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Why were gladiatorial games and bloodsports so popular in the
Roman Empire?
What sparked this question again for me was reading The Sun Also Rises, by Earnest Hemingway. Not ancient history, true, but it does have passages about the running of the bulls and bull fights in
Of course, I am aware of the Pamplona, Spain
festival and bull fights which are a remnant of the ancient events of the
amphitheatre. A matador may not be Spartacus but he certainly has cojones. Pamplona Reading
got me to Googling some photos of the festival which led me to one thought: Pamplona
People are fu#*ing crazy!
|Pamplona goring
And yet, people continue to do it, to watch it. I suppose it is way more 'manly' to face down a bull with a sword (or run from one) than to shoot a lion or moose from 100 meters with a gun. The latter is no test of strength in my opinion. Get in the ring with a lion and a knife in your hand, then you'll be brave, or at the very least off your head.
I digress.
|Gladiatorial Combat
But what about today? Why is bull fighting, boxing or, an even better example, why is Ultimate Fighting Challenge, so popular? The latter is not the phony, chair swinging, airborne drop-kicking show of the WWF any more. These guys are in the ring beating the hell out of each other while people in bars across the world sip drinks and watch and cheer and hope for the mischance that will make it all the more exciting.
If history has taught us anything, it is that violence is inherent to human nature. Even though people feel disgusted or repelled by something horrific, much of the time, they feel the urge to look, to gawp. Is it like watching an awful talk show where the people on the stage are so far gone that it makes the viewer feel better about their own life? Are we ok watching because the people are strangers to us? Would we feel differently if we knew the person? The need for violence, to watch it, must go deeper than that. Why then does not everyone wish to witness it? Maybe it comes down to one's constitution, that some are just more able to handle the sight of it?
|Ultimate Fighting Challenge
What about the moral dilemma facing the practice and viewing of bloodsports? Is not the mark of true civilization that we strive for goodness in every aspect of life? I suppose it depends on your perspective.
I don't have an answer and I'm sure there are a plethora of sociological and psychological theories on violence in ancient and modern times. It is just something that perhaps we should think about next time our eyes search an accident scene as we drive by, or the next time we turn on the television to watch some stranger have his face turned to pulp.
In ancient
, the games were not only a showcase for
the powers that be, they were an occurrence in which the populace would be
brought together to share in something alongside their rulers. Even in
hindsight, it is difficult to fully understand the appeal. But the games lived
on for hundreds of years, having made the transition from funerary rite to
public display for the entertainment of all. Rome
|Pamplona misfortune
The waiter asks if anything happened at the running that morning and Jake tells him that one man was badly gored. One would expect the waiter, a local who makes money off the festival, to be a fan of the running of the bulls, the fights. And yet, as Jake tells him about the man getting a horn through the back and out the chest, he shakes his head and says:
"All for sport. All for pleasure… You hear? Muerto. Dead. He's dead. With a horn through him. All for morning fun… Not for me… No fun in that for me."
I think I'm with the waiter on this.
|Scene from Spartacus: Gods of the Arena
If I were a young citizen in ancient
, would I find myself
at the amphitheatre, yelling for a victor to slit the throat of a fallen foe?
Perhaps. They were different times, far removed from our modern mindset. I know
I wouldn't want to see that today. I think I would much rather find myself in
the Circus Maximus taking in the chariot races. But that's just me. Rome


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Ice Cream Sandwich's launcher is a step up from any other launcher UI out there. There are even some that have taken its greatness even further, like Nova Launcher for instance. However back in December we wrote about a launcher that could make all other launchers feel like child's play. That launcher, the TSF Shell Pro 3D Launcher. I've been drooling over it ever since we first touched upon the launcher. If you haven't seen our initial article and have no idea why I am drooling over it then go check it out. I'll wait. Back? Good, continuing on.
For those that have been and are now newly waiting for this to drop on the world we have good news for you. If the developer's web site has anything to tell us we will see it in eight days. That's right Leap Day, February 29th, the day we only see every four years, will be the day we see this launcher. If you still haven't checked out our initial piece please, again, head here to do so. It has some amazing screenshots of TSF Shell PRO 3D in action. Otherwise, hit the break below to check out the original trailer in all its glory. I sure hope that it drops a week from tomorrow. How about you?

subset: commoncrawl


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ORANGE — A 23-year-man suspected of selling oxycodone and Percocet was fatally gunned down by state police Wednesday morning as they attempted to search his Mechanic Street apartment.
The man — whom state police have not identified — was one of two people in the second-floor apartment at 18 Mechanic St. who were suspected of selling drugs.
The man allegedly confronted members of the Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations Team with a gun as they attempted to enter the apartment around 5 a.m.
A 25-year-old woman, who also lived in the apartment and is under investigation, suffered an eye injury in the incident and was being treated at a local hospital.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the troopers entered the apartment around 5 a.m. and the man confronted them with a firearm, prompting a trooper or troopers to fire their service weapons, according to David Procopio, state police spokesman.
"The State Police Detective Unit had intelligence that the male suspect had access to, and may use, firearms," according to a statement from the state police. "As a result of that intelligence, the STOP Team was utilized for the entry."
The man was given medical aid at the scene and was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The STOP Team was executing a search warrant in conjunction with a drug investigation being conducted by the State Police Detective Unit for Hampshire and Franklin counties.
Investigators also found a second firearm inside the room where the suspect confronted the troopers, according to state police.
The apartment is being investigated as a crime scene, and the investigation into the shooting is being conducted by the state police and the Northwestern district attorney's office. The district attorney will review the use of deadly force to determine if it was justified under law, according to state police.
No further information was available Wednesday.
Contact Donna Boynton at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @DonnaBoyntonTG
Contact Donna Boynton at firstname.lastname@example.com or follow her on Twitter @DonnaBoyntonTG


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Meeting Highlights
123rd National Meeting — Rochester, NY The 123rd AAPT National Meeting moved north in 2001 to be held in Rochester, N.Y., the birthplace of well-known companies, such as Eastman Kodak and Xerox, and higher education institutions, such as Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), the University of Rochester, and Monroe Community College. In keeping with the strong optics focus of the Rochester industrial and educational community, the AAPT Summer Meeting featured an emphasis on optics in the plenary and invited sessions. The meeting format departed from the usual campus setting and was held in the Riverside Convention Center and nearby hotels. Meeting attendance far exceeded expectations, and this was the best attended Summer Meeting in more than seven years. AAPT staff received many favorable comments about this format from the more than 1100 participants in attendance.


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Here are some quick notes from Andy Reid's day-after news conference today following the loss to the Bears:
* Safety Nate Allen has a concussion. Left guard Evan Mathis has turf toe and will "struggle to practice tomorrow."
* Right at the start of the presser, Reid was asked whether the Eagles are a soft team. His one-word reply, "No."
* Asked if the players are angry, Reid said "they're disappointed."
* Reid said the Eagles are a "real good football team" if they don't committ turnovers and penalties. "I don't think people are stopping us. We're stopping oursleves. We have to take care of that. That's what we can control." Reid said the turnovers and penalties but the Eagles again, "whether he agrees with the [penalties] or not." He said the fake punt should be included in the turnovers.
* Reid continued to express confidence in his team. "I've seen this football team play good football. We are going to get this right and continue to play good football." At another point, he said, "I know how good we can be. As coaches and players we need to make sure we can do this consistently. ... That's my responsibility to get this done."
* Defensively, Reid said the Eagles need to get off the field on third down and need to convert on offense on third down.
* Asked specifically about Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who will face his former team this week, Reid said, "He's working on it."
* Reid said the Eagles need to do a better job of putting DeSean Jackson in position to make play. He said Jackson was not open last night. Reid, asked about whether Jackson is playing not to get hurt, because of his contract situation, said, "I don't think so."
* Reid said Brandon Graham played well in his first action of the season. "I thought he did some good things," Reid said. "There's a bit of rust he's got to knock off, but he did some good things."
The Eagles have signed tight end Brett Brackett to the practice squad. Brackett replaces TE Anthony Hill, who was signed by the Indianapolis Colts.
Brackett, a native of Lawrence, NJ, was signed as a rookie free agent by the Miami Dolphins in 2011 and spent time on Jacksonville's practice squad. The 6-5, 246-pound Brackett played collegiately at Penn State, where he caught 39 passes for 525 yards and five touchdowns as a senior wide receiver in 2010.


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Take Me HomeRomantic, intimate and soulful. This deep song is simple yet complex, full of contradictions. The instrumentation is beautiful here, voice, guitar and cello.
VideoHive projects that feature this track
Take Me Home
You say a thousand words Just enough to fill my ears To make them go blushing red
I don't know how you do it It's just the way you lay them out It's a poem for my heart
Can't get enough of the things she says She makes me run round the world Faster than time would let us be Spin the earth to a place when you and me sang
Please take me home To a place where you belong But don't take your time Coz I might just lose my breath
I love the way you do it The way you paint my melodies You know how to make us rhyme
Do you remember of the times That we spoke about the stars We colored them baby blue
Come sing along to the things I say And the ocean will seize it's waves Into the skies we'll break them free Say the word and the earth will stop to our just
Please take me home To a place where you belong But don't take your time Coz I might just lose my breath drowning
In your heart I've found my place Just a little dusty that's all In my heart you've found your grace And I'll never let you fall
Please take me home To a place where we belong


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airwalk wrote:My pictures aren't much better, but the poster hangs in our lobby for everyone to see. The resizing to post here and the limitations on the computer at work are making the picture posting nearly impossible...so I'm really glad you put yours up.
The meds and shampoos and stuff are wonderful and went straight to the exam room and grooming...
You guys are all wonderful.
I must admit the poster brought a tear as I looked at dogs that I have watched over the last couple of years and mourned their losses.
iluvk9 wrote:Lordie, Suzanne...it's 6:30 am here and I am in tears looking at that poster. What a lovely idea. I think I am going to start 'paying it forward' on the holidays.
mnp13 wrote:All set... on the right of the photobucket screen there is a box that says "share this photo" the third box down is labeled "IMG code" that's what you copy for pictures to show on the forum.
TheRedQueen wrote::cheer:
Glad they liked everything!
Just wanted to let our Santa know Duke & Trouble's package arrived yesterday. All of the cameras we own are light challenged, so we are trying to take advantage of a sunny afternoon to get some natural light into the room for pictures. Photos are coming, I promise.
hugapitbull wrote:That is a big pile of loot for such a small dog Enjoy, wiener!
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Who We Are
IPR International is an IT infrastructure and managed services company committed to providing our enterprise clients with a flexible, scalable, easy-to-use environment. We have more than a decade of experience serving clients in all major verticals.Learn More >
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We help clients solve the complexity of their IT environments, gain control, improve agility, and heighten security. We do this by providing access to a set of colo, private cloud, virtual private datacenter, disaster recovery, and managed services.Learn More >
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- Failover Solutions
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The human lung harbors a large population of resident memory T cells (Trm cells). These cells are perfectly positioned to mediate rapid protection against respiratory pathogens such as influenza virus, a highly contagious respiratory pathogen that continues to be a major public health burden. Animal models show that influenza-specific lung CD8+ Trm cells are indispensable for crossprotection against pulmonary infection with different influenza virus strains. However, it is not known whether influenza-specific CD8+ Trm cells present within the human lung have the same critical role in modulating the course of the disease. Here, we showed that human lung contains a population of CD8+ Trm cells that are highly proliferative and have polyfunctional progeny. We observed that different influenza virus–specific CD8+ T cell specificities differentiated into Trm cells with varying efficiencies and that the size of the influenza-specific CD8+ T cell population persisting in the lung directly correlated with the efficiency of differentiation into Trm cells. To our knowledge, we provide the first ex vivo dissection of paired T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires of human influenza–specific CD8+ Trm cells. Our data reveal diverse TCR profiles within the human lung Trm cells and a high degree of clonal sharing with other CD8+ T cell populations, a feature important for effective T cell function and protection against the generation of viral-escape mutants.
Angela Pizzolla, Thi H.O. Nguyen, Sneha Sant, Jade Jaffar, Tom Loudovaris, Stuart I. Mannering, Paul G. Thomas, Glen P. Westall, Katherine Kedzierska, Linda M. Wakim
Ebolaviruses and marburgviruses belong to the family Filoviridae and cause high lethality in infected patients. There are currently no licensed filovirus vaccines or antiviral therapies. The development of broad-spectrum therapies against members of the Marburgvirus genus, including Marburg virus (MARV) and Ravn virus (RAVV), is difficult because of substantial sequence variability. RNAi therapeutics offer a potential solution, as identification of conserved target nucleotide sequences may confer activity across marburgvirus variants. Here, we assessed the therapeutic efficacy of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery of a single nucleoprotein–targeting (NP-targeting) siRNA in nonhuman primates at advanced stages of MARV or RAVV disease to mimic cases in which patients begin treatment for fulminant disease. Sixteen rhesus monkeys were lethally infected with MARV or RAVV and treated with NP siRNA-LNP, with MARV-infected animals beginning treatment four or five days after infection and RAVV-infected animals starting treatment three or six days after infection. While all untreated animals succumbed to disease, NP siRNA-LNP treatment conferred 100% survival of RAVV-infected macaques, even when treatment began just 1 day prior to the death of the control animals. In MARV-infected animals, day-4 treatment initiation resulted in 100% survival, and day-5 treatment resulted in 50% survival. These results identify a single siRNA therapeutic that provides broad-spectrum protection against both MARV and RAVV.
Emily P. Thi, Chad E. Mire, Amy C.H. Lee, Joan B. Geisbert, Raul Ursic-Bedoya, Krystle N. Agans, Marjorie Robbins, Daniel J. Deer, Robert W. Cross, Andrew S. Kondratowicz, Karla A. Fenton, Ian MacLachlan, Thomas W. Geisbert
Escherichia coli and other Enterobacteriaceae are among the most common pathogens of the human urinary tract. Among the genetic gains of function associated with urinary E. coli isolates is the Yersinia high pathogenicity island (HPI), which directs the biosynthesis of yersiniabactin (Ybt), a virulence-associated metallophore. Using a metabolomics approach, we found that E. coli and other Enterobacteriaceae expressing the Yersinia HPI also secrete escherichelin, a second metallophore whose chemical structure matches a known synthetic inhibitor of the virulence-associated pyochelin siderophore system in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We detected escherichelin during clinical E. coli urinary tract infection (UTI) and experimental human colonization with a commensal, potentially probiotic E. coli bacteriuria strain. Escherichelin production by colonizing enterobacteria may help human hosts resist opportunistic infections by Pseudomonas and other pyochelin-expressing bacteria. This siderophore-based mechanism of microbial antagonism may be one of many elements contributing to the protective effects of the human microbiome. Future UTI-preventive probiotic strains may benefit by retaining the escherichelin biosynthetic capacity of the Yersinia HPI while eliminating the Ybt biosynthetic capacity.
Shannon I. Ohlemacher, Daryl E. Giblin, D. André d'Avignon, Ann E. Stapleton, Barbara W. Trautner, Jeffrey P. Henderson
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) typically causes chickenpox upon primary infection. In rare cases, VZV can give rise to life-threatening disease in otherwise healthy people, but the immunological basis for this remains unexplained. We report 4 cases of acute severe VZV infection affecting the central nervous system or the lungs in unrelated, otherwise healthy children who are heterozygous for rare missense mutations in POLR3A (one patient), POLR3C (one patient), or both (two patients). POLR3A and POLR3C encode subunits of RNA polymerase III. Leukocytes from all 4 patients tested exhibited poor IFN induction in response to synthetic or VZV-derived DNA. Moreover, leukocytes from 3 of the patients displayed defective IFN production upon VZV infection and reduced control of VZV replication. These phenotypes were rescued by transduction with relevant WT alleles. This work demonstrates that monogenic or digenic POLR3A and POLR3C deficiencies confer increased susceptibility to severe VZV disease in otherwise healthy children, providing evidence for an essential role of a DNA sensor in human immunity.
Benson Ogunjimi, Shen-Ying Zhang, Katrine B. Sørensen, Kristian A. Skipper, Madalina Carter-Timofte, Gaspard Kerner, Stefanie Luecke, Thaneas Prabakaran, Yujia Cai, Josephina Meester, Esther Bartholomeus, Nikhita Ajit Bolar, Geert Vandeweyer, Charlotte Claes, Yasmine Sillis, Lazaro Lorenzo, Raffaele A. Fiorenza, Soraya Boucherit, Charlotte Dielman, Steven Heynderickx, George Elias, Andrea Kurotova, Ann Vander Auwera, Lieve Verstraete, Lieven Lagae, Helene Verhelst, Anna Jansen, Jose Ramet, Arvid Suls, Evelien Smits, Berten Ceulemans, Lut Van Laer, Genevieve Plat Wilson, Jonas Kreth, Capucine Picard, Horst Von Bernuth, Joël Fluss, Stephane Chabrier, Laurent Abel, Geert Mortier, Sebastien Fribourg, Jacob Giehm Mikkelsen, Jean-Laurent Casanova, Søren R. Paludan, Trine H. Mogensen
Mutations in the human NBEAL2 gene cause gray platelet syndrome (GPS), a bleeding diathesis characterized by a lack of α granules in platelets. The functions of the NBEAL2 protein have not been explored outside platelet biology, but there are reports of increased frequency of infection and abnormal neutrophil morphology in patients with GPS. We therefore investigated the role of NBEAL2 in immunity by analyzing the phenotype of Nbeal2-deficient mice. We found profound abnormalities in the Nbeal2-deficient immune system, particularly in the function of neutrophils and NK cells. Phenotyping of Nbeal2-deficient neutrophils showed a severe reduction in granule contents across all granule subsets. Despite this, Nbeal2-deficient neutrophils had an enhanced phagocyte respiratory burst relative to Nbeal2-expressing neutrophils. This respiratory burst was associated with increased expression of cytosolic components of the NADPH oxidase complex. Nbeal2-deficient NK cells were also dysfunctional and showed reduced degranulation. These abnormalities were associated with increased susceptibility to both bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus) and viral (murine CMV) infection in vivo. These results define an essential role for NBEAL2 in mammalian immunity.
John M. Sowerby, David C. Thomas, Simon Clare, Marion Espéli, Jose A. Guerrero, Kim Hoenderdos, Katherine Harcourt, Morgan Marsden, Juneid Abdul-Karim, Mathew Clement, Robin Antrobus, Yagnesh Umrania, Philippa R. Barton, Shaun M. Flint, Jatinder K. Juss, Alison M. Condliffe, Paul A. Lyons, Ian R. Humphreys, Edwin R. Chilvers, Willem H. Ouwehand, Gordon Dougan, Kenneth G.C. Smith
Adoptive transfer of T cells engineered to express a hepatitis B virus–specific (HBV-specific) T cell receptor (TCR) may supplement HBV-specific immune responses in chronic HBV patients and facilitate HBV control. However, the risk of triggering unrestrained proliferation of permanently engineered T cells raises safety concerns that have hampered testing of this approach in patients. The aim of the present study was to generate T cells that transiently express HBV-specific TCRs using mRNA electroporation and to assess their antiviral and pathogenetic activity in vitro and in HBV-infected human liver chimeric mice. We assessed virological and gene-expression changes using quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR), immunofluorescence, and Luminex technology. HBV-specific T cells lysed HBV-producing hepatoma cells in vitro. In vivo, 3 injections of HBV-specific T cells caused progressive viremia reduction within 12 days of treatment in animals reconstituted with haplotype-matched hepatocytes, whereas viremia remained stable in mice receiving irrelevant T cells redirected toward hepatitis C virus–specific TCRs. Notably, increases in alanine aminotransferase levels, apoptotic markers, and human inflammatory cytokines returned to pretreatment levels within 9 days after the last injection. T cell transfer did not trigger inflammation in uninfected mice. These data support the feasibility of using mRNA electroporation to engineer HBV TCR–redirected T cells in patients with chronic HBV infection.
Janine Kah, Sarene Koh, Tassilo Volz, Erica Ceccarello, Lena Allweiss, Marc Lütgehetmann, Antonio Bertoletti, Maura Dandri
Protective responses against pathogens require a rapid mobilization of resting neutrophils and the timely removal of activated ones. Neutrophils are exceptionally short-lived leukocytes, yet it remains unclear whether the lifespan of pathogen-engaged neutrophils is regulated differently from that in the circulating steady-state pool. Here, we have found that under homeostatic conditions, the mRNA-destabilizing protein tristetraprolin (TTP) regulates apoptosis and the numbers of activated infiltrating murine neutrophils but not neutrophil cellularity. Activated TTP-deficient neutrophils exhibited decreased apoptosis and enhanced accumulation at the infection site. In the context of myeloid-specific deletion of
Florian Ebner, Vitaly Sedlyarov, Saren Tasciyan, Masa Ivin, Franz Kratochvill, Nina Gratz, Lukas Kenner, Andreas Villunger, Michael Sixt, Pavel Kovarik
Ajitha Thanabalasuriar, Bas G.J. Surewaard, Michelle E. Willson, Arpan S. Neupane, Charles K. Stover, Paul Warrener, George Wilson, Ashley E. Keller, Bret R. Sellman, Antonio DiGiandomenico, Paul Kubes
Type I IFNs promote cellular responses to viruses, and IFN receptor (IFNAR) signaling regulates the responses of endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) during neurotropic viral infection. However, the role of astrocytes in innate immune responses of the BBB during viral infection of the CNS remains to be fully elucidated. Here, we have demonstrated that type I IFNAR signaling in astrocytes regulates BBB permeability and protects the cerebellum from infection and immunopathology. Mice with astrocyte-specific loss of IFNAR signaling showed decreased survival after West Nile virus infection. Accelerated mortality was not due to expanded viral tropism or increased replication. Rather, viral entry increased specifically in the hindbrain of IFNAR-deficient mice, suggesting that IFNAR signaling critically regulates BBB permeability in this brain region. Pattern recognition receptors and IFN-stimulated genes had higher basal and IFN-induced expression in human and mouse cerebellar astrocytes than did cerebral cortical astrocytes, suggesting that IFNAR signaling has brain region–specific roles in CNS immune responses. Taken together, our data identify cerebellar astrocytes as key responders to viral infection and highlight the existence of distinct innate immune programs in astrocytes from evolutionarily disparate regions of the CNS.
Brian P. Daniels, Harsha Jujjavarapu, Douglas M. Durrant, Jessica L. Williams, Richard R. Green, James P. White, Helen M. Lazear, Michael Gale Jr., Michael S. Diamond, Robyn S. Klein
Cerebral malaria is characterized by cytoadhesion of
Julio Gallego-Delgado, Upal Basu-Roy, Maureen Ty, Matilde Alique, Cristina Fernandez-Arias, Alexandru Movila, Pollyanna Gomes, Ada Weinstock, Wenyue Xu, Innocent Edagha, Samuel C. Wassmer, Thomas Walther, Marta Ruiz-Ortega, Ana Rodriguez
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Search on for man accused of shooting near stepchildren
Search on for man accused of shooting near stepchildren
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. —
Police in Winter Haven are searching for a man they said fired a gun at his adult stepchildren.
Investigators said 42-year-old Richard Lee Lowery approached the stepchildren at the Oak Crest apartments and fired one shot into the air and one into the ground.
Lowery then left the area in a silver, four-door vehicle, possibly a Ford 500.
Police have issued a warrant for two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of discharging a firearm in a public space.
Lowery, who is considered extremely dangerous, is described as standing 5 feet 5 inches tall with a medium build and short black hair.
Anyone with information is asked to call Heartland CrimeStoppers at 800-226-TIPS.


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Demi Lovato: 'X Factor' Viewing Party!
Demi Lovato attends a viewing party to celebrate the top four on The X Factor at Mixology on Thursday (December 6) in West Hollywood, Calif.
The 20-year-old entertainer posed with fellow judge Simon Cowell while holding up bunny ears behind his head as a cute joke.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Demi Lovato
The top four X Factor contestants Tate Stevens, Carly Rose Sonenclar, Emblem3, and Fifth Harmony were also in attendance, as well as fellow judge Britney Spears!
In case you missed it, check out Demi's newest tattoo now!
Posted to: Demi Lovato, X Factor


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US man pleads guilty in $13 million Facebook share case
A Florida investment adviser and onetime Oregon candidate for governor cried as he pleaded guilty Tuesday in a $13 million securities fraud scheme that prosecutors say capitalized on enthusiasm for shares of Facebook and other Internet companies about to go public.world Updated: Jun 26, 2013 09:43 IST
A Florida investment adviser and onetime Oregon candidate for governor cried as he pleaded guilty on Tuesday in a $13 million securities fraud scheme that prosecutors say capitalized on enthusiasm for shares of Facebook and other Internet companies about to go public.
Craig L. Berkman, 71, entered the plea to securities fraud and wire fraud in US District Court in Manhattan, agreeing to serve between eight and 10 years in prison, according to the terms of a written agreement between Berkman and prosecutors. Otherwise, he would have faced up to 40 years in prison.
Berkman, a Republican candidate for Oregon governor in 1994 when he was a millionaire who had accumulated wealth by creating and selling high-tech companies, admitted that he falsely claimed to investors in December 2010 that he owned shares of Menlo Park, California-based Facebook Inc., Chicago-based Groupon Inc. and Mountain View, California-based LinkedIn Inc., among other companies.
"I deeply regret my actions," a sobbing Berkman told a federal magistrate judge. "I have devastated my family. I apologize to them and to all the investors, and I am very, very sorry."
Berkman, who served as Oregon's state Republican Party chairman from 1989 to 1993, said he told investors their money would be used to buy shares of companies such as Facebook before their initial public offerings even though he knew he was knowingly over-representing the number of Facebook shares he owned.
"I also engaged in fraud and deceit," he said. "I used the money invested with my companies for purposes other than purchasing pre-IPO shares of companies, as I had promised investors."
Prosecutors say he pocketed much of the $13.2 million he received from more than 120 investors during the scheme, which stretched from 2010 until his March 2013 arrest. The government says he transferred the investors' money into his personal account rather than using it to acquire shares of Facebook.
Berkman admitted in a statement he read aloud that he used "close to $6 million to pay creditors in a bankruptcy proceeding" even though he had falsely promised that the source of the funds paid was not investor funds that he controlled.
"I knew that I was not authorized to use investor funds for these purposes and I did not disclose to the investors that I used their funds for these purposes," Berkman said.
Prosecutors said he used another $4.8 million to pay off earlier investors and spent another $1.6 million on legal fees, travel and other personal expenses, including cash withdrawals.
At one point, Berkman promised that he would not challenge the way the government organized charges in his plea.
"Yes, your honor," he said. "And I want to thank the prosecution for their willingness to work with me in this matter."
According to papers filed in March by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Berkman told California investors at a 2010 hotel meeting that he had access to Facebook employees who wanted to sell their shares of Facebook prior to the initial public offering. The SEC said Berkman promised investors he had access to shares worth millions of dollars.
"Through various misrepresentations, Craig Berkman enticed investors with highly coveted investment opportunities, and then swindled them out of millions of dollars, using much of it for his personal benefit," US Attorney Preet Bharara said in a release after the plea.
Berkman remains jailed pending a sentencing hearing scheduled for Oct. 1. He also will face restitution of $8.4 million and must forfeit $13.2 million, according to his agreement with the government.
The SEC in March recounted Berkman's past financial issues, saying the Oregon Division of Finance and Securities issued a cease-and-desist order and $50,000 fine against him in 2001 for offering and selling convertible promissory notes without a brokerage license to Oregon residents.
It said an Oregon jury in June 2008 found Berkman liable in a private action for breach of fiduciary duty, conversion of investor funds, and misrepresentation to investors arising from Berkman's involvement with a series of purported venture capital funds known as Synectic Ventures. The court entered a $28 million judgment against him.
In March 2009, Synectic filed an involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition against Berkman in Florida for his unpaid debts arising from the 2008 court judgment, the SEC said. The parties to the bankruptcy proceeding reached a settlement with Berkman, it added
First Published: Jun 26, 2013 09:39 IST


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NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partners. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Saturday, December 10, 2016
One main concern during the early stages of pregnancy and throughout is – What am I feeling and is it normal? Below is a list of commonly reported symptoms of pregnancy. Unfortunately, these signs and symptoms aren't unique to pregnancy. Some can indicate that you're getting sick or that your period is about to start. And, conversely, you can be pregnant without ever experiencing these symptoms.
Still, if you notice any of the tip-offs on this list, make plans to take a home pregnancy test, especially if you're not keeping track of your menstrual cycle or if it varies widely from one month to the next. The best way to determine whether you are pregnant is to visit your healthcare provider to perform a pregnancy test or purchase and perform a home pregnancy test yourself. There is no other tell tale sign besides a positive test that will confirm or deny pregnancy.
Tender, swollen breasts or nipples
One of the first physical changes of pregnancy is a change in the way your breasts feel. They may feel tender, tingly or sore. They may feel fuller and heavier. As early as two weeks after conception, your breasts start to grow and change in preparation for producing milk. The primary cause of these changes is increased production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Changes in your breasts are often most dramatic when you're pregnant for the first time.
Many women feel wiped out during pregnancy, especially in the early stages. During the early weeks of pregnancy, your body is working hard — producing hormones and more blood to carry nutrients to your baby. To accommodate this increased blood flow, your heart pumps harder and faster. Plus, progesterone is a natural central nervous system depressant, so high levels of this hormone may make you sleepy. In addition, the possibility of pregnancy can bring about a range of feelings and concerns that may sap your energy and disturb sleep.
Slight bleeding or cramping
Some women experience a small amount of spotting or bleeding very early in pregnancy, about 10 to 14 days after fertilization. Known as implantation bleeding, it happens when the fertilized egg first attaches to the lining of the uterus. This type of bleeding is usually a bit earlier, spottier and lighter in color than a usual period and doesn't last long. Many women also experience cramping very early in pregnancy as the uterus begins to enlarge. These cramps are similar to menstrual cramps.
Nausea with or without vomiting
Morning sickness is one of the telltale signs of early pregnancy. Most women feel some sickness around four to eight weeks of pregnancy, but the queasiness can begin as early as two weeks after conception. Although nausea and vomiting during pregnancy is commonly called "morning sickness", it can occur at any time of the day. It seems to stem from the rapidly rising levels of estrogen produced by the placenta and the fetus. These hormones cause the stomach to empty somewhat more slowly, which could be part of the problem. Pregnant women also have a heightened sense of smell, so a variety of odors — such as foods cooking, coffee, perfume or cigarette smoke — can trigger nausea.
Food aversions or cravings
Turning up your nose at certain foods is often the first hint that you're pregnant. Even the smell of some foods may cause a wave of nausea in early pregnancy. One study suggests that pregnant women experience a unique aversion to coffee in the early weeks of pregnancy. Meat, dairy products and spicy foods are other common objects of repulsion. Food cravings are common, too. Like most other symptoms of pregnancy, these food preferences can be chalked up to hormonal changes. Pregnant women typically find that their food tastes change somewhat, especially in the first trimester, when hormones have the strongest impact.
Frequent urination
Many pregnant women find themselves running to the bathroom more often than usual. During the first trimester of pregnancy, this is caused by the enlarging uterus pushing on your bladder.
If you're pregnant, you may be troubled by frequent, mild headaches. Early in pregnancy, headaches may be the result of increased blood circulation caused by hormonal changes.
Constipation is another common early indication of pregnancy. An increase in progesterone causes digestion to slow down, so food passes more slowly through the gastrointestinal tract, which can lead to constipation.
Mood swings
You're a no-nonsense kind of woman — so what's with this crying over Hallmark commercials? The flood of hormones in your body in early pregnancy can make you unusually emotional and weepy. Swings in your mood, from bliss to deep gloom, also are common, especially in the first trimester.
Faintness and dizziness
It's common for pregnant women to be lightheaded or dizzy. These sensations usually result from circulatory changes as your blood vessels dilate and your blood pressure drops. Early in pregnancy, faint feelings may also be triggered by low blood sugar.
Raised basal body temperature
Your basal body temperature (BBT) is your oral temperature when you first wake up in the morning. This temperature spikes slightly soon after ovulation and remains at that level until your next period. If you've been charting your BBT to determine when you ovulate, its continued elevation for more than two weeks may mean you're pregnant. In fact, BBT stays elevated throughout your pregnancy.
This article is a NetWellness exclusive.
Last Reviewed: Feb 15, 2007
Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati


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NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partners. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Sunday, September 6, 2015
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
The symptoms of endometriosis are varied and not specific to just endometriosis. Generally speaking, pelvic pain that occurs prior to your period and ends at or near the onset of your period. Pain during intercourse, bowel movements and infertility are also symptoms of endometriosis. The problem is that many women with the same symptoms don`t have endometriosis. A diagnositic laparoscopy (surgical procedure to look into the abdomen) is the definitive way to make a diagnosis, but this isn`t required in everyone. Many are treated medically and if they respond, do not need to have surgery to make the diagnosis.
Thomas A deHoop, MD
Formerly Associate Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology
Director, Medical Student Education
No longer associated


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The Philippines imposed limits on currency forward positions at banks as it steps up efforts to restrain a surge in the peso that threatens exports.
The cap for non-deliverable currency forwards at local banks is 20 percent of capital, and 100 percent for foreign lenders, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco said in a briefing in Manila yesterday after markets closed. Banks have two months to comply with the new regulation, he said.
The Philippines follows South Korea in clamping down on currency forward positions as Asian officials try to support exporters amid an uneven global recovery. The Southeast Asian nation's economy expanded 7.1 percent last quarter from a year earlier, luring investors and helping to stoke a gain of more than 6 percent in the peso versus the dollar in the past year.
"The current domestic operating environment has been greatly impacted by capital flows from overseas," Tetangco said.
The peso has climbed 6.4 percent in the past 12 months, the most after the 8 percent rise in South Korea's won in a basket of 11 Asian currencies tracked by Bloomberg. The rupee is down 3.3 percent.
The peso weakened 0.2 percent to 41.167 per dollar at the close yesterday, declining by the most in almost three weeks before Tetangco's briefing, according to Tullett Prebon Plc. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Composite Index advanced 0.2 percent to a record high.
Regulation Review
The currency forward limits will be reviewed after six months, Tetangco said. More banks will be able to participate in the forwards if they have certain licenses, he added.
Forwards are agreements to buy or sell assets at a set price and date. Non-deliverable contracts are settled in dollars and are favored by many investors because funds don't have to be deposited and registered locally.
The peso's rise is a worry and will hurt exporters and overseas remittances, Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said last month.
The central bank in July tightened rules on inflows by banning foreign funds from investing in its so-called special deposit accounts. It also lowered the rates it pays on them.
"We want to ensure continuity of monetary and financial stability while discouraging regulatory arbitrage," Tetangco said in a Dec. 14 interview. "We will definitely consider more macro prudential measures as needed."
Bangko Sentral has cut the overnight rate by 100 basis points this year to bolster economic expansion. It held borrowing costs at 3.5 percent this month.
Inflation slowed to 2.8 percent in November from a year earlier. Consumer prices may rise 2.6 percent to 3.5 percent in December, Tetangco said yesterday.
President Benigno Aquino is increasing spending and seeking more than $17 billion of investments in roads and airports to spur expansion, create jobs and reduce poverty. The push has spurred the fastest economic expansion since 2010.
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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Shopper turnout for Black Friday indicates robust season for retailers
NEW YORK — Early indicators from Black Friday sales and foot traffic are giving retailers some hope for the holiday season.
Macy's Inc. Chief Executive Terry Lundgren, for instance, stood at the door of the company's flagship store in New York's Herald Square when it opened at midnight, and watched.
"The flow never stopped," Lundgren said of the stream of customers, adding that he expects traffic and sales from Macy's stores nationwide to top those from last year. But sustaining the momentum is the key, he commented. "We are going to do everything to keep shoppers coming."
Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving that signals the traditional start of retailers' biggest selling period, and when they historically begin to turn profitable — actually began on Thursday this year with increasing numbers of merchants, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Toys R Us Inc., Sears Holdings Corp. and Target Corp. starting their "doorbuster" promotions earlier than ever on Thanksgiving night.
"Earlier openings are definitely beneficial," Moody's analyst Charles O'Shea told MarketWatch, saying he considers Wal-Mart an early winner based on his store visits. "The 'early-opening arms race' is definitely here to stay. Retailers not opening until (Friday) morning are potentially sacrificing some momentum." The analyst expects retailers to report better Black Friday sales and traffic this year.
Retailers including Macy's, Best Buy Co. and Toys R Us said they are seeing people buying beyond what's on sale. Lundgren said shoppers were buying full-priced cosmetics and fragrances, for instance.
Consumers "were definitely buying and not looking," Toys R Us CEO Jerry Storch said in an interview. He reported people were buying items such as its new Tabeo tablet device and Nintendo's Wii U at full price. "They are still very focused on the value. While it's a lower-margin day, we still make money. I expect (the shoppers) to return."
At Best Buy, Shawn Score, its head of U.S. retail, told MarketWatch that while people were also focused mostly on sales, he also saw shoppers buying accessories and paying premium prices for some tablets and smartphones.
"The lines were good," Score said, adding the company expects flat traffic compared with last year. "We see many carts full of items that weren't on sale."
With Best Buy, Amazon.com Inc. and others introducing Thanksgiving sales online, Internet sales look to reach another record. Record online shopping was seen on Thursday, with sales up 17.4 percent over 2011, according to IBM Benchmark. The number of shoppers using their mobile devices to make an online purchase also rose to 18.3 percent, about a two-thirds percentage increase from last year, IBM said.
The total U.S. online visits to the top 500 retail sites on Thanksgiving were up 16 percent compared with the same day in 2011, according to Internet data collector Experian Marketing Services.
In a positive indicator for Microsoft Corp., comparison-shopping site PriceGrabber.com saw the software giant's new Surface tablet the No. 1 searched product on its site between Nov. 16 and Nov. 22.
Getting the kickoff right on Black Friday is critical for retailers this holiday season. J.C. Penney Co., undergoing a major change that did away with coupons and sales, launched its only sale of the year at 6 a.m. on Black Friday to "honor the American tradition."
At Penney's New York store, many shoppers waiting in line at registers and actually leaving with bags full of items may give the troubled retailer some hope, as it offered a lot of merchandise at 30 percent off and featured specials such as $10 sweaters. Nicola Welch, a 41-year old nurse from Brooklyn, with a friend left with bags of Penney's merchandise.
"They have better clothes," she commented, making note of the new merchandise, including the in-store shop featuring i jeans by Buffalo. "I like the new JCP."
Still, other shoppers said they showed up just for the sale items.
Friday was expected to be the biggest sales and traffic day this holiday season, after sales on last year's Black Friday rose 6.6 percent to a record $11.4 billion, according to mall tracker ShopperTrak. The researcher expects foot traffic will be up this year, with overall holiday traffic seeing its first increase in five years.


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Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Hatchback, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Mazda, Pontiac, Porsche, Ferrari
Automotive anniversaries are often big news. Last year, the Chevrolet Corvette turned 60 and the Porsche 911 hit 50. This year, the spritely Mazda MX-5 Miata turns 25. The iconic Ford Mustang just turned the big Five-Oh, too.
But what about lesser anniversaries? Think about it: there are plenty of cars with birthdays that slide under the radar every year. And some automotive endeavors don't even last long enough to warrant a proper milestone celebration.
To that end, we're taking a look back to 2004 - just 10 years ago - to see what vehicles would be celebrating a decade of life, assuming they were still alive today. Do note, for this list, we've only included vehicles that launched for the 2004 model year, not calendar year.
Have a look below to see both iconic and easily forgettable cars that would be celebrating 10 fruitful years in 2014... if they were still alive.
Continue reading A decade later, here are 4 cars we miss and 5 we're happy are gone [UPDATE]
A decade later, here are 4 cars we miss and 5 we're happy are gone [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jul 2014 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments


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Bleach is a perfect example of that. Once Aizen got sealed, Bleach was never the same.
BossJinbei wrote:
Bleach is a perfect example of that. Once Aizen got sealed, Bleach was never the same.
I totally agree. I have never been a huge fan of Bleach, but it got significantly better when Aizen was introduced, and got significantly worse after he went away.
Out collecting souls to prolong my lifespan
It's not a good anime if it doesn't have a great villain example: Diva from Blood +. I have watched animes that don't have villains just mere opponents they are good but not as interesting as the ones who have villains.
Johan from Monster has got to be one of the best villains in anime hands down. The cool, calm demeanor he has while being evil can be chilling. It really makes you sit on the edge of your seat.
Rias Senpai!!
Willwatch4food wrote:
If there is one thing I have learned about anime in the past decade that I have been watching it, it is that you can almost always judge an anime (or in long running anime's case, an ark) by how the villain is. As someone who is an aspiring author, and as a huge fan of anime, I was wondering what you guy's like and dislike in villains.
For me, I like a villain that can be taken seriously. Sorry, but Team Rocket doesn't cut it. I also like villains to be secretive, but not so secretive that you hardly learn anything about them for 200+ episodes (I'm looking at you Tobi and The Smoking Man). Finally, they need to have a good reason for doing what they do. No, I don't mean a reason that is rooted in good, I mean the writer needs to really think out the villain's motivation.
Also, note that Villain and Antagonist are two totally different things. Light Yagami and Leluche vi Britania are two examples of villains that are protagonists.
Here is a short list of some of my favorite villains from various series:
The Puppet Master, from Ghost in the Shell
D-Reaper, from Digimon: Tamers
Kirei Kotomine, from Fate/Zero
Light Yagami, from Death Note
Leluche vi Britania, from Code Geass
Dio, from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure part 3
Pain, from Naruto Shippuden
Johan, from Monster
The Laughing Man, from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Along Complex
Now then, here are my discussion questions.
What do you look for in villains?
Who is your favorite villain?
Do you agree with my choices? Why/Why not?
I agree with you that you can judge an anime by how the villain is. I think the judgment itself is somewhat subjective, but that villains should always have more than one layer and have at least one relatable trait no matter how ephemeral that trait is. I agree with all the ones on your list from the animes I have watched except for Lelouche. He seemed more like a dark hero to me. He could be compared to Light, but with a stronger sense of his own values and a desire stronger than his desire for power to protect the people who were close to him. Light became a villain to me after
Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
he killed the first FBI agent and his villain status was solidified when
It may be a matter of perspective, but I think L was the true protagonist of Death Note.
Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
he killed the first FBI agent's wife/fiancé(I can't remember which.)
Pain is my favorite villain from your list. The most abhorrent villain on it, in my opinion, is Kotomine Kirei. I hated how his character developed and I thought he was a pretty boring character and yet I despised him, so I suppose he was a good villain, but I found myself skipping minutes off of him speaking to Gilgamesh. The villains I hate the most would be senseless ones like Castor and Ryunosuke(Fate/Zero.) Moreover, I agree with you about secretive villains. Tobi was dragged for so long that most people had already guessed who he was before the mask came off. I do disagree with you about villains not needing a good reason for their actions. I think they need some turning point in their backstory or a line of events that made them who they are at the very least because no one is born evil. The reason doesn't have to be apparent to the reader to start with, but it should at least be hinted to by the end of a work or it just doesn't seem realistic.


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Playing the Cash 5 lottery can be very exciting especially if from time to time you are a winner. Winning can be accomplished quit often if the correct system is used. There are many so called experts in the market offering winning number secrets and scratch off ticket recommendations that promise to help you win. Most are not legit. However, there are a few systems on the market that has produced some promising results.
When you consider that that there are many different lottery systems available and lots of past winners you remain anonymous or don't talk about their winning strategies how many more winners might there be who have used such systems?
Think about it: is it possible that a huge percentage of lottery winners are actually using mathematical or statistical formulas to help them win? If that is the case then anyone who is not using a system is merely feeding the prize fund and has an almost zero chance of winning.
Would You Like to Win The Cash 5 lottery?
Because you are sitting in front of your computer viewing this page, chances are, you're an eager and regular lotto player who has yet to win lotto prizes. Lottery cheats are some of the most researched items or articles here on the Internet, and it's easy to understand why: lottery games from all states can be addictive, attracting countless players from all across the country to play the lotto on a regular basis. What you need to understand is that while playing the lottery can be fun and exciting, the real treat lies in winning the lotto prizes - including the jackpot. And unlike what some lotto players believe, you can win the lotto using lottery cheats.Lottery cheats are not cheats in the real sense of the word. They are not illegal and won't put you into some kind of federal trouble. In fact, lottery cheats have long been recognized by serious lottery players as the reason why they have higher chances of winning. Cheats at winning the lottery are actually guides on how to win any type of lotto game you choose to play. They offer sensible pieces of advice to increase the likelihood of holding a winning ticket.As far as lottery cheats are concerned, statistics experts highly advise against forming lottery combinations in a mathematical sequence and playing patterns on lottery tickets. These acts are sure to reduce your chances of winning because mathematical sequences and patterns are almost never taken into consideration in lottery games. Past winning results show a tendency towards random combinations. If you use a proven system that can efficiently analyze lottery data, such as past winning numbers, trends, and angles, you are more likely to bring home the jackpot prize not just once but as many times as you please.
Pick 3 Online - Play Now!
Have you been searching for Pick 3 lottery workout systems that actually work? Are you tired of guessing and relying on luck? Well here's one system that you should try. It only involves simple mathematics and a bit of concentration. This system is one of the oldest. Although it doesn't guarantee a hundred percent, it has a high percentage hit. It is called the 123 workout. Here is how it works:
o You begin by using the preceding numbers drawn from the Pick 3 lottery. Just to provide a concrete example, let us use the numbers 468. We will call it the stack number.
o Important Rule of the 123 workout: Do not carry over when adding or subtracting the numbers. Here is an example: 5 + 9 = 4 (instead of 14)
o Monitor all the numbers that come out in the following days. You will realize that one out of the 22 combinations will be the next hit. Let's face it; it is better than having to choose from a million other combinations. Your chance of winning the next lottery is now greater having to choose from a smaller set.
Others have tried other Pick 3 lottery workout systems. Some of them are just too complicated. They would require the work of your personal computer, plus it costs much and takes time to download them. This system only requires a pen and a piece of paper. Try this method and see if the numbers really come out. What have you got to lose?
Winning the Cash 5 lottery is very rewarding. Give this system a spin and watch your winnings grow.


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It is possible that the main title of the report Formaldehyde Poisoning is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Formaldehyde Poisoning is a disorder brought about by breathing the fumes of formaldehyde. This can occur while working directly with formaldehyde, or using equipment cleaned with formaldehyde. Major symptoms may include eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches; and/or skin rashes.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
Tel: (404)639-3534
Tel: (800)232-4636
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/
National Center for Environmental Health Strategies, Inc.
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Tel: (856)429-5358
Fax: (856)816-8820
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.ncehs.org/
Human Ecology Action League, Inc. (HEAL)
P.O. Box 509
Stockbridge, GA 30281
Tel: (770)389-4519
Fax: (770)389-4520
Email: HEALNatnl @aol.com
Internet: http://www.healnatl.org/index.php
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
395 E Street, S.W. Suite 9200
Patriots Plaza Building
Washington, DC 20201
Tel: (513)533-8328
Fax: (513)533-8347
Tel: (800)232-4636
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/
Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
Email: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/EmailForm.aspx
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD
Center for Health, Environment and Justice
P.O. Box 6806
Falls Church, VA 22040-6806
Tel: (703)237-2249
Fax: (703)237-8389
Email: email@example.com
Internet: http://www.chej.org
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html
The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email email@example.com
Last Updated: 8/7/2007
Copyright 1989, 1999, 2007 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.


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Thinking About Leaving?
Vacation Term
- No cost/penalty if prior to room cancellation deadline (unless leaves during a term).
- Student may take 3 consecutive vacation terms (then will be withdrawn by Registrar).
- There are no disadvantages to taking a vacation term as opposed to withdrawing.
Procedures - The Student must:
- Meet with the Asso. Dean of Students or Assistant Dean of Students to:
- Discuss reasons for leaving.
- Do a "vacation term interview."
- Obtain a Checklist of Procedures which sends the student to: Accounting, Advisor, Athletics, Faculty, Financial Aid, International Education, Library, Mail Center, Registrar, Residential Life, Work-study employer.
- Drop courses if leaving during the semester or if pre-registered for the vacation term:
- Before the drop deadline - with a drop card.
- After drop deadline – By petition to aPC for WPs or late drops. Requires support of course faculty, academic advisor, and medical or counseling verification, if appropriate.
- Inform Residential Life of plan:
- By Dec. 1st for spring semester; June 15th for fall semester - to avoid charges.
- Sometimes a few days' extension can be arranged. (Failure to notify Res. Life by these dates incurs a 20% penalty on room cost).
Returning to Beloit
- Registrar sends registration materials via email.
- Student consults advisor & advisor clears student for registration
- Student submits course selections via email to Registrar or registers themselves during on line registration.
- Student contacts Accounting, Financial Aid, and Residential Life Offices.
Student Is Undecided Whether To Return or Leave?
The student:
- Should pre-register, sign up for a room, submit financial aid forms.
- Cancel room by Dec. 1st (for spring) or June 15th (for fall) to avoid financial penalties.
- Decide by the beginning of the semester if s/he doesn't mind paying room penalty.
- Do an exit interview (see above).
- Contact the Dean of Students Office if s/he makes decision NOT to return during the vacation, and confirm this in writing.
Reapplying to Beloit after Withdrawing
The student:
- Must complete a re-application form provided by the Dean of Students Office.
- Must write a letter explaining circumstances of leaving and returning.
- Must be readmitted by aPC (probably if student left in good standing).
- Must pay a $500 reapplication fee if readmitted. (Refundable upon graduation).


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When Leonard Kastle's debut movie as a writer and director, "The Honeymoon Killers," was released in 1970, critics raved over the grimly realistic, low-budget, black-and-white crime drama about a lowlife lothario and his overweight nurse lover whose partnership in conning lonely women leads to murder.
French director Francois Truffaut called it his "favorite American film."
Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni considered it "one of the purest movies I've ever seen."
Kastle, whose first film was destined to be his last, died May 18 at his home in Westerlo, N.Y., after a brief illness, said Tina Sisson, a friend. He was...


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Jonathan Chris Dinsdale and Victoria Elizabeth Duvall are pleased to announce their engagement and upcoming wedding.
Parents of the couple are Owen and Julia Duvall of West Des Moines, Iowa and Chris and Kelly Dinsdale of Reinbeck, Iowa.
The bride-to-be is employed by the Gladbrook-Reinbeck School District and teaches 5th and 6th grade reading. The groom-to-be is employed by Pioneer in Reinbeck.
Article Photos
Vows will be exchanged at 4:00 p.m. June 28th at the UCC Church in Reinbeck. Reception to follow at Oakleaf Country Club, Reinbeck.


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Latest Features
IIHF World U20 Championship DIV I Group B Results
Lightning draftee Kirill Gotovets recently competed in Poland with his native Belarus in the IIHF World U20 Championships, DIV I Group B tournament. Gotovets, a defenseman, and his Belarus teammates were attempting to qualify for the 2011 World Junior Championships (WJC) in the U.S. by advancing out of the division.
Belarus (3-0-2) finished with the silver, however, and won't join Canada, Russia, Sweden, and the like next year. Gotovets went scoreless in two games played, while accumulating four penalty minutes and seven shots on goal. The Cornell University commit will now return to Shattuck St-Mary's school in Minnesota, where he has three goals and nine points to go with 49 penalty minutes in 19 games.
Norway advanced out of Group B and will join Germany (Group A) as entries in next Christmas' WJC tournament.
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The Kansas City Star reports that the suit was filed Friday in Jackson County Circuit Court on behalf of six employees of JJ's restaurant. They were among more than a dozen people injured in the Feb. 19 explosion. The defendants are Missouri Gas Energy, a utility locating service and a cable company subcontractor, Olathe, Kan.-based Heartland Midwest.
A Missouri Gas Energy official has said that Heartland Midwest reported hitting a natural gas line with an underground borer before the blast. The exact cause remains under investigation.
The suit alleges that gas company employees told people it was safe to remain in the area, near the upscale Country Club Plaza shopping and entertainment district.
The suit said Heartland notified MGE and other utilities that it would be drilling to install cable or fiber optic lines. Before the work began, the utility locating service marked the area to indicate the location and the depth of any gas lines, the suit said.
A combination of "erroneous markings" and miscommunication between the entities led to a line being cut and the subsequent blast, the suit alleges.
Missouri Gas Energy spokesman Jason Fulp and Heartland Midwest attorney Brad Russell didn't immediately respond to phone calls Saturday from The Associated Press. Russell previously released a statement expressing sympathy for the victims and saying the company is cooperating with authorities.


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Latest Features
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Springfield Falcons
Content regarding the Springfield Falcons organization.
Falcons Whoop "Woostah" in OTSubmitted by pete on January 15, 2005 - 23:51
Recently recalled defenseman Doug O'Brien scored the game winning goal tonight in Springfield's 4-3 OT triumph against Worcester. The Newfoundland born blueliner's sudden death talley capped a remarkable comeback that saw the Falcons crawl out of a 2-0 first period deficit to defeat their Atlantic Division rival.
- Read more
- 2293 reads
Darby Named AHL All-Star CaptainSubmitted by timothy on January 13, 2005 - 10:50
I know this news is a few days old, but Springfield Falcon center and Lightning depth player Craig Darby has been named by the AHL as the captain of the PlanetUSA team for the league's upcoming 2005 All-Star Classic in February. For more information, see the Falcon press release [url=http://www.falconsahl.com/detpages/pressbox2350.shtml]here[/url].
- 3008 reads


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"...The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall serve as the Suitability and Credentialing Agent..." ~Executive Order 13467, as amended
"...primary executive branch service provider for background investigations..." ~Executive Order 13467, as amended
Visit this federal site to search for our regulatory notices, proposed and final rules.
See the latest tweets on our Twitter feed, like our Facebook pages, watch our YouTube videos, and page through our Flickr photos.
As a retiree, you may need to contact OPM for benefits information or assistance with a transaction; use the table below to contact us for Retirement Services. See Retirement Information Center for more information.
* Hearing impaired users may utilize the Federal Relay Service by dialing 1-800-877-8339** to reach a Communications Assistant (CA). The CA will dial the requested number and relay the conversation between a standard (voice) telephone user and text telephone (TTY) user.
** Visiting the Federal Relay Service website will provide access to additional Toll-Free and Toll Access Numbers.
Got questions? Find your answers here! Browse our list of most frequently asked questions about retirement.
Use the Organizational Chart to find additional contacts within each organization and program office.


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|Stow, Mass.
|High School:
|Phillips Academy
Collegiate Bests
1500m 4:46.13
1 mile 5:17.85
3000m 10:17.63
5k (xc) 18:18
High School Best
2010-2011: In cross country, third team finisher in the Dartmouth Invitational... Second team finisher at HYP... First Bulldog at New Englands (25th overall).
2009-2010: In cross country, fifth Bulldog and 15th overall in the Fairfield Invitational...12th at outdoor Heps in the 3,000-meter run with a season best of 10:07.83... season best of 4:46.13 in the 1500m at the Yale Springtime Invitational.
2008-2009: Injured for much of the season.
High School: Captain of the Andover cross country team...Member of the teams which were NEPSTA Division I Champions in 2005, 2006 and 2007...Placed third individually at Nike Team Regionals in 2007, helping Andover to a fourth-place team finish...Personal best of 18:52 in the 5K...Also captained the Andover lacrosse team...Was awarded the "Hallowell Cup" for sportsmanship, performance and team spirit.
Personal: Silliman College…Intended major in Ethics, Politics and Economics.
Yale was one of several schools where I knew I would receive an excellent education in economics, political science, foreign language, etc. and have access to endless opportunities both domestic and abroad. Thus, the deciding factors were the outgoing, welcoming and interesting students I met while visiting--everyone I met seemed enthusiastic about Yale, and these perceptions have been consistent in my time here.


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Remote Access Services and DirectAccess
Windows 8 supports two remote access features: the more traditional VPN-based remote access of Routing and Remote Access Server, and DirectAccess—a network tunneling technology based on IPv6 and "transitional" technologies that encapsulate IPv6 over IPv4. DirectAccess immediately joins a PC to a remote domain securely at startup, blocking out the local network environment and preventing local network attacks on the PC or the remote server.
Both of these services were supported in Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows Server 2008 R2, but they couldn't co-exist on the same server. In Windows Server 2012, a single Remote Access Service server can host both RRAS and DirectAccess. Because it works right from boot-up, DirectAccess is invisible to the user—it's configured through a group policy and activated when a computer is first bound to a domain. DirectAccess deployment has been greatly simplified in Windows Server 2012. For example, you no longer have to have a PKI infrastructure deployed before you can install DirectAccess.
Since it's driven through Group Policy, DirectAccess can be turned on for just mobile computers or for all PCs. If you want to ensure the security of your network while allowing guests to still be able to access the Internet, you can force all domain-bound computers to tunnel through the DirectAccess server to route to internal and external resources.
AppLocker and "Sideloading"
Part of Windows 8's DNA is the adoption of the "app store" model for installation of packaged Metro-based applications. Enterprises may or may not want users to run the Bing apps (or games, or Netflix) on their work PCs. But they may want to turn to Metro for line-of-business applications because of Metro's HTML5 and JavaScript development model. Windows 8 Enterprise provides a way for businesses to have their Metro and block it, too.
That sort of capability makes AppLocker a must-have for companies and other organizations looking to totally lock down their desktops and notebooks to limit the avenues of attack for malware. Once a policy is built out, it can be applied through group policies to sets of PCs. You don't need an Active Directory environment to deploy it—you could, in smaller environments, install local security policies on every system.
The only really significant change made to AppLocker in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 is the addition of rules for handling "packaged" apps and their installers—which are specific to Windows 8 in any case. Two more types of files were added to Windows 8's AppLocker control: .mst files used in Windows application installer packages and .appx files used to package Windows 8 Store apps for the Metro environment.
Perhaps the easiest way to get started with AppLocker is to use a reference machine with approved applications installed to automatically create a rules set.
Microsoft is forcing developers of Windows 8 applications for consumers to distribute them through the Windows 8 cloud-based application store, but that's not an acceptable option for organizations creating their own line-of-business apps in Metro. The answer to that problem is Windows 8's support for "application sideloading." This allows approved in-house applications to be installed by users or administrators from an application installation package, while still enforcing security against potentially malicious apps imported from elsewhere.
Sideloading is available in all versions of Windows 8 in one form or another, but it is turned on as a feature by default in Windows 8 Enterprise. Apps need to be signed by a trusted certificate authority, and administrators need to set group policy to allow all trusted applications. Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro require an activation key be created for each app, which has to be added to the system via Slmgr.vbs (a special sideloading script) via command-line.
One of the benefits of Windows 8 Enterprise's sideloading feature is it allows companies to essentially build their own internal app stores. Organizations can do this through an internal intranet site, or by using the capabilities of System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1—which supports distribution of Windows 8 applications through its Application Catalog and Software Center. Used in combination with AppLocker, administrators can avoid mass deployments of apps to users and have them pull just the applications they need down to their system, while enforcing rules about which version they run.
Enough to upgrade for?
On the plus side, Windows 8 Enterprise is at least an incremental step forward in terms of its advanced features. But on their own, these changes just aren't enough to be a deciding factor when choosing whether to upgrade from Windows 7 or not. The organizations most likely to benefit from a Windows 8 upgrade are those still using Windows XP (and there are plenty of them)—but they're more likely to move to Windows 7 Enterprise first.
The bigger decisions about upgrading for most organizations will revolve around how they perceive the rest of Windows 8—the interface, the storage technology, the mobile devices, and the various tweaks to usability Microsoft has shoe-horned into the operating system. Even then, questions remain about expected cost for retraining users and desktop support teams.
The good news is that from a management perspective, almost everything Windows admins know about Windows 7 will be directly applicable to Windows 8—and some things get simpler. The bad news is that to support end-users, IT will likely have to do a lot more repackaging of Windows 8 Enterprise images (with add-in apps like the open-source Classic Shell to make it behave more like its predecessor, for example). They'll also have to do a lot more end-user education before they start pushing it out to PCs. In the end, the success of Windows 8 Enterprise may very well depend on three things: how well Windows 8 does with consumers, how quickly the Start screen becomes another part of daily life, and how quickly Microsoft pushes out its first service pack.


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JOINT PLANS: Germany and France will produce joint proposals on improving economic coordination in the European Union this spring, the countries' leaders said Tuesday, downplaying recent differences as they marked the 50th anniversary of a landmark reconciliation accord.
THE BACKDROP: Conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel and Socialist President Francois Hollande have often been openly at odds over how to resolve Europe's debt crisis since Hollande took office last year.
CONTRASTING STYLES: Hollande has criticized Germany's austerity-led approach, while Merkel has resisted talk of pooling countries' debt.


text: View My Research Profile Locations Main Hospital Washington, District of Columbia 20010 1-888-884-BEAR (2327) Languages Spoken English Spanish Departments Laboratory Medicine Board Certifications American Board of Pathology/Anatomic & ClinicalAmerican Board of Pathology/Blood Bank/TransfusionNational Provider ID: 1275610594 Disclosure This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has a working relationship (i.e. consulting, research, and/or educational services) with the companies listed below. These relations have been reported to the health system leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts. Outside Interests Hemasolutions Alexion Sysmex


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#1 White House clarifies Obamas statement that Egypt is not an ally09-13-2012, 06:33 PM
Don't Obama like to point out that he has a lot of foreign policy experience? He apparently doesn't know that Egypt is considered an ally.
In an interview with Telemundo Wednesday night, Obama said that the U.S. relationship with the new Egyptian government was a "work in progress," and emphasized that the United States is counting on the government of Egypt to better protect the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, which was attacked by protesters on Sept. 11.
"I don't think that we would consider them an ally, but we don't consider them an enemy," Obama said. "They're a new government that is trying to find its way. They were democratically elected. I think that we are going to have to see how they respond to this incident."
That comment had Egypt watchers scratching their heads, especially since technically, Egypt was designated as a Major Non-NATO Ally in 1989 when Congress first passed the law creating that status, which gives them special privileges in cooperating with the United States, especially in the security and technology arenas.
White House spokesman Tommy Vietor told The Cable Thursday that the administration is not signaling a change in that status.
Liberals! The real fascists.
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Every time I see a story like this (which is pretty much every day since November of 2008), I let out a big sigh of relief that we didn't get someone who doesn't know anything about foreign policy in the White House. Boy, howdy did we ever dodge a bullet with that Sarah Palin lady! WHEW! We almost had someone a heartbeat away from the Presidency who would have made such stupid foreign policy decisions as not throwing Mubarak under the bus and not literally slamming a door in Bibi Netanyahu's face.
I feel soooo much better knowing that we have someone in the White House who really knows what he's doing on foreign policy.Olde-style, states' rights conservative. Ask if this concept confuses you.
Thanks to the Obama administration's bumbling middle east foreign policy I don't think the USA does have an ally in the middle east,except Israel. Israel will hang in there as long as they can out of loyalty because they know Obama will eventually be gone.The 21st century. The age of Smart phones and Stupid people.
It is said that branches draw their life from the vine. Each is separate yet all are one as they share one life giving stem . The Bible tells us we are called to a similar union in life, our lives with the life of God. We are incorporated into him; made sharers in his life. Apart from this union we can do nothing.
I think those White House spokesmen have the world's toughest, and busiest, jobs. I'd sure hate to have to tap dance around all the stupidities coming out of O's mouth. If he doesn't have a teleprompter (and a puppeteer telling him what to think) he sure does put his foot in his mouth.
" To the world you are just one more person, but to a rescued pet, you are the world."
"A Nation of Sheep Breeds a Government of Wolves!"
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Two words:
That is all.
Egypt wasn't exactly acting like an ally when the protests in Cairo began. They dragged their feet getting their police and security forces to the area around the Embassy.
Now, they are acting more like an ally.
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Egypt was an ally, before Obama pulled the rug out from under Mubarak. Now, they are becoming the next bastion of Islamic theocracy and will soon be as virulently anti-American as Iran. Obama's confusion is, therefore, almost understandable in that context, but obviously, he wouldn't want to admit that he took a staunch ally and turned it into an enemy.
You have to wonder just how far the media will go to cover for this clown. The Egypt gaffe recalls Gerry Ford's comment about how Poland didn't consider itself under Soviet occupation during the 1976 debates against Carter. Throw in Obama's Carteresque abandonment of Mubarak, his utter cluelessness in economics and the hikes in gas prices, not to mention the numerous scandals that his Justice Department is stonewalling, and Obama has managed to channel the worst aspects of the Nixon, Ford and Carter administrations. If the media reported any of this, instead of spending all of their time attacking Romney, Obama's support would be in single digits.
Sic Hacer Pace, Para Bellum.
Before you can do things for people, you must be the kind of man who can get things done. But to get things done, you must love the doing, not the people!
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A pre-emptive military response aimed at thwarting Iranian nuclear ambitions "should be off the table," said Gerald Powers, director of Catholic peacebuilding studies at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Powers was responding to a report released on Nov. 8 by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, that expressed "serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program." According to the report, "Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device." The report concludes that "prior to the end of 2003, these activities took place under a structured program, and that some activities may still be ongoing."
Powers argues, however, that even if Iran has been pursuing nuclear capability, a military response meant to set that effort back would lead only to more instability in an already troubled region of the world. He said the "muted" U.S. response so far to the revelations contained in the new I.A.E.A. report was appropriate. "We have to be clear that the use of military force against Iran should be off the table—period," said Powers, who called that response neither morally nor legally justifiable.
"The prospect of Iran developing nuclear weapons is deeply troubling," said Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, N.Y., chairman of the U.S. bishops' Office of International Justice and Peace. "Iran has threatened its neighbors, especially Israel, and contributes to the widespread instability of the region." But, Bishop Hubbard added, "recent news accounts speculating on the possible use of force against Iran are also troubling."
"From a moral perspective," he said, "in the absence of an immediate threat to attack others, military action against Iran would constitute an act of preventive war, which raises serious moral questions."
Powers was most concerned about the international "norm" that a pre-emptive strike aimed at nonproliferation would establish. "To say that counter-proliferation efforts should include the use of preventive military force would represent a major departure from moral norms on the use of force." Where is the just cause? Powers asked, when an attack is planned based on a suspicion that a nation is developing nuclear capability, and what kind of precedent would that create? Other nations, he argued, could apply the same logic to their regional adversaries—Iran against Israel, South Korea versus North Korea, for example. "That's a formula for enormous instability," said Powers.
According to Powers, both the United States and Israel have credibility problems related to nonproliferation. The United States has already acquiesced to the development of nuclear weapons in India and has never disavowed a first-strike nuclear option even to a nonnuclear threat. Israel is not a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty of 1970 and is believed to maintain a significant nuclear stockpile itself.
Iran, Powers said, is a "tough regime, but the tough regimes are usually the ones you have to deal with the most.... The United States has to be open to diplomacy as part of the package. It can't be all sticks; there have to be some carrots."
However the United States proceeds in its relationship with Iran, Powers said that as a sovereign power, Israel is within its rights to defend itself as it sees fit. But, he said, a military strike would probably not succeed in diminishing Iran's program. He pointed out that components of the nuclear effort appear to be scattered throughout the country and that an attack would not likely improve Israeli security. The military option might, in fact, encourage Iran to accelerate its nuclear weapons program. Worse, of course, Powers said, is the possibility that an attack could lead to another widespread war in the Middle East.


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Nature's Variety Raw Frozen
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February 28th, 2012, 05:18 PM
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Location: Ontario, CAN
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Nature's Variety Raw Frozen
I just found out about this food and I have several questions, firstly does anyone here feed it themselves?
Is it a good alternative to making your own raw food, and could a cat survive solely on it?
Is it better than feeding a canned food diet or equal?
I'm looking for a low-fat food (compared to dry kibble) as all of my cats are over weight. I understand that "diet" dry cat foods are very low in moisture content which can affect the kidneys, which is something I would really like to avoid after losing one cat to kidney failure. I'm looking for a food low in carb's to help prevent diabetes as one of my cats is extremely overweight and at risk. I'm also looking for a grain-free food as I have two siamese cats who seem to have extremely sensitive stomachs or possible food allergies. They throw up food continuously, compared to my DSH who rarely ever does.
Is it a suitable food for what I need? Do you find it is easy to switch over for finicky eaters?
Do you feed your cats once or twice per day? or more?
Thanks in advance.. lots of questions.
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