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An Inspiring 64 Square Foot Bedroom
Most bedrooms are twice the size but don't offer near as much sex appeal (black floors) combined with a neutral softness that would attract both genders. Lots of big ideas for such a small space, let's break them down after the jump.
Lighting Isis (of Paper Flower Girl) does a fabulous job of keeping the space open and airy. She does this with sheer curtains hung effortlessly with a wire and clips. The daintiness of the hardware lends to the overall softness and charm that this bedroom is chock-full of. Next up--a pair of overhead lights in place of a headboard save floor space but allow for reading in bed.
Hooks and shelving Hooks by the door offer a spot for a robe, towel or night gown to land when not in use. Thin shelving at the foot of the bed gives Isis the chance to display family photos and adds to the room's personality.
Chair and bedside table A vintage church chair is another spot for "in between clothing" to land and an old sewing machine in its case gets repurposed as a nightstand. It's the perfect size for this bedroom, sliding right between the wall and the bed.
Flooring In a room full of neutrals, the shiny black floor pops and adds just the right combo of sexy and chic that we love.
Related Posts
- Small Bedroom Solution: Use The Window
- Inspiration: Kate's Wood Accent Wall
- Small Space Solutions from 3 Tiny French Bedrooms, Marie Claire Maison
(Images: Paper Flower Girl)
Re-edited from a post originally published 2.23.10 - JL


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POUND RIDGE, N.Y. -- Tennis pro Jeffrey Aarts' impact in life can be gauged by the turnout at his Tuesday funeral at Pound Ridge Community Church.
Attendance was far beyond the main room's capacity, with folks standing in the back and in the vestibule. Additional space in another room was utilized, and overflow parking was used next door at Pound Ridge Elementary School.
Aarts, a Pound Ridge native who died suddenly Thursday at the age of 59 while playing a round of golf with his family at Hudson National Golf Course in Croton, was remembered fondly in a series of anecdotes from his family and friends, with his mentoring of others held in high regard.
Flanked by sons Peter and Michael, Aarts' wife, Karen, brought up memories of their adolescence, including a time where she beat in him a Pound Ridge Town Park tennis tournament. Both grew up locally and remained in the area, living in a home built by her father.
Karen Aarts also recalled her husband's career, including his tennis lessons and his association with a club whose program grew while he was there. She also recalled him playing golf with his sons and taking them for rides in a cart.
At times in his remarks, younger brother Tom Aarts called him a "great father," a "great teacher" and a "protector." He recalled their childhood, including his brother's interest in tennis.
The funeral service included prayer and singing in the audience of hymns such as "Amazing Grace" and and "On Eagle's Wings." Following the service, pallbearers brought Aarts' casket to a hearse, with people facing in two lines by the walk.
As part of coverage of Jeffrey Aarts' passing, Daily Voice chronicled the organizations he was associated with throughout is career. They included the Wee Burn Country Club in Darien, Conn., and Norwalk, Conn., Bedford Golf & Tennis and Chestnut Ridge Racquet Club in Mount Kisco, along with being a 1991 finalist for the USTA Men's 35 Grass Court Doubles Championship.
A fund in Jeffrey Aarts' name is being set up to through Danbury Grassroots Tennis and Enrichment, it was announced. The purpose will be for honoring his love of tennis, teaching and children, according to the announcement. The mailing address for donations is P.O. Box 2912, Danbury, CT 06813.
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.

subset: commoncrawl


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Engineering with a mission: 100 years
Deluge and drought
Lessons in how to wedge data into smaller spaces. And build a smarter energy grid.
In 2010 alone, humans generated enough new data on our digital devices—from photos on Facebook and Flickr to movies streaming on Netflix—to fill more than 75 billion iPads. As more and more people join the global conversation, this flood of data will only grow. Which is why, for years, the work of Professor of Computer Engineering Ahmed Amer has focused on developing techniques to manage the mind-boggling (and growing) amount of data being stored on computers, whether locally or across the cloud.
That might be enough to keep him busy. But since arriving at Santa Clara University in 2009, Amer has also sought to bring the same techniques he has been developing to handle this data deluge to bear on a different kind of scarcity: the energy in the physical world that powers not just server farms but everything on the planet that's part of a power grid.
"Operating systems are wonderful and useful liars."
In both these settings, Amer focuses on the level of the operating system—the interface between a programmer's instructions and the computer hardware (or grid of energy resources) that is to carry them out. Operating systems handle the nitty-gritty of the underlying devices, allowing programmers to think on a higher, more intuitive level. When he gets wound up talking about his research, Amer's courtly, formal tone takes on a breathy quality—as if we're embarking on a big climb together. He's set his sights on a bigger goal than just making programmers' lives easier, however. He
aims to design operating system software that overcomes the underlying system's physical limitations, to make it more efficient, robust, and easily scalable.
A wonderful liar
|Read more about magnetic memory.
Amer's recent work includes developing software techniques for a next-generation data storage technology known as "shingled magnetic recording." Ordinary magnetic memory devices—of the kind whirring away inside most computers or stacked up in big data storage centers—have managed to fit more data into less space with every passing year. Now, though, the technology is approaching its fundamental physical limit—if the tiny magnetic bits (1s and 0s) that encode the data were to get much smaller, the natural motion of their individual molecules would be enough to destabilize and erase the bits.
Shingled magnetic memory squeezes extra bits of data into a given amount of memory real estate by employing a clever trick. It structures the bits like a shingled roof: Only a tiny sliver of a given sequence of bits peeks out from underneath the subsequent bits "shingled" over it. Current shingled magnetic recording prototypes are expected to fit in twice as much data as ordinary magnetic memory, and that number may ultimately grow considerably, Amer says. But this data density comes at a price: There is often no way to change a bit's value without also erasing the values of the bits shingled over it.
To tackle this problem, Amer and collaborators are designing a novel storage system that essentially lies to the programmer—for his or her own good, of course—about how much memory it possesses and where it is writing the programmer's bits.
Their operating system software essentially sets aside a portion of the memory that it keeps secret from the programmer. Then, if the programmer asks the operating system to change the value of a bit that has other bits shingled over it, the system instead stores the new value, using part of the hidden memory. If the programmer asks for the value of this bit later on, the operating system retrieves it from the new location, leaving the programmer none the wiser that it was not in his or her specified location.
"I like to tell my students that operating systems are wonderful and useful liars," Amer says.
Better. Stronger. Faster.
This approach to data storage technology is emblematic of Amer's overall strategy: Create operating system software that works beneath the programmer's level of awareness, acting as a benevolent dictator in order to make the best use of the underlying physical resources. He is quick to point out that this is the basic line of thought behind much, if not all, systems software "written by much brighter people than myself." But Amer has turned this mindset on a wide variety of computational challenges. For example, he is currently studying how operating system software can work behind the scenes to manage the layout of data in large data centers like Amazon's corner of the cloud. His goal is to reduce the risk of massive outages, such as the storm-related breakdown that took out Netflix, Instagram, and Pinterest (all of which store their data on Amazon's cloud) for several hours on June 29, 2012.
"A lot of the techniques we currently have for making systems more robust don't scale up well to big data storage systems," Amer says.
In the past few years, Amer has also started turning the power of his approach on new territory: the problem of improving the robustness and efficiency of the energy grid.
The energy grid has become considerably more complex in recent years. In the past, with power supplied by large, centralized sources, managing the energy grid was a comparatively straightforward task of sending energy downstream to a collection of end users. Today, by contrast, the process is evolving into an intricate dance of different energy resources, some renewable and some not, including home energy devices such as solar panels and electric car batteries that could allow homeowners to store energy for later use or even send it to the grid. So far, however, the choreography of this dance is mired in the past.
"Right now, the energy grid control centers tend to be centralized and hierarchical—there's some guy in a control room looking at the world and making decisions," Amer says.
Currently Amer is working on designing an energy grid operating system that could allocate energy resources in a more distributed manner, allowing give-and-take between all the players in the grid and "making smarter decisions than any human could do in real time," he says. Such a system could improve the grid's robustness and efficiency, he argues. What's more, it could benefit the environment, since its reliability could reduce the need to use quick-start sources for power generators, which typically are less clean and efficient.
"This is a project that I'm particularly passionate about, because it has a huge potential impact for good," Amer says.
He adds that he has been inspired by Santa Clara's commitment to research on sustainability. "In the School of Engineering, we like to say that we are 'Engineering with a Mission,'" he says, in punning reference to the Mission Church at the heart of the campus. "But it's really not a joke—it's something genuine that you feel in all the faculty, staff, and students."
Fall 2012
Table of contents
Engineering with a Mission
The engineering work being done today was the stuff of imagination when the School of Engineering started a century ago. Where do we go from here?
We, robots
Adventures with the Robotics Systems Laboratory by land, sea, and sky. And in orbit.
Can you stand the heat?
It took months of space flight for the Curiosity rover to reach Mars. And, to survive the heat of entry, it took a shield that a team led by Robin Beck '77 designed.
Mission Matters
A grand new gateway
Step inside the Patricia A. and Stephen C. Schott Admission and Enrollment Services Building.
A rivalry like no other
It's only a game, right? Not if we're talking soccer and USA vs. Mexico.
Player of the year
Computer engineering major Katie Le '14 becomes the first Bronco to battle in the NCAA women's singles tourney.


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The Pull service places tool objects in the Velocity context for use by template engineers. It can handle tools with various different "scopes", namely:
The service must be enabled in TurbineResources.properties as shown below, and tools are listed there. The default properties file lists some request-scope tools that are needed for basic Turbine usage ($page, $link and $content), plus the useful UIManager global tool.
# ------------------------------------------------------------------- # # S E R V I C E S # # ------------------------------------------------------------------- # Classes for Turbine Services should be defined here. # Format: services.[name].classname=[implementing class] # # To specify properties of a service use the following syntax: # service.[name].[property]=[value] services.PullService.classname=org.apache.turbine.services.pull.TurbinePullService . . . # ------------------------------------------------------------------- # # P U L L S E R V I C E # # ------------------------------------------------------------------- # These are the properties for the Pull Service, the service # that works in conjuction with the Turbine Pull Model API. # ------------------------------------------------------------------- # This determines whether the non-request tools are refreshed # on each request (request tools aren't ever, because they're # instantiated for the request only anyway). services.PullService.tools.per.request.refresh=true # These are tools that are placed in the context by the service # These tools will be made available to all your # templates. You list the tools in the following way: # # tool.<scope>.<id> = <classname> # # <scope> is the tool scope: global, request, session, # authorized or persistent (see below for more details) # <id> is the name of the tool in the context # # For example: # # tool.global.ui = org.apache.turbine.util.pull.UIManager # tool.global.mm = org.apache.turbine.util.pull.MessageManager # tool.request.link = org.apache.turbine.services.pull.tools.TemplateLink # tool.request.page = org.apache.turbine.util.template.TemplatePageAttributes # # (the next two examples specify mythical classes) # # tool.session.basket = org.sample.tools.ShoppingBasket # tool.persistent.ui = org.sample.tools.PersistentUIManager # # # Tools are accessible in all templates by the <id> given # to the tool. So for the above listings the UIManager would # be available as $ui, the MessageManager as $mm, the TemplateLink # as $link and the TemplatePageAttributes as $page. # # Scopes: # # global: tool is instantiated once and that instance is available # to all templates for all requests. Tool must be threadsafe. # # request: tool is instantiated once for each request (although the # PoolService is used to recycle instances). Tool need not # be threadsafe. # # session: tool is instantiated once for each user session, and is # stored in the user's temporary hashtable. Tool should be # threadsafe. # # authorized: tool is instantiated once for each user session once the # user logs in. After this, it is a normal session tool. # # persistent: tool is instantitated once for each user session once # the user logs in and is is stored in the user's permanent # hashtable. # This means for a logged in user the tool will be persisted # in the user's objectdata. Tool should be threadsafe and # Serializable. # # Defaults: none tool.request.link=org.apache.turbine.services.pull.tools.TemplateLink tool.request.page=org.apache.turbine.util.template.TemplatePageAttributes tool.request.content=org.apache.turbine.services.pull.tools.ContentTool #tool.request.om=org.apache.turbine.om.OMTool #tool.request.intake=org.apache.turbine.services.intake.IntakeTool tool.global.ui=org.apache.turbine.services.pull.util.UIManager # The UI Manager will allow you to skin your Turbine # application using simple properties files that are # located in the WEBAPP/resources/ui/skins/ directory # hierarchy. tool.ui.skin=default
The first step in use of the pull service is deciding on a useful tool API for an object that is available to templates in the Velocity context. This could range from something as simple as the generation of URIs ($link and $content) to a tool for retrieving details of the user's current shopping basket. Define a set of public methods for the tool and they will be available through standard Velocity introspection.
The next step is to decide what scope you need to give the tool. If the tool is retrieving global data in a threadsafe manner, you can make the tool global. If the tool holds data specific to the user look at the session, authorized and persistent scopes (choose persistent for a convenient way of having the tools fields persisted across sessions for logged in users). If the tool needs to be instantiated on each request to fulfill its function, or is not threadsafe, then the request scope will be appropriate.
Tools can implement the org.apache.turbine.services.pull.ApplicationTool or the org.apache.turbine.services.pull.RunDataApplicationTool interface. This will provide a hook for the service to initialise them through the 'init' method and, except for request scope tools, to be refreshed through the 'refresh' method. The type of the init argument 'data' (declared as type 'Object') depends on the scope of the tool. For global tools the argument will be null; for session and persistent scope tools, 'data' will be the current User object; and for request scope tools 'data' will be the current RunData instance.
If you activate the RefreshToolsPerRequest property, every tool is refreshed on each request. On Request Tools this makes no difference, because here, the refresh() is never called (they're instantiated on every request). All other scopes get a call to refresh() on every request. If you chose to implement the RunDataApplicationTool interface, you get the current RunData object passed to your tool.
Important note: request scope tools are recycled by the PoolService. This means they must be written to be reused. This usually means implementing the ApplicationTool interface, and having the 'init' implementation reset all fields.
Current examples of tools include the afore mentioned $link, $page and $content objects, the $ui UI manager, the Intake service tool (org.apache.turbine.services.intake.IntakeTool) and the OM tool (org.apache.turbine.om.OMTool).


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Meet Shakira's two favorite guys!
The singer-songwriter introduces her newborn son Milan, sharing a sweet snapshot of the 2-week-old receiving a kiss from his father, soccer star Gerard Piqué.
The photo is available through the couple's UNICEF website, where the charity is accepting donations of $5-110 in celebration of the arrival of Milan, born Jan. 22 in Barcelona.
"We hope that, in his name, other less privileged children in the world can have their basic needs covered through gifts and donations," Shakira, 36, and Piqué, 26, write. "Thank you for sharing this unforgettable moment with us."
Courtesy UNICEF


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Ohio Town Refunds 980 Speed Camera Tickets For Only Driving 10mph Over The Limit (Versus 11mph)
from the go-speed-racer dept
Clearly, it's a great money maker for the city. Since the month of June, when the cameras were installed, they sent out nearly 11,000 tickets, representing about $1,000,000 in added revenue. Sure, it's possible that the city may need to cover a shortfall in a budget, but is the false guise of public safety the appropriate manner in which to obtain this revenue? At least this method is a little more scientific than other Ohio towns, where a policeman can issue a ticket by simply guessing how fast you were going.


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The act of fondling another's face with a cylindrical object, i.e. a rolled-up newspaper. This is done in conjunction with saying Redzone (in an awkward tone).
Guy 1: (Fondling roomates face with a rolled-up newspaper) Redzone. (in a creepy tone)
Guy 2: Dude, you just redzoned me! What the hell!!!
Guy 2: Dude, you just redzoned me! What the hell!!!
by Ryan Chappelle October 30, 2007
Mike didn't get any action last night from Erin, she doesn't allow any red zone play while Aunt Flo is in town.
by dungpow September 20, 2009
The redzone is the area between your belly button and the base of your penis.
As soon as she crossed into the redzone, I knew I was gonna score.
by K-StateCheese February 13, 2011
A drink consisting of Sailor Jerry rum and Mountain Dew Code Red.
Do you feel like stepping in the red zone or are you gonna be a little bitch.
by Theodore Broosevelt March 29, 2010
The Red Zone Section on a packet of contraceptive pills indicating when menstruation is due to start, this helps couples prepare for a possible drought or messy play.
Guy: What's the problem?
Girl: I'm nearly at the Red Zone on my pills!
Guy: Oh, that time again :s
Girl: Yeah, Red Zone
Girl: I'm nearly at the Red Zone on my pills!
Guy: Oh, that time again :s
Girl: Yeah, Red Zone
by Drew's Chew October 25, 2011
A territory or neighborhood contained of "blood" gang members.
Yo lets meet up wit dem bloods on 4th street in the red zone.
by floridagoon August 17, 2008
An area where cocaine is sold. Usually referring to a drug dealer's territory.
by FJS December 06, 2007


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A recent survey conducted in the United Kingdom and Canada found that the majority of respondents in both countries accepted evolution, according to a September 5, 2017, press release.
Opposition to the new state science standards proposed in New Mexico — which omit references to evolution, human responsibility for climate change, and the age of the earth —is coming fast and furious.
A new survey from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago and the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research examines American attitudes toward climate change.
The Darwin Day Roadshow is returning!
NCSE is pleased to announce that the latest issue of Reports of the National Center for Science Education is now available on-line.
National Center for Science Education, Inc.
1904 Franklin Street, Suite 600
Oakland, CA 94612
fax: 510-788-7971
For Reporters | Store | Events


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September 29. 2013 12:12AM
Garry Rayno's State House Dome: Committee's challenge: how to accept Medicaid money
TUESDAY is the day the nine-member Commission to Study Medicaid Expansion gets down to business. Its task: developing a plan with broad support that would allow state providers to accept $2.4 billion in federal Medicaid money over the next seven years to cover about 49,000 individuals.
Tuesday coincidentally is the first day the state's and the nation's uninsured can access the marketplaces or exchanges to purchase health insurance and ward off penalties that would go into effect if they do not have coverage beginning Jan. 1.
Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act and the exchanges ostensibly are not related, but New Hampshire's and several other states' politicians want to connect the two.
The commission seeks a Medicaid expansion plan to address Senate Republicans' desire for a uniquely New Hampshire solution that uses private insurers to cover the newly eligible Medicaid recipients between 100 and 138 percent of the federal poverty level.
Since the first few commission meetings last summer, state health officials have touted the existing Health Insurance Premium Payment Program that currently serves several hundred people as a way for eligible recipients to stay on their employers' private health insurance while federal money pays the premium and covers auxiliary services equivalent to what Medicaid provides.
The state would not need any special exception or waiver from the federal Center for Medicaid Services as long as the program is voluntary, but it would if the state decides to make it mandatory.
State Medicaid Director
Katie Dunn
told the commission her agency believes it eventually can include between 12,000 and 13,000 individuals under the HIPP program.
The other key component of the conceptual expansion plan is requiring those between 100 and 138 percent of the poverty level to use the exchange to purchase insurance coverage while Medicaid pays the premium and co-payments.
That would leave the Medicaid program as the last resort mostly for the adults between 18 and 64 years old who earn less than 100 percent of the poverty level.
However, last week the state Insurance Department threw a monkey wrench into the caldron. With Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield the only general health carrier in the exchange, the choice Medicaid requires for participants is non-existent.
The state has three insurers running the Medicaid Managed Care program that begins Dec. 1, so recipients have a choice of which company offers the best network for each individual and family.
The Health and Human Services Department had raised the red flag over using the one-carrier exchange early in the process, but the Insurance Department, until last week, maintained the requirement was for choice of plans, which Anthem offers with 12.
The Insurance Department's Jennifer Patterson told the commission that the exchange could be used beginning in 2015, when more carriers are expected to join, but not in 2014 because the period for the state and federal vetting process for carriers already had passed.
Several members of the commission want a definitive answer about the choice requirement from CMS before moving forward, but the commission has to decide on its recommendations next week to meet its Oct. 15 deadline.
Any delay may be a good thing, though, because the state's exchange has been slow to develop, and many people are in the dark about its operation.
In August, the federal government awarded the "navigator" contracts to Bi-State Primary Care Association, a charitable organization representing 12 community health centers and one rural health network, and to Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, leaving that organization three months to train its personnel.
The navigators are separate from a state education and outreach plan developed by the state Insurance Department but never approved by a legislative health reform oversight committee. Moreover, the $5.4 million federal grant for the project was never included in the state budget.
State insurance officials found away around the block by having a quasi-governmental group, New Hampshire Health Plan, apply for the grant.
The group manages the state's high-risk health insurance pool for individuals who are unable to obtain coverage from private insurers, but the high risk pool goes out of existence Jan. 1 under the Affordable Care Act.
The NHHP formally applied for the grant Aug. 29 and earlier this month sent out requests for proposals for providing assistance to those using the marketplace, and for education and outreach. The group hopes to have a kick-off event in the next couple of weeks, but the exchange begins Oct. 1.
Granted, health coverage does not start until Jan. 1, but is it any wonder many are finding good information about the exchange hard to unearth?
If the commission decides to go ahead with the private insurance option through the exchange, those eligible for Medicaid may be in a pickle. Under the best-case scenario, it will be difficult for the state to expand its Medicaid program by the Jan. 1 deadline to optimize the federal dollars available to the state.
But, more important, what will the Medicaid expansion plan look like if the exchange is off-limits for a year? And will two or three Republican Senators go along with Democrats in passing such a proposal?
The prospect of a special session to vote on the commission's recommendation is dimming as most realize the Jan. 1 start date is unrealistic.
Where does that leave people who qualify for expansion but cannot afford to purchase insurance on the exchange and adults below the poverty line who have no access to the exchange? The situation is confusing and convoluted, and that is not likely to change any time soon.
Dinner quandry
To go or not to go, that is the question.
The Legislature Ethics Committee meets Tuesday to decide whether lawmakers can attend the Business and Industries Association's annual dinner and awards celebration without violating the legislative ethics code.
Among those to be honored is former House Speaker
Donna Sytek
of Salem, who was the first woman Speaker of the House in New Hampshire.
The 24 senators and the chairs and vice chairs of House committees have been invited to attend the $125-per-head event free of charge.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman
Susan Almy
, D-Lebanon, asked the Ethics Committee for an opinion as to whether accepting the invitation would violate the Legislature's code of ethics prohibiting gifts worth more than $25.
There are exceptions in the code, and they are many.
One exception the committee will review allows lawmakers to accept tickets or free admission to charitable, ceremonial or political events if a political contribution report is filed, the organization is a registered charity or the event is open to all legislators.
Another exception allows lawmakers to accept ceremonial plaques, objects or other awards if the value is less than $150. Yet another allows lawmakers to attend events on official business.
In years past, the Senate president and House speaker were invited to attend the annual meeting, but this is the first time in a while a large contingent of lawmakers has been invited.
The committee will have to make a fairly quick decision and may not be able to issue an official written opinion before the Oct. 23 event at the Radisson-Manchester.
The committee could decide whether accepting the tickets violates the ethics code, and that would be binding, with the written opinion to be issued later.
The Ethics Committee is scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. in Room 104 of the Legislative Office Building.
Blood flow
A bill to be introduced next year would require health organizations to treat the iron-laden blood of those with hemochromatosis and make it available for the state's blood supply.
People with hemochromatosis have too much iron in their blood, and one of the treatments is withdrawing blood once or twice a week until the extra iron is removed from the person's system. Currently, the blood that is removed is thrown away.
"Fifty to 60 pints of blood are thrown away every week," said Warren Leary of Alton, who suffers from the disease and is the former House sergeant-at-arms. "This bill would require (health organizations) to treat it and put it back into the blood line."
Leary has approached legislators for several years seeking to have a bill introduced to address the issue.
Ken Weyler
, R-Kingston, has agreed to be the prime sponsor of the bill for next session, and Sen.
Lou D'Allesandro
, D-Manchester, has agreed to be the Senate sponsor.
Many hospitals around the country have been given federal waivers to use blood withdrawn because of hemochromatosis once the excess iron has been removed. Leary said he and several doctors will testify for the bill when it has a public hearing next year.
"I've been waiting for this for a long time," he said.
Garry Rayno covers the State House for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. Email him at email@example.com.


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The future for flue-cured tobacco lies overseas. The only hope for expanded sales of U.S. tobacco lies in development of foreign markets.
Kirk Wayne, president of Tobacco Associates, an organization that promotes the export of U.S. flue-cured leaf, told the annual meeting of his organization that there have been some recent successes in maximizing overseas markets.
But it hasn't been easy. "The key to success includes a good quality product, appealing packaging, proactive and well planned marketing sales strategy," said Wayne. "Funding is needed to support the brand, along with solid consumer insights, extensive input about the market, and total organization buy-in and commitment."
There have definitely been some success stories. Who would have predicted a few years ago that Vietnam would one day be a significant user of U.S. flue-cured? Thanks in part to Tobacco Associates' efforts, American bright leaf is finding its way into a number of Vietnamese cigarettes.
The Aroma brand, marketed in North Vietnam, has already proven to be a success, and has become its manufacturer's top-selling brand with 2005 sales exceeding 30 million packs, said Wayne. "Since Aroma's introduction in November 2000, leaf purchases by the manufacturer — Bac Son Cigarette Factory — have roughly doubled annually due to growing consumer demand."
Sunbird, another Bac Son cigarette marketed in North Vietnam, is in its early stages of product introduction. Americans are hoping it does well. Sunbird has the highest U.S. tobacco content of any brand currently marketed in Vietnam.
Paladin, an all-flue-cured brand aimed at the premium market segment, will be launched this year by another Vietnamese manufacturer, the Saigon Cigarette Factory, and it is working on an American-blend brand yet to be named.
Thanh Hoa Cigarette Factory, yet another manufacturer that has received assistance from Tobacco Associates, has developed an extension for its popular Vinataba brand which should be introduced later this year, said Wayne.
And there have been success stories in other overseas markets. Among those listed by Wayne were:
Matrix, launched in November 2002 by Continental Tobacco Group in Hungary, has performed well and is now marketed in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia and Spain. The brand and all extensions (full flavor, lights, and ultra lights) deliver quality taste from the U.S. tobacco core, said Wayne.
Chopper, a brand whose packaging features eye-catching motorcycle imagery, was launched in December 2004 by the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly and has made an impression in the Thai market.
But the outlook is not terribly optimistic for U.S. tobacco producers, said Farrell Delman, president of the Tobacco Merchants Association.
World cigarette consumption is in a long-term decline, and stocks are stable, Delman told the Tobacco Associates audience. And consumption of cigarettes of the American blend — that combination of flue-cured, burley and Oriental tobaccos that has been so popular over most of the last 100 years — is stagnant worldwide.
The solution is for American growers to go out and make something happen.
"Leaf exports provide the only hope for increased utilization of American flue-cured given the ongoing decline in the U.S. cigarette market," said Delman.
"Burley will do better in the new price environment so grow more burley," he advised growers.
There is some growth in key foreign markets. Some Asian and former-Soviet Union markets are opportunities. But stable export development funding will be vital to make any headway here.
Jerry Jenkins, a flue-cured grower from Blackstone Va., and the president of Tobacco Associates, told farmers at the meeting that the opportunity created by the recent price reduction will be a brief one.
"We have a window of opportunity now," Jenkins said. "We need to act on it. We need to assure adequate funding of this organization."
The last thing American farmers want to appear as is "unwilling or unable to compete on the world market…The future is now!"
Wayne concluded with a similar plea for continued farmer commitment to export promotion.
"In my career with this organization, I can honestly state that Tobacco Associates has never been more effective," he said. "We have genuinely dedicated personnel, a team of superior consultants and agents, important and personal contacts abroad and programs that are in real terms building new customers for U.S. flue-cured. Now is a critical time to strengthen and expand the programs of Tobacco Associates."
There was some marketing news among burley farmers and their representatives attending the meeting. The Tennessee/Virginia/North Carolina burley cooperative is partnering with a small tobacco company to produce a new cigarette that will be called Nashville.
"We are working with Wind River Tobacco Company of Jackson Hole, Wyo., to make Nashville, a cigarette whose burley component will be 100 percent American grown," said Charles Finch, managing director of Burley Stabilization Corporation in Knoxville Tenn. "We feel like a good quality cigarette reasonably priced will sell well. We need something to support our farmers and this is one way of doing it. If we get into a profit mode, we will be able to return some of the profits to our farmer members."
George Marks, a burley and dark tobacco grower from Clarksville Tenn., said Nashville will use some of the burley loanstocks and may well end up using some flue-cured loan stocks also.
"It will be a hands-on product for the grower," said Marks, who is president of Burley Stabilization Corp. "We wanted to do something to help ourselves in our current situation."


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Jackie Bradley, 22, hopes to make Red SoxBy JOHN TOMASE
Boston Herald
February 27. 2013 9:57PM
FORT MYERS, Fla. - It has been a while since a youngster forced his way onto the Red Sox roster out of spring training.
It very well may have been Shea Hillenbrand, who impressed Jimy Williams enough in 2001 that the manager pushed Jose Offerman to the bench, shifted Chris Stynes to second base and inserted Hillenbrand as his Opening Day third baseman. Hillenbrand had never played above Double A.
More than a decade later, it's too early to say another player could make a similar leap. But outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., 22, has shown enough in just a few days since Grapefruit League games started to at least create the possibility in the mind of manager John Farrell.
"Is it completely far-fetched that he could make the team?" Farrell said earlier this week. "Good question. I guess the best way to answer that is, coming into camp, we didn't have that as a strong possibility, but yet we're four games into the game schedule and he could still be served well by getting more at-bats in the minor leagues before he comes up, but again, he's making a very strong impression in camp."
Bradley started in center field Tuesday and went 1-for-3 with a single in a 15-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. He also tracked down a fly ball in front of the center field fence and continued to exhibit the outstanding defensive instincts that make him a potential Gold Glover, even if he doesn't possess blazing speed.
"Every time he's stepped on the field, he's done something very positive," Farrell said. "For a young player, he's sound fundamentally. Defensively, he takes outstanding routes to some difficult plays in the outfield, even in the early going here. And he's hit both left-handed and right-handed pitching. As we said (Monday), for a young player to make a positive impression in camp, he's gotten off to a very good start."
With the Red Sox pledging baseball's version of the Hippocratic Oath while building the 2013 roster ("Do no harm ... to the farm"), Bradley represents one of the brightest pieces of the future. It is widely assumed he'll replace Jacoby Ellsbury when the latter inevitably departs in free agency next winter.
But what if Bradley accelerates his timetable? With draft-pick compensation rules changing (in order to receive a compensatory draft pick for a departing free agent, he must have been in your organization from Opening Day), would the Sox ever consider trading Ellsbury now and handing the job to Bradley?
Probably not, but the fact that we're even having this conversation shows just how wide Bradley has opened eyes.
"Well, the player tells you (when he's ready) and a lot of the little things inside of a game," Farrell said. "Defensively, he's very accomplished. But it's going to be how he fares against quality pitching as we go through camp."
Bradley's defense has been a sight to behold.
"We talk about (it) in the staff room," Farrell said. "You'd think he's been working at this a long time because your eyes are trained to follow the pitch and then you see contact, and it almost seems like before contact is made, he's already on the move. It's been impressive to see that. If you just time the sheer foot speed, it's not like he's a world-class sprinter where he's going to outrun the baseball. His instincts and his routes are exceptional."
The Red Sox are content to continue getting to know him. There's no rush to assign him to minor-league camp, and they're intrigued to see what he does against better pitchers later in the spring.
For now, Bradley still appears ticketed for the minors. But stranger things have happened, and he has another month to continue making an impression.


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Very good points, Tim. Comments on vertical antennas. First define vertical: 1) If you are referring to a high-gain FM base station antenna, then I would NOT recommend using one (because the gain compresses the signal pattern down near the horizon - for better repeater operation at long range). 2) If you mean a simple 1/4 wavelength ground-plane whip (like a 19-inch mag-mount attached to a square of sheet steel for the ground-plane), then (if used with a preamp) it will work quite well at either 2m or 70cm on Leo's. Of course you need to use a preamp for the freq. band you desire to receive. I used a 19-inch mag-mt with P432VGA preamp to collect UHF telemetry from AO-51 shortly after launch. Also obvious is the need to provide bypass switching for preamp if you anticipate using the antenna for transmitting. The M2 eggbeaters are probably slightly better than (and a whole lot more $$$) a 19-inch whip as are other more advanced omnis such as: Lindenblad, and Quadrafillar Helix. But a simple little mag-mt 2m whip works great (especially with a preamp). For a home-based Leo station, I think they are fine. For portable (standing in the parking lot) operation the handheld Arrow is hard to beat. For hard-core operation using Oscar-0, may I suggest what I am currently building (tongue-in-cheek): http://www.kl7uw.com/eme1296.htm 73, Ed - KL7UW At 10:05 AM 10/19/2008, email@example.com wrote: >Paul and all, > >I would be curious to hear from anyone currently using verticals >with preamps as their primary receive antennas. I have hesitated to >respond to your initial post, Paul, because (1) I am very new to the >satellites; (2) as a result, my personal experience with antennas >involves only the Arrow handheld antenna, the eFactor 0-gain omni >antenna, the Elk dual-band log periodic an MFJ mag-mount dual-band >vertical for my vehicle, and HT-specific antennas (Pryme AL800, MFJ >1715 and 1717, etc.); and (3) my other knowledge regarding using >omni antennas for satellite work is limited to what I have read here >and elsewhere on the Internet. > >All of that being said, I believe I would opt for something other >than a vertical - even with preamps - as my prime base-station >antennas for the satellies. I haven't yet built one of the Ramsey >preamps, but I intend to as the weather turns cool here in North >Georgia and I spend more time inside. I am curious about its ability >to improve reception for me with the sFactor, which is an >outstanding transmit antenna for reaching the satellites - based on >my experiences with it. I also logged more than a dozen contacts >involving AO-27, AO-51 and SO-50 using the eFactor with an HT as a >handheld antenna. My personal experience suggests that a preamp >would help it on the UHF receive side a great deal, although it >honestly exceeded my expectations - given the physical size of the >UHF part of the antenna. > >The N3TL handheld station has worked 46 states, VE1-2-3-4-5-6-8-9, >Mexico, Venezuela, Barbados and marimtime mobile stations all on 5 >watts' rf out or less. It also has worked 20 states, Ontario, Mexico >and Venezuela on .05-watt (50 milliwatts) on the same set of 2 AA >Duracell batteries. For the sake of perspective, I made my >first-ever satellite contact on June 28th of this year - less than 4 >months ago. > > From here, output power isn't the issue. I believe your money and > time will be best-invested in optimizing the receive side of your > satellite station. > >Best of luck with it, and 73, > >Tim - N3TL >AMSAT Member No. 36820 >Athens, Ga. - EM84ha >-------------- Original message from Edward Cole ><firstname.lastname@example.com>: -------------- > > > > At 09:30 PM 10/18/2008, 12.01 wrote: > > >hello, > > > > > >I have a beginner question. I am in the process of setting up my first > > >satellite station. My initial investment is minimal and I have chosen > > >to start out with a pair of 2m and 70cm omni antennas on the roof. To > > >help out a bit I am also adding a mast mount preamp on each antenna. To > > >protect the preamps they will be switched out of line by a RF sense > > >switch (one for each amp). For reference the two preamps and the pair > > >of RF switches are all made by Ramsey (I know there are better preamps, > > >but not available in my current budget). I am keeping this initial > > >adventure limited to the LEOs (and ISS, etc.). > > > > > >_The question: _ When I assemble the RF switches I must choose a RF > > >range for the switch to work within. The range is determined by the > > >choice of a specific resistor. The default three ranges suggested are > > >0-10 watts, 10-30 watts, and 30-100 watts. I would be able to change > > >the range later but it would require removing the unit from the mast. > > > > > >So... not having any experience (yet),_ what uplink power range is > > >recommend for non-gain antennas?_ Is there one range that should cover > > >the LEOs? If not, how much should I expect the required uplink power > > >needs to vary across various satellites? Is it different for each band? > > >I have read that it is always best to never be louder than the beacon > > >and that's fine. I'm just needing to know where to start off my > > >hardware choices. > > > > > >Thanks in advance for any help from you folks with the know-how. I look > > >forward to a qso with you. > > > > > >.paul ac0z > > >_______________________________________________ > > >Sent via email@example.com. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur > satellite program! > > >Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > I'm surprised that you have had only one reply. I am not QRV on the > > Leos so my advise is not as good as what you might get. My > > "understanding" is that one can work most of the Leos with power > > <10w. This is IF the stations on the bird also comply by not using > > more power than is needed. If a "power war" ensues to try to capture > > the satellite then running low power may be less effective to "break in". > > > > But seeing that so many folks run HT's that typically are 5w, I think > > you might chose the lowest range as long as your equipment output > > matches. You have to consider that you will have no antenna gain > > using omni-directional antennas so uplink RF power needs are > > affected, accordingly. NOW if some experienced sat op will add their > > input on this subject you should have the info you need. > > > > I wonder if the Ramsey preamps allow for "hard" switching. That is > > by separate control line that the radio PTT controls. Then You have > > no issue with RF power and would run the units with the RF sense > > disabled. I should state that "many" (dare I say most) experienced > > VHFers that run high power (>100w) use hard-wired switching. I know > > of NO eme stations that use RF sense control lines. > > > > PS: when my standard AO-10/13/40 ground station is re-installed I > > will have available 5-60w with 16.5 dBc UHF uplink (all-mode). > > > > > > *********************************************************** > > 73, Ed - KL7UW BP40iq, 6m - 3cm > > 144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801, 4x-xp20, 185w > > 1296-EME: DEMI-Xvtr, 0.30 dBNF, 4.9m dish, 60W > > http://www.kl7uw.com AK VHF-Up Group > > NA Rep. for DUBUS: firstname.lastname@example.com > > *********************************************************** > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Sent via email@example.com. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via email@example.com. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
AMSAT Home


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The Rock
Canada's most easterly province Newfoundland (pronounced ""new-fun-lan"") and Labrador consists of two main entities. The Island of Newfoundland, which is the home to the provincial capital St John's. The other entity is Labrador, north of Newfoundland.
Most of the population of the province lives in the far more accessible Newfoundland. The inland areas are heavily forested with peat bogs and lakes, where as the shorelines are spotted with towns.
St John's is the oldest city in North America yet the province was the last to join the to Canadian Confederation as late as 1949. A reminder to how 'new' Canada is as a country.


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Critic's Notebook: Yes, unrelenting carnage is a problem in video games — but not in the way most people might think.
Twice now I have failed to finish the 2011 film "Drive." The first time I left the theater. The second time, encouraged by friends who love the movie, I tried to watch it at home. Shortly after Ryan Gosling smashed a man to death in an elevator, I was out.
Bottom line: I avoid ultra-violent entertainment. Unless it's a video game.
It's not because I write about them for a living. It's because the modern, big-budget game that doesn't celebrate the art of shooting is as rare these days as an original Intellivision console.
THE CULTURE OF VIOLENCE: Art | Film | Television | Hollywood
In the wake of last year's tragedy in Newtown, Conn., Vice President Joe Biden met with representatives from the video game industry. The conversation was about how to limit gun violence in games. Earlier, the National Rifle Assn. also tossed out the expected names — "Mortal Kombat," "Grand Theft Auto" — in its own war on violent pop culture. After all, Newtown gunman Adam Lanza was reportedly addicted to the "Call of Duty" war games.
But like many who love to play video games and write critically about the field, I rolled my eyes when interactive entertainment was once again singled out for inciting real-life violence. But I wasn't surprised. Video game publishers aren't much for providing arguments to the contrary.
Instead of a story, 505 Games' "Sniper Elite V2" boasts a "kill-cam," which breaks from the game narrative to detail exactly how a bullet wreaks havoc on a victim's innards. "Borderlands 2," from Gearbox Software and 2K Games, is so efficient in its line-'em-up, shoot-'em-down formula that it makes a joke of it. Here's an example: There's a character named Face McShooty, a mohawked buffoon who hollers and yelps until you shoot him in the face.
And yes, Face McShooty made me laugh.
Why "Drive" — but not these games — has an effect on me is not easy to articulate, but it has to do with context and presentation. Violent images in most games come fast — too fast for them to linger in one's mind. The next mission is always just seconds away, and the development of most characters stops at the name. Face McShooty isn't anything resembling a real person; he's a punch line.
Ultimately, the difference between "Drive" and "Call of Duty" is that the film is so emotionally involving that it forced me to look away from the screen. The game is simply a test of button-pushing endurance. That's OK, as it's probably what makes for an effective game. But that doesn't mean it's an interesting one.
THE CULTURE OF VIOLENCE: World Cinema
There are Cuban soldiers in the latest "Call of Duty," but they're obstacles — the military game equivalent of a barrel in "Donkey Kong." Only here, you press a button to shoot instead of pressing a button to jump.
I've had fun playing some of these games and don't deny they can be, well, a blast. Each year, shooters get a little more refined in their controls, and the settings become a little more expansive or outlandish (witness the island sex and savagery of "Far Cry 3"). Yet these are tweaks to a well-honed formula rather than creative advancements. It's violence, with a different-style template.
Don't just take my word for it. "The incredible success of the 'Call of Duty'-type stuff drives games away from more constructive conflict. I think that's one of the sad things and one of the things I don't like about the game business…. Enough with the shooting. Figure out another type of productive conflict — building, creating."
That's Edmonton, Canada-based Greg Zeschuk, who last year resigned from BioWare, the company he co-founded about two decades ago. One of the most successful game operations in recent history, BioWare's credits include the "Mass Effect" series and "Star Wars: The Old Republic," the former of which was heavily lauded for its use of narrative elements.
THE CULTURE OF VIOLENCE: On-screen history | Theater | Research
"Call of Duty: Black Ops II," the latest blockbuster in the Activision Blizzard series, was the top-selling game of 2012 and fastest ever to $1 billion in sales, hitting the milestone in just 15 days. It boasts writing from David S. Goyer, who counts Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" trilogy among his credits, makes overtures to current events and the debate surrounding unmanned drones, and features digital interpretations of the likes of David Petraeus and Oliver North.
Yet "Zero Dark Thirty" it is not. Make no mistake, "Call of Duty" asks questions of the gamer. They are all variations on the following themes: How fast can you shoot, and can you sneak through this area undetected? It's a test of reflexes.
It's true, when 10 or 15 seconds of the game are flashed on the news, it does indeed look garish, and early in "Black Ops II" gamers even watch a character get incinerated. Yet blink and you'll be behind in the action. I, for instance, had no idea my character was talking to a real-life figure such as North until I played the game a second time. The story is an accessory and not an examination of war or shooting.
"The industry saw what the reflex game mechanic could do and they invested heavily in it," said Dan Connors, a former LucasArts employee who co-founded Telltale Games, the independent company responsible for last year's wildly successful story-driven take on "The Walking Dead." "They left behind this other form of entertainment, which is allowing people to interact with characters inside of a story."
Like cinema and television, there's a vast array of video game content to provide exceptions, and there's even the occasional blockbuster such as "Halo 4" that's able to push the shoot-'em-up genre into more emotional territory, which did so by taking a laser-sharp focus on its main character. Though not a shooter, another noteworthy title is the action-driven assassination game "Dishonored," which is as damp and macabre as they come, but challenges gamers to constantly question how they move through the world.
Yet it would be nice if the video game industry used the current gun debate as an opportunity, a chance to openly discuss whether its use of violence is artistic or gratuitous. It's the time for self-evaluation and to ask whether the industry's biggest games — the so-called AAA titles — are pushing the industry forward or simply finding new places and new ways to kill things.
"This," said Connors, can be "the moment in which games started to create characters you cared about and characters who felt real." Independent developers like Telltale are taking risks and challenging the industry to tell better, deeper and more involving stories.
They're not doing so by creating shooters. In fact, how to build a better shooter is not a question that should be asked. Even the bad ones today are fairly competent in their game mechanics. The question is how to make a more challenging game, and it's not one some in the industry may be willing to ask.
"Seeing it from within a big company, the reality is you go where the money is," said Zeschuk, now spearheading the Beer Diaries, an online destination for craft beer. "You can try to change the world, but if you can't create shareholder value while doing it, you're hosed."
— Todd Martens
Follow us on Twitter: @LATHeroComplex
Ron Gilbert's 'The Cave' puts adventure back in play
'Fire Emblem: Awakening' review: Swords kill, love hurts
'Dead Space 3': Steve Papoutsis talks 'low-fantasy' thrills
'Dead Space 3' review: Game ups the action, loses the scares
PlayStation 4? Sony set to make announcement Feb. 20
Nintendo vows to rethink its approach to the 'Zelda' series
'Resident Evil: Revelations' skips the PS Vita; here's why
Greg Zeschuk: From running BioWare to drinking beer
'Beyond Two Souls,' 'Star Trek': 13 games to cheer in 2013
Year in video games: Indie titles hint at gaming possibilities


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Taylor Swift Reveals New Album Name & Release Date!
Taylor Swift is revealing so many cool secrets she has been holding in and one of them is her new album name – 1989!
The 24-year-old singer revealed that this is her first pop album and it will be released on October 27. She was inspired by the 1980s and since she was born in 1989, that is why she chose it for the name of the album.
"I was listening to a lot of late 80s pop," Taylor revealed.
Taylor revealed that there will be a deluxe version of the album that will include three extra songs. The three bonus tracks are just voice memos from her phone in which she is spitting out ideas and then they turned into real songs!
ARE YOU EXCITED for Taylor Swift's new album?
Posted to: Taylor Swift


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School Trust Insurance Pooling
Public school corporations may establish trusts to establish and maintain insurance coverage. Pursuant to Indiana Code (IC) 20-42.5-2-1, (additional guidance is also provided in Rule 760 IAC 1-75 a School Trust doing business in Indiana must register with the Indiana Department of Insurance.
To register a school trust, please provide the following information in a three-ring binder tabbed according to the list of required items in the application.
- School Trust Application
- Policy Review Standards Checklist - Item 13
- Biographical Affidavit Form (originally signed and notarized) - Item 15
Registration fee of $350 payable to: Indiana Department of Insurance
Send the completed application and information to:
Admissions Coordinator
Indiana Department of Insurance
311 West Washington Street, Suite 300
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2787
After we receive the proper filing and review is completed, we will prepare a letter of registration will be prepared and sent to the contact person listed on the application.
Once a School Trust has been registered, Annual and Quarterly filings are required per 760 IAC 1-75-8.


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Raising awareness about spasticity
Spasticity is defined as the uncontrolled tightening or contracting of the muscles that is common in individuals with neurological conditions and affects over 12 million people throughout the world across a variety of conditions.
Conditions where individuals are affected by spasticity include.
Cerebral Palsy (CP) Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Stroke Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
and many other conditions
Common symptoms of spasticity may vary across conditions, but can include:
• muscle tightness or stiffness in the arms or legs which may make it more difficult for a person to move or perform certain activities • uncontrolled tightening or contracting of the muscles which can be very painful • the severity of the symptoms will vary from person to person
Treatment for spasticity:
Although there is no cure for spasticity, there are a number of treatments which may improve the lives of individuals living with spasticity across conditions states. These treatment options include: physical and/or occupational therapy, as well as medication and surgical options. Please go to the condition specific pages to learn more about what treatments for spasticity are commonly used for you or your loved ones.
View this infographic for more background on how spasticity impacts individuals across a range of conditions including cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury and stroke.
In order to build a community of support for those whose lives are affected by spasticity, five patient advocacy organizations have come together to form The Spasticity Alliance. Together, the Spasticity Alliance aims to raise awareness about spasticity, empower people living with spasticity, and serve as a resource hub for information about spasticity, condition management, and treatment.
You are not alone in your journey with spasticity. There are many people who are traveling this path alongside you; care partners, physicians, others with spasticity. Learn about them and their stories. Share your own story with the people in your life who care about your health and wellbeing. There is great power in sharing your story.
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On January 21, 2010, I was 34 years old when I was injured in a serious car accident with a drunk driver. I was alert and responsive at the scene of the accident but taken to St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY for treatment of a broken nose and finger.
In some cases, the surgeon will use additional
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in the front for stability. This is usually a plate and screws in the front of the spine. If support is also needed from the back of the spine, a series of screws and rods may be used. This is called a Easemax Womens Elegant Zip Up Chunky High Heeled Pointed Toe Ankle High Martin Booties Yellow iMjg3Q
and helps to achieve a posterior fusion in addition to an interbody fusion.
The Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion may be performed to treat the following conditions:
The procedure can be performed through a traditional open incision or a minimally invasive procedure depending on the patient and the condition to be treated. Posterior lumbar interbody fusion is performed under general anesthesia, meaning the patient goes to sleep. During the surgery the patient lies face down on a special surgical bed. The procedure is performed through an incision on the back. The length of the incision depends on how many levels are being treated.
Once the surgeon safely creates a window to see the spine, the lamina is removed in a laminectomy. This allows visualization of the nerve roots. The facet joints may also be cut away to also give the nerve roots more room. The nerve roots are carefully moved to either side so that the disc space can be accessed from both sides. Pedicle screws are inserted into the bone to allow for fixation. A rod is placed through the screws. This provides more stability for the fusion to heal and help realign the spine to the proper curvature.
The damaged disc is partially removed with surgical tools. This approach does not allow as much of the disc to be removed as in a front or side approach. Once the disc space has been cleared out, the surgeon prepares the bony surfaces for a fusion. An implant filled with bone graft is placed in the now empty disc space between the two vertebral bodies. Bone graft inside the disc space will then go on to fuse, healing the two bones together in this area. Once the interbody implant is placed, screws and rods are fixed to provide compressive forces for optimal fusion. Additional bone graft material is also placed along the back of the spine, providing an additional area for spine fusion to occur. If the fusion is successful, the vertebrae will move as one unit. This reduces future problems at this spinal segment. If the bones do not fuse as planned this is called a nonunion, or pseudarthrosis.
Any spine surgery has surgical risks involved. You need to discuss these with your surgeon at your pre-operative appointment.Read about Preparing for Spine Surgery and General Complications from Spine Surgery .Bone Grafting
There are multiple options for bone graft material for spinal fusion. Surgeons at the Virginia Spine Institute may use your own locally harvested bone, called autograft bone. This may come from a combination of bone from the area of the spine being operated on or from your hip bone. Bone grafting can also come from donated and prepared bone, called allograft bone. Read more about how bone grafting is used as a surgical innovation.
Principles are ways of successfully dealing with reality to get what you want out
Whatever success I've had in life hasn't been because of anything unique about me—it's because of principles that I believe anyone can adopt. I created this animated series to share them with you.
Created and Narrated by Ray Dalio
Rather than thinking, 'I'm right.' I started to ask myself, 'How do I know I'm right?'"
Watch the full TED talk
Ray Dalio, one of the world's most successful investors and entrepreneurs, shares the unconventional principles that helped him create unique results in life and business—and which any person or organization can adopt to better achieve their goals. Dalio's original has been downloaded over three million times, and this expanded and revised edition is the first version available inprint.
Bill Gates
Mike Bloomberg
Arianna Huffington
Mark Cuban
Mark Benioff
Jamie Dimon
Reed Hastings
Tony Robbins
Adam Grant
Andrew Ross Sorkin
The first book tells the story of Dalio's career and explains his overarching approach to life using principles that affect everything he does—most importantly, how he pursues meaningful work and meaningfulrelationships.
The second book explains the unusual way Dalio ran Bridgewater Associates for over 40 years, and how the firm's unique approach to working together led to its uniqueresults.
Preview the Audiobook
In 1975, Ray Dalio founded an investment firm, Bridgewater Associates, out of his two-bedroom apartment in New York City. Over forty years later, Bridgewater has grown into the fifth most important private company in the United States, according to magazine, and Dalio himself has been named to magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Along the way, Dalio discovered a set of unique principles that have led to Bridgewater's exceptionally effective culture, which he describes as "an idea meritocracy that strives to achieve meaningful work and meaningful relationships through radical transparency." It is these principles, and not anything special about Dalio—who grew up an ordinary kid in a middle-class Long Island neighborhood—that he believes are the reason behind his success.
Due to high demand, Principles is currently unavailable at a number of booksellers. We apologize for the inconvenience. To get your copy of Principles now, visit one of the other retailers or reserve your copy with your favorite bookseller to be near the top of their shipping list.
As soon as you place your order this gift pack will wing its way to you (or the recipient) containing the experience voucher (usually valid for 9 months from date of purchase unless stated otherwise on the product information), and instructions on how to use yourvoucher.
Standard delivery is charged at £2.49. Royal Mail 1st Class Post, usual delivery time is 1-3 working days. Recorded Delivery is charged at £3.99, usual delivery time is 1-3 working days with a proof of delivery signature. Please note that, unfortunately, we must wait up to 10 working days (or 20 working days for overseas deliveries) before we are able to refund or replace items missing in transit. In order for us to investigatefurther, you must advise us of non-receipt of your gift pack within 21 days from the purchase date.
All experience gift packs are dispatched under plain cover, on the day you order if we receive your order before 2pm uk time. Please note that if you place your order after 2pm it will be despatched on the next working day. Please remember to allow extra time for deliveries around special occasions such as Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's and Father's Day.
If you require your pack to be sent abroad, the cost of postage will be £8.70 to Europe and £10 to the rest of the world. This is standard post, non trackable. Please call 0344 504 0844 or 0044 1494 880000 to place your order.
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Casino vote stirs emotions on both sidesBy DAVE SOLOMON
New Hampshire Union Leader
May 23. 2013 7:48PM
The organization representing construction workers in New Hampshire decried the 199-164 vote by the House on Wednesday to kill casino gambling, while the restaurant and lodging association applauded the move.
The business community was as divided as the Legislature on the issue — so much so that two leading industry trade groups could not build enough consensus to take a stand.
The Retail Merchants Association and the Business and Industry Association both remained neutral throughout the debate, and declined to react to the outcome.
"Our members were pretty split," said Nancy Kyle, president and CEO of the Retail Merchants Association of New Hampshire.
"We have been neutral on gambling for many years, basically because we have a divided membership," said Adrienne Rupp, vice president of communications for the Business and Industry Association.
One group that came out aggressively against the bill, the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association, applauded the House vote.
"We encouraged our members to call their representatives in the weeks leading up to the vote," said NHLRA President and CEO Mike Somers. "We contacted all legislators in the House in an e-mail blast about a week ago, and followed that up with a letter. We invested a lot of time in this effort and I believe the members of the board are quite happy with the result."
Many restaurant and hotel operators in the state saw a casino as "cannibalizing" the existing hospitality and tourism industry, Somers said.
The vote came as a big disappointment to the construction and building trades, which had lobbied hard for passage. Joe Casey, president of the New Hampshire Building and Construction Trades Council, found fault with both political parties.
"I believe the House (Democratic) leadership is trying to force a broad-based tax on the governor and the Senate," he said. "And I believe that the Republicans who were for gaming last year and all of the sudden are not for gaming this year were just playing politics at the expense of New Hampshire workers, and that's pretty sad."
Casey said the construction of the casino would have helped boost employment for an industry that's lost 10,000 jobs since the Great Recession began in 2008. He pointed to the experience of other states like Pennsylvania, where the arrival of a casino triggered other construction jobs nearby.
"When you put in a project like that, it attracts all types of other infrastructure and construction jobs in the surrounding communities," he said. "We need to get to work, and that (new casino) would have done it."
Casey said the devastation of the construction industry has largely gone unnoticed because it is so dispersed throughout the state and spread out over multiple companies.
"Had one manufacturing plant laid of 10,000 workers, you'd certainly hear about it," he said, "but when the construction industry statewide loses 10,000 construction jobs, and there is no single voice, no one pays attention. And now, because the industry is saturated with out-of-work employees, wages and benefits for those who remain go down."
While Casey saw the casino as critical to the viability of his industry, representatives of arts and entertainment venues viewed it as a threat to their existence.
"I'm very relieved," said Nicolette B. Clarke, executive director of the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord. Clarke testified twice against the bill — once before the joint House and Senate committee and once before a House subcommittee focused on community impact.
She said the 1,500-seat venue proposed for a casino would compete for exactly the same acts that are the lifeblood of places like the Capitol Center, the Music Hall in Portsmouth, the Palace Theater in Manchester and the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom.
"We feel like we can compete with each other because we're all paying the same rates," she said. Experience elsewhere has shown casino operators with their national reach can easily outbid local venues.
The Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, which came out against the casino just before the vote, was the only chamber in the state to take a stand.
"I would have to say our board is pleased that gambling was turned down," said Chamber President Doug Bates. "The 35 votes was not a huge margin, but I thank those who voted against it."


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Architectural Drafters
Also called: Architect, Drafter, Draftsman, Intern Architect
What they do:Prepare detailed drawings of architectural designs and plans for buildings and structures according to specifications provided by architect.
On the job, you would:
- Operate computer-aided drafting (CAD) equipment or conventional drafting station to produce designs, working drawings, charts, forms, and records.
- Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
- Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
Engineering and Technology
Arts and Humanities
Math and Science
Safety and Government
Basic Skills
People and Technology Systems
Problem Solving
Ideas and Logic
Visual Understanding
People interested in this work like activities that include creating, designing, and making your own rules.
They do well at jobs that need:
You might use software like this on the job:
Graphics or photo imaging software
Optical character reader OCR or scanning software
You might like a career in one of these industries:
See more details at O*NET OnLine about architectural drafters.


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Explore far-away countries and continents in depth. Get to know and understand fascinating cultures. Thrilling adventures against breathtaking natural backdrops. Relaxed days filled with exclusive taste experiences. Whether on one of our ships or on board our private jet, the ALBERT BALLIN: with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, you will experience the wonders of this world from completely new, spectacular perspectives. Whichever cruise you choose, as our guest you can look forward to fabulous thrilling moments at sea, ashore and in the air. In April and October 2019, our two new expedition ships will take to the sea: HANSEATIC nature and HANSEATIC inspiration.
Whatever your dream route or destination, our preview provides an overview of all cruises, expeditions and private jet adventures for the 2020 – 2021 season.
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More information about our international cruises on the HANSEATIC, BREMEN and the EUROPA 2 can be found in our English catalogues. All other catalogues are only available in German language.
Exclusive Club cruises and valuable bonus miles that you can collect and redeem on our ships. Welcome to the Club!
Welcome to EXPERIENCE.tv, our online English-language film format.
Detailled information about our fleet, cruises and destinations.
Our expedition and cruise ships, each with its own special character, hundreds of destinations, on-board and shore programmes with something for everyone whatever the spontaneous mood, attractive cruise combinations, short trips to get your feet wet, long voyages for epicures and experts. Flexibility and tremendous variety are outstanding characteristics of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. But one thing never changes: making your personal wishes come true and turning your visions of what a cruise should be into reality are always at the focus of our efforts. We want to make you forget your everyday cares so that you can discover how wonderful it is to live without constantly looking at the clock. A completely new kind of freedom is waiting for you. Cruises and expeditions are not only a wonderful way to travel - they are also highly individual.


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This is a vocal track filled with a sadness and some kind of regret. Should be suitable for frozen cinematic motion and etc.
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Large Red Flexi tub
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On the German Affinity for Conceptual Sculpture
Artsy Editorial
Alicja Kwade's mixed-media works manipulate mental perceptions and physical experiences of how the body inhabits space and time. Kwade frequently uses imperfect doubling, mirror images, and repetition in her practice. For example, Dimension +1-+9 (2012) and Dimension -1--9 (2012) are a pair of clocks ticking just faster and slower than one second; Nissan (Parallelwelt 1 + 2) (2009) features two Nissan cars as mirror images, including topical scratches. Her common materials include items found in everyday life—like coins, metal pipes, mirrors, glass, lights, and bicycles—that she then distorts to create sensory illusions. The results, sometimes slouching or stretching, can appear anthropomorphic. A recent installation Durchbruch durch Schwäche (Breakthrough Through Weakness) (2011), comprised of over 300 clock weights, was based on the closing sequence of Christopher Nolan's 2010 film Inception.
Polish, b. 1979, Katowice, Poland, based in Berlin, Germany
On the German Affinity for Conceptual Sculpture
Artsy Editorial
Trending Artists Under 40 at Art Basel 2014
Artsy Editorial
Alicja Kwade's "7 x Dionysus Offers" on view at Museum Haus Esters, Krefeld, Germany through February 16, 2014
Johann König


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GREENVILLE, Ill. - The Greenville College Athletic Department hosted its Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, April, 21 2012. Three teams and five individuals were inducted into the class of 2012. The inductees included the 2001, 2002, and 2003 track and field teams, team category; Tom Young, athletic category; Dan Cunningham, athletic category; Mark Theiss, athletic category, Sharon Alger, meritorious achievement category, and Robert Johnson, coaching category.
Matt Reeb was also recognized as the recipient of the Order of the Orange and Black.
Hall of Fame Inductees
2001 Track and Field Team, Team Category
The 2001 Track and Field team brought home the first national championship in Greenville College Athletics history and started a long championship streak for the track and field program at GC.
The team won the NCCAA indoor national invitational and went on to become the NCCAA outdoor national champions. The team went on to the NCAA Division III championships and finished 29th at the outdoor national meet. In addition to these team victories, there were many individual victories as well, including Coach Brian Patton's "Coach of the Year" Award and both Nate Johns and Justin Snider being deemed NCAA All-Americans.
2002 Track and Field Team, Team Category
The 2002 Greenville College Track and Field team continued with the NCCAA indoor and outdoor national championships and proved that GC track and field deserved their new celebrity status.
Not only did the team win the NCCAA outdoor championship, they set two new national records for most points scored with 179 and largest margin of victory. Individually, Carlos Leonard was recognized as an NCAA All-American and Nate Johns was honored again as team MVP. The coaching staff was awarded as well and brought home the new "Coaching-Staff-of-the-Year" title. Overall, the team set six GC records, 28 season best performances, and 21 lifetime bests.
2003 Track and Field Team, Team Category
Known for their outstanding sprinting, the 2003 team defended both their indoor and outdoor NCCAA championships. This team still has the record for best NCAA placement by any Greenville College team in any sport, with their seventh place finish in the championships.
The team set the GC record for most individual champions at one meet, with four athletes bringing home a total of six championships. The coaches were once again named indoor and outdoor staff of the year for the third year in a row. The team had six NCAA All-Americans, including Nate Johns, Bryson Taylor, Danny Donaldson, Brandon Tripp, Kenneth Woodhouse, and Terry Cantley. The 2003 team will always be remembered as one of the most successful and competitive groups in team and school history.
Thomas W. Young, Athlete Category
Tom Young, a class of 1960 graduate excelled in basketball during his time at Greenville College.
Currently a resident of Springfield, Ill., and formerly of Jacksonville, Ill., Tom transferred to Greenville in 1960 and immediately made an impact on the GC basketball program. He led the team in scoring in each of the three years he was on the GC varsity team and had a career total of 1,241 points. Tom received numerous awards for his basketball skills, highlighted by an NAIA District 20 all-state award in 1963.
He married his wife, Barbara, in 1961 and they have five children and six grandchildren. Tom has worked as a teacher, a principal, and an athletic director and has served as a president for the Rotary and a Lions clubs. His athletic success, impact on many public school students, and his contributions to his community make Tom a deserving member of the GC Athletic Hall of Fame.
Dan C. Cunningham, Athlete Category
Dan Cunningham graduated from Greenville College in 1971 and is known as one of the best tennis players in GC history. His four year career started in 1968 and he and his team improved a great deal over those four years.
He won numerous awards for his tennis performance including team MVP in 1970, NAIA District 20 Doubles Champion in 1971, and All-Conference honors. Dan's senior year the team had a 12-0 record, Greenville College's first team to finish the season with a perfect record. That 1971 team was inducted into the GC Hall of Fame in 2002. He had a life-time record of 71-9 and was known as a leader on and off the court.
Since graduating from Greenville, Dan has started a career as an independent insurance agent and is now a partner of Alliance Insurance Agency of Dallas. He also has served the Lions Club, the YMCA, and the Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife, Doris, have two children, Adrian and Ashley. His outstanding personal records and character make Greenville College proud to call Dan a member of the GC Athletic Hall of Fame.
Mark A. Theiss, Athlete Category
Mark Theiss is a 1999 Greenville College graduate who became GC's most prolific runner. He won multiple awards and participated in both Cross Country and Track and Field while at Greenville College.
Mark was GC's first NCCAA individual national champion in track and was an NCAA Division III All-American twice for his outstanding Cross Country performance. Mark was voted MVP of the GC Cross Country team in 1996 and won the SLIAC Conference Championship in 1995 and 1996.
After graduating from GC, Mark worked as an electrician and is now the owner of Theiss Construction Company. He and his wife, Meghan, have three daughters and live in Colorado. Mark's outstanding athleticism coupled with his exceptional character make him an appreciated and admired member of the Greenville College Athletic Hall of Fame.
Sharon K. Alger, Meritorious Achievement Category
Sharon Alger, a graduate of the Greenville College class of 1961, has been a part of many facets of her alma mater. She has been a professor, coach, athletic director, counselor, research specialist, faculty athletic representative, and a dean in her two decades of service to GC.
Sharon was a basketball star during her time at GC and was an active member of many service clubs and religious ministries. She came back to Greenville in 1966 as the Dean of Women and taught Physical Education. She retuned once again after earning her Ph.D. and served as the Chair of the Psychology Department. In 1998, Sharon became the Director of Athletics and followed that with a position as the Dean of College Planning and Assessment. She also coached women's basketball, softball, volleyball, and tennis, in her stints at Greenville.
Clearly, Sharon was a huge part of the Greenville College community in her years attending and working at GC. She is known for her ability to inspire, organize, and truly care for students. It is these skills, along with her many contributions to GC and notable athletic ability as a player and a coach, that make her a deserving member of the meritorious achievement category in the Greenville College Athletic Hall of Fame.
Robert W. Johnson, Coach Category
Bob Johnson, a class of 1968 graduate of Greenville College, has distinguished himself as an award-winning head and assistant coach of six sports at GC. He was awarded the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Lee McKinney Distinguished Service Award in 2011 for the leadership, dedication, service, and perseverance he has displayed at Greenville College and throughout his career.
Bob was a member of the GC Men's Soccer Team, who won two Prairie College Conference championships in his time on the team. As a GC athlete, Bob also won an NAIA All-District Award in 1967. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army as a medic in Vietnam and was awarded the U.S. Army Commendation Medal for Heroism for disregarding his own injury to tend to others in need during an attack. He returned to Greenville in 1987 as a professor and a coach of the cross country and track and field teams. His teams were successful and he continued that coaching success in 1994, when he became the first coach of the new women's soccer team. The cross country, soccer, and track and field teams have flourished under his guidance.
Bob and his wife Carol are residents of Greenville. They have two children and five grandchildren.
Order of the Orange and Black Recipient
Matt Reeb
Matt Reeb, a class of 2010 Greenville graduate, was an athletic and academic standout at GC. He had an impressive soccer career at Greenville College and collected numerous awards and honors over the four years he played there.
Matt, a resident of Belleville, Ill., was awarded the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year and was part of the NCAA All-Region First Team in 2007. He was awarded SLIAC All-Conference honors his sophomore, junior, and seniors years as well. He went on to win a spot in the NCCAA Division I All-American Team his senior year to wrap up his impressive reign at Greenville.
Matt's Christian character and academic performance also were impressive to his coaches, professors, and teammates at GC. He was known as a natural leader and a great role model. These traits serve him well, as he is currently the head boy's and girl's soccer coach as well as a physical education teacher at Gibault High School in Waterloo, Ill.


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Those who read V.C. Andrews' Flowers in the Attic at some point in the last few decades are likely looking forward to this weekend when Lifetime airs the small screen adaptation of the novel about four kids locked away for years by their own mother. It's a dark, twisted and emotional story involving abuse, neglect and more incest than you might expect from your typical work of fiction. And it was once adapted into a major motion picture in 1987, starring Kristy Swanson.
For those who haven't read the book, Flowers in the Attic is set in the 50s and involves four siblings whose mother, Corrine, brings them back to their grandparents' wealthy estate after their father dies. In an effort to win her father's forgiveness and a place in his will, Corrine and her mother (a.k.a "The Grandmother") conspire to hide the kids in the northern wing bedroom to keep Corrine's father from learning of their existence. What's supposed to be days or weeks ends up spanning years. During which time Corrine slowly distances herself from her children, and the grandmother abuses them, delivering steady "justice" to the children she believes are the devil's spawn.
The 1987 movie based on the book was campy, stripped down and barely resembled Andrews' novel. If you're a fan of the book, it's likely you're hoping Lifetime's movie will be better, in which case, you'll be happy to know that it is. But there are some things you might want to know going into it, so you know how to accurately set your expectations ahead of the film's debut (Saturday, January 18 at 8:00 p.m.). In terms of spoilers, when comparing the book to the film, I'm aiming for vagueness here. Unless you haven't read the book, in which case, some spoilers ahead.
It's not a page-for-page adaptation but it works a lot of the key scenes in.If you were expecting this TV movie to cram every single event from Andrews' novel into an hour and a half's worth of footage, you will be disappointed, though I'll add that your expectations were too high going into it. If this were a miniseries or limited series, that might've been possible, but let's face it. Andrews' novel spans years and no matter how much they condense, they're not going to get all of it in there.
With that said, the film does manage to catch most of the necessary highlights from the original story, among which are the Christmas party, Mickey the mouse, Cathy's hair and more. Some of the more abusive elements of the story are changed a bit and even toned down, but the alterations aren't so drastic that the context is dramatically altered. Among the most notable deviations from the story is the ending, which takes a bit of a detour at one point. It's pretty evident that the alteration was done to create a bit more suspense for the final act. Rest assured, it doesn't change much about the story -- certainly not by comparison to the ending of the original movie. And it leaves off with an opening for a sequel, which we may very well see as Lifetime says they're developing Petals on the Wind.


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Update: Definitely will be this Thursday. Check the PRESS RELEASE! **
Looks like Canadians may just see the BlackBerry Bold on Rogers before this week is through. The invite above spills the details... let's hope this launch party is accompanied with others across the country and signifies the nationwide availablility of the Bold!
We heard the Bold received its final certification by Rogers this past Friday, which typically means it should be available for dealers to order a few days later, and then add another day or two for them to take delivery. So if it is not quite available at all locations by Thursday we won't get too upset, as it should be everywhere soon.
[ via mobilesyrup ]