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Items for It's Your Business can be submitted online at http://cjonline.com/business, by email to email@example.com or by mail to The Topeka Capital-Journal, 616 S.E. Jefferson, Topeka, 66607. Items and photographs will run in print as space permits.
Evan Dunbar has been promoted to full-time sports copy editor at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Dunbar, who is from Houston, has worked part time in the sports department since December 2013. In his new role, Dunbar will help plan the daily sports section, edit stories for print and CJOnline, and build sports pages.
Jeff Goodnow has been named vice president and national sales manager of VSR Financial Services, a national financial securities and investment adviser firm headquartered in Overland Park. Goodnow, 44, is a native Topekan who started in the financial services industry in 1993 in banking. He joined VSR in March 2003 as product coordinator for fee-based programs and, since 2010, has served as vice president of advisory services in charge of marketing fee-based programs and assisting VSR financial advisers with fee-based business.
Tatiana Y. Lin, senior analyst and strategy team leader at the Kansas Health Institute, has been elected president of the Society of Practitioners of Health Impact Assessment. Lin, who began her two-year term in July, has been with KHI since 2007. SOPHIA is an international association of individuals and organizations that provides leadership in the practice of health impact assessments.
Doug Pohl, of Wathena, was one of 23 state champion drivers for YRC Freight who competed in the National Truck Driving Championships this past week in Pittsburgh, Pa. Pohl won the Straight Truck class at the Kansas Professional Truck Driving Championships in June to earn his third trip to the national championships.
The Topeka Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators has elected the following officers for 2014-15: Keri Renner, president; Lisa Ignoto, president-elect; Mary Tritsch, past-president; and vice presidents Julie Smrha (finance); Lisa Taylor (administration); Karen Wagaman (membership); Robin Jacobson Lampe (membership); Janie Rutherford (professional development); Sarah Towle (communications); Corey Shoup (communications); Jane Hazard (special events); and Tamara Taylor (special events).
Scott Uhl, senior project manager at Bartlett & West, has been named Outstanding Engineer of the Year by the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers. Uhl, a graduate of Kansas State University with a degree in civil engineering, has more than 20 years of engineering experience. He joined Bartlett & West, headquartered in Topeka, in 1999 and is responsible for managing all aspects of roadway and bridge projects. In order to be considered for the state award, Uhl first was honored by the Topeka Chapter of KSPE.
Kansas State University's Master of Agribusiness program is offering travel to Brazil and Argentina to learn about the food and agriculture industry in South America. The tour is scheduled for Feb. 20 through March 7, 2015, and is open to anyone with an interest in international agribusiness. More information is available at www.mab.ksu.edu/Alumni/SAmerica15.html or by contacting Mary Bowen, (785) 532-4435 or email@example.com.
The Kansas Housing Resources Corp. is accepting applications for the Moderate Income Housing Program through noon Sept. 5. Awards will be announced in October. For more information, contact Fred Bentleyj at email@example.com or James R. Behan at firstname.lastname@example.com. To learn about other housing-related programs administered by KHRC, visit www.kshousingcorp.org.
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation is seeking grant applications from school personnel — including nurses, teachers and administrators — interested in improving the overall health of their students while encouraging them to build life-long healthy habits. The maximum grant amount through the Healthy Habits for Life program is $1,000 and grants are limited to one per school. Applications must be postmarked or received electronically no later than Oct. 10, with the funds distributed in mid-December. Grant recipients can use the funds for programs offered during the 2015 calendar year. A grant application and additional information is available at www.bcbsks.com/foundation. During the past eight years, the BCBSKS Foundation has awarded 760 grants in excess of $718,000, including $149,650 distributed in December 2013.


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Automotive parts Opel Auto deals with purchase and sale of vehicles Opel and second hand car parts.
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Opel Auto purchases cars, vans and SUVs with the brand Opel.
Opel Auto offers fast and accurate servicing to its customers.
Opel Auto has extensive experience in the sale of second hand car parts for all makes of Opel.
Parts for running gear, front and rear axles
Gasoline and diesel pumps
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Хасково, 54 булевард "Никола Радев"

subset: commoncrawl


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MIAMI — They got an epic performance from Russell Westbrook. They ran out to a huge early lead. They watched LeBron James get carried off the court in the fourth quarter, and took the lead shortly after he departed.
Somehow, it still wasn't enough for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
And their hopes in these NBA Finals took a massive hit on Tuesday night.
Even after getting 43 points from Westbrook, 28 more from Kevin Durant and staking itself to a 17-point lead by the time the first quarter was over, Oklahoma City is now officially on the brink. James finished with 26 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers each scored 25 points and the Miami Heat beat the Thunder 104-98 in Game 4 to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven title series.
"I can guarantee this," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "We have fight in us."
Game 5 is in Miami on Thursday night, where James and the Heat can capture the NBA title that they were assembled to get two years ago.
History says the Thunder are now in deep, deep trouble. No team in NBA history has rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the finals. No team has even forced a Game 7 when faced with that scenario.


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Melba Carol Craig, 76, of Fort Smith died Sunday, April 13, 2014, at her home. She was a general laborer for a food company, attended Crossview Christian Church in Fort Smith and widow of George Craig.
She is survived by two daughters, Susan Marie Davis of Muldrow and Kim Webster of Fort Smith; two sons, Scott Craig of Odenton, Md., and Randy Hoffman of Alma; a sister, Barbara Anderson of New Mexico; two brothers, Roger and Jimmy Short, both of New Mexico; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Goddard United Methodist Church in Fort Smith with burial at Dora Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home in Van Buren.
Pallbearers will be Bob McClellan, Clyde Storms, Daniel Cabrea, Randall Chitwood, Tom Banks and John Webster.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.


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After dispatching the town's sheriff in a barrel-o-death, the kinsfolk of Pleasant Valley travel North in an opening credits montage to continue their bloodlust. Upon stopping in Iowa, they set up camp, and a traveling television show echoing Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie's The Simple Life runs across Mayor Buckman's (Bill Moseley) jamboree. The small production team sees potential ratings in the backwards clan, but little do they realize the cavernous, buxom citizenry have already entrapped them.
It wasn't supposed to be like this, you know? After reading director Tim Sullivan's heartfelt liner notes on the DVD's inside cover, I felt genuinely jazzed about what I was about to pop in. Of course I wasn't expecting a masterpiece, but merely a fun time as I sat on my ass at two in the morning with beers in check. I was also strangely affirmed. In those notes, Sullivan just comes out and states his previous 2001 Maniacs (2005) was a case of too many butchers in the slaughterhouse. Too much input on how far that film should or shouldn't go in the horror and comedy directions by his "superiors" resulting in something that wasn't quite his own. After pressing onward come short schedules and nearly no cash, Sullivan hustled to make this sequel, which he assures is his "100% full vision."
I was affirmed because I never cared for Sullivan's 2001 Maniacs. So finally discovering that the film wasn't really what he intended filled me with an assumption Sullivan would get to make the wrongs right. Unfortunately, Field of Screams is more of the same, just much more lazily comedic and juvenile. Now before I get charged with heresy for downing childish chuckles in low-budget horror, please let me explain why after about ten minutes in, I longingly looked over to my immediate "to-watch" pile and contemplated casting off this sequel to the "to-sell" stack.
In the same vein as Uncle Wes's defense of real exploitation filmmaking (read that article to the tune of Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song), Field of Screams is so damn much of a pseudo-exploiter that you'll grate your alcohol soaked teeth while watching. Stuffed with cheapjack laughs, boobs, and bad effects to such a degree that there's a transcendence into cookie cutter annoyance. Judging by Sullivan's sentiments on this disc's extra features, one gets the impression that he really believes throwing these three elements at a wall results in a Top Ramen-style of "cult classic" exploitation. Yet these simple ingredients, along with a ridiculously low budget, do not exploitation make.
I can hear the echoes now. "Fuck you, Jayson, I've read enough of your shit to know you love some real stupid trash, what about H.G. Lewis's original 2001 Maniacs?"
Well, Lewis's foundational gore series brings up the Jackson Pollock argument in art criticism. Sure, the famed artist threw globs of paint on a large canvas. Big friggin' whoop, right? The thing is no one had done that before Pollock and for that–the artist remains a major influence today. No matter how many outsiders scoff at his pieces for their supposed simplicity. This same truism applies to the '70s cycle of exploitation partially founded by Lewis. The films of the era might seem pedestrian and easy to throw together. Sometimes they were, but their groundbreaking, unabashed originality still stands as a lasting testament to their impact. The filmmakers Sullivan was trying to both ape and pay homage to encouraged an expansion of filmic boundaries. Not kitschy carbon copies decades after the fact. These new 2001 Maniacs features and the recent slew like it are as hollow and artistically worthless as the sunglassed polar bears that adorn Coke cans every holiday season.
But then again I might be wrong about all this jaded copycat talk. Perhaps if a budding young horror fan sneaks by the parents with this one now, they'll look at Field of Screams in the same rose-colored tint in a decade as horror children of the '80s look back at "their" similar films today. Same deal with all these remakes. Shit, we rapidly aging, seasoned horror fiends might actually be the outsiders scoffing at today's horrifying norms. Or maybe not. Or we hate Jackson Pollock. Or something…
That's not to say Field of Screams is totally devoid of some laughs. Bill Moseley seems built for roles like the cantankerous Mayor Buckman and easily surpasses Robert Englund's turn in the first. Chalk it up to the southern fried Chop Top, Otis, and even Moseley's Cornbugs collaboration with real guitar hero Buckethead. The prolific Lin Shaye returns and is again wonderfully ribald as Buckman's longtime squeeze. The scenes involving Moseley and Shayne's twisted relationship end up being the most effective as the pair have an effortless chemistry. Nivek Ogre of Skinny Puppy is also pleasingly diabolical and naturally looks the part given his band's blood soaked stage show. Some of the original supporting cast returns, but none rival Moseley or Shaye. If you can enjoy even the lowest common denominator in goofy blood n' boobs than have at Field of Screams. All others should be seriously cautioned with a rental; we've been here many times before with better accommodations.
First Look's anamorphic, interlaced (boo!) transfer looks fine, but the real story is the aural mess that is both the Dolby 5.1 and 2.0 tracks. Assumingly, in an effort to save money, about 96% of Field of Screams's dialogue and foley effects were dubbed in post production. The dialogue often has the cadence and tone of sounding recorded in a booth. Many times, the volume level of speech is noticeably higher than the very distant foley sound effects. Even the sound quality wavers to the point I had to turn the volume way down and read the subtitles track. The cumulative effect is very off-putting and distracting. I'm aware many low budget wonders sound like garbage, but this is one of the worst I've ever heard on DVD. If this were a major home video release, the studio responsible would have already issued a recall from the deafening criticism of reviewers and pissed buyers. Though this issue appears to be inherent to the bad (or extremely rushed/cheap) mixing of the soundtrack. A shame really, as it makes this experience even more laborious. The extras include a commentary by Sullivan (who seems like an incredibly nice guy) and various cast members, separate Sullivan interview (w/ Moseley snippets), photo slideshow, and the red band trailer. If you're still interested, be sure to rent/pick up the 86 minute unrated disc instead of the 82 minute R-rated disc.
Tags: 2001 Maniacs, 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams, Bill Moseley, Herschell Gordon Lewis, Tim Sullivan


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They weren't talking about the amount of soft, Italian-leather bags you could squeeze into the boot. Rather, it was used to mean that all those swoops, wings, fins and splitters served a real purpose. Each car was claimed to be an aerodynamic masterpiece and as far as the bigwigs were concerned, this was where the bragging rights were coming from.
McLaren Automotive's acting boss Mike Flewitt said something similar. "Their approach looks to be far more conventional," he told us.
There's a host of active aerodynamics on both cars, including a wing on the McLaren that extends 30cm and an automatically rising spoiler on the Ferrari. McLaren also throws in RaceActive Chassis Control that lowers the car by 50mm in race-mode and creates the 'sucking' ground effect Dennis was talking about.
The McLaren will make 600kg of downforce, says the firm, whereas Ferrari wouldn't comment on LaFerrari's figure. What it did say was that aerodynamics were at the heart of the car, "We integrated design with the aerodynamics from the first days of the development," Andrea Bassi, product marketing manager told us. He did have a little pop at McLaren after we told him what Dennis had said. "We try to make aerodynamics with the shape of the car, not to have bigger wings and things like that."
Actually, it was probably more aimed at Lamborghini, whose £3.1 million Veneno really looked like it made the 500kg+ of downforce claimed by the company thanks to its outrageous fixed wing, Le Mans-inspired fin and again, underbody downforce.
Chief braggart though was McLaren. "Our car, I am certain, will be faster round a track, without a doubt," Flewitt said, comparing the P1 with LaFerrari. And at the P1's launch at the show, Dennis said he reckoned the P1 would break the Nurburgring's production car lap record with a sub seven-minute time. He also said he'd personally broken the Top Gear track lap time by 10 seconds in the P1.
Flewitt summed it up. "We have far more active aerodynamics. I think we have a better breadth of powertrain and quite honestly I think we have a far more beautiful car."
Gloves are off, Ferrari. But will it accept McLaren's Nurburgring challenge and go for the lap record?


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Jeff Long on passing of Dale Nicholson
Jeff Long on passing of Dale Nicholson Sr."I was saddened to hear of the passing of Dale Nicholson, Sr."For more than a half century at KATV, Dale helped shape television in our state. When I first met Dale, it was clear he had a tremendous passion for the Razorbacks and for serving the people of Arkansas. He was instrumental in the success of our longtime partnership with KATV, a partnership which allowed fans throughout the state to follow the Razorbacks."Our thoughts and prayers are with the Nicholson family and his many friends and colleagues at KATV and around the state."


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A Moroccan rights organization launched an awareness campaign against the veiling of young girls, describing it as a major form of child abuse. Under the slogan "So that girls won't live in eternal darkness," the Center for Woman's Equality launched a campaign [2] that aims to counter the phenomenon of forcing girls between the ages of three and 10 to wear the headscarf. In its statement obtained by Al Arabiya, the center called upon all human rights organizations as well as legislative bodies to join this campaign against what they termed "a flagrant violation of innocence and childhood." "Girls at this age know nothing about religion and what is prohibited and what is not," [3]said the statement. The statement added that making girls wear the veil at a very young age threatens their psychological stability and therefore ruins the coming generations and an entire society. In addition to the role that needs to be played by the government and rights organizations, the statement stressed the important of religious bodies. "Islamic bodies need to interfere to make things clear and tell people that forcing young girls to wear the veil is not part of Islam." Mariam, a 10-year-old girl, said her father, an imam at a mosque forced her to wear the headscarf. "He said that it will protect me from harassment," [4] she told Al Arabiya. Asmaa, also 10, said her mother, a teacher at an Islamic school, forced her to wear the veil because it is a religious obligation. "She said I have to get used to it while I am still young, otherwise I would go to hell," she told Al Arabiya. For sociologist Karima Wadghiri, forcing girls to wear the veil does not only violate children's rights and kill their innocence, but also nourishes in them a wrong perception of their bodies. "They will start associating their bodies to shame which has to be hidden and this view contradicts the true essence of Islam," she said. Wadghiri added that when they grow up these girls will confuse conservatism with fanaticism and liberalism with immorality. "Their inability to distinguish between those concepts will put them in a constant state of confusion and eventually drive them to isolate themselves from the outside world." The girls' conflict will be taken from the personal to the public level and will have a negative effect on the entire society, she said. "Society will later be divided not on class or financial status as is usually the case, but on religious and ideological basis." The Center for Woman's Equality is known for its initiatives aimed at empowering women and achieving gender equality as well as countering all forms of discrimination and violence against women. (Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid)
What do you think about veiling? How young is too young to start wearing the veil? Tell us your thoughts below.
[1] http://www.syndigate.info
[2] http://genderindex.org/country/morocco
[3] http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/abulkazem/unveiling_islamic_veil.htm
[4] http://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/honour-crimes-jordan-431370
[5] http://www.alarabiya.net/english


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Randomized, Two-arm, Non-inferiority Study Comparing Endeavor-Resolute Stent With Abbot Xience-V Stent (RESOLUTE-AC)
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- Study Results
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The RESOLUTE-III Allcomers trial is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, two-arm, international, non-inferiority, open-label study with 2300 patients at 15-20 centers. The study is a "real world, all comers" study.
Primary objective: to compare the Medtronic Endeavor-Resolute (Zotarolimus-Eluting stent) system with the Abbott XIENCE V (Everolimus-Eluting stent) system with respect to cardiac death, myocardial infarction (not clearly attributable to a non-target vessel), Target Lesion Revascularization at 1 year in a "real world" patient population.
|Coronary Artery Disease
|Device: Medtronic Endeavor Resolute Device: Abbott Xience V
|Phase 4
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
|Official Title:
|RESOLUTE-III All-comers Trial: A Randomized Comparison of a Zotarolimus-Eluting Stent With an Everolimus-Eluting Stent for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- Target Lesion Failure [ Time Frame: 12 months ]Percentage of participants that had either Cardiac Death, Myocardial Infarction (not clearly attributable to a non-target vessel)or Target Lesion Revascularization (TLR, clinically indicated) after one year. MI: Q MI if new pathological Q waves and chest pain, non Q MI if CK elevated more than two times normal, troponin elevated more than normal, according to ARC definitions. TLR, clinically indicated if associated with ischemic symptoms and angiographic min lumen diameter bigger than fifty percent by QCA or without symptoms and min lumen diameter bigger than seventy percent. Measure average.
- In-Stent Percent Diameter Stenosis [ Time Frame: 13 Months ]In Stent Percent Diameter Stenosis at thirteen months. In Stent Percent Diameter Stenosis: measured percent of diameter stenosis at the region of the stent (calculated as 100x(RVD-MLD)/RVD using the mean values from 2 orthogonal views by QCA. RVD (Reference Vessel Diameter): average of normal segments within 10mm proximal and distal to target lesion from 2 orthogonal views using QCA. MLD (Minimal Lumen Diameter): average of 2 orthogonal views of the narrowest point wihtin the area of assessment. MLD measured during QCA by the angiographic core laboratory.
|Study Start Date:
|April 2008
|Study Completion Date:
|February 2014
|Primary Completion Date:
|May 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Active Comparator: 1. Resolute
Medtronic Endeavor Resolute
Device: Medtronic Endeavor Resolute
Medtronic Endeavor Resolute
Other Name: Endeavor Resolute Zotarolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent System
Active Comparator: 2. XIENCE V
Abbott Xience V
Device: Abbott Xience V
Abbott Xience V
Other Name: XIENCE V Everolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System
Detailed Description:
The RESOLUTE-III Allcomers trial is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, two-arm, international, non-inferiority, open-label study with 2300 patients at 15-20 centers. The study is a "real world, all comers" study.
Primary objective: to compare the Medtronic Endeavor-Resolute (Zotarolimus-Eluting stent) system with the Abbott XIENCE V (Everolimus-Eluting stent) system with respect to cardiac death, myocardial infarction (not clearly attributable to a non-target vessel), Target Lesion Revascularization at 1 year in a "real world" patient population.
Study hypothesis: To determine whether the Zotarolimus-Eluting stent (Medtronic Endeavor-Resolute) is non-inferior to the Everolimus-eluting stent (Abbott XIENCE V) in terms of the primary endpoint at 12 months after stent implantation.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Minimal age 18 years
- Symptomatic coronary artery disease
- Patient acceptable candidate for treatment with drug eluting stent in accordance with applicable guidelines
- Presence of one or more coronary artery stenosis >50% with reference diameter 2.25-4.0mm which can be covered by one or multiple stents
- Patient indication, lesion length and vessel diameter according to 'Instructions for Use' of study stents
- Patient is willing and able to cooperate with study procedures and required follow up visits and patient or legal representative has been informed and agrees by signing EC approved written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Women of childbearing potential who do not have a negative pregnancy test within 7 days before procedure and women who are lactating
- Known intolerance to aspirin, clopidogrel or ticlopidin, heparin, cobalt, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, polymer coatings, Zotarolimus, Everolimus, or contrast material
- Participating in other trial before reaching primary endpoint
- Planned surgery within 6 months of PCI unless dual antiplatelet therapy is maintained throughout the peri-surgical period.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00617084
|Stiftung Inselspital, Department of Cardiology
|Bern, Switzerland, CH-3010
|Principal Investigator:
|Patrick Serruys, MD
|Erasmus MC, Thoraxcenter, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
|Principal Investigator:
|Sigmund Silber, MD
|Kardiologische Praxis und Praxisklinik, Munich, Germany
|Principal Investigator:
|Stephan Windecker, MD
|University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|Responsible Party:
|Medtronic Vascular
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00617084 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
Version 1.2 - IP090
|Study First Received:
|February 4, 2008
|Results First Received:
|November 22, 2010
|Last Updated:
|May 27, 2014
Keywords provided by Medtronic Vascular:
Drug Eluting Stents
Interventional Cardiology
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Coronary Artery Disease
Myocardial Ischemia
Coronary Disease
Heart Diseases
Cardiovascular Diseases
Arterial Occlusive Diseases
Vascular Diseases
Antineoplastic Agents
Immunosuppressive Agents
Immunologic Factors
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Anti-Infective Agents
Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
Antifungal Agents
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 18, 2017


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Related quotes
"In my writing I am acting as a map maker, an explorer of psychic areas . . . a cosmonaut of inner space, and I see no point in exploring areas that have already been thoroughly surveyed."
"If you have been taking calls in your life, you will not pick up any phone calls, i.e. to say that if you have been making your statements in your life you will not like to make or receive any or many phone calls."
"I think it's safe to say that our offense looked good. But we can also safely say we need to work on some things defensively to get better in certain areas."


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AMERICAN CANYON -- Police Chief Jean Donaldson has been named Napa County Undersheriff, it was announced Tuesday.
The search is on for his replacement, City Manager Dana Shigley said at Tuesday's City Council meeting, where the announcement was made.
"We contract with the sheriff's office and the sheriff will select our new chief from among his captain staff, with input from us," Shigley said. "We plan to have a conversation with him this week or next to discuss what we're looking for so he can determine who the best person will be to replace Jean."
Shigley said she expects to find a replacement in time for that person to learn the ropes before Donaldson's last day.
This is the third American Canyon Police Chief promoted to one of the Napa County Sheriff's Department's top jobs. The American Canyon Police Department is under the Sheriff's auspices.
Donaldson, who replaced Brian Banducci as chief in early 2011, is replacing him as undersheriff starting Nov. 23 -- the day after Banducci officially retires. Banducci replaced the man who succeeded former Napa County Sheriff Doug Koford, who was American Canyon's first police chief, when he retired. After five years as chief, Koford ran unopposed for Napa County Sheriff in 2006 and again in 2010.
Former undersheriff John Robertson was appointed sheriff last year by the Napa County Board of Supervisors, to complete about half of Koford's unfinished four-year term.
Shigley said the fact that every police chief the city's had in its 21-year history, has been promoted to a top spot, says good things about the city.
"We're providing a good learning opportunity and getting the best people," she said. "It means (the Napa County Sheriff) is not just putting people out to pasture here."
Donaldson said he sees it that way, too.
"Basically what it says is the Sheriff's Department really values this contract, so when someone is assigned to the chief position here, we want someone who will succeed, and has the training and experience to succeed," Donaldson said. "Also, you learn a lot in that position. It's a different aspect of law enforcement."
At Tuesday night's City Council meeting, Mayor Leon Garcia expressed disappointment on losing Donaldson, but wished him the best and thanked him for his service to the city.
"I've really enjoyed working here," Donaldson said. "It's been a great place to work."
Contact staff writer Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at (707) 553-6824 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @Rachelvth.


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Hollywood Dirt: Photographer Killed Chasing Justin Bieber's Car, Kim Kardashian's Fetus Goes Clubbin' & More
PHOTOGRAPHER KILLED CHASING JUSTIN BIEBER'S FERRARI: A photographer attempting to shoot photos of the Bieb's Ferrari was killed on Tuesday night when he was stuck by another car. And Justin wasn't even in the car! According to TMZ, one of Bieber's friends was driving and another was in the passenger seat.
It all went down after JUSTIN BIEBER'S white Ferrari was pulled over by the Highway Patrol for what's being called a routine traffic stop. The photographer had been following the Ferrari at the time and attempted to take pictures of the traffic stop. TMZ reports the officer advised the photog to move back because the situation was unsafe, and then at some point he was struck by an oncoming car. (PHOTO)
Justin issued a statement through his rep that read, "While I was not present nor directly involved with this tragic accident, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim. Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation and whatever other necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders, and the photographers themselves."
KIM AND KANYE DO NOT WANT SEX SURPRISE/STILL CLUBBIN' ON NYE: KIM KARDASHIAN and KANYE WEST, who announced over the weekend they're having a baby, don't want any surprises when it comes to sex of their of their unborn child. TMZ is reporting that the couple wants to know if they'll be having a boy or a girl as soon as it's medically possible, which is usually around the 16th week.
Meanwhile … being fetused didn't keep Kim from making money on New Year's Eve. The couple rang in the New Year at a club in Las Vegas where the approximately three-months-pregnant Kim got a six-figure appearance fee. (PHOTO) (PHOTO)
Kimmy told reporters she has yet to experience any morning sickness, but admitted she's not having an easy time with her pregnancy. "I haven't had any morning sickness…so that's good," she told Us magazine.
SNAPSHOT – LINDSAY LOHAN LOOKS AS ROUGH AS THE YEAR SHE HAD: Check out this pic of LINDSAY LOHAN snapped as she returned to her London hotel on New Year's Eve. Girlfriend is looking a little bloated and FUBAR, no? (PHOTO) (PHOTO)
KRIS JENNER SHOPS AROUND FOR MAGAZINE DEAL/KIMYE SAYS NO TO BABY TV SPECIAL: While momager KRIS JENNER is said to already be looking for offers to show Kim's baby bump on a magazine cover, Kim and Kanye have already nixed one money making possibilty: he or she will NOT be a reality TV star.
Sources close to Kim tell TMZ she is saying the baby will not be on "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" nor will there be any type of 'Kim Gives Birth' TV special. Word is they want to keep that part of their life private. For now. As for Kim's remaining months of pregnancy, well THAT'S a different story. The gossip site says Kim, quote, "intends to share that with reality cameras because she thinks being 'pregnant is great and cute.'"
BABY POOP – MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY'S WIFE GIVES BIRTH TO BABY #3: MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY and his wife Camila welcomed their third child into the world Friday in Austin, Texas. The couple, who wed in June, named their new son Livingston Alves McConaughey.
MAZEL TOV! 'DANCING WITH THE STARS' JUDGE WEDS: "Dancing With the Stars" judge LEN GOODMAN got made an honest woman out of his live in lovah over the weekend. Goodman, 68, married longtime girlfriend Sue Barrett, 47, on Sunday in London. The couple has been together for ten years.
MAZEL TOV! HUGH HEFNER MARRIES CRYSTAL HARRIS: HUGH HEFNER and CRYSTAL HARRIS are finally man and wife. The 86-year-old 'Playboy' founder and the 26-year-old "model" tied the knot on New Year's Eve at the Playboy Mansion. The couple was originally scheduled to get hitched in June, 2011 but Harris called off the wedding just days before the ceremony. They reconciled a year later.
Hef Tweeted out the above shot of himself with Crystal after their wedding. Harris, meanwhile, Tweeted this pic of herself in her wedding dress.


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The Helston Carers Forum will hold its next meeting on Wednesday next week in the ceremony room at Helston One Stop Shop, based at Isaac House in Tyacke Road, at 1.30pm.
The forum, supported by Cornwall Carers Service, offers carers the chance to meet and discuss the issues they face and the services they receive. All carers are welcome.


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NO SOONER DID I put out my cry to the universe — "Help! I have to clear out my elderly parents' stuffed-full house and I don't know what to do with it all!" — than it answered.
My super-secondhand-sales-savvy friend Aaron LaPedis flew into town.
The author of "Garage Sale Millionaire" had come to Orlando, Fla., to visit theme parks with his wife and 3-year-old son. I took it as a sign. Divine deliverance. LaPedis graciously interrupted his adventures at the Happiest Place on Earth, and squeezed in coffee with this neurotic home columnist between visits to Sea World and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
He swore he didn't mind listening to me blubber about my home-life problems when he could be meeting Disney princesses at Epcot. That's the kind of guy he is.
What's more, the garage-sale guru slash art-gallery owner is just as at home at a high-end antiques auction as at a low-end yard sale. The Donald Trump describes him this way: "Aaron sees opportunities that others can't."
I mean, the guy buys abandoned, unopened storage lockers (ones in better ZIP codes) for a flat fee. Like buying an oyster from a pearl diver, he never knows what's inside. Dead bodies? A Steinway Baby Grand? He takes what he gets — bust or bonanza — then sells it.
"But how do you know what to sell where, and for how much?" I ask. This is the skill set I need as I sift through mom's old jewelry, dad's tools, their furniture, art, dishes, collections and the random detritus that once meant something — if only to them.
May the force be with me.
"So you want to liquidate," he said, summing up my 15-minute rant.
Like men often do, he changed everything in a word.
"That's it!" I said. "I've been thinking about this all wrong! I'm looking at this job as disassembling my parents' past! As writing the final chapter to a bygone era! When I'm just liquidating! Selling assets that can help pay for their long-term assisted living."
Light bulbs were flashing in my brain like paparazzi. The pure obviousness was dawning on me. "I'm being sentimental when I need to be practical! Oh, Aaron! You've helped me reframe everything!"
He looked at me as if I needed a tranquilizer, and nodded politely.
"A lot of people are turning stuff they don't want into cash right now, for other reasons," he said. "They see the bills coming in from Christmas, and feel that credit-card hangover."
"I'm liquidating, not erasing history!"
More polite nodding, then LaPedis offered me this golden advice on what to sell where, which you, too, can use whether emptying a loved one's home, downsizing or trying to get ahead of the bills:
Garage sales. Host one to sell household stuff less than $100: garden tools, baby furniture, kitchen ware, clothes, "stuff you would never take the time to put on Craigslist," said LaPedis. Garage sales bring in money right away, and they're free. Inside tip: Accept only cash.
Craigslist. Like a yard-sale online, Craigslist is perfect for those who want fast cash and don't want to pay someone else to sell their stuff. It's the place for larger, lower-end items, like bedroom sets, office furniture and appliances. Because buyers are local (or should be), you skip shipping costs. Inside tip: Sell only to buyers who will pick up the item. Accept only cash. Never checks, certified funds or wired money. When a buyer is going to meet you, have someone with you.
eBay. Sell smaller, more valuable items like collectables and fine jewelry through this online trading site. You will likely get the highest value, but will pay eBay and PayPal fees and shipping. Inside tip: Use PayPal. It's the safest payment method as it protects buyers and sellers. Never send anything without a signature required. LaPedis also recommends insuring shipments.
Venders. You can sell your items to a reseller, such as a flea market, antique shop or secondhand store, but be prepared to get only about 25 percent of the value.
Jewelry buyers. Despite what you (or your relative) paid, expect to sell gold and silver jewelry for meltdown value. The exceptions are collectable coins, fine watches and jewelry from high-end designers. (Think Tiffany, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier.) Jewelry stores will buy your gold for its weight and purity. Go to a few buyers and compare offers. "Never put your gold in a bag and ship it to one of those outfits online and wait for a check. You will be at their mercy," he said.
Pawn shops. Go only as a desperate measure. Pawn shops will typically offer you only 10 cents or less on the dollar.
Collectors. Rare books and coins do sell on eBay, but sellers may do better going through an auction house, like Heritage, which specializes in selling items made in multiples that are collected in sets. Big-time collectors may scan eBay, but feel more confident buying at auctions, where a professional has reviewed the item. Inside tip: Auction houses will typically take 10 to 15 percent. Find out up front.
Auctions. Consider taking antiques and fine art to a local antiques dealer, who can take them to an auction. But if your item is worth more than $5,000, contact Sotheby's or Christie's in New York, about selling the them at their auctions.
May the force be with you.
Syndicated columnist Marni Jameson is the author of "House of Havoc" and "The House Always Wi
ns" (Da Capo Press). Contact her through www.marnijameson.com.


text: Am 02.07.2010 22:35, schrieb Keith Goodman: ... > Oh, that sounds interesting. So I build one tree for the data and > another tree for the query points? (For each query point I want to > find the k nearest neighbors in the data tree). What's the next step? hi all, thanks for help. Scipts is now working, but still needs some improvement. cheers elmar from numpy import array, arange, zeros from numpy.random import uniform from scipy.spatial import KDTree from matplotlib.pylab import scatter, contourf # just to get a pattern x = uniform(0, 360, 100) y = uniform(0, 90, 100) pattern = zip(x.ravel(), y.ravel()) tree_pattern = KDTree(pattern) # background grid or reference points neighbors_grid = zeros((360, 90)) # get number of neighbors within radius of r r = 20 for i in range(360): for j in range(90): ref=array([[float(i), float(j)]]) tree_ref=KDTree(ref) neighbors_grid[i][j] = KDTree.count_neighbors(tree_ref,tree_pattern, r) contourf(neighbors_grid) scatter(y,x)


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American West® Rodeo Leather Wallet. Made the traditional mallet - and - die - tooled way!
A real showpiece, something any cowhand will be proud to have in his pocket. Premium made by American West®, handcrafted, with rich vegetable-tanned mahogany leather.
It has 6 card slots, 3 pockets, and a flap for a checkbook. A shiny silver-tone star concho, too. It's 3 1/2 x 7". Each is made by hand, one at a time. Backed by the American West Lifetime Guarantee.
Get yours, or a rootin'-tootin' value gift, ONLINE now!


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Just a reminder from my previous post to watch The Human Family Tree on the National Geographic channel airing Aug 30th. Here in Southern California it will be on at 9 PM. I have my DVR set and ready to go!
Previous post from August 10th, 2009
The National Geographic Channel will be televising "The Human Family Tree" August 30th 9:00 p.m. (pacific time).
National Geographic has taken DNA samples from 350,000 people from around the world and traced their roots of mankind on a genetic level. Stating that we are all 99.9% identical and that our family trees may be bigger than we think!
I am looking forward to watching this, it will be most interesting. I am setting my DVR to tape it!
Today, the 4th Day of October 2015, We Remember ~ - *Today in History* *Today in German History* *Births ~ * *~* *Gladys Ollie TABELING*, born in 1910 ~ Breckenridge Co., Cloverport, KY ~ *my paternal grand...
1 year ago


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Algeria as a Destination of Migrants – A Comparative Study of Sub-Saharan and Chinese Migrants
Thanks to current high revenues from the gas and oil sectors the Algerian treasury is well filled. With this capital and the aid of foreign investors, economic and infrastructural problems should be resolved. Primarily China, within the scope of its interests in Africa, is taking part of this process of development for approximately the last eight years. Because of the benevolent attitude of the Algerian state towards the Chinese migrant labourers they already form the biggest group of foreign employees in the country and a counter current to the centuries-old subsaharian migration. Both migrations with the final destination Algeria in the course of the last decade and the reactions of Algerian society thereon will be described in this article. This comparative study deals with this phenomenon, which is until now extensively unexplored. It analyses within the context of Global Area Studies and on the base of multidisciplinary research approaches the development of global migration movements and their translocal and local linkages. The aim of this study is to show the range across society and the effect of migration movements in Algeria as well as their potential for the realisation of the planned reform processes for the next years.
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Volume (Year): 43 (2008)
Issue (Month): 3 ()
Pages: 371-392
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Colin Powell
A retired general and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell was the U.S. Secretary of State from January 2001 to January 2005, serving under George W. Bush. He rose to fame and power as the military head of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, code-named Desert Storm, in 1991.
AppealLet's just say that we get more than our share of requests from women asking how they can get a date/night with Powell. He's happily married, ladies, and in the media spotlight constantly, so the chances of a sensual encounter are nil and never.
SuccessLet's take a look at his resume. Among his professional accomplishments are: Commander of 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry in Korea; Commander of 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division; Senior Military Assistant to Deputy Secretary of Defense; Senior Military Assistant, Secretary of Defense; Commander V Corps, Frankfurt, Germany; President's National Security Advisor; Commander in Chief, U.S. Forces Command; Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; U.S. Secretary of State.
Need more?
Colin Powell BiographyColin Luther Powell was born April 5, 1937, in Harlem, New York. While raised in the South Bronx by parents Luther Theophilus and Maud Ariel Powell, who both emigrated from Jamaica, Colin was exposed to a multicultural mosaic.
After his 1954 graduation from Morris High School, Powell set off to study geology at City College of New York, and graduated in 1958. With a bachelor's degree under his belt, Powell was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry, as he had joined ROTC, a training program for the U.S. Army, while in college.
officer powell
Powell was trained as a paratrooper and a Ranger, receiving his basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. After several years in the military, most notably as advisor in Vietnam in 1962, and returning for a second tour of duty as a battalion executive officer for the 23rd Infantry in Vietnam and the Americal Division in 1968, Powell returned to the more peaceful and less strenuous classrooms of George Washington University in Washington D.C. in order to receive his MBA in 1971.
An MBA graduate and recipient of the Purple Heart for his military service in Vietnam, Powell was granted a White House Fellowship in 1972. He returned to the military in 1973 as Commander of 1st Battalion in the 32nd Infantry in Korea, and three years later as Commander of 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. Off the battlefront and into the White House, Powell served as an executive assistant in the Energy and Defense Departments during the Carter Administration.
Powell was then named Senior Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1980, during the Reagan Administration, and was promoted to National Security Advisor in 1987.
powell changes the history books
When Powell was named Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1989, he made history twofold, as the youngest person and the first African-American to work in the position. It was back to the military for Powell, only this time as the highest member of the Pentagon, when American troops were sent to the Persian Gulf and Operation Desert Storm was underway in 1991. As history proved, it was successful, thanks in large part to Powell.
After his retirement from the army in 1993, Powell took two years to complete his autobiography, entitled My American Journey. It went on to become a bestseller, while Powell spent time as a public speaker both in the U.S. and abroad.
Powell's 35-year military career has granted him a long list of honors and foreign military awards in his rise to four-star General, such as the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Soldier's Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart.
After Powell chaired the President's Summit for America's Future in Philadelphia in 1997, he helped found America's Promise -- the Alliance for Youth, an organization that aims to make children one of the highest priorities in the U.S. and is dedicated to fulfilling five specified promises that are necessary for the advancement of America's children.
Powell has added a long list of military awards to his name, but he has also earned civilian awards, which include the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. Powell was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth of England as the Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.
In addition to his work with America's Promise, Powell is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Howard University, the Board of Directors of the United Negro College Fund, the Board of Governors of The Boys and Girls Club of America, and the Advisory Board of the Children's Health Fund.
powell becomes secretary of state
Making history once again, Powell was sworn in as U.S. Secretary of State in January 2001, as nominated by then-President George W. Bush.
He may be the first African-American to have served as Secretary of State, responsible for the U.S. foreign affairs issues, but to former Alma Vivian Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama, Powell is a husband. He has been married to Alma Vivian since 1962, and together they have three children -- Michael, Linda and Anne -- and two grandsons -- Jeffrey and Bryan -- who Michael's sons.
powell resigns
On November 12, 2004, Powell announced his resignation as Secretary of State, but he kept his position until his replacement, Condoleezza Rice, was officially elected by the Senate (85 to 13) and sworn in on January 26, 2005. During his long and illustrious career, former Secretary Colin Powell earned the trust of the American people, and will remain a powerful and influential figure in U.S. history.
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|X chromosome inactivation does not define the development of premature ovarian failure in fragile X premutation carriers.
|Spath, M.A. ; Nillesen, W.M.; Smits, A.P.T. ; Feuth, A.B. ; Braat, D.D.M. ; Geurts van Kessel, A.H.M. ; Yntema, H.G.
|Publication year:
|American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, vol. 152A, iss. 2, (2010), pp. 387-393
|Publication type:
|Article / Letter to editor
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item : http://hdl.handle.net/2066/87444
|IGMD 3: Genomic disorders and inherited multi-system disorders
NCEBP 12: Human Reproduction
NCMLS 3A: Genetics and epigenetic pathways of disease
NCEBP 12: Human Reproduction
|Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Human Genetics
Health Evidence
|Former Organization:
|Epidemiology, Biostatistics & HTA
|Journal title:
|American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
|vol. 152A
|iss. 2
|Page start:
|p. 387
|Page end:
|p. 393
Since only 20% of female fragile X premutation carriers develop premature ovarian failure (POF, i.e., amenorrhea before age of 40 years), and since X chromosome inactivation (XCI) determines the phenotypic severity of full mutation women, we reasoned that the development of POF in fragile X premutation carriers could be due to skewed XCI (XCI ratio >80:20). To determine inactivation ratios and activities of the premutations, inactivation patterns were assessed in peripheral blood samples from 101 fragile X premutation carriers (mean age 47.1 years, range 12-72) through analysis of the AR and FMR1 loci, respectively. In addition, AR inactivation patterns were assessed in peripheral blood samples from 25 women with idiopathic POF (mean age 31.7 years, range 19-48). We addressed the association between age and skewed XCI because older women are prone to XCI skewness. The median XCI ratios were 68% for premutation carriers with POF (N = 37), 67% for premutation carriers without POF (N = 64) and 61% for women with idiopathic POF (N = 25). The incidence of skewing was similar in all groups, that is, 7 of 37 (18.9%) in premutation carriers with POF, 11 of 64 (17.2%) in premutation carriers without POF, and 3 of 25 (12%) in women with idiopathic POF. There was good concordance between inactivation ratios at the two loci tested in 62 premutation carriers (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.86; P < 0.01). No age-specific skewing was observed. Skewed XCI and activity of the premutation are not associated with POF in fragile X premutation carriers.


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Seeing "IHA" and "Fails" together in the title of an article in the nation's premier health policy journal was not an outcome that we anticipated when the bundled payment initiative described by M. Susan Ridgely et. al in the August issue of Health Affairs was launched.
The key objective of the Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA)'s initiative was to implement over 20 payer-provider bundled payment contracts, resulting in completion of more than 500 bundled cases within the first two years of the project. During the third year of the project, researchers were to conduct both a clinical and an economic evaluation to test how bundled payments affect the quality and cost of care, in conjunction with an implementation evaluation to determine the scalability of this approach.
Looking back, these targets seem highly optimistic; but at the pilot's launch, both IHA and its stakeholders had a number of reasons to be confident. The pilot was well funded by a three-year grant from the Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ), building on two rounds of planning and feasibility work over four years funded by the Blue Shield of California Foundation and the California HealthCare Foundation. In addition, there was a high level of interest and enthusiasm among a core group of providers and health plans that had a prior history of collaboration in a California physician pay for performance program.
As we approached the end of the second year of the pilot, only a few contracts had been executed between plans and providers, yielding a small number of bundled cases completed. Although some progress was being made on additional contracts, it was clear that we would not achieve the quantitative goals we had envisioned. We shared this status update with AHRQ, which had funded our demonstration and evaluation.
Recognizing that we were unlikely to execute the targeted number of contracts within the grant period, AHRQ suggested that we focus our efforts on another component of the grant-funded activity: supporting the researchers conducting the implementation evaluation, fully documenting all that could be learned from this experience, and broadly disseminating the results. In that way, other payers and providers could benefit from our experience and make more rapid progress on their own bundled payment initiatives.
While it is difficult to acknowledge and accept failure, particularly in a widely-read and well-respected public forum such as Health Affairs, "learning from failure" must be more than just a platitude in the high stakes of health reform. To be clear, we agree that the process and outcome of this pilot were accurately described by the evaluators. However, it is important that the results be interpreted not as a death sentence for bundled payment, but as an early, hard-fought battle offering important lessons.
As the implementation team, we were very interested in the evaluation's "Lessons for Future Bundled Payment Programs" that could be shared with others – and somewhat disappointed with the brevity of the findings. Project staff and partners worked diligently on each of the issues identified by the evaluators (e.g., "identify technical solutions for administering bundled payment"); the issues, efforts undertaken, and results are described in detail in Wesley Kary's excellent white paper.
The problem isn't that we didn't anticipate these somewhat obvious issues; the problem is that they are very hard to solve in a collaborative way that works for all of the partners in a voluntary initiative. Indeed, then-IHA staffer Emma Dolan's blog post describes the real-time challenges faced by the project team as the demonstration entered its second year. In the spirit of providing specific guidance to those interested in pursuing this pathway, we offer a few hard-won recommendations.
Start Retrospective, Then Transition to Prospective
A key implementation decision, not highlighted by the evaluators, is whether to adopt a prospective versus a retrospective payment model for bundled payment. The IHA initiative chose the former — prospective payment is well established in California, and stakeholders involved in the pilot felt that a retrospective payment approach (in which fee for service claims would continue to flow and be reconciled later to determine shared savings) would not fully test the impact of bundled payment.
Any bundled payment model requires considerable effort by clinicians and hospital administrators to redesign the approach to care delivery, but a prospective payment model also faces off against existing legal, regulatory, insurance benefit design and claims payment systems in ways we did not fully appreciate.
Prospective bundled payment raised numerous concerns for California regulators charged with protecting consumers, including whether providers were assuming insurance risk, how existing copayments and coinsurance would be applied, and whether consumers should be made aware of the payment arrangement. Nor did we anticipate the difficulty commercial payers would face adjudicating prospective bundled payments.
Based on our experience, we recommend that those interested in testing bundled payment consider initially testing the bundled payment model using a retrospective payment approach. As reported in a recent issue brief by HCI3, retrospective payment is the most common approach currently in use, easing the regulatory and administrative burdens in the early going. It also offers the advantage of developing a reliable financial baseline from which a prospective payment amount can be fairly negotiated. Importantly, this recommendation should not be interpreted as backing away from prospective bundled payment as the ultimate goal; rather, it is a practical, transitional step.
Put Care Redesign at the Center of Bundled Payment Implementation
Bundled payment is generally touted as a promising example of payment innovation — but the true benefit of bundling payments derives from reengineering care delivery, not from combining separately paid line items into a single tab. Bundled payment provides the impetus, but the work of care redesign must follow if the promise of bundled payment is to be realized: reductions in unnecessary care, reductions in readmissions, lower risk and complication rates for patients, and improved patient function and outcomes.
This important work can only be successful with strong clinical leadership backed by committed management. This formula was effectively demonstrated by the Hoag Orthopedic Institute. Hoag was an active participant in the bundled payment demonstration that undertook a major initiative to redesign care for total hip and knee replacement aimed at both improving care and ensuring that bundled payments would cover the costs of these procedures.
Care redesign requires significant attention, and can easily be overwhelmed by the myriad of other administrative details necessary to implement bundled payment. It is with this challenge in mind that, in its own Bundled Payment for Care Improvement (BPCI) initiative, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has put equal emphasis on the care redesign and administrative aspects of bundled payment.
Target Markets in Which Bundled Payment Represents a Significant Step Forward
It may be tempting to look at the results reported by Ridgely et. al and conclude that if a group of experienced innovators can't make bundled payment work in California, where prospective payment is historically embedded, its prospects seem dim elsewhere. In reality, the deep experience in the California market with prospective payments — capitation in particular — worked against the pilot.
In order for HMOs to participate in the initiative, they would have had to unwind existing capitation arrangements to allow for prospective bundled payments. This essentially limited participation in the demonstration to PPO contracts. In addition, California providers and health plans were deeply engaged in the development of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and related contractual arrangements. Total population management, the holy grail of the ACO movement, was a more logical extension of existing capitation payment arrangements. To some organizations, particularly non-hospital based physician organizations, bundled payment appeared to be a distraction.
In many areas of the U.S., where the health care delivery system is highly fragmented and reimbursement remains largely on a fee-for-service basis, bundled payment offers a more immediate on-ramp to value-based payment. For example, the state of Arkansas tackled retrospective bundled payment as its initial foray into value based payment based in part on a relatively fragmented delivery system with low risk-bearing among provider systems.
Follow the Leader: CMS
One of the IHA demonstration's core limitations should be familiar to anyone who has ever championed a voluntary initiative: it requires agreement from multiple partners, each with a small slice of plan membership and patient population. This underscores the importance of Medicare as a driver of bundled payment, based on its large enrollment and high utilization rates – particularly in procedures such as joint replacements, a favorite target of bundled payment. Commercial payers often follow Medicare's lead, and strong leadership from CMS is essential to catalyze the investment of commercial payers in large-scale bundled payment implementation.
Fortunately, CMS has clearly indicated that bundled payment is an important element of its value-based purchasing strategy. This much is clear from CMS's implementation of the ACE Demonstration Project and the more recent and larger-scale Bundled Payments for Care Improvement. Further evidence of this leadership is the under-the-radar national implementation of bundled payment by CMS for dialysis. This initiative has offered extensive results, both positive (lower costs, decline in heart attacks and strokes) and negative (higher blood transfusions initially at certain locations), as recently articulated by Jonathan Blum as he departed CMS.
For bundled payment to take hold on a national scale, CMS must stay the course with these initial efforts and ultimately develop a standard set of bundled payments, ideally prospective. This will take time – and there will certainly be other initiatives with disappointing results along the way.
Owning Our Failure – And Our Contribution
For those of us who have worked on this initiative, the sting of failure has long since worn off, replaced by a commitment to sharing both our tangible materials and our insights.
Among them, the demonstration project:
- Catalyzed payers and several established technology vendors to develop and test payment software to accommodate bundles, inspiring at least one national health plan to test and implement new software for this purpose.
- Activated interest among California provider organizations and health plans in clinical integration and value-based payment strategies.
- Prompted state regulators in California to articulate their concerns with prospective bundled payment, which in turn helped others understand and anticipate regulatory issues in their respective states.
- Produced ten well-vetted and fully-specified bundles, available to serve as a starting point for other innovators attempting to define and implement bundled payment.
- Created specifications and methods to analyze retrospective cost data to understand episode costs and price bundled payments.
- Produced contracting models and templates which have been used by payers in their own bundled payment initiatives.
- Engaged leading provider organizations in the important and difficult process of care redesign.
Notwithstanding the failure label, we believe the demonstration was a success in some significant respects. Contracts were signed, and patients seen; providers were paid prospectively for clearly-defined episodes of care, and this activity has continued beyond the end of the demonstration project. In spite of the challenges, a policy roundtable that we convened at the close of the initiative generated clear consensus among participants that the effort was worthwhile – and that payers, providers, and policy makers should continue to pursue bundled payment.


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CLEARLAKE -- The Clearlake Planning Commission's response to a proposed ordinance governing the cultivation of medical marijuana was something short of a standing ovation, but at the end of the night, the five members basically supported the draft, with several modifications and additions.
City manager Joan Phillipe said the draft ordinance was prepared in consultation with city counsel and other legal support, and with a priority of avoiding the type of litigation that other county and municipal governments have typically faced.
As models, Phillipe said, "We've used ordinances that have met and survived legal challenges."
She said the new ordinances of the county and the City of Lakeport were considered, along with others, as city staff put together the draft in recent months.
The ordinance limits the numbers of marijuana plants to be grown on any parcel smaller than a half-acre to six plants, on lots between one-half and one acre to 12 plants, between one and five acres to 18 plants, and between five and 40 acres to 36 plants.
A limit of 48 plants can be grown on 40 or more acres.
Commission member Al Bernal said he's convinced that the ordinance will lead to more marijuana cultivation, which will inevitably lead to more crime. "I see a lot of potential for increased crime, especially if we don't have (enough) code enforcement," he said. "Come the end of growing season, there's a lot of money to be made by going around and stealing plants."
"But if we don't have the ordinance, law enforcement won't have anything to go after them with," new commission member Cheryl Hutchinson said.
That was the basic train of thought for commission members -- that the ordinance is going to present some challenges, but having one is better than not having one.
"The cat's out of the bag. The horse is out of the barn," Bernal said. "Maybe we can't do anything about it. But it still concerns me that (marijuana) is going to be more available."
"We have to have something in place," agreed Carl Webb , though he also voiced reservations about the ordinance.
The commission did agree by 5-0 vote to make four modifications to the ordinance that will next go before the city council.
They include a starting date of the ordinance for January of 2014 to avoid potential lawsuits brought against the city by growers who are in the middle of their growing season; set-backs (away from the property line) of 20-25 feet on quarter-acre lots and 10-15 feet on smaller lots (no minimum space "set-back" requirements are included in the ordinance); and that clarifications are made to the parts of the ordinance that refer to schools ("no cultivation within 600 feet" ? but is a daycare facility a school? A college?); and of the term "approved residential use."
Lake County attorney Ron Green, representing the Emerald Unity Coalition, which includes California NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and Lake County Green Farmers, said that though he's generally in support of the draft, said he'd prefer if it stipulated that enforcement would be "complaint-driven" ? in other words, without a specific citizen's complaint of a violation, law enforcement would basically ignore it.
Rich Mellott is a staff reporter for Lake County Publishing. Contact him at 263-5636, ext. 14 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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If y'all haven't noticed already, I'm not JUST a beauty blogger. In fact, sometimes I wonder if I should even call myself that anymore. I feel like "lifestyle blogger" is more fitting.. Don't get me wrong, Clumps of Mascara will always be Beauty 1st, but the world is huge. And I love sharing photography, events, food and total randomness with you guys.
That said, who wants free pizza?
I'm not even kidding, I'm giving away free pizza. Here's how the back story on that.
Last week I had the opportunity of meeting up with other blogger at a media event for Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza. Prior to everything starting, I snapped a few shots of the restaurants.
That's the guy's beer, not mine. I don't drink much alcohol and if I do, it's not comin' from beer. Yucky! Anthony's CFP has such a nice feel to it. It's got a sports bar meets Friday night family dinner meets first date kind of touch to it.
As the bloggers arrived, we all gathered around and got to take a sneak peek at what makes Anthony's CFP different than other pizza joints. After making the pizza (sauce goes on top), it is placed in a coal fired pizza oven. Master pizza geniuses have to keep moving the pizza around and around so that it doesn't burn.
And the results are pipping hot delicious pizza! But that's not all we had.
We sampled everything on the Anthony's CFP menu. From the coal oven roasted chicken wings to fresh mozzarella and tomato salad. The red meat eaters (not me) enjoyed the broccoli rabe and sausage, meatballs with ricotta cheese and and pork ribs with vinegar peppers. Everything was amaziiiing. When even got to chit-chat with THEE Anthony of Anthony's CFP.
We took a few pictures, tweeted lots of tweets and like true bloggers, spent 3 minutes taking pictures before diving in.
The good folx from Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza have given me a $25 to gift any Clumps of Mascara reader! The catch? Well, I guess it would help if you lived in the areas where the restaurants are located. There are over 25 locations from Orlando, Florida to Miami, White Plains, New York, Wilmington, Delaware and more. Here's what you gotta do to win.
- Visit the website to see which location is nearest you or someone you'd like to win the gift card for.
- Become a fan of Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza on Facebook. For every LIKE, a dollar will be donated to the Dan Marino (he's parter, by the way) Foundation to support the National Autism Awareness Month.
- Shoot an email to email@example.com with the subject "I WANT PIZZA" telling me which Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza is nearest you.
Zee Rules:
-U.S. residents only
-Contest ends Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 12:00 PM EST
-Have you won a giveaway within the past 6 months? Give someone else a chance, homie.
-Winner will be selected at random
-Family members/personal friends of B are not eligible
-In the event that a winner does not respond in 3 days, another person will be selected
-Click here for additional rules and regulations for giveaways hosted on Clumps of Mascara.
Sounds easy enough, uh? Good luuuuuck!


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The effects of thawing permafrost on global climate change is not being taken into account by government agencies seeking to create treaties on carbon dioxide and methane emission, according to a new report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Permafrost -- ground that is permanently frozen -- makes up about a quarter of the land surface in the Northern Hemisphere and a giant swath of Alaska. As permafrost thaws, carbon dioxide and methane are released into the atmosphere.
UNEP's report urges the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to assess the impact of thawing permafrost in the Arctic.
While targets for the proposed UN climate change treaty limit warming to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures by 2100, this target does not take into account the release of emissions from permafrost. Arctic and alpine air temperatures are expected to increase at around twice the global rate, thawing permafrost at a quicker rate than accounted for in current climate change models.
"A global temperature increase of 3 degrees Celsius means a 6 degrees Celsius increase in the Arctic, resulting in an irreversible loss of anywhere between 30 to 85 percent of near-surface permafrost," according to the UNEP.
The UNEP is advising that nations with extensive permafrost, including Russia, Canada, China and the U.S., create monitoring networks to track its changes. "This report seeks to communicate to climate treaty negotiators, policy makers, and the general public the implications of continuing to ignore the challenges of warming permafrost," said UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.


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Search billions of records on Ancestry.com
Information for Eva Myrtle Still Holton
4 December, 1887 - 3 November,
Obituary from
The Idaho Press-Tribune
Many hours have been spent providing the
information you see on our website. Please
let us know, using the email address below,
if you have found useful information or
if you enjoyed the website. Thanks!
Myrtle Holton
Mrs. Eva Myrtle Holton, 80, Greenleaf, died Sunday at a
Caldwell hospital. She was born Dec. 4, 1887, at Lock
Springs, Mo.
she moved with her parents to Western Kansas by covered wagon
at the age of eight, and later to Liberal, Kan. She was
married to John A. Holton on Feb. 19, 1911, at Gate, Okla.
They moved to Kansas in 1920, to Colorado in 1934, and shortly
after to Greenleaf. They resided in Concordia, Kan. for
10 years before returning to Greenleaf where they had since
resided. Mr. Holton preceded her in death in 1966.
She was a member of the Greenleaf Friends Church.
Surviving Mrs. Holton are five sons, Albert of Concordia,
Floyd of Fruitland, Rex of Boise, Charles of Caldwell and John
of Boise; two daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Trost and Mrs. Betty
McIndoo, both of Greenleaf; a brother, Donald Still of
liberal, Kan., 32 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the
Greenleaf Friends Church by the Rev. Kenneth Pitts.
Interment will be at Greenleaf under the direction of Dakan
Free larger headstone
photo available upon request.
Obituaries are transcribed as published by the newspapers, or as sent to
by others. Spelling and grammar will not be changed in the article itself
a note may be posted upon request to help correct errors. If
a correction note, please send source(s) for the correction.


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MetroplexJim Even though a police investigation had cleared him of the (initial) 1998 charges, Sandusky - in his coaching prime - mysteriously and suddenly "retired" at the end of that season. To me that would seem to be an attitude of "zero tolerance" on the part of Coach Paterno. What more could he do? Call the police that had already cleared Sandusky? As Sandusky, absent any conviction, was out of a job he negotiated both a cash settlement from PSU and continuing access to its facilities. Clearly though, Sandusky did not want to "retire": my alma mater, U.Va., reportedly offered him the head coaching position in he had sought in 2000, but mysteriously and suddenly withdrew the offer. As Virginia's retiring coach was a protege of Coach Paterno it does not take much imagination to think that JoePa "dropped a dime". Regarding the "locker room incident" McQueary testifed under oath to the grand jury that he was purposefully vague with Paterno, out of deference to his age and generation. He said, "You don't talk about those things with Joe Paterno." Despite having the benefit of only a highly sanitized version of what had happened Coach Paterno told his boss, the Director of Athletics and his boss' boss, the Vice President for Administration to investigate. Both those individuals have now been indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice. Not only did they commit those crimes, they violated both Paterno's trust and, given his earned position, directive. To me, the $60 million "fine", the $65 million in bowl revenue that the Big 10 will withhold and donate to charity, the devastation of its football program, and the huge civil settlements still yet to come are insufficient prices to pay for the craven "institutional failure" on such a scale. What more within the law or not causing a tort could Paterno have done? As Captain, he went down with the ship. As Paterno already has six feet of mud on his face, let's let him rest.
The NCAA penalties:
$60 million fine
the loss of all of coach Joe Paterno's victories from 1998-2011
four-year ban on bowl games
the loss of 20 scholarships per year over four years
five years' probation
any current or incoming football players are free to immediately transfer & compete at another school
Mosca All this says is that Paterno had to be an idiot to not know. So the choices are 1) Paterno was an idiot and didn't know, but was an iron fisted ruler of the PSU campus (by all accounts, he was), or 2) Paterno knew, and covered it up. Of those choices, #2 is more likely. The man was no idiot.
If he knew it is the same as committing the crime yourself.
If it was your Son and you found out that he knew what would you do?
Also: I take no pleasure in someones misfortune. The whole thing makes me sick. Pathetic above the law pigs sitting idle while they allow this thing to molest children. Destroying and scarring them for ever. Stealing from them innocence and a whole life. They were so messed up they held it in for years. How dare you imply that I took pleasure out of this. If it were my son Sandusky never would have made it to jail.
If Paterno did not know about it and hid it. Then why are they removing him from the University?
stricken_detective "A body of rights, obligations, and remedies that is applied by courts in civil proceedings to provide relief for persons who have suffered harm from the wrongful acts of others. The person who sustains injury or suffers pecuniary damage as the result of tortious conduct is known as the plaintiff, and the person who is responsible for inflicting the injury and incurs liability for the damage is known as the defendant or tortfeasor".
stricken_detectiveI can't believe you're defending an abuser's enabler.
MetroplexJim I'm sure that he went to his grave wondering the same thing.
plb What about women's sports? Generally women's basketball loses money and is subsidized by the profits from men's basketball. That leaves football to pay for all other women's, and most of the costs of other men's sports. If they fine the football program and put in policies that lessen its revenue, where will the money come from? Will they cut women's sports or pay for them from the academic budget? (per The WSJ, football generates $50.6 million while spending $10.4 million)
CCinNJ Maybe their objective was to just keep "it" away from Penn State....even if it meant helping Second Mile be the place where he did his thing.


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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
I am already neutered, up to date with shots, good with kids, and good with dogs.
Now for my story. I have been living in a kennel for a long time because there just aren't enough foster homes, and as a result I have become institutionalized and overly possessive of my toys. I would love to become a special somebody's dog but at this point I would have a very difficult time making the transition from kennel living to home living. My people have come up with a plan to help me but I am in between the proverbial "rock and a hard place". I have found a place that does doggie rehab which will reteach me how to live in a home but it won't do me any good to go through rehab if I don't have a home to go to once I have completed my rehabilitation. If you are that special someone who would be willing to take me into your home and give me the patience, love, and guidance that I so deserve please talk to my people. This is the first time my people are trying this approach so we can all be stars when I make a successful move to your home!!
Thanks so much!
Houston-Adopted!, a Detroit Bulldog/American Pit Bull Terrier dog was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Bulldog/American Pit Bull Terrier for sale in Detroit, or seeking a Bulldog/American Pit Bull Terrier dog from a breeder in Detroit.


text:
Today's Devotional
Crossing Cultural DividesHow can you cross cultural divides and engage with the strangers next door?
Top Music Videos
monlayenterprises's FavoritesBack to monlayenterprises's channel.
- Baby Got BookIt was created by Dan Smith while he was working at New Life Christian Church (Centreville, VA) for a Sunday morning sermon.
Dan's personal website is http://www.whiteboydj.com, and user...jaser72008-03-17T00:00:001,363,897 views00:04:25
- Steve Harvey introduces Jesus ChristAn introduction worth watching and sharing as well.beverlybmusic2008-03-17T00:00:00539,815 views00:03:22
- Michael w Smith - Awesome GodMichael W Smith - Awesome Godfernandomartinez2008-03-17T00:00:00102,301 views00:03:39
- Comedian Mark Gungor - Men & Sex (LaughYourWay.com)Comedian Mark Gungor talks about men and their sex drive. Funny Stuff! www.laughyourway.commollossus2008-03-17T00:00:0034,400 views00:00:33
- Eloise - Who Ya Worshippin'?Watch and enjoy!
http://www.imb.org/main/searchresults.asplittlefreakyman2008-03-17T00:00:00127,863 views00:01:13
- Christian Comedian Michael Jr. goes JoggingMichael Jr is just jogging as a lady starts to run, so to be safe, he starts to run as wellmichaeljrcomedy2008-03-17T00:00:00202,534 views00:01:43
- "Everyday Life"This is a video that I had originally animated for myspace. However as I was making I realized that it had a much bigger audience that it could reach. I made this movie so that people will think about their relationship with God. I hope this touch...r-mccoy2008-03-17T00:00:00163,853 views00:02:28
- Satan's meetingSatan's meeting: about how he keeps the Christians to busy and pulled away from the relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.
www.revelationministriesoutreach.orgrevterry12008-03-17T00:00:00330,778 views00:05:28
- Lifehouse Everything Skit (LA nightclub)the infamous lifehouse skit is taken by Dancer Criscilla Crossland to the Choreographers Carnival, a major dance production in a Los Angeles nightclub. Witnessed by a complete secular audience....A huge industry night of dancers, celebrities, and ...dreamcenterdance2008-03-26T00:00:00157,336 views00:06:09
- EXPELLED Movie - Super TrailerIn a controversial new satirical documentary, author, former presidential speechwriter,
economist, lawyer and actor Ben Stein travels the world, looking to some of the best
scientific minds of our generation for the answer to the biggest questio...expelledthemovie2010-10-01T22:24:4128,613 views00:02:04
- WALK IT OUT!!!WWalk it out 4 Jesus! No matter the stumbling block...keep moving forward...JESUS is walking with u! Lunie 380 is the artist.yeahwecool2010-10-01T22:24:5116,714 views00:06:04
- I Love My Lips Silly SongLarry love his lips! Check out this fan favorite, and for more information, visit http://bigidea.com321penguins12010-10-01T22:25:3555,317 views00:03:22
- The Movie of your Life ... Your Eternal LifeShows the past life of many persons and how they can still make-up for their sinful past, trusting in God's saving mercy.quierosersanto2010-10-01T22:36:143,945 views00:02:00
- Talyor Swift - Place in this World Music VideoI made this video with the footage from her DVD "Place in this World". I used the clips of her in the studio and footage of her journey to stardom. :)zoekat182010-10-01T22:36:1510,139 views00:03:24
- Happy wife, Happy lifeBlaine share some of the secrets of having a truly happy marriage by having a happy wife, real insight to making a marriage last and lastpraisecity2010-10-01T22:40:394,206 views00:05:47
- Christian Clown TrainingChristian Clown Training - Its kind of cheesy but we can all get a good laugh every now and again.hulahan2010-10-01T22:42:5829,162 views00:01:31


text:
SP 4500 - Spanish Seminar
Credits: 3
This course is repeatable
Open to especially able and interested students with initiative for advanced study and seminar discussion. Promotes further studies to increase knowledge in the realms of culture, film, art, and literature. Seminar discussions along with technological presentations enhance and deepen student awareness and appreciation of the artistic, social, and academic Spanish-speaking world. Conducted in Spanish.
*All course information is from the 2016-2017 Catalog.


text:
HAIRCLIPPER Series 5000 - Cuts twice as fast*
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Power through any hair type with our advanced DualCut Technology, which combines a double-sharpened cutting element with low-friction engineering. The innovative cutting element is designed to cut hair twice as fast as standard Philips clippers, with the added confidence of a robust steel guard for ultimate durability.*
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Turn the zoom wheel to simply select and lock in the length you want, with 23 length settings from 1 to 23 mm, and precisely 1 mm between each length. Or you can use it without the comb for a close 0.5-mm trim.
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All of our grooming products are built to last. They come with a worldwide guarantee and worldwide voltage compatibility. Simply register your clipper at www.philips.com/5years to receive an additional 3 years on top of your standard 2-year Philips guarantee, giving you a 5-year worldwide warranty in total.
Use your Philips hair clipper to style your beard. It comes with 2 dedicated beard comb attachments to give you the complete style you want.
Your clipper comes with a reliable hard case for complete durability, to ensure it is kept in optimum condition for ultimate power and precision, time after time.
No oil needed, for easy maintenance and to save you time.


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Neighbor: I thought drowned boy was playing
Gridley boy drowns after being trapped in canal pipe
GRIDLEY, Calif. - A 12-year-old Gridley boy is dead after drowning in a canal Tuesday afternoon.
According to the Butte County Sheriff's Office the boy was swimming in an irrigation ditch a little after 3 p.m. southeast of Gridley near Humble and Archer Avenues when he became trapped in a pipe.
Neighbors heard the boy's friend frantically calling for help.
"They play all the time. At first I thought they were playing but he just kept screaming," said Larry Loughmiller, whose home sits just in front of the canal.
Loughmiller and three others heeded the cries, including a man named Zach who tried heroically to save him.
"I took off running and Zach took off running and his little daughter, and Zach jumped right in right away. And (Zach's) uncle, the both of them couldn't move him."
A sheriff's official said the boy was underwater for approximately 30 minutes before he was pulled from the canal.
"It took I think about six fireman and they could just pull him out a little bit at a time," Loughmiller said.
The boy was taken to a hospital where he was soon pronounced dead.
Loughmiller, who was born and raised in the Archer Avenue area and swam in the canals as a child, says they can be treacherous if precautions aren't taken around pipes draining into fields.
"Getting in front of those pipes, they're very swift. When they're wide open there's a big current, it's like an undertow and it could suck you in."
The Sheriff's Office says they've had deputies in the area recently to warn children not to swim in the canals due to possible dangers.
An investigation into the incident is underway.


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Feature Article of Sunday, 2 September 2012
Columnist: Nkrumah-Boateng, Rodney
Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng (firstname.lastname@example.com)
It takes a solid pair of brass balls for the antelope to saunter lazily into the lion's den uninvited, plant its flag within inches of the lion's paws, look deep and defiantly into those fiery eyes and demand, 'Yes, I am here, and what you gonna do about it, eh?' And yet that is precisely what the ruling Umbrella Party just did by invading Oseikrom, the capital of Ashanti, deemed a World Bank of the opposition Elephant Party. The Umbrellas were clearly bent on transforming it to a rural bank for the Elephants. I was tempted to dream about the prospect of the Elephants holding a Congress at Ho, the capital of the Volta Region. Or somewhere in Ketu South. Then I promptly banished such 'elephantine' thoughts from my feeble brain before they developed fertile roots.
But the arrival of the umbrella army was not without preamble and drama. The Umbrella people were apparently unhappy that some Elephant flags were fluttering noisily in the breeze around the Baba Yara Stadium, one of the action scenes, and threatened to remove them. Apparently they suspected that these flags had been deliberately hoisted by the opposition people to taunt them. They demanded a 'no flag' zone for the elephants. Maybe the face of the Chief Elephant irritated them. Or perhaps it gave them nightmares or even diarrhoea. We will never know. But the elephants stomped about and dared the Umbrellas to go ahead, reminding them that the Baba Yara Stadium's premises were not sovereign Umbrella territory under any law. These booklong people!! Somehow, the overheated testosterone-induced machismo noise from both camps died down.
As for the Umbrella people, they came paa…From all corners of the country, they poured into the city in droves, like an invading army. But you see, umbrellas come in grades and pedigree, so the big boys took to the skies and landed in style at the Oseikrom Airport to wild cheers, music and drumming by umbrella supporters, many of whom had never climbed the stairs of an aircraft in their lives and probably never would. The Chief Umbrella, his vice, his ministers, big party guys and some other appointees, including, 'taflatse', the 'Greedy Erm…' all came by air. The airlines made a lot of money indeed. Of course, like John The Baptist, the national security people had arrived ahead to prepare the grounds and ensure the security of the Chief Umbrella and his VVIP entourage.
The next grade came at high speed in their official Landcruisers, with police outriders screeching and clearing the way for them. Then there were those who came in their own cars, honking and proudly displaying the red, green, black and white flags of their cherished party. Finally, of course, came the 'popular stand' umbrellas, crammed into sweaty buses and singing their hearts out. By Wednesday evening, most of the umbrellas had arrived. Hotels, restaurants, bars, and night vendors were doing brisk business, and someone even whispered into my ear that 'Sisters of the Night' were not left out of the action as crisp cedi notes ,( a.k.a 'kudi', a.k.a l'argent, a.k.a sika, a.k.a geld, etc) flowed like a monsoon-fed river all over the city.
The next day was for business. All roads led to the stadium. Umbrella posters, flags, hats, caps, t-shirts, key rings and a host of paraphernalia were proudly displayed, and sales were rather brisk, with party faithful brightly clad in party colours. But here, only delegates could enter the stadium grounds, for this was a special delegates' congress to enstool their nominated sole candidate. 'Pure water', chewing gum, hacks, orange and 'bofrot' vendors had wide smiles plastered on their faces as they did brisk business. After all, Christmas does not come every day.
Inside the stadium, the Chief Umbrella, accompanied by his queen, made a grand entry like an A-list celebrity couple, to deafening cheers. He smiled broadly, waved and blew kisses at the crowd. They went wild and shouted, stomped their feet and waved anything they could grab with an umbrella embossed on it. And then the proceedings began and speech after speech came.
Eventually the voting commenced. I wonder whether the Chief Umbrella bit his fingernails and sat on tenterhooks at this stage, wondering whether he was going to get the nod. Shockingly, he was able to secure the endorsement of only 99.5% of the delegates. One wonders what went through the heads of the 0.5% disloyal delegates who did not want the 54-year old Chief Umbrella, who we are incessantly told represents the youth vote, to become the Umbrella flagbearer. Maybe they were confused by the youth claim against the background of the many strands of grey hair adorning his head. But how dared they? Maybe Field Marshall Mosquito should launch an enquiry, flush out these miserable traitors and have them shot at dawn.
Then it was time for The Special One, the Great Umbrella himself and the founder of the umbrella fraternity, to address the party faithful. Now, the Special One does not do bland pepper-free speeches. Hell No!! He spits hot spices into your face and makes your eyes water. The party gurus, including the cat-killer and the mosquito, must have had sleepless nights wondering whether to invite him or not. After all, he is a political 'santrofi' bird-if you invite him, trouble, and if you don't invite him, more trouble. In the end, their decision to invite him was probably inspired by the four words: 'All Die Be Die'.
Hearts leapt into throats and threatened to lodge there permanently. Will he boom? Or has he seen the light and come back home, like a prodigal founder? They wondered and they sweated. The Special One, now all grizzled and rather rotund, but still able to breathe fire through his nostrils and emit smoke from his ears, must have savoured those delicious yet tense moments as he thought back to the old glorious days of the revolution. In those days, on his order, Ghanaians went to bed at 6pm like chickens and were not allowed out till 6am the next day. Who born dog, eh?
But today, The Special One was not going to boom-not in the 'greedy bastards' and 'bootlickers' sense, that is. As a senior citizen aged 65 years, he had decided to speak in codes and parables, a style so beloved by our white-haired elders as a mark of wisdom. And so he spoke about invective-spewing babies with granite-hard teeth, urging that the party be purged of them together with the waters they had dirtied. And those who had ears listened and nodded gravely, for The Special One was making plenty of sense. And those who knew in their hearts that he was referring to them must have smiled wanly and fidgeted 'small' in their seats, perhaps quickly running their tongues over their teeth to check whether they were indeed razor-sharp. And The Special One also talked about rotten bridges and many other things. He weaved and bobbed and left his audience to figure him out. Then he sat down.
Conspicuous by her absence was Empress Umbrella, who was presumably still smarting and sulking over her little embarrassment at the hands of the former Chief Umbrella last year. She stayed put in Accra-'duku', sunglasses and all. Perhaps she had an important PTA meeting to attend or some shopping to do at Makola. Or maybe she forgot, or pretended to forget, that all the umbrellas were having a party in Oseikrom. Plus she had demanded her umbrella back not too long ago, causing a great deal of angst and anguish in the Umbrella Party. Presumably she had wisely reckoned that she would not be given a particularly enthusiastic welcome if she set foot at the grounds. They might even boo her, those rude small boys and girls!!!
Bubbling with excitement and pumped full with adrenalin, the army headed to the Jubilee Park from the stadium for a rally, blaring horns, punishing their lungs and dancing. Oseikromanians going about their business or busily preparing their light soup as the fufu was being pounded with gusto, could only watch with wry amusement as the carnival train passed by. More speeches at Jubilee Park, followed by more merrymaking, and congress was over. After the rally, many retired to their beds whilst the more sturdy ones with solid bladders crowded the bars and made merry. Of course, in the Golden Tulip hotel and other places of similar pedigree, the choice drinks were Black Label whiskey, Courvoisier and the like, accompanied by hearty conversation, loud guffaws and all manner of roasted/grilled/fried meat. Meanwhile, the footsoldiers and others slightly above that rank sought refuge in beer, Gulder and Kasapreko Gin. Monkeys play by sizes, you see. Clearly some well-known Umbrellas looked very well-fed and had sprouted enviable pot-bellies and fleshy cheeks of various dimensions over the past few years. Money swine!!!
On Friday morning, the Umbrellas began to fold up and head out of town. It had been a dizzy, heady experience for the excited party supporters. In their moments of euphoria, some had declared that their party was united, even though it was obvious that The Special One had set rather onerous conditions for returning to the campaign and the Empress Umbrella was still sulking in Accra. They also declared that Oseikrom and Ashanti would fall into their lap in December 2012 and become another branch of their World Bank. Now, whether such talk was whiskey/brandy-induced is hard to tell, but it appears Oseikromanians were more interested in the wonders the umbrella cash was doing to their city's economy than the 'sacrilege' of voting for the umbrella.
The Umbrellas came to town and had a good time. They adopted MTN's slogan 'E dey be k3k3', which was on every Umbrella's lips. But exactly what 'dey be' is hard to decipher. All we can do is mutter under our breaths and scratch our heads in vain as we ponder over this eternal mystery in complete darkness whilst we 'enjoy' load shedding in a Better Ghana.
Ah, well. Maybe it will be revealed to us in all its glory on Judgment (Debt?) Day, which I am told is 7th December 2012.