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amethyst engagement RINGS
amethyst necklaces
amethyst earrıngs
Amethyst stone is a semi-precious gemstone with a various range of colours, from light violet to rich purple and to green. It owes its colour to the iron impurities in its crystalline structure.The gemstone is a member of the Quartz family. While it is found and mined abundantly in the region of Minas Gerais in Brazil, the stone can be mined also in Madagascar, Sri Lanka and even the Austrian Maissau. Moreover, Amethyst is the official state gemstone of South Carolina.
Amethyst (the name taken from the Greek word "amethystos," meaning " intoxicated") has been the subject to many myths and beliefs such as Christian, Buddhist and Greek mythologies since the ancient times. It has been known by its healing side, representing calm and sobriety. In astrological concept, it is the February birthstone and the stone of the Pisces.
For Glamira, quality is the first step taken towards the creation. That's why here, in Glamira, high quality stones are offered to you. The amethysts chosen by Glamira have AAA quality and they can be used in tune with your taste to adorn the pieces.
Having a rich and intense colour which can be changeable depending on the light, Amethyst is one of the most remarkable stone which is integrated in Glamira designs. Imagine a jewellery wonderland which showing new colours according to the light of your moods! That's how you can customise your pieces with Amethyst in Glamira. You can personalise your amethyst rings to wrap the colourful aura of nature around your finger. Or you can find the amethyst necklace to show the softness of your heart to the world around you. The warm and epic relationship between the stone and designs of Glamira will, on the other hand, tell the most precious fairy tale to your ears via amethyst earrings! Either alone or in combination with other gemstones, Amethyst can be used by men at Glamira to link their cuffs. Amethyst cufflinks will be name written with his own hand under the legend of charisma and style. All in all, you will find out that all magic and charm have been trapped into a gemstone and packaged to be yours!


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Press Releases
Fortinet Continues to Enhance its Americas Partner Program
Fortinet® (NASDAQ: FTNT) – a global leader in high-performance cyber security solutions, today announced it has further enhanced its partner program for the Americas based on direct feedback from partners and the need to continuously meet the market requirements of the quickly evolving cyber security landscape. The Fortinet program includes re-aligned partner levels and new training and certification designed to help partners better protect their customers from cyber threats by becoming experts on the full range of Fortinet solutions, extending their service offerings and expanding into new areas of the security market.
"As a purely channel-led organization in a dynamic industry like cyber security, it's important we listen to our partners on a regular basis and make investments in our programs that will enable us to grow our business together by delivering the utmost value to customers," said Joe Sykora, vice president of channels and operations at Fortinet. "As the cyber threat landscape becomes more complex, we have made changes to our partner program designed to support partner profitability and success, while ensuring the highest levels of security for our joint customers."
Enhancements to the Fortinet Partner Program Include:
NSE Certification Helps Mitigate Looming Security Threats
Organizations today are ever more concerned with the cyber security risks they face and the possibility of breaches that could tarnish their brand or negatively impact their core business and customers. Taking additional steps to improve technical skills and experience is an important differentiator for partners working to help ensure their critical data and the data of the customers they serve is aptly protected.
Designed for all technical professionals interested in independent validation of their network security skills and experience, the eight-level Fortinet Network Security Expert (NSE) program is provided free-of-charge to the entire Fortinet global partner community of more than 10,000 partners. Those who complete all eight levels of the program will be provided unprecedented industry recognition of expertise in network security at all levels, including a prestigious expert level step to recognize only the best of the best security practitioners. Unlike other network security certification programs available today, the Fortinet NSE program offers a well defined and highly structured approach for professionals at all levels from novice in networking security technologies through industry experts, securing the most complex environments.
Fortinet NSE provides an important differentiator for partners, allowing them to demonstrate a diverse range of critical security skills to better service existing and new customers. In addition, the NSE program offers a number of tangible benefits for partners specific to their level, which include enhanced escalation, invitations to NSE-only events and public recognition for certification.
To date, more than 2,000 partners have signed up and begun NSE training, including large global partners like HP, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, Vodafone, Orange, Hughes, Bell Canada, Dimension Data, Carousel, Ingram Micro, Fujitsu and Bulletproof Solutions.
Global Alignment of Partner Levels Provides Greater Growth Opportunity
Fortinet has redefined its partner levels in order to provide a common structure that partners can leverage globally. The program offers more clearly differentiated levels that reflect partners' core competencies and areas of expertise. It is designed to help identify and grow resellers' service strength and areas of specialty, aligned to their respective business goals, while providing the appropriate partnership resources for advanced support, development and opportunity growth in untapped markets.
Fortinet's industry-leading channel partner program serves VARs, system integrators, corporate resellers and MSSPs. New partner levels include:
- Platinum partners - proven experts that have demonstrated consistently high revenue and the ability to deliver the full range of Fortinet security solutions, with excellent levels of customer satisfaction and support.
- Gold partners - proven in selling the full range of Fortinet solutions on a large number of projects, recognized for customer service and support capabilities and committed to developing new adoption opportunities for Fortinet in their served market.
- Silver partners - deliver superior security solutions to small and medium-sized customers, and possess a working knowledge of Fortinet's small-to-mid-range multi-threat security solutions.
- Authorized partner - the first partner level required to become a member of the Fortinet channel network.
Focus Results in More Business for Fortinet Partners
As part of its enhanced partner program model, Fortinet has also assigned a dedicated Channel Account Manager for each partner account. These account representatives do not have shared responsibilities for attending to multiple partners. This provides Fortinet a great deal of focus and its partners the peace of mind knowing Fortinet is fully dedicated to driving their business. In addition, Fortinet's Deal Registration Program, which is managed by a dedicated Deals Desk, help ensure its partners are protected on every deal they initiate and bring to Fortinet.
"Everything we do is with our customers' and partners' success in mind, and our new program enhancements are a testament to that commitment," said Sykora. "We will continue making improvements as needed to ensure we are in lock-step with our partners, and can continue driving sales with them through a program that is truly best-in-class."
To find out more visit Fortinet Partner Program. To learn about the new certification program visit Fortinet Network Security Expert.
About Fortinet
Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) protects the most valuable assets of some of the largest enterprise, service provider and government organizations across the globe. The company's fast, secure and global cyber security solutions provide broad, high-performance protection against dynamic security threats while simplifying the IT infrastructure. They are strengthened by the industry's highest level of threat research, intelligence and analytics. Unlike pure-play network security providers, Fortinet can solve organizations' most important security challenges, whether in networked, application or mobile environments - be it virtualized/cloud or physical. More than 210,000 customers worldwide, including some of the largest and most complex organizations, trust Fortinet to protect their brands. Learn more at http://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog or FortiGuard Labs.
Copyright © 2015 Fortinet, Inc. All rights reserved. The symbols ® and ™ denote respectively federally registered trademarks and unregistered trademarks of Fortinet, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates. Fortinet's trademarks include, but are not limited to, the following: Fortinet, FortiGate, FortiGuard, FortiManager, FortiMail, FortiClient, FortiCare, FortiAnalyzer, FortiReporter, FortiOS, FortiASIC, FortiWiFi, FortiSwitch, FortiVoIP, FortiBIOS, FortiLog, FortiResponse, FortiCarrier, FortiScan, FortiAP, FortiDB, FortiVoice and FortiWeb. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners. Fortinet has not independently verified statements or certifications herein attributed to third parties and Fortinet does not independently endorse such statements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing herein constitutes a warranty, guarantee, binding specification or other binding commitment by Fortinet, and performance and other specification information herein may be unique to certain environments. This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve uncertainties and assumptions, such as statements regarding product releases. Changes of circumstances, product release delays, or other risks as stated in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, located at www.sec.gov, may cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in this press release. If the uncertainties materialize or the assumptions prove incorrect, results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Fortinet assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, and expressly disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

subset: commoncrawl


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Veterinary Toxicologist Dr. Tina WismerRead More About Dr. Tina Wismer ›
Featured Articles By Dr. Tina Wismer
- Is It Safe for My Pet to Lick Lotions and Creams? ›
- 5 Common Mushrooms That Can Poison Your Pet ›
- Marijuana and Dogs and Cats: A Risky Combination ›
- 8 Plants That Are Poisonous to Cats and Dogs ›
More Articles By Dr. Tina Wismer
More Pet Advice From...
Dr. Tony Buffington
Dr. Tony Buffington is a professor of clinical sciences and an adjunct professor of urology at The Ohio State University. One of his primary areas of interest is the role of stress and disease in companion animals and humans. About Dr. Tony Buffington ›
Dr. Dennis Chew
Dr. Dennis Chew taught at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine for 36 years and is now a professor emeritus. He pioneered many of the diagnostic procedures used today for urinary endoscopy in dogs and cats. About Dr. Dennis Chew ›
Dr. Ann Hohenhaus
Dr. Ann Hohenhaus is the third generation of her family to pursue veterinary medicine. After graduating from Cornell University in 1985, and spending a year at a mixed-animal practice, she moved to New York City, where she accepted an internship at the world-renowned Animal Medical Center. About Dr. Ann Hohenhaus ›
Dr. Nancy Kay
Dr. Nancy Kay graduated from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine and is an author as well as a specialist in small animal internal medicine at Upstate Veterinary Specialists with offices in Asheville, North Carolina and Greenville, South Carolina. About Dr. Nancy Kay ›
Dr. Narda Robinson
Dr. Narda Robinson is the country's leading authority on scientific complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM). As a scholar, researcher and widely read author on evidence-based approaches to CAVM, Dr. Robinson delivers straight talk on CAVM to help healthcare professionals and owners sort fact from fiction. About Dr. Narda Robinson ›
Dr. Donna Spector
Dr. Donna Spector is a board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist who has written and lectured extensively on such topics as nutrition, gastrointestinal disorders, kidney failure and respiratory disease. About Dr. Donna Spector ›
Dr. Ian Spiegel
Dr. Ian Spiegel is a board-certified veterinary dermatologist. An author of numerous scientific publications, he is the chief of dermatology and allergy at four large emergency and specialty care veterinary practices. About Dr. Ian Spiegel ›
Dr. Tina Wismer
Dr. Tina Wismer is currently the Medical Director of the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center. In July 2003, Dr. Wismer became a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology and the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology. About Dr. Tina Wismer ›
Dr. Marty Becker
Dr. Becker, "America's Veterinarian," is the popular veterinary contributor to ABC-TV's "Good Morning America," the resident veterinarian on "The Dr. Oz Show" and the pet expert for the American Association of Retired Persons. About Dr. Marty Becker ›
Dr. Patty Khuly
Dr. Patty Khuly is a practicing veterinarian based in Miami, Fla. She's been a passionate blogger for almost six years, cutting her teeth on Dolittler.com and later moving on to the Daily Vet and Fully Vetted. About Dr. Patty Khuly ›
Dr. Andy Roark
Dr. Andy Roark is a practicing veterinarian at Cleveland Park Animal Hospital in Greenville, S.C., where he lives out his dream of caring for animals and educating their owners on optimal pet health. He currently serves on the NAVC Program Committee, the Veterinary Team Brief Advisory Board and the National VBMA Advisory Board. About Dr. Andy Roark ›
Dr. Laurie Hess
Dr. Laurie Hess is one of approximately 150 bird specialists in the world board-certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. In 2010 she opened the Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics in Bedford Hills, N.Y., where she exclusively treats birds, ferrets, rabbits, rodents, reptiles and other exotic pets. About Dr. Laurie Hess ›
Mikkel Becker
As the daughter of Dr. Marty Becker, "America's Veterinarian," it was pretty much a given that Mikkel Becker would choose a career working with animals. A skilled dog-trainer, Mikkel is an honors graduate of the rigorous and prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers at the San Francisco SPCA. About Mikkel Becker ›
Kim Campbell Thornton
Kim Campbell Thornton has been writing about dogs and cats for 25 years. She's the award-winning author of more than two dozen books, including Careers With Dogs: The Comprehensive Guide to Finding Your Dream Job. About Kim Campbell Thornton ›


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Since February is the 100th anniversary of Ronald Reagan's birth and I still haven't gotten over my man-crush on the Gipper, I figured it would be interesting to look at Reagan's fiscal record, particularly to see whether he was successful in restraining the growth of domestic spending.
There is lots of good information in the Historical Tables of the Budget, which is produced by the Office of Management and Budget. I was particularly fascinated by the data on inflation-adjusted total domestic spending (discretionary and entitlements), which can be obtained by adding columns E and H of Table 8.2.
As you can see in this chart, Reagan managed to limit average domestic spending increases to less than one percent per year. These figures, which are adjusted for inflation, show that spending has grown more than five times as rapidly during the Bush-Obama years.
The comparison is even more dramatic if we examine the average annual increase in inflation-adjusted domestic spending. In other words, we're looking at how much spending increased each year, not the percentage change. During the Reagan years, overall domestic spending grew less than $10 billion per year, while spending has soared more than $100 billion per year during the Bush-Obama era. Remember that we're using inflation-adjusted dollars, so this is an apples-to-apples comparison.
The final chart maps annual domestic spending (in constant 2005 dollars) for Reagan's eight fiscal years on the right vertical axis and the 10 fiscal years of Bush-Obama on the left vertical axis. Two things stand out. First, the bailout dramatically affected outlays in recent years, both because of a huge jump in fiscal year 2009 and an artificial dampening in the past two years (because repayments from banks and other bailed-out institutions count as "negative spending" rather than revenues).
Second, you can't blame the poor record of Bush and Obama on bailouts. The chart axes are designed to give a similar starting point for Reagan's spending and Bush-Obama spending, and it is obvious that Bush's approach of so-called compassionate conservatism meant a bigger and more wasteful budget for domestic spending. Obama promised hope and change, of course, but he grabbed the big-spending baton from Bush and continued in the same direction, though TARP payments and repayments make it more challenging to discern the precise impact of the "stimulus" and other Obama initiatives (Tables 8.6 and 8.8 of the Historical Tables have program-by-program data for those who want the gory details).
Last but not least, don't forget that FY2009 began October 1, 2008, nearly four months before Obama took office, and the bad numbers for that fiscal year generally should be attributed to Bush. Yes, Obama added to FY2009 spending with an omnibus appropriations bill and the faux stimulus, but I've estimated that 96 percent of that year's spending was the result of Bush Administration decisions.


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University of Oklahoma Libraries Western History Collections
Jordan, John D. Papers 1839-1903 .10 foot
Collector. A letter (1842) to Stand Watie from John R. Ridge regarding the Ross faction and the death of James Foreman, and a biography (n.d.) of Stand Watie, compiled by the Daughters of the Confederacy. Watie was a prominent Cherokee leader.
1. "Life of General Stand Watie: the only Indian Brigadier General of the Confederate Army and the Last General to Surrender".
Typescript, manuscript by Mrs. Mabel Anderson, Pryor, OK.
2. Letter to T.J. Jordan from J.C. Starr, January 24, 1903. (copy) Concerning George F. Privat's application for enrollment. Questions the legality of the divorce of Louisa and John Charley. Mentions Col. J.M. Bell.
Letter to Stand Watie from his nephew, John R. Ridge, October 2, 1842. (Copy and transcription) Re: death of James Foreman (killed by Watie).
Letter to J.M. Bell from Hinds & Jackson, attorneys at law, Muskogee, I.T. March 12, 1891. re: Lasater Estate. (copy)
Document certifying that "J.M. Bell has this day purchased the right to manufacture and use on his or her farm...Fowler's improved farm fence patented Feb. 19, 1889." March 7, 1909. (copy)
Telegraph to Geo. W. Fox from E.C. Boudinot re: Bell and Company's settlement on ceded lands. 1879. (copy)
Receipt of payment to James Bell of $3.00 for serving as a witness. October 6, 1894. (copy)
William Henry Martin's appointment of James M Bell as his attorney. April 16, 1897. (copy) Martin--"a blood citizen of Osage Nation, I.T"
Notes outlining a political speech for an election. Points made concern Cherokee Old Settlers and allotment. (copy)
The University of Oklahoma Libraries | 401 West Brooks Street, Norman, OK 73019 | (405)325-4142


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Air Display update makes iPad a Retina monitor for Mac, enables HiDPI mode
Developer Avatron announced its "Air Display" app, which allows iPhones, iPads and Macs to act as a second or third monitor, would be implementing support for the 2048-by-1536 resolution of the new iPad's 264-DPI Retina display. That means you will soon be able to use your third-generation iPad as a 2048-by-1536 computer monitor.
The update will also benefit the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S with "dramatically better frame rates." In addition, the upcoming update will allow you to enable HiDPI mode in Lion or Mountain Lion, a "feature in Mac OS X that renders with double-resolution on a double-resolution screen." The results of turning on HiDPI mode in OS X is viewable in the image to the right. Avatron explained on its blog:


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[Editor's note: One step closer to Johnathan Swift's 1:1 map of the world. "Walking 238 miles with a GPS generates a beautiful, freehand-looking map of college campus." Thanks amproehl!]
Republished from GISdrawing.com.
Traverse Me is a map drawn by walking across campus with a GPS device to invite the viewer to see a different landscape to that which surrounds them. It questions the possibilities of where they are and inspires a personal reading of their movements and explorations of the campus.
I responded to the structure of each location and avoided walking along roads and paths when possible.
The route was recorded with GPS technology and was walked in stages over the 300 hectare site.


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Soft-shell crabs, an East Coast specialty, are officially in season, and here at Serious Eats Headquarters we couldn't wait to celebrate their arrival. Yesterday, I showed how easy it is to clean the crabs yourself. Today, I'm sharing two great ways to use those freshly cleaned crabs with these easy and delicious sandwich recipes.
I think sandwiches are one of the best ways to enjoy soft-shells. First, because the crabs aren't exactly cheap, a sandwich is a great way to extend them into a full, satisfying meal. Plus, because crisp-cooked soft-shell crabs are bursting with tangy juices, surrounding them with bread means more of their amazing flavor makes it into your mouth instead of getting lost in a puddle on the plate.
For these recipes, I went in two very different directions. For my first sandwich, I started with the idea of a classic Maryland-style soft-shell crab sandwich, which often comes on white bread with mayo, sliced tomato, and lettuce. Instead of basic sliced white sandwich bread, I bought a small boule and cut the slices myself.
Then, to add a little more flavor, I prepared a simple tomato salsa using seeded canned plum tomatoes that I had gently baked in a 300°F oven to dry them slightly and concentrate their flavor. Once they'd cooled a little, I minced them and blended them with olive oil, red wine vinegar, finely sliced basil, and just a bit of sugar to balance the tartness of the vinegar and tomato.
For the other sandwich, I wanted to go in more of an Asian direction. My initial plan was to borrow some of the flavors from hard-shell crabs sautéed with ginger and scallions, a dish I've seen on menus at Cantonese restaurants. But I also wanted to top the sandwich with cilantro and quick-pickled carrots and cucumbers, garnishes that seem to pop up on all sorts of Asian sandwiches, from banh mi to bao. At the store, a mysterious magnetic force pulled me toward the baguettes, and I realized my subconscious was steering me into banh mi territory. Instead of resisting, I decided to embrace it. Who wouldn't want a soft-shell crab banh mi? (As it turns out, my colleagues at Serious Eats once wanted one so badly, they created a hack.) Once I accepted the idea—and felt damned good about it—I knew I had to make a chili mayo. I reworked the ginger and scallion idea by adding grated ginger to the chili mayo and thinly sliced raw scallions as a garnish.
The other main difference between these two sandwiches is the way I cooked the crabs themselves. I briefly considered deep-frying them, but decided against it: As delicious as deep-fried soft-shells are, they're also a bit more trouble to make, and I wanted to keep these sandwiches as quick and easy as possible. That meant sautéing them in a skillet.
For the Maryland-style sandwich, I dredged the crabs in flour that I had seasoned with Old Bay, then sautéed them in butter until golden brown and crisp. For the banh mi-style sandwiches, I went for a plain cornstarch dredge and cooked them in neutral oil. The flour dredge gives the crabs more of a crunchy coating with a delicious, brown-butter flavor, while the cornstarch forms a lighter, crisper shell that shatters when you bite it. I wouldn't say one is better than the other—the textures and flavors are just different. If you need an excuse to cook a whole lot of soft-shells this summer, trying both types of dredging and cooking fats is more than a good enough reason.


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In an exclusive statement for ConservativeHome on the mayoral primary process, Nick Boles confirms that he "will be submitting an application before the deadline on 4th August." The statement, by the 2005 PPC for Hove and influential Director of the Policy Exchange think tank, reads like an American politician launching an exploratory bid for a presidential campaign. "By the end of September," he writes, "I will know whether I have the broad base of support that our mayoral candidate will need."
"Lots of people have encouraged me to stand for the nomination as the Conservative Party's candidate for Mayor. People from right across the London party. And people who have never voted Conservative in their lives.
I'm very attracted by the idea of running for Mayor. It would be an opportunity to present a new face of Conservatism to the capital. I Iove London and believe it needs to be led by someone who unifies people and makes things work - neither of which can be said of Mr Livingstone.
So I can confirm that I will be submitting an application before the deadline on 4th August. But, for me, the decision to fill out a form is the least important part of the process.
What matters is what Londoners want from their mayor, and what Conservative supporters in London want from a Tory mayoral candidate. That's why I have spent the last few weeks - and will spend much of August and September - talking to people right across London and asking them what they think, what are the issues they want to see their mayor tackle, and what approach they want him or her to take.
By the end of September, I will know whether I have the broad base of support that our mayoral candidate will need. And, at the point, I will set out my ideas on how to make London work better for all Londoners.
I hope that readers of ConservativeHome will get in touch with me directly to let me know what they think. About London. About Mr Livingstone. And about the idea of me as their mayoral candidate. Good and bad. I want to hear it."
- Email Nick by clicking here.


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Wrestlers and stablemasters in the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) have long been suspected of match-fixing, but now there might be some textual messages to prove it. Let's hope this doesn't all trace back to a stubby-finger typo.
The JSA is responding to emails and text messages between 13 wrestlers and stablemasters, which allegedly arranged for match results to be bought and sold for hundreds of thousands of yen, or several thousand US dollars.
Hanaregoma, chairman of the JSA, said that if the allegations are true, "it's a betrayal of sumo fans...It would be something that rocks (sumo) to its foundation." How quaint, right? A sports culture that is actually surprised by its own controversy?
Sumo-Japan Sumo Association to investigate possible match-fixing [Yahoo EuroSport]
Texts pointing to bout-fixing rock sumo [Japan Times]


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BEREA, Ohio -- Before the ball dropped on a new year, the Browns said goodbye to another coach.
The same thing happened after seasons in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2010.
One day after another dismal, double-digit loss season ended, the Browns fired coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert, the initial offseason moves by new owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner, who intend to put a stop to the franchise's never-ending cycle of change. The Browns' next coach will be their sixth since 1999.
"We're well aware that this has been a carousel," said Haslam. "It's our job to find the right coach and the right GM and bring stability long term for the organization. That's our role. Our goal is to get the best person."
Haslam was matter of fact when asked what attribute he was looking for in a coach.
"Strong leadership," he said.
Shurmur went 9-23 in his two seasons with the Browns, who were still in the playoff mix before closing the season with three straight losses to finish 5-11. Shurmur, who followed Eric Mangini into Cleveland, developed one of the NFL's youngest rosters this season despite an undercurrent of change.
His first season was made more difficult by the lockout, preventing him from learning about his players. The bottom line, though, is that he didn't win enough.
"I've never seen a coach with that much on his plate in two years," linebacker Scott Fujita said. "To handle it the way he did and to manage it day to day the way he did and to not let the distractions from outside come in and infiltrate the locker room, you couldn't have asked for more out of him."
Haslam said the decisions to dismiss Shurmur and Heckert were finalized in the "last week or two." It's expected both men will quickly find jobs with another teams, and it's possible they could be reunited with coach Andy Reid, who was fired Monday in Philadelphia. The trio worked together with the Eagles.
Haslam and Banner will immediately begin their coaching search.
Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone is scheduled to interview this week with the Browns, league sources told ESPN. Marrone has received endorsements from men such as Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, Saints coach Sean Payton and Bill Parcells.
During a 35-minute news conference Monday that turned into a sales pitch for a new coach, Haslam and Banner did not disclose any potential candidates. However, Banner is confident the Browns, who have lost at least 11 games in each of the past five seasons -- the second-longest streak of futility in league history -- will land a quality coach.
"Most of these coaches are focused on finding a place where they think they can win," Banner said. "We think we can make a very good case why this is the best opportunity in the league right now."
The list of possible candidates to take over for Shurmur includes Alabama's Nick Saban and Oregon's Chip Kelly, college football's two hottest coaches who both have bowl games ahead. One of them could be lured to Cleveland with the promise of having complete control of the roster.
Saban worked as an assistant in Cleveland under Bill Belichick in the '90s, and although many believe he'll retire at Alabama, that doesn't mean Haslam won't try to hire him.
"I would love for him to be here, but I doubt if he would come to the NFL and leave Alabama," said rookie running back Trent Richardson, who played for Saban with the Crimson Tide. "I can't see him leaving."
Kelly's up-tempo offense is intriguing to the Browns. With Richardson, quarterback Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Josh Gordon, they have a young nucleus to build around.
Penn State's Bill O'Brien, who served as New England's offensive coordinator before taking over in Happy Valley, is also believed to be on the Browns' short list.
There is also reported interest in several NFL coordinators including Indianapolis' Bruce Arians, New England's Josh McDaniels, Denver's Mike McCoy and Washington's Kyle Shanahan.
Patriots offensive coordinator McDaniels isn't being considered for the job, sources have told ESPN. In fact, although he would like to be a head coach again one day, McDaniels notified teams Monday that he will remain in New England and not interview for any current openings.
Fox Sports reported Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter will interview with the Browns this week.
Haslam promised a thorough search.
"We're going to explore all avenues, college coaches, coordinators and head coaches," he said. "The key is to get the right person."
Among the GM candidates expected to be considered are: Atlanta player personnel director David Caldwell, San Francisco director of player personnel Tom Gamble, Baltimore assistant GM Eric DeCosta and NFL Network analyst Mike Lombardi, who worked with Banner in Philadelphia and for the Browns when Belichick was Cleveland's coach.
Banner said it's possible the Browns would hire a player personnel director, not necessarily a GM.
Shurmur, who has two years left on his contract, was emotional when addressing the Browns for the final time.
"It's unfortunate, very unfortunate," Weeden said of the changes. "When you don't win games, it's not on Pat, it's not on Mr. Heckert, it's all on us and we all feel a sense of responsibility."
Following Sunday's game in Pittsburgh, Shurmur said he had not spoken to Haslam or Banner in "quite some time," a clear sign the team was moving on without him.
Shurmur was not available for comment. Not long after leaving the team's facility, he attended a movie at a cinema complex with his family.
He departed the Browns with some satisfaction.
"I am extremely proud of the players on this team, who I felt made tremendous strides and helped to make the Cleveland Browns relevant again," Shurmur said in a release. "This group of players will achieve success soon, and there will be a part of me that will feel very good when that happens."
Shurmur's fate may have been sealed on the first day of training camp when Haslam's intent to buy the Browns was announced. It may not have mattered how Shurmur did this season because Haslam, a former minority owner with the Steelers, was intent on bringing in his own people.
He wants to find his first coach "sooner than later," but he's willing to wait.
"Whatever timetable it takes to get the right person," he said. "We're going to take."
Information from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter and The Associated Press was used in this report.


text:
Illinois Investigating Listeria Outbreak
Illinois public health officials say they're investigating a listeria outbreak.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said Wednesday that cheese has been linked to a multi-state outbreak of listeria. Specifically state officials are asking consumers to dispose of Les Freres cheese made by Crave Brothers Farmstead Classics Cheese of Wisconsin.
State health officials say one Illinois resident became sick after eating the cheese in May. The state says it is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Listeria can lead to severe illness for women who are pregnant or people who have a weakened immune system.
Experts say Illinois has about 25 to 35 cases of listeria annually.


text:
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text:
March 1992
U.S. Bureau of the Census. Statistical Abstract of the United States. Annual.
U.S. Office of Management and Budget. Budget of the United States Government.
American Statistics Index. Congressional Information Service, Inc.
subject terms: "Defense budgets and appropriations." "Defense expenditures."
1. Budget of the United States Government. Appendix (formerly a separate
2. Appropriations hearings for the Defense Department, especially ones by the
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. More information below.
3. Appropriations Committee reports and Conference reports on defense
appropriations bills (p.2)
4. Public Laws resulting from the defense appropriation bills.
5. Defense Department documents C-1, P-1, and R-1. More information below
6. Program Acquisition Costs by Weapons Systems. See below (page 4)
7. Requirements for Recurring Reports to the Congress; a directory issued by
the Comptroller General. U.S. General Accounting Office. No longer
published, nor are tapes available to the public. Might prove useful at
times for older information (and maybe current, too).
8. DIOR reports. Def. Dept.'s Directorate for Information Operations &
Reports. See page 3.
9. FORECAST INTERNATIONAL/DMS. Formerly, DMS Market Intelligence Reports. See
"DMS" page 4.
10. Other commercial publications. Examples: The Defense Budget; a
comprehensive reference by Technology Trends Corp. U.S. Weapons Systems
Costs by Data Search Associates. See below.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SUBJECT HEADINGS: "Department of Defense --Appropriations
and expenditures." "United States--Armed Forces--Appropriations and
(See also the subdivision "Appropriations and expenditures" under branches of
the armed services).
SCORPIO DATABASES: "Defense Budgets--U.S." "U.S. Department of Defense--
Appropriations." "U.S. Department of Defense--Authorization."
Research Guide to Current Military and Strategic Affairs. William Arkin.
Washington, D.C. Institute for Policy Studies. 1981.
The Defense Budget; a comprehensive reference. 1986. Technology Trends
Corporation, Arlington, VA
The Defense Budget Process in the Washington Community. Patricia D. Woods. 1985.
AIR FORCE BUDGET. (United States. Air Force. Office of Comptroller.) UG 633.U48
(8th edition was 1976. Sold by Supt. of Documents, GPO.) 76-375999
ANNUAL REPORT. 1) U.S. Dept of Defense. Report. 1st- 1948-. UA 23.2.A32.
2)___. Report, including the reports of the secretary of defense...Secretary
of the Army..Navy..Air Force. UA 23.2.A33. 3) Report of the Secretary of
Defense to the Congress. 1975-78. ISSN 0098-3888. 4) Annual Report--Dept.
of Defense. 1978/79. ISSN 0082-9854. 5) U.S. Dept. of Defense. Report of
the Secretary of Defense to the Congress on budget, authorizing requests,
and defense programs. 1979/80-. UA23.2.D476. D1.:[yr]. GPO S/N 008-000-00545-1
APPROPRIATION. In effect, it gives an agency the money to spend. Technically,
a form of budget authority given by Congress to an agency or program, which
permits the spending of funds for purposes specifically set forth by
Congress. Appropriated for a given amount of time. Not necessarily spent in
one year.
APPROPRIATIONS HEARINGS. Example: Department of Defense Appropriations for
1992. Hearings before a subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations,
House of Representatives. 102d Congress, 1st session. Y4.Ap6/1:D36/5/992/pts.
1-8. Partial contents: Pt. 1: Report of the Secretary of Defense to the
President and Congress. Jan.1991. 134p. 1991 Joint Military Net Assessment.
120p. The United States Army Force Report to the 102d Congress..Fiscal Year
1992/93. 41p. + Appendix, 6p. (Appendix gives detailed figures on
appropriations for B-2A, C-17, F-16, Maverick, Titan, etc. The Secretary of
the Navy's Posture Statement. 24p.
Annual report to Congress..by...Commandant of the Marine Corps. 29p. PART 2
(2d vol. of hearings): Includes "B-2 Program, Fiscal Year 1991." PART 3:
Includes "Fiscal Year 1991 Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm Supplemental."
PART 5: Includes Total Force Policy Report to the Congress. 71p.
(+ Supplemental, 197p.)
PART 7: Includes Statement to the Congress FY 92 Army RDT&E and Procurement
Appropriations. 76p.
AUTHORIZATION ACT. Establishes or maintains a government program or agency.
May set specific limits on amount Congress can appropriate for a program.
Gives permission to an agency to spend funds. Example: H.R. 5167 and PL 98-525
for FY 1985. (Related documents: National Defense Authorization Act Fiscal
Year...; Report to accompany [H.R. 4264, etc.] [100th Congress,, 2d session,
etc. H.Rp. 100-563, etc.] Other samples: National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year...; Report to accompany S.2335, 100th Congress, 2d session,
Sen.Rp. 100-326. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1989;
Conference Report to accompany H.R. 4481, 100th Congress, 2d session, H.Rp.
BLACK BUDGET. A popular term for that part of the military budget which is
classified. Some call it the "super-secret" part, classified even higher than
"Top secret." Projects thus funded have been called "black programs." The
official name is Special Access Required Projects, or Special Access Programs.
Only a few members of Congress have access to this information. Controversy
has arisen over whether too much military information is hidden from Congress
and the public. GAO has identified about 185 programs. Black Programs have
been said to include the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI, or "Star Wars;")
"stealth" planes and missiles; etc. The House Armed Services Committee said
a major part of the funding was for two programs, the Stealth Bomber and the
Advanced Cruise Missile, and that the "black" programs increased eightfold
in 1981-1986. There is no authoritative total, but recent estimates for secret
military spending are $30 to $35 billion per year. Programs may appear in the
DoD budget only as code names such as "Grass Blade," "Chalk Eagle," "Dark
Eyes," "Guardian Bear," and "Sea Nymph." A recent book on the subject is
Blank Check; the Pentagon's Black Budget, by Tim Weiner (UA25.5.W45 1990)
PB 89-100788. Buy from NTIS, or examine at Library of Congress Technical
Reports Section.
BUDGET GUIDANCE MANUAL. DoD Directive 7110.1-1M. Internal document. Shows what
forms to use in budget process, etc. Usually not found in libraries. Revised
every year. To obtain, apply to Freedom of Information Office in the Defense
BUDGET PRESS RELEASES. Sample: "Amended FY 1990/FY 1991 Dept. of Defense
Budget." 4/25/89.
BUDGET OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, FISCAL YEAR... U.S. Office of Management
and Budget. One portion summarizes the President's proposed defense budget. An
Appendix volume, formerly published, contained detailed information on
appropriations and funds.
C-1. CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS (C-1); Department of Defense Budget for Fiscal
Years... For sale by NTIS, or available for examination in LC's Technical
Reports Section. Examples: PB 86-153012 (FY 1987). PB 87-138921 (1988 & 1989).
PB 88-165428 (FY 1988 & 1989, Amended FY 1988/1989 Biennial Budget). PB 89-
134902 (FY 1990 and 1991). PB 90-150004 (FY 1991).
CONFERENCE REPORT. Report issued after House and Senate conferees resolve
differences between bills passed in House and Senate. Sample: Defense
Appropriation, Fiscal Year 1979;...Conference Report. H.Rp. 95-1764. Serial Set
vol. 13201-15. Includes appropriation amounts for eight CH-47C Chinook
helicopters ($33 million); F-18 (fighter) Hornet ($429.5 million).
CONGRESSIONAL DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARIES. Budget document. Lists program elements by
Congressional districts. For official use only. Limited distribution. FY87 DTIC:
Part 1, ADB 09949-0. Part 2, ADB 09949-1.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS. Community Services Administration published data on
distribution of federal funds by Congressional districts until it was abolished
in 1981. Census Bureau provided only state figures for fiscal 1981 and fiscal
1982. Congress passed a resolution requiring Census Bureau to report spending
patterns for Congressional districts in FY 1983. Employment Research Associates,
a small consulting company in Lansing, Michigan, has published figures on
military expenditures by Congressional districts.
DEFENSE GUIDANCE. Various names and descriptions used, some by newspapers:
Secret annual compilation of U.S military objectives as authorized within the
Pentagon. Secret annual long-range directive to the top military leaders. Annual
memorandum by Secretary of Defense with criteria, limitations. and factors for
budget submittals. In response, each DoD component submits a Program Objectives
Memorandum (POM). Provides direction for POMs. Basic document used by the
military in devising their long-range programs and budget plans. Other terms:
"The Guidance" and the "Consolidated Defense Guidance." (IN 1986, excerpts were
published in the Armed Forces Journal).
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY. In depository collections, see D1.81:[yr]. However, in a
document such as the Descriptive Summary of the Research, Development, Test,
and Evaluation Army Appropriations Fiscal Year...(3 volumes) the information is
for official use only, so not available at Library of Congress. DTIC: ADB 110257
(Vol.1). ADB 110258 (Vol.2).
DIOR REPORTS. These form a series of annual publications produced by the Defense
Department's Directorate for Information Operations and Reports. Sample titles:
100 Companies Receiving the Largest Dollar Volume of Prime Contract Awards
(approx. 12p.); 500 Contractors Receiving the Largest Dollar Volume of Prime
Contract Awards for RDT&E--P 02 (approx. 40p.); Dollar Summary of Prime Contract
Awards by Contractor, State or Country, and Place--ST 19 (approx 2100p.). In
recent years, GPO has sent the small P series publications to depository
libraries, but not the large ST series (Standard Tabulations). Current P series
sold by GPO. P series for prior fiscal years and all standard tabulations are
available for sale at NTIS. For information on NTIS stock, consult Government
Reports Annual Index volumes, or call NTIS Identification Unit. Some of the P
series reports are contained in American Statistics Index microfiche set. For
listing and description of all the DIOR series, with order information, see the
catalog of DIOR Reports published annually by the Directorate for Information
Operations and Reports, Washington Headquarters Services, Office of the
Secretary of Defense.
(DMS) -- FORECAST INTERNATIONAL/DMS. Formerly published by Defense Marketing
Services, a division of Jane's Publishing. An extensive series of large volumes
with detailed information on numerous weapons systems and the companies which
have the contracts to produce them. Sample volumes: U.S. Carriers (HE
9803.A4d44); Electronic Systems (HD 9696.A3U5364); Military Laser...; Missiles,
Spacecraft; etc. (Sample contents: The 1985 O&M:Companies volume shows the
company, General Dynamics, as having received in FY 1984 an estimated $40.5
million for support services on F-16 fighter aircraft; $29.5 million for
maintenance and repair services on the Tomahawk missile; $55 million for
modification and engineering of the Trident submarines; etc.) The LC Main
Reading Room reference collection has a number of DMS volumes. DMS information
is available online: Dialog File 589 is for DMS Market Intelligence Reports, and
File 588 is for DMS contractors records.
FORECAST INTERNATIONAL/DMS. See "(DMS)" above.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY TABLES. Comptroller, Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Annual. (Library of Congress information: UA 23.2.D47e. 88-659059. Serial Record
main entry: "United States. Financial..." Holdings: only 1988/89, 1 vol., as of
3/27/92). Not listed in the Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications,
FIVE-YEAR DEFENSE PROGRAM (FYDP). Long-range budget for weapons to be purchased
5 years into the future. Secretary of Defense's current plan. updated 3 times
a year, with line item, program, and account funding for next five years. Fat
books organized by broad themes. E.G., one volume on nuclear weapons, one volume
on conventional weapons, etc. Senator Weicker contended some years ago in the
NY Times that the Defense Department had two different sets of books-- one 5-
year plan for Congress, and a different set for the Pentagon only (6/22/88).
JUSTIFICATION BOOKS. Also known as Congressional Justification Books, or
Justification Estimates. Defense Department sends them to Congress. Samples:
1) Department of the Air Force Justification of Estimates for Fiscal Years
1988/1989 submitted to Congress January 1987; Operation and Maintenance, Air
Force. Vol. 1 (PB 87-181889), Vol. 2 (PB 87-174595). Air National Guard FY 1988
and 1989 (PB 87-174587). 2) Department of the Army Justification of Estimates
for Fiscal Year...Submitted to Congress: Procurement Programs. Separate volumes
on "Missiles," "Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles," etc. 3) Department of
Navy Justification of Estimates FY83: Operation and Maintenance. (See
"OPERATIONS..." below). 4) Justification of Estimates for FY...Submitted to
Congress...Operation and Maintenance, Army. Annual. (LC info.: 90-640434. Serial
Record main entry: "United States. Justification..." Holdings: 1990-1991, Parts
1-3 [as of 3/27/92]). Justification of Estimates for Fiscal Year...Submitted to
Congress...Reserve Personnel, Army. (LC info.: 87-855802. Serial Record main
entry: "United States. Justification..." Holdings: only 1987, as of 3-27-92.)
LINE ITEMS. Budgets are approved at the line item level. Line item numbers are
sequential within appropriations. The President requests and the Congress
approves (or disapproves) budget authority for each line. A line item can
represent an entire program. But usually a program has several line items, for:
RDT&E, procurement, spares, modifications, etc. (See also "PROGRAM ELEMENTS" and
PEN numbers, below).
MILITARY POSTURE. United States Military Posture for FY... Prepared by the
Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. ("Primary purpose..supplemental
testimony by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and members of the
Organization of JCS at Congressional hearings in support of Fiscal Year Defense
Budget.") D 5.19:[yr] (Earlier, D 5.2:P84/[yr]).
MILITARY POSTURE HEARINGS. Example: House Armed Services Committee hearings on
Military Posture...Feb. 3-...May 5, 1981. H.A.S.C. No. 97-6.
NATIONAL DEFENSE BUDGET ESTIMATES. Office of the Assistant Secretary
(Comptroller). Annual. LC no. sn91-19532. OCLC #9841699. Not in the Library of
Congress' general collection or depository collection. Not in Monthly Catalog
of U.S. Government Publications, 1976-1991.
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OVERVIEW. Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Separate volumes for Army, Air Force, and Navy. "Program activities" section at
back shows things like military recruiting--numbers 7, 8, and 9. Not in LC's
general or depository collections. Not in Monthly Catalog. A caller had 1987
edition obtained through Freedom of Information.
P-1. PROCUREMENT PROGRAM (P-1); Department of Defense Budget for Fiscal Year....
Office of Asst. Secr. of Def. (Comptroller). DoD budget submittal document
listing all procurement line items, thus providing line item information.
Unclassified version issued since early 1970s. Sent annually to DoD oversight
committees of Congress at the same time the President sends the Budget of the
U.S. Government. It is derived from the DoD Five Year Defense Program Annex
database. Separate sections for Army, Navy, Air Force, and Defense agencies. The
unclassified version is provided to the DoD's Public Affairs office. The P-1
document has a supporting document called Justification of Estimates, which
presents background and rationale for each line item or group of line items. For
sale by NTIS. Examples: PB 86-153038 (FY 1987). PB 87-138947 (FY 1988 & 1989).
PB 88-165428 (FY 1988 & 1989, Amended FY 1988/1989 Biennial Budget). PB 89-
134894 (FY 1990 & 1991). PB 90-149998 (FY 1991). PB reports can be examined
(microfiche) in LC's Technical Reports Section. P-1's are contained in the
American Statistics Index microfiche set (3544-32).
PROGRAM ACQUISITION COSTS BY WEAPON SYSTEMS: Department of Defense Budget for
Fiscal Year... Annual. (LC info.: UA23.2.D47f. 89-644102. Gen. collection: 1
vol., 1988-89, as of 3/27/92. LC Tech. Reports Sec. has PB editions on
microfiche). Not in Monthly Catalog of U.S. Govt. Pubns., 1976-91. NTIS sample:
PB 90-150012 (FY 1991). Center for Defense Information library reported having
1974+, as did Pentagon Library.
PROGRAM ELEMENTS. Program Elements are the building blocks of the budget. Each
line item in defense budget has a Program Element Number (PEN). A program
element is an activity which combines men, equipment, and facilities. It can be
a project, a grouping of forces, or manpower. (Example: budget for B-52
squadrons was broken down into a number of program elements such as PEN 2601,
Strategic radar update; PEN 2632, Offensive avionics systems; etc. The DoD
documents C-1, P-1, and R-1 list program elements as line items in numerical
order by proj.el.numbers. Program Element Descriptive Summaries (PEDS) are
justification docs. that accompany another document, R-1, with budget requests
presented by program elements.
R-1. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST & EVALUATION (RDT&E) PROGRAMS (R-1); Department
of Defense Fiscal Year... Office of Asst. Secr. of Def. (Comptroller). DoD
budget submittal document listing all RDT&E line items in numerical order by
program element numbers. Provided annually to DoD oversight committees of
Congress when President sends Budget. Unclassified version goes to DoD Public
Affairs. For sale by NTIS; examples: PB 86-153020 (FY 1987). PB 87-138939 (FY
1988 & 1989). PB 88-165451 (Amended FY 1988/89 Biennial Budget). PB 89-134928
(FY 1990 & 1991). PB 150020 (FY 1991). PB editions in microfiche are available
for examination in LC's Tech. Reports Section. Amer. Statis. Index microfiche
set: # 3544-33.
SELECTED ACQUISITIONS REPORTS (SARs). Definitive Pentagon documents on costs of
weapons systems. Quarterly. Not available to the public. Defense Secretary
submits to Congress each fiscal quarter this report on status of current major
defense acquisition programs. SARs have been said to be about 1200 pages long.
Only tiny summaries (1-2 pages each) are made public. Aerospace Daily has
published summaries as they came out.
Annual. Two thick volumes. Classified, thus not in LC. Check with Armed Serv.
and Appropriations committees.
VOLUMES BY TED NICHOLAS AND DATA SEARCH ASSOCIATES. Detailed info: U.S.
Historical Military Aircraft & Missile Data Book. U.S. Military Defense. U.S.
Weapon Systems Costs.
C.Bean 12/94


text:
Tonight, ABC Family airs the last episode of the first season of Jane By Design. Will the show be cancelled or be given a second season instead?
Jane By Design follows a quirky teenager who has a unique fashion sense. By chance, she gets hired at a hip fashion house and must juggle her job responsibilities while still attending high school. The cast includes Erica Dasher, Andie MacDowell, Rowly Dennis, India de Beaufort, Ser'Darius Blain, Brooke Lyons, Nick Roux, Meagan Tandy, Matthew Atkinson, and David Clayton Rogers.
The TV series debuted in January to 1.6 million viewers and a 0.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic. The numbers for week two dropped about 30% but came back up again in weeks three and four.
ABC Family initially ordered 10 installments and those finished airing on March 6th. Rather than renew Jane By Design for a second season, the cable channel ordered eight more installments to be added to season one.
Those started airing in June and, to date, the first season of Jane By Design has averaged 1.29 million total viewers and a 0.5 demo rating.
Will it be cancelled or renewed? That's hard to say. It's the worst performing scripted series on ABC Family right now — but not by much. The latest episodes have performed about as well as the first batch, when ABC Family seemed happy enough with the numbers to order more episodes.
It's not a positive indication that ABC Family hasn't renewed it yet but a renewal could still be forthcoming. Either way, we'll let you know as soon as we hear some news about the show's fate.
But, what do you think? Should Jane By Design be renewed for a second season or cancelled? How does it compare to the other shows on ABC Family?


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Plans for an external military intervention in Mali are moving forward. Negotiations between regional mediators and the northern Islamist faction Ansar al Din continue. At the same time, the Islamist coalition that controls northern Mali – which includes Ansar al Din, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and the Movement for Unity/Tawhid and Jihad in West Africa (MUJWA) – has continued aggressive actions.
- MUJWA fighters captured the town of Menaka on November 19;
- MUJWA claimed responsibility for an incident where a French citizen was kidnapped in Diema on November 20;
- and Ansar al Din conquered the town of Lere on November 28.
In the case of both conquests, Islamists were driving back forces from the ostensibly secular, Tuareg-led Movement for the National Liberation of the Azawad (MNLA). The MNLA launched the northern rebellion in January, but lost control of the uprising during the spring.
The northern provincial capitals of Timbuktu, Kidal, and Gao have been the strongholds of the Islamist coalition – with MUJWA having a strong presence in Gao, while Ansar al Din has a strong presence in the other two cities. A leader from Ansar al Din, which has demanded the implementation of shari'a across Mali, recently even stated in preliminary talks in Burkina Faso that "we are waiving the application of sharia law across the entire Malian territory except in our region of Kidal where sharia will be applied."
The Islamist coalition, however, has not confined its activities to these three capitals. In September, MUJWA fighters took Douentza from a local militia, and now there are the recent conquests. I would not say that there has been a steady geographic expansion by the Islamists, but they have shown an ability to periodically project their presence into new towns. The kidnapping, finally, is not unprecedented for that region – an Italian couple was kidnapped on the Mauritania side of the border near Diema in 2009 – but in the context of the war in northern Mali, MUJWA's capacity to carry out a kidnapping in southwestern Mali has raised eyebrows.
With the thought that visualizing all of these developments can help make sense of them, I've made a rudimentary map showing Menaka, Douentza, Lere, and Diema. I've used red for MUJWA, and yellow for Ansar al Din.


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Birkbeck Centre for Contemporary Theatre is a space in which theatre makers, critics and audiences gather to share knowledge, ideas and practices relating to contemporary theatre and performance. We host an extensive programme of public events including workshops, seminars, lectures, symposia and performances. Our events are led by the research interests of Centre members and the current concerns of its Fellows and visiting artists. Our research falls into the following main strands:
- Cultural politics and identity
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Through our work, theatre makers, writers, scholars and critics make use of the resources available in our Arts building at 43 Gordon Square. The Centre's work is also closely associated with Birkbeck's BA, MA and PhD programmes in Theatre and Drama Studies, Directing, Dramaturgy, and Creative Writing.
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GOP's Baker Backs Minimum Wage Hike, Tax Credits
Republican candidate for governor Charlie Baker is backing an increase in the state's minimum wage to $10.50 per hour, and said Monday it should be coupled with tax breaks for low-income individuals and small businesses.
The former head of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, who was the 2010 Republican nominee for governor, announced a series of economic proposals as he and his running mate, former state Rep. Karyn Polito, began a statewide campaign tour.
Baker endorsed a House-passed bill that would raise the minimum wage to $10.50 per hour over three years. The Senate version calls for a hike to $11 per hour over three years and, unlike the House bill, would automatically tie future increases to inflation.
Meanwhile, a Suffolk University/Boston Herald poll released Monday showed Baker trailing by seven points in a hypothetical general election matchup with Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley. Nearly 27 percent of respondents said they were undecided. The survey of 800 likely voters was conducted from June 4-7 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.
A similar poll in February showed Baker trailing Coakley by 13 points.
The most recent poll puts Baker in a virtual dead heat with state Treasurer Steven Grossman and well ahead in hypothetical matchups with the three other Democrats — Joseph Avellone, Don Berwick and Juliette Kayyem — who are vying for their party's gubernatorial nomination.
A poll of more than 600 likely voters conducted for The Boston Globe from May 29 to June 3 showed Coakley with a five-point lead over Baker in a hypothetical matchup, while Baker notched a six-point lead over Grossman. That poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.
Hiking the minimum wage is an "important first step" in helping more than 400,000 workers in Massachusetts, from students working their way through college to parents holding multiple jobs to support their families, Baker said. But he added it would not alone do enough to help low-income workers and also called for a doubling of the state's earned income tax credit from 15 to 30 percent.
"I care deeply about expanding the opportunity experienced in some parts of Massachusetts to the whole state for those families left behind by the last eight years of one-party rule," Baker said in a statement.
To offset the cost to small businesses with 50 or fewer workers, Baker's plan would offer tax credits of $1,000 per minimum wage employee for each $1 increase in the wage.
Baker's Republican primary opponent, tea party member Mark Fisher, opposes a change in the mandatory minimum wage, saying it should be left to individual employers to decide.
All five Democrats running to succeed Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick support a higher minimum wage.
Baker's economic plan also calls for tax credits for businesses that hire welfare recipients, phasing out the state's inventory tax, reducing fees for starting and maintaining a business, and reviewing the state's regulatory structure with an eye toward streamlining demands on businesses.
This article was originally published on June 09, 2014.


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Why America Won't Buy Palinism
I didn't note Sarah Palin's verbal screw-up when she called South Korea North Korea in an interview with Glenn Beck. Why? Because in context it seemed like a simple verbal slip-up, the kind everyone makes from time to time. Yes, when you listen to the whole thing, there's a weird, nervous-laughter defensiveness about her recognition that she got something wrong, but she gets the benefit of the doubt in my book.
What's really fascinating is her response. It's a merciless, grammar-free, sneering compilation of Obama verbal gaffes. It's like a blog-post from some Malkin clone:
My fellow Americans in all 57 states, the time has changed for come. With our country founded more than 20 centuries ago, we have much to celebrate from the FBI's 100 days to the reforms that bring greater inefficiencies to our health care system. We know that countries like Europe are willing to stand with us in our fight to halt the rise of privacy, and Israel is a strong friend of Israel's. And let's face it, everybody knows that it makes no sense that you send a kid to the emergency room for a treatable illness like asthma and they end up taking up a hospital bed. It costs, when, if you, they just gave, you gave them treatment early, and they got some treatment, and ah, a breathalyzer, or an inhalator. I mean, not a breathalyzer, ah, I don't know what the term is in Austrian for that…
This may be a smart-ass retort; it may be useful inoculation against a potentially damaging gaffe; it may even be a well-researched blog-post, but what it isn't is anything approaching the kind of character we expect in a president. A simple respect for the office she seeks would not reflect itself in these increasingly callow, sarcastic, cheap jibes at a sitting president. But sadly, like so many now purporting to represent conservatism, there is, behind the faux awe before the constitution, a contempt for the restraint and dignity a polity's institutions require from its leaders.
There is no maturity here; no self-reflection; no capacity even to think how to appeal to the half of Americans who are already so appalled by her trashy behavior and cheap publicity stunts. There is a meanness, a disrespect, a vicious partisanship that, if allowed to gain more power, would split this country more deeply and more rancorously than at any time in recent years. And that's saying something.


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Bert the Conqueror is a new show on the Travel Channel where comedian Bert Kreischer faces all kinds of extreme challenges from crazy home-grown thrills and local traditions to modern thrill machines at the Nation's largest and smallest amusement parks. We enthusiasts get a taste of roller coasters every summer on a cable channel or two. But usually it's via some kind of 1 hour program like "Top 10 Thrill Rides". Thanks to Bert the Conqueror we'll get a weekly dose of roller coaster action. Even better, Bert does a great job of bringing these experiences to life with his humor and personality.
Check back here every week for episode recaps and discussions in the comment area below.
Bert the Conqueror Season 1 Episode Recaps
Episode 1 – Utah
In the series debut, Bert visited Utah. He takes Lagoon's Wicked for a spin. He also rides one of those cool Alpine coasters that I wrote about last winter. The little two-seaters probably feel a lot faster than they look and you get to control how fast they go.
Highlight: Bert shows some real bravery on the very first episode. The third part of the Utah episode involved a backyard thrill ride in the ATV-powered human slingshot. It looks pretty insane, but adding to the drama was Bert's weight. The creators of the ride weren't sure if someone around 220 pounds would 'make it'. It sounded like TV shtick, but apparently they really were concerned that he was too heavy.
Pilot Episode – Cedar Point
Bert finds himself at Cedar Point, the Coaster Capital of the World. He warms up with the huge swinging thrill ride, maXair (I love how Cedar Point capitalizes the 'X'. In 20 years people will laugh at the 'X' and 'I' fads). Then he takes the Fearsome Foursome Challenge. What's that you ask? In order to complete the fearsome foursome riders must brave Top Thrill Dragster, Wicked Twister, Magnum XL-200, & Millennium Force in an hour. Unlikely in the real world, but in TV land anything is possible.
Highlight: Bert's lucky enough to experience a roll back on Top Thrill Dragster. He didn't seem as gracious as he should've been. Maybe he didn't know that coaster enthusiasts would give an arm for this rare event.
Episode 2 – Las Vegas
In the Las Vegas episode, Bert rode the three extreme rides at the Stratosphere. Over 100 stories up, he rode the Big Shot, was hung out over the edge of the Stratosphere on Insanity and X-Scream, and then he took the 800′ plunge on Sky Jump. For the record, I wouldn't do any of these rides. Well, maybe Big Shot, but I don't have enough trust in the designers of the other three. Nothing against them, that just might be my personal limit.
Highlight: It was cool seeing how they constructed the rides some 1,000 feet above the ground. Obviously, cranes couldn't reach so they used helicopters to bring in the pieces.
Episode 3 – New Hampshire
Bert opened the New Hampshire episode at Canobie Lake Park, one of the oldest amusement parks in the U.S. He helped a coaster newbie get over her fear on the classic woodie, the Yankee Cannonball. To wrap up the episode, Bert faced the Slush Cup at Mount Sunapee. Sounds harmless enough, right? The Slush Cup is a pool of cold water at the bottom of a ski hill. To welcome Spring, locals ski down the hill and attempt to ski right across the pool or win the best fall award.
Highlight: Right before this challenge Bert admits that he hasn't skied since he was ten. His second fall looked insanely painful. I was able to ask him about the fall at the Carowinds filiming and he said that it was the kind of fall that hurt more days later. Props to you Bert, that was a sick fall.
Episode 4 – Tennessee
Bert's off to Tennessee where he rides the acclaimed Thunderhead at Dollywood. It was good to see Dolly and Dollywood on TV. It's a nice park with some picturesque surroundings. As Prof. BAM pointed out (in the comments below), Thunderhead was chosen over Mystery Mine as the featured roller coaster. This was likely because they were looking for the more notable ride. Thunderhead's Golden Ticket Award made it stand out. I will say that it would have been nice to see some footage of the other rides like Mystery Mine and Tennessee Tornado.
He visits a few other Pigeon Forge attractions and then he tries his hand at Catfish grabblin'. That's where people fish barehanded. And by fish, I mean reach their hands into mudholes where they could be greeted by massive 50 lb. catfish that chomp down on their arms! After watching this challenge, the Stratosphere rides are looking pretty good. The catfish were monstrous. Not to mention the fact that there could be something worse waiting for you in those mudholes, like snakes.
Highlight: I found out from the production staff that Thunderhead was so fierce that it broke the rigging system that they use to attach the video camera to the train for reverse POVs. So, they had to duct tape a camera to the camera man's arm for the few shots they used of Bert riding it. Considering the ride's twisting course and lateral g's the camera did a pretty solid job.
Episode 5 – Florida
I was glad to see that Bert the Conqueror steered clear of the obvious choice of Orlando for the Florida episode. They were likely drawn to Busch Gardens Tampa because it's home to the tallest roller coaster in Florida in SheiKra and one of the highest rated coasters in Montu. It was great to see one of my favorite theme parks in HD! This episode made me all the more excited about Busch Gardens Tampa's 2011 coaster.
Bert joked with a park official about reflecting on his life while being held at the edge of the ride's opening 90-degree drop.One thing to note about this that I learned on the Busch Gardens Williamsburg Coaster Tour is that riders aren't actually completely stopped for that four seconds while they hang over the edge of the first drop. On sister ride Griffon (and SheiKra I assume) The train's are actually inching forward at a rate so small that you only feel as though your completely stopped. I've seen Montu in TV specials many times and it looked as good as ever.
Bert finished off the episode with the mud belly flop competition at the Red Neck Yacht Club in Punta Gorda, Florida. Again, Bert's a performer. Like the fall he took into the Slush Cup in the New Hampshire episode, he didn't hold back. He pulled out an impressively athletic tuck & release belly flop. He was edged out by the defending champion, but he could be proud of his effort.
Highlight: The roller coasters were great too see. Seeing my personal favorite (not the best I've ridden, just favorite) Kumba for those brief clips was great. I'll never get tired of seeing that coaster in action. Read my full Kumba review.
Episode 6 – Wisconsin
The show visited the Wisconsin Dells area for this week's episode. Their trip began with the largest and best roller coaster in the area, Hades at Mt. Olympus Theme Park. The intense Gravity Group-designed wooden coaster comes pretty close to perfect and it sits at 9 on my Top 10 List. Bert braved the back seat with a woman that wouldn't stop giggling. The video was pretty heavily edited and unfortunately the lights were on as they passed through the hellish tunnel. It probably made more sense logistically to have the lights on, but I wish that they could have switched to night vision for the subterranean journey. The darkness is kind of the point. The pre-lift hill section is insane on Hades as well and they glossed over that too.
Next, Bert rode Extreme World's Terminal Velocity. It's the only ride in the World with a completely unattached, controlled free fall. My palms were actually sweating a bit watching people fall 150′ with no ropes or bungee cords. It's a pretty ingenious little ride. Bert completed the episode by conquering America's only looping water slide, Scorpion's Tail at Noah's Ark. The show referenced the infamous Cannonball Loop at Action Park and how it was closed due to injuries. The fact that Scorpion's Tail is nearly vertical and not completely vertical (like Cannonball Loop was) makes it safer. Bert got to be the first public rider. I'm not expert on water slides, but the stats (40 mph and 3 g's) seemed a bit staggering.
Highlight: The free falls on Terminal Velocity were the highlight for me on this episode. It was good seeing Hades and it was cool learning about Scorpion's Tail, but like I said those crazy free falls were pretty unnerving to watch. It makes those swing 'sky coasters' at parks all over the country look like nothing.
Episode 7 – Texas
In the first and only roller coaster-less episode of the season, Bert visited Southern Texas. He started at the highest rated and one of the largest water parks in the World in Schlitterbahn. He took on Master Blaster, a six-story tall uphill water coaster. It uses water jets to propel rafts up several hills. It was pretty neat to see and looked more fun than intense. Next, Bert took a turn at mud dragging. It's exactly what it sounds like drag racing in the mud. It was kind of ho-hum compared to some of the other things he's done, but I'm sure that it was exhilarating for him.
Highlight: The highlight was the third challenge. It was a blobbing competition at a summer camp. It involved getting catapulted off of a huge bag of air with the assistance of another participant jumping on the bag. It looked like a lot of fun. And I think for the first time this season Bert beat the local champion.
Episode 8 – Massachusetts
I'd been waiting for the Massachusetts episode for weeks. I knew that during this episode, Bert was going to face the roller coaster that's widely considered the World's Best, Bizarro at Six Flags New England. Unfortunately, Six Flags was the focus of the two earlier challenges and they didn't show the whole ride. At least they played up the ride's status in the enthusiast community. And I I liked the explanation of airtime as that is Bizarro's best feature. When the train returned to the station, Bert called it "the best steel coaster he'd ever been on." I can't remember if he ever said it on camera, but Bert revised that statement the following week when he rode Intimidator at Carowinds. We'll see that in next week's episode (8/11 – 10PM).
Want some behind-the-scenes info? The production company was curious about what else Bert should ride at Six Flags New England. None of the other roller coasters were really noteworthy enough to satisfy their need for a rare, famous, or record-breaking ride. So, they found Catapult and touted its uniqueness as the only one in the U.S. Catapult looked pretty intense. I'd probably try it once even though I'm more of a roller coaster guy.
Bert wrapped up the episode with the greasy pole competition in Gloucester. The falls were insane. Almost everyone slammed into the pole, before falling twenty feet into the water below. I have to say it looked like Bert kind of mailed this one in. It looked like he just fell off and away from pole so that he didn't injure himself. I can't say that I blame him though. He could've gotten seriously injured and he already had a minor injury from the Texas episode.
Highlight: I loved the slow motion footage of Bizarro. It looked amazing in High Def!
Episode 9 – South Carolina
For the season finale Bert headed to South Carolina for Carowinds' new hyper coaster, Intimidator, top-rated inverted coaster Afterburn, and Redneck Water Skiing in Saluda, SC. Carowinds is my home park and I was there for the filming so I was really looking forward to this episode. It began with some background information on the park that focused on the fact that it and several of its coasters actually straddles two states (North Carolina & South Carolina). The park looked amazing on TV. And I was glad that they included some footage of Nighthawk and some of the park's other coasters.
Intimidator came off great as they explained the NASCAR/Dale Earnhardt Jr. theming well. I forgot that Intimidator's ride time was 3:33 in honor of Dale Earnhardt's #3 race car. Bert pointed out the B&M-designed open trains and during my interview I described those great moments of airtime. I don't know if it was the fact that I watching it in High Def or that the weather was perfect that day, but Afterburn looked so good on TV. They didn't take as much time setting Afterburn up, but they did mention the ride's many loops and the fact that the underground batwing was one of the only like it in the World. I helped them dig up that fact as they were looking for things that help set the ride apart. I'll give more behind-the-scenes insights in an upcoming post about filming. Stay tuned.
The episode finished off with Redneck Water Skiing in Saluda, SC. It was good to see another completely home grown thrill ride like the premiere episode's ATV-powered human slingshot in Utah. I've never water skiied before, but it looked pretty hard to do while circling. I've got to give Bert credit for getting up even though it was only for a short while.
Highlight: Again, the Afterburn footage was ridiculous. For that reason, this episode will be on my DVR indefinitely. Okay, so my sound bites about Intimidator were alright too.
I'll be adding a poll tonight so that you can vote on your favorite episode of the seaon. To support the show and let the Travel Channel know that you'd like to see a Season 2, go here: We Need a Season 2
Also check out: Bert the Conqueror on Twitter | Bert the Conqueror on Facebook
What's Your Take?
Are you watching Bert the Conqueror? What do you think? Do you have a favorite episode or challenge? Leave a comment below. All images courtesy of the Travel Channel.
Vote for your favorite episode of the season in the poll below.
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