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Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Source: Zanden Audio Model 2000P/5000S; Opera Audio Reference 2.2 Linear; Raysonic CD128 [on extended loan]
Preamp/Integrated: ModWright SWL 9.0SE; Music First Audio Passive Magnetic; Bel Canto Design PRe3; Wyetech Labs Jade; Melody Hifi I2A3 [on extended loan]; Supratek Cabernet Dual [on loan from owner]
EQ: Rane PEQ55 active merely below 40Hz
Amp: 2 x Audiosector Patek SE; Yamamoto A-08S; FirstWatt F3 & F1; Bel Canto e.One S300; Eastern Electric M-520; Yamamoto HA-02
Headphones: AKG K-1000 w. hardwired Stefan AudioArt harness; audio-technica W-1000
Speakers: Zu Cable Definition Pro in custom lacquer; Anthony Gallo Acoustics Ref 3.1; Mark & Daniel Ruby with Omni Harmonizer
Cables: Zanden Audio proprietary I²S cable, Zu Cable Varial, Gede, Libtech and Ibis; Stealth Audio Cable Indra, MetaCarbon & NanoFiber [on loan]; SilverFi interconnects; Crystal Cable Reference power cords; Crystal Cable Ultra complete wiring loom; double cryo'd Acrolink with Furutech UK plug between wall and transformer
Stands: 1 x Grand Prix Audio Monaco Modular five-tier
Powerline conditioning: 2 x Walker Audio Velocitor S fed from custom AudioSector 1.5KV Plitron step-down transformer with balanced power output option
Sundry accessories: GPA Formula Carbon/Kevlar shelf for transport; GPA Apex footers underneath stand, DAC and amp; Walker Audio Extreme SST on all connections; Walker Audio Vivid CD cleaner; Walker Audio Reference HDLs; Furutech RD-2 CD demagnetizer
Room size: 16' w x 21' d x 9' h in short-wall setup, with openly adjoining 15' x 35' living room
Review Component Retail: $8,900/pr for NVS-003Gs | $4,900 for SE-MkII remote-controlled preamp
Manufactured with pride in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. Thus begins our journey today. Surprised? Now read the ingredients. Cardas gold/Rhodium RCA input jack. Audio Note Rhodium binding posts. Riken resistors. Auricaps. Jensen paper-in-oil capacitor. Mundorf power capacitor. Nichicon filter capacitor. WBT solder. Tango output transformers. Ceramic tube sockets. Barian Kingwood casings. On second thought, let's strike the fine Japanese Tango iron, shall we? It does feature in Navison's other valve amps, just not in the NVS-003G monos. As OTLs, their quartet of triple-nipple 6C33C-B triodes couple to your speakers' crossovers without an output transformer for 75 watts of Class AB push/pull power. Better yet, if you run active networks ahead of the amps or no crossovers at all, these Russian bottles will couple truly direct to your driver voice coils.
This parts list reads like something off a modifier's option menu. It's the exotic stuff which stock machines often get upgraded to after plenty of extra cashish -- for American or EU specialist labor in small hotrod shops -- has exchanged hands first. Not here. It's all part of the standard trim package. Navison Audio was founded in 2000 for private research by a group of Vietnamese engineers with many years of tube experience. These folks are very serious about quality. They're rightfully proud about what goes into their creations. Their 61lbs OTL monos are very impressive specimens of the art. 27 inches deep, 15 inches wide and 9 inches tall, they'll take pride of place whether you want them to or not. Input sensitivity for 21dB of gain is a wisely low 2.5V for full output. A preceding preamp will actually get to work out a bit. It won't be completely stuck in first gear as happens so often with ultra high-gain amps whose input sensitivity could sit well below 0.5V. With modern sources, that tends to park any partnering preamp a few levels below the ground floor of unity gain. The preamp gain is thrown out the window yet its self noise gets magnified manifold by the amplifier. Not here.
The 003-Gs run one 6SN7 in the input and two in the driver stage. Hum and noise are given as minus 75dB below full power. Output impedance isn't specified other than 8-ohm speaker connection, recommended. If you're familiar with the general concept of output transformer-less valve amps, you already know that tubes are high-voltage low-current devices yet speakers want to see high currents at relatively low voltages. The insertion of the impedance-matching step-down transformer in conventional tube amp outputs bridges that gap and blocks DC. Without one, impedance matching has to be accomplished by the tubes themselves; by paralleling many of them; by adding cathode followers; and with sufficient negative feedback. Lacking the transformer, speaker protection requires other means, say fuses or an output capacitor.
As Bruce Rosenblitz of Transcendent Sound tells us in his primer, a 300B SET with 700 ohms of plate resistance gives us 700 above the line of the left formula on how to calculate amplifier output impedance. If its transformer primary were 3000 ohms divided by an 8-ohm secondary, we'd get 376 below the line. Output impedance
|then becomes 700 divided by 376 = 2.13 ohms. Without the transformer, it'd be a ghastly and completely useless 700 ohms. If we paralleled ten 300Bs just for argument's sake (and because good ones are so affordable - right), we'd still net an unacceptably high 70 ohms without a step-down output transformer. Plainly, 300Bs -- and many other tubes -- simply aren't practical for such applications (though that hasn't prevented "the world's only 300B OTL"). According to the Tube Lovers Anonymous paper, the very first commercial OTL only worked into a special 500-ohm loudspeaker. Needless to say, it did not become a commercial success. "With the introduction of the 6AS7G twin-power triode in 1946... plate resistance was listed at 280 ohms per section. If enough tubes could be combined in parallel, it wouldn't be too difficult to drive a typical loudspeaker load, which at that time was around 16 ohms." Later cathode followers were added to drive down output impedance further. Futterman's contribution in 1954 was to propose "that the cathode resistor of a split-load phase inverter be returned to ground through the load, rather than to ground, as was the normal practice... If four 6C33C-B tubes were used in the Futterman OTL, biased at 145V and 400mA each, the open-loop output impedance would be 25 ohms - coincidentally, about the same as the push-pull cathode follower version."
A later variation on the Futterman circuit with the same four 6C33C-Bs dropped "open-loop output impedance to about 6.8 ohms, 4 times lower than the original Futterman!" The original exclamation mark of our verbatim TLA quote [italic emphasis ours - Ed.] reminds us. Impedance matching without a transformer is serious business for OTLs to become viable. 1955 saw Henry Wiggins' Electro-Voice Circlotron circuit, a dual single-ended floating bridge affair. Cecil Hall was awarded a US patent for it around the same time. Another accounting lists Tapio Köykkä instead as having held the very first two patents for Circlotron architectures, albeit limited to his native Finland. His schematic published in the German radio magazine Funktechnik (issue 7 of 1953) to predate the Electro-Voice product. Then Jim Bongiorno used a Circlotron variation in his Great American Sound transistor amps during the 70s.
But it wasn't until the late 1980s that the first commercial thermionic Circlotron iteration manifested as Ralph Karsten's groundbreaking Atma-Sphere MA-1. Still according to the same paper, its open-loop output impedance was about 10.6 ohms with our reference quartet of 6C33C-Bs, i.e. slightly higher than the preceding Futterman variation but now fully symmetrical and balanced (Futterman's original circuit suffered asymmetries and instability, i.e. it was prone to oscillation). Atma-Sphere's implementation allowed the elimination of negative feedback altogether.
|Still, a lowish damping factor remained. It benefitted from additional impedance matching with an externally inserted tapped autoformer (the so-called Speltz Zero boxes above, championed by Karsten) to become truly copasetic into lower-impedance speakers. Naturally, purists regard the addition of any outboard iron as utterly contrarious to the entire OTL endeavor. Hence speaker matching -- particularly their impedance behavior across the bandwidth -- remains vital if you want to optimally operate an OTL as an OTL rather than cheat with an add-on transformer. (Incidentally, impedance multiplying with an autoformer not only raises the nominal impedance. Impedance swings will be multiplied by the same factor. If your 4-ohm speaker swung between 3 and 12 ohms without the autoformer, raising its nominal impedance to 16 ohms means it'll now peak at 48.) That said, adding just 10dB of feedback to an output transformer-less Circlotron circuit can lower its output impedance to below 1 ohm into a 4-ohm speaker. That's better than many transformer-coupled SETs. So much for memory lane. You'll appreciate why, just for starters, we do want to know what the output impedance of the 003-G monos is, exactly. At full power with 4 output tubes on deck, it is 0.9 ohms. At half power with 2 output tubes, it is 1.6 ohms.
Incidentally, the paralleling of valves for impedance-lowering purposes is done in preamplifiers as well. It is exploited by Conrad Johnson's composite triode in the ART preamp as well as Navison's own SE-MkI and II. Both Vietnamese preamps use eight 6H1-EB triodes, a relative of the 6922. Only with headphone impedances running as high as 600 ohms are OTLs with just one output tube per side feasible.
From our general overview of the genre, we can come to certain conclusions. 1/ Since plate resistance lowers by applying higher plate voltages, OTL designers will often be compelled to run their tubes hot. This will create physical heat and shorten tube life. 2/ To drive low-impedance speakers, massive paralleling of tubes is required to make for an acceptably low output impedance though the obvious increase in power can disguise this primary goal. More tubes equal yet more heat. 3/ If a tube arcs, there's no transformer to shield the speaker. Various fused or other protection schemes become vital to prevent very high voltages on the amplifier outputs. 4/ The same high voltages develop within the circuit. Prying fingers should know what they're doing before opening the bottom cover of a recently shut-down OTL amp. 5/ In massively paralleled powerful amps, one could pull out tubes without hurting operation depending on how tube biasing is accomplished. This would merely lower output power and diminish drive since output impedance will invariably increase.
|Questions to ask any given OTL amp designer are thus - how much thermal impact will running a given amp have on the room; what kind of protection circuits against catastrophic tube failure are provided; what is the operative output impedance to assist us in determining copasetic speakers. The latter is doubly important since another peculiarity of this amplifier breed is its
|inverse power response. It increases with ascending rather than descending impedances. Think Krell but upside down or counter clockwise. Power transfer into 16 ohms will be superior than into 8 ohms, i.e. higher. Into 4 ohms however, it declines well below the 8-ohm power rating. The most copasetic speakers for OTLs thus tend to be 8 ohms minimum. Ideally, they'd be 16-ohm or higher still. A well-matched speaker on a smaller OTL -- i.e. one with fewer output tubes -- shouldn't drop below 7 ohms in the bass or midbass where power transfer becomes critical and patently audible when insufficient, as under-damped and loose ill-defined bass. (By way of examples, consider the Atma-Sphere range of OTL amps. The 60-watt monos utilize 6 power tubes for 4.1-ohm output impedance, the 140-watt monos 14 tubes for 2.3 ohms and the 220-watt monos 20 tubes for 1.75 ohms.) When speakers and amp are properly matched, aficionados of the OTL breed will tell you that you'll never miss any of "those phase shift inducing, induction leaking, current robbing, amplitude attenuating mega yards of wiring inside the usual output transformers". Instead, you're to enjoy a new-found purity, speed and directness which transformer-coupled amps simply aren't capable of. End of OTL sign-up spiel.
For a counterpoint, I have also heard OTLs sound lean and harmonically bleached. Likely this was because of sub-optimal speaker matching and the concomitant audible lack of drive. Regardless, it wasn't remotely as magical as had been promised. Once again it seems best to simply leave the salubrious spin work to politicians. We'll focus on the subjective implementation of any given technology, i.e. what it sounds like to the ear in the listening seat. Based purely on the general technical background already covered, it's clear that OTLs by definition are far from the magic bullet for conventional low-impedance loudspeakers which so completely dominate the market today. This simple fact is further validated by the sheer scarcity of manufacturers selling OTL amplifiers. Non-devotees may have a hard time coming up with more than four makers. To name all of Absoluta, Atma-Sphere, Berning, Croft, Einstein, Graaf, Joule Electra, Naked Truth, S.A.P., Silvaweld and Transcendent Sound will take a bit of digging for most of us not already inside the OTL tent.
Craig Uthus' Zana Deux OTL for EddieCurrent gets away with a single 6C33C-B per side to drive 30 to 6000-ohm headphones
TenorAudio and Fourier are defunct by now and BAT's popular tube amp uses a transformer-coupled variant of the Circlotron circuit. (Some slide rulers even argue that David Berning's RF conversion transformers defy the classic OTL definition though his revolutionary circuit design brilliance is never questioned.)
With such limited commercial choices, I was thrilled when today's Navison Audio opportunity was presented. Surveying their short 5-model line, I deliberately opted for the 003-G OTLs over their 572 or 211 transformer-coupled SET brethren. Besides using these mono blocks to profile an exciting company that's new to the West, I'd educate myself on an established amplifier topology I'd never yet auditioned in a familiar context before. To answer the questions I mentioned earlier as relevant for any OTL, the NVS-003Gs are both fuse-protected and capacitor-coupled at the output. Like all Navison amps, they're fixed bias. The OTLs run at 110mA, the NSV-211 model at 60mA (rail voltage of 870) and the NVS-572 at 100mA. The NVS-003Gs use a push/pull OTL circuit and two mirrored power tubes may be removed to reduce output power to 35 watts per side. The two large transformers on deck feed the power supply and driver stage respectively. Again, there is no output transformer.
To circle the Navison wagon as it were, John Potis is presently listening to the trio of SE-MkI preamp and 20-watt NVS-211 monos. Owning Art Audio's 16wpc Carissa 845 SET and Canary Audio's 26-watt CA-330 push/pull 300B monos makes John the perfect critic to assess Navison Audio's standing in the mid-power SET sector, both from a sonic perspective and relative to build quality and value.
My forthcoming report on Navison's 75-watters will flesh out the emerging picture while I educate myself on what OTLs can bring to the party that even superior transformer-coupled SETs may not. General rumors about the genre indicate that one doesn't flock to OTLs expecting SET-type sonics and warmth. Rather, one pursues them for ultimate transparency, blazing speed, dimensionality of staging reputedly not achievable by other means and maximum directness.
Be that as it may -- I should soon find out -- $40 a pop for a Sovtek 6C33C-B originally designed for Russian MIG-25 Foxbat jet fighters is a far friendlier proposition than the alimony payments of supporting exotic direct-heated NOS triodes in upscale SETs. To retube all the power triodes here is $320 complete, about the price of a single good 45. Never mind that 45s, 2A3s, 300Bs and their ilk won't produce 75 watts of Class A juice unless one went seriously off the reservation with some monstrosity. As with any audio story then, there's promises and there's concerns. There's assets and liabilities and knowing how to maximize the one while minimizing the other.
With my Zu speakers, incoming WLM Diva Monitors, HornShoppe Horns, Gallo Reference 3.1s, Mark & Daniel Rubies with Omni Harmonizer and a surprise, I should have quite the contingent of test subjects to hit the OTL road with and see what is copasetic, what isn't and where general sonics will point...
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Tuesday, December 27, 2016 by usafeaturesmedia
(NationalSecurity.news) In nearly every case of insider espionage there are "warning signs" that a betrayal is about to take place, and that was also true in the case of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. But his agency, along with the CIA, missed them, according to a recent assessment.
As reported by the Free Beacon, a declassified congressional study made public this past week found that both agencies missed warning signs regarding Snowden, a disgruntled employee who stole 1.5 million secret documents.
The site noted further:
Snowden, who fled to Moscow after publicizing some of the documents through left-wing journalists, also "has had, and continues to have contact with Russian intelligence services" and voiced admiration for China during his brief career at the CIA and then NSA.
A declassified and redacted report by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence concluded that Snowden's actions resulted in the Obama's administration's most damaging intelligence failure.
The report concluded that intelligence documents disclosed by Snowden "caused massive damage to national security, though all the examples of how he specifically harmed national security were redacted, the Free Beacon noted.
The committee's findings "demonstrate that the public narrative popularized by Snowden and his allies is rife with falsehoods, exaggerations and crucial omissions, a pattern that began before he stole 1.5 million sensitive documents," the report said.
The report noted a number of discrepancies that neither the CIA nor the NSA picked up on, per the Free Beacon:
Snowden was described as a "serial exaggerator and fabricator" who intentionally lied about his past in order to promote himself to senior positions and gain greater access to secrets.
However, the report includes new disclosures that security officials at both CIA and NSA failed to recognize that Snowden was likely to betray the government's trust and disclose significant U.S. intelligence capabilities that have been lost or restricted as a result.
For example, NSA security officials failed to conduct a routine check of Snowden's educational background. Had they done so, NSA would have learned that Snowden had dropped out of high school in his sophomore year, yet falsely stated on his resume he had graduated from "Maryland High School" in 2001. There is no high school in Maryland with that name.
Snowden also was granted a "top secret" security clearance in 2005 despite an associate warning security investigators he should not be given access to secrets.
Snowden was hired as a computer technician by a CIA contractor and converted to CIA employment in 2006 after obtaining a security clearance. While at CIA, he complained of harassment by a supervisor.
He was posted overseas, but was relieved of his position after altering CIA software improperly and disobeying orders.
Snowden then applied for work at NSA and was hired by an NSA contractor in 2009. However, the report revealed that CIA failed to update a security database with derogatory information about Snowden. As a result, NSA failed to learn of his problems at CIA before hiring him.
"The American people can now get a fuller account of Edward Snowden's crimes and the reckless disregard he has shown for U.S. national security, including the safety of American servicemen and women," said Rep. Devin Nunes (R., Calif.), the intelligence committee chairman. "It will take a long time to mitigate the damage he caused, and I look forward to the day when he returns to the United States to face justice."
Added Rep. Adam Schiff (D., Calif), the committee's ranking member: "Snowden and his defenders claim that he is a whistleblower, but he isn't, as the committee's review shows. Most of the material he stole had nothing to do with Americans' privacy, and its compromise has been of great value to America's adversaries and those who mean to do America harm."
We have never believed that Snowden was some "hero" who was acting in the country's best interests. That he disagreed with certain intelligence programs may have been true to a point, but stealing then exposing ultra-secret intelligence-gathering technology and methods did nothing but harm national security and the very same American citizens he claimed to be defending.
What's more, theWashington Post and The Guardian, which published those details, should have been held liable as well. These details revealed the core of our intelligence operations, right down to the methods used to gather data–methods developed over the course of years, and at no small cost to the taxpayer.
There is also the fact that Snowden signed a non-disclosure agreement, and that is not something that intelligence agencies take lightly (nor should they).
Snowden did not stop the U.S. intelligence community from functioning; it continues its work today, humbly and in the shadows, working to stop the kind of carnage Berliners witnessed just this week, as well as a thousand other potential threats ranging from terrorism to nuclear war.
And Snowden made that job much more difficult, while handing our adversaries invaluable information about the manner in which our intelligence agencies function. If you don't think enemy intelligence agencies have benefited from that information, you're not being serious.
This congressional report proves what we have believed all along: That Snowden harmed our national security, that he did it on purpose, and that he's a traitor, not a hero.
© 2016 USA Features Media.
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Tagged Under: Tags: CIA, Edward Snowden, NationalSecurity.news, NSA, Traitor

subset: commoncrawl


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Frankfort celebrates 150 years
Frankfort residents celebrated their hometown's sesquicentennial Saturday with music, a parade and fireworks.
"The weather's been so beautiful," said Village Clerk Karlee Tamburro. "It's bringing people together here."
Tamburro was at the Crown Blue building at the Frankfort Marina Saturday evening where festivities were taking place. She said village officials set out village archives and artifacts to make a historical display in the building for residents to enjoy during the village's 150th anniversary.
Among the items on display was the first minute book for village meetings, going back to 1863. Also on display was a dress from the centennial celebration in 1963, made to look like how a village woman would have dressed in 1863.
Angie Caiola, who has been a lifelong resident of Frankfort, was among those looking at the historical display.
"I think it's wonderful. I think it's great," she said of the celebration. Caiola was looking through a centennial newspaper for the "Wheels of Time" float which she participated in during the centennial in 1963.
"I think the people here are wonderful. It's a great place to bring up your family," she said.
Village Trustee Tony Fumarola said his mother's side of the family can trace their lineage in Frankfort to before it was incorporated, to the Revolutionary War era.
"It's very exciting to celebrate the 150 years," he said.
The village of Frankfort was incorporated on land once owned by Mohawk Indian tribes on May 7, 1863. Its namesake comes from Lawrence (Lewis) Frank, one of the earliest settlers who owned a large tract of land and did a great deal to promote industrial and agricultural progress in the town.
Plans for a sesquicentennial celebration were postponed after the region was devastated by floods in late June and early July.
Saturday's events included an unveiling of a Jim Parker painting at the marina, which depicts what the village would have looked like when it was incorporated in 1863. The day also included live music, a Chinese auction, a photo booth, bouncy houses, vendors and fireworks.
There was also a parade on Main Street, which included fire and police vehicles, village officials and local organizations on floats.
Boy Scouts were among those represented during the parade, with village native Roger E. Burgess being known as the "father of scouting" in Frankfort since he organized Boy Scout Troop No. 1 in 1910. The village's Italian heritage was represented with the St. Francis Society members. According to www.wikipedia.com, 44.7 percent of the village's residents have Italian ancestry, one of the highest in the United States.
Mike and Sally Taylor came out to watch the parade with friends from Little Falls. They said they were there to watch their grandson perform with Dance Connection during the parade. The Taylors said they've been residents of the village since 1974.
"It's a small town," said Sally Taylor, on why she likes the village, also noting it's a good place to raise kids.
Her husband added, "It's a safe community."


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Online Community
Welcome to the Cape Cod Church online community! We hope that you will be able to get better connected by participating in group discussions and using group communication tools, and connecting with people from your group and ministry teams. You can also give to God's work, volunteer to serve, and sign up for classes, events, teams and camps through CCC Online.
If this is your first time to log in to our online community you will be prompted to create a login and password. Once you are logged in you can update your personal profile, explore group options, connect with people from your groups, and setup online giving options.


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Patriots Meet Seahawks In Super Bowl XLIX On Sunday
The pre-Super Bowl clock is winding down. Only two days left to hype America's biggest sports spectacle. And then the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks will actually play the game. NPR sports correspondent Tom Goldman is in Phoenix for the pre and post of it all and joins us now to talk about it. Good morning.
TOM GOLDMAN, BYLINE: Hi, Renee.
MONTAGNE: Tom, we thought we'd take a break from talking about Marshawn Lynch's silence and deflated footballs - stuff we've been talking about all week - you know, and actually talk about the big game. It sounds as if it really is going to be big.
GOLDMAN: Yes, absolutely. There's a great deal of anticipation for this. The consensus is these are the best two teams in the NFL. Now, Las Vegas has the Patriots the slightest of favorites, probably based on New England having the more complete offensive unit, with quarterback Tom Brady playing in his sixth Super Bowl, talented pass catchers from tight end Rob Gronkowski to receiver Julian Edelman, a pounding running game with LeGarrette Blount and a very stout offensive line.
MONTAGNE: Defense has been Seattle's strength during its title run last season and then most of this season as well. What impact will the defenses have on this game?
GOLDMAN: Well, the traditional saying, of course, defenses win championships, and that was certainly the case last Super Bowl when the Seahawks obliterated Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Now, Seattle has the best defense again - fast and physical and fairly simple in its approach. But the New England defense isn't far behind.
Now, here are their challenges - both defenses need to stop or slow the run. It's a big challenge since both teams have battering rams for running backs - Seattle's Marshawn Lynch and New England's Blount. And then each defense must do what it can against outstanding, yet different, quarterbacks. Brady is the best quarterback in the league at dropping back, setting up and throwing from that safe pocket provided by his outstanding offensive lineman. New England, on the other hand, faces Russell Wilson. He's very dangerous when he runs out of the pocket. He's so smart, always with his head up looking for receivers, who, in turn, become more dangerous when Wilson runs. New England defensive back Kyle Arrington told me yesterday you don't have to be a defensive genius to know that containing Wilson is a key for the Patriots.
MONTAGNE: And, Tom, something new in this Super Bowl - hand signals by the on-field officials. And that's in response to something the Patriots did earlier in the playoffs.
GOLDMAN: Yeah, it has to do with New England's use of players who are either eligible or ineligible to catch the ball. Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick showed his knowledge of the rulebook by throwing some tricky plays at Baltimore and Indianapolis in the playoffs that designated certain eligible and ineligible receivers. New England confused those opponents but didn't break the rules. Now in Sunday's Super Bowl, as you say, for the first time the officials will use hand signals to alert the defense exactly which players on offense can or cannot catch the ball. And that will let defenses know which players it has to cover.
MONTAGNE: Tom, thanks very much.
GOLDMAN: You're welcome.
MONTAGNE: That's NPR sports correspondent Tom Goldman getting us ready for Super Bowl XLIX Sunday in Glendale, Ariz.
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NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio record.


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Greetings from Sarah Sundin! What fun today—I get to turn the interview tables on Marti Pieper. Marti is one of the volunteers who helps post the CAN author interviews here. We all appreciate her dedication to the writing craft and her support for other authors and CAN. Marti has collaborated on several nonfiction books, is a prolific article writer, and she assists writers as an editor too!
Marti, how did you get into writing? How many books do you have published?
Like many authors, I have loved to write since I was a child. Thanks to an encouraging teacher, I was published as a twelve-year-old. However, I gave up any dreams of a writing career at the end of high school, deciding I wasn't a "real" writer. After I came to know Christ as a college student, He made it clear that He wanted me to use my writing. I went to seminary and earned a Master of Divinity so I would have a sound theological basis for whatever I wrote.
After marriage and five children, I didn't write for publication again until my youngest was four years old. I started with homeschool articles and then, in 2005, became involved in a prayer project for a young man named BJ Higgins that ended in my volunteering to assist his parents in sharing his story. The book that resulted, I Would Die for You (Revell, 2005) became a young adult best-seller. I have written six others, including my newest release with Dr. Walker Moore, Escape the Lie: Journey to Freedom from the Orphan Heart.
How did you get your first book contract?
After I volunteered to write BJ Higgins' story, the president of his missions-sending organization, Dr. Walker Moore, asked me to assist him with a book proposal. We went on to collaborate on the book and workbook that resulted, Rite of Passage Parenting (Thomas Nelson, 2007). The first step of obedience in offering to help tell BJ's story led not only to those books but to a career as a ghost- and collaborative writer.
I love how God works! What has helped you promote your books the most?
I haven't done much promoting until recently because my name has only been on the cover of two of my books. But I would say building genuine relationships has helped more than anything else. People who know me know I care about my work, whether the cover bears my name or not. I have chosen to concentrate on building authentic relationships and trust the Lord to use them as He will.
What mistakes or wrong assumptions did you make with the marketing of your first book? Did those mistakes cause you to change? If so, how?
I think both Dr. Moore and I made the newbie author assumption that our books would sell well because we had a top publisher. We didn't understand the extent to which authors must market their own work.
What's the craziest promotional gimmick you tried?
I haven't been out from behind the scenes long enough to try anything too crazy yet. But when the parenting book first came out, I offered it at my sale table at a homeschool event. One woman pointed out angrily that my name was not on the cover so, "You didn't write this book!"
Ah, one of those sweet, gentle souls. What's the funniest thing that happened during a promotional activity?
Again, my answers are different because I'm only in the early stages of promoting a collaborative work. But (perhaps as a reaction to the above experience), I've often enjoyed pitching my own writing without identifying myself as the writer.
Is there something you did that really helped with marketing your books?
Building relationships remains the key. When I asked for influencers for our current book, many of the people for whom I've written reviews or posted interviews responded. Building my presence through my blog, Facebook, and Twitter have all made a difference in building a tribe of people who are watching for my work.
Did you see God open any doors you never expected in the promotion of your books?
After I attended a workshop in his home, Cec Murphey gave I Would Die for You a publicity scholarship. I counted it as a bonus blessing to have a publicist working to promote a book that released two years earlier, but we saw some positive results. That book was a God-journey in every respect.
Now that you have been writing a while, what do you find works best for you in promoting your work and why?
I would describe my promotion the way I describe my writing career in general: organic. For me, that means it flows naturally from the relationships and experiences God brings my way. That doesn't mean I don't intend to work, but it does mean I will seek to watch where He is already working and join Him there.
What are your top tips for writers with their first book contract?
1. Listen to God and follow Him in obedience.
2. Never stop learning about the craft and business of writing.
3. Build relationships that matter.
4. Give back by helping other writers when you can.
5. Remember that you care more than anyone else about your book, so the first and last responsibility for marketing and promotion lie with you.
Thank you so much for sharing, Marti!
To learn more about Marti and her books, visit Marti's website or Marti's blog.
Writing for Him,
Sarah Sundin


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Wanderlost is my first book by Jen Malone. It was cute, light and easy to read and I really enjoyed it. The one thing I will say is that the book itself is unrealistic and there are quite a few holes throughout, but if you go into this one and ignore all that for the story I think that this is one that a lot of readers will enjoy.
After her sister finds herself in trouble, Aubree goes to Europe for the summer to lead the tour Elizabeth was supposed to. She must pretend to be Elizabeth in order to help Elizabeth save her future job. But Aubree doesn't know anything about the places she is supposed to be guiding the tour through and she never expected to meet Sam. Sam and Aubree instantly click, but with Aubree pretending to be Elizabeth, Sam has no idea who she really is. Can Aubree come clean with Sam and see what they have together, or will the truth change everything?
I really loved Sam! He was so adorable and I felt like he was the reason to read this book. I loved how he and Aubree were right off, and how he took an embarrassing situation for Aubree and turned it into something more. They were really cute together and had great banter. They were funny and you could tell that they enjoyed one another, yet you could also see that what they were building was more as well. I liked that they got to know one another and that things felt so natural with them.
The secondary characters here were great. The senior citizens on the tour really stole the show and I loved how much personality they each had. Aubree was at times frustrating and naive, so it was really nice to see the other characters have such big roles to sort of lighten the mood when I found myself irritated with her. Overall though, I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it for anyone looking for a light and easy read. I would have liked an epilogue to sort of tie it all together at the end because I felt it was a little abrupt at the end and things were a bit up in the air, but I think YA fans will still enjoy this one as much as I did.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**


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Building a better future:
Concepcion adds value beyond selling cooling, mobility technologies
Concepcion Building and Industrial Solutions' (BIS) value added consulting and after-sales services have set the group apart in the booming construction industry. As Concepcion Industrial Corp's (CIC) commercial arm, Concepcion BIS caters to the needs of high-rise residential buildings, malls, office towers, industrial buildings, and even hospitals or airports, with its lineup of international brands Carrier, Midea, Toshiba, and Otis.
In an effort to maintain its position in the market, CIC announced last year a strategy to boost sales to Php 50 billion by 2020, with the ultimate mission of "building better lives and businesses by delivering solutions that provide comfort and convenience".
For Concepcion BIS, this mission means contributing to the construction industry's development so it can meet the growing demands of the market.
The construction industry is one of the biggest contributors to the Philippines' unprecedented growth over the past years, driven by demand for private residential and office buildings, and infrastructure spending by the government. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the total area of floor space approved for construction in Q4 2015 in the non-residential segment, including commercial buildings, rose by 5.6% compared to the same quarter of 2014.
"The construction industry needs to adapt more quality management measures to keep up with this demand," notes Teddy Barredo, Senior Manager of Concepcion BIS' Project Management Team. "A quality management system will help ensure quality and efficiency by reducing project delays and guaranteeing precision of work in the construction site."
"Poor site management is one of the major causes of delays in construction projects, and these can result in unnecessary cost overruns for developers," adds Barredo. Composed mostly of young engineers, Barredo's team helps put a system in place in the construction site to minimize construction mistakes that cause these delays. "These measures can encourage innovation in the way that the country's present and future engineers and subcontractors work."
Innovating the Local Construction Industry
As project managers, Barredo and his team ensure that time overruns are avoided and operations are conducted safely in the construction site, thus, avoiding unnecessary mistakes and additional expenses.
"Our Project Management Team works with the design proposal by the building's consultant," shares Alex Sagum, Key Accounts Manager with Concepcion BIS. "For example, the original proposal says that a one-horsepower air-conditioner (AC) is needed. However, upon examination by our team, we find out that a two-horsepower AC is needed based on the room's size, and we advise the developer, so the consultant can revise his design. If we did not offer such advice, after the building is completed and the tenant has moved in, he would complain because it's hot in his unit. This is how our expertise applies in the earliest stages of the construction project."
Barredo admits that it can be a challenge for his team when they would first implement these systems in construction sites. "Some subcontractors were not used to our quality management systems. Some of them were simply used to how they have always done their work that they even hesitated at first to change something. Others did not see the need for a calibration of the measuring instruments on site, or why it was necessary to wear a helmet, eyeglasses, and other equipment for safety measures."
While fatal accidents are not common, a Labor Statistics Survey in 2007 found that for construction workers, the most common injuries and accidents were caused by stepping on or striking against objects and being struck by falling objects. "Opening up to these new systems of quality management can protect our workers from work-related injuries, and in the process, improve the quality of our outputs," Barredo emphasizes.
Nurturing Filipino Engineering Talent
Barredo's team has worked with some of the country's biggest developers, and he shares his successes on two of the biggest projects that he has handled so far: a five-star hotel in Bonifacio Global City and a prime residential complex in Makati's Central Business District. He shares proudly how, in a short span of time, he has witnessed the development of the young engineers under his watch.
"More than delivering well on these large projects, what made me proudest is seeing how my team has improved," Barredo enthuses. "About 90% of my team is comprised of millennials, and having the opportunity to develop them both professionally and personally as the future engineering leaders of our country is a huge honor."
Barredo acknowledges that the local construction industry continues to experience a shortage of highly skilled engineers because of the lure of overseas work experience and higher salaries abroad. To retain the talents in his team as well as in the whole local industry, he shares that it is important to adapt one's management style to suit the behaviors of younger professionals.
"The young engineers in my team want something new every time. They are very inquisitive and aggressive, so we use these attitudes to the team's advantage by letting them take calculated risks in their work, while making sure that they learn if they ever make mistakes," Barredo shares. "It is also a bonus that Concepcion BIS offers one of the most competitive salaries in the industry and rewards its talent with a good bonus scheme."
United Towards One Goal
On the path towards the goals for 2020, aside from strengthening its project management team, Concepcion BIS also developed a more customer-centric way of approaching their clients. According to Rajan Komarasu, Concepcion BIS' Group Director, "One of our biggest endeavors in 2015 was aligning the organization to develop a more customer-centric culture. We modified our processes and approach to make it easier for customers to do business with us."
Customers nowadays are very particular with the after-sales services, shares Sagum. "However, more than providing them with what they want, we make sure that we give what is best for them. I believe that this is what differentiates us in the industry, and we only need to let our customers know that we have these capabilities."
For a company with close to 1,000 employees, one of Concepcion BIS' top priorities is getting all of its people contributing towards the target sales of Php 50 billion, and to everyone's advantage. "The company saw to it that each of us is aligned with the 2020 Vision, including the rank and file employees and not just the leaders. I believe that it is very important to know where we are headed and how our individual efforts are crucial. This is also what inspires me in every work that I do every day," Sagum enthuses.
"The company's goals are clearly communicated to everyone up to the last levels of the organization," echoes Barredo. "We know that we all have a role in fulfilling the vision, what's in it for us, and I believe that this is what helps me and my team perform at our best."
Concepcion Building and Industrial Solutions lauds construction
excellence of partner contractors
Concepcion Building and Industrial Solutions (BIS) awarded a number of its partner contractors, referred to as Building Solutions Partners, for their excellence in the construction industry, commitment to work with Concepcion BIS in catering to the demands of the market, and contribution to the growth of Concepcion BIS. The top two awardees were Escaño Builders and Developers, Inc. and Powertech Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning, and Industrial Services, Inc.
Read More
Mainstay in Philippine banking sector gets green air-con system through Concepcion-Carrier and DENR program
Concepcion-Carrier Air-Conditioning Company, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), recently completed the installation of new, energy-efficient chillers in one of the largest banks in the Philippines, which is one of the beneficiaries of the Philippine Chiller Energy Efficiency Project (PCEEP).
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Congressional committees are widening their investigations into an alleged U.S. Secret Service scandal involving prostitutes in Colombia ahead of a recent trip there by President Barack Obama.
The Senate Homeland Security Committee wants to determine whether what transpired "was an exception" or "a pattern of misconduct that has gone on elsewhere by Secret Service agents," said committee Chairman Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.
Lieberman, in an appearance on "Fox News Sunday," said his panel was embarking on "a broader investigation" and would send the Secret Service detailed questions about the conduct of agents not only "on assignment, but off duty."
And, Lieberman asked, "What's the Secret Service going to do to make sure it never happens again?"
Across the Capitol, the House Homeland Security Committee has sent Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan a list of 50 specific questions, including a request for "a comprehensive, minute-by-minute timeline."
"Every possible lead is being examined," Committee Chairman Peter King, R-N.Y., told NBC's "Meet the Press."
"What they were thinking is beyond me," King added.
So far, the scandal involves 12 Secret Service employees and 11 members of the military.
Six of the Secret Service members have lost their jobs. One has been partially cleared and five remain on administrative leave.
The Secret Service has confirmed that one of the 12 implicated in the scandal had stayed at a different hotel in Cartagena than the others. He stayed at the Hilton, where Obama later would stay. The others stayed at the Hotel Caribe.
The agent is being investigated for improprieties in a separate incident that may have happened on April 9, days before the president arrived for a summit with other Western Hemisphere leaders that ended April 15 — and while the hotel was still open to the general public.
Lieberman, who also appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday, said his panel hopes to learn more about the activities of that 12th agent.
"Now we don't know at this point what that 12th agent is being charged with and why he's been put on administrative leave. But now you're into the hotel where the president of the United States was going to stay. And it just gets more troubling," Lieberman said.
Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod said the allegations are disturbing, but that the misdeeds of a few individuals should not tarnish the overall work and reputation of the protective service.
Axelrod told CNN's "State of the Union" that he always felt the agents were willing to go to great lengths to protect the president and the people around him. He called the conduct in Colombia "really disappointing."
"I think we will get to the bottom of it," said Axelrod, who worked at the White House before leaving last year to work full time in Obama's re-election campaign office in Chicago.
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., a frequent critic of the president, declined to fault the administration's response thus far. "I think what we're seeing is an aberration," he told CBS.
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the senior Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, and Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., both said on ABC's "This Week" that more female Secret Service agents might help guard against such incidents from happening again. Maloney said that only 11 percent of Secret Service agents are women.
Collins said that the Secret Service told her there is no evidence that any of the alleged prostitutes were underage women.
Still, she asked, "What are Secret Service personnel doing bringing unknown foreign nationals to their rooms, regardless of their age?"
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press


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Ageless and Disease Free with an Alkaline Lifestyle
by: Lauren Rae, CPT at TRYM Fitness and Sunwarrior contributing writer
Stressed out, low to no activity level, and poor dietary habits. Does this sound like you or somebody you know? Most people don't realize that this harmful lifestyle trifecta can make you teeter on the wrong side of the pH scale. Right now your amazing body is trying to maintain balance between alkaline and acidity to maintain a healthy pH level; however, it is greatly influenced by your lifestyle. When there is an imbalance, many serious problems can occur.
PH is the abbreviation for Potential Hydrogen and according to Discovery Health, "A pH number measures from 0 to 14 how acidic or alkaline a liquid is -- anything above 7 is alkaline and anything below 7 is acid." The higher the pH reading, the more alkaline and oxygen rich the fluid is; while the lower the pH reading, the more acidic and oxygen deprived the fluid is. Now imagine that your cells are being deprived of oxygen and quickly becoming acidic. Doesn't it make sense that you would benefit from a rich alkaline environment for healthy cells to flourish?
It is clear that our health depends on an alkaline (rather than acidic) environment to maintain a strong immune system and overall wellbeing. When you maintain a slightly alkaline state, your body is able to build an alkaline reserve for acid-forming conditions such as stress and environmental exposure. If your body is acidic, you are more susceptible to disease and rapid decay.
Here are 3 easy ways to help regulate your body's acid/alkaline level:
1. Consume an Alkaline Rich Diet
An imbalanced diet of highly acidic foods such as animal protein, alcohol, refined sugar, caffeine, and other processed foods can put some serious pressure on your body's ability to maintain an alkaline state. While in turn, a balanced diet of whole food that contains cruciferous vegetables, healthy plant-based fats and plant-based proteins will gradually transition you to the optimum alkaline balance. For more information on the Alkaline Diet, talk to your registered dietician for a customized nutrition program.
2. Become a Water Connoisseur
All water is not equal. And here's why: almost all bottled water is unregulated tap water. And tap water has been found to contain, but not limited to, the following: fluoride, chlorine, radioactive contaminants, pharmaceutical drugs, hexavalent chromium, lead, aluminum and other heavy metals, and finally, arsenic. Think before you drink!
Sure there is a lot of controversy surrounding alkalinized water. But not only can healthy water consumption promote a healthier lifestyle, properly filtered, alkaline-positive water may actually be classified as pure, unadulterated water. The main benefit of simple, pure, alkaline-rich water is that it is rich in antioxidants that can aid in anti-aging, weight loss, lowering blood pressure, and even reversing diabetes. Just be aware of the exaggerated claims of some products and do your research before committing to an in-home filtering system.
It is likely that your body has been depleted of alkaline minerals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium as a result of environmental exposure, an acidic diet, and depleted water. As a result you are more prone to degenerative diseases and early aging because these minerals are borrowed from your organs and bones to neutralize acidity and eliminate it from your body. Supplementing with minerals, such as Sunwarrior Liquid Vitamin Mineral Rush, will help to restore a normal balance of nutrients at a cellular level. Learn more about the Liquid Vitamin Mineral Rush here!
1. http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/cleansing/products/ph-balanced.htm
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Claims on this site have not been evaluated by the FDA. Information on this site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We encourage you to do your own research.. Seek the advice of a medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle or diet.
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Chrunchyroll, an anime and Asian media streaming service, has recently announced that they will be streaming an English subbed version of Blade & Soul on every Thursday starting on April 3rd at 12:46pm Pacific Time for premium members, with free members able to watch one week later.
"Based on the popular Korean MMORPG, Blade and Soul is an original anime that revolves around a female assassin named Alka. Alka, a sword-woman with proficient skills, defeats foes by a single stroke. She travels with an aim to avenge her master Hong's death, of which vendetta was required by the rules of the tribe she belongs to."
For more info, visit http://www.crunchyroll.com/bladeandsoul


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Kovak get's mixed up with a dangerous crazed criminal and soon to be murderer and is forced to take pictures of him as he commits his crimes. Since Kovac is isolated from help, he give clues through his photographs.
Man With A Camera 03 – Profile of a Killer - 1958
Man With A Camera 03 – Profile of a Killer
Released: 24 Oct 1958
Directed By: Gerald Mayer
Written By: James Edmiston (teleplay), Richard M. Bluel (story)
Starring: Charles Bronson, Tom Pittman, James Chandler, Russell Collins
Country: USA


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If you already have a subscription on our site, please login.
If you would like to contact us about any of our subscriptions, you can contact us here or simply click the contact link on the above linked page!


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Quaker® Sour Cream & Chives Rice Chips
Product Details
Great mornings inspire great days bustling with new possibilities, unknown adventures, and amazing friends. Prepare for all that lies ahead by filling your bowls, bellies, and hearts with the love of a nourishing breakfast from Quaker Oats.
Nutritional Information
Whole Grain Brown Rice Flour, Degerminated Milled Corn, Sunflower Oil, Nonfat Dry Milk, Onion Powder, Salt, Buttermilk Powder, Cultured Cream, Dextrose, Whey, Garlic Powder, Spices, Sugar, Natural Flavor, Gum Arabic, Silicon Dioxide, Yeast Extract, Tocopherols (To Preserve Freshness).
Allergen Info
Contains Milk and its Derivatives,Corn and Its Derivatives.
Actual product packaging and materials may contain additional and/or different ingredient, nutritional, or proper usage information than the information displayed on our website. You are responsible ... Read More
Product Reviews
Ralphs is not responsible for the content provided in customer ratings and reviews. For more information, visit our Terms and Conditions.


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Originating from Northern Michigan, Breathe Owl Breathe is Micah Middaugh, Trevor Hobbs, and Andrea Moreno-Beals. Their music can be described as "contemporary folk, eschewing freakiness in favor of charm," which can be heard throughout their latest effort "Magic Central."
The project (Magic Central) took nearly 3 years to complete within the confines of Middaugh's studio in Northern Michigan. From the tracks I have listened to I am very excited for this show, partially because I had spent the better part of my early 20s in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The songs do have that contemporary folk sound, but are carefully crafted with whimsical lyrics.
This nice excerpt says it all, "The overall goal was to create something that looked timeless, felt satisfying to the touch, and appealed to any and all ages. Micah believes that it matters how a thing is made - if it pleases the hands, eyes, and ears. These sensibilities, alongside letter press printing techniques, inform every detail of The Listeners/These Train Tracks. Hold it, open it, and listen to what's inside."
Well done guys, I couldn't agree more. Come out to Kilby Court tomorrow night, February 18th, to see them perform with Laura Gibson, this is a show you won't want to miss!


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GSK's Malaria Vaccine Containing Agenus' QS-21 Stimulon® Receives Positive Opinion from European Regulators for Prevention of Malaria in Young Children in Sub-Saharan Africa
LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Agenus Inc. (NASDAQ:AGEN), an immunology company discovering and developing innovative treatments for cancers and other diseases, today announced that GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) received a positive opinion for its Malaria vaccine candidate from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The vaccine candidate, named Mosquirix™ (RTS,S) is the first QS-21 Stimulon containing product to receive a positive regulatory decision. Agenus' adjuvant QS-21 is designed to increase immune response to antigens in vaccines. The positive opinion signals that Mosquirix meets the necessary quality, safety and efficacy requirements according to EU standards.
"This is a significant milestone for the field of Malaria and our QS-21 Stimulon, which is an integral component of the adjuvant contained in Mosquirix, the first malaria candidate vaccine to generate positive Phase 3 data, now awaiting the World Health Organization's recommendations and approvals by African Health authorities," commented Garo Armen, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Agenus. "We look forward to seeing Mosquirix achieve the required final clearances so it can begin benefiting children at risk of contracting and dying from Malaria."
The CHMP scientific opinion is a key step in the regulatory process toward making a vaccine against Malaria available. The positive opinion follows review by the CHMP of the candidate vaccine's safety, efficacy and quality. Clinical data supporting the filing were mainly from a Phase 3 clinical program involving more than 16,000 infants and young children.
Following the CHMP positive opinion, two of the World Health Organization's (WHO) independent advisory groups, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization and the Malaria Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC), will now jointly review the evidence base for the vaccine candidate and make a joint policy recommendation for how the vaccine should be used in the event that it ultimately is approved by the national regulatory authorities in the sub-Saharan African countries for which the vaccine is intended. The WHO has indicated that such a policy recommendation may be possible by end of this year.
About QS-21 Stimulon®
QS-21 Stimulon is a saponin extracted from the bark of the Quillaja saponaria tree, an evergreen also known as the soap bark tree. The adjuvant is a key component of investigational vaccines to prevent a wide variety of infectious diseases, and therapeutic vaccines for cancer and degenerative disorders. QS-21 Stimulon has been evaluated in approximately 50,000 individuals and patients. Agenus is entitled to receive a modest milestone payment upon approval of the first licensed product with GSK, as well as low single digit royalties on potential commercial sales for 10 years after commercial launch, with some exceptions.
About Agenus
Agenus is an immunology company engaged in the discovery and development of novel checkpoint modulators, vaccines and adjuvants to treat cancer and other diseases. Using its proprietary platforms Retrocyte Display™ and SECANT®, the Company is discovering and developing novel antibodies to target GITR, OX40, CTLA-4, LAG-3, TIM-3, PD-1 and other undisclosed checkpoints in partnered and internal programs. Agenus' heat shock protein vaccine, Prophage, has successfully completed Phase 2 studies in newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme. The Company's QS-21 Stimulon® adjuvant is extensively partnered with GlaxoSmithKline and Janssen Sciences Ireland UC, and two vaccine candidates containing QS-21 have successfully completed Phase 3 trials. For more information, please visit www.agenusbio.com, or follow the company on Twitter @Agenus_Bio; information that may be important to investors will be routinely posted in these locations.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the expected benefit from GSK's Mosquirix™ vaccine, the potential milestone and royalties payable to Agenus and the Company's potential to create best-in-class combination therapies for treating patients with cancer. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the factors described under the Risk Factors section of Agenus' Prospectus Supplement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 21, 2015. Agenus cautions investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Agenus undertakes no obligation to update or revise the statements, other than to the extent required by law. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
BMC Communications
Brad Miles, 646-513-3125
Argot Partners
Andrea Rabney, 212-600-1902
Jamie Maarten, 212-600-1902


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Step 3: Design Development
With the basic design established, the spaces are studied in turn and in greater detail. In this stage, new levels of questions are asked about interior and exterior finishes, window types, appliances, kitchen design, etc. The drawings are enlarged to show more detail and to allow for the refinement of the design. This is most often the longest phase in the design process, and when completed all the basic design decisions will have been made. Often during this phase, a model or series of study models are built to aid the process.
Step 1: Program
Step 2: Schematic Design
Step 3: Design Development
Step 4: Construction Documents
Step 5: Contractor Selection
Step 6: Construction
Construction Costs
site design by
Zeb Ellis


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Launched today is a new web site for St Louis law firm, Marshall Friedman.
When hired a few months back to complete this project one of the most pressing problems we had to address were the Google search results for the original site. The site had been hacked into and infected with a virus and while the virus had been removed Google was carrying a "this may harm your computer" notice on all it's search results pointing to the site. We removed all traces of the old site from the web server and installed a splash "under construction" page. Google provides a nice help section and we were able to have our new splash page reviewed. Once Google was satisfied there was nothing malicious about the site the warning notices were removed from the search results.
The new site is a big improvement over the old one, with a clean but professional design and "don't make me think" navigation, we focused on giving the user a fast easy platform to use.
You can visit it at http://www.marshallfriedman.com/


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I could make the following statements based on my experience from Social Media:
Social Media has taught me how to listen more effectively.
Social Media has taught me about human behaviour and business.
Social Media has taught me about leadership.
And the list goes on and on. There are however many lessons we still need to learn in life and some we can still learn from Social Media. The one area that is particularly difficult to handle in life and the same goes for Social Media, is that of Criticism.
How we handle criticism, how we respond to criticism and what we ultimately do because of the criticism we receive, will determine if we are successful or not. Criticism will ultimately cause us to grow if we let it and this can only occur if we can learn something from the criticism. Sometimes there will be nothing to learn from the criticism itself and in these instances you may just find that you were being tested to see how emotionally intelligent you are. Could you be kind or did you need to be right?
We could go into more depth about being right, but that has been covered in my video titled Emotional Intelligence – Behind the bathroom door?
Many people are concerned about what people have said about them or their brands on Social Media. The concern is real, but you cannot live a real life without being criticised unless you don't want to achieve anything that is. You will be criticised and the best is to take Zig Ziglar's advice: "Don't be distracted by criticism. Remember – the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you."
So keep your focus on doing what you have set out to do, understand that you are doing something right and therefore you will be criticised. Trying to prove to people that you are, not like they say you are is tiring and could result in long legal battles that will simply drain the energy from you. Therefore don't take notice of what they say:
What other people say about you is their business, it has nothing to do with you!
Remember the above quote and show people who you are through your actions. On Social Media this means just keep on doing what you do, keep your focus to do what you set out to do. You are what you consistently do and the only time you need to worry about what you are doing is when you are not being consistent. Be yourself, everyone else is taken.


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10 useful Medical apps for your Android phone
In the age of smartphones, fablets and tablets, every doctor has one invariably carried with them. For leisure, these devices can be used to play on sites such as 벳무브.
These techs have been used extensively by medical students and doctors. Life has become much more easier than a decade ago. No more heavy drug dose books, pocket books! A quick reference is available when needed and it has helped prevent many errors in medical practice because we know human brain has always a limit.
1. Medscape – The large database of the articles from the makers of emedicine-medscape online resource. It is the most useful and trusted resource available in android market. Updates are available regularly. Reliability is excellent. This application is easy to use , quick and handy.
2. Lexicomp– The database of drug doses , indications, side-effects and interactions. Trusted application world wide from Lexicomp.
3. Epocrates- The interactive drug doses database also includes drug-interactions and much more. Excellent applictions with frequent and free updates available. Its a cornerstone of your cellphone.
4. Skyscape- A new form of ebook library where you can keep lots of books and search from them in bulk. It is available partially free. You need to subscribe to get full library.
5. Quick LabRef – Lab reference for various parameters are most difficult thing to remember. Get this app and keep your life easygoing if you have problem with numbers. The huge database of parameters and their reference values.
6. ABG interpretation- Its a calculator where you put various parameters like pH, PO2, PCO2, HCO3 etc and it returns you the interpretetion of the blood gas analysis. Useful in critical care settings.
7. NICE Guidelines– The NICE guideline applications provides you a concise guidelines that are easy to refer to. Eg. UTI guidelines.
8. Qx calculate– Now you can calculate all the score and grading with this app called Qx calculate. Eg. Ranson's criteria for pancreatitis, Childpugh's Crieria.
9. Prognosis– A small and amusing game that provides you case scenarios and you have to solve through it. It allows you to get a stepwise approach and finally an information on the case, similar to Problem solving exercise. It has database for Medicine, Surgery, Gyne/Obs and Pediatric cases.
10. Medical dictionary- Need no mention. Its the dictionary of medical terms and terminologies.


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Construction Standards
City Code
Refer to hopewellva MUNICIPAL CODE OF ORDINANCES/ and then navigate to Chapter 14 EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL, and then Chapter 31 SEWERS AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL.
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Erosion & Sediment Control Handbook
Refer to the latest addition of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Erosion & Sediment Control Handbook.
Stormwater BMP Design Specifications
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Stormwater BMP Design Specifications
Minimum Design and Construction Standards
Refer to the latest edition of the Virginia Department of Transportation Roads & Bridge Standards on the VDOT web site.
Miss-Utility Marking
The City is currently responsible for marking Sanitary Sewer and Storm Sewer collection piping and structures located within the City right-of-way or easements.
NOTE: City utilities are marked in "Green".
For Utility Marking contact Miss-Utility of Virginia at 1-800-552-7001.
For information regarding the City's Marks contact Engineering at (804) 541-2323.


text: A resident of Nanaimo since 1968, passed away on Saturday,October 13th, 2007 at Nanaimo Hospital's Palliative Care Unit. After a brave fight with cancer. He was born in Paisley, Scotland on April 13th, 1939, and emigrated to Canada in 1963. He is survived by his soul mate Robina (Sharon, Rick, Debbie, Roland), brother Hugh (Shirley), sister Elizabeth, daughter June, Sons Robbie and George, nieces Claire and Erin and lots of grandchildren. Private family service, in lieu of flowers donations can be made to Nanaimo Hospice Society. Arrangements through First Memorial Funeral Services.


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I often wonder how realtors in horror movies sleep at night. They'll sell a house that has trolls in the basement or zombies in the back yard or even a history of violent killings within its very walls and they'll sell it like nothing ever happened. And Triple Star Realty, the folks selling the house in "Blood Stains" have plenty to answer for. This time around, Triple Star just sold a house in a neighborhood jammed to the gills with lunatics, madmen, small children, psychopaths, and now, lawyers and that most depraved subspecies of man, children's book authors.
Thus, the lawyer and the author will begin sticking their collective noses into the dark underbelly of their new neighborhood, and what they find may well kill them.
Granted, it's formulaic. Off the top of my head I can think of three or four movies almost exactly like this one with just slightly different characters and circumstances. Murder mystery / suspense buffs could probably name ten or twenty or more. There's not going to be a whole lot here that you haven't already seen somewhere else. Which isn't to say, necessarily, that it's not good. Plenty of solid plot building goes on in "Blood Stains", and a couple of nifty surprises will pop up here and there.
And yet, at the end of the day, "Blood Stains" is better suited for a Lifetime special than it is for the video store shelves. The constantly philandering husband murdered by a jealous wife who may or may not have actually done it, and then subdivisions of jealously and revenge swinging in from all sides…these are all hallmarks of a growing trend, the chick slasher flick.
Oh, and I'm definitely taking credit for that one. "Chick slasher flick"…where do I come up with this stuff? But as self-congratulatory as I'm being about this, it's also pretty apt. It builds its suspense very slowly, toward an uncertain end. It's laden with triangles in every direction, troubled pasts crop up and boil off, and love and jealousy are the primary impetus to the plot. There's not a whole lot of blood (which is a surprise for a movie called "Blood Stains") and the body count is pretty low. It's really horror lite, a kind of distilled version that focuses more on building toward a conclusion than occasionally spiking the narrative with killings. It's an interesting departure, but in all honesty, I find it just plain dull.
The ending, finally, allows every one of the many, many loose ends this movie spawned to be tied up and laid to rest in a surprisingly bloodless fashion. In fact, this movie is so bereft of actual ACTION that less than three of the last eight minutes even really pass for suspense.
The special features include English and Spanish subtitles, and trailers for "See No Evil", "Jekyll and Hyde", and "Dark Harvest 3: Scarecrow" All in all, yawn. Genuinely, yawn–"Blood Stains" is painfully slow, and the payoff doesn't even begin to cover the investment in time and attention paid to reach the end. Worth your time only if you're into the movies Lifetime continually runs.


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Blogging has become a fast growing way of communication, the idea of this blog is to list Artists Blogs and help your blog reach the top in search engines. Putting a reciprical link to this blog on your blog, will also help with your seo ratings.
Custom Search
Art Blogs, Artist Blogs, Art Blogging
Posted by Ali at 12:48 AM
Labels: a, abstract, acrylic, contemporary, contemporary art, drawing, fine, fine art, gallery, impressionist, modern art, moern art, oil, original, outsider, painting, pastel, realism, watercolour
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Thanks for stopping by today!! Hope you find the time to join us!
Challenge Reminders:
- You may enter up to THREE times
- ALL entries qualify for TOP 3 and giveaways
- 100% digital receives TWO entries for giveaways
- Please follow the challenge theme
- Once you've created your NEW (no backlinking please) creation, please leave a direct link in the InLinkz below
- We reserve the right to remove any links not linked properly or that we feel doesn't meet our challenge criteria
- Challenge closes on Thursday at 6pm EST
- Have fun and happy creating!


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4-102 Bellevue Way Northeast, Suite 500, Bellevue, WA 98004 DIRECTIONS
Since 2012
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Their methods are innovative and always anticipate the intent of your customers and search engines. Free consultation is available. They take their knowledge of creating traditional ads and apply it to the formats most commonly seen in digital advertising today. They can give you professional graphic advertising that gets seen by the exact people you want in your target audience. They write and design digital advertising in every format for web and mobile devices
Brand Development and Strategy, Integrated Marketing, Mobile Advertising, Video Production, Visual Design, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Copy Writing, Digital Marketing, Content Marketing & Media Strategy
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Create solutions that represent you authentically, uniquely and consistently. They create websites that are strategically designed to attract visitors and convert leads into customers. They believe in the power of content to attract interest, increase engagement and deepen loyal customer relationships. Help you set a foundation of trust, build momentum and customer engagement online and offline. work with clients to generate more leads at a lower cost over time
Brand strategy, Templates and Guidelines, Logo and Visual Identity Development, Video and Photography, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Website Maintenance, Search Engine Marketing, Analytics and Monitoring, Paid Social Advertising, Digital Display, Outdoor Advertising, TV & Radio Spots
TBR® Inspection Report:
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Since 2018
Here's The Deal:
Offer a wide range of services for all industries. They build a marketing strategy to support your growth and sustain it for years to come. They reduce your load time by resizing images to the exact size you need and removing leftover template coding from your existing website. Creates a cohesive network of links to and from your website to increase your visibility to crawlers
Consulting, Drone Marketing, Aerial Photography and Cinematography, Web Updates and Modifications, Blogs and Articles, Back-link Building, Research Audiences, Develop Brand Personas, Target Brand Specific Networks, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Listing Channels, Branding, Cinematography, Web Development & Visibility


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For some this may not be enough confirmation, but in the world of Skylanders, this is a pretty sure thing.
The box art for the Wave 3 SWAP Force figures have been discovered. I first saw them on this German Skylanders fan site.
Shortly after the release of SWAP Force, we already had a good idea of what to expect for Wave 3 when information was leaked on Amazon.fr. Now we have the Wave 3 Box Art which is usually a little more accurate. Surprisingly, there are a few small differences between these lists.
According to the box art we've seen, this is what Wave 3 should contain:
SWAP Force
Spy Rise
Stink Bomb
Rubble Rouser
New Characters
Dune Bug
Returning Characters
Phantom Cynder
Hyper Beam Prism Break
Horn Blast Whirlwind
Triple Packs
Triple Pack #5 – Rip Tide, Whirlwind, Prism Break
Triple Pack #6 – Dune Bug, Cynder, Terrafin
Adventure/Battle Packs
Arkeyan Crossbow – Grim Creeper, Camo
Sheep Wreck Island – Wind Up
We still do not have an official release date, but I am still expecting Wave 3 to show up in mid-late December.


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HARLEM, Manhattan (WABC) -- The New York State Inspector General released a report - finding widespread corruption at a DMV office in Harlem.
Investigators say that clerks at the Manhattan North Traffic Violations Bureau accepted cash and other favors to dismiss tickets.
Clerks also allegedly took money, free meals and other gifts from defense attorneys in exchange for referring ticketed drivers to them.
The findings have been forwarded to local prosecutors.
The DMV has not responded to Eyewitness News' request for comment.


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On Friday we learned that Gandi.net is joining the ranks of domain name registrars supporting DNSSEC. In a blog post on their "Gandi Bar" site, "Thomas" outlines the level of support Gandi.net is providing and points over to a wiki post explaining in more detail how to set up DNSSEC for your domains.
It's important to note that Gandi.net is not providing DNSSEC-signing services – and in fact you cannot use Gandi.net's own DNS servers for hosting your DNS as their hosting servers do not provide DNSSEC support yet. However, if you host your DNS records on a service that does support DNSSEC, Gandi.net can handle all the relevant Delegation Signer (DS) records for you. We previously provided a step-by-step example of configuring DNSSEC in this manner using GKG.net. It seems that Gandi.net works in a similar manner although it appears you provide them with your full public key and they then generate the relevant DS records.
What is nice to see is that Gandi.net supports a wide range of top-level domains (TLDs), including:
- .be
- .biz
- .com
- .de
- .eu
- .fr (+ .re, .yt, .pm, .wf, .tf)
- .net
- .se
- .us
Further, in their blog post they commit to providing support for even more TLDs in the future. Given that ICANN's list of DNSSEC-enabled registrars only lists a few registrars supporting multiple TLDs, this news out of Gandi.net is great to see.
We've queued them up to add to our list of tutorials for signing your domain with DNSSEC using domain name registrars and look forward to seeing more DNSSEC-signed domains coming out of Gandi.net customers.
P.S. Have you signed your domain today?


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Lack of sleep can inflict lasting damage on your body beyond temporary mood disorders and tiredness, as researchers have found that insufficient sleep can increase the risk of diabetes, a chronic condition.
Lack of sleep reduces the body's sensitivity to insulin, impairing the ability to regulate blood sugar and increasing the risk of diabetes, the researchers explained.
"We found that when people get too little sleep it leaves them awake at a time when their body clock is telling them they should be asleep," said the study's lead author Kenneth Wright, professor at University of Colorado Boulder in the US.
Half of the participants initially slept for up to five hours a night for five days to simulate a regular work week. Then they slept for up to nine hours a night for five days. The other half completed the sleep conditions in the opposite order.
Blood tests later showed that those who slept five hours a night had a reduced sensitivity to insulin, which in time could increase the risk of getting diabetes. But when they slept nine hours a night, oral insulin sensitivity returned to normal. Still, it was not enough time to restore intravenous insulin sensitivity to baseline levels.
The findings suggest that lack of sleep causes metabolic stress. The study appeared in the journal Current Biology.
Source: IANS


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UMMC, Blue Cross slugging it out over contract
The University of Mississippi Medical Center says it will cancel its contract with Blue Cross & Blue Shield June 30 — unless the state's largest insurer revises the contract.
"We carry an extra burden for the state of Mississippi ... taking care of the sickest of the sick," said Kevin Cook, CEO of the UMMC health system. "Often insurers recognize that burden. Blue Cross is not recognizing our special status."
The main problem is the contract with Blue Cross is 28 years old and allows the insurer to change the financial terms at any time without notification, Cook said in a news conference Wednesday.
"If we were to go buy a car, we wouldn't sign a contract that would allow the dealership to change the terms of that contract between the time we agreed to the price and the time we actually purchased the car," he said.
Blue Cross officials responded Wednesday that UMMC is the one at fault.
It's a showdown between Mississippi's largest insurer and the state's largest health care provider.
The two sides experienced a similar impasse in 2013 — a matter that involved Gov. Phil Bryant and was eventually settled.
On Wednesday his spokesman, Clay Chandler, said the governor hopes UMMC and Blue Cross can agree to a new contract so that those patients "will not experience a disruption in care. He appreciates UMMC keeping patient concerns paramount."
State Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney echoed those concerns, saying he wants to see patients "continue to receive access to quality health care without suffering financial penalties," and that he hopes the parties can resolve the matter.
"It is my expectation that should the contract actually terminate, (Blue Cross) will continue to pay network benefits and UMMC will refrain from balance billing patients until the parties resolve their differences," he said.
Dr. Charles O'Mara, UMMC associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs, said "absolutely nothing will change for our patients" in the coming weeks.
"We encourage Blue Cross members to continue to visit their UMMC care providers just as they always have," he said. "Our goal is to maintain business as usual, so our patients do not experience any disruption in their care."
If the two sides fail to work out a deal by June 30, Cook said patients who have Blue Cross insurance and are already being treated at UMMC for an established diagnosis would continue to receive care at the teaching hospital as in-network patients. UMMC would continue to treat emergencies of patients with Blue Cross insurance as in-network patients.
And UMMC officials say the hospital would continue to see patients with Blue Cross insurance, even if the contract is ended, but those patients might experience more out-of-pocket costs.
Changes would not apply to patients covered by the State and School Employees' Health Insurance Plan. The state government is self-insured, and Blue Cross only administers the plan.
O'Mara said the medical landscape has changed greatly since the contract was originally signed in 1990 and that no one would sign such a contract these days.
Cook said Blue Cross' response to UMMC so far is "their contract Is their contract."
If this is how Blue Cross treats other hospitals, "they treat us all equally poorly," he said.
On Wednesday, Blue Cross spokeswoman Meredith Bailess reassured Blue Cross members that they have "nothing to worry about as we will continue to provide Network-level benefits for care received from UMMC providers and facilities," including Batson Children's Hospital.
She said Blue Cross has been "trying for years to work with UMMC, but we have found them unresponsive to our efforts to provide fair and equitable reimbursement aligned with the current healthcare landscape and care needs of our members."
Like other hospitals, Blue Cross' contract with UMMC has evolved "to meet our customers' needs for quality, outcomes-based care with a focus on managing cost for all," she said. "UMMC wants to be treated differently from other Network Hospitals in this regard and has continued to leave reimbursement opportunities on the table in their resistance to partner with Blue Cross."
This spring, the Leapfrog Group gave UMMC a C grade, up from a D last fall. In fall 2015, UMMC received an F.
That was just as Dr. Michael Henderson, UMMC chief medical officer, was coming on board from Cleveland Clinic Health System in Ohio, where he helped improve patient safety dramatically.
"We have made a tremendous advancement in quality," O'Mara said. "Current data is even better."
As for recent criticisms by some regarding UMMC costs, Cook said the medical center compares "extraordinarily favorably" to other teaching hospitals across the U.S.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, UMMC's costs and prices rank among the lowest for teaching hospitals. Benchmarked against peer academic medical centers, the hospitals' adjusted expense per patient day is below the 25th percentile in recent national rankings.
UMMC officials noted they are Mississippi's only academic medical center, offering the state's only Level I trauma center, children's hospital and organ transplant service.
"We believe we are offering a great bargain to Blue Cross," Cook said, "and a great bargain to the state of Mississippi."
More: Medical billing 'in la-la land': UMMC changes policy amid probe into expensive ER visit
UMMC Fiscal 2017: By the Numbers
- 32,832 hospital admissions
- 143,769 ER visits
- 628,947 hospital outpatient visits
- 571,116 clinic visits
Source: UMMC


text:
Multigraphics is the leading and Largest manufacturer of Omr sheets elaborates the factors to be taken care while Designing and Printing of Omr Sheet to make the Omr sheet perfect for scanning and we should not face any difficulty in result processing and analysis.
First, we have to decide the size of Omr Sheets 8.25"x11.25" or 8.25"x14.00", depending on Personal information and number of questions. Generally, Omr sheet with Admit card is of size 8.25"x14.00" as admit card is generated from this Registration Omr Sheets. Omr sheets can be designed for both side or single side depending upon the requirement otherwise generally instructions are printed on the back side of Omr Sheets how to fill the Omr Sheets.
Similarly, Omr sheets for Surveys and other applications/uses are designed, you can visit our website www.multigraphics.in for more information.
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text: Montreal duo Valleys are about to release their newest album Are You Going To Stand There and Talk Weird All Night. The record is filled with lush vocals, layered choruses, and electronic textures that will stir your imagination. AMBY wanted to learn more about the album, so we caught up


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Mark Heap (I)
STARmeterSEE RANK
Up 1,232 this week
Mark Heap was born on May 13, 1957 in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India. He is an actor and writer, known for Stardust (2007), Lark Rise to Candleford (2008) and Green Wing (2004). See full bio »
Born:in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India
More at IMDbPro » Contact Info: View agent, publicist, legal on IMDbPro


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Viacom Inc. today issued the following update on its operations and business outlook for the full year 2001 in light of the extraordinary events surrounding the attacks on the United States last week.
Sumner M. Redstone, Chairman and CEO of Viacom, said, "We want to thank and commend all Viacom employees, particularly our dedicated news staffs, for their extraordinary efforts during this very difficult period. Joining the rest of our nation, Viacom is back at work and focused on continuing to grow our businesses for the benefit of the American economy and our shareholders. We want to take the opportunity to communicate directly with our shareholders and update them on the outlook for 2001 as we currently see it. We also intend to continue to highlight the strength of our company by employing a portion of our free cash flow to buy Viacom stock under our previously authorized share purchase program."
Mel Karmazin, Viacom's President and COO, said, "The tragic events of the past week underscore the exceptional and unique value of our assets, particularly our television and radio broadcast businesses, which continue to play a central role in our society. Viacom remains fundamentally strong and we continue to believe that the Company is well positioned for the remainder of 2001 and over the long term.
"As a result of the attacks, we incurred a considerable increase in costs at CBS News, our local television station news operations, especially in New York, and at our major market all-news and talk radio stations. We also experienced a significant loss of revenue from our broadcast networks, cable networks, and radio and TV stations, stemming from the around-the-clock news coverage. Additionally, we lost revenue from the cancellation of the Latin Grammys, the cancellation of last week's NFL games, the rescheduling of the Emmy Awards, as well as the delay of the new fall season. We anticipate some benefit from the availability of business interruption and other insurance, which have the potential to offset a portion of our losses.
"We are having ongoing and extensive discussions with advertisers and ad agencies about their view of the advertising marketplace for the remainder of 2001 and beyond. Many of our advertisers have expressed uncertainty about their plans and are currently assessing various creative strategies to respond to the marketing challenges. Some advertisers believe their current campaigns are inappropriate for today's business environment and consumer sentiment and are working to revise their messages. Most companies we spoke with believe they will return to normal advertising levels but are uncertain about the timing. There also are concerns about additional disruptions that could occur following a U.S. response to the attacks.
"We continue to work closely with our advertisers to meet these challenges and help them return to the market and reach their customers as soon as possible.
"These factors will have an obvious impact on the financial performance of Viacom for the remainder of 2001, particularly the approximately 50% of our revenues derived from the high-margin advertising business. We continue to believe that Viacom's EBITDA from operations in 2001 will be the highest in the Company's history. However, because of the impact of unforeseen recent events, we now anticipate that full-year 2001 EBITDA will be slightly higher than the comparable results last year, versus our previous guidance of double-digit growth.
"Looking ahead, we remain confident that Viacom's exceptional brands, strong leadership position and ability to generate the highest levels of free cash flow in our industry will enable us to outperform in any environment and grow our market share."