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5 Reasons to ask your Legislator to Support Alternative Student Assessments
posted on January 16, 2019 by Tony Monfiletto
A special thanks to iNOCAL CEO and President Susan Patrick, for sharing your knowledge with us at our Reimagining Assessment event and for this blog.
This year, New Mexico has a unique opportunity to determine on a local level how we want to approach education and student assessment. State Senator Michael Padilla has introduced Senate Joint Memorial 1 to the New Mexico Legislature.
Senate Joint Memorial 1 has the potential to transform education in New Mexico under the flexibility of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The memorial asks New Mexico to create a pilot program that will design new ways of assessing our students, besides just standardized tests.
We believe there is more to the story than standardized tests! The Memorial is an opportunity to rethink what students should know and be able to do in the future. It's a wonderful opportunity for us to transform our schools so that our young people are ready to help make our communities healthier and more prosperous in the future.
I hope you will call your legislator and ask them to support it.
Control Your Own Destiny
As a result of the reauthorization of ESSA in 2015, the federal government has acknowledged that education is best handled locally and the power has shifted back to states and districts for the first time in over a decade to decide how to serve students, families and local communities.
New Mexico is actually ahead of the curve
When the ESSA was written, the drafters were thinking about organizations like Learning Alliance New Mexico, Mission Graduate, and the Albuquerque Pubic Schools, and have been holding a series of conversations to contemplate a vision for student success that is aligned with the future needs of families, communities and our larger economy.
It's a chance to think comprehensively
There is tremendous pent up demand for more trustworthy and just measures that empower teachers to do their best work with students. The memorial is a chance to understand what it takes to do educate young people rather than simply how to test them.
The future is calling
We could leave the days of one dimensional blunt instrument tests to measure learning behind. I've spoken to many employers and none of them believe that a single standardized test can tell you if a student is ready for the work force. This is our chance to understand what it really means to be ready for the future economy and plan our instruction backward from that.
Trust is the way forward
New Mexico is the perfect place for innovation. We are a small small state with less than 2.5 million people that is intensely based on relationships. There is power in being two degrees of separation from one another. It's an opportunity for reciprocal relationships that build trust and shared responsibility for our young people which is the the best way forward.


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Please Note: This advocacy proposal consists of 2 blog postings. Please continue to Page 2 at the bottom of this post.
Increasing Personalized Learning through Technology
"We increasingly use technologies such as Web 2.0 applications, online content and data collection/visualization tools to research, collaborate, communicate, design, and create. In school, students should develop the competencies to use these emerging technologies effectively."
British Columbia Ministry of Education, 2011
Technology is ubiquitous and the pressure to incorporate instructional technologies (IT) into schools is coming from multiple directions, including parents, government, and the educational community. Parents express the desire that their children possess the necessary technology skills to compete in a globalized world. Government and others want to maintain our current world-class standings in international tests, such as PISA, PIRLS and TIMSS. Business leaders are demanding more of graduating students, and students, as digital natives, are adept at using and mastering technology. Finally, teachers want to use, understand and learn more about technology use in the classroom. The British Columbia Ministry of Education recognizes these points of view and includes the use of technology in its vision for public education in British Columbia (BC Ministry of Education, 2011). In the B.C. Ministry of Education's recently announced Personalized Learning Initiative, student and teacher digital literacy is highlighted as an important literacy equal to that of reading and math (BCEd, 2011). To participate in this vision and to increase and support digital literacy at Glanford Middle School, I propose a trial project of the use of iPod Touches for the 2011-2012 school year with the intention of implementing the school-wide use of iPod Touches and/or other mobile devices in the 2012-2013 school year based on the findings and recommendations of this trial project.
Why a Mobile Device?
According to the 2011 Horizon Report, studies show that by 2015, 80% of people connecting to the Internet will be using a mobile device, and Internet-capable mobile devices will outnumber computers by 2013. Statistics show that students are rapidly adopting mobile devices into their day-to-day lives. For example, the percentage of all eight to eighteen year olds who own either an mp3 player or an iPod has increased from 18% in 2004 to 76% in 2009 (Kaiser Foundation, 2010). Mobile devices are clearly the devices our students will be using in the future, if they are not already doing so now.
Mobile devices, such as the iPod Touch, are ideal for the classroom, because they provide specialized and optimized applications that are Internet accessible and designed to complete specific learning tasks, thus reducing student time spent on web browsing in search of web pages suitable for their needs. Mobile devices are a collection of a variety of different technologies that support learning, including electronic book readers, annotation tools, applications for creation and composition, GPS and compasses that allow sophisticated location and positioning, accelerometers and motion sensors that enable the device to be used in new ways (including gesture-based computing), digital capture and editing that bring rich tools for video, audio, and imaging, and also social networking tools which enable collaborative work in the classroom and around the world. And this is just the beginning…
Click on the globe to view Tony Vincent's detailed analysis of iPod Touch educational features and applications or http://learninginhand.com/ipodtouch/
As the following charts demonstrate, media, such as television, music/audio, computer, video games, print and movies play a large role in the culture of today's youth. Teachers can better connect to youth and capitalize on their technological facility by including more media and technology in the classroom. An iPod Touch will enable these connections to be made.

subset: commoncrawl


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TwilightTeez.com ContestSep 4th, 2008 | By Kallieross | Category: Featured Articles
"In the spirit of Stephenie's contest from last year to introduce new character shirts for Bella, Emmett, Carlisle, Esme, and Jasper, we are hosting our own contest for Rosalie, Renesmee, and an alternate Edward Fan Club shirt. The contest will be open for fan submissions starting on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008 at 8:00 am PST, so get your imagination engines revving. The winner for each character shirt design will receive a Signature Edition Fashion ring. The contest will run for one week, and will officially close at 11:00 pm PST on September 10, 2008."
To learn more about how to enter, click here!


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A significant body of work implicates a vascular contribution to the pathogenesis of late-life depression. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship have not been clearly demonstrated. We propose that vascular pathology, characterized by impaired central vascular reactivity and cerebral hypoperfusion, may be the underlying contributor to the clinical, cognitive, and radiological findings in late-life depressio. The long-term goal of this line of research is to determine if decreased vascular reactivity and frontal hypoperfusion is associated with antidepressant nonremission. If correct, this will guide future studies to determine if pharmacological improvement of cerebral perfusion may be a valid antidepressant augmentation strategy. The rationale for this project is that in older populations, vascular disease is strongly associated with the development of depressive symptoms, cognitive deficits, and hyperintense lesions. Vascular pathology, such as decreased arterial lumens, reduced distensibility, and endothelial dysfunction result in the decreased ability of autoregulatory processes to maintain stable cerebral blood flow, resulting in cerebral hypoperfusion. Such perfusion deficits could contribute to antidepressant nonresponse as they would hinder improvements in dorsal system metabolism seen with antidepressant treatment. However, such individuals might receive benefit from approaches that improve cerebral perfusion. As the first step in this line of research, the objective of the current proposal is to determine if decreased vascular reactivity and frontal hypoperfusion in depressed elders predicts and persists with antidepressant nonremission. We will pursue our primary aim testing our hypothesis that decreased reactivity and hypoperfusion, specifically in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, predict antidepressant nonremission. Our approach is to enroll 40 depressed elders who will complete clinical, cognitive, and MRI assessments before and after a 12-week open-label antidepressant trial of sertraline. Regional cerebral perfusion will be assessed using arterial spin labeling (ASL) at a) rest, b) during an emotional oddball task, and c) with a hypercarbic challenge to assess reactivity. This will allow us to examine if reduced reactivity and frontal perfusion is predictive of antidepressant nonremission. This proposal is innovative as it mechanistically examines how vascular dysregulation influences late-life depression outcomes. It is significant as it will improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of late-life depression and, if our hypotheses are correct, support studies examining the antidepressant properties of commercially available drugs that improve cerebral perfusion.
This study will examine the relationship between vascular dysfunction and response to antidepressants in a cohort with late-life depression. This study has great value in expanding our understanding of cerebrovascular contributions to the development of depression in older individuals. Importantly, if the study supports our hypotheses, it will provide crucial data to examine possible antidepressant effects of pharmacological agents that may reverse vascular dysfunction and improve cerebral perfusion.
|Abi Zeid Daou, Margarita; Boyd, Brian D; Donahue, Manus J et al. (2017) Frontocingulate cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reactivity associated with antidepressant response in late-life depression. J Affect Disord 215:103-110
|Riddle, Meghan; Potter, Guy G; McQuoid, Douglas R et al. (2017) Longitudinal Cognitive Outcomes of Clinical Phenotypes of Late-Life Depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 25:1123-1134
|Johnson, Anne D; McQuoid, Douglas R; Steffens, David C et al. (2017) Effects of stressful life events on cerebral white matter hyperintensity progression. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 32:e10-e17
|Taylor, Warren D (2016) Moderators of Remission in Patients With Late-Life Depression: Where Do We Go Next? JAMA Psychiatry 73:319-20
|Taylor, Warren D (2015) Should antidepressant medication be used in the elderly? Expert Rev Neurother 15:961-3
|Riddle, Meghan; McQuoid, Douglas R; Potter, Guy G et al. (2015) Disability but not social support predicts cognitive deterioration in late-life depression. Int Psychogeriatr 27:707-14


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All Films.All Above Board.NOW INCLUDES TV SHOWS & TV LISTINGS
The original stars of the sixties adventure series, Bill Cosby and Robert Culp, are reunited to help their kids who are now spys. Secret agent Alexander Scott is retired and enjoying life as a teacher. However Scott finds out that his daughter has joined his old firm and conspires with his ex-partner, Kelly Robinson, to get her sacked. Unable to do that Robinson persuades Scott to go to Austria to keep an eye on his son as well as Scott's daughter.


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Antimicrobial Bath Product Protection for Cleaner Restrooms
Bathrooms are typically moist and warm and can harbor significant microbial flora. Studies have shown that flushing of a toilet can suspend microbial droplets in the air for hours. Some will cause damage to substrates like grout and sealants while others attack and discolor bathmats and shower curtains. Microban® technologies can be added to a variety of polymers (e.g. vinyl, rubber, latex, PP, PS, ABS) that are found in a variety of bathroom articles and can be easily molded or extruded as part of the manufacturing process. Incorporating antimicrobial bath product protection into your bath products will serve to prevent product deterioration, stains and unpleasant odors due to microbial presence.
From the initial planning phases to assisting clients with regulatory approvals, Microban makes it a priority to communicate with clients throughout our product development process. After we work together with our partners to complete the planning phase, our team of talented engineers design suitable antimicrobial compounds. By testing numerous formulations, we are able to pinpoint the ideal mix of chemical properties for proper antimicrobial bath product protection. After finding the ideal mixture, we check for appropriate antimicrobial performance and counsels clients with patent assistance and regulatory approvals.
The Microban brand is the global leader in built-in antimicrobial protection – with brand awareness levels that rival those of other ingredient brands such as Intel®, Gore-Tex® and Lycra®. The Microban brand is a valuable trustmark that will reassure your partners they're getting durable, effective antimicrobial protection, with a history of safe use, that can help you drive purchase interest.
Microban recently conducted market research with consumers in the market for bathrugs to measure the impact of Microban antimicrobial protection on consumer purchase preference. The research included a control cell in which consumers were asked to indicate their buying preference after viewing product concepts for the three leading brands currently on shelf at retailers. Features were listed as in-store, and all three brands were of equal quality and price. In the second research cell, all other variables remained constant and Microban antimicrobial protection was added as a feature for one of the leading brands.


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Friday, February 17, 2017
A Day Trip in Indiana
10 comments:
- Mary @ Neat and Tidy said...
Sounds like fun! How nice to have friends that like stitching and quilting along with you.
- February 17, 2017 at 4:47 PM
- Prims By The Water said...
I will have to remember these stores when we visit Indiana again. I never have enough fabric! TFS Janice
- February 17, 2017 at 5:38 PM
- Jan said...
Oh my goodness, I would love to visit that cross stitch shop!
- February 17, 2017 at 5:54 PM
- annie said...
Lovely shops!
We all need a day out now and then, how nice!
- February 17, 2017 at 6:57 PM
- Marilyn said...
What a great getaway.
The quilt shop looks wonderful, and HOS is THE best!
I've been there once, and I think they have just about everything. :)
Thanks for sharing your little trip with us.
- February 18, 2017 at 4:50 AM
- Me and My Stitches said...
What a fun outing - looks like you had a great day! Can't wait to see what jumped in the car and came home with you!
- February 18, 2017 at 7:36 AM
- Marcia said...
I'm so jealous of both shops. We have nothing like that here at all! I have to travel for hours to
find shops like this. What a great trip.
- February 18, 2017 at 8:59 AM
- Maureen said...
An inspiring road trip. Thank you for sharing the beautiful colors with us!
- February 18, 2017 at 9:15 AM
- Heartland Stitcher said...
I have wanted to visit House of stitches for several years. Now that I see our pictures, I must go!!! Thanks for sharing. I can only imagine what treasures I could bring home.
Judy heartland stitcher
- February 20, 2017 at 11:29 AM
- JRB CREATIONS said...
I actually live in LaPorte and my mom lives in Valporaiso, but I've never been to either of these shops,LOL! I will definitely have to visit them! If you ever make it to South Bend, they have a wonderful shop called Ericas Craft and Sewing Center. :o)
- February 22, 2017 at 12:59 PM


text: Don't forget our Renewal Weekend – dinner will be @ 5pm on Saturday, February 25th, followed by the service with Zack Henson and Dr. Spencer Ledbetter. Sunday morning during ABF's @ 9am, the men and women will meet separately to be challenged and encouraged by speakers Chris Thrutchley and Erica Fletcher. Dr. Ledbetter will speak during the morning worship.


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A friend recently told me that the old TV series The Six Million Dollar Man, about a grievously-wounded astronaut fitted with human-looking but superpowered prosthetics, was being rebooted. I vented about this a while — I have issues with the constant readaptation of the recent pop-culture past, driven by the marketer's fear of an unsure product — but a recent panel I had seen at the World Fantasy Convention put me in a kinder mindset.
The panel discussed the rise in European horror fiction after World War 1. Fiction helps us process the world (to a great degree, scientists now think), even the horrors of war, if it can address it. Even today, Outside the Wire's Theater of War presents Sophocles's Ajax to communities vulnerable to PTSD. In the US after the Civil War, and in Europe after World War I, horror stories helped society work out the true horrors they had seen and still saw, the desolation wrought around them, and the wounded disabled survivors.
Because of our improved ability to save the lives of the grievously-wounded, our 21st-Century wars are increasing both the number of young disabled people and the public's frequency and depth of engagement with prosthetic devices. There's things to say about that, well-suited for telling through a Steve Austin figure.


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This Friday's FACT mix comes from Dublin-based duo Solar Bears.
Recently signed to Planet Mu, we've been listening to this duo's music non-stop of late – their Inner Sunshine EP, recently released with a remix by Lone, is more than healthy but it's in their debut album, the forthcoming She Was Coloured In where the real Solar Bears treats lie. Inspired by the likes of Broadcast and Tangerine Dream, it's an album of gentle synth-pop, swelling ambience and archaic Kosmische and prog that sits nicely next to recent work by Ratatat and Oriol, as well as Boards of Canada and Pivot.
Compiled by the group's Rian Trench, Solar Bears' FACT mix features Harmonia '76, Lone, Kate Bush, Fuck Buttons and more and is sounding pretty perfect to our ears this morning. Watch out for a full FACT interview with the pair in the not-too-distant future.
Twin Sister – Ginger
Solar Bears – Kill On
George Delerue – Theme de Camille
Fuck Buttons – Space Mountain
Beaver and Krause – As I Hear It
Lone – The Twilight Switch
Harmonia '76 – When Shade was Born
Cornelius – Drop
Stanley Myers – Cavatina
Joy Division – Decades
Julee Cruise – The World Spins
Kate Bush – Cloudbusting
Bibio – Segee and the Indian
Paul Giovanni – Willow's Song


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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
My Baby Girl
My McKinley Girl is officially 10!!! Turned 10 October 14th. I have been really thinking about how much I adore my baby girl the past few weeks and can't stand the thought of her getting old. I remember when she was a puppy, still, just as clumsy as ever, hehe. I got her when I lived in Boone, still single, with plans to move to Colorado! She used to hike with me all the time along the Blue Ridge Parkway, she went to work with me at the group homes I worked in, and she laid underneath the counter at the ski resort I was a binding technician for. She has been by my side from day one. Then I met Paul, we married, and then we brought Boda into our family. Since then so many changes have occurred, poor little girl. She has stuck by my side through them all even though she is not a big fan of having to be put second most of the time.
Although a little neurotic most of her life, she is such a sweet soul and just loves her family. I love my baby girl!!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Awwww, there are so many special things about my baby boy. One of the things that makes me grin ear to ear are his ears, especially when the sun beams through them =)...see above. They are too cute with their 'glowing sweetness'. Every now and again I get the question "where does he get those ears?" I thought I would look through our blood line a little bit and this is what I found:
Me, In my younger years...
Friday, October 16, 2009
Freeman Bedtime Routine
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Sodium Nitrate
This day in age, we hear it all the time, preservatives are everywhere! Who knows what can hurt us and what can't and what all of them mixed together will do. I try to go organic as much as possible, and would LOVE to go completely organic, but being able to afford it is a different story. Found out something interesting at the Doctor's office last week, especially for those of you that have boys =) Sodium Nitrate, which is found in most processed meats, has been shown to effect concentration and attention span. If course my Eli loves bologna, hot dogs, sausage, etc... and though I have tried to limit his consumption, I have not been able to completely eliminate them from his diet. But now that I know this, I am trying to eliminate it all together!!!! He is a crazy little boy =), and a lot of the time he has trouble sitting still and focusing. But again, he is a boy and that is what most boys do. Hopefully, this will make a little bit of a difference.
If you want to know whether or not your meats have Sodium Nitrate, or if you are wondering if what you are about to buy has it, just flip it over and look at the ingredients. It is usually the last ingredient listed.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Super Cool Karate Man
- white belt with orange stripe
- white belt with yellow stripe
- white belt with green strip
- white belt with red stripe
- white belt with blue stripe
- white belt with purple stripe
- white belt with brown stripe
And then:
- Solid orange
- Orange belt with black stripe
- Yellow Belt
- Yellow belt with black stripe
- Green belt
- Green belt with black stripe
...and so on. You get the point! I could be wrong with one or so in the order. My baby was at the 'white belt with yellow stripe' when his instructor came to him (and us) and said that he felt Elijah was good enough to be bumped up to the solids!! Yay! So he skipped everything after the orange stripe and moved right up to the solid orange this weekend! He was soooo very proud of himself. It was so invigorating to see my son so proud of himself! His self esteem has flourished, his self discipline is growing. I see the children that are brown belts and their manners and self discipline are absolutely amazing. I am glad that we have found this place, can't wait to see what is ahead.
Elijah after graduating to Orange!
Elijah and his instructor, Wil. A little blurry =(
My baby doing his technique drill during graduation:
Monday, October 5, 2009
Free Branch Jewelry
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Stone Mountain Randevu
Friday we had a great day at Stone Mountain Park with some wonderful friends, The Sherwoods. What a great place, we need to visit the park much more often!! The boys had a bast!! And so did little Addyson. We enjoyed the Sky Car to the top of the Mountain, a great picnic, the foam barn, the choo choo train, a 4D theater, and pumpkin searching during their Halloween celebration. There was so much more to do but we ran out of time and definitely ran out of energy.
Here is the Freeman Clan getting ready for the 4D movie...
The view of Atlanta from the top of the mountain...
Noah, ready to RUN!! He loved the big rock!!
Elijah (AKA: Raphael the Ninja Turtle) celebrating life!
Thank you Stone Mountain! We will be back soon!! =)


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HOUSTON, Texas --After the horrors of Harvey and the damage done to the Theater District, many in the Houston arts community spent this week accessing and starting the recovery process. They've also been checking their calendars and alternate venues in order to bring performing art back to the city.
We've kept you updated on news from the Alley Theatre and Houston Symphony. Now we cast our art gaze wider to view the latest changes inside and outside of downtown, and find ways Houston can support the art and artists they love.
Visit our news partners at Houston CultureMap for the full list.


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Neocore Games has adopted a fairly simple formula for The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, an isometric tale that puts players in the monster slaying shoes of the son of legendary vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing.
Following the release of the first game in 2013, and the second a year later, Neocore Games has enforced its belief that if something isn't broken, there's no need of fixing it. The series has so far kept to its core basics, with very little attempts by the developer to leave its comfort zone to try switch some aspects around.
That is what I came to experience, yet again, when I played The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing 3 over the weekend. The 'Preview Build' lasted around seventy minutes, and during that time I saw the final tale in the trilogy carry forward pretty much everything from its predecessors. I could easily have been playing an earlier release.
That, though, is not necessarily something that fans of the series should be disappointed to know. Even now, I don't find myself tiring of exploring the fictional region of Borgovia, with its brew of gothic fantasy, magic, mad science, and steampunk setting.
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing have timidly improved on presentation with each game, and I'm certain that to be the case with the third game as well. Players should be asking themselves whether they are thrilled to be revisiting Borgovia once again. If so, I can guarantee the same satisfying experience that I've had with the past two games. You can expect great entertainment value, but not something incredible.
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing 3 takes place in Borgovia immediately after the conclusion of the civil war in the second game. Players mustn't be worried if they haven't played the first two games. Neocore did well in bringing everyone up to speed on the story in Van Helsing II, and it is the same with the third game. The opening segments will efficiently chalk out past events and the troubles that are currently brewing.
A fantastic addition to the game, which I really loved to see, is its playable classes. Unlike the first two games, the third installment gives players the option of choosing out of six playable classes. These replace the Hunter, the Thaumaturge and the Arcane Mechanic, but have in some way evolved from the original three classes.
The Preview Build only allowed me to play as either the melee-specialist Protector or the magic-wielding Elementalist. The final build will, however, also feature the ranged Bounty Hunter, the Phlogistoneer and his weird science, the inventive engineer dubbed as the Constructor, and the dark stealthy killer Umbralist.
The Elementalist easily took my attention over the Protector. The class looked more fun, with plenty of AOE spells, and abilities that can work both defensively and offensively. Each activated spell had pretty and unique visuals that made me smile whenever I saw enemies clumped together inside a raging river of fire.
I loved the fact that the game totally disregards your chosen difficulty level when it comes to monster camps. Even when you're breezing through on the lowest levels, you'll come across regular camps that might look similar, but will easily overwhelm you. This is the same case when raising the difficulty bar, and keeps players on their toes.
The Skill and Auras Trees have been cleaned up. One of the bitter aspects in gameplay before was that even though players were offered a relatively long Skill Tree to scale through, players usually found it more convenient to stick to just a couple of starting abilities. With Van Helsing 3, there are fewer skills to unlock, but which have been carefully designed to cater to one aspect of gameplay for each class.
The stages look to be rehashed from the same editor, with mostly the same assets. In the beginning I frowned upon working my way through a stage very similar to those I've played in the first game. But that was until I realized I was revisiting the lair of Professor Fulmigati to put an end to science experiments that are still being conducted in secret.
The secret lair is the same as it has been in the past two games. The marshaling of troops from the second installment has returned and you'll be once again able to train, equip, and send recruits for missions.
The sassy Lady Katarina has not forgotten to exchange banters on cue. You'll even see most of the enemies returning from previous games, but be ready for surprises – as I was when I went to battle against a giant festering toad.
Overall, I believe that fans of the series will have enough stamina left from the last two games to play through the concluding installment. Likewise, newcomers will be equally entertained. There, though, will be some who might decide against diving into the same pond that they have been swimming in for the past two games.
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing 3 is scheduled for a release on May 22 for the PC. The game will not feature any Early Access, and from playing the Preview Build, I can say that the game looked technically fine (apart from a slight screen tearing incident during the opening scene).


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Meridian Medical Inc., North American distributor for Meridian Co., Ltd. (Meridian), has signed agreement with LipoLaser USA as a distributor for Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky state. As per the contract, LipoLaser USA has purchased an initial order of 10 units of the Lapex 2000 BCS and is committed to purchase an additional 90 units over the next 30 months.
The president and chief executive officer of LipoLaser Bob Arrasmith opened the first LipoLaser clinic in October of 2008, and he is already expanding into the Tri-State area of Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. We are extremely excited about the future of our companies. It would appear our LipoLaser Clinic is a recession proof business based on our last 6 months, says Arrasmith. These are some pretty tough economic times, but our business is not just thriving, we are expanding. Mark Goetz of MHG Leasing, a shareholder of LipoLaser USA, has provided leasing options for individuals looking to incorporate the device into their business model. LipoLaser is located in the Chamber of Commerce Center, Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky.
It is extremely important that our distribution partners share our goals and have the ability to provide customers with first class service, support, and distribution. Arrasmith, president of LipoLaser clearly fits the criteria we identified to promote our products effectively, said Robert J. Krznaric, chief executive officer of Meridian Medical Inc.


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Back in Nicaragua
- April 7, 2011 |
- By David Savona
The blast of sultry, tropical air hit me as I walked off the American Airlines jet in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. I was a bit bleary eyed—on Tuesday night Cigar Aficionado held its Night to Remember charity dinner, which meant only two hours of sleep for me to make my 6 a.m. flight—but a smile came to my face when I felt the heat. I'm happy to be back in Nicaragua.
I've come to this Central American country many times for Cigar Aficionado, touring the country's rich tobacco lands and walking through its cigar factories. I was last here in December 2009, and I'm back for the same reason—the second Nicaraguan Cigar Festival.
When I joined Cigar Aficionado in 1995, Nicaraguan cigars weren't a major factor in the U.S. market. Today they loom large for cigar smokers and are one of the largest producers of cigars by hand in the world. In terms of quality, their presence resonates even more. Cigars from Nicaragua, and those made with Nicaraguan tobacco, do very well in Cigar Aficionado taste tests. The soil here is amazingly rich, and the nation is blessed with three distinctive major-growing regions, as well as smaller ones.
I saw one of those regions on Wednesday, touring a tobacco field called Villa Vieja with José Orlando and Jorge Padrón, the father-son team that makes Padrón cigars. It was nearly 5 p.m. by the time we reached the field, typically a poor time to see tobacco because it tends to droop that late in the day. But these plants looked great. There was a nice breeze in the field, and the leaves were big, wide and healthy. I had Jorge describe the tobacco for a bit as I shot some video.
It's been a very good year for tobacco here. I talked to several other growers that night at the festival dinner, which was held at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate. On Thursday I'm heading out to other regions of Nicaragua to see more tobacco, so I'll see if the crop is good all around the country.
The event at Drew Estate featured free-flowing cigars made by various members of the Nicaraguan Cigar Association. I puffed on a Padrón Anniversary Exclusivo natural, one of my favorites, before lighting up a new cigar called a CroMagnon, which had a solid backbone of flavor. The cigars were flowing in abundance, as was the beer and rum.
Late in the evening, two of Nicaragua's finest cigar men—Gilberto Oliva Sr. and José O. Padron—were honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Asociación Nicaraguense de Puros. The crowd truly appreciated the work of these elder statesmen of Nicaraguan cigars.
It was a long, long night. One of the tour buses encountered some problems, so dinner and the auction went very late. The lack of sleep caught up with me, and the auction was still going on at 2 a.m. when I finally said "no mas" and headed out. I was dragging from the lack of sleep, and I knew I had to be on the road early Thursday morning to start the long ride to the north of the country to see tobacco in Jalapa, where Nicaragua's finest wrappers are grown.


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Digestive System Channel
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Side Effects of Ethacrynic Acid
There are many possible side effects of ethacrynic acid, including trouble swallowing, loss of appetite, headache, and nausea. Although side effects are, in most cases, minor and do not require medical attention, some serious problems may need to be reported to your healthcare provider. Let your healthcare provider know if you experience serious ethacrynic acid side effects, such as severe diarrhea, fainting spells, or an allergic reaction.
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with ethacrynic acid (Edecrin®). However, not everyone who takes the medication will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. When side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can be easily treated by you or your healthcare provider.
(This article covers many, but not all, possible side effects with ethacrynic acid. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of ethacrynic acid side effects with you.)
Ethacrynic acid has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials, in which a group of people taking the drug have side effects documented and compared to another group not taking the medicine. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
Some of the reported ethacrynic acid side effects include:
- Loss of appetite
- General ill feeling (malaise)
- Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
- Trouble swallowing
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Blurred vision
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Chills.
Ethacrynic Acid (Edecrin)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD


text:
Yankees great and White Plains resident Mariano Rivera and Steiner Sports Marketing have teamed up to assist with the relief efforts for victims of the recent natural disasters that have ravaged Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Fans are encouraged to donate supplies Thursday, Sept. 28 at the Steiner Warehouse loading dock at 10 Cedar Street in New Rochelle (directly across the street from the Toyota dealership).
Donations are being accepted from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
And yes, the star player will be there to meet with donors. Rivera accepting supplies and meeting with the generous donors. He will be joined by popular television personality Evelyn Lozada, the star of Basketball Wives.
Supplies being accepted include bottled water, non-perishable food, toothbrushes and toothpaste, medical supplies (band-aids, aspirin, alcohol and hand sanitizer), soap, feminine hygiene products, batteries, and portable lamps. Signs at the dock to direct fans will read Steiner Sports Natural Disaster Supply Drop Off.
Along with the Mariano-led effort on Thursday, hours for drop-off are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6: p.m.
For those who can't participate during those hours call 914-307-1140 or email firstname.lastname@example.com so alternate arrangements can be made.
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.


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I know I am behind by a week or so. It has taken a little while to get back into the swing of things but we are getting there. Josh is back at preschool and the others are back at work - so life is getting back to the usual routines.
Well we had a good Christmas despite colds, etc. We went down to stay with Andy's mum in Exeter and the weather seemed very strange, very warm for this time of the year. It was nice to spend some time just doing not a lot, slowing down and chilling.
Josh has taken to playing the piano and is very gentle in doing so. Very little banging of the piano. I think he has been watching his big brother and the way he plays.
Watching Harry Potter well until it got a bit too scary and both daddy and Josh needed a cushion. Wearing the hat I had just finished knitting.
December also sees Josh's birthday on New Years Eve when we usually have a little get together with a birthday tea. Josh has great fun and usually needs a little bit of calming down time at the end.
To recover from all this Mum invited us over for dinner and Josh enjoyed wearing the hat from the cracker. Mum always cooks his favourite dinner when we go over - Fish fingers and green beans! Yummy!
Still can't believe he is 3 years old. Where does the time go.
And to finish off will just leave you with some project pictures.
Christmas present for Mother in Law - Crofter Cowl by Gudrun Johnson and Peerie Flooers by Kate Davies.
Well I think that had better be it for now. Don't want to bore you completely.
Have a good few days
Morag x
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
Happy New Year
3 comments:
Oh my goodness! The day I am able to knit a Peerie Flooers like you I will be a happy lady. Perhaps you could come and teach me? ;-)ReplyDelete
Happy belated new year to you too.
Such a lovely post...Happy Belated Birthday Wishes to Josh!...You are right though Morag, time does fly...Love your latest makes...especially the Kate Davies design (on my list too!) Thanks so much for calling by my blog and taking part in the Giveaway...Good Luck!ReplyDelete
Susan x
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Maverick Report
ISLAMABAD: The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of £3 million ($4.5 million) from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) for vulnerable displaced communities in the highly volatile northwest of Pakistan.
According to a press release, the donation comes at a crucial time to enable the WFP continue its assistance over the coming weeks to people affected by law and order operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the Federally Administered Tribal Agencies (FATA), where the WFP currently provides monthly food rations to more than one million people.
"This very timely donation will help to provide the handling costs for the generous wheat contribution from the government of Pakistan, as well as purchase monthly food rations for about 25,000 families from Tirah Valley and Kurram Agency, affected by the latest spill-over of hostilities. Supporting communities who are at risk of increasing vulnerability is now a priority in the northwest," said Lola Castro, WFP Representative in Pakistan.
The latest contribution from the UK will allow the WFP procure 2,145 metric tons of fortified mixed food commodities as well as mill, fortify, transport and distribute over 6,500 metric tons of wheat donated by the Pakistan government.
Moazzam Malik, Director of DFID's Western Asia Department, said: "I am very pleased that DFID is able to support WFP's efforts to provide essential wheat and food rations for displaced persons. This support is critical as the number of families displaced in the northwest continues to rise and they will be increasingly vulnerable heading into the winter."
WFP currently requires $31 million to fully implement its operations in Pakistan until the end of this year, of which $6 million is still needed to cover costs required for handling of the government-donated wheat.


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Trudeau is a good-looking chap, and that he has marked himself to be a compassionate feminist must make him the tastiest catch in geopolitics today. Right, ladies?
Wrong. Never trust a man who says he's a feminist. The words 'I'm a feminist' uttered from the mouths of males is up there with 'I love refugees in Calais' and 'I love the NHS' in terms of self-regarding attention-seeking masquerading as high-minded altruism. And 'I'm a feminist' has an added layer of menace, being the words every young man has tried at least once in an effort to seduce a woman.
The pronouncement is the trademark of creeps.


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Citation: John Gartner — May 13, 2015
Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft have grown quickly despite resistance from some local governments over their legality of operation. To avoid the legal morass, new services, such as BlueNet-Ride, are leveraging social networks and avoiding directly competing with taxi and limousine services.
Based in Taipei, Taiwan, BlueNet-Ride uses Facebook to connect people interested in attending events. Attendees can carpool or group together to rent a taxi as a means of reducing the cost and emissions of traveling to concerts, sporting, or other events. Created by National Taipei University of Technology Associate Professor of Electronic Engineering Shih-Chia Huang and his students, the service connects Facebook users with friends or friends of friends as a safer alternative to traveling with unknown drivers.
Searching for Riders and Drivers
During an interview in Shenzhen, China, Huang said the backend to the mobile application is an algorithm that searches for people who plan to attend events and maps the distance between driver and passengers, as well as distance to the location. Cab companies participate and offer to drive the groups of acquaintances, or people can offer to drive for free, which avoids the legality of operating an unlicensed taxi service. Ride sharers can volunteer to chip in for gas, and the app has a chat feature so that people can discuss when and where to meet.
Through the free app, commercial drivers can opt to maximize their revenue or drive the shortest distance to be able to serve more customers. A fee of $0.10 is charged by BlueNet-Ride to passengers when they find a ride via a taxi service, and they pay the normal tax fees. Huang received a patent in the United States in 2014 for the ridesharing idea. He has received more than 30 patents in the United States, Europe, Taiwan, and China for a variety of technologies, including mobile applications for gesture recognition, image processing, and liquid crystal display (LCD) modules.
Regulation Woes
The onslaught of ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft has many state regulators and legislators scrambling on how to regulate the new services. For example, pending bills in Wisconsin and Tennesseewould establish rules for companies to pay license fees, as well as background checks for drivers or setting a minimum for liability insurance to be held.
Huang isn't the only entrepreneur making the friends-to-rides connection. Hitch A Ride is a similar application that connects passengers with drivers via social networks in Australia.


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text:
Farm in a Box : Eco-Efficient Gardening
We learned from our friends at Home Grown Evolution that Home Depot will soon be carrying Farm in a Box from Earth Systems. Farm in the Box is a combined fish tank/planter box with recirculating water system that grows vegetables on top of the box along with fish underneath. Waste from the fish circulates into the planter which provides fertilizer for the plants as well as removing nitrogen and ammonia from the water. The smaller boxes are designed to fit on a balcony, while the larger boxes are suitable to raise edible fish.
We've never experimented with Aquapaonics before, but would definitely consider one of the smaller containers to raise vegetables. Have you ever tried Aquapaonics? Would you use Farm in a Box?
From the Earth Solutions website:
By integrating fish with vegetables, naturally balanced aquatic ecosystems are established making it unnecessary to add fertilizer, chemicals or remove nitrogen rich water.
As in nature, plants, fish and oxygen loving bacteria create a symbiotic relationship; Fish waste is converted by bacteria to a plant loving nutrient which helps maintain safe levels of ammonia without discarding waste and water.
Aqupaonics is an efficient, intensive gardening method with average of 3-6 fold greater yield per square foot. And even though water is everywhere in an aquaponic system, there is as much as 90% less water used than in-ground methods. Other advantages to aquaponics, is that it is fun, easy, most can be done anywhere, by anyone who shares a passion for locally grown food and herbs, without the challenges of in ground farming. Experiment with growing aquaponically raised fish and vegetables in your house on the patio in a greenhouse or community garden, and enjoy!"
• 1 San Antonio, $589
• 2 Little Tokyo, $249.50
• 3 Manhattan, $249.50
• 4 Phoenix, $2,499.00
• 5 Dallas, $899.50
Via: Home Grown Evolution.


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U.S., WHO scientists begin work to contain bird flu in north Iraq
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- American and U.N. health experts tried Sunday to help this war-ravaged country fight a new battle against bird flu, and officials said at least eight people have been hospitalized with symptoms similar to those caused by the virus.
Under U.S. military guard, American and World Health Organization epidemiologists, veterinary experts and clinicians are expected to work together across the northern Kurdistan region to find out how the disease entered Iraq and how to contain it. The teams arrived over the weekend.
The country's first case of the virus appeared in a 15-year-old girl from the Kurdistan town of Raniya who died Jan. 17. But it is not clear whether she contracted the disease from domestic or migratory birds, or by some other means.


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Whom do you ship with Korrina
Discussion in 'Shippers Community' started by Bahmo, Nov 1, 2014.
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they used to act crazy and they said they didn't care
about the state of their clothes or the cut of their hair
but their jeans had to flare and their locks were always long
and their colour-clashing fashion style was never wrong
their music was appealing, though it wasn't the kind
you could write without the aid of a pill to shape the mind
they looked looked down their noses at those who had cash
their ashtrays overflowed with wacky baccy ash
they'd float up the road in their long drooping skirts
dragged down by the weight of the grey roadside dirt
they said they wanted freedom, they said they wanted peace
but a lot of them just wanted to score some LSD
the best of them were present at important demonstrations
while the rest of them confined themselves to cliched remonstrations
they complained about the bread-heads, the straights and the dole
they didn't think that they should have to take a working role
so they sat in cosy corners in a muttering clutch
making ignorant remarks that didn't help much
they were young and the world pulsed under their feet
and they thought it would dance to their youthful heartbeat
but you can't change the world when you haven't a clue
about what is the right and the wrong thing to do
you can't change the world to fit your shoes
you can try if you like, but you're bound to lose
the best of them examined the world as it turned
changing their course through the lessons they learned
looking for ways to make the world a better place
for the birds, beasts and fishes, and the human race
or simply settling down to an average life
with house, job, two kids and a husband or wife
and what of the hippies that they left behind
who lived for themselves and chose to be blind?
their years went by in a chemical haze
and sometimes they'd shuffle in a glass-eyed daze
down to the shops to pick up some fags
their psychedelic clothing reduced to rags
every so often an old friend will say
"so-and-so died in the hospital today
he should have been placed on suicide watch
goodness knows where he got that match
but he started a fire and he lay on the bed
they tried to save him, but he wound up dead."
some of them found heroin and some found crack
some died from overdose or heart attack
some of them are locked in a psychiatric ward
the ones who kept their freedom are all getting bored
sitting in a chair with a warm cup of tea
trying to pull a tenner from fifty p.
we're the predecessors of the current youth
and it's time we admitted to the difficult truth
for fifty years the drug disease has been growing
while half the world ignored the seeds that it was sowing
the present generation is the most affected yet
all of us are shocked, but what did we expect?
(reposted from my mother blog Making it Write)
©Jane Paterson Basil


text:
McCourt divorce: Grilling of Boston lawyer continues
An attorney for Jamie McCourt continued Wednesday to skewer the beleaguered Boston lawyer who drafted a marital property agreement at the heart of Jamie and Frank McCourt's divorce trial.
The McCourts' divorce trial is being held in Los Angeles Superior Court, where attorney Larry Silverstein acknowledged Tuesday that he changed a key word in the agreement after both had signed the document and without informing either one.
He substitued language that could determine whether the L.A. Dodgers are Frank McCourt's alone or property he shares with his estranged wife.
On Wednesday, attorney David Boies asked Silverstein why he chose not to send the couple an e-mail from a Califronia lawyer noting that if the McCourts ever challenged the agreement, "the fact that you didn't have indepedent counsel would probably be reason to invalidate the agreement."
"You agree you got this warning?" Boies asked.
"I don't know if I would call it a warning," said Silverstein, who represented both McCourts when they signed the agreement.
-- Carla Hall at L.A. County Superior Court


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Spring has sprung and Peregrine Falcons throughout the UK will soon be taking turns incubating their eggs. Our thoughts turn to June when the young take to the wing for the first time, probably the most vulnerable point in a Peregrine's life. This is precisely the time when we hope to have volunteers on hand to help keep an eye on the fledglings to make sure they don't get into difficulty.
We can't be everywhere at once, so at sites like Quadrant House in Sutton we're looking for local people to volunteer to help keep an eye on the birds. Let us know if you're based in or near Sutton and think you'd be able to help.


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IP enforcement in the Philippines has long been a painful affair. First an IP holder had to find evidence of infringement (usually via a P.I.), then ask the NBI or Police to conduct a raid. Then they applied for a search warrant, with the IP Holder's attorneys. The court often took all day so a raid could not start until the next day. The NBI or Police then conducted the raid to seize the fake goods. Then the IP holders attorneys had to return to court to file the results of the search warrant execution. IP holders had to pay their own storage costs and the case would take many years to conclude after it was passed to the DoJ for investigation then to the court for criminal prosecution. Tip offs, unreliability and disappearing defendants were common. Because it was so time consuming and costly, IP holders could only manage a few raids a year at best, leading to limited deterrence.
So the IP Office decided to get in on the act and set up their own enforcement team to help improve the system. This began with the Amended IP Code ( Republic Act No. 10372), which established the IPR Enforcement Office at the IPO. It can take complaints on IPR violation and then can act by conducting inspections and raids on infringers. Further the IPO has also said it will ask the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to freeze the bank accounts of suspects. A very interesting angle is that the IPO Enforcement Office has a variety of enforcement options to choose from - warning letters, raids, filing of administrative cases etc. They have in fact been varying the actions they take too.
Although the focus tends to be the rather blunt measure of number of goods seized, the real test will be in having more regular raids carried out under a more efficient and less time consuming system that the current one, which actively discourages IP holder involvement through its complexity. Of course raids are only the first step, infringers still need to be prosecuted for the system to have the full deterrent effect. But let's hope the IPO enforcement system is will at least make the raid stage easier and more effective. A variety of cases have now been undertaken and we will start to see the results in the coming months.


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There are many reasons why a bacterial infection will develop in a person. Regardless of how the infection is gotten or transmitted, the infection can be treated using antibiotic treatment drugs. If you buy azithromycin single dose pak, you will be able to remedy your bacterial infection using just a single dose of antibiotic. Normally, when you treat any form of infection, whether bacterial, fungal, or protozoal, you need to use a course treatment to effectively remedy the infection and purge it out of your system. However, with single dose pak of azithromycin antibiotic, you can treat a bacterial infection with just a single antibiotic dose.
People buy azithromycin single dose for the very reason that they only need to use a single dose to fully treat their infection, whereas with other antibiotic treatments, they will need several days of dosage of the antibiotic they are taking. Of course, this is different when you buy azithromycin single dose as the antibiotic is on a delayed and prolonged release, which is why if you take azithromycin single dose, it is all that you need for a full course treatment of antibiotic. This makes this version of antibiotic drug very ideal for people who are particularly forgetful.
Without azithromycin single dose pak, to treat an infection, a course treatment of antibiotics lasting several days is necessary. The length of treatment will depend on the type of infection as well as the severity of it. If you buy azithromycin single dose, instead of using several doses of antibiotics on a span of several days, you only need to use one single dose of antibiotic. Of course, before you buy azithromycin single dose, make it a point to consult your doctor over your infection issue so you can be properly diagnosed as well as be prescribed and given instructions on the antibiotic you will be taking.
If your doctor does not give you azithromycin single dose, try to ask about it and if it is okay that you just take that antibiotic drug instead of what you are being prescribed with. If your doctor agrees with your request, try to ask for instructions on how to use the azithromycin single dose and if you require more than one dose for your treatment that will last you for several days of treatment. This is because there may be some infection that will require you to retake azithromycin single dose after several days from your first use.
Once given the necessary directions and have been prescribed to buy azithromycin single dose, you have the option of buying your antibiotic med online. These days, thanks to fast delivery services, you can receive your online purchase of antibiotic within just a single day. They have overnight and next day delivery services. The advantage of buying antibiotics online is that you are able to get a lot of savings. After all, the prices of online products are priced much lower than that of physical stores. So if you are looking to save money, buy azithromycin single dose online.


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About Round Lake Heights
The village of Round Lake Heights is the little village that could. The village tried several times to annex the area's first subdivision, Indian Hill, finally succeeding and incorporating in 1960.
The village then went to work starting a police department with volunteer officers, adding streetlights and other services as they raised funds.
Village leaders made do with what they had; the village continues to be one of the few in the state with very little debt. Village leaders used their own garages to house the first clerk's office and the police department.
The historic Shag Bark Park was annexed by the village in 1977, one of 13 trails in Illinois listed on the National Recreation Trail. In 1981, the village annexed 100 acres and a marsh now known as the Fairfield Marsh.
The village continues to add subdivisions including Fox Glen and Chesapeake Trails, doubling the community's population, enabling construction of a new town hall and increasing the number of parks from one to seven.
The village lies within the Round Lake Area School District 116 and Lake Villa School District 41.
Round Lake Heights was the first village in Lake County to join the Dollar for Scholars program, raising more than $115,000 since 2000, giving away 182 scholarships to area students.


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Kyle Maksimovich Named Otters Captain
Erie, Pennsylvania – Erie Otters Head Coach Chris Hartsburg announced today that fourth year forward Kyle Maksimovich has been named captain of the team for the 2017-18 campaign.
"For the young group we have and the season we're going through right now, I think it's important to have someone that brings a lot of positive energy on a daily basis," Chris Hartsburg stated, "Kyle exudes that. He's a guy that relates to every player, gets along with everyone, but more importantly he brings passion and energy on a daily basis. Those are the things we're trying to make contagious here and he's a perfect example of that for our young group."
Maksimovich, a 5'9", 180-pound forward, becomes the Otters 12th full-time captain in team history. The Hamilton, Ontario native is in his fourth season with the team after being selected 59th overall in the third round of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection. The 19-year-old has appeared in 228 career games with Erie, tallying 71 goals, 137 assists for a total of 208 points. Maksimovich holds the second longest ironman streak in team history with 131 consecutive games played from March 14, 2015 thru February 25, 2017.
"It's a huge honor," commented Kyle Maksimovich, "and I'm excited to take on the role and take on the leadership that comes with it."
Owen Headrick, Ivan Lodnia, and Ryan Martin will round out the team's leadership group as alternate captains for the season.
Ticket packages are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Erie Otters front office located at 201 E. 8th Street in Erie, or by calling 814-455-7779. Single game tickets can be purchased in person at the Erie Insurance Arena box office located at 809 French Street, online at www.erieevents.com, or by calling 814-452-4857. For the latest Otters news, visit www.ottershockey.com, or follow the team on Facebook (www.facebook.com/erieottershockey), Twitter (@ErieOtters) and Instagram (@ErieOtters).


text:
Mental Health Channel
Topics & Medications
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Side Effects of Guanfacine ER
Drowsiness, headaches, and dizziness are some of the common side effects of guanfacine ER. Adverse reactions to this drug are generally mild, and most people taking it have no problems at all. However, serious side effects are possible, such as slow heart rate, unexplained swelling, and extreme drowsiness. These potentially dangerous problems require immediate medical attention.
An Introduction to Guanfacine ER Side EffectsAs with any medicine, side effects are possible with guanfacine ER (Intuniv™). However, not everyone who takes the medication will have problems. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or are treated easily by you or your healthcare provider.
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible guanfacine ER side effects. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list with you.)
Side Effects of Guanfacine ER to ReportThere are a number of possible side effects with guanfacine ER that you should report to your healthcare provider. These include but are not limited to:
- Signs of low blood pressure, such as dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
- A slow heart rate
- Extreme drowsiness
- Signs of an allergic reaction, including unexplained rash, hives, itching, unexplained swelling, wheezing, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Common Side Effects
Guanfacine ER has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials. In these studies, the side effects that occurred in a group of people taking the drug were documented and compared to those that occurred in another group of people taking a placebo (a "sugar pill" with no active ingredients).
This way, it is possible to see what side effects occurred, how often they appeared, and how they compared to the placebo. However, some studies (especially the long-term studies) did not use a placebo.
In these studies, the most common guanfacine ER side effects included:
- Drowsiness -- in up to 45 percent of people
- Headache -- up to 26 percent
- Fatigue -- up to 15 percent
- Upper abdominal pain (stomach pain) -- up to 11 percent
- Low blood pressure (hypotension) -- up to 10 percent
- Vomiting -- up to 9 percent
- Dizziness -- up to 7 percent
- Nausea -- up to 7 percent
- Weight gain -- up to 7 percent.
Other common adverse reactions, occurring in 3 to 6 percent of people, included:
- Irritability
- Decreased appetite
- Dry mouth
- Constipation.
Guanfacine ER Drug Information
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD


text:
Go back to school in style with a magnetic locker flower from LockerLookz™. This orange-colored locker accessory features a jeweled daisy with multiple layers of petals.
This cheerful flower uses strong magnets to adhere to metal surfaces in seconds. Place this magnetic flower on locker walls or doors to create a flowery space all your own.
LockerLookz™ is an affordable collection specializing in coordinating locker accessories that can be mixed and matched to give school lockers a personalized look.


text:
Alexandria Evans
Alex is an Associate in the Employment Law Department at Lupton Fawcett. She advises employers on a wide range of employment related matters including discrimination issues, TUPE, settlement agreements, contracts of employment and service agreements, handbooks, policies, conduct and performance issues and redundancies.
Alex also has extensive experience of assisting with the employment aspects of corporate transactions and regularly advises clients in relation to employment issues that arise upon the sale and purchase of businesses or their assets.
After graduating with a BA(Hons) in Music from the University of Leeds, Alex subsequently decided to retrain as a Solicitor. Alex studied for her Law Degree part time at Leeds Metropolitan University whilst working at Fox Hayes and subsequently Lupton Fawcett LLP.
Career Milestones
- 2003 Graduated from the University of Leeds with a BA(Hons) in Music
- 2007 Completed Law Degree and obtained a training contract
- 2009 Joined Lupton Fawcett
- 2010 Qualified as a Solicitor into Lupton Fawcett's Employment Law Team
- 2016 Became an Associate
What Others Say
Alex and I have worked together now for nearly 5 years, and during that time she's been a fantastic support to me and my business. Speaking in plain English (which is difficult for some lawyers) Alex provides commercially focussed, practical advice which will deliver the best result possible. She understands the importance of balancing the commercial or political aspect (internal or external) of any outcome with that of our company values...and never allows emotions to get in the way of sound decision making. Alex is flexible to our needs and incredibly responsive. I always know I'll get a great service level and quick turnaround time with her. Friendly, approachable and fun, Alex adds value to any business she works with. She is always actively helping to develop my and my teams employment law knowledge and she's a fabulous karaoke singer at the Christmas party! I would have no hesitation in recommending Alex for any employment law requirement. Helen Sutton, UK Head of HR, Northgate Plc
I have known and worked with Alex for 5 years and I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending her. Alex has taken her time to gain a thorough understanding of how we operate as a business which helps her to advise us, not only in line with the law, but also in line with our Company values and approach to people management. Alex's solid legal knowledge together with her practical and pragmatic approach has ensured the smooth running of acquisitions and disposals of hotels within our Group as well as supporting with any more challenging day to day employee relations issues. Alex will always respond promptly with a pleasant and friendly approach and I have never felt that any question was too small or insignificant to warrant her time. Alex breaks through the complexities of the ever changing, ever challenging realm of employment law with ease. Deborah Seymour, Director of Human Resources, Hand Picked Hotels
I would have no hesitation in recommending Alex, she responds promptly to all queries and her advice and counsel are reasoned and set out in an easy to understand format. She always takes a business based perspective and is aware of the pressures and demands of the very fast moving industry we operate in. Her attention to detail is, and has been, beneficial to the business and her personal involvement in cases, from first contact to satisfactory conclusion, ensures that there is continuity and also that we have a completely 'up to date' understanding of all aspects. - Gordon Slaven, Regional Human Resource Advisor, Card Factory
A friend of mine recommended your firm, as she had been really impressed with the work Louise did for her, and I've been equally impressed and grateful for the work you have done for me. It was a pleasure to work with you, and I was really touched by your level of compassion and understanding. I made a daft and regrettable mistake, but I feel you presented my actions in a best light possible under the circumstances, and showed an excellent understanding of human nature in achieving an agreeable solution. - Sarah Osborn
Professional Societies
When not at work
Alex enjoys reading, going to the theatre and travelling (especially long haul!). She is a classically trained singer and clarinettist and continues to perform, mainly at Christmas concerts or for weddings for friends! Alex enjoys keeping fit, especially taking her Staffordshire Bull Terrier for long walks.


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Dec 15, 2015
Alison Martin Books chats with Jennifer Browning Holmes, CEO of Central Logic and CEO and President of Integrating Woman Leaders, in this monthly mentoring chat.
Guest Bio:
Jennifer Browning Holmes spent 28 years in corporate America holding management, director and executive level C-suite positions for several major...
Nov 10, 2015
Alison Martin-Books chats with Tonja Eagen, CEO of the Social Health Organization of Indiana, Inc., about leadership.
Guest Bio:
A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Tonja is proud to be a 25+ year veteran of nonprofit management and leadership. Tonja serves as the CEO of the Social Health Association of Indiana,...
Oct 9, 2015
Alison Martin-Books chats with Gretchen Schott, VP of Learning & Development of trueU.
Guest Bio:
Gretchen Schott is the Vice-President of Learning & Development of trueU. She is responsible for thought leadership, leadership development, and learning strategy for trueU, and its member organizations.
What We...
Sep 17, 2015
Aug 18, 2015
Guest Bio:
Laura Emily Dunn is the Founder and Editor or Political Style, a fashion, politics, and lifestyle blog. Her blog has been featured on The Huffington Post, Vanity Fair, The Daily Beast, and Politico. She also works with a number of leading fashion and lifestyle brands to deliver exciting content for her...


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City is the last civilised place left on a drowned Earth, a floating town built from metal and plastic from the Time Before. It's the only home doctor's daughter Libby Marchmont has ever known or wanted – until her father helps the wrong patient and she's forced to flee...
Storytelling is an integral part of being human, I'm sure it's what sets us apart from other animals. All human relationships are navigated through stories – "Do you remember when we...?" I love stories and I've wanted to be a storyteller since before I could read. There is, of course, a story behind that: my mum was reading me a bedtime book and I asked, "If you write a story, do you have to pay someone to make it into a book?" Mum explained that, no, the publisher will pay you, and that was it – I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up.
The publishing landscape has changed significantly since I was four, but I'm still happiest when I'm creating stories. My most recent release, Rising Tides, like most of my stories, evolved over time. Aspects of the story were prompted when different things crossed my awareness. First was an article on the provisions left behind when Scott's Hut in the Arctic was abandoned after his ill-fated expedition.
A more recent explorer brought back a tin of rhubarb and made a perfectly edible pie out of it – after nearly a hundred years. Because doomsday scenarios ricochet around my head, I started to think of scenarios where we might be compelled to eat 100-year-old supplies. And so, the drowned world of City was born, floating above abandoned houses and supermarkets packed with imperishable goods.
While I was writing other projects, this idea circled around and was fleshed out. The character of Cosimo was next, although he started out with a different name and backstory – I simply had a desperate boy on the doctor's doorstep needing to undertake the nautilus operation (the implant of mechanical "gills") that would transform his future.
More environmental doomsday followed – I read an article about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – a floating rubbish dump in the middle of the ocean (and when they say "great" they mean it – estimates range from as big as Texas to as big as the continental USA - being the sea, it does tend to move and change). With a bit (a lot!) of artistic licence, that became the Wastes, home of the reamers and boundary around the known world for my characters.
My heroine, Libby, joined the party then. She's the polar opposite of Cosimo - ferociously intelligent, but insecure, rule-bound and socially hopeless. I knew putting the two of them together would make sparks fly, and I loved putting them through all sorts of catastrophes.
Katy Haye
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About the author
Katy Haye spends as much time as possible in either her own or someone else's imaginary worlds. She has a fearsome green tea habit, a partiality for dark chocolate brazils and a fascination with the science of storytelling. Katy writes fast-paced fantasy for YA readers. As well as Rising Tides she has written the Chronicles of Fane, the first of which, The Last Gatekeeper, is currently free on Kindle. Find out more at Katy's website: katyhaye.com and find her on Facebpok and Twitter @katyhaye.


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Hello all... okay so I know it's been a really long time since I posted! Sorry! Truly I wish I had more hands to do it all but I don't and because I do everything the best I can I had to be absent from this page for a bit! My hubby and I have launched our new photography biz and what with building a website, promotion, studying, getting my equipment together etc... it's been busy. Also as many of you know my husband was diagnosed with cancer this spring... so we needed to focus and deal with all the stress and those issues first also. He has had two surgeries and is now cancer free... which is how this photography decision all got started to begin with. You know... when you are reminded of how short life is, when you are given a warning shot, you look really good and hard at your life and what you are doing with it and in it. It was brought to our attention that with his graphic arts and my skills with a camera... we should really think about doing what we love more often... and that turned into... well maybe we should do this as a career... and so we are going for it! So far we are loving every single day working together at creating this business and hope to do so for many years to come. Now don't get worried... the bears are going to be a part of my life forever so this little... long post is just to let you know that I'm still here and actually have about 7 or so bears almost ready for the Binghamton, NY show in August and I hope to have one or two up for adoption on Bear Pile in July... that's only a few days away. So thank everyone for being so patient and just know that I will have something to show you really soon...
Big Hugs. Michele Seraphim.
PS. You can visit our new photography Facebook page Rees & Rees Photography Facebook Page
website Rees & Rees Photography


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Another corny title! I just couldn't resist this time. Anyway, I have some blueish freebies for you today. Yesterday (4/14/2012), Tee*fy sent this scarf as a gift. It is mesh, but unrigged mesh, so it can be edited. So you probably have until the 28th of this month to get it. Join Tee*fy for free and check notices to get this scarf. The other bluish freebie here is the hair that I am wearing from Alli&Ali. This hair is free on marketplace until April 25th, and the bow is color change as well!
-Skin: Ohna's (not available anymore, sorry)
-Eyes: sugarpill iGaze Black
-Top: Jane needful.things romper in cream (free fatpack instore)
-Pants: Kyoot Eibo Trousers in Taupe
-pose: !bang - stand 197


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The Obamas have developed quite the reputation for wasting taxpayer dollars on unnecessary global trips. Michelle Obama's family vacation to Africa is one very recent example. Another is the Obamas' failed bid to bring the Olympics to Chicago back in 2009.
Just to set the stage, while the nation was facing a large-scale crisis involving Iran's nuclear ambitions, two wars abroad and a failing economy at home, the Obamas decided to take an extraordinary excursion to Copenhagen, Denmark, to visit the International Olympics Committee (IOC). Their goal was to persuade the committee to choose Chicago, the Obamas' hometown, for the next Olympics games. It was the first time a sitting president was present for an Olympics vote (they usually have better things to do).
Michelle Obama reportedly made an "impassioned" plea to the IOC, but it fell flat. Chicago did not make it past the first round of voting, and the Obamas came home empty-handed and utterly embarrassed.
Judicial Watch immediately launched an investigation to find out how much this "embarrassment" cost the American taxpayers.
And after more than two years of stonewalling and obfuscating, JW investigators finally got hold of records detailing costs associated with the two-week trip. According to these records obtained from the Obama Department of Defense (DOD), expenses for the trip appear to have far exceeded $467,175. And this number doesn't even cover the in-flight costs associated with the aircraft ‒ two Boeing 747s and several Air Force cargo planes – which have not been made available.
Here are a few of the known itemized costs associated with the Olympics' trip (totaling $467,175):
- $235,659 – Hotel rental for seven "offices" plus transportation and communications (through October 2, 2009)
- $33,044 – Cost of extra day in hotel (October 3, 2009)
- $129,276 – Travel vouchers for hotel, mileage, reimbursed expenses, and flight costs for persons attending
- $69,196 – Flight costs for press
And who was chosen to be part of the Obamas' Chicago Olympics dream team?
According to the records, President and Mrs. Obama; Secretary Ray LaHood; Secretary Arne Duncan; Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President Valerie Jarrett; and representatives of the White House Office of Olympic, Paralympic, and Youth Sport visited Copenhagen from September 21 through October 3. The Obama administration ferried dozens of other participants, including supporting staff members, to Copenhagen. However, for some unknown reason, the DOD has redacted many of their names.
You remember Jarrett, right? She's the corrupt former slumlord once described as "the other half of Obama's brain."
President Obama tapped Jarrett to serve as his "Olympics Czar" and lead the effort to secure the Olympics for Chicago despite her personal and business ties to Chicago, which included a stint working for Mayor Daley.
Jarrett's prior work on the Olympics bid would have violated Obama's own Executive Order against engaging in lobbying activities prior to his administration. However, then-"Ethics Czar" Norm Eisen granted Jarrett an "ethics waver" from the president's highly-touted ethics pledge so Jarrett could run the push for the Chicago Olympics bid. (Only in the Obama administration would an official need to have ethics "waived" in order to perform her job responsibilities.) The waiver exempted Jarrett from the restrictions of President Obama's own ethics pledge, even though she had personally led the bid before entering the White House.
As I say, the battle for these records was none too easy. We filed our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on October 5, 2009. FOIA law required the DOD to respond within 20 days. However, the DOD took 26 months to release the records. In September 2009, Judicial Watch also submitted an open records request with Chicago then-Mayor Richard Daley's office to obtain Olympics bid records and, surprise, had to file a lawsuit against the mayor's office to get a response.
The Obamas tried to pass off this Olympics bid as "good for the country." But let's be honest, the Obamas wasted taxpayer dollars on a junket that seemed designed for one purpose – to take care of their Chicago cronies who stood to gain financially from the Olympics racket. Valerie Jarrett's need for an "ethics waiver" to lead this failed bid to bring the Olympics to Chicago tells you almost all you need to know about the scandalous nature of this trip.


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Start with simple jobs, gaining experience and knowledge to advance.
While idling, increase your funds over time by making investments and taking advantage of the stock exchange. Build your own office with staff made of real players to maximize work profits.
After you find your first job just click the green work button or press SPACEBAR to make money!
Developer: Unknown
Published: 2015-08-04


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On 3rd October the German nation celebrates unification of East and West – Tag der Deutschen Einheit. Everything is closed for the day, flags fly on public buildings and the ordinary worker marks the occasion by partaking of an extra long lie-in, lazing about at home and not venturing outdoors until the next day. Here in our building at least, there was no sign of life whatsoever. Nobody came out even to empty their rubbish.
The Great and the Good, on the other hand, could not take advantage of a lie-in in their dressing gowns (life's tough at the top). They were on public show, participating in various events, beating the drum to boost the morale of the masses and reminding them that solidarity and uniformity still reign.
Horst Köhler, Federal President, braved torrential rain together with Mrs Merkel and virtually the entire government, in attending a special ceremony of thanksgiving in Hamburg. In Berlin, the people celebrated on their own in front of the Brandenburg Gate – events for the folks had been organised with live rock performances, shows, children's entertainments and such like.
"Our people are free and politically united. We live within secure borders surrounded by friends and partners." Herr Köhler talked of what unites the German people but omitted to talk about the many things that divide them still.
Berliner Morgenpost reveals on page 3 that the new Germany may have come of age (having celebrated 18 years of existence) but bare statistics tell a different story.
East (incl. Berlin) West
Population 16.6 million 65.66 million
Jobless 15.1% 7.5%
Wage per hour €19.79 €25.93
Having said this, it is unrealistic of commentators to expect the country (or any other progressive, democratic, western, free market economy) to aspire to total unity in everything. It is somewhat utopian to expect high salaries, services, benefits etc. to be spread uniformly throughout a nation, especially one the size of Germany (both in terms of population and land mass). In this respect, Germany is no different to any other European nation – some regions enjoy prosperity while others do not. Our modern societies are characterised by fragmentation, by regionalism, by local narratives and not grand, national narratives. The Union in Britain is on its last legs thanks to devolution. The war-ravaged Balkans have reverted to their tribal allegiances. The Soviet Union is history. For Germany to try to stay united at this particular historical moment is swimming against the current. It is to their credit that they have achieved so much in just 18 years.
p.s. I don't know if this is a good sign or not but Herr Köhler closed his speech at the thanksgiving service with an Americanised "God bless our German Fatherland".
International market research places Germany at No1 when compared to other nations. Here are the Top 10.
1. Deutschland
2. France
3. Great Britain
4. Canada
5. Japan
6. Italy
8. Switzerland
9. Australia
10. Sweden
[Of course, the Brits will be cheesed off: not because they didn't make it to Number 1, but because France got ahead of them!]
The survey asked respondents to judge countries as brand names and each country was assessed according to exports, government, culture, people, tourism, immigration, investment. In other words, what image does a particular country have with the rest of the world. Note the preponderance of European nations.
As it is the season for dreaded infections, the weather is changeable and not many citizens believe in the benefits of fresh air via open tram windows, it is more than likely that you will catch a cold sooner or later. The newspaper recommends, NOT going to your local doctor and dosing up on expensive antibiotics but taking instead salt-water gargles for a sore throat. If your problem is a blocked nose, try oil from eucalyptus or pine needles in a bowl of hot water and inhale the fumes. The article even compares symptoms of the common cold and influenza, just in case you are tempted to exagerrate.
[All the above snippets from Berliner Morgenpost of Saturday 4 October]
The Berliner Zeitung reported this week on another anniversary, that of Potsdamer Platz.
It has been ten years since its reopening.
For five years, the area was a permanent building site with a forest of cranes visible from all parts of the city and piles of mud and rubble everywhere. Everyone had big expectations – surely all this time, trouble and expense would come to something. A desolate wasteland could not be left as a scar on the face of the city; it would be a reminder of bleaker days in the past and we must erase those dark days and move forward.
Potsdamer Platz is now a mecca for commuters. Literally thousands of them end their morning journeys here when they arrive for work in their shiny, sanitised, high-tec, impersonal office blocks. A sort of European imitation of Manhattan, but instead of draughty boulevards we have bare open spaces.
Aside from the office park, what else can you actually do in Potsdamer Platz? What is its real use? According to the writer, all you can do in the area is go shopping for shoes and eat a Big Mac afterwards. This is the net result of the investment and work of five years.
A poignant piece of irrelevancy – the world's first pedestrian lights were installed in Potsdamer Platz.


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Alternative Titles
English: Loli☆Can
Synonyms: Pet Pet, Strong Girl Hypnosis, Nursing Retribution, Pick One!, See-Through Panties and Glasses, Dressing Up, Mayumi and Mai, Demonic Breasts and Scratches, Little Sister and a Porn Book, Summer Break: Reproduction Experiment
Japanese: ロリ☆缶
Type: Manga
Volumes: 1
Chapters: 11
Status: Finished
Published: Feb 13, 2009
Genres: Hentai
Authors: Takanaga, Kouhei (Story & Art)
Serialization: Comic ino.
Score: 6.581 (scored by 55 users)
1 indicates a weighted score. Please note that 'Not yet published' titles are excluded.
Ranked: N/A2
2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #20362
Members: 183
Favorites: 4


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This textbook chapter presents several biodiversity case studies, including a study of prairie soil, the 1930's Dustbowl, and the importance of soil conservation practices. The resource includes a link to current news articles and a teacher's guide. This is the fifth chapter in the unit, Losing Biodiversity, examining the endangerment and extinction of entire species of plants and animals throughout the world due to human actions. The resource is part of Global System Science (GSS), an interdisciplinary course for high school students that emphasizes how scientists from a wide variety of fields work together to understand significant problems of global impact.
Keywords: Redundacy hypothesis; Drought; Species diversity; Konzo Prairie; Bison
University of California, BerkeleyLast modified 2012
Education Level: High school
Audience Refinement: Educator and learner
Resource Type
Learning Time
Materials Cost
Instructional Strategies
Educational Standards
Access Restrictions: Free access


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Reviewby Carlo Santos,
Shugo Chara!
Episodes 38-51 Streaming
Aided by her three fairy-like Guardian Characters, sixth grader Amu Hinamori continues to fight against the sinister Easter Corporation, who aim to take over people's souls by turning their "heart's eggs" into deadly X eggs. Their latest tactic involves using idol singer Utau Hoshina to draw out X eggs with her music, and her newest siren song has become even more powerful after stealing away Amu's fourth Guardian Character, Dia. At the same time, a traitor among Amu's friends is aiding Easter in their cause! Can she overcome the odds and stop Easter from taking over? Also, can Amu ensure that the Embryo—an all-powerful egg that grants the wishes of whoever captures it—doesn't fall into the wrong hands?
If they had just stopped at Episode 43, it would have been a triumph for the ages.
The first year of Shugo Chara! reaches a dazzling, dramatic climax with the Utau arc, reinforcing the series' themes of friendship, hope, and believing in one's self. There's just one problem with this: it arrives about eight episodes early, and with the show already straining to find enough adaptable material from the manga, it quickly retreats to filler materials and tacks on a false ending. (You can almost tell exactly when Shugo Chara! Doki was announced and the staff decided they could slack off now that a second season was guaranteed.) Yet, despite peaking too early and constantly having to battle filler syndrome, it still stands out as one of the defining works of its genre and of its era. Which is not too bad for a heroine with multiple personality disorder.
Of course, after the horrid run of filler during the mid-30s episodes, anything remotely related to the main storyline would be a welcome change. In quick succession, we get a dose of pubescent sexual tension between Amu and bad boy Ikuto (in a thinly veiled metaphor, he tries to fit his magical "key" inside Amu's "lock"—which is both disturbing and hilarious), followed by an introspective look at Tadase's world domination complex, and then pint-sized Rima having to deal with family troubles again. The supporting characters may still be thinly developed, but at least these episodes are trying.
Then comes the deal-breaker—Kairi Sanjo's betrayal—which triggers a run of episodes that surpasses everything that's come before. For those deeply invested in the magical-fantasy-action side of the series, this is pure, unfettered indulgence: everyone suddenly discovers Character Transformations they didn't know they had, magical powers are unleashed, loyalties are challenged, and the two leading ladies—Amu and Utau—reach a level of emotional conflict and catharsis that has been a long time coming. Looking at it from a more psychological angle, it is interesting to see that the protagonist and antagonist, despite being pitted on opposite sides, both seek the same thing: to discover their true identities. Cheesy and predictable? Yes. But at the same time, universal, honest and deeply moving? Yes, all of that as well.
Then comes the epilogue and filler, at which point it's probably not a bad idea to jump straight to Shugo Chara! Doki. Remember how Naruto and Sasuke beat each other to a pulp and everyone had to wait over a year for Naruto: Shippuuden? Be thankful this is only eight-odd episodes. Plus, even amid the wastelands of recap scenes and random kids having to get their X Eggs flushed out by Amu, there are flashes of brilliance: a certain romantic turning point, Utau's comeback moment as a songstress, the Rima episode that reaches the very limits of slapstick humor, and 1.5 seconds of comedy gold when Suu does an impression of a cicada. (Also, a tip regarding Episodes 50-51: no one's going to get the Embryo. Ever. It's like the Inu-Yasha thing.)
Meanwhile, the visuals in this series also feature a very clear delineation between "main" and "secondary" material. When it comes down to the heroines and heroes doing their business, there's no shortage of elaborate costumes (can Tadase really wear that many frills and still maintain his masculinity?), instant makeovers, and sparkly effects. In true magical girl tradition, the transformation scenes are also ridiculously long, but the sheer quantity of new transformations during the final battle makes them worth it. After that, however, comes a steep drop-off in quality: third-tier characters like the schoolkids in the filler episodes, random passers-by, and the goons of Easter Corporation are mere afterthoughts when it comes to artistic detail. The technical side of the animation is also a hit-or-miss affair: the final showdown is an all-guns-blazing lightshow of spellcasting and mid-air maneuvers, while the filler episodes are barely watchable with their uncreative camera angles and halfhearted backgrounds. There's also just enough CGI to scrape by, as shown by the sloppy-but-tolerable egg animations.
At this point in the series, the soundtrack isn't breaking any new compositional ground—the background music simply relies on a handful of oft-repeated melodies to trigger the appropriate emotional response for each scene. Of greater interest, however, are the infinitely hummable theme songs: "Minna Daisuki" works splendidly as a swinging bubblegum-rock opener, while "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" (Episodes 38 and 39) and "Gachinko de Ikou!" (the remainder) close things out on a similarly sunny note. Yes, this applies even after a dramatic cliffhanger—it's children's programming, after all, and a certain consistency is necessary.
Like other shows of its kind, Shugo Chara! is cursed by the specter of too much filler—and yet, weren't there also plenty of episodes of Sailor Moon where Anonymous Bad Guy showed up and the heroine had to defuse the situation before the ending credits rolled? And didn't Sakura Kinomoto sometimes have to capture Clow Cards that didn't really accomplish anything? If Shugo Chara! can be mentioned in the same breath as those modern mahou shoujo classics, then surely it must be heading down the right path: a path that culminates with the depths, the heights, the sufferings and the triumphs of Episodes 41-43. If they need to make up some extra material to meet the episode quota for the season, so be it. In the end, Amu's quest to find her true self is a quest that resonates with all of us, not just the female grade-school demographic—and is the reason why she will remain an iconic heroine for years to come.
|Production Info:
Overall (sub) : B+
Story : B+
Animation : C+
Art : A
Music : C+
+ Sharp turns of plot, dazzling magical transformations, and major character developments bring the Amu vs. Utau arc to a definitive, satisfying close.
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