text:
As he rolls through the front door of the sprawling Claremont Club fitness center and shouts a friendly hello here and there, for just a moment it's as if nothing has changed since Hal Hargrave Jr. was the big, friendly teenage gym rat who haunted this place.
The burly Hargrave's head was filled with dreams of playing college baseball as he strode into the gym, stretched out on a bench and pressed 300 pounds above his body. Again and again.
He's still big and burly, his arms still muscular and he still works out nearly every day. Only these days Hargrave uses that strength to move his wheelchair in and out of the gym, where he still works out 20 hours a week and knows just about everybody in the place.
These days, though, Hargrave's goal is to get walking again, something he lost the ability to do on July 26, 2007, when he swerved his truck to avoid debris in the road. It flipped four times, the cab collapsing on him and snapping his spine. It left him paralyzed from the neck down.
The irony is never lost on Hargrave that he was delivering handicapped-accessible bathroom doors as part of a summer job. If it was a sign to a strapping 17-year-old athlete that his life was headed in the wrong direction, it would seem to have been a particularly harsh one, but Hargrave doesn't see it that way.
"Some people call me crazy for putting it this way, but I have been given a gift," the talkative, friendly 23-year-old says with a smile over lunch at the gym's small cafe. "They see this as an ailment. I don't."
He sees it instead as something that gave him a chance to help others, to have his life truly make a difference.
It inspired him to create the Be Perfect Foundation, a nonprofit charity that has raised $1.2 million to provide wheelchairs, make homes more accessible and, most importantly, keep more than 100 people in rehabilitation programs they otherwise couldn't afford.
All of which would have been pretty impressive if Hargrave had just stopped there. But he didn't.
He persuaded the Claremont Club president to turn a racquetball court and a basketball court into a wing for people with paralyzing injuries. Then he got Project Walk, a spinal rehabilitation center where he'd been treated, to open its first franchise in this bucolic college town 35 miles east of Los Angeles for those who couldn't make the commute to its San Diego area headquarters.
"Here's a 17-year-old boy who had a debilitating, life-changing accident," said Mike Alpert, who runs the Claremont Club and whose daughter has known Hargrave since the two were in kindergarten. "So many people that go through that would give up. Would be depressed. Would blame everybody else. Here's a young man who just said, `I have a calling to change the world and to help people through what's happening to me. And then he goes out and does it! How special is that?"
"He's an amazing young man," echoes Devorah Lieberman, president of University of La Verne, where Hargrave is a full-time student.
Although he hasn't regained full use of his fingers (he fist bumps rather than shakes hands), he's gotten back enough to take notes on his iPad. He maintains a near-perfect 3.8 grade point average.
Lieberman will never forget the first time they met two years ago at a basketball rally. Hargrave, never known to be shy, rolled up and introduced himself. He told her how he'd been hurt and she expressed her condolences.
"And he said to me, `DO NOT be sorry! It was a blessing.'"
Then he gave her a Be Perfect bracelet that she wears to this day.
Not that the road back from the accident was easy.
"It was very touch and go the first two weeks," recalled his father, Hal Hargrave Sr., who still chokes up when he talks about what his son has overcome and accomplished. "They had him on breathing machines. He got pneumonia. ... We didn't know if he was going to stay with us or not."
Hargrave himself thought he would die as he lay trapped in the truck. Those stories about your life passing before you, he says, are true.
Although he's big and strong again, nerve damage keeps his body in a near perpetual state of motion, giving the impression he's fidgeting uncomfortably in his chair although he really feels little.
Given only a 1 to 3 percent chance of walking again, he threw himself into rehabilitation with the same fervor that once made him a high school sports star. Gradually movement returned to his shoulders, then his arms and hands. Lately he's started to get some in his legs as well.
"It's nothing that's too controlled movement yet, but it's coming back and I'm doing things that doctors are in disbelief about," he says happily.
It was after one of his arduous rehabilitation sessions, where limbs are yanked and twisted and bodies are placed in expensive machinery to simulate walking, that an epiphany led to his foundation.
Brian O'Neil, an electrician who had suffered a similar injury in a dirt-bike crash, told him he wouldn't see him again. He'd lost his job, was about to lose his house, didn't have insurance and couldn't afford any more rehabilitation.
Before he left the center, Hargrave persuaded his father to pick up the cost of O'Neil's rehabilitation. Then, on the ride home, he decided why not help others as well?
He was told that running a foundation wouldn't be easy, especially for a guy going through his own grueling rehabilitation. But he was adamant.
"He didn't like the word no. And he didn't like the word can't," Hargrave Sr. says, chuckling at the memory of raising the oldest of his four children.
O'Neil was blown away - and still is.
"For such a young man he's very - I can't even find the words to mention the kind of guy Little Hal is," O'Neil, using the nickname close friends call Hargrave by, says emotionally. "He's just a great kid."
Hargrave scheduled the first of what would become annual fundraisers at the height of the Great Recession and he hoped he might get lucky and raise maybe $30,000. After $250,000 poured in, he thought: "Maybe we can do this forever."
So he soldiers on, getting up each day, working out, running the foundation, hanging out with friends, going to school. Still a sports fanatic, he's earning a degree in communications with the hope of someday becoming a sports broadcaster.
But the foundation will always come first.
"I had dreams of going off and going to school and becoming a baseball player and doing this and that," he says as he finishes lunch. "But when I think back on it, it was so selfish. And now my dreams are much different. My dreams are to keep people in therapy and my dreams are to help other people. That's what my life is about at this point."


text: The Name of the company is British Motorcycle Gear We were the USA distributor for Belstaff U.K. and produce our own line of clothing as well as Import Knox Armor, Davida Helmets, and Barbour International jackets from the U.K. Over the last 17 years of doing all the Cycle World Shows in America and the Daytona 200, Laguna Seca GP, Lake George, BMW Rallies and countless other events, I have had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know quite a few regulars on the ADVider web site. I must say we miss seeing Wayne from MotoPort and his crew on the tour but it is great to see his imput on this site.. I am putting up this post so that anyone with any input or questions about our line can put in their 2 cents and we can respond. We have made changes to some of our products based on Posts about our products placed on ADVrider in the past but would like to do it in a more open forum such as this. looking forward to your input Paul Brooks www.BritishMotorcycleGear.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Mukesh and Nita Ambani's elder son Akash Ambani got married to Shloka Mehta in a glittering ceremony in the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai on Sunday, Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai, veteran industrialists Ratan Tata and N Chandrasekaran, and global chief executives of the Bank of America, Samsung, J P Morgan and Bollywood superstars were among the guests.
After the lavish wedding, the Ambanis hosted a post-wedding celebration for the newlyweds at Mumbai's Jio World Complex. Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha, Akshay Kumar and wife Twinkle Khanna, Juhi Chawla, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan, with their daughter Aaradhya, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali Tendulkar, musician Anu Malik and his family were seen at the event. American pop-rock band Maroon 5 also performed at the event.


text:
I have been doing more and more with Facebook in the last past 6 months. I plan to integrate the different web service sites I utilize but there seem to be many options.
Find me on FB here: Facebook Profile
A lot more info will be changing all winter long….cheers


text: Thierry's surname is easy to pronounce, which might be a factor. With his teammate Robert Pires, the first name is usually pronounced as an English name, not a French one. I think we might try a bit harder with surnames. If Henry were his first name, we'd probably pronounce it English-style,


text:
One Eyes MonsterSoak up the sun in your own one-of-a-kind swimsuit! This cut out design lets you show the right amount of skin and is easy to print your own designs on.
Made from 90% Polyester, 10% Spandex
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If you order more than 50 pcs items (can be combined), please click here to contact us for whole price quotation, please include the SKU# and the quantity you want for each of them. For order less than 50 pcs, please order directly from our website.


text:
Request timed out, or no have tags images.
COPYRIGHT © 2000-2014 Sas & Colin Christian
The Artwork on this Site is protected by copyright and/or other intellectual property laws and any unauthorized use of the Materials and Artwork at this Site may violate such laws. No portion of the information or documents on this Site may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Sas or Colin Christian.


text:
The only thing that shows up on the Inssider Networks tab is a message that
"All Networks Are Currently Filtered"
I just got the wireless unit and it has nothing special except I changed the admin logon name and password and gave it WPA/WPA2 with AES encryption for security. I tried searching on the (error?) message. No help. I have no idea what this message means. For all I can tell Inssider does not work.
Can anyone get me started "seeing" the wireless transmissions?


text:
homosexuals have been good priests...But it has to do with our view of marriage. A priest can only give his life to the church in the sense that a man gives his life to a female spouse. A homosexual man cannot have the same relationship. It's not about condemning anybody. It's about our world view."Oh, so a straight man can marry God/Jesus and it's no homo, but if a gay man devotes himself to a masculinized church, it's homo? Perversely confusing, to say the least, but not nearly as dangerous and just plain mean-spirited as blaming pedophilia on homosexuality. The conflation of pedophilia and child-molestation is long-standing our culture and has resulted in a variety of mean-spirited laws, from barring gay men and lesbians from teaching young children and adoption to barring gay men from the Boy Scouts. The claim by the Catholic Church and many conservatives that homosexuals are more likely to molest children is simply not true. In fact, of all the respected studies of child molestation and sexual orientation done, none have established a connection between homosexuality and child molestation. Instead, studies seem to show that those who molest prepubescent children often do not have an adult sexual orientation and those who have sex with pubescent children are far more likely to be attracted to women or women and men (i.e. are straight or bi, but very rarely gay). And yet despite evidence that the cause of the child molestation culture that is the Catholic priesthood is arrogance, the Catholic hierarchy refuses to look at the facts. In April, the Vatican's Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said
Many psychologists and psychiatrists have demonstrated that there is no relation between celibacy and pedophilia. But many others have demonstrated, I have been told recently, that there is a relation between homosexuality and pedophilia. That is true. That is the problem."Sure, if you listen to crazy, ideologically-driven studies you can find evidence for anything you want. Even, gasp, heterosexuality as the cause of child abuse. But the real link- between masculinity, privilege, and a sense of entitlement to others' bodies- remains unseen and unspoken. Bless the motorcycles, but condemn the fags. Bless macho men, even welcome them into the priesthood, but bar men who love other men from serving male deities. Act in ways that pervert truth and logic. And then be surprised when yet another "accident" of child sexual abuse happens despite all your holy water and your prayers.


text:
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text:
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text:
Grasshopper Baked Alaska
Can you believe it? This stunning dessert is completely make ahead, including the meringue. All you need to do is bake it for a few minutes in the oven before serving.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Total TimePrep: 45 min. + freezing Bake: 5 min.
Makes12 servings
- 1/2 cup butter, cubed
- 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 quarts vanilla ice cream, softened
- 1 package (4.67 ounces) mint Andes candies, chopped
- 2 tablespoons creme de menthe
- 1 tablespoon creme de cacao
- Green food coloring, optional
- 8 large egg whites
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt butter and chocolate; stir until smooth. Stir in sugar. Beat in vanilla and eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; stir into chocolate mixture.
- Transfer to a greased 8-in. round baking pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs (do not overbake). Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the ice cream, Andes candies, liqueurs and, if desired, food coloring. Transfer to an 8-in. round bowl (1-1/2 qts.) lined with plastic wrap; freeze until set.
- In a large heavy saucepan, combine the egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar. With a hand mixer, beat on low speed for 1 minute. Continue beating over low heat until egg mixture reaches 160°, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; beat until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved.
- Place brownie on an ungreased foil-lined baking sheet; top with inverted ice cream mold. Remove plastic wrap. Immediately spread meringue over ice cream, sealing to edges of brownie. Freeze until ready to serve, up to 24 hours.
- Bake at 400° for 2-5 minutes or until meringue is lightly browned. Transfer to a serving plate; serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts1 piece: 523 calories, 24g fat (16g saturated fat), 94mg cholesterol, 294mg sodium, 70g carbohydrate (57g sugars, 1g fiber), 9g protein.
Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.


text:
OTTAWA, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Colin Greening's score off a rebound with 23.4 seconds left in regulation time Saturday sent the Ottawa Senators to a 3-2 win over Toronto.
Greening batted the puck out of the air after Patrick Wiercioch's initial shot was stopped by Ben Scrivens in the final minute, enabling the Senators to post a fourth straight win.
The Toronto center also provided two assists.
Mika Zibanejad and Erik Condra each tallied and added an assist for the Sens.
Ben Bishop -- subbing for the injured Craig Anderson -- earned the victory with 26 saves.
Scrivens finished with 32 stops for the Maple Leafs.
Mikhail Grabovski and Clarke MacArthur each scored for Toronto.


text:
Riga V Greenhouse Kit
In stock
From $5,199.00
To $7,614.00
Important Notes
- In some communities, a permit may be required to build a greenhouse on your property. Be sure to obtain any need approvals from your local government or HOA before ordering.
- This greenhouses are quite bulky and will be delivered by a 3rd party shipping company that specializes in delivering furniture and other large packages to home. You may be contacted by these professionals to schedule a convenient delivery a time.
- Due to their size, expedited shipping is not available for RIGA Greenhouses.
Key Features
Are you looking for a real greenhouse - not just a season extender - but something thick and sturdy enough to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers all the way though brutal winters and harsh winds? With a combination of strong materials and durable hardware, the Riga Greenhouse is by far the strongest greenhouse kit in the US. Clear walls, reflective shelving and an onion shaped roof ensure that that sunlight will always reach your plants, even after the heavy snowfall. This greenhouse has every feature you need, including:
- Enough insulation needed to grow plant year-round anywhere in the continental US. The glazed, double pane walls cost 40% less to heat than single pane walled greenhouses.
- Light weight polycarbonate walls and glazing that softly diffuses light as it passes through.
- More ventilation than similarly units. The automatic window vent opens at 80 degrees F and make the greenhouse much safer for heat loving plants in the summer. It also makes it more comfortable for gardeners, kids and pets!
- Two optional layers of shelving. Tall plants (beans, tomatoes etc) don't need shelving but that are using to pack in more seedlings, greens and flowers. The shelves are suspended so larger plants and yard tools can be stored underneath.
- All shelving is white, reflective polycarbonate. It is very sturdy and white color allows extra light to diffuse around the greenhouse.
- An optional 6 inch tall base frame can be used on top of soil, grass, mulch or any other well draining materials
- Once assembled, the Riga's grooved frames are permanently attached to each other and won't come loose from age or wind.
- The onion shaped roof will not collapse under the weight of snow. In fact, Riga greenhouses routinely withstand large hail and winds over 80 mph.
- Can be modified to create slots for an exhaust fan and heater.
- 6" base frame attaches to the bottom of the greenhouse. Can be mounted on top of grass, mulch, soil, flagstone, wood, concrete or brick floor. Provides 6" of additional inside height.
- Excellent for storing and ripening the season's harvest and for sheltering potted plants in the winter.
- Comes with both instructional DVD, assembly diagrams and fantastic phone and email support from the experts at Exaco.
The RIGA Greenhouse is designed, engineered and manufactured in Germany by Hoklartherm, a leading manufacturer of commercial and hobby greenhouses with 28 years experience.
|10 mm twin wall polycarbonate in front & back walls. 8 mm UV coated twin side walls
|9'8" width x 17'2" long; 165 sq.ft.
|Foundation Frame:
|6" high aluminum
|Top Shelf:
|10" wide x 17' long white polycarbonate
|Bottom Shelf:
|25" wide x 17' long white polycarbonate
|7'2" walking height in the middle, 7'9" exterior height.
|Glazed walls with R and K-values of 3.0
|Heavy duty dutch barn door with keyed lock: 30" wide x 72" tall. 72" tall narrow unit /79" tall wide unit
|Rear Window:
|Oversized 30" wide x 42" high window on wall opposite door
|Roof Window:
|2 windows, 40" w x 24" d each with automatic window openers activated at 80 degrees Farenheit
|Assembly time:
|With 2 people, 12 hours. With 3 people, 6-8 hours
|Polycarbonate: 10 years; Frame: 15 years
|Customer Support:
|Fantasic and unlimited phone and email support from the experts at Exaco
Optional Items:
- Base frame - 6" high: highly recommended. Attaches to the bottom of the greenhouse. Usually sits in the ground but can also be mounted on top of a wood, concrete or brick frame/wall to provide 5" of additional inside height.
- Top shelving: Shelving with polycarbonate inserts (for lighter items): 10" deep.
- Bottom shelving: Shelving with out braces, allows for larger equipment to be stored underneath, 25" deep
Founded in 1988, this family owned and operated business specializes in importing unique garden products, focusing on high-end, European-made greenhouses, composters, rainbarrels and other products designed to help make home gardens more functional, beautiful and sustainable. Exaco has a fantastic partnership that support VRC Industries, an Austin State School program that gives training and jobs to adults with mental disabilities. Since 1990, all their warehousing and fulfillment operations have been handled by this group.
Energy Efficiency
About 8% of your personal carbon footprint comes from the food you eat! Of that, 40% comes from harvesting, shipping, preparing and selling food. On top of that, the modern supply chain for food results is a lot of food waste, which also means using excess fuel and energy for food that won't even be eaten! If you use your garden to replace 20% of our store bought food, then you can reduce you carbon footprint by at least 68 lbs of CO2 per year.
|Customer SKU
|Efficiency Icon
|Energy Efficient!


text:
China's reliable go-to rejoinder to all accusations of nefarious international behavior is straight-up denial delivered in the shrillest tones of shocked and aggrieved outrage, and their reaction to yesterday's report that the Chinese government is behind the recent round of dangerous cyber-intrusion into the United States' advanced weapons systems was pretty much the same drill. WaPo follows up:
China on Wednesday again denied that it has used cyberattacks to steal American military and business secrets, following new accusations leveled this week.
"China opposes all forms of cyberattacks. China is also a victim of hacking," said Assistant Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang during a press briefing previewing Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting with President Obama next week. Zheng noted that China and the United States have agreed to set up a working group to regularly discuss the issue.
The White House has said Obama will raise the issue at next week's meeting, but Chinese officials responded to questions about it Wednesday with the same talking points it has long used on the subject.
Really, guys? Yes, China is home to a robust culture of private and commercial hacking, and no doubt they have both homegrown and foreign hackers trying to get into their own government systems — but they are conveniently skirting the issue that a huge gaping swath of the recent infiltration into the United States' defense systems is directly attributable to the Chinese government and military (and let's not even get started on the hundreds of millions of dollars in intellectual property theft coming out of the communist country).
This is about the large-scale, coordinated, and systematic assaults on the United States' military infrastructure that would be all too handy-dandy for the Chinese regime to have some information on, especially considering President Obama's proclaimed foreign-policy "pivot to Asia." I suppose denial is indeed the best tactic at this point, given that there are really no sanctions or costs or diplomatic actions with which to disincentivize cyber-intruders, but it's going to be a brave new world of trying to nail down some enforcement on this issue:
President Barack Obama will discuss cyber security with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting in California next week, as Washington becomes increasingly worried about Chinese hacking of U.S. military networks.
"Cyber security is a key priority of this administration. It is a key concern that we have," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters on Air Force One as Obama flew to New Jersey.
"It is an issue that we raise at every level in our meetings with our Chinese counterparts, and I'm sure it will be a topic of discussion when the president meets with President Xi in California in early June," he said.


text:
Physics Tutor Bloomington IL
Certified Physics Tutor Bloomington IL. Find Affordable Tutoring for elementary school, middle school, high school and college.
He was the student of Plato and the teacher/tutor of Alexander the Great. While it may be complete misperception that they are disliked, I've been a teacher and unfortunately there are some who cannot hide their distaste for a particular student. Effective and motivated tutors are in demand. There are many kids that for one reason or another have problems in certain subjects. I'd wake up, get all dressed up, ride that subway train to the stop near Boys and Girls High School, pass through the metal detectors and all the school safety officers dressed like police officers, and my reward for all that trouble was often, "I'm sorry; he's not here at school today." Even when we arranged it to have the sessions at the public library so that we could have longer tutoring sessions, even then his attendance was an issue. Most notably, in physics, Aristotle proposed that there was, actually, a fifth element. Teachers can also give you the most up-to-date information about what that teen is studying. Well, actually, that's not technically true since Champion Learning Center considered us tutors as "Independent Contractors." This was their loophole so that we couldn't be unionized, so that they didn't have to worry about affording any sort of benefits for the tutoring staff, so they didn't have to hire human resources staff to figure out our taxes and the like. He believed in scientific truths and logical dependence. Look for a "printable learning style quiz" online, or checking with the learning resource center at a local community college to find a test. Try spotlighting key areas of your talk with expert testimony. However, in case of a tuition center, the total cost is calculated o per head basis. I do it because I love the subject and – laugh if you like – I view it as my goal in life, to educate others about science. For parents of students who attend private school (or parents of children who attend public school who choose to not use the special education services afforded by the public schools), there are many options in the private sector from which to select an educational diagnostician. How to find Jobs for 14/15 Year Olds? Smith also argued that capital for the production and distribution of wealth could work most effectively in the absence of government interference. As people say, first impressions, lasts. By hiring a tutor, you have transferred the responsibility, burden, and risk to a third party. Homework that is intended to take thirty to sixty minutes may take several hours. Options include teachers and individuals who may be tutoring independently. Always keep one step ahead in at least one area. This transformation is more due to the need of down ridden American education system. Based on that they will be able to provide the right tutor depending upon the nature and academic level of your child. Most teachers will appreciate the fact that you are trying to help and will be more than happy to cooperate. Many students may be weak only in certain subject.
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text:
Mysterious Steven Goddard's anonymous heretical blog is documenting what appear to be cases of scientific fraud and data-tampering associated with the recent global warming "research" by NASA-GISS (NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies). Look at the graphs in:
A presence of opposing views or even debunking is essential to the scientific method. Steven Goddard has attracted his or her fair share of the latter:
The following anonymous blog (Hey NASA is that you? On the other hand, Steve - if you made that blog to "debunk" yourself - congratulations! 8-:D )
- seems to be devoted mostly to debating and character-assassination of "Steven Goddard"
Update (23/06/2014):
"Any theory needing to rely so consistently on fudging the evidence, I concluded, must be looked on not as science at all, but as simply a rather alarming case study in the aberrations of group psychology."Update (30/06/2014):
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, criticized for manipulating temperature records to create a warming trend, has now been caught warming the past and cooling the present.
"These show that the US has actually been cooling since the Thirties, the hottest decade on record; whereas the latest graph, nearly half of it based on 'fabricated' data, shows it to have been warming at a rate equivalent to more than 3 degrees centigrade per century," Booker adds.
When asked about climate data adjustments by the DCNF back in April, NOAA send there have been "several scientific developments since 1989 and 1999 that have improved the understanding of the U.S. surface temperature record."
Update (6-July-2014):
Government Data Show U.S. in Decade-Long Cooling
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's most accurate, up-to-date temperature data confirm the United States has been cooling for at least the past decade. The NOAA temperature data are driving a stake through the heart of alarmists claiming accelerating global warming.
Responding to widespread criticism that its temperature station readings were corrupted by poor citing issues and suspect adjustments, NOAA established a network of 114 pristinely cited temperature stations spread out fairly uniformly throughout the United States. Because the network, known as the U.S. Climate Reference Network (USCRN), is so uniformly and pristinely situated, the temperature data require no adjustments to provide an accurate nationwide temperature record. USCRN began compiling temperature data in January 2005. Now, nearly a decade later, NOAA has finally made the USCRN temperature readings available.
According to the USCRN temperature readings, U.S. temperatures are not rising at all – at least not since the network became operational 10 years ago.
Instead, the United States has cooled by approximately 0.4 degrees Celsius,
which is more than half of the claimed global warming of the twentieth century. ...
Global warming computer models confounded as Antarctic sea ice hits new record high with 2.1million square miles more than is usual for time of year.
- Ice is covering 16m sq km, more than 2.1m unusual for time of year
- UN computer models say Antarctic ice should be in decline, not increasing
America's National Snow And Ice Data Center, which is funded by Nasa, revealed that ice around the southern continent covers about 16million sq km, more than 2.1 million more than is usual for the time of year. It is by far the highest level since satellite observations on which the figures depend began in 1979. In statistical terms, the extent of the ice cover is hugely significant.
It represents the latest stage in a trend that started ten years ago, and means that an area the size of Greenland, which would normally be open water, is now frozen. The Antarctic surge is so big that overall, although Arctic ice has decreased, the frozen area around both poles is one million square kilometres more than the long-term average.
In its authoritative Fifth Assessment Report released last year, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change admitted that the computer models on which scientists base their projections say Antarctic ice should be in decline, not increasing. The report said: 'There is low confidence in the scientific understanding of the observed increase in Antarctic sea ice extent since 1979, due to… incomplete and competing scientific explanations for the causes of change.'
Update (20-July-2014):
Patrick Moore, founder of Greenpeace on "Global Warming":
Myths Busted at Climate Change Conference
During the breakfast session on Day 2, Greenpeace cofounder Patrick Moore chronicled the radicalization of once-noble environmentalist groups. Standing before photographs of himself leading environmental protests and provocative actions against whalers and other corporate entitites, Moore explained how Greenpeace and other environmental activist groups are now harming human health and welfare by demanding so many resources be dedicated to the fictitious global warming crisis. True environmental progress would be made fighting for land conservation and other real environmental concerns rather than trumped-up global warming claims, Moore explained.
Patrick Michaels, a past president of the American Association of State Climatologists and former program chair for the Committee on Applied Climatology of the American Meteorological Society, explained during the Day 2 luncheon how government research grants are promoting the false notion of an alarmist consensus. Large government research grants are handed out almost uniformly to scientists who will promote the idea of global warming crisis, which ensures more budgetary dollars for government agencies addressing the topic and subsequently more research grants for the participating scientists, he noted.
Humans are NOT to blame for global warming, says Greenpeace co-founder, as he insists there is 'no scientific proof' climate change is manmade
There is no scientific proof that human emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) are the dominant cause of the minor warming of the Earth's atmosphere over the past 100 years. If there were such a proof it would be written down for all to see. No actual proof, as it is understood in science, exists.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states: "It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century." (My emphasis) "Extremely likely" is not a scientific term but rather a judgment, as in a court of law. The IPCC defines "extremely likely" as a "95-100% probability".
But upon further examination it is clear that these numbers are not the result of any mathematical calculation or statistical analysis. They have been "invented" as a construct within the IPCC report to express "expert judgment", as determined by the IPCC contributors.
When modern life evolved over 500 million years ago, CO2 was more than 10 times higher than today, yet life flourished at this time. Then an Ice Age occurred 450 million years ago when CO2 was 10 times higher than today.
There is some correlation, but little evidence, to support a direct causal relationship between CO2 and global temperature through the millennia. The fact that we had both higher temperatures and an ice age at a time when CO2 emissions were 10 times higher than they are today fundamentally contradicts the certainty that human-caused CO2 emissions are the main cause of global warming.
Today, we live in an unusually cold period in the history of life on earth and there is no reason to believe that a warmer climate would be anything but beneficial for humans and the majority of other species. There is ample reason to believe that a sharp cooling of the climate would bring disastrous results for human civilization.
The IPCC states that humans are the dominant cause of warming "since the mid-20th century" which is 1950. From 1910 to 1940 there was an increase in global average temperature of 0.5C over that 30-year period. Then there was a 30-year "pause" until 1970.
This was followed by an increase of 0.57C during the 30-year period from 1970 to 2000. Since then there has been no increase, perhaps a slight decrease, in average global temperature. This in itself tends to negate the validity of the computer models, as CO2 emissions have continued to accelerate during this time.
The increase in temperature between 1910-1940 was virtually identical to the increase between 1970-2000. Yet the IPCC does not attribute the increase from 1910-1940 to "human influence".


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Depending on Emergency GPs , you may end up in a health care facility that is more specialized than a regular hospital of health center. Here are some of the types of specialized health care facilities you may be transported to, depending on the nature of your injuries.
Trauma Medical Center
A trauma center is a hospital that is equipped to provide extensive emergency medical services to patients suffering from traumatic injuries. The injuries that a trauma center treats are ranked from Level I to Level IV, with the most serious cases at Level I facilities. Because medical doctors are expensive to run and not very common; patients outside major cities have to be airlifted to one. Washington State's main trauma center is Harborview Medical Center which is located in Seattle, Washington.
Rehabilitation Centers and Doctors
A rehabilitation center is a facility where patients work to reestablish or relearn abilities they lost because of a serious injury through therapy. Physical therapy helps with movement or previous loss of movement, which occupational therapy might focus on relearning activities of daily life or finding ways to perform them despite a new disability.
Burn Center
A burn center focuses on patients with serious burns. They not only treat burn injuries, but work to help patients return to everyday life often with therapists, social workers, psychiatrists and other professionals who are not conventional doctors. Many health and wellness clinics have burn areas in them but the Specialized Burn Centers in Washington are located at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center, Tacoma's St. Joseph Medical Center and Spokane's Sacred Heart Medical Center.
Assisted Living Facilities : Emergency GPs
These facilities may be appropriate for injury victims who need long-term physical or occupational therapy and help with everyday living. This might be true of someone with a severe brain injury or spinal damage. In addition to providing meals and housekeeping, as at a nursing home, the staff at an assisted living facility works with patients to help them regain independence and abilities. Some patients are able to return home eventually; others may need to remain in a facility throughout their lives.
Home care
Home care Rosebank Olivedale and Fourways is an option for patients whose injuries do not require full time hospitalization. A nurse or other health care professional might visit everyday or a few times per week. Depending on the injuries, the professional might do anything from changing bandages to administering a treatment with an IV to helping with personal needs on all GPs .
5 Different Types of Health Care Facilities
While most people visit Barbados for a relaxing holiday in the sun, the realities of life often come into play when medical assistance is needed. This was in the international spotlight recently when emergency medical assistance was required of the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair and his wife Cherie's son Euan.
It is important to have a plan in case of a medical emergency during your stay in Barbados. Ambulances can often take up to one hour to reach your location, especially if you are on the busy West Coast.
Barbados is fortunate to have highly skilled medical personnel but those practitioners often do not have access to state of the art equipment. With few exceptions, the medical expertise and bedside manner of Barbados' physicians is on a World class level. It is highly recommended for those visiting Barbados to be proactive in selecting a course of action should the need arise.
What are your choices?
The Government owned Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is Barbados' only full service hospital, with intensive care facilities, located just outside of the capital Bridgetown. It also has a reciprocal arrangement for British nationals on the National Health Service (NHS) scheme, where you would be treated and cared for in a Public Ward. Be advised that QEH is often crowded and the wait can be long and sometimes frustrating if your medical needs are not deemed to be of immediate attention. Telephone 436-6450 or 511 for emergency dispatch.
FMH Emergency Medical Clinic is a private accident and emergency medical centre. Located in Belleville, St Michael, this facility offers X-ray, MRI and care for serious but not life threatening injuries. FMH is open from 8 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. and will handle most emergencies or refer patients to the QEH as needed. Telephone 228-6120.
BayView Hospital, a privately owned and operated facility, with seven private rooms and four four-bed semi-private rooms, has been operational since 1989. Situated on the outskirts of Bridgetown and within close proximity of many leading hotels, BayView Hospital offers private non-emergency medical care in a variety of fields including cardiology, dentistry, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, ophthalmology, orthopaedic surgery, plastic surgery and urology. However, you must be admitted under the specific care of a physician who holds admitting privileges at this hospital. Please call 436 5446, or visit their website BayViewHospital.com.bb for more information.
A new state of the art, privately owned facility has opened its doors on the West Coast - Sandy Crest Medical Centre in Sunset Crest, St James. This ultra-modern complex offers 24 hour comprehensive emergency and non-emergency care service, x-ray, ultra-sounds, CT technology (by the end of the year), access to an ambulance service, 24-hour pharmacy access, as well as an asthma bay. This emergency clinic has employed the services of five of the island's leading emergency room practitioners, one for every shift. Please call 419-4911, or visit their web site SandyCrest.net (under construction) for more information.
The island has two private ambulance services, Island Care Ambulance (246) 435 9425, and Get Help Ambulance Service (246) 438 4357, and the QEH Ambulance Service (246) 436 6450 or 511, all of which are located in the Bridgetown area. However, there is a QEH Ambulance service out of the Arch Hall Fire Station in St Thomas, to service the West/North coast of the island. In extreme cases, patients will be air-ambulanced to either Canada or the USA.
Emergency Clinic doctors, Gyn Doctors , Health wellness centre, Baby Clinic, Health and wellness coach, Registered Counsellor, Podiatrists, Eye Care, Clinical Psychologist, Medical and dental centre, Health medical centre, Clinic radiology, Dermatologist, GPs, Dentists, Lancet Laboratories , Pathology, Ampath Labs, Health and wellness services, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Family medical centre, Medical Centre, Dermatologist clinic, Female Family Doctors, Lancet Labs, Chiropractor, Eye Clinic, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Health and wellness companies, Beauty Clinic, Audiologist, Medicine doctor, Dentist , Optometrist, Family dentistry, Doctors , Pharmacy, Chiropractor , Family Doctor, Urgent Care Centre, Family Doctors, Family practitioner, Psychologists, Neck Pain Clinic, Lancet Labs, Dermatologist , Skin Doctor, Somatologist, General practice doctor, Occupational Therapist, DBC Back , Executive Medicals, PsychologistsA medical plan assists you to spend for your medical care needs, such as nursing, surgical procedure, oral job, medicine as well as health center holiday accommodation. You pay monthly contributions in order to have clinical cover. Why should I have a clinical system? There are lots of advantages to belonging to a medical plan. It economically safeguards you if you all of a sudden have to pay huge, unanticipated medical costs. If you have a clinical system, you can normally feel confident that there will certainly be no long hold-ups in your clinical therapy because you do not have funds to pay for it. Being a member of a system also means you have accessibility to exclusive medical care, rather than having to rely upon public health services. What are the downsides of a medical scheme? It is pricey as well as contributions raise yearly. If you stay in a backwoods, you may not have easy access to private healthcare centers. There are occasionally co-payments that need to be made for specific medical services or procedures.many surprise costs included with plans. Your scheme might just pay a percentage of your health care expenses, while you have to pay the remainder out of your very own pocket. The amount of medical plans can I select from? There are 26 open medical systems in South Africa. Not all clinical plans are open to the public as some are restricted to employer teams. Who are the largest medical systems in South Africa? Of the roughly 26 (2016) open medical schemes in South Africa, these ones are several of the biggest: (in no specific order). Exploration Wellness Medical Scheme. Fedhealth Medical Plan. Resolution Health Medical Scheme. Momentum Wellness Medical System. Genesis Medical System. Medihelp Medical Scheme. Oxygen Medical Scheme. Profmed Medical Scheme. Bonitas Medical Plan. How does a clinical scheme work? A medical scheme is a non-profit organisation as well as ought to be registered with the Registrar of Medical Systems. Participants belonging to a plan make contributions and also in return get medical cover inning accordance with the regulations of the plan. Each medical scheme must provide a minimum collection of benefits to its members. There are two type of plans-- open and also shut systems. Anybody could sign up with an open plan, however shut systems are for specific company groups. A clinical system is managed by a board of trustees who is elected by the schemes' members. They are accountable for handling the scheme to the advantage of its participants. How do I pick a medical scheme? Everything relies on your details healthcare requirements and also which company can provide you the very best option to suit these requirements. The clinical system market is regularly changing which's why it is necessary to get aid in selecting the appropriate scheme. In order to help you make the appropriate decision, it is usually best to use the service of an independent intermediary or health care professional. How to select a medical scheme? Do I have alternatives? Yes, you have a large range of choices. Every medical system supplies various sets of advantages (options) you can select from, relying on your healthcare demands and also budget plan. In order to help you choose between clinical plans and healthcare facility strategies, certain choices the systems offer and also which benefits to consist of or omit, it is best to utilize the services of an independent intermediary or healthcare consultant. What other options exist to medical systems? You can get a healthcare facility insurance policy from an insurance company. These often pay per day that you are in medical facility as opposed to for the clinical therapy. These do not drop under the Medical Schemes Act. Exactly what should a medical scheme spend for? The Medical Schemes Act of 1998 states that medical plans must, according to legislation, at least spend for the therapy of a certain checklist of conditions along with a list of treatments (270 altogether). These conditions as well as treatments are called PMBs (suggested minimum benefits). Just what are my rights inning accordance with the regulation? The Medical Schemes Act (No 131 of 1998) came into impact on 1 January 2001. According to this act:. There are standard-rate costs for individuals to sign up with medical help systems no matter their health or age. There can be no discrimination on premises of individuals' health and wellness. For example, a clinical plan can not choose not to enable somebody to join due to the fact that he or she is HIV-positive, or due to the fact that they have asthma or diabetes mellitus. The definition of dependants consists of spouses, life partners and all-natural and also followed kids. The new Act likewise sets out an issues treatment for people that have an issue versus a clinical plan. Clinical systems- a history. You and also the medical schemes act. Where to whine.
Different Types of Wellness
Family dental plans are often compared side by side to insurance. Instead of comparing them, it should be noted that both have their own long list of benefits. Because family dental plans are a newer alternative to getting care at a discount price, most people are still unaware of the benefits that family dental plans come with.
Only Pay for What You Use
Because medical insurance companies are required to cover certain things, the cost of all of that is included in the cost of the monthly premium. Therefore insurance coverage is so much more expensive than a family dental plan.
Instead of paying for everything, members will receive a discount card that gives them discounts on the services that they need.
Lower Cost
Speaking of cost, that is one of the main reasons that many people opt for a family dental plan instead of insurance coverage. The cost of one of these can be under $10 per month compared to the hundreds of dollars that insurance coverage can cost.
This is because these companies are not required to cover certain services or procedures like insurance companies are. These companies also do not have to follow all the guidelines that insurance companies do.
For example, they can instantly approve everyone that submits an online application if they choose to. This cuts down on the number of staff that they have to pay. They are then able to pass those savings on to their members.
It's a Membership
Companies that offer family dental plans do not make patients pay a premium because they are not an insurance company. Instead, patients pay a membership fee. This membership comes with a few benefits other than affordable dentist visits.
Most companies offer vision care at a discount cost, as well as a prescription discount card. These are automatically included at no additional cost. Other companies may also offer other services for members. This varies from company to company.
Hundreds of Companies
Because these are increasing in popularity due to the low cost, there are now hundreds of companies that offer these savings. Individuals are no longer limited to the small number of insurance companies on the market or by what they are offered by their employer.
Instead, patients can take their time to browse through different companies, and find the perfect company that is right for them. They can make sure that their pick will cover procedures that they will need, and that they will be accepted at their dentist before submitting an application.
No Enrolment Period
If there has not been a qualifying event, individuals have to wait for an open enrolment period to even submit an application for medical insurance. This can take months, which means that there will be months before a patient can go to the dentist.
With this insurance alternative, there is no open enrolment period because applications are always being accepted. Often, patients will discover that they can get accepted and to a dentist within weeks instead of months.
When patients are searching for insurance or a plan, it's important to keep these key benefits in mind. Patients can get the coverage that they need when they want to instead of when the insurance company is accepting applications. The price is lower than medical insurance, and the out of pocket cost is often the same.
These remain the most popular reasons why so many people are turning down their insurance at their employer and opting for a more cost effective insurance alternative. Because there are so few downfalls, it's definitely worth looking into before deciding whether one of these or medical insurance is the way to go.


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Linda Doe necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 54 diseños de 14 diseñadores freelance.
Apana - strength in people, strength in business
We are experts in leadership, motivation & productivity and provide consultancy to the business world. Business is all about people...psychology is all about people - so several of us are business psychologists. We all have a real depth of insight into human behaviour. We help therefore with what people call the "softer" side of business, the bit to do with people: ensuring that relationships are effective, people are motivated, that there is the right kind of business culture to engage people productively.
The kind of work we have done already can be seen at our existing site http://www.psychatwork.co.uk - you can view past case studies on most pages
Clients have so far described us as:
• Professional, invaluable
• Sound solutions to problems, relevant to our business
• Stimulating and inspiring: a talent for getting to "what's important"
• Challenging and thought provoking: forces you to look at things in a different way
• Understood our business and what drives our culture – fast!
• Focus, clarity - never flaky!
• Methodical, comprehensive and thorough
• Sincere and trustworthy
• Supportive and empowering
• Overcome obstacles and achieve results
This reflects our personality to some extent, but it doesn't fully reflect who we are, who we want to target NOW; we have evolved - and changed our company name to Apana.
We are looking to target new clients and to get across more of our personality; why the name change to Apana from Psychology at Work? - its dull, lifeless, & just "does what is says on the tin". In fact, we are creative, inspiring people who inspire others. We have a strong energy about us, which comes not just from being psychologists, but from our life experiences and personal growth in business.
We want to work with businesses who need our help to:
• Grow people to be strong in their business
• Solve people issues that are affecting their business
BUT: We really need people to understand that the STRENGTH in business we refer to is not about aggression or hard sell - and the logo must not reflect this - but about being focussed, grounded, clear, driven, assertive and inspired from within.
We work with a wide range of companies and individuals: leaders and their teams in large corporates, individual entrepeneurs and their businesses, professional partnerships (LLP's) and small-medium sized enterprises (SME's). We do not target a particular sector. Companies who like us, and who we want to work with, tend to desire an open culture (even if its not like that now), appreciate frankness & are definitely business focussed - but they accept that people need to be motivated, invested in and maybe even "cared for" in some way.
We are very down-to-Earth, flexible & approachable.
A logo for: Apana - strength in people, strength in business.
Must include both business name & phrase. Cannot be used in capitals as APANA. The meaning of Apana and what we mean by strength is key for us. Apana is a Sankrit word meaning "down breath". It represents a grounding, cleansing force & source of vital strength. One of the five vital forces of energy in the yogic tradition, its role is to vitalize, build and sustain the human body. Traditionally yellow in colour, its related meditation symbol is a yellow square, representing the Earth, strength and grounding. As it is our aim to help businesses to be strong and grounded through strong and grounded people, we naturally want our branding to include a yellow square,either in the logo itself and/or on the reverse of our business card.
We LOVE colour - 1960's PURPLE, 1930's EMERALD and a little bit of Wizard of Oz ruby slipper red.
We like simplicity, bold colours, abstract images, retro patterns, 1950's fabric and china
Typeface - prefer grey to black, love 1950's yellow and grey abstract prints
We want to come across as bright, fun, interesting, non-stuffy but at the same time, competent, assertive, professional
Must be scalable for web site, business cards and stationary - so vector graphic, eps,pds, with layers, not flattened or merged image required and pdf please.
We require ownership of intellectual property & copyright
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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More about this Skull Art Print called "Burning from the Inside"
It's important to note that this listing is for an print of a Naked Eye Studio original painting. This yellow illustrative skull art print was created on 100% artist quality paper.
More about the Artist
Naked Eye Studio is a team of Artists in Austin, TX. This painting is done by Reahanna. She received her Bachelors degree in Art from the University of Washington, where she studied fine art techniques in oil painting, acrylic painting, printmaking, and others. She has been painting and selling work for over a decade and one of her favorite subject matters is abstract skull paintings.
Not quite the skull art print you want?
Not quite what you were looking for? Contact me for custom jobs. We can customize paintings in a variety of sizes, colors, or materials. If you have a specific need in mind, let me know and I'll help you out! The most important part is that you get a piece of art you love and can't wait to share with people.


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Events by An Empire Fallen Studio
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The latest issue of the 9th Scroll is here! You can read all about it in the news.
April 2020
New Zealand Grand Championship 2020
Thu, Apr 9th 2020, 10:00pm - Sun, Apr 12th 2020, 10:00am


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Internet Point and Insurance Reduction Defensive Driving Program
Successfully completing our New York State DMV approved internet point and insurance reduction defensive driving program will allow you to reduce four (4) points on your driver's license and receive a 10% auto insurance rate reduction for the next three (3) years.
10% Auto Insurance Rate Reduction
Receive a minimum 10% reduction in the base rate of your automobile liability and collision insurance premiums each year for three (3) years when you complete our New York Defensive Driving program online — View Course Details
Reduce 4 Points on Your Driver Record
Got a traffic ticket? Complete our online program and you will be eligible to reduce as many as four (4) points from your official New York driving record — View Course Details
Easy and Convenient
No classroom attendance! The course is designed to be as convenient as possible for any schedule. You can access the course anytime on your desktop, laptop, or any mobile device and you work at your own pace. — View Course Details


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Hand made in England from the highest quality British spun yarns, these shooting socks are the ultimate in comfort, quality and warmth. The tough nylon fibres ensure a hard-wearing construction, while the high wool content and hand-linked toe assure unrivalled comfort. A careful mix of traditional methods and modern technology produces the ultimate choice of field sock, for the demanding conditions of the shoot and other field activities.
size & fit
Small fits sizes: 3-5
Medium fits sizes: 6-8
Large fits sizes: 9-11
X large fits sizes: 11-13 1/2
Details & care
- 97% wool, 3% nylon
- Nylon reinforced heel and toe
- Hand wash
Delivery & returns
To find our more about our delivery options, please see our shipping information page.
We operate a no-quibble returns policy, so after trying our products at home, we will happily exchange them or issue a refund within twenty-eight days provided they are returned in the condition in which they were received.
Size Help
|>Fits UK Shoe Size
|3 - 5
|6 - 8
|9 - 11
|11 - 13 1/2
Style & Fit Advice
If you need further assistance on the style and fit of any of our products, the Oliver Brown team is available to assist. Please email [email protected] or call us on +44 (0) 20 7259 9494 between 10.00am and 6.30pm, Monday to Friday and 10.00am to 6.00pm on Saturday.


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Here are your Apple rumors and AAPL news items for today:
Lots of Bandwidth: Users have downloaded 40 billion apps from Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) App Store since its debut four years ago, CNET notes. Half that number came just last year. The App Store launched in 2008, a year after the iPhone's debut, and now offers 750,000 apps for devices running iOS and maintains 500 million active user accounts. In December alone, users downloaded 2 billion apps from the App Store. Industry research firm Flurry Analytics expects mobile app downloads for both Apple devices and those running Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android operating system to hit 2 billion a week by year-end.
Holiday Eclipse: According to data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, iOS devices racked up the most sales prior to the start of the Christmas shopping season, PC World notes. Kantar found that iOS devices accounted for 53.3% of mobile device sales during the 12 weeks prior to Nov. 25. Android devices saw their share of sales fall to 41.9%, down 10.9%. Sales of devices running Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) operating system hit 2.7% of all devices sold in November. The new iPhone 5 sent iOS sales soaring during the period. In a consumer survey, Kantar found that 40% of iPhone 5 purchasers were first-time smartphone owners, while 34% upgraded from an older iPhone and 27% switched from another platform. Kantar's data stand in contrast to other industry research firms, including ComScore, which found Android still accounting for the majority of smartphone sales during the holiday season.
Big Branding: Apple spent a record $1 billion on advertising in fiscal 2012, CBS MoneyWatch notes. It has been spending progressively more on advertising each year. In 2006, Apple spent $338 million on ads and doubled that to $691 million by 2010. In 2011, Apple's ad spending reached $933 million. Other sales, general and administrative expenses also climbed, hitting $10 billion in fiscal 2012. But that accounted for just 6% of revenue, down from previous years.
For more about the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors stories.


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When your child is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, the world seems as if it has been knocked off its axis and everything is spinning wildly out of control. There are new medical terms to learn, and new procedures and routines to master. You want to provide your child with every opportunity for survival without making any mistakes. Life as you know it is put on hold and you rely on adrenalin to get you through the initial crisis. Perhaps the hardest thing to deal with is the overwhelming unfairness of the situation. "This shouldn't happen to kids-especially my kid!" But it has.
As the reality of the situation sets in, your focus will need to change from the immediate to the long term. You will need to carefully evaluate your lifestyle and be willing to adjust it to your new reality. The circumstances that clamor loudest for your attention may not always be the most important ones to concentrate your limited resources on.
You may feel that strengthening your marriage relationship is one of those things that will just have to wait, but the truth is that one of the best things you can do for your child is to love your spouse. This is especially true now, because when so many aspects of your child's life are unpredictable and shifting, he or she especially needs the stability of a loving family.
Children often blame themselves for the marital problems of their parents. This is evidenced by the number of children who consider their parents' divorce to be their fault. Additionally, children tend to experience guilt over the many changes that have taken place because of their illness. Feelings of guilt from both of these sources can place a heavy burden on a child that is already fighting for his or her life. On the other hand, if your marriage is strong you will be better equipped to be the best caretaker you can for your child.
You may have heard that a marriage has a 90% chance of failing when a child is diagnosed with a potentially fatal disease, especially if the child dies. However, these "statistics" are not upheld by research.
What is true is that your marriage will change because you will change. You are facing some of the worst fears and stresses that a parent can imagine, and that will affect the way you view the world from now on. Couples with chronically or terminally ill children do experience increased marital distress. If the marriage has problems to begin with, it may not be able to tolerate the increased strain. Most marriages do survive, however, and many become stronger and more intimate, bound together by the shared journey.
Diamonds are the traditional symbol that a man and a woman desire to commit their lives to each other. The strength, clarity, and beauty of a valuable diamond represent so much of what we hope our marriages will be when we say, "I do." This emblem of faithful love also holds lessons for us on making that love flourish during times of stress.
The Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2001 states that for a piece of carbon to become a diamond it must undergo intense pressure and heat (1993-2000). But, if a charcoal briquette is lit on fire, placed on asphalt and run over by a semi-truck, a diamond will not be produced. Diamond formation takes more than just heat and pressure. It takes time in a special environment-one that surrounds and supports the carbon. It is the surrounding environment that makes all the difference.
As your child battles this disease, your marriage will be exposed to "intense heat and pressure." Your family, however, does not need to be destroyed and ground into dust. Find the support you need during this time. Do not try to carry the burden alone. Be patient with each other. For the sake of your child, do what it takes to turn your marriage into a "diamond."
Being aware of some of the problems your marriage will face can help prevent your being caught off guard and increase your sense of control during this turbulent time. The outside pressures exerted on your marriage will be intense. You may even doubt your ability to handle the increased load. You may also find, however, that the pressures will bring out a strength within you that you didn't know you had. It may even produce "the strength of a diamond."
Finances are a major source of friction in many marriages. When a child is first diagnosed with a major medical problem, the community is often mobilized to take up collections for the family. As time goes on, however, the bills begin to pile up. Besides the medical bills, there are expenses for travel, meals on the run, lodging, phone calls, and purchases of items you forgot to bring to the hospital. When your child is sick you don't have the luxury of time to cut coupons and comparison-shop. All this adds up to potential fuel for arguments.
If you need help, the social worker at the hospital may be able to direct you to organizations that provide financial support to parents in your situation. If you are having trouble with creditors, Consumer Credit Counseling is an organization that can help act as a liaison and does not charge for its services. Most communities have a local branch, which can be found through the phone book.
Hospitals are not places to catch up on needed sleep. Even when your child is discharged and you can to go home to sleep in your own bed, you can still expect your sleep to be interrupted. Medications must be given on a rigid schedule, and often your child will need other care throughout the night as well. Furthermore, worry and stress can prevent a good night's sleep, even if the opportunity is available. Depleted physical reserves from lack of sleep take a toll on the patience of a person and marital misunderstandings may become common.
Extended periods in the hospital, especially when it is a long distance from home, can lead to feelings of isolation. Some diseases may even involve periods of segregation for your child after he or she returns home. Friends and family may be uncomfortable with your situation and avoid you because they "don't know what to say." Due to the demands of caring for a chronically ill child, you probably won't have much energy left to keep up contact with friends either. The saying, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder," is not always true under these circumstances.
If your family is accustomed to being relatively self-reliant and isolated you will have an especially difficult time. You may prize your "independent spirit," but caring for a chronically ill child taxes all available resources, and if your support system has been limited, you will have a much harder time.
The lifestyle that results from caring for your child will make communication with your spouse difficult. Hospitals are also not conducive to private, in-depth conversations. If you allow the circumstances to prevent you and your spouse from talking, the result is a build-up of emotional tension that may explode, not unlike a pressure cooker. If you are in the hospital and need to have a serious conversation, ask the hospital staff if they have a room for parents to use for such purposes.
In the book, Chronic Kids Constant Hope, Help and Encouragement for Parents of Children with Chronic Conditions (2000), Elizabeth Hoekstra and Mary Bradford recommend using today's technology, such as beepers, cell-phones, e-mail and fax machines, to help keep in touch while apart. They also suggest starting a family journal. Family members are encouraged to write whatever they are "thinking about, struggling with, or rejoicing about . . . There are no right or wrong entries, this is simply a non-threatening way to communicate . . . When each family member reads the various entries, it increases understanding of what others are feeling and helps develop tolerance of differences."
Even though you may feel as if your world revolves around the care of your child, the reality is that many outside commitments still remain. If there are other children in the family, they need to be cared for as well. The extended family may have expectations that can prove to be a burden to families engrossed in the care of a seriously ill child. Trying to balance the demands of a job with the extra needs of your child is extremely difficult. Many parents also have commitments to community organizations including religious, civic, and social groups. All of these compete for the little time you have left, and you may easily forget to make time for your spouse too.
Many of the problems that couples experience stem from the internal difficulties of coping. Emotions are often heated, although everyone handles feelings differently. There is considerable room for misunderstanding, which only adds to your problems. Being able to see things from the other's viewpoint and giving your spouse the freedom to work out emotions in the way most suited to his or her personality, can make a world of difference in how well you as a couple will get along. Surviving the heat of the situation can produce a diamond-like clarity of purpose in your life. Things that were previously considered important are put into perspective and you gain an appreciation for what really matters. Some common "heat producers" follow.
Parents don't always agree on what is best for their child. When the results of your decisions are so important, there is much opportunity for resentment and communication problems. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society suggests that, "When differences occur, it is easier to resolve them if the parent whose opinion prevails avoids scoring a victory. Resolving differences should not be thought of as a 'win or lose' situation but as a means for effective adjustment."
Common emotions that parents struggle with are fear, anxiety, guilt, anger, depression, jealousy, resentment, denial, and hopelessness. When these feelings combine and become difficult to handle, relationships suffer. In their book, Living With Childhood Cancer, A Practical Guide to Help Families Cope (2002), Leigh Woznick and Carol Goodheart offer the following suggestions for dealing with emotions:
1. "Acknowledge the emotion for what it is." In other words, if you are afraid, and embarrassed to be afraid, don't cover your fear and embarrassment with anger. Strive to be honest with yourself.
2. "Clarify the trigger for the emotion." Pay attention to what is prompting your reaction. Perhaps your temper is short because you haven't had enough sleep.
3. "Develop alternatives for handling the emotion." Go on the offensive and find ways to improve the situation. These might include "soothing (such as reassurance, a hug, or music); self-talk messages or teaching such messages to children; activation of quick coping strategies (such as counting to ten, deep breathing, or finding a distraction), setting limits (on behavior, time, resources, or tasks), removing yourself from the scene until you can regroup, and asking for help." Many people have found that prayer can be an effective way of releasing their emotional burdens as well.
You also need to guard against the temptation to use withdrawal as a means of dealing with your situation. Separating yourself emotionally may seem like the only way you can cope, but it inflicts a great deal of pain on those around you and ultimately makes the situation worse. Your spouse ends up shouldering the emotional burden alone, and your child may misinterpret your behavior as a lack of love-adding rejection, fear, abandonment, and loneliness to his or her physical suffering.
Another common, negative response is to vent your emotions on your spouse. Anger, guilt, and frustration almost seem to demand a scapegoat. Unfortunately it is easier to put toothpaste back into a tube than it is to withdraw words that have been spoken in haste. It is important to find effective ways to deal with your emotions constructively instead of fighting against them, letting them control you, or ignoring them.
When we come to the end of our ropes it is natural to turn to those closest to us for support. Human beings are social creatures and the need for attachment increases during times of stress. This is just as true for adults as it is for children. Unfortunately, when both of you are hurting, each is less able to help the other. Usually this leads to varied negative responses, such as anger or withdrawal, which only complicate your problems. Finding a compassionate, unbiased, listening ear can help reduce your stress, and hopefully give you the perspective you need to better relate to your spouse.
Grief occurs when loss occurs. Although your child is still alive, you will need to grieve the loss of hopes and dreams and "life as it should be."
Greg Adams of the Good Mourning Program with Arkansas Children's Hospital, says that grief is the pain of loss, while mourning is what we do with the pain. He compares it to receiving a deep wound in your hand. Grief is the pain. You don't have a choice about that. You do, however, have a choice in what you do with the wound. You can ignore it. You can cover it up. You can clean it and get it stitched up.
Some ways of dealing with grief are more productive than others, but you should never assume that because a person is not acting the way you would expect, that he or she is not hurting. Grief is very personal and everyone deals with it differently. How one person deals with grief may seem totally inappropriate to another. One person may cry all the time, while the other just stays busy. One of the best and most loving things you can do for your spouse, and your marriage, is to give each other the freedom to work through the pain and deal with the situation as needed, without judging the behavior.
Fathers and mothers, although they share the same child, do not share the same relationship with their child. Each family is unique and individual personalities vary, but mothers usually are the ones who nurture and care for the child, while fathers tend to take on a protective, guiding role. Society has also defined gender-appropriate behaviors for dealing with grief and stress. As a result, fathers and mothers often find themselves confused, hurt, and frustrated over the actions of their spouse, with misunderstandings adding to the already intense stress load.
Mothers are generally the ones who take over the primary care of the sick child, in addition to remaining the general household manager. They often feel responsible for the emotional well-being of the family too. This may lead them to shield family members from upsetting information, a practice that more often than not will backfire. The overwhelming burden that mothers carry may cause feelings of guilt, frustration, worry, anger, and depression.
It is often difficult, however, for a mother to take time for herself to renew and replenish her strength without feeling guilty. Whether due to maternal instinct or social conditioning, when a child is threatened a mother's first response is to attend to her child. This is not always the best long-term course of action. If you have ever taken a trip on an airplane you are familiar with the speech that the flight attendants make when preparing for take-off. They will tell parents to put their own oxygen masks on first, and then help their children. In the same way, mothers need to make sure they take care of themselves or they will not be able to care for their children.
Many women struggle with resentment against their husbands, whom they feel are not involved enough in the day-to-day care of their child. Women also generally deal with their emotions in a more expressive manner and have a strong need to talk about what they are feeling or going through. It is not uncommon, however, for their husbands to withdraw emotionally at this time. The result can be a lonely, frustrated wife that feels abandoned by her spouse at a time when she needs him the most.
Women are not the only ones frustrated at this time. Men struggle with feeling isolated and cut off from the care of their child as they balance the demands of a job, increased responsibilities at home, and the desire to be with their child.
Men are also conditioned by our culture to be strong and not "fall apart" under the weight of intense emotions. The typical response to stress is that of "fight or flight." Though some men will become aggressive and "fight," others feel powerless to fight an unseen enemy and unable to release the tension through emotional avenues. As such, many often cope by withdrawing. This "flight" may take the form of denial and an attempt to normalize the situation, emotional withdrawal, preoccupation with work or other children, and might even result in alcohol abuse or outright abandonment.
Many times the husband is struggling with watching his wife suffer also. He may avoid discussing emotional issues in an attempt to protect her. Unfortunately, this is not seen as a loving, protective action by his wife, who rather perceives his behavior to be cold and uncaring.
The topic of sexual relations can be a major source of conflict at this time. Each partner may respond to the situation in a totally different way. One may desire the comfort and closeness of an intimate relationship, and the physical release may relieve some of the stress. The other may wonder how anyone could think about sex at a time like this. Physical exhaustion also diminishes the sexual drive and circumstances may limit your private time. Emotions are raw and you may even find yourself bursting into tears while making love. Please be gentle with each other. Communication is of utmost importance. You should be honest with each other about your needs, and considerate about the other person's needs. You may find it necessary to take the time to just hold each other tenderly.
The surrounding environment is the key to what makes carbon become a diamond. If your marriage had trouble before your child's diagnosis, you should seriously consider obtaining help. You will need to be able to talk to someone who can help you keep your balance during this time. Even families that haven't had serious problems previous to diagnosis will find that they will need to make adjustments. Communication is crucial to getting through this time together, and just as you are taking the time to learn how to care for your child, you may need to learn some new coping skills.
Do not expect your partner to be your savior. You may have been able to draw strength from your spouse in the past, and he or she may still be your best support, but remember that your partner is suffering too. If there is an area in which your spouse is unable to be supportive, give him or her the freedom to limp. For instance, if you need to talk about the future and your spouse just can't think that far ahead; find a good friend, family member, or counselor who will listen. Don't force the issue, or instill guilt; instead, offer understanding.
Periodically, schedule some time away together, just the two of you. If you can manage a night or weekend away you will have an opportunity to recover physically and spend some extended time together talking about things that have been set aside due to the urgencies of life. If an overnight time is not feasible, plan for a lunch or dinner alone, take a walk together, or go for a drive. You can even let the kids stay up late watching movies while you lock your bedroom door. For your marriage to remain healthy, you will need to commit to remaining intimate, both emotionally and physically.
Your family will function best if you and your spouse can share in the decision-making processes, the healthcare of your sick child, and the maintenance of your household. Taking on new roles in the family can actually be a refreshing change for some. Don't be too proud to accept outside help for routine chores and assistance with your other children, either.
Family, friends, and communities of faith are often excellent sources of support for families in crisis. Sometimes, though, it is necessary to widen you support team and incorporate those with relevant experience. Be aware of what is available. Asking for help early could be vital to your family's well being.
Take advantage of the trained professionals at your child's hospital. They are already involved with your family and have experience in situations similar to yours. In addition to medical staff, hospitals may employ pediatric social workers, child-life specialists, chaplains, and mental health workers.
Clergy members are usually trained in counseling, and if they are not, they are often able to refer you to an appropriate source of help. Many people find that God is an important source of strength for them, and though their faith may be tested through the ordeal, it often becomes stronger because of their experiences.
In her book, Childhood Leukemia: A Guide for Families, Friends & Caregivers, Nancy Keene states that, "Seeking professional counseling is a sign of strength, not failure. In dealing with children with cancer, problems often become too complex for families to deal with on their own. Seeking advice sends children a message that the parents care about what is happening to them and want to help face it together."
There are various kinds of mental health workers including psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, and pastoral counselors. The best thing to do is to begin asking for referrals and suggestions from those you trust. Those you ask should also be familiar with the situation and the local mental health care providers in your area.
Having a child with a life-threatening illness can be very isolating. It is often helpful to connect with other parents who understand what you are going through and with whom you can be yourself. You may meet other parents informally while at the hospital, or there may be support groups available for parents in your situation. Men can find it especially helpful to develop friendships with other fathers who are dealing with the same struggles since they often wrestle with feelings of isolation.
There are numerous summer camps available for children with various medical diagnoses. Many of these camps also welcome siblings into their programs. Camp is a great opportunity for your child to enjoy being a child, and it offers an excellent chance for husbands and wives to have some time alone together. Talk to the hospital social worker to find out about camps appropriate for your child.
No one chooses a potentially fatal disease for his or her child. It descends on you uninvited and forces its presence on all the members of the family. You also can't control those around you, and you can't expect them to react in ways that you perceive as best. Although you may feel as if you are at the complete mercy of your circumstances, the truth is that you are still in control of how you respond to this new reality. If you find yourself at the end of your resources, you can take the initiative to find options for help beyond yourself.
As a couple, you can decide together to do what it takes and not allow the disease to steal your marriage. You have all the ingredients necessary for diamond formation. Diamonds, however, are expensive, while dust is cheap. You will need to be willing to pay the price to transform your relationship into a gem. There is help and hope for those who commit together to do what is best for their marriage, their child, and their family as a whole. You do not need to go through the process alone. And when you have overcome, your strength, clarity, and light can bring hope to others.
You may be reading this alone and wishing your spouse would read this and take it to heart. You may be struggling with anger, frustration, loneliness and bitterness over feeling abandoned at such a crucial time. Unfortunately, you cannot control the actions of your spouse, as much as you may desire to do so. We are each responsible for our own behavior, and pain is a powerful motivator, often in negative ways. Though the situation is no excuse for destructive behavior, understanding the pain behind the behavior may help you to release the bitterness that can keep you in bondage.
Even though you cannot force another person's responses, you do have control over your own. You can get the support you will need to be able to care for yourself as you care for your child. You may even be surprised to discover diamonds along the way. An intimate bond between you and your child is priceless. The new friendships you may develop as you reach out to others will be treasured forever. You may even find jewels within yourself as you discover a growing self-confidence and inner-strength, a joy in the simple things in life, and a renewed purpose for living.
You are probably facing some of the greatest challenges you will face in your lifetime. Don't be too hard on yourself. Reach out to those who are willing to help, and when you have made it through, you will be able to help others discover the diamonds within their own lives.
This paper is written to honor the memory of my ten-year-old daughter, Jasmin Laura Raiees-Dana, and my fourteen-year marriage. When Jasmin was diagnosed with cancer in February of 1997, my spouse and I were given quite a bit of material concerning how to best care for her and deal with the situation. We were given literature on possible physical problems, sibling relations, schooling problems, and parenting issues, to name a few topics. None of the information mentioned the problems we would face as a couple, or offered any recommendations.
In October of 1999, Jasmin died and my spouse filed for divorce. I don't know if having something in our hands would have saved our marriage or not, but it would have been nice to have been forewarned, and to have understood the differences that often exist in coping styles between men and women. Watching my daughter suffer as she struggled with watching our marriage fall apart was almost as bad as watching her suffer from the disease that eventually took her life. I felt painfully helpless in both situations.
Scientists are working with incredible dedication to try to find cures for the diseases that threaten our children. The medical community is also dedicated to doing whatever possible to help save our children. We owe it to our children to do whatever we can to save our marriages. I understand that it takes two to make a marriage work, and know from experience that not all marriages will survive. For those, however, that decide together to not allow the situation to destroy their marriage, there is hope and help. Do not give up or think it will have to wait. Give your child the stability he or she needs during this difficult time, and commit to each other to get the help you need to make it work. You can become "diamonds."
Cook, J. A. (1984). Influence of gender on the problems of parents of fatally ill children. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 2 (1), 71-91.
Deasy-Spinetta, P., Spinetta, J. J. & Kung, F. H. Emotional aspects of childhood leukemia: A handbook for parents. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Fromer, M. J. (1998). Surviving childhood cancer: A guide for families. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
Gilbert, K. R. (1989). Interactive grief and coping in the marital dyad. Death Studies, 13, 605-626.
Gordon Walker, J., Johnson, S., Manion, I. & Cloutier, P. (1996). Emotionally focused marital intervention for couples with chronically ill children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 64 (5), 1029-1036.
Hoekstra, E. & Bradford, M. (2000). Chronic kids constant hope. Help and encouragement for parents of children with chronic conditions. Illinois: Crossway Books.
Keene, N. (1997). Childhood leukemia: A guide for families, friends & caregivers. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
Lansky, S. B., Cairns, N. U., Hassanein, R., Wehr, J., Lowman, J. T. (1978). Childhood cancer: Parental discord and divorce. PEDIATRICS (62), 2, 184-188.
Lattanzi-Licht, M. (1991). Professional stress: Creating a context for caring. In Papadatou, D. & Papadatos, C. (Eds.), Children and death (pp. 293-?). New York: Hemisphere Publishing Corporation.
Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2001. (1993-2000). Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation.
Oliver, L. E. (1999). Effects of a child's death on the marital relationship: A review. OMEGA, 39 (3), 197-227.
Rando, T. A. (1991). Parental adjustment to the loss of a child. In Papadatou, D. & Papadatos, C. (Eds.), Children and death (pp. 233-253). New York: Hemisphere Publishing Corporation.
Sabbeth, B. F. & Leventhal, J. M. (1984). Marital adjustment to chronic childhood illness: A critique of the literature. PEDIATRICS, 73 (6), 762-768.
Woznick, L. A. & Goodheart, C. D. (2002). Living with childhood cancer. A practical guide to help families cope. Washington D. C.: American Psychological Association.
I wish to thank Ashley Null for challenging me to write this paper, Joanna Fulbright for giving me the guidance and opportunity to write it, and Greg Adams for encouraging me in the publication process. Thank you to the many who read this paper and offered their suggestions also. It is, however, the Lord Jesus Christ who is most to thank for this paper. Without his love and faithfulness I could not have done it. May all glory go to him.


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|Working Group I: The Scientific Basis
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18.104.22.168 Defining climate change signals
The question of signal-to-noise ratios in climate model simulations was alluded to above, and has also been discussed in Chapters 9 and 12. The treatment of "signal" and "noise" in constructing climate scenarios is of great importance in interpreting the results of impact assessments that make use of these scenarios. If climate scenarios contain an unspecified combination of signal plus noise, then it is important to recognise that the impact response to such scenarios will only partly be a response to anthropogenic climate change; an unspecified part of the impact response will be related to natural internal climate variability. However, if the objective is to specify the impacts of the anthropogenic climate signal alone, then there are two possible strategies for climate scenario construction:
The relative strength of the signal-to-noise ratio can be demonstrated in a number of ways. Where response patterns are reasonably stable over time, this ratio can be maximised in a climate change scenario by using long (30-year or more) averaging periods. Alternatively, regression or principal component techniques may be used to extract the signal from the model response (Hennessy et al., 1998). A third technique is to use results from multi-member ensemble simulations, as first performed by Cubasch et al. (1994). Sampling theory shows that in such simulations the noise is reduced by a factor of (n), where n is the ensemble size. Using results from the HadCM2 four-member ensemble experiments, Giorgi and Francisco (2000), for example, suggest that uncertainty in future regional climate change associated with internal climate variability at sub-continental scales (107 km2), is generally smaller than the uncertainty associated with inter-model or forcing differences. This conclusion is scale- and variable-dependent, however (see Chapter 9, Figure 9.4; see also Räisänen, 1999), and the inverse may apply at the smaller scales (104 to 105 km2) at which many impact assessments are conducted. Further work is needed on resolving this issue for climate scenario construction purposes.
A different way of maximising the climate change signal is to compare the responses of single realisations from experiments completed using different models. If the error for different models is random with zero mean, then sampling theory shows that this model average will yield a better estimate of the signal than any single model realisation. This approach was first suggested in the context of climate scenarios by Santer et al. (1990) and is illustrated further in Chapter 9, Section 9.2.2. Treating different GCM simulations in this way, i.e., as members of a multi-model ensemble, is one way of defining a more robust climate change signal, either for use in pattern-scaling techniques or directly in constructing a climate scenario. The approach has been discussed by Räisänen (1997) and used recently by Wigley (1999), Hulme and Carter (2000; see Figure 13.8) and Carter et al. (2000b) in providing regional characterisations of the SRES emissions scenarios.
The second strategy requires that the noise component be defined explicitly. This can be done by relying either on observed climate data or on model-simulated natural climate variability (Hulme et al., 1999a; Carter et al., 2000b). Neither approach is ideal. Observed climate data may often be of short duration and therefore yield a biased estimate of the noise. Multi-decadal internal climate variability can be extracted from multi-century unforced climate simulations such as those performed by a number of modelling groups (e.g., Stouffer et al., 1994; Tett et al., 1997; von Storch et al., 1997). In using AOGCM output in this way, it is important not only to demonstrate that these unforced simulations do not drift significantly (Osborn, 1996), but also to evaluate the extent to which model estimates of low-frequency variability are comparable to those estimated from measured climates (Osborn et al., 2000) or reconstructed palaeoclimates (Jones et al., 1998). Furthermore, anthropogenic forcing may alter the character of multi-decadal climate variability and therefore the noise defined from model control simulations may not apply in the future.
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Mean Street Taxis is a taxi firm in Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto Advance and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.
The firm is based in the Trenton district of Portland Island, Liberty City; but also operates in Vice City.
In GTA Liberty City Stories, after completing the taxi side mission, the Bickle'76 taxi becomes available at the depot in Trenton. The telephone number of the firm is 555 TAXI (555 8294). They have a minor appearance in Vice City, as they own a small office in Little Havana next to Pizza Face, and their logo can be seen on Benches throughout Vice City, along with a rival firm Sunnyside Taxis. In GTA III, GTA Advance and GTA Liberty City Stories, they are the rival of Borgnine Taxis and LC Taxis.
The taxi firm also operates in Carcer City, as a billboard is seen during the first few missions of Manhunt.
- Mean Streets is also the name of a Hollywood crime film directed by Martin Scorsese staring Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel.
- The office in Little Havana only appears in the PC version, as the same location on PS2 has a Sunnyside Taxis sign.