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Change the World
The OLPC "Change the World" program, also known as "Give Many", ended in February 2009.
Historical information about the program follows
Change the World
Donate 100 Laptops and decide where we send them.
For the first time ever, OLPC is offering individuals, companies and other organizations the chance to send laptops to the country or classroom of their choice. With a donation of 100 or more XO laptops, any group can give children in a specific place the chance to learn, share, dream and connect to each other and the world.
Below is a list of frequently asked questions about the Change the World program. We hope they provide you with more information, encourage you to initiate your own Change the World program, and help you learn more about XO programs around the world. Thank you for your interest in bringing an XO program to a school community in your life and your continued support of the OLPC initiative!
Change the World Program Overview
Who can participate in the Change the World program?
For the first time ever OLPC is offering individuals, companies and other organizations the chance to send laptops to the country or classroom of their choice. With a donation of 100 or more XO laptops, any group can give children in a specific place the chance to learn, share, dream and connect to each other and to the world.
Where can Change the World donations be provided?
Anywhere! From the country your family is from to the neighborhood school just down the road, you or your group can give hundreds of young students this amazing tool for learning. You can also choose to direct your donation to an OLPC partner country to help strengthen existing programs. Our current partners include Haiti, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Peru, Uruguay, Afghanistan, and the UN Palestinian Refugee Camps.
What is the cost of a Change the World donation?
The price range for the Change the World program, including shipping to an international airport, is:
Each donation of 100 or more laptops includes spare parts, participation in workshops, and on-line technical support. Donations of 1,000 or more include the above, plus on-site assistance from OLPC staff.
Where can I learn more about Change the World programs around the world?
The Change the World community is growing around the world! To learn more about these gropus, visit our Change the World stories page. To learn more about the XO programs in OLPC partner countries please visit our deployments and country information pagesfor more information.
XO Availability
What XO laptops are available?
English keyboard XOs are available for the Change the World programs. If you are donating laptops to an OLPC partner country we will provide the appropriate language keyboard for that specific country. If you are interested in donating 10,000 or more XOs to a location not in a partner country, OLPC is happy to discuss localized keyboard options with you. Please contact <email> for more information.
What XO chargers are available?
US and EU chargers are available for Change the World programs. If you're interested in a Change the World program of 1,000 laptops or more and would like an alternative charger please email us at <email> and we'd be happy to discuss additional options and availability.
Placing a Change the World Donation
How do I place a Change the World donation?
If you are interested in donating 100, 1000, or more laptops, please send an email to <email> with your contact information. We will contact you as quickly as possible to learn more about your laptop project.
Delivery Timeframe & Shipping Terms
How long will it take to receive my laptops?
OLPC aims to ship Change the World donations within 4-6 weeks of receiving payment. Larger orders or orders with a new keyboard may take longer to ship.
Is the cost of shipping included in the price?
Yes. The Change the World donation price per laptop includes CIP (Cargo Insurance Paid) shipping terms and conditions to a major international airport. For a list of major international aiports see an airport codes list. If you are donating to an OLPC partner country, your donations will be included in our next shipment bound for this location.
What are the shipping terms and conditions?
Change the World shipping terms include CIP (Cargo Insurance Paid to) to any major international airport. OLPC will arrange the shipment of your donation to any major international airport in the world. The consignee will be contacted when the shipment has arrived at the airport and will be responsible for customs duties or fees and local delivery to the final destination. OLPC will provide shipment details to you and/or the consignee. Please note that Change the World donations are not shipped with door-to-door delivery terms. Please contact <email> for additional questions on Change the World shipping.
What about customs duties and fees at the laptop's final destination?
Local customs duties and fees are not included in the Change the World price. Please research the customs regulations of your designated country to learn more about possible fees. OLPC is unable to provide local customs clearance assistance, but will ship your donation with an OLPC notarized letter stating the shipment is a donation and not for resale. We highly recommend contacting the local customs office in your designated location to learn more about their customs process.
A laptop is the most flexible learning tool. It allows you to be creative and productive and fit into today's digital world while being yourself. Children can take ownership and craft the laptop to their various needs such as write stories, take pictures, make movies, explore scientific phenomena, invent learning games, or solve mathematical problems.
What ages? Why?
We are targeting young kids, ages 6 to 12. We strongly believe that by giving young kids access to digital technologies and information, and by introducing them to powerful ways to use them, they will be in a better position to make a difference in their futures and thus change the world.
Does the XO laptop come with a Curriculum?
People mean different things when they use the word, curriculum. They may be referring to instructional software about a specific topic or instructional plans allowing teachers to facilitate a learning experience. At OLPC, we are not defining what children should learn with the XO because we believe that those decisions need to be made at the local level. We offer support by providing tools (in the form of activities) as well as concrete ideas of how to become familiar with those tools and how to use them to facilitate a meaningful learning experience. The tools can be single purpose activities such as Record, Write, Chat, Calculate, Paint, etc.; games such as Maze, Memorize and Implode; content specific activities such as Moon and TamTam; or more sophisticated and open ended activities such as TurtleArt, Etoys, Scratch, and Pippy that allows users to design and create projects about a variety of topics. We also make it easy for people to package digital libraries of reading materials or books in the form of "content collections."
Why the XO laptop rather than other computers on the market?
There are several reasons that make the XO different from other portable computers in the market. First, the XO consumes only a fraction of the energy of any other regular portable computer and so minimizes implementation costs. The XO works with alternative sources of energy (solar, eolic, etc.) and thus allows us to give access to children who would otherwise not be able to use the technology. The XO has a unique physical design (resistant to water, dust, and extreme climates) and a screen that can be used to read in daylight. These qualities make learning possible, not only in the classroom, but also at home and in communal areas where meaningful learning experiences also take place. And finally, the XO comes with free and open-source software, and digital content, which gives children, their parents and teachers, as well as other members of the community, the freedom to change, create, and share their own solutions with others.
How success is measured?
People have come to understand that standardized testing is not the only dimension to measure the impact that 1 to 1 initiatives have on children and the communities where they live. Other factors such as the ability to solve problems, develop critical thinking skills, use multiple sources of information, be reflective, and communicate with multiple media (visual, audio, interactive, etc.), work individually and in a team, be a self learner, and be able to bring significant changes to the environment in which they live are new dimensions to measure impact. We are working together with a community of people worldwide to define this new framework of dimensions and indicators to be able to measure their success. One thing we need to remember, every OLPC experience is different and should be measured according to its specific goals.
Tech Support
Doing your own OLPC school deployment
If you want to use your laptops in a school deployment either locally or remotely, please look at the Deployment Guide for information to ensure your deployment is successful. Also, make sure you let OLPC know about your trial so we can add it to the global OLPC success stories!
Does the XO connect to the Internet?
The XO comes with a built-in wireless card that not only allows the unit to connect to the internet, but if an internet connection is not available the XO machines can still communicate with one another by using the mesh network. The Mesh network is capable of allowing a few XO units at a time to share some information between each other, collaborate on various activities or even pass along photos to one another. Its a great tool for teachers and students!
To connect your individual XOs to the internet, visit Wifi Connectivity.
In order to create a secure and constant network for your XO deployment, you may want to consider a School Server and multiple Access Points for you laptops to connect to. For information on how to set up such a system, visit School Server.
What kinds of activities come on the XO?
The XO ships with 30 preloaded activites including word processing, painting, music mixing, web browsing, and programming; along with activities for collaborative writing, painting, distance-measurement and more. It also comes with a number of collaborative games, collections of books and encyclopedic articles, and a software updater that allows children to download dozens of other activities from online repositories. For more detail on these tools and materials, visit the Activities and Collections pages.
What kind of software runs on the XO?
The XO runs the Linux operating system and includes open source software components and Activities. The Activities are programs specifically designed for children and for the XO's interface. The source code for the system and all of its components is available for review, modification, and localization. For more information on the classes of programs used, see our page on OLPC software.
Other desktop environments are also available for installation on the XO: you can download and run Debian OS, Fedora Core, and Ubuntu desktops from a USB or SD card, or from the internal flash drive. Microsoft Windows has been ported to the XO, but is not currently available for individual use.
Am I able to upgrade the machines when newer software comes out?
OLPC is constantly updating and perfecting the software we ship with the XO. You are able to upgrade your units whenever newer software is available. There are simple ways of upgrading that can be done with either an online connection or without internet. You also have the option of upgrading by cleaning the unit to factory settings or you can choose an option that allows you to upgrade while preserving the work you've already done.
There are a few different builds that the XO may be running when you receive your shipment. In order to unify the software you may want to consider upgrading to the latest stable build 8.2.0-767.
Why is the XO's Hardware unique?
The XO was designed with kids and the environments of developing countries in mind. It's durable, rugged, and can hold up in extreme weather conditions. The XO hardware is unique from its screen that can be viewed in direct sunlight, to the spare screws that are built into the XO, and the green rubber border or "bumpers" that help minimize damages from wear and tear. To learn more about the XO's hardware visit our hardware specification page for more details.
What about the batteries and power?
The XO laptop is green friendly, generally using only 5-10 % of the average energy consumed by a standard laptop. OLPC designed the XO laptop with the consideration that in many parts of the world power resources are scarce and inconsistent. We've also designed the XO to be solar powered with the use of low-cost solar panels. While Change the World donations are not shipped with solar panels we're happy to provide you with more information on this alternative energy source to help you make an informed decision on whether solar power is an ideal option for your XO program. For more information and specification on the XO batter and power options please visit battery and power.
Can we change the language of our XOs?
Yes! The XO was designed as a global laptop and OLPC values the use of local languages in classrooms around the world. The XO has a unique feature of allowing the individual user to change the XO laptops default language with a few easy steps. This feature is made possible by the free and open source community which provides translations for many languages. OLPC relies on a global community to help maintain and provide new translations for languages from around the world. To learn more about the XO languages and changing language settings please visit Language for more information.
Is it possible to receive XO laptops with non-English keyboards?
For Change the World donations of 1,000 or more we are happy to discuss your options for localized keyboards. OLPC will provide you with detailed information on this option to help you make an informed decision on your needs for a customs keyboard. There are a number of things to consider for non-English keyboards such as technical support, lead times and translations. If you are interested in a non-English Change the World donation please <email> with your request and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. For a list of keyboards which OLPC has developed for the XO please visit Languages other than English for more information.
I haven't found the answer to my question yet!
You can send your questions to <email>, or post public ones here.
Online Resources
How do I get started using the XO unit?
Understanding how to use the XO to its fullest potential can be made easy by using our Manual or our Getting Started Guide. Learn about the basic function and features of the XO unit and how your deployment can use this educational tool to revolutionize learning and create a classroom both in and out of school for your students!
Are there manuals I can use?
We have many manuals to help you navigate the XO unit, learn how to use the Sugar interface, and start developing or localizing your own activities and collections. You can even develop your own manual and add it to the site to share what you have learned with the rest of the community.
Please feel free to share your story if you have started a program or have donated to a school or organization by going to Stories. Let's continue to expand the Change the World community together.
General & Miscellaneous
Why is the cost for Give One and Change the World different?
The $199 laptop donated through Give One is subsidized, as we can often add it to existing shipments. The Change the World programs can be directed anywhere, and the price includes spare parts and delivery to a major airport.
What if I'm interested in fundraising for a Change the World program?
We encourage you to fundraise for a Change the World program and connect with a network of supporters. Identifying and building relationships with others that are interested in supporting a Change the World program is a great way to create a sustainable program. OLPC is a small non-profit organization with limited resources, we regret that at this time we are unable to provide one to one support for fundraising but encourage you connect with others that are interested in supporting your Change the World initiative.


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July 10th, 2012
'White Collar' creator: Matt Bomer's a magnet for viewers
Where in the world is Neal Caffrey?
That's the question "White Collar" fans have been asking since the season 3 finale cliffhanger, and they're finally going to learn the answer to that question when "White Collar's" con-man-turned-FBI-consultant reappears in an exotic location in Tuesday's season 4 premiere.
The USA series revolves around Neal (Matt Bomer) and his successful partnership with FBI agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay), who was the one who caught him. Instead of serving a prison sentence, Neal uses his expertise as a con man to help Peter solve white-collar crimes.
Peter's serious, no-nonsense demeanor initially clashed with Neal's charming and sly nature, but they soon become steadfast friends.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koWS7JuvNSs%5D
When we last saw him, Neal was up for commutation of his sentence. At his hearing, he told the committee that he liked his life in New York City and he liked working with the FBI. But Peter's mentor, Agent Kramer (Beau Bridges), didn't believe him, and wanted to take him to D.C. to keep a closer eye on him.
When Peter silently signaled Neal about Kramer, Neal panicked, cut off his tracking ankle monitor and was shown in the last scene boarding a plane with Mozzie (Willie Garson), his close friend and fellow con artist.
Now, Neal is a wanted man and Peter and his team have decided to "cross the line" to find him and save him before the FBI locks him up for good.
"White Collar" creator Jeff Eastin said in an interview in May that with each season, more clues to Neal's past will be revealed.
"We're really focusing on Neal's background," Eastin told CNN. "'Is Neal Caffrey really his name?' will be answered."
While the promos show a tense and worried Peter, they also show Neal and Mozzie enjoying sunny weather in a quaint town and donning vacation-appropriate attire, as opposed to the dapper suits Neal usually wears. If you listen carefully, you'll also hear Spanish phrases being used, so that narrows their geography down a bit.
Of course, not all is well in paradise, and we'll see Mekhi Phifer guest-starring as a man hunter who is close to catching Neal.
One of the things Eastin has worried about was ensuring that viewers saw Neal's humanity. It was the reason he added the character of Kate Moreau, Neal's ex-girlfriend who dies in a plane explosion, in season 1, to show us more of his vulnerable side.
In season 2, we saw Neal and Sara Ellis (Hilarie Burton), an insurance investigator who testified against Neal, enter into a romantic relationship while working on a case together, only to break it off in season 3 because of Neal's secrets. And in his new location, Neal is seen wooing Maya (Mia Maestro, from "Alias"), who calls Neal "New York."
The character's multiple interactions with women aren't surprising, considering that he's played by the swoon-worthy Bomer. Eastin said that the actor, who also stars as a male stripper with Channing Tatum in "Magic Mike," is one of the biggest magnets on the show for new audiences.
"Ultimately, because Matt has been doing so much, we are going to have a lot of people coming to the show to see him," Eastin said. "(The plan is to) keep doing what we are doing, to not exclude new viewers."
He added: "Once we get that acceptability of the show, why not make it a lot more … drop the case of the week and go with more mythology."
Other guest stars to look out for this season are Laura Vandervoot ("Smallville"), Michael Weston ("House"), Rebecca Mader ("Lost"), Perrey Reeves ("Entourage") and Gloria Votsis, who will return as Alex Hunter, a thief who was once involved with Neal.
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Our daily cheat-sheet for breaking celebrity news, Hollywood buzz and your pop-culture obsessions.

subset: commoncrawl


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You can fly between Girona airport and the Alghero Sardini airport in Cerdena, Italy, with the low cost airline Ryanair. The airport is located 10km northwest from Alghero city.
Ryanair is the only airline that has direct flights between Spain and Cerdeña. Alitalia flights from Barcelona to Alghero but always stops in Roma. Ryanair offers some of the cheapest flights in the world, and is the most frequently used airline from Girona airport, flying to 55 different destinations. The flights are basic, but given that their prices are so reasonable, you can´t complain.
The staff are reported to be friendly and helpful. There´s also a priority boarding option which will allow you to choose an exit seat if you want more leg room.
Due to the fact that the Alghero airport is so close to the city, to take a taxi is a good option. However, there is a bus (number 9) that runs between  Alghero airport and the city train station every 30 minutes.Â
There are often delays reported with Ryanair, but with so many flights this is inevitable and they have no more delays than other budget airlines. As with most budget airlines there´s no frills, so don´t expect a great choice of food, or seat reservations.Â
People complain about extra fees for baggage, as they charge 10 euros per kilo for every piece of luggage over 15kg. This is more expensive than other airlines like Easyjet, who have a 20kg limit and charge less for excess baggage.Â
Please see our Companies section under Flight Destinations for more details, or the airline´s website.


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Capital Area Food Bank, Washington, November 21
All photos by Pete Souza – see more here (including captions)
4:20: The First Family participates in a service event
Not sure where – or if – this will be shown, but try the usual links:
2:0: The President pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey
White House live * C-Span * CNN * CBS
There are more live links for this than there were for the President's Burma speech 😕
President Obama returns from a trip to Thailand, Burma and Cambodia, Nov. 21
NYT: In the fractious relationship between President Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, the shoe may have just shifted to the other foot.
After more than a year of Mr. Obama needing – and not getting – much support from his Israeli counterpart in his efforts to woo American Jewish voters at home ahead of his re-election, it is now Mr. Netanyahu, Israel experts say, who needs Mr. Obama to help shore up his support at home.
The Israeli leader is facing an election in January, and if there is one thing that Israeli voters do not like, scholars say, it is any kind of daylight between their prime minister and the American president in times of strife.
After a year in which Mr. Netanyahu made no secret of his support for Mitt Romney, now might seem a perfect time for Mr. Obama to return the favor. And yet, as Israel and Hamas — and their proxies, the United States and Egypt — struggle to agree on a cease-fire in the fighting in Gaza, he has not done so.
…. All of this, Middle East experts say, means that Mr. Obama may have buttressed his own standing with the Israeli public, and is now in a far better position to start pressing Mr. Netanyahu on issues from the Israeli siege of Gaza to Iran to the dormant Middle East peace process, where he has had little leverage.
Full article here
Charles Pierce: …. I would like to have an opinion on this continual bloodletting that didn't sound banal but, goddammit, I'm out of them. I am thoroughly sick of both sides here. Opportunistic cutthroats poke a stick at the region's most powerful military, knowing full well that said military will overreact and that the overreaction will fall most heavily on the civilian population on whose behalf the cutthroats are allegedly acting. Said military reacts right on cue, with all the modern military hardware against which the cutthroats know that they and the people they allegedly represent have no possible defense. Innocent people die. Then more innocent people die…..
…. there is no side worth taking in this. Not any more. It's just tangled slaughter and bloody ambivalence and blind, unending fury. There is nothing but madness at its center, implacable as gravity, and drawing everything toward it.
Stop killing each other. Just stop, you know.
Full post here
NYT: The Obama administration took a big step on Tuesday to carry out the new health care law by defining "essential health benefits" that must be offered to most Americans and by allowing employers to offer much bigger financial rewards to employees who quit smoking or adopt other healthy behaviors.
…. Insurance companies are rushing to devise health benefit plans that comply with the federal standards. Starting in October, people can enroll in the new plans, for coverage that begins on Jan. 1, 2014.
The rules translate the broad promises of the 2010 law into detailed standards that can be enforced by state and federal officials. Under the rules, insurers cannot deny coverage or charge higher premiums to people because they are sick or have been ill. They also cannot charge women more than men, as many now do.
More here
Madame Tussauds, London marks President Barrack Obama's fourth Thanksgiving in office with a grouping of his waxwork figure alongside waxworks of Rihanna, George Clooney and Morgan Freeman
Whatever about the other three ….. Morgan looks spookily real 😯
PBO's first turkey pardoning in 2009 …. a whole lot of growing has gone on:
Morning everyone, that was a short Rise and Shine, will have more later. And, I've fallen waaaaaaaay behind again with emails, will catch up soon-ish.
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According to China publication Apple Times, the Chinese government has installed surveillance devices on up to 20,000 cars with dual China/Hong Kong plates, claiming the tags are just for inspection. However, they have the capability to pickup and transmit conversations.
Epoch Times says the devices, which were first installed in cars back in 2007, are roughly the size of a PDA, and according to University of Hong Kong professor Zheng Liming, the tracker can transmit signals up to 20km. That range means that drivers can be tracked in two regions of Hong Kong.
Much cheaper chips can be used to check inspection status for simple border crossings, Zhang said, "But this device uses chips commonly found in Bluetooth and voice recording devices, designed for receiving voice transmission."
He thus thought it "very likely" that they were being used for surveillance.
Suspicion first arose when Smugglers noticed their trucks and cars—full of illicit goods—were being picked off by Chinese authorities with extreme precision. Representatives from the Shenzhen Bureau of Quarantine and Investigation have denied all allegations of citizen spying. [Apple Daily and Epoch Times via Geekosystem]


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We sussed through heaps of "this-is-the-next-IT-workout-tech" gadgets, apps and monitors, and found the three that you should care about right now. This tracker, tool and app are seriously fit legit.
- An any-time, anywhere tone-up tool: For those moments when you're lounging on the couch and thinking "I should really be doing something," there's TAO. Squeeze the palm-size device (between your hands, knees, thighs), and it resists back, giving you an isometric strength workout, as well as coaching you on when to press more or less plus for how long and the number of reps. Watch demos of the more than 50 muscle-toning moves via its smartphone app -- and turn some of that lazy downtime into sculptin' time.
- A fit tracker that "knows your potential": No doubt you've seen and heard about a bajillion activity monitors (Jawbone, Nike FuelBand, FitBit, etc, etc, etc). We think Garmin's new vivofit band may combine the best parts of them all. Similar to those other big names, it tracks your steps, calories, sleep and heart rate, yes, but with one additional, brilliant feature: It "learns" how much you typically move, so that each day it can give you a personalized, realistic calorie burn or step goal -- one that will gradually adjust as you get fitter, so you're always inching closer to hotness.
- A genius (and super user-friendly) app: Simplicity. Gorgeous design. Crazy-effective results. Is it so much to ask for in a workout app? Absolutely not, answers Hot5. And Hot5 couldn't make working out easier. Pick your the routine you want -- high intensity intervals, yoga, ab work, whatever you fancy -- and a personal trainer will lead you through a five-minute workout video (think HBO quality, not YouTube I-shot-this-in-my-bedroom style) with five exercises. Workout, squeezed in. And for days when you've got 10, 15, 45 minutes? Name your ideal lineup, and the app strings together your video routines seamlessly. Easy enough, right?
- Shop It: Cool Fit Tech We Love
- What the FuelBand's Latest Upgrade Really Means
- A $50 Fit Tracker That Works?
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo (3)


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I think I saw that ESD system on a boat deck once.
Are those Dorade Woofers?
(Nautical joke.)
For several months, I have been using a trial membership in this Paris-based online streaming and download service, and I am fully addictedbut I have been forbidden to write a formal critique/review/comparison before the (as yet unannounced) American release date.
But today I spent my whole day staring at people's bellies and trying to decide if I should enter the NYAS Qobuz contest by filling in the back with my name and email address and then dropping the badge in the competition box. Then I remembered my trial membership, which I'm loving night and day. I have not bought a single CD since I started using Qobuz. Better yet, when I compare Qobuz' 44.1 sound to what comes out of my ancient Onkyo CD player I feel certain I will carry weapons and fight on the front lines to make sure Hi-Res streaming is here to stay. Now I think I should have filled out a badge for my girlfriend.
I'm covering this show with three distinguished (and very tall) Stereophile associates: Jim Austin, Ken Micallef, and composer/writer (and runnin' buddy from upstate) Sasha Matson. I had not seen Sasha in some time, and just before the show my inbox was flooded with excited notes about what rooms to cover and how we must all get an LP copy of the 50th Anniversary Edition of The Beatles in the stereo remix by Giles Martin. Sasha was beyond excited. Me being a smart-ass, too-cool-for-school, buzz-killing know-it-all, I wrote back telling him "there won't be an LP": I had attended Giles Martin's presentation at Power Station, and I thought (you always need a fact checker with Herb) Martin said the box set contained only CDs and Blue Ray discs. (And I was too low on the music-reviewer food chain to get a comp copy.) Sasha said, "No, Herb, Chad Kassem of Acoustic Sounds is pressing them on vinyland everybody will be playing them at the show!" I scoffed. But he was right.
After I got my NYAS badge I walked with Sasha into the big white roomand there it was! It cost me $40 but the Acoustic Sounds vinyl felt thick and good in my hands. I opened it quickly to see how nice the Beatles' photos looked, and was completely impressed: It looked like the White Album on steroidsvery nice. But! When next I see Chad I must ask, Where are the front-cover serial numbers?
I was worried about Vinnie Rossi: I hadn't heard much from him since I reviewed his impressive LIO modular integrated amplifier in September 2015. I remembered thinking back then, Wow, this modular scheme is hip and keen, but maybe he should make some monoblock amplifiersjust to show a broader audiophile world what he is capable of. Well dang me if he didn't do just that and then go me one better with a tubed (300B) line stage, too. Vinnie's new (and oh so handsome) MOSFET 75W/8 ohm class-A/AB model L2 Signature monoblock amplifiers ($14,995/pair) made me grin so hard my cheeks started hurting. And what the hay look what's sitting between them: his new modular L2 Signature Preamplifier (also $14,995). As I spied these beauties, my mind was telling me I should ask for review samples, but then I remembered, I committed to examining gear at a much lower price point. I told Vinnie how cool these things looked in the Central Park South sunlight, and I suggested I would talk to my higher ups: "Maybe JA or AD would review them?"
Now this room was sponsored by Walter Swanbon's Fidelis Music Systems, so obviously I could not determine how much Vinnie's handsome electronics were contributing to my White Album pleasuresnot without considering the effects of the new German-made Palmer 2.5 turntable (Price on request), British-made Audio Origami PU-7 tonearm (Price on request), British-made 40th Anniversary Edition Harbeth 40.2s loudspeakers ($17,990/pair) on German-made TönTrager wood stands ($1695), connected with all Triode Wire Labs cables.
As my regular readers all know, I have gone on record as a fan of every non-Rossi audio product I just listed but! What I heard today was something special. My personal taste leans toward loudspeakers that come in small boxes. But today, I was sitting less than six feet from the big Harbeth 40.2s, and they were throwing a soundstage that went through the window and over Central Park. They were transparent beyond belief. But I sweardon't laugh and kick my shinI could gauge the volumes of the insides of their giant boxes. It felt a little like my head was too close to the two front-mounted ports.
I came back for a second listen, andsurprise, surprise: Walter had put the diminutive sealed-box P3ESRs (also 40th Anniversary Editions) on top of the 40.2s. He had them leaning slightly forward and Ohwhen I say I am in love, you best believe I am in LUV. I'm sorry: I know I'm weird and old, but the sound coming out of the P3ESRs was exactly the kind of hi-fidelity sound I live for. God bless Walter, Vinnie, Alan (Shaw), and Triode Labs's Pete.
I've known Andy Singer for at least 40 years and I love him. The world of perfectionist audio would be a smaller, less sophisticated place without his big, sagely human presence. There are only three people on this planet whose ears I trust 100%: turntable master Michael Trei, Audiophiliac Steve Guttenberg, and Singer: the one dealer we've all spotted at the top of the retailer mountain. Each in their own way has taught me how to listen and enjoy the beauty of sound. But that's not why I like Andy. I like Andy because he speaks intelligently about 1000 topics, has a giant heart, and, after all these decades of doing business, he is still a nerdy, tweaky, non-cynical audiophile.
I had so much fun just being there, discussing the strange times we live in, I didn't actually listen very close; but the $10,995 Spendor D9 loudspeakers, the Chord Dave DAC ($12,488), the Memory Player 64-8 transport ($15,950), Chord stands ($1995/ea.), Absolare Integrated amplifier ($26,500-$34,500), were all connected with Echole cables and sounded clear and expressive in that always-excellent Chord DAC/Spendor loudspeaker sort of way.
Ok: I felt I owed Nicole He and the ESD Acoustic people a second chance. I first heard their large, complex Dragon five-way horn system at High End Munich 2018. They had spent money on two-story-high banners scatted everywherebut their room was a very small glass enclosure on the main floor, and the sound was not commensurate with the price of the gear.
In Munich, I listened to a variety of Chinese and European compositions, and I'm sorry to say I had trouble finding much sonic or musical merit. Transients were fast, but seemed disembodied. The system struggled to register accurate tone. Vocals were brittle and sometimes piercing. Frequency balance seemed off-kilter. Today, here in NYC, ESD had the biggest, most r e l a x e d, most natural, uncolored sound I heardin any room. By comparison, in other rooms, there were ported loudspeakers that sounded more colored and obtrusive. Bravo ESD!
I think I saw that ESD system on a boat deck once.
Are those Dorade Woofers?
(Nautical joke.)
Those ESD speakers look like some people from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) would design :-) .......
in your Harbeth P3ESR description! The Dolls - like you Herb - were/are a national treasure.
HR is one of the best reviewers because, he reviews mostly 'the common people's' audiophile equipment :-) ..............
HR is the Lord reviewing for the benefit of the Commons :-) ...............
Speaking about 'common people' .......... May be HR or JA could review the new KEF LSX wire-less and self-powered speakers ($1,000)? :-) ............
They are a lot of a speakers for the money :-) .......... Their specs 'speak' for themselves :-) ............
I should look into
..whenever it happens to finally come to the US appears to cost $25/month for the hi res tier?
The latest predicted Qobuz launch date is around CES. I'm covering CES. So, either in that show coverage or as a separate news story, I'll tackle the payment issue.
"Viva Las Vegas" ............ Elvis Presley :-) ...............
Herb - Thank you for your very insightful and kind comments on our Vinnie Rossi / Harbeth / Triode Wire Labs room! We're happy you were having fun!
Cheers - Pete


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Source : Reuters / 25 Dec 2013
France decided on Monday to maintain a ban on Muslim headscarves for volunteer school monitors despite a warning that it overstepped the law requiring religious neutrality in the public service.
The Council of State, which advises the government on disputed administrative issues, said in a 32-page analysis that this neutrality did not apply to mothers who help escort schoolchildren on outings such as museum visits. Education Minister Vincent Peillon promptly announced the ban would continue because the Council's opinion also said that schools could impose internal rules against religious wear. "The memo (establishing the ban) remains valid," he said in a communique after the Council's analysis was released.
France imposed the ban last year as one of several steps in recent years to tighten its policy of strict secularism. It banned headscarves for pupils in state schools 10 years ago and outlawed full-face Muslim veils in public in 2011. It has also considered extending this religious neutrality, which has long been the rule in public service, to some businesses such as private child daycare centres.
Muslim groups have denounced the increasingly strict limits on religious wear as discrimination against them. France's five-million strong Muslim minority is the largest in Europe. France's official secularism policy, the product of a long struggle against the powerful Roman Catholic Church that ended with the separation of church and state in 1905, remains a political minefield for governments and their critics.
Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault came under pressure from the conservative opposition and some fellow Socialists last week when a report posted on his website said France should reverse this policy and recognise its "Arab-Oriental dimension". He denied that the report, part of a study on ways to fight discrimination, would become official policy.
France's top administrative court will have to rule early next year on the appeal of a woman fired from her job at a private daycare centre because she began wearing the Muslim headscarf despite an internal dress code banning it.
The Council of State is the second advisory body to warn the government recently against overstepping the limits of the secularism policy. An "Observatory of Secularism" appointed by President Francois Hollande advised in October against a new law to extend the religious neutrality requirement to some private businesses, despite support for the idea from within his Socialist Party.


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SPECIAL NOVEL FESTIVAL DEAL: Submit for an actor performance reading transcript of your novel (any 5 pages of your book) for only $25. Limited time offer. Great way to promote the sales of your book if you're already published. (see examples on the video playlist below)
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Dr. Gangrene's Cinetarium airs Saturday Nights at 9pm central on Nashville NECAT Arts CH9. It is also simulcast on the NECAT Roku channel (search for Necat). Or click to watch below.
Saturday, July 24
My God, its almost dark. They'll wake up soon.
I re-watched THE OMEGA MAN today, starring Charleton Heston. Man I really appreciate this movie. It's all about Chuck - he is the swaggering superhero, the tough guy struggling against all odds to survive in a world gone mad. Heston was in his prime here and it's a joy to watch him work. This film is a real reflection of the times - eight track tapes, vinyl records, seventies fashion and hip slang. It's a fun film and even the variations from the original Richard Matheson book work here.
So here's to Netflix and technology... and whatever advances the future holds!
5 comments:
Hey Doc,ReplyDelete
I couldn't agree with you more about Netflix and about The Omega Man. It's a real nostalgia fest for me. It was one of my late show favorites. Chuck Heston chewing through the scenery, and it still holds up. Give me a dose of Soylent Green and I'm good to go.
Rock out with your shock out.
As a longtime Matheson fan, I have to agree: THE OMEGA MAN is fun and best enjoyed on its own nostalgic merits, rather than strictly as an adaptation of his novel I AM LEGEND. THE LAST MAN ON EARTH is by far the most faithful version, despite the low budget. Will Smith's performance in the most recent one was a pleasant surprise, but so many of the changes they made from the book robbed Matheson's story of its dramatic power. For more on all three versions, see my forthcoming book RICHARD MATHESON ON SCREEN.ReplyDelete
ThThanks Bear and yeah, I need to re-watch Soylent Grren too. Vintage Heston is always great stuff.ReplyDelete
Hey Matthew - I also really like The Last Man on Earth. Its interesting to compare the differences between Morgan (Price) and Neville (Heston). Morgan is definitely a more cerebral character, and Neville a more physical one.ReplyDelete
I will indeed have to look for your book. Thanks for the heads up!
My pleasure. FYI, it's now tentatively set to be published in early October. Of course, you can always pre-order it. :-)ReplyDelete


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GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (AP) — School officials in Orange County, California, said they will reopen an investigation into a group of high school students seen on video giving Nazi salutes last year after more racist images surfaced, according to a report Wednesday.
The initial video obtained by the Daily Beast — which posted about 8 seconds of it — shows members of the boys' water polo team at Pacifica High School in an empty room that administrative officials say was later used for an athletic banquet. The video showed about 10 boys in a stiff-arm salute while singing a Nazi marching song.
The Garden Grove Unified School District said in a statement that the footage was recorded last November but that administrators hadn't become aware of the video until March. It said the students were unsupervised at the time. The district said Monday that administrators had "addressed the situation with all students and families involved," but failed to specify what disciplinary actions it took.
The Los Angeles Times reported that since Monday officials said several other videos showing students engaged in hate speech have surfaced. Those videos will be examined as part of the district's reopened investigation. It was not immediately clear what's on the new videos or whether they included students from Pacifica High.
"This new information, which continues to unfold minute by minute, demands a school-wide call to action to address the severity of these claims to ensure hate speech never happens again," Pacifica High School Principal Steve Osborne said. "Hate speech will not be tolerated. This is not who we are."
Osborne apologized during a school board meeting Tuesday for failing to address the original video with the entire school immediately after it was brought to administrators' attention. He added that the school had been in communication with the Anti-Defamation League and the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles in an effort to expand anti-bias education for students.
It's not the first time a high school in Orange County has dealt with its students engaged in Nazi portrayals. Students from schools in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District faced suspension in an unrelated incident in March after photos emerged of them playing beer pong with cups set up in swastika formation.


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Medicinal checkups are generally seen as an astounding strategy for self social insurance. With the pink strip splattered on everything from devices to arm ornaments to containers of KFC, ladies get the feeling that they're doing themselves an awesome support when they experience their yearly mammogram.
Tragically, mammograms do nothing to avert bosom tumor. They just serve to identify tumors that have become sufficiently huge to be seen by the human eye (more than 100 billion growth cells). On the off chance that you get a tumor analysis, the accessible medicines have not been appeared to drag out life altogether, and they accompany some genuine symptoms. Other than all that, the danger of bosom disease for ladies under fifty is around one in a thousand (i.e., really low). The mammogram brand of self social insurance ought not be viewed as, "dealing with yourself".
So if therapeutic checkups aren't the ticket to powerful self medicinal services, then what is? To answer that inquiry, I investigated the exploratory examination. I asked, what does work to anticipate sickness and advance life span in people? A few answers appeared again and again. I should caution you that they're not extremely energizing, but rather here they are: eat right, work out, don't smoke, and keep up a sound low weight. Truth is stranger than fiction, and I'm sad there's no new enchantment pill to report.
In any case, hold up a moment what is eating "right"? All things considered, the therapeutic writing is quite decisive on that, as well. "Eating right" adds up to eating bounteous measures of high-supplement nourishments principally green vegetables, natural products, seeds, and beans. Case in point, a late study distributed in the Journal of Cancer (2008) reported a 64% lessening of bosom growth hazard in ladies who at mushrooms day by day.
Whole, grungy plant nourishments are especially high in phytonutrients- – plant-inferred chemicals- – that secure us against malady and maturing (not at all like pink mammograms). Study after study demonstrates that as our utilization of these nourishments goes up (particularly dim verdant greens like kale and collards), our illness hazard diminishes essentially. Be that as it may, the key here is volume. In the event that you take a supplement insufficient eating routine – one in view of bread, pasta, oat, milk, chicken, olive oil- – and add some kale to it, you most likely won't see numerous advantages. In a perfect world, to get the most extreme security from the a large number of phytochemicals possessing large amounts of grungy plants, you need to eat bunches of them-12-14 servings/day! Now that is incredible self social insurance!
Another advantage of this eating regimen style is that it is very weight reduction positive. By eating 12-14 servings/day of new products of the soil, you top off your paunch with low-calorie, supplement rich nourishment, so there's no room left for the various unfilled calorie stuff (the bread, oils, and so forth.). An eating routine style high in micronutrients- – vitamins, minerals, cell reinforcements, and phytochemicals- – permits you to eat as much as you need while as yet shedding pounds, reducing your infection hazard calculates considerably more. What's more, it ends up being much less demanding to counteract bosom tumor (and different growths and ailment) than to cure it.
Presently, I'm not saying it's anything but difficult to change from the infection bringing about standard American eating routine (SAD) to a high-supplement diet. What's more, the famous media doesn't assist with its accentuation on outstanding news stories as opposed to reporting substantial investigative exploration, so you may not be persuaded that a supplement rich eating regimen style can really counteract bosom disease or assume the position of a restorative checkup. A number of us need to defeat years of programming about the need of dairy for solid bones (a bit much or even advantageous for bones) and the advantages of olive oil (an overhyped, super-fatty, low-supplement refined "sustenance") before we begin to put stock in the gigantic estimation of verdant greens (think, "elephants"- where do they get their protein?). Indeed, I trust this article has aroused your advantage. Presently go take an energetic stroll around the piece and have a XXL plate of mixed greens for dinner!


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This article was originally published in the January/February 1995 issue of Home Energy Magazine. Some formatting inconsistencies may be evident in older archive content.
| Home Energy Home Page | Back Issues of Home Energy |
Home Energy Magazine Online January/February 1995
More Waterbed Data
I was dismayed after reading the article on waterbed heating that you did not use data from the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) relating to the energy use of waterbed heaters (see Waterbed Heating: Uncovering Energy Savings in the Bedroom, HE Sept/Oct '94, p.41). Do your readers know that this triennial survey of households covers many important uses of energy in the home? For example, the 1990 survey documented that 14.5% of U.S. households use one or more waterbed heaters (11.6% have one and 2.9% have two or more). The 16.9 million waterbed heaters were estimated to use 2% of the residential consumption of electricity in 1990. These and many other data are available in publications of the Energy Information Administration that report the results of the RECS.
Data on low-E windows, aquariums, air cleaners, home faxes and copiers, various types of fans, lights used more than one hour per day, use of outdoor lights, and participation in demand-side management programs are some of the new topics available from the 1993 survey. To get these data, call (202)586-8800, or use your modem to sign onto our electronic bulletin board at (202) 586-2557.
Wendel Thompson
Waterbeds Unplugged
How timely your article on waterbed heaters was. Our agency operates a low-income weatherization program, and during the last year has begun a new emphasis on energy education. Just today, a colleague provided me with a report on a low-income, payment-troubled family who unplugged their waterbeds as part of our Weatherization Assistance Program follow-up energy education.
As a result of weatherization, switching the water heater from electric to gas, and energy education about the cost of operating waterbed heaters, the family reported their lowest electricity bill ever. Their electric bill last August had been $130.67 but this August was $67.60. Electric usage went from 1,146 kWh to 759 kWh. In part because the waterbed was unplugged, the family now has both a greater sense of energy use and more money in their pockets.
Jeannie Jertson
Fireplace Questions
I found the article on advanced-combustion fireplaces to be informative, but I still have a number of questions regarding the technology (see Fireplaces: Studies in Contrasts, HE Sept/Oct '94, p. 27). Many new fireplaces and woodstoves advertise efficiencies better than 80%. This would seem impossible, given Skip Hayden's maximum of 78% efficiency with minimal excess air. Are they advertising combustion efficiencies or true total efficiencies? Do they reflect realistic usage?
How do fireplaces and woodstoves compare to coal-, oil- and gas-burning equipment, in terms of cleanliness?
What are the constituents of incomplete wood combustion products? Are there significant amounts of dioxins or other carcinogens?
Do the new units really burn cleanly when their air supply is choked down to reduce heat output and prolong burning?
My main concern is that even with the new technologies, burning wood may produce pollution that is out of line with the lower levels we we require from automobiles and boilers.
Noel Kurtz
Author Skip Hayden responds: Table 1 in that article was designed to show that excess air has a dramatic effect on the maximum efficiency attainable. The fact that I listed no efficiencies above 78% does not mean you can never have a system with a higher efficiency. Indeed, if I ran at an excess air level lower than 100%, or if I took more heat out within the appliance so that my flue gas temperature was less than 300deg.F, or if my wood had a moisture content less than 17%, my stove would be more efficient. On the other hand, all of the other characteristics (as stated later in the article) of the advanced-combustion fireplace have to be there in spades for the real seasonal efficiency of the appliance to be at or above that level.
As for pollutant emissions, NOx emissions tend to be lower with wood, and carbon dioxide (and hence greenhouse emissions) can be considered zero to the extent that the wood is harvested in a sustainable fashion. Conventional wood stoves have high levels of incomplete combustion products, including carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and condensible organics (in the form of PAHs, carcinogens similar to those in cigarette smoke). Indications are that in advanced technology stoves, all of these emissions have been reduced by 80% to 90%. There is no evidence that there are significant levels of dioxins in these advanced-combustion systems.
The new units burn cleanly even when run at low fire. Indeed, some designs actually burn their cleanest at that point. To meet the emissions standard, they must have a clean low burn, so they cannot be as completely choked off as could the dirty stoves of the 1980s. Furthermore, the viewing window allows the operator to see when combustion is optimum--he or she tends to keep it there because the flame is prettiest at that point, as well as being more efficient.
The continuing evolution of this alternative to the outmoded fireplace will permit an environmentally benign use of renewable energy.
Where to Find Efficient Wood Fireplaces?
Would you be kind enough to send me a list of manufacturers of advanced combustion wood-burning fireplaces meeting the EPA 1990 or CSA B415 performance standards?
Evan W. Fletcher
Editor's Note: For a list of Environmental Protection Agency-certified wood heaters that includes emissions rates as tested, default efficiencies, and BTU ranges, contact EPA's Manufacturing, Energy and Transportation Division, 22-23A US EPA, 401 M St. S.W., Washington, DC 20460, Attention: Wood Heater Program. The list is available at no charge. A list of certified comfort conditioning equipment, which includes advanced-combustion wood-burning fireplaces, is available from the Canadian Standards Association for (Can)$20. Contact: CSA, 178 Rexdale Blvd, Rexdale, Ontario, M9W 1R3. Tel: (416)747-4044; Fax: (416)747-2475.
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(CNN) -- It was early on a Monday, just the seventh week of school, when Danelle Olivares decided she would have to keep her 5-year-old daughter home from kindergarten. Trinity had a nasty stomach bug, but no fever, and Olivares figured that a day of rest at home would make things OK.
But the morning brought no relief. Trinity was cramping, having bouts of diarrhea and vomiting. She was so pale that by late afternoon, Danelle and her husband, Michael, brought their little girl to the emergency room. She asked for water. Her legs hurt. Three hours later, she was dead. Stunned as they were, the Olivareses got another shock when doctors came back with test results: Trinity had fallen victim to the H1N1 flu. "It really blew me away," Danelle Olivares of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, told a local television station. "She never even ran a fever."
The World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention each list fever as a defining feature of H1N1. But that's being called into question, most recently in the medical journal the Lancet. This week, physicians in Queensland, Australia, wrote that 36 of the 106 patients admitted to Gold Coast Hospital with confirmed H1N1 infections actually had no fever.
Dr. Richard Wenzel, an infectious disease specialist at Virginia Commonwealth University, visited hospitals in Mexico City in the spring when the virus first exploded onto the scene, and in Chile in July, during that country's outbreak. In both places, he says, the pattern was like Australia -- a third or more of adult H1N1 patients were afebrile, or without fever. "If the CDC doesn't recognize flu without fever, we're going to miss a huge number of cases," Wenzel says. "What it really means is we're going to have an incredibly difficult time controlling the virus."
In fact, the CDC does recognize flu without fever. Its guidelines on preventing the spread of H1N1 in hospitals dutifully report that "depending on the case series, the proportion of persons who have laboratory confirmed 2009 H1N1 infection and do not have fever can range from about 10 to 50 percent." But that warning isn't reflected in most of the agency's practical guidance, including when to keep children home from school or when parents should stay home from work or avoid public crowds. In those cases, flu is defined -- in part -- by having an elevated temperature.
Dr. Arthur Kellermann, an emergency physician at Emory University Hospital, says there's no "Easy" button to cut through the shifting advice. To make it simpler, Kellermann joined several other researchers and experts from Microsoft to design an interactive tool that's now posted on the federal government's main H1N1 information Web site, flu.gov. You can log in, answer basic questions about symptoms, age and medical conditions, and the program tells you whether it's time to call your doctor, head to the emergency room or just try to rest at home. The behind-the-screen formula is tweaked on a regular basis, to account for new evidence.
"The idea is that you can bundle a lot of complexity and some subtlety into a tool like this," Kellermann says. "It can't be perfect, but it can be really, really good." The group is developing a similar tool for parents of sick children, as well as a print version of the material.
Of course, any guidelines are only as good as the science that underlies them. Flu experts still don't know whether a significant number of patients are sick enough to spread the virus, despite not being feverish. Wenzel and the Australian researchers put the figure at 30 percent or higher, but a Canadian study last month in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that only 10 percent of patients in intensive care were afebrile. Someinfectious disease experts say that even 10 percent sounds too high.
One skeptic is Dr. Bruce Ribner at Emory, who says, "Maybe it's because we're not especially [testing] most people who are afebrile, but among the ones we've seen in the hospital, almost all of them have a fairly high fever."
If that picture is still hazy, it's clear that H1N1 is different from seasonal flu in other ways. For one thing, it's far more likely to cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. The Canadian study reported that nearly half the patients admitted to intensive care were suffering GI problems. While many of those patients had mainly respiratory illness, Dr. Anand Kumar, the lead author, said, "About 10 to 15 percent complained primarily of GI symptoms, and not the standard symptoms of cough and runny nose. That's unusual."
Dr. Jorge Parada, an infectious disease specialist and medical director of infection control for Loyola University Health Systems in Chicago, Illinois, says "It's underappreciated that even normal flu can give some GI symptoms, but this is an order of magnitude more. It's definitely a difference."
What we don't know is why, Parada says. "I don't know how much is because this is a novel virus, and so our whole body is out of whack trying to respond to it, or because this particular virus has a predilection for reproducing in the gastrointestinal tract." It may be that H1N1 is simply shedding light on a larger truth about viruses in general. "We're discovering more and more that respiratory viruses don't transmit only through respiratory symptoms. With SARS, a lot of the spread was linked to diarrhea. Avian flu was also spread through the GI tract."
Of course not every upset stomach is H1N1, but especially with children, parents should watch closely for any sign that the illness is getting worse. The CDC lists several signs, including the child not drinking fluids or being so irritated that he or she doesn't want to be held. Any child younger than 5, and especially younger than 2, is at higher risk for complications if it does prove to be H1N1, so parents should call their doctor if they're worried.
At the same time, people with relatively mild symptoms may want to avoid the antiviral drug Tamiflu, which can help to blunt flu symptoms, but which causes side effects including nausea for a significant minority of the people who take it.
Dr. Joe Bresee, a pediatrician and epidemiologist with the CDC, says that H1N1 is not so different from seasonal flu in its mix of symptoms -- mostly fever, cough and muscle aches. What is different, he emphasizes, is that H1N1 is far more likely to cause severe illness in young and otherwise healthy people. Here's one stark comparison: Last week the CDC estimated that 540 children had died of H1N1 between April and October, before the usual flu season has even begun. Most years, pediatric deaths from flu rarely total 100 for the entire year.
Most common questions about H1N1
Faced with numbers like that, doctors warn that people -- especially parents of young children, or people with underlying medical conditions -- should call a doctor right away if symptoms take a turn for the worse.
"The earlier you're treated, the better the outcome," says Wenzel. "This disease moves very fast."
Parada says anyone who is ill should be especially vigilant. "People should seek care if they have additional risk factors for developing complications from flu, or if they are 'not right' and just sicker than expected. This will never be a clear-cut line, but rather a grey zone, or 'judgment call' if you will."


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- cPanel – Setup Google Apps MX, CNAME and SPF records
Since Google Apps is one of the best (if not the best) email services out there, here is how you can setup your domain, which you have its DNS managed by Arvixe, to point to Google.
This blog post presumes you've already setup your Google Apps account and that you are just now doing the finishing touches (ie. final DNS settings to have Google handle your emails). If you've setup your Google Apps account correctly, this final step will put the finishing touch and allow Google to handle all your emails needs.
For this to be done, you'll need to setup three DNS records:
- MX records, thus telling the world, who handles email for your domain (ie. Google).
- CNAME record, so that if you type mail.yourdomain.com (replace yourdomain with your own domain name – like mail.shai-arvixe.com), it points to Google Apps login page.
- SPF record to tell the world that Google is allowed to handle emails for your domain (this helps other mail servers know that Google is allowed and thus, help prevent filtering emails from you as spam).
Note: the links above point to Google's own help articles, respectively.
Edit DNS zone records:
- In your control panel, click on Domains and then on the domain name in question (picture 1)
- Now click on Edit DNS zone records (picture 2)
- First, delete the mail A record and the default TXT record by clicking the Red X to the right on the respective row (picture 3)
MX Records:
- Click the pencil icon to the left of the first MX record to set the default record to a higher value (higher means lower priority), we don't want to delete it, since we don't want to interrupt current mail connectivity if such exists (picture 1)
- Change current value of 10 (ten) to 20 (twenty) and click Save (picture 2)
- Now go to Google's MX Records page and begin entering new records, one at a time. Click Add record (picture 4)
- Pick MX from the drop-down box, enter the record in the Record Data field and enter the priority in the MX Priority field (picture 4)
- Repeat this step for all the MX records that Google provide in the aforementioned link.
- Note: Don't enter the . (period) at the end of each record (as Google says, since our DNS doesn't need it.
- At the end, you should have something like (picture 5)
CNAME Record:
- Now go to Google's CNAME Records page and begin entering new records, one at a time. Click Add Record (picture 1)
- Pick CNAME from the drop-down box, type mail in the Record Name field and ghs.google.com in the Record Data field (picture 2)
- You can now also add docs, sites and calendar CNAMEs as well (picture 3)
SPF Record:
- Google recommends that you add the following SPF record to your DNS zone. Click Add record, pick TXT from the drop-down box, copy/paste the record into the Record Data field (picture 1)v=spf1 include:aspmx.googlemail.com ~all
End result (after MX, CNAME and SPF):
After all said and done, you can always ask Arvixe's support to review your dns zone and make sure you did it correctly, this is what we should see, if you did it all right (picture 1)


text: Everything you need to successfully tap the amazing healing power of celery juice–and press the reset button on your body–in a concise, practical how-to guide from the Medical Medium.Celery juice detox is the hottest topic in Anthony William's global online community–and for good reason. According to Anthony, celery juice is an unsung superfood with an incredible ability to create sweeping improvements on every level of our health: * Rebalancing gut pH and relieving gastrointestinal disorders* Flushing toxins and debris out of the GI tract and liver* Addressing a vast range of conditions as disparate as diabetes, migraine, ADHD, fatty liver, ALS, and Lyme disease* Improving kidney function and adrenal balance* Restoring health in people who've suffered from unexplained chronic or mystery illness for yearsIn Celery Juice: The Miracle Cleanse, Anthony introduces you to these benefits and many others, explaining how celery does its anti-inflammatory, alkalizing, health-renewing work. Then he gives you practical guidelines to do your own celery juice cleanse correctly and successfully. You'll get instructions on how to make the juice, when to drink it, and what to expect as your body begins to detox, plus answers to FAQs such as "Is it safe to drink celery juice while pregnant?" and "What if I don't like the taste of celery?" Here is everything you need to know to get the full benefit of what Anthony calls "one of the greatest healing tonics of all time."


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[Updated at 6:08 p.m. ET] "We don't know exactly if she had a heart attack or a stroke," Harris County sheriff's spokeswoman Christina Garza says of the female who was hospitalized with an unspecified medical condition.
[Updated at 5:44 p.m. ET] According to officials at a news conference, four people were taken to hospitals - three who were injured and one who suffered an unspecified medical condition - but the account of who they were differs from information we received earlier.
One person - a school maintenance worker - was accidentally shot during an altercation between two other people, Harris County sheriff's Maj. Armando Tello said. That man was shot in the leg, is in his mid-50s, and is in stable condition, said Richard Carpenter, chancellor for the Lone Star College system.
The two "persons of interest" suspected of fighting each other also were injured, Tello said. Tello did not say how they were injured.
Tello also said one handgun was involved in the incident. When asked whether only one person was armed, Tello said he didn't know. Earlier, a school spokesman had said two gunmen were involved in the incident.
Also, a fourth person - a female who has a student ID - was taken to a hospital with some sort of medical condition, Tello said. Earlier, a federal law enforcement source told CNN that someone had suffered a heart attack.
Carpenter said the fight happened in a courtyard area between two buildings. That seems to mesh with what a law enforcement source said earlier about the incident happening in an outside area between a library and a cafeteria.
[Updated at 4:52 p.m. ET] A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation says the shooting appears to have taken place in an outside area between a library and a cafeteria, CNN's Carol Cratty reports.
[Updated at 4:30 p.m. ET] Two suspects are now in custody, CNN affiliates KHOU and KTRK reported. CNN has not yet independently confirmed this information.
Authorities are expected to conduct a news conference at about 5 p.m. ET.
[Updated at 4:03 p.m. ET] Police believe the second suspect fled into woods nearby, a law enforcement source briefed by officers on the scene told CNN.
Authorities are focusing their search on the wooded area, which is adjacent to George Bush Intercontinental Airport, the source said.
[Updated at 3:59 p.m. ET] An unidentified Lone Star College student who says she witnessed some of the shooting told CNN affiliate KHOU that an argument between two people preceded the gunfire.
A gunman, she said, told someone: "I don't want to fight you; I'm not trying to go to jail."
The witness appeared to reference only one gunman; it wasn't clear whether she saw a second gunman. She said he "actually turned away from the situation" at first but eventually pulled a gun out of a backpack. She said she heard about nine shots.
"I think it was a bunch of crap that could've been resolved and never should have gone that far," the witness said.
[Updated at 3:23 p.m. ET] Texas Gov. Rick Perry is being briefed about the situation by law enforcement personnel, Perry spokesman Josh Havens said.
"(Perry's) thoughts and prayers are with those that have been impacted," Havens said. "We have nothing more to add at this point, but the governor will continue to closely monitor the situation."
[Updated at 3:17 p.m. ET] A freshman who was in a nearby classroom, Amanda Vasquez, tells CNN's Brooke Baldwin that she heard about six shots. She says she heard from other people that some shooting happened in a library, but she believes that the gunshots she heard came not from the library, but from the hallway outside her class.
"I was in the academic building, waiting for English class to start. I heard about six shots, and kids started rushing down the hallway. A few came into our class. It really happened so fast," she said.
She said people were shouting, and she hid under a table in a corner of the classroom. She called her mother.
"I called my mom to (let her know) I was OK (and that) I loved her, just in case anything was going to happen," Vasquez said. "... At first she didn't believe me ... but I kept telling her it's happening and need you to call the cops."
[Updated at 3:06 p.m. ET] Someone - a fourth person - suffered a heart attack, according to a federal law enforcement source who is receiving reports from the scene, CNN's Carol Cratty reports.
So, recapping what we've been told:
- Three people, including a gunman, were wounded in a shooting between two people on the North Harris campus of Lone Star College in Houston, school spokesman Jed Young said.
- The second gunman is on the loose but not believed to be on campus, Young said.
- A fourth person suffered a heart attack, according to the federal law enforcement source.
- The shooting happened at a campus library, the federal law enforcement source says.
- No deaths have been reported.
[Updated at 2:54 p.m. ET] Two wounded people have been taken to surgery at Ben Taub Hospital and are in "relatively serious condition," CNN affiliate KTRK reported. They were conscious when they arrived at the hospital, KTRK reported.
[Updated at 2:43 p.m. ET] Three people - one suspected shooter and two people caught in a "crossfire" - were wounded in a shooting that appears to have been between two people at the Lone Star College campus in Houston, school spokesman Jed Young said.
The wounded suspect is in custody, and the second gunman is on the loose but not believed to be on campus, Young said.
Authorities believe the school is "under control, but the school is still being evacuated," Young said.
Young said he doesn't know the conditions of the wounded. He said the shooting - apparently between two gunmen - was reported at about 12:31 p.m. CT.
Two apparently unintended targets were shot in a "crossfire," he said.
[Updated at 2:28 p.m. ET] The FBI and ATF have sent agents to assist local authorities, according to Shauna Dunlop with FBI Houston and Franceska Perot with ATF Houston.
[Updated at 2:27 p.m. ET] A witness told CNN affiliate KPRC that she hid underneath her desk while she heard five or six gunshots at Lone Star College.
[Updated at 2:26 p.m. ET] One person has been transported to Houston Northwest Medical Center, according to spokeswoman Ashley Walton.
She would not give any further details about the patient.
[Updated at 2:14 p.m. ET] Students were filing out of what CNN affiliate KHOU reports is the library on campus.
[Updated at 2:10 p.m. ET] Video from CNN affiliate KPRC shows law enforcement personnel herding people from one part of the campus to another.
[Updated at 2:02 p.m. ET] Students at a Lone Star College campus in Houston have been asked to take shelter after reports of a gunman on campus, a school spokesman said.
More than 10,000 students are at the North Harris campus of Lone Star College, spokesman Jed Young said.
[Initial post, 1:50 p.m. ET] A shooting has been reported at a Lone Star College campus in Houston, Texas, CNN affiliates KTRK and KPRC reported.
Footage from KPRC showed a large number of law enforcement personnel on campus, and at least two people being wheeled on gurneys toward ambulances.
This story is developing. We'll post more details as we get them.
gun control.remove all guns from the population .sodiers and police officers should the only people to carry a gun.
In a democracy, people don' need to fight back, the government is there to protect them. Why should it be black or white. The middle way is to keep guns just for those who are there to protect the people. In the end, it is the government job to protect the people so it's okay for them to have guns. It is true that we shouldn't be blaming guns for the shootings that are taking place but may be if they didn't have guns it would have been harder for them to kill.
That's just it, we live in a republic not a democracy, we are the government. You could end up dead before law enforcement arrived. You can't take guns away from the black market, guns does not kill people. A gun is a tool, if not a gun, how about a knife or a hamer
maybe that heart attack person should have a defibrillator installed. don't get one of those defective medtronic ones like they put in my mom.
Could this situation have been prevented if all the witnesses had just pulled out their own guns and begun firing wildly? More guns will fix anything, and give 'em great big magazines.
Guns dont kill people, crazies kill people
Guns dont kill people, "gun free zones" enable said crazies to kill even more people
Can you believe how CNN is playing up this thing? They act as if it's as serious as the Sandy Hook shooting.
This is an every day thing in places like Houston. No one even died. Me thinks someone has an agenda.
Barbara Ann Roberts 1 second ago
This really has to stop. Please people, lets not blame it on violent movies, video games, Marilyn Manson, or a full moon. The responsibility to end these tragedies rests solely on our government's shoulders. Quit selling guns and bullets, and put more funding into public mental health care.Wake up U.S. government! The solution really is that simple.


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As you may have heard, Steve Jobs will be getting the Ashton Kutcher treatment in "jOBS", the first biopic to be released since the Apple co-founder passed away last year. Not to be confused with Aaron Sorkin's adaptation of Walter Isaacson's biography, jOBS reportedly covers the forty "definitive" years of Jobs' life, beginning in 1971.
A lot of questions surrounded the project when it began filming this summer, and now it looks like those are going to be answered very soon — and at Sundance, no less. Yep, the Sundance Institute announced today that the film will make its public debut on the final night of Sundance.
The Hollywood Reporter, which first reported the news, caught up with Trevor Groth, the festival's director of programming, who said that jOBS was chosen to close the event because "there's something inspirational about it. To see what he achieved by just staying true to his vision is something that I think a lot of people can relate to and get hope from."
There has been a lot of interest swirling around the film since rumors of it became reality, amplified by TMZ's "captured images" that surfaced showing Kutcher ambling around the set in Jobs' characteristic black turtleneck and New Balances. Kutcher, as we reported back in July, is indeed taking the gig very seriously, even slipping into some method acting and staying in character.
Aside from Kutcher-Jobs, the biopic's lineup includes director Joshua Michael Stern, was written by first-time-screenwriter Matt Whiteley and includes appearances from Dermot Mulroney, Josh Gad, Lukas Haas, Matthew Modine, and J.K. Simmons.
It should be interesting, and although there's been no definitive word on when audiences can expect jOBS to hit the theaters, there's no better way to kick things off than with an appearance at Sundance. jOBS, which will be featured alongside 17 other films, is set to debut on January 27, 2013.
For more, check out our coverage from the set of jOBS, right … here.
Image via Sundance/Hollywood Reporter.


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Adobe (opens in new tab) is to launch a free, web-based version of Photoshop (opens in new tab) within the next six months. The company says it's hoping to steal a march of software providers like Google as more productivity apps spring up online.
The free version of Photoshop will be vastly simplified, but Adobe says it wil still be more advanced than other image editing programs.
Google has been at the forefront of providing free web-based applications, and it's Google's strategy that has made Adobe act. It doesn't want to be challenged within its own specialist area and has chosen to act before companies such as Google launch rival products.
Bruce Chizen, Adobe's CEO, said : "This is new [for Adobe]. It's something we are sensitive to because we are watching folks like Google do it in different categories, and we want to make sure that we are there before they are, in areas of our franchises.
"We recognise there is a customer there - we recognise they are not going to pay us, necessarily, directly. But we could use ad revenue as a model. Google has demonstrated that it works pretty well for certain types of applications," Chizen said.
Last week, Adobe said it will make video-editing tools based on its Adobe Premiere (opens in new tab) suite available as a web app through PhotoBucket (opens in new tab) .
Adobe will offer similar services with several of its other flagship products. It certainly looks like web apps really will be a serious alternative to traditional desktop-based software within the near future.


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Wave Of Hispanic Immigrants Prompts Racial Isolation In Small California Town
WATSONVILLE, Calif. (AP) – In a grassy downtown plaza, strolling musicians wearing glitzy cowboy outfits blast a mariachi song, while Spanish-speaking shoppers bustle between farm stands, sampling tart cactus leaves, sniffing roasting chilies and buying bundles of warm pork tamales.
The scene is an increasingly typical one in towns across California, where Hispanics are on pace to become the largest ethnic group next year. And Watsonville is but one of dozens of California communities where Hispanics outnumber whites.
The town of 52,000 on the picturesque Central Coast, where good soil and pleasant weather enrich crops of strawberries and lettuce, and a driven and determined low-wage workforce fuels small factories producing everything from high-end shock absorbers to handcrafted glassware.
Spanish is spoken in most homes and businesses in town, and one out of five households is linguistically isolated, meaning no one over 14 speaks English.
Rising immigration hasn't made Watsonville more diverse; it is a community heading toward racial isolation, a growing phenomenon in a state that offers one possible look at how the nation may change as non-Hispanic whites become a minority in the coming months.
Like most U.S. towns, Watsonville has been formed by waves of immigrants, Croats, Portuguese, Filipinos and Japanese, each arriving with their own language, customs and cuisine. The current surge of Hispanics has brought a Latin American influence.
"For me, downtown Watsonville is like being in a small Mexican town," said Oscar Rios, who was Watsonville's first Latino mayor. "Everyone speaks Spanish. The restaurants are Mexican. It's got a very different feel than a traditional American town."
Rios came into office after a landmark voting rights case 25 years ago deemed Watsonville's at-large election system discriminatory and mandated district elections to end all-white political leadership. At the time, 50 percent of the residents were Hispanic.
Today, 82 percent are either immigrants, or descendants of immigrants, mostly from Mexico but also elsewhere in Latin America.
"Communities where Latinos live are becoming more and more Latino over time," said Brown University sociologist John Logan. "And as more Latinos arrive, they're still living in very separate neighborhoods."
But predominantly white neighborhoods are also seeing an influx of Latinos, Logan said.
Hans Johnson at the Public Policy Institute of California said there are signs of increasing residential segregation, but that that becomes a problem only when places that are highly segregated end up becoming economically depressed for generations of immigrants.
"Here I would say the track record in California has been, so far, that we see pretty strong improvements from the first generation to second generation," he said.
Watsonville, where 40 percent of the residents are foreign born, is in the early phase of the transformation. The community has a 23 percent unemployment rate, and poverty rates twice as high as the rest of California.
Nahara Villalobos, 17, who will be a senior at Watsonville High School this fall, is determined to move up, educationally and economically. Her parents immigrated to California from Mexico about 25 years ago. Her father works on a mushroom farm and her mother is a housewife, caring for Nahara's disabled older sister.
Although she was born in the U.S., Nahara didn't learn English well until she was 9, and to this day she acts as her family translator at doctor appointments, signing leases, filling out contracts and tax forms.
When her family moved onto an all-white block five years ago, it was Nahara who had to explain to her father that neighbors were asking if he was an ex-con, and her mother if she was the housecleaner.
"You wouldn't believe the way the neighbors treated us," she said. "I'm going to get out of here, be the first in my family to go to college, become a lawyer. I'm not just saying this. I'm going to do it."
A member of the Watsonville Youth City Council, Nahara interned this summer at City Hall, and serves on her school's Conflict Resolution Team.
Walking past downtown's historic Victorians, Nahara doesn't notice that almost every sign is exclusively in Spanish, from the barber shop, "Cortes de Pelo," to dress shop notices asking patrons to not bring in food or drink: "Por favor, no pase con comida o bebida."
At the courthouse on the corner, interpreters are at work in all four courtrooms, helping judges and lawyers communicate with clients dealing with everything from divorce settlements to murder charges. At the public library, laughter, stories and music ring out from Bilingual Toddler Time.
Nahara points to El Charito market where she and her friends buy sweet, spicy, salty tamarindo and Chamoy candies during lunch.
In the fields surrounding the town, workers are in the fields before dawn, bending over in torn jackets, hats and high collars to keep off the sun, digging up carrots, bundling kale.
Current Mayor Lowell Hurst, who is not Hispanic, said in his 30 years in Watsonville, the community has changed a lot.
"We have more people that probably lack legal status and that means more people that are really kind of living in the shadows," he said. "Certainly there's been white flight from this city as people's economic status improves and they wish to have better opportunities.
He added: "But do people flee because of race or language? I don't know."
Hurst said many residents appreciate the Latino influence. "I think a lot of people would like to put the differences of race on the back burners and focus more on economic opportunity and celebrate the diversity of cultures that exist," he said.
As generations pass, towns like Watsonville will become more Americanized, but at the same time some parts of Mexican culture are already weaving into the U.S. fabric, said University of California, Irvine sociologist Susan Brown.
She points to salsa, which long ago surpassed ketchup as the nation's leading condiment. And Brown said American icons like hot dogs and hamburgers are actually the legacy of a wave of more than 5 million German immigrants more than a century ago.
"This Mexican wave is a big group," said Brown, "but we forget that a huge, huge number of Germans came, and we've absorbed them."
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Elysian Garden: Sunglight Speckled Fern, Moss & Grotto, Citrus Fruit, Green Foliage.
VOLUSPA - Elysian Garden 2 Wick Tin Candle
Regular price $18.99
Elysian Garden: Sunglight Speckled Fern, Moss & Grotto, Citrus Fruit, Green Foliage.
Filled with our clean-burning coconut wax, these metallic tins are a gorgeous addition to any room.
Flickers of light accentuate the delicate, geometric detail of each mesmerizing 8th century Moorish mosaic design.
Keep the tin as an elegant accessory for trinkets, jewelry or flowers.
Burn time is approximately 50 hours.
- Candle Volume: 11 ounces
- Height: 2.44 in/ 62 mm, Diameter: 4.49 in / 114 mm
- Metallic tin container
- Two wick configuration
- Proprietary coconut wax blend
- Hand-poured in the United States
- Sustainable, ecologically-sound, pesticide-free manufacturing
- No animal testing
- Phthalates, parabens and sulfate free
- 100% cotton wicks
- Unparalleled fragrance integrity
- Adhere to the highest quality/regulatory standards


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This Just In...From CBS Entertainment: Grammy® Award-winning And Nominated Artists Rihanna, Justin Bieber And Bruno Mars To Perform On "THE VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION SHOW," Tuesday, Dec. 4 On The CBS Television Network
All star line-up! U ready 4 @Rihanna @justinbieber & @BrunoMars at 2012 #VSFashionShow? 12/4, 10 pm ET/PT on @CBS http://vsallaccess.victoriassecret.com/fashionshow/
Oct 03, 2012, 12:01 ET
NEW YORK, Oct. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Grammy® Award-winning artists Rihanna and Bruno Mars, and Grammy® Award nominated artist Justin Bieber will perform on THE VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION SHOW, to be broadcast Tuesday, Dec. 4 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Victoria's Secret Angels Miranda Kerr, Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, Doutzen Kroes, Candice Swanepoel, Erin Heatherton, Lily Aldridge, Lindsay Ellingson and a bevy of other Supermodels will star in this lingerie runway show. The special will also include pink carpet interviews, model profiles and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the world's most celebrated fashion show. The runway looks will include over-the-top lingerie embellished with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS, as well as iconic Angel wings.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121003/NY86102-a )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121003/NY86102-b )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121003/NY86102-c )
From Rihanna's Caribbean roots to the top of the charts, the runways of Paris and Milan and some of the biggest stages in the world, the 24-year-old, Barbados-born beauty has already won six Grammy® Awards, five American Music Awards and 18 Billboard Music Awards, among many others. Since her breakthrough multi-platinum album "A Girl Like Me," which included her global smash "Umbrella," in just a few short years, Rihanna helped redefine the path of popular music for a new generation. Rihanna's latest album, "Talk That Talk," had worldwide sales of more than 5.5 million units and brought Rihanna's worldwide album sales to more than 37 million. Rihanna has logged 146 million digital tracks sold worldwide, establishing her as the top selling digital artist of all time. In addition, she has broken a record at Top 40 with the most #1's in the chart's 18 year history. Her new single "Diamonds" off of her next album reached number one in 26 countries within five days. Rihanna kicks off her "Diamonds" World tour in March 2013.
In 2009, Bieber became the first solo artist in history to send four songs from a debut album into the Billboard Hot 100's Top 40 prior to the album's release. Three years later, his latest album, "Believe," also has four songs in the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Believe's" premiere single, "Boyfriend," hit #1 at iTunes immediately after it was released. The "Boyfriend" video has shattered all YouTube records since its MTV premiere. The clip generated eight million views in its first 24 hours and has built up to over 86 million views. With worldwide album sales in excess of 15 million units, Bieber has dominated pop culture and social media for more than two years. He has over 46 million Facebook fans, more than 28 million Twitter followers, and over three billion YouTube views. Bieber has received numerous awards, including Artist of the Year at the 2010 American Music Awards, and was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2011 Grammy® Awards.
Mars is a singer, songwriter, producer and musician whose solo single, "Just the Way You Are," hit #1 in multiple countries across the world and won the artist a Grammy® Award for "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance" in 2011. Bruno's debut album, "Doo-Wops & Hooligans," has been certified 39 times Platinum worldwide and has claimed two additional hit singles, "Grenade" and "The Lazy Song." Mars is a 13-time Grammy® Award nominee who has now sold over 45 million singles worldwide and has over one billion views on YouTube. His second album "Unorthodox Jukebox," featuring the new single "Locked Out Of Heaven," will be in stores December 11th.
These performances will mark the artists' first appearances on THE VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION SHOW.
Last year's show garnered the best ratings ever in adults 18-49 and women 18-34 and averaged 11.5 million viewers.
THE VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION SHOW is being produced by done and dusted, inc. Edward G. Razek, Monica Mitro, Ian Stewart and Hamish Hamilton are the executive producers. Hamish Hamilton is the director.
CBS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VSFashionShow
CBS Twitter: http://twitter.com/CBSTweet
VS Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoriassecret
VS Twitter: http://twitter.com/VictoriasSecret with #VSFashionShow
VS Website: http://www.victoriassecret.com
SOURCE Victoria's Secret


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Emergencies and disasters can happen when we least expect it. Cats who live indoors and dogs who are fenced or leashed will be less likely to encounter hazards from cars or predators.
It's also smart to prepare for the unexpected by preparing an emergency care kit, learning basic first aid, and knowing where you can take your pet for emergency veterinary care--before the emergency occurs.


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Google unveiled Google Docs mobile this morning. It's a smaller, lightweight version of Google Docs and Spreadsheets, which lets you browse any stored documents, spreadsheets, or presentations on your mobile phone.
Like the mobile version of their calendaring service, Google has spent a considerable amount of time optimizing Docs for the iPhone--making items larger, and more finger friendly. iPhone users are also the only group who gets mobile access to the freshly launched presentations service, which shows up in thumbnail form with simplistic back-and-forth controls. Both services share a similar lack of editing options, as you can't go in and make changes to an item that's already been created. I'll give a small nod to Google Calendar mobile for at least letting you add an item with the "quick add" feature.
Google says it's working on an edit function, however provided no time frame on when we'll be seeing that. In comparison to other efforts--most notably by EditGrid and Zoho, developers are proving you can in fact add extensive editing functionality to mobile apps while keeping some form of user-friendly UI and speed using over-the-air data. Many of these mobile apps have been iPhone-centric, despite the larger portion of mobile users on other platforms. It will be interesting to see where Google puts their focus, especially with the rumored Gphone (possibly) right around the corner.
Speaking of which, we got to take a peek at Nokia's new mobile offerings this morning. The company claims its new N810 Wi-Fi enabled tablet is "great" for browsing and making edits to Google Docs and Spreadsheets. With the Palm Foleo's demise, we're looking forward to getting our hands on this thing too.


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Trophies and Medals is the best new way to award trophies to your community in a full rewards system! It offers a fun and engaging new way to give awards ("trophies and medals") to your community to promote positive behavior and more active participation! You can assign new trophies based upon conditions or criteria that you define, or you can let your moderators manually give medals for unique circumstances! Trophies and Medals also includes advanced integration with REST API and Automation Rules by @Kevin Carwile so the app can be extended for unlimited possibilities.
- Are you looking for an awards app where you can automatically give awards, trophies, and medals based upon forum posts, topics, and more?
- Are you looking to increase repeat engagement by giving out rewards? Or are you struggling to grow your new community?
- Are you looking to add gamification features to encourage positive behavior like quality posting?
- Are you looking for more features beyond the IPS Leaderboard to customize the levels, types, and images of awards?
- Are you looking to monetize your community ($$) and add bonus features for paying members?
- Are you looking for a well-supported app by a IPS third-party developer who passionately loves supporting the IPS community?
Start creating a full awards system with Trophies and Medals by @Fosters!
The Basics
- Trophies - Trophies are automatically awarded based upon criteria. The criteria are defined by the admin in the ACP.
- Medals - Medals are manually awarded by moderators, administrators, or groups who have permission. Medals are assigned on the front-end.
The application supports both trophies and medals for both auto-awarding and custom awards!
Trophy Filters
Build a rich and advanced awards system with a nearly limitless variety of choices to help you promote the most awesome community you can! Create sets of new trophies based upon various criteria, and layer them with other sets to create a whole system of awards! The criteria system uses native IPS 4 extensions for deep integration, and more criteria can be added in future releases. Let us know what criteria you need .
Member Criteria
- User is an Administrator
- User is a Moderator
- User has Avatar
- User does not have Avatar
- Registered for X days
- User is in Group
- User is in X clubs
Content Criteria
- User has X content
- User has X reputation
- User has given X reactions
Downloads Criteria
- User has uploaded X files
- User has file with X downloads
Gallery Criteria
- User has uploaded X images
- User has uploaded X albums
Forums Criteria
- User has started X topics
- User has posted X posts
- User has X best answers
Commerce Criteria
- User has purchased X product
The app features extensions with various third-party systems to empower advanced admins and developers to get more out of the app.
REST API. These are the available REST methods:
- POST /trophies/awardmedal
- GET /trophies/medals
- GET /trophies/medals/{id}
- GET /trophies/trophies
- GET /trophies/trophies{id}
- Automation Rules by @Kevin Carwile -- Link to IPS Marketplace
- Referrals by @Fosters -- Link to IPS Marketplace
- Member Shop by @TheJackal84 -- Link to IPS Marketplace
Edited by Fosters
What's New in Version 1.0.5 See changelog
New Features:
- Introduced Support for Rules Application ( thx to @Kevin Carwile for answering my questions )