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Installing and Setting Up and Encoding for IIS 7 Smooth Streaming and Silverlight
I heard someone saying they were having trouble setting up Smooth Streaming for IIS, so I wanted to try it myself.
If you just want to see Smooth Streaming work, visit http://www.smoothhd.com/ for some sample demos. They'll adapt to your bandwidth and look as nice as they can. If you want to fake a low-bandwidth situation, you can use the player at http://www.iis.net/media/experiencesmoothstreaming and play with limiting the bit rate.
Step 0: Got IIS?
I've got IIS 7 because I've got Win 7. If your Win 7 installation doesn't have IIS yet, go to Programs and Features and click "Turn Windows Features On or Off" and select Internet Information Services. Don't forgot to go through the tree and turn on the things you want, like "Static Content" in this case. (Remember, if you've just installed IIS, shut down Skype as it grabs port 80 if it gets there first. Lame.)
Step 1: Add IIS Media Services
I'm running Windows 7 x64 so I installed IIS Media Services 3.0 64-bit, but you can certainly install IIS Media Services for 32-bit also. Even easier, just install it from the Web Platform Installer directly.
Installing the IIS Media Services pack gives you a new icons in the IIS manager:
Step 2: Get (or Make) Some Content (and Encode It)
If you just want to see this work, you can get some pre-encoded content, below in 2a. Later in 2b, I'll encode some new content.
Step 2a: Get Some Pre-Encoded Content to Test
Use At this point, if you're just testing, you can go download the pre-encoded "Buck The Bunny" HD Video Sample Content (about 500 megs of HD video). Run it, extract the files, and put them somewhere like c:\inetpub\wwwroot\bunny.
HOW SMOOTH STREAMING WORKS - SIDE NOTE: You kind have to see it to get it, but it's actually clever in its simplicity. Some folks freak out when they take a, say, 200 meg video file and encode it for Smooth Streaming and the resulting directory is, say, 500 megs. They might say, it's larger! I don't have that kind of bandwidth! In fact, less is sent over the wire than exists on disk. The idea is that Smooth Streaming creates "steps" of bitrates. It encodes and stores your file multiple bit-rates on the disk.
To illustrate this, I will use the DJ Hero video game as an example:
Just as the DJ moves between tracks depending on how the crowd feels, Silverlight between encoded streams depending on the bandwidth is doing. Remember, it's called "Adaptive" Smooth Streaming.
Now I visit http://localhost/bunny/default.html and rather than the standard Silverlight Player, I'm going to select one called "User Experience Simulator." Basically, I want to fake a low bandwidth situation and see the Smooth Streaming react.
NOTE: If you like, or you're demoing this to a boss or someone, there's a prettier/shinier player on the Smooth Streaming Sample Content page that you can swap out. Details on the Getting Started Page for Smooth Streaming.
I start the player, and you'll notice on teh right side there's "Now Downloading" and "Max Bit Rate." I'll force a lower bit-rate (again, I'm simulating congestion here) and seek within the video. Then raise it, and wait, or seak. Notice the chart showing that the Silverlight Player "switched tracks" without dropping frames.
Another metaphor would be changing gears on a bicycle to adapt to a changing road.
Step 2b: Encode Some Content of Your Own.
Ok, so that was just existing content. You can download Expression Encoder 3.0 and encode all the video you want, but if you want to encode Smooth Streaming or H.264, you have to upgrade for $49 to Expression Encoder 3.0 with IIS Smooth Streaming. (By the way, Expression Encoder will also do Screen Capture, which is nice to know. The free version will do up to 10 min of Screen Capture, which is also useful to know.)
I drag a video of ScottGu in HD into the Encoder and select IIS Smooth Streaming. Since my source is HD 720p, I'll select that. By default, the profile will basically encode a high version and low version, but for best results you'll want to decide how many levels of stepping you want. Expression Encoder can be run in a batch from the command-line also, BTW.
Make sure you click the encoding option you want, right-click and say "Apply to Selected Items." You'll know you got it right if the Video section further down (that you can open up) includes multiple streams of various sizes and bitrates. Notice the screenshot. More streams will mean longer encodes and more space on disk taken up, BUT it'll make for more bitrate options for the player to choose and a MUCH better, smoother experience. Again, you might have 1, 5 or 10 streams for a 1 gig source and end up using 5+gigs of space on disk (I made those numbers up) but the end user's experience will be smooth and the bandwidth used will be as small as possible.
It is worth noticing that screencasts should mostly be encoded using an H.264 Screen Encoding profile, while action like sports games work better with other codecs. What looks good on the football field often looks like crap if it's some dude coding on his screen. You'll also want to have a reasonable minimum resolution and a minimum bitrate. Experiment and you'll find what works and save it as a custom profile that's right for your content.
After I encoded all this, I thought to myself, crap, the REALLY LOW bandwidth version is not acceptable. Do I have to re-encode to not include that one?
I can just hack the .ism file manifest as it's just XML and remove all knowledge of that lower bit-rate file. UPDATE: There's a nice UI to managed rethe different bit rates, so no need to hack any XML.
It can be tricky to do the math and figure out what resolutions and bitrates to use for your smooth streaming content so you can use this Silverlight-based Smooth Streaming Multi-Bitrate Calculator. There's a WPF one also. To get really good quality you'll vary not only the bitrate, but also the resolution (but you'll stretch it, so the user won't know the resolution changed also.) Ultimately you have complete control as everyone's content has different needs.
The "More Info Than You Asked For" Section: What's Really Happening?
If you want a deep deep dive into what's going on, check out the Smooth Streaming section of Alex Zambelli's blog. It's wonderfully deep. A lot of people don't realize that Smooth Streaming is still just plain HTTP.
Traditionally streaming is a long running stream over a stateful protocol, where a packet is a some milliseconds of video.
Adaptive Streaming is chunked over HTTP where the client can choose different chunk sizes in various bit rates.
From Alex's blog:
A typical Smooth Streaming media asset therefore consists of the following files:
- MP4 files containing video/audio
- *.ismv – contains video and audio, or only video
- 1 ISMV file per encoded video bitrate
- *.isma - contains only audio
- In videos with audio, the audio track can be muxed into an ISMV file instead of a separate ISMA file
- Server manifest file
- *.ism
- Describes the relationships between media tracks, bitrates and files on disk
- Only used by the IIS Smooth Streaming server – not by client
- Client manifest file
- *.ismc
- Describes to the client the available streams, codecs used, bitrates encoded, video resolutions, markers, captions, etc.
- It's the first file delivered to the client
Both manifest file formats are based on XML. The server manifest file format is based specifically on the SMIL 2.0 XML format specification.
With IIS7 Smooth Streaming, a client is expected to request fragments in the form of RESTful URLs:http://video.foo.com/NBA.ism/QualityLevels(400000)/Fragments(video=610275114) http://video.foo.com/NBA.ism/QualityLevels(64000)/Fragments(audio=631931065)
The values passed in the URL represent encoded bitrate (i.e. 400000) and the fragment start offset (i.e. 610275114) expressed in an agreed-upon time unit (usually 100 ns). These values are known from the client manifest.
But most importantly, therefore I make it bold and in red so you'll read it twice:
...what about dynamic bitrate switching that makes adaptive streaming so effective? This part of the Smooth Streaming experience is implemented entirely in client-side Silverlight application code – the server plays no part in the bitrate switching process.
An important thing to think about when doing network capacity planning is that in a traditional scenario, clients will drop to the bit rate they can sustain on average. In Smooth Streaming, it will continually hop up to the highest they can handle. Smooth Streaming gives each client the highest quality video they can handle. That may result in some network stress for the video provider and network infrastructure if you were expecting video that was less than awesome. ;)
A Q&A from Alex's Smooth Streaming FAQ
Q: Is Smooth Streaming based on Microsoft's ASF file format? Or does it use some new proprietary file format?
A: No, the Smooth Streaming File Format is based on the ISO-standardized Base Media File Format, better known as the MP4 file format. It follows the ISO/IEC 14496-12 specification
Q: Will Smooth Streaming ensure I can deliver HD video to all my customers?
A: No. Smooth Streaming can't perform any miracles; it's simply an enhanced HTTP delivery method. Delivery of HD video is still bound by the efficiency of the codecs used: VC-1, H.264, etc. For example, most video experts would agree that 720p/24 video can't be delivered at a satisfactory quality level with less than 2 Mbps encoded bitrate. Well, 2 Mbps of encoded video still requires 2 Mbps of network bandwidth in order to be delivered in real-time – and there's nothing IIS7 or Silverlight can do to change that.
Q: Where can I see Smooth Streaming in action?
A: Visit SmoothHD.com for a demo of on-demand Smooth Streaming, with video content ranging up to 720p HD for those on fast connections (3 Mbps or more). Also check out the IIS.net demo which lets you simulate variable network bandwidth during playback. The only requirement to view Smooth Streaming video is a Silverlight 2 (or better) browser plugin. For a demo of live Smooth Streaming, check out Home Shopping Network's 24-hr live shopping channel, also offering up to 720p in full-screen mode.
It's really easy to setup and easy to encode for Smooth Streaming. In my case, I just encoded the files off my HD video camera. You'll see more Smooth Streaming around various Microsoft sites that serve video in the coming months.
Have fun!
Related Links
IIS *LIVE* Smooth Streaming - you can do this with LIVE content also, BTW.
Smooth Streaming Multi-Bitrate Calculator - It can be tricky to do the math and figure out what resolutions and bitrates to use for your smooth streaming content so you can use this Silverlight-based online calculator. There's a WPF one also.
Silverlight Media Framework with Progressive Download Support - If you're going to do a player, this is where you start.
"SMF is built on a proven code base with dozens of leading Smooth Streaming deployments, including Wimbledon, Sunday Night Football on NBCSports, the UEFA Super Cup on Canal+, Roland Garros and the Tour de France on France Télévisions and many others and by providing developers with source code they can more easily build these experiences for their deployments. Key features in the framework include DVR, rewind, alternate language tracks, in-stream data feeds and analytics tracking. The SMF is designed for future third-party extensibility and component modularity, as well as support for other media delivery scenarios beyond Smooth Streaming."
Adaptive Streaming Comparison - "In addition, IIS Smooth Streaming 4.0 will also provide an option for streaming to iPhone and QuickTime X players."
- Smooth Streaming Technical Overview
- Adaptive Streaming Comparison
- Smooth Streaming for IIS 7.0 - Getting Started
- Smooth Streaming for IIS 7.0 - Managing Your Presentations
- Live Smooth Streaming
- Web Playlists[Show All]
- Bit Rate Throttling
- Smooth Streaming Deployment Guide
- Windows Media Server or Web Server?
- Using HTTP for Streaming and Downloading from the Same Computer
- Edge Caching for Media Delivery
- Adding Windows Media Services 2008 on an IIS 7.0 Server
About Scott
Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. He is a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author.
About Newsletter
GET /blah HTTP/1.1 Range: bytes=0-999 ... HTTP/1.0 206 Partial Content Content-Length: 1000 Content-Range: bytes 0-999/10000 ...This is what the iPhone/iPod Touch does: no special software required on the server - it's plain old HTTP 1.1.
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On today's edition of The FreedomCast, best selling author Brad Thor joins me to discuss his new book "Hidden Order," how life imitates art, especially when it comes to his all too factual spy novels, and why the Federal Reserve may just be the next NSA type scandal.
Related Links:
Chillin - Brad Thor Reveals the Extremely Powerful Agency Behind His New Thriller "Hidden Order."Have a suggestion for an upcoming FreedomCast episode, or a comment? Send it to me on twitter @KristinaRibali.
Subscribe to The FreedomCast on iTunes here.
Follow FreedomWorks on twitter and on Faceboook.
Follow today's guest @BradThor on twitter.
Our podcast is fabulously produced by @BradWJackson.
Mr. Thor is right: take over the Republican Party from the inside. Ms. Ribali is also correct: take over the precincts and you take over the party. The place to start is at the local level. Independence is the American Dream. The first thing our founding fathers did was they signed a Declaration of INDEPENDENCE, then they fought a war of INDEPENDENCE, and then they designed our Constitution to preserve, protect, and promote our political INDEPENDENCE. Independence is the American Dream. And If the Republican Party will not play ball then the Independence Party of the United States of America is waiting in the wings. But the first thing to do is try to control the Republican Party.
It does the heart good to see that Americans from all over are finally standing up, getting to work, and changing things. Keep an eye on the ball and you will hit a home run.
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subset: commoncrawl


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We've been hearing about it for quite some time, but Carbon for Android is finally here. While it is clear that Falcon Pro is currently tops on many people's lists of Android Twitter clients, this newly released app is definitely hot on its heels. With its attractive interface, silky-smooth performance, and nifty animations, Carbon is a downright sexy Twitter client that is worth a look. Did I mention there are no ads, and it's free?
Visually, the app is stunning. It has a high-contrast light-on-dark interface that looks slick and is easy to read. Also, compared with Falcon Pro, Carbon has significantly fewer lines and borders separating each tweet, which gives it a more open feel. Avatars clearly mark each tweet, but they're not obtrusive, and inline media thumbnails are large, just as we like them. You can tap on any tweet to open options like add to favorites, reply, or retweet. Conveniently, the app lets you pick between Twitter's native retweet or the "RT-style" retweet, in case you want to add your own text.
As is common with many other Twitter clients, Carbon's interface is broken up into three different panels for your Timeline, Mentions, and Direct Messages. Swiping left and right moves you among them. Navigating is simple with the thin bar of shortcuts that always sits at the bottom of the screen. From this bar, you can compose a tweet, see your Twitter profile, or open up another thin menu of tools along the right side of the screen. This extra side menu houses pretty much everything else you need from your Twitter client: Favorites, Lists, Trends, Search, Filters, and Settings. Everything is laid out intuitively, and there are a handful of animated details (like 3D transitions between panels) that make Carbon's controls feel significantly more polished than others'. Other nifty details include the two-finger swipe to jump to the top of your timeline and the ability to edit your Twitter profile (a rarity among mobile clients).


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showing 1 to 3 of 3
Cows can't get COVID-19 so you can stop panic buying milk and thank a farmer instead.
by Jonathan Briggins on March 19, 2020 at 1:00AM
A s people practice social distancing, head into isolation, quarantine and prepare for whatever happens next, there's one thing everyone needs—food.
While some are hoarding food and supplies, one local farmer says consumers don't need to panic about food supply.
"There seems to be a lot of concern about food supply," says Tim Hutton, a farmer who grows vegetables and sells at the Halifax Brewery Farmers' Market.
Hutton describes going to buy milk in New Minas recently and chatting with a fellow shopper who was stocking up on milk over COVID-19 fears.
"I said 'the cows are literally a five-minute drive away, you're in Annapolis valley. The cows are being milked twice a day, they're in fields that are a five or 10-minute drive, in some cases, from food shops," recounts Hutton.
Home made pasta, coffee beans to your door, bike-delivery books and more
by Ashley Corbett on April 8, 2020 at 6:04PM
But Dalhousie professor Chris Cutler has some tips to make it better.
by Seyitan Moritiwon on August 6, 2020 at 3:31PM


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Forum Post: Never mind Occupy Wall Street. We want to be the 1%.
Posted 7 years ago on June 23, 2013, 2:38 p.m. EST by Narley
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Article this morning in the Sunday Wall Street Journal. Are we mis-reading who we are?
Never mind Occupy Wall Street. We want to be the 1%.
They may have been the poster children for the Occupy Wall Street movement (at least when it first started), railing against the wealthiest 1% of Americans, but some studies suggest millennials may be the most aspirational generation yet.


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Interroll Spiral Lift
The Interroll Spiral Lift transports boxes, containers and goods inn all shapes and sizes for a variety of industries. The Spiral Lift is available in 45° increments, is extremely quiet during operation and features a small footprint, which allows for an optimal utilization of space. The overlapping slats offer additional safety for the operator. The proven design with rolling friction and rubberized ball bearings allows less friction, which can lead to significant savings in energy. Thanks to its self-tensioning chain drive, the new Spiral Lift is extremely low in maintenance. Access to the chain mechanism is very easy so that the downtime can be reduced to a minimum.


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Fontana, Lavinia
Fontana, Lavinia, 1552–1614, Italian painter, daughter of Prospero Fontana. She was a fashionable portrait painter in Bologna and Rome noted for her sensitivity in color and detail. Her self-portraits (two, Pitti Gall., Florence; another, St. Luke's Acad., Rome) and a portrait of Pope Gregory XIII show a fine decorative sense in the treatment of costume.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: European Art to 1599: Biographies


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Welcome to the UCA Housing and Residence Life Parents' Pages!
We hope to provide you with many valuable resources that will help you and help your student. This may be a trying and confusing time for both parents and students, so this site has been developed to make the college transition a little easier on everyone!
Please join the UCA Family Network is designed to be a one-stop shop making it easy for you to access all the information you need to support your student. Like us on Facebook. Sign up for our General Membership and receive our monthly UCA Family Network e-newsletter. Contact us directly at 501-852-1053 or at email@example.com.
Going off to college is a milestone in a student's life. Many people forget that it's a milestone for parents as well. If this is your first student to leave home for college, this event is even more important, and perhaps even anxiety-ridden.
When your student leaves for college, you know his or her life will change, but do you realize yours will as well? You are probably asking yourself many questions right now: Will my student be homesick? Make friends? Succeed academically? Will my student change because of this experience? The truth is your student's life will change and so will yours. There are many unknowns for you both at this time. Your student is moving from adolescence to adulthood, and this will be a challenging time for both of you. Some of your hopes and dreams may go unrealized, and others may be surpassed. The challenges your student will face will help broaden his/her world of experience. Meeting these challenges will be his/her "job" for the next few years.
This website describes some of the changes you can expect your student to face in the next few years. Your son or daughter will probably think, feel, and act differently as growth and change occur. He/She will seek to become more independent, autonomous, and competent. Your college student will probably not do everything you desire, or in the way you prefer. He/She may not make choices in the most efficient manner, or in a way that you totally understand, but with encouragement and support, most students make it through the process successfully. These web pages hold information you may find useful as you go through this process with your college student.
Housing and Residence Life at The University of Central Arkansas is dedicated to making not only the experience of our students the best it can be, but also that of the parents. Our staff is dedicated to assisting students and parents with problems, concerns or just answering questions.
Parent Partnership Statement
The Department of Housing and Residence Life at the University of Central Arkansas considers the parents of our students as partners in the development of the student during their residential experience. The University of Central Arkansas is committed to the intellectual, social, and personal development of its students. As partners, we can work together to help students develop problem-solving skills to aid them in their journey to becoming responsible and autonomous adults.


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Judge Jane Markey has served for nearly sixteen years on this State's 2nd highest court, the Michigan Court of Appeals (COA), the "farm club" for the Michigan Supreme Court (MSC). Six of the seven current Justices served on the COA before ascending to the Supreme Court.
(Read more...)
Paid for by Jane Markey For Justice
2864 Riverwoods Dr. NE, Rockford MI 49341


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If you are interested in any training and teaching courses helf at CIPF, please contact:
Ana Rodrigo Williamson
Tel. +34 963 289 680
The CIPF researcher development program: A guide for predoctoral researchers
Researcher Development Programme
The purpose of the CIPF Researcher Development Program, is to support you in your research Program at the Centre and to give you access to the development of further skills that will assist your current research and enhance your further career prospects, in whichever direction they may lie.
Participation in the program is important for three reasons:
- Improving your research skills.
- Enhancing your future employment prospects.
- Broadening your horizons.
Our program follows closely the Vitae Research Development Framework (poner vinculo). This is a British approach to researcher development that has been adopted by major research funders and supported by a wide range of employers. Its remit is to give professional support and promotion to the personal, professional and career developments of researchers. It identifies the essential attributes and behaviours of highly skilled researchers necessary for success in a wide variety of careers.
The national framework, the RDF, sets out the knowledge, behaviours and attributes of effective and highly skilled researchers. It is structured in four domains:
- Knowledge and intellectual abilities.
- Personal effectiveness.
- Research governance and organization.
- Engagement, influence and impact.
Within each of the four domains are three sub-domains which describe the different aspects of being an effective researcher in more detail
At CIPF we aim, through the program, to give training in each of these areas.
Introducing the Researcher Development Framework
Each doctoral researcher comes to the Centre from a different background and with different skills. Each of you will therefore require bespoke training and development activities. We therefore aim, so far as is possible, to be sufficiently flexible to address these individual requirements. We do, however, expect a minimum level of engagement in the program, equating to five sessions in your first year and three sessions in your second and third years. These are all minimum expectations; you will be encouraged to engage in more sessions but will also be advised to avoid overloading yourselves with too many options.
Sessions will take place throughout the week – generally of two hours duration. Sessions can and will be repeated at different times throughout the year to accommodate researchers' needs. Some sessions will be available and of possible interest to all researchers, whatever their discipline, while others will be addressed to the specific needs of individuals at different stages of their programs.
This is no more than a reflection upon your own skills and upon those that you will need to acquire for your field of research and ongoing career. Using, with your director, the relevant Researcher Development Framework's template document, you will be able to identify those areas that you will need to develop or strengthen. You will then be expected to take on responsibility for pursuing those areas of skill development; throughout the course of study you will be asked to comment upon the sessions you have attended, the extent to which they have addressed your needs and the further activities you require. Your LNA template travels with you throughout the course and can be continually updated and modified.
Doc. CIPF learning needs analysis RDP
Each year, during the presentation of results, you will be required to complete a written report that includes an assessment of the extent to which your training sessions have addressed the needs as identified in your LNA.


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Still Drinks Market in Latin America to 2017 : MarketResearchReports.biz
New Market Research Report Added In MarketResearchReports.Biz Reports Database Still Drinks Market in Latin America to 2017
Albany, NY -- (SBWire) -- 12/26/2012 --Canadean's, "Still Drinks Market in Latin America to 2017: Market Guide" provides in-depth detail on the trends and drivers of the Still Drinks market in Latin America. The quantitative data in the report (historic and forecast consumption values) analyses the dynamics in the Latin American countries, providing marketers with the essential information to understand their own and their competitors' position in this market and the information to accurately identify where to compete in the future.
The report provides data to help companies in the Still Drinks industry better understand the changes in their environment, seize opportunities and formulate crucial business strategies.
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This report is the result of Canadean's extensive market research covering the Still Drinks market in Latin America. It provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment for the Still Drinks market in Latin America. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Still Drinks value chain and for new players that are considering entering the market.
For All Latest Reports Kindly Visit: http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/latest
Overall analysis of the Still Drinks market in Latin America.
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Bulk/HOD Water Market in Latin America to 2017: Market Guide: http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/155757
Drinking Yogurt Market in Latin America to 2017: Market Guide: http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/155759
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Robin Hood tax gains traction in EuropeOctober 24, 2012: 10:02 AM ET
Robin Hood may not have roamed Sherwood Forest for hundreds of years, but fans of his "steal from the rich, give to the poor" ethos appear to have made inroads into European tax policy.
The European Union's executive body said Tuesday that 10 members of the 27-nation group had agreed to move forward with a Financial Transaction Tax, also known as the Robin Hood tax.
Supporters say the controversial move will raise billions of euros for cash-strapped governments by applying a small tax on transactions in financial markets. But critics say imposing the tax will drive investors away and act as a break on economic growth.
Nobel Prize wining economist James Tobin first proposed taxing transactions in the foreign exchange market in the 1970s to limit volatility and curb speculation.
The idea of taxing financial transactions more broadly really started to gain ground earlier this year, when former French President Nicolas Sarkozy began touting it as a way out of Europe's financial crisis.
The tax has become a cause célèbre of grassroots organizations that often dress up in Robin Hood costumes and march in the streets. It has also been affiliated with parts of the Occupy Wall Street movement in the Untied States.
Related: Spanish economy shrinks again
After failing to reach a unanimous decision, the European Commission said it has the legal grounds to proceed with the tax after 10 nations agreed to "enhanced cooperation" on the proposal. The details were hammered out by eurozone finance ministers earlier this month, and they will revisit the issue in November.
The decision was backed by the largest economies in the euro area, including Germany, France, Spain and Italy. It was also supported by Austria, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia.
But the tax is politically charged and implementing it could still prove difficult.
Despite gaining traction in the eurozone, it's a non-starter in the United Kingdom, which is a member of the EU but does not use the euro. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the tax, since London boasts some of the largest capital markets in the world.
"We are watching this development with interest - particularly given London's role as Europe's leading financial centre," said Mark Boleat, policy chairman at the City of London Corporation.
Algirdas Šemeta, the European commissioner in charge of taxation, said he hoped other members of the 27-nation EU would eventually adopt the tax, although he said it could still be effective without full participation.>
Under a proposal Šemeta put forward last year, the transaction tax would raise up to €57 billion if it were applied in all 27 EU nations.
Based on the commission's initial proposal, the transaction tax could raise €37 billion if implemented by the 10 countries in question, according anti-hunger organization Oxfam International. The EC did not provide its own estimate but said the financial sector is "under-taxed by about €18 billion a year in Europe."
The revenue could be used to help fund the EU budget, easing the burden on individual member states, which could use the funds to pay down debt and stimulate economic growth, among other things.
"This is a once in a generation chance to ease the burden on European citizens," said Nicolas Mombrial, Oxfam's EU policy advisor, in a statement. "Countries which have not signed up should do so or risk finding themselves on the wrong side of history."
Of course, the financial sector sees it differently.
Related: Full coverage of Europe's debt crisis
Richard Middleton is a managing director at the Association for Financial Markets in Europe, which represents leading European banks. He argues that taxing financial transactions will hurt the European economy and could even cause tax revenues to fall.
"Europe needs to focus on rebuilding its economies and fostering recovery," Middleton said in a statement. "Its leaders should reject this proposal as potentially damaging to their economies."


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(CNN) -- Liz Lee is not your typical MTV reality show star. As friend Jake Fogelnest puts it, "While (the "Jersey Shore" cast) is out fist-pumping, Liz is in her dorm room watching Netflix."
Lee's show, "My Life as Liz," chronicled the self-described nerd's senior year of high school in Texas during its first season last year.
Its second season, centering around Lee's time in college in New York, premiered February 8 at 11 p.m. ET, with an 89% increase in viewership from the series premiere, according to MTV.
"The executives at MTV are really smart. The fact that a show like that is on now is amazing and great," said Fogelnest, who hosted his own show on MTV as a teenager (from his bedroom, no less), "Squirt TV," in the mid-1990s. "My Life as Liz" is "the one thing where someone's not pregnant or drunk; it's what real people are like."
The show has quickly amassed a big following on Twitter -- not just the hundreds of thousands who follow Lee and her co-stars, but in Twitter feeds like "@thelizalliance." More than 1.8 million people have viewed a clip of the most memorable moment from the show on Youtube, in which a nervous Lee stepped in front of a microphone at a talent show and blew everyone away with her singing.
Like many MTV reality shows, it's not without its share of controversy. Its detractors have criticized its level of "reality." For the record, Lee told CNN, "The people, the places, they're all real. All the people on the show, I actually know them, and we actually have relationships." MTV also told the Los Angeles Times last year that neither the terms "reality show" nor "sitcom" fully captured the show.
But "My Life as Liz" is unique for another criticism that has been leveled against the show's star: "My nerd cred is attacked all the time. People think that that was fabricated by MTV. That's the hardest rumor for me to deal with."
During its first season, one anonymous message board posting, especially, claimed that Lee fell in with her school's geeky crowd as a way to remain "cool" after losing favor with the popular students, and even alleged that she didn't know who Luke Skywalker was.
"When people (online) say, 'You're not a real nerd,' " said Lee, "I'm sitting in my room with shelves overflowing with stacks of comic books."
Benjamin Nugent, author of "American Nerd," noted, "When you have people choosing to be nerds, questions of authenticity can come up. Before, you had no choice to be a nerd. Now that it's an acceptable option, you can accuse someone of being that way just to be cool. When it was uncool, you never had to worry about authenticity."
As a reflection of the rest of pop culture, something it has captured for nearly 30 years, MTV has embraced geeks in a big way (the sitcom "The Hard Times of RJ Berger" will start its second season soon, and there's even a site called "MTV Geek" now). In fact, even though MTV means "Jersey Shore," "Teen Mom" or "The Real World" to most, it has had its moments over the years of standing up for nerds ("Squirt TV" among them).
"Liz" something of a sister show to "The Paper." The show evolved from what would have been a second season of that show, which had focused on journalism geek Amanda Lorber. It's also a cousin to "Made," MTV's long-running series where someone, usually someone who is socially awkward, gets coached into improving something in their life, whether it be working up the nerve to ask out their crush or becoming an athlete or a hip hop dancer.
The network's best known example of a nerd -- a fellow nerd girl, no less -- is "Daria," the animated spinoff of "Beavis and Butt-Head," which started in 1997 and lasted for five seasons. Lee herself sees Daria as an inspiration.
"Daria made it cool to be a smart chick," said writer Jennifer Vineyard, who worked at MTV for eight years. "Just the presence of people or characters like Daria help make it cool to be yourself. There's a tendency for young girls to play dumb. Characters like Daria show you that you don't have to."
MTV's dabbling in nerd culture goes back even further, however. Adam Curry was a VJ for the network for seven years as it made its transition away from only playing music videos.
Around the time he started in the late 1980s, Toby Radloff was a special correspondent for the network. Those who have seen the movie "American Splendor," or read the comic book it was based on, might remember Radloff having adopted the title "genuine nerd."
"He was completely real," said Curry. "It was just something completely weird and different, that in a way it made so much sense to use him."
Curry, who considers himself a geek -- he registered the MTV.com domain before most people knew what such a thing even meant, then went on to become an early adopter to podcasts -- sees "My Life as Liz" as similar to other reality shows.
"The objective gives the viewer the illusion that they can be famous. 'Hey, it's OK to be a nerd, you can be famous. You're a pregnant teenager? Hey, you can be famous.' Nerd culture has exploded because nerds can be successful."
Then there's the show that introduced "Beavis and Butt-Head" to the world, "Liquid Television," an anthology of experimental animation that aired in the 1990s that appealed to animation buffs.
"MTV has always experimented with alternative forms of programming," said Curry. "I believe they were running 'Monty Python' in ('Liquid Television's') slot. Here's something different and irreverent, and the rights were cheap. When Mike Judge (Beavis and Butt-Head' creator) came on the scene, it was pure genius at the time." MTV recently announced that "Beavis and Butt-Head" are returning to the network in some form: Can "Daria" be far behind?
Two other memorable shows that were launched off the success of "Beavis and Butt-Head" in the 1990s were "Aeon Flux" and "The Maxx," both series with tremendous appeal among hardcore comic book and animation fans.
"'The Maxx' was one of the best comic book adaptations ever made. All of that kind of stuff has been a great part of MTV's history," said Rick Marshall, editor of MTV's Splash Page, a blog devoted to comic books and comic book adaptations.
Marshall has been in charge of the blog nearly from its inception almost 2½ years ago. "What's been amazing has been the ability to give comic books and creators the same level of promotion and attention that you do the actors and directors," he said.
In just these last couple of years, Marshall has seen a change in the way comic books have been accepted. "I can actually have conversations with significantly more people about 'Green Lantern' and people will actually know what I'm talking about," he said. "I love that I can go on the subway, and people are reading 'The Walking Dead.'"
Marshall said that the success of Splash Page shows that "this audience is actually important," and he sees MTV having recognized that as well with "My Life as Liz."
"(MTV was) able to take fan culture and market a show specifically to it," said Nugent. "If you tap into the market of people at fan conventions, they're really loyal to an entertainment product when you market it to them."
Nugent also pointed out, "Because it's now being put on MTV, teenagers are seeing it as more acceptable. I'm surprised how many kids come up to me and introduce themselves as geeks."


text: Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center have developed a new combination therapy that is providing promising results in overcoming the resistance of a substantial population of multiple myeloma patients towards treatment therapies. While several drugs are effective against multiple myeloma, including the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, multiple myeloma cells are often able to survive by increasing the production of a protein known as Mcl-1. Mcl-1 regulates a number of processes that promote cell survival and has been implicated in resistance to anti-myeloma drugs that were initially effective. However, a team of researchers led by Xin-Yan Pei, M.D., Ph.D., and Steven Grant, M.D., recently published the findings of a study in the journal PLoS ONE demonstrating that a novel drug combination both reduces Mcl-1 expression and disrupts its interactions with other proteins to effectively kill multiple myeloma cells. The therapy combines a type of drug known as a Chk1 inhibitor with another called a MEK inhibitor. Chk1 inhibitors prevent cells from arresting in stages of the cell cycle that facilitate the repair of DNA damage, while MEK inhibitors prevent cells from activating a variety of proteins that regulate DNA repair processes while promoting the accumulation of pro-death proteins. "This research builds on our previous studies that showed exposing multiple myeloma and leukemia cells to Chk1 inhibitors activated a protective response through the Ras/MEK/ERK signaling pathway," says Pei, instructor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the VCU School of Medicine. "By combining a Chk1 inhibitor with a MEK inhibitor, we have developed one of only a limited number of strategies shown to circumvent therapeutic resistance caused by high expressions of Mcl-1." In laboratory experiments, the scientists enforced overexpression of Mcl-1 in human multiple myeloma cells. They found that this caused the cells to become highly resistant to bortezomib, but it failed to protect them from the Chk1/MEK inhibitor regimen. Additionally, the combination therapy was able to completely overcome resistance due to microenvironmental factors associated with increased expression of Mcl-1. A cell's microenvironment consists of surrounding cells and the fluids in which they reside, and the communication between cancer cells and their surrounding cells can significantly impact resistance. Mcl-1 plays a key role in this communication by facilitating events that promote cancer cell survival. "Not only was the combination therapy effective against multiple myeloma cells, it notably did not harm normal bone marrow cells, raising the possibility of therapeutic selectivity," says Grant, the study's lead investigator and Shirley Carter Olsson and Sture Gordon Olsson Chair in Cancer Research, associate director for translational research and program co-leader of Developmental Therapeutics at VCU Massey Cancer Center. "We are hopeful that this research will lead to better therapies for multiple myeloma, and help make current therapies more effective by overcoming resistance caused by Mcl-1." The researchers have started initial discussions with clinical investigators and drug manufacturers with hopes of developing a clinical trial testing a combination of Chk1 and MEK inhibitors in patients with refractory multiple myeloma. It is too early to estimate when the trial will open. Source: Eurekalert << Implementation Science Tools can Help Healthcare Workforce ... Fear of Weight Gain may Lead Smokers to Avoid Seeking Treat... >> Recommended Reading Multiple Myeloma Multiple Myeloma caught public attention when model turned actress Lisa Ray, who worked in Deepa Mehta's 'Water' , declared that she had the incurable Multiple Myeloma. READ MORE Multiple Myeloma Study Reveals Genetic Landscape of Tumors The most comprehensive genetic study of the blood cancer multiple myeloma has revealed that the genetic landscape of this disease may be more complicated than thought. READ MORE Combination Therapy for High Blood Pressure Anti-hypertensive agents are still the treatment drugs for hypertension but recent advances indicate that combination therapy may be a more effective form of treatment. READ MORE Most Popular on Medindia Turmeric Powder - Health Benefits, Uses & Side Effects Drug Interaction Checker Diaphragmatic Hernia More News on: Reiki and Pranic HealingMultiple MyelomaCombination Therapy for High Blood Pressure


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We will remember this forever.
The stage feels so much bigger up close, but Natalie is more than ready. She has always handled life's challenges with the grace of a ballerina. And this is her big break.
We're sharing Natalie's story in honor of Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. She is one of more than 600 wish kids with cystic fibrosis who received a wish this past year. If you, your child or your patient has cystic fibrosis, they may be eligible for a wish. Visit this page to fill out the referral form.
The Rise of a Star
Every performer's path to fame is unique, and no one understands that better than Natalie and her family. At birth, a blood test revealed that she had cystic fibrosis. Unfamiliar with the diagnosis, her parents did not know what was in store for their daughter, but they did know they would support her any way they could.
Because of the condition, Natalie has had to work extra hard for everything she has achieved. Kids with cystic fibrosis have to take regular medication and practice breathing therapy every day so that they can feel better. But these daily realities aren't going to stop her from doing what she loves.
Natalie has many interests in life, but one trumps them all: dancing. She brings joy to her whole family with her performances at home. That is why she was beyond excited when she learned her wish would come true. Natalie was going to be a real ballerina.
The Debut Performance
Natalie arrives at the Orpheum Theatre in a shiny black limousine – a fitting entrance for a star. Three ballerinas stand waiting for her on the sidewalk. They are nervous, but eager for the day ahead. Granting Natalie's wish is sure to brighten her day and give her a boost as she continues treatments, and they look forward to being a part of a memory that she will cherish for her life.
As Natalie exits, the ballerinas greet her with warm smiles, her name in bright lights just above their heads. Just a few sweet moments later, the group whisks Natalie away for photographs. She has a show to get to!
Once on stage, Natalie blends in beautifully with the other ballerinas. Her hair is pulled back in a tightly braided bun, and her lilac tutu gives the impression that she has done this before. Every move is well-rehearsed. She twirls and leaps with ease, captivating her audience with her passion and poise.
Natalie's fellow dancers share this enthusiasm. "… we all love to dance so much, so to be able to give back and help her dream come true – to be able to dance on a stage – was just so fulfilling for us."
There are some sillier moments too. At the end of her routine, her family and friends join her onstage for an impromptu dance session. Natalie shows off her moves and does the splits. Then she holds hands with all her loved ones to take a bow.
Her mother expresses gratitude for all the people who helped make her daughter's wish possible. "This experience is something Natalie and us will remember forever."
Photos: Erin Shimazu Photography
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text: Home > Medical > Sports Injuries > Tools Find your workout personality All sections in Tools » Fitness » Diet » Mind » Medical » General Prefer a slouch on the couch to a workout at the gym? It could be the fault of your workout personality. Here are a couple of ways to find out what your workout personality is, and how to fix it, should you want to. Exercises I enjoy are: a) those I see on ESPNb) designed by me with no scientific backingc) spontaneousd) developed by a group of well built Swedes Others perceive me as: a) a useless human specimenb) a sheepc) a team playerd) a leader When at gym, I usually: a) realise I'm at the wrong addressb) only use machines that look like they may be func) pay a well built Swede to plan my workout for med) design and follow my own exercise plan on a daily basis If and when I exercise, I do so because: a) there's a gun to my headb) there's absolutely nothing to doc) it's a social affair where I can catch up on all the gossipd) I'm a health freak who loves my bod and keeping in shape When I do exercise, I feel most comfortable: a) resting every two minutes b) being alone with no one watchingc) working out with one or two buddiesd) flexing with my friends or in a team When I think about exercise, I: a) get physically ill at the thought of leaving my TV for gymb) really want to exercise, but need some motivationc) phone up some gym buddies to see if they are keend) check the weather, the traffic and movie lineup before making any rash decisions Diet Tools Fitness Tools General Tools Medical Tools Mind Tools Am I eating correctly to lose weight? Am I eating correctly to stabilise my blood sugar levels? Am I eating right for my diabetes? Am I eating right to improve insulin resistance? Am I eating to control PMS? Am I eating to optimise my health? Am I eating to optimise my pregnancy? Am I eating to prevent heartburn? Am I eating too little protein? Am I eating too much fat? Am I eating too much protein? Am I eating too much sugar? Am I feeding my baby correctly? Am I healthy for breastfeeding? Are you at risk for developing osteoporosis? Are you ready for weight loss? Calcium calculator Do I need a vitamin C supplement? Glycaemic index tool Is my child eating properly? Is my vegetarian diet balanced? Is your diet causing headaches? Is your diet doomed to failure? Is your diet heart-healthy? Vit & Min doses per day Find your workout personality Are you happily single? Are you practical? Are you ready to have a baby? Are you ready to quit smoking? Are you still wasting time on sibling rivalry? Can you save a life? Is my girlfriend pregnant? Is this relationship going to work? More than friends? Ready for sex? Rogue's gallery Test your sex toy IQ What kind of friend are you? Would you survive disaster? Your sun sense Addicted to pills? Am I at risk for hypertension? Am I at risk of COPD? Am I at risk of IBS? Am I optimising my child's health? Are you at risk for ED? Are you at risk for prostate cancer? Are you at risk of a heart attack? Are you at risk of a vaginal infection? Are you drinking too much? Are you using the wrong painkillers? Assess your risk for foot problems Assess your risk for HIV/Aids Blood alcohol test Check your COPD facts Could I have high cholesterol? Do you suffer from ED? Hair Loss Myths Quiz How healthy is your prostate? How much do you know about menopause? Is my heartburn serious? Quiz: is breast augmentation surgery right for you? Why am I so tired? Why am I so tired? Are you a hypochondriac? Are you a sex addict? Are you ambitious? Are you depressed? Are you honest? Are you ready for sex? Assess your stress Blood alcohol test Could you be bipolar? Daily activities and social independence test Do I have OCD? Do you have a problem with alcohol? IQ test Ask the Expert Sports Injuries Expert Adrian Rotunno is a medical doctor in the Sports & Exercise Medicine fellowship at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, and qualified physiotherapist. Team physician for Dimension Data pro-cycling, and Boland Rugby. Special interests include endurance sport, in particular cycling, as well as contact sports. Ask a question Questions posted to Sports Injuries Expert questions answered by the expert Q: !3-year-old with ACL tear posted on 21/11/2019 Q: Calf injury posted on 28/07/2016 Q: Pain with the procedure due to lack of local anesthetic used by Dr posted on 14/07/2016 Q: Kneecap moving posted on 29/06/2016 Q: What is the treatment for cracked bone in arm? posted on 21/06/2016 Q: Hand injury - suspected interossei bruising or strain posted on 14/06/2016 Q: Diagnosed with a 2.1cm tear in my right achilles tendon - will it heal? posted on 01/06/2016 Q: Is training while on Antibiotics good? posted on 01/06/2016 Q: Extensive torn ligaments but no pain? posted on 26/05/2016 Q: Knee Pain solution for active woman posted on 18/05/2016 Q: Synaleve posted on 13/05/2016 Q: I slipped in the gym and fell hard on my coccyx. posted on 25/04/2016 load more × Still have a question? 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This is not an offer for credit and should be used for estimation purposes only based on the information you provided. You should not base your decision on this estimate alone. Title, registration, tax and other fees, and personal circumstances such as employment status and personal credit history, were not considered in the calculations.
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The NHL trade deadline is Wednesday but one of the biggest players is already off the market. Calgary captain Jarome Iginla was dealt to Pittsburgh last week. Here are five other players who could be on the move ahead the deadline:
RobertoLuongo: It's a surprise to many fans that Luongo is still with the Vancouver Canucks as a very well-paid backup goaltender. But you can't argue with success. Luongo and Cory Schneider have teamed up to help Vancouver contend in the Northwest Division. Despite his critics, Luongo has a long, proven record of success and has played only a few games less than Schneider this season. However, the asking price may be too high for other teams in need of an established goaltender. He also has about $47 million left on a deal that runs through 2022.
Jaromir Jagr: The Stars picked up the 41-year-old forward in the off-season and signed him to a one-year deal worth $4.55 million. He has been a top scorer on the team but it seems unlikely he'll stick around too long no matter what Dallas does this season. Like other teams trying hard to stay in the playoff picture, the Stars have to decide whether now is the time to look to the future or keep their focus on the present.
Mike Ribeiro: Ribeiro was picked up by the Washington Capitals to add a little punch to their second line and he's turned into one of the team's top scorers. But he's due to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and has said he wants a long-term deal to stay in Washington. The two sides are reportedly trying to hammer out an agreement in advance of the deadline.
Jay Bouwmeester: A big, fast-skating and reliable defenceman is a valuable commodity at a time when injuries could make the difference between making the playoffs and missing out. Bouwmeester isn't a scoring machine but he hasn't missed a game in eight seasons. He hasn't had the impact many Calgary fans were expecting since he arrived from Florida and at $6.68 million a year, a move could help create room for the Flames to retool.
Miikka Kiprusoff: If Calgary is really in fire-sale mode and intent on rebuilding there is also netminder Miikka Kiprusoff, who has already drawn the interest of the playoff-hungry Toronto Maple Leafs. But whether the 36-year-old veteran would ever agree to such a deal or opt to just hang up his skates and head back to Finland is uncertain. He's got a year to go on his deal with the Flames but there have been reports he didn't plan on playing that final year.


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You have until March 31 to sign up for insurance. Period.
You have 18 days to sign up for health insurance or pay a fine.
The Obama administration has repeatedly said that it will not extend or delay the March 31 deadline for individuals to sign up for insurance this year.
On Wednesday, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius told a House committee that the deadline would not be pushed back in any way.
You can be forgiven for being a little confused since other Obamacare deadlines have been delayed:
In November, the administration announced that online exchanges where small business could purchase coverage for employees would be delayed for a year.
In December, the administration extended the deadline to sign up for health insurance that would begin on Jan. 1 until Christmas Eve.
Earlier this month, the administration said that insurance plans that don't meet new coverage requirements could be extended until 2016.
But the Obama administration says the March 31 deadline is set in stone, which means you won't be able to sign up for insurance on the state or federal exchanges again until November. (The exception: If you get married, divorced or have a child.)
Also, if you want to sign up for insurance that starts on April 1, you'll need to sign up by Saturday. Otherwise, your insurance won't kick in until May.
If you don't sign up for insurance this year, you will face a fine of $95 per person or up to 1 percent of your household income. And while there are some ways to try to avoid paying the fine right away, the odds are pretty good that the IRS will get that money from you eventually.


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JAMESTOWN -- Richard and Carol Dixon of Jamestown have announced the engagement of their daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Dixon of Amherst to David Joseph Myers of Amherst.
Myers is the son of Gary and Beverly Myers of Oneida.
Dixon will graduate in May from Daemen College with a degree in physician assistant studies. Myers will receive a Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering from the University at Buffalo in May.
A Sept. 28, 2013 wedding is planned.


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Pagan Studies
Come explore the evolution of magickal spirituality. Here modern practitioners with a reverence to the past can seek the future of magick through philosophical understanding, application and personal development.
Solstice Meditation Day 10: Virgo and the Healer
For a recording of this Vision working, please click here:
Many are the faces of Virgo. We have often though about Virgo as the analyst, able to see all the parts of any things, and see how they work, or don't work together. We also think of Virgo as the servant, for the process is key to understanding this mutable Earth sign. A symbol for mutable earth is the harvest itself – grains, fruits and vegetables – as that is earth manifest in a form that will not last. It will either be eaten, stored or spoiled, and just as food serves as nourishment, the powers of Virgo serve the greater good when applied with the highest and deepest wisdom. But the favorite face in the Temple of Witchcraft teachings is Virgo as the healer.
Virgo is ruled by Mercury, so Mercurial correspondences, particularly as they relate to the relationship between the elements of air and earth, are appropriate. Colors such as orange, brown and yellow-green are appropriate. Various agates are the best stones for versatile Virgo. Fennel, dill and any plant with abundant seeds serves us well as an herbal correspondence. The Tarot card is the Hermit, whose Hebrew letter is Yod, often associated with the seed. Use these tools on this tenth working in our 13 Days of Yule.
Since this working will be a microcosm of the forces for the month when the Sun is in Virgo, you might want to pull a Tarot Card, Rune, Ogham or any other divination omen before, or after the workings, to give yourself further insight.
Entering into a meditative state. Prepare yourself and your space.
On Day Eight of the Working, we call upon the Healer Deity, the bringer of harmony and balance between all our separate parts.
We call upon the Healer
Walk the Royal Road of Initiation. As you've passed through the Fire Temple of the Artisan, we now approach the Healing Temples, where harmony is restored, often through our dream state. The Healing Temple helps point out to us what is out of balance and need processing in our lives, and shows us the direction to the right course of action, remedies and allies. Enter the healing temple. How does it manifest for you?
Soon you are greeted by the Deity of Healing.
Commune with the Healer. Speak about what might need healing in your life and how to get it.
The Healer speaks about the path of initiation, and how the path of life can wound us all. Yet our wounds can be great teachers if we look at them as teachers. It is through the path of healing we become whole.
The Healer teaches us to cure diseases in ourselves, and others, diseases and wounds of the body, yes, but also of the mind, heart and soul. The goal of the witch taught by the healer is to attune with the cycles of the Earth.
The Healer carries a potion bottle of a healing salve. Perhaps the healer will use it on you as a part of your blessings. Bring the Child of Light within you to the Healer.
Receive the Wisdom of the Healer God.
We bless you by seed and root, by stem and bud, by leaf and flower and fruit.
May you grow whole
May you grow wise
May you be blessed.
We thank the Healer. Blessed be.
What happens in this vision will help you unfold your experiences for the Month when the Sun occupies the sign of Virgo.
For more information on the Temple of Witchcraft please visit templeofwitchcraft.org.
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Oh, it's nothing, I just have something in my eye. Something big. It's a basketball.
A high school basketball coach in El Paso, Texas, decided to put his team's manager—Mitchell, a basketball superfan with intellectual challenges—into the game at the end of the 4th quarter. The team was ahead, but not by much, and what happened next was apparently manufactured in some sort of alien lab that milks human tears for fuel. Watch, sob, repeat.
High School basketball player passes ball to mentally challenged player on the other team [StatesmanJournal]


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GOD SQUAD: Questions about suicide will forever be hard to answer
Q This past summer, I've had to deal with not one, but two deaths by suicide. Each of these men seemed to have so much to live for, but unfortunately, we really never know what someone else is thinking.
My question is "What happens to these men's souls after they die?" I'd hate to think their souls would have to live as tortured an existence in the afterlife as they had to live on earth. Both were good men, but their demons obviously got the better of them. It breaks my heart.
— A., Valley Stream, NY, via email
A Your question breaks my heart, as well. The recent suicide of a friend of my friend still haunts me. The teaching of the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) about suicide perfectly reflects our own divided souls on this terrible matter.
On the one hand, we all want to condemn suicide in the strongest possible terms. On the other hand, we want to have compassion for the poor tormented souls who've blundered into a broken place where hope was fatally elusive. Our religions speak to both sides of this human tragedy.
On the condemnatory side of religious beliefs about suicide--I would actually prefer to call this the life-affirming side--is the belief that murder, including self-murder, is the worst of all sins because it takes away God's greatest gift, the gift of life.
We did not give ourselves life, so we are not allowed to usurp God's right to take it away from us. Deuteronomy 30:19-20, reminds us that God has set before us life and death and our job is to choose life, no matter how difficult that choice might be:
"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days..." (KJV)
Seen in the light of this text, suicide is not just a rejection of life but a rejection of love and a rejection of God. No despair, no matter how deep, should drive us to throw away every supremely good thing in life.
One of many Christian Testament texts expressing a similar anti-suicidal sentiment is 1 Corinthians 3:16-17:
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (KJV)
The Qur'an 4:29-30 follows this life-affirming prohibition against self murder or any murder:
"Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily God hath been to you Most Merciful!"
So the consequences of killing yourself are the same as the consequences of killing any other innocent person, and those consequences reflect the sanctity of life.
However, all these traditions have another more merciful element in their teachings about suicide that reflects our compassion for all murder victims, including those who murder themselves. After all, sometimes suicide is a cry for help that goes too far.
Sometimes suicide is the result of an accidental or impulsive overdose of drugs. Sometimes suicide is the result of risky behavior that suddenly becomes fatally risky. And, sometimes suicide is the result of severe mental illness that was not or could not be treated.
So, for example, in Judaism, although a person who commits suicide cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetery, when actually confronted with a suicide victim, rabbis will always rule that the person should be allowed to be buried in the cemetery anyway because perhaps he or she died of fear before the suicide. It makes no sense, I know, but if you're trying to fit compassion into tragedy it makes all the sense in the world.
In Christianity, the belief that those who have truly accepted Christ will absolutely be saved regardless of their works in life enables Christians to hope that the suicide victim will be saved and brought to heaven because of their faith.
I'm not in a position to say what awaits the souls of your two friends and my friend, but I do believe that somewhere in their debriefing the angels will quote to them this verse from one of T.S. Elliot's poems: "Trying is all that matters. Everything else is just not our business." Then the debriefing angels or God will ask their souls: "Why did you stop trying?" Some questions are just too hard for me to answer. This is one of them.
Send QUESTIONS ONLY to The God Squad via email at email@example.com.


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Performance about anti-bullying upsets some parents
School district not happy about performance
A group of performers that speaks out against bullying didn't receive a warm welcome from everyone when they performed Thursday night at Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho.
Rio Rancho schools paid for Future Champions of America to perform a few tricks and use the attention to talk about bullying.
Jason Gibbons is part of the group and has twirled and impressed for the last week at Rio Rancho schools.
But not everyone was happy about the way he spun the message Thursday night when the group rented out the Sue Cleveland Gym and put on a free show.
School officials told KOAT News that all of the assemblies went off without a hitch. But some parents who caught the evening show felt the performance fell flat.
They claim the performer said they would go to hell if they left before he delivered a message about finding faith.
Gibbons said he encouraged the crowd to stay, but that it didn't play out the way some are saying.
"I hate to hear about anybody feeling offended or leaving with a heavy heart," said Gibbons.
A school official said they were not happy with the way things went either.
"The content of the flier was an anti-bullying message and that was the subject we thought they would address. What happened at the event was not what we expected," said Kim Vesely.
Not everyone was offended by the turn of events, but the school district said if they were to invite the group back, they would need to take a second look at what happened before making a decision.


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Frederick Norman Pryce and Michael Vickers
John Ellis Jones
Stephen Hodkinson
David William John Gill
Petrographical and chemical analysis are the two main ways to characterize pottery. The former treats the pottery as a geological sediment which has been used for a particular purpose. Thus by scanning thin sections of pottery under a polarizing microscope, mineral inclusions can be visually identified; this allows a parallel to be drawn with other ceramic material, which may lead in turn to an identification of the clay source. This technique is particularly useful for coarse wares such as transport *amphorae. However in the case of fine pottery where inclusions have been removed, the clay can be treated as a bulk material. The sample can be studied by three main means: neutron activation analysis, optical emission spectroscopy, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In addition to the three main elements within clay (silicon, aluminium, and oxygen), an analysis will seek to determine the percentage of other elements in the composition: iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and titanium. These proportions can then be plotted and the results compared with other tests from pottery or indeed from clay sources.


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The latest plot rumors for the Avengers have Earth's Mightiest Heroes fighting at least three distinct villains. Aaron Eckhart won't quite deny a surprise Harvey Dent cameo. Plus The Hunger Games is this close to finding its star!
Spoilers from here on out!
Top image from Chuck.
The Dark Knight Rises
Aaron Eckhart apparently has little interest in completely shutting down the Two-Face rumors. When asked if Harvey Dent might reappear in "in a flashback or someone's imagination", he smiled and responded, "I could not possibly say." At this point, he's probably just winding people up, but hey... he's not ruling it out. [CBS News]
The Avengers
What appears to be a new extras call sheet has surfaced, and it includes yet another surprisingly detailed plot summary. Here it is:
A superhero team called "The Avengers" do battle against two separate alien extraterrestrial humanoid life forms. The Avengers are a superhero team, consisting of a group of Marvel Comics heroes aka "Earth's Mightiest Heroes". The aliens that The Avengers will fight are called "The Kree" and "Skrulls". These two extraterrestrial races become embroiled in a war for ages that ultimately makes its way to Earth, and the Avengers unite to intervene with all their power and might combined.
The cast listing includes Tom Hiddleston as Loki (and Don Cheadle as War Machine, for what that's worth), although interestingly it doesn't list Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill. Anyway, as always, we're highly dubious about this, particularly the idea that the Avengers would feature not one, not two, but three distinct threats. We'd suggest waiting until we hear something, anything official before jumping to conclusions about who will be the villains in this movie. [ScreenRant]
Captain America
Antwone Fisher and Notorious actor Derek Luke is reportedly playing Howling Commando Gabe Jones in the movie. [BlackFilm]
Super 8
Here's a new poster. [FirstShowing.net]
The Hunger Games
Winter's Bone and X-Men: First Class actress Jennifer Lawrence is reportedly almost cast as main character Katniss Everdeen, but obviously this isn't confirmed yet. [Variety]
Here's a promo and a sneak peak for this week's episode, "Stowaway." [Fringe Television and SpoilerTV]
Here's an incredibly short description for episode 18, "Bloodline": "The intensity of life "over there" accelerates as Olivia finds herself in mortal danger." [SpoilerTV]
Game of Thrones
HBO has released descriptions for the first two episodes, both of which will air in April:
Episode 1.01 - "Winter is Coming"
Lord Ned Stark is troubled by disturbing reports from a Night's Watch deserter; King Robert and the Lannisters arrive at Winterfell; the exiled Viserys Targaryen forges a powerful new allegiance. Premieres April 17.
Episode 1.02 - "The Kingsroad"
The Lannisters plot to ensure Bran's silence; Jon and Tyrion head to the Wall; Ned faces a family crisis en route to King's Landing. Premieres April 24.
Here's some promos for tonight's "Chuck vs. the A-Team": [SpoilerTV]
And here's a promo photo, featuring the return of two of the Gretas. [SpoilerTV]
Executive producer Chris Fedak offers some insight into the episode:
"We definitely wanted to see some of the GRETA characters we established earlier in the season and see what happened to them next and explain what the government was up to and why there were GRETAs inside the Buy More. Once we got the order for more episodes, after the initial 13, we were like 'Oh, we gotta get in there and explain what the GRETA project was.' And so it was kinda neat to take those characters, who we'd only had a little bit of time with in episode 2 and episode 3 [of the season], and say, 'Well, let's explore them; let's meet them a little bit better.' Casey is very much tied into what's happening with the GRETA project at this moment. He might very well be in charge of this project. So there's tension within the team. There's a rift growing. The question, and essentially where the A-Team title comes from - is: Who is the A Team? Is it Chuck and Sarah or is it Casey and his new team? That's definitely at the heart of this episode."
Episode 22 will reportedly be called "Chuck vs. Agent X." [SpoilerTV]
The Event
NBC has released a ton of photos from episode 14, "A Message Back." [SpoilerTV]
Here's a bunch of photos from episode 19, "Mommy Dearest." [SpoilerTV]
Jim Beaver tweeted that Sera Gamble's penultimate episode and Ben Edlund's two-hour season finale will blow people's minds, and that he "didn't see this coming." [SpoilerTV]
Stargate Universe
Here's a new promo for the rest of the season. [SpoilerTV]
And here's some photos and a synopsis for episode 12, "Twin Destinies." [Daemon's TV]
Eli finds a way to use the Stargate to return to Earth, but Rush isn't convinced that the process is safe. The rest of the crew believes that Eli can do it… until another Rush travels from the future to warn them.
Being Human (US)
Here's some photos for episode 10, "Dog Eat Dog." [Daemon's TV]
Elizabeth Mitchell teases all the carnage coming up in the finale:
"I think that the people who die are going to affect everyone in different ways. The people they chose, they chose for a reason because they will mean something. I think it's going to create an entirely new dynamic for everybody. Nobody is going to be unscathed. There will be some interesting betrayals, which I always enjoy, and there will be tears and hopefully some fun. We're all very active in this and everyone has an important part. I'd love to say the fans will be satiated because I'm a fan and I know how wonderful it is to feel like, 'Oh, thank God.' But you're going to want to see the rest."
Additional reporting by Michael Ann Dobbs and Charlie Jane Anders.


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Episode 70 — Exploring the Disability Experience
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|Published February 23, 2014
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Episode 70 Exploring the Disability Experience
Episode 70 Exploring the Disability Experience
BBooks about teens who are living with disability highlight the courage and emotional strength that people with disabilities can summon. They also challenge us to reflect on how we treat disabled people in our own lives. Tune in to hear about young people who are living with birth defects, cerebral palsy, autism, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, speech impediments, and traumatic war injuries. Reading their stories will lead teens to new conversations, new sensitivity, and new awareness.
After listening to this episode, be sure to print out this list of recommended titles to take to the library or book seller.
Books featured in this episode:
- Wonder by R. J. Palacio (Alfred A. Knopf, 2012)
- Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper (Atheneum, 2010)
- Colin Fischer by Ashley Edward Miller & Zack Stentz (Razorbill, 2012)
- Cameron and the Girls by Edward Averett (Clarion Books, 2013)
- OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu (Simon Pulse, 2013)
- Paperboy by Vince Vawter (Delacorte, 2013)
- All the Truth Thats in Me by Julie Berry (Viking, 2013)
- Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein (Disney-Hyperion, 2013)
- Somebody, Please Tell Me My Name by Harry Mazer & Peter Lerangis (Simon & Schuster, 2012)


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Phew! I think I can safely say we've made it through the month of St. Patrick's Day festivities out east. Hampton Bays concluded nicely this past weekend with their parade. It was chilly, but in the bright sunshine outside of Buckley's the merriment continued long after the last fire truck drove by. There were Irish dancers in their traditional costumes and curly wigs, teenagers weaving through the crowd, men in uniform, older folks in their white woolen sweaters and younger ones in green spandex, green top hats, green sunglasses, you get the idea. Ducking into an outdoor tent to grab myself a Guinness, I suddenly found myself in a cave of kilted men. I quickly felt out of place and scurried to the indoor bar, where I felt more at home pushing my way up to the bar. It dawned on me: when worn by men and not Catholic schoolgirls, the kilt transforms itself.
A friend who had attended a very formal Scottish wedding recently posted pictures on Facebook where the men were in customary attire, i.e. kilts. This of course reminded me that Tartan Week is coming up. Many of the designers featured in Water Mill's own Prince of Scots, one of my all-time favorite luxury boutiques, will be participating in Tartan Week's prestigious fashion show, Dressed to Kilt on April 8. The event highlights Scottish design and influence, including the Viviennes, Tam and Westwood, Hilary Grant, Harris Tweed Hebrides, Iona Crawford (currently at Prince of Scots) and many others. If you're not familiar with Iona Crawford, you simply must go to Prince of Scots, or at the very least go to princeofscots.com, and fall in love with her bespoke print silk dresses. This unusual store creates an uplifting shopping experience where one-of-a-kind clothes, shoes, home décor, gifts, and even fine art will inspire you to put on a Scottish cape and run through the moors (or dunes). Prince of Scots is located at 700 Montauk Highway in Water Mill, 631-604-1392 or visit princeofscots.com.
On the ever-fun topic of luxurious shopping experiences, Stitch in Southampton has teamed up with Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th at Tanger Outlets. For the past two weekends, the custom clothing and tailoring experts at Stitch have brought their services to Off Fifth, even showing their staff how to do fittings. I can't think of a more perfect idea. Moving a waistline or hemline even as little as a quarter of an inch can make an enormous difference. Now all of your fabulous finds at Saks will fit fabulously too! If you haven't been to Stitch, now is a great time to stop in. They have great new designs in for spring and a whole showroom of fabrics. From now until April 15 they're having a Hats Off To Spring sale, offering 25% off all clothing and hats! Stitch is located at 22 Nugent Street, Southampton, 631-377-3933 stitch-southampton.myshopify.com. OFF 5th Saks Fifth Avenue is located at 701 Tanger Mall Drive, Riverhead, 631-369-5883 saksfifthavenue.com, tangeroutlet.com.
While you're in Riverhead, check out Worth. If you're like me, you're looking at a closet full of clothes that have been worn on heavy rotation for the past five months, if not more. Something must be done! Worth has tons of new arrivals for spring and summer, all perfect for that work-to-drinks look in clean, mod styles. Right now all collections are 60% off original prices. Worth New York, Tanger Outlet Center, 200 Tanger Mall Drive, Riverhead, 631-369-8400 worthnewyork.com
Now that March is over, bring on the April showers. Nothing like a rainy day to inspire a little local shopping!
Send sales and special events to [email protected].


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A CAD/CAM Update
Each year, CIMdata updates the NC Software and Related Services Market Assessment Report. Following is a brief summary of some market and technology changes the upcoming Version 12 discusses.
Each year, CIMdata updates the NC Software and Related Services Market Assessment Report. Following is a brief summary of some market and technology changes the upcoming Version 12 discusses.
Ownership changes: The CAM software market remains fragmented, but CIMdata senses greater receptivity to outside investment, acquiring, merging or being acquired. Missler acquired CN Industries, Cimatron obtained a new ownership group, Open Mind was purchased by Man and Machine, MachineWorks was spun off of LightWorks, Intercim Austin was spun off of Intercim, Vero International acquired Machinist Strategist technology from NC Graphics and Hemisphere Capitol invested in Vero.
Capturing best practices: Libraries of machining strategies tailored to a company's best practices can be established. The EdgeCAM Strategy Manager from Pathtrace provides such capability by the use of machining rules and knowledge- and feature-based machining. The strategies can then be applied to current and future machining tasks. Thus, machining methods can be kept consistent, process variables are minimized, tooling can be optimized, best practices are maximized and programming time can be reduced.
Hybrid modelers: Hybrid modelers are becoming more prevalent. They work with wireframes, surfaces and solids. Complex geometries can be created in a single hybrid environment. Users can work in either a solid or surface mode, and solid and surface operations can be mixed within a model. The same modeling tools are used whether the model is defined in surfaces, solids or a combination of both. This approach takes a burden off users, because they do not see a difference between a surface and a solid. Suppliers include Cimatron and Vero International.
Concurrent engineering tools: Concurrent engineering is a method for concurrent design of products and the design of the process and tools to build those products. Tools to effectively implement the concept have only recently become a reality. The use of Web-based collaboration tools to permit design engineers and manufacturing engineers in different parts of the world to do a review and mark-up are offered by EDS, PTC and IBM/Dassault. Software to quickly compare old and new CAD designs and thereby manage engineering change orders has been introduced by vendors such as Cimatron.
Evolving technology: Many companies have produced new technology systems. CATIA Version 5, EDS Unigraphics NX, the PTC Expert line, GibbsCAM, Pathtrace EdgeCAM, Vero International Visi Series and Cimatron E are either new systems or products introducing new technology bases.
Step Reduction Milling (SRM): SRM was introduced by Surfware to automate and optimize Z-level roughing. For each operation, the user specifies the cutting tools to be used, when they should be used and the final step height from the roughing process. The final step height is established to match the finishing tools to be used. The software computes and establishes the Z-level roughing tool paths for each tool.
3+2 machining or five-axis positioning: Along with greater use of simultaneous five-axis milling, 3+2 machining is becoming more common in mold and die machining. A two-axis tilting rotary table is added to a three-axis machining center so parts can be positioned at different angles. Parts are cut as in three-axis milling. This is useful for cutting deep cavities or deep standing cores in molds. Open Mind, Delcam and Cimatron provide supporting software. The tool path looks like a continuous five-axis tool path.
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM): PLM encompasses functions such as PDM, CAD/CAM and digital manufacturing. Most manufacturers are moving toward enterprise solutions, so there is continuing demand for more information throughout design, manufacturing engineering and production.