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What a funny word, especially when it comes to investing. Seriously, do you know of anything that's really guaranteed? Think about it. How many times have you had your "satisfaction guaranteed" only to end up hating what you bought? When was the last time you took advantage of a vendor's "low-price guarantee?" Never, right?
Death, taxes, stocks
The truth is, there are few real guarantees. Most aren't all that pleasant, either. For example, you'll die someday. The feds will claim a share of your income in taxes. And, oh, don't forget the state. It'll get its slice, too. (Unless, that is, you're the kind who likes the look of iron bars and concrete.) No wonder most of us are skeptical when we're promised anything.
So I'm hesitant to play the part of professor positive by offering you yet another guarantee. But I can't help myself. I say you can guarantee a return from your stocks, if you pick the right ones. Which are those, you ask? The ones that pay a generous dividend, of course.
Not all stocks are created equal
That's not to say you will always generate a positive total return from stocks that offer a payout. You won't. Indeed, my screener at Fidelity shows 16 large-cap stocks that lost money over the past five years in spite of a dividend yield in excess of 3%. Take General Motors
It could've been worse. No, really, it could have. GM's stock closed at $55.63 on Nov. 10, 2000. This past Friday's close was $24.48, with no splits in between. The total return before dividends, then, was -56%. Ouch.
By all accounts GM has been a miserable stock and an even worse business. But the damage would have been far more substantial without the cold, hard guarantee of cash money. Is it any surprise, then, that dividends accounted for more than 41% of the total return for large-cap stocks from 1926 to 2003, according to Ibbotson Associates?
Hardly. In fact, chief analyst Mathew Emmert has seen this truth play out with his own picks for Motley Fool Income Investor. Take Telecom New Zealand
Wait! There's more!
Fortunately, there's more to this story. For one, the dividend has grown dramatically in recent years. In fact, when Mathew picked it, Telecom New Zealand had boosted its payout ratio from 50% to 70% and its quarterly per-share dividend by 50%. It has grown even more since, resulting in a yield that has risen from 5.2% back then to 10.2% as of this writing.
The impact of that cash cushion has been dramatic. In fact, it transforms the stock from a laggard to a leader. With the dividend, Telecom New Zealand's total return jumps to 15.3%, beating the general market by more than 1%. Quite a turnabout, eh?
Three more that pay
It's not like such stories are uncommon. In fact, there's an entire investing strategy dedicated to buying and holding stock in companies that generate substantial cash flows and consistently hike dividends. It's called dividend growth, and we have a discussion board here at Fool.com dedicated to it. The idea is to find firms that boast considerable cash flows, growing earnings, and a record of raising their payouts.
Recently, we looked for a few stocks outside of the Income Investor portfolio that met those criteria. Out of more than 100 from our original screen -- which sought annual dividend growth of 10% or better over the past five years -- three stood out:
Closing Price
Five-Year Dividend
BHP Billiton Ltd.
Craftmade Int'l
Southern Peru Copper
BHP is a huge Australian firm with major interests in mining and energy. Similarly, Southern Peru Copper operates copper mines in Latin America, but is a fraction of BHP's size. Craftmade is vastly different from both. Not only is it a small cap with an enterprise value of $116.8 million, but it also sells ceiling fans and outdoor lighting.
That said, all three share common traits such as enormous free cash flow and a price-to-earnings to price-to-growth ratio of less than 1.0, which indicates a potential deep value. When you mix in a growing dividend already above the S&P 500
A Foolish bottom line
Learning to invest is easy. Learning to beat the market isn't. That's why, over the course of decades, some of the best money managers in the business -- including value investing pioneer Benjamin Graham -- have relied on dividends for help. They recognized that cash is one of few things they could count on in their quest for better returns. It's no different for you. So take a lesson from them and cash in on the market's one and only guarantee. Your portfolio will thank you.
Go on, take the money and run. Take a risk-free trial to Motley Fool Income Investor today and you'll get access to all of the picks and research that have helped chief analyst Mathew Emmert beat the market since the service started. And there's never, ever an obligation to buy. (Though if you do, there's a money-back guarantee, no questions asked.)
Fool contributor Tim Beyers thinks there are very few guarantees in investing. Cash is one of them. Tim didn't own shares in any companies mentioned in this story at the time of publication. You can find out what's in his portfolio by checking his profile. The Motley Fool has an ironclad disclosure policy.


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Beyonce And Oprah Celebrate Gabby Douglas: "Thank You For Inspiring Us!"The two larger than life stars give Olympic champion Gabby Douglas a perfect score.
Gold Medal Gymnast Gabby Douglas Amazes Grandparents – And World
'Idol' Winner Phillip Phillips Releases 'Home' Video, Gets a Sales Boost From OlympicsAfter becoming the unofficial theme song of the American women's gymnastics team, Phillip Phillips' "Home" is seeing a boost in sales.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Chi CHI Hairstyling Iron, Ceramic, for Silk Smooth Hair, 1 iron - Beauty - Hair Care - Hair Appliances Flag this deal What's the matter? Choose a reason Dead deal Duplicate Bad link Spam Inaccurate No value Alive again Edit deal seanvcxz Mar 23, 2013 CHI makes really good stuff. I bought my wife one of these years ago and it's still going strong! Reply Load More Comments


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The Morphy Richards Chroma Kettle features a stylish finish that will look good in any kitchen, as well as a wealth of functions that take the hassle out of hot beverage preparation. Its 1.5 lire capacity means you can make up to eight cups at once and a 3kW concealed element with rapid boil functionality means you won't have long to wait to enjoy a refreshing brew. There's also a 360 degree base that make operation easy for both right or left handed users and a removable limescale filter ensures clean water for longer. Boil-dry protection and cord storage are on hand to ensure safe operation.
Warranty with RKW: 1 Year.
Please Note: Supplied with a UK three pin plug only.
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You will receive an email to confirm when your item has been sent.
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It may be advisable to check with your neighbours to see if a parcel has been left with them, check any outhouses you might have where it may be left if it cannot fit through your letterbox and contact your local sorting office to see if the item has been returned to the depot as undelivered and awaiting collection.
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The 17 Day Diet is broken up into four cycles. Three of the cycles contain unique foods, while the fourth cycle consists of foods from the first three phases. We are going to provide you with recipes for the first three cycles of the diet. Once you make it to the fourth phase, feel free to incorporate any of these 17 Day Diet recipes into your meal plan.
Click here to check out a number of 17 day diet recipe cook books.
Cycle 1 – Balsamic Mustard Chicken
During the first cycle of the 17 Day Diet, your body is going to learn how to live without lots of carbohydrates and processed foods. You can make this process easier by eating delicious dishes, such as balsamic mustard chicken.
You will need:
- One chicken breast
- 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
- ½ tablespoon of garlic
Mix the vinegar, mustard and garlic together. Marinate the chicken. Then, put the chicken in a skillet and pour the marinade over it. Add sliced red onions and mushrooms and cook the chicken for approximately five minutes on each side.
Cycle 2 – Chicken Breast and Hardboiled Egg Salad
During the second cycle, you will eat foods that will trick your metabolism into working faster. You will get to eat lots of delicious foods, including a cold chicken breast and hardboiled egg salad.
You will need:
- Cooked chicken breast (cold)
- Hard boiled egg
- Tomato
- Lettuce
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice
Dice up the chicken breast and tomato. Chop the salad. Mix the chicken, egg, tomato and lettuce together. Use the olive oil and lemon juice for dressing.
Cycle 3 – 17 Day Diet Casserole
If you want something that is fast, easy and delicious, consider making this eggplant, spinach and mushroom casserole. You will need:
- A medium eggplant, sliced into one inch slices
- An egg white
- A half cup of bread crumps
- A quarter cup of Parmesan
- A half teaspoon of Italian seasoning blend
- 10 ounces of frozen spinach
- One cup of fat free ricotta
- A cup of sliced mushrooms
- Two minced garlic cloves
- A tablespoon of olive oil
- A cup of low carb marinara sauce
Heat the over to 375. Then, mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan and seasoning together. Soak the eggplant in the egg white. Then, coat the eggplant with the bread crumb mixture and place it in the oven for 20 minutes.
While the eggplant is in the oven, prepare the spinach in the microwave. Do not add water, even if the package calls for it. Once it is finished, add the ricotta to the spinach. Then, saute the mushrooms and garlic in the olive oil.
Finally, put the eggplant in a shallow baking dish. Place the mushrooms between the eggplant slices, and put the spinach on top of the mushrooms. Place the marina on top of everything, and sprinkle with extra Parmesan if you want. Put it back into the oven for 20 more minutes.
These 17 Day diet recipes are not only delicious, but they are nutritious as well. When you eat these foods, you can feel confident in the fact that you are providing your body with the healthy nutrients it needs to help you lose weight.
Click here to check out a number of 17 day diet recipe cook books.
Usually there is no need to visit apothecary every time you going to get medicines. An assortment is actually wide. Viagra is a prescription medication used to treat inability to get or keep an erection. A lot of health care providers think about "buy cialis online". Did somebody tell you about "buy cialis"? Other question we are going to is "online cialis". Some men who take street drugs like cocaine find it knotty to get an erection and turn to erectile dysfunction medicines for a temporary solution. But only your doctor can determine if Viagra or other remedy is good for you. Together, you and your health care professional have to decide if Viagra or another medication is appropriate for you.


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Springdale's police chief and city manager are facing felony charges for allegedly directing more than $33,000 in on-the-spot traffic fines from foreign tourists into city coffers instead of the courts.
Police Chief Kurt Alvin Wright and City Manager Richard "Rick" Wixom each are charged with one third-degree felony count of failure to keep and pay over public money.
The charges were filed Monday in St. George's 5th District Court. If convicted, each man could face up to five years in prison.


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Rockstar And Fighter
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Reviews & Stories
18 weeks....swelling today PICS - Portland, ME
Here I sit the night before surgery standing in the mirror finally really looking at the only part of my body that refuses to change despite my 100lb weight loss after surviving endometrial cancer (I've maintained the loss for 7 years)....I also box & train in the gym 6 days a week so my frustration finally made me take action! In less than 12 hours I will be undergoing extended... READ MORE
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I traveled about an hour, I was in York. His practice has expanded since I first saw him & the excitement from the staff is evident, especially because it's all so fresh. It's awesome knowing that ANY service I am interested in is... READ COMMENT
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The public forum, sponsored by Mesa de la Comunidad, brought together leaders from local police, education and health care agencies Sunday to address concerns such as the recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and proposed immigration reform bills in Congress.
The attendees leaned forward in their plastic chairs while listening to a translator through headphones. Their biggest concern: What happens to my child if the ICE deports me?
School superintendents Maurice Ghysels and Barry Groves, who spoke on the panel, emphasized that their districts would never pass along a child's immigration status to any officials.
Ghysels, head of the Mountain View Whisman School District, said that in the event of a deported parent, the district would contact "everyone on the emergency card" and "bring in support services" to ensure the best placement for the child.
"If everyone on the card list is exhausted, we will work with Child Protective Services," he said. "If a child is placed in a shelter, we'll work closely with the surrogate parent to try to get that child back into our school."
Richard Hobbs, director of the county's Office of Human Relations, spoke to fears of immigration raids when he said that "the best advice is silence" if approached by an ICE agent. "Everyone in the U.S. has the right to silence as outlined in the Fifth Amendment."
Mountain View Police Chief Scott Vermeer, who introduced himself as the son of an undocumented Mexican immigrant, said his police department has "no role enforcing federal immigration laws ... unless the safety of the general public is at stake."
"Our primary job is to keep the community safe; that includes everyone irrespective of immigration status," Vermeer said. He added that "All emergency services are totally disinterested in immigration status; please pass along that info."
Concerns were also raised about the tactics of ICE agents. St. Joseph Pastor Bob Moran said the agents "aren't distinguishable from local police" since they wear the same gray jackets as police officers.
Vermeer said he met with ICE agents to address this concern, and was told that agents wear jackets reading "Police" because ICE isn't "generally a recognizable agency" while "'Police' is an easily recognizable word in every language."
Hobbs went further, saying that during the Redwood City raids, some ICE agents claimed to be local police to get immigrants to open their doors.
"If you live in California, you don't even have to give your name to an ICE agent," he said, adding that "No one is required to open their front door if there isn't a search warrant."
An immigration lawyer, Hobbs navigated a thick stack of papers as he outlined the tricky immigration reform proposals being considered by the U.S. Senate.
"Almost every immigrant's rights organization opposes the Senate bill," he said. The bill, he added, turns immigrants into "ping-pong balls" with "no right to live with their family, learn English, or establish themselves in the country."
Oscar Garcia, co-founder and president of Mesa de la Comunidad, said of the proposals, "Politicians have a hard time understanding them, let alone the average citizen."
He said the recent raids have undermined the Latino community and fostered "mistrust in government agencies" among immigrants. There have not been similar raids in Mountain View, he said, because Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren "made an agreement with ICE that they wouldn't do any large-scale raids in Santa Clara County." But he warned that this is "no guarantee."
Community member Rosa Sanchez said she found the forum helpful. "It's good to know more about how the laws affect the community," she said.
Mesa de la Comunidad is a community building and advocacy organization. For more information, call (888) 657-6801 or visit www.mesacomunidad.org.


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GATITO CLEANERS IS VOTED #1 BEST DRY CLEANERS BY THE LOS GATOS WEEKLY TIMES for the second year in a row! (2010 and 2011)
Thank you for continuing to vote for us! Check us out the Los Gatos Weekly Times article on 2011's winners here.
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Los Gatos, CA 95030
M-F: 8am-6pm
Sat: 9am-1pm
(408) 354-1300
©Gatito Cleaners 2011
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Home > Product Categories > Pro-Audio > Wireless Audio > Wireless Microphone Receivers > 310UDR
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text: A Sunday 20 January 2008, Nicholas escrigué: > I am trying to package a set of vector arrays into a single rec array > with column titles. > c = numpy.rec.fromarrays([a,b],names='a,b') > the problem is there is no 'copy' argument in .fromarrays which I can > set to False. i.e. is there a way to do this without the overhead of > copying? You can't because of implementation issues: a recarray is implemented as a row-wise object, so the copy is absolutely needed. BTW, perhaps column-wise recarray would be a great addition to NumPy, although I'm not sure whether this object would be much better than a dictionary of homogeneous arrays. Cheers, -- >0,0< Francesc Altet http://www.carabos.com/ V V Cárabos Coop. V. Enjoy Data "-"


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February 22 2001
University of the Pacific
Institutional Priorities Committee
Minutes for February 22, 2001
Taylor Conference Room
IPC Members Present: Benedetti, Cavanaugh, Chambers, Fox, Gilbertson (Chair), King, Kirkland, KruegerDevine, Lundergan, Meer, Myers, Oppenheimer, Stark
Minutes: Minutes were approved as corrected. Please note that Jonathon has found his identity (so has Jona!) and would like to clarify for the record, as well as the satisfaction of his parents, that he is neither John nor Meers. At this time John Myers will remain John and Myers
Reports: No reports at this time.
Continuing Issues:
- Budget – Cavanaugh presented an updated budget for the Stockton campus.
A. The net tuition for the 2001 budget was adjusted to account for spring tuition figures. Additionally, the one time cost for the Environmental Safety audit was moved to the fiscal year '01 account and $500,000 was moved from the unrestricted reserve to address the initial cost for the Cisco project.
- The 2002 budget was adjusted to include the IPC first tier recommendations and required cost increases including utilities and benefits. The Auxiliaries income and expense areas were also adjusted to reflect additional Athletic scholarships. Cavanaugh also explained that the cost of demolishing the Quonset huts was built into the Arts and Geo Sciences project and therefore would not reflect an additional "02 expense. Further the cost to move duplicating services and add equipment was adjusted through salary savings. All in all, $4 million dollars in base additions were added to the budget.
- The 2003 preliminary budget was also presented and only included basic increases such as utilities, benefits and 3% salary increases. It was noted that in order to address only these changes, the gross tuition would need to increase by 4.36%.
- MVP Statement: Continued discussion on the draft of the MVP occurred. Gilbertson will incorporate our suggestions for enhancement and present the next draft for the university community to review and discuss. We will have 6 forums with the UoP community to discuss the document before final changes are made and recommended to the President and Board of Regents. The following forums have been set up for discussion of the MVP:
Student Forum March 1 Noon McCaffrey Center
Faculty Forum March 1 3:30 Common Room
Staff Forum March 9 Noon Common Room
Open March 6 Noon Common Room
Dental School TBA (Judy will assist Bill)
Law School TBA (Phil O. will assist John)


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Vernon RCMP investigate serious motor vehicle accident
Two teens were sent to hospital after a serious motor vehicle accident in Vernon.
On Thursday at about 11:45 p.m., an RCMP officer was patrolling in the area of 20th Street and 48th Avenue when he came across a single-vehicle collision.
"Our officer noticed a Honda Civic was laying on the passenger side against a power pole facing westbound in that intersection," said Gord Molendyk, RCMP spokesperson.
"On examination of the vehicle, he found two men still inside. The driver is 17 and the 16-year-old passenger was trapped and had to be removed with the aid of the Vernon Fire Department."
Both Vernon residents suffered serious injuries, and broken bones. They were transported by ambulance to Vernon Jubilee Hospital.
"The traffic analyst was called to assist in the investigation due to the seriousness of their injuries," said Molendyk, adding that B.C. Hydro was also on scene to determine the integrity of the power pole.
"Officers do not suspect alcohol was a factor in their initial findings of this investigation. The file remains under investigation."


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Competition Issues Regarding Procurement for Large Companies and Suppliers—The Gazprom Case
The article demonstrates that even the established and verified facts of agreements among producers are not sufficient condition for cartel identification and, as a consequence, - prosecution of agreements participants. It requires looking at institutional details and the wider context of these and similar documents/actions appearance/occurrence. The article is devoted to recent antitrust case against all Russian producers of the large diameter pipes (LDPs) on schedules of products delivery for one large buyer – OJSC Gazprom. This case illustrates that avoidance of wasteful outcomes of so-called hostility tradition in antitrust is important, hard and nevertheless possible task.
Ключевые слова
collusion, antitrust policy, economic analysis, institutional econoics


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Drink Local Now
About This Show
Show Info: Drink Local Now is the voice of Community is Brewing, a transparent and open organization supporting a Craft Lifestyle in Asheville North Carolina. We share space with THE BLOCK Off Biltmore, located in the old YMI building, which to this day still actively promotes multiculturalism and diversity. Drink Local. Think Global. Sync Mobile.


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Maxent MX-26X3 LCD HD Monitor At A Glance & Ratings
Video: DVI (1), D-Sub 15-pin (1), component video (2), S-video (2), composite video (2), RF (1)
Audio: stereo analog (6),
Video: D-Sub 15-pin (1)
Audio: stereo analog (1), subwoofer out (1)
Additional: RS-232 (1)
Type: LCD
Screen Size (diagonal) 26 inches
Native Resolution / Aspect Ratio: 1,366 x 768 / 16:9
Lamp Life: 60,000 hours
Wall Mount or Stand Included?: Stand
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 19 x 34.3 x 8.9 (with stand)
Weight (pounds): 28.6 (with stand)
Price: $1,099
Ratings: Maxent MX-26X3 LCD HD Monitor
Build Quality: 84
• Constructed mostly of plastic and weighs only 28.6 pounds
• The remote lacks backlighting
Value: 93
• HDTV and LCD for a little more than $1,000—and you don't have to sacrifice performance
Features: 89
Performance: 86
Ergonomics: 91
Overall Rating: 88
General Information
• Includes a well-rounded input panel
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• Inconsistent image quality through DVI, but the component video image is quite good
• Dedicated input buttons on the remote
• Aspect-ratio adjustment for HD sources
The MX-26X3 is a fine choice for a second-room TV, rendering attractive DVD and HDTV images through its component video inputs. The next time you're buying 80 pounds of trail mix at Costco, give this one a look.
MX-26X3 LCD HD Monitor, $1,099
Maxent, (888) 373-4368
Dealer Locator Code MAX
Performance: 86
Ergonomics: 91
Overall Rating: 88
General Information


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Cergy is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris, in the "new town" of Cergy-Pontoise, created in the 1960s, of which it is the central and most populated commune.
Although neighboring Pontoise is the official préfecture (capital) of the Val-d'Oise département, the préfecture building and administration, as well as the department council (conseil général), are located inside the commune of Cergy, which is regarded as the de facto capital of Val-d'Oise. The sous-préfecture building and administration, on the other hand, are located inside the commune of Pontoise.
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Featuring an oak stained solid hardwood frame from managed plantations and a durable coating
The City ivory leather dining chairs with oak legs offer a modern and light finishing touch for your dining room. The sumptuous bonded leather is glossy and chic combining perfectly with classic satined hardwood legs in oak.
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With a Arkansas drawl and a knowing smile, new Marine Mammal Center executive director Martha Whetstone welcomes visitors to her office that over looks Rodeo Beach with an easy Southern charm.
"This office was lavender before and I said, 'No, no, no, lavender is not me,'" said Larkspur resident Whetstone, who had the room painted a Moroccan red that matches her bold and lively personality.
Whetstone's journey to the mammal center was a circuitous one, which took her from the tiny town of El Dorado, Ark., to inside the Kennedy family to becoming a friend and confidant of Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Being raised in segregated Arkansas in the 1960s had an impact on Whetstone, who traces her interest in politics to the injustice she witnessed.
"I have real memories of those horrible days," she said. "It did have effect on my interest in politics. I had those innate feelings of fairness. If you have any human feelings, it had an effect."
That interest in politics and change led to her helping Bill Clinton get elected at president in 1992. She laid the groundwork in Northern California to prepare the region for the then little-known Arkansas governor.
She had come to the region a dozen years earlier, working for the campaign to re-elect Jimmy Carter, and never left.
"I came to San Francisco and I felt these are progressive people, these are my kind of people," said Whetstone, 55. "I liked it, it was a pretty place. But then the Carter campaign wanted to send me somewhere else, someplace cold, and I decided to stay."
She enrolled at the University of San Francisco to study law, met her future husband and eventually earned a degree and became a general litigator in Oakland. She moved to the Marina District and gave birth to daughters Annie and Kate. At her request, then-Gov. Bill Clinton spoke at USF's graduation ceremony in 1985.
The pair had met in 1974 when Whetstone, fresh out of the University of Arkansas with a bachelor's degree in education, went to work for her brother-in-law, Bill Thompson, who was thinking of running for a political office. But at the last minute he opted out and Whetstone had no plan.
"I told him, 'Now I have nothing to do.' But he told me about this young guy, Bill Clinton, that I should meet," Whetstone said.
Clinton was running for Congress at the time.
"So I drove to Fayettville and met him. Now, you can't sit down and have a long conversation with Bill Clinton and not 'drink the Kool-Aid.' I worked on his campaign for next six months getting out the vote, driving him around and bringing tapes to TV stations, things like that."
He lost the race to incumbent John Paul Hammerschmidt, but Whetstone was impressed with Clinton.
"I always thought he would be president," she said. "He was just so smart. He remembered everything and he can pull that knowledge out like it's coming out of a filing cabinet."
Whetstone took a government job, then went on to take a job in Virginia working for Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert Kennedy.
"It was more interesting thinking about it than doing it," she said with a laugh. "It was watching the kids, and there were 11 of them, and scheduling appointments. I thought it was a window into the Kennedy world, but she wasn't exactly chatty. There was a bit of Eastern blueblood there. But what it did do at a young age was cure me of celebretitis. All is not what it appears to be. That was my lesson from that experience."
That experience would serve her well as she found herself assisting the person who some people call the modern John Kennedy, Bill Clinton.
He called her in 1991 with some news - he was running for president.
"It started with a list of people he had given me at USF of people he knew in the area. For whatever reason I had kept that list. So in 1991 it came out and the Northern California campaign started with me by calling all those people," Whetstone recalled. " We formed the nucleus of the organization. Back then, there was a negative impression of any governor from a Southern state. So we had to introduce Bill Clinton to California and we had to break through all of that."
Right around the same time Whetstone moved from San Francisco to Marin after the Loma Prieta earthquake rattled her nerves.
"Having been through Loma Prieta, while on maternity leave, with a 3 month old on the changing table in the Marina, I couldn't leave San Francisco fast enough," she said. "I'm sure I had post traumatic stress from that. It was an assault on senses of survival. I like the sun and with kids running around, it makes sense to come to Marin."
After Clinton won the presidency in 1992, she served as the Northern California political director for the Democratic National Committee, providing support to Clinton and the White House with a focus on Northern California politics.
"It was the White House West," she recalled fondly. "He used to always ask, 'Are you having fun?' He enjoyed sharing his presidency."
In 1998 she was appointed by Clinton as regional director of Federal Emergency Management Agency Region IX based out of San Francisco and overseeing the western states and Hawaii. She left the post in 2001 and eventually took the job as the executive director and general counsel of the Bar Association of San Francisco, where she managed a $10 million annual budget and was responsible for raising significant for that organization.
And in May, she was named executive director of the mammal center, where fundraising is critical as the center continues to update and remake its facilities.
"The irony is that people do law and are in law school because they can't pass science, and here I am in the science world. It is wonderful, meaningful work," she said.
Away from work, Whetstone, now single, spends much of her time involved with her daughters. Annie is a freshman at Berkeley studying political science despite her mother's counsel, while Kate is a 10th grader at Redwood High School, where she plays tennis and basketball.
"Being the parent watching the athletics is a lot of what I do," she said.
She still keeps in touch with Clinton, and usually hangs out with him when he comes to the Bay Area.
"He is a wonderful person to have as a friend. He doesn't trade up," she said, showing a framed note on his last day in office in 2001. "We have always stayed in contact. He's a big note writer. How he has time still to this day to do that is amazing."
And she is watching Hillary Clinton's presidential run closely.
"She is just wonderful and great friend, too. I get more questions about her than him. They feel like they know him; I don't think they feel like they know her as well," Whetstone said. "She's surprising to people. They have an image to her that is not always flattering. She is far funnier than people know, she is far more personable and thoughtful than people know."
Despite being at ground zero, she has no more desire to be involved in politics.
"It's a tough world. I much prefer the wet noses and big brown eyes here," she said. " You can feel you are making a contribution and, given the big world issues we are facing such as ocean health and the environment, it parallels nicely with politics."
Contact Mark Prado via e-mail at email@example.com.


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| Buried! 50 tasters feared dead of boredom in New World Savalanche
Thirty sommeliers were feared dead of boredom last night, after being engulfed by a tidal wave of largely indifferent New World Sauvignon Blanc. The deadly tsunami – 25% bigger than last year's record-breaking entry – crashed down on Delfina Gallery during the judging of this year's Sommelier Wine Awards, burying the tasters under a cloying wall of gooseberry and passion fruit.
Aid workers were quickly on the scene, but feared it was unlikely that there would be any survivors. 'People just can't stand that combination of sweet fruit and rasping acidity for long,' said one. 'If we don't get to them within five minutes, they're dead in the water. Or rather, in the wine.'
Scientists blamed the disaster on a shockwave of 'consumer demand and supermarket pricing' that caused wineries to knock out vast quantities of characterless gloop. 'Once we discovered that Sauvignons were pouring in from all over the planet, all at the same time, we knew the tasters were doomed,' said Professor Frank N Furter.
AT A GLANCE: Consumer demand and increased popularity of the category leads to too much characterless Sauvignon Blanc.
Italians in the dock over 'undrinkable' Pinot Grigio scandal
| 'Dead' Saffers now show signs of life
There were emotional scenes in the Cape last night when it was discovered that the South African wine industry was not, in fact, dead, but had simply been asleep. In previous years of SWA, the country's wines have underperformed. The persistent vegetative state had led sommeliers to wonder aloud whether it might be kinder to turn off the life support system altogether.
But, in circumstances that were little short of a miracle, this year saw welcome signs of life from Syrah to Sauvignon Blanc, and – perhaps most heartening of all – a clean sweep in Chenin Blanc.
AT A GLANCE: South Africa is back on form with a winning performance in SWA.
| Bubble trouble as Patricia shakes Champenois
An Australian sparkler has stunned the Champenois by winning the only gold medal in the key £14-20 category at this year's SWA. The Brown Brothers Patricia Pinot Noir/Chardonnay impressed tasters with its elegance, beating off a chasing group of champagnes. Overall, while champagnes still dominated the medals across the Sparkling category in SWA, this year represented a wake-up call for the region.
AT A GLANCE: Australia beats Champagne to gold medal in £14-20.
| Phew! What a Corker as SWA hits record high
Competition organisers were collectively mopping their brows after processing this year's entries to the Sommelier Wine Awards. A record number of entries – over 1,500 in total – plus a particularly warm spring saw sommeliers turning out in record numbers to London's Delfina Gallery to taste at the competition.
The Met Office, meanwhile, issued a special warning for Shiraz and the Rhône, mentioning that while these categories may have been cooler two or three years ago, entries had risen significantly of late, and tasters might need to take extra precautions before trying to taste them all.
'Sommeliers must drink plenty of fluids and make sure they have the right strength of water biscuits if they are to avoid palate burn-out,' warned competition director, Chris Losh. 'This doesn't appear to be a one-off but part of a long-term trend. A combination of global warming and the fact that the on-trade seems to like the competition means SWA is growing at more than 30% a year.'
A government spokesman said: 'Obviously we are monitoring the situation. If numbers continue to grow at this rate it could have a serious impact on the way we all live. Restaurants could be full of great wine, and there could be a shortage. We ask everyone to be considerate in their use to avoid a hosepipe ban in the future…'
AT A GLANCE: With entries up to over 1,500, SWA is bigger than ever before and growing by more than 30% a year.
| Casablanca, please don't play it again…
Windows were shattered, and some sommeliers went deaf, as the discordant wailings of a group of Casablanca wines caused havoc during the SWA-Factor heats. While judges may not have been expecting the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, they were at least hoping for a little musicality. 'We've had some rubbish on the SWA-Factor in our time,' said chief judge, Simon Trowel, 'but that really takes the biscuit. They thought they were being all cool-climate and Burgundian, but in fact they were syrupy and over-alcoholic. It was like watching your granny pole dance.'
AT A GLANCE: Chilean wine region Casablanca disappoints in SWA 2011.
| The 80s are back: official
Dust off your Filofax and seek out those shoulder pads, because the 1980s are here again, say our trend-spotters! As well as a vicious recession, a royal wedding and a Tory(ish) government, we can now add the return of Beaujolais into the mix.
Forever associated with City-workers in red braces and the infamous 'Nouveau runs', Beaujolais is back – and this time it's drinkable. The stand out category of this year's SWA, Beaujolais delivered four great medal-winning wines – all priced below a tenner. But more to the point, tasters liked almost every Beaujolais wine they tried, finding it incredibly hard to knock any of them out of the running.
'Our wines have never had much credibility in the past, but actually they're really good, easy and fun – and secretly a lot of people really like them,' said a spokesperson for the Beaujolais wine growers. 'A bit like Nik Kershaw.'
AT A GLANCE: Beaujolais is the all-round top-performing region in SWA 2011.
| Worried that you're spending too much on wine?
Feel like you're being taken for a ride by suppliers?
Struggling to perform in the House wine department?
Don't worry: you're not alone!
Thousands of hotels, restaurants and gastropubs all over the country have suffered from the same complaint. They found relief, and you can too, with new House Wine Gold award-winners from SWA! Simply scan this large category for a vast selection of great wines at amazing prices. They'll soon have your list back in tip-top form.
| Tuscany voted sexiest region in Italy
Tuscany has come out top at this year's Miss Italy Wine competition. Held at the villa of a well-known Italian politician, all of the country's wine regions paraded before a judging team made up of top sommeliers, wealthy businessmen and politicians under the influence of egomania.
Following the usual 'tannin', 'fruit' and 'swimsuit' rounds, each of the contestants had to explain to the panel why they felt they deserved a gold medal in the Sommelier Wine Awards. 'That tripped up a lot of the contestants,' said chairman of judges, Enzo Libido. 'A lot of them thought they deserved to win just because they were expensive.'
In the end, it came down to a two-way battle between the languid elegance of the north-east and the more pneumatic charms of Tuscany, with the latter just shading it. 'I loved that gorgeous dark fruit, those curvy tannins, the long, smouldering finish. Mamma mia!' said one judge.
AT A GLANCE: Sommeliers agreee that Tuscany is on top form this year.
| Kiwis callously dump Cab for younger model
Is it on? Is it off? The much talked-about tempestuous relationship between New Zealand and red Bordeaux varietals could finally be over, with rumours that the glamorous pair have split following a disastrous row at this year's Sommelier Wine Awards.
Initially billed as a marriage made in heaven, (who could forget the glitzy 12-page wedding in the pages of Decanter?) things seem to have turned sour for New Zealand and Cabernet. The two were barely on speaking terms at this year's Sommelier Wine Awards, with not a single medal between them and plenty of signs of thin, stalky fruit.
The country was also papped coming out of a nightclub with a bevy of young medal-winning Syrahs on its arm, which some observers have seen as evidence of a mid-life crisis. 'NZ has put a lot of work into Cabernet blends, but it's at that time of life when it just wants to cut loose and have some fun,' said a close friend of the country.
AT A GLANCE: Cabernet blends from New Zealand didn't win any medals at SWA.
| Stave to love: Spanish battle 'oakdiction'
The Spanish wine industry has checked into rehab to cure what a spokesman called a 'chronic dependence on oak'. Historically, Spain's bodegas have been known to 'like a bit of tree', with junior winemakers often using barrels before they can even control a fermentation. But the casual use of chips and a growing dependence on stronger 'French' oak have led to increasingly erratic behaviour.
Hotel meals have been trashed, vicious tannic punches have left tasters with bleeding gums, and, most famously of all, the country underperformed badly at this year's Sommelier Wine Awards, with a number of tasters complaining that they found its 'oakdiction' offensive.
'Spain recognises that it has a problem, and is taking steps to remedy it,' said a spokesman for the country. 'It would like to thank all its fans for its support and assure them that it will be back as soon
as it gets the staves out of its nose.'
AT A GLANCE: Over-oaked Spanish wines lose out on medals at SWA.
| Looking for love?
Then look no further!
Gorgeous, inexpensive Beaujolais is looking for willing restaurants to give it a fresh start. Multiple award-winning, gold medal wine, with a Food Match, Critics' Choice and By the Glass Award, I'd love to be your St Amour and take you to the Porte du Paradis! Contact Boutinot on 0161 908 1300 quoting reference number £6.34.
Malbec shock as Chileans claim gold medal
Brilliant Boutinot sees off competitors
Disclaimer: Some, or potentially all, quotations may have been entirely fabricated. Some events may also have been made up for your amusement. All of the wines are real though. We promise. For full category analysis and a list of SWA winners see imbibe.com.


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21 rising stars under 21
With tours from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young and Black Sabbath hitting Australia this year, the baby boomers have really made their presence felt in 2013. But beyond the big-money tours, nostalgia trips and hyped releases by established acts like Kanye and Daft Punk, there's an abundance of prodigious musical talent climbing the ranks, pushing boundaries and producing music's future sounds.
To highlight the brightest of these rising stars, FL has collated our inaugural 21 Under 21; a collection of the most talented emerging acts from Australia and beyond. From indie darlings to emerging rappers, we believe all of these artists are destined for big things in the near future – some are even well on their way. Let us know in the comments if your favourite act has been overlooked.
When you listen carefully to the lyrics of Lorde's hit single 'Royals', it's difficult to conceive how a 16-year-old New Zealander is creating such sophisticated pop. Elia Yelich O'Connor released her Love Club EP late in 2012, and has been riding a wave of hype ever since. In March she signed a deal with Universal Records, while Canadian electro-pop queen Grimes has already given her tick of approval. Lorde's second release, The Tennis Club EP, is due out on July 22. Here's the first single, 'Tennis Court'.
Nineteen-year-old Odd Future member Earl Sweatshirt's self-titled debut album was an impressive release to say the least – his verses were tight and polished, and his lyrics complex and confronting in typical Odd Future fashion. It's even more shocking when you think that he was just 16 at the time though. After two years at a therapeutic retreat for at-risk boys in Samoa, Earl is back and better than ever. His new album Doris will hopefully be out next month, and its content is starkly different from the lyrics about rape and murder of his first release. On Twitter he admitted that he expected to lose some fans with the new style, but that he still "fucking loves how it sounds". In the meantime though, his latest single 'WHOA' is as good as anything he's brought out before. Earl recently toured Aus with Tyler, The Creator. Full report here.
Alana (aka Baby Haim) comprises one third of the Haim sisters, and at 21 years of age is the only member of the band who could officially make our list. Nonetheless, the decidedly young Haim stormed to prominence following the release of their hit singles 'Don't Save Me' and 'Forever' in 2012, and their top ranking in BBC's influential Sound of 2013 poll. Their catchy R&B take on classic Cali-folk has resonated so much in Australia that the band are due to play Splendour In The Grass in July, and have already sold out all of their sideshows. All this, and they haven't even released an album yet.
London's Lawrence brothers – Guy, 22, and Howard, 19 – have already cemented themselves as 2013's hottest electronic act with debut album Settle garnering a 9.1 on Pitchfork. Mixing 4×4 British garage sounds with modulated pop vocals, the pair have managed to break through to the mainstream thanks to their indie-club friendly tunes. Last year's hit 'Latch' even found itself at #21 on triple j's Hottest 100, while singles such as 'Tendlerly/Flow', 'White Noise' and 'You & Me' earned their own share of airplay, too. The pair played an acclaimed show at Field Day in London in May, while they've already been booked as headliners for new IDM-based festival Listen Out. That'll follow a huge run of European festival dates, including stints at Reading/Leeds, Bestival and Croatia's Unknown Festival. Not too bad, considering the fact that two years ago dance music "wasn't a plan" for the duo.
Like any modern teenagers, The Jungle Giants seem to be preoccupied with three things in life: relationships, partying and Facebook. This jangly indie-pop four-piece out of Brisbane stormed onto triple j last year with their hit single 'She's a Riot', managing a very respectable #83 on triple j's Hottest 100. Since then they've been busy playing shows at Falls Festival, and got a chance to support Two Door Cinema Club on their sold-out shows around the country. Their new single 'I Am What You Want Me To Be' will surely cement their place as a summer festival fixture. A debut album is due out sometime this year.
While US hip-hop has been dominated by the gritty, gangster style of the West Coast for years, its laidback cousin in the east has been making massive strides. At the forefront is Joey Bada$$, an 18-year-old kid out of Brooklyn, New York. Don't judge him on the name though. His quick flow and complex lyrics have earned him critical acclaim from tastemakers like Pitchfork and NME, and he's been recently been putting in guest verses for the likes of A$AP Rocky, Action Bronson and Mac Miller. His debut album _ B4.Da.$$_ is due out early next year, and if it's anything like his 1999 mixtape, it'll be one of the albums of the summer.
Humbly rising out of the Sydney suburb of Blacktown, Northlane have rapidly grown into one of the best metal/hardcore acts in the country over the past year. Earlier this year they released Singularity, a truly excellent album that showcased a bit more range than their 2011 debut Discoveries. The release saw the band's popularity skyrocket, scoring them an ARIA #3 and a place atop the iTunes chart. Their fierce live show has earned them a support slot on Karnivool's upcoming national tour.
What can be really be said about Flume that hasn't already been talked about?
After making the switch from a bedroom producer (thanks to a program found in a cereal box) to headlining stages in a little over a year, Future Classic signing Harley Streten spent most of last year conquering Australian music with his ""crossover beats"":http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/features/35436/Flume-Im-delivering-crossover-beats (a winning combination of pop-sensible sampling/vocals with warped, bass-heavy backing music). His "Infinity Prism" tour saw him selling out massive venues like Sydney's Hordern Pavilion with ease, while he managed to snag no less than four different tracks on last year's triple j Hottest 100.
Now Streten is turning his sights overseas, where he's been busy playing shows and making friends with the likes of fellow EDM champions Diplo and Skrillex. He's already rostered down for a string of festival dates in Europe throughout July, which he'll follow up with another tour of the US straight after. The world is definitely Streten's oyster right now – the fact he's younger than Nirvana's Nevermind just makes it even more incredible.
Snakadaktal have a sense of timing and maturity that belie their age (youngest member Phoebe Cockburn just finished high school last year). After winning triple j's 2011 Unearthed High award amid a ton of hype, this Melbourne quintet have cooled off a bit over the past two years – taking time to play some festivals, release the Dance Bear EP and really refine their sound. The result? Debut album Sleep in the Water, which is described as "simultaneously ambitious yet tranquil, accomplished and otherworldly but still down-to-Earth". If 'Ghost' and first single 'Hung On Tight' are anything to go by, we're in for a brooding, contemplative and dreamy affair.
Hailing from Sheffield in the UK (like a very similar band of recent years), the Loveless brothers – 21-year-old Eoin and 19-year-old Rory – comprise this two-piece garage-punk band. Their menacing riffs and aggressive tracks simply suck you in with sheer force – Eoin's deep, crooning vocals contrast perfectly with their frenetic sound. Though they've only recently released music publicly, they've been playing together for over a decade (so when they were just 11 and 9 years old!). It shows, too – they've got a sense of cohesion and understanding that's beyond their years. A self-titled debut album is due for release in August.


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My eight-year-old son, Luke, has Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) in addition to ADHD. Kids with SPD are either sensory avoiders or sensory seekers. Luke is most definitely a sensory seeker. He has bounced through life like Tigger since the age of three.
I am beginning to realize that sensory seeking behaviors — like jumping, fidgeting, chewing — can also be a symptom of ADHD though. ADHD, in simplest terms, is a deficit of sensory stimulation in the brain, the stimulation that keeps the brain focused. When Luke needs to remain focused and still, his bodily movements are ramped up and exaggerated, often inappropriate for the situation.
For instance, Luke has the assignment of reading two books and completing corresponding projects over the summer for school. In order to be sure he's reading, he has been reading aloud to me. In order to be sure the books get finished in time, we are reading together at least three afternoons a week. Right away I noticed that Luke was wiggling and fidgeting like crazy the minute he began to read. It was so astonishing to me how much he had to move to read that I picked up my Blackberry and started filming it the second or third day. It isn't a full representation because I didn't want him to realize I was recording him, but you'll see several movements for stimulation in this short video (I'll warn you, this is not a quality video, again, I didn't want him to know I was recording him).
[kaltura-widget uiconfid="534″ entryid="1_rovrv4x7″ width="400″ height="330″ addpermission="" editpermission="" /]
In the video you'll notice he is kicking his foot, picking his fingers, changing his position, pulling his legs in tight, rocking, fidgeting with another book, and more. I couldn't figure out how he was following what he was reading (and he did loose his place quite often).When I noticed that this was going to occur every time he's asked to sit and read, I thought about what I could do to give him sensory stimulation while reading so he didn't have to fidget so much. First I tried the weighted neck roll his therapist made for him. He just fidgeted with it. I tried giving him deep pressure input through touch but he couldn't be still enough for me to even try that. Chewing gum did not alleviate the situation either.This situation says two things to me: (1) no wonder he struggles so much in the classroom; and (2) his medication is not effective — the point of a stimulant is to provide this stimulation so he doesn't have to wiggle and fidget so much.There is a large list of things you can do to help a sensory seeker, here's one of my favorite versions for download from Asheville City Schools OT Department. Next I am going to try background music and maybe exercising a bit before sitting down to read.How do you help your fidgety child get the sensory stimulation they need to be attentive, especially during sit-down tasks like school work?
Here are several products that help sensory seekers:


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text: On 10/1/2008 9:04 AM dmitrey apparently wrote: > why array(1).tolist() returns 1? I expected to get [1] instead. I guess I would expect it not to work at all. Given that it does work, this seems the best result. What list shape matches the shape of a 0-d array? What is the use case that makes this seem wrong? Alan Isaac


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Zac Efron Laughs Off Perez Problems
17 Again star Zac Efron talked with The Envelope about trying to maintain a personal life while still existing under the scrutiny of the paparazzi. He says that it's not really all that intrusive, except when a certain notorious blogger gets involved.
"But as soon as Perez has a single post, inevitably I get like 10 or 20 phone calls from friends or family…it seems like what Perez says goes. I laugh about it. I'm just flattered that he's nice."
This is all in keeping with Zac's policy of playing nice. Well, he'd be hard-pressed to find anything nasty written on here. Hard. Pressed.
Gallery Info: Zac Efron at the U.K. premiere of 17 Again.


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2012 Allegro Prices, Values and Specs
Select a 2012 Allegro Series
2012 Note
MOTORHOMES - In addition to standard equipment, Zephyr prices include Triple Crown fabrics, cherry wood cabinets, dishwasher, safe, all electric coach, basement freezer, patio awning, dinette/workstation, 2nd slide tray, ultra leather air coil hide-a-bed and leather sofa/booth dinette. Allegro Bus includes cherry wood cabinets, satellite dish, hydronic heating system, residential refrigerator, solar panel, 32' exterior tv, satellite radio, all electric coach, bedroom tile on 43QBP AND 43QGP, navigation system, rearview mirror, cb, 37" dash tv, dishwasher, cooktop, washer, dryer, cloth air, coil sofa bed on 40QXP, sofa/booth leather dinette(n/a on 36QSP, 40QXP), two leather recliners, comfort mattress. Phaeton includes air horns, spotlight, 32 and 37" television, 10K generator. Allegro Red includes Alder cabinetry, LCD mid and bedroom television, two air conditioners, generator, satellite, awning, inverter, two 15K a/c with heat pump, surround sound, leather driver and passenger seat, vacuum, washer, dryer, residential refrigerator, 4 door refrigerator on 38QBA, LCD front tv(n/a on 38QBA), 62" leather sofa bed, 68" leather hide-a-bed on 34QFA, 75" leather hide-a-bed on 36QSA, 38QBA and king bed on 34QFA. Allegro includes drivers power window, satellite, surround sound, power driver and passenger leather seats, vacuum, LCD bedroom television, LCD front tv in 34TGA, 35QBA, drop down television monitors on 35QBA, 68" leather hide-a-bed(n/a on 30DA).


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Coldwater Creek Destinations II Textured Tee - 655 - 335 Aspen Blue 1X
Everything you love about our Destinations II by Coldwater Creek® travel knit with an extra touch: the added dimension of a gently puckered texture, plus center seams front and back. Boxy silhouette. Imported.
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The appearance of advertisements and product information on this site does not constitute an endorsement by Equipment World Magazine, and Equipment World Magazine has not investigated the claims made by any advertiser. Product information is based solely on material received from suppliers.
Four Case compact excavators — the Case CX278, CX31B, CX36B and CX50B — have been upgraded to Tier 4 certification. This upgrade delivers more efficient power and faster cycle times to get the operator quickly through the toughest jobs. Featuring Tier 4 certified Yanmar engines, the Case CX B Series compact excavators range from 5,566 to 10,261 lb (2,520 to 4,660 kg) and deliver from 21.3 to 39.8 net hp (15.9 to 29.3 kW). These models provide bucket digging forces up to 7,936 lb (3,600 kg) and maximum dig depths from 8 feet 4 inches (2.54 m) to 11 feet 9 inches (3.59 m). These machines are all zero tail swing (ZTS) machines and have a small footprint in comparison, but they are packed with big excavator features. Case compact excavators turn 360 degrees with no part of the upper structure extending beyond the tracks, and are as easy to trailer as a skid steer.


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Kardashian shows just how many kup sizes she has gone up during her
pregnancy in a clingy, low-cut top.
The socialite was pictured in the curve-hugging item as well as a black
leather skirt and strappy heels in her LA hometown.
It's been reported that the 32-year-old has shot up four sizes since getting
pregnant with rapper Kanye West's child – from
a 36D to a 36G.
Kim, who also been regularly hitting the gym recently, has said her pregnancy
is yet to spark any morning sickness or strange food-cravings.
She's expected to give birth to what will be her first child this summer.


text:
Take a look at iconic rural Kiwi life in New Zealand's longest running television series! Made with the support of NZ on Air.
Share page
Titles, characters and all other elements are the trade marks and copyright of TVNZ or its licensors. All rights reserved. Further details available here.
Hyundai Country Calendar Episodes
Primary Producer: Country Calendar celebrates the life of producer Frank Torley with an episode in which Frank tells his own story, originally aired to mark the show's 45th birthday in 2011.
50 Golden Years: Hyundai Country Calendar celebrates its 50th birthday by revisiting families it has filmed in the past to see what has and hasnt changed on the land.
Season Final: One Big Family: A West Coast woman who runs a dairy farm with a big emphasis on family life brings the same values to the team on the Landcorp farms that she also manages.
Generation Next: The third generation on a North Otago high country station follow in their forebears' footsteps and continue the farm's tradition of innovation.
Fruit of the Soil: A father and daughter spend years working to create a successful truffle industry in North Canterbury and their dogs are finding increasing amounts of valuable black gold.
Soggy Bottom: A couple turn their rough swampy land into the perfect place to run free-range heritage breed pigs, then start an on-farm butchery and kitchen, using traditional English recipes.
Eight is Enough: When their parents become too ill to work, the teenagers from a family of eight children take over running their North Otago orchard, to avoid having to sell the land.
Lease of Life: Two women farm a leased property in the foothills of the Ruahine Range, where they raise sheep and train working dogs, including animals given up by other farmers as useless.
Changing Landscapes: A couple moves from their island home in the Marlborough Sounds to take over managing a massive sheep station in the MacKenzie Country owned by a family of artists.
Wet and Wild: A conservationist leads teams of international student volunteers who are restoring one of New Zealand's most significant privately-owned wetlands south of Dunedin.
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Waverly Journal, Friday, April 14, 1911
Rev. R. P. Droke
Passes Away.
Rev. Robert P. Droke, for many years a resident of this city, but who has been living in Hettick the past year, died at the home of his sister Mrs. Hattie Pulliam in Hettick at 10:30 o'clock Tuesday morning April 11th after a few weeks illness. Age 75 years, 5 mo. and 2 days.
Mr. Droke was born in Tennessee, Nov. 9, 1835, moving at an early age to Virginia, and from there to Catlettsburg, Ky., where he grew to manhood. He was converted at an early age, and united with the M. E. church. In 1885 he moved with his father to Macoupin county, Illinois and settled near Scotville. He responded to his country's call in the Civil War serving three years in the 32nd Illinois infantry. After the war he farmed a few years, and in 1869 entered the ministry. His first appointment was White Oak, and he afterward was pastor of the Chesterfield and Waverly circuits. For twenty years he was a travelling preacher in the Illinois conference, and for the past twenty years has been a superanuated preacher, residing in this city. He was married Oct. 6, 1859 to Mary E. Pulliam, who departed this life February 17, 1904. Three brothers and one sister preceded him in death. He is survived by one brother, Winfield S. of Portland, Ore. and three sisters. The three brothers who proceeded him, also served in the Civil War. At the time of his death, Mr. Droke was chaplain of the local post of the G.A.R. and a member of the local lodge of Masons.
The funeral was held Thursday morning at 9 o'clock at the Methodist church in Hettick, in charge of Rev. L. G. Adams of this city, assisted by Rev. Mr. Wassle, pastor of the Hettick M. E. church. The body was brought to Modesto at 11 o'clock and interment was made in Pulliam cemetery near that city. A number of the Masons from waverly went to the funeral, the pall bearers being chosen from this lodge and the Masonic ceremony being used.


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Squirrels: Reds vs Greys
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September 20, 2012, 09:40 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: December 13, 2009
Location: central Wisconsin
Posts: 2,324
Hunter, red squirrels are different from fox squirrels. Reds are about the size of large chipmunks, and MEAN. They chase everything away, and can cause a lot of damage to houses and other structures.
I was going to say this also but you beat me to it. Fox squirrels are the biggest (tastiest) squirrels around. Red squirrels can ruin a cabin in the woods. They gnaw their way into the roof and just cause damage.
Years ago my in-laws had red squirrels all around their home in the boonies. They got in their camper and destroyed it. So I was given the (fun) task of ridding them of the little devils. All they had was an old single shot 12 ga. Stevens (or something) and I brought my trap loads when we visited. I shot 3 a day every day I was there for three summers and finally got rid of them. They are wily little buggers and you have to have a good hiding place but it was fun. Also got rid of their golphers and chipmunks for them.
And we have squirrels playing all around us during deer hunting (oak woods). There is a bunch of black ones now. Basically gray squirrels only all black. Those genes must be dominant over gray because we see more and more of the black ones each year.
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Seek Production Expertise During Li-ion Cells Selection
From a modest start in 1990, lithium-ion cell production has mushroomed into a multibillion-units-per-year industry with manufacturing facilities spread all over the world. Because of the potential for dangerous thermal-related incidents during the manufacture and use of Li-ion cells, extreme care must be taken during the manufacturing processes to produce high-quality cells that are as safe as possible.
All Li-ion cells are not the same. They vary widely depending on technology, form factors, cell manufacturer and, most important, how they are manufactured. (To illustrate the differences between Li-ion batteries and other chemistries, Nexergy has created the accompanying chart to help customers visualize how different battery chemistries apply. Refer to the accompanying chart.) The process controls that are implemented in a factory have a profound effect on the quality, safety and reliability of Li-ion cells. The cell qualification process must include an audit of the cell-manufacturing lines as well as electrical and mechanical testing of multiple production lots.
Production Processes
Li-ion production processes were first developed in Japan. The Japanese process typically used heavy machinery and automated equipment to perform certain steps while using robots to transfer partially assembled materials from one step to another. About 10 years later, Chinese companies developed more manual production processes for Li-ion cells, taking advantage of the availability of abundant, inexpensive labor in China. These production processes are markedly different from those that were employed in Japan or by some of the South Korean companies.
Japanese and South Korean manufacturers had considerable experience with the highly technical, high-volume production of semiconductors, magnetic tapes and compact disks, as well as expertise in quality control and production processes. That experience and knowledge helped them to adopt a highly automated production processes for Li-ion cells with high yields and six-sigma quality.
Less expensive, simplified machinery is used by second-tier manufacturers in the semiautomatic production process of Li-ion cells. To manufacture safe and reliable cells, automated equipment should be used in the most critical areas such as mixing of powder, coating and winding. In any operation, the use of large number of operators in the production increases the variability both between production lots and within production lots.
Some companies have even simplified the production process further by using simple in-house equipment for the coating and mixing processes. Part of this process includes the significant involvement of operators.
Critical Production Steps
There are many critical processes involved in the manufacture of lithium-ion cells. These include:
* Powder mixing
* Slurry preparation
* Electrode coating
* Slitting of electrodes
* Winding
* Jelly roll Insertion
* Laser welding or sealing (polymer cells)
* Electrolyte injection
* Formation and aging
* Labeling and traceability
The greater the amount of manual labor or human intervention in any one of these processes, the greater variability in the finished product or cell. This variability translates into performance and or safety anomalies.
Cell Evaluation
Cells should be evaluated electrically and mechanically, not only against common industry standards but also ideally per specific application requirements whenever possible.
Many of these industry tests such as UL 1642 or UN transportation testing should be considered minimum basic requirements — but should not be taken as evidence alone that the cell manufacturer is capable of producing consistently high-quality battery cells. It should be stressed that these certifications, while important, show only that a certain set of samples passed a particular set of tests at a particular point in time. Nexergy also works closely with customers to evaluate and qualify cell manufacturers for use in their specific application.
1) Mechanical evaluation: This category of tests includes shock, vibration and impact to determine the robustness of the cells. These tests will give valuable data on the robustness of cells and can be used to determine weak design or manufacturing processes.
2) Electrical Tests: In this category a number of tests can be used to evaluate the cell performance. Tests included here are cycle life, charging and discharging at a range of temperatures, measuring impedance changes, etc. The focus of the tests are not only to quantify the performance in terms of capacity delivered but, perhaps more important, to determine the consistency of a cell manufacturer over multiple samples and multiple production lots.
3) Safety Tests: Typical safety tests are described in documents published by UL and other agencies. At a minimum all cells should be UL1642 and UN Transportation tested and approved. Some of the tests are overcharge, overdischarge, crush test, short circuit, etc.
4) Forced Internal Short Circuit Test: It has been recognized that internal shorts in Li-ion cells cause field failures and that no production processes can completely eliminate the possibility of internal shorts. Therefore, the emphasis is on the design and manufacture of cells that are tolerant to internal shorts. Various types of Forced Internal Short Circuit tests have been developed.
Quality Maintenance
It is possible that the controls established in a Li-ion factory for a particular cell model can deteriorate over time. This requires customers to evaluate the cells and factory production processes periodically. This can be done on an incoming inspection basis as well as evaluating the cells and factory processes periodically.
Partner with Experts
A device OEM may be expert in the various disciplines needed to design their specific product. However, a detailed knowledge of lithium-ion batteries and cells is often one of the disciplines found lacking at even the largest device OEMs. This lack of detailed knowledge is typically accompanied by a lack of appreciation for the complexity of lithium-ion batteries.
As the engineers in the new Nexergy design center can attest, Li-ion cells in particular are a very complex system of chemicals and components. When the cells are not properly designed and manufactured, significant quality and safety problems can result. Unfortunately, these defects are often not found until the product is in use in the field and has been cycled many times, resulting in costly recalls for the device OEM.
Device OEMs are strongly encouraged to work with reputable battery pack manufacturing partners such as Nexergy. They have experience in evaluating Li-ion cell manufacturers and that can independently qualify cell manufacturers to ensure a safe and reliable battery for the OEM.
Chris Turner is director of batter technology at Nexergy, Inc., a leading designer, integrator and manufacturer of battery packs and chargers for electronic products. Turner, who has written extensively on battery pack design, addressed lithium ion cell evaluation and performance at Battery Power 2008, an international conference highlighting the latest developments and technologies in the battery industry. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Nexergy operates additional design and assembly centers in Centennial, Colo., Canon City, Colo., and Escondido, Calif. Dr. George Thomas is vice president of Shiningstar Technology Corp., a Lawrenceville, Ga., consulting firm with expertise in Li-ion technology and production processes. The holder of more than a dozen U.S. patents, Dr. Thomas has worked at Motorola Corp. and, most recently, was senior vice president of Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint-Stock Co. in Tianjin, China.


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|Auctiva Education
Premier Poster
You can read "Prompt Shipping Gets 5-Star Treatment" here. Reply to this message to discuss it.
|Premier Poster
IF and again I say IF I am interpreting this correctly the item has to be received 4 days after you ship in order to get this automatic 5 star. Or at least that is my interpretation from ebay forums.
More crap (can we say crap on here??). .looks like we get a break until you read the fine print. If anyone is interpreting this differently pls. straighten me out so my blood pressure can level off (thankfully I do not have BP problem but if I did it would be up)
I am interpreting it the same way you are. As always, it all boils down to how long the POST OFFICE takes to deliver the item. On the upside, the packages that DO arrive in 4 days will be an automatic 5 star rating (as long as the buyer bothers to give FB). Actually it's about time they did something like this..
Earn money while you shop! It's FREE!
|Premier Poster
We also have to change or time on listings to 1 day, so lets all spend time before holidays changing listings for how many times this year?
Forum person with ebay says if you do not think your package will get there to change shipping carrier/method.
I am sure someone buying a bag of screws, lipstick, lightweight top, shorts, kid dress, etc., and 100,000 thousands of other items weighing 13 ounces and under are going to want to pay an extra $2.00 - $3.00 shipping to get item in 4 days, then they can get you on ship costs? (unless you ship free which is what ebay wants because it puts more $$$$$$ in their pockets.
Actually post office on most places from NC shows ESTIMATED 3 days for Priority Mail,
ESTIMATED being key word. (first class and parcel longer) Hope we do not have a Christmas Holiday slow down, post office strike, or in our facility they have cut back on workers and I hear people constantly complain about mail running slower. They just say, yeah, we have had to cut back. Hurricanes, wildfires, etc., that may slow this down.
I agree they needed something and I LOVE the concept but do not feel 4 days will is the solution if they 'really' want a solution. Looks like another throw the dogs a bone, they will be thrilled (until they read the fine print).
Next thing you know we will be required to Hand deliver each package.
Another little glitch here.. you get yellow notice to pick up package at post office, person does not do it for say 5 - 10 - 15 days. So would not show receipt until person picks up, again not your fault. You just have to hope that buyer puts in 5 stars.. some will. .some won't.
They sure are pushing people to open ecommerce stores. And honestly if I had more computer skills I would be on that wagon. I am just not sure I have time, patience, etc. to do it, as the forums and my earlier attempt scared me off somewhat.
Sorry for venting. . but do feel it is good news bad news. Great if you sell lots in your city, bad if you don't.
This is an absolute joke!! I sell aircraft manuals on CD from Australia, and 95% of my buyers are from Europe or North America. Even if I offered the fastest shipping method (which would cost more than the value of the item sold) it can still take upwards of 2 or even 3 weeks for items to arrive!!
As always, the seller is being held at gunpoint by an organisation that cares about nobody's back pocket apart from their own!
Mach One Manuals - Ebay Auctiva Store
As so often, eBay once again makes a half-hearted attempt to fix a problem that is entirely of their own creation.
Yes, it is wonderful that finally buyers can no longer give negative star ratings for issues that have nothing to do with seller performance (e.g. having bid too much, feeling remorse, getting in trouble with spouse, and so on - solution? Make the seller the "guilty party" by downgrading his/her score).
Now, having made this positive change, they stuff it up by making unrealistic side-conditions. If the seller ships within a day, then the rest is up to the post office (i.e. outside the control of the seller). The seller is therefore made responsible for the performance of an organisation (the post office) that has a questionable reputation in many cases, and the performance of which can get very poor at critical times (e.g. Christmas holiday season, and similar).
Use a faster shipping service? Well, yes, if there is one - but here in Australia, we have one shipping speed, and that's it. It is usually very fast, but if something goes wrong and a package takes longer than usual to arrive, it isn't anything I could have prevented - if the post office is slow, there is nothing I can do about it. So, why am I held responsible for it?
For once, eBay, show some positive leadership and make a change to policy properly, not 2 steps forward and 1 step back (or is it the other way around?)
|Premier Poster
In US fastest is express/overnight and it is NOT even GUARANTEED and is VERY EXPENSIVE. I have specifically been asked 2 times to use it for men who "forgot" it was Christmas until the day or two before Christmas. 99.9% of people would NOT buy if they had to pay that.
UPS is slower that priority mail normally. Post office website says " "ESTIMATED 3 DAYS". My post office Expresses the words "ESTIMATED 3 DAYS" When I questioned them they said all postal facilities are cutting back on staff and things will be getting slower as more cuts are done.
Again, no control over the Post Office. Maybe next year they will ask us to hand deliver our items?
Clueless people they are and obviously have NEVER sold or shipped using their own creation.
One thing I do have to say about auctiva, is some of their people actually have used their system so they are not clueless.
Please if this is a problem, write on ebay forums. . may not do any good...but they do need to see that people are a little excited about this I am sure they do not read these forums.
Not real sure they read their own . . but we will hope they do.
We just got a negative feedback! Why? Here is the story:
1) Payment received at 06:22
2) Article shipped at 09:00 same day (i.e. 2 hours and 38 minutes after PayPal payment, and it only took that long because the post office wasn't open before that). Basically, instant shipping - it just couldn't have been done any faster.
3) The article arrives in Canada less than 3 days later - an excellent delivery time, considering it travelled all the way from Australia.
So, we deserve a 5-star rating and positive feedback for extra good performance, right?
We get negative feedback instead. Why?
Because the Canadian Customs Department decides to have a look at the package (fair enough), but has been sitting on it for 24 days so far. Tracking information clearly shows where the package is - in Vancouver, waiting to be processed by Customs.
The buyer blames us. She claims that we didn't ship it in a safe way (how is it unsafe if it arrives in less than 3 days and gets held by customs)? She claims that we should have shipped it in a way that wouldn't be delayed in Customs (impossible), and so on.
So, as usual in these cases, the eBay feedback system protects the buyer who can spread implied lies about our inefficiency. Our reputation is tarnished (even though there is no way we could have been any more efficient), and eBay hides behind their usual excuse that they don't get involved in the feedback process...
eBay logic is grand, isn't it?
|Premier Poster
Mashb99. . I feel your pain. You never grow totally numb to it, but the first few are killers because they are usually so unfair.
Ebay has it set up so sellers are failures!! No matter what we do more is expected.
I would LOVE to grade them on some of their brainstorms. I would love to grade their outsourced phone calls who inform you of changes 3 times by phone in one week but can't answer anything.. poor!! Guess they bombard with calls when they make changes so it looks like they are wonderful, customer oriented.
I am truly sorry this happened to you over something you have NO control over.
http://stores.ebay.com/VICKIES-VARIETYThis message has been edited. Last edited by: lookandbuyme,
This is just another magical idea conjured up by some pen-pushers in an office who are obviously paid to 'get buyers to bid higher so we make more on fees'.
As others have said, it only works if the buyer lets ebay know that the item has arrived and some/many, won't! It doesn't matter to either the buyer or ebay how sellers are perceived and more and more buyers are twigging on to the fact that they can push for discounts, part/full refunds etc just by threatening their seller if the seller doesn't come up with the goods!
It's like the other gem they recently introduced whereby any case opened against a seller, or any neg f/b, now count against them in many ways.....EVEN if the seller resolves the case amicably with the buyer! How wrong is that?!!
2 recent examples for me, both within 2 days of each other - like buses, nowt for months and then they all come at once!
Case 1: Buyer unhappy with condition of 'used' shirt. No contact made for me to resolve/refund, just a negative feedback left. So, I am penalised because buyer couldn't be arsed to let me know...
Case 2: Belgian woman opens INR dispute after 5 days - 2 of those on a weekend! WHY? Because I opened one against her for non-payment! Upon asking why she had retaliated in this way the response I got was:
" You were too hasty in opening a dispute against me and did not give me time to pay. I was also bidding on another item and wanted discount"
I replied:
"After 11 days, 3 invoices and 2 emails, with NO CONTACT whatsoever, I feel I was entirely justified in opening a dispute against you. You also, did NOT inform me of your intentions to bid on multiple items hence the slow payment, so as a seller, I have to use the only protection I have. Had you informed me of your intentions, all this could have been avoided".
She came back with a bizarre reply, which made no sense but as it was only for £4, I refunded and sent a final email saying that I had refunded and that no doubt, the shirt would arrive in good time and she would then have both her shirt and my money!
The first case apologised citing he did not know the process - 349 f/b!! – and removed and revised his negative f/b. It's absolutely crazy that this is allowed when I am a Top Rated and Power seller and can have my reputation tarnished by folk unwilling to communicate.
I have 2 ideas that I think would work better for both parties but doubt very much if Ebay would take notice of them!
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Quick -- what's the terror alert color for funny Muslims coming to town? Perhaps red, considering that will be the color you turn when busting a gut, which is precisely the goal of the Allah Made Me Funny comedy tour. Just as Chris Rock jokes about the "Black Mall" ("It ain't got nothin' but sneakers and baby clothes") and Margaret Cho impersonates her Korean mother ("Mommy didn't have prom in Korea, only war"), the three comedians who make up AMMF -- Preacher Moss, Azhar Usman, and Azeem -- joke about their culture's idiosyncrasies and stereotypes. Everything from post-9/11 airports ("If I really wanted to hijack a plane," the tall and thick-bearded Usman asks, "do you really think I would choose this disguise?") to "prayer wedgies" is tackled. The goal, says AMMF co-founder Moss, whose comedic influences include Richard Pryor and Dick Gregory, is to bridge the social gap between Muslims and non-Muslims, and to show that most Muslims are peaceful people. "I mean," Azeem assures his audiences, "Mike Tyson hasn't won a fight since he converted!"
It was this social message-disguised-as-humor approach to comedy that Moss, who is a converted Muslim as well as a former writer for such comedians as George Lopez, Damon Wayans, and Saturday Night Live's Darrell Hammond, envisioned taking to the stage even before 9/11 occurred. The tragedy was simply the catalyst that brought his idea to fruition. Being devout members of a religion with strict values and ideals, AMMF doesn't offer your average night of comedy club debauchery. No alcohol is served, the show is free from cursing and foul jokes, appearances are scheduled around the comedians' religious obligations (they took a month off to fast for Ramadan) and, at one point, the permission of the grand ayatollah himself was needed when Usman wanted to perform for a group of Shiite Muslims. The verdict: Laughing is permitted. Praise Allah.


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Stripe hosts artists on Friday
Stripe MEN, at 117 Walnut Ave., will host art by Santa Cruz tattoo artist Nick Vargas and visual arts Scott Laumann 5-9 p.m. Friday for First Friday Santa Cruz.
Vargas was born and raised in Santa Cruz and started tattooing 15 years ago. He works at F U Tattoo.
Laumann, selected by Print Magazine as one of the top 30 New Visual Artists in 2002, has lived and worked in Spain, Philadelphia, Orange County, Minnesota, San Diego, Germany and San Francisco. He works on a project by project basis, letting the concept or idea determine the medium.
Video marketing talk Tuesday
The Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce plans a networking lunch at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Shadowbrook Restaurant, 1750 Wharf Road, with Roby Behrens and Justin Kelsey of Lucid Sound and Picture talking about video marketing to boost business.
They will offer examples of effective online videos pitching information instead of products.
Cost is $25 for Capitola-Soquel Chamber members; $30 for nonmembers. Seating is limited. Reservations and advance payment are required. For reservations, call 831-475-6522.


text:
Coopers Brewery Sparkling Ale Australia
£1.99 (£5.31 per litre)
Product Summary
Thomas Cooper discovered his brewing talent by accident in 1862 when he created a batch of beer as a tonic for his ailing wife, Ann. Today, this Australian brewery is still family-owned. With cloudy sediment, distinctive hops and fruity characters, it's brewed using the century-old top-fermentation method.
Water, Barley, Hops, Yeast
Please note that while we take every care to make sure the product information displayed on our website is correct, product recipes are regularly changed. This may affect nutrition and allergen information therefore you should always check product labels and not rely solely on the information presented here.If you require specific advice on any Waitrose branded product, please contact our Customer Care Team. For all other products, please contact the manufacturer.This information is supplied for personal use only. It may not be reproduced in any way whatsoever without the prior consent of Waitrose Limited nor without due acknowledgement.
You must be 18 or over to purchase this product.
You will be asked on delivery to verify your age.


text:
One of the original members of the Air Force 99th Fighter Squadron, better known as the Tuskegee Airmen, died Thursdays at the East Alabama Medical Center.
Tuskegee Mayor Johnny Ford confirms the passing of Col. Herbert E. Carter. Mayor Ford says flags in Tuskegee will be lowered to half-staff starting Friday in Col. Carter's honor. Flags will remain lowered until Carter's burial.
According to the Air Force Institute of Technology, after his Air Force retirement, Col. Carter served at Tuskegee University as Assistant Dean for Student Services and Associate Dean for Admissions and Recruiting. Some of his professional affiliations include member of the Presidential Scholars Review Committee, American Association/Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, and a former member of the Board of Trustees, St. Andrews School, St. Andrews, Tennessee.
"On behalf of the city government, and all of the people of Tuskegee I want to express our sympathy to the family of our local hero," Mayor Ford said. "His sister Joyce Carter, was at his side."
"We call upon the citizens of the community, and of the nation, to honor her request to be with them in prayer during this period of bereavement," the mayor added.
Ford wants the nation to pay tribute to "this national hero, who so valiantly fought fascism abroad, and racism at home, and of whom all in Tuskegee are so justly proud."
Col. Carter, who as late as February was still meeting with students including these at Tallassee High School, passed away at the age of 93.
Copyright 2012 WSFA 12 News. All rights reserved.
Anderson High, Deer Park schools dismissing early due to heat