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|2011-06-20, 01:37
|Link #1
Kholdy's Slave
Anime Saimoe Tournament 2011 (Japan)
Yes, it's THAT time of the year again! Welcome to the official AnimeSuki thread for the tenth Anime Saimoe Tournament, one that has become somewhat of a favoured pastime for some people here. Nominations for the tenth begin on June 23rd, so I though it would be a good idea to make the thread now. More information on the tournament will be added to this post and the supplementary websites as it becomes available. Please enjoy your stay and let me know if you would like to contribute anything to the cause! Anything in strikeout should be ready soon, so don't worry.
For those who don't know, the Anime Saimoe Tournament, or just Saimoe for short, is a tournament held annually on the 2channel Japanese forums. People all around the world participate in the tournament to vote for the most moe anime character of the past year. The tournament page is currently here, in Japanese only. However, a plethora of information in English can also be found at this site which does live tracking of the tournament as well. For those IRC-savvy, you can try chatting with some of us here: #saimoe @ irc.rizon.net
Look for new voting threads here.
If you've been nuke-banned from posting on 2ch, try voting here. Do not vote in both the regular thread and this auxiliary thread with the same computer or same voting code. You will fail.
A more in-depth explanation of how Saimoe works can be found at the Saimoe Wiki.
The Wikispaces to help English speakers participate in Saimoe 2011 is here. At the wikispaces will be a clock to keep track of the time in Japan, a URL to current voting threads, and links to translations of Saimoe participants' names.
The rules of how to properly participate in this thread:
To vote for characters, they must first be elected to participate in the tournament.
Character Nomination
Any female characters (including female characters without names, gyroids, and guys who become girls at least once in a series) who have appeared in any anime which has aired, is airing, or will air in Japan between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011; appearances on these dates also make a girl eligible. For OVAs, the release date must be between or on these dates. For films, the premiere date in Japan must fall between or on these dates.
Girls are nominated by the first kana letter of their family name, if it's a Japanese name (foreign names use the first letter of the first name, which will usually be the given name). The letters are grouped in the traditional Japanese way, by grouping letters by the starting letter of the letter row. All starting letters have あ sounds. If you're not familiar with this aspect of the Japanese language, go here or ask about it in this thread.
Nominations are ordered by the first Japanese letter of anime. This also applies to anime with non-Japanese titles. Different letters enter nominations on designated days. In order to nominate this year, you need a code.
Each date and time listed is in JST (Japan Standard Time). To find out how your computer's internal clock compares with JST, here's an international clock: http://www3.nict.go.jp/cgi-bin/JST_E.pl
Saimoe 2011 Schedule:
Nomination Stage
06/30: Series beginning with A, E, I, O, U or V
07/01: Series beginning with G, K or Q
07/02: Series beginning with J, S or Z
07/03: Series beginning with C, D, N or T
07/04: Series beginning with B, F, H, P or V
07/05: Series beginning with L, M, R, W or Y
07/06: Break
07/07-07/08: Any remaining nominations
07/09: Entry validity confirmation
Preliminary Stage
07/10: Draw for the first preliminaries
07/11-07/16: Break
07/17-07/24: First preliminaries Groups 1-8
07/25: Break
07/26-08/02: First preliminaries Groups 9-16
08/03: Draw for the second preliminaries
08/04-08/09: Second preliminaries
Main Tournament
08/10: Draw for the main tournament
08/11-08/15: Break for Comic Market 80
08/16-08/23: Round 1 Groups A-B
08/24: Break
08/25-09/01: Round 1 Groups C-D
09/02: Break
09/03-09/10: Round 1 Groups E-F
09/11: Break
09/12-09/19: Round 1 Groups G-H
09/20: Break
09/21-09/28: Round 2 Groups A-D
09/29: Break
09/30-10/07: Round 2 Groups E-H
10/08: Break
10/09-10/16: Round 3
10/17: Break
10/18-10/25: Group Finals
10/26: Draw for the quarter-finals
10/27: Break
10/28-10/31: Quarter-Finals
11/01: Break
11/02-11/03: Semi-Finals
11/04: Break
11/05: Grand Final
After nominations is preliminaries, where the voting begins!
Preliminary Round Information
First Preliminary
16 groups
Vote for up to 10 characters
Top 12 to main tournament (192 total)
13th-36th to Second Preliminary (384 total)
Second Preliminary
6 groups
Vote for up to 12 characters
Top 16 advance to main tournament (96 total)
288 characters total in the main tournament.
The ones running Saimoe are pretty strict about voting, presumably to eliminate dud votes and multiples, etc. To avoid confusion:
1) A guide on how to post, from Saimoe Japan 2009
2) The correct way to format a nomination/vote:
-We need to use {{ and }} brackets (braces)
-The character's name must be in Japanese, unless it's one of the final rounds and Roman letter nicknames are allowed.
-The code can be above or below the character's name.
-You can only use a single code once in a given voting thread, but can use it as many times as needed in all collective voting threads. You must get a new code each day, old codes are null and void.
-With Japanese names, the family name must come first for the vote to be counted. With foreign names, the given name will usually come first.
-Refer to anime by their Japanese name. e.g. けいおん!(Keion!), not K-ON!.
-You can write little proclamations of love, called "moe-bun", in your vote, like "My waifu!" in the example. Anything not within brackets will not be counted towards voting for a character. Moe-bun is required this year. A vote without moe-bun will not be counted.
-If the name or anime title has shapes or non-letters in it (like the star in Lucky Star), they can be omitted. The vote will still be counted.
-You can deck your vote out with ASCII art of your waifu(s). We at Animesuki have rushes just about every voting day, in which you can copy/paste an Animesuki template and add ASCII art; if you'd like to participate in those, read this.
-Any ASCII art should be done in Japanese letters; in other words, it shouldn't be ASCII per se, it should be Shift_JIS art. Otherwise, chances are the picture won't show up correctly and will end up a warbled mess of letters.
-The MS UI Gothic font is recommended for reposting your votes and rush results to AnimeSuki, since that way any art will show up correctly.
-No, that code does not work.
Go here to get a code. You have to wait for ~an hour, then refresh after the hour's up to get a code. If you can access the code page with a mobile phone, you will be issued a code immediately and won't have to wait (the site has to support your phone model). You may navigate away from the page and come back later, but if you shut down your computer or your IP changes (like, if you're on WiFi and your connection breaks, then reconnects to a different wave), then you have to start over. If the page says anything about a proxy, then your IP has been pre-banned in the name of "foreigners are always doing those damn cheat votes" and tough luck for you, sorry.
Last edited by Seishi; 2011-07-12 at 18:24.
|2011-06-20, 02:39
|Link #8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Shana is eligible this year due to the last episode of Shakugan no Shana S coming out in September of 2010.
If I'm reading the rules correctly, anime only shown at events are excluded so no Touhou this year.
For preliminaries I think it will work like this:
First Preliminary
16 groups
Vote for up to 10 characters
Top 12 to main tournament (192 total)
13th-36th to Second Preliminary (384 total)
Second Preliminary
6 groups
Vote for up to 12 characters
Top 16 advance to main tournament (96 total)
288 characters total in the main tournament.
|2011-06-20, 03:01
|Link #9
Kholdy's Slave
As for Shana, I can imagine her influence being weakened by the lack of a television anime in recent times; however, it remains to be seen how many voters might be influenced by the anticipation of season 3 this fall.
|2011-06-20, 11:11
|Link #15
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Hekiyou Gakuen Student Council
Age: 31
Oh well i make some sig for saimoe... so far only Milky Holmes and Kaminomi...
Spoiler for Kaminomi:
Spoiler for Milky Holmes:
Oh well they are simple sig... use it if u all want...
|2011-06-20, 16:22
|Link #17
Senior Member
Last edited by Zeroryoko1974; 2011-06-20 at 16:34.
|2011-06-20, 16:35
|Link #19
Senior Member
|2011-06-20, 16:43
|Link #20
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Planet Earth
Age: 51
The favored should be Akemi Homura. The problem is that in history of AST, most ( maybe 70%? ) of leading contestants gets sniped before they reach quarter-final stage. Here are potential contenders other than Akemi Homura
2. Kuroneko : Some people say Ore Imo is more popular in Japan compared to outside of Japan.
3. Charlotte Dunois : When even Germans say Vive la France because of this girl, there must be something special about this girl. Someone should check out how dominating Charlotte's booth number is compared to everyone else in IS related doujinshi conventions.
4. Kaname Madoka : most logical choice for Homura fans to rally around if Homura gets ousted
5. Misaka Mikoto : She is the favored over Homura and others in KBM. In 2006 and 2009, KBM and AST crowned the same girl as the champion. There is slight chance that 2011 may be the same.
6. Elsea de Lute Irma : Her series's timing is great.She is cute. Need more?
7. Akiyama Mio : Everyone knows how she was sniped in past 2 years. AST voters have shown sympathy to those they have hurt in the past.
8. Tachibana Kanade : Similar case with Mio. Her ISML numbers are just too scary and there exist some chance it might carry over to AST
9. Haqua du Lot Herminium : She is supposed to be more popular than Elsie, but didn't get enough chance to show her stuff in the TVA. Still, she has a chance since comic book popularity matters in AST.
10. Ika-Musume : She is the perfect Submarine for Saimoe. Popular, but no one notices her underwater. She can be used as a torpedo to sink the favorites. If she is lucky enough, she might become haters' choice or weapon of revenge against other popular characters, and when that is added to her innocent fanbase, it might be just enough to win it all. Pencil her in as a dark horse and a spoiler.
That is my top 10 for AST list. The list is similar for KBM, by the way, but the ordering is different. KBM's start date has not been formalized, yet.
|2011, moe, saimoe, tournament
|Thread Tools


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Tag: food
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Fresh pot of motivation
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Now hard to face
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Laments of a failed persister
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Dirty Secret
You weigh heavy on my heart Began easy and small Now strong and ready to brawl With audacity and gall *** A tight grip on my heart small from the start but grew to be complicated and difficult to outsmart Now onerous to impart The laborious entrapment, unable to restart *** A web of lies That … Continue reading Dirty Secret
Escaping you
I lower my gaze walking head down in a fearful daze I do not want to speak debate or be critiqued So I walk away and stray far from were you stay from a bond that was strong with a long-stand and a talk we should of had

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Venice Carnival 2011: February 26 – March 8.
posted by on January 5th, 2011
OTTOCENTO, from Senso to Sissi. City of Women.
Coinciding with two dates, the Italian celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy and the coincidence of Mardi Gras with the March 8, International Women's Day, the 2011 edition will stretch an extra weekend.
The event will close with a spectacular and quiet rowing race along the Grand Canal, which will be illuminated for the occasion only by candlelight, symbolic and evocative gesture of reunion with the city.
Posted in Luxury apartments Venice, News, Travel tips Italy


text:
Two more mighty empires rise in Civilization V come October 25, when 2K Games releases the once Digital Deluxe-exclusive Babylonians for $4.99 and unleashes the Mongolian hordes for free.
Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonia's were originally released as bonus content for players that purchased the Digital Deluxe edition of Civilization V through Direct2Drive or Steam, but like the Babylonian empire, that exclusive will not last. Come October 25, anyone with the PC version of the game will be able to pick it up for the low price of $4.99.
But wait, there's more!
As a special gift to Civ fanatics, the Mongols Civilization and Scenario Pack is also coming out on the 25, and it's free! Finally we can learn the origin of one of the tastiest dishes on the Chinese food menu, which is good, because I'm so hungry I could eat a goat and wash it down with a frothy glass of kumiss.


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Looking to hire an affordable tree service in Conroe Texas? Here area some tips to help you estimate your costs.
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text: Cyril Ramaphosa celebrates his election as deputy president of South Africa's embattled governing ANC. Reuters/Mike Hutchings January 6, 2017 Ramaphosa has what it takes to fix South Africa's ailing ANC. But … Ongama Mtimka, Nelson Mandela University Cyril Ramaphosa is in pole position to become president of South Africa's ruling ANC, 20 years after he lost the position by Thabo Mbeki. But, it won't be easy. Neither will rebuilding the party.


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The Materials Handling Technology program at Chemnitz University of Technology (TU Chemnitz) has as its primary focus the development, manufacture and dimensioning of textile transmission and load-carrying belts. To enable more realistic simulation of friction and wear on conveyor systems the Institute of Materials Handling and Plastics will in future use a ZwickRoell servo-hydraulic testing system.
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Control is via Control Cube electronics, which can be individually tailored to complex and multiaxial testing situations. In combination with Cubus testing software, Control Cube is ideal for simulation tests, ramp tests and block programs.


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You can opt to sell your house fast in California, especially if you are also if your house has liens caused by neglecting the required repairs on your home. This is why our clients have chosen to sell their homes fast in Mountain View, as well as sell homes quickly in Palo Alto to cash home buyers like Sell Quick California, as we are able to buy your home fast within a weeks time.
Selling A House After A Divorce Agreement
We have helped people going through divorce in and have asked to sell my house, it is never an easy process with lawyers involved, children and assets being divided. Keep in mind we buy homes in all California cities including we buy houses Palo Alto.
Markets shift up and down as does life, we never know when life can hit us with a curve ball like foreclosure so keep in mind we buy Houses in Palo Alto and all counties in California. Whether you are behind on payments or not we buy properties In Cupertino and will make sure to give you the highest cash offer on your property.
We Buy Fire Damaged Houses
In areas of California, some of our communities have had to deal with tragedy in terrible fires across our state. With these terrible situations many people have been left with fire damage homes, we have gone in and have helped as we buy houses Palo Alto that have either become vacant houses or require way too many repairs for the homeowners to do anything with.
Sell Your House Fast Without Realtors
When you are thinking about selling your Palo Alto house as is that is inherited or in probate, we can help! We are also reputable cash home buyers in we buy houses for cash in Palo Alto, so if you are like our clients in the past and want to avoid a traditional sale with a Realtor we can help you. When you think about selling without Realtors and have thought about selling for sale by owner, give us as shot and say "buy my house in Palo Alto."
Sell Your House Inherited or in Probate
When an unexpected death of a loved one occurs it can be a very stressful time. There's usually steps to follow and decisions to be made for the properties that may be inherited. At times families do not know what to do with the properties and with their own stressful lives, they just sometimes feel its better to just move on and sell quickly to a cash home buyer like Sell Quick California. If you are asking to sell my house in probate in Milpitas or sell my Palo Alto house I inherited fast, then you have come to the right place!
Sell Quick California, was easy to work with and I was able to Sell My House Fast! Great customer service and very knowledgeable.
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Patrik Arsenault accused of sexually assaulting two boys, 6 and 7
A Norridgewock man who was due to start work next week as a special education teacher in Farmington has been arrested on a charge of gross sexual assault.
Kennebec County District Attorney Maeghan Maloney said Patrik Arsenault was arrested late Wednesday evening at his home. Arsenault is accused of sexually assaulting two boys, ages 6 and 7, she said.
Police learned of the alleged assaults, she said, when they executed a search warrant at Arsenault's home because they suspected he was involved in child pornography.
During the search, police found a videotape showing the alleged assaults, Maloney said.
The District Attorney said she expects additional charges will be filed against Arsenault.
Dr. Tom Ward, superintendent of Mount Blue Regional School District in Farmington where Arsenault was hired to teach, could not be reached for comment on Arsenault's current status.


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May 23, 2011 - 4:28 pm
It is with deep sadness that I write to let you all know that Mom's wings are on their way...I hear they are going to be all different colors of blue...with turquoise and aqua....and lots of sapphires........I really don't have much more to say except that I hope her suffering is over soon...I predict that she will leave us on May 25th.....that would be the same day her Uncle passed away 10 years ago...he was her favorite person in the world.....
May 23, 2011 - 5:55 pm
You did everything you could, so no regrets, dear girl. It's hard and it's sad and you have my deepest sympathy as you get through the days and weeks ahead. (((Lisa)))
May 23, 2011 - 6:00 pm
May 23, 2011 - 6:48 pm
You have been such a wonderful and devoted daughter.
May 23, 2011 - 6:57 pm
This hurts. You have been there for her every step of the way.
May 23, 2011 - 7:05 pm
I am saddened by this news. I started coming to the boards in July 2009.. (I lost my mother that June to uterine cancer) I was angry, shocked, looking for answers, comfort, something.. When I first wandered over to the ovarian board, your Mom's story and Brittany's, were two of the first I read. You've been so devoted to her, such an advocate for her every step of the way. No stone unturned. Your mom is blessed to have a daughter like you. You've been her angel right here on earth. I have no great words of wisdom. I am still in pain, time has lessened it somewhat, but it's still there. I don't think you can ever truly prepare for something like this. Hugs and prayers, may the rest of her journey be peaceful and serene.
May 23, 2011 - 7:27 pm
Pretty wings. Just know I am thinking of you during this time.
May 23, 2011 - 8:29 pm
May her wings carry her over the rainbow into Gods warm embrace.
Hugs and warm wishes on her next journey and hugs to you as you carry on the legacy and love she has taught you.
May 23, 2011 - 8:29 pm
I'm sad to hear that it is time for your Mom to get her wings - though they do sound quite beautiful. As she floats away, so will her pain and suffering. I too have followed your journey and you have been there for her every step of the way. A mother should be so lucky to have you. Unfortunately, now it is those left behind who take on the suffering. Her departure will leave an empty space in your life but that will be filled with all the wonderful memories you created together over your lifetime.
May 23, 2011 - 11:37 pm
May 24, 2011 - 12:03 am
Sending prayers to your mom and you. I have a lump in my throat; it never gets easier to lose a teal sister.
May 24, 2011 - 12:18 am
I am so sorry to read this post. I can feel your pain. You have been an inspiration to many of us, very loving and loyal daughter. Please know you and your mom are loved very much. I will pray for your mom tonite. I hope she is comfoRtable and pain free. God bless...val
May 24, 2011 - 1:49 am
I am very sorry to read this Lisa :( There is no way to say good bye.. I never did. I could never say good bye to my mother. I am sad to say that the 25th is indeed my birthday. If it will be that day, I will look in the sky for your mother. I will smile for her, because she will be with my mom, and the two of them will smile at us.
May 24, 2011 - 3:32 am
My heart goes out to you, you have been so strong for your mum, much love X
May 24, 2011 - 5:09 am
you are an amazing woman and daughter!!!! Praying for you and mom today.
May 24, 2011 - 7:13 am
...to you, your Mom, and sister. May your Mom enter into His arms in peace.
May 24, 2011 - 8:36 am
Dear Lisa,
May 24, 2011 - 11:44 am
Sweet Lisa: You are an amazing person & I so appreciated reading your posts where you shared your journey with us. I hope your mom's transition is very gentle & peaceful. Your mom will be hanging out with that favorite uncle again.
May 24, 2011 - 11:13 am
I am so sorry for your family's pain. I hope you all find peace and comfort, especially knowing that you mother was given such love from you.
May 24, 2011 - 11:48 am
I send hugs and well wishes for a peaceful passing and strength to you and your family.
May 24, 2011 - 12:07 pm
Dear Lisa
I wish I could take away your pain. You did all you could & even more. Wishing for a peaceful passing of your sweet mom. Remember the good times.
May 24, 2011 - 4:14 pm
I am sorry to hear your sad news. I understand what you are going through as I lost my mum 2 1/2 years ago to cancer.


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Ten years on and the iconic annelids still have not put their differences aside to usher in an age of wormy love. Mayhem marks a return to the frantic action of the original with a shovel-load of new twists and features.
Players can now invent their own devilish devices in the Weapons Factory and customise the look and feel of their stalwart invertebrates. In addition, some of the new missions actually have other objectives besides squishing the other teams like, well, worms.
Worms 4: Mayhem just goes to prove that you really can teach an old worm new tricks. The introduction of the Weapons Factory is the dream of every Machiavellian Worms devotee. No longer are you limited to the Uzi or Bazooka players, as you can now create a vast range of fiendish devices to sate your crazed destructive whims.
The worms themselves are also under your scrutiny, with the option to deck your squad out in a wide range of hats, hair, hands, faces and even furniture! It adds a nice touch of character as they're flung about the fully deformable and destructible scenery.
New stock weapons, such as the Poison Arrow, Sentry Gun, Tail Nail and the Bovine Blitz add to the mix, enabling you to jump right into the missions with fun new toys. The missions themselves now feature new objectives, from destroying scenery to recovering items across the five themed worlds: Jurassic, Camelot, Arabian, Construction, and Wild West.
1-4 Players
See it in action


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Dear Friends and Family,
Are you on the fence about sending a Christmas card this year? Not sure whether or not to include a picture? Does THIS
do anything to change your mind???
THAT, my friends, is our picture wall of fame. (And it's quite sparse compared to years past!) Pretty much any picture you send me in the mail (and some you gift my husband...eh hem large 8x10 of Wes) goes up on the wall and stays
Heck, I might leave 'em up until we move!
(Cards get put up on another wall, but I take them down after Christmas.)
[By-the-way, I'd like to point out that there is only one, ONE sibling picture in this group. Out of Doug's five siblings, and my four, only JENNY sent a card. Ashamed of yourselves yet siblings? YOU SHOULD BE!]
So, hopefully this nudges you into the card+letter+picture=happiness camp.
Let the holiday mailing commence!!!
***Note: We just got our cards from SnapFish. Now I just have to think of something witty to write for the letter and we'll get them in the mail.***


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Where To Drink Near Tourist Destinations in NYC
Maybe you're an out-of-towner in New York for a week; maybe you're a Brooklyn-dweller making a rare Rockefeller Center trip to see that glorious tree. Maybe you live in the West Village, but your family's dying to walk Fifth Avenue. As the holidays approach, Manhattan's major attractions draw bigger crowds than ever. And what does everyone need after a long day of sightseeing or holiday shopping? A drink.
When you're wandering through an unfamiliar city (or even an unfamiliar neighborhood), it can be hard to know the best spots for a restorative cocktail or glass of wine. Thus, as an early holiday gift to you: our lineup of the best drinking destinations near major tourist attractions.
Central Park South, and Rockefeller Center: Betony, Center Bar, Rouge Tomate
There are half a dozen reasons Betony is one of my favorite new restaurants of the year, but one is their superb drink list, from Eamon Rockey, whose sense of invention is cutting-edge yet results in cocktails (all $14) that come off focused and terribly drinkable. The bar opens at 5 p.m.; if you're looking for a drink beforehand, you might be better off at...
... Center Bar, on the fourth floor of the Time Warner Center. While their cocktails might tend toward the pricey side, the view —straight out onto Columbus Circle and Central Park—the live pianist, and the general sophistication of the place all help ease the sticker shock. (Visitors who don't mind dropping $20 for an exceedingly pleasant Midtown refuge, view included? This spot's for them.) Thursday through Sunday, the bar is open from noon through to the evening, and opens at 4pm Monday-Wednesday.
While the Champagne cocktails, like the judiciously floral Tea Rose Champagne Special ($22) feel properly festive, more gently priced classics like a Hemingway Daiquiri ($14) are equally well-executed.
If you're closer to Fifth Avenue, the Plaza, or that giant FAO Schwartz, consider Rouge Tomate. The wine list is curated by the lovely Pascaline Lepeltier—put yourself in her hands and you might taste a Chenin Blanc from her native Loire Valley, though she'll urge you to explore producers in New York as well. Feeling red? Grab a glass of gamay from Herve Souhaut in the Rhone Valley. There's wonderful cider from Eric Bordelet and some local producers, and thoughtful non-alcoholic options as well ($5-8), which make use of their fresh juice bar.
Betony: 41 W. 57th Street, New York, NY 10019 (map); 212-465-2400; betonynyc.com; Center Bar, Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10019 (map); 212-823-9482; centerbarnyc.com; Rouge Tomate, 10 E. 60th Street, New York NY 10022 (map); 646-237-8977; rougetomatenyc.com
Near the Empire State and Penn Station: NoMad and The Breslin
Are you tired of us talking about how much we love the cocktails at NoMad? Well, we're not tired of drinking them. With such an extensive list (and, between the main bar and the library, such beautiful places to linger), it's always worth a revisit. What's more, Leo Robitschek's range of cocktails—from classic to innovative, booze-forward to aperitifs to booze-free—can appeal to anyone in your party, from the beverage connoisseur to the novice drinker. (All cocktails $15, nonalcoholic $8.) When you're near Penn Station or walking out of the Empire State and there's nothing in sight but chain restaurants and Irish pubs, well, you'll be happy you know that NoMad's there.
The Ace Hotel is the other bright spot in this otherwise sad stretch of the 20s, and you'll find excellent cocktails (all $13) at the Breslin, too—like the Blood Red Sky pictured above, a take on the Blood & Sand, with Szechuan peppercorn-infused Pig's Nose Scotch, orange juice, Dolin Rouge sweet vermouth, and Cherry Heering.
NoMad: 1170 Broadway, New York, NY (map); 212-796-1500; thenomadhotel.com; The Breslin: 16 West 29th Street, New York NY 10001 (map); 212-679-1939; thebreslin.com
Museum Mile: Bar Pleiades
I distinctly remember my first winter in New York, when my family came for Thanksgiving; after a long afternoon at the Met, we wandered the Upper East Side looking for somewhere, anywhere, to get off our feet. In that moment, I would've been overjoyed to find Bar Pleiades—part of Daniel Boulud's restaurant-bar empire, located in the Surrey Hotel.
While the cocktails are admittedly pricey ($16+), they're beautifully crafted, served in an elegant hotel bar, and accompanied by gratis bar snacks; and given that this is a neighborhood of $7 cappuccinos, the cost becomes a bit more understandable. (If you'd prefer a longer walk and cheaper drink, find your way to the pubby Earl's Beer & Cheese or the slightly more refined ABV, both near East 97th.)
20 East 76th Street, New York, NY 10021 (map); 212-772-2600; barpleiades.com
Financial District: The Dead Rabbit
The Financial District has never been known as an eating or drinking destination, but whether you're walking through Wall Street, visiting the Ground Zero memorial, or finding your way to the Brooklyn Bridge, there are plenty of reasons to end up all the way downtown. If that's the case, head to The Dead Rabbit, a stylized Irish-American-slash-Old New York multi-level bar with an epically long cocktail list, all derived from 19th century recipes and drinking mores. Looking for flips or cobblers, punches and slings? They're all here. (Most cocktails $13-14.)
30 Water Street, New York, NY 10004 (map); 646-422-7906; deadrabbitnyc.com
High Line and Chelsea Market: The Tippler
Food-minded visitors will often find themselves at Chelsea Market, and visitors and New Yorkers alike all come together on the High Line. Either way, The Tippler is a good choice for a cocktail. This cavernous underground bar turns out sophisticated cocktails like the vicious but drinkable Crippler pictured above ($13)—with initial gentle butterscotch-vanilla rum notes (J.M Overproof Rhum and the Austrian rum-tea liqueur Stroh Jägertee) before the bite of WhistlePig rye and Vida mezcal come in—while also serving "Lushies" ($12), blended frozen cocktails, for something a bit more lighthearted.
425 West 15th Street, New York NY 10014 (map); 212-206-0000; thetippler.com
Union Square Christmas Market: Corkbuzz
Corkbuzz is as civilized as Union Square and the Union Square Christmas Market are frenzied, a softly lit bar and restaurant considered one of the best wine-drinking destinations in the city. After 10 p.m. every night of the week, and during Sunday brunch, all bottles of Champagne are 50% off for their "Champagne Campaign"—a pretty unbeatable discount. If you'd prefer red, consider the Domaine Faury Syrah ($13/glass) or Olivier Cousin "Pur Breton" Cabernet Franc ($14) on their current list. Corkbuzz also does a beautiful job pairing fortified wines and desserts. (Cocktails, beer, and a short list of spirits are available, too.)
13 East 13th Street, New York NY 10003 (map); 646-873-6071; corkbuzz.com
Times Square: Lantern's Keep
Lantern's Keep could be considered the anti-Times Square: a sophisticated cocktail bar hidden away just behind the desk at the Iroquois Hotel lobby, its intimacy a welcome antidote to the neighborhood's madness. Ask the skilled barkeeps to shake up something to your liking—bartender's choice is a great way to order, here—or dip into the list (all drinks $15). On a recent visit, we loved the Clean Shave, with gin and aquavit as a backbone, shaken with lemon, a layer of Campari at the base and cayenne pepper on top; and, under their 'Nightcaps' section, a creamy Grasshopper alive with fresh mint.
Iroquois Hotel, 49 West 44th Street, New York NY 10036 (map), 212-840-3080, iroquoisny.com/lanternskeep
Theater District: Rum House
Also close to Times Square, and square in the middle of the Theater District: The Rum House, from the same folks as Ward III downtown. It's a swanky place for a cocktail, with live music many nights, but my favorite activity here is people-watching; the mix of tourists, off-duty Broadway folk, cocktail hounds, and Midtown suits is a sight to see. The classics are all made well here—choose your bourbon or rye for an Old Fashioned or Manhattan—as are the house cocktails, like the Negroni Leoni, with Santa Teresa 1796 Solera rum and Ilegal mezcal as the base spirits. (All cocktails $14-16.)
228 West 47th Street, New York NY 10036 (map); 646-490-6924; edisonrumhouse.com
Lincoln Center: Lincoln
While Jonathan Benno's Lincoln is quite a formal place for a meal, their bar is a bit more laid-back, easier to sneak into without a reservation, and has one of our favorite cocktail features out there: a Negroni Bar (cocktails $15). Mix and match gins, amari (Campari, Cynar, Aperol, along with less well-known bitter options), and vermouths (as well as Lillet and Cocchi Americano). Straight up, on the rocks, or with a Prosecco float—the choice is yours.
142 West 65th Street, New York, NY 10023 (map); 212-359-6500; lincolnristorante.com
Little Italy: Randolph Beer Bar and Mulberry Project
Little Italy gets its fair share of tourists, but please, do us a favor—don't get a glass of wine at one of those 50 identical Italian restaurants on Mulberry Street. Opt instead for Randolph Beer, a spacious, rustically comfortable room with 36 beers on tap and many more by the bottle. That's your best bet for a casual drink; if you're looking for cocktails and a bit of a scene, consider the Mulberry Project, down a rather unlikely-looking staircase right on Mulberry Street—bespoke cocktails are the name of the game here, the bartenders shaking up just about anything you choose.
Randolph Beer Bar: 343 Broome Street, New York NY 10013 (map), 212-334-3706, randolphnyc.com; Mulberry Project: 149 Mulberry Street, New York NY 10013 (map), 646-448-4536, projectgroupnyc.com/mulberry-project
Washington Square Park: Otto
We often talk about eating at Otto, but it's a great place to drink, too. An impressive marble bar and a whole room of standing tables mean there's usually room to post up; their hours, from 11:30 a.m. straight through to the evening, allow you to stroll in for a drink and a snack any time. And their extensive list of wines by the quartino (1/3 bottle) gives you something for almost every palate. Try one of their cocktails, if that's more to your liking, such as the Bitter Wifey ($12) pictured above, with bourbon, Mandarine Napoleon, and orange. And their menu of charcuterie, cheeses, and small vegetable dishes is ideal for snacking as you go.
1 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10003 (map); 212-995-9559; ottopizzeria.com
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Immunization Record Information
Dear SJU Student,
Welcome to St. John's University! As part of your process prior to coming to campus, you are required to submit a record of your immunizations. If you are an international student, you must also have a tuberculosis screening. This information is due on or before June 15th for Fall semester admission or January 15th for Spring semester admission.
Access the form that you will need to complete in order to meet the requirements. Please follow these steps:
Read over what is required on the form.
Click here to read the material on Hepatitis A, B, and C, as well as Meningitis vaccine.
Make an appointment with your medical provider. It is highly recommended that you meet with a provider to go over your immunization record, get the dates and doses of the immunizations you have had, get a provider signature stating you have the required immunizations, and discuss any other recommended vaccinations. The meningitis vaccine is strongly recommended for anyone planning to live in a residence hall on a college campus. Hepatitis A & B and the Varicella Vaccine (if you haven't had chicken pox) are also recommended.
If you are from a country other than the United States and currently residing there and are enrolled and planning on attending St. John's University, you are required to have a tuberculosis screening. The screening is set out in steps on the form for your medical provider to follow. It is important that all steps are followed and that your medical provider verifies that you are currently free of active tuberculosis if you had any positive test or abnormal x-ray.
Return the completed form (appropriate areas filled out or documentation attached and provider signatures, printed name, clinic name, address, & phone number included) to CentraCare Clinic St. John's PO Box 7133 Collegeville MN 56321. Your completed form can also be faxed to (320) 200-3247 or emailed to firstname.lastname@example.com.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid problems with registration, please complete the above process prior to coming to campus.
If you have questions, please refer to the FAQ sheet here. If you need further assistance contact the CentraCare St. John's clinic at 320-656-7105.


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While up at BioWare's headquarters in Edmonton, I had the opportunity to throw some questions at company co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk. I was curious about how the duo felt about the current RPG landscape in general, and why we're seeing more and more western-style RPGs while JRPGs have, at least among North American audiences, fallen somewhat to the wayside.
"The fall of the JRPG in large part is due to a lack of evolution, a lack of progression," Zeschuk said. "They kept delivering the same thing over and over. They make the dressing better, they look prettier, but it's still the same experience.
"My favorite thing, it's funny when you still see it, but the joke of some of the dialogue systems where it asks, 'do you wanna do this or this,' and you say no. 'Do you wanna do this or this?' No. 'Do you wanna do this or this?' No. Lemme think -- you want me to say 'yes.' And that, unfortunately, really characterized the JRPG."
Zeschuk admits that there are definitely exceptions coming from the East (Demon's Souls is currently one of his favorite games), but North American definitions of role-playing have simply evolved beyond those of their counterparts on the other side of the world. "We have big debates on whether GTA is an RPG, for example. It's got all the elements, it just doesn't have the numbers. And what gamers here want is that higher depth, that higher integration of features...Mass Effect 2 is in some ways a continuation of that evolution."
I agree wholeheartedly with Dr. Zeschuk, but I no longer have any patience for JRPGs whatsoever (Half-Minute Hero notwithstanding, obviously). I'm curious to see what JRPG fans think of Zeschuk's stance, though. Do JRPGs really suffer from a lack of evolution?


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Spending Bills Are on a Collision Course
House and Senate Are Using Different Numbers, Raising Risk of a Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON—House and Senate lawmakers are $91 billion apart as they draft spending bills for the next fiscal year, putting Congress once again on a collision course that raises the risk of a partial government shutdown this fall.
In the Democratic-controlled Senate, lawmakers are crafting bills that add up to $1.058 trillion for the roughly 40% of the budget that Congress sets each year for military, education, transportation and other discretionary programs. Bills being written in the Republican-led House add up to $967 billion...
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Amid Repression, Art Scene in Thailand's Capital Blooms
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By Amy Sawitta Lefevre BANGKOK, March 8 – On a wall in a northern suburb of Bangkok "Asin Acid" puts the finishing touches to a spray-painted picture of a colourful giant chicken holding a broken loudspeaker. "The loudspeaker represents the media. The media is trying to say something but is being interrupted," said Asin, who


text: Main Details Country Profiles // Main Details Central African Republic - Main Details Show map Legend: CBD Party CBD & CPB Party Non Party Selected country Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity or the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Biodiversity Facts Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem servicesThe content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned. In spite of the development of legislation and policy documents that have contributed to managing the country's biodiversity in a more sustainable manner, a general trend of biodiversity degradation continues. The compilation of a more accurate picture of biodiversity status and trends is hampered by lack of information and the non-existence of a system for reviewing and monitoring biodiversity, including a set of indicators. In 1986, it was estimated that forests covered 15% of the country's territory. The general observation was that there was a progressive annual reduction of forest areas, to the benefit of savannah grasslands, of 2.5% between 1985 and 1996. Slash and burn agriculture is one of the main causes of the reduction of different forest types. The extensive use of wood energy (by approximately 99.8% of the population) also contributes to significant habitat loss around major cities. Anthropogenic pressures on the rainforest in the southwestern part of the country, due mainly to industrial logging, have resulted in the forest being reduced by 19,400 hectares per year. Biodiversity loss at all levels has been evidenced, including a significant reduction in flagship species, such as the elephant, giraffe, ostrich, lion, hippo and damaliscus, as well the skimming of the populations of some noble species, such as Entandrophragma cylindricum (Sapelli). However, in areas where local programs for managing forest resources exist, the effects of pressures are mixed. Protected areas comprise 11% of the country's territory. However, if multi-purpose reserves, including leased or licensed sectors and village hunting zones, are also taken into account, the total area under protection increases to 38%. In protected areas (e.g. Zemongo, Nana Barya reserves), the incursion outside of transhumance corridors of Sudanese and Chadian herders, along with their herds of cattle, is a factor contributing to habitat degradation. Also, despite the conservation of large mammals through programs implemented in protected areas and village hunting zones (ECOFAC-ZCV, ECOFAC-NGOTTO, WWF DZANGA-SANGHA), threats from poaching and armed conflicts impede progress towards the restoration and conservation of species diversity. The André Félix National Park and the Yata Ngaya Wildlife Reserve have been gradually emptied of their wildlife by extensive poaching and Sudanese transhumance. However, the most serious disturbances to protected areas are linked to the creation of new villages, making their management costly, very difficult, if not impossible. The presence of humans in protected areas scares away wildlife, affecting revenues from tourist services for the communities. Invasive alien species represent the second source of threat to habitats and the livelihoods of rural communities. While aquatic ecosystems are slowly being invaded by water hyacinth (Eicchorniacrassipes), Salviniamolesta, and water lettuce (Pistiastratioites), rangelands are threatened by the encroachment of the Laos herb (Chromolaenaodorata). An institutional framework to monitor invasive alien species has not yet been developed. Watercourse habitats are also vulnerable to gold and diamond mining exploration. The Sangba, Bamingui and Ngoumbiri Rivers, in protected areas, whose watercourses were vital to animals and local populations, have been significantly destroyed as a result of mining activity. The depletion of agrobiodiversity resources is particularly worrisome. Food crops account for 75% of cultivated areas and are often self-consumed. On 150,000 km2 or about 1.5 million ha of agricultural land, only 7,000 km2 are cultivated each year. Those crop cultures are undergoing genetic erosion due to limited capacity for in situ and ex situ conservation. Cassava, rice and maize cultures are also threatened by viral diseases, pest attacks and climatic variability, while cultivars of sorghum are scarce or disappearing. Indigenous peoples, such as the Baakas pygmies, are solely reliant on forest resources (hunting, gathering, fishing, etc.) as a source of livelihood. Almost all of the rest of the country's population is to a greater or lesser degree dependent on non-timber forest products (caterpillars, edible fungi, bushmeat, vegetables, fruits, etc.) for food and medicine. Wildlife contributes 90% of the protein requirements for 62% of the rural population, with average consumption being 11.6 kg per person per year. Cattle are the source of 98% of the meat and 100% of the milk produced in the country. The Central African Republic is also an exporter of cattle to the Congo, Cameroon and Nigeria. The FAO estimated in 2007 that the country's forests provide 2,000,000 m3 of wood fuel for domestic purposes, representing more than 95% of the energy demand of households, particularly in rural areas. Forests also provide timber export resources (round wood and sawn timber), contributing up to 9% of the Gross Domestic Product and 13% of the state's revenue, and are the country's largest industrial employer. Protected areas are also a source of foreign exchange for the country and thus a tool for socio-economic development for riparian communities. Sport hunting practiced around these areas generates jobs and substantial revenue for the country as well as for the municipalities and surrounding communities. The annual production of cassava, which is the staple food, was estimated at 562,000 tons in 2002, representing 40% of the farms. Groundnut (122,000 tons) and maize (107,000 tons) are the other main food crops cultivated; cash crops are cotton, coffee, tobacco, palm oil and sugar cane. Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned. The main causes of ecosystem degradation are the lack of biodiversity management planning; inefficient management of regulatory measures and economic measures for biodiversity valuation; absence of technical measures for efficient management; lack of awareness regarding the sustainable use of biodiversity. The principal threats to biological resources are deforestation and forest degradation; large-scale poaching; uncontrolled border transhumance; uncontrolled exploitation of biological resources; lack of a national inventory of biological resources and a taxonomic referral center; uncontrolled introduction of invasive alien species; loss of agro-biodiversity genetic resources; lack of a climate change warning system; armed conflicts. Biodiversity management has also been weakened by the politico-military crisis responsible for the use of assault weapons, explosives and steel cables for hunting game. Some protected areas have been invaded by soldiers who hunt game species for their main food sources. Fisheries resources are also being depleted, while legislation is ignored. The root causes for this are the use of unauthorized fishing equipment, such as ichthyo-toxic products, and a lack of knowledge about spawning areas. Measures to Enhance Implementation of the Convention Implementation of the NBSAPThe content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned. The 2000 Strategy outlines strategic directions for the conservation of flora, fauna, fisheries and agro-biodiversity, biosafety, sustainable use, and the fair sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological resources. The country has developed two policy documents that incorporate the objectives of the CBD. However, implementation of these strategies has been weak due to inadequate and/or non-existent financial, material and human capacity; non-integration of biodiversity issues in other sectoral policies; absence of a monitoring mechanism and indicators; non-internalization of emerging issues related to biodiversity. The need to prepare an updated NBSAP is recognized, as is integrating the Millennium Development Goals, the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, emerging themes (e.g. biofuels, climate change), various CBD work programmes, relevant initiatives (e.g. National Action Plan on Climate Change Adaptation, National Action Plan to Combat Desertification) in the updated NBSAP. Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity TargetsThe content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned. Even though the country possesses 18 protected areas comprising 11% of the country's surface area, progress related to institutional and juridisdictional matters for protected areas remains limited. The country does not possess a botanical garden or zoo; knowledge and technologies regarding plant genetic diversity and animal species are still very sparse. Although some lists of plants exist, they are in need of updating, synthesizing and completion. Notably, an updated plants catalogue is in preparation. Forest management standards have been implemented that call for the establishment of a genetic conservation area, where research for monitoring biodiversity is recommended, for each Planning and Exploitation Permit (PEA) held. A management strategy for protected areas is being developed within the ECOFAC framework. In addition, 100 new rangers have been trained, anti-poaching activities have increased with the participation of the country's armed forces, and a project for the sustainable management of non-timber forest products is underway with the support of FAO. The rate of loss and degradation of natural habitats due to bushfires has been considerably reduced as a result of public awareness-raising activities aired on national and local radio stations. Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned. Most sectoral and intersectoral plans, programs and policies do not explicitly incorporate biodiversity issues. However, the country has made some mainstreaming progress through the creation of the Forestry Code (2008) which aims to improve the sustainable use of biodiversity and the fair sharing of benefits arising from its use through participatory management and community forestry initiatives. Positive measures undertaken in protected areas include the strengthening of anti-poaching activities and policing in regard to hunting; development of ecotourism; establishment of the Friends of Nature Club; implementation of investment programs as result of the capital received from entry fees; establishment of village hunting zones in peripheral areas as well as outside protected areas. Both the National Environmental Action Plan and the National Strategy for the Conservation of Biodiversity propose extending the protected areas network to 15% by 2015. In regard to forest management, the rules concerning Planning and Exploitation Permits (PEAs) have been strengthened, with the establishment of management plans being mandatory. Also enforced is the requirement to provide information on wood traceability, a list of protected species and pay taxes to forest communities. The application of penalties and fines for violations has also become stricter. To avoid the massive destruction of some plant species, the country has set standards for a Minimum Exploitable Diameter (MED) to reduce the impact of logging on certain plant species. Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementationThe content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned. A monitoring and evaluation mechanism is not in place for reviewing implementation status. The country has not yet adopted innovative technologies for effectively managing protected areas. However, satellite imagery, ecological monitoring software, GPS and GIS are increasingly sought for projects. Programs for evaluating and improving the effectiveness of protected areas, monitoring management efficiency, and status and trends at the national, regional and global levels, still need to be developed.


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(CNN) -- Job interviews can give anyone the jitters; for Jeff Davis, they were torturous.
Since about age 10, Davis has had a stutter. He endured laughter from peers throughout school, but he refused to let his disability stop him from pursuing a career in public relations. Still, it hasn't been easy.
"All of that emotional baggage you had as a kid comes right back to you, and you feel, 'I'm not good enough. They're not going to hire me because of this,' " said Davis, 52, of Atlanta, Georgia.
Davis identifies with the struggles portrayed in "The King's Speech," which tells the true story of how England's King George VI learned to speak more fluently for public addresses. The movie has garnered critical praise; on Tuesday, it scored 12 Oscar nominations including best picture, lead actor, supporting actor and supporting actress.
In the movie, the king's journey toward greater fluency, like Davis' and those of many others who stutter, is often painful and frustrating.
"It really captured well that anticipatory anxiety, the fear around the speech, the frustration that people who stutter have even today in seeking help and seeking relief of their symptoms," said Dr. Gerald Maguire, professor at the University of California, Irvine, who has a stutter and researches the phenomenon.
More than 3 million Americans stutter, with more males than females having the condition. The exact causes of stuttering remain mysterious, but brain imaging suggests that it is a neurological problem.
Christy Ludlow, professor of communication sciences and disorders at James Madison University and formerly of the National Institutes of Health, has collaborated in research showing that people who stutter tend to have decreases in white matter in the left hemisphere of the brain in the areas involving motor speech areas. The brain appears to be the only source of stuttering; the structure of the mouth, tongue and vocal cords don't have anything to do with it.
Still, scientists do not know whether these abnormalities in the brain are the cause or the consequence of stuttering.
There is also evidence of a genetic link in stuttering. A 2010 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that about 60% of children who stutter have clear family histories of stuttering, but that leaves a substantial number of stutters that cannot be explained through genetics.
About 70% to 80% of children who stutter recover spontaneously, experts say, but there is no way to know who will grow out of it and who will require a lot of extra help.
Therapy usually includes focusing on the breath and the mechanics of breathing for speech. The patient is also taught strategies for opening the vocal cords and for speaking more slowly. He or she may learn to ease into particular sounds or take breaths before them, Ludlow said.
An important part of speech therapy, as shown in "The King's Speech," is having a positive relationship with the therapist, Maguire said.
When King George VI is able to read perfectly while listening to music instead of his own voice, that is a real phenomenon, as the rhythm can influence fluency, Maguire said. The way a person hears himself or herself can also influence stuttering, and techniques using auditory feedback are still in use. Today, there are devices available that play back a person's voice a fraction of a second later, which help slow speech but are normally not good long-term solutions, Ludlow said.
Also, the rhythmic movement of dancing can induce fluency because of the role of the brain's motor system in stuttering, Maguire said. Additionally, while not shown in the movie, a stutter can subside while a person reads aloud in unison with someone else.
Nothing a parent does can cause a child to stutter, but if your son or daughter has the condition, it's crucial to have quality time to read with the child, said Jane Fraser, head of the Stuttering Foundation. Exposing the child to language is important, and given that rhythm can help with fluency, nursery rhymes or Dr. Seuss books may help, she said. The nonprofit organization recommends discussing the speech issue with your child and seeking help as soon as possible.
Pharmaceutical treatments are also in the works for stuttering, which Maguire and colleagues are working on. Preliminary experiments have shown that a drug called pagoclone, still in trials, helps a stutter. Maguire is now beginning a trial with an antipsychotic medication called asenapine, marketed by Merck & Co. as Saphris, which Maguire said has helped him personally.
These drugs have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for stuttering, but Maguire believes that they have potential. Maguire's work has been the only real breakthrough in the area of drug treatment, but it is still uncertain, and further research needs to be done, Ludlow said.
Although King Georgia VI had a dedicated teacher coaching him, Davis has tried a smattering of classes and therapies to gain skills for coping with his stutter. These included learning how to breathe properly while speaking and controlling the vocal cords. And he didn't let himself hide from the world: He forced himself to take speech as a minor in college, even though professors weren't always encouraging.
"My teacher said, 'It's a shame that you stutter, because you have a really nice voice,' " he said.
In the mid-'90s, he attended a program for stuttering and came out fluent; he didn't stutter for six months. But, just like athletes have to train every day, Davis fell out of practice with breathing and vocal exercises, and the stutter returned. This is common among people who stutter, experts say: Because speech therapy treats the symptoms and not the cause, it can be effective for only short periods of time unless the person consistently practices.
Since then, Davis has pushed on without formal assistance and accepted that his voice will break, or he will repeat certain syllables, in the course of normal conversation.
"I've met stutterers that just, they just retreat, in their life and in their job. They take a job sitting in the back where they never have to talk to anybody. That's just not my personality," he said. "If I stutter, I stutter, and it's just going to be hard."
His job involves event production and sales -- and, although it requires a lot of speaking, which can be difficult, he believes that his stutter has helped him develop a reputation for honesty.
"I'm not a stereotypical fast-talking salesman, because I just can't do it," he said.
Stuttering hasn't stopped some of the biggest names in sports, entertainment, science and government from becoming successful, either.
Tiger Woods overcame a childhood stutter, as did actor James Earl Jones. Among other household names, Marilyn Monroe, Jimmy Stewart, Charles Darwin and Lewis Carroll had stutters, according to the Stuttering Foundation, as well as Vice President Joe Biden and former Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson.
Jones told CNN last year, "I stuttered so badly I gave up talking" from ages 5 to 14.
Actress Emily Blunt, 27, told the Daily Beast in June that her mother took her to all kinds of classes and specialists, but none of that helped in her early adolescence. Her breakthrough came when a teacher gave her a part in the school play and suggested that she speak with a different accent.
As for Davis, although people will still hang up the phone on him or laugh, he believes that he is having a full life. He actually feels more at ease when someone asks him about his stutter, so that it's out in the open.
"Stuttering has defined who I am as a person today, without a doubt, good and bad," Davis said. "I think, hopefully more for good."


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Clinical Observations Interoperability Telcon http://esw.w3.org/topic/HCLS/OntologyTaskForce/BIONTDSEDCM Date and Time: August 28th, Tuesday 11:00am - 12:00pm US EDT Agenda: 1. Presentation and Discussion of Use Case: Rachel Richesson 2. Presentation of CDISC Standards and Activities Relevant to this Activity - Landen Bain (CDISC liaison for Healthcare) Telcon Details: Phone +1 617 761 6200, conference 24668 ("BIONT") IRC irc://irc.w3.org:6665/hcls Browser-based IRC client http://www.w3.org/2001/01/cgi-irc Feel free to annotate wiki page above with feedback and suggestions. Cheers, ---Vipul ======================================= Vipul Kashyap, Ph.D. Senior Medical Informatician Clinical Informatics R&D, Partners HealthCare System Phone: (781)416-9254 Cell: (617)943-7120 http://www.partners.org/cird/AboutUs.asp?cBox=Staff&stAb=vik To keep up you need the right answers; to get ahead you need the right questions ---John Browning and Spencer Reiss, Wired 6.04.95 The information transmitted in this electronic communication is intended only for the person or entity to whom it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of or taking of any action in reliance upon this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this information in error, please contact the Compliance HelpLine at 800-856-1983 and properly dispose of this information.Received on Monday, 27 August 2007 13:55:52 UTC
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Boring bonds beat sexy stocks. Here's whyJuly 31, 2014: 1:39 PM ET
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Paul R. La Monica. Other than Time Warner, the parent of CNNMoney, Abbott Laboratories and AbbVie, La Monica does not own positions in any individual stocks.
Bonds are supposed to be for conservative investors who are not willing to take on a lot of risk and don't get freaked out by the daily market headlines. Professional fixed-income investors are data wonks happy to accept small returns over the long haul.
Stocks? They are what should give you the biggest bang for your buck. They're sexy. But investors often overreact to news and tend to get a little too focused on the short-term. This 1986 hit by Janet Jackson might as well be the stock market's theme song.
So you might be surprised to learn that bond investors and stock investors seem to have traded places like Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd (yes, I'm a child of the 80s). Sleepy Treasury bonds are unexpectedly outperforming stocks by a pretty wide margin.
Just check out how the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond exchange traded fund (TLT), a popular proxy for long-term government bonds, has done compared to the S&P 500 (SPY).
What gives? Weren't bond prices supposed to plunge and yields soar as the Federal Reserve started cutting, or tapering, its asset purchase program? Many experts predicted at the start of the year that there would be a so-called Great Rotation out of bonds and into stocks.
Treasury yields, which move in the opposite direction of prices, were expected to surge as investors dumped bonds. This had the makings of another bond bloodbath year like 1994. Yet, long-term rates are down this year and remain incredibly low.
The 10-year Treasury is nowhere near the 3.4% level that strategists surveyed by CNNMoney predicted back in January.
I think the bond bonanza is a sign that the market still doesn't believe the stock rally is for real.
There are so many concerns about how a correction, or worse, is around the corner. Thursday's big stock market sell-off is a reflection of these jitters.
CNNMoney's Fear and Greed Index, which looks at the VIX (VIX) volatility gauge and six other indicators of sentiment, is now in Extreme Fear mode. It's a bit of a shock since the Dow and S&P 500 aren't that far from all-time highs.
But it goes to show that more investors seem to be nervous about a possible crash than excited about the prospect of stocks going even higher. One of the seven indicators looks at safe haven demand, which is showing that the recent performance of stocks versus bonds is the weakest in about two years.
Low long-term Treasury rates also seem to be an indication that the bond market thinks the economy is still just limping along. If the economy was really heating up and inflation was really a serious risk, rates would probably be much higher than they are now.
But when you combine the 4% GDP growth from the second quarter with the weather-induced decline of 2.1% in the first, you're left with an economy that's still growing a a mere 2%-ish clip.
And all the recent geopolitical turmoil (Ukraine-Russia, Israel-Gaza, Argentina default, Portuguese banking crisis, etc.) may be steering more foreign capital to the security of U.S. bonds. China and Japan continue to be big buyers of U.S. debt after all.
Consider that gold, another safe haven asset in tumultuous times, has also done well this year. The SPDR Gold Shares Trust (GLD) ETF is up slightly more than the broader market.
Now I still don't think the market is about to crash -- even though this could be the beginning of a much-needed correction.
But the sizzling performance of the supposedly staid bond market should not be ignored. It shows that the economy still isn't close to being fully recovered -- and that stocks aren't the only game in town for investors. Bond investors can enjoy double-digit returns every now and then too.
Reader Comment of the Week! For the second week in a row, a former CNNMoney colleague wins this "honor." Just goes to show that you're not dead to me once you leave the Time Warner Center. (More about that in a bit.) The tweet was a response to one of mine regarding Argentina's default.
Is there a golden Twitter bird, Jason? You just won it! GOOOAAL!
The Final Cut ... and some fond farewells. The wackiness in the Russian stock market prompted me to send out one of my Name that Tune tweets. The winner gets bonus points for a Muppets reference ... despite a slight misspelling of the name of a certain comedic bear.
It's Fozzie. But I'll forgive you. This isn't Jeopardy where your Final Jeopardy answer has to be spelled correctly. Anyway, that Pink Floyd song is from the love-it or hate-it (I strangely love it) Final Cut album. It was the last one with Roger Waters. And fitting with the Argentina theme, it was actually a concept album about the Falklands War. Seriously.
And now the part of the column I have been dreading all week. CNNMoney will be saying goodbye to two awesome talents on Friday. Senior writer Annalyn Kurtz, our economy reporter extraordinaire and my Fed partner in crime, is off to a extremely well-deserved and prestigious Knight-Bagehot fellowship at Columbia University.
It has been a pleasure getting to work with her, edit her and sit next to her for the past few years. Her tenacity and passion will be sorely missed. Congressional hearings with Fed chair Janet Yellen won't be the same. ("That's such a stupid question!") Congratulations, Ann! I am so proud of and happy for you.
And then there's Dana Lipnickas, my graphics collaborator -- and Brooklyn neighbor. She's off to New Haven for a job at Yale. She has put up with so many of my silly requests for images and photo manipulations. She took every strange idea of mine and made them better. She is responsible for today's bond/stocks emoji.
We always joked that one day I'd give her a reason to design a Dr. Evil-esque sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads image for one my columns. "Is that so hard?" Sadly for me, we ran out of time.
As a final salute, here is my favorite graphic she ever did for The Buzz. I almost chose the bizarre Twitter-taur (blue bird head on body of a bull) she did earlier this year. But this image, for a column about how big bank stocks were doing just fine despite regulation is perfect. I still have the e-mail response I sent her after I first saw it.
"I am almost in tears. That's how much I love this."
I still do. And hey, who on the Internet doesn't love a good cat image!


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A runaway renewables subsidy budget under the Milieukwaliteit Elektriciteitsproductie (MEP) program seems to be the reason for the new stop to offshore wind development. Dutch renewables production grew by 1.2% in 2004 to reach 4.5% of total power consumption. This puts the country well on route to reach its target of 9% renewables by 2010.
The rapid increase in production has left the government with a EUR 174 million shortfall in its MEP fund over the 2003-2005 period. The MEP is financed by a charge on consumer bills of EUR 52/year. It was set to rise to EUR 56 next year, but electricity customers will now have to pay EUR 100/year to cover the deficit.
To regain budget control, Brinkhorst intends to cap growth at 0.6% a year from 2005 to 2010 by imposing an MEP ceiling, freezing all awards to new large-scale biomass and offshore wind between 2005 and 2007, with immediate effect. With offshore subsidies currently pegged at EUR 92/MWh, a 350 MW offshore farm would cost EUR 100 million a year for ten years -- too much for a single project, says the minister.
Rush for the sea
In the five months since the previous moratorium was lifted, five developers have lodged 54 offshore wind farm applications for 25 sites in the Dutch Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ).
Developer E-Connection, which has applied for ten development licenses for a total of 1200 MW, says the government is proving to be completely untrustworthy when it comes to wind. "How does this move reconcile with the national policy statement that offshore wind development is an urgent necessity of great national importance and the longstanding commitment to build 6000 MW by 2020?" asks the company's Mathieu Kortenoever.
Like many in the industry, he sees the move as a panic reaction to the surge in activity since the lifting of the moratorium. "After three years of inactivity the industry finally gets a chance to show that it is ready and willing to proceed, and the government pulls the rug out from under our feet," he says. Kortenoever also blames the offshore rush, which has caused the panic on the he government's failure to regulate the licensing system. At the same time, he criticises project developers who seem intent on staking claims to large parts of the seabed without actually intending to build new plant.
Offshore site rush
A consortium of Dutch utility Nuon and Shell, represented by WEOM, has registered start notices for eight sites with a combined capacity ranging from 2455 MW to 4587 MW. Nuon has said it is unlikely to build any more offshore projects, however, until it has gained experience with the 108 MW Near Shore Windfarm project, which is expected to start building next year.
Newcomer Raedthuys Holding -- a division of onshore wind developer and insurer Groenraedt -- has registered an interest in 14 sites, but announced plans for just a single 450 MW plant. It hopes to complete this in 2008 in association with the international certification agency Kema.
Ireland's Airtricity, the only foreign concern to have joined the site rush, has tagged nine sites, three of which are some 40 to 60 kilometres off the Hook of Holland.
On receipt of a "start notice" from a developer, the government has 13 weeks to state what information it requires in an environmental impact statement (EIS) for that site. The first party to present a completed EIS will then be given the exclusive right to apply for a building permit.
The fifth active developer, Evelop, has registered start notices for 11 sites (3900 MW) in the EEZ. The company is already involved in three other offshore activities: it is negotiating to buy the rights to develop the 120 MW Q7-WP offshore project from E-connection (Windpower Monthly, May 2005); it is tendering for the 200 MW extension to the Danish Nysted plant (Windpower Monthly, February 2005); and it is developing a 300 MW project at Sheringham Shoal off the east coast of Britain with sister Econcern subsidiary, Scira Offshore Energy.
Evelop's Ernst van Zuylen is more upbeat about this latest twist in the Dutch offshore tale. Because the freeze relates only to new projects, neither Nuon and Shell's Near Shore Windfarm nor Evelop's 120 MW Q7 project will be affected by the decision. Further, any project arising from the spate of new applications will be built only in 2007 at the very earliest, by which time the freeze will be over and the electricity act will have been further amended.
Evelop will continue with its efforts to arrange project finance for Q7 and will be conducting EIS studies for its 11 start notice sites, says Van Zuylen. "I sometimes see the Dutch offshore industry as a huge tanker, which the government tries to direct by placing obstacles in its course rather than by steering," he says.


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text: Corporate Lawyers New York corporate lawyers are equipped to handle any corporation s legal matters, from ensuring employee standards and practices are being met to protecting the company from frivolous legal complications. Companies and individuals in need of a corporate lawyer may opt for an established firm or go with a smaller legal setup, though both should offer the same benefits of experience and understanding. Most of all, New York corporate lawyers stay abreast of the latest trends in business and tailor their legal approach accordingly.