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Travel: Gallipolis celebrates French, Welsh heritage
GALLIPOLIS, Ohio — Land fraud seems a shaky foundation upon which to build a new settlement.
But the French settlers who arrived in 1790 in what now is Ohio's Gallia County made a go of it, despite having in their possession worthless deeds bought from a swindler.
Present-day visitors will still see evidence of pride in the region's Gallic roots, first and foremost in the name of the county and of Gallipolis, the county seat. In Gallipolis, they'll also see one of the loveliest small-town riverfronts in the Ohio Valley.
When the new settlers arrived and discovered that they didn't own any farms, they lived in rude cabins along the Ohio River in what is now City Park, a verdant 5 acres in the heart of the city.
The tree-filled park, lined on three sides by historic and picturesque homes and commercial buildings, offers a magnificent view of the river and, on the other side, of the West Virginia hills. The park also hosts an ornate 19th century bandstand that has become a city emblem and several grand monuments, including a memorial listing the county's war dead — too many, for sure — from every American conflict.
Among the historic structures in downtown Gallipolis is Our House Tavern, a brick building built in 1819. The tavern served travelers throughout the 19th century until it was converted to other uses. It is now a city museum that tells the story of the original "French 500" and other early settlers, including the many Welsh who arrived to farm and work in the region's abundant iron furnaces.
Gallipolis sits at the beginning of the Welsh Byway, a designated scenic highway linking old Welsh churches and historical sites and extending into Jackson County to the northwest.
Visitors will also learn about Gen. Lafayette's visit to the tavern in 1825 — and see the jacket that he left behind.
The French Art Colony is another institution that pays tribute to the city's roots. Located in a restored 1855 Greek-revival mansion, it hosts art shows, classes and live performances and has beautiful grounds suitable for a delightful stroll.
The Ariel Opera House, built in 1895 and noted for its acoustics, is another important downtown arts venue. Now a performing-arts center, it houses the Ohio Valley Symphony.
Next to the opera house is the old Colony Theater, which has been wonderfully converted into a restaurant. The Colony Club has table seating on its mezzanine but retains its movie screen and theater seating on the theater floor. I had a very tasty lunch there one afternoon while enjoying the old Joan Fontaine horror movie flickering in the background.
Speaking of restaurants, Bob Evans opened his first restaurant in Gallipolis. The farmer and entrepreneur, who founded the Bob Evans Restaurant chain, ran his operation from his farm in western Gallia County near Rio Grande.
The original farm now houses the Bob Evans Homestead — a museum, event venue and Bob Evans restaurant. The museum, in the Evans family's old brick farmhouse, offers a self-guided tour through the restaurant's history.
The homestead is also the site of the popular Bob Evans Farm Festival, scheduled this year for Oct. 12-14. The festival includes entertainment, traditional arts and crafts, farm contests and children's events.
Although you can certainly enjoy a classic breakfast at Bob Evans, my favorite spot for a latte and a pastry or bite of breakfast is nearby Twinkleberries Coffee & Bake Shop, a friendly little stop in Rio Grande.
Gallia County also boasts two wineries: Merry Family Winery, which also makes its own craft beer; and the new Twisted Vine Family Vineyard. The latter, which opened this summer, has shady outdoor seating with a beautiful view of the vineyard. Both wineries are a great place to catch weekend entertainment or while away a lazy, sunny afternoon.
Gallia County grows wilder as you drive southwest along the county's backroads, many unpaved, into Wayne National Forest. Outdoor lovers can backpack and hunt in season in the forest and hunt the 13,000-acre Crown City Wildlife Area. (My first experiences as a young hunter were in Gallia County with my father and grandfather. Fond memories, those.)
Hikers will find several trails in the county, including the paved Gallia County Hike and Bike Trail on an old railroad bed running from Gallipolis toward Bidwell; and the wild and rugged Symmes Creek and Morgan Sisters trails in Wayne National Forest
On occasion, I've walked through the forest for miles without running into another soul. But when you do find a fellow Gallia County explorer, be sure to wave and say "hello"— or maybe "bonjour."
— Steve Stephens can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or on Twitter @SteveStephens.


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Dear LMC Members
LMC is proud to present a new version of our club tee-shirt for our members.
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Collection of Orders
For members interested in owning a club tee-shirt, pls kindly place your order in this thread. The size chart is listed below. Pls kindly indicate your order by stating nick / size
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eg, 1) ftorres / 1 - 2XL, 2 - XL, 3 - S, 4 - L
We'll be opening this thread up for orders for from 29 June 2013 to 31 August 2013.
Meetups will also be organized for members to test out the sizes.
Orders will only be confirmed upon cash payment. Pls kindly approach the carebears for payment and issuance of receipt.
Place your interest via http-www-lancermotoringclub-com-showthread-php-50565-LMC-Tee-Shirt-2013 now!

subset: commoncrawl


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The last time I went to change my oil, I noticed a small drip of oil coming from the drain plug. I didn't think much about it. I just changed the oil and forgot about it. I never saw a spot of oil under the car, and I never have to add oil between the 5,000 mile oil change interval I'm currently following.
Yesterday I changed my oil and noticed that the slight drip of oil was there on the plug again. After draining the oil and looking at the factory drain plug, I found that the washer on the OEM drain plug is really thin. Probably too thin to do anything meaningful. So I headed up to AutoZone and picked up a $4 assortment of M14 drain plug washers. While I was there, I saw that that they had a magnetic drain plug that fit the Mirage, so I went ahead and picked one up for $5.
So here's a look at the new and original drain plugs...
The assortment of washers had just about anything you would want to try: copper, nylon, steel, and steel with rubber. I decided on the steel with rubber washer (pictured below)...
Everything went together easily...and after 24 hours, no drip on the new plug.
The size of the drain plug is M14-1.50.
The size of the washer is M14.
Here are the AutoZone part numbers:
Needa Parts M14-1.50 Magnetic Drain Plug...Part # 652166
M14 Drain Plug Gasket Assortment...Part #653336
Note: I didn't like the gasket that came with the magnetic drain plug, so I used a washer from the gasket assortment.


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Interview with Geert MakA Basic Mood of Xenophobia in the Netherlands
Mr. Mak, with his announcement that he will be making a film about the Koran that will take a critical stance toward Islam, right-wing populist Geert Wilders has people across the Netherlands holding their breath. What do you think of all this?
Geert Mak: What I think is, this film doesn't even exist yet. But the debate over the fact that such a film might be made has already poisoned the climate here and created an atmosphere of fear – a feeling that danger is threatening from the Muslim side. Wilders has thus achieved his goal: a basic mood of xenophobia.
Prime Minister Balkenende warns of a crisis along the lines of the caricature conflict. Is he right?
Mak:That was a very bad reaction. He should demonstrate that he has things under control. Geert Wilders' success corresponds to a lack of vision and of leadership in Dutch politics.
Who is Geert Wilders?
Mak:He is a colorful personality: not a typical right-wing populist, but inspired more by the US neoconservatives. He is absolutely fixated on Islam, with his anti-religious fervor itself having something of the character of a religion. When I think of him, an image comes to mind of a man standing atop a high building with a crowd down below urging him to jump. With his supposed Koran film he has put himself under pressure to act: Now he has to produce something.
Politicians like Geert Wilders or Rita Verdonk, who campaign against Islam, seem to enjoy success in the Netherlands. Why?
Mak:Yes, they are able to unite some 20 percent of the electorate behind their cause. We now have a right-wing fringe – like in Belgium, France, Austria and Germany – and we'll just have to get used to it. In big cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague, there are many who feel let down by politics. We are paying the price for thinking for so long that everything would somehow be all right. The question is how we are going to deal with this.
And how do things look at present?
Mak:I'm pessimistic again at the moment. The success of Geert Wilders has a great deal to do with our media landscape. All the newspapers have been plunged into a deep crisis because we now have free newspapers again that everyone reads. In this situation, the media pounces on anything that promises to attract attention. Wilders is good for a provocative quote every two weeks or so. This mixture is very dangerous.
Does Geert Wilders have what it takes to become a new Pim Fortuyn?
Mak:No, even though Wilders would love to step into those shoes. But he doesn't have the same stature by a long shot. Pim Fortuyn was basically a frustrated social democrat. Wilders is merely a typical dealer in fear – someone who articulates the anxieties of a minority.
For a year now the Netherlands has been ruled by a big coalition. The previous right-wing coalition espoused a rigid policy on foreigners. What is different these days?
Mak:Our laws are still very strict. But the policies of our integration minister, Rita Verdonk, were simply inhumane: Families were torn apart and people deported to countries where their lives were in danger. While she was in office, the European Court of Justice convicted the Netherlands two or three times of human rights violations – that never happened before!
Rita Verdonk caused the demise of the last regime; now she has founded her own right-wing party. How has the political climate changed since then?
Mak:At least there is no longer the kind of moral panic that was ushered in by the murders of Pim Fortuyn in 2002 and Theo van Gogh in 2004. At that time, people like Leon de Winter spread the impression that the collapse of society as we know it was imminent, as if hundreds of thousands of Muslims were just waiting for a chance to murder all our intellectuals. He drew a picture of the Netherlands as a second Israel, surrounded by enemies.
What role does Ayaan Hirsi Ali play in this debate?
Mak:She contributed her part to the hysteria by blaming everything on Islam. Naturally religion plays a role here. But integration is also a question of politics, of economic participation, of education. In the meantime the debate has once again shifted to these kinds of issues. The whole thing was also a theological debate among intellectuals. The Dutch love such debates. But in the end they always wind up looking for practical solutions.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali now lives in the USA and works in a neoconservative think tank. A debate recently arose on whether or not the Netherlands should still pay for her protection. What is your opinion?
Mak:Formally, the Dutch government is correct in pointing out that it can no longer be responsible for her safety as long as she is out of the country. Nevertheless, the attitude they took was very dumb, because Hirsi Ali is in fact in danger. I don't agree with her in many points.
But it is very important that she be able to express her opinion freely without anything happening to her. We have a certain responsibility for this. I have therefore joined a writers' initiative that intends to put pressure on the Dutch government to quickly find a solution to this question. Because the situation today is too risky.
French intellectuals like Levy and Glucksmann have called for Hirsi Ali to be named an honorary citizen of their country. Is that a good idea?
Mak:Some people see this all as very romantic and heroic. In practical terms, it would change nothing. After all, she wants to stay in the USA. And some have apparently never read a line written by her from a more critical standpoint. Because what she is doing now of course has nothing to do with the emancipation of Muslim women.
What then?
Mak:With the emancipation of Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Which people is she reaching these days? Her audience is exclusively white, Western and non-Muslim. There are by now plenty of emancipated women of Muslim background who are very inspiring. Ayaan Hirsi Ali only inspires those who want to wage war on Islam. I, for one, have never met a Muslim woman who said that Hirsi Ali opened her eyes.
Why is that?
Mak:If you want to do something for the emancipation of Muslim women, you have to speak with Turkish and Arab media, give speeches at congresses or hold readings in mosques. And not merely pose for Vogue or have dinner with George Bush. What she is doing reminds me of Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale "The Emperor's New Clothes." And I think that is really too bad, because she is an extremely charismatic and intelligent person. If she would just stop condemning the Muslims and try to persuade them instead, she could achieve a great deal. I, for one, still hope that this could happen.
How do you account for her success in the West?
Mak:She reduces Islam to a distorted picture. With the Somali brand of Islam in mind, she speaks of Islam in Pakistan, in Indonesia, in Malaysia, in Turkey or in Morocco. That is pure hubris. And she says things like, in Islam there is no art; it is primitive. What nonsense! Didn't she ever hear of the Alhambra, of Cordoba? The problem is, there are plenty of people who want to hear these things.
Interview: Daniel Bax
© Qantara.de 2008
Geert Mak, 61, is a historian and publicist who lives in Amsterdam. Following the murder of Theo van Gogh he wrote a book in which he voiced harsh criticism of his country's politics and media. His latest book, "The Bridge," is about the Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn (to be published in March 2008 by Harvill Secker).
Translated from the German by Jennifer Taylor
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
The Only Real Muslim
The autobiography of Ayaan Hirsi Ali reveals how the Dutch politician stumbled from Islamic to Western fundamentalism. Daniel Bax has read it
Commentary by Ian Buruma
The Strange Death of Multiculturalism
Enlightenment values are sometimes used in a very dogmatic way against Muslims – but the real reason for defending Enlightenment values is that they are based on good ideas, and not because they are "our culture," says Ian Buruma
The First Muslim Mayor in the Netherlands
Ahmed Marcouch - A Man of Action
Over a year ago Ahmed Marcouch became the first Muslim mayor of the Amsterdam district of Slotervaart. A Social Democrat, he is a man of action, resolutely pushing through tough measures – something that doesn't always win him friends. Kerstin Schweighöfer spoke to him


text: The race committee was able to start one final race of the series after a 2+hour delay due to light winds. The conditions made it challenging to capture compelling action shots, but with boats piling up at the mark roundings, there was still action -- just in slower motion than on previous days. This is just a subset of the images from the day -- I tried to capture all the boats, so if you're looking for a particular boat, please contact me at leslie at rockskipper.com with the sail and bow numbers, and I'll search for other images. Digital downloads, prints and other items may be ordered directly from this site. Please contact me for custom large format prints, black and white prints (these boats lend themselves to stunning black and white prints), custom posters or other projects.Read More


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Knitting Pattern For Seamless Slippers (Updated March 2018)
This seamless slipper pattern fits most adults. The actual size is determined by the length you knit. Since they have no seam, they are comfortable to wear.
It begins at the heel and is knit partially back and forth and partly in the round.
Bulky weight wool or two strands of worsted weight held together
Size 8 US (5 mm) double pointed needles
Gauge: 3.5 to 4 sts=1″
When slipping stitch, slip purlwise.
Soles (Optional) I use something called replacement carpeting sold at auto stores and some big box stores. Several layers of denim, wool, or other sturdy material may also be used.
Click here for the pattern in pdf format.


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Federal Investment in Electronic Health Records Likely to Reap Returns in Quality of Care
Healthcare is one of the last industries in the United States to universally incorporate technological advancements. While most sectors have made significant investments in information technology to improve efficiency and consumer relationships, America's health care system is still largely paper-driven. As a result the healthcare system is plagued by inefficiency and poor quality. Delivery is slower, more prone to errors, and harder to measure and coordinate than it should be. Investments in health information technology can help improve this situation. Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine (FREE FULL TEXT) gives cause for optimism that efforts to increase adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) will provide major benefits in better patient care and health outcomes. Perhaps we can finally move away from using a dead tree medical recod system in this country.
To start with take a look at this video from a 1961 study that concluded that one day it is going to be possible to relieve the nurses and doctors of some of their paperwork, it is going to be possible to have correlation of diseases which we have not had before, and it is going to be possible to eliminate errors in medications and tests which would have been harmful to the patient:
The research involved more than 500 primary care physicians in 46 practices that are partners in a region-wide collaborative known as Better Health Greater Cleveland (Better Health). This alliance of providers, businesses and other stakeholders is dedicated to enhancing the value of care for patients with chronic medical conditions in the region. Launched in 2007, the organization is one of 16 that the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation chose to support in its nationwide initiative, called Aligning Forces for Quality. This initiative is the foundation's signature effort to lift the overall quality of health care in targeted communities as well as reduce racial and ethnic disparities and provide models that will help propel national reform. Common themes across the communities include public reporting of performance and community-wide initiatives to improve care.
As important as electronic health records are, Dr. Cebul said, their greatest value merges when used in conjunction with other approaches, such as the sharing of best practices and coaching offered through collaborations such as Better Health Greater Cleveland. "We've been doing summits twice yearly and will continue in the future so that we can identify and share best practices among providers. We also will provide ongoing coaching to practices that wish to continue to improve clinical outcomes," he said. The patient centered medical home is built on the foundation of electronic health records, and Better Health is working with employers and payers in the region to develop medical homes as well as exploring opportunities to participate in new payment models.
I asked Dr. Cebul what impact health information exchange will have on continuing improvements, particularly in the area of clinical care coordination. "I think that HIE will have a big benefit and it's value will be as much in cost reductions as it will in improving quality of care. For the smaller practices it will be very valuable in providing data from outside providers and specialists. HIE will enable us to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and hospital readmission, as well as reducing duplicate testing. This will also accelerate the process of clinical evaluation and save money."
The authors did caution that they could not conclude that EHRs were the only explanation for quality differences. Other potential causes could be "the participation of exceptional EHR-based organizations, a nonrepresentative sample of paper-based organizations and inadequate adjustment for patient characteristics," they stated. Their study also would have provided even more compelling evidence for an advantage to EHR use if they had measured before-and-after performance for groups that had switched away from paper-based to using an EHR. But this study absolutely provides a basis for determining that digitizing medical records can have a substantial impact on quality of care.
The study involved more than 27,000 adults with diabetes and found that those in physician practices using EHRs were significantly more likely to have health care and outcomes that align with accepted standards than those where doctors rely on paper records. Improvements in care and outcomes over a three-year period also proved greater among patients in EHR practices. The study's findings remained consistent for patients regardless of insurance type, including the uninsured as well as patients insured by Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers.
The data shows a staggering difference in performance among practices with EHRs as compared to those without: 51 percent of diabetes patients in EHR practices received all the care they needed as compared to only 7 percent in practices with paper records. A similar variation was also reported for diabetes patient outcomes—how well patients and their doctors were able to effectively manage their condition. For both care and outcomes, patients treated at practices with EHRs far outpaced those in paper practices across all insurance types—whether patients were on Medicare, Medicaid, a commercial plan or uninsured. Breaking the data down further shows that for practices using EHRs, the percentages of patients meeting standards for diabetes care were higher for making sure hemoglobin A1c tests were performed, kidney management was maintained, eye examinations were made than for those practices using paper records.
The Better Health study focused on a 12-month window spanning 2009 and 2010, and also followed trends over a three-year period. The study also measured achievement by age, gender and racial and ethnic categories as well as language preference and estimated patient income and education. The locally vetted national standards for care included timely measurements of blood sugar, management of kidney problems, eye examinations, and vaccinations for pneumonia. Outcome measures included meeting national benchmarks for blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol control, as well as achieving a non-obese Body Mass Index and avoidance of tobacco use. Patients who made at least two visits to the same primary care practice within a single year were included. The researchers reported results for individual standards as well as separate composite standards for care and outcomes. In the future they will be also developing metrics for patient satisfaction, as well as possibly adding childhood obesity and hypertension.
The study's findings were striking – even after researchers statistically accounted for differences between EHR and paper-based practices in the characteristics of their patients.
- Standards of Care: Nearly 51 percent of patients in EHR practices received care that met all of the endorsed standards. Only 7 percent of patients at paper-based practices received this same level of care – a difference of 44 percentage points. After accounting for differences in patient characteristics, EHR patients still received 35 percent more of the care standards.
- Patient Outcomes: Nearly 44 percent of patients in EHR practices met at least four of five outcome standards, while just under 16 percent of patients at paper-based practices had comparable results. After accounting for patient differences, the adjusted gap was 15 percent higher for EHR practices.
- Trends Over Time: After accounting for patient differences, EHR practices had annual improvements in care that were 10 percent greater than paper-based practices as well as 4 percent greater annual improvements in outcomes.
- Performance Across Insurance Types: Patients in EHR practices showed better results, including improvements over time, in both standards of care and outcomes across all insurance categories – commercial, Medicare, Medicaid and uninsured.
"Cleveland stands as a pioneer in the burgeoning movement to leverage local resources and federal reform opportunities to improve health care quality," said Anne F. Weiss, M.P.P., who leads efforts to improve the quality of American health care at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "Electronic health records alone cannot solve the nation's health care quality problems, but they are an important part of the fix. Cleveland's use of electronic health records is a model for all health care organizations working to implement health reform."
"Better Health seeks to improve the value of health care for all of the region's residents and those who pay for their care," said David L. Bronson, MD, FACP, president of Cleveland Clinic Regional Hospitals and President-elect of the American College of Physicians. "As the program moves forward, we expect that EHR-based sharing of information across different health care systems, and with our patients, will help us to keep our patients healthier and foster more discriminating use of expensive resources, such as our emergency departments and hospitals."
This perspective is also echoed by other national leaders as well. Not only do such collaborations enhance care and outcomes, but they also provide rich opportunities to test the impact of different approaches and innovations. As Dr. Carolyn Clancy, M.D., director of the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, explained: "The results of this study support both the value of electronic health records and community-based partnerships to improve quality of care."


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April 10th, 2011
France's controversial burqa ban takes effect
Paris (CNN) - French police arrested two veiled women protesting the country's law banning face-hiding Islamic burqas and niqabs Monday, just hours after the legislation took effect.
The arrests outside Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris were not for wearing the prohibited garments. Police say the women were instead arrested for participating in an unauthorized protest. But the incident reflected the high passions the ban has incited among some Muslims.
One woman who disapproves of the ban said no one forces her to wear the niqab, a full-face veil with an opening for her eyes, and she should be left alone.
"I've not committed a crime," said Hind Amas, who was not among those arrested. "I'm walking peacefully in the street. I've not attacked anyone."
Read about American women who wear Islamic headscarves
The ban pertains to the burqa, a full-body covering that includes a mesh over the face, as well as the niqab.
The hijab, which covers the hair and neck but not the face, and the chador, which covers the body but not the face, apparently are not banned by the law.
Read about two Tennessee sisters who wear the hijab
"The ban does not target the wearing of a headscarf, head gear, scarf or glasses, as long as the accessories do not prevent the person from being identified," the Interior Ministry said in a statement.Read the full story about France's burqa ban taking effect
soundoff (1,962 Responses)
About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.


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How to Become a Successful Part-Time Forex Trader
I trade the Forex market and on short-term charts (5 and 10 minute) I set the pivot lines at 10,10 per your tutorial and it worked great. Thanks again." Randall F., California "Paid for a Year with One Trade!" "The more I use it, the better I like it! Life and nothing in it is ...read more
Forex Guide book: Elementary - FBS
February 2021 was a huge month in forex trading. Piles of quality trades were just ripe for the taking. But don't forget: March is typically one of the biggest trading months of the year.The last few days have had some of the best forex robot action we've seen in a while. ...read more
Best Automated Forex Trading Software For Traders - Admirals
BabyPips.com helps individual traders learn how to trade the forex market. We introduce people to the world of currency trading, and provide educational content to help them learn how to become profitable traders. We're also a community of traders that support each other on our daily trading journey. ...read more
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Menurutku SocialVPS.net adalah VPS Forex pilihan terbaik bagi para trader. Kita bisa mendapatkan VPS yang terbaik di kelasnya dengan harga yang sangat murah. Saat ini saya pastikan bahwa tidak ada pilihan terbaik yang lain saat ini di pasaran Forex VPS. SocialVPS.net memang hebat dan TOP. ...read more
Best Forex Robot Making Real Pips Right Now - March 2021
13-05-2020 · Important Fibonacci Levels in Forex Fibonacci levels are extremely important for a correct Elliott count, and the patterns Elliott identified are strongly related to these levels. Regardless of whether an impulsive wave or a corrective one forms, Fibonacci levels are the decisive factor for correctly counting waves. ...read more
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28-07-2016 · If you have heard of Forex backtesting, but always wondered how to do it, then this guide is for you.Just like everything in trading and in life, there is no one-size-fits-all. Backtesting will not work for every trader or every trading system. ...read more
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Live Forex Analysis, Currency Rates, Economic Calendar, Technical Forecast, Fundamental News, Free Trading Signals. Best. USD Dollar, EUR Euro, JPY Yen, GBP Pound ...read more


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KMHS Alumni: Carlos Vergara, MD Candidate
by Kaplan Medical Honor Society | November 17, 2020
We created The Kaplan Medical Honor Society to acknowledge and applaud our students' excellence in the medical field. The KMHS is made up of students who have taken a Kaplan course and achieved a 250 or better on Step 1, Step 2 CK, or Step 3. Most of our KMHS members are International Medical Graduates that come from over 40 different countries to study at our centers and experience life in the US. In this blog series, you will learn about their journeys to the US, how they managed the rigors of medical school, and what steps they took to ensure their successes on USMLE. This week, we're pleased to introduce you to Carlos Vergara, M.D., from Colombia.
Name: Carlos Vergara, M.D.
Home country: Colombia
Name of medical school attended: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali
USMLE Score:
Step 1: 222
Step 2CK: 257
Tell Us About Yourself
Why did you decide to become a doctor?
I had the opportunity in my teenage years of having a significant encounter with people from underserved communities who were suffering. As there was a paramedic, I could not do much; however, the feeling of wellness I got every time I could help others in need was so deep that I decided that was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Which field of medicine do you plan on specializing in?
Internal Medicine
Why did you decide to take the US licensure exam?
I want to take advantage of the opportunities the U.S. offers so I can become the best doctor I can be and to serve better. Additionally, I want to combine my practice with research and academics, the opportunities to have this successful combination are more open in the US.
Tell Us About Your Study Habits & Kaplan Courses
How did Kaplan help you on your path to becoming an M.D. in the United States?
Kaplan gave me the first look into what moving to the U.S. to practice medicine was going to take for me. I studied for Step 1 and Step 2 CK using Kaplan material, and this complement allowed me to excel and meet other people that are in the same process to educate myself with others.
Describe how the Kaplan Medical course helped you achieve your high score.
Kaplan helped me to structure an organized study plan with specific objectives. I work better when I establish short-term and long-term objectives, and Kaplan provided me with this. In addition, the medical advisors were vital to have an experienced feedback on my progress and to when to take my exams.
Tell us more about your studying habits.
I always have preferred to study alone. For me, the Kaplan USMLE Qbanks are the most important part of the study. Active learning of the concepts and also building strategies to how to approach the challenging questions are things that will make a difference for your final score. Generally, I use classical music to study, or just instrumental, this helps my selective attention to be better.
What does being in the Kaplan Medical Honor Society mean to you?
For me it is an opportunity to help others understand the process, and also to inspire people and show them that this CAN be done. If so many of us have done it, why wouldn't you be able to?
Tell Us About Your Medical School Experience
How do you think your unique background has prepared you for success as a doctor?
I have had the opportunity to live in three different countries (including U.S.), and different cities within Colombia, which gave me the ability to adapt easily to different places, different cultures, and different individuals. I graduated at age 15 from high school which allowed me to get prehospital care training before studying medicine and gave me enough confidence to face the challenges of the hospital setting in a great matter. Finally, I have been fortunate enough to appreciate each opportunity that life has given me, and to turn it into an achievement. These experiences have been key to becoming a passionate, compassionate and academically successful physician, but have also given me enough perspective to see that I still have a lot to learn!
In your opinion, how can institutions best support students preparing for their exams?
I believe by applying to education the integrative component of medicine that the exams employ. If all the clinical rotations and basic sciences classes try to correlate concepts it would be a lot easier for students to approach the USMLE questions. And definitely by asking questions in similar formats.
In your opinion, what is the biggest issue facing international medical students today?
To move to the U.S. is a big financial and emotional burden. It is a challenge to adapt to a different culture and a different health system, as well as to get accepted to do some clinical rotations or research. Also, to move away from your family. All of these items require a resilient individual to be able to be successful in the whole process. But that is also what makes an IMG a very strong candidate.
What advice do you have for fellow IMG preparing for the USMLE?
Set your goals high and clear. And take every significant decision in life based on this goal. If you work hard enough you WILL achieve it. But first you have to figure out where you want to finish.
Is there a quote or saying that you live by?
"Always move forward, and make your life a beautiful story to tell and inspire".
Share Some Interesting Facts
Do you have a personal or professional hero?
My mother is my hero. She has been the support to all my dreams. Even when I did not believe in myself, she believed in me. I have been very blessed through her.
What do you think is the most important innovation in the history of medicine?
I believe there is not a correct answer for this one as there are so many significant innovations in so many levels in medicine. Some, like vaccines or the pap smear, have helped prevent so many preventable deaths over the years. Others, like the EKG, have helped understand the human body in a different way. The amazing thing about history is that it is always rebuilding itself. So many more innovations will come, and they will be significant for the specific field.
If you hadn't decided to become a doctor, what kind of work would you have pursued?
I would have probably worked in innovation, such as an industrial engineer with a master's degree in innovation, and would focus my job on looking for new opportunities to improve processes in service companies―like hospitals.
What do you think will be the biggest advancement in the future of medicine?
I think machine learning will change the world of medicine as we see it today, especially in the field of diagnosis. It will even make specialties move forward in their field. It will also represent a great complement for physicians and will be better for our patients.
And finally, what are your plans for the future?
I plan to pursue a cardiology fellowship and masters in clinical research, and maybe a fellowship in innovation. I want to combine my clinical practice with clinical research and innovation but always for the service of the community and my patients―especially the underserved community.
Stay tuned each month for a new blog post from one of our amazing Kaplan Medical Honor Society students!
A note about the recent USMLE Step 1 Announcement:
While we understand that the future move to Pass/Fail on Step 1 will have an impact on the residency application process, Step 2CK will continue to be a scaled three digit score, and as such becomes an even more important metric for students to differentiate themselves from other applicants.
Welcome to the Kaplan Medical Honor Society (KMHS) monthly blog series! Kaplan created The Honor Society to acknowledge and applaud our students' excellence in the medical field. These scores are crucial to their career options and we're proud to recognize the best of the best. This blog series will be a showcase for their stories that we hope will inspire others around the world. The KMHS is made up of Kaplan students who have taken a Kaplan course and achieved a 250 or better on Step 1, Step 2 CK, or Step 3. We reward them for their hard work and success by giving them a free online course for Step 3, exclusive course discounts, and even job opportunities within Kaplan Medical. Applicants for US residency also get the ability to list Kaplan Medical Honor Society under Awards and Achievements on their ERAS applications.


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by RAQUEL GONZALES
Mazen Munaji Homoud, a graduate student in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program at Texas State, has published a research study conducted on sleep apnea.
Homoud's study, titled "The Correlation Between Sleep Efficiency and the Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea," identifies the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sleep efficiency. It was published in Volume 12 Issue 1 of the Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice, which is a peer reviewed publication of the College of Health Care Sciences at Nova Southeastern University.
Although the results of the study showed no significant relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and sleep efficiency, Homoud discovered a positive, significant relationship between age and sleep efficiency.
The study used a total of 18 participants from the College of Health Professions at Texas State, 12 women and six men. First, each participant was to complete a sleep apnea questionnaire. Then, the participants wore an actigraphy watch for one week, and the results of their questionnaires were compared to their results of the actigraphy.
The results of the study showed no significant relationship between the risk of obstructive sleep apnea and sleep efficiency. However there were limitations due to time, since Homoud was limited to four months for the study and four watches broke down throughout the study.
Homoud's recommendations for a more accurate study was to include more participants, address the use of sleep medication and alcohol consumption, use alternative questionnaires or more advanced forms of actigraphy, and conduct a full night sleep study in a sleep lab.
RAQUEL GONZALES writes for Texas State's University News Service.
COVER: Sleep apnea masks at the CPAP Central store in Columbus, Ohio. PHOTO by RACHEL TAYSEEmail | Print


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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Aug. 9, 2014) - This evening's Second Saturday Concert at The Cove has been canceled due to inclement weather. The concert will not be rescheduled.
The free concerts take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on the second Saturday of June, July, August and September. The Cove at Concord Park is located at 11808 S. Northshore Drive. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets or lawn chairs.
The last concert for summer 2014 will be on Sept. 13 with band Off the Record.


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Hello and welcome to another challenge at Winter Wonderland - Kate here.
Thanks so much to those of you that joined in with last weeks challenge. We really appreciate you preparing for Christmas with us. Don't forget to check back on Sunday for the winner and top 3. Just a reminder that we are a Christmas Challenge so the entries do need to be for Christmas, thank you.
Now onto this week's challenge -
Vintage Christmas
We are sponsored by the very Talented Teri from Delicious Doodles
Teri is offering the winner of this challenge 3 of her amazing digital images, wow what a prize.
Here's the inspiration from the DT. We always appreciate a visit so if you click the name you can hop over and leave them a comment and also find out if they have combined their challenge with any others, which could give you some ideas.
Now we love visiting your blogs and commenting on your gorgeous creations which do of course give us inspiration for the challenge too. It would be a great help if you could turn off word verification as this does add time onto our visits and in some cases prevents us leaving comments.If you need any help finding this it's in the settings, comments part of your blog. Thanks for your help with this it's much appreciated.
We all hope you are able to join us in our challenge this week. We look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing your gorgeous creations! Please be sure to post a link back to the Winter Wonderland blog in your blog post in order to be eligible for this weeks prize! Thursday evening () is the deadline for your card to qualify for the prizes!.
So all that's left is for you to get creative and leave your entry here with the blue frog so we can come and find you asap Have fun!
and the WW Teamies


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- Publishers
- Penélopez
- series: Nani
Comic book series : Nani
Nani III + IV - Queen of the Jungle
Nani Cowgirl rides again! The third coming of the age to rock your socks off, make your toenails curl and make you hard again! 110 pages of pure erotic filth, smut, shock, sleaze, nudity, outrage, disgrace, scum, cum, sex, drugs and rock'n'roll like never before. Brand new wild adventures in Jungle where the sun don't shine and nobody can hear you scream, wit pleasure. Adults only!
Jouko Nuora is the most humbly professional, talented, gifted, envied, adored, experienced, awarded, loved, influencial, handsome, funny, attractive, hyperactive, crazy, fantastic, brave, imaginative, native Motörhead, foot and mouth diseased, criminally fine and valuable national treasure comix artist of Finland... Europe, Earth. Jouko Nuora comics has been published since 1988. First time in english!


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1 April 2015
Within the framework of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, this guide is intended to raise the capacity of teachers to incorporate local elements of ICH, and principles of ESD, into teaching and learning practices.The guide provides examples of how the teaching and learning of ICH for sustainable development has been creatively incorporated into several disciplines – such as mathematics, science, music and social studies – in various cultural settings. It also suggests steps for preparing and assessing lesson plans.
UNESCO developed this guide based on the results of pilot projects conducted in four countries in the Asia-Pacific region, where participants developed locally-customized guidelines and materials for the incorporation of ICH elements and ESD principles into teaching and learning in schools. The examples of ICH given in this guide are not more significant expressions than others and are not necessarily those that should be prioritized, they are just illustrative samples.
Download the publication in English by the link below:
Permanent link: http://en.unesco.kz/learning-with-intangible-heritage-for-a-sustainable-future


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Neutral Kitchen Reno with A Rustic Touch
Spring has already sprung and I can't tell you how many emails I receive regarding my online interior design services. Sometimes I really wish I was more than one person so I could help more clients since my work is on a first come, first served basis, and this is a very busy time of the year. Why? I feel that every spring, as the weather changes, we want to start opening the windows, let the sunshine in and finally start working around the house so everything is ready when summer (and guests) arrive.
When it comes to home renovations, kitchens are, without doubt, the most wanted room to be renovated and I complete understand why. Kitchens, as predicable as it sounds, are the heart of a house and, like it or not, is where we spend most of our time, not only cooking but also living. It's in the kitchen that we often have great talks with our family members It's where the kids usually do their homework, and it's there where many of us make the most memorable memories of our life with our loved ones. Who can't associate their own childhood spending time in the kitchen with their family, preparing meals or waiting for the meals to be ready? I can't blame anyone for wanting to have a kitchen that is not only beautiful but also that works better so they can register their moments in a space they love as much they love spending their time in it.
Take this open neutral kitchen for example. This kitchen features a sense of rustic interiors that blend perfectly with the soft color palette and warm decor. I hope this comes to inspire you to eventually design your own dream kitchen, because, yes, you deserve it too!
Neutral Kitchen Reno with A Rustic Touch
I love the textures and colors found in this kitchen. This space is warm and easy to live with. The three pendants above the island is Lucia Chandelier SCH-550225 Gabby Ceiling Mount Iron/Burlap. $622.50 each.
Height: 20? Dia: 13?
The countertop is a quartzite – Fantasy Brown.
Cabinet Paint Color
Cabinet paint color is Graham Paint 8180W Almond White. The coffered ceiling is painted in Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore.
Kitchen Hood
This kitchen hood was a custom piece by Benchmark Wood Studio and then faux painted out of silver leaf by the talented Diane LaLonde Hasso from Faux-Real, LLC.
Backsplash Tiles
The kitchen backsplash tiles are all from the Vitners Reserve line from Tile Sonoma Tilemakers.
Range Hood Accent – Tile Sonoma Tilemakers Vitners Reserve Arch Herringbone Clove 1 x 2 Brick Arch Brick Herringbone and Sonoma Tilemakers Vitners Reserve Panache Clove 3/4? x 8?.
Gray Barn Door
The gray barn door was custom designed by Benchmark Wood & Design Studio. The paint was also a custom color.
Kitchen Bar
The kitchen bar can be concealed with a gray barn door.
Backsplash is The Tin Man Victorian No. 6-09 Ivory Steel Finish 2'4' Sheet. I
Island Dimensions
Island Dimensions: 54? x 34? x 37 1/4? tall.
Living Space
The kitchen opens to a breakfast room with settee and to a family room with coffered ceilings.
Neutral Kitchen Reno with A Rustic Touch
Neutral Kitchen Reno with A Rustic Touch
Family Room
The family room, painted in Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore, features limestone fireplace, whitewashed hardwood floors and a lattice drum pendant light.
Floors are 4" Character Grade Hickory floors from Rivershores Flooring and are shown in a driftwood shade.
According to "Oak & Broad", hickory is a very hard and durable species and it makes great flooring for a busy home.
Lighting is Metal Lattice Drum Pendant by Shades of Light – $559.00
Neutral Hues
I love how warm and cozy this family room feels. I also love the distressed leather couch with the other neutral pieces.
Breakfast Nook
Isn't this breakfast nook darling? The settee and upholstered chairs bring some comfort to this space.
Paint Color
Paint color is Revere Pewter HC-172 Benjamin Moore.
Sources: Mike Schaap Builders. Cabinets by Benchmark Wood Studio. Photography Chuck Heiney.by homebunch.com


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Senate heads toward filibuster fight
The Senate is careening down a path toward yet another war over the filibuster.
With Republicans set on Monday to block Robert Wilkins's nomination to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, both parties' positions appear hopelessly intractable.
The only thing that may be able to preserve the GOP's ability to filibuster judicial nominees is another extended battle over the Senate rules that forces a truce between the caucuses of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Reid and his leadership team insist that setting up a string of votes on judges to the key court is not about forcing a change to the Senate's rules by a majority vote — that is, implementing the so-called nuclear option. Instead, top Senate Democrats say approving new judges to three vacancies on the D.C. Circuit is just part of the chamber and President Barack Obama's constitutional duty.
But Republicans' continued rejection of those judicial nominees means a nuclear option fight could await nonetheless.
Liberal Democrats who have always wanted to change the Senate rules to block filibustering on Obama's nominees are more amped up than ever about what they describe as Republicans' "unprecedented obstruction." Reid notes that some of the loudest voices calling for a re-examination of the filibuster are members of the "let's not change things" caucus — people like Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the chamber's longest-serving member, and Vice President Joe Biden, a longtime protector of Senate rules.
Biden said the nuclear option is "worth considering," while Leahy is less equivocal.
( Also on POLITICO: Warren calls for filibuster changes)
"We're at the point where there will have to be a rules change. You cannot say that one president can have his way on qualified judges, another president cannot have his judges," Leahy said last week, referring to Republican support for former President George W. Bush's D.C. Circuit nominees.
That fight appears all but assured given Wilkins's rejection will be the third GOP filibuster of a D.C. Circuit nominee in less a month, joining Patricia Millett and Nina Pillard in failed attempts by Obama to fill out the court. And while some Democrats are holding out hope that an agreement can be reached to avoid another energy-sapping debate over the chamber's rules, neither side seems willing to compromise.
"I hope we can reach a solution to this impasse, but any solution would allow these qualified nominees to get the votes they deserve," Reid said. "I don't know if [Republicans] are trying to pick a fight. I don't get it."
But clearing a 60-vote hurdle and advancing to an up-or-down vote on the judges seems impossible in the current climate: Only moderate GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine have voted with Democrats to break the D.C. Circuit filibusters, and deal-making senators like Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) have shown no sign of acquiescing.
A compromise to accept one or two judges seems unlikely, too. Asked how many new judges on the appellate court Republicans would be able to tolerate, Minority Whip John Cornyn of Texas chuckled and answered: "zero."
Though progressive groups, like Democracy for America, are pushing him to change the rules, Reid is not ready to push the button on the unilateral nuclear option for reasons of timing and politics. The Democratic Caucus is reeling from the bungled Obamacare rollout and divided over how to fix the health care law — not exactly the atmosphere for whipping 51 Democrats in support of a high-profile change to Senate rules.
But Reid seems likely to force Republicans to vote again on all three judicial nominees at some point later this year or early next, Democratic aides said. And if the results are the same, the chamber could again be paralyzed by a debate over its age-old rules in which the most recent battle in July over Obama's executive nominees came just hours away from a nuclear option vote before being defused by institutionalists like Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
"In the past, we've come close to the line, and we've worked out something. But I will tell you, lots of people on our side feel extremely strongly," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), a top Reid lieutenant. "It's the same kind of thing that drove us to the edge last time."
Increasingly, Democratic senators have argued that Republicans' intransigence is an attempt to invalidate Obama's reelection and stifle the judicial branch's independence and functionality. Freshman firebrand Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) charged last week that the GOP is trying "to force us to govern as though President Obama hadn't won the 2012 election."
"That's ridiculous. This is just about where judges are needed and where they're not. And this court demonstrably doesn't need new judges. It's not any more complicated than that," Cornyn responded.
One of Cornyn's former colleagues said that the GOP might be pushing it. Former Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe said in an interview that the partisan warfare over the shape of the courts does little to thwart the public's low regard for Congress.
"It does contribute to the whole perception, the reality that the Congress is consistently dysfunctional and can't agree on anything," Snowe said. "When you have these back-to-back rejections of nominees, at some point it may be trying to reverse the results of the election."
The reasons for blocking Wilkins are the same for Millett and Pillard: Republicans say the court's workload simply doesn't justify an 11-judge bench. It's the same argument that Democrats made in 2005, when Bush was president, and tried to fill out the court, which acts as a high-profile arbitrator between government agencies and businesses.
That fight was defused by the so-called Gang of 14 — seven senators from each party, including Snowe — who saved the Senate from the nuclear option and allowed several appellate court nominees to be confirmed after Democrats successfully filibustered a series of Bush's nominations. Just five of those centrist-minded lawmakers still serve in the Senate: McCain, Collins, Graham, Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), who is getting socked by TV ads in Arkansas for supporting Obama's judges.
And with aides to Reid and McConnell confirming there is no middle ground, it may be up to a new generation of senators to form a gang and take the long view that in the Senate, there's always a new majority around the corner.
In 2005, "we were all disposed towards attempting to come up with a resolution because it threatened the traditions of the United States Senate," Snowe said. "Whether enough people feel that impetus [today] is another question."


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Sophia Dorothea
Sophia Dorothea sōfī´ə dŏrəthē´ə [key], 1666–1726, electress of Hanover, wife of Elector George Louis (later King George I of England); sometimes called Sophia Dorothea of Celle. Married to George in 1682, she bore him two children: George, later George II of England, and Sophia Dorothea, who became the wife of Frederick William I of Prussia. In 1694 she was accused of having an affair with Count Philipp Königsmark. Her presumed lover disappeared (probably murdered), and she herself was divorced and imprisoned for life. George I's harsh treatment of her was one major cause of the king's unpopularity in England.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: British and Irish History: Biographies


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I've been looking around for ecommerce functionality for a project that I'm going to be working on. My partner and I will be converting an existing static catalog site with lots of items. We want to do it in Wordpress because it's a basic CMS.
Many of the items are variations of other items, some items will have multiple variations. I guess the best example would be let's say a shoe...it has different sizes and different colors. But they don't stock every combination of variations. This is very typical of a store right. They have carry sizes 7, 9, 11 and the 11's only come in green/blue and red/yellow.
I need a solution that will allow me to specify these variations easily so that I basically don't have to enter each variation as a new product.
Looking around the web and on forums like Stackoverflow, WP e-commerce and Shopp seem to be the two standouts.
What have people's experience been with these two products? What are the pros/cons? Which one would you recommend?
Followup When would one move away from a Wordpress plugin to something like Magento or OS Commerce? What do those packages have that the plugins do not? I had a cursory view of Magento and OS Commerce and they seemed really complicated...lots and lots of options.


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"After reading half of this book sometime ago and then getting side track, I finally picked it up again. Mainly to get reacquainted with Dylan before seeing I'M NOT HERE.
I am currently reading the chapter where Dylan is lost with in himself. No longer enjoying is creativity or understanding it. "The problem was that after relying so long on instinct and intuition, both these ladies had turned into vultures and were sucking me dry" Dylan said. He was stuck unable to change and didn't know why or how to get back. But you can't resist change it will only pull you under. Feeling this pull he leaves a rehearsal with the Dead intending not to go back because he felt he had nothing to give. Until he goes for a walk in the rain, passing a small forgotten jazz club. He describes being "called" into the bar. After listening to an old jazz singer belt out lyrics with his natural force and relaxed attitude. Inspire or reminded of himself he begins to find his old confidence. To create from your instinct to let yourself flow with out your mind getting in the way. Almost and automatic reaction. Not resisting your natural forces. I think Dylan saw this was aware this simple notion that is easily forgotten.
His awareness of the moment struck me the most. To be opened to listen to the signs or callings around him. To not resist the pull. To be aware that signs or feelings might help or figure into helping him along. When we resist these we resist learning. Learning about what's next. Resisting change. And if we do we are forever stuck.
Okay on to the next chapter
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Anahita/ Paperback vs Hardcover
Posted by Chad W. Beckerman at 5:14 PM No comments:
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text: Failure analysis is the process of gathering and analyzing data to determine the root cause of a failure of a pipe or equipment. This process begins with collecting failed components for subsequent examination of the cause or causes of failure using a wide array of methods, especially microscopy and spectroscopy. The NDT or nondestructive testing methods are valuable because the failed products are unaffected by analysis. The reports in this section address failure analyses for various corrosive environments.


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§ 416.570. Adjustment.
(a) General. When a recipient has been overpaid, the overpayment has not been refunded, and waiver of adjustment or recovery is not applicable, any payment due the overpaid recipient or his or her eligible spouse (or recovery from the estate of either or both when either or both die before adjustment is completed) is adjusted for recovery of the overpayment. Adjustment will generally be accomplished by withholding each month the amount set forth in § 416.571 from the benefit payable to the individual except that, when the overpayment results from the disposition of resources as provided by §§ 416.1240(b) and 416.1244, the overpayment will be recovered by withholding any payments due the overpaid recipient or his or her eligible spouse before any further payment is made. Absent a specific request from the person from whom recovery is sought, no overpayment made under title XVIII of the Act will be recovered by adjusting SSI benefits. In no case shall an overpayment of SSI benefits be adjusted against title XVIII benefits. No funds properly deposited into a dedicated account (see §§ 416.546 and 416.640(e)) can be used to repay an overpayment while the overpaid individual remains subject to the provisions of those sections.
(b) Overpayment made to representative payee after the recipient's death. A representative payee or his estate is solely liable for repaying an overpayment made to the representative payee on behalf of a recipient after the recipient's death. In such case, we will recover the overpayment according to paragraph (a) of this section, except that:
(1) We will not adjust any other payment due to the eligible spouse of the overpaid representative payee to recover the overpayment, and
(2) If the overpaid representative payee dies before we complete adjustment, we will not seek to recover the overpayment from the eligible spouse or the estate of the eligible spouse.
[70 FR 16, Jan. 3, 2005, as amended at 73 FR 65543, Nov. 4, 2008]


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The design of many robots has been inspired by living creatures, from the humanoid machines that have appeared in science fiction for decades to the mechanical cockroaches that scurry around some research labs. There has even been a robotic tuna used to explore the ocean. But our reliance on the mechanical has left a very large area of the animal kingdom left out: soft bodied creatures with neither skeletons nor shells. In a paper that will be released by PNAS, researchers describe a soft-bodied robot that can crawl around lab, powered by compressed air.
The limits in robot design have been very practical. We don't yet have something that will mimic muscles well, which leaves our creations articulating their joints with things like gears and engines, which require a fairly rigid support structure. But the creators of this new robot were inspired by squid, which perform impressive feats of flexibility using a soft body that's supported by the ocean's buoyancy.
They figured they could skip the buoyancy requirement by using a tough elastomer that can stand up to the force of gravity while still retaining enough flexibility to move around. In practical terms, their work required two elastomers, one that was able to stretch when put under an appropriate force, another that would flex, but not stretch. A chamber that had these elastomers on opposite surfaces would flex in a specific way when the chamber was pressurized, with stretching on only one side causing it to curve in the opposite direction. A series of theses chambers linked together could create the sort of "muscle" that would propel their creation.
To create an actual robot, they fabricated a "tetrapod," with four limbs spreading out from a central body in a tall X shape. Each of the limbs could curve down when pressure was applied, and the "body" at the center of the X could either be held rigid or allowed to flex.
Before you get images of a giant, rubbery X shambling down the street, we'll point out that the robot here was only about 15cm (six inches) long. On the plus side, that allowed it to move using only about a half-atmosphere of pressure—about 10 percent of what you'd find in a typical bike tire. The pressurized air was supplied externally through a set of flexible tubes, but there doesn't seem to be a reason that a small pump couldn't be carried along, though it might take much longer for it to move.
The simplicity of the system also allowed it to be programmed with a remarkably low-tech approach: the movements were set up in a spreadsheet that was imported by the control software and used to control the valves that set the robot's pressure.
The authors were able to get it to move in two different manners. The first involved an undulation, where the two hindlimbs would curve and draw forward and then relax, pushing the robot ahead after the body and forelimbs also curled up. A separate algorithm flexed the legs one at a time to allow the robot to crawl. The authors were even able to get it to slide itself under a barrier with a low clearance, during which its entire body flattened out—not something you'd find easy to do with a traditional robot.
Right now, the response to pressure is limited by the fact that these materials aren't tough enough to keep the robot from popping under high pressure. That's something that can be changed but, even now, the soft, flexible robot is a challenge for traditional control systems. The authors were able to figure out how to send the appropriate commands empirically, but they say that the response to pressure is nonlinear, making it a poor fit for control software designed to handle simple joints and gears. Before we try building more complex soft-bodied machines, we're either going to have to master nonlinear control systems, or get a neural network to do the empirical learning for us.
PNAS, 2011. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1116564108 (About DOIs).
Listing image by Photograph by Shepherd, et. al., PNAS


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PhotoSunday - Soft
SkyWatch Friday- Cardinal Colour
Watery Wednesday,Outdoor Wednesday - Rain, rain, go away..
After an exceptionally long winter all we have been seeing for weather this spring is rain. Rain showers, rain storms ,rain drizzle, rain puddles! We have had days on end of rain as have many places on this side of the world. Flooding is occurring everywhere. Many areas have had to have a controlled flood area with hundreds of homes lost in order to save larger areas and more homes. The weather is colder than usual by at least 10 degrees. Home heating companies have made a killing this year as the cool weather never seems to end. My yard is over saturated with water. It can't absorb any more water and as we are on a septic system it has overflowed twice already. After a walk in my back yard a few minutes ago I am very worried this may happen again. With out a doubt the coldest, wettest spring I can remember in many, many years. These are pics from my back yard.
Click here for Watery Wednesday.
Click here for Outdoor Wednesday.


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JabbaPapa (Julian) has been a contributor to this blog pretty much right from the start.
I have enormous respect for him. Highly educated and world wise, he has a fierce intellect. As a pilgrim, he's the "real deal."
He lives in Monaco, and found Christianity, or at least it found him, in very tumultuous circumstances just outside of Astorga on one very arduous pilgrimage some twenty years ago.
He's the kind of bloke I could sit and talk to for hours.
He's done several Caminos – his first in 1993, his second in 1994, his third in 2005, and he did a pilgrimage to Rome in 2000. When he first walked the Camino in 1993 – 21 years ago – it must have been vastly different to what it is today.
He's had problems with his knees, but he's been undergoing physiotherapy and will soon be heading off on another pilgrimage which he estimates will take him 1700kms – from Lourdes to Santiago and back to St. Jean Pied de Port; or at least as far as his knees will carry him.
I asked him if he'd like to post on this blog – before, during and after his pilgrimage. This is for purely selfish reasons, because I'll be fascinated to follow his journey, and to get his unique perspective on what he sees, what he thinks, and what he experiences.
Here now is a post which he's just sent through… and as with all guest posts, I don't edit other than to fix typos and format – I put up guest posts as they're presented to me. I'm delighted to host the first of many (hopefully) of Julian's post here…
Starting Out
Bill has kindly offered me the use of some space on his blog so that I can write up some stuff about my forthcoming pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, as he thinks that these sorts of details and stories and thoughts will be of interest to others ; though I can't promise updates on a daily basis — I'll see how things go when I'm actually on-Camino.
I have been thinking though that it's best to start early, and I was also growing increasingly uncomfortable with taking up so much space on Bill's own blog posts concerning his own very different affairs.
Many of Bill's regulars know me already, but others in his readership may not, so I'd better start with some presentation of myself :
My name is Julian Lord, and I'm going to walk from Lourdes to Santiago — I will also TRY and walk from Santiago to Saint Jean Pied de Port. That's the important stuff !! 🙂
Otherwise, I'm also a long-term English expat living on the French Riviera, just above Monaco (where I grew up), and I have been on several pilgrimages — three times so far to Santiago, and once to Rome.
I'm one of those so-called "true pilgrims" LOL, though I think I prefer the term "purist", as there's a negative conotation in there beside the positive, so that people can make of me what they will.
The two major pilgrimages I've done so far have both been to Compostela — from Paris in 1994, ultra-fast at 44 days and nearly 40 KM/day average ; from Monaco in 2005 and part of the way back from Santiago, 2400 KM total, which was the once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage from home that I wouldn't ever want to repeat … not even now that the Peregrino bug is back in my system with its full virulence !!!
I live basically a stone's throw away from an Ancient pilgrim's Way leading to both Compostela and Rome, and La Turbie, just uphill, is the convergence point of three Roman roads, as well as the natural border between Cisalpine and Transalpine Gaul —
Day one up there in 2005 was the toughest climb of that whole Camino, because by the time I reached SJPP I had over 1000 KM in the legs … we do see many pilgrims going to Rome around here, though there are still more of them that are making their way to Compostela.
I am a convert to Catholicism from Agnosticism, having converted on the Camino in 1994 following supernatural experiences ; I have a first class Master's Degree in French Literature from the Sorbonne, earned as a mature student ; I'm struggling with arthrosis, similar to Bill's, but also with some nasty chronic depression and long-term unemployment.
The plan for my coming pilgrimage is to start from Lourdes, most likely on 11th August, then to follow a fairly unusual route — that I'm hoping will keep my knees happy and functional … 🙂
From Lourdes, I'll be avoiding the beautiful but uselessly difficult GR route (which I've walked already), and instead walk more easily in the valleys towards Oloron, and from there on up to the Somport.
I'll decide whether to take the tunnel or make the 8 KM climb up to the Pass when I get there, following what my PGS will tell me. From there on, fairly straightforwardly to Puente La Reina, then on to Burgos, Leon and Astorga along the Camino Francès.
I will leave the Francès at Astorga, and take the more northerly alternate route to Ponferrada, around the mountains rather than over them — I live on a mountain, and so have daily reminders that walking in them is a bad idea for me.
Then from Ponferrada, I'll follow the Camiño de Invierno to Santiago — thus avoiding not just the mountains at O Cebreiro, but also the mad press of the crowds from Sarría onwards …
After that, I will attempt the walk back to France — along the Francès, to Saint Jean Pied de Port — I will possibly go via O Cebreiro on the way back, as the ascension is much easier on the Galicia side, but such details of the attempted return journey will be decided in Santiago itself.
Howsoever far I am able to walk on the return journey, I will try and walk for at least two months, then see how far I'll be able to make it, and leave such decisions as these to my PGS when I get there …
The return trip from Santiago to SJPP is however something I've been wanting to do since 1993 — yes, ideally, one walks from home to home via Compostela ; but that'd be 4000 KM, would take something like 8 months, and the walk to Jerusalem would be shorter !!!
My knees will be as much my enemy as Bill has found in his — I have been having physiotherapy sessions for the past couple of months, that have been extremely helpful — thank heavens — and my left knee is starting to feel virtually normal again.
The right knee is back to its usual degree of pain, rather than twice as bad — and my doctor will be giving me a round of injections starting this week, which should be very helpful.
Our friend Steve gave Bill some excellent advice some months ago on the blog, to get a second brace for a knee that doesn't need one — he said that just one knee brace causes imbalance in your walking, and creates problems later for your legs, joints, and feet.
I've not yet done much walking with both braces, but MY, was he 100% right, and MY, does it improve hiking balance !!!


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General Mills, maker of Cheerios, Yoplait and Pillsbury food products, is asking customers for forgiveness, but any appeasement may not come as quickly as the company might hope for.
The public apology came in a company blog post published on Saturday and penned by spokeswoman Kirstie Foster, after a New York Times article on April 16 reported updated legal terms on General Mills' website meant consumers would give up their right to sue the company and that they would instead have to resort to arbitration and other means if they download coupons, enter a company-sponsored sweepstakes or like its brand on Facebook.
"We've listened, and we are changing our legal terms back," General Mills GIS said in the post on Saturday. "Those terms – and our intentions – were widely misread, causing concern among consumers. We never imagined this reaction. Similar terms are common in all sorts of consumer contracts and arbitration clauses don't cause anyone to waive a valid legal claim. At no time was anyone ever precluded from suing us by purchasing one of our products at a store or liking one of our Facebook pages. That was either a mischaracterization – or just very misunderstood.


text:
April 30th, 2014
World Health Organization: Antibiotic resistance is now a reality
The drumbeats about the dangers of antibiotic resistance just got louder. The World Health Organization says antimicrobial resistance - which includes drug-resistant bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites - is seen in every region of the world.
"The picture is consistent," says Dr. Keiji Fukuda, assistant director-general for health security at the WHO. "The capacity to treat serious infections is becoming less all over the world. ... This is something which is occurring in all countries of the world."
Antimicrobial drugs are one of the foundations of modern health care - something we all hope to rely on when we get sick with ailments including pneumonia, urinary tract or blood infections, diarrhea or sexually transmitted diseases, Fukuda says. These infections occur worldwide on a daily basis.
But because of overuse or misuse or improper use of existing treatments, the ability to fight these infections is getting harder and harder, he says.
In its first global report on antimicrobial resistance, released Wednesday, the WHO says " a post-antibiotic era - in which common infections and minor injuries can kill - is a very real possibility for the 21st century."
Fukuda uses gonorrhea as an example. He says the disease affects about 1 million people each day, and there are at least 10 countries where it is untreatable by any antibiotic.
It isn't the first time these alarms bells have rung. Last year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started ranking superbug alert levels. Instead of red, orange or yellow - the levels once used to describe terrorism threats - the CDC is using "urgent," "serious" and "concerning."
Conservative estimates in the United States alone suggest 2 million people get antibiotic-resistant infections each year, and at least 23,000 die because current drugs no longer stop their infections. The WHO cannot provide global statistics, Fukuda says, because many countries have no estimates at all or conduct surveillance of resistance to superbugs. Only 22 countries provided data on surveillance for this report.
Bacteria and other microbes have been humans' worthy opponents for a long time. But drug developments, such as the discovery of penicillin and the emergence of other antibiotics, transformed medical care and dramatically reduced illness and death from infectious diseases.
But in mere decades, with the overuse of antibiotics to raise bigger pigs and cattle and people failing to take prescribed drugs for the entire time, microbes have turned into superbugs for which medical weapons are quickly dwindling - and thus turning into deadly, unstoppable killers around the globe.
Some people may wonder why they should worry. Fukuda says that anyone who gets a serious infection, develops cancer and needs chemotherapy or requires any kind of surgery could be in a bad situation with no drugs left to treat them. The same is true for premature babies or malnourished children.
"Bottom line," says Fukuda, "we should expect to see that there are going to be some people who have untreatable infections."
The WHO says there's a need for a global action plan, including:
- better use of vaccines;
The report included data from 114 countries.
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text:
Translator: Lyna
Editor: Neo
Chapter 11: Heart throbbing feelings
Escorted by Aquasteed, Tiararose arrives at a small garden of roses where yellow and pink roses are in full bloom.
Just like Aquasteed said, delicious sweets are lined up tickling the heart of Tiararose.
――What should she do.
She was very nervous.
Tiararose herself has been in and out of the castle garden numerous times.
Hartnight didn't do such things very much, but there were several times where she was invited by the queen for a tea party. Tea parties are held only by women and are always held in beautiful gardens.
Among the colorful flowers with delicious sweets and tea. By no means was it ever a strained atmosphere, it was always a very pleasant setting. It has become a good memory of Tiararose.
「Does Tiara like cake too?」
While the court lady is preparing the tea Aquasteed prepares various sweets. One of them is a delicious cake that is adorned with an abundant amount of strawberries.
「Aren't strawberries a special product of Aqua-sama's country, they are one of my favorites」
「That's good, I ordered these strawberries from my country, so I am delighted to have Tiara eat them」
Aquasteed serves the cake personally and gives it to Tiararose.
So many strawberries adorned the surface that the cream itself could not be seen. The sponge was piled up in many layers with plenty of strawberries in between and a strawberry mousse was added.
Strawberries which are a special product of Marineforest are a very premium and luxurious item. And this cake was so beautiful that one can see from a glance that high quality strawberries are used.
Gently placing a piece in her mouth, the cheeks of Tiararose relax without her knowing.
「That's good」
The cake had been specially baked for Tiararose in a hurry, so he was relieved that it was not in vain.
Seeing Aquasteed smiling brightly Tiararose naturally also smiles. Then she opens her mouth to thank him for the earlier matter.
「Aqua-sama, just a moment ago…….」
However, her words were interrupted mid-sentence.
Aquasteed places a finger to Tiararose's lips and says「That's no good」
To Tiararose who inclines her head questioning, Aquasteed gently strokes her cheeks while saying「It is natural」
「Because I am the fiance of Tiara isn't it natural to protect?」
To the word fiance, Tiararose's face is dyed red.
Although she was the one who had told her father to accept the engagement, it was extremely embarrassing when Aquasteed said it himself.
Her heart pounding rapidly like a bell, she hastily tries to calm it down――but it does not go well.
「Thank you for choosing me」
「That is my line, likewise thank you very much」
The two people began laughing at each other and the atmosphere before becomes like a lie and turns calm.
Aquasteed then calls over Elliot to introduce him.
Because the engagement was officially decided, Tiararose will conduct her bride training at Marineforest the homeland of Aquasteed for the next year.
After that the two couple will be officially announced in the bride's own country, and it is a custom to hold a grand wedding ceremony later in the home country of the bridegroom.
「Once again, I am the attendant of Aquasteed-sama, Elliot. I am not a noble so I do not have a family name but I have served Aquasteed-sama for a long time」
「The only close attendant I brought is Elliot, whether it's his fighting skills or political skills they are all superb. The rest are in Marineforest, so at that time」
「It will be my pleasure」
Elliot is the right hand of Aquasteed.
Besides basic miscellaneous clerical processing, battles, politics, he also takes care of his master. He also played a secret yet active role regarding the groundwork of this engagement
「In that case I also」
Suddenly, Philline gracefully takes one step forward and expresses her gratitude.
Something like sincere faith could be seen from her eyes. However, Tiararose immediately understood what it entails.
「I am Philline Sunfest, I have been by Tiararose-sama's side ever since she was little and have been officially serving as her maid since one year ago」
「Philline grew up with me, it is not an exaggeration to say that she is like an older sister. So it will also be our pleasure」
As the two people smiled both Aquasteed and Elliot smiled and nodded.
As a matter of fact, he has not yet talked to Tiararose about taking someone as a maid to Marineforest.
Of course, for Tiararose it would be best to have Philline follow along. Even though there is Aquasteed, Marineforest is a foreign land and country.
Even though it is a neighboring country, the distance is far――
The 18 year old Philline was worried whether she could also be taken along for the convenience of the marriage.
「I will serve you forever」
「……Thank you」
Looking at Philline standing beside her with a smile saying「I will definitely follow」
With that Tiararose also nods. If they were to go to a distant place together, Philline's responsibility would be to care for the troubles of Tiararose attentively.
Even though she is at the age of marriage, she feels sorry for the troubles caused. She just wanted to do something that she could do to that extent.
「A fine maid」
「Yes, Philline has always kept by me and encouraged me」
Of course he does not intend to make her feel lonely, but there are many things that can only be comprehended among women after all. Aquasteed is relieved that there was such an excellent maid.
After that they enjoyed sweets and tea for a bit while talking with Eliot and Philline.
「Certainly, Philene follow me. I will tell you the various precautions when heading to Marineforest」
After a while Aquasteed calls the name of Elliot.
Immediately sensing the instructions of his master he leaves the garden with Philline. Although there are court ladies and knights in the vicinity, they are at a distances that they will not be of any concern.
Tiararose is surprised by the sudden occurrence and looks over at Aquasteed, but he just smiles.
「Tiara, over here」
Aquasteed rises from his seat and came over to Tiararose with his hand outstretched. Taking the hand wondering whether he wanted to move somewhere she receives the escort.
With that they head towards a bench with roses in the same garden; guided to the place where the two people can sit, Tiararose calms down.
「It is nice to speak with four people and all, but may I also have time to talk with Tiara alone?」
Aquasteed also sits down on the bench and begins stroking the hair of Tiararose while laughing like a mischievous child.
Looking at Tiararose nodding in consent, he becomes even further troubled as he wants to do it more and more.
――That only shows just how much he truly loves her.
Sliding his hand that was stroking the hair to her cheeks, he wraps her face with both hands.
The moment her cheeks become rosy from that action makes Aquasteed even happier.
Just how many times already has he thought that she is cute in his heart?
Looking straight into her eyes, Aquasteed whispers the name「Tiara」
The eyes of a serious Aquasteed along with the feeling that he was closer than usual made the heart of Tiararose beat faster and faster.
――Close, too close Aqua-sama!!
It's embarrassing, but she couldn't turn away because her face was being held by Aquasteed. Her heart screaming with embarrassment, the face of Tiararose becomes increasingly red.
The distance is almost like he was trying to kiss her. However, even when she attempts to close her eyes she is unable to do so.
「――Thank you for accepting my engagement. But I don't want it to be just for appearance, I want you to tell me again directly」
「It is an overbearing consciousness that I am forced to push forward」
Aquasteed said with a bitter smile.
「Miss Tiararose Lapis Clementide, I love you from the bottom of my heart. Would you become the princess of I, Aquasteed Marineforest?」
「……Yes, it will be my pleasure Aquasteed Marineforest-sama」
Her heart throbs uncontrollably from the serious words of Aquasteed but she is unable to stop it. She wonders if it is alright to have this much happiness.
Tiararose also returns an immediate reply, though she is embarrassed she looks directly at Aquasteed and smiles. Feeling truly blissful Aquasteed hugs Tiaraose tightly and quietly calls out her name.
「Ah, Aqua-sama……」
「Sorry, I'm just so happy―― Tiara, I love you」
As she was being hugged close enough to sense the aroma of Aquasteed, Tiararose who was unfamiliar with males did all she could to remain composed.
While being hugged, the fingers of Aquasteed touch her chin and lifts her face upwards.
The smiling face of Aquasteed immediately came closer and Tiararose grasps the edge of his clothes tightly.
――And she is kissed
However she did not have any feelings of unpleasantness.
A sweet tickling sensation rushes throughout her body.
Was it because it was while being hugged by a person she loves?
It was like a maiden's dream of their first kiss, the feelings of Tiararose steadily rose. The lips of Aquasteed that touched slowly were very gentle.
While kissing Aquasteed quietly whispers her name「Tiara」
「You're so cute, Tiara」
To the Tiararose who calls out his name as if she were melting away, Aquasteed once again kisses the corner of her eyes, while moving his lips slowly, to the forehead, then cheeks.
With each kiss Tiararose's body quivers which made Aquasteed thought just how cute she is and even more unwillingly to separate.
――Just a little more.
Initially he was just planning to kiss her once, but the response of Tiararose was too cute.
He kisses Tiararose once again as she repeatedly trembles, while regaining her breath as she is once again tightly hugged by Aquasteed.
It made him happy, so he kisses her many times over and over.
While stroking the hair of Tiararose, Aquasteed thought he wanted to do it long enough to the point of forgetting time itself.
「Nn, fu……ah…………」
Being kissed many times over, Tiararose who is completely breathless tries to catch her breath. However even that breath was swallowed up by another kiss and she becomes exhausted.
Finally licking his lips, Aquasteed separates from Tiararose.
「Nnn! ……Aqua-sama」
「Nn, Tiara was too cute so I couldn't stop」
Gasping for breath, her tired body leans against Aquasteed. Tiararose who is being tightly hugged is unlikely able to get up for a while due to the lingering effects of the kisses.
Without much timidness, Aquasteed's words of her being cute never stopped revolving around the head of Tiararose.
It's j-j-just she thought how happy it made her.
――This is no good.
It is embarrassing to the point that she might die.
But she is happy.
After that, Tiararose thought about what kind of face she should face Aquasteed with.
But that worry is brought to an end.
Because――from the castle, a tremendous light overflows out.
(Author's Note: I wonder if the degree of Lovey-doveiness has gone upーor I think so but how is it?
Finally 11 chapters. Thank you very much for the support everyday up to now.
With the remainder 4 chapters, I will be happy if you can stay with me without changing.)


text:
Mega Millions jackpot jumps to $550 million
- %24550M prize would be Mega Millions%27 second-largest jackpot ever
- Next drawing will take place Tuesday
- 21 straight drawings have failed to hit a winner
The Mega Millions jackpot climbed to $550 million after lottery officials announced there was no winning ticket sold in Friday night's drawing.
The $550 million prize, to be drawn Tuesday, would be Mega Millions' second-largest jackpot ever and the fourth-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. According to the Mega Millions website, the $550 million jackpot would net a cash option of $295 million.
Friday's Mega Millions jackpot was buoyed by strong ticket sales. Lottery officials boosted the jackpot to $425 million from $400 million Friday morning, about 12 hours ahead of the 11 p.m. drawing.
The numbers drawn were: 19, 24, 26, 27, 70 and Mega Ball 12.
Chances of selecting a winning six-number ticket in the lottery are just 1 in 259 million. Still, hopefuls weren't thwarted by the odds or suspicious of a Friday the 13th drawing. Ticket sales in Virginia were running nearly 600% above normal sales, while in Oregon, they were up almost 400%, lottery officials said.
"As a rule, things will really take off the day of the drawing,'' Oregon state lottery spokesman Chuck Baumann said.
The jackpot has been growing since Oct.1; 21 straight drawings have failed to produce a winner.
Mega Millions' record $656 million jackpot was split between three ticket holders in March 2012. A record Powerball jackpot, worth $590.5 million, was won by Floridian Gloria MacKenzie in May.
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