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In NBA playoff parlance, we call this a gift.
The beaten-up, struggling, Derrick-Rose-less Bulls get a first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets, perhaps the dumbest team in the league.
The Bulls won three of the four games against the Nets during the regular season, and remember the Bulls did it while missing most of their starting lineup and part of their bench at various points in the season series.
The Bulls didn't trick the Nets. What could they trick them with? Tom Thibodeau doesn't do tricks. He just does spectacular coaching. Thibodeau demands defense and rebounding. The Bulls defended and rebounded against the Nets, and waited for the Nets to do dumb things. And the Nets did them.
Such as blowing a 16-point lead at home the last time the teams played. Such as allowing Nazr Mohammed to block Brook Lopez down the stretch. Such as choking against a Bulls team missing Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Marco Belinelli, Richard Hamilton and, of course, Rose.
Latest Sports
There was one double-digit result in the series, and the Bulls took that one --- after the Nets blew an 11-point lead. See what I'm saying?
The Nets might not be Sacramento Kings-like dumb, but when the Nets turn stupid, they usually stay stupid. When they get behind, they stay behind. At least, that's the way it has been against the Bulls, and that's all that matters now. The NBA playoffs are all about matchups, and if the Bobcats didn't qualify, then this matchup looks like the Bulls had the first choice in the playoff fantasy draft.
A big part of my spin here is that I believe the Nets have the kind of talent that should be smarter. Too often, Deron Williams should've been the best player on the court and led the best team to victory, but too often I saw that concerned, frustrated look that bad decision-makers get when they're overrated.
The series opens in Brooklyn on Saturday. Game 2 is Monday in Brooklyn. Games 3 and 4 are here on Thursday and Saturday afternoon. I have the Bulls in four. Or maybe two. I don't know if the Nets are smart enough to make their way to Chicago. Or maybe they'll vote whether they want to bother showing up.


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Beckham ready to put injuries behind him
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Gordon Beckham's 2013 production was as hampered by a plethora of injuries as much as anything he did right or wrong at the plate. Those injuries included surgery to remove a fractured hamate bone in his left wrist, a second, unrelated left wrist problem after the All-Star break and a strained right quad that plagued him for the final six weeks.
It's hard to combat the freakish nature of injuries, such as the fracture taking place on a checked swing in Washington. But Beckham has done all he could to enhance the health aspect going into the '14 campaign.
"There are things I have done this offseason to kind of prevent some lingering stuff that I was dealing with last year," Beckham said. "But the hand feels good, everything feels a lot better and there is definitely more of an idea of how my body is working and making sure I have that ready to go for the start of the season."
Entering his sixth big league season, Beckham not only stands as one of the club's grizzled veterans but also understands more about how Spring Training works and what he needs to succeed -- especially offensively.
"Last year, I felt good about what I was doing and I think it was showing on the field," Beckham said. "I feel like I dealt with a lot and I felt like I had a pretty good year last year considering how healthy I was.
"To fight through that actually gives me more confidence for this year. I think I'm in a good spot and everything feels good. I just have stay healthy. If I can stay healthy, I can do what I am capable of."

subset: commoncrawl


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In my last post I mentioned a paper by Deeley and Goffeng whose aim is to construct a geometric counterpart of the Higson-Roe analytic surgery sequence. This week, there appeared on the arXiv a new paper by Piazza and Schick which gives a new construction of the natural transformation from the original DIFF surgery exact sequence of Browder-Novikov-Sullivan-Wall to our analytic surgery sequence. This is a counterpart to a slightly earlier paper by the same authors in which they carry out the same project for the Stolz exact sequence for positive scalar curvature metrics.
In our original papers, Nigel and I made extensive use of Poincaré spaces – the key facts being that the "higher signatures" can be defined for such spaces, and that the mapping cylinder of a homotopy equivalence between manifolds is an example of a Poincaré space (with boundary). In fact, these observations can be used to prove the homotopy invariance of the higher signatures – this argument is the one that appears in the 1970s papers of Kasparov and Mischenko, essentially – and the natural transformation from geometric to analytic surgery should be thought of as a "quantification" of this homotopy invariance argument.
Now there is a different argument for homotopy invariance, due to Hilsum and Skandalis, that has a more analytical feel. The point of the new Piazza-Schick paper is to "quantify" this argument in the same way that we did the Poincaré complex argument. This should lead to the same maps (or at least, to maps having the same properties – then one is faced with a secondary version of the "comparing assembly maps" question) in perhaps a more direct way.
Hilsum, Michel, and Georges Skandalis. "Invariance Par Homotopie de La Signature à Coefficients Dans Un Fibré Presque Plat." Journal Fur Die Reine Und Angewandte Mathematik 423 (1992): 73–99. doi:10.1515/crll.1992.423.73.
Kasparov, G.G. "K-theory, Group C*-algebras, and Higher Signatures (Conspectus)." In Proceedings of the 1993 Oberwolfach Conference on the Novikov Conjecture, edited by S. Ferry, A. Ranicki, and J. Rosenberg, 226:101–146. LMS Lecture Notes. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1995.
Mischenko, A.S. "Infinite Dimensional Representations of Discrete Groups and Higher Signatures." Mathematics of the USSR — Izvestija 8 (1974): 85–111.
Piazza, Paolo, and Thomas Schick. "Rho-classes, Index Theory and Stolz' Positive Scalar Curvature Sequence." arXiv:1210.6892 (October 25, 2012). http://arxiv.org/abs/1210.6892
———. The Surgery Exact Sequence, K-theory and the Signature Operator. ArXiv e-print, September 17, 2013. http://arxiv.org/abs/1309.4370


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|The authors own nothing. Joss, UPN, WB, etc. own Buffy, the show, the characters, the places, and the backstory. The authors own any original plots.


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"I believe that as we gather as an expansive and diverse sisterhood, God will water what is within this collective force of "friendship and cause". I believe vision and destiny will heighten in clarity, with the effect being felt in communities all across the world. I believe that ceilings of containment will lift again on a movement that is now several generations deep and that God will surprise us with the "exceeding, abundant and above" that He is famous for (Ephesians 3:20). I also believe that as we explore what it means to be a woman found in the various fields (or spheres) of life, and as we continue to keep our eyes upon the harvest field of a world in need, that something profound and lasting will happen.
As always, fantastic guest speakers and our own amazing global Hillsong team graced the various platforms to bring a little slice of heaven. We trust these messages and Colour sessions will bless you personally and inspire you to always believe that together we can influence the world for good."
Bobbie Houston
Co-Senior Pastor, Hillsong Church
Audio & Video of The Bride In Love by Lisa Harper on the 21. March 10am at the 2nd Colour Conference 2017 in Sydney


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So say critics of Marysville's schools. A law to make kids behave. A law requiring kids to do their homework. A law prohibiting gang activity. A law against graffiti. A law that orders teachers to make kids behave. Laws to penalize whoever doesn't obey all the laws.
We have laws. Much of what can be done for or to a student is dictated by the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) which is the collection of all state laws now in force. It can be found in Marysville's Public Library or on the web http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/ where searching is easier.
There is always the hope that sweet reason will solve school issues. But when blendings of teachers' evaluations, parental input and rule-enforcement don't work, it may become necessary to haul out the legal gobbledee-gook and go to court. Here is the core of the RCWs that bear on student behavior:
28A.600.015 Due process.
"Requires due process regarding suspension or expulsion … When a student suspension or expulsion is appealed, the rules shall authorize the school district to impose the suspension or expulsion temporarily after an initial hearing …"
So after each suspension a school's principal is left to wonder, what are the odds a parent will demand a hearing? A hearing means a half-day shot plus the cost of a school district lawyer. Nevertheless, parents claim the right to commandeer a principal's time and energy. Note that the provision says, "initial hearing." There may be more, in spite of how guilty the child might be.
28A.600.015 Learning atmosphere
"(1) … to ensure that the optimum learning atmosphere of the classroom is maintained …
(2) Any student who creates a disruption of the educational standards … may be excluded."
This provision requires that teachers attempt to resolve issues first. Certainly, teachers try all alternatives first. Passing a child up the line for "due process" is the last resort.
28A.600.410 Alternatives to suspension.
"School districts are encouraged to find alternatives to suspension including reducing length. School districts are encouraged to substitute community service for suspension."
The community-service option might work a few times, but the community soon learns that supervising kids with behavior issues can burn a lot of on-the-job time and patience.
28A.600.460 Classroom discipline
"Allow each teacher to take disciplinary action to correct a student who disrupts normal classroom activities, abuses or insults a teacher, disobeys a teacher, uses abusive or foul language … or who interferes with an … educational process.
(1) This provision allows for removal of a student from a classroom for the remainder of his or her attendance at that school."
This pretty well spells out what children supposedly cannot do. Invoking the second provision removes a child from a classroom — but where is he or she sent? Turn them loose on the streets?
28A.635.10 Abusing or insulting teachers
"Any person who shall insult or abuse a teacher anywhere on the school premises while such teacher is carrying out his or her official duties shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, the penalty for which shall be a fine of not less than $10 and not more than $100."
Fining a kid $100 for abusing a teacher may bring parents who taught him that behavior onto the scene, a prescription for violence. No one I have talked with has heard of fines being levied for student misbehavior.
28A.635.030 Disturbing school activities
"Willfully creating a disturbance during school hours or school activities is subject to a fine of no more than $50."
See above.
28A150.220 Alternative education
Since the Basic Education Act (28A.150.220) ensures every child's access to K-12 education, the provision requires schools to provide alternative education for students likely to be expelled.
Marysville does offer special programs for "at-risk" students which is a blessing for underachievers so long as children with behavioral issues don't mess it up. Counselors are faced with having to place behavior problems somewhere. Where should that be?
The pupil-teacher ratio for at-risk students is weighted in favor of fewer kids per teacher. With Washington state posting the 47th highest class loads in the nation, every highly-staffed special-needs classroom means more kids in regular classrooms. If the school system completely met the needs of all of Marysville's special-needs kids, traditional class sizes might swell to 40 children.
28A155.140 How to manage children with handicapping conditions.
Ensures curriculum-based assessment for children with handicapping conditions and calls for a special learning-disabilities program.
Classroom discipline issues arise largely from BD (behavior disordered) or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disordered) students. Once tagged with either of these labels, they are answerable not to regular rules but to a code of discipline that recognizes their "disability," though they commonly remain in traditional classrooms.
28A.165.025 Learning assistance program
Provides special programs in basic skills areas (reading, writing, math) for underachievers.
If BD or ADHD students are reassigned to a program that offers mainly reading, writing and math, parents may invoke The Basic Education Act which guarantees access to a full-curriculum program of education for all — not just reading, writing and math. What to do then?
An old adage says, Laws exist where society fails. So it is with school law. However, it pays to bear in mind that most laws are made to deal with problems, which isn't the same as solving them.
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ChemEd X contributors offer their ideas and opinions on a broad spectrum of topics pertaining to chemical education.
Blogs at ChemEd X reflect the opinions of the contributors and are open to comments. Only selected contributors blog at ChemEd X. If you would like to blog regularly at ChemEd X, please use our Contribution form to request an invitation to do so from one of our editors.
Watch this video and see if you can figure out how red, white, and blue colors can all be made from the same chemical solution!
Welcome and introduction from Francisco Villa, two-year college lead contributor
The solution to Chemical Mystery #15: The Leaky Cup is shown here.
This lab is one of my favorite activities to do in my classes and I look forward to it every year. The lab is simple, requires limited supplies, students love it (i.e. high engagement level), and I have found it to really set students up for stoichiometry.
Time for a new chemical mystery! Watch the video below and see if you can use your chemical knowledge to figure out how this experiment is done.
"What are we doing to help kids achieve?"
Whiteboards are great learning tools in a science classroom. With these instructions, you can make eight 24-in x 24-in whiteboards for less than $2.00 each! Instructions for simple whiteboard stands are included.
I was excited for the opportunity but I never thought my science coach would be interested in developing and executing lessons with me. Luckily for me, my experience ended up being nothing like what I expected. You can apply for this experience too. The deadline to apply for Science Coaches for the 2019–2020 school year is September 1, 2019.
This is Part 2 of a 5-part series on National Board Certification in Chemistry. This post will focus on Component 1 - The Test.
Chemistry is difficult to learn. Walk into any chemistry classroom, and you'll be soon confronted with many abstract concepts. Abstract ideas have no physical form, and as a result, they are difficult to understand.


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Make-A-Wish® is the legacy of Chris Greicius, a 7-year-old boy from Phoenix. Find out how his wish to be a police officer set in motion a phenomenon that would create an unprecedented kind of charity.
Chris, 7, was diagnosed with leukemia. More than anything else, he wished to be a police officer. Caring people in his community granted his wish ... and set in motion a phenomenon that would create an unprecedented kind of charity.
Make-A-Wish serves a unique, and vital, role in helping strengthen and empower children battling critical illnesses.
There are four steps to granting a wish. Each step builds on the next and creates amazing experiences that delight wish kids and their families.
Make-A-Wish® is one united family, but also a collection of independently chartered nonprofits committed to a shared vision and mission.
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Just keep speaking as God directs. You have something to say. But wait, it's as He directs, not in our timing.
In the speaking, light flows with sound, releasing creativity into the spiritual atmosphere – all through our words. There is a timing for every word released.
Words are important to God for they create, tear down, lift up………
Wait, release. Wait, release. That keeps us in step with Holy Spirit.
It's time to get in step with Holy Spirit as the heart of the Father and the glorious beauty of the Son is revealed to us, in us and through us. Let's not run with every word that comes to mind, every opinion, every thought. Let's wait, meditate and then release. God longs for the word that we carry inside to impart life within us first before we speak it out. We become the message and the messenger.
Don't run with everything you heart. Sometimes it's just for you. No one else. Can you carry it until God says to release it? Can you? There are so many words floating around. Do you want to be known as a voice or an echo? Be patient.
When we run with an idea or thought or word that is not fully formed in Christ, it carries no weight in the Spirit. It floats around with nowhere to land.
To speak in the power of His anointing? That's a different story. Words form within us. God directs their release and there they go, carrying the weight of eternity within them. They carry the sound of heaven. God says, "Let their BE!" And there was…..all because we wait on God.
So be patient. When life is forming within us, we don't have to know every detail of what we carry. We don't have to know all the answers or even to explain what we are carrying deep inside.
Misunderstood? That comes with the territory. So many want something definitive, something they can understand and hold tight. But life is not always like that, is it? Are you carrying your dream? Then wait for the right timing to speak it out. When that time comes, we will be able to verbally speak what is inside, deep inside.
Holy Spirit whispers to many – "Follow. Me! We are going somewhere." One step at a time.
In Christ,
P.S. I am in the process of developing a new web site with a new focus. It is in process. In the meantime, I will continue to post on this site until further notice. In the future there will be a self-hosted site, separate from this with a great clarity and creativity of what we are carrying in these times to impart into people's lives.
What will I do with this site? Perhaps I will keep it going to just flow in random creative thoughts. Still thinking through that now. Thanks for being patient with me.


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WEDNESDAY, Feb. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who have had bowel surgery should be made aware that there are 12 important post-surgery signs of complications, a new study suggests.
Researchers asked a panel of experts to develop a list of warning signs that colon or rectal surgery patients should watch for after they leave the hospital and what they should do if these problems occur.
The panel advised that patients who have had bowel surgery to treat tumors, cancer or bowel obstruction, including those who have had an "ostomy" of any type -- a surgically created opening in the body for the discharge of body waste -- to watch for these 10 symptoms and contact their surgeons if these occur:
The experts also said there were two other symptoms -- chest pain and shortness of breath -- that require a trip to the nearest emergency department, according to the study in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
The study is the first step toward incorporating these warning signs into already established discharge instructions for bowel surgery patients, said study author Dr. Linda Li, of the Michael DeBakey Veterans Administration Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Each year, more than 600,000 people in the United States have surgery for colon and bowel disorders, according to the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.
Research has shown that more than 11 percent of all such surgery patients are back in the hospital 30 days later. These stays last about eight days on average and cost the health care system a total of $300 million each year, according to a study cited in an American College of Surgeons news release.
More information
The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality outlines what patients need to know before having surgery.
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The Global Energy Prize annually honors outstanding achievements in energy research and technology from around the world that are helping address the world's various and pressing energy challenges. The Global Energy Prize, founded in 2002, is awarded to the most accomplished minds in the research world. The honorees are awarded the Global Energy Prize along with a prize of RUB 39 million.
Meet the winners of 2020, Carlo Rubbia, Peidong Yang and Nikolaos Hatziargyriou
The Global Energy Prize Ceremony 2019:. "I wish to congratulate Frede Blaabjerg on winning this year's Global Energy Prize. Outstanding researchers like professor Blaabjerg are crucial to furthering the transition to a low carbon economy, and the award acknowledges that Danish research in this field resonates internationally. I hope professor Blaabjerg's achievements inspire our many talented researchers to continue their important work and innovation within renewable energy in the future".
The Global Energy Prize Ceremony 2018: "The award of such significant prize as the Global Energy Prize is a timely and well-earned recognition of the powerful contributions made by individuals like Professor Green, who have advanced scientific understanding, fostered international collaboration and reduced the cost of energy generation for the benefit of people all over the globe".
The Global Energy Prize Ceremony 2017: "Outstanding researchers like Michael Graetzel is truly priceless, so the fact that it draw further encouragement from organisations that recognise and honour their valuable contributions to society is of great importance. I would therefore like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Russian host and the Global Energy Association for their dedication to science and their recognition of Professor Graetzel's work through this prestigious award".
The Global Energy Prize Ceremony 2013: "I appreciate this award, which recognises scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of energy. I hope that this award will further encourage researchers to search for new solutions in the field of global energy".
The Global Energy Prize Ceremony 2007: "I am delighted that one of the recipients of the 2007 Global Energy International Prize is a British scientist, Professor Geoff Hewitt. Research and innovation in energy have a vital role to play in helping the world meet the twin challenges of energy and climate security. Stabilization of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will require the deployment of low carbon and high-efficiency technologies on a vast scale".
The Global Energy Prize Ceremony 2009: "Work on improved energy efficiency is vital to the sustainable recovery of the global economy and to our future. I look forward to continued co-operation between the UK and Russian governments on this agenda".
The Global Energy Prize Ceremony 2003: "Global Energy Prize Laureates are on the leading edge of the international research, and I am pleased that a Russian American scientific team is among this year's winners. This collaboration continues the strong tradition of scientific cooperation between our two nations and symbolizes our growing and vibrant energy partnership".
The Global Energy Prize Ceremony 2012: "Work on improved energy efficiency is vital to the sustainability of the global economy and to our future and I look forward to continued co-operation between the UK and Russia on global issues such as energy and climate security".
The Global Energy Prize Ceremony 2007: "It is a great honour for Iceland that Russia has decided to present the Global Energy International Award to Professor Thorsteinn Sigfusson. In this way, Russia is sending a clear signal to the international community and providing an important vision of the future. Together, our two countries, Iceland and Russia, can achieve important results in the global evolution of a new and responsible energy economy".
The Global Energy Prize Ceremony 2008: "I am delighted, on behalf of Canadians, to offer Clement Bowman my warmest congratulations on [his] selection as recipient of the International Global Energy Prize 2008 for [his] efforts in the development of highly efficient energy technologies … thus contributing to the energy saving problem of humanity".
The Global Energy Prize Ceremony 2006: "I highly appreciate the Global Energy Prize which recognizes those scientists who made significant contributions in the area of energy. I hope that this award will continue to encourage researchers to give more of their efforts to bring solutions to the global energy challenges".
The Global Energy Prize Ceremony 2011: "A yearly summary is, of course, an opportunity to learn about achievements in the field of energy and draw attention to the global energy security problems, which is especially relevant today. Russia's input into ensuring this security is certainly not measured merely in cubic metres of gas and barrels of oil. Today, we are truly trying to actively stimulate corresponding domains of knowledge and technologies, and promote fundamentally new products".
The Global Energy Prize Summit 2013: "It was exactly in Brussels, at the summit "Russia - EU", 12 years ago that our country took the initiative to create the "Global Energy Prize". Since that time, this prestigious award has reached a high level of international recognition. The outstanding scientists from numerous countries, those talented, dedicated, committed people, became laureates of this award".
The Global Energy Prize Ceremony 2013: "Since its inception, the Global Energy Prize has been one of the most prestigious international awards, rallying around shared goals the creative community of talented scientists, researchers and experts in the field of energy from Russia and many other countries. Each year the award's credibility grows, and the presentation ceremony is famous for its unique atmosphere of creativity, openness and scientific solidarity".
The Global Energy Prize Ceremony 2006: "The development of a long-term eco-friendly source of energy is extremely important for our planet. This is the reason why France in 2003 offered the members of the European community and 7 international partners within ITER project to allocate on its territory an installation being a part of this nuclear scientific program".
23rd October 2020
Turkish gas of the Black Sea
23rd October 2020
Oil production in Russia will decrease by 10% in 2020
9th October 2020
World Energy Week Live. Global plenary: Road to Congress 2022
23rd September 2020
TNF 2020. Plenary meeting. "Future is Now: New Opportunities for the Industry"


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Almost six months after Israel's Operation Protective Edge ended, living conditions for the vast majority of the approximately 108,000 Palestinians left homeless are still appalling.
In its monthly report published on 24 December 2014 about the humanitarian situation throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) detailed the extent to which people had been resettled in the Gaza Strip since hostilities ended. The report estimated that there were still around 118,000 people (19,600 families) internally displaced.
Roughly 20,000 of these Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are staying In UNRWA collective centres. The rest are staying with friends and family wherever feasible, or else sleeping in makeshift tents and shelters, often among the ruins of their former homes. Due to the continued Israeli embargo of most construction materials and the closure of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, reconstruction in Gaza on any significant scale has yet to begin. Indeed, UNRWA announced last Wednesday January 28 that reconstruction in Gaza was halting due to a lack of finances.
In the meantime, the construction of transitional shelters as a temporary solution has also been moving at a snail's pace. At the end of December, 75 families had been housed in a camp in Khuza'a in the Southern Gaza Strip, and another 100 families had been similarly provided for in Beit Hanoun in the North. Further blocks of these prefabricated units are planned for Beit Lahiya, Shuja'iyeh and Khan Younis, these neighborhoods being among those most devastated in the recent war.
International donors have already pledged some $49 million to erect another 7,000 of these units as a stopgap before more permanent reconstruction can be carried out. However, OCHA has called the wisdom of this initiative into question, arguing that the money would be better spent on permanent reconstruction of some of the homes destroyed. The shelters are inadequate in most cases due to logistical concerns with the lack of space available and the need to clear rubble.
Crucially, such temporary units are also wholly unsuitable in times of severe weather conditions. Heavy rains from the 24th to the 27th of November saw flooding and leaks in the Khuza'a IDP camp. The bitter cold of storm Huda in early January also saw those living in temporary accommodation experience severe hardship. OCHA's report details that despite the best efforts of Gaza's civil defence teams to prepare for the winter, a lack of pumps and other crucial infrastructure means that Gaza is still ill-prepared for challenging weather conditions.
The lack of progress on the issues of homelessness and internal displacement is quickly making the situation on the ground in Gaza untenable, with public anger boiling over. Following the UNRWA announcement on Wednesday on the halting of reconstruction, protestors attacked the UN headquarters in Gaza City, burning tyres on the street outside and throwing rocks at the gates and buildings, Al Jazeera reported.
This follows the attempt of a 50-year-old man, internally displaced in an UNRWA collective centrer in Khan Younis, to set himself on fire on Sunday January 25. The attempted self-immolation was in protest at the poor living conditions and his inability to begin reconstruction, the OCHA detailed in its latest report on the protection of civilians in the OPT.
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FACETIME- Vintage film: Reifenberger makes movies like wine
Sometimes, you just don't want to drive the big production van in DC traffic anymore. For Bill Reifenberger, that was a defining moment, when he went from trying to find legal parking spaces while working for a Washington film production company to creating projects all his own.
It was history and politics that steered Reifenberger into the documentary-making biz. He came in as a researcher for a project on Senator William Fulbright and the Vietnam War. After a master's degree in documentary filmmaking from Stanford (where his Silverthorn Films associate Lori Shinseki also studied), he returned to Washington to make documentaries for the Discovery and History Channels.
Like so many others, Reifenberger and his wife, a UVA grad, had their eyes on Charlottesville.
"I had an offer from the Discovery Channel to work remote," he says. After doing that for a year here and starting his Silverthorn Films production company in 2000, there was no going back.
Reifenberger, 41, started teaching at UVA in 2003, the same year his Tuskegee Airmen documentary came out. He agreed to direct Garden Story, the 10-part PBS series with local landscape architects, which demanded a lot of travel time.
"After Garden Story, we stopped and said, there's got to be something here in Virginia," recalls Reifenberger.
Silverthorn, now located downtown in the Glass Building, has an impressive array of offerings in this year's Virginia Film Festival, including World Peace and Other 4th Grade Achievements, and The Murals of Lincoln Perry, and Reifenberger's newest, homegrown film, Vintage: The Winemaker's Year.
"We followed the '08 vintage from January to mid '09," says Reifenberger of the spec project that covered 14 area wineries, and focused on the agricultural end of the process, rather than beautiful people clinking glasses at beautiful estates. And he sees a lot of similarities between winemaking and filmmaking.
"In the life of wine, most of it happens in the field," he observes. "Like with us, the premiere is just a small part of the process. In the end, everyone loves to drink the wine, to go to the film, but there's a lot more to it."
"Bill's a big-picture person–- less so on the nuts and bolts," says fellow filmmaker Ben Clore. "What Bill is really good at is finding a story and putting it on the screen."
That interest in real people and how they live their lives makes Reifenberger well suited to make documentaries. "I don't have the patience for feature filmmaking," he says.
But even a public television documentarian has his guilty TV pleasures, like Dexter or The Wire. "I like television," he confesses. "There's more creative energy in that since The Sopranos."
After a couple of years spent making Vintage, the wine and film metaphors continue to flow: "Anyone," he says, "can grow grapes; but not everyone can make good wine."
Vintage: The Winemaker's Year screens at 6pm Saturday, November 6, at the Paramount, and is preceded by a wine reception at 5pm. The Murals of Lincoln Perry will be shown for free at 11:30am Saturday, November 6, in Old Cabell Hall (a free event) and World Peace and Other 4th Grade Achievements, co-produced with director Chris Farina/Rosalia Films, can be seen at 3:15pm Sunday, November 7, at the Paramount Theater.


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When io9 reader Chris Carey's grandfather, a WWII veteran, passed away, he took it upon himself to assemble a slideshow for the funeral. While searching through a dusty photo album that he'd found in the attic, Carey made an incredible find: numerous photographs of the atomic bomb testing conducted at Bikini Atoll.
Carey recounted his discovery in an email to io9:
My grandfather passed away last month (at 93 years!). I always knew that he had served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and had been a part of the atomic bomb testing at Bikini Atoll, but it wasn't until I went through his old photo albums... that I found actual pictures of the testing.
The images are awe-inspiring. He always told me it was the most terrible thing he'd ever seen. You'll notice in some of the pictures that there are a bunch of ships that are REALLY close to the explosion. These are old ships, and the Navy wanted to test the effect of the bomb on these ships. My grandfather remember some of them actually disintegrating before his eyes.
I hope this is something that can be passed along to io9 readers. I know my granddad would have loved to share these pictures with others if he could have.
We found the pictures to be breathtaking, and we think you will, too. A big thanks to Chris for sharing his awesome find!


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Friend describes deadly cosmetic surgery at hotel
A Philadelphia woman will stand trial on murder charges for allegedly performing a fatal cosmetic procedure on a London dancer at an airport hotel.
A judge has upheld third-degree murder charges against Padge Gordon, who is also known as Padge Windslowe.
The ruling comes after a friend of the dancer testified Wednesday that she and 20-year-old Claudia Aderotimi came to Philadelphia last year and had their buttocks enlarged.
Theresa Gyamfi said Gordon gave them silicone injections in their hotel room - and left when Aderotimi went into respiratory distress.
A doctor testified that the industrial-grade silicone went to her blood, liver, lungs and brain. He said Aderotimi died of a pulmonary embolism.
But defense lawyer Christopher Mannix said he will challenge those medical conclusions at trial, along with allegations his client performed the injections.


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Planet Gear is an irregular feature in which we ask musicians to get a bit geeky and talk us through the equipment that makes the 'magic' happen... Ahead of their live shows with a string ensemble this November and December, Dutch Uncles talk is through the gear that makes their live shows so special, their studio in Salford, and Sped's guitar pedal set-up...
Alternatemode Malletkat Pro
This rather extravagant MIDI controller has become the centrepiece of our live show. When considering how to convert the record in a live show, we decided folk might consider themselves shortchanged if there was no physical mallet action occurring. We can also now confidently encourage air marimba.
It had a rocky start to live with DU, we did a tiny show in London in January and the equipment storage room was so cold which when met with the sweatbox of a venue resulted in moisture; the Malletkat's worst enemy! Naturally songs were pulled/restarted/struggled through, it was an experience and a lesson in the total reliance on technology. When we consulted the user guide it advised that anything goes, hit it with planks of wood with rusty nails in, but at no point should it come into contact with a drop of water.
Thankfully, this was the Malletkat's only big wobble and has proved a trusty servant. During the show it triggers an MPC1000 which contains mallet and other samples from the record with other little bits of extra percussion. It is aesthetically our most pleasing showpiece and there's even a mallet dual in 'Threads' involving Duncan playing marimba upside down.
It's one of them, "How did we ever survive without a virtual MIDI mallet controller" things.
Universal Audio Apollo
With our final tour on the horizon for this album, our mind is fully focused on the next. We've recently built our own wee studio above a pub in Salford whom we share with our producer Brendan Wiliams. We wanted a high quality AD/DA to go behind our (his) lovely Classic API pre-amps. The idea is so that if anything from the demos makes the final cut it's at a standard that wouldn't sound out of place from when we eventually go into a decent studio.
As well as top AD/DA, the UAD Apollo comes with a selection of UAD's wonderful outboard emulation plug-ins and they really are great. I've been raving about their Teletronix LA-2A and have used it on Duncan's vocals a lot recently. As well as software inserts in Pro Tools, you can use the plug-ins on the input signal, which is ideal for compressing vocals on the way in with spot on analog emulation. These plug-ins run from the Apollo's on board DSP processing chips so us lot with rubbish computers can save host CPU power.
Sped's Guitar Pedal Set-up
Sped takes his guitar set-up pretty seriously, over the years he's amassed and refined the pedals he uses from some off the shelf faves to custom made effects… including his Pretty, Pretty Good Larry David, Custom Crunch box made by our friend Pit at Gigahearts.
"In terms of board content… I basically took all the pedals I had (plus a few on the spot purchases) into a Guitar Centre called Tone World in Manchester, where my friend Rick Lowe works. I said "How can we make this work?" I'd had previous issues with noise and hum from cheap power supplies. This was when I first got it back…
"So, mounted underneath we have the Voodoo Labs 4x4. It does 9&12v out which is important for pedals that draw a higher current. All the cable work is Evidence SIS/Mono Rail and has been completely cut to length. No more dodgy patch leads or 5 meter cables between two Pedals an inch apart.
"Drilled out are two holes, one on each side of the board and fitted an In & Out for my cables, which makes life a lot easier. Because I am going into a One Control Iguana Tail Loop, the In/Out is hard to reach with regular cables. As you can see, each Pedal is individually isolated now, so if anything goes wrong, it's not going to break the circuit and kill your signal. There are 9 things that need to be powered on my board, however, the OC-ITL also does 5 9v's out once it's powered itself, like an internal daisy chain - very useful!
"Visual Sound offered us a deal earlier this year. Their new range of pedals are awesome. I fell in love with the Liquid Chorus when I heard Jon Howard (Paramore) use it live. I literally inquired when I got home and they were great. I've since made changes to the above layout and swapped around a few pedals. I got the Double Trouble to replace the Jekyll & Hyde, basically because I've always wanted two Tube Screamers. You can have one set at a high gain, and one at a low, bass boost on or off, or even stack them. I've put the Son of Hyde at the back in place of the TS9, just incase we ever do some Van Halen covers.
"I am starting to use the Wah in some new material, only subtly. It was bought literally for experimentation so I just went for the basic Cry Baby. For places with doubled guitar lines in the album, either Octave up or down, the POG is brilliant.
I originally had the TC Flashback x 4, which didn't last long with me, I was having some latency issues with the tap tempo, really not what you want in a delay. The Nova Delay is much more accurate and really easy to use, it has 9 presets for the different delays I have live.
"This is my touring board now…
Out Of Touch In The Wild is out now.
Dutch Uncles play the following dates with their expanded live show with string ensemble (with support from Outfit):
30 Nov - Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds
02 Dec - Komedia, Brighton
03 Dec - O2 Academy 2, Leicester
05 Dec - Islington Assembly Hall, London
06 Dec - Academy 2, Manchester


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Before the birth in the late 12th century of Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone—the man whom we know today as St. Francis—religious life was private, contemplative and monastic. Francis envisioned a different type of religious life, and he led a revolution. He chose as his symbol the Greek letter Tau, because he saw in its shape the open arms of a friar's robe. Before Francis, those arms would not have been outstretched; they would probably have been clasped in front of the friar's body in silent prayer. After Francis, those arms were extended widely to embrace a life of caring for the poor, sick and injured.
Today, more than 800 years later, those arms remain open and outstretched. In 14 communities across Illinois and Wisconsin, the Hospital Sisters Health System stands steadfast and strong in its commitment to bring life-giving and life-saving health care to people in need.
The continued success of this mission relies upon philanthropy. At its roots, "philanthropy" means "love of mankind." In that regard, despite his material poverty, St. Francis was a true philanthropist. Just as he used his spiritual gifts to heal the sick, the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis Foundation is a faithful steward of the gifts we receive on behalf of our hospitals.
At each of our hospitals, the Foundation development programs seek charitable contributions from their local communities to renovate and refurbish facilities, purchase new state-of-the-art medical technologies, and provide patient care and family support programs. Since 2011, the Foundation has disbursed more than $50 million to our hospitals, funds which have been used to continue the vital work that St. Francis began eight centuries ago.
Dynamic changes in health care—and the growing needs of the people we serve—will require ever-increasing investments in our facilities, equipment, programs, and colleagues. We stand ready, willing and able to meet these challenges through philanthropy. We invite you to join the many friends and donors who demonstrate their own love of mankind through their generous gifts.
For more information about how you can contribute to the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis Foundation or to one of its local Foundation divisions, please contact me.


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Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill) was kicked off the House floor today for wearing a hoodie in honor of Trayvon Martin. During Rush's speech he said, "racial profiling has to stop."
As Rush began his speech, he was in his regular glasses and suit. But as he continued, he exchanged his regular glasses for sunglasses and took off his jacket to reveal a gray hoodie.
Rep. Greg Harper (R-Miss), who was presiding over the House floor, repeatedly hit his gavel down saying Rep. Rush was out of order. Rep. Harper repeatedly said, "The member will suspend." Rep. Rush continued his speech.
After Rush was taken off the floor, Harper said he was in violation of a rule that bans the wearing of hats while the House is in session.
"I don't mind being out of order if it means standing up for freedom and justice and human dignity. This is just another part of the struggle," Rush said.
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PBS The Rundown: Rep. Rush Kicked Off Floor for Wearing Hoodie in Support of Trayvon Martin
National protests over the shooting and killing of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin in central Florida last month have swept the nation, and Wednesday, they landed on the House floor.
Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., didn't appear out of the ordinary as he began to read from prepared remarks for the sparsely attended session known as morning hour.
Rush called Martin's death an "American tragedy that too often is repeated in the streets of our nation," and then derided "the real hoodlums in this nation who wear quasi-official clothes." Rush then took off his suit jacket, exposing a hooded sweatshirt. He pulled the hood over his head and put on large black sunglasses, a symbol that has been frequently seen on college campuses as the country discusses what happened to Martin.
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ROME - Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi has revealed he is engaged to a woman almost 50 years his junior, and says that "finally I feel less alone."
The 76-year-old media baron said Sunday his engagement to 28-year-old Francesca Pascale — part of a support group called "Silvio, we miss you" — is "official".
Berlusconi's second wife left him in 2008, citing alleged dalliances with young women. He is now on trial on charges of having sex with an underage woman and using his office to cover it up.
Newspapers described Berlusconi's appearance on Canale 5 — one of his television networks — as attempt to boost falling approval rates ahead of an election early next year.


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Next Saturday Nick Diaz challenges for the UFC's welterweight title. But in the future, he wouldn't mind moving up to compete at middleweight – or even down a division to challenge for the 155-pound title.
"If I had that option available to me, I would be honored to be in that position, and I would be gratefully accepting of that position or fight, if you will, with the 185-pound champion or the 155-pound champion," Diaz said. "I would take either fight, and I think I could beat either guy to win a title at both weights.
"I'd like to be runner-up in the pound-for-pound rankings. That's the No. 1 goal, aside from the No. 1 ranking in the welterweight division."
While Diaz has often talked about a potential move up to 185 pounds, especially if it involved a potential bout with top pound-for-pound fighter and the long-reigning middleweight champ Anderson Silva. However, today call was the first time he mentioned a possible drop to lightweight to challenge for that title, as well.
The move wouldn't be entirely unprecedented. In the past, Diaz competed for the now-defunct PRIDE and EliteXC organizations. However, those promotions set the lightweight limit at 161 and 160 pounds, respectively. The UFC's lightweight limit is 155 pounds.
Still, Diaz said he's interested in fighting the very best fighters in the world, regardless of weight class.
Of course, he'll have exactly that in front of him at next week's "UFC 158: St-Pierre vs. Diaz" event, where Diaz (26-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC) meets UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre (23-2 MMA, 18-2 UFC), widely considered one of the sport's top three fighters. St-Pierre has held the UFC's welterweight title since 2008, and he currently boasts six straight title defenses, more than any welterweight champion in UFC history.
In short, St-Pierre is not the type of opponent to look past. But Diaz said that's simply the way he approaches his career. Sure, he's focused on the task at hand, but there are other challenges ahead. Such is the way of a top martial artist.
"Me and Georges St-Pierre, we're a lot different," Diaz said. "For me, I look past every opponent because I'm not looking at just one obstacle. I think for me, it's easier to deal with when I accept the fact that I'm never going to get out of this. It's not just a fight, it's fighters.
"I look past every opponent to get to the No. 1 spot of the welterweight division, and I look further beyond that. If it were up to me, I would take that fight with Anderson Silva. I would say, 'Yeah, of course.' I'm looking for the next best thing, and the next best thing is always the closer fight to the No. 1 fight, and that's what I've been working toward this whole time."
"UFC 158: St-Pierre vs. Diaz" takes place March 18 at Montreal's Bell Centre. The evening's main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.
For more on UFC 158, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
(Pictured: Nick Diaz)


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International Office
411 Longbeach Parkway
Bay Village, Ohio 44140 USA
The Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome Foundation's Most Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can TTTS happen in fraternal twins?
The answer is no. TTTS occurs in twins that share a single placenta (monochorionic), which means they must be identical and monozygotic (single egg). Identical twins can have separate placentas (dichorionic), which on occasion implant very close to each other in the uterus and seem to fuse. TTTS cannot happen with fraternal twins that each have their own placenta or identical twin placentas that fuse together. Chorionicity (how many placentas) can and should be determined by ultrasound as early as possible in multiple pregnancy.
2. What are Acute and Chronic TTTS?
Acute TTTS
is a transfusion that happens quickly, typically after 30 weeks of pregnancy without much warning. It can also happen during labor in a vaginal birth, or after the cord of one baby has been clamped.
Chronic TTTS
is the more common type of transfusion that happens over time with signs that clearly show on ultrasound, or with symptoms that the mother can identify herself. Usually these cases are diagnosed at 15-20 weeks. Monochorionic twin pregnancies are always at-risk and never in a safe zone for TTTS. TTTS may occur at any time during pregnancy.
3. Can you prevent TTTS?
The early pregnancy events responsible for TTTS are in place before the mother knows she is pregnant, i.e., there is no primary prevention for TTTS. It is not caused by hereditary, genetics or by anything the parents did or did not do, nor caused by anything the babies are doing because they are innocent bystanders to events in their placenta. Recently, some investigators in Pittsburgh have taken research done by Dr. De Lia (in Milwaukee) on maternal malnutrition and its treatment in TTTS one step further. They started all mothers of monochorionic twins on aggressive nutritional therapy in early pregnancy, and found fewer and less severe cases of TTTS, when compared to a control group.
4. Does a high nuchal translucency score mean my monochorionic twins will go on to have TTTS?
There is not a clear answer here, but just plan for frequent ultrasounds to look for signs of TTTS, because all monochorionic twins are at-risk. Researchers have found that a discordance (difference) in NT of 20% or more is found in about 25% of monochorionic twins. In this group the risk of early fetal death or the development of severe TTTS is more than 30%. Conversely, if the discordance is less than 20%, the risk of complications is less than 10%. Obviously, the majority of these twins still do fine.
5. What is the difference between TTTS and an abnormal placental sharing (discordance) problem?
Placental sharing refers to how much of the single (monochorionic) placenta belongs to each twin, to provide it with the oxygen and nutrients needed to thrive in the womb. It is determined by events early in pregnancy, and will not change throughout the pregnancy. Doctors can only guess what the placental share is for each twin, but unequal sharing will cause size differences (weights) at ultrasound. Finally, examination of the placenta after birth can document placental shares that differ. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) of one identical twin occurs more often because of a small placenta rather than TTTS. Size differences over 20% need to be watched carefully, and some twins will need to be delivered if the twin with the smaller share stops growing, regardless of gestational age.
TTTS refers to all the consequences of a transfusion of blood from the donor twin to the recipient twin, through abnormal blood vessels in the shared (monochorionic) placenta. The ultrasound in TTTS shows excess amniotic fluid in the recipient and less fluid in the donor who may be stuck, possibly some size difference related to the transfusion, and heart and Doppler abnormalities. All monochorionic twins are connected by blood vessels, but the majority have either no or two way flow of blood between them. About 20% of the time, TTTS will occur because there is a one way or imbalanced flow of blood in the shared placenta. Some twins may have both unequal placental shares and TTTS.
6. What is SIUGR?
This stands for selective intrauterine growth restriction of one identical (monochorionic) twin, and is typically caused by unequal placental sharing. On ultrasound scan the IUGR twin is in the 10th percentile or less for weight, and often has absent or reverse end diastolic flow (AREDF) on Doppler studies. When the amniotic fluid levels are normal for the larger baby, there might not be a clear TTTS diagnoses due to this. Again, twins can have placental share problems that might cause SIUGR, as well as TTTS at the same time
7. Is there anything I should do to determine if my twins are at risk for TTTS?
Yes. You need to follow the steps on our homepage and find out if your twins share the same placenta - known as monochorionic. Monochorionic twins are identical twins with a single placenta, which contain blood vessels that connect them. Fifteen to 20% of monochorionic twins develop TTTS. If the doctors are not certain how many placentas there are, you should be followed as if it was monochorionic to be safe. Then, use the ultrasound questions and make sure that you are seen every week from 16 weeks through delivery of your babies even if you are not diagnosed.
8. Why can my donor twin become a recipient and the recipient a donor?
The events in the monochorionic placenta in TTTS dont always make sense, but this can happen and the twins roles reverse. We often hear about this after laser surgery, because the doctor doing the surgery does not obliterate all the connecting blood vessels, which happens to be then actual goal of the laser surgery as developed by Dr. De Lia. Separation of the twins placental circulations is the only way to maximize the chance for their healthy survival in severe TTTS. We hear too many stories, that for whatever reason, this is not the case. In TTTS, classically one baby is larger and dark red while the other is smaller and pale. There are sets of twins born with one dark red and small, and the other larger and pale. This is an example of the reversal of their roles.
9. Is there anything I can do if my twins develop TTTS?
If you have a TTTS diagnosis, start reading the information on horizontal rest and nutrition. Studies show that all mothers with TTTS have metabolic problems, so you can start this right away. These steps will even benefit the babies. Many moms of monochorionic twins start this even when they are not yet diagnosed. Follow the Create a Medical Plan suggestions and make sure that you receive preventative care. We believe that preventative care for TTTS is medically necessary care.
10. Do all TTTS twins need placenta laser surgery?
No. Although placental laser surgery is a remarkable advance in the fight against TTTS, it is best used for moderate to severe (stages III and IV) TTTS, or twin size differences (discordance) of 40% or more, because there are procedure-related risks. Our medical advisors generally prefer comprehensive therapy for TTTS, which may include amnioreductions, horizontal rest, nutritional supplements, a cervical cerclage (stitch), and laser therapy. Many TTTS couples do choose this approach and are amazed with the outcome without laser surgery. If the TTTS is severe or if it appears to worsen over time, the surgery is performed up to 25 weeks. Other couples may want to have the surgery right away. You have to educate yourself on the criteria laser doctors each has for when, why and how they would do the surgery, and make a decision. For example, if the recipient has an 11cm pocket of amniotic fluid, but the donor still has a 3cm pocket, you might not qualify for laser surgery. However, an 11cm pocket is an indication for the amnioreduction in order to make the mother more comfortable and prevent her cervix from shortening. All laser surgeons perform an amnioreduction after the procedure to restore the pocket to normal levels. There is a range to TTTS, and there is value to all the treatments depending on what you and the babies need. Dont rush the decision and use the Foundations 15 Most Important Questions to determine the degree of TTTS affecting your babies.
11. Is the laser surgery experimental?
No, it is not experimental and is almost always covered by insurance. It was introduced 20 years ago (by Dr. Julian E. De Lia) and has been performed thousands of times throughout the world. However, various centers have modified the surgical technique and instruments (which may be considered experimental) in various ways that, more often than not, lowered the overall survival and healthy survival rate of the twins.
12. Will Medicaid pay for out of state placental laser surgery?
Both private insurance and Medicaid will typically pay for the procedure. It is important for the local, referring physician to first get the approval for the surgery.
13. If one of my monochorionic twins is lost inside me, what will happen to the other one?
Frequently doctors say that if you lose one baby, you will lose the other. But this happens only in about one-third of the cases. Most of the babies go on and are just fine, especially if the loss is before 30 weeks. The health of the surviving twin can be assessed inside the uterus by ultrasound and MRI. It is better to continue the pregnancy if you find out you have lost one and avoid prematurity problems in the survivor, unless this twin is in distress.
14. Does TTTS affect identical twins after they are born?
Not usually. TTTS is a disease of the placenta during pregnancy. Once the babies are born, they no longer donors or recipients in a TTTS. There can be health concerns for the babies due to prematurity, or from the effects of TTTS inside the womb, but these are usually verified or detected at birth or soon after by the pediatricians.
15. Should I deliver my monochorionic twins by cesarean section or vaginally?
This is a personal choice between you and your doctor. Many mothers may choose a c-section before labor begins, so their babies are born quickly, with pediatricians present who can handle complications related to prematurity, TTTS or any other problems with the babies. Occasionally an acute TTTS can occur in labor. There may be reasons for an early delivery such as lack of growth in one baby, or one or both twins go into distress for any reason, or the babies lungs are mature and may be safer out then in. The mothers womb might not respond at earlier gestations to induction of labor so a c-section is needed. Mothers wanting vaginal birth should have the babies heart rates monitored closely for signs of acute TTTS, and be prepared for an emergency c-section if needed.
16. If I had a TTTS pregnancy once, am I at increased risk for TTTS in a future pregnancy?
Sometimes families are prone to have twin gestations, but these are typically fraternal or non-identical twins. The chance of having TTTS in a future pregnancy are likely the same as the first (about 1 in 1,000 pregnancies) and do not increase.
17. What if Ive been told that there is no hope for my babies diagnosed with TTTS?
This may have been the case 25 years ago, but there is tremendous hope now for your babies. TTTS has been the focus of a few serious researchers and their work, who had to overcome the prevailing pessimism at the time to create a new reality for your babies. All you have to do is read the Foundations web site, and see what former TTTS couples on our message boards have to say. You will know that your babies can make it, and be healthy. Never give up. We are here to help you.
The TTTS Foundation In The News
> read more...
Raise Donations on Facebook
This is a fantastic and easy way to support the fight against TTTS and bring help and hope to families
> read more...
Learn about TAPS- MUST do MCA dopplers on all pregnancies
A form of TTTS, TAPS can occur after laser surgery or during a monochorionic pregnancy with no signs of TTTS or problems.
> read more...
Updated List of Questions
Questions to Ask at Every Ultrasound. Ultrasounds Must Be Weekly Starting at 16 Weeks.
> read more...
Official TTTS Foundation Events
Copyright © 1997-2020 The Twin To Twin Transfusion Syndrome Foundation. All Rights Reserved
411 Longbeach Parkway, Bay Village, Ohio 44140 USA | 800-815-9211 | www.tttsfoundation.org


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The video earlier today of the busted Subaru being towed out of Miner's Gulch? Here's the moron doing it. Note the friend asking "Is this even meant for cars?" The answer is "no, no it isn't." Someone was kind enough to relieve him of his seats and stereo after he abandoned the car.
(Hat tip to Dwight!)


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Who's your daddy? Advance review on anticipated video game action figure...
NECA's BioShock Big Daddy Bouncer can be pre-ordered through the following fine sponsors: BigBadToyStore.com, Urban-Collector.com, and ToyWiz.com.
Fans can also support collector quality figures at lower prices at their local Toys"R"Us where the Big Daddy is available for pre-order as part of their new figure reserve program. Check your local TRU for details. Be sure to check out NECA's Amazon storefront for all their latest action figures and collectibles.
Combining fantastic steampunk design with claustrophobic underwater intrigue, BioShock quickly became one of my favorite video games. That's not even mentioning its rich story line and engaging game play. Simply put, BioShock hit all the right notes; a captivating title that swept me away for DAYS, cheerfully drowning me in the dystopian realm of Rapture.
Come February 9, 2010, fans, including this eager die-hard, will once again be able to return to the watery depths of 2K Games' masterpiece with the release of BioShock 2. To coincide with the anticipated title, NECA will be unleashing Rapture's many dangerous denizens as 7-inch scale action figures (CLICK HERE for the initial releases). However, one of those figures is a special "Sneak Preview" figure, a collectible to set the tone early and in a grand fashion: the Big Daddy (Bouncer). Scheduled to arrive in stores next month, this behemoth is NECA's "biggest and heaviest figure" ever produced in the 7-inch format. I prefer the term "meaty". Priced at a SRP of $20, it's slightly more than your typical NECA figure release, but then the Big Daddy isn't your typical NECA action figure.
PACKAGING: With all the talk about how heavy this fella was, I was half expecting a window box. Instead the Big Daddy comes packaged in a tremendous clam shell adorned with the BioShock 2 logo and an eye-popping graphic of the Big Daddy's multi-eyed head in the corner. What's cool about the latter is how the image wraps around the side giving the package intensity and depth. A sticker in the upper left hand corner proclaims this as a "Sneak Preview" figure.
The back panel sadly lacks a Big Daddy bio (fascinating stuff, read all about them HERE), but it does provide you with a good look at all the upcoming BioShock figures. The back panel insert also illustrates a windowed corridor of Rapture City, the perfect backdrop for the Big Daddy action figure.
SCULPT/ PAINT: Standing a solid 8-inches tall (and nearly 7-inches wide), the Big Daddy oozes with retro-future originality. Resembling a turn of the century deep sea diving suit on steroids, the Big Daddy hunches over menacingly with a HUGE drill attachment for a right hand. NECA nails the steely drill, brass/copper piping and armor plating with extreme detail, the surfaces realistically portrayed with scuffs, nicks, and pockmarks. It's metal made of plastic, all brought to life by a very convincing paint job.
Equally nice is the textured clothing, the greens and browns playing nicely against the beast's coppery hide. A splash of red on the tank wheel and yellow "neutral" eyes add that final visual punch. This is one of those figures that actually looks better than its video game counterpart. The shadows have been lifted and the monster has been revealed, and boy does it look good.
Construction is also worth noting here. The Big Daddy packs some serious weight, and not from a heavy diet of ADAM mutagen. This is the "meaty" I referred to earlier, an extremely well-built action figure of dense hard plastics. What's extra cool is the care NECA went to creating the more fragile-looking pieces, such as the Big Daddy's face and body cage, as well as the tank valve and wheel. All these are cast of a more pliable plastic; not soft rubber flimsy and not bone brittle stiff. The plastic used provides just the right amount of leeway so that if you dropped this monster there's no real fear of breakage.
ARTICULATION: For such a large figure, you'd think articulation would be kept to a minimal. Wrong. The Big Daddy includes ample amounts articulation to better navigate his way through the corridors of the underwater city Rapture, including:
* Ball Jointed Shoulders
* Ball Jointed Thighs
* Ball Hinged Elbows
* Ball Hinged Wrists
* Swivel Knees
* Ball Hinged Ankles
* Rotating Drill
All the cleverly concealed joints allow for a multitude of poses, from the Big Daddy's charging drill attack to standing idle waiting for his next move. The joints are solid too, each hinged appendage featuring an easy to manipulate "pop-and-lock" joint for dynamic display. And balance? This creature isn't ever capsizing.
VALUE & OVERALL IMPRESSION: The Big Daddy Bouncer, due to his size, weight, and slightly higher retail, is not planned to see release again with the core BioShock figure assortment next year. So if you're a fan of the design, now's the time to act. Compared to so many toys on the market today, $20 for the Big Daddy is a steal.
When BioShock first saw release in the summer of '07, a special bundle was offered that included a limited-edition Big Daddy figurine. At the time I regretted not purchasing that bundle when I had the opportunity, despite the figure's many reported shortcomings. I was late to the "game," so to speak, and my new found love for the game had me itching for an action figure. But $100 on eBay? Forgetaboutit.
That winter, NECA's Head of Product Development, Randy Falk mentioned to me how much he'd love to make a Big Daddy action figure and do it it right. My hope was rekindled. Two years later and here we are, that Big Daddy dream realized by NECA and by fans. And let me tell you, they got it right.
For tons of new images of the Big Daddy (Bouncer) action figure, CLICK HERE!
Review Sample Courtesy of NECA
Review and Photos by Jeff Saylor


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Review and Pictures of Tory Burch 2012 Fall New York Fashion Week Runway Show
2012 Fall New York Fashion Week: Tory Burch
2012 Fall New York Fashion Week: Tory Burch
Tory Burch's A/W collection was inspired by "the idea of a prim girl who's under the spell of the wrong kind of guy." The results? An array of prim and polished looks injected with just the right amount of librarian girl sexiness. Sultry lace dresses showcased embellished collars, peplum tops were adorned with sequins, and pencil skirts were decorated with frilly hemlines. Burch also gave new life to tweed and tartan; a pair of knockout leather tweed-printed pants were the highlight of the show. Meanwhile, a cozy selection of bouclé jackets and angora sweaters provided texture and warmth. For accessories, the designer featured patent spectator shoes and a range of heavily embellished chain bags and floral clutches. More details below.
- Trends: Leather, bouclé, metallics, daytime sequins, botanical prints.
- Colors: Blue, red, forest green, purple, gold, beige.
- Key Piece: We loved the modern take on the tweed-print leather separates.
- Accessories: Spectator shoes, floral earrings, sequin hair pins, tortoise bags, floral-embellished clutches.
- Who Would Wear It: Girls looking for elegant, yet sexy looks like Sarah Jessica Parker and Brooklyn Decker.


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BAUNAT aims for 100% customers satisfaction from the first contact to when you receive your order. Our diamond jewellery is made with the greatest care and attention and personally delivered as soon as possible. On top of impeccable customer service, we offer:
✓ Free shipping, 100% insured
✓ Gift packaging
✓ 30 day return
✓ 20 year product warranty
A diamond ring is a very personal item and should fit perfectly. If you already have a ring that fits perfectly, measure the inner diameter with a precise measuring tool, preferably a caliper. Or discover, more ways to measure your perfect ring size.
If the ring size appears to be too large or too small after your purchase, most ring designs can be adjusted without any problem. The exact amount charged for the size adjustment depends on the ring design, the material, and the number of sizes the ring needs to be adjusted.
Each individual jewel is handmade. We personally ensure only the highest quality materials are used during this process. In addition, you can choose between a wide variety of 100% natural precious stones, in all shapes and sizes. Would you like to find inspiration in our collection? Make an appointment with our experts in of our showrooms. We are happy to offer you discrete and personal advice in your search for the perfect diamond ring.
Choosing platinum equals choosing sturdiness and charisma. Platinum is stronger than gold and therefore an excellent choice for all kinds of jewellery. It withstands corrosion and oxidation, and is hypoallergenic. Its powerful greyish colour distinguishes it from the more classic white gold.


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Posts Tagged 'voter supression'
The 2020 Democrat Primary Iowa Caucus held on February 4, 2020 was a mess, most likely cheating contender Bernie Sanders from a decisive victory. The 2018 national mid-term elections held on November 6, 2018, resulted in Democrats taking over the House of Representatives from the Republicans, the Republicans increasing their lead in the Senate, and Republican governors being elected in Florida and Georgia, among other things…or did it?
Although all ballots are supposed to be counted within a half-hour of polls closing on election day, in the days following the election, boxes of ballots miraculously appeared in cars for Broward County, Florida and votes were still being counted in Arizona, Georgia, and Florida. Was this simply incompetence or was it fraud? Let's look at some recent examples of fraudulent voting:
1) the Pew Center on the States estimates 1.8 million deceased individuals are listed as voters; 2) 24 million voter registrations are no longer valid or are significantly inaccurate (see February 2012 Pew Center Issue Brief); 3) in many U.S. counties there are more registered voters than there are residents (see Judicial Watch's "A Citizen's Guide to Ensuring Free and Fair Elections in 2016 and Beyond"); 4) most Democrat politicians push to eliminate all voter identification to vote…guess why; 5) a California law allows non-citizens to have driver licenses and then the California Motor Voter law automatically registers them to vote when they receive or renew their driver license; 6) voters in Philadelphia were intimidated by New Black Panther party members who were not prosecuted by Obama's U.S. Justice Department (see J. Christian Adams' book, Injustice); 7) the U.S. Presidency was stolen in 1960 by Joseph Kennedy, President Kennedy's father! 8) men and women in the military are routinely sent ballots so late that it's impossible for their votes to be counted in time; 9) absentee voting has become the voter fraud of choice because it doesn't require voter ID; 10) countless other elections at the Federal, State and local levels being stolen; 11) 2.7 million voters fraudulently registered in two states, 68,000 voters fraudulently registered in 3 states; 12) Pennsylvania currently has no requirements for voter identification (see February 2012 Pew Center issue brief; see John Fund's books: Who's Counting?: How Fraudsters and Bureaucrats Put Your Vote at Risk; and Stealing Elections: How Voter Fraud Threatens Our Democracy); 13) Harvard (CCES) study shows 6.4% illegals voted in presidential elections and 2.2% in off-years; 14) following the 2008 U.S. Senatorial election for Minnesota, boxes of ballots miraculously were found in trunks of cars again and again until Al Franken won over his opponent, Norm Coleman, who had won; 15) non-citizen voting becoming a large problem accounting for the "open-borders" movement in the Democrat Party (see the 2018 book, Fraud, by Eric Eggers).
ANALYSIS: Who's responsible for this National disgrace and travesty? The governments at the Federal, State and local levels are the culprits! It's not due completely to incompetence but to dirty/criminal politics and it's long overdue to be corrected before Americans lose all faith in the integrity of their elections.
Even in the Iraqi elections a decade and a half ago, voting was much more honest than in the United States. How can that be? Iraq had a very simple but effective system which was used by the U.S. military: when Iraqis voted they had to dip their index finger into a jar of indelible purple ink…and this was solid evidence that they had voted. In the United States, on the other hand, registration proving that you're eligible to vote is required first. What evidence is required to register to vote? In Colorado, a utility bill with your name on it was sufficient. Of course this is ridiculous because you don't have to be a citizen in order to receive a utility bill…and in addition, if you have more than one home in different counties, you'll have separate utility bills for each home (you get to vote twice if you're dishonest).
Many politicians say that they don't want to place an undue burden on their citizens by actually requiring that they show a photo ID, such as a drivers license (which is even required of people of questionable age to buy a pack of cigarettes). What a crock! Does any adult really believe that lax registration standards have any purpose other than facilitating fraudulent voting? It is important in a democracy for people to have faith in the process by which their leaders are elected, so care must be taken that it's done honestly and that politicians are kept far away from the process. Voter fraud is not new, but dates back to the beginning of our Republic (see Andrew Gumbel's book, Steal This Vote).
In the recent 2018 mid-term election vote discrepancies in Broward County, Florida, it appears that the culprit was a corrupt County election supervisor, Brenda Snipes.
THE SOLUTION: All election officials must follow their State's election laws or be penalized. A photo ID, either in the form of a driver's license or a State-issued photo ID should be mandatory in every state in order to vote. Later, perhaps also a slight revision and an addition could be made to the on-line E-Verify system created by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in concert with the Social Security Administration that is currently used by employers to ascertain whether someone is in the U.S. legally. A "Voter Photo Authentication" may be in order given the amount of massive voter fraud in the U.S. (four million/year?). Something also must be done to prevent criminal politicians from continuing to corrupt our elections. It's government's fault that it got this way and it's government's responsibility to clean it up.
For further information check out www.truethevote.org and the "Election Integrity Project" at www.judicialwatch.org.


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We're counting down the days until our Winter Fireside Party; a benefit for Northwest Folklife on January 25, 2014 at the Vera Project on Seattle Center grounds. We'll be featuring some of your favorite Northwest performers on three stages! Doors open at 1:30PM, programming starts at 2PM…and will continue until 11:00PM.
Let the excitement begin…
Main Stage – Featuring Square Dancing, Northwest Fiddle Showcase and Full Bands
2:00pm – Square Dancing with The Onlies and Caller Gabe Strand
4:00pm – The Northwest Fiddle Showcase at 4pm highlights a varied line-up of some of the best fiddlers in the Northwest such as Phil & Vivian Williams, Ben Hunter (of Renegade Stringband), Karen England & Jim Newberry, The Onlies, and Paul Anastasio.
5:45pm Jason Dodson & Kevin Barrans of The Maldives
7:00pm The Sojourners
8:15pm Ravenna Woods
9:30pm The Shivas
Gallery Stage – Special acoustic performances in the Vera Gallery include:
2:30pm Juliana & PAVA
3:30pm Orville Johnson
4:30pm Vikesh Kapoor
5:30pm Baby Gramps
And don't miss the Folklife Fireside Tent presented by KEXP: a cozy, outdoor heated and fire-lit space for jams and conversation with musicians:
2:15pm Phil and Vivian Williams
3:15pm Swing Jam with Paul Anastasio
4:15pm Les Pamplemousses
5:45pm Old Time Fiddle Jam with Tony Mates
6:45pm Blues Jam and Q+A with Orville Johnson
7:45pm Cajun Jam with Whozyamama
9:00pm Balkan Jam with Marchette DuBois
(Food and drink available in the venue.)
Purchase a ticket today for a full day of music, dancing, food, and friends.
Already have plans on January 25th? Consider making a donation of $25 or more to Folklife and support the largest community supported Festival in the nation.


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Welcome to
The Linde Group
There are people who like to take the easy path. Patrik Molitor is not one of them. When he has reached a goal, he already has the next in sight. Thus during his mechatronics training at Linde's facility in Hamburg he learned so quickly that he could finish it several months ahead of schedule. After working as a service technician for a while he started a dual-education program, combining studies and work, in mechanical engineering with a focus on process technology.
In his fifth semester he had to select a research project and could effectively choose between taking it easy and tackling something big – he opted for the latter. The pay-off was simple: An unforgettable project and the second place in a big student competition.
When choosing the topic for their research project students at Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University in Mannheim can choose from a list. ?There are some topics like reviewing the standard literature on certain components, which have been done 500 times before," remembers Patrik. ?Or you choose something exciting. And I was immediately struck by ,ChemCar'." ChemCar looks like a project made for students like Patrik. It sets the challenge of developing a vehicle that can drive the distance of exactly 14,50 meters – not a centimeter more or less. The clue is: the vehicle must be powered by a chemical reaction that should be emission-free and as safe and clean as possible.
The final for the student teams taking part in the competition was set for March 2018. In November 2017 Patrik's four-member team met up for the first time. They divided their work into four areas like construction and process technology. This was the start to a very intense phase of Patrik's life. He and his teammates gathered ideas, debated them and discarded some. Sometimes they worked all night. "The project was more time-consuming than the others, but it was exciting and there was a lot to learn," he says. On their way to turn the project into reality by March 2018 Patrik's team also encountered setbacks. "It was very challenging to align all our ideas, reach agreements and to unite all the different parts into one large project." After all, the task was not only to build the vehicle but also to convince the judges with an innovative technology for propulsion.
But the team had an idea – like a spark of genius: They would use hydrogen peroxide combined with iron chloride. "Some people know these chemicals from dying their hair," explains Patrik. "Iron chloride is like a powder. If you combine the two elements, you get a strong reaction. The hydrogen peroxide decomposes into water and oxygen. So you are left with water and oxygen in gaseous state. The oxygen generates pressure, which we could use to power our motor to set the vehicle in motion. This chemical reaction is a well-known classic, but we fine-tuned it with a homogenous catalyst." For the design of the vehicle the team also relied on an unconventional model: a miniature locomotive with a 3D-printed vehicle body in Linde design. From there it was only a small step to settle on a name for the team: LoChemotive. In building the vehicle the team received support from Linde, for which Patrik is very grateful. "Linde sponsored many parts, for example an expensive safety valve. Plus, we had access to the company workshop, to conduct experiments. So Linde supported us a lot."
After extensive tests of the vehicle the highlight of the project was the actual ChemCar competition. It was part of the 2018 ProcessNet convention in Aachen. This annual event is one of the most prestigious conferences for process technology, chemical engineering and technical chemistry. To take part in it was Patrik's reward for working many long nights. "It was an incredible feeling. In a project like that you go through numerous phases. First, you're totally euphoric and have so many ideas. Then you also have stretches of disillusionment because you have to work many night shifts. Especially at the end you're relieved and proud that you got through it." In the end, Patrik's ambitious approach paid off: of the seven teams that had entered the competition his team came second.
The experience of the competition has had a lasting influence on Patrik. "The main things that I have taken away from it is to take decisions, find compromises and to set priorities." After finishing his university degree Patrik is now a sales engineer for Linde's in the North-East of Germany. He works in locations such as Hamburg, Hanover, Berlin and Leuna. There he keeps progressing – and is never interested in standing still. He seems like someone who will pursue his path. As a final remark he reveals: "There are always people interested in the ChemCar project – so in that sense it is never really over."
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Our View: Kerry good choice for secretary of state
If you have to have a backup plan for nominating a new secretary of state, it would be hard to do better than President Barack Obama's selection of U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.
The senior senator from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts would replace Hillary Clinton, who has given notice of her desire to step down after four grueling years as one of the most-travelled secretaries of state in U.S. history.
The selection of Clinton was a gutsy move by Obama. His former Democratic rival for the 2008 presidential nomination not only had star power, but many feared that the irrepressible Bill Clinton would prove a liability. Instead, the former first lady and the current president have worked seamlessly together without complication.
Kerry is Plan B following the ferocious right-wing assault on Obama's planned nomination of Susan Rice, our United Nations ambassador.
Rice was a victim of the right-wing preoccupation with the tragedy at the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, where four Americans were killed by terrorists. The issue with Rice was not the State Department incompetence in assessing and responding to mission security needs, for which she had no responsibility. Rather, her sin was following an administration script for talking about the Benghazi assault while U.S. intelligence was pursuing leads to identify the killers.
Did we mention this was during a presidential election campaign?
In any event, Kerry has been a member of the U.S. Senate since 1985, all of that tenure on the Foreign Relations Committee, with the last six years as chairman. He's often travelled in his official capacity and been something of a special envoy for Obama, including yeoman's work in convincing a recalcitrant Hamid Karzai, president of Afghanistan, to hold an election.
He also went to Pakistan to steady our relationship with Islamabad after the unauthorized U.S. incursion to kill Osama bin Laden.
The president and Kerry have their differences on foreign policy, but Kerry is a political pro. He understands the role of a secretary of state perhaps as well as any nominee ever has and Obama has demonstrated his ability to work with a secretary with gravitas.
The Senate does have a constitutional responsibility to confirm the nominations of Cabinet secretaries. But we believe presidents should get their druthers on executive branch appointments except when there is evidence of egregious unfitness for high office.


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Aviation and the Global Atmosphere
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Figure 6-14:
Bar charts of radiative forcing from (a) all perturbations in 1990 (from IPCC, 1996) and (b) aviation effects in 1992. Note scale change from (a) to (b). In (b), best estimate (bars) and high-low 67% probability intervals (whiskers) are given. No best estimate is shown for the cirrus clouds; rather, the dashed line indicates a range of possible estimates. The evaluations below the graph are relative appraisals of the level of scientific understanding associated with each component.
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Universal Laser Receives Patent
August 24, 2006
Universal Laser Systems, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ, was awarded U.S. Design Patent No. D517,474 for its VersaLaser laser cutting and engraving system. Universal Laser received the patent for the unique industrial design aesthetic of VersaLaser's external cabinet, which also serves as a Class 1 laser safety enclosure.
VersaLaser is a desktop-sized, computer-controlled PC peripheral that uses a CO2 laser for cutting, engraving, and marking operations. VersaLaser can be used to process a variety of materials, including wood, paper, plastic, metal, leather, fabric, marble, rubber, glass, ceramic, and stone. Universal Laser Systems, Inc. is located at 16008 N. 81st St., Scottsdale, AZ 85260, 800-859-7033, Web: www.versalaser.com.
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