text:
1248.0 - Australian Standard Classification of Drugs of Concern, 2011
Latest ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 06/07/2011
|Page tools: Print Page Print All
Classification criteria and their application
Main classification structure
Design constraints
Standard code scheme
Reserved codes for residual categories
Supplementary codes
Classification criteria are the principles by which the classification categories are aggregated to form broader or higher level groupings within the classification structure. In the main classification structure of the ASCDC, these criteria are attributes, characteristics and effects of particular drugs of concern. They are used to establish how the individual drugs are related and how they can most usefully be grouped. The following classification criteria are used to determine the categories of the main classification structure:
The most detailed level of the classification consists of separately identified drugs, aggregate groups of drugs and residual categories of drugs (see Identifying the Base Level Units of the Classification). These base level units are combined to form the narrow groups of the classification primarily on the basis of their similarity in terms of chemical structure and mechanism of action. For example, Narrow Group 24, Benzodiazepines, contains drugs that all have the same core chemical structure and a similar profile in terms of the broad mechanisms by which they produce their effects. Narrow groups formed in this manner (i.e. comprising drugs of concern that are chemically similar and similar in their mechanism of action), therefore consist of drugs that have similar broad effects on human physiological activity.
In three instances, the similarity of the broad effect of the drugs of concern on physiological activity is used as the primary classification criterion (rather than the similarity in chemical structure and their mechanism of action) when aggregating the base level units to form narrow groups. The Narrow Group 22, Anaesthetics, comprises drugs which are not similar in terms of chemical structure or broad mechanism of action but which form a useful narrow group on the basis of the similarity of their effect on physiological activity. The Narrow Group 56, Atypical Antipsychotics, comprises drugs that have different mechanisms of action but which produce a similar anti-psychotic effect. Similarly, the Narrow Group 91, Diuretics, is formed on the basis of the similarity of the effect of these drugs of concern on physiological activity. The use of the second classification criterion in this way also allows for the formation of meaningful residual categories of drugs of concern at the narrow group level.
At the first and most general level of the main classification structure, broad groups are formed by aggregating narrow groups. This aggregation of narrow groups was undertaken, as far as possible, so that the broad groups consist of narrow groups of drugs of concern which are similar in terms of their effect on physiological activity. For example, Broad Group 1, Analgesics, consists of drugs which have the effect of blocking or relieving pain.
In most cases, the primary physiological system affected by drugs in the ASCDC is the central nervous system (CNS). In instances where drugs of concern are classified on the basis of their similarity of effect on physiological activity, the nature of the effect on the CNS is usually being addressed. The most obvious exception to this principle occurs with Broad Group 4, Anabolic Agents and Selected Hormones, which contains narrow groups of drugs which are similar in terms of their effect on the endocrine system rather than the CNS.
Broad Group 6, Volatile Solvents is formed by the conventional application of the classification criteria as described above. However, the drugs included within this broad group have a similar broad physiological effect to drugs included in Broad Group 2, Sedatives and Hypnotics. Despite this similarity of physiological effect, volatile solvents have been separated from other sedatives and hypnotics.
Broad Group 9, Miscellaneous Drugs of Concern, is a residual category which contains narrow groups of drugs which do not fit into any of the other broad groups on the basis of either of the classification criteria. The two substantive narrow groups contained within this broad group do not exhibit the same broad effect on physiological activity but are considered to be of sufficient importance to warrant separate identification within the main classification structure. This broad group also contains a residual narrow group which will allow for the classification of drugs not currently identified as being of concern and which could not be classified to residual categories in any other part of the classification.
The main classification of the ASCDC has a three level hierarchical structure.
The third and most detailed level of the classification consists of the base units which are separately identified drugs of concern, aggregate groups of drugs of concern and residual categories of drugs of concern (see Identifying the Base Level Units of the Classification). The classification comprises 186 third level units including 17 aggregate groups of drugs and 36 residual 'not elsewhere classified' (nec) categories (see Reserved Codes for Residual Categories below).
The 17 third level aggregate units comprise drugs which do not support individual identification but which are aggregated to form single base level units as they are chemically similar and, when grouped, represent useful categories.
The 36 nec categories contain drugs which are not sufficiently significant, in the current Australian context, to support separate identification or representation as an aggregate base level unit. All drugs which have been identified as drugs of concern, but which are not listed separately or contained within one of the aggregate base level units, are included in the nec category of the narrow group to which they relate.
The second level of the classification consists of 38 narrow groups which contain base level units which are similar in terms of the classification criteria. Included in the 38 narrow groups are six residual 'Other' categories. These residual categories contain base level units which do not belong in any of the alternative narrow groups contained within the broad group on the basis of the classification criteria.
The first and most general level of the classification comprises eight broad groups. The broad groups are formed, in the main, by aggregating narrow groups which are broadly similar in terms of the classification criteria. The classification has one 'Miscellaneous' broad group which comprises narrow groups of drugs which were considered to be of sufficient importance to be included in the classification structure but which do not fit into any of the other seven broad groups on the basis of the classification criteria.
The theoretical and conceptual principles used to develop the main classification structure were applied in conjunction with other considerations such as: the suitability of the ASCDC for the classification of drug-related data from the health, welfare, and crime and justice sectors; the analytical usefulness of data collected within the framework; and the structural and statistical balance of the classification.
An important consideration in developing a classification for statistical purposes is that the structure be statistically balanced. The classification should not have categories at the same level in its hierarchy which are excessively disparate in their population size (the number of classifiable observations or responses each category represents in any application). This allows the classification to be used effectively for the cross-tabulation of aggregate data and for the dissemination of data from sample surveys. Strict application of this principle was not possible in the ASCDC as it was necessary to incorporate the statistical requirements of a diverse range of community activity sectors such as health, welfare, and crime and justice. As a result, not all of the categories of the classification are applicable in all collections and the categories of the classification may not represent a significant number of observations in all applications. For each individual application, the classification, while not necessarily providing an even spread of data across its whole structure, provides a framework that is useful and practical for collecting and presenting data.
One of the more notable constraints in the development of the classification was the practical requirement to represent the diverse range of available drugs of concern within a manageable classification structure. The principle adopted to achieve this end, and to serve the statistical and research purposes of the classification, was to separately identify only those drugs which are of significant concern in the Australian context.
Many of the base level drugs of concern are known by a number of proprietary (brand or trademark) names. Some potential users of the classification indicated they would prefer all these names to be represented in the classification structure for purposes of completeness. While proprietary names are often more readily recognised, it is not practical to have a list of all the known brand names of a drug as the title of each base level unit. As the categories of a classification must be mutually exclusive it is not feasible to identify each brand name as a separate category.
An additional limitation to the use of proprietary names to represent base level units is that many of the more popular or well known brand names are often used, in a generic manner, to refer to all brands of the same product. For example, Panadol to refer to paracetamol, Valium to refer to diazepam, and Prozac to refer to fluoxetine. Therefore, each drug of concern is identified once only in the classification, and where applicable, the base level units reflect the generic name of a drug. Proprietary names are included in the Coding Indexes data cube.
In some instances the generic name of a drug constituting a category of the classification is expressed as an abbreviation of the full chemical name of the psychoactive substance. This is done because of the length of the name or because the abbreviation is more commonly used than the full chemical name. Where abbreviations are used for category names in the main classification structure, the full name is provided in the List of Abbreviations and in the Coding Indexes.
A further factor which influenced the once only representation and titles of the base level units relates to the coverage of the classification. Many drugs can exist in more than one chemical form. Although most are available in their crystalline salt form (hydrochloride, sulphate, citrate, etc.), some are available in their base form. Drugs are also available in different physical forms. As the main classification structure is not intended to classify the form of a drug, substances such as cannabis, hash oil or cannabis resin are all coded to the base level unit, Cannabinoids, which represents the psychoactive compounds common to all the forms of the drug. Similarly, morphine hydrochloride, morphine sulfate and morphine tartrate are all coded to the base level unit Morphine.
Many collectors and users of data relating to drugs of concern require information on the form of a drug as well as the chemical substance. To distinguish between different forms of a particular drug a form of drug classification has been included in the ASCDC Type of Drug Classification and Additional Classifications data cube. The purpose of this classification is to act in conjunction with the main classification structure to further define data relating to drugs of concern without compromising the principles of the main classification structure. The Form of Drug classification allows users to define drugs based on the mode in which the drug exists or is encountered, for example, Powder, Leaf, Granule/rock, or Resin.
In the main classification structure, one, two and four-digit codes have been assigned to the first, second and third-level units of the classification respectively. The first digit identifies the broad group in which each narrow group and base level unit is contained. The first and second digits identify the narrow group in which each base level unit is contained. The four-digit codes represent each of the base level units which are separately identified drugs of concern, aggregate groups of drugs of concern and residual (nec) categories of drugs of concern.
For example, the one-digit code 3, denotes the third broad group in the classification structure, Stimulants and Hallucinogens. The two-digit code 31 identifies the first narrow group, Amphetamines, contained within this broad group. The four-digit code 3103 denotes the third base level unit, Methamphetamine, contained within the first narrow group, Amphetamines, of the third broad group, Stimulants and Hallucinogens. This example is presented as follows:
31 Amphetamines
3102 Dexamphetamine
3103 Methamphetamine
3104 Amphetamine analogues
3199 Amphetamines, nec
It should be noted that one, two and four-digit codes ending with 9 are reserved to denote residual categories of the classification at the broad, narrow and base levels respectively (see Reserved Codes for Residual Categories below). A trailing or leading digit 0 is also reserved, for supplementary codes, which are used to process inadequately described responses in statistical collections (see Supplementary Codes below).
As the profile of drug activity in Australia changes it may be necessary to add drugs to, or delete drugs from, the classification structure. If a drug needs to be separately identified in the structure, it will be allocated the next available four-digit code in the narrow group to which it is being added. The available four-digit codes are those ending in the numerals one to eight (four-digit codes ending in zero or nine being reserved for residual categories).
The base level units identified in each narrow group in the original ASCDC were presented in alphabetical order, with the exception of the residual (nec) categories. Where new base level categories have been added to existing narrow groups in the Second Edition, they have been added following the already existing categories, disrupting the alphabetic ordering. If it is necessary to move a base level category from one narrow group to another, it will be allocated the next available code of the narrow group to which it is moved. Its previous code will not be reallocated. See the 'What's changed' section for more information.
The code scheme has been devised so that any future amendments to the structure can easily be accommodated. However, to ensure that the ASCDC remains standard, users of the classification should not make changes to the structure.
In most narrow groups of the main classification structure a four-digit code, consisting of the two digits of the narrow group followed by the digits 99, is reserved as a residual 'not elsewhere classified' (nec) base level category. All drugs which have been identified as drugs of concern but which are not separately identified in the classification structure or included in one of the aggregate base level groups, are included in the residual (nec) category of the narrow group to which they relate. Individual drugs of concern are allocated to a narrow group residual category on the following basis:
The main classification structure has 36 residual categories at the base level.
In each broad group, codes are also reserved for residual categories at the narrow group level. These codes consist of the broad group code followed by 9. These categories are termed 'Other' and consist of separately identified drugs of concern which do not fit into any of the narrow groups contained within the broad group, on the basis of the classification criteria. The classification contains six 'Other' narrow groups. No residual narrow group is provided in Broad Group 1, Analgesics, and Broad Group 7, Cannabinoids and Related Drugs, as the narrow groups within these broad groups are logically exhaustive of all drugs within these broad groups.
The main classification structure has one residual broad group which is represented by the initial code 9. It comprises narrow groups of drugs which were considered to be of sufficient importance to be included in the classification structure but which did not fit into any of the other broad groups on the basis of the classification criteria.
It should be noted that residual categories are part of the classification structure and are to be used to classify specific drugs. They are not be be created or used to code responses which contain insufficient information to be accurately assigned to another category of the classification (see Supplementary Codes below and Coding Procedures).
Supplementary codes are used to process inadequately described responses in statistical, administrative and service delivery collections. These codes are of two types:
Codes ending in zero are described as 'not further defined' (nfd) codes and are used to code responses to a question about drugs which cannot be accurately coded to one of the base level units but which can be coded to a higher level of the classification structure.
For example, responses which contain insufficient information to be identified as relating directly to a particular drug of concern, but which are known to be within the range of drugs represented by a particular narrow group, are coded to that narrow group. Such responses are allocated an nfd code consisting of the two-digit code of the narrow group followed by 00. For instance, the response Benzodiazepine does not contain sufficient information to be coded directly to any specific drug of concern, but it can be coded to Narrow Group 24 which encompasses all Benzodiazepines. It is thus allocated the nfd code 2400, Benzodiazepines, nfd.
Similarly, responses which do not contain sufficient information to be accurately coded to a specific drug of concern, or to a narrow group, but which are known to be within the range of drugs represented by a particular broad group, are coded to that broad group. Such responses are allocated an nfd code consisting of the single-digit code of the broad group followed by 000. For example, the response Antidepressant, which does not contain sufficient information to be coded directly to any particular narrow group, can be coded to Broad Group 5 which encompasses all Antidepressants and Antipsychotics. It is thus allocated the nfd code 5000, Antidepressants and Antipsychotics, nfd.
Therefore, responses or input data which can only be assigned codes at the broad or narrow group levels of the classification can be processed within a collection at the four-digit or drug of concern level. This allows the coding process to be as precise as the input data quality allows, preserving data that would otherwise be lost and either not coded or coded as inadequately described.
Supplementary codes are listed in Table 2 of the Type of Drug Classification and Additional Classifications data cube.
Document Selection
These documents will be presented in a new window.


text:
Welcome to THEMETUNEBOY.COM
Hope you like the all new THEMETUNEBOY website. It is and probably always will be a work in progress. But it's better than the old one anyway. You can hear THEMETUNEBOYs album Return of the Living Dead/ROTLD here on the site or via many of the links down low. It's available as a FREE download on bandcamp and/or to buy on CD here on the site too either through iTunes, bandcamp or direct from TTB. Call on in to one of the social media sites below and say hi as well.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Site in Shining Armor
This story appears in the September 2000 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »
Sure, your Web site is up and running, and you're generating more orders every day. But you could lose all that good fortune-and your Web site, too-if you fail to cover your legal bases. Think about it: Litigation is not only expensive, but it could result in the loss of your logo, brand name or even the site itself.
The good news is, at least there are steps you can take to protect your company from potential legal pitfalls. The bad news is, legal issues are more complicated for e-businesses than for traditional ones. Unlike entrepreneurs who set up brick-and-mortar stores, entrepreneurs who are "setting up an Internet site subject themselves to regulation by all 50 states and, potentially, by foreign nations," says Steven C. Bahls, dean of Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio, and one of Entrepreneur's monthly columnists. "Some courts have held that the place of sale is in the state where the offer was accepted, which is every state."
As your Web site grows and develops, it's imperative that you protect your intellectual property with trademarks, copyrights and patents under Trademark and Copyright law. You can trademark the name, symbol or slogan that identifies your business as the source of a particular good or service. Trademarks on your Web site might include your company name or logo, names of products or services and the domain name. A trademark gives you the right to exclude competitors from using names, symbols or slogans that customers would confuse with your company.
"The main steps in the trademarking process include registering your mark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) as well as searching for pre-existing trademarks that might conflict with [yours]," says Mark J. McGuire, president of trademark research and brand protection firm NameProtect.com in Madison, Wisconsin. Although companies develop rights to trademarks simply by using them, you can strengthen those rights by registering them with the PTO. In fact, federal registration may be the single best way to protect your trademarks on the Internet. (This protection is especially important for domain names-the administrative body in charge of registering and administering domain names has a dispute policy that favors the holders of registered trademarks.) The PTO's filing fee for a trademark registration is $245.
You can access trademark forms and application information by logging on to the PTO Web site. The forms may be downloaded, filled out and mailed in. To search for other pre-existing trademarks that might conflict with yours, check out the PTO's trademark database on the Web.
There are also tools on the Internet designed to help you with the process: NameProtect.com, for example, offers a service that lets you know if your name is infringing on a pre-existing trademark by looking for possible conflicts in the U.S. federal database of trademarks, the Canadian database of trademarks, the Internet-domain-name database and InfoUSA's company-name database. You can search unlimited name variations online for free.
NameProtect.com also offers a free service called NameGuard, which gives you periodic Web-based reports that identify threats to your brand and include the tools you need to ensure that it's unique and secure. NameGuard reports are updated every 30 days. The NameGuard service provides brand-related information in three key areas: First, it tracks new domain names being registered worldwide, as well as domains being sold in the secondary markets that have potential to conflict with your company's domain, misdirect its customers or be used by a potential online competitor. Second, NameGuard will track new trademark applications in multiple countries that might conflict with your company's name. Because a trademark holder can exclude others from using a similar name, this is important for new companies without trademark protection as well as companies that have protected their trademark rights and want to snuff out potential infringement. And finally, NameGuard reports on which companies link to subscribers' Web sites and allows subscribers to learn what customers and others are saying about the company online.
It's also important to copyright your Web site-that way, you can prevent unauthorized use of its content. A copyright can attach to creative works of authorship that are fixed in some tangible form. The U.S. Copyright Office permits copyright registration of both graphical and textual elements of a Web site (including graphics and photos, plus product and company descriptions).
If you intend to maintain control over how your work is being used, you'll definitely need to get a copyright. Keep in mind, however, that although copyright protection under U.S. law takes effect the moment a work is produced in tangible form, only those works that are registered with the Copyright Office are entitled to substantial damages in lawsuits.
If you own a Web site, you should register a copyright as soon as possible. Contact the U.S. Copyright Office at (202) 707-5959 or visit its Web site to obtain an application form. There is a $20 application fee.
McQuire says that if any part of your Web site was created by an outside Web developer, copyright ownership of the work "may reside in the outside developer, even if you've paid the developer for that work. If possible, have the developer sign an agreement stating that you retain the copyright to any creative Web site content." Put notices on your Web site alerting people to your copyright and trademark rights.
But keep the following information in mind: Internet merchants need to be sure that they-not the developer they're working with on the Web site-have the exclusive right to use the site and make any changes to it. Secure that relationship by drawing up a legal contract stating that the material on the site is owned "by the entrepreneur, as opposed to the Web company," says Bahls. "Otherwise, you might not be able to change your site without the original designer's permission, and you might even get kicked off the site." Bahls adds that the contract should include a clear "understanding of the fees and the ability to update the site."
Trading Trademarks
Do you already have rights to the images or content on your Web site? If so, you may be able to create additional value-by selling or licensing them. IPnetwork.com, a New York City company, can provide support in this area. It offers information and services designed to guide you through the process of selling or donating your rights. If you want to license your property, IPnetwork.com will help you license it to the right bidder. IPnetwork.com can also help you determine a reasonable price for your properties and assist you in deciding what you really need to get out of a licensing deal.
What's more, the company allows entrepreneurs who want to buy or license any type of IP rights-from biotech patents to comic-book characters, which add artistic value to Web sites-a resource for doing so. You can browse through the properties listed in the auction area or use a comprehensive search engine to quickly home in on specific properties.
"You know you need art to make your site look great, but if you just lift some images from another site, that's infringement," says Christine Hearst Schwarzman, IPNetwork.com's founder and CEO. "This site helps you find out who owns the property so you can pay the small fee to the owner and not infringe upon them."
So take the time to cover your legal bases. Your work will certainly pay off for your Web site today-and ensure your Net venture will be able to rake in the profits tomorrow.


text:
Given how central JavaScript is to many modern web applications, it is important to use unit tests to drive the design and quality of that JavaScript. But I've noticed that there are a lot of developers that don't know where to start.
There are many test frameworks out there, but the one I love is QUnit, the jQuery unit test framework.
Most of my experience with QUnit is writing tests for a client script library such as a jQuery plugin. Here's an example of one QUnit test file I wrote a while ago (so you know it's nasty).
You'll notice that the entire set of tests is in a single static HTML file.
I saw a recent blog post by Jonathan Creamer that uses ASP.NET MVC 3 layouts for QUnit tests. It's a neat approach that consolidates all the QUnit boilerplate into a single layout page. This allows you to have multiple test files and duplicate that boilerplate.
But there was one thing that nagged me about it. For each new set of tests, you need to add an action method and a corresponding view. ASP.NET MVC does not allow rendering a view without a controller action.
Controller-Less Views
The idea of controller-less views has been one tossed around by folks, but there are all sorts of design issues that come up when you consider it. For example, how do you request such a view directly? If you allow that, what if the view is intended to be rendered by a controller action. Now you have two ways to access that view, one of which is probably incorrect. And so on.
However, there is another lesser known framework (at least, lesser known to ASP.NET MVC developers) from the ASP.NET team that pretty much provides this ability!
ASP.NET Web Pages with Razor Syntax
It's a product called ASP.NET Web Pages that is designed to appeal to developers who prefer an approach to web development that's more like PHP or classic ASP.
Aside: I'd like to go on record and say I hated that name from the beginning because it causes so much confusion. Isn't everything I do in ASP.NET a web page?
A Web Page in ASP.NET Web Pages (see, confusing!) uses Razor syntax inline to render out the response to a request. ASP.NET Web Pages also support layouts. This means we can create an approach very similar to Jonathan's, but we only need to add one file for each new set of tests. Even better, this approach works for both ASP.NET MVC 3 and ASP.NET Web Pages.
The Code
The code to do this is straightforward. I just created a folder namedtest which will contain all my unit tests. I added an
_PageStart.cshtml file to this directory that sets the layout for each page. Note that this is equivalent to the
_ViewStart.cshtmlpage in ASP.NET MVCs.
@{ Layout = "_Layout.cshtml"; }
The next step is to write the layout file,
_Layout.cshtml. This contains the QUnit boilerplate along with a place holder (the
RenderBody call) for the actual tests.
<!DOCTYPE html>   <title>@Page.Title</title> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/content/qunit.css " />   @RenderSection("Javascript", false) @* Tests are written in the body. *@ @RenderBody()
 @(Page.Title ?? "QUnit tests")

 Back to tests

And now, one or more files that contain the actual test. Here's an example called
@{ Page.Title = "FooTests"; } @if (false) { // OPTIONAL! QUnit script (here for intellisense)  }
You'll note that I have this funky if (false) block in the code. That's to workaround a current limitation in Razor so that JavaScript Intellisense for QUnit works in this file. If you don't care for Intellisense, you don't need it. I hope that in the future, Razor will pick up the script in the layout and you won't need this either way.
With this in place, to add a new test with the proper QUnit boilerplate is very easy. Just add a .cshtml file, set the title for the tests, and then add the script you're testing and the test script into the same file.
The last step is to create an index into all the tests. I wrote the following
index.cshtml file that creates a list of links for each set of tests. It simply iterates through every test file and generates a link. One nifty little perk of using ASP.NET Web Pages is you can leave off the extension when you request the file.
@using System.IO; @{ Layout = null; var files = from path in Directory.GetFiles(Server.MapPath("./"), "*.cshtml") let fileName = Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(path) where !fileName.StartsWith("_") && !fileName.Equals("index", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) select fileName; } <!DOCTYPE html>   <title></title>

QUnit tests

 @foreach (var file in files) {
@file
 }

The output of this page isn't pretty, but it works. When I navigate to /test I see a list of my test files:
Here's the contents of my test folder when I'm done with all this.
I personally haven't used this approach yet, but I think it could be a nice approach if you tend to have more than one QUnit test file in your projects and you tend to customize the boilerplate for those tests.
I tend to just use a static HTML file, but so far, most of my QUnit tests are for a single JavaScript library. But this approach might come in handy when I get around to testing the JavaScript in the NuGet gallery.


text:
About Marketing Magazine
Originally launched in June 2002, Marketing magazine is Asia's leading source of advertising, marketing and media intelligence with editions in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia (Advertising+Marketing Malaysia). Credible, fiercely independent and always first with the big stories, the magazine reaches out to more advertising and marketing professionals in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia than any other magazine.
Marketing Daily e-newsletter
The monthly print edition of Marketing is supported by Marketing Daily, a daily email news service which is emailed every work day to over 60,000 advertising and marketing professionals in Singapore, 52,000 in Hong Kong, 42,000 in Malaysia Advertising + Marketing Daily), 1,600 in Philippines and over 7,000 folks in Indonesia.
To subscribe to your local Marketing Daily newsletter, click here.
Marketing Magazine Events
Marketing offers a wide range of events – from intimate Roundtables to regional Conferences – these events are best described as 'live' editions of Marketing magazine. Find out more here.


text:
The question in the Situation Room that day: What would happen if Obama publicly committed to a war to keep Iran from getting a nuclear weapon?
Obama had never made such a promise in public, and he thought it would help persuade Netanyahu to step back from the brink. But by speaking out, he would be putting the U.S.'s credibility on the line in the global effort to prevent Tehran from getting a weapon. If he promised to go to war and didn't follow through, other nations in the region, distrusting American assurances of protection, would start their own nuclear programs. Obama said that he was aware of the risk but that he wanted to draw the line in public anyway. On March 4, 2012, Obama told the AIPAC crowd, "I will not hesitate to use force when it is necessary to defend the United States and its interests." In his interview with Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic, he said, "As President of the United States, I don't bluff."
One year later, Iran has yet to call it. Even as Obama has committed to using military force to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, he has worked hard to avoid war. Attacking Iran's nuclear sites could cost American military and civilian lives, set off a wave of terrorist attacks, spike oil prices and sour the U.S.'s relations with Muslims worldwide. So Obama has tried to slow or derail the Iranian program through a combination of diplomacy, sanctions and covert action. He has succeeded in pushing the timeline for war back at least 12 months…
In the mythology of the American presidency, a Commander in Chief makes tough decisions once, unreservedly, and then acts. Just as often, though, a President acts to avoid tough decisions and then works behind the scenes to steer events, persuade friends and enemies and avoid no-win choices. As the dangerous, complicated drama involving the U.S., Iran and Israel enters its final chapters, Obama will soon face the hardest decision of his presidency. This is the story of how he got here.


text:
DEAR JOAN: We frequently walk the Contra Costa Canal Trail between Oak Grove Road and Treat Boulevard, below Lime Ridge. We love observing the ducks and egrets. Lo and behold, recently we saw something unusual.
A creature — definitely not a duck or an egret — was swimming very quickly, nearly keeping pace with our walking. It avoided every opportunity to try to get out of the canal.
The flow was cut off earlier for the winter draining so the water is very low. This creature went under the bridge at Citrus Avenue and under the creek (amazing). It then went into the canal intersection and headed north toward Treat Boulevard. Then it climbed onto the straining forks and onto the collected debris. With a good view, we think it was a muskrat.
Where is his normal home? It certainly isn't in the canal. The normally heavy flow would have kept him from going under the two huge obstacles. Comments?
Anna Belle H.
DEAR ANNA BELLE: The Contra Costa Canal has a lot of wildlife visitors. My friend and I walk a section of the trail south of Oak Grove and we've seen some sights.
The water is pumped up from the Delta and so marine life often follows the food, using the canal like a watery highway to travel inland. Muskrats, beavers and otters all have been spotted in the canal.
Although muskrats are common, my guess is that you saw a river otter. There have been three spotted in the canal recently.
DEAR JOAN: On our bike ride through Heather Farm Park on Jan. 12, my daughter, Scooter, pointed out these otters. One was busy chewing on a fish or crawdad. We heard from other people who stopped by to watch that these otters are often there. It was a treat for us to be a spectator, too.
Lynda N.
Walnut Creek
DEAR LYNDA: Thanks for the pictures. I've posted them on my "Bay Area Critters" Pinterest board (pinterest.com/gardenjoan) so everyone can see them.
The otters are frequent guests in the Heather Farm Pond, where they find a lovely assortment of food. And sometimes they swim over to the canal and check it out, too.
DEAR JOAN: I live in a hilly section of Orinda, near the country club, looking down on the Lafayette part of Orinda Downs.
On two separate occasions, two of my neighbors have seen wild pigs. They both swear to it.
I am writing to see if you have heard of any sightings of these creatures in this part of Contra Costa County. I don't know if they are dangerous or if they are destructive. Should Animal Control know about this?
Susan S.
DEAR SUSAN: No need to worry about the sanity or sobriety of your friends. They did indeed see wild pigs in the area.
Pigs are not native to California but were established here in the 1700s when they were introduced as livestock. Some of them escaped and became feral. In the 1920s, wild boars were brought to Monterey County to give hunters something new to hunt. Apparently the boars' ability to reproduce was better than the aim of the hunters and before long, they were hanging out with the feral pigs and producing lots of little hybrids. There are now wild pigs confirmed in 56 of the state's 58 counties.
The pigs can be aggressive and should be avoided. They are very destructive to the landscape and can spread disease. The only controls in place are state laws that permit hunting on private land and with a permit.
Contact Joan Morris at firstname.lastname@example.com; or P.O. Box 8099, Walnut Creek, CA 94596.


text:
Employee: Man ordered Subway sandwich, then robbed store
Police investigate robbery at Union Township Subway
Police are investigating a robbery that happened Friday morning at the Subway in the 700 block of Eastgate South Drive in Union Township.
The incident happened around 7:20 a.m., about 20 minutes after the store opened.
According to a Subway employee working the register at the time, the suspect came in and ordered a sub.
The employee said she gave the man his order and then the suspect turned back around with a gun and said, "I'm not going to hurt you, but give me the money."
The suspect then told the employee to go to the back room after she gave him the cash.
Police said the suspect was armed and is described as a white male with a full beard in his 30s. He had a handgun and was driving a red vehicle.
If you have any information, contact police.


text:
Theo Walcott has found himself as the jilted party in the passion play with Arsenal and two things have become abundantly clear. First, Walcott will not simply roll back the covers and invite Arsenal back now that things are as they once were; he is in a position to make them sweat. Secondly, it is going to cost them – and in much more than purely emotional terms.
The England winger-cum-striker, whose contract expires in the summer, would have signed a long-term extension last August if Arsenal had offered him £90,000 a week. From his point of view the demand was reasonable, particularly when the worth of his image to the club's commercial push in east Asia was factored in. Lukas Podolski, the summer signing from FC Köln, had arrived on £90,000 a week and parity with a player who had no Premier League experience was sought.
Instead the club refused to go higher than £80,000 and, when Walcott did not sign, matters turned ugly. It was suggested to him that, if he did not agree to the terms, he would be moved on before the transfer deadline – Manchester City were the most prominent suitor – and he was then dropped from Arsène Wenger's starting line-up at Stoke City on 26 August.
Although Arsenal met him three days later to back down and say that he would not be sold, Walcott would not start a Premier League fixture until 10 November, against Fulham. Despite the upkeep of his ultra-professional front and nice-guy character around the training ground, the perceived slight cut deep.
Walcott is riding high again as he enters the New Year and eyes a fixture at Southampton, where he emerged as an academy prodigy to cut his teeth in the professional game. He has started, when fit, in all of Arsenal's league fixtures since Fulham and the last three have brought deployment in the central striking role he has long craved, along with four goals and three assists. His hat-trick goal in the 7-3 win over Newcastle United on Saturday was a celebration of slippery pace, persistence and instinctive finishing of the highest order. The Emirates crowd implored Wenger to «sign him up».
Wenger has maintained that he would like to do so but, if he doubted the wisdom of stretching to £90,000 a week in August, he now faces a question to needle him more acutely. Walcott's numbers this season have been remarkable: eight goals in eight league starts, five more in the Capital One Cup and one in the Champions League. Fourteen goals already represents his biggest haul for a season and he is comfortably on target to reach the hallowed figure of 20.
What is 20 goals a season worth, especially when the majority have come from wide areas? More than £90,000 a week. For an element of marketplace context Juan Mata and Ashley Young earn £120,000 at Chelsea and Manchester United respectively.
Arsenal's weekly wage ceiling stands at £100,000 and so they are likely to have to make Walcott their best-paid player to keep him. It is important to note that the money is available, just as it is once more for Wenger to spend on transfer fees in January, if he wishes. And here is the rub for the manager with the degree in economics: is Walcott worth it over the duration of a four- or five-year new contract? At points of last season, he was a lightning rod for the Emirates crowd's frustrations.
The standoff in negotiations has endured. Walcott's people last held official talks with the club three months ago, although the latter party have been increasingly keen to get back around the table and Wenger has had regular chats with Walcott at the training ground. It has not seemed a coincidence that Wenger has finally granted the 23-year-old his wish to start as the focal point of the team's attack.
Walcott's situation has improved since the darkest days of his lost two-and-a-bit months – the evidence that Wenger is willing to use him through the middle has been a fortifying tonic – and the player's representatives are expected to sit down with the club for another round of talks at some point in January, even if nobody foresees a particularly swift conclusion.
Wenger spoke on Saturday of how «the club loves Walcott and he loves the club». «Reciprocity in love,» Wenger continued, «is the most difficult thing to find.» The new year ought to bring favourable resolution between Arsenal and Walcott but love, ambition and football is a combustible cocktail.


text:
A collection of scholarly works about individual liberty and free markets. A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
1732 - 1799
Historical Period:
The 18th Century
Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732-1799) was a watchmaker and a court musician, before he turned to writing plays. He is best known for having dared to publish Voltaire and two anti-aristocratic plays of his own - The Barber of Seville (1775) and The Marriage of Figaro (1781). During the American Revolution he acted on behalf of the French crown to supply guns and other weapons to the American revolutionaries.


text:
A three-vehicle collision Saturday night resulted in the deaths of two people and injuries to three others.
Canandaigua resident Billy Joe Cavazos, 43, and Osseo resident Joshua Michael Weage, 30, died from injuries.
According to the Lenawee County Sheriff Department report, Weage was westbound on M-34 near Sword Highway when his car struck the rear of a horse trailer pulled by Charles VanPelt of Clayton.
Weage's car then crossed the centerline and struck the Cavazos automobile that was headed east on M-34.
Weage was transported by medical helicopter to Toledo Hospital where he died. Cavazos, after he was freed from his vehicle, was transported to Bixby Medical Center by ambulance and pronounced dead.
James Gary Crossman, 62, a passenger in the Cavazos vehicle, was treated for injuries at Bixby. VanPelt and his wife, Karen, 37, traveled to Bixby by private vehicle for treatment. Passengers Timothy VanPelt, 20, and Isabella VanPelt, 8, were uninjured.
The sheriff's department is still investigating the accident.


text:
Is there something inherent in Baptist theology that makes evangelism such a overwhelming priority, or does this merely reflect the personality and passion of individual pastors?
That is a very good question and not easy to answer, so I asked a friend who was raised in Baptist churches and attended a Baptist college but is now a Presbyterian pastor.
A "passion for souls" is not the exclusive domain of Baptist churches or pastors. Some of the greatest evangelistic preachers have been Reformed (Whitefield, Edwards, etc.). The Reformed faith has the greatest cause for zeal for evangelism in light of the understanding of the importance of God's glory and sovereignty in the salvation of sinners. Reformed preaching always should be Christ-centered and gospel-centered, that is, preaching that opens up the Word of God and points to Jesus Christ as the Savior who meets the desperate situation of sinners by laying down his life for his sheep.
It is perhaps, though, more than just the derisive title that Reformed folks get as "the frozen chosen" who aren't very zealous for evangelism. In the history of the OPC there have been many pastors who pursued evangelistic opportunities or even developed evangelistic outreaches like the Boardwalk Chapel in Ocean City, N.J., or Keys Chapel in Key West, Fla. I think it may be that the Reformed faith sees evangelism as part but not the whole of both the Christian life and the purpose of the church. If we are saved to witness, as some people put it, then a great deal of the New Testament's teaching goes by the board. If the church exists only to do evangelism, then God being at the center of worship is lost. Worship will (or should) foster true zeal for God's glory in the salvation of sinners and a deep desire to have those around us worship him. That is the understanding of the Reformed faith. It keeps us from making our worship or our churches man-centered, that is, geared toward drawing people in regardless of whether God is pleased with what we are doing or not.
Reformed churches need to appreciate the passion for witnessing seen in many Baptist churches and certainly ask themselves if they share that same zeal, but that is different than skewing our understanding of Scripture to make soul-winning the sole and all-important task of the church.
"Questions and Answers" is a weekly feature of the OPC website. The answers come from individual ministers in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church expressing their own convictions and do not necessarily represent an "official" position of the Church, especially in areas where the Standards of the Church (the Scriptures and the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms) are silent.
The questions come from individuals like yourself. If you have questions about biblical and theological matters, you are invited to send them by e-mail by using the "Pose a Question" link on the OPC home page or by clicking here.
At least one new question is posted each week, so there should always be something new here for you to read. (For those people who would like to look at previous questions and answers, they will continue to be available as well.)
The purpose of the OPC website's "Questions and Answers" is to respond to biblical and theological questions. Matters of church discipline, disputes, or debates go beyond the scope of our work. We recommend that you present your concerns in these areas to the appropriate judicatory. In most cases this will be to a local pastor, elder, or session. We do not want the website to replace personal involvement in, or commitment to, the local, visible church.
While we will respond to every serious questioner, we are not bound to give a substantive answer to every question, should we deem the question to be beyond the scope of our purpose or our own ability to answer.
You will receive an answer by e-mail. Please be patient as many of our respondents are busy pastors. The response to your question may take up to two (2) weeks. Some of the questions submitted will be chosen to be posted here, along with the corresponding answers.
Note that the "Questions and Answers" posted on the site have been editedall personal references are removed, Scripture references or from some source may be added, and sometimes portions are expandedto make the questions and answers more useful to a larger audience.
|© 2020 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Chaplains and Military Personnel


text:
Share the Spirit began out of a shoebox - literally.
The annual volunteer program to give gifts to Redwood area needy families has grown considerably since then -- and with it, the need for donations.
In 1977, two Redwood County social workers were looking for a way to help make a difference in the lives of people in need over the holidays.
According to Laurie Dolan, those two individuals working with Redwood County Social Services started putting together shoeboxes in their spare time. Those boxes were filled with things for families they knew had a need.
It was their way of sharing the spirit of the holidays with others.
From that first effort 25 years ago, an organization has been developed known as Share the Spirit, and through this volunteer program hundreds of families who have a need in the Redwood area are being served.
Dolan, who is the coordinator for Share the Spirit, said the program has transformed into an organization all of its own.
In the past, different organizations in the community, including the Redwood Area Food Shelf, the senior citizens center and others worked together doing different portions of the program from collecting food and toys for the families.
Now one group made up of more than 100 volunteers from the Redwood area work together to create what is known as Share the Spirit, and according to Dolan the group is currently working to make the holidays special again this season.
A variety of opportunities exist for people who would like to volunteer for Share the Spirit, whether it is working the phones during the days leading up to distribution or shopping for groceries.
Dolan said Share the Spirit is able to continue year after year because of the incredible generosity of the volunteers, sponsors and other donors.
Share the Spirit, added Dolan is made possible through the donations of businesses, organizations, clubs, churches, families and individuals who are doing their part to make a difference during the Christ-mas season.
Some of those volunteers have been involved with the program for more than two decades, and Dolan joined Share the Spirit in 1992. She is now helping to coordinate the program each year.
"It has been a pleasure being involved in such a wonderful organization for the last 20 years that brings people together," said Dolan. "Christmas is a sentimental holiday season – a time when many people choose to remember family, to show appreciation for friendships, to take the time to remember those young and old who are alone and lonely and other families who may be down on their luck."
The time to volunteer is now, she said.
During the 2011 Share the Spirit campaign, there were 249 families, including 428 children, who were served.
The expenses for Share the Spirit in 2011 were $12,000. Dolan reminded the public donations made to Share the Spirit are tax deductible.
In addition to providing food and toys, Share the Spirit collects winter wear and makes fruit baskets for the "forgotten people" in area nursing homes.
Quilts and blankets may also be donated, and those may be dropped off during regular business hours at the Redwood Gazette and Wabasso Standard offices.
Volunteers are going to be on hand to answer questions about Share the Spirit starting Nov. 26 through Dec. 10.
Distribution is going to take place Dec. 11-13 in Redwood Falls at the National Guard Arm-ory and in Lamberton Dec. 12 at the community center.
In Red-wood Falls calls can be made to (507) 430-5229, and in Lam-berton calls can be made to (507) 648-3442 or (507) 6752-7657. Dolan expressed her appreciation to all who have and are going to donate to Share the Spirit.


text:
Baltimore Ravens to open season on the road
The Baltimore Ravens will be forced to play their 2013 season opener on the road after the team was unable to work out a solution with the Orioles.
The Orioles have a game scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET on Sept. 5 against the Chicago White Sox, making it impossible for the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens to play host to a game that evening because of traffic and parking concerns.
The Ravens were hoping to pull off a twin bill in downtown Baltimore.
"After thorough discussions among the Orioles, the NFL and the Ravens, it became clear that holding both an Orioles' game and the Ravens' regular-season opener on the same day would create logistical situations that would cause serious issues for the city of Baltimore and fans for both teams," Ravens president Dick Cass said in a statement. "The Ravens greatly appreciate the willingness of the Orioles to adjust the start of their game in an effort to make this sports spectacular happen. But, in the end, anticipated problems with parking, rush-hour traffic, plus crowd and car congestion around Oriole Park and M&T Bank Stadium will keep the doubleheader from taking place."
The Orioles issued a statement expressing their regret that both games couldn't be played on the same date.
"Given the limited options available to reschedule the game at that late date in the season, the parties jointly determined that even an earlier start time would still create such enormous logistical difficulties that it would greatly diminish the fan experience for both events which all parties realized would not be in the interest of their fans or the City."
The Ravens will kick off the NFL season away from M&T Bank Stadium in the NFL's Thursday night season opener on Sept. 5.
"While we are disappointed for the fans in Baltimore, we appreciate the efforts of the Ravens, Orioles and Major League Baseball and understand the logistical problems in trying to schedule the teams on the same day," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. "We are exploring potential fan activities in Baltimore around the kickoff game, including a pregame concert."


text:
Reports of Cases Argued and Adjudged in the Supreme Court of the United States, 21. köide
Published for John Conrad and Company, 1858
From inside the book
83 pages matching term in this book
Where's the rest of this book?
Results 1-3 of 83
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
according action agent alleged allowed amount answer appear apply assignment authority bank bill bonds bound brought called cause charge charter Circuit Court claim collision Congress consideration Constitution construction contract corporation counsel course damage decided decision decree deed defendants delivered direct district dollars duty effect equity et al evidence exception execution facts filed freight give given Government grant ground hundred interest issued John judge judgment jurisdiction jury Justice land libel light lots master necessary notes notice objection officer opinion owners paid parties passed patent payment persons plaintiff possession premium present principle proceedings proof proper proved purchase question Railroad reason received record referred respect river rule ship steamer suit taken term tion United vessel witnesses writ of error York


text:
Judge Rules University Can Fire Employee for Anti-Gay Article
A former human resources employee at the University of Toledo filed a lawsuit against the college because she was fired for writing an anti-gay article that criticized gay rights. A federal court judge, however, threw out her case, the Toledo Blade reported.
In late 2008, Crystal Dixon filed a complaint against the school alleging that it violated her First Amendment and 14th Amendment rights but U.S. District Judge David Katz dismissed and closed her case.
"The balance of [Dixon's] interest in making a comment of public concern is clearly outweighed by the University's interest as her employer in carrying out its own objectives," the judge wrote in an opinion. "Therefore, [Dixon] has failed to establish that her speech was protected. [Dixon] also claims that she was fired for violating an impermissibly vague speech policy. However, the damage she did to her ability to perform her job and to the University provide ample justification for her termination."
In May 2008, Dixon was fired by the college due to its concern about an article she wrote for the Toledo Free Press that said gays and lesbians have no claim to the civil rights movement, EDGE reported. Dixon wrote in the column, "Gay Rights and Wrongs: Another Perspective," that she took "great umbrage" that people "choosing the homosexual lifestyle" could be seen as "civil rights victims."
"I cannot wake up tomorrow and not be a Black woman," she wrote. "I am genetically and biologically a Black woman and very pleased to be so as my Creator intended."
"Daily, thousands of homosexuals make a life decision to leave the gay lifestyle."
Dixon claimed that she was let go for her "private political speech" and that other members of the university had written for local publications but were not punished.
"The University of Toledo is committed to providing a safe, welcoming environment for all students, faculty, staff, patients and visitors, regardless of race, creed, age, gender, sexual orientation or physical ability," the University of Toledo's president, Dr. Lloyd Jacobs said in a statement.
A New Jersey high school was involved in a similar incident when school board officials from the Union Township, N.J., school district recently started the firing process against high school English teacher Viki Knox for allegedly posting anti-gay comments on Facebook, EDGElink|www.edgeonthenet.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=national&sc2=news&sc3=&id=128855|EDGE>.
"Every student, no matter what race, creed color or sexual orientation ought to be able to come to school and feel comfortable in a learning environment that's welcoming and nurturing," Ray Perkins, the school board president, said. Knox's comments compared gays to cancer and said that homosexuality is a "perverted sin."
"Why parade your unnatural immoral behaviors before the rest of us?" Knox allegedly wrote. "I DO NOT HAVE TO TOLERATE ANYTHING OTHERS WISH TO DO. I DO HAVE TO LOVE AND SPEAK AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT!"
In late December the school board officially filed tenure charges against Knox.


text:
Announcement of temporary closure
Following the latest Government guidance regarding COVID-19 and careful consideration of the current situation, The Gurkha Museum has decided to close its doors to the public in the interest of visitor and staff safety, effective immediately.
The Museum will remain closed until further notice but will continue to operate behind the scenes with reduced staff on call to answer queries during this time. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue updates through our website and social media channels as soon as we become aware of further changes to our operations.
May we thank our Visitors, Friends and Supporters for their understanding and support through this difficult period.


text:
How to save for a long period of travel
PUBLISHED: 10:03 19 October 2018 | UPDATED: 15:47 19 October 2018
darren wise
Saving for a prolonged period of travel is essential, says our financial columnist Peter Sharkey. And now might just be the best time to go.
A traditional, hand-written wedding invitation dropped through our letterbox last month.
Though it has been as well-trailed as any television drama, the embossed, cream-coloured invitation provided conclusive evidence that the happy couple, our 28-year-old niece and her intended (31), had finally decided to tie the knot. An international stag weekend (and a hen do a month later) beckon first, but the family's reaction to the prospect of a May wedding was one of heartfelt joy. A celebratory party was hastily arranged.
Attempting to discuss anyone's future plans at 2am when Barry White is belting out You're the first, the last, my everything and much drink has been taken is a forlorn task. It didn't even cross my mind – not when the Walrus of Love is singing and everyone is dancing. The following day, however, after my brother and I, ably assisted by several giant mugs of tea, had manfully prepared brunch for what felt like 200 people, I finally had the opportunity to spend five minutes with my niece.
We've always got on well and after congratulating her for the umpteenth time (it's still difficult to envisage her as a married women though), I asked what her and soon-to-be-husband plan doing post-May 2019.
Pointing at headlines in the Sunday papers strewn across the kitchen dining table, she said: "We're going travelling until all of this nonsense blows over."
The pair have been taking an English as a Foreign Language course and plan to put it to good use by supplementing their income as they travel around the world, ideally for 18 months. Both have been granted generous sabbaticals by their respective employers. Jealous? Moi?
The 'nonsense' to which my niece pointed and the papers referred was the degrees of uncertainty currently enveloping three particularly important areas of our lives.
First, we have continued political uncertainty which is undoubtedly damaging the nation. We're saddled not just with weak incumbent leadership (and her equally poor lieutenants), but with a distinctly below-average opposition. The calibre of our politicians, far too many of whom have never worked in the real world, has gradually deteriorated over several decades, to the point where the electorate are frustrated when they hear the same bland, PR-approved replies from whichever party spokesperson is being questioned. Most people would be delighted to avoid this for 18 months.
Then we have economic uncertainty, exacerbated by a dense fog, which makes it difficult to determine whether or not we'll leave the EU.
The nation faces its most important decision since entering the Second World War in 1939, yet the lack of direction, commitment and clarity has left many businesses in limbo. I speak with a lot of businesses and the two most frequently aired questions I've heard over the last two years is: 'do we invest and expand the business?' and 'do we open an office in mainland Europe?'
Many companies, large and small, have shown huge faith in the UK by investing, recruiting and expanding their operations here, but others are happy to sit on the sidelines for now.
Thirdly, the sense of financial uncertainty is increasingly palpable.
Stock markets have enjoyed a prolonged run of success for a decade, during which share prices in some companies have more than trebled. Despite a burgeoning sense of uncertainty, most investors remain broadly optimistic, especially as the US stock market continues to boom, but based upon analysis rooted in less buoyant times, many company valuations appear increasingly stretched.
It transpires that the happy couple have been "saving like crazy for two years," [into their ISAs] money they hope to draw upon and combine it with their earnings from teaching English, especially in the Far East. They would like to add to it, but it's more important they're not wiped out as they plan to "buy a small flat" upon their return to the UK.
"If we don't do this now," my niece said, "we may never get another opportunity." She's absolutely right.
How many people reading this must be thinking along similar lines? The economic and financial uncertainty affecting the nation will not suddenly evaporate; nor are we likely to witness the emergence of a competent clutch of politicians capable of replacing the existing bunch.
On reflection, the thought of teaching English as a foreign language holds a certain appeal, doesn't it? Saving inside an ISA to fund a prolonged overseas jaunt makes plenty of sense too. For details, click here.
The global coffee market is projected to grow by 3pc every year until 2022. Starbucks must be delighted: they control 46.1pc of the world's coffee shop market. Costa accounts for just over 3pc.
•6 months
According to a study by University College London, teenagers who read novels rather than non-fiction books are six months ahead of their peers, in terms of reading age, by the time they're 15.
Prince Charles is 70 next month (14th November if you want to send him a card). To mark his birthday, Country Life has asked him to edit the magazine; the Prince of Wales has already commissioned his wife to write an article.
The UK's first facial recognition software is to be installed in selected supermarkets in early December. It will verify the age of people buying alcohol and cigarettes and become widespread by the end of next year.
For more financial advice, check out Peter Sharkey's regular column, The Week In Numbers.
If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the Eastern Daily Press. Click the link in the orange box above for details.


text:
A Belgian diplomat and his wife were kicked out of a members-only New York restaurant because she chose to breastfeed her baby at her terrace table.
According to Tom Neijens, he and his wife, Roseline Remans, were having lunch at the Metropolis Country Club. The couple are not a member of the country club, but were allowed to dine there anyway. They were asked to leave after Remans began "discreetly" breastfeeding their child at their table. When the couple refused to leave, the police were called and the couple were warned they were trespassing, according to the New York Post.
The Associated Press later confirmed the events, but was unable to get comment from the restaurant management or owners.
Should businesses have the right to remove breastfeeding patrons? Your thoughts in the comments below.


text:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/243503972/ ... ns-glen-ny
This poster commemorates Phish's Magnaball Festival in Watkins Glen, NY on August 21, 22, 23 2015.
Prints measure 14" x 20". Extremely high quality digital print on 110 lb. cover stock.
I ship these USPS priority mail in a sturdy mailing tube (uline) wrapped in craft paper.
All prints will be signed and numbered by me. Edition of 200.
This is NOT an official poster for the shows. This is a TRIBUTE poster, and NOT affiliated with Phish.
Feel free to ask any questions.


text:
Football fans recently flocked to Japan in the hope of seeing breathtaking football at the FIFA Club World Cup. They were not disappointed as the tournament including exhilarating skills and stunning goals.
But one thing the supporters knew they were guaranteed from 'The Land of the Rising Sun' was breathtaking scenery. A case in point is Mount Fuji, which boasts a uniquely symmetrical cone and stunning elegance.
It can be seen from Yokohama – the scene of Corinthians' 1-0 win over Chelsea in the final – and Tokyo, where Mount Fuji is, at sunset, overlooking in the above picture.
Its country's largest mountain, Mount Fuji is an active volcano and is gorgeously snow-capped for several months per year. It is also an iconic symbol of Japan which fills its people with pride.
Something else that makes the Japanese very proud is playing host to club football's biggest fixture. The nation staged every Intercontinental Cup following its reversion from a two-legged tie to a single-match decider (1980-2001 in Tokyo and 2002-04 in Yokohama) and has now hosted six of the FIFA Club World Cups nine editions. And with its wonderfully welcoming inhabitants and excellent organisation, Japan once again did an outstanding job in 2012.


text:
First Solar surges 50% on sunny guidanceApril 9, 2013: 3:31 PM ET
First Solar shares spiked more than 50% Tuesday, rising to a new 52-week high and triggering several circuit breaker on the way up after the company issued a bullish forecast for the year.
The solar panel maker said it expects to earn between $4 and $4.50 per share, with annual sales between $3.8 billion and $4 billion. The guidance was well above analysts forecasts. Those polled by Thomson Reuters have been expecting earnings of $3.51 per share on revenue of $3.1 billion for 2013.
Part of the reason for the optimism? First Solar expects its 550 megawatt Desert Sunlight solar farm in Riverside, Calif., to start generating revenue later this year.
Shares of First Solar (FSLR) eased by late afternoon but still remained about 40% above the previous day's close.
Shares of fellow solar panel makers also gained. Suntech Power (STP) surged more than 30%, while SunPower (SPWR) and Yingli Green Energy Holdings (YGE) jumped about 20%. Canadian Solar (CSIQ) and MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR) rose 8%.
Solar company exchange traded funds also rallied, with Guggenheim Solar ETF (TAN) and Market Vector Solar ETF (KWT) climbing more than 10%
In addition to the guidance impact, shares of First Solar likely also surged because of a so-called short squeeze. The company's stock is heavily shorted, meaning that buyers have borrowed shares on a bet that the price will fall. As the stock rallies, short sellers rush in to buy shares to cover their short position before the stock heads even higher, hence the short squeeze.
Though First Solar's stock has bounced back from its all-time low hit last June, shares remain under pressure due to short interest as well as stiff competition from its Chinese rivals.


text:
I just love the playfulness of these images of Clemence Poesy posing for Glamour UK in the heart of London. She looks dreamy and gorgeous and the streets of London are looking mighty fine from here too...
London...I do miss you,see you soon!
Here is fashion info just in case!
On the balcony:organza and lace minidress/ suede shoes by CARVEN
On the bicycle:wool cardigan/top/silk taffeta miniskirt/satin shoes all by MIU MIU
Recent Posts
Thursday, 8 March 2012
Clemence Poesy as seen in Glamour
Posted by Reem Adeeb


text:
Brooklyn Arena Is Glitzy, but Profits So Far Aren't Golden
Profitability of Barclays Center Raises Questions About Similar Projects in Other Cities
The $1 billion Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn, N.Y., has attracted widespread attention in its first year of operation, with events like the MTV Video Music Awards, concerts by Beyoncé and Paul McCartney, and the Brooklyn Nets' playoff appearance.
But its financial performance has been far from a show-stopper. The arena—the country's most expensive—is lagging tens of millions of dollars behind projections for operating income.
To Read the Full Story


text:
Nurses Pro the world's best paying Nurse Staffing Agency where you are treated as the Hero!
As a valued part of the Nurses Pro Heroes Network immediately
Nurses Pro was ranked the #21 Nontraditional Nursing Site of 2012 by OnlineLPNtoRN.
Consider each of these benefits:
Keep up to 70% of your billable rate. If you are selected to work on an existing Nurses Pro assignment you can earn up to 70% of the total rate that you are billed at in the form of pay and benefits. Pay is based on a pre-established split–not an arbitrary amount that your employer decides to pay you. In contrast, most other organizations only pay you 40-60% of what they bill for your time. We believe you are Hero, and we show we mean it by sharing our revenue with you fairly!
Too good to be true?
No, it's not. Over 10,000 nurses have already joined the Nurses Pro network.
Talk with us to find out for yourself how we can help you change your life today through good pay and attentive agency service. It can't hurt. You owe it to yourself to try us out.
Patricia Carter RN – a Nurses Pro Hero with over 10 years of experience described her recent experience with us as follows:
|"I chose Nurses Pro after thoroughly researching and making inquiries with several different companies. In comparison, Nurses Pro offered the best monetary compensation with similar benefits of health/dental insurance, travel reimbursement, license reimbursement, and various locations to choose in my field. I have found the team to be caring, understanding, knowledgeable and helpful making my transition as easy and smooth as possible. Every question I've had and every little issue raised has been handled promptly and professionally. I can truly say I am treated as a Hero at Nurses Pro."
|"In June of 2010 I received a phone call from a recruiter asking me if I would be interested in going to Alaska to work and, of course, I said yes. On that day, my life changed for the better because of Abby Thomas. I will not say it has always been easy for her -- I tend to be difficult at times -- but Abby has helped me to see that not all recruiters tell you things that aren't true. I know there are times she would probably love for me to disappear for a few hours, but she is always professional and always kind. Thank you Abby."
Don't have time right now?
We make it easy to enjoy hero status, and a few minutes of your time applying with us could mean the difference between thousands more in yearly income. Fill out our online application or call us at 1-713-979-2601 to speak with a Career Manager, who will guide you all the way to success.
Imagine This:
Join the Nurses Pro network and choose us as your staffing agency of choice maintain your independent status, get a lot more assignments without all the prospecting, get paid consistently, get paid more from each assignment and a fairer cut of your bill rate and access to health insurance. Watch your income increase, your stress decrease and experience a better lifestyle—and it only takes about 20 minutes to get started!
1. Find Jobs Now!
2. Give it a chance, Apply to join our Network today.
3. Give us a call at 1-713-979-2601 and speak with a Career Manager.
4. See, How it Works here.
5. Watch Video -- "The benefits of partnering with Nurses Pro".
6. Download our Free Guide to Selecting the Right Nursing Agency.
Sign up for our "Insider's Guide to Selecting the Right Nursing Agency" Today!