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Reporting from Cancun - Backroom Deal? Again? World Bank
Steps in to Save the Day?? (2 posts from Cancun by Tina
Backroom Deal? Again? Bolivia Takes a Stance!
by Tina Gerhardt
The Huffington Post
December 9, 2010 03:41 PM
Cancún, Mexico - It's crunch time! A draft text emerged this
morning; heads of state and government have arrived and UN
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is here. There are two days
left for government leaders and their representatives to
come to an agreement. Can they make progress? Can they find
solutions? It seems most likely that there will not be an
international legally binding agreement but will the
foundation be laid for one? Will negotiations have moved
closer to one? Or further way?
On one thing, people at the COP 16 seems to agree: another
climate conference is possible!
Yesterday's late breaking news, revealed by John Vidal in
the Guardian UK,
As Vidal revealed, Europe and small island Pacific states
have proposed a new treaty for consideration.
This proposed agreement would commit developed and
developing nations to reductions in climate emissions.
The Kyoto Protocol stipulates the former, emissions
reductions from developed nations, which the U.S. being the
only developed nation not having signed on and refusing to
do so. The Copenhagen Accord stipulates the later, that is,
emissions reductions commitment from developing countries,
particularly the fastest growing among them, China and
While this move could be read as an attempt to break out of
the gridlock, in which the UNFCCC negotiations are stalled,
it has angered many developing countries, including Brazil,
China and India. Drafted in 1997, implemented in 2005, and
set to expire in 2012, the Kyoto Protocol is the only
legally binding treaty currently in existence. Its
dissolution would allow developing nations off the hook with
regard to emissions reductions.
Given that the United States has not signed on to the Kyoto
Protocol and shows no intention to do so; and given that it
has been seeking to ram through the Copenhagen Accord for
the past year, showing disregard for the UNFCCC process in
various ways, these countries are concerned that this treaty
is an attempt to ditch the Kyoto Protocol, leaving nothing
in its place to ensure commitments to greenhouse gas
reductions, the cornerstone for averting climate change.
According to Vidal, sources close to the talks said that "a
result would be that most of the elements of the
controversial Copenhagen Accord - the non-binding political
agreement pushed by the US in Denmark last year - would be
put up for adoption by the UN, presenting a major victory
for the US and other rich countries." Even using the
backroom negotiations, in order to put the Copenhagen Accord
up for a vote by the UNFCCC majorly thwarts the official
Mexico, eager to see an outcome from this year's talks, is
working to draft a new text for presentation to negotiating
countries. But that process, too, is troubled, since it has
only asked four countries to contribute short texts.
Bolivia, meanwhile, sent an alert yesterday to the chairs of
the parties of the COP. Pablo Solón told The Nation that he
is filing the alter because "in the UNFCCC there is a
process and you have to respect that process. We are not
sure what the structure of the process is currently. It's
necessary to have a formal and conclusive process of
negotiations." Solón added that he expected that a text to
be presented by Friday.
Solón stated "we do not want to go into any process of
finger pointing. We want to find a positive solution." But
he added, "There is a UNFCCC. There are discussions within
the two official working groups. And they produce a text. It
cannot be that the negotiating groups negotiate and come up
with a text; and the informal negotiating groups negotiate
and then come up with a different text."
"You can see it yourself in the agenda," Solón said, "that
there are no meetings of the LCA working group." He added,
"The Mexican chair stated that the formal process continued
to take place, but if it continued to take place, we want to
know where it was taking place because there are no other
Bolivian President Evo Morales arrived early this morning
and addressed a press conference this afternoon, stating
that if nations do not take action, they are committing
President Morales heads on to the La Via Campesina camp this
afternoon to address indigenous peoples and peasants and
their allies, who have traveled here via caravan from
throughout Mexico.
[Tina Gerhardt is an independent journalist and academic,
who has covered international climate change negotiations,
most recently in Copenhagen and Bonn. Her work has appeared
in Alternet, Grist, In These Times and The Nation.]
The World Bank Steps in to Save the Day??
by Tina Gerhardt
The Huffington Post
December 9, 2010 10:24 PM
Cancún, Mexico - As climate change increases, the World Bank
is stepping up its funding for developing nations. On the
agenda at this year's COP 16, is the development of a proper
institutional financing system, and at the top of the agenda
is setting up of a new Climate Fund. Developing countries
want the Climate Fund to be under the authority of the
UNFCCC, and not to come under the control of the World Bank
with which many of them have had bad experiences.
Yesterday morning, World Bank and the Alliance of Small
Island States (AOSIS) held a joint press conference to
announce funding for clean energy projects in island states.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed between AOSIS,
the Government of Denmark, the World Bank and the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick announced that
funding would be made available to low lying nations, which
are particularly threatened by rising sea levels. A $14.5
million pledge of support form the Government of Denmark
kicks off the initiative, which will help island states in
Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Island regions transition to
low emission and climate resilient development paths.
Last week, an AOSIS delegate warned that five low lying
island states "are facing the end of history. And if that
happens, we are all accomplices."
Because of their size and remoteness, most small island
developing states are heavily dependent on imported
petroleum for their energy needs. Some countries spend an
estimated 25-50 percent of their GDP on imported oil, which
leads to very high domestic electricity costs. The funds are
intended to help them to transition to renewable energy
Not everyone welcomed the news. Yesterday was marked not
only by sessions related to the World Bank but also by
actions against the World Bank. Campaigners from around the
world condemned rich countries' efforts to carve out a
special role for the World Bank in managing these funds.
They are furious that the World Bank is being promoted as
the hub for climate finance. And they insist that because
the institution continues to bankroll dirty fossil fuel
projects to the tune of $6.6 billion last year alone - they
are in the wrong hands for the funds to fight climate
change. They also cite the World Bank's recent history of
imposing climate finance as loans, creating new debt for
already impoverished countries, increasing the role of the
private sector and imposing economic policy conditions that
increase inequality.
The coalition of diverse groups from developed and
developing countries launched a new campaign 'World Bank our
of climate finance' today calling on governments to resist
any role for the institution in climate finance. They are
particularly angry that in an early draft of the negotiating
text, the World Bank has been invited to serve as the
interim trustee of a new global climate fund - and
potentially its secretariat.
Yesterday morning, there was a march organized by a
coalition of groups, including Friends of the Earth, Jubilee
South, and the Freedom From Debt Coalition. It kicked off
with a rally, featuring speakers from World Bank-affected
communities from around the world. They marched and returned
to the Municipal Hall to smash piñatas, which they said
"represent the World Bank."
The organizers stated "The World Bank and other multilateral
development banks must not be given a role in establishing
or governing the new Global Climate Fund nor in managing
climate finance. Their nature, structure, track record, and
policies, stand in contradiction to what should be the
principles of fair and effective climate finance, and the
structure and operations of a new fund."
"The World Bank, they continued, "is a lending institution
that has long been imposing policy conditions and programs
on South countries and peoples through its loans. Giving a
role to the World Bank in climate finance will result in a
significant part of climate finance flowing as loans, and
will very likely come with conditionalities,"
This morning, the World Bank organized a panel dedicated to
agriculture. The panel advocated agricultural related
investments, and focused on policies and programs that would
increase farm productivity and incomes. It lobbied for
making the sector part of the solution to climate change by
sequestering more carbon into soil and business.
Panelists included Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture Cao
Duc Phat; US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack; Norwegian
Minister of Environment and Development Erik Solheim;
Uruguayan Tabare Aquerre; and UN Food and Agriculture
World Bank President Zoellick advocated for an integrated
approach to agriculture: "We know that we need to increase
agricultural production by 70 percent by 2050 to feed nine
billion people and that climate changes risk more
uncertainty and potentially serious down-side possibilities.
Agriculture, forestry and land use," he continued, "change
account for more than 30% greenhouse gas emissions. So we
need to make the agriculture sector and soil carbon part of
the solution to climate change."
This afternoon, a press conference action agitated for "No
Climate Debt." Reza Chowdury said, "We do not want the World
Bank in climate financing. It will create debt burdens. We
do not want to see our children in a debt burden." The march
ended in a walkout.
Organizations are increasingly frustrated by how they being
silenced at the UN. They have launched a new campaign "World
Bank out of Climate Finance", putting pressure on their
governments not to impose the World Bank on their
communities, particularly in developing countries, in the
form of climate finance.
Over two hundred organizations from around the world,
including Friends of the Earth International, Jubilee South,
and the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance have signed an
open letter sent to all governments today, calling for
resistance to the World Bank. They urged that the Global
Climate Fund be set up under the authority of the UNFCCC, so
that it has an equitable governance structure, prioritizes
the participation of affected communities, operates with
full transparency and accountability and provides direct
access to funding.
So far, the funding mechanisms within the UNFCCC have not
been nailed down.
[Tina Gerhardt is an independent journalist and academic,
who has covered international climate change negotiations,
most recently in Copenhagen and Bonn. Her work has appeared
in Alternet, Grist, In These Times and The Nation.]
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Bunnie Huang posted an extensive explanation of how you're doing your Bill Of Materials (BOM) all wrong. Here's a taste. For the whole 5-course meal head over to his blog.
Most Makers trying to scale up quickly realize the only practical path forward is to outsource production.
Every single assumption, down to the color of the soldermask, has to be spelled out unambiguously for a third party to faithfully reproduce a design. Missing or incomplete documentation is the lead cause of production delays, defects, and cost overruns.
Here's some of the things missing from the [typical] BOM:
- Approved manufacturer for each component
- Tolerance, material composition, and voltage spec for passive components
- Package type information for all parts
- Extended part numbers specific to each manufacturer
A complete BOM for an LED flasher also needs to include the PCB, battery, plastic case pieces, lens, screws, any labeling (for example, a serial number), a manual, and packaging (plastic bag plus cardboard box, for example). There may also need to be a master carton as a single boxed LED flasher is too small to ship on its own.

subset: commoncrawl


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Confident Frazier off to sizzling start at the plate
ST. LOUIS -- With his role secure and always brimming with self-assurance, third baseman Todd Frazier has gotten off to an extremely hot start for the Reds.
Frazier entered Monday batting .480 (12-for-25) over his first six games with a team-leading three home runs and nine RBIs. He was 10-for-16 (.625) over the last four games.
"I just want to drive the ball and keep doing what I did last year and keep producing for this team," Frazier said. "It goes to show you, when we get good pitching going, our hitting will come through."
Frazier, who excelled last season replacing both Joey Votto and Scott Rolen at the corner infield spots, was told the job at third base was his after Rolen was not re-signed.
After a slow start to Spring Training, Frazier found his swing in the second half of camp. Unlike last year, he didn't have to worry about making the team and could just prepare for the regular season.
"I'm very happy with what's going on with my swing," Frazier said. "I think I'm right where I need to be. I will just keep making slight adjustments to keep being a better hitter and the hitter I need to be. I'm going up there with all the confidence in the world."


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Our Neighbourhoods
We've chosen to establish our homes in some of London's most vibrant locations, excellently placed within walking distance to public transport, making inner city travel a breeze, and nearby to the thriving tech and design companies which are transforming this City.
We understand that travelling a long distance from home can often be disorientating, which is why we plug our guests straight into their environment from the word go. So if, like us, you're an Authenticity seeker; you want to stay for longer, restore the work-life balance by taking time to visit family and friends, or live local, as part of a community, fear not - we've got you covered.
Our Area Guides
- Select Our Area Guides
- Bloomsbury
- Camden
- Spitalfields
- Aldgate East
- Old Street
- Hoxton
- King's Cross
- Shoreditch
- Amenities
Dating back to the days of the Domesday Book, Bloomsbury is undoubtedly one of London's most iconic neighbourhoods; synonymous with culture, education, medicine and the arts. Once home to the City's favourable intelligentsia (Charles Dickens, Darwin and Virginia Woolf amongst many others), today Bloomsbury is flooded with an abundance of cultural institutions; The British Museum, UCL, RADA and the University of London to name just a few… Despite its central location, Bloomsbury is home to some of the most beautiful parks and green spaces in all of London; making it the perfect location for those of you seeking a home from home, away from the madding crowd, who believe weekends are for soaking up every bit of culture this wonderful City has to offer.View Our Apartments
Notorious for it's Punk and subcultural roots, Camden is undoubtedly one of the most iconic and unique neighbourhoods in all of London. Home to the world famous eponymous market, if you can think of it, you can be sure to find it here in Camden Town. With a thriving music scene at night and an affordable foodie scene to rival anything you'll find in the City, this part of town is suited for families and professionals alike.View Our Apartments
Spitalfields is packed with trendy bars, eateries and shops, and only five minutes' stroll from bustling Liverpool Street Station. A charming and historic locale, the area of Spitalfields is home to a number of famous markets; Old Spitalfields, Brick Lane, Petticoat Lane and Cheshire Street to name just a few... Whilst we're sure you'll never have a dull moment in this part of town, hop on the London Underground, and you can be in the heart of the city in around 15 minutes.View Our Apartments
Aldgate East
The eastern gateway to the City of London, steeped in history but now a global destination, Aldgate is where the financial hub of London meets its cultural heart...Retaining much of its original creative, gritty and urban edge, but located in the heart of central London, Aldgate and the surrounding areas of Whitechapel and Shoreditch are some of the most dynamic communities in east London.View Our Apartments
Old Street
Dating back to the thirteenth century, Old Street is an area of London undoubtedly steeped in history. Over the years, Old Street and surrounding neighbourhoods became home to an abundance of influential writers, poets, artists and designers – inspired by the bohemian and culturally rich surroundings. Today, the area has become saturated by new and established tech firms, earning the name 'Silicone Roundabout' as a nod to California's Silicone Valley. Over three hundred technological firms proudly call the area home, with an international reputation as the heart of innovation and progress. With an abundance of trendy bars and new restaurants opening doors every week, this area of London is constantly evolving – making it an altogether exciting and inspiring place to be.View Our Apartments
Twenty years ago, this was rough-and-ready Hackney heartland, then London's artists moved in and now it is the trendiest place in the capital, a Mecca for facial hair, ironic haircuts, edgy art galleries and hip bars that play music that will only become fashionable in about six months' time. Hoxton Square and Jay Jopling's White Cube gallery are where it all started and remain the heart of the area, while on a Friday night, the bars and clubs of Old Street are a strange place where the pinstripes and ties of the City mingle with the extravagant fashions of the avant-garde.View Our Apartments
King's Cross
Once the epicentre of the punk movement in the 80s and its adjacent notoriety, Kings Cross has undergone a cultural facelift over the years and has since earned a reputation as a contemporary technological and cultural hub. Home to the likes of Google and The Guardian, with its two major stations connecting the UK with mainland Europe, King's Cross is a quickly expanding area, bustling with local creatives and thrill seekers alike.View Our Apartments
An area of London built on creativity since the very start, Shoreditch was once home to 'The Theatre', the first theatre to be erected in the city. Soon after came the famous 'Curtain Theatre', where Shakespeare premiered many of his most influential productions including Romeo and Juliet. During the 17th Century, Shoreditch became home to a huge influx of Huguenot weavers, craftsmen and merchants, who no doubt had a lasting influence on the modern day functioning of the town, which has become a thriving hub for creative folk, including artists, designers and tech professionals. Thoroughly modern, though still retaining its original charm, Shoreditch is bursting with culture - from the diverse range of bars and eateries to the mass of boutique and vintage shops. A stone's throw from the city, yet a microcosm unto its own, business and leisure travel has never been so easy.View Our Apartments


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Yesterday I was perusing the internets and came across this rather interesting and unbelievable post at The Spectacle blog at The American Spectator website.
I mean the title of the post, "Do Juice Boxes Make You Gay?" made me laugh.
At first.
But once you read the post, the writer Matthew Walther, links to one of the most loathsome people on God's Green Earth.
That would be Alex Jones.
The kindest thing that I can say about Mr. Jones is that he is a conspiracy theorist who has a radio show, a couple of web sites and a disturbingly large following.
And the worst I can say about Mr. Jones? I refer you to the above.
Normally I would never link to the Crazy Man, but it is important to read what he has to say and what he links to on his web sites.
So, The Puffington Post found this little gem from Mr. Jones:
It is absolutely a rant that is way all over the place. Kind of like taking a dump. Yeah, it can get all over the place.
So, I linked the AmSpec link on my Facebook page and commented thus:
"Well, I suppose that this is as good as any reason why people turn gay. Juice boxes?! Really people, if you EVEN listen to this Alex Jones nut, there is something just as wrong with you!"
A Lib Facebook friend then added his two cents:
"Mark....do you believe people "turn" gay...like its the sexual "dark side"?"
One bad thing about Facebook is that sometimes the thoughts on a subject I link don't come out the way I wanted it to.
I meant that what Mr. Jones was saying is that he knows that there is a government conspiracy about turning our youts gay.
If you watch Mr. Jones' rant, he offers no actual evidence except to say that he has documentation to prove it.
So understand what Mr. Jones is saying.
That he knows juice-box makers and the companies that produce the drinks are conspiring together to put some magic potion in said product and it will turn kids, youts and I presume adults into raging homosexuals.
That is crap and leads to crap science.
Look, I am no more an expert or anything on the subject of homosexuality. Are people actually born gay? Again, why not. There has always been and always will be homosexuality. Do people think that they may be gay and or lesbian? Again, of course. People do what is called experimenting. Are come people gay and or lesbian due to a situation or something else in their life? Again, why not? It could very be that victims of sexual abuse as children at the hands of someone of the same sex may have a lasting effect on people.
I do not know and science has not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that everyone who comes to terms with their sexuality is born that way. Until then, one must recognize that there are other possibilities.
Oh, I forgot that there is bisexuality. That may fall under the experimenting mentioned above.
Both sides in the never ending homosexuality debate throw out "science" to prove their point. Pro-gay people will try to use some science to prove that there are many more homosexuals out there than the oft-quoted 10%. Of course, no one knows now where that number came from.
On the other side anti-homosexual activists will produce some "science" to justify their position that homosexuality is a condition and maybe curable.
Folks, nothing tops a crazy man like Alex Jones on a platform suggesting that there is a conspiracy to turn people homosexual by way of juice-in-a-box.
Imagine a couple of say typical, not too swift, high school guys who may come across this dreck on the internets:
"Hey dude! Check this out! This Alex Jones dude says that we could turn homo if we drink this juice-in-a-box!"
"WHOA!" screams the other kid, "Sheet! I ain't drinking this crap! I mean, I don't wanna be homo or anything like that! Maybe we should just get some suds from your mom's fridge."
And first dude says, "Yeah, dude, I'd rather get high smoking out and drinking beer. At least I won't turn homo!"
Think of these youts as kind of from Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure.
So, the point is that when people like Alex Jones have such a following, it behooves them to be a little more than discreet when discussing certain conspiracy theories.
I linked this to my Facebook page because I think that yes, Alex Jones is a huge boil on the underbelly of modern political thought. Or lack thereof.
It is why I think that it is way out there, no matter what anyone believes about how or why of homosexuality, this can not go without comment.
And that is what I did. I believe that one must have some evidence before saying such things. Provable evidence. Just like the 10% plus crowd needs provable evidence. Just as the we can cure homosexuality crowd needs provable evidence. And just as important is that people need to read the whole link before commenting without knowing.
Yeah, I guess this is just one of the dangers of the internets, right?!


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Petition of the day
Today"™s first petition of the day is:
NIBCO, Inc. v. Rivera
Docket: 10-383
Issue(s): (1) Whether a court of appeals must conduct a comparative juror analysis when reviewing a claim under Batson v. Kentucky, even though the comparative analysis was neither raised before nor considered by the trial court below; and (2) whether a court of appeals that identifies a suspected Batson problem based on a comparative juror analysis never considered by the trial court can vitiate a trial without remanding to allow the trial court to consider the new arguments and evidence in the first instance.
Certiorari stage documents:
Today's second petition of the day is:
United States v. Jicarilla Apache Nation (Granted )
Docket: 10-382
Issue(s): Whether the attorney-client privilege entitles the United States to withhold from an Indian tribe confidential communications between the government and government attorneys implicating the administration of statutes pertaining to property held in trust for the tribe.
Certiorari stage documents:
Today's third petition of the day is:
Dunn v. Louisiana
Docket: 10-386
Issue(s): Whether a court's modification of the three-step Batson v. Kentucky analysis, requiring the defense to prove that its strikes were not motivated by race, while simultaneously requiring it to prove that the state's strikes were motivated by race, violates the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments.


text:
Want to be Peter Parker's next Broadway leading lady? With Rachel Evan Wood out of Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, here's your chance to hit the Tony Award jackpot. Auditions are next Saturday in New York.
Julie Taymor and Bono's $50 million musical needs a new Mary Jane. On April 3 from 10 AM to 6 PM, auditions will be conducted at Telsey + Company, 315 W. 43rd St., 10th floor in Manhattan. Casting directors are looking for a "Female, 16–20s. Beautiful girl next door. Strong singing voice." Would-be Mary Janes should prepare a rock number, not a traditional musical toe-tapper.
If you think you have the chops to be Spidey's next damsel in distress, you'll face some stiff competition, quite possibly from your correspondent, who is debating pulling a reverse Victor Victoria, purchasing a production-grade Joan Holloway wig, and bedazzling producers with a tear-duct-destroying cover of Cinderella's "Nobody's Fool."
[via Backstage]


text:
Tax Map Search:
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Rev. date: 09/19/2012
Form W-4 – Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate
Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate
Withholding Allowances
Tax Topic 753
General Information
When you hire an employee, you must have the employee complete a
Form W-4
Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate
. Form W-4 tells you, as an employer, the marital status, the number of withholding allowances, and any additional amount to use when you deduct federal income tax from the employee's pay. If an employee fails to give you a properly completed Form W-4, you must withhold federal income taxes from his or her wages as if he or she were single and claiming no withholding allowances.
An employee may want to change the number of withholding allowances or his or her withholding rate (marital status) on Form W-4 for any number of reasons, such as a marriage, a change in the number of dependents, or a change in the amount of itemized deductions or tax credits anticipated for the tax year. If you receive a revised Form W-4 from an employee, you must put it into effect no later than the start of the first payroll period ending on or after the 30th day from the date you received the revised Form W-4. An exception is made when you receive a notice (commonly referred to as a "lock-in-letter") from the IRS specifying the withholding rate (marital status) and maximum number of withholding allowances permitted for the employee. You must then honor the lock-in letter. See the Lock-in Letters section below for further information. Also, see below the discussions on
Exemption from Withholding
Invalid Form W-4
Form W-4 includes detailed worksheets to help the employee figure his or her correct number of withholding allowances. Employees may also want to access the
IRS Withholding Calculator
on the IRS website for help in completing Form W-4. Nonresident aliens must follow special instructions when completing a Form W-4. Tell any nonresident alien employees to see Notice 1392 and the
Instructions 8233
before completing a Form W-4.
An employer can download and print a Form W-4 from the IRS website at
or order multiple Forms W-4 online at
, select
Online Ordering for Information Returns and Employer Returns
. Employers may also order Forms W-4 by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). TTY/TDD users may call 800-829-4059 to order Forms W-4. A substitute Form W-4, developed by the employer, may be used instead of the official Form W-4, if the employer also provides the tables, instructions, and worksheets contained in the Form W-4 in effect at that time. Employers may not accept a substitute form developed by an employee and the employee submitting such form will be treated as failing to furnish a Form W-4.
You may establish a system to electronically receive Forms W-4 from your employees. An employer should make a paper option reasonably available upon request to any employee who has a serious objection to using the electronic system or whose access to, or ability to use, the system may be limited (for example, as a result of a disability). See Regulations section 31.3402(f)(5)-1(c) for more information.
You can provide
Form W-4 (SP)
Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate (Spanish version)
, in place of Form W-4 to your Spanish-speaking employees.
You should inform your employees of the importance of submitting an accurate Form W-4. An employee may be subject to a $500 penalty if he or she submits, with no reasonable basis, a Form W-4 that results in less tax being withheld than is required. Refer to Chapter 4 of
Publication 17
Your Federal Income Tax for Individuals
For additional information, refer to
Publication 15
(Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide
Publication 505
Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax
, and the
Withholding Compliance Questions & Answers
on the IRS website. For the procedures for withholding income taxes on the wages of nonresident alien employees, refer to
Notice 2005-76
Aliens Employed in the U.S.
on the IRS website.
Exemption from Withholding
If an employee qualifies, Form W-4 is also used by the employee to tell you not to deduct any federal income tax from his or her wages. To qualify for this exempt status, the employee must have had no tax liability for the previous year and must expect to have no tax liability for the current year. However, if the employee can be claimed as a dependent on a parent's or another person's tax return, additional limitations may apply. See the instructions for
Form W-4
. A Form W-4 claiming exemption from withholding is valid for only one calendar year. To continue to be exempt from withholding in the next year, an employee must give you a new Form W-4 claiming exempt status by February 15 of that year. If the employee does not give you a new Form W-4, withhold tax as if he or she is single, with no withholding allowances. However, if you have an earlier Form W-4 (not claiming exempt status) for this employee that is valid, withhold as you did before.
Invalid Form W-4
Any unauthorized change or addition to Form W-4 makes it invalid. This includes taking out any language by which the employee certifies that the form is correct, material defacing of the form, or any writing on the form other than the entries requested. A Form W-4 is also invalid if, by the date an employee gives it to you, he or she indicates in any way that it is false. When you get an invalid Form W-4, do not use it to determine federal income tax withholding. Tell the employee that it is invalid and ask for another one. If the employee does not give you a valid one, withhold taxes as if the employee is single and claiming no withholding allowances. However, if you have an earlier Form W-4 for this employee that is valid, withhold as you did before.
Record Keeping Requirements
After the employee completes and signs the Form W-4, you must keep it in your records for at least 4 years (See
Publication 15
(Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide)
. This form serves as verification that you are withholding federal income tax according to the employee's instructions and needs to be available for inspection should the IRS ever request it. Form W-4 is still subject to review. Employers may be directed (in a written notice or in future published guidance) to send certain Forms W-4 to the IRS. The employer must be able to supply a hardcopy of an electronic Form W-4.
Lock-in Letters
The IRS uses information reported on
Forms W-2,
Wage and Tax Statement
, to identify employees with withholding compliance problems. In some cases, where a serious under-withholding problem is found to exist for a particular employee, the IRS may issue a notice (commonly referred to as a "lock-in-letter") to you specifying the withholding rate (marital status) and maximum number of withholding allowances permitted for a specific employee for purposes of calculating the required withholding. The IRS will provide the employee with an opportunity to dispute the determination before you adjust withholding based on the lock-in letter.
The IRS will send a letter to the employee explaining that the IRS will require you to start withholding additional income tax unless the employee contacts the IRS to explain why the employee should not have withholding increased. A toll-free number and address for the unit handling this program will be provided in the letter. As an additional safeguard, you will also receive a notice to provide to the employee.
After the lock-in letter takes effect, you must disregard any Form W-4 that results in less tax withheld, until the IRS notifies you otherwise. However, you must honor any Form W-4 that results in more income tax withheld than at the withholding rate (marital status) and withholding allowances specified in the lock-in letter. Employers who use electronic Form W-4 systems must make sure the employee can not override the lock-in letter to decrease withholding via an electronic Form W-4 system. Lock-in letter provisions also apply to employees rehired within 12 months from the date of the notice.
After the lock-in letter takes effect, if the employee wants to claim complete exemption from withholding or claim a withholding rate, withholding allowances, and an additional amount that results in less income tax withheld than the lock-in letter, the employee must contact the IRS. A toll-free number and address for the unit handling this program will be provided in the lock-in letter.
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Nerello Mascalese: Please Do Not Tell Anyone About This Wine
There are 1,368 varieties covered in Master of Wine Jancis Robinson's Wine Grapes. Bet you can't try them all.
Note from the author: There are 1,368 varieties covered in Wine Grapes by MW Jancis Robinson, MW Julia Harding, and Dr. Jose Vouillamoz. Bet you can't try them all.
Frankly, I'd rather not tell you about this wine. I actually don't want you—or anyone—to know about it because I am fearful that then the prices will inevitably go up and the availability will go down, and I'll be left (poor) with wicked withdrawal symptoms and resentment. Please don't pass this article along or tell anyone that I told you.
The sheer greatness of the 2003 Calabretta Etna Rosso took me by total surprise. I'd had it in my little under-the-sink cellar for a few months, a present from a generous friend. Pulling it out from under the pipes, I casually noticed the vintage and wondered if it would still be any good. I figured it was Italian and ought to be a fine match for the farro risotto I was making. Very thirsty but distracted by my green-garlic-chopping and mushroom-cleaning, I popped the cork, poured out a glass and took my first sip absentmindedly.
It caught me utterly unawares; I may have dropped the mushrooms on the floor, and before I knew just what had happened, the wine had captured 200% of my attention, the same way my first bottle of great red Burgundy had when I first got hooked. It sent me into a greedy, anxious craze: Was anyone nearby? I must fend them off. I must protect this bottle. I must have ALL of it. For myself. Only.
The wine is made from a blend of local Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio grapes, the former "indigenous to the Etna region of north-east Sicilia" and the latter "typical of the Etna region" according to my Wine Grapes reference. Authors Jancis, Julia, and José mention that a local grower says Cabernet is to Merlot as Nerello Mascalese is to Nerello Cappuccio, implying that Cappuccio is a bit plumper and softer while Mascalese rocks the guts and tannins to keep a wine upright.
I can sense both grapes' presence in the wine, which has a fierce grip on the entry and exit but a sort of caressing mid-palate, like a chic satin robe you never want to take off. Of Nerello Mascalese, Wine Grapes notes, "Its ability to communicate terroir is especially prized by the swelling ranks of Etna producers." Since I'm already giving in and talking to you about the wine, I may as well note that this terroir is another one of the wine's ultra-fascinating aspects: the region is named for Mount Etna, the live, very active volcano just up the street that spews magma quite regularly and has contributed its unique black volcanic soil to the vineyards where these grapes are grown.
This wine is less about glossy red fruit and more about smoke, rust, tar and dried rose petals at first (The wine is also 10 years old! And that's a standard release practice for this estate!), but as it opens up in my glass (and my second and third ones), it's like the dust has been brushed off a jewel box of still-shiny treasures, and there are gorgeous, still youthful glints of cherry liqueur and raspberry jam casting light and energy every which way.
I love how it keeps changing, keeps me guessing and compelled and wanting more with every sip, pinning itself right onto my heart. I discover online that the bottle is just $25. (This is a much more affordable habit than my Burgundy one!) Oh, and with the farro risotto? Unbelievable. I couldn't ask for better... but just never you mind. Please stop reading now, and please do not go out looking for this wine.
2003 Calabretta Etna Rosso
The Grape(s): Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio
The Region: Sicily, Italy
Retail Price: $25
About the Author: Stevie Stacionis is a wine writer and Certified Sommelier based in San Francisco. She's currently drinking her way through the 1,368 varieties included in the new Wine Grapes tome. Follow her on Twitter @StevieStacionis and check out her snobbery-free wine videos at A Drinks With Friends TV.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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This isn't exactly open source hardware. But Blender is open source…and robots are hardware…and it's Saturday.
This is the fourth from the Blender Foundation. The movies are intended to push Blender's open technology forwards.
For the entire creation pipeline in the studio, we will only use free/open source software. For 3D graphics, compositing and video editing we'll obviously use Blender. The new 'Cycles' render engine will be used, which includes open source projects like OpenShading, OpenColor and OpenImage. For camera and motion tracking Blender uses Libmv. For imaging and drawing we expect to use GIMP, MyPaint, Krita and Inkscape a lot. Render output and footage will be using the OpenEXR format. Scripting will be done in Python. Studio database storage will most likely be in SVN. The workstations in the studio will be equipped with 64 bits Ubuntu Linux. We have our own render farm this time, running on Debian and Ubuntu.Since we'll work with external providers for music, sfx and mix, we can only recommend them to include free software in their pipeline, but won't put stringent demands here.Obviously we're very interested to be in contact with free/open source projects of any kind, to check on what we can do together.


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- Deutschland
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Conquer the world of women's colorful long socks
and fall in love with our crazy collection.
Crazy knee-high socks are not only a men's thing! Women that love following the trends and dare to dress differently have to try long socks, they'll fall for them inevitably. After trying funky knee-high socks such as these all women will immediately understand what long-socks lovers meant: double the comfort, double the warmth and double the craziness! Either you want more than one pair to add to your socks collection, you want to match styles with your friends or you want someone else to try them too, remember that all our men's and women's knee-high socks can be added to our 4 or 10 sock packs! And even if you end up enjoying your knee-highs, but you still miss your mid-calf ones, don't forget that you are always welcome to visit our colorful mid-calf socks collection for women. Get your feet ready, this is only the beginning of your crush on cool knee-high socks!
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For years, the Mortal Kombat series has captivated fans with its brutal gameplay, memorable cast, and over-the-top gore. A favorite among retro gamers, the fighting franchise has carved a legacy in the genre by distancing itself from its cartoony peers and providing darker undertones and intense violence. For some time, the series was headed in a more contemporary direction, offering 3D fighting gameplay and even mixing in with the DC Universe. Mortal Kombat, the ninth entry in the series, returns to form in an experience that's nostalgic but completely accessible to today's crowd.
When the Mortal Kombat series ventured into the 3D fighting realm, a major part of what made the games so fun during their early years was lost. Granted, the games were still good, but they didn't provide that old school thrill that many fans expected. Mortal Kombat amends that by returning to its 2D roots and offering intuitive controls and brawling gameplay.
Characters have set number of moves at their disposal. Kicks and punches make up basic strikes, but as with every reputable fighting game, it's the combination that lands serious damage. By punching in succession with the face buttons and D-pad (or analog stick), players can pull off devastating attacks. Combos, for the most part, are somewhat similar between characters. That's not to say every character plays the same–each fighter has a distinct style and move list–but people who enjoy swapping between characters shouldn't have a hard time adjusting.
It's this accessibility and intuitive design that makes Mortal Kombat such a joyous game to play. No move in the game is too tricky to learn, and if you take the time to check out the button sequences, you'll learn them with brief in-game practice. It won't be long until you compile a mental list of your favorite moves.
While knowing how to execute moves might not be a confusing task, each attack still manages to translate onto the screen in a profound manner. Punches and kicks knock enemies back, combos deliver the hurt in a big way, grapples trip up your foes, and specials toss the other fighters around without mercy. Fatalities make a comeback, and these are just as violent as ever. Once you hear "Finish him!" after wiping the floor with your opponent for two rounds, that's your cue to get in position and tap a quick button combination. Doing so unleashes extremely brutal finishers that make your opponent look like a sap. Fatalities range from cutting enemies lengthwise to slicing their decapitated head in half. There are even hidden fatalities, and these add to the gruesome nature of the game even more.
If you think that sounds harsh, wait until you see how everything looks. Kicks and uppercuts cause blood to gush out of opponents' mouths, slices and stabs decorate enemies with cuts and bruises, and the all new X-ray moves add more beautifully nasty effects to an already violent game. X-ray moves are earned by filling your super meter, which consists of three sections: attacking, blocking, and getting beaten down. Once all three components of the meter are filled, you can perform an X-ray move. If done successfully, these attacks put the game in slow motion and zoom in on your opponents. Headbutt them and you'll see their skulls cracking. Step on their chest and you'll witness their ribcage breaking. Stab them in the leg and you'll be satisfied to see their muscles torn and their bones restructured. It's visceral; it's insane. It's a sight to behold.
Mortal Kombat's great look is backed by stellar sound effects. Strikes and special moves sound about as painful as they look, and X-ray attacks are cringe-worthy. Bones crack as you penetrate your opponents' flesh with blades, and a nice squishy noise occurs during fatalities as your character jams his hand into the other character's chest and plays handball with his heart. Additionally, characters literally sound like they're in pain when they receive punishment. Unfortunately, character moans, groans, and catchphrases get a bit repetitive after a while, but given the hectic nature of Mortal Kombat, that's to be expected.
Where the voice work doesn't get repetitive, though, is Story Mode. Mortal Kombat comes packed with a narrative-driven adventure that's sure to please past fans of the series. The game revisits the events of the first three games and tells a great story by pasting together fights and cutscenes. These cinematics look and sound great, and they're full of dialogue that's witty, clever, humorous, and yes, cheesy. The story is well-written and well-composed, spanning several hours to deliver what is easily the best story mode ever created for a fighting game.
Even after you complete the single-player Story Mode, there is tons to do in Mortal Kombat. The arcade-style Ladder Mode pits you against a series of fighters in a test to become the ultimate Mortal Kombat champion. You can also take on Tag Ladder and rise to the top with a two-character team. Tag battles work well and offer a nice spin on the traditional Mortal Kombat formula. There are also challenges to complete, Training Mode to teach you the ropes, and multiplayer for up to four players. You can play one-on-one against friends online or offline, or you can partner with a buddy to fight another team. Mortal Kombat has so much content and so much to unlock that you're bound to spend countless hours playing, whether you're fighting against a real person or the computer.
To call Mortal Kombat a fitting reboot for the series would be an understatement. The game, while offering plenty of nostalgia, is a major step up for the series. It's a fighting experience that's no-nonsense–thrilling, addictive, and pleasing for gamers new and old. This fighter is easy to get into, and mastering attacks and techniques is both fun and rewarding. Even if you don't play many fighting games, Mortal Kombat is an easy recommendation. It is arguably not only the best game in the series, but also one of the best fighting games available.
[Reviewed on PlayStation 3]


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EMBO announces the launch of EMBO Press
Heidelberg, 29 October 2013 – EMBO today announced that it will launch EMBO Press on December 15. EMBO Press is a new publishing platform for The EMBO Journal, EMBO reports, Molecular Systems Biology and EMBO Molecular Medicine that provides opportunities for the future development of the journals.Runners Alliance
EMBO Press will strengthen the policies of the EMBO journals to encourage transparency in the publication process and help researchers make better use of scientific data. In addition, The EMBO Journal, EMBO reports, Molecular Systems Biology and EMBO Molecular Medicine are being redesigned to maximize online functionality and access.
The announcement coincides with an expanded publishing agreement with Wiley and a new partnership with HighWire Press of Stanford University that come into immediate effect.
Wiley has published EMBO Molecular Medicine since 2009. As one of the world's leading publishers of academic content, it will provide invaluable support for editorial production and international marketing of the four EMBO scientific journals.
HighWire Press is at the forefront of digital scholarly publishing. Many leading journals in the life sciences rely on its community-based strengths and its track record for technological support and innovation, including access to third party developers.
"We welcome our publishing partners to support EMBO Press and appreciate the strengths they will bring for the key global markets of our journals, including the United States and Asia Pacific," said Bernd Pulverer, Head of Scientific Publications at EMBO. "Our individual journals already have strong recognition for quality in the scientific community established over 30 years since the launch of The EMBO Journal and our mandate is to serve the scientific community. EMBO Press will allow us to provide the independence we need to ensure that the EMBO Press portfolio of journals stay at the forefront of technological advances and delivers the best possible service to the research community. In particular, it will allow EMBO to continue our commitment to the principles of transparent, fast and fair publication in the life sciences while maintaining our reputation for selectivity and quality."
EMBO Press will include enhanced options for publishing source data, and rendering the data presented in figures more usable and discoverable. Researchers will be able to customize and optimize their reader experience. Restructuring the way papers are presented will obviate the need for a separate supplementary information section.
"Many exciting developments lie ahead in publishing and we want to have a platform that supports technological responsiveness and high-level support," added Pulverer. "Access to the Drupal tools integrated into the HighWire Press Open Platform creates new possibilities for innovation in areas like data presentation, semantic interlinking, article level metrics and mobile web interfaces. There will be many exciting technological developments in the future and we want our authors and readers to be in a position to benefit."
"After many years of fruitful collaboration with Nature Publishing Group, we have decided to collaborate with Wiley and HighWire to implement the EMBO Press platform. EMBO Press gives us the freedom and flexibility we need to realize our future plans for the journals," commented Maria Leptin, Director of EMBO. "All the financial benefits from our publishing activities will continue to support the activities of EMBO and the scientific community."
For more information see www.embo.org/embo-press
Tilmann Kießling
Head, Communications


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One of my favourite celebration besides Christmas is HALLOWEEN!Yes.... I get to play dress up & do a little bit of friendly scare. To welcome the HALLOWEEN I'm posting some of my HALLOWEEN LOOKS. This year is gonna be special cause I'm looking forward to attend a REAL HALLOWEEN EVENT and PARTY with my Blogger Friends (courtesy of Allianz)
Guess Who or What am I dressing up to be?
Playing dress up as the DEVIL! Am I scary or what! A decent looking DEVIL.
Here's my other look. Macam wanna kill somebody....Now that's what I call scary.
Picture & Props taken at One Utama Shopping Centre
GIVE ME BLOOD! Asking for blood donation instead of sucking them dry.
I name this picture: Damsel in Distress
This is my favourite shot! I was trying to scare my colleague & told her to put up a scared face but instead she gave me a "GELI LOOK". *Pengsan.
Kena Tumbuk
Kena Stranggled
Kena "Killed" by a Cross made out of two ice-cream sticks.
Kena Tendang
End of the day my mission was to bring some fun to the office.
I was the only one wearing a costume running around & taking pictures with all my colleagues. We had so much fun.
So folks, HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Look out for more post from me from the actual HALLOWEEN DAY! Have fun shopping for the right props, guys!
Props sold at One Utama
Past year's deco at Tropicanna City Mall
HAPPY HALLOWEEN to all! Enjoy playing dress up!


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The more I thought about that, I realized there are two sides to asking permission in ways that don't benefit women speakers: One is asking for permission when you don't need to do so. The other is waiting to be asked, as if you needed someone to grant permission.
Asking permission when you don't need to do so can take many forms. It's that upward inflection many women make at the ends of sentences--the tonal change that makes it sound as if you're asking a question, even when you're making a statement. That has always sounded hesitant and permission-seeking to my ear, as if the speaker isn't sure she has the right to say the words coming out of her mouth.
The ask for permission can be straightforward, too: "Are you ready for me to start?" "Do you want me to stop and take questions now?" "May I say something?" "Can we take a five-minute break?" "Do you mind if I speak next?" It's polite and correct, but you may as well make that inflection. It suggests you don't know whether you have standing to speak and do. As this post suggests, it's one way to make sure you never, ever get anything done. Someone--usually someone who isn't waiting for permission--will be happy to talk you out of it. And that makes me wonder: Are you asking permission because you want someone to talk you out of it?
Waiting-to-be-asked is more passive. It happens when we hesitate to speak, to interject or interrupt, or to suggest ourselves as speakers or leaders: We're waiting to be asked, or feel that, without having been asked, we need to do the asking to get permission first. When no one asks, you feel even worse, of course, but haven't done anything positive to help yourself. Trust me, others are not waiting to be asked--and are getting those hearings, speaking gigs, and raises. Check out this post, Successful women don't wait to be asked, that I found through reader Bobbi Newman.
What can you do on a practical level to put this permission audit and some corrections into play? Here are a few ideas, and I welcome yours in the comments:
- Think about why you're asking permission or waiting to be asked: Is it a confidence issue, a need for reassurance, feeling as if you lack authority? Do you want someone to talk you out of it, so you're not responsible? All those things may be real, but you don't need to undercut yourself with your words to fix them. Get good at preparing to speak, and remember: Your audience, whether it's a small meeting or a big crowd, usually can't tell you're nervous or lacking in authority unless you give that away with your words or manner.
- Turn those non-questions back into real statements: If your voice rises at the ends of statements and you don't mean to sound like you're asking permission, stop that self-sabotage. Instead, reframe your sentences to make them more declarative. Think about where to emphasize words other than at the sentence's end, and with something other than an upward inflection. (Consider the difference between a higher inflection here--"I'm ready to tell you about the new data?"--and here--"I'm ready to tell you about the new data." You'll automatically sound more energized and confident, and you'll confuse your listener less. If need be, record yourself during a presentation, then listen to the audio, noting which sentences sound like questions. Rewrite them and practice for the next time.
- Make a mid-sentence course correction: Next time you find yourself asking permission or sounding as if you are, stop yourself. Pause. Correct yourself, mid-sentence if need be: "Are you ready for me--I see we're ready. Let's begin." Over time, practice until you no longer need to stop yourself, mid-ask.
- Plan some strong, declarative ways to break into conversations, start meetings or otherwise avoid asking permission: Replace "May I say something?" with "Here's what I think" or "I have a different perspective." Change "Do you want me to take questions now?" or "Do we have time for questions?" into "Let's take some questions," and let the organizer cut you off when needed. Remake "Can we take a five-minute break?" with "Excuse me" and leaving the room.
- Figure out whether you're waiting to be asked, and act in the opposite way: If you find yourself looking at a conference notice and thinking, "I'd love to speak there," or leaving a meeting wishing your good idea had been featured, ask yourself whether you're waiting to be asked. Then pick up the phone or send an email asking the organizer how you can get on the program, and indicating your interest. You'll never know until you try.
- Enlist a friendly listener: Get a colleague or trusted friend to listen for those times when you ask permission but don't need to, and get her feedback privately. You'll learn a lot, and you'll be helping to remind her to avoid this habit herself.
Related posts: Jump in, don't apologize: Tina Fey on using improv skills to speak up
Use the Evernote clip button, above, to save this post in an Evernote notebook. Go here to subscribe to Step Up Your Speaking, my free email newsletter that looks at a different speaking topic in depth each month...then become a fan of The Eloquent Woman on Facebook and join the conversation with thousands of other women (and men) about public speaking skills and confidence.


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PTFE seals
Radial shaft seals with one or more PTFE sealing lip(s) are designed to withstand aggressive environments, high temperatures, high pressures and dry running that traditional radial shaft seals made of elastomeric sealing lip materials cannot withstand. Many of the PTFE compounds are FDA approved. Main advantages of PTFE seals include:
- High chemical resistance
- Withstand speeds up to 30 m/s (5 900 ft/min)
- Wide operating temperature range, –70 to +250 °C (–95 to +480 °F)
- Withstand pressures up to 3,5 MPa (500 psi)
- Withstand dry running
The profiles shown are a selection of the most commonly used SKF seal designs with sealing lips made of PTFE. They can be installed in existing housing grooves where traditional radial seals are used, provided that the grooves are manufactured in accordance with international standards.
There are two main executions of PTFE seals: those with a metal case SL (fig 1), SLX (fig 2), SLS (fig 3), SLA (fig 4), DL (fig 5) and DLA (fig 6) and those without a metal case (YSLE (fig 7), YNSLE (fig 8) and YSL (fig 9). The metal case can be made of steel, aluminium or any of the stainless steel materials SS 304, SS 316 and SS 316 TI. The PTFE material should be selected based on the needs of the application.
PTFE seals without a metal case can be designed with an O-ring in the outside diameter groove to provide static sealing ability. Both the PTFE and O-ring material can be selected to meet the demands of different operating conditions, e.g. in the food industry to enable disassembly of the equipment for cleaning.
PTFE materials
The selection of seal materials typically requires a compromise between advantages and disadvantages. There are hundreds of different PTFE materials with a variety of fillers. Common fillers include glass fibre, carbon, graphite, molybdenum disulphide, metal oxides and various polymers. Each possesses different properties, appropriate for different applications and service conditions. Common to all filled PTFE materials are their improved resistance to wear and deformation.
Unfilled PTFE provides, in most cases, a lower coefficient of friction than a filled PTFE material and the lowest degree of wear of the seal counterface. However, a sealing lip made of an unfilled PTFE material has limited resistance to wear and deformation under load.
Selecting the appropriate material for the metal case and the O-ring(s) is also of significant importance to achieving satisfactory sealing performance. Contact SKF for additional information.
Special care must be taken during handling and installation of PTFE seals. For detailed information, refer to the section PTFE seals.
Size range and availability
The majority of PTFE radial shaft seals from SKF are made to order to meet the demands of each application. There are, however, certain standard sizes within the ranges of approximately 6 to 200 mm (0.250 to 8 in.) shaft diameter and approximately 16 to 230 mm (0.630 to 9 in.) bore diameter. Contact SKF for detailed information regarding designs and sizes.


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Robert Baird
September 29, 2006 (916) 319-1249
Assemblymember Bermúdez' Rail Safety Bill Signed Into Law by the Governor
Assembly Bill 158 authorizes a rail safety study.
SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assembly Bill 158, by Assemblymember Rudy Bermúdez, was signed into law by the Governor. The Rail Safety Taskforce Bill establishes a taskforce to investigate and solve rail safety issues.
"Today California reaffirms its commitment to rail safety. This bill will give us the tools to prevent railroad accidents and disasters," said Bermúdez.
Currently, the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is the regulatory body responsible for assisting the Federal Railroad Commission in monitoring the operations of the state's railroads and its compliance with federal safety regulations. The PUC is required to annually report to the legislature railroad sites it finds to be hazardous.
"We need another set of eyes to review the safety of our railroads. The Taskforce will be composed of people with many different backgrounds in rail safety. These different perspectives will help the taskforce formulate a comprehensive rail safety solution," said Bermúdez.
AB 158 would require the Public Utilities Commission to assemble a taskforce to study rail-safety issues. The findings and recommendation of the rail-safety taskforce would be included in the 2008 PUC report on railroad sites found to be hazardous. The taskforce would identify, study, and make recommendations on rail-safety issues including railway vandalism, possible threats of terrorism along railroad lines, land use planning issues, and deficiencies in railroad emergency response.
"There has been a drastic increase in railroad accidents in and around my district, resulting in the loss of property and life. I wrote this bill to ensure that our community never again has to experience this anguish and devastation," Bermúdez said.
AB 158 is one of three bills being carried by Assemblymember Bermúdez this year to improve the safety and efficiency of California's railroads and transportation infrastructure. The other bills are AB 1935, the Rail Safety Enforcement Bill and AB 1785, the Grade Separation Bill.
Assemblymember Bermúdez (www.assembly.ca.gov/bermudez) was elected to the Assembly in November 2002. His district includes portions of Los Angeles and Orange counties, as well as the cities and communities of Artesia, Buena Park, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, Los Nietos, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, South Whittier, Whittier and West Whittier.
Robert Baird
Legislative Aide
Office of Assemblymember Bermudez
State Capitol, Room 5135
(916) 319-2056


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blackmax necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 57 diseños de 21 diseñadores freelance.
Perfect Programming is looking for a new face of their logo. They've had their website redesigned and would like a logo to match.
They are keen to keep the colours of their existing logo and they like the "Escher" effect of the intertwining P's. UPDATED: They are keener on Vista colours than keeping their own green!
Perfect Programming
As you can see from the website, http://www.perfectprogramming.com, my clients are Microsoft Axapta experts and their website has a very Microsoft look to it. We've recently updated the look of their website and now they'd like to update their logo to also reflect that look.
You can view their current logo here.
- Very modern and visually stunning
- Keep "Escher" effect of intertwining P's
- Keep in greens - ok to vary on colours, but client really likes green
- The client really wants to see creativity, they are very open minded, not at all corporate
- Logo must be delivered in vector format, pref. Illustrator with all text converted to curves.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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'I have been so blogged down and just couldn't think about posting. I'm sorry I have been so long. The funny thing is I had put some of these pictures in once and when I came back to write the pictures were all gone.This was the quilt the leader had us doing at the last meeting. Really neat. Then we took so some kits home and the next two are from kits.
This is the next mini for the Pink Pincushion . It is called Endless Summer which is coming soon , we hope. I made this out of Fresh Flowers by Moda .It called for 3 but Sinta said she got it out of two. Well I had to use a few pieces out of my stash but not having much with these bright colors, I went back to buy another charm pack and they were out. This was a popular preint. They had gotten yardage so was able to get the polka dot and then the border fabric. These star blocks are really not easy to construct but once you get it they go easy. Love the bright "Fresh Flowers".
We have had some really nice weather and I actually have been able to rake leaves , clean up the Perennial garden. Have to be careful but when my back starts to hurt I sit down and rest. Just glad to get out in the nice weather. It got up to 70 today so this evening before that nice big sun went down I took a little walk. Not early as far as I have before but it's a start.
Hope that you are all getting ready to enjoy the summer. Thank's for stopping by.


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From its inception, the Bauhaus was internationally oriented; students and teachers travelled from different parts of Europe and Asia to join the school. The rise of the right wing forced the Bauhaus to move from Weimar to Dessau in 1925 and to Berlin in 1932, before the National Socialists seized control and perpetrated their violence through the state apparatus. The school closed in 1933 and, consequently, many students and masters fled Germany to settle in different parts of the world.
bauhaus imaginista provides a rereading of the cosmopolitan conditions of the Bauhaus from a transnational perspective, through a series of histories that have been investigated by the curators and a team of researchers since 2016. The exhibition in Berlin follows on from events in Rabat, Hangzhou, New York, Kyoto and Tokyo, Moscow, São Paulo, Lagos, and New Delhi in 2018. It shows how the Bauhaus, through contact with other schools and modernisms developed, and how its concepts and methods were refracted, adapted, or rejected through contact with local conditions: including Cold War struggles, the Non-Aligned Movement, dictatorships, processes of decolonization and development projects, as well as the burgeoning artistic and popular cultures in the postwar period. The exhibition follows these transmissions of knowledge, through migration as well as the interpretation, appropriation, and imagination of Bauhaus practices, in China, North Korea, India, Morocco, the Soviet Union, Nigeria, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, and Brazil.
bauhaus imaginista takes four different Bauhaus objects as points of departure for thematic and conceptual chapters linked to the school and its reception in diverse geographies. At the Haus der Kulturen der Welt these chapters are presented as four distinct exhibitions situated in different parts of the building:


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The West Florida Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (WFPHRF), serves the Florida West Coast from Crystal River to Marco Island and all of the Tampa Bay area. The primary objective of WFPHRF is to establish and maintain an equitable system of handicapping sail boats for the boats owned or chartered by its members.
WFPHRF does not use measurers. WFPHRF relies on the honesty, sportsmanship, and Corinthian spirit of its membership to ensure that accurate information on a boat's configuration is made available to the Rating Committee for review when determining a boat's Ratings.
WFPHRF rates vessels rather than their skippers or crew. It is assumed that a rated boat will be driven by the owner or his non-professional designee. WPFHRF acknowledges the benefit to the overall competition when professionals are involved in racing and encourages their participation, however the utilization of professional drivers or paid crew for the purpose of trophy hunting violates the Corinthian Spirit and amateur nature of this fleet.
WFPHRF Ratings are performance handicaps, based on the speed potential and performance of a boat. To the greatest extent possible, race results and observations of actual races provide the data used to determine and monitor ratings. Ratings are determined by members who serve voluntarily as Handicappers on the Rating Committee.


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Grace your table with this delicious dessert, enhanced with the flavors of lemon, cinnamon and saffron.
Preparation Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 10 mins
Yield: 4 x pears
Combine honey, saffron and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil.
Peel, quarter and core pears. Cut each quarter in half. Add pears to syrup. Reduce heat. Simmer for 6 to 8 minutes or until tender.
To make ricotta cream, place ricotta, sour cream, honey, cinnamon, and lemon zest in a food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Serve warm or cold poached pears with ricotta cream.
* For sweeter pears, prior to cooking, add more honey to the saffron mix.
Serving suggestion is not included in the nutritional analysis.
Note: This recipe's ingredients have been adjusted from the original Australian measures to the U.S. measures.


text: Seller: vintagesnowflake (1,371) 100%, Location: Kyiv, Ships to: Worldwide, Item: 173451810176 Ancient Pendant Cross Kievan Rus, Byzantine, Viking c 11-13 AD. Cast bronze, beautiful patina. This item is genuine and from the period described. I do not sell replicas, only 100% authentic artifacts. This cross have been found with a metal detector on Ukraine. Length 3.5 cm, Width 2.5 cm, Weight 3.7 g If you are unhappy with your purchase or our services please contact us. We will attempt to correct any problems that you have with your purchase. Just let us know what went wrong or what you were not totally satisfied with, so we can help THANK YOU Items will be packed within 1 day after the auction has ended. Then they are shipped once the payment has cleared, unless falling on a holiday or days the post office will be closed. If this occurs your item(s) will be shipped the following business day. If you have any questions, please contact us and we will try to help and contact you back promptly The item will be shipped from Ukraine (service of Ukrposhta), the tracking number will be given for the customer to check the shipping status online. Delivery time to Europe, USA, Canada, Japan usually is about 15-20 business days, to Australia and other countries - 20-30 days, but, sometimes, during Peak Season, it can take up to 25-35 business days, it highly depends on the efficiency of the shipping carrier. If your item doesn't arrive on time, please contact us immediately for further assistance. We accept PayPal only as payment method. Please pay within 2 days after buying the item. Your payment is for the cost the item and the shipping & handling charges. Any custom duty or import/export fees are not included. Please consult related policy if you have any doubt. Condition: 100% ORIGINAL. Relic condition. Minimal cleaning. High relief., Material: Bronze


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TUESDAY, July 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most children who have spinal surgery don't require anti-clotting drugs because blood clots occur so rarely in these procedures, a new study says.
Instead of the risky and costly blood-thinning drugs, close monitoring after surgery is enough for most of these patients, according to the Johns Hopkins Children's Center researchers.
Anti-clotting drugs should be considered only for young spinal surgery patients who are at increased risk for blood clots, the study authors said. These include those older than 18, kids with spinal curvatures present at birth, and those with spinal curvatures that are part of an overall condition and accompanied by other health problems that may interfere with normal blood clotting.
The researchers analyzed the outcomes of nearly 22,000 children across the United States who had spinal fusion surgery between 2001 and 2010. This is the most common type of spinal surgery in children and adults. It's most frequently used to treat spinal fracture and curvature of the spine, the study authors said.
Overall, blood clots occurred in 21 of every 10,000 surgeries and no patients died because of a blood clot. Certain subgroups of patients were at higher risk for blood clots than others. The findings were published online July 15 in the journal Spine.
Clotting risk in children is poorly understood, resulting in a lack of treatment guidelines, the researchers noted.
"Our findings should help clinicians weigh the pros and cons of pre-emptive treatment and focus on those who stand to benefit the most," senior investigator Dr. Paul Sponseller, chief of pediatric orthopedics, said in a Hopkins news release.
"Most children undergoing spine surgeries should be perfectly safe without medication. Treatment should be reserved for the handful of patients who have a real risk of developing dangerous clots," he said. "In these patients, the benefits of treatment far outweigh the risks."
More information
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more about spinal fusion.
SOURCE: Johns Hopkins Medicine, news release, July 15, 2014
|Copyright©2014 ScoutNews,LLC.
All rights reserved


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Trees Ontario: the forest restoration arm of Forests Ontario
As announced at the 65th Annual Ontario Forestry Association (OFA) Conference on Feb. 21, 2014, the OFA and Trees Ontario, two not-for-profits, officially merged and are now operating under the newly created Forests Ontario, an organization dedicated to the renewal and stewardship of Ontario's forests.
Trees Ontario will continue as the forest restoration arm of Forests Ontario, focusing on building and enhancing Ontario's tree planting capacity and delivering our forest restoration programs.
Forests Ontario will continue to offer a broad suite of programs and services as well as create a stronger public presence advocating for abundant, healthy and sustainable forests.
Visit the Forests Ontario website:


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The biggest railroad news in a while occurred yesterday when it was announced that Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway were purchasing BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe). Buffett agreed to purchase the 77.4% of the company that he did not already own for $26 billion.
BNSF, which is a relatively new railroad as an entity, is actually a combination of many older railroads including the Burlington Northern and the Santa Fe. The railroad covers 32,000 miles of track, 6,700 locomotives and 220,000 freight cars. The company's biggest clients are coal and agricultural product shippers.
That begs the question of why Buffett made the investment. Is he betting on trains, coal, industrial agriculture, or all of the above? Streetsblog's Elana Schor takes a swing at that question:
That environmental rationale for Buffett's deal struck some in Washington as dubious. Frank O'Donnell, president of the green group Clean Air Watch, wrote on his website that the BNSF deal was "the biggest climate story of the day," bigger even than the political maneuverings of the Senate environment committee:
This is a $34 billion dollar bet that coal will remain the centerpiece of American energy policy in the future. Buffett clearly believes that coal use will remain strong – and possibly grow. So he is putting his money on a vision of America with no effective climate policy at all – or at least one that doesn't slow coal growth.
BNSF's reliance on coal is indisputable; the black stuff has accounted for nearly half of its tonnage this year, and MarketWatch estimates that 10 percent of U.S. electricity comes from coal hauled by the railroad.
As coal-hauling railroads go, however, BNSF has made an attempt to distinguish itself on the energy efficiency end. The railroad is developing an emissions-free hydrogen-powered locomotive, and in May started to test-run a group of GE locomotives that cuts emissions by 40 percent over previous, dirtier models.
My take (and part of Elana's) is this purchase is a good thing. I personally don't care if Buffett is invested in coal – because it is admittedly not going anywhere any time soon – because Buffett will be invested in transportation and rail infrastructure. He will be invested in making the rail infrastructure solid, having working trains and hopefully growing the network.
Passenger transportation gets the most news coverage, but freight transportation is equally important. The effect of truck freight transportation on roads and the environment is well documented. Moving more of our freight to rails is good for everyone, including driver safety and those living close to highways.
Moreover, maintaining high quality rail corridors is also good for passenger rail as Amtrak and many public transit commuter rail systems already run on freight-owned rails. Expanding networks is good for the future of commuter and inter-city rail too.
Good for Buffett in seeing that America's transportation future lies on the tracks, not on its asphalt roads.


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Deb Willner pulled her bike off the stand at Community Bikes in Santa Rosa and settled up. She'd trued her wheel, adjusted her derailer, straightened her chain ring, mounted a bottle cage and replaced a seat post by herself—all with the use of the nonprofit's parts and tools. "It'll be $32," said Cole, the weekend manager, somewhat reluctant to even charge Willner at all. "Aw, I'll go out and get you something, too," Deb offered. "You want something sweet? Chocolate?"
Public generosity and baked goods are not uncommon at Community Bikes, the little shop with a big community spirit that offers anybody and everybody the chance to learn how to work on their bicycle for just $10 an hour, all tools and expert guidance included. For those short on cash but eager to experience Sonoma County's legendary cycling routes, the volunteer-run shop carries hundreds of used bikes and shares the skills to fix them. If something's not quite right on the bike of one's dreams ("Front shifter is weird," reads a price tag on a red Schwinn), there's most likely an inexpensive used part to fix it stored in one of dozens of packed milk crates lining the perimeter of the shop."All the bikes here are donated, so they can come in any state of repair," Cole says, estimating that 90 percent of donations are salvageable. At any given time, there's usually a half-dozen regular people doing just that, be it replacing a hub, wrapping handlebars or regreasing a bottom bracket. Conventional bike-shop service workers might shudder, say, at the stock of used, frayed brake cables (like everything else, they get reused), but since opening in 2004, Community Bikes' patch-it-together, do-it-together philosophy has worked just fine for the average cyclist."They're really good to homeless people, too," adds Willner, arriving back from the store with food in hand. Turns out the volunteers at Community Bikes prefer bananas. "And look at my bike, all fixed up. For $32 and a few bananas, that's a pretty killer deal." 4019 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa. 707.579.5811.—G.M.
The coolest thing to do in Rohnert Park is golf, but not with woods and irons. The best course is actually just outside the city, and it requires Frisbees. The Steve Werner Memorial Disc Golf Course at Crane Creek Regional Park is a five-minute drive from Sonoma State University, and the 18-hole hike can take 20 minutes to two hours to finish, depending on the golfer's mood. The course is free to all (there's a $6 Crane Creek parking fee), and like the park, it's open sunup to sunset. The beautiful scenery can be mesmerizing, from 100-year-old oaks to miles of agriculture untouched by the bulldozers and cranes of development. For nongolfers, the occasional jingle of a disc hitting the metal chain and basket can seem a strange addition to chirping birds, rustling tall grass and bellowing bovine. But soon the sound blends in as part of the nature of the park, and the air doesn't seem complete without it. 5000 Pressley Road., Rohnert Park. 707.477.2468.—N.G.
The perfect climate for winemaking also happens to be the perfect climate for olives, and in the rolling hills just west of Petaluma, on 550 acres, sits the privately owned McEvoy Ranch. Once a dairy farm, it's been reincarnated as an organic olive tree orchard by the iconoclastic Nan McEvoy, who purchased the land in 1991. What began with a thousand imported Tuscan seedlings is now a thriving orchard responsible for award-winning McEvoy olive oils, widely considered to be among the best in the country. Arguably the most beautiful piece of ranch land in the area, McEvoy's views, vistas and horticulture are breathtaking. Access to this pastoral sanctuary is rare, but the ranch does offer a dozen or so tours and workshops to the public every year. "Once you see it for yourself, you realize how special it is—the land really speaks for itself," says Jill Lee, the ranch's tour manager. Events scheduled this year include orchard and garden walks with tours of the mill and olive press, plus a series of more specialized sessions devoted to birding, olive pruning and organic garden-to-table cooking. Many of the classes and tours include an olive oil tasting and-or a light meal; all include a primer on the ranch's colorful history and the opportunity to visit the otherwise shuttered ranch store. For reservations, keep close tabs on McEvoy's website, where events are posted a couple months in advance. www.mcevoyranch.com.—K.F.
Spas are nothing new around here. From Boyes Hot Springs to Calistoga, health seekers have long traveled from afar to soak their bones in miracle mineral waters that burble unbidden from fissures in this volcanic region. In fact, there may be far more entirely off the map: "ghost spas." High above Calistoga, down a forest path, above a mountain stream shaded by redwood and pine, is a series of disused concrete bathtubs. Following some rusted pipes up the hill, one finds a deep pool of sulfurous water at a constant temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit. When the Orth family founded Mountain Home Ranch in 1913, they found the pool had already been enlarged out of the rock by Native Americans, who also built redwood logs around this sacred healing spot. Later, the Orths added concrete and bathhouses. According to current owner Suzanne Pasky Fouts, the resort's brochure from the 1920s "talks about healing old diseases that you don't even hear about anymore. People used to bring gallon jugs home with them." After a 1964 forest fire, the rustic "spa" was never rebuilt, but guests of the ranch are welcome to go for a soak—if they don't mind that the goats drink from it, too, preferring it to the cold clear water of the nearby creek. Are the goats on to something? Pasky Fouts says that one of her goats is going strong at 16. "And that's pretty old for a goat." 3400 Mountain Home Ranch Road, Calistoga. 707.942.6616.—J.K.
The hidden grove of daffodils in the Point Reyes National Seashore is one of those beloved secret spots that locals protect with intense ferocity. So newcomers, grab a pencil—I'm about to spill the beans. The unmarked trail that leads to this flora-filled clearing can be found by following Limantour Spit Road to the Point Reyes Hostel. There, alongside the dirt drive about 30 feet from the hostel's front door, you'll spy a very narrow trailhead leading into the brush. The path to the daffodils is a veritable obstacle course and requires traversing a narrow, slippery bar to cross a rushing stream some six feet below; scaling a leaning tree trunk followed by a steep embankment using a rope left by previous explorers; and holding one's arms skyward to avoid the constant threat of poison oak or wild nettles, both of which grow abundantly along the trail. If you survive this short but perilous hike, and pick the right week in February (usually toward the end of the month) to make the trek, you'll be rewarded with a glorious blanket of daffodils that reach deeply into the surrounding thicket as far as the eye can see. Rumored to be a remnant of a bulb farm that once operated there more than half a century ago, the grove is—or rather was—one of Point Reyes' best-kept secrets. Along the Laguna Trail; begin at 1390 Limantour Spit Road, Point Reyes Station.—K.F.
Heavy rain falls outside, but the studio is warm and smells of Teen Spirit. Nine young women warm up in a variety of outfits: yoga pants, shorts over tights, a ruffled layered dress with striped leggings, tank tops with Analy Tiger sweats, skinny jeans and a hoodie, knee pads, ankle socks or bare feet. Julie Marques, owner of Sebastopol's Core in Motion Dance Studio counts out beats, singing the numbers like an Indian raga. Feet slide sideways, arms fly up and out. "Pull up and open, like you're tearing some cardboard," she instructs, "and look while you tear." One move resembles patting down of a bowl of dough with both hands, another, a waitress carrying a dish at shoulder height. "Pull, pull," Marques calls, and the dancers haul in an imaginary fishing net. The music and moves pick up tempo, and smiles increase as the teens watch themselves in the wall of mirrors.
Bollywood dance combines the styles of ballet, yoga, hip-hop, folk and classical Indian dance. Requiring a sense of balance and precision movements, the dance involves every part of the body, including facial expression. Marques, a 10-year veteran of Bollywood dance, studied a variety of dance styles in India and Nepal for almost three years. "The classical Indian dances combine spirituality and movement, but Bollywood is more spoofy, a relief from formal religious pieces," Marques explains.
Fast-forward a week later, to a sunny afternoon, as nine beauties in a rainbow of colorful costumes dance outside in the plaza's gazebo. After the applause dies down and the audience disperses, the smiles continue. "I love the energy of Bollywood dance—it's unique to the style," says dancer Athena Wheaton. "Even the pieces that have attitude are really joyous." 134 Weeks Way, Sebastopol. 707.823.1074.—S.D.


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Find what you need using our comprehensive Kootenay Rockies Pools and Spas guide and retail store directory of businesses throughout the region.
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Discover the most extensive Kootenay Rockies shopping guide on the web. This is the place to look before you start driving or walking around town looking for the perfect gift, souvenir or essential item.
If you are not sure about either the area or the category leave the choice to "Display All". You have to specify only one of "Category" or "Region".


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WikiFur:This week's featured article/Week 40, 2008
From WikiFur, the furry encyclopedia.
Mark Allen's Pet Project is a stand-up comedy show about furries, written and performed by British comedian Mark Allen. The show came about from Allen's attempts to understand the relationship between humans and animals. During his research, he learned about furries and decided to "infiltrate them."
Because of the wariness that most furries have with people outside the fandom, Allen bought himself a Dalmatian dog fursuit.
In his show, he talks about how he competed in a "Fursuit Olympics" and talks about, "learning about tolerance anew". His show also features film footage of his visits to furry activities. (more...)


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Cities in Motion: German Cities is a new addition to the city-based mass transportation PC-simulation game Cities in Motion. German Cities brings you back to the early days of transportation history. Engage in the campaign with four different scenario set in ten decades starting from the1920's. Manage Cologne and Leipzig through hard times and better days in six challenging scenarios.
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.


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The juxtaposition couldn't have been more jarring: a slew of "Golden Girls" repeats leading up to last week's premiere of WE TV's "Sunset Daze," a reality series billed as "Jersey Shore" set in an Arizona retirement community.
"Sunset Daze," unlike "Jersey Shore," is harmless enough, if silly, with seniors jumping out of planes, practicing target shooting and wooing one another. But "Sunset Daze" is no "Golden Girls," which still shines thanks to the writing, acting and its treatment of seniors as fully realized characters with charm, smarts and foibles, worthy of laughter and the occasional tear.
"Sunset Daze," arrives, oddly enough, as "Golden Girls" star Betty White's non-comeback comeback is set to peak with her scheduled "Saturday Night Live" hosting gig this weekend.
The appearance seems likely to become a highlight in an ongoing, remarkable career – and mark a heartening recognition of quality that cuts across generational lines.
White's unlikely "SNL" stint at age 88 has its roots in a Facebook campaign that's attracted more than 500,000 supporters – most, no doubt, young enough to be her grandchildren.
Her career goes back to TV's earliest days, but many of us first met her as Sue Ann Nivens, TV's first cougar, nearly 40 years ago on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Other caught up with White as the naïve, but far-from-dumb widow Rose Nylund on "The Golden Girls." More recently minted fans know her from the Sandra Bullock romantic comedy "The Proposal," and from various commercials and TV guest shots.
In her new show, "Hot in Cleveland," set to debut next month on TV Land, White is reinventing herself yet again as wisecracking property caretaker.
Lorne Michael's smart decision to put White on "SNL" was spurred, at least in part, by his recognition of the power of the Internet. Viral videos have helped bring a younger audience his program, which premiered in 1975, when "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" still ruled the Saturday night primetime lineup.
While there may be an element of novelty to tapping White, unlike the folks on "Sunset Daze," she's no oldster acting foolish for attention – she knows how to get a risqué laugh with a knowing nod to the audience.
In a "Today" show interview about her "SNL" appearance, White noted there will be "very little nudity – just a little here and there."
Great comic timing is timeless – something White, no doubt, will prove again on "SNL," which airs long after sunset.
Hester is founding director of the award-winning, multi-media NY City News Service at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is the former City Editor of the New York Daily News, where he started as a reporter in 1992. Follow him on Twitter.


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Shakira Shows Off Amazing Body in Teal Dress on 2014 ACM Music Awards Red Carpet [PHOTOS]
Shakira looked killer in teal on tonight's (April 6) 2014 ACM Awards red carpet, rocking a floor-length sequined gown with sexy cutouts down to her thighs.
Shakira's body was on show in her form-fitting Zuhair Murad dress as she walked the red carpet, and we don't blame her for strutting what she's got. Her long blonde hair fell loose over the cutouts, concealing some of the net-lined shapes, but no matter -- we got to see more of the gorgeous singer when she took to the stage in a short red number later in the evening.
Shakira used the red carpet walk as an opportunity to speak about her then-upcoming performance at the ACM Awards. 'Medicine,' a song from her self-titled album which she performed alongside country star and fellow 'The Voice' judge, Blake Shelton, is "one of [her] favorite songs from this album," Shakira said.
After watching the amazing performance by Shakira and Shelton, it might be your fave too.


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Alberta L. Wolfe, 80, of 1764 Bucktail Road, St. Marys, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on Friday, April 19, 2013, at her home.
She was born January 28, 1933 in Kersey, daughter of the late Bernard and Helen Thowart Schneider. She was a lifelong resident of the area and attended Kersey Schools.
On September 15, 1951 in the St. Boniface Church, she married Alvin J. Wolfe, who survives. She is also survived by three daughters, Beverly Feldbauer and her husband Thomas of St. Marys, Diane Verne and her husband David of Brockway, and Lori King and her husband Chris of Martinsberg, PA; four sons, Jeffrey Wolfe and his wife Mary of Kersey, Dale Wolfe of St. Marys, Dr. Karl Wolfe and his wife Debbie of St. Marys, and Dennis Wolfe and his wife Ann of St. Marys; 12 grandchildren; three step grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; five step great grandchildren; and a brother, Gerald Schneider and his wife Shirley of Kersey.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Glenn Wolfe; six sisters, Mary Tamburlin, Rosella Butsch, Grace Roebuck, Agnes Ginther, Nadine Florio, and Ethel Krolczyk; and two brothers, Urban Schneider and Bernard Schneider.
Mrs. Wolfe was a member of the Queen of the World Church. She was a hard-working, loving, and supportive mother who placed family above all else. She loved spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren – taking great pleasure in family dinners and holidays when everyone could gather at her home for one of her wonderful meals. The more family she had surrounding her, the happier she was. Her generous spirit extended to many special friends and family with whom she was extremely close.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Queen of the World Church on Monday, April 22, 2013, at 10:00 AM, with the Rev. Michael Ferrick, Pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Mary's Cemetery.
Visitation is at the Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home on Sunday, April 21, 2013, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Queen of the World Church, 134 Queens Road, St. Marys, PA 15857, the Community Nurses, Inc., Hospice, 757 Johnsonburg Road, Suite 200, St. Marys, PA 15857, or to the Elk County Catholic School System, 114 Queens Road, St. Marys, PA 15857.


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Scientists studying monk seals in Hawaii were surprised to spot one unfortunate creature that had wound up with an eel stuck in its nose. The bizarre scene was shared online by the Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program earlier this week in a post on their Facebook page. Surprisingly, the animal's strange predicament is not entirely unheard of as they have actually "found juvenile seals with eels stuck in their noses on multiple occasions."
Fortunately for this particular congested creature, the group was able to quickly remove the eel in a matter of seconds and the seal was no worse for wear. Alas, the same could not be said about the eel, which did not survive its misadventure inside of the animal's snout. As to what may have caused the weird encounter between the seal and the eel, the group offered a pair of possible scenarios which could have taken place.
Find out what they think may have led to the seal and the eel coming together at the Coast to Coast AM website.


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The iPhone 5s is $99 and the iPhone 5c is only $29 at Walmart, according to reports.
Walmart alerted the media on Thursday that it would be selling the discounted iPhones starting Friday, June 27, leading many to believe that Apple may be ready with a new model soon, according to AppleInsider.
The 16GB iPhone 5s is $99 for a two-year contract, a $50 price drop, while the 16GB iPhone 5c only drops $20 to $29, and are only available at Walmart storefronts.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
The 32GB phones will be reduced, too, according to a Walmart spokesperson: The 32GB 5C will go for $129, with the 32GB 5S going for $199.
The price cuts may be promotional, but they're also here to stay -- which causes us to believe that Apple is likely going to unveil its new iPhone soon and is looking to get rid of its current inventory.
Other reports say that Apple will be creating new iPhones with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays, with the largest being a so-called "phablet," or phone/tablet hybrid, likely around Sept. 19.