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- Insulin Pumps – Compare Top Reviews!Posted 4 years ago
- Top Blood Glucose Meters ReviewsPosted 4 years ago
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Bayer Glucose Meters
The Bayer glucose meter family has a long and storied history. Bayer Healthcare introduced the first portable glucose meter in 1969. Since then, the company has been a tireless innovator of diabetes products. This focus has made Bayer one of the largest self-test diagnostic companies in existence. While they may be one of the largest companies, Bayer's focus is on simplicity for the consumer.
Bayer only has three different models of glucose meters. All of their meters have what they call "No Coding" technology. Bayer claims to be the first company to offer a line of glucose monitors that do not require coding.
This innovation allows users to avoid programming the glucose meter, with the aim of increasing testing accuracy and simplify the user's diabetes management headaches.
Bayer Meters
Bayer touts the speed of its meters, only 5 seconds to obtain test results. And, the company has increased the memory of the meters to help user's better monitor their glucose levels over time. The current Bayer glucose meter product line-up consists of the following.
Contour. This devise is Bayer's flagship glucose monitor. The Contour has basic and advanced functions, no coding technology, a large display, and comes in multiple colors.
Breeze 2. As simple, as simple gets. The breeze 2 has no individual test strips. Instead, there is a 10 test disc. Simply insert the disc and you are all set for your next 10 glucose test. This meter and disc received the Arthritis Foundation "Ease of Use Commendation."
Contour USB.This meter comes in a small package, but packs a series pnch! Many advanced features for such a little device.
Contour Next EZ.This meter was introduced in 2012. Admittedly, it does not seem to take the place of, or advance the technology, of any of the other meters offered by Bayer. But, check it out to see if it fits your needs.
Bayer Didget. This meter is just for the kids. The Didget is awesome and integrates with popular game consoles. Technical specifications for this meter are included in its review.
A1CNOW Self Check Test While not technically a Bayer glucose meter, the A1CNow Self Check allows you to measures your A1C levels without going to your doctor's office. Many health advocates claim that measuring your A1c provides a better picture of your diabetes health. Follow the link to learn about A1c testing.
|Contour USB
|Breeze 2
|Auto. Shut Off
|3 minutes
|3 minutes
|3 minutes
|Battery Type
|Two CR2032
|One CR2032
|Battery Life
|1,000 Tests
|1,000 Tests
|Alt. Site Testing
|Memory Capacity
|480 Tests
|2,000 Tests
|420 Tests
|Storage Temp.
|Operating Temp.
|41° to 113° F
|41° to 113° F
|50° to 113° F
|Result Range
|10 to 600 mg/dL
|20 to 600 mg/dL
|20 to 600 mg/dL
|Sample Size
|0.6 microliter
|0.6 microliter
|1.0 microliter
|Test Time
|5 seconds
|5 seconds
|5 seconds
|Weight (battery)
|1.7 oz. (yes)
|1.2 oz. (yes)
|3.62 oz (yes)
|Size (Inches)
|2.35 x 2.8 x 0.77
|3.82 x 1.18 x 0.63
|4.1 x 2.3 x 1.1
|Backlit Display
|Coding Req.
|Software Avail.
|5 Years
|5 Years
|5 Years
|Contour Next EZ
|Auto. Shut Off
|3 minutes
|Battery Type
|Battery Life
|1,000 Tests
|Alternative Site Testing
|Memory Capacity
|480 Tests
|Storage Temp.
|Operating Temp.
|41 to 113 F
|Result Range
|20 to 600 mg/dL
|Sample Size
|0.6 microliter
|Test Time
|5 seconds
|Weight (battery)
|1.7 oz. (yes)
|Size (Inches)
|3.03 x 2.24 x 0.74
|Backlit Display
|5 years
|Coding Required
|Software Available
Like most other major glucose meter manufacturers, Bayer has its own proprietary software that allows its clients to track how well they are doing, or not doing, with managing their blood sugar levels. They call it GlucoFacts Deluxe.
Like other companies, Bayer does not charge for the software, but you do need to purchase a data cable needed to download your test results to your computer.
This software has been improved in recent years (This page was updated in February 2012), however, the software is just good, but nothing great. BUT, what is great is that the software is marketed as being MAC compatible, one of the few.
Bayer also has an extensive diabetes community sight and has even partnered with Dr. Steven Covey to produce "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People with Diabetes."
Bayer Healthcare is a subsidiary of Bayer AG, a mammoth health and medical products. Bayer supports diabetes care in over 100 countries. Starting in 1941, the company introduced its first diabetic related product, the Clinitest reagent tablets.
Today, Bayer has some of the most widely used glucose meters in the world.
Bayer's diabetes products subsidiary is located in Tarrytown, New York. Bayer's diabetes related website is this link. You can also find all of its product manuals on the site.
Ascensia Contour TS. The TS was a stripped down version of the Contour aimed at people who need very simple operation and large display. This meter is still available at selected retailers, but I believe Bayer will be discontinuing this meter.
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Is Fed's QE Working? An Economic Debate
The financial crisis of 2008 sent the economy into a tail-spin from which it has yet to fully recover.
In response, the Federal Reserve under Chairman Ben Bernanke has moved aggressively to try to get the economy back on track, pushing short-term interest rates to zero and buying $3 trillion in assets.
Fed watchers have been split ever...

subset: commoncrawl


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- Places To Visit
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- New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea
Kavieng Airport (IATA: KVG, ICAO: AYKV) is located in Kavieng, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea and is located approximately 1 km away from the town centre. The airport was first built by the Japanese as a military airbase in 1942. After the end of the war, it was converted to civilian use, and now possesses a modern, though small terminal facility. It is officially an international airport, but is yet to be used for regular commercial international flights.
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Love airports? Check these out;
- Chimbu Airport
- Hoskins Airport
- Vanimo Airport
- Buka Airport
- Goroka Airport
- Mendi Airport
- Kerema Airport
- Wapenamanda Airport
- Vivigani Airfield
Airports in Papua New Guinea
- Auckland Airport
- Whakatane Airport
- Nelson Airport
- Milford Sound Airport
- Hawke's Bay Airport
- Rarotonga Intl. Airport
- Aitutaki Airport (AIT)
- Chimbu Airport
- Hoskins Airport


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Dahlia Throw by Marty Miller
Welcome! You are browsing as a guestWould you like to see 13 projects made from this pattern and much more? create a free account What am I missing?
© Crochet Today!, 2012
© Crochet Today!, 2012
Dahlia Throw
Summon an early spring by planting these colorful crocheted blooms in a throw that brightens up any room.
RED HEART Super Saver, 7oz/198g skeins, each approx 364yds/333m (acrylic)
- 1 skein #726 Coral
- 1 skein #706 Perfect Pink
- 1 skein #668 Honeydew
- 2 skeins #406 Medium Thyme


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But fear not - there is plenty to explore...Shop all K2 Shop sale K2
The K2 Aftershock Skis + iPT 12 Demo Bindings are creating fracture lines through preconceived notions of what an all-mountain ski can do. These are built to handle ungroomed and softer snow conditions, but don't be fooled, the Aftershock Skis are still lively and agile enough for groomers, making it one of the most versatile skis for any resort. All-Terrain Rocker™ gives this ski the added versatility to rip the open trees and explore a side of the mountain that you never thought you could.
All-Terrain Rocker™ Designed for all ability levels with added versatility and ease in all snow conditions, featuring an elevated tip for variable and soft snow performance with camber underfoot for power, energy, and edge-hold in firmer conditions.
Progressive Sidecut A combination of two different radii that enhances the versatility of wider-waist skis. This guarantees improved turn initiation and hard-snow performance.
Aspen and Paulownia Aspen is solid and dense; Paulownia is an eco-friendly, fast-growing renewable wood that is incredibly strong and lightweight.
Metal Laminate Consists of 2 sheets of lightweight Titanal running the length of the ski. Alternating layers of fiberglass and Titanal sandwich the wood core to provide dampened, accurate, and unshakable performance.
Hybritech Sidewalls A unique blend of sidewall and cap constructions that combine the accuracy, power, and performance of sidewall underfoot with the lightweight characteristics and smooth turn initiation of cap construction.
Demo Bindings Come Mounted to Skis Always have a certified binding technician adjust your bindings.
This is a used product that does not carry a warranty. See conditions guide up above for further explanation of condition.
|Size (cm)
|Tip Width (mm)
|Waist Width (mm)
|Tail Width (mm)
|Turning Radius (m)


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Work Ethic
By Helen Molesworth
During the 1960s, artists from Alan Kaprow and Yoko Ono to Andy Warhol and Richard Serra stopped making "art" as it has been thought of since the Renaissance. They staged performances that mixed everyday life with theater and in yet other, often ironic, ways challenged the system of marketing, display, and aesthetic discourse that ascribes exceptional monetary as well as cultural value to paintings and sculpture. Work Ethic, published in conjunction with an exhibition of the same name organized by The Baltimore Museum of Art, brings together a cross section of such radical endeavors and opens a fresh perspective on their genesis and meaning. Most of the avant-garde interventions considered in Work Ethic entailed performances and other procedures generally interpreted as linking a "dematerialization" of the object with the free play of concepts.
By contrast, Helen Molesworth and her collaborators in Work Ethic set such activities in the context of the workplace and contend that they engage issues of management, production, and skill that accompanied the emergence of the information age. The result is a major breakthrough in understanding the structures and ambitions of a wide range of art-making. Work Ethic reproduces all the diverse material—Bruce Nauman videotapes to Roxy Paine's painting machine—in the Baltimore exhibition and provides insightful discussion of each piece's history, structure, and significance.
Four essays introduce topics, like utopian fantasies of pleasurable work, that are of general relevance to setting the material into a postindustrial context. Throughout this catalogue, there is as well a lively dialogue on the museum's relationship to art that questions the rules of both the workplace and the art world. The exhibition, "Work Ethic," will be at The Baltimore Museum of Art from October 12, 2003, to January 11, 2004, and at the Des Moines Center for the Arts from May 15 to August 1, 2004.Published by Penn State University Press, 2003


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As a small business owner, or someone considering starting your own business, you may be wondering how to qualify for a small business loan. Lenders have tightened their approval process, making it more difficult for small businesses to qualify for a loan, but you can improve your chances by preparing to meet their requirements, standards, and having appropriate documentation.
How to Qualify for a Small Business Loan
Applying for a small business loan takes preparation, a sound business model, and quite often, other intangibles. Here is some more information about small business loan requirements and other factors which may affect your application or ability to get a small business loan.
Preparing Required Documentation
The US Small Business Administration suggests the following information and documentation must be available when applying for a small business loan. Before you visit the bank to apply, take time to gather all required documents from this list to improve your chances of approval:
- Statement of Personal History
- Personal Financial Statements
- Business Balance Sheet
- Current Profit and Loss Statements
- Supplementary Financial Statements for previous 3 years
- Projected Financial Statements for the next year's income
- Ownerships
- Business Licenses and Certificates (corporations need corporate stamp or seal)
- Previous Loan Application History
- Business Income Tax Returns for previous three years
- Personal Tax Returns for previous three years
- Business Overview and History (similar to what would be included in a business plan)
- Business Leases, Rentals, Property information
- Your Resume
- Small Business Loan Application from the lender of your choice
Other Factors Affecting Small Business Loan Applications
Lenders don't just want to see a few papers neatly bound in a notebook – they want to verify you are really qualified. Keep these factors in mind as well:
Credit score. Just as your personal credit history and score plays an important role in whether or not you will get approved for credit, your personal credit history will be considered when applying for a business loan. Ideally, you will want a credit score in the 700 range, and the higher your score, the better your chances for approval. (see "What is a good credit score" for more information about credit score ranges).
Experience. Lenders also want to see that your experience relates to the industry of the business you are starting or buying. If you don't have direct experience in the industry, you'll want to hire someone who does for your management team, and include this resume and information in your documentation.
Viability. Do you have a sound business plan or business model? you may think your product is the best thing since sliced bread, but you may have a difficult time convincing lenders unless you are bringing a proven product or business model to the table.
Put yourself in your lenders shoes for a moment. Would you lend money to you or your business? Lenders need to see that you have adequate funds to repay the money they let you borrow, so try to get money saved or build up your portfolio of business assets. An extremely high percentage of newly started businesses will fail within their first three years of operation and lenders are well aware of these risks. Help reduce your risk level by doing all you can to make yourself and your business credit worthy before applying for a small business loan.


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LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - A couple of film characters adept at martial arts and anatomy-defying leg splits face off at movie theaters this weekend.
DreamWorks Animation's family feature "Kung Fu Panda," features a voice cast including Jack Black and Angelina Jolie, while Adam Sandler stars in the Sony comedy "You Don't Mess With the Zohan." Both are considered potential candidates to replace "Sex and the City" atop the domestic box office.
"Panda" looks like a lock to ring up at least $40 million domestically. "Zohan," whose star plays an Israeli commando-turned-New York hairdresser, should bow with at least $35 million but could spar with "Panda" for the frame's top spot if appeal proves broader than the male-skewing fan base for most Sandler releases.
"Men of all ages are totally up for it, (and) women have become enlisted as we have continued the campaign," Sony distribution president Rory Bruer said.
Indeed, executives at Paramount, which distributes DreamWorks Animation releases, aren't ready to start polishing the weekend gold medal just yet.
"I think they're going to be neck and neck," Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore said of the frame's wide openers.
There are at least a couple of historical comparisons for each of the No. 1 wannabes.
"Panda" compares with DreamWorks' May 2006 family comedy "Over the Hedge," which bowed to $38.5 million en route to $155 million domestically, and June 2007's Pixar/Disney film "Ratatouille," which opened with $47 million and grossed $206.4 million all told.
"Zohan" will be measured against Sandler's June 2006 comedy "Click," which Sony debuted with $40 million on the way to $137.4 domestically.
Meanwhile, "Sex and the City" should finish third with $25 million or so, just ahead of the waning "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter


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Midday Express of 2011-12-21
News from the European Commission's Midday Briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Commission européenne
Millennium Development Goals: EU gives additional support to 36 countries for tackling hunger, child mortality, maternal health, and access to water
Today, the European Commission announced additional funding for projects targeting the most off-track Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 36 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. This additional funding will focus on reducing hunger and child mortality and securing better maternal health and drinking water and sanitation facilities. With today's decision the EU is delivering on its €1 billion MDG initiative, announced in September 2010, at the UN MDGs Summit in New York.
European Statistical Programme 2013-17: Quality, timely and efficient statistics to support European policies
"Quality statistics are vital for evidence based decision-making and the sound implementation of EU policies. They are also important in helping citizens to understand the EU and become involved in the democratic process", said Algirdas Šemeta, Commissioner responsible for Eurostat.
European Commission appoints new Head of Representation in Slovakia
Mr Dušan Chrenek will take office as head of representation in Slovakia on 1 January 2012. "I welcome the appointment of Mr Chrenek as Head of Representation in Bratislava. He is going to represent the European Commission in Slovakia in challenging times. I am sure that he will contribute significantly to our efforts to provide high quality service and information to all EU citizens," said EU Vice-President Viviane Reding.
Children in the European Union gain additional protection against international abduction
Today, the European Commission proposed the EU accept Russia and seven more countries as parties to an international convention designed to prevent child abduction. The 1980 Hague Convention ensures the prompt return of children abducted by one parent to their habitual country of residence and protects parental access rights. International abduction by a parent is a global problem affecting several thousand children each year. Today's move will effectively extend protection for children in the EU to eight new countries: Russia, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Gabon, Morocco, Seychelles and Singapore. The Convention has been ratified by 86 countries to date, including all EU members.
The European Union easily explained: Commission launches website dedicated to children
The European Commission has today launched a special website – the 'Kids' Corner' – dedicated to children and young people. The website includes information about children's rights as well as games, quizzes and information about the EU and its Member States. It was first announced in the EU's Agenda for the Rights of the Child ( IP/11/156). The Kids' Corner is specifically written in a style children can understand. Children can easily learn important facts and figures about the EU, its history and its countries through games and quizzes in 22 EU languages. While Europe and its future are much discussed in the media today, it is not always easy to understand why, and how, certain decisions are made. It is clear that decisions taken on a European level have a direct influence on the daily lives of all Europeans – young and old. That is why knowledge and learning about the EU should be directed at everyone – not just adults. It is also important for young people to understand what the EU is and how it functions. The Commission therefore decided in its Agenda for the Rights of the Child to create a single entry point for children on the Europa website. The Kids' Corner offers: a 'games and quizzes' section where children can learn more about Europe in a fun way; a facts and figures section to explain what the EU is all about; a section about children's rights which contains games, videos and information designed for two separate age groups. Children and teenagers can learn about their rights, for example, the right to be heard and to receive information, and, as a result, take an active part in shaping their own future. The Kids' Corner also links up and integrates the existing website 'Teachers' Corner', which contains material so that teachers can explain how the EU was founded and how it functions. For more information: http://europa.eu/kids-corner/
Feed and food safety: Reallocation of € 14 millions for the support of EU Reference Laboratories in 2012
The Commission has today adopted the Commission's proposal endorsed by the Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal health held on 6th December 2011 to earmark € 14 millions for the support of EU Reference Laboratories (EU-RLs) in 2012. With this financial support the European Commission encourages the EU-RLs to continue with their active contribution in providing technical support to the Commission and the Member States towards implementation of EU policies for consumer protection and animal health, such as the excellent work done by the EU Reference laboratory for Escherichia coli to manage the 2011 crisis. There are 43 designated European Union Reference Laboratories. EU-RLs provide essential scientific and technical support in the area of feed and food safety and animal health and are the main pillar of the EU laboratory network comprising EU-RLs, National reference Laboratories and Routine Laboratories. The functioning of the EU-RLs is co-financed by the annual EU grant and the Member States hosting the EU-RL, this later covering in particular costs related to buildings and facilities. EU-RLs have submitted their 2012 work programmes and corresponding budget estimates that have been assessed by the Commission considering EU priorities and Member State needs. In 2012, the EU-RLs will receive EU grants totalling of €14 million in order to co-finance their activities at the rate of 100 % of eligible costs as described in the work programmes. For more information please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/controls/reference_laboratories/index_en.htm and http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/laboratories/index_en.htm
Commission publishes draft State aid rules related to EU Emissions Trading Scheme for 2013-2020
The European Commission has published a draft set of temporary measures aimed at enabling Member States to compensate under EU state aid rules for the risk of carbon leakage as defined in the new Directive on the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) for the period 2013-2020. 'Carbon leakage' describes the prospect of an increase in global greenhouse gas emissions when companies shift production outside the EU because they cannot pass on the cost increases induced by the EU ETS to their customers without a significant loss of market share or profits. Based on the available facts and on input from a public consultation, the Commission has identified a small number of sectors that are at significant risk of carbon leakage as a result of increased CO2 costs in electricity prices. These sectors should be able to receive compensation that is limited to the minimum necessary. The Commission proposal aims at balancing three objectives: to prevent a significant risk of carbon leakage due to the increase of CO2 costs in the electricity prices, to preserve the price signals created by the EU ETS to achieve cost-effective decarbonisation and to minimise competition distortions in the internal market by avoiding subsidy races within the EU at a time of economic uncertainty and budgetary discipline. The draft also contains proposals on Investment aid for highly efficient power plants, including new power plants which are ready for the environmentally safe capture and geological storage of CO2 (CCS-ready) and on certain derogations from the auctioning principle for the power sector in some new Member States and corresponding investments for the modernisation of electricity generation. The Commission and the Member States will discuss the draft rules in January 2012. The final rules are expected to be adopted during the first quarter of 2012. The draft rules are available at: http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2012_emissions_trading/index_en.html
Commission approves extension of Portuguese guarantee scheme for credit institutions
The European Commission has approved until 30 June 2012 the extension of a scheme allowing to provide state guarantees for credit institutions in Portugal. The Portuguese guarantee scheme was initially approved on 29 October 2008 (see IP/08/1601) and prolonged on 22 February 2010 (see MEX/10/0222), on 23 July 2010 (see IP/10/997), on 21 January 2011 (see MEX/11/0121) and on 30 June 2011 ( MEX/11/0630). The Commission found the prolongation of the measures to be in line with its guidance on state aid to banks during the crisis (IP/08/1495) as revised in its Communication of 30 December 2011 on the application, from 1st of January 2012, of state aid rules to support measures in favour of banks in the context of the crisis ( IP/11/1488). The extended measures are well targeted, proportionate and limited in time and scope. The Commission, therefore, concluded that the guarantees are compatible with Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU), that allows granting aid to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a member state.
Commission consults on review of R&D&I rules
The European Commission is inviting stakeholders' comments on the review of EU state aid rules for supporting research, development and innovation (R&D&I). The Commission is interested in statistical information and qualitative comments on national R&D&I policies, at large, and on national state aid support measures for R&D&I, in particular. On the basis of the replies received to the published questionnaire, the Commission will prepare a first draft of a revised EU Framework for State aid for R&D&I which it expects to publish in the second half of 2012 for consultation. The review was launched in August 2011 by the publication of a mid-term review on the application of the current framework that will expire at the end of 2013. Comments can be submitted until 24 February 2012. Previous documents and the consultation are available at: http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2012_stateaid_rdi/index_en.html
Commission clears acquisition by Aviva and Pelayo of joint control over PMV
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of joint control over PMV by Aviva and its current parent Pelayo. PMV, as well as its two parents Aviva and Pelayo, are based in Spain and provide insurance services in this country. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
Revision of the EU Civil Protection legislation: delivering more effective disaster management
The European Commission today proposed legislation to strengthen European co-operation in civil protection which will provide a more efficient, effective and rapid response to disasters as well as enhanced prevention and preparedness actions. The proposals will allow Europe to move beyond the current system of ad hoc co-ordination to one where assistance is pre-planned and where delivery can be guaranteed wherever a disaster strikes.
EU High Representative/Vice President Catherine Ashton fills three positions in the European External Action Service
Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission, today announced her intention to fill three positions in the European External Action Service. Aivo Orav will become Head of the EU Delegation to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Samuel Žbogar will become Head of the EU Office in Kosovo. John Gatt-Rutter will become EU Representative to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
Mergers: Commission approves creation of joint venture in Belgium between Volkswagen Financial Services and D'Ieteren
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the creation of a joint venture between Volkswagen Financial Services AG ("VWFS") and the Belgian company s.a. D'Ieteren n.v. for the provision of financial services related to the sale of Volkswagen group vehicles on the Belgian market. The Commission concluded that the creation of the joint venture, to be known as Volkswagen D'Ieteren Finance SA ("VDFin"), would not raise competition concerns because the proposed transaction will not significantly alter the market structures and the merged entity will face competition from other players.
Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of sports marketing group Infront by Bridgepoint
The European Commission cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Infront Sports and Media AG of Switzerland by private equity Bridgepoint Capital Group Limited of the United Kingdom. The Commission concluded that the transaction will not raise competition concerns due to the limited overlaps between the parties' activities and to the fact that sufficient alternative sources of supply will continue to be available to the merged entity's customers in all markets concerned.
Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of Spicers' office supplies business in continental Europe by rival Unipapel
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Spicers Ltd.'s business of office supplies in continental Europe (Spicers CE) by the Spanish company Unipapel S.A.. The Commission's investigation confirmed that the proposed transaction would not raise competition concerns because of sufficient competitive constraint on all markets where the merged entity will operate.
Autre matériel diffusé :
• Memo "Millennium Development Goals: EU gives additional support to 36 countries for tackling major development challenges"
• Memo "Q&A: European Statistical programme 2013-2017"
• Memo "European Commission proposes Supplementary Research Programme for ITER"
• Memo "Moving closer to more effective disaster management in Europe" - rediffusion
• Press statement by President Barroso on the Youth Opportunities Initiative - rediffusion
• Press statement by László Andor on the Youth Opportunities Initiative - rediffusion
• Commissioner Michel Barnier welcomes agreement by Council and Parliament establishing SEPA migration end-dates - rediffusion
• Memo "Full SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) Migration - Frequently Asked Questions" - rediffusion
• Speech by Vice President Almunia: "Reform of the State aid rules for Services of General Economic Interest (SGEI) and decisions on WestLB, Bank of Ireland and France Telecom" - rediffusion
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has begun a four-day trip to Europe to support international human rights and democracy.
Clinton is en route to Hungary, where she'll inaugurate a human rights center named after the late California Rep. Tom Lantos. The Hungarian-born Lantos founded Congress' Human Rights Caucus. The institute honoring him in Budapest will aim to support minorities in Europe and elsewhere.
Clinton will travel to Lithuania on Thursday for a meeting of the "Community of Democracies." Participants from dozens of countries will discuss ways to advance women in politics and business, and combat human trafficking and violence against women.
Lastly, Clinton will visit Spain. There, she'll meet with President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and other senior officials.


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/7/2014 (1116 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A Winnipeg man is facing charges for his alleged role in a massive cross-border drug-trafficking ring -- just a few years after his younger brother got out of jail for participating in an international weapons-smuggling scam.
It's a strange tale involving one family and two entirely separate criminal investigations that have similar characteristics.
Christopher Scher, 33, was arrested in Calgary earlier this year and remains before the courts. None of the allegations has been proven and he is presumed innocent.
Scher and two Alberta men are accused of running more than $4.5 million worth of cocaine from Nevada. Police found the drugs stashed inside a truck during a traffic stop in the U.S., which triggered a lengthy probe on both sides of the border.
They are charged with conspiracy to import cocaine, conspiracy to traffic cocaine, possession, trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime. Police allege the trio was involved in frequently bringing drugs from the southern U.S. into Canada.
Scher's younger brother, Thomas, was arrested in 2009 in North Dakota. The Winnipeg resident was attending Minot State University on a football scholarship when he was recruited by others to take part in an illegal enterprise.
Thomas Scher, now 25, was ultimately sentenced to one year in a U.S. jail after pleading guilty to trading guns he legally purchased in the U.S. in exchange for ecstasy, which was then sold on campus. The man who received the guns, Gokhan Ozturk, was given a 57-month sentence for selling the 22 semi-automatic handguns on the black market in Winnipeg.
Ozturk told court the idea was launched in a Winnipeg bar in late 2007. Ozturk met two U.S. college students -- Thomas Scher and Curtis Rolle -- who were visiting for the weekend. Scher and Rolle agreed to buy a variety of firearms from several outlets in the Minot area, then smuggle them into Canada. They would meet Ozturk in Winnipeg and be paid either $1,000 cash per weapon or with ecstasy tablets.
Scher and Rolle admitted they sold 1,800 doses of the illegal drug to people in North Dakota, then pocketed the profits. After their arrest in December 2008, the pair agreed to assist police.
Scher began speaking with Ozturk in conversations investigators recorded. A meeting was set up for January 2009 in a parking lot in Minot. Ozturk drove to North Dakota believing he was going to meet a potential new client, as arranged by Scher. It was an undercover police officer.


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Will 'The Social Network' Help the Facebook IPO?
Mark Zuckerberg may want to send a check to screenwriter Aaron Sorkin once the billions start arriving from the coming Facebook IPO. Zuckerberg may be winning favor with the public in part because of Sorkin's "The Social Network"–a film that was acclaimed for its tough look at the co-founder of Facebook. According to an AP-CNBC poll, while Zuckerberg's overall favorability rating rating is just 36%, people who saw the Oscar-winning film are 20 percent more likely to have a favorable view of Zuckerberg than those who have not seen the movie. [CNBC]


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THE SQL Server Blog Spot on the Web
I had a note from Bill Graziano this morning telling me that our spotlight sessions for the PASS Summit in Seattle in November have been posted, along with details of some of the other sessions. I'm really looking forward to the summit this year as I had to miss TechEd at the last minute. Details are here:
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Is there a reason that duo sessions are only listed as having one presenter? e.g.:


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ADLER, Russia – They were ripe to be ripped, the Americans were, but it wasn't necessary for the media to lead the way this time.
The U.S. men's hockey players ripped themselves first.
"They played like they had something to win and we just kind of shut it down," captain Zach Parise said after his team lost the bronze medal game to Finland, 5-0, Saturday at Bolshoy Ice Dome. "I'm a little bit embarrassed of what happened, especially today. It wasn't a good effort by us."
Added teammate Paul Stastny, "It feels like we played this whole tournament for nothing."
After opening with a 7-1 thumping of Slovakia and a stirring 3-2 victory over Russia, the Americans ultimately headed home to their NHL day jobs decorated with nothing but defeat.
Four years ago in Vancouver, the U.S. reached the gold medal game, losing in overtime to Team Canada. Here, they finished fourth but might as well have been last.
"We felt that we had a group that could contend for a gold medal," Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler said. "Then we had a chance to play for a bronze medal. Now, before you know it, we're going home empty handed. The only feeling I have right now is disappointment."
The Americans scored 20 goals in winning their first four games. They then suffered consecutive shutout losses, falling Friday to Canada, 1-0, before their effort dried up against the Finnish.
The puck dropped Saturday only about 20 hours after the U.S. lost that stomach-burner to the Canadians.
"That's going to leave a hole in your gut for awhile, losing 1-0," Ryan Kesler said. "But I thought our first period was good (Saturday). Then we just sort of ran out of gas."
The Americans did put together a solid opening period against Finland, skating off for the first intermission with score tied, 0-0.
But in the second, Ducks forward Teemu Selanne, at 43 playing in his sixth and final Olympic Games, and Jussi Jokinen scored 11 seconds apart, and the U.S. never recovered, eventually unraveling in the third period.
"It was pretty demoralizing," Parise said of the loss to Canada. "We had to turn around and realize that there was actually a bronze medal on the line, which is still a pretty big deal. But those two efforts were just not acceptable at this point."
The Americans' dismal performance included two failed penalty shots by Patrick Kane, the Chicago forward generally considered a threat in the shutout format.
Kane couldn't put the puck on net on his first attempt and then hit the post on the second, Finland's Tuukka Rask needing that one bit of good luck to retain his shutout.
"When they got the two goals a lot of frustration set in for us," Parise said. "We started to try to beat guys one-on-one and stopped playing as a team. We kind of deflated."
Of his performance Saturday and throughout the Olympics Kane said: "No excuses. Wasn't good enough, wasn't good enough to help the team win a medal. I was expected to do a lot more."
The Americans were trying to win medals in consecutive Olympic hockey tournaments for the first time since earning gold in 1960 and silver in 1956.
Afterward, as the two teams were lined up shaking hands, Fowler and Selanne, who now are teammates again, embraced and had a brief exchange.
"If there's one guy on the planet I feel happy for in losing that game I think it's him," Fowler said. "He's one of the best players to ever live and one of the greatest guys I've known. So I'm happy for 'T.' He deserves it."
Asked what Selanne said to him, Fowler added: "He told me he was sorry. That's the kind of guy that he is. He feels for other people."
Contact the writer: email@example.com


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Ambulances are for genuine emergencies only and misuse of the service can cost lives - that is the stark message from Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
Winter - and the festive season in particular - is a challenging time for the ambulance service, with a significant increase in emergency calls.
But some people are dialling 999 with minor ailments or for simple medical advice.
To ease inappropriate use of the lifesaving service, ambulance bosses are urging people to only call 999 in the event of a genuine emergency such as a serious accident, severe loss of blood, heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke or breathing difficulties.
They say people with minor illnesses and injuries should visit their GP, minor injuries unit or a pharmacist or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or their out-of-hours GP service.
Paul Mudd, the ambulance trust's locality director of operations, said: "We will always respond to medical emergencies where it is believed someone needs time-critical help, but our call-takers and crews are often faced with people who just require treatment or advice for a minor injury or illness."


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Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 to launch October 4th at AT&T?
This article contains unofficial information.
Finally, after all this time waiting for the Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 to have a U.S. launch, we could be within days of the event happening. A leaked internal document reveals that the GPS-centric smartphone will be released October 4th by AT&T. According to EngadgetMobile, the recipient of the tip, the price will be $299.99 with a 2 year contract and that is after a $100 mail-in rebate. That means you will have to lay out about 4 Benjamins to pick up the device. What you are getting in return is a 3.5 inch touchscreen with all of the usual suspects like a 3.2MP camera, HTML browser, microSD slot and triband HSDPA connectivity. The combination of the internet and Garmin's expertise on navigation helps you find addresses quickly with turn-by-turn directions. With all of the new smartphones expected in the next few weeks, anyone out there focusing on the G60?
Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 Specifications | Hands-on
source: EngadgetMobile
Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 Specifications | Hands-on
source: EngadgetMobile
2 Comments
posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:43 0
1. vzw fanman (Posts: 1976; Member since: 11 Dec 2008)
well before i got the storm, my garmin nuivi was a great gps system, so i guess the phne should be good too :-)
posted on 28 Sep 2009, 23:10 0
2. chupum (Posts: 115; Member since: 10 Feb 2009)
Wow, I feel like it was a million years ago when I started getting excited over this phone... having to wait for so long was bad enough, but now that it's going to a carrier that I don't even belong to is like adding insult to injury... And I'm at my renewal point with my phone plan also! haha! I hope it does well in its sales because it sounds like a great phone... but with a supposed price tag of $300.00 after rebate... seriously???
Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 to launch October 4th at AT&T?


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Skip to comments.One Chance (Vomit Alert)
Posted on 04/29/2012 2:16:00 AM PDT by Pride_of_the_Bluegrass
Video at link
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
Vote Seal Team 6
Well, President Clinton was right in the video. You hire a president to make the right calls, and I think President Obama made the right one with Osama Bin Laden (OBL). I give him his due on that. So that's one thumbs up versus hundreds if not thousands down, and I don't think OBL will make many (any?) voters change their minds.
Bil Clinton is a lying POS treasonous asswipe. Bill clintonn is the perfect example of what is wrong with dem voters. Every treasonous act he did was cheered on and excused by his supporters
I agree 100%.
I read where the final decision was made by a Navy Admiral. Zero did it that way so if it went bad he could blame the Admiral. Since it went good nobody knows anything about the Admiral.
If true this definitely needs to come out. . . .
I am so surprised at Obama making one good call in three years that I wonder about his motivation. Was Osama dying anyways because of his kidney problems, and Obama decided to sacrifice him to create a martyr for the cause? Does Obama favor a different faction in the Islamic war against the West, and he decided to knock off the leader of one faction? Did Obama decide that he needed a symbolic victory so that he could declare a version of "peace with honor" and stop fighting to allow the terrorists to win? Did Obama simply want a good campaign ad for this year and order the kill because he values power more than he values his allies? There are several possibilities that would explain Obama's decision and still be in character for a man who hates America, and I think they are collectively far more likely than the possibility that Obama was doing the right thing for the right reasons. I'm still glad Obama did it, but I'm skeptical that he would have done it for a good reason.
Google "Admiral made the call" for the complete article.
All the stuff about how great a leader Obama is made me think a bit. Didn't there come out several articles from different sources a few weeks after Osama was killed that the Spiker in Chief, with Valerie Garrett whispering in his ear, was really hesitant about this and had not given the actual ok but Panetta was the one who actually pushed Obama into it and gave the actual order? It was only after it went down good that Obama embraced it. Seems to me I heard that. Maybe those who are better at searches can find the article and post it.
Peternose had nothing to do with the decision. Admiral McRaven made the decision.
I wonder why now they throw this piece of propaganda out there...when though well done but very misleading...it would be more powerful in six months out...
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Although it's not a conference sport at the moment, the Orrick Bearcats are flexing their muscles against I-70 schools early in the golf season. Orrick swept a quad over fellow I-70 Conference teams Windsor, St. Paul's and Concordia Wednesday afternoon at the Shirkey Golf Course.
Orrick shot 196 on a cloudy and cool afternoon to beat Windsor by 10 shots, followed by St. Paul's with 219 and Concordia with 233.
Windsor senior Josh Sadler, who shared the Class 1 title with two other golfers last spring, and finished second the previous year, was the medalist for the day as he shot an even par 36 on the Shirkey front nine. Preston Karnes had the low round for Orrick with a 43 to finish as runner-up.
Joe Kaufman was just one shot back for the Bearcats with 44. Kalija Rogers shot 54 for Orrick followed by Eric Rodenberg with 55 and Matt Waters with 58. Josh Bushman had the low total for Concordia with a 48, while Bryan Nierman and Derek Bredehoeft each carded a 50 for the low St. Paul's round.
Click here for our E-edition and read the rest of the story.
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Yale Researcher Studying Acupuncture to Reduce Back Pain in Pregnancy
A Yale researcher and expert in the practice of acupuncture is conducting a three–year study on the effectiveness of this ancient Chinese practice in reducing low back pain during pregnancy.
The study is funded with a $400,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health and will include 150 women who are at least 24 weeks pregnant. The lead researcher, Shu–Ming Wang, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology at Yale School of Medicine, was approached by a colleague three years ago who was suffering from severe low back pain and sciatica in the final months of her pregnancy.
"She asked if I could do anything to help," said Wang, who inserted three, two–millimeter needles into her colleague's ear. "She recovered immediately." A subsequent survey of more than 1,000 pregnant women in New Haven County showed that 65 percent suffered from low back pain and sciatica. The survey was conducted by Yale–New Haven Hospital in conjunction with Wang, who is an attending anesthesiologist at the hospital.
Acupuncture involves stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques, including penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation. In this study each of two groups of women will receive slightly varying acupuncture treatment. The remaining group will receive no treatment and serve as a basis of comparison. Wang said those women who do not receive treatment and those who do not improve with assigned group interventions will be invited to return for additional treatment at no cost after the study is completed.
The treatment consists of three tiny needles inserted on one side of the ear. The women will be asked to remove the needles after one week and the results will be measured two weeks after the treatment was initiated. "They can sleep, and shower, and forget about the needles, other than when they answer the telephone," Wang said.
Co–investigators include Michael Berman, M.D., James Yue, M.D., Ferne Braveman, M.D., Zeev Kain, M.D., and Haiqun Lin, M.D.
Persons interested in participating in the study should call Wang's office at (203) 737–1149 and leave their name and contact information.
Media Contact
Office of Public Affairs & Communications: [email protected], 203-432-1345


text: ZDNet is reporting that Best Buy retail stores are beginning to stock and promote other Intel-based Macs in addition to already-stocked Mac Minis and iPods. Best Buy originally began carrying Mac Mini's in its retail stores last year. Update: While Best Buy's website does indeed show that Apple's laptops and consumer desktops are "Available at most stores", this label appears to be misleading as most stores outside of California do not appear to have stock of the machines (yet?). Update 2: News.com has posted a photo gallery of a Best Buy store that is stocking and prominantly displaying Apple's complete lineup. Of note, a PowerMac is also among the display models, but was not reported to be among the latest initiative at the retail stores.


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Los Angeles, CA. - There are new family ties for actress Meredith Baxter. She married her longtime partner, Nancy Locke on Sunday. The 66-year-old former "Family Ties" star exchanged handwritten vows in front of friends and family in Los Angeles, including Baxter's five children. Baxter and Locke started dating in 2006.
Copyright 2013 by CNN and News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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BAK Industries - Retractable Tonneau Covers
Retractable tonneau covers are popular the world over for their wonderful convenience, ease of operation and their ability to afford you virtually complete access to the entire truck bed whenever you need it. BAK retractable tonneau covers, like the RollBak G2 are extremely well built. They are strong and comprised of a series of aluminum slats, interlinked together to create a full cover across the bed of the truck. BAK retractable tonneau covers retract into a canister that is spring loaded. Most of the canisters are less than 9 inches in size, so they take up very little space in the back of the truck. BAK Retractable tonneau covers are all felt lined underneath for a pin-drop quiet ride and are built to withstand severe temperatures and every day heavy use.


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Boot Barn Item #: 2010717
Color: Click a button belowcolor
size: Click a button below Size Chartsize
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Its summer time, you need to get your t-shirt collection together! Add this Graphic Print T-Shirt by to your collection. The Rock & Roll Cowboy Collection this is a fashionable alternative to the plain white tee with the same comfortable lightweight feel. This shirt has a graphic "Rock & Roll Cowboy" along its front with abstract detail. It is made out of 100% cotton and has a loose fitting ribbed collar. Whether you're working, walking around town, or hanging out in the comfort of your home, this shirt fits the bill!
Style(s): P94178
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Print Panhandle Slim is a division of Westmoor Mfg. Co., founded in 1946 in Minneapolis, Minnesota by brothers Martin and Ernest Hochster. In 1975, the headquarters moved to Fort Worth, Texas where it has remained since. The family-owned company, now in its third generation, continues to be a major force in the western apparel industry. Today, Westmoor Mfg Co. owns and distributes six major premium clothing brands: Panhandle Slim, Rough Stock, 90 Proof, Powder River, Rock and Roll Cowgirl, and Rock and Roll Cowboy. Panhandle Slim is proud to provide clothing to real cowboys, legends and future champions alike. Notable examples include Jesse Kruse, world champion saddle bronc rider; Pistol Robinson, professional bull rider; Todd Suhn, PRCA Steer Wrestler; Joe Gunderson, PRCA Bareback Rider; and JJ Elshere, PRCA Saddle Bronc Rider. Team Tuff is comprised of legendary world champion Tuff Hedeman and some of the up-and-comers in the world of bull riding, including Clayton Williams, Reese Cates, Corey Montana Davis, Caleb Sanderson, Cody Nance, and Sterling Furr. Along with these great rodeo professions, Panhandle Slim sponsors some of the top country artists that Nashville and Texas have to offer. From Brooks and Dunn to the Randy Rogers Band, you will see many musicians in action in their favorite Panhandle Slim clothing. Panhandle Slim clothes look great on everyone - whether you're a bullrider, roper, rancher, rodeo fan, race car driver, musician, actor, or computer jockey.


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BEIRUT — The killings of two pro-government Sunni Muslims has raised tensions across Lebanon. Rival political leaders have called for calm amidst fear that the killings could spark civil strife.
The Lebanese police found the bodies Thursday of a pro-government supporter and a 12-year-old boy abducted earlier this week. The abduction was believed to be in retaliation for the killing earlier this year of a Shia Muslim opposition activist.


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I have been focused, some might say obsessed, with concern about the future of higher education, if not since I devoted my life's work to its enterprise some thirty years ago, increasingly as I have observed challenges escalate to threats emerge to not-for-profit higher education in the last few years. Copyright conundrums are both symptom and disease. With its policy tentacles extending from the free market to speech, copyright and its inimical balance of innovation and incentive sits squarely in the center of why, for and how higher education operates at is most dynamic levels. Even where the Venn diagrams of their respective scopes separate, where copyright goes, so goes not-for-profit higher education. And visa versa, I would argue.
Why? Because -- and I believe this is important -- both are fundamentally predicated on the purpose of serving the public good. Neither are self-interested, as would be a pure, for-profit corporate model; both are designed to act in the interests of the society. To be sure, copyright and higher education have capacities that feed for-profit models. They are not in the least opposed to those models or their functionality in the political economy. But their purpose is distinguishable. Hence, even when they perform differently within the society, one as a law, the other as, in the main, not-for-profit entities, they meet at the level of service to society not individual gain.
It is for this reason that the Georgia State University case now playing out in federal court is of such significance for the academic community. The Chronicle of Higher Education's piece, "What's at Stake in the Georgia State Copyright Case," sets out all of the issues expertly; I could not add another work to that corpus. <https://chronicle.com/article/Whats-at-Stake-in-the-Georgia/127718/> What I would like to offer in this blog entry is a clarion call to the highest level of academic leadership in our country to think very deeply about this matter, get on the right side of history for the sake of our own institutions and begin to take some bold, concrete actions going forward.
In making the following high level recommendations I do not pretend originality in the least. Rather, I speak now in the tradition of a popularizer. Higher education MUST begin to systematically and comprehensively analyze and address the areas of unhealthy dependence on for-profit entities and turn instead to the task of investing, building and creating self-sustaining not-for-profit, open access models consistent with its values and missions.
Scholarly publishing stands on top of a list that might include everything from administrative systems (see Kuali) to learning management systems (see Sakai) to consortia data centers. Because research and teaching are the central activities of our enterprise, scholarly publishing should be the priority (although notably, it is not a zero sum game but one of complementarity consistent with internal policy to pursue other like areas). With the technology that exists to restructure distribution models, and the intelligence -- from raw research to business operations -- there is no reason why higher education cannot recreate a more self-sustaining, peer review structure that upholds its high standards at the same time that it incorporates new media into portfolios for promotion and tenure. So many other, far more thoughtful minds have explored this topic, I am going to stop here and urge senior leadership in our colleges and universities to seek more information from experts in their institutional library or national associations familiar with these issues.
I did not go to law school to practice law. As I have reported previously, I went to law school for the expedient purpose of understanding how both the process and substance of law interact with higher education. For a short time while my children were young and husband working full time, I did practice mainly in the civil indigent bar in Tompkins County. Amid the custody and neglect cases that I took primarily, I observed a much neglected area of law for that population: estate planning. That observation often elicits howls for its apparent oxymoron: how could people who have nothing pass anything along? But it was for the very notion that having so little that many families lost so much not only in money, but in dignity, attempting to work out even meager estates in the absence of last wills and testaments. Had a grant fallen from the sky, I had an idea to create a small foundation that I would call: "Where there is a will, there is a way." You get my double meaning.
Higher education is in a very different kind of situation. It is not indigent. While many colleges and universities struggle, there is tremendous wealth in our institutions. In fact, it is because of that wealth that we have become a target for every possible vendor to make their way into our hallowed halls. We simply cannot rest on the laurels of our past or even existing wealth. We have in many cases become a cipher for middle class wealth and struggling younger people who seek to improve their lives in the time honored way of getting an education as a part of upward mobility. But we may be lacking something to get ourselves on better footing. Is it true insight about the challenges qua threats that batter our borders? Is the interest in efficiencies from which we might borrow instruction from the for-profit world lending confusion to the critical distinctions between us? Is some combination of these and other blinders muting our ability to see beyond traditional structures to those that genuinely support our missions? If so, we better snap out of it. The voracious greed, especially in this time of scampering for every dollar, built into a free market society looks hungrily at our deep pockets. We need senior leadership in our institutions, guided by national associations, to pull that campus radical of the 1960's our of the suits and high heels we now don and get serious about a direction of change that preserves us. That direction is true stewardship of the resources of the society and the purpose which we serve rather than effectively giving the store away.
For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, where there is a will, there is a way.


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SPIN legend Muthiah Muralidaran reckons cricket fans still have cause to be excited by the looming duel between he and Shane Warne in next month's Big Bash League, despite both having passed their 40th birthdays.
Muralidaran has not played in Australia since Sri Lanka's 2010 one-day series win, which included him hitting the winning boundary after Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga's record 132-run partnership for the ninth wicket at the MCG.
Having now confined his playing duties to Twenty20 matches, the off-spinner has not played at all since the Sri Lankan Premier League in August.
In just over a fortnight Muralidaran will arrive in Australia to prepare for his stint with Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League, which will begin on December 7 with the derby against Warne's Melbourne Stars at Etihad Stadium.
It will be the first meeting of the No. 1 and No. 2 bowlers on the Test wicket tally since they played in the Indian Premier League in April last year.
Muralidaran said the presence of he and Warne did not compromise the BBL in any way.
''Age doesn't matter as long as you are performing, that's my theory. If you are performing and you are fit it doesn't matter,'' Muralidaran said on Wednesday from Sri Lanka.
''For these competitions … you need a lot of good players … then the public will come and watch, because people don't only want to see domestic players.
''They want to see the international stars also.
''Spectator-wise it's good and for the competition also it's healthy, because you can still see [champion] players even if they have retired from Test and one-day.''
In addition to Muralidaran the BBL is also set to feature elite spinners Sunil Narine from the West Indies and Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi.
The Sri Lankan denied he felt pressure to match them for performance given each, unlike him, plays year-round at the top level.
''They're all playing all forms of the game, they're practising more than me. Hopefully they'll be better than me [because of that],'' he said.
''When I played last [season in the IPL] I played really well and got a lot of wickets … my form is not bad.
''You never know [who will be the best spinner], because cricket is all about performing on the day.''
Muralidaran has played 129 non-international Twenty20 matches and boasts a healthy average of 21.63 runs per wicket and an even healthier economy rate of 6.4 runs per over. Over the five years of IPL he has played, 2012 was statistically his best despite the lack of international cricket to complement it, claiming 15 wickets at 17.33.
The Sri Lankan also reiterated that he felt no animosity for being no-balled for chucking during the 2005 Boxing Day Test, nor for the abuse towards him from some Australian spectators.
''Playing in Melbourne is great for Sri Lankans because most of the public [in Australia formerly from] Sri Lanka live there, so they come in numbers to support the Sri Lankan team,'' he said.


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The Chicago Housing Authority will help find a new location for a fish and worm farm about to lose its home in the Robert Taylor Homes public housing complex, CHA officials said Monday.
God's Gang, a small non-profit group, lost all of the tilapia it was raising in late 1999 when the CHA turned off the heat in its first home, 5266 S. State St., because the building was being torn down as part of the agency's 10-year redevelopment plan. The group had drawn acclaim from national groups for its efforts to teach children how to raise the fish and worms as well as vegetables.


text:
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Lloyd Banks ft Jeremih – I Dont Deserve You [Video]
This is the official from Lloyd Banks and Jeremih for their collaborative single "I Dont Deserve You". The track is taken from Lloys Banks' album "Hunger For More 2" which is now availble from Amazon and iTunes on the link below. The album features the very popular "Beamer, Benz or Bentley", and "I Dont Deserve You" is the fourth single from the album. You can watch the official video for Lloyd Banks ft Jeremih – I Dont Deserve You" on the video player below.
Lloyd Banks – The Hunger For More 2 DOWNLOAD Link
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text: 5 Ways to Be Happy at the Job You Have Until You Get the Job You Want Posted June 16, 2013 by in Tags: Tweet By Jennifer Olvera Put up and shut up: They're not exactly words to live by. However, there's something to finding happiness in imperfection – until the right thing comes along. Just like the rigors of everyday life can get you down, a non-dream job can, too. The thing to remember is that you have the power to change your state of mind. Try these five steps you to help stay positive while you're working toward the next step on your career path. 1. Decide to be happy. Ultimately, you decide how happy or unhappy you're going to be. It really is that simple. You may not have the perfect role or for that matter, the perfect boss. Focusing on the things you do enjoy helps put your situation in a positive light; this, in turn, defines your experience. 2. Make it happen. Being a "doer" at work is important. It's what gets things done, and it's also what can move you forward in your professional career. At the end of the day, you're the one who benefits from taking charge in the workplace. Given that you're in a collaborative environment, it's wise to consider and seek the input of others. That said, at the end of the day, you need to blaze your own trails and reach your goals. 3. Take responsibility, and take action. If you're not in the job you want to be in or on the professional path you'd like to get started on, do what you need to do to get there. Get started on a certification or bachelor's degree program, or take the next step and pursue a graduate degree. Knowing you're on the path to get where you want to go can make it easier to be content with where you are now. 4. Have a code. It's always important to keep your goals, ethics and personal vision at the forefront of your mind because it guides you in decision-making, helps you navigate conflicts and ensures you create your own success. 5. Stay positive. Even if everything's not perfect – in life, it rarely is – don't engage in negativity. Avoid conversations with classmates or coworkers that go that route, as it'll only drag you down. Jennifer Olvera is a Chicago-based freelance writer. Read These Related Articles: Why Go Back to College if You're Already a Working Professional What's An Informational Job Interview? AIU Serious Talk: Experience Versus Education Share Classes Start Request Info LIVE CHAT Apply Now


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Organization XIII debuted in Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, as Xemnas was a secret boss at Hollow Bastion. The group officially debuted in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, then known as simply, the Organization. In Sora's story, the player was introduced to Marluxia, Axel, Larxene, and Vexen. In Reverse/Rebirth, Riku's story, Zexion and Lexaeus were added to the cast.
The Organization's remaining members appeared in Kingdom Hearts II as the main antagonists. In this second installment, the player meets Xigbar, Xaldin, Saïx, Demyx, Luxord, Roxas, the returning member, Axel, and the leader Xemnas. Another "member" of Organization XIII was added in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, when Xion was added to the group.
Because all the members are Nobodies, they lack hearts, meaning they also have no emotions. The Organization yearns to discover the secrets of the heart and fill the empty void inside themselves by gathering hearts to form Kingdom Hearts so they can become full beings again. Each member is aware of their lack of emotions, and many of them pretend to have emotions, for example, Saïx's enraged battle style and Larxene's giggling and winking. The Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories manga and several other media forms provide an alternative view, saying that they do have emotions, but are plagued by a feeling of uncertainty and emptiness due to not having hearts. The manga further displays this "plagued" feeling by showing the members engaging in tasks like jigsaw puzzles, cooking, and reading to try to fill their emptiness. Despite this, most of the members begin demonstrating true emotions as time goes on, and it is eventually revealed that while they lacked their original hearts, Xemnas's plan revolved around filling the hole with replicas of his own heart, essentially turning each of them into copies of himself. Despite lacking normal emotions, or perhaps because of it, many members of the group are remarkably disloyal to its head, and much of their story revolves around key betrayals or attempted coups.
This group's inclusion to the Kingdom Hearts storyline marks the more mature nature of the Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts II storylines, as they introduce the concepts of duplicity among the villains, minor physical abuse, manipulation of sentimental matters and, on some level, real death (the Heartless invasion of Hollow Bastion, which was Organization XIII's doing, inadvertently incapacitates Goofy for a short time, leading even the player to falsely believe that he is dead).
Kingdom Hearts Birth by SleepEdit
While Dilan, Even, Aeleus, Ienzo, Isa, and Lea appear in the game in minor roles, Braig serves as a major player in Master Xehanort's ruthless ambitions, acquiring his signature scars and eyepatch following a battle against Terra. Of Ansem's apprentices, Braig plays the largest role overall in the story until the appearance of Xehanort. Axel, Roxas and Xion also appear in the game's secret ending.
Between Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and Kingdom HeartsEdit
Organization XIII was formed by a group of scientists working under a man called Ansem the Wise, the ruler of Radiant Garden, and worked from Ansem's castle, Hollow Bastion. The head of this group was Ansem's apprentice, Xehanort, with the others being Braig, Dilan, Even, Aeleus, and Ienzo. Ansem the Wise began initiating tests about the human heart, focusing mainly on Xehanort, with the hopes of recovering his lost memories. At the urging of Ienzo, he constructed a massive laboratory under the castle. However, Ansem the Wise soon ceased his experiments, for he feared that going too deep would have grave repercussions, also noting Xehanort's apparently-superhuman abilities.
However, his six apprentices, still seduced by the desire for knowledge, conducted their own dangerous experiments on countless subjects. Eventually, they discovered the beings called Heartless, those that are born from the darkness in a heart and seek others as well. Xehanort, having taken on Ansem's name and writing his findings under it, opened a door he discovered, breaking down the barriers between worlds and allowing travel between them. When a king named Mickey arrived, the six men's desire for knowledge eventually caused Xehanort to abandon his body, becoming a Heartless (though he was unusual in that he had a human form and retained his memories), with the other five soon following. Thus, the first six members of Organization XIII were born, and they banished Ansem to a Realm of Nothingness.
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of MemoriesEdit
The Organization make their first appearance in the series (apart from Xemnas' appearance in Kingdom Hearts Final Mix). The neophytes - Marluxia and Larxene - tried to take control of the Organization by using Sora as their puppet, while the senior members - Zexion, Lexaeus, and Vexen, tried to oppose them by using the darkness in Riku. However, all of them, save Axel, were eliminated.
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 DaysEdit
The story largely focuses on Roxas's time as a member of the Organization XIII, and thus, all the members are present here. This and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep are the only installments to date where the fourteenth member, Xion, is ever mentioned.
Kingdom Hearts IIEdit
Only eight members (Xemnas, Axel, Demyx, Xaldin, Xigbar, Luxord, Saïx, and Roxas) of the Organization remained at the beginning of Kingdom Hearts II. Sora and his friends took every single remaining member down, save Roxas, who became one with Sora, and Axel, who sacrificed himself so that Sora and his friends could save Kairi. In the end, Organization XIII is ultimately destroyed when Sora and Riku defeat Xemnas.
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop DistanceEdit
Following the Organization's defeat, Dilan, Even, Aeleus, Ienzo, and Lea are revived, though the other members' original selves are not shown. However, the threat of Organization XIII turns out to be far from over, as Sora learns through his confrontations with Young Xehanort, Xemnas, and Xigbar that the true purpose of Organization XIII was to create an Organization of thirteen different incarnations of Xehanort himself, though this plan initially failed due to the members' unforeseen independence. Under the leadership of the newly reformed Master Xehanort, the new Organization XIII is formed by Master Xehanort himself, Young Xehanort, Xemnas, Xigbar (who claims to already be "half-Xehanort"), Ansem, Saïx, and six other hooded figures. Master Xehanort almost succeeds in making Sora into the final vessel for the Organization, but Riku, Mickey, Lea, Donald, and Goofy succeed in saving Sora and driving Master Xehanort to retreat. In the game's secret ending, Yen Sid implies that Master Xehanort has successfully formed his new Organization XIII.
Inner WorkingsEdit
Each member in the Organization dons the same uniform, regardless of whether they are male or female. The uniform consists of a single black leather hooded coat. It is plainly adorned with a silver zipper and seemingly pointless silver beaded pull strings for the hood that form a semi-circle in the middle. Each member wears their zippers at differing points.
Not much is known about the under garments of the Organization. It is known, however, that they all wear hakama-esque black pants and knee high silver trimmed boots, with the exceptions of Roxas, who wears sneakers of the same color, and Larxene and Xion, who wear a more feminized version of the boots with heels. In addition to this, they all wear black leather gloves of some unknown length, as they disappear under bell shaped sleeves. Some members have different looking coats, for example Axel, whose sleeves are tight around his wrists. Upon closer inspection, it can be seen that the hems of each cloak are each slightly different, as well as the shoulder pads (such as those of Demyx and Xigbar, which seem to be slightly pointed).
Other known characters to wear the cloak are King Mickey, Riku, and Xehanort's Heartless. Riku obtains his cloak from DiZ and it is presumed Mickey also obtains it from him. It is unknown how DiZ obtained it.
The reason that Organization XIII wears black cloaks is because Master Xehanort, one of Xemnas's original beings, once wore one. As Xemnas regained his memories, he remembered the black cloak that was worn by Master Xehanort, and incorporated the cloak into Organization XIII.
Ranks within the Organization have little to nothing to do with power. While Xehanort's Nobody, known as Xemnas, is the strongest as well as the leader, the rest fall in the order they joined. Thus, their numbered rank is not necessarily representative of their status and power within the Organization. As the group's name describes, one would assume that there are a total of thirteen members. Until the announcement of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, this was true. Besides having a numerical rank, each member also has an assigned title. The only exception to this is Xion, who is not actually a true member of the order. The ranks and titles are as follows:
First Organization XIIIEdit
Xemnas: "The Superior of the In-Between;" Controlled Sorcerers, used the attribute of Nothingness and weapons called Ethereal Blades.
Xigbar: "The Freeshooter;" Controlled Snipers, used the attribute of Space and Arrow Guns.
Xaldin: "The Whirlwind Lancer;" Controlled Dragoons, used the attribute of Wind and six Lances.
Vexen: "The Chilly Academic;" used the attribute of Ice and a Shield.
Lexaeus: "The Silent Hero;" used the attribute of Earth and an Axe Sword.
Zexion: "The Cloaked Schemer;" used the attribute of Illusion and a Lexicon.
Saïx: "The Luna Diviner;" Controlled Berserkers, used the attribute of Moon and a Claymore.
Axel: "The Flurry of Dancing Flames;" Controlled Assassins, used the attribute of Fire and twin Chakrams.
Demyx: "The Melodious Nocturne;" Controlled Dancers, used the attribute of Water and a Sitar.
Luxord: "The Gambler of Fate;" Controlled Gamblers, used the attribute of Time as well as Cards.
Marluxia: "The Graceful Assassin;" used the attribute of Flower and a Scythe.
Larxene: "The Savage Nymph'" used the attribute of Lightning and eight Knives.
Roxas: "The Key of Destiny;" Controlled Samurai, used the attribute of Light and wielded up to three different Keyblades (due to being Sora's Nobody). He initially wielded the Kingdom Key but soon acquired the Oathkeeper and Oblivion, which represent Kairi and Riku, respectively.
Xion; used the attribute of Light and the Kingdom Key Keyblade. Although she is referred to as the fourteenth member, she is not actually considered to be part of the Organization, and she is not a Nobody. She is an imperfect replica of Roxas created from Sora's leaked memories.
There is also the Org Moogle, a Moogle who serves Organization XIII by selling them items, and making weapons for them. Though he is not an actual member, he is seen wearing the Organizations Trade Mark Uniform; The Black Cloak.
Each of the titles correspond to whichever element the particular member controls, a particular trait, or the type of weapon they have.
There are a few major differences between the Nobody within the Organization and the ones that Sora frequently encounters throughout the game. The average type that Sora fights often have strange features, enhanced speed, metallic skin in shades of white, silver, and blue, and the trademark Nobody symbol (which doubles as the logo for the Organization). The Nobodies that make up the Organization have human forms with limited special powers, revolving around thirteen different elements. One ability shared by all the members is the power to summon an oval, obsidian portal of darkness that leads to the unseen paths of darkness. These portals are known as Corridors of Darkness. The Organization makes use of the paths to move to and from worlds unseen without fear for their well-being compared to those who are attuned with darkness and still have hearts.
Lesser NobodiesEdit
A few select members of the Organization have control over the other, weaker Nobody, though this is only shown in Kingdom Hearts II. The members from Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories may also have had that ability, or rather, would have, had they all survived to the second game. Like their titles, each member's lesser Nobody has some similarity to them. These lesser Nobodies are called Sorcerers, Snipers, Dragoons, Berserkers, Assassins, Dancers, Gamblers, and Samurai. Sorcerer Nobodies are under the command of Xemnas. They float over the ground constantly, possessing a grace much like that of Xemnas, and utilize large cubes of nothingness in several ways. They are the most powerful and rarest of the lesser Nobodies. Sniper Nobodies are controlled by Xigbar and, like him, carry spiky guns that shoot small red crystallized lasers. Dragoon Nobodies are controlled by Xaldin because of his affinity with wind, and possess a singular lance that mirrors the six that he fights with. Berserker Nobodies are under Saïx's power and, as with the previously mentioned lesser Nobodies, hold a weapon identical to that of their master. An observant player will also notice that Berserker Nobodies go through random surges of anger, much like Saïx when he draws upon the power of the moon. Next are the Assassin Nobodies. This group is under Axel's control, capable of becoming a circular form similar to Axel's weapon, hiding away for short periods of time before attacking, and causing powerful explosions. Dancer Nobodies are the most colorful of all the lesser Nobody, featuring bright colors such as orange and pink. They are Demyx's servants and relate to him due to his musical nature. The Gambler Nobodies are under Luxord's rule. Luxord, being a gambler of many things, fights with cards, which they use as well, along with several dice. The final of these lesser Nobodies are Samurai, which Roxas controls. Samurai wield two katana just as Roxas wields two Keyblades, Oblivion and Oathkeeper. The Lesser Nobodies are named after recurring Final Fantasy job classesandshare similar traits with them such as the Dragoons ability to jump.
A common thread between all of the members is the "X" that appears within each of their names. As revealed by Tetsuya Nomura, the director of the game, by removing the "X", the remaining letters form an anagram of the members' original names from when they were humans. For instance, "Roxas" is an anagram of "Sora", and "Xemnas" is an anagram of "Ansem". Xemnas's true name is Xehanort; his name is an anagram of 'no heart' or 'another' with an X added. Xion, being an artificial Replica, had no original name. The name "Xion" came from her label as Replica No.i of the Replica Project.
Such thoughts made many fans anxious to try and figure out for themselves the rest of the Organization's members' names. The name of the Nobody' "other" appears before them in translucent, rainbow colored font (similar to the one shown at the intro to "The World That Never Was"). Then, an "x" drops down and the letters re-arrange themselves until they form a new name. It is also suggested that Xemnas is the one who performs this ceremony. Many have suggested that this isn't true, as Xigbar was the one who found Marluxia and named him, but if one listens to the dialogue between Zexion and Xigbar in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, it is apparent from the way Xigbar does not know how to pronounce Marluxia's name that he was not the one to name him, rather just found him.
Despite this, however, the reason for the placement of the "X" in the naming process of a new Organization XIII member has to do with Master Xehanort, one of Xemnas's original two personas, and his fascination with the legendary X-blade. As Xemnas regained memories of Master Xehanort's past, he remembered the χ-blade, and incorporated the "X" into Organization XIII.
Where Nothing GathersEdit
Somewhere in The Castle That Never Was, inaccessible to the player, is the meeting room of the Organization. This area can be accessed with a cheat code, though - the platform with the Organization symbol can be walked on, but none of the thrones can. The game calls the area "Where Nothing Gathers" - suggesting it may have been in the final game as a full area, but was dropped later. It is a white cylindrical room with thirteen extremely tall white thrones. The height of these thrones is determined by the amount of missions the respective members complete and the height tends to change depending on the success or failure of those missions. However, Xemnas's throne is always the highest as he is the leader and therefore has completed the highest amount of missions. To his left are the odd-number ranked members while to his right are the even-numbered. Starting from Xemnas, clockwise: Xaldin, Lexaeus, Saïx, Demyx, Marluxia, Roxas, Larxene, Luxord, Axel, Zexion, Vexen and Xigbar.
Ironically Vexen, Lexaeus, and Zexion have the lowest chair heights out of the whole Organization.
In the new cutscenes of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, every time a missing member is referred to during a meeting, the camera's focus will shift briefly to that said member's throne (such as when Xaldin reminded Axel that, indirectly, he eliminated the traitors Marluxia and Larxene, the camera briefly shifts to view their thrones. The conversation concerns Axel's orders to destroy Roxas and fittingly enough, Roxas's throne is between theirs).
Proof of ExistenceEdit
In the central tower of The Castle That Never Was, the room is something of a graveyard or a place where beings who can't use the portal to darkness use the doorway-like portals to reach other members of the organization. This chamber has thirteen portals which lead to a certain area throughout the castle, the portals are placed simultaneously along the walls and glow blue if that specific member is alive but red when that one is dead. Starting from Xemnas's which is actually a path to the The Altar of Naught, going downwards are two more, then below them are four and after them are eight with a path cutting half way between the portals. The portals lead to large chambers which are areas that the Organization dwell when they are resting. So far only three are known which are the Altar of Naught, where Xemnas resides and the highest point in the castle, Havoc's Divide which is a large slanted balcony were Luxord resides, and Addled Impasse where Saïx lives, which is a large circular room with a balcony made of glass and looks up towards the moon. Note that for gameplay purposes, the gates to Havoc's Divide and Addled Impasse remain active even after Luxord and Saïx are felled. Also, for the same reasons, Roxas's still-active gate (since he still exists within Sora) is broken and rendered unusable, although it still maintains its blue glow. It may be broken, though, due to the fact that while Roxas still exists in Sora, he does not exist physically. Note that Zexion's tombstone was especially broken to hide his weapon's image, (which was not revealed until the release of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix), although its lettering can still be read. It is unknown if Xion has or ever had a tombstone and portal.
Ultimate FateEdit
By the time of Kingdom Hearts II, the actions of Sora, Axel, Riku, and the Riku Replica, in addition to the departure of Roxas, reduced the Organization's roster to eight, which were then slain by Sora one-by-one (with the exception of Axel, who sacrificed himself to allow Sora to go and save Kairi) until only Xemnas remained. Ultimately, Xemnas fell at the hands of Sora and Riku, and Roxas (now a part of Sora once again, but still somewhat independent, as seen in the ending video before the credits) could be considered the sole surviving member.
Xemnas - Defeated by Sora and Riku at the end of Kingdom Hearts II. He was trying to dispose of the only threat standing between him and Kingdom Hearts. Disappeared in Darkness in what appears to be a black variation of the white Nobody thorns. He was the thirteenth and final member to fall, but since both his Heartless and Nobody have been slain, his whole being is now able to return from the darkness.
Xigbar - Defeated by Sora, Donald, and Goofy in the Hall of Empty Melodies in The World That Never Was. He started the fight to try to prevent Sora and company from ascending any farther up the castle but disappeared into Darkness. He was the ninth member to disappear.
Xaldin - Defeated by Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Beast at Beast's Castle. He was on a mission to turn the Beast into a Heartless and Nobody. Disappeared into Darkness and wind. Xaldin was the seventh member subject to elimination.
Vexen - Defeated by Axel as a way to gain Marluxia's trust. Vexen opposed Marluxia's plot and Marluxia wanted him eliminated. Disappeared by incineration into Darkness. He was the first member to fall.
Lexaeus - Defeated by Riku while possessed by Ansem, Seeker of Darkness. He was trying to make Riku use the Darkness inside him. From what is shown in the cutscene of his elimination, he was helpless against Ansem, Seeker of Darkness due to his weakened condition after his brutal fight with Riku. He disappeared into Darkness, and was the third member eliminated.
Zexion - Defeated by Riku Replica and Axel. Axel wanted no evidence of his actions in Castle Oblivion, so when Zexion was extremely weary from his battle with the real Riku, Axel had the Riku Replica absorb Zexion. He disappeared into gaseous Darkness while engulfed in the Replica's energy. Zexion was the fifth member to fall.
Saïx - Defeated by Sora, Donald, and Goofy. He was confronted simply to try to eliminate the last of the Organization. He disappeared into gaseous Darkness. He disappeared eleventh.
Axel - The only Organization member not killed by anyone. He was eliminated in a sacrificial attack to save Sora from an army of Dusks. Similar to a fire, he seemed to "burn out" into Darkness, resembling ashes. Axel was the eighth member to fall.
Demyx - Defeated, by Sora, Donald, and Goofy. He was one of the few mentionable people destroyed in the Battle of 1,000 Heartless. He confronted Sora and company just for the sake of battling in the war. He disappeared into Darkness and appeared to have boiled up and evaporated. He was the sixth member to disappear.
Luxord - Defeated by Sora. He captured Donald, Goofy, Riku, and Kairi, forcing Sora into one of Luxord's "games." Sora was able to beat him by "winning the game" and slashing through his shield of cards. He disappeared into gaseous Darkness. Luxord was the tenth member to be eliminated.
Marluxia - Defeated by Sora. He was trying to destroy Sora since he couldn't control him. Marluxia himself is never actually fought, but after Sora destroys a clone, a machine-like Nobody and an angel-like, feminine reaper, all Marluxia's energy is gone and he is beaten. He disappeared attempting to grab Sora in gaseous Darkness in a flurry of flower petals. Marluxia was the fourth member to disappear.
Larxene - Defeated by Sora, Donald, and Goofy. She was on a mission to kill Sora after her plan fell apart. She would have succeeded, but an attempt to save Sora by Naminé, Donald, and Goofy gave him the strength to fight back, and Larxene eventually met her end. She disappeared into Darkness. Larxene was the second member to fall.
Roxas - Arguably the only surviving member. Roxas permanently sealed himself within Sora just before the final battle with Xemnas, willingly giving up his physical existence. Although he is not gone, he was the twelfth member to "fall".


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New online wine retail venture Rewined
New online wine retail venture Rewined corks the overbearing expert advice – instead – acts like knowledgeable friend giving easy to understand guidance to buy wine confidently
Rewined uses social and unpretentious language to take wine off its pedestal and make purchasing a relaxed and fun experience
• Targeting educated, internet-savvy professionals, 35-50 years old, whose love of wine matches their love of food, friends and occasions.
• The site avoids complicated, technical information. People find the best wines to suit their occasion, tastes and budget, using a guided search function.
• With over 100 online wine retailers, online retailing from 2013 was estimated at 10% of total domestic sales, up 2% on the previous twelve months. (Source Deloitte and New Zealand Winegrowers New Zealand wine industry benchmarking survey 2013)
Auckland, 5th February 2014 - www.rewined.co.nz is a new site that aims to bring a different buying experience to the average New Zealand wine drinker; one that wants to have the confidence to know that they just got the right wine. Purchasing is not the focus of their day, but definitely should be easy, social and fun.
Rewined is an online-only retailing venture, selling mid to premium wine fromrecognised New Zealand and international producers. It was founded last year by Windhaven Investments.
"If you're the type of person who enjoys a glass of wine with a meal, keeps a few special bottles in the rack and knows there's more to New Zealand wine than Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, then you're the kind of person we're talking to at Rewined," says Shannon Lawrence, Operations Manager at Rewined.
Lawrence explains the premise behind rewined.co.nz: "We estimate there are over 100 online wine retailers in New Zealand. However, regardless of whether they are targeting connoisseurs or bargain hunters, most sites still feel like you are walking into a supermarket, with an overwhelming number of options and technical information and lengthy tasting notes.
"Buying, serving and talking about wine shouldn't be confusing or pretentious; we should just drink it because we like it. So clearly we saw a gap in the market for people who want to drink great wine and feel confident they've brought something they and people they socialise with are going to like. We launched Rewined with that in mind: quality wine with entertaining, unpretentious descriptions that anyone can understand."
The website, which soft-launched in December and is this month launching officially with a strong social media presence.
People choose the style of wine they are looking for, the price range and the occasion, letting the site do to the rest of the work for them. The occasions range from anything like finding wines suitable for matching with a meal, to impress a crowd, to drink with nibbles, to enjoy on a sunny afternoon and to add to your cellar.
The site has a two day delivery in metro areas and three to five days to smaller towns, rural areas and the South Island. All cases can be mixed with different wines.
Rewined is the online-only wine shop selling mid to premium wines dedicated to making the wine buying process simple and approachable. The company was established in 2013 and is part of the Windhaven Investments portfolio.
Visit www.rewined.co.nz


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JOHNNY Vegas has been made an Honorary Doctor of Literature by Edge Hill University.
Addressing fellow graduates he said: "You as teachers are more important than ever. Education should be available to all rather than a luxury, and the responsibility falls on you to inspire the people you teach, especially those who may see college or university as unavailable to them, to pursue it. Education is what determines us as a society and a civilization. You will make a difference to so many people's lives. You are the lifeblood and we need your skills - take them and share them for the benefit of all of us."
He told about a lack of confidence in his early years recalling two teachers who along with his parents, helped him achieve his ambitions and instill a sense of belief.
He said: "The hardest thing I ever did was write a book (his recently published memoir, Becoming Johnny Vegas). Outside of my son and loved ones, it is one of my proudest achievements and I honestly can't tell you what it means to now have an Honorary Doctorate in Literature. I'd love to thank Edge Hill for having confidence in me and inviting me along today. I'll have to visit my old English teacher to show her the award – it pretty much belongs to her!"


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China's new leader, Xi Jinping, warned officials they must fight corruption or risk ruining the country, though he offered no specific new proposals on how to combat the scourge.
In a speech carried by the official Xinhua News Agency, Mr Xi told the new 25-member politburo the Communist Party had to be vigilant against graft. He noted that corruption in other countries had prompted major social unrest and the collapse of governments.
"The large number of facts tells us that if the problem of corruption becomes increasingly severe, it will lead to the ruin of the party and the country," Mr Xi said.
"In recent years, within our party, there have been serious discipline violations, the nature of which has been very bad, with a terrible political impact, causing much alarm," said Mr Xi, who took over as Communist Party leader last Thursday. Mr Xi's language was unusually direct for a top leader, indicating his seriousness.
His speech gave few indications of how the party could better police itself, a political scientist at Hong Kong Baptist University, Jean-Pierre Cabestan, said.
"He used strong words. It was clearly a warning," Mr Cabestan said. "Clearly, for him, the crux of the matter is corruption. The trouble is that he doesn't tell us much about what efficient tools or weapons he will put together to fight corruption."
Mr Xi urged officials at all levels to obey anti-corruption regulations and to better limit their relatives or associates from abusing their influence for personal gain. He gave no indication of any independent mechanism for investigating graft.
A slew of corruption investigations has targeted high-level leaders in recent years, most notably former politburo member Bo Xilai, who was purged after an aide disclosed his wife had murdered a British businessman. Mr Bo is accused of obstructing the murder investigation and unspecified corruption while in office.
Foreign media reports recently have documented massive wealth accumulated by leaders' families.