like it was going to totally tank—that population is coming back.
We're always looking for the right metaphor. Try this one: What do you do with the bathwater when the city and the suburbs and the land all take a bath? That's a bear in the tub—the tub might be a metaphor for the Chesapeake Bay or the Guanabara Bay—there's a lot more that that bear does in the tub than simply rinse off his fur. (Laughter)
So, the causes.
We've sometimes said that cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay is like trying to move up an escalator that is constantly and ever more rapidly moving down. The things that cause it to move down are increased population, which increases the phosphorous and the nitrogen and the sediment. Our challenge is to do better sewage treatment, better farming practices, better stormwater management, better land use and road policies, so that we can move up faster than the escalator is moving us down.
And so this is how we do what we do.
We look at where the nitrogen is coming from, we map our goals, and we see what the sources are for nitrogen pollution in each part of the state. And those actions that allow us to measure whether we're improving over time.
Wastewater treatment plants and the progress they've been able to bring us over time. We set the goals, we drive the actions.
Stormwater runoff was actually one that was moving in the wrong direction. We only recently, within the last year, put a regimen in place in the legislature that allows us to mitigate and remediate some of that mass of blacktop that was washing the pollution into the Bay.
Septic systems. When we weren't investing in the sewer lines, developers started jumping those sewer lines by putting in huge housing developments, and doing it on septic systems, which consume more land and are designed ultimately to fail. One or two doesn't make a big difference. But if you put 200 in an area, and then multiply that again and again and again, that really get into your water and mess things up.
All of this is posted online, so that every citizen can go and see whether we're improving within their particular watershed—within their "streamshed." They can also see some of the different challenges. In our urban areas, the big driver is sewage discharge. In some of our farming areas, the big challenge is the farm runoff. You can see the pie charts in a way to actually give the citizens who are in charge of our State the ability to see–as the executives they really are–whether our better decisions are resulting in better results. Whether our better choices are achieving a healthier and better future for our waters, and for our children.
So, you get the point.
Direction, balance, connection.
The solutions—best farming practices, we map these as well. In the old days, we used to only map how much it would cost. Now we map how many acres we actually cover. We set a goal, and we measure performance, and the graph tells us whether we are moving in the right direction. The goal is the green, and the red is what's actually being done in terms of cover crops. We're now doing four times as much acreage in cover crops as we were just seven years ago.
Wastewater treatment plants. Every citizen in our State pays a certain fee every month, that's called the flush fee by some, the flush tax by others. But it helps us to pool our dollars together and do the upgrades. There are some little towns and little cities that would never ever be able to afford to do the upgrades for their water treatment plants, were it not for what we're doing together, as One Maryland.
I mentioned actions we are taking to address pollution from stormwater runoff. Septic sprawl and pollution is another source that we are now taking actions to reduce.
Another thing we've done with GIS, that common platform, is to do an ecological ranking of every piece of land in our State, so we know where that minimal amount of green liver, green kidneys, green lungs are located, so we can protect them. Many of them happen to be the habitat that protects the headwaters of those tributaries that ultimately flow into the Chesapeake Bay. Any citizen can go on this map and see where we've made purchases of land for Open Space—whether it's contiguous, whether it adds to habitat, whether it increases river or stream buffers.
That in turn has informed our awareness of the land that we have to protect for agriculture—for our food security.
The two of those together–GreenPrint and AgPrint–then tell us where we should be growing, and where we shouldn't be growing. We want to grow where the infrastructure already exists, or where it can be upgraded with an environmental benefit—that also comes from having people located with greater density and less environmental impact.
Finally, we encourage people to participate in this great work through a host of stewardship actions. One of them is planting trees.
Another one is raising oysters, if citizens live on a waterfront property. Those natural filters of the Bay. I saw some of those efforts when I visited the Grael Project, raising the mussels on the buoys out there in the Bay. We look to involve our citizens every day in every way in what we're doing, because ultimately, public servants come and go.
We all have term limits. From the day we were born, we started down the road on those term limits. But the hope is that with deeper awareness and broader understanding, we can sustain that level of effort necessary to move us more quickly up that escalator to a healthier Bay than land use tradition and the forces have been moving us down.
In conclusion, I don't believe that any of us have entirely figured this out. But together we can. And that is why this partnership is important.
How can we ever hope to clean up the atmosphere or to protect the planet from climate change—let alone clean our oceans—if we can't clean up the Chesapeake Bay and the Guanabara Bay?
Stated differently: We Marylanders understand that small things done well make bigger things possible. And so what you're doing here in the Guanabara, what we do in the Chesapeake, we truly believe can be a powerful force in this world; showing all of humanity what's possible. With green design. With deeper awareness. With an understanding of the interconnectedness not only of our lives but the dependency and interdependency we share with the other living systems of this planet.
As a boy, one of my very favorite teachers, in second grade, was Sister Christopher Marie. I went to Catholic school, and I thought this was about the coolest nun that I had ever met. Because Sister Christopher Marie was not only an artist, not only taught us about Jesus and religion—she also was a scientist. She taught us about the water, she taught us about the crayfish, she taught us about the insects. And she taught us something else that is very important.
She taught us to love the other living systems of this Earth. And she taught us that God loved this Earth so much, that He sent us His only son to redeem our Earth.
As I travelled around Guanabara Bay this morning, on the water, and looked at the beauty of this place, I saw that iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer looking over the hill at us. I could not but help to think that with His arms outstretched He was calling on us to be co-workers with Him, in this work of Redemption.
Because working and wishing are two different things, aren't they? Work can be measured, and wishes cannot. For wishes mankind looks to heaven for falling stars, but for this Great Work of the Guanabara and the Chesapeake, God looks to Earth and to us.
There is only one superpower on this small planet, and it is the power of love. And it is capable of creating the new connections that will give all of our children and grandchildren a new and healthier tomorrow. Thank you all very much. (Applause)
Tags: Bay Restoration, baystat, brazil trade mission, Chesapeake Bay, conservation, partnerships, statestat


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Unjust Desserts: Deborah Paul Decries Doughnuts
Who is to say which sweets are "in"?
Are people wandering the streets muttering "I wish I had a doughnut," and a score of doughnut shops appear? Or do the stores come first?Read more
Recipe: Perfectly Peared at Peterson's
Peterson's pastry chef juxtaposes bright and smoky flavors in a refined Thanksgiving pie.
Hattie McDaniel twirls her magic wand (or spoon, rather), and familiar sweets, like this smoky-bourbon pear pie, become the high point of the meal.Read more
Scary Good: A Halloween Treat Recipe
The creator of Frittle whisks together an imaginative holiday treat.
The meringue, a classic French cookie, can be spun to look like candy corn, as Carrie Abbott of Newfangled Confections demonstrates here.Read more
Taste Test: Cafeteria Tray Chic
School lunches don't have to consist of Wonder-bread sandwiches. Plenty of local producers and chefs cook up cafeteria tray–worthy treats that are as tasty as they are healthy and fresh.
The ultimate school-cafeteria assortment, with items from Kim's Kake Kreations & Bakery, Bru Burger Bar, Traders Point Creamery, Shoefly Public House, and more.Read more
How to Dine at the Indiana State Fair
A user's guide to the good, the bad, and the greasy.
As one of the perks of landing a summer internship at Indianapolis Monthly, two members of the 2014 college crew spent a day at the fair "doing research."Read more
Five Inventive Indy Ice Creams
Local toques whip up frozen assets for their dessert menus.
Chef Abbi Merriss and pastry chef Allison Durst at Bluebeard collaborate on kiddie faves with a playful adult twist.Read more
The Wyliepalooza Ice-Cream Truck
After three months of construction, the shop's much-anticipated ice-cream truck is rolling into town. Here, the scoop on its sweet new ride.
Its eclectic playlist consists of songs by Lady Gaga, Doris Day, Maroon 5, and more. "It's my ice-cream truck, and I'll play what I want to," Patty Timmons jokes.Read more
3 Days in Paris's Crepe Cake Puts Us on Cloud 9
The perennially popular shop whips up a dreamy 20-layer confection.
Whether topped with a bright lemon curd flecked with zest or a sweet raspberry puree atop layers of chocolate, this has all the delicacy of traditional crepes with the rich texture of an actual cake.Read more
Pint Sized: Kids Taste-Test Indy Ice Cream
Ten young dairy whizzes weigh in on local flavors.
Who better to help us review 30-plus ice creams from parlors across the city than a distinguished panel of experts: the Hancock County dairy club, whose members range from ages 5 to 14.Read more


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FileList Manager 1.1
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File size: 296 KB
Platform: Windows All
License: Freeware
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Date added: 2008-09-25
Publisher: Exm Soft
FileList Manager 1.1 description
Create a list of files that will be excluded from archiving.
There are cases when you need to archive a directory, but without certain files. FileList Manager allows you to create a list of files for archiving, which is easier to manage.
There are cases when you need to archive a directory, but without certain files. FileList Manager allows you to create a list of files for archiving, which is easier to manage.
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text:
10 Biggest Christmas Blockbusters of All Time
1. Sherlock Holmes
Year released: 2009
Christmas Day take: $24.6 million
That's right: One of the largest grossing films of all time wasn't even America's most popular Christmas Day movies the year it was released. That honor goes to Guy Ritchie's take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic London detective.
America had just rediscovered its love of Robert Downey Jr. a year before during his turns in Iron Man and Tropic Thunder and had months to go before the next Iron Man sequel. With Sherlock Holmes opening with the magic PG-13 rating on Christmas Day, the holiday falling on a Friday and Avatar costing a bit more for the privilege of 3-D glasses, seeing Downey play an eccentric with Jude Law and Rachel McAdams in tow seemed like a viable alternative.Though Sherlock Holmes became the highest-grossing Christmas Day movie and opening of all time, its final $209 million take at the U.S. box office wouldn't come close to the nearly $750 million Avatar brought in by the end of its U.S. run. On Christmas Day, however, Holmes had the 3-D powerhouse solved. -- Written by Jason Notte in Portland, Ore. >To contact the writer of this article, click here: Jason Notte. >To follow the writer on Twitter, go to http://twitter.com/notteham.
>To submit a news tip, send an email to: firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Light snow covering some roads
Published On: Feb 12 2014 06:48:18 AM CST
A band of light snow is moving through central Iowa, leaving some roads slick Wednesday morning.
Although only light amounts of up to an inch is expected, roads may be partially covered early today.
The Iowa Department of Transportation is reporting some partially-covered roads in areas north of the Des Moines Metro, and in northwest Iowa.
Check 511ia.org for the latest updates.
No schools or organizations have announced delays or closings so far.
Copyright 2014 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.blog comments powered by Disqus


text:
Chicago Downed 6-0 By Colorado - Jason Berken Takes Loss
|Chicago Downed 6-0 By Colorado - Jason Berken Takes Loss
Chicago couldn't get its offense rolling against Drew Pomeranz in a 6-0 loss to Colorado in baseball action on Wednesday.
Bettors who backed the Rockies were rewarded as -136 favorites at sportsbooks. Over-Under bettors saw the total score go UNDER the closing total of 10.5.
Colorado got 5 innings from Drew Pomeranz, who gave up 0 earned runs on 3 hits, while striking out 3. He earned the victory, while the Rockies got 2 RBIs from Chris Nelson in the win.
Chicago's starting pitcher Jason Berken worked 4 innings, giving up 9 hits and 6 earned runs while striking out 2 in the loss. They got 2 hits from Dave Sappelt in a losing cause.
Colorado outhit their counterparts 10-5 in the game.


text:
Doc Called, baby has a cyst on his brain
Find a Conversation
|Fri, 04-06-2012 - 9:11am
They assured me that it is no big dea, and that they're just going to check it again at 32 weeks during another ultrasound.
|Fri, 04-06-2012 - 10:45am
Doing just a bit of research and I came up with a CPC, which isn't a problematic cyst: http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/prenatal-care/choroid-plexus-cyst_71106 and then a CPC group of sorts: http://choroidplexuscyst.org/
If this is what the doc saw, then it probably isn't anything to really worry about. And, I've read that they're usually gone by 32w, which is probably why that's when he'll check again. A long time to wait, for sure, so hopefully time will go by fast for you and you'll find that all is well in there.
Keeping happy thoughts for you and babe just the same!
|Sat, 04-07-2012 - 2:32pm
Sending "dissapearing cyst" vibes your way! I hope your doctor is right about this not being a big deal. I'm sure he is! Stay strong, momma!
|Mon, 04-09-2012 - 9:33am
|Tue, 04-10-2012 - 1:16pm
I'm glad Brie was able to dig up some positive info, and that you also have a great outlook.
|Wed, 04-18-2012 - 2:22pm
Honestly, it doesn't matter. I mean, for planning purposes it matters, but healthy or not, this baby is loved and always will be. If God has planned for us to have a sick LO then that's what we'll take. Of course we're praying he'll be healthy, but we're prepared either way. Children are a blessing, no matter what package them come in :-)
|Wed, 04-18-2012 - 3:36pm


text:
Kroger's profit beats Wall Street expectations
FILE – This June 12, 2012 file photo shows a Kroger store in Indianapolis. The Kroger Co. announced Thursday, March 7, 2013 that its fourth-quarter profit in 2012 handily beat Wall Street expectations. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Kroger's fourth-quarter profit handily beat Wall Street expectations as the country's largest traditional supermarket operator saw sales climb.
The Cincinnati-based company, which also owns Ralphs, Fry's and Food 4 Less, said revenue at stores open at least a year rose 3 percent for the quarter, excluding fuel. The metric is a key Login to read more
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The Global Intelligence Files,
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Community resources
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The Global Intelligence Files
On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
Re: UNGA: Gaddafi is Addressing now
Released on 2012-10-19 08:00 GMT
|2009-09-23 18:23:02
this is unbelievable.
i also love how they gave him the prime time spot. someoen with a sense of
humor came up with this schedule, righ after obma
woohoo, we're on the invasion of grenada now and the number of ships used
On Sep 23, 2009, at 11:21 AM, Lauren Goodrich wrote:
we should take a shot every time he jumps topics....
he just went from:
Iraqis killing Iraqis,
9/11 planes,
Jack Ruby,
submarines off Louisianna
Reva Bhalla wrote:
i love how uncle Mo just accused everyone of being asleep and having
jet lag
On Sep 23, 2009, at 10:54 AM, Aaron Colvin wrote:
Where in Allah's name did they get this translator? His voice is
breaking more than that Indian guy at Taco Bell on UT's campus
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt Gertken" <email@example.com>
To: "Analyst List" <email@example.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 11:16:01 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada
Subject: Re: UNGA: Gaddafi is Addressing now
I agree:
"If you have more water, it will be more muddy."
Also love the idea of the G-100
Aaron Colvin wrote:
he's smarter than i thought
Reva Bhalla wrote:
yes, swine flu was apparently used as a military weapon as well
note that he brought the older son Motassem, not Seif al
Ghaddafi. Motassem is the one tried to launch a coup against
On Sep 23, 2009, at 10:02 AM, Kamran Bokhari wrote:
Did he just call Obama *our son* as in a son of Africa?
From: email@example.com [mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com] On
Behalf Of Aaron Colvin
Sent: September-23-09 11:01 AM
To: Analyst List
Subject: UNGA: Gaddafi is Addressing now
Lauren Goodrich
Director of Analysis
Senior Eurasia Analyst


text:
The ADP5030 combines two high performance, low dropout (LDO) voltage regulators, a low RDSON load switch, and level shifting logic in a tiny, 16-ball, 1.6 mm × 1.6 mm WLCSP to meet demanding performance and board space requirements.
The low quiescent current, low dropout voltage, and wide input voltage range of the ADP5030 LDOs extend the battery life of portable devices. The ADP5030 LDOs maintain power supply rejection greater than 60 dB for frequencies as high as 100 kHz while operating with a low headroom voltage.
The ADP5030 can be configured in two different activation modes for LDO2 and the load switch; these modes are selected by a dedicated pin (MSEL).
|Content Type
|File Type
|ADP5030: Dual, 200 mA, High Performance RF LDO with Load Switch Data Sheet (Rev B, 11/2009) (pdf, 829 kB)
|Data Sheets
AN-1072: How to Successfully Apply Low Dropout Regulators
(pdf, 105 kB)
This application note reviews the basic LDO topology, explains key specifications, and shows the application of low dropout voltage regulators in systems.
|Application Notes
Introduction to ADIsimPower
ADIsimPower is a smart selector and a collection of downloadable tools that produce complete and optimized power designs. Schematic, bill of materials, and performance data are customized to your specific needs in minutes.
Isolating Power in Communication Bus and Gate Drive Applications
Starting with a communications application overview of small power options through the process of selecting the right power products this webcast is a great resource for your communications applications designs.
Integrated Power Solutions for Xilinx FPGAs
(pdf, 2253 kB)
Combining multiple switching regulators and LDOs into a single package enables very small, flexible, highly efficient power management solutions for powering FPGAs.
|Solutions Bulletins
|Integrated Power Solutions for Altera FPGAs (pdf, 2460 kB)
|Solutions Bulletins
|What are LDOs and how are they used?
|Glossary of EE Terms
|Content Type
|File Type
ADI Linear Regulator Design Tool and Parametric Search
Microsoft Excel download tool from ADIsimPower to generate a power supply design complete with a schematic, bill of materials, and performance specifications.
|ADIsim Design/Simulation Tools
Download files for ADIsimPower™ Voltage Regulator Design Tool
The individual Excel-based voltage regulator design tools used in ADIsimPower™.
|ADIsim Design/Simulation Tools
ADIsimPower™ Voltage Regulator Design Tool
This expert design tool produces custom DC-DC converter designs in about a minute. The user enters 5 inputs and chooses to optimize for efficiency, PCB space, cost, or part count. Output is a complete schematic, BOM, efficiency plot, and performance summary. A PDF summary and a blank PCB is offered for each design to facilitate fast prototyping to verify the design.
|ADIsim Design/Simulation Tools
Symbols and Footprints— Analog Devices offers Symbols & Footprints which are compatible with a large set of today's CAD systems for broader and easier support.
The USA list pricing shown is for BUDGETARY USE ONLY, shown in United States dollars (FOB USA per unit for the stated volume), and is subject to change. International prices may differ due to local duties, taxes, fees and exchange rates. For volume-specific price or delivery quotes, please contact your local Analog Devices, Inc. sales office or authorized distributor. Pricing displayed for Evaluation Boards and Kits is based on 1-piece pricing.


text:
Our Targets
Moms Clean Air Force is focused on fighting for clean air.
Here are some of our most important targets–and they're always moving!
Demand Action against Global Warming
- Support EPA's Clean Power Plan
- Tell eBay: Pull out of climate denier ALEC
- Petition the Senate: End tax breaks for oil, gas and coal
- Petition US Representatives: Unite for a Strong Plan to Fight Global Warming
- Petition US Governors: Support clean air for kids
- Petition the President: Break the Climate Paralysis–Give Us a Plan to Fight Climate Change
Status: President Obama delivered his Climate Action Plan on June 25th, 2013
- Defend Strong Standards on Carbon Pollution from All Power Plants
Status: President Obama has directed the EPA to complete new pollution standards for both new and existing power plants during his Climate Action Plan delivered on June 25th, 2013; on September 20th, 2013 the EPA proposed new rules that would place limits on carbon pollution from new power plants.
- Petition Secretary of State Kerry to Stop the Keystone Pipeline
Status: Delivered comments to the State Department on March 7, 2014
- Petition the President: Stop the Keystone Pipeline
Defend the Clean Air Act
Status: Passed *upheld by a federal appeals court
- Petition the EPA: Strengthen the national standard for smog to 60 ppb
- Soot Pollution Standards (Particulate Matter)
Status: Passed
- Cross State Air Pollution Rule (the "Good Neighbor Rule")
Status: On April 29, 2014 the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the U.S. EPA's Cross State Air Pollution Rule
- EPA Tier 3 Standards for Cleaner Gasoline, Fewer Toxic Emissions from Cars
Status: Comment period closed July 1, 2013
- Support the Nomination of Clean Air Act Defender Gina McCarthy to head the EPA
Status: On July 18, 2013 the Senate approved the nomination of Gina McCarthy in a 59-40 vote
Demand Strong Air Quality Protections During Natural Gas Development
- Tell the EPA: we need protection from natural gas pollution
- Petition the President: Protect us from Natural Gas Pollution
- Petition the President: Stop fracking in National Parks
Demand Reform of the Outdated Toxic Substances Control Act
- Petition US Senators: protect our families from toxic chemicals.
- Petition Babies "R" Us: stop selling toxic chemicals


text:
Discover Chocolate and Live La Vida Cocoa!
I made my buttercrunch recipe from this book: "Formula and Theory for the Artisan Confectioner" and it's perfect every time. However, the last two batches gave me trouble and I wonder if anyone has advice. When I poured it onto the mat, the butter separated. Any thoughts?
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Skip to main content
West Central Tribune
Blame Ben for this weather guy's move: Former KARE 11 meteorologist joins Taatjes Financial in Willmar
Norovirus hitting hard in Minnesota this winter
A place for a new start: Community support helps transform Hulstrand home into sober house for women
Christmas delivery a postal priority
Gas prices expected to stay low for the holidays
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Boys Basketball: Wolverines claim third in Case IH tournament
Men's Basketball: Cold-shooting Ridgewater falls hard at tourney
Women's Basketball: Warriors head into holiday break with eight victories
Girls Hockey: Mankato East blanks Cards; River Lakes wins again
Prep Wrestling: Willmar places seventh at All Force invitational
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New London, Minn., Little Theatre gets a facelift
History-oriented films top SAG nominations
Christmas classic opens tonight at The Barn Theatre in Willmar, Minnesota
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Latest issue of Business 2 Business is available online
Latest issue of Business 2 Business is available online
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June 12, 2014
MCA's Reimers leads Tribune 2014 All-Area Softball Team
On the surface, 2014 could be looked at as a down year in area softball. Only seven of 18 Tribune-area teams finished the season with winning records. No team advanced to a state tournament and only Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg advanced as far as a section championship game. ...
sports / prep
June 12, 2014 - 4:02am
May 30, 2014
Softball Playoffs: No state trip for KMS
COTTONWOOD — Tianna Top and Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian took a pair from Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg to win the Section 3A softball championship and deny the Saints a fourth straight trip to North Mankato and the State tournament. Top pitched all seven innings in each...
sports / prep
May 30, 2014 - 1:07am
May 27, 2014
Prep softball: MCA tops JCC, Game 2 suspended
MARSHALL — The Morris/Chokio-Alberta softball team defeated Jackson County Central 5-3 in the Section 3AA playoffs on Tuesday, but the Tigers trail Pipestone 2-0 in the second inning of a Thursday game suspended because of rain. The Tigers resume play at 4:30 p.m. today in Marshall,...
sports / prep
May 27, 2014 - 11:41pm
May 26, 2014
Prep softball roundup: KMS one game away from state tournament
COTTONWOOD — The Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg softball team is a game away from its fourth-straight trip to the Class A Minnesota State Tournament after two wins Saturday in the Section 3A playoffs. The Saints, now 20-0, await the losers bracket winner for a 4 p.m. Thursday game...
sports / prep
May 26, 2014 - 11:30pm
May 22, 2014
Prep softball: Lakers drop 2 to end season
GLENWOOD — No. 3-seed Staples-Motley strung together five hits and a hit batter to score four in the top of the 10th inning and take out top-seeded Minnewaska 10-6 on Thursday in Section 6AA-West. The Lakers had tied it 5-5 on a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh on...
sports / prep
May 22, 2014 - 11:42pm
Prep softball: Prior Lake ends Cards' year
EDEN PRAIRIE — Prior Lake pitcher Caitlin Stone stymied Willmar, allowing just a sixth-inning run, and the Lakers eliminated the Cardinals with a 4-1 victory in the first round of the Section 2AAA playoffs on Thursday. The Cardinals, who finished 7-9, pressured the Lakers throughout...
sports / Cardinals
May 22, 2014 - 11:32pm
May 21, 2014
Prep softball: Lakers sink Sauk Centre
GLENWOOD — Minnewaska dodged a three-run Sauk Centre rally in the top of the seventh and took out the Mainstreeters 7-6 in the Section 6AA-West tournament on Wednesday. Sauk Centre strung three hits together, capped by an Amanda Kulzer two-run double to bring the 'Streeters...
sports / prep
May 21, 2014 - 11:38pm
May 20, 2014
Prep softball roundup: Minnewaska moves on in 6AA-West
GLENWOOD — Top-seed Minnewaska opened up its offense in the fourth inning and walloped No. 8 Wadena-Deer Creek in the opening game of the Section 6AA-West playoffs, winning 11-3 on Tuesday. Maddy Phillips was 2-for-4 with a double and she drove in four runs. She also got the...
sports / prep
May 20, 2014 - 11:35pm
May 16, 2014
Prep softball roundup: Morris/CA wins WCN
MORRIS — Morris/Chokio-Alberta won the West Central North Conference championship with a 12-8 victory over ACGC on Friday. The Tigers' Lauren Reimers hit her 10th home run of the season and she also tripled and finished with four runs batted in. Becca Holland was 2-for-4...
sports / prep
May 16, 2014 - 11:24pm
Prep softball: Cardinals blast Sartell
WILLMAR — Two bunt hits started a three-run rally in the first inning, and Willmar beat Sartell 9-1 on Friday in their final Central Lakes Conference game of the season. Allie Roehl and Jamie Reyes both reached on bunts to start the game, and after Megan Rudnick was hit by a...
sports / Cardinals
May 16, 2014 - 11:20pm
Prep softball: NLS wins big; Marshall next
NEW LONDON — Taylor Thunstedt marked her final home game of a long prep career in three sports at New London-Spicer with a pair of booming triples as the Wildcats pounded Mayer Lutheran 13-1 on Friday. The senior, who is headed to NDSU to play basketball, also singled and drove...
sports / prep
May 16, 2014 - 11:15pm
May 15, 2014
Prep softball roundup: Willmar splits doubleheader with Apollo
ST. CLOUD — Megan Rudnick had three hits, including a two-run home run, to lead Willmar to a 12-7 win over St. Cloud Apollo and a split of a Central Lakes Conference doubleheader on Thursday. The Eagles took Game One 11-2. Rudnick also scored four runs in the second game,...
sports / Cardinals
May 15, 2014 - 11:38pm
May 14, 2014
Prep softball roundup: Morris/CA blasts BraveOwls
BENSON — Lauren Reimers hit two home runs and drove in five runs and Morris/Chokio-Alberta downed Benson/Hancock 11-1 on Wednesday. Reimers connected in back-to-back at bats and she also singled in two runs. Brooke Gillespie doubled twice and Brianna Abril, Brooke Johnson...
sports / prep
May 14, 2014 - 11:40pm
May 13, 2014
Prep softball roundup: ACGC edges YME 13-12
GROVE CITY — Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City's Jacey Nelson circled the sacks in the bottom of the seventh on a hard single and a three-base error to end it 13-12 over Yellow Medicine East on Tuesday at Grove City. The Sting had tied it 12-all in the top of the inning when Marissa...
sports / prep
May 13, 2014 - 11:55pm
May 11, 2014
Prep Softball Roundup
RESULTS SATURDAY Non-Conference New Prague 23, Willmar 5 The Cardinals had trouble getting its game going on Saturday in a non-conference game. The Trojans' Leah Bissell homered and drove in three runs. Willmar's Jordan Martins also cleared the fenses and she drove...
sports / prep
May 11, 2014 - 11:43pm
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A very quiet, pre-Christmas session saw the dollar trade inside of narrow ranges, though mixed overall. Better than expected jobless claims helped Wall Street rally modestly, while yields moved higher after the data. EUR-USD peaked just shy of 1.2220 highs before heading back under the figure, while USD-JPY was stuck between 120.37 and 120.53 though the session. USD-CAD edged under 1.160 early, though recovered over 1.1620 on sagging oil prices. Cable ... Read More ►
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One-stop shopping for home improvement do-it-yourselfers and professionals. The Home Depot has more than 2,200 retail stores in the United States (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Canada, and Mexico.
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The Home Depot is your destination for home improvement products and DIY project know-how. We are the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer, with stores in all 50 states
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Great customer service. While there's another Home Depot closer to my home, I go out of my way to patronize the Honesdale, PA, store.
There are a few things I would like to say about this story...
First, "customer" says he bought a NEW tractor and later called it a bad lemon floor model. Well, first he would have gotten a discount if it was indeed a floor model or had been previously sent out for repair. Also if it was indeed a floor model or reconditioned, there would only be a 30 day warranty on it. Second, just...
Do-it-yourself home improvement store with free ongoing workshops.


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Coming from an architectural background, I'd think myself mad for trying to render Harry Potter's college, yet the Matchstick Hogwarts by Patrick Acton has taken model making to an explosive level.
Currently located in a Spanish museum, the artist's fire starter replica is one of a collection of enormous (albeit scaled down) architectural reproductions. His oeuvre includes the United States Capitol building, the Elfin palace from the Lord of the Rings and even the Challenger space shuttle. This particular creation is another stand-alone masterpiece composed of more than 602,000 individual matches.
Taking on an unbelievable intricacy of meticulous detail, the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is taller than most people and boasts the most authentic form the designer could gather from the films. The Matchstick Hogwarts by Patrick Acton incorporates steep towers, tiny windows, rough cliff edges and is truly a magical model.


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Spooky Sudoku
This spooky Sudoku puzzle is perfect for logical thinkers on Halloween. In this spooky Sudoku puzzle, kids will get a chance to use their logical reasoning and critical thinking skills to fill in the missing numbers. Each row and column should contain the numbers one through six. Solve this spooky Sudoku puzzle with your child.
Topics: Third Grade, Puzzles & Sudoku
Updated on Jan 30, 2014
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A healthy body is a guest-chamber for the soul; a sick body is a prison.
- Francis Bacon
I think Francis Bacon was speaking of me when she wrote this! Here's a great example of why: today, I'm quite sore from a very difficult leg work-out yesterday. I normally do spinning on Thursdays, and had decided(while languishing in bed)that I was going to "just walk" today and skip the spinning class(I've already gone twice this week). But, low and behold, I'm off to spinning(9:30 class)! Of course the old me would still be in bed thinking of doing nothing, because that was all I could have done! But now that I'm a much healthier person, I'm DOING things and getting healthier every day! I'm so thankful that I made this change and I will forever keep with it!
Be not afraid of going slowly; be afraid only of standing still.
- Chinese Proverb
Wow isn't this the truth!!! For fear of going slowly(actually taking too much time)I put off doing anything about my weight for far too many years! All that standing still could(would)have killed me. But, now I no longer stand still, in fact this morning I challenged myself more than usual. I decided I wasn't up for 45 minutes on the treadmill, but, knew I needed at least that much cardio today, and it was leg training day with the weights. So, I decided to do a spin class and my leg workout in the same session. I went to the 8am Spin Express class only to find it cancelled as I was the only participant. That was fine though since I went to do my leg workout first. I thought that might be a mistake because spinning taxes your legs so much, but it worked out great! I had an awesome spinning class and my leg workout was quick, but thorough. I didn't get my ab or back exercises in the program today, but I'll do some tonight while watching TV.
Well, I did the 6 am spinning class today and I think I might go at that time again! It's so totally awesome to be coming out of the gym after getting my cardio in for the day and seeing the sun coming up! Now, I have the rest of the day to do what I please and it's going to be 80 degrees here! I think I'll go for a walk later in the afternoon.
Stand for something or fall for anything.
- Anonymous
How true is this? I have read this before and even used it with my kids. I am a person who does believe strongly in my convictions and can be quite passionate defending them. That doesn't always make people happy, but I am what I am.
Right now I believe strongly that I can overcome anything with healthy diet and exercise. More and more evidence proves that being a healthy weight and being active and eating properly can prevent so many diseases and prolong your life. I can also attest to the fact that "all that ailed me" was related to being obese. My life is so much more fun now and I know it will only get better. Those last extra 20 pounds can have a huge impact on how your body feels.
Well today was the start of a new week and of course weigh-in day. I'm down another .6 lbs for a total of 134.9. While that is a little disappointing, I know that I've lost inches because my clothes are all fitting looser. I probably lost at least a full pound, but didn't have the bm before weighing in...My goal for this week is to stick to 1400 calories. After reading an article in Women's Health and calculating my calorie needs, I think this is where I should be, even though my profile here says 1550. I'll see how this works out for me.
I had an excellent work-out this morning. I did back and chest today along with a very good treadmill run. I did skip the stretching, but I tend to do that. I tried a couple of new machines today and did free weights. I feel good about the workout.
Well, today starts another new week. I can't believe March is almost gone! I am, however, happy that the weather seems to be thiniking spring. I didn't get on the computer yesterday, but I got up and went to the Saturday spinning class. The woman who instructs has the reputation of being the hardest instructor, personally, I love her class! I don't always get to go on Saturdays(forget April every weekend is filled with softball games)but, I would prefer her class to any of the other instructors...but, we had a conversation after class, with another girl who is trying to lose weight, and I found out that both she and the instructor are SP members!! That is totally cool. The Spark is obviously spreading!
So, this morning I had thought I would go to spinning again, but then I decided I really should give myself a day off. My legs are still reminding me of the hard workout they did on Friday, and we do need to allow our bodies some time to recover. So, I took the day off, and I'm not feeling guilty, because I know it's necessary.
Tomorrow is weigh-in and if I don't lose this week, I'm not going to be upset, because I can really see a difference in my body. Two pair of jeans(size8)that were pretty snug on me before vacation, are definately loose now. My daughter gave me a few things she was getting rid of and there were a pair of size 4 capris. I was going to toss them in the trash, but instead decided to try them on. They were definately too tight to wear right now, but, I got them on and zipped! By late spring I should be able to wear them---I've never seen a size 4 before(they are stretch however).
So, here's to another week of good workouts, and the prospect of getting outside in the nice weather!


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artist in residence: ryan kenny
cool girls meet cool photos.
by: liza darwin
photo by ryan kenny
September 18 2013
view galleryIt doesn't matter where you spot Ryan Kenny's work. It could be in a magazine, since he shoots for NYLON (yay!), Vice, and ElleGirl Japan. It could be in an ad campaign or catalogue for brands like ASOS or Urban Outfitters. Or, you know, it could be on his Instagram and blog (which are equally inspiring as all of his "professional" work). But regardless of where you find Kenny, one thing's for sure: you're going to want to rip out the image and plaster it all over your walls immediately.
The Sydney-based photographer is only in his early twenties, but he's already made waves both overseas and in America for his dreamy, hazy images. They're amazing and gorgeous enough as it is, but the fact that they're filled with some of our favorite girls--models like Staz and Teresa Oman-- makes them that much cooler. Think of it as a mental vacation for your brain, stocked with deep blue skies, road trips to the middle of nowhere, and the types of perfect days that everyone wishes they had.
Check out our pop quiz with the artist below, and visit Kenny's website to see more. Our only suggestion: you might want to clear some space on your wall first.
If I had to explain to a stranger about my work, I'd say...
"I'd tell them I make images that I want to be in. "
Three things that have inspired me this week are....
"Roadtrip to the Blue Mountains in Australia, preparing for California and meeting new people."
My ultimate muse is...
"Anyone that is fun, happy and interesting."
My studio soundtrack includes...
"Neil Young, Rolling Stones, Troggs, Iggy and the Stooges."
The weirdest thing that's ever happened to me on the job was....
"Jumping off a rock bare foot onto another rock that was covered in oysters. I had about ten in each foot. Most pain my body has felt in years!"


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Albert Einstein once said: "Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere."
Beyond imagination is a series of postage stamps illustrations dedicated to the gray area between science and fiction. And most important to the result that lays at the intersection of two those worlds: inspiration.
I love all your stamps! They are cool and original.


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This job is no longer available
Further information
This established and highly regarded architecture practice, based near London Bridge, are seeking talented project architects with strong delivery experience and design flair. You will be joining a friendly bunch in a very design driven office. The ideal candidate will be comfortable in a client facing role and will have experience across the residential, commercial and education sectors. Vectorworks essential, Revit highly desired.


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Please please please pray for me tonight. I really need it. A problem began this afternoon and I have been trying to let it pass and not think about it but it's making me really upset. I am really tired, stressed, and frustrated. I need God's mercy and compassion. Please pray :'(
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
-Matthew 11:28-30
God Bless you. Prayers of the saints be with you.
I'll pray for you too. Whatever you do, don't lose hope on it; God works in mysterious ways.
May the Lord have mercy on you.
Unworthy1, George_Mina_Awad, Father Peter,
Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for me.
You will be in my prayers.
many people are praying for you. may God bless you during lent and give you peace.
Thank you everyone. Please continue praying for me...
May God have mercy on u
Don't forget to pray for yourself also!
May God bless you with His eternal peace & joy!


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Portable Pantry to leave Rochester and merge with Dover eatery
Thursday, August 28, 2014
ROCHESTER — After five years in business on Hanson Street in downtown Rochester, the Portable Pantry is closing its doors, and moving to Dover.
Laurion, who works at Federal Savings Bank, was enjoying one of the Portable Pantry's menu specials last week — an open-faced breakfast sandwich featuring apple, bacon and cheddar bread; scrambled eggs, bacon, and cheddar.
She said it's the best sandwich she has ever had for breakfast.
According to Jackson-Rafter, all of the food at Portable Pantry is fresh and made from scratch, and as the owner of the cafe, she spends much of her time researching for new menu ideas.
She said that although she didn't discover her love for cooking until she was in her 30s, she now views cooking as "an artistic expression" that makes people happy.
Leary said it's also the love put into the food that makes Portable Pantry so good.
Jackson-Rafter said the Portable Pantry currently employs about seven regular employees, plus several on-call catering employees. She said all her staff will continue working at the Dover location.
She said that although she has many loyal customers who stop by the Portable Pantry for lunch or breakfast, about 50 to 60 percent of her business is catering. The new location, which comes with a commercial kitchen, will provide opportunities to expand the catering side of the business.


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Mia talks about how she grew up with various form of social networking, and then goes onto describe how she uses various forms of media as part of Buddhist practice "….As Buddhists we will already have given a lot of … Continue reading
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Home » Opinion » Columns
Fergus Cullen: You thanked the wrong guy, PSNH!
Pity PSNH. For the state's largest and little loved electric utility, no good deed goes unpunished.
Produce reliable power, get sued by environmentalists. Restore power after an act of God, face hearings about what took you so long. Thank a customer for shoveling out his meter, get inquiries from a skeptical writer.
"Dear Mrs. Columnist," began the letter addressed to my wife that arrived last week. "As our meter readers have to walk through deep snow and climb over banks daily during the winter months, it is a pleasure to find someone like yourself who has cleared a path to the meters. We would like to express our appreciation for your thoughtfulness in taking the time from your schedule to think of the meter reader. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely, PSNH Customer Service."
Isn't that sweet? A February Valentine from our friendly default provider. I'm not just an account number to them! It's a little creepy, but they notice my shoveling habits! Bet they liked all those Christmas lights, too. They think I'm a great guy!
Except I didn't shovel out my meter. My meter's just in a convenient spot, that's all. I do as much to keep the meter clear of snow in February as I do in July. I wish I were a thoughtful guy, worthy of praise, but I'm not. Thank the builder.
And wait a sec. Didn't I pay for this transparent piece of PR fluff? The letter was mailed pre-sort first class, which makes me feel less special. They must send out lots of them.
Might my getting such a letter have anything to do with that other letter in my stack, the one from a competitor asking me to switch to them as my power supplier and get a lower rate than PSNH charges?
What's next, anniversary cards? "Can you believe we've been together four years already? It's electric! We know a handsome guy like you must get other offers from pretty girls who want to hook you up with service. We appreciate your fidelity. You'd never cheat on us, would you?"
Here's an idea, PSNH: Keep the letter and lower my bill by a corresponding amount. That's a thank you I'd appreciate.
Imagine if the Postal Service sent such letters. "We're sorry the town plowed a big snowbank at the end of your driveway after you'd shoveled for two hours and taken off your boots. Your extra effort digging out your mailbox makes us all the more grateful for the opportunity to deliver bills to you, like this one from PSNH." We'd say, no wonder the post office is broke.
Only a monopoly like the postal service, and a quasi-monopoly like PSNH, sees that people are using its product less and concludes it should raise prices. PSNH already lost nearly all its large, commercial customers in the early years of deregulation, and now they are losing tens of thousands of residential customers to a dozen competitors that are taking advantage of current low natural gas prices to undersell PSNH.
And PSNH has already gone broke, of course. Last month marked the 25th anniversary of PSNH's infamous 1988 bankruptcy in the wake of the Seabrook construction debacle. Just as PSNH pushed cost overruns at Seabrook onto ratepayers, they are trying to push the $422 million Bow coal plant scrubber onto consumers as well.
The scrubber was meant to cost $250 million originally. What incentive does PSNH have to keep costs down when it can always go to the Public Utilities Commission for billions in rate recovery from little old ladies paying $40 a month?
A spokesman for PSNH assured me the letter was not sent with public relations in mind, has nothing to do with the aggressive marketing from competitors, and did not come out of PSNH's rate recoverable budget. Meter readers can flag a customer as deserving of such a letter. Thousands are sent each month. The cost, PSNH claims, is minimal compared to overtime and worker's comp caused by snow. People who are recognized for clearing their meter tend to keep their meters clear in the future as well.
So, my meter reader's the nice guy. I'm just a cynical customer.
Fergus Cullen, a freelance columnist, can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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text: 4.5 GREAT FILM!!! jagger | 03/03/2011 | See all jagger's reviews (179) After becoming a fan of Robert Pattison in Twlight i was keen to watch him in other roles. I wasnt diapointed, it is a lovely film and it reminded me of me and my husband when we were dating, vert lovey duvey. It has a clever twist at the end, you must have a few tissues ready tho! Certainly worth watching.


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The Vermont Junior Voyageurs opened up its first year as a program in the Montreal Junior Lacrosse League with a pair of wins over two teams from Montreal over the weekend.
After taking down the Montreal Shamrocks 15-4 on Saturday, the Voyageurs blew through the Montreal Phoenix 14-8 on Sunday.
They improved to 2-0. The MJLL is for lacrosse players between the ages of 17-and-21-years-old.
"Our talent level is without a doubt very high," said Junior Voyageur coach Trevor Wagar, who is also the captain of the Senior Voyageurs. "I am very fortunate to be coaching a group of kids that are so committed to their development as a team and as a program overall."
Lawrence Dee, who plays at St. Michael's College, finished the weekend with eight goals and three assists.
He is one of the more experienced box lacrosse players on the team according to Wagar.
Dustin Vitagliano had six goals over the weekend.
Defensively, Wagar is looking at Cooper Warden to be a key defender throughout the season.
"He is a big, rangy, athletic player," said Wagar. "He can cover anyone and eliminate them as a threat, and can also be a drive force to get the ball up the floor."
Wagar was happy with the start of the young club, particularly being new with players playing with each other for the first time.
He has high hopes for the team overall.
"With most of the players playing field lacrosse in college, they have a high energy to them to be able to play during their offseason," he said. "They are all excited to be facing competition in a league this year and are excited to improve on their overall skills."
Wagar noted after a Senior Voyageurs game two weeks ago that the team didn't have as much experience as the other teams in the Quebec Senior Lacrosse League.
He is hoping that by tapping into local talent with a junior team, it will pay dividends for the future of the Senior Voyageurs.
"By tapping into a pipeline of local players, it makes things much easier for our senior team in terms of travel and practices and what not," he said. "With a junior program like this, to really make a name for ourselves in the box lacrosse world."
The Junior Voyageurs will travel to take on the Kanehsatake Warriors on Saturday and Montreal Phoenix on Sunday before returning home to the Essex Skating Facility on July 12 to host the Warriors.