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I recently spent some time with the Adobe Government team to discuss how the 'consumerization of IT', and the increasing expectation of users to have simpler, easier and more effective user-centered experiences in the enterprise, is just as applicable to citizens and constituents in open and electronic Government. We captured our discussions as a series of 3 interviews that the Adobe Government team are posting over the coming days.
In part one, we have a general introduction to the Technology and Experience Innovation team at Adobe, what constitutes a typical day for the team, and broadly, the importance of user-experience as we see it as a complement to technology expertise. In the interviews that follow, the team asked me about the importance of user experience in government, the relevance to the Open Government Initiative in the United States, and what we consider the future might be for digital experiences in the enterprise and in government.
I'd love to take some dialogue and questions to this blog, and here your own thoughts and ideas! The first part of the video is here.


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The Dodgers are considered the front-runners this winter by multiple sources for the services of Zack Greinke. With the Dodgers' rotation already full, someone is going to have to go if the team does indeed sign the right-hander.
But who?
The Dodgers have Clayton Kershaw, who absolutely isn't going anywhere. Other than him, the remaining five pitchers could all be trade candidates.
That leaves Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang, Josh Beckett, Ted Lilly and, yes, Chad Billingsley.
Let's break this down a bit.
The 34-year-old southpaw is coming off one of the best seasons of his career and probably has the most trade value of the five.
He was second to Kershaw in innings pitched (198 1/3), WHIP (1.22) and actually had the lowest walks per nine of all the Dodgers' starters (2.45). He was durable in his first season in Dodger Blue and would be attractive to a team looking for a back-end starter who's good for at least 175 innings.
Capuano has a somewhat friendly contract, as he's signed for $6 million for the 2013 season. He and the club also have a mutual option for 2014 at $8 million (or a $1 million buyout). He's guaranteed $7 million, which is a nice price for a No. 4 starter (FanGraphs valued his 2012 season at $9.4 million).
Trade possibility: 80 percent
The hulking right-hander had a perfectly mediocre 2012 season -- as mediocre as his pitching career, I suppose. But Harang, 34, does hold some value.
In his last nine seasons, he's failed to top 161 innings just once (2010). He's averaged 183 innings in that span. In his last two seasons, he's averaged 175 innings and a 102 ERA+, which is basically league-average.
Harang is signed for $7 million this season. He, like Capuano, has a mutual option for 2014 at $7 or $8 million ($2 million buyout). He's guaranteed $9 million, which makes him a little less valuable to a team looking for a No. 4 or 5 starter, despite the inflated value of pitching these days.
Trade possibility: 40 percent
The Dodgers acquired the former flamethrower in August as part of the Adrian Gonzalez deal. He enjoyed moderate success in 43 innings of work as a Dodger. His overall numbers left a lot to be desired, but his 2.93 ERA and 3.61 FIP gives me hope for him the upcoming season.
Beckett has enjoyed odd-year success in the majors, meaning every other year, he has a good or at least decent season.
He hasn't thrown more than 193 inning since 2009 (his age-29 season) and is no lock to even throw 180 innings (164 average in the last three seasons). That, coupled with his unfriendly contract make him a prime candidate to remain in Dodger Blue.
Beckett is signed for $15.75 million each of the last two seasons. For a guy with middle-of-the-rotation upside at this point in his career, that's too much dough for a team to take on.
Trade possibility: 15 percent (and that's being generous)
Lilly began the 2012 season on fire, as he was perhaps the biggest surprise of any Dodger starting pitcher. However, a horrendous outing in Arizona, coupled with a shoulder injury ended his season quite fast.
Shoulder injury: the two most frightening words to hear when referring to a starting pitcher. Lilly has never been a fireballer, but it remains to be seen if he can come back from the injury and be a starting pitcher.
If he does come back, the Dodgers would likely use him out of the bullpen as a swingman.
He was pretty decent in 2011 -- his first full season as a Dodger -- posting a 3.97 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 4.21 FIP. Not great, but not horrible, either.
Lilly had a no-trade clause for the first two years of his 3-year deal, but it has since expired. That doesn't mean he'll be traded, but at least the team doesn't have to get his permission to do so -- provided any team would take a chance on a 36-year-old coming off shoulder surgery.
Lilly makes $12 million this season in base salary and is due a $1.5 million signing bonus on April 1.
Trade possibility: 10 percent
Here is the wild card. In a recent episode of "Dugout Blues," Jared Massey (L.A. Dugout) mentioned Billingsley as a potential trade candidate. I hadn't thought much about it before then, but he's easily the best pitcher of the five and could bring back the most value.
Of course, Billingsley suffered an elbow injury late last season and had a platelet injection that, for now, has prevented him from having Tommy John surgery. In fact, if not for this injury, he'd be a lot more likely to be traded (to a team like the Royals, which is trying to bolster its starting rotation with veteran pitchers).
Despite having a workhorse-type body, Billingsley has topped 200 innings just once in his career (200 2/3 in 2008). He's always had a problem throwing strikes consistently, leading to his being removed from games in the fifth- and sixth innings. His stuff is second to just Kershaw in the Dodgers' rotation.
Billingsley signed a 3-year contract extension prior to the 2011 season. He's due $11 million this season, $12 million in 2014 and a $14 million club option for 2015 ($3 million buyout). He's due at least $26 million for the next two seasons. It's a solid price for a solid No. 3 starter with No. 2 ability.
All things being equal, I'd rather have Billingsley in the Dodgers' rotation than not. He has No. 2 starter ability, but pitches like a No. 4 starter at times. Still, a potential top-three of Kershaw-Greinke-Billingsley is quite appealing.
Trade percentage: < 5 percent
This doesn't even include Hyun-Jin Ryu, who isn't under contract yet. If the Dodgers do ink him to a deal -- and there's no reason to believe they wont -- he'll almost assuredly have a rotation spot.
If the Dodgers land Greinke, they will have to trade at least one of these guys. My money is on Capuano being that guy. He has the friendliest contract and the best track record of anyone not named Billingsley or odd-year Beckett. It'll be interesting to see what Ned Colletti and Co., do in the next couple months.

subset: commoncrawl


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You've probably heard this before, but it's worth repeating.
If you're a homeowner and want to keep a common tax break on your school taxes, you need to re-register.
You've probably heard this before, but it's worth repeating.
If you're a homeowner and want to keep a common tax break on your school taxes, you need to re-register.
But if you're among the nearly 10,000 homeowners in Oneida and Herkimer counties who haven't registered for a basic STAR exemption, your time is running out.
The state is entering the final push to get all eligible homeowners registered for school tax abatement as the Dec. 31 deadline looms.
An investigation by the department discovered some property owners were receiving tax breaks on multiple properties, a violation of the program. So the state is requiring all homeowners who receive the basic exemption to do a one-time re-registration.
The deadline is not a hard-and-fast deadline but after the beginning of the year, it will become more difficult for homeowners to register, said spokeswoman Caryn Ziter.
"The law does allow for late registration, but it is in the best interest of eligible homeowners to register by the December 31 deadline," she wrote in an email." As we move into 2014, it will become increasingly cumbersome to complete late registration."
Senior citizens receiving the enhanced STAR exemption are not impacted by the new registration program.
Requiring all homeowners to re-register should mean savings for taxpayers, Ziter said.
"If even one in 100 of all Basic STAR exemptions is inappropriate and removed as a result of this program, N.Y. taxpayers will save more than $18 million annually," she wrote.
As of Dec. 17, no county in the state had more than 88 percent of its eligible homeowners registered.
To qualify for the basic exemption, homeowners must have a combined income of less than $500,000. The program exempts the first $30,000 of the home's value from school taxes.
Statewide, the average homeowner saves $700 each year as a result of the exemption.
In Oneida County, where 82 percent of eligible homeowners have registered, the average annual savings is $583. In Herkimer County, 81 percent of homeowners have signed up and the average savings is $536 a year.
East Utica resident Michael Wicks said he signed up for the program months ago and the process was simple and quick.
For many residents, the program provides a much needed break, he said.
"Especially for lower income folks, they can't afford to take that kind of hit," he said. "That's a lot of money."
Homeowners who haven't registered can register online at www.tax.ny.gov or call 518-457-2036. Translators stand ready to assist speakers of all languages via telephone. The department is offering extended hotline hours, which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
Follow @OD_Hughes on Twitter or call him at 792-5063.


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rajah2 on Family Tree Circles
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looking for Palamountain scotland
looking for information on maturnal grandmother, laura louisea palamountian, born around 1876, possibly in glasgow scotland, and migrated to australia, married before or after that, for jon mcdonald.settled maybe in ballaratt vic. and naracoorte s.a. then adelaide south aust.
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U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
Healthcare Clothing Manufacturer Fired Employee Due to Pregnancy, Federal Agency Charges
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – An Olive Branch, Miss.,-based company that manufactures and distributes medical scrubs and other health care-related clothing violated federal law by discriminating against an employee because of her pregnancy, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it filed yesterday.
The EEOC's suit, Civil Action No. 2:11-cv-00201, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Delta Division, asserts that Landau Uniforms, Inc., violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when it subjected Tara Smith, who worked for Landau Uniforms at its manufacturing and shipping facility in Olive Branch, to unequal terms and conditions of employment because of her pregnancy. The EEOC alleges that after Smith informed her supervisor of her pregnancy, she was subjected to frequent reprimands, a negative performance evaluation and eventually termination. The EEOC also alleges that the company retaliated against Smith when she complained about the discrimination.
The EEOC filed suit after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The agency's lawsuit seeks monetary relief in the form of back pay, compensatory and punitive damages, reinstatement and an injunction against future discrimination, among other items.
"The company refused to allow Tara Smith to work simply because of her pregnancy," said Katharine W. Kores, district director of the EEOC's Memphis District Office, which has jurisdiction over Arkansas, Tennessee and portions of Mississippi. "Women should not be penalized for choosing to have a family and employers cannot refuse to allow women to work based on discriminatory stereotypes about pregnancy. This agency is committed to combating this type of blatant sex discrimination, which prevents women from advancing in the workplace."
According to its website, Landau Uniforms has more than 1,000 associates and its medical scrubs are distributed to retail stores across the country and internationally.
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.


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Employee of the Month (UK - DVD R2)
Our Scott McKenzie watches his first Jessica Simpson film. Will it be his last?
Zack (played by Dane Cook) is a thirty-something slacker, coasting his way through life in his job at the bottom of the food chain at bulk-buy store Super Club. His attitude changes when the beautiful Amy (Jessica Simpson) starts work at Super Club and rumour has it that she always sleeps with the guy who wins the employee of the month award. This pits Zack against Vince (Dax Shepard), the career suck-up who has won the award for the previous seventeen months and if he wins the award for the eighteenth time, he will win a promotion, a car and probably get the girl of Zack's dreams.
You probably won't be surprised to know that I wasn't expecting big things from Employee of the Month. Two grown men fighting over an employee of the month award just to get Jessica Simpson in the sack is a tough setup to sell, but I always do my best to approach each review without prejudice so I popped it into the player with an open mind. The opening scenes were predictable: set the good guy up as a cheeky, loveable scamp and set the bad guy up as a prick. The point where the filmmakers well and truly lost me was with the introduction of Jessica Simpson's character.
If the reactions of the characters are to be believed, then Jessica Simpson is too good looking to work in a store like Super Club. They all assume she's tried to get in without a membership card and there's no possible way in the world that she could work there. To me, this is insulting to both the people who generally work in this type of store and the audience. Of course, all good looking blonde girls are superstars that don't need to have day jobs, aren't they? Oh, they're not? It's easy to believe that Zack would fancy her but would he really change his whole attitude to work just because Vince likes her as well? There's just not enough relationship development between them. A more realistic expectation would be that he would just shrug it off and try and crack on to the next hot chick that comes along, but that wouldn't make much of a movie, would it?
Before watching Employee of the Month, I'd never heard of Dane Cook. I hadn't (and still haven't) seen any of the other films he's starred in and I was completely oblivious to the fact that he's some kind of big-shot stand up comedian in the US, probably because I live in the UK. His performance is easily the strongest and gets the best lines, many of which are improvised, but the role of Zack isn't exactly a stretch for him. As a newcomer to him, I thought he had a similar presence to Chevy Chase in his early films and I could see him taking over the lead role in the next Fletch movie.
I hoped Jessica Simpson would surpass my expectations and put in a half-decent performance, but she just doesn't carry off the role. When other characters are talking, she looks like she's just waiting to say her next line and when she does, she looks very uncomfortable. I won't give away the details here but the attempt to give her character depth is really weak and reinforces the fact that her presence is pretty pointless. The rivalry between Zack and Vince is enough to carry this movie and the addition of a battle between them for her affections is completely unnecessary because Vince is so unlikeable that there's no way in the world she could fall for him.
There are moments that made me laugh but they're few and far between and a few comments thrown into the screenplay fly a bit close to racism for my liking. At 104 minutes, Employee of the Month is at least ten minutes too long and there are plenty of scenes that could have been left on the cutting room floor. On the whole, it's a run-of-the-mill contest movie aimed at young teens that might keep the less discriminating viewer entertained but there's just too many negatives for me to recommend Employee of the Month.
Employee of the Month comes with a 16x9 anamorphic picture, but that's where the good points end. The picture is quite grainy and while the black sections aren't too bad, areas of colour show signs of compression. Edge enhancement is noticeable but not severe and the video quality in general is slightly fuzzy and lacking detail. Also, along the top of the picture there is a flickering black line, which wasn't obvious when I was watching it on TV but I noticed it when I loaded the disc in my computer, which you can see on the screenshots in this review. If you've got a new big screen TV, it's safe to say this isn't the disc you should use to show it off with.
You have the choice between a Stereo and a 5.1 surround track, but to be honest there's not a huge difference between the two. Dialogue and music are clear and don't drown each other out and there's no noticeable interference. Apart from a small number of scenes, the movie never really has the opportunity to make use of directional sound and what we're left with is an audio track that doesn't get in the way of the viewing experience but also doesn't go out of its way to impress the audience.
Employee of the Month comes with two audio commentaries. The first, featuring Dane Cook and director Greg Coolidge, is entertaining and filled with banter between two people who obviously enjoyed working together, but it actually contains more bad language than the movie itself. The second audio commentary is with just the director himself, which is more technical and on his own, he has the chance to talk about the project from script to post-production.
The disc opens with trailers for Edison Force and Right at Your Door but thankfully you can skip past them. First on the list of extras is a featurette showing the actors ad-libbing their lines. We then get a deleted opening to the movie that shows Zack and Vince on their first day at Super Club, including an unbilled cameo appearance by Eva Longoria. There are two featurettes with the actors in character: 'Beauty of Bulk', which shows the joy of buying in bulk and 'Men of Super Club', highlighting the lives of the male characters. The 'At Work with Lon' featurette is actually just two sketches featuring the short-sighted optometrist and the small selection of bloopers show the actors forgetting their lines and goofing around on set. These extras are actually funnier than the movie itself, so if you're picking up this DVD don't watch the extras first or you'll probably be very disappointed with the movie.
Maybe it's a sign of the times or maybe it's just the fact that I'm getting old, but I can't remember many recent comedies that actually made me laugh. There's the odd chuckle to be had from Employee of the Month but there aren't any real laugh-out-loud moments, even if the quote on the case may tell you otherwise. The DVD comes with a pretty good set of extras, a lot more than I was expecting, and if you're a fan of the film you should pick it up but if you're a newcomer I can only recommend you give it a miss.
Review by Scott McKenzie
Worst Nightmare Senior Member Join Date: July 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 6,716
Poor Scott - life as a reviewer can sometmes be bad, eh? Although, 4 out of 10....
At least this wasn't Norbit....
At least this wasn't Norbit....
scottmck Contributor Join Date: April 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 393
Got to take the rough with the smooth, but it wasn't as bad as I'd feared
LCB Member Join Date: March 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 61
I enjoyed this movie when I saw it a few weeks ago, and I just bought the DVD this morning. It's not a comedy to be made a big deal of, but it was still a decent movie. A Lionsgate I'm looking forward to seeing is Delta Farce. Now that looks funny! I'm a big Lionsgate fan also - they have some great movies and mini-series'!
Also - good review!
Also - good review!
Pauwil Member Join Date: August 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 3
i thought that the movie was a little standard.. i didn't really like it.
Suitable only for persons of 12 years and over
Disc Details
Release Date: 14th May 2007
Discs: 1
Disc Type: Single side, dual layer
RCE: No
Video: PAL
Aspect: 1.78:1
Anamorphic: Yes
Colour: Yes
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 English, Dolby Digital 2.0 English
Subtitles: English
Extras: Feature Commentaries, Bloopers, Ad Libs, Alternate Opening, Beauty of Bulk Featurette, At Work with Lon Featurette, Men of Super Club Featurette, On Set Shenanigans
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Greg Coolidge
Cast: Dane Cook, Jessica Simpson, Dax Shepard, Efren Ramirez, Andy Dick, Tim Bagley
Genre: Comedy
Length: 104 minutes
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I just got a call from an astronomy educator in Louisiana. A TV station in Shreveport called him to check the news they'd heard that Mars will soon come so close to Earth that it will appear as big and bright as the Moon.
Actually, "hoax" is the wrong word for this thing, unless some joker is now spreading it knowingly (quite possible). It's an e-mail chain letter claiming that Mars will come closer than ever in history on August 23rd and will look as big as the full Moon. If your well-meaning great-aunt or your cousin's brother-in-law's dog hasn't sent it to you, it's probably just a matter of time.
What's going on is this. Back on August 23, 2003 (that's 2003 with a 3, folks), Mars had an especially favorable opposition, coming close enough to appear 25 arcseconds wide. That's still pretty tiny even in a telescope smaller, for instance, than Jupiter always appears.Back then, someone somewhere pointed out that at a magnification of 75× in a telescope, Mars would appear as big in the eyepiece (½° wide) as the Moon does unmagnified. True enough. But two things happened, as often do with chain letters. First, it got rewritten bit by bit to improve the story as people passed it around, so that the "75× in a telescope" was downplayed or, in some versions, left out. Second, the chain letter kept going and going, with the same breathless excitement, long after August 2003 receded into the mists of history.
In 2010, for instance, Mars's opposition happened on January 29th, and even that was a poor one, with Mars appearing just 14 arcseconds wide. In August this year Mars appears about as small as it gets, as it sinks low in twilight on the far side of the Sun from Earth.
Every year I give members of the news media, when they phone Sky & Telescope, the following quote:
"The Mars chain letter is not a bad thing, it's a good thing. It is basically harmless, so it is an immunization. That is, if you make a fool of yourself to your family and friends by sending it to them, you may be embarrassed enough that you won't send them the next e-mail chain letter you get, which could be a lot less benign."
P. S.: The first place to check for facts about any internet rumor, hoax, or urban legend is www.snopes.com. Bookmark it.


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Exam results and swimming certificates - pah! We special parents know what things are really important in life, so this thread is for us to share our special children's special achievements with others who will celebrate with us.
Here goes -
DS's hair was in urgent need of a spring clean before he goes back to school tomorrow. As he climbed into the bath I told him I would be washing his hair tonight. I braced myself for a wetting.
"OK, Mum"
Gulp. "Would you like strawberry or banana shampoo?" (Usual response "NOTHING!")
Eyes bottles on windowsill. "Ip dip sky blue it will be you. Banana please, Mum"
Mum procedes to wash hair. Child makes not one murmur of protest.
"I love having my hair washed, Mum. I didn't like it yesterday (everything in the past happened yesterday) but I love it today".
My little angel
- speeffirm, GoraNaxyGloli, Louise_F and 291 others like this


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Crystola CO Real Estate & Homes for Sale
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Golden Peacock PENDANT Black Choker Necklace
Golden Peacock
Did you know that Shopcade is available in 3 countries? You can pick between UK, US and FR to check out unique content and sales.
Plus when you start shopping everything is tailored to your location, so all details automatically update! We'll race you to the checkout…


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Total Members Voted: 10
You sure your complete at Penn? If so im jelous.. but they sent me an email today confirming they recieved my application even though they requested the LSDAS report like a week ago.
Damn I'm jelous. I should be complete any day though.. what day did they send out your LSDAS report? Nah, not PAD. But at the U of A


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Varun Gopal @ on
Proper z-matrix format
Dear Sir
I am finding it hard to make the z-matrix. I see that the z-matrices of all polymers within the tool starts with H as the initial atom. Open babel can give me the matrix arrangement I need, but for my polymer under study (amylose) the matrix begins with a C atom (using open babel). When I upload it in PM, it says 'Child Process exited abnormally'. Can you please tell me how to rectify this problem? I am new to this and I need help.
Thank You


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LOWELL, Mass. — Travel considerations and family concerns caused Dennis Seidenberg to decide to keep his day with the Stanley Cup in the U.S. instead of his native Germany.
But the Bruins defenseman's homeland could still have a chance to receive a visit from the most famous trophy in sports.
"Like I've said before, I should've taken it. It's never been before," said Seidenberg earlier this week at Milan Lucic's charity softball game. "But there's always the chance to do it a second time and we'll definitely try again."
Seidenberg's wife is pregnant with the couple's third child. And had they ventured across the Atlantic, it would've been Seidenberg's first trip back in five years. The ensuing celebration and visiting with family would've taken too much of a toll.
So Seidenberg's wife's home state of New Jersey reaped the rewards of the decision, as the veteran blueliner partied with the Cup in Atlantic City. The event was split between one night of partying and one day of quiet relaxation.
Seidenberg needed plenty of relaxation after logging career-high minutes en route to the Bruins' first Cup championship in 39 years. With just a few weeks before the start of training camp, Seidenberg says he's not really feeling the toll of all those minutes played.
"I feel really good. I've been relaxing quite a bit, working out pretty good, so I feel really good where I'm at right now and ready to go," he said.
Not only did Seidenberg log a lot of minutes and emerge as one half of the best shutdown defense pair in the Stanley Cup playoffs (along with Zdeno Chara), he also became a household name in New England and one of the Bruins' most popular players. The newfound notoriety doesn't bother the soft-spoken Seidenberg.
"I wouldn't say it's tough. There's definitely people that recognize me a little bit more, he admitted. "But it's not uncomfortable. It's nice. We've done something great and it's nice that people recognize it. I'm sure it'll go the other way if we have a bad stretch of games [laughs]. But it's fun. We had good success and we'll just try to ride it out as best as possible."
That ride will pick up when the Bruins begin their title defense. If the Bruins are going to repeat and give Seidenberg that chance to bring the Cup to Germany, they're going to have to be prepared for opponents playing their absolute best every night.
"Teams always play their best against the champion," said Seidenberg. "And everybody knows in the locker room and is definitely ready for the challenge. And I think it can only help us and make it better in the long run."


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Sport Management
BIOL2670 - Comparative Vertebrae Anatomy
Spring 2014
This course is a study of vertebrate structure, its functional significance, and the range of variation in structure of different species from an evolutionary standpoint. The course goals include introduction to the classes within the phylum Chordata, gaining an understanding of the form and function of vertebrate structure using comparisons across select taxa and use morphological data to infer evolutionary relationships between vertebrate taxa.
Prerequisite: BIOL2570 Co-requisite: BIOL2680
3 Credits
Schedule Book for All Active and Available Future Terms, Course starting with BIOL2670
No Courses Found


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Currently 0.00/512345 Rating: 0.0/5 (Total votes: 0)
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- Inside Athletics
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WALLACE, N.C. (March 26, 2007) - ETSU freshmen Laura Jansone (Jurmala, Latvia) and Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway, Ireland) posted identical scores of 150 to tie for 15th on the individual leaderboard following first and second round play in the Lady Seahawk Invitational hosted by UNC- Wilmington Monday at the River Landing Golf Club.
Janson and O'Sullivan helped lead the Lady Bucs to a fourth-place finish as the 15-team field prepares for Tuesday's third and final round. ETSU is currently 15 strokes off the pace set by host UNCW, which finished the day with a team score of 587 to hold an eight stroke advantage over second place
"We had a good day and we're in contention again," said ETSU head coach Stefanie Reynolds, whose team is currently nine strokes better than Atlantic Sun Conference rival Campbell on the team leaderboard. "We'd like to come out Tuesday and put together another solid round."
UNCW was led to the top by Carmen Perez-Narbon and Emily Klein, both of whom posted the day's best rounds with scores of 142 to hold a two-stroke lead over Lene Krog of
For complete final round results from the Lady Seahawk Invitational, fans can visit ETSUBucs.com at the end of the day's play.


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Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
AshRandom wrote:
erialolita wrote:
Hey at least you have a sense of humor about it though, hard thing to learn is to be able to laugh at yourself.
For me, I'm extremely shy in real life so people think I'm a stuck up bitch..but I'm not. Also I get asked when I'm graduating high school or get told I'm not old enough to drink and I'm 30 lol.
Yeah, but looking young is good as a woman, isn't it?
Most guys, if they gain a little weight and get a bit fat-faced, start to look really childish. I'm one of those unfortunate types. So, if I don't have a beard, people assume I'm not old enough to drink. And apparently I look horrifying with a beard, so I stay clean-faced out of vanity...
At the start of every semester, it always happens at least once, I'll have a class gather in the lecture hall, and I'll be standing down by the blackboard waiting for people to shut up so I can start. But they won't. Why? Because they're still waiting for the professor to show up. The first time it happened to me, I didn't understand what was going on. I stood there watching about 300 freshmen, many of whom kept getting up and walking back out into the hallway, and for some reason they kept getting louder, so I started to get worried something had happened (I'm somewhat paranoid after all the school-shootings that it's going to happen here). And I almost had a panic attack, and fled back into my office. I took a pill and when I came back I overheard a girl complaining "When the hell is Dr. ******* going to arrive." and I was like wtf, that's my god damn name! Oh jesus christ...! And then I just started shouting at everyone.... :/ Now at the start of the semester I grow a beard, wear a suit and put on my red striped bow-tie of ultra-nerdiness, so there aren't any doubts as to my profession in their stereotype laden minds.
The only thing that beats that, was the time I gave a presentation at a chemical conference and had this one older gentleman ask me during the Q&A if I should even be attempting the approach I was, when the molecular catalysts analog produced by (ME) seemed just as efficient and already worked at the same temperature. And then he cited a paper I wrote, like I was an asshole for not having already read it.......... I slapped my forehead it was so ironic.... He knew the guy who wrote the paper had the same exact last name as I did, he just couldn't believe that the guy who wrote the paper wasn't 75 million years old.... I got creative and said: "Well.... Like father like son!"
by the way, my dad is an engineer, not a chemist... I was just pretending to be my own son... The two people in the audience who actually knew me laughed... god my stories really suck don't they? This is why I never talk about myself in real life...
Guess I will like looking younger when I'm 40+ but for now I have actually had my id handed back to me cause they believed it to be fake. At walgreens I was buying wine for a party I was going to and they cashier actually threatened to call the cops. When I told her to go ahead and I will wait she finally gave me back my id but refused to sell me the wine. Your stories made me actually laugh. I would think its good you dont look like a stuffy chemist, now I have you pictured to be someone that belongs with the big bang cast
That forgive and forget are in my vocabulary.
Gah what do you want now?
Waiters/waitresses still giving me kids menu whenever I go dine out.
Its a good thing too, i'll never age! hahaha.
LexusKing & BimmerQueen
Winterfells wrote:
People seem to think I'm like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. That I'm not interested in books, literature, or anything to do with academics. Frankly, it hurts my ego. :(
This is like the best thing ever. Not that people assume that about you, but that you made the reference.
Knitting up a storm!
People assume I'm always pissed off because I'm quiet, and apparently I seem irritated when I'm deep in thought. Nowadays whenever they ask me what's wrong or why I'm mad I just glare at them and go back to what I was doing.
ppl assume that im a jerk, just cuz im a jerk geez u ppl hurt my fragile feelings
online 6-9 pm~ i am much too civilized to join in your inquiry of women
People assume im incompetent because im young--then I open my mouth, tell them to step aside and get the job done.
Trust me, I'm a nurse. ;)
Hmm, people assume a lot about me that isn't true.
They assume:
- That I am lazy because I am 5' 9" and slightly overweight. The truth is, I probably do about as much work on being fit than most people do.
- That I am pregnant. I HATE this. Yes, I have a pooch and yes I am trying to lose it, but I've had it since I was 16. It doesn't just go away. :S
- That I am not good at sports because of my appearance. Truth is, I could probably beat you at baseball, basketball or track.
- That somehow, because I am a female or overweight or both that I am somehow not intelligent. Oh gosh, I'm a girl! I can't possibly be smart!
- That because I speak my mind about something I am asked about, somehow that makes me a bitch.
- That because I stand up for what I believe to be correct/right, that makes me automatically abrasive.
- I cosplay, therefore I must be easy.
- That I like yaoi and obsess over crap like Twilight because I'm a girl.. and I like anime.
- That I don't like mainstream comics.. because apparently girls can't like that stuff.
- That I like romance novels and movies. I HATE both genres. Give me some hentai or some hardcore porn.. none of that trash talk you see in smut novels.
- That I don't care about my appearances simply because I don't wear makeup.. or that somehow, I am less of a person because I don't. In honesty, it makes my acne worse so I avoid wearing it most of the time.
I don't know, there's a lot of stupid stuff people assume about me that isn't anywhere close to the truth. It's dumb, really.
Knitting up a storm!
CanesGalactica wrote:
This is like the best thing ever. Not that people assume that about you, but that you made the reference. :P
Haha, thanks. :)
I like making random, dorky references, it's part of who I am. Also, one of the better Disney animated movies, imo.
Winter Is Coming.
That I don't get along with people. :\ I get along with people fine. It's just that they're stupid and I don't like them.
✎◓◠◓ ɪ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴛᴏ sᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ʎʇooq ʎɯ ʞɔıʞ oƃ pןnoɔ ʇı
That I am cold or angry because I am shy and don't talk much.
That I am a child, people assume I am 12-15 years old even though I am 24 (wearing normal clothing)
That I am weak. Past jobs, people would always do the heavy work thinking I can't do it. One lady thought I couldn't even pick up a case of bottled water and was going to ask someone else to do it.
Once assumed. I am.
You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villian
Winterfells wrote:
The truth is, I wasn't always outgoing or talkative. I kind of had to work at developing my social skills because I was naturally a quiet, shy, and introspective child. Maybe that's why I have a soft spot for those shy, nerdy girls, but at the same time almost never flirt with them or date them because it painfully reminds me of those isolated, lonely early years I had as a kid.
*Fist bump*
Finally got off my lazy ass and picked up the weights again.
People assume...
-I'm anorexic because I'm really thin and a model
-I'm going to beat the hell out of them because I'm intimidating and not weak
-I'm utterly stupid because I'm a model
-I'm a middle schooler when I'm in high school
-I wear contacts because I have a rare shade of hazel eyes
-I get spray tans because I tan so quickly naturally
-I'm to frail to do anything on my own
Its really quite annoying >.<
[Enter life resembling quote here]
That I'm intelligent and normal.....LOL. What fiction!
MYTH: the universal language. Always question AUTHORITY.


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Over the years, Audi has expanded the TT series to include a hatchback coupe, with two doors and two seats, and a smaller two-seat convertible known as the Roadster.
Released in 1995, the Audi TT caused a stir in the automotive community. Dubbed for the Tourist Trophy motor sports event, the Audi TT is a two-seat hybrid that includes some of the most well known attributes from traditional sports cars and coupes. It easily couples sleek design with high performance, resulting in a car type that many had never seen before its introduction. In fact, for many local Audi consumers the TT was almost unrecognizable as a part of the lineup (in terms of body style), and they took to it with enthusiasm.
In addition to introducing a revolutionary Audi design structure to the marketplace, the TT series has also been known for its luxurious interiors, performance parts, advanced Audi technology, and speed. The Audi TT is a high-performance machine that demonstrates a continuous evolution of Audi's state-of-the-art engine improvements and amenities from the first generation to the second. Currently, many of the TT models are reaching top speeds of 155 mph.
Today, Audi provides multiple TT choices, including the TT Coupe, TTS Coupe, TT Roadster, TTS Roadster, and the TT RS. Some models are available in multiple package levels such as the Premium Plus and Prestige, and all models are available in an assortment of colors ranging from Ice Silver Metallic to Misano Red Pearl.
The 2012 Audi TT Coupe and TT Roadster are offered in two package levels: Premium Plus and Prestige. Both boast the Audi 2.0-liter turbocharged DOHC engine with a top speed of 130 mph. The 211 horsepower is just as noteworthy as the 258 lb-ft torque ratio in each. Behind the wheel, the TT Coupe and Roadster models will give 23/31 mpg city/highway. Although the two package levels for the TT Coupe offer many similarities, there are multiple key attributes that separate each style.
On the TT Coupe, the 2.0T Premium Plus features a retractable rear spoiler, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with optimal shift paddles, Bluetooth connectivity, power front seats, and 245/40 performance tires with 18-inch alloy wheels. The HomeLink remote transmitter, automatic air-conditioning, and Audi xenon plus lights are other added benefits. The 2.0T Prestige includes these same highlights in addition to a Bose premium sound system, MMI Navigation, heated front seats, Audi acoustic parking, and interior LED lighting.
Expect increased performance from the TTS Coupe with a 4.9-second zero to 60 time, 155 mph top speed, and 265 hp with 258 lb-ft of torque. Its 2.0-liter, turbocharged, inline, four-cylinder, spark-ignition engine delivers optimal speed.
The TTS Roadster can be purchased in either the Premium Plus or Prestige package levels and boasts a power retractable acoustic top and extra trunk space for an included ski bag. In 5.1 seconds, you can go from zero to 60 and continue to the 155 mph top speed. The Roadster offers 265 hp with 258 lb-ft of torque, in addition to a Servotronic, dual-clutch, automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive. Much like the TT Coupe, you can also choose from the Premium Plus or Prestige package levels with similar features, such as the anti-theft vehicle alarm system, Audi magnetic ride with sport program, and MacPherson front suspension.
Sports-minded design and performance emerges from the TT RS package level with 360 hp and 343 lb-ft of torque. Reaching 60 mph in 4.1 seconds is effortless, or you can cruise while getting an 18/25 mpg city/highway fuel economy. The HomeLink remote transmitter, Bluetooth connectivity, Audi xenon plus headlights, and 255/35 summer performance tires with 19-inch, five-arm, rotor-design wheels are standard, along with Audi Servotronic speed-sensitive steering, Audi magnetic ride with sports program, and traction control.
The first generation of the Audi TT was brought to the market in 2000, weighing more than 3,600 pounds and featuring a 1.8-liter, 180 hp, turbo-charged inline 4, in addition to a standard plush interior with intuitive climate controls. Consumers could select from front- or all-wheel drive and five-speed or six-speed manual transmission.
In 2003, the manufacturer added a six-speed automatic transmission, and in 2004, a 3.2-liter V-6, 250 hp engine became available. The second-generation Audi TT emerged in 2008 with a variety of improvements in performance and design, including multiple powertrain options such as the TT 2.0T and the TT 3.2. Moving forward, the signature single-frame grill will grace the front of the lighter and more agile vehicle that holds a four-cylinder engine.
2018 Audi TT
Convertible, Coupe, Sports
2017 Audi TT
2016 Audi TT
2015 Audi TT
2014 Audi TT
2013 Audi TT
The 2013 Audi TT carries on a design that stretches back to 1994.
2012 Audi TT
While there are no changes to the 2012 TT, a refreshed TT may appear in the future. The previous model year saw a more efficient 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, and some cosmetic changes.
2011 Audi TT
The 2011 Audi TTS gets new exterior trim and wheels as well as standard leather and power seats. The base Premium model has been dropped from the TTS line, leaving only the Premium Plus and Prestige models. A sport mode that adjusts the suspension and steering is now standard across the TTS line. The TT, meanwhile, gets a more powerful engine and new trim to make it look more like the TTS.
2010 Audi TT
2009 Audi TT
2008 Audi TT
The 2008 Audi TT comes as a coupe or convertible.
2006 Audi TT
2005 Audi TT
The 2005 TT falls into the first generation of two-door sports cars manufactured by Audi AG.
2004 Audi TT
The Audi TT is a two-door sport coupe or roadster from the German carmaker.
2003 Audi TT
The 2003 Audi TT is a classy sports vehicle available in two body styles, namely the convertible and the coupe.
2002 Audi TT
For the launch of the 2002 Audi TT, little changes from the previous year's model.
2001 Audi TT
The Audi TT serves as a performance coupe that also sells as a convertible.
2000 Audi TT
Coupe, Sports
The 2000 Audi TT is a uniquely-styled, front-drive coupe that gets its look from a combination of Porsches from the Auto Union Grand Prix cars from the pre-WWII era and creative engineering.


text:
Good picture quality, Relatively slim design
Highly accurate color and very good bright-room performance
Inexpensive for its size, Very bright, Built-in Wi-fi
Naturally sharp and dimensional HD images
Lots of options for image-tweakers
The set has a more compact, sleeker look than competitors.
ReviewGist helps you find the best products to buy by making sense of online reviews.
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text:
Dear Visitors,
Please note that during this week hardware/ server upgrades are done on the database. This means during this week the database is accessable read-online.
Many thanks for your understanding.
At Sporthorse-Data we are passionate about pedigrees.
Our mission is to give a clear overview of sporthorse breeding worldwide.
To browse or use this web site you must first Register. To register is free. Once you have registered you can look up the pedigree for any horse in the database by simply entering it's name in the search box above and clicking the "Search" button. For more information about using this site make sure to check out the Help page by clicking the ? icon next to the search box.
Sporthorse-Data provides pedigrees and information on sporthorses and warmbloods from all over the world.
There are available 1,334,276 pedigrees going as far back as the 1600's.
Stallions, geldings, broodmares, youngstock, yearlings and foals are all listed together with their photo and video if available.
Here you will find the pedigree, siblings, competition level achieved, life numbers, family numbers
details of progeny, tail lines, photograph. where the horse was born, where he is now, everything you need to know in one place.
Perform hypothetical matings online. Choose between all the world's active sires to mate with your mare. With this tool you can view and analyse the "virtual pedigree" of your foal.
Active Sires:
Here are listed the active sires from around the world. They are grouped into the various regions sporthorses are found. It is from this list that the test mating report will choose a stallion for your mare.
Sire Pages:
It is here on the sire pages that you will find more detailed information on selected stallions supplied by the stallion owners.
Photo Gallery:
You are able to browse or search through all the horse pictures in the database.
Here you will find a list of all the horses in the database that have a video.
About Us page:
Want to know who is behind Sporthorse-Data. Here you will find a list of the main database team members and photographers who have made this site possible.
Our database is updated daily so please visit our web site frequently and let us know if you find information that is not correct so we can update it. If you have any ideas on how we can improve our site we will be glad to hear from you.
We hope that you find Sporthorse-Data useful and a pleasure to use.
Copyright © 2005-2014 Sporthorse-Data All Rights Reserved


text:
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has condemned a U.N. resolution approving a formal investigation into its suspected human rights violations.
North Korea's Foreign Ministry said Friday that it will completely ignore the resolution adopted Thursday by the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The resolution calls for the creation of a team of independent experts to investigate for one year what U.N. officials suspect as widespread and systematic violations of human rights in North Korea.
Top U.N. human rights official Navi Pillay has said the U.N. has evidence indicating up to 200,000 people are held in North Korean political prison camps rife with torture, rape and slave labor.


text:
The BusinessWeek profile of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie supplies the political context of the several videos we have posted in our "What price Christie?" series.
Will Governor Christie prevail in the Battle of New Jersey? He himself leaves it an open question, as he did in his interview with Paul Gigot earlier this summer. The BusinessWeek profile broadly outlines the challenges involved in Christie's struggle to reduce New Jersey's budget to realistic proportions. It is a struggle that foreshadows the reckoning we have in store with the federal budget.
Via RealClearPolitics.
UPDATE: Christie has fired New Jersey Education Commissioner Bret Schundler over the issue we covered here yesterday. It appears that Christie had been misled by Schundler.
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text:
Timsmoms it's an interesting question, I do not know the answer.
The lactating breast is always making milk, and in normal circumstances it will make more milk the more often milk is removed. So personal breast milk storage capacity is not typically something that is ever known nor needs to be known to the breastfeeding mother. Certainly especially in the newborn stage OP is asking about, the important thing is to nurse frequently.
Shootthepigeons, it can be so concerning when baby seems fussy or unsatisfied. But please be assured it is normal for a newborn to need to nurse very frequently. It is normal for a newborn to cluster feed for long periods, to be fussy, to comfort nurse, and to not go any particular longish length of time between feeds.
You tell a breastfed baby is getting enough milk by weight gain. If a baby is getting enough milk at the breast to gain normally, there is typically no need to pump or bottle feed.
Kellymom has a really good article about the early weeks. It details up to 6 weeks of age, but the newborn behavior it covers is normal for at least the first 3 months in my experience: http://kellymom.com/bf/normal/newborn-nursing/
Please let us know if the info we are providing is helpful, and please let us know if baby is not gaining well, or breastfeeding is in any way uncomfortable for you.


text:
The Flyers are at least kicking around the idea of moving recently signed center Vinny Lecavalier to RW on Claude Giroux's first line.
That was one of the many interesting aspects of a conference call Saturday with Lecavalier and reporters.
From here, if the Flyers placed the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Lecavalier on Giroux's unit they would be putting all their eggs in one basket.
It makes more sense to have two strong units, with Giroux centering Scott Hartnell and Jake Voracek, and Lecavalier centering Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds. The third line might have Sean Couturier centering Max Talbot and Matt Read.
The Flyers should want BOTH Giroux and Lecavalier to take draws. Both are excellent in the faceoff circle. Giroux won 54.5 percent last year, while Lecavalier won 54.4 percent.
The Flyers were 23d in the 30-team NHL last season, winning 48.5 percent of their draws.
Faceoff wins should be more common in 2013-14. The Flyers recently re-signed Adam Hall, who won 59 percent of his draws in 11 games with the Flyers last season.
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.


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On June 5th 2014 the OpenSSL Project published an advisory listing seven security defects in their software along with an update to fix them.
Certain Sophos products use the OpenSSL cryptography libraries and hence this article provides information on the issue in relation to our products.
Important: We are fully investigating this issue and will update this article to provide further information when available.
Applies to the following Sophos product(s) and version(s) Sophos UTM PureMessage for UnixSophos Email ApplianceSophos Web ApplianceSophos UTM ManagerSophos Cloud
See the table below for a list of CVE numbers and brief description.
†CVE provides a standardized reference number and information on public security vulnerabilities and exposures. For more information see the cve.mitre.org website.
The list of defects as published by the OpenSSL Project can be found at the following link:
Until the latest software release on June 5th all versions of OpenSSL in client applications were vulnerable . The flaw goes back to the origin of the code in 1998. Only versions 1.0.1 and higher of the server are vulnerable.
For more information see our naked security blog article:
No. Heartbleed (CVE-2014-0160) was disclosed by the OpenSSL Project on April 7th 2014 and was an earlier software defect.
The table below lists the affected Sophos products, associated CVE number, and further information.
Important: When our development teams complete their investigation all affected products and resolutions will be listed. If a product is not listed in the table below it is not affected in any way.
The affected versions will be fixed in the respective versions below: v8.312(released - Please check KBA 121112 for update instructions) v9.113 (released - Please check KBA 121112 for update instructions) v9.203 (released - Please check KBA 121112 for update instructions)
Patched in version 4.107(released): Up2date link MD5SUM: be4f0d72e7266882bb3cd63cdc92bb90 File size ~198MB
Patched in version 4.201(released): Up2date link MD5SUM: 42ddbb8f7eb30cc98a23f2f88b0e52fe File size ~50MB
If something in the article is not clear leave a comment in the form below. Otherwise post your question to our community:
Every comment submitted here is read (by a human) but we do not reply to specific technical questions. For technical support post a question to the community. Or click here for new feature/product improvements. Alternatively for paid/licensed products open a support ticket.


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Benghazi failures: Accountabiity and questionsEDITORIAL
December 19. 2012 11:16PM
The U.S. State Department knowingly left U.S. personnel in Libya with substandard security despite repeated requests for upgrades, an independent review has concluded. And again we return to the main questions, still unanswered.
"Systemic failures and leadership and management deficiencies at senior levels within two bureaus of the State Department (the 'Department') resulted in a Special Mission security posture that was inadequate for Benghazi and grossly inadequate to deal with the attack that took place," concluded the Accountability Review Board report, released this week.
"Overall, the number of Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) security staff in Benghazi on the day of the attack and in the months and weeks leading up to it was inadequate, despite repeated requests from Special Mission Benghazi and Embassy Tripoli for additional staffing," the review concluded. It noted that "the Special Mission was not a high priority for Washington when it came to security-related requests, especially those relating to staffing" and that the "security platform was at variance with the appropriate Overseas Security Policy Board (OSPB) standards with respect to perimeter and interior security."
Why those requests went unanswered remains a mystery, as does the reason why the administration repeatedly mentioned protests against an offensive video when such protests never happened. The American people and the families of those who died still need answers to these questions. Three fall guys have resigned over the report. But the most important questions, including who is ultimately responsible, remain unanswered.


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Financial planning is a necessary thing for all people. Many people have a hard time knowing where to start, and having the right financial planning tools at your disposal is helpful. Here are some great financial planning tools to help you reach your financial goals.
The first financial planning tool is the most important. That is a good, workable budget. You cannot reach your financial goals if you do not have a plan to get there. A budget will help you to allocate your funds in such a way that will satisfy your debts and help you plan for the future.
The next weapon in your arsenal of financial planning tools is a savings account. Although you should have other investments, a savings account is a place to park your liquid cash so that you have easy access and are earning some interest at the same time. Check with your bank to find out what different levels of savings accounts are offered. Many are on a tiered scale, meaning that the more money you have in them, the more interest you earn. You may need to upgrade your account from time to time though.
Third, check your credit report. Many web sites offer you a "for fee" credit report, but you should also know that you are guaranteed a free credit report from the three major credit bureaus once a year from the government web site annualcreditreport.com. If you feel you need to check it more often, then a fee-based credit report service may be the way to go.
The next thing to manage is your debt. Although this can be daunting, it's a necessary part of establishing financial security. A few financial planning tools can help make this easier for you. For most people, credit cards are a necessity today to at least some extent. However, for smartest use, you should carry only one or two, pay off the balance every month, and use the credit card companies' competitiveness to get such perks as no annual fee. If for some reason you must carry a balance, pay it off as soon as possible. You should never use your credit card to help you live beyond your means. Only use your credit card to make shopping convenient and provide such things as buyer protection, but treat the purchases you make with your credit card just as you would those with cash. Many people who carry credit cards but who pay off balances each month make note of and "deduct" money for credit card purchases from checking accounts each month as they go, so that they don't spend cash on hand that's meant to go toward credit card payments at the end of the month. Then, at the end of the month, they pay the credit bill, but the credit card balance has already been deducted from checking throughout the month, so they are essentially writing one check for the total of their purchases throughout the month.
Fifth, one of your most major bills is probably your rent or your mortgage. Of the two, a mortgage payment usually better for you, since you can usually deduct interest you pay on your mortgage from your taxes. When interest rates drop or some other financial situation arises where refinancing would be a good option for you, make sure you check into this and refinance if possible, in order to lower your mortgage payments. Usually, the most prudent way to handle a refinancing is to roll your refinance savings into your mortgage, so that you save on the mortgage itself rather than taking the cash out to spend on something else. This will save you up to several years on mortgage payments, depending on the length of your loan.
One of the greatest financial planning tools for anyone is to have a good retirement plan. If you are working, you should be contributing to your employer's 401K plan. You should have a diversified plan that will allow you to save enough for retirement while still allowing you to meet your current obligations. The earlier you begin, the harder your money will work for you.
A few good financial planning tools can help you manage your money wisely. Make sure to do your homework and take advantage of all the resources available to you. There are many financial planning tools out there for free or at nominal cost on the Internet. In addition, your financial institution also has financial planning tools that you can use. If you use these tools wisely, you'll get the most out of your money.


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Later this evening, President Obama will talk to the nation about his strategy for Afghanistan via a live television broadcast that will also stream in real time on Hulu from 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST courtesy of our partners at Fox News. An on-demand version of the Presidential Address will be posted later Wednesday.
The live stream, expected to last about an hour, will be accessible internationally. To share the coverage from your own website or blog, you can grab the embed code for the live stream from the countdown embedded below and paste it onto your site. [Update: we've posted the on-demand version below.]
For more political coverage, MSNBC provides a handful of clips related to the Obama administration every day. In the clip embedded below, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs offers a preview of the upcoming press conference.
Rebecca Harper ()


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I would love any feedback on these three translations if possible, please.
English -> Latin
1. 'Quintus', he said, 'you are a boy of great industry but you must not go to school today.'
'Quinte', inquit, 'puer magna industria es, sed hodie non ad ludum debe i.'
- Am I correct to use the imperative 'debe', rather than the present 'debes'?
2. Marcus led him from the forum to the Circus Maximus, which was full of men and women.
Marcus a foro ad Circum Maximum eum duxit, quod viris et (virisque?) feminis plenum fuit.
- I am concerned about the word order of '...a foro ad Circum Maximum...' in the independent clause. Is this correct? Incidentally, if it is correct, would '...ad Circum Maxiumum a foro...' be equally acceptable?
- In the subordinate clause, is '...viris et feminis..' correct? Is is possible to use 'que'; for example: '...virisque feminis...'? (Somehow that doesn't seem right.)
3. The traveller boarded the ship unwilling(ly). When they reached the open sea, he was very afraid.
viator navem invitus conscendit. ubi aperto mare advenerunt, valde timidus fuit.
- (This sentence is one of a number which focus on comparative and superlative adjectives.) In this particular sentence, I found that 'timidus' (unlike, say, longissimus) seemed at once to mean "afraid and "very afraid". Is this correct? Is there no superlative form of 'timeo'? This being said, I felt that 'valde' was therefore necessary in this case. Is it?
- Finally, the use of "ubi" vs "cum". Is there a general rule for the situation in which one is preferred over another?
Many thanks for your time and help!


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Saturday, March 21, 2015
Very High Iron Levels, Rest Normal
Hello, I`m a 31 year old caucasian male, tall and thin (6`2, 156 pounds). During a routine blood test they found Iron levels of 206 (which I saw puts me in the 99.75 percentil). Ferritin was normal (75) as was Transfferin (234). Doctor said it was of no concern, but then why would my levels be so high? I haven`t been sick lately or suffered from any infection that I know of. Should I request additional tests or is my doctor correct in dismissing it? Thank you very much for your time!
The most common cause for an elevated serum iron is simply not fasting. I would recommend that your doctor simply recheck the ferritin, the iron, and the TIBC all at the same time once you are fasting. If the next round comes back abnormal, then genetic testing to rule out hemochromatosis would be appropriate.
Mark Wurster, MD
Former Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine
College of Medicine
The Ohio State University


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As swimsuit weather and prom season bear down once again on fair-skinned, teenaged New Yorkers, the debate heats up: To tan or not to tan?
In May, the federal government required manufacturers to more accurately inform that choice. Still others are opting for a spray-on glow that avoids possible health risks and skirts age constraints.
For years, medical groups have urged the U.S. government to take action on tanning beds because of rising rates of skin cancer among teenagers and 20-somethings, particularly women.
More than 76,000 new cases of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, are expected to be diagnosed this year, and the disease is expected to cause 9,710 deaths, according to the American Cancer Society.
Although most cases are diagnosed in people in their 40s and 50s, the disease is linked to sun exposure at a young age. Melanoma is also the second-most common form of cancer among young adults, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
This year, an estimated 2.3 million U.S. teenagers will once again tan indoors, the AAD asserts.
But this year, tanning beds and sun lamps will carry new warnings that they should not be used by anyone under age 18, part of a government action aimed at reducing rising rates of skin cancer linked to the radiation-emitting devices.
The Food and Drug Administration has regulated tanning machines for more than 30 years, but the agency is now requiring more prominent warnings about the cancer risks of indoor tanning. Makers of sun lamps and related devices must include a bold label, known as a black box warning, stating that they should not be used by people under age 18.
A spokeswoman for the American Academy of Dermatology said she hoped the federal move would spur more states to take action. Twenty-four states already have laws banning minors from using indoor tanning equipment.
�The FDA has taken a very strong stand about indoor tanning, and this will, I think, really encourage additional states to strengthen their indoor tanning restrictions,� said Dr. Mary Maloney of the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Additionally, manufacturers must provide more warnings about cancer risks in pamphlets, catalogues and websites that promote indoor tanning. Those materials must warn that the devices shouldn�t be used by people who have had skin cancer or have a family history of the disease.
The FDA is also requiring manufacturers to meet certain safety and design requirements, including timers and limits on radiation emitted. Previously, tanning devices were not subject to any preliminary review by health regulators.
State regulations
Despite the mandated written warnings, Ontario County Public Health Director Mary Beer is concerned with the surging interest among teens in UV tanning.
�I just wish they could find another alternative like spray tans or lotions,� she said. �They don�t see it now, but they�re putting themselves at risk for skin cancer.�
Perhaps as products continue to improve, alternatives to UV tanning will become more popular, she said. But even suntanning out by the pool is dangerous.
�We all enjoy the sun � we don�t get enough of it around here,� she said. �But people feel as though they look better with a little bit of a tan.�
As of Aug. 15, 2012, state Department of Health regulations prohibit individuals under the age of 17 from using UV radiation devices. Further, it requires that individuals 17 to 18 years old have a parent or legal guardian sign a consent form before using UV radiation devices. People 18 years or older must provide a driver's license or other photo identification, issued by either a government agency or educational institution, before using UV radiation devices.
Besides New York, other states regulating or banning minors' use of tanning devices include California, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Vermont.
New York�s health department states that �sunburned or tanned skin is damaged skin. Most of a person's lifetime skin damage, which increases the risk for skin cancer, occurs before the age of 18. Therefore, even if a child's sunburn or tan fades, the damage caused by that tan or burn does not and the effects cannot be reversed. The damage keeps adding up with each sunburn or tan and may one day result in skin cancer. So, it is important that both children and adults protect their skin.�
The state regulation also requires that the facility provide all patrons with the state Health Department information sheet that warns of health risks and conditions under which UV radiation is not advised. Patrons must sign a statement of acknowledgement that they are aware of the risks, and a consent form.
Beer said the state health department�s regional office in Geneva is responsible for inspecting all of the tanning establishments in Ontario, Wayne and Yates counties every two years to make sure they�re in compliance with state regulation.
Science speaks
According to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high-risk UV exposure happens more commonly in teens, and ultimately the blistering sunburns and overexposure during childhood will greatly increase the chances of developing skin cancer later in life.
If current trends continue, CDC research indicates, one in five Americans will get skin cancer in their lifetime. And people who use tanning beds are more likely to get skin cancer, including melanoma, which can be deadly, the research stated.
To put it in perspective, an estimated 419,000 skin cancer cases are believed to be caused by indoor tanning each year in the U.S. alone. That�s nearly double the estimated 226,000 lung cancer cases believed to be caused by smoking each year in the U.S.
To further bring attention to indoor tanning as a public health problem, CDC scientists published two papers in 2013 in a special issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine to discuss ways to reduce indoor tanning and prevent future cases of skin cancer. One was "Preventing Skin Cancer Through Reduction of Indoor Tanning: Current Evidence,� led by Meg Watson, and the other was �Strategies to Reduce Indoor Tanning: Current Research Gaps and Future Opportunities for Prevention,� led by Dawn Holman.
Researchers noted in the papers that one in three white women between 18 and 21 years of age have tanned indoors in the past 12 months, with an average of more than 27 times per year. Many U.S. high school students also use tanning beds often, with about half of high school indoor tanners using them 10 or more times per year. Nearly three-fourths of tanning salons let people use tanning beds too often, research indicates, and state laws on indoor tanning are rarely enforced, it concluded.
A parent�s perspective
Michael Torpey of Rochester has four kids fast approaching tanning age. His plan is to promote healthy alternatives to UV tanning, and avoid enabling poor choices.
�The science behind tanning and the use of tanning beds is undeniable,� said Torpey. �Tanning has a variety of nasty side effects up to and including looking prematurely old and contracting skin cancer. So it is definitely my responsibility as a parent to make certain my kids are aware of that science and can visualize the long-term effects.�
At the same time, he said he has a hard time ethically saying �don�t tan,� because in his mind, it borders on hypocrisy.
�I love sweets, also known to be bad for your health over the long term, and overindulgence leads me to carry a few extra pounds,� Torpey reasoned. �Every one of us could come up with examples of where we take unnecessary risks for some selfish or vain reason, like talking on the cell phone while driving, driving too fast, eating bacon, not getting enough sleep ...�
A healthier alternative
Twenty-one-year-old Ashley Bleier has been working at darkTan on Eastern Boulevard in Canandaigua for almost four years now. Before that she was an avid UV tanner, but in recent years, preserving the youthful appearance of her skin has pushed forward in importance. These days she�s proud to say she rarely UV tans, doesn�t smoke and doesn�t drink � all steps to take care of herself.
�I started UV tanning when I was 15 � that was before New York state came out with all the laws and regulations,� said Bleier. �I don�t know if it clicked one day and I realized I didn�t want to be doing that anymore. After awhile I thought, �I�m going to start looking after my skin.��
She still UV tans occasionally � about once every two months �just because it�s an awesome way to relax.� Clients come in for medical, psychological and appearance purposes, she said.
�I�ve got people who come in here who have fibromyalgia or who have been diagnosed with depression and they�ll come in with doctor�s notes, because it just makes you happy,� she said. �When people get cabin fever during the wintertime, that�s our busiest season.�
There was a lot more activity in the Mystic Tan booth with ball and prom season, Bleier said. Parents who may not want their kids to UV tan will allow the spray, or Mystic, alternative for their under-18 teens.
�It�s not a spray tan, per se,� said Bleier. �It�s a mist that goes on your body and we customize it here for you. You can tell me how dark you want it to be, tell me what you want it to smell like, I�ll make it happen.�
�I usually keep my color about a week and a half,� said Bleier. �I say it�s like waxing a car � you�ve got to take care of it for it to look good.�
About 20 percent of customers spray tan and about 80 percent are avid UV tanners, Bleier estimated. They come on their lunch break or before or after work and sometimes just to drop by and chat. The cost for either is similar � a month of spray tanning is about $50 and a month of UV is about $40, she said.
Terry Urzetta of Victor has owned her own spray-tanning business since 2007. Her clients range in age from teens through women in their 60s and 70s � many of whom have accumulated years of sun damage, she said.
Urzetta also admits having spent her share of time under UV lamps and in the Florida sun over the years, and said she has �a lot of sun damage� as a result. But she loves being outdoors and now protects herself with liberal doses of sunscreen. She�s seen the downside of sun damage, though.
�I�ve had many, many clients under the age of 30 who have had skin cancer,� said Urzetta. �It�s not a choice for them to UV tan. I think I offer a safe alternative. Everyone wants that healthy glow.�
Urzetta uses an all-natural product, which is odorless, free of orange tint and free of chemicals, parabens and dyes. She has clients who come in once, two days before heading off on a vacation, so when they get to their destination they already have a tan that will last seven to 10 days. She has also spray-tanned girls 11 and 12 who were preparing for an Irish dance competition.
�The products have definitely gotten better in the last 10 years,� Urzetta said. �There�s no fear of getting orange. The application has definitely changed, the equipment is very modern and it just keeps improving.�
At Michelle�s Salon and Spa, and at Park West Hair Design � both in Canandaigua � spray tanning is one of many options for soon-to-be brides, vacationers or students getting ready for a big event.
Sandy Hershey of Park West reported that �a lot of the girls do it for senior ball, junior prom or homecoming, for a special night or to get ready to go on vacation.�
�You�ll still need to wear sunscreen,� she said, �but it helps so you don�t look out of place that first day on the beach.�
In Victor, a phone call and $30 or more will bring the tanning salon to your home or party courtesy of Bronze to You Mobile Spray Tanning.
Despite the risk, Canandaigua resident Kris Macumber, 56, said she loves UV tanning � enough to go two to three times a week all year long.
�I get depressed in the winter, and between tanning and exercise, it really helps the seasonal depression,� she said. �I can never get warm, and it is hard for me to relax, and tanning helps with both. I am an unashamed tanner and I will probably always tan � and yes, I know that it causes premature aging and skin damage, but there you have it.�
By the numbers
419,000 � number of skin cancer cases believed to be caused by indoor tanning annually in the U.S.
226,000 � number of lung cancer cases believed to be caused by smoking annually in the U.S.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
13 percent of all high school students engage in indoor tanning
21 percent of high school girls engage in indoor tanning
32 percent of girls in the 12th grade engage in indoor tanning
29 percent of white high school girls engage in indoor tanning
(2011 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System)
Did you know?
� One in three white women between 18 and 21 years of age have tanned indoors in the past 12 months
� Those who tan do so an average of more than 27 times per year.
� Many U.S. high school students also use tanning beds often.
� About half of high school indoor tanners use them 10 or more times per year.
� Nearly 75 percent of tanning salons let people use tanning beds too often.
� State laws on indoor tanning are rarely enforced.
(SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Myths about indoor tanning
�Tanning indoors is safer than tanning in the sun.�
Indoor tanning and tanning outside are both dangerous. Although indoor tanning devices operate on a timer, the exposure to UV rays can vary based on the age and type of light bulbs. Indoor tanning is designed to give you high levels of UV radiation in a short time. You can get a burn from tanning indoors, and even a tan indicates damage to your skin.
�A base tan will protect me from getting a sunburn.�
Indoor tanning does not protect against sunburn. In fact, a tan only provides a sun protection factor (SPF) of about 3. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. The important thing to remember is that a tan is a response to injury: skin cells respond to damage from UV rays by producing more pigment.
�Indoor tanning is a safe way to get vitamin D, which prevents many health problems.�
Vitamin D is important for bone health, but its effect on other health problems is less clear. Although it is important to get enough vitamin D, the safest way is through diet or supplements. Tanning harms your skin, and the amount of UV exposure you need to get enough vitamin D is hard to measure because it is different for every person.
(SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Indoor tanning: A burning issue
As swimsuit weather and prom season bear down once again on fair-skinned, teenaged New Yorkers, the debate heats up: To tan or not to tan?


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Arsenal confirm David Ospina deal
Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina from Nice on a long-term contract.
- Wilshere regrets smoking incident
- Cazorla confident of title tilt
The 25-year-old, who featured for his country at this summer's World Cup, will seal the move subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
It's official - @Arsenal are to sign David Ospina! Full details here: http://t.co/vDDq9LHE8g #WelcomeOspina pic.twitter.com/MtNnHFz4WT
- Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) July 27, 2014
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger told the club's official website: "David Ospina is an excellent goalkeeper, with good experience and a proven record of performing with Nice and Colombia. He will add strength to our squad and we are very pleased that he will be joining us."
Arsenal did not announce the transfer fee but it is believed to be in the region of four million euros.
Ospina, who spent six years with Nice, told the French club's website it was "an opportunity that could not be rejected" but added: "Nice and its fans will always remain in my heart."
Nice manager Claude Puel had already stated that the deal would go ahead, telling Sky Sports News: "At 25 years old, it is important for him to experience another championship, so it is a fantastic move for him. I think he can take the No. 1 spot at Arsenal because his qualities are very, very strong. He is very good with his feet, with his arms, and he knows soccer. He is a very, very good player."
Wenger earlier told ESPN FC that Wojciech Szczesny would face competition for his place: "You know at the start Szczesny will be the No.1, then again we'll be down to performances and, if Ospina shows that he is better, he will play."
Ospina has made 45 international appearances for Colombia.
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Rooted in antiquity
Exploring the mastic villages on the Greek island of Chios
MESTA, Greece - The instant we enter the mastic grove, the heat of midday drops and the craggy, sun-bleached landscape of the Greek Island of Chios is transformed. A type of wild pistachio, the evergreen mastic tree has shiny, dark green leaves and long gnarled branches that twist and turn horizontally. Between the dusky green light, the floor of the grove, which the farmer keeps impeccably clean, the sharp scent of mastic sap, and the mythical appearance of the trees, it seems that we have entered a place inhabited by creatures poised to dance a slow, medieval dance.
Also known as lentisk, the slow-growing mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia) is not only enchanted in appearance, it also presents an intriguing mystery. Although the tree is native to the Mediterranean region, southern Chios is the only place in the world where it exudes its resin in enough quantity and quality to be harvested - over 120 tons each year.
My daughter Sylvie, 8, and I follow our guide, Vassilis Ballas, through the shade of the grove to a tree. Six years ago, Ballas and his wife, Roula Boura, both IT professionals, fled the throngs and smog of Athens to Chios to tend his family's ancestral trees and to start the ecotourism company, Masticulture, which offers seminars and tours focused on the culture, agriculture, and natural history of the island, Greece's fifth largest.
At the foot of the tree, Ballas drops his bag of tools, pulls out a small, sharp, pick-like instrument, and uses it to score inch-long incisions in the bark. From these incisions, mastic will slowly ooze, forming tear-shaped droplets that eventually fall to the ground, thus mastic's nickname, "tears of Chios.''
Since antiquity, mastic has been prized for its therapeutic and culinary properties. Hippocrates recommended it for gastrointestinal disorders. In Persia, it was used to fill cavities. In its raw form, mastic can be crushed with a mortar and pestle with salt for savory dishes, sugar for sweet. It can also be chewed like gum (thus "masticate''). In traditional Greek cooking, mastic is used to flavor Easter and Christmas breads, spoon sweets, and confections. Today in Greece, the resin is experiencing renewed popularity and imparts its flavor to gourmet ice creams, fine chocolates, and other fancy foodstuffs.
Standing in the cool of the grove, we listen as Ballas describes the fables and songs that have been inspired by the mastic tree, and I am impressed by the affect the resin has had on the culture of this eastern Aegean island. In fact, it occurs to me, it is mastic resin that has literally shaped the history and architecture of the southern half of Chios. By the 14th century, mastic had become so coveted and valuable that the Genoese conquered the island to gain control of the trade. It was the Genoese who built the Mastichochoria, the 24 mastic villages scattered around southern Chios, in order to protect the mastic harvest and the farmers without whose expertise, cultivation would decline.
During the Ottoman domination of Chios (the island is only 7 nautical miles from the Turkish coast), mastic was worth its weight in gold and the mastic farmers were accorded special privileges. It was the Turks' fear of losing their control of the mastic trade that provoked the massacre of 1822, when Turkish soldiers killed 30,000 of the island's Greek inhabitants. The residents of the Mastichochoria were spared.
The techniques used to harvest mastic haven't changed much since those turbulent times. From June until early October, families of the Mastichochoria go to the groves each day to carve incisions into the trunks and main branches of the trees. At the end of the harvest, the resin is gathered and, through the fall and winter, painstakingly sifted, sorted, and washed by hand.
Five minutes by foot from Ballas's grove lies Mesta. One of the Mastichochoria, it is a picturesque medieval village of around 300 residents. Sheltered within thick, fortified walls built in the shape of a pentagon, with seven entrances to the village within, Mesta was designed as a labyrinth to stymie scavenging pirates. Its narrow, winding lanes are bridged by long, low archways and lined with antique stone houses joined tightly together. On nearly every doorstep, veranda, or corner there are bright splashes of red, pink, and orange: geraniums, bougainvillea, aromatic jasmine and honeysuckle - all sprouting from earthen pots because there is no room for gardens in the village.
Of the Mastichochoria, Mesta is one of the best preserved and therefore among the most famous. Thus, in its central square you not only see "yia-yias,'' or grandmas, in white kerchiefs gossiping as they sit gathered together sorting chickpeas (and, in the fall, mastic), but also find free Wi-Fi and lively "cafenions'' where one can sip an espresso or other drinks, alcoholic and not, and taste some of that premium mastic ice cream.
For my daughter, Mesta is an enchanting medieval playground, a car-free paradise where she can run and play without fear or reservation. This is where the owner of our favorite cafenion feeds her free ice cream by the bowlful and the same yia-yias remark on her golden hair. For me, the claustrophobe, its cloistered atmosphere takes a bit of getting used to. But after a day, I am loath to be anywhere else.
Still, trek on we must and on our second day on the island, we take a day trip from the confines of Mesta to explore the other Mastichochoria and we find that each village offers its own charm or intrigue. A few kilometers down the road from Mesta, Olympi is well preserved with a beautiful central square. We are especially astonished by the village of Pirgi, the largest of the Mastichochoria, where nearly every building is covered in sgraffito facades - dark gray geometric patterns scratched into whitewashed walls. Pirgi, too, has a lively square with restaurants and cafenions, and a 13-century Byzantine church.
Mesta, Pirgi, and the rest of the Mastichochoria have prospered through the ages as a result of the mastic trade and today they continue to fare well, despite Greece's economic woes. Luckily, the denizens of the Mastichochoria need not hawk postcards or entice tourists into a high-ticket meal. Their lives continue to be centered on the care of their beloved mastic trees.
An interesting detour from the Mastichochoria is elegant Kampos, an aromatic patchwork of citrus and almond groves, gardens and stately mansions immediately south of Chios Town. Like the Mastichochoria, Kampos was built by the Genoese, but to house the owners of the mastic groves. Through the latticework of the mansions' gates, you can see elaborate gardens and orchards and the enormous water wheels once used to irrigate them.
There is no need to peer through the gates if you visit the Citrus Museum. Located on the historic estate of the Ksydas family, the museum details the agricultural and cultural history of Kampos. Its shop sells delicious confections and jams made with lemons, oranges, mandarins, and almonds grown organically on the estate.
As famous as Chios is for its mastic and Mastichochoria, it is also a destination for nature lovers. Rugged and sparsely populated, it is home to more than 75 species of wild orchids, and because much of the land is uncultivated and undeveloped, the island provides important habitat to migrating birds. Moreover, its beaches are beautiful and often empty. In our short time, we discovered an island full of delightful surprises. It is not unusual to follow a dirt road a kilometer or more and find at its end a beautiful sandy inlet next to a wetland teeming with birds, or the startling remnant of a medieval fortress in a meadow of crocuses.
Back in Mesta on our last night on Chios, my daughter and I sit with Ballas and Boura in the twilit square. The manager of our favorite cafenion arrives at our table. Eager to coax my shy daughter into a conversation, he offers her a bowl of her favorite ice cream. She nods, hesitantly but happily. In the distance, we hear the cooing of a mourning dove. An elderly man meanders around and around the square, slowly pushing his year-old granddaughter in her stroller. Christos, a Greek-Australian descendent of Mesta who has returned to live out the rest of his days in the village, stops for a chat. Others pass by calling out greetings. I watch my daughter enjoying her ice cream and think back on our time here. The mastic trees may shed tears each year, but for us this visit has been nothing but joyful.
Alexis Marie Adams can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Joe Henry
Joe Henry won't brag, but he has never made a bad record. Or had a hit (though "Don't Tell Me," a re-imagined version of one of Henry's songs, was a Top 10 smash for his sister-in-law, Madonna). Over the last 20 years, he has carved out one of music's most stubbornly imaginative careers, though these days he's as well-known for his work as a producer (he has overseen records for Solomon Burke, Lisa Hannigan, "House" star Hugh Laurie and Mose Allison, and contributed to the upcoming Bonnie Raitt album, "Slipstream," among many others) as he is for his own releases.7:30 p.m. Friday at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.; $21-$25; 773-728-6000 or oldtownschool.orgRead the full Joe Henry interview
Copyright © 2018, Chicago Tribune


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i'm a beginner DM trying to get a fantasy game going online.
i need more PCs. want to join? come look at my page!
the setting and adventure types are wide open. i take requests.
the link is in my profile.
"Hey, we have a game (DnD 4e, homebrew setting) running in your area and are looking into a sixth player, if you have AIM or Yahoo, and are interested, send me a message with your screenname."
All Around Wordsmith


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Charlie Rangel is trying to fight off several primary challengers, ethics charges and–who knows?–possibly jail time for tax evasion. What to do? The Post headlines: "Desperate Rangel wraps self in civil rights."
Rep. Charles Rangel played the race card yesterday as he entered the final stretch of his renomination campaign before the Sept. 14 primary.
Speaking to scores of supporters at an outdoor celebration organized by church leaders in Harlem, the embattled Democrat described himself as a "foot soldier" in African-Americans' struggle for equality, and urged everyone to vote for him to keep the fight alive.
"All of you remember that this fight is never, never going to end. I'm just one of the foot soldiers; just one of those [who] fought in the march so that one day our kids [will] be able to say, 'Do you remember when there was bigotry and prejudice in this country? Do you remember when there wasn't fairness?'
"This is not Charlie Rangel's struggle. All over this country these things are happening," Rangel said.
Remember the good old days when the last refuge of a scoundrel was patriotism? But this is like the Democrats' attempt to race-bait the Tea Party movement; I doubt whether anyone actually takes it seriously. What struck me most about Rangel's defense, however, was his aligning himself with President Obama:
Rangel defended the president yesterday and put him in the same category as other African-American politicians who are under pressure because of race.
"It's very difficult to understand . . . when the commander-in-chief is leading our great nation involved in two wars for people to be so overtly critical of him knowing, knowing, that the enemies of democracy are listening to that — it's just not right," Rangel said after the rally.
So Rangel, evidently, has seen the light! When President Bush was "the commander-in-chief leading our great nation in two wars," Rangel had no problem being "overtly critical" of him. As, for example, when he said that Bush's "fraudulent war" in Iraq was "as bad as the Holocaust". Or when he quipped that Bush had "shattered the myth of white supremacy," or when he accused Bush of "throw[ing] away lives in Iraq". No doubt the "enemies of democracy" were listening then, too, but for Rangel–as, to be fair, for a great many Democrats–that was then, and this is now.


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WASHINGTON: A massive international manhunt is under way for Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the one-eyed Islamist leader who masterminded the Algerian hostagetaking.
French special forces were among those deployed to find the man who is now the world's most wanted terrorist.
US special forces are also set to be dispatched to friendly north African countries.
The Pentagon is under pressure to use drones to find and kill Mr Belmokhtar, who is believed to have ordered the attack from rebel-controlled northern Mali.
The US is already drawing up plans to expand its counterterrorism operations on the continent in response to the siege.
The initial focus will be to track down Mr Belmokhtar.
There is a growing feeling in Washington that the Islamist insurrection in Mali and the Algerian crisis represent a tipping point for greater US military intervention in the region.
Mr Belmokhtar's well-funded forces have been bolstered in recent months by an influx of guns and tribal Tuareg mercenaries from Libya following the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime.
Much of his funding has come from previous kidnaps of Westerners for ransom.
Telegraph, London