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Chocolate lovers, beware–there's a shortage afoot, the first in three years. And although cocoa grinders are boosting their output, when lack of supply meets inexorable demand, the only thing that's going to give is price.
Bloomberg reported Tuesday that cocoa beans yield both powder and butter, the former used in such products as cookies and ice cream and the latter in those tempting chocolate bars. As global economic woes led to a fall in demand for the luscious product's powder earlier in the year, grinders cut back output and used reserves of butter to fill supply orders for candy makers.
Now, however, a perfect storm of lower yields among cocoa bean growers in West Africa thanks to dry weather and rising demand, and depleted reserves, prices are on the rise even as grinders seek to up their output. Barry Callebaut AG, which supplies chocolate to Nestle and Hershey Co., said in the report that processing was likely to increase.
"Cocoa is a good buy at the moment," said Shawn Hackett in the report. Hackett, president of Hackett Financial Advisors Inc. in Boynton Beach, Fla., had predicted back in February that there would be a rally; over the next three months there was a 15% increase. "When cocoa powder demand comes back in the first half of next year," Hackett continued, "the upside rebound in cocoa bean demand will be much greater than it has been in the past."
Cocoa futures have risen 11% on NYSE Liffe since the start of January, but are still expected to return the lowest annual average in four years. The report cited Hackett saying last week that he expects a gain of as much as 40% over present prices in the first half of 2013. Prices haven't risen more than 40% in the first half of the year since 2008.
In September, Macquarie Group Ltd. predicted that cocoa demand would exceed production by 101,000 tons this season. According to Rabobank, the ratio is even larger, with demand coming in at 122,000 tons more than production. Global output, says Macquarie, will fall 2.9% to 3.85 million tons, with smaller yields from the four countries that produce 74% of the world's supply of cocoa beans: Ghana, Indonesia, Ivory Coast and Nigeria.


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In the last few months, Google has been making some game-changing updates to its search algorithm, which has many search marketers scratching their heads about what to do next. Content or links? Editorial or paid? Link sculpting or disavow links? Authorship? It's enough to make even the most savvy search folks wonder, "What the heck do I do now?"
Recently, Search Metrics did an in-depth study of the most correlated variables when ranking high in search engines. The answer may be surprising in that seven of the top eight factors associated with high search rankings are social in nature.
I know, it sounds counterintuitive to what we've been hearing for years. From keywords, to page titles, to link building, the emphasis has been on everything but social. Now, however, a major groundswell is happening that is forcing search marketers to rethink the way they have been approaching search for years. As more and more search marketers were gaming the system and creating content only geared towards bots and crawlers, the web and Google were becoming a vast wasteland of unusable content farms and link pollution, some of which still remains today.
With Google's ranking algorithm changes, the company is incorporating more human elements and vetting within the machine and using social as a way to signal what's important and what is not. And Google only continues to move in this direction. Many marketers have dismissed or pushed aside Google+ as a second-rate social network only meant for niche audiences. As you can see in the chart, however, Google is going to be taking content shared at Google+ much more seriously and forcing marketers to pay attention by any means necessary.
And Google is not stopping with +1's, likes or tweets. It recently launched its review extension for Adwords, which now pulls in reviews of your products and services directly within your advertising. That further ties your efforts in social with search.
So, what can a search or social marketer do about all these changes? Here are three steps to use as you evaluate your content to ensure it's optimized for search and social:
Would your customers share your content?
The answers to that question can be so honest and so hard at the same time. For many marketers, it didn't matter in the past if customers would share their content. It was enough to appease Google and users would inherently show up as a result.
By rethinking your content strategy and making the content more interesting, compelling, differentiated, humorous, or honest, you make it more appealing both for the consumers to read but also to share with others. And it applies just as much to B2C as B2B. I'm just as apt to share a white paper from a tech company that makes fun of industry jargon as I am to share the latest recipe from a CPG brand that gives me a good cooking idea. Both are on target, in a language their users speak, shareable, and if done correctly, searchable.
Is your content in a language your customers speak?
How do I know if my customers will share my content? It's one thing to just say it, but it's another to enact it. To that end, there are a number of data sources you can pull from these days tovalidate whether your customers would share your content. One is first and foremost social listening. By using tools such as Radian6, Sysomos, Likester and Simmons you can find out what your consumers are talking about, what resonates with them, and what they are more likely to share. Using Likester as an example, you can find out that fans of your brand are also fans of American Idol, Nascar and Roller Derby. Let's say your next white paper is around "How IT infrastructure is like the last lap at Daytona." First, it's a topic your audience is already interested in and second, it's a metaphor that your audience can relate to. Both factors make it instantly something your audience will resonate with. Or perhaps, your next post on Pinterest is a recipe using terms a popular show your customers like. Again, that makes your content so much more shareable than "Our latest recipe" or "Summer recipe."
How can you measure what's happening?
And the last and most critical component, how do I measure all of this? As in many other digital marketing campaigns, start small, test and learn, and scale up. You don't need to go through and optimize your entire calendar for next year or go back and optimize every piece of content you generated last year. Instead, try it out and see what works. For instance, you can easily test message using free and inexpensive paid tools to test out your messaging with a limited audience. Figure out what resonates, drives traffic, and generates leads or even foot traffic—then scale up from there. Do you wonder whether to use humor or honesty? Close-ups or landscapes? Put together some test content and run them past a small audience (limited budget, geography, targeting, etc.) and see what resonates. From there, you can make the case on a small level and obtain budget for larger efforts.
So, do you think social is the next great leap in how search engines rank their content? Or do you think search engines are trying to find relevance and draw back users from time they are spending on social networks?

subset: commoncrawl


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Register for an Informatica World Tour today
Start the registration process by entering your email address below.
A message has been sent to the email address you provided. Once your email address has been confirmed, you can complete the registration process.
We've got you covered. Enter your email address, and we'll send you a link to reset your password.
365体育投注平台A message containing a link to reset your password has been sent to the email address you provided.
Accolades for employee and customer innovation in data integration.


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The Academy of Management was founded by a group of dedicated scholars to represent and grow teaching and research of management scholarship. For decades, the Academy was solely volunteer run and our members dedicating their time and talents is still today the core of operations for the Academy. We thank our hundreds of members who make a contribution to the Academy in so many ways!
Explore more about what areas volunteers are needed or tell us where you'd like to become involved!


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USB 3.1 Type C Male to Type C Male High Speed Charge and Sync Cable - Black
Our Type C USB Cables are universally compatible with all devices with a USB Type C port (Laptops, Smartphones, Tablets, etc.). They are used to transfer data between the devices as well as charge the batteries within them.
The Type-C end is a rounded rectangle, has no set orientation and can be plugged in either way up (no more fiddling around trying to connect your devices).
Ultra Fast Charging and Data Transfer
USB C uses new technology to provide much faster charging than the micro USB connections they will eventually replace. Transfer speeds of up to 480MBps are possible with this new technology.
Compatible Devices
Phones: Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8 Plus, Galaxy Note 8, Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Huawei P9, Huawei P9 Plus, Huawei P10, Huawei P10 Plus, Huawei Mate 9, Huawei Mate 9 Pro, Huawei Honor 8, Xperia XZ, Xperia X Compact, HTC 10, HTC U Ultra, HTC U Play, OnePlus, OnePlus 3T, OnePlus 5, Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL, LG G5, LG G6, LG V20, Nokia N1, Nokia 8, Moto Z, Moto Z Play, Moto M, Galaxy A3 2017, Galaxy A5 2017, Galaxy A7 2017, Galaxy C9 Pro, Galaxy C7 Pro
Tablets and Laptops: Huawei Matebook, New MacBook 12" (2015), MacBook Pro (2016/2017), ChromeBook Pixel (2015), Pixel C, Nintendo Switch
Performance Notification
This cable will charge all USB Type-C devices, but the speed is limited to the level of your charger. It is always recommended to use this cable with a quick-charge wall charger to get maximum performance.
United Kingdom: All prices include delivery charges
We endeavour to pack and dispatch all orders the same working day when payment has cleared before 2PM (Monday - Friday). Orders placed over the weekend will be dispatched the following Monday.
All orders are delivered by Royal Mail and sent from our fulfillment partner in Manchester.
Please ensure your delivery address is correct before completing your order. We are unable to take responsibility for the delay or loss of a parcel where incorrect or incomplete delivery details have been provided.
UK Mainland Delivery
We currently offer 3 shipping services for UK Mainland deliveries;
Royal Mail 1st Class with a delivery estimate of 1 - 2 working days
Royal Mail 1st Class Signed For with a delivery estimate of 1 - 2 working days
Royal Mail Special Delivery with a guaranteed next day delivery before 1:00 pm
International Delivery
We currently offer 2 shipping services for International deliveries;
Royal Mail International Standard with a delivery estimate of 4 - 10 working days
Royal Mail International Signed with a delivery estimate of 4 - 10 working days
Please allow 10 working days before contacting us in the event of non delivery (21 working days for International customers). Postal regulations mean that unfortunately we cannot follow up on missing items before that time.
More Info.
For more information on ordering, postage and return options please check our FAQ section for answers to the most commonly asked questions. Should you be unable to find the information you are looking for then please do not hesitate to Contact Us.
Returning Items
Our postal address for all returns is:
Unit 26
Stretford Motorway Estate
Barton Dock Road
United Kingdom
Please note that we cannot accept responsibility for items lost in the post without proof of postage. We advise all customers to use cheapest tracked service available where possible.
If the item you have returned is faulty we will reimburse reasonable return postage costs. We guarantee to refund any item you are not completely happy with when you return it to us in saleable condition within 30 days of receipt.
Refunds will be credited to your original method of payment.
General Returns
You can return these items to us via post using the returns label provided and we will refund return postage costs. Alternatively you can return them to any of our stand alone stores (you will not be able to return goods to any concession stores).
Return of Faulty Goods
Within 30 days of delivery we will always offer you the choice of an exchange or refund (including postage).
If there is a fault with your product we will normally offer a prompt repair, exchange or refund.
To qualify for a refund or exchange, the faulty product must be free of faults caused by accident, neglect, misuse or normal wear and tear.
Returning Goods Bought Within Special Offers
If you return a single item bought as part of a multi-buy discount offer (for example 'buy 2 for £22.00') you will be refunded the full price of that item less the total discount given in the offer. If you return all items purchased with the multi-buy discount you will be refunded with the full multi-buy value.
For combination purchases ("buy one, get one free" or "get the lowest priced item free"), you must return any free items or vouchers back to enable us to provide a refund.
Statutory Rights
Your UK statutory rights are not affected by our returns policy.
Tell us what you think!
Discount will be applied when you add qualifying items to your basket
Value of least expensive item will be discounted from the subtotal amount!


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Greene King careers
Making unforgettable moments
It's the people at Greene King that make us what we are – passionate, friendly, reliable and honest. It's thanks to them that we've been creating moments worth sharing and remembering for over 200 years. Discover what makes a job at Greene King truly special.
With over 3,000 pubs, restaurants and hotels across the UK, and a rich history of crafting fine ales from our two historic breweries, we truly are a House of Brands that has something for everyone. Find out all about careers with our brands and beers.
We employ many different people around the country and across our brands. No matter who we are, where we've come from, at Greene King, we pull together as a team, we focus on our guests, and we do it in the Greene King way – with honesty, courage and respect.
Last year, we exceeded our target of 2,000 apprentices across our business, winning several awards along the way. We're being recognised for the outstanding support we give our people taking vocational qualifications and now we're looking to take on 10,000 more apprentices over the next three years.
About our business
As the country's leading pub retailer and brewer, we welcome our guests into our 3,000 pubs, restaurants and hotels in towns, villages and city-centre high streets across England, Wales and Scotland. With a rich heritage of over 200 years, we brew award-winning beers and operate managed, tenanted, leased and franchised pubs from our headquarters in Bury St. Edmunds.


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Common Build Infrastructure/Getting Started/Build In Hudson/Job Timeouts And Contacts
This information is preliminary and subject to change. If you see an error or omission, please feel free to edit it.
As a job owner, it's important that your job not block indefinitely. Please be courteous to other developers and write your tests so that they do not wait forever for manual input. To workaround blocking tests, or to uncover tests which are inadvertently blocking, please ensure you set a timeout on your job so it will kill itself if it runs too long.
To allow others to contact you should your build ever be stuck, or for any other reason, you can place default contact information in the Email Notification field.
Additionally, anyone explicitly listed under the Enable Project-based Security ...
... can be fingered to determine their email address by first ssh'ing to build.eclipse.org using your committer ID:
$ finger nickb Login: nickb Name: Nick Boldt n***b****@g****.com
If you do not have access to the job's configure page, you can ssh to build.eclipse.org and look up its config.xml file if you know the job name. For example:
- /opt/users/hudsonbuild/.hudson/jobs/cbi-linuxtools-Galileo
- /opt/users/hudsonbuild/.hudson/jobs/cbi-linuxtools-Galileo/config.xml


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Rick Ross "Philadelphia Vlog" Performs At Surprise Show At Villanova University & Philly's Power 99 Power House Concert
Courtesy: @ShutahFilms
Posted by @Worldstarvids
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


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|Eren Ozker
Mrs. Mink, from Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, is a conservative type who owns The Music Store located in Waterville. After being irritated by those Riverbottom boys, she manages to kick them out of her store.
She was originally supposed to sing "Born in a Trunk," a gaudy, Cabaret-like song, at the talent show. The number was planned to contrast with her earlier, more reserved persona. Marilyn Sokol recorded the audio for the song (written by Paul Williams) but it was later cut from the special. Although the musical number didn't make it to film, she is still seen in her sequins and feathers running around backstage prior to the show.
Though she was unnamed in the television special, in the stage version, the character is named Mrs. Mink. Her song "Born in a Trunk" was restored for the musical, where Gretchen Fox cuts the number short. An additional number, "At the Music Store," was also added to the production. Madeleine Doherty originated the role for the original stage production.
This puppet was later used in Jim Henson's Stuffed and Unstrung.


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Prize Package 3
Disclaimer: Please note that A Year of Jubilee Reviews, "Mom ME Time Giveaway Event" or the "Mom ME Time" bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner. We will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. We will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize. If there is an issue with a sponsor, please notify the blog you won a prize from within 4-6 weeks for assistance, after that we may be unable to assist you.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Fort Worth product photography
$25 Product photography in SF Bay Area California: 1 to 1,000 Items, No job too small, or too big, Satisfaction guaranteed…Fort Worth product photography
Structured to provide service locally in San Francisco and across the country with the least expensive product photography. We are providing the best product photography in the San Jose , Fremont, Oakland , San Francisco Bay Area for over two decades. We work with start ups, small business, manufacturers and importers. Our clients are also various graphic or catalog and brochure companies, publishing houses, prepress, advertising and design agencies. We shoot with professional photo and computer equipment, With the most up to date technology. We understanding how to create a significant marketing breakthrough on your product images for your business. Our mission is to provide our clients with superior and cost effective product photography with 100% satisfaction guarantee. We know our strength is our satisfied customer. Our long-term goal is the longevity of the relationships we share with our customers. We are committed to doing what is required to make sure your business is successful. Simply stated, we will be not looking for a particular business deal, we are looking for a relationship. Please have a look at our service pages for viewing additional product photography that we could offer you for maximizing your business. You may not only save your money but may be able to take the vital advantage of other post-production services too. What do you say about our Image Manipulation services for developing extra creative elements to your pack shot? Just simply go with whether you want a clipping path or no clipping path, and then we will do the rest of particular works. Affordable product photography . No job too small or too big! Satisfaction guaranteed! jewelry photography, table top photography, product photography, food photography. What if you could go to your website, pick a product you are interested in and have the ability to virtually hold, examine from every angle, and look closely to see exact details? 360 product view photography allows you to offer that experience on your website.360 product view photography is an effective imagery solution for your website that provides a unique and custom experience that will put you ahead of your competition, save you time and money, and increase sales. According to marketing specialists 360 degree view of products is considered "one of the most effective marketing and sales tools to promote products online." Rotating product images are a big step beyond a simple 2D static image. SF Product Photography is a full service commercial photography studio located in San Francisco Oakland San Jose Bay Area . Our 25+ years of experience in commercial and catalog photography enables us to create photographs and designs that fit your needs. We have created catalogs, annual reports, brochures and national advertisements for a broad base of clients. We offer all of our 25+ years of expertise in commercial photography, creative ability and up-to-date technology to capture your perfect photo. We work at a modern pace and are adaptable to meet your needs on any of your projects. We can work with your stylists, or set-up a creative shoot for you.


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USANA's flagship Essentials™ has been updated to the new CellSentials™
USANA CellSentials™ Pack contains a 28-day supply of both Core Minerals and Vita-Antioxidant supplements. This pack is more than just a multivitamin. It is a triple-action cellular nutritional system formulated to nourish, protect, and renew optimal cellular health. A must-have for your nutrition foundation, the CellSentials provides a broad range of essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary antioxidants. Plus the unique InCelligence Complex in Vita-Antioxidant also supports the production of your cells' innately powerful endogenous antioxidants and the activation of mitophagy, your body's natural process for removing and recycling damaged mitochondria from the cell to help renew efficient cellular energy production.*
You can get the supplement facts by clicking here
Copyright © 2020 AntiGimmickHealth.com. All rights reserved.
316 California Avenue, #767, Reno, 89509
USANA Compliance Approval No. ADV-549
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
**If you have already been in contact with another USANA Associate, we encourage you to contact that individual for more information.
***It is suggested that you consult to your physician and secure his/her advice if you intend to change your diet, begin an exercise program, are pregnant or lactating, have allergies, are taking medications, or are under the care of a physician. Children under the age of 18 should not participate in the any program or advice given, except on the advice of their physician and/or dietician.
****The nutritional products on this website must go to the end user and may not be resold. Product images are the copyrights of USANA Health Sciences and are used with their permission.
This website is operated by Integritas Group a subsidiary of The Integrity Partners, LLC.; they are Independent USANA Associates and Emerald Directors in USANA.


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Lipscomb track and field teams compete in their final tune-up before the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships on Friday at the Billy Hayes Invite hosted by Indiana University.
The meet is a new meet for the Purple and Gold but is expected to be a competitive meet.
"We haven't been to the Billy Hayes Invite before," Bill Taylor, director of cross country and track and field, said. "Indiana does a great job of hosting meets and this should be as good as any meet we can find this close to conference.
"Often, we will take the weekend before conference off but with finals last week we don't want to go three weeks without competing."
In its last time out, Lipscomb found several areas of success at the Vanderbilt Invite led by sprinter Tucker Peabody.
Peabody claimed victories in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. The 200-meter dash time of 20.69 seconds increased his A-Sun leading time and ranks 11th in the NCAA this season.
Katie Bunker also had a strong meet running a personal record 800-meter run in 2:09.38. Her time is fourth quickest in the A-Sun this season.
Andrew Bosket had a breakthrough in the same event with a personal record of 1:54.03. He finished eighth overall but also moved into eighth in the A-Sun rankings.
The meet is considered a tune-up meet but Taylor is hoping for improvement as well.
"It is the last chance to improve some marks for the conference championships and is also a chance to get some preliminary round qualifiers," Taylor said. "I expect it to be a good meet. The good thing about a tune-up meet is that if something is a little off we can correct it quickly.
"The pressure of school and finals are over and it is just track now."


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Barbie Dreamhouse
Dream up all kinds of stories with three floors, seven rooms, 70+ accessories and a working elevator with simple pull mechanism!
Get social with us – follow us on Twitter, subscribe to us on YouTube, or sign up for our newsletter to enter this contest.
*This is a multi-market contest. Contest ends Jan. 10, 2018.


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BiG HealthCARE Opportunities Summit
Sep 28 2012
BiGAUSTIN is excited to begin the Small Business @ Work series with our first event, BiG HealthCARE Opportunities Summit on November 1st, 2012. BiG is teaming up with The Seton Healthcare Family to educate and inform women and veterans about the advancements, changes and opportunities within the healthcare industry through panel discussions, breakout sessions, and workshops.
Participants will be able to gather information on HealthCARE and have the opportunity to network and learn about available self-employment as a CAREER within the healthcare community, have ACCESS to healthcare providers, be able to attend economic RECOVERY breakout sessions for personal needs, and learn what every ENTREPRENEUR should know about the new policies, healthcare acts and how these initiatives will affect their day to day business.
The BiG HealthCARE Opportunities Summit's keynote speaker, author and small business person of the year 2007: Ms. Colleen J. Payne-Nabors, will share her experience and struggle as she built a multi-million dollar business in the mobile cardiac imaging business
For more Information go to: http://bigaustin.org/healthcareopportunitiessummit or email them at email@example.com: Aruni | Filed under: diversity, entrepreneur, working mom, working mother | Tags: BiG Healthcare Opportunities Summit, BiGAutin, dolleen payne-nabors, healthcare, seton | Comments Off on BiG HealthCARE Opportunities Summit


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Sponsored Giveaway from JAQS Fabrics
9 Comments
CindyOctober 26, 2011 at 7:04 am
I can't seem to post anything on todays giveaway. Are you having any problems with anyone else using Google? Thanks!
LauraOctober 26, 2011 at 10:11 am
Always enjoy your blog and gifts! You are the first blog that I started following, even before I knew how to follow and subscribe. I've been tuning into your weekly info and have since found more quilting/sewing blogs.

Just wanted you to know that yours is always uplifting! I only check some blogs once a week, but yours is up with the ones I check every day!

Keep up
RachelOctober 26, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Love your blog. Thanks for the opportunity! Nest by Valori wells 🙂 LOVE that line!
miamihoneyOctober 26, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Love your blog and my fav is Shavings by Miller.Take care!
AnonymousOctober 26, 2011 at 6:30 pm
I'm thinking maybe another bundle of Farmdale…I'm just about out and I never get sick of it!
email@example.com
AndreaOctober 26, 2011 at 9:17 pm
I can't decide on a favorite but thanks for an opportunity to win. I love your blog!
Jackie @ Fred-and-CissyOctober 26, 2011 at 11:41 pm
I've been having trouble deciding! I think my favourite at the moment are the paper dolls though…
Parohia Plopii SlăviteştiOctober 27, 2011 at 5:03 am
Love your blog.Keep up the good work .I can't decide on a favorite .
MaryAnnBOctober 27, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Thanks for the give away and for letting us know about this shop and their blog! I like the option of fat quarters too! Loving the 'peace planet' from Studio E, my favorite colors… and the 'paper dolls' too cute!
thanks again!


text: Swear on a stack of bibles, I'm not sucking up to sponsors from Camp Blogaway. We ended our Camp with a HUGE supply of goodies, some ripening quickly. Today, I whipped up lunch in five minutes, made a pretty picture, then sat on the porch swing and savored my fresh Mango Avocado Salad.


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top woman no.22 size guide
size guide
length: 65cm (25.5inch)
width: 69cm (27inch)
how we measure:
length: from top shoulder to bottom hem
width: from side to side at waist level
*all measurements are taken flat
cant find the size you want?
please contact us at [email protected], it might be coming soon!
we can also help you decide which size is more suited for you
washing instructions
babaà recommends you to wash your knits by hand with neutral soap (add a little hair conditioner if you wish to soften them)
if you want to use the washing machine we advise you to only use cold water at 0°C ( never 30° )
in a wool or delicate programme, always dry flat and store carefully
if you look after your babaà knits you will have them forever
top woman no22 sunshine
Knitted linen crew-neck top.
Perfect over skirts, shorts, high waisted trousers or layered over our long dresses, this wide, straight top has such an easy shape. With a subtle ribbed neckline finished in a contrast colour, the raw edges at hem and sleeve give it a light, airy feel.
Knitted using two different coloured linen yarns, and in our new technique which is closer to weave, this top is light but still so rich in texture. Crisp and elegant, this is a natural yarn that creates the most beautiful drapes, our very favourite!.
Linen was grown in Spain for many years and in the north west of the country it was, along with wool, the only fibre they had access to as they could grow it themselves. A fibre that holds many women's stories, as it was women that undertook the long and laborious process of turning flax into this beautiful yarn.
Made in Spain.
Materials: 100% Linen.
In stock


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About the picture


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Ward Stevens, 78, is happy about the 5.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment he will receive in Social Security benefits in January.
Ward Stevens, 78, is happy about the 5.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment he will receive in Social Security benefits in January.
"It's the largest (cost-of-living adjustment) increase that I can remember," he said. "But on the other hand, if Medicare goes up as well, it'll wipe out some of the increase."
In January, more than 55 million older Americans will see the boost of nearly 6 percent in the amount of money they receive in Social Security benefits – the largest percentage increase since 1982, according to the Social Security Administration.
The average Social Security check for a retired worker is $1,090 per month, said Mark Lassiter, spokesman for the Social Security Administration.
In January, those recipients will see about a $63 increase in their Social Security income – bumping their monthly benefits to $1,153.
Each year since 1975, Social Security beneficiaries have received a cost-of-living adjustment. In 1982, the cost-of-living increase was 7.4 percent.
Less than a third of Social Security recipients pay taxes on their benefits, Lassiter said.
The annual cost-of-living adjustments help to prevent inflation from eating away at retirees' Social Security income, Lassiter said.
"This is really one of the valuable things about Social Security," Lassiter said.
The rates of the annual increases are determined by how much the consumer price index increases.
The consumer price index is a monthly measure of the average change in the prices of goods and services purchased by households, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Web site.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the federal Department of Labor monitors the consumer price index.
The annual cost-of-living adjustments are necessary, said Arthur Friedberg, a professor of economics at Mohawk Valley Community College.
Friedberg said the inflation rate and the way in which seniors spend their money should be taken into account.
Most seniors are paying for rising health care costs, he said. And those costs are outpacing the inflation rate.
"With the cost-of-living adjustment, it compensates for the rise in prices," he said. "However, understand that the inflation rate is not the same for all people.
"Retired people or elderly people may be spending their money in a different way than the government assumes for most of us. So for many seniors, the cost-of-living adjustment is very modest."


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* I found this one on the Maritime Group on LinkedIn.com. — Alan Spicer.
(redirects to…)
EPIRBs a primer
Posted on August 21, 2009 Written by Chris Landry
Boaters who purchase an EPIRB can increase their chances of survival if they know how the device works and where it should be mounted on board.
|"Understand how to deploy a beacon, understand its best operating orientation, and understand when the right time is to use a beacon."
— Chris Wahler, ACR
"Know your safety gear," says Tom Rau, a retired Coast Guard senior chief and an authority on recreational boating safety. "Boaters must understand that boats do go down quickly and that they may not have time to energize the EPIRB or reach it, or they could be injured and unable to reach the submerged EPIRB."
EPIRB users need to read the product support manual thoroughly, says Chris Wahler, marketing manager for ACR Electronics, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based manufacturer of EPIRBs and other safety equipment. "And then it's just as important to educate the crew that may someday be called upon to use that beacon in your absence," he says. "So understand how to deploy a beacon, understand its best operating orientation, and understand when the right time is to use a beacon. These are all very important things to get across to the crewmembers."
One of the mistakes EPIRB users make is holding the unit instead of allowing it to float freely, says Wahler. "It's really better to tether it off and let it float and do its job. And give the beacon the best opportunity to communicate with the satellite by not putting obstructions in its way," he says. And once the EPIRB is on, leave it on until rescue arrives.
Location, location, location
Selection of a mounting location for an EPIRB depends on whether it's a Category I or Category II beacon.
(more at the link above…)
Emergency position-indicating radio beacons or EPIRBs
Distress radio beacons, also known as emergency beacons, are tracking transmitters which aid in the detection and location of boats, aircraft, and people in distress. Strictly, they are radiobeacons that interface with Cospas-Sarsat, the international satellite system for search and rescue (SAR). When activated, such beacons send out a distress signal that, when detected by non-geostationary satellites, can be located by trilateration.[citation needed] In the case of 406 MHz beacons which transmit digital signals, the beacons can be uniquely identified almost instantly (via GEOSAR), and furthermore, a GPS or GLONASS position can be encoded into the signal (thus providing both instantaneous identification and position). Often using the initial position provided via the satellite system, the distress signals from the beacons can be homed by SAR aircraft and ground search parties who can in turn come to the aid of the concerned boat, aircraft, or people.
A PLB that can use either GLONASS or GPS location services
There are three types of distress radio beacons compatible with the Cospas-Sarsat system:[1]
The basic purpose of distress radiobeacons is to get people rescued within the so-called "golden day"[2] (the first 24 hours following a traumatic event) when the majority of survivors can still be saved.
Since the inception of Cospas-Sarsat in 1982, distress radiobeacons have assisted in the rescue of over 22,000 people in more than 6,000 distress situations.[3] In 2006, distress radiobeacons aided in the rescue of 1,881 people in 452 distress situations.[3] There are roughly 556,000 121.5 MHz beacons and 429,000 406 MHz beacons.[4] As of 2002, there were roughly 82,000 registered (406 MHz) beacons, and over 500,000 of the older unregistered kind.[citation needed]
Civil Air Patrol members practice searching for an emergency locator transmitter. The member in front is using a manual radio direction finder.
(more at the link from Wikipedia. Alan Spicer's note – I guess it's more useful of a game than some might think, the game of Locating a Radio Transmitter in a large area – often played as a contest by Amateur Radio Operators!!!!)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from GEOSAR)
The current logo for Cospas-Sarsat
Cospas-Sarsat is an international satellite-based search and rescue (SAR) distress alert detection and information distribution system, established by Canada, France, the United States, and the former Soviet Union in 1979.
The system consists of both a ground segment and a space segment:
- Distress radiobeacons
- SAR signal processors aboard satellites
- Satellite downlink receiving and signal processing stations called LUTs (local user terminals)
- Mission Control Centres that distribute distress alert data generated by the LUTs
- Rescue Coordination Centres that coordinate SAR response to a distress situation
The space segment of the Cospas-Sarsat system currently consists of SAR processors aboard 4 geosynchronous satellites called GEOSARs and 5 low-earth polar orbit satellites called LEOSARs.[1]
[edit] Background information
Cospas-Sarsat began tracking the two original types of distress radiobeacons in 1982. Specifically, these were:
- EPIRBs (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons), which signal maritime distress; and
- ELTs (Emergency Locator Transmitters), which signal aircraft distress
More recently, a new type of distress radiobeacon became available (in 2003 in the USA) [2]:
- PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons), are for personal use and are intended to indicate a person in distress who is away from normal emergency services (i.e. 9-1-1)
The four founding countries led development of the 406 MHz marine EPIRB for detection by the system. The EPIRB was seen as a key advancement in SAR technology in the perilous maritime environment. The aviation community had already been using the 121.5 MHz frequency for distress, so ELTs for general aviation were created using 121.5 MHz, a frequency listened to by the airlines. Military beacons using the 243.0 MHz frequency could also be detected by the system.
The design of distress radiobeacons as a whole has evolved significantly since 1982; the newest 406 MHz beacons incorporate GPS receivers; such beacons transmit highly accurate positions of distress almost instantly to SAR agencies via the GEOSAR satellites. The advent of such beacons has created the current motto of SAR agencies — "Taking the 'Search' out of Search and Rescue." (See MEOSAR below.) [3]
COSPAS (КОСПАС) is an acronym for the Russian words "Cosmicheskaya Sistema Poiska Avariynyh Sudov" (Космическая Система Поиска Аварийных Судов), which translates to "Space System for the Search of Vessels in Distress". SARSAT is an acronym for Search And Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking.[1]
Cospas-Sarsat is an element of the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS). Automatic-activating EPIRBs are now required on International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) ships, commercial fishing vessels, and all passenger ships, are designed to transmit to a Rescue Coordination Centre a vessel identification and an accurate location of the vessel from anywhere in the world.
[edit] Phase-out of 121.5 & 243.0 MHz distress radiobeacons
Starting on 1 February 2009, the Cospas-Sarsat System stopped processing signals from the deprecated 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz beacons; now only signals from 406 MHz beacons are processed.[2] The switch to 406 MHz is expected to result in a substantial reduction in wasted use of SAR resources on false alerts while simultaneously increasing the responsiveness of the system for real distress cases.
[edit] System composition
The ground segment of the system consists of:
- Distress radiobeacons
- Satellite downlink receiving and signal processing stations called local user terminals (LUT)
- Mission Control Centres that distribute distress alert data generated by the LUTs
- Joint Rescue Coordination Centers (also referred to as Rescue Coordination Centres) that coordinate SAR response to a distress situation
The space segment of the system consists of:
- SAR signal processors aboard satellites
[edit] Space segment (SAR processors)
The Cospas-Sarsat system space segment consists of SAR signal processors (SARP) aboard:
- 4 geosynchronous satellites called GEOSARs, and
- 5 low-earth polar orbit satellites LEOSARs.[4]
A SARP is basically a box attached to the side of a satellite.[5] In this way, SARP are considered a secondary payload onboard satellites with more lucrative core purposes. See the Technical Information below for lists of SARP and their associated satellites.
[edit] Ground segment
The satellites are monitored by receiving stations equipped with satellite-tracking satellite dishes called local user terminals (LUT). Each nation's LUTs are monitored by an MCC (Mission Control Centre), a data distribution clearinghouse that distributes alert information to the various Joint Rescue Coordination Centers.
[edit] Technical information
[edit] Doppler processing
The Cospas-Sarsat system was made possible by the advent of Doppler processing. LUTs detecting non-geostationary satellites profit from the apparent Doppler frequency shift heard by LEOSAR and MEOSAR satellites as they pass over a beacon transmitting at a fixed frequency. The apparent frequency shift allows processing to triangulate the position of the distress radiobeacon. See Doppler Processing article at Cospas-Sarsat and Wiki on Doppler radar.
[edit] LEOSAR
Example of LEOSAR signal footprint.
LEOSAR predates the GEOSAR system, and it complements it. LEOSAR satellites are monitored by 44 LEOLUTs (low Earth orbit local user terminals).[3] The complementary LEOSAR satellites provide periodic coverage of the entire earth with an emphasis on polar regions. The LEOSAR satellites operate in a store-and-forward mode for 406 MHz signals — they store distress signals and forward them to the next LEOLUT ground station they overfly. The 4-satellite polar-orbit constellation LEOSAR system provides frequent coverage of the poles with approximately 100 minute orbits.
Up until mid-2007, two of the LEOSAR satellites were Cospas satellites provided by the former Soviet Union and operated by the Russian Federation. However, they were recently taken offline, and now, the American NOAA Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) and the EUMETSAT MetOp-A are the only LEOSAR satellites in service. COSPAS satellites characteristically orbit at 1000 km altitude.
The five operational LEOSAR satellites are the Sarsat satellites provided by the United States NOAA. These orbit at an altitude of 850 km. They are: [4]
- Sarsat-7 SARP aboard NOAA-15
- Sarsat-8 SARP aboard NOAA-16
- Sarsat-9 SARP aboard NOAA-17
- Sarsat-10 SARP aboard NOAA-18
- Sarsat-11 SARP aboard METOP-A
[edit] GEOSAR
The GEOSAR satellites are monitored by 16 GEOLUTs (Geostationary Earth Orbit Local User Terminals.) [5] The GEOSAR satellites provide continuous coverage of the entire earth below 70 degrees latitude with a view toward the equatorial sky. Some locations have poor radio reception toward the GEOSAR satellites and polar regions are not well covered.
SARP are installed on the following geostationary satellites: [6]
- The GOES geostationary satellites GOES-East at 75° W and GOES-West at 135° W
- The INSAT-3A geostationary satellite at 93.5° E
- The Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) geostationary satellites MSG-1 at 9.5° E and MSG-2 fixed over the Prime Meridian
[edit] Beacon technical information
Main article: Distress radiobeacons
Typical rescue beacon radios transmit a 5 watt signal for 0.5 second once every 50 seconds. Most of these terminals sold since 1997 include a GPS receiver so they can report precise GPS lat-lon location. Aircraft distress radiobeacons (ELTs) are automatically activated by acceleration switches after a crash, while maritime radiobeacons (EPIRBs) are normally activated by contact with sea water.
The "406 MHz" channel is 170 kHz wide and centered at 406.05 MHz. The message is either a 112-bit "short" message or a 144-bit "long" message both including 49 bits of identification plus position information.
[edit] MEOSAR
DASS MEOSAR Logo
Supporters of the Cospas-Sarsat system are working to add a new capability called MEOSAR (Medium Earth Orbit Search and Rescue satellites.) In its current (project) form, it is being called the Distress Alerting Satellite System (DASS) by NASA.[7] This system will put SAR processors aboard the GPS satellite constellation and the Galileo positioning system constellation. MEOSAR satellites will be able to provide near-instantaneous detection, identification, receipt of encoded position, and determination of Doppler triangulated position of 406 MHz beacons (exclusively.) MEOSAR assets will report signals from Cospas-Sarsat search and rescue beacons in the 406.0406.1 MHz band.[8] There is also the possibility that the system will be able to download information back to the distress radiobeacon via the GPS downlink.[7]
[edit] Rescue statistics
In 2006, the Cospas-Sarsat system provided assistance in rescuing 1,881 people in 452 SAR events.[6]
|people rescued
|SSAR events
[edit] References
- ^ Cospas-Sarsat. "Cospas-Sarsat Acronyms / Definitions". http://www.cospas-sarsat.org/Management/acronyms.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
- ^ Cospas-Sarsat. "Cospas-Sarsat Phase-Out of 121.5/243 MHz Alerting Services". http://www.cospas-sarsat.org/FirstPage/121.5PhaseOut.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
- ^ Summary Status
- ^ http://www.cospas-sarsat.org/DocumentsSystemDataDocument/SD32-DEC06.pdf
- ^ GEOLUT Description
- ^ Space Segment Status
- ^ a b NASA Search and Rescue Mission Office : Distress Alerting Satellite System (DASS)
- ^ ESA Portal – Improving Daily Life – Galileo to support global search and rescue
[edit] External links
- Official website for the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme
- Official website for the USA's Sarsat Program
- Detailed SARSAT and COSPAS satellite information
- Lay Person Explanation of the Satellite System
- Official website for Techno-Sciences, Inc. SARSAT program
Categories: Maritime communication | Maritime emergency | Emergency communication | Rescue | Law of the sea
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The Shiller Preyar Law Offices is a unique law firm specializing in civil rights, immigration, criminal, and civil law.
Whether our clients are suffering at the hands of the police, working to secure their immigration status or battling DUIs, the attorneys at Shiller Preyar provide tireless and dedicated attention to those who need it most.
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Top clutch hitter McGehee up for NL Final Vote
Fans can reward third baseman, who leads in average with runners in scoring position
ST. LOUIS -- All season, Casey McGehee has shown the ability to pick his teammates up. Now, if the Marlins third baseman is to get to the All-Star Game, he will need some fan support.
Not part of the National League All-Star squad, which was announced on Sunday night, McGehee still can get to the Midsummer Classic with the NL Final Vote.
Each league has five players up for the final roster spot for their respective All-Star teams. McGehee's competition in the NL is Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau, Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and Braves outfielder Justin Upton.
Sporting a .320 batting average, McGehee made a strong case to be selected on Sunday, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. The Marlins certainly were upset their third baseman needs help to get on the roster.
"I think you're always disappointed when your guys put up great years and don't get recognized for it," Miami manager Mike Redmond said. "But I'm holding out hope that Casey gets in there. There is always a couple of guys that are right on the fence. Hopefully this isn't the case with Casey, and we find a way to get him in."
McGehee, 31, has been one of the inspiring stories in baseball this season. The veteran third baseman spent last year playing for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan. A teammate of Masahiro Tanaka, McGehee batted .292 with 28 homers and 93 RBIs.
McGehee last appeared in an All-Star Game at the Double-A level. Even last year in Japan, he wasn't elected as an All-Star, but he finished third in the MVP voting.
"It was a little disappointing, but at the same time, we've still got a job to do," McGehee said. "I'm sure I'm not the only person that's a little disappointed right now."
McGehee felt his teammates, pitchers Henderson Alvarez and Steve Cishek, made All-Star cases.
"I'm sure a lot of guys feel the same way I do right now," McGehee said.
McGehee was informed he didn't make the squad before the game at Busch Stadium on Sunday. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny spoke briefly with McGehee, informing him of the decision.
"He just said it was a tough decision and he had to go a different direction with it," McGehee said of his conversation with Matheny. "I'm sure it's a lot harder decision to make when you're the one that actually has to put your name on it. So I can respect that. And I did truly appreciate him coming over. I could tell he was genuine in what he was saying. That meant a lot to me."
The Marlins signed McGehee as a free agent, and he's been excelling in the cleanup spot, offering protection for Giancarlo Stanton, thus far Miami's lone All-Star.
Stanton has been humble when speaking about himself, but the slugger makes it clear that he is upset McGehee didn't get selected.
"That made me pretty mad," Stanton said. "It still doesn't make any sense. I know people get [snubbed] every year, but this is my first case of being together and seeing the dominance that he's had. He shouldn't have to hope for the last spot. It's not something he needs to promote himself to get there now.
"It's something that shouldn't be an unfair situation. If you perform the best, you should be there."
Here are five reasons fans should vote for McGehee:
1. RBI leader: McGehee paces all National League third basemen in RBIs with 53. Situational hitting promises to be important in the All-Star Game, and McGehee has repeatedly shown the knack of getting runners in without trying to do too much.
2. Situational hitting: With runners in scoring position, McGehee's .391 batting average is the best in the Majors. His average also is way up there with runners in scoring position and two outs. McGehee is used to hitting with runners on base because Stanton is walked so frequently. The third baseman is also tied for second at any position in the National League in game-winning RBIs.
3. Strong defensively: The bat alone isn't where McGehee has made an impact. Among all NL third basemen, McGehee has the best fielding percentage. You don't get a lot of flash at third, but he makes the plays.
4. Past big league success: McGehee has a track record of Major League success. Granted it has been a few years, but with the Brewers in 2010, he belted 23 home runs and drove in 104 runs.
5. Brings championship experience: Spending a season in Japan not only re-energized McGehee's career personally, it gave him a chance to be part of a championship team. Rakuten won the title with Tanaka as the ace. In Japan, McGehee remains a popular figure.
Fans began voting to select the final player for each League's 34-man roster via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Experian immediately following the announcement of each league's 34-man roster on Sunday night. Fans can cast their votes from a list of five players from each League until the winners will be announced after the voting concludes on Thursday at 4 p.m. ET.
In addition to the web, fans can use their mobile phones to cast votes via the mobile web at MLB.com/vote or via text message. To receive the All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Experian mobile ballot, text the word "VOTE" to 89269. To vote for a specific player, fans can text the choice to 89269. Example: Text "N1" to vote for McGehee. Standard message and data rates may apply. Text "STOP" to end and "HELP" for information. Mobile voting in Canada also is available and fans should text their choices to 101010.
For the third consecutive year, the All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote will include social balloting participation, as Twitter support from the 10 candidates' fans over the last six hours of balloting will count toward their final vote totals. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, any tweet that includes a designated player hashtag #VoteHitsMcGehee will be tabulated as part of the official vote total used to determine the winners. Fans will be able to follow @MLB for the latest standings updates over the course of the entire four-day voting period.
The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans help choose the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com and via Twitter in the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote Sponsored by Pepsi, and their collective voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.
MLB.TV Premium subscribers, for the first time, will be able to live stream the All-Star Game via MLB.TV through FOX's participating video providers. Access will be available across more than 400 platforms that support MLB.TV, including the award-winning MLB.com At Bat app. MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.
The 85th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.


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POLI-226 Soviet and Russian Politics
Looks at Russian and Soviet politics and foreign policy. The Soviet Union is examined, with particular emphasis on the policies of Gorbachev and the 1991 disintegration of the U.S.S.R. The post-Soviet period is also studied, especially the challenges of democratization and of moving toward a market economy. While primary attention is paid to the situation in Russia, issues in the other former Soviet republics and Eastern Europe are also discussed. Same as HIST-226. 4 SH.


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This is the rub I use on my ribs, the ones I made for the SB turned out to be the best ones I've made yet.
Rub Recipe:
1 Cup Brown sugar
1 Tbs garlic salt
1 Tbs Paprika
1 T ground red pepper
1 T black pepper
Mix it all up very well in a small tupperware bowl that you can store when your done.
Depending on the size of your smoker you may need to cut the ribs in half (I have a smaller smoker I bought at Lowes for $75 I think, its electric, which regulates the heat very well for somewhat consistent smoking, if your new to smoking then electric is the way to go) and remove the membrane on the back, this makes the ribs easier to eat, and makes them more tender.
The night before (or day of to be honest its not a HUGE deal to prep the night before) rub a little olive oil on your ribs (helps the rub stick and helps the ribs stay moist) and then put the rub on generously. Let it sit over night in the fridge (again this isnt needed but it helps a little bit).
I use woodchunks to smoke with, not wood chips, but either way make sure you get a good smoke going before you throw the ribs on. Once the ribs are on, I recomend a "mop" abotu twice an hour (on the meaty part of the ribs). In a small paper or plastic cup mix 1 part Olive Oil and 3 parts Apple vinegar. Apply this with a brush while the ribs are smoking.
Depending on how meaty the ribs are this should take anywhere from 3-5 hours.
I use a meat thermometer and consider my ribs done 10 min after the meatiest part is 180 degrees.
Remove ribs from smoke, enjoy!


text:
Choreography by: Peter Martins
Music by: Samuel Barber
Alternately noble and quixotic, Barber Violin Concerto contrasts a classical couple with a bare-footed couple as the worlds of ballet and modern dance collide.
Peter Martins created his Barber Violin Concerto to Samuel Barber's 1941 Violin Concerto, Opus 14. The ballet, which Martins choreographed for New York City Ballet's American Music Festival in 1988, features one pair of classical dancers and one pair of modern dancers. The ballet was originally performed by NYCB Principal Dancers Merrill Ashley and Adam Lüders as the classical couple, and Paul Taylor Dance Company member Kate Johnson and choreographer and dancer David Parsons as the modern couple.


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Puleese, Not Another Diatriabe? No. 148: Youth DrunkingJuly 1, 2010 - Fred Eckhardt
For many years I have babbled on, and at great length, about the terrible way we train our young people in the management of what is clearly one of our country's greatest problems, that of youthful alcohol consumption.


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There are currently five categories of HIV antiviral drugs available that have FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approval. These categories are:
nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtRTIs)
non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)
protease inhibitors (PIs)
fusion inhibitors
Fusion inhibitors work outside the CD4 cell by inhibiting HIV from joining, or fusing, with the cell. Nucleosides, nucleotides and non-nucleosides all work to stop HIV from infecting CD4 cells. Protease inhibitors stop infected cells from reproducing the virus.
Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, commonly referred to as NRTIs or nukes for short, inhibit reverse transcriptase, an enzyme that HIV needs in order to infect CD4 cells. Retroviruses, such as HIV, use the enzyme reverse transcriptase to convert their RNA into DNA, the structure that contains all of a person's genes. Without the ability to create the DNA inside the nucleus of a healthy cell, HIV cannot infect that cell. The HIV DNA then integrates with the DNA of cells (the CD4 cells, also called T-cells) in the body. A category of drugs called "integrase inhibitors" are in development to work at this stage of the virus.
Once proviral DNA has been integrated into the body's natural DNA, HIV becomes a lifelong infection. HIV drugs provide the body with a strong defense against the reproduction of HIV; however, they do not kill the virus. Generally HIV converts into proviral DNA within 72 hours after infection. Once inside the cell's DNA, HIV awaits activation by cytokines and chemokines, chemical substances that tell cells what to do.
NRTIs are analogs because they are imitations of the body's own nucleosides, which HIV uses to infect cells. Hence, you will hear the term "nucleoside analogs" used to refer to NRTIs. The NRTIs trick the HIV reverse transcriptase into using these imitation nucleosides, incorporating the imitation nucleoside into the HIV DNA chain. The virus thinks it's inserting the cell's nucleoside into its DNA chain, but it's actually inserting the drug. This breaks the viral DNA chain.
Drugs in the NRTI category include Retrovir (AZT), Zerit (d4T), Hivid (ddC), Epivir (3TC or lamivudine), Videx (ddI), Ziagen (abacavir) and Emtriva (FTC or emtricitabine). Combinations of these drugs are also available, such as Combivir (Retrovir and Epivir together in one pill) and Trizivir (Retrovir, Epivir and Ziagen). Epzicom, which was just approved by the FDA, is a once-daily combination of Epivir and Ziagen. Side effects to beware of with NRTIs include pancreatitis, rash, flu-like symptoms and peripheral neuropathy (a type of nerve damage).
Viread (tenofovir) is the first drug (and so far, the only one) in the category of nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtRTIs) to be approved by the FDA. NtRTIs are very similar to the NRTIs, but are chemically pre-activated, to quickly convert to the actual form of drug in the body, allowing the NtRTIs to enter the HIV's DNA more rapidly than the drugs in the NRTI class. Viread and the NRTI Emtriva are now available in a combination once-daily tablet called Truvada.
Like the NRTIs, the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs or non-nukes) also keep HIV from infecting cells by interfering with the virus' reverse transcriptase. However, they do this in a slightly different way. The NNRTIs attach themselves directly to reverse transcriptase so that the RNA cannot make DNA, thus preventing further replication of the virus. The downside to this class of drugs is that NNRTIs are highly cross-resistant to one another (see "Resistance to HIV Medications" below).
The NNRTIs provide a choice for people who are intolerant of protease inhibitor side effects, those who want to save the protease class for future use, or for those whose protease inhibitor therapy failed them. Drugs in the NNRTI class include Rescriptor (delavirdine), Viramune (nevirapine) and Sustiva (efavirenz). Sustiva has been placed in the "preferred" category in the current federal guidelines for those starting HIV treatment. Viramune and Sustiva are also both easy to take. Viramune requires two tablets daily (one twice a day) while Sustiva requires just one tablet daily, usually taken at bedtime.
Rash is a side effect that all NNRTIs share in common, and is one of the more prevalent side effects in the class. Other common side effects, usually associated with Sustiva, include confusion, abnormal thoughts, vivid dreams and impaired concentration. These side effects, though, usually disappear after two to four weeks of therapy.
Protease Inhibitors
Protease inhibitors (commonly called PIs), inhibit protease, a digestive enzyme that breaks down protein. HIV protease is only one of several enzymes that the virus uses to reproduce itself. The HIV protease works by cutting up long chains of the virus' proteins into smaller pieces that go on to infect new cells. By blocking HIV protease, these drugs keep the virus from making copies that can infect cells. Thus, these drugs keep immature non-infectious virus particles from becoming mature infectious particles, which cannot infect any other cells.
There are currently nine PIs on the market, making it the largest category of HIV drugs available. Protease inhibitors are generally thought to be the most potent or the "heavy-weights" of the HIV drugs, and Kaletra is considered, so far, to be the undisputed champion of the heavy weights. Kaletra is the other drug, along with Sustiva, to be placed in the "preferred" category in the current federal guidelines for HIV treatment. It has proven to be a very durable drug and has become the most-prescribed drug in the protease inhibitor class.
Other PIs in the class include: Agenerase (amprenavir), Invirase (saquinavir hard-gel), Fortovase (saquinavir soft-gel), Crixivan (indinavir), Norvir (ritonavir), Viracept (nelfinavir), Lexiva (fos-amprenavir) and Reyataz (atazanavir). Lexiva and Reyataz, the two newest PIs, can be dosed just once daily and both are usually boosted with Norvir, an older PI, which raises the levels of the drugs in the body. Norvir is also contained in Kaletra and is used to boost the other ingredient of the drug, lopinavir. Norvir is also used to boost Crixivan and Fortovase. Another PI, Viracept, is now available as a 625 mg tablet. This reduces the dose to only two 625 mg tablets twice a day, as compared to the original dose of five 250 mg tablets twice a day.
Though the protease inhibitors are considered to be the most potent of the HIV drugs, they are not without problems. PIs can cause blood glucose levels to rise in people with diabetes and can even bring on new cases of the disease. PIs can also increase the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, putting you at risk for a heart attack. Other side effects include: kidney stones with Crixivan, diarrhea with Viracept, hyperbilirubinemia with Reyataz, and all of them can cause nausea and diarrhea.
Tipranavir will likely be the next PI to be approved by the FDA. It is in the latter phase of clinical trials and will be the first non-petidic protease inhibitor (NPPI) available to treat HIV infection. A new 500 mg tablet of an older PI, Invirase, is also expected to be approved this year.
Fusion Inhibitors
While the NRTIs, NtRTIs, NNRTIs and PIs are all working inside the infected CD4 cell to treat HIV, fusion inhibitors fight HIV outside the CD4 cell by blocking fusion of HIV before the virus enters the cell and begins its replication process. Fuzeon is the first (and thus far the only) in this class of drugs to be FDA approved. Administration by twice daily subcutaneous injection and its high cost have limited the use of this drug. The most common side effect of Fuzeon, due to its route of administration, is injection site reactions. To help avoid this side effect, rotation of injection sites is recommended.
Adherence to HIV Medications
What exactly is adherence when talking about HIV medications? Simply put, adherence is sticking to your program -- taking the medications you're supposed to take, on time, every time! Whether you've been on HIV medications for 10 years or are just starting out, it takes a strong personal commitment to take your medications on time, every time. Non-adherence is the number one reason why HIV treatments fail. These medications work -- but they can't work if you're not taking them! So, here are some tips and suggestions to help you achieve adherence with your HIV medications.
Make sure you're mentally ready to start taking HIV medications.
Not sticking to your regimen makes it very easy for the virus to mutate and develop resistance to the medications, and then you may have wasted the regimen. Don't start taking the medications until you are totally committed to taking them right on time, every time!
Keep your medication regimen simple.
Nowadays, simplifying your HIV regimen is often easily done, thanks in part to combination drugs such as Trizivir, Truvada, Combivir and Epzicom. These drugs combine two or three drugs into one tablet, which reduces pill burden and makes dosing simpler. In fact, Truvada and Epzicom are only taken once daily. Newer protease inhibitors such as Lexiva and Reyataz can also be taken just once daily. Plus, some older drugs such as Sustiva and Viracept are available in higher strengths, also reducing pill burden. Sustiva is also another drug that only has to be taken once daily. Talk with your physician about keeping your regimen simple and easy. Reducing the pill burden and using once daily regimens can greatly increase medication adherence.
Use reminders.
Some people use timers or pagers set to go off when it's time to take medications to help them remember to take their meds. Other people take an activity they do every day and link that activity to taking their medications, such as before, with or after meals, before or after showering or brushing teeth or first thing in the morning or right before bedtime. A basic seven-day pillbox is also one of the most useful tools to help with adherence. The pillbox can be stacked with meds once a week with the meds being put in the correct day and time slot. Many pillboxes also are made so that each day can be popped out of the holder and taken with you.
Get help from family and friends.
Family and friends can help you stick to your regimen, so don't be afraid to rely on them. Let them know exactly what you're supposed to take and when. You can also ask them to help you remember to take your drugs, which can be easily done with just a simple phone call!
Resistance to HIV Medications
If the anti-HIV drugs are not kept at a steady level in your body, HIV can quickly make copies of itself and that leads to resistance. Resistance is when HIV is able to resist the effects of the anti-HIV drugs in your body. When that happens, the drugs will not work as well -- or even not at all -- in stopping HIV from spreading throughout your body. If HIV becomes resistant to a medication, the virus can sometimes become resistant to other medications in the same drug class. This is called "cross-resistance." When this happens, you lose the chance to use another drug from that class, or several of them and possibly even all of them. The NNRTI class drugs are highly cross resistant to one another. Some PIs are also cross resistant to one another.
With new drugs such as tipranavir and SCH-D in development, people who are already resistant to other anti-HIV drugs will get another opportunity to continue drug therapy in the battle against HIV.
Steve Meyer is a registered pharmacist with Pharmacare Pharmacy, located at 3337 N. Broadway in Chicago. Steve also assisted with Positively Aware's first two annual HIV Drug Guides_, in 1997 and 1998._
To read Part One of this series, click here.


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It's almost time for the 2013 WitOut Awards for Philadelphia Comedy! As we get closer to the show, we'll be rolling out a series of posts to help you get more acquainted with this year's nominees. Read all about 'em, and then be sure to get your tickets for the big event on January 13th at World Cafe Live!
The nominees for Best Sketch Group are:
The Feeko Brothers
The Feeko Brothers are a sketch comedy duo from Philadelphia, PA formed by Billy Bob Thompson & Christian Alsis in 2008 as an excuse to hug each other in front of strangers. Here's what the Philadelphia City Paper said about their last show: "Their writing decisions are so strong they seem to create the in-the-moment phenomena of improv theater with the razor conceptuality of modern sketch greats." The Bros have performed at Chicago Sketchfest, Philly Sketchfest, and are regulars at Philly Improv Theater and Helium Comedy Club. Separately they've performed at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, the North Carolina Comedy Arts Fest, and The Boston Improv Festival. Recently, the Feeks have studied under Steve Kleinedler of ImprovBoston fame and Kevin McDonald of the "Kids in the Hall" fame. Their online vid-bits have been featured on the front page of FunnyOrDie.com and the duo won Best Sketch Group and Best Sketch at last year's WitOut Awards.
Christian Alsis
Billy Bob Thompson
Camp Woods
Camp Woods is a sketch comedy troupe from Philadelphia, PA that was formed in 2009. The group blends sharp absurdism and energetic performances with homemade props, sets, puppets, and costumes to create a memorable live experience that is sometimes smart, sometimes stupid, and always fun. Camp Woods has performed shows in Philadelphia and New York, and as part of Chicago Sketchfest, The North Carolina Comedy and Arts Festival, and the Boston Improv Festival.
Sam Narisi
Rob Baniewicz
JP Boudwin
Pat Foy
Brendan Kennedy
Madonna Refugia
Billy Bob Thompson
ManiPedi was pieced together in the summer of 2011. Nominated for last year's WitOut Award for Best Sketch Group in Philadelphia and featured in the Ladies are Funny Festival 2012 in Austin, TX, ManiPedi brings on the laughs with their combination of irreverent wit and inherent un-femininity.
Madonna Marie Refugia
Shannon Brown
Briana Kelly
Kaitlin Thompson
Aubrie Williams
Secret Pants
Secret Pants shows are like "TV sketch comedy on a stage." The members of the group all come from a film and video background, so when they're putting together a live show, they approach it the way you would sketch comedy for live (or live-to-tape) television. Secret Pants tries to replicate the TV experience live, even if that means building a seemingly unnecessary set piece or painting themselves black and white. And when they do it well, it can be pretty magical.
Brian Craig
Brian Kelly
Bryce Remsburg
Larry Wiechecki
Paul Triggiani
Samantha Russell Craig
Steve Thorne
Gathering talent from the improv, sketch, standup and theater worlds, The Flat Earth debuted this year as Philly Improv Theater's first house sketch team. Their sketch revue show had a five-night run at the Philly Fringe Festival, a two-night encore at the Shubin Theater, and received great praise from audience members they asked in the lobby afterwards.
Director: Paul Triggiani
Head Writer: Steve Swan
Vincent DiCostanzo
Luke Field
Sean Landis
Jess Ross
Matt Schmid
Adam Siry
Jacqueline Baker
Jim Grammond
Brent Knobloch
Rich Lee
Jess Ross
Molly Silverman
Harry Watermeier


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Apr 12, 2010 (CIDRAP News) – A committee of experts appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO) convened today to begin evaluating the agency's and the world's response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic, with WHO Director-General Margaret Chan urging the group to pull no punches.
"We want a frank and critical assessment," Chan said in prepared remarks. "WHO is not defining or restricting the scope of specific issues that may arise. If our member states have questions or concerns, we want to hear those questions and concerns raised."
The start of the review comes almost a year after the novel H1N1 virus emerged and in the wake of considerable criticism that the WHO and many governments overreacted to the virus. Some critics have charged that the response was improperly influenced by drug companies hoping to profit from the epidemic—a charge that the WHO and public health authorities strongly reject.
As the panel convened a 3-day meeting in Geneva, the WHO released the names of its 29 members, who the agency said are some of the leading experts in their fields and combine scientific expertise and public health experience. Numerous developed and developing countries are represented.
At today's opening session the group elected Harvey V. Fineberg, president of the Institute of Medicine in the US National Academy of Sciences, as chair, and Babatunde Osotimehin of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, as vice chair, the WHO reported.
The panel will review the pandemic response in the context of a broader examination of the functioning of the International Health Regulations (IHR). The regulations, designed to guide responses to potential international health threats, took effect in 2007 and are due for a review this year. The panel's official name is the International Health Regulations Review Committee.
On the basis of the committee's findings, Chan will present an interim report to the World Health Assembly next month and a final report to the assembly in May 2011, the WHO said.
The committee's three stated goals are to review the functioning of the IHR; to assess the ongoing global response to the H1N1 pandemic, including the WHO's role; and to identify lessons for improving preparedness for future pandemics and other emergencies.
Dr. Keiji Fukuda, director of the WHO's influenza program, told the committee today that the agency's six-stage pandemic alert system caused confusion, since the H1N1 virus turned out to be far less deadly than the H5N1 avian flu virus, according to a Reuters report. The H5N1 virus had long been seen as the most likely cause of the next pandemic.
"The reality is there is a huge amount of uncertainty [in a pandemic]," Fukuda said. "I think we did not convey the uncertainty. That was interpreted by many as a nontransparent process."
According to a Canadian Press report, Fukuda said the review committee will not second-guess the WHO's decision last June to declare the H1N1 epidemic a pandemic. Given all the scientific and clinical information, "We have never had a moment's doubt of whether this is a pandemic or not," he said.
Chan underlined this view in her remarks: "The pandemic's spread was rapidly global," she said, noting that 213 countries and territories have reported cases.
The WHO's declaration of the pandemic was controversial at the time as well as afterward. Because the idea of a pandemic was strongly associated with the H5N1 virus, many feared that declaring H1N1 a pandemic would cause undue fear. But the WHO said the pandemic declaration was not meant to convey anything about the severity of the illness, only that the virus was capable of spreading globally.
The members of the review committee are not WHO staff members and are not paid by the WHO for their participation, the agency said. They were chosen from the roster of experts under the IHR structure or other WHO committees.
Because the group is considered a WHO expert committee, the agency said, it must follow WHO regulations, which include rules designed to prevent conflicts of interest.
"The Secretariat [of the WHO] has been especially vigilant in seeking out possible conflicts of interest among committee members," Chan said in her speech.
See also:
Apr 12 WHO statement on the review procedure
Text of Margaret Chan's speech to the review committee
WHO review committee roster


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Milan Fashion Week is in full swing right now, and there is a lot of interest focused on the runways at big houses like Gucci and Prada. Gucci definitely got back to its glamourous roots with an extremely strong show by designer Frida Giannini, and Miuccia Prada exclaimed "go bold!" when talking about her Spring 2011 line.
Both houses showed very bright, solid punches of color–but both were in very different contexts. Gucci embraced the '70s era vibe that we saw at Marc Jacobs, and dialed it up by adding gold python accents, feathers and beads. Prada went for quite the opposite: a very utilitarian chic that seemed to take inspiration from working-class uniforms. Whichever you prefer, it's always fun to see what's new out of Milan.