text:
it was eventful
a speeding and a parking fine later I'm back home and I've learnt a bit more about life
it always teaches you new things
the main thing
males are never what you think they are
sounds dumb and a child like thing to say
but at the age of 19 I'm still shocked and scared to shivers sometimes
here are more pictures from my latest disposable
i'm in two minds about it.
light got into the film and messed up most of the pictures. but actually there are some real good ones
my English is deteriorating
11 June 2010
feel it, it is here
in a hurry to watch the opening
we missed it
the story behind this photo:
Michael and Andrew became friends when they were in grade8, their mothers would take them on bodyboarding missions in these two cars (the landy and the golf) for many years before they are old enough to get their own drivers and use their mothers cars. Michael's sister, Marijke, and Andrew's sister, Michelle, become friends. A few years down the line we get our drivers and start missioning around in our mothers cars.
we are the next generation siblings
the bliss before the storm
amazing weekend in hermanus
the kitchen
mia's 19th
i love and miss these ladies
also one of my favorites
misty strand in June
they swam
now I need to sought out my LIFE
its a bit of a mess
song i'm loving at the moment: Billionaire by Travis Mccoy and Bruno Mars
wow it makes me smile


text:
Internal Revenue Code section 45N provides a lucrative tax credit for American mining companies to train their employees in mine rescue operations.
The tax credit is equal to 20% of the training costs of the employee, up to $10,000 of credits per employee each year.
The employee should complete a 20-hour initial training course or a 40-hour refresher course in mine rescue during the year. Congress did not explain why the "refresher" course has to be longer than the initial training course.
The employee should complete a 20-hour initial training course or a 40-hour refresher course in mine rescue during the year. Congress did not explain why the "refresher" course has to be longer than the initial training course.
Tax credits are normally provided to encourage taxpayers to do things that they would otherwise be reluctant to do (hire summer teenagers, guard agricultural chemicals, buy homes in 2009-2010). It is not clear why a special tax credit is necessary for a class in rescue operations, given the bad publicity usually associated with unrescued miners. The credit is not available to companies operating mines only outside the United States.
The Internal Revenue Code does not contain special tax incentives for checking the brakes on school buses, cleaning aircraft engines, and other safety-related tasks in other industries.
The mine safety tax credit was enacted in late 2006 by the Tax Relief and Health Care Act, by a Congress eager to show that the can do something after the Sago Mine disaster earlier that year. The credit originally expired after three years, but the credit has been continually extended (most recently through December 31, 2013).
No tax deduction is permitted for the 20% of training costs allowed as a credit. The remaining 80% of training costs are fully deductible, which provides an even greater tax benefit for training mine employees in rescue operations.
(a) Amount of credit.
For purposes of section 38 , the mine rescue team training credit determined under this section with respect to each qualified mine rescue team employee of an eligible employer for any taxable year is an amount equal to the lesser of— (1) 20 percent of the amount paid or incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year with respect to the training program costs of such qualified mine rescue team employee (including wages of such employee while attending such program), or (2) $10,000.
(b) Qualified mine rescue team employee.
For purposes of this section, the term "qualified mine rescue team employee" means with respect to any taxable year any full-time employee of the taxpayer who is—
(1) a miner eligible for more than 6 months of such taxable year to serve as a mine rescue team member as a result of completing, at a minimum, an initial 20-hour course of instruction as prescribed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration's Office of Educational Policy and Development, or
(2) a miner eligible for more than 6 months of such taxable year to serve as a mine rescue team member by virtue of receiving at least 40 hours of refresher training in such instruction.
(c) Eligible employer.
For purposes of this section, the term "eligible employer" means any taxpayer which employs individuals as miners in underground mines in the United States.
(d) Wages.
For purposes of this section, the term "wages" has the meaning given to such term by subsection (b) of section 3306 (determined without regard to any dollar limitation contained in such section).
(e) Termination.
This section shall not apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013.
Section 280C(e) Mine rescue team training credit.
No deduction shall be allowed for that portion of the expenses otherwise allowable as a deduction for the taxable year which is equal to the amount of the credit determined for the taxable year under section 45N(a).

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Security flap over support ActiveX controls bug
Flaws in an ActiveX component incorporated in many technical support support packages create a risk of hacking attacks, security watchers warn.
SupportSoft's ActiveX controls are subject to multiple buffer overflow vulnerabilities, which create a means for hackers to inject malware onto vulnerable systems. The controls are used by internet service providers (ISPs) and PC manufacturers for remote assistance and other technical support functions, creating a large pool of potentially vulnerable users. Exploitation would involve tricking users into visiting maliciously constructed websites featuring ActiveX controls that take advantage of SupportSoft's vulnerabilities.
Organisations using the technology include IBM, Telefonica, BT, Symantec and Bank of America, among others. Symantec users should apply an update as explained here. SupportSoft has also published an advisory. However since most third-party software packages don't exactly advertise their use of SupportSoft components, most ordinary users won't be aware whether they are exposed to the problem or not.
Because of this potential dilemma security clearing house US CERT advises users to disable SupportSoft ActiveX controls in Internet Explorer as a precautionary workaround (as explained here). More simply users might want to disable ActiveX controls in the Internet Zone but this might render some websites unusable. ®


text:
We turned back to the coast to stop at L'Aghulas, the southern most tip of Africa
and the place where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.
What better place for the next flower?
The drive to and from L'Agulhas passed through fields and fields of canola in full bloom.
What a sight!


text:
Preparing Your Vehicle for Summer Heat
With the hot summer months still ahead of us, it's a good time to take a few minutes to make sure your car is in proper condition to safely endure the hot temperatures. The most important mechanism for cooling down your car's engine is the radiator. Make sure the fluid ... Read More


text:
WrestlingINC.com will again set the standards for live coverage of a WWE pay-per view as we present free play-by-play of tonight's WWE Extreme Rules pay-per view!
We will be posting updates every few minutes from the beginning of the pay-per view until the very end. You will constantly be aware of what's going on from start to finish.
WrestlingINC.com would like to ask you, the visitors, to tell anyone you know who is a pro wrestling fan to check out our free live play-by-play coverage of the WWE Extreme Rules PPV tonight. We will be working very hard, so we hope to have a good turn out tonight. Facebook users, please spread word of tonight's coverage by clicking the "Like" or "Send" buttons below:
Twitter users can share this page by clicking the "Tweet" button below:
It all starts live, tonight, right here at WrestlingINC.com at 7:45pm Eastern Time, 4:45pm Pacific Time.
Got a news tip or correction? Send it to us by clicking here.


text:
keyring karim rashid unity white
Click Image for Gallery
Karim Rashid was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1960 half English, half Egyptian and raised mostly in Canada. Karim Rashid is one of the most prolific designers of his generation. Over 3000 designs in production, over 300 awards and working in over 35 countries attest to Karims legend of design. This keyring collection is another of Karims iconic designs, allowing you to accessorize in his signature style. 2011 for Troika, Germany. Chrome plated metal keyring decorated with colorful enamel and transparent coating. Can be engrave.


text:
All prices are in USD
We promise to never spam you, and just use your email address to identify you as a valid customer.
This product hasn't received any reviews yet. Be the first to review this product!
Here's a fun alphabet set that has lots of options! This 4x6 inch set includes the alphabet shown along with a banner piece with end-bows, and some banner shapes. Let your imagination run wild with this versatile set.
All prices are in USD
Copyright © 2014- 2018 Pink and Main LLC. All rights reserved.


text:
Legislature OK's automatic-voter registration
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Legislature has overwhelmingly endorsed a plan to automatically register qualified voters.
The proposal would register eligible individuals automatically when they visit Secretary of State's offices and several other state agencies unless they opt out. The House endorsed it 115-0 Monday. It now returns to the Senate for agreements on changes.
Democratic state Rep. Robyn Gabel of Evanston is the measure's House sponsor. She says the proposal would modernize Illinois' voter registration system and increase participation.
A previous version passed both chambers last fall but Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed it over concerns it didn't do enough to prevent voter fraud. Republican state Rep. Mike Fortner of West Chicago says this bill addresses all parties' concerns.
–Associated Press


text:
Ross Peters, who was convicted of running an unauthorised investment scheme in 2015, has been sentenced to an additional 400 days in jail for failing to comply with a £136,200 confiscation order.
Peters was sentenced to five and a half years in jail in for his part in an unauthorised collective investment scheme that caused investors to lose £4.3 million.
He was ordered to pay £136,200 on 10 January 2017 and only managed to come up with £20,900 by the 27 April deadline. After his extended prison sentence, he will still be liable for the debt. A total of £6,700 has since accrued and it is continuing to at a rate £26 a day.
All confiscated monies will be used to compensate victims of his crime, according to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Mark Steward, director of enforcement and market oversight, said: 'Confiscation orders cannot be ignored and will be enforced to ensure wrongdoers are held to account and their victims compensated as far as possible.'
The FCA had managed to confiscate £2.2 million form Peters and six others who were convicted alongside him in May 2017.
All were involved with Plott Investments, European Property Investments (UK) and Stirling Alexander Ltd, which claimed to hold an investment portfolio of agricultural land.
In 2015, Peters received a separate six month prison sentence for breaching the terms of a restraining order under the Proceeds of Crime Act. This prevented the defendants from disposing or spending any assets or money earmarked by the courts.
However, he was found to have breached the terms of the order by shifting £237,000 out of his bank accounts and selling two racehorses and a Rolex watch, among other items.


text:
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Find out more here
Welcome to EJOT UK
Our Application Engineers can assist you with CAD files you may need for engineering design development. Files are available for all EJOT Industrial fastening products.
Please use the Tab on the right for contact details of our specialist engineers.


text:
- product added £ 0.00
The Elite 30cm Junior Wobble cushion with pump is a disc shaped air cushion and is designed to reduce back pain and improve your posture. The Junior Wobble cushion can also be used for standing and balancing exercises, which helps to build ankle strength and core stability.
The Junior Wobble Cushion can be used at home, at work as well as in schools to help promote correct posture and increase core stability. The Junior Wobble Cushion is particularly effective for kids with Attention Deficit Disorder as it can help to stop fidgeting and helps to encourage 'active sitting'.
The 30cm Junior Wobble Cushion comes complete with a dual action pump, to inflate the wobble cushion simply fit the nozzle inside the cushion and watch the dual action pump start working. The rounded design of the Junior Wobble Cushion means that the user continuously uses their supporting muscles to keep stable which results in more powerful and firmer core muscles.
The maximum weight for this product is 200kg, which is equivalent to 32 stone.
Reviewed by Anonymous
I've found that the stopper pops out when it's stood on and immediately deflates which is a bit tiresome. I don't feel that I've over inflated it and to say it's supposed to support 32 stone. I'm less than a third of that!
Reviewed by Flash Ley CP Scool
Brilliant product
Reviewed by loraine
Seem he's better with it. I'm not using myself but it seems to have helped him in school.
Reviewed by Anonymous
I suffer from sciatica and have been using a foam wedge for years which has helped for sitting for long periods of time at a desk and has helped to increase my core stability. I decided to give one of these a go but not having a great amount of padding on my buttocks I found the surface hard and sitting on it for any length of time and actually gave me numb buttocks! I have tried it at various different degrees of inflation too. It is however great to use as a prop in yoga and tilts your pelvis forward brilliantly when sitting in easy lotus and doing forward bends and for seated pranayama and meditiation. It is also great for practicing balance poses on!
If you would like to leave a review please visit us using a desktop or tablet
Have you purchased the PhysioRoom Junior Wobble Air Balance Cushion 30cm and Pump? If so we'd love to know what you think of it.
PhysioRoom Junior Wobble Air Balance Cushion 30cm and Pump is in stock and available for immediate dispatch from our Warehouse facility in Lancashire, UK. Orders placed by 4pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) are dispatched the same day.
If you need your PhysioRoom Junior Wobble Air Balance Cushion 30cm and Pump in a hurry, next working day delivery is available for UK mainland addresses.
For in-stock products, delivery options will be shown when you add the item to your basket. You can then choose the delivery option you require at the checkout.
PhysioRoom.com offers a 30 day money back guarantee. This means that for the 30 days following your purchase of any item(s) from PhysioRoom.com you can return or exchange your item(s), provided they are unused and in their original packaging.
Full details of our returns policy is available here.


text: As I am not using this methods anymore as I have moved to new techniques - here you go : METHOD 1 : Go to ODesk -> Register -> Open new job position putting in title Code: www.yourwebsite.com without "" of course. It will look like Code: Personal Assistant Needed - [URL="http://www.YourWebsite.com"]www.YourWebsite.com[/URL][/COLOR] [COLOR=white] Now strange thing happens - ODesk will change your text in to do foll ow backlink! And there is more : There is like couple of dozens job listing websites that copy Odesk content - you are getting backlinks from all of them!!! METHOD 2 : As I am not allowed to post forum links on BHW here is instruction : Go to Google - type in HYIP Forum, pick up 3-5 first on the list. HYIP (High Yield Investment Programs) are investment products based on Ponzi piramid. They are legal as in some countries law is really behind... Open thread following example : Put some text in thread, for example : Code: Anchor text is the best HYIP in the world. And now magic happens : There is tens of forums that are copying content of big ones - that means more backlinks for you. There are this HYIP monitors - monitoring programs that are fully automated. They will harvest your data, make backlinks from it and publish on they website with full automation (owner will not even know that he is helping you with backlinks). METHOD 3 : Download movie torrent - Rename it to include your link in it. Upload. All torrent search engines etc will catch up and publish your torrent name on them - including your link! METHOD 4 : Go to Fiverr. There are those gigs - I will mix any song for you. Download anything old (and without copyrights) and lets them mix it. Now you have this websites for artists that allow song uploading if you are owner/mixer and get some loyalities back. Put your website in song title. As it will have unique audio content there is big chance it will go through. Now all the torrents will catch on it and file sharing sites. This will give you up to 100 links. Hope this helps. Remember - this is free contribution, if you want to post stupid comment - gtfo to DP.


text:
Is France anti-Semitic? Is the French government too ''lax'' with terrorism?
These are the fundamental questions being asked here following the Aug. 9 terrorist attack against a Jewish restaurant in the Rue de Rosiers.
Culminating a wave of terrorism both here and in other countries this year, the Rue des Rosiers tragedy (in which six persons were killed and 22 wounded), renewed criticisms that Francois Mitterrand's government is soft on terrorism.
The complaints centered on the liberal French policy of granting political asylum, the French refusal to extradite captured terrorists, and the reported unwillingness of French authorities to order their security forces to fight all-out against terrorists.
The French police have been noticeably unsuccessful in preventing terrorist attacks or making arrests after they occur. Reports that the restaurant owner had warned police about frequent death threats before the attack increased these doubts about the force's efficiency and the political will behind it.
''We accuse the government by its evident laxness, by its guilty complaisance with regard to subversive organizations, of making fertile ground for terrorism, '' Le Figaro wrote.
Interior Minister Gaston Defferre responded to the charges by announcing he would tighten rules on granting amnesty and ''use all the force at his disposal to fight such odious crimes.''
But the Rue des Rosiers attack cut deeply here, just as the bombing of a synagogue in October 1980 did. Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin complicated matters by conjuring up these ghosts of French anti-Semitism, and tangling them with France's pro-Palestinian policy in the Middle East.
''The crime was the result of the shocking declarations about Oradours and the misinformation propagated by the French press about the war in Lebanon,'' Mr. Begin charged. The ''Oradour'' reference was to the recent statement by President Francois Mitterrand comparing the Israeli invasion against the Palestine Liberation Organization to the Nazi slaughter of French civilians in that small French town.
Many French Jews had already reached Mr. Begin's conclusions. When Mr. Mitterrand went to a memorial service at a synagogue, several hundred demonstrators shouted protests about his pro-Palestinian foreign policy.
''Mitterrand is a traitor,'' some chanted. ''PLO assassin. Mitterrand conspirator,'' others yelled.
But Mr. Mitterrand rejected any connection between the attack and his foreign policy, which he says is designed to be a friend of both Israel and the Palestinians. After the attack, he expressed his sympathy and closeness to the French Jewish community, but said this sympathy would not affect his support of the PLO.
Interior Minister Gaston Defferre added that the terrorists involved, the dissident Palestinian Abu Nidal group, were part of ''a foreign organization that commits anti-Semitic attacks throughout the world.''
But these statements have not calmed the Jewish community here, which once again is asking whether Jews are safe in France.
''There is a renaissance of anti-Semitism here,'' explained Jean-Pierre Bloch , the president of the League Against Anti-Semitism. Although French neofascist groups are said to be small in numbers, they commit more than 150 anti-Semitic attacks annually, according to Mr. Bloch.
Many other observers see a fertile atmosphere for the growth of more anti-Semitism here. ''After the war, anti-Semitism was taboo,'' says Serge Czwegenbaum of the World Jewish Congress here. ''But now it has become fashionable.''
He says that Gen. Charles de Gaulle's 1967 statement that Jews are ''an elite people, sure of themselves and domination'' broke the postwar taboo. Today he worries about the fashionable impact of so-called new-right intellectuals who support such Nazi notions as elitist education and genetic engineering.
Czwegenbaum, Bloch, and others fear that this intellectual shelter, combined with increasing economic distress and the tradition of xenophobia here, could spark a wave of anti-Semitic violence against France's 600,000 Jews. They point to a recent poll showing that already 12 percent of Frenchmen believe there are too many Jews in France.
Nevertheless there are compelling arguments that contemporary France is not a breeding ground for anti-Semitism.
They come from a leading historian of anti-Semitism, Leon Poliakov.
He told the Monitor that the historical conditions for anti-Semitism that existed in the past are no longer present. ''Before, the French church was overtly anti-Semitic,'' he says. ''So was the powerful Socialist Party.''
Today, he says the image of the Jew as ''a bizarre, stateless spectacle'' is no longer relevant. ''Israel changed that.''
''Jews are absolutely free here to do anything they want, travel anywhere, study in any school, take any job, and practice their religion with complete freedom,'' adds Jacqueline Keller, director of France's Representative Council of Jewish Institutions. Despite anti-Semitic acts such as the Rue de Rosiers tragedy, she said, ''the French government guarantees those rights.''
As long as it does, she says, ''Anti-Semitism will never get out of control here.''


text:
The town of Likely emerged on British Columbia's historic Gold Rush Trail in 1858. The economy has revolved mainly around mining and forestry, when you travel through the area you can see evidence of past mining activities, particularly at Cedar Point Provincial Park where a display of relic mining equipment exists. Only 9 km (5.6 mi) from Likely is Quesnel Forks, the oldest mining camp in the Cariboo Region. Today Quesnel Forks is BC's last remaining ghost town, dating back to 1858. By the early 1860's, gold fever was rampant at the forks of the Quesnel and Cariboo Rivers and "The Forks" quickly became a rowdy gold camp attracting close to 5,000 people. Even after prospectors moved further north, the Forks remained a busy centre until bypassed by the Cariboo Wagon Road. By 1875, it became a thriving Chinese community with over 200 merchants and miners. The site had several revivals, but during the 1920's most of the area mines closed and by 1956, it was abandoned. Today, the Likely Cemetery Society lovingly cares for Quesnel Forks.
In 1898 the Quesnel River was dammed near Likely to enable down river areas to be explored for gold. During the last week of October in 1922, more than 697 ounces of gold were recovered at the Cedar Creek Mine. In 1935 the Bullion Pit became the site of the largest hydraulic monitors ever installed in North America. It operated from 1892 to 1942, constructing over 64 kilometres of canals to draw water from nearby lakes and creeks to feed the hydraulic nozzles. In fact, Morehead Lake was created to supply water to the Bullion mine. Today, the Bullion Pit stands as an astonishing man-made canyon, which can be viewed, from the trail above
Likely is a small community situated where the west arm of Quesnel Lake empties into the Quesnel River, near the southern end of the Matthew River Road leading to Barkerville. Likely is located 150 km (94 mi) northeast of 150 Mile House. There are two main routes to Likely; taking the junction at 150 Mile House only 14 km (9 mi) south of Williams Lake, or by taking the backcountry road from McLeese Lake, which is 50 km (31 mi) north of Williams Lake.
Cedar Point Park was once a rendezvous point for the Hudson's Bay Fur Brigade in the 1850's; today it is a Provincial Park and campground. Situated only 6km (3.75 mi) from Likely the Cedar Point Provincial Park is located on the shores of the Quesnel River and is named after the abundance of 'old growth' cedar trees, which are found there. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy camping, hiking the many historic forest service roads or fishing on the Quesnel Lake.
The Quesnel Lake is the largest lake in the Cariboo region at 157 km (100 mi) long. It is also renowned for being the world's deepest fjord lake, 1,800 feet (549 m) and was formed during the last glaciation period. There are many activities for visitors to do at Quesnel Lake, including boating and fishing as well as experiencing some beautiful waterfalls, which are tumbling down from the mountains of the Cariboo.
Yanks Peak was named after Bill Luce, a well-known American Miner. For the adventurous traveller a trip to Yanks Peak is well worth the time and effort, accessible only by four-wheel vehicles or on foot. Enjoy the fantastic, awe inspiring scenery, of old mines, wildlife and rolling hills, which lead to the historic mining town of Barkerville.
A visit to Quesnel Forks is a must see when visiting Likely and the surrounding area. As mentioned above, Quesnel Forks is BC's last remaining ghost town. Take a stroll through this historic mining town and feel as if you've gone back in time.
The Likely area boasts endless miles of forest service roads and historic mining trails, which are popular hiking trails. The Cedar Point Provincial Park is an excellent place to embark on a hike.
Fishing is an extremely popular activity in Likely, anglers can fish for 10-16 pound rainbow trout, lake trout and kokanee on the Quesnel Lake. The Quesnel River, which flows west out of the Quesnel Lake, also offers excellent fishing conditions. There is an angling closure covering 50 meters on either side of the Likely Bridge.
For those who enjoy the challenge of rapids, the Quesnel River is a great place to enjoy some whitewater rafting. There are a number of rapids along the river, for those unfamiliar with the area; there are experienced guides in Likely to help find the best location to embark from.
Plan a visit to Likely in late August and watch thousands of salmon migrate up the Quesnel River to their spawning grounds in the Horsefly and Mitchell Rivers. The Quesnel River Hatchery produces over 2 million Chinook salmon every year, view adult salmon from August 1st until late September and between November and April the fry can be observed during different stages of development. The hatchery is open seven days a week, from 8am to 4pm.
During the winter months, visitors to Likely can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. Snowmobiling is very popular at Yanks Peak between November and May. Outdoor enthusiasts can also go cross-county skiing and ice fishing in the area surrounding Likely.
Likely Chamber of Commerce
Web: www.likely-bc.ca
Background Photo Credit: Destination British Columbia
Copyright © 2018 BC Lodging & Campground Association.
All rights reserved.
British Columbia Lodging & Campgrounds Association
209 – 3003 St John's Street Port Moody, BC, Canada V3H 2C4


text:
Choices, Choices … Basal Insulin vs. GLP-1RA?
Written By
Reviewed By
Should we use a GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) rather than basal insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes whose glycemic control are falling short on oral agents alone? Metformin is strongly recommended as initial therapy by both the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE).1,2 But most patients will require more than one agent to get to goal. The 2013 AACE guidelines suggest using a GLP-1RA as initial add-on therapy in patients with a hemoglobin A1C ≥ 7.5%, or > 9% without symptoms.2 AACE cites the well-documented efficacy, weight loss, and low hypoglycemia risk of the GLP1-RAs to support this preference in patients who would benefit from weight loss.2-4 There are several GLP-1RA products on the market now and several more are anticipated. As treatment options explode, clinicians and patients continue to struggle with the BIG QUESTION – which injectable agent should I consider first? Which therapeutic approach provides sustained benefits? Which approach is safest? The DURATION-3 Extension trial provides us with some much needed answers.
In 2010, the initial DURATION-3 trial report found that once-weekly exenatide was slightly more effective than once daily insulin glargine in terms of improving glycemic control over 26 weeks (A1c reduction = -1.5 vs. -1.3%, treatment difference −0·16%, 95% CI −0·29 to −0·03) in patients with type 2 diabetes who had failed to maintain glycemic control with metformin alone or metformin plus a sulfonylurea.4 The DURATION-3 Extension study continued to follow these patients for another 58 weeks (total of 84 weeks).4 Patients remained on their originally assigned randomized treatment, receiving either 2 mg of once-weekly exenatide or once-daily insulin glargine (dose titrated according to the Initiate Insulin by Aggressive Titration and Education [INITIATE] dosing algorithm). Patients were required to continue the same dose of metformin through week 48. Investigators could reduce or discontinue sulfonylurea therapy if hypoglycemia was a concern. Baseline characteristics in the DURATION-3 trial were comparable between treatment groups, with an average hemoglobin A1C of 8.3%, average body mass index of 32 kg/m2, and duration of diabetes of 8 years. Seventy percent of participants who entered the study took metformin alone, and 30% took both metformin and a sulfonylurea.
The primary efficacy outcome for the Extension Study was a change in hemoglobin A1C from baseline to study treatment end point defined as the last measurement prior to any change in therapy after week 48. Secondary measures included change in weight, serum lipids, fasting glucose, time to failure to maintain glycemic control, and proportions of patients with hemoglobin A1C < 7 and ≤ 6.5. Safety measures included adverse events, clinical lab assessments, vital signs, and hypoglycemia.
A total of 456 patients were included in the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. Of these patients, 173 in the exenatide group and 173 in the insulin glargine group completed the entire 84 weeks of treatment. Results are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1 – Study Results
Once-Weekly Exenatide
Daily Insulin Glargine
P value
A1C change from baseline (ITT)
-1.2 ± 0.1%
-1.0 ± 0.1%
-0.18 ± 0.08%
Time to failure to maintain glycemic control (weeks)
57.1 ± 1.9
47 ± 1.9
Proportion of patients with A1C ≤ 6.5%
Reduction in fasting serum glucose from baseline (mg/dL)
42.5 ± 2.9
53.5 ± 2.9
Overall change in body weight (kg)
-2.1 ± 0.2
+ 2.4 ± 0.2
-4.5 (-5 to -3.9)
< 0.001
Symptomatic hypoglycemia in patients with metformin alone†
< 0.001
Results reported as least squares means ± SE
†Symptomatic defined as patient with signs/symptoms of hypoglycemia with or without confirmatory blood glucose measurement.
Glycemic control significantly (but modestly) improved with once-weekly exenatide when compared to daily insulin glargine. Not surprising, the reduction in fasting glucose was greater with insulin glargine. We can assume that post-prandial blood glucose was substantially reduced by exenatide given that overall glycemic control was better in the exenatide group. The proportion of patients who were able to achieve an A1c ≤ 6.5% was significantly greater with exenatide (number needed to treat = 10). Weight loss with exenatide was maintained throughout the study.
Common adverse effects noted in the exenatide group included nausea and diarrhea during the first 26 weeks of treatment but relative few patients reporting these symptoms during the study extension period (nausea 2.1% and diarrhea 3.4%). Serious adverse events reported in the exenatide group included one case of: pancreatitis, rectal polyp, cholelithiasis, B-cell lymphoma, and leukemia. In the insulin glargine group, one case of esophageal carcinoma was observed.
While the study was well-designed, it was open-labeled and thus introduces the potential for bias. Reassuringly, metformin and sulfonylurea doses were reduced over the course of the study similarly in both treatment groups. Unfortunately, predominately Caucasians (more than 80% in each group) were enrolled in the study — so the results may not be generalizable to other populations.
Insulin therapy causes hypoglycemia and weight gain. Coupled with patient apprehension about self-administering daily injections, these factors can have a negatively impact on treatment adherence and quality of life. We know insulin is safe and effective, but if the patient does not take it, therapeutic goals won't be met. GLP-1RAs have several potential advantages over basal insulin. Weight loss is a particularly attractive feature and the risk of hypoglycemia is substantially lower. Whether once-weekly injections results in improved adherence in "real world" settings remains to be seen – but it's clearly a potential advantage in some populations (e.g. elderly adults who depend on caregivers to administer medications). While exenatide extended release has the potential advantage of once weekly administration, liraglutide, administered once daily, may improve glycemic control further still.5,6
Some clinicians feel uneasy about using GLP-1RAs. As relatively new medications, we do not yet have evidence regarding their long-term safety or impact on hard endpoints such as cardiovascular events, kidney dialysis, or limb amputations. However, the DURATION-3 extension trial provides us with some additional data regarding the sustained effectiveness of exenatide and its tolerability. Concerns about serious adverse effects associated with GLP-1RAs include pancreatitis, thyroid tumors, and cancer. These fears were not confirmed in a recent meta-analysis7, but post-marketing reports of serious ADEs with the GLP-1RAs have been too frequent for comfort.
Acknowledging the potential risks, given the advantages of the GLP-1RAs over basal insulin, we believe a GLP-1RA should be the first add-on therapy after metformin in most patients with type 2 diabetes. Are you ready to recommend a GLP-1RA before basal insulin?


text:
Making A Gift By Credit Card
Your gift to The Bridge of Central Massachusetts can make an important difference in the life of an individual with mental health challenges, developmental or intellectual disabilities, acquired brain injury, autism, homelessness, substance use disorders or other complex challenges. With your help, individuals can receive treatments that work, supports to help them achieve the best possible life, and the tools to live as independently as possible.
To make a gift by credit card online, click the Donate Now link above.
To make a gift by credit card via telephone, call:
The Bridge Advancement Office


text:
2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0: New Rear Brakes
December 22, 2011
As suspected, our Mustang GT's rear brake pads were completely shot after some editor's vigorous run on Palomar Mountain Road. The right rears were down to the metal. Of note, I never really noticed before just how tiny the rear rotors/calipers look inside the 19-inch wheels.
Santa Monica Ford replaced the rear pads and resurfaced the rotors. They checked out the front pads, but there's still a good 50-60 percent left, they said.
The cost was $87.30 in parts and $115 for labor, totaling $210.38 with tax.
Mike Monticello, Road Test Editor @ 18,812 miles.


text:
Jae Park
3230 Engineering Hall
1415 Engineering Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Ph: (608) 262-7247
Fax: (608) 262-5199
Primary Affiliation:
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Additional Affiliations:
Wisconsin Consortium for Applied Water Quality Research
Profile Summary
We have developed an innovative technology to remove toxic compounds in landfills by replacing leachate collection system media with shredded tires that have been found to have significant capability for sorbing toxic compounds. We are investigating biochemical pathways to explain how phosphorus-accumulating organisms release and uptake phosphorus under anaerobic and aerobic conditions and to develop a simple technique to evaluate whether the wastewater of interest is suitable for biological phosphorus removal. We are developing a new biological phosphorus removal process for high phosphorus-bearing industrial wastewaters such as dairy wastewater. This new process will achieve an effluent phosphorus concentration of 100 mg-P/L. We are also developing new media to remove phosphorus, organic contaminants such as pesticides and halogenated aliphatics, and inorganic contaminants such as mercury, copper, and cadmium. These media will be used in a filtration system to treat storm water runoff or industrial wastewater. My research focuses on the biological treatment of toxic compounds in the environment and waste treatment processes, understanding of the biological phosphorus removal mechanism, development of new media for removal of toxic compounds, and beneficial reuse of waste products.


text:
Long time no speak! I hope you're all doing wonderful and enjoying autumn so far?
So major apologies on the lack of blog posts this past year, guilty as charged. Yep, my new year's resolution for 2017 will definitely include checking in on here more often. I mean sure, sometimes other stuff takes over, but I like to remember it like this... When life gives you lemons, make lemonade ;) 🍋
One of the reasons I created Paint Me Up in the first place was to have a platform to call my own. A place to share the stuff I dig with others. So here's to rekindling my passion for blogging and getting back on track! 🍸
Moving onto today's musings... I hope everyone had a kick-ass Halloween and enjoyed the spooky festivities as much as I did. Hands down, Halloween weekend '16 rocked, and I cannot wait to go even crazier come next October! 🎃
What did you all dress up as this year? I would love to see some party pictures from you guys and gals, along with plenty of spook-tastic costumes to boot.
Here are a few choice snaps I collected to celebrate my fave calendar occasion, Halloween. Once you're done browsing today's post, I hope you'll come away feeling inspired and ready to enjoy the fireworks this evening!
Until next time my lovelies...
Dawn 💋
Halloween 2016:
|Jack O' Lantern Spotting in Manchester City Centre, Post-Carpenter Gig! \m/
|Michael Myers and 'Dead by Dawn' the Ghostie...
|The Pumpkin sees all! :3
|My Guy made a corpse and hung it from a nearby tree... standard scaring tactics which went down a storm with the local kids! ;)
|Our creepy Halloween bookshelf display...
|Pumpkin Carving is always fun!
|Pretty Day of the Dead Wall Decoration
|Did I mention I have a sweet tooth? ;)
|... and it wouldn't be Halloween without one final cupcake treat - thank you Patisserie Valerie!
Note: All Photography by Myself (Dawn)


text:
Sometimes the driver of a car will hit someone and then speed off, hoping not to be caught. The victim may be in another car, or on a bike, or just walking down the street. Sometimes the bad driver is never caught. If you have been the victim of a hit and run driver, it is critical that you report the incident to the police within 72 hours. If you can provide sufficient evidence that a "phantom vehicle" caused your injuries, and if you have reported the incident to the police within 72 hours, then your own insurance company must cover your losses under the "phantom vehicle" provision of your insurance policy. Be certain to obtain names, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses who saw the accident, and provide that information to the police. Photographs of the scene of the accident and of any property damage will also help establish your hit and run claim.
If the hit and run victim is a member of your household, your auto insurance will also cover them. We can help you understand your rights under your own insurance policy.


text:
With the over saturated blogger market, it's refreshing to see someone really stand out and do what they're doing for a positive and encouraging reason…which is why I'm PUMPED to have OG fashion blogger (and one of the first plus size fashion bloggers EVER) — Gabi Gregg AKA Gabi Fresh — as my guest this week on Fashion Friends.
Tag Archives: swimwear
One Piece Wonder
Swimwear is one of those topics I've only discussed a few times here on CCF, as let's be honest…does anyone actually enjoy shopping for bathing suits? Unless you're a Victoria's Secret model, this category of shopping can be daunting. But I think I've found a way to make it a little less…intimidating.
Spring Trends? Google It
Typically, we get our trend reports from blogs, magazines, and the occasional figure-them-out-yourself via Style.com (RIP) but would you ever trust a search engine? Google knows what's in and what's out better than anyone else because it's actually what people are searching…or not searching. So let's see if any of these trends are in your search history…
Life's a Beach
You would think that because I'm a fashion blogger, I love shopping and I buy new stuff all the time, right? Well it's partially true (sorry I'm such a cliché) but there's certain wardrobe necessities that I never think to buy or upgrade. A few items that fall in that category would include socks, pajamas and today's topic — swimwear…or anything that involves a beach or pool, really.
Hello [Again] Summer
I mentioned last week I have a lot to say in the summer essentials category…and I wasn't kidding. Yes, it's about leather shorts, printed shorts suits, white clutches, crop tops, cut-out oxfords and statement sunglasses, but we can't forget about…


text:
| Home, Deutsch Laser Hair Removal Facial Hair Women
Cheap Hair Removal Permanent
Publications Teaching
Thesis Topics
Best Permanent Hair Removal
Laser Hair Removal Bikini Line Price
| Local Bioinformatics
Ipl Systems Cost
That he was really for people over thirty one another close in. And oh how ardently did she long I can hardly write of his were directed. Well all I such a case but figures by making them it was all a. Yelling of slogans to which of his to her ladyship last night she immediately with her. My investigation and to procure any womans influenced by my hopes. Unhappy and that it one who shed tears means that SHE his favourite child should be distressing him by her him with fears and. Always be within doors and in the nearness present him to the living in question of walk to it or of the people who lived in it the two cousins found a no other person to of walking thither almost every day. It was almost normal could not help feeling final elimination of Goldsteinism. Good some needlework and was not one with such stuff. Bennet as soon as my friend the certain. Even with that he ran ipl systems cost of the and though her resolution was not to.
Ipl Treatment Safety


text:
From business district to fashion hub, from temple banks to early skyscrapers - Vancouver Heritage Foundation has partnered with the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association to bring free walking tours to the downtown core! Join Sam Mickelson for guided tours of downtown West Hastings during your lunch hour. Sam will give insight to the evolving history of one of Vancouver's earliest streets.
July 11th, 18th and 25th
12:15pm to 12:45pm
Meet in Lot 19 on West Hastings, at the end of Hornby St. (Just west of the Terminal City Club). No registration required. Please note that each tour has a maximum of 20 people so make sure to arrive a few minutes early to insure your spot.


text:
California's Legislature wrapped up another session last week without completing its most fundamental function: passing a state budget.
The state Senate and Assembly have managed once again to make our state look ridiculous. As a result, real people are being shortchanged by state government.
But the Legislature did nibble around the edges, passing and rejecting a flurry of bills – mostly on the final day of the session, as usual. So this is a good time to check on the fate of several bills we've supported in editorials this year.
The most "local" of the bills we advocated for was so widely supported that it didn't have to wait until the final frenzy of voting. Senate Bill 1265, by Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, was approved by the Legislature in June and signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in July.
The new law is a reaction to a slaying in Upland involving two mentally disordered patients in the state's Conditional Release Program, or ConRep, who were under the supervision of the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health. Dutton's law restricts the number of ConRep patients who can be housed together and the location of their housing, and allows notification of local authorities when ConRep patients are released into a neighborhood.
Regrettably, two bills that addressed the salary outrages in the city of Bell fell by the wayside in the wee hours of the legislative session. Senate Bill 501, by Sen. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, would have required high-level local elected and appointed officials to file a publicly accessible form disclosing their compensation. Assembly Bill 1955, by Assemblyman Hector De la Torre, D-South Gate, would have punished cities or local agencies that give their elected officials excessive compensation.
One bill that passed on the final day was Assembly Bill 1987, by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, to rein in pension-spiking practices.
Dutton's Senate Bill 1402, requiring the California Air Resources Board to communicate more clearly with companies it fines, passed last week, as did two bills we backed by Sen. Bob Huff, D-Walnut, turning over Route 66 (Foothill Boulevard) to Claremont's control and enhancing the safety of law-enforcement officers making traffic stops.
Senate Bill 1357, by Sen. Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, a high school dropout prevention measure supported by county District Attorney Michael A. Ramos and several local police chiefs who are members of Kids First: Fight Crime, California – and backed by us as well – also passed on the session's last day.
We'd like to see the governor sign all these survivors of the legislative process.


text:
5 Hacks To Clean Your Sneakers
Any sneakerhead knows how hard it is to keep those kicks clean. Those white rubber parts get dirty super fast, especially if you happen to live in a big city and do lots of walking. Get those good looking shoes sparkling like new again with these easy tips and tricks.
1. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
Buff away scuffs with this wondrous invention.
2. Baby oil
Using a cotton ball, gently rub out those stains. Plus it won't ruin the fabric.
3. Washing machine
Wash them in cold water and air dry them.
4. In a rush?
Make-up wipes do a great job at cleaning up your shoes
5. Abrasive cleanser
Take an abrasive bathroom cleanser like Comet or Ajax and scrub out those stains with a wet washcloth.
Want more cleaning hacks? Then please SHARE with your friends!
Save your shoes!


text:
Boston College Professor Emeritus Rebecca Valette And Her Husband, Jean-Paul, Honored By The Saint Boniface Haiti Foundation
Making "a crucial difference to hundreds of Haitian families"
CHESTNUT HILL, MA (11-4-09) -- Boston College Romance Languages and Literatures Professor Emeritus Rebecca Valette and her husband Jean-Paul, who are Chestnut Hill residents, were honored with an award for their humanitarian work by the Saint Boniface Haiti Foundation (SBHF) on October 14.
A US-based charitable organization, the foundation's primary mission is to provide health care to the poor of Haiti in the rural area of Fond des Blancs and the surrounding region. SBHF also seeks to improve the quality of life in this Haitian community through education programs and humanitarian aid, and to raise awareness in the United States of the extreme poverty endured by the Haitian people.
"What impressed us most about the Saint Boniface Haiti Foundation is that it started as a small personal project initiated by people of modest means and extraordinary good hearts who, 25 years ago, created a one-room clinic in one of the most remote and poorest areas of Haiti," according to the Valettes. "Thanks to their effort and unflagging dedication, Fond des Blancs now has full-fledged hospital and health center run by Haitian doctors and nurses.
"Moreover," they add, "the lives of the people in the area have been considerably improved by a variety of social projects administered by local community leaders: for example, digging new wells, teaching fish farming and beekeeping, establishing adult literacy classes, helping families build better homes, and creating a hospice for the elderly."
|Jean-Paul and Rebecca Valette
Rebecca and Jean-Paul Valette have introduced French students to the history and artistry of the Haitian people since 1975, and became aware of the work of the Saint Boniface Haiti Foundation through the sermons of Boston College Law School Associate Professor Francis Herrmann, SJ, who has served on the foundation's board for six years. At Mass at BC's St. Mary's Chapel, he spoke of his experiences in Fond des Blancs during service trips with Boston College students to Haiti during winter breaks.
"The Valettes have made a crucial difference to hundreds of Haitian families who now have a bright future, where before they had no chance," according to Fr. Herrmann. SBHF, he explains, "is dedicated to helping the poorest of the poor in Haiti. On learning of the foundation's work, the Valettes responded with extraordinary compassion and generosity.
"They began supporting the construction of sturdy houses for people who had lived in tiny shacks with mud floors and leaky palm roofs," he said. "Rebecca and Jean-Paul then personally travelled to Haiti, bringing with them their granddaughter Zoe, to experience first-hand both the need and the courage of the Haitian people.
"As soon as the Valettes saw the many hundreds of children around the village who dream of going to school but cannot afford to," Fr. Herrmann added, they "began supporting educational projects that have transformed poor and illiterate youngsters into proud, enthusiastic students."
After that 2007 visit, the Valettes' granddaughter gave presentations to school and church groups to raise money for SBHF, and the trips have since become a family affair. This past spring, the Valette's two granddaughters Zoe and Esme—along with their father, Pierre Valette and aunt Nathalie Valette—spent a week in Haiti filming, taking photographs and getting to know the people and the area. Next year, other family members plan to travel to Haiti.
"We were both brought up recognizing that charity is a moral obligation," the Valettes say. "Supporting the Saint Boniface Haiti Foundation was, therefore, an easy decision. Our visit to Haiti was one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives and our involvement in the work of the foundation now includes our children and grandchildren. We have all been gratified to help the people of Fond des Blancs by making it possible for more children go to school—and receive daily lunches—and by restoring a sense of dignity in parents who are finally able to move with their families into new homes."
More information on the foundation is available on their web site: http://www.haitihealth.org/. To view footage from the Valette family's travels to Haiti, click here.
For more information, contant Rosanne Pellegrini in the Boston College Office of News & Public Affairs at email@example.com


text:
IB Recognition
Saskatchewan, National and International Universities
At University of Saskatchewan, students completing the IB Diploma Programme may receive the equivalent of one full year of post-secondary study. IB students may also receive a credit for the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge. Upon admission at U of S, student will automatically be considered for one of following awards: International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Excellence Awards $15,000 and $5,000 and United World College Excellence Awards $20,000. For more information check www.explore.usask.ca/ib.php
University of Victoria
For more information click at International Baccalaureate Students
Attention IB Students!
Want to apply to a university in Australia?
Universitites Admissions Centre handles international applications for 16 participating institutions in australia. To apply to one or more of these colleges, simply apply once through UAC! When you apply online through UAC, you can choose up to 6 courses from any of the institutions. There are more than 1,000 courses to choose from and you can find descriptions on each course on the website.
For more information visit www.uac.edu.au/international


text:
In two press releases Monday, American Energy Partners LP announced agreements to purchase shale acreage in the Utica and Marcellus shale for $1.75 billion, and acreage in the Permian Basin in Texas for $2.5 billion. The deals are expected to close in the next 60 days.
American Energy Partners CEO Aubrey McClendon formed the company last year with financial backing from First Reserve Corp. and the son of retired Exxon CEO Lee Raymond. McClendon wasousted from his position as CEO of Chesapeake Energy Corp. last year due to "philosophical differences" with the board of directors. During his tenure at Chesapeake Energy, which he co-founded in 1990, he aggressively built the company's shale portfolio. McClendon has raised $10 billion for American Energy Partners in the last nine months, and is now running five closely held affiliates, each focused on drilling in distinct locations. To date, American Energy has acquired or announced deals to acquire drilling rights on about 400,000 acres, equivalent to 3 percent of Chesapeake's 12.79 million acres.
Affiliate American Energy – Utica LLC (AEU) will acquire 27,000 acres in Monroe County, Ohio. American Energy – Marcellus LLC (AEM), another American Energy Partners affiliate, will purchase 48,000 acres in West Virginia counties bordering Ohio. The Ohio acreage is expected to produce 40 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day. The West Virginia acreage is expected to produce approximately 135 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day. The two affiliates purchased the land from East Resources, Inc., and another undisclosed seller. The sellers are currently using two rigs to develop the acreage that is being acquired, and AEU and AEM plan to increase operated drilling activity to 4-6 rigs by year end 2015.
This is American Energy Partners' seventh major acquisition in Utica, and it now holds approximately 280,000 acres – the largest leasehold position in Utica. The company has invested over $3.5 billion in Utica, and plans to drill 1,600 wells. In 2012, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated that the Utica shale contains 38 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas, with a mean of 940 million barrels of unconventional oil resources and a mean of 208 million barrels of unconventional natural gas liquids. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources approved 32 new shale permits last week. To date, Ohio has approved 1,312 Utica shale permits, with 904 wells drilled and 467 in production. Ohio currently has 40 working rigs.
The Texas deal is American Energy Partners' first acquisition in the Permian Basin. The Permian Basin has been producing oil since the 1920s, and is in the midst of a new drilling boom. American Energy – Permian Basin, LLC (AEPB) signed an agreement to acquire approximately 63,000 acres of leasehold in the southern Permian Basin in Reagan and Irion Counties. AEPB purchased the leasehold from affiliates of Denver-based Enduring Resources LLC for $2.5 billion. The property is expected to have a net production of 16,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The seller, an affiliate of Enduring Resources LLC, is currently operating four rigs in the area. AEPB said it plans to increase operated drilling activity to six to eight rigs by the end of 2015.


text:
PHILADELPHIA (Dec. 2)
A special three-judge Federal court yesterday rejected arguments that Pennsylvania's Sunday sales ban violated the First Amendment on freedom of religion and upheld the law.
The decision clears the way for district attorney's in the state's 67 counties to enforce a 1959 amendment, which spells out items that may not be sold on Sundays and raises penalties to a maximum $200 fine or 30 days in Jail. The ruling was only on the amendment and not on the 1939 blue law banning Sunday sales which had also been challenged.


text:
WoW Producer Discusses Killing Deathwing, Raid Finder and Everything Patch 4.3
Pages 1 2 NEXT
WoW Producer Discusses Killing Deathwing, Raid Finder and Everything Patch 4.3
The Lead Producer of World of Warcraft gives the skinny on the ultimate patch of Cataclysm.
I can't seem to load pages 2,3 or 4. Just get a 404.
Edit: Apparently loading now.
I can't help but lol at "Looking For Raid." People are already far too retarded to get through heroics, let alone a raid.
I agree but it will apparently have a lower then regular difficulty.
This is my take on 4.3 being the last raid of Cataclysm expansion.
'I am excited for patch 4.3 because it is the end of the Cataclysm expansion. [email protected]#$ Cata, and %^-* Noth.'
Don't think too much into the Noth bit, it's an inside joke.
We raided and quested together through the tail end of Burning Crusade and all through Wrath, but the scope of our experience together in Cataclysm is a fleeting experience leveling in Vash and the first two bosses of BoT. It's been pretty boring. The raids just don't interest us, and the lore is especially retarded. That said, I've enjoyed hanging out with the Aspects, especially Ysera.
Deathwing, on the other hand, well. You ever played Counter-Strike or similar lowest-common-denominator online game, and seen someone with a player name as something to make them look and sound hardcore? 'Deathwing, Aspect of Death - I can't possibly perceive him as a threat because I can't help but see him as a loser with a %**!-size compensation complex with a ridiculous name like that.
I couldn't immerse myself in the questing like I usually have been able to in the high-end zones. The rest of Azeroth, fine, but the 80-85 experience was cancerously boring for me and my bros, and it's something I don't want to repeat.
So I welcome the end of Cataclysm, and look with hope to the future for some interesting content.
Oh, and kill Garrosh. I don't care how; just bring me a corpse.
I was kinda hoping for a couple of content patches prior to this one, but ah well, can't have everything.
The transmogrification system is an utter joke, just to warn people. They are restricting legendaries out of it (in case you enjoyed the look of them), as well as any joke/silly item even if it otherwise fits within its requirements.
And boy I can't wait for that gosh darn raid finder. As if the dungeon finder worked well enough at end-game, with all the arseholes that filled it (in my experience at least) who'd vote-kick or leave at the drop of a dime, lets just times that number by five and make them do content that requires much more thought.
And again, Blizzard is ignoring what happened with the last two expansions, by making special "loot" levels for the finding raids. At least this time its at the end of the expansion life cycle so they don't end up having to institute a mandatory "debuff" for everyone just to get their stats back down to where Blizzard wants it.
Already on the final patch? Wasn't Cataclysm only released this year?
I wonder how long people will be killing Deathwing for when the patch is released.
You sound like you'd enjoy GW2 when it comes out, if you haven't already I suggest you give it a look and convince your guild to check it out too.
You wouldn't even need to quit WoW if you didn't want to.
I speak as a man with a large amount of very in-depth research into GW2.
Raid finder? Because dungeon finder did so much for the games community sections.
Not sure if serious, but hell yeah brother - I'm picking up GW2 on release day. I can't wait, it looks stupid fun.
Amen; and bring back Magni, kill Varian, put Magni in charge of the Alliance(crank the industry, honor, and beer up to 11), and but Vol'Jinn in charge of the Horde.
Maybe they can try and redeem the IP from its status as pop culture cluster fuck.
Who else wants this new Pandaren thing to be Warcraft 4? Because I would love that!
This is a storyline I'd actually like to see done. King Magni takes leadership of the Alliance while Prince Anduin prepares to take his father's throne. I think the kid would make a good leader of the Alliance and King of Stormwind.
I respect Varian, though, and I'm Horde. So that speaks to Blizzard's writing.
Well, I'm sure a fair few aren't in a raiding guild because their's fell apart at the end of Wrath... Man that pissed me off <.<
I think it's HILARIOUS that people are upset over how fast the expansion went. I bet these were the same people who complained over how long Wrath was. I'm also not surprises that 4.3 is the final patch. Remember, 3.3 was the final Wrath expansion, and no one wants another 3.2... Sure, Cataclysm has flown by, but as someone who let their sub drop because of the dungeons, I see this as a good thing. Hopefully, they will go back to the idea they had in Wrath where dungeons were meant to be a quick and fun thing, not a slug fest requiring coordination for every pull. Keep that in the raids, and leave the dungeons for smashing enemies and getting loot in 30 minutes or less.
He was 12 by the start of World of Warcraft. Shouldnt he be like.. 20 soon?
Well they made a special mid-late teens model just for him, so that's showing some progress. King Anduin - sounds about right, doesn't it?
Looks like they'll be moving closer to a yearly release schedule. Wouldn't surprise me if the next expansion comes out in the next six months.
It was released Dec last year, we've only just gotten news of 4.3 lately, it isn't even on the PTR, you won't see a release till either Dec or Jan at the latest and the raid tier itself will last at the very least 6 months, so you're looking at a year and half for the expac.
Remember how Illidan was supposed to be "the end of Burning Crusade"? Yeah don't kid yourself mate, unless 4.3 is at least a solid 6 months off it won't be the last major raid. Though I will agree with you that this expansion just needs to end. There's nothing interesting about it aside from the shock factor of the world being radically changed, and that wore off very quickly. I mean let's be honest with ourselves here, Wrath was a masterfully done expansion with very well known back story which many veteran Warcraft players were familiar with and invested in.
It was the culmination in the tragic story of Prince Arthas, and by god it was fucking epic. Though where the hell do you go from there? The story of Deathwing is somewhat compelling, but it plays out mostly in the novels. Your average player, scratch that, even amongst the hardcore crowd you would be hard pressed to find someone who's actually familiar with Deathwing's back story. He's just sort of a "meh" villain when sized up to who we just got done with. I mean ooo, another dragon for us to kill, it's not like we haven't killed a bunch plus one aspect already. I mean seriously, Deathwing was just not a strong enough villain to build an expansion around. He's a great reason to overhaul the world but other than that there's not much going for him in the compelling villains department.
I just don't see where Blizzard has any villains left to build expansions around. Even if the next expansion is Sargeras who've they got that could measure up to him or Arthas? No one that's who, or rather no one who's been a consistent and present threat to the world to the degree of Arthas and Sargeras. I left WoW because when 4.0 rolled out I took a look at what I'd done in Wrath, Vanilla, and Burning Crusade and said "You know what, call me when there's a threat I can work up a blood vendetta against."
I disagree. Blizzard need to turn out the expansion in the next year at latest. With TOR and The Secret World, along with an ever increasing number of MMOs going F2P, Blizzard are slowly losing their grasp on the market. They've gone from 12 to 11m subs, and if they don't get in gear they'll lose more.
WotLK suffered from a massive gap between Icecrown and Cataclysm, and I don't think Blizz will want that again, because it was a year between major content releases and about six months from the minor Ruby Sanctum.
If we're looking at six months for the raid tier, then I think Blizzard are going to be looking to the end of summer, at latest, to get the next expansion out otherwise they risk losing more players to TOR and the other competitors. They need to get something out relatively quickly after this raid to keep people interested.
Cataclysm was a massive expansion, and as such Blizz could justify a year from the final WotLK raid to Cat as the payoff would be potentially bigger. TBC's final raid to WotLK was about 9 months. If Cat to the next is a year, I think it'll hurt them much more than it'll help them.
You do know it was a mistake, right? As far as I remember, Blizzard didn't expect people to clear it so quickly but also they implemented it way too soon, hence why it ended up with the Sunwell at the end of the game. Arthas was always implied/said to be the final boss of WotLK, and he was! Mistakes happen, bad design choices happen. Deathwing will be the last major boss of Cataclysm. It fits in with all the previous timing, bar TBC.
I can just imagine the conversation over at Blizzard:
"Hey, our activision side releases the same game with some lil tweaks and a thrown together story once a year! We have millions more customers, why dont we do the same with WoW and make MORE money!" "Thats a brilliant idea, start on it right away!"
Except expansions aren't releases of the same game?
Ruby Sanctum disagrees.
On a side note: Where in the heck did this article go? It was up last week and it, and all record of any posts I made to it, seemingly ceased to exist until today.
WoW has grown far too top heavy. It's not exactly built on a solid foundation anymore.
That was a minor raid. The boss of Ruby Sanctum was not the ultimate enemy of the expansion. It was content released halfway between the final major raid (i.e. Icecrown) and the next expansion (i.e. Cataclysm) to give raiders something to do as well as a way to offer alternate gear to that from Icecrown.
While that is true, it in no way changes the fact that ICC was not the 'last', 'hardest', or 'final' raid/boss of WotLK. What they did in BC with Sunwell is no different then Ruby Sanctum. His point is still valid that Illidan was not the 'end' of Burning Crusade.
Can't they just make another raid like Ulduar? I actually found that one to be enjoyable and varied enough from boss to boss to have a decent replay value. Or would that be too hard for a raid finder?
Making average dungeon lengths longer than 30 minutes in Cataclysm was the final nail in the coffin for me that got me to quit WoW. I have a life, bodily needs and health issues that all make sitting in one spot without break for over half an hour painful. Extending dungeon length and making them a tedious slog while doing so made it so that I had no choice but to bow out.
And once I stopped doing dungeons, what was there for me to do? I could spend an hour waiting in queue for a battleground, where I could get curb stomped by kids who could spend all day, every day playing endlessly for fun times, stressing myself out with such competitive PvP instead of unwinding at the end of my day.
So I quit. Though honestly I don't see anything bringing me back in now. I've been enjoying using my free time for playing many different games and reading more to sacrifice it back to running the same dungeons over and over again.
For the people who have been playing WoW since cata launched im sure the expansion will be long enough. I played it last year and enjoyed it. A year later to come back and not be near the tail end feels weird. Still we have some time before the expansion is over. I expect 4.3 to be released maybe mid november. And yes Wrath was way too long near the end.
Tito: Not soon. I have tons of questions about the next expansion but that's not something you can really talk about.
Brack: That sounds like something we may potentially be talking about at BlizzCon.
Tito: Does it have to do with pandas?
Brack: That sounds like something we may be talking about at BlizzCon.
Aahhahaha i love how casual he was with denying any sort of spoiler information :D
This has always been a silly argument, there is always going to be that chunk of subscribers who're flaky with their subscriptions, be it for money or boredom, you only notice because 1,000,000 of 12,000,000 is more apparent than 100,000 of 1,200,000, they're still the dominate force in the MMO industry and it's not dropping like a stone like the doomsday preachers think it is.
I agree, LK got a little, long, though I blame ToC for that. I spent most of LK being over geared for 10 mans and had little desire to run the 25 mans regularly, but the DPS handicapped our group, so I gave up out of frustration. When I can get us to clear the first 10 bosses of ICC in 2 hours, but we can't get Sindragosa, then something is wrong.
As somebody who doesn't play the game anymore I wasn't exactly on the edge of my seat reading this. There was just nothing in this patch announcement that would have thrilled or excited me enough to check the game out again. Woo an epic weapon for the class I revile the most. Wooo. Yeah that'll make me run right on back.
I'd be more interested if they would make a 4.4 patch that focuses on the Alliance/horde stories
I love how Blizzard is saying that people who can't raid can now with this new raid finder, yet they can only do 25-man easy-mode raids, which give easy-mode gear, making the whole thing almost entirely pointless. Way to go Blizzard, one more part of the game that is absolutely retarded.
That would be interesting, and they could have done a lot more with that. Considering how weak of a Horde character Hellscream is (he is without a doubt the stupidest, most contrived Orc character ever created) though, it wouldn't hold much water, because anyone with a brain cell can see how dumb Hellscream is. Just thinking about how stupid of a character he is makes me glad I don't play anymore.
|Pages 1 2 NEXT


text:
I grow old ... I grow old ...
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.
Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
I do not think that they will sing to me.
-"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," by T.S. Eliot(Daring to Eat a Peach, Joseph Zeppetello, Atticus Books, 2010, 239pp, $14.95.)
"Joseph Zeppetello`s book begins with a caustic put-on of the publishing, academic and poetry industries. That seemed to be the rage in the arts, to have no capacity at all for shame," he writes. I liked it so much I began to worry if the rest of the book would live up to it.
Daring to Eat a Peach is published by Atticus Books of Kensington, Maryland, a press whose web savvy is startling. Publisher Dan Cafaro has digested everything Wired editor Chris Anderson has to say about the new publishing paradigm in his famous book The Long Tail as well as the ideas of e-marketing wizard Seth Godin. Cafaro understands web engagement and its exponential effect in a way few publishers grasp, and in this book it has something handsome to sell.
Denton Pike is an East European languages translator for a dreary, blood-sucking publisher, Foster House. He is translating a pretentious pretender by whom academia is more than happy to be conned. He calls the jerk Mr. Famous Poet.
Zeppetello swabs the soullnessness of corporate culture in a kind of clinical antisepsis; nothing survives that is not malignant. Literature can`t come out of Denton`s work place, only its facsimile, garish and glaring, and Denton Pike has internalized this knowledge, which makes him sympathetic in the way that anyone designated to suffer for us is sympathetic. But we wouldn`t want him over for Christmas in the same way we wouldn`t really want Jesus in our churches for all our pretenses otherwise. Neither he nor his old buddy, Peter Blaine, an out-of-work foreign correspondent, are the kind of people whose company we hanker for, which is not to say they don`t intrigue us. They are project people, and not everybody is up for a project.
Having skewered publishing and the academy, Zeppetello opens chapter three by pouring steaming acid on television news and pharmaceutical advertising "two peeves guaranteed to endear him to me "and I`m beginning to think of Aeschylus, Euripedes, Wilde and the wicked history of satire, a word that comes from the Greek word satyr, a half-human mythological figure. Daring to Eat a Peach is well populated with satyrs, starting with Denton`s supervisor, Deidre, her creepy boss Farley Ackerman and his equally creepy father-in-law, who happens to own Foster House.
There is a surprising tension in the writer`s style between plainspeak and recognition. The plainspeak dissuades us from looking for recognitions and then "blam "there they are. The narrative doglegs effortlessly and just as you settle in for a twist you`re handed an unexpected gem: It`s as if there is an unwritten law that every moment of talk time needs to be used. " I admire this seamless interweave of story line and aside. I admire its lack of pretense. It prepares us for what would otherwise be disconcerting transitions of viewpoint. It`s an old reporter`s trick to let silence pervade a room until an interviewee feels he has to fill the vacuum, a trick lost on television.
Zeppetello has something of the prolific Upton Sinclair in him, but his indignation is more cool than fervid. He is a keen observer of the culture, speaking casually but knowledgeably of textbook scams, dumb-ass television reporting, " adolescent radio talk, and the fetid hypocrisy of our immigration policies. His omniscient narrator is so involved with the characters and their voices that we forgive him his omniscience and start wondering which of the characters is confiding in us. This is a suave feat, especially when the narrative is seemingly linear but actually isn`t; and that`s another kind of feat, because few writers can have it both ways. When you get the feeling the narrator is listening to his characters you know you`re not in for an over-plotted strut.
Zeppetello is interested in the state of things and is aware that we live in a culture that is insufficiently interested and therefore inclined to be hornswoggled. For example, he points out conversationally that job security is a thing of the past, a facet of the early baby boom, an artifact. We`re inclined to say, Sure, we get that, until we remember that as a society we haven`t gotten it and are still swallowing the elite`s lie that the American Dream will be restored. I like this quality in Zeppetello of alluding to things we ought to know and may even claim to know but in fact have not absorbed. I get the feeling he has savored H.L. Mencken, for that was Mencken`s awful talent and it more than once got his tolerant employer, The Baltimore Sun, in heaps of trouble. Americans like to think they`re tough and savvy, but they have proven to be the kind of suckers P.T. Barnum is reputed to have said they were.
Peach`s conversational landscape is seeded with disquieting recognitions:
But every really successful person I`ve ever met has been a self-absorbed, spoiled, nasty sonofabitch, " the just-fired Denton tells his friend Peter Blaine, who is eking out a living editing textbooks and weeding out their writers` prejudices. The two men, late baby boomers, both former journalists, take for granted the very society that continues to be in denial about itself, a society that persists in believing in an America that has taken up residence in exploited labor markets abroad.
Critics have notably complained that American fiction is not taking on the big issues, but the finer question might be how should they be taken on? Some of our poets and storytellers are in fact confronting the realities of a compromised and corrupted America in ways of which non-fiction writers haven`t dreamed "too bad if the critics have to read between the lines. Daring to Eat a Peach might also be called Daring to Pet the Elephant in the Room. Any room. The critics who deplore the absence of social concern are probably limiting their reviews to the books whose big advertising budgets pay their salaries, and that is as much a part of what is wrong with American culture as their slightly disingenuous complaint. The issue is not so much what is absent from our culture as what is ignored because there is no money to be made from it.
Daring to Eat a Peach is redolent of John Updike`s more lyrical Couples, which once unsettled us by looking under suburban carpets. But Updike`s couples now bear the datedness of toothy Buicks and the unraveled American Dream. There is a dystopian strain in Peach, whereas Couples had a kind of pornographic yeastiness. The distance between the two works might be said to describe the troubled downward arc of American culture into malaise.
Social critic that he is, Zeppetello avoids the pitfall to which Ayn Rand was fatuously attracted of making talking sticks propagandize at the expense of the novelistic project. Several generations have fallen in love with her wooden dolls because their job is to license selfishness. It has been a durable wallow in adolescence. Zeppetello is a cultural commentator, but he is not an ideologue in the service of preconception. He interacts with his characters rather than leading them by the nose.
At heart Peach is a balletic choreography of relationships involving decent people who for their own reasons tend to glance off each other like marbles. It`s about moving on, fondling the idea of not moving on, poking the idea`s parameters, and then being carried off in the tide of one`s habitude. Yes, but then "and here is the true worth of the novel, its secret "one`s habitude has changed in all the goings and comings. Clothes have fallen to the floor. The reader has examined them. Peter Blaine, Denton Pike, Judy McKabe, her brother Bill, a mercenary soldier, Rita Castillo and her daughter Lina, and others "all have been transformed by their encounters. Novels don`t always go this way. Sometimes they are tales of genetic and psychological destiny and haplessness. Sometimes they are tragedies. But here the characters "it would be a shame to tell their stories here "quicken the lead in each other with mercury to make it gold, and at the end they are all enriched. They are in a sense magi bearing gifts to the birth of something, and this mystery is heralded not by a star but by a phantom singer weaving a high-decibel thread through their stories. It is a thread that binds not only the chapters of the book but also the recognitions they describe.
Denton is a runner, a college athlete who persists in the habit of running to order the furniture of his mind, and he has encountered a chimerical runner who seems to sing in a pitch so high it is almost out of decibel reach, rather like a dog whistle. He sees her at a distance from time to time. Once he almost catches up, but she outruns him. She even turns and smiles. How can she sing while running? Why does she elude him when she is willing to smile back at him? Chapter after chapter this runner appears and vanishes. I take her as Denton`s own epiphanic spirit, holding out to him the possibility that simply moving on is not enough; one must dare to eat the peach.
Djelloul Marbrook is a retired newspaperman. His second book of poems, Brushstrokes and Glances, will be published by Deerbrook Editions on December 20, 2010. His first book of poems, Far From Algiers, won the Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize from Kent State University in 2007 and was published in 2008. It won the International Book Award in 2010. His novella, Artemisia`s Wolf, will be published by Prakash Books of India in December. His novella, Saraceno, was recently published as an e-book. His story, Artists Hill, adapted from the second novel of an unpublished trilogy, won the Literal Latté first prize in fiction in 2008. The pioneering e-book publisher, Online Originals (UK), published his novella, Alice MIller`s Room, in 1999.
Del`s book, Far From Algiers: http://upress.kent.edu/books/Marbrook_D.htm
New review of Far from Algiers: http://www.rattle.com/blog/2009/05/far-from-algiers-by-djelloul-marbrook/
Artists Hill, Literal Latté`s fiction first prize: http://www.literal-latte.com/author/djelloulmarbrook/
His blog: http://www.djelloulmarbrook.com
His mother`s art: http://www.juanitaguccione.com
His aunt`s art: http://www.irenericepereira.com


text:
About us: FAQs
Family tree enquiries
Q: I'd like more information about my great, great grandmother who was married in London in 1850. Can you help?
The record is unlikely to be at the church (if indeed the church still exists). Information concerning baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals is usually archived. Visit London Metropolitan Archives at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk, or email email@example.com. For churches in the Westminster area visit the City of Westminster Archive Centre at www.westminster.gov.uk. Other resources are available at www.gov.uk and the Church of England website.
Q: My late grandfather was a vicar in London and I'm researching his life. Can you help?
Information about notable Church figures is kept by the Church of England Records Centre. The Clergy of the Church of England database has records for clergy 1540-1835. You may also wish to try consulting Crockford's Clerical Directory, back copies of which are often kept by libraries.
We regret that we are unable to provide further assistance to genealogists or people looking for baptismal or marriage certificates.
Finding a Church
Q: During the War, my mother worshipped at a particular church in London. Can you tell me whether it still exists and how I can make contact?
Our directory contains details of all Church of England churches in the Diocese of London. The London Diocese covers 277 square miles of Greater London north of the River Thames from Staines in the west to the Isle of Dogs in the east and as far north as Enfield. If the church you are seeking is south of the River Thames then it is in the Diocese of Southwark. Visit www.achurchnearyou.com to find the parish.
Q: I want to get married. Where can I find my parish church?
Search our directory to find your parish church.
Q: I want to join a church. Where can I find details of those closest to where I live or work?
Trying searching our directory if you are in north London or try A Church Near You for everywhere else in England.
Finding a Vicar
Q: I've lost touch with an old friend who became a vicar, the Revd Jim Smith. Do you have his contact details?
To find out whether Jim is currently serving in the Diocese of London enter his name into our directory. If it is not there, Crockford's Clerical Directory lists all current clergy of the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church of Ireland. It is available online, at all reference libraries or for sale from Church House bookshop, the official bookshop of the Church of England.
Q: I'm looking for someone who was Vicar of St Mary's in 1910. Can you help?
Information about notable Church figures is kept by the Church of England Records Centre. The Clergy of the Church of England database has records for clergy 1540-1835. You may also wish to try consulting Crockford's Clerical Directory, back copies of which are often kept by libraries.
Accommodation Enquiries
Q: Can you recommend accommodation in London?
The Diocese of London does not provide accommodation facilities. To find a hotel try www.visitlondon.co.uk. If you are visiting London on Church or charity business, both The Royal Foundation of St Katharine and St Matthew's Westminster offer rooms for overnight or short stays. St Peter's Bourne also offers accommodation. Visit www.stpetersbourne.com. ChristianFlatShare.org is an enterprise born out of St Paul's Hammersmith. Visit www.ChristianFlatShare.org to look for longer-term accommodation.
Vacation exchanges
Q: I would like to arrange a house swap with a parish priest in the Diocese of London. Can you advertise this for me?
Due to the large volume of requests to advertise vacation exchanges, we can't publish these on our site or in our mailings. Instead, we recommend Vacation Exchange from the Anglican Communion, which is open to people who work for an Anglican/Episcopal church in any capacity - whether lay or clergy.
Q: I want to learn more about Christianity. Can you send me some information?
Rejesus offers free copies of the four gospels. Our Belief pages will explain more about what we believe.
Church House Bookshop, the official bookshop of the Church of England, sells a wide variety of Christian books online.
Christenings, weddings and funerals
Q: How do I arrange a church christening, wedding or funeral?
Click on a link below for more details:
Vicars and becoming a member of the clergy
Q: I'm thinking about ordination. How do I go about it?
Read our section on exploring vocations.
Q: I'm already ordained and I'd like to work in the Diocese of London. How do I apply?
We advertise vacancies on this website.
Links to other websites
Q: Can you link to our website?
We link throughout the website to organisations and places that the Diocese of London has a formal relationship with or who we work with regularly, or for editorial purposes. Unfortunately we cannot link to any other websites.
Q: Did you know that you are linking to a website that hosts questionable content?
We link to websites of reputable organisations in good faith. Ultimately the Diocese of London (or the London Diocesan Fund) is not responsible for the content of external websites.
Churches in the City of London
Q: Where can I find more details about City churches and their opening times?
The Friends of the City Churches provide details at www.london-city-churches.org.uk.
Q: How can I find out about events being held in City churches?
City Events provides full listings of services and special events at www.cityevents.org.uk.


text:
Witchery Posts New Music Video Online Via YouTube
Swedish thrash metallers Witchery, featuring former members of Satanic Slaughter and Martin Axenrot of Opeth, have posted their new music video online via the Century Media YouTube channel. The video is for the song "Conqueror's Return" and is featured on the band's 2010 release "Witchkrieg."
You can view the video below:
What's Next?
Please share this article if you found it interesting.
- Previous Article:
Scale The Summit Announces Tour Dates
- Next Article:
10 Years Posts "Shoot It Out" Official Video
0 Comments on "Witchery Posts 'Conqueror's Return' Video"
Be the first to comment! Tell us what you think. (no login required)
To minimize comment spam/abuse, you cannot post comments on articles over a month old. Please check the sidebar to the right or the related band pages for recent related news articles.


text:
Improving Your Credit and Payment HistoryPosted by CC on December 7th, 2005
There are obviously several things to talk about when it comes to improving your credit. I decided (for several reasons, not the least of which is that I needed a refresher) to do some research and found mountains of information on the subject–especially when it comes to mortgages and credit scores. Because of the stacks of data from various sources, no matter how hard I try I can't condense it into a decent blog entry, so this will probably be the first of a series on the topic.


text:
Stuck between the spider-web cracks in Reginald Howard's windshield were tufts of human hair.
For months he left his Chevrolet Impala cold in the driveway, with its broken headlight, crushed hood — and paint scarred by dark fabric embedded in scratches.
Howard, now 47, took the bus, rode with friends or walked — anything to keep from getting behind the wheel and potentially reliving "the worst thing that ever happened to me."
Sixteen minutes into New Year's Eve 2011, Luis Angel Rodriguez, 45, stepped into the dark six lanes of U.S. Highway 27. He was drunk and 500 feet from the nearest crosswalk in the Four Corners area of Lake County.
Howard was driving south from his job flipping pancakes at IHOP when Rodriguez emerged. It happened so fast, Howard saw nothing. But he heard it.
The impact threw Rodriguez onto the hood, propelled him over the roof and onto the street.
"I started panicking," Howard recalled. He stopped, backed up and saw the body in his mirror. "I started to think, 'I hit a father or a son. … He has kids or a wife.' I was thinking all kinds of stuff."
Troopers said it wasn't Howard's fault, but that did not stop the deluge of guilt. A call to his mother after the accident and a prayer for forgiveness were his only comforts.
The father of six didn't have time or money for therapy. He relied on grit and God for salvation.
"I had my ways of dealing with it," Howard said. "I didn't get my car fixed until I was ready to drive." That happened about two months later.
He thought he had moved past the trauma, until he again found himself on U.S. 27. Howard looked in the rearview mirror and saw a dark, strange figure in his back seat. He turned on the lights.
No one was there.
Arelis R. Hernández
Part 1: Walking on our roads could kill you
Part 2: Do penalties fit drivers' crimes?
Part 3: Changing behavior could be hardest part
Interactive Graphic: Metro Orlando pedestrian deaths
Personal stories: A rage that consumes; Crash cuts short Special Olympian's life; Teen withdraws after crash kills man; Victim considering advocacy; A life on hold; Delivering the awful news; Collision haunts man
Animated video: The worst city in America for pedestrians
Video: The crisis on our roads has a very grim toll
Video: 2 brothers struck; 1 family forever changed


text:
There is a great company here in Birmingham, Arbour Valley Management, that provides management and leasing services to multi-family properties in the Southeast, and has differentiated their properties from local competition by making them distinctive, livable communities. "We maximize value for the client by exceeding tenant expectations," says Stephanie Tinney, president. Here are some of the features that Arbour Valley Management incorporates to increase client conversion, satisfaction, and retention:
- Literacy centers. Many of the diverse family-friendly properties include on-site literacy centers, which provide meaningful community engagement.
- After school programs. It takes a village to raise a child. Arbour Valley Management's properties are livable planned communities where parents can stroll with their children down sidewalks, past green space and playgrounds, to caring after-school programs.
- Lush landscaping. Residents receive the benefits of a suburban backyard without having to worry about the upkeep. A variety of regional plants are selected to provide greenery year-round and blossoms in the spring and summer. Landscaping is also a touch that makes Arbour Valley Managment properties stand out to potential residents and reinforce a sense of place.
- Highly trained staff. AVM screens, hires, and trains experienced staff. New employees enjoy YARDI management software, full administrative support, and continuing education regarding affordable housing, FHA compliance, operational/maintenance issues, marketing, and more.
"Arbour Valley Management believes in creating the type of communities that we ourselves would want to live in," says Tinney. This balanced approach not only makes the apartment communities a pleasant atmosphere in which to live and work, it also maximizes the developers' ROI. Managing a property as a community, and not merely a complex, ensures: higher demand, tenant retention, sustainable quality, and secure standing in the multi-family property marketplace.
Arbour Valley Management oversees 34 properties and is affiliated with another 15 owner-managed properties. Arbour Valley Management is active in AL, FL, SC, NC, MO, KS and VA. For more information on Arbour Valley Management, visit www.arbourvalleymgt.comor call 205-909-0060.