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Two-Day Fed Policy Meeting Kicks Off Today
Chris Dieterich joins the News Hub with a look at today's market action, including three stocks to watch.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the ... both are not the beginning of this his most hotly anticipated meeting of the Fed was this policy making committee ... would know the outcome until tomorrow ... that's getting markets mostly on hold today that the still quite a lot from this is the figure that ... was digits is here to give is the D tells good morning Chris morning ... so this all in the consumer price index numbers out this morning out of ... the contentious red line shows consumer inflation is mostly ... contained or ... is this dude ... and in August ... up ... CPI up one tenth of a percent ... and ... if you strip out some more volatile food and energy also appoint ten percent so ... continuing the theme that we've seen with Jill inflation ruined in some respects is this is a concern for the Fed and I in fact ... certainly involve some the doves on the FOMC because there's a concern that this trend to continue in fact ... the opposite problem ... of deflation is in fact a risk for particularly now that we've seen in this this team continue for so long I think that's certainly a risk in the minds of investors I think rate now ... at least at this point that that the from Osaka next to his anyway I mean that that that contained ... notion of inflation is so bullish in the sense that ... there might not be an immediate action from the Fed you're absolutely right that it's it's been some worries that we could be moving in the upper upset directors the consensus of the stones uncommon simple it is is that it will in fact be some tapering going on tomorrow will be in something pretty small knew of ten billion dollars ... um what's that was that you must walk distances to get Lexi still ... licensing bets out there that we might have known Chinese ... you know that ... most investors that I'd talk to expected to be some change my key point out maybe the sort of ... caper like whether it is ten billion ... aam given the market action and we seen over the past week stocks have risen quite a bit ... and and and and given the fact that expectation has changed somewhat if if we do get something in the neighborhood of ten billion ... or some sort of taper ... a lot of people say that the stock can move the market in its takeaway is as it may be some had anticipated ... already so so so the smallish taper ... when I think ... it's a bit when acrylic credibility to what the Federal Reserve has been has been saying that they're going to ... and perhaps not ... really do anything ... but two of its and that's I mean that's the important to think you're right it's been all insisted Punjab owning so far and they've accomplished you know ... there's an awful long


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|Boca Pharmacal Inc.
|Unapproved New Drug/Misbranded
|Florida District Office
|July 22, 2010
Not Issued
|Archive Code:
Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
Food and Drug Administration
555 Winderley Place, Ste. 200
Maitland, Florida 32751
Telephone: (407) 475-4700
Warning Letter
July 22, 2010
Mr. Bob J. Edwards Jr, CEO
Boca Pharmacal, Inc.
3550 NW 126th Avenue
Coral Springs, Florida 33065
Dear Mr. Edwards:
On February 23, 2010, FDA issued a warning letter to (b)(4) (copy attached). As explained more fully in that warning letter, certain drug products that (b)(4) has manufactured are new drugs that lack approved applications as required under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act). Based on information obtained during FDA's inspection of (b)(4) in September 2009, your firm contracted or otherwise arranged with (b)(4) to manufacture one or more drug products that your firm distributes. These drug products include, but are not necessarily limited to:
• Pseudo DM GG Syrup (Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide 15 mg, Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride 40 mg, Guaifenesin 100 mg)
• C-Phen DM Drops (Chlorpheniramine Maleate 1.0 mg, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 3.5 mg, Dextromethorpan Hydrobromide 3.0 mg)
The above products are drugs within the meaning of section 201 (g) of the Act, [21 U.S.C. § 321(g)] because, as demonstrated by their labeling, they are intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of diseases. Further, they are "new drugs" within the meaning of section 201(p) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 321(p)] because they are not generally recognized as safe and effective for use under the conditions prescribed, recommended, or suggested in their labeling. Under sections 301(d) and 505(a) of the Act [21 U.S.C. §§ 331(a), (d) and 355(a)], a new drug may not be introduced into or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce unless an application approved by FDA under either section 505(b) or (j) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 355(b) or (j)] is in effect for the drug. Based on our information, there are no FDA-approved applications on tile for these drug products.
Additionally, because the above prescription drug products are intended for conditions that are not amenable to self-diagnosis and treatment by individuals who are not medical practitioners, adequate directions cannot be written for them so that a layman can use these products safely for their intended uses, as described in 21 C.F.R. § 201.5. Consequently, their labeling fails to bear adequate directions for their intended uses, causing them to be misbranded under section 502(f)(1) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 352(f)(1)]. Because the products lack required approved applications, they are not exempt under 21 C.F.R. § 201.115 from the requirements of section 502(f)(1) of the Act. The introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of these products without approved new drug applications violates section 301(a) and (d) of the Act [21 U.S.C. §§ 331(a) and (d)].
The violations cited in this letter are not intended to be an all-inclusive statement of violations that may exist in connection with your products. In particular, violations cited in this letter are not necessarily limited to drug products manufactured by (b)(4) and may apply to all drug products that you market without FDA-approved applications. You are responsible for investigating and determining the causes of the violations identified above and for preventing their recurrence or the occurrence of other violations. It is your responsibility to assure that your firm complies with all requirements of federal law and FDA regulations.
You should take prompt action to correct the violations cited in this letter. Failure to promptly correct these violations may result in legal action without further notice, including, without limitation, seizure, and injunction. Other federal agencies may take this Warning Letter into account when considering the award of contracts.
Within fifteen working days of receipt of this letter, please notify this office in writing of the specific steps that you have taken to correct violations. Include an explanation of each step being taken to prevent the recurrence of violations, as well as copies of related documentation. If you cannot complete corrective action within fifteen working days, state the reason for the delay and the time within which you will complete the correction. If you no longer market the above products, your response should so indicate, including the reasons that, and the date on which, you ceased production.
Your reply should be sent to Winston R. Alejo, Compliance Officer.
Emma R. Singleton
Director, Florida District

subset: commoncrawl


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Before we get into further discussion of Skyfall, I'd like to reiterate the fact that the last act is "Elderly Brits Will Have Your Stupid Faces And There's Nothing You Can Do About It" and that is great. That is just the best. People always treat Helen Mirren like she's the most bad-ass elderly Englishwoman ever produced, but I'd still rather run into her in a dark alley than Judy Dench.
Helen Mirren will murder you, yes. But Judy Dench will murder you as though it was just a damn inconvenience.
Skyfall's plot and themes are about looking back on your past and seeing how you'll be judged, and if you're past your prime, and what is it that's really motivating you these days. And that's a solid place to set a Bond film – especially a Bond film released during the character's 50th anniversary.
It's actually pretty impressive when a Bond movie is About Something. Casino Royale's narrative and thematic throughline is "What Makes James Bond?" and remains the best of the Craig films. Quantum of Solace is about nothing very much, until it's not even a Bond movie, but The Revenge Of This Model Who Can't Act Very Good, Featuring James Bond as "The Help".*
So Skyfall, in aiming to be a Bond movie that's about something, pretty much ignores that Quantum of Solace exists (so if you were hoping this would continue the story of the vaguely SPECTRE-esque Quantum Organization, you're out of luck).
But it also kind of assumes that you don't remember any details of Casino Royale, and also kinda-sorta pre-supposes that ALL the Bond movies exist in one vaguely-defined continuity, which brings me to The Astin Martin. (more…)


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Sistine Chapel Preps for Pope Vote
On Tuesday the voting will start for the new pope. WSJ's John Stoll takes a look at preparations. Via #WorldStream. Image: Getty Images.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... I ... the trees to teach our girls are preparing ... to take issue with the outside world Tuesday ... not emerge until a new poll has been chosen ... they're about to step into one of the world's most beautiful voting booths ... the Sistine Chapel ... the structure is closed in recent days as workers prepared and Cardinals consent to fold up multiple times a day on their next leader ... we need to do list includes Cree when the kernels to enter ... in and of course there's the matter of stones ... we gather here in the square outside the chapel and look out for smoke ... the black smoke arises ... no Pope has been chosen ... white smoke means a new leader has been to ... Delta going around school ... calls to make this is going ... to use the tunnel ... it could still grind Alex was used the first time in nineteen thirty and soon it will once again be doing the Lord's work ... according to Vatican City and Josh told The Wall Street Journal ...


text: The Bling and The Bling-less September 20, 2016 Natasha Blog (0) Taking a look at the Good and Ugly World of Celebrity Engagement Rings. Just because they spend the dollars, doesn't mean that it's on point. The engagement ring game is a competitive one in Hollywood as the gentlemen all want to out-bling their Hollywood counterparts. We look at the best and worst rings sported on the most glamorous A list ladies in the biz. Thumbs up: Simplicity works Julia Stiles Keep it simple, right? Not in Hollywood, but in the case of Julia Stiles, we stand corrected. This is why the simplicity of Julia Stiles' ring makes it a big thumbs-up. The "Ten Things I Hate About You" starlet, hasn't been able to take her eyes off of her cameraman beau, Preston Cook. The two announced their engagement early in 2016; Cook proposed on Christmas Eve and presented Stiles with a stunning and modest sign of his love. The couple went sweet and simple with a diamond on a rose gold band with a bezel setting. Elegant. No fuss. And what's really important, is that Stiles loved it. "Best Christmas Ever" she captioned the shot of the ring on her Instagram. Thumbs up: Perfection is possible Rosie Huntington-Whitley Who can say no to Jason Statham, the smooth-talking action movie star? He sealed the deal with his long-time girlfriend, Rosie Huntington-Whitley, former Victoria Secret Model this past summer 2016. The ring features a round, early 20th century flawless diamond. It's classic and elegant and the stone is out of a fairy tale. According to PEOPLE, Jason wanted something perfect and flawless and he kept coming back to this one. He knew it was the one. Thumbs up: Big, bold and beautiful Ciara Wilson This songstress flaunted her show-stopping rock after her beau, Russell Wilson proposed during a romantic tropical vacation. "She said Yes!!! Since Day 1 knew you were the one. No Greater feeling… #TrueLove," Wilson, 27, wrote on his Instagram video. The ring is a vision of beauty, featuring a 16-carat diamond and surrounding stones. In Ciara's case, bigger is better. Fail: Bad romance… and ring Lady Gaga They might be a girl's best friend, but even diamonds can overstay their welcome. Just like those creepy Instagrammers who keep liking your photos, some forms of flattery just need to go! Gaga's heart shaped diamond is one of those must-ditch things. It has cheese written all over it, reminding us of those embarrassing days of kiddy makeup kits and jelly sandals… basically, this ring falls under the category of things better left in the past. On the flip side, Gaga got rid of the ring and the guy. She since split from Taylor Kinney and is now rumored to be dating Goodfella, Ray Liotta. Fail: The little rock in the sea Alyson Hannigan In the real world, this ring's not too shabby, but according to Hollywood standards, Alyson's ring is teeny weeny. The two neighboring diamonds along the band compete in size with the main rock, making it a small tale to tell. It's a story that says the couple's romance and their obvious devotion to each other is much more important to them than some sparkly jewelry, clearly. And while that's wonderfully adorable, it makes us press the snooze button on our buzzfeed of coolest celebrity couples.


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Actor vs. Actor(s): 15 of TV's Biggest Cast Feuds
It really is just all an act. What you see onscreen — a couple that can't keep their hands off each other, a loving family, a pair of loyal friends — doesn't always translate offscreen. With the recent news that Charlie Sheen got Selma Blair fired from his comedy, "Anger Management," we take a look back at some of the biggest cast feuds in TV history. — Kelly Woo, Yahoo! TV


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Welcome to our BIG list of arts and cultural events happening in the NSW Central West gathered from artists, event producers, great local venues and groups across the region.
This is a busy artistic region. There's usually more than 2000 arts and heritage events happeing in the region each year. Of course, 2020 looks a little different but the events are slowly returning where possible.
NEW: HAPPENING ONLINE. We've added a new category for workshops, exhibitions, virutal tours and activities that are now happening ONLINE. Click here for the listings
Got an event to add? Email us email@example.com
Faded Glamour
Thu October 1 - Sat October 31
A series of soft and lyrical interiors and florals that delights in the feminine and decorative by Larissa Blake.
The What's On calendar covers arts and heritage events happening across the NSW Central West. These events are sourced or supplied from local venues and arts organisations. Many events listed here have been originally shared by the organisers on social media. Whilst all care is taken – and accuracy is our priority – we can take no responsibility for date changes or the content of contributed information. Contact the event organisers listed for more details or to book tickets.
To contribute an event email us at email@example.com
For event promoters: If you are sending event details to Arts OutWest to promote through our Whats On (or likewise publishing events on social media) please only send us images you have permission to use. See our fact sheet on copyright infringement.


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Please I am new to java image. I created an image by first filling random numbers for each pixel (R value, G value and B value) then I create an image Icon. What I have noticed is that when I retreuived the RGB values again from the buffer before writing to a file the values for RGB was correct, but after writing them to a file and then open and read these values I got something different. I need to retreive exactly the same values that I choosed for each pixel!!!
I greately appreciate your help.
Note: Please let me know if you would like me to send you the code.
Many thanks


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Free Audio to download from Carrigaline Baptist Church.
You can either play the audio directly in your web browser (requires flash plugin to be installed) or else click on the 'download' link to save it to your computer.
Active filter: Book: Matthew (x)
Sermons (1)
|1 John - Protecting our Fellowship
|1 John 2:15-17 (Part of the Confident Fellowship - 1 John series).
|Preached by Jonny Grant on March 1, 2015 (Sunday Morning).
Powered by Sermon Browser
Carrigaline Baptist Church Audio by Carrigaline Baptist Church is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.


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Frequently asked questions
Thank you for your interest in the ESA Science web site. We appreciate your thoughts and comments. Before e-mailing us, please browse the Frequently Asked Questions below to see if your query has already been answered.
We cannot guarantee to respond to all your comments, but we appreciate your feedback.
What is space science?
Science gives man inspiration and aspiration. Space science makes man look outwards from his planet, towards the stars. Space science tries to answer the ultimate questions…
- How did our Earth and our Solar System evolve?
- Where are we in the Universe?
- Where are we going?
- Where did life come from, and are we alone in the Universe?
Why does ESA do space science?
Space science is a strategic asset. With it, ESA ensures technological independence, it safeguards a European cultural identity, it supports a science-based society and clearly demonstrates European capability and vision.
ESA does what individual European nations cannot do on their own. Scientists from European nations can function at world-class level in their specialist fields. Working in this way gives a framework for national programmes, and allows integration of the best of national approaches into one joint European approach.
What is the ESA Science Programme for?
The Science Programme underpins ESA. It is the only mandatory element of the ESA programme, and it is therefore both a flagship and symbol for the Agency. It enhances European capability in space science and applications, builds European industrial technical capacity, and brings together European national space programmes.
Where can I find more technical information about ESA's scientific satellites?
Visit the Science & Technology web site for in-depth updates on past, present and future missions.
Where does ESA space science happen?
At ESA's European Space Technology and Research Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk in the Netherlands, scientists create and operate new ESA scientific spacecraft. In addition, space science staff work in Spain, Germany and the United States. No major rocket launches are done from Europe itself.
Why do the Earth and other planets orbit around the Sun?
The motion of something in orbit (like a planet around a star) is a combination of the effect of inertia and of gravity. 'Inertia' means that something moving will continue going in a straight line at a constant velocity unless it is stopped (this is Newton's first law). If there were no gravity, for example, something moving past the Sun would just keep going in the same direction. The force of gravity from the Sun pulls the planet towards the Sun.
However, the material which formed the planets was originally moving too and the inertia from the original motion does not go away; instead you get a sum of the two. That makes for a diagonal motion at any one instant. However, the direction the force of gravity and therefore the planet's direction of motion changes as the planets changes its position relative to the Sun. The result is an orbit around the Sun.
Does the Sun itself spin? If so, how fast?
The rotation period of the Sun varies from about 25 days at the equator to over 30 days at the poles, so it takes roughly two weeks for a feature to cross the solar disc.
How would we know if a distant planet had an Earth-like atmosphere?
If a planet's surface is similar to Earth, dominated by plants using photosynthesis, atmospheric carbon dioxide will be steadily converted into oxygen. These oxygen atoms will produce an ozone layer that emits particular, unique spectral lines in the light spectrum of that planet. We should be able to see the 'ozone line' in the spectra of planets orbiting nearby stars. We can also detect carbon dioxide absorption features and even methane and ammonia.
Together, these lines will tell us the principal atmospheric constituents, and whether the planet is Earth-like or not. If you detect ozone, there must be an Earth-like surface and atmosphere because free oxygen cannot exist in an atmosphere without constant replenishment. The only chemical process we know to replenish oxygen on a planetary scale is photosynthesis.
Why can't we get pictures of planets outside the Solar System?
Direct imaging is possible, but the planets are too far away, too small, and not bright enough to make detailed observations of the surface, for example. Also, most of them are so close to their stars that the glare from the nearby star overwhelms the image and hides the much fainter planet. A planet like Jupiter at the same distance from its star is about one million times fainter, optically, than the star. This kind of contrast is very hard to detect so close to the main star.
What are the risks of nuclear power sources for space probes?
There has been extensive discussion on this topic sparked by attempts to block the Galileo and Ulysses launches on grounds of the plutonium thermal sources being dangerous. Numerous studies claim that even in worst-case scenarios (explosion during launch, or accidental re-entry at interplanetary velocities), the risks are extremely small.
There's a vacuum in space, so how do we know if the Sun makes a noise?
The Sun is full of all sorts of sound waves travelling through the interior. Some of them resonate because they are particular frequencies. However, you cannot hear the Sun using a microphone. Instead, we see the sound waves because of the effect they have on the Sun.
These sound waves are reflected at the surface, although it is not solid. However, there is an abrupt change in density, which allows the reflection to happen. As they reflect at the surface, the sound waves cause a change in brightness and push up some material too. With the kind of instruments as carried on board SOHO, we can measure the changes in brightness and the velocity changes at the surface. From those measurements, we can work out the sound of the Sun.
How big are the largest sunspot groups?
In 1947, experts measured a sunspot group that was 18 times the surface area of Earth (or 6132 millionths of the solar disc). Sunspot groups are numbered sequentially as they are identified. If a group rotates around the far side of the Sun and then back into view, it is given a new number when it is spotted again at the east limb of the Sun.
Do sunspots affect the climate here on Earth?
Sunspots are slightly cooler areas on the surface of the Sun, due to the intense magnetic fields. There is a little bit more radiation coming from the Sun when it has more sunspots, but the effect is so small that it has very little (direct) impact on the weather and climate on Earth.
However, there are many important indirect effects. Sunspots are associated with so-called 'active regions', which are large magnetic structures containing very hot material. They cause more ultraviolet radiation (the rays that give you a suntan or sunburn) and extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV). These types of radiation affect the chemistry of the upper atmosphere (for example, producing ozone). Many active regions produce giant outflows of material, called Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). These drag with them some of the more intense magnetic fields found in the active regions. The magnetic fields act as a shield for high-energy particles coming from outside the Solar System. These 'cosmic rays' cause ionisation of molecules in the atmosphere. The ionised molecules or dust particles can act as 'seeds' for drop formation, thereby causing clouds to form. If clouds are formed very high in the atmosphere, the net result is a heating of Earth - it acts as a 'blanket' that keeps warmth in. If clouds are formed lower down in the atmosphere, they reflect sunlight better than they keep heat inside, so the net result is cooling.
What is a comet tail made of?
If you condensed the entire 160 000 km long tail of a comet such as Hale-Bopp to the density of water, it would not even fill a swimming pool! Comet tails are made up gas and dust. These evaporate off the comet itself, which is made of ice and rock. The ice is both regular water-ice and other kinds, like carbon dioxide ice (also known as 'dry ice'). Comets often have two tails: a 'plasma tail', which is made up of charged ions, and a 'dust tail', which is made up of dust. The lighter ions are 'blown' directly away from the Sun by the solar wind. The heavier dust particles form a tail that points at an angle closer to the path of the comet's motion.
Do you have to wear safety goggles to observe the Sun?
Yes. Never look at the Sun with your naked eyes, not even for a quick glance. Obey this rule and your retinas will thank you. Astronomers using telescopes on the ground observe with special filters that block out much of the Sun's light. There are kinds of 'safety glasses' you can use to look at the Sun briefly. However, unless you are very sure you have the right kind, it is better to project a light from the Sun on a wall or piece of paper and look at that.
Do rocket launches harm the ozone layer?
From time to time, people claim that chemicals released from some rockets, in particular NASA's Space Shuttle's Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs), are responsible for a significant amount of damage to the ozone layer. Studies indicate that they have only a minute impact (less than seven-thousandths of one percent), both in absolute terms and relative to other chemical sources. It is much less than total ozone variability associated with volcanic activity and solar flares.
What is 'space weather'?
'Space weather' is a concept that is growing in importance as mankind pushes outwards from limits within which we live. The Sun is the source of the solar wind; a flow of gases from the Sun that streams past Earth at speeds of more than 500 kilometres per second. Disturbances in the solar wind shake Earth's magnetic field and pump energy into the radiation belts. Regions on the surface of the Sun often flare and give off ultraviolet light and X-rays that heat up the Earth's upper atmosphere.
This is 'space weather' and it can change the orbits of satellites and shorten mission lifetimes. The excess radiation can physically damage satellites and pose a threat to astronauts.
Shaking Earth's magnetic field can also cause current surges in power lines that destroy equipment and knock out power over large areas. As we become more dependent upon satellites in space, we will increasingly feel the effects of space weather and need to predict it.
Is there really a face on Mars?
There is a big formation on Mars that looks remarkably like a humanoid face in some images. It appears in two different frames of Viking Orbiter imagery. The feature, about 2.5 kilometres across, is located near the border between region Arabia Terra and region Acidalia Planitia.
Although most analyst agreed that the resemblance is most likely coincidental and caused by lighting effects, science writer Richard Hoagland has championed the idea that the 'face' is artificial, intended to resemble a human, and erected by an extraterrestrial civilisation.
In April 1998 NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft ended all speculation by photographing the site of the allured 'face' in high resolution. The photos revealed it to be a natural landform.
If you find a trace of life (present or past) on Mars or Titan, how can you be sure you didn't carry it with you from Earth?
The international scientific organisation COSPAR (Committee on Space Research) has established strict requirements for an adequate 'planetary protection'. Accordingly, Beagle 2 for example was sterilised so that it contained less than 300 microorganisms per square metre at launch, and no more than 300 000 inside the whole launcher. By comparison, the cleanest kitchen on Earth has several thousands of millions of microorganisms on it. With such level of sterilisation, it has been demonstrated that instruments will not detect anything coming from Earth.
Do you think it will be feasible to send people to Mars in the short-term?
Perhaps in 20-25 years time. There is still a lot for us to learn before we send people there.


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When we last checked in on Ben Krasnow's homemade SEM, he had just achieved his first successful image with the device. As his latest video shows, the project has come a long way since then. It's a long clip, by internet standards, at almost 10 minutes, but Ben does a great job of communicating what he's doing and why, taking us through each step in the imaging process, from loading the sample, through pumping down the vacuum chamber and powering up the electronics, to fine-tuning the image itself. Which looks great, by the way–even after making the trip to Maker Faire and back.
This is only the most recent in a series of truly outstanding projects from Ben. Check out the links below for some of our past coverage of his work, and Ben's personal blog for new updates.


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All about Obama Core
Robert Nemeth – While Obamacare, the president's controversial health care reform, has been widely debated, little has been said about Obama Core, another federal intervention with significant consequences. That's unfortunate.
When the Common Core of State Standards — new national norms in math and English curriculum — was unveiled three years ago, it was expected to elevate the United States from academic mediocrity to international prominence. But it wasn't the prospect of academic excellence that persuaded school boards and governors in 45 states to jump on the bandwagon. It was a huge federal carrot the Obama administration dangled in front of their noses in the form of a $4.35 billion stimulus program, titled "Race to the Top." It is the successor of "No Child Left Behind," another federal boondoggle with a catchy title.
Major disenchantment with Common Core has set in only recently, as implementation hit the district level. The opposition has been sudden and potent. Several states are considering legislation to delay or end implementation. Indiana, Pennsylvania and Michigan have officially suspended it, with more states likely to follow.
There are good reasons for the backlash. People now realize that the new standards violate the tradition of debate and citizen control that are supposed to govern public education. The standards were developed behind closed doors by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers — private organizations — and copyrighted. Adoption was then strongarmed by the Obama administration via stimulus programs and waivers that the feds granted to states.
According to a Stanford University study, the new math standards would put kids two years behind their top-scoring international peers by grade seven. They have been characterized as "fuzzy math" that offers very little arithmetic or standard algorithms.
The English and literature standards are even worse because they de-emphasize classical literature in favor of nonfiction and informational reading. Even though analyzing great literature gives students all the critical thinking they need, Common Core promotes reading non-traditional authors from Africa and the Far East rather than Western classics.
It is easy to understand why the White House promotes the Common Core. If President Obama wants to "fundamentally transform American society," as he promised in 2008, nothing could be more effective for that purpose than nationalizing the country's system of education. The Core is the backbone of an education agenda that seeks to narrow the "achievement gap" between groups of students by lowering standards, doing away with meaningful achievement tests such as MCAS, and relocating investment in schools.
The U.S. Department of Education, under the leadership of Arne Duncan, another product of Chicago politics, has established an Equity and Excellence Commission, charged with "finding ways to restructure school finance systems to achieve equity distribution of education resources and further student achievement and attainment." Translation: Take money from the suburbs and give it to urban school systems.
The strategy, promoted by the White House, is to bring local education under federal control through enforcing a national curriculum, bypassing parents, state and local school boards. The new standards are to replace existing curriculums and are locked in by tests called "assessments."
Because federal laws prohibit the central government from directing funding or controlling any state or local education standards, the White House uses surrogates — commissions and foundations — as well as financial pressure to coerce states to adopt the Core. The U.S. Department of Education is paying others to do what it is forbidden from doing. For example, $362 million in federal grants went to two national consortia for developing methods to help states with the transition.
Even though supporters claim the Core is "internationally benchmarked," they can't name any country to which it is pegged. Nor is there any evidence that setting national standards yields superior outcomes. Some countries that beat us on international exams have national standards. But so do most countries that finish below us.
Moreover, making standards uniform across the country reduces the benefits of competition between states and districts, which vie to attract residents and businesses. Worse yet, Common Core cripples individual choice, which is highly concerning because all children are unique and need different things. Even autonomous charter schools, which already must use state standards, will become more similar to one other.
Nowhere is the problem more evident than in Massachusetts, where the Education Reform Act of 1993 produced remarkable improvement. High standards, mandatory testing, and the commitment of huge sums of money propelled the Bay State to national prominence in teaching and learning.
With its one-size-fits all, politically driven agenda, Obama Core threatens to sacrifice decades of progress.
Massachusetts, the birthplace of many great writers and poets, has been known as the cradle of American literature. The 1993 reform law was carefully crafted to nurture that legacy. Obama Core gives the humanities short shrift in favor of "soft skills" and "practical disciplines" such as global awareness, media savvy and cultural competence.
That's too bad because an enlightened society needs intellectual depth to flourish.
via All about Obama Core – Worcester Telegram & Gazette – telegram.com.


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Runaway truck lands in Southborough pool
No injuries reported in Ashley Road incident
A rogue truck rolled down a steep driveway, crossed a street, crashed into a stone wall and narrowly missed a house Wednesday night before coming to rest in an unlikely place, the MetroWest Daily News reported.
"My husband calls me. He goes, 'Why is there a truck in our pool?'" Elizabeth Dill of 6 Ashley Road said Thursday.
Dill said she immediately came home to find a black truck with its rear end on top of her pool cover, its front end resting on the lip of the pool's edge.
Her husband Eric Enge had, in the meantime, called the police, and was understandably impressed when officers were able to guess the make of the truck -- a Toyota Tacoma -- before they even came to investigate.
That's because about 40 minutes before Enge's 6:28 p.m. phone call to police, a man who had parked across the street at 3 Ashley Road had reported his Toyota Tacoma stolen.
Dill said the man worked for her neighbor, and looked around the street for the truck before assuming someone had swiped it.
What actually happened, Lt. Sean James said, is that the truck slipped out of gear and rolled quickly down the driveway.
Picking up speed, it crossed the street and went into the yard of Dill's neighbor, which is also on a hill.
From the damage in the neighbor's yard Thursday morning -- including pieces of the vehicle -- it appears the truck hit a small tree and small stone wall.
Hitting the wall likely prevented the truck from hitting the house, as it struck bushes literally just a few inches away from the corner of the home before swerving to the left and heading into Dill's yard.
The truck then traveled a considerable distance in Dill's backyard before smashing through an aluminum fence around her pool and coming to a rest on top of the pool cover.
Though the pool cover did partially tear, Dill was impressed that it was able to keep the back end of the truck from falling all the way into the pool.
"They always claim it holds an elephant," she laughed.
Dill said neighbors and friends of her three teenage children came from all over town to scope out the scene as Ted's Towing spent several hours winching the truck from the pool.
Dill thanked Ted's for getting the truck out without hurting the pool or her nearby septic system. She said she's also thankful that the truck didn't take a different path that could have led to more disastrous results.
"I'm just glad everyone's safe," she said.
James said the owner of the truck has not been cited.


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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK's leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening. The goal of the RHS is to help people share a passion for plants, to encourage excellence in horticulture and inspire all those with an interest in gardening.
The RHS Lindley Library is the world's finest horticultural library, with books, journals, pictures and art on practical gardening, garden history, garden plants and design from 1514 to the present day.
This range of high quality art prints comes from a selection of illustrations and photographs from the Society's archives. By buying a print you will help to support the charitable work of the RHS which includes teaching children about gardening, carrying out scientific research, providing advice to the public and training gardeners.


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Some advice for the new Padres owners
Trading Chase Headley could be one of the first orders of business for the new Padres regime. (Jake Roth/US Presswire)
On Thursday, the Padres officially changed hands, as major league owners unanimously approved the sale of the franchise from John Moores to a group headed by San Diego businessman Ron Fowler, one that includes former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley, his son Kevin and nephew Tom Seidler, and golfer Phil Mickelson.
The sale brings an end to a four-and-a-half-year saga that began when Moores' wife, Becky, filed for divorce, requiring the franchise to be sold under California's community property law. Moores struck an agreement with former agent Jeff Moorad to purchase the club back in 2009, but the sale never closed, as Moorad was unable to muster the votes from other owners necessary to approve the deal.
At 52-67, the Padres are out of contention this year, and en route to their fourth losing season out of their last five. In fact, they're in the midst of a rebuilding process under general manager Josh Byrnes, one prolonged by the drawn-out ownership change.
Moorad ousted longtime GM Kevin Towers at the end of the 2009 season as part of his reorganization effort, installing Jed Hoyer, a former protege of Theo Epstein in Boston. When Epstein left the Red Sox to become president of the Cubs this past winter, he was able to reunite with Hoyer. Byrnes, another Epstein protege who served as Diamondbacks GM from late 2005 through mid-2010 and then joined the Padres front office after being fired, was handed the reins upon Hoyer's departure. The Padres began the year with a $55.6 million payroll that ranked 28th in the majors, ahead of only the A's and Pirates; it's the fourth year in a row the team has ranked among the majors' bottom five.
How should the new owners proceed? Here are a few suggestions.
1. Trade Chase Headley this winter
Few hitters drew as much interest leading up to the July 31 trade deadline as Headley, with the Yankees, Dodgers and A's among those who explored the possibility of trading for him. The 28-year-old third baseman's numbers have been suppressed to a huge extent byplaying at Petco Park (career .236/.324/.347 at home, .298/.368/.455 on the road), but he's in the midst of a breakout season (.272/.366/.458 with a career-high 19 home runs) nonetheless. Because he was a Super Two who reached arbitration eligibility early, Headley still has two remaining years of cost control before he can become a free agent. That puts him in something of a sweet spot as far as the package he could bring back via trade, since his interest should extend beyond teams in "win-now" mode.
The Padres have 23-year-old prospect Jedd Gyorko, a 2010 second-round pick, tearing up Triple-A Tucson at a .333/.381/.574 clip. "Gyorko can flat-out rake," wrote Baseball Prospectus prospect expert Kevin Goldstein at the outset of the season, more recently adding "[I'm] not sure what the Padres are waiting for" in noting his Triple-A performance.
Gyorko has been switching between third base and second at Tucson, but at the major league level, rookies Logan Forsythe and Alexi Amarista have shown enough promise at the keystone not to be crowded out. Trading Headley would clear a spot for Gyorko while providing additional resources that can be used at positions with less depth.
2. Finish the television deal
Earlier this year, the Padres signed a 30-year, $1.2 billion television deal with Fox to create Fox Sports San Diego, a regional sports network in which the team has a 20 percent stake. According to Forbes, that's the fifth-largest TV deal among teams, behind the Dodgers, Astros, Rangers and Angels, an outsized one for a team that plays in the fifth-smallest major league market. That deal is the main reason why the Fowler group's purchase price of $800 million is over 50 percent higher than the $525 million price to which Moorad had agreed.
Alas, thus far Fox Sports San Diego has been unable to come to an agreement with Time Warner Cable and various satellite providers in order to carry the Padres locally; only Cox Cable and DirecTV viewers have been able to watch, leaving some 40 percent of San Diego County in the dark regarding the home team since the beginning of the season. Between that, and the trades that have taken big names such as Jake Peavy, Adrian Gonzalez and Mat Latos out of town in recent years, local interest in the team is flagging; the Padres are second-to-last in the NL in attendance, down from 11th in each of the past two seasons. The team needs to step in and make sure that fans have access to their team in order to rebuild interest.
3. Don't spend that television windfall all at once.
Thanks to their TV revenue, the Rangers' current payroll of $127.3 million is more than double what it was two years ago, as they've been able to sign Adrian Beltre and Yu Darvish to pricey long-term deals, extend Ian Kinsler and Derek Holland through their cost-controlled years, and add payroll at the trading deadline in order to chase that elusive championship. The Angels spent big this offseason, signing Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, while the Dodgers have been able to add payroll in-season, limiting them to surrendering just two of their top 10 prospects in order to obtain Hanley Ramirez, Shane Victorino and Joe Blanton to aid their bid for a playoff spot.
The Padres will be able to open their checkbooks in due time, but given their current state, now isn't that time. Better to look down the road, knowing they'll be able to lock up promising youngsters such as Yasmani Grandal and Yonder Alonso if they choose to keep them, or to chase after the occasional big-money free agent who fits into their plans at the point when they're more competitive.
4. Resist the temptation to move the Petco Park fences.
Since it opened in 2004, Petco has been the anti-Coors Field, a ballpark that reduces offense to an extreme extent. The park factors at Baseball-Reference.com show that Petco has reduced scoring by 8 to 12 percent, depending upon the year, with the Giants' AT&T Park and the Mariners' Safeco Field the only ones to challenge its suppressive supremacy. Understandably, hitters hate the park, with the likes of Phil Nevin, Ryan Klesko and Ryan Ludwickgriping about its dimensions over the years. This year, while batting .255/.319/.407 overall, major league hitters have hit .230/.303/.347 at Petco; last year, the numbers were .255/.321/.399 overall, and .228/.298/.345 at Petco. Just 65 homers have been hit at Petco this year, 0.57 per team per game, compared to 1.03 per game in the other 29 parks.
The Padres are considering moving the outfield fences closer for 2013 in order to make the park less extreme, though they say it will still play as a pitchers' park. At least one study has shown that more extreme parks — either towards the hitting or pitching sides — tend to favor the home team more than less extreme parks, but for one reason or another, the Padres haven't reaped as much of an advantage. From 2004-2011, their gap between home wins and road wins was the third-lowest in the majors, ahead of only the Marlins and Phillies. Oddly, the team has ranked ninth in the majors in road record (310-339, .478 winning percentage) but just 23rd in home record (335-313, .517), though their Pythagorean winning percentages would suggest the opposite (.489 at home, .502 on the road). As the Mets have shown this year at Citi Field, moving the fences in may increase offense, but it's no guarantee the change will work to the team's advantage.
5. Use the park's dimensions to the team's benefit
Building a successful bullpen is one of the toughest tasks in baseball, but it was an area that Towers excelled in as a GM. The forgiving dimensions of Petco made life easier for pitchers such as Mike Adams, Heath Bell, Edward Mujica and Cla Meredith who had struggled to establish themselves elsewhere, many of them because they were flyball-oriented hurlers who needed the extra depth of the outfield to do their work. That trend also applied to starters who were on their last legs, and it has continued under Towers' successors, with the Pads able to get mileage out of pitchers such as Dustin Moseley, Aaron Harang and Jason Marquis whose performances elsewhere had deteriorated.
Not that the Padres won't be able to afford better pitchers with their new deal, but the ability to reap value from scrapheap finds is an important element of roster construction — even the Yankees, who rode Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon heavily last year, have to do so once in awhile. So too is the ability to inflate the value of players and trade them to fill other areas; Hoyer used Mujica as a key piece to acquire centerfielder Cameron Maybin from the Marlins in November 2010, while trading Adams to the Rangers last July netted the Padres pitching prospect Joe Wieland, who came into the year ranked 74th on Baseball Prospectus' Top 101 Prospects list.
Baseball America


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Due to COVID restrictions and wildfire recovery, please call wineries to confirm tastings before visiting.
Chateau Montelena's tradition of excellence started in 1882 when California State Senator and San Francisco entrepreneur Alfred Tubbs founded the winery and set out to make world-class wines. In 1972, James Barrett, a real estate attorney from Los Angeles, purchased the property with the intent to revitalize Chateau Montelena. The winery gained international recognition with the Paris Tasting in 1976, and continues today with its handcrafted world-class Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. After James' passing in 2013, his son Bo Barrett assumed leadership and the family-owned winery has remained true to its philosophy to "make the best. Period."
Plan a trip to Chateau Montelena on our interactive winery map:
A must for wine lovers seeking excellence, the setting is one of the most peaceful in the Napa Valley - a stone castle carved into a hillside overlooking a Chinese garden and lake and vineyards reaching out to the base of Mt. St. Helena. Our Tasting Room is in the top floor of the Chateau, which was originally built as a barrel aging facility but remodeled into a residence in the 1950s after being purchased by the Frank family, emigrants from Hong Kong.
Monday, November 2, 2020
Experience Chateau Montelena from the comforts of home with a virtual wine tasting. Connect with one of our live hosts for an appointment tailored to your personal wine preferences. This event is ongoing. (details)
Wine clubs are a great way to stay connected to your favorite wineries.
To join the wine club, visit www.montelena.com or call 707-942-5105.
5 different wine clubs:
CellarMaster Wine Clubs - Select, Choice, Futures and Friends of Montelena
The Napa Green program is supported by a wide variety of groups including the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, and the University of California. The Napa Valley Vintners, along with Fish Friendly Farming, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers, the Napa County Farm Bureau and others developed the Napa Green program. Learn more about the program at napagreen.org.
Chateau Montelena is certified under the Napa Green Winery Program by the Napa County Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Association of Bay Area Government's (ABAG) Green Business Program and completed all the regulatory components needed for environmental sustainability. These components included developing water and energy conservation methods, preventing pollution, and reducing solid waste. In addition to developing sustainable winery practices, this program is set to become the standard for the state of California.
Chateau Montelena is certified under the Napa Green Certified Land Program. Chateau Montelena has created and implemented a customized farm plan with measured results that addressed all aspects of its property, vineyard land as well as non-farmed land, including practicing soil conservation, water conservation, stable drainage, riparian corridor enhancement, fisheries and wildlife habitat enhancement and long-term improvement and sustainability.
Certification - certification is granted by the Napa County Agricultural Commissioners Office of Pesticide Regulation, the Regional Water Quality Control board, the California Department of Fish and Game, and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Once a year the rarest new Napa Valley wines become available under one roof at Premiere Napa Valley. Wineries throughout the Napa Valley are given one task to participate: create a one-of-a-kind wine for this event to be purchased by one lucky bidder. This event is only open to select members of the wine trade and the successful bidder is the sole owner of this unique wine.
Chateau Montelena Winery
Cases: 10
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2010
Release Date: March - 2014
Appellation: Calistoga
To purchase this wine or check on availability contact:
Nara Cellar
Saint Helena CA


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Colette Daiute does research on child, youth, and adult development in extremely challenging and rapidly changing environments. Her recent book publications include Human Development and Political Violence (2010); Narrative Inquiry: A Dynamic Approach (2013); and International Perspectives on Youth Conflict and Development (2006), with Beykont, Nucci, and Higson-Smith. Recent journal articles include "Human Development in Global Systems," Global Studies Journal (2012); "'It Seems Like It's Normal, Even': Narrative Analyses of 'Risk' in Early Childcare in Rio's Favelas," Revista Educação em Foco–UFJF (2012), with Vasconcellos and Eisenberg; "'Trouble' in, around, and between Narratives," Narrative Inquiry (2011); and "The Rights of Children, the Rights of Nations: Developmental Theory and the Politics of Children's Rights," Journal of Social Issues (2008).
The research paradigm of Daiute and her collaborators and students involves studying human development in the context of innovative activities in educational and community organizations in situations of political violence, conflict, postwar transitions, migration, poverty, cultural diversity, and integration. Daiute's research also investigates critical and developmental uses of such cultural tools as literacy, narrative, social media, and community organizations for the mutual influences of young people and society. One current research project focuses on the role of teachers as agents of social integration among Roma communities in the Western Balkans, and another project studies community colleges as mediators of the deferred action policy for young immigrants to the United States.
Daiute has most recently received research grants from the Spencer Foundation, the United States Institute of Peace, and the National Council of Teachers of English. She has been invited to present keynote lectures and workshops in Brazil, India, Colombia, Serbia, Croatia, Italy, and across the United States. Before coming to the Graduate Center, she was a professor at Harvard University and at Columbia University Teachers College. Daiute received her Ed.D. from Columbia Teachers College.


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(a) Subject to the prior approval of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions, any West Virginia state-chartered banking institution or any bank holding company headquartered in this state may, either through equity investment in other entities or through a wholly owned subsidiary or subsidiaries, or by contract or agreement with others to provide such products or services, engage in any activity, exercise any power or offer any product or service that is financially related. A state-chartered banking institution may engage in a financially related activity directly and not through an operating subsidiary, financial subsidiary or affiliate if it is permissible for a national or state bank, federal or state thrift, federal credit union, or other financial service provider operating pursuant to federal law or regulation or the laws of other states to engage in the financially related activity directly. The commissioner shall grant or deny any request under this section within sixty days of receipt unless additional information is required.
(b) In determining whether an activity is financially related, the commissioner shall consider:
(1) The ability of financial institutions to exercise any additional powers in a safe and sound manner;
(2) The authority of national or state banks, federal or state thrifts, federal credit unions and other financial service providers operating pursuant to federal law or regulation or the laws of other states to provide the financially related service; and
(3) Any specific limitations on financial institution operations or powers contained in this chapter.
(c) If a state-chartered banking institution or bank holding company must make prior application to a federal bank regulatory agency for approval to engage in a financially related activity, the banking institution or bank holding company shall file with the commissioner a copy of the application submitted to the federal agency.
(d) The commissioner shall include a list of every financially related activity authorized pursuant to this section during the previous twelve months in his or her annual report to the Legislature.


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Win MAC Fierce & Fabulous Lipglass!
Temptalia Gives Away MAC Fierce & Fabulous Lipglass!
We're giving away one (1) MAC Fierce & Fabulous Lipglass from the limited edition MAC Style Warrior Collection. Submit your entry by leaving a comment in this post and telling us why you want to win. Winner will be chosen randomly and notified via e-mail. This post will be updated with "winner chosen" when one has been chosen.
All entries must be submitted by May 24th, 2009 at 11:59 PM PST. That's it! This contest is only open to all readers as pursuant to your local state/country's laws.
Increase Your Chances to Win (For a total of three chances!)
Follow us on Twitter (please include your Twitter name in your comment!). Subscribe to our RSS via e-mail (see the giant RSS button on the right!).
Good luck!
Congratulations to our Winner! They have been notified via e-mail, and we have already received their confirmation. Thanks so much to all that entered!


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website design professionals for Mont-royalare there to serve you!
website design project for Mont-royalis and we are ready to work closely with you from the beginning of your website design to the final product. Our team is made up of professionals with the necessary expertise to carry out your ambitious projects. They will work according to your expectations and your needs while respecting the deadline.
Our prices for website design for Mont-royal are very competitive and will satisfy you.
Our experts will remain on the lookout to ensure the good performance of your site, in addition to agreeing on your satisfaction, throughout our partnership. One person will be in charge of your account, always available and easy to reach.
We are a company that offers several services such as website design for Mont-royal, graphic design, marketing, photography, Google positioning and much more!
We perform research in the Mont-royal field to offer you a website design tailored to the needs of users.
Our online marketing strategies for your company are tailor-made to ensure that you achieve your goals.
You can consult our portfolio to see the list of our many satisfied customers.
We work hard to find solutions that will propel your company to the top and bring you money.
WEB DESIGNStay up to date to market trends!
Dare with a state-of-the-art website that has the purest look and impact communication to better interact with your customers.
Web designmultiplatform (computer, tablet, mobile and television)
Transactional Website Design(online store)
- CMS - Content Management System
- Référencement Google SEO - SEO, PPC and SEM
Ideas have evolved, tools have changed, but the goal has remained the same: to generate unique and catchy concepts. We will be able to meet all your image needs. Graphic design is an essential part of a web design.
- Business Card
- Logo
- Leaflet
- Poster
- Illustration
- Infography
- Web and print advertising
- Roll-Up and banner
Increase the visibility of your company and its website with a strategy based on market trends that will allow you to reach your full potential. Google SEO is the best way to have more customers following a web design.
Innovative concepts designed for you! LEARN MORE
We design and develop customized IT applications that meet the specific needs of a project and the company. Our applications can also be programmed in a web interface in order to integrate well with a web design. Get the most out of the internet!
Optimize your time and work methodologies
Whatever the need in photography, we will be able to realize a visual presentation of your products and services while respecting the image of your company. Designing beautiful images after a website design definitely increases the reputation and credibility of a company.
Be master of your image!
Videos have become the most popular media on the internet and on social media. Whatever the need in video, we will be able to realize a visual presentation of your products and services while respecting the image of your company. Videos are a quick way to capture the attention of future customers following a web design, they are generally used on the home page of a website.
Have peace of mind when it comes to hosting a website, backing up your data, managing your domain name, or simply creating a corporate mailbox. We can help you save time and trouble by entrusting us with these tasks which can be a puzzle. When hosting a website, we only deal with the most reliable, best performing and most secure servers. The perfect solution to your web design!
(St-Hubert) QC, J4T 1Z4


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(Reuters) – Three women from the Russian punk band Pussy Riot were sentenced to two years in jail on Friday for staging a protest against President Vladimir Putin in a church, a ruling supporters described as his "personal revenge".
The group's backers burst into chants of "Shame" outside the Moscow courthouse and said the case showed Putin was cracking down on dissent in his new six-year term as president. Dozens were detained by police when scuffles broke out.
The United States and the European Union condemned the sentence as disproportionate and asked for it to be reviewed, although state prosecutors had demanded a three-year jail term and the maximum sentence possible was seven years.
But while the women have support abroad, where their case has been taken up by a long list of celebrities including Madonna, Paul McCartney and Sting, opinion polls show few Russians sympathize with them.
"The girls' actions were sacrilegious, blasphemous and broke the church's rules," Judge Marina Syrova told the court as she spent three hours reading the verdict while the women stood watching in handcuffs inside a glass courtroom cage.
She declared all three guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred, saying they had deliberately offended Russian Orthodox believers by storming the altar of Moscow's main cathedral in February to belt out a "punk prayer" deriding Putin.
Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Marina Alyokhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, giggled as the judge read out the sentences one by one, but portrayed themselves as victims of Soviet-style persecution during the trial that began on July 30.
They have already been in jail for about five months, meaning they will serve another 19, and could be released if Putin were to pardon them. The Orthodox Church hinted it would not oppose such a move by appealing, belatedly, for mercy.
Pussy Riot took on two powerful state institutions at once when they burst into Moscow's golden-domed Christ the Saviour Cathedral wearing bright ski masks, tights and short skirts to protest against Putin's close ties with the Church.
The judge said the three women had "committed an act of hooliganism, a gross violation of public order showing obvious disrespect for society." She rejected their argument that they had no intention of offending Russian Orthodox believers.
It became one of Russia's most high-profile trials since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and Putin's critics said it put the 59-year-old Kremlin leader's policies in the dock.
Opponents depicted it as part of a crackdown by the ex-KGB spy against a protest movement that took off over the winter, attracting what witnesses said were crowds of up to 100,000 people in Moscow to oppose his return to power.
"They are in jail because it is Putin's personal revenge," Alexei Navalny, one of the organizers of the protests, said outside the court. "This verdict was written by Vladimir Putin."
A police source told Itar-Tass news agency 50 people had been detained near the court when scuffles broke out. Among them were Sergei Udaltsov, a leftist opposition leader, and Garry Kasparov, a Putin critic and former world chess champion.
But there was no sign of the opposition taking to the streets in anger. Opposition leaders plan a small gathering in Moscow on Sunday, the anniversary of a failed coup shortly before the Soviet Union fell in 1991, but the next big anti-Putin rally is not planned until September 15.
Putin's spokesman did not immediately comment on the verdict but the president's supporters said before the trial that he would have no influence on the court's decision.
Although Pussy Riot have never made a record or had a hit song, foreign singers have led the campaign for the trio's release. Madonna performed in Moscow with "PUSSY RIOT" painted on her back and wearing a ski mask in solidarity.
But a poll of Russians released by the independent Levada research group showed only 6 percent sympathized with the women and 51 percent found nothing good about them or felt irritation or hostility. The rest could not say or were indifferent.
Valentina Ivanova, 60, a retired doctor, said outside the courtroom: "What they did showed disrespect towards everything, and towards believers first of all."
Putin, who returned to the presidency for a third term on May 7 after a four-year spell as prime minister, had said the women did "nothing good" but should not be judged too harshly.
The trio's defense lawyers said they would appeal. The Church issued a statement condemning the women's actions but urged the state to show mercy "within the framework of the law".
That appeared to signal that the Church would back a pardon or reduced sentence, although the women would be expected to admit guilt if they sought a pardon.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Washington was concerned about the "disproportionate sentences … and the negative impact on freedom of expression in Russia", and urged Russian authorities "to review this case".
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the sentence called into question Russia's respect for the "obligations of fair, transparent, and independent legal process".
In protests outside Russia in support of Pussy Riot, a bare-chested feminist activist took a chainsaw to a wooden cross bearing a figure of Christ in Kiev. In Bulgaria, sympathizers put Pussy Riot-style masks on statues at a Soviet Army monument.
Opposition leaders say Putin will not ease up on opponents in his new term. Parliament has already rushed through laws increasing fines for protesters, tightening controls on the Internet, and imposing stricter rules on defamation.
Gay rights suffered a blow in Moscow when an appeals court upheld a ruling rejecting applications from activists to hold a gay rights march each year for the next 100 years. Anti-gay activists later sued Madonna for $10 million in St Petersburg, saying she insulted their feelings by speaking out for gay rights there last week.
(Additional reporting by Nastassia Astrasheuskaya, Alissa de Carbonnel, Thomas Grove and Steve Gutterman in Moscow and Olzhas Auyezov in Kiev; Editing by Alastair Macdonald, Will Waterman and Giles Elgood)
[photosmash id=7]
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Someone emailed me earlier to scoff that my boyfriend was just posturing about putting up this protest...
Oh really?
If it was posturing, why"s the bitch headed back to behind bars???
The judge gave it to her up the arse - sending her to Lynnwood to serve out the remainder of her sentence! Needless to say, her excuses clearly didn"t work. Needless to say, whatever her "medical condition" was failed to move the courts, and for once, for once it actually didn"t help to be a celebrity. Because it"s her notoriety, her spoiled skank behaviour that has come back to bite her.
In the immortal words of Dina Lohan - Justice!
And Rocky forever. Rocky my love!


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September 2007
Using Supplemental Educational Services (Tutoring)
A tutor may be able to help your child do better in school. Your child may be eligible to get "supplemental educational services," or free tutoring, through No Child Left Behind. If your family income is below a certain level and your child is enrolled in a Title I school that has been placed on the state's "in need of improvement" list, he or she may be eligible to receive free tutoring.
A tutor may be a person who works one-on-one with your child or may be someone who is hired by a company to work with a small group of students. This company may also offer computer-based teaching in your home or school, community center or library. Information on tutoring services is available from your school district, the library, places of worship or community groups.
What should you expect from tutoring? You should expect your child's performance in school to improve. Tutoring usually focuses on a particular subject area, such as reading or math. It helps your child learn different strategies for remembering and retaining information. As a result, your child may learn how to organize his or her time better and may be more motivated and self-confident. Tutoring should be tied to what your child is learning in school.
—Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
The tutor, along with the parent, teacher and child, should set goals. Setting goals keeps the child focused and gives the parent and teacher a way to judge progress. Have the tutor discuss with your child's teacher what skills the tutor should work on. If several skills are lacking, goals should be set to master them within a specific time. Keep a record of the tutoring sessions and the skills that are covered during those sessions. Sit in on a session so that you can track the tutoring with schoolwork and homework.
Expect a Professional Educational Service
If your child is eligible for free tutoring under No Child Left Behind, your school district should provide you with a list of state-approved tutoring services in your area. You may choose from this list. Different kinds of organizations may be on the list, including private educational groups, public schools, charter schools, private schools, school districts, community organizations and religious groups.
Take into Consideration
Program Reputation
- Do you know anyone whose child has been taught by the tutor?
- Does the tutor have a list of references you can call?
- Does the tutor offer any guarantees? What happens if expectations are not met?
Practical Questions
- Where is the tutor located? Is he/she near your home, school or work?
- What does the tutoring cost? What services are provided?
- Does the tutoring fall under free "supplemental educational services" provided by the school district?
- Have the tutors gone through a police background check?
- How will the students be supervised?
- What rules of behavior are required of students? Of tutors?
- How will you be notified if there is an emergency?
- Is there a tutoring plan just for your child?
- How will you know the tutoring is helping your child?
- Does the program test your child on a regular basis?
- Will you get a report on your child's progress?
- Are there parent-tutor conferences to discuss your child's progress?
One Parent's Story
"Bluebirds" was the name of the top math group in the class. Delron wanted to become a Bluebird, but he was having trouble keeping up with his math lessons. His mother called a local high school and was given the name of a tutor, who worked with Delron. Eventually, Delron was able to join the Bluebirds. Even though he had achieved his goal, Delron continued to work with the tutor to help him stay ahead of the class.*
*This anecdote is based on an interview with a parent conducted during the preparation of the Empowering Parents School Box. The story is for illustration only. The child's name has been changed to protect his privacy.
Your NOTES for Using a Tutor—————————————————————————————————


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Difference between revisions of "TreeBASE Submission Integration"
(→User submits to TreeBASE first, links from Dryad record)
(→User submits to TreeBASE first, links from Dryad record)
|Line 34:
|Line 34:
# Is it already in Dryad (via harvest)?
# Is it already in Dryad (via harvest)?
#* If so, create internal links in Dryad
#* If so, create internal links in Dryad
#* If not, ask the user for their access code. [why?--[[User:Tjvision|Tjvision]] 07:24, 29 July 2010 (EDT)]
#* If not, ask the user for their access code. [why ?--[[User:Tjvision|Tjvision]] 07:24, 29 July 2010 (EDT)]
#* If that doesn't work, tell them to just upload their nexus file as a separate data file
#* If that doesn't work, tell them to just upload their nexus file as a separate data file
# Dryad adds TB ID to the record, and TB will be able to check up on it.
# Dryad adds TB ID to the record, and TB will be able to check up on it.
Revision as of 04:25, 29 July 2010
Status: Nescent and Yale are currently finalizing the design and beginning implementation.
- 1 Overview
- 2 Use cases
- 3 Process for completing a submission within TreeBASE
- 4 Open Questions
- 5 Random Notes
- 6 (old) Workflow
- 7 Relevant Text from the Grant Proposal
- 8 Progress with Handshaking (as of 7-22-10)
Authors who submit content to TreeBASE or Dryad will be have the option to make their content appear in both systems.
TreeBASE content will be searchable through Dryad, even if the author has not explicitly included the content in a Dryad data package.
This integration will be based on the following technologies:
- BagIt -- A lightweight format for packaging digital content and ensuring that it is transferred intact.
- OAI-PMH -- A protocol developed by the digital library community to allow harvesting of metadata from remote repositories.
We are evaluating the SWORD protocol to manage the transfer of BagIt packages, but we have not yet determined whether SWORD will be lightweight enough to justify its use.
Use cases
User submits to Dryad first
- User submits Nexus to Dryad, and pushes "send to TreeBASE" button.
- Button says "I want to deposit my tree(s) in TreeBASE and enhance the description there. I realize that any annotations I create in TreeBASE will also be released under the CC0 license."
- Dryad pushes object to TreeBASE. (This is before the object is curated in Dryad)
- citation data and all uploaded nexus files are packed into a BAGIT package and pushed onto TreeBASE
- TreeBASE has a PUT RESTful service for receiving data (later this may be reimplemented as a SWORD service)
- TreeBASE only accepts the PUT if the sender's IP is within the Dryad range
- TreeBASE responds by returning an URL
- Dryad emails the user to confirm "your content was forwarded to TreeBASE". The email includes the link, saying "click on this to finalize your submission in TreeBASE". (If the link can be received quickly enough, it is also displayed within the Dryad interface).
- User goes to TreeBASE and completes record.
- Clicking on the link takes the user to a special log-in page in TreeBASE; upon logging in, TreeBASE is triggered to unpack the BAGIT and create a submission based on the contents
- Dryad harvests TreeBASE content.
User submits to TreeBASE first, links from Dryad record
- User submits/edits package in Dryad and includes a TB ID
- Is it already in Dryad (via harvest)?
- If so, create internal links in Dryad
- If not, ask the user for their access code. [why is that needed?--Tjvision 07:24, 29 July 2010 (EDT)]
- If that doesn't work, tell them to just upload their nexus file as a separate data file
- Dryad adds TB ID to the record, and TB will be able to check up on it.
- Also add an alert for Dryad curators to follow up.
User submits to TreeBASE, Dryad harvests only
- Treat as any other harvested content (second-class)
Process for completing a submission within TreeBASE
Minimum Requirements
- nexus file
- at least one tree OR at least one matrix
- if there is a tree and a matrix, the taxon labels must match up.
- must be "understood" by Mesquite
- citation
- analysis info linking matrices and trees
Detailed Process
- create account
- login
- create new submission
- type title
- the submission gets a PURL at this point
- the PURL can have a code added for reviewer access
- fill in citation
- minimum: year, title, journal name (or book/section title)
- journal names auto-suggest as you type
- add authors
- minimum: at least one author (with first name and last name)
- must always search for an existing author first, even if you know they're not in the system
- allows reordering or deleting authors while you're in the process
- upload file(s)
- minimum: must be nexus, as described above
- (optional) add notes
- this is a textarea, with a reasonable character limit (not enough for a readme file)
- (optional) edit details for matrices
- (optional) edit row segment template
- minimum: row ID, start index, end index
- (optional) provide more details for trees
- (optional) taxa
- match all named taxa against ubio or ncbi
- although the cleanup is optional, the TB editor may reject it if it's not cleaned up
- analysis
- minimum: create an analysis with at least one step. Typically, this will be a matrix that is processed to create one or more trees.
- minimum: otu labels must match in the analysis steps
- when initial submission complete, user clicks "change to ready state"
- this triggers the curator to look at it
- user can leave items as "in progress" as long as they want -- this is a "poor man's embargo" system
Open Questions
- Can Dryad records be transferred immediately, or must they be approved by a Dryad curator first? If records are transferred before curator approval, when is the permanent ID assigned?
- Is it possible to carry over authentication? (single sign-on) Can/should Dryad track user account info on other systems? (or will everyone move to DataONE authentication?)
- Does the user have to press a button to submit to TreeBASE, or could it just be automatic? If we could link the user accounts, the submission could just show us when the user logs into TreeBASE.
- Should TreeBASE have a "pull" method, where users logged in to TreeBASE can import content with a Dryad ID?
Random Notes
- TB does not make content available until the associated article is published
- (new) TB only has one identifier, which is used all the way through the process
- TB has thousands of in-progress submissions, which are waiting for the publication to be accepted.
- Dryad often knows that an article has been accepted, and should tell TB about this
- TB may have an embargo process, which Dryad should use for embargoed items
(old) Workflow
NOTE: This section is outdated, and needs to be cleaned up. More details are available in the general Handshaking pages.
- User submits to Dryad (and completes the submission).
- User is presented with a button "Also submit this content to TreeBASE"
- When the button is pressed, all relevant Dryad data/metadata is forwarded to TreeBASE as a SWORD package (publication becomes a TreeBASE study, each tree & matrix becomes TreeBASE data).
- Items are in the TreeBASE submission system, waiting for the user to finish. The user can login to TreeBASE at any time and complete the submission, adding additional information as necessary. (Or they may ignore it)
- When TreeBASE submission is complete Dryad picks up the submission in its next OAI-PMH harvest (from the TreeBASE OAI Provider).
- Dryad matches the items to existing Dryad records. Typically the matching will rely on Dryad handles being present in the records that TreeBASE serves via OAI, but matching may also rely on publication DOI, titles, or other metadata.
Relevant Text from the Grant Proposal
- "[handshaking] so that, where required by the journal or requested by the author, data will simultaneously be deposited in Dryad and... TreeBASE."
- "Dryad will collect any metadata required by the target database that has not already been captured, submit the pertinent data to the target database using a non-interactive programmatic gateway, and obtain the submission status, accession numbers, or possible error messages from the target database."
- "For TreeBASE, we will design and implement a robust, web-service based submission Application Programming Interface (API). An extensive redesign of TreeBASE by the CIPRES project (www.phylo.org) is scheduled for release in 2007. However, it currently lacks a submission API. The software to be added will include the automated data validation steps that are part of the new TreeBASE submission process (e.g. validating the NEXUS format, matching terminal taxa against the uBio NameBank). When TreeBASE rejects a submission, the depositor will be notified, advised how to correct the problem, and asked to resubmit. "
Progress with Handshaking (as of 7-22-10)
The TreeBASE side of the handshaking is complete. The procedure is as follows:
- Dryad offers a "submit to TreeBASE" button for Dryad submissions that have phylogenetic data
- Clicking on the button causes Dryad to send a BAGIT package to TreeBASE via rest service: "http://www.treebase.org/treebase-web//handshaking/dryadImport"
- The REST service stores the BAGIT package and returns a unique URL as a string, resembling: "~/treebase-web/login.jsp?importKey=123456789"
- Dryad presents this URL as a link to the user and asks the user to follow it so as to finish the submission on the TreeBASE website
- Whoever follows the URL will have the ownership of the data. The user is confronted with a login page, including the option of creating a new account. If a new account is required, so long as the user remains within the same session (i.e. does not start a new browser), the BAGIT is unpacked and the contents become parked under a new submission that is created in the user's account.
- The user can open the new submission and continue filling in information. The new submission should have citation information already filled in and any NEXUS files in the BAGIT will have been parsed and stored.
Remaining Issues/Concerns:
- IP-based authentication needs to be configured on the Apache server so that all requests to "~/treebase-web//handshaking/dryadImport" are blocked except for those coming from Dryad machines.
- TreeBASE normally requires that author data include email addresses. Since email addresses are not supported in the XML data included in the BAGIT, this information is missing from the citation entry created for the user. Ideally we would like Dryad to supply email addresses for all authors. The alternative is to ask users to delete the pre-loaded author names and reenter the authors with email addresses.
- TreeBASE normally prefers to treat Author records as a "one" table -- i.e. each author gets only one record. This feature can only be implemented for the handshaking if email addresses are supplied by Dryad (assuming that email addresses can uniquely identify people), since first + last names are not sufficiently unique to allow the software to pick from existing matches.
See also: TreeBASE OAI Provider


text:
Voters elect Derrick Henry as Daytona Beach mayor
Henry: I knocked on 7,000 doors
He was accused of conspiring to commit voter fraud and was removed from his city commission seat by the governor, but two years later, voters in Daytona Beach elected Derrick Henry, 43, to be the city's mayor.
Henry ran a grassroots campaign that resonated with voters. He was arrested in 2010, accused of conspiracy to commit absentee ballot fraud, but Henry said his parents gave him the gift of thick skin.
"I knocked on 7,000 doors, probably 8,000," Henry said. "(My parents) used to say, 'If you fall, get up. If you can't get up, look up, roll over until you get some help to get up.'"
In a plea agreement that included Henry resigning his city commission post and his job as a vice principal, charges against Henry were dropped. During his door-to-door mayor's campaign, Henry said he did get some questions.
"It was an oversight and an obscure law that I wasn't aware of, and I knew that if they knew me one-on-one, I would have a very good chance to win," Henry said.
Henry toppled his opponent, Commissioner Edith Shelley, who had a lot of corporate support in the city. Henry said his campaign ran from the ground up, not the top down.
"I didn't seek the endorsements of corporations or big name persons. I sought the endorsements of neighbors," Henry said.
Henry wants to get down to business, bringing more business in and keeping those in Daytona Beach, while dealing with an already overextended city budget. The new Daytona Beach mayor said he has a new reputation to make.


text:
It is always possible to make a major change in your life. But if you want the change to stick, approach the decision logically and methodically.
It's easy to give up when you're afraid, but that's no way to live. Overcome your fears with this expert advice on doing the things that frighten you.
Many struggle with large credit card balances instead of saying to others, "I can't afford that," but recognizing financial limits is one key to financial freedom.
Goals come from our values. In 2013, why not live according to your values instead of constantly striving to reach goals?
Turn your next one-on-one with your boss into a promotion or raise with some common-sense preparation and a willingness to shine.
It seems like New Year's resolutions were made to be broken. This year, let's change that by looking old resolutions and getting them back on track.
Almost everybody makes New Year's resolutions, and almost nobody keeps them for more than a few weeks. But resolutions can work — here's how.
During the December holidays, it can feel super stressful to even THINK about preparing for the new year. Don't worry! Follow this list, and you'll be ready for 2013.
Want to quit your job? If you play your cards right, you can use these steps to turn an awkward situation into a great new career opportunity.
Making big financial change requires vision, commitment, and inspiration. Here are 21 ways to stay the course and meet your goals.
When you're working on a personal goal — whether it has to do with money, health, or something else — a little accountability can be instrumental.
Do you really know how much money you'll need to retire? Find out by filling out this short (but comprehensive) worksheet.
Want to figure out how much money you need to be financially successful? First you need to figure out what you want out of life.
In a world of cell phones and instant downloads, being patient isn't just a virtue — it's downright difficult. Take a deep breath and follow these steps.
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text:
Press releases
VINCI increases interest in Autoroutes du Sud de la France to 22.7%
30 November 2004 - Acquisitions
The PDF version of this press release is available for download.
About VINCI
VINCI is a global player in concessions and contracting, employing more than 222,000 peoplein nearly 120 countries. We design, finance, build and operate infrastructure and facilities that help improve daily life and mobility for all. Because we believe in all-round performance, above and beyond economic and financial results, we are committed to operating in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. And because our projects are in the public interest, we consider that reaching out to all our stakeholders and engaging in dialogue with them is essential in the conduct of our business activities. VINCI's goal is to create long-term value for its customers, shareholders, employees, and partners and for society at large.
Media contacts
Stéphanie Malek
Tel: +33 1 47 16 35 00
Investor Relations
Grégoire Thibault
Tel: +33 1 47 16 45 07
Alexandra Bournazel
Tel: +33 1 47 16 33 46


text: Driving forward at a high rate of speed can be dangerous even for those with superb reaction time. Now, automakers are beginning to market "reverse speed" as a selling point as electric cars become more prevalent, reports Automotive News. Considering the limited field of vision reverse driving affords, concerns over whether extensive reverse driving should Read on! →


text:
Commercial Gym Equipment offers the highest-quality Squat rack at the best price. Big order at a discount.
Size: 1691mm*1641mm*1842mm
Weight = 97 KG
About Commercial Gym Equipments Products.
Bodybuilding exercises are very important to increase your overall fitness level. Commercial Gym Equipment machines are designed to suit the needs of all athletes, regardless of age, ability or fitness level.
We have a heavy steel frame and reinforced pulleys and steel ball bearings ensuring smooth and trouble-free operation.
Commercial Gym Equipments offers a range of commercial and light commercial fitness equipment such as motorized treadmills, magnetic exercise bikes, sports racing bikes, elliptical trainers, magnetic rowing machine, Gym equipment. By following strict design standards and using only the highest quality materials in combination with our extensive history in the fitness industry, Commercial Gym Equipments provides state-of-the-art equipment for its customers.
With our full range of products and a wealth of experience in the industry, you don't need to take your demands to several different suppliers. Consistent quality, prompt delivery and impeccable services make Commercial Gym Equipments your global partner in fitness. Market-specific distributorship requests are welcomed. Contact us (email@example.com) today about your order
Country of origin and factory :
Factory and office is located in Shandong China.
Main Export Markets:
Europe, USA, South America, Oceania( Australia, New Zealand)
Payment details :
Minimum order: it can be 1 piece for every equipment but you can't order less than 3 equipment in your total cart. This is because of import taxes and destination cost.
Payment options: Bank deposit / Debit / Credit Card payment (All should be paid via invoice)


text:
Inspired by Postcards from Penguin, a card collection based on classic Penguin book covers, one couple created a massive wall hanging tribute to their favorite books.
The couple posted the entire project on Reddit's DIY section. In the photo set embedded above, you can explore the entire project from start to finish. Here's more from the post:
We're both huge book lovers, so we immediately began thinking of ways to use them in an interesting, decorative way … We tried various layouts, eventually deciding that a shifting color scheme would be the most aesthetically pleasing. We cherry-picked some titles that we were particularly fond of. Among them: The Catcher in the Rye, A Clockwork Orange, Lady Chatterley's Lover, The Great Gatsby, and 1984. Among the authors: H.G. Wells, Roald Dahl, Raymond Chandler, and Graham Greene.


text:
Gotu kola, a member of the parsley family, is highly regarded in India, perhaps as one of the most spiritual of all herbs. It grows in some areas of the Himalayas where it is used by yogis to improve meditation. It is said to develop the crown chakra which is the energy center at the top of the head and to balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain, which the leaf is said to resemble. It is also regarded as one of the most important rejuvenative herbs in Ayurvedic Medicine.
Because Gotu Kola is a rejuvenative nervine, it is often recommended for balancing the nervous system. Gotu Kola leaf & root contain key constituents that help the body to maintain healthy neurotransmitter function, while also promoting normal levels of mental alertness and a sound memory. Gotu kola also supports the body's inherent ability to acclimate to temporary stress.
Gotu Kola leaf & root have long been used to support the health of skin, hair, and nails in Asia, India and in other native cultures. Numerous clinical trials have shown that Gotu Kola indeed has beneficial dermatologic effects by helping to help support the connective tissue that line many of the external surfaces of the body including the scalp and skin. These supportive actions include supporting normal integrity of skin tissue and connective tissue maintenance, healthy formation of connective tissue structural components, and healthy keratization of the skin. Because Gotu kola supports healthy connective tissue, it also supports blood vessel strength and integrity as well as normal circulation of blood.
Uses of Gotu Kola
This information in our Herbal Reference Guide is intended only as a general reference for further exploration, and is not a replacement for professional health advice. This content does not provide dosage information, format recommendations, toxicity levels, or possible interactions with prescription drugs. Accordingly, this information should be used only under the direct supervision of a qualified health practitioner such as a naturopathic physician.


text:
I love puzzles. Crosswords, brainteasers, and search-a-words; but nothing beats an old fashioned jigsaw puzzle with about gazillion pieces spilling out of the box. Right now there is a monster-sized puzzle strewn across our family's dining room table. I have been persistently working on it for so long that I can't remember the last evening we ate dinner at the table.
My family has learned not to monkey around with me while I am hip-deep in puzzle solving. Yes, assist me—I'll take all that I can get—but don't walk by and offer advice or a litany of critiques unless you are willing to give the pieces a try yourself. Time, patience, and the right kind of help: these are the requirements for solving puzzles, even puzzles of faith; because sometimes the puzzle doesn't match the box we were given. Sometimes the pieces don't fit together at all.
I've met a legion of people who begin their walk of faith and everything goes as it "should." They go to church, learn stuff from the Bible, volunteer, serve, give, and become "productive, committed, faithful, Christians," whatever that is supposed to mean. But then these good soldiers go through a divorce; or they are mistreated by a religious organization, or lose their career. Maybe their child gets sick or their spouse dies.
The result is much more than the proverbial crisis of faith; I have one of those every Monday morning. No, it is much deeper, more life-altering and foundation-shaking than that. The answers they used to rely upon, the faith that formerly sustained them, no longer works. The fitly-paired pieces of the puzzle go scattering in the wind.
What is the answer to these miss-fitted and missing pieces puzzles of life and faith? Time, patience, and a little help. Time and patience to keep working it out and to sift through the prefabricated pictures of what life once promised. Time and patience to ask dangerous questions and to listen for unexpected responses. Time and patience to curse, pray, cry, heal, and hopefully come through on the other side, even if a few pieces to the puzzle are never found.
So, if a friend is stuck trying to solve their puzzle, offer the right kind of help. Quietly sit down with them and dig in. Patiently sort through the pieces, and help put it together, whatever "it" turns out to be.


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Had consumers in 1938 been uninterested in a feature-length cartoon, Snow White would have bankrupted the Disney studio. Instead, Walt Disney was richly rewarded for his risk-taking.
The net effects of the regime's economic planning is wealth destruction and perpetuation of chronic, widespread poverty. South Africa's per capita GDP, at around $6,000 in 2019, has not increased in inflation-adjusted terms in a quarter-century.
The EnvironmentFree MarketsSocialism
There are only two ways to solve environmental challenges: competition and technology. That requires capitalism, not the government.
The US government clearly wants to invade Venezuela. But oil is likely not a significant reason, in part because Venezuela's oil is hardly the gold mine some think it is.
Philosophy and MethodologyValue and Exchange