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Program Description
Bachelor of Architecture
The Bachelor of Architecture curriculum of the School of Architecture is designed to provide the student with a comprehensive educational experience, gaining knowledge and skills in preparation for the successful and ethical practice of architecture. Design studios and courses build cumulatively over the five years in order to establish a broad and deep foundation of knowledge in architecture and urban design in relation to developments in the sciences, arts, and technology. The curriculum stresses the importance of architecture as a humanistic discipline concerned with the design and construction of habitats in diverse social and ecological conditions, and their corresponding requirements for sustainability and ethical responsibility.
The five year professional program is framed within the context of a rigorous liberal arts education that includes a wide range of required and elective courses in the Humanities and Social Sciences, together with elective opportunities in the Schools of Art and Engineering, emphasizing the nature of architecture as a cultural, social, and technological practice intimately tied to the increasingly urgent questions raised by the man-made and natural environment.
First Year
The First Year is conceived as a broad introduction to society, culture, environment, and the nature, place, and role of architecture in this context. The student is introduced to the principles and experience of drawing and representation in a broad range of media and formats: freehand drawing is taught side by side with projective geometry (hand constructed and computer generated), and other means of architectural representation. The Architectonics Studios encourage the investigation of space, structure, and form, as inflected by the occupation and movement of the human body, and situated in the context of environments from natural to urban. The first two semesters of the History of Architecture sequence take the student through the global developments in architecture from Antiquity to the end of the Medieval Period, with special attention to non-western and traditional architectures. The First year of the Humanities and Social Sciences Core emphasize the student's reading, writing, and analytical skills through the study of literary, historical, and sociological texts.
Second Year
The Second Year advances the student's knowledge of architecture historically, culturally, and professionally. The Second Year Design Studios are dedicated to the examination, through analysis and design exercises, of the "elements" of architecture and their assemblage, including sites and its ecological conditions, program, spatial accommodation, and organization structure and environment. The first segment of the structures sequence introduced students to the principles of architectural structure. The second two semesters of the History of Architecture sequence examine the history of global architecture from the Renaissance to the present, with special emphasis on the complex environmental relations between increasingly industrialized and developing societies. The second year of the Humanities and Social Sciences core advances the students' knowledge of writing and analytic skills with in-depth courses in literature, history, and philosophy.
Third Year
The Third Year is envisaged as a comprehensive experience of the discipline in design and professional knowledge, supplemented by a range of required and elective courses in environmental, technological, and humanistic subjects, forming an integrated introduction to the environmental, social, and programmatic understanding of design. The Third Year Design Studios build from analysis to synthesis, from analyses of total building assemblages and smaller-scale design exercises to the development of a comprehensive design for a complex programmatic institution. To this end, the faculty responsible for the teaching of environmental technology, building technology, and structures join the design faculty as teachers in the design studio, with students bringing appropriate aspects of their design proposals for elaboration within the specialized courses.
Fourth Year
The Fourth Year broadens the study of architecture, placing it within its diverse urban and rural contexts, with students gaining advanced knowledge of technological, structural, and professional concerns, the planning, zoning, social and cultural implications of architectural interventions. The Fourth Year Design Studios study the relation of institutional architecture to urban networks and infrastructures, public space, and typologies, from the investigation of rebuilding strategies following disasters, the role and nature of tall buildings, the nature of public and private institutions. The study of the landscape is emphasized, both as large-scale natural environments and smaller scale site developments. A broad spectrum of specialized elective courses, including Modern Architectural Concepts, Analysis of Architectural Texts, Landscape, Advanced Topics in Environmental Studies, History, Theory and Criticism, Advanced Concepts in the related arts and professional ethics, deepens the understanding of the profession, and its relationship to different cultures and environmental context.
Fifth Year
The Fifth Year is constructed around the student's development of their individual thesis project and the in-depth study of professional practice in all its aspects. The year-long Thesis is divided into two stages over two semesters, with intensive research followed by a comprehensive design. The subjects of the thesis vary in scale and context, with the proviso that the student investigates a problem of fundamental importance to contemporary life and architecture, identified as a site for the intervention of design as an ameliorative construct. Overall the design thesis emphasizes the profound relationship of architecture to the broader problems of the environment and ecological sustainability, whether at the scale of desertification and rising sea-waters brought on by global warming, the provision of unpolluted water to developing communities, to the smaller scales of urban signification, mobility, and programmatic re-use. The course in professional practice surveys the questions of licensing, internship and IDP participation, and introduces students through site visits to a range of practices and public hearings.
Students in good academic standing with advance permission who complete a minimum of 15 upper-division credits in a specific field of liberal arts may qualify for a minor in that field of humanities and social sciences. Minors are offered and will be designated on student transcripts in the following fields: American studies; art history; literature; history and society. Additional information is available from the office of the dean of humanities and social sciences.
Undergraduate Tuition Starting in the Fall of 2014, all incoming students will receive a half-tuition scholarship. The value of this scholarship is approximately $20,000 per year ($10,000 per semester). Additional financial aid will be provided to the neediest students to help cover tuition, housing, food, books, supplies etc. The amount of additional aid will be based upon a student's demonstrated financial need. Students must file both a FAFSA and CSS profile form to be considered for additional financial aid. Please note that Cooper Union will also offer merit scholarships to exceptional students. Also, Cooper Union will continue to use a need-blind admissions process meaning that a student's ability to pay will not impact our admissions decisions.
The Cooper Union tuition charge for undergraduate students for 2013-2014 is $39,600 per year ($19,800 per semester). Each registered undergraduate student receives a tuition scholarship worth $39,600 per year ($19,800 per semester).
About the School
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, established in 1859, is among the nation's oldest and most distinguished institutions of higher learning.


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In what may well be related incidents, Vizio has joined Pioneer in backing out of the plasma business.
Vizio isn't a manufacturer—they buy panels from other producers. Co-founder Laynie Newsome cites the fact that in the showroom, LCDs are brighter and lure more customers, but there are presumably other factors, including the fact that Panasonic, the largest plasma manufacturer, has had to cut back on 2009 production.
The Panasonic cutbacks allegedly mean having fewer panels to sell to partners like Pioneer. Since Vizio did buy source panels from Panasonic, maybe Vizio got screwed out of panels too. The good news is, Vizio is working hard to gain LCD market share by putting out sets with features like LED backlighting—hopefully at low low prices! What this means for the future of plasma is still unclear, but it can't be good.
Note: Pioneer has not officially confirmed that it is out of the plasma business, but in two statements on the subject, they have not come close to denying it either. [NYT Gadgetwise]

subset: commoncrawl


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Bank of England's King Criticizes Politicians
Senior U.K. politicians came under fire from outgoing Bank of England Governor Mervyn King who accused them of lobbying regulators on behalf of commercial banks. The accusations came in a frank swansong appearance by the governor in front of a parliamentary committee.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... the the ... sources for ... Wednesday ... these conversations with this ... is the feel of the next step is with a ... number of that we know that and ... St ... it'll be officials ... politicians the pressure of supervisors to bite down on the judge ... did in eight days for those cyclical my ... seat number ... in some cases that had ... put pressure ... on the devices ... to modify ... the movies when they talk ... about the King the governor the Bank of England ... accusing politicians of lobbying on the top of the banks will face a new listing to that ... that that the governor of ... the box office ... I was a shawl that we should save it for twenty from ... such awesome soccer George Osborne is tightening all of this ... yes just about what things said Walz said the span of senior politicians and activists by the door of number ten ... members of the prime minister the Treasury ... edifying sunbeams have expressed their concerns of them avoid ... the tough new couple legislation installment of the bike has been putting in this space with a bag with lots of good that the commercial banks have more capital and less about just ... exactly ... so what Mr King said was that the prices are thinking off the phone with a regulators would be stricken with number ten run of complaining than the recommended other than the year for the politicians again we should say that politicians are on a fascinating insight story basis the because of course this was betting being swansong was his last appearance of like this and that is the committee that's common to committee ... so I guess he was a bill that was right about everything that he normally would be ... a little less wind effects of the umbilical government has never been afraid of saying Amen but to write in this case he did say ... that I was the one thing physical people's attention Oakley said was ... used to be critical of years of austerity policies ... which some people might raise my voice ... he's the ... the factor viewers of apps was put in that it is too exhausted to ... serve up slightly ... this raises the team has been a weasel supporter of the government's austerity policies here ... Alicia stress that ... this the King made the point that with offsetting multiples even as Israel ... there has been critical of the arm of Basel two ... as well this is the bows to regulator of thank you all that is off to spend a Delta long standing by benefits of these was far too complicated that Dalton The risk wasting so it's a problem that regulators leaders last ... month it sold so yes the fifth ... the thing that that was a steal but was that his view I mean ok by me he's been ... overseeing one of the two wells that central banks will have some yes ... now he seems to be back in his worldview doesn't seem to securely on ... the bright side ... know your I mean the uncertain global economy he once again call one balances the sweetness in this prolonged time he ... echoed will define Christophe consumption Sino Bank ... saying that that sum to buy some old politicians long time it's going to the extent of the deaths of innocent reforms of the fall in the sky box ... just very briefly at the adjacent ... to think ... he was using this does make disciples goals rate table was this basically given ... the fact revisions to think so I think he just the US the US to use it goes ... just on so the question that is Asta service was somewhat some molding and so on but then again so these things in the box


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Chesil Beach and the Fleet Lagoon
Chesil Beach is located on the South coast of England in the county of Dorset. It is a pebble beach 18 miles long and stretches north-west from Portland to West Bay. For much of its length it is separated from the mainland by an area of saline water called the Fleet Lagoon.
The Fleet Lagoon is a shallow area of saline water between Chesil Beach and the mainland. It is 13 km long. Its width varies from 900 metres at Littlesea down to just 65 metres in the Narrows. The deepest part is 4-5 metres deep, but all of the mid and upper Fleet is less than 2 metres deep.
Hamm Beach is on the eastern side of Chesil Beach facing into Portland Harbour. It is formed from material from the east side of Portland moving north to form the Mere barrier and then Hamm Beach. It is an area of shallow sand dunes overlaying shingle.
This website provides information on Chesil and Hamm Beachs and the Fleet Lagoon.
Both of the beachs and the lagoon are important areas for wildlife with a number of national and international designations to help protect this important area. The area lies at the centre of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site.
The picture gallery contains many pictures of Chesil Beach and the Fleet Lagoon from its southern limit at Portland to its northern limit at West Bay. It also includes a selection of old postcards to illustrate the changes that have taken place over the last 120 years.
Live weather data from Chesil Beach is not currently available following a failure of the weather sensors
Details of access arrangements to Chesil Beach and the Fleet Lagoon can be found by clicking here.
There are a number of organisations concerned with the conservation and interpretation of Chesil Beach and the Fleet. Click any of the links below to find out about them.
|There are a number of other organisations and websites that can provide useful information on Chesil Beach, the Fleet Lagoon, and the surrounding area. Go to the Links page to see what is available.
On Chesil Beach
Information on Ian McEwan's novel can be found here
|Site provided by:
Last updated 9/9/2014
Copyright © 2007-2014 Chickerell BioAcoustics


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NLCS Dodgers Phillies Baseball
The Philadelphia skyline is seen behind the sign over Citizens Bank Park (not shown) before Game 5 of the National League Championship baseball series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
PHILADELPHIA — Will Philly no longer be a place where residents drink wooder and root for the Iggles?
Gid eowt!
A University of Pennsylvania linguistics professor says the Southern-inflected sound of the Philadelphia dialect is moving toward a more Northern accent. Some of Philly's trademark twangy, elongated vowel sounds are becoming less so, though others are getting stronger.
"Certain changes have continued in the same direction over 100 years and everybody's doing it," said Bill Labov, who has studied the Philadelphia accent since 1971 and recorded hundreds of native speakers born between 1888 and 1992 and living in dozens of neighborhoods. "It doesn't make a difference if you come from Port Richmond or Kensington or South Philadelphia."
With apologies to comedian Jeff Foxworthy, you might be a Philadelphian if: you say beggle (bagel), wooder (water), tal (towel), beyoodeeful (beautiful), dennis (dentist) or Fit Shtreet (Fifth Street). Your pronunciation of your own hometown might come out more like Philuffya, you call your football team the Iggles, you say "ferry" and "furry" the same way, and "radiator" rhymes with "gladiator."
Technological advances have allowed Labov and his colleagues to turn their decades of field recordings into voice spectrographs — computer-generated visualizations of the human voice like an EKG — to track speech variations over time. Regional dialects are cemented by adolescence, so a recording of a 75-year-old Philadelphian made in 1982, for example, should provide a snapshot of what people sounded like around 1925.
The researchers' recent paper in the journal Language, titled "One Hundred Years of Sound Change in Philadelphia," concludes that the city's linguistic character is not disappearing altogether — but it is changing, with the most dramatic shifts occurring in the mid-20th century. The reasons aren't entirely clear but higher education appears to be a factor, as does simply being aware that certain local inflections are disparaged by outsiders.
"When we came to one of the most important Philadelphia features, of saying 'gow' for 'go,' it got stronger and stronger," Labov said, "until people born around 1950, 1960, when it turned around and it went the other way."
The Philly accent is getting thicker in other ways, however. Younger speakers use sharper "i" sounds than their parents and grandparents, pronouncing "fight" and "bike" more like "foit" and "boik," and their "a" sounds are closer to "e" so words like "eight" and "snake" are closer to "eat" and "sneak."
"Children speak like their peer groups, not their parents," said Penn linguistics doctoral student Josef Fruehwald, so changes tend to occur by generation.
The familiar Philly-ism "wooder" also might be drying up.
"That sound is moving toward 'ah' so instead of 'cawfee' more Philadelphians are saying 'coffee,' 'wooder' becomes 'water,"' Labov said. "As people become aware ... they tend to reverse them. They say, 'Oh we shouldn't talk that way."'
Not sure if you've heard the Philly patois? Listen to TV commentators Chris Matthews or Jim Cramer and you'll hear it leeowd (loud) and clear. "Jackass" star Bam Margera, who is from nearby West Chester, has it. So does Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Philly-flecked American English a vestige of his childhood years in suburban Cheltenham.
Philadelphia characters often sound like New Yorkers — think Rocky Balboa — perhaps because Philly's nasal twang is tougher for non-natives to mimic. In last year's "Silver Linings Playbook," Robert DeNiro hung out with an uncle of co-star (and suburban Philadelphia native) Bradley Cooper to get the dialect down, though his wife played by Australian actress Jacki Weaver comes closest to nailing it.
The generational shift in the dialect was evident during a recent school event at The Franklin Institute, a science museum. Labov and several graduate assistants conducted hands-on demonstrations including one that asked, "Does Mad Rhyme With Sad?" Most of the youngsters answered yes, as in "mahd" and "sahd," while many adults said no, pronouncing "mad" with what linguists call a "tense a" — sort of like "meeyad."
"I don't know how they can rhyme," said Betty McGonagle, who was on a field trip with students from the Harbor Baptist Christian Academy in Hainesport, N.J. "You're mad (meeyad), and you're sad (sahd)." For her teenage students, the words rhyme.
Mia Weathers, a freshman at the city's Science Leadership Academy, tried with some difficulty to pronounce "mad" as McGonagle does naturally.
"That is just, wow. That's strange," she said with a laugh.
Now the researchers' goal is answering what Labov calls "the most important and most mysterious" question about language change.
"How is it possible that people in every neighborhood in Philadelphia are moving in the same direction?" he said. "We don't have the answer yet."


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Let Them Eat: Key Lime Pie Cake
Get the Recipe
Key lime pie is characterized by a crunchy, buttery graham cracker crust filled with a creamy, tart-and-sweet custard of tiny, sour Key limes. Cool and refreshing, it's a summer staple. When it came to turning the pie into a cake, I did some research and found many lime-flavored cakes or custard-filled cupcakes flavored with simple vanilla or cream cheese-based icings. None of these had the crumbly bite of the graham crust which, for me, is of utmost importance.
I started with a fluffy yellow cake that, with the addition of buttermilk, would play up the acidity of the lime curd. As for the custard, it's a standard stirred one: start by beating egg yolks, which will act as the thickening agent, with granulated sugar. This mixture should be whisked aggressively until it turns thick and very pale yellow—a method that "melts" the butter into the yolks. Sugar helps prevent eggs from thickening and setting too quickly, which will guarantee smooth results.
Lime zest and juice are added, then cooked over medium heat. Even though acid also prevents egg proteins from binding and setting, you do need to whisk constantly to avoid scrambling. The curd should only be cooked until thickened; look for a pudding-like consistency and immediately remove from heat. Carry-over cooking—when the pot is still hot and continues to cook to the mixture—should be taken into account; it is best to transfer the curd to a bowl and allowed to cool there. Prevent a skin by placing a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the curd, or cool quickly by placing the curd in an ice bath, whisking until completely cooled.
The curd is the base for this cake's icing. To stabilize it, I add dissolved plain gelatin, a couple ounces of cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and whipped cream for creamy consistency.
Now, I said that I couldn't do without the signature graham cracker crunch, so my solution was to make a crust of graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and light brown sugar, then break it up into pieces and crumble it over the cake.
This is a perfect summer cake; light and fluffy and coated with a tangy Key lime icing. A layer of buttery cookie crumbs adds textural contrast.
Get the Recipe
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Innovation in operating room integration
imaging technology
An industry leader in endoscopy visualization and medical monitors for over 20 years, NDS offers a diverse portfolio of advanced products and solutions, delivering seamless and reliable medical-grade visualization, surgical displays and OR integration technologies. Our mission is to enable our customers to improve patient outcomes, increase patient satisfaction,
and lower healthcare costs.
Clinical Solutions
Laparoscopy Displays
Known around the world as the gold standard in laparoscopy, NDS widescreen HD medical monitors provide panoramic visualization of abdominal anatomy, in tune with the natural human horizontal field of view. Patented NDS color calibration reproduces tissue hues accurately and consistently, and a high-brightness stabilization feature minimizes glare to allow deep-cavity viewing in varying ambient light environments. ZeroWire wireless medical monitors and solutions offer the surgical team more freedom of movement and better flexibility in surgical monitor placement.
Arthroscopy Displays
Arthroscopic procedures demand detailed inspection of tendons, ligaments, and joints, and are more readily visualized on a medical-grade, high-resolution surgical display. Focused solely on endoscopic technologies, NDS offers the largest range of visualization configurations with video processing monitor platforms ideally suited to support the most demanding endoscopic camera and c-arm systems. Splash and scratch-proof Radiance Ultra displays are extremely durable and dependable, and can be configured to meet your clinical needs.
Endo/GI Displays
Endoscopic visualization in life-like color and detail is critical in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases. NDS endoscopy ZeroWire HD wireless medical monitors and solutions offer cordless mobility in monitor placement even during procedures, bringing greater flexibility and workflow safety to the Endo/GI team. EndoVue and Radiance displays are engineered for the unique challenges of the endoscopy procedure room. Patented NDS color calibration reproduces tissue color accurately and consistently. High-brightness LED backlight helps control glare in varying ambient light conditions.
Fluoroscopy Displays
Viewing live, dynamic images in real time during a fluoroscopy procedure enables surgeons to confirm diagnoses in many areas of the body including bones, joints, muscles, and solid organs, as well as digestive, urinary and reproductive systems. NDS medical displays connect easily to various c-arm systems, delivering deep grayscale contrasts and vibrant color response in addition to split-screen and picture-in-picture capabilities.
Navigation Displays
Image-based navigation technology in neurological and other procedures can help surgeons to guide their instruments with the precision required for maximum accuracy. With advanced surgical display visualization processing capabilities, NDS medical monitors render high-quality, fine-resolution color and grayscale imaging to assist the surgical team in navigation-dependent procedures.
Hybrid OR Medical Imaging Systems
The Hybrid OR is the intersection of diagnostic and surgical procedures, bringing together different technologies typically housed in separate suites. These demanding environments require advanced imaging platforms designed to interface with complex signal chains on multiple levels. NDS video processing and ZeroWire wireless HD medical monitor solutions are purpose built to deliver flexibility and connectivity at every point along the video chain. Radiance Ultra medical displays enable multiple image overlays with world-class color and grayscale image quality.
Jan 30 – Feb 1, 2018


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Need ac repair in sector 56 gurgaon? We'll connect you to the best local AC Repair expert technicians in Sector 56, gurgaon. BOOK NOW
We're your best, most-trusted option for fast, quick, and easy local service, repair, and maintenance of your AC Whether you need AC repair, AC installation, or are interested in AC servicing in gurgaon, Sector 56. we make it simple to fix all brands AC repair services at your doorstep. Technicians that are fully trained professional, experienced, nearby, and guaranteed to help fix all of your AC needs. Repair India Home Services fixes most major AC in gurgaon, Sector 56.


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Sponsoring Schools
Featured Private Schools Near Greenbrae
Don't see your school? Need to make changes? Please contact us
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An evil enchantress
Retro charm in spades
Gather up your trusty gardening equipment and set forth on a glorious quest to free your beloved.
In a kingdom beset by evil, you'll need sharp platforming skills and split-second reaction times to conquer your true love's captors. Dig up ancient relics and powers-ups to enhance your shovelling skills as you traverse the "Otherworld Map".
Packed with nostalgic charm, Shovel Knight delivers a modern take on the classic 8-bit gaming era, complete with comical twists, dastardly boss battles and a rockin' retro soundtrack.


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Heading out on a tiger safari is one of the essential Indian experiences. Here, from the pages of Great Escapes, we present five of the best. Share your safari memories below.
Corbett Tiger Reserve
The first wildlife reserve in India, Corbett was responsible for launching the tiger conservation scheme Project Tiger, and is well-known for its varied wildlife – keeping the striped cats company are elephants, wild boars and flying foxes. The five Raj-era rest-houses within its borders make multi-day treks through the park an attractive possibility in a country where accommodation is usually on the parks' edges. Base yourself at Camp Forktail Creek (www.campforktailcreek.com), with nine spacious safari tents and two mud huts lit by candles and paraffin lamps. From there you can head on guided walks into the forest, and if you want the full wilderness experience, stay overnight in one of the rest-houses. Back at the camp, you can head down to the river and try your luck at catching the biggest game fish in the world, the mahseer.
Corbett is located in the foothills of the Himalayas near Ramnagar, in the state of Uttaranchal, an overnight train journey from Delhi.
Khana National Park
© Uwe Bergwitz/Shutterstock
Probably the most beautiful of all India's parks, Kanha – a mix of deciduous forest and savannah grassland – is reputed to have provided some of the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's novel, The Jungle Book. It's particularly rich in wildlife – tigers and gaurs are regularly spotted here – and its remoteness keeps it quieter than some other parks. You couldn't get better guides to this majestic landscape than Nanda and Latika, the owners of the elegant Singinawa Jungle Lodge. Latika was the first woman to gain a doctorate in tiger conservation, while Nanda has made films for the BBC and National Geographic on the tiger.
Located in the centre of India in southern Madhya Pradesh, the park can be reached by rail from all over India via Jabalpur. For directions, rates and reservations see www.singinawajunglelodge.com.
Panna National Park
Covered in a mix of acacia and forest, Panna is a beautiful park with an amazing variety of birds, and plentiful wildlife from crocodiles to sloth bears. Unfortunately many of its tigers haven't fared so well in recent years, with poaching a persistent threat despite improved measures protecting tigers' welfare. Stay at Ken River Lodge, however, and you've a tiger-spotting opportunity unique in all of India – night safaris, which offer the best chance of seeing these nocturnal predators hunting. Futhermore, a stay in the park could easily be combined with a visit to the famous temples of Khajuraho – only 27km away – complete with erotic stonework.
For information on Panna National Park visit www.pannanationalpark.net.
Bandhavgarh National Park
© Anuradha Marwah/Shutterstock
You've got to be really unlucky not to spot a tiger here. One of India's most prominent national parks, Bandhavgarh is also home to over 150 species of birds, among them purple sunbirds and golden orioles. Ancient ruins – statues, forts and man-made caves – scatter the park, making this a magnet for history-lovers and photographers. As a nature photographer himself, Satyendra Kumar Tiwari makes the ideal guide. Along with his wife Kay, he runs an intimate guesthouse in their family home – Skay's Camp, situated in a small village on the park boundary, with just five rooms for guests. He'll take you on two trips a day, looking for everything from big cats to butterflies.
The park is in Madhya Pradesh and can be accessed by taxi from Umaria (1hr), itself accessible by train from Delhi. Bandhavgarh National Park: www.bandhavgarh.net. For information on Skay's Camp visit skayscamp.in
Pench Tiger Reserve
Another inspirational setting for Kipling's The Jungle Book, Pench Tiger Reserve – now better known for its leopards than its tigers (although sightings are becoming more common as stocks improve) – is home to over 250 species of bird. Animals gather at the reservoir in the centre of the park to drink, and as the seasons get hotter and drier, this becomes an excellent spot to observe wildlife as the other water sources dry up. It's also a relaxing place to go boating. The twelve villas at Baghvan lodge each have their own private viewing decks, giving you the chance for that elusive sighting all on your own.
Pench is open Nov–July. The nearest train station is Badnera, 110km from the reserve. For further info on the park see www.naturesafariindia.com.
Top image © Anuradha Marwah/Shutterstock


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The Shed is an exciting project located in The Caddey at St John's Church, which enables people to work on small repair jobs or create something new from wood, metal or plastic, learning new skills in a safe and welcoming environment, and enjoying fellowship and friendship with others.
Tools are provided and there is full support from a qualified team who are highly experienced in a range of crafts and in teaching and training.
The Shed is open to everyone whether you are an expert or a complete beginner so just come along and see what is going on.
Opening times: 10am-12pm on Thursdays


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How YouTube Channel Owners Are Building Audiences [INFOGRAPHIC]
YouTube recently announced which contracts for its funded premium channels — featuring programming from chef personalities to The Wall Street Journal — are up for renewal and which are not. The video-sharing platform also said it will be adding new channels to the mix this year.
The team at FanBridge — a tool for monitoring audience growth and retention — has put together an infographic of funded and non-funded channels that highlights how channel owners are monetizing YouTube and keeping viewers engaged.
About 86% of survey respondents said they upload three or fewer videos each week, which places more emphasis on engagement rather than quanity.
"YouTube creators upload three or fewer videos a week, but are still spending a serious amount of time cross-pollinating their content across social channels," a FanBridge spokesperson said. "Anyone looking at advertising on YouTube or brand marketers thinking about sponsoring a YouTube network would also be interested to see what to look for when comparing possible channels to get involved with."
The infographic also shows channel owners are promoting videos on other platforms such as Facebook (85%) and Twitter (70%), but only 26% are communicating with their audience via email.
"YouTube channel owners can control email, but it's harder to do so with social network communications," the spokesperson said. "This means there is an opportunity for people to keep track of user base by using email and engage with them there too."
Check out the full infographic below for more, then let us know what you think in the comments.
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Date: Friday, Nov. 30, 2012 Time: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Location: The TimesCenter, 242 West 41st Street, New York, NY 10036 Tickets: Purchase early bird tickets on Eventbrite.
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Contest time! We're giving away a copy of futuristic third-person-shooter Red Faction: Guerrilla, platform of your choice. Here's how you can win it:
Take a picture of red things — the more the better! Be sure to include a "Kotaku sign" in the picture. Send your entries to kotakucontestATgmailDOTcom and have a very nice day.
Oh, and read our rules. Because reading is fun.
Red Faction: Guerrilla [Official Site]


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Gay conversion therapy doesn't need testing
Gay 'Conversion Therapy' Faces Tests in Courts.
Gay "conversion therapy," which claims to help men overcome unwanted same-sex attractions but has been widely attacked as unscientific and harmful, is facing its first tests in the courtroom.
Telling someone he can't have gay conversion therapy is not really different from telling anyone they can't have assertiveness training. You can do whatever you want with your soul, if you're not hurting anyone else. Either we can tell each other what kind of sex to have, or we can't. If not — and I would say emphatically not — then we also can't tell people to be gay or not to be gay. Their business is nobody else's business.
Now, that's at the patient end of the deal.
It's a different can of worms when someone sets themselves up to get paid for curing gayness (gaiety?). Nobody has a shred of evidence that gayness — or any other manifestation of the gender spectrum — is a disease or needs a cure or that there are any generally applicable ways to transform straights into gays or vice versa. So there are big issues of misrepresentation, false claims, lying to extract money from people, and general con artistry. That's a crime. Nothing much to test there, either. Require restitution and throw the bums in jail.


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A collection of scholarly works about individual liberty and free markets. A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
1727 - 1781
Historical Period:
The 18th Century
Jacques Turgot, French economist and statesman, was the administrator for Limoges under Louis XV, and Minister of Finance under Louis XVI (1774 to 1776). He tried unsuccessfully to introduce free trade in grain within France and to reform the taxation system in the 1760s and 1770s. He lifted controls on grain, reduced tariffs, eliminated guilds, and substituted monetary taxes for the required labor of the corvée. His political efforts got him dismissed, but his earlier economic writings introduced capital as a factor of production to the French school, and carried the seeds of marginal valuation. He was a friend of Adam Smith and the Marquis de Condorcet. [The image comes from "The Warren J. Samuels Portrait Collection at Duke University."]


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Achada Grande - Apartado 242
Cidade da Praia
Cabo Verde
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On 19 January 2013 morning, HM the King Norodom Sihamoni and HM Queen-Mother Norodom Sihanouk presided over a Buddhist memorial service « Sangatean-Véraphoat » in tribute to the His Late Majesty the King-Father Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia. Members of the Royal family and Royal Palace dignitaries are present at the service.
Royal Activities » January - 2013
Memorial Service in tribute to His Late Majesty the King Father


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Maureen Marks has always been surrounded. She's the oldest of seven kids. She has five of her own, and six grandkids. She's in a book club. She takes community college classes at night. She's going to France this summer with nine friends she's known for decades. And for the past six years, she's been a doctor – seeing streams of patients into the evenings at her family practice in eastern San Diego. But at dawn, when Marks jumps in the pool to swim, she has only one person to listen to. It's the same voice she's listened to as long as she's lived. Her own. It's what pushed her to learn several European languages, what inspired her to swim from Alcatraz to Fisherman's Wharf five times. It's the voice that didn't let her forget, decades later, five kids later, that the chemistry degree she earned at Mary Washington College in 1975 was really a pre-med major. She dreamed of being a doctor. A love letter barrage Maureen Argo came to Mary Washington College when it was just … [Read more...]
Patient Doctor
July 2, 2013 by


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Our address:
Griffith Edwards Centre
Addictions Unit
1547 Pine Avenue West
Montreal QC H3G 1B3
Telephone: 514 934-8311
Fax: 514 934-8262
Directions to the Griffith Edwards Centre
By Metro/Bus
From Guy/Concordia Metro Station (corner of Guy Street and De Maisonneuve) take the 165 Bus (also the 435 rush hour bus) North on Côte-des-Neiges to the Montreal General Hospital. Walk in the opposite direction of traffic, about one block. The Griffith Edwards Centre, at 1547 Pine Ave. West is located on top of the 3rd long driveway, North side of the street. It can be accessed by the driveway, or a set of stairs directly beside Académie Michel Provost.
By car
From any highway, follow the sign for downtown and exit at Atwater or Guy. These streets will take you directly to the hospital; however, you will have to go around the block on Cedar to return to Pine Avenue as we are near the corner of Cote des Neiges.
Parking is limited, please read posted signs. Public parking at the Montreal General Hospital is also available for a fee.
If you wish to Volunteer at the Addictions Unit, please contact: The Montreal General Hospital Volunteer Services 1650 Cedar Avenue Room E6.227 Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4 Phone: (514) 934-1934 ext 43008 Email: Mattia Angerillo On your application, please mention that you wish to volunteer at the Addictions Unit.


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At least 13 dead in Pakistan from toxic cough syrup
LAHORE, Pakistan At least thirteen people in Pakistan have died after drinking a tainted cough syrup in attempt to get high, police said Monday.
The victims were all drug addicts, police officer Multan Khan added.
Khan said they died at various hospitals in the eastern city of Lahore over the past three days. Five other addicts who drank the cough syrup were being treated.
According to UPI, government officials have collected all the remaining stock, and the factory where the medicine was being manufactured has been closed.
The BBC reports that the medication was not expired. Doctors also told the BBC that the people who died may have added additional substances to the syrup to increase the high.
Police arrested the owners of three drug stores where the cough syrup was sold and sent a sample to determine whether it was toxic, said Khan.


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Tell us whether you play the lottery and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
Today we found articles on lottery facts that may surprise you, mind and behavioral tricks that help you save, and how to upcycle an old filing cabinet into garden storage.
The lucky ducks who win the lotto — or any kind of windfall, really — also win a whole new set of headaches.
We're not fans of lotteries — you're more likely to get struck by lightning — but if you must, try these hacks to make your odds less minuscule.
Learn some true facts about everybody's biggest dream — beating the long odds and winning the lottery. (Including how to guarantee a win!)
Wish you could work with people you actually like? You can — just try one of these ideas for earning cash with your buds.
Tell us whether or not you gamble and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
The recent Mega Millions jackpot serves as a reminder that as awesome as winning the lottery would be, you might be better off not buying a ticket.
We've all fantasized about what we'd do with our huge Lottery windfall. Make that dream a Lottery, without wasting money on the ticket.
What would you do if you had all the money you needed for you, your children, your children's children, and so on? Would you drop everything and retire or would you keep working? I
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OLIVIER GIROUD WILL make an emotional return to Montpellier as Arsenal start their Champions League campaign this evening.
The French striker impressed for the Ligue 1 champions last term before making the move to the English Premier League.
But he has taken time to settle at the Emirates Stadium, still goalless for the north Londoners heading into the Group B encounter at the Stade de la Mosson.
Arsenal enter the clash on the back of a 6-1 thrashing of newly promoted Southampton, an outing Giroud was axed for. Arsene Wenger admits Giroud, who has said he will not celebrate if he nets against his former club, is no certainty to start in France.
"I felt he was under a lot of pressure at the moment and sometimes it's good to get a little breather," the Arsenal manager said. "I honestly don't know what I will do against Montpellier in the Champions League this week.
"I just felt the time had come for him to not be under so much pressure."
German forward Lukas Podolski has had no such problems settling, taking his tally for the league season to two goals with a stunning free-kick against Southampton.
In contrast to the unbeaten league start Arsenal have made to their campaign, Montpellier have struggled.
Rene Girard's men have won just one of their first five matches this season, with their latest defeat a 3-1 loss to Reims on Friday.
Adding to their problems, Nigerian international John Utaka picked up a thigh injury and is in doubt for the meeting with Arsenal.
Germans in Greece
In the other Group B game, Schalke make the difficult trip to the Karaiskakis Stadium to take on Greek league champions Olympiacos.
Olympiacos have made a bright start to their title defence, winning all three of their opening games, while Schalke are also unbeaten to start the season.
Rafik Djebbour has filled the void left by Kevin Mirallas, who moved to Everton in July, netting four league goals.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar looms as a huge threat for Olympiacos – the Dutchman has been prolific with the Bundesliga side since joining in August 2010.


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Marlene M. Maheu, Ph.D.
3 CE Hours
Want to know exactly how you'll get paid?
From Medicare billing codes to collecting legitimate cash payments online, this practical course will review relevant telehealth, telemedicine and telemental health reimbursement law and proper procedures for practitioners and consultants. Definitions are given to help the practitioner understand terms and their meaning. Resource centers are identified so as to facilitate the practitioner's obtaining new information from various federal and state groups who exist to help us get started with telehealth. Medicare, Medicaid and Private Pay (or private insurance) requirements and strategies are discussed in detail in this 3 hour course. Issues related to procedures, approved modifier codes, permitted treatment sites, types of patient diagnoses and licensure requirements for professionals are examined. For those seeking to increase the number of private payors who reimburse for remote telemental health care, practical suggestions and guidance is also provided. A range of support documentation and materials are included to effectively equip you to maximize reimbursement for telemental health care.
Join us today and learn how to start successfully tapping into new revenue streams for your practice!
All required reading materials are included with this course.
Psychiatrists, Internists, Pediatricians, Gerontologists, Nurses, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Psychologists, Counselors, Social Workers, Therapists, Marriage & Family Therapists, Speech Pathologists, Dietitians, Occupational Therapists, Behavioral Analysts Substance Use Professionals, CEOs, COOs, Administrators, Billing & Coding Staff


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Samsung has silently started rolling out the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update for the I9100G variant of the Galaxy S2. Visibly, the I9100G and I9100 variant of the Galaxy S2 may look the same, but internally, the I9100G sports a slightly weaker OMAP4430 SoC (CPU+GPU).
The Jelly Bean update for the I9100G brings all the goodies that Samsung introduced on the I9100 including Smart Stay, a new version of TouchWIZ as seen on the Galaxy S3 and Note 2, updated Gallery app, Project Butter for silky-smooth UI interactions, and Google Now. Other changes include slight UI changes, a new lockscreen, Samsung's Suite of Cloud services, gesture based features as seen on the Galaxy S3/Note 2 like Direct Call, Pop-Up Play and two new homescreen modes.
The update is available via OTA as well as via Samsung's KIES application in several regions of the world.
The Jelly Bean update literally breathes a new life in the Galaxy S2, which is nearly two-years old now. Android OEMs rarely release such a huge software update for an aging handset so late in its lifetime. Kudos to Samsung for the update!
Via – SamMobile


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Delaying adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer more than 60 days significantly increased the odds of premature death and distant metastasis, a review of almost 7,000 cases showed.
As compared with starting adjuvant therapy within 30 days of surgery, initiating chemotherapy at 61 days or later was associated with a 19% increase in the risk of premature death. In the subgroup of patients with stage III disease, the mortality risk increased by 76%. Relapse-free survival (RFS) and distant relapse-free survival (DRFS) worsened regardless of stage at diagnosis, according to Mariana Chavez-MacGregor, MD, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and colleagues.
Patients with high-risk breast cancer (triple negative, HER2-positive, or stage III) seemed most susceptible to the adverse effects of delayed chemotherapy, as reported online in theJournal of Clinical Oncology.
"The adverse outcomes occurred when chemotherapy was delayed ≥61 days, which in most circumstances, gives medical oncologists enough time to initiate adjuvant chemotherapy," the authors concluded.
"Among patients with stage II and III breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and HER2-positive tumors, every effort should be made to avoid postponing initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy. This may lead to an improvement in outcomes for these subsets of patients."
Multiple studies have documented survival benefits associated with adjuvant chemotherapy in early breast cancer. Equally well recognized is the heterogeneity of breast cancer, affecting both risk and the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy.
In most instances, adjuvant chemotherapy begins within a few weeks of surgery. However, the potential impact of a delay in initiation of therapy is unclear, although mathematical models have suggested deleterious effects, in particular, an increased likelihood that treatment-resistant micrometastases would emerge, the authors noted.
Moreover, little information exists relative to the impact of time to chemotherapy on outcomes in different breast cancer subtypes.
In an attempt to fill in some of the information gaps, Chavez-MacGregor and colleagues retrospectively reviewed medical records of 6,827 patients treated for early breast cancer at MD Anderson from 1997 to 2011 and followed for a median duration of 59.3 months.
Patients with stage I-II disease accounted for 84.5% of the study population, and the remaining 15.5% of patients had stage III disease at diagnosis. The study group comprised 2,716 (39.8%) patients who started therapy within 30 days of surgery, 2,994 (43.8%) who initiated adjuvant therapy 31 to 60 days after surgery, and 1,117 (16.4%) who initiated treatment ≥61 days after surgery.
The cohort had a 5-year overall survival (OS) of 84%, 5-year RFS of 69%, and DRFS of 72%. Not unexpectedly, patients with larger tumors and greater nodal involvement had worse OS, RFS, and DRFS, the authors noted.
Analysis of factors that influenced outcomes of interest showed no difference in OS, RFS, or DRFS in patients with hormone receptor-positive or HER2-positive tumors, regardless of when they initiated therapy.
The 5-year OS estimate did differ among HER2-positive patients who received trastuzumab (Herceptin), as better survival was observed in patients who started therapy within 30 days of surgery (88%) compared with 31 to 60 days (87%) or ≥61 days (75%, P=0.01). The difference between ≥61 days and ≤30 days translated into a hazard ratio of 3.09 (95% CI 1.49-6.39).
Similarly, patients with triple-negative breast cancer had a 5-year OS estimate of 70% when they started chemotherapy within 30 days, 59% for therapy starting between 31 and 60 days, and 67% for therapy ≥61 days after surgery (P=0.005). Comparing the latest and earliest initiation times resulted in an HR of 1.54 (95% CI 1.09-2.18).
Neither RFS nor DRFS differed by time to chemotherapy in patients with stage I disease. Among patients with stage II disease, the hazard for DRFS increased by 18% to 20% when chemotherapy was started more than 30 days after surgery.
The subgroup of patients with stage III disease had a 76% increase in mortality risk if they started chemotherapy ≥61 days after surgery versus 30 days or less (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.26-2.46). Risks associated with RFS and DRFS increased by 34% and 36%, respectively.
The study is consistent with other reports in the literature, said Jim Biagi, MD, of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.
"The study adds to the available literature suggesting that delays may be detrimental to a patient's cancer outcome," Biagi told MedPage Today by email. "Indeed, patients who had the highest-risk features for breast cancer recurrence, and who would thus derive the greatest benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy, were the most vulnerable to this effect."
"While discrepancies in their results limit our ability to make a strong statement about delays, the study is an important addition to our understanding of the impact delays might have on patient outcomes. It seems to me that if we are asking our patients to undergo 4 to 6 months of chemotherapy, that we offer the treatment in a timely manner."
Biagi participated in a meta-analysis of studies evaluating the impact of time to chemotherapy on survival in colorectal cancer and found a significant association between increasing time to therapy and worse OS and overall survival and disease-free survival. However, in another study Biagi was involved in, an analysis of time to chemotherapy showed no significant effecton survival in non-small-cell lung cancer.
The study was supported by the National Cancer Institute, Komen for the Cure, American Cancer Society, and the Nelly B. Connally Breast Cancer Research Fund.
Postponing the start of adjuvant chemotherapy for more than 90 days following surgery may significantly increase risk of death for breast cancer patients, particularly those with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), according to a new study from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Further, the researchers found that factors such as socio-economic status, insurance coverage and ethnicity were associated with delayed treatment.
According to the study, published in JAMA Oncology, patients who start chemotherapy more than 90 days after surgery are 34 percent more likely to die within five years. Patients with TNBC who delay treatment have a 53 percent increased risk of death.
Adjuvant chemotherapy, which is given after primary surgery, has been demonstrated to benefit patients by decreasing the risk of recurrence and death, explained Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor, M.D., assistant professor, Health Services Research and Breast Medical Oncology. However, delaying the start of adjuvant chemotherapy may allow small remnants of the tumor to grow or become drug-resistant.
Currently, there are no guidelines recommending the optimal time to initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) considers the administration of adjuvant chemotherapy within 120 days of diagnosis for certain patients as a quality metric. Eleven cancer hospitals, including MD Anderson, are now reporting on this metric.
Past studies have suggested that delaying the initiation of therapy could result in adverse patient outcomes, but the optimal timing for starting adjuvant therapy has not been defined. To clarify this time frame relative to modern treatments and identify factors contributing to delayed treatment, the researchers analyzed data from the California Cancer Registry.
This population-based study examined data from 24,823 patients with Stage I to III invasive breast cancer diagnosed between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2010 and treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. This is the largest study investigating the effects of delayed chemotherapy initiation with contemporary treatment regimens.
"Compared to patients starting chemotherapy in the first month after surgery, we observed that those who initiated chemotherapy between 30 and 90 days following surgery did not have adverse outcomes," said Chavez Mac Gregor, lead author of the study. "However, starting chemotherapy more than 90 days after surgery was associated with a statistically significant increase in the risk of death and breast cancer-specific death."
Those patients who started chemotherapy more than 90 days after surgery, represented by 9.8 percent of those included in the study, were 34 percent more likely to die within five years and 27 percent more likely to die from breast cancer in that time frame compared to patients who had surgery within 30 days from surgery.
As the data also included information on breast cancer subtype, the researchers analyzed whether delayed chemotherapy had a differential effect according to disease subtype. For patients with TNBC, a delay of more than 90 days was associated with a 53 percent increase in the risk of death. There was no significant effect from delay for those with hormone-receptor-positive or HER2-positive breast cancers.
"These data suggest that timely initiation of chemotherapy is particularly important among patients with triple-negative breast cancer," said senior author Sharon Giordano, M.D., professor and chair, Health Services Research and professor, Breast Medical Oncology.
This study also sought to determine factors contributing to delayed administration of chemotherapy in order to identify patient groups in need of improved care delivery. While patients with later stage disease and TNBC were less likely to experience delays, increased age, reconstructive surgery and certain socio-demographic factors were associated with postponed treatment.
"We observed, not surprisingly, that socio-demographic factors determined, in great part, some of this delay. Patients with low socio-economic status (SES), those without private insurance and those of Hispanic or African-American descent were more likely to have delays in their treatment," said Chavez Mac Gregor.
Worse overall survival was also associated with patients of African-American descent, lower SES and those with Medicare and Medicaid coverage. In contrast, those patients receiving care at National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers had a 34 percent lower risk of death compared to those who were treated elsewhere.
"We need to identify the determinants of delays in treatment so we can act on them and potentially improve the delivery of care in vulnerable populations. In most clinical scenarios, administering chemotherapy within three months is more than feasible," said Chavez Mac Gregor.
The results of the current study support including time to chemotherapy initiation as a quality metric, and additionally suggest that treatment should begin within 90 days of surgery, explained Chavez Mac Gregor.
While the authors acknowledge the study may be limited by its retrospective nature, they conclude that all breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy should do so within 90 days of surgery or 120 days of diagnosis.
"We need to start chemotherapy in a timely manner," said Chavez Mac Gregor. "In those patients who want to delay their chemotherapy, I share this data and let them know that a delay can dilute the benefits of treatment. If at all possible, we should not delay."


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EUREKA — Two resolutions to give voters the chance to eliminate taxes in Woodford County were defeated Tuesday evening by the County Board.
The resolutions were two of three taxpayer initiatives brought forward by County Board member Larry Whitaker and would have given county residents the chance to re-examine taxes that are 16 and 26 years old.
The University of Illinois Extension tax levy was passed in 1988, and Whitaker said the Extension programs have evolved as time progressed, but public comment during the meeting was focused on the lobbying efforts of Extension and 4-H members advocating for the levy to remain in place.
"A lot of people paying for this tax never had an opportunity to vote on it," Whitaker said. "The fair way to do it is to give the voters the opportunity. … Public perception versus the ballot box are often two very different things."
Some of the same Extension members who spoke out at County Board meetings last fall when the line item on the budget was scrutinized again voiced the merits of the organization to the board.
"The Woodford County mentality is that we support Extension," board member John Krug said. "I was duped into making the motion to cut their funding last year. I have learned my lesson."
The measure scarcely evaded a spot on the November ballot, failing by a vote of 7-to-8.
Board member Terry Pille, a former 4-H member and leader, said voters would likely vote down the levy under a referendum simply because the language implied that taxes would be lower, and that to reinstate the levy would be a long and difficult process, just as it was in 1988 when it narrowly passed.
The board has full authority to set the levy up to 4 cents, including at zero, without a referendum.
Some board members, including Mike Hinrichsen and John Delaney, voiced their support of the 4-H program but said they had some unanswered questions about the Extension office's other programs and operations.
"(4-H is) only one part of Extension," Delaney said. "Perhaps there's a better way to fund 4-H or change something. I'd like to see those concerns fleshed out."
Another failed resolution would have put a referendum on the ballot for taxpayers to decide whether the 1 percent public safety retail sales tax should be eliminated at the end of the 2015 fiscal year. The vote was 11-4.
The tax was created in 1998 to fund construction of the Woodford County Jail. Bond payments on the project are expected to be complete in less than two years, but board members expressed concerns about ongoing expenditures for maintenance and repairs.
The tax brought in $1.83 million last year, more than what was paid out in bond payments. Board members were concerned how the county would account for the lost revenue, which would likely result in an increase in property taxes.
"The one thing we know is that if we take action on this we will raise taxes on the homeowners of this county," Hinrichsen said. "We do not know for certainty that this will drive economic development."
The third taxpayer initiative introduced by Whitaker was a resolution urging the board to seek competitive bids for the health insurance provided to county employees for the first time in five years. The resolution passed 14-1.
Laura Nightengale can be reached at 686-3181 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @lauranight.


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Russian accused Ukraine on Wednesday of violating international conventions and putting lives at risk by preventing Russian pilots and crew disembarking after passenger flights to Kiev.
Citing information from Russian carrier Aeroflot, the Foreign Ministry said Ukrainian border officials were not allowing crews to rest in compliance with flight safety regulations when they flew to the Ukrainian capital.
"Russia insists on an unconditional cessation of these irresponsible practices by Ukraine which endanger the safety of civil aviation flights," the ministry said in a statement.
Earlier this week, the ministry issued statements saying Russians had been targeted by Ukrainian nationalists in two robberies and accusing the Ukrainian authorities of being unable or unwilling to prevent the incidents.
Moscow has used reports that ethnic Russians in Ukraine are under threat from nationalists as part of its justification for annexing the Crimea region. Russia has also reserved the right to use its armed forces to protect compatriots in Ukraine.
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For all the latest World News, download Indian Express App.


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Article content
Kelly Rowland has chopped down her luscious long locks after suffering a hair nightmare at home.
The singer has been sporting a new bob of late, and now she has revealed the story behind the haircut.
She tells People.com, "I wanted to experiment and colour my own hair. That was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I thought it was semi-permanent colour. It was permanent colour!
"I was packing up to leave for a red eye flight, and I thought that I'd have enough time to rinse it out 'cause I've kept semi-permanent colour on long before.
"I ended up keeping it in for almost two hours and the permanent colour ate all of my hair. My hair had grown down to, like, right where my shoulder hits, it was nice and healthy and thick. I went and reached for the back of my hair and it was all in my hand!
"So I went to my stylist the next day and said, 'So, my hair's broken off, I need you to fix it'. He was like, 'How did this happen?' and then cut all my hair off and it just turned out really cute. I actually used Beyonce's hairstylist... and I love it."
tap here to see other videos from our team.


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I just finished this drop point hunter, see how you like her.
Please click on the image to see it full size.
And here are the specs:
Blade: ATS 34 - Hardened 59 Rc - Hollow Ground - Mirror Polished
Blade Length: 4"
Guard: 416 Stainless Steel
Scales: Brown Camel Bone with Mosaic Pin
Spacers: Ebony,Turquoise,Ivory and Stainless Steel
Comes with handmade leather sheath
Thank you for looking
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Drop Point Hunter
Posted by Ian Van Reenen at 11:59 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Tan Colored Stag Trapper
Please click on the image to see it full size.
Blade: ATS 34 - Handpolished - Hollow Ground - Hardened to 59Rc
Bolster: 416 Stainless Steel - Tapered with embelishment
Liners: 416 Stainless Steel - Relief Milled
Scales: Sambar Stag Tan Coloured
Shield: Stainless Steel - Double Pin
Blade Length: 2 7/8"
Closed: 3 5/8"
No file work
Great walk and talk with half stop
Posted by Ian Van Reenen at 1:48 PM 0 comments
My Newest Knife
Please click on the image to see it full size.
Blade: CPM 154 Stainless Steel - Hand polished - Hollow ground - Hardened to 59 Rc
Liners and Bolsters: 416 Stainless Steel
Liners relief milled and filed top and bottom
Spring and Blade filed Roman Knot.
Scales: Amber jig bone
Shield: Stainless Steel
Blade length: 3"
Closed 4 1/8"
Nice walk and talk.
Posted by Ian Van Reenen at 1:39 PM 0 comments
Welcome to my blog!
My name is Ian Van Reenen and I am a knife maker living in Amarillo, Texas. Making knives is my passion. I have traveled to many knife shows displaying my work which I feel is unique.
My knives are handcrafted with each one being one-of-a-kind works of art that you can carry in your pocket.
I design and make many styles of hunting, pocket knives (slip-joint and liner-locker) collector pieces.
On this blog I will showcase my work with links to where you can buy them if you desire.
Thanks and I hope you enjoy this blog.
Check back often as I add new photos of my work on a constant basis.
- Ian van Reenen
Posted by Ian Van Reenen at 1:25 PM 1 comments


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Grow Me Money Does Grow On Trees
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The Grow Me Money Does Grow On Trees kit contains everything you need to grow your own money tree! Although we can't promise it will give you extra cash, the money tree is said to bring good fortune and wealth to all those who posses it!
Featuring a packet of money tree seeds, a coconut husk pot, a compost disc to feed your money tree and a marking stick so you can see exactly how much it's grown, this kit would be the perfect gift for that person who's always strapped for cash! - L.M.
- Grow Me Money Does Grow On Trees kit
- Allows you to grow your own money tree
- Said to bring good fortune and wealth to whoever possesses it
- 1 x packet of seeds
- 1 x coconut husk starter pot
- 1 x coconut husk compost disc which expands when watered
- 1 x wooden plant marker
Disclaimer: This pack contains real plant seed. The seed can die before or after germination. Please plant your seed as soon as possible. Due to the varying nature of the conditions that the seed are stored and grown in, neither Gift Republic Ltd nor any other company supplying this gift can accept any liability in relation to any non-performance of the seed or coir disc and pot. Occasionally, due to the nature and availability of the seed, it may be necessary to substitute certain seed varieties with alternatives. Images shown are for illustrative purposes only. Please retain packaging for future reference. This is a novelty gift and must be regarded as such. Warning! Not suitable for children under 36 months. Choking hazard. To be used under the direct supervision of an adult.
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Television home improvement guru Bob Vila was in town last week to shoot several episodes about an affordable hurricane-ready house being fashioned from heavy gauge steel shipping containers better known for cradling ocean-going cargo.
Late Thursday morning, as dozens of people watched, a crane hoisted the shipping containers, eased them through clipped branches of oaks and set them precisely on steel plates atop a concrete block with reinforced steel foundation. By 8 a.m. the next day, the four-bedroom, two-bath, one-car garage had taken shape and workers were covering its wooden roof trusses with sheets of plywood.
The house at 874 15th Ave. S, in the Bartlett Park neighborhood of Midtown, is expected to be complete by early August. Its construction is being documented by Vila and will be shown on his nationally syndicated show in September. The show airs on WFTS, the local ABC affiliate, at 6:30 a.m. Saturdays.
Wearing a blue plaid shirt and sitting on a stack of trusses, Vila spoke passionately about the unusual project.
"It's a story about recycling and adapting steel shipping containers into affordable residences. When they're done, they will be incredibly strong," he said. "We just think it's a marvelous story."
The country's ports are stockpiled with containers, "because we don't export anything anymore," said Vila, a graduate of the University of Florida.
It's cheaper for overseas shippers to dump the containers in the United States rather than return them to their place of origin, Vila said.
"It's the same as littering on a global scale," he said. He credited American ingenuity for reusing the discarded containers as sturdy frameworks for homes.
"I see it as a trend as long as we have this problem of abandoned shipping containers in this country," said Vila, who grew up in Miami.
David Cross of Tampa Armature Works, which provided the containers for the Bartlett Park house, said the concept has been around in some fashion for about 50 years. Properly called intermodal steel building units, the containers have been used by the military for a variety of purposes, including offices, he said. During the Vietnam War, they were used as secure sleeping quarters, he said.
Using the steel containers for houses, however, "is still in its infancy," Cross said.
The Bartlett Park residence is the third such home with which his company has been involved, Cross said. While a similar affordable home has been built in North Charleston, S.C., a million-dollar version is rising in Redondo Beach, Calif.
Four shipping containers - two 20 feet long and two 40 feet long and with widths of 8 feet and rising 9 feet, 6 inches - form the framework of the St. Petersburg house. The containers arrived on the site with openings for doors and windows. Cross described the units as "radically enhanced'' and doesn't want anyone to get the wrong impression about the end result of the project.
"This home," he said, "is no more built from containers than a house is built from trees."
In fact, the house will be indistinguishable from any other new home in the area. With 1,800 square feet of living space, it has been designed to comply with the Bartlett Park neighborhood plan and will look like another new home just a block away, at Highland Street and Newton Avenue S. It will, however, be larger, and its garage will face the alley rather than the street.
The project is a collaboration of St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services Inc., Tampa Armature Works and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes. Primary funding for the project has come from Home Depot and its foundation, NeighborWorks America, and the city of St. Petersburg.
"We expect to sell the house to first-time home buyers with total household income at or below 80 percent of the area median income," said Askia Muhammad Aquil, executive director of St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services, whose office is a block from the project. He said the plan is to build a similar three-bedroom, two-bath, one-car garage next door this summer.
The new homes will offer important advantages, he said.
"We see that this construction approach and the materials that we are using will result in a house that is termite resistant, hurricane resistant because of the steel walls and the second ceiling from the steel container, the impact resistant windows and doors and the space-age spray-on insulation. Combined, all of these elements will result in an energy efficient, robust and affordable to operate and maintain home," he said.
The houses are being constructed to meet the toughest building codes in the country, said Ray Price, the project's manager and director of housing development for the housing service.
Thursday morning, Deputy Mayor Mike Dove was on site. "We're anxious to see what it looks like,'' Dove said.
Phil LeClerc, a real estate broker, waited patiently for the delayed flatbed trucks with the containers to arrive.
"I'm excited," he said.
So were Joel McNair, a real estate developer, and his son, Elliott, who had driven from Sarasota.
The Bob Vila show will showcase the project as well as the Bartlett Park neighborhood. Vila praised the community, mentioning particularly its oak trees and ongoing revitalization.
Bartlett Park runs from 11th to 22nd avenues S and Fourth Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street.


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About Us
Our Services
Personal Selections
Burial Vaults
Resource Center
Community Links
Helpful Guidance
Grief Issues
Use the form above to find your loved one. You can search using the name of your loved one, or any family name for current or past services entrusted to our firm.Click here to view all obituaries
It is amazing how people come together at the time of a death. Many local businesses and organizations make themselves available to families during their time of need.
We will continue to grow the list and make you aware of these businesses and organizations that open their arms to those in a time when a death occurs within the community.


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Detroit icon Kid Rock, who campaigned for Mitt Romney for president in 2012, is parting ways with the Republican Party, which has supported legislation to raise concert ticket prices.
Rock, who recently announced $20 tickets for his four upcoming DTE Energy Theatre shows, tells Rolling Stone magazine that he's "embarrassed to be a Republican."
"It's f--ing Republican lawmakers passing those laws, you dumba--es. They already did it in New York and they're trying to do it in Michigan. I've even called some of those guys to try and stop it," the article says.
According to Rolling Stone, Rock said: "They're taking a f--ing $5 service charge," he says, also noting he's more of a Libertarian than a Republican these days. "It's 25 percent of the f--ing ticket! That's f--ed up, but I've beaten them up as much as I can. Then Walmart stepped in and agreed to charge just $20, and it includes parking."
Tickets for his hometown $20 Best Night Ever Tour go on sale at 10 a.m. today (April 13, 2013).
Tickets will be available at Palacenet.com, Livenation.com, The Palace Ticket Store & all Ticketmaster locations, including The Locker Room Store at Great Lakes Crossing. Tickets may also be charged by phone to American Express, Discover, Visa and MasterCard by calling 800-745-3000.


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FAFSA FAQs
Below are frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
How do I apply for financial aid?
You can apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, otherwise known as the FAFSA. For additional information on the filing for aid, review the application process.
Must I be accepted to the University before I can apply for financial aid?
No, you do not have to be accepted to any school before you file the FAFSA. It is recommended that you apply for financial aid as soon as you decide you might attend college. However, you cannot receive a financial aid package until you have been accepted for admission to Saint Xavier University and valid FAFSA results have been received by our institution.
How many credit hours must I take to qualify for financial aid?
The Education Department requires students to be enrolled at least half-time to receive federal loans or participate in the Federal Work Study program. For undergraduate students, half time enrollment is 6-credit hours per semester. For graduate students, 3 credit hours of enrollment qualify as half-time. Students who attend less than half-time can still be considered for the Federal Pell Grant and the State of Illinois MAP Grant.
Can I complete the FAFSA if I have not yet filed my taxes?
Yes. It is recommended that you file the FAFSA as soon as possible each year after October 1 for the upcoming academic year, which runs from July 1 to June 30. The 2019-20 FAFSA form, which became available October 1, 2018, asks for 2017 tax information. If you are filling out the 2018-19 FAFSA form, you will need 2016 tax information.
How can I get a copy of my 1040 Tax Form?
If the Office of Financial Aid is requesting verification of your (or your parents or spouse, as applicable) income information, you can opt to either link your taxes to your FAFSA within the FAFSA application by using the Data Retreival Tool (DRT) or to provide a copy of your IRS Tax Return Transcript. For assistance with obtaining an IRS Tax Return Trascript, please visit the IRS website.
How can I have my FAFSA results sent to you if I did not list Saint Xavier University on my FAFSA?
There are 3 methods for adding a school to your FAFSA:
- Login to your FAFSA online and select the option Make Corrections to add Saint Xavier University as a school. SXU's school code is (001768).
- Call 1-800-4FED-AID. By using the DRN number which is listed on the Student Aid Report (SAR) you received from filing the FAFSA, our school code (001768) then can be added.
- Contact the Office of Financial Aid with your DRN number.
How long does it take to process the FAFSA?
If you submit the FAFSA online, the Education Department will take approximately one to two weeks to process the information and produce your Student Aid Report (SAR), which is a snapshot or summary of the information contained in the FAFSA data you submitted. If you submit the paper FAFSA through the mail, it will take approximately 4 to 6 weeks to receive your SAR.
What should I do if I receive a SAR stating my FAFSA results are invalid?
Thoroughly review the cover page of your Student Aid Report (SAR), which indicates the reason(s) for the invalid status. In most cases, a SAR is invalid due to missing information, such as: income/asset information is excluded, social security number is excluded or recorded incorrectly, or student or parent signature is absent. Instructions for correcting the necessary information are listed on the cover page of the SAR.
What is Verification and what should I do if I'm selected?
The Education Department requires that at least 30 percent of FAFSA applications be verified each year. Verification requires documentation to be submitted so that the accuracy of FAFSA information can be verified. Saint Xavier University verifies those students selected by the government, as well as those who are institutionally selected. If you are selected for verification, the Office of Financial Aid will notify you in a letter detailing what documentation is necessary, including a Verification Worksheet which must be completed in its entirety, signed and submitted to the Office of Financial Aid for review.
How is my family's contribution determined? (EFC)
The information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). EFC is a measure of your family's financial strength and is used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid.
When will I receive a financial aid offer?
Students who have been admitted to Saint Xavier University will have their financial aid eligibility assessed when the Office of Financial Aid has received valid FAFSA results from the Education Department.
What is a financial aid offer?
A financial aid offer details the financial aid a student is eligible to receive. All financial aid awards are a combination of gift aid (i.e. scholarships and grants) and self-help (i.e. loans and work study). The University's Office of Financial Aid will prepare a financial aid package for each admitted student.
Your financial aid offer is an estimation based on current FAFSA results and federal/state regulations, as well as an assumed housing and enrollment plan. If your housing plans or enrollment change, notify the Office of Financial Aid so that your aid can be revised. You will receive notification to review changes to your offer via Self-Service on mySXU.
What is a Master Promissory Note?
A promissory note is the legal agreement between you and the Education Department, stating they agree to disburse the funds on your behalf and you agree to repay the loan in due course.
A Master Promissory Note, referred to as a MPN, is a multi-year promissory note; it can be completed one time and is valid for 10 years. Complete your Master Promissory Note online, by signing in with your FSA ID.
How much can I borrow in Federal Direct Stafford Loan money?
The maximum amount of Federal Direct Loan money a student is eligible to receive for a particular academic year varies according to year in school, dependency status and financial need (based on FAFSA results). Each student may borrow up to his/her loan limit, or total cost of attendance minus any other financial aid, whichever is less.
Why haven't my federal loan funds been received by the University?
Federal Direct loan funds begin posting to students' accounts in the Office of the Bursar two weeks prior to the start of each semester. Students must complete several steps before loan funds can be released from the Federal Government:
- Did you complete your Master Promissory Note (MPN)?
- Did you do your Federal Direct Entrance Counseling?
- If selected for Verification, did you submit all the requested documentation?
What is Federal Work Study?
Federal Work Study will appear on the financial aid offer of students who are eligible to participate in the program. Work study is money you earn by working on campus, while enrolled in school, which will help pay your educational expenses. Wages and earnings from employment through the work study program are not credited to students' accounts in the Office of the Bursar; a paycheck will be received every two weeks for actual hours worked.
What are the other awards listed on my financial aid offer?
Many forms of financial aid are available to assist in meeting college costs. Refer to the Graduate Aid and Undergraduate Aid pages for more detailed descriptions.
What if I need more financial aid than what I am awarded?
If your awarded aid does not meet your educational costs in full, there are additional options you can explore.
How will an outside scholarship affect my aid package?
Some students receive scholarship aid from "outside" sources. If you have been offered aid that meets your calculated need and you receive additional outside assistance, federal regulations require that your aid may be adjusted so that your need is not over met. Please note: Students are required to disclose the name(s) and amount(s) of any outside scholarship award(s) to the Office of Financial Aid regardless of when the scholarship funds have been awarded or disbursed.
What if my family's circumstances change?
FAFSA results are based on the prior year's tax information. Although the FAFSA is re-filed each year, the information submitted may not be able to keep up with your current financial situation. We, at Saint Xavier University, recognize that financial circumstances can change greatly in a year. If you or your family experience special circumstances that affect your ability to pay college costs, we urge you to talk with your Financial Aid Counselor to request a review of aid eligibility.
Examples of acceptable Special Circumstances:
- Loss of income (wages, benefits, etc.) due to unemployment
- Extensive medical bills not covered by insurance
- Un-reimbursed elementary or secondary private school tuition
- Business loss (bankruptcy, foreclosure, or natural disaster)
- Cost of attendance adjustments (childcare costs, transportation costs, etc.)
- Death of a parent or spouse
- Divorce or separation
When is my payment due?
The full or minimum payment is due on or before the published due date for each semester.
When will I receive a statement?
The Office of the Bursar has adopted Self-Service: View Account and Make a Payment, which is more efficient and environmentally friendly. Tuition bills are generated electronically.
To view your bill, make a payment or add an authorized user, log onto mySXU and go to Self-Service.
What should I do if I do not receive a statement?
Failure to receive a statement does not relieve you of your obligation to pay. Contact the Office of the Bursar if you do not receive a statement approximately one month before the term begins.
Why don't my parents receive the bill at home, and why can't they receive any information about it over the phone?
Per Federal regulations on the right to privacy, bills are in the student's name and, therefore, the student bears responsibility for payment. For this reason, the semester bills are sent to the student's home address and subsequent bills to the student's local address. Parents/guardians (or anyone else, for that matter) may not receive specific information about a student's bill, credit balances or excess checks. If your parents or another third party are accepting responsibility for making payments on your behalf, it is your responsibility to share all correspondence, including statements, with them.
For Returning Students
How do I renew my financial aid or apply in future years?
Renewal of aid is not automatic. A FAFSA renewal reminder will be sent to returning students each year. Students need only update any information necessary using FAFSA on the Web, or use the paper renewal to make changes and return the form in the envelope provided.
Why has my aid changed from last year?
Need for financial assistance is reevaluated annually to take into account changing circumstances and ensuring fairness in the distribution of aid. Financial aid packages rarely remain the same from year to year. One reason is that funding appropriations and allowances may change each year for Federal, State and University grant programs. In addition, a family's finances usually change as well, requiring adjustments in FAFSA calculation results and a change in need.
Why have I received a letter stating that I am on probation or that my financial aid has been revoked, and what can I do about it?
All students receiving Federal, State or Institutional aid must demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to maintain financial aid eligibility. If these specifications are not met, a student will be placed on probation and, with no improvement, funding can be revoked.
For Graduate Students
Are graduate students eligible for financial aid?
Yes. Although graduate student funding tends to be fairly limited, it is still available. All graduate students are eligible for Direct Federal Direct Stafford Loans. In addition, Saint Xavier University helps to defray the cost of graduate tuition with Graduate Scholarships and the Sisters of Mercy Scholarship. Funding is limited for these programs, so be sure to file the FAFSA early.


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The figure is staggering: Americans owe $1.1 trillion in student loan debt, which is second only to mortgages in terms of household debt. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently released a report detailing the hardships facing some of those borrowers, warning about a "domino effect" on the economy.
The average balance is more than $26,000 for someone with student debt, and one in eight borrowers owe more than $50,000, according to the CFPB. And some debtors are struggling to repay huge debts, such as the person who told us about his struggle to pay back more than $150,000 in student loans despite a good job.
Student Loans & Credit
Student loans generally help your credit scores, as long as you pay them on time. That's generally true, even if you owe fairly large balances. Surprisingly, even loans in deferment, forebearance or being paid through IBR are generally not reported negatively or considered negative by most credit scoring models. A few borrowers who never missed a payment have complained, however, that the way they are reported (with multiple accounts listed for the same loan) caused their credit scores to drop.
Of course if you are late on payments on one of these loans, your credit scores will suffer. And parents, grandparents or others will also likely find their credit scores hurt if the student they co-signed for pays late or defaults, or if they find they can't keep up with parent loans they took out themselves to finance their children or grandchildren's educations.
But keep in mind, even when payments are made on time, many lenders look at debt ratios in addition to credit scores. In other words, they want to know if the borrower can handle the payments on the new loan in addition to their current debts. From that perspective, school loans can keep young people (and plenty of older ones, too), from buying a car or even from buying a home.
Good Debt? It's Still Debt
Even though these loans are generally considered "good debt" because they can help those with a degree to increase their earning power, a significant portion of those who took them out don't graduate, find themselves with more debt than they can manage, or aren't able to find jobs that allow them to repay their loans. As a result, student loan defaults are skyrocketing.
Once in default, borrowers may find themselves dealing with aggressive debt collectors or collection tactics. They may even be sued for a student loan in default. Older borrowers who are near or in retirement are may have part of their Social Security checks seized to help pay back defaulted federal loans. And just as disturbing, members of our military are reporting serious student debt problems.
Borrowers of all ages who can't keep up may find themselves needing a crash course in how to deal with collection agencies.
For those who become disabled and cannot work, new rules will make it easier for them to discharge their debt due to disability. That's the good news. The bad news is that a discharge will likely trigger a 1099-C for the canceled debt. That means the amount forgiven is reported as income, and unless the borrower qualifies for the insolvency exclusion, they may find they have a new debt — this time to the IRS. At a minimum, the confusion over the paperwork required to claim this exclusion may require the help of a tax professional and cause considerable stress.
It's extremely difficult to discharge student debt in bankruptcy, though that doesn't mean that at least a few people might try to find loopholes they can use to get around that roadblock.
How to Dig Out of Student Loan Debt
Digging out from under student loan debt can feel as daunting as facing that first year of college. Just trying to figure out how much you owe — and to whom you owe it — can be tough, both for some recent graduates, as well as those who have tried to ignore their debt for a while. The federal National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is a good place to start, as most federal loans will be included in that database. Try to get a handle on the big picture so you can develop a game plan for tackling your debt.
One of your first tasks should be to find out whether you qualify for loan forgiveness programs. Those programs are limited, but if you do qualify, you may get some or all of your debt forgiven, and unlike the disability discharge, you may not have to pay taxes on the forgiven amount, depending on the program.
Are you able to make your payments on time each month? Then look for ways to pay off your loans faster.
If, on the other hand, you are having trouble keeping up with your payments, then you'll first want to know your rights, which include the right to counseling, information from the loan servicer, deferment and reduced payments. Forbearance or deferment may help you temporarily reduce or suspend your payments, but for a longer term solution, check out IBR. The Income-Based Repayment and Pay As You Earn programs allow those with federal student loans to reduce their payments based on their income, if they qualify. Payments can go as low as $0 a month for someone who is not working. Balances are forgiven after 10, 20, or 25 years in the program. (The length of time varies by program and depending on whether or not employment is considered public service.)
If you have already defaulted on federal loans you may even be able to use IBR to get out of default. There are fewer options for getting out of default with private loans, however.
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