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The Top 12 finalists were whittled down to the Top 10 on The X Factor Thursday, with one of Simon Cowell's groups getting eliminated immediately during the broadcast, and two other contestants having to sing for survival. The evening also featured a performance by Taylor Swift. So, who got the boot?
The first act to go was hip-hop trio Lyric 145, which was somewhat unexpected considering they had never been one of the main "bottom-dwellers" of the show. (Hi, CeCe Frey!)
The X Factor tackles diva anthems — who will come out on top?
After Swift performed her new single, "State of Grace," hosts Mario Lopez and Khloe Kardashian revealed which acts were deemed safe based on audience votes, and thus automatically moved into the next week of the competition. Those included Vino Alan and Tate Stevens, the final two contestants from L.A. Reid's Over 25s; Cowell's other two groups, Emblem 3 and Fifth Harmony; and all four of Britney Spears' Teens — Diamond White, Carly Rose Sonenclar, Arin Ray and Beatrice Miller. Of Demi Lovato's Young Adults, however, only CeCe Frey was saved — surprising, since she was in the bottom two the previous week and had to sing off against Jason Brock, who was eventually eliminated.
That left Jennel Garcia and Paige Thomas to go head-to-head to stay in the competition. Garcia performed Hoobastank's "Reason," while Thomas opted for Coldplay's "Paradise," and the decision of which one to keep was left up to the judges. Both Reid and Spears voted to send Garcia home, and after a few minutes of awkward back-and-forth between Lovato and Cowell (both judges wanted the other to go first), with Lopez failing to control the situation with authority, Lovato voted to send Thomas home. But Garcia's reprieve was short-lived, as Cowell put the nail in the coffin with his vote to eliminate her, something he called a "relatively easy decision." It wasn't easy, however, for Lovato, who looked like she wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and crawl into it rather than vote to end the run of one of her protégés.
Who's the Sexiest Man Alive? Make your pick now!
After a tearful Garcia left the stage, Kardashian and Lopez introduced the rankings of the remaining 10 finalists. In order, from top to bottom, they are:
1. Tate Stevens
2. Carly Rose Sonenclar
3. Vino Alan
4. Emblem 3
5. CeCe Frey
6. Fifth Harmony
7. Diamond White
8. Beatrice Miller
9. Arin Ray
10. Paige Thomas
An important note — according to Lopez, less than 0.3 percent of the votes separate the top two, Stevens and Sonenclar.
Remember when Justin Timberlake had curls? Check out the most dramatic celebrity makeovers
What do you think of the rankings? And were you surprised that Lyric 145 and Jennel Garcia were eliminated? Sound off below!


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Below are links to some of the news stories and book reviews related to law and the arts that have caught my attention so far this month.
A group of origami artists is suing Sarah Morris claiming that her series of paintings based on origami crease patterns constitute copyright infringement. The suit was launched in U.S. federal court in April, but it received fresh attention this week with an article in the Guardian and posts on a number of IP and art law blogs (The 1709 Blog, Art and Artifice). The Guardian reports that the plaintiffs allege "Morris copied their origami crease patterns, changed the colour scheme and then sold and exhibited the works without obtaining permission and crediting them," and that she has thereby "'created confusion' over the authorship of their designs and damaged their professional reputations." Morris is expected to base her defense on fair use. Her lawyer is reported to have told the Art Newspaper: "It's hard to imagine a clearer use of transformative fair use." Click here to see excerpts from the complaint including several exhibits that set the plaintiffs' crease patterns alongside Morris's paintings (as in the illustration above).
Two years ago, the unveiling of a previously unknown collection of paintings, drawings, letters, and ephemera purported to be the work of Frida Kahlo was met with charges that "all of the documents and works in [the collection] are fakes." Now, the L.A. Times reports that in a decision rendered last year but only reported last week, "a Mexican court has ruled that opponents have failed to prove their claim that the collection is bogus." This ruling does not establish the authenticity of the collection, but it paved the way for its owners to "[file] ownership papers or the material […] with Mexico's Public Registry of Copyrights" and to begin to "[consider] exhibition options."
A California federal judge has decided in favour of photographer Glen E. Friedman in his copyright suit against Thierry Guetta ("Mr. Brainwash"). Guetta argued that his work based on Friedman's iconic photo of rap group Run DMC did not constitute infringement because Friedman's photograph was not sufficiently original to merit copyright protection or, alternatively, that he had altered it sufficiently for his work to be considered fair use. The judge rejected both arguments and granted Friedman's motion for summary judgment. Some commentators have expressed concern that, hot on the heels of the Richard Prince decision, this outcome is a further blow to appropriation art. (Hollywood Reporter, Media Bistro, LA Weekly)
The New York Times reports that last week a U.S. federal appeals court denied the claim of an innocent buyer of a stolen Pissarro print that she ought not to have to forfeit the work. She purchased it twenty-five years ago from a San Antonio art gallery and did not learn until she tried to sell it through Sotheby's in 2003 that it had been reported stolen thirty years previously from a museum in Aix-les-Bains, France. The U.S. government promptly "seized the print as contraband." In the wake of the court's upholding of that action paired with its determination that the buyer could not recover her legal fees, she ruefully observes that her "$100,000 asset [has] turned into a $100,000 liability."
In the Observer, Rory Mulholland notes the proliferation of protest art on the walls of the rebel-held cities of Libya. He finds the multitude of caricatures of Muammar Gaddafi, "whose many eccentricities make him a perfect target for satire," to be "the most striking manifestation of the new-found freedom of expression" in those regions. Click here to see a slide show of some of the images that Mulholland captured on film.
Joan Jett and Cherie Currie have filed suit in a New York court in an attempt to stop the release of a tribute album featuring contemporary cover versions of the songs of their 1970s band The Runaways. In the Hollywood Reporter, Eriq Gardner sums up the basis for the suit as follows: "Typically, when cover songs are recorded, mechanical license royalty rates apply. No permission is required. However, in this unusual situation, Jett and Currie are claiming that the project is a violation of their likenesses, and that the record label is using their famous names to market the album."
Christophe Maillet, owner of a Doors-themed Paris Bar called The Lezard King, has received a letter from the band's lawyer threatening legal action if he doesn't change the name of the bar and remove all images of the band from the premises within the next three months. The letter warns: ""The Doors do not want to be seen as having approved of your establishment and also the consumption of alcohol." Maillet, a life-long Doors fan who personally collected the memorabilia over the past twenty-five years that constitutes the bar's decor, "doesn't know what could happen if the legal action goes ahead" but fears that the "worst-case scenario is that they could close the bar." (Associated Press)
The family of Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda maintains that he died of cancer in 1973 at the age of 69. But following allegations that he was, in fact, poisoned at the behest of General Pinochet, a Chilean judge has ordered an investigation into his death. (BBC, NPR)
As part of its coverage of the Hay festival, the Telegraph has published a wonderful series of articles in which writers pay tribute to their "heroes of free speech." Click on the following writers' names to learn about theirs: Javier Cercas, Kishwar Desai, Héctor Abad Faciolince, Helena Kennedy, Youssef Rakha, and Elif Shafak.
Katherine A. Power has high praise for Mary Doria Russell's historical western, Doc: "This extraordinary novel, whose central figure is John Henry 'Doc' Holliday, is both a work of reclamation of the man from his legend as a coldblooded killer and an inspired evocation of a mythic quintessence." (Salon)
In the Daily Beast, David Goodwillie interviews police detective Edward Conlon about his novel Red on Red. Given Conlon's line of work and the critical acclaim of his memoir, Blue Blood, it is perhaps unsurprising that his novel is garnering praise for its authentic portrayal of detective work and of police partnerships. "Conlon's colorful world exists under a gray and pressing sky of authenticity that not even the most research-addicted crime novelists could recreate," Goodwillie writes. He continues: "At the same time, Red on Red offers Conlon his first opportunity to move past the factual restrictions of non-fiction, and he doesn't disappoint." It sounds like it's well worth a look.
"Where better to set a noir police procedural than in streets awash in uncollected trash, against a backdrop of smoke rising from Vesuvius?" asks Hallie Ephron. She concludes that with These Dark Things, the first installment in a series featuring Captain Natalia Monte of the Naples Carabinieri, Jan Meret Weiss lays claim to that city as decisively as Donna Leon has to Venice. I've just finished reading These Dark Things myself and can attest that Natalia Monte is a most intriguing character and that Naples is very vividly evoked⎯a promising start to a new series. (Boston Globe)

subset: commoncrawl


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Note: In November, 1994, I did a telephone interview with David Mamet. Fifteen minutes after I finished writing up the interview, the San Francisco Chronicle went on strike, and so the article never ran. I came across it last night and thought you might find it interesting. It's fairly long, by newspaper standards — especially by 21st century newspaper standards. I haven't retouched anything or edited it. It's as I transcribed it over 19 years ago:
It can be a mistake to meet artists whose work you
admire. It can even be a mistake to talk to them over the
Yet I went ahead and spoke to David Mamet, America's premier playwright,
on the occasion of the upcoming release of his latest film
"Oleanna." Mamet wrote and directed "Oleanna," the
screen version of his play, which had a run at A.C.T. last
A controversial piece, "Oleanna" features two
characters, a professor and a female student, who, in the
course of three long scenes, experience a role reversal, as
the student gradually unravels the professor's career by
accusing him of sexual harassment.
The 46-year-old writer/film maker spoke by phone from
Los Angeles.
Mick LaSalle: There's a flat quality to the dialogue as spoken in "Oleanna"
– and also in "House of Games" — that's a kind of signature style.
Do you deliberately tell your actors not to inflect?
David Mamet: Nope.
M.L.: No?
MAMET: No. (calls to someone in the room with him) Do I ever
tell the actors not to inflect? . . . No.
M.L.: Then how does it happen that they wind up sounding
that way?
MAMET: I must admit I don't know what you're talking about. I
guess maybe I got a different prejudice about the way people
sound. I mean, they sound to me like people talking.
M.L.: The staccato monotone — very rhythmic, almost
surreal? — but you don't see this at all.
MAMET: Nope.
M.L.: There's a scene in "Oleanna" in which the woman says
"I never told anybody this" — and then gets interrupted by
the phone ringing. What was she about to say?
MAMET: Aha! Well, we don't know, do we?
M.L.: Well, I don't know. You don't either?
MAMET: No.
M.L.: I thought, in my naive way, that you're supposed to
know as you're writing the line –
MAMET: Nope. (Laughing) We never got that far. We in the
audience have to believe that she's about to make an
extraordinary confession. What that confession is we don't
get to find out.
M.L.: But you don't know –
MAMET: The woman doesn't actually exist, Mick. She's a bunch
of black scribbles on a blank page.
M.L.: But when you're thinking about it as you're writing
the play you're not really thinking about scribbles on a
blank page. You are thinking of some kind of person, I would
MAMET: No. Black scribbles on a white page, that's all it
M.L.: So as you're writing, the thing that's in your head is
a scribble?
MAMET: Beats me. If I knew the answer to that question I'm
sure it would be a lot more interesting than golly, I don't
M.L.: But you're not Yoko Ono. You're not just dashing
things off the top of your head. I'd imagine you labor over
these plays –
MAMET: I don't know.
M.L.: How long did it take you to write "Oleanna?"
MAMET: I don't remember.
M.L.: "Oleanna" strikes me as a story about a guy who
shouldn't be teaching and a girl who shouldn't be in school.
Is that how you see it?
MAMET: People see a lot of different things in it because the
play is very pared down. I think that's why a lot of people
are provoked by it, too. They say, "Oh this must be the
point, and how dare he say that?"
What I was trying to do was write a tragedy about two
people who want something really desperately and then
destroy each other in the process.
M.L.: How does he destroy her?
MAMET: He beats the shit out of her.
M.L.: It's an extremely irritating, frustrating piece. Was
this your intention?
MAMET: No. I wanted to write a play about sexual harassment,
but it turned out a tragedy when I followed it to its
logical conclusion.
M.L.: In the play the woman thinks she was sexually
harassed. But the man doesn't think so. What do you
MAMET: I don't know.
M.L.: Well, gee, why don't you know? Everbody else has an opinion about this play.
MAMET: I do have an opinion. It's that they're both right and
they're both wrong. I think that's why people get so
provoked. People are not used to having something
provocative in dramatic art. A lot of that passes as
provocative is a message play or a melodrama. Here we're not
sure who the villain is. But we get upset and want to blame
It's very difficult to discern a message in
"Oleanna." But it's not a telegram. It brings polar
opinions into conflict with each other.
M.L.: Offhand how would you describe those polar opinions?
MAMET: Finally, it's a play about power. The person in power
thinks he or she is right. And they use the power they have
in ways that the other finds very objectionable and end up
destroying each other.
M.L.: But if they were ideologically identical they could
still be jockeying for power — you've written an
ideological discussion –
MAMET: But it's not about ideology, finally. It's about
power. The only reason people use ideology is to get more
power, isn't that true?
M.L.: I'm trying to get at what you personally think of the
ideas of these characters. For instance, the professor — I
know he doesn't exist — but do you think of this guy as a
good teacher?
MAMET: I don't know. We don't see him being a professor.
You know, the most flattering thing in the world to a
playwright is when people who do what you do start
fantasizing about his or her creation. Absolutely the most
flattering thing — that the characters have so affected us
that we want to know where they have lunch or where they
went to college.
M.L.: Uh-huh. You talk as though "Oleanna" is balanced,
but there is one moment that tips that scales. It's the
point at which the woman says the professor raped her. But
we were watching and we know this didn't happen.
MAMET: Maybe it did happen, according to the law. It's one
aspect of American jurisprudence. Anybody can make a
M.L.: Are you sensitive to the fact that some people think
of you as a misogynistic playwright?
MAMET: Well, sure, it's a terrible and nebulous thing to say,
in addition to the fact that it's not true. But I tell you,
I never heard anyone say that about my work. I heard some
people say that some people say that.
M.L.: They just don't have the nerve. But are you sensitive
to it enough that it would affect the way you talk about
this film?
MAMET: I don't think so.
M.L.: I suppose this film is much more interesting if the
screenwriter does not come out in an interview and tell you
what he thinks.
MAMET: I think that's true.
M.L.: From my angle this film is about one inch from being a
piece in which the woman is clearly the villain, but instead
it's just a little bit off. Still, all we need is to hear you
say she's the villain and the fun goes out the movie.
MAMET: I think you're right. But I also disagree with you. I
don't say she's clearly the villain.
M.L.: What music do you like?
MAMET: What music do I like?
M.L.: Your film making style is spare and rhythmic — it
makes me wonder what music you like.
MAMET: I like Bach. I like Randy Newman.
M.L.: That spare style in itself almost embodies a world
view, wouldn't you say?
MAMET: I'm just trying to make the movie, trying to write it
as simple as possible and film it as simple as possible.
M.L.: You don't talk to the press much, not that I blame you –
MAMET: What a sweet thing to say.
M.L.: Why don't you?
MAMET: You notice how I haven't known the answers to a lot of
your questions? That's why I don't do it very often.
M.L.: I saw you interviewed on the BBC about six years ago
by that English guy who interviews everybody –
MAMET: Melvyn Bragg.
M.L.: You did pretty well for yourself there.
MAMET: But that was in my young middle age, when I thought I knew something.
Now I'm in my middle or aging middle age and rather doubt that
M.L.: You were so sure of yourself back then. What
MAMET: I grew up.


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Report: I Am Alive Moved to XBLA, PSN [Updated]
[Update: 14:05pm] An Ubisoft spokesperson has issued a statement on the report: "We have not officially announced anything regarding the launch date or platforms for I AM Alive. We have nothing to announce at this time."
[Original Story] Disaster survival game I Am Alive has reportedly become a downloadable title. The news comes from French site Jeuxvideo (via NeoGAF). The game has apparently spent time at various developers, and Ubisoft now wants it released this year for XBLA and PSN.
We knew that the game had switched developers in 2009, but now it sounds like Ubisoft Shanghai isn't the only studio to have a crack at it. The game has been subject to delays, and is already arriving two years off of its original schedule.
The game's official Web site is undergoing maintenance, which could be a sign of an impending announcement. We've reached out to Ubisoft for comment, and will update as information becomes available.
FYI, every single Ubisoft site is undergoing maintenance right now. ;) www.ubi.com


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Can men be victims of sexism?
An NPR Morning Edition report this week suggests strongly that the answer is "yes." As Jennifer Ludden reports, after divorce men can face burdensome alimony payments even in situations where their ex-wives are capable of working and earning a substantial income. Even in cases where temporary alimony makes sense—as when a spouse has quit a job to raise the children—it's hard to understand the need for lifetime alimony payments, given women's current levels of workforce participation. As one alimony-paying ex-husband says, "The theory behind this was fine back in the '50s, when everybody was a housewife and stayed home." But today, it looks like an antiquated perpetuation of retrograde gender roles—a perpetuation which, disproportionately, harms men.
This isn't the only case in which men can suffer from gender discrimination. David Benatar, in his 2012 monograph The Second Sexism discusses a whole range of other ways in which men as men are disadvantaged. Men, for example, receive custody of children in only about 10 percent of divorce cases in the United States. Men also, as Benatar writes, are subject to "a long history of social and legal pressure...to fight in war" —pressures which women do not generally experience in the same way. Along the same lines, physical violence against men is often minimized or seen as normal. Benatar refers to the history of corporal punishment, which has much more often been inflicted on boys than girls. Society's scandalous tolerance of
Perhaps most hideously, men through history have been subject to genocidal, or gendercidal, violence targeted at them specifically because they are men. Writers like Susan Brownmiller have over the last decades helped to show how mass rape and sexual violence against women are often a deliberate part of genocide; similarly, there has been increasing awareness in recent years of the gendercidal results of sex-selective abortion and infanticide in places like India and China. But the way gendercide can be directed against men is much less discussed. One of the worst recent examples of this was in the Balkans war, where, according to genocide researcher Adam Jones, " All of the largest atrocities... target[ed] males almost exclusively, and for the most part "battle-age" males. " Similarly, in Rwanda according to Judy El-Bushra (as quoted by Jones):
it was principally the men of the targeted populations who lost their lives or fled to other countries in fear. ... This targeting of men for slaughter was not confined to adults: boys were similarly decimated, raising the possibility that the demographic imbalance will continue for generations. Large numbers of women also lost their lives; however, mutilation and rape were the principal strategies used against women, and these did not necessarily result in death.
Many of these examples—particularly the points about custody inequities and conscription—are popular with men's rights activists. MRAs tend to deploy the arguments as evidence that men are oppressed by women and, especially, by feminists. Yet, what's striking about instances of sexism against men is how often the perpetrators are not women but other men. The gendercides in Serbia and Rwanda were committed against men, not by feminists, but by other men. Prison rape is, again, overwhelmingly committed by men against other men—with (often male) prison officials sitting by and shrugging. Conscription in the U.S. was implemented overwhelmingly by male civilian politicians and military authorities, not by women.
Even in cases where women clearly benefit from sexism, it's generally not the case that women, as a class, are the ones doing the discriminating. Neither alimony nor custody discussions are central to current feminist theory or current feminist pop cultural discussions. Thereis no ideological feminist commitment to either of these discussions in the way there is to, say, abortion rights, or workplace equity. On the contrary, the alimony and custody inequities we have at the moment seem mostly based, not on progressive feminism, but rather on the reactionary image of female domesticity that feminism has spent most of the last 60-odd years fighting against.
When men suffer from sexism, then, they do so in much the same way women do. That is, they suffer not because women rule the world and are targeting men, nor because feminism has somehow triumphed and brainwashed all of our elected officials (most of them still men) into ideological misandry. Rather, men suffer because of the same gender role stereotypes that hurt and restrict women—though men, being of a different gender, fall afoul of those stereotypes in different ways. Women are supposed to be passive and domestic and sexual—so their employment options and autonomy are restricted and they are fetishized and targeted for sexual assault and exploitation. Men are supposed to be active and violent—so their claims to domestic rights are denigrated and violence directed against them is shrugged off as natural or non-notable.
"For me," Heather McRobie wrote in an excellent 2008 article about genercide, "feminism has always been about how rigid gender roles harm everyone, albeit primarily women." Talking about sexism against men is often seen—by MRAs and feminists alike—as an attack on feminism. But it shouldn't be. Rather, recognizing how, say, stereotypical ideas about domesticity hurt men in custody disputes as well as women in the job market should be a spur to creating alliances, not fissures. Women have been fighting against sexism for a long time. If men can learn from them, it will be to everyone's benefit.
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to email@example.com.


text:
Making science come alive for kids through interactive, hands-on, inquiry-based learning is key to getting them "hooked" enough to pursue STEM subjects as their academic careers advance. Darryl Lee Baynes, president of the Minority Aviation Education Association's Interactive Science Programs, has an action-packed formula for encouraging minority students to think about pursuing careers in STEM fields. A compelling part of Baynes' message? Careers in STEM pay. "There is a shortage of scientists and engineers in this country," he says. "If you get a job as a petroleum engineer, you'll make $100,000 to start. The more math and science you take, the more money you make." Read more on Take Part
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text:
Daniel Metzgar had an erection that lasted about eight months -- a result of a botched penile implant in 2009, according to a medical malpractice lawsuit being heard this week in New Castle County Superior Court in Delaware.
The 44-year-old truck driver had a three-piece implant, consisting of inflatable cylinders inside the shaft of the penis, a fluid reservoir in the abdomen and a pump inside the scrotum.
But instead of improving his love life, he felt like less of a man, wearing baggy sweat pants and a long shirt to hide his situation.
Wherever Metzgar went, his erection got in the way, according to his attorney, Michael C. Heyden. Family events became uncomfortable because, Heyden said, "Dan is stuck in this position."
"It's not something you want to bring out at parties and show to friends," said Metzgar.
Attorneys for Wilmington, Delaware urologist, Dr. Thomas J. Desperito, said Metzgar should have known something was wrong after the December surgery when he said his scrotum swelled to the size of a volleyball. Instead, according to attorney Colleen D. Shields, he didn't say anything until April.
When Metzgar complained of an infection and an erection that wouldn't go down, Shields insisted the urologist told the patient that the prosthesis had to be removed.
But Metzgar, according to Shields, didn't do anything for months following the visit in late April 2010.
Metzgar lost his insurance after the December 2009 procedure, and said he didn't have the $10,000 Desperito wanted before he would do the surgery. But Shields dismissed the claim, saying the urologist wouldn't have dealt with the money.
Metzgar ultimately had the prosthesis removed in August 2010 after the device punctured his scrotum during a family trip to Niagara Falls.
Metzgar testified Monday he received a replacement prosthesis from another doctor. While this device works, Metzgar said, the scar tissue from the first surgery left him about 50 percent smaller and he suffered a loss of sensation.
Metzgar and his wife, Donna, are seeking unspecified damages from Desperito and his medical group.


text:
|NOTE: This page has moved. Please go to the main sightings page at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/ and choose your country from the dropdown list on the left. Once you have navigated to the sighting data page for your city, please update your bookmarks.
Curator: Kim
Dismukes | Responsible NASA Official: Amiko Kauderer | Updated: 09/20/2011


text:
Complete Story
Cable MSOs, Verizon Support Expanding Universal Service Fund To Broadband
By: John Eggerton, Multichannel News
Cable operators and telco Verizon both threw their support behind expanding the Universal Service Fund to include broadband, though the National Cable & Telecommunications Associationmade clear it would have to be a targeted approach.
The fund, which telecom companies like Verizon pay into, supports telephone service to areas that are hard to reach or uneconomical to reach. Broadband is now considered the new lifeline service.
House Energy & Commerce Committee chairman Rick Boucher (D-VA) and Republican Lee Terry of Nebraska have co-sponsored a bill to make that change, as well as several others. They held a hearing on a draft of the bill Tuesday.
"Broadband will be the indispensable infrastructure for the 21st century," said Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), former chair of the House subcommittee.
In written testimony prepared for the hearing, NCTA president Kyle McSlarrow said that operators agreed that it was "appropriate" to "consider tailoring" the fund to include "carefully targeted subsidies for broadband service."
In addition to capping the growth of the high-cost fund, said McSlarrow, as the draft bill proposes, NCTA suggeseted it go further to reduce support where it is no longer needed and target it to areas that lack access. Without a cap, said McSlarrow, "it would be imprudent to expand the high-cost fund to cover broadband services."
That fund subsidizes service in areas that already have it, but at a price that is higher due to factors,including "dense terrain" or sparse population.
McSlarrow also put in a plug for NCTA's request that the FCC look into reducing high-cost support in areas where there is unsubsidized competition.
The cable group, arguing that there is as much as $2 billion in funds being used to subsidize service in competitive areas, said the fund can be reduced by cutting out payments for voice service in areas where there is unsubsidized competition -- like the 80% of U.S. households who can get cable voice service.
In his testimony, Verizon senior vice president Peter Davidson said that Verizon's support came because the bill also took "a big step" toward fixing what he said was the broken USF framework before it "layer[ed] on any additional priorities."
Those steps include a budget, a new methodology for contributions, competitive bidding for wireless funds, and a deadline for reforming intercarrier compensation.
Source: http://www.multichannel.com/article/389413-Cable_MSOs_Verizon_Support_Expanding_Universal_Service_Fund_To_Broadband.php?rssid=20061


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About This Piece
Gold Heart Earrings
We've named these earrings "Amore" because you'll fall in love with them from the moment you set your eyes on them.
The design is young and trendy yet soft and delicate at the same time. Use it to add a cute final touch to your casual look with our matching Amore Necklace or a simple gold choker chain.
Gold plated over brass
14 inch with 4 inch extension
Pendant size: 11 MM x 14 MM
Huggie size: 11 MM
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Frankfurt am Main (Frankfurt on the Main in English) is a financial and trade fair city that sits on the Main River in Germany and attracts thousands of business travelers each year. This is the city of the Franks – the city's name meaning where the "Franks forded" the River Main. Because of the large number of skyscrapers downtown, the city has also earned the nickname "Mainhattan."
Frankfurt is known for its huge expositions, festivals, and trade fairs. Every year, more than a hundred street festivals, traditional folk fairs, and other open-air events take place in the city. One of the most popular festivals held in the Main metropolis is the Dippemess, which is held at the Ratsweg Fairground. The festival features a market with numerous stalls as well as fairground attractions. The city also hosts the largest book fair on the planet, the Frankfurt Book Fair, every October. The book fair attracts about 7,300 exhibitors from more than 100 countries every year.
Guests from faraway places can easily reach the city thanks to the Frankfurt Airport, which is a leading hub in the global air transportation system. Frankfurt's accessibility, coupled with its inexhaustible accommodation and venue choices, make Frankfurt a perfect MICE destination.
A popular venue for holding meetings in Frankfurt is the four-star INNSIDE Frankfurt Ostend that has direct connections to the city center. This business hotel has six conference rooms 350 square meters in size and a maximum capacity for 200 people. Other hotel venues that are sought after by meeting planners include the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel & Conference Center that is directly attached to Frankfurt Airport's Terminal 1, Frankfurt Marriott Hotel that has 3,091 square meters of total meeting space, and the Westin Grand Frankfurt, which comes with 13 flexible meeting rooms and an impressive atmosphere.
All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.
Frankfurt's climate is one of cool winters and warm summers, when the temperatures rarely hit 27°C. It is just as likely to rain in January and February as it is in July and August or any other month.
Messe Frankfurt
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Approximate taxi fare: 47 EUR
Known to be Germany's largest airport, Frankfurt Airport (FRA) provides scheduled services to roughly 300 destinations in 107 countries around the world. More than 1,300 flights arrive and depart from the airport every day. Due to its location in the middle of Western Europe and its excellent links to all transportation modes, Frankfurt Airport can be reached from all major European economic centers in just a few hours. The airport handles more than 60 million passengers annually and acts as the main hub for Lufthansa.
At the Frankfurt Airport, travelers can indulge in culinary pleasures in a comfortable atmosphere, experience an extraordinary diversity of shops and lifestyle, or treat themselves to a dose of wellness. The airport has 78 restaurants and cafés, and a large selection of shops for passengers to browse through.
Frankfurt Airport is directly linked to more than 170 high-speed trains, around 220 regional trains, and over 240 public transport buses. German rail network Deutsche Bahn also provides a Rail & Fly Service that offers travel from about 5,600 railway stations in Germany to Frankfurt Airport for a relatively low price.
First-time visitors beware! Don't confuse Frankfurt Airport with the misleadingly named Frankfurt Hahn Airport (HHN; Flughafen Frankfurt-Hahn), which is situated around 120 km from Frankfurt.
Frankfurt is connected to numerous national and international destinations by more than 1,100 trains. Visitors can take one of around 700 S-Bahn commuter trains to go anywhere in Frankfurt and the surrounding Rhine-Main region.
The Frankfurt Main Train Station happens to be the city's busiest railway station, with more than 350,000 travelers from home and abroad passing through it every day. The station is located conveniently close to the convention center and financial district and has more than 25 platforms spread across five departure halls.
Frankfurt's RMV network integrates the region's bus system with the tram, commuter rail and metro system. Because of this, there is a common tariff structure for public transport throughout the region. The Nachtbus service runs every night between 1am and 4am. For destinations outside of the city, the Nachtbus service runs only on Friday and Saturday nights and holiday eves.
Frankfurt is easy to reach from all directions by road. Central taxi ranks are present throughout the city, including at Kaiserstraße, Schweizer Platz, and Bockenheimer Warte, as well as at the main train station and airport. An unconventional way of exploring the Main metropolis is offered by bicycle taxis. These city cruisers are an environmentally friendly transport alternative.
Most hotels around Frankfurt Airport provide their own direct transfer services to and from the airport. All shuttle buses stop in a specially reserved area at the airport. Hotels offering shuttle services include Best Western Amedia Frankfurt Airport hotel, ACHAT Hotel, Hotel NH Frankfurt Niederrad, Ramada Frankfurt Messe, and Ramada Niedernhausen Micador.
Car rental services in Frankfurt are offered by Alamo, AVIS, Buchbinder, Budget, CARO, Europcar, Hertz, InterRent, Thrifty, and many more.
Photo Credit: Tourismus+Congress GmbH Frankfurt am Main
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Greece to buy back 31.9 billion euros of bonds
Greece will buy back (EURO)31.9 billion ($41.5 billion) of its bonds from private investors at a third of their nominal price, the debt agency said Wednesday, lightening its crushing debt load and meeting a key condition to receive vital rescue loans.
But the deal will cost slightly more than originally budgeted, and must be approved by bailout creditors who are lending Athens the necessary funds.
The agency said in a statement it will pay banks, funds and other private bondholders roughly 33.8 percent of the bonds' face value.
That is still a highly attractive option for some, as the bonds have been trading well below face value since a major debt writedown in March. Investors brave enough to have bought Greek debt just a few months ago now stand to make 200 percent gains.
The buyback will shave some (EURO)20 billion ($26 billion) off Greece's (EURO)340 billion ($442 billion) debt, which is now mostly held by its bailout creditors - its European partners and the International Monetary Fund.
The yield on Greek 10-year bonds dropped to about 13.2 percent Wednesday, its lowest since the March writeoff and a sign of greater investor confidence in the country's ability to manage its debt. The Athens stock index closed up 0.14 percent.
The government had no immediate comment on the result of the deal, saying it would await a meeting on Thursday of European finance ministers, who must sign off on the buyback.
Under the terms of the buyback, Greece would spend (EURO)11.3 billion of its bailout funds on the bonds - more than the (EURO)10 billion initially budgeted. The question remains whether bailout creditors will accept the extra outlay.
Jonathan Loynes, chief European economist at Capital Economics, said the required additional cost was unlikely to derail the deal.
"It would be extraordinary if the whole thing fell apart over an amount that small," he said.
He said it was a relief that the deal had been successful because there was a danger that some investors might have held out for better terms.
"They're over that hurdle and that's all good news, but the major challenge is to try to achieve the lasting economic growth that really is going to be needed if the debt ratio is going to come down in the way it's predicted," he said.
Greece is heading for a sixth year of recession. The cumulative drop in economic output is expected to reach 25 percent - a staggeringly figure that has been compared with the Great Depression of the 1930s.
The successful buyback deal was a major requirement before Greece could be granted a long-delayed installment of its international bailout funds. Athens expects Thursday's meeting to approve payment of the (EURO)34.4 billion, most of which is earmarked to shore up the country's struggling banks.
That's why domestic lenders all decided to participate in the buyback, relinquishing the prospect of long-term gains on the bonds, for the certainty of a big capital injection in the next few days.
Early indications were that creditors would approve the deal and release the funds. Simon O'Connor, spokesman for EU monetary affairs commissioner Olli Rehn, wouldn't comment directly on the buyback but said: "We expect that the decision on the disbursement will be taken tomorrow as planned."
IMF chief Christine Lagarde expressed satisfaction with the deal. "For the moment I can only welcome the results that have been produced by the debt buyback," she said before the official results were released.
Athens has depended on international rescue loans for the past two and a half years, after it admitted its budget deficit was more than three times the initial forecast and swiftly lost access global bond markets. In exchange for the funds, the government repeatedly slashed incomes and raised taxes to tame the deficit, creating widespread public resentment that sparked countless strikes and protests - many violent.
On Wednesday, several hundred municipal workers protesting against plans to force redundancy on some civil servants were stopped by police from breaking into the grounds of Parliament in central Athens.
Inside the building, Parliament employees held a three-hour work stoppage to protest a new tax bill due to be presented Friday. Unionists said they were planning further action in coming days, which could disrupt legislative work.
Greece's bailout commitments include a broad - albeit stuttering - privatization program meant to raise (EURO)11.1 billion from sales and concessions by 2016, a more modest version of the initial (EURO)50 billion target.
On Wednesday, the privatization fund said it will sell the right to operate state lotteries for the next twelve years to an international consortium for (EURO)190 million ($247 million) up front.
The government will also make a share of revenue from the lottery during the twelve years. Including those gains, it will make a minimum (EURO)580 million ($753 million) in extra state revenues.
The lottery concession has to be approved by Parliament.
Sarah DiLorenzo in Brussels and Elena Becatoros in Athens contributed.


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October 21, 2020
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Tallahassee, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott today announced that Education Training Corporation (Anthem Education) has chosen Fort Lauderdale for the expansion of its newly consolidated North American headquarters. The expansion will create 70 jobs paying annual salaries averaging more than $50,000 as well as retain 85 positions.
The company also will invest more than $300,000 in additional capital expenditures for construction, renovation and leasehold improvements and the purchase of computer equipment, office furniture, fixtures and other property.
Governor Scott said, "Florida is known for educational excellence and job creation – and Anthem Education's expansion in Ft. Lauderdale is more proof of our success. With more than 320,000 jobs created in the last two years, our strategies of cutting taxes, paying down debt, and investing in K-12 education are paving the way for more opportunities for Florida families."
Anthem Education CEO David Knobel said, "Greater Fort Lauderdale provides us with an expansive area that welcomes growing businesses and a rich and diverse pool of talent for future growth. We appreciate the assistance provided by Governor Scott, Enterprise Florida, the City of Fort Lauderdale and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance CEO Council in our selection process."
Florida Secretary of Commerce Gray Swoope, who serves as President & CEO of Enterprise Florida, the state's lead economic development organization, also acknowledged the partnerships that helped move Anthem Education's expansion forward. "I thank the local, regional, corporate and government partners who share our vision to heighten Florida's stature as a business state. By bringing this project to fruition, we are maintaining a business climate that favors and supports the establishment of headquarters operations," said Swoope. "Even more, companies like Anthem Education are developing the talent and skill base needed for tomorrow's economy."
"The expansion of Anthem Education is further evidence of the revitalized economic climate in the Sunshine State," said Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Jesse Panuccio. "This new headquarters will not only add jobs to the community and value to the local economy through capital investments, but will also contribute to Florida's excellent talent pipeline."
Anthem Education operates as a post-secondary educational institution with 34 campuses in 14 states. The company operates its campuses under the names Florida Career College, Anthem College, Anthem Career College, Anthem Institute, The Bryman School of Arizona and Morrison University.
Anthem Education has operated in Florida since 1982 and has grown and expanded its schools and programs to meet the needs of students and businesses and currently offers career-focused programs in various subject areas, such as allied healthcare, information technology, technical trades and others at each of its 12 locations throughout Florida. In April 2012, Education Training Corporation acquired Arizona based High-Tech Institute Holdings, Inc., (doing business as Anthem Education) with 22 campuses in 14 states.
On the local front, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler and Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance CEO Council Chairman Ray Ferrero Jr. shared their views on Anthem Education's expansion and its impact.
"We are very happy to welcome Anthem Education to our city for their new and expanded North American headquarters location, and we look forward to seeing them continue to grow their base of operations here. We wish them all future success," said Seiler.
As per Ferrero, "We are delighted that Anthem Education has chosen to locate their consolidated North American headquarters in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Their decision ratifies the CEO Council's mission to market Greater Fort Lauderdale as a premier location for corporate and international headquarters, and we look forward to celebrating their growth and success in the years to come."
To support Anthem Education's expansion project, the state and the City of Fort Lauderdale approved Anthem Education for a Qualified Target Industry (QTI) tax refund totaling of $350,000 ($280,000 from the state and $70,000 from the city). Companies approved for QTI do not receive funds until jobs goals and other contractual requirements are met.


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"En Otra Voz" is the first Spanish-language anthology to bring together literature from the entire span of Hispanic writing in the United States, from the age of exploration to the present. The product of hundreds of scholars, the anthology compiles scores of previously unknown works in the Spanish lanauge written by Hispanics of diverse ethnic backgrounds and classes.Kanellos, Nicolás is the author of 'En Otra Voz Antologia De Literatura Hispana De Los Estados Unidos', published 2002 under ISBN 9781558853461 and ISBN 1558853464.[read more]
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text: Smurf Logo Image Details Image Download Title:Smurf Logo Category:ARTS AND DESIGN Posted:23 August 2016, 10:08:09 Views:451 File type:image/gif File size:9.7 Кбайт Resolution:200x200 px Total downloads:Download this Different types of logos are used in all spheres of modern life. Today it becomes very hard to create the one that might look unique and would not violate anybody`s rights. At Smurf Logo one will find thousands of various logo examples that are related and can be used in all spheres, from business to different types of entertainment. Download Smurf Logo Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment Name * Email * Website ZOMM design LogoArkivi Qendror i Shqiptar i Filmit LogoYBDD LogoGandolfo LogoArtmaco LogoQ MovinGallery LogoMadam Mikmak LogoNomano! Logo


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Job Openings at Sugar Inc.
Sugar Inc. Is Looking For 34 Awesome People!
Sugar Inc. is thriving and growing every day, and we're seeking brilliant minds like yours to join us! We are looking for 34 talented and passionate people to join our 215-person commerce, original content, and global media company in our brand-new NYC office on Park Avenue, our giant new Los Angeles PopSugar Studios in Culver City, and our bustling headquarters in San Francisco.
- Are you an Art Director ready to help make our brand even more stunning?
- A beauty-obsessed editor ready to join our team as the BellaSugar Editor?
- Or maybe you're an energetic Operations Engineer jazzed to help us scale our production platform?
Check out all our open positions on our Careers page, and drop us a line describing why you think you'd be the perfect fit for Sugar Inc.!


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Racism and Its Effects on Pediatric Health
The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes the harm racism causes to infants, children, adolescents, and their families. View the collection.
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Alzheimer's Disease: Therapeutic Potential of Estrogen
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00066157
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : August 5, 2003
Last Update Posted : August 23, 2018
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
|Condition or disease
|Alzheimer Disease
|Drug: Transdermal estradiol Drug: Medroxyprogesterone Drug: Placebo Patch Drug: Placebo
|Phase 2 Phase 3
Estrogen is a naturally occurring hormone produced in a woman's body. The purpose of this 15-month study is to determine the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy in improving memory and the ability to live independently in postmenopausal women with Alzheimer's disease and without other dementias.
Patients who volunteer for this study will either receive a patch containing 17-ß-estradiol or will receive an inactive placebo patch. In addition, patients will be given either medroxyprogesterone or an inactive placebo pill. Neither the volunteers nor the study staff will know which type of patch or pill a patient receives. Patients must be generally healthy and have mild-to-moderate dementia. There must be a patient caregiver who can watch for side effects and ensure that the patient takes the study medications on schedule. Patients will undergo neuropsychological tests and an evaluation of the ability to live independently at each visit as well as laboratory evaluations, such as the taking of blood. Each visit will last approximately 3 hours. A total of 160 participants are being recruited.
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Actual Enrollment :
|42 participants
|Intervention Model:
|Parallel Assignment
|Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|Alzheimer's Disease: Therapeutic Potential of Estrogen
|Study Start Date :
|September 2001
|Actual Primary Completion Date :
|December 2007
|Actual Study Completion Date :
|December 2007
Experimental: 1
estradiol patch and medroxyprogesterone
Drug: Transdermal estradiol
50 micrograms (low-dose) or 100 micrograms (high-dose) transdermal 17-ß-estradiol patch, changed every 3 days, for 12 months
Other Names:
Drug: Medroxyprogesterone
2.5mg tablet daily for 12 months
Other Name: progesterone
Active Comparator: 2
estradiol patch and placebo pill
Drug: Transdermal estradiol
50 micrograms (low-dose) or 100 micrograms (high-dose) transdermal 17-ß-estradiol patch, changed every 3 days, for 12 months
Other Names:
Drug: Placebo
Placebo tablet daily for 12 months
Active Comparator: 3
placebo patch and medroxyprogesterone
Drug: Medroxyprogesterone
2.5mg tablet daily for 12 months
Other Name: progesterone
Drug: Placebo Patch
Transdermal placebo patch, changed every 3 days, for 12 months
Placebo Comparator: 4
placebo patch and placebo pill
Drug: Placebo Patch
Transdermal placebo patch, changed every 3 days, for 12 months
Drug: Placebo
Placebo tablet daily for 12 months
- Cognition: delayed recall on Buschke Selective Reminding Test; Stroop Interference condition--completion time and errors; Clinician-rated Interview Based Impression of Change [ Time Frame: Baseline and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 15 months ]
- Skills of Independent Living: Physical functioning Performance (PFP) [ Time Frame: Baseline and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 15 months ]
- Bioassays (Estradiol, estrone, medroxyprogesterone, FSH, influence of ApoE genotype in responsivity to estrogen) [ Time Frame: Baseline and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 15 months ]
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|55 Years to 90 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Postmenopausal women with Alzheimer's disease and without other dementias (diagnosed by study staff or from an outside clinic)
- Mini Mental State Examination score greater than 15/30
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of cancer of reproductive tissues
- History of deep vein thrombosis or blot clots
- Diabetes
- Heart disease or stroke
- Liver problems including hepatitis
- Severe vision or hearing problems
- Tobacco use
- Lack of an adequate caregiver
- inability to perform psychometric testing
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00066157
|United States, Wisconsin
|University of Wisconsin Memory Research Program
|Madison, Wisconsin, United States, 53705
|Principal Investigator:
|Sanjay Asthana, MD
|University of Wisconsin - Madison, William S. Middleton VA Hospital
|Responsible Party:
|University of Wisconsin, Madison
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|Other Study ID Numbers:
R01AG017196-03 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
FDA IRB approval M1285
NIH grant AG17196-03
IA0048 ( Other Identifier: Study Team )
|First Posted:
|August 5, 2003 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|August 23, 2018
|Last Verified:
|August 2018
Alzheimer disease
Hormone replacement therapy
Postmenopausal women
Alzheimer Disease
Brain Diseases
Central Nervous System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Neurocognitive Disorders
Mental Disorders
Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
Estradiol 3-benzoate
Estradiol 17 beta-cypionate
Polyestradiol phosphate
Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Contraceptive Agents
Reproductive Control Agents
Contraceptive Agents, Female
Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic
Contraceptives, Oral
Contraceptive Agents, Male
Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
Antineoplastic Agents


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RS Puppis as imaged with the ESO NTT (from Kervella et al. 2008)
Leslie C. Peltier, 1900 - 1980
Leslie C. Peltier
"I feel it is my duty to warn others...that they approach the oberserving of variable stars with the utmost caution. It is easy to become an addict, and as usual, the longer the indulgence is continued the more difficult it becomes to make a clean break and go back to a normal life."
Historical and Scientific AAVSO Journal Articles by Dorrit Hoffleit
AAVSO Publications by Dorrit Hoffleit
History of the Discovery of Mira Stars
Dorrit Hoffleit
Department of Astronomy
Yale University
Quick link: want to get involved? Visit the Eggen Data Project
In the 1980s, the AAVSO began a monumental project to completely digitize the paper and punchcard records of the AAVSO. This project, undertaken just as computers became more common and easy to use, foreshadowed the rapid advancement in networking technology that led directly to the world wide web, and to the AAVSO website. As a result of the work the AAVSO did, we are now able to serve our archive of over 18 million observations to the entire world via our website, providing decades worth of variable star observations for thousands of different variable stars to researchers world-wide.


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Top Collegeville real estate agents
There are 858 real estate agents in Collegeville, PA but we use data to find the best ones. HomeLight compares the agent performance data in your area to find real estate agents who get the job done 1.6x days faster than the average Collegeville, PA real estate agent.
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Top Seller's Agents
A top seller's agent in Collegeville makes 6.4% more dollars for sellers, wraps up the selling process 40.77 days faster, and sells 1.8x more homes than the average agent.
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Top buyer's agents in Collegeville help home buyers purchase 1.7x more homes when they're measured against the average real estate agent in Collegeville. Top buyer's agents also save clients $55,336 on transactions.
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Washed Up in Orlando
Who says you need an extravagant budget and fancy red carpet to have a successful premiere for a wake video these days? The guys at Obscura don't, and their launch of the team video titled "Washed Up Before We Were Has Beens" went off last night in downtown Orlando. Friends, family, uber-pros, minor league pros, media, complete randoms, and even James "Bubba" Stewart all packed into the theater space to check out wakeskating action from the likes of semi-washed up veterans Danny Hampson and Aaron Reed, to not-very-washed-up young guns Grant Roberts and Travis Doran, plus a whole list of other shredders. The vibe was poppin', drinks were flowin', and everybody (plus the few mothers in attendance) had a great time.
The video was filmed and edited entirely by Danny and Aaron, with the help of some friends along the way, but the quality of the final product did not come off nearly as "homemade" as other videos of years past. It was apparent Danny, Aaron and crew spent many long, hard hours over the last couple years making sure everything in the video was just as they wanted it. Judging by the reaction of the crowd throughout the premiere, they definitely did it right. The video was full of great shots, awesome music, insanely unique locations and winch spots, and of course, some of the most legit wakeskating the industry has to offer.
Congrats to Aaron, Danny and the rest of the Obscura crew on a job well done. Be sure to look for a copy of "Washed Up Before We Were Has Beens" soon — if you're a wakeskater or even just a fan of wakeskating, this is a video you won't want to miss out on. Don't let the title (or this article) fool you, all of these guys are far from washed up. This video easily proves that and will actually leave you wanting for more.


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Christopher Nolan's movies have often been compared to Alfred Hitchcock's thrillers, and this video, which places the score from Vertigo beneath the opening scene from The Dark Knight, shows what a nice match Hitchcock's audio tastes are with Nolan's visuals. It also amps up the tension of the clown-faced bank heist.
[via Geeks Are Sexy]


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One of the most common complaints during pregnancy is back pain. In fact, it's estimated that more than half of all pregnant women have some degree of back discomfort. Most back pain is related to the physical changes that happen during pregnancy, including hormones, changes in the center of gravity, and posture. Unfortunately, it typically gets worse as pregnancy progresses.
Throughout pregnancy, hormones affect a woman's muscles and joints. The hormones relaxin and progesterone relax muscles and loosen ligaments and joints, especially in the pelvic area. The extra weight and body changes in pregnancy along with these loosened joints and ligaments can cause discomfort and even lead to injury.
As your uterus grows and becomes heavier, your center of gravity changes. This can lead to problems with balance and the potential for falls. The weight of your baby and weakening of belly muscles pulls your lower spine forward, adding strain to back muscles. Many women respond by leaning back in an awkward posture. This increases back strain and pain.
Some back pain can be prevented:
Try using correct body mechanics. For example, if you need to pick something up, squat down, bending at your knees and keeping your back straight. Try not to bend over from your waist.
Use good posture when sitting or standing and do back-strengthening exercises. Ask your healthcare provider about back exercises that are right for you.
Don't do activities that strain the back, like lifting and moving heavy objects.
Wear shoes that provide good support.
Sleep on your side with pillows between your knees for support.
Apply heat, cold, or massage to the painful area.
If you are having discomfort, talk with your healthcare provider. Back pain relief may need rest, supportive garments, or other types of treatment.
Prevention and treatment of back pain are important to avoid injury and to decrease the chance for long-term or chronic back pain. Because back pain in pregnancy can be a symptom of more serious problems, like preterm labor, always talk with your healthcare provider if symptoms are severe or last longer than 2 weeks.
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The Modern Woodmen of America youth group weeded through their home libraries and brought over 200 books to the Cedar Springs Public Library on September 21.
Eight teens (Jake and Elieen Nelson, Jonathan Shively, Christina Pangborn, Roger Hansen, Grace and Garrett Ebenhoh, and Maddy Misner), accompanied by seven adults made their way to the library and piled dozens of books on a table in the children's area of the library. Most of the books were new and some were a new series that the library did not yet own.
The Modern Woodmen are always looking for service projects and are behind the scenes at the local food pantry, the library, the cemetery, local nursing homes and more. The Cedar Springs Public Library has a new, beautiful book return thanks to the matching gift from the Woodmen in the amount of $2500. John and Annette Nelson of Cedar Springs have been long-time leaders of the Cedar Springs group.


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NEA's annual Day of Learning provides educators with tools to help students and improve public schools
CHICAGO - July 01, 2011 -
Educators will head into the upcoming school year with new knowledge and skills to help students and improve schools. Delegates to NEA's Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly participated in the Association's "Day of Learning" on Friday, July 1 in Chicago.
The Day of Learning featured 19 workshops, all designed to help public school educators address the challenges of today's education workplace. The sessions brought educators together with scholars, authors, policy experts, elected officials and community leaders to discuss issues related to improving public education and preparing students to thrive in a global society.
Participants in NEA's Day of Learning created their own professional development program, choosing from tracks that included Community Engagement and Outreach; The Next Generation of Teaching and Learning; Educators At Work and Leadership. A town hall style meeting, moderated by talk show host Tavis Smiley of Tavis Smiley on PBS opened the first Day of Learning. The Future of Public Education: A National Leadership Dialogue— allowed education stakeholders—including NEA President Dennis Van Roekel—an opportunity to discuss "common sense" reforms that work for students and elevate the profession.
"What made today's discussion so great is that it involved just about every constituency in the education community—from educators and administrators to school board representatives and parents," said Van Roekel. "Now, it's important that the conversations don't end here. We have to take what we've learned back to our neighborhoods and communities across the nation and figure out how we can work collaboratively to help students succeed in the classroom and in life."
The Day of Learning sessions covered a range of topics, including several that highlighted the ongoing work of NEA's Priority Schools Campaign, the Association's signature project to promote collaboration and partnerships between educators, parents and communities to develop solutions to help raise student achievement. Other sessions focused on how educators can help students develop 21st Century skills and strategies for supporting English language learners in classrooms and communities.
"Our world is constantly changing, and NEA is committed to providing educators with access to resources and expertise that helps them professionally and personally," said Van Roekel. "Our first Day of Learning was a tremendous success. We'll build on what we started this year, with the goal of empowering educators with skills and knowledge that will help turn all public schools into world class learning centers for America's students."
Requests for media credentials should be directed to Shade Barnes email@example.com
or by calling (202) 822-7823.
For more information and a full listing of scheduled events: www.nea.org/annualmeeting.
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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.
CONTACT: Brian Washington (202) 822-7823, email@example.com


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Change of employer delays Torres' camp arrival
Visa issue keeping lefty away from Padres camp until weekend at earliest
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Pitcher Alex Torres won't report to the Padres' Spring Training facility until the weekend at the absolute earliest as he continues to have visa issues in his native Venezuela.
The problem is that Torres had to apply for and receive a new visa, as his previous one stated he was an employee of the Tampa Bay Rays.
However, Torres was traded to San Diego on Jan. 22, and the Padres have been working on paperwork to get him a new visa since then, with the intent of getting him to Arizona for the start of workouts for pitchers and catchers on Feb. 14.
The latest Torres is likely to arrive in Peoria would be the weekend of next week, though that wouldn't put him too far behind. If Torres were a starter, that would be a different story, but since he's a reliever, he figures to have time to prepare.
The Padres play their first Spring Training game on Feb. 27 against the Mariners. If anything, Torres' late arrival will give the organization a little more time early in camp to evaluate a handful of other bullpen hopefuls.
Torres pitched this winter in Venezuela, making seven appearances for Aguilas del Zulia and going 3-1 with a 2.38 ERA. He made his last appearance on Dec. 28.
Torres is expected to handle a late-inning relief role for the Padres. The left-hander will be counted on to not only get lefties out but righties as well.
The Padres received Torres and right-hander Jesse Hahn from the Rays as part of a seven-player deal that saw San Diego send infielder Logan Forsythe, relief pitcher Brad Boxberger and three Minor Leaguers -- pitchers Matt Lollis and Matt Andriese and infielder Maxx Tissenbaum -- to the Rays.


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LUXEMBOURG -- European Union finance ministers grappled Tuesday with how to support their struggling banks and ensure that failing financial institutions don't have the power to drag down entire countries with them.
A handful of countries agreed at a meeting of European Union finance ministers in Luxembourg to impose a tax on financial transactions in the hopes of curbing risky, speculative trades and perhaps even creating a fund that could be used to help banks in trouble. But the 11 countries that support the tax still have to hammer out exactly how it will work and submit it for approval.
France and Germany, which led the charge on the tax, had originally hoped it would be adopted by the whole European Union _ but several countries, like the Britain and the Netherlands, expressed concern about its economic impact.
The piecemeal agreement on the tax illustrates how difficult it has been for European leaders to forge ahead even though there is a gernal agreement that the solution to the debt crisis crippling the 17 countries that use the euro is to move closer together and adopt uniform rules on everything from budget deficits to banks. The hope is that stricter rules will prevent the crisis from recurring and that closer coordination will give the countries the ability to respond better to future crises.
Also at the meeting, ministers were struggling to outline how a so-called banking union _ one rulebook for all EU banks and a single supervisor for many of them _ would take shape.
Europe is in its third year of its financial crisis, brought on in part by overspending and excessive government debt. Recessions in several countries have worsened the problem, and EU leaders have struggled to solve the twin problems of too much debt and too little growth.
Banks have played a big role in creating the eurozone's financial crisis. The government debt the banks had bought up during the boom times of the eurozone is now no longer considered a safe bet and the banks are struggling to unload it _ usually at hefty losses. Governments have been forced to step in to prop the banks up in many cases. But rescuing banks is expensive and has added to investors' concerns that European countries are simply spending too much.
The challenge now is to break this vicious cycle. Several countries want Europe's new permanent bailout fund _ the European Stability Mechanism _ to have the power to hand money to banks directly, rather than lending it through national governments as it does now.
Leaders have agreed that for that to happen, the European Central Bank must be put in charge as the supervisor of the banks. Many countries are pushing for that to happen by the end of the year. But some countries, like Germany and the Netherlands, are dragging their feet and also quibbling over which banks would be eligible.
Dutch Finance Minister Jan Kees de Jager said the union was important to breaking the link between the troubles of banks and those of their governments, but that speed was not the most important consideration.
"It's important that we do it step-by-step and that the substance is leading and not the calendar," he said, adding that the Jan. 1 deadline seemed too ambitious.
On Monday night, French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said he still thought a banking supervisor could be in place by the end of the year _ and insisted that all 6,000 eurozone banks be supervised. That's another point of contention, with Germany apparently hoping that many of its smaller banks might evade such supervision.
Meanwhile, 11 countries agreed to coordinate the implementation of a financial transaction tax: Austria, Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. They still need to work out the details, though the EU Commission has suggested that trades in bonds and shares be taxed at 0.1 percent and trades in derivatives be taxed at 0.01 percent. Other countries could join later if they want to.
It's still unclear exactly how the funds raised would be used, although some supporters of the tax have suggested they could create a security net for banks and help to fund the EU's budget.
Don Melvin can be reached at http://twitter.com/Don_Melvin and Sarah DiLorenzo can be reached at http://twitter.com/sdilorenzo.


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Wahhabi taking over Egypt
The removal of Mohamed Morsi from the Egyptian presidency has set the stage for the ascension of an Islamic sect more radical than the Muslim Brotherhood.
Secular political parties backed by the Egyptian military will likely lose out to the Nour Party in the coming elections. Described as "ultraconservative" by the corporate media in the West, the religious party led by Nadar Bakar is considered the Taliban of Egypt.
The Biography of Shaykh Muhammad Ibn 'Abdul Wahhab
"The Nour Party embodies Wahhabism, the fanatical interpretation of Islam that is the sole official religious doctrine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," writes Irfan Al-Alawi, the executive director of the Islamic Heritage Research Foundation. "The media have tiptoed around the authentic character of the Nour Party, with leading sources noting only that the Nour Party's program is derived from or influenced by Saudi Wahhabism. But the Nour Party reproduces Wahhabism – the ideology that inspired Osama Bin Laden – in its entirety."
Like the Taliban, the Nour Party embraces a strict version of Shariah law. It is fanatically and murderously opposed to Shia Muslims and Christians. Nour's Abdel Moneim Al-Shahat has called for the Pharaonic statues that are a part of Egypt's pre-Islamic cultural legacy to be covered with wax because they were once worshipped as idols, Al-Alawi notes. This is the same philosophy that resulted in the Taliban destroying the Bamiyan statues of Buddha in Afghanistan.
Religious fanaticism of the sort practiced by the Taliban is a form of social control considered acceptable by government and the financial elite, as Nazi fascism was in Germany of the 1930s.
"The Taliban will probably develop like the Saudis did," John Pilger quotes a U.S. diplomat as stating prior to the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. "We can live with" the persecution of women and religious minorities, the official added.
Taliban fanaticism, however, ultimately became an obstacle to the exploitation of Afghanistan as an oil pipeline route. "Either you accept our offer of a carpet of gold, or we bury you under a carpet of bombs," Pakistani representative Niaz Naik quoted U.S. representatives as stating in discussions with the Taliban prior to the invasion in October, 2001.
Egypt's al-Nour is also willing to engage in business deals with the financial elite and their international loan sharking operation, the IMF.
"A delegation from the International Monetary Fund met Saturday with opposition figures Mohamed ElBaradei and Hamdeen Sabbahi, as well as with representatives of the Salafi-oriented Nour Party," Egypt Independent reported in April.
Despite an opposition to usury and loan schemes, the Nour leadership and clergy "signaled it would not oppose such a loan in principle, citing arguments that allow Muslims flexibility in interpreting Islamic law when they have no alternative or face severe conditions," The Globe and Mail reported in February.
via » Fall of Morsi Paves Way for Radical Islam in Egypt Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!.


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New products introduced over the last week include a new Indonesia small-cap ETF from Market Vectors; the closure of a Turkish private equity fund; a high-yield bond fund from Aberdeen; and a new fund trust from Gemini.
In addition, Gemini began a new fund trust and UBS launched an ETRACS ETN.
Here are the latest developments of interest to advisors:
1) Market Vectors Launches First U.S.-Listed Indonesia Small-Cap ETF
Market Vectors ETF Trust announced Wednesday the launch of Market Vectors Indonesia Small-Cap ETF (IDXJ), the first U.S.-listed ETF designed to provide investors with pure play exposure to the small capitalization segment of Indonesia's stock market. It seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of Market Vectors Indonesia Small-Cap Index (MVIDXJTR).
IDXJ has a gross expense ratio of 0.70% and a net expense ratio of 0.61%, which is capped until at least May 1. During such time, the expense limitation is expected to continue until the fund's board of trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such expense limitation.
2) O'Melveny Assists Pera Capital in Turkish Private Equity Fund
O'Melveny & Myers LLP announced that it advised Pera Capital Partners Fund I, a mid-market Turkish private equity fund, in its first closing with over 40 million euros ($52 million) in commitments from leading institutional investors, funds of funds and family offices. The fund will focus on mid-market growth capital investments and will target transactions that range between 5 million and 15 million euros ($7 million–$20 million). The fund has a target size of 120 million euros ($157 million).
The London-based team in this transaction comprised partner John Daghlian, counsel Anita Roberts, and trainee solicitor Rory McDonagh.
3) Aberdeen Launches U.S High Yield Bond Fund
Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. announced Thursday the launch of the Aberdeen U.S. High Yield Bond Fund (AUYRX). The new fund is managed by Aberdeen's U.S. high yield team. Its objective is to maximize total return through current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in bonds of U.S. issuers that are, at the time of investment, below investment grade. The team has managed assets in this strategy for non-U.S. investors since November 1, 2006.
In conjunction with the launch, Aberdeen published the white paper "Benefits of Long-term Allocation to U.S. High-yield Securities."
4) Gemini Launches Northern Lights Fund Trust III
Gemini Fund Services, LLC announced Wednesday the launch of Northern Lights Fund Trust III (NLFT III), a shared mutual fund trust of independent and separately managed funds. Advisors who join NLFT III will be able to obtain economies of scale, regulatory compliance and board oversight, fund sales and operational efficiency. Membership in NLFT III will also entitle advisors to assistance with their distribution and marketing plans, as well as introductions to broker/dealers.
Trustees include James Jensen, who has served as counsel to boards of directors and managements of large and small businesses for over 40 years; Anthony Payne, a retired bank executive and executive director of the Iowa West Foundation; John Palancia, who has spent over 36 years working for financial services companies such as Merrill Lynch; Mark H. Taylor, professor of accounting at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, who has over two decades of academic experience in the auditing and accounting fields; and Jerry Vincentini, who has over 45 years of experience as a manager and leader in the school supply business.
5) UBS Launches ETRACS ETN
UBS Investment Bank announced Wednesday the launch of the ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Dow Jones International Real Estate ETN (RWXL), linked to the monthly compounded 2x leveraged performance of the Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. Select Real Estate Securities Index, reduced by investor fees.
RWXL offers monthly compounded 2x leveraged exposure to the Index, less fees; income potential in the form of a variable monthly coupon linked to 2 times the cash distributions, if any, on the index constituents, less any withholding taxes; global diversification resulting from 127 international real estate securities based in 22 countries; and a single USD-denominated exchange-traded security and USD-denominated income.
Read the March 18 Portfolio Products Roundup at AdvisorOne.com.


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"Sluts, keep yer legs closed!" hasn't been a viable public health solution for the last several thousand years, but if we pray real hard, maybe it someday will be. Until mass abstinence is feasible or permanent pregnancy is desired, sustainable, or safe, though, the best options women have to control their reproductive health are contraception and abortion. And, in at least one African country, they're getting it... no thanks to American conservatives who fought against Kenyan women's access to safe abortion every step of the way.
One might think that it's no business of, say, a white male politician who lives in a New Jersey McMansion to tell an African woman that she must remain pregnant if she doesn't want to be, but for the last several years, anti-abortion rights conservatives have made it their business to occupy not only the uteruses of American women, but the uteruses of women around the world. It's a small, small uterus, after all.
Here's how the battle for abortion rights went down in Kenya, according to Irin Carmon, writing for Salon. Prior to 2010, Kenya required women who wanted to have an abortion to get written approval from three doctors, one of whom had to be a psychiatrist. Because Kenya isn't exactly psychiatrist-dense, the procedure was largely unavailable to women who wanted or needed the procedure. As a result, Kenyan women often sought illegal back alley abortions, which often did not go well — according to Carmon, approximately 20,000 Kenyan women are treated every year for illegal abortion-related complications, and 30 to 40 percent of maternity-related death is caused by unsafe abortion. But just remaining pregnant wasn't an attractive alternative, either. In Kenya, the maternal mortality rate is 488 per 100,000 live births (in the US, it's under 7 deaths per 100,000 live births).
The situation deteriorated during the George W. Bush administration, as Republicans instituted the "global gag rule," which prohibited any family planning organization receiving US aid from even mentioning the fact that safe abortion is a thing that exists. In addition, Bush defunded the UN Population Fund, which provided contraception to women in Kenya and other developing countries, which led to a rise in unplanned pregnancies in Kenya, which led to a rise in unsafe abortions and, presumably, injury and death from those unsafe procedures. Pro-life!
In 2010, after much wailing and complaining by American conservatives who for some reason only care about Africa when we're talking about oil or zygotes, Kenya ratified a new Constitution that allows women to access abortion after getting approval from only one doctor. A step up, certainly, but still something that's taken cultural adjustment. And backward American views on abortion are still negatively impacting access to care, a fact that's frustrating to health care providers and women's health advocates. Writes Carmon,
Take Kisumu Medical and Education Trust (K-MET), which I visited recently. It was ineligible for U.S. funding under the Bush administration because it works on comprehensive reproductive healthcare – from adolescent health to advocating for safe abortion access to caring for women who have had unsafe abortions. Under Obama, they've gotten a U.S. government grant to improve the services of 650 healthcare providers when it comes to infectious diseases like malaria and HIV. "But we are not allowed to spend any of this money on anything related to post-abortion care or abortion," said director of programs Sam Owoko. "You have to separate the room where you're doing post-abortion care and the room where you're doing everything else" – and, he said, even have a separate set of tools, no easy task when resources are already so scarce.
Frustrated reproductive health professionals have pointed out that the same commodities USAID won't fund because they can be used for elective abortion – manual vacuum aspirators (MVAs), misoprostol - are the ones recommended for life-saving post-abortion care or post-partum hemorrhage.
It's a completely nonsensical accommodation to an oppressive, borderline imperialist approach to women's health in developing countries. But it's not going away any time soon.
So if abortion is unsafe and pregnancy is even less safe, what options do women in developing countries have? Is simply having functioning ovaries akin to continually playing Uterine Russian Roulette? Not necessarily.
To paraphrase a new Guttmacher report: "Birth Control. Duh." To paraphrase it in a way that wouldn't get a teenager with strict parents grounded: widespread use of advanced contraception in developing countries could prevent millions of unplanned pregnancies, millions of abortions. According to estimates, women worldwide will experience 80 million unplanned pregnancies this year due to contraceptive failure or contraceptive non-use. Forty million of those pregnancies will result in abortion, 30 million in live birth, and 10 million in miscarriage. Widespread availability of contraception to these women could theoretically prevent most — not all, but most — of these pregnancies in the first place.
Governments that operate under the false assumption that women either don't have sex outside of marriage or always want children inside of marriage, and if they don't meet those two criteria, then they deserve to be punished for their transgression with forced pregnancy and childbirth aren't only deluded, they're killing women with their delusions. And the world would be better for it if the men in charge agreed to legislate reality rather than an impossible ideal.


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While most many MMA fans and observers look forward to the 2011 debut of the WEC champions in newly created UFC divisions, a handful of lighter-weight fighters are making the plunge this weekend.
Saturday's Spike TV-broadcast The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale event will host a handful of former WEC athletes, and submission ace Fredson Paixao (10-3 MMA, 2-1 WEC) is among those making the leap.
Paixao admits the chance to compete in the world-famous octagon is a dream come true, and he believes nerves may play a role with all incoming WEC fighters.
"I'm making history," Paixao told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). "Saturday will be a historic bout. It's cool. I feel like I'm going to explode because I'm so excited."
Paixao faces Pablo Garza (9-1 MMA, 0-1 WEC) on the evening's preliminary card. While the evening's final bout order has not been released, the featherweight fighters are likely to be the first 145-pounders to set foot in the UFC cage at The Ultimate Fighter Finale.
While the WEC is the UFC's sister promotion, Paixao said nothing can compare to stepping into the cage of the world's largest MMA promotion.
"It's a huge difference," Paixao said. "It's like how all football players try to make the NFL. Every fighter dreams of fighting in the UFC. The UFC is like the NFL now.
"This is my vision. This moment, I'm living the dream."
Which brings up an interesting question. While UFC newcomers are often subject to severe nerves dubbed the "octagon jitters," how will the WEC imports fare?
"I think since now it's the UFC, I'll have the nerves, but you control it," Paixao said. "For me, it's alright. I can handle the change.
"I think everybody has been scared. The difference is if you can control the nerves. … The secret to success is how you control the nerves."
For some fighters, that nervous energy is turned into pure aggression. Paixao believes that's simply the wrong approach to fighting, and he credits his current two-fight win streak on maintaining a more controlled demeanor.
"Why would I think, 'Oh, now I'm going to kill you,' before the fight?" Paixao asked. "That makes you lose energy. I relax and stay calm. I need to use my energy in the fight."
Of course, Garza will also be facing that same energy. In September, Garza debuted for the WEC as a late replacement opponent for Tiequan Zhang at WEC 53. Now less than three months later, he's fighting on the sport's biggest stage.
Despite the tension facing both competitors, Paixao said he does not enter the fight with negative feelings toward his foe. In face, he's more than willing to partake in a pre-fight chat or friendly board game.
"I don't have problems talking to my opponent," Paixao said. "If he wants to play chess with me, I will play with him. If he has stuff to talk about, we can talk. I don't have a problem with that."
If it seems that Paixao is relaxed heading into Saturday night's fight, it's quite simply because he is. After all, there's nothing to fear in this fight, and he has everything to gain.
"This is my dream come true," Paixao said.
For the latest on The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by Gorgeous George, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Goze. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.


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5633 Airport Way S Seattle, Wa 98108
Phone: 206-708-7813
Hours: Monday-Friday 11 to 5
We also cater and welcome special orders. Give us a call.
American Pie Bakery & Cafe specializes in "sweet and savory pies". We make individual pot pies for a satisfying lunch or dinner, savory empanadas with various fillings for both the meat eater and the vegetarian alike, sandwiches and of course delicious sweet pies to satisfy every pie lover. Full size 9" savory pies are available by special order.
We invite you to take a look at our menu. We proudly use quality meats and we use local produce as much as possible. We try to make new and interesting food that will excite your palate and make you want to tell your friends and more than anything we are proud of our crust because "if you can't make a good pie crust then you shouldn't open a pie shop".