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Chrono Cross
Review by Deschain80
"An unbiased review"
Introduction: I felt the need to review this game from an unbiased standpoint, as with the release of any Square RPG, people are quick to throw praise, without taking a serious look at what aspects players may not find enjoyable. I do not think the people of Square are the ''Almighty Beings of Videogaming''. They are a company who specialize in RPG's. They are generally good at what they do. However, I do not think their games (or any company's) are absolutely perfect. Not every one person will enjoy the same things. Therefore I will not review Chrono Cross from the perspective of a zealot or fanboy, but rather as a gamer. Now on with the review.
Chrono Cross is the sequel to the highly acclaimed Chrono Trigger, which was released in the heyday of the SNES. Many RPG enthusiasts consider this period to be the golden age of RPG's, with FF6 and CT usually named as the best of the best. It goes without saying then, that CC had lot of expectations to live up to. Unfortunately though,
I feel it falls a bit short of its predecessor.
From the opening sequence, one can easily see that no expense was spared in the production value of this game. Chrono Cross is visually stunning, with an intriguing graphical and conceptual style. The folks at Square always bring out the big guns when it comes to their latest
games, and CC is no exception. From the introductory scenes to the final battle, CC pushes the aging PSX hardware to its very limits. If there is any fault to be found in the graphics, it would probably be that many sets and locales appear to be recycled from FF8. The town of Termina for instance, should give many a gamer FF8 flashbacks. Aside
from that, the graphics are nearly flawless. Sound too is superb, with a few remixes from CT even sneaking in.
Storywise, CC never quite achieves the grandeur of CT. Serge, the main character, stumbles across a portal to another world which seems the same as his own world except that he doesn't exist in this one. He gets mixed up with a mysterious girl named Kid, and crosses paths with Lynx, a
dark and brooding half-cat demi-human. It's interesting, but just not as fun as the time travel concept of CT.
It is when one gets down to meat of the game, that the real flaws start to show. CC introduces unique battle, advancement, and magic systems. The battle system is the best of the three. Each character (up to three in your party at one time) is given a stamina meter, and the option to attack or use Elements, which serve as magic. Attacks can be dealt in three levels of power - weak, medium, and strong. To prevent abuse of strong attacks, each one has different percentage chance of connecting. Weak attacks are easy to pull off, while strong ones are harder. However for each successful hit, the percentage rates of all the other levels increase. For each attack you make (successful or not) points are taken off your stamina meter. Strong attacks take off a large portion and weak vice versa. This is a very well done system and a nice innovation to the standard formula. The other systems however, are more hit and miss. Magic is handled similarly to FF7 and 8, where
any character can cast any spell, barring techs (special individual moves - think limit breaks. Magic spells are contained in Elements which can be mixed and matched for each character. This I feel, causes the characters to
lose a little individuality. Some may not mind this though. If you liked this method in FF7 and 8, chances are you won't mind it here. I point it out however, because this is not a Final Fantasy game, so it feels a little derivative.
Then there's the advancement system. By far one of the worst aspects of this game. Instead of using the traditional experience points, your stats and HP
are gained in increments after each battle. Eventually you stop gaining anything from normal monsters, which makes these battles a chore. To advance farther, you must defeat bosses. After the defeat of a boss you get a marginal
increase in stats and HP. Afterwards you can gain more stuff from normal enemies until you peak again, then you must defeat another boss. To keep you from languishing at low levels, the game throws boss after boss after boss at you. Needless to say, unless you enjoy long, drawn-out boss battles every 30 minutes or so, this gets a little tedious. I think this game would have been much better off with the traditional EP system.
There are I believe over 40 characters to acquire throughout the game. Most ofthem though, have all the endearments of a cardboard cut-out. I really could not
sympathize with or understand most of the supporting cast. And Serge has all the personality of a doorknob. As mentioned before, any character can equip any Element.
Characters are also given an innate element color. There are six colors: Yellow, blue, red, green, black, and white. So your characters are inherently weak against opposing colors, and strong against the same. Each element cast causes the ''field'' (displayed in the upper left corner) to change accordingly. If all three spaces are filled with same color, any character with the matching innate color becomes more powerful and later in the game, they can cast summons. Opposing colors are also made weaker. This unfortunately leads to much frustration when an enemy disrupts the field you just took three turns to build, and is unnecessarily complicated. The final flaw I feel worth mentioning is the weapons. Again borrowing from FF8,
new weapons are made from a combination of materials found scattered about the world. Again I felt this was a pointless complication, as if the designers were just making it complicated for the hell of it.
Overall Chrono Cross is a very good game. It has memorable moments, an engaging story, and an innovative battle system. I did enjoy it quite a bit. There's even
replay value to be had with multiple endings and such. I just felt that there were a few issues which needed to be addressed which so far haven't been. RPG fans should
enjoy CC, and Square nuts will look right past the flaws, but I just can't imagine anyone looking fondly back on this game the same way as Chrono Trigger.
Reviewer's Rating: 3.5 - Good
Originally Posted: 08/23/00, Updated 08/23/00
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November 1, 2010
MarCal digital waterproof calipers include a reference system for zero position, as well as thumb support, large display, data output function and longer battery life than previous models. The calipers have lapped guideways and are protected against dust and immersion to class IP67.
Mahr Federal
(401) 784-3100
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subset: commoncrawl


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Kansas Company Recalls 50,000 Pounds of Ground Beef
The National Beef Packing Company has issued a voluntary nationwide recall for over 50,000 pounds of beef due to concerns that it may have been contaminated with E. coli.
This follows a previous recall of over 22,000 pound of ground beef for E. coli concerns made by the same company last month.
About the Ground Beef Recall
- The recalled ground beef was produced on July 18 and has a use by/freeze by date of August 7.
- The meat was shipped in 40-60 pound cases to retailers.
- The product carries a USDA mark of inspection bearing the establishment number "Est. 208A."
- For the complete list of recalled product click here.
E. coli can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and kidney failure which may result in death.
Contact an Experienced Product Liability Attorney
Thomas J. Henry are leaders in the area of product liability litigation. Our Defective Drug and Products Division has extensive knowledge and resources in order to represent our clients efficiently and aggressively. We represent a multitude of people who are battling against manufacturers of defective drugs and/or products.
Your choice does matter. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries because of recalled foods or supplements, call Thomas J. Henry immediately. We represent clients/victims all over the country. We are available 24/7, nights and weekends.


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Phenomenal! - Orange County, CA
Making a decision to alter your appearance is a difficult one, even when it is something you have wanted to do for a long time. Finding the right surgeon, and environment makes it that much easier. The very first time you walk into the office there is an immediate feeling of ease that comes over you. Toni, her easygoing, yet informative nature, the fact that there is never a wait, or really anyone else in the office to make you feel uncomfortable is wonderful. There is no "factory" feeling in Dr. Sundine's office, and I am sure that many of you in Orange County understand that description. Dr. Sundine is wonderful, an ethical, brilliant doctor who takes the time to understand his patients needs and wants and ease their fears. The phone calls I made in my effort to come to a decision about implant size, the emails, the visits and questions were only addressed with the utmost of patience, care and attention. The end result is a beautiful, natural looking breast augmentation and a longstanding relationship with a phenomenal surgeon. Thank you Dr. Sundine and staff for offering your personal best every time.


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If both what is before and what is after are in this same "now," things which happened ten thousand years ago would be simultaneous with what has happened today, and nothing would be before or after anything else.- Aristotle, c. 330 BC
Thou art not to learn the humors and tricks of that old bald cheater, time.- Ben Jonson, 1601
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.- Book of Ecclesiastes, c. 250 BC
Our allotted time is the passing of a shadow.- Book of Wisdom, c. 100 BC
Nothing puzzles me more than time and space, and yet nothing puzzles me less, for I never think about them.- Charles Lamb, 1810
Scars have the strange power to remind us that our past is real.- Cormac McCarthy, 1992
Time, when it is left to itself and no definite demands are made on it, cannot be trusted to move at any recognized pace. Usually it loiters, but just when one has come to count upon its slowness, it may suddenly break into a wild irrational gallop.- Edith Wharton, 1905
Time is a veil interposed between God and ourselves, as our eyelid is between our eye and the light.- François-René de Chateaubriand, c. 1820
Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid.- Frank Zappa, 1989
Time's ruins build eternity's mansions.- James Joyce, 1922
Do not lessen the time of following desire, for the wasting of time is an abomination to the spirit.- Ptahhotep, c. 2350 BC
They say, "We only have the life of this world. We die and we live, and nothing destroys us but time." Yet, not true knowledge have they of this—only belief.- The Qur'an, c. 620
A watch is always too fast or too slow. I cannot be dictated to by a watch.- Jane Austen, 1814


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Judge turns to cord blood stem cells to help in cancer fight
Posted October 14, 2015
Chapel Hill, N.C. — A North Carolina Superior Court judge fighting blood cancer says he is still hopeful that he will find a bone marrow donor but says his strategy has changed.
Carl Fox, 61, was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome last April. Doctors found that he was losing weight and energy because his bone marrow had stopped producing healthy blood cells.
This past summer, Fox made a big push for people – especially black people – to get on the blood marrow donor registry. An inmate even offered to help the judge.
Due to low participation among black people, there is only a 60 to 65 percent chance that black patients can find a matching donor, compared with an 80 to 85 percent chance for white people.
Fox says his hopes now rest with the stem cells found in umbilical cord blood. He began a planned, month-long stay in North Carolina Cancer Hospital on Sept. 25. He has endured intense chemotherapy to kill what was left of his immune system, followed by stem cell transfusions.
The stem cells were not from a perfect bone marrow donor match, as with a sibling. Nor were they from an imperfect match with an unrelated donor; none were found. However, a cord blood stem cell match was found. It's the blood retrieved from the placenta and umbilical cord of newborn babies.
Dr. Tom Shea, director of UNC's Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant program, says a cord blood match is the third best option.
"(It) still can cure a number of patients but are often associated with a little bit more toxicity," Shea said.
The cord blood stem cell infusions began Oct. 1. Fox said he was excited about taking the big step forward in his fight.
"In my mind, I think, in most people's minds, if you're not doing something, it's not even like you're just standing still and keep the status quo. Cancer doesn't stop," Fox said. "I'm hoping that through this, I can be cancer free and go on with my life."
If you are interested in being a bone marrow donor, you can register online at DeleteBloodCancer.org. You can also participate in a bone marrow drive this Saturday at UNC-Chapel Hill's Kenan Memorial Stadium from 4 to 7 p.m. outside the stadium and inside the stadium until 9 p.m.


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Site-wide links
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Twitter: @RITNEWS
Telephone: 585-475-5064 or 585-475-5097 (Fax)
Internal Mail: Brown Hall
U.S. Mail: University News Services, 132 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, N.Y. 14623-5608
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Annick Anctil, a fourth-year doctoral student in sustainability, conducts experiments on different varieties of solar cells in RIT's NanoPower Research Labs. Through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, Anctil conducted one of the first life-cycle assessments of organic solar cells.
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Questions or comments? Send us feedback. Telephone: 585-475-2411


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The Dallas Children's Advocacy Center is hosting a community event featuring Aaron Fisher, who was known for more than a year simply as Victim 1 of Jerry Sandusky.
Fisher will speak at the Hour to Empower event at 2 p.m. Aug. 11 at 5351 Samuell Blvd. His mother, Dawn Daniels Hennessy, and psychologist Michael Gillum will also speak.
Gillum co-wrote a best-seller, Silent No More, Victim 1's Fight for Justice Against Jerry Sandusky, with Fisher and Hennessy.
The event is open to the public and is designed for parents and children 9 and older. Admission is $50 each for adults and children, and tickets are available at dcac.org.
Sandusky is a former assistant football coach at Penn State University who was convicted of 45 counts of child sexual abuse and is serving 30 to 60 years in prison. Fisher stayed anonymous until October 2012, when he did an interview on ABC's 20/20 before his book came out.
Lynn M. Davis, president and CEO of the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center, will also speak at the session.
"One in six boys will be abused before their 18th birthday; Aaron Fisher was one of those boys," Davis said. "Fisher was the first of Sandusky's victims to come forward, paving the way for other victims to tell their stories."
"More than 90 percent of the time, our children are abused by people they know, people they love, people they trust," he said.
During the Sandusky trial, one of the victims said: "He made me feel like I was part of something, like a family. He gave me things that I had never had before. I loved him."
Davis said: "Complex feelings such as these are often difficult for parents to understand. Emotions such as embarrassment, fear and shame are common for children who have endured abuse.
"We want to empower children to understand how to respond if they are approached for potential grooming by a sexual predator," he said.
"Join us Aug. 11 for an opportunity to empower your family and your children, hearing first-hand from one who empowered himself and others. Fisher is no longer known as Victim 1 but as a hero."
Fisher will be in Dallas to speak at the 25th annual Crimes Against Children Conference, which begins Aug. 12. The conference at the Sheraton Hotel downtown is for professionals in law enforcement, prosecution, child protective services, social work, children's advocacy, therapy and medicine who work directly with child victims of crime.
The Dallas Children's Advocacy Center works to improve the lives of abused children in Dallas County and provide national leadership on child abuse issues. The center coordinates the investigation and prosecution of the most severe cases of child abuse in our community. To learn more, visit dcac.org.
My Safe Page, Greenz and Leal's are the sponsors of the Aug. 11 event.


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Fri Dec 21, 2012, 06:38 PM
Liberal_in_LA (44,397 posts)
UPS guy takes package left by FedEx guy.
UPS Guy Caught Taking iPad From Doorstep
It had been delivered earlier, by FedEx
A UPS deliveryman is out of a job and charged with theft after a homeowner's video showed him taking a previously delivered iPad, reports KHOU-TV of Houston. FedEx dropped off the package in the morning and notified the family of delivery. When it was nowhere to be found, dad checked video from a camera on the porch and caught the UPS worker, who delivered a package in the afternoon, red-handed. UPS has coughed up a replacement iPad.
11 replies, 2378 views
|11 replies
UPS guy takes package left by FedEx guy. (Original post)
|Dec 2012
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|high density
|Dec 2012
|Dec 2012
|high density
|Dec 2012
|Sen. Walter Sobchak
|Dec 2012
|Dec 2012
|Dec 2012
Response to Liberal_in_LA (Original post)
Fri Dec 21, 2012, 06:41 PM
Scootaloo (25,699 posts)
1. But by all means, let's get rid of a public mail service!
Competition over essential services makes them better! Just look at the fire companies of 19th century cities! VERY efficient!
Response to Liberal_in_LA (Original post)
Fri Dec 21, 2012, 06:43 PM
Cha (199,813 posts)
2. Wow.. gotta say.. the vid camera came in handy.
Response to Cha (Reply #2)
Fri Dec 21, 2012, 06:52 PM
Liberal_in_LA (44,397 posts)
4. yes, UPS wouldn't accept the claim until they say the video
Response to Liberal_in_LA (Original post)
Fri Dec 21, 2012, 06:50 PM
richmwill (1,326 posts)
3. Unbelievable. What an awful person...
Usually I feel bad when people are fired right before the holiday season, but not for this guy. "Happy Holidays", thief.
Response to richmwill (Reply #3)
Fri Dec 21, 2012, 06:52 PM
Liberal_in_LA (44,397 posts)
5. I think he's a holiday/ seasonal hire
Response to Liberal_in_LA (Original post)
Fri Dec 21, 2012, 06:59 PM
high density (13,397 posts)
6. Apple shouldn't put packing slips on the outside of the box
or the packing slip envelopes they use should obscure the packing list completely.
I bought an iPad for my parents and it came in a nondescript box. The return address is "AI" in Jonestown, PA, with "AI" apparently standing for "Apple, Inc." Unfortunately there was also a packing list on the outside of the box with a very clear Apple logo which gave the package away as being rather valuable. I suppose anybody who has ordered from Apple knows what "AI" is, but you really have to examine the label closely to see that. (Which this UPS driver clearly did after he witnessed no response to the doorbell.)
I think if I did it again I'd have it delivered to my local Apple store. FedEx Ground didn't let me hold it for delivery so I had no option other than giving a signature release.
Response to high density (Reply #6)
Fri Dec 21, 2012, 07:23 PM
Liberal_in_LA (44,397 posts)
7. Amazon has delivery lockers in 7/11s in Los Angeles. when packaged delivered, code is emailed
type in code at locker, locker door pops open, take your package.
I love it. Used it recently.
Response to Liberal_in_LA (Reply #7)
Fri Dec 21, 2012, 07:27 PM
high density (13,397 posts)
8. That's really cool!
And even more important since Amazon plasters their logo all over the box.
Response to high density (Reply #6)
Fri Dec 21, 2012, 07:35 PM
Sen. Walter Sobchak (8,393 posts)
9. I get everything delivered to my office
After FedEx left a 27" Samsung monitor just sitting on my door step, I consider the fact it was still there nothing short of a miracle given the number OCTA riding assholes who piss in my yard who had to have seen it.
Response to Liberal_in_LA (Original post)
Fri Dec 21, 2012, 07:39 PM
Earth_First (14,910 posts)
10. UPS recently delivered a $1000 Bose surround system to the front steps of our home...
Intended for the neighbors address.
When I took it to the neighbors, she had invited me in for a cup of coffee. She had been expecting the delivery that day based on the tracking number; apparently the package had sat on our doorstep for nearly 5 hours before I had come home...
Response to Earth_First (Reply #10)
Fri Dec 21, 2012, 10:48 PM
Liberal_in_LA (44,397 posts)
11. The postal service has left my packages on random door steps
One package disappeared.


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Social Security - The First Payments Of Social Security
benefits monthly program lump
After the enactment of the Social Security Act of 1935 (42 U.S.C.A. § 301 et seq.) and the creation of the Social Security Administration (SSA), the federal government had a short time to establish the program before beginning to pay benefits. Monthly benefits were to begin in 1940. The period from 1937 to 1940 was to be used both to build up the trust funds and to provide a minimum period for participation for persons to qualify for monthly benefits.
From 1937 until 1940, however, Social Security paid benefits in the form of a single, lump-sum payment. The purpose of these one-time payments was to provide some compensation to people who contributed to the program but would not participate long enough to be vested for monthly benefits.
The first applicant for a lump-sum benefit was Ernest Ackerman, a Cleveland motorman who retired one day after the Social Security Program began. During his one day of participation in the program, five cents was withheld from Ackerman's pay for Social Security, and upon retiring, he received a lump-sum payment of seventeen cents.
Payments of monthly benefits began in January 1940. On January 31, 1940, the first monthly retirement check was issued to Ida May Fuller of Ludlow, Vermont, in the amount of $22.54. Fuller died in January 1975 at the age of one hundred. During her thirty-five years as a beneficiary, she received more than $20,000 in benefits.


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Best Way to Sleep Post Op?
- breastfriends93
- Last updated: 4 years ago
I am getting my breasts done in August and I'm starting to think about these things. I love sleeping on my stomach. People say sleeping flat on your back hurts too much. Is it going to feel like an elephant standing on me? I am a little nervous! I like my sleep haha.


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Courtney Greve: 312.603.0931 email@example.com
As you know, we have a very hotly contested race in Cicero for next Tuesday's primary election. Three candidates are running for town president and have been running very aggressive campaigns.
Partly because of Cicero's history, and party due to the nature of charges back and forth from the competing parties, I am here to assure all registered voters that they will be allowed to vote and any efforts at voter suppression will be strongly opposed.
Over the last month, there have been allegations of impropriety from all sides, and our office has taken the necessary steps to follow up where appropriate for us. We have worked with the State's Attorney on issues beyond our purview to make sure that the rights of voters and the integrity of the election are protected. I have also been in regular contact with the U.S. Attorney's office and the Department of Justice.
We have had reports of improper activities. So, before I go into specifics, here are the basic rules:
Now, for specifics. I am going to talk about phone calls, mail ballots, Early Voting and Election Day.
If you get a phone call about your ballot, please verify that it is from our office.
Some voters have reported that precinct captains, campaign workers or local elected officials have asked to take their voted mail ballot. This is absolutely illegal.
This information has been sent to all candidates and committeemen throughout the County.
We have had complaints from Cicero residents concerning the atmosphere at Cicero's two Early Voting sites.
As for Election Day—because emotions are running high we have been working with the US Attorney, the Department of Justice, the State's Attorney and the Cook County Sheriff's office to make sure that no voter suppression or intimidation occurs on Election Day.
I want to assure voters that we are doing everything we can to make sure Election Day goes well. We will have attorneys, monitors and sheriff's deputies on hand to prevent voter intimidation. I want to encourage everyone who is registered, to go out and vote.
Nobody should worry about anything except casting a ballot for the candidate of their choice.
And finally, I want every voter to know that their ballot is private. Whether you vote early, through the mail or on Election Day, your vote is secret. Nobody can know how you voted.
© Copyright 2009 Cook County Clerk's Office. All Rights Reserved.
For information call: (312) 603-5656


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Ultimate Fighter Live coach Urijah Faber blogs about his upcoming coaching gig which starts filming this week.
The Ultimate Fighter Live debut is set to air this Friday.
Read More: The Ultimate Fighter, Urijah Faber (News), Dominick Cruz (News)Tags: featured, MMA NEWS, Strikeforce, strikeforce news, ufc news, UFC on FOX, UFC on Fuel, UFC on FX


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What's happening with mortgage rates? We asked Jeff Lazerson, of Mortgage Grader in Laguna Niguel, to give us his weekly take.
From Freddie Mac's weekly survey the 30-year fixed rate improved to 4.42 percent and .7 point from last week's harrowing increase that landed at 4.46 percent. The 15-year fixed dropped as well to 3.43 percent and .4 point from last week's 3.47 percent.
BOTTOM LINE: In the past year — assuming a well-qualified borrower received the average 30-year conforming fixed rate on $417,000 — you would have saved $263 had you funded your loan a year ago on the previous rate of 3.32 percent and payment of $1,830 compared to today's 4.42 rate and payment of $2,093. Today's 15-year fixed rate of 3.43 percent and monthly payment of $2,966 is $154 higher than last year's payment of $2,812 on the previous rate of 2.66 percent.
The Mortgage Bankers Association weekly survey reports an earth shattering loan application increase of 43 percent compared to last week. Purchase loans now represent 35 percent of all applications. Maximum FHA loan limits drop down to $625,500 for Orange and Los Angeles County starting January 1st.
WHAT I SEE: From rate sheets hitting my desk that are not part of Freddie Mac's survey: Locally, well qualified borrowers can get a 30-year fixed rate at 4.25 percent and 1 point or 4.625 percent and no-cost. Jumbo 5/1 ARMS with credit scores as low as 660 and loan amounts as high as 1 million dollars can be had for a 3 percent rate and 1 point. Who says no-qualifier loans are gone? The latest HARP loans allow for a borrower to state property value, allow a maximum 60 percent debt-to-income ratio, loan modifications allowed, 620 credit score and mortgage lates are allowed as long as you had none in the past 6 months.
WHAT I THINK: Looking at holiday shopping ideas; did you know you can buy real estate with your retirement funds? ERISA-qualified plans like 401(k) and non-qualified plans like IRAs can invest in any type of real estate, single family homes, vacation or rentals, commercial and even raw land. You must pay cash for the property as you can have no debt/loans against the property. For example, you take $500,000 from your retirement account and pay cash for a single family that rents for $2,200 per month and has $650 per month of overhead (taxes, insurance and upkeep). Annualized, you are earning $18,600 that you must put back into your retirement account or get hit with the taxes and any potential penalties.
If you divide the annual rental income of $18,600 by the $500,000 investment, you are making 3.7 percent. Plus, you will be earning something on the funds you put back into your retirement plan. And, you get to enjoy the property appreciation realized if and when you sell. CPA Jeff Hipshman of Tustin based www.hmwccpa.com points to diversification of retirement plan assets (most people have their retirement funds concentrated in stocks and bonds) and lack of enough cash-on-hand outside of retirement funds to complete a property purchase as the primary motivating factors to consider this course of action. And I might add that you don't need to qualify for a loan when you are paying cash.
On the other side of this, Hipshman points out three disadvantages to using retirement plan funds; 1) lack of liquidity, 2) Any losses are not deductible at tax time, and 3) inability to convert capital gains to ordinary income.
Ho, Ho, Ho, if you think stocks are too high, now may be the time to diversify.
Jeff Lazerson can be reached at email@example.com


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Sports Team Defeated In Manner Befitting Its Name
CLEVELAND—A sports team's name proved eerily fitting Tuesday when, according to USA Today, the Cleveland Indians were "scalped" 11-3 by the Detroit Tigers. "We had high hopes of 'taming' the Tigers," Indians manager Mike Hargrove said following the loss. "But instead, they wound up killing us and removing our hair as a grim trophy." In other major-league contests Tuesday, the Mets hooked the Marlins, the Yankees "tore holes in" the Red Sox, and the Padres felled the Giants with nothing but courage and a tiny leather sling.


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OSAKA – Police raided the headquarters of Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., its subsidiary and two other relevant businesses for alleged fraudulent labeling in connection with a data falsification scandal, investigative sources said Thursday.
A string of incidents involving 154 facilities that installed substandard earthquake shock absorbers nationwide has developed into a criminal case.
A spokesman from Toyo Tire said, "It is a fact that the company was investigated on March 23, and we solemnly cooperated."
The Osaka Prefectural Police confiscated several hundred items during the raid in what is understood to precede a full-fledged joint probe with the Osaka District Public Prosecutor's Office.
Police are set to interrogate workers at the Osaka-based company, its Tokyo-based subsidiary Toyo Chemical Industrial Products Co. and other companies to which the two firms have shipped products. They suspect the group purposely used false labels and shipped substandard earthquake shock absorbers in violation of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, the sources said.
According to a criminal complaint accepted by Osaka police and prosecutors and other information, the subsidiary allegedly delivered 19 shock absorber units in September 2014 to the Hirakata Neyagawa Fire Department in the city of Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture. Accompanying documents included false results of performance assessment tests that the firm claimed had cleared national standards.
According to a report by Toyo Tire's independent investigative team, four workers at the subsidiary directly manipulated data, while other workers, including those at the parent firm, are also suspected of being indirectly involved with the falsification.
Police and the Osaka prosecutor's special investigative squad aim to single out the individuals involved and establish whether they can pursue criminal charges against management, the sources said.
The criminal complaint was submitted by a member of the Hirakata city assembly between February and March, seeking corporate criminal liability and specifically naming Toyo Chemical Industrial Products. The complaint did not specify any individual.
The Unfair Competition Prevention Act prohibits labeling and selling products that may lead to false recognition of quality, content, amount and other elements.
Offences can be punished by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to ¥5 million, or both. Businesses found breaking the law can be punished by a fine of up to ¥300 million.


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Wonderful spiced nibbles and drinks for Christmas with Arun Kapil
- Arun Capil makes Sugar Spiced Almonds, Creamed Aubergine Dip and Spiced Mulled Wine on The Afternoon Show
- Arun Capil makes Spiced Lamb Lettuce Cups and a Santa Shake on The Afternoon Show
Friday, 18 December 2009
Arun Kapil- Spice Specialist & Founder of Green Saffron Spices
Arun Kapil worked in London before coming to Ireland in September 2004 for the Ballymaloe Cookery Course. He went on to work at the House, as a chef. It was whilst working there that he came up with the idea of importing spices, making Indian blends and giving away simple-to-follow, delicious tasting recipes with each authentic blend. He really began to miss the old cooking smells and tastes of home
life...and so Green Saffron Spices started up.
Now at the age of 39 and taking a quick look back over the years, Arun has lead a very exciting and interesting life. He began by acting on stage and TV at the age of 11 with the UK National Youth Children's Theatre, singing in a school rock band and progressed to forming his first limited company at the age of nineteen - a record label launching the first ever DJ compilation album working with some of the bigger names in the music industry.
At present Arun's family are heavily involved in his business. Green Saffron is an environmentally friendly Indian family business. They bring small, frequent shipments of the freshest, highest quality spices direct from India to their base in East Cork. Ireland.
Each week they then expertly grind them into authentic family spice blends with really simple, easy-to-follow accompanying recipes for delicious tasting, intensely honest Indian meals of immense flavour, free from anything artificial
(Please include actual spelling of name + phonetic pronunciation (where required), where they are from, age, family details + any other information relevant to the guest/item)
Drinks and nibbles
Traditional Christmas Mulled Wine
Single Sachet - 1 packet for 1 bottle of wine
. 1 bottle of red wine (a big, full-on red, full of berry fruits. Something like an Australian, Californian or New Zealand Shiraz - either way it doesn't need to cost too much)
. 120g caster sugar
. 1 tsp ginger powder
. ½ tsp each of nutmeg, mace, cloves and allspice berries, all ground and mixed together
. 1 dash of Crème de Cassis (optional)
. Paired orange and lemon zest, cut into thin strips (optional)
1. Pour your chosen bottle of wine, sugar and spices into a thick bottomed saucepan
2. Place the pan onto a gentle heat, stir and heat for a few minutes until the aromas send tingles down your spine and the wine is warm to the touch.
3. Add the Crème de Cassis, orange and lemon zest-strips (if using) and stir again.
4. Take off the heat, strain through a sieve into a suitable serving jug.
5. Serve, drink, enjoy...Sláinte!!
To Serve
. For pure, warming indulgence you can also add a dash or two of brandy and port..just to help you through these cold nights.
Friends and family highly recommended!!!
Sugar Spiced Almonds
A brilliant little nibble to serve with drinks for a Winter evenings party...Christmas Eve drinks at home in front of the fire with friends, before popping out for the evening! This recipe makes the most beautifully crunchy, spiced almonds and if you have an air-tight container in which to store them, they'll keep for a good couple of weeks.
. A little sunflower oil
. 2 eggs, large
. 60ml Cava or your favourite ginger beer
. 1 level tsp salt
. 1tsp ground cassia or cinnamon
. ½ tsp ginger powder
. 250g caster sugar
. 1 kg almonds, de-shelled
1. Firstly, turn your oven on to high; 230°C or gas mark 7 is great.
2. Lightly coat a large, sturdy baking tray with the oil.
3. Crack the eggs open and carefully separate the whites.
NB You can store the yolks in your fridge to use for ice-cream or simply whip with a couple of teaspoons of sugar, pour strong coffee or espresso over and stir vigorously to make an excellent North Italian style coffee!!
4. Meanwhile..whisk the whites so they're 'frothy', not into 'peaks', then add the Cava or ginger beer and gently combine with the whipped whites, using a folding motion.
5. Then add the cinnamon, ginger, sugar and nuts.
6. Gently stir to combine.
7. Spread the almonds in an even layer over your oiled baking tray and pop into the oven.
8. It could take up to an hour, to get them right and you'll have to stir then every so often with a fork to prevent them from sticking to each other too much.
NB They're ready when the nuts appear dry and all the mixture has been 'absorbed'.
9. Take them out of the oven and immediately separate them out with your (trusty) fork and allow them to thoroughly cool on the tray below serving to your wonderful guests.enjoy!!
This recipe has been tried and tested by the Green Saffron Masaalchi and is pretty much guaranteed, but if you want to change the quantities of a couple of ingredients go for it..experiment and enjoy your cooking. With Green Saffron spices you can't go
Creamed Aubergine Dip
Based on the Egyptian dish, Baba Ganoush, this version of the North African classic is enriched with cream cheese, lemon juice and gentle cumin spices. It's great served with bread sticks, flat breads, or raw vegetables.
Serves many.
. 3 medium aubergines
. 150g cream cheese or soft goats cheese
. 1tsp cumin seeds, roasted and crushed
. ½ tsp chilli flakes (optional)
. 1 lemon, juice and zest
. 1 tsp black pepper
. Dash of olive oil
. Salt to taste
1. Take an aubergine, lightly coat with a little oil and stick a fork into it.
2. Turn on a ring of your gas hob to high and carefully hold the aubergine over it, turning as the skin starts to bubble and scorch - just think, toasting marshmallows
3. When all the skin has been 'bubbled' all over and the aubergine flesh feels a little softer, set it aside on a plate to cool and repeat for the other aubergines.
4. NB You could also pop the aubergines onto a roasting tray, into a hot oven (about 230C or gas mark 7). Turn them occasionally to ensure the skin is evenly scorched.
5. The next part is a little messy; using your fingers, strip the scorched skin from each aubergine.
6. Throw the skin aside (for it is no more required) and roughly chop the aubergines.
7. Grab your blender and pop the aubergines into it with a quick splash of the olive oil
8. Blitz.
9. Add the cheese, cumin, chilli flakes (if using), lemon juice, black pepper and blitz again until you get a smooth 'paste'
10. Then, add more olive oil until it has a "whipped cream" consistency.
11. Have a quick taste of the mix and add a little salt if you feel it needs it.
12. Pour the dip into a colourful bowl and serve...enjoy!!
Nibbles and drinks
Santa Shake
This is a wonderfully aromatic, non-alcoholic cocktail based on an Indian Lassi. It's a 'whipped yoghurt' milkshake type drink; winter berries with Christmas spices, thick, yummy yoghurt presented in two layers..perfect for Santa as he takes quick break before getting back into the driver's seat and sets-off on his rounds. He won't be steering Rudolf in the wrong direction..!
Serves 4 people
. 100g mixed (winter) berries, frozen (defrosted) are perfect
. 1tblsp caster sugar
. ½ lime, juice
. ½ tsp Green Saffron's Mixed Spice
. 60g sugar syrup (syrup de gomme)
. 1 level tsp cinnamon or cassia, ground
. 2 x 500ml yoghurt, greek
. 3 tblsp runny honey
. 3 green cardamom pods, seeds only, crushed
. Handful ice-cubes
. 4 star anise and orange peel for garnish
. 4 high-ball glasses
1. In a blender jug, pop the (defrosted) berries, sugar, Mixed Spice and lime juice. Blitz to a purée.
2. Pour a little of the purée into the bottom of each of the four glasses
3. Wash out your blender jug
4. Pour the yoghurt, runny honey, crushed cardamom pods, ground cassia and sugar syrup into the (clean) blender jug and throw a handful of ice cubes in on top.
5. Blitz to a smooth, luscious mix.
6. Gently pour the spiced yoghurt mix into each glass to for the second layer.
7. Garnish each drink with a star anise and curled orange peel..serve immediately and enjoy!
Spiced Lamb Lettuce Cups
Another really simple nibble suggestion based on a North Indian minced lamb dish. It's really quick to make and looks great, particularly if you manage to get hold of a pomegranate to garnish each 'cup' with.
Serves 4 people
. 2 tblsp sunflower oil
. 2tsp ginger powder
. 2 tsp coriander seed, crushed
. 1 tsp cumin, crushed
. 1 tsp turmeric powder
. 1 tsp black pepper
. 1 tsp black mustard seeds (optional)
. ½ tsp salt
. 250g onions, diced
. 3 cloves garlic
. 500g minced lamb or turkey (leftovers if cooking for your News Years' party)
. 100ml natural yoghurt
. Baby gem lettuce and chicory leaves (for variety, but just the one type is fine. Cos or ice-berg lettuce also work fine)
. 1 pomegranate, seeds
1. In a thick bottomed pan, heat the oil over a medium flame
2. Add all the spices and stir for half a moment, until the mustard seeds start to pop
3. Add the onions, garlic and sweat them down until they're good and soft
4. Add the mince, turn up the heat and stir until the meat is lightly brown all over
5. Then, turn down the heat, pour in the yoghurt, stir and continue to cook on a medium heat until the nearly all the liquid has been absorbed (or evaporated).
6. Turn the heat off, move the pan and set aside
7. Meanwhile, separate the leaves, to form individual 'cups'
Now to get the seeds from the pomegranate
1. Halve the pomegranate with a sharp knife, then take a half in one hand and a wooden spoon in your other hand.
2. Gently tap the rounded, outer edge of the fruit with your spoon and catch the seeds in a strategically placed bowl.! You're trying to avoid getting the white pithy parts into your (collection) bowl.
And so, to serve..
. Take a leaf, and spoon a good dessert spoon of the spiced mince into the thick part of the leaf.
. Sprinkle with a few seeds and place on your favourite serving dish
. Repeat until you have enough...serve and enjoy!!


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Despite facing double and triple teams for most of the night, going against a rotating cast of defenders that included Nelson, senior Ebba Gebisa and junior Jordan Wilson, Davenport was spectacular. Her 12-21 shooting performance set several Kohl Center records, including points by an opponent, field goals made by an opponent and field goals attempted by an opponent.
"I give our team a lot of credit. We got great energy out of Ebba Gebisa tonight, and Steph (Rich) and Jolene (Anderson) gave us some points, but the name of the game was rebounds," Wisconsin head coach Lisa Stone said.
Rebounds were indeed the name of the game, with Ohio dominating on the glass from the outset. The Badgers jumped out to an early 5-2 lead, but just over 12 minutes into the contest they found themselves in a 30-12 hole after a Tamarah Riley lay-up. The shot capped a 26-7 Buckeye run fueled by eight offensive boards. The Badgers had amassed only seven total rebounds at the same juncture.
After the media timeout, the Badgers came out firing, with Anderson hitting a pair of 3's and a lay-up to help Wisconsin cut the lead to 14. But the Buckeyes refused to give, trading buckets with the Badgers for the remainder of the half and eventually entering the intermission with a 16-point advantage at 45-29.
Ohio State ended the half still holding a 22-14 advantage on the boards, which contributed to the Buckeyes' 32-8 advantage in points in the paint. Wisconsin also hurt their own cause by committing 12 first-half turnovers, which led to 20 Ohio State points.
"I thought (in) the first half we were very good defensively, and quick and aggressive," Ohio State head coach Jim Foster said. "I thought in the second half, we got into sort of exchange-the-basket mentality, which is not a good thing to get into."
Ohio State wasn't the only team to have a mentality change coming out of halftime. After a Rich turnover to start the period, Wisconsin went on a 7-0 run, getting five points from Anderson, to cut the Ohio State lead to 36-45, their smallest lead since the 9:34 mark of the first half.
"For the first time all year, I think we came out in the second half and jumped on them right away," Rich said.
However, Ohio State countered with a 20-6 run of their own, going ahead 65-42 with 11:49 remaining in the game. The Buckeyes fed the ball to Davenport continually throughout the stretch, daring the Badger defense to stop her. When it was all said and done, Davenport posted 12 of her 18 second-half points and three rebounds during the stretch. Buckeye guard Caity Matter also chipped in three of her five steals during the stretch.
"We feel we're an inside-outside team, and we're going to have that mentality," Foster said. "Our team is patient on offense, and I think the patience created a lot of good opportunities for Jess (Davenport)."
Ohio State's 23-point lead would prove insurmountable for the Badgers, as Wisconsin would never get any closer than 18 points for the rest of the game.
Anderson led the way for the Badgers with 24 points and five assists, but committed six turnovers as well. Rich chipped in 12 points, and Gebisa and freshman guard Janese Banks each added eight points.
The Badgers did manage to out-shoot the Buckeyes from behind the arc, hitting 8-18 from 3-point range. The Buckeyes, who have shot 43 percent from behind the arc this season, managed to hit only 22 percent from the 3-point line, shooting 2-9. Wisconsin also shot a season-high 90 percent from the free throw line in the loss.
Matter posted 14 points and five steals for the Buckeyes, while guard Kim Wilburn added five points and a game-high seven steals to go along with Davenport's 36 points and nine rebounds.
Ohio State finished the game with a 56-24 edge in points in the paint and an 18-2 lead in fast break points. The Buckeyes also out-rebounded the Badgers 42-27 on the night, and forced 21 Wisconsin turnovers while committing just 14 of their own.
Despite his team's impressive performance, Foster recognized the improvement of the Badgers and left some words of caution for upcoming opponents.
"Wisconsin's a very good basketball team," he said. "They're going to improve as the year goes along. They're going to get somebody here."


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BAGHDAD , Omar al-Jaffal Posted June 18, 2015
Women took to the streets of al-Mutanabbi Street in central Baghdad June 2, holding large banners denouncing fasliya marriage — the Arabic word for marriages arranged as compensation, through which tribal conflicts are resolved — which has surfaced in Iraq anew. The return of this type of marriage comes as a result of a frail state and the predominance of tribal values over social life, as well as the exacerbation of conflicts between Iraqi tribes in central and southern areas.
The Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Rashida Manjoo, discusses the existing legal standards and practices regarding violence against women in three regional human rights systems: the African, European and Inter-American systems. The Addendum to the Report also shade lights on the normative gap in international law as regards violence against women.
Please download the pdf to read the full paper.
JUNE 9, 2015, Dhaka
Sanjita had very little to say on the subject of how she felt about getting married. Maybe that's because she's 10 years old. She had married 18 days earlier, to a boy who is 14 or 15 years old—he works in a garment factory in Dhaka and as a rickshaw driver.
Arwa Ibrahim, Tuesday 19 May 2015
Egypt's women and opposition face unprecendented levels of state-sanctioned sexualised violence, despite President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi's promises to uphold Egyptian revolutionaries' calls for 'freedom', 'justice' and 'dignity' when he took over nearly two years ago.
June 02 2015
AMED – With a recent increase in threats against reporters for JINHA, Turkey and Kurdistan's only all-women and women-oriented news agency, JINHA reporters say those threatening them are doing so because they fear the threat that women-oriented reporting poses to male power.
By Charmaine Pereira
Dans la campagne anti-Nkurunziza lancée au Burundi fin d'avril, des femmes aussi se mobilisent contre le troisième mandat du président sortant. Elles sont journalistes, poètes, juristes... Portraits.
By Lara Moftah May 26 2015 5:54 PM EDT
GENEVA / KHARTOUM (27 May 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Rashida Manjoo, called for more open and constructive dialogues among all parties to address the causes and consequences of violence against women in the Sudan.
Herat, Monday 11 May 2015
Afghanistan's weak legal system has led to a routine reliance on informal justice mechanisms that commodify young women and leave them vulnerable to abuse.


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Home :: Science & Technology
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- 71 month(s) ago
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A common framework for developing research infrastructure will boost scientific advances and economic competitiveness in Europe, said EU officials at a high-level conference here Wednesday.
The International Conference on Research Infrastructures (ICRI 2012), currently underway in Copenhagen, is discussing ways to strengthen public and private sector investments into large-scale research projects, so as to secure future growth and science innovation in the 27-member EU.
"In a scenario where finance ministers might decide their overall budget should be cut, I do not want to see the money for research and innovation squeezed or reduced, because that is the policy area that will help us exit from the current economic crisis," European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Maire Geoghegan-Quinn told journalists at the conference.
Research infrastructure is a collective term for instruments such as large-scale telescopes, microscopes, libraries, and biological banks, which benefit researchers across scientific disciplines.
As such infrastructure is often complex and too expensive for individual EU members to build, a common European platform is more cost effective, the European Commission says.
Such infrastructure enables high-quality research which aids economic growth through establishment of spin-off companies and commercial products, it adds.
"We need to transfer the research we do so well in Europe, all the way to the marketplace. And we need the support systems in between that allow that to happen," Geoghegan-Quinn said.
However, EU countries would need to identify their research strengths and prioritize what investments they need to make, so as to benefit from EU cooperation on research infrastructures, she added.
ICRI 2012 will also provide concrete input to Horizon 2020, an 80-billion-euro (around 105 billion U.S. dollars) program that runs from 2014 to 2020, and aims to strengthen top-level European research.
Earlier Wednesday, Geoghegan-Quinn and Danish Minister for Research and Innovation Morten Ostergaard officially opened the Danish National Biobank at the National Serum Institute, praising it as the kind of collaborative research infrastructure the EU needs.
The biobank, which is a public-private initiative, will link information from some 15 million bio-samples with person data from Danish national registries, and provide anonymous data to researchers worldwide, in fields such as genetics and epidemiology.
As not all EU countries are able to invest equally in research, the European Commission has proposed member states can use common EU structural funds to help develop research infrastructure. This could especially benefit those EU countries currently struggling with deep budget deficits and sovereign debt problems.
"If they can use some of the EU funds to better their research infrastructure, it will encourage these governments to invest more in research and universities by themselves," said Ostergaard.
ICRI 2012, which will end Friday, has attracted some 600 expert delegates, making it one of the biggest events during Denmark's ongoing EU Presidency, which runs from January to June 2012.
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Intel Broadwell to Reach 3.5W and Other Details!
Subject: General Tech, Processors, Mobile | December 14, 2013 - 04:07 AM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: Intel, Broadwell
This leak is from China DIY and, thus, machine-translated into English from Chinese. They claim that Broadwell is coming in the second half of 2014 and will be introduced in three four series:
- H will be the high performance offerings
- U and Y have very low power consumption
- M will fit mainstream performance
The high performance offerings will have up to four CPU cores, 6MB of L3 cache, support for up to 32GB of memory, and thermal rating of 47W. The leak claims that some will be configurable down to 37W which is pretty clearly its "SDP" rating. The problem, of course, is whether 47W is its actual TDP or, rather, another SDP rating. Who knows.
The H series is said to be available in either one or two chips. Both a separate PCH and CPU version will exist as well as a single-chip solution that integrates the PCH on-die.
There is basically nothing said about the M series beyond acknowledging its existence.
The U and Y series will be up to dual-core with 4MB L3 cache. The U series will have a thermal rating of 15W to 28W. The Y series will be substantially lower at 4.5W configurable down to 3.5W. No clue about which of these numbers are TDPs and which are SDPs. You can compare this earlier reports that Haswell will reach as low as 4.5W SDP.
Hopefully we will learn more about these soon and, perhaps, get a functional timeline of Intel releases. Seriously, I think I need to sit down and draw a flowchart some day.
Xeon Phi style chip?
Dual chip meaning CPU and PCH not dual CPU
no k and no care
No doubt...
And Always with Intel, that price, compared to AMD and ARM mobile solutions. Intel $$$$$$, AMD $$, and ARM $ to as low as ¢.
Well, amount of $ also denotes amount of performance...
But look at the Apple A7, an ARM 64 bit ISA based processor, with some totally designed by Apple pimping, does compared to the Intel mobile competition! I am sure the A7 does not cost Apple as much as what Intel would charge for bay Trail, and is charging other OEMs for bay trail based CPUs! Other divice OEMs will probably be doing what Apple has done, and make custom designed CPUs , that can run the ARM 64 bit ISA, and unlike Apple, these OEM will pass the cost savings, with no Intel inside, on to the consumer! It is just a matter of time before custom ARM ISA designs, and maybe Nivida graphics, or AMD ARM 64 ISA based APUs, begin to nip at the low end haswell i3 metrics.
Bay Trail is currently being sold at competitive prices compared to ARM CPU's, which is why Intel expects a lot of Android Bay Trail tablets. I'm sure that Intel will continue to promote its Atom chips with competitive prices until it has good market penetrations.
The more costly chips are for the Windows market, and ARM can't provide any competition there. This will only change if Microsoft decides to provide a real ARM desktop OS, or if another OS overtakes Windows.
I am sure Intel can not offer any Atom SKUs at lower prices than could be had by having a custom ARM CPU/GPU, or even the less expensive refrence ARM CPUs/GPUs, taped out for an OEM at below even Intel's OEM quantity pricing! Intel has a histoty of dumping its product at below cost in order to control a market, and then using its monopoly position to lock in OEMs to the Intel ecosystem! In mobile, windows and M$ are a non factor, OEM's having been burnt in the past by the WINTEL alliance, are using the more open Linux/Arm based industry standard solutions for their device needs, and the OEMs' complete control over their CPU/GPU supply chain! Intel may be left, as a boutique supplier of High End gaming friendly CPUs, and those CPU will always need a Nivida or AMD descrete GPU to be of any use to high end gamers. The x86 ISA may be fine for highend gameing, but it is too overpriced and over power using for the mobile market, and everybody Knows not to trust Intel's benchmarks beacuse of Intel's AnTuTu flimflaming! Apple, Google, and FaceBook will save billions over the short and long run going to an Industry standard ISA, and the licensed IP market built around the ARM, and others, ecosystems is the future in the mobile, and now server market!
Watch out for the Rise Of the Google Robot mules, and the Google robot chitas, on the beaches, in the parks, on the sidewalks, chasing us down, and flashing ads is our eyes, all the while recording video, and phone geo-locations! Imagine an annoying Google ad bot following you around, and blasting personalized ads for hemorrhoid cream, and adult diapers for all to see!
you're always so photogenic scott
4.5 watts... Does anyone ever catch on that this bullshit is always bullshit? Like how many times over the course of your life do you have to experience this bait and switch before you start catching on that to the fact that it's going to turn out to be a bullshit claim just like all the other times before it?
It blows my mind that in this day and age anyone believes anything until they've seen proof. How many times do you have to be lied to before you wake up?
Oh and one more thing. When you spell watermelon out loud, it sounds exactly like the word 'gullible'. Go ahead and give it a try.
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can i get a passport if i have a felony?
At a quick glance, I don't see anything saying you can't apply.
A criminal record generally means no out of country travel for a period of x years or if you have received a pardon.
I just skimmed the passport state website and they don't mention much about a criminal record - I would recommend calling them, or going in person. They will tell you before you have to pay if your application will be automatically rejected. http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html


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It was a decade that began at midnight with Los Angeles city officials hunkered down four floors below Main Street – preparing for the cataclysm of Y2K.
With workers watching, the clocks on their computers routinely flipped from 12:00 to 12:01 without incident – beyond then-Mayor Richard Riordan cracking open bottles of sparkling cider for the city workers brought in on overtime.
It was a benign beginning for a decade of vast change on how Los Angeles would be perceived and how it perceives itself.
Two driving forces shaped much of the city's politics in the past 10 years: anger and frustration from the San Fernando Valley and other outlying areas that created a political civil war; and the Los Angeles Police Department.
The Valley secession drive grew out of long-simmering resentment – some say dating back to the anti-busing drives of the 1970s – and a sense the Valley was not getting its fair share.
"Clearly, secession was a situation in which we lost the battle and won the war," said David Fleming, the high-powered attorney who backed secession and was a driving force in the City Charter reform movement along with Riordan.
"I don't think the Valley would be getting all the attention it now has without secession."
Since 2000, the Valley has seen the addition of a fifth City Council district, two new police stations, the police communications facilities and new fire stations. Also, the City Council began meeting once a month in the Valley and has created a teleconferencing system to allow residents to testify at its other meetings.
The cost of secession
Secession did extract a price.
Former Mayor James Hahn, now a Superior Court judge, lost his bid for a second term partly because of his opposition to secession. In his first election, in 2001, it was Valley voters who supported him over Antonio Villaraigosa.
Four years later, Villaraigosa carried the Valley against Hahn.
Joe Vitti, current president of Valley VOTE, the group that organized the secession effort and whose monthly meetings have become a required gathering for politicians, said he also was encouraged by the growth of neighborhood councils and their potential for influencing policy.
The neighborhood councils were a product of charter reform and they began to flourish under Hahn, who gave each of the 80 councils a budget of $50,000 a year.
Most of the public activity of the neighborhood councils has focused on issues involving the Department of Water and Power, which created an oversight committee of neighborhood council leaders.
Over the past 10 years, the groups were responsible for lowering one rate increase and defeating Measure B, the solar initiative last year.
Transformation of the LAPD
The other main force affecting the city in the past decade – and throughout much of Los Angeles' history – was the Los Angeles Police Department.
Hahn again played a major role – again, it was to his political detriment.
Bernard Parks, hired by Mayor Richard Riordan in 1997, was the second African-American chief in LAPD history. Hahn created a firestorm of controversy within the black community when he announced in 2002 – at the beginning of African-American history month – that he would not support Parks for a second term as chief. Hahn lost a majority of the black vote in his 2005 rematch with Villaraigosa.
Still, Hahn was credited for his choice of a replacement for Parks – William Bratton.
Bratton, a brash Bostonian with his own checkered political past in dealings with New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, came to Los Angeles with a vision that policing could serve as a force of community goodwill.
The LAPD was weighed down by a federal consent decree that emerged from the Rampart Division scandal in which anti-gang officers planted evidence, beat gang members and lied in court to win convictions.
During his first year on the job, Bratton worked the city hard – particularly in minority communities to persuade black and Latino residents that the LAPD could change.
It was a slow process, even with crime rates dropping as Bratton and Villaraigosa pushed a growth plan that would bring the LAPD to its highest levels ever.
Villaraigosa had managed to convince residents to support an increase in trash fees to pay for the officers and he has continued to push to keep the department near the 10,000-officer level.
May Day rally ends in melee
Perhaps the decisive moment for Villaraigosa, Bratton and the LAPD came with the May Day melee in MacArthur Park in 2007, in which officers were filmed beating protesters and journalists at the end of a day of peaceful rallies in support of immigration reform.
At a City Hall news conference with Bratton, the two did something rarely seen in Los Angeles: They apologized for the department's behavior.
Bratton demoted one commander and disciplined several other top brass. Officers were subject to Internal Affairs investigations and the entire department underwent training for crowd control.
Lawsuits ended up costing the city more than $12.8 million, but the response signaled that the LAPD had undergone a sea change in showing it was willing to accept responsibility.
Villaraigosa's election in 2005 was supposed to represent a new era at City Hall, as he asked voters to "come dream with me," but economic and political realities dragged down many of those dreams.
A political "Energizer Bunny" during his first year, Villaraigosa drew plaudits from a variety of groups around the city. But he soon became embroiled in a dispute with the teachers unions over his attempt to take over the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Instead of a direct appeal to voters, he sought state legislation. The proposal ended up in the courts and forced Villaraigosa to back away from his plan and instead work to get a new majority elected to the school board.
In a compromise measure, Villaraigosa now has 10 schools under his authority and was able to get the board to appoint his former deputy Ramon Cortines as superintendent. More recently, he was able to get the board to approve his plan to allow parents to decide how 200 underperfoming schools will operate.


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Are Web-based Courses For Me?
Although web-based courses can offer great opportunities for learning at a distance, they are not for everyone.
If you can answer "yes" to each of the following questions, you are probably ready for online learning.
If you answer "no" to any of the questions, it would be wise to put in some additional time using a computer, surfing the web, or acquiring new skills before you try an online course. If any of the question areas present major obstacles for you, you should consider other forms of course delivery.
- Do you enjoy working and learning on the computer or television?
- Are you comfortable resolving common technology glitches (i.e., locked computer screen, loose cables), or do you have ready access to someone who is willing to help you?
- Are you willing to learn new procedures that may be part of an online course?
- Do you work well alone?
- Are you self-disciplined enough to follow through with a course on your own without pressure from peers or an instructor?
- Are you comfortable with the fact that you will not see a course instructor or fellow students?
- Are you comfortable communicating via e-mail and telephone?
- Can you easily use your e-mail program, including e-mails with attachments?
- Can you download and install free software plug-ins, or do you have ready access to someone who will help you?
- Are you comfortable using your Internet browser?
- Do you have convenient access to a multimedia capable computer, a printer, and a reliable Internet connection?
- Are you well organized?
- Can you set aside time on a regular basis to work on your course?
- Are you willing to ask for help when you need it?


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Q:What are the prices of Asking Alexandria Altar Bar tickets on your website?
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As summer break winds down, Halle Cultural Arts Center will offer free family movies on weekday mornings this month and next month.
The free movies start at 10 a.m. and run July 28 to Aug. 1 and Aug. 18 to Aug. 22. The center will feature G- or PG-rated movies. Call the center at 919-249-1120 for the exact line-up.
At a similar movie week in June, the center offered movies such as "Wall-E," "How to Train Your Dragon," and "Shrek." Halle is at 237 N. Salem St. in downtown Apex.
Check our free and cheap movie database for more inexpensive ways to go to the movies.


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More Bad News for Atlantic City Casinos
Atlantic City's newest casino has been making gains, but despite an improved July there was not nearly enough to keep the city's gambling industry as a whole from taking another hit.
New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement announced Friday that the city's casinos won $308 million in July.
That's down 9.5 percent from July 2011 — a month that had an extra Friday and Saturday.
Some of the city's hopes for a turnaround have been pinned on the new Revel casino, which opened in April more slowly than many expected.
The new casino's gambling revenue grew to $17.5 million in July, an increase from $14.9 million from June. But the casino's revenue still ranks 8th in the city.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


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Tapas is reflection on the nature of the universe.
There are halting, imperfect descriptions of that One Supreme. If we are able to recognize the reality of the Supreme, we will not fall into controversial paths; because mystery is mystery and our attitude is one of silent adoration. Our words and minds are unable to comprehend the immense mystery of this universe. That is the attitude the human mind must adopt: the human mind is incapable of comprehending adequately the nature of that Supreme.
If we get back to this religion of truth, truth of universal love, then it will be possible for us to forget our petty difference, our trivialities on which we waste our lives; our bigotries and disputations will all lose their force and significance.
A truly religious man, if he is authentically religious, will feel that every human being has the dignity, has the spark of Divine. Everyone is a fragment of that impersonal Brahmand, the Universe.
Dr S Radhakrishnan


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Apple spotted Jason Bateman toiling in line for an iPhone 4 with 2,000 others Thursday, so it picked him out of the crowd and shuttled him into an invisible express lane that exists only for people who have been in such awesome things as Arrested Development and Up in the Air.
TMZ reports the crowd booed when Bateman got the special treatment. Perhaps the jeers were led by lesser celebrities who weren't cool enough to cut in line.


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Popular Inc., a bank based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, said Monday that it raised a net $1.1 billion through the sale of 46 million depositary shares that closed Monday.
The bank said it will use the funds for general corporate purposes, including investments in, or extensions of credit to, its subsidiaries to increase their capital and positioning Popular to participate in Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.-assisted acquisitions.
Popular said each depositary share represents an interest in a share of contingent convertible perpetual non-cumulative preferred stock, Series D.
The preferred stock will automatically convert into shares of Popular common stock if Popular's common shareholders approve an amendment to increase the number of authorized shares.
The conversion rate would be 8.3333 shares of common stock for each depositary share. The company didn't list a date for a vote on its website.
The conversion of the preferred stock would result in the issuance of approximately 383 million additional shares of common stock.
Popular common shares closed Monday trading down 2 cents at $3.78.


text: Linebackers suddenly a plus for Mountaineers By Dave Hickman October 20, 2011 Story Share AP Photo Najee Goode was West Virginia's only experience linebacker when the season began, but now he has lots of company. SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Jeff Casteel has spent the first half of West Virginia's football season trying to piece together West Virginia's defense and seems well on his way to succeeding.That's the good news. After a sometimes uneven start, WVU is now ranked No. 16 in the country in total defense and hasn't given up a touchdown in seven quarters.The even better news is that Casteel is now beginning to get all of the parts back at his disposal, too.Heading into tonight's game with Syracuse at the Carrier Dome, West Virginia's defensive coordinator has virtually a full complement of players. Defensive lineman Julian Miller appears as strong as he's been since suffering an ankle injury during the preseason. and the secondary has managed to pretty much maintain its health.But most significantly, Casteel's linebacking corps - the weakest link in WVU's defensive rebuilding process this season - is as strong as it has been.Sophomore linebacker Doug Rigg is expected to be able to play tonight after missing two games with a broken bone in his wrist. Redshirt freshman Jewone Snow is vastly improved after replacing Rigg and gaining experience. All in all, the Mountaineers seem to have at least five linebackers who can share time.Not bad for a team that went into the season with only one proven commodity, Najee Goode, at the position. "Doug will play. Jewone will play,'' Casteel said. "We'll play everybody and it gives us more flexibility now. We can do different things with Naj and Doug.''Indeed, with Rigg back - although it is still unclear how much he will play this soon - it gives Casteel all kinds of flexibility that he didn't have just a few weeks ago. When the season started, Goode played in the middle (Mike), but he's equally adept at all three spots. Rigg was a first-time starter on the strong side (Sam), as was Casey Vance on the weak side (Will).The only other player in the equation was junior-college transfer Josh Francis, but he couldn't wrestle the starting job from Vance because he hadn't adapted to a higher level of play and the system. No one other than Goode was adept at playing more than one position.Rigg's injury, ironically, might have been the best thing that could have happened. It forced Snow into the lineup, and he had to play Mike. Goode went back to Sam, where he played last season, and Vance and Francis continued to alternate at Will. Now, with Rigg back, Casteel has two middle linebackers (Snow and Goode), two Sams (Rigg and Goode) and perhaps four Wills (Vance, Francis, Goode and Rigg).That's a luxury Casteel eventually will use, rotating players and keeping everyone fresh. That is, after Rigg works his way back"Doug will be ready. He should be ready to go,'' Casteel said. "But he's just getting into practice. He has some rust to knock off."And when he does, it just gives us another guy and depth. We'll mix it up.'' The biggest question mark still is at Will, however. Vance, a plucky fifth-year former walk-on, was the starter at the beginning of the season, was replaced for a game by Francis, but since then Vance has probably played more. Francis started and played the whole way against LSU, and then Vance started against Bowling Green. But Francis replaced Vance for most of the series in that game. Then against Connecticut, Vance started again, but this time remained in the game virtually the whole afternoon.Casteel said who plays is simply a matter of who deserves it at the end of the week."It's just based on film evaluation,'' Casteel said, referring not only to the previous game but practice as well. "It's all about evaluating and trying to put your best guys out on the field."We're going to try to get the best guys out there and the guys who show the ability to do the things we need them to do. That's why we practice and why we film everything and then stay in here all night watching it. Josh has made some strides and then he'll take a step back. Hopefully he's going to grow into a guy who can play on a consistent basis. But he needs to become consistent.''The return of Rigg, though, creates some different possibilities. Snow could remain in the lineup at Mike, while Goode and Rigg man the two outside spots. That's no doubt a combination Casteel will look at as the weeks go on.Reach Dave Hickman at 304-348-1734 or email@example.com. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Deer in 8 WV counties found dead from EHD 2 New company planning $73M synthetic fuel plant in Greenbrier County 3 WVU law professor announces run for Congress 4 Richwood mayor on leave amid investigation of purchases 5 West Virginia high school football scores, local box scores -- Week 5 Report has WVU to Big 12; breaking down numbers Previous Story WVU notebook: This dome should be warmer, Coach Next Story


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Michigan WhereHouse Records - best independent record store ever! 1976 - 2001
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Dystonia's Revenge won an incident-packed renewal of this a year ago and is 3lb lower despite a good run over the C&D last time. Harris Hawk looked a decent staying prospect when completing a Newcastle double in March but has run poorly on his two most recent starts while Fentara has had very little experience over fences. BRUNSWICK GOLD easily won over the C&D on New Year's Day and a recent run in a jumper's bumper will have put him straight. He just gets the nod over Ballyoliver, who has been raised 9lb for a battling victory at Newbury. The Hollinwell is an enigma who will no doubt turn up again one day when least expected.
Fentara 17-2 (10-11) In touch in 5th, headway before 10th, badly hampered on rail before 12th, good headway to chase winner before last, kept on, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Red Rocco (11-2) at Newcastle 3m Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) hvy.
Ballyoliver 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division on outside, headway and in touch 10th, led narrowly approaching 3 out, driven after last, ridden and held on well towards finish, won at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs beating Present To You (10-9) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Columbus Secret (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, outpaced from 5th, weakened before 4 out, last of 6, 25l behind Kings Grey (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Brunswick Gold (IRE) 7-2 (10-7) Held up mid-division, headway halfway to go in touch, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon headed, kept on towards finish, 4th of 11, 1 1/4l behind Representingceltic (10-4) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std.
Kent Street (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Tracking leader when mistake and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Nodform Richard (11-10) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs, 7 ran.
The Hollinwell 8-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, weakened 4f out, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Representingceltic (10-4) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std.
Dystonia's Revenge (IRE) 15-2 (10-10) Settled in rear but in touch, chased leaders 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, led last, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Nodform Richard (11-10) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs.
Harris Hawk 3-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, blundered 2nd, pushed along and lost place 13th, 7th of 8, 35l behind Definite Appeal (10-7) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.


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It is in the best interests of all concerned to keep intact Durango Fire & Rescue Authority. Allowing it to break up would be messy, confusing, almost certainly expensive and could threaten the service it was formed to provide.
With that in mind, officials of DFRAs three component districts are right to be talking about what changes need to be made to allow for the authority to go forward as one entity. And if funding is at issue when is it not? that, too, should be part of the discussion.
But no deal should go forward unless and until the details have been made public and all of DFRAs constituents are given a chance to weigh in. Fire and rescue services are too important, and the history of DFRA too contentious, to risk the perception of an unbalanced or unfair arrangement being presented as a done deal.
DFRA was formed in 2002 by combining the resources and duties of the Animas and Hermosa fire districts with the city of Durangos fire department. Also included was the ambulance service that had been operated by Mercy Regional Medical Center.
The arrangement made and still makes sense from a logistical and organizational standpoint. With a unified command structure, resources could be better coordinated and more efficiently and effectively deployed.
In other senses, however, the three districts were never an easy fit. Animas covers a sprawling 325 square miles. Hermosa is the farthest from the hospital, by far the least populated and includes the priciest real estate. Durango is compact, and the most densely developed.
Differing funding mechanisms further complicate the merger. Hermosa and Animas have dedicated, but different mill levies. The city of Durango contributes from its general fund an arrangement Durango voters have twice declined to change. (Enacting a level DFRA-wide mill levy would amount to a large tax increase for Durango property owners.) And with those differing funding streams, Animas and Hermosa have to keep their separate boards.
Awkward as they are, though, those are problems that can be worked out. All concerned have lawyers, and all involved can do the requisite math. Outside those actually serving on them, few people worry much about the boards themselves.
To most people, the only issue is whether someone will come to help if they dial 911, and on that level DFRA seems to be operating well. To continue that, however, the DFRAs three component districts need to come to some accord. And that will requires a broad consensus that it is reasonably fair.
But what does fairness mean in that context? And how can it be measured?
Counting registered voters (active and inactive) Animas contains slightly more than half the population of the area served by DFRA, Durango has slightly less than half and Hermosa about 2 percent. Those numbers do not suggest an easy answer.
As the Herald reported Tuesday, Animas and Durango have about the same number of fire calls, while Durango has more ambulance calls. Should that be the metric? If so, should distance be factored in? Time? Animas, after all, is far larger, and while it may have fewer ambulance calls, both those and fire calls presumably cover greater distances.
There are any number of ways to argue what is fair to the different districts. To be fair to the taxpayers, however, whatever is arranged needs to be fully explained both in its details and in the underlying thinking. And that needs to happen before the deal is signed.


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Housing price recovery stalls in October
Home prices fell in October after four months of gains, dashing hopes of a quick housing market recovery aided by lower interest rates.
Capital city homes prices fell 1 per cent in October, following a 1.4 per cent increase in September, according to the RP Data Rismark, after the Reserve Bank cut interest rate through 2012. Home prices fell 0.9 per cent in Sydney and 1.1 per cent in Brisbane, RP Data said.
"Whether the October decline is a blip on the path to a recovering market, or a sign of further weakness is yet to be seen,'' said RP Data's research director Tim Lawless. ''Other indicators are suggesting the market has gathered some strength, with auction clearance rates holding firm around the 60 per cent mark across the two major auction markets and owner occupier housing finance numbers showing steady improvements since February 2012, albeit from a very low base."
Auction clearnace rates, have firmed in recent weeks, in a sign that buyers are wading into the market, amid low rates and a stablising consumer sentiment. In Melbourne, clearance rate rose to 64 per cent from 60 per cent, according to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria. In Sydney, they rose to 67.9 per cent from 61.7 per cent in the same time.
But other signs of weakness persist, with the Housing Industry Association's new home sales report posting its third consecutive monthly decline in Septmeber, sinking by 3.7 per cent.
The RBA has cut 150 basis points from the cash rate since November 2011 in an effort to stimulate demand, but lenders have passed along only about 115 basis points.
more to come


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From μPedia
My name is Zack Bar but everybody calls me Zack. I'm from United States. I'm studying at the college (2nd year) and I play the Pedal Steel Guitar for 3 years. Usually I choose songs from the famous films ;).
I have two sister. I like Skydiving, watching TV (Two and a Half Men) and Fencing.
Feel free to surf to my web page - do my essay for me (continue reading this)


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Amelia Lily: Kelly Rowland and I were so upset over HMV X Factor 'fix' fuss
Amelia Lily, who will battle it out in the X Factor final this weekend against
Marcus Collins and
Little Mix, has revealed that she and mentor
Kelly Rowland were 'really upset' over the HMV gaffe earlier this week, which came shortly after Misha B's exit from the competition.
Amelia spoke at a press conference with fellow finalists Little Mix and Marcus Collins, as well as X Factor judges Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos, Louis Walsh and her own mentor Kelly.
The 17-year-old admitted that she and judge Kelly had been shaken by accusations of a fix after an error saw Amelia's 'winner's single' appear on the HMV website ahead of the final this weekend.
'When Kelly and I found out about the HMV thing, we were really upset about it. People have their opinions, they say it was a fix, but it wasn't.
'It was an error; it was a mistake. It couldnât be helped and accidents happen. Itâs going to make me really determined to go out there on Saturday night and do my best â do better than before.'
Gary Barlow reassured her: 'It will make no difference at the weekend. It's just great publicity for HMV.'
Amelia went on to discuss the fact that her mentor Kelly had booted her off in week one, only for her to return in week six after Frankie Cocozza was axed from The X Factor.
She said: 'I have had a roller coaster of a journey. I went in week one and came back five weeks later. Do you know what? If anything, I think it kind of helped me.
'I came back confident, I came back stronger and I had figured out what kind of artist I wanted to be. Kelly even said to me when I came back into the competition, "Youâve come back and you know exactly what youâre here to do".'
As for Kelly, the Destiny's Child star appeared to be sheepish about her decision at the beginning of the live shows, after Amelia proved to be popular with the public.
'I think the public wanted to prove me wrong,' said Kelly. 'She came back and she just nailed it.
'It actually had nothing to do with anyone else â it had all to do with her. All to do with her determination, all to do with her perseverance â all to do with her wanting to be here and taking it up a notch.
'Everybodyâs just so happy to have her back. Iâm happy to have her back.
'She ups the game for everybody in the competition, She came back with tools that some of the other contestants didnât have, which put her that much in front in the competition.'
The X Factor final will broadcast live from Wembley Arena this Saturday from 8pm on ITV1.


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Dec 06 2009
Winter beauty
Winter in Pittsburgh is mild compared to Pennsylvania's northern and mountainous regions.
Yesterday it snowed but didn't stick - at least in my neighborhood. We usually don't have snow cover in the city until late December, and then it's likely to melt. Even so, a snowless winter can be beautiful when the sun shines, as it will today.
Here's a photo Dianne Machesney took a week ago at Latodami's upper field in North Park. The muted browns of winter have a special kind of beauty.
(photo by Dianne Machesney)
3 Responses to "Winter beauty"
# Patsyon 06 Dec 2009 at 9:56 am
What a lovely picture.
# Libby Strizzion 07 Dec 2009 at 8:31 am
I agree, about the special beauty of winter's muted colors, especially when the sun is shining. Sometimes the trees take on a mauve — purplish — hue. And I like being able to see the shapes of trees against the sky, which you can't detect when they are covered with leaves. The branching trees are especially beautiful when backlighted by a sunset.
# Mary Ann Pikeon 08 Dec 2009 at 12:28 pm
Several things I like about Winter trees are seeing all of the evergreens in among the bare tree limbs (especially driving through the mountains), and seeing the sycamores among the other trees…they really stand out, and are beautiful when you get stands of them growing together. Chartiers creek has some great stands of sycamores, and there are other places in Washington county with a lot of sycamores (and into West Virginia and Ohio, where there is water nearby).


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We received a quick preview of a letterman jacket from a new sportswear line of 50's inspired looks – Whitesville. There is not much information we can give on the line at this time, but they are coming from a well known Japanese denim house and should be available outside of Japan. More to come. We promise.
A few quick looks from Whitesville Letterman Jacket after the jump.


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Only £699.00The Ruark R4 MK3 carries forward the ideology of its predecessor as a traditional music centre, though it is one designed and engineered for 21st Century living. Comprising of an enhanced multi format CD player, aptX Bluetooth receiver, USB playback port, DAB/DAB+/FM tuners and auxiliary inputs, this powerful 2.1 speaker system will provide a satisfying room filling sound.
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Today is Tuesday, February 1, 2011 and here is what's available in terms of Daily Blogging Prompts, blog carnivals and other related events in the genealogy blogosphere:
Items of Note
- February is National Black History Month (US) and the theme is African Americans and the Civil War.
- February 1 is also National Freedom Day commemorating the signing by President Abraham Lincoln of a Congressional resolution abolishing slavery which eventually became the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
- Today is the start of The Family History Writing Challenge organized by Lynn Palermo of The Armchair Genealogist.
- Today is Working Naked Day and Spunky Old Broads Day.
Daily Blogging Prompts
Talented Tuesday – Got ancestors who had a special talent? Be it musical, comical, or any manner of skill, post at your genealogy blog through words and pictures. This series has been suggested by Terri at Southwest Arkie.
Tech Tuesday – Have you stumbled upon a piece of technology or new Web-based application that would be of interest to your fellow genealogy colleagues? Post at your blog on Tech Tuesday and show us the ins and outs of this technology and how it can benefit the genealogy community. This is a new series suggested by Donna Peterson of Hanging with Donna and in the past there have been many iterations of this series: the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) blog Narations as well as The Family Curator by Denise Levenick.
Tombstone Tuesday – To participate in Tombstone Tuesday simply create a post which includes an image of a gravestone of one or more ancestors and it may also include a brief description of the image or the ancestor. This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
Tuesday's Tip – What advice would you give to another genealogist or family historian, especially someone just starting out? Remember when you were new to genealogy? Wasn't it great to find tips and tricks that worked for others? Post your best tips at your genealogy blog on Tuesday's Tip. This series was suggested by Susan Petersen of Long Lost Relatives and, in fact, this has been an ongoing series by Lynn Palermo at The Armchair Genealogist and by Miriam Robbins Midkiff at AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors.
To ensure that your blog post is included in the "roll-up" widgets above, include the name of the blogging theme in your post title. Examples: Black Sheep Sunday – Andrea Dorea; Tombstone Tuesday – Nequelle Anne Dyme. * * * If you would like your event or Daily Blogging Prompt included, please contact Geneabloggers at geneabloggers [at] gmail [dot].com.
©2011, copyright Thomas MacEntee


text: Im selling my Genuine S4 front end. Parts comprise of 1 x Front bumper (with xenon cutouts) and washer jet caps 2 x Foglights 2 x Foglight Grilles 1 x Bottom Centre Grille 1 x Centre grille with audi badge note that it does not include a headlight washer as my car didnt have this. I am also after a SE or s-line front bumper to put my car back to stock. i will require just the bumper (top and bottom) only. Im willing to negotiate if someone wants a swap for the bumper and bits and part cash payment. email email@example.com for info/offers. Please bear in mind that all parts are Genuine Audi and that they have been on the car roughly 1 year, but the car has been off the road for about 5 months due to mechanical issues and sat on my drive pretty much where it is in the photos. The top centre grille has a Matte surround. Foglights from the A4 are a different fitting, not compatible with the S4 front bumper. These retail at Audi for around £70 each side. Thanks


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Amish Man Jailed Over Outhouse Conflict
An Amish man was sentenced to 90 days in a Pennsylvania jail for failing to abide by a court order to bring two school outhouses into compliance with sewage regulations.
Andy Swartzentruver of Barr Township had been warned a month ago to bring his two schools into compliance with sewage requirements, but Swartzentruver said he would rather go to jail than compromise his religious beliefs.
"I stand by my religion. If I don't, it could destroy the whole church group," he told The Tribune-Democrat.
In addition to jail time, Swartzentruver was fined $1,000, escalating the $1,600 he already owed for failing to obtain a sewage permit and follow municipal sewage regulations.
Sam Yoder, an Amish elder, said some improvements were made to the outhouse and the collection of the waste. While the sect would be willing to pay a permit fee, members would not post a required bond, allow soil testing or submit a sewage planning model.
"This is not a religious issue," said Judge Norman Krumenacker of his decision. "The bottom line of this whole case is the balancing of society's needs for protecting the health, safety and welfare of its citizens and the balancing of reasonable [requirements] around your sect's beliefs."
Swartzentruver asked to keep his hair long, wear his distinctive clothes and have no TV or electricity while in prison. Krumenacker said they will "make every accommodation we can. I don't think we [force inmates] to cut hair any more."