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She spent her days serving up Happy Meals, but when it came time to get paid, Natalie Gunshannon says a local McDonald's franchisee gave her an unhappy deal.
The Shavertown McDonald's forces workers to be paid only one way: with a payroll debit card that burdens workers with hefty fees to obtain their hard-earned cash, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday on behalf of Gunshannon and other McDonald's workers.
Gunshannon and an untold number of current and former employees had no option to receive a traditional paycheck or get paid by direct deposit, she and her attorneys said in the class-action against franchise owners Albert and Carol Mueller of Clarks Summit.
"I'm looking for the pay I am owed and for them to understand there has to be an option," Gunshannon, 27, said Thursday outside her Dallas Township residence.
Gunshannon, who worked at the Shavertown McDonald's for a month after being hired April 24, refused to activate the payroll card after reviewing the fee structure, quit the job and reached out to an attorney to see if the practice was legal.
Attorney Michael J. Cefalo of West Pittston and his law firm then drafted a class-action lawsuit against the Muellers, who own 15 other McDonald's locations throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Filed in Luzerne County Court, the suit accused the Muellers and their limited partnership of violating the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Act and unlawfully boosting profits with the payroll card "scheme."
The suit seeks an unspecified amount of monetary damages on behalf of employees and asks a judge to award punitive damages against the company for its "ill-gotten gains contrary to justice, equity, good conscience and Pennsylvania law."
Beth Dal Santo, a spokeswoman for an association of McDonald's franchisees in the region, said the Muellers had not been served with the lawsuit Thursday and would not comment.
The couple, who immigrated to the U.S. from Germany separately in the 1950s, were honored by the Salvation Army in 2011 for their support of that organization and the Ronald McDonald House in Scranton. Their business practices, Gunshannon said, were much less charitable.
Gunshannon said the manager of the Muellers' Shavertown location refused to issue her a paper paycheck or pay via direct deposit, saying, "We only pay on the card." An executive working for the Muellers, she said, gave her an ultimatum: "If you don't activate the card, there is no way for us to pay you. You can activate the card or we can't pay you."
The J.P. Morgan Chase payroll card carries fees for nearly every type of transaction, according to the lawsuit, including a $1.50 charge for ATM withdrawals, $5 for over-the-counter cash withdrawals, $1 to check the balance, 75 cents per online bill payment and $10 per month if the card is left inactive for more than three months.
A spokeswoman for the McDonald's Corp., which is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, did not respond to a telephone message and emailed questions Thursday about the company's guidelines for how its franchisees should pay employees.
Cefalo said they filed the lawsuit on behalf of all current and former employees who were paid with payroll cards without being given the option of receiving their wages in cash or via a check. State law, he said, requires wages be paid in "lawful money" or with a check.
The definition of "lawful money" is unclear, but the state Department of Labor and Industry and state banking regulators have endorsed payroll cards as a legal form of wage payment, according to the American Payroll Association, an industry trade association.
In a 2008 letter to the association, Labor and Industry officials advised employers to obtain employee authorization before paying wages with payroll cards or through direct deposit. In 2005, the state Department of Banking concluded the use of payroll cards did not violate any laws within its jurisdiction.
The association, in a 2009 letter to state regulators, said it was not clear whether employers in the state could "implement purely electronic wage payment programs" without offering employees the option of a paper paycheck, but courts in the state have held that employers could make electronic wage payment a condition of employment.
A spokeswoman for the state Department of Labor and Industry said Thursday the department was researching the matter.
The use of payroll cards as a method of wage payment exploded over the last decade, after credit card giants Visa and MasterCard said in 2001 they would invest heavily in paperless pay systems, according to Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, a federal bank regulator. Electronic pay systems eliminate the need for printing paper checks and the processing fees associated with traditional payroll methods, cutting wage-related costs by as much as 50 percent, according to Automatic Data Processing Inc., the payroll processing firm.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation estimated that $60 billion in wages will be distributed through payroll cards next year.
Walmart, the largest private employer in the U.S., switched to paperless pay in 2009, with about half its 1.4 million employees receiving direct deposit and half receiving paycheck cards. The Home Depot, Lowes, United Parcel Service, FedEx and hundreds of other large employers use payroll cards. The Chicago Public Schools system uses them to pay more than 4,000 student employees.
A memorandum posted on ADP's website described payroll cards as "a more convenient and cost effective way to access your pay than checks." The benefits, the memorandum said, included convenience - wages are added automatically each payday - and the flexibility of accessing pay without having a bank account or paying check-cashing fees.
The memorandum, however, did not address the ATM withdrawal, balance inquiry and other fees associated with the payroll cards Gunshannon said she received in lieu of cash or a paper paycheck.
Gunshannon noted the ATM withdrawal fee would be $1.50 if she used a Chase ATM.
The problem, she noted, is there isn't a Chase ATM for more than 60 miles of her home, the nearest being in Phillipsburg, N.J. If she used the card to withdraw money at a non-Chase ATM, the fee with be an additional several dollars, she said.
Gunshannon, who estimated the company owes her about $200, said she pursued the lawsuit because she thinks workers should have a choice in how they are paid to avoid such fees.
"I tried to work with the company. They refused. I tried the main office in Clarks Summit. They refused," Gunshannon said. "I never activated the card. I refused the fees. I just want it to be fair."
570-821-2055, @cvbobkal
570-821-2061, @cvmikesisak


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Food & Drink
17 Recipes to Satisfy Your Pasta Cravings
There is something so satisfying in a big bowl of pasta. Whether its tossed with veggies and a lemon juice sauce like the Carrot Broccoli Cheese Orzo from Weelicious above, fresh from the garden tomatoes, meaty pasta sauce, or a homemade cream sauce. Any way you serve it, pasta is a favorite dish the world around. I've collected some of my favorite pasta dishes from around the internet. Some of these I've made before, some are on my regular dinner rotation, and some are on my wish list of dishes to try out. Scroll through these beautiful photos and get some pasta dinner inspiration!
Pasta with Double Pork Ragu from Hola Jalapeño. Ragu is one of those classic pasta sauces that is so rich and comforting. The smell of it cooking instantly makes my mouth begin to water. This recipe takes it up a notch by adding lots of pork to the mix in addition to the earthy mushrooms.
Shells stuffed with Broccoli Rabe and Pulled Pork from Heather Christo. Can you tell I'm craving pork lately? Stuffed shells take just a tad more effort, but effort that is so worth it. I mean, just look at that gorgeous pan of deliciousness! If you love southern food, and you also love pasta, this is a lovely marriage of the two.
Carrot Ginger Sauce from Weelicious. With sweetness from the carrots, salty flavor from the miso, and nuttiness from the tahini, my kids were immediately hooked by the incredible taste of this sauce coating their strands of noodles. I can't even count anymore the number of times I have made this dish for my family, and it gets devoured every time!
Colorful Handmade Pasta from Daisy at Home. A post about pasta wouldn't be complete without a recipe for handmade, fresh pasta. The colorful pasta above is colored with all natural ingredients and is such a fun project to do with your kids.
Spring Green Pasta with Saffron Cream Sauce from Aida Mollenkamp. If you haven't tasted saffron before, this pasta is a great place to start. It's one of those ingredients that is just so unique and irreplaceable. You really have to taste it to "get" the magic of this ingredient. You can find it in the spice aisle. It comes in small bottles and looks like tiny little strands of hair.
Crab Pasta by Turntable Kitchen. Whenever crab season rolls around to your neck of the woods, run out and get some fresh crab and make this delightful crab pasta as soon as you can. It is easy to make, but feels so fancy! Serve it for a special family dinner or even a party. It'll be the talk of the table.
Crock Pot Meaty Pasta Sauce by Weelicious. Throw all the ingredients together and let the slow cooker do all the work for you in this meaty pasta sauce recipe. Get the kids in the kitchen with you to help chop, measure and stir. It'll be an even more comforting meal when it's a family event.
Mushroom Bolognese from A Cozy Kitchen. Mushrooms are hearty, meaty, comforting, and just plain delicious. This recipe will be right at home in your recipe box and on your family's table regularly.
Lightened Up Spaghetti Carbonara from Weelicious. If you're going to eat something called carbonara, it better well taste like three darn good things: Parmesan, bacon, and pasta—and "light" is not an adjective I'd use to describe any of those foods! So instead of substituting ingredients, I simply use less of the offending ones (except cream, that one doesn't make the cut here). I also like to use a combination of eggs and pasta water to help retain the lusciousness and creaminess of a classic carbonara.
Pasta with Fennel Kale and Lemon from Blogging Over Thyme. This dish combines sauteed onion, fennel, lacinato kale, lots of garlic, and some red pepper flakes, and it's finished with a good squeeze of fresh lemon juice. It's simple, but delicious.
Sweet Peas with Shells and Alfredo from Shutterbean. Spring is on its way, and to me, that means PEAS! Forget the mushy green things that came from a can when you were a kid. Fresh sweet peas are where it's at, and they are not even the slightest bit of mushy! Just fresh, springy, and tasty.
Penne with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Pesto Chicken Sausages from Bev Cooks. This pasta dish is full of yum! Fresh and flavorful ingredients make such a difference in what you put on your dinner table, don't they?
Red Pepper Pasta with Mushrooms and Spinach from What's Gaby Cooking. This might be the easiest pasta sauce ever. You just throw all the ingredients into a food processor or blender and that's it! The mushrooms and spinach add to the heartiness and nutrition of this dish.
Spinach Artichoke Pasta from A Spicy Perspective. Artichokes admittedly can be a tough sell, but when they're mixed with a creamy cheese sauce, you really can't go wrong. Their flavor adds some pizzazz to this creamy pasta dish.
Tortellini en Brodo from Bell'alimento. Pasta in soup?! It might sound strange if you've never tried it before, but trust me on this one. Homemade broth truly brings something comforting to the table, while the pasta… well, we all know how wonderful pasta is. It's like combining to comfort foods into one dish and serving something spectacular at your dinner table.
Wild Mushroom Fettuccine from The Gouda Life. This dish is the perfect dinner to bring together all your vegetarian and carnivore loved ones. Mushrooms are earthy, hearty, and meaty! The meat eaters will not miss the meat when they're served this wild mushroom pasta, and the vegetarians will be thrilled to know you've come up with a real entree for them to enjoy!

subset: commoncrawl


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The Starship Enterprise (NCC-1701) began her TV voyages to "strange new worlds" more than 50 years ago. The original Star Trek series ran for only three seasons; its last episode aired the month before men first walked on the moon. But the years since have seen one animated and five live-action spin-off series, 13 feature films, and a galaxy's worth of video games, novels, and memorabilia, all driving the adventure of going "where no has gone before" forward at maximum warp!
Showing 1 - 6 of 6 items for:
Decorate your fridge, desk, or random metal surfaces with this Star Trek Kirk and Spock Funky Chunky Magnet! Made of wood and laser die cut, this... Read more
This isn't your run-of-the-mill magnet. It's wooden, it's laser die cut, and it's so chunky! The Star Trek Gorn Quote Funky Chunky Magnet is a fun... Read more
Live long and prosper... That's what this magnet says! This isn't your run-of-the-mill magnet. It's wooden, it's laser die-cut, and it's chunky!... Read more
Show your allegiance to Starfleet! This isn't your run-of-the-mill magnet. It's wooden, it's laser die-cut, and it's chunky! Measuring about 3-inches... Read more
Live long and prosper, Spock. This isn't your run-of-the-mill magnet. It's wooden, it's laser die cut, and it's so chunky! Measuring about 4-inches... Read more
Warp speed, Mr. Sulu. This isn't your run-of-the-mill magnet. It's wooden, it's laser die cut, and it's so chunky! Measuring about 4-inches tall x... Read more
Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry pitched his series to skeptical 1960s network execs as "Wagon Train to the stars." But for all its exotic alien planets and fascinating new life forms, for all its near-miraculous future tech (some of which anticipated real-world breakthroughs by decades) and sleek spacefaring vessels (all of which remain, unfortunately, out of reach, except as toys and model kits), Star Trek has always really been about exploring the most mysterious and compelling frontier of all: the meaning and potential of humanity.
As Captain Jean-Luc Picard once told Mr. Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Perhaps someday we will discover that space and time are simpler than the human equation."
Lay in a course for Entertainment Earth whenever you want to beam up figures, die-cast vehicles, apparel, or other accessories to celebrate the human adventure that is just beginning!
In "The City on the Edge of Forever" - a 1967 episode consistently ranked one of the whole franchise's best - Depression-era social worker Edith Keeler, with whom a time-traveling Captain Kirk falls in love, envisions the future Kirk comes from: "One day soon, man is going to be able to harness incredible energy… that could ultimately hurl men to other worlds in some sort of spaceship. And the men that reach out into space will find ways… to give each man hope and a common future. And those are the days worth living for."
Our collection of replicas includes tricorders and phasers, Starfleet uniforms and communicators, and model spaceships from both the United Federation of Planets and the new civilizations it encounters - almost anything you could want to help you feel like you're living in Star Trek's bright future, and to show your dedication to making these days "days worth living for," too!
Keep a tribble on your key ring.
Use a phaser to turn your home theater system off (without vaporizing it).
Adorn your next con lanyard or your jacket lapel with pins featuring heroes like the original series' cranky but compassionate Dr. McCoy (you can imagine him complaining, "I'm a doctor, not a decoration!")... the animated series' cat-like Caitian communications officer Lt. M'Ress… brave Captain Kathryn Janeway, determined to shepherd the Starship Voyager home from the far-off Delta Quadrant.
Snap together a Mega Bloks Klingon Battlecruiser for the glory of the Empire - Qapla'!
Whether you're looking for practical ways to inject futuristic fun into your everyday routine or Star Trek toys to play with when you're off-duty, Entertainment Earth has more than enough merchandise to fill Space Station K-7's storage compartments.
Few science fiction franchises have introduced as many iconic characters into pop culture as Star Trek has. You can celebrate its half-century (and counting) of memorable heroes and villains with a wide range of action figures, statues, and even wooden Pin Mates and Tiki Tiki Totems.
Will William Shatner always be "your" Captain Kirk? Do you prefer Chris Pine's take on the role in the recent reboot movies? Fans of one or both will find figures here honoring Starfleet's most famous commanders.
Or you can recruit all of Star Trek's iconic COs—Kirk, Picard, Janeway, Benjamin Sisko and Jonathan Archer—to keep watch over your computer as Monitor Mate bobbleheads!
And commemorate these "boldly going" adventurers' epic showdowns with some of space's biggest threats to peace—the patiently plotting Romulans, the aggressive reptilian and insectoid species of the Xindi, the energy web-spinning Tholians, the temporal cold war-waging Suliban, even the barbaric Terran Empire from the dark and distorted "mirror universe"—with highly detailed, die-cast vehicles for your desk or display shelves.
Fans in the 1970s proudly proclaimed, "Star Trek Lives!" Today, it lives more than ever. And the toys, collectibles and accessories you'll find at Entertainment Earth suggest this famous and influential science fiction saga will continue to live long and prosper!


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Bradley Cooper's Limitless topped the box office this weekend, his first professional victory in a leading role. And something of a relief for him. Because, well, his hype had been wearing off of late. And I hear he's been losing out on consideration for a few key parts. This however should be a boost to the career. And coincidentally too just as his breakup with Renee Zellweger was announced. Or is that what we call a conspiracy?
Not that he was in it for any ulterior motive. Like I've reported before, what they had was legit. And "he's too goodlooking for her", I'm sorry, is a dumbass reason for believing he's gay. Look, there's no one who loves a beard situation more than me. And if this was a beard situation, believe me, I'd be the first one to jizz all over it. But in my travels, from the sources I've spoken with who are connected to both, this is not a hidden homo story. This, rather, is a story of co-dependency, two people in pain drawn together, and inevitably unable to make it work forever.
Did you watch him on Inside the Actors Studio? Those emotions were pretty close to the surface. I know you may not share my personal discomfort with people crying in public, but he was quite raw, and it felt a little too intimate, and on the heels of his father's recent death, and the baggage he was already carrying when he and Renee started dating, the armchair gossip has to wonder if Bradley Cooper's in the best space right now.
Bittersweetly though, his professional life may be benefitting from the heartbreak of his personal one.
So when did it happen?
I heard they were fine through the fall. She was in Thailand with him for much of The Hangover 2 shoot. The holidays were uneventful. And I saw them in LA at E Baldi on Friday, February 25th having dinner with Alyssa Milano and her husband. So it would have to be quite recent, just before his trip to the UK to promote the film. He was seen leaving The Box one night having not been really part of that scene for some time, if ever. I suppose that would have been the first sign.
As for Renee, she was photographed several times in New York this weekend, on her own, going for coffee, working out. Meanwhile Coop returned to LA on Friday night. Now that he has a hit movie though, how long before Jessica Biel is all over it?
Below – Bradley Cooper's appearance on Inside the Actors Studio. James Lipton's introduction is almost a joke. The man is so good at "almost crying".
Photos from Flynetonline.com and Jackson Lee/Splashnewsonline.com


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For years, we've heard about how much clinical information is locked away in payer databases. Payers have offered to provide clinical summaries, electronic and otherwise, The problem is, it's potentially inaccurate clinical information because it's all based on billing claims. (Don't believe me? Just ask "E-Patient" Dave de Bronkart.) It is for this reason that I don't much trust "quality" ratings based on claims data.
Just how much of a difference there was between claims data and true clinical data hasn't been so clear, though. Until today.
A paper just published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that searching EMRs with natural-language processing identified up to 12 times the number of pneumonia cases and twice the rate of kidney failure and sepsis as did searches based on billing codes—ironically called "patient safety indicators" in the study—for patients admitted for surgery at six VA hospitals. That means that hundreds of the nearly 3,000 patients whose were reviewed had postoperative complications that didn't show up in quality and performance reports.
Just think of the implications of that as we move toward Accountable Care Organizations and outcomes-based reimbursement. If healthcare continues to rely on claims data for "quality" measurement, facilities that don't take steps to prevent complications and reduce hospital-acquired infections could score just as high—and earn just as much bonus money—as those hospitals truly committed to patient safety. If so, quality rankings will remain false, subjective measures of true performance.
So how do we remedy this? It may not be so easy. As Cerner's Dr. David McCallie told Bloomberg News, it will take a lot of reprogramming to embed natural-language search into existing EMRs, and doing so could, according to the Bloomberg story, "destabilize software systems" and necessitate a lot more training for physicians.
I'm no technical expert, so I don't know how NLP could destabilize software. From a layman's perspective, it almost sounds as if vendors don't want to put the time and effort into redesigning their products. Could it be?
I suppose there is still a chance that HHS could require NLP in Stage 3 of meaningful use—it's not gonna happen for Stage 2—but I'm sure vendors and providers alike will say it's too difficult. They may even say there just isn't enough evidence; this JAMA study certainly would have to be replicated and corroborated. But are you willing to take the chance that the hospital you visit for surgery doesn't have any real incentive to take steps to prevent complications?


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Here is the antique small quilt we will reproduce this month. As you are possibly sewing the next day or so look through your stash for pink and yellow if you want to do it with these colors. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I like them together. My top is done, it is basted, but not quilted.
Gay from Sentimental Stitches and Brenda, writer of the Dear Jane book have collaborated to bring us a red and white mystery quilt this year. Check it out at Just Takes 2. I plan on participating with muslin background and a variety of red prints.
I'd like to say thank you to all who have visited my humble blog on the web. I appreciate every visit and every comment. We laugh, we cry and we encourage each other. It is a great community on the web.
Be safe and Happy New Year to you all!!


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State securities regulators are up in arms over the Supreme Court's recent decision upholding American Express' right to bar customer class-action suits and are pressing Congress to stop forced arbitrations.
The Supreme Court on June 20 issued its opinion in American Express Co. v. Italian Colors Restaurant, which held that a group of merchants were bound by individual arbitration agreements with American Express "even if a class action is the only way to make the claim economically viable," NASAA says.
According to The Washington Post, a group of California restaurants led by Italian Colors had a dispute with American Express, over fees and other matters, from which each restaurant hoped to recover $40,000 or less. But the analysis necessary to prove their case would have cost the restaurants up to $1 million.
"The Supreme Court's ruling effectively invites large corporations to use arbitration agreements to disregard effective vindication of consumer claims through class actions," said Heath Abshure (right), NASAA President and Arkansas securities commissioner, in a statement.
"It is disappointing that the Supreme Court would turn a blind eye to the injustice of allowing large corporate interests to deny small businesses and individuals their day in court," Abshure said. "It is now up to Congress to restore some vestige of consumer protection by prompt remedial legislation to restore the scales of justice to balance."
In a 5-3 opinion by Justice Antonin Scalia, the Court held that a contractual provision mandating individual arbitration by means of a class-action waiver is enforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), even if the costs of individual arbitration outweigh the potential recovery, according to attorneys Michael Miller and Adam Hunt of the law firm Morrison Foerster.
"Plaintiffs had argued that the costs of individual arbitration were so high that they would not be able to 'effectively vindicate' their federal statutory rights under the antitrust laws," the two lawyers say. "But the Supreme Court shut the door on plaintiffs' repeated efforts to push for the application of this 'effective vindication' exception that had been crafted by lower courts (including those in the Second Circuit)."
NASAA notes that it has been urging Congress to explore amending federal law to ensure that all investors, especially those investing small amounts, have a reasonable avenue to seek recovery.
"Arbitration should not be the sole forum available to aggrieved investors," Abshure said. "They should be able to seek relief in any forum and not be forced into an expensive arbitration that could foreclose the ability to obtain relief."
Check out Schwab Backs Off on Class-Action Ban—for Now on AdvisorOne.


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Gene Cubbison and NBC's Chuck Todd talk about what kind of impact Californians have on the primaries. On Tuesday, GOP nominations were at stake in contests across 10 states – California not among them.
NBC San Diego's political reporter Gene Cubbison spoke to NBC's Chief White House Correspondent Chuck Todd about the way California factored in to Super Tuesday's competition.
Gene Cubbison: Is it reasonable for states such as California to hope that the GOP nominee won't be decided until their primaries in late May and early June?
Chuck Todd: If the Obama Campaign had their way, they'd love for this thing to keep going and going.
But I think you're seeing some momentum inside the Republican Party looking for any possible reason to jump on the bandwagon with Mitt Romney. We're seeing it both in polling and we're seeing it with leaders.
If Romney has the kind of night he may have tonight, mathematically with the delegates, and also winning more states, then [the Republican Party] is going to say 'we gotta stop this, because this is not good for the party and it is jeopardizing November.'
Cubbison: If Romney wins, how easy will it be for the party to repair the damage from all this bloodletting in the primary cycle, and how quickly could Romney move credibly toward 'the middle'?
Todd: This is going to be a very tough tightrope for Mitt Romney to walk, because he still doesn't have conservatives' enthusiasm behind them.
U.S. & World
Base conservatives are accepting his candidacy, but they're not embracing it with enthusiasm. So he's always gotta be careful every time he moves to the middle, as other traditional non-major party nominees do after appealing to their base – he's going to have a base that is always trying to rein him in.
He needs to figure out how to repair two things:
One, the damage his party has done with Hispanics, and two the damage his party has done with suburban women. I would argue that he can fix the issue with women a lot faster than he can fix the problems the party is facing with Hispanics. But he needs to try to fix – or at least start to fix -- both of them before November.
Cubbison: How likely is it that there could be a 3rd party challenge from a defeated Republican rival?
Todd: The middle of the electorate certainly feels that they're underrepresented right now. You can see how someone from the conservative movement try to use this.
You know, you've got groups like Americans Elect, which is going have ballot access in California. So it's going to be a nomination that's easy to get, because if you get ballot access you can get ambitious politicians to think that this is the way to go.
That's what makes this a little more complicated for Romney – he needs to always mind his right flank. Maybe he handles it with getting someone, maybe his running mate that people can get fired up about, perhaps Paul Ryan or Chris Christie.
This is just one of those years where there's this pent up anxiety or angst in the American public about the direction of many institutions. Look at the Occupy movement and the Tea Party movement, upset with the status quo: that is the major ingredient for a third party entity to pop up.
Let us know what you think. Comment below, send us your thoughts via Twitter @PropZero or add your comment to our Facebook page.


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Parts or all of the mine where at least 25 workers died were ordered closed 61 times in the past 15 months, according to information from the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
The information was provided in a summary to several congressional lawmakers after the accident at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia. The summary has not been made public but was provided to NBC News.
Despite what experts said is an alarming number of so-called withdrawal orders, a total of more than 100 since 2000, federal regulators never took stepped-up action to cite the mine for a "pattern of violations" even though the mine met the criteria.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
Withdrawal orders refer to shutting down a portion of the plant or the entire plant and removing all workers from that location.
According to the document, the mine agency did not take further action against mine owner Massey Energy Co. because the company eventually "successfully reduced its rate" of serious violations.
In five instances since 2000, inspectors issued withdrawal orders based on a threat of imminent danger that could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm. One of those orders came as recently as December.
The document provided to lawmakers does not specify if the individual orders were complete or partial withdrawals of the mine, the length of the orders, or any other information that would shed light on each event.
The mine safety agency does not have the authority to shut down a mine unless it goes to court, but it can issue withdrawal orders that force miners to evacuate an area until hazards are eliminated.
Forced shutdowns became more common in the industry after 2008 in the wake of a series of deadly mine accidents. The Upper Big Branch Mine has been the subject of more than 100 withdrawal orders since 2000, but 61 of those were handed down in 2009 and so far this year.
Previous reports have shown a string of safety violations at Massey's sprawling mine in the months leading up to Monday's explosion, which killed at least 25 workers and left four missing.
Massey has been repeatedly cited for problems with the system that vents methane and for allowing combustible dust to build up, including two large fines assessed in January when federal inspectors found dirty air flowing into an escapeway where fresh air should be, and an emergency air system flowing in the wrong direction. Miners were so concerned about the conditions that several told their congressman they were afraid to go back into the mine.
President Barack Obama has asked federal mine safety officials to report next week on what may have caused the latest disaster. The White House said Thursday that Obama will meet with Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Mine Safety and Health Administrator Joe Main.


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A.L. Jameson Glass Plate Negatives Collection
A.L. Jameson Glass Plate Negatives Collection
Collection Number:
Collection Length:
Geographic Coverage:
Ogdensburg, Black Lake, St. Lawrence County
1895 to 1910
Finding Aid:
The collection consists of 136 glass plate negatives taken between 1895-1910 by Jameson of Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence County, N.Y. The negatives depict families and scenes in the Ogdensburg-Black Lake area.


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Type Classes With An Easier Example
I recently wrote this post. It contained a lot of rather obtuse mathematics, just to introduce what was basically the example problem for the article. That's because it was a real honest-to-goodness problem I was solving and writing papers on for algebra journals… admittedly, not the best choice for a blog aimed partly at non-mathematicians. Here, I do something similar, but with a much simpler and more general purpose problem.
We'll be playing with converting matrices to an upper triangular form, essentially using Gaussian elimination. As a reminder, here's what that means (I'm simplifying a little):
Goal: I have a matrix, and I'd like it to be upper triangular. (Upper triangular means that everything below the main diagonal is zero.)
Rules: I'll allow myself to do these things to the matrix: swap any two rows or columns, or add any multiple of a row or column to another one.
Strategy: I'll look for a non-zero element in the first column. If there is one, I'll swap rows to move it to the first row of the matrix. Then I'll add multiples of the first row to all of the other rows, until the entire rest of the first column is equal to zero. Then (here's where we get a little tricky) I can just do the same thing on the rest of the matrix, ignoring the first row and column. In other words, I've reduced the problem to a smaller version of itself. (Yep, it's a recursive algorithm.)
The Trick Up Our Sleeve: Instead of writing our function to operate directly on some representation of matrices, we'll make it work on a type class. This will let us play all sorts of cool tricks.
Preliminary Stuff
I'd like to be able to declare instance for my matrices without jumping through newtype hoops, so I'll start with a language extension.
{-# LANGUAGE TypeSynonymInstances #-}
import Data.Maybe
Next, I need a few easy utility functions on lists. There's nothing terribly interesting here; just a swap function, and a function to apply a function to the nth element of a list.
swap :: Int -> Int -> [a] -> [a] swap i j xs | i == j = xs | i > j = swap j i xs | otherwise = swap' i j xs where swap' 0 j (x:xs) = let (b,xs') = swap'' x (j-1) xs in b : xs' swap' i j (x:xs) = x : swap' (i-1) (j-1) xs swap'' a 0 (x:xs) = (x, a:xs) swap'' a j (x:xs) = let (b,xs') = swap'' a (j-1) xs in (b, x:xs') modifynth :: Int -> (a -> a) -> [a] -> [a] modifynth _ _ [] = [] modifynth 0 f (x:xs) = f x : xs modifynth n f (x:xs) = x : modifynth (n-1) f xs
Finally, I need a type to represent matrices. Since this is just toy code where I don't need really high performance, a list of lists will do just fine.
type Matrix = [[Double]]
All done. On to the interesting stuff.
Building a Type Class
I already mentioned that I don't want to operate directly on the representation of a matrix as a list of lists. Instead, I'll declare a type class capturing all of the operations that I'd like to be able to perform.
class Eliminable a where (@@) :: a -> (Int,Int) -> Double size :: a -> Int swapRows :: Int -> Int -> a -> a swapCols :: Int -> Int -> a -> a addRow :: Double -> Int -> Int -> a -> a addCol :: Double -> Int -> Int -> a -> a
I've reserved the operator @@ to examine an entry of a matrix, size to give me its size, and then included functions to swap rows, swap columns, add a multiple of one row to another, and add a multiple of one column to another. Now I just need an implementation for the concrete matrix type I declared earlier.
instance Eliminable Matrix where m @@ (i,j) = m !! i !! j size m = length m swapRows p q m = swap p q m swapCols p q m = map (swap p q) m addRow k p q m = modifynth q (zipWith comb (m!!p)) m where comb a b = k*a + b addCol k p q m = map (\row -> modifynth q (comb (row!!p)) row) m where comb a b = k*a + b
Programming With Our Type Class
Recall that the substantial portion of the elimination algorithm earlier was to zero out most of the first column of the matrix, leaving only the top element possibly non-zero. We're now in a position to implement this piece of the algorithm. It's not all that tricky.
zeroCol :: Eliminable a => a -> a zeroCol m = let clearRow j m' = addRow (-(m' @@ (j,0) / m' @@ (0,0))) 0 j m' clearCol m' = foldr clearRow m' [1 .. size m - 1] in case listToMaybe [ i | i <- [0 .. size m - 1], m @@ (i,0) /= 0 ] of Nothing -> m Just 0 -> clearCol m Just i -> clearCol (swapRows 0 i m)
This function looks only at the first column of the matrix, and clears it out my moving a non-zero element to the top, and then adding the right multiple of that column to all those below it. The important thing to notice is that this was implemented for any arbitrary instance of the type class I called "Eliminable". This will be incredibly useful in the next few steps.
Using the Type Class
The next part of the algorithm is to ignore the first row and column, and perform the same operation on the submatrix obtained by deleting them. It's actually a bit unclear how to implement this. We have a few options:
- Modify zeroCol above, to have it take a parameter representing the current column, and do everything relative to the current column. This is pretty messy. It actually might not be too messy in this case, but if the algorithm I were implementing were a little less trivial to begin with, It might definitely be quite messy.
- Actually perform the elimination on a separate matrix, and then somehow graft the first row and column from this matrix onto that one. Again, this could get pretty messy in general.
- Change the representation of the submatrices.
I'll choose the third. Luckily, this isn't too tough, since we have a type class. I'll just define a newtype, and a new instance, to encapsulate the idea of a matrix with the first row and column deleted.
newtype SubMatrix a = SubMatrix { unwrap :: a } instance Eliminable a => Eliminable (SubMatrix a) where (SubMatrix m) @@ (i,j) = m @@ (i+1,j+1) size (SubMatrix m) = size m - 1 swapRows p q (SubMatrix m) = SubMatrix (swapRows (p+1) (q+1) m) swapCols p q (SubMatrix m) = SubMatrix (swapCols (p+1) (q+1) m) addRow k p q (SubMatrix m) = SubMatrix (addRow k (p+1) (q+1) m) addCol k p q (SubMatrix m) = SubMatrix (addCol k (p+1) (q+1) m)
Using this new instance, I can easily complete the elimination algorithm.
eliminate :: Eliminable a => a -> a eliminate m | size m <= 1 = m | otherwise = unwrap . eliminate . SubMatrix . zeroCol $ m
Yep, that's all there is to it, and we have a working elimination algorithm.
Type Class Games
Suppose, now, that I want a lower triangular matrix. It might initially seem that I'm out of luck; I need to write all this code again. That turns out not to be the case, though. If I just teach the existing code how to operate on the transpose of a matrix instead of the matrix I've given it, then all is well! Here goes.
newtype Transposed a = Transposed { untranspose :: a } instance Eliminable a => Eliminable (Transposed a) where (Transposed m) @@ (i,j) = m @@ (j,i) size (Transposed m) = size m swapRows p q (Transposed m) = Transposed (swapCols p q m) swapCols p q (Transposed m) = Transposed (swapRows p q m) addRow k p q (Transposed m) = Transposed (addCol k p q m) addCol k p q (Transposed m) = Transposed (addRow k p q m)
To implement the lower triangular conversion, now, is simple.
lowerTriang :: Eliminable a => a -> a lowerTriang = untranspose . eliminate . Transposed
Any number of changes to the operation we're trying to perform can often be expressed by simply substituting a different representation for the type on which we're performing the operation. (Thinking about this fact can actually get pretty deep.)
Side Calculations
There's a fairly common problem that many people run into when moving from an imperative language to a functional one. This can apply to learning functional programming, converting existing imperative code, or even just translating the concepts in one's mind when talking to someone who thinks imperatively. The problem goes something like this: you have some code that performs some computation, and now you want to change the code to add some new concept to the existing computation. Often, the new idea you're trying to add could be performed trivially in an imperative language, by adding print statements to some function seven layers in, or by keeping track of some value in a global variable, or in some field of some object. In the functional setting, these aren't available to you.
The minimalist answer is simply to add all the plumbing code; new parameters and return values, etc. to every function in the entire call tree. To say the least, this is unappealing! To a new Haskell programmer, the obvious answer often looks like monads. However, again, the entire call tree has to be rewritten in a monadic style, and besides, this is a tad like using a rocket launcher to rid the house of mice.
The solution I propose here is that many times, it's sufficient to use a type class. Here's an example.
Problem: Calculate the determinant of a matrix efficiently.
Determinants can be calculated in a lot of different ways, but one of the most common uses elimination. The interesting fact here is that once you've got a triangular matrix (lower or upper; doesn't matter), then its determinant is just the product of its diagonal elements. Furthermore, we know precisely what happens to the determinant when you swap rows or columns (it flips sign, but the magnitude stays the same), or when you add a multiple of one row or column to the other (it stays the same). So a (very fast) way to calculate a determinant is to perform elimination, but also keep track, at each step, of what you've done to the determinant so far.
So now we need, not merely a matrix, but a pair consisting of a matrix and some side information – namely, which change we've made so far to the determinant.
data WithDeterminant a = WithDeterminant Double a instance Eliminable a => Eliminable (WithDeterminant a) where (WithDeterminant _ m) @@ (i,j) = m @@ (i,j) size (WithDeterminant _ m) = size m swapRows p q (WithDeterminant d m) = WithDeterminant (-d) (swapRows p q m) swapCols p q (WithDeterminant d m) = WithDeterminant (-d) (swapCols p q m) addRow k p q (WithDeterminant d m) = WithDeterminant d (addRow k p q m) addCol k p q (WithDeterminant d m) = WithDeterminant d (addCol k p q m)
As before, once we've defined the appropriate instance, the implementation is actually quite easy.
diags :: Matrix -> [Double] diags [] = [] diags (r:rs) = head r : diags (map tail rs) determinant :: Matrix -> Double determinant m = let WithDeterminant d m' = eliminate (WithDeterminant 1 m) in d * product (diags m')
The resulting determinant function actually performs quite well. For example, calculation of the determinant of a 100 by 100 matrix is done in 1.61 seconds, fully interpreted in GHCi. I didn't bother compiling with optimization to see how well that does, nor replacing the inefficient list-of-lists representation of matrices with one based on contiguous memory or arrays. (Edit: Compiled and optimized with GHC, but still using the list-of-list representation, the time is around a third of a second.)
(It's worth pointing out that automatic differentiation is another very impressive example of this same technique, except that it uses the standard numeric type classes instead of a custom type class.)
The point of this article is that plain old type classes in Haskell can be used to make your purely functional code very flexible and versatile. By defining a type class to capture the concept of a set of related operations, I was able to achieve:
- Choice of data structures. Had I wanted to use a contiguous array instead of a list of lists, I could have easily done so.
- Easier programming. For example, operating on a submatrix of the original matrix became much easier.
- Flexible code. I was able to get lower triangular matrices, too, without rewriting the code.
- Better composability. I easily reused by upper triangular matrix calculation to find determinants, even though additional calculations had to be traced through the original.
- Separation of concerns. When I started, I never even dreamed that I might need to trace determinant calculations through the process. That got added later on, in it's own separate bit of code. If someone else wanted different plumbing… say, for logging, or precondition checking, or estimating the possible rounding error, all they'd need to do is define a new instance of the type class.
None of this is new, of course. But type classes are definitely an underused language feature by many Haskell programmers.
10 CommentsLeave a Comment
Derek Elkins / Sep 20 2009 2:33 pm
There is another underused feature you are using, specifically in the definition of eliminate. A hint, if necessary: try commenting out the type signature of eliminate.
Victor Nazarov / Sep 21 2009 4:14 pm
You post impressed me so much, that I've reimplemented/copied your code, with some niceties like Type Families :) http://www.hpaste.org/fastcgi/hpaste.fcgi/view?id=9676#a9677


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The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff greeted players in the Washington Nationals clubhouse before the game, handing out blue-and-gold Navy caps. Manager Davey Johnson and his players held those caps from Adm. James Winnefeld over their hearts during a pregame moment of silence, disturbed only by the sound of a hovering helicopter.
WASHINGTON (AP) ? The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff greeted players in the Washington Nationals clubhouse before the game, handing out blue-and-gold Navy caps. Manager Davey Johnson and his players held those caps from Adm. James Winnefeld over their hearts during a pregame moment of silence, disturbed only by the sound of a hovering helicopter.
Baseball was played in the nation's capital Tuesday, just a short walk from where a gunman killed 12 people at the Navy Yard military instillation. It was another attempt from the world of sports to restore normalcy when things really aren't normal.
"There's nothing we can do to replace the lives that were lost yesterday," Nationals outfielder Denard Span said.
Fans arrived via the Navy Yard subway station, although they were sparse in number because Monday's game was rescheduled on short notice. The USS Barry, anchored in the Anacostia River and the Navy Yard's top tourist attraction, was easily visible from the players' parking lot. The U.S. and team flags were at half-staff on the center field concourse.
Then, at 1:07 p.m. on a cool, late summer day, the first pitch was thrown. The Nationals were back in their regular "curly W" caps, and soon fans were cheering an inning-ending double play by the home team's defense. It was back to work, playing the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
"It hit me hard," Span said, "because this is right across the street from our stadium. Just to know that we come here every day for work, and you drive by the Navy Yard all the time."
Much of the chaos that engulfed the ballpark 24 hours earlier was gone. The stadium's parking lot had been used as a staging area for relatives on Monday, when even Johnson was asked for extra ID to get past an armed guard.
"When we got to the field (Monday), every guy on the team was like, 'We need to get this game somehow cancelled' just because it's so close over there, right across the street," Braves third baseman Chris Johnson said. "They're using the parking lots for stuff. The probably don't want traffic down here. And the last thing we want is cheering going on when there's people hurting right across the street."
By contrast, fans saw no overt signs of extra security at the ballpark on Tuesday.
"It's a shame that our society has got to be worried about that kind of stuff, but I feel pretty safe here today," said Nationals fan Kevin Neale of Rockville, Md. "I'm glad to be at the ballpark. Sorry for all the people who had families and who had to deal with that yesterday. It's just an unfortunate situation."
Yet, Monday's events were inescapable. Nationals starting pitcher Dan Haren said, "we were all thinking about it all game."
"I really, really wanted it bad," Haren said. "Just fired up. People are watching, and to make people feel good, I really wanted the game bad."
Ian Desmond claimed his team drew from the nation's strength.
"We're a resilient group, like America." Desmond said. "We're not going away. We'll be here."
Introducing the moments of silence ? they were held before both games ? the Nationals public address announcer said Washingtonians and Americans "remain united" before asking fans to remember "all those affected by yesterday's senseless act of violence."
Also, Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper tweeted a photo of his Navy cap and told fans to "Be sure to wear your blue and gold to the game today!"
"Today I took a little pulse around the clubhouse, and everybody's ready to get going," Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "It seems like always in the United States every time we get back to normal ? the sooner we get back to normal ? the healing process starts. We get going again."


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We know how much it weighs, but we still don't know how much power it puts out. Regardless, the 2015 Ford Mustang configurator is somehow online, and your Ecoboost dreams can become a reality starting at $25,170.
We don't know if it's in beta or just hidden on the Ford homepage, but the entire Mustang range is ready for your configurating delight. The rental-spec V6 starts at $23,600, with the Ecoboost Premium commanding $29,170, the GT starting at $32,100, and the V8-powered Premium model going for $36,100. The convertible is in there too, with the base model coming in at $29,100.
All the accessories aren't online yet, but you can still spec out colors and some options. Check it out and let us know if you find any interesting morsels hidden inside.


text:
Message Board
Colin Escott Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Escott has written!
Author Escott's Book Reviews
Hank Williams: The Biography
This is a detailed account of Hank Williams' life and premature death. The book pays close attention to his chronic back pain, the rocky marriages, the status anxiety, the inferiority complex, the philandering and above all the alcoholism that would eventually kill him. Along the way author Colin Escott also provides an inside look of the music business in the 1940's and 50's, from songwriting to publishing, promotion and performance. ...


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Nicholas Ho-Unparalleled Flexibility: Gallery Design a Museum-Quality Gallery Space
At Design Interviews
Interview with Nicholas Ho : Frank Scott: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?. Nicholas Ho : To create a versatile and complimentary gallery space for emerging Asian artists .Frank Scott: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?. Nicholas Ho : To create a universal flexible gallery space, where spatial and technical constraints in a traditional gallery are eliminated, to allow maximum layout potentials for the client to be able to easily transform the gallery's function. .Frank Scott: What are your future plans for this award winning design?. Nicholas Ho : this is my first gallery project, and I was able to infuse my technical background from designing laboratories into the support system of the space, I would like to continue to explore other institutional type architecture .Frank Scott: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?. Nicholas Ho : 2 weeks, the client was in a rush, so the idea was to allow flexibility, instead of controlled spaces for artists exhibitions .Frank Scott: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?. Nicholas Ho : commissioned, but the client didnt know what she wants at the beginning, as a designer, I helped her find her project brief, and expanded on the development, all in all, it is a project that went beyong the clients expectations .Frank Scott: What made you design this particular type of work?. Nicholas Ho : I have a huge interest in art since growing up, and with my strong technical design background I feel it is a great opportunity to merge aesthetics with technology in a subtle and yet non-overpowering way .Frank Scott: Who is the target customer for his design?. Nicholas Ho : emerging Asian artists in the field of print making as well as the public audience .Frank Scott: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?. Nicholas Ho : the notion of flexibility is redefined in this project, conventional gallery will have one or two movable elements in the art space to allow some sort of flexible partitions, but the lighting and electrical support always constraint different layouts. This project, it is safe to say everything is on a universal flexible nature. .Frank Scott: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?. Nicholas Ho : Same as the design concept, unmatched flexibility will soon take over gallery design in the future, since land is scarse and it is particularly hard to find large spaces, therefore, flexible spaces are the future .Frank Scott: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?. Nicholas Ho : rhino, autocad .Frank Scott: What is the most unique aspect of your design?. Nicholas Ho : 100% flexible .Frank Scott: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?. Nicholas Ho : time was tight, 40 days from inception design stage to project hand over .Frank Scott: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?. Nicholas Ho : it is at this moment, a one of a kind project, and I would like to show it internationally to push this concept as the new gallery standard across the world .Frank Scott: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?. Nicholas Ho : to really understand the client needs at times when they don't even know what they want .
Nicholas Ho-Unparalleled Flexibility: Gallery Design a Museum-Quality Gallery Space Images:
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Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company collaborated with Total Logistics, an independent logistics and supply chain consultancy now part of Accenture, to advise on building a new storage facility in Romania that could handle projected demand from its bottling plant.
The result? Sweet success for Coca-Cola Hellenic.
Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company S.A., which operates in 28 countries, engaged Total Logistics, an independent logistics and supply chain consultancy now part of Accenture, to advise on the building of a storage facility in Ploiesti, Romania that would meet its high standards and its needs for:
Environmental Protection
Total Logistics undertook an analysis of the processes at the bottling plant, which currently operates six production lines, and developed a planning model, taking into account the peak production and dispatch volumes and the projected demand of 198,000 units per hour.
Working with local management, the Total Logistics supply chain consultancy team considered several manual and automated options before finally recommending an automated high-bay storage solution. Total Logistics provided an initial design, taking palletized products from existing production lines via the main conveyor and into a storage area with the capacity for 35,000 pallets. The high-bay, clad-rack warehouse will be served by 11 automated cranes to create an efficient retrieval system.
"Coca-Cola Hellenic identified its plans to expand capacity in the future and needed to know if its existing site could facilitate its projected development and have the capacity for additional storage. Our specialist supply chain team examined the existing processes at the Ploiesti plant and looked at various options for providing increased storage and the associated benefits. We identified the optimal solution and subsequently ran an invitation to tender, which led to the appointment of FKI Logistex as the solution provider."
Peter Roan, Senior Manager at Accenture
The new automated high-bay system is thought to be the first in Romania and enables the facility to handle around:
The system can handle up to 290 pallets per hour on intake and 490 pallets per hour for dispatch. Following the success of the project, Total Logistics was appointed by Coca-Cola Hellenic to carry out further projects in Romania and in other countries.


text: The Ellis River stretches from the eastern slopes of Mt. Washington through Pinkham Notch and the village of Jackson where it flows past the inn and under the covered bridge, eventually joining the Saco River in the village of Glen. Crystal Cascade, Glen Ellis Falls and Goodrich Falls all are along the Ellis River.


text: TierraCast makes incredible lead-free pewter beads, charms and components and are known for their beautiful, intricate designs and commitment to quality and consistency in their products. This gorgeous collection is plated in rhodium silver, 22K gold, pure copper, gunmetal and oxidized brass. Many pieces from this collection are also highlighted with an antiqued finish that brings out the lovely details.


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Item Description
Photograph, Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Kansas
Author: J. Lee Knight, The New River Side Gallery, Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS
Date: c. 1860
A view of Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Kansas. Many of the buildings were built during Kansas' time as a territory. The photograph was taken by J. Lee Knight, The New River Side Gallery, Topeka, Kansas.
Location of Original: KSHS Call Number: FK2.S5 T.5 *2
Item Number: 100027 Number of images: 1
Keywords: Business enterprises; Cartes de visite; Cities and towns; Commerce; Knight, J. Lee; Photographs and Illustrations; Shawnee County, Kansas Territory; Streets; The New River Side Gallery; Topeka buildings; Topeka, Kansas
pg. 1


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With the lockout likely to linger well into October and perhaps into November, trying to preview the season of 30 teams that might not actually have one seems about as worthwhile as raking leaves on a windy day. But I love raking and the wind only makes it last longer. We here at Razzball have you covered, even if you didn't want to be covered. That's love. You'll appreciate it when you're older. Look at it this way, the only way any of this stuff can be disproven is if the season starts. So go ahead, NBA, make me a fibber! I dare you. Until then, consider this fantasy basketball gospel. Don't even bother reading anything else – dem's all lies. From now until the start of the season, we're bringing you the 2011 Fantasy Team Previews, which will focus on each team in order to paint a clearer fantasy picture. Who's starting? Who might surprise you? And who might make you want to hurl yourself off a bridge in a few months. Enjoy! Next up – The Minnesota Timberwolves (The West's worst, or Westwurst if you intend to put it in a bun and eat it.)
Gained – Derrick Williams, Ricky Rubio, Brad Miller (after his microfractured knee is healed in January)
Lost – Jonny Flynn, Tanguy Ngombo (another ace pick by the T'Wolves!)
Probable position depth –
PG – Luke Ridnour, Ricky Rubio, Sebastian Telfair
SG – Wes Johnson, Martell Webster, Wayne Ellington, Malcolm Lee
SF – Michael Beasley, Derrick Williams, Lazar Hayward
PF – Kevin Love, Anthony Randolph, Anthony Tolliver
C – Darko Milicic, Nikola Pekovic, Brad Miller
Surprising Team Fact From Last Season – The Wolves played with the fastest pace of all 30 teams (96.5, a full possession faster than the Knicks and Nuggs). Hand it to Rambis, if you're gonna look terrible implementing a system into a roster that can't support it, might as well do it by whizzing past people.
Number of Top 20 Fantasy Players (par 0-1) – 1, Love
Number of Top 50 Fantasy Players (par 1-2) – 0
Number of Top 75 Fantasy Players (par 2-3) – 2, Beasley
Number of Top 100 Fantasy Players (par 3-4) – 0
Number of Top 200 Fantasy Players (par 6-7) – 8, Randolph, Ridnour, Williams, Johnson, Milicic, Rubio
3 Concerns Heading Into the Season
1. Has the Goodship Rubio sailed on already?
Rubio averaged .451/.767/6.5 pts/2.7 rbd/4.2 ast/1.9 stl/0.1 blk in 42 games with Barcelona last season, played even worse than that in 20 Euroleague games last season too. You could double those stats and he would only be mildly interesting as an unproven 21-year-old entering the NBA. He can't shoot, might have foot issues, doesn't particularly want to play for the team he'll be playing for, couldn't start in Europe and isn't going to start in Minnesota. YouTubbed montages of Rubio are one thing, 82 games of Rubio playing I Spy on the bench with Sebastian Telfair, are quite another.
2. David Kahn wants to run an up-tempo offense next season. Does David Kahn know the Wolves played the most up-tempo game in the league last year?
Probably not. As long as your best player is an unathletic PF, there's only so fast a team can go and still be successful. "Who said anything about success?" -David Kahn, who has already kind of committed to playing Rubio 25 minutes a night.
3. Stop messin' around, is Anthony Randolph going to produce this season or not?
I believe he will. Trick me once, shame on you. Trick me twice, shame on me. Trick me with three different teams, might as well call me Client No. 9, 'cause that's a lot of tricks, Spitzer. If you had asked me in December or even February of last season, I'd have said Randolph was not likely to be much in this league. And you did ask me. And that was what I said. But after he was traded from New York, he went from averaging 2/2/0 in 8 mpg to 12/5/1, with 1.5 stl+blk in 20 mpg with Minnesota. I don't love the glut of forwards in Minnesota (I haven't mentioned Derrick Williams yet, I already went over his prospects here), and I'm not recommending you take Randolph anywhere in the first 100 picks, but if he can carve out 24-26 mpg for himself, get a little more comfortable, we could see a 14/6.5/2 sleeper pick averaging 2+ stl+blk per game.
Fantasy Disappointment in '11 – Ricky Rubio. The hype will undoubtedly get Rubio picked 50 players before he should go. Rubio means fair (as in, "meh") in Spanish. Need more be said?
Biggest Fantasy Contributor in '11 – Kevin Love. If reasons for Love being the team's biggest contributor were lakes, Minnesota would have a thousand of 'em.
Deep Sleeper – Wesley Johnson. From month-to-month last season, Johnson just couldn't get out of his 9/3/2 rut. He was craving it, but Wes Cravin's don't mean a whole lot in the end (take THAT "The Hills Have Eyes!") He's young and likely to avoid much of the blockage awaiting the 3 and 4 positions. (That being said, I can see the T-Wolves attempting an up-tempo offense with nothing but Ridnour and guys over 6-foot-7, can't you?) I think Johnson will have a better per minute year than he did last season, but Johnson's 26 mpg might be harder to come by now that the Wolves are deeper. So deep is where you'll want to go to pick Johnson.


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A background check from US Search can answer many of the who, what, when, and where, thereby confirming your trust and helping you gain peace of mind.


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Sections 185 through 205 give three or four possible preparation rites for Holy Saturday. In this post, we'll look at the two introductory paragraphs explaining what's going on and why:
185. In proximate preparation for the celebration of the sacraments of initiation:
1. The elect are to be advised that on Hohly Saturday they should refrain from their usual activities, spend their time in prayer and reflection, and, as far as they can, observe a fast.
2. When it is possible to bring the elect together on Holy Saturday for reflection and prayer, some of all of the following rites may be celebrated as an immediate preparation for the sacraments: the presentation of the Lord's Prayer, if it has been deferred (see RCIA 149, 178-180), the "return" or recitation of the Creed (193-196), the ephphetha rite (197-199), and the choosing of a baptismal name (200-202).
186. The choice and arrangement of these rites should be guided by what best suits the particular circumstances of the elect, but the following should be observed with regard to their celebration.
1. In cases where the celebration of the presentation of the Creed was not possible, the recitation of the Creed is not celebrated.
2. When both the recitation of the Creed and the ephphetha rite are celebrated, the ephphetha rite immediately precedes the "Prayer before the Recitation" (RCIA 194).
The Paschal fast mentioned in 185.1 is recommended for all the faithful, not just the elect. The reminder to spend time in prayer and reflection is probably not emphasized quite enough either.
Regarding 185.2, it is fairly common in the US for the elect to gather on Holy Saturday for a number of hours in the morning and early afternoon.
As for 186, what "particular circumstances" do you suppose might drive the makeup of the Holy Saturday liturgy? My sense would be to use whatever ritual pointed to a particular difficulty for some or all of the elect in their faith journey. If some element of belief was difficult, then reciting the Creed in a prayerful setting may help to settle the minds and hearts of the newcomers. The ephphetha rite, when done well, is a useful intercessory prayer for people to live out their newfound faith more actively, and relying on God's grace. Choosing a baptismal name is done infrequently in the States.
186.1 and 186.2 clean up some pragmatic details. In the next five posts this week, we'll look at liturgical considerations, turn our attention to each of the three preparation rites, then look at the liturgical conclusion. Next week: Easter Vigil.
Meanwhile, any input?


text:
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Nathan Gerbe scored the only goal in the shootout to give the Buffalo Sabres a 3-2 victory Sunday night over New Jersey that extended the Devils' losing streak to seven games.
Ryan Miller stopped 37 shots through overtime, and all three shootout attempts - included a victory-clinching glove save on Travis Zajac.
Steve Ott extended his goal streak to three games, and Patrick Kaleta also scored for Buffalo, which won its third straight.
Steve Sullivan and Mark Fayne, who forced overtime with a short-handed goal, scored for the Devils, who are 0-3-4 in their past seven. That is their longest winless streak since going 0-4-2-1 from Nov. 10-23, 2001.
The Devils' loss clinched a playoff spot for the Eastern Conference-leading Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins and the West-leading Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday became the first teams to secure berths.
New Jersey (15-14-10), 1-5-6 in its past 12 road games, is 6-12-7 following a 9-2-3 start. The Devils haven't won since star forward Ilya Kovalchuk injured a shoulder.
The Sabres (16-17-6) jumped ahead of idle Philadelphia and into 11th place in the East, two points behind the ninth-place Devils.
Gerbe scored on the Sabres' second shootout attempt by snapping a shot that beat Martin Brodeur low on the glove side. Miller made his best stop on the Devils' next attempt when he kicked out his right pad at the last moment to stop Patrik Elias.
Brodeur finished with 24 saves, including stopping all four shots he faced in overtime. His best stop came with 70 seconds left in the extra frame, when he held his ground and protected the right side to foil Drew Stafford, who was driving in on a 2-on-1 break.
New Jersey's skid has coincided with the absence of forward Ilya Kovalchuk, who missed his seventh game with a shoulder injury. Before the game, general manager Lou Lamoriello said "it won't be long" before Kovalchuk resumes skating.
Fayne tied it at 2 at 5:46 of the third period while the Devils were killing a penalty. Dainius Zubrus did much of the work by being allowed to lug the puck untouched into the Sabres end. He circled behind the Buffalo net and fed a pass into a the high slot to Fayne, who snapped in his first goal in 49 games.
The Sabres experienced considerable difficulty getting the puck out of their zone. The Devils were beating the Sabres to loose pucks, and were pinching in their defensemen to deny the Sabres from clearing passes.
Buffalo was having such a tough time controlling the puck in the second period that fans began cheering whenever the Sabres got the puck past their blue line.
Held to four shots in the first period, the Sabres were outshot 18-8 through 32 minutes. The momentum shifted after Buffalo's John Scott leveled David Clarkson with a hit at the right circle.
Buffalo managed six shots over the next two minutes, including Ott's go-ahead goal to cap a tic-tac-toe play.
The goal came on the ensuing rush after Miller got his paddle down to stop Steve Bernier, who was set up alone in front after defenseman Tyler Myers turned the puck over in his own corner.
Kaleta opened the scoring 4:22 in off of defenseman Andy Greene's turnover in his zone. It was Kaleta's first goal in 54 games and first point in 40, dating to March 7, 2012.
The Devils capitalized on their first power play with 1:40 left in the first period. Myers' weak clearing attempt behind his net was picked off by Bernier, who set up Sullivan in front.
The goal came a half-minute after Sullivan was set up for a one-timer in the left circle, but his shot went just wide. His goal was his first in two games since returning to New Jersey, after being acquired in a trade with Phoenix on Wednesday.
NOTES: The Sabres have allowed a league-high seven short-handed goals. The Devils have scored a league-best 10. ... Devils D Henrik Tallinder and LW Alexei Ponikarovsky were healthy scratches. ... Sabres RW Thomas Vanek missed his sixth straight game with an upper body injury. ... The Devils entered the game having scored three or more goals only twice in 11. ... Of Kaleta's 27 career goals, four have come against New Jersey, his most against any team.


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For anyone who cringed just a little while watching the trailer for �Lincoln� and worried that it might be a near-parody of a Steven Spielberg film, with its heartfelt proclamations, sentimental tones and inspiring John Williams score, fret not.
For anyone who cringed just a little while watching the trailer for �Lincoln� and worried that it might be a near-parody of a Steven Spielberg film, with its heartfelt proclamations, sentimental tones and inspiring John Williams score, fret not.
The movie itself is actually a lot more reserved than that � more a wonky, nutsand-bolts lesson about the way political machinery operates than a sweeping historical epic that tries to encapsulate the entirety of the revered 16th president�s life. That was a smart move on the part of Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner, a Pulitzer prize-winner for the play �Angels in America� who also wrote the script for Spielberg�s �Munich.�
Talky and intimate but also surprisingly funny, �Lincoln� focuses on the final four months of Abraham Lincoln�s life as he fought for the passage of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery, and strove to unite a nation torn apart by the Civil War. (It is based partly on Doris Kearns Goodwin�s best-seller �Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.�) This tumultuous period provides a crucible to display everything Lincoln was made of, both his folksiness and fortitude. He tells long, winding anecdotes to enlighten and charm those around him but also forcefully hammers home his points to get what he wants.
Totally unsurprisingly, Daniel Day-Lewis inhabits the role fully. He disappears into it with small details and grand gestures, from his carriage to the cadence of his speech, and the Academy should probably just give him the bestactor Oscar now and get it over with. Although �Lincoln� itself often feels too conservative, stagey and safe, Day-Lewis� performances is full of so many clever choices that he keeps it compelling.
Of course, the film has all the top-notch technical hallmarks we�ve come to expect from Spielberg: It�s handsomely staged and impeccable in its production design. But despite the dramatic streaks of misty white light streaming from the outdoors into these dark, solemn rooms of power � a signature of his longtime collaboration with Oscar-winning cinematographer Janusz Kaminski � �Lincoln� is much more muted from an aesthetic standpoint than last year�s equally old-fashioned �War Horse.� This is a movie that�s easier to admire than love; it�s impressive but not exactly moving.
But it is unexpectedly humorous. The process of cajoling and coercing members of Congress to vote for passage of the amendment provides several estimable character actors with wonderfully showy roles. Tommy Lee Jones does a spin on his cantankerous screen persona as the quick-witted, fiercely verbal Republican congressman from Pennsylvania, Thaddeus Stevens, a strong proponent of abolition. David Strathairn is the sharpminded and condescending Secretary of State William Seward, who was Lincoln�s foe before becoming a member of his cabinet.
There are almost too many great supporting players in juicy, tantalizingly small parts. You�d love to see more from all of them, including Lee Pace as a grandstanding Democrat railing against the amendment on the House of Representatives floor, Michael Stuhlbarg as a conflicted congressman, Hal Holbrook as the powerful Lincoln ally Preston Blair and Jackie Earle Haley as the vice president of the Confederacy. And then there are James Spader, John Hawkes and Tim Blake Nelson as the cynical, gladhanding trio hired to lobby the toughest Democrats and secure those final, crucial votes; their banter is a consistent source of laughs.
It gets to the point where major figures in Lincoln�s life � Sally Field as his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as his elder son who�s eager to see combat � don�t register as powerfully as they should because the script is just so packed. And that effort to contain so much history in one feature film especially extends to the ending. This is no spoiler � we all know what happened to Lincoln � but there�s a beautifully photographed moment that occurs before his assassination that would have left the film on the most perfectly lovely, poignant note. Instead, it keeps going � and becomes the movie you might have feared �Lincoln� would be


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Bicycle and Pedestrian Access
Bicycle and Pedestrian Access to and from the Airport:
Pedestrian and Bicycle access is available via Airport Parkway and the marked crosswalks across Airport Boulevard. In the interest of safety, there is no direct pedestrian or bicycle access via Skyport Drive.
As an alternative, we encourage pedestrians and bicyclists to use the VTA Airport Flyer (#10) that provides free service between Light Rail, the Airport, and the Santa Clara Cal Train Station. The VTA Airport Flyer operates approximately every 15-30 minutes 5am-11:30pm. The VTA Flyer also provides racks to accommodate bicycles.
The Flyer currently has pick-up/drop-off locations at the following bus stops (see map for route and stops):
- First Street at Metro Drive across from the Light Rail Station
- Technology Drive at Metro Drive
- Airport Parkway and Technology Drive
- Terminals A and B at the Airport (Ground Transportation Islands)
- Cal Train Station in Santa Clara
More information about VTA routes and fees can be found at: www.vta.org.
Bicyclists are required to stay on official roadways and bicycle trails. Both bicyclists and pedestrians should observe all traffic regulations and signs and exercise extreme caution at all times. Drivers on Airport roads are focused on locating their flights and terminals and might not be aware of the presence of bicyclists and pedestrians.
Bicycle Racks:
At Terminal A, bike racks are located on the left-hand side of the vehicle entry area to the Terminal A Parking Garage (now called Hourly Lot 2) and in the area next to the exit doors at the south end of Terminal A baggage claim.
At Terminal B, bike racks are located on the left-hand side of the vehicle entry area of the Rental Car Center/Terminal B Public Parking Garage (now called Hourly Lot 3).


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Gregory.struck necesitaba un nuevo diseño de otro y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 37 diseños de 9 diseñadores freelance.
Hi Guys,
We are a small startup of two brothers and a web designer trying to tap into the very hot geo location and mobile online markets. We have been passionately working on this project for 5 months and are almost at a point to unleash our baby into the wild. Mobile technology that enables virtual credit cards top be used on a cell phone is so new that we are looking for the illustration to educate the prospective vendor in a quick easy to understand way-we figured through pictures is the best way!
NYC Metropolitan market will be the first test market and we hope to expand rapidly from that point on. Our target demographic is 18-34 yr old's everywhere who are savvy and realize that time is money and that the ability to use their cell phones as credit cards is awesome! Secondary market is business men, concierges etc
Use graphics to show 4 stages of ONMEYO life cycle
a. Screen shot of Jon at his computer or cell phone on onmeyo.com with john entering amount and his friends email/cell #
b. Screen shot of friend receiving virtual card/graphic on his phone and being happy/surprised
c. Screen shot of friend presenting phone to cashier/vendor for use in POS system
d. Vendor giving friend drink/food
Attached is basic user face image and two styles that could work-be creative and remember main point is Vendor education as well as consumer education letting vendor/consumer know that virtual card is secure and encrypted and is as good as cash its just presented on a cell phone interface! OnMeYo is a virtual gift card service implementing smartphones, geolocation, and virtual credit card technology. With OnMeYo, one can buy their friends or family drinks, coffee, food etc., via mobile devices or from one's personal computer. As people check-in on Foursquare, Gowalla, Yelp, Twitter and Facebook, their peers or family members can use OnMeYo to buy these individuals' drinks and food in real-time. The individual who receives an OnMeYo virtual gift card by email or text message can redeem the monetary amount gifted by showing the image of the card's encrypted code to a waiter or bartender. The virtual credit card that can be presented to a cashier for redemption will be authorized for the amount that the gift giver sets and is valid and backed by our bank account.


text:
This Silver Lining Hunt from Monochrome was great! You have to check it out! Not only do you have that hunt to do, you have to head over to Al Vulo for the new group gift! YES!...NEW!! Speaking of NEW!! After all that you have to go and see the new Cuttlerz series from 2Real Footwear! and if you're so inclined to know, I don't yet have the high-tops and would very much want them....#shamelessrequestfromyourstruly:P
Ok, so did you get all of that?! Sure? Ok, go then! Before I poke you with my antlerz haha! I'MMA DO ET! Don't dare me >_>
(Black and white closeup version of this picture, available HERE)
Hair: Truth - Nyx w/ Roots - Toast
Top: Kyoot - Last Thread Tank - White
Sweater: Belgravia - Cascade Cardigan - Slate
Bottoms: Evolve - Oblivion Jeans - Twilight
Shoes: 2Real - Low Cuttlerz *NEW* (make sure to checkout the high-tops too!)
Nails: Izzie's - Classic Nails - Fall/Winter 2012 Edition
Necklace: Maxi Gossamer - Tarifa *available @ Collabor88*
Earrings: Fri.day - Loop - Charcoal
Antlers: Half Deer - Fawn Antlers - Monochrome *L$5 Silver Lining Hunt*
Furniture: Circa - Starry Night Set - *L$5 Silver Lining Hunt*
Chair: LISP Bazaar - Click Click Snapshot Chair *Former FLF*
Pose: Marukin - Flambe - High and Dry *available @ Collabor88*


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NEW ORLEANS – The Lipscomb men's and women's Track and Field squads have been honored by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on the 2012 Division I All-Academic Track & Field Teams.
The women finished the spring semester with a 3.50 GPA, placing them in a tie for fourth in the country.
The men's squad finished the spring semester with a 3.31 GPA, giving them the twelfth best GPA in the country.
"We've come to expect being one of the top ranked programs in the nation academically," coach Bill Taylor said. "It has been true every year and every season I have been at Lipscomb. Our athletes have a great sense of pride about achieving these academic honors and ranking with the best in the nation."
The women's 3.50 GPA was tops for any team in the Atlantic Sun Conference as Jacksonville tallied a 3.31 GPA and ETSU finished with a 3.23 GPA.
On the men's side, the Bisons 3.31 held the top spot for the Atlantic Sun Conference, being the only ranked conference school.
Lipscomb University led the A-Sun earlier this spring with 187 total student-athletes named All-Academic honorees. Of that, 63 student-athletes came from the track and field squads.
"This is a product of three major things. First, we recruit some of the best academic student-athletes in the nation, as well as the highest character in the nation," Taylor said. "Second, we promote a culture that strives for excellence in all things. Academics is one aspect of that. Third, Lipscomb has small class sizes, excellent professors who give personal attention to students and a friendly culture that sets all students up for a greater level of success and a better and very unique collegiate experience."
A total of 171 institutions on the women's side earned the All-Academic distinction while 85 earned the honor on the men's side, which comes from the result of a cumulative team GPA of 3.00 or better. The top squad on the women's side was Duke with a 3.58 while Stanford earned the top spot on the men's side with a 3.49 GPA.
"I am so proud of all of our student-athletes and how they represent this excellent university," Taylor said. "We will continue to contribute to the success of Lipscomb University in every way we can. The future is very bright."


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I Just Soaked My Pants: The Water Fountain Toothbrush
This is the RinserBrush, a toothbrush from Amron Experimental that turns your faucet into a water fountain provided you have decent water pressure and not the sad trickle I get in my apartment. Do you know how hard it is to shower in this dump? SPOILER: Impossible (I only have a 1/2 bathroom).
No disposable cups to buy or throw away. No glass to wash or take up counter space. No changing hands to cup water. And, no more putting your head in the sink. Just aim the fountain where you want the water to be.
The brushes come with replaceable heads so one body can last a lifetime and are currently available for pre-order for $22. However they are NOT a replacement for flossing. Also, as tempting as it might be, they are NOT for taking shots either because you'd waste way too much booze down the drain. Speaking of wasting booze -- last night I saw a bartender make a drink wrong then pour it in the sink. You know what I told her? Hey -- I saw what you just did there. That shit ain't right. I want my tip back, then I'm leaving and I'M NEVER COMING BACK. *sobbing* You hear me? NEVER! (I was drunk and emotional)
Hit the jump for a video of the water getting fountained.
Thanks to Scott, the brush's inventor, who's spent way more time thinking about toothbrushes than you ever will.


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jjp9999 writes "Recent findings published on Jan. 27 in the journal Nature Neuroscience may inspire you to get some proper sleep. Researchers at UC Berkeley found that REM sleep plays a key role in moving short term memories from the hippocampus (where short-term memories are stored) to the prefrontal cortex (where long-term memories are stored), and that degeneration of the frontal lobe as we grow older may play a key role in forgetfulness. 'What we have discovered is a dysfunctional pathway that helps explain the relationship between brain deterioration, sleep disruption and memory loss as we get older – and with that, a potentially new treatment avenue,' said UC Berkeley sleep researcher Matthew Walker."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.


text:
Planning Solutions to Protect Your Investments and Your Family
Early planning and preparation can secure your rights, prevent disputes and ensure that your loved ones are cared for. At Spano & Dawicki, LLC, our attorneys are dedicated to helping individuals and families through estate planning and administration needs. We provide extensive and comprehensive representation and serve as a single point for all resources to assist our clients.
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Our office is conveniently located at the intersection of Route 1 and the Lynn Fells Parkway and is only minutes from Logan Airport, downtown Boston, and Routes 93, 95 and 128. Credit cards accepted.


text:
Need help? +44 (0)1422 376000
Heavy duty wallpaper in a quirky, floorplan design. With a paper top layer and non-woven backing. Colourfast and washable with a soft cloth. Can be hung with multi-purpose paste.
Fire Rating
EU: B-s1, d0
US: ASTM E 84-10 Class B (class A on concrete, B on drywall)
Sold as a set of three rolls.
Each roll measures:
Width 520 mm
Length 3000 mm
Overall area covered by a set of 3 rolls: 4.68 m²


text:
Uclés Monastery
Contact details
Calle Castillo s/n
16452 Ucles, Uclés, Cuenca (Castilla-La Mancha)
Tel.:+34 969135058
- Autonomous region: Castilla-La Mancha
- Province/Island: Cuenca
The Escorial of La Mancha
The monastery is located within the fortress of Uclés (12th century) which was built on a vast swathe of land: one square kilometre surrounded by walls, bastions, buttresses and crenellated towers.
The new building was raised in the 16th century in the Renaissance style although the south façade, the best known of the monastery, is Baroque and was built by Pedro de Ribera. It has two large doors decorated with scallop shells on crosses of Saint James. The decoration on the façade consists of suits of armour, helmets, pennants and a half-body sculpture of the Apostle. Across the entrance way there is a courtyard with a double cloister. There is a water cistern with a Baroque stone well with the coat of arms of the Order of Saint James. The refectory has a coffered ceiling worked in pine wood with 36 coffers representing the knights of the Order, presided by the emperor Charles V. The sacristy has two right-angled naves. The two windows are decorated with sculptures. In the church, built by Francisco de Mora, there is a nave with a transept and several side chapels dating from the 16th century, interconnected by means of small semicircular arches. The main altarpiece is particularly worth noting, with a painting by Francisco Ricci, and tombs with the remains of the nobleman Don Rodrigo and his son Jorge Manrique, author of "Stanzas on the death of his father". There is a regal and elegant main stairway which leads from the courtyard to the second floor.
- Construction: Monastery
- Artistic period: Renaissance
- Historic period: 16th century, 10th century
Practical information
- From Jun 01 to Aug 31
From Monday to SundayFrom 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- From Sep 01 to Oct 31
From Monday to SundayFrom 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- From Nov 01 to Feb 28
From Monday to SundayFrom 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- From Mar 01 to May 31
From Monday to SundayFrom 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- General: €4,50
- Reduced: €3,50
Audio guide, Guided tours


text:
The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses recognizes the compassionate care of extraordinary Registered Nurses (RN). It was established by the DAISY Foundation - a foundation for the elimination of Diseases Attacking the Immune System in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. The Barnes family established the foundation in their son Patrick's memory because they had experienced firsthand the skills, caring and compassion of many nurses. The award is given to recognize outstanding nurses at Arkansas Children's Hospital.
Nominate an Arkansas Children's Hospital RN who cared for your family member.
There are three main criteria for selecting recipients for the DAISY Award:
Quality of Care
Provides high-quality, family-centered, and compassionate care while upholding the ACH safety and behavioral standards
Supports evidence-based practice while promoting achievement of positive patient outcomes
Develops and supports an environment in which high quality care is provided
Interdisciplinary Relationships
Promotes positive interdisciplinary relationships and views them as essential to exceptional
patient care
Collaborates with health care team members and promotes a sense of mutual respect among all
Nurse as Teacher
Incorporates teaching into all aspects of patient care and recognizes its importance in the
development of other nurses as well as in the provision of quality family-centered care
Models excellent interpersonal skills, has a positive attitude and exhibits outstanding customer service skills
Encourages and values feedback
Quality of Care
Interdisciplinary Relationships
Nurse as Teacher
Displays independent clinical judgment within the context of an interdisciplinary approach to care and consistent with professional practice standards
Nursing Leadership
A leader who is knowledgeable and a risk taker who exudes the ACH mission on giving care, love and hope
Takes initiative and conveys a strong sense of advocacy in supporting the staff, patients and families Quality Improvement
Participates in the quality improvement process and perceives the process as one that is essential in improving the quality of patient care
Achievement of Departmental and Organizational Goals
Promotes the achievement of departmental and organizational goals in delivering excellent care
Abides by ACH principles and values, is in good standing, and has no disciplinary action
Nursing Leadership
Achievement of Departmental and Organizational Goals
Image of Nursing
Serves as a role model by representing the profession of nursing and upholding excellence in standards of practice
Demonstrates that caring and compassion are integral to providing patient care
Professional Development
Values personal and professional growth and development. For example, mentors/precepts fellow staff, teaches others, participates in research activities, publications and presentations, or continues formal education
Strives for clinical advancement and maintains clinical competency
Image of Nursing
Professional Development


text:
I have a very simple explanation: Owen just didn't want Luke to know about Obi. Easy as that. And I have read the Visionaries Graphic Novel and I thought ressurecting Maul a second time was a bit too much. What next, Maul gets reborn on Kashykkk by a Lando clone, Laando, peeing on him?
I've always looked at it like this, Obi-Wan Kenobi did die at about the same time as Anakin Skywalker. Losing Anakin to the Dark Side was a terrible thing, I'm sure a major part of Obi-Wan's spirit died with Anakin... certainly when news came about that the Jedi were all but whiped out...Just the look on Obi-Wan's face at the end of ROTS tells me that he's just tired of the constant warring - I think he found it easier to run away from everything than perhaps Yoda did.So I say, from a certain point of view, Obi-Wan died, along with his brother, and friend, Anakin.
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