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SAMJ: South African Medical Journal
versión On-line ISSN 2078-5135
versión impresa ISSN 0256-9574
SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. vol.99 no.7 Cape Town jul. 2009
Take government to concourt - ethics expert
Chris Bateman
The risk of a doctors' strike sacrificing some lives to win improved care so more lives can be saved in future was a questionable ethical approach when a more humanitarian alternative existed, a top bio-ethics expert says.
Professor Ames Dhai, head of the Steve Biko BioEthics Centre at the University of the Witwatersrand, suggests doctors take government to the Constitutional Court to address broken government promises and dismal patient care. She was asked how one allocates responsibility for patients during a strike, given the current context of dismal working conditions and salaries in an environment that forces doctors to deliver sub-optimal care.
The newly formed United Doctors Forum (UDF) held an abortive unprotected strike that some claim led to three patient deaths in mid-April. Dhai found it 'difficult' to condone this. The government's lack of support for doctors and patients 'shows they don't understand the Bill of Rights of the Constitution what it means to respect life and human dignity'.
The Constitution guaranteed the progressive realisation of the right of access to health care while the National Health Act was the instrument. 'Not much has happened. It's wrong that the government holds doctors to ransom because of the lack of legal protection.'
By using the Patient Rights Charter in conjunction with the above two legal framesets, a sound argument could be made for improving matters.
Not quite so easy constitutional law expert
However, a cautionary note was sounded by Elsabe Klink, a former SAMA legal advisor and constitutional law expert. Citing the 'within available resources' caveat to the Bill of Rights duty on the state to help people progressively realise access to health care, she said whether the non-implementation of the OSD related to limited resources or to administrative issues, or both, would be the pivotal argument.
In the recent pharmacists' dispensing fee case, the ConCourt regarded access to health care as not only being access to health care products (medicines), but also access to the professionals required to fulfil such rights.
Klink said it could then be argued that the failure to implement the OSD amounted to violations of Section 7 and 27 of the Constitution. However, the ConCourt would 'not easily' direct the state to implement specific steps that would have financial implications (Soobramoney case).1 In the high-profile nevirapine case,2 the court did so, after considering whether implementation would be possible with reference to counselling and the availability of formula feed, among other things.
That the OSD was to have been implemented prior to the current financial crisis could count against the state, but the reality of the current situation remained a major factor.
She said the ConCourt would also have to consider the implications of any ruling for others in a similar situation.
1. Soobramoney v Minister of Health (KwaZulu-Natal) (CCT32/97) [1997] ZACC 17; 1998 (1) SA 765 (CC); 1997 (12) BCLR 1696 (27 November 1997).
2. The Constitutional Court in July 2002 denied the government leave to appeal against a High Court order compelling it to provide anti-AIDS drugs in state hospitals. Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson delivered the judgment, saying there was a pressing need to ensure that the loss of lives was prevented. 'The anxiety of the applicants (the Treatment Action Campaign) is understandable because one is dealing here with a deadly disease,' he said. Chaskalson said the order the Constitutional Court had made would require the government to revise its policy. A comprehensive and co-ordinated programme was necessary to help pregnant women combat HIV, and counselling and testing facilities should be provided at hospitals and clinics. He said doctors should be permitted to prescribe nevirapine in consultation with the hospital superintendent.


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WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 13, 2013) – Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Senior Vice President Matthew Bennett issued the following statement today:
"The President has again proposed to upend the successful Medicare Part D prescription drug program by imposing government price controls on it. The facts about Part D are simple and do not support this radical proposal: Part D succeeds for seniors and taxpayers because it's built on effective competition and the savings negotiated by large powerful private plans—the same plans used by private employers and insurers—on behalf of seniors and taxpayers.
"The proof is in Part D's performance. Part D is now 45% below the cost originally expected, and last week, while reducing Part D's 10-year projected cost by over $100 billion for the third consecutive year, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office pointed out that Part D is the single biggest factor responsible for lower Medicare spending projections. Seniors' Part D premiums have been flat at about $30 per month—less than half the level originally projected—for the last three years. Moreover, CBO has now found that more use of medicines saves money on other health care services; Harvard researchers estimate Part D reduced Medicare spending on hospital care by $13 billion just in its first full year of implementation, savings not even factored into the cost estimate showing that Part D has been remarkably successful in holding down costs.
"The President's proposal to tamper with a program that works well would not yield any benefit for seniors. Instead, analysts have projected that the President's scheme would harm Part D's competitive dynamics, yielding higher premiums, more restrictive access to medicines, and diminished research on the next generation of medicines.
"In his speech tonight, the President recognized the enormous human and economic value of biomedical research, and the extraordinary importance of developing new medicines. We urge the Administration to reconsider its proposals in the same speech to impose punitive policies on the biopharmaceutical research sector, which invents new medicines. The biopharmaceutical sector is one of the most R&D-intensive sectors in the entire economy, accounting for the single largest share - 20% - of research & development funding among all U.S. businesses, according to the National Science Foundation. R&D is critical to the country's long term economic growth and to important medical advances that improve quality of life. Biopharmaceutical sector R&D investment should be fostered, not singled out for destructive policies."
About PhRMA
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading innovative biopharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to discovering and developing medicines that enable patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. Since 2000, PhRMA member companies have invested over $500 billion in the search for new treatments and cures, including an estimated $49.5 billion in 2011 alone.http://www.phrma.org/
Find PhRMA Online:
- Website – http://www.phrma.org
- Facebook – www.facebook.com/PhRMA
- Blog – www.phrma.org/catalyst
- Twitter – www.Twitter.com/PhRMAand www.Twitter.com/PhRMApress
- YouTube – www.youtube.com/PhRMApress
For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: http://www.innovation.org
For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: http://www.pparx.org
For information on ensuring the flow of medicines during public health emergencies, visit http://www.rxresponse.org

subset: commoncrawl


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From a new report from Barclays, the fastest growing private restaurant chains.
Note that this is private restaurants: If Chipotle were on there, it'd be in fourth place at 23% according to Barclays.
Regardless, Five Guys Burgers and Fries tops the list despite the fact that burger restaurants have a more widespread penetration than any other concept. There is approximately one burger joint for every 2,700 people.
A few other things we learned from the report:
- Following burgers, the next biggest category of restaurant is bakery coffee shop: There are over 77,000 of those.
- Five Guys is still only the 14th biggest burger/sandwich chain.
- The biggest family/casual dining chain is IHOP, which continues to grow at a 5.5% annualized rate. Denny's is the second biggest in that category, and it has been shrinking in recent years.
- In terms of restaurant concept growth, Asian appears to be the fastest growing category. It includes names like Panda Express and PF Chang's China Bistro. Overall these restaurants are growing at over 12% per year.


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Download the aapi SDK Creator
Make connecting to the Google YouTube Data API with Dart easy! Start by downloading the SDK creator below and follow the 3 steps to aapi-ness.
The three steps to aapi-ness
- Register for your free aapi account and join our ever growing dev community.
- Add the Google YouTube Data API, search for other APIs, and build your own API within the aapi console for simple management and analytics.
- Integrate your application easily with our Dart SDK for the Google YouTube Data API and SDKs for thousands of other APIs in over seventy programming languages through the aapi SDK Creator.
- the quality or state of being aapi.
- good fortune; pleasure; contentment; joy.


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Outfitting your home, eatery, commercial, or retail location with the best possible air and water treatments is a must. When beginning your search, look no further than Sam's Club for a wide assortment of products at budget-friendly prices. In just a few clicks you can explore a unique set of supplies that will manage your water and air needs.
Filtering and testing your water is a safe practice we all should share. Start examining your water with many practical tools including filtrations systems and reverse osmosis machines. In just a few steps you can learn how to test and examine your water to ensure all toxins and contaminates are removed.
Caring for the air you breathe is just as important as caring for the water your drink. Sam's Club offers an assortment of air treatment supplies including portable machines and supplies designed to filter allergens. By purchasing these supplies you can ensure a clean, fresh breath of air in your home or office. Choose from one of the many portable versions so you can rotate the filtration system from location to location.
In addition, you can also shop for humidifiers and dehumidifiers that keep each room within the moisture levels you require. Whether you suffer from intense allergies or are just searching for items that let you dehumidify the air, Sam's Club can be your one stop shop for great products at affordable prices.


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Times here are SUPER DOOP busy.
I am sorry the blog is a little quiet...and it may be like this while I manage this other project.
It's not that I have forgotten you it's just that.......
This is happening.
Busy does not even cover it.
Exciting and overwhelming all at the same time.
But on the weekend we made some time to take the kids to Heide Museum of Modern Art- one of Melbourne's treasures.
We needed to take a deep breath.
There is an astonishing exhibition of Louise Bourgeois's work on at the moment.
I remember studying her both at school and at Art school. A truly amazing woman.
She died two years ago aged 98. What a full life.
DO go and see this exhibition if you can.
I LOVED this piece.
PROFOUNDLY beautiful in it's simplicity.
And it contains my new manifesto.
|"What are you missing?
I am IMPERFECT but I am lacking nothing"
This week I haven't had time to do my run - not one day! OMG I never thought I would be the person who worried that I wasn't getting time for a run! Who even am I?!!!
But....I am still giving myself time to eat a good breakfast.
The farmers Markets have GORGEOUS tomatillos at the moment.
We have been having them with a few things (DIVINE in tacos) but I LOVE them with eggs.
This salsa was this perfect for this mornings brekky- just an egg and some green habanero chile sauce-so so good.
- 8 tomatillos (peel off the papery skins and cut into quarters)
- 1 avocado cut into chunks
- 1 radish sliced
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
- fresh coriander
- lime juice
- olive oil
Heat a non stick pan to medium heat. Add olive oil.
Pop the garlic in and fry for a minute or so.
Add the tomatillos and fry till you can see a tinge of brown- 4-5 minutes.
Add the tomatillos and fry till you can see a tinge of brown- 4-5 minutes.
Add the cumin powder, stir through and remove from heat.
Pop in a bowl and add the chunks of avocado, sliced radish, chopped fresh coriander and a good squeeze of fresh lime juice.
You know already by now of my family's love for the ukelele.
And I LOVE this band. Perfect egg eating music.


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Play Rugs For Kids
7 Interactive Rugs For Extended Play
7 Interactive Rugs For Extended Play
Transform your lil one's room with a play rug that not only is soft on the toes, but also provides hours of interactive fun. Imaginary play is an important part of your child's development, and a cool rug can transport your tot to amazing places. Your tyke can explore being a construction worker hard at work fixing the roads or can imagine trekking through the jungle in search of wild animals. We've rounded up seven play rugs with designs that are functional, entertaining, and definitely stylish!


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I've long thought that the myth of Hitler's pope is one of the great slanders of our time. The lies of a few about Venerable Pius XII have encouraged every rag tag Catholic baiter to adopt the "cause" and accusePapa Pacelli of being, at best an anti-Semite, and at worst an active collaborator with Hitler.
The Telegraph today has an article about recently released documents that show the high regard in which Pius XII was held by many Jews:
"While in nearly all the countries of Europe we were persecuted, imprisoned and threatened with death because we belong to the Jewish people and profess the Jewish faith, Your Holiness not only sent notable and generous gifts to our camp through the apostolic nuncio...but also showed your fatherly interest in our physical and spiritual well-being," they wrote in German.Unfortunately, of course, it doesn't matter what is or isn't released because the secularist liars and bigots will continue to peddle their calumny.
"(You) intrepidly raised your universally venerated voice against our enemies – still so powerful at that time – to openly support our rights to human dignity.
"When in 1942 we were under the threat of deportation to Poland, Your Holiness extended your fatherly hand to protect us and prevented the deportation of the Jews imprisoned in Italy, thereby saving us from almost certain death."
You can read the whole article here


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The BlackBerry PlayBook is now shipping with Adobe Flash Player, so users can experience the best of the web—including video, games, animations and more – anytime, anywhere. Some of the latest Flash Player features, like hardware accelerated video decoding and rendering, will give PlayBook users a great mobile video experience allowing them to watch their favorite TV shows, movies or sports games in up to 1080p HD video on the device's own screen or, thanks to the PlayBook's HDMI interface, on any HD TV. Check out the positive feedback around Flash performance from top reviewers at the Wall Street Journal, Engadget, CNET, GigaOM, BGR and others.
With RIM's BlackBerry Tablet OS Software Development Kit (SDK) for Adobe AIR and the PlayBook's support for AIR native extensions, developers can easily use the same Adobe Flash tooling to create rich mobile applications. With the recently announced mobile tooling and framework support in Flash Builder 4.5, developers can create, test, and deploy high performing mobile applications on BlackBerry Tablet OS. Flex 4.5 will include support for BlackBerry Tablet OS in June 2011.
Check out this demo of Adobe Flash technology and some AIR applications for the PlayBook:
Several AIR apps will be available for the PlayBook at launch and in the coming months from Adobe, Epix, Facebook, salesforce.com, Universal Mind and others. There has already been some buzz from developers and our partners around AIR applications running on the PlayBook:
- "Building applications for the PlayBook was a natural extension of our AIR development capabilities. Everyone on our team was impressed by the device, and we are very excited to build great experiences for this new platform!" Grant Skinner, Chief Architect/CEO, gskinner.com
- "We are excited to showcase Reader's Digest–the largest paid-circulation magazine in the world–on the new BlackBerry PlayBook. We are reinventing our iconic brand for the digital age, adding interactivity, video, audio and brilliant photos to our storytelling and condensed insights, and the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite is the key to getting it all done to our exacting standards." Peggy Northrop, VP, Global Editor-in-Chief, Reader's Digest
- "I can't keep my hands off iGIZMO on PlayBook. It's interactive, entertaining and more impressive with every read. It's a huge achievement and packed full of cutting-edge features that are enabling us to innovate on this exciting new platform. Now we can extend the reach of our brand to new audiences–and pursue new commerce opportunities–by using Adobe Digital Publishing Suite to make our content avaialble on the BlackBerry PlayBook. Our readers can now engage with ground-breaking photography, video reviews and interactive content on the go–wherever they are and whenever they want to enoy it." James Billington, Editor, iGIZMO
- "With Adobe AIR, we were able to extend the superior quality and accessible delivery of our Epix video experiences to the BlackBerry Playbook with minimal development effort. We continue to look to the Adobe Flash Platform to help us provide an immersive entertainment experience to our customers, across multiple platforms and devices." Emil Rensing, Chief Digital Officer, Epix
- "Aqualux is a perfect fit for the tablet form factor, and it's exciting to have it running on such a capable device. I'm impressed with how seamlessly the Flash Platform is integrated with the OS. Adobe and RIM have made AIR a first-class citizen on the PlayBook; key features like multitasking, in-app purchases, and UI controls are directly accessible via the AIR SDK, and empowered Aqualux to run with native features and native performance. "Alex Liebert, Milkman Games, LLC, http://www.milkmangames.com
Playbook users will also be able to enjoy more engaging, immersive digital publications created by media and business publishers using the new Adobe Digital Publishing Suite. With the new Adobe Content Viewer for PlayBook, media and business publishers, including Dennis Publishing and Reader's Digest , can share their well-known titles and brands on the device. Content Viewer for the PlayBook is immediately available to content publishers through the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite Prerelease program. Adobe Digital Publishing Suite, along with the latest set of soon-to-be-released tablet authoring tools in Creative Suite 5.5, can be used to create content for BlackBerry Tablet OS. Lastly, Adobe is providing enterprise applications such as Adobe Connect Mobile for web conferencing and LiveCycle for business workflows for the PlayBook, and the device ships with an optimized version of Adobe Reader for seamless viewing of PDF content.
We can't wait to see how these developments with Adobe Flash technology will change the way people work and play as they engage with digital experiences across desktops and devices. We'd love to hear your feedback and experiences, and stay tuned for more exciting announcements to come!


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Check out ourBanderaLocation
Check out ourNew BraunfelsLocation
This is not an offer for credit and should be used for estimation purposes only based on the information you provided. You should not base your decision on this estimate alone. Title, registration, tax and other fees, and personal circumstances such as employment status and personal credit history, were not considered in the calculations.
We've thrown everything you've ever asked for into the industry-leading Outlaw XP - along with several innovations that didn't even exist on zero-turn mowers until now. The Outlaw XP is designed and built with one singular goal in mind - delivering the finest cut lawn care professionals and serious landowners demand.
There's literally no innovation or patented feature we've developed that's not represented on the XP. And it delivers years of use with the speed, power and comfort a Bad Boy Mower has become known for. The Outlaw XP sets the bar for every other commercial mower out there, packing more innovation and performance - and all for a better value.
Front Tires - 13x6.5-6 smooth tread
Rear Tires - 24x12-12 turf tread
Hydrostatic System Oil - 20W50 Motor Oil
Pumps (2) - 12 cc Pump And Motor Integrated In One Unit
Hydraulic Coolers (2) - 7 in. 3600 RPM Cooling Fan; One per unit
0.25 x 2.5 x 21 in., high lift, heat treated
Blade Belt - Single V-belt spring tension


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Your Care Journey
The six steps of your Bupa Dental Care journey
- Get in touch with us You can book an appointment with us online, by phone or by dropping in to one of our practices.
- Choose the service you require You may decide to be seen on the NHS. And if you're looking for the enhanced service you receive as a private patient, we can help with that too. Our staff will discuss your options with you.
- Complete your medical history form It's crucially important for our dental teams to have a complete understanding of your medical history so they can provide you with the best possible care. Before you have your first check-up you will be asked to complete a form that will be held on record and periodically updated.
- Your first check-up At your first check-up with Bupa Dental Care (formerly Oasis Dental Care), your dentist will perform a thorough examination of your mouth and ask you questions about your general health and any problems you've had with your teeth. They will also take X-rays of your mouth so they can build a complete understanding of your oral health and assess what treatments you may need, if any.
- Continuing dental care If problems are identified, your dentist will, where possible, perform the treatment or treatments necessary. This could mean fillings, teeth cleaning or perhaps an extraction. If your dental problems are complex, then you may be referred to a specialist for treatment.
- Regular check-ups Once any treatments are complete, your dentist will discuss with you about how regularly you should return to the practice to ensure you are maintaining your oral hygiene.


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Military, Products, Public Service
By Staff Writer | October 1, 2008
Send Feedback
Honeywell entered into a teaming agreement with LOM PRAHA s.p. of the Czech Republic to provide platform logistics-helicopter overhaul and maintenance, inspections, parts supply chain management, pilot training, and aftermarket services. More than 12,000 Mi-8/Mi-17 turboshaft multi-mission helicopters have been delivered throughout the world.
DART Helicopter Services acquired Canam Aerospace Inc and purchased a 50 percent interest in Cargo Net Innovations. The global helicopter accessories provider will leverage the companies' combined cargo hook/net and long line expertise to develop and introduce new products. President Bruce Fraser will continue to provide leadership for the two Vancouver-based companies.
Vislink plc, parent of Microwave Radio Communications, has reached an agreement to acquire 100 percent of the issued share capital of Pacific Microwave Research Inc, a Vista, Calif.-based developer of analog and digital microwave video transmission solutions for law enforcement, homeland security and military applications. The acquisition of PMR was expected to be completed before the end of September.
The U.K.'s Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust has signed a contract for its own aircraft to serve as an air ambulance in Hertfordshire. It is leasing an MD902 Explorer from Medical Aviation Services Ltd. The lease was signed by trustee Rob Forsyth and Henk Schaeken, managing director of Medical Aviation Services. The trust still needs to raise £80,000 a month to pay for the aircraft's operating costs.
Victoria, British Columbia-based VIH Helicopters Ltd won a six-month, multi-million-dollar contract to help Angola hold its first national elections in 16 years. Six VIH helicopters were to be used for pre-election and post-election transportation work in the southwestern African nation, where elections were scheduled for Sept. 5. The helicopters were to be used to fly international observers throughout the country and to help set up polling booths before the election. Some helicopters were to be used as mobile polling stations during the election, flying to remote communities and offshore oil rigs.


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Family: Lauraceae
Extraction: Distilled from the leaf or bark, cinnamon has a sweet, spicy-hot fragrance. The hotter, more expensive bark is composed of 40-50 percent cinnamaldehyde and 4-10 percent eugenol. It is reddish-brown. The leaf is 3 percent cinnamaldehyde and 70-90 percent eugenol.
Medicinal Action: Cinnamon helps stop menstrual cramps, indigestion, diarrhea, and genital and urinary infections. It increases sweating, and creates heat when used in a liniment.
Emotional Attribute: The smell relieves tension, steadies nerves and invigorates the senses. In very small amounts cinnamon can be an aphrodisiac.
Considerations: Both bark and leaf oils can irritate mucous membranes, but the bark oil is more hazardous. Use sparingly. Dermal irritant.
Associated Oils:
Cassia (C. cassia) --This less expensive cinnamon substitute comes from China as kuei pi, where it is medicine, seasoning and incense. It flavors cola drinks and lemonade, and scents Yardley's famous "Brown's Windsor Soaps."
Ceylon Cinnamon (C. verum) --From Ceylon, this antibacterial oil flavors mouthwashes, foods and drinks. Caution: it can be a skin irritant.
Camphor (C. camphora) --Unlike harsh mothballs (which are synthetic), the leaves and bark of "true" camphor are pleasant: woodsy with a hint of cardamom. The "fragrant" camphor from Formosa is even more pleasant, closely resembling rosewood. Long popular in China, where statues of Buddha were carved from camphor wood, camphor hydrosols in wine were digestive tonics, and chicken is still flavored by steaming it over camphor leaves. We've distilled the leaves of "fragrant" camphor into hydrosols for room fresheners and facial astringents. The Chinese harvest it by topping instead of felling the trees, although demand declined with the introduction of synthetic camphor in 1949. The odor counters shock and depression, and focuses one's attention. Arabs say it reduces sexual desire. Camphor is excellent for lymphatic massage, but it is also a heart stimulant, so use cautiously. White camphor can be used safely in small amounts, but don't use the more toxic brown or yellow camphor produced from heavier parts of the oil.
Borneo (Borneol) Camphor (Dryobalanops aromatica) --Used against plague and serious digestive infections, Marco Polo called borneo camphor the "balsam of disease." The Chinese burn the incense during funerals and important ceremonies. They also use it to treat wounds, sprains, infectious disease and nerve pain, as well as nervous exhaustion. It is distilled from an exudation of the mature trees. Younger trees produce a pale-yellow liquid camphor, not readily available.


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It is imperative that we vote for people in the next election not because of popularity, familiarity or incumbency but because of integrity. The crime and corruption in our dear little Lancaster is horrendous. The economy is poor and worsening. The work ethic is gone. We need new leadership.
My vote is going to Mandy Powers Norrell. She is a wonderful, bright young lady, who I feel will strive to make a change. She is someone who you will not say a year later "why did I vote for her."
Dr. Douglas l. Tiedt
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Webster Hosts "Sustainability: Our Common Future"
Webster will host a two day discussion of sustainability and the social, economic, environmental and human rights issues surrounding it. Called "Sustainability: Our Common Future," the April 12-13 conference will offer more than 40 sessions, covering everything from a debate about "what is green chemistry" to a look at the sustainable business practices of the Schlafly Brewing Company.
ST. LOUIS, March 29, 2013 - For many older adults, community recycling programs and
reusable shopping totes are a sign of a relatively recent focus on the environment
– just a decade ago, it was still not common to see a recycling can at the curb next
to the trash can.
But for Webster's students who have grown up with these changes, sustainability is more than collecting cans and newspapers. It is a thread that weaves through their purchasing decisions, their mode of transportation, their education, and how they interact with society as a whole.
Webster will host a two day discussion of sustainability and the social, economic, environmental and human rights issues surrounding it. Called "Sustainability: Our Common Future," the April 12-13 conference will offer more than 40 sessions, covering everything from a debate about "what is green chemistry" to a look at the sustainable business practices of the Schlafly Brewing Company.
This year's keynote speaker is David W. Orr, the Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics and Senior Adviser to the President, Oberlin College in Ohio. Orr is the author of seven books, including "Down to the Wire: Confronting Climate Collapse." The theme of the conference is "Sustainability: Our Common Future."
The event is open to the public and costs $20 per person, $5 for students, and is free to members of the Webster community.
"I am a Watergate journalist who grew up in the era of finding the good guys and the bad guys, especially as it relates to issues such as environmentalism," said Don Corrigan, a professor in Webster's School of Communication and a member of the University's Sustainability Coalition. "What is striking is that young people today are more interested in finding solutions and less interested in finding fault. They are looking at what they can do personally – and at the grassroots level – to make the world better."
"And it is Webster students' interest in sustainability issues that were a major factor into why this conference is happening and why the topics represent such diverse approaches to the issues."
Topics that will be discussed include a historical analysis of "Coal Ash in St. Louis," a discussion of "Show me Enviro-Missouri: Toxic Legacy/Sustainability," a look at the latest compostable toilets and whether they are more sustainable than sewage treatment plants, a discussion of recycling programs in resort communities, and an analysis of the "City of Alton Town Center Stream Restoration." A full schedule of all events can be found online.
Orr, the Keynote speaker, will discuss climate change and why he sees it as one of the top issues of our time. The featured speaker at the event is Monty Hempel, a documentary filmmaker and environmental scientist. He is currently the Hedco Professor of Environmental Studies and Director of the Center for Environmental Studies at the University of Redlands, in Southern California. He is also president of Blue Planet United, a small 501(c)(3) educational organization that produces environmental films and publishes a quarterly news journal about human population, consumption and sustainability.
Other speakers at the 2013 conference include Kathleen Logan Smith, executive director of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment; Lt. Gen. Kathleen M. Gainey, deputy commander, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base; and Col. Christopher G. Hall, commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Louis District.
Ameren is the presenting sponsor of the event. Other sponsors include Mallinkrodt, St. Louis Business Journal, Laclede Gas, Sodexo, and Waste Management. Visit http://blogs.webster.edu/sustainability2013/ for more information about the conference.


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"Whereas traditional conservatism emphasized duties, responsibilities, and social interconnectedness, at the core of the right-wing ideology that Rand spearheaded was a rejection of moral obligations to others."
—Jennifer Burns, in Goddess of the Market: Ayn Rand and the American Right
This past spring, the Financial Industry Inquiry Commission held hearings on the world's recent financial crisis. The star witness was Alan Greenspan. The Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan translated Greenspan's typically elusive testimony this way: "I didn't do anything wrong, and neither did Ayn Rand by the way, but next time you might try more regulation."
There were obviously many reasons for the Great Recession. But I believe Noonan got to the root of one particular evil.
Fortune magazine once labeled Greenspan "America's most famous libertarian, an Ayn Rand acolyte." (While Rand formally rejected libertarianism, libertarians nonetheless admire her.) But today, both libertarians and Randians are disassociating themselves from Greenspan as quickly as Wall Street. This is the Wall Street that worshiped the former Federal Reserve chairman when Worth ran a cover story describing how he was "playing God at the Fed." Fortune detailed Greenspan's "love of free markets, suspicion of do-gooders, and righteous hatred of the state apparatus," evidenced by his previous deregulation of the savings and loan industry for Charles Keating and such. Few of us Reaganomics supporters understood his role in that fiasco, so history was bound to repeat itself with the recent subprime mortgage scandal.
About the time Fortune was extolling Greenspan, I was putting the finishing touches on a book about finances for a major evangelical publisher. I included ...1


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Kentucky Derby hopeful Golden Soul, ranked No. 23 on the "Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by TwinSpires.com" Leaderboard, continued his preparations for a potential start in the "Run for the Roses" with a six-furlong breeze Thursday morning at Churchill Downs in 1:12.40.
Working under exercise rider Emerson Chavez, Golden Soul worked to the seven-eighths pole and recorded fractions of :12, :23.40, :35, :46.80, :59 and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:27.40.
"He worked great and he's a very good work horse," trainer Dallas Stewart said. "He came back great and had good energy while he cooled out. He did it very well."
It was the first published workout for Golden Soul since he finished fourth in the Louisiana Derby (Grade II). His 3-year-old campaign also has included a sixth in the Risen Star (GII) and a runner-up effort in the Lecomte (GIII). With 14 points, Golden Soul is currently on the outside looking in, but Stewart is hopeful he will still make it in the Kentucky Derby starting gate.
"He got beat four lengths to Revolutionary (in the Louisiana Derby), who is a very good horse," Stewart said. "We were wide, but we were still running at him a little at the end. I think we're very credible.
"You've got to roll with the punches, but we're hoping it shakes down our way."
Stewart added that if Golden Soul doesn't get the opportunity to run in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), he would consider running him in the Peter Pan (GII) at Belmont on May 11 or the Preakness (GI) on May 18.
In other Kentucky Derby news, Arkansas Derby (GI) runner-up Frac Daddy (No. 15) galloped 1 ¼ miles under Victor Lebron on his first day back at the track since arriving in Louisville from Oaklawn Park on Wednesday morning.
"He galloped well and we took it light on him today on his first day at the track since shipping," assistant trainer Phil Bauer said. "We're happy with how he shipped and how he's doing. Hopefully he'll improve a little bit in the next couple weeks and we'll be set to go."
Frac Daddy, who is stabled in Barn 6 for trainer Ken McPeek, was joined Thursday at Churchill Downs by Toyota Blue Grass (GI) winner Java's War (No. 4), who passed through the stable gate at 1:40 p.m. (all times Eastern).
In Kentucky Derby news outside the Churchill Downs gates, Itsmyluckyday (No. 10) worked a mile in 1:43.20 at Calder for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. Runner-up to Orb (No. 1) in the Florida Derby (GI), Itsmyluckyday is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on April 26.
In Kentucky Oaks news, trainer John Terranova confirmed via text Thursday morning that Fantasy (GIII) runner-up Manuka Honey is no longer under consideration for the Kentucky Oaks (GI). He added that a firm decision on whether to run Falling Sky (No. 19) in the Kentucky Derby will come by Sunday.
In other Kentucky Oaks news, trainer Todd Pletcher said Unlimited Budget (No. 3), Dreaming of Julia (No. 4), Princess of Sylmar (No. 7) and Silsita (No. 10) are scheduled to breeze Saturday at Churchill Downs. The four fillies will breeze during the 15-minute period from 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. when the track is reserved for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders. Due to the special training window that begins Saturday and runs through May 2, the track will be open for training at 5:45 a.m.
KENTUCKY DERBY POSSIBLE FIELD AS OF THURSDAY, APRIL 18 (listed in order preference): Orb (trained by Shug McGaughey, ridden by Joel Rosario, 150 points, $840,000 in non-restricted stakes earnings), Verrazano (Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez, 150, $810,000), Goldencents (Doug O'Neill, Kevin Krigger, 129, $1,208,000), Java's War (Ken McPeek, Julien Leparoux, 122, $651,772), Overanalyze (Pletcher, Rafael Bejarano, 110, $908,381), Revolutionary (Pletcher, Calvin Borel, 110, $720,000), Lines of Battle (Aidan O'Brien, TBA, 100, $1,261,089 ), Vyjack (Rudy Rodriguez, Garrett Gomez, 70, $505,000), Will Take Charge (D. Wayne Lukas, Jon Court, 60, $512,971), Itsmyluckyday (Eddie Plesa Jr., Elvis Trujillo, 50, $593,600), Govenor Charlie (Bob Baffert, Martin Garcia, 50, $400,000), Black Onyx (Kelly Breen, Joe Bravo, 50, $317,130), Palace Malice (Pletcher, Mike Smith, 50, $200,000), Normandy Invasion (Chad Brown, Javier Castellano, 44, $258,000), Frac Daddy (McPeek, TBA, 44, $240,596), Mylute (Tom Amoss, Rosie Napravnik, 42, $363,365), Oxbow (Lukas, Gary Stevens, 36, $346,000), Super Ninety Nine (Baffert, TBA, 30, $308,000), Falling Sky (John Terranova, Luis Saez, 30, $207,500) and Charming Kitten (Pletcher, TBA, 20, $206,000).
KENTUCKY OAKS POSSIBLE FIELD AS OF THURSDAY, APRIL 18 (listed in order of preference): Beholder (trained by Richard Mandella, ridden by Garrett Gomez, 164, $1,500,000), Rose to Gold (Sal Santoro, Calvin Borel, 164, $717,889), Unlimited Budget (Todd Pletcher, Javier Castellano, 160, $570,000), Dreaming of Julia (Pletcher, John Velazquez, 132, $719,000), Close Hatches (Bill Mott, Joel Rosario, 100, $150,000), Flashy Gray (Mott, TBA, 60, $130,000), Princess of Sylmar (Pletcher, TBA, 50, $170,000), Fiftyshadesofhay (Baffert, TBA, 50, $146,250), Midnight Lucky (Baffert, TBA, 50, $120,000), Silsita (Pletcher, TBA, 50, $57,660), Seaneen Girl (Bernie Flint, TBA, 34, $193,621), Pure Fun (Ken McPeek, TBA, 20, $269,800) and Broken Spell (D. Wayne Lukas, TBA, 11, $119,226).


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Friday, January 13, 2017
January 13 - Mev Puleo, Friend of the Poor, One Who Lived a Life "Crammed With Meaning"
Mev Puleo didn't want you to have the opportunity to look away from the unpleasant. One of her many passions was art and her medium was photography.With a point, a click, and some strange alchemy of chemicals and paper she was able to grasp the face of a child or the body racked by poverty and make a statement that could not be ignored. With the permanence of the photographic image, she was able to convict the hearts and minds of many people who would much rather simply wait a moment and forget all about the plight of the less fortunate. Mev couldn't look away from the passion that for the poor and disenfranchised and so she didn't want you to do so, either.
Mev had first been awakened to this calling after having been a Christian for several years. At the age of fourteen, she went on a trip with her parents to Brazil. While they were in Rio de Janeiro and seeing the sites as tourists, they decided to go up and see the "Christ Redeemer" atop Mt. Corcovado. As their bus made the trip up they circled the mountain a few times. On one side, Mev could overlook the homes of the wealthy and respectable. Their homes were brilliantly designed and ostentatiously expensive. In those homes lived a class of people who had little fear for their daily bread. As they came to the other side of the mountain, though, they saw shacks and dilapidated buildings that housed a different class of people. These people were the poor of Brazil and many of their waking thoughts were consumed with fear for their lack of daily bread and anxiety over how to change their circumstances. Mev found herself increasingly uncomfortable with her comfort--she wanted to look away but she couldn't. Suddenly, the chair was too soft, the air conditioning was too pleasant, and the scenery too breathtaking.Her eyes glanced upward to see Jesus standing with his arms stretched wide in the gap between comfort and fear. She feared that though Jesus had been lifted above both sides, it seemed that he had only become a convenient way to avoid looking at the needs of the poor from the comfort of affluence. So, Mev made a decision that day: she decided to change the world.
Mev became an outspoken activist and artist who shared powerful convictions and words about the ability of the Church to bridge the gap between rich and poor--between have and have not. She endeavored to increase awareness about poverty as she struggled to end it personally. Her pictures and her speeches refused to give into the temptation to overlook or forget the suffering of so many. Thankfully and gloriously, Mev wouldn't stop pestering the Church about its obligations to all people. Yet, her great benevolence was no insurance against tragedy and suffering. In 1994, a malignant tumor was discovered in her brain--she was given six months to live.
Words from the journal she kept in college came calling back to her. She had written that she would rather live a short but meaningful life--a life "crammed with meaning"--then to live long and securely without meaning. Mev ended up living almost two more years after her diagnosis and spent every day of it in service to the God who had called her to change the world. The priest eulogized over her at her funeral: "She had wanted to give the poor a face, a voice. She always wanted to be identified with them. And so it came to pass: by the time of her last days you could see them all in her face--the poor of Bosnia, the hungry of Haiti, the powerless of Brazil. She who gave them voice, lost hers. She who helped us see their faces, could finally see no more....She became the poor she loved." Mev was thirty-two years old when she passed on to rest with Christ her Redeemer.
Posted by Joshua Hearne at 7:00 AM
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Helder was the eleventh of thirteen children born in Northeastern Brazil to a middle class family with roots in the Roman Catholic church. Much to the pain of Helder and his family, five of his brothers and sisters died from the flu epidemic that swept through Brazil claiming souls in 1905 (four years before Helder was born). Even as a child, he showed an interest in the priesthood. His priests and family would often remark to him that they felt something special about him and would ask him if he knew what it meant to be a priest. One of his priests even went so far as to tell him that to be a priest was forever and it meant he would never be his own and would always be pouring himself out for others. This didn't deter young Helder and he continued holding mock masses in his home on an alter he built out of boxes and playthings.
As he grew, he followed God's willing and ended up studying to become a priest. It wasn't especially uncommon for young Brazilian boys in Northeastern Brazil to become priests since it was a region that placed a high value upon the priesthood. But it was surprising that Helder was ordained at the age of twenty-two. He had to receive special dispensation to be ordained prior to the age of twenty-four but it was given and he took his vows. This new avowed state was a good fit for Helder and he spent his time as a minister of a church but, also, as an advocate for the poor.Like many Brazilian priests of the time he was heavily invested in liberation theology and social justice ministries. Eventually, he became bishop and then archbishop and this allowed him to set the tone and pace for ministry within Brazil. Even when he had taken on the political roles of an archbishop he still did not fail to advocate for the poor.
Helder is perhaps best remembered for a quote that summed up his professional life: "When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist." For his work as a friend of the poor he was nominated for a Nobel peace prize and received the Pacem in Terris award. Though he was not poor, he became associated with the slums. Though he was not oppressed, he became associated with the weak and disenfranchised. Being a priest was a forever commitment and Helder lived into it. When he was vilified and slandered he reminded himself that he had been called not to a profession but to a way of life and part of that way of life was a devotion to pouring himself out for the least of his brothers and sisters. Helder died in 1999.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
February 7 - Helder Camara, Priest, Bishop, Friend of the Poor
Posted by Joshua Hearne at 7:00 AM
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0 Members and 2 Barbarians in a Horde are spying on this topic.
The Awesome Dice metal 1-sided die is in fact a möbius strip: an object with only one side. If you put your finger on any point on the dice and trace it along the surface, you'll eventually come back to your starting point and will have touched every point on the die.
I've missed these dicey updates. Long live Kevin Cook's dicey updates!!!!
Kevin,You have a phenomenal collection of dice!
Do you play any games with them?
I Dungeon Master (DM) a couple of groups every week and gift a new 7-die set of opaque dice to every new member. I tell them to take them home and roll ALL of the die 100 times while thinking 'good thoughts' to charge them with their 'kharma'.It seems to help them with their throws in the roleplay games.Any thoughts?
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Tags: donkey kong, wii, platform game, retro studios, donkey kong country, diddy kong
Description: Donkey Kong Country is Back! Donkey Kong is making a triumphant return, along with his trusted sidekick Diddy Kong, in a brand new side-scrolling platform game from Retro Studios. Donkey Kong Country Returns, for the Wii system, has all new levels and all new chest-pounding challenges for players of all ages. The game takes inspiration from the original Super NES series, from barrel blasts to mine carts and then builds upon it by adding stunning graphics and new layers of depth to the world and game play. Donkey Kong Country Returns features the first ever simultaneous cooperative game play mode for the series allowing both novice and skilled players to actively play and experience the game together. Run, jump, climb and defeat enemies through diverse environments until you retrieve Donkey Kong's stolen banana hoard!
Genre: Adventure
Platforms: Wii
Studio: Nintendo
Offical Website: http://donkeykong.nintendo.com/


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This personalization idea came to me when I realized I didn't have enough beads to make a full double-wrapped bracelet so I needed to bring in some other colors. Rather than add them in a random pattern, I decided to use Morse Code to add secret dot and dash messages to the bracelets.
I made this one for myself. It has our initials, "J", "M" and "C".
This one says "CREATE".


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Example.com's payroll department stores salary data in an SQL database. The database has two tables, and employee table and a salary table. Example.com has an LDAP client application that requires access to that data. The client application requires the SQL data to look like LDAP data.
The following diagram illustrates the requirements of the client application.
To fulfill this application requirement, a JDBC data view is created that maps columns in the SQL tables to LDAP attributes.
For simplicity, the commands used in this section assume the following information:
A Directory Proxy Server instance runs on the local host, with the default LDAP port (389).
The Directory Proxy Server instance is located at /local/myDPS.
The path to the file containing the Proxy Manager password has been set as a variable, LDAP_ADMIN_PWF.
The SQL database is up and running.
The JAVA_HOME variable has been set to the correct Java path.
The password to the SQL database is myPassword stored in the myPasswordFile file.
Create a JDBC data source for the payroll database.
$ dpconf create-jdbc-data-source -b payrollsqldb \ -B jdbc:payrollsqldb:payrollsql://localhost/ \ -J file://payrollsqldb.jar \ -S org.payrollsqldb.jdbcDriver payroll-src
Configure the JDBC data source with the properties of the SQL database.
$ dpconf set-jdbc-data-source-prop payroll-src \ db-user:proxy db-pwd-file:password-file-location/myPasswordFile
Enable the JDBC data source.
$ dpconf set-jdbc-data-source-prop payroll-src is-enabled:true
Create a JDBC data source pool for the payroll database.
$ dpconf create-jdbc-data-source-pool payroll-pool
Attach the payroll data source to the data source pool.
$ dpconf attach-jdbc-data-source payroll-pool payroll-src
Create a JDBC data view for the payroll database, with a virtual DN of o=payroll.
$ dpconf create-jdbc-data-view payroll-view payroll-pool o=payroll
Create a JDBC table for each table in the SQL database.
$ dpconf create-jdbc-table jdbc-employee employee $ dpconf create-jdbc-table jdbc-salary salary
Add a JDBC attribute for each column in the SQL tables.
$ dpconf add-jdbc-attr jdbc-employee eid employee_id $ dpconf add-jdbc-attr jdbc-employee first firstname $ dpconf add-jdbc-attr jdbc-employee last lastname $ dpconf add-jdbc-attr jdbc-employee description description $ dpconf add-jdbc-attr jdbc-employee spouse spousename $ dpconf add-jdbc-attr jdbc-salary salary salary $ dpconf add-jdbc-attr jdbc-salary social ssn
Specify which attributes can be viewed and which can be written, through the JDBC data view.
$ dpconf set-jdbc-data-view-prop payroll-view \ viewable-attr:eid \ viewable-attr:first \ viewable-attr:last \ viewable-attr:desc \ viewable-attr:spouse \ viewable-attr:salary \ viewable-attr:social $ dpconf set-jdbc-data-view-prop payroll-view \ writable-attr:eid \ writable-attr:first \ writable-attr:last \ writable-attr:description \ writable-attr:spouse \ writable-attr:salary \ writable-attr:social
Create a JDBC object class that maps to an LDAP object class.
The following command creates an object class that maps to the LDAP person object class. The object class specifies that the employee table should be used as the primary table, and that the salary table should be used as the secondary table. The eid attribute should be used to construct the DN.
$ dpconf create-jdbc-object-class payroll-view \ person jdbc-employee jdbc-salary eid
Create a filter join rule on the secondary table that specifies how data from the secondary table should be linked to data from the primary table.
The following join rule specifies that data should be joined based on the employee_id attribute.
$ dpconf set-jdbc-table-prop jdbc-salary \ filter-join-rule:employee_id=\${employee.employee_id}
Create a super class on the JDBC object class.
$ dpconf set-jdbc-object-class-prop payroll-view person super-class:extensibleObject


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The Teen Choice Awards aren't the Oscars; there are no stunning gowns with extravagant trains. On the other hand, it seems like one that young celebs probably enjoy attending; it's much more casual and fun. This year at the Teen Choice Awards, however, that fun came in the form of extravagant sandals and pumps all over the blue carpet.
Celebrities chose anything but casual footwear, and naturally, you can expect to see a fair number of Nudist Sandals, red soles, and a pair or two of Jimmy Choos.


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Diane von Furstenberg Spring 2013 | Runway
Diane von Furstenberg Spring 2013
Diane von Furstenberg Spring 2013
Leave it to Diane von Furstenburg to bring a little levity to New York Fashion Week. Her models actually smile and flirt with the crowd at her shows.
The CFDA president and captain of industry sent an eye-popping array of modern bohemian wear down her Spring 2013 runway, and most of it was drenched in dialed up hues and whimsical adornment. The idea here was '60s exoticism; it turned up in the form of floaty caftans, drapey harem pants, and sarong-wrapped dresses — silhouettes that call to mind the billowing shapes of places like Marrakech or Jaipur. In fact, it was the designer's early travels to those cities that formed the starting point of the collection. "With the polish of a princess and the heart of a gypsy, she is an aristocratic dreamer…" the show notes explained.
She may be an aristocratic dreamer, but she's also got one eye on innovation — literally. This season the designer partnered with Google Glass to film a behind the scenes video of her runway show and thus models came down the catwalk sporting techy-looking Google camera glasses. It was quite a sight to behold, especially when Von Furstenberg herself took her final bow decked out in them as well.


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IMDb's Romance Top 50
An official iCheckMovies list.
Favorited 131 times, disliked 6 times, added to 170 watchlists.
A sub-genre for the most part, this category shares some features with romantic dramas, romantic comedies, and sexual/erotic films. These are love stories, or affairs of the heart that center on passion, emotion, and the romantic, affectionate involvement of the main characters (usually a leading man and lady), and the journey that their love takes through courtship or marriage. Romance films make the love story the main plot focus.
Pssst, want to check out the IMDb's Romance Top 50 list in our new look?
14 -
The Apartment1960, in 26 top lists Check
19 +1
Some Like It Hot1959, in 33 top lists Check
Last updated on Aug 19, 2019; source


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It's time for another installment of Pot Psychology, the biweekly "advice" column in which we attempt to solve everyone's problems with an herbal remedy.
(Remember, kids: Don't do drugs!) In this episode, Rich and I answer questions about love, porn, and discovering the power within your pussy. Got a burning question? Send it to firstname.lastname@example.com. (Or send us your phone number! We wanna talk.)
What Does "Power Bottom" Mean? from Pot Psychology on Vimeo.


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ChessCube Mobile App
How About making a ChessCube Mobile app I think this would really help the game out and would help people play even when no access to a pc.
Post any new feature ideas or game and website related bugs post here!
Return to Feature Requests, Bugs & Error Messages
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Gallery: Gratuitous photos of monkeys in hot springs
We've waxed poetic about traveling to see these hot tubbing snow monkeys before, and this new set of winter photographs is just too nice to ignore.
In Jigokudani in Yamanouchi, Nagano prefecture, more than 100 wild Japanese macaque make daily trips to the Yaen-Koen (Monkey Park) to play, doze and pointedly ignore gawking visitors as they bathe in man-made open-air hot springs.
Although the temperature remains below zero and as much as 100 centimeters of snow can accumulate in the valley during the coldest months, the snow monkeys faithfully make daily trips to the onsen -- many staying for hours (fun fact: Monkeys don't feel cold after taking a bath, as their fur protects against sudden changes in body temperature).
Check out the latest photographs from Japan's steaming "Hell's Valley," taken earlier this week.
Yaen-Koen, 6845 Yamanouchi-machi Shimotakai-gun, Nagano, Japan; + 81 269 33 4379; www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp
More on CNN: World's 20 cutest animals -- and where to find them


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Posted in: Archive
Sometimes, the best way to communicate with someone else is to get out a piece of paper, and draw something out in black and white. The web makes collaborative communication easier than ever before, and now you don't even have to be in the same room as the other person to show them exactly what you mean.
This collection of collaborative drawing tools are useful for educators who wish to introduce an active web element into the classroom, or business people who want to highlight, scribble or draw to get a point across to team members. For the rest of you, they might just be a great fun way for your kids to doodle an afternoon away online with friends.
URL: http://www.scribblar.com/
Concentrating primarily on drawing tools, Scribblar offers a collaborative flash application, which allows you to setup individual 'rooms' to which you can invite participants to draw with you. Inside the app, there are a number of clever additional features, such as the ability to 'embed' the room on a third party website and the ability to import 'assets', including images, Powerpoint presentations and PDF's, all of which can be shared with your room audience. A bonus for you web designers out there is the ability to import a live screenshot of any URL on the web – useful if you want to highlight a new design. Live audio and chat is available through the application so you don't have to leave the browser to keep in touch.
URL: http://flockdraw.com/
Flockdraw is a completely free real time application with a social element to it. To get up and running straight away, you can simple create a new session which gives you the option to invite friends from your social networks (Twitter and Facebook), or to just continue and invite folk manually. A custom short URL is provided at the top right of the application, which easily facilitates the invitation process. As for image tools within the app, there are the standard drawing tools that you would expect, however, there is no additional functionality for images / jpegs etc. That hasn't however hampered the creativity of some of Flockdraw's users. Check out the gallery for some inspiration. The voting element of the app makes the creation of drawings that bit more rewarding, and competitive folk will have a blast trying to get on the leaderboard.
NetSketch App
URL: http://www.netsketchapp.com/
Netsketch have taken the collaborative drawing concept to the smartphone, and developed the first application which allows you to draw on your iPhone or iPad with other people. The drawing canvas works in true vector, so you don't get any degradation in quality between platforms and a community element is also present on my.netsketchapp.com where you can share and vote on other artworks. Snapshots of your drawings on your iPhone, can be instantly email to friends right from the application, and for those vector artists, EPS export to illustrator is also an option so you hard work can be continued on the desktop if you so wish.
Imagination Cubed
URL: http://www.imaginationcubed.com/
It's been around for *years* this one, but is still worthy of a mention. Developed as a viral for General Electric, Imagination Cubed hosts a flash application which simply lets you get up and running without the fuss. Grab your mouse, invite your friends and get scribbling. One of my personal favourite apps as it was ground breaking at the time, its support for image backgrounds, patterns and stamps and the attention to detail shown with the cursor icon changing still makes it a worthy contender for collaborative drawing. The viewport is also big enough to utilise the most of my screen, something some of the other apps here could do with improving.
URL: http://www.scriblink.com/
Although I'm not normally a fan of Java application in the browser, Scriblink provides an image uploader, VOIP and file sending capabilities which are added extras not commonly available through traditional flash applications of this nature. There are also a good selection of mathematical symbols, which may give it the edge in a teaching environment. With the VOIP feature, if you have a mic for your computer, you can automatically connect with your collaborators and talk for free for as long as you like.
URL: http://cacoo.com/
If the majority of the other applications featured here seem to concentrate heavily on fun – Cacoo is definitely aimed squarely at business professionals. Designers and developers alike will love its features which cater for wireframing, prototyping and for developing UML diagrams, all in real time and with collaboration features. Best of all? It's free to use for up to 15 users. Commercial plans are available which provide a number of alternative export formats and removal of any limitations. The collaboration features not only reflect changes to your work in real time, but also allow you to chat back and forth with your colleagues and co-workers to bring together useful and insightful diagrams.
URL: http://www.twiddla.com/
Twiddla is awesome, that's really all you need to know. If you haven't used it or seen it before taking a test drive, I'd be pretty sure that you'll be hooked within five minutes of playing around with their app, it really is that good. Not only can you draw at ease, but there's no setup involved, so you can get going straight away and start sharing Word documents, web pages, images and collaborative documents. The ability to modify and draw on top of websites alone makes it worth your while checking out, simply input the URL you want to talk about, invite your collaborators, and away you go, you can highlight the parts you like, the bits you need changed, and save your work easily. As with Scriblink, maths formulas are also available, which pretty much ticks all the boxes of a tool that everyone should know about.
Notable Mentions
Some of these other URL's are worth checking out as well.
http://webcanvas.com – How could I do a post on online collaboration and drawing without mentioning the WebCanvas project? The web's largest graffiti project with collaboration from artists all over the globe, this project highlights what is possible when art meets tech.
http://www.drawanywhere.com/ – Draw Anywhere is another application which provides collaborative drawing for network diagramming and server architecture. Might be of use to any server admins out there.
http://www.lucidchart.com/ – Lucid chart is a useful collaborative application for flowcharting, and diagramming. As with Cacoo it also handles UML diagrams.
http://creately.com/ – Collaborative prototyping tool that designers may find useful when starting out a new site.
http://www.queeky.com/ – More of a collaborative art community, Queeky has a built in tool for drawing which is used by members of the community to submit artistic pieces online, and get rated on. Some very impressive pieces created in the browser from collaborators around the globe.
http://flowchart.com/ – Flowchart.com is an online multi-user, real-time collaboration flow charts service, which requires no plugin and has an active developer API for integration with other software.
http://www.raizlabs.com/software/apps/whiteboard – Another collaborative drawing tool for the iPad Whiteboard pro.
10 responses to "7 of the best online collaborative drawing tools"
This is an excellent collection of collaboration. I might use some of them. Thanks for publishing them.
Amit Bhatia
Pingback: scribbling? | enablingsolutions
There's another collaborative drawing tool, it's name is SpeakingImage. It's still in Beta but I found it interesting and quite similar to the ones you recommended…
great collection overall, thank you
Great collection,
I'm a bit late to the party, but I'd like to mention A Web Whiteboard (http://awwapp.com/), a simple shared online whiteboard for doing quick sketches. The main focus is in simplicity (just a few tools) and easy sharing – by copy/pasting the URL you can invite your colleagues to draw together with you.
Senko (AWW author)
Great articles and links!
The one I came across was http://wwww.anondraw.com
You guys also take a look of arcsketch..


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Q. At what age does a dog need to be licensed?
A. At 4 months of age.
Q. Where do I go to get a Dog License?
A. Licenses are issued by the Town or City Clerk where you live.
Q. What do I need to get a Dog License?
A. You must show proof of a current Rabies Vaccination – if your pet is spayed/neutered be sure and bring that certificate also to reduce the cost of your Dog License.
Q. Is there a cost for a dog license?
A. Dog license fees vary from approximately $25 to $28 depending on your town or City's local fees and whether your dog is spayed or neutered. Check with your Town/City's Clerk for the exact cost, as well as their hours and location.
Q. Does my dog have to wear the tag?
A. Yes, every dog must wear it's license tag all the time.
Q. Why should I license my dog?
A. Licensing of dogs provides for numerous benefits to our community and it's animals.
Some dogs just love to go on car trips. It doesn't matter where to, they just want to be with the family. "If the car trip is to run errands, even quick stops, it is best to leave your dog safely at home where it is cool rather than risk his life in a parked car," said Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for the companion animal section of The Humane Society of the United States. "When left in a parked car, even for short periods of time, pets are susceptible to heat stroke, brain damage and death."
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) urges individuals to leave pets at home while running errands or making quick trips to places that do not allow pets. Here's why:
Temperatures rise quickly in parked car
Even days that seem mild to humans may be extremely treacherous for our canine companions. On a warm day, the temperature in a parked car can reach dangerous levels, as high as 120º, in a matter of minutes, even with the car window partially open. Because dogs' only method for cooling off are panting and sweating through their paws, they can succumb to high temperatures in very short periods of time.
Cracking the window does not cool the car down
In the vast majority of deaths, pet owners probably believe they are taking the necessary precautions, such as parking in a shady area, cracking the window or leaving the car's air conditioning running. Unfortunately, these methods have all proven ineffective in keeping temperatures at safe levels.
Dogs will die if left in hot parked cars too long
Every year, dogs suffer an agonizing death after being left in hot cars. The most tragic aspect of these deaths is that they are completely preventable. The HSUS asks pet owners to leave your pets at home during the summer months.
More information: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/pets_safe_heat_wave.html
Media contact: Kathy Covey, 301.258.3126, email@example.com
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization - backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at www.humanesociety.org.
Removing Skunk Smell From Rugs and Furniture
****We have been told that if you have that skunk smell on rugs or upholstery that this really works:
By Kimberly Zlatin © 2005
Heart wrenching images of Hurricane Katrina's four-legged victims are too much for most of us to bear. Fortunately the majority of people around the country have their loving companions next to them while they are watching the devastating news of dogs left to fend for themselves and people making the choice of their pet or their own rescue. A disaster such as Hurricane Katrina is not a common occurrence, but it does bring up important questions about what you would do with your dog if an emergency did arise in your household and you were unable to return to your home. Some important facts to keep in mind:
A little advanced planning on your part could be the difference between a happy reunion or heartache for you and your dog. While we all pray that we will never need to use this information, having it on hand as a quick reference can bring some peace of mind in an emergency situation.


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Help us expand our resources for people with vision loss.
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For Christmas me and my brother got an AR Drone, the propellers are on a large gear, which is rotated by a small gear that is connected to the motor.
This means the small gear (and therefore the motor) must rotate many times in order to rotate the propeller just once.
Surely swapping the gears, so that the propellers are on a small gear, which is rotated by the large gear that is connected to the motor, would mean the propeller would spin faster (given that the motor is operating at the same speed as before), or that the motor could operate at a slower speed (and therefore use less energy) and maintain the same speed of the propeller as before?
Also what is the advantage of using any gears at all? Why not lose the gears, and get rid of the friction between the gears and between the gear and what holding them, and the added weight?


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It really (really) helps to know someone tall. I scouted out this place for the bunting I've been working on for weeks, but neglected to check whether or not I could actually reach the perfect spot. It also really helps to be carrying two thick books for the tall person to balance on precariously.
And then it's up, and there it is swaying in the breeze, making the world a brighter place.
Blending in with the local flora in matching tones of rhododendron pink.
Happy to finally be out of the bag and flying free in the blue sky.
With many thanks to Crochet With Raymond for the free pattern for granny bunting.
Visit her site for fun colours, patterns, pictures of Raymond....


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Egypt (and Beyond) Live Coverage: Parliamentary Elections set for April-June
See also Syria Live Coverage: At Least 53 Killed by Bombs in Damascus br>
Thursday's Egypt (and Beyond) Live Coverage: Protests Continue in Port Said
1526 GMT:Iraq. Thousands of protesters have continued to demonstrations in Ramadi against the Government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Rallies after Friday Prayers, with the theme "Iraq or Maliki" also took place in the capital city of Baghdad, the northern city of Mosul, and the central city of Fallujah.
Protests, largely made up of Sunnis, have been ongoing for weeks, with demands for the release of prisoners, an end to Government anti-terrorism policies, and a halt to the marginalising of minorities.
The rallies were sparked by the raid on 20 December 20 of the home and offices of Sunni Minister of Finance Rafi al-Issawi.


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Pay the Cable Bill Planner Stickers
This sheet has 40 stickers that are .6" x .65". They can be used in your planner or calendar. There is also a usable washi strip included on each sheet!
You will receive one sticker sheet as shown, kiss cut and ready to use!
We print on high quality matte paper which makes the colors vibrant, but please note that colors may vary slightly from photos due to different monitor settings.
(Any watermarks will not be on the final product)
Sooo cute, perfect for my planner
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Texoma Gives Day 2017
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712 8th Street, Wichita Falls, TX 76301 (map)
posted by Johnny Mantell
Help support the PWHF - a 501c3 Nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of the history of Professional Wrestling while we honor and celebrate the men & women who put their lives on the line for the entertainment of others.
We also share the current wrestling of today from around the world.
Texoma Gives is a day of giving to help all the area nonprofits but you do not have to be in the Wichita Falls, Texoma area to Give.... join the "fight" today by giving.... Visit TexomaGives.org 6am to 10pm to donate and support the PWHF. All donations made on September 7th through TexomaGives.org are eligible for prize money that will be awarded throughout the day by the organizing foundation, Wichita Falls Community Foundation. Prize Money is made available by area sponsors.
https://texomagives.org/npo/professional-wrestling-hall-of-fame-museum" target="_blank">http://https://texomagives.org/npo/professional-wrestling-hall-of-fame-museum


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Swedish Wood Shelving
The stability, durability and strength of our Swedish shelving set the standard for modular wood shelving – a standard that many other systems cannot match. Easy to expand, the shelving is a versatile addition to the pantry, kitchen or laundry/utility room.
- Top-quality modular storage that's easy to assemble and expand.
- Configures in numerous combinations to accommodate changing needs.
- Units can be joined side by side for a complete wall-and-corner system.
- Smoothly milled wood can be painted, stained or left unfinished (will age to a golden patina).
- Shelves are 11 1/2" deep and adjust up or down in 4 1/2" increments.
- Shelves are reinforced with concealed steel rods and each supports up to 400 lb.
- Solid white pine, sustainably forested in Sweden.
- Simple assembly required.
- Additional uprights and shelves are sold separately.
- A Williams Sonoma exclusive.
Dimensions & More Info
- Corner unit: 28 1/2" x 13" x 69" high. Includes 6 shelves, 5 uprights, steel support rods and brass-plated fasteners.
- Tower unit: 16" x 13" x 69" high. Includes 6 shelves, 4 uprights, steel support rods and brass-plated fasteners.
- Wide unit: 32" x 13" x 69" high. Includes 6 shelves, 4 uprights, steel support rods and brass-plated fasteners.
- Stemware shelf: 31 1/2" x 13" x 2" high. Holds 21–28 wineglasses, depending on size.
- Each shelf is 11 1/2" deep and supports up to 400 lb.
- Set of 2 extra uprights: 3 1/2" x 3/4" x 69" high.
- Set of 2 extra shelves for wide unit: 31 1/2" x 11 1/2" x 2" high.
- Metal bracing: 2 steel bases, 4 wood screws.
- Made in Sweden.
Use & Care
- For added stability and safety, we recommend securing your shelving units to the wall. Consult with your local hardware store about the best hardware for your wall type.
Options Available
- Corner Unit
- Wide Unit
- Stemware Shelf
- Extra Shelves, Set of 2
- Metal Bracing
- Six-Shelf Unit Uprights
- Extra Wine Shelves, Set of 2
- Tower Unit
Shipping Information
UPS can deliver most in-stock items within 3–5 business days. UPS is unable to deliver to P.O. boxes.
Shipping Rates
The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping destination. View Shipping Options and Charges.
Next Day Delivery
For an additional charge of $26 per address, we can expedite delivery to most destinations. This service is not available for some oversize items, items shipped directly from the supplier (including perishable and custom-manufactured items), out-of-stock items and items to be shipped outside the contiguous 48 states.
Orders received by 9:00 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday will arrive the next business day; orders placed Friday through Sunday will arrive on the following Tuesday.
Return Policy
At Williams Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction are our priority. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement.
If within 30 days, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value. An original receipt or gift receipt is required for all returns and exchanges. Returns with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a Merchandise Credit for the amount indicated on the gift receipt. Returns with original receipt will be refunded in the original form of payment, cash and check refunds over $100 will be issued as a company check (may take 14 business days from time of request).
For all cutlery returns (knife sets, single knives, cutting boards, knife sharpeners and knife storage), please contact us at 888.922.4108 to initiate the return.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, custom upholstery, food, items shipped direct from the vendor or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. Final sale items ending in .97 or .99 cannot be returned.
Made to Order and Final Sale Furniture items are non-returnable and cannot be cancelled once the order is placed.
For returns of items purchased from your Williams Sonoma Gift Registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later. View Full Returns Policy.
Swedish Wood Shelving
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|Swedish Shelving
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For Immediate Release
Nathan White (202)225-5871
Unemployment is a National Emergency: Kucinich Calls For Jobs Program
WASHINGTON - Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today called poverty and joblessness a national emergency. "It's our choice. Increase taxes, cut spending, put the economy in a stall, or put millions back to work," said Kucinich.
Congressman Kucinich is author of H.R. 2990, the National Emergency Employment Defense Act which would create millions of jobs maintaining the basic infrastructure on which Americans rely every day. The bill would allow the federal government to correct crippling national deficiencies in infrastructure maintenance and education nationwide by spending money into circulation without increasing the national debt or causing inflation. It would incorporate the Federal Reserve within the United States Treasury, establish fiscal integrity, and reassert Congressional sovereignty.
The full text of Congressman Kucinich's remarks follow.
"Nearly 50 million Americans, and over 10 million children live in poverty; 46 million Americans are on food stamps. According to the Census Bureau, without Social Security over 50% of people 65 and older would live and die in poverty.
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"Why do we accept poverty? Why do we accept massive unemployment? Over 20 million Americans are without work. You can't escape poverty without a job. Americans want jobs not unemployment checks. If you don't have a source of income, you can't own a home.
"The middle class is disappearing. An unfair tax system is causing wealth to accelerate upwards, which is why I opposed the Bush tax cuts. But more tax increases and no massive jobs program are a prescription for disaster. We need more taxpayers, not more tax increases. You can't rebuild America by retaxing America.
"Poverty and joblessness constitute a national emergency. The private sector is not creating sufficient jobs. Congress has the constitutional power to coin/create money. We can use our power to put millions back to work, rebuilding America's infrastructure. HR 2990, the National Employment Emergency Act can accomplish this. It's our choice. Increase taxes, cut spending, put the economy in a stall, or put millions back to work."
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Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma. 2 Notes: #1) The ham hock/bone is the only tricky ingredient. I found out though that Safeway usually puts out ham bones in the meat section or you can ask at the deli. #2) I usually add double the lime juice and lots of salt & pepper...ya know black beans need a little doctoring ;)
2 cups dried black beans
2 Tbs. canola oil
2 yellow onions, finely chopped
1 or 2 jalapeño chilies, seeded and minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 small red bell pepper, diced
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried coriander
1 tsp. dried oregano
8 cups water
1/2 small ham hock or ham bone
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
2 Tbs. minced fresh cilantro, plus 6 to 8 sprigs
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
For the salsa cream:
1/2 cup sour cream
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
2 Tbs. purchased fresh salsa
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
For the salsa cream:
1/2 cup sour cream
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
2 Tbs. purchased fresh salsa
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Pick over the beans, discarding any misshapen beans and stones, and rinse well. In a large pot, combine the beans with cold water to cover by 3 inches. Soak for at least 4 hours or up to overnight. Alternatively, for a quick-soak method, bring the beans and water to a rapid simmer (but do not boil), then simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain the beans and set aside.
In a large soup pot over medium heat, warm the oil. Add the onions and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the chilies to taste, garlic, bell pepper, cumin, coriander and oregano. Sauté, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are softened and the mixture is very aromatic, 7 to 10 minutes.
Add the beans, water and ham hock, cover partially and simmer over medium heat until the beans are soft, 1 to 1 1⁄2 hours. Remove from the heat and discard the ham hock.
In a blender or food processor, puree the soup in batches, leaving some texture, and return the soup to the pot. Alternatively, process with a handheld blender in the pot until the desired consistency is reached. Add the lime juice, minced cilantro, salt and pepper. If the soup is too thick, thin it with water. (If you prefer a velvety consistency, puree the soup until smooth, then pour it through a fine-mesh strainer into a saucepan.) Reheat gently over medium heat.
Just before serving, make the salsa cream: In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream, lime juice, salsa, salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into warmed bowls and garnish each bowl with the salsa cream and a cilantro sprig. Serves 6 to 8.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Collection Series, Soup, by Diane Rossen Worthington (Simon & Schuster, 2001).