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Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor hits Apple Retail Stores in Europe
16 Nov, 2012, 10:57 GMT
ZURICH, November 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Right in time for the Holiday Season, the Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor Outdoor will be available in the Apple Retail Stores throughout Europe. Only six months after launching its product, the Swiss startup Koubachi achieves a further milestone and makes its entry into offline retail with the flagship brand Apple.
Since its launch in March 2012, the Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor provides plants with a voice and gives plant owners a green thumb. Recognized and reviewed by key tech publications and media around the globe such as TechCrunch (US), T3 (UK), BBC (UK), The Huffington Post (US), Macworld (Australia), NZZ (CH), the Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor was previously available online - either through Koubachi's own webshop or authorized online resellers.
"We are thrilled to enter offline retailing with Apple," states Philipp Bolliger, CEO and Co-founder of Koubachi and adds: "It's always been our goal to get the Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor into Apple's Retail Stores and we are very proud to achieve it within only six months after launching the product."
Apple will add the new outdoor version of the Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor to its product range, and will include it in all of its European Apple Retail Stores. IPx4 certified, the new Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor Outdoor is fully rainproof making it the ideal device for every passionate gardener.
"Apple is certainly a partner of choice for any offline distribution strategy in consumer electronics, in particular for a Start-up company like Koubachi." says David Kurmann, Head of Marketing & Sales of Koubachi and explains: "We are very happy to launch the product with Apple right in time for Christmas being convinced that it makes a great gift."
The Wi-Fi Plant Sensor measures soil moisture, light intensity and temperature. Using the built-in Wi-Fi module, the data is sent to the Koubachi cloud, where it is analyzed by the Koubachi Plant Care Engine based on scientific plant care models developed in cooperation with biologists. Through the free iPhone App or Web App (my.koubachi.com) the plant owner receives tailored advice on when and how to care for his plants. Koubachi notifies the plant owner through push notifications (iPhone App) or email (Web App) regarding the five key care parameters for every plant:
- Watering
- Fertilizing
- Misting
- Temperature
- Light
The Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor is available as an Indoor and Outdoor version. A particular emphasis in the development of the product has been put on the design. In April 2012, the Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor has been awarded the internationally well-known red dot design award.
About Koubachi
Koubachi AG is located in Zurich, Switzerland and was founded in 2009. Koubachi revolutionizes the way objects and things in your household are communicating with you. Our mission is to identify the potential of Smart Objects and create new possibilities of use, new services, and a simpler yet more powerful user experience. In short, we want to simplify your life! With its first product - the interactive Wi-Fi Plant Sensor - Koubachi aims to make plant care a new user experience.
Heather Delaney
Senior Account Executive
email : firstname.lastname@example.com
SOURCE Koubachi AG


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As pro baseball's regular season winds down, a look at the players who've made the biggest contributions
Every week, our panel of sports fans discusses a topic of the moment. For today's conversation, Hampton Stevens (writer, ESPN and The Atlantic), Jake Simpson (writer, The Atlantic), and Patrick Hruby (writer, ESPN and The Atlantic) discuss the most exciting part of baseball season.
This lover is cruel. She comes each spring to seduce, whispering sweet hints of October glory. But she might break your heart a dozen times before June. She has expensive tastes, with her $15 beers, $50 parking passes, and $5 million shortstops. She craves the bright lights.This year she's been flirting with Pittsburgh and Milwaukee, but will probably end up with New York or San Francisco yet again.
She's smug, too, acting like she's still the only game in town. She will make you wait, of course, boring you to tears by endlessly fussing with her gloves and hat, despite mid-August heat. She will always, inescapably, finally make you spend long, bitter months alone, longing for her touch the way you miss the heat of a vanished sun.
But you'll forgive her everything, because she can give you autumn.
When the equinox passes, the timelessness of summer is gone. Life restarts with a jolt. We rush forward again, adoring the fall, but we also hear the roar of winter beyond, and the knowledge of that impending storm injects a giddy urgency into human affairs.
The baseball season, she also snaps to life. The lover who once felt so eternally young now knows that her beauty too must inevitably fade, and the wisdom makes her focused. She turns from the cute but too coquettish girl you dated in midsummer to the intelligent, graceful, utterly absorbing woman you'd take home to mom. Then she can give you moments like last day of the 2011 regular season, when Baltimore beat Boston in the 9th, Tampa beat the Yankees in the 12th, and Philly beat the Braves in the 13th inning for maybe the single most exciting day in the whole dang history of the sport.
It's enough to make you overlook anything. Even her drug problem. Sure, it's not as bad as a few years ago, but it can still flare up at very, very embarrassing times. Which brings us to the races Most Valuable Player. Last year, you'll recall, the National League's MVP Ryan Braun failed an October drug test. Yes, Bruan avoided suspension when an arbiter overturned the test results, but some MVP voters might not be so quick to forget and give him another trophy this year.
Anyway, the NL MVP is still Buster Posey's to lose, isn't it? Especially since the Giants catcher has his club safely ensconced atop the NL West, while Braun's Brewers are still double-digits back in the Central. If Milwaukee can't at least nab one of the three wildcard slots up for grabs this year, Ryan's MVP hopes could be hoist on the same petard he used last year on Matt Kemp. Ditto for the dreadlocked Pirate, Andrew McCutchen, whose sweet swing hasn't been enough to save Pittsburgh from a September slide.
In the AL race for MVP, Tigers manager Jim Leyland this week won the Capt. Louis Renault Award claiming he would be "shocked" if his man Miguel Cabrera wasn't named MVP. Mike Trout would be. The 21-year old Angel rookie spent the first 20 games of this year in the minors, yet still could lead the league in batting average and stolen bases.
How about it, guys? This cruel mistress baseball is going to name her two favorites. Are Mike Trout and Buster Posey locks? Or will you really be all that "shocked, shocked" if Josh Hamilton hits .400 for the next two weeks and steals some hardware?
I don't think I can adequately follow up your sensual, epic metaphor, but I can agree with your MVP picks. The NL race is getting more cut and dried by the day as Posey leaves McCutchen and his dreadlocks in the rear-view mirror. Since the All-Star Break, Posey has put up a nearly incomprehensible slash line of .388/.466/.650 (batting average/OBP/slugging) with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs, AS A CATCHER. The Giants have risen with their young catcher, posting a 39-23 record since the break to take an 8.5-game lead in the NL West. Meanwhile, McCutchen struggled in August, hitting just .252/.347/.346, and is batting under .300 for September. Unsurprisingly, the Pirates have slowly collapsed over the past six weeks, going 11-27 since August 8. It's a powerful example of what makes a player Most Valuable, and Posey should be a shoo-in for the award after leading the Giants to a division title.
In the American League, Trout and Cabrera are both great choices and would have crushed best-of-a-bad-year MVP winner Justin Verlander (the first pitcher to win the MVP in either league since 1992) last season. The hitting numbers point to Miggy, who has a .333/.396/.612 slash line with 40 home runs and 129 RBIs with 15 games to go in the season. A homer-happy finish by Cabrera, who's currently two longballs behind Josh Hamilton for the AL lead, could give him baseball's first Triple Crown since 1967. In the understatement of the column, that would probably merit an MVP award.
And yet... if Cabrera falls even one home run or batting average point short of the Triple Crown, it's hard to see him beating out the Angels' 20-year old phenom. Trout did spend most of April in the minors, yet he leads the AL in runs (118) and stolen bases (46). Factor in his Ken Griffey Jr.-esque fielding (check out this catch, or this one), and Trout's Wins Above Replacement Player (WAR) of 10.3 far outstrips Cabrera's 6.3 total. If it's true that wins are the most valuable asset a team can accumulate (and it is), then Trout has to win the MVP, because he has truly been most valuable to his team.
You agree with us, Patrick?
First of all, Hampton's metaphor makes perfect sense. Let's remember: Our esteemed colleague is a Kansas City Royals fan, which is pretty much like being a Chicago Cubs fan, only without the Boston Red Sox-shaming beautiful loser mythos and the adult theme park that is Wrigleyville.
In other words, being a Royals fan is painful. Inescapably, irredeemably bleak. Sadomasochistic, in fact. So I'm not surprised by Hampton's 50 Shades of October reverie. Losing baseball does funny things to a man.
But yeah, let's talk MVP picks. For once, I find myself agreeing with both of you. Well, with a few quibbles.
Unlike Jake, I don't think Andrew McCutchen's second-half slowdown should be held against him, no more more than Buster Posey's late charge should carry extra weight. It's a long, punishing season—almost like a six-month spanking session, and thank goodness for that, right, Hampton?—and games played in April and May count as much as those played in August and September. That said, Posey almost certainly will be the choice. Team success always seems to matter when it comes to individual end-of-season honors, even in an intensely individualistic, near-Randian "team" sport like baseball.
(Hey, I don't make the rules, and definitely don't pretend to make sense of them).
As for the American League? Detroit pitcher Justin Verlander says it would be "bull[expletive]" if teammate Miguel Cabrera becomes the first Triple Crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski and fails to capture the MVP award. Maybe so. But this is baseball. Bull[expletive] comes with the territory. (Exhibit A: Roger Clemens, Sugarland Skeeter; Exhibit B: Jose Canseco, the complete Twitter Sessions; ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the prosecution rests). Me? I like Mike Trout. Not just because his Wins Above Replacement metric is compelling—Jake and Herman Edwards are right, you play to win the game—or because he has played in 21 fewer games than Cabrera, or because (according to the good people at Fangraphs) Trout's base running is way better than Cabrera's. (I know, shocker).
No, I'm going with Trout because so much of what he has accomplished is both unexpected and unprecedented, a reminder that even in our hyper-analyzed, post-Moneyball era, baseball can still surprise and delight in totally irrational ways, producing a season so remarkable we may never see the likes of it again. Like a summer love affair, I suppose, burning bright before burning out.
See? I told you Hampton made sense.
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subset: commoncrawl


text: Kevin loves notebooks, tablets, gadgets and photography. He grew up with computers starting out on a Vic 20 and Commodore 64. The first computer he owned himself was an 8086 Compaq Deskpro. His foray into tablet computing began when he bought a Samsung Q1 Ultra. The smartphone market opened up for him with his Palm Treo 600.


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Tuesday, April 19, 2011
TWD: A Tourtely Apple Tart & Strawberry Rhubarb Double Crisp
We've had a run on totally awesome Tuesdays with Dorie recipes the past two weeks. This week, Jeanette of The Whimsical Cupcake chose A Tourtely Apple Tart. Before that, Sarah of Teapots and Cakestands chose Strawberry Rhubarb Double Crisp.
Both were so good, both made me want to eat the whole thing BY MYSELF.
The apple tart was interesting in that we cooked the apples down first, almost to a "thick applesauce" stage. The tart shell was like a shortbread cookie, so light and sandy.
Almost like a giant apple-filled cookie. TEEE-riffic!
The only downside... my overly browned edges. Next time I will cut the blind baking down to half or maybe even eliminate it all together.
Moving on to the rhubarb crisp...
(Be still my rhubarb-loving heart.)
I was over the top in love with this crisp. Even though I consider myself a rhubarb purist and usually scoff and anything "strawberry rhubarb", I have to say this dessert might have made me a convert. I think it helped that the rhubarb was the star of the show, not giving way to the usual attention hog in strawberry rhubarb desserts, the strawberries.
This crisp will definitely make an appearance in my kitchen again.
Great job, Jeanette and Sarah, on the fabulous picks. If you'd like to see the recipes, check out their blogs (see links in first paragraph of this post), or check out Dorie Greenspan's book "Baking, from my Home to Yours".
10 comments:
- Flourchild said...
Yum yum yum...everthing looks so good!!! I must try the apple tart! Im glad you loved the crisp, it was one of my favs.:)))
- April 19, 2011 at 7:51 PM
- Unknown said...
you got such a clean slice on your tart! i'm impressed! and thanks so much for baking w/me on the strawberry rhubarb crisp--glad you enjoyed it so much!
- April 19, 2011 at 7:59 PM
- Nicole said...
Mine got overdone on the edges too, I wondered about the pre-baking. Your tart looks really good so it looks like a success in the end.
- April 19, 2011 at 8:12 PM
- Cindy said...
Two great desserts. I can't wait to make the apple tart. A big sugar cookie covered in rich applesauce. Sounds so good.
- April 19, 2011 at 8:50 PM
- Valerie Gamine said...
Wow, I could go for a bit of both those desserts!
As far as the tart is concerned, you took the words right out of my mouth. :D
Lovely work!! That crisp is so bright and happy-looking.
- April 19, 2011 at 9:29 PM
- Tia said...
oh yours looks perfectly smooth and fantastic. great job! Buttercreambarbie Tia
- April 19, 2011 at 11:57 PM
- Judy said...
I love your analogy with the cookie. That certainly describes this tart. We loved the crisp, too, although I used cranberries rather than rhubarb.
- April 20, 2011 at 12:13 AM
- offers hyderabad said...
OMG its beautiful...yummy...... my mouth is full of water . :)
- April 20, 2011 at 4:01 AM
- Katrina said...
Both your desserts look divine. That tart looks awesome with the two crusts. And I love how red your crisp filling is!
- April 20, 2011 at 4:30 PM
- Beth said...
What beautiful desserts! The tart looks amazing, especially the crust. Yum!
- April 21, 2011 at 11:30 AM


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No activity here! This forum is read-only. Go to http://prxbx.com/forums/index.php.
quote:All 304's (Not Modified) trigger the filter, since an incoming 304 doesn't carry a Content-Type header (same for the "missing" filter).I think there is no way to let proxo check the incoming HTTP/1.x line, that contains the response code.
quote:Rethinking ...JarC, isn't that the same problem, but the other way around?I mean somehow you have to know it's not a 304 you are adding the header to.
quote:I see what you mean, what I was thinking was using a header that would always be present in anything other return than 304, so the filter would not accidentally tag a response as 304 while it is not
quote:try yourself writing a css as .txt file and include it in a html page: all works fine!!
quote:...but MSIE may.
Click here


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Pacha – Silver Charcoal FR-1201
Created by the skilled weavers of Rajasthan, this incredible rug features multi-ply silk of varying colour shades, cut to high and low pile heights. This produces an exceptional level of detail and gorgeous painterly appearance.
- Hand Knotted
- Bamboo Silk
- High and Low Pile
This rug can be made to order in any size
Available stock is listed below:


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The Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides this on-line resource for locating drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs around the Nation.
Website: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov
24 Hour Hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Mental Health Services Locator
This Locator provides you with comprehensive information about mental health services and resources by city, state or zip code. It is useful for professionals, consumers and their families, and the public.
Website: https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
Toll-free Phone: 1-800-789-2647
Suicide Prevention Hotline
Website: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
1-800-273-TALK (8255). For TTY users call: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889)


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One of the first things my family does when the holidays begin is to watch Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It kind of marks the start of the season and it's become a tradition. With the new Holidays on the Loose, we can now enjoy this beloved storybook come to life (which we read all year round) and now, some other seuss-tastic stories on DVD. This is definitely a fun gift for any Dr. Seuss lover in your life- including yourself!! This DVD is available in stores and online now!
Celebrate that special time of year with Dr. Seuss' magical stories. Just in time for the gift-giving season, Dr. Seuss's Holidays on the Loose! offers consumers the perfect collection of iconic classics in an all new gift set that is sure to captivate both kids and adults alike.
Dr. Seuss's Holidays on the Loose! Featured Specials Include:
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas! –"Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot." And every family likes How the Grinch Stole Christmas! a lot! Based on Dr. Seuss' beloved book, this joyous, heart-tickling holiday event which features the voice of legendary actor Boris Karloff, has delighted all ages since its 1966 debut. Can the Grinch steal the town's holiday spirit by stealing their holiday treats? Or does Christmas…perhaps…mean a little bit more? The answers to those questions unfold charmingly under Chuck Jones' pitch perfect direction.
- The Grinch Grinches The Cat in the Hat – What happens when the mischievous Grinch decides to wreak havoc on the world but the happy and ever-so-delightful Cat in the Hat stands in this way? The result is a triumphant story of an unlikely hero who uses a little caring and compassion to help save the world from an unfriendly and unbeautiful future. Watch and see if the Cat in the Hat can go from peaceful picnic in the shade to helping the frightfully mean Grinch turn a new leaf. This special earned an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Animated Program in 1982.
- Halloween is Grinch Night – The sinister Grinch who stole Whoville's Christmas is back to declare Halloween as "Grinch Night!" While the Whos are caught in a horrible storm of Sour-Sweet Wind, the Grinch and his trusty pooch Max, take this opportunity to terrorize the little town. Unfortunately for him he is surprised by a young boy whose unexpected courage prevents the Grinch from unleashing his awful horrors onto their tranquil town. Grinch Night will never be the same! This special earned an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Children's Special in 1978.
Dr. Seuss's Holidays on the Loose! Bonus Features Include:
óFrom Whoville to Hollywood – A rapping, rhyming chronicle of the original book and this beloved animated adaptation.
óSongs in the Key of Grinch – Interviews with composer Albert Hague and vocalist Thurl Ravenscroft.
óWho's Who in Whoville – Biography Gallery.
óGrinch Song Selections – Go right to your favorite songs. Includes: Opening Song, Trim Up the Tree, Welcome, Christmas andYou're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch.
óTNT's How the Grinch Stole Christmas Featurette – With Phil Hartman.
óGrinch Pencil Test
Now available on Blu-ray™, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! tells the story of how the Grinch, a bitter, cave-dwelling creature, attempts to sabotage Christmas for all the merry and warm-hearted denizens of Whoville.
As all the Whos in Whoville prepare to celebrate Christmas, the Grinch schemes to halt all noisy holiday celebrations by stealing Christmas trees and presents, presuming this will sadden all the Whos in Whoville. However, when Christmas morning finally arrives, all the Whos in Whoville are glad and sing in spite of not having a tree, presents or holiday feast. This leads the Grinch to think of something he hadn't before, that perhaps "Christmas doesn't come from a store — maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more!"
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is narrated by Boris Karloff (Frankenstein, The Mummy) and directed by animation legend Chuck Jones (Looney Tunes,What's Opera, Doc?). The story was originally adapted to television from the 1957 children's book, as an animated TV special and was highly praised by audiences and film animation fans alike. It has been re-broadcast numerous times since its debut, with annual airings continuing to the present day. The original book was considered among one of Dr. Seuss' finest works for children.
I received a sample of this product in exchange for my post. Opinions are my own.


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Laid to Rest
100% Sync Tactic
- Limit regular kills - 15/15
- Escape the HMS Jersey without entering into open conflict
- Kill the HMS Jersey's captain
As soon as the mission begins, walk up to Charles at the graveyard to trigger a cutscene and the next objective.
LIMIT REGULAR KILLS: After the cutscene, Connor has to fight off thirteen Patriot enemies. And since the game only allows fifteen kills for the mission, you will need as less kills as possible before the next part of the mission.
To alleviate having to kill all 13 Patriots, call on your Assassins to help with the fight. Each Patriot that they kill will NOT count towards the 15-kill total, so use them as much as you can. Depending on the level of each Assassin recruit, they can either kill the enemy quickly or have a hard time fighting them.
Either way, as long as you allow the Assassin recruits to kill at least three Patriot enemies, it will be enough for the next section. Eliminate the remaining Patriots to trigger the next objective.
After the fight, approach the town crier nearby to get incognito. Take the horse next to him and ride towards the harbor marked on the map. Dive into the harbor and swim towards the HMS Jersey far down the water.
KILL THE HMS JERSEY CAPTAIN: Use the rope to get on the ship. Shimmy all the way to the LEFT side, then climb up and then shimmy to the RIGHT.
At the top is a roaming Redcoat. Wait for him to get near then use a Ledge Kill on him when he turns around. Now jump over the railing to the roof and then jump over the other railing and shimmy all the way to the right (watch for the other Redcoat).
To reach the captain's room, use a Back Eject to jump onto the next railing (see screencaps above). Jump towards the SSI circle and then climb up and eavesdrop on the conversation.
Once that's done, carefully jump down and continue to the right side to see two Redcoats overlooking the water. The only one you need to kill is the one all the way on the right. Wait for the nearby Redcoat to turn around then jump and shimmy towards the Redcoat on the right. Use a Ledge Kill on him to clear the section.
Now shimmy all the way to the end of the ship and then climb onboard. Approach the window with the SSI circle and listen to the conversation.
After the talking ends, wait for the captain to exit the room. Whistle him from the corner (yes, he will hear you) and then use a Corner Kill to complete the objective.
ESCAPE THE HMS JERSEY WITHOUT ENTERING OPEN CONFLICT: With thte captain dead, simply jump out of the ship and into the water (avoid fighting anybody else) to complete the mission.
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You never know who'll drop by DRC, or swim by for that matter.
A staff member having a meeting at the end of the causeway just happened to look up at the right time as this mother manatee and her calf swam up. Apparently, there was some tasty algae growing on the rocks. A yummy manatee snack, perhaps?
After staying long enough for several staff members and guests to ooh, ahh and take pictures, the manatees swam off to their next destination, wherever that might be.


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Sands China has teamed up with former England football captain David Beckham to promote the casino's restaurants and shops. No further details were given of the co-branding venture.
Home Greater China Macau Sands China joins with David Beckham in marketing accord
Coronavirus live updates: Green light for Goa and Sikkim casino reopenings
Macau -
The latest news and updates on the Covid-19 (coronavirus) - with regularly updated information relating to new cases, travel restrictions and other information to...
Puducherry government urges blanket ban on online gambling
India -
The Puducherry union territory government has urged the union government to ban online gaming platforms and mobile apps, describing it as a necessity to protect the mental health of vulnerable people.
Asia turns up heat on online gambling
Malaysia -
Singapore police have busted at least two illegal gambling operations in the past week, while across Asia authorities have moved to stamp out illicit activities, from raids on premier league matches in India, to illegal number forecasting in Malaysia.
AGB Webinar Series: Acquiring & Retaining iGaming Customers
The next edition of the AGB Webinar Series will look at the future of iGaming customer acquisition and retention, which has been going through a transition period over the last year.
Asia Gaming Briefings – Oct 2020 Edition
Before the Covid-19 crisis, tourism in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region was at a record high, on track to welcome 80 million visitors in 2019, generating some $90 billion in revenue.
Asia Gaming Briefings – Sep 2020 Edition
IN FOCUS: SPORTS BETTING Ball games bounce back. Major sporting events are slowly ramping up around the world and with them the drama and surprises, not all of them good for sports betting operators.
Asia Gaming Briefings – Aug 2020 Edition
IN FOCUS: AUSTRALIA Reopening pubs, online rethink and reflections on gambling behaviour The country tackled the first wave of the epidemic with relative success, however,...


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A key Latino group and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott agreed to a compromise set of interim redistricting maps Monday for the 2012 election that would give Hispanics two of the state's four new congressional districts. However, the Texas Democratic Party and other groups suing the state rejected the proposal, arguing that the deal still shortchanges minority voters.
The San Antonio court charged with drawing the state's interim maps told the parties to keep talking Monday afternoon.
"Even though we don't reach compete agreement with all the parties, we believe the agreement reached is substantial enough to move swiftly to finalize the maps in time for April elections," Abbott told reporters in a conference call. However, he suggested that the primaries might have to be delayed until
April 17.
As part of the agreement, Abbot said that if the San Antonio court accepts the deal without making any significant changes, the state wouldn't appeal the maps to the Supreme Court again.
The proposed compromise would:
— Force U.S. Rep Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, back into a Hispanic-dominated district that runs from Austin to San Antonio, along I-35.
— Transform a new Fort Worth-area coalition district that probably would have elected an African American into a district dominated by Latinos.
— Undo many of the changes made by the Republican-dominated Legislature to the South Texas congressional districts of Blake Farenthold and Francisco "Quico" Canseco in a bid to help them win reelection.
The agreement also included proposed interim maps for the Texas House and Senate that make them marginally more favorable for Democrats.
Under the proposal, Harris County's delegation to the Texas House would still be reduced from 25 to 24; however, the new proposal combines the districts of Republicans Sarah Davis and Beverly Woolley , instead of the two minority-dominated Democratic districts picked by the Legislature.
"It is a plan that we can live with because it does create two Latino opportunity districts on the House side and two Latino opportunity districts on the congressional side," said Nina Perales, an attorney for Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which is one of the major groups suing the state. "These maps can be used through 2020."
However, the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, the NAACP and the Texas Democratic Party announced Monday afternoon that they would not support the deal.
"It's just his opinion that seems to have the tacit approval of two of the litigants in this case," Martinez Fischer said. "General Abbott needs to keep working a little harder to get the seven other plaintiffs that don't see this map as an improvement."
Texas NAACP chairman Gary Bledsoe said there was a high likelihood that groups opposed to the deal would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court if the San Antonio court accepts the compromise.
"We don't think it's good for the Latino or African American Communities," he said.


text: "Consistent, harmonised and easily accessible terminology is an extremely important stronghold for ensuring true multilingualism in the European Union and throughout the world. From EU legislation and trade to the needs and mobility of every EU citizen, terminology is the key for easy, fast and reliable communications. However, new EU member countries face the issue of terminology resource fragmentation across different institutions, inconsistency and lack of coordination in terminology development, as well as structural and technical incompatibility.


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Phragmites australis
Management Options
Mechanical/Physical Control Options
Common reed can be cut and the rhizomes can be dug up but physical control is difficult because it can reestablish from seed or remaining rhizomes. Frequent mowing is sometimes effective on control of common reed.
Biological Control Options
There is no known biological control for common reed, although goats are known to forage on many types of emergent vegetation.
Chemical Control Options
The active ingredient that has been most successful in treating common reed include glyphosate (G), imazamox (G), and imazapyr (E). E = excellent, G = good
Rodeo, Aquamaster, Eraser AQ, Touchdown Pro, and AquaNeat are liquid glyphosate formulations and have been effective on common reed. These are broad spectrum, systemic herbicide. Systemic herbicides are absorbed and move within the plant to the site of action. Systemic herbicides tend to act more slowly than contact herbicides. An aquatically registered surfactant (see the label) will have to be added to the glyphosate solution for good results.
Clearcast is a liquid imazamox formulation. It is a broad spectrum, systemic herbicide. Systemic herbicides are absorbed and move within the plant to the site of action. Systemic herbicides tend to act more slowly than contact herbicides. An aquatically registered surfactant (see the label) is needed for application.
Habitat contains the active ingredient, imazapyr, which inhibits the plant enzyme AHAS (acetohydroxyaced synthase). Habitat is a systemic herbicide that is effective on post-emergent floating and emergent aquatic vegetation. Imazapyr is effective at low-volume rates and does not contain heavy metals, organochlorides or phosphates, making it safe to humans and livestock. Habitat requires the use of a spray adjuvant when applying on post-emergent vegetation.
One danger with any chemical control method is the chance of an oxygen depletion after the treatment caused by the decomposition of the dead plant material. Oxygen depletions can kill fish in the pond. If the pond is heavily infested with weeds it may be possible (depending on the herbicide chosen) to treat the pond in sections and let each section decompose for about two weeks before treating another section. Aeration, particularly at night, for several days after treatment may help control the oxygen depletion.
One common problem in using aquatic herbicides is determining area and/or volume of the pond or area to be treated. To assist you with these determinations see SRAC #103 Calculating Area and Volume of Ponds and Tanks.
Many aquatically registered herbicides have water use restrictions (See General Water Use Restrictions).
To see the labels for these products click on the name. Always read and follow all label directions. Check label for specific water use restrictions.
Cultivation Options
Common reed can be propagated by transplanting the rhizomes during late winter. Common reed will do best in moist soils above permanent water but can be an aggressive invader of


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Two explosives went off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon April 15, 2013, killing three and wounding 264 people. Sean Collier, 26, an MIT campus police officer, was fatally shot in his patrol car April 18th by the Boston bombers. The three killed by the explosions were 29-year-old Krystle Campbell (left), 8-year-old Martin Richard (center) and 23-year-old Lu Lingzi (right).
Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, one of the two brothers responsible for the attacks, was killed soon after. Dzhokar Tsarnaev, 21, was found guilty April 8, 2015 of multiple counts including conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction in their deaths and for injuring 264 others at the Boston Marathon's crowded finish line on April 15, 2013. The unanimous decision to sentence him to death was announced May 15, 2015.
Credit: WBZ
Lu Lingzi was a graduate student from China studying at Boston University when she was killed.
Lingzi, in an undated personal photo.
Credit: via Facebook
Lu Lingzi in an undated personal photo.
Lu Lingzi in an undated personal photo
Krystle Campbell, of Medford, Mass., went with her best friend to take a pictures at the Boston Marathon.
Krystle Campbell in an undated personal photo.
Martin Richard in an undated personal photo.
Martin, of Dorchester, Mass., was with his family near the finish line waiting for his father to complete the marathon.
Credit: Lucia Brawley via Facebook
Credit: Family Photo
Credit: Cheryl Richard Dipesa/CBS
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) police officer Sean Collier, 27, was ambushed and shot dead a few days after the Boston Marathon bombings, April 18, 2013. He was the last casualty of the Boston bombers.
Credit: WBZ-TV
Investigators came to believe that MIT Police Officer Sean Collier was killed by the Tsarnaev brothers because the two Boston bombers wanted to take his gun.
Credit: .
Andrew Collier, left, puts his hand on his brother, Robert, after delivering the eulogy at a memorial service for their brother, slain Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus officer, Sean Collier, at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, April 24, 2013.
Credit: AP Photo/Elise Amendola
Police officers attend a memorial service for fallen MIT campus officer Sean Collier in Cambridge, Massachusetts, April 24, 2013.
Credit: Elise Amendola/AP


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Patriots duo of Belichick, Brady might be best ever
For coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, there is much more at stake on Sunday against the Denver Broncos than just a trip to Super Bowl XLVIII. With a win in that game and in the Super Bowl, Belichick and Brady have a chance to be remembered as the greatest NFL coach and quarterback of all time. That's pretty significant.
There is no right or wrong arguments in these best-ever debates. There are just opinions. It's not crazy to suggest Vince Lombardi or Chuck Noll or Bill Walsh is the best coach or that Joe Montana or Johnny Unitas or John Elway is the best quarterback. But it's also not crazy to go with Belichick and Brady.
The NFL's most productive coach-quarterback pairing has won 11 division titles in the past 13 seasons and is trying to get to its sixth Super Bowl. The Patriots won the championship after the 2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons and lost after the 2007 and 2011 seasons. The 2007 team was 18-0 when it lost to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
This season might be Belichick's greatest coaching job. Before the season, he lost tight end Aaron Hernandez of Bristol, who is facing a murder charge. The Patriots played much of the season without injured stars Rob Gronkowski, Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork. Belichick refused to allow his team to use any of the injuries as an excuse.
Bill Cowher gives Belichick his endorsement as the greatest coach.
"He's been pretty amazing what he's done there when you look at all the different moving pieces. It's hard to keep a team together with this salary-cap era that you have. There's always going to be change. That, to me, is why his record speaks for itself."
Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning also said this week that Belichick will be remembered as the NFL's best coach.
Cowher, by the way, opined that Manning is the best quarterback.
I'm much more of a Brady man, at least compared to Manning. Brady is more responsible for the Patriots' long-term success than Belichick, who wasn't nearly so smart as a coach when he was with the Cleveland Browns in the early 1990s and had Bernie Kosar, Mike Tomczak and Vinny Testaverde as his quarterbacks. The only year the Patriots missed the playoffs since 2000 was 2008 when Brady was lost for the season with a knee injury in the first game. What he has done with a constantly changing cast of running backs and wide receivers is incredible. It's impossible to overlook his wins and championships. If he wins a fourth Super Bowl, he will match Montana and Steelers Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw for the most titles during the Super Bowl era.
Belichick and Brady could win four more Super Bowls and it wouldn't be enough for their critics. The two always will be tarnished, in the minds of many, because of Spygate, the September 2007 incident when the Patriots were caught during a game using an on-field camera to steal the New York Jets' defensive signals. The Patriots, who allegedly had been stealing signs since 2000, Belichick's first season as their coach, had been warned that sort of thing was against NFL rules. Commissioner Roger Goodell fined Belichick $500,000, then the stiffest punishment ever given to an NFL coach. The Patriots also were fined $250,000 and lost a No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft.
A number of former Steelers, including Hines Ward and Joey Porter, have screamed they feel cheated by the Patriots and said the Steelers could have and should have won the AFC championship games after the 2001 and 2004 seasons. I never bought their argument. Special teams beat the Steelers in the title game in January 2002. An exquisite Brady pass that seemed to drop out of the sky from heaven on a brutally cold day at Heinz Field for a 60-yard touchdown by Deion Branch and an 87-yard interception return for a touchdown by Rodney Harrison beat the Steelers in the January 2005 game.
It turns out Cowher — the Steelers' coach at the time — didn't buy the argument, either.
"We didn't lose the (2005) game because of any Spygate, because of them having any additional things," Cowher said this week on 93.7 The Fan's Morning Show.
Cowher went on to say the Steelers also tried to steal signs. "It was something that everybody does." The difference is the Patriots were caught on tape. "I think if they're guilty of anything, they're guilty of arrogance because they were told not to do something ...
"What happened when we lost that game is they outplayed us. It had nothing to do with stealing signs or cheating or anything else. They were the better football team on that day."
The naysayers will argue the Patriots are 6-5 in the postseason since Spygate. They ignore the fact the team has made it to two Super Bowls during that time. They won't be able to ignore the Patriots if they win it all this season. They won't be able to keep Belichick and Brady out of the best-ever conversations.


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When you hear the name Sony, you probably think of TVs, laptops or game consoles — cellphones, not so much. Now, after a decade of making smartphones under the Sony Ericsson brand, most of which were only available to international markets, Sony is making its own phones. And it's working with carriers to bring more models to the U.S., starting with the Sony Xperia Ion.
Available now from AT&T for $100 with a two-year contract, the Xperia Ion is not only the first smartphone to be released by Sony, it's also the company's first 4G smartphone for the U.S.
I've been testing the Android smartphone for the past two weeks, and it offers some great features, such as a rich multimedia experience and zippy data speeds. The affordable price is also a plus, but it comes with some tradeoffs, including an older version of the Android operating system. But the smartphone has bigger issues — namely, poor battery life and low call volume — so it's hard to recommend the Xperia Ion, even as a budget pick.
Though people use smartphones for much more than making calls these days, call quality is still an important feature. I tested the phone in San Francisco, and calls were clear without any background noise or voice distortion. Friends who were on calls with me also reported good audio quality, and a couple of people even said it sounded like I was using a landline.
Unfortunately, the Xperia Ion just didn't offer enough volume on my end. Even in a quiet room, I had to crank the volume up to the highest level to hear my callers. Voices got drowned out when I had the TV on in the background, and continuing a call outside on a busy street was difficult. Trying to have a conversation over speakerphone in the same environment was nearly impossible.
On the positive side, I didn't experience any dropped calls, and AT&T's 4G LTE network provided some impressive data speeds. Here in San Francisco, I averaged download speeds of around 16 megabits per second and upload speeds of 6 Mbps, so I was able to pull up Web pages quickly and enjoy smooth playback of high-definition YouTube videos.
One thing to note, however, is that AT&T's 4G network is currently only available in 41 markets. If you don't live in a coverage area, the Xperia Ion will operate on the carrier's 3G network, so in that case, expect slower data speeds.
That said, I wish the smartphone had an option to switch between 4G and 3G to help extend battery life. In my talk-time battery tests, the Xperia Ion's battery delivered seven hours of continuous talk time on a single charge — short of Sony's estimate of 10 hours. In everyday use, the smartphone struggled to last a full day.
I would start with a full battery around 8 am, and after checking my email and social networks, reading a couple of news articles on the Web, making soome quick calls and watching a short YouTube video, the battery was nearly dead by 3 pm. The battery life on 4G smartphones isn't great, in general, but at least the HTC One X, another 4G smartphone from AT&T, offered about two more hours of battery life in the same scenario. What's more, the Xperia Ion doesn't have a user-replaceable battery, so you can't even swap in a fresh battery if you aren't near an outlet.
The Xperia Ion runs an older version of Android OS called Gingerbread, and not the latest Ice Cream Sandwich. It's disappointing that Sony used this for its first smartphone in the U.S., but the company said it will be upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich. No specific time frame was given.
In the meantime, the company has integrated some of Ice Cream Sandwich's features into its own user interface. For example, you can take a screenshot by holding down the power button, and create folders by dragging and dropping icons. But I did miss the dedicated task-switcher button in Ice Cream Sandwich that easily lets you move between apps.
One area where the Xperia Ion shines is multimedia. The smartphone offers access to Sony's Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited services, where you can stream unlimited music for $10 a month, or rent or buy TV shows and movies. Prices start at $1.99 to rent a show, and go up to $14.99 to purchase a movie.
Watching videos on the handset's 4.6-inch HD display is a treat. With a 1,280 x 720 pixel resolution, images and text looked sharp, but the screen's larger size makes for a bigger device. The Xperia Ion is bigger than the iPhone at 5.24 inches tall by 2.7 inches wide and 0.46-inch thick.
The smartphone has an HDMI port, so you can connect it to your HDTV to view pictures and videos stored on your handset. I connected it to my Samsung TV, and the Xperia Ion automatically launched an app that gave me access to all my media, YouTube and the browser. If you have a Sony TV, you can also use your remote to navigate through the app's menus. This features also works on non-Sony TVs, as long as your remote has CEC (consumer electronics control) capabilities. I got a message saying my Samsung TV was compatible, but I wasn't able to get any of my remotes to work with it.
Finally, the Xperia Ion packs a 12-megapixel camera with some fun built-in functions, like panorama shooting mode. Picture quality was good, but I didn't find it to be any better than the Nokia Lumia 900 or the One X, both of which have eight-megapixel cameras. In fact, when taking a picture of the sunset, the One X produced a brighter picture, with more details and richer color.
The Xperia Ion's multimedia features, 4G connectivity and affordable price are bright spots in Sony's first bid into the smartphone market, but they don't make up for the battery and call-volume issues. Customers looking for an affordable 4G phone from AT&T should look at the Nokia Lumia 900 for a comparable multimedia experience, or the Samsung Galaxy S Skyrocket II, which has a user-replaceable battery. Both are $100 with a two-year service agreement.


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Abstract and Keywords
Despite myriad descriptions and indicators used to define a fragile state, the international community has come to an agreement that a fragile state lacks the ability to maintain physical control of its territorial boundaries, provide basic public services, facilitate economic growth, and interact as a full member of the international community. Fragile states have historically experienced a disproportionate amount of natural disaster-related losses. For example, from 2005 to 2009, more than 50% of those impacted by a natural disaster lived in a fragile state, resulting in over $200 billion in losses. When natural disasters occur in such areas, they exacerbate already weak governance structures and further undermine their governments' capability to respond to the crisis while simultaneously addressing challenges related to poverty and conflict. To remedy these and other complex issues inherent in fragile states, scholars are beginning to recognize the importance of investigating how fragile states can mitigate natural disaster losses through effective agency coordination and cross-sector collaboration. Agency coordination, in the context of natural disaster response, refers to the integration of facilities, equipment, personnel, and communication by public agencies for supporting incident response activities. Cross-sector collaboration refers to the sharing of information and resources by organizations in two or more sectors to achieve an outcome that cannot be produced by organizations in one sector alone. Because forecasts suggest that natural disaster-related losses will only increase in fragile states owing to population growth, urbanization, and climate change, there is a pressing need to understand the ways public organizations not only coordinate before, during, and after a natural disaster, but also how they collaborate across organizational sectors.
Keywords: agency coordination, cross-sector collaboration, fragile states, disasters, Haiti
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All Around the World of Au Pairs
Au pair is a French term that means 'on equal terms' and is used to indicate that au pairs are not servants. They usually eat with their host families and take part in their daily activities. An au pair is typically regarded as part of the family with whom he or she lives while working as a childcare provider.
Young women between the ages of 18 and 30 make up the largest percentage of au pairs, but an increasing number of young men are participating in the program now. They appreciate the unique opportunities to learn new languages and experience different cultures while they earn spending money for their leisure times.
The au pairs receive free lodging, meals, pocket money and various other benefits in exchange for providing childcare and light housework services for their host families. Most au pairs pay for their travel expenses unless their host families agree to help with the costs. However, the host families often pay their au pairs' expenses to travel from place to place in their countries by supplying cars or purchasing travel passes for them.
During World War II, countless women found it necessary to work in factories while their husbands were fighting in the war. After the war ended, many of them decided they wanted to continue working for pay instead of staying home with their children and earning nothing. Consequently, they needed affordable childcare for their children while both parents worked. Nearly 90 percent of the young women in Western Europe became live-in helpers for those families. They called themselves au pairs because they did not want people to think that they were servants. Those women eventually began traveling to other countries and learning about different cultures while they worked as temporary childcare providers and lived with host families.
Au pairs are more popular in countries with large percentages of working mothers. Those countries have developed programs to ensure that au pairs obtain cultural and language training along with incomes in exchange for providing live-in help for host families. Those families enjoy the convenience of having affordable help to care for their children and perform light housekeeping chores. They also appreciate having inexpensive ways to provide their children with rich cultural experiences and opportunities to learn foreign languages.
The United States, the United Kingdom and various countries in Europe provide the largest number of au pair jobs. Most of those nations have official programs to regulate the au pair industry. Each country has its own stipulations, and some specify that people must be from certain countries to work in them. Au pairs should contact their chosen countries' embassies to determine the requirements for work and study in those countries.
The most popular places for au pairs from around the world to work are European countries like Germany and France. East European and Asian au pairs typically want to learn the English, Italian or German languages. As a result, they usually attempt to live with families in Western Europe. Au pairs from West European countries normally prefer to work and stay in the United States or Southern Europe and learn English, Spanish, German, Italian or French. Many American au pairs look for positions in Australia and New Zealand for the sake of convenience. They are also interested in living in Western Europe to learn other languages because that may give them advantages in the job market.
Virtually every continent in the world has au pairs who are eager to work in different countries and share their own cultures with host families while they learn about the families' customs and languages. Au pair agencies typically have applicants from over 60 countries representing five continents, and they screen the applicants thoroughly before recommending them to host families.
North America
United States
Nearly 28,000 au pairs were living and working in the United States in 2010, and that number appears to be rising.
The au pair program in the United States provides qualified young people from other countries with the chance to study in the country and live with host families. In return, the au pairs provide no more than 45 hours of childcare each week for the families. They must also complete the equivalent of six semester hours of study for academic credit.
When the program began in 1989, au pairs were allowed to work and stay in the country for a period of 12 months. However, since 2006, the United States Department of State has permitted them to extend their work and stay for additional terms of six, nine or twelve months. They may choose to remain with their host families for the extended stays or select families in other areas of the country to gain different experiences. In 2008, the agency added a clause to the regulations and requirements allowing the au pairs to participate in repeat terms. They must reside outside the country at least two years after completing their initial programs before returning to the US for repeat terms in the program.
Host families must provide private bedrooms for au pairs and pay them the US minimum wage of $195.75 a week for working 45 hours. They may not ask au pairs to work more than 45 hours a week or over 10 hours a day. Families allow au pairs to have one and one-half days off every week and at least one weekend off every month. The young people also receive two weeks of vacation time with pay every year. Au pairs must complete required course work for the educational part of the program, and the host families pay $500 of those costs.
The au pair program in Canada is complicated and entails more training and experience than the programs of other countries require. However, private agencies can help au pairs who want to live and work in Canada by serving as mediators between them, host families and the government. Au pairs in Canada typically earn six to seven CAD per hour.
France, particularly Paris, has been popular with au pairs for years. Working in the country and living with host families is an ideal way for young people to learn the French language. Au pairs earn 60 euros a week, and most families contribute 20 euros a week to language classes for them. Many families in Paris also provide their au pairs with urban travel passes worth about 95 euros. Young people who desire to work in France must meet strict language training requirements. In addition, they may not be able to learn much information about their host families prior to their employment.
There is a big demand for au pairs in Spain. Most families in the country require au pairs to do very little or no housework and emphasize teaching their children the English language. Some families allow young people to stay in their homes without any childcare or domestic duties in exchange for teaching English to their children. Most au pair jobs are in cities like Barcelona and Madrid. However, there are occasionally jobs available in glamorous resorts like Tenerife and Marbella as well. Au pairs in Spain earn a minimum of 55 to 60 euros per week.
Au Pair Society agencies located throughout the country help place au pairs in Germany. Au pairs receive 260 euros per month in the country, and many families provide travel passes and contribute to fees for courses.
United Kingdom
Private agencies handle most of the au pair placements in the United Kingdom. The government does not regulate the agencies, but The British Au Pair Agencies Association sets standards for the industry. BAPAA promotes the programs that provide cultural exchange experiences with great rewards for au pairs and host families as well. Au pairs usually earn about £55 to £75 per week when they work from 25 to 40 hours.
Young people who wanted to travel to the UK and work were previously limited to working as au pairs and earning less than the minimum wage. However, because of the European Union expansion in 2004 that included ten new member states, they can now work at other jobs in the UK with no restrictions and earn the national minimum wage. Consequently, fewer young people now apply for positions as au pairs in the UK.
The government closed the previous au pair visa scheme in 2008, which caused a further reduction in the number of potential au pair candidates. The Youth Mobility Scheme, which replaced the au pair visa scheme, is limited to young people from Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.
Many Italians travel to the mountains or the coast during the summer holiday season. They take their au pairs with them to help with the children and pay them from 75 to 95 euros for a 30-hour week. Those who work 40 hours a week typically earn 100 to 130 euros a week. Numerous families in large cities pay their au pairs more than the usual wages.
South America
Au pairs in Argentina normally work 25 hours a week and have at least one weekend day off. They must work a minimum of 15 hours per week. The recommended minimum salary depends on the host family's location. Families in the central region pay about AR$30 per hour, those in Zona Norte pay around AR$40 per hour and au pairs working in Pilar/Nordelta receive about AR$50 per hour.
Au pairs care for the children in the families and help them practice speaking English. The families may ask them to perform light domestic chores, and some families need more housework and less childcare while others require more childcare and less housework. The host families treat au pairs as family members and do not expect them to work more than five hours a day.
Because of China's economic growth and rising middle class, there is an increasing demand for au pairs in the country. The program allows mothers to have help with their children when they return to work. Most Chinese people who hire au pairs do so mainly to help them and their children learn the English language.
Japan does not have an au pair program, but citizens of Australia, France, the Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, Denmark, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and Ireland can apply for Working Holiday Visas. Those visas allow young people to stay and work in Japan for six months, and they may receive extensions for additional six-month terms. All au pairs who come to Japan must take Japanese language courses and assume the cost for them.
Au pairs in Japan typically work six hours a day with a maximum of 35 hours a week. They care for the children, take them to school and other activities and help them with meals, baths and keeping their rooms clean. They also assist with daily housework and may serve as babysitters for the children one or two extra evenings a week.
Japanese host families provide individual rooms and three meals a day for their au pairs. Although families supply food, the au pairs may have to cook for themselves. The families also pay au pairs 10,000 yen per week and provide health insurance in Japan. Au pairs have one day off each week, which is usually on Sundays, and they receive two weeks of vacation time if they stay in Japan for one year.
South Africa
Au pairs in South Africa do not always live with their host families as they do in most other countries. They receive remuneration according to their positions and the agreements they reach with their host families. Basic salaries for au pairs in the country may be between R35 and R60 per hour depending on their qualifications and experience. Full-time au pairs who work about 40 hours a week may earn between R 6,000 and R 8,000 if they use their own cars and between R 4,500 and R 6,000 if they use the families' cars. Au pairs who live with the families they work for usually receive less because their accommodations are free. Families normally give their au pairs notice in advance when they need babysitting services and pay the same rate as they pay for other duties.
An official au pair program does not exist in Australia. However, individuals between 18 and 30 years old from certain countries can get 12-month Working Holiday Visas to visit the country and work as au pairs. The government does not allow them to work for the same employer longer than three months without written permission, and they must break up work time with holiday and travel time. Holiday and travel is supposed to be the primary purpose of their visits. The government allows them to work in order to provide additional funds for those activities. Au pairs in Australia can expect to earn 150 to 200 AUD a week for working 30 to 35 hours.
New Zealand
Although New Zealand does not maintain an official au pair program, it has Working Holiday agreements with the UK, Japan, Italy, Ireland, Germany, France, Canada, Hong Kong SAR, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. An au pair from one of those countries can expect to earn about 80 to 130 NZD per week for working 30 to 35 hours in New Zealand.


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A collection of scholarly works about individual liberty and free markets. A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
In Chapter II "Of the Individual Man, and the Highest Ends of his Existence" Humboldt explains the connection between liberty and a variety of situations, and their connection to the flourishing of the individual:
The true end of Man, or that which is prescribed by the eternal and immutable dictates of reason, and not suggested by vague and transient desires, is the highest and most harmonious development of his powers to a complete and consistent whole. Freedom is the grand and indispensable condition which the possibility of such a development presupposes; but there is besides another essential,—intimately connected with freedom, it is true,—a variety of situations. Even the most free and self-reliant of men is thwarted and hindered in his development by uniformity of position. But as it is evident, on the one hand, that such a diversity is a constant result of freedom, and on the other, that there is a species of oppression which, without imposing restrictions on man himself, gives a peculiar impress of its own to surrounding circumstances; these two conditions, of freedom and variety of situation, may be regarded, in a certain sense, as one and the same…
I therefore deduce, as the natural inference from what has been argued, that reason cannot desire for man any other condition than that in which each individual not only enjoys the most absolute freedom of developing himself by his own energies, in his perfect individuality, but in which external nature even is left unfashioned by any human agency, but only receives the impress given to it by each individual of himself and his own free will, according to the measure of his wants and instincts, and restricted only by the limits of his powers and his rights.
From this principle it seems to me, that Reason must never yield aught save what is absolutely required to preserve it. It must therefore be the basis of every political system, and must especially constitute the starting-point of the inquiry which at present claims our attention.
About this Quotation:
This book is a celebration of the fact that liberty is an essential precondition for human flourishing to take place. This is an idea which so inspired John Stuart Mill in On Liberty (1859) that he dedicated his book to Humboldt. It is a reminder that liberty not only makes economic development possible but creates the society in which all manner of human activities can best blossom and bloom.


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Steam's Autumn Sale – day two offers Max Payne 3, Sleeping Dogs, more
It never ends. It just keeps offering you savings until there is no more money left to save, ever. This is the second day of Steam's Autumn sale.
You'll find screen grabs of today's deals and the current flash sales below, but today's big bargains include:
- Max Payne 3
- ArmA 3 (required for the free Day Z mod)
- Portal 2
- Awesomenauts
- Prototype 2
- Sleeping Dogs
Yesterday's deals are still valid for a short while longer, so get on board now if you're after discounts on XCOM: Enemy Unknown, The Walking Dead and Darksiders 2, among others.


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On a top floor of an office building in Atlanta's posh and wooded Buckhead district, workers man a call center for a US healthcare company. Their computers' 'copy/paste' function and Internet browsers are disabled as they answer questions about plan benefits and handle personally sensitive data. Their manager watches from a glassy office.
Nearby, recent Georgia Tech and University of South Carolina graduates train in how to handle information-technology (IT) clients. Attitude is the most important part of working with customers, the trainer says. Hadn't they learned that from Donald Trump's "The Apprentice"?
These scenes are hardly out of the ordinary except for one thing: The managers and trainers are from India. So is the employer, outsourcing giant Wipro, which set up shop here in 2008. Just as Japanese automakers began manufacturing in the United States in the 1980s, Indian outsourcing companies are locating in the US to reap similar benefits. Wipro calls it "reverse outsourcing."
Some of the benefits are, surprisingly, economic.
"You can never compete [here] with an India cost model," says Suraj Prakash, vice president for global delivery organization at Atlanta Development Center (ADC), Wipro's American IT center. But as the company takes on more ambitious projects – working on a large software development project, for example – it spends more on travel to handle the intensive interaction with the client and sees higher costs from time delays in getting feedback and errors from not understanding the local business context. "You easily end up spending all of that money doing rework," Mr. Prakash says.
Other Indian outsourcing firms move in
That may be one reason why Wipro's two larger competitors in India are also locating in the US. Infosys is planning a subsidiary in Dallas that will hire locals and seek US government contracts. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has reportedly hired at least 300 at its new campus near Cincinnati.
Locating in the US "helps us and our customers reduce overall infrastructure and overhead costs" and better serves customers, writes Amar Naga, the head of TCS's US center, in an e-mail.
"These companies have gained so much experience that there's a process of maturation," says economics professor Usha Nair-Reichert, of the Georgia Institute of Technology. "They really are trying to become global players."
A bid to expand into new markets
Locating in the US not only helps companies handle more complex projects, it offers them an entree to new markets.
"Certain customers feel the need to have the outsourcing company in close proximity" says Vinod Kadadi, who oversees IT projects for US clients done at the ADC. Wipro can get contracts with US healthcare clients, government agencies, utility companies, and defense contractors that don't allow their data to go beyond the US border. "What we're trying to [build] in Atlanta is very similar to what we have in Bangalore," he says.
The scale is different. Bangalore, India, is the site of Wipro's largest operation, employing about 23,000 people. Its Atlanta operation employs 500, which the company hopes to expand to 1,000 employees by 2013.
Nevertheless, the ADC's job creation – about 75 percent of its hires are local – could yield political benefits.
A White House meeting
Since nearly 60 percent of Wipro's revenue comes from US clients, creating American jobs is "pretty useful" for Indian IT companies, Ms. Nair-Reichart says, given the long-simmering political backlash here against outsourcing.
Wipro and other Indian IT firms use thousands of H1-B visas, designed for skilled workers, to send Indians to work at US client sites. Wipro's CEO reportedly met with US officials, including White House economic adviser Lawrence Summers, last June to warn that proposed curbs on H1-B visas could start a trade dispute with India. Wipro's concern: a Senate bill that would require firms with more than 50 employees to have no more than half of them on skilled-worker visas. Indian firms were the top four users of H1-B visas in fiscal year 2008, with more than 10,000 visa grants.
Though proposed curbs on visas are one driver for their move, its executives say there are many reasons behind the shift. They compare themselves to Japanese automakers who, in the 1980s, began setting up shop in the US.
"There came a time for the Japanese automakers when it was no longer practical or economically feasible or politically pleasant, let's say, for them to keep importing cars from Japan," says Joydip Mukherji, ADC head of operations. The American worker "works hardest," he says, so "get what is the best process that you have and bring it out here, and you'll find the ability to deliver products that are better than any others in the world."
Popping in on a training session for recent graduates, Mr. Mukherji quotes one young woman's grade point average off the top of his head and boasts of having a former Georgia Tech football player also in the room. There are 19 universities within an hour's drive, and these "temples of learning," he says, are a main draw for Wipro to Atlanta.
Atlanta is welcoming, too. Wipro received in February an award from the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce for being a top source of job creation in the previous year and an expected source of future growth for a city with a new emphasis on attracting Indian businesses.
If this "reverse outsourcing" model works, Indian firms could be looking to expand in the US.
"The plans are that once we perfect the Atlanta model, [we'll] replicate this model in other places," says Prakash of ADC. "There will be enough work to be done in the US."


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Pakistan car bombing death toll reaches 45
KARACHI, Pakistan -- Members of Pakistan's Shiite community were digging Monday through the rubble of a massive car bombing in Karachi looking for loved ones as the death toll from the blast the day before reached 45, a Pakistani doctor said.
The explosion on Sunday evening targeted members of the minority sect leaving a mosque in this port city, and underlined the increasing threat faced by Shiites as Sunni militant groups target them in ever-bolder attacks.
At least 146 people were also wounded in the explosion and 32 of them remain in serious condition, said Pakistani surgeon, Jalil Qadir.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Sunni militant groups who do not consider Shiites to be true Muslims have carried out such attacks in the past.
This was the third mass casualty attack since the beginning of the year against Shiites. The first two killed nearly 200 people in the southwestern city of Quetta, which is home to many Hazaras. They are an ethnic group, mostly made up of Shiite Muslims, who migrated from Afghanistan more than century ago.
Those attacks were claimed by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a Sunni militant group known for its virulent hatred of Shiite Muslims.
Last year was one of the most deadly for Shiites in the country's history. According to Human Rights Watch, more than 400 Shiite Muslims were killed in targeted attacks across Pakistan in 2012. But with nearly 250 Shiites killed in the three attacks so far, this year is shaping up to be even more dangerous.
Pakistan's intelligence agencies helped nurture Sunni militant groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi in the 1980s and 1990s to counter a perceived threat from neighboring Iran, which is mostly Shiite. Pakistan banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi in 2001, but the group continues to attack Shiites.
Karachi shut down on Monday for a day of mourning to honor the dead. Markets, gas stations and transportation were closed as security officials patrolled the streets.
At the site of the blast, family and friends were looking through the rubble for family members missing after the explosion.
"I am here to look for my relative," said Farzana Azfar. "People say he was here. But people say they have no idea about him. It appears that some bodies are still in the rubble."
With three massive attacks against Shiites in as many months this year, many Pakistanis are questioning why the government does not seem able to protect them.
"Go ask the sleeping government to wake up. Our brothers and sisters are dying every day. But the government is doing nothing. This government is sleeping," said Shagufta Rasheed.
Associated Press writer Muhammed Farooq contributed to this report.


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Carol Gohl
I had completed the education classes to join this new church. Meeting with the elders was the next step in the process. I had finally adjusted to the fact that I could sit with the pastor and two ruling elders and profess my faith before them.
Then I learned that there would be four ruling elders, not two. My heart went into panic mode. The way I saw it, I would have to sit in a room with five men, who would judge my credibility as a Christian woman. I had three days to think about this meeting. At work, I talked with several people about it. It was light talk, just words disconnected from my true feelings. We even laughed about it.
When the day came, I kept telling myself, "I know I can do it. I was making too big of a "thing about the whole situation! When I came home from work that day, I was counting the hoursfour hours left. In my mind, I was fighting my fears, not even knowing what I was afraid of. I kept telling myself that God was with me, that he always sent his Spirit to me when I needed him. I had nothing to fear! But, as the hours went on, I didn't get strongerI got weaker. My thoughts were not controlling my feelings. My prayers weren't being answered.
My very "being" was rising to the surface. I was feeling every rejection I had ever felt in the presence of men. My own father had shown no feelings for me. How ugly I must have been that he never even reached out to me! My husband had beaten me down and mocked me, and laughed at me for ten years! I must have deserved it. Now I had to get in my car, drive to church, and face those men!
When I arrived at church, I went in and the door where the meeting was being held was closed. It angered me so muchwhy was the door closed? So, I decided to sit in the church, near the front, and talk to God for a while. I knew he loved me! He would lift me uphe always did!
"Father," I prayed, "help me pull myself together. I know I'm being foolish about this. I need you, Lord. Please, please help me!" Nothing happened. I had to go and knock on that door. As I walked across the church, I heard all of them laughing inside. My heart cried out, "Father, where are you?" God had left me alone in my fear. I knocked, and no one heard me. I started saying the Lord's Prayer to myself. "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name...." I knocked again, and someone opened the door.
"Come in," said a man I had never seen before. He directed me behind the partitioned room to the meeting place. I looked, but was so consumed with fear, I didn't really see everyone. My eyes first found the pastor at the head of the table, and he was smiling. He was the only one who knew me; he was my safe person. But, in my fear, I wasn't sure anymore. I sat at the opposite end of the table, directly facing him. I am sure I was introduced to each one of the elders, but I don't really remember.
The pastor asked me something about my faith, and I didn't have a clue as to what to say. I was gradually focusing on each man in the room. I had seen them in church before, but they all looked different to me in that room, in my fearful state of being. Tauno wasn't arrogant or laughing; he was kind and gentle. Phil wasn't powerful and self-seeking; he was kind, sensitive, and gentle. John wasn't seeking position; he was sincere in his life and faith. Clarence wasn't rule-bound or judgmental; he was a true believer. And the pastor, my safe person, was honest and truly seeking the kingdom of God. I was focusing with my heart and soul, not my mind and eyes.
When it was over, I didn't even know what I had said, but I knew what I felt. As I stood up to leave, they all stood too; I reached in my pocket for the five chocolate valentine hearts I had brought for them. I brought them as a symbol of my heartwhich, I knew from experience, they could laugh at, kick, mock, and finally break! But I didn't tell them that. I just said, "Here, these are for you." They accepted it.
I left the room, went to my car, and knew what God had done for me! As I drove home, I was consumed with the joy that one can only know from the Holy Spirit! All I could say was, "My God is an awesome God! Thank you, Lord. You are so good to me!" He didn't leave me alone in that room. He wanted me to see, with my soul, God in them. And I did!
At work the next day, I was on a cloud of joy! When asked how it went, I said, "I met a new breed of men, and I'm calling them Christians!" Two thumbs up was everyone's reaction. Praise God!
Carol Gohl is a member (and the church secretary) of Rockford Springs Community OPC in Rockford Springs, Michigan. Reprinted from New Horizons, February 2000.
|© 2020 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Chaplains and Military Personnel


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Greatest dojo ever! My daughter's happy place..
Mary Jewell
02:42 25 Jul 20
I cannot say enough good things about this establishment or the people. Sensai Tim runs a wonderful program. All 3 of my kids attend and one of my kids is delayed and on the spectrum and he is treated just like everyone else. To say they are wonderful with children is an understatement. so glad we decided on this dojo. My kids beg to go and hate when we have to miss class. It's a blessing to our family!read more
N Western
17:33 17 Jan 20
This is my sons second dojo. The Sensi's are amazing. Best dojo in Orlando by far. They are tough, teach respect, discipline, treat every child equally, and push the kids to be better and tougher than they ever thought they could be. This is serious Dojo.read more
Christa Scott
19:38 16 Nov 19
My daughter decided to switch from soccer to karate this year. She started at stoneybrook karate and honestly we didn't know what to expect. Sensei Tim and everyone there were very welcoming and encouraging. We felt like a part of a big family. Before long she joined team and now a blue belt. She absolutely loves it and looks forward to practice. We already noticed progress in her focus and discipline. We can't be more happy with our choice and highly encourage you to give it a try. You won't regret it.read more
Symons Family
19:48 02 Oct 19
I have improved exponentially ever since I joined Stoneybrook Karate. Sensei Tim is a great teacher, he pushes us to our limits so that we can be the best we can be.
Layla O
16:49 20 Jun 19
I have got so much better at kata and Kumite, the Sensei's have made me feel like a better person and they have made my feel and know I can do anything
Annabelle Ndksbfmdkdnjdjs
14:20 20 Jun 19
Best karate place that I have ever seen! Been training here for 8 months now and don't pretend to stop! Totally recommend it for beginners and advanced people!
Juan Pinheiro
14:18 20 Jun 19
I love this place. The Sensei's are respectful and funny, and they push you to your limits. They teach you not only to fight strong, but to fight smart. The other students also help build the great community here. There is a competitive team that opens up many opportunities that can ultimately lead up to being on the national team or the Olympics. (not to mention that there were about 14 national champions last year) I'm a student here and I absolutely love karate thanks to this dojo. Some dojos are toxic (unlike this one) and can leave a bad taste in a student's mouth. This dojo is the opposite! 5 stars 😀read more
Peyton Cottle
12:42 19 Jun 19
Stoneybrook Karate is the ultimate experience for all ages! Sensei Tim takes teaching the art to a whole new level. The engagement with the kids is beyond belief. My daughter has been a student since December and the progression she has made is amazing! Highly recommended!!read more
Taryn Orlovsky
14:47 18 Jun 19
There's so much to say about this place. You learn, you fight, you enjoy what you do. My brother, my sister, and I love doing karate though we never imagined ourselves do it. Sensei Tim pushes you forward just like everyone else toward your goals. You always have somewhere to go and something to do. You get a lot of knowledge, join a family of incredible fighters, and have fun no matter what you do.read more
Liza Ritz
14:20 18 Jun 19
Amazing kata program. Tim sensei is very knowledgeable and has a great team. Definitely recommend for traditional karate
Naasirah Colon
13:58 15 May 19
If you want to lose weight, boost your energy level and endurance, improve your mood, relieve stress and frustration, have better quality of sleep, increase your stamina and tone your body, I highly recommend you come try a Kickboxing class at Stoneybrook Karate. Having an awesome instructor is key; Sensei Bruno Cabrera is a world champion athlete and has an extensive and impressive resume of achievements as a fighter. I am privileged to train with Sensei Bruno who helps us master proper kickboxing form. He is motivating throughout the entire workout until the moves are done correctly. The entire workout is fast-paced and tends to fly by because of the fun and friendly environment. You can expect a fully body, high energy workout that engages every muscle group with strong focus on your core. No martial arts or boxing experience required. In my opinion this is the best form of high intensity interval training so be ready to push yourself to your limit in the best possible way.read more
Jessica Youssef
21:51 26 Apr 19
My daughter is so happy to be training here. The attention each Sensei gives to her and ALL the kids in every class is wonderful. You see how much they care about the sport and love teaching it. Each Sensei brings different talents and experiences, having competed around the world and at different levels. Thank you Sensei Tim for putting together such a great team of Senseis!read more
Mary Jewell
00:47 31 Dec 18
Goju Ryu Karate School. Excellent structure.Good for an after school or to be an professional athlete
Ricardo Pinheiro
20:38 30 Nov 18
I can't say enough about this place. My kids are more confident, speaking more firmly and genuinely enjoy going. Stoneybrook Karate is a fantastic place with amazing instructors and truly like a family.read more
Trisha Tran
14:24 17 Nov 18
This dojo is truly one of a kind for all ages and skill levels. Sensei Tim and Sensei Bruno are exceptional. Everyone including the other parents are friendly and helpful. They are patient but strict which has really helped my 8 year old son. If you are considering in enrolling in Karate for your child(ren) or yourself, then you need to check out the facility at Stoneybrook Karate.read more
Adam Prosser
20:58 18 Oct 18
My son absolutely enjoys coming to Stoneybrook West Karate and continues to learn so much.
Charlie Dean
21:59 24 Aug 18
My son absolutely loves his karate class! Great place with wonderful people! Highly recommend 👍
Jennifer Walls
21:48 24 Aug 18
I can't say enough good things about this place! I have been taking my son here so he can learn about self defense, discipline and respect. Sensei Tim and Sensei Shanny are so great! I am so glad that I found this DoJo! Thank you!!!!read more
Nathalia Silva
01:42 13 Jun 18
Sensei Tim and his staff do a wonderful job with discipline and keeping my child engaged. He went from not interested to wanting to be on the Karate Team....
Matthew Binet
21:34 04 Jun 18
Highly recommend Sensei Tim and the entire team at Stoneybrook karate. Since enrolling my daughter (who has recently reached her second belt) not only have we witnessed her confidence increase but have seen her begin to develop friendships with all of the other students within her class. Sensei Tim (which we were told from other parents as well) strives to make the dojo a true family environment. We look forward to many years with sensei Tim and the family at Stoneybrook Karate and seeing our daughter test one day for her Black Belt in Goju-ryu.read more
Maylin Cox
22:53 29 Mar 18
We are amazed by this Dojo where we put our daughter to learn self-defense, be physically active, and increase confedence. Also, here , kids are taught responsibility, respect , and focus, and those aspects and skills that needed for a life. We are here about two months , and we already see results. Our daughter loves Stoneybrook Karate. Thank you Sensei Tim, Sensei Bruno , and all Senseis for creation of these amazing "Stoneybrook Karate".read more
Olga Mun
04:37 27 Mar 18
I can't say enough good things about this dojo. My son has learned so much and has benefited from karate. From discipline to concentration, focus and respect. The training is real and Tim Sensei and all the other Senseis strive to push the kids to the next level.read more
Erika Garcia
00:17 27 Feb 18
This is a great family-friendly place. Also, they are very professional, with high quality dedicated Senseis who are always doing their best for our kids. I have my two kids training here, 6 and 8 years old respectively, and they have learnt a lot since the first day they started. Thank you Sensei Bruno and Sensei Tim for all your dedication.read more
Felipe Johnata França Jordão
15:50 13 Jan 18
I strongly recommend Stoneybrook Karate to all parents looking to augment their child's activity with something that is positive, challenging, and will impart life skills. My son is in the 4th grade and he has been attending this dojo for almost 3 years. He loves this place. Sensei Tim has created an environment through which my son has excelled in appreciation, knowledge, and respect for traditional karate. He also has provided my son the training and experience to advance in nationally competitive tournaments. The parents of team karate and throughout the dojo are amazing. This is not just a place to drop off your child, but instead, a community tied together by a bond of friendship and respect.read more
Anthony Bollo
23:53 10 Oct 17
My son loves this dojo. They challenge him while working on focus and discipline as well. We love Stoneybrook Karate!
Kim Byrne
22:21 29 Sep 17
My daughter has been going to Stoneybrook Karate for a year now.I wanted my daughter to start karate to learn self defense,respect and confidence. From the first day she tried it ...she just loved it. Sensei Tim is amazing karate instructor. If you are looking for karate school where you will learn a skill and have fun doing it..check it out.read more
Dania Neita
20:56 26 Sep 17
My daughter started out approximately two months ago and she has absolutely loved her experience here so far. The emphasis on respect and discipline along with learning traditional Okinawan karate have been a great combination in teaching her life lessons.read more
Ginger Kasper
22:20 03 Aug 17
My kids practice traditional Okinawan karate at this dojo. They have thrived in this environment! This is a place where they have gained self-confidence while learning discipline, respect and self-defense. They have been humbled with their experiences as part of the competition karate team. I believe they have built a foundation and learned the values of martial arts starting here!read more
Lil Malou74
15:16 03 Aug 17


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Grilled Stuffed Flank Steak With Salami, Fontina, Parmesan, and Breadcrumbs
We're grilling up stuffed flank steaks all week. Check out our step-by-step guide on how to butterfly and stuff a flank steak, and find all of our daily flavor variations here. We'll be adding a new recipe every day as the week goes on!
Today's recipe is inspired by a Mario Batali recipe that combines thin matchsticks of salami and chunks of fontina cheese in a flavorful stuffing made with scallions, garlic, parsley, grated Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. Unlike our other flank steak recipes which use thinly sliced toppings that are layered like a sandwich, this stuffing is made up of chopped ingredients and bound with breadcrumbs.
As the steak cooks over hot coals, the big chunks of fontina cheese melt, creating pockets of gooey, oozy flavor as you cut into them. As with any cheese-stuffed meat, the key to successful grilling is really clean grill grates, a bit of oil, and patience: The cheese needs to be sufficiently browned before you flip them that it doesn't pull out and gunk up the works. Don't flip these guys until they're good and ready to flip!
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"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" Ranks Number One In Cable And Delivers Over 3.5 Million Total Viewers And "Shahs Of Sunset" Over 2.1 Million Viewers
NEW YORK - January 3, 2012 - Bravo Media ranks as the number one cable network in primetime on Sunday, December 30 among A18-49 and A25-54 as "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" was the number one cable telecast of the day and number one unscripted cable entertainment telecast of the week in all key demos. In addition, it delivered its second highest-rated episode of the season among all key demos with over 3.5 million total viewers (up 11 percent vs. prior week), in this past Sunday night's episode (12/30), according to Nielsen. The episode, which featured the aftermath of the cast trip to Anguilla, was up 14 percent in A25-54 (over 2.3 million) and seven percent in A18-49 (over 2 million) compared to last week (12/23/12). For more information, visit www.BravoTV.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BravoPR.
The fifth episode of "Shahs of Sunset" ranked number one in its time period in A18-49 and A25-54 and was up 24 percent among A18-49 (1.3 million viewers) and 36 percent percent in A25-54 (over 1.4 million), compared to last week's episode. Season two of Shahs is garnering solid ratings growth, up 62 percent among A18-49, up 73 percent among 25-54 and up 70 percent among total viewers compared to last season.
Watch a new episode of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" at its new time on Sunday, January 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, as NeNe prepares to leave for LA to begin shooting "The New Normal," she has many challenges thrown her way. Kandi and her boo continue to settle into their new life together, causing her to confide in Porsha about the thought of marriage. After heart-to-hearts with Aunt Lori and Kandi, Kenya takes Walter on a fishing date to give it one last shot at reeling in her man. For a sneak peek of next week's episode, visit: http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-atlanta/season-5/videos/are-you-attracted-to-me
And, on an all new "Shahs of Sunset" on Sunday, January 6 at 9 p.m. ET/PT the Shahs decide to take a long weekend in Cabo, but Reza and Asa refuse to go with GG, so the group must make a tough call. GG decides to make the best of being cut out of the vacation by digging in and taking over the launch party for her extensions line, hoping to prove to her sister that she has what it takes to be a real business woman. Lilly and MJ bristle at being forced together by the rest of the gang, and tempers flare when Asa blurts out loud what everyone in the group has been wondering. For a look at the new episode visit:http://www.bravotv.com/shahs-of-sunset/season-2/videos/the-shahs-head-to-cabo
"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" is produced by True Entertainment for Bravo. Steven Weinstock, Glenda Hersh, Lauren Eskelin, Omid Kahangi and Megan Sanchez-Warner serve as Executive Producers.
"Shahs of Sunset" is produced by Ryan Seacrest Productions for Bravo with Ryan Seacrest, Adam Sher and Kris Curry serving as executive producers on the series. Eric Gardner serves as a co-executive producer.
Source: Nielsen Media Research, LS data.
Bravo is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been anNBCUniversal cable network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information, visit www.BravoTV.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BravoPR.