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The three main party leaders have all recently made speeches on capitalism. All three - though Clegg to a lesser extent - seem to be stuck in an out-dated mindset.
What I mean is that for years, politicians from the centre-right leftwards agreed that capitalism was unfair but at least delivered the goods. However, it is now questionable that it can even do the latter. The problem is not, then, simply that capitalism is predatory, irresponsible, unfair or immoral. It's that it is inefficient too. As Faisal Islam rightly says, the party leaders just don't see this.
Now, before the closed-mind libertarians whine, I'll agree that capitalism has been a massive force for global prosperity. But on this, everyone agrees. It was Marx, not Hayek, who wrote that capitalism "during its rule of scarce 100 years, has created more massive and more colossal productive forces than have all preceding generations together." However, to presume that this must continue is to mere inductive reasoning, of the sort the chicken commits when he expects to be fed by the farmer, only to have her neck wrung.
I'll also agree that capitalist economies are superior to centrally planned ones. This is as true as the fact that I'm a better fiddle player than Abu Hamza - and as relevant.
Instead, what I mean is that there are (at least) four problems with capitalism, which the current crisis has revealed rather than caused:
1. The rise of low-wage competition from Asia, the slowdown in the rate of innovation, and the difficulty of monetizing some innovations has lead to a long-standing dearth of profitable investment opportunities and thus to slow real growth. One effect of this has been that money has flowed into malinvestments instead, creating a tendency towards speculative bubbles and slumps.
2. Top-down control of companies is inefficient, both for Hayekian reasons (bosses haven't the knowledge or rationality to control big organizations) and because of perverse incentives and selection effects.
3. Capitalism concentrates ownership of (some) risky assets into a few hands, and thus creates greater fragility and vulnerability to crises than is technically necessary.
4. There's a division between ownership and control. The problem of collective action, allied to the fact that the key asset in many firms is human rather than physical capital, means that shareholders are unwilling and unable to control firms. The result is that they become mechanisms whereby bosses and key workers can tunnel assets away from formal owners to those with real power.
One can, of course, question how severe these problems are. We shouldn't expect an economic system to be perfect; as Adam Smith said, there is a lot of ruin in a nation.
And one could argue that these problems can be mitigated or glossed over by better macroeconomic policy - though I'd be sceptical of this; in an economy lacking investment and capacity, increased aggregate demand would lead to inflation before full employment.
My point, though, is simple. The flaws with capitalism are, increasingly, not merely those of fairness but of efficiency too. And the political parties don't seen sufficiently aware of this.


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Voltron: Defender of the UniverseSynopsisAges ago in the Denuvian Galaxy, the planets lived in peace under the safeguard of the powerful robot warrior Voltron, until one day, the evil witch Hagar split Voltron into five separate robot lions, sending them to slumber in the bowels of Planet Arus. Years pass, Hagar has now made the evil King Zarkon her puppet, and they are violating the mandates of the Galaxy Alliance, terrorizing and seizing control over several lesser planets. Five young officers are sent to enforce the will of the Alliance, only to be captured and beaten. They narrowly escape, and crash land on Planet Arus, where a princess in distress and her struggling court appeal the men to reawaken the sleeping robot lions and revive the mighty sentinel Voltron. ReviewIs there anything I can say in this review that would have you take it seriously? No? Then I will give up now. Voltron is more a product of nostalgia for us than anything else. Most fans new to anime (and by "new" I mean being aware for less than a decade) would watch one episode and proceed to claw their eyes out and shove daggers into their ears. It does nearly everything that "purists" love to hate. The series dates back to the 1980s, so it already has grainy animation and dated character designs working against (or in, if you're like me) its favor. The colors are faded, the artwork inconsistent, and the movements jerky at times. It doesn't help matters much that, this being an American dub from the mid-80s, it underwent a hack job in the tradition of several other childhood favorites. What makes Voltron stick out is that the editing job was awkward and noticeable, not to mention obvious and inconsistent. But unlike hackjob nightmare CardCaptors, at least Voltron manages to uphold the adventurous spirit of the original. In fact, the atrocious production quality is forgiveable, because Voltron is, while campy, admittedly more fun than the run-of-the-mill Go-Lion original. In fact, the popularity of Voltron in the United States dwarfed Go-Lion, which quickly fell into obscurity in Japan. As a result, World Events Productions, Ltd. actually bought the entire series from Toei Animation in order to produce more episodes featuring the same characters, long after the Go-Lion series came to an end. It might have something to do with the cheezy fanfare whenever Voltron appears, or maybe the dated slangy dialogue is to blame. But you can tell the producers were having fun, and the child in you will find it contagious. Speaking of dialogue, while some of the voices and lines are outright hilarious (as in awful), the recycled voice actors (some playing up to three major characters) are distinctive and capture the cliches marvelously. Most noticable is Michael Bell's performance as the rebellious hot-shot Lance--he somehow manages his slangy lines laced with attitude without sounding forced or trite. In fact, Michael Bell is more of a natural than most modern-day anime specialty voice actors. When putting all the pros and cons together for this series, it is hard to determine where to rank it. For all of its apparent flaws, we either are embarrassed to admit it is entertaining, or, basking in the pride of our old-school retro-ness, we immediately jump to the front of the line when the DVDs go on sale--because, y'know--we "get it." But just like you can never expect me to "get" the appeal of Transformers, nor do I expect everyone to "get" Voltron. However, it certainly fills the gap left by the under-represented subgenre of "sentai" anime out in the States. For anyone to wants the "complete" anime experience, opening up the time capsule and sneaking a peek at Voltron is absolutely necessary. Who knows? You might be entertained. At the very least, you can see how far we as an entertainment subculture have come. A lot of great characters with untapped potential. But this is an 80s action cartoon for boys, so you'll have to skip ahead a decade or two if you want OMGTEHDRAMA. There's a lot of fun action here--rarely with any traumatizing consequence. Add a star if you are a nostalgia nut, detract a star if you want all your anime drawn by computers, are an adamant dub-hater, get turned off by robots... — Melissa Sternenberg Recommended Audience: Best for kids, though teens and young adults will get a great laugh over the poor edits and dubbing. Very dated, but we still love Speed Racer, don't we? Version(s) Viewed: Television broadcast Review Status: Full (52/52) Voltron: Defender of the Universe © 1984 World Events Productions, Ltd. |
© 1996-2015 THEM Anime Reviews. All rights reserved. |

subset: commoncrawl


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Bow Wow -- Once, Twice, Three Times a Tax Lien
Bow Wow Once, Twice ... Three Times a Tax Lien
Bow Wow needs to hire himself a new accountant -- because not only does he have a tax lien against him for unpaid taxes from 2006 ... but now it turns out he owes back taxes from 2008 and 2010 as well!
As TMZ first reported, a tax lien in Florida for the year 2006 put Bow Wow on the hook for $91,105.61. The lien has still not been paid off.
Now a new lien was filed on January 9, this time in Georgia, saying Bow Wow owes $15, 279.62 for unpaid taxes from 2008 and another $19.700.91 for 2010.
Put it all together ... and you've got $126,086.14.
Calls to Bow Wow's rep were not returned.


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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – John Fox swears he hasn't lost confidence in Ronnie Hillman even though the second-year running back has had back-to-back games with fumbles returned for touchdowns.
Still, it was rookie Montee Ball who got most of the work Monday with Denver's starters for the first time all summer.
"It's just practice," Fox said. "I wouldn't read too much into anything. We're evaluating everybody regardless of who gets what reps at what numbers. He's a guy that we want to get touches and we'll go from there."
Hillman, a second-year speedster from San Diego State who played sparingly last year, bulked up over the winter and was given first crack at winning the starting job.
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org


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As online collaboration tools become increasingly sophisticated, a growing number of virtual companies are learning to take advantage of the global talent marketplace. My business employs over 70 people from across the country, and a remote model has worked well for us. We recruit based on candidates' skills and work experience, rather than their geographic location, and our team members have the flexibility to live and work wherever they choose. This also means that we don't face the expenses or overhead of maintaining a physical workspace.
However, managing a virtual company requires a different mindset — both for employees and employers.
How to Set Expectations for Success
Whether you're starting a new business or transitioning your existing company to a virtual model, it is important to set boundaries and a clear vision, establish effective processes and create measurable goals. Doing so ensures that your team feels supported and produces high-quality work on time and on budget. Here are a few ways that can be accomplished:
- Explain to job candidates and current team members how working remotely will differ from working in an office environment. There are real challenges, and you should be emphasizing them rather than downplaying them. Candidates who know they are not a good fit for a remote environment can opt out of the hiring process.
- Establish a system of clear and open communication throughout the organization. Make every employee feel comfortable pitching ideas directly to senior leadership. Whether you decide to use email, instant messaging, the phone, video chat, or a combination of those mediums, it's crucial to establish consistent expectations from the beginning.
- Set measurable benchmarks. Team members should meet certain goals throughout the duration of a project, sales cycle, or specific time period.
Know Your Processes Intimately
With a virtual business, it's tempting to bombard your team with emails and telephone calls. Instead of spending your time and energy managing every small detail, focus your efforts on building processes that allow employees to use their time as efficiently as possible.
When leaders create appropriate processes, they have a much better understanding of the steps necessary to produce a given result. If you don't understanding the process, it's far more difficult to fairly evaluate your team members' contributions.
How to Measure and Manage Productivity
When you do experience a drop in productivity, as happens from time to time in all companies, it can be difficult to quickly determine the cause. Below are several suggestions to help you avoid and identify potential pitfalls before they negatively impact your bottom line.
- Establish a standard protocol. You must have a system for periodically evaluating certain company-specific benchmarks. Attach benchmarks to periods of time or stages in a process — do not simply evaluate final results.
- Measure everything. You cannot objectively evaluate business results without having access to quantifiable data. Invest in resources to identify and measure your business' key performance indicators, then track them over time.
- Teach. Observe. Review. Show your team what must be done, then observe them doing it independently. Review your findings with team members and explain how they can improve.
- Anticipate and plan for declines. Create reward systems, processes and trainings that guide individuals down the most productive path.
- Extinguish small fires immediately. Address small issues before they become major crises, and demonstrate to individuals how they can improve before they're underperforming.
While shifting work from the office to a remote setting can be profoundly beneficial for your company, keep in mind that reducing overhead does not mean reducing the amount of guidance, direction and leadership you owe your team.
Virtual businesses require strong, consistent leadership to ensure that both employee growth and productivity remain on track. In some cases, such a company may even demand more from you as a leader. However, with the right processes and the right people in place, going virtual can work wonders for your business.


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Difficulty Level:
Simple installation for anyone.
FREE 1 to 3-Day Delivery on Orders $119+ Details
Hi I'm Justin with AmericanMuscle.com, and I have with me Forgestar's CF5 monoblock wheels available in your choice of either gunmetal, piano black, matte black, and silver, fitting all 2005 and newer Mustangs. The CF5 features a timeline concave 5 spoke wheel design which never seems to go out of style, and looks good on pretty much every generation of Mustang both new and old. These monoblock or one piece aluminum wheels go through an advanced process during production, called rotary forging, what this does is greatly improve the strength of the barrel of the wheel, while managing to keep the overall weight down, you're going to be looking at a very lightweight, very strong combination. The CF5's are offered in a couple of different sizing options, we have an 18" version shown here in gunmetal, and a 19" diameter shown in Piano black. The wheels are also offered in both 9 and 10 inch widths, and because of the different width options, you can easily achieve that staggered fitment, by sticking the wider 10" wheels in the rear, and the 9's up front. On the other hand you can go with the standard fitment, which will give you the same width wheels on all 4 corners, maintaining the ability to properly rotate your tires. Chances are if you're picking up new wheels, you're going to need new tires, we do offer a couple of pre built tire and wheels combinations, where we pair your new CF5's up with some of the top tires on the market today, in sizes that are guaranteed to fit your Mustang without rubbing, even if you're lowered an inch or two. On top of that you get to take advantage of our free mounting and balancing, and free shipping and handling, and finally all Forgestar wheels are backed by a lifetime warranty. When it does come time to install your new wheels and tires, just grab a floor jack and some basic hand tools. You'll want to crack the lugs loose first with the car still on the ground, once you've done that simply jack the car up and swap all the wheels and tires, it doesn't get much easier than this, but since there is a little work involved, we'll call it an hour from start to finish just to be on the safe side. So if you dig the look of a classic 5 spoke wheel design and you want the sizing and strength benefits of the CF5's, you might want to check out these quality, lightweight aluminum wheels from Forgestar, available right here at AmericanMuscle.com
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Features, Description, Q&A, Specs & Installation
Road Hazard Protection. AmericanMuscle is proud to offer an optional Road Hazard Tire Protection program to our customers who purchase a Wheel and Tire Package from us. With this program, you will receive a 3-Year/36 Month protection plan for changing of flat tires and flat tire repair.
36 Months of Protection. The Road Hazard Protection Program is good for 3-Years (36 Months) from the purchase date printed on the program certificate or until any part of the tire tread that comes in contact with the road has a tread depth of 2/32" or less, whichever comes first.
Flat Tire Changing Assistance. Enrolled customers are eligible for reimbursement of up to $75 for roadside flat changing assistance provided by a licensed service provider. This is limited to the roadside installation of the customer's own usable spare tire. Customer must have a spare tire. The customer would pay the service provider for flat tire changing and then be reimbursed.
Flat Tire Repair. Enrolled customers are eligible for Flat Tire Repair up to $20 per tire. This repair would include labor and patch. Reimbursement is limited to two flat tire repair claims during the coverage terms of 3-Years/36 months. The customer would pay the service provider for flat tire repair and then be reimbursed.
Note: The stock lug nuts (13/16") prove to be too large when used in conjunction with these wheels. Please take a look at the Lug Nut Ordering Options above for some compatible options.
CA Residents: WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
Installation Info
Difficulty Level:
Simple installation for anyone.
What's in the Box
Manufacturer: | Forgestar Wheels | Style: | CF5 |
Size: | 19x9 | Finish: | Gun Metal |
Placement: | Front or Rear | Centercap Size: | N/A |
Back Spacing: | 6.4" (163mm) | Offset: | +35mm (1.4") |
Bolt Pattern: | 5x4.5"(5x114.3mm) | Weight: | |
Material: | Aluminum | Lip Size : | N/A |
Best Tire : | 245/45-19 | Year/Model: | 2005-2012 V6, GT, Bullitt, Shelby GT500 |
KEY: 10-8.6 Oh Yeah!, 8.5-6.6 Above Average, 6.5-4.6 Average, 4.5-2.6 Acceptable, 2.5-0 Unacceptable
10 More Questions


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Global EconomyStrategy
The quality of the models being used by politicians to set COVID-19 policy is only as good as the data collected. Unfortunately, the data is not very good. Meanwhile, real costs arise from the ruined economy.
Philosophy and MethodologyPraxeology
Choosing between labor and leisure is not like choosing between apples and oranges. Many people like both kinds of fruit. But labor involves disutility, so a better choice is this: between apples and rotten oranges.
AntipoliticsDecentralization and Secession
Remember how election day used to be a day of national relief, no matter who won? Regular people were happy that our political warring was over for a while, at least. But we don't live in that country anymore.
Decentralization and SecessionSocialismTaxes and Spending
For starters, let's have California secede and limit Bernie-style socialism to the new republic. If my predictions ended up being wrong and the state became a paradise, then the rest of the country could quickly follow suit.
Philosophy and Methodology
Some argue that someone's superior talent or success is itself the result of mere luck. That claim, and its relevance as a justification for redistribution, has generated much controversy.
Philosophy and MethodologyPrivate Property
Marxist G.A. Cohen is troubled by the freedom libertarians grant to property owners. But artificial limits are unnecessary when practical realities have so often intervened to limit property ownership by any one person.
Your support helps us continue to make the sound economic principles of Mises, Hazlitt, Hayek, Rothbard, and Hoppe free to the world at a time when they are needed more than ever.
The Police State
The old American way of doing things came to an end with the 9/11 attacks. At that point, the national-security branch of the federal government adopted many of the same powers as the Chinese communist regime, and without any amendment to the Constitution.


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Frequently asked & answered questions
Listed below are some of the most common questions asked about Matroska.
Q: What is matroska? I dont understand what a 'container format' is at all, is it a player, or a audio/video compression format ?
A: Whenever you play a movie it includes at least one video stream and one audio stream. Since its not practicle to have two files to play audio/video, you pack both into a single file by using a so-called container format file. This container and the software coming with it take care of a lot of important functions, like the correct timing of the audio and video playback when the file is played ( opened ). ZIP or RAR could be a perfect container to pack one or more audio/video streams together into one single file for distribution, but WinZIP certainly wouldnt care about the correct timing of the these streams on playback.
Known containers are the good old AVI, the MPEG container family
; .vob
on DVDs; .m2ts
on Blu-rays), MP4 (.mp4
) and older
ones such as Quicktime (.mov
) or RealMedia (.rm
Matroska is an Open Source alternative to all of them, and is able to offer a lot of features that others dont have.
Q: What are the advantages of matroska compared to AVI ?
A: The AVI container was originally introduced by Microsoft in the early 90s, and was designed as a very flexible A/V container format for the video and audio compression formats of those days. It is necessary to understand that AVI is only one ( but important ) part of a complete multimedia framework called 'Video For Windows' ( VfW ), offering programmers not only a container but also a complete set of API commands to be able to program their own video and audio codecs, using either the VfW or the ACM interface ( this was back from the days when Microsoft was still dedicated to sell their operating systems to people, instead of multimedia solutions as they are trying to do today with WMV, so they had to make their OS attractive to other programmers ). Unfortunately this VfW framework cannot support many of the more advanced features that modern audio and video compression formats will offer, such as Variable Bitrate audio encoding ( VBR ), or Variable Framerate video encoding ( VFR ). Although AVI was extended with an additional standard called 'Open DML AVI' in the mid/late 90s, overcoming most of its very annoying limitations like the 2 GB file size limit, there is still no proper and spec compliant way to support modern compression formats like the excellent, opensource Ogg Vorbis audio compression format.
Matroska has overcome all those limitations and can support all known audio and video compression formats by design. To make sure it will also be capable of coping with the future standards it is based on a very flexible underlying framework called EBML, allowing to add more functionalities to the container format without breaking backwards compatibility with older softwares and files.
Q: What file extensions does Matroska use?
A: We currently have 4 different extensions specified:
: Used for files that contain at least one video track (usually with at least one audio track and optionally with subtitle tracks). This is the most commonly used extension..mka
: Used for audio only files, can contain any supported audio compression format, such as MP2, MP3, Vorbis, AAC, AC3, DTS, or PCM.mk3d
: A special case of.mkv
containing stereoscopic (3D) video.mks
: Used for files that only contain subtitles
Q: How can I create Matroska files?
A: You can reencode an existing source with FFmpeg or the more user friendly Handbrake. You can also 'transmux' an existing AVI, MP4 or TS file. This option is a lossless process, all the audio and video data in the source file will be read from it, and packed into a matroska file in a spec compliant way, but basically stay unaltered to avoid any degradation of quality. There are currently 2 different tools to do this ( look here for the announcement of their latest versions ), but the list keeps on growing.
Moritz Bunku's MKVToolNix is a suite of applications that includes a Matroska muxer that can be run on Windows, Linux and macOS X. It also does accept AVI and OGM on its input, as well as AC3, AAC, Vorbis, DTS, MP3, MP2 and PCM audio among many others.
In VirtuldubMod all you have to do is to open your AVI or OGM file, set 'video' to 'direct stream copy', goto 'file' 'save as ...' and select '.mkv' from the file type dropdown list and rename it. Of course, this doesnt make much sense if you dont have any plans to add something to the file that AVI or OGM cannot support, like adding another audio track in an unsupported audio compression format.
From VirtualdubMod you can also directly encode into .mkv files from any source that it can open, and using every available VfW and ACM codecs, even in 2 pass mode.
Q: How can I play Matroska files on my PC?
A: On the download page you will find links to several players and components that allow you to play back Matroska files. Many operating systems nowadays come with Matroska capabilities out of the box, too.
Q: What is the advantage of using the .mka
file instead of the original audio formats, like MP3, etc?
A: You can embed lyrics or transcriptions (e.g. from srt subtitles) in the audio file. You can use chapters to separate parts of a track or a live album. In some case (MP3, AC3, DTS) the Matroska file may also be smaller than the original with much better/cleaner seeking support.
Here are some reasons that placing audio in MKA is useful:
- The tags will be the same no matter what audio format you use. That means that if you write a program to read back tags, it only has to read them from one type of tagging system, no matter what type of audio is being used.
- All tracks to a CD can be in a single file. You have the option of dividing the tracks into seperate Tracks, or seperate Chapters. You could make your own compilation in a single file, even using different audio formats, such as MP3 and Vorbis.
- If you write a program to read audio of of MKA, then you don't need to understand how the framing works in the different formats because it is already done for you in Matroska.
- It is easy to delete portions of the audio without reencoding because you just throw away those blocks. You don't even have to be able to play that format back, you could edit by just knowing timecodes.
- Detecting differences between two audio streams would be easy because you could store both in a single file, start playback, and then just switch between tracks.
- If you intend to combine the audio with video, then having is in MKA means you can merge it with an MKV, even if the application doesn't support the audio type.
- In the case of MP3, MP2 AC3 and even some AAC, using "compressed headers" the MKA file may even be smaller than the original "raw" file, without losing any bit of information.
Q: Will my .mkv files be compatible with future Matroska software if I will use current tools to mux my files?
A: The files being created now are spec compliant.
Q: Will there be a perfomance hit for storing audio/video in Matroska?
A: No, even though its more complex to read/write MKV than it is AVI you can't tell a difference when reading back a file from AVI or MKV on today's processors, even on smartphones ( see CorePlayer ).
Q: What makes Matroska better (worse?) than an Ogg media container (.ogm
A: It's less a matter of better/worse, and more a matter of different. This is a little complex but we will try to explain.
First Ogg is not the same thing as Ogm. Ogg is an RFC spec now, and is very useful for what it was designed for, streaming over lossy links, and Ogm is an implementation of Ogg placing other 'things' inside.
So, we have:
- Ogg:
- Designed for "lossy"streaming (over UDP).
- Designed to hold Vorbis and other Xiph-supported audio & video codecs.
- Well documented for above two purposes.
- Implementation of Ogg to hold video, other audio codecs, and a type of subtitle.
- Implements Chapter support.
- Matroska:
- Designed to hold any type of codec. (Audio, Video, Subtitle, etc)
- Designed for editability.
- Purposely flexible design.
- Well documented portions, others in process.
- Initial design is to support presentation container features such as Chapters, Tags, AudioGain, Menus, etc.
Will Matroska be streamable? Yes, but low bitrate streaming like streaming Vorbis, will always be better in Ogg. This is because their design is for different purposes.


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Bundle Of Sunglasses In A Bundles 3 Pairs Of Mens Womens Sun Glasses EE02
Trendy and futuristic block cut sunglasses feature an all lens build made from a single piece of colorful translucent plastic. These frames come in transparent clear, blue, green, red, yellow and pink lenses sunglasses. Functional and stylish, these sunglasses feature a frameless silhouette round keyhole shape. This one piece construction extends throughout the entire frame. Want to see life from a calming balanced perspective? Try the blue shades. Looking to connect with your spiritual side? The the purple shades are for you. Different colors evoke different properties, emotions and vibes. Sooth your shockra with some sunglass color therapy. Choose from one of 8 eye popping color shades and fully express yourself. This item features metal reinforced hinges; keyhole style nose piece and polycarbonate 100% UV high impact-resistant protected lenses. Includes a free soft pouch. Make a Statement in these shades!
- Lens Width: 60mm
- Nose Bridge: 21mm
- Lens Height: 54mm
- Total Width: 143mm
USA: Transparent Lens: UV 400 UVA/UVB
EU: CE certified
AU: Category 1; 46-79% VLT
Drop Ball Certified: Military Standard
FDA Registration Number: 3013407178
Visible Light Transmission (VLT) - This measures how much light your sunglass lens lets through. VLT of 1% means very dark lenses and a VLT of 100% means very light lenses.
United States Post Office Priority Mail: $7.99 ( 1-3 business days depending on location )
Click For International Information


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Cycling World Cup
Three days ago, the world sat down in front of their TV screens to start watching the 2010 FIFA World Cup taking place in South Africa. The 19th edition of the biggest soccer (or football as it's known around most of the planet) tournament in the world started on June 11 and will run for 30 days with its conclusion on July 11.
With an estimated 4% of the total world population playing the sport (and growing), there is no denying that the World Cup is one of the most universally watched sporting events around today.
So as the teams battle it out, and as the famously wild soccer fans go crazy at each and every game played in South Africa, I'll be going wild on my bike. As the millions of people around the world, sit in front of their television and cheer on their team…I'll be sitting on the saddle of my bike. And as the beautiful sounds of the song "Waving Flag" by my man K'Naan (the official 2010 World Cup anthem) drift across the soccer world, I'll be listening to that awesome song on my ipod as I tear up the road.
No disrespect to FIFA or all the World Cup fans out there…..but I'll be choosing cycling over the World Cup for each and every one of the 30 days that it takes place. Are you with me?
I've been challenging the people of Twitter with this by having them tag their Tweets with a #CyclingWorldCup if their day included more cycling than World Cup.
You see, if you're a FIFA fan, you really can do both….but if you're leaning more towards cycling then you are definitely worthy of the #CyclingWorldCup status.
Hot on the heals of our new Crank Listed World Cycling Blog Directory, I'd like to see all my cycling blog friends come together and make Cycling World Cup a worldwide event. Let's do it. Let's show the soccer world that cycling can be just as big (or bigger). Let us hear your comments about why cycling is where it's at. To all you Twitter people, let's see you strongly rocking the #CyclingWorldCup.


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Related links:
Are We From Mars?
News story originally written on January 19, 2000
A recent study shows there is a possibility that we came from Mars! No, that doesn't mean a spaceship flew here and dropped us off. Rather, scientists say chunks of rock were thrown off the Red Planet billions of years ago. These rocks may have contained tiny microbes that started life on Earth.
"The ancestral cell for life on Earth must have originated somewhere in our own solar system," said Curt Mileikowsky, an astronomer of the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and a leader of the research team.
Scientists say Mars is a logical source of life. They say trillions of rocks were broken off Mars by colliding asteroids. If this is true, then a large number of these rocks would have made it to Earth. Unfortunately, only a few Martian rocks have been found, but scientists say there are more to be discovered.
Although there is no chance for life to exist on Mars now, long ago the planet was capable of supporting life. At that time, it had mild temperatures, the proper atmosphere and water. In order for the microbes to make it to Earth, they must have been buried deep inside the rocks. The rock itself would protect the microbes from radiation and the intense heat that would come from entering our atmosphere.
"If the size (of the rock) is more than a football," he said, "heat would not have
time to get inside."


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LOS ANGELES (AP) – Just a few months ago, Rodney King was once again the center of attention as the world checked back in on the man whose videotaped beating by police sparked one of the nation's worst race riots.
King had left Los Angeles behind, moving an hour east to a home where neighbors would often hear him splashing in the pool late at night.
The physical and emotional scars from the more than 50 baton blows remained, but King struck an upbeat note on his life.
"America's been good to me after I paid the price and stayed alive through it all," he told The Associated Press. "This part of my life is the easy part now."
But King was found around 5:30 a.m. Sunday at the bottom of the swimming pool at his Rialto, Calif. Home.
His death at age 47 is being treated as an apparent drowning and there are no signs of foul play, but Capt. Randy De Anda said autopsy results would be needed to determine whether drugs or alcohol were a factor.
The autopsy is set for Monday.
De Anda said King was only in the water three to four minutes between the time his fiancee called 911 and when officers arrived and pulled him from the water. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:11 a.m.
It was a grim end for King, who symbolized the problem of police brutality and struggled with addiction and repeated arrests. Long after the $3.8 million he'd been awarded in a civil case was spent on record label and other failed ventures, King would periodically resurface, appearing on "Celebrity Rehab" or sparring in the occasional boxing match. He spent the last months of his life promoting a memoir he titled "The Riot Within: From Rebellion to Redemption."
Sandra Gardea, King's next-door neighbor said that around 3 a.m., she heard music and someone "really crying, like really deep emotions. … Like tired or sad, you know?"
"I then heard someone say, 'OK, Please stop. Go inside the house.' … We heard quiet for a few minutes Then after that we heard a splash in the back."
King was 25 years old and on parole for a robbery conviction when he led police on a high-speed chase in March 1991 that ended on a darkened Los Angeles street. He was finally stopped by four Los Angeles police officers who struck him more than 50 times with their batons, kicked him and shot him with stun guns. He was left with 11 skull fractures, a broken eye socket and facial nerve damage.
The violence was captured on videotape by a nearby resident, who turned it over to a TV station. It was played over and over for the following year, inflaming racial tensions across the country.
The images – preserved on an infamous grainy video – of the black driver curled up on the ground while four white officers clubbed him – became a national symbol of police brutality in 1991. More than a year later, when the officers' acquittals touched off one of the most destructive race riots in history, his scarred face and soft-spoken question – "Can we all get along?" – spurred the nation to confront its difficult racial history.
It seemed that the videotape would be the key evidence to a guilty verdict against the officers, whose felony assault trial was moved to the predominantly white suburb of Simi Valley, Calif. Instead, on April 29, 1992, a jury with no black members acquitted three of the officers on state charges in the beating; a mistrial was declared for a fourth.
Rioting began immediately, starting in Los Angeles. It lasted for three days, killing 55 people, injuring more than 2,000 and setting swaths of Los Angeles aflame, causing $1 billion in damage. Police, seemingly caught off-guard, were quickly outnumbered by rioters and retreated. As the uprising spread to the city's Koreatown area, shop owners armed themselves and engaged in running gun battles with looters.
"Through all that he had gone through with his beating and his personal demons he was never one to not call for reconciliation and for people to overcome and forgive," Rev. Al Sharpton said Sunday. "History will record that it was Rodney King's beating and his actions that made America deal with the excessive misconduct of law enforcement."
The Los Angeles Police Department, after the King beating and other scandals, has instituted new policies including community policing that have resulted in crime drops, but continued complaints about racial profiling. Many of the hardest-hit areas in South LA, like King, have struggled. In the area around the Florence and Normandie intersection that was one of the riot's flash points, high school dropout rates are higher than in the rest of the city and incomes remain dramatically lower than in other sections of Los Angeles.
In his autobiography, King described his uneasy feelings about the events of his life.
"For many years I felt that I had been involuntarily burdened as the victim and resultant universal symbol of police brutality," King wrote. "I wanted no part of it, just wanted to stay home, drink and watch TV. …The fact that this footage was sent out to be viewed by the entire world certainly didn't help my recovery."
"We may be scarred," he wrote, "and we may not be able to forget, but we can keep going, one step at a time, until we get to a better place."


text: This selection of news and comments is provided as a service to Network users, and is not intended to be comprehensive. The articles featured are compiled by external agencies and in no way reflect the views of the ILO, its constituents or partners. Their inclusion does not imply the endorsement or approval by the ILO of the information contained therein.


text: TO PERSIS I CHILD --- forgive me if I call thee child --- The weight of my mortality in years, I reckon not, but tribulations wild, With stormy battle, stress of life and fears. I see thee once again athwart the mist Of Time, and past the wane of many moons Not changed, with still a change --- the same, I wist, Yet not --- as purest daylight's change from noon. II I then beheld thee with thy tresses rolled In darkling curls and masses long adown: A child thou wert, in maiden's youthful mould, With childhood's pensive magic round thee thrown. {231} To see thee changed, ah! 'tis a sign of Time's Unending, ceaseless march. You come again With those thick dusky masses coiled betimes And coifed around thy head in plait and chain. III 'Tis but a trifling change --- a petty pace, But fraught with all the force of Yet To Be: For to mine eyes thy simple act of grace Is one step onward, whither no one can see --- A little further to the Great Unknown By ways where Life's Periodics plants her rood The Living Progress landmarks all alone, Soon passed: --- thou reachest on to Womanhood! IV Fair --- God grant that it be fair --- thy world! With influence of Goodness shed around. Far from thee may the tongue of Spite uncurl With venom'd spleen, and vicious raucous sound! Have mercy, God! I am not proud, not proud! But all my pent-up wrath I pour on Spite. It is enough! Forgive these murmurings loud Against the Powers and Majesties of Night. L'ENVOI Good child, you will again depart --- Fates weave their spell, All hail! God-speed! May God be with you! and --- Farewell! D. HAMISH JENKINS. {232}


text: The Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) received three awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for its role in developing new applications aimed at creating efficiencies and process improvements for the county. "We are extremely proud of our team members who have worked hard to develop these applications," said MCDOT Director Jennifer Toth. "Process improvement is a continuous cycle. Technology is creating new ways to make MCDOT more efficient." The NACo Awards were presented during a ceremony in Phoenix this week. The MCDOT applications recognized are: Enterprise Performance Management Planning Application (PMP): The PMP is a human resources tool used to track employee performance. The tool allows managers and employees to manage up to six goals and ten competencies for each employee. It automated a time-intensive process resulting in savings for the county. Roadway Maintenance Billing Activity Application (RMBA): The RMBA simplifies and standardizes the approval process for roadway maintenance billing. This helped to improve the turnaround time and reduced the number of errors. Work Assignment Manager Interface (WAMI): The WAMI streamlines the process of creating work assignments with approved contractors. It allows project managers and staff to be more responsive to the ongoing maintenance needs of the county roadways. The National Association of Counties (NACo) unites America's 3,069 county governments. Founded in 1935, NACo brings county officials together to advocate with a collective voice on national policy, exchange ideas and build new leadership skills, pursue transformational county solutions, enrich the public's understanding of county government, and exercise exemplary leadership in public service. The National Association of Counties (NACo) has recognized Maricopa County with 57 National Achievement Awards for innovation in county government.


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Bought on sale, so I can't complain too much.
Maybe I steeped it for just long enough to make it quite bitter, but I highly doubt that a few seconds made such a high difference. I've had it a few times before this, and I found the taste to be adequet. Pretty dull, but it does leave a pleasant aftertaste on the tongue. Not sure what ginseng tastes like, and am still not fully certain what it is supposed to taste like, after having drunk this tea.
The tea bags smell lovely, but it doesn't equate a wonderful taste, at least iced. I think it tastes vastly better warm.


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SEOUL (AFP) - The defence chiefs of South Korea, Japan and the United States will hold their first trilateral meeting for four years at the end of this month, with North Korea likely to top the agenda.
The three top officials will meet on the sidelines of the annual Asia Security Summit to be held in Singapore from May 31 to June 2, a South Korean defence ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.
It will be their first three-way ministerial-level meeting since 2009, with defence dialogue between Seoul and Tokyo having been marred in recent years by a long-running territorial dispute and other issues.
A senior Tokyo defence official told Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun that the US and its two key regional Asian allies needed to show a united front against recent provocations from North Korea which conducted its third nuclear test in February.
"If we don't hold a trilateral meeting, that would send North Korea the wrong message," the official said.
The Korean peninsula is only just emerging from a sustained period of elevated military tension, during which Pyongyang threatened the US and South Korea with nuclear strikes in response to UN sanctions imposed after its February test.


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In this picture taken on Thursday February 21, 2013, a Free Syrian Army fighter, right, watches Syrian villagers pass through a checkpoint at the main entrance of the Christian village of Yacoubieh, in the northern province of Idlib, Syria. Syrian warplanes and artillery hit targets near Damascus International Airport on Friday following a particularly bloody day of attacks in the capital that killed dozens and struck deep into the heart of the city.
AP Photo/Hussein Malla


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Have you been wondering what this strange word "escrow" means? You may be hearing it a lot if this is the first time you've purchased a home.
The word escrow comes from the old French word, escroue, which was a scrap of paper or scroll of parchment. When transactions were made in the ancient past – way before online banking and PayPal accounts! – a third party held on to tiny pieces or scrolls of paper representing a deed until the transaction was complete and proper payment had exchanged hands.
Today, the idea of holding onto something until payments are made translates well for our current escrow accounts and processes.
An escrow account is basically a holding place for money during a real estate transaction. As you are in the process of closing on a home, an escrow officer, who is usually a lawyer or title company representative, holds all the important documents and initial earnest money while the seller and the buyer negotiate terms like inspection repairs and other parts of the closing. The escrow company acts as a neutral third party until the transaction is complete.
At the time of closing, the escrow officer makes sure everyone gets paid what they're owed, records the deed and title transfer and sends it to the county recorder, and officially makes the home yours! For these services, an escrow officer typically charges a fee of 1%-2% of the purchase price of the home.
Most home purchases also involve a second type of escrow account, between you and the lender. Lenders often put some of your money aside in escrow to pay property taxes and insurance. An estimate is made how much it will be annually and the total is divided by 12 to be factored into your monthly payments. When you pay your monthly mortgage, you pay a portion of the estimated annual costs along with your principal and interest.
At the end of the year, the lender adjusts your monthly escrow amount based on the actual tax and insurance bills. If you were short, you'll generally be allowed to spread the difference out over the coming year. If you paid in too much, the lender will refund your money.
Buying a house is full of complications and funny words like "escrow"! I hope this article and others in my blog help make the process of buying a new home stress free. Call me anytime at (210) 209-6792 with any questions. I look forward to hearing from you!
Questions? Contact J. Charles Lending Today!


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The Page links are all messed up in this article. It's great info, but I had to adjust the URL manually to read all 4 pages.
Table Talk: How To Set Up a Turntable
ACROSS THE CONTINENT, thousands are taking part in an almost-forgotten rite. It melds advanced technology, knowledge handed down through the decades, and a little dose of black magic. As most rituals do, it appalls many nonbelievers, but that fact only makes its practitioners relish it more.
Many rituals fit this description: home blacksmithing, heirloom chicken breeding, even Wiccan spell casting. But since this is Sound+Vision, we'll focus on an even more arcane and puzzling rite: turntable setup.
Decades ago, the average American bon vivant may have known what all those adjustments on his record player did, but this knowledge now resides mainly in the heads of serious audiophiles. Fortunately, turntable setup requires nothing more than manual dexterity, patience, and a few basic tools. And it can pay off in a much-improved vinyl experience (not to mention a sense of personal satisfaction, the envy of your friends, and - of course - a useful skill you'll have forever).
One thing to keep in mind: even some pretty expensive turntables, such as the Rega RP6, lack some basic adjustments. So if your turntable doesn't offer every adjustment we discuss, don't sweat it - just skip to the next step.
Ready for a better-sounding turntable?
Let's get started.


text: Information on this Web site is not promised or guaranteed to be correct, current, or complete, and this site may contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. SanFranciscoFuneralFlowers.com assumes no responsibility (and expressly disclaims responsibility) for updating this site to keep information current or to ensure the accuracy or completeness of any posted information. Accordingly, you should confirm the accuracy and completeness of all posted information before making any decision related to any services, products, or other matters described in this site.


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Family politics, secret lovers, mysterious deaths, thwarted love – it's all here, dressed up in exquisite Edwardian detail, surrounded by the lush beauty of the English countryside of the wealthy. Downton Abbey brings the trials and tribulations of a noble family and their various servants to life in this wonderful new series from the BBC.
Lord Robert Crawley and his family live in quiet luxury in their beautiful Yorkshire estate supported by a fleet of servants. Their leisurely life is shaken when the sinking of the Titanic takes Sir Robert's heirs. Because he and his American-born wife have only daughters, in accordance to English law when Sir Robert dies, the estate will now pass to a distant male cousin previously unknown to the family. Prepared to despise the new heir (who actually works for a a living as a solicitor), the family instead find themselves becoming fond of Matthew and his strong views of fairness. Can the eldest daughter Sybil admit to her growing feelings for Matthew, or is she only thinking of saving the family estate when she considers marrying him?
Meanwhile, various dramas unfold below stairs. A new valet, who shares a mysterious past with Sir Robert, is hired and Thomas the footman schemes against him. A maid must help Lady Crawley hide a terrible secret and the loyalty of the servants is tested again and again as their lives intertwine irrevocably with the family.
As you would expect from the BBC, the production values of this series are flawless – costumes, sets, writing, photography and acting are all top-notch. The advantage of the DVD set is that while four shows were seen on PBS earlier this year, there are seven shows available on this DVD as well as making-of specials and commentaries. A sensation in England, a second season set during World War I has been filmed. After seeing the first season, you'll be anxiously awaiting it's arrival in the US!


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You can use your voice to do actions like search, get directions, and create reminders. For example, to see if there's rain in the weather forecast, say, "Hey Google, do I need an umbrella tomorrow?"
Turn on voice search
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google app .
- At the top right, tap your Profile picture or initial Settings Voice.
- Under "Hey Google," tap Voice Match.
- Turn on Hey Google.
Start a voice search
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google app .
- Say "Hey Google" or tap the Microphone .
Change your "Hey Google" settings
Settings can vary by device and Google app version. Not all settings are available for all languages.
Learn how to change your Google app settings.
When you can say "Hey Google"
- Hey Google:
If the screen is on or the device is charging, you can say "Hey Google" from any screen. This setting could prevent some other voice services that use hot words or wake-up commands from working. - While driving:
You can say "Hey Google" while you use Google Maps and Android Auto. - Always-on:
You can say "Hey Google" whether your screen is on or off.
When your screen is locked
- Unlock with Voice Match:
When you say "Hey Google" from a secure lock screen and we're able to recognize the sound of your voice, you can ask Google to take actions for you or visit sites without having to unlock your device manually. - Personal results:
See personal results for your voice searches, even when your device is locked.
"Hey Google" voice model
- Retrain voice model:
Teach Google the sound of your voice again. Try this if Google isn't recognizing your voice when you say "Hey Google." If you don't see this setting, make sure "Hey Google" is turned on. - Delete voice model on device:
Remove what you've taught to Google to recognize your voice on that device.
- If you use the Google app on more than one device, turn on "Hey Google" on each device.
- Check that you have the latest version of the Google app. Get it on the Play Store.
- Check that you have the latest Android version available for your phone. Learn how to update your Android version.
Learn how to fix issues with "Hey Google."
Delete "Hey Google" audio recordings
When you set up your Assistant to use Voice Match, the audio recordings created by your voice models are saved to your Google Account. You can find and delete these recordings from your Google Account.
- On your Android phone or tablet, go to myactivity.google.com.
- Above your activity, in the search bar, tap More Other Google Activity.
- Under "Voice and Face Match enrollment," tap View data.
- Tap Delete all enrollments Delete.
Ways you can use your voice
If voice search is available in your language and country, you can say most of these examples. Some aren't available in every language.
Set an alarm: "Set an alarm for 7 AM" or "Set an alarm for every Friday morning at 7 AM."
Set a reminder: "Remind me to call John at 6 PM" or "Remind me to buy Belgian chocolate at Ghirardelli Square."
See SMS (text) messages: "Show me my messages from Brian about dinner."
Create a Google Calendar event: "Create a calendar event for dinner in San Francisco, Saturday at 7 PM."
See your upcoming bills: "My bills" or "My Comcast bills 2013."
Check your schedule: "What does my day look like tomorrow?" or "When's my next meeting?"
Call a friend: "Call Lindsay Hampson" or "Call Mom."
Text a friend: "Text Jason that I'm running 5 minutes late."
Send a Hangouts chat message: "Send a Hangouts message to Bob" or "Start a Hangouts chat."
Start a Hangouts video call: "Start a video call" or "Video call Jane using Hangouts."
Send an email: "Send an email to Kristin, subject new shoes, message, I can't wait to show you my new shoes, full stop."
Check your voicemail: "Listen to voicemail."
Play music: "Play Macklemore" or "Play Can't Hold Us."
Identify a song: "What's this song?"
Find new music: "What songs do Mumford and Sons sing?"
Play a radio station from Google Play: "Play some music."
Watch a movie from Google Play: "Watch Frozen."
Learn about a TV show you're watching: "What's on TV?"
Read a book from Google Play: "Read Ender's Game."
Find a movie: "What movies are playing tonight?" or "Where's Hunger Games playing?"
Search for images: "Show me pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge."
Take a photo or video: "Take a picture" or "Record a video."
Get directions: "Navigate to Safeway" or "Directions to 1299 Colusa Avenue Berkeley California."
Find nearby places: "Where's the closest coffee shop?"
Plan your trip: "What are some attractions in New York City?"
Look up travel plans: "Show me my flights" or "Where's my hotel?"
Book a table: "Book a table for 2 at Cascal on Wednesday night."
Find the time: "What time is it in London?"
Check the weather: "Do I need a jacket today?" or "What's the weather like tomorrow morning?"
Answer trivia questions: "Where was Albert Einstein born?" or "How old is Beyonce?"
Get stock prices: "What's the Google stock price?" (Disclaimer about financial data)
Calculate the tip: "What's the tip for 42 dollars?"
Translate words or phrases: "How do you say cucumber in Spanish?"
Define a word: "What does gluttony mean?"
Convert between units: "What's 16 ounces in pounds?"
Solve a math problem: "What's the square root of 2209?"
Track a package from your Gmail order confirmation: "Where's my package?"
Search within apps on your device: "Search for Thai food on Yelp."
Wi-Fi: "Turn on Wi-Fi" or "Turn off Wi-Fi."
Bluetooth: "Turn on Bluetooth" or "Turn off Bluetooth."
Flashlight: "Turn on my flashlight" or "Turn my flashlight off."
You can say "Ok Google" to do voice actions with other apps on your device. This is currently available only on certain apps, and only certain phrases work.
More apps that work with "Ok Google"
- Flixster: "Show me Inception on Flixster."
- Instacart: "Show instacart availability."
- iRobot Home: "Start mopping."
- Lincoln: "Start my Lincoln MKZ."
- NPR One: "Listen to NPR."
- NextPlus: "Send a message with NextPlus."
- Realtor.com: "Show rentals near me on Realtor."
- Shazam: "Shazam this song."
- Telegram: "Send a Telegram message to Mom."
- Threema: "Send a Threema message to Kate."
- TripAdvisor: "Show attractions near me on TripAdvisor."
- Trulia: "Show homes for sale in Boston on Trulia."
- TuneIn Radio: "Open TuneIn in car mode."
- Walmart: "Scan my receipt on Walmart."
- WhatsApp: "Send a WhatsApp to Joe."
- Wink: "Activate home mode on Wink."
- Viber: "Send a message with Viber."
- Zillow: "Show me open houses nearby on Zillow."
Google learns some of your preferred apps
When you don't mention the app name for some requests (for example, you say only "scan my receipt"), you can open the app from the search results. After you do this a few times, Google learns that you want to open the app and won't ask again.
If you want to be asked each time before opening the app:
- Say or type the voice action.
- Cancel by tapping .
- Repeat a few times.
Where you can use voice search
These actions are available in English in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, Singapore, and South Africa.
Your device must have the Google app 4.0 or higher with Web & App Activity turned on.


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Get your sewing machines ready.
We're making doll baskets!
Baby Doll Basket PDF Pattern – $8 (Purchase HERE in the shop)
Make one for Christmas or a birthday.
Give them as a gift to nieces, nephews, and grandkids.
Kids, dolls, and softie toys everywhere will be happy.
These baskets are soft and plush with a bit of batting inside. And they're great for boys and girls. My son is always looking for a cozy spot to put Woody the cowboy to bed….or for a make-shift Death Star for an Angry Birds battle.
If you've got a toy that needs a special spot, we've got the pattern.
Here are the details….
PATTERN and PRINTING:
• This is a 36-page PDF document, which means you download it after payment to your computer. The pattern is not physically mailed to you. After purchase you are sent a link for downloading the pattern to your computer (this is sent to the email address attached with your paypal account). Please note that the link will expire after a few days! So when you open the download pattern link, make sure you save the pdf file to your computer so you always have it for future use.
• The file size is 2.8 MB
• You do not need to print every page, only the 12 pattern pages.
• Also included is a printable 3-page cheat sheet for sewing reference.
• Pages print to standard 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper (for printing outside of the US see below)
• Pages are pieced together by trimming along the border, matching them at the markings, and taping together. I've tried to make this as simple as possible with detailed instructions in the pattern itself.
The Baby Doll Basket Pattern comes in 3 sizes:
SMALL: fits dolls and toys 12-14 inches
MEDIUM: fits dolls and toys 14-16 inches (such as "Bitty Baby")
LARGE: fits dolls and toys 16-18 inches (such as "American Girl" or "Our Generation" dolls)
The pattern combines colorful photos and illustrations with very detailed instructions for sewing a Baby Basket, with a basket mattress, pillow, and simple doll blanket.
We won't leave out any bits of info! If you like our tutorials, you'll love this pattern.
The pattern is aimed the Advanced Beginner and beyond.
Of course I encourage anyone to push themselves and take on a challenge. So if you're a true beginner, don't be scared off. Just bear in mind that you will be sewing with bulkier fabrics, pinning and sewing some interfaced corners, and working with bias tape. Get a sewing friend to coach you along the way and you can do it.
FABRIC and SUPPLIES:
Printing in another Country (outside of the US)
The pattern was created for standard US printers but should work for other countries as well. There are measuring rulers on the side of each page (in inches) so you can see if you've printed to the proper print size. The pattern images do NOT print to edge of the paper…so I recommend printing to your standard size paper, checking the ruler, and matching the pattern pieces up as outlined in the instructions.
And….that's it!
Ready to sew baby baskets?
Baby Doll Basket Pattern – $8 (Purchase HERE in the Shop)
• Instant payment is through Paypal
• E-check payment through paypal will delay your pattern download a few days.
• MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE PROPER EMAIL ADDRESS ATTACHED TO YOUR PAYPAL ACCOUNT. This email address is where the info about your purchase and download instructions will be sent.
• You will receive a few emails confirming your payment and providing info about downloading the pdf pattern to your computer.
Happy Sewing!
Lining fabrics used in this pattern are FANFARE by Rae Hoekstra. Visit made by rae for more info.


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In the early 1900s, Peter Alexander Cormack, a barrel maker by trade, and his wife Annie made the journey from Wick, Scotland, to Canada. The couple settled in the small town of Herschel, whose population today is counted at 30 residents.
Founded in 2009 by brothers Jamie and Lyndon Cormack, Herschel Supply Co. adopted the name of the town where three generations of their family grew up. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Herschel Supply Co. is a design driven global accessories brand that produces quality products with a fine regard for detail.


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Ahmed Tejan Kabbah
Lawyer Leads Troubled Sierra Leone
by David Johnson |
President Kabbah. (Source/AP) If Kabbah is able to bring peace to this battered this West African land, and help forge lasting democratic institutions, it will cap a lifetime of public service and devotion to the law. Related Links |
Although he took office in 1996 with 60 percent of the vote to become Sierra Leone's first democratically elected president, Ahmed Tejan Kabbah has never been in total control of the whole country.
Nevertheless, if Kabbah is able to bring peace to this battered this West African land, and help forge lasting democratic institutions, it will cap a lifetime of public service and devotion to the law.
Early Years
An ethnic Mandingo, Kabbah was born in Pendembu in the Kallahun District in North Central Sierra Leone on Feb. 19, 1932. After attending St. Edward's Secondary School in Freetown, Kabbah moved to Great Britain where he earned a B.A. and law degree from University College of Wales in Aberyswyth. He subsequently became a lawyer.
In 1959, Kabbah became a district commissioner for the British colonial government in Sierra Leone. He continued working for the government after Sierra Leone gained its independence in 1961. Kabbah later became a permanent secretary, a position he was to hold until 1969.
A U.N. Official
In 1970 and 1971, Kabbah maintained a private law practice. But he returned to public service in 1971 when he went to New York to work for the United Nations Development Program, UNDP. He stayed with UNDP until 1992, including stints representing the agency in the southern African nation of Lesotho, and in Tanzania. When Kabbah left the U.N., he was director of the division for administrative and management services at UNDP.
Sierra Leone's Tumultuous Politics
In 1992, Kabbah became chairman of the National Advisory Council of the Sierra Leone Government. Running as candidate of the People's Party, Kabbah was elected president in 1996.
Ousted by a violent military coup in 1997, Kabbah spent ten months in exile before a Nigerian-led coalition of West African troops, ECOMOG, returned him to power in March, 1998. Since then, Kabbah's government has not had much influence beyond the capital, Freetown. Several rebel groups, especially the powerful Revolutionary United Front, have dominated large sections of Sierra Leone, since the vicious civil war broke out in 1991.
A Fragile Peace in 1999
A fragile peace was finally reached in July 1999, but was marred by fighting and the taking of some 500 U.N. peacekeepers hostage.
Kabbah's wife, Patricia died in 1998. An ethnic Mende, she was a retired U.N. employee. The couple had several children.
Sources: Embassy of Sierra Leone to the U.S., Panafrican News Agency, BBC, Washington Post, africana.com


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Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Start time: 17:30
Place: Gran Caffè Lavena
Organizer: C.C.I.
In the elegant Gran Caffè Lavena, the preferred Caffè of Wagner and many other artist, an happy hour to renew the Carnival tradition to have a cocktail with friends, entertained by our artists. Dress Code: costume
Partecipation costs: Euro 70
ENSEMBLE MARQUISE, Chamber Concert in Costume
Start time: 19:30
Place: Salone delle Feste
Organizer: Bauer Venezia
Enjoy a unique musical experience with virtuoso arias and duets for two sopranos accompanied by harpsichord, a cello and a recorder, evoking the atmosphere of the Baroque period.
The programme includes gems of the Baroque music, among others, works by G. F. Handel, C. Monteverdi, A. Vivaldi, Mozart and Hungarian Baroque composers.
This special performance will take place at the Salone delle Feste at the Bauer Hotel.
For more information please contact our marketing dept on +39-041-240 69 09 or via e-mail on email@example.com
Partecipation costs: Euro 40.00


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Omar Thornton, the beer-filching delivery man who, upon hearing he was to be fired for his thieving ways, unloaded a Ruger SR9 into ten of his co-workers then himself, has a posthumous website (h/t Crimes of the Times). Created by his mother. Why?
It's hard to swing a cat these days without hitting someone decrying Institutional Racism. It has become the catch-all excuse for Afro under-performance in relation to other ethnic groups...
Top Chicago Cop Links U.S. Gun Laws to Institutional Racism
Failing the Test of Fairness: Institutional Racism and the SAT
DC Million Hoodies March Denounces Institutional Racism
...And so forth.
Like the elusive Yeti, it has to be out there--we've heard stories, terrifying stories, of it ambling hither and yon leaving carnage in its path. Its footprints are visible everywhere. And yet...when pressed, no one seems able to cough up hard proof of its existence.
Just as great footprints in the snow are no proof of the Yeti, the fact that Blacks do not score as highly as Whites on firefighter exams is no proof of Institutional Racism. But the charge is a serious one. It deserves a serious response. Our question is not, however, 'did institutional racism exist in decades past?'--it unquestionably did--but rather, 'does it exist today?' We at Those Who Can See have taken our snowshoes and our rucksack and gone in search of this beast: Down what trail lies the evidence that Institutional Racism continues to harm Afro-Americans in 2012?
I. Jobs
Once excluded from both private and public professions, how are Afro-Americans treated by them today?
1) Public Sector
When searching for Institutional Racism, one might start with the biggest institution there is (and the country's largest employer), the U.S. Federal Government. Since the days of Pearl Harbor, commanders-in-chief have demanded that American government contractors end racial exclusion in hiring. Such Executive Orders have been signed (to various degrees of compliance) by Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Carter.
The OFCCP, Washington's public-sector quota enforcement arm, spends $106 million of your tax dollars each year to make sure enough non-Euros can take their place at the government trough.
As for the civil service, the country's largest single employer for which 2 million of your countrymen currently work...Institutionally racist?
2007 Edition: U.S. Office of Personnel Management Report:
Or, looked at by executive department:
'OPM's 2006 report reveals that among the 18 federal executive departments, only the Department of the Interior failed to achieve its racial hiring goal (quota) for hiring blacks. All of the other 17 federal executive departments exceeded their racial quotas for hiring blacks by a minimum of +14% (Air Force) to an impressive +363% (Housing and Urban Development).'
'These percentages represent the amount by which the agency overhired blacks as compared to the availability of this group in the civilian work force:'
'The five "best" federal executive departments for overhing blacks were HUD (363%), the Dept. of Education (329%), the Dept. of State (231%), the Labor Dept. (176%), and the Veteran's Administration (147%).'
'Most of the bottom five "worst" executive departments for overhiring blacks in FY 2006 still managed to exceed their quota by significant percentages. The exception is the Dept. of the Interior which once again missed their quota by -37%. However, the next "worst" agency for blacks, the Air Force, exceeded their quota for blacks by 14%, the Dept. of Agriculture by 15%, the Navy by 19%, and the U.S. Dept. of Transportation by 22%.'
'The five best independent agencies for overhing blacks in 2006 were Court Services and Offender Services (CSOS) (808%), Government Printing Office (GPO) (503%), the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) at 409%, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) (401%), and the Smithsonian Institution (338%).'
'The five "worst" agencies for blacks still over shot their racial quotas by significant amounts: NASA (49%), the National Credit Union Association (NCUA) at 62%, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) (68%), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) (97%), and the Securities and Exchange Commission at 113%.'
Looking at these numbers, one can indeed see what appears to be a racial imbalance in government hiring practices--but not quite in the sense we have been led to expect.
2) Private Sector
The EEOC, Washington's private-sector quota enforcement arm, spends $385 million of your tax dollars each year to make sure enough non-Euros are hired by private companies.
The U.S. is home to thousands of businesses large and small, and it is impossible to know the racial make-up of even a fraction of them. No hope, then, of finding out if the EEOC is doing its job of forcing private businesses to hire the correct number of non-Whites?
We have some clues...
The 2010 EEOC Report tells us they used our tax dollars to investigate
- 35,890 charges of racial discrimination;
- 19,283 charges of race, national origin, or religious harassment;
- while securing $404 million in monetary benefits for individuals - 'the highest level of relief obtained through administrative enforcement in the Commission's history.'
We have some other clues:
Afros score lower on IQ tests than non-Afros.
The Supreme Court has prohibited private businesses from giving job applicants IQ tests.
Afros commit felonies at higher rates than non-Afros.
The EEOC has prohibited private companies from refusing to hire job applicants based on a criminal record.
Afros drop out of high school at higher rates than non-Afros.
The EEOC has threatened to prohibit private businesses from requiring job candidates to have a high school diploma.
Afros neglect to pay their bills at higher rates than non-Afros.
The EEOC has threatened to prohibit private businesses from running job applicant credit checks.
Afros score lower on police and fire exams than non-Afros.
The Justice Department has sued fire and police departments until they've agreed to suitably dumb down their tests.
Anything else?
When there's too much data to sift through, an example can be instructive. Au hasard: Boeing Corp., the biggest aerospace company in the U.S., employing 170,000 Americans. An institution to be sure, a company the U.S. can be proud of. Racist?
After being sued for insufficiently flattering the vanity of its minority employees, Boeing has reached deep into its pockets and coughed up:
- $3.7 million for 'equal opportunity and diversity training' initiatives.
- $500 million to 3 minority-owned investment banks who have financial ties to Jackson's Chicago-based Rainbow-PUSH Coalition.
- $1 million to the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Business Consortium Fund (BCF).
- $225,000 to Rosalind Crenshaw, a supplier diversity specialist, to act as Boeing's liaison to Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH organization.
- $150,000 for four scholarships annually for owners of minority businesses to attend the J. L. Kellogg School of Business for the Advanced Management Training Program , and two scholarships annually to attend the Minority Business Executive Program at the Tuck Business School.
- $250,000 to Jesse Jackson's Citizenship Education Fund (CEF).
- $100,000 to Jesse Jackson fund raisers, conventions and dinner galas.
- $800 million in contracts and supply orders to minority-owned and women-owned businesses as part of their so-called "Supplier Diversity Program".
- Total: $1.3 billion.
Of what could tentatively be called 'protection money,' paid to private citizens of color in order to fend off the Department of Justice, Department of Labor, and EEOC's lawyers--all this to absolve the company of wrongdoing for which it has never been convicted in a court of law.
You're an alien from another planet--with the facts as presented, which ethnic group in the above scenario would you guess is calling the tune?
Boeing is not alone. Corporate America now rolls out the red carpet for non-Euros. Fortune Magazine publishes yearly its 100 Most Diverse Companies list, where job seekers learn that while at Microsoft you'll rub elbows with 77% Euro-Americans, at Whole Foods that number is only 66%, and at the Four Seasons you'll only be forced to tolerate 37% white people. Fortune 500 companies from soft drink giants to Silicon Valley to top retailers have sprouted giant diversity outreach departments, and now spend millions of dollars convincing non-Whites to join their ranks.
A final clue:
An idea of the time, money, and energy involved in respecting the EEOC's racial quotas can be had from reading this 'simple' audit sheet. Five thousand five hundred twenty words long, it lays out in minute detail the hoops broadcasting businesses must jump through to avoid risking a racial lawsuit. We fervently encourage anyone searching for the Institutional Racism Yeti to take a few minutes and read this whole document, from start to finish.
II. Education
Once excluded from both private and public educational institutions, how are Afro-Americans treated by them today?
1) Taxpayer contributions
The Head Start program, launched in 1965 as part of LBJ's 'War on Poverty', is a taxpayer-funded special pre-school program that includes free health and dental check-ups. Despite making up only 15% of the pre-school aged population, Blacks use 31% of this program's resources. ($7.2 billion per year total budget) Whites, at 57% of the pre-school aged population, only use 35% of Head Start's resources. (The Hispanic numbers, respectively, are 19% and 33%.)
Despite a 2010 government study showing it makes almost no impact on children's school success, this expensive program which disproportionately benefits Afro-Americans continues to see its budget rise.
The National School Lunch Program, launched in 1946, spends taxpayer dollars on free lunches for low-income schoolchildren. Afros, again 13% of the population, are granted a disproportionately large amount of these resources.
2) Money spent per pupil
Contrary to popular belief, public schools in America do not spend more per pupil on Euro students than on Afros. It is in fact the opposite.
Or, to look at the data graphically:
Black school district failure rates
One way for Afro-Americans to fight against institutional racism is to make sure the institution itself is largely Afro. A good many American school districts have so transformed themselves, but the results of this great experiment in Afro-institutionalization have left something to be desired.
3) Wealth and SAT scores
The theory of 'institutional racism' might predict that the wealthier perform better on standardized tests than the poor. Not necessarily.
The 1995 numbers ,with Asians and Hispanics:
4) College admissions: favored races
Not only are top colleges not excluding Blacks, they are wooing them and admitting them on much lighter criteria than those reserved for other ethnic groups:
To have the same chances of gaining admission [to a top college] as a black student with an SAT score of 1100, an Hispanic student otherwise equally matched in background characteristics would have to have a 1230, a white student a 1410, and an Asian student a 1550.
Further proof that underqualified Afros are being widely admitted to top colleges is found in law school, med school, and professional board exam scores:
Bar exam scores by race:
LSAT scores by race:
Data from the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) for U.S. Medical School Applicants 2005-2007 (3 years):
- An Asian American with a GPA of 2.8 to 2.99 and a MCAT score of 36 to 38 has a 36.8% chance of being admitted to a U.S. medical school.
- A Euro American with a GPA of 2.8 to 2.99 and a MCAT score of 36 to 38 has a 40.7% chance of being admitted to a U.S. medical school.
- An African American with a GPA of 2.8 to 2.99 and a MCAT score of 36 to 38 has a 100% chance of being admitted to a U.S. medical school.
III. Justice
Once excluded from juries and subjected to extra-judicial violence, how are Afro-Americans treated by the justice system today? The accusations run the gamut, from unfair incarceration to too-harsh sentencing to unfair stop-and-frisks. The facts?
1) Underrepresented in Prison
Blumstein (1993) found that Blacks were underrepresented in prison for homicide compared with their presence in arrest rates. So did the DOJ, from the Color of Crime 2005 report:
'Overall, black offenders were nine percent less likely to be arrested than white and Hispanic (W&H) offenders who committed crimes in the same categories.'
2) Underrepresented in Stop-and-Frisk
Heather MacDonald found that in NYC, Blacks are underrepresented in stop-and-frisks:
'Though blacks, 24 percent of New York City's population, committed 68.5 percent of all murders, rapes, robberies, and assaults in the city last year [2006], according to victims and witnesses, they were only 55 percent of all stop-and-frisks.'
3) Sentencing differences
'Sampson and Lauritsen reviewed the massive literature on charging and sentencing. They concluded that "large racial differences in criminal offending," not racism, explained why more blacks were in prison proportionately than whites and for longer terms.'
Among those 'large racial differences in criminal offending', according to the DOJ:
- Blacks are seven times more likely than other races to commit murder.
- Blacks are eight times more likely than other races to commit robbery.
- Blacks are thirty-nine times more likely to commit a crime against a White than vice versa.
A 2004 DOJ study shows that harsher sentences given to Blacks than to Whites do exist, and are attributable to Blacks' greater number of prior offenses, as sentencing law dictates. Color of Crime 2005:
Extremely harsh sentencing laws for crack cocaine do fall largely on black shoulders. But these laws were first put in place during the height of the 1980s 'crack wars,' at the demand of....Chuck Rangel and the Congressional Black Caucus.
(Methamphetamine-trafficking penalties, Heather MacDonald notes, are identical to those for crack: a mandatory minimum five-year sentence for five grams of meth. Those hit by this law are 54% white and 2% black.)
As to the idea that Blacks are disproportionately punished for drug crimes, Color of Crime 2005 finds
'The graph shows that the black share of emergency room admissions for illegal drugs in 2002 was slightly higher than the black share of those arrested for drug offenses. If police were unfairly targeting blacks for drug arrests, their share of arrests would be higher than their share of drug-related trips to the emergency room.'
4) Profiling--for a reason
A major complaint of Afros against Euros, especially recently, is that the latter have no reason to be suspicious around the former. 'Profiling' and avoiding Blacks in the street are a product of institutional racism and are to be condemned. The statistics say otherwise:
(Inexplicably, the Dept. of Justice separates Whites and Hispanics when it comes to interracial crime victims, but calls them both 'White' when it comes to interracial crime perpetrators. This curious anomaly explains the word 'white' in quotes for the above chart.)
Afros also criticize Euros for doing everything in their power to stay out of black neighborhoods. But again, the statistics tell us why:
The number one predictor of violent crime in a given U.S. locale is its population of Blacks and Hispanics. This factor is more predictive than poverty, unemployment, income disparity, high school drop-out rate, and gun ownership combined.
Put today's intelligent black American in a time machine and send him back one hundred years--in many places, he may be shut out of government, employment, and education entirely. Zip him back to 2012, and these same institutions will be knocking down his door begging him to join them. There is no sense in denying it.
History is often nothing but a series of pendulum swings--a generation of libertines gives way to a generation of prudes, intense piety to irreligion, civic-mindedness to selfishness, urban explosion to rural retrenchment. The cycles seem to go back and forth ad infinitum. Any pendulum that can swing too far one way can swing too far the other. Accusations of institutional racism in 2012 would be best met, not with hand-wringing over what happened generations ago, but with facts and figures about what is true today. Reports of this particular Yeti have been, one can charitably say, wildly exaggerated.


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NEATJax supports Hubbard House
TEAM NEATJax an I have joined Hubbard House in the movement to end domestic violence.
Will you support me and make a contribution which will provide life-saving shelter and services to survivors and their children?
For just $60 a night, Hubbard House provides a night of safety and help when it's most needed.
Any contribution makes a difference.
Let's save local lives, together.
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Posted 14 years ago
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Beads and sequins cover this exquisite example of mid 20's fashion. It has a scalloped hem with glass beaded flowers in pastel pink, yellow, purple and red. This is mirrored around the front and back yoke section. There are beaded tassels on either hip. A silk or satin slip would originally have been worn underneath.
It's not labelled but probably of French origin. There is some damage underneath the arms so it's carefully stored in acid-free tissue paper in a box.


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Three parallel horizontal lines drawn using ash on the forehead of Shiva devotees is known as the Tripundra. The Tripundra is made using bhasma or vibhuti and is a symbol of purification, rejuvenation and destruction. A red dot in the center of the Tripundra symbolizes Goddess Shakti.
The three parallel horizontal lines are also drawn on the sides of the arms by some Shiva devotees. Some Shaivites apply ash on the entire forehead.
Usually the three horizontal lines are made using ash but there are also many devotees who make Tripundra on forehead using sandalwood paste with a red dot in the center.
Another popular Tilak applied by Shiva devotees is the half-moon or Ardha-Chandra with a red dot in the center. The half-moon and the red dot represent Shiva and Shakti.
Another popular Tilak used by Shiva devotees is the trishul (trident) which is drawn on forehead using ash or sandalwood paste.
Staunch Shiva devotees who are no longer associated with society and lead the life of a mendicant apply ash on the entire body.
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Universal Television -- Formerly Universal Media Studios -- Names Heads of Comedy, Drama and Casting Departments Under Newly Installed Executive Vice President Bela Bajaria
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - September 12, 2011 - NBC Entertainment has renamed its television production company, Universal Media Studios, as Universal Television, and made several key executive appointments in the division as part of a bold initiative to re-establish a thriving production studio that serves the NBC network as well as a range of other networks as a quality supplier of entertainment content.
The newly named studio, led by Executive Vice President Bela Bajaria (who joined NBCUniversal last month), will include Russell Rothberg, formerly Senior Vice President, Drama Programming, NBC and UMS, who will head the studio's drama department as Senior Vice President, Drama, Universal Television. Joining him in the drama area will be Erin Underhill, formerly Senior Vice President, Current Programming, NBC and UMS, who now becomes Senior Vice President, Drama, Universal Television, reporting to Rothberg.
In addition, Tracey Pakosta comes to Universal Television to head the comedy department as Senior Vice President, Comedy, Universal Television. And Beth Klein joins the studio, most recently from Showtime, to lead the new casting department as Senior Vice President, Casting, Universal Television. An additional comedy executive will also be announced shortly.
The announcements were made today by Bajaria who runs this new division that reports to Robert Greenblatt, Chairman of NBC Entertainment.
"We are excited to embark on the rebuilding of the studio," said Bajaria. "This incredible group brings a wide range of experience, great creative relationships and a strong belief in the studio business. We look forward to working in partnership with the creative community to produce quality shows for a variety of networks under the Universal Television banner."
"Today's announcement further demonstrates our commitment to our studio business," said Greenblatt. "Content creation is vitally important, and this new group will supervise all of the studio's current programming as well as plan for our expansion into the future. We are fortunate to have attracted a team with the highest integrity and skill who will work closely with the NBC Entertainment group and also sell and produce shows for a range of other networks. The name change to Universal Television harkens back to a company that was once a juggernaut of the business and will serve to reinforce to the creative community our stated goal of producing quality television."
Today's moves return the studio to its former namesake -- Universal Television -- which existed prior to NBC's acquisition of Universal in 2004.
The studio's new logo pays homage to its legacy with a global-inspired trademark that is reminiscent of its earlier years but has been slightly updated.
In his previous position, Rothberg developed NBC's new dramas "Awake" and "Prime Suspect," among numerous other projects. Rothberg joined NBC and Universal Media Studios in June 2009 and previously served as Vice President of Current Programming for Fox Broadcasting Company. At Fox from 2003-08, Rothberg at various times oversaw such series as "House," "Bones," "American Dad" and "The Sarah Connor Chronicles." He also provided show coverage for three seasons of "24," including its Emmy Award-winning season when it was named Outstanding Drama Series. Earlier, Rothberg was Manager of Series Programming from 2000-03. There, he developed "Wild Card" and "Missing" while he provided coverage for such current series as "Strong Medicine," "For the People" and "The Division." From 1999-2000, Rothberg worked at Warner Bros.
Underhill recently oversaw such new series as the dramas "The Playboy Club," "Awake," "Parenthood," "Chase" and the anthology series "Love Bites." She earlier developed "Heroes," "Chuck" and "Friday Night Lights" for NBC. Underhill also served at NBC as Vice President, Drama Development, and Vice President, Current Series. During her term there, she oversaw shows such as "The West Wing," "ER," "American Dreams" and "Third Watch." Earlier, Underhill was Director, Current Series.
Pakosta most recently was the partner at Green Mountain West, Craig Ferguson's production company for CBS Television Studios. She previously served as Executive Vice President of Comedy Development at The WB network, where she co-ran the comedy department and developed many projects, including hits such as "Reba" and "What I Like About You." Pakosta spent more than a decade at The WB, joining in August 1995.
Klein most recently was Showtime's Senior Vice President of Talent and Casting where she worked closely with Greenblatt for several years. While at Showtime, Klein oversaw casting for the network's scripted series, including "The Big C," "Dexter," "Weeds," "The Borgias," "The Tudors," "Queer as Folk," "The L-Word," "Nurse Jackie," "United States of Tara," "Episodes," "Shameless" and "Californication." In addition, she oversaw more than 30 made-for-television movies and the pilots for "House of Lies" and "Homeland." For the last 23 years, Klein was in charge of casting for Showtime while she also worked for other divisions of CBS/Viacom, including Viacom Prods., where she cast such series as "Ed" and "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch."
Universal Television produces some of television's most critically acclaimed and successful television programs and this year was again a dominant force in the Emmy race -- with 49 Emmy nominations and garnering six outstanding series nominations for "30 Rock," "The Office," "Parks and Recreation," "Friday Night Lights," "Saturday Night Live" and "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."
The studio produces or co-produces series for primetime, late-night, longform, reality and digital media projects for a variety of broadcast networks as well as online outlets. Its current roster features Emmy-winning comedies "The Office," "30 Rock," and critical favorite "Parks and Recreation," as well as dramas "House" (one of television's top-rated series globally), "Parenthood" and "Friday Night Lights," among others. Additionally, the studio, along with Wolf Films, produces "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," which is part of the most successful drama series brand in television history. Many of these series have been honored with prestigious Emmy, Golden Globe, Peabody, SAG, AFI and Humanitas Awards.
New scripted series produced by Universal Television for the 2011-2012 season include the dramas "Prime Suspect," "Smash," "Grimm" and comedies "Whitney," "Up All Night," "Free Agents," "Bent" and "Best Friends Forever" (working title).
Universal Television has a rich legacy comprised of the merged entities of NBC Studios and the original Universal Television. The former NBC Studios first made its mark in the 1950s with NBC's hit western "Bonanza" and went on to create hit series including "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Providence" and "Will & Grace." Universal Television was created in 1951, and its roster of memorable programs includes "Leave It to Beaver," "Columbo," "The Rockford Files," "Miami Vice," and "Law & Order," among dozens of others.
Late-night programs include NBC's successful "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," "Saturday Night Live," and "Last Call with Carson Daly."


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The benefit of old buildings is they're often blessed with desirable characteristics and good architectural bones that make them ideal for open-plan living. Perhaps that's why an artist who specializes in ceramics and light-reflective installations and her husband bought this loft space in a 1900s factory building located in Providence, R.I.'s jewelry district. They asked local firm 3six0 Architecture to tailor the loft into two distinct spaces.
"We were asked to convert half of the loft into her live/work space," says project architect Olga Mesa, LEED AP. The husband was slated to remodel the other half of the loft to his liking, Mesa says, but in the end the couple decided to have the firm execute the build-out.
Measuring 4,000 square feet, the space had an odd trapezoidal shape with awkwardly located columns that thwarted straightforward divisions of the space. Because the wife likes light-filled, serene environments and the husband likes raw materials, the design team developed two architectural characters: "cloud," which has soft rounded corners and appears seamless, white or translucent; and "stack," which has a more constructed look with wood or MDF with steel details.
"We organized the two loft spaces by mingling cloud and stack into walls and storage spaces," Mesa says. "Each character is grounded accordingly, stack on his side and cloud on hers, but one is never in isolation from the other."
Casework and detailing continued the conversation between the two spaces, Mesa says. The architects conceived the husband's area as "stacked volumes slowly spreading and transforming from closed cabinets to open shelves," while on the wife's side casework continues with glass doors and a more monolithic expression.
The design team retained whatever valuable materials it could, restoring the wood floors and cleaning the 11-foot-tall load-bearing brick walls. It also kept the layout for the plumbing and mechanical chases but updated the systems with energy-efficient replacements.
"We applied energy-efficient window treatments to the large original windows and salvaged the few wood floor boards that had to be replaced, from which furniture commissioned by the clients was built," Mesa explains.
Materials play a key role in open loft spaces, and this project was no exception. Used to reinforce the spatial strategy, materials include MDF panels, blackened steel, dark gray slate tiles, and honed black granite in the husband's space, while on the wife's side the designers used gypsum board, Lumasite resin panels, frosted glass, white tiles, Douglas fir, basaltina stone, and soapstone. Yin and yang, blending effortlessly together.


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Release Date: September 4, 2012 This content is archived.
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo has established a scholarship in memory of Alison L. Des Forges, the late historian and human rights activist who was killed in the crash of Continental Flight 3407 near Buffalo on Feb. 12, 2009.
Working with the Alison L. Des Forges Memorial Committee, UB created the Alison L. Des Forges Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund to provide financial support for Buffalo Public Schools graduates who are committed to studying human rights and social justice.
UB faculty member Roger Des Forges, PhD, a professor of history, said that the scholarship grew out of a desire to pay tribute to the causes his wife held dear.
"When we lost Alison, family and friends wanted to act to keep her memory alive and advance the causes she devoted her life to: one of those was improving K-12 public education in Buffalo; another was protecting human rights in Central Africa," he said.
Des Forges said the scholarship offers a practical way to promote both interests.
"Relatively few Buffalo public school graduates attend the University at Buffalo, in some cases because of a lack of financial resources," he said. "We hope this scholarship will encourage secondary school students to inform themselves about issues related to human rights and social justice, and inspire and enable them to attend UB, where they can develop programs of study in human rights, and eventually continue Alison's work in defending human rights and social justice for generations to come."
The scholarship will be open to Buffalo Public School graduates who enroll at UB in any major and will be awarded for the first time in fall 2013. A committee is being established to help in the recruitment and selection process, according to A. Scott Weber, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education.
"The University at Buffalo feels a great sense of pride and commitment in honoring the ideals of Alison L. Des Forges through the scholarship," Weber said. "To know that each year a student from the Buffalo Public Schools will be helped for the next four years as they pursue the same goals that she worked for with such tenacity will be a lasting tribute."
An internationally recognized authority on human rights abuses, Alison Des Forges tirelessly advocated on behalf of citizens of Central Africa as a senior advisor to the Africa Division of Human Rights Watch. Her landmark book, "Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda," awakened the world to the horrors of the 1994 killings in that nation. The authoritative account, along with her decades of devotion to her work, earned Des Forges a MacArthur Foundation Award in 1999.
Des Forges said his wife would be grateful for the efforts of so many people who have worked to keep her memory alive.
"I think that Alison would say thank you to all those who have contributed to establishing this scholarship. She would think that it is an appropriate memorial to her and to others who have given their lives to protect the human rights of all members of the human community. She would feel happiness that the causes for which she worked will continue to be carried on in her name and in perpetuity."
For more information about the Alison L. Des Forges Memorial Scholarship Fund, visit http://giving.buffalo.edu/desforges.


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