text:
Clinical Microbiology Issues Update - October 2012
- PSAB Regulatory Alert to Members on Changes to Select Agent Regulations
- ASM Receives the APHL Award for Excellence in Developing LRN Scientific Guidelines
- ASM Staff Trained in The Joint Commission New Portal for Accredited Labs
- ASM Staff Attends PCAST Report Release Event
- ASM Participates in NCEZID's First Strategic Plan Release
- ASM Staff Participates in Teaching Laboratories Biosafety Conference Call
- ASM Congressional Science Fellow Placement
- Minority Microbiology Mentor Newsletter
- ASM Conferences
- ASM Journal Articles of Interest
- Professional Practice Committee Anniversary
- CDC Responds to Multistate Fungal Meningitis Outbreak
- TEST Act Headed for November Congressional Session
- CMS Announces New Waived Tests and Billing Codes
- CDC Releases First FluView Report for 2012-2013 Influenza Season
- NIH-Funded Study to Test Pneumococcal Vaccine in Older Adults
- MMWR Articles of Interest
- Guidance on Management of Asymptomatic Patients Who Received Epidural or Paraspinal Injections with Contaminated Steroid Product
- IDWeek: A Joint Meeting of IDSA, SHEA, HIVMA, and PIDS
- APHL Select Agent Regulatory Update Webinar
- Articles of Interest
PSAB Regulatory Alert to Members on Changes to Select Agent Regulations
The PSAB sent a regulatory alert to members on October 17 to inform them of important changes to the select agent regulations. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published regulatory changes to the Select Agent and Toxin rules in the October 5, 2012 Federal Register. The final rule changes implement the findings of the third biennial review of the Select Agent and Toxin lists and modifies the list of Select Agents and Toxins, to designate a subset of the list as Tier 1 based on their risk to be deliberately misused. This changes security requirements for entities possessing Tier 1 Select Agents and Toxins and specifically addresses diagnostic laboratories on page 61064. Highlights of the changes are summarized and posted on the ASM Public Policy webpage at: http://asm.org/index.php/public-policy-2/97-policy/documents/8417-sa-10-9-12.
ASM Receives the APHL Award for Excellence in Developing LRN Scientific Guidelines
The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) recognized the ASM with the Award for Excellence in Developing Scientific Guidelines on October 10 at their 2012 Laboratory Response Network (LRN) National Meeting in Denver, CO. This award is given to an organization which has made significant contributions to the advancement of LRN practices and policies, positively influencing the network and its members. For over a decade, ASM has maintained the Sentinel Level Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Guidelines for Suspected Agents of Bioterrorism and Emerging Infectious Diseases and continues to make improvements to these important guidelines, which are used by all Sentinel laboratories. Committee on Laboratory Practices member James Snyder received the award for ASM. Dr. Snyder represents ASM in the LRN and is assisted by Alice Weissfeld of the Professional Affairs Committee. The LRN was established in accordance with Presidential Decision Directive 39 in 1999 to improve US readiness for bioterrorism and is equipped to respond to acts of biological terrorism, emerging infectious disease, and other public health threats. To see the current guidelines, visit http://www.asm.org/index.php/issues/sentinel-laboratory-guidelines. For more information on the LRN, see http://emergency.cdc.gov/lrn/.
ASM Staff Trained in The Joint Commission New Portal for Accredited Labs
In August, The Joint Commission announced the launch of Lab Central Connect™ for accredited laboratories. The portal is designed to help Joint Commission-accredited laboratories centralize storage of important survey-related documents, as well as improve safety and quality by helping to maintain continuous compliance with Joint Commission standards. A distance training exercise occurred during the 19 September Laboratory Professional and Technical Advisory Committee Members (LAB PTAC) conference call to acquaint members with the resources available through the portal. ASM's LAB PTAC Representative Yvette McCarter, from the Committee on Laboratory Practices and ASM Staff took part in the training. To read more about Lab Central Connect™, go to http://www.jointcommission.org/lab_central_connect_portal/.
ASM Staff Attends PCAST Report Release Event
On September 25, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released its Report to the President on Propelling Innovation in Drug Discovery, Development, and Evaluation in partnership with and hosted by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in Washington, DC. The speakers for the event included PCAST Co-Chairs John Holdren, Advisor to the President for Science and Technology, and Eric Lander; and Margaret Hamburg, the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). You read can this report, and others from PCAST, by going to the link http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/pcast/docsreports. The ASM is a cosponsor of the Institute of Medicine's Forum on Drug Discovery, Development, and Translation. The Forum sponsors meetings with leaders from federal agencies, non-profit associations and the private sector to discuss issues related to drug discovery and regulatory approval to translation of research into clinical practice. More information on the Forum and links to its reports are available on-line at: http://www.iom.edu/Activities/Research/DrugForum.aspx.
ASM Participates in NCEZID's First Strategic Plan Release
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) released its first strategic plan since the Center's inception in 2010. ASM staff participated in the October 16 conference call to offer input on collaboration and implementation of the plan, which is posted on the NCEZID website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/. The plan lays out the priority work for the Center for the next 5 years (2012-2017) with four strategies. The strategies and objectives build upon the principles described in CDC's Office of Infectious Diseases' A CDC Framework for Preventing Infectious Diseases: Sustaining the Essentials and Innovating for the Future, which serves as a roadmap for all of CDC's infectious disease work.
ASM Staff Participates in Teaching Laboratories Biosafety Conference Call
ASM staff participated in a Bi-National Laboratory Associated infection (LAI) Working Group Conference Call on October 2 which discussed the draft Guidelines for Best Biosafety Practices in Teaching Laboratories. To help educators and students safely work with microbes in their courses as well as reduce the likelihood of laboratory-acquired infections, the ASM Task Committee on Laboratory Biosafety drafted these comprehensive guidelines; there are two sets of guidelines, one for labs handling organisms at biosafety level 1 (BSL1), and another for those working at BSL2. ASM members were able to submit comments to the draft guidelines until October 15, 2012. Stakeholders from Canada and the United States participated in the call which reported the input from attendees at the annual ASMCUE meeting in June and the Division W business meeting at the 2012 General Meeting. Most of the comments reported as well as those from the stakeholders on the call addressed whether the guidelines would recommend or direct strict adherence and if they would be used internationally. A second concern was focused on the cost of implementation of the guidelines in teaching laboratories, particularly, the cost of disposable gloves and other consumables.
ASM Congressional Science Fellow Placement
Kristen E. Shatynski, Ph.D., ASM's 2012-2013 Congressional Science Fellow has found a placement in the office of Representative Devin Nunes (R-CA). The ASM Congressional Science Fellowship Selection Committee selects a postdoctoral to mid-career microbiologist to spend one year on the staff of an individual congressman, congressional committee, or with some other appropriate organizational unit of Congress. Prospective Fellows must be citizens of the United States, members of ASM for at least one year and must have completed their Ph.D. by the time the fellowship begins in September. The Congressional Science Fellowship is supported in part by the Frobisher Fund, a bequest made to ASM by Martin Frobisher, and has been in existence since 1977. Contact the Office of Public Affairs at email@example.com for more information on the ASM fellowship or go to the ASM web page for a program description: http://asm.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7535. The deadline for applications for the 2013 – 2014 fellowship is February 22, 2013.
Minority Microbiology Mentor Newsletter
The October issue of the Minority Microbiology Newsletter has been published by the Committee on Microbiological Issues Impacting Minorities. You can read the newsletter by going to this link: http://asm.org/index.php/documents/public-policy-newsletters/134-policy/documents/newsletters/e-public-policy-update/8466-mmm-10-12
ASM Conferences
4th ASM Conference on Beneficial Microbes
October 22-25, 2012
San Antonio, TX
For a complete list of upcoming ASM conferences, please see http://conferences.asm.org/
ASM Journal Articles of Interest
Antibodies to Immune Cells Protect Eyes in Pseudomonas Infection
Contact lenses, particularly the extended wear variety, render wearers vulnerable to eye infections from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These infections can cause severe damage, including blindness. Treating the eye with antibodies to the inflammatory immune compound, interleukin-17 (IL-17) reduced eye damage and the number of bacteria in a mouse model. The research is published in the October Infection and Immunology.
Dangerous Form of MRSA, Endemic In Many US Hospitals, Increasing in UK
Prevalence of a particularly dangerous form of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) jumped three-fold in just two years, in hospitals in the United Kingdom, according to a paper in the October 2012 Journal of Clinical Microbiology. The MRSA in question contains a toxin called Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), which destroys leukocytes, kills skin and mucus membranes, and confers increased virulence.
New Agent against MDR Biofilms
Researchers have shown that a low-molecular-weight, alginate nanomedicine known as OligoG can boost the effıcacy of conventional antibiotics up to 512-fold against multidrug resistant pathogens including Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Burkholderia species.
Restricted Gene Flow among Hospital Subpopulations of Enterococcus faecium
Enterococcus faecium has emerged recently as an important pathogen in antibiotic resistant hospital acquired infections. Defining population structure in this species provides insight into the existence, distribution, and dynamics of specific lineages in particular environments, like the hospital. This article reports the population structure of E. faecium using Bayesian-based population genetic modeling implemented in Bayesian Analysis of Population Structure (BAPS) software.
Professional Practice Committee Anniversary
ASM established the Professional Practice Committee (PPC) in 2011 as a Standing Committee of the Council Policy Committee, ASM's Executive Leadership Board. The PPC's mission is to oversee ASM's professional activities, provide a mechanism for coordinated communication with members and ASM leadership, and advocate for the professional needs of practitioners.
As the PPC concludes its first year of service, it is an opportune time to provide members with an annual report of ASM's recent clinical activities. It is available online at http://asm.org/images/PPC/div1_2012_update.pdf.
CDC Responds to Multistate Fungal Meningitis Outbreak
On October 4th, CDC's Emergency Operations Center was activated in response to the Multi-State Meningitis Outbreak. CDC is investigating the multistate non-contagious fungal meningitis outbreak among patients who received contaminated steroid injections. The investigation also includes fungal infections associated with injections in a peripheral joint space, such as knee, shoulder or ankle. CDC's roles have included: working with states to track down and call every person who received an injection from one of the three tainted lots; analyzing laboratory samples from affected patients; making recommendations for doctors and patients based on incoming data; coordinating with other federal and state health officials; and developing content to be shared through the media, the CDC website, social media, and partners. For the latest see http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html
TEST Act Headed for November Congressional Session
Legislation giving CMS more flexibility in levying sanctions on clinical laboratories for referring proficiency testing (PT) samples is scheduled for a vote in the lame duck congressional session scheduled to begin November 13. The TEST Act (H.R 6118) passed the House in September, but its companion Senate bill, S. 3391, cleared the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on September 19, just two days before the Senate adjourned until after the November 6 election. To read the text of the Senate bill, see http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112s3391rs/pdf/BILLS-112s3391rs.pdf
CMS Announces New Waived Tests and Billing Codes
On Oct 1, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated the list of (CLIA) waved tests. The updated list includes eleven new FDA approved waived tests and include tests for Influenza A+B, H. pylori, and Strep A. To see the updated list, please go to http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-guidance/Guidance/transmittals/downloads/R2496CP.pdf
CDC Releases First FluView Report for 2012-2013 Influenza Season
The CDC issued the first "FluView" influenza activity report for the U.S. 2012-2013 flu season on October 12. The 2012-2013 reporting season began on September 30. The first FluView report shows that influenza activity is low nationwide. This season, FluView has new interactive visualization tools. For more, see http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2012/a1012_flu_view_report.html
NIH-Funded Study to Test Pneumococcal Vaccine in Older Adults
Researchers plan to see if a higher dose of a pneumococcal vaccine will create a stronger immune response in older adults who received an earlier generation vaccine against pneumonia. The study will compare two dosages of a pneumococcal vaccine approved for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, and adults 50 and older and will enroll up to 882 men and women ages 55 to 74. For more, see http://www.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2012/Pages/PneumococcalVaccine.aspx
MMWR Articles of Interest
Multistate Outbreak of Fungal Infection Associated with Injection of Methylprednisolone Acetate Solution from a Single Compounding Pharmacy: United States, 2012
On September 18, the Tennessee Department of Health (DOH)was alerted by a clinician regarding a patient with culture-confirmed Aspergillus fumigatus meningitis diagnosed 46 days after epidural steroid injection at a Tennessee ambulatory surgical center. By September 27, the initial investigation, carried out by the Tennessee DOH in collaboration with CDC and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, had identified an additional eight patients with clinically diagnosed, culture-negative meningitis: seven in Tennessee and one in North Carolina. All nine patients had received epidural steroid injection with preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate solution (MPA), compounded at New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Massachusetts. All nine patients had received one or more injections from three lots of MPA (lot numbers 05212012@68; 06292012@26; and 08102012@51).
Announcement: World Polio Day: October 24, 2012
World Polio Day was established by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis. Use of this inactivated poliovirus vaccine and subsequent widespread use of the oral poliovirus vaccine developed by Albert Sabin led to establishment of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988.
Botulism From Drinking Prison-Made Illicit Alcohol: Utah 2011
During October 2–4 2011, eight maximum security inmates at the Utah State Prison in Salt Lake County were diagnosed with foodborne botulism. An investigation by Salt Lake Valley Heath Department, Utah Department of Health, and CDC identified pruno, an illicit alcoholic brew, as the vehicle. The principal ingredients in pruno are fruit, sugar, and water; root vegetables, are sometimes added, if available. A baked potato saved from a meal served weeks earlier and added to the pruno was the suspected source of C. botulinum spores.
Notes from the Field: Tuberculosis Outbreak in a Long-Term–Care Facility for Mentally Ill Persons: Puerto Rico, 2010–2012
During January 2012, the Puerto Rico Department of Health (PRDOH) detected a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak among residents of a long-term–care facility in the San Juan metropolitan area. The same rare Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotype was identified in isolates from four patients. This facility housed 40 men, aged 40–71 years, with severe mental illness. During April 2012, CDC assisted PRDOH with the investigation to describe outbreak epidemiology, identify and prioritize contacts for evaluation and treatment, and provide recommendations on interventions aimed at stopping TB transmission.
Announcement: Application Deadline for The CDC Experience Applied Epidemiology Fellowship is December 7
The CDC Experience is a 1-year fellowship in applied epidemiology for third- and fourth-year medical students. Eight competitively selected fellows spend 10–12 months at CDC in Atlanta, Georgia, where they conduct epidemiologic analyses in areas of public health of their choice. Information on applying for The CDC Experience is available at http://www.cdc.gov/cdcexperiencefellowship. Applications for the class of 2013–14 must be submitted by December 7.
Guidance on Management of Asymptomatic Patients Who Received Epidural or Paraspinal Injections with Contaminated Steroid Products
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to assess and revise interim guidance to clinicians involved in the management of patients who received injections with contaminated steroid products distributed by the New England Compounding Center (NECC). Since early in the outbreak, CDC has recommended against antifungal prophylactic or presumptive treatment of exposed asymptomatic patients in the absence of diagnostic testing with results indicating meningitis. To see the full update, go to: http://emergency.cdc.gov/HAN/han00330.asp
IDWeek: A Joint Meeting of IDSA, SHEA, HIVMA, and PIDS
IDWeek 2012TM was held October 17-21; it was a joint meeting of the The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), The HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA), and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society (PIDS). With the theme "Advancing Science, Improving Care," IDWeek featured the latest science and bench-to-bedside approaches in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology of infectious diseases, including HIV, across the lifespan. For a recap of the conference, please see http://www.idweek.org/.
APHL Select Agent Regulatory Update Webinar
December 4, 2012 • 1:00–2:00 pm ET
This presentation will discuss recent proposed changes of the CDC Select Agent and Import Permit Regulations. At the conclusion of the program, the participant will be able to discuss the proposed changes to the select agent and import permit regulations. For more information, see the flyer at http://www.aphl.org/courses/Documents/2012/588-931-12-SelAgt.pdf
Articles of Interest
Tainted Drug Passed Lab Test
Wall Street Journal
October 24, 2012
The Massachusetts specialty pharmacy linked to a deadly meningitis outbreak had its products tested at an independent lab, which in May stated that samples from a batch of steroids—later implicated in the meningitis—were "sterile," according to documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
TB Immune to Drugs Proves Hard to Detect
Wall Street Journal
October 18, 2012
Drug-resistant tuberculosis is going largely undetected in many countries, threatening progress made against the pernicious lung disease over the past decade, according to data in a recently released World Health Organization report.
Meal of Black bear Meat Leads to Rare Trichinosis Infection for Alaska Man
The Kansas City Star
October 26, 2012
The black bear meat tasted delicious. Sean Sullivan didn't know it would give him trichinosis. Trichinosis is caused by eating raw or undercooked meat infected with the larvae of the parasite Trichinella, which reproduces and eventually travels through arteries to become cysts in muscle tissue.
Burns field Closed 6 Months After Goat Prank
The Charlotte Observer
October 26, 2012
The football field at Burns High School in Cleveland County (NC) will be closed for most of the rest of the school year, following a prank last week in which someone turned goats loose in the facility. The six-month closure is out of caution over a recent E. coli outbreak in the county, according to school and state health officials.


text:
I have found that the trader joes vintage ale is very similar to this beer and for $4.99, not a bad price either. I bet they use a similar recipe and age it differently or spice it differently.
Unibroue makes some awesome beers. Their tripel (La Fin Du Monde) is one of the best commercially made tripels out there IMO.
Not to diss Unibroue or anything, but Dieu du Ciel is IMO the best Canadian brewery.
+1000. Unibroue is excellent excellent excellent. Love all their beers.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
miércoles, 19 de abril de 2017
Bike Victory Octane
A typical Motorcycle Victory Octane 2017 contains many alternative kinds of information, often located in specialized parts or sections. Even brusque Motorcycle Victory Octane 2017 operate several interchange operations: introducing the argument, analyzing data, raising counterarguments, concluding. Introductions and conclusions have unlimited places, but supplementary parts don't. Counterargument, for example, may appear within a paragraph, as a free-standing section, as part of the victory octane 2017 for sale beginning, or in the past the ending. Background material (historical context or biographical information, a summary of relevant theory or criticism, the definition of a key term) often appears at the start of the essay, amongst the creation and the first 2017 victory octane for sale reasoned section, but might in addition to appear close the arrival of the specific section to which it's relevant.
It's long-suffering to think of the exchange Motorcycle Victory Octane 2017 sections as answering a series of questions your reader might ask considering encountering your thesis. (Readers should have questions. If they don't, your thesis is most likely straightforwardly an observation of fact, not an arguable claim.)
"What?" Motorcycle Victory Octane 2017 The first question to anticipate from a reader is "what": What evidence shows that the phenomenon described by your thesis is true? To respond the question you must inspect your evidence, so demonstrating the answer of your claim. This "what" or "demonstration" section comes in advance in the essay, often directly after the introduction. since you're really reporting what you've observed, this is the share you might have most to tell very nearly in the manner of you first start writing. But be forewarned: it shouldn't agree to stirring much more than a third (often much less) of your ended essay. If it does, the essay will nonexistence victory octane balance and may entrance as mer e summary or description.
"How?" Motorcycle Victory Octane 2017 A reader will then want to know whether the claims of the thesis are authentic in every cases. The corresponding question is "how": How does the thesis stand going on to the challenge of a counterargument? How does the initiation of additional materiala new mannerism of looking at the evidence, complementary set of sourcesaffect the claims you're making? Typically, an essay will add up at least one "how" section. (Call it "complication" before you're responding to a reader's complicating questions.) This section usually comes after the "what," but keep in mind that an essay may complicate its objection several era depending upon its length, and that counterargument alone may appear just very nearly anywhere in an essay.
"Why?" Motorcycle Victory victory octane price drop O ctane 2017 Your reader will after that want to know what's at stake in your claim: Why victory octane custom exhaust does your comments of a phenomenon business to anyone in contradiction of you? This question addresses the larger implications of your thesis. It allows your readers to understand your essay within a larger context. In answering "why", your essay explains its own significance. Although you might gesture at this question in your introduction, the fullest respond to it properly belongs at your essay's end. If you depart it out, your readers will experience your essay as unfinishedor, worse, as useless or insular.
Suscribirse a: Enviar comentarios (Atom)


text:
Civil Rights Education and Art Toward Empowerment (CREATE!)
The future of the Latino community depends on the education and success of our youth and their ability to create and fully participate in positive social change. MALDEF's goal of reducing the high school drop-out rate, increasing college access and establishing a network of civic-minded and educated youth will help create a new generation of socially conscious Latino leadership.
CREATE! was established in 2005 as an innovative leadership training program for high school students to promote college access and introduce civic participation in an academic context. This recent addition to MALDEF's Community Education and Leadership Development Department increases Latino high school graduation rates, college admission and public engagement through a free, twelve-week after school enrichment program. MALDEF provides a hands-on introduction to the visual and performing arts, civil rights leadership and practical college awareness, guidance, application assistance and scholarship information.
Last year, CREATE! students in Los Angeles produced two public service announcements on MALDEF's campaign to raise public awareness and prevention of domestic violence. CREATE! students wrote the scripts, and also performed as actors in MALDEF's English and Spanish public service announcements (PSA). They clearly conveyed the message that relationship violence affects each person differently, and that victims have the right to access resources regardless of age, language, national origin, or legal status. The students attended domestic violence prevention workshops and devoted many evening and weekend hours to creating the PSAs and received significant media attention and recognition for their creative talent and outstanding contribution to the community. This year, students are busy designing a "stay-in-school" mural and are writing and performing in a play about AB 540, the right of undocumented Latino students to attend college on in-state tuition. The play will be performed at AB 540 community forums throughout Southern California. Students and parents attended the CREATE! College Application Forum at MALDEF and are also enthusiastically preparing for the annual over-night university visit for an opportunity to meet with counselors and hear first-hand experiences from Latino college students.
Contact Us
For more information, please contact the general line at (213) 629-2512 or send us a message.


text:
The Breeze 004: The Letter to Diognetus
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011
Mike Reeves reads excerpts from one of the earliest surviving Christian writings: "For what else could cover our sins except his righteousness? In whom could we, lawless and impious as we were, be made righteous except in the Son of God alone? O sweetest exchange!" Awesome!
Read the whole of the Letter to Diognetus now!
- Play in new window
- Download


text:
Best Kids Parties: A Trip to the Farm
Name: "Little Eco" (5)
Location: Purple Pear Organic Farm, Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia
A friend recently started hosting simple farm birthday parties on her organic farm. Given that my daughter loves farms it seemed like an obvious place to host her fifth birthday party. The party was far from the 'typical' outsourced party. It was simple, waste-free, natural, and preservative-free.
The food was simple - fruit kebabs and pop corn. A natural cordial was served in recycled glass bottles with paper straws. Farm animal drink bottle name tags, made using the you make do's old-fashioned farm party kit, were printed on recycled paper and tied on with hemp string.
There was a quick game of old-fashioned duck-duck-goose while we waited for guests to arrive. After a snack the kids went on a tour of the farm. They fed the ducks and geese, collected eggs, climbed on the tractor, we're thrilled to meet a 'real' farmer, cuddled some guinea pigs and fed the pony.
The birthday cake was a marble cake I made using natural food colours. The farm animals are schleich models that Little Eco has kept as a memento of her farm party (and were, for me, a quick and easy way to decorate the cake). The 'grass' was created by shaking some shredded coconut in a jar with green food colouring.
Then there was a seasonal story about bulbs and each child got to take home their very own baby bulb to care for.
I love that I could out-source Little Eco's birthday party, at a time that was extremely busy for me, without compromising on any of my ideals regarding waste, food and play.
Lovely - thanks Tricia! Readers, see much more of this party at Little Eco Footprints.
(Images: Tricia Hogbin)


text:
Genesis Rodriguez – Babe of the Day
Spice up your Friday with our Babe of the Day, actress Genesis Rodriguez!
This bilingual beauty has acted in several telenovelas on Telemundo and also as Becky Ferrer in 'Days of Our Lives,' meaning she's no stranger to drama. She's also a big fan of the NBA, which is alright with us. If only we could snag courtside seats to take her out on a date!
Become a fan of hers and follow Genesis on Instagram and Twitter.


text:
By dating an escort
Most men have problems landing a date with the woman they fancy the most. This is because women are more complicated in their choices than men. Having a date with an escort can show you the difference in women and also equip you with the wooing skills that enable you to approach women more easily.
The London escort agency have girls on with a wide variety of tastes and liking . These London escorts are available for every kind of date which you may desire. It could only just be a dinner date for a hearty conversation. The escorts in London charge according to the hour of the time that they will spend with you. These ladies are charming and entertaining too. They have good communications skills and also a large amount of experience in dealing with people in intimate social situations. If you are feeling a bit down on your dating, London escorts will help you regain your confidence.
By asking an escort in London
Talking to an escort about which particular type of clients she liked best can be an eye opener. Everybody likes people with a positive and hopeful attitude to life. No one likes people who like to whine about everything and be over critical about the little things in life. A little humour goes a long way in ensuring smooth social interactions in case of any embarrassing incidents.
Women like intelligent conversation and like to listen too. They are great talkers and like to be listened to as well. Some men find it hard to pay attention when women are talking. This however is a great skill which makes you a winner with the ladies. Women adore passionate men just like the way some of the best London escorts on provider GB LondonEscorts love to hear about men their jobs and other experiences.
By being curious
If you really want to know what women want then your curiosity will guide you. As you will sooner or later find out, confidence in yourself plays a great role in making you attractive. Confidence enables you to approach a lady and take her out. Moreover it enables you to be able to hold good meaningful conversation on your date to keep her entertained. Confidence also makes you successful in other areas of your life making you an ideal dating partner.
Women are all different. The best way to find out what they like is by simply asking them. Everybody has their own activities which they enjoy. Some like swimming, others like dancing while music is greatly enjoyed by all. Ideally they want a partner who will share their hobbies and passion with them. Horse riding, skating, travelling and watching live games are other things that women enjoy. Picnics, hiking, walks in the park and romantic candlelit dinners are the more subtle types of enjoyment which allow partners to enjoy their date.
By asking others
If you still feel you don't know what women want, asking your male friends can help. Women love gifts of flowers, chocolates, jewellery and wine too. A gift makes the statement that you value your partner. A gift reminds your partner of her when you are not there. A gift is also a very good way of showing appreciation to your partner for being there for you.


text:
The LG Optimus Vu was a strange device and a risky one to release. With a 4:3 screen ratio and a 5-inch display, it was strangely shaped and difficult to hold. Even with a smaller display than the Galaxy Note II by a whole half inch, it was wider by about the same amount. It also included a stylus that didn't fit into the body of the device, making it useless for travel.
Reviews weren't all that favorable of the phone, mostly due to how awkward it was to hold and how poorly the device was executed. But that didn't stop LG from making a successor, the LG Optimus Vu II, in its home country. LG recently came out and said it's dropping its Optimus branding for high-end devices, hinting at a new Vu device.
This will be the LG Vu III, but according to some leaked specs, it won't be the high-end phone its ancestors were. The leak states that the 4:3 display ratio will remain, but the device will make do with a somewhat meager (by today's standards) 1280 x 960 screen resolution. The device will most likely have a large display, so pixel density will suffer. We can't imagine that will further the Vu brand. What do you think of this new Vu device? Would you ever consider getting one?


text:
Thomas Sunday
April 15
First Orthros Gospel
Though the doors were shut at the dwelling where the disciples were gathered for fear of the Jews on the evening of the Sunday after the Passover, our Saviour wondrously entered and stood in their midst, and greeted them with His customary words, "Peace be unto you." Then He showed unto them His hands and feet and side; furthermore, in their presence, He took some fish and a honeycomb and ate before them, and thus assured them of His bodily Resurrection. But Thomas, who was not then present with the others, did not believe their testimony concerning Christ's Resurrection, but said in a decisive manner, "Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe." Wherefore after eight days, that is, on this day, when the disciples were again gathered together and Thomas was with them, the Lord Jesus came while the doors were shut, as He did formerly. Standing in their midst, He said, "Peace be unto you"; then He said to Thomas, "Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not unbelieving, but believing."
And Thomas, beholding and examining carefully the hands and side of the Master, cried out with faith, "My Lord and my God." Thus he clearly proclaimed the two natures - human and divine - of the God-man (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29).
This day is called Antipascha (meaning "in the stead of Pascha," not "in opposition to Pascha") because with this day, the first Sunday after Pascha, the Church consecrates every Sunday of the year to the commemoration of Pascha, that is, the Resurrection.
Resurrectional Apolytikion
Grave Tone
Whilst the tomb was sealed, Thou, O Life, didst shine forth from the grave, O Christ God; and whilst the doors were shut, Thou didst come unto Thy disciples, O Resurrection of all, renewing through them an upright Spirit in us according to Thy great mercy.
Seasonal Kontakion
Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.
Blessed Feast Day
Share the feast of Thomas Sunday with an icon greeting ecard.


text:
BUY PREMARIN NO PRESCRIPTION, DES MOINES — It all started with a conversation in the bowels of Wells Fargo Arena before last year's state semifinals. Order PREMARIN from mexican pharmacy, "Danville's coach (Ken Laffoon) told me before the Boyden-Hull game that he wanted us to win so we could have a rematch," Storm Lake St, fast shipping PREMARIN. After PREMARIN, Mary's senior Kennedy Drey said Monday.
Well, PREMARIN results, PREMARIN duration, here it is. The rematch of the 2011 state championship game will take place Thursday at 10:30 a.m, PREMARIN dose. And the best part, BUY PREMARIN NO PRESCRIPTION. Online PREMARIN without a prescription, The core players from both teams return.
"I'd love to see Kennedy Drey and Luke Lenhart against the twins (Michael and Steven Soukup), buy PREMARIN without prescription, PREMARIN trusted pharmacy reviews, " Laffoon has said. "It becomes kind of a 2-on-2 game, taking PREMARIN, Cheap PREMARIN no rx, and the role players will have to come up big. They handed us one of our two losses here, PREMARIN long term. BUY PREMARIN NO PRESCRIPTION, We're where we want to be."
St. PREMARIN without a prescription, Mary's defeated Danville 74-59 two years ago, the Panthers' first state championship in their first trip to state, PREMARIN from canada. PREMARIN no prescription, Drey owned the Bears in the paint, scoring 35 points, canada, mexico, india. Where can i cheapest PREMARIN online, Steven Soukup scored 29 points before fouling out late. It was anyone's game until the Panthers put together a strong second half, PREMARIN recreational.
"We look forward to the opportunity and the challenge," Steven Soukup said in a direct message on Twitter, BUY PREMARIN NO PRESCRIPTION. PREMARIN cost, "We will be ready to play Thursday."
"They're a great team," St, PREMARIN pharmacy. Low dose PREMARIN, Mary's Luke Lenhart said after Monday's win over Riverside Oakland. "We just have to try to play our game, where can i find PREMARIN online. PREMARIN maximum dosage, I've played against the Soukups in AAU. BUY PREMARIN NO PRESCRIPTION, They're such smooth shooters. We just like playing a top-notch team."
This one figures to be a dandy, australia, uk, us, usa. PREMARIN street price, Both teams have great players who have gotten better since the championship game. Drey scored 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds against Riverside, PREMARIN blogs, Buy PREMARIN online cod, winning his dual with Riverside's Ricky Williams, who finished just short of becoming only the fifth player in state history to finish his career with 2, buy no prescription PREMARIN online, Online buying PREMARIN hcl, 000 points and 1,000 rebounds, PREMARIN brand name. Lenhart scored 28 points in the win.
"Obviously Danville is a great team with some great shooters," St, BUY PREMARIN NO PRESCRIPTION. Mary's coach Brad Wilkening said. "We've got work to do, but we'll give it our best effort."
The chase for 2,000: Steven Soukup needs just 41 points in his next two games to reach 2,000 career points, a feat thought to be almost unattainable at the beginning of the season. But a pair of postseason games with more than 40 points helped his cause.
"It'd be great to get it, but I'm more focused on getting wins," he said Monday. "Getting 2,000 points would just be a nice bonus."
The revenge tour?: Not only will Danville get a rematch of the 2011 title game, a rematch of last year's game (won by Boyden-Hull) could also happen after Boyden-Hull held off Lone Tree 58-54 in the quarterfinals. But nothing is for certain because these semifinals will be incredibly difficult and potentially thrilling. The winners will earn their trip to the championship..
Similar posts: BUY VERONAL OVER THE COUNTER. MAZINDOL FOR SALE. BUY CLOXAZOLAM NO PRESCRIPTION. NEURONTIN FOR SALE. OXAZEPAM pharmacy. Where to buy MODALERT. Kjøpe ADHD på nett, köpa ADHD online. Cheap LEVAQUIN no rx.
Trackbacks from: BUY PREMARIN NO PRESCRIPTION. BUY PREMARIN NO PRESCRIPTION. BUY PREMARIN NO PRESCRIPTION. BUY PREMARIN NO PRESCRIPTION. Cheap PREMARIN no rx. PREMARIN results. PREMARIN overnight. PREMARIN natural.


text:
On High Ridge, an Italian deli with age-old traditions
Joe Fusaro, 60, romantically attributes the discovery of his calling in life to the moment when his father, a hardworking olive and fig farmer in the southern Italian region of Calabria, placed an orange in his palm. He saw it as a kind of prophecy. From then on, he said he knew he wanted to be in the food business.
He was just 3 years old.
Today, Fusaro and his wife, Elizabeth, are the mom-and-pop owners of one of Stamford's longest-running Italian deli and specialty grocery store, Fusaro's Market and Deli, on High Ridge Road. The shop opened in 1989, billing itself as "the short-cut to Arthur Avenue," the famed Italian culinary mecca in the Bronx. Since that time, it has drawn Italian food enthusiasts from all over the local area, including Greenwich, New Canaan and Darien.
Measuring only 1,100 square feet, the store offers a seven-day-week menu of familiar Italian deli fare like spaghetti and meatballs, chicken cutlets, broccoli rabe, and sausage and peppers, as well as three tightly packed grocery aisles with a medley of products imported from Italy. There are the usual suspects -- cheeses, cured meats, olive oils, dried pasta, ground espresso and traditional desserts like biscotti -- but also unexpected finds like an apple sauce from Mellin, an Italian company that specializes in baby food. Fusaro's also carries the company's pastina, designed to be a child's first pasta.
Asked how they came to carry a particular line, the answer is usually the same: someone had inquired about it once. "You have to take care of your customer," said Joe, who sports a thick salt-and-pepper mane and keeps his cook's dish towel nearby. "Love your customer and your customer will love you."
The road to starting his own business did not come quickly. After immigrating to Stamford with his family as a teenager, Joe eventually went to work at Bongiorno's, the pre-eminent family-owned supermarket in Waterside that catered not only to Italians but also Eastern European, Hispanic and other ethnic communities. The store, which operated for more than 50 years, closed in 2004 after it was sold to the Stop & Shop supermarket chain.
During its run, Joe was tapped as Bongiorno's store manager, a job that familiarized him with food vendors. He stayed there for 20 years, a long tenure that resulted in part because he was too ashamed to quit. Bongiorno's, he said, "was like a family to me."
But when the opportunity arose to take over an existing grocery store called K's Market, he and his wife decided to make the leap. They borrowed $50,000, initially renting the store for three years before buying the property. About eight years ago, they spent an additional $100,000 to build a small kitchen, a move that enabled them to branch out into catering.
From the start, Joe and Elizabeth were determined to make the business a family affair, incorporating their three sons. At age 8, the oldest, Michael, was made to stand on a milk crate and work the cash register.
"We had teachers come in and say, `My fifth-graders can't do what he does,'" Elizabeth recalled with amusement.
Michael, now 32, still works alongside his parents, as does his brother John, who is 22. The Fusaros' middle son, Angelo, 28, is an accountant.
All of them juggle the cooking and cleaning. Elizabeth additionally handles the bookkeeping.
The couple, who still live in Stamford, tend to the business with monklike devotion. They give themselves few days off, clocking out after 9 p.m. on most nights and arriving at 7 a.m.
Like most small-business owners, they say they have not made any vast fortune. "You're not going to be a millionaire, but you'll make a living," Joe said. He added that he would love one day to open a bigger store, about four to five times the size of his current one. But the location would have to be right.
In the meantime, on the cusp of the store's 25th anniversary in November, he seemed wholly content with what he now has -- a place to call his own, where he can feed and chat with regulars who know him and his family members by name. In a throwback to his roots, he grows a small garden in the back.
In the end, he says the business is all about nurturing relationships.
He recalled a woman from New Canaan who tried to leave him a $20 tip. He refused, instead telling her, "Just remember to come in again."
firstname.lastname@example.com; 203-964-2265; http://twitter.com/lizkimtweets


text:
Forget liposuction – celebrities are now using the same technology that lets new moms see their growing babies as a way to get rid of unwanted fat, Entertainment Tonight reports.
A Beverly Hills surgeon says ultrasound is an effective way to get zap belly fat, demonstrating the procedure on comedienne Monique Marvez.
The American Society For Aesthetic Plastic Surgery also touts the procedure as a non-surgical alternative to liposuction, with the caveat that ultrasound is only practical for small amounts of fat. The technology heats up the fat cells, essentially burning it, according to the organization's website. Then, the body slowly reabsorbs the cells.


text: This is a heavy hitting Metal song featuring blistering distortion metal guitars, drums, bass, and headbanging. In FACT, it's so awesome that it causes rabbits to explode upon hearing it, you have been warned if you have pet rabbits. It's 1:29 long, PERFECT for 90 second commercial spots and many many other awesome things.


text:
Light and smooth, Avid's FR-5 Brake Levers deliver excellent speed control and a great feel. They're compatible with linear-pull and mechanical-disc brakes. And, they also feature adjustable reach and are made to bend not break in the event of a crash. This ambidextrous lever can be used as a front or rear, too.
|Manufacturer's Part Number
|Store SKU
|Satin Black
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®by PowerReviews
Best Uses
Reviewed by 1 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1
Best Uses
After replacing almost every component on my old mountain bike to set it up for commuting I found the brakes to be lacking. The rear u-brake and front cantilevers did not provide much stopping power but after replacing the levers with these I found they worked much better. I eventually changed out the front cantilevers for a v-brake and now have incredible stopping power! The levers are good quality and definitely an upgrade to most of the cheaper levers that come stock on even mid range bikes. Although I've only used them for commuting and cruising with the kids I'm sure they would be suitable for more demanding riding. The lever is on the shorter side, fine for trigger shifters but may be an issue for other styles that offset them farther from the grips.
Displaying reviews 1
Previous | Next


text:
|CD SoundOff 2009: Welcome To The Jungle
|Thursday, 17 September 2009
Page 1 of 2
"We really needed good control over the sound, and we got that with digital, but we lost the sound. We don't have the sound anymore, unfortunately, it's gone."
Yet, somewhere in the complacency of digital dreams a dark idea refused peaceful sleep. The CD, still had some 'splainin' to do. Why were some CDs not sounding as good as records? Bottom line, digital is bits, analog is continuous wave. The very nature of stop-and-stop digital meant that it couldn't hope to replicate the ongoing surf of analog – unless "more" of the sound was allowed to come out. A CD could already better the dynamic range of an LP by 20 decibels, but it didn't necessarily make for better sound. What of the warmth and smoothness of vinyl? The velvety richness? What if the sample rates of a CD were increased? Right on. What if you put an exotic stripe around the edge of the jewel case, remaster the disc and use a lot of engineering terms to boost its desirability? "Hey, that CD is selling for $18; I think we can get $30." Huh? I mean, right on.


text:
Camargue Horses
Liz blahh 4/24/2012 4:35:10 PMExcellent! #1458625
Tarun Bose 4/24/2012 6:05:47 PMOutstanding capture, deserves a prize, Cheryl. #10108164
anonymous 4/24/2012 6:59:45 PMNothing more beautiful than wild horses. Great capture. #10108236
Zita A. Strother 4/24/2012 7:09:03 PMBeautiful and difficult capture. Excellent!! #10108245
Cheryl Schneider 4/25/2012 4:52:34 AMThanks everyone! I appreciate your kind comments. #10108580
Linda D. Lester 4/26/2012 1:17:11 PMI forgot you went on this trip! Outstanding shot!!! This had to be a blast! #10110365
Cheryl Schneider 4/30/2012 4:19:20 AMThanks, Linda. It was! #10114564
Donna La Mattino Pagakis 5/3/2012 3:21:01 AMWow, so incredible, congrats! #10120437
Michelle Alton 5/3/2012 3:25:31 AMThis is magnificent! I think POTD is just the beginning for this image. Congratulations! #10120452
Bill Houghton 5/3/2012 3:40:51 AMGreat action shot Cheryl. Congrats, Bill #10120484
Marilyn Cornwell 5/3/2012 3:55:55 AMCongratulations on this wonderful POTD! #10120504
Joy Rector 5/3/2012 4:01:18 AMcongrats on the POTD #10120525
Janice M. Borodezt 5/3/2012 4:01:26 AM
Beautiful picture.
Patricia A. Casey 5/3/2012 4:02:23 AMBeautiful & dramatic capture Cheryl! Congratulations on POTD....hope to see this one again!
Leslie McLain 5/3/2012 4:12:56 AMCongrats on your amazing POTD, Cheryl. #10120535
Kathy Reeves 5/3/2012 4:29:18 AMAbsolutely beautiful! Congratulations, Cheryl on your POTD! #10120555
Lisa J. Boulden 5/3/2012 4:29:34 AMWhat a beautiful scene, Cheryl!
Patti Coblentz 5/3/2012 4:46:41 AMExceptional image, Cheryl...congratulations on your POTD! I envy you such a marvelous experience! #10120571
Linda D. Lester 5/3/2012 5:06:43 AMI'm so happy to see this again! Congratulations on your POTD! #10120587
Sharon F. Morris 5/3/2012 5:12:32 AMWonderful capture of these beauties. Congrats on your POTD Cheryl. #10120597
Mary Dimitriw 5/3/2012 5:23:42 AMCongrats on your POTD!!!! What an incredible image! #10120607
Usman M. Bajwa 5/3/2012 5:24:27 AMI love horses and you have shot them in great action, Cheryl. CONGRATZ on the POTD!
Linda S. Smith 5/3/2012 5:44:57 AMWhat a well deserved POTD Cheryl! Great stop action capture! I would have loved to have seen this myself.....What a thrill!!! Congrats! #10120615
Katarina Mansson 5/3/2012 5:48:39 AMAbsolutely spectacular capture and beautiful image! Congratulations Cheryl on your POTD! #10120617
Julianne Bradford 5/3/2012 6:27:31 AMThrilling moment captured well..congrats Cheryl! #10120691
Gunther Allen 5/3/2012 7:11:18 AMA wonderful capture! I heard the other day that only 8% of horses turn out to be white or light grey. They get whiter as they get older. This makes this even more special of a photo! Congrats on you POTD!! #10120779
Roger S. Moore 5/3/2012 7:15:08 AMA beautiful image. Congrats on your POTD! #10120782
Nikki McDonald 5/3/2012 7:15:43 AMI took many trips to France and this is one sight I would have loved to see but never did. What a thrill! And what a great capture of it! Everyone is right, Cheryl - this is a most worthy POTD and will not stop there. Congratulations. #10120784
Kathryn Wesserling 5/3/2012 7:31:27 AMWhat a spectacular record of a spectacular event, Cheryl! Congratulations for the POTD. #10120804
Shirley A. Kinney 5/3/2012 7:45:28 AMAwesome capture, Cheryl. Congrats on your POTD. #10120823
Heather Loewenhardt 5/3/2012 8:05:25 AMSuch an amazing photo Cheryl. Congrats on POTD! #10120849
Mary Beth Aiello 5/3/2012 8:56:46 AMSpectacular in every way, Cheryl. Huge congrats on this very deserving POTD. #10120941
Cathy Barrows 5/3/2012 9:43:05 AMcongrats on your fab POTD #10121041
Janice M. LeCocq 5/3/2012 9:49:30 AMCheryl,
While there are a lot of versions of this iconic shot (and I would love to have the opportunity to shoot one!), you've found a small but distinctive wrinkle. Most of the shots I see are all completely head on...I love the addition of the horse taking a nip at his colleague. It's so "horse" and adds a lot to the image!
Jan #10121054
Ellen Hodges 5/3/2012 10:14:48 AMCongrats on a super POTD, Cheryl!!! #10121109
Susan D. Royce 5/3/2012 11:16:41 AMSpectacular shot, Cheryl! Ditto on the nipping horse adding a lot to the photo. #10121150
Laura L. Gonzales 5/3/2012 12:05:49 PMOutstanding capture! Just beautiful in every way! Excellent clarity and details of these majestic animals. Congratulations!!!! #10121196
Nancy L. Green 5/3/2012 12:22:26 PMThis is AWESOME!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! <>< #10121218
Nancyj E. Hovey 5/3/2012 1:04:35 PMOUTSTANDING, exceptional capture.
on your very deserving POTD! #10121251
Linda Sandbo 5/3/2012 3:34:28 PMDitto on all of the above .. love it.. #10121435
Mary K. Robison 5/3/2012 4:12:15 PMEveryone else has already pointed out the unique qualities of this marvelous capture, Cheryl. So I'll just add mine to the rest:
Gina Cormier 5/3/2012 4:23:26 PMWOW!!! A fellow BP went to France yesterday or today to shoot these same horses!!!
Congrats on the POTD and this is stunning work!!!! #10121479
Richard D. Love 5/3/2012 4:34:17 PMCongratulations, Cheryl. Perfect timing!
Rick #10121507
Evy Johansen 5/3/2012 8:33:14 PMWow... fantastic image, Cheryl! Congratulations on your POTD! #10121826
Cheryl Schneider 5/4/2012 4:36:11 AMThank you one and all for all of your lovely comments. The Camargue is a fantastic place well worth a trip, photographer or not. #10122148
Lindley Johnson 5/4/2012 6:50:50 AMFantastic action image, Cheryl! Extraordinary clarity and tones. Congratulations on your well-deserved POTD. #10122336
Debbie Bray 5/7/2012 5:38:35 AMA very beautiful image, Cheryl! Congratulations on your POTD!! #10127346
Jeffrey R. Bange 5/13/2012 8:49:09 PMOutstanding capture Cheryl and a most deserving POTD. #10136121
Cheryl Schneider 5/14/2012 5:13:09 AMThanks, everyone. I truly appreciate your comments! #10136350
Deborah C. Lewinson 5/15/2012 5:02:40 AMCongrats on your fabulous POTD, Cheryl!
Debby #10137895
Cheryl Schneider 5/21/2012 4:26:07 AMThanks, Debby! #10144061
Jesa Naquines 5/1/2015 6:34:38 AMI can see this hanging on the wall. Very interesting and a nice shot, Cheryl! Congrats! #11295118
Nadine A. Lewis 5/3/2016 2:07:55 PMLove it!!!! #11469868
Exif: F Number: 9, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/320 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 400, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 500.00 mm, Model: NIKON D3
Uploaded on 4/24/2012 12:27:57 PM
Camera: Nikon D3 Digital SLR Camera
Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Cheryl Schneider. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.


text:
Written By:
Kara Schiltz, iContact PR Manager
iContact is headquartered in the Triangle region of North Carolina — the heart of NCAA basketball country, with powerhouses Duke, UNC, and NC State just 20 miles down the road. Interoffice rivalries are heating up at iContact as we pick our favorite teams and join in on the excitement of the NCAA men's basketball tournament, also known as March Madness.
As the nation gets swept up in basketball fever, here are a few tips to help score a slam-dunk with your online marketing strategy.
Location, Location, Location
As fans start gathering at their favorite locations to watch teams face off, marketers have a ripe opportunity to increase sales with location-based services. Social media check-in services like Foursquare, Gowalla, and Facebook Places can help boost sales during March Madness. When consumers "check in" at a venue, their location can be shared with all of their friends on Facebook and Twitter, helping to increase awareness for a business.
Brick-and-mortar businesses should also consider offering freebies to patrons who check in at their venue. If one person talks about that freebie on his or her social networks, it could entice his or her friends to swing by and also check in, ultimately garnering loyal customers and more cash in the register. When a user checks in at a location, he or she can also see nearby specials that translate into increased awareness for the entire area.
Optimize for Mobile
While many would like to stay glued to the television and catch all of the games, the reality is that other commitments pull us away — work, errands, personal obligations, etc. Consumers are constantly on the go and increasingly using smartphones to stay connected. This trend can only rise as technology continues to advance for phones, tablets, and other mobile devices.
You can bet that basketball fans will turn to their mobile devices to get up-to-date stats on games as they go about their daily activities. When checking on scores and waiting for updates, chances are that consumers will also browse through their emails. March Madness is a great time for marketers to make sure emails are optimized for mobile devices. Provide appealing content that will capture your readers' attention while they're checking in on the go.
Treat Your Customers Like Your Teammates
Players must communicate with their teammates to be effective and get the big win. To win big in social media marketing, treat your customers like teammates, and talk with them, not at them. Comment on relevant information on followers' walls and re-tweet interesting material. Make your posts conversational to avoid feeling like a sales pitch, and customers will be more inclined to read and share your social media posts.
Take the Madness to the Pinboard
Pinterest is a favorite for personal use and is also gaining momentum as an online community for the businesses world. If your product is visual and aesthetically pleasing, give Pinterest a try. Maybe you're a retailer and sell apparel in team colors, own a catering business and have recipes that would win over a hungry crowd during basketball watch parties, or are a general contractor with great ideas for remodeling a family room fit to watch the Final Four.
Manage the Clock
Don't get a penalty for poor time management or be a slave to the clock. If you're a basketball fan and don't want to miss out on any of the March Madness action while still staying on top of social media, use iContact to schedule your updates in advance. You can create and schedule tweets and Facebook posts before a game begins so you don't find yourself sitting in front of a computer when you'd rather be sitting in front of a big screen watching a game.
Keep these tips in mind, and you'll be ready for March Madness action to tip off on the court and in your online marketing activities. Are you doing anything special around March Madness? Share it with us below!


text:
Maki had to undergo emergency surgery yesterday, July 6. Everything went well, and she is recovering now, although she may well have to stay at the hospital for a week or so.
We keep the site up and running as good as possible, but it will take some time until new articles will be possible.
In the meantime "Get well soon, Maki!"


text:
Gaming for Good: Video Games and Climate Change
Video games aren't typically designed to promote social change. Fate of the World seeks to change that by putting players in charge of solving the climate change crisis. Following in the steps of Civilization and Spore, Fate of the World appears to be a turn-based simulation game melding scientific research with political considerations.
From the game's description:
Based on the research of Prof. Myles Allen at Oxford University, Fate of the
World simulates the real social and environmental impact of global climate change over the next 200 years.
Your mission: Solve the crisis. But, like life, it won't be easy. You'll have to
work through natural disasters, foreign diplomacy, clandestine operations, technological breakthroughs, and somehow satisfy the food and energy needs of a growing world population. Will you help the planet or become an agent of destruction?
Sounds interesting right? While only available for PC, (Mac users will have to wait until April) a percentage of proceeds will benefit TckTckTck, a global alliance of NGOs working to promote climate change action.
I'm excited to see if Fate of the World leads to increased gaming for good; fingers crossed.


text:
At the IM (Internet Marketing) Freedom Workshop, you will find out about a proven system that tens of thousands of people are using to make more money in a month—part-time—than most people make in a year.
And it won't cost you anything to find out about this system.
The IM Freedom Workshop is a FREE, two-hour live event in your local area. At IM Freedom, you will discover how people just like you profit from the Internet—working just a few hours a day, making commissions of $1,250, $3,300, $5,500, and more.
They achieve financial freedom and time freedom. They can work from anywhere they want.
Life becomes anything but static.
Register now. These events usually fill up quick. Then we will have to close registration. It could be quite some time before we come back to the area.
So, register now before the seats fill up. Plan on being there and finding out how to work less, make more, and have a static-free life.
Chat Soon!
Kaseigh Long


text:
Newport News
Newport News is a modern maritime community rooted in rich history and natural wonder. The conveniences of a big city - coupled with a steadily growing economy anchored by shipbuilding, medical centers and defense - make this locale an attractive option for prospective new residents. The City Center at Oyster Point, Newport News' bustling business district, offers up a broad mix of retail, dining, residential and business amenities. Nearby, the Peninsula's flourishing cultural corridor boasts an impressive array of attractions including world-class performing arts centers and museums. The city is also known for its historic landmarks and neighborhoods.
Recreation lovers here rejoice as this active city is home to more than 30 parks, including the 8,000-acre Newport News Park - the largest municipal park east of the Mississippi River. Opportunities for hiking, camping, boating, fishing, golf, tennis and and more abound.
Proximity is also a plus for Newport News. Centrally located, the city is an approximate 30-minute drive from Norfolk, through the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel. The city is easily accessible via Interstate 64 and is serviced by the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport.


text:
Car Deals
Luxury SUV Deals: March 2014
Is it time for a new luxury SUV? We've rounded up some of today's top luxury SUV deals and incentives for shoppers interested in a new model, and we've made sure to include offers for drivers looking to lease, finance or pay with cash.
The BMW X1 is a compact luxury crossover that straddles the line between wagon and SUV. In March, shoppers interested in leasing their next crossover can get a deal on the 2014 X1 thanks to one of three incentives BMW is offering. For drivers interested in the best possible price, a rear-drive X1 sDrive28i is available for $329 per month after $3,554 down at lease signing. Shoppers who need all-wheel drive can get the feature for an extra $20 per month with the same down payment. And for drivers who want the most power they can get, a turbocharged X1 xDrive35i is available with payments from $399 per month after $3,624 down at lease signing.
Buick Enclave
The Buick Enclave is a popular luxury SUV that straddles the border between midsize and large. Featuring three rows of seats and a long list of equipment, the 2014 Enclave offers three incentives for the 2014 model year. For qualified shoppers interested in financing, Buick is touting a 60-month term with interest rates starting at 0 percent -- a good deal on a luxury SUV. Those looking to pay with cash can get up to $750 cash back, while shoppers interested in leasing can get a 24-month term with payments from $349 per month after $3,909 down at lease signing.
Infiniti QX50
The Infiniti EX37 has been renamed the QX50 for the 2014 model year. Other than that, few things have changed, though the compact luxury SUV is certainly a more enticing deal than it was before thanks to several lease incentives from Infiniti. Through the end of the month, shoppers interested in a 2014 QX50 can take advantage of two lease offers. The best deal is on the 2-wheel-drive model, which touts payments from $399 per month for 39 months after $3,999 down at lease signing. Drivers who need all-wheel drive can also get a deal, as Infiniti offers the QX50 AWD for just $10 per month more than the rear-wheel-drive model.
Find an Infiniti QX50 for sale
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
The midsize Mercedes M-Class offers high-end luxury, V6 power and a recognizable design that could only be from Mercedes-Benz. In March, it also offers two incentives for shoppers interested in getting a good deal on their next luxury SUV. The best deal is for qualified drivers looking to finance, as Mercedes is offering 2.99 percent interest on the ML350, a deal that extends for up to 72 months. For those who would rather lease, two deals are available this month. A rear-drive ML350 can be had for 36 months with payments from $599 per month after $4,893 down, while an ML350 equipped with 4MATIC all-wheel drive starts at $619 per month with $5,313 down at lease signing.
Find a Mercedes-Benz M-Class for sale
Range Rover Evoque
The compact Range Rover Evoque offers modern styling and a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. In March, it also offers several excellent incentives for shoppers interested in leasing or financing their next SUV. For drivers looking to lease, the 2014 Evoque Pure 5-door is offered with payments starting at $429 per month for 36 months after $2,995 down at lease signing. Qualified drivers who would rather finance can also get a good deal, with Land Rover offering interest rates as low as 1.9 percent for up to 36 months.
Find a Range Rover Evoque for sale
What it means to you: If you're searching for a high-end SUV, our list of luxury SUV deals and incentives will help you find the right model this month at a great price.


text:
Airlines enlarge gap between elite and economy
By now, economy-class airline passengers have become accustomed to getting a soft drink, tiny bag of pretzels (maybe) and nearly intimate contact with those sitting beside and in front of them.
But life has never been better in the front of the airplane, thanks to an amenities arms race that foreign airlines started, leaving U.S. carriers to play catch up.
Emirates Airlines offers first-class passengers showers and walled-off suites with minibars on its Airbus A380s. Singapore Airlines has double-bed suites. Lufthansa offers first-class passengers in Frankfurt a separate terminal, with dedicated immigration officers, and a ride to their airplanes in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or Porsche Cayenne.
It used to be that first class offered cushier seats, a little more room, better food and free booze, but not much more. And U.S. airlines stripped away even many first-class luxuries in the difficult decade after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Now, they're spending almost $2 billion to upgrade amenities for their highest-paying customers. On the most profitable international routes, high fliers are being treated with preflight champagne, seats that turn into beds and flight attendants who greet them by name, hang up jackets and serve meals on china.
The lavish treatment is meant to keep people like Tim Carlson happy. Carlson, the chief financial officer of a semiconductor materials company, has taken 189 flights in the past two years, traveling 353,176 miles on United and its partners.
After the pilots, Carlson might just be the most important person on the plane. United will do anything to make sure another airline doesn't steal his business. Agents call him about delays and reroute him so he doesn't miss meetings.
"I go to the top of the list for the next flight," Carlson says.
On a recent trip from Newark, N.J., to Brussels, he was met at the curb with a boarding pass and escorted to the front of the security line. Four minutes after being dropped off, he was past the checkpoint.
As The New York Times put it recently: "The gap between first class and coach has never been so wide."
First-class and business-class passengers make up only 8 percent of international travelers but account for 27 percent of revenue, according to the International Air Transport Association. Peter Morris, chief economist at aviation consulting firm Ascend, told the Times that first and business class account for less than 20 percent of long-haul seats but 40 to 50 percent of airline revenue. While a round-trip coach ticket between Chicago and Beijing might run $1,000, business class costs $4,000 and first class $12,000.
"There is a war going on for the profitable passenger," said Henry H. Harteveldt, co-founder of the travel firm Atmosphere Research Group.
Gary Leff, co-founder of frequent flier site MilePoint, said airlines "are now realizing that they need to offer a competitive product to attract the highest-dollar passengers."
U.S. airlines didn't have the cash to compete in the new luxe market in recent years. Now, they have a more money to put into airplanes and more incentive, as foreign carriers expand into secondary U.S. markets.
The Times noted, for instance, that Emirates plans to begin service from Dubai to Seattle and Dallas early next year.
Thus, Delta, United and US Airways are installing seats that recline into flat beds in premium international cabins. American Airlines is giving elite passengers pajamas and slippers while flight attendants lay down a quilted seat cover, duvet and pillow. Airlines are also adding gourmet meals and overhauling their first-class lounges. Delta's new Seattle lounge boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Mount Rainier, while American's new San Francisco club features a fireplace.
Back in steerage, it's a different game. Most economy passengers shop by price and schedule.
"They want their luggage. They want to arrive on time. They want the airplane to be clean," said Andrew Nocella, US Airways senior vice president of marketing. "Most importantly, they want a low fare."
For passengers who want just a little more, airlines have started offering "premium economy." These offer a few precious extra inches of room for around half the price of business class, although airline offerings and pricings vary widely.
Read more aerospace news. Visit seattlepi.com's home page for more Seattle news.


text:
You know the death of Mrs. King made me sit here an remember , i've seen alot in my life time ..
I was on the earth when John Kennedy was killed, Martin Luther King, Robert Kennedy, were also killed.
I remember the Vietnam war, I remember seeing the first spaceship launch, and so many other things.
I remember old black and white tv's, 45 records, oh my gosh the list goes on and on , when sodas were in bottles and cost 5 cents.
Sitting home that summer and watching the Watergate stuff
the hippy movement oh boy
It's strange how much history you witness and how much more to come.
Mrs. King was always a dignified woman in what ever she did ..


text:
My son will be born any day now.
My belly, naturally, has reached the remarkable size whereby it solicits comments -- advice, usually -- from strangers.
First, the warm, knowing smiles. Next, "Do you know what you're having?" And then, the floodgates open.
I actually love getting unsolicited parenting instruction from random passersby. People are so much more interesting than parenting books. They don't approach child-rearing like a science project, and you can read the love in their eyes as plainly as words on a page. And since my first child is a girl, I'm eager for any and all wisdom on raising this little boy.
"Hold off on the video games as long as you can."
"Teach him to mow the lawn."
"Brace yourself: Boys are never still." (Neither are girls -- at least my particular 3 1/2 -year-old one, but I'll prepare for double the exhaustion.)
I'm committing these nuggets to memory, hoping they'll rescue me in my inevitable moments of befuddlement -- and knowing, of course, they won't begin to tackle the mountain of questions that lies ahead.
I relished advice when I was expecting my daughter -- sought it out from strangers, read it in manuals, solicited it from friends. And yet, 48 hours into her little life, when the hospital allowed us to bundle her up, stuff her in a car seat and drive her home, terror set in.
The nurses peppered us with instructions. Don't wipe too hard when you're changing her. Her skin is like Kleenex. Clip her fingernails. Write down her feeding schedule and every time she poops.
But they couldn't help me answer the larger questions that loomed. Like, why do I look the same, more or less, as I did when I arrived here to deliver her? Why do I look in the mirror and see the person I used to be? I'm not that person anymore. I don't even remember her. And I need to know why that's not being reflected in some tangible way.
Maybe, I wanted to suggest to them, you could repurpose one of those yellow Baby On Board signs people hang in their cars? Baby On Brain. I could wear it around my neck. Or perhaps you should stick me in a car seat. Or a full-body cast?
I have never felt more vulnerable. As if my skin were like Kleenex. I ached, from the labor, obviously, but also for this new baby whom I suddenly loved in a way I couldn't imagine existing before. I was petrified. I was ecstatic.
Now that the stakes -- and the questions -- are about to double, I'm back to gathering advice, brushing up on when to introduce rice cereal, how to treat colic, the pros and cons of the pacifier.
But it all seems a tad quaint, inadequate, almost, after you've lived through the real thing. Sleep training, you start thinking? Are they kidding with this? I survived the first day of preschool. I've done roseola, hand, foot and mouth disease (twice) and rotavirus. I rode a school bus full of 3- and 4-year-olds up the Kennedy Expressway, destined for Chuck E. Cheese's, with the bus driver blasting Beyonce -- and that was the relaxing part of the field trip. I'm supposed to fret over getting an infant to sleep?
Still, I find the advice soothing. Like a placebo -- inadequate, but comforting nonetheless.
And the best advice, I found, came when I was least expecting it. Not from a stranger, or a friend or a book. Two years after my daughter was born, I was playing with her in our living room. I picked her up by her arms and started to swing her around in a circle. "Be careful with me," she squealed.
Be careful with me. What she meant, most likely, was don't drop me. Or don't slam my legs into that couch over there with all your crazy spinning and singing. But it was also the best advice a parent could ever receive -- or give. The words I've been trying to form since the day we left the hospital.
It's what I should have told those maternity nurses. It's what all the manuals and blogs and friends and well-meaning strangers are really telling me, when you strip away the warnings and the platitudes and the funny anecdotes and boil it all down to one, enduring message.
Be careful with him.


text:
ROSE HILL—Rose Hill senior Alia Khalidi knows her major is in biology and her future is in the medical field.
But when she laced up her shoes and played the season opener for the Rockets soccer team, she realized she loved the sport too much for this to be her last year.
"At first, I wasn't going to play soccer in college," Khalidi said. "After I played my first game this year, I was like 'I can't not play soccer."
After McPherson coach John Talley first watched her play, he knew right away he wanted her to play on his team. Khalidi decided that's where she wanted to go. She signed a letter of intent Wednesday to join McPherson's soccer program next year.
"Just watching her play, she's got good size, she's a physical player when she needs to be, very disciplined," Talley said. "And that's what I look for as a coach. Somebody who knows what they're supposed to be doing, and works hard all the time."
For Khalidi, the decision was made far easier knowing her two older brothers—Tarek and Ramsey, who both played soccer at McPherson, too—went to the college.
"I've heard it's a good school. It's a good soccer program," Khalidi said.
While soccer is her favorite, Khalidi has been a good athlete for the other Rose Hill teams, such as basketball.
"There's a lot of speed, a lot of athletic talent," Rose Hill first-year soccer coach Mike Terrell said of Khalidi. "...There's a lot of talent there that, when she gets to college and focuses on [soccer], they are going to unleash that."
Khalidi is the lone senior for a Rose Hill team that had eight a year ago.
"I get to take on a new role," Khalidi said. "I kind of watched them (last year), and now I'm the leader."


text:
Paragon National Bank recently
visited Ms. Kimberly Martin's class at Hawkins Mill Elementary for an afternoon
filled with crafts, gifts and a special visit from Santa. This is the seventh
consecutive year that Paragon has sponsored Martin's classroom by visiting
students throughout the school year.
"Our visits to Ms. Martin's classroom are always a
highlight for our employees," said Robert Shaw, Chief Executive Officer of
Paragon National Bank. "This trip was especially fun because they were able to
brighten the holiday season for these deserving students."
During the latest visit, Paragon employees Lisa
Barden, Dave Biter, Margie Smith and Haley Overcast decorated popsicle stick
ornaments, read holiday stories and distributed gifts to the students. In
addition, Biter, a Personal Banker for Paragon, helped orchestrate a surprise
visit from Santa.
Each student also received a special stocking that
included a holiday-themed picture book, pencils, erasers and candy. In
addition, bank employees also gave Martin notebook paper, paper towels, pencils
and folders for use in her classroom.
Paragon employees pose with the students of Ms. Martin's 3rd grade class.


text:
23 June 2012, Rio de Janeiro. Does the world need a new Social Contract to address the sustainable development challenges of the 21st Century? This topic was at the heart of a debate of a high level panel convened by UNITAR and the Ethos Institute on 23 June, one day after the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), with the support of Globo and Planeta and sponsorship of CPFL Energia, Itau and Natura.
The event brought together leading international thinkers to review the outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference and discuss a new holistic vision for humanity and nature. Drawing on the powerful ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, one of the eminent philosophers of the Enlightenment period whose tercentennial birth is celebrated in 2012, the Panel called for a new Social Contract of governments, civil society and all stakeholders to implement the outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference. The audience comprised over 300 participants, with broadcasting provided through television and radio.
The event was opened by H.E. Mr. Gilberto Carvalho, Chief Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of Brazil, speaking on behalf of the President of Brazil, H.E. Ms. Dilma Rousseff. Mr. Carvalho pointed out that the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UN CSD) formally ended on 22 June. "Governments and civil society need to take forward the commitments made at Rio and fight for sustainable development", he emphasized. A new Social Contract needs to be based on solidarity, inclusion and an appropriate level of living for all in harmony with nature.
In his introductory remarks, Mr. Paulo Itacarambi, Vice-President of the Ethos Institute, acknowledged the partnership between Ethos and UNITAR in organizing the event and thanked all partners for their support. Mr. Jorge Abrahão, President of the Ethos Institute, who moderated the panel, emphasized that a new Social Contract will not come from one single mind or a privileged group but needs to be framed through an inclusive global dialogue.
Prof. Ignacy Sachs, a globally respected economist and sociologist and researcher at the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of São Paulo and Honorary Director of Studies at EHESS (Paris), highlighted the importance of strengthening planning capacities at all levels to protect public goods and achieve justice. "Each country defines its own Social Contract, but the world also needs a "mega-planetary" Social Contract through the United Nations", Prof. Sachs suggested. The objectives of such a Contract would be to prevent social catastrophes and ensure decent life for all, with food security and energy security as main pillars. As practical measures, Prof. Sachs proposed the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, investing in renewable energies, the establishment of a global fund for sustainable development, a tax on carbon emissions, and new models of ecosystem governance.
H.E. Ambassador André Correa do Lago, Chief Negotiator of the Brazilian Delegation at the UN CSD, drew the audience's attention to two overarching priorities that emerged from the Conference: eradicating poverty and changing production and consumption patterns. He highlighted that the Rio Outcome Document included many opportunities for action and stressed that national governments alone cannot move these issues forward. He expressed the hope that civil society and other actors can develop excitement about the Rio Outcome Document and initiate action from the bottom up through communities, cities and other actors.
Mr. Carlos Lopes, Executive Director of UNITAR, pointed out that Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a provocative agent fighting against established ideas. He highlighted that Rousseau's critique of inequalities and his call to reconnect with nature provided important lessons for today's societies. "In multilateralism, fundamental change and great ideas need time until they are consolidated", Mr. Lopes said, citing the specific case of human rights. "Governments cannot decide anymore on their own and new ways of engaging with citizens need to be developed" he noted, suggesting that "we need new methods and processes to express opinion in an organized and structured way at all levels" under a new Social Contract.
Mr. Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), indicated that a Social Contract developed after the 2nd World War and enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations eroded with the Cold War. The 1992 Earth Summit had created momentum for a new Social Contract. but today this Contract is broken, with conversations of government and civil society taking place in separate fora. "Agreements reached in Rio are not sufficient to change the trajectory of unsustainable development in the direction of a green and inclusive transition" Mr. Steiner said. He compared the Rio Outcome Document with a half-written cookbook that does not provide a whole menu or complete recipe, but only some ingredients. Yet, some provisions may provide an opportunity for some groups to take action, Mr. Steiner said.
Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Director of The Energy Research Institute (TERI) in New Delhi and the Chair of the Nobel-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, emphasized the importance of using scientific knowledge for policy making. He criticized that at international conferences, like Rio and those dealing with climate change, negotiators rarely consider the scientific rationale for their gathering. "Time has come that knowledge becomes the major driver of action", Dr. Pachauri noted. He also emphasized that challenges like climate change require transformational change through the right set of policies that link adaptation, mitigation and sustainable development.
Throughout the debate and interaction with the audience several additional points were raised and ideas were exchanged including the following:
- The negotiations in Rio focused on tactical moves instead of addressing overarching objectives.
- A new Social Contract is needed that can create a new economic and social paradigm emphasizing principles of sustainability, equality and justice.
- Governments need to ensure that the will of the people is represented, rather than special economic interests.
- Civil society is tasked to offer alternative concepts for a new social and economic order beyond their criticism of the current system.
- New means of technology offer unprecedented opportunities for civic participation under a new Social Contract.
- Leadership can advance social change, even if institutional structures and rules fail, as demonstrated by Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi.
- New metrics to measure wealth and happiness that go beyond economic indicators need to be identified.
- Leading by example is important, but broader policy frameworks are required that create the right incentives, for example, for systematic recycling.
Reflecting on the future and next steps, Mr. Lopes reminded the audience that Rousseau admitted himself that he was not perfect and had to change. He suggested that it is time for the global community to change mindsets and attitudes and catalyze innovative change. Mr. Lopes concluded by encouraging the audience to spread the message of a new Social Contract through their diverse organizations, networks and initiatives.
Photo 1 (from left to right): Jorge Abrahão, Rajendra Pachauri, Achim Steiner, Carlos Lopes, Ignacy Sachs, André Correa do Lago
Photo 2: Gilberto Carvalho
Photo 3: Paulo Itacarambi
Photo 4: Ignacy Sachs
Photo 5: André Correa do Lago
Photo 6 (from left to right): Achim Steiner, Carlos Lopes
Photo 7 (from left to right): Jorge Abrahão, Rajendra Pachauri


text:
Oakland, Berkeley, And East Bay News, Events, Restaurants, Music, & Arts
"Lights in the Dusk" concludes the trilogy began by "Drifting Clouds" and "The Man Without a Past". Where the trilogy`s first film was about unemployment and the second about homelessness, this final installment is about loneliness. Koistinen searches the hard world for a small crack to crawl in through, but both his fellow beings and the faceless apparatus of the society conspire to crush his modest hopes, one after another. Criminal elements exploit his longing for love and his position as a night watchman in a robbery they pull off, leaving Koistinen to face the consequences. Thus Koistinen is deprived of his job, his freedom, and his dreams. A poignant reminder of the lot of the emotional `have-nots` in our world, this dark jewel of a film glows with genuine warmth and a small but enriching glimmer of hope.


text:
Pearl River Properties LLC, the owner of the 33,500-square-foot warehouse at 1265 Riverside Blvd. near the entrance to Presidents Island, has filed a $1.3 million loan on the property.
The company, which bought the industrial facility in December 2007 from Sims Properties LLC for $1.8 million, filed the loan Oct. 2 through First Capital Bank.
Built in 2004, the Class B warehouse sits on four acres at the northwest corner of Riverside Boulevard and West Trigg Avenue. The property contains two adjoined buildings.
The Shelby County Assessor of Property's 2012 appraisal is $1.2 million.
Eileen Liu and Feiyu Chen signed the trust deed on behalf of Pearl River Properties.
Source: The Daily News Online & Chandler Reports
– Daily News staff
Plans are moving forward for a third location of Café Eclectic, this time inside The Stratum on Highland, 510 S. Highland St.
A $90,750 building permit application for tenant improvements has been filed with the city-county Office of Construction Code Enforcement, according to The Daily News Online, www.memphisdailynews.com.
The restaurant, coffee bar and pastry shop will occupy 2,500 square feet of The Stratum's ground floor retail space, said Brian Gamble, facility manager with McKinney Properties Inc. The Stratum is Pittsburgh-based McKinney Properties' only student housing property in Memphis.
The five-story, 85-unit apartment building at the southeast corner of Mynders Avenue opened in 2008. Though it is independent of the University of Memphis, it is a few blocks away and is marketed as student housing.
Café Eclectic, owned by Cathy Boulden, opened its first store in 2008 at 603 N. McLean Blvd. A year later, Little Café Eclectic opened in Harbor Town. Boulden declined comment for this announcement.
– Sarah Baker
Nike has a plan on the drawing board to expand its presence in Memphis in a big way, spending millions to grow its local operation – and add 250 new jobs.
The world's largest seller of athletic footwear and apparel is seeking a 15-year tax freeze to help it expand its facility at 3100 New Frayser Blvd. and upgrade its facility at 5151 Shelby Drive.
The Beaverton, Ore.-based company turned down opportunities in North Mississippi and even in its corporate home of Beaverton in favor of Memphis. The moves include Nike ending its lease at 8400 Winchester Road and shifting employees to the Shelby Drive location.
Nike will create 250 new jobs with an average wage of $35,000, increasing Nike's local employment to 1,912.
The project will create more than $105 million in new tax revenue for Memphis and Shelby County and will result in an average annual tax abatement of almost $58 million for Nike.
The city-county Economic Development Growth Engine board will discuss Nike's application at the board's Wednesday, Oct. 17, meeting.
– Andy Meek
Anna Holtzclaw has joined Urban Land Institute Memphis as district council coordinator, a part-time role where she will focus on programming, membership and sponsorship development.
Holtzclaw brings a blend of real estate and nonprofit experience, with past working experience with Henry Turley Co., LRK Inc., Loeb Properties Inc., Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA), the Salvation Army KROC Center and the New Ballet Ensemble.
Fred's Super Dollar will celebrate 65 years of serving the Memphis area with the grand opening of two new stores at 8:45 a.m. Friday, Oct. 19.
Special offers and activities will be at both locations, one at 7965 E. Shelby Drive and another at 6500 Quince Road.
The new, 16,000-square-foot stores feature an expanded food selection that doubles traditional fred's food offerings with a larger choice of breakfast foods, quick meals and beverages. Both locations also include pharmacies featuring a drive-thru window providing easy pick-up and drop-off of prescriptions.
During the ceremony, fred's will present donations to Southwind Elementary and High schools, Ridgeway Middle School and Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary School.
Memphis-based fred's Super Dollar operates more than 700 discount general merchandise stores, including 21 franchised fred's stores in 15 states.
EdR, a Memphis-based developer, owner and manager of collegiate housing, purchased The District on 5th – a collegiate housing community serving the University of Arizona in Tucson – for $67 million.
The District on 5th is a 764-bed, 208-unit community located within walking distance of the University of Arizona. This Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver community opened last month and features two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments. Amenities include a pool with beach entry, clubroom, spa, computer lab/business center and an outdoor theater.
The community is 99 percent leased with an average monthly lease rate of $633 per bed. The purchase price represents an approximate 6.3 percent economic cap rate on expected next 12 months' net operating income.
The University of Arizona's Tucson campus has an enrollment of 38,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Current on-campus housing consists of slightly less than 6,800 beds. The Arizona Board of Regents expects enrollment to increase 13,000 by 2020.
With this purchase, EdR owns or manages 63 communities in 24 states with more than 36,000 beds within nearly 12,000 units.
The Tennessee Education Lottery Corp. has raised a record $81 million in the first quarter.
That's a 14 percent increase over the same period last fiscal year, which set the previous record with $71 million.
Total lottery funding for education-related programs in Tennessee exceeds $2.47 billion since the lottery's inception in 2004.
According to the Tennessee Student Assistance Corp., lottery money has provided more than 600,000 scholarships and grants to in-state educational institutions. More than 100,000 scholarships and grants were provided during the past academic year alone.
– The Associated Press


text:
ZFS on FUSE/Linux
This project is a port of the ZFS filesystem to FUSE/Linux, done as part
of the Google Summer of Code 2006 initiative.
Currently ZFS-FUSE is configured to use up to 128 MB of RAM, but it can
grow larger with some usage patterns. It's recommended to have a machine
with at least 1 GB of RAM.
This requires scons.
Maintained by: Steven King
Keywords: file system,zfs,z file system,fs,raid,software raid
ChangeLog: zfs-fuse
Download SlackBuild:
zfs-fuse.tar.gz.asc (FAQ)
(the SlackBuild does not include the source)
|Individual Files:
| doinst.sh
| rc.zfs-fuse
| slack-desc
| zfs-fuse.SlackBuild
| zfs-fuse.info
© 2006-2018 SlackBuilds.org Project. All rights reserved.
Slackware® is a registered trademark of Patrick Volkerding
Linux® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds
Web Design by WebSight Designs | Managed Hosting by OnyxLight Communications


text:
|"Are you a wizard or not?"
The title of this article is conjectural. Although it is based on canonical information, the actual name is a conjecture and may be supplanted at any time by additional information released from canonical sources. If this occurs, please move this page to the appropriate title.
Vernon Dursley had his own office on the ninth floor of the drill company known as Grunnings. The office had a window, but he always sat with his back to it. The office also possessed at least one telephone, which he used make calls that he considered to be important and shout.[1]
In November of 1981, Vernon arrived at Grunnings and proceeded directly to his office. There, he forgot about the owls and odd behaviour he had seen that morning and proceeded to yell at people and make telephone calls. He then left the office to purchase a doughnut at a bakery, and had a very odd encounter. He hurried back to his office and considered dialling home, but thought better of it. He left the office at five o'clock.[1]
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 1 (The Boy Who Lived)