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Downbeat romantic comedy "Breaking Upwards" reps a variation on the docu-fiction hybrid, as real-life filmmaking couple Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister-Jones, portraying themselves, re-create an actual past domestic situation: their ill-advised experiment with an incremental break-up. The duo's longtime partnership imparts a palpable, lived-in intimacy, but lack of careful story construction sometimes hobbles the narrative's comic flow. Happily, "Upwards" picks up immeasurably when three legit luminaries (Andrea Martin, Julie White, Peter Friedman) enter the picture as the couple's parents. Made for a mere $15,000, pic opened April 2 at Gotham's IFC Center simultaneously with its VOD launch.
Would-be writer Daryl (Wein) and aspiring actress Zoe (Lister-Jones) have lived together in a small Brooklyn apartment for four years, and their 24/7 familiarity is starting to breed dissatisfaction if not contempt. Concerned by their relationship's ongoing erosion, the two sophisticated young twentysomethings discuss their options with equanimity. They decide to take days off from their couplehood (four days together, three apart), lay out specific ground rules (no phone calls on off days) and make lists of goals they want to accomplish during their newfound quasi-independence.
Each finds it difficult to function without the other's support, co-dependency proving as addictive as it is comforting. As Zoe succinctly puts it, "When he's with me I want to kill him. When he's not, I miss him." Unsurprisingly, as their semi-estrangement advances into socializing with other potential partners, Daryl gets the better end of the deal, attracting intelligent, sexy women played by the likes of Olivia Thirlby, while Zoe gets the wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am treatment from a jaunty fellow thesp (Pablo Schreiber) seeking to deepen their stage chemistry.
Curiously, neither Daryl nor Zoe has a best friend. Instead, their parents assume the oddball sidekick roles, and do so brilliantly, even through the film's Passover seder finale. "SCTV" vet Martin, as Zoe's pot-smoking single mom, dispenses unconditional love and self-deprecating cynicism with matching snorts of laughter. Friedman lends quiet humor and surprising dignity to the oft-caricatured figure of the unassuming dentist dad, while White provides a dizzying spin on the 21st-century Yiddishe mama ("Why couldn't you be gay like your brother?").
The parents, who dominate the film's second half, not only provide great foils for the leads, but also anchor the story's otherwise inexplicably foggy timeframe. While the film traces a long, gradual process (at one point Zoe wryly comments that their split-up may outlast their affair), the filmmakers give no indication of whether days, weeks or months have elapsed between scenes, so that jealous flare-ups and infantile regressions seemingly come from nowhere. Meanwhile, Alex Bergman's colorful lensing of Manhattan and Brooklyn neighborhoods seems to unfold in perpetual spring.


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Sound Off for March 27, 2013
Murphy and Blumenthal are basically saying we need to hurry up and do something now or people will realize this new gun legislation doesn't actually make anyone safer or do anything to reduce crime. They also both just voted against upholding the Second Amendment and supported entering the UN Arms Treaty.. This is just about as treasonous an act as I've ever seen from politicians. They should be kicked out of office immediately. When they are sworn into office they claim they will "Support and defend the Constitution," which they have failed to do. If you think they don't want to ban guns completely, then you aren't paying attention.
The students who dedicated winning the volleyball tournament to an alleged rapist, Edgar Gonzalez, really shows that this student is very popular. Maybe, for the first time in a long time, EG's innocent of these charges? Doubtful, but it seems that his friends are behind him and are showing the true pride that the town of Torrington takes, in being the #1 ranked "cyber bullying," town in America. When Torrington's students and parents put their differences aside and come to focus on one goal, it can get dangerous. The one thing that Torrington has always agreed on, is that people suck and should be crucified in various social media forums. These poor girls, were the worst and latest example, but it didn't begin there. It began in the comments section of the citizen, after a soccer, or baseball game. When our children watched their proud father come on here and display his manliness, with an anonymous post that disparaged a coach, or fellow teammate.
If you think the Socialist Cyprus government's idea of confiscating savings account money is a "new idea" - think again. Ask anyone with bank savings, particularly senior citizens, about confiscation of money here in America. Since the financial meltdown five years ago, Fed actions have effectively killed the bank practice of paying interest on savings. We have already been fleeced once by the lost interest income but don't think it will end there. Desperate officials will definitely now utilize this "new idea" to secure more money from you to waste rather than cutting down or limiting government spending.
Chris Dodd's editorial yesterday is laughable. It is an out right lie. The new figures regarding the cost of Obomacare are coming out every day and they are staggering. I urge everyone to get more involved and look at the facts. a 169 percent increase in insurance premiums is not what I consider affordable. Wake up people. Flood your reps and senators offices to ask for repeal to this ridiculous government boondoggle before we all go broke!
In response to the Republicans who keep whining about Malloy, Obama, and any other Democrat in this country, I would like to say that although I do not like some of the things that Malloy or Obama do, at least they are doing something to get things going not like the Jodi Rell and Bush administrations who left both the state and our country bankrupt. Not like the do-nothing Republican Congress that would rather give tax breaks to the oil companies instead of funding for air traffic control, or food stamps for a needy family.
Remember, it takes money to make money! Any business person knows this. Malloy better start sending jobs to Northwest Connecticut instead of Stamford or he is going to lose this independent voter. And the Republicans better start getting those jobs they promised up here and at least do something positive instead of being the party of no! Or they are never going to win anything again.

subset: commoncrawl


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Stuff Part 2
I was able to do this because of the cooperation of my good friend Catie Braly. I gave her the authority to tell me to get rid of my stuff. I voluntarily submitted to her. And I paid her for this service. I told her that I'd split whatever I made from selling my stuff and give her half. She probably would have done it for free. But I would've felt shitty about that, especially since she's trying to get money together for her upcoming wedding.
Our arrangement resembled what happens when one hires a personal fitness trainer, a martial arts instructor, or when one works with a Zen teacher. You willingly submit to authority in order to do something that you find yourself unable to do alone.
In my case, I had a strong attachments to what was in that storage unit. It wasn't a lot of stuff compared to what most American males my age own. But it was stuff I'd spent years acquiring through long travels and through personal connections. There were things in that storage unit that certain nerdy people would just about kill for. Some of the items I managed to get my hands on while I worked at Tsuburaya Productions were made available exclusively to employees of the company. They trade for handsome amounts of cash among Japanese collectors.
Now I had to get rid of it and there was really no way to sell it to the people who would actually pay what it was worth. Imagine you have a vintage Mercedes in mint condition, it runs great and there's not even a speck of rust anywhere on it. But you're in a land where nobody drives cars or even knows what one is. So you have no choice but to donate it to an elementary school where they're going to gut it and put it out in the playground for the kids to climb all over. You can tell yourself "at least the kids are going to enjoy playing on it" all you want. Even so, you're still gonna feel kind of bad about it.
But, as anyone who's gotten rid of stuff can tell you, it also feels good to dump your junk — even if it's good junk. If I didn't know I would feel better once this stuff was gone, I wouldn't have enlisted Catie's help to get rid of it.
I asked Catie to be ruthless and she was. Whenever I said, "I want to keep this," she would ask why. When I gave my reasons, she'd ask why again. With her help I was able to get rid of a lot of things I probably would otherwise have kept. We established a safe word — "watermelon" — which could be used if I really couldn't let go of some particular thing. I only remember using it once. That was when I found an old issue of Freakbeat magazine containing an interview with me during the days when I was making the Dimentia 13 albums.
In Zen training, you have to accept a certain amount of authority. I know I've been outspoken in the past about questioning authority. And I stand by what I said. But I feel that the real problem is belief in authority. When you hire a personal trainer, or ask a friend to help you get rid of stuff, you don't usually end up believing that your personal trainer or your friend is some kind of almost divine being who knows all and sees all. You view your trainer or your friend as an equal to whom you have provisionally granted a limited degree of power over you, usually in exchange for something.
Zen teaching relationships can also work the same way. You acknowledge that your teacher has some basis for being able to teach you. He's had training and experience. Perhaps he exhibits some kind of personal charm or charisma that attracted you to him in the first place. That's all fine.
But there is always a mutual exchange going on. Your Zen teacher is also learning from you. He isn't learning the same things as you're learning from him, or learning what he learns in quite the same way. But it's not a one way street. It's not some kind of mystical download from on high.
It's important in these relationships to grant the teacher respect. But you should also expect to be respected in return. Each side of the relationship is different, though, and the ways in which respect is shown and help is offered by each side is also different
For example, last weekend I allowed Catie to be a bit short and curt with me. I needed someone to say a short, sharp "No!" to me. It didn't always feel good to hear that. But it was part of the process. If I'd put forth my personal desires things couldn't work out to my own ultimate benefit. So I had to allow someone else the authority to deny me what I thought I wanted.
In Zen teaching and other spiritual relationships, this aspect of mutual respect often breaks down into a kind of worship. I know there are schools of thought that say this sort of worshipful attitude can be used to benefit students. I don't believe that. That always seems like a perversion of what the relationship ought to be, even when such perversions are enshrined by tradition. It's too easy for this to mess up both the students and the teacher. You end up with a teacher who owns a few houses and a couple dozen Lamborghinis but has lost sight of whatever made him a great teacher to begin with and a bunch of students who think the whole point is to purchase gifts for their beloved master.
Actually, the process last weekend was a lot easier than I'd feared it might be. I found it fairly easy to let stuff go. I guess all that zazen pays off sometimes. Even if it feels like you haven't really grasped its lessons, sometimes things happen and you realize you have.
Just before I left, Blixa brought over a gift he'd made for me as his exchange for the stuff I gave him. It's a picture he drew of Ultraman's goat. I never even knew Ultraman had a goat!
That drawing is priceless! It's one collector's item I'll be holding on to!
Hardcore Zen Strikes Again
In the comments section someone said:
Aside from Baker Roshi... name another zen teacher who lives in opulence from the donations of their students.
It's true that generally speaking Zen is mostly free of masters who live high off the hog from donations. At least in the West.
In Japan things are different. I found that most of my "normal" (ie, not involved in Buddhism) friends had no respect at all for Zen masters. The general feeling seemed to be that Zen masters were lazy rich people, driving around in fancy cars and working only when necessary to do funerals and other such ceremonies. They were seen as taking advantage of the poor and uneducated.
How much of this is actually valid, I do not know. Some of it surely must be true because the stereotype was quite common among people I knew over there. The people I knew who held this stereotype were generally young, educated artistic types. They viewed Zen masters in much the same way that same segment of the US population views televangelists.
I was also obliquely referencing others on the spiritual scene who are not connected with Zen, or who use Zen as just one piece of their smorgasbord. But I find it's best not get too specific. There's no point in riling up the followers of some guru by citing him as an example, especially when the problem is so pervasive. It's not really necessary to name anyone in particular.


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Manish Kumar Sharma is a Senior Technical Lead at 3Pillar Global. Manish brings with him vast experience in the Oil and Gas, E-Learning, Media and Logistics domains. He has experience in Java and J2EE for web application development. Prior to joining 3Pillar Global, he had worked with both Wipro and Accenture in Java development.
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New G.O.O.D. music from Consequence reppin' the Jets.
Consequence – J.E.T.S.
Consequence – Bubblin' Freestyle
For Hot 97 and Power 106's Where Hip Hop Lives series, Consequence provides fans with new bars. Thanks you DJ Enuff and J Cruz….
Consequence – Say My Name (Feat. Papoose & Peedi Crakk)
New York rapper Consequence returns with a new joint titled "Say My Name" featuring Papoose and Peedi Crakk. Listen below, via 2DB.
Consequence – Spaceship 3 (Feat. Chance The Rapper, Alex Wiley, GLC & Chuck Inglish)
Consequence takes us to space once again on the third Spaceship track. The original was a collaboration with Kanye and Spaceship 2 was an…
Consequence – All Black Neighborhood (Feat. Royce Da 5 9)
Last month Consequence stopped by Hot 97 for a Funkmaster Flex freestyle and now today he drops his new single "All Black Neighborhood" featuring…
Grammys Wrap Up: Chance The Rapper And Beyonce Own The Night
In terms of winners, it's safe to say that tonight's Grammys were all about Adele and Chance The Rapper. Adele took home 5 Grammys,…
Consequence – Funk Flex Freestyle (Video)
Consequence recently appeared at Hot 97 and gave Funkmaster Flex some new bars to share with us all. Watch Cons get busy with the…
Q-Tip Announces Final A Tribe Called Quest Album
Q-Tip took to social media to announce the final A Tribe Called Quest album. The project will feature never before heard bars from the…
Consequence – Ask Somebody (Feat. Tony Yayo & Ty Dolla Sign)
Consequence teams up with G-Unit's Tony Yayo and Ty Dolla Sign on the new single "Ask Somebody".
Consequence – Killer (Feat. Brand Nubian)
In support of his forthcoming Growing Up In New York EP, Consequence drops off a new record with Brand Nubian titled "Killer".
Consequence – Let It Be (Feat. Stalley)
Consequence continues to make his comeback with his newest offering "Let It Be" featuring Stalley and vocals from Alex Isley. Produced by Sheel Dave…
Consequence – No Matter What (Feat. Q-Tip)
Tomorrow on G.O.O.D. Friday, Consequence is releasing his new effort, A Good Comeback Story. To get fans ready for what's to come on the…
Consequence – Make Believe (Feat. Kam Corvet)
As Consequences readies his new EP A Good Comeback Story he prepares us for the project with a new recording featuring Kam Corvet titled…
Consequence – That Dude (Feat. Caiden)
Consequence collaborates with his 4-year-old son Caiden on the newly released record "That Dude".
Consequence & Lupe Fiasco – Countdown (Feat. Chris Turner) (Official Music Video)
Consequence and Lupe Fiasco release a black and white visual for their "Countdown" collaboration featuring Chris Turner. Look out for a new album from…
Consequence – Countdown (Feat. Lupe Fiasco & Chris Turner)
Consequence squares up with Lupe Fiasco and Chris Turner on a new collaboration from his forthcoming Movies On Demand 5 project.
Consequence – Tuck Your Release
Consequence drops some new music titled "Tuck Your Release", co-produced by himself and Mike Cash. Con explains the track below. I gotta start with…
The Latest
Future "Perkies" (Produced by Metro Boomin)
Debonair Brown "Embrace It" (Official Music Video)
A Boogie Wit da Hoodie "Reply" (Feat. Lil Uzi Vert)
Future "Last Name" (Feat. Lil Durk)
Lil Peep "Everybody's Everything" (Album Stream)
Tory Lanez "Chixtape 5" (Album Stream)
Kanye West "Jesus Is King" (Album Stream)
Kirill & Jaco "Hublot" (Official Music Video)
Lil X "New Kid on the Block" (Album Stream)


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Plan, implement and deploy IBM and non-IBM server, storage and middleware products with the skills, expertise, tools and processes you need to optimize IT infrastructure.
Better prepare for future storage demands with an optimized, integrated and virtualized storage environment designed to help reduce complexity, costs and underutilized assets.
Strategize, design, test and implement an actionable IT service strategy which help you reduce costs, improve productivity and automate key tasks.


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ESA tracking station establishes contact with Russia's Mars mission
On Tuesday, 22 November at 20:25 GMT, ESA's tracking station at Perth, Australia, established contact with Russia's Phobos-Grunt spacecraft. Contact with the Mars mission was lost shortly after separation from the launch vehicle was confirmed on 8 November.
Following liftoff, the spacecraft was injected into low-Earth orbit in preparation for departure to Mars. Immediately after separation of the spacecraft and its modified Fregat stage from the launcher, controllers received signals confirming deployment of the solar panels.
Two automated burns of the Fregat engine were to have taken place beyond coverage of Russian ground stations, boosting it onto an interplanetary trajectory for the Red Planet. These failed to happen and contact was lost from that moment. However, observations showed that the craft was in a controlled attitude orbiting Earth between about 200 km and 340 km altitude.
ESA responds to Russian request for assistance
Upon request from NPO Lavochkin, operator of the mission on behalf of the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, ESA agreed to do its utmost to attempt contact using the Agency's ground station network.
Starting on 9 November, and in close coordination with Russian engineers, ESA made almost daily attempts to contact Phobos-Grunt using numerous configurations and radio link modes, but to no avail.
A major problem was that the spacecraft's orbit was not accurately known, whereas ground stations normally require very accurate position information for pointing due to the antenna size.
In the past few days, ESA's
The transmit power was reduced in part because the receiver on Phobos-Grunt is optimised to receive only very weak signals when deep in space.
Perth is ideally located because the satellite's solar panels were illuminated by sunlight when overhead, giving a power boost to its systems.
ESA station in Australia transmits Russian telecommands
On 22 November, the Perth station antenna was pointed toward the spacecraft's expected orbital position during 20:21–20:28 GMT, and telecommands provided by NPO Lavochkin were transmitted.
"Owing to its very low altitude, it was expected that our station would only have Phobos-Grunt in view for six to ten minutes during each orbit, and the fast overhead pass introduced large variations in the signal frequency," said Wolfgang Hell, the Phobos-Grunt Service Manager at ESOC.
Hard work pays off
Despite these difficulties, it was a success: the signals commanded the spacecraft's transmitter to switch on, sending a signal down to the station's 15 m dish antenna.
Data received from Phobos-Grunt were then transmitted from Perth to Russian mission controllers via ESA's Space Operations Centre, Darmstadt, Germany, for analysis.
Additional communication slots are available on 23 November at 20:21–20:28 GMT and 21:53–22:03 GMT, and ESA teams are working closely with Russian controllers to determine how best to maintain communication with their spacecraft.
More news will follow as the situation develops.


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What Is Adware?
|Jul 21, 2005
|Michael E, Callahan
|Related OS:
|Software that can help
|Good for
|Cow Rating
|This is an adware and spyware removal utility that detects and cleans thousands of...
|STOPzilla AVM 2013 Anti-Spyware, Anti-Malware and Anti-Virus successfully detects and...
In conjunction with the information I wrote about "spyware" I also want to tell you a bit about what is commonly called "Adware." The concept of advertising paying for things is an old one. Think about it. You turn on your television and every program is sponsored by a variety of products. You read a newspaper and you see advertising for a wide range of things. The same is true in all magazines. You read a page, you see an ad. Ads for cars, makeup, computers, vacations, books, music, food, and just about every other thing you can imagine. It's a fact that advertising helps pay for many of the things we enjoy. So, it was just a natural extension for people to think about putting advertising in software.
The Adware Boom
"Adware" is a concept that started in the mid to late 1990's. It was going full blast around 1999. The idea was simple. A software author could put advertising in their product and not charge you for the product. Why? Well, because theoretically the advertising would pay them even more. For shareware authors, who use the "try before you buy" concept of marketing, it looked like a great idea. They could still make good software and distribute it, but they'd get paid for every copy that was used. The companies that presented "adware" to software authors were good sales people. I personally know a number of reputable software authors who tried the adware concept. The problem was that the ads simply didn't pay enough. Many users didn't want to have advertising in the software they used. All of the software developers I know who tried it were hurt by it. And all of them got out of it.
That's not to say that advertising is bad. As I already stated early on, many of the things we enjoy are funded, in whole or in part, by advertising. With some things we're perfectly willing to put up with advertising, like TV or magazines. The same is also true with some software. I've subscribed to several different sites that provide music. And when I agree to the terms of those sites I'm agreeing to use their site-specific software which will show me "ads" pertaining to music. Ahh, but the difference here is that in this case I don't mind the advertising. It seems fair to me since I get to listen to free music all day, and only pay for the songs I want to keep. Hmm, but what about tracking? Well, if you think about it, in some instances you agree to be tracked. You agree to have things put on your computer as well. Don't think so? Read on.
Not All Tracking Is Bad
Lets go back to that music site I talked about. Pick a music site, any music site. I like just about all kinds of music, but I like certain kinds better than others. The site says, "Tell us which genres of music you like best." So, I pick rock, blues, folk, (don't laugh), and heavy metal. That way I get the latest information on the types of music I like best. But, in doing so, I've effectively told the site what types of music I like. They can track what I listen to because I've told them they can. Nothing sinister about it, it's just the way business works. I give them some information, they show me ads about the things I like. Albums, and concerts, and shows, Oh My! I also have a "home" page where I get exactly what I want. News, sports, weather, stock market, and so on. The site even says "Welcome Doc" when I arrive. It shows weather for my town, scores for my towns teams - you get the idea. Does it do this by magic? No! Whether you realize it or not, you've at some point agreed to have that home page. And the site has dropped a cookie on your computer so it knows these details you want it to know. Again, nothing sinister about it. If one is on the Internet, and wants to have things personalized, these are some of the things you deal with. As long as you understand that everything is fair and equitable. The problem for me comes when people start trying to put stuff on my computer without my okay, or without my knowing.
Banner-Ad Supported Software
There are some wonderful software programs that are supported, in part, through the use of advertising. Opera and Eudora are two such products. Both are excellent pieces of software from reputable companies. These programs, and a few others, use what I call "banner ad supported software." No tracking is done, no keystrokes are monitored, you simply get banner ads, normally at the top of the program. You can pay for these programs and the ads will just disappear instantly. I tried Opera for awhile, I didn't care to see advertising, so I paid for it. No problem.
Summing It Up
One of the biggest commodities for sale in this, the first part of the twenty-first century, is information. So, some companies will go to any means to gather and utilize that information to make money. If a company knows what you like, they know what to tempt you with. If they know I play guitar, they know that new model Gibson might be of interest to me. And, sadly, some companies have resorted to sleight-of-hand tricks and deception to find out what you and I like. Tucows has had a policy of absolute zero tolerance for spyware and adware since these concepts emerged on the scene. Only programs that utilize the "banner ad supported software" model, like those I mentioned, have ever been allowed on Tucows.
Most of the effective anti-spyware programs will effectively remove and monitor your computer for both adware and spyware. I will only list the ones that I myself have actually evaluated and these include, in no particular order, the following programs you can find right here on Tucows.
In closing, remember to read what you agree to, only deal with well-known, reputable sites, like Tucows and others, as well as the sites of the software authors themselves, and read before you click. Protect yourself and don't engage in unsafe surfing -- use protection. That means a good anti-virus program that you keep up-to-date and an anti-spyware product that is recommended by a reputable site. Yes, there are even many bogus spyware programs that will give you false positives, but that's another story. Take the necessary precautions, know what you agree to, and enjoy your Internet experience.
Read about Spyware.
Michael E. Callahan, known around the world by the trademarked name Dr. File Finder, is regarded as the world's leading expert on shareware. Dr. File Finder works with software programs and developers full-time, and in the average year he evaluates 10,000 programs. Since 1982 he has evaluated over 250,000 software and hardware products. Mr. Callahan began evaluating software online in 1982 and no one has been at it longer. He currently works doing online PR and marketing for software companies, and is the Senior Content Producer for Butterscotch.Com.


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Paul Joseph Watson
Following Professor Noel Sharkey's warning that the fleet of robots being developed for DARPA will ultimately be used to "kill people," Boston Dynamics has released a new video showcasing how its LS3 robot is able to autonomously track humans over rugged terrain.
The video clip shows a field test of the DARPA Legged Squad Support System autonomously following a man through a forest. The robot is also able to interpret visual and verbal commands.
"We've refined the LS3 platform and have begun field testing against requirements of the Marine Corps," Army Lt. Col. Joe Hitt, DARPA program manager told Fox News. "The vision for LS3 is to combine the capabilities of a pack mule with the intelligence of a trained animal."
Although Boston Dynamics and DARPA claim the robots are ostensibly being designed to help conduct humanitarian and relief missions, Noel Sharkey, professor of artificial intelligence and robotics at the University of Sheffield, recently warned that the true purpose of the machines is less benign.
Speaking about the Cheetah, a similar robot currently being perfected by Boston Dynamics, Sharkey said the device represented, "an incredible technical achievement, but it's unfortunate that it's going to be used to kill people."
"It's going to be used for chasing people across the desert, I would imagine. I can't think of many civilian applications – maybe for hunting, or farming, for rounding up sheep." Sharkey added.
"But of course if it's used for combat, it would be killing civilians as well as it's not going to be able to discriminate between civilians and soldiers."
As we reported last week, the Cheetah recently broke the human world speed record set by Usain Bolt in 2009 by achieving a running speed of 28.3 miles per hour.
Sharkey has previously warned that the world may be sleepwalking into a potentially lethal technocracy and has called for safeguards on such technology to be put into place.
In 2008, Professor Sharkey told the Alex Jones Show:
"If you have an autonomous robot then it's going to make decisions who to kill, when to kill and where to kill them. The scary thing is that the reason this has to happen is because of mission complexity and also so that when there's a problem with communications you can send a robot in with no communication and it will decide who to kill, and that is really worrying to me."
The professor also warned that such autonomous weapons could easily be used in the future by law enforcement officials in cites, pointing out that South Korean authorities are already planning to have a fully armed autonomous robot police force in their cities.
Paul Marks at the New Scientist pointed out such proposals are somewhat concerning, because they inevitably will be adapted for domestic purposes such as policing and crowd control.
"…how long before we see packs of droids hunting down pesky demonstrators with paralysing weapons? Or could the packs even be lethally armed?" Marks asked.
In 2008, the Pentagon issued a request to contractors to develop a "Multi-Robot Pursuit System" designed to search for, detect and track "non-cooperative" humans in "pursuit/evasion scenarios".
This again illustrates how behind the veneer of relief missions and humanitarianism, the true purpose that the robots are eventually designed to fulfil is based around tracking, pursuing and even killing humans – in the context of both law enforcement and combat.


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Print / Digital Subscription »
The Washington
State Parks and
Recreation Commission is looking for winter-sports enthusiasts to serve on the
Washington State Snowmobile Advisory Committee. The committee has two positions
that will soon become vacant. One position is for a snowmobiler who lives in
Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Clallam, Jefferson or Island
counties. Another position is for an at-large candidate to represent
nonmotorized winter sports enthusiasts.
Nominations must be received by July 31. New appointments
begin Oct. 1.
The committee is made up of six snowmobilers and three
representatives from nonmotorized winter sports. The committee also has one
representative each from the state Department of Natural Resources, state
Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington Association of Counties. Also
included is an ex-officio member from the Washington Department of Licensing.
The committee meets at least two weekends each year, once
during the winter and once during the summer. The committee reviews vital
issues and advises the commission and its staff on program policy and funding
priorities for snow removal, trail grooming, sanitation, education and
enforcement. Members are appointed by the commission and may serve up to two,
three-year terms. Travel, lodging and meal costs for the meetings are
To send nominations or request an application, contact the Winter
Recreation Program at firstname.lastname@example.com or P.O. Box 42650, Olympia,
For more information on nominations, call (360) 902-8684.
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She is female, young, Hispanic and gay — all key targets of Barack Obama's presidential campaign — but the way Alejandra Salinas introduced herself to 20,000 people at the Democratic National Convention tonight was as a Laredo native and a recent graduate of the University of Texas.
Tucked into a lineup of speakers leading up to President Barack Obama accepting the 2012 Democratic nomination, Salinas — the president of the College Democrats of America — was one of several Texas leaders who showed the blue side of Texas at the conference.
"Mitt Romney recently called my generation a 'lost generation,'" she told the crowd. "He's wrong. We know exactly where we're going: forward, not backward."
As a young political activist, Salinas said there is no lack of political enthusiasm among students, even amid tough economic times.
"I've seen so much energy," she said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle. "I talk to students on many campuses throughout the country."
As a freshman at UT in 2008, she remembered nearly no job recruiters coming to the campus. Now, the Boston College law student says there are more recruiters seeking new employees.
"It's just very tangible on my campus," she said. "This economy is back on track."
But economy aside, one of Obama's biggest assets, from Salinas's perspective, is how well he is able to relate to a variety of groups.
"Obama understands the issues that matter in the Latino community,' she said. "He speaks to millions of dreamers – he understands what they are going through and he has been their advocate."
And as a member of the LGBT community, Salinas said she "can't even begin to talk" about the president means to her.
"When President Obama stood up there and endorsed marriage equality, I'll never forget where I was when I heard them say those words."
With the increasing numbers of Latino voters, Salinas doesn't think Mitt Romney has aligned his party correctly if he wants to attract them.
"The GOP couldn't be more out of touch with my community," she said.


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You could be forgiven for thinking that buying your first airsoft gun would be a simple step. A matter of selecting the one you like best, handing over some cash and taking it home to treasure but unfortunately it's not quite that easy. Buying your first gun is more complex than it may seem and causes a great deal of confusion amongst new players.
It's not uncommon for people first exposed to airsoft or airsoft guns to exclaim "is that even legal?!" It's true, certainly in the UK the majority culture seems to be one that is terrified of anything even remotely shaped like a gun and the incorrect notion that all guns are illegal is rife. That said, one of the most appealing things airsoft holds over your average day playing paintball is that you CAN own a realistic looking replica gun and you can take it home and customise it to your hearts content. It goes without saying that airsoft IS 100% legal when carried out on private premises or at an organised event with the appropriate insurance. It might come as a surprise then to find out that in the strictest interpretation of the law, it's actually illegal to sell a Realistic Imitation Firearm.
The laws stating that the sale of such items were passed as part of the Violent Crimes Reduction Act 2006. This did not specifically state that airsoft guns where illegal, moreover lumped airsoft guns into the category of RIFs. A RIF is simply anything that could be perceived as a weapon, regardless of its ability to fire any kind of projectile. This could be made from wood, foam or be a functional airsoft gun. As those laws stood, unopposed, they would have meant that all airsoft guns would have needed to have been converted to, or sold as an Imitation Firearm instead, (Notice the omission of the "Realistic"). In practical terms, this would likely have meant the end of airsoft as we know it.
Section 38 defines a "realistic imitation firearm" as "an imitation firearm which has an appearance that is so realistic as to make it indistinguishable, for all practical purposes, from a real firearm".
To qualify as an IF, a gun must be coloured predominantly in a unrealistic and bright colour. (These specific colours are set in law, the most commonly used are bright red, bright blue, bright green and bright orange.) There is some ambiguity about how this colouring can be applied and in what proportions, but in practical terms, the gun should be less than half black or a realistic colouration and the rest should be visibly an "unrealistic colour".
Many guns we find imported to the UK are manufactured for the US market. This means they have a bright orange section around the muzzle. There is nothing in UK law pertaining to this and as such, a bright orange muzzle on a gun means absolutely nothing in UK law.
After these laws were proposed, extensive lobbying from the airsoft retail industry bought to light the then niche activity of airsoft in the eyes of the Government and as a result, a defense was established for the sale of Realistic Imitation Firearms.
The word "defense" is used in relation to RIFs and it's important. There is no "license" to own an airsoft gun although providing you have legitimate reason to use a RIF in a law-abiding manner, under some pre-defined activities, exception can be made.
Due to the manner in which this defense was granted and the disparate and varied circumstances under which a defense is given, the airsoft industry was asked to be "self policing" and as such, there is no centralised scheme or membership system that is fully recognised by authorities across the board.
In order to purchase or sell a RIF from a retailer, you must be able to convince them that you are a legitimate airsofter eligible for a defense under law. How you do this is down to the self-policing policy of the retailer in question.
If a retailer were to take a customers word that they were an airsofter with legitimate intentions for their purchase, and that individual turned out to be lying and wished to use the RIF in illegal activities, it is likely that the retailer would find themselves under the scrutiny of the authorities. As something of an insurance policy, and a manner in which to diligently record their checks and measures, many retailers require players to be part of a number of schemes that record their airsoft activity to an extent where it is possible to demonstrate they believe the person in question to have legitimate use for an airsoft gun.
Memberships and Defenses
There are a number of schemes and clubs in place that allow airsofters to join in order to track their activity and prove their activity within organised airsoft (and therefore a defense in law). None of these schemes are currently recognised as an official or legally endorsed method, however some retailers prefer customers to be members of one or another.
Examples of these schemes and club include:
• British Airsoft Club
Being a member of one of these schemes or clubs still does not give you a license as such, because individual retailers may only recognise and feel comfortable with dealing with customers that are members of certain clubs or schemes. This is the individual retailers decision to make and they withhold the right to refuse a sale if they are not satisfied that the customer has a legitimate use for the product. It's important to check with your preferred retailer to find out which schemes or clubs they recognise and use.
If you are unable to qualify for a defense or unable to convince your chosen retailer of it in a manner that suits their business practice, you may be offered a "two-tone" gun, as outlined above as an IF, if you are over 18. Unless you subsequently qualify for a defense, it is illegal to "manufacture a RIF" by painting or otherwise modifying the gun.
What a defense allows
When you have a defense, you may purchase airsoft guns but that is the extent of what it allows you to do. Under no circumstances, defense or not, are you allowed to brandish or display a RIF in a public place or carry one in public without an adequate bag or box that completely conceals it from public view.
The VCRA and Airsoft
Since October 2007 you can only buy a realistic imitation firearm (one that looks like a real gun) if you meet one of the following conditions:
You must be over 18 years of age to buy either a realistic or an imitation firearm.
You are an airsofter with membership of an insured skirmish site.
You are a member of a properly insured historical re-enactment group or society. – Historical re-enactors also include living history associations such as the military vehicles trust. You will need to prove membership.
You are a film, television or theatre production company. – Think plays, operas, that kind of stuff. You and a buddy with a camcorder do not cut the mustard here. You need to be a genuine, registered film production unit.
You are (or are acting on behalf of) a museum – Refers to a museum that is open to the public – a private collection just for you is not good enough.
You are a Crown Servant in pursuance of your Crown duties – You must have specific relevance to obtaining a RIF such as if you are in the forces or similar and are using it as a training aid.
If you cannot meet any of these criteria, you can still buy an imitation firearm, one who's principle colour is significantly different to that of a real firearm – i.e. bright green, bright blue etc.
The VCRA 2006 concerns itself with sale, manufacture and import ONLY. If you buy an imitation firearm and either gift it to someone else, or allow them to use it – regardless of their age – you are not contravening the Act. So, a parent can buy a two-tone airsoft gun and give it to their child to use or keep.


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quantum theory
quantum theory, modern physical theory concerned with the emission and absorption of energy by matter and with the motion of material particles; the quantum theory and the theory of relativity together form the theoretical basis of modern physics. Just as the theory of relativity assumes importance in the special situation where very large speeds are involved, so the quantum theory is necessary for the special situation where very small quantities are involved, i.e., on the scale of molecules, atoms, and elementary particles. Aspects of the quantum theory have provoked vigorous philosophical debates concerning, for example, the uncertainty principle and the statistical nature of all the predictions of the theory.
Sections in this article:
- Introduction
- Evolution of Quantum Theory
- Dual Nature of Waves and Particles
- Relationship of Energy and Matter
- Bibliography
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Physics


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Purple ATV/UTV Soft Shackle:
TRE Purple ATV/UTV Soft Shackle are made from Dyneema SK-75 fiber synthetic rope and are approximately 8″ inside diameter. Each Purple ATV/UTV Soft Shackle handles up to 16,000 lbs of breaking strength. Purple ATV/UTV Soft Shackles are used in many situations instead of a steel shackle and are considered a high strength replacement for most situations requiring the use of a D-Ring or other shackles.
TRE Soft Shackles have a pull string to release the choker loop making them even easier to use in the field.
Purple ATV/UTV Soft Shackle Advantages:
- Light enough to float
- Stronger than steel cable in equivalent sizes
- Wrapped around objects that cable and shackles cannot without damage to your ATV/UTV
- 16,000 lb. minimum breaking strength
- TRE soft shackle design includes a an easy to pull string that make it easy to loosen the soft shackle after use.
Soft Shackle Uses:
- TRE Soft Shackles can be wrapped around any object for a quick pull.
- Soft Shackles can be attached to an anchor point the same way a D-shackle is used
- Can be used in place of Anchor Shackles and D-ring shackles in just about any application
**Intended For Off-Road Use Only


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MarketsandMarkets: Global Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Market worth $9.7 Billion by 2017
06 Jul, 2012, 11:15 BST
DALLAS, July 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
According to a new market research report, "Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Market by Application, Grade & Form - Global Trends & Forecasts (2012 - 2017)", published by MarketsandMarkets (http://www.marketsandmarkets.com), the global Polymethyl Methacrylate application market is expected to be worth US$9.7 billion by 2017, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.5% from 2012 to 2017. The Asia-Pacific market was estimated to account for nearly 40% of the total revenues in 2011.
Browse more than 80 market data tables spread through more than 163 pages and in-depth TOC on "Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Market by Application, Grade & Form - Global Trends & Forecasts (2012 -2017)".
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Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) is available in the form of sheet, pellet or bead having high UV resistance. PMMA is obtained into these different forms (pellets, sheets) by the polymerization of MMA. PMMA is often preferred over glass because of its moderate properties, easy handling and processing, and low cost. PMMA on overall grade basis is divided into two types which include general purpose (GP) and optical grade PMMA.
The signs and displays segment forms the largest application market of the overall PMMA market with an expected $2.6 billion by 2017 and growing at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2012 to 2017. The high market size and consumption of PMMA in signs and displays application segment is due to its extensive use in TFT-LCDs, display panels and screens, and signage's.
High growth of PMMA application market, presence of major PMMA manufacturers as well as users in Asia-Pacific region, made the dominant market for polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The region held a 40.1% share of the global polymethyl methacrylate market, followed by Europe with a 27.9% share in 2011.
Use of polymethyl methacrylate in automotive at presently accounts for around 12.3% of the total polymethyl methacrylate market, revenue wise, but this share is estimated to increase to 13.6% by 2017.
Asia Pacific region is the largest market for polymethyl methacrylate with 40.1% of the global polymethyl methacrylate market revenue share in 2011 and is estimated to reach $4.49 billion by 2017. Europe is the second largest consumer of polymethyl methacrylate followed by North America.
The report segments the global polymethyl methacrylate market revenue by applications, grades and geography. It also focuses on market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities.
About MarketsandMarkets
MarketsandMarkets is a global market research and consulting company based in the U.S. We publish strategically analyzed market research reports and serve as a business intelligence partner to Fortune 500 companies across the world.
MarketsandMarkets also provides multi-client reports, company profiles, databases, and custom research services. MarketsandMarkets covers thirteen industry verticals; including advanced materials [ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/advanced-material-market-research-12.html ], automotives and transportation, banking and financial services, biotechnology, chemicals, consumer goods, energy and power, food and beverages, industrial automation, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, semiconductor and electronics, and telecommunications and IT.
We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. To know more about us and our reports, please visit our website http://www.marketsandmarkets.com.
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MarketsandMarkets Blog @ http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/
SOURCE MarketsandMarkets


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I am not a fan of Halloween, never have been really, it always felt silly dressing up. My earliest memory was when I was about 6 years old, I couldn't decide whether to be Pregnant or a Princess so I was both, a Pregnant Princess! The neighbors didn't seem surprised.
Since I can remember I have always gone with the silly Halloween costumes, but most women gravitate to the Sexy ones. You would think that after a few awkward experiences I would have nixed the silly and gone with sexy, but I just couldn't seem to walk out the door in a 'fantasy type' ensemble.
Awkward experience #1) I had a crush on a boy all through Elementary School. When I went to a Halloween party he was there, we talked all night long, he eventually walked me to my car and kissed me! It was pure teenage bliss! I was floating on a crush cloud for hours afterwards. I couldn't believe after all these years of crushing on him HE KISSED ME! When I arrived home I got into my PJ's and went into the bathroom to wash my face. When I looked in the mirror I came crashing down off of my crush cloud…I WAS A CLOWN, FULL CLOWN MAKEUP smudged all over my face! I had gone all out that year, billowy outfit, clown hair, make up and nose. Tracy the Clown! I finally got to kiss my crush and I was a CLOWN! (picture is minus the nose and wig, that came off in lightening speed when I saw him from across the room!)
Each year it was the same thing, standing in the drug store looking for ideas at 6 pm the night of, and then staying home. I couldn't even get it together with Bonnie in Hawaii where there were thousands of people all dressed up walking the streets all day and night. I wore a Duck nose and she wore a Lion nose, you don't want to know what we walked around saying! Our Mothers would not be impressed!
Awkward experience #2) I went to a big Stargate (TV Series) Halloween party and left my costume until the last minute as usual, I was a really bad kick boxer. I wore my full sparring gear, headgear, mouth guard, GI (Gee), boxing gloves, foot and shin protector, chest pad and I applied make up that made me look bruised and beaten up. I arrived at the party and every girl there was in a rented costume from the Renaissance period or some other grand time! Each had their hair and make up done professionally and they all looked flawless. And then there was me…a beaten up boxer.
Halloween is the one night of the year you can get away with dressing like a hooker and not be judged, and I chose clowns and kick boxers? I laugh with my friend Kent about Halloween costumes women pick and how it doesn't matter what they pick it's the Sexy-version of… They might be a hobo but it's a sexy hobo!
Women love being sexy and this is the night they can live out a fantasy in public and get away with it. If I did ever partake in the sexy-version of…I can't remember it was so long ago! (that's my standard answer to anything I wish not to recall)
Last year I went as a Female Cougar (wishful thinking) I wore my own little black dress, with a tail peeking out of the bottom, animal print nylons and ears, and fake eye lashes, which Bonnie said made me look cheap! Purrrrrrfect!
My Mom and Dad met on Halloween when they were 12 years old, so you would think me of all people would view Halloween as a romantic night. Maybe I need to rid myself of the humorous costumes and join the crowds of French Maids, Naughty School Girls and Sexy Hobos? What do you think Kent?
I had to laugh this Halloween night when my daughter changed her outfit numerous times before walking out the door, I'm not even sure what she was in the end? I know exactly how she felt! Preparation is of the utmost importance when it comes to Halloween costumes!
I hope your all enjoying your treats, don't eat too many ladies they are 80 calories each! If I don't stop now next years costume will be a no brainer, a Well Fed Cougar!


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One thing that I really wanted to bring here to Japan was my Bop It Extreme II.
It's not exactly small, and would've taken up quite a bit of space in my suitcase. It would have been particularly useful on one of many cheap alcohol-fueled chu-hi nights. It makes a good party game, that's for sure.
Today I'm happy to say I have a found a great alternative for my iPhone. Ladies and gentleman we have the "Xhake Shake"!
It shamelessly rips off the same concept, but having it in the one compact package makes me VERY happy. With this game, you have to tap it, rub it, shake it, flip it and freeze (do nothing).
It mostly works well, save for the tricky flip maneuver which got me speaking French more that a few times.
Here's a video showing how it's done in "extreme" mode. I can see myself wasting lots of time with this.
Most notably when I should be learning some Japanese.
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Let's Do The Xhake Shake
One thing that I really wanted to bring here to Japan was my Bop It Extreme II.
Posted by Jimmy In Japan at 10:40 pm


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2016 Year End Review
Austin Animal Center is the City of Austin's municipal animal shelter. Thanks to partnerships with Austin Pets Alive!, Austin Humane Society and more than 150 rescue groups, Austin has remained the largest No Kill community in the United States since 2011, saving more than 95 percent of the 17,000 pets who come through the doors each year.
In addition to housing and rehoming thousands of pets, Austin Animal Center provides the following services:
- Animal Protection Officers respond to 30,000 calls each year, rescuing injured wildlife, enforcing animal laws and ordinances, and providing support and resources for pets and people in need inAustin and Travis County. Officers provide dog houses, food and even fence building supplies to help keep pets safely and humanely housed in their homes.
Officer David Ackerman saving a wounded owl
- A team of four full-time veterinarians and 15 veterinary technicians complete spay/neuter surgeries and microchip morethan 5,000 animals per year and treat thousands of medical conditions and critical cases.
- Outreach team members conduct free rabies vaccine clinics in the community, vaccinating and microchipping more than 1,000 pets last year.
- Outreach team members also connect residents with resources available through Emancipet and Austin Humane Society for almost 11,000 owned pets and community cats to receive sterilization surgeries.
- Austin Animal Center coordinates emergency response and management during weather events, including staffing temporary shelters for displaced pets and people.
Dogs enjoying playgroup
- In addition to providing basic, daily care, an eight-person enrichment and behavior team takes dogs on walks, runs doggie play groups and provides daily, in-kennel enrichment activities for cats and dogs.
2016 Highlights
In 2016, more lives were saved than ever before! The live outcome rate for cats was 95 percent and 98 percent for dogs, making the total live outcome rate 96.4 percent.
- 7,886 pets were adopted in 2016, which is a record for AAC and about 500 more than the previous year.
Beautiful kitty at the shelter
- 4,715 cats, dogs and other animals were transferred to rescue partners, with Austin Pets Alive! taking 3,002 of the shelter's most challenging medical and behavioral cases.
- 2,760 animals were returned to their homes, and Animal Protection Officers returned an additional 700 dogs in the field, without having to take the dogs to the shelter.
Volunteer Cindy with Senior pup Dixie
- 795 Volunteers contributed 53,797 hours of service. This is the equivalent of 26 full-time staff positions!
- 900 foster families housed 2,500 pets and 65 percent of these animals were adopted directly from foster, without having to return to the shelter. Fosters contributed 81,830 hours of service, which represents 39 full-time staff positions.
Bunnies getting play time and socialization on the patio
Letter from the Director
The Animal Services Office is dedicated to sustaining Austin's No Kill commitment of achieving live outcomes for at least 90 percent of the companion animals entering the center annually.
Chief Animal Services Officer, Tawny Hammond with a shelter dog
We are proud to share the 2016 annual report with you as there is much to celebrate. Despite having a challenging year of weather events that led to periods of high intake of pets, we achieved the highest lifesaving rate in Austin's history, and no animals lost their lives due to lack of space or other resources. This is in large part due to the tireless efforts of volunteers, foster families and our important rescue and shelter partners. In times of space crisis, the community stepped up like never before, opening their hearts and homes to providing temporary safe places for pets in need, proving that No Kill is a community ethic.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Animal Services Office helped make Austin home to the largest No Kill municipal shelter in the country by achieving a record 96 percent live outcome rate. Animal Services maintains this level of lifesaving through its focus on
developing programs and policies that meaningfully support the needs of animals in its care and through robust partnerships with community organizations, rescue partners and volunteers.
Animal Care Supervisor, Robert Golembeski showing some love to a senior dog
Animal Services strives to maintain the human-pet bond through prevention, resources, and customer and rescue-friendly adoption and transfer processes. The goal is to keep animals in homes or get them back into appropriate homes as quickly as possible. With an annual intake of approximately 17,000 animals, the center cares for an average inventory of about 900 animals between facilities at Austin Animal Center and Town Lake Animal Center. Veterinary services staff perform over 5,000 spay/neuter surgeries to prepare animals for adoption and manage over 1,600 emergency cases. Customer service, rescue and foster staff facilitate live outcomes for more than 15,000 animals annually.
Our engagement-based Animal Protection Program receives more than 30,000 calls for service and defers more than four percent of potential center intake by returning pets in the field. This ensures animals get back home and also allows officers the opportunity to talk to residents about what is needed to keep animals safe and at home. Free and low-cost outreach programs serve more than 10,000 community dogs and cats with spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinate 15,000 against rabies. Services also were expanded to offer more opportunities for pet owners to easily get their pets microchipped.
Staff and Volunteers of Austin Animal Center
As the City's population grows, so does the demand for services. Animal Services continues to seek partnership opportunities with Travis County and other incorporated municipalities to address animal welfare challenges and to service capacity issues on a regional level. The Animal Services Office will continue to focus on meeting the community's animal services needs through an expansion of the foster program, improving the customer experience at the shelter, piloting neighborhood-level programs and finding innovative ways to connect community members with resources so that pets may stay in homes whenever possible.
Special Programs
- The Humane Society of the United States selected Austin Animal Center to be a pilot city for its Wild Neighbors Program, designed to humanely mitigate conflicts between people and wildlife.
- Austin Animal Center partnered with the Travis County Correctional Complex to provide dog care classes to inmates. This is the first partnership of its kind in Austin and Travis County, and four sessions have been held, with more planned for 2017.
Shelter dog getting some play time
- The Austin Animal Center, through support from Maddie's Fund, will provide adult dog foster training for leading shelters throughout the United States.Twenty four shelters will attend apprenticeships in early 2017 to learn how to start and run adult dog foster programs.
Tawny Hammond, Chief Animal Services Officer
To download a printable version of the Austin Animal Center 2016 Annual Report, click here.


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Welcome to Elvex NSC Show
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ONLINE Short-Term Payday Loans in Idaho | Quick Cash advance ID
Why choose fast online loans in Idaho?
Need to pay some urgent bills or make a minor purchase? – Take a payday loan which is a small dollar short term cash advance famous for its easiness, fastness and availability even for bad credit applicants.
If your problem is more serious and requires larger amounts, don't let it upset you, we'll gladly lend you up to $35,000 Payday loan. Its difference from the later one is in the sum, terms and the way of repayment. You'll have from 60 days to six months to repay the loan usually in monthly payments.
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My boss's wife has a tradition of making rum balls each Christmas. They are her signature item and they are delicious. Some have a truffle center others have liqueur soaked cherry centers. She makes them in three strengths ranging from Kahlua or Cointreau to Bacardi 151. They are always a hit at the company Christmas Party and my husband instantly fell in love with them.
I was lucky enough to have her invite me over for a rum ball making tutorial. We had so much fun making a couple of batches of delicious rum balls. She sent me home with a tray of them to share with my then boyfriend. He proposed within a few weeks of that, so she swears it was the rum balls that pushed him over the edge. Hey, whatever it takes right?
She makes them by feel and with years of experience, she makes them the best! I came home with a list of ingredients, but no measurements. So these are a very rough approximation of her rum balls. I didn't make the truffle or cherry centers this time, but they really do take them to the next level. One of these times I am going to have to do them that way too!
Here's the thing about my husband, he loves for his food to bite back. If we go out for wings, he has to order at least 6 of the hottest ones on the menu. The whole time he tells us how good they are his face is red and he's crying.
"It's fun" he says while nothing about it looks fun.
"I'm fine" he says as I hold on to the phone ready to call 911 when he falls over.
I used to help him eat those Blazin' wings, but my heat tolerance has faded a bit over the years and I have no interest in torturing myself! Of course when I made Jess's Tailgate Queso, he had to stir in a little of Pops' homemade habanero sauce. The first couple bites were fine, then he hit a hot spot and the tears started flowing!
So it makes perfect sense that he likes the Bacardi 151 version of her rum balls best! It is always fun to watch people try one for the first time. There is the delicious flavor of chocolate that gives way to the warmth of the alcohol. They definitely make your mouth tingle.
My husband requested a batch not too long ago. He requests things so seldom that I feel like I need to follow through when he does. We had a trivia night coming up and I was in charge of making some sweets to share, so I knew this would be a perfect time. Matt had fun sharing them with our table and a few people we met in line. He looked quite pleased with himself and his treat. We didn't win the trivia night, but I think I might have won a little extra piece of his heart!
Burnin' Love Rum Balls
- 12 oz box of vanilla wafers
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 3 T corn syrup
- 1/2 cup rum
- 1 lb chocolate for dipping
- Process your vanilla wafers into crumbs in your food processor. Add the almond flour and cocoa powder, process to combine.
- Stir in the corn syrup and rum. Roll into small balls. I usually do a variety of sizes, larger for folks like my husband and a few smaller ones for people who just want to give them a try.
- Refrigerate for at least a half hour.
- When ready to dip, prepare your chocolate by melting and tempering it.
- Dip balls and decorate if desired.
- They may be eaten as soon as they are set, but they are better if you give them a few days to let the flavors really come together. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.


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FDIC Law, Regulations, Related Acts
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4000 - Advisory Opinions
FDIC Will Not Require Compliance With New SEC Rule 16b--3 Until September 30, 1993 or Later Effective Date Established by SEC
May 27, 1993
Gerald J. Gervino, Senior Attorney
You have requested confirmation that the FDIC will not require compliance with the provisions of the new Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 16b--3 by securities issuers within our jurisdiction prior to the effective date of the provisions as applied to issuers subject to the jurisdiction of the SEC. New Rule 16b-3 imposes requirements which employer stock benefit plans must satisfy in order to qualify for an exemption from the short-swing liability provisions of section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The FDIC has adopted the new Rule 16b--3 by cross-reference from § 335.411 of our regulations, 57 FR 4703 (1992). Like the SEC, we initially established a delayed effective date for the new Rule 16b--3 in particular. Our effective date was set at June 30, 1993. The SEC, which had an earlier effective date, has announced a delay until September 30, 1993 for the effectiveness of the new Rule 16b--3. The SEC indicated that it might be making substantive changes in the new Rule before that date.
As of yet, no new changes have been announced for the new Rule 16b--3. There is no assurance that the SEC will not amend its regulations between our effective date of June 30, 1993 and the SEC's adjusted effective date of September 30, 1993. We cannot discount the possibility that the SEC will again delay the effective date of its 1991 amendments to the new Rule 16b--3. In either of these two cases, banks filing under Part 335 might be subjected to an extra adjustment of their plans in addition to that required for entities filing with the SEC. You feel that banks subject to Part 335 should not be subjected to this duplication and expense.
Because the SEC's change in effective dates is not a part of the new Rule 16b--3 and is not clearly incorporated by reference into Part 335 by § 335.411 of our regulations, you request confirmation that the SEC will not require compliance with the new Rule 16b--3 until September 30, 1993 or such later date as the SEC determines will be the effective date of the new Rule 16b--3 for securities issuers subject to the SEC's jurisdiction.
When we adopted the SEC's comprehensive revision of the its rule on ownership reports and insider trading, we set an effective date later than the SEC's original effective date because our adoption date was subsequent to the SEC adoption. This gave insured nonmember banks at least as much advance notice for compliance with the new Rule 16b--3 and the rest of the SEC's revision to its regulations under section 16 of the Act. 56 FR 7265 (1991). By postponing its effective date in contemplation of possible changes in the regulation, the SEC has placed insured nonmember banks in a disadvantaged position. This was not contemplated at the time of our revision and was never our intent. The resulting inequity is inconsistent with § 335.411(a) of our regulations. § 335.411(a) provides:
Persons subject to section 16 of the Act with respect to securities registered under Part 335 shall follow the applicable and currently effective SEC regulations issued under section 16 of the Act (17 CFR 240.16a--1 through 240.16e--1). . . . [Emphasis Supplied].
While we have authority to delay the effectiveness of an SEC rule, where appropriate, the above language of our regulation precludes application of an SEC regulation under § 335.411(a) until that regulation is effective. For both of the reasons set forth above, we will not consider the provisions of the new Rule 16b--3 mandatory for banks subject to Part 335 until the SEC has made its amendments effective.
If you have any further questions, please write or call me at (202)898-3723.


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As parents we strive to be great at the job, but seeing a flawless, sun bronzed Heidi Klum wade into the surf in a bikini and save her son, plus two nannies from a riptide would give David Hasselhoff an inferiority complex. How often do we believe we need to be supermodel supermoms and is being a good mother ever good enough?
Heidi Klum and her family were on vacation in Oahu, Hawaii, Sunday when her oldest son Henry, 7, was caught in a dangerous riptide, as were two of his nannies, reports Entertainment Tonight.
The photos are a cross between a dramatic Disney movie moment and a Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
Vundermom just made lifting a bus off your kid — via hysterical strength (that supposed superhuman strength rush parents get when offspring are in mortal peril) — passé by lifting an ocean off her child.
"We got pulled into the ocean by a big wave. Of course, as a mother, I was very scared for my child and everyone else in the water," Ms. Klum told ET. "Henry is a strong swimmer and was able to swim back to land. We were able to get everyone out safely."
I love it. It's the most inspiring story of the day, but then I had a look in the mirror, at the unfolded pile of laundry and the fact that last time I took the kids to the beach I ended up in the hospital after being hit by a longboard.
I was able to find some solace in little paperback I've been reading called "Good Enough Mothering," by Elaine Heffner, a psychotherapist and parent educator in New York City and senior lecturer of education in psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College. Her blog is full of answers.
"I see mothers trying to be perfect. 'Good enough' doesn't feel good enough. How did that happen?" Heffner writes. "Perhaps, deep down inside we all wish life could have been perfect for us as children, and so we are too ready to agree with our children that we should be able to make life perfect for them. But we can't — and that makes us feel guilty."
I am pretty certain that the day I first became a parent, along with those magical mommy instincts that hit my system like a freight train, came a bigger freight train, loaded with guilt.
"Feeling guilty seems to be a normal condition of motherhood. So let me assure you that feeling guilty does not mean you are guilty," Heffner writes. "Those feelings do not mean you are not doing a good enough job."
I wish I could have gotten this woman on the phone because I suspect I could talk to her all day. I know I'm gonna have to sit down and finish her book.
Although, I admit, seeing all the books out there on how to do what's "right" as a parent can make us feel like the ways to do something "wrong" have us beaten before we start.
I think that Klum and I actually have a lot in common, none of it in the bikini department. We both adore our children and want the best for them. OK, her best is Oahu and mine is the lawn sprinkler, but I would battle the most savage hose leak to save my son.
Being a great parent isn't about how you look while saving your child, or even your ability to do so, but the fact that you would, without hesitation, do all you were able to make that save. Sometimes our "all" entails watching our child like a hawk and shouting for the Baywatch look-alike to run into the riptide.
I'm fine with that because ultimately parenting is not at all about me, or how I feel about it. Parenting, good parenting, is about raising a child who feels loved, safe, provided for to the best of our ability, and is educated.
A perfect example of a parent with nothing at all tangible to give is the mother of Chess Phenom Phiona Mutesi who is raising her kids in the slums of Kampala, Uganda, with no running water or electricity.
She is an amazing mom because she is doing all she can for her kids. While her daughter walks three miles to school daily with her few books in a blue plastic bag and has missed years of primary school education due to lack of money, this is still a great mom. Why? Because this mom, despite all odds against her, has continued to give her kids hope and spiritual support — and she has fed their ambitions.


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MLB: Matt Garza shuts down New York Yankees in debut for Texas Rangers
ARLINGTON, Texas >> Matt Garza pitched into the eighth inning of his Rangers debut, the only run he allowed unearned after his throwing error, and Texas beat the New York Yankees 3-1 on Wednesday night.
Garza (1-0) was 6-1 in his 11 starts this season for the Chicago Cubs before being traded Monday to the Rangers, who had long coveted the right-hander. He was 5-0 with a 1.24 ERA his last six starts for Chicago, winning the last five.
After giving up consecutive singles to start his first game in a Rangers jersey, Garza retired 15 of the next 16 batters before his throwing error on Brett Gardner's comebacker leading off the sixth.
A.J. Pierzynski drove in two runs for Texas, including a tiebreaking solo homer in the bottom of the sixth off Andy Pettitte (7-8). David Murphy also homered, off reliever Shawn Kelley in the eighth.
The Rangers were interested in Garza when Tampa Bay traded him to Chicago after the 2010 season. They also inquired about him last summer before he missed the last two months with a stress reaction in his right elbow. He missed the first seven weeks this season because of a strained left lat muscle.
Garza struck out five with no walks while throwing 95 pitches over 7 1-3 innings.
Neal Cotts retired all four batters he faced before Joe Nathan got the final out for his 32nd save in 34 chances. The All-Star closer rebounded from the previous night when he gave up two runs in the ninth of a 5-4 loss to the Yankees.
Gardner's comebacker leading off the sixth rolled away from Garza even though the pitcher was able to get a glove on it. He scrambled to grab the ball, but threw awkwardly off his knee well wide of first base. The speedy Gardner was credited with an infield single and got to third on the errant throw.
Garza then snagged Ichiro Suzuki's comebacker for an out before Robinson Cano lined a single to right to tie the game at 1 in the sixth.
Walking off the mound after the inning, Garza was clearly frustrated at himself. He already felt better soon after that, pumping his arms in the air and slapping his hands together when Pierzynski hit his 10th homer.
Pettitte allowed eight eights and two runs while pitching into the seventh. The 41-year-old left-hander struck out two and walked one.
The Rangers quickly led 1-0 after Ian Kinsler had a leadoff single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Elvis Andrus and scored on a single by Pierzynski. It was the second time in three games this series they scored a run in the first inning, after 10 consecutive games without a run in the initial frame.
Notes: Even with the victory for the Rangers, it was the 27th day in a row they failed to gain ground in the AL West since Oakland won 4-3 at Houston earlier Wednesday. The Rangers have gone from a half-game lead to three games back in that span. ... Rangers opening day starter Matt Harrison threw live BP, facing hitters for the first time since April. The lefty has been on the DL and had two back surgeries since his last start April 6. Harrison says he felt good and is expected to throw BP again Saturday in Cleveland. ... Yankees OF Curtis Granderson (broken pinkie) said he will start a minor league rehab assignment Thursday night with Class A Tampa and will evaluated at the end of the weekend. ... New York 3B Jayson Nix (hamstring), who went 0 for 2 and was hit by a pitch Wednesday in his first rehab game with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Yankees. He could join Granderson at Tampa.


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WASHINGTON — This election cycle, msnbc.com is presenting a weekly series assessing the issues and controversies that the next president will confront once he takes the oath of office.
In this Briefing Book, we look at the price and supply of energy and the presidential candidates' proposals for addressing this crisis.
Why it's a problem
If you live in California and drive 30 miles to work, five days a week, you're paying about $14 more now for your weekly commute than you were paying last year at this time.
And as those prices continue to rise at local gas stations, motorists across the country are being forced to reassess work routes, carpooling, and whether or not to take that summer vacation.
And driving isn't the only thing that's costing more these days.
The rising cost of fuel has also led to increased airfares, extra fees for checking bags, and a moratorium on free in-flight snacks.
And in a recent cost cutting move, U.S. Airways will no longer be providing in-flight entertainment to some of its passengers. The airline hopes to save on fuel by removing the 500-pound movie systems from its domestic routes.
Food prices are also up around the country, thanks in part to higher shipping costs.
It's a reality that's reverberating throughout the world of freight transport. Package delivery giant FedEx recently recorded its first quarterly loss in 11 years due to soaring fuel costs.
Meanwhile, American oil and gasoline consumers are discovering that they're not the only ones in the world.
Crude oil demand in China has grown by nearly 20 percent over the past four years, even as oil demand in the United States declined by four percent.
Other political news of note
Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
House Speaker John Boehner became animated Tuesday over the proposed Keystone Pipeline, castigating the Obama administration for not having approved the project yet.
- Budget deficits shrinking but set to grow after 2015
- Senate readies another volley on unemployment aid
- Obama faces Syria standstill
- Fluke files to run in California
- Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
As China's consumption grows, there's added pressure to the global oil market, which in turn, drives up demand and prices.
Where the candidates stand
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain has proposed a $300 million government-funded prize for the inventor who could produce a car battery — one that would reduce electric vehicle costs by 70 percent.
McCain also said that he would offer a $5,000 dollar tax credit for every customer who buys a car that doesn't emit carbon dioxide.
The candidate has also pledged to eliminate mandates, subsidies, and tariffs that exclusively benefit producers of corn-based ethanol.
This would include the 54 cents-per-gallon tax on imported ethanol.
Video: Energy clash In 2006, Obama argued that the U.S. tariff on imported ethanol must be kept in place in order to protect "home-grown renewable fuels" from foreign competition.
McCain has proposed a temporary halt in the federal excise tax on gasoline during summer driving months, an idea Obama ridiculed.
Expressing concern over the environmental effect of greenhouse gas emissions, McCain is also encouraging the building of 45 new nuclear power plants — an energy alternative without greenhouse gas emissions.
McCain has also said he would persuade Congress to end the current moratorium on oil and natural gas drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf.
In 1995 and 2005, McCain voted to open part of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil drilling.
But prior to the 2005 vote, McCain denounced Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, for attaching the ANWR drilling provision to a Pentagon spending bill, calling it "disgusting" and "disgraceful" for the Alaska senator to add an unrelated and contentious measure to a bill with money needed for troops overseas.Video: Drill for U.S. black gold?
As it turned out, Stevens failed to get the 60 votes he needed and ANWR drilling was blocked.
McCain's opponent, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, until recently opposed additional offshore drilling, arguing that it would take at least five years for the move to lower gasoline prices.
But in a significant change of position, Obama on Aug. 1 said he would be willing to support limited additional offshore drilling.
He said he would make this compromise if it were necessary to get enough votes in Congress to pass a comprehensive plan to encourage fuel-efficient vehicles and develop alternative energy sources.
"My interest is in making sure we've got the kind of comprehensive energy policy that can bring down gas prices," Obama said in an interview with The Palm Beach Post.
"If, in order to get that passed, we have to compromise in terms of a careful, well thought-out drilling strategy that was carefully circumscribed to avoid significant environmental damage — I don't want to be so rigid that we can't get something done."
Both McCain and Obama support legislation to force American companies to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Obama has said that the 2005 energy bill for which he voted "contained irresponsible tax breaks for oil companies that I consistently opposed, and that I will repeal as president."
"But the tax credits in that bill contributed to wind power growing 45 percent last year, the sharpest rise in decades," he continued.
"If John McCain had his way, those tax credits wouldn't exist."
McCain voted against that bill.
Obama has said that he would provide $150 billion in subsidies over ten years to companies that produce wind power, solar power, and bio-fuels.
The Democrat has also said he would seek to impose a new tax on energy companies' "windfall profits" and would send $500 to individuals and $1,000 to married couples to help with gasoline and home heating costs.
In 2006, Obama introduced a bill to allow the federal government to pay part of American automakers' retiree health care costs. In exchange, the companies would invest in building more fuel-efficient cars.
Unanswered questions
If Congress enacts a law to limit emissions of carbon dioxide, as desired by both McCain and Obama, how will American energy companies and manufacturers cope with its requirements? Will additional costs be passed on to consumers?
Neither Obama nor McCain has fully addressed how such a complex bill would be administered.
A version of that greenhouse gas legislation, which the Senate debated but did not pass last month, is almost certain to be brought up for reconsideration next year.
That bill would set up a Technology Development Fund which will have more than $500 billion at its disposal over 20 years — money collected from carbon dioxide emitters.
How will that fund — perhaps the most powerful federal agency created in many decades — parcel out the money? Which "clean technology" firms will it subsidize?
Another uncertainty is technological innovation itself.
For instance, how quickly will major automobile manufacturers develop an electric car that middle-class Americans can afford?
Will innovators be able to respond to McCain's $300 million battery prize?
As for Obama's goal of helping to put one million plug-in electric vehicles on the market by 2015, questions remain. Will consumers choose to buy them? What will be the price and the dependability of such vehicles?
Evolution and shifts in position
Obama, as described above, has shifted his stance on offshore oil drilling. He once opposed it, but he now supports drilling at least in some places.
In a speech on Aug. 4, Obama also advocated another idea he had previously opposed: drawing out oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help lower gasoline prices.
Obama voted in 2005 to mandate wider use of ethanol, but also supported the recently passed farm bill which pledges to decrease current subsidies for the corn-based fuel.
While serving in the Illinois legislature in 2000, Obama voted to suspend the state sales tax on gasoline for six months — but he ridiculed McCain's call this year for a three-month suspension of the federal excise tax on gasoline.
Obama said that he later regretted his vote for the Illinois gas tax cut.
"I voted for it and then six months later we took a look and consumers had not benefited at all, but we had lost (state tax) revenue," he said.
McCain opposed offshore oil drilling in 2000, but now supports it.
He co-sponsored an increase in automobile fuel economy standards in 2002, but voted against increasing them in 2003 and 2005.
How they voted
In 1993, McCain voted against the Clinton administration budget plan that increased the excise tax on gasoline and diesel fuel by 4.3 cents a gallon.
Video: Expensive oil helps Abu Dhabi In 1995, McCain voted to permit oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The ANWR measure passed as part of budget bill. But President Clinton vetoed the bill, so drilling was blocked.
In 2005, McCain voted for — but Obama voted against — a procedural motion that would have pushed ahead with a bill to allow drilling in ANWR. The motion needed 60 votes to pass; it fell three votes short.
That same year, Obama voted for — but McCain voted against — an energy plan, parts of which were supported by President Bush who signed it into law.
The plan included tax breaks and subsidies for oil and gas companies, as well as subsidies for renewable energy sources.
Obama voted for an amendment to the 2005 energy bill which would have required cars to achieve 40 mpg average fuel economy by 2017. McCain voted against that amendment.
Also in 2006, Obama voted against a bill to expand oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. McCain voted in the affirmative.
Surprises for the next president
Assessing potential crises that might further cloud the energy forecast, David Pumphrey of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington said last month, "The biggest one out there is still the Iran situation. If that went badly, obviously that can have a bad impact on oil markets."
Iran is in an increasingly tense standoff with the European nations and the United States over its nuclear development program. Oil traders have fretted for months over a possible Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear sites.
Pumphrey also said, "A regime change in Saudi Arabia that swung to an even more conservative approach to oil development has been a worry for long time in energy security circles. Right now I don't think there's an expectation of that kind of regime change."
"On the flip side of surprises which might be a potential benefit to a president," Pumphrey said, "would be some kind of very unexpected change in demand patterns, greater than expected changes in consumer behavior, which would really bring demand down and make oil prices come back to what we would think of as a reasonable range."
© 2013 msnbc.com Reprints


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Manufacturing or research and development companies entitled to local property-tax benefits must file the Annual Certification of Entity Tax Status online with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) by April 1, 2014 to claim those benefits.
Click here for the DOR resource page for the April 1 filing deadline.
Corporations seeking to maintain (or acquire) favored property-tax status must file by the deadline to ensure that they appear on DOR's Division of Local Services List of Corporations for 2014. Cities and towns use "The List" to determine which corporations and entities treated as corporations are entitled to local property tax relief. The List also specifies for Massachusetts tax purposes, businesses that have been granted the "manufacturing corporation" classification.
Joseph X. Donovan, a tax lawyer at Sullivan and Worcester, says because of tax law changes in 2009, the Department of Revenue could no longer use filings with the Secretary of the Commonwealth to alert local officials about the tax status of a company.
"While the change to a new procedure was necessary, there is a real risk that companies —
unaware of the new annual filing requirement to protect favored local property tax status— will find themselves effectively declassified, with potentially very harsh consequences," Donovan said.
"While they will be able to cure the declassification by challenging it in the Appellate Tax Board, that route can be quite costly. Moreover, the resolution of any dispute before the Board can take a long time. We should hope that taxpayers who find themselves before the Board in such circumstances will be permitted to quickly and informally resolve with opposing counsel the 'foot fault' of failure to file the form."
The DOR publishes "The List" electronically on its Web site on or about April 1. Omission from the list or any particular classification may be appealed by the employer.
Here are some resources for employers:
- DOR Reminder – April 1 Filing Deadline
- DOR Webfile (Demo application form)
- DOR Webfile (Login & File now)
- FAQ on Annual Certification
- DOR Directive 12-5
- The 2013 Corporation's List
If you have trouble with the registration process, or with accessing your account, please contact DOR Customer Service at 617-887-6367. If you have questions about completing the Annual Certification of Entity Tax Status online application after reviewing the FAQs, please contact the Division of Local Services.Should you have any additional questions, please contact Brad MacDougall, Vice President for Government Affairs or 617-262-1180.


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Hi to all,
I got a 07 K12GT last April. It had 1400 miles.
If you have any questions about riding in RI, feel free to contact me.
I had a 99 R12C for a few years and rode that on the Blue Ridge and out to Colorado via Rt.50.
I traded in the R12 and still miss it.
I still have my 97 HD Sportster.
I just got back from a 2,800 mile trip through the Blue Ridge Parkway, Smoky Mountains and Chatahoochee National Forest.
To look at a few photos:
Motorcycle Trip Data
Blue Ridge Parkway, Suches, Georgia and Smoky Mts.
12 days, 2833 miles
Day 1 - Leave Warwick RI 5:15AM; Odometer=2650
All Highway;
Arrive Martinburg , West Virginia 4PM; Odom=3088
11 hours; 438 miles
Day 2 - 6/22 - Leave 8AM;
Skyline Drive and beginning of BlueRidge Parkway
Afternoon rain; Arrive at Buena Vista VA,@4PM; Odom=3309
Bueuna Vista Motel was AWFUL
All 2 lane mountain road; 8 hours; 221 miles
Day 3 - 6/23 ÔÇô Leave 7:30AM
More of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Excellent weather.
Arrive at ÔÇÿLittle SwitzerlandÔÇÖ (nice place) @6:30. 11 hours; 300 miles
Day 4 ÔÇô 6/24 ÔÇô Leave 9:30AM
Completed the Blue Ridge PW. Sunny/Warm
Arrive Cherokee, North Carolina @2:30PM
5 hours; 155 miles. Odom=3763
Day 5 ÔÇô 6/25 ÔÇô Stayed in Cherokee another day.
Rode through and around the Smoky Mountains.
Leave 9:30AM, Return 2:30PM
5 hours; 118 miles. Odom=3881
Day 6 ÔÇô 6/26 ÔÇô Leave 10:00AM
Arrive in Suches GA at 2:30PM for a 4 day stay
at ÔÇÿHigh Valley CabinsÔÇÖ.
4.5 hours; 107 miles. Odom=3988
Day 7 ÔÇô 6/27 ÔÇô Friday my nephew arrived, (Yamaha R1) and we
rode Rt.60, Rt.180 and a few other loops around the mountains in northern GA.
4 hours; 112 miles. Odom=4100
Day 8 ÔÇô 6/28 ÔÇô Leave 9:30AM. A wicked awesome day.
Rode north beginning on Rt.60 to the Cherohala Skyway,
Rt.28 and returned to Suches via a number of 2 lane roads.
Spent some time helping to fix my nephewÔÇÖs bike. (Fuel line leak)
Returned to Suches at 5:15.
8 hours; 223 miles. Odom=4383
Day 9 - 6/29 - Rode a short loop aound the northern GA mountain area
97 miles. Odom=4420
Rested for the long, (1063 mile) highway ride home.
Day 10 ÔÇô 6/30 -- Leave Suches 9AM
Returning home via Rts.85N, 77N & 81N.
Arrive New Bern VA @6PM
9 hours; 380 miles. Odom=4800
Day 11 ÔÇô 6/31 - Leave 6:30AM
Arrive Clinton, NJ @ 5PM
10+ hours; 451 miles. Odom=5251
Day 12 ÔÇô 7/1 ÔÇô Leave 7AM
Arrive home, (RI) @11:30
4.5 hours; 232 miles. Odom=5483