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Meet Stay Jay's wife-to-be in these sizzling photos
Stay Jay has gotten social media abuzz with the new that he would be tying the knot with his longtime partner.
The "Shashe Wowo" singer's girlfriend, who he named as one Helen Ama Adjabeng, had been dating the Tema-based rapper for some years now. Speaking with Amanda Jissih of Hitz FM, Stay Jay revealed his marriage plans after the host had asked what was keeping him from marrying his partner.
READ : Find out why man sues friend who failed after 72 attempts to impregnate his wife
According to the rapper, he was waiting to "establish [himself] well" before committing himself to marriage. Though he didn't give out an exact date, Stay Jay assured that his wedding will indeed come off this year.
The couple have been featured in many photos together, though neither had spoken a word to the media about their relationship.
READ : Check out the top 15 most eligible bachelorettes in Ghana
We can only say congrats to the "Twaame Lala" hitmaker in his new endeavors as we wait fervently for his wedding day.
Source: YEN.com.gh


text: Weekends are just naturally for socializing, and thatâs especially true at Old Palm Golf Club. Itâs a time when members get together over cocktails, participate in engaging social events, or meet up for dinner in the Club. To help get the weekend started right, Old Palm offers a special Friday night dinner menu that varies week to week. Itâs always a spectacular display of the chefsâ culinary wizardry, as they only use the freshest seasonal ingredients. Last weekâs Friday night dinner is a fine example. Appetizers ran the gamut from succulent Lump Crab Martini to delicately prepared Soft Shell Crabs. Entrées were just as creative and also included delectable seafood dishes such as fresh Hog Snapper with a Caper and Tomato Sauce and Sautéed Jumbo Shrimp with Oyster Mushrooms and Roasted Garlic over Risotto. For heartier appetites, the chefs cooked to order Pan-Seared 16-ounce Center Cut Prime New York Strips Steaks. As always, meals were accompanied by impeccable service. Friday night dinners at the Club are a great way to begin the weekend, and we invite Old Palmâs members to join the festivities. RSVP by calling 472-5100.

subset: commoncrawl


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The FTTH Council Europe conference last week in Luxembourg was a good edition (although I definitely think that the Council's strategy of going for smaller and smaller hosting cities is misguided) with a number of topics that resonated with me.
One that was particularly relevant to us in regards to our current research is the solutions to rural broadband issues. As "broadband for all" becomes a compulsory political step for more and more governments, the particular issues of rural are coming to the fore.
The traditional approach for future-proof broadband has been to let telecom players (usually incumbents) build it from the center. This allowed governments to pretend that next-generation broadband would cover large portions of the territory without any public involvement. That model unfortunately broke down real quick when the ambitions of said market players in new infrastructure deployment proved to be much lower than anticipated.
Injecting subsidies into private market players' business plans then seemed to be the next best thing... until that proved to be of limited effectiveness as well when it comes to rural broadband challenges.
The core problem as we (and, as I found out in Luxembourg, more and more policy people) see it is that subsidies haven't made an unaffordable investment affordable. It has just allowed market players not suited for infrastructure investment to invest (albeit in a limited way) in infrastructure.
What if we'd encouraged infrastructure players to deploy infrastructure ? Our early analysis, presented last week in Luxembourg, shows that in most countries it would have allowed for the deployment of unsubsidised fiber to the premise infrastructure beyond the reach of the current model subsidised broadband. Subsidies could then have been focused on addressing the truly complex rural broadband issues.
It's a real failure of policy makers in Europe to not have realised what was happening under their watch or not have had the courage to address structural issues. I sense however that things are starting to shift. More people seem open to structural remedies, at least for rural broadband. In various countries (not limited to the UK) structural issues are being examined, and not just by policy makers but also by incumbents themselves.
Will we finally see reason on these issues and turn the broadband problem on its head to find the infrastructure solutions ? I sure hope so.


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Explaindio 4.0by Andrei Valentin Seo Expert
Explaindio 4.0 is an all-in-one video creator that focuses on helping you create attention grabbing, professional looking 2D, 3D explainer videos, training videos and whiteboard sketch elements. Recommended Features
- Newbie-friendly
- Create 4 in-demand types of videos
- Boost sales and profits
- Simple editor tool
- Premade content
Review on Explaindio 4.0After more than 2 years from Explaindio 3.0 launch Andrew Darius will release the re-invented Explaindio V4. It not only has ton of new features, but Explaindio V4 backend is cloud based plus it is designed for both maximum convenience and productivity for you.
With the new Explaindio 4.0 you will be able to store projects in the could and have access to all video assets in the cloud while at the same time have desktop app with all The Speed and Fast User Interface which is an issue in cloud based video creators.
So Explaindio V4 brings to best of both words to the video creation : the power of desktop computer (speed of UI, video import/export and fast rendering) and the convenience of having assets in the cloud with storage for projects included - https://review-and-bonus.net/explaindio-4-review
2D, 3D, Animated, Explainer, Doodle sketch, or Motion videos you can create any of these videos in just minutes.. How? Using a powerful, time tested and proven tool called Explaindio the worlds greatest video creator! With over 35,000+ users, Explaindio is the true all in one video creator that can create any video you want in just minutes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJOBIjebv2s
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Construction Update: Terrace Installation
February 26th, 2016
The majority of siding is up and while the studio, 1- and 2-bedroom units are being built-out, installation began on the terrace this week. What will essentially be the building's outdoor rec room, the terrace will feature multiple areas to entertain and socialize or just cozy up and soak in the sun, as well as the saltwater pool and hot tub, gas grills, a TV lounge, and a communal herb garden. Residents can lounge around, enjoy the broad, one-acre lawn and take in the relaxing sounds of the mighty Allegheny as is moves at the edge of the property.
Just a few more weeks and we'll be ready to swing open the doors to this beautiful new building!


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Congratulations to Ms. Anita Whittington! Ms. Whittington is the lucky winner of our Blind Date with a Book contest at the Walkertown Branch library. The contest encouraged customers to checkout one or more of our hand picked and beautifully wrapped suggested library books that were placed on display between the dates of February 9th - 14th. Once home, customers unwrapped their "blind date", read the book, and then filled out the accompanying Rate Your Date slip. We asked all participants to returned their slips by February 28th. Walkertown Branch had 67 participants and the feedback was astounding.
Ms. Whittington won a real date for two with two tickets to The Grand Theater.
Thank you all for participating!


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Besides adding new Maps, Healthbook, and iTunes Radio applications, Apple plans to enhance and refine the functionality of some of its current pre-bundled applications and features for iOS 8. Here is a list, provided by sources, of some of the refinements Apple is considering for select applications and system functions in iOS 8:
– Notification Center: Notification Center, the translucent drop-down menu for managing alerts may be simplified. In iOS 7, Notification Center includes a "Today" view, "All" Notifications view, and a "Missed" Notifications view. In iOS 8, Apple is considering reducing the panel to solely include the "Today" and "Notifications" views.
The new "Notifications" view would combine all notifications with missed notifications, making the overall experience simpler. After acquiring the team behind the app Cue last year, Apple has likely been working on adding additional pertinent information to Notification Center, but it is uncertain if those enhancements will be ready this year for iOS 8.
– Inter-app communication: Apple is said to be working on and testing functionality that would allow apps from the App Store to better communicate. This is known as an "XPC" service in the developer world. An API is being developed for apps to be able to share data. For example, a future photo editing application could have the ability to push the edited content for upload via the Instagram or Facebook apps. The debut of the API has been in development for the past couple of years, and it had been removed from the launch version of iOS 7 last year for unspecified reasons. With that in mind, it is plausible that Apple could, again, choose to hold back the functionality.
– Voice Memos: Apple plans to move around some of the controls in the Voice Memos application to be more visible. Some iOS 7 users have complained that it is unclear which controls in Voice Memos need to be clicked to play recordings, and iOS 8 will fix this.
– Messages: Apple is said to be considering adding the ability for Messages threads in iOS 8 to automatically be deleted. The options for auto-deleting of threads on a user's local device are said to be removal after a month or after a year. The functionality is being integrated in order for the iOS Device storage space to not be clogged up by old Messages threads, which is a common problem among iOS Device users with old backups or dated hardware. The auto-deletion will be optional, so users who never want their threads disappearing have nothing to worry about.
– Game Center: Sources say that Apple is considering removing the Game Center application from iOS and OS X. Instead of having the (little-used) Game Center app, the functionality will solely be found inside in games that have integrated the social gaming service. Just last year, Apple completely redesigned the Game Center app for iOS 7 to remove the green felt and casino theme from the Scott Forstall era. Yesterday's leaked screenshots did, however, show the Game Center icon.
– CarPlay: While iOS 7's version of CarPlay exclusively works over the Lightning cable, Apple is testing versions of iOS 8 that can conduct CarPlay (in certain vehicles) over WiFi. The lines up with Volvo saying that its CarPlay implementation will work wirelessly in the future. Of course, Apple has been testing WiFi CarPlay for sometime now with iOS 7, so perhaps the functionality will be pushed back once again.
In addition to the in-app tweaks, Apple has been working to speed up iOS 8 in comparison to iOS 7. Applications are said to launch more quickly, close more quickly, and overall system navigation is said to feel much smoother and more stable. Apple sped up animations and improved stability in the recent release of iOS 7.1, but the enhancements in iOS 8 are said to go a bit further.
Of course, Apple's official introduction of iOS 8 is still a few months away, so the company's plans can and likely will change at any time before WWDC.
Succeeding iOS 7, Apple's "new beginning" for mobile software, iOS 8 will be the first major update to provide several refinements to the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch software under the watch of design head Jony Ive and engineering lead Craig Federighi.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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Large oval plate
Kari was lovely and answered all emails quickly and solved any problems. I'm very happy with the final pieces I received which were all beautiful and work perfectly together.
I ordered some pieces from Kari as Christmas gifts and they were all beautiful! Pieces of art. Kari also was great to communicate with and the delivery was fast.
Bought a large plate as a gift for my friends. The service from Kari was fantastic, great communication at all stages and prompt delivery. My friends loved the plate, and it was exactly as described. I would be more than happy to buy from Kari again. Top quality work.
Not only is the pottery absolutely stunning, but Kari's customer service is excellent. Just the right amount of communication.
I bought the large platter as a gift. Our friends were thrilled with it.
I was very impressed that even though I ordered somewhat late before Christmas (1 week) and you, Kari, were out of the country, you took the trouble to send me my order immediately from where you were. Everything worked out great. 9 out of 10 other merchants would have said "sorry, but you ordered too late". All the best Thomas


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Community Leaders Forum (CLF)
There are many community groups led by wise women, men and youth. These Community groups have different aims and objectives. Some are engaged in save and credit services but they have limited resources for meeting their needs. These groups are not well coordinated and some of them are not well organized. KMDF will work with these groups in order to enable them realize their objectives. In order to effectively work with these groups, KMDF will establish Independent Planning and Development Committees in the 74 villages of Kabale Municipality. These committees will coordinate the activities of the Community Groups and ensure that community groups are well organized and facilitated as a way of ensuring community Development.


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Continuing with my winter theme ″Why I keep coming back to Italy″ …
You don't have to be an art historian or even an authority to appreciate the abundance of art treasures found everywhere in Italy. Whether you prefer Greek and Roman sculpture, modern art or the masterpieces of the Renaissance, you'll find more than you can imagine in Italy. Don't try to see everything in one visit. This is one reason I keep coming back. There's so much to enjoy and explore.
Art is everywhere in Italy. Visit any major city and you'll have a long list of museums, monuments, archeological sites and churches on your itinerary. Walk around the city and enjoy the street art, garden sculpture, fountains and monuments for free. Even the architecture is adorned with art. Almost every piazza is a showcase for public art—whether it's a major piazza in Rome, such as Piazza Navona with Bernini's Fountain of Four Rivers or the smaller piazza della Minerva with Bernini's elephant at the base of an Egyptian obelisk, you are bound to find something wondrous to see.
The popular guidebooks are a good resource for visiting the major museums. Follow their advice about making reservations in advance and consider using the museums cards that most major cities offer. However, if you plan to visit just a few museums, it's not always worth the price of a card. Use the museum websites to make the best use of your time and reserve your tickets in advance. You don't want to waste your precious travel time standing in a long line.
Besides the major museums, keep your eyes open for special exhibits in the Palazzos and Villas. The local Tourist Information centers will also have information about these temporary shows. One of my favorite venues is the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence. Opened in 2004, this Renaissance Palace hosts three high quality exhibits each year. I stumbled upon American Impressionists one year. Another time I found an exhibit of John Singer Sargent in a palazzo in Venice. Since these exhibits are not permanent, they won't be listed in the guidebooks. At these venues you won't be in a crowded room with tourists—just a few Italians and you.
There are many examples of great art "in situ" in the numerous churches of Italy. Of course St. Peter's Basilica has many of the masterpieces—Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's massive Baldachino, the world's largest bronze structure. If you get there early in the morning, you can avoid the lines.
But many smaller churches have impressive works of art, too—and in most cases, there's no entrance fee. In Rome, the small Santa Maria della Minerva, near the Pantheon is one of my favorites. Inside you will find Michelangelo's statue, Cristo della Minerva, several busts and works of Bernini and beautiful frescoes of Filippino Lippi. In the larger Santa Maria del Popolo Church, there are works of Raphael and Caravaggio, whose stark realism and use of light makes him one of my favorites. Close to the Termini Train Station you can find the St. Peter in Chains church with the famous chain replica and the statue of Moses by Michelangelo. Although these churches are not as well lit as a museum, take awhile to acclimate and enjoy these works of art with almost nobody else around.
The major and minor churches in almost any large city are like a small museum with wonderful religious art. But even the churches of the smaller towns are worth a visit. On the tiny island of Ortigia, in Sicily, visit the small church of Santa Lucia to view the wonderful Burial of Saint Lucy by Caravaggio. In southern Italy, don't miss the intricate mosaic floors of Santa Maria Annunziata in Otranto. In Florence, make the trek to San Miniato for the impressive frescoes and mosaic floors. If you're a fan of Byzantine art, be sure to spend some time in Ravenna, with the best collection of Byzantine mosaics in Italy. Here's a post on my time there.
On your first visit to Italy—don't try to see it all. I rarely visit more than two art venues in a day. A good resource for understanding the various periods of European Art is Rick Steve's Europe 101 History and Art for the Traveler. I also learn a lot from the Art Blogs listed below. Decide what you like the most and plan your time accordingly. But, also be open to learning something new. Each time I visit Italy, I discover a new artist or art movement. Just another reason why I keep coming back to the bel paese.
Art Blogs
These bloggers know a lot about art…
ArtTrav– Life, Art & Travel in Italy
Ruins & Relics
Other Useful Links
Find More Michelangelo Art in Italy
More Bernini Art Venues
Caravaggio's Art in Italy


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Like most things, it's safe to say that the tax reform bill passed in December has both good and bad aspects of it.
During the debate on the bill, most of the opposition argued that it was a tax cut for the rich at the expense of the lower and middle classes. But that's too easy. That argument is used when any tax bill that includes cuts is debated and the reaction this time, and this time it appears to be out of habit. And this time it's just not that clear cut. So let's dismiss that and look closer at the actual provisions of the law…
Like most things these days, the debate over the tax bill was partisan and heated. So what does the new law really do?
For ease of discussion, we can review some of the more discussed aspects of the law first, and then talk about some of the lesser known but significant provisions.
Corporate Taxes
The most talked about aspect of the tax reform measure is the large cut in the corporate tax rate. Large corporations are keeping much of their profits overseas and the hope is that the cut in corporate taxes to bring it more in line with Europe and other countries will bring some of that money back and would be passed on in the form of jobs and pay for workers.
In the roughly month and a half since the bill became law, over 100 large corporations have announced bonuses and/or pay increases for workers. Apple has said it is going to bring just under $400 billion back into the US from overseas subsidiaries and accounts, and that would result in an additional $38 billion in taxes paid to the US government. Yet the news is not totally positive. Wal-Mart, for example, after announcing pay increases also announced plans to close a number of stores.
So the jury is still out. Though the quick response from corporations is surprising, that the response has been so broad also gives hope that the results will be as advertised, at least to some degree.
Individual Taxes On High Incomes
So what about individual tax rates—is it a tax cut for the rich? Well, if the question is does it cut taxes for the rich, the answer in many cases is 'yes'. The top individual tax rate is cut but about 2.5%, which is about the same, though in some cases less than every other tax bracket. The law also reduces estate taxes for some upper income people, though it doesn't eliminate the estate tax altogether. On the other hand, it increases taxes on the rich in some areas. The mortgage deduction is eliminated for homes worth over $750,000 which obviously only the very wealthy can afford. Similarly, the deduction for multiple houses was eliminated. The property tax deduction for property taxes over $10,000 was also eliminated, which affects the very wealthy (although this will also affect middle class taxpayers in very high tax states).
Individual Taxes On Low Incomes
What has received much less publicity is what the tax law does for low income people. And, frankly, that is pretty significant. The lowest tax rate stays at 10% but the next tax rate is lowered by 3%, to 12%. Sometimes all of the talk of tax rates is confusing and most of us don't really know what tax bracket we are in. So what is much more tangible to working families are two very significant provisions. First, the income level where you have to pay taxes was doubled. Where a couple would pay taxes on earnings starting at roughly, $12,000, taxes aren't paid now until income reaches roughly $24,000. Additionally, the child tax credit is also doubled, meaning families with children will benefit except in cases of families with very high incomes.
There is still a lot of debate over what the overall effect of the new tax law will be, even among those generally in favor and those in Congress who may have voted for it. Though it did eliminate a number of deductions in return for a cut in tax rates, in its final form it is probably more 'tax cut' and more limited 'tax reform'.
But a couple of things we do know, and that is that it will drive up the federal debt by huge amounts. And THAT will be a problem for sure. Whether the benefits outweigh that are yet to be seen. And the other thing we know is that it is not just a tax cut for the rich and it actually has a very large benefit for the very lowest income. As a percentage, the lowest income households get the most benefit. But, unfortunately, the 'tax cuts for the rich' mantra has apparently become such an ingrained reaction that some can't help themselves and actually judge for themselves.


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Louisville accuser: Pitino knew everything
Katina Powell is the name of the woman accusing the Louisville basketball program of recent allegations. In a news conference Friday, Rick Pitino claimed to have been ignorant to such practice. But Powell isn't buying that story.
"How can it be going on for four years, that many people be involved and that many people see what's going on and Rick Pitino doesn't know anything about it? You have players that are very, very loyal to Pitino," Powell said to the Indianapolis Business Journal. "And if they thought anything was wrong or anyone was going to get in trouble, I'm pretty sure they would have gone back to report to Pitino."
For the entire transcript of Powell's recent interview, visit the Indianapolis Business Journal.


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Since the Fall of 2009, Sarah has worked with Lifelines, the outdoor and experiential ministry of Cru. Currently serving in Bend, Oregon, she works with college students from several universities throughout the Pacific Northwest. Her team uses process learning in the outdoors to help students grow in relationship with God, relationships with others, in character, and in leadership. The students come to Lifelines at various stages in their spiritual journey, and through a range of outdoor adventures they are exposed to grace, truth, and the gospel. The hope is to win students to Christ, build them up in their faith, and give them opportunities to share and serve others in college and upon graduation.
Prayer Requests
To subscribe to Sarah's newsletter please email [email protected]


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I feel lucky to be part of Transnational Express at The Auricle
Showing: 12-5pm, 3-26 July, 2014
Opening: 3 July, 6-8pm
Featured Artists:
Peter Barnard (London, UK) – Transnational Rhythms
Jeremy Blank (Perth, Aus) – Message to the Oracle
Gust Burns (Seattle, US) – Review Studies (II)
Alan Dunn (Leeds, UK) – Artists' uses of the word revolution
Blair Parkes (Christchurch, NZ) – Condensations
Nichola Scrutton (Glasgow, Scotland) – HearAfter
Our globally networked communities comprise a world of constant change and a multiplicity of voices brought together by a planetary technological ordering that transgresses national borders, ethnicities, language and cultural difference. In the first of the Auricle Listening Lounge series we bring you an aural showcase of sonic artists from around our networked world.
more about condensations


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Public speaking peer review
It is important for students to give each other feedback on their communication skills and reflect on each other's work in constructive ways. Use this form to help create a culture of feedback in your classroom. This accessible template is ready to be used by students, parents or any school stakeholders, and can be quickly and easily customised.


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The theme for the 2019 EUD Camporee is God's Promise: Always with You.
Remember the story of Joshua? God gave him the big task of entering the Promised Land with the people of Israel. This must have been overwhelming and even a bit scary for Joshua. But God assured him that he could always count on His promise, and that was that He would be by his side every step of the way:
"'…This is my command–be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.'" (Joshua 1:9)
That's right. God is always with you to protect you, to help you and to strengthen you. That is His promise to you.


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Child Custody Mediation
Mediation: Parenting Time Schedules
Research shows that children experience great benefits when parents cooperate. In addition, children need to have frequent contact with each parent in order to maintain close relationships. Because of this, the parenting plan is extremely important in establishing and forming productive co-parenting between the parties. A mediator can assist parties in formulating developmentally appropriate parenting time plans that take into account the needs and best interests of the child and cause the least amount of stress and disruption.


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195313 3/5/2009 6:23:00 AM 09NEWDELHI414 Embassy New Delhi UNCLASSIFIED 08CHENNAI382 | 08KOLKATA291 VZCZCXRO0154PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHNEHDE RUEHNE #0414/01 0640623ZNR UUUUU ZZHP 050623Z MAR 09FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHITO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5632INFO RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 4406RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 3447RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 3621RUEHNEH/AMCONSUL HYDERABAD 0328 UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000414 SIPDIS CA/FPP FOR JILL NYSTROM DS/CR/OCI FOR GALEN NACE DS/CR/CFI FOR DAVE BRACKINS DS/CR/VPAU FOR TIM LONGANACRE AND YVETTE COLMAN
1. Summary. After uncovering a series of fraudulent visa cases and unqualified applicants directly supported by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC), Mission India has removed the IACC from its visa facilitation Business Executive Program (BEP). In FY-2007 and FY-2008, the refusal rate for IACC BEP applicants was over eleven percent, and five applicants overstayed their visas. End Summary.
Fraud Uncovered
2. On October 31, 2008, the purported Vice President of Maxwell Industries admitted during a fraud interview at Consulate General Chennai that he had purchased a complete package of fraudulent supporting documents from a vendor in Hyderabad. According to the applicant, Maxwell Industries did not exist. Included in that package was a genuine letter of support from the regional director of IACC in New Delhi confirming that the applicant and his fictitious company were official members of IACC's delegation to attend the Pack Expo in Chicago, IL.
3. Chennai's Fraud Prevention Unit (FPU) investigated the applicant's claims and identified several other companies linked to the same business address. Entry/exit checks for three other Maxwell Industries representatives, who attended the 2007 Pack Expo on an FCS-organized foreign buyer delegation and whose members were recruited and vetted by the IACC in South India, confirmed that none of the representatives returned to India. A/RSO-I Chennai opened an official investigation, and the Fraud Prevention Manager alerted adjudicating officers to closely scrutinize cases with IACC sponsor letters.
4. Three days later, Chennai intercepted four cooks working for the South Indian restaurant chain Saravana Bhavan with IACC letters touting the quartet as "senior level executives" to attend the Pack Expo. Another ADIS check confirmed that three previous IACC-sponsored, Pack Expo-attending Saravana Bhavan managers stayed nearly twelve months in the U.S. on tourist visas before converting to L-1A status. The full report of that case, the arrest of the Saravana Bhavan CEO for human trafficking, and the resulting media onslaught are reported ref A.
Abuse of the BEP Program
5. Mission India's Business Executive Program (BEP) is designed to facilitate business travel in support of U.S. commerce abroad. The BEP enables large firms with a high volume of travel to the United States to access a priority visa appointment calendar and allows for expedited processing of applicants on the day of the appointment. Many BEP Members are U.S. Fortune 500 companies. IACC joined the BEP program in 2005.
6. Mission India recently conducted a validation study of BEP B1/B2 applicants for FY-2007 (ref B) and found a Mission-wide overstay rate of less than one quarter of one percent. BEP members are vetted thoroughly throughout the Mission before they can join the program, and overstay and refusal rates for BEP members are expected to be negligible. Using the case tags linked to IACC BEP appointment accounts, Post confirmed, with assistance from CCD AdHoc, that the IACC refusal rate in New Delhi and Chennai during the last two fiscal years was over eleven percent.
7. A close analysis of those refusals reflected a quality of applicant that fell far short of what was expected for BEP members. In New Delhi, over half of the refusals were for young single men with no previous travel working at jewelry, rug or handicraft companies to attend trade shows. Several had multiple refusals. In Chennai, Post recently returned to DHS for revocation several H-1B petitions of IACC-member companies for petitioner fraud. Divihn Integration, which is partially owned by Lancesoft, provided an applicant with a fraudulent client letter. IACC-member Tekstrom also provided a fraudulent client letter. Post has returned nearly 40 Tekstrom petitions for revocation in the last three years. An applicant from Altech Star submitted completely fraudulent work experience from Cognizant.
8. IACC showed no accountability for its applicants, and no incentive to do so. In its advertising literature, IACC recruited new members by actively promoting membership in the BEP to "enhance the credibility of the visa applicants" and stated that the "BEP
facility is available to all IACC member companies." Essentially, all IACC members automatically obtained BEP status without undergoing the extensive vetting of BEP members. Several IACC applicants, including the CEO for Saravana Bhavan, confirmed that IACC charged them to obtain an IACC BEP appointment.
Validation Study Results
9. Given the low confidence in IACC applicants following this analysis, Mission India conducted a 100 percent validation study of IACC BEP applicants for FY-2007 and FY-2008 using CCD AdHoc reports and US-VISIT ADIS checks. Of the 1,084 applicants in the study, only five appear to have overstayed their visas. One hundred and fifteen individuals are in the United States in legal status, and 964 used their visa appropriately and returned to India. The five overstays have no departure records, and Post has been unable to contact the applicants via phone calls to their purported places of employment and residence. Post will report those individuals septel.
The Aftermath
10. Based on the low credibility of IACC applicants and increasing concerns of lack of vetting by the IACC, Mission India removed IACC from the BEP program effective January 1, 2009. Despite this action, Mission India acknowledges the otherwise positive work that the IACC does on behalf of U.S.-India commercial relations and will continue to work with IACC on non-visa issues. Employees of IACC member companies can still apply for U.S. visas but must do so through the regular visa appointment system.


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COMMERCIAL CARPET CLEANINGHave the carpets in your San Fernando and LA office cleaned with Delta Chem-Dry.
Rethink Your Business Cleaning Fees
Often, businesses have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on carpeting, furniture, and rugs as part of their overall image. Maintenance of these things can be costly. And if it's not done properly, it may end up costing more and making your company can look bad.
Furniture, rugs, and carpeting are often cleaned far too infrequently or cleaned in a way that just attracts more dirt. Delta Chem-Dry's commercial carpet cleaning service will ensure that your investment is properly cleaned and protected. We service San Fernando Valley, LA, and Santa Monica and the surrounding areas.
Extend the life of fixtures in your office and maintain a healthy indoor environment for your employees. It will go a long way toward increasing productivity and bringing in new customers.
Why Choose Us
For more than 35 years, Chem-Dry® has maintained an aggressive research and development program. We understand the level of fabric wear and know what we need to do to treat different materials. We know there are many different types of fibers and textiles in the commercial environment.
Our research has led us to a cleaning process that uses the lowest possible amount of moisture. Subsequently, you get dry times of one to two hours, and your business can continue running with little or no disruption.
We provide the cleanest clean, the driest dry and the healthiest process with the most advanced carpet and upholstery cleaning methods available for your commercial carpets, rugs, fabrics and leather.
We serve all of San Fernando Valley, LA, and Santa Monica.
Programmed Maintenance
Working with you, we can first analyze your facility and customize a program that makes your carpeting, rugs, upholstery, and leather look cleaner, last longer, and stay healthier. Then, our professionals will deliver these services at the convenience of your work schedule.
Whether your facility requires spot cleaning, complete carpet cleaning or fabric or leather care, our revolutionary technologies remove more soil, spots and stains than any other commercial cleaning system.
Trust the commercial cleaning to a company that focuses on health and knows what they're doing so you save money in the long run.


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U.S. Non-Immigrant Travel Visas: What Are They and How Do You Qualify For One?
There are many different legal ways to travel to the United States. You could get a standard travel visa that's good for six months, or qualify for a visa waiver, which gives you 90 days to visit before you need to leave. Of course, these options only work if you're traveling on vacation. What happens if you want to work in the U.S. for a period of time?
The Non-Immigrant O1 Visa
This is where the non-immigrant O1 visa comes in. It doesn't give you the ability to become a citizen, but if you prove that you have an extraordinary skill (foreign actors and athletes are the two most popular groups that receive these visas) you can work in the U.S. legally for a specific period of time, usually between one and three years.
In order to apply for this visa it helps to have access to a travel lawyer or agent, or at the very least, someone who is familiar with the documentation required. You don't need to be an actor or athlete (those were just examples), but you do need to prove that you have a particular skill that the U.S. would benefit from.
Application Process
Applying for an O1 non-immigrant visa requires several steps, including a written application and an interview. There's a fee that must be paid, as well as other documentation that you'll have to have on hand, including a clear photograph of yourself and proof that you have no intentions of abandoning your home country to live in the U.S. for good. You'll also need a valid passport from your home country. This document must be valid for the entire time that you'll be in the U.S., so if yours is set to expire, renew it before beginning the application process.
Although applying for one of these visas sounds like an arduous process, it really is less intimidating than it sounds, especially if you can prove that you have an important skill that the U.S. needs and already have a job lined up.
Then, there are the standard travel visas. If you're only going to the U.S. for a short period of time, you'll need one of these:
Six Month Travel Visa
There are two different types of non-immigrant travel visas, both good for up to six months. The first is a B1, which is specifically for people traveling to the U.S. on business. The main difference between this and the O1 visa is the length of time that you're allowed in, and the fact that while you'll be working during your stay, your main job is still based in your home country.
The other type of travel visa, the B2 is just for standard vacationers and those who are going there for medical treatment. No matter the type of travel visa that you need, the application process is the same. You'll need to fill out the form, pay the required fee, and make sure that your passport won't expire while you're in the U.S. Unlike the O1 visa, there isn't an interview.
Visa Waiver
The visa waiver is the other way to travel legally to the U.S. In order to qualify for one, which is only good for 90 days, you have to be traveling for reasons that fall under the B1 and B2 visas – business, vacation, or medical treatment. You also have to live in a designated country that participates in the visa waiver program. These countries include Denmark, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Sweden. You also need to be qualified under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA, which is run by the Department of Homeland Security, and need a valid passport.


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PCC responds to rural crime figures
"Lincolnshire is obviously a very rural county and as such does suffer from rural crime activity which can be a real menace to rural communities. Rural crime ranges from wildlife crimes such as hare coursing to loss of farm machinery sometimes worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and many other things in between such as oil and diesel theft. Tackling crime in our rural communities is a stated priority of mine since my election this May and these NFU figures showing the previous year's losses in cash terms just goes to prove why I was right to focus on them.
This being said a lot of work is constantly being done by Lincolnshire Police to tackle these crimes and the NFU are a very valuable partner in taking both preventative action and in helping Police in enforcing the law. Rural communities are seeing reductions in important areas such as domestic burglary which is very welcome but I will continue to support the Police in their efforts to do more."
PCC Marc Jones


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Oregon gas tax revenues
2000 – $399.5475 million
2001 – $399.2123 million
2002 – $401.4422 million
2003 – $399.1638 million
2004 – $405.9764 million
2005 – $408.2642 million
2006 – $413.2055 million
2007 – $418.4511 million
2008 – $403.4801 million
2009* – $403.8701 million
*Projected from revenue forecast as of September 2009
These days, people are driving less and in vehicles with greater fuel efficiency. That's good news for the environment, but bad news for jurisdictions that rely on revenues from gas taxes to maintain roads and bridges.
Oregon has completed one pilot program looking at a mileage fee that could help make up for decreasing gas-tax revenues, but federal money is needed to pay for a second program. In the meantime, roads and bridges still need to be maintained.
Multnomah County, for example, is responsible for maintaining 283 miles of roads. It also owns, operates and maintains the six bridges spanning the Willamette River in Portland. Multnomah County recently released its draft Capital Improvement Plan and Program for 2010-2014, which lays out which transportation projects the county plans to fund. According to the document, in the time since the state gas tax last increased in 1993, the number of vehicle miles traveled in Multnomah County has risen 19 percent, but gas-tax revenues have increased only 3 percent.
The present 24-cents-per-gallon state gas tax will increase to 26 cents after Oregon experiences two quarters of economic growth. Multnomah County will nevertheless struggle to pay for more than $1 billion in needed improvements for roads and bridges over the next five years, according to Mike Pullen, public information officer for the county. He said the gas tax is becoming a less effective source of funding due to drivers traveling fewer miles during the recession and in more fuel-efficient vehicles.
"Even with the increase in the state gas tax passed last summer factored in for this year, it still doesn't bring us back to the revenues we had in the early '90s," Pullen said. "I think people saw (the Jobs and Transportation Act) as their savior. It's a good program, but it doesn't allow us to catch up our revenues; it slows the slide. It's discouraging."
According to Sheila Giambrone, administrative services manager for Washington County, her department saw yearly revenue decreases of 4 percent in the 2006-07 fiscal year, 10 percent in the 2007-08 fiscal year and 1.5 percent for the 2009-10 fiscal year to date. The Oregon Department of Transportation anticipates the gas-tax increase to trigger a slight increase in revenues in 2011, but Giambrone expects it to level off and dip again over the next five years unless something changes.
"Our revenues will start to flatten out if we don't look at our organization differently," Giambrone said. "We're in the process of planning for that new future now. We've held the line on hiring, and have been able to reduce our personnel costs while maintaining a base level of service on our streets, but it's been challenging at best."
A long-term alternative to the gas tax to help pay for maintenance of Oregon roads and bridges has been identified. But work on a second pilot project to develop a fee program based on vehicle miles traveled is at a standstill due to a lack of federal funding, according to James Whitty, manager of the state Office of Innovative Partnerships and Alternative Funding. The first Oregon Mileage Fee Concept pilot program took place in 2006.
"We have a second pilot we are designing that would address concerns raised during the first pilot project," Whitty said. "The problem is it's going to be fairly expensive to implement and we need federal funding. We have to wait for Congress to step forward and indicate interest in a distance-based charge."
Congress is supposed to authorize a new national surface transportation bill every six years, which would provide funding for a project like the Oregon Mileage Fee program. But the deadline for that bill passed on Sept. 20, 2009 and it is unknown when Congress will come back to it, Whitty said.
Whitty said that though other options to replace the gas tax – such as tolling major highways – have been presented, the mileage fee system remains the state's most fair and viable option.
"We have to have a broad-based revenue measure that does what the gas tax does," Whitty said. "That is raising revenues with small contributions from a lot of people. With concepts like tolling, not everyone pays."
Though measures such as the vehicle registration fee hike in Washington and Multnomah counties will help counties pay for maintenance of roads and bridges, Pullen said a national solution is needed sooner rather than later.
"We are a microcosm of what is happening nationally," Pullen said. "The country needs to take on the issue of how we will pay for roads and bridges in the future because the gas tax is a declining source, even with a modest increase in the state gas tax."


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Janet Bedford
Mayor Rob Burton addressed a packed house of Oakville Chamber of Commerce business-people at the Holiday Inn on Argus Road. During the "Oakville Town Economic Update with Mayor Rob Burton", the Mayor proudly claimed that "Oakville is a 'city' that calls itself a 'town' and feels like a 'village'".
He went on to say that "the business people are the leaders that drive Oakville's livability and create its success." Taxes, he was happy to say, have not risen as quickly as the cities that surround Oakville, and yet the Town Council and the Region of Halton have been able to maintain the excellent levels of service to which Oakvillians are accustomed.
Pride in the Oakville community was a recurrent theme. "Oakville is the safest community in the country for the 4th year in a row and has the best police force" according to Mayor Burton.
"Oakville's new hospital is well on its way to completion with no rise in property taxes to accomplish this". Also exciting will be the Health Sciences campus that will be a part of the New Hospital.
Oakville is a "top brand" amongst communities with 87% of its taxpayers acknowledging delight with the municipal government. Examples of businesses that help make up the strength are Cogeco, Ford, Empire Communities, Union Gas and CNN. This is an impressive list and are but a few of the businesses Oakville is proud to have call "Home".
Talking about "Home" - On a different note, the Mayor told a story about a young lad at Heritage Glen Public School who entered a contest that changed both his world and that of the school. He won a $50,000 prize that he could give to his chosen charity for homelessness. Habitat for Humanity was chosen and the students at Heritage Glen are now active participants in the "house building industry". Mayor Burton would like to see this challenge repeated in schools throughout Oakville.
There were many good ideas put forth by the Mayor and many lively and thought-provoking questions during the Question and Answer period – questions such as revitalization of the down-town core and Bronte Village, traffic congestion and growth challenges that Oakville is experiencing. There will always be more to be done in the most liveable town called Oakville!
"This annual breakfast is popular among our members, who are interested in local issues pertaining to the economy," says Chamber Chair Kerry Colborne. "We are pleased to offer them this opportunity to hear directly from the Mayor about initiatives from Oakville's municipal government."


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Connectivity at its Best!
Madhurawada is undoubtedly the most elite address in Vizag. Located near the NH-5 and within close range of the technology hub where global giants have laid anchor, THE SUMMIT 696 reaps the benefits of a new-age locale. It is well connected to premium schools, reputed institutions of higher studies, corporate hospitals, swank malls and leisure destinations. And yes, the blue waters and golden sands of the Bay of Bengal are just minutes away! With a host of upcoming residential complexes rising at Madhurawada, it is the natural choice of investors who are waiting to strike gold!


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0358 GMT October 04, 2022
Addressing a cabinet session on Wednesday, Rouhani praised the good cooperation of people in fighting the virus that led the country to pass the disease management and control stage, president.ir reported.
"We have been progressing at every step in the past three months... in fighting this dangerous virus and are nearly on the verge of curbing this disease," he said.
He also hailed the medical society, saying the country has made great progress in the fight against COVID-19 thanks to the efforts the society has been making over the past months.
Iran would "even not have these problems" if health protocols "were more closely observed in some of the provinces that are currently in an unfavorable situation", he said.
Health Ministry spokesperson Kianoush Jahanpour put the total death toll from the coronavirus in Iran at 7,183, saying the disease has taken the lives of 64 patients over the past 24 hours, IRNA reported.
Speaking at a daily press conference, Jahanpour said 2,346 new infections were confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours, raising the total to 126,949.
More than 98,800 of those hospitalized had recovered and were discharged, while 2,673 were in critical condition.
The spokesperson also said zero deaths have been reported in 10 provinces during the past 24 hours, while eight other provinces have reported only one death from coronavirus infection each.
At least 24 of Iran's 434 counties were "red" – the highest level on the country's color-coded risk scale, according to Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raeisi, AFP reported.
He said at a virus taskforce meeting broadcast on Tuesday that 218 counties were still deemed low-risk, which could drop to 183 since the virus had "started peaking" in some regions.
He added that most of the fatalities since Iran reported its first two deaths in February were above 70 years old, and that younger Iranians were in less danger.


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By: Nick Gambino
Back in September, Amazon faked us out at with news that they would start selling the Apple TV again after a 2-year "hiatus."
It wasn't so much news as it was a quiet re-listing of the product only to quickly remove the link. Amazon removed the Apple TV and Google Chromecast from its digital shelves back in 2015 seemingly for competitive reasons.
Until recently Apple TV did not offer a Prime Video app which was most likely cause for Amazon to pull the product. Last month, Apple finally added the app ending a 2-year feud.
Google is a slightly different story. While Chromecast doesn't support Prime Video (and still doesn't), Amazon has likewise not sold much in the way of Google products. If you search for Google Home you'll notice it doesn't exist on the retail site.
Apparently it got so silly that if you asked Alexa to order a Chromecast she would put an Amazon Fire Stick in your personal cart instead. Yikes. And just last week Google stated it was removing YouTube from Amazon Echo Show as well as Fire TV devices.
Well now Amazon has confirmed that both the Chromecast and Apple TV will once again be sold through the platform.
"I can confirm we are assorting Apple TV and Chromecast," a spokesperson told CNET. You can just hear the excitement in that announcement, can't you?
A Google spokesperson had this to say, "We are in productive discussions with Amazon to reach an agreement for the benefit of our mutual customers. We hope we can reach an agreement to resolve these issues soon."
You can find product listing pages for several versions of the Apple TV as well as Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra.
They're still listed as unavailable but that should change soon. Just the fact that they have product pages is a big step towards repairing the seemingly broken relationship between the multi-billion dollar companies.
Nick Gambino is a regular script writer and tech beat reporter for NewsWatch. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and daughter.


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Forest Management
Forest management in Vancouver, WA is the combination of a number of components that all work together to assist with the growth and health of trees so they can eventually be used for various products.
In other words, a properly executed forest management plan results in a multiple-use forest. At AK Timber Services, our certified arborists can assist with the planning and implementation of a management program to enhance your commercial or residential services.
Request Your Estimate
Fill out the form below to request a free estimate from AK Timber on your Forest Management needs in the Vancouver, WA area.
Why Manage The Forest?
Forests are made up of much more than trees and brush. In fact, a forest is an intricate system of life that depends on many different items to keep it in balance.
The forest system is affected by climate and soil, often referred to as natural environmental influences, as well as the actions of man known as human action.
A carefully planned forest, through human action, ensures that the balance remains and that the forest produces many by-products as part of the system it belongs to.
The by-products produced by a well-managed forest includes paper fiber, timber grown for construction purposes, firewood and a number of additional items that make use of different sizes, species and characteristics of wood produced by the trees in a forest.
At AK Timber Services we have a full understanding of the requirements of the typical forest system and can provide you with a free estimate of our forestry management program if you call (360) 635-1076 or e-mail us today.
Why Choose Us?
AK Timber Services has been in business since 2011 and call Vancouver, Washington our home. We also service the Portland, Oregon area along with the communities of Camas, West Linn and the surrounding regions.
We have employed environmentally responsible practices into our daily business activities as we know first-hand the importance of protecting our forests and planet. It is for this reason we group together service calls and work diligently on conserving energy and fuel.
In our effort to reduce our dependence on resources, we also do not have a simple flat rate pricing schedule for any of our tree services.
At AK Timber Services we know no two jobs are alike. Thus, we personalize each price quote based entirely on the work to be done, as well as keep your budget factored into our math.
Forestry management plans differ considerably, so we will advise you on the best way to address your plan with different options to explore. Our arborists will work with you to achieve your goals.
Sustainable forest management is the ultimate goal of any plan that is used to create a multi use forest. It takes time, understanding of the science of ecology, plus an awareness and respect of the environment and how they fit together to make a forest sustainable.
AK Timber Services has certified arborists on staff that study these factors and are your 'go-to' people for these kinds of projects. We can provide you with a free estimate just by calling (360) 635-1076 or e-mailing today to learn more about our forest management programs.


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Though not officially a Spanish American War medal, those who served in the "Philippine Insurrection," more properly known as the "Philippine-American War," are often considered Spanish American War Veterans. The Philippine Campaign Servce medal was issued by the United States government to all members of the the U.S. Navy who served during the period of the Philippine-American War.
The front side (left, above) has the statement "PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN" around the top. At the bottom are the dates "1899-1903." Depicted in the center is a city gate with the Philippine countryside beyond.
The reverse side (right, above) has the statement "UNITED STATES NAVY" around the top, and "FOR SERVICE" below the eagle. The center bears the image of an eagle alighting on a foul anchor. Below the words "FOR SERVICE" are two types of leaves. The leaves curving to the left are oak leaves, a symbol of strength. The leaves curving to the right are olive leaves, the symbol of peace. This reverse side of the medal is identical to the reverse side of the Spanish American War Navy Service medal.


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Tado launches smart home feature borrowed from the industrial internet
Tado, the German startup selling a connector kit to make your heater smart, now offers a service to customers that will preemptively check their heating system ahead of the cool days of fall, seeking to warn consumers of a problem before they need the heat. Tado calls the service Cares, and will offer it for free to existing customers.
As [company]tado[/company] describes it, the service will run a diagnostic on a customer's boiler during the late summer months and notify the homeowner if anything is wrong, so the homeowner can get it fixed before the cold arrives. Tado will also link the homeowner to a professional who can fix the boiler to make the process as seamless as possible. In this situation the homeowner wins and the repairman does as well by filling in a quiet time on his schedule with repairs ahead of a seasonal rush (although in Texas he would be just as rushed fixing air conditioning units right now). This is exactly what companies like [company]GE[/company] and [company]Cisco[/company] are promising customers as part of their industrial internet efforts, and it's high time the home starts getting some of that same love.
I like tado's approach here for a variety of reasons. It's offering real value to a consumer, even if it's value that the consumer is likely to take for granted. Unfortunately unless you have experienced this issue of waiting a few days without heat as the mercury drops, this may not be a service you even realize you need. It's hard to charge for this type of preventative maintenance or help, but it does offer a link to another revenue model, hooking up competent repair services with needy customers.
It also showcase the benefits of connecting you home. If you can imagine a home where a water sensor detects a leak and shuts off the water or merely notifies you, or if your fridge warns you that it is losing the capacity to cool down before your ice cream or steaks thaw, then you can see the value of these systems in our lives. Of course, then you might not ever have that awesome family memory of huddling around the fireplace for two days because the heater died or the Thanksgiving dinner that turned into a Chinese food run after the oven failed to turn on, but peace of mind may be worth it.


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This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Former Alice In Chains bassist Mike Starr died Tuesday in Salt Lake City.
At about 1:45 p.m., police were called to a house near 2000 South and Richards Street (40 West), where the 44-year-old Starr was found dead, said Salt Lake City police Sgt. Shawn Josephson.
"The cause and manner of death are going to be determined by the medical examiner's office," he said. Police do not suspect foul play.
Starr, a founding member of the popular 1990s rock band, was arrested last month in Salt Lake City on suspicion of drug possession. He had been a participant in VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" show.
Aaron Falk


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Brightest LED at ~1-3ma current on 3.6v or less?
NeverDie Hero Member last edited by NeverDie
I know that there have been a lot of LED advances by CREE and others, but I haven't really tracked it. I'm looking for an LED that has an excellent lumen-to-current ratio. Any leads or suggestions? It would be for nighttime illumination, and I want to control it wirelessly.
NeverDie Hero Member last edited by
Well, after looking into it, it appears that brightness is very much proportional to current. Even a very modest brightness of 7.5 lumen will require at least 20ma at 3v: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/wurth-electronics-inc/158301240/732-5660-1-ND/4947878
@NeverDie for a theoretical maximum, check out https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/880/how-many-photons-per-second-is-one-lumen
A perfect led would convert all the electrical energy into photons of your chosen wavelength(s). Seems like leds are only able to convert about 10% though.
Terrence last edited by
@mfalkvidd > Seems like leds are only able to convert about 10% though.
10% !! What a bummer. For being so efficient, can you imaging how low power the next step in lighting will be?
Time to invent the next version of LED.


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Login Notes
Get Together
Sunday, September 18, 2016
18:00 - 19:30Congress Centre Düsseldorf
Foyer CCD StadthalleThe participation to this event is included in the registration fees.
Monday, September 19, 2016
18:00 - 20:30Congress Centre Düsseldorf
Foyer and Hall X
The participation to this event is included in the registration fees.
Conference Dinner
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
19:30 - 22:30Classic Remise
Separate registration: 90,- EUR(limited places).
Transfer by old timer busses: Meeting Point at 18:30 at the Conference Registration Desk.
Poster Sessions
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 : 16:00-17:30 andThursday, September 22, 2016: 11:00 - 12:30
Congress Center Düsseldorf
The participation to the poster sessions is included in the registration fees.
Exhibitors and visitors are also welcome!


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Research Affiliate Program
The Research Affiliate Program is specifically designed to give post-secondary students experience in applied research (design, execution, evaluation), when they must attain such knowledge and skills to graduate.
Students are normally placed with ongoing research operations in federal government facilities. The research projects must be related to the student's current degree program and must help the student develop specific knowledge and research skills.
- Date modified:


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LocationLexington, KY
1630 N. Broadway
Lexington, KY 40505
New 2022 Coachmen RV Freelander 27QB Ford 350
Coachmen Freelander Class C gas motorhome 27QB highlights:
- Private Bedroom
- Bunk Over Cab
- Sleeps Seven
- 20' Electric Awning
Traveling across the country has never been easier than in this Freelander Class C gas motorhome. With its ability to sleep seven people each night, this coach proves to be a valuable choice for those who travel with larger families, yet the rear, private bedroom gives you the feeling that you are secluded so that you can rest peacefully and rejuvenate yourself for the next day. You will be able to keep everyone happy and fed because of the fully stocked kitchen that comes with a three-burner range top and double-door refrigerator. The private toilet and sink with the shower across the hall allows to people to freshen up at once, and you'll find plenty of seating space for everyone on the booth dinette or sofa!
With the Coachmen Freelander motorhome you will get a reliable and quality Class C gasoline coach that contains more factory-installed features than anyone else. The Freelander features Azdel composite sidewall substrate and a fiberglass exterior to keep the entire structure lightweight. You will love the interior with its hardwood cabinet doors and drawer fronts, pleated night shades, a skylight over the shower, plus a systems command center to control your units functions in one convenient location. You can bring along all of your belongings with the roto-cast rear warehouse storage compartment, and the power awning includes vinyl weather guard to help protect from the elements, plus there are LED lights for an inviting outdoor living space.
Unforseen situationOur RV purchase experience is a long one but I will try to shorten it. My husband and I have been looking for an RV for full time RV'ing to get the most we could living on a limited income. We fell in love with the Coachmen Catalina and were given a great price from the Wholesale RV Club. By the time we decided to make the purchase the 2018 we fell in love with had been sold and we ordered a new 2019. ... More » - Francis from
Stock# FG130198
Chassis: Ford 350
Interior Color: SEA HAZE
|29 ft 6 in
|Ext Width
|8 ft 4 in
|Ext Height
|10 ft 11 in
|Int Height
|6 ft 11 in
|Interior Color
|Hitch Weight
|5000 lbs
|Gross Weight
|12500 lbs
|Dry Weight
|10294 lbs
|Cargo Weight
|2206 lbs
|Fresh Water Capacity
|40 gals
|Grey Water Capacity
|31 gals
|Black Water Capacity
|31 gals
|Furnace BTU
|30000 btu
|Fuel Type
|7.3L Triton V8
|Ford 350
|350 hp
|Fuel Capacity
|55 gals
|190 in
|Number Of Bunks
|Available Beds
|468 ft-lb
|Refrigerator Type
|Double Door
|Refrigerator Size
|10 cu ft
|Cooktop Burners
|Number of Awnings
|Axle Weight Front
|5000 lbs
|Axle Weight Rear
|8500 lbs
|LP Tank Capacity
|68 lbs
|Water Heater Capacity
|6 gal
|Water Heater Type
|13500 btu
|Basement Storage
|69 cu. ft.
|TV Info
|Coach 32" TV
|Awning Info
|20' Electric with LED Lights
|Gross Combined Weight
|18500 lbs
|Shower Type
|Electrical Service
|30 amp
Coachmen RV is built upon a simple principle… "Dedicated to the enrichment of your life." By providing you with long term value through all that we do, our focus is on providing a product with superior value and backing it through superior service and support. Once you become a Coachmen owner, we are committed to enhancing your Coachmen RV ownership and lifestyle experience… creating friends for life and memories that will last a lifetime.
At Coachmen you will find a rich history of commitment from our Team Members. This commitment extends to our owners and in the pride we have for our brand. The close relationship that we share with our owners and our dealers is a quality that others have been trying to mimic over our 57 year history. Our goals and principles remain well in focus.


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Vedder Rambles, Green Day Scramble As Ramones Enter Hall
NEW YORK — A mohawked Eddie Vedder put the regal Waldorf-Astoria hotel in a punk rock state of mind Monday night when he inducted the Ramones into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (check out Kurt Loder's take on the Hall's history [article id="1452945"]here[/article]).
Nearing the end of his 17-minute speech, Vedder said, "After this, I'm sure the evening will move quickly, but it's the Ramones and it's punk rock and I'm just about finished and I hope you're OK with that." The crowd's response included some jeers and boos.
"Apparently you're not. F--- you," he replied.
But overall, the night was filled with special moments — including a Talking Heads induction and reunion as well as posthumous inductions of Joey Ramone and Chet Atkins — even though the ceremony was also plagued by technical difficulties and long delays (the delays will be edited out when VH1 broadcasts the event on Wednesday).
There was no question about the content of Vedder's speech, which was called "brilliant" by those who followed him. But as well spoken as the Pearl Jam singer was in his call to remember how the Ramones revitalized rock and how desperately that needs to happen again, he was also slow, pausing and mumbling through passages.
"They were armed with two-minute songs that they rattled off like machinegun fire," Vedder said, "and it was enough to change the Earth's revolution. Now it's Disney kids singing songs written by old men and being marketed to 6- and 7-year-olds, so some kind of change might have to happen again soon."
Vedder's speech set the tone for the evening, but for capturing the spirit of the Ramones, masters of the short and sweet, Green Day did the trick. The pop-punk trio saluted their forefathers with efficiency, blasting through "Rockaway Beach," "Teenage Lobotomy" and "Blitzkrieg Bop" without speaking to the crowd or to reporters backstage.
For the most part, the Ramones kept it light, with bassist Dee Dee Ramone joking, "I'd like to congratulate myself and thank myself and give myself a big pat on the back. Thank you, Dee Dee, you're wonderful."
Drummer Tommy Ramone, however, reiterated that the honor did mean a lot to the band, especially since it was something their late singer had wanted. "The honor of our induction ... means a lot to us. But it's really meant everything to Joey." He continued that thought backstage, saying it was one of the last things he talked about with Joey before the singer's death last April.
Talking Heads put aside their legendary acrimony and performed for the first time in 18 years. Joined onstage by CBGB owner Hilly Kristal, the band thanked just about everyone who had nurtured, fed or paid them over the years, including the rock hall itself, "for giving this band a happy ending," drummer Chris Frantz said.
Latter-day touring members of the band, including Bernie Worrell of Parliament/Funkadelic and Steve Scales, joined on two-thirds of the set, which consisted of "Psycho Killer," "Burning Down the House" and "Life During Wartime." "This is a song completely inappropriate at this time," singer David Byrne said before launching into "Life During Wartime," "but then again, maybe it is appropriate."
Witnesses to the band's performance started wondering if talk of a full-fledged reunion would also be appropriate. After all, Byrne actually seemed relaxed playing with his former bandmates, with little to no trace of the self-conscious and idiosyncratic moves that comprised his so-uncool-he's-cool Talking Heads persona. Content to move in sync with Tina Weymouth's able bass playing, Byrne instead painted a picture of ease.
Backstage, Byrne said the choice of songs helped "smooth things out." "We just played what we imagined people wanted to hear," he said. "This wasn't the time to pull out obscure numbers." Would there ever be such a time again? Guitarist Jerry Harrison said that they would think about that later. "We haven't played together for a really long time," Frantz added, "and I think we're all grateful to have a happy night like this and to have a good vibe."
Good vibes weren't hard to find in the evening's other performances, which started off with an orchestrated version of "Shaft," conducted and then sung by inductee Isaac Hayes. Dressed in a silky pajamalike outfit, Hayes led Paul Schaffer's band in a long prelude to his famous theme song. Waving his arms around, Hayes acted out instrument parts as if he were playing them himself, adding a sense of spunk to his funk.
Inducted later in the evening, Hayes warned young rap and hip-hop artists to avoid being blinded by the money. "It's not all about bling bling and all the gold and Cristal," he said. "Don't slip into the traps, and don't forget about your 'hood."
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers took it a little easy on their renditions of "Last Dance With Mary Jane" and "American Girl." Petty didn't reach for the slightly higher register he usually sings those songs in, and instead dropped it down a notch, bearing a resemblance to his presenter's father. "Before Tom came along, a lot of singer/songwriters were stuck with the label the 'new Dylan,' " presenter Jakob Dylan said. "Tom's vision was so strong that when I came along, I was called the 'new Petty,' when actually I may have been the only one who deserved the burden of being called the 'new Dylan.' "
The closing all-star jam turned out to be neither all-star nor a jam. Many of the evening's performers, inductees and presenters — from the Ramones and Green Day to Anthony Kiedis (who inducted Talking Heads) and Alicia Keys (who inducted Hayes) — didn't participate.
The first song of the finale, Al Green's soul classic "Take Me to the River," had to be done twice, since audio problems made it difficult to hear the full mix the first time around. Some of the pairings for the rest of the jam made sense — presenter Darlene Love joining inductee Gene Pitney on "He's a Rebel," which he wrote for her group, the Crystals — but having Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas (pulled from the audience) duet with Jewel (who inducted Brenda Lee) was less to do with the event than with positioning. Still, it didn't dilute their tribute to George Harrison on "Here Comes the Sun."
Other inductees included Chet Atkins (as a sideman) and Jim Stewart (as a non-performer).
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony airs Wednesday at 9 p.m. on VH1.


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Recently I went on an adventure to Stockholm. It was a short city break but we packed a lot in!
I was traveling with Eldest, a Mum and son adventure. Our first taste of Sweden was at Stockholm Arlanda airport. The quietest, and most pleasant airport I've ever visited. People spoke in hushed tones – even the children in the play area sat quietly reading!
There was seating for so many people… no need to sit on the floor here! How civilized!
There was no problem finding out where to go to get the train into the City Centre! What a stunning station…
And here comes the train…
Our first impression of Sweden was incredibly positive….
…if a little bit colder than what we had left behind at home!
The view from our hotel room (above) was amazing – look at the frozen waterways below! The building with the golden tipped tower is Stockholm City Hall – where the Nobel Prize celebrations take place. There will be more on that later on…
On our first evening we headed out for a stroll to get our bearings. It was really rather chilly, but incredibly beautiful.
This building (above & below) belongs to the Swedish parliament.
And this square looked like something out of Bladerunner when it was lit up at night!
Back at our hotel our view came alive at night.
On the first full day of our trip we headed by tram through the City Centre to get to somewhere I just had to visit…
….the ABBA Museum!!
It was amazing and told the story of all four band members from their childhoods to their 1974 win at the Eurovision Song Contest and beyond…
I will be writing another post about all the museums and buildings we visited because there is too much to put into just one post!
Suffice to say, it was magnificent and a must-visit for any fan of ABBA!
Lunch had to be at Starbucks – I was traveling with a fan of the place and as we don't have one in Gibraltar it's a novelty. We did have a taste of Sweden though – this Cardamom Bolle was utterly delicious.
Talking of edibles. We had no end of giggles at the name of the chocolate (which is very nice by the way!)
I couldn't visit a new country without going into a crafty shop could I? I was very restrained though and only bought one ball of yarn… but I could've got so much more if I had a bigger case!
Late afternoon/early evening we headed out to a dinner date which had been planned for us by Mr Postcard in advance. I think he wanted to make sure we tried some proper Swedish food, so he booked us a table at an award winning restaurant.
The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, and the food very interesting…
We had crispy pork rinds with smoked mayo & dill flower as an appetizer. Then pork & chicken skewers, with baked cabbage with buttermilk & lovage. And for dessert, Petrus Bun bread pudding with Swedish punsch crème. The flavor combinations were completely new to me but very tasty.
Then it was back on the train to the hotel for the night…
On day 2 we crossed over from our hotel to visit the City Hall.
It's a magestic building and only around 100 years old. This amazing golden hall took just 2 years to complete the mosaics! It was stunning to see.
It's also the home of the Stockholm City Council….
… the council chamber has the most amazing ceiling.
After the City Hall, we took a tram to visit the Nordiska Museet (Nordic Museum).
Another imposing building…
With a rather regal gentleman to greet you as you enter!
It documented all kinds of Swedish life, from homes & furniture to celebrations and death. More will follow in part 2 of my Stockholm postcard.
On our wanderings we passed the Royal Palace (above) and had a mooch around the old town on the island of Gamla Stan…
…which is charming and full of character.
As night began to fall, we headed back out again in search of something we couldn't come to Sweden without tasting….
They were a bit special! And washed down perfectly with some Swedish beer! And that lovely meal brought our fabulous few days in Stockholm to an end, this was our last sunrise before heading back to the airport and flying home.
Thank you Stockholm for having us to stay and making us feel so welcome, we had a wonderful time and hope to return one day!
Remember that chocolate with the funny name? Well being the mature individual that I am, I had lots of fun with some other words I spotted on my travels…. (I will never truly grow up!).
Next week, I will share more about the museums we visited and the City Hall. Look out for part 2!


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Recently, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) changed the methodology by which albums are certified gold and platinum. As of this month, streams are now being included, which modernizes the entire process. Sales of singles and albums decline every year, while the streaming industry is booming. Since the way that the masses consume music has changed, so should the way the industry recognizes success.
It might sound pretty straightforward, but there are a few important details to note in order to fully understand how an album will "go gold" from now on.
How Many Streams Does It Take?
In the new structure, 150 streams of a song equals one paid download, and ten paid downloads equates to an album download. So, an artist's music will have to be streamed on any of the approved, included services 1,500 times for an album "sale" to be counted.
If, say, 1,500 people play Taylor Swift's "Blank Space", that will count as one sale of her album 1989. The RIAA is still going to be specific about which songs are featured on what records, so artists will continue to see certain albums being awarded.
Which Services Are Included?
There are actually several dozen services that will be a part of this new methodology, and there are also many different types of services. The RIAA will now be accepting plays from video platforms (like YouTube), as well as on-demand sites (such as Spotify and the like). The list of services included in this new certification system is far too long to list, but it includes popular options such as Beatport, Amazon
The list also includes some odd sites and apps, such as Hulu, Flipagram, as well as well-visited stores like
Where Are These Streams Coming From?
Different services operate in different countries, depending on a number of factors. Some companies can't get the licenses necessary to work in other territories, while some simply haven't gotten around to expanding globally yet. Having said that, only those streams consumed within the United States count towards an album being certified, so not every YouTube view or Spotify play is included.
A handful of titles have already benefitted from this new structure, and in the coming months there are many more albums that will be certified, despite their not having actually sold a certain amount of copies.


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The Third Circuit Court of Appeal released an opinion Wednesday reversing an earlier opinion that affirmed the Lafayette Parish School Board's reasoning in firing former Superintendent Pat Cooper in November of 2014.
Wednesday's opinion could set precedent for school reform in Louisiana and, ultimately, have financial ramifications for Lafayette taxpayers: The former superintendent, who was hired in December of 2011 and still had a little more than a year on his $190,000-per-year contract when he was canned, could be due payment for the term of his contract. In sending the case back to the lower court to determine damages due to Cooper, the Third Circuit also assessed another $12,000 in costs to the board.
Cooper was fired by the board after an investigation by outside counsel found that the superintendent had violated several provisions. Cooper appealed to district court in Lafayette, arguing that Act 1 passed by the Legislature more than two years before his termination shifted power away from school boards and to superintendents. The district court sided with the school board, but only on one of the charges: that Cooper exceeded his authority in offering principals at five high-risk schools more pay than their peers.
Read the full Third Circuit decision here.
Cooper appealed to the Third Circuit, which in late November of last year upheld the district court's ruling. But the court did agree to rehear Cooper's appeal. That rehearing was set for Jan. 31 of this year, and preceding the rehearing, nine members of the Louisiana Legislature who were in office when Act 1 was approved, including Lafayette Reps. Stuart Bishop and Nancy Landry, filed an amicus brief with the 3rd Circuit in support of Cooper.
In its rehearing opinion, the three-judge Third Circuit panel reversed its decision of last November, opining that "by its plain, clear, and unambiguous language," Act 1 "provides express legal authority for a superintendent to hire school personnel ..." The Third Circuit said that it "incorrectly applied the law enacted by Act 1, as did the lower court and the Board."
The victory is bittersweet for Cooper. "I asked God to handle it and he did," he says in an emailed statement to The IND. "It has been an awful ordeal. Seven vindictive members of the Board, by their actions, attempted to ruin my reputation that I had worked over 45 years to have. I forgive them, but it will never be forgotten...by me or the people of Lafayette.
"This case will likely cost the taxpayers almost $500,000 just because Tommy Angelle and his gang of bullies refused to follow the law. Angelle is even on record at a school board meeting stating he knew the law was in place, but he wasn't going to follow it because he 'thought' it would be overturned. I am so sorry for the citizens of Lafayette."
The opinion also points out that the school board used the same reasoning as Cooper when it offered teachers at a parish-run charter school for high-risk students higher salaries than other teachers:
Failing schools require more attention and more work days for their principals or school personnel ... Here, Dr. Cooper applied the same salary schedule provisions and the same logic in h is hiring of the five principals, yet the Board refused to recognize his authority to do the same when their roles were reversed by Act 1. Thus, we find the Board was incorrect in their interpretation of Act 1, as was the district court in its review of that decision.
...For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the judgment of the district court affirming the Lafayette Parish School Board's decision to terminate Dr. Pat Cooper, as the Lafayette Parish School District Superintendent of Schools ... and we remand this matter to the district court for consideration of the damages due to Dr. Cooper as a result of the Lafayette Parish School Board's actions.