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Quartz countertops, also known as engineered stone countertops, are made from combining ground quartz with various resins and pigments, which creates a very hard, granite-like surface.
They are generally considered to be one of the more durable types of countertops.
Because of the resins, these countertops are stain resistant, scratch resistant, and nonporous, meaning that unlike granite countertops, quartz countertops never need to be sealed.
The appearance of quartz can now look very close to natural stone, and you can choose from different finishes for your countertop, such as polished, honed, embossed, or sandblasted.
Another factor influencing the look of your countertop is how the quartz is ground.
Whereas a finely ground quartz produces a smooth look, coarsely ground quartz produces a more flecked appearance.
Quartz Countertop Colors in Sachse TX
One of the great things about quartz countertops is that because pigments can be added in with the ground quartz, these countertops come in a wide range of colors and patterns.
All kinds of creams, greys, blacks, browns, blues and more are available.
Quartzite Countertops in Sachse TX
Although the name is similar, quartz and quartzite countertops are very different.
Unlike quartz countertops, quartzite countertops are made from a natural stone.
While quartz can be made in a wide range of colors, quartzite countertops do not have as many color options.
When it comes to durability, quartzite is more heat and scratch resistant, but quartz is flexible and is less prone to chip compared with natural stones.
If you like the look of marble, quartzite is a great choice.
It looks very similar to marble, but is much more durable and usually less expensive.
White Quartz Countertops in Sachse TX
White countertops are a popular choice, and there all sorts of white quartz options.
Some have lots of contrast, and others have little or no contrast at all.
Because quartz is stain resistant, it might be a great option if you're wanting a white countertop.
Quartz Countertop Costs in Sachse TX
Although less expensive than most marble, quartz is going to cost more than wood or plastic laminate countertops.
It falls into the same price range as granite, with material costs beginning at $60 per square foot but often being $75 to $100 per square foot.
Including installation costs, expect to be paying $100 or more per square foot for your quartz countertop.


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Glide along @CB_Connector from #CincyCyclones Stop 1 @TheBanksCincy to #FindlayMarket and #OTR and back again. Pa… https://t.co/Bt3rB8ws3b
Carolyn Mason is the proud creator of Beautiful Bags Lady. Everything in her store is handmade and environmentally friendly. Some of her best sellers include: 100% cotton shopping bags, wine bags, aprons, made-to-order walker bags, pet scarv...read more

subset: commoncrawl


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Does anyone else notice gender differences in speaking speed? I'm a scientist and I notice that men (older men in particular, but many younger men as well) tend to speak very slowly and deliberately, almost to the point of pausing after every thought…Meanwhile, female speakers smoke along, giving a notetaker fingercramps...I am young and female, and talk fast, partly out of nerves but partly because I have a lot to say!It's a great question, but unfortunately the science is a little mixed on the subject. Although some researchers have found that women and men speak at different rates, University of Pennsylvania linguist Mark Liberman notes that most studies show only a small, often statistically insignificant difference between men and women's speaking speed. We're talking two to three extra words per minute--which doesn't sound like a huge gender gap. And it's often the men who speak slightly faster.
Just like different roads call for different speed limits, different speaking situations call for different speech speeds. Friendly chatter can zip along at 300-400 words per minute. But if you're speaking in a formal setting, the ideal rate for your audience is more like 140-160 words per minute. That's the rate that seems to be the best for listening comprehension—it's also the speed of most audio books.
Depending on your audience, you might even want to set your cruise control a little slower. Young children and older people understand more when speech rates slow down to about 120 words per minute.
But a speaker might have a lead foot when it comes to reading her talk, and exceed the listening speed limit. When newscasters read from their teleprompters, they sometimes reach speeds of 210 words or more per minute. It's something to watch out for if you tend to speak from a prepared text.
If high speeds are causing your ideas to snarl up like bad traffic in your listeners' heads, you can use a variety of "road signs" to vary your speed wisely and well. Nerves can make a speaker speed up. But if you find yourself racing to fit in everything you have to say, it might be that you're saying too much. Over at the Six Minutes blog, Andrew Dlugan has a video critique that gets to the heart of this problem. Be ruthless in editing your talk, Dlugan says, so that your audience can absorb your main message without succumbing to information overload.
And if you had to leave a favorite anecdote or fact by the side of the road? You can always cover more ground with a question-and-answer session. A Q-and-A is a great way to sound smart and further connect with your audience--and that's safe at any speed.
Freelance writer Becky Ham contributed this new report in our "Speaking Science" series on the research behind your questions on public speaking.


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StarKist Ranch Tuna Creations - We got a sneak taste of this a few months back, but it wasn't available everywhere until now... It's RANCH-FLAVORED tuna! A 2.6-oz. pouch has 80 calories, 2g fat, 380mg sodium, 1.5g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars, and 14g protein (PointsPlus® value 2*). Lunches and snacks just got a whole lot more delicious. Click for an HG recipe! Special K Flatbread Deluxe Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich - Last year, Special K launched its line of fancy frozen b-fast sandwiches, and now the brand's debuting this future-classic variety: just eggs and cheese here! Each frozen sandwich has 190 calories, 8g fat, 580mg sodium, 22g carbs, 3g fiber, 4g sugars, and 8g protein (PointsPlus® value 5*). Check out the other options too! Garden Lites Zucchini Marinara, Zucchini Portabella, and Veggies & Cheese - We love Garden Lites' soufflés. (You know this!) And we've recently fallen for these non-soufflé veggie dishes. They rock! Each 7-oz. bowl has 110 - 180 calories, 4 - 7g fat, 390 - 650mg sodium, 18 - 21g carbs, 4g fiber, 3 - 9g sugars, and 3 - 8g protein (PointsPlus® value 3 - 4*). They're not always easy to find, but they're 100 percent worth chewing.
Confusion is common in the world of "what's good for us and what's not?" at the grocery store. And several food companies and supermarkets have been trying to demystify labels by applying gold stars (marked on wholesome picks) and traffic-light-style markings (green for the nutritious stuff, yellow for okay options, and red for unhealthy items). But do these techniques work? A recent study specifically looked at the cereal aisle, and found that the special labeling increased demand for the gold-starred (healthier) breakfast foods. And a report on the color-coding system used in Massachusetts General Hospital's cafeteria found that "green" items sold better than "red" ones among consumers who noticed the symbols. We LOVE this whole concept and, frankly, anything that helps people make smarter choices. A few extra tips from us, since these coding systems aren't everywhere yet... Watch out for food fakers (click here to read more on the deceptive items), don't be fooled by "health halo" phrases (for example, thinking gluten-free foods are inherently healthy or good for weight loss), and always remember to look at the serving size AND servings per container!
With October officially behind us, more seasonal flavors are marching our way! Make room in your life for Sprite Zero Cranberry, with its snow-white can and sweet-tart taste! Yummm... ***HG POLL ALERT: We're working on an app that would be available as a supplement to the Hungry Girl diet book (coming in March)! Tell us what features you'd like it to have. PLEASE click here to answer three quick questions... Thank you! ***Unless you've been living under a rock (no offense to stone dwellers), you're probably aware that fiber is important to your diet. Well apparently, it could even help save your life! New research from the American Journal of Medicine shows a significant connection between low intake of dietary fiber and increased cardiometabolic risks (like metabolic syndrome and obesity). Now might be a good time to take a look back at these fiber-ific items... ***Tune-in time! Catch HG Lisa TODAY (Monday, 11/4) on The Doctors. She'll show you how to save TONS of calories with recipes for comfort foods like stuffed French toast, taco pizza, meatloaf, and MORE. Click for show times! ***Lastly, we've long been fans of making tiny art projects out of the wax that encases our beloved Babybel cheese. From the looks of it, we're not alone! Click here to see why BuzzFeed dubbed Babybel wax "The Ultimate Artistic Medium." Maybe art-supply stores ought to rethink their marketing strategies... Pastels + Popchips? Clay + cookies? (Er, maybe not.) And that's all we've got. HG out!
Pass around the News while it's still new! Click "Send to a Friend" now.
Today, November 4th is... National Candy Day. Really? That wasn't last Thursday, a.k.a. Halloween? If you're looking to make your leftover candy count, check out these snazzy recipes!
SmartPoints® value not what you expected? Click here for more info on how the values are calculated, plus more FAQs about PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® values on our website.


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Quick Shots column on Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley, MLB interleague play, Pro-Am, White Sox and more.
Derrick Rose's shooting is a bigger worry than Michael Beasley's height. Beasley is 2 ½ inches shorter than his listed height of 6-foot-10 at Kansas State, but he led the nation in rebounding, was third in scoring and shot 53 percent while making more 3-pointers than Rose. He's a surer bet to be an All-Star than Rose. That's why Quick Shots would have taken Beasley (and tried to squeeze a future first-round draft pick out of Miami, which wanted Rose). That said, Rose has the higher ceiling. It all depends on his jumper. Michael Jordan never would have been Michael Jordan if he hadn't turned into a far better shooter than anyone expected. The NBA's top three assist leaders last year — Chris Paul, Steve Nash and Deron Williams — shot at least 49 percent and averaged at least 16.9 points. It's hard to set others up if you can't shoot yourself. Just look at Kirk Hinrich (a career 41-percent shooter). Flaw in hometown theory One Chicago columnist said the Bulls should draft Rose "because a kid will try twice as hard to put on a show if his family and friends are up in the stands." Yeah, that really worked well for Eddy Curry. Central tough, rest of NL not The Cubs' would be playoff shoo-ins if they didn't play in the long-scorned NL Central. The division has gotten so strong overnight that SI.com says it fields the three toughest teams in the NL, with the Cubs ranking No. 2, the Cardinals No. 6 and the Brewers No. 7 overall in its latest baseball rankings. And the Reds' young talent makes them scary for 2009. That said, the Cubs might be slightly overrated. The Red Sox, Rays, Angels and Yankees look like baseball's four best teams. You simply can't compare the NL to the American League. As of Friday, 11 AL teams had won at least eight interleague games. Zero NL teams had won that many. Kansas City (12-3 in interleague play) might be a World Series contender if they, instead of the Brewers, had switched leagues a few years back. Pro-Am attracts a strong field Don't forget to mark off July 14 to attend the Rockford Pro-Am at Forest Hills Country Club. Thanks to Kenny Perry, sixth in both the Ryder Cup standings and the 2008 PGA money list ($2.5 million), the Pro-Am always gets one of the best golfers in the world. This will be Perry's eighth consecutive Pro-Am. Billy Mayfair, 32nd on the all-time money list, will be here for the 16th time. Those two, plus Ken Duke, Troy Matteson, Joe Ogilvie and Brett Quigley, give the Pro-Am six golfers currently ranked higher than last year's Masters and U.S. Open champions (Zach Johnson and Angel Cabrera). Tigers are Sox's main worry The White Sox may seem like flukes, but their main challenger so far are even more so. The Twins rank third in the American League in runs even though they are last in the Majors in homers. How can the Twins score more than the Sox, who are fourth in homers? By hitting .313 with runners in scoring position, more than 20 points better than any other team in the Majors. If that cools off, so will the Twins. The bigger worry is that Detroit, on a 14-4 roll as of Friday, finally woke up. Matt Trowbridge's Quick Shots on Sports appear Sundays. He can be reached at 815-987-1383 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Familiar scene, but different Tigers team ready for A's
Detroit brings improved lineup to matchup with recurring foe Oakland
OAKLAND -- Fifty-one weeks have passed since Justin Verlander shut out the A's here to carry the Tigers through the American League Division Series.
Nearly six months have passed since the Tigers took two out of three in Oakland in an early-season matchup that cooled off the A's from their hot start. Plenty of baseball has unfolded since both of those series. Still, as the Tigers settled into the visiting clubhouse, some of them felt they were just here.
"It's a little familiar, for sure," catcher Alex Avila said. "This time of the year, flying to California, we had to do that twice last year. But playing them, that's always a good series. Last year, the ALDS was a very, very good series, so I think everybody going into this matchup just expects another good one."
Each of their last two seasons included celebrations here. They clinched their first division title in 24 years here two seasons ago, then saw Verlander's masterpiece last October send them on their way to the AL Championship Series. If this Division Series goes the full five games, they'll have a chance to do the same behind Max Scherzer, who starts Game 1 on Friday (9:30 p.m. ET on TBS).
In many ways, this feels awfully familiar. However, it is a different team the Tigers take into this year's matchup.
One of the biggest differences for the Tigers was on the club, but not with the team when they came out here last October. In fact, Victor Martinez wasn't even watching most of the playoffs, rehabbing his surgically repaired knee.
"Just a little bit," he said. "I couldn't. It was tough for me. I watched a little here, a little there, but I didn't really watch.
"You know, it's tough, the thing that you love to do, and you're watching your teammates bust their butts on the field and you're sitting on the table rehabbing and doing this, doing that. It really killed me. It did."
While Delmon Young held his own as the designated hitter in last year's Division Series, going 4-for-17 with no homers and two RBIs, Martinez enters this year's rematch coming off baseball's hottest second half. He went 11-for-16 with a homer and two RBIs over four games against the A's in August in Detroit.
Martinez is a .343 career hitter against Oakland, and he deepens the middle of the order. With Miguel Cabrera hobbled, a different hitter than he was last year, extending the lineup could be more important.
Add in Torii Hunter batting ahead of Cabrera, and it's a lineup that has different avenues toward producing offense.
"No question, it's a better lineup this year," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "And they're probably a little more versatile in what they do. They maybe hit for a few more guys that last year they didn't hit for, and they just have a deeper lineup. When you have Hunter sitting in the two-hole above those guys, it presents its challenges, no doubt."
Except for the order, the pitching rotation is exactly the same. The biggest difference there is a fully healthy Scherzer starting Game 1, not the shoulder-hampered Scherzer who started Game 4 last year on a pitch count. It's a minute difference for many, but it's a bigger difference for Scherzer, who calls his starts before that September shoulder soreness some of the best pitching of his career.
"I was on a 90-100 pitch count," Scherzer said earlier this week. "Even when I was on that pitch count, those last 10 pitches, you're trying to build up. Like I've said, those last 15 pitches usually mean the most. And so, for me, I'm in a better position to be more effective in those last 15 pitches.
"So this year, I feel so much stronger. I feel my arm's more resilient going into this postseason. I'm on a full workload. If you need me to go 125 pitches, I'm more than capable of doing that. I think that's a huge benefit for me going into the postseason this year."
The deeper Tigers starters can go, the better, because their bullpen has a vastly different look. Jose Valverde, whose blown save in Game 4 set up his demise as Tigers closer, is gone. Joaquin Benoit, who set up last year's win in Game 1 before giving up a game-changing two-run homer the next day, is in after going 24-for-26 in save chances during the regular season.
Beyond him, the bullpen is not as deep. Octavio Dotel and Phil Coke are both out with injuries. Bruce Rondon, who could've been a major factor setting up, is also out. These Tigers will rely on their starters to provide deep outings, then lean on Drew Smyly, Al Alburquerque and Jose Veras to set up ninth innings for Benoit.
The lean on the starting pitching isn't new. The Tigers are hoping the results will be familiar as well.
"I think the matchup, Tigers-A's, I think everybody looks at some of the matchups we've had and know it's going to be good," Avila said.


text: Remeha, founded in 1935, is a leading European manufacturer and distributor of innovative heating and hot water systems and services. Remeha is part of BDR Thermea, with headquarters in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands. With our products and services we have established a strong presence in Europe with sales offices in the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium and partners in other major economies. Remeha employs around 550 people and achieved an annual turnover of nearly €300 million (2010).


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May 9, 2012: We have been informed by Dr. Noel Richardson, Georgia State University, that the UV spectroscopy observations of S Dor to be made with the Hubble Space Telescope have been scheduled for
2012 MAY 11 from 21:21:55 UT to 23:55:04 UT.
During the 24 hours prior to and following the HST observations, as well as during them, please increase your visual/BVRI (or as many of these filters as you can) coverage from once per night to twice per night. Afterwards, please return to nightly observations until further notice.


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Two Loveland residents escaped injury in a shooting at their Loveland home Thursday afternoon.
Loveland police said a man and a woman entered a home in the 800 block of Nyssa drive in northeast Loveland at 12:58 p.m., and the man fired several shots at one of the two residents.
They then reportedly fled in a vehicle.
No one was injured in the shooting.
Detectives are seeking two suspects in the shooting, Moises Zamora and Amanda Rios. Arrest warrants have been issued for both.
Zamora is charged with attempted second-degree murder, felony menacing, possession of a weapon by a previous offender and illegal discharge of a firearm, all felonies.
Rios is charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, a felony.
The Loveland Police Department is asking the public for help finding the suspects but reminds residents to take no action to apprehend them because they are considered armed and dangerous.
Cris Tiller can be reached at 635-3631 or email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter: @cristiller.


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The alarm goes off. I want to sleep more, but realize I better get up; the kids need to get to school and there are projects to get done. I went to bed late last night, trying to finish up some things. My head is foggy and I'm not well rested.
The alarm goes off. I want to sleep more, but realize I better get up; the kids need to get to school and there are projects to get done. I went to bed late last night, trying to finish up some things. My head is foggy and I'm not well rested. Walking downstairs, I miss the last step, hit the door and give my body a good jolt. Now I'm achy. I get into the kitchen and realize I'm out of coffee creamer. Ugh! My husband comes downstairs and I'm not so friendly. Yuck, I hate this kind of morning.
One more plug for a good night's sleep. Studies consistently show that lack of sleep increases irritability, volatility and depression. When we're missing sleep it is easier to slip into a foul mood. A leader in the field of sleep research states; "The effect of sleep deprivation on mood in the average healthy person is a huge, invisible problem" (Sleepless in America, Kurcinka).
As adults we may have an easier time understanding our emotions or making connections between events, like emotions and lack of sleep. For young children it is challenging enough to try to understand emotions.
Michael went to bed late this past weekend, because his brother had a hockey tournament and events at the hotel kept him awake much later than usual. He slept in, but it wasn't enough. Monday rolled around and Michael could not keep it together. At breakfast, the bowl for his cereal wasn't right and he complained. He cried when his shoe fell off and he didn't want it to, the clothes he put on didn't feel right. Rather than putting his school supplies in his backpack, Michael started to play with the zipper on it and broke it. He bumped into his sister as he walked by and slammed the front door as he left the house.
The connection may be obvious as I've written it here, but often we miss the association. Tired children get into more trouble! Their bodies are so exhausted that they shift their attention frequently to create enough commotion to stay awake. Sometimes their bodies even release stress hormones into their system to keep them more alert. This unfortunately causes them to focus on everything in their environment, rather than just the important things. They tend to fumble and stumble, and act more impulsively. Michael doesn't need consequences for his behaviors; privileges taken away or scolding, he needs a good night's sleep, not just once in a while, but every night. When children are frenzied and out of control, it is important to recognize that a little more sleep can be a miracle cure" (Sleepless in America).
Sound sleep improves relationships and changes behavior for everyone. Make sleep a priority!


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The Perfect Match
The fresh-spicy-woody composition of the ALLURE HOMME fragrance in a gently cleansing shower gel. A generous lather that leaves the skin delicately scented.
Olfactory atmosphere
The fresh-spicy-woody composition is a model of balance and harmony.
The vigorous, fresh top notes of Mandarin and Coriander, subtly spiced, blend into the clean, intense notes of Cedar. The combination of Venezuelan Tonka Bean and Cistus Labdanum produce a sensual trail heightened by Black Pepper from Madagascar.
A man of indefinable sophistication who exudes a natural charisma, serenity and inner strength. Without seeking attention, all eyes are drawn to him. His fragrance marks his presence.
Art of perfuming
The fresh-spicy-woody composition of the ALLURE HOMME fragrance is expressed in a full range of shaving and body products. The shower gel can be used for the hair and body. Ideal for everyday use, it prolongs the lingering notes of the fragrance over the entire body.


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Mark Bahnisch is closing LP.
As of today, Larvatus Prodeo will cease publishing.
After a couple of test posts, the blog began to wend its way through the online world on March 17, 2005, so it's a very old beast in internet years.
We collectively feel seven years is enough.
We have come to the conclusion that while we'd like to reorient our perspective as writers and analysts, LP is not the place to do it. The blog has its own momentum (and its own inertia), and it's not an easy thing to turn around.
I think the authors have lost interest in the project – over the last while it has been slow to update and the comments haven't been as lively as in previous years. There is recognition of this point.
I don't think it's appropriate to the history and spirit of this blog to just keep it ticking over while our energies are directed elsewhere (and it does take a lot of energy to do this sort of work).
It is always sad when a familiar part of the landscape disappears but given their contempt for free speech (see here and here) that can't be a bad thing.
Another part of the story, I suspect, is the intellectual exhaustion on the left. They just don't have a story to tell. Snarky comments can fit into twitter but full argument cannot. I think this is very much a retreat from the front-line in the market for ideas. The new(er) social media complement a blogging presence, while the LP crowd are substituting.
What particularly pleases me is that we at the Cat have managed to renew ourselves and survive the retirement of the founder (Jason Soon – for all the newbies). We have a story to tell and authors to write up our arguments.


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Though I tend to favor modern fabrics, I always love the vintage charm of the Fig Tree Quilts lines for Moda. I thought these would be perfect for my little girls' room, especially as we prepare to move to a new home.
For twin #1, I am using Patisserie:
And it's Dandelion Girl for twin #2:
I love how they're coming together so far, and I hope to be able to catch up soon.
We're looking forward to sunny days with temperatures in the 80's here in NC this weekend ... should make for a beautiful holiday weekend. Anyone have any fun plans?


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Philips to step up partnerships with Taiwan companies, will increase outsourcing
Royal Philips Electronics plans to increase its procurement of IT products from Taiwan and will also strengthen its partnerships with Taiwan companies to create new business opportunities.
Philips recently revamped its corporate strategy and will increase its outsourcing worldwide, which should lead to increased procurement from Taiwan, said Chuang, as quoted by the Chinese-language Commercial Times and the Economic Daily News (EDN).
Philips bought a total of US$15 billion worth of products from Taiwan last year, according to Chuang.
Philips will also step up its cooperation with Taiwan companies in fields such as wireless communications, digital TVs, electronics parts and components for automobiles, electronic medical devices and personal information products, said the papers.
Citing successful projects in cooperation with Accton Technology and BenQ, Chuang said that he believes there is ample room for Philips to establish more partnerships with Taiwan companies.
Revenues of Philips BenQ Digital Storage, an optical-storage-device joint venture between Philips and BenQ, are expected to reach US$600 million this year and increase 50% to US$900 million in 2005, said Chuang, as quoted by the papers.
From DigiTimes


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NFL App Launches Draft Channel on Xbox One
NFL Draft Day is one of the most exciting dates on the football calendar. It's a day of anticipation and optimism, where fans of every team can look forward to a fresh season with new players and a new sense of hope for the future. Well, maybe not Raiders fans, but you get what I'm saying. This year, Xbox One owners will be able to watch, follow and interact with the draft in ways they've never been able to before.
From May 8 to May 10, The NFL app on Xbox One will grant Xbox Live Gold members unprecedented access to the 2014 NFL Draft according to Xbox Wire. Not only will the entire event be broadcast on the popular app, it will allow users to receive real-time updates on the draft while using other apps or games. The Draft Tracker feature will update users with every pick. With the NFL app snapped on screen, NFL fans can follow the draft with new picks, draft order and team needs while playing Madden, Skyping with friends or watching the NBA Playoffs. In addition, fans can access highlight videos for each pick, familiarizing themselves with stars of the future like Jadaveon Clowney and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (yeah, that's a real name).
Full draft coverage starts May 8, but the NFL app is already in draft mode. The all-new draft channel offers in-depth analysis of every team and all the top draft prospects with highlight videos and team breakdowns by the NFL's Network's expert crew. It's a great pre-draft resource for fans who want all the info on the league's next crop of young stars, and the amount of insightful video content is pretty impressive.


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Spike Tv
Spike VGAs renamed VGX, dated for December
The Spike Video Game Awards, where we're likely to find out more details on much of the new PlayStation 4 content revealed today, have been slapped with a new name and a release date.
Spike Tv headlines
VGAs 2012 - Dishonored, The Walking Dead, Assassin's Creed 3, more nominated for Game of the Year
Spike TV has revealed the list of nominees for the 2012 Video Game Awards. Game of the Year nominees include Assassin's Creed 3, Journey, Mass Effect 3, The Walking Dead: The Game and Dishonored. The official site has the complete list of categories and nominees which you can vote on through here. The VGAs takes […]
Spike TV and GTTV to show 50 world premieres as part of E3 All Access Live
Spike TV has announced as part of its exclusive E3 coverage this year, it will be showing "never-before-seen footage," from the likes of Halo 4 and more.
Spike TV and XBL to broadcast Microsoft's E3 briefing on June 4
Spike TV is partnering with Microsoft for live and commercial-free coverage of the Xbox Media Briefing at E3. The Xbox: Entertainment Evolved special will air on Monday, June 4 at 12.30pm EDT/9.30am PDT/5.30pm UK and "will take viewers on a 90-minute journey through the future of the Xbox 360 platform with world premieres of blockbuster […]
Spike TV and GameTrailers team up for E3 "All Access Live"
Spike TV and GameTrailers have announced "extensive multi-platform coverage of the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo" with E3 All Access Live. The live special plans to provide "over 40 gaming exclusives and special guest interviews with more than 17 hours of coverage across multiple platforms." Coverage will kick off on Spike TV, in HD, from the […]
Car Crash: Why VGAs are in a serious need of change
The 2011 Spike VGAs were meant to celebrate the year's best games and hype future releases. Instead, Johnny Cullen argues, they played to stereotypes in the worst possible way.
Spike introducing Uncharted 3-based reality TV special
Spike TV's announced it's to air a reality TV special based on Uncharted 3. Known as Uncharted 3: Race to the Ring, casting calls have now began, with those applying being asked to be available for the week of October 3, a month before the game launches. If you live in the US, you're a […]
Spike to be exclusive TV broadcaster of Microsoft E3 briefing
Spike TV's announced it'll be the exclusive broadcaster of the Microsoft E3 briefing in Los Angeles on June 6.
Mass Effect 2 leads VGA nominations
Spike's just announced the nominations for this year's Video Game Awards.
Spike's Video Game Awards is tonight, in case you forgot [UPDATE]
Update: Guess what kiddos? We've decided to liveblog the event as it happens. Should you decide that you wish to stay up till around 1:00am (UK'ers) to check in with us, we will update you as the shit goes down! So, if Jack Black shows up in his undies shooting sparks from his groin again, […]
Geoff Keighley talks VGAs, loads of surprises to come
Geoff Keighley has told D'toid that there will be "more than 12" exclusives, including the announced Crackdown 2, a new Star Wars title, and at least two games he can't even comment on during the VGAs tomorrow night. He also mentioned that during the commercial breaks, the show will come back with new stage set […]
Spike VGAs to be broadcast in the UK - now die happy
Looks like Spike TV's Video Games Awards will be aired on Channel 5 December 15 at 9:00pm.Sources at Channel 5 told The Lost Gamer that it can also be viewed on Freeview: CH30 Sky: CH 176, and Fiver + 1 Sky: CH 177, Virgin Media: CH 152, Tiscali TV: CH 31.Granted, it originally airs live […]
Spike VGAs to be without a host for the first time
Looks like Spike TV's annual VGAs will be without a host for the first time this year.According to a rep for the network, going without a host will be on par with what it did for this year's Scream Awards.However, the lack of a celebrity host doesn't mean some will not take the stage. Presenters […]
Next Star Wars game to be announced at VGAs
Geoff Keighley, the King of Twitter, has just tweeted that the next Star Wars game is to be announced during the VGAs on December 12.He even posted a link to a teaser, which can be viewed here.The show goes off at 8pm EST on Spike.
GTTV promo teases Mass Effect 2, Alan Wake, more
A promo teasing episode 228 of GTTV has popped up, and looks like the latest episode is gonna be full of Mass Effect 2 goodness.Apparently, not only will BioWare show off new areas of the game, but according to a tweet by host Geoff Keighley, we'll get to "meet and see the Illusive Man for […]
First gameplay footage of Dead Rising 2 debuts tomorrow on Spike
The first gameplay trailer for Dead Rising 2 will be shown on Spike TV tomorrow night at 12:30am EST.Afterward, it will be posted up on GameTrailers for all the world to see.There are other games that GTTV will be showing as well, Heavy Rain, Modern Warfare 2, but we've seen enough on those. Give us […]
Monster Spike pre-E3 special airs, "steals E3's thunder"
GameTrailers has posted its pre-E3 special, including footage of the following: Playable Joker in Arkham Asylum Split/Second Aliens Vs Predator gameplay Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 Brutal Legend Dante's Inferno Ratchet & Clank Future gameplay DJ Hero NHL 10 Dragon Age: Origins Supreme Commander 2 Uncharted 2 Madden 10 Modern Warfare 2 interview Need for Speed: […]
Spike to show the first trailer from next Bethesda game tomorrow
Geoff Keighley has tweeted that Bethesda will announce its next game tomorrow night on Spike TV.A trailer is also expected, so if you get the channel, tune in at 11pm EST. Otherwise wait until Friday when it hits the net.It's expected to be the untitled Splash Damage game, which earlier in the month, was reported as being […]
Big BioWare pre E3 show on Spike TV this Thursday
BioWare has just updated its twitter feed to announce that there will be a big pre E3 show on Spike TV this Thursday."Anyone who wants to see more on our games should check out Gametrailers on Spike TV, Thursday at 11pm. Will be a big pre E3 show – Matwood"Hopefully we'll get to know more […]
Spike signs multi-year deal with Keighley
Spike TV's announced a new multi-year deal with presenter Geoff Keighley.The contract is "expansive," according to the press release, and will see Keighley developing a range of programming for the network.No time period was give for the agreement."Geoff is the best host in the game industry and a big reason why Spike is the number […]
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Spike Tv latest
VGAs 2012 – Dishonored, The Walking Dead, Assassin's Creed 3, more nominated for Game of the Year
Spike TV and GTTV to show 50 world premieres as part of E3 All Access Live
Spike TV and XBL to broadcast Microsoft's E3 briefing on June 4
Spike to be exclusive TV broadcaster of Microsoft E3 briefing
Spike's Video Game Awards is tonight, in case you forgot [UPDATE]
First gameplay footage of Dead Rising 2 debuts tomorrow on Spike
Spike to show the first trailer from next Bethesda game tomorrow
Gears of War 2 "Combustible" map pack dropping after midnight* (Update)


text:
PINELLAS PARK, Fla. (AP) — President Barack Obama's health care overhaul is getting its first test ahead of the 2014 midterm elections Tuesday in a Tampa-area House district where Democrats and Republicans have spent millions of dollars trying out national strategies for the rest of the year.
The candidates are Democrat Alex Sink and Republican David Jolly, and their contest to succeed the late GOP Rep. Bill Young is considered a tossup, although Libertarian candidate Lucas Overby could affect the outcome by siphoning votes away from both candidates. The perception of what the race means has inspired both parties to call in star advocates like President Bill Clinton and former vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, in addition to blanketing the district with ads, calls and mailings. More than $11 million has been spent on the race, according to the Sunlight Foundation, a nonprofit group that tracks government information. More than one in four registered voters in the district is older than 65, a population that could account for more than half of those casting ballots.
As Jolly and Sink shook hands around the district Tuesday morning, a steady stream of people in one retirement community in Pinellas Park cast ballots. Many of the retirees expressed disgust at the amount of money spent on the race.
"Well, I think way too much money has been spent on it that could have been spent to help people that are in dire need," said Gracie Meyer. "I would hope that someday they put a limit on how much any candidate can spend to get elected or re-elected. I heard last night that 12 million dollars has been spent on this election. And this is all to do over in November. I just think it's a travesty of justice that we allow this much money to be spent on an election."
Campaigns across the country are preparing for November's midterm elections.
Voter Fred Olson wouldn't say who he voted for, but asserted that he was "disturbed" by the amount of money spent and the misleading ads.
"It's very difficult to vote for candidates who condone that type of campaigning, even though you might like them as individuals, the campaigning is outrageous," he said, adding that he considered voting for Overby as a protest vote against the two major parties. "It puts me to the test to vote for either of the major candidates."
The battle for Florida's 13th District seat is a prequel of sorts to the national fight this year over who controls Congress in the last two years of Obama's final presidential term. The House is expected to remain under Republican control. But in the Senate, Republicans are hoping to leverage Obama's unpopularity and his health care law's wobbly start to gain the six seats required to control the 100-member chamber.
That makes the race in Florida a pricey proving ground for both parties, with the candidates the faces of the effort.
Jolly, backed by Republicans and outside groups, says Sink would undermine Medicare because of Democratic-passed cuts to programs under "Obamacare."
Sink and her allies, meanwhile, paint Jolly an extremist who wants to privatize Social Security and gut Medicare.
Clinton recorded a phone call last week seeking local volunteers to help with Sink's campaign, and a half dozen House Democrats emailed fundraising appeals to their own supporters on her behalf. More than a third of Jolly's campaign contributions came from members of Congress.
Meanwhile, Ryan joined Jolly on a conference call with voters, while Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul recorded a phone message for the GOP nominee aimed at supporters of Overby.
Political experts, however, don't think Overby has a chance, but acknowledge that he will siphon votes away from the two main candidates — possibly more from Jolly by drawing Republicans who desire smaller government or who don't like voting for a lobbyist.
Anthony Brunello, a political science professor at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, noted that Overby could also take votes away from Sink because of his socially liberal stance on issues such as staying out of foreign conflicts and legalizing gay marriage and marijuana. He said Overby could simultaneously draw votes from the far left and the far right.
While Republicans held the congressional seat for four decades until Young's death last year, the district's voters favored Obama in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections. The district is 37 percent Republican, 35 percent Democrat and 24 percent independent.
Sink has outspent Jolly by more than 3 to 1 on television advertising, though outside groups aligned with the GOP have helped narrow the overall Democratic advantage.
Health care law gets 1st test in Florida election
PINELLAS PARK, Fla. (AP) — President Barack Obama's health care overhaul is getting its first test ahead of the 2014 midterm elections Tuesday in a Tampa-area House district where Democrats and Republicans have spent millions of dollars trying out national strategies for the rest of the year.


text:
Today I played around a bit with speech recognition on OSX. One of the things I did, was create a simple bridge between Adobe AIR and the NSSpeechRecognizer API on OSX. This api allows you to set a predefined list of commands, and listen for those spoken commands.
The API is quite simple, and so is the native extension api. After including the ANE file, you'll create an instance of the bridge:
After that, you add a list of valid commands:
1 2 3 4
You add an event handler, which is triggered when a command is recognized:
And you start the recognizer:
This will open the speech recognition widget of OSX, with your AIR application. The event handler is triggered when the bridge recognizes one of the commands. The CommandRecognizedEvent object, will contain the command that was recognized:
1 2 3 4
Note that this built-in speech recognition engine is quite sensitive to background noise, and only recognizes US-English spoken words.
Everything (as3 source, native source, demo & ane) is on github for your coding pleasure. Enjoy!


text:
Retractable fin stabilizers type S
For vessels with a low to medium service speed and a demand for high roll reduction performance, SKF has developed a special tail flap which increases the roll reduction efficiency up to 15% compared with conventional two-part fin stabilizers. This so-called Ultra High Lift Fin is protected by an international patent.
- Compact and proven design
- Equipped with the Anti-Vortex-Tip
- Ecodyn hydraulic power system for a highly dynamic response without peaks in demand
- Fin box fitted with a flow-off recess to minimize the flow resistance
- Unit is delivered ready for operation
- Fitted with rotary vane actuators for powerful and reliable operation
- Easy handling with intuitive operating elements
- Wear-resistant sensors to register the ship movements


text:
Magath's future will inevitably come under close scrutiny after a 4-1 defeat to Stoke which confirmed the 60-year-old had failed in his mission to avoid the drop and in the process experienced the first relegation of his own storied nine-club career.
Magath made no excuses for the feeble manner of his side's demise, with goals from Peter Odemwingie, Marko Arnautovic, Oussama Assaidi and Jonathan Walters serving Stoke up the simplest of wins, with a late Kieran Richardson effort offering scant consolation
But defiant Magath insisted: "I don't think to do anything else except stay at Fulham and build up a new team - that was the idea when I came here
"It is clear we have to change something, I want to have success with Fulham in the next years
I will talk about the situation with the owner and we will start to come back."
Magath was damning in his verdict of his side's performance, accusing his players of lacking fighting spirit and being overwhelmed with nerves on such a big occasion
"You saw no fighting spirit and therefore I think they felt too much pressure," added Magath
"I apologise for not managing the situation because I was convinced we would stay in the league but we are relegated."
Stoke in contrast were brimming with purpose from the first minute and delighted boss Mark Hughes with a performance which equals their previous best top-flight record of 47 points with one game to go
The impressive Assaidi blazed over from a Steven N'Zonzi cross in the third minute then Stephen Ireland forced a fine save from David Stockdale as Fulham struggled to find any semblance of rhythm
The visitors' troubles were encapsulated by Lewis Holtby, who sailed an early free-kick into the arms of Asmir Begovic then suffered the ignominy of being hauled off just past the half-hour mark with Magath later accusing his player of offering "nothing" to help his side's survival fight
Stoke finally got the goal their performance deserved in the 39th minute when Ireland's shot struck Dan Burn, ricocheted against the underside of the bar and bounced down for Odemwingie to slot home a simple opener
With next to nothing to excite the massed ranks of visiting fans, Stoke increased their lead on 54 minutes when Arnautovic smashed home an Odemwingie cross to make it 2-0, then Arnautovic turned provider to square for Assaidi to grab his side's third 17 minutes from time
Richardson pulled one back on 80 minutes but Stoke wrapped up a fine performance when Walters finished off another swift counter-attacking move.
With a successful end to his own side's season assured, Hughes will now turn his attention to securing the future of on-loan winger Assaidi, with talks having already begun with his parent club Liverpool.
Hughes said: "It's important that we accept that he's not our player, he's Liverpool's player, but he's done really well for us and we're very pleased with what he's produced.
"There is a hope we might be able to bring him in and a lot of that is down to the player himself
You need the right players around you to maximise your ability and I think he's found that at Stoke City, so we're hopeful.
"But it's out of our hands to a certain extent because it depends what Liverpool value him at."
Source : PA
Source: PA


text:
Texty písní » Ghostface Killah & Black Thought - In Tha Park
Ghostface Killah - stát se fanouškem
Black Thought - stát se fanouškem
Album: Apollo Kids
In Tha Park
Yeah, niggas don't know about Fatback
With the different color records they had back in the days
You know what I mean, the belt-driven turntables
With Technics joints (with the slipmats!)
Put nickels on the needles so the motherfucking record won't jump
The needle won't skip and shit
Getting juice from the fucking light poles
Shout out to the Bronx, nigga!
Ay yo, this shit go way back like a Uni marker, kid
Bombing the D train and hit the Bronx up
Krylon bandits attack; Planet Rock, Bambaataa
Peace to Pylon discovering rap
And the DJ that made the first scratch
Paved the way for Flex, Mister Cee, 'nuff of them cats
See, this rap shit came at a time that was accurate
Twenty-something years later, I mastered it
Seen light poles get used for power
I was a little nigga
Couldn't stay out late - I was sour
So I sat by the window, heard the DJ cut
Impeach the Pres, Apache, and just begun
Otis Redding - slam! The music stopped
Guess the system blew out one of his amps
It'd take a little while, then it come back on
Somebody stepped on the wire and shit, that's all
Now everybody's back in the groove, echo chamber
"Check one two, one two" - that's my favorite
Strobe lights is live, Pink Champale
Little pink joints being lit up on the side
Couple niggas had two fives
Other than that, cleared a circle in the park and shoot 5
Girls wore they Lees and jellies
Jordache and Lees, TF Lords fit the fellys
Sams and Kangol buckets, BVD's
Go to Sergio's like, fuck it
Seen the stamp on that Crazy Eddie
niggas coming back from the Funhouse dusted
Throwing bubbles on the wall
We must remind you
Where this rap come from
Yes my brother, my sister
It's our duty, we must remind you
Hip hop was set out in the park
We used to do it out in the dark
Yo, it all started at the After Midnight Philly, but walk with me
Mad niggas coming down from New York City
Prolly hit the skating rink USA
Banging Schoolly, "Gangster Boogie" and "PSK"
I remember shells, Gazelles, top tens, and lottos
Mega design, reefer smoke, Coqui nine bottles
Entire wore velours, call the boys with the Lucci wore
84's from Atlantic City Coogi store
Linoleum break dancing, Rust-Oleum cans
I put the writing on the wall signed, "Truly yours"
Philly smashed '87 Music Seminar
Out on the battlefield like Pat Benatar
Hit the borough with Krown Rulers out of Camden
People Patty Duke-ing in the party, all cramped in
Around the time Flav started cold lamping
"Rebel Without a Pause" was the street anthem
Old Memorex cassette, tape collections
Bright spotlights on all the fights at the Spectrum
When the Fresh Fest come, leather bombers and sheepskins
Brothers would bust they guns to get one
MC Breeze, Disco C, Jazzy Jeff
Cash Money and Miz and Lady B
Everybody banging "Sucker MC's" in '83
I was South Philly like St. Charles and Crazy D
Them wild North Side Puerto Ricans would snuff you
Twenty deep in a Ford Escort, pumping the Tuff Crew
I used to follow my cousin, he was a buck too
"Y'all don't like how I'm living, well, fuck you!"
I been a G since a little kid
Sticking my head up into somebody's dollar party, getting into shit
And late nights, shoulda been in bed
Instead, I was running 'round with them downtown lemonheads
A little man, hanging where them grown women is
Under thirteen, seeing real strong images
And that's the reason for my real rap penmanship
That's where I started it, and that's where I'm a finish it
We must remind you
Where this rap come from
Yes my brother, my sister
It's our duty, we must remind you
Hip hop was set out in the park
We used to do it out in the dark
Přidal: Ornela dne 13. 01. 2011 v 19:37.
Počet zobrazení: 101 (0).
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text: Rockstar keeps adding content to Grand Theft Auto Online. Today, fittingly, they've added a slew of Valentine's Day content with a criminal twist. Players are getting a chance to grab new guns, cars, clothes...a lot of it themed to fit the 1929's notorious Saint Valentine's Day Massacre. Details about the update are on Rockstar's site. Are you playing GTA Online? Having a good time with it?


text:
There were a few races from last week that we can't find any English language recaps for. Highlights include:
In France, at the 41st Corrida Pedestre Internationale de Houilles, some big names raced at 10k including 2008 Olympic 10k bronze medallist Micah Kogo and 12:52 5ker Edwin Soi. The winner however was Ethiopian teen Berhanu Legesse who just edged Kogo. Legesee is a new-comer who finished 2nd to Hagos Gebrhiwet at the CBE Great Ethiopian Run (http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/gebrhiwet-and-kebede-take-addis-ababa-10-k-wi).
Top 10 Men-
1. Berhanu Legesse, U20, ETH, 28:23
2. Micah Kogo, KEN, 28:23
3. Moleta Baisa, ETH, 28:24
4. Ayalew Kinde Atanaw, U20, ETH, 28:25
5. Abrar Osmam Adem, U20, ETH, 28:27
6. Edwin Soi, KEN, 28:42
7. Milton Rotich Kiplagat, KEN, 28:42
8. Youssef Elkalai, FRA, 28:42
9. Isaac Mukundi Mwangi, KEN, 28:48
10. El Hassane Ben Lkhainouch, FRA, 28:55
At Italy's We Run Rome 10-K, Italy's top two distance runners clashed. 27:32 man Daniele Meucci got the win over recent European xc champ Andrea Lalli.
Top 5 Men
1. Daniele Meucci, C.S. Esercito, 28:45
2. Nicholas Togom, KEN, 28:51
3. Andrea Lalli, G.A. Fiamme Gialle, 28:57
4. Koen Naert, BEL, 29:38
5. Rui Silva, POR, 30:11
In Germmany, 2007 WC 5k bronze medalist, Moses Kipsiro, earned his 4th victory at the 8km Bitburger-Silvesterlauf in Trier.
Top 5 Men -
1. Moses Kipsiro, UGA 22:41.8
2. Dickson Kimutai, Tyron-Team (KEN) 22:43.5
3. Alex Kibet, KEN 22:45.1
4. Patrick Ereng, KEN 22:54.0 PB
5. Bernard Kiplagat, Tyron-Team (KEN) 23:00.1


text:
Forest Information Billboard
Issue 2, June 2013
Forest Reporting
Joint Wood Energy Enquiry Results Published
Overall wood energy accounts for 3.3% of the total primary energy supply and 38.4% of the renewable energy supply in 28 UNECE member countries in 2011, confirming its role as the leading source of renewable energy. And around 40% of all mobilized woody biomass supply is used for energy purposes.
Looking at the data 2007-2011 it was possible to identify trends in the use of wood energy and to provide a comparison by selecting a subset of 13 countries that have responded to consecutive rounds of the enquiry (13 countries: Austria, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom). Between 2007 and 2011, the volume of wood used for energy purposes within this group of countries grew from 207 to 242 million m3, an annual growth of 4%. The role of wood in total primary energy supply increased slightly from 4.3% to 5.4% while the share of wood energy among renewable energy sources increased from 49.8% to 51.4%.
The main sources of wood energy were as follows:
- Co-products and residues from forest-based industries, including processed wood fuels with improved energy content such as wood pellets, briquettes and charcoal (also called indirect sources) contributed 58.3%.
- Woody biomass from forests and other wooded land (also known as direct sources) such as logging residues, thinnings and clearings, which represented 32.6% of consumption.
- Recovered waste wood (mainly waste from construction, but also packaging and old furniture), which accounted for 3.7% of the supply.
Some 46.8% of the wood energy supply is consumed by the industrial sector. The forest products industry typically consumes energy generated from the solid and liquid co-products of its manufacturing processes. Countries with major forest industries, such as Finland, Sweden and the United States, have therefore a higher level of industrial consumption.
Residential use, mainly dependent on direct supplies of firewood, accounted for 32.6% of the wood energy supply. Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Ukraine report this category as their primary use.
But consumption of wood energy use by private households is often higher than official records indicate. The power and heat sector represents 18.3% of wood energy use. This sector is the largest consumer of wood energy in Denmark, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
For more information visit:
or contact: firstname.lastname@example.com
Reporting on Global and Pan-European Forest Resources
Global reporting
The global data collection process for the Collaborative Forest Resources Questionnaire (CFRQ) and Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) was taken forward at the Global Meeting in Preparation for FRA/CFRQ 2015 held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on 6-10 May 2013. This workshop, which gathered some 150 national and international experts on forest reporting, was vital for developing a shared understanding of the requirements for FRA 2015 and the CFRQ. The conference covered the whole scope of the process, which includes national reporting, remote sensing assessment and the Forest Futures study.
CFRQ/FRA national reporting is underway; the first deadline for submission of national reports is 15 July 2013. For the first time, the collection and review process will be carried out interactively, through the Forest Resources Information Management System (FRIMS). In this activity, countries of Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia are assisted by the UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section and a team of 7 regional experts. A regional workshop for FRA national correspondents, which will be held in Geneva, Switzerland on 16-17 October 2013, will also facilitate this process.
Pan-European reporting
Technical preparations for the pan-European reporting are continuing through the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Monitoring Sustainable Forest Management. The draft pan-European questionnaire is at the final stage of preparation. It is expected that the pre-filled questionnaires will be sent to countries by the end of August 2013. In parallel to these preparations the Team of Specialists will start work on information to be provided by organizations/processes that specialize in the collection and analysis of information in specific areas of Sustainable Forest Management. The next meeting of the Team dedicated to this topic will be held on 18 October 2013 in Geneva, back to back with the regional workshop on FRA/CFRQ reporting. The meeting will be open to national correspondents from the region.
For more information visit:
www.fao.org/forestry/fra/76871/en/ or www.unece.org/forests/tos-sfm-2013.html
or contact: firstname.lastname@example.com (global reporting)or firstname.lastname@example.com (pan-European reporting)
Roundwood Prices in the Baltic Sea Region
The Finnish Forest Research Institute (Metla) publishes an online database containing roundwood price data for most of the countries around the Baltic Sea. The objective of the database is to bring together the price data available in the countries, and make these data easily accessible to various user groups. Relevant and representative price series are reported for the following countries: Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. Price data, starting mainly from 1996, are provided by the national contacts of the Baltic-Nordic Forest Statistics Group (BNFSG). The prices reported in the database originate from official forest statistics in each country.
Roundwood prices may be reported at three points: standing, at the roadside and in the mill yard. On this site, only roadside prices of roundwood are presented. Prices are reported by roundwood assortment reporting period being either a month or a quarter.
Price comparisons between countries should be treated with caution. This is due to the variation of measurement units, as well as quality and dimensional requirements of various assortments within the region (see countrywise Product Descriptions). Consequently, the statistics reflect more on the price developments within the countries than the price differences between the countries.
For more information visit:
or contact: email@example.com and/or email@example.com
EU Imports of Tropical Timber
Twice a year, Eurostat will publish data on EU imports of wood from countries negotiating or implementing a FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement. The source is monthly customs data collected at the EU's external borders, available from Eurostat's trade database COMEXT. Each month's data are final after approximately one year.
The EU's policy to fight illegal logging and associated trade was defined in 2003 with the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) action plan. A key element is a voluntary scheme to ensure that only legally harvested timber is imported to the EU: the bilateral FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA).
FLEGT-licensed timber does not yet exist. It will ship under licences issued by the producing country once a VPA agreement is concluded and legality assurance systems are in place. The statistics published therefore show the potential volume and value of verified legal timber entering the EU from partner countries involved in VPAs. Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Ghana, Indonesia, Liberia and the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) have already signed or agreed VPAs, while Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Guyana, Honduras, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam are negotiating.
The classification system used is the Harmonised System 2012 – all of Chapter 44 in the international Harmonised System Nomenclature and Combined Nomenclature of the EU and, separately, the identified tropical items of the Chapter 44. The graph shows totals and shares of imports from partner countries involved in VPAs. It also illustrates how hard the ongoing recession hit these high-value imports.
For more information click here or contact firstname.lastname@example.com
TransparentForests – Satellite Remote Sensing to Strengthen Quality Transparency
Over the last three years, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has participated in a series of trials, financed by the European Space Agency, to assess the potential value and utility of satellite remote sensing to strengthen and increase the quality and transparency of the forest certification process.
Having satisfied itself that this technology would be of significant value, FSC has now initiated TransparentForests©, a study to assess the viability of a web-based Forest Certification Information System (FCIS) in delivering an independent source of geo-spatial data to support better forest certification. The FCIS will integrate Earth Observation (EO) satellite mapping systems, global positioning systems (GPS) and global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) in a web-based geographic information system (GIS), specifically customized for the needs of FSC and its stakeholders.
For Certification Bodies, TransparentForests will introduce a source of independent, up-to-date and spatially accurate data as a basis to plan and undertake audits. It will also offer a platform for stakeholder consultations, especially for forest communities. Environmentally-important features and assets in forests will be identifiable, and stakeholders will be able to monitor their status. As a result, TransparentForests should increase the robustness of the forest management certificates FSC issues. It should also result in greater stakeholder engagement and process efficiency for both Certification Bodies and forest operations in preparing for and undertaking audits.
For background on the project, visit http://iap.esa.int/projects/transparentforests
Download a project outline at https://ic.fsc.org/transparent-forests.552.htm
For more information contact: firstname.lastname@example.com
Widening the Scope of Forest-based Mitigation Options in the Tropics - The Roles of Forests in Substituting for Fossil Energy Sources and Moving Towards a Greener Economy
The scope of tropical forest policies has expanded since Kyoto in 1995, from an initial focus on afforestation to the much broader concept of REDD+, which applies to a larger set of territories, services and products – locally and globally. Yet the great emphasis assigned to sequestering carbon and avoiding the destorage of carbon in a given place remains the overwhelming priority presented to decision and policy makers.
A more thorough and balanced approach is needed in which carbon sequestration and storage is combined with other, complementary purposes such as assigning monetary values to sustainable forest production that capture the benefits from forests for both local populations and the global climate. One of the most important benefits for the climate is the direct and indirect substitution effects that renewable forest products have when they are used instead of fossil fuel alternatives – a major element in the role of forests as a basis for greener economies.
Yet the production of biomass and roundwood in the tropics requires substantial improvements through practices such as reduced impact logging, restoration of degraded lands, certification, mixed plantations, and agro-forestry. These measures will enable us to use forests more effectively as a vital source of food security and energy while at the same time greatly reducing the need to harvest untouched primary forests – making it possible to halt deforestation altogether.
The global climatic effect of ambitious policies balancing sequestration, avoided deforestation, and forest production that substitutes for fossil fuels would represent an annual saving of 8 billion tons of carbon in 2050 – a volume that is the double the present accumulation of GHG in the atmosphere.
The publication is available in English here and will be available in French in October 2013 at:
For more information contact: email@example.com
New Report Assesses Approaches to Expand Community-Scale Clusters of Wood-to-Energy Facilities in the U.S.
The production of energy using a renewable material such as wood can have positive impacts on all three legs of the sustainability stool - society, the economy, and the environment -- so finds a report prepared by Dovetail Partners and released by the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment). The report, "Financing Woody Biomass Clusters: Barriers, Opportunities, and Potential Models for the Western U.S."
The production of energy using a renewable material such as wood can have positive impacts on all three legs of the sustainability stool - society, the economy, and the environment -- so finds a report prepared by Dovetail Partners and released by the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment). The report, "Financing Woody Biomass Clusters: Barriers, Opportunities, and Potential Models for the Western U.S." looks specifically at how community-scale wood-fueled facilities could aid in addressing burgeoning forest health issues and expanding losses due to wildfires.
The report is part of a series of works produced by the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities in a collaborative effort with the USDA Forest Service to assess the potential of markets for low-value wood to enhance forest health while advancing energy security.
The full report can be downloaded from:
Report on Private and Public Forest Ownership in Europe Published
Information on the spatial distribution of forest ownership is needed not only in the forestry sector but in general for activities related to forest ownership. A newly published report "Mapping the distribution of forest ownership in Europe" by Pamela Pulla, Andreas Schuck, Pieter Johannes Verkerk, Bruno Lasserre, Marco Marchetti and Tim Green contributes to a better knowledge of forest ownership distribution in the 47 European countries through a thorough data collection, analysis and visual presentation.
Public forests, but also forests in private ownership increasingly, play a key role in sustaining forest ecosystems, ensuring biodiversity protection, mitigating climate change, enhancing rural development and supplying timber and non-wood goods and services.
The study quantifies the spatial distribution of forest ownership at the sub-national level (regional, counties, departments, districts, etc.), and collects information on the existence and the availability of geo-referenced maps showing the spatial distribution of private and public forests in Europe. In addition to the report, two maps were produced, illustrating private and public European forest ownership.
The European Forest Institute's (EFI) Regional Office EFICENT-OEF coordinated and implemented the study jointly with the University of Molise, Italy. The EFI Technical Report, the forest ownership maps and a set of annexes can be downloaded from the EFI website.
For more information visit:
or contact: firstname.lastname@example.com
FSC Global Market Survey Report 2012 Published
Each year, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) conducts a market survey to examine market trends and gain insights into how FSC certification benefits customers and different industries and regions. In 2012, more than 4,000 FSC certificate holders participated in the survey.
The FSC Global Market Survey Report 2012 shows that the distribution of FSC certified products has grown significantly in recent years and continues to grow every day as consumers choose products from well-managed forests. Having this information on the impacts of growth in the global FSC market is important for FSC and stakeholders. The insights about market developments and future trends also show where FSC certification makes a difference for certified businesses and forests and where FSC can improve its efforts.
The 2012 FSC Global Market Survey (PDF) is available at:
For more information contact: email@example.com
Our Future from Forests
The WBCSD Forest Solutions Group recently released the Facts & Trends: Forests, Forest Products, Carbon and Energy emphasizing the key drivers facing the forest-based industry today and in the near future, underlining the importance of sustainable forest management and the role of the forest industry to provide solutions in a resource constrained world. This is complemented by the Issue Brief on Biomass Carbon Neutrality, which distills and synthesizes the complexity around the concept of and debate on carbon neutrality and highlights the carbon benefits of using forest biomass for our economy, environment and society.
To assist companies in making informed choices about the forest products that they purchase and use, the Forest Solutions Group and the World Resources Institute developed the Sustainable Procurement Guide for wood and paper-based products. Now in its 3rd edition, the guide and resource kit provide an overview of the context of forests and their management and explain the 10 most critical issues underpinning the procurement of forest products, including sourcing, legality, and environmental and social aspects. It also introduces existing tools, resources and initiatives, and outlines their relevance and utility in addressing each of the 10 issues. Seeking out sustainably produced forest products is imperative for business to building and retaining consumer confidence in their product offerings. This includes all forest based components and incentives for responsible forest management, retaining growth and vitality, ecological functions, biodiversity and social values of the world's forests, while meeting society's needs today and in the future.
For more information contact firstname.lastname@example.com
EFI 20 Years Science and Policy Forum 23-27 September 2013, Nancy, France
European Forest Institute (EFI) celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2013. This commemoration of its major achievements is also an opportunity to analyze the future of our forests and how EFI and its partners can contribute to meet the challenges related to the various changes, risks and uncertainties to which our forests will be exposed.
The Forum will stimulate balanced discussion between policy/decision makers, stakeholders and scientists on concrete issues related to the future of our forests, and the risks and opportunities they face. On 25 September, a high-level conference: "Our forests in the 21st century – ready for risks and opportunities?" gathers both scientists and decision-makers.
Keynote Speakers Include:
- Prof. Dr. Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Assistant Director, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Forestry Department.
- Dr. Janez Potočnik, European Commission, Commissioner for Environment
- Mr. Kriton Arsenis, Member of the European Parliament
- Mr. Jan Heino, Chairman, Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe, FOREST EUROPE
The morning of 26 September continues with a session: "Risks to European Forests - What added value can a European Forest Risk Facility provide?" followed in the afternoon with a FLEGT-REDD session "Shaping forest policy: Global initiatives and the European arena", and an annual meeting of EFI's Central European Regional Office and the Observatory for European Forests – EFICENT-OEF.
Registration for the anniversary events is open. Information and registration for the events is available at: www.efi20.efi.int
How to contribute? Deadline for the next issue is 15 September 2013. More information is available here.
We work in cooperation with the Global Forest Information Service.


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Sleepymonk11 wrote:Okay, here it goes:
I've signed up, waited the appropriate amount of time, got my Forum (obviously) and FTP account set up and activated and waited the appropriate amount of time again.
Whenever I try to login I'm told that my username/password is wrong. I've tried flat out turning off my firewall and anti-virus and still nothing. I'm at a loss. What do I do?
Is there any other that I can include that might help you understand the problem or is this common?
You're trying to log into Siteadmin using your comic account, or forum account? This isn't a signup problem, and should be in it's own thread.


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During my schooldays, by the time our Summer holidays started, a month of fun and frolic would have been over for my friends studying in other schools with State syllabus. When their exams got over, our school (Kendriya Vidyalaya) would still be completing the last chapters or would have just begun 'Revisions'!
Now by the time our exams started, there would be complete chaos opposite my house, where the matches would be played or the sittings and discussions would take place – in short, opposite my house was our ADDA.
Mine being an old and small house with a huge empty space in front, which ever place you shifted base to study, it made no difference as I could hear the score after each ball. This was all the more frustrating because only my body would be in the house while my mind was on the street – I would be under 'house arrest', made to study forcefully! In this atmosphere, I would be made to spend one whole week. In the morning, while going for the exam, they would be playing. While coming back from the exam, I would see them pouring water over the head and still playing. Until 7 in the evening, they would be cheering and booing each other. Then they would sit till 8pm and only then go home. It was sheer torture to sit and TRY to STUDY while the main action was happening elsewhere. I was not allowed to see my favourite CHITRAMANJARI on Thursday. I prayed god (not for my exams) but for the only reason that no Rajkumar movie should be telecast on Saturday till my exams finished!
By the last day of my exam, I would have been tamed by the four letter word – EXAM. But just as we came out of the school gate, we would enjoy the 10 paise Guava, 25 paise Joy Ice Cream stick, throw stones at the Mango tree in the opposite house and eat one or two and hit each other with the rest, buy pickles from Krishna Stores or GK Stores opposite the bus stand…. Wow! We would act as if we had really achieved something great by studying, attending, writing and coming out of the exam hall intact, in a single piece!
This thought in mind, someone would suggest we ought to treat ourselves with Veg Sandwich at the nearby JB Bakery. That would be 75 paise for a double sandwich. We would have a by-two! The assistant boy whom we all knew quite well, would be more than happy to give us hot sandwiches and Dil Pasand, just out of the oven. I would suddenly feel an urge to have a Masale Dose at Agarwal Bhavan, diagonally opposite our school back gate. But sipping a Torino, I would literally feel 'fullfilled' in life!
We would walk near the Sankey bridge after playing some cricket inside the school – the exam pad acting as the bat. After the exams, our mind would remember just two dates – the day of the results (usually May 2nd or 3rd) and the reopening day (usually June 26th or 27th). To complete the final rites, we would bid adieu to our close friends, while tearing the exam sheets into pieces and throwing them on our year-long rivals, who would be chased out of the school front gate, only to be seen hiding near the back gate!
Back home, we would behave like KINGS! "I want Thums Up". "I want to watch TV from start till the end". "I want to see Rajkumar's film in Geethanjali TODAY ITSELF, and again tomorrow!". "I want to go to Janatha Hotel"…
On the day of the result, we would again see our classmates. Our Princi would tell us to read useful books and do some projects during summer holidays and then announce the reopening date. He would mention a couple of names and everybody would clap till the said persons would come on stage and shake hands with the Princi. Our class teachers would distribute the Report Cards (one year Pink, the other year Yellow, or Light Green or Blue) While some of us would get a stern look while receiving the Report Card, some others got a 'Keepi tappppp' or just 'Gooooooood'!
Mother would start making my favourite Kobri Mithai once the results would be announced at home. She would be able to see the marks card only by late evening, when she would be slightly free after entertaining several visitors while cooking, serving and also making sweets. She would wipe her hands dry and hold it so very delicately and read every letter on the marks sheet. She would give the sweets after telling me to do better the coming year. I would say a quick "Yes, Yes" and would be more bothered to eat the sweet!
Although I never attended any Summer camp all my life, Summer would simply fly! Me and my friends would have loads of activity lined up, when we were not wielding the willow. If we got bored with Cricket, we would switch to any of these -Hide and Seek, Lagori, Soor Chand, Kings, Ghost stories, Gate-Gate or Tree-Tree, Tennis (using palms) – lines drawn using a brick piece on the road… There would be doubles games also while playing Tennis. Some of the smashes would take the ball down to the edge of the road or to the empty site full of parthenium plants. There was also a game where we would shout, "Crocodile Crocodile, which co-lo-r dooo youuuu choose?"
When some friends would go out of station, then our dear Ajji would always pitch in by playing Chowka Bhara or Pagade with us. I have never understood how to play Ali Guli Mane – too complicated! Always had this notion that only girls were better at it.
Mango smell and mango dishes would over power you during summer. Manvinakayi Chitranna, Mavinahannu Gojju, Mavinahannu Seekarne, Mavinakayi Uppinakayi, Mavinakayi Chutney… and apart from these, just eating the raw mangoes with chilli powder or ripe mangoes till the 'Vaate' was bald and white was sheer fun with my cousins, who would loyally visit us every summer!
Overnight, our house would become the destination for Carrom or Chess matches. These games were, to begin with, not in my favour, as all elders would say "you are young, we'll take you in the next match"… and that never happened. Sometimes, I felt like getting rid of the Carrom or Chess board!
Rains would have started, thus bringing end to Summer. And my friends would have already finished a month of schooling, as their classes would have begun by May end itself. I would still be absolutely unaware that it was a week into June!
Suddenly, I would have a desire to buy a new bat. I would wait for months for my father to fulfill this wish. My father would one fine day make a bat himself using some old wooden plank. An old cycle tube would be the 'grip'! I would play with it only inside my compound, not very happy to take it out for the matches on the street, where branded SG bats would be in demand. [Only once did my father buy me a bat from a shop in Malleswaram. My misfortune that the handle and the blade got separated a week later! It would be back to the old bat.]
Rubber ball – Magenta or Red or Blue, with an ASIAD APPU logo printed on a yellow patch would be bought for two rupees from Popular Stores. Tennis ball was a rarity. Still don't know how much one costed then (in the early and mid '80s)! Would ask my uncle in the US to get used tennis balls when he visited. That itself was a luxury.
Having lived in a dream world for over two months, I would one day see my father dusting my old school bag – the military type – yellow color with two pockets at the front and two buckles which had sharp metal edges. I would ask him – "Can I get a new bag this year at least?" He would look at the bag once again and reply, "This bag can last till your college… and if you keep it properly, even your son can use it!"
That was enough to bring you back to this world. And that meant it was time for school!
Will be fun if you could share your Summer Holidays flashback with me!


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Direct flights from Amsterdam to New York
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Why visit New York?
Because they call it "The City That Never Sleeps" for a reason. Minute to minute, New York is the most exciting city in America, if not the world.
Local hotspot
Beatles fans flock to Strawberry Fields, a 2.5-acre preserve in Central Park at 72nd Street and Central Park West, across the street from the Dakota, where John Lennon lived (and was shot in 1980). There are always big sing-along parties on Lennon's birthday (October 9) and the anniversary of his death (December 8).
You probably didn't know
If each New York City borough were an independent city, Brooklyn would be the third-largest city in America. Queens would be fourth. Manhattan would be sixth.
Suggested reading about new York
Let the Great World Spin (Colum McCann, 2009); Motherless Brooklyn (Jonathan Lethem, 2000)
New York facts
- Population: 8.4 million (2011)
- Annual visitors: 54.3 million (2013)
- January average high temperature: 4°C
- August average high temperature: 28°C
Things to do in New York
Asian fusion cuisine is a huge trend in new York – isn't it everywhere? – and the foremost practitioner of the art in New York is Michelin-starred chef David Chang. He owns four restaurants, a bar and a bakery in the East Village alone. His latest venture is Fuku, a lunch-only fried chicken sandwich shop that has locals lining up for blocks.
The Spotted Pig
There are many contenders for best hamburger in the country, but the thick, chargrilled patty served at The Spotted Pig has to be near the top of the list. When you fly to New York, try Michelin-starred chef April Bloomfield's burger, which is topped with Roquefort cheese and comes with a huge pile of shoestring fries, will cost you $22, but you'll forget all about counting your pennies after you bite in.
Russ & Daughters Cafe
If you've ever looked at a plate of scrambled eggs and thought, "You know what this could use? Some caviar," then Russ & Daughters Cafe placed in New York is the place for you. The Lower East Side brunch spot is a spin-off of the famed appetizer store that's been plying salmon and bagels on Houston Street since 1914.
Di Fara Pizza
New York is justifiably famous for its pizza, and there are all sorts of takes on the dish, ranging from gourmet pies to dollar slices. Perhaps the finest example of the classic New York pie is found deep in Brooklyn, at a humble corner pizzeria called Di Fara Pizza. It has been owned and run by Domenico DeMarco for more than 50 years.
The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog
Few cities are as serious about cocktails as New York. One of the city's – nay, the world's – best cocktail bars is the Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog. The upstairs parlour menu at this Financial District bar features 72 historic cocktails, organized by season.
Booker & Dax
Another stand-out spot for cocktails in New York is Booker & Dax. Part of the Momofuku empire, this bar is known for "molecular" mixology. Owner–bartender Dave Arnold chills some drinks, such as his Thai basil daiquiri, using liquid nitrogen.
Le Bain
If the club scene is your thing, one of the hippest spots in New York is Le Bain. Found on the roof of the Standard Hotel, this swank New York nightclub has a plunge pool in the middle of the dance floor, a "grass"-covered rooftop with a creperie and some of the best views in the city.
Sunny's Bar
Or, for an entirely different kind of experience, take a trip to the far reaches of Red Hook, Brooklyn, right at the edge of New York Harbor. Here you'll find Sunny's Bar, New York's finest dive, which teems with nautical knickknacks and offers free music on many nights.
John Varvatos in New York
The Lower Manhattan neighborhood of Soho (which stands for South of Houston Street) is one of the busiest retail destinations in the world, with more big name fashion brands than a Kanye West song (think DKNY, Versace, etc.). Fun fact: The John Varvatos store on the Bowery was once the famed rock club CBGB building.
Prada, Armani, Gucci, Dolce&Gabbana and Tiffany's
If Soho is somehow not high-end enough for you for shopping in New York, then a trip uptown to Madison Avenue may be in order. Prada, Armani, Gucci, Dolce&Gabbana – it's like an Italian fashion-house arms race up here. And just one block over, on 5th Avenue, stands Holly Golightly's favourite place for breakfast: Tiffany's.
LEGO Store
FAO Schwarz may have closed, taking the giant keyboard from the movie "Big" with it. But if you need to entertain your kids during your staying in new York, the 3,535-square foot flagship LEGO store awaits at 5th Avenue and 23rd Street, near the Flatiron Building.
Of course, no trip to New York is complete without a Broadway show. With all the options – "Wicked," "Book of Mormon," "The Lion King" and a million shorter-run shows featuring major actors – it can be tough to choose. If you feel like taking a chance, give the Broadway Roulette service a try. For a flat fee, they pick a show for you.
The Whitney Museum of American Art
When you travel to New York, do not miss The Whitney Museum of American Art opened in May 2015 on the Westside of Manhattan, right above the High Line. The museum offers a stunning collection of modern and contemporary art, including works by Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning. The Renzo Piano–designed building is the talk of the art world.
Comedy Cellar
When it comes to comedy, New York has long been the centre of the universe. On any given night the line-up at the Comedy Cellar, in Greenwich Village, will be chockfull of stand-up comics who have appeared on "The Tonight Show" or Letterman. If you're lucky, you may catch a drop-in performance from a superstar like Chris Rock or Louis C.K.
Coney Island
For an old-school family day on the beach, there are few places that offer classic Americana like Coney Island. There's a beach, a boardwalk, and an amusement park – including the Cyclone, the 1927 roller coaster that's a National Landmark. Snack at the Nathan's Famous, home of the annual Fourth of July hot-dog eating contest.
Events to look out for when you fly to New York:
- Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (February/September)
- Tribeca Film Festival (April)
- Mermaid Parade (June)
- The Belmont Stakes (June)
- NYC Pride (June)
- Shakespeare in the Park (June–September)
- Nathan's International Hot Dog Eating Contest (July)
- Summer Streets (August)
- U.S. Open Tennis (August–September)
- New York City Marathon (November)
- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (November)
- New Year's Eve in Times Square (December/January)
Flying with Norwegian
Free WiFi on board most flights within Europe
Airport information
Norwegian's flights depart from terminal 1.
Check-in kiosks
Check-in kiosks are available.
Online check-in
Online check-in is unfortunately not available at this airport.
Getting to/from the airport
JFK offers several transportation options. For a complete overview, please see the airport's website.
Airport website


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The BBC will be airing a documentary called Secrets of the Superbrands today, where they'll be looking at the power that brands like Apple hold over us. They did some poking around with an MRI scanner, and discovered that for Apple fanatics, their brains respond to Apple products in the same way as people of faith do to religious imagery.
Here's the quote from Secrets of the Superbrands creator Alex Riley:
"The Bishop of Buckingham -- who reads his Bible on an iPad -- explained to me the similarities between Apple and a religion. And when a team of neuroscientists with an MRI scanner took a look inside the brain of an Apple fanatic it seemed the bishop was on to something. The results suggested that Apple was actually stimulating the same parts of the brain as religious imagery does in people of faith."
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
I suppose this shouldn't be too surprising, since as TUAW rightly points out, you could probably make the same sorts of observations about more or less anything that people react to in generally the same manner, whether it's religion, devotion to a particular brand, or love for some TV franchise.
On the other hand, does this mean that your brain can't really tell the difference between religion and a marketing driven pop culture phenomenon? Yeah, I'm not gonna touch that one with a ten foot pole duct taped to my iPad, but feel free to watch the documentary yourself over on the BBC website. And for those of us in the states, well, it looks like we'll just have to wait for it to trickle down to BBC America.


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Quite simply, some charts that may be of interest. For example, note how Apple is supplanting Microsoft in search volume; that PR may be peeling upwards away from advertising and even marketing; the relative fortunes of Google+, Facebook and Twitter; social media may be levelling off; and, especially heartwarming for me, Star Wars is much more popular than Star Trek (mostly).
All charts are for all regions and years except the politics chart which is just for the UK over the past 12 months (because a lot can happen in 12 months!) Click each chart to go to the Google Trends page for more information, such as the news items that account some spikes (A, B, C etc).
● microsoft ● apple
● ed miliband ● david cameron ● nick clegg ● politics
● hp ● dell ● ibm ● hardware
● advertising ● marketing ● pr ● social media
● social media
● google+ ● facebook ● twitter
● star wars ● star trek


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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The big goals sometimes come from the most unlikely of places and for the New England Revolution, Kevin Alston's first MLS goal couldn't have come at a better time.
In the 68th minutes of a scoreless match, Alston worked with Daigo Kobayashi to create on opportunity in the box and with Teal Bunbury's last touch leaving an open chance about 13 yards out, the 25-year-old defender buried it past Dynamo keeper Tally Hall to the delight of the 14,259 on hand at Gillette Stadium Saturday evening.
A goal in stoppage time from Jerry Bengtson would give the Revolution a 2-0 victory as they improve to 1-0-1 at home.
Both teams entered this game without the services of two regular starters, as Alston, making his 123rd appearance for New England, started in place of the injured Chris Tierney.
New England would also be left without captain Jose Goncalves who was cleared out of the game on a rough challenge by Houston captain Ricardo Clark, who caught Goncalves leg in the 38th minute.
The Dynamo, who put four goals in against New England in the season opener, came out flat at the start, unable to generate any proper attack as they watched their closest chances sail wide of the net.
A header in the box by AJ Cochran, making in his first career start, was Houston's best opportunity of the game in the 23rd minute, but sailed over the outstretched arms of Bobby Shuttleworth and the top of the cross bar.
The New England attack looked stronger than it had in prior matches, coming out strong from the start, but missing on chances due to failed last passes or the play of Hall who stopped four shots in the game.
Hall would err late in the game as he attempted to come up on a long ball in from A.J. Soares only to see Bengtson swoop in and pick up the ball on the fly, getting into the box behind Hall, burying home his first goal of the season in the 91st minute.
Shuttleworth recorded his second clean sheet of the season for the Revolution, being the first keeper to blank the Dymano on the season.
The Revolution will play their fifth road game of the season at Chicago next Saturday while Houston continues on their three-game road trip, playing at Philadelphia.
New England Revolution (2-3-1; 7 points) vs. Houston Dynamo (2-3-0; 6 points)
MLS regular season
April 12, 2014 – Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.
Attendance: 14,259
Scoring Summary:
New England: Kevin Alston 1 (Teal Bunbury 1, Daigo Kobayashi 1) 68
New England: Jerry Bengtson 1 (A.J. Soares 1) 90+1
Houston Dynamo: Tally Hall; Kofi Sarkodie, Jermaine Taylor, AJ Cochran, Corey Ashe; Andrew Driver (Omar Cummings 75), Ricardo Clark, Boniek Garcia, Tony Cascio (Warren Creavalle 69); Will Bruin, Giles Barnes
Unused substitutes: Tyler Deric, Anthony Arena, Mark Sherrod, Alexander Lopez, Servando Carrasco
New England Revolution: Bobby Shuttleworth; Andrew Farrell, A.J. Soares, Jose Goncalves (Darrius Barnes 41), Kevin Alston; Saer Sene (Jerry Bengtson 78), Andy Dorman, Daigo Kobayashi (Scott Caldwell 71), Lee Nguyen, Diego Fagundez; Teal Bunbury
Unused substitutes: Brad Knighton, Stephen McCarthy, Steve Neumann, Charlie Davies
Misconduct Summary:
HOU: Ricardo Clark (caution) 38
NE: Scott Caldwell (caution) 86
NE: Kevin Alston (caution) 88
Referee: Edvin Jurisevic
Assistant Referees: James Conlee, Peter Balciunas
Fourth Official: Robert Sibiga


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|We met up at the local pub, Adam and Mike had been there since 2:30 and were all smiles.
We were on our way to Mountain Ash to play a DJ set. So we got in a Dragon taxi!
Mike decided he would rather go to a sixteen year old girl's birthday party so he stayed in the Port.
There was a case of beer in the taxi and Adam told us lurid stories about himself all the way to the Mountain.
We got there safe and sound!
We were greeted by Tony and Dave who had a suspicious looking package for us.
It turned out to be chip butties. Secretly this made us very happy.
Tony the Landlord had also laid on an impressive array of party food so Adam was well happy.
So we went downstairs to the pub and they were having a raffle and it was in full swing, a young boy had just won a box of Forrero Rocher and he was jubilant.
The Raffle was well good and had loads of music related prizes.
We didn't win anything, even though we spent six quid on tickets.
After the raffle which raised over 700 quid for NNPCC, we got on the decks and played all that music and all that.
The crowd were having such a good time they started to undress.
Apparently this is a common occurrence in Mountain Ash on the weekends.
The party was in full swing.
So we decided to have a cash prize for the best dancer.
People were going nuts for it, someone even tried to breakdance. I have since found out he is fine and got out of hospital last night with only minor lacerations and second degree carpet burns.
We ended the night on a high to Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love", which prompted one man to proclaim his undying love for another and propose.
Apparently they had a shot gun wedding that weekend and are now on honeymoon in the popular honeymoon resort of Abersychan.
Then it was time to say good bye.
Dave got in the taxi and we dropped him off on the way home, where I had a long conversation with one of his wife's friends about how I had been disappointed by the film "Finding Eric", which her husband had apparently produced.
It was another great night in Mountain Ash!